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. - The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) said Parliament shall be rendered ineffective and unlawful as from October 12 hence the need for President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve it before then - Havi noted the society had written to the Treasury CS Yattani asking him to cease the remittance of salaries and allowances to MPs and senators from the said date - The LSK president further disclosed the lawyers' umbrella body had written to the CS for Interior and the Inspector General of Police to withdraw security of all lawmakers from October 12 - Havi also noted he would write to the international community and all partners of Kenya asking them to withhold funding until a by-election is held - The advocate asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to prepare to conduct by-elections within 90 days The Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve Parliament on or before October 12, 2020, in line with the advisory of Chief Justice David Maraga. Havi held that following the CJ's advisory that Parliament be dissolved for failure to enact a two-thirds gender rule, the August House shall be rendered ineffective and unlawful as from October 12 hence the need for the president dissolve it before then. READ ALSO: Msambweni by-election: William Ruto hints at endorsing independent candidate Feisal Abdalla LSK president Nelson Havi. Photo: Nelson Havi. Source: Instagram READ ALSO: Seneta Sakaja afichua alinunua gari la kwanza aina ya Mercedes Benz akiwa chuo kikuu In a statement issued on Thursday, September 24, the LSK boss said Uhuru had no option but to adhere to the advisory issued by the chief justice as provided for under Article 261 of the 2010 Constitution. "Regardless of the Presidents action or inaction, Parliament will be unlawful effective of October 12, 2020. The consequence of this is that any legislative authority exercised by Parliament thereafter will be without the authority of the people of Kenya, said Havi. LSK president Nelson Havi want President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve Parliament by October 12. Photo: Bunge TV. Source: UGC Stop salaries and allowances He noted the society had written to the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani asking him to cease the remittance of salaries and allowances to MPs and senators from the said date. "To this end, we have written to the cabinet secretary in charge of National Treasury and Planning to cease remittance of salaries and allowances of Members of the National Assembly and Members of the Senate effective October 12," said Havi. The LSK president further disclosed the lawyers' umbrella body had also written to the CS for Interior Fred Matiang'i and the Inspector General of Police (IG) Hillary Mutyambai to withdraw the security of all lawmakers from the above date. "We have also asked the Parliamentary Service Commission to close the entrace of Parlaiment from October 12," added Havi. The advocate asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to prepare to conduct by-elections within 90 days. Havi also noted LSK would write to the international community and all partners of Kenya asking them to withhold any funding or transaction that may require the approval of Parliament. No lacuna The LSK leader dismissed the argument by a section of lawyers who argued that dissolving Parliament would create a constitutional lacuna. National Assembly Speaker Justin Muuri (centre) and members of the Parliamentary Service Commission have opposed Maraga's advisory and vowed to challenge it in court. Photo: Justin Muturi. Source: Facebook He maintained the business of government would not be affected by the dissolution of the August House. "In an attempt to mislead the people of Kenya, the people responsible for this violation of the constitution have made several misrepresentations. First, they have falsely claimed that there is a lacuna on how the by-election should be held and the term of dissolution. Secondly, they have misled the people of Kenya to think that the term of the president, governors and MCAs is affected by the dissolution thereby bringing operations to a halt. It is therefore important to allay this unfounded fears by telling you the people of Kenya the truth, and this is the truth, there is no lacuna whenever there is an individual or collective vacancy in Parliament," argued Havi. He argued that the dissolution of Parliament does not affect the term of the president, governors and MCAs. Havi asked the court to dismiss petitions filed by two Kenyans and the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) challenging the advisory issued by the chief justice. Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme - https://www.patreon.com/tuko Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Tuko news Kiki Wa Ng'endo should not carry the blame alone, her family and men failed too - Reactions TUKO TV Source: TUKO.co.ke The U.S. embargo on Venezuelan oil has deepened the industrys woes. The country lacks the capacity to process much of its sludgy product. When it sent crude to the United States, it got back refined gasoline. The end of that system has worsened severe fuel shortages. The need to store extra crude that Venezuela cannot sell under the embargo, as well as the governments attempts to revamp and restart old refineries to increase domestic fuel production, appears to be driving the recent spills, analysts and oil workers say. Seabourn, the ultra-luxury resort at sea, is offering an unforgettable journey around the globe with its 2022 World Cruise: Extraordinary Horizons, a 145-day voyage on Seabourn Sojourn, visiting 72 extraordinary destinations and ports in 28 countries on five continents. The ultra-luxury Seabourn Sojourn will depart Los Angeles on January 11, 2022, and travel westbound, visiting Hawaii, the islands of the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, a number of destinations in Asia, Arabia, Africa, before ending in Athens, Greece, on June 6, 2022. Among the notable highlights is Seabourns return to Egypt since 2014, with an overnight visit scheduled for Safaga (Luxor), as well as a stop at Sharm el-Sheikh. The 2022 World Cruise is now open for sale, and the entire itinerary is available on Seabourns website. Our 2022 World Cruise promises to be an extraordinary journey across the world, whether guests take the full world cruise or join us on one of the many segments, they will visit many of the worlds most prized destinations and immerse themselves in diverse cultures, said Josh Leibowitz, President of Seabourn. With so many of us limited on travel this year, booking a Seabourn world cruise for 2022 offers a much-needed extraordinary experience to look forward to and chance to explore the world around us. Seabourn Sojourn will call at 72 ports and destinations in 28 countries throughout the course of the sailing, featuring a combination of visits to popular marquee ports, cosmopolitan cities and smaller hidden gems. The voyage will include 20 overnights and linger late into the evening in 21 ports, offering guests ample opportunities to explore these fascinating destinations in depth. There will be three exclusive world cruise events planned for guests booked on the full 145-day voyage, as well as local shows, regional cuisines, and palate-pleasing wines for all guests to enjoy as they sail around the globe. In addition, the World Cruise will include two of the lines most popular signature events available to all guests on a complimentary basis: Caviar in the Surf beach barbecue at Ko Kood, Thailand; and Evening at Ephesus at Kusadasi, Turkey, featuring a private classical concert in the ancient ruins under the stars. A sampling of destination highlights includes: Sydney, The Great Barrier Reef and Queensland Coast - Try sand-tobogganing on the worlds tallest dune, and marvel at the blue-white beauty of the breathtaking Whitsunday Islands. Two days in Cairns highlight the ships exploration of Queenslands coast with awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Great Barrier Reef and the primeval rain forests of Daintree National Park. Darwin in the Northern Territory provides two days of WWII history, jumping saltwater crocodiles and timeless Aboriginal culture. Marvels of Japan, Korea and China - Discover the sun-swept islands of Japans Caribbean - Amami-ringed with coral reefs and Okinawas ancient Shureimon Gate, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Take in Kagoshimas picturesque skyline, dominated by snowcapped Sakurajima volcano, and contemplate Hiroshimas poignant Memorial Peace Park. Overnight stays in bustling Busan, South Korea, and Nagasaki, Japan, provide a memorable crescendo to three full days in Chinas luminous Yangtze River showplace Shanghai. Southeast Asian Treasures - Zhujiajians bridges preserve a medieval Chinese character now hidden in enclaves among Hong Kongs towering skyscrapers. An overnight stay in Vietnams Halong Bay invites guests to absorb its ethereal beauty at every hour. Seabourn Sojourn sails right up the Saigon River to the heart of fascinating Ho Chi Minh City. Ko Koods unspoiled, white sand beach is the ideal setting for the lines extravagant Caviar in the Surf beach barbecue, with complimentary watersports. Egypt, Petra and the Suez Canal - The two-day visit at Safaga provides guests with ample time to explore Luxors immense sculptural colonnades and avenues, tour the temples of Luxor and Karnak with its vast Hypostyle Hall of carved lotus columns, and much more. Later, from Aqaba, discover the long-lost Nabatean city of Petra carved into the walls of a natural canyon fortress. The Holy Land and Aegean Empires - Few places integrate antiquities with a modern, cosmopolitan outlook better than Israel. The two-day stay at Haifa is filled with Unesco World Heritage landmarks of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Judea and Galilee, as well as the Bauhaus White City, colourful markets and seaside promenades of Tel Aviv. Complete your epic Seabourn Sojourn voyage tracing the roots of European history from Minoan Bronze-age Crete to the marble streets of Ephesus and onward to the sophisticated symmetry of the Parthenon standing high atop modern Athens. The line is planning an array of optional shore excursions in more than 25 ports with designated Unesco World Heritage Sites thanks to its unique partnership with Unesco. The world cruise will also feature a number of optional, mid-voyage overland excursions where guests will disembark at one port and rejoin the ship at another port, providing them with a more in-depth experience at certain destinations and sites such as the Luxor & the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, outback adventures in Australia, the magnificent Taj Mahal in India, Unesco World Heritage sites in China and Cambodia, and more. Also available are optional Seabourn Journeys, offering guests an immersive longer pre- and post-cruise land-based excursion to and from select destinations such as Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. For guests who book the full 145-day voyage, they will receive a value-packed menu of complimentary benefits and amenities, including: Gala Bon Voyage dinner and overnight hotel stay at the Ritz Carlton Marina Del Rey prior to departure in Los Angeles; Three exclusive World Cruise events; Exclusive World Cruise Presidents event; and Special World Cruise pillow gifts. For guests who book the full 145-day voyage by May 31, 2021, they will receive the above amenities, as well as the following additional benefits: Roundtrip Business Class Airfare; $2,000 shipboard credit per person for Oceanview and Veranda suites; $3,000 shipboard credit per person for Penthouse and Premium suites; Unlimited Internet package Private car transfers door-to-door between home and airport; Personal Valet luggage shipping service between home and ship in Los Angeles and Athens, Greece Unlimited laundry, dry cleaning and pressing on board Visa package (US and Canadian citizens only) 50 percent reduced deposit (US/CAD/AUS markets only) In addition, the line is offering a special five percent discount for repeat full World Cruise guests. Certain restrictions apply. For guests who cannot sail on the entire 145-day voyage, shorter segments ranging from 22 to 89 days are also available. Guests who book either the full world cruise or segments and pay in full by May 31, 2021, will receive an additional 3 percent savings off the cruise-only fare. Guests who book and pay in full by November 10, 2020 will receive a 6 percent savings off the cruise-only fare. Certain restrictions apply, said the line. - TradeArabia News Service The interim president of the Senate, the Social Democrat Robert Cazanciuc, claims that the Orban Government has proven, "once again", its "incompetence" and "dilettantism", in the context in which CCR (Constitutional Court of Romania) rejected, as unfounded, the constitutional challenge filed by the current Executive regarding the doubling of the child allowance, and the Prime Minister states that he will "not take into account" this decision. "The cynicism and hypocrisy of the Orban Government have reached the maximum! Orban does not want to double the child allowance! Today, CCR was right and unanimously decided that the law on doubling the child allowance, initiated and adopted by PSD MPs, is constitutional. Orban has once again learned a lesson and proved his incompetence and dilettantism. Orban said he would disregard the CCR's decision and do everything he had already decided on the child allowance: a five-step increase, until 2022," Cazanciuc wrote on Facebook. According to him, the current Government "does not care about families with children, pensions, teachers' salaries, does not care about Romanians and we see that they are only interested in filling their party's electoral piggy-bank, from businesses with smart boys during the pandemic, to put his relatives and relatives in positions paid for with a lot of money and to lie to the Romanians." He urged voters to go to the polls on Sunday. "Let's all go to the polls, on September 27, to prove to them that we are more and we are not as naive as they think we are!," Robert Cazanciuc said. The Constitutional Court of Romania decided, on Thursday, to reject the Government's notification regarding the Law rejecting GEO No. 123/2020 on the modification of article 3 of Law 61/1993 on the child allowance. "It rejected, as unfounded, the constitutional challenge filed by the Romanian Government and found that the Law on the rejection of the Government Emergency Ordinance no. 123/2020 modifying article 3 of Law no. 61/1993 on the allowance is constitutional," reads the minutes of the decision. Following the announcement of the CCR decision, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, in Focsani, said that the children's allowance would be doubled in five stages, as previously decided by the Government. "The National Liberal Party (PNL) will double the allowance, as decided, in five steps, with the last steps scheduled for July 1 2022. For now, all that we have is an announcement made by the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) and we are waiting for the explanatory, depending on which we will decide what to do next. In our opinion, increasing allowances is a priority (...), but we must do it while considering the economic reality, and the available resources, so that this won't be a deceitful increase that we will not be able to sustain and that will generate disadvantageous economic consequences," PM Orban told a press conference. AGERPRES . A police officer attached to Aguda Police Division, Joseph Dike, on Wednesday underwent orderly trial at the police command for extorting a motorcyclist, the police spokesperson in Lagos State, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has said. Mr Adejobi said Mr Dike, a police inspector, was caught in a picture extorting a motorcyclist during a stop and search in the area. Mr Adejobi said the commissioner of police in the state ordered that the officer should face orderly trial. The police chief was piqued by the manner in which the inspector was caught in a widely circulated picture extorting a motorcyclist at Pako Pin-Down Point, Aguda, Lagos State, where he was posted on Stop and Search duty on 22nd September, 2020, he said. Following the incident, Mr Adejobi said the command has circulated a strong-worded signal, warning all police officers to desist from corrupt practices, extortion, misuse of power, improper dressing, harassment of members of the public by using sticks or horse whip, violation of human rights and drunkenness on duty. He said any violation of the warning would attract severe reprimand or punishment according to the provisions of the Police Act and Regulations and other extant laws of Nigeria. He said the commissioner further warned senior police officers to caution their men and ensure that they comply with the directives in order to stop unprofessional and unethical conducts by police officers in the state. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 20:47:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WINDHOEK, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's domestic economy contracted by 11.1 percent in the second quarter this year compared to a decline of 3.6 percent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2019, the country's statistics agency said Thursday. The contraction in the economic performance during the second quarter is observed across the entire sectors as domestic activities were under pressure due to the impact of the COVID-19 measures that were put in place for the country to mitigate the spread of the virus, Namibia Statistic Agency, statistician-general Alex Shimuafeni said. "The measures entailed among others, closing of the country's borders and only allowing businesses that provides essential services to operate," he added. According to Shimuafeni, double digit reductions were recorded in some of the sectors of the economy. Hotels and restaurants recorded the highest decline of 64.2 percent compared to a growth of 12.3 percent of the same quarter of 2019. Shimuafeni said, however, of the 16 sectors under observations, three sectors recorded positive performance during the period under review. The improved performance were observed in agriculture and forestry, information and communication and health sectors that recorded growth rates of 47.2 percent, 11 percent and 6 percent, respectively, he added. "The positive performance in agriculture and forestry is due to a bumper harvest by the farmers resulting from good rainfalls experienced during the period under review," he said. Enditem Five-hundred students in Dundee, Scotland, have been asked to self-isolate after a positive case of coronavirus was reported. Hundreds of residents of Parker House student accommodation are now under strict quarantine measures amid fears of an outbreak in the halls due to a number of other suspected cases. Students returned to Dundees socially distanced campuses earlier this month. Due to the higher risk of transmission in closely shared student accommodation, NHS Tayside has asked all 500 residents of the halls to self-isolate. Dr Daniel Chandler, Associate Director of Public Health with NHS Tayside, said, We know from outbreaks in other university settings across Scotland that the virus can spread very quickly in student accommodation. He added, 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. The Dundee students will no longer have to self-isolate after the contact tracing has been carried out, with those showing symptoms being strongly urged to book a test quickly. The individual who tested positive is a student of Abertay University and all their close contacts are also being asked to self-isolate for 14 days. Professor Nigel Seaton, Principle 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. He added, The University already has enhanced cleaning and safety measures in place on campus, in line with national guidance, and the campus will remain open. This outbreak follows a similar occurrence in Glasgow student accommodation this week, where more than 20 students tested positive for Covid-19 with many more self-isolating. A spokesperson for the University said, The households affected are all self-isolating and have access to sufficient food and supplies. Elsewhere in Scotland, the principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Aberdeen confirmed a number of students have tested positive and are facing similar self-isolation measures. Meanwhile in England, there are calls to halt lectures in Liverpool after dozens of students and seven staff have tested positive for coronavirus in the last seven days. The University and College Union (UCU) said continuing lessons is likely to lead to a further spread of the virus. Recommended Students prepare for the unknown as they start university amid coronavirus Commentators have previously warned universities are at risk of becoming ground zero for a second wave. Back in August, the UCU said the government is encouraging a public health crisis by allowing campsus to reopen and over a million students to migrate around the country. BRUSSELS This one looked easy. Given the depredations of the leader of Belarus, Aleksandr G. Lukashenko the fraudulent election, the crackdown on opposition leaders, the beatings and arrests of peaceful protesters the European Union seemed poised to respond quickly with economic sanctions, something more tangible than just words. Top E.U. officials, including Josep Borrell Fontelles, the foreign policy chief, have called the re-election of Mr. Lukashenko illegitimate, demanded a new vote and said that they no longer recognize him as president, despite his inauguration in a secret ceremony on Wednesday. But new sanctions on Mr. Lukashenko and some 40 of his cohorts are still in abeyance, nearly two months after the Aug. 9 election. They require unanimous support from the 27 E.U. nations, but are being held hostage by one of the smallest members, Cyprus. The failure to act is more than an embarrassment it undercuts European desires to be a forceful actor charting its own course in global affairs, on a par with the superpowers. It undermines European goals of strategic autonomy, independent of the United States, and it underscores Russian and Chinese contentions let alone those of the Trump administration that the European Union is weak, divided and incapable of effective and rapid strategic action. Sir Harold Evans, editor of The Sunday Times from 1967 to 1981, was voted the greatest newspaper editor of all time in a 2002 poll of readers of the British Journalism Review and Press Gazette most of them journalists. While the significance of such an accolade can be debated, he was unquestionably the national newspaper editor most widely and consistently admired by his staff, his colleagues and his peers. During his tenure, The Sunday Times set a standard for serious journalism, especially investigative reporting, which other papers sought with varying success to emulate. With energy and passion, Evans challenged official secrecy, corporate evasion and institutional corruption, and possessed the technical skills to translate these crusades into gripping journalism. Without his influence the modern Sunday newspaper would not have evolved as it did, for many of the innovations that he oversaw have become established as journalistic best practice. We were tenacious, its true, he recalled in a 2011 interview in The Independent. When we started a campaign we would persist to the point that the issue became unignorable, and so became a problem, and so had to be resolved, at least to some degree. Yet he would never take the whole credit for the creation of the all-powerful Sunday Times of the 1970s. He acknowledged that many of the foundations on which he built had been laid by Sir Denis Hamilton, his predecessor as editor and the man responsible for bringing him to London from the north of England. It was under Hamilton that the papers circulation reached its highest-ever figure of one and a half million. The Insight team, the vehicle for the most successful investigations, was already in place when Evans took over, although he gave it a harder, campaigning edge. I inherited a number of very talented people, and found more, he wrote in 2002. The velocity of The Sunday Times was the product, first and foremost, of reporters zealous for real news and not gossip or kite-flying. His most important contribution was to back those reporters to the hilt, allowing them the time and facilities they needed to bring an investigation to a successful conclusion. If as often happened legal obstacles were put in the way of publishing a story, his staff knew that, once he was convince that the facts were correct, the material important and its publication in the public interest, Evans would pursue the case through the courts if necessary. His courage was put to the test when he clashed more than once with the government over the papers reporting of the Northern Ireland conflict and the serialisation of the intimate diaries of Richard Crossman, a former Labour cabinet minister. The single story that best defined his editorial imperatives was The Sunday Timess long and tortuous campaign to gain adequate compensation for the victims of thalidomide the morning-sickness drug that caused deformities in the children of mothers who had taken it. He was twice named editor of the year in national press awards. Circumstances, though, conspired to bring his career as a newspaper editor to a premature close. After the Thomson Organisation, owners of The Sunday Times and its sister The Times, suspended publication for a year in an industrial dispute with the printers, the titles were acquired in 1981 by the Australian-born entrepreneur Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch moved Evans from the Sunday paper and appointed him editor of the daily and then, after a year of what Evans described as harassment and sniping, effectively forced him to resign. Soon afterwards he moved to New York with his second wife, Tina Brown, and remained resident there for the rest of his life, holding a number of senior editorial positions and writing some successful books. But he returned frequently to Britain, where his reputation as an inspirational and principled editor remained undimmed by his bruising from Murdoch. In January 2016 he attended the premiere in central London of a full-length documentary: Attacking the Devil: Harold Evans and the Last Nazi War Crime. Essentially biographical, it emphasised his and The Sunday Timess role in exposing the thalidomide scandal. Hundreds of former colleagues, friends and admirers including some thalidomide victims joined him at the event, where he was widely praised and gave a short, modest speech. As his successor and long-time deputy Frank Giles had written some years earlier: Harrys career provided a living negation of the theory that to be a successful leader you have to be a bit of a shit. In 1998 The American Century, was published, a history of Evanss adopted country in the 20th century (AP) Born in 1928, the son of a Manchester train driver, Evans left school at 16 to work as a reporter on a Lancashire weekly paper. In 1946 he was conscripted into the RAF and on his discharge spent three years at Durham University, graduating in 1952, when he joined the Manchester Evening News. The following year he married Enid Parker, a fellow student at Durham. The couple had two daughters, Ruth and Kate, and a son, Michael, before parting in 1974 and divorcing in 1978. Early on he was spotted as a journalist of great promise, and in 1956 was awarded a Harkness Fellowship, allowing him to spend two years in the United States at Stanford and Chicago universities, studying journalism and foreign affairs. On his return he was appointed assistant editor of the Manchester Evening News and in 1961 he moved to Darlington and his first editorial chair, at The Northern Echo, the daily newspaper serving the northeast of England. Here he achieved a national reputation by pursuing a dogged campaign to establish the innocence of Timothy Evans, who had been hanged in 1950 for murdering his wife. The paper ran stories almost daily suggesting that the murder was committed by John Christie, convicted in 1953 of other killings in the same London house. The case and the Echo campaign were important factors in parliaments decision in 1964 to abolish capital punishment for murder. In 1966 Timothy Evans was granted a posthumous royal pardon. By then Harold Evans had already moved on from Darlington. He was recruited earlier that year by Denis Hamilton as his chief assistant at The Sunday Times, and then as managing editor. The Thomson group, which had owned the Sunday paper since 1959, bought The Times in 1966 and Hamilton was appointed editor-in-chief of the two titles. At his suggestion, Evans succeeded him as editor of The Sunday Times in 1967. A free, cultivated, diverse, resourceful and honest press can only try, and if we ever get one it will be interesting to see what it achieves Harold Evans If the traditional image of a broadsheet editor was of an imposing, judicious figure, solemnly and calmly weighing up the pros and cons of alternative arguments or courses of action, then Evans was entirely atypical. In appearance he was short, thin and wiry; in demeanour impatient and excitable. Harold could be wild and impulsive, Hamilton wrote in his 1989 memoir, Editor-in-Chief, but he had the sort of crusading energy a Sunday editor requires. Although his colleagues admired that energy and enthusiasm, those very qualities often made Evans difficult to work with. Giles, in his 1986 book Sundry Times, described his working habits as extremely disconcerting. He disliked doing anything for very long, above all sitting still. In the midst of an important conversation he would dart from the room, as he did so encouraging his visitor to keep talking because he would shortly be back Never walking when he could run, Harry would streak along the passages en route to one or other of the editorial departments, there to discuss, advise upon, redirect or breathe new fire into whatever project was afoot His unexplained absences from his own office were marked by a growing queue of people waiting frustratedly to see him. This unorthodox and superficially disorganised approach to editing, although it could be infuriating, endeared him to the young journalists that he recruited. He listened to their opinions and was for the most part prepared to trust their professional judgments, although they sometimes complained about the time he took to reach decisions. While recognising his ultimate authority, and respecting his technical expertise, they appreciated his reluctance to pull rank. He encouraged a team ethos and was prepared to tolerate eccentricity among his staff if it was allied to manifest talent. Because the journalists felt that he was ultimately on their side, they were loyal to him and morale remained unusually high throughout his tenure. Apart from being an inspirational leader, Evans was also skilled in the arts of newspaper production. As early as 1961 he wrote an instructional book, The Active Newsroom, and between 1972 and 1977 he produced a five-part work on editing and design including volumes on headlines, pictures and language many of whose precepts were to remain valid in the subsequent age of computerised typesetting and page make-up. The single aspect of newspaper production that Evans was unable to master (a failing he shared with almost every other executive in the industry) was how to control the increasingly outrageous demands of the print unions, who had no compunction about using their power to stop the presses in pursuit of ever-escalating demands. In particular, they blocked the introduction of computerised typesetting because of the job losses that it would entail. In 1978 the issue came to a head when the management of The Times and The Sunday Times decided to suspend publication in the hope of forcing the unions into agreement. The stoppage dragged on for 50 weeks and ended with no real progress on the principal issues. During that time Evans did his best to bring the disputants together, but to no avail. 18 January 1967: (from left): William Rees-Mogg, editor of The Times; Harold Evans, editor of The Sunday Times; and Denis Hamilton, editor-in-chief of both newspapers (Getty) On assuming control Murdoch invited Evans to switch from The Sunday Times to The Times although he had been advised against this by those who knew Evans well, including Hamilton. Murdochs explanation for the appointment was that The Times needed to change radically and Evans, acknowledged as the best editor in the country, was the right man to effect the transformation. Some, though, believed that the new proprietors real motive was to remove Evans from his power base at The Sunday Times, where he could have thwarted changes that Murdoch thought necessary. Certainly his departure devastated the journalists he left behind at the Sunday paper. Evans, for his part, had also been advised against accepting the appointment. Murdoch had a reputation for undermining his editors, especially those of an independent turn of mind. Moreover, the two men had contrasting political instincts: Murdoch was an arch-conservative and Evans an archetypal 1960s liberal. But an invitation to edit The Times was something that no journalist could turn down lightly. In his memoir, Good Times Bad Times, Evans described how he convinced himself that the agreement under which Murdoch assumed control of the paper, by which the editors prerogative was protected by a board of independent directors, would ensure that he would be allowed to do the job without interference. When Murdoch gave as one of his reasons for demanding his resignation that the place is in chaos ... your senior staff is up in arms, he was essentially speaking the truth It was wishful thinking. Murdoch made life difficult for him almost from the start, complaining especially about what he saw as the lack of consistent and trenchant views in the editorial columns. He was also concerned about Evanss extravagance in hiring new staff: although 53 journalists had applied for voluntary redundancy since the change of ownership, within months Evans had recruited 56 new people to replace them. Just a year after he was appointed, Murdoch asked him for his resignation. The proprietors growing antipathy towards him was not the only reason why Evanss editorship of The Times has on balance to be judged as his only failure in a distinguished career. It is true that circulation went up by about 10 per cent during his tenure, to 300,000 copies a day, and that many of the improvements he introduced, especially on the features side, survived longer than he did; but he crucially failed to engage the loyalty or sympathy of many of the papers journalists, especially the older ones. His skittish and procrastinatory way of dealing with colleagues and their problems may have been endearing on a weekly paper but it caused difficulties on a daily, where clear decisions have to be made within minutes. He alienated many of the existing staff by bringing with him a few colleagues from The Sunday Times, who inevitably formed an influential and exclusive group around their editor. So when Murdoch gave as one of his reasons for demanding his resignation that the place is in chaos ... your senior staff is up in arms, he was essentially speaking the truth. For a few days Evans resisted the pressure to resign, until it became clear that the national directors of The Times had no real power to reverse Murdochs decision. He spent the next year writing Good Times, Bad Times, an indignant account of his experience with Murdoch. Evans and Tina Brown were married for almost 40 years (PA) In the summer of 1981, a few months into his editorship of The Times, he had married Tina Brown, a highly talented young journalist, 25 years his junior, who had made her mark as editor of Tatler, the society magazine. The wedding took place at the Long Island summer home of Benjamin Bradlee, editor of The Washington Post, and only a few close friends and former colleagues were invited. Staging the ceremony in the United States proved prophetic, since in 1984 the couple moved to New York, where Tina had been appointed editor of the magazine Vanity Fair, and would later take over the prestigious New Yorker. There they raised their two children, George and Izzy, and won a reputation as one of the most glamorous and sought-after couples on the Manhattan social circuit. In 1993 Evans became a naturalised US citizen. From his new base, Evans was soon recruited to several high-profile posts in American journalism and publishing. In 1984 he was appointed editor-in-chief of the Atlantic Monthly Press and editorial director of the weekly US News & World Report. In 1986 Conde Nast, publishers of Vanity Fair, asked him to launch their upmarket travel magazine, Conde Nast Traveller, which was and remains a success. At the same time he was appointed vice-president of the American arm of the publisher Weidenfeld and Nicolson and in 1990 became president and publisher of the Random House group, a post he held until 1997. He remained professionally active until well beyond the age when most people opt for a leisure-filled retirement. In 2001 he was appointed editor-at-large of The Week, an international news magazine, and in 2011 was given the same title at Thomson Reuters News Agency, where his duties were essentially those of a roving ambassador. For a while he was on the roster of speakers on A Point of View, the BBC Radio 4 programme that fills the Sunday morning slot once occupied by Alistair Cookes Letter From America. Evans wrote a number of books, notably The American Century, a history of his adopted country in the 20th century, published in 1998. Yet despite his obvious appetite for the American way of life he was a frequent transatlantic traveller, and liked nothing better than to meet his former Sunday Times journalists in London to catch up with the gossip. Many of his closest friendships originated from the Sunday Times period, which remained the most productive and fulfilling of his career. He continued to stay in touch with his ex-wife Enid up until her death in 2013. Describing her as an extremely intelligent woman with a strong sense of duty, he told The Independent: Her one serious mistake was to be married to me for 20 years. In 2004 he received a knighthood for services to journalism and in 2009 his autobiography, My Paper Chase, was published: a lively account of his career in the trade that, throughout his life, was his principal passion. He was convinced that it could be an important force for improving society. He summed up his approach eloquently in Good Times Bad Times: The press is a frail vessel for the hopes it is meant to bear. The best that it can do can never quite be good enough to illuminate what Walter Lippmann called the invisible environment, the complexity of forces and agencies we cannot monitor for ourselves, but which affect all our lives. A free, cultivated, diverse, resourceful and honest press can only try, and if we ever get one it will be interesting to see what it achieves. Sir Harold Evans, born 28 June 1928, Eccles; died 23 September 2020 Costco has removed popular pimento cheese brand, Palmetto Cheese from its shelves following continued calls for its boycott after the brand's owner likened Black Lives Matter (BLM) to a terror organization, according to a report. According to The Post and Courier, the cheese brand will no longer be carried at 120 Costco Wholesale locations nationwide. The outlet published a photo of a sign in the Myrtle Beach Costco store stating that the products were discontinued and will not be re-ordered." Brian Henry, the mayor of Pawleys Island and owner of Palmetto Cheese, confirmed to the newspaper that his product had been removed but insisted it was because of seasonal product changes. The removal comes after Mr Henry recently faced backlash for reportedly making controversial comments on his personal Facebook last month regarding reports that a black man has been accused of killing two white people. According to USA Today, screenshots of the now-deleted post showed that Mr Henry said he was outraged that two white people" were "defenselessly gunned down by a black man. He then asked: why do we stand by and allow BLM to lawlessly destroy great American cities and threaten their citizens on a daily basis before likening BLM and Antifa to terrorist organisations. Many condemned the comments as racist and Mr Henry faced calls for a boycott of Palmetto Cheese from consumers and also pressure to resign from his elected position as mayor from the Georgetown chapter of the NAACP. Mr Henry later apologised for the social media comments and announced a rebranding of Palmetto Cheese, which features the image of a black woman, Vertrella Brown, who helped popularise the product. I start out by saying I am profoundly sorry to those I offended with my post last week. My comments were hurtful and insensitive, Mr Henry said during a press conference, Myrtle Beach Online reported. However, he insisted that the removal of the cheese brand from Costco's shelves was part of an annual turnover of products and may only be temporary. 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, Mr Henry told The Post and Courier. We remain optimistic that Palmetto Cheese will be back on the shelves in the not too distant future. Costcos corporate headquarters declined to confirm whether the removal was temporary or permanent when contacted byThe Post and Courier. SINGAPORE The U.S. policy in the Middle East is to reward allies and not enemies, a spokeswoman of the U.S. State Department said, as Washington sought to increase pressure on Iran to give up its nuclear program. "We have embarked on a policy in this administration, to reward and to embolden the Gulf Arab, our allies ... to embolden Israel, and to not reward an enemy," spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told CNBC's Hadley Gamble on Wednesday. President Donald Trump's administration upped the pressure on Iran in the last few days. Washington on Saturday unilaterally restored United Nations' sanctions on Tehran a process questioned by other members of the U.N. Security Council. The U.S. also imposed more of its own sanctions against Iran on Monday. "Our maximum economic pressure campaign remains but remember, President Trump has said that he wants a peaceful resolution with Iran and he has said that he's willing to negotiate for a new and better deal," said Ortagus. ... peace and diplomacy remains on the table anytime the regime and Iran would like to take us up on it. Morgan Ortagus U.S. State Department spokeswoman "So peace and diplomacy remains on the table anytime the regime and Iran would like to take us up on it," she added. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran mounted after Trump unilaterally withdrew two years ago from the landmark Iran nuclear deal the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The agreement was signed in 2015 between Iran and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. plus Germany. It was aimed at curbing the regime's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Iranian flags seen on the streets of Tehran. Fatemeh Bahrami | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Trump described the agreement, which was negotiated during the Obama administration, as the "worst deal ever." Ortagus said "one of the fundamental flaws" of the 2015 agreement was Iran directing "billions of dollars in sanctions relief" to developing missiles instead of improving the lives of the country's middle class. U.S.-Iran relations deteriorated further in January, when a U.S. drone strike killed Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian military commander. Experts had warned that Soleimani's death would escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran, as well as further destabilize the Middle East. The latest U.S. moves against Iran came as Trump tries to bolster his image as a champion for stability in the Middle East ahead of the November presidential election. Over the last few weeks, the U.S. brokered deals for the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to establish normal diplomatic relations with Israel a development praised by some experts. But reports had emerged that the UAE may have agreed to normalize ties with Israel so that it can buy F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. The U.S. is committed to help Israel maintain a "qualitative military edge" over its neighbors, so sales of more advanced military equipment to other Gulf states require more extensive considerations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had suggested that he'll likely push back on any such potential deals. But Reuters reported that the U.S. and the UAE were working toward an initial agreement on the sale of the F-35 jets by December. Ortagus told CNBC said that the U.S. could balance selling military equipment to the UAE and its commitment to Israel. "We believe that there's a way for us to work with the UAE to make sure that they have the equipment that they need, while also respecting and maintaining QME and I think we'll see what happens," she said. "But we have to consult with the Congress. there's ... a lot of parties involved here." WATCH: A Biden administration may do 'a 180-degree' flip on key U.S.-Iran issues, says expert The need of the hour is for farmers to establish large sales organizations of their own. If state support could give them bargaining power, they wouldnt be selling cotton to private traders for a quarter less than the guaranteed minimum. How will Modi assure base prices once the mandi system slips into disuse? The professionally run dairy cooperative in Gujarat, the prime ministers home state, has $5 billion in annual revenue from its Amul brand of milk, butter and cheese. But that movement took shape in a very different political firmament of the 1960s, and it didnt succeed everywhere or in all commodities. Actor Tom Cruise will officially go to space in October 2021 to film a still-unnamed film spearheaded by "Edge of Tomorrow" director Doug Liman. This comes after months of news came that the actor was working along with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It has been confirmed that the Hollywood A-lister will be part of a space launch in 2021. The Announcement Previously this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to reach its height, the American actor declared that he was planning to shoot a film from space. Cruise is slated to become more legendary. The actor will undertake a space trip with the help of the head of SpaceX and Tesla, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Elon Musk. The announcement of Cruise was made in May when it was first divulged that he could be going to space for a new film. It was initially thought an elaborate joke regarding wanting to have a break from the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, the rumors were backed by facts, with NASA taking to Twitter about the venture. Action-Packed Movies The "Mission Impossible" actor is known for his daring efforts for his action films. It was noted that this is his most daring mission yet. Tom Cruise is slated to go to outer space with Elon Musk's SpaceX. Cruise will be working on the new movie NASA and Musk, reported MSN. Also Read: Tom Cruise Seen Flying in a Gravity-Defying Motorcycle Stunt for 'Mission: Impossible 7' Confirmation According to Space Shuttle Almanac via Twitter on Saturday, Axiom Space Station will ride off on a tourist mission piloted by Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria. Cruise and Liman will be on board. Space Shuttle Almanac wrote on Twitter, "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," reported The Standard. The account traces the calendar for crews flying up to the International Space Station (ISS). The actor and director pair is slated for the SpaceX Dragron crew flight under Tourist 1 and Tourist 2 piloted by Michael Lopez-Alegria. First Film Shot in Space The production will be the first major film shot in space. The movie has yet to have a title or plot. This week, NME confirmed that Cruise's space mission would be launched in October 2021. Director Liman has previously worked with Cruise on the movies "Edge of Tomorrow" and "American Made." Piloting Experience Cruise and Liman both have experience as pilots but space travel will be a new ballgame for the pair. NASA Confirmation NASA confirmed their participation in the film previously this year when Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator, wrote on Twitter, "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 @NASA 's ambitious plans a reality," reported Mirror. Third Slot The slot for Tourist 3 in the space launch remains to be open, which could be reserved for a cameraman or another actor accompanying Tom Cruise going to space. Related Article: Katie Holmes' New Man a Cheater? Boyfriend Dumped His Fiancee Through Text to Date Her @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tai Chi An internal Chinese martial art that focuses on slow, graceful movements and relaxed, meditative breathing. Open to all ages and levels. Participants must follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on face coverings and maintain proper social distance at all times. 9 a.m. Sept. 24; Levy Park, 3801 Eastside; levyparkhouston.org. This program will also debut on Levy Parks Facebook page and will be available for 24 hours. Mommy & Me Fitness in the Plaza Join Inspired Fitness with your children for a free 60 minutes of strength training and conditioning using medicine balls, weights, resistance tubes and bands in the Plaza. 9:30 a.m. Sept. 25; Sugar Land Town Square, 2711 Plaza Drive, Sugar Land; sugarlandtownsquare.com. Virtual CASA Superhero Run Costumed crusaders will use their superpowers and feet in support of children in the foster care system in Montgomery County. This years race features an eight-week virtual event series and fundraiser. Sept. 26-Nov. 21. casaspeaks4kids.com/newsandevents/superherorun. Donate Life Texas 2nd Chance Run & Walk Houston The 5K and 1-mile race raises awareness of the need for organ, eye and tissue donation across the state. Due to COVID-19, this race is now virtual. Sept. 27; 2ndchancerun.org. Fusion Belly Dance Professional movement artist and instructor YET Torres combines dance movements with yoga to build flexibility and muscle tone. Masks are not required while exercising; circles painted on the lawn will help ensure 8 feet of distance. 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30; Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney; facebook.com/events/ 658499511688542. ana.khan@chron.com 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. Want this delivered to your inbox each day? Sign up here. Exclusive: Squares $100 million plan to invest in Black communities Jack Dorseys financial company known for its credit-card readers, Cash payments app and Square Capital lending program plans to announce today that it will invest in an array of funds and lenders focused on underserved communities of color, joining a growing number of big businesses taking on racial economic inequality. Square promises to invest $100 million, or about 3 percent of its cash, in four chunks: $25 million in deposits at Community Development Financial Institutions, or C.D.F.I.s, and Minority Depository Financial Institutions, or M.D.I.s. By parking some of its cash with these firms much as Netflix has said it would Square hopes to bolster their ability to lend in underserved communities. $25 million in The Keepers Fund, a vehicle sponsored by the National Bankers Association meant to invest in M.D.I.s. $25 million in the Black Economic Development Fund, which was created by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation to support Black-led banks and businesses. US$650M Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 Avolon Holdings Limited ("Avolon"), the international aircraft leasing company, announces the successful pricing of a private offering (the "Offering") by its wholly owned subsidiary, Avolon Holdings Funding Limited, for a principal aggregate amount of US$650 million of 5.50% senior unsecured notes due 2026 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Avolon, and by certain of its subsidiaries. The Offering is expected to close on or about 29 September, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions. Net proceeds from the Offering will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include the future repayment of outstanding indebtedness. The Notes will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Notes will be offered in the United States only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act and outside the United States under Regulation S of the Securities Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there by any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, qualification or an exemption under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. ENDS About Avolon Headquartered in Ireland, with offices in the United States, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai, Avolon provides aircraft leasing and lease management services. Avolon is 70% owned by an indirect subsidiary of Bohai Leasing Co., Ltd., a public company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SLE: 000415) and 30% owned by ORIX Aviation Systems, a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation which is listed on the Tokyo and New York Stock Exchanges (TSE: 8591; NYSE: IX). Avolon is the world's third largest aircraft leasing business with an owned, managed and committed fleet, as of 30 June 2020 of 824 aircraft. Website: www.avolon.aero Twitter: @avolon_aero Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This document includes forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions, including statements with respect to Avolon's business, financial condition, results of operations and plans. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and all of which are based on our management's current beliefs and expectations about future events. Forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expects," "may," "will," "could," "should," "shall," "risk," "intends," "estimates," "aims," "plans," "predicts," "continues," "assumes," "positioned" or "anticipates" or the negative thereof, other variations thereon or comparable terminology or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved, that any private placement of senior unsecured notes will occur following the investor calls or, regardless of whether a private placement of senior unsecured notes is consummated, that any ratings agencies will upgrade Avolon to investment grade. Avolon does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update any information contained herein to reflect future events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005871/en/ Contacts: Ross O'Connor Head of Investor Relations roconnor@avolon.aero T: +353 1 231 5818 Emmet Moloney Head of Communications emoloney@avolon.aero T: +353 1 556 4429 Jonathan Neilan FTI Consulting avolon@fticonsulting.com M: +353 86 231 4135 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) The Food and Drug Administration is conducting a more efficient vetting process to hasten the approval of a COVID-19 vaccine that can undergo clinical trials in the country, Director General Eric Domingo said on Thursday. The FDA trimmed down to 14 days the usual four-week evaluation of documents from manufacturers so medical research on the much-needed vaccine can quickly move to Phase 3. Domingo said this was made possible through the pre-evaluation screening of the Department of Science and Technology and the panel of vaccine experts. He said the panel is also holding a simultaneous review with the ethics board committee. "Titingnan na nila ang Phase 1 and Phase 2 trial data tapos kung hindi papasa dun, hindi na pupunta sa FDA," he said in an online forum. "Ang technical review ng FDA, instead of 4 weeks, kaya na namin in 2 weeks yan kasi meron nang pre- evaluation." [Translation: They will look into the clinical trial data from Phases 1 and 2. If it does not pass their standards, they will not forward it to the FDA anymore. Our technical review will be cut down to two weeks because of the pre-evaluation.] Domingo said the vaccine experts panel is reviewing the vaccine manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, and Russia's Sputnik V developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute to decide if Phase 3 of the clinical trial can be done in the country to test their safety and efficacy. FDA must evaluate, approve, and issue a license to all qualified manufacturers who wish to hold a clinical trial in the country. The regulatory agency will decide on an application for license within 60 days. Domingo clarified that vaccines that will eventually be procured would no longer be required to hold clinical trials in the Philippines, but experts said this was an important step to ensure the effectivity of the vaccine. "Even if it works for instance, the antibody numbers may vary from groups. It may be protective to another but not to another ethnic group," according to Dr. Josefina Carlos, a pediatric diseases specialist. Former Philippine Foundation for Vaccination President Dr. May Montellano explained that this was why vaccines are tried on different ethnic groups. "The vaccine should be able to be utilized for all ethnic groups and age groups for which the vaccines may be given, she stressed. CNN Philippines correspondent Carolyn Bonquin contributed to this report. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Hamilton city councillors grilled the citys associate medical officer of health on everything from COVID-19 testing backlogs to appointment call-in wait times at a tense meeting Wednesday. We all recognize how big of a problem this is and how much its impacting residents, said Dr. Ninh Tran, responding to councillors concerns about timely access to testing. But Tran didnt have clear answers on what public health is doing to soothe testing woes, prompting visible frustration from some councillors. This is really hurting a lot of people in our community, Coun. Brad Clark said. Who do we hold to account for the logjam in the testing? For the better part of the past two weeks, Hamiltonians have come up against roadblocks when trying to access COVID testing. Some complain public health takes too long to return voicemails; when they finally get a call back, the earliest testing appointment available is four days away. And then theres the time it takes to process tests and post them online; Hamilton public health said Monday it takes between 24 and 60 hours to get a result. All in all, some residents are facing a weeklong delay to get results. And thats a problem, councillors say. At the virtual general issues committee meeting, Clark read aloud an email he received from a resident who was told by public health they couldnt get a test appointment for four days. The person needed a negative result before they could return to work. I will lose my entire week of work, my paycheque, and I desperately need it, Clark read. Responding to Clarks initial question about who is responsible for the logjam, Tran said testing is an initiative that involves provincial funding and local resources. He said public health is working to expand testing capacity, noting that a new testing centre is now up and running at St. Joseph Healthcares West 5th campus. The centre will expand and take over from the Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena drive-thru assessment centre one of four assessment centres currently running when the drive-thru centre closes mid-October. Tran asked for residents patience. How do we have some patience when this is about self-isolation? Clark said, referring to public healths requirement that people with symptoms must self-isolate until they receive a negative result. The longer that takes, the more income they lose. Coun. Brenda Johnson asked Tran if he had a different answer about who to hold to account. No, he responded. Some councillors were more empathetic to public healths struggles, acknowledging the backlog is an issue faced by regions across Ontario as students return to school. I feel for you, Coun. Jason Farr said to Tran. This roller-coaster, COVID-coaster ride has got a lot of bumps and turns and twists ... the ride alone is enough to make you sick. Tran said Hamilton public health has been inundated with calls in recent weeks. Tuesday marked a peak, with of 3,000 calls coming in one day after an average of 1,000 calls per day last week. Residents are sometimes calling multiple times in the hopes of getting through to a person instead of a messaging system to book a test. Hamiltons testing centres are now doing around 1,000 tests combined a day, which is up from 450 when they first opened. More recently, they were doing 750 per day. Other bad news is that the citys active case numbers are up. On Tuesday, public health was reporting 19 new COVID cases. On Wednesday, there were just five new cases but the citys total number of active cases hit 73, the highest in months. The mayor referenced a looming second wave at the meeting. There should be preparation for what many have believed will be a second wave Im hoping not but the reality is its starting to look that way, said Mayor Fred Eisenberger. Certainly being prepared at all levels is going to be critical. He said Hamilton businesses owners tell him they cant survive a second shutdown. Eisenberger also asked when local pharmacies will begin testing asymptomatic residents for COVID. Premier Doug Ford announced Wednesday up to 60 pharmacies in Ontario will soon test for COVID in-store. None of the pharmacies are in Hamilton. I would expect at some point Hamilton pharmacies would be part of that, I just dont have a timeline for that, Tran said. Meanwhile, it seems some good news may be on the horizon. Asked about testing expansion Wednesday, public health spokesperson Jacqueline Durlov said the groups who run the testing centres, including hospitals, are looking at ways to match testing centre capacity (hours and locations) to demand. We expect an update on this later this week, Durlov said. DANBURY South Street Elementary School has earned a national honor for its progress in closing achievement gaps. The school is one of four in Connecticut and 367 in the country to be named a National Blue Ribbon School, a coveted award, the U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday. Up to 420 schools are nominated each year. Its a privilege to recognize the extraordinary work you do to meet students needs and prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a statement. Morris Street Elementary School earned this award in 2017 for working to close the achievement gap, as well. The state has named South Street a School of Distinction for three of the last four years. Gov. Ned Lamont congratulated the Connecticut schools for the award. Every child - no matter their familys income or the neighborhood where they live - deserves access to a quality education that prepares them for achievement, he said in a statement. We no doubt continue to have work to do to close persistent achievement gaps that have lingered far too long, but I firmly believe that the strong work of so many of our educators is having an impact. More than half of South Street students are English learners, while 87.2 percent are from economically disadvantaged families, Lamonts office said. The school has a daily 30-minute block called What I need, or WIN, where students receive intervention or acceleration, which has led to academic growth, the governor said. The state uses data from the Next Generation Accountability System to nominate schools. Receiving this prestigious honor speaks to the true team effort it takes to make tangible progress on closing gaps in opportunities, access, and outcomes that exist for too many of our students, State Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona said in a statement. Taking these successes to scale statewide will require us to come together in the same spirit of collaboration with all of us doing our part, especially in light of this pandemic. In addition to South Street, Northeast School in Vernon was awarded for its exemplary effort to close the achievement gap. Meanwhile, George Hersey Robertson School in Coventry and Norton Elementary School in Cheshire were honored for being among the states highest performing schools, the education department said. A ceremony will be held virtually on Nov. 12 and 13. Schools will receive plaques and flags in the mail. In 1921, Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize in physics for the discovery that light is quantized, interacting with matter as a stream of particles called photons. Since these early days of quantum mechanics, it is known that photons also possess momentum. The photon's ability to transfer momentum was used in a novel approach by scientists of the Max Born Institute, Uppsala University, and the European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Facility to observe a fundamental process in the interaction of x-rays with atoms. The detailed experimental and theoretical results are reported in the journal Science. Absorption as well as emission of a photon by an atom are fundamental processes of the interaction of light with matter. Much rarer are processes in which several photons simultaneously interact with one atom. The availability of intense laser beams since the 1960s has led to the development of "nonlinear optics", which observes and utilizes such processes. Entirely new possibilities emerge if it is possible to use nonlinear optics with x-rays instead of visible light. The use of ultrashort flashes of x-rays allows for detailed insight into the motion of electrons and atomic nuclei in molecules and solids. This perspective was one of the drivers leading to the construction of x-ray lasers based on particle accelerators in several countries. When the European x-ray free-electron laser, the European XFEL, started operation in 2017, the scientific community made an important step in that direction. Nevertheless, progress in the use of nonlinear x-ray processes to study fundamental interaction with matter has been slower than expected. "Typically, the much stronger linear processes occlude the interesting nonlinear processes", says Prof. Ulli Eichmann from Max Born Institute for nonlinear optics and short pulse spectroscopy in Berlin. The German-Swedish research team has now demonstrated a new method allowing to observe the nonlinear processes without being disturbed by the linear processes. To this end, the team made use of the momentum that is transferred between x-rays and atoms. When crossing a supersonic atomic beam with the x-ray beam, they can identify those atoms which have undergone the so-called stimulated Raman scattering process - a fundamental nonlinear process, where two photons of different wavelength hit an atom and two photons of the longer wavelength leave the atom. The results were reported in the journal Science. "Photons transfer momentum to an atom - completely analogous to a billiard ball hitting another one", explains Eichmann. In the stimulated Raman process, both photons leave the atom in the exact same direction as the two incident photons, hence the momentum of the atom and its direction of flight remain essentially unchanged. The much more frequent linear processes, where one photon is absorbed followed by the emission of another photon, have a different signature: as the emitted photon is typically emitted in a different direction, the atom will be deflected. Observing the direction of the atoms the scientists could thus clearly discriminate the stimulated Raman process from other processes. "The new method opens unique possibilities when combined in the future with two time-delayed x-ray pulses of different wavelength. Such pulse patterns have recently become available at x-ray lasers, like the European XFEL", explains Dr. Michael Meyer, researcher at the European XFEL. As x-ray pulses with different wavelength allow to specifically address particular atoms in a molecule, it is possible to observe in detail how the wavefunctions of electrons in molecules evolve over time. In the long run, the scientists hope to not only observe this evolution, but to influence it via tailored laser pulses. "Our approach allows for a better understanding of chemical reactions on the atomic scale and may help to steer the reactions in a desired direction. As the movement of electrons is the essential step in chemical and photochemical reactions occurring e.g. in batteries and solar cells, our approach may give new insight in such processes as well", says Jan-Erik Rubensson, professor at Uppsala University. ### A Porsche driver accused of videoing four police officers who were fatally struck by a truck has been granted access to his medical records to support his case. Richard Pusey has been charged with a raft of offences following the deadly collision on the Eastern Freeway in Kew, Melbourne, on April 22. Police had pulled over the 42-year-old after he was allegedly clocked doing 149km/h while under the influence of methamphetamine and cannabis. Richard Pusey, the driver of a Porsche who allegedly fled the scene of a truck crash on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway which killed four police officers, is taken away from his Fitzroy property by police on April 23 Senior Constable Kevin King (pictured, far left), Constable Glen Humphris (second from left), Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor (second from right) and and Constable Josh Prestney (far right) all died in the crash The four police officers were hit by a semi-trailer while they were dealing with Pusey, who then allegedly filmed the crash site and verbally abused Senior Constable Taylor, who was dying, before fleeing. 'Now you have f**ked my f**king car,' Pusey was allegedly heard to say. On Thursday, Pusey sought access to his medical records and a witness summons, NCA NewsWire reported. The businessman did not appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court. Pusey (pictured) is facing more than a dozen charges Magistrate Donna Bakos granted Pusey's lawyer Chris McLennan access to 177 pages of medical documents, but some additional pages were not included because they could 'identify others'. The details of the documents were not disclosed to the court and prosecutor Jason Ong did not ask for access. Pusey is facing more than a dozen charges including driving at a dangerous speed, reckless conduct endangering life, destruction of evidence, perverting the course of justice, failing to remain at the scene after a drug test and failing to render assistance. Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Josh Prestney were all killed in the crash. Pusey is expected to face court next month. Delhi's Karkardooma court on Thursday (September 24) sent Delhi riots accused and former JNU student Umar Khalid arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to judicial custody till October 22. Umar Khalid, who was arrested on September 13 in connection with this case, was presented before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat through video conferencing at the end of his police custody. Umar was sent to judicial custody after Delhi Police did not seek his further custody. Delhi Police has claimed in the FIR against Umar that the communal violence which erupted in Delhi in February was a "premeditated conspiracy" which was allegedly planned by Umar and two others. He has also been booked for the offences of sedition, murder, attempt to murder, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and rioting. Communal clashes broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between supporters of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and those against the legislation spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. Live TV On September 13, Khalid was summoned by the Special Cell of Delhi Police for questioning regarding the northeast violence that rocked the capital this February. His phone was also seized by the police. In a charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police Crime Branch against suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, the investigating officer has alleged that on January 8, more than a month before the riots, Hussain met with Umar Khalid and Khalid Saifi of 'United Against Hate' at the Shaheen Bagh anti-CAA protest, and Umar asked him to be prepared for something big at the time of United States President Donald Trump's visit to India. Former RBI governors Urjit Patel and Raghuram Rajan have also expressed worry about the Mudra scheme, particularly governments target-setting practice and the rising bad loans. Non-performing assets for loans disbursed by state-owned banks under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is on an upward trajectory. Bad loans soared to around 5 per cent of the total disbursed amount in 2019-20, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur informed Parliament earlier this week. NPAs of public sector banks (PSBs) under PMMY stood at 4.9 per cent in 2019-20 - a big jump from 3.8 per cent in 2018-19, and 3.4 per cent in 2017-18. The government launched the Mudra scheme in April 2015 to give unsecured loans of up to Rs 10 lakh to small enterprises. Since its inception, over 253 million loans, amounting to Rs 12.9 trillion, have been given out under the scheme. In a written response, Thakur said NPAs of PSBs under PMMY rose to Rs 18,836 crore in 2019-20, compared to Rs 11,483 crore in 2018-19, and Rs 7,277 crore in 2017-18. This was corresponding to Rs 3.82 trillion disbursed by PSBs in 2019-20, compared to Rs 3.05 trillion in 2018-19 under PMMY. But this data may not present the complete picture about the depth of the NPA problem in PMMY. This is because the government didnt provide any data on the proportion of bad loans in relation to total credit outstanding - a yardstick followed by most banks while reporting NPAs. Also, the government only provided data related to PSBs, whereas the Mudra scheme covers non-banking financial companies and the private sector lenders, too. Thakur said the government had asked PSBs to regularly monitor asset quality for small ticket loans, including PMMY loans, make granular analysis of Mudra NPA accounts, improve underwriting standards, and maintain regular and intensive contacts with PMMY borrowers. In November, the Reserve Bank had raised concerns about the growing level of NPAs under the Mudra scheme. Despite rising NPAs, documents reviewed by Business Standard show that the government has set strict targets for banks to meet under the Mudra scheme. The department of financial services has informed pan-India PMMY targets for 2020-21 to all PSBs and private sector banks Joint secretary, DFS, and the government advised member banks to mark it as an area of focus and comply urgently, according to the minutes of the meeting of the state-level banking committee (SLBC) of Maharashtra held on August 28. In the SLBC meeting, concerns were raised over rising NPAs under the Mudra scheme, particularly that of State Bank of India (SBI), which has seen more than half of its loan portfolio under the scheme turn bad in Maharashtra. SBI has reported 58 per cent NPAs under Mudra loans; however, SBI informed that these loans in Mudra pertaining to allied activities under agriculture sector. "SBI has been advised to find reasons and come up with focused action plan to reduce NPAs under Mudra, the minutes of the meeting read. SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar had said in April that 15 per cent of Mudra loans by the countrys largest bank were NPAs. Maharashtra, the fourth highest state in terms of loans disbursed under the Mudra scheme, saw its NPA levels touch 15 per cent of the credit outstanding amount at the end of June. Former RBI governors Urjit Patel and Raghuram Rajan have also expressed worry about the Mudra scheme, particularly governments target-setting practice and the rising bad loans. ZURICH, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Switzerland's leading telecommunications and IT company Swisscom is joining forces with Ericsson and Qualcomm CDMA Technologies GmbH to identify the world's most innovative startups and research teams working on 5G applications. The five winners of theSwisscom StartUp Challenge will be invited to Switzerland in 2021 for an Exploration Week during which they will have the opportunity to carry out extensive testing on their prototypes in Swisscom's live 5G network and take them to the next level. They will have access to the Swisscom 5G lab, its live network and to 5G devices, and will receive the support of experts and mentors from Ericsson, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies and Swisscom. The deadline for applications is 11 October 2020. With its ultra-fast, robust broadband connections and low latency, 5G - the latest generation of mobile communications - opens up a whole host of new possibilities. A worldwide battle is raging to be among the pioneers building the first networks to take advantage of this technology at an early stage. In April 2019, Swisscom was the first European provider - and the fifth in the world - to go live with its 5G network and it continues to constantly expand it. The winners will benefit from this head start: Swisscom is now joining forces with partners Ericsson and Qualcomm CDMA Technologies to launch the Swisscom 5G Startup Challenge and is inviting the winners to carry out extensive testing on their applications in the live 5G network and take them to the next level. Launched in 2013, the Swisscom StartUp Challenge is focusing entirely on 5G in 2020 and this year, for the very first time, is open to startups and research teams from around the world. In the past seven years, the winners of the challenge, including Ava, Exeon Analytics, Futurae and Sentifi, have each travelled to Silicon Valley for a week-long Acceleration Programme. This year, Swisscom and its partners will invite the winners to spend a week in Switzerland, where they will have the opportunity to carry out extensive testing on the latest mobile generation's most innovative applications and take them to the next level - in the Swisscom network. Pick up expert knowledge and explore Switzerland Startups and research teams from across the world who want to exploit 5G's potential and have already developed a product or prototype are invited to apply. Applications must be received at www.swisscom.com/5gstartupchallenge by 11 October 2020. The 10 most interesting applications will then be invited to the final in December 2020. The top five 5G innovators will travel to Switzerland in March 2021, where they will have the chance to spend a week performing test cases at Swisscom's 5G lab or in different locations, regions and also on trains across the live network. They will be supported every step of the way by mentors and experts from Ericsson, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, Venturelab and Swisscom and will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with top entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. In addition, the winners will be able to explore Switzerland, visiting leading global innovation facilities, such as the Federal Institute of Technology and the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, and meeting pioneers of business and technology. Travel costs, accommodation and meals will be covered by Swisscom. A trip to the 2021 Mobile World Congress In November 2020, the general public will also be given the chance to vote for their favourite application. The startup or research team that wins the public vote will travel to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in spring 2021. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280142/Swisscom_StartUp_Challenge_2020_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280143/Swisscom_Logo.jpg Press contacts: Swisscom Media Relations Florian Maag Tel: +41 (0) 58 221 9804 Email: media@swisscom.com Mary Trump, the niece of Donald Trump, has sued the US President, accusing him and other family members of cheating her out of tens of millions of dollars from an inheritance. The complaint filed in a New York state court in Manhattan on Thursday local time (Friday AEST) against Donald Trump, his sister Maryanne Trump Barry, and the estate of his brother Robert Trump, who died in August, accused the defendants of "rampant fraud" and conspiracy. Mary Trump, right, has sued Donald Trump, left, and other family members in a Manhattan court. Credit:Bloomberg Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for Trump, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A lawyer who had represented Robert Trump did not immediately respond to a similar request. Trump Barry could not immediately be located for comment. The complaint retraces some allegations that Mary Trump made in her recent tell-all book Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man. A New Jersey man who spent more than three years trying to become a firefighter in Englewood in Bergen County, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the city, claiming they mostly only hire white candidates. Charles Barnhart, who is Black, claims in court papers he was notified in January 2017 that he passed the entrance exam, placing in the top 30 of candidates who took the test. The letter stated he would attend the training academy in April 2019 and then serve at first as a probationary firefighter, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in Superior Court of Bergen County. Barnhart claims he filled out W-2 financial forms, took a psychological evaluation and submitted to a drug test in anticipation of becoming an Englewood firefighter. But Edward Hynes, the city manager, notified Barnhart that the municipality could not offer him employment since the budget had not yet been hashed out, according to the lawsuit. The letter stated that the city would not pay for Barnhart to attend the firefighter training academy, the suit states. Barnhart claims that other candidates were hired around the same time and that most of them are white, even though the majority of residents in Englewood are minorities, according to the suit. In the suit, Barnhart alleges racial discrimination, breach of contract and claims the city systematically discriminated against African Americans in the hiring process. The city council in 2019 suspended and later terminated Hynes from his city manager position for unspecified personnel reasons, according to a published report on NorthJersey.com. Englewood city officials declined Thursday morning to comment on Barnharts lawsuit. 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. Photo: The Canadian Press President Donald Trump gestures to members of the press as he walks to the Oval Office of the White House after visiting the Supreme Court to pay respects to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in Washington. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Patrick Semansky Firebrand Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders is sounding the alarm over Donald Trump's refusal to promise a peaceful transfer of power next year. In a speech in Washington, D.C., the one-time Democratic presidential hopeful calls that orderly transition the bedrock of American democracy. Under Trump, he says, it is in danger like never before. The sitting president on Wednesday refused to commit to leaving office should he lose the Nov. 3 election to challenger Joe Biden. Trump also suggested, as he has been doing for months without evidence, that Democrats are trying to perpetrate election fraud by encouraging Americans to use mail-in ballots. Sanders says Americans are not going to allow Trump to destroy the democratic ideals that so many of their fellow citizens have died for. "Were going to have to see what happens," Trump said Wednesday in the White House briefing room when asked if he would permit an orderly transition if he loses the election. "We want to get rid of the ballots," he continued. "Youll have a very peaceful there wont be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation." The notion that a president can choose whether to stay or go is an affront to American values, Sanders said. "There is nothing in our constitution or in our laws that gives Donald Trump the privilege of deciding whether or not he will step aside if he loses," he said. "In the United States, the president does not determine who can or cannot vote and what ballots will be counted. That may be what his friend Putin does in Russia. It may be what is done in other authoritarian countries. But it is not and will not be done in America." The coming election is not between Trump and Biden, Sanders said: "This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy and democracy must win." By Mark Gokavi Darion Smith grew up pretending to be the Crocodile Hunter, hiking in Glen Helen Nature Preserve and credits (Clayton) Northmont High School with helping encourage my love for nature and wildlife with cool field trips. I have always lived in suburban areas, and the outdoors was my refuge, especially from family issues and stress, she said. I loved going on hikes, splashing in the streams, listening to the birds. As I grew older, however, I became aware of the real issues facing society. Nature went from something I loved to play in, to something I needed to protect and felt concerned for. Its no surprise Smith ended up as a sustainability major at the University of Dayton. But the journey she took to get there included several other schools, working full time and a stint as an F-16 mechanic in the Air Force. Smith attended Sinclair Community College while working full-time before leaving school. After a while of lacking motivation and direction, I decided to join the military so I could get the GI Bill, Smith said. I became an F-16 aircraft mechanic and was first stationed in Aviano, Italy. She completed two part-time semesters at the online American Military University, and later was stationed at Holloman AFB in New Mexico while finishing her service and getting an associates degree in aviation maintenance technology with the Community College of the Air Force. Smith enrolled at New Mexico State University to major in civil engineering. When the pandemic hit in March, she and her husband decided to relocate closer to her home in Ohio. She said financial aid and scholarships made it possible for her to enroll at the University of Dayton with or without the GI Bill. I chose UD's sustainability major because I was hard pressed to find another like it, Smith said. What's more, I have never before seen things like (the) Urban Sustainability (track), which exactly describes the kind of work I am passionate about doing. Though just in her first sustainability class at UD, Smith said it has affirmed her choice. I have already learned so much and have enjoyed the thought-provoking discussion, and I feel like I have access to amazing educational resources and highly educated professionals with UD's Sustainability Program, she said. It is also amazing to be in a class with like-minded students. I am always excited for my sustainability class! Smith said shed like to join an urban planning team as a sustainability advisor or one day become a sustainability director or join a non-profit to work with sustainable small-business owners. Or maybe work at a national park. Nature kept me healthy as a kid, she said. There are so many children in urban environments that have never experienced the outdoors in the same way I was privileged to. I want to make that accessible to everyone, wherever they are. The question is what inspires me, and intrigues me, like the ultimate challenge: blending sustainability, and nature, with urban living. Is the urban lifestyle sustainable? Can it be done? These are the answers I am going to hopefully help find in my career. Smith said shes been passionate about nature, the planet and the environment her whole life and that she wants to be part of the change for a cleaner, safer, more sustainable world. She also said sustainability education should be for everyone. I think sustainability concepts should be infused into every single major or degree offered at this point, as it should be considered integral to any and all disciplines, Smith said. If you live on this planet, sustainability relates to you and everything around you. So, even if you don't feel passionate or interested enough to major in sustainability, I think you should at least consider a minor in it. More and more companies are looking to hire experts in sustainability to guide their business practices as the green industry grows and develops here in America. For more sustainability news and information, visit HSIs news blog, the Hanley Sustainability Institute website and the Sustainability Program website. WASHINGTON An election-year investigation by Senate Republicans into corruption allegations against Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, involving Ukraine found no evidence of improper influence or wrongdoing by the former vice president, closing out an inquiry its leaders had hoped would tarnish the Democratic presidential nominee. The investigation found that Hunter Biden had cashed in on his fathers name to close lucrative business deals around the world. It also concluded that his work for Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company then mired in a corruption scandal, while the former vice president was directing U.S. policy toward Kyiv had given the appearance of a conflict of interest and alarmed some State Department officials. But an 87-page report summing up the findings, released jointly on Wednesday by the Senate Homeland Security and Finance committees, contained no evidence that the elder Biden improperly manipulated U.S. policy toward Ukraine or committed any other misdeed. In fact, investigators heard witness testimony that rebutted those charges. The homeland security panels Republican chairman, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, had made little secret of his political ambitions for his report, boasting for weeks that his findings would demonstrate Bidens unfitness for office. Instead, the result delivered on Wednesday appeared to be little more than a rehashing six weeks before Election Day of unproven allegations that echo an active Russian disinformation campaign and have been pushed by Trump. In the days before its release, Johnson conceded in an interview that there would be no massive smoking guns, saying that there was a misconception on the part of the public that there would be. The reports primary conclusions, though, were largely the ones Johnson and his investigative partner, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, had made before they began their work, with some new details from State Department and financial transaction reports. Hunter Bidens position hindered the efforts of dedicated career-service individuals who were fighting for anticorruption measures in Ukraine, the Republicans wrote. They did not clarify the nature of that hindrance beyond saying that the situation had been awkward for career State Department officials, who were required to maintain situational awareness of Hunter Bidens association with Burisma. It was also filled with details that emphasized the unseemly appearance created by the younger Bidens involvement with Burisma, given his fathers position. Section 8 of the report was entitled HUNTER BIDEN: A SECRET SERVICE PROTECTEE WHILE ON BURISMAS BOARD. 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 said. The Trump campaign quickly promoted the explosive new revelations, zeroing in on financial records obtained by the senators that showed Hunter Biden receiving large sums of money sometimes as large as seven figures from foreigners in China, Russia and elsewhere while his father was in office. They amounted to stunning levels of corruption and breathtaking breaches of Americas national security, said Tim Murtaugh, a campaign spokesman. In their own competing document challenging the report, Democrats accused Republicans of cherry-picking their findings. All 10 witnesses interviewed by investigators, they noted, had testified that neither Biden nor anyone else had altered U.S. policy because of his son. Every witness stated that Hunter Biden and his associates had no role in the formulation of U.S. policy, that Hunter Bidens role did not influence U.S. foreign policy decisions, and that Vice President Biden carried out U.S. foreign policy in the interest of the United States, the Democrats wrote. The lack of meaningful new information and the overlap with a Russian disinformation campaign that U.S. intelligence officials have said is designed to denigrate Biden only fed charges by Democrats and Bidens campaign that Johnson had abused his Senate powers to aid Trumps reelection campaign and in so doing, had aided Moscow. Andrew Bates, a spokesman for Bidens campaign, accused Johnson of subsidizing a foreign attack against the sovereignty of our elections with taxpayer dollars by promulgating a long-disproven, hard-core right wing conspiracy theory about the former vice president. Biden has conceded that the optics of Hunter Bidens position were bad, but the former vice president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Though their scope was ultimately broader, Republicans set out to scrutinize a specific claim raised by Trump: that Biden had corruptly pushed for the ouster of Ukraines top prosecutor, who had been investigating Burisma, as a favor to his son. Trumps pursuit of that charge, including the pressure he tried to put on Ukraines leader to look into it, is what prompted his impeachment last year. The senators turned up no evidence to support it. Current and former government officials testified that the decision to remove the prosecutor had not been merely Bidens position, but that of most Western nations determined through a rigorous policy process. The reports lead finding that Hunter Bidens presence on the Burisma board posed a challenge for American diplomats rested heavily on the testimony of George P. Kent, a State Department official involved in Ukraine policy. Kent raised concerns in 2015 and 2016, including with Bidens staff, that the millions of dollars in payments to Hunter Biden by Burisma made it very awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anticorruption agenda in Ukraine. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. But Kents statements are not new. He had a prominent role in the Houses impeachment inquiry last fall, when he detailed his concerns about Hunter Biden, but also said he did not witness any efforts by any U.S. official to shield Burisma from scrutiny. So there was no time, as Ive testified, that the U.S. government, the U.S. Embassy ever made a decision about the owner of Burisma or the firm itself where we took the presence of a private citizen on the board into account, he told Johnsons staff. Other former diplomats, including the ambassador to Ukraine at the time, made similar statements. Neither Bidens campaign nor Johnson would say whether he had sought information directly from the former vice president, and a lawyer for Hunter Biden did not respond to a request for comment. In an interview last week before the reports release, Johnson said he was simply conducting the type of oversight with which his committee was tasked, and suggested that the investigation had been thrust upon him because Biden had opted to challenge Trump. The senator said that he never thought Joe Biden should run for president, and hinted that the former vice president had cognitive problems, a baseless attack frequently hurled by Trump. Senate Democrats had sought to shut down the inquiry, noting that it was based on claims that Russia has fanned about Biden and Ukraine. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, noted during one such attempt last week that the United States had just imposed sanctions for election interference on a Ukrainian lawmaker with ties to Russian intelligence, Andriy Derkach, who was peddling edited tapes purporting to show improper acts by Biden in Ukraine. The tapes were part of a a covert influence campaign, the Treasury Department said this month, bent on spurring corruption investigations in both Ukraine and the United States designed to culminate prior to Election Day like the one Johnson conducted. Derkach claimed that he had provided information to Johnson and Grassley, though the senators said they never sought or received anything from him. (They have worked with Andrii Telizhenko, another Ukrainian, despite law enforcement officials sharing concerns with the committee that he, too, could be spreading the same Russian misinformation.) On Wednesday, Schumer said the report read as if Putin wrote it, not United States senators. Johnson forcefully denied that his report was based on any disinformation. But he also said a claim should not be off limits merely because bad actors were amplifying it. If there is somebody in Ukraine and somebody in Russia also publicizing the fact that Joe Biden and Hunter Biden created this massive conflict of interest, Johnson said, is that something we are just supposed to take a hands-off attitude toward? Democrats were not the only ones taking issue. Last week, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, criticized Johnson for pursuing what he called a political exercise. Its not the legitimate role of government for Congress or for taxpayer expense to be used in an effort to damage political opponents, Romney said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Tributes have been paid to the former Sunday Times editor, who later moved to the US and into publishing. Victims of the thalidomide scandal, whose families his groundbreaking campaign helped, were among those to pay their respects. SoE pays tribute to editor Sir Harold Evans as he dies aged 92 Sir Harold Evans was a giant among journalists who strove to put the ordinary man and woman at the heart of his reporting. A true champion of a free press and holding the powerful to accounthttps://t.co/uE65U4SntK Society of Editors UK (@EditorsUK) September 24, 2020 Ian Murray, executive director of the Society of Editors, said: Sir Harold Evans was a giant among journalists who strove to put the ordinary man and woman at the heart of his reporting. Advertisement He took on the establishment without fear or favour and earned a deserved reputation as one of the worlds greatest editors. In his 70 years as a journalist he never lost sight of the need to maintain integrity in our profession. He was a true champion of a free press and holding the powerful to account. Former Sunday Times Insight editor Bruce Page, who worked at the paper with Sir Harold during the 1960s and 1970s, described him as unique. The 83-year-old said: All of his work was marked by his respect for and understanding of the reporters skills and duties. He has given us an essential standard which will in time prevail against the reckless fabrications of social media. Very sorry to hear that legendary journalist, Sir Harold Evans has died. I always enjoyed talking to Harry, and we had a lively conversation when he interviewed me at Women in the World in 2015. My condolences go to @TinaBrownLM and his family. pic.twitter.com/OZumjixhJh Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) September 24, 2020 Glen Harrison, a thalidomide survivor and deputy chairman of the campaign group Thalidomide UK, said Sir Harold Evans was an outstanding human being for our cause. Another thalidomide campaigner, Guy Tweedy, from Harrogate, who last met up with his dear friend in July 2019, said: He was an icon. Advertisement The worlds greatest journalist and Harry was, and will always remain, a hero of Thalidomiders worldwide. Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon offered her condolences to his family and said: I always enjoyed talking to Harry and we had a lively conversation when he interviewed me at Women in the World in 2015. The passing of Sir Harold Evans should remind us of the vital role the free press plays in our democracy He was a giant of investigative journalism - uncovering great injustices and informing the public without fear or favour Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) September 24, 2020 Oliver Dowden, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, said: The passing of Sir Harold Evans should remind us of the vital role the free press plays in our democracy. He was a giant of investigative journalism uncovering great injustices and informing the public without fear or favour. As editor of @TheNorthernEcho between 1999 & 2016, I'd often find myself looking at his picture on the office wall and wondering: "What would you do, Harry?" 50 years after he left, North-East readers still talked of him in awe. A true inspiration. RIP Sir Harold Evans. pic.twitter.com/SQLLHQhzoK petebarronmedia (@PeteBarronMedia) September 24, 2020 Peter Barron, Northern Echo editor from 1999 to 2016, paid tribute to his predecessor, saying: I was editor half a century later and the people of County Durham, North Yorkshire and Darlington still revered him. Advertisement Mr Barron met Sir Harold two years ago for a BBC documentary, recalling: He was 90 years old and quite frail but when he talked about the thalidomide campaign he still leaned forward and he still thumped the desk with anger that the Government and the drug companies had tried to brush this scandal under the carpet. RIP Sir Harry Evans, 92. One of the all-time great newspaper editors. His stunning Thalidomide investigation when he ran the Sunday Times epitomised his crusading, campaigning, fearless style. A wonderful journalist & a witty, charming, fiercely intelligent man. Very sad news. pic.twitter.com/HriNidaM7v Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 24, 2020 Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan described Evans as a witty, charming, fiercely intelligent man. He wrote on Twitter. One of the all-time great newspaper editors. His stunning Thalidomide investigation when he ran the Sunday Times epitomised his crusading, campaigning, fearless style. Harry Evans was the master craftsman of journalism. But he was so much more. He reminded us why journalism mattered and of the good that it could, and should, do. He was the editor we all wanted to be - brave, enlightened and tough. RIP alan rusbridger (@arusbridger) September 24, 2020 Former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger tweeted: Harry Evans was the master craftsman of journalism. But he was so much more. He reminded us why journalism mattered and of the good that it could, and should, do. He was the editor we all wanted to be brave, enlightened and tough. RIP Professor Stuart Corbridge, vice-chancellor of Durham University, where Sir Harry studied, edited the student newspaper and which later gave him an honorary doctorate, said: Our community is devastated to learn of the loss of alumnus Sir Harold Evans a journalistic pioneer whose exceptional career spanned decades and whose legacy will influence generations to come. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), an agency of the U.S. Department of Treasury, Tuesday placed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his family members under close watch over alleged financial fraud. Premium Times unraveled new findings by FinCEN which flagged some transactions linked to the senior politician as suspicious as it surveilled money movements within the international financial system. Highlighting how Atiku transferred money from Nigeria to US, the Online medium said: In 1999, Atiku became Nigerias Vice-president and, thus, created a blind trust to hold his asset in Intels. It was the blind trust created in 1999 that GTCN was incorporated to manage in 2003, with Gabrielle Volpi. Akintola Kekere-Ekun, a banker, and Uyiekpen Osagie, a lawyer, as its directors and trustees. An investigation (of the March 2012 wire transfer) identified GTCN as an alleged shell company that has been used to transfer over USD 10 million via wire transfers through U.S. banks on behalf of the former vice-president of Nigeria, Mr Atiku Abubakar, HBLNY reported. HBLNYs review of public sources revealed that there have been numerous investigations of Mr Abubakar, as senior Politically Exposed Person (PEP), linking him to corruption allegations, possible Foreign Corrupt Practices Act foreign violations and money laundering. Moreso, in 2010, the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations indicted GTCN alongside other companies linked to Atiku and Mr Volpi. The committee had investigated how foreign senior political figures, their relatives, and associates may be circumventing or undermining anti-money laundering (AML) and PEP controls to bring funds that may be the product of foreign corruption into the United States. Of the $40 million identified in the US Senate investigation regarding Atiku, $25 million was reportedly wire-transferred into more than 30 U.S. bank accounts opened by Jennifer Douglas, Atikus fourth wife. The wire transfers were primarily by GTCN, LetsGo Ltd. Inc., and Sima Holding Ltd. Both LetsGo and Sima are offshore corporations registered in Panama and the British Virgin Islands, respectively, and controlled by Mr Volpi, according to a letter to the Senate committee by the businessmans lawyer, Raymond Shepherd of the Washington-based Venable firm. The transactions identified in the US Senate report were made while Atiku held office as Nigerias number two. The March 5, 2012 suspicious transaction reported by HBNYL was for the purchase of a flat in the World Trade Centre residences in Dubai for Rukaiyatu Abubakar, a senior wife of Atiku, through Tanjay, the transaction beneficiary. The following day, March 6, 2012, as the SAR shows, Deutsche Bank New York raised a compliance question in an information request to HBL Dubai regarding another wire transfer between GTCN and Tanjay in the sum of $200,000 dated January 25, 2012. This was also reported to be for a flat for Rukaiyatu Abubakar and there was another CHF 741,000 transaction to which GTCN and Tanjay were also parties. The flagged 2012 wire transfers to Dubai triggered a further investigation, which revealed that GTCN had channelled several other transactions since May 2005, while Atiku was still Nigerias vice-president, to an account the company held with Habib Allied International Bank London, (HAIB, London) from multiple accounts held in Switzerland. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Purdue virtual summit to explore critical issues facing military families WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Legal, mental health and community leaders will learn and share strategies to ease the transition from the battlefront to the home front for military personnel, veterans and their families during the 11th annual Battlemind to Home Summit on Oct. 27. Hosted by the Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) at Purdue University, the conference brings together a variety of experts to inform and educate Indiana professionals of the critical issues facing Indianas military families. A preconference will take place on Oct. 26. Both the preconference and the summit will be held virtually via the Whova conference app. The Battlemind to Home Summit will feature keynote speakers Froma Walsh, a leader in the fields of family therapy and mental health and co-director and co-founder of the Chicago Center for Family Health, and Chad Robichaux, president and founder of the Mighty Oaks Foundation. After overcoming his own personal battles with post-traumatic stress disorder and nearly becoming a veteran suicide statistic, Robichaux founded Mighty Oaks to serve military communities with one of the most effective faith-based combat trauma and resiliency programs available. This years summit will address: * Issues regarding legal needs and support. * How to address physical and mental health concerns during the COVID-19 crisis. * The tools needed to create a sense of community within civilian life for military personnel. Participants of the preconference can select from one of the following three sessions: The Intersection of Substance Use and Suicide: Understanding the Connection. Veteran Homelessness Community Forum. An Overview of VA and Military Benefits for Elder Law Attorneys and VA Accredited Representatives (this session is exclusively for legal professionals). Past summits have taken place in Indianapolis and on Purdues West Lafayette campus and have attracted hundreds of attendees and participants from more than 100 organizations in Indiana and nearby states. More than 400,000 veterans call Indiana home. Those still serving include 5,258 who are in active duty, 13,202 in National Guards and 5,553 in the Reserves. As a percentage of population, Indiana military-related suicide rates are 28.00 for every 100,000 persons versus 20.8 for every 100,000 civilians. Registration for the conference is $45. The preconference costs an additional $20. Continuing education credits and scholarships are available. Registration is now open. MFRI, which is based at Purdue, organizes the summit each year in partnership with the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, the Indiana National Guard, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiative and the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. Organizers collaborate with the Indiana State Bar Association and Indiana Office of Court Services. The term battlemind initially was used by military to talk about the inner strength needed to face adversity, fear and hardship during combat. The application of the term then was broadened to take in psychological resiliency both during and after deployment. More information about the summit is available online, on the MFRI Facebook page or on Twitter using #battlemindIN. About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/. Writer: Denise Buhrmester, buhrmest@purdue.edu, @PurdueHHS Source: Kathy Broniarczyk, kbroniar@purdue.edu, @MFRIPurdue Media contact: Matthew Oates, 765-586-7496 (cell), oatesw@purdue.edu, @mo_oates Journalists visiting campus : Journalists should follow Protect Purdue protocols and the following guidelines: For many, the heartbreak was compounded by the fact that, despite mounting national attention and pressure, the outcome was, simply put, unsurprising. It had crushed cautious hopes that this case could have spurred change, particularly for Black women. Sometimes you wish, even outside of the knowledge that you have, that lightning strikes and something different will happen, said Kimberle Crenshaw, a law professor at U.C.L.A. and Columbia Law School and founder of the Say Her Name campaign. You can attach that hope to some of the factual distinctions of this case: The police cant even claim she was doing anything. But realism tells you that the likelihood of something different was pretty slim. Few police officers who cause deaths are charged or convicted. Since 2013, law enforcement officers across the country have killed about 1,000 people a year and Black people are about three times more likely to be killed by the police than white people, according to the crowdsourced database Mapping Police Violence. Yet, since 2005, only 121 officers in total have been arrested on charges of murder or manslaughter in on-duty killings, according to data compiled by Philip M. Stinson, a former police officer himself and a criminal justice professor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Of the 95 officers whose cases have concluded, 44 were convicted, but often of a lesser charge, like assault, he said. While fewer women than men are killed by the police overall, the conviction rate is low in those cases, too, particularly for Black women. Since 2015, nearly 250 women in total have been killed by police officers, of which 48 about a fifth were Black, according to a Washington Post database. In that same time frame, there have been two cases in which officers were charged with manslaughter or murder in an on-duty shooting of a Black woman, Professor Stinson said. One officer was acquitted and the other case is still pending. By comparison, there have been five cases since 2015 in which officers were charged with manslaughter or murder in an on-duty shooting of a white woman and three of them resulted in a conviction. The women were taken into custody early this week after the Armenian police claimed that they periodically slapped the children, pulled their hair and even hit them with sticks. The police did not reveal the source of the information about the alleged violence. The allegation is believed to have been made by an orphanage insider. A Yerevan court on Wednesday agreed to remand the three suspects in custody pending investigation conducted by Armenias Investigative Committee. A spokeswoman for the committee, Rima Yeganian, insisted on Thursday that the law-enforcement agency had enough evidence to indict them. The investigation is continuing, she told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. The arrested orphanage workers will face between three and seven years in prison if convicted. They all deny the accusations, according to Levon Baghdasarian, a lawyer representing two of them. I am more than hopeful that many things will be cleared up during an objective investigation, said Baghdasarian. He claimed that the witness who alerted the police did not implicate his clients in the violence. The orphanage in question has 77 children aged 6 and younger. Many of them have health problems. This and other orphanages are overseen and inspected by a department on childrens affairs at the Armenian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. They all have been in quarantine since February due to the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately we cannot say that this was an isolated case, the head of the department, Anahit Kalantarian, said, commenting on the alleged child abuse. Kalantarian said that her subordinates most recently visited the orphanage last year and found no indications of ill-treatment of orphans living there. She said they have not been able to inspect it this year because of the continuing quarantine. The orphanages former director, Liana Karapetian, and three other individuals were charged last December with arranging illegal adoptions of Armenian children by foreigners in return for bribes. Karapetian was fired shortly afterwards despite denying the accusations. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has still not appointed a new director. During a job contest organized in May it received 19 applications for the vacant position. The ministry did not select any of those applicants and decided to hold another contest instead. Kalantarian said its results will be announced before the end of this month. To the Editor: Targeting cities based on partisan politics is a dangerous precedent. President Trump has been critical recently of Democrat-run cities. But most cities, including Minneapolis, Portland, Ore., Seattle and Kenosha, Wis., are governed by mayors and councils that are elected without party affiliation. Whether or not cities are governed by leaders elected through nonpartisan or partisan elections, they are expected to manage local affairs in a fair and evenhanded manner. They hire professional local government managers to help ensure that the day-to-day operations are handled in an ethical, efficient and transparent way. For more than 100 years, our organizations have been helping cities reform their governance to effectively and professionally manage issues without the partisan bickering and dysfunction that we see at the federal level. As a result, trust in local government is twice as high as trust in our national government. French investment manager Corum Asset Management has purchased Block 12 of The Campus, Cherrywood, Dublin 18 for 27.7m. The Block 12 is fully occupied by Aviva at an annual rent of 1.81m reflecting a net initial yield of 5.94pc. It also reflects a capital cost of 21.50 per sq ft plus parking income. There are five yearly upward only rent reviews, with the next rent review in July 2022. Insurance and investment firm Aviva has occupied the building since 2002 on a 25 year lease with no break options. The building provides 73,810 sq ft of flexible office accommodation over three floors, situated on a 2.5 acre site which includes 222 car parking spaces. Vendor Spear Street Capital acquired the Cherrywood business park in December 2017 from Hines and King Street. Michele McGarry and Aoife Murray of Colliers International advised Corum Asset Management, which purchased the property on behalf of the Corum XL fund. John Moran and Jacqueline Fitzpatrick of JLL advised Spear Street Capital on the sale. Spear Street Capital has invested heavily in place making and a sense of community within The Campus. Coupled with the wider Cherrywood Town Centre development. Other occupiers in Cherrywood include Elavon, Accenture, and Dell. Michele McGarry, of Colliers said: "the sale demonstrates market resilience against the backdrop of Covid and confirms demand for good quality, well let office investment opportunities." John Moran of JLL said: "This sale clearly demonstrates the progress that The Campus has made during its ownership under Spear Street and it is great to see new institutional capital investing along side them." Corum has been acquiring investment properties in Ireland in recent years not alone in Dublin but also in Cork, Belfast and Gorey. The Cherrywood deal is its second Dublin 18 acquisition this year as it acquired Blackthorn House in Sandyford in Dublin 18 for 17.5 million from Irish Life in April at a net initial yield of 6.73pc. Aviva provides around 33 million customers around the world with insurance, savings and investment products. A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in September 2020 shows that pet dogs have been falling sick and dying of a mysterious respiratory infection, often showing the presence of anti- severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies, even though in many cases they do not test positive for COVID-19. Coronavirus Infections in Humans and Small Pets COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease originated by SARS-CoV-2, thought to have been transferred from certain wild mammalian species to humans via an intermediate host. It is characterized chiefly by lung injury, with features similar to the macrophage activation syndrome that results in hyperinflammation, including the activation and proliferation of T cells and macrophages. While there are several types of coronavirus, they fall into four genera, from alpha to delta. The two severe respiratory coronaviruses of earlier decades, namely, the SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, are both betacoronaviruses (betaCoV), and both cause fatal pneumonia with a prominent inflammatory component. While immunocompetent people show mild infection, older adults and immunocompromised individuals are at risk for severe infection. Dogs and cats have been found to be susceptible to alpha and betaCoV, for instance, the canine enteric coronavirus (CCoV), which causes gastroenteritis in animals. Some of these infected dogs recover to become carriers. The spread of CCoV occurs via the feco-oral route. A betaCoV called canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV) causes mild respiratory infection in dogs. However, recently asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection has been described for the first time in dogs. It seems plausible that the virus could jump from humans to dogs since it is a zoonotic disease in the first place. Other Animals Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Many other animal infections have been reported, including cats, dogs, tigers, lions, minks, and ferrets. Ferrets and cats have been shown to be relatively sensitive to SARS-CoV-2, unlike fruit bats, dogs and hamsters. A human-animal-human pattern is postulated, with the first part of the chain being confirmed by the World Organization for Animal Health-OIE, but not the second. The authors point out, To date, no cases of transmission from domestic or captive wild animals to humans have been described. This ignores, however, the possibility that two mink farmworkers reported positive acquired the infection from the mink. Seropositivity in Pet Dogs Some studies show that pet dogs with SARS-CoV-2-positive owners are seronegative, but others have described both RT PCR-positivity and the presence of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in dogs. As of now, 10 PCR-positive dogs have been reported worldwide, all belonging to homes with virus-positive owners, and more than half of them being symptomatic. Two PCR-negative dogs have been observed to be seropositive, one being asymptomatic and the other showing respiratory issues. A large study of 3,500 pet dogs, cats, and horses in the US and Korea failed to show a single positive animal, however. This conclusion was also reached in France and Italy, with the latter study, covering ~800 animals, finding no PCR-positives but 19 seropositive animals with neutralizing antibodies. Unexplained Intractable Respiratory Disease in Dogs The current study shows that serious respiratory disease was much increased among pet dogs, as reported by Spanish veterinarians, in a period overlapping the months of COVID-19 in Spain. The study aimed to describe the disease process in infected animals with COVID-19-like symptoms and to find out if dogs can acquire the virus in a home environment in close contact with humans. The study included 40 sick dogs, with an average age of 8 years, belonging to 15 breeds. There were also 20 healthy dogs living in families with COVID-19. Most sick dogs had positive lung signs, but some also had a fever, a rapid pulse, and gut symptoms. Imaging with chest radiograph, sonographic images and CT. (A) Thoracic radiograph made in right lateral (left) and dorsoventral (right) showing a generalized severe interstitial opacity accentuated in the caudodorsal (arrows). (B) Sonographic images of two patients with severe dyspnea showing a diffused B line (left; arrow) and consolidation focal lesions (right; arrow). (C) Transverse (left) chest CT images showing bilateral focal peripheral ground-glass opacities with intralobular and interlobular smooth septal thickening (arrow); sagital (right) chest CT images showing diffuse opacities with consolidation and bronchial wall thickening (arrow). All sick dogs had radiological signs of alveolar or interstitial pneumonia. In over a third, generalized lung opacity was present, and in half, a single alveolar focus of infiltration. Ultrasound and CT scans showed bilateral parenchymal abnormalities. A blood count was determined, which showed that in almost 60% of dogs, white cells were abnormally increased, mostly neutrophils but also monocytes in half and lymphocytes in over a third. They also screened for SARS-CoV-2, and 33 were also tested for other common canine viruses. All tests were negative, but one dog had CDV positive tests, with a third being reported Mycoplasma positive. Respiratory disease in dogs is typically mild, but in this study, just less than half of the dogs died of their pneumonia during the follow-up. Necropsies in two dogs showed severe interstitial pneumonia with diffuse alveolar damage. The changes reflected those seen in viral infections of the lung. Antibody Responses The study next explored the immune responses in 17 sick dogs and 20 asymptomatic dogs that lived with COVID-19-positive owners. Ten and eight sick dogs have been vaccinated according to the standard protocol they failed to find any link between canine vaccination and the chances of subsequent sickness. The researchers tested for IgG against the various canine viruses: canine adenovirus (CAV), canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine distemper virus (CDV), along with IgM and IgG isotypes against CCoV and IgG against SARS-CoV-2 in both groups. They found the last to be higher in a quarter of healthy dogs (5/17) but only one sick dog, which was, moreover, PCR-negative. This dog did show the presence of Mycoplasma spp. and CDV. All of the five SARS-CoV-2 seropositive healthy dogs also had IgG antibodies against the first three canine viruses as well, but only two against CCoV. Vice versa, of the 12 healthy dogs, all were positive for CCoV IgG but only two for SARS-CoV-2 IgG. Of the seven sick dogs, none were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2. Seropositivity and High Mortality in Dogs Despite the scattered reports of seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 in dogs, they are generally considered to be less susceptible to the virus. Yet, vets in Spain have reported a considerable jump in severe lung disease during the COVID-19 outbreak. Almost a third of US vets say that they were asked to diagnose COVID-19 in pet dogs during this time. Most of the dogs in the Spanish report failed to respond well to the usual antibiotics. The expected mortality from respiratory disease in pet dogs is 1.2%, pneumonia accounting for only 0.3%. In the COVID-19 season, however, over 40% of dogs died due to respiratory disease. Unknown Etiology Though the etiological agent was mostly unidentified, they had severe lung disease similar to that seen in human COVID-19 pneumonia. Infectious respiratory diseases in dogs are typically due to CPIV, CAV-2, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, Mycoplasma cynos, CHV-1, CDV, CIV, and CRCoV. In the current study, 8/33 tested dogs showed signs of one of these pathogens, and CCoV in 3/17 sick dogs. However, CRCoV usually causes mild symptoms and signs and is unlikely to have been the cause of these acute severe lung disease episodes. Mycoplasma was found in 26/33 dogs tested for a panel of organisms. The only species that is linked to canine pneumonia is M. cynos, but there is still doubt as to its actual pathogenic role. In most cases, it seems to be a coinfection or secondary infection. It is commonly identified in COVID-19 patients, and active Mycoplasma infection may steer the patient towards a fatal termination of the disease. The 30-fold rise in the death rate among pet dogs, without an identifiable agent, is a curiously coincidental event in the COVID-19 period. While interstitial pneumonia is also seen in other dog diseases like canine distemper, septicemia, or herbicide exposure, in these dogs, it closely resembled the findings found in COVID-19 in humans. Further work is needed to examine this possibility given the negative PCR tests in nasopharyngeal and rectal samples. In contrast to a Chinese study of ~500 dogs, where only one pet dog was seropositive, an Italian study on ~200 and ~60 dogs and cats showed the presence of neutralizing antibodies in about 3% and 4%, respectively. None were symptomatic. Infected Owners Increase Chances of Canine Seroconversion Dogs whose owners have COVID-19, or live in such households, have a higher chance of being seropositive. On the other hand, seroconversion occurs only in half the dogs that were exposed to the virus by seroconversion. The Italian study shows that about 13% of seropositive dogs came from infected households but only 1.5% from COVID-19-negative households. This information was not available in the current study. Overall, therefore, the study concludes that of the 40 sick dogs, all were PCR-positive, but some were seropositive. Some healthy dogs also show seropositivity, suggesting a low level of transmission from dogs. Dogs belonging to infected owners are, however, likely to have higher levels of exposure to the virus. *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. Democrats are feeling powerless about the Republican drive to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with President Trumps nominee for the Supreme Court, and understandably so theres little that Democratic senators or their supporters can do to stop it. As a result, some are looking ahead to 2021 and planning ways to get even provided that Democrats flip the White House and Senate and hold the House in November. Several ideas that were once on the fringes are surging up the Democratic agenda as fundamental changes that could blunt Republican power in the long run. Among them: ending the Senate filibuster, the supermajority needed to pass virtually any legislation; granting statehood to Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico as a way to add four likely Democratic senators and a handful of electoral votes; and expanding the Supreme Court to 13 members, with Joe Biden choosing the next four. Right now, there is an appetite for all three, and it is expanding beyond just progressive Democrats, said Alan Minsky, executive director of Progressive Democrats of America. The partys base wants to see things passed, and weve gone around and around on this, and people are tired of it. Democrats have grown a backbone. Before they even start contemplating these changes, Democrats face one big challenge: Biden isnt on board with most of these ideas, at least not yet. But other mainstream Democrats are coming around to at least some of them. When Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made it clear he intended to hold a vote on Trumps nominee this year, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer countered that nothing is off the table for next year. Grassroots activists are raring to go, even if it means turning on reluctant Democrats like California Sen. Dianne Feinstein. On Wednesday, the left-leaning Courage California urged its supporters to help us flood Sen. Feinsteins office with calls to make sure she represents California, not her own self-interest, after she said she opposed doing away with the filibuster. But its not just Feinstein whom activists will have to persuade. They will have to work on Biden, who won the Democratic nomination by positioning himself as someone who could win the moderate swing states that voted for Trump four years ago. He has no interest in pushing far-reaching proposals that require a lot of explanation to uninitiated voters six weeks before election day. Instead, at a rally in Philadelphia on Sunday, he pushed a message of moderation. Action and reaction, anger and more anger, sorrow and frustration at the way things are in this country now politically, thats the cycle that Republican senators will continue to perpetuate if they go down this dangerous path that they put us on, Biden said. We need to de-escalate, not escalate. Biden has also pointed out that any changes Democrats might make in 2021 would simply be exploited by Republicans the next time they take power. David Atkins, a Democratic National Committee member from Santa Barbara who has been advocating for all three issues, isnt worried about engaging in a tit-for-tat with Republicans. People worry about a race to the bottom, Atkins said. But what people dont realize is that we are already there. UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, who supports increasing the size of the court, said Biden is smart to hang back. I dont think there is any need for Joe Biden to take a position on this issue today, Chemerinsky said. There will be time for that later. Here is a look at each change catching fire with progressives: Ending the filibuster: This would be the most foundational change, as it would make it far easier for Democrats to accomplish their other goals. The filibuster allows a minority of 40 senators in the 100-member chamber to block a vote on any bill. All it would take is a simple majority of the Senate to kill it. The filibuster is not enshrined in the Constitution the Senate simply adopted it over the years. Southern segregationists long used it to block civil rights reforms, something one of the Democrats most popular figures, former President Barack Obama, pointed out when he called for ending it in his eulogy at Rep. John Lewis funeral. To this day, it allows minority rule to continue, Atkins said. Biden, however, spent nearly four decades in the Senate and, like Feinstein, is an institutionalist. He said during the primaries that he opposed eliminating the filibuster, and has avoided answering questions about it since Ginsburg died. Expanding the Supreme Court: The Constitution doesnt set a limit on the number of justices. All it would take to expand the court would be a vote of Congress and approval by the president. Chemerinsky, the UC Berkeley Law School dean, said Democrats should do it if Republicans push a Ginsburg replacement through without Trump first being re-elected. I dont believe in unilateral disarmament, he said. If Republicans are willing to divide the country, it doesnt make any sense that Democrats should do nothing. But here as well, Biden is not a fan. In an October debate, he predicted that if Democrats add justices, next time around, we lose control, they (Republicans) add three justices. We begin to lose any credibility the court has at all. Statehood for D.C. and Puerto Rico: This is the lowest priority for Democrats. Again, all it would take would be a vote of Congress and a yes from the president, along with support from D.C. and Puerto Rico. Two in three Americans support statehood for Puerto Rico, according to a 2019 Gallup Poll, a figure that has remained relatively stable over the past 50 years. Support for D.C. statehood is weaker, with 40% of registered voters backing it and 41% preferring that it remain a federal district, according to a June YouGov poll. The bounty for Democrats if both are admitted to the union: four new senators and as many as five additional House members, plus a likely gain in electoral votes. Bidens viewpoint: He supports statehood for D.C. and self-determination for the island. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe By PTI PUNE: A 33-year-old woman patient has allegedly gone missing from a COVID-19 jumbo hospital in Pune, prompting her family members to stage a protest outside the medical facility on Thursday. While the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) said the woman was discharged from the hospital on September 5, her relatives have filed a missing person's complaint at Shivajinagar police station here in Maharashtra. The woman was admitted to the hospital, located at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) ground, on August 29 after testing positive for coronavirus, her mother told reporters. "I came to meet her the next day, but the staff at the jumbo facility told me that the patient is inside the ward and she is safe. I was asked not to worry and instructed to come after 15 days," she said. She said on September 13, when she and her relatives reached the hospital and searched for her daughter, she was not found. "When the hospital authorities told us to come after 15 days of the quarantine period, why was she given discharge in between? Why were we not informed? Why she was not sent home in an ambulance?" the woman's mother asked. She alleged that when they asked for the CCTV footage, the hospital staff claimed the agency which was operating the facility earlier had taken away all the data. "Ultimately, we approached the Shivajinagar police station and lodged a missing complaint on September 14," she said. Rahul Dambale, a Pune-based social activist who is helping the family, said the missing complaint should have ideally been registered by the management of the jumbo facility, which was set up in July. "As the woman's whereabouts are not known for last 25 days, her family staged a protest outside the facility today," he said. PMC's Deputy Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Muthe said as per records of the jumbo COVID-19 hospital, the woman was given discharge on September 5. "We have the hospital's CCTV footage till September 4 in which the patient's movement inside the facility is seen. We are in the process of handing over all the records and footage to the police for further investigation," he said. An official from the Shivajinagar police station said after the missing complaint was lodged, they had approached the hospital and asked for the woman's admission and discharge records along with the CCTV footage. "We are expecting all the records from the hospital today. We have already circulated the woman's photographs to all the police stations and efforts are on to trace her," the official said. PORTLAND, Maine (AP) 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. Story continues The documents noted that the commanding officer's 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. WASHINGTON A key Democrat in the confirmation process, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., will not meet with President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee, he announced Thursday, in act of boycott against a proceeding he views as unfair. Blumenthal said he will not meet with a nominee in a confirmation process that starts before the inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump intends to announce his nominee Friday or Saturday and Republicans plan to quickly confirm that person to the court, possibly beginning hearings the week of Oct. 12. Blumenthals decision to skip a traditional private meeting with the nominee was a personal one, his spokeswoman Maria McElwain said, not a group decision made by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also declined to meet with Justice Brett Kavanaugh, when he was Trumps nominee in 2018. Blumenthal made this announcement on Twitter Thursday saying I refuse to legitimize this broken, weaponized process by meeting with any nominee put forward before the inauguration. Republicans are moving to quickly confirm a replacement for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, possibly seeking a final confirmation vote before the election or at latest, before the end of Trumps first term. On Capitol Hill, Blumenthal has been emphatic that no Supreme Court nominee should be confirmed until after the election and after the next Senate is sworn in giving Democrats a chance to seize both if they win in November. Senate Democrats have attacked Republicans for pushing forward with the nomination so close to the election although in 2016 they held up a Democratic nominee to the court for months before the election, claiming the American people should have a voice in the confirmation with their vote. Senate Democrats held a phone call Tuesday to strategize how to delay the confirmation process. A lot of ideas were put on the table, said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., on Wednesday. Well come to a consensus on it. Ultimately, Republicans can change any rules they want with 50 votes... were going to use every mechanism at our disposal that makes sense. Ultimately, they control the rules; they control the timing. Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Wednesday of the confirmation process, My hope is well be able to do it in a fashion that we can not deviate from the norms too much. Other Democratic senators, including Judiciary member Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, have also said they wont meet with the Supreme Court nominee, Politico reported. In 2018, some Democrats refused to meet with the nominee Brett Kavanaugh. In 2017, Blumenthals private meeting with nominee Neil Gorsuch made headlines after Gorsuch told Blumenthal he found Trumps attacks on the courts disheartening and demoralizing, creating some separation between the conservative justice and the president. Asked about meeting with a nominee Wednesday, Blumenthal said, I have questions I think should be asked of any nominee and most particularly of the top two or three that have been suggested, but part of what we need to do, which is part of the normal process, is to review all of the writings, all of the public statements, all of the speeches, all of the background on every nominee. Republicans, seemingly are loathe to give us that opportunity. Im focused on the Judiciary Committee right now, what we can do to make sure the next president and the next Senate choose the next justice, Blumenthal added Wednesday. This process is not normal. There is nothing normal about it no matter who the nominee is. This process totally lacks legitimacy and Im focused on the steps we can take in the days and weeks to ensure the vote on this nominee occurs after the election and the inauguration. Trump is expected to announce his nominee Friday or Saturday. Confirmation hearings may start the week of Oct. 12, Blumenthal said. If you think logically about the time table here and the hearing occurs on Oct. 12., which is about the soonest that it could be done because they at least have to do a show FBI investigation - they have to have the appearance of following the requisite steps - the vote in committee probably would be the last week of October and then the vote on the floor, literally days before the election, Blumenthal said. It is mindboggling what they are doing in making a mockery of Supreme Court confirmations. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson Blog Archive June 2021 (1) May 2021 (77) April 2021 (77) March 2021 (82) February 2021 (68) January 2021 (64) December 2020 (67) November 2020 (66) October 2020 (66) September 2020 (67) August 2020 (74) July 2020 (83) June 2020 (92) May 2020 (86) April 2020 (104) March 2020 (105) February 2020 (74) January 2020 (75) December 2019 (75) November 2019 (70) October 2019 (89) September 2019 (69) August 2019 (81) July 2019 (77) June 2019 (73) May 2019 (110) April 2019 (110) March 2019 (102) February 2019 (85) January 2019 (123) December 2018 (116) November 2018 (112) October 2018 (121) September 2018 (107) August 2018 (150) July 2018 (163) June 2018 (190) May 2018 (145) April 2018 (112) March 2018 (124) February 2018 (113) January 2018 (164) December 2017 (150) November 2017 (144) October 2017 (169) September 2017 (171) August 2017 (135) July 2017 (131) June 2017 (147) May 2017 (160) April 2017 (138) March 2017 (156) February 2017 (143) January 2017 (203) December 2016 (208) November 2016 (185) October 2016 (173) September 2016 (194) August 2016 (232) July 2016 (225) June 2016 (238) May 2016 (231) April 2016 (215) March 2016 (246) February 2016 (226) January 2016 (252) December 2015 (230) November 2015 (250) October 2015 (234) September 2015 (222) August 2015 (253) July 2015 (275) June 2015 (279) May 2015 (223) April 2015 (226) March 2015 (243) February 2015 (258) January 2015 (281) December 2014 (292) November 2014 (296) October 2014 (413) September 2014 (472) August 2014 (506) July 2014 (483) June 2014 (488) May 2014 (512) April 2014 (497) March 2014 (531) February 2014 (482) January 2014 (535) December 2013 (482) November 2013 (441) October 2013 (416) September 2013 (491) August 2013 (521) July 2013 (491) June 2013 (470) May 2013 (457) April 2013 (426) March 2013 (420) February 2013 (414) January 2013 (489) December 2012 (433) November 2012 (504) October 2012 (469) September 2012 (430) August 2012 (427) July 2012 (360) June 2012 (336) May 2012 (362) April 2012 (322) March 2012 (263) February 2012 (224) January 2012 (291) December 2011 (295) November 2011 (325) October 2011 (330) September 2011 (319) August 2011 (333) July 2011 (318) June 2011 (387) May 2011 (373) April 2011 (389) March 2011 (375) February 2011 (335) January 2011 (400) December 2010 (445) November 2010 (395) October 2010 (312) September 2010 (262) August 2010 (277) July 2010 (323) June 2010 (386) May 2010 (360) April 2010 (333) March 2010 (351) February 2010 (336) January 2010 (384) December 2009 (353) November 2009 (300) October 2009 (308) September 2009 (350) August 2009 (298) July 2009 (255) June 2009 (203) May 2009 (193) April 2009 (186) March 2009 (197) February 2009 (173) January 2009 (148) December 2008 (181) November 2008 (197) October 2008 (236) September 2008 (304) August 2008 (314) July 2008 (273) June 2008 (27) May 2008 (1) April 2008 (6) October 2007 (1) May 2007 (1) April 2007 (6) March 2007 (2) February 2007 (1) October 2006 (1) September 2006 (1) August 2006 (4) July 2006 (4) June 2006 (1) July 2005 (1) May 2005 (2) March 2005 (1) June 2004 (2) May 2004 (1) April 2004 (4) March 2004 (2) February 2004 (2) July 2003 (2) June 2003 (5) Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:03:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends a video conference of foreign ministers of the member states of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday called on the member states of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) to make concerted efforts in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. CICA members should work together to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, firmly support the World Health Organization in playing a leading and coordinating role, and oppose politicizing the pandemic and stigmatizing specific countries, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wang made the remarks at a video conference of foreign ministers of the CICA member states. Facing profound changes unseen in a century brought about by the pandemic, CICA should shoulder its historical mission and make new efforts to promote the construction of an Asia featuring mutual respect and trust, security and stability, development and prosperity, openness and inclusiveness, as well as cooperation and innovation, Wang said. The foreign minister called on all CICA members to strengthen communication and dialogue, build and consolidate strategic mutual trust, and play their due role in promoting regional as well as world peace and stability. CICA members should continue to synergize their development strategies, advance high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, and help countries resume economic and social order, Wang said, adding that China is willing to share development opportunities with Asian countries to achieve common development. Wang said CICA members should take the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN) as an opportunity to stick to multilateralism, oppose unilateral bullying, safeguard the authority and role of the UN, and promote the international order towards a more just and rational direction. "China will work with other Asian countries to forge a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and mutually-beneficial cooperation, push for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and make its due contribution to peace and development in Asia and the world at large," Wang said. Enditem In front of a large painting of the Great Wall, one of Chinas most impressive feats, President Xi Jinping took the United Nations General Assembly by surprise on Tuesday with an ambitious pledge. We aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, he told leaders at the annual gathering, which is largely taking place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. Humankind can no longer afford to ignore the repeated warnings of nature, Xi said. His promise could come to be a defining moment in the global climate crisis: the first time that China, the worlds largest emitter, pledged to stop adding to the global warming that is pushing the planet towards irreversible catastrophe. Its profoundly significant that the leader of the largest country in the world, and also the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has set an end to the age of oil, coal and gas, former California governor Jerry Brown, chair of the California-China Climate Institute, told The Independent. "This is a marker for other nations to consider, and try to not only emulate but go beyond. Xis remarks seemed particularly well-calculated coming minutes after President Trumps speech where he slammed Chinas environmental record, and called for the UN "to hold them accountable" for the Covid-19 outbreak. Mr Trump also claimed that the US has reduced its carbon emissions by more than any other signatory to the Paris Climate Agreement. (Climate Action Tracker, an independent scientific analysis which tracks government efforts on the Paris deal, found that the US is critically insufficient when it comes to emissions reductions.) The US, like other large polluters India, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Australia, has set no emissions goal. Mr Trump, who has called climate change a hoax, is set to withdraw from the Paris deal if he wins re-election this November. With China, 30 countries now have varying carbon neutrality pledges meaning the release of no additional carbon into the atmosphere. In total, it accounts for roughly 43 per cent of the worlds carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. Xi's carbon pledge also spun some positive publicity for China at a time of growing international outrage over the severe restriction of civil rights in Hong Kong, following Beijings sweeping national security law on the semi-autonomous city, and widespread accusations of mass detentions and cultural genocide of Muslims in the Xinjiang region. In the past, China has argued that as a developing economy, it should not be beholden to the same reduction commitments as developed nations, like the US, UK and European states, whose decades of rampant polluting drove global warming in the 20th century. Streets flooded in Chongqing along the banks of the Yangtze River (China News Service via Getty Ima) But international pressure has been building on China which pledged under the 2016 Paris agreement to have its emissions peak around 2030. Leaders from the EU, which is committing to carbon neutrality by 2050, urged China earlier this month to aim for 2060 or face punitive carbon tariffs. The news that Chinas emission levels could now slope downwards before the decade is out was cautiously welcomed by analysts. Xi offered no details on Tuesday as to how the targets would be met. Li Shuo, senior climate and energy policy officer with Greenpeace East Asia, described Xis announcement as injecting much-needed momentum to global climate politics. But Mr Li added: 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. How China ultimately decides to fight the climate crisis will have global impact. The country released the equivalent of 10 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere in 2018, according to the Global Carbon Project that tracks emissions worldwide. That was almost twice as much as the US and three times as much as the EU. China burns about half the coal used globally each year. Between 2000 and 2018, its annual carbon emissions nearly tripled, and it accounts for roughly almost a third of the worlds total. Satellite images and media reports suggest new coal power plants are under construction, with total capacity of 148 gigawatts nearly equal to the entire coal-power capacity of the EU, according to non-profit Global Energy Monitor. The country has also faced an economic slowdown, missing a recent growth target earlier this year, Bloomberg noted, and putting energy conservation on the back burner. On the flipside, China is also the leading market for solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles, and it manufactures about two-thirds of solar cells installed around the world. It is the largest financier of energy infrastructure globally. Richard Black, director of non-profit Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, told The Independent that China could achieve Xi's pledges by simply accelerating a lot of what its already doing ramping up production of electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, solar panels, and the build rate of nuclear reactors (the latter of which will likely spark an international debate around safety). He also projected rollouts of charging points for EVs and expansion of the train network countrywide. I think we also will see interesting investment in steel manufacture, he added. "There is development on making steel using zero carbon methods in Europe but for China to do it would be an absolute game-changer. Not only for steel but aluminium, cement, all the heavy industries. Governor Brown said that to hit Xis stated goals, then number one is to get off coal as soon as possible. He echoed the sentiment on increasing EV production, saying that if China did so, "Europe, Germany particularly, and the United States better wake up. To do what the world needs, Xi will accelerate production of the electric and hydrogen car. And as soon as he does that, Europe and America must respond at an equal or greater level. At this moment that does not appear likely, he added. If China does fulfil the ambitious targets, it could prevent 0.4-0.7F (0.2 to 0.4C) further warming for the world, according to very rough estimates MIT management professor John Sterman, who models and tracks emission reductions and pledges with Climate Interactive, told The Associated Press. Professor Sterman said that he was particularly enthused by the effort to peak CO2 emissions before 2030 instead of by 2030. The gas stays in the atmosphere for more than a century, so earlier emission cuts are more effective than promises in the future, he said. Emissions that dont happen between now and 2030 are going to reduce warming a lot more than the same emission reductions after 2060, the professor said. While the pledges offer a glimmer of hope to the international climate community, China also serves to benefit at home by cutting emissions. China is in a constant battle with poor air quality in many large urban areas, while the country's densely populated and environmentally fragile coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels and temperatures. Flooding this year in the Yangtze River has killed hundreds of people and displaced millions in central and southwestern China, and hampered efforts to kickstart economies following Covid-19 lockdowns. There is hope that Xis speech will build momentum leading up to the UN Climate Change Conference, or COP26, next year in the UK after it was delayed by the pandemic. It also follows a number of years of missed climate goals and increasingly devastating impacts from climate change including heightened wildfires, soaring heatwaves and more severe typhoons, monsoons, hurricanes and droughts. If China comes out with a concrete, long-term strategy to the international community, that would be massive to increasing confidence in the international process which has not been at its highest ebb for the last few years, Mr Black said. "Perhaps more importantly, just the sheer economic muscle of China would change the behaviour of economic markets and investors. If they are convinced that China is heading in this direction, it will change decision-making, moving away from fossil fuels and towards clean technology. Former Democratic Governor Brown said he was optimistic, adding that Xis pledge had laid down the gauntlet for other nations on how they were going to ramp up tackling the climate crisis. I think its a positive step and if it's accompanied by the election of Joe Biden, then America will rejoin the Paris Agreement and nations will start figuring out faster how to reduce [emissions] in precise numbers, he said. "The beauty of Xis goal is it puts numbers on the table and invites others to go much faster and much further. The next moves should come from the United States and the European Union. Additional wire reporting SPERRYVILLE, Va. - It was two weeks before anyone spoke of the hay bales. This was odd, said Rachel Rowland, of Flint Hill, Va. - because the locals had certainly seen them: The display is 170 feet wide. Wrapped in glinting white plastic, the bales are stacked atop a rolling mountain hillside along Route 211, relaying their message to any nearby resident who drives to the closest grocery store. "Farmers for Trump 2020," the bales read, hand-painted with red and blue capital letters. "Keep America Great." There have been political signs on this particular Rappahannock County hillside for years. But they've always been simple, the locals say, thrown together with spray paint and cardboard. This sign, constructed in mid-August, was something different - professional, several people said - and it quickly amassed over 84,000 likes on ForAmerica, a conservative Facebook page with a national reach. It's "so obnoxiously in your face" that it's become a traffic hazard, said Donna Burge, who lives adjacent to the bales: People are constantly pulling over on the four-lane highway to snap a photo, she says, smiling big with two thumbs up. Surprised that no one in the community beat her to it, Rowland decided to raise the bale issue herself. She posted a photo to the local Facebook group at 7 p.m. on Aug. 31, blurring out the word "Trump." "This isn't about the candidate," wrote Rowland, an independent who plans to vote for Democratic nominee Joe Biden. "We have a large, very large, new political campaign sign in our county . . . Are signs this gigantic allowed?" The short answer is no: Rappahannock allows political signs only up to 50 square feet. But for most in the Facebook group, that was just a technicality. The post generated over 100 comments in 24 hours, becoming one of the most active in the group's history. The conversation quickly turned political, and personal, as the majority of commenters came out as staunchly pro-bale. If you don't like the Trump sign, someone wrote, you should "move." Rappahannock County - known for its sweeping mountain vistas, covering the northern stretch of the Shenandoah - leans conservative, with about 57% of the electorate voting for President Donald Trump in 2016. But many residents say the political makeup seems to be shifting. Less than 90 minutes from the District of Columbia, the county is attracting more Patagonia-clad urbanites, easy to spot as their Subarus speed off into the mountains. They buy weekend homes, then eventually settle in the area when they retire, or when the novel coronavirus allows them to work remotely. These "transplants" - or "trust fund hippies," depending on whom you're talking to - tend to be wealthier than the typical Rappahannock residents, mostly working-class families who have lived here for generations. The newcomers are almost always more liberal. Mike Massie, who owns the hay bales, comes from one of Rappahannock's oldest "native families," local parlance for families who have owned farms here for centuries. The Massie family has been here so long that everyone knows the hay-baled hillside as "Massie's Corner." (Massie declined a request for comment.) There has long been quiet tension between the transplants and the "natives," said Bill Fletcher, Massie's third or fourth cousin - no one can quite say for sure - whose family has owned farmland in Rappahannock since 1735. The transplants suggest changes to improve the area, hoping to increase tourism and boost their new small businesses. For many who have been here, the objections to the hay bales were the breaking point. They could tolerate the new wine bar - and the "corner store" that now offers seven kinds of kombucha. But they would not allow a farmer to be told what kind of sign he could erect on his land. Rowland, a chef, moved to Rappahannock in 1978, when she was in elementary school. She was not part of a farming family, but she grew up knowing many. She remembers lively political debates in public spaces in her 20s. When she posted on Facebook, Rowland was not looking for controversy, she said. She just wanted to "start a conversation" with her neighbors about a subject she knew was on everybody's mind. "We should be able to talk to each other," she said. "Why is that so hard?" - - - There is something special about Massie's Corner. Driving out from Warrenton, the town with the nearest grocery store, there hints of mountains here and there. But then drivers swing around a bend and everything opens up, said Daphne Hutchinson, former editor of the Rappahannock News, who has lived in the county for 40 years. "It's when you know you're home," she said. If landscapes could talk, Rowland said, this one would say, "Welcome to Rappahannock County." Any sign on this hillside sends a signal about the county's identity, Rowland said - and she does not want visitors to get the wrong idea. She already struggles to dissociate her beloved Rappahannock from unflattering stereotypes. Whenever she tried to coax her ex-boyfriend, a "D.C. liberal," to come out and see her, he'd always ask her to make the trip instead. "He'd always be like, 'I don't want to go out there. It's all racists, it's all about the Confederacy,' " Rowland said. "I don't want people thinking that of us." The zoning commission really ought to do something about the sign, Hutchinson said, but it will not. "It's a Republican sign - and the zoning commissioners are Republicans," said Hutchinson, who identifies as a "flaming left-leaning liberal." (The Rappahannock zoning commission did not respond to a request for comment.) Others say the sign does accurately represent the county. Rappahannock is a farming community, said Athena Emmans, who has been working as a farmhand since she was laid off from her accounting job in March. She has been butchering cows for farmers during the coronavirus pandemic in exchange for meat to feed her 10 children. Trump's message of economic protectionism resonates with farmers, Emmans said - especially now, when many local farms are struggling during the coronavirus, unable to sell their meat when processing plants closed this year. If the farmers are choosing Trump as their champion, Emmans said, residents should celebrate the sign. "It's spitting in the face of the other party," said Emmans, who plans to vote for Libertarian Party candidate Jo Jorgensen. "But so what?" Many newcomers to the county do not have the same appreciation for farming, Emmans said. In Rappahannock, families with farms or small homesteads wait for their food, growing vegetables and raising their own meat. Most former urbanites, on the other hand, are used to going to the grocery store for everything they need, she said. More so than other rural stretches of Virginia, locals say, Rappahannock has been slow to change. There is still no cellphone service throughout much of the county, and home buyers must purchase at least 25 acres of land if they're buying outside a town, limiting development. Along with "natives," Rowland says, there are "hippie queens," local writers and artists who arrived in the 1960s and '70s. They're also eager to keep things the way they are. "These people come up from D.C., and they want to take over," said Fletcher. "Well there's an ecological balance in this county, just like there is in nature." The "been-heres" do want tourism from big cities. Many recognize that Rappahannock cannot thrive without it, said Hutchinson, 75: They just do not want newcomers coming in and telling them how to change their county, or when that change should come. It's hard to know exactly what proposed changes will be controversial, said Kerry Sutten, a former intelligence official who retired to Rappahannock in 2018, opening a coffee shop that sells $5 turmeric lattes. Sutten identifies himself as "a gay man who sells espresso and expensive wine - exactly the kind of person the locals should hate." But somehow, he says, they've warmed to him and his store. Other new additions have not been so well received. Many Rappahannock residents still bristle when someone mentions the bike path, a contentious proposal to build a one-mile bike route in 2018. Battle lines were drawn, neighbor turned against neighbor, Sutten said, as the region debated the impact that such unbridled development would have on the area. In one particularly memorable letter to the editor, longtime Rappahannock resident Demaris Miller claimed the path would bring "pedophiles and rapists" to the area. "The idyllic rural county we once lived in is being hijacked," Miller wrote. The area has changed over the past 20 years, said Lilla Fletcher, Bill's 27-year-old daughter. Fletcher grew up in the area but left for boarding school and college. By the time she came back, she said, the town of Sperryville, population 342, had turned into a "tourist metropolis," with two breweries, a yoga studio and a boutique apothecary, offering herbal skin care products and incense. And while her father might be wary of some of these changes, Lilla is grateful for them. "Socially, a greater open-mindedness has come to this county," she said. Whatever changes come to Rappahannock must complement the "heart" of the county, Fletcher said. On the matter of the hay bales, she sides firmly with her father, who says the sign should stay "as long as there is freedom of speech in America." "It's beautiful," said Lilla, who is a Republican. "And it's on their personal property." Lilla is hesitant to say too much more about the sign - or about Trump. She considers herself a moderate who appreciates that there are "two sides to every story." But she still treads carefully around political topics. These days, she says, it's so easy to say something politically incorrect. - - - If only there were a place where everyone could come together, says Rowland - where the transplants, the natives, the been-heres and the hippie queens could mingle. Then, maybe, real conversation would be possible. Rappahannock used to have those places, she said, sighing as she leans back in her chair, wearing an oversize T-shirt that says, "Life is good." Rowland is visiting Hutchinson, the newspaper editor, whom she's known since she was a kid. They split a plate of homemade sausage as they talk about the past. "Conversation used to happen on the front porches of the country stores," says Hutchinson. "But we haven't had that in a long time. The country stores have all died." Asked about the Sperryville corner store, Rowland and Hutchinson respond in perfect unison. "That is not a country store." "A country store is not going to sell pesto," says Hutchinson, taking a large swig of white wine. Hutchinson considers herself one of the few "crossovers" in the area, with friends who are transplants and been-heres, liberals and conservatives. For seven years, she's been exercising with the "Water Lilies," a group of women in their 70s and 80s who regularly convene for high-intensity interval training in one member's backyard pool. There used to be Republicans in the group, but now that she's thinking about it, Hutchinson says, every single one of them has left. "They stopped coming," she says. "I don't know why." They sit silently, mulling. Hutchinson has another sip of wine. In the absence of thoughtful conversation, Rowland says, there are political lawn signs. Everyone in town seems to have one. More than any other election in recent memory, she says, stories of their demise have been circulating. Signs for both Biden and Trump have been stolen or defaced with red graffiti. At least one was run over by a truck. To Rowland, all the signs seem "passive aggressive," she says - the 170-foot sign, most of all. There must be a better way to talk to neighbors about politics, she says. For now, there is Facebook. In the bale comments, Rowland said, some of the personal attacks were hard to take. "Could you imagine being so worried about what someone does on their property that you come on to Facebook?" commented Emmans, the farm hand and mother of 10. "Next they're going to be concerned about what we do in our bedroom." Rowland took a deep breath and wrote Emmans a message, thanking her for her point of view. Then she sent her a friend request. Emmans accepted. Calling out Pakistan for its atrocities against minorities, the Bangladesh Christian Association slammed the Imran-Khan led government on Thursday asking it to repeal its blasphemy law and release the minorities who had been unlawfully arrested under it. Sending a letter to Imran Khan through the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, the association has called out the persecution of minorities and Christians in the state, talking about how minorities were falsely sentenced under blasphemy charges in the country. "We are aware that blasphemy remains a contentious issue in Pakistan and hundreds of Pakistani Christians and other minorities have fled the country fearing for their lives over allegations of blasphemy. Unproven accusations of blasphemy have led to extrajudicial killings, mob lynching and violent protests targetting minority community members," the letter said. Read: 1 Held In West Bengal For Smuggling Gold From Bangladesh: BSF Read: BSF Nabs Bangladeshi Near Border While quoiting multiple examples, the association shared how a sessions court had sentenced Asif Pervaiz, a Pakistani Christian to death for allegedly sending a derogatory text message over the Prophet. The letter also mentions a Christian man, David Masih, who was charged with blasphemy after pages of the Quran were found in a drain in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province "We would like to draw the attention of the Government of Pakistan as well as lawmakers, politicians, the judiciary, the civil society and the people of Pakistan in this connection and demand the repealing of the blasphemy law as early as possible to save the minority people in Pakistan," the letter read. Calling out Pakistan's abuse of human rights, the association has slammed the Blasphemy law terming it as "vague and arbitrary", saying that it leaves massive scopes for "misuse", to fan communal hatred and enmity against minorities. "We would highly appreciate if the issue is taken care of in the purview of human rights and humanity. We are looking forward to your sympathetic steps and actions, the letter concluded. Read: 2 Nabbed Near Bangladesh Border With Maps Having Suspicious Markings Read: Indian Citizenship Granted To 2,120 Pakistanis, 188 Afghans, 99 Bangladeshis In Last 4 Yrs (With Agency Inputs) In its throne speech Wednesday, the Liberal government promised to extend the pandemic wage subsidy, create a million new jobs and establish a national child-care strategy, signalling a shift toward longer-term support for Canadian business that was welcomed by business leaders. Two of the more popular announcements with the business community included the extension of the wage subsidy into summer 2021, as well as the promised expansion of the Canada Emergency Business Account, which currently provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, with a certain part being forgivable. Trevin Stratton, chief economist with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said he was pleased by the promise of a comprehensive child-care and early learning system, which he says will help get women, who have been hardest-hit by job loss, back into the workforce. Recent data shows that women, especially marginalized women, have suffered higher levels of job loss than men, and are recovering at a slower rate. Stratton was also happy to hear the speech, which was read by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, mention support for devastated sectors like tourism and the arts. Corinne Pohlmann, senior vice-president of national affairs with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), said she was open to the governments promise to create a million jobs to undo the damage pandemic-related job loss has done, but added training will be important to ensure there are people qualified to fill those jobs. Stratton also said the details on how the government does this will be important. Whats going to be necessary to get back those last million jobs is not just reopening, but job creation, he said. Its going to require substantial private sector investment. The speech announced a campaign to create a million jobs using direct investment in the social sector and infrastructure, immediate training, and hiring and retention incentives. The wage subsidy, which was set to shrink and then end by December, will be extended through the summer of 2021, and the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) will be expanded. Pohlmann said that many small businesses were dreading the end of the wage subsidy, and will be relieved to hear that its being extended, as well as the CEBA being expanded. However, Pohlmann said she was concerned about a program that wasnt mentioned namely the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program, which provides rent relief to small business. After the governments rent relief program failed to cover many small businesses due to its stringent eligibility criteria and requirement that landlords apply, the business community had been asking the government to find another way to distribute the unused funding to hard-hit businesses. Pohlmann said shes hopeful that the expansion of CEBA will address the issue of rent for businesses, especially as the summer season winds down. Aleem Kanji, a political strategist who works with small businesses, agreed, saying thats likely what will happen. I think the government is wanting to streamline programs, as we head into the second phase of the pandemic, he said. Rent is the number one fixed cost for small businesses, he said, so to have more accessible support to rent relief would be a big win for business owners. Both Kanji and Pohlmann also said they were concerned that there was no mention in the speech of the tax increases for businesses scheduled for Jan. 2021. Weve been pushing for them to delay it or put it off for another year, said Pohlmann. The speech echoed earlier indications that a reform of the Employment Insurance system is in the cards, saying that the pandemic has shown that Canada needs an EI system for the 21st century, including for the self-employed, and those in the gig economy. At the beginning of the pandemic, it became obvious the outdated system couldnt handle the unemployment caused by COVID-19, necessitating the creation of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). On Sept. 27, EI is scheduled to take on many of those CERB recipients, but with significant temporary changes. But Pohlmann said while its clear that there needs to be more support for self-employed, freelance and gig workers, shes unsure whether the EI system is the best place from which to administer that support. Were going to have to sort of watch closely and obviously try to make sure the government doesnt make rash decisions without proper consultation. Stratton said the business community will be looking at not just the economic promises made during the speech, but also the governments strategy for preventing the spread of COVID-19. What the business community is looking for is a comprehensive strategy to get ahead of the pandemic, as opposed to reacting to it as we go along. The economic impact of COVID-19 has already been worse on Canadians than the 2008 crisis, the speech noted. Canadians should not have to choose between health and their job. Just like Canadians should not have to take on debt that their government can better shoulder, it said. The speech included references to the She-cession, the fact that womens participation in the workforce is at its lowest in three decades. The promise of nation-wide child care is one of several points meant to address that undoing of progress. As well, the government promised a task force aimed at facilitating a feminist and intersectional recovery. Read more about: WASHINGTON From the beginning, John H. Durhams inquiry into the Russia investigation has been politically charged. President Trump promoted it as certain to uncover a deep state plot against him, Attorney General William P. Barr rebuked the investigators under scrutiny, and he and Mr. Durham publicly second-guessed an independent inspector general and traveled the globe to chase down conspiracy theories. It turns out that Mr. Durham also focused attention on certain political enemies of Mr. Trump: the Clintons. Mr. Durham, the U.S. attorney in Connecticut assigned by Mr. Barr to review the Russia inquiry, has sought documents and interviews about how federal law enforcement officials handled an investigation around the same time into allegations of political corruption at the Clinton Foundation, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. Durhams team members have suggested to others that they are comparing the two investigations as well as examining whether investigators in the Russia inquiry flouted laws or policies. It was not clear whether Mr. Durhams investigators were similarly looking for violations in the Clinton Foundation investigation, nor whether the comparison would be included or play a major role in the outcome of Mr. Durhams inquiry. Georgetta Mimi Carter is definitely the selfless type who takes care of others first often at the expense of herself. For years, she has lived with lupus and advocated for those surviving the disease, traveling the country. Carter, 83, is a native Houstonian, born and raised in First Ward, and she is a real life walking and talking encyclopedia of Houstons history, landmarks and prominent people. Her memory would make an elephant jealous. It is amazing to listen to her talk about the different neighborhoods that she once lived in looked like when she was a child and how much the infrastructure has changed. Shes one of many who, because of environmental racism and predatory systemic and institutional ways like discriminatory loans and gentrification via developers, lost her home. Her home once sat close to MacGregor Way and U.S. Highway 288; the area is now bustling from developers who continue to build constructions that have priced out or, in her case, altogether moved folks away from their beloved families and communities, shattering relationships along the way. And most recently, she is beating COVID-19 and is mourning the death of her youngest son. She is a survivor. We must protect this generation of Black women, like Carter and Deatrice Elizabeth Cloud, who are disproportionately affected by coronavirus and all the isms. We need to dispell the hurtful parts of the Strong Black Woman identity and rally around this group of women who are prayer warriors for their families and communities. They are our storytellers, teachers and counselors. Thats why filmmaker Marc Newsome and I created The Extraordinary Elders Film Project, which seeks to share their amazing life stories through the medium of a short-form documentary. Carter also goes by Mimi, a name that she is affectionately referred to by her family and close friends, and is an avid cook. She remembers playing jacks, hopscotch and jumping rope as a child. She said she grew up off of Houston Avenue in a multi-ethnic neighborhood with families from Jewish, Italian and Hispanic backgrounds. While the kids all played together and she didnt experience any discrimination at home, she encountered racism when she was bused to school. As she shared her story, she initially was not as forthcoming about the pain it caused because she is such a positive person. No matter how challenging life can be for her, when asked how she is, she will always respond with, Im blessed. Another matriarch, Cloud, has been a resident of Sunnyside since 1951 and had the only house for years in her neighborhood when there were only trees. The 99-year-old also goes by the endearing name, Mama Cloud. When she was a child, she said used to walk 10 miles to get to school no matter the weather. While this years school year started late because of the pandemic, Mama Cloud said school didnt start until the beginning of September because they had to pick cotton. Children have it really good now, she said, and learning how to cook and sew helped her make a better life for her family. Between Mimi and Mama Cloud there are nine children, 15 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and Mama Cloud has great great grandchild, too. They grew up in a world that, according to the great Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neal Hurston, saw them as mules of the world. Recently, I saw a T-shirt worn and sold by a Black woman that stated in big bold letters, NOT YOUR MULE. The Extraordinary Elders documentary series honors the legacy of love of women like these two, who worked like a mule and built a huge legacy in spite of it. Both Mimi and Mama Cloud have endured and moved on from unhealthy marriages and divorce, survived the deaths of children and husbands and continue to persevere through the pandemic and civil injustice. In the profound words of Mama Cloud, Despite challenges and life getting tough dont make it an excuse just keep pushing no matter what. Marc Newsome contributed to this op-ed. Newsome, a filmmaker, and Peters-Maughan an activist for womens empowerment and founder of WHEW Women Healing & Empowering Women 501(c)(3) reentry program, are creators of The Extraordinary Elders Film Project, an episodic short-form documentary web series where youth are taught interview skills and then paired with community elders to record their profound stories. 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. KENOSHA One of the nations largest privately held development companies is proposing a $46 million development on three parcels in Kenosha, including a 755,200-square-foot speculative building facility that is projected to generate 400 jobs. The Kenosha City Council approved annexation of the Rossi properties, 4415 88th Ave. and 4435 88th Ave., and the Gentz property at 8311 38th St., where the speculative building is expected to be developed by Northpoint Development. Representatives for the developer requested the annexation of the three parcels formerly in the Town of Somers and now in the city. The Gentz property also was rezoned from an agricultural to heavy manufacturing district. The parcels have been included as part of the citys comprehensive plan for 2035 which earmarks land for annexation under a boundary agreement between Kenosha and Somers. Christina Hubacek, an engineer representing Northpoint Development, said Northpoint is among the largest privately held development companies in the U.S., with the majority of its developments involving speculative buildings. The buildings, she said, are often leased before construction is completed. We are long-term holders of our buildings and will hold our buildings for a minimum of 10 years, while also managing the buildings in-house, Hubacek told the City Council on Monday night. Spec building On the Gentz parcel, Northpoint proposes to develop the 755,200-square-foot Class A industrial speculative facility with accompanying parking, utilities and stormwater drainage basins. An east-west access road would be established at the southmost end of the Rossi properties and directly to the west of the Gentz property. The development site is west of Green Bay Road and bounded by 38th Street (Highway S) to the north, the Kenosha County Detention Center to the south, the Canadian Pacific Railroad to the east and 88th Avenue (Highway H) to the west. Hubacek said the building currently has no known tenants. Once a tenant is identified, however, an application for a conditional use permit would be initiated. The overall building would have four prominent corners and would accommodate as many as four tenants. The development as proposed represents a $46 million investment and expects to bring 400 permanent, new jobs, along with 150 to 200 construction jobs. Projected revenue from the facility is estimated at $1 million annually, Hubacek said. Northpoint is not seeking public incentives to develop the site. Hubacek said truck traffic would use direct routes, including 88th Avenue and 38th Street, for access to the north to Interstate 94 and 88th Avenue and Highway 158 when headed south. She told the council that the developer would ensure that truck road access restrictions, including the use of Highway S when traveling to access the development, would be part of tenant leases. This development is not associated with any other proposed development in around the Kenosha area, Hubacek said. It is my understanding that at any point in the future, if another developer would like to develop the remainder of the Rossi parcel they would need to come before the Plan Commission and the Common Council in order to amend the annexation and zoning ordinance as the Northpoint proposed site plan is what is tied to the annexation and rezoning ordinance. We are confident that this proposed development matches the intent Kenosha has master-planned for this area and that the proposed Northpoint development will bring benefit to the City of Kenosha. Truck concerns During deliberations, Ald. Dominic Ruffalo said the development would be a wonderful addition to the 16th District, which he represents. This has come a long ways. This has been on the books for a while, Ruffalo said. It had to get fine-tuned. Ruffalo said he had vehemently opposed an earlier plan for semi-trucks and parking, but was in favor of the revised plan. I know Northpoint is a first-class act, and I welcome their project into the 16th District, he said. Before the vote, Ald. David Bogdala said he opposed Northpoints annexation and rezoning request. Despite the changes, he said when it came to asking Northpoint representatives about the type of business going into the site, they couldnt tell him. If the decision-makers cant be told what the plans are for that, we shouldnt be approving anything, Bogdala said. Bogdala expressed concerns about increasing truck traffic, which he called atrocious and worsening. It is leaking into the surrounding neighborhoods. Just because you have a lease agreement with somebody, that doesnt enforce to ensure that theyre not coming down (Highway) H to Highway 50 or 60th Street or anywhere else where youre going through residential areas, he said. Were seeing semi-trucks all through residential neighborhoods now, and its getting worse. Bogdala said if they cant tell him what the plans are, nothing should be moving forward ever. You heard them talking about 400 permanent jobs. Great. Then, tell us what it is that youre doing, Bogdala said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 This year, sensitive indie-kid Sufjan Stevens turned his website into the Jar Jar Binks Fan Club and started singing about the "Death Star" over igneous beats that hit listeners' eardrums like meteor showers. Though the orthodox Christian banjo-plucker was raised in with a strong and simple sense of Alliance v Empire morality, hes been telling interviewers he has grown old and world weary, disenchanted. So, at 45, he pilots a loveably retro fleet of bulky analogue synths through his eighth album sounding more Han Solo than Luke Skywalker: a comfort-seeking mercenary grabbing any solace he can get to sustain him through these dark days. The sonic shift was driven partially by Stevens' love for the metallic pop percussion of Janet Jacksons 1989 album Rhythm Nation and partly by circumstances. A bossy landlord and then a rat infestation forced Stevens from his home planet: the New York home and studio hes inhabited for the past two decades. Its a move referenced on the Goodbye to All That, on which he romantically describes himself alone in my car/ hopelessly adventuring to wherever you are as vintage arcade effects burble bittersweet nothings in the background. Stevens was forced to leave much of his equipment in storage when he moved upstate to the Catskills, where he noted the locals embraced a stay positive/ get the job done philosophy. So lovers of Stevens' quirky, literate lyrics will notice many songs on The Ascension orbit around cliches. The opening track is called "Make Me an Offer I Cant Refuse". Others are called Die Happy and Run Away with Me. Sufjan Stevens in 2018 (Getty Images) Theres such a proliferation of these phrases in our society and we shrug them off and find them meaningless, he told The Quietus, but right now Im desperate for some kind of platitude that tells me where to go, and how to go about my business in a way thats healthy and sustainable. These phrases are all carried down throughout the generations because they get us through the day. Although many pop songs parrot such phrases unthinkingly, Stevens interrogates them as he circles them: irritable, frustrated, soothed and accepting in equal measure. As ever, hes powered by a knack for pretty melodies, which he allows to breathe and evolve through various moods. So Die Happy opens in the detached chill of zero gravity before whooshing up to an exhilarating warp speed, speeding through warm chords like spectral nebulae as the percussion clatters on. The 15 songs on this 81-minute album mostly dock at around four minutes, like the mesmerising "Video Game", which sees crystalline, Kraftwerky top lines skating over Stevens politely sung refusal to play by societys self-destructive rules. Other tracks drift on for longer, like the pushy trance of "Sugar" and the closing track "America", which lasts over 12 minutes. I have loved you, I have grieved/ Im ashamed to admit I no longer believe, sighs Stevens, his vocal low in the mix between swells of organ and an electric guitar whose strings tangle like steel wires in pitch freefall. Some fans have wondered if "America" is Stevens breaking up with God song. But he says its about precisely what it says on the tin. The man who originally planned to write an album about every state, but only managed to explore two, says the song is about a crisis of faith about my identity as an American, and about my relationship to our culture, which I think is really diseased right now... Its overtly a political protest song, specifically about America. Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up As a huge fan of Stevens exquisitely personal and musically detailed 2015 album, Carrie & Lowell, I wasnt sure Id love the trippy new Macro sound. But, though some might find the odd track a bit noodly, I was rendered wonderfully weightless by a journey that delivered whole galaxies of nuance in a universal context. Trust me: the force is strong in this one. A married man used two fake Instagram account pretending to be a 14-year-old boy so he could groom five young girls for sex - yet he's only going to spend nine months in jail. Andrew Stephen Jewitt, 43, from Logan in south-east Queensland, was arrested after the guardian of one of the girls, who was just 11, alerted police after seeing one of the disturbing messages, according to The Courier Mail. Jewitt even went to one of the girl's houses, the court heard. Jewitt, who is married, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrate's Court on Wednesday to three counts of grooming a child under the age of 16, two counts of grooming a child under the age of 12, and one count of possessing child exploitation material. Andrew Stephen Jewitt, 43, from Logan in south-east Queensland, was arrested after the guardian of one of the girls, who was 11-years-old, alerted police after seeing one of the disturbing messages An example of the messages that Jewitt sent to the young girls over the space of 12 months The court heard he created two fake Instagram accounts, one as a 14-year-old boy, under which he began talking to the girls, sending them explicit messages, and visiting two of the girls addresses to deliver gifts and letters to their mailbox. The offending took place over roughly 12 months between April 2018 until he was arrested on April 10 2019, prosecutors said. The fake 14-year-old's account was established under the name of Sam Richards who claimed he was from the Gold Coast and whose father had committed suicide while his mother was a drug addict who blamed him. Jewitt will be released as early as January 2021 on parole The phoney Richards told the girls he was self-harming and talking to them was the only thing that made him 'feel alive'. The 43-year-old sent the young victims pornographic images from the account and one 11-year-old girl sent a topless picture back, resulting in the child exploitation material charge when he was caught by detectives. The graphic and disturbing messages to each victim, aged 15, 13, 12, and two 11-year-olds were read to the court. Jewitt, spent four months in custody before his sentencing and will be released as early as January 2021 on parole. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on September 24, 2020 2020/09/24 On September 23, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Immigration Administration jointly published the following announcement on the reopening of border to foreign travelers holding three categories of valid residence permits. In light of the current COVID-19 situation and the need of epidemic prevention and control, adjustments are now made to the Announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Immigration Administration on the Temporary Suspension of Entry by Foreign Nationals Holding Valid Chinese Visas or Residence Permits, which was issued on 26 March 2020. Effective from 0 a.m., 28 September 2020, foreign nationals holding valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters and reunion are allowed to enter China with no need to apply for new visas. If these three categories of residence permits held by foreign nationals expired after 0 a.m., 28 March 2020, the holders may apply for visas by presenting the expired residence permits and relevant materials to the Chinese embassies or consulates on the condition that the purpose of the holders' visit remains unchanged. The above-mentioned personnel shall strictly abide by the Chinese regulations on epidemic prevention and control. Other measures in the March 26 Announcement will continue to be implemented. While ensuring effective epidemic control, China will continue resuming people-to-people exchanges in a step-by-step and orderly manner. Bloomberg: According to a new report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), China is continuing to invest in detention camps in Xinjiang. What's the foreign ministry's comment on this? Wang Wenbin: There was never any "detention camp" in Xinjiang. As to the fact-distorting reports on China churned out by the ASPI, we have responded repeatedly. As reveled by sources in Australia, this institute has long been receiving funding from the US government and arms dealers. Its passion lies in concocting and sensationalizing anti-China topics. Imbued with ideological prejudice, it is practically an anti-China "vanguard" whose academic integrity is in serious question. The ASPI has come under wide criticism for what it has done and stands as a laughing stock in the world. We hope and trust that people will all see through and reject the ludicrous findings of such anti-China organizations. Reuters: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that he warned US politicians at the state and local levels to be vigilant around Chinese diplomats as they are part of Beijing's propaganda and espionage campaign. What's the foreign ministry's comment? Wang Wenbin: Subnational cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchange is an integral part of China-US relations. It is the two peoples' shared wish to enhance such exchange, which serves the interests of both sides. China is not interested and has never interfered in US domestic affairs. Chinese diplomatic posts and civil organizations in the US always act in accordance with international law and bilateral agreements. Their interaction with US governments at various levels aim to deepen the two countries' mutual understanding, exchange and cooperation. It is totally above-board and beyond reproach. Pompeo's remarks are shameless lies with no respect for facts. China firmly rejects them. We have also seen quite some criticism on him in the US, pointing out that his speech is clearly motivated by selfish political gains and that he is merely using foreign policy as a cover in the service of domestic agenda. Some American politicians have lately been suffering from an anti-China paranoia. They keep vilifying Chinese institutions and individuals' normal activities in the US and hyping up threat posed by China to obstruct normal exchange and cooperation and secure political gains. This will continue to be condemned and rejected by insightful people from all communities in the US. Once again we urge the like of Pompeo to discard Cold War mentality and ideological bias, respect facts, stop fabricating all sorts of lies about China, and stop disrupting and jeopardizing normal exchange and cooperation between China and the US. CNR: Also a question related to the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He lashed out on the human rights conditions in China, Iran and Venezuela. What is China's response? Wang Wenbin: The US is feeling very comfortable with playing the role of "a human rights preacher", condescendingly harping on others' human rights conditions. But the fact is that its own human rights record is terrible enough. The cries of "I cannot breathe" and "Black Lives Matter" resound all over the world. The UN Human Rights Council recently adopted a resolution in strong condemnation of the severe racial discrimination in the US. The US should know better and start by owning up to and addressing its own problems. The Chinese government attaches great importance to promoting and protecting human rights, a commitment that puts people front and center. China has lifted 850 million people out of poverty, achieved the SDG on poverty eradication ten years ahead of schedule, put in place systems for education, social insurance, medical care and grassroots democracy unparalleled in scale worldwide, and in accordance with law guaranteed its citizens rights to freedom of speech and religious belief and ethnic minorities' rights to participate in the governance of state affairs. The Chinese people's rights are effectively protected. When China's human rights record was examined for the third time by the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review mechanism, more than 120 countries expressed support for and appreciation of China's progress and its contribution to the global human rights cause. According to a study by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School, the Chinese people's overall satisfaction towards the Central Government exceeds 93%. No country can claim to have attained perfection on human rights. China is willing to have equal-footed, mutually respectful exchanges with other countries to jointly move forward the global human rights cause. But we need no "human rights preacher" and oppose applying double standards, distorting facts and fabricating lies. We are against using human rights issue to interfere in others' internal affairs. Beijing Daily: The latest report published by UNCTAD on September 22 pointed out that the global economy will contract this year by 4.3%, but the Chinese economy is still expected to grow. An UNCTAD official said that "China has a lot of domestic space to be able to manage a strong recovery", and noted the belief that China's steady growth will provide opportunities for the world economic recovery. What's your comment on this? Wang Wenbin: China has secured major strategic outcomes of the battle against COVID-19. With the economy on a steady and upward trend and normalcy returning to production activities and daily life, we have become the first major economy that resumes positive growth after the pandemic broke out. China's economic recovery will be a strong impetus for the world. While effectively preventing and containing the virus, China will continue facilitating the operation of transnational business by launching more fast lanes and green lanes for the exchange of personnel and goods. We will deepen reform and opening up, continue to ease market access and protect foreign companies' legitimate rights and interest to ensure a level playing field for both domestic and foreign enterprises. China is ready to work with all countries to make coordinated efforts to contain the epidemics and develop the economy, so that the virus will be defeated and the world economy will be booming again at an early date. Reuters: The Global Times reported that two Australian academics, Clive Hamilton and Alex Joske, have been barred from entering China. What's the foreign ministry's comment? Wang Wenbin: Whether or not to grant entry to foreign nationals is a matter of sovereignty. Foreign nationals are welcome to China for work, study or other purposes. We hope they will faithfully represent China's national conditions and domestic and foreign policies and work to promote the mutual understanding between China and the rest of the world. That being said, we are firmly opposed to behaviors that use academic study as a cover to spread disinformation, deliberately attack China and endanger China's national security. China's position on developing relations with Australia is consistent and clear. A sound and stable relationship serves the fundamental interests of the two countries. The crux of the current difficulties in China-Australia relations is the Australian side's repeated erroneous words and deeds on issues concerning China's core interests including sovereignty and territorial integrity and its wanton restrictions on normal exchange and cooperation between the two sides, which gravely harmed mutual trust. We urge certain people in Australia to reject Cold War mentality and ideological bias, see China in an objective and rational light, stop smearing and vilifying China, and work to enhance mutual understanding and trust, not the contrary. China Daily: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on September 23 that he welcomes China's ambition to curb emissions and achieve carbon neutrality as proposed by President Xi Jinping and they will work with China on this goal. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: As announced by President Xi Jinping at the UNGA General Debate, China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. The international community has commended this as a manifestation of responsibility and leadership. The targets will provide important political support for the COP26 of the UNFCCC to be held next year, produce a major impact on the global low-carbon transformation, and set a good example for climate action across the world. Actively addressing climate change is not only the intrinsic need for China to realize sustainable development at home, but also a mission it has undertaken as a major country for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. With a shared stake in the climate of our planet, China stands ready to work together with the EU to implement our leaders' important consensus, forge a green partnership and earnestly fulfill obligations set out in the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement. We will remain committed to the new concept of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, deepen international cooperation on addressing climate change, promote a green recovery of the world economy in the post-COVID era, and contribute to sustainable development around the world. RIA Novosti: Belarus President Lukashenko yesterday was sworn in office with an inaugural ceremony. Some countries and organizations, for example the European Union and the US, already refused to recognize him as the legitimately-elected president of Belarus. I wonder if China have any comment on the situation there? Wang Wenbin: China respects the Belarusian people's independent choice. The presidential election is Belarus' internal affair. China firmly supports Belarus' efforts to uphold national independence, sovereignty, security and development, and firmly rejects the attempts of external forces to split the country or create chaos. China hopes and believes that under President Lukashenko's leadership, Belarus will resume political stability and social tranquility. NHK: Can you confirm that Japan's new prime minister and the Chinese leadership will talk over the phone? What's China's expectations of Japan's new government? Wang Wenbin: China attaches importance to high-level interactions with Japan which is of great significance in guiding the improvement of bilateral relations. We are ready to work with the new Japanese government for fresh progress in bilateral ties. On your question though, I have no specific information at the moment. Yonhap News: The Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and ROK President Moon Jae-in talked on the phone this morning. Does China have any comment on this? Wang Wenbin: I haven't read reports on that. We hope the ROK-Japan relationship can develop in a stable and sound manner. Prasar Bharati: Yesterday G4 countries in a joint press statement has called for start of text-based negotiations for reforms at the UN Security Council as there is lack of meaningful movement forward at inter-governmental negotiations. What is China's comment? Wang Wenbin: The UN Security Council, as the core of the international mechanism for collective security, should be reformed to better fulfill its mandate under the UN Charter. We believe the reform should increase the representation and say of developing countries, so that more small- and medium-sized countries can have the opportunity to participate in the UNSC decision making. The UNSC reform is very important as it concerns the UN's long-term development and the immediate interests of all member states. At present, vast differences persist among various sides, and a wide consensus on the reform plan is yet to be reached. China will continue working with other members to find a package solution through dialogue and consultation, which will accommodate the interests and concerns of all sides. Bloomberg: TikTok's owner ByteDance asked a federal judge to stop enforcing a US government ban that would remove the app from US app stores. Separately, yesterday both China Daily and the Global Times hinted that China would not approve the deal between TikTok and Oracle. My question is, under what conditions will China approve the TikTok deal? Wang Wenbin: I took similar questions the other day. I'd like to reiterate that China urges the US to respect the principles of market economy and fair competition, observe international trade rules, stop politicizing normal trade and economic cooperation, and foster an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for foreign companies operating and investing in the US. China supports the companies concerned in defending their legitimate rights and interests through legal means, and will continue taking all necessary measures to firmly safeguard Chinese companies' rights and interests. Regarding your question, I'd refer you to the competent authorities. Bloomberg: The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR said on Wednesday that it urged the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) in Hong Kong to stop provoking trouble on purpose. This is in relation to recent event whereby the club has come out and made some comments about new policy measures regarding the media in Hong Kong. Does the foreign ministry have any further comment or insight into this? Wang Wenbin: I believe you are referring to the Hong Kong police force's amendment of the Police General Orders. The police has already stated that doing so will help it assist the press without affecting the efficiency of its operations, which will help safeguard the legitimate rights of recognized media outlets and journalists. I want to stress that China upholds rule of law and Hong Kong enjoys law and order. Media practitioners in the HKSAR should abide by national laws applied to Hong Kong and local laws and voluntarily receive legal supervision. As long as foreign media and journalists comply with laws and conduct reporting in accordance with laws and regulations, their lawful rights will be fully guaranteed. We support relevant authorities of the SAR government in stepping up management of and services for the media sector according to law. As to the statement by FCC Hong Kong, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR already stated its position. FCC Hong Kong should immediately stop meddling with Hong Kong affairs on the pretext of press freedom. NEWS FLASH Air Serbia is looking to increase frequencies and capacity on services to Larnaca after the Cypriot government lifted its ban on the entry of Serbian citizens. Air Serbia will maintain two weekly flights between Belgrade and Larnaca in the coming period, with a possibility of increasing capacity, both in terms of aircraft upgrades or the introduction of additional flights. Keeping in mind the announcement made by the Cypriot government that Serbian citizens will be permitted to enter the island with a negative PCR test as of today, September 24, the Serbian national airline expects greater interest from passengers than usual for this time of year. Therefore, Air Serbia will continue to operate flights to Larnaca on Mondays and Saturdays, even though the original plan was to decrease flights, the carrier said in a statement. Its General Manager for Commercial and Strategy, Jiri Marek, added, Air Serbia has been closely monitoring demand within the first two days after the announcement, and decided to add an additional third flight for Thursday next week with an attractive daytime departure, instead of a night one. We welcome the decision of the government of Cyprus, as it provides an ideal opportunity for all those who wish to use the autumn for their well-deserved vacation. Having in mind that the daily temperatures in Cyprus are very pleasant, we are certain that the number of passengers who will visit this popular destination in the Mediterranean in October will increase. A rare, powerful cyclone slammed into the western Ionian Islands of Greece and other parts of the country on Friday, bringing lashing rain, strong winds and flooding as it tore into the coastline. Such storms which some meteorologists call Medicanes, or Mediterranean hurricanes were virtually unheard-of before the 1990s, but in recent years have become a more regular occurrence because of rising sea temperatures. Greece issued its highest-level weather alert with the landfall of the hurricane-strength storm, which is known locally as Ianos and elsewhere in the region as Cassilda. Local authorities advised the islands residents, and tourists trapped there because of the cyclone, to remain indoors as the storm brought winds of at least 75 miles per hour. Videos posted to social media from the Greek islands show rough seas battering normally idyllic beaches and trees bending with the force of the wind as rain pummels the landscape. Local officials and community organizations face extra challenges to get New York City residents counted in the decennial census before the looming Sept. 30 deadline which was abruptly and possibly illegally imposed by the Trump administration. The new deadline is a full month ahead of schedule, making it even harder to ensure that New Yorkers are not undercounted. Last-gasp campaigns will be particularly important to reach two very different demographics that are most in danger of being undercounted this year: immigrant New Yorkers and wealthy Manhattanites. Response rates in rich Manhattan zip codes such as the Upper East Side and SoHo typically fall between 40 percent and 68 percent, some of the lowest self-response rates in the city, due to an exodus of residents during the coronavirus outbreak. Some immigrant-heavy neighborhoods, including Queens North Corona and East Elmhurst and Brooklyns East New York and Cypress Hills, are also seeing similarly low response rates, largely due to intimidation tactics by the federal government. Complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has 240,456 confirmed infection cases in New York City, and efforts from the Trump administration to exclude undocumented immigrants from the population count have forced the city to creatively recalibrate its outreach efforts. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, whose Brooklyn district includes parts of immigrant-heavy neighborhoods such as East Flatbush and Sunset Park, described the toll of the pandemic as disastrous for outreach efforts.We have had to get very creative, Myrie said, its been really tough. The senator has been particularly concerned about getting his constituents properly counted since two-thirds of the census tracts in his district were undercounted meaning 73% or fewer residents responded in the last census 10 years ago. An undercount of New Yorks population would mean that the city and state hit hardest by the pandemic could end up with fewer funding from the federal government. As one of the epicenters of the epicenter (of COVID-19), we were disproportionately affected and we're going to need a disproportionate amount of recovery, Myrie said referring to public funds that will be allocated based on the population count. Elected officials and community organizations working to make sure the city doesnt suffer an undercount have found that one way to reach New Yorkers during the pandemic is to find them where relief is being distributed across the city. Food and back-to-school supply distributions have become census outreach spots where informational materials are handed out and census workers are available to help residents fill out the survey on the spot. As one of the most diverse cities in the country, there are some 640 languages spoken in the New York metro area, making it essential to reach non-English speakers. NYC Census 2020, the citys census affairs office, has run 34 media campaigns in 26 different languages. Local organizations such as the New York Immigration Coalition, which advocates for the rights of immigrant residents, have also made language accessibility a key part of their census outreach. Right now, we're really focusing on making sure everything is in [their] language, said Meeta Anand, the Census 2020 senior fellow at the New York Immigration Coalition. This is particularly important because with COVID a lot of outreach activities ended up moving online. We're really making sure that all of our social media campaigns are in at least five or six languages. The organization has also equipped partner members under the New York Counts 2020 Coalition an initiative encompassing nearly 200 community organizations, local associations, and non-profit agencies working together to support census outreach with training guides to help volunteers answer sensitive questions related to the census. Many immigrant residents are still reluctant to share their information because they are worried it could jeopardize their status or the safety of their family. New York City faces an uphill battle to count immigrant residents, largely due to tactics by the Trump administration to suppress census participation among undocumented immigrants, despite the fact that all residents are legally required to be counted in the census regardless of legal status. Following the governments failed attempt to include a citizenship question on the 2020 census to deter undocumented residents from responding, Trump declared a memorandum in July to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census count data, which is used to allocate federal funds and congressional representation for each city and state. The move which will soon be examined by the Supreme Court is described as a patently unconstitutional attempt to weaponize the census for an attack on immigrant communities, by Dale Ho, director of the American Civil Liberties Unions Voting Rights Project. The citys immigrant neighborhoods arent the only ones facing hurdles with census participation, however. In a break with historical patterns, in which wealthier New Yorkers are more likely to answer the census, the city has been dealt the unexpected challenge of counting absent Manhattanites, primarily those in ritzy areas who fled the city following the coronavirus outbreak. Response rates in Tribeca and the Upper East Side are both 54 percent, compared to the 64 percent response rates in both neighborhoods in 2010, while Midtown currently has a 45 percent response rate, down from 53 percent in 2010. Those individuals are, frankly, pulling the overall city number down, said Julie Menin, the director of the citys census affairs office. So we need them to go online and take the 10 minutes it takes to fill it out. According to Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, whose office has been working with Menins to get absent Manhattanites to fill out the census, confusion over census rules may have caused out-of-town residents to complete the survey incorrectly. Its a big problem, Brewer said. I think they thought they needed to fill it out at a different location where they are temporarily wrong. Youre supposed to fill it out where your permanent address is. If a long-time resident of Manhattan temporarily relocated to Florida, for example, they should submit their census form with the address of their regular residence in New York. Those who filled out the survey with the incorrect permanent address should retake the survey using the correct information. The Census Bureau has a system to identify duplicate forms by the same respondent so that the incorrect address can be rectified. Following low response rates in the borough, city officials turned to an unconventional approach to reach Manhattanites who skipped town: a mailer campaign sent to residents based on absentee ballot requests from the Board of Elections. Postcards were mailed to 35,000 Manhattanites currently outside the city, based on the address from their absentee ballots. This was in addition to the 280,000 census outreach postcards that were previously sent out to households in Manhattan by first-class mail over the summer. Information retrieved from absentee ballots was also used to reach absent residents in the outer boroughs, though the numbers arent as high as those whove left Manhattan. The good news for New York City is that the census response has fared better than anticipated, given the challenges with COVID-19 and federal attempts to instill fear of responding among immigrants. Over 190 neighborhoods in NYC have either beaten their 2010 self-response rate or are within striking distance of their 2010 self-response rate, according to the citys census affairs office. Based on the Census Bureaus live count, as a whole, the citys response rate has reached 60.1 percent as of this writing slightly lower than the 61.9 percent response rate in the 2010 Census and New York states current rate of 63 percent. If you put that into context, we are right around close to where the city was in 2010, Menin said. We are also six points behind the nation. In 2010, we were 14 points behind the nation, so we've significantly closed the gap by more than half between the city self-response rate and the country. An estimated $8 trillion worth of federal funding will be doled out to city and state governments based on the 2020 census data. The appropriated funds support services such as school programs, senior citizen services, public housing, and even wastewater treatment. Menin declined to give a specific target number to reach by the Sept. 30 deadline which could still be extended to the original October deadline but shes positive about New York Citys performance so far. New York was the epicenter of COVID, with no in-person contact in March, April, May and June, and yet the majority of neighborhoods in New York City have indeed reached their 2010 number, and the city is about to beat that number very shortly, Menin stated. With that said, we're not going to stop. We just got to get every New Yorker counted. Editors note: To fill out the 2020 Census, visit www.my2020census.gov. Customs officers seize endangered species, including pangolin scales and dried snake galls, worth about $6.2 million. Customs seized endangered species worth about $6.2 million at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound on September 16. The suspected smuggled items include about one tonne of pangolin scales and about 13kg of dried snake galls. Through intelligence analysis, customs officers inspected a container arriving from Indonesia and found the smuggled items. People may report suspected smuggling activities by calling the 2545 6182 hotline or by emailing [email protected] FLYSHARP SOUTHALL TRAVEL SCAMMERS AND FRAUD. Am now at the airport where I have been since yesterday morning where I came for a flight home to Australia. I booked with FLYSHARP through SKYSCANNER a business class ticket to Sydney Australia via San fransisco. I booked business as they claimed the ticket would be flexible and called the agents, the airline and the subsequent airline that actually did the flight, (flight booked lufthansa but actually United air). Everyone advised that because I am Australian and I would just be transiting through San Fransisco I would be okay, I must have spent hundreds on calls to do this. LET ME REPEAT : EVERYONE ACTUALLY CONFIRMED THAT I WOUD NOT HAVE TROUBLE AT AIRPORT. I have call logs confirming this. I even filled in a checkin and UNITED BOARDING check online the day before I left for the airport and was confirmed that all would be well. I left my house, left my job, left my partner who has cancer, in the care of strangers so I can return hoe to my elderly other who has had a fall and is not well. In short I had left it all and was going home. No chance. I arrived 3 hours earlier and was refused entry, Immediately went to the United Desk where they told me go to Lufthansa desk. Lufthansa said that I should call the agent and that I would not have an issue to change or cancel ticket as on their system they could see I was business class. Next up, at least 2 hours before flight I kept calling the agent asking them to help. They told me I am a no show and my ticket would be forfeit and that I have no claim. 'But I am at the airport and they will not lt me on!' I told them. They told me to hang up and that he would try to change the flight. Half an hour later they called back telling me they could not find flight till 2021. I was actually in communication, with various other flights actually going to Sydney via Singapore and I was trying to rebook, Next up they told me I was only entitled to 300 pounds although I had forked out over 3200 pounds on this flight. I told them to change or cancel or even voucher me the ticket, but they said because I am a no show this is the policy. ' BUT I AM HERE AT THE AIRPORT AND THE FLIGHT HAS 2 HOURS TO LEAVE ' i screamed as everyone at the airport turned to listen. They told me to hang up and that they will call back later. I went to the lufthansa desk, the agency that actually managed the ticket, and they said that on they system the fare was business and therefore refundable even at no show but because I had bought through agency I was meant to go through them.. I called to tell the agency this and they asked me to ask Lufthansa to confirm this with an internal note on their system, including the fact that I had shown up but was not entitled to board as all persons from UK where prohibited from entering USA apart from USA citizens, Lufthansa did this but the agent then said this wasnt enough. 1 hour later their manager called to tell me that there is nothing they can do and that I have to forfeit all my fare. I was sat at the airport 12 hours in a desperate state with no money, no fare, no house and nothing to support me. I called the agency for help with some accommodation, they said they could not help. I called again and asked for help in general, they stopped taking my calls. I stayed at the airport till a family member managed to pay for a hotel near the airport via booking.com. I am now at the airport again waiting, waiting, waiting, and there is no response from FLYSHARP - SOUTHALL TRAVEL. What in heavens name will I do? Well the answer is 'They ripped me off and they do not care and now I am stuck in limbo waiting waiting waiting. The next flight is on Sunday 24 sept with Singapore, I have begged Australian embassy for money and now am calling friends and family for the extra 2000 pounds. I have hardly eaten, I already feel sick and to top it off I have been taken for all my money which was meant to help me go home. STAY WAY FROM FLYSHARP - SOUTHALL TRAVEL if you actually value your money, your sanity and your life, walking around the airport for hours on end cannot be good for health during a pandemic. Good luck all, you have been warned, The actor who has just earned his White Belt in Brizilian Jiu-Jitsu is maha excited with his feat For Prateik Babbar it took nine months to learn and gain confidence in Brizilian Jiu-Jitsu and for this he has also been awarded the White Belt. He now wants to urge his fans to take up martial arts and is happy that myFanPark will provide him the platform to directly connect with his admirers. myFanPark, a South African company which connects celebs to fans has recently launched in India and Prateik Babbar has associated himself with the same in order to reach out to his fans. Fans make actors and I love the opportunity to connect to fans so easily and directly. Through this platform I can actually talk to them and discuss the importance of martial arts and if interested, I can also share a joint lock or choke hold technique. Everyone should learn some form of self-defence, especially women, it is good to keep yourself guarded at all times, the actor said. Prateik Babbar has been known for some intense performances in his movies and fans have never stopped short to sing his praises. However, except for an occasional social media post, his connection with his fans has been limited. With myFanPark, Prateik hopes to make that leap and also spread the good word about martial arts. Dimension Films/Kobal/Shutterstock October is getting a whole lot spookier! John Carpenter's 1979 classic horror film Halloween, along with the sequels Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers and Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, are returning to movie theaters and drive-ins across the country, according to Variety. The movies are set to be re-released on 225 screens, including 104 drive-ins, the outlet reported. "We are so excited to be bringing these films back, especially to drive-ins across the country where this iconic franchise launched," Ryan Freimann, senior vice president of Trancas International Films and Compass International Pictures, said in a statement to Variety. "Now, with the fall season growing closer, the drive-in format is helping keep both Halloween spirit and the cinema experience alive in these unprecedented times." RELATED: Jamie Lee Curtis Responds to Halloween Sequel Release Delayed One Year: 'Worth the Wait' Everett Halloween Halloween follows the story of serial killer Michael Myers as he stalks and murders residents on Halloween night. The story takes place 15 years after a young Michael kills his teenage sister only to escape from a sanitarium to attempt to kill Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) as she babysits. The films will be shown across the country, in cities such as Los Angeles; Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Daytona Beach, and Melbourne, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama; Chicago; Indianapolis, Indiana; Lexington, Kentucky; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; New York, New York; Dayton, Ohio; Scranton, Hazelton and Buffalo, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, Texas, among other locations. Two more sequels in the franchise are planned, although the releases of those films were pushed back amid the coronavirus pandemic. In July, Carpenter announced Halloween Kills would be released in October 2021, while Halloween Ends will open October 2022. Story continues I am as disappointed as you are. Mostly because the movie the David has created from the characters that John and Debra created Is a masterpiece. Prescient and powerful. I promise you it will be worth the wait. https://t.co/hgpoGI2isX Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) July 8, 2020 "If we release it in October of this year as planned, we have to face the reality that the film would be consumed in a compromised theatrical experience," Carpenter said on Twitter. "After weighing our options, we have chosen to push the films theatrical release by one year." The 2018 Halloween remake, which Curtis also executive produced, set a record for the largest opening for a horror film with a female lead with $78 million domestically. Halloween Kills will star Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Anthony Michael Hall, Kyle Richards, and Nick Castle. - A Nigerian doctor has made it to the list of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the world - The physician identified as Tunji Funsho was honoured in recognition of his works as a vocal leader and advocate for Rotarys fight to end polio in Africa - Dr Funsho expressed joy over the honour, saying eradicating polio in Africa was a teamwork Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in A Nigerian physician identified as Tunji Funsho has been named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the world. Time, which recently released its 2020 list of 100 most influential people in the world, recognises the activism, innovation and achievement of the worlds most influential individuals. According to Africa Newsroom, Dr Funsho is a Lagos-based cardiologist and he is the first Rotary member to be honoured by Time. The physician received the honour in recognition of the great work Rotary has done to eradicate polio in Africa. READ ALSO: Meet Samuel the 24-year-old graduate who makes good living from body painting Dr Tunji Funsho. Photo credit: Health Reporters Source: UGC The medical doctor said: Im honored to be recognized by TIME for my part in ensuring that no child in Africa will ever again be paralyz*d by wild polio, a disease that once disabled 75,000 African children every single year. Eradicating the wild poliovirus in Africa was a team effort that required the cooperation and dedication of governments, partners, Rotary members, hundreds of thousands of health workers, and countless parents who chose to have their children vaccinated against polio. In other news, a Nigerian man studying in the United States (US), Ifeanyi Okpala, has made the nation really proud by winning a special award for his MS thesis at the University of Alabama Graduate School. READ ALSO: Afi Antonio Foundation trains widows, dropouts & more to start own businesses Ifeanyi earned his master's degree in flying colours as he completed a 105-page thesis, two journal articles, four conference papers, and had a CGPA of 4.0/4.0. Meanwhile, the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Gregory Andrews, was spotted days ago at the dirty Laboma beach in Accra, cleaning the area with a number of people. In the video sighted by YEN.com.gh on the official YouTube channel of Ghanavi TV, it is indicated that respected icon's clean-up exercise formed part of activities to mark September 19 as World Clean Up Day 2020. Gregory Andrews was reported that have joined the Ghana Wildlife Society, along with over 100 volunteers and other partner sanitation agencies to embark on the exercise. 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 CLEVELAND, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- US demand for frozen foods is forecast to grow 2.4% annually in nominal terms through 2024, according to Frozen Foods: United States, a report recently released by Freedonia Focus Reports. Advances will be driven by factors such as growth in population and disposable personal income. Suppliers are attempting to improve the health profile of frozen foods, as well as the marketing, to stimulate sales. Enhanced spending power will enable consumers to purchase more expensive frozen items that offer high-quality food in a convenient format and spur sales for the foodservice industry, which relies on frozen food for many of its menu items. However, the perception among many consumers that fresh food is healthier than frozen food will continue to restrain demand. More information about the report is available at: https://www.freedoniafocusreports.com/Frozen-Foods-United-States-FF10015/?progid=91541 Demand for frozen foods in the US is expected to see a 1.6% decline in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, as plummeting demand from the foodservice sector weighs on sales. However, the increase in working from home and avoiding restaurants will drive an uptick in consumption of frozen foods at home for a variety of segments, including meals and baked goods, as consumers exhibit stockpiling behavior. These and other key insights are featured in Frozen Foods: United States. This report forecasts to 2020 and 2024 US frozen food demand and shipments in nominal US dollars at the manufacturer level. Total demand and shipments are segmented by product in terms of: meat and poultry meals produce and juice seafood baked goods ice cream and frozen desserts To illustrate historical trends, total demand, total shipments, the various segments, and trade are provided in annual series from 2009 to 2019. Packaged ice and shelf-stable or refrigerated products frozen after purchase are excluded from the scope of this report. Frozen dough (e.g., pizza dough for restaurant use) is excluded from the scope of this report. Lactose free/non-dairy ice cream, powdered ice cream mixes, and ice cream prepared in foodservice establishments (e.g., ice cream shops) are excluded from the scope of this report. Re-exports of frozen foods are excluded from demand and trade figures. About Freedonia Focus Reports Each month, The Freedonia Group a division of MarketResearch.com publishes over 20 new or updated Freedonia Focus Reports, providing fresh, unbiased analysis on a wide variety of markets and industries. Published in 20-30 pages, Focus Report coverage ranges from raw materials to finished manufactured goods and related services such as freight and construction. Additional Consumer Goods reports can be purchased at Freedonia Focus Reports or MarketResearch.com. Analysis is intended to guide the busy reader through pertinent topics in rapid succession, including: total historical market size and industry output segmentation by products and markets identification of market drivers, constraints, and key indicators segment-by-segment outlook in five-year forecasts a survey of the supply base suggested resources for further study Press Contact: Corinne Gangloff +1 440.684.9600 [email protected] SOURCE The Freedonia Group Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Moscow late on Wednesday to discuss JCPOA and regional developments with his counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Trend reports citing IRNA. Earlier, Iran's Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali said that Foreign Zarif and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov will review JCPOA five years after the deal was clinched between Iran and six world powers. He further noted that Russia, as a supporter of the JCPOA, has recently opposed a resolution of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors; Iran and Russia are in full solidarity against US anti-humanitarian and unilateral sanctions. Rhea Chakraborty said in her 47-page long bail application to the Bombay High Court that no female officers were present when the NCB was interrogating her. She said the NCB had summoned her for September 6, 7 and 8 for a minimum 8 hours of interrogation at a stretch "by multiple male officers", however there was not a single female officer who interrogated her. Chakraborty is lodged in Byculla Jail and is to remain there till October 6. She has been arrested for procuring drugs for the Chhichhore actor and for being "an active member of the drug syndicate". She has also named the male officers who were present during her interrogation. These were- Kiran Babu, Intelligence Officer, NCB Zonal Unit, Indore (MP), Sameer Wankhede, Zonal Director, Mutha Ashok Jain, Deputy DG, South Western Region, KP Malhotra, Deputy Director, NCB, among others. She added that she was denied any legal advice while her questioning. In her bail application, Rhea also said that there is a serious threat to her life if she was detained unduly in judicial custody. While requesting the Bombay High Court to expedite her bail plea, she cited "hundreds of death and rape threats". In her bail plea, she also stated that Sushant Singh Rajput used people "closest to him to sustain his drug habit". She alleged that the late actor used her, her brother Showik, and members of his house staff to facilitate his drug habit while ensuring that there was no paper trail or electronic evidence of his involvement. Also read: 'Sushant took advantage of those closest to him to sustain drug habit': Rhea Chakraborty Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput case: Ordered CBD oil online for Shraddha Kapoor, Jaya Saha tells NCB 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. Revival Pastor Leads 40 Days of Prayer and Action for the Election and a Christian Government NEWS PROVIDED BY USA Christian Church Sept. 24, 2020 SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 24, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- In order for churches and the nation to reopen, Rev. Steven Andrew is calling everyone to pray and take action for a covenant Christian nation government from September 24 to November 3, 2020, which is the election day. "We see the urgent need to turn to God, with the protests, financial problems, and lockdowns," Andrew said. He is pastor of USA Christian Church and leads the group "America Is on the Lord's Side." Andrew asks people to do their part so God's favor is restored to: Have a covenant Christian nation government from school boards to Federal representatives. Reopen churches and everything. Raise three godly generations of the USA that put Jesus Christ first place in their lives. Participants join in the daily email and an "American Revival Prayer Meeting," which share the action steps. They also use the "How to Pray God's Will for Leaders" brochure. "It is top priority to have a Christian government, everything to reopen, and for the nation to follow God, so our country is safe and the economy is restored," Andrew said. "God is in charge, so we must get right with Him." Each day participants: Get the daily email with the American Revival Prayer Meeting and action steps. Join the prayer meeting, which is live at 3pm ET at https://USA.Life/StevenAndrew and can be replayed anytime by scrolling for that day's prayer meeting post. Pray for leaders to obey God using the "How to Pray God's Will for Leaders" brochure. Do the daily action step. The email sign up and the brochure "How to Pray God's Will for Leaders" are available on the pastor's web page. "When God sees people reaffirming covenant that the USA serves the Lord, He will forgive our sins, heal our land, and unite the country," Andrew said. "Marriages will be strengthened and lives healed as families turn to Jesus Christ." Pastors are asked to teach the "How to Pray God's Will for Leaders" points and lead their congregations in meetings. The bulletin insert makes it easy for churches to participate. About Steven Andrew To heal our land, Steven Andrew is leading the nation to reaffirm covenant that the USA follows Jesus Christ. Andrew has reached over 80 million people with the Gospel. He is pastor of USA Christian Church and leads the popular group "America Is on the Lord's Side." SOURCE USA Christian Church CONTACT: Steven Andrew, 877-537-8734, pastor@USA.church Related Links www.USA.church In protest against the Centres farm bills, farmers in Punjab will organise a three-day rail roko agitation starting Thursday. After being cleared the Lok Sabha, 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 voice vote in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday. Now they await the Presidents nod to become laws. We have decided to hold a rail roko agitation from September 24 to 26 in the state against the farm bills, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said last week. The states farmers, along with farmers of Haryana and Opposition parties across the country, have been in staunch protest against the bills ever since they were slated to be tabled in the Lok Sabha. Another farmers organisation has called for a state-wide bandh on September 25. The protesters worry that the bills will dismantle the current Minimum Support Prince (MSP) system and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates. However, the government claims that the MSP system will continue unchanged and the new bills will result in higher profits for the farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also assured the farmers on multiple occasions that the very historic bills will benefit them as they will take away the power from the hands of middlemen and give them the freedom to sell their produce where they see more profit. After the passage of the bills in the Upper House, Opposition leaders including Trinamool Congress Derek OBrien and Aam Aadmi Partys Sanjay Singh entered the well of the Rajya Sabha while the session was in progress, demanding that the bills be referred to a select committee. A young British family has been forced to rent out their home and borrow money from friends after being charged over 80,000 in early mortgage termination fees on their Berlin property investment. Justin and Annabelle Parfitt, entrepreneurs and former reality TV stars turned property developers, bought an undeveloped loft in Berlin three years ago with the intention of fixing it up and selling it on. But the couple, founders of FastLife, a speed-dating company now owned by Plenty of Fish and which featured in a 13-episode Canadian reality TV series called Love Incorporated, now face a nightmare situation. Former reality TV stars Justin and Annabelle Parfitt bought a loft in Berlin three years ago To buy the Berlin property the couple secured a mortgage and a development loan from German lender Commerzbank, totalling around 550,000. The Parfitts planned to sell the property once the renovations had finished and use the proceeds to fund another development in Bali. But they soon ran into a dispute with their contractors - which eventually went to court - and the property was left unfinished. In need of liquidity the couple decided to cut their losses and sell the property undeveloped. But when the time came for Justin and Annabelle to pay back their loans, they were shocked to find Commerzbank quoting an early repayment fee of 41,000 far higher than they had been expecting. Justin said: I thought that Commerzbank must be mistaken as the figure seemed so high, but they assured me that this was the correct figure to terminate both loans. I didn't like it, but I accepted the situation.' The couple had expected the sale to release around 140,000, which would have been enough to finish their other project in Bali. The figures still stacked up with Commerzbank's early repayment fees, but only just. But the situation soon got worse six months later, once the property had been sold on, the couple was shocked to find that the bank was actually charging them 83,000, more than double what had originally been quoted. I couldnt believe it, said Justin. Had I known the fees would actually be so high, I absolutely would not have proceeded with the sale. This was a devastating blow for us, delivered shortly after the birth of my daughter and just before the lockdown started.' When he approached the bank for an explanation, Justin was told that the initial quote had been a mistake, calculated for just one of the loans rather than both. My wife and I experienced incredible anxiety. We simply couldn't believe that a bank could acknowledge that they had made a mistake of this magnitude and then refuse to put it right. An email from Commerzbank to Justin seen by This is Money the bank states: A letter was sent to you in July 2019 with an indicative and non-binding amount and no binding statement [sic]. Obviously only one loan was calculated in the letter and unfortunately not both. I'm very sorry for the situation for you as a family and that, unfortunately, the bottom line is that the investment does not lead to the requested goal. Having such a high fee meant that the Parfitts cannot afford to develop their two other properties in Bali. With no income, Justin says they were forced to rent out their family home and stay with friends and family to make ends meet. The family eventually had to sell the property undeveloped after a dispute with the contractors Its become quite hard, he said. Our young daughter is missing her friends. But the only way to pay our mortgage is to rent the house out. Getting nowhere with Commerzbank, Justin decided to take his case to the German ombudsman. He says that once he did however the bank decided to withhold the proceeds from the sale of the property until the ombudsman had made a ruling. I couldnt believe it. Had I known the fees would actually be so high, I absolutely would not have proceeded with the sale - Justin Parfitt He said: 'I assumed that a judgment would happen within one month, as per the website. 'But then Commerzbank told us that they planned on withholding the undisputed proceeds from the sale of our property until the ombudsman had ruled, right after they had requested a one month extension to the arbitration process. 'This was our money - there was no disagreement on that - how could the bank refuse to send our own money? It was clearly a ploy to try to force us to drop the case with the ombudsman because the bank knew we were desperate to get the money quickly. 'In order to live, and to keep our business afloat while we waited for our money, we were in the humiliating position of having to ask friends and family to lend us money. The family planned to sell the renovated property to fund a development in Bali 'Frankly, we were very lucky to have friends and family who we could borrow from. What would we have done otherwise?' The Parfitts had originally expected to get the sale proceeds in February, but were kept waiting until June. He said Commerzbank did offer me 12,000 as a goodwill gesture, providing that I signed a non-disclosure agreement. But that wouldnt even begin to compensate me. At this point, the bank's manipulative behaviour became even clearer, as 10,000 is the maximum award the ombudsman can impose. 'Clearly the bank believed that the ombudsman would rule in our favour, and they thought that an extra 2,000 would buy our silence. It's been an exhausting, depressing process, but I am determined to see this through - we have to repay the loans to our friends and family.' The Parfitts are still waiting for the German ombudsman to make a ruling. When asked for comment a spokesman for Commerzbank said: 'The issue is currently being clarified with the ombudsman of the Association of German Banks. So we cant comment on that.' Best mortgage rates and how to find them with This is Money's help This is Money has partnered with L&C Mortgages, a firm of independent mortgage brokers who specialise in finding the best mortgage rates and the right deal for you. To check for the best mortgage deal and speak to an adviser, click here. Or you can fill in your details online to find out the best mortgage rates for you. Canada's flight industry is tentatively taking heart in signals from the throne speech that financial help is on the way but wants to see quick, clear action to support the sector, which has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (484 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A flight arrives at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C. Wednesday, March 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward Canada's flight industry is tentatively taking heart in signals from the throne speech that financial help is on the way but wants to see quick, clear action to support the sector, which has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The government's speech from the throne Wednesday pledged "further support for industries that have been the hardest hit, including travel and tourism." The National Airlines Council of Canada acknowledged the commitment, but president Mike McNaney said federal authorities need to "immediately make a concrete plan... to support the sector." We cant keep waiting," he said in a phone interview. "All of our G7 trading partners all have brought forward sectoral support... We have not." Passenger numbers are down 94 per cent from 2019, with aviation still at "Stage 0 in its recovery" amid ongoing travel restrictions, said the group in a release. The council represents Air Canada, WestJet Airlines Ltd., Air Transat and Jazz Aviation. Between the three largest airlines, more than 27,000 employees have been laid off since March. Nav Canada, which runs the countrys air navigation system, announced earlier this week it has cut 720 jobs or 14 per cent of its workforce due to the plunge in global air traffic. Canadian airline revenues in 2020 will fall by $14.6 billion or 43 per cent from last year, according to estimates in May from the International Air Transport Association. "The financial situation is much worse now than it was in the spring, as airports continue to pile up costs and debt to provide enhanced safety and health measures on limited revenues," Canadian Airports Council president Daniel-Robert Gooch said in a statement. "The speech from the throne offered some hope in recognizing particularly hard hit sectors, including aviation, but time is of the essence: without action, the damage done to airports and the communities they serve may take years to repair." Unlike countries including France, Germany and the United States, Canada has steered clear of sector-specific support for carriers, instead rolling out financial aid available to many industries, such as wage subsidies and loans starting at $60 million for large firms. Ottawa has also held off on requiring airlines to refund customers whose flights were cancelled due to the pandemic, potentially saving carriers hundreds of millions of dollars. In contrast, European and U.S. authorities have demanded airlines reimburse travellers, on top of the strings attached to financial lifelines that range from limiting dividends and executive bonuses to cutting carbon emissions and carving out ownership stakes for government. The Liberals pledged in the throne speech "to support regional routes for airlines" as part of its efforts to connect communities. That comes after after Air Canada announced in June it would suspend service on 30 regional routes and close eight stations at smaller Canadian airports. "Its been a long time coming. Weve been holding our breath for six months," said John McKenna, president of the Air Transportation Association of Canada, which counts 30 smaller carriers as members. "Id like to see words turn into action. And significant action not just for show." The broader travel and tourism industry found more encouragement in the throne speech, which outlines the government's priorities for the new session of Parliament. The Tourism Industry Association of Canada said it was "thrilled" that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government had circled the sector as a priority in the wake of hundreds of thousands of layoffs across the country. "In fact, travel and tourism was among the only industries directly mentioned in the speech as a sector in need of further support," the association said in statement. There were 463,500 fewer tourism sector jobs in September than the same month a year earlier, marking a drop of roughly 25 per cent from pre-pandemic levels, Tourism HR Canada said. Other new measures applicable to all industries include the extension of the federal wage subsidy through the summer of 2021 and enhancements to the Canada Emergency Business Account and the Business Credit Availability Program. Transat spokesman Christophe Hennebelle said the extension comes as a "welcome support, but it primarily benefits the employees." The billions of dollars in aid to airlines in the U.S. and Europe are "out of all proportion" compared with the lack of support in Canada, he said in an email, with more "significant" steps needed from Ottawa. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Suzanne Benoit, CEO of Aero Montreal, which represents Quebec's aerospace cluster, called the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy "excellent" in the short term but said the Liberal government should be "more specific" with how it will steady industry turbulence. McKenna is asking Transport Canada to ramp up coronavirus testing in airports as a replacement for 14-day quarantine requirements for returning residents. He is also demanding Ottawa postpone regulations slated to come into effect in mid-December that lower pilots maximum working hours per day, a move that aims to boost safety but will also raise labour costs by necessitating new hires, McKenna said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2020 with a file from Julien Arsenault Companies in this story: (TSX:AC, TSX:TRZ) Ant Group runs Alipay, one of China's two dominant online payment systems The financial arm of Chinese e-commerce titan Alibaba is planning the biggest IPO in history, raising as much as $35 billion in a joint listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai, a report said Thursday. And in a sign of Ant Group's confidence in the share sale, it will not seek cornerstone investorslarge institutions that agree to hold the stock for an extended time to provide confidence and stability in new listings. The company is looking to raise the cashwhich would be far higher than the $29 billion chalked up by Saudi Aramco in Decemberin a split float between the two Chinese cities, said Bloomberg News, citing unnamed sources. The plan values Ant Group at about $250 billion, it added. The company runs Alipay, one of the two dominant online payment systems in China, where cash, cheques and credit cards have long been eclipsed by e-payment devices and apps. After getting approval from the Shanghai Stock Exchange for a listing last week, the Hangzhou-based firm is now seeking to have a listing hearing with Hong Kong stock exchange as early as next week, with an eye on a debut in October. With huge funding demand driven by the mega IPO seeing vast amounts of cash shift into the city, its de facto central bank the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has been forced to intervene multiple times in currency markets to weaken the local currency and maintain its peg to the US dollar. Ant declined to comment but in its filing in August, the firm said it will use the proceeds to expand cross-border payments and enhance its research-and-development capabilities. The decision not to list in New York is a major loss for US markets and comes as Washington ramps up scrutiny of Chinese tech firms. A number of high-profile Chinese firmsespecially those in techhave looked to Hong Kong as they shun New York over the tensions between Washington and Beijing. The US is considering plans to impose stricter rules on firms listed in the country to open up their audit papers to US accountants, which could lead to Chinese companies forced out. And that could push them towards Hong Kong or Shanghai. In June, mainland e-commerce giant JD.com tech firm NetEase raised almost $7 billion between them in separate listings in Hong Kong. And this week Chinese courier service giant ZTO Express raised $1.27 billion in a second listing in the city. Its shares are also traded in New York. The spate of IPOs is also a shot in the arm for Hong Kong as fears mount over the potential fallout of Beijing's imposition of a new national security law on the city banning subversion and foreign interference. Explore further Alibaba shares leap after Ant Group IPO filing 2020 AFP The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), in conjunction with police officers from the Economic Crime Bureau attached to West Midlands Police in the United Kingdom (UK), this Thursday are carrying out an operation in counties Clare and Tipperary as part of a cyber-fraud and money laundering investigation in the UK. The CAB investigation is focussed on the assets of an international organised crime group who are suspected of laundering the proceeds of mandate fraud committed in the UK via a used car outlet in County Tipperary. Searches were conducted at two residential premises and one business premises in County Clare, and two residential and one business premises in County Tipperary. The search of the one business premises in County Tipperary, a used car outlet, remains ongoing. So far this Thursday morning, in excess of 80 cars with an approximate value of 2,000,000 and cash in the amount of 21,000 have been seized, and in excess of 200,000 has been restrained in financial accounts linked to the organised criminal group. The search operation involves the CAB, the Emergency Response Unit, the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit, the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Garda Technical Bureau and the Revenue Customs Dog Unit. "Todays search operation is an example of the ongoing cooperation between the CAB, An Garda Siochana and UK Police Forces in the investigation of international organised criminal groups. Our activities are in furtherance of the CAB mission to deny and deprive," said chief bureau officer Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins. One of the volunteers for a controversial vaccine trial where they will be deliberately infected with coronavirus revealed they will be locked up for two weeks to stop them spreading the disease. In the challenge trial, participants will receive a jab before being exposed to a dose of SARS-CoV-2 a month later. They will then be kept at a clinic in east London for two weeks to monitor their progress. Some of the 100 to 200 Britons taking part in the study, which will be launched in January, may remain behind closed doors for 'considerably longer' if their symptoms of the virus do not subside. Trial volunteer Alastair Fraser-Urquhart, 18, told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme he signed up because the experiment has the potential to save 'thousands of lives' and 'bring the world out of the pandemic sooner'. The world-leading study yet to be officially confirmed by the government could rapidly accelerate the approval of a vaccine, and will be the first of its kind carried out anywhere in the world. It's unclear which vaccine candidate will be tested, but drug giants AstraZeneca which is developing the Oxford vaccine and Sanofi which says its vaccine may be ready before next June have insisted they are not taking part. 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 Alastair Fraser-Urquhart, 18, has volunteered for the coronavirus challenge trials Mr Fraser-Urquhart told the Today programme this morning he could 'certainly imagine' his time locked in the clinic 'could push the two week boundary'. 'I'll be remaining at the clinic, really, for as long as it takes,' he said. 'Obviously we can't have it infecting anyone who isn't a part of the trial, so every volunteer would need to be held in bio-containment.' Explaining why he signed up, he said the trial has the potential to save 'thousands of lives' and 'bring the world out of the pandemic sooner'. He added: 'It was just something that made instant sense to me, really.' Challenge trials have been used in the past to check whether vaccines are effective for diseases including smallpox, malaria and influenza. The first time they were used dates back to the 18th century, when Edward Jenner inoculated an eight-year-old boy with the cowpox virus and then exposed him to smallpox to see whether it protected him from the disease. 'There really is a long history of doing this,' said Professor Peter Horby, a member of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG). 'It has the real potential to advance science and get us to a better understanding of the disease and vaccines faster.' Challenge trials were initially avoided for coronavirus over fears of the virus' impact on participants exposed to it. But research has made the trials possible as it has revealed young, healthy volunteers with no underlying health conditions are at 'extremely low' risk of dying from the virus, and identified treatments reducing the risk of death from the disease such as remdesivir. hVivo's laboratory in Whitechapel, east London, where the initial trials are set to be held 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 Professor Horby, from Oxford University, said that in the trial the immune response will be measured in volunteers blood before they are challenged. 'If they're protected, then we can say that the blood markers are reliable markers of protection, then we can use those in further studies to expand the patient group to other groups as well, which is much easier than trying to identify proper infection in trials in the community.' 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 people have signed up for the trial through 1Day Sooner, a US-based advocacy group made up of 100 leading experts including Nobel Prize-winning scientists. The group is currently petitioning for the controversial trials to be signed off by the UK medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). They said in a statement: '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. '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.' Those taking part in the trial could be paid more than 4,000. People who participate in the influenza vaccine trials are paid up to 3,750. 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.' Sprinklers water a field in the Salinas Valley. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times) A Central California water board is poised to do something rare in American agriculture: It is trying to establish enforcement mechanisms not just toothless regulations to limit the use of farm fertilizers that contribute to dangerous levels of groundwater pollution. If the effort is successful, within a few decades it will have reversed or at least stopped adding to the pollution of groundwater beneath the Salinas and Santa Maria valleys. One of the most pervasive forms of groundwater pollution is nitrate, a key component of farm fertilizer and manure. In 2017, water systems serving 10.9 million Californians were contaminated with nitrate at or above legal limits, according to a study published in June by the Environmental Working Group. In infants, nitrate can cause the potentially fatal oxygen-deficiency disease known as blue baby syndrome. Even at levels below federal guidelines, the EWG says, nitrate exposure is linked to colorectal, ovarian, thyroid, kidney and bladder cancers. The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board oversees water pollution in a district that extends from south of Santa Barbara to north of Santa Cruz, a region at the heart of the state's high-end vegetable agriculture. In 2004, the water board instituted a nitrate-monitoring program. Now it wants to impose restrictions on farmers nitrate use, and ultimately to cite and fine those who dont heed the limits. The restrictions would work to gradually reduce the use of nitrate until no excess percolates into groundwater. If the plan, now in the public-comment stage, succeeds, it could have far-reaching impact. The approach would be particularly applicable in the nearby Central Valley, where Californias agriculture industry predominates. Parts of the Central Valley have nitrate-reduction programs of their own, but they lack enforcement provisions. The Central Coasts favorable Mediterranean climate and rich soils enable farmers to plant three or four crops per year, giving their fields some of the nations highest per-acre productivity. But that means the fields also receive three or four applications of fertilizer a year. As a result, nitrate pollution levels in some parts of the region are among the highest in California, according to Matt Keeling, the Central Coast boards executive officer. Story continues For farmers, nitrate has a benefit the substance increases crop yields whether it comes from fertilizer or groundwater irrigation. But for local communities and, increasingly, nearby metropolitan areas that use groundwater for drinking, the costs of filtration, or of digging deeper wells to get to cleaner water, are rising. Not surprisingly, a UC Berkeley study showed that those whose taps deliver the highest levels of nitrates in the San Joaquin Valley are disproportionately poor and Latino. The Central Coast water board's proposed regulations wouldnt prevent farmers from using nitrate. Instead, farmers would be required to gradually subtract from their fertilizer applications the amount of nitrate in the groundwater they pump onto their fields. The goal is to reach an optimal level as much but no more than the crops can absorb which would mean less and less in the groundwater. Over a generation or two, the water would get cleaned up and farmers could maintain their crops. However, farmers whose groundwater nitrate levels didn't decrease would face progressively intensifying enforcement, starting with requests for compliance and ending with fines. For farmers, the measure remains a hard sell. Many want to increase, not decrease, nitrate applications. Data collected by the Central Coast water board bears this out: More than half of the regions farmers report that they apply more nitrate than is recommended for their crops, and some use two to four times as much, according to Keeling. Kari Fisher, the California Farm Bureau Federations senior counsel, speaks for the farmers. She told me that the water boards draft order could lead to losses of up to 11,000 jobs and $309 million in income, mostly in disadvantaged communities. Keeling declined to address the federation's estimates, but he acknowledges that by 2026, the nitrate restrictions would require farmers to modify their practices switching to crops that are particularly good at absorbing nitrate, such as broccoli, or reducing crop cycles per year. The six-year time horizon is meant to give farmers time to experiment and innovate to better cope with altered nitrate regimens. The cost to farmers also must be weighed against the health and water purification costs that nitrate pollution imposes. A 2012 UC Davis study of nitrate in the Salinas Valley and in the Central Valleys Tulare Lake basin estimated the cost of providing clean drinking water to out-of-compliance local public water systems at $17 million to $34 million a year. Agricultures pollution, arising not just from fertilizer but pesticides, antibiotics and soil degradation, is far-reaching, and no program to reverse Californias growing environmental disarray can succeed without curbing it. Addressing the nitrate problem is an obvious place to start. Jacques Leslie is a contributing writer to Opinion. The swearing-in ceremony in the presidential palace defended by deployed soldiers and with the city centre closed to the public. In the evening, demonstrators in different cities marched with banners and words: "We have not chosen you!". Germany and the United States have decided not to recognize his presidency due to a lack of "democratic legitimacy". Minsk (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Alexandr Lukashenko was sworn in yesterday for his sixth term as president of the country, having already ruled Belarus for 26 years. Due to possible protests, the ceremony took place in secret, with the city centre closed to the public and a large number of soldiers deployed in key points and around the presidential palace. The Belta state agency described the swearing and signing ceremony and Lukashenko's "pride" in his inaugural speech, calling him a champion who saves "our values, peace, sovereignty, independence". In a message on Telegram, an opposition representative, Pavel Latuchko, called the ceremony "a secret service operation, under the protection of anti-riot forces and in secret". In the evening, thousands of protesters gathered in central Minsk to criticize the investiture of Lukashenko, accused of electoral fraud. Many of them carried signs and banners with the words: "We did not choose you!". Police in riot gear tried to disperse the protesters using water cannons and making at least 153 arrests. Demonstrations were also held in Mogilev, Gomel and other cities. Lukashenko accuses the West of being behind the demonstrations that have taken place since 9 August and has ruled out any dialogue with the opposition, whose most important members are either in prison or in exile. Yesterday, Germany and the United States decided not to recognize Lukashenko's presidency, given that the elections lack "democratic legitimacy". Report: LAPD used facial recognition nearly 30,000 times The Los Angeles Police Department has used facial-recognition software nearly 30,000 times since 2009 even while denying at times that it used the controversial technology at all, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday. The LAPD doesnt have its own face-scanning platform but uses the face-comparison software provided through the Los Angeles County Regional Identification System, a database of about 9 million mugshots, the Times said. Recent denials that the Police Department used facial recognition were mistakes, Assistant Chief Horace Frank told the paper. Frank said he told the citys Police Commission about its use two years ago. ADVERTISEMENT We arent trying to hide anything, he said. The software has been used to help identify suspects in crimes without witnesses, gang crimes where witnesses are afraid to come forward, and by a multi-law enforcement agency task force investigating arsons, burglaries and other crimes that took place during summer protests over police shootings, LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein told the paper. The software was used to compare images from crime scenes, witnesses and surveillance cameras with the regional database. Rubenstein said he couldnt determine how many arrests have resulted from use of the software but said the system is only used to develop investigative leads, not to solely identify a suspect in a crime.`` No individuals are arrested by the LAPD based solely on facial recognition results, he said. The LAPD also doesnt use the software to scan crowds or in any live-streaming capacity, Rubenstein said. ADVERTISEMENT He said 330 LAPD personnel have access to the software. That is a lot of people with access to the system, and shows its widespread usage, Mohammad Tajsar, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, told the Times. The potential for mass use of facial-recognition technology has raised concerns about privacy and civil rights, especially since the software has shown problems with higher misidentification rates for women and people of color. Last year, a federal study of algorithms provided by about 100 facial-recognition software providers showed higher error rates for women, the youngest and oldest people and for certain racial groups _ including Blacks, Asians and American Indians _ depending on which image database or software was used. California has enacted a three-year ban on the use of facial recognition technology in police body cameras. The ban followed similar moves in New Hampshire and Oregon. Last year, San Francisco and Oakland banned the use of any facial recognition by police and other city departments. It also has been banned in the Boston suburb of Somerville, Massachusetts. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:22:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered for the termination of a Light Railway Transit (LRT) project which was to be constructed in capital Colombo, the local EconomyNext reported here Thursday. According to government officials, the LRT project was a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded project and the President had ordered for its immediate suspension as it was not an effective transport solution. EconomyNext quoting a letter written to the Transport Ministry Secretary, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundara said the project was very costly and not the appropriate cost effective transport solution for the urban Colombo transportation infrastructure. The project was likely to cost an estimated 1.5 billion U.S. dollars. "A suitable transport solution could be worked out in consultation with the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing and the Department of National Planning of the Ministry of Finance," Jayasundara wrote, adding that the President had also ordered the immediate closure of the project office. Sri Lanka signed a 30 billion yen (284.57 million U.S. dollars) concessionary loan with the government of Japan in March 2020 for the projects. The government also expressed concern about buildings that might be affected by the LRT. The LRT project was expected to cover a distance of 17 km. Sixteen LRT stations were to be constructed along the route. Enditem We find that there is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution. Middle market companies often benefit from hearing strategic solutions from experts outside their industry, which is what we try to do with Culture of Compliance. Frazier & Deeter, one of the nations largest accounting and advisory firms, announced today that their podcast Culture of Compliance has been ranked the #1 podcast among the Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcasts by Feedspot. Frazier & Deeter is excited about this recognition for the Culture of Compliance podcast, said Seth McDaniel, Managing Partner of Frazier & Deeter. Our goal with Frazier & Deeter podcasts is to bring thought leadership to middle market companies that they can utilize as they grow and evolve. We created this podcast back in 2018 with a vision of bringing compliance professionals information and perspectives to help them create a culture of compliance within their organizations, noted Sabrina Serafin, the host of the podcast. Serafin is a Partner at Frazier & Deeter and the leader of the firms national Process, Risk & Governance advisory practice. We find that there is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution. Middle market companies often benefit from hearing strategic solutions from experts outside their industry, which is what we try to do with Culture of Compliance. Culture of Compliance examines compliance topics across the spectrum of financial, operational and risk management. Podcast Host Sabrina Serafin gives listeners insights into compliance activities that provide a competitive advantage while interviewing subject matter and innovative experts across multiple industries. Past topics include agile auditing, using artificial intelligence in compliance, robotic process automation, data analytics, cyber security, benefits of PCI, HITRUST and SOC reporting, and other topics that are traditionally seen as costly and burdensome to an organization. The podcast ranking was issued by Feedspot, a service that ranks popular blogs, podcasts and Youtube channels in niche categories. In the rankings, Feedspot ranked Culture of Compliance as the #1 compliance podcast based on factors such as frequency, following and longevity. To learn more about Culture of Compliance visit the Frazier & Deeter website or find the podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. About Frazier & Deeter Frazier & Deeter is an award-winning Top 50 accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The firm provides a wide range of tax, audit, accounting and advisory services to serve the emerging needs of clients as they evolve. Frazier & Deeter and its FD family of brands have nine offices across the United States and one in the United Kingdom. The firm has been recognized repeatedly as a Best of the Best Accounting firm, a Best Firm to Work For in the U.S. and a Best Firm for Women in Leadership. Frazier & Deeters brand promise is Investing in Relationships to Make a Difference. We want nothing more than to open our doors and to hear the laughter and joy in the hallways. And yet, we must ensure that we can do this safely. I am simply not willing to risk the health of any child or staff member or a member of their families, Horton wrote. A court case over steak and red wine is at the heart of Josh Frydenbergs changes to the way customers get a bank loan. The government has been concerned for months that banks were turning away customers by applying their responsible lending obligations too strictly. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is announcing rules to make it easier for banks to lend for mortgages. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Federal Court judge Nye Perram had to consider the problem when the corporate regulator claimed Westpac had breached its obligations by not taking into account a borrowers real living expenses. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission blamed Westpac for not being strict enough in measuring a customers future expenses according to those of the past. But was the regulator right? Home buyers who take out a mortgage can often change their behaviour and stop their old spending habits. More people have been shot and killed by law enforcement in Bexar County so far in 2020 than in 2019, according to data from the Texas Justice Initiative. So far this year, the San Antonio Police Department, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, the Balcones Heights Police Department and the Universal City Police Department have all reported a combined 19 officer-involved shootings, 11 of which were fatal. Compared to last year, local agencies reported a combined 20 shootings with 10 ending in fatalities. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Current data by the Texas Justice Initiative, shows 15 officer-involved shootings as of Sept. 1. Since then, SAPD has reported two and Balcone Heights one. BCSO was involved in a fatal shooting Aug. 25, but the incident was not reported to TJI until Sept. 7 and not included in the Sept. 1 data. So far in 2020, SAPD has had 12 shootings, BCSO 3, Universal City 2 and Balcones Heights 1. Since 2015, there have been a total of 91 shootings, 49 of them fatal in Bexar County. According to TJI, 50 individuals who have been shot by police were Hispanic, 20 were white, 17 were Black and four were classified as other. On Express-News: I loved him a lot: Family speaks out after West Side man shot, killed by San Antonio police In the same time period, 16 peace officers in Bexar County have been shot by civilians. This year, two San Antonio police officers were shot in April, but both are expected to recover. Only two law enforcement officers in the area have been killed in the line of duty since 2015. The latest fatal shooting was Tuesday, when SAPD officers shot and killed 44-year-old Victor Sanchez after he allegedly threatened police with a handgun during a confrontation at a West Side apartment. For more information on TJI data, click here. Utopia Creator: Gillian Flynn Cast: John Cusack, Sasha Lane, Rainn Wilson, Christopher Denham The criticism around Gillian Flynns portrayal of women has barely subsided and now she must batten down the hatches for another onslaught. Her new project, the Amazon Prime Video series Utopia, is sure to irritate perhaps the most toxic of subcultures -- comic book fandom. In an early scene, a couple of hitmen walk into a fan convention and stare in amazement at the vibrant passion on display. One of them calls it disturbing, the other thinks its wonderful. And that sort of sums up Flynns stance as well. Watch the Utopia trailer here Based on the cult UK series of the same name, Utopia is a conspiracy thriller about a group of nerds who band together to locate a comic book manuscript that they believe contains information about future pandemics. Theyre convinced of this because the books precursor seemingly predicted major tragedies such as the SARS and MERS epidemics. Meanwhile, a shadowy organisation known as The Harvest, also looking to get its hands on the precious manuscript, is hot on their heels. With a central plot that involves a shady pharma company, major infection hotspots, and the looming threat of a large-scale outbreak, I wont deny that I got the heebie-jeebies drawing parallels to the ongoing pandemic. In fact, the show, in many ways, is as prescient as the fictional comic book that everyone in it seems to be after. Its a disconcerting experience, for sure. But while the UK original featured a faceless organisation as the villain, the US remake, like most US remakes, simplifies things, by casting John Cusack as the pharma-bro antagonist. Every night at the dinner table, he asks his family the same question: What have you done today to earn your place in this crowded world? Cusack brings a quiet menace to his performance that is far too subtle for the show, which is shrill to a fault. Although its interesting to observe how, in the span of just a few years, the pendulum has swung from audiences perceiving fast wealth as aspirational, to now being suspicious of it. Even though Cusacks character Dr Kevin Christie is an American, Im worried that Utopia might play into the Trumpsters narrative that the Covid-19 virus was manufactured in a Chinese laboratory. While some conspiracies are harmless for instance, no one cares if Tom Cruise worships Xenu others have real-world consequences. But Utopia never pretends to be a documentary, or even as realistic as something like, say, Steven Soderberghs Contagion. The show is steeped in genre storytelling, often times resembling a comic book itself. A great many changes have been made, immediately setting it apart from the British original. And while the images are comparatively unremarkable the UK Utopia was a visually stunning piece of television the violence is just as visceral. I am not allowed to discuss specifics Amazons list of plot points that cannot be broached rivals the ones I received for Stranger Things and Black Mirror but be warned: there are scenes that push the boundaries of bad taste. In fact, only seven episodes (of nine) were provided for preview. And with Amazon once again looking to release episodes in a staggered manner, as opposed to dumping them all in one go, itll be weeks before Im able to watch the finale. I doubt Ill return to it, however. And thats unfortunate, considering what Utopia could have been. Flynn, the writer of Gone Girl and Sharp Objects, who serves as showrunner here, sure knows how to construct a compelling yarn. But Utopia was positively begging for a sole directorial voice. This isnt to say that Toby Haynes, Susanna Fogel and the others have done a poor job, but when you consider what we almost had, youd feel just as disappointed as well. Utopia was previously set up by Flynn and David Fincher at HBO, hot off their blockbuster collaboration on Gone Girl. Fincher wouldve directed every episode. But budgetary disputes forced the filmmaker to drop out. Finchers depraved sensibilities wouldve been perfectly suited for this material, and one can only imagine what it wouldve been like to see his name on the stylish opening credits sequence. Speaking of the opening credits, despite appearing in what can charitably be described as a recurring role, Cusack has been given top-billing. Its his first proper television gig, and he is by far the most recognisable name on the call-sheet, but its American Honey actor Sasha Lane who plays the protagonist, Jessica Hyde. Written in broad strokes as opposed to careful calligraphy, however, shes hardly a quintessential Flynn heroine. Utopia is yet another victim of an ailment that has affected past Amazon shows such as The Boys and Hunters: bloat. Its too long, its too convoluted, and it often gets distracted by ideas it seems to be coming up with on the fly. Follow @htshowbiz for more India on Wednesday, September 23 said that it is proud to endorse the US move of announcing its 're-dedication' to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that calls for fundamental freedom and unalienable rights for all humans. Indian Mission to the United Nations welcomed the US joint statement and announced that it 'recommits' to the 1948-adopted UDHR. Apart from India, other nations that have joined the US include Bahrain, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, the Maldives, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Read - PM Modi Thanks Trump For Birthday Greeting, Makes 'humanity' Pitch For India-US Friendship India is proud to endorse the US initiative on the Joint Statement on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. pic.twitter.com/ng0NyGa8IL India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) September 23, 2020 United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the purpose of the United States government is to secure unalienable rights and called on defending the same in todays day and age citing the human rights project being in crisis. From mentioning authoritarian governments such as in China and Iran to multinational organisations losing their way, the US Secretary of State said that the only way to uphold the human rights is to go back to the identifications made by the framers of the UDHR. He noted that similar to the founders of the UDHR, the US government should also unwaveringly defend the dignity of all humans. Read - India-US Engineers & Scientists Can Widen Research Under Special Tech Fund: Indian Envoy Pompeo noted the vital work of other governments Mike Pompeo said that it is found in the American constitutional tradition wide and deep support for unalienable rights. Further saying that the work is vital, the US Secretary of State urged other governments to be inspired by the recent report of the Commission who should rededicate themselves to moral and religious resources to affirm the rights inherent in all human beings, which is also the core of the UDHR. US Secretary of State said, We hope the Commissions recently published Report will serve as an inspiration to other nations and peoples... This work is vital. We must rediscover the nature of human rights and the courage to defend them." Read - Indian Envoy Sandhu & US Senators Discuss Ways To Tackle COVID-19, India-US Strategic Ties Read - DOJ Nearing Antitrust Action On Google; Trump Eyes Tech Curb (With ANI Input; Image - PTI) China on Thursday lashed out at the United States at a high-level UN meeting over its criticism on the coronavirus, with its envoy declaring, "Enough is enough!" Two days after President Donald Trump used his annual address to the General Assembly to attack China, its ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, strongly criticized the US global role. "I must say, enough is enough! You have created enough troubles for the world already," he told a Security Council meeting on global governance attended through videoconference by several heads of state. "The US has nearly seven million confirmed cases and over 200,000 deaths by now. With the most advanced medical technologies and system in the world, why has the US turned out to have the most confirmed cases and fatalities?" he asked. Also read: China decries US 'lie' over Xinjiang imports ban "If someone should be held accountable, it should be a few US politicians themselves." Using a phrase often told by US leaders to China, Zhang said, "The US should understand that a major power should behave like a major power." The United States, he said, "is completely isolated." "It's time to wake up," he said in remarks enthusiastically backed by his Russian counterpart. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, voiced anger at the tone of the session, which was presided over by Niger's president, Issoufou Mahamadou. Read: US-China investment flow slides to 9 year-low as bilateral tensions escalate "You know, shame on each of you. I am astonished and I am disgusted by the content of today's discussion," Craft said. "I am actually really quite ashamed of this Council -- members of the Council who took this opportunity to focus on political grudges rather than the critical issue at hand. My goodness." Trump in his speech Tuesday had demanded action against China for spreading the "plague" of Covid-19. China initially suppressed news of the respiratory disease when it emerged last year in Wuhan and initial advice played down the risks of transmission. China's communist leaders have more recently tried to transform the narrative into one of success in stopping the virus. Trump's response to the pandemic has emerged as a major political issue as he seeks a new term in November 3 elections. Washington: President Donald Trump was booed as he paid his respects to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He plans to nominate a replacement this weekend for the liberal justice, best known for her advancement of women's rights. The President and first lady Melania Trump both wearing masks stood silently at the top of the steps of the court and looked down at Ginsburg's flag-draped coffin, which was surrounded by white flowers. US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump paid their respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Credit:Bloomberg Ginsburg's death has sparked a controversy over the political balance of the court just weeks before the November presidential election. Moments after Trump arrived on Thursday local time (Friday AEST), booing could be heard from spectators about a block away from the court building. They chanted "vote him out" as the President stood near the coffin. Trump walked back into the court as the chants grew louder. Appointment of two leaders from the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies further strengthens AWAKN's industry leading scientific advisory team Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 24, 2020) - AWAKN Life Sciences Inc. ("AWAKN") is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael Mithoefer and Ann Mithoefer to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Dr. Mithoefer, Senior Medical Director for Medical Affairs, Training and Supervision at MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MPBC), has, has worked with MAPS since 2000, while Ann Mithoefer, a registered Nurse and Lead MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy PTSD Investigator at MAPS, has worked with MAPS since 2004. Together Dr. Michael Mithoefer and Ann Mithoefer are two of the world's leading MDMA-assisted psychotherapy investigators and trainers. Michael and Ann have completed: two of the six MAPS-sponsored Phase II clinical trials testing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD; as well as a pilot study treating couples with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy combined with Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy; and a study providing MDMA-assisted sessions for therapists who have completed the MAPS Therapist Training. AWAKN's SAB provides strategic scientific counsel as the company implements its vision and strategy across three business lines of clinical research, therapeutic clinics and practitioner training. Dr. Michael Mithoefer stated: "Annie and I are delighted to join the AWAKN SAB for a combination of reasons. Their mission, in response to the urgent need for more effective treatments, is to develop and support further clinical research and training programs for psychedelic therapists, with the aim of providing access to affordable treatments using psychedelic-assisted therapy as these compounds become legal for clinical use. This is very much in alignment with the goals we've all been working toward at MAPS and Maps Public Benefit Corporation for many years. The other draw for us is that we've known David Nutt and Ben Sessa for a long time, and we have confidence in the expertise and integrity they bring to the project. And they're inspiring and fun to work with." Dr. Ben Sessa, AWAKN Chief Medical Officer, commented on the appointments: "For me, my first introduction to modern psychedelic research started in the early 2000's when I discovered the work of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and the ongoing MDMA-for-PTSD study being run by Michael and Annie Mithoefer. I subsequently met Michael in 2007 at a conference in Vienna, where we discussed bringing clinical MDMA assisted psychotherapy to the UK. It took another ten years to achieve that goal." "During that time, I got to know Annie and Michael well; having them stay at my house in Somerset and I stayed with them in South Carolina, receiving formal MDMA therapy, delivered by the Mithoefers, in a clinical setting as part of my training to become an MDMA psychotherapist. So I am pleased to know that Annie and Michael have joined AWAKN's SAB. Annie, as the one of world's most experienced MDMA therapy nurses, brings multidisciplinary approach to the AWAKN board; especially in our design of clinical protocols, which put our patients' care at the centre of their bespoke clinical care plans. Michael, undoubtedly the most experienced MDMA doctor anywhere, will provide invaluable scientific advice; not only to AWAKN's MDMA protocols, but to all psychedelic projects going forward. And, given their roles as MAPS trainers, both Annie and Michael will of course be essential in the development of our therapist training courses; helping to achieve the aim of training hundreds of new psychedelic therapists in the next few years. Welcome on board, the pair of you!" Finally, Prof. David Nutt, Chair of AWAKN's Scientific Advisory Board, stated: "I am delighted to have the great pioneers of MDMA treatment of PTSD join our research team. They will provide outstanding clinical insights." About Dr. Michael Mithoefer Michael Mithoefer, M.D., is a psychiatrist living in Asheville, NC, with a research office in Charleston, SC. In 2000, he began collaborating with MAPS on the first U.S. Phase 2 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. He and his wife Annie have since conducted two of the six MAPS-sponsored Phase 2 clinical trials testing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, as well a study providing MDMA-assisted sessions for therapists who have completed the MAPS-sponsored MDMA Therapy Training Program, and a pilot study treating couples with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy combined with Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy. He is now Senior Medical Director for Medical Affairs, Training and Supervision at MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC). He is a Grof-certified Holotropic Breathwork Facilitator, is trained in EMDR and Internal Family Systems Therapy, and has nearly 30 years of experience treating trauma patients. Before going into psychiatry in 1991, he practiced emergency medicine for ten years, served as medical director of the Charleston County and Georgetown County Emergency Departments, and has held clinical faculty positions at the Medical University of South Carolina, where he is currently Affiliate Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He has been board-certified in Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine, and Internal Medicine. About Ann Mithoefer, BSN Annie Mithoefer, B.S.N., is a Registered Nurse living in Asheville, North Carolina, where she is now focused primarily on training and supervising therapists conducting MAPS-sponsored clinical trials, as well as continuing to conduct some MAPS research sessions in Charleston, South Carolina. Between 2004 and 2018, she and her husband, Michael Mithoefer, M.D., completed two of the six MAPS-sponsored Phase II clinical trials testing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, as well a study providing MDMA-assisted sessions for therapists who have completed the MAPS Therapist Training, and a pilot study treating couples with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy combined with Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy. Annie is a Grof-certified Holotropic Breathwork Practitioner, is trained in Hakomi Therapy, and has 25 years' experience working with trauma patients, with an emphasis on experiential approaches to psychotherapy. About AWAKN Life Sciences AWAKN Life Sciences is a UK and European Union focused company that is dedicated to integrating psychedelics into mental healthcare, working across three business lines of clinical research, therapeutic clinics, and practitioner training. More Information Anthony Tennyson | CEO anthony@awaknlifesciences.com Dr. Ben Sessa | CMO ben@awaknlifesciences.com awaknlifesciences.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64573 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 Residents in U.S. cities have taken to the streets to protest a Kentucky grand jurys decision this week not to charge any police officers in the killing of Breonna Taylor during a raid of her apartment on March 13, 2020. The grand jury charged one former police lieutenant, Brett Hankison, for shooting into the homes of Taylors neighbors during the raid. Latest updates from today: 11:15 p.m. Multiple people arrested for assault, police say: Oakland police said on Twitter that they arrested multiple people arrested for assault on officers on Friday night and deployed minimal smoke in response to conduct from people in the crowd. Police said there were no reports of damage to local businesses. 10:20 p.m. Crowd returns to Lake Merritt: Marchers had snaked back to Lake Merritt by 10 p.m., and demonstrators led the crowd in chants of go home. On organizer told the crowd, This is probably one of the safest dispersals Ive seen. 10:05 p.m. Oakland police urge motorists to stay away from 1500 block of Harrison Street: Oakland police said people who were turning over orange barricades and placing them in front of officers was causing traffic congestion in the 1500 block of Harrison Street in Oakland. Police also said that some people in the crowd were becoming violent throwing bottles cans and other objects at officers. 10 p.m. 12th St. Oakland City Center Station closed due to civil unrest: BART officials said the 12th St. Oakland City Center Station was closed shortly before 10 p.m. because of civil unrest in the area. 9:55 p.m. One arrested in Oakland: At least one person was arrested by police in Oakland. About 15 minutes after deploying an irritant toward the crowd, a group of police officers ran toward a protester and detained them. Loud crowd-control devices and breaking glass could be heard as police deployed more smoke. 9:22 p.m. Oakland police says some in crowd throwing bottles: Oakland police said on Twitter that some people in the swelling crowd marching westbound on 14th street toward City Hall were throwing bottles and other objects at officers. Please be mindful when traveling in and around our city, police said. 9:20 p.m. Police appear to deploy irritant at crowd: Police appeared to deploy an irritant at at the crowd at 14th and Harrison streets in Oakland shortly after protesters moved construction barriers into the street. 9:15 p.m. Crowd marches through Oakland: Hundreds of demonstrators marched through Oakland, some of whom carried signs that read All power to the people, White silence = violence, and Black lives matter. Organizers urged demonstrators to get off of the sidewalk, into the street! The crowd began marching down 14th Street, with a line of several dozen police officers in riot gear and police vehicles trailing behind. 9 p.m. Hundreds gather at Oaklands Lake Merritt: Hundreds of people gathered at Oaklands Lake Merritt, where they passed Sharpie pens around to each other to scrawl a legal organizations phone number on their arm. Attendees were encouraged by other demonstrators not to get arrested. 8:30 a.m. Breonna Taylor family calls for daylight on grand jury transcript: Release the transcript! supporters, lawyers and family of Breonna Taylor chanted Friday at a Louisville, Ky., news conference where they demanded to see the record of grand jury proceedings that led to a decision not to charge police for the shooting death of an unarmed Taylor. They want to see how the grand jury, operating in secret, came to its conclusions. 8:12 a.m. Support dips for racial injustice protests: A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, conducted just before renewed racial justice demonstrations erupted Wednesday over the Breonna Taylor case, found that 44% of Americans disapprove of protests highlighting police violence against Black Americans, while 39% approve. In June, 54% approved. The new survey was conducted Sept. 11-14. 7:53 a.m. Louisville protest ended after negotiation: A demonstration ended outside a Louisville church after negotiations ended a tense confrontation Thursday night in a protest over the Breonna Taylor case . Police who had gathered there with riot gear also pulled back. Several arrests were made earlier that evening near the church. But there appeared to be no police interference as the protest disbanded, the Associated Press reports. 7:37 a.m. CHP stop caused rubbernecking slowdown on bridge: An hour into a planned slowdown on the Golden Gate Bridge to protest the grand jury decision not to charge police officers in Breonna Taylors death in Louisville, Ky., only two vehicles had slowed. A van slowed but traffic did not stop. At about 5:30 p.m., a Ford Mustang tried to slow, but was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol and cited for not having a license plate and impeding traffic, CHP officials said. Rubbernecking by other cars caused the most significant slowdown. Updates from Thursday, Sept. 24: 7:20 p.m.: Muni resumes regular service: Muni resumed regular service of the 25 bus line. Some delays are expected. 6:30 p.m.: Oscar Grants uncle speaks at Oakland protest: Cephus Uncle Bobby Johnson, the uncle of Oscar Grant, told a growing crowd in Oakland, Let today be about your real work that youre going to put in to bring about change. Dont sit on the fence and do nothing. 6:22 p.m.: Protesters gather at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland: Dozens of masked and socially distanced protesters chant the names of individuals killed by police, spurred by the memory of Breonna Taylor. Gatherers also rembered Erik Salgado, who was shot to death by California Highway Patrol in June. His girlfriend, who was pregnant, was also shot, but survived. Also present were family members of Oscar Grant, killed by BART police at Fruitvale station in 2009, Colby Friday, who was killed by police in Stockton in 2016 and Richard Pedie Perez lll, who was killed by a police officer in Richmond in 2014. 6:05 p.m.: The WestCAT Lynx bus cancels service to San Francisco due to protests: The WestCAT, a public transportation service in western Contra Costa County, canceled bus service from Hercules to San Francisco due to protests blocking traffic on the Bay Bridge. The Lynx will not operate for the remainder of the evening. 5:58 p.m.: AC Transit warns riders of possible traffic from protests: AC Transit said some riders may experience delays on Interstate 80 due to police activity. 5:53 p.m.: One driver attempting to slow traffic on GGB cited: A gray Mustang tried slowing northbound traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge but was immediately pulled over by California state troopers. Other drivers slowed down to see what happened and the Mustang driver held up her fist up as other vehicles honked in support. Traffic only came to a stop when troopers directed the driver back into traffic. The driver was cited for not having a license plate and impeding traffic on the bridge, a trooper said. 5:46 p.m.: Muni suspends service of one line: Due to traffic on the Bay Bridge caused by protests, Muni temporarily suspended bus service on the 25 line to Treasure Island. Service will resume when traffic subsides, the agency tweeted. Traffic also affected other Muni lines heading northbound on Interstate 101 on the Bay Bridge. 5:30 p.m. Photos of Californians killed by police installed at Oakland plaza: The amphitheater at Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland was lined with 500 black and white pictures of Californians killed by law enforcement since 2015. The images were compiled by local civil rights organization, All of Us or None. A crowd of about 50 gathered at the plaza on Thursday afternoon for a peaceful protest organized by local police reform advocates and family members of Bay Area residents who were killed by police. 3:35 p.m. Another protest night shaping up: Activists planned demonstrations on three major Bay Area bridges Thursday in what was shaping up to be another night of protests in the name of Breonna Taylor, slain by police bullets in Louisville. Another demonstration was planned in Oaklands Oscar Grant Park at 5 p.m., hosted by groups including Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, The Anti Police-Terror Project and the California Families United 4 Justice Network. 2:30 p.m. Calls for grand jury information: Calls are mounting from activists and high-profile politicians for more information on how a grand jury decided not to charge Louisville police officers in the death of Breonna Taylor, the Washington Post reports. Amy McGrath, the Democrat running against Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Thursday that Kentuckys attorney general needs to release the grand jury report now, including what evidence and recommendations he chose to present. 12:50 p.m. Taylor family lawyer urges peaceful protests in her name: Ben Crump, the attorney for Breonna Taylors family, urged people Thursday to show Breonna the ultimate respect by having peaceful protests in her name. In an ABC The View interview, he acknowledged the anger of many that police are not being charged in Taylors shooting death. We understand their righteous anger, because we feel it too, he said. But as Breonnas family has asked, as her mother Tamika has asked, please demonstrate peaceful protests. 11:45 a.m. Beyond spotlight of street protests, range of discrimination continues: Insurance company Prudential Financial announced on Twitter Tuesday that it had fired an employee who allegedly told YouTuber and entrepreneur Sophia Chang and her sister to go back to Wuhan at a restaurant in Newport Beach last week. 11:01 a.m. Reporters arrested during protests in Louisville: Two Daily Caller reporters were arrested while peacefully doing their jobs during protests in Louisville after a grand jurys decision to not indict officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, publisher Neil Patel says. Police on Thursday confirmed that Shelby Talcott was charged with failure to disperse and unlawful assembly and Jorge Ventura was charged with failure to disperse and violation of curfew. 10 a.m. Bridge caravans planned: Protesters called for go-slow caravans on three Bay Area bridges Thursday the Golden Gate, Bay Bridge and Dumbarton to show outrage over the Kentucky grand jurys failure to charge police officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor.The action was set for 5 p.m. 8:52 a.m. Violence in Portland protests: Police in Portland say protesters hurled Molotov cocktails at officers during a demonstration over a Kentucky grand jurys decision to not indict officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor. Portland police said protesters Wednesday night also threw rocks that shattered windows at a law enforcement station. A Molotov cocktail jot an officer in the foot, but a fire department medic managed to extinguish the flames. 8:44 a.m. Two officers involved in Breonna Taylor matter are on leave: Interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said Thursday that two officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor remain on administrative leave. Officers Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly were among the officers who burst into Taylors apartment on March 13, and have not returned to active duty. The third officer, Brett Hankison, was fired, and was charged Wednesday for shooting into neighboring apartments. 8:40 a.m. Man charged in shooting of 2 Louisville officers: Louisvilles police chief said Thursday a man has been charged in the shooting of two officers during protests over a grand jurys decision in the police shooting of Breonna Taylor. Mayor Greg Fischer says one officer was treated and released with a leg wound. Another officer was shot in the abdomen and was reported doing well after surgery. A curfew remains in effect for the next two nights after fires and and violence against officers during protests. 8:36 a.m. Oakland quiet after night of protests: Oaklands streets appeared calm and quiet Thursday morning, the day after peaceful protesters took to the streets decrying the decision by a Kentucky grand jury to not charge any police officers in the March killing of Breonna Taylor. There was minimal damage to public or private property in Oakland, beyond a few instances of graffiti. 8:24 a.m. Sen. Harris speaks out on Breonna Taylor: Sen. Kamala Harris of California has been a vocal proponent of justice for Breonna Taylor, but did not make a statement on the grand jury announcement until late Wednesday night, a couple of hours after her running mate Joe Biden did. She was entering a closed intelligence briefing as the news broke, and later tweetedTonight, Im thinking of Breonna Taylors family who is still grieving the loss of a daughter and sister. We must never stop speaking Breonnas name as we work to reform our justice system, including overhauling no-knock warrants. 7:27 a.m. Louisville police arrest 127 in protests: Louisville police said they arrested 127 people after what began as peaceful protests in reaction to the grand jury decision not to charge officers in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. Officers declared an unlawful assembly after they said fires were set in garbage cans and several vehicles were damaged. A police statement also described the looting of several stores. A suspect was detained in the shooting of two officers, who are expected to recover from their wounds. 7:19 Bay Area protests mostly peaceful, passionate: Demonstrators marched with voiced raised Wednesday night, chanting the name of Breonna Taylor. In San Jose a smaller group of marchers splintered off to the Thomas Fallon Statue near the entrance to the Route 77 freeway, and one person set a U.S. flag afire on top of it. The majority of the crowd watch as a small group of people spray painted the base of the statue with F white settler colonialism. Updates from Wednesday, Sept. 23: 9:31 p.m. Hundreds of people march in San Francisco: Hundreds of people march down 17th Street in San Francisco chanting, Say her name... Breonna Taylor. 9:18 p.m. San Jose protesters spray paint city property and light flag on fire: More than 100 people marched to the Thomas Fallon Statue in Downtown San Jose, near the entrance to State Routh 87 North. The majority of the crowd watch and videoed as a small group of people spray painted messages at the base of the statue saying, F white settler colonialism. A small group of people also painted, Say Her Name. One person climbed the statue and affixed a blue Trump flag and American flag to the top, and set it ablaze to cheers from the crowd. 9:13 p.m. Oakland protesters block intersection to Interstate 580: Dozens of protesters in Oakland blocked the entrance to Interstate 580 near 27th Street and Northgate Avenue. Some protesters marched onto the freeway and stopped traffic for several minutes before returning to city streets. 9:10 p.m. San Francisco protester criticizes police: Chantelle Ruff stood at the intersection of 17th and Valencia streets in San Francisco and said she doesnt believe that either major political party is willing to reform police departments. We are furious that we have to continue fighting for our lives, said Ruff, who is Black, and teaches at James Lick Middle School in Noe Valley. 8:58 p.m. Protesters gather for Breonna Taylor nationwide: Dozens of people marched throughout the streets of Los Angeles holding signs that read, No justice no peace and Black lives matter, according to the Los Angeles Times. Earlier in the evening in New York, thousands of people gathered outside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn before marching to the Manhattan Bridge. In Sacramento, dozens of people marched throughout Sacramento. Dozens of Sacramento County Sheriffs deputies stood guard, but havent engaged with the protesters. 8:40 p.m. Protesters march in Oakland: A group of protesters is marching along 14th Street, beating drums and chanting. 8:05 p.m.: One suspect in custody after Louisville officers shot: Louisville police said one suspect is in custody after two officers were shot during demonstrations, according to ABC News. One of the injured officers are alert and stable and the other is undergoing surgery. No other information was released. 7:52 p.m. San Jose crowd swells to about 200: The group of demonstrators outside San Jose City Hall has grown to about 200. Among them was Lou Dimes, leader of B.L.A.C.K. Outreach San Jose. He stood at the base of a wooden guillotine assembled in front of City Hall. Speakers told the crowd it was a symbol for holding leaders accountable in the United States, and a nod to the French Revolution. Dimes led demonstrators in chants of, Black pride and Black power, before saying that leaders must be held accountable. 7:30 p.m. More than 100 protesters march in S.F.: A group of demontrators marched along 17th Street, passing San Franciscos Mission police station, chanting Breonna Taylor name. Police stood in riot gear in a line on front of the station. The 17th Street area between Valencia and Guererro streets was shut down. 7:20 p.m. Protesters ditch Oakland for San Jose: A planned protest in Oakland did not occur. Instead, protesters headed to San Jose, police said. 7:14 p.m. Two police officers shot in Louisville, Kentucky: At least two Louisville police officers were shot during demonstrations on Wednesday night, according to The Courier Journal in Louisville. One officer was shot in the abdomen below their bulletproof vest and is in surgery, and a second was shot in the thigh, a source told the news organization. 5:49 p.m. Protesters are gathering in San Jose: In Downtown San Jose, about 50 people gathered in front of the San Jose City Hall rotunda, where they chanted, Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor. Demonstrators raised cardboard signs with the phrases, Black Lives Matter and Say Their Names, referring to the Black men and women killed by police across the United States. Passing vehicles slowed and honked in support of the protesters, some thrusting closed fists out their car windows. The San Francisco Chronicles ongoing coverage is available to subscribers. Subscribe now for full access and to support our work. While all eyes have been focused on the devastating wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington, residents of Idaho and Montana have also lost everything to wildfires and the American Red Cross is helping them get back on their feet. Here are two of their stories: IDAHO FIRE VICTIMS TELL THEIR STORY Sitting in her truck, Nancy Correa saw the smoke turn from gray to black and immediately realized the worst had happened. I knew it was our house, she said. Its just really hard. Nancy and Mark Correa were one of more than 10 Lenore and Orofino-area Idaho families who lost their home earlier this month in the Sunnyside Complex wildfires that burned more than 4,600 acres in Clearwater and Nez Perce counties. Less than an hour earlier, they had been sitting at their table enjoying lunch in their mountainside home when Mark spotted smoke not far from their neighbors house. He went out there and said oh my gosh, this is not good, Nancy said. They called the sheriff, grabbed a few things, hooked up their fifth-wheel and began to evacuate, the last time they would see their two-story log home with the view of the Clearwater River standing. Its just shocking, Nancy Correa said. I had never been put in the position before of literally being homeless. They were directed to a hotel in Lewiston where the Idaho Red Cross was providing free food and lodging to those forced to flee the fire. There they found a team of volunteers ready to help. They were all very compassionate, ready to listen to what you had to say, helping guide you in the right direction, she said. Even walking into to that lobby and have them say do you need some water? Heres a water bottle. For them to be there makes a huge difference. Just having a place to put your head. Three days after checking into the hotel, the Correas were allowed to return to what was once their home of five years to see what remained. Four Red Cross volunteers met them there. The Correas chicken coop had burned, but 35 chickens were alive and well, now wandering loose and in need of a home. Half joking, Nancy told the Red Crossers they were going to round up the chickens and take them to the neighbors and asked if they wanted to help. My eyes got really big when they said yes, she said. Using nets, dog crates and a lot of teamwork, they had the chickens captured in about an hour. There were two chickens underneath some metal, she said. Im not kidding, those guys got underneath that metal to get those chickens. They were on a mission. The Correas say they wont be able to begin rebuilding until the spring and are still pondering their next move. While they are going through an incredibly difficult time, they say the outpouring of support they have received has been overwhelming. Ive heard about Red Cross before, but I never really knew exactly what Red Cross did, she said. Im just so grateful that service is available. They provided food for us and a room and support and even rounded chickens up. Those guys were just awesome. A MONTANA SURVIVOR STORY Wearing Tyvek suits and respirators, Kathy Quigley and her family spent hours digging through what little remained of her Bridger Canyon, Montana home. The search unearthed little more than heartbreak. Quigleys house was one of more than 25 Bozeman-area Montana homes destroyed earlier this month by the wind-driven Bridger Foothills wildfire. She moved into the house more than 20 years ago. Its just such an amazing loss, Quigley said. All the things that were in it, all the memories; like years of measuring how tall your kid is and putting it up on the doorjamb. And the photos of all the adventures you have shared with family and friends. The things that make up who you are. The day her home burned, Quigley spent the morning mowing her lawn. The Bozeman veterinarian knew there was a fire on the west side of the Bridger Mountains but there was no indication her neighborhood was in imminent danger. At about 2 p.m. she was on the phone with her brother Jeff, who asked if she needed help, but she said there was no need. The wind wasnt blowing, there wasnt a lot of smoke, and no one had told her to evacuate. Twenty minutes later, the fire was in her backyard. Thats how fast it came, she said. With the help of her neighbor, she loaded up her horse, three dogs and a cat, rushed back into house to grab her wallet, a few clothes, her passport and her computer and left with the flames now just 50 yards away. That was last time she would see her house intact. A day later, Quigley arrived at the Red Cross temporary evacuation shelter at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Bozeman, her head still spinning. There she found a team of caring Red Cross volunteers, and the compassion and support she needed to finally catch her breath and begin to think about the future. They gave her water and toiletries, helped replace her medications and found her lodging at a local hotel, where she, her daughter Allyson and her brother Jeff would spend the next eight nights. The Red Cross also provided them three meals a day, as well as grief counseling. They were wonderful, she said. It was all so derailing, that touchstone was incredible. The same day she and her family sifted through the ruins of her old home, they also moved furniture into the townhouse she is now renting in Bozeman. Using vouchers provided by a Red Cross community partner, they went to local thrift stores and got beds, a kitchen table and chairs for free. Her daughter, on a short leave of absence from veterinary school in Pullman, Wash., is living with Quigley, and her brother Jeff is in town as well. Each day is tough, Quigley said, but its beginning to get easier. Quigley thanks the Red Cross responders who were there when she needed them most and says theyve inspired her. They just had big hearts, and many that I talked to had had events like this that changed their lives and they want to give back, she said. Ive spent a lot of my life giving back but what this has taught me is I need to do more. YOU CAN HELP by making a donation or becoming a Red Cross volunteer. Help people affected by the western wildfires by visiting redcross.org, calling 800-RED CROSS or texting the words WILDFIRES to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters. If you have the time, you can make a significant impact as a Red Cross volunteer. Review our most urgently needed volunteer positions at redcross.org/volunteertoday. More information is available here. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Henry Pfaltz van Ameringen was born on Oct. 19, 1930, in South Orange, N.J. His father, Arnold Louis van Ameringen, was a founder of International Flavors and Fragrances, a multibillion-dollar international business; at his death in 1966, obituaries noted his longstanding support for mental health causes. His mother, Hedwig (Pfaltz) van Ameringen, who died in 1996, was known in particular for supporting the New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In a rare interview, with the New York City television channel NY1 in 2010, Mr. van Ameringen spoke of his coming of age in repressive times. I knew very early that I was gay, so it was very uncomfortable growing up, he said. I dont really have very happy memories. After graduating from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, he lived in Paris for several decades. He went into the family business and retired as European vice president for fragrance marketing. In addition to participating in his familys foundation, Mr. van Ameringen formed his own in 1967, the H. van Ameringen Foundation. When AIDS began to devastate the gay community, he donated to organizations that responded to the crisis. Ive never been very political, he wrote in The Huffington Post in 2012. But in the 1980s the AIDS epidemic began, and staying on the sidelines was simply not an option. The government was doing absolutely nothing to halt the spread of this disease nor help those who were suffering. Mr. Jennings recalled Mr. van Ameringen as a man who didnt write checks casually; he would probe and question and tell you what he thought, sometimes bluntly. Mr. Jennings found that out in the early 1990s, when he had lunch with Mr. van Ameringen to seek support for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (now known as GLSEN), an organization he and others had started to support L.G.B.T.Q. youth. He turned to me and he said, Just so you know, I think your organization is a terrible idea and will give ammunition to our opponents, Mr. Jennings recalled. (Right-wing groups at the time had stoked unfounded fears that homosexual men recruited children.) You have one hour to change my mind. Secretary General of Iran-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association Daishiro Yamagiva said on Wednesday that the two great nations of Iran and Japan have numerous commonalities, including peace and friendship and opposition to warmongering, Trend reports citing IRNA. Addressing the opening ceremony of Photo and Book Exhibition marking the 40th anniversary of the Sacred Defense in Iran's Embassy in Tokyo, he added that Tehran and Tokyo should work together to promote peace and stability in the region and world. About 80 years ago, Japan suffered a lot of casualties in World War II, and that is why the Japanese people hate war, and there is no reason for peoples and nations to be at war, and wars should be prevented as much as possible, he said. Meanwhile, a message by the Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group of the two countries, Fomio Kishida, calling for deepening of relations between the two countries was read out during the ceremony. Sacred Defense Photo and Book Exhibition presented various aspects of resistance and self-sacrifice of the Iranian people amid coronavirus. Koh Boon Hwee (PHOTO: Rippledot Capital) By Yoolim Lee (Bloomberg) -- Koh Boon Hwee, one of Singapores most prominent executives, is teaming with four fellow investors to try and raise US$100 million for a new venture firm targeting Southeast Asia. Koh, former chairman of DBS Group Holdings Ltd. and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., and his partners think the time is right to start a new venture capital firm, despite challenges from the coronavirus pandemic. Theyll target early-stage investments in fintech, consumer internet, enterprise software, logistics, healthcare and education. Altara Ventures is launching as Chinas tech behemoths expand into Southeast Asia in the face of growing hostility from the U.S. and other major markets. Tencent Holdings Ltd. has picked Singapore for its beachhead beyond China, joining rivals Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and ByteDance Ltd. in the race to build up a global presence closer to home. The level of international investments into Southeast Asia is going to increase even more with ongoing global trade dynamics between geopolitical powers, said Dave Ng, one of the new firms five general partners. Thats going to continue to boost the ecosystem here. Ng and Gavin Teo previously worked at B Capital, Facebook Inc. co-founder Eduardo Saverins venture capital house. The other three partners are Koh, Tan Chow Boon and Seow Kiat Wang, who founded Omni Industries Ltd., an electronics components maker acquired by Celestica Inc. in 2001. The trio has backed more than 100 companies, including Razer Inc., and ran private equity firm Credence Partners Pte. We are former entrepreneurs, business builders and seasoned investors and know what it takes to scale and exit, said Koh, who spent over a decade on the board of Singaporean state investment firm Temasek Holdings Pte. Read more: Southeast Asian Tech Startup Investments Fall 13% in First Half 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Lily James exuded 1930s glamour as she continued to film BBC1's romantic comedy, The Pursuit of Love. The actress, 31, plays the fearless, lovelorn Linda Radlett in the adaptation of Nancy Mitfords 1954 novel, while Emily Beecham, 36, takes the part of her cousin and best friend Fanny Logan. As filming got under way last week, Lily was seen driving through the iconic Royal Crescent in London in a grey vintage convertible Jaguar. Gorgeous: Lily James exuded 1930s glamour as she continued to film BBC1's romantic comedy, The Pursuit of Love The Mamma Mia! star looked a far cry from her usual boho chic attire and beach blonde hair as she donned a structured pinstripe dress and black driving gloves. She wore her brunette locks in pin curls and donned a black beret as part of her costume. Lily's make-up was also in keeping with the time period in which Nancy's novel is set, as she complemented her fair complexion with rouge cheeks and a raspberry red lip. Character: The actress, 31, plays the fearless, lovelorn Linda Radlett in the adaptation of Nancy Mitfords 1954 novel Nervous driver: As filming got under way last week, Lily was seen anxiously driving through the iconic Royal Crescent in London in a grey vintage convertible Jaguar Unrecognisable: The Mamma Mia! star looked a far cry from her usual boho chic attire and beach blonde hair as she donned a structured pinstripe dress and black driving gloves There she goes! Lily gave the thumbs up as the cameras began to roll Preparation: Lily was pictured chatting to the crew before shooting the scenes Talented: Emily Mortimer is directing the three-part series Directed by Mary Poppins star Emily Mortimer, the comedy is a three-parter that follows the adventures and misadventures of the pair as they hunt for the ideal husband across Europe between the wars. Speaking about adapting the book, Emily said: 'Its an outrageously funny and honest story, whose central character the wild, love-addicted Linda Radlett still reads as a radical.' Other new images from the drama show Lily taking a stroll with Freddie Fox, 31, who plays Lindas suitor Tony Kroesig. Historic: The actress looked a little anxious to be driving the vintage car Action! Lily took a deep breath behind the wheel as she got herself into character Stunning: She wore her brunette/ red locks in pin curls and donned a black beret as part of her costume Glamorous: Lily's make-up was also in keeping with the time period in which Nancy's novel is set, as she complemented her fair complexion with rouge cheeks and a raspberry red lip The Pursuit of Love will be shown next year. The series is based on Nancy Mitfords 1945 novel of the same name, which is based on the author and her family's real life experiences and is part of a trilogy. With the changing times Linda and Fanny's choices put them at odds as they question freedom, love, sex, and the human heart. Good fun: Directed by Mary Poppins star Emily, the comedy is a three-parter that follows the adventures of Linda and Fanny The pursuit of love: The series follows the women as they hunt for the ideal husband across Europe between the wars Interesting: With the changing times Linda and Fanny's choices put them at odds as they question freedom, love, sex, and the human heart Also appearing in the show is Dominic West, Dolly Wells, Shazad Latif and Fleabag's Andrew Scott. It is a busy time for Lily who is also starring alongside Hollywood superstar Armie Hammer in Netflix's upcoming romantic thriller Rebecca. The pair portray newlyweds battling the shadow of the husband's first late wife in the drama, set to be released next month. Pandemic: Crew members wore face masks as they talked to Lily amid heightened safety measures Behind the camera: A crew member held up the clapperboard as filming got under way In demand: It is a busy time for Lily who is also starring alongside Hollywood superstar Armie Hammer in Netflix's upcoming romantic thriller Rebecca Big names: Lily is also joined by Andrew Scott in the show, which is based on Nancy Mitfords 1945 novel of the same name Republican Elections Board members resign over absentee ballot rules RALEIGH The day after the state announced a settlement with Democratic attorney Marc Elias regarding absentee ballot protections, the two Republican members of the State Board of Elections resigned, suggesting that they were tricked into supporting a plan to let the state elections director negotiate settlements out of court. Members David Black and Ken Raymond separately resigned from the board Wednesday. Their resignation letters said they got misleading information from the office of state Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat, or from board staff about the need to settle disputes over absentee ballot rules rather than take their arguments to court. Black objected to the new rule saying a challenged absentee ballot could be cured by merely letting the voter confirm that they mailed a legitimate ballot. He said he was led to believe a witness would be required to verify the voters confirmation. The witness requirement was scrapped, to Blacks dismay. Raymond said Stein misled the board about the settlement agreement. In it, the attorney general did not advise us of the fact that a lot of the concessions made in the settlement have already been denied in a prior case by a federal judge and another case by a state court three-judge panel. In a statement from the board, spokesman Patrick Gannon said, The agencys legal staff, who are civil servants, provide thorough legal memos to the board prior to every board meeting and answer any questions board members have about matters that come before the board. In March, Elections Director Karen Brinson Bell sent a list of legislative requests to the General Assembly, which included reducing or removing the witness requirement to absentee ballots. The General Assembly agreed to some of the requests, wrapping them up in House Bill 1169, but ultimately failed to remove the witness requirement. Under H.B. 1169, only one witness instead of two needs to attest to a voters identity. Additionally, the law gives more time for county election boards to approve absentee ballot applications. It requires a barcode on those applications to track the ballot. In August, the N.C. Alliance of Retired Americans sued over the changes to the absentee ballot procedures. The lawsuit called for changes to election law much like those Bell sought earlier this year. In a closed-door meeting last week, the state elections board voted to allow Bell and her staff to negotiate settlements in election lawsuits. The vote was unanimous, with the boards two Republican members joining the three-Democrat majority. At least eight other election lawsuits are pending. Republican leaders expressed outrage. Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and Speaker of the House Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, who are intervenor-defendants in the lawsuit, said they werent consulted in the settlement negotiations. The settlement is an assault on election integrity, Berger said in a news release. Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, the House elections committee chair, accused the State Board of Elections of colluding with Elias to wildly change election law in North Carolina. Just like they did with Voter ID, Roy Cooper and Josh Stein are undermining the will of the people and the integrity of elections by using so-called settlements with left-wing legal activists, Hall said. A judge still needs to sign off on the agreement. Judge Bryan Collins, who referred to the Republican-led General Assembly as usurpers in a lawsuit challenging voter-approved constitutional amendments, is tasked with reviewing the motion. The court has set an Oct. 2 hearing date, WRAL reported. The two vacancies leave the elections board with three members, all Democrats. North Carolina voters have requested several hundred thousand absentee ballots, and more than 100,000 have been returned to county elections offices. Impact21_logo "Simon's dedication to integrity, curiosity, and customer focus ensures positive and profitable results for our clients. We are so fortunate to have him on our Project Management & Consulting team. Lesley Saitta, CEO, Impact 21 Impact 21, a retail consulting, analytics, and services company, welcomes Simon Kish to the team as a Principal Consultant. In this role, Kish will be instrumental in helping clients implement large-scale changes such as POS and e-commerce systems, as well as leading retail teams to successful business outcomes. Simon is a collaborative leader and resourceful problem solver, said Impact 21 CEO, Lesley Saitta. His dedication to integrity, curiosity, and customer focus ensures positive and profitable results for our clients. We are so fortunate to have him on our Project Management & Consulting team. Kish brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in IT Strategic Planning and Change Management, resulting in high-payoff deliverables that impact both top and bottom lines. He delivers strong technical leadership, high quality IT systems, and a passion for his customers. He has employed his expertise in several senior IT executive roles. As Principal of Jedi Resource, Inc. of Columbus, OH, Kish led the rollout, stabilization, and new operational procedures of order delivery services for several large Quick Service Restaurant brands. Additionally, he has worked with several companies to create IT organizational structures, POS systems, and digital channel strategies. Im very pleased to join Impact 21. Their track record in leading customers to success is quite impressive. Im looking forward to using my skills to truly make a difference. Our driving force is to achieve our goals of seeing new growth for our company and our clients, said Kish. Kish previously served at Ascena Retail Group as VP of IT Selling Systems, where he led e-commerce and store technology teams for all Ascena brands. His teams implemented new POS systems, EMV, and mobile point of sale at their more than 4,500 stores. Under his leadership, the e-commerce team migrated or built multiple e-commerce sites and order management systems to support the brands. While building these applications, Kish led the organizational change management and process change from waterfall software delivery to an Agile and Devops culture with a focus on quality and speed through automation in testing, building software, and deployments. A native of Ohio, Kish attended Ohio Dominican College of Columbus, Ohio, to attain his Bachelors Degree in Computer Science and later his Master of Business Administration. Kish has served on several boards: Verifone Client Advisory Board, Starmount Client Advisory Board, and Oracle Retail Advisory Board. For further information, please visit http://www.impact21.com or call (859) 219-3040. Get timely updates on Twitter and connect with Impact 21 on Facebook and LinkedIn for insightful industry trends and best practices. About Impact 21 Impact 21 was founded in 1998 by industry experts and former retailers, Lesley Saitta and Lisa Biggs. The company is headquartered in Lexington, KY. By offering a proven business model for integration of business and technology strategies, as well as a world-class collaboration, project, and content management solution, we position companies to drive profitability and enhance their customers experience. Our experienced team of industry experts bring real-world solutions to manage and execute initiatives of all sizes and impact. We have a passion for driving business alignment for our clients and bringing thought leadership to all the industries and clients we serve. For more information please visit http://www.impact21.com or call (859) 219-3040. ### The skys the limit when people support you. Take, for instance, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestras new principal oboe, Aleh Remezau. The Minsk-born Remezau came to Canada with his family in 2003 when he was 12. Up until then, his only connection with music had been the piano which hed begun playing in his native Belarus. My parents were very supportive in my music studies and decided to continue piano after we moved to Toronto, Remezau told The Spectator. However, when he entered Cathy Whitesides band class at Don Mills Collegiate Institute, the piano wasnt an option. Now, for all of you school band directors out there, this next part will make you jump for joy. I remember her eyes lit up when I said I want to try the oboe, and I could not change her mind after that, recalled Remezau. It is quite rare to find a student willing to play the oboe as it is one of the most difficult wind instruments. When Remezau set his sights on an undergraduate degree in music, he found oboist Clare Scholtz, a sessional lecturer at the U of T. (She) is one of the most constructive and encouraging people I know, said Remezau of Scholtz. She was really the perfect teacher for me when I began learning the oboe. I think I have been very lucky to have had supportive teachers throughout my studies. And that includes his studies for a masters degree in oboe performance with New York Philharmonic principal oboe Liang Wang at the Manhattan School of Music in the Big Apple. As Remezau tells it, hed just finished a year down there and was preparing to fly back home when hed received an email inviting him to play oboe and English horn on two programs at the New York Philharmonics Biennial, a three-week festival of contemporary music. Playing with the New York Philharmonic has been one of the most rewarding and unforgettable experiences, said Remezau. Those two programs had some of the most challenging music that I had played at that point. It was exhilarating to perform it alongside my teacher, Liang Wang, and alongside some of the greatest musicians in the world. This experience of having performed with the New York Philharmonic many times over the years has been essential to my growth as a musician and influenced me in ways that I may not even realize. Afterward, Remezau also branched out into teaching, giving master classes in schools and maintaining a private studio. When I began my bachelor of music education degree, I was set on teaching in the K-12 school system, but as I discovered more repertoire and the excitement of performing chamber and orchestral music, I wanted to see where it would take me, said Remezau. Where it would eventually take him was the HPO. He auditioned in June 2019, and officially joined the HPO this January. This Saturday, Sept. 26, Remezau will be front and centre along with flutist Leslie Newman, violinists Cecilia Chang and Elizabeth Loewen Andrews, violist Elspeth Thomson and cellist Laura Jones as the HPO kicks off its 2020-2021 online Hamilton Series with Joyful Mozart, videotaped in the Hamilton Clubs Alexander Hall. The concert includes Mozarts Oboe Quartet in F and Flute Quartet no. 1, Telemanns Sonata in D for two violins, Ginasteras Duo for flute and oboe, and Kevin Laus First Dance. I think I speak for all of my colleagues when I say that we are so excited to perform together again, even in a socially distanced capacity, said Remezau. There is nothing that compares to the energy of playing and hearing live music. We have all missed it very much. Broadcast ticket is $27 (includes HST, but not the $4 service fee). Log on to hpo.org/joyful-mozart/. ***** Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. at the Bayfront Park Gazebo, Cem Zafirs SomethingElse! festival continues with the Imaginary Percussion Ensemble plus guitarists/multi-instrumentalists Nilan Perera and Fahmid Nibesh. Check somethingelsefestival.com/ for audience size limit. Bring your own masks, food and non-alcoholic beverages. Bottled water available. Free admission, but donations welcome. Canadians of former Prime Minister John Turners generation are mourning the loss of a giant of their times: a man larger than life; a person of great accomplishment. Had Pierre Trudeau not existed, John Turner would have been the unquestioned celebrity of Canadian politics throughout the 1960s and 70s. But there is another generation mourning Mr. Turners passing: people who were young and involved in the Liberal Party during his leadership. Turner saw it as his mission to attract young people to politics, and to mentor and support them. When Turner looked around in October of 1984, the Liberal Party he saw was in ruin. Sixteen years in power had resulted in a shrunken organizational base across the country. The loss of power sent the best talent to jobs outside of politics. Turner decided to rebuild the party, and to do so around young people. As he rebuilt it, he and party president Iona Campagnolo launched a reform process that would make the party more inclusive and accessible for many people, especially the young. Politically engaged youth were attracted to something they could help build and shape, and Turner mentored those people. He knew their names not as a party trick, but because each of those people meant something to him. He took an interest. He would socialize with young Liberals in bars, and he would take them to Sussex and Stornoway to talk organization and policy. He gave young people things to do important, meaningful things. By the time he left, the Liberals were ready to challenge for government again, backed as they were by a seasoned army of young people. These people became the base of the Liberal Party and helped to shape government policy for decades to come. In assessing the state of the Liberal Party many years ago, Turner remarked, I know Paul Martin has a good organization. Because it was my organization first. The governments of Jean Chretien, Paul Martin and Justin Trudeau have been packed with staffers initially attracted into public service to support John Turner. In 2019, Vancouvers Bruce Young helped Justin Trudeau win a record number of seats in British Columbia as the provinces campaign co-chair. But it was Turner who drew Young into politics when Turner decided to contest the riding of Vancouver Quadra in the 1980s. From coast to coast to coast, there are dozens, possibly hundreds, of people like Bruce Young: Canadians inspired by Turner in their youth, who have carried on to shape our countrys politics and change its course for the better. There is no better or more accurate definition of the word legacy. One of the reasons the young people Turner drew in stayed involved for so long is due to the nature of his appeal. He didnt attract youth with the prospect of winning and power, nor was it a singular policy idea. It was deeper than that. It was about service, love of country and the importance of democracy. It was a calling that stayed with you. He loved Canada, and he knew that a democratic country with so many potential divisions needed its best people to care about the country and its governance. Turner turned his back on comfort and affluence twice to spend time in politics. His powerful 1988 debate performance was on the surface a denuciation of CUSFTA, the free trade agreement later superseded by NAFTA. But what it was really about is Canada: Turners love for its uniqueness, and his belief that it took deliberate actions by purposeful people to make this country great. The market, represented by free trade, would neither create nor maintain the Canada he cherished. That Canada was a product of politics. That is why Mr. Turner believed public service was the highest calling in life, and why he was able to convince so many others of it too. Hong Kong: Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was arrested on Thursday for taking part in a protest at the height of the city's pro-democracy unrest last year, but he vowed to continue resisting Chinas crackdown on dissent. The arrest of the territory's most high-profile dissident is the latest in a string of arrests of government critics and comes after China imposed a sweeping new national security law in Hong Kong in late June. Wong was arrested for "unlawful assembly" over a 2019 demonstration against a government ban on face masks that were imposed before the coronavirus pandemic, his lawyer said. Later Thursday the European Union criticised the move, saying it was "the latest in a troubling series of arrests of pro-democracy activists since the summer". Wong, 23, who now faces three separate court cases, said after being bailed that he was also held for violating the "draconian" anti-mask law, which has since been ruled unconstitutional. Wong's lawyer told AFP he was re-arrested when he reported to a police station concerning another case currently being tried. "Wong is accused of participating in an unlawful assembly on 5 October last year, when hundreds marched to oppose an anti-mask ban the government rolled out," lawyer Jonathan Man said. A police spokesman confirmed a 23-year-old was arrested for "knowingly participating in unauthorised assembly" while violating the mask ban. Wong told reporters after he was bailed: "No matter what happens, I will continue to resist and hope to let the world know how Hong Kongers choose not to surrender." At the time of the 5 October march, Hong Kong had already been battered by four months of increasingly violent pro-democracy protests. The city had ground to a halt following a night of chaos in which hardcore protesters trashed dozens of subway stations, vandalised shops with mainland China ties, built fires, and blocked roads. Hundreds of protesters, almost all masked, staged the unsanctioned demonstration through the popular shopping district of Causeway Bay, a day after the city's leader Carrie Lam outlawed face coverings by invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century. Under Hong Kong's current anti-virus measures, face masks are now mandatory in all public places. Jailed twice China's security law, which was imposed in late June, was designed to stamp out the demonstrations and targets acts deemed to be secession, subversion, terrorism, and foreign collusion. Beijing has described it as a "sword" hanging over the heads of its opponents as it pushes to return stability. Critics say it has blanketed the city in fear, and UN rights experts warned its broad wording posed a serious risk to Hong Kong's freedoms. Wong who spent most of his teenage years leading protests and has twice been jailed recently told AFP he constantly wonders how long it will be before the police's new national security unit comes for him. The security law has already swept up two of his closest comrades. Fellow former student leader Nathan Law has fled to Britain and is now wanted for national security crimes, according to Chinese state media. Agnes Chow who has led protests alongside Wong since they were just 15 is one of 22 people arrested under the new law so far. She has been released on bail. From September 28th through November 30th, Burlington is encouraging customers to donate $1 or more at checkout in its more than 735 stores nationwide. Donating as little as a dollar can provide support towards cutting-edge blood cancer research, and help save children's lives, so they not only survive but thrive after treatment. To celebrate this year's new campaign focus on children impacted by cancer, Burlington is pleased to host a number of celebratory outdoor drive-by 'parades' in front of select Burlington store locations nationwide. This event format allows families to remain safe and socially distant, while local store associates recognize, cheer and applaud these young local heroes and provide personalized gift bags to each survivor based on their interests and personal style. Events will be happening at select Burlington stores in the following communities nationwide: New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Boston and Atlanta. "We are proud to partner with our Honored Friend and #1 National Corporate Retail Partner, Burlington. LLS is the global leader in the fight against blood cancer, and Burlington's long-time commitment has helped us invest nearly $1.3 billion in blood cancer research," said Louis J. DeGennaro, PhD, LLS president and chief executive officer. "Funds raised by Burlington customers will help to support our mission priorities, including The LLS Children's Initiative, and help change the way pediatric blood cancers are treated for our young patients and families across the nation. Thanks to Burlington, we will help reach more blood cancer patients with support and services at this critical time." "During these unprecedented times, Burlington remains committed to a world without blood cancer," said Michael O'Sullivan, CEO of Burlington Stores. "We are proud to continue to help raise funds in our stores for lifesaving blood cancer research, transforming the landscape of treatment and care for patients, as well as to support children and their families impacted by cancer." About Burlington Stores, Inc. Burlington Stores, Inc., headquartered in New Jersey, is a nationally recognized off-price retailer with Fiscal 2019 net sales of $7.3 billion. The Company is a Fortune 500 company and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "BURL." The Company operated 739 stores as of the end of the second quarter of Fiscal 2020, in 45 states and Puerto Rico, principally under the name Burlington Stores. Burlington offers great values on a wide assortment of merchandise - with products for ladies, men, kids, baby, and the home. Every time they shop, Burlington customers can find new and amazing deals on their favorite brands at prices up to 60% off other retailers' prices. For more, visit Burlington.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the global leader in the fight against blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has regions throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. For additional information visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The LLS Children's Initiative: Cures and Care for Children with Cancer The LLS Children's Initiative is a $100 million multi-year effort to take on children's cancer through every facet of LLS's mission: research, patient education and support and policy and advocacy. The LLS Children's Initiative includes: more pediatric research grants, a global precision medicine clinical trial, expanded free education and support services for children and families and driving policies and laws that break down barriers to care. To learn more, visit www.lls.org/childrens-initiative. Media Contacts: Kristin Hoose The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 914-821-8973 [email protected] Crystal Williams Tierney 215-790-4152 [email protected] SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Related Links http://www.lls.org CALGARY, AB, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian Pacific (CP) will donate to food banks in communities along its network and host a virtual concert in lieu of its regular Holiday Train program. The modified program will draw attention to food security issues, while ensuring donations go to all food banks that would ordinarily receive them, including those that typically host a Holiday Train event in alternating years. "COVID-19 has created many challenges for communities across our network and has only increased the need at local food banks and food shelves," said CP President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel. "It is our honor to continue to donate to communities across our network this year, even if the train itself will not run. The spirit of the Holiday Train program and the Christmas spirit will carry on this year through our virtual concert. We will have the Holiday Train rolling again spreading Christmas cheer as soon as it's safe to do so!" CP launched the Holiday Train in 1999, and every year since it has traveled across Canada and the northern U.S. raising money, collecting food and drawing attention to the important work of local food banks. In its first 21 years, the train has raised $17.8 million and collected 4.8 million pounds of food for local food banks in communities along CP's network. "We are very excited that CP has chosen a safe way to keep the spirit of the CP Holiday Train rolling in support of local food banks like ours in these challenging times," said Calgary Food Bank President and CEO James McAra. "The need for food bank services has risen substantially over the course of this year and heading into the high-demand winter months. We hope CP's concert will prompt the train's supporters to give as generously as they're able." Live music has always been part of the CP Holiday Train tradition. To maintain that tradition, CP will produce a benefit concert, with details to be announced when they're available. "We support CP's decision to hold a virtual concert instead of hosting events that encourage local gathering, though we'll miss the train's bright lights and in-person shows," said Kristine Martin, President of East Side Neighborhood Services, a Minneapolis-based Holiday Train beneficiary food bank. "CP's generous donations to East Side Neighborhood Services over the years have helped us provide nutritious food to people who have difficulty accessing traditional food shelves or grocery stores. This year, being able to continue providing those services has been even more important. We're thankful to CP for their continued support and donations again this year." CP intends to resume operating the annual train tour in 2021. About Canadian Pacific Canadian Pacific is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to major ports on the west and east coasts. CP provides North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of CP. SOURCE Canadian Pacific Related Links www.cpr.ca Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was arrested Thursday for taking part in a protest at the height of the city's pro-democracy unrest last year, but he vowed to continue resisting China's crackdown on dissent. The arrest of the territory's most high-profile dissident is the latest in a string of arrests of government critics and comes after China imposed a sweeping new national security law on Hong Kong in late June. Wong was arrested for "unlawful assembly" over a 2019 demonstration against a government ban on face masks that was imposed before the coronavirus pandemic, his lawyer said. The 23-year-old , who now faces three separate cases, said after being bailed that he was also held for violating the "draconian" anti-mask law, which has since been ruled unconstitutional. Wong's lawyer told AFP he was re-arrested when he reported to a police station concerning another case currently being tried. "Wong is accused of participating in an unlawful assembly on October 5 last year, when hundreds marched to oppose an anti-mask ban the government rolled out," lawyer Jonathan Man said. A police spokesman confirmed a 23-year-old was arrested for "knowingly participating in unauthorised assembly" while violating the mask ban. Wong told reporters after he was bailed: "No matter what happens, I will continue to resist and hope to let the world to know that how Hong Kongers choose not to surrender." At the time of the October 5 march, Hong Kong had already been battered by four months of increasingly violent pro-democracy protests. The city had ground to a halt following a night of chaos in which hardcore protesters trashed dozens of subway stations, vandalised shops with mainland China ties, built fires and blocked roads. Hundreds of protesters, almost all masked, staged the unsanctioned demonstration through the popular shopping district of Causeway Bay, a day after the city's leader Carrie Lam outlawed face coverings by invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century. Under Hong Kong's current anti-virus measures, face masks are now mandatory in all public places. Jailed twice China's security law, which was imposed in late June, was designed to stamp out the demonstrations and targets acts deemed to be secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign collusion. Beijing has described it as a "sword" hanging over the heads of its opponents as it pushes to return stability. Critics say it has blanketed the city in fear, and UN rights experts warned its broad wording posed a serious risk to Hong Kong's freedoms. Wong - who spent most of his teenage years leading protests and has twice been jailed - recently told AFP he constantly wonders how long it will be before the police's new national security unit comes for him. The security law has already swept up two of his closest comrades. Fellow former student leader Nathan Law has fled to Britain and is now wanted for national security crimes, according to Chinese state media. Agnes Chow -- who has led protests alongside Wong since they were just 15 -- is one of 22 people arrested under the new law so far. She has been released on bail. Naravane said India had given a fitting response to the (Chinese) conspiracy of attempting to unilaterally change the status quo along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) where India and China have been locked in a standoff for over eight months. I want to assure the country that the sacrifice of the Galwan braves will not go in vain, he said. bedo/iStockBy JOOHEE CHO, ABC News (SEOUL, South Korea) -- North Korean soldiers shot and killed a South Korean government civil servant drifting in their waters and then allegedly burned the corpse, according to South Koreas Defense Ministry. We sternly warn that all responsibility for the brutal act committed towards our citizen lies solely with North Korea," Ahn Young-ho, a top official from South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a press briefing Thursday morning, demanding the Norths explanation and punishment for the persons in charge. Pyongyang has not commented. The 47-year-old official at the Souths Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was reported missing on Monday from a fisheries patrol and monitoring boat on duty just 12 miles away from North Korean shores, close to South Koreas Yeonpyeong Island. South Korea did not clarify why and how the man drifted into North Korea, but according to defense ministry officials, they have obtained intelligence that North Koreans discovered the man, father of two, looking haggard and exhausted clutching a floating device wearing a life jacket. North Korean troops wearing gas masks then questioned him at a distance, then allegedly fired shots. It is unclear how South Korean officials obtained the information. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Health department announces shift from case investigation procedures Although health department staff will no longer be following up with every individual who tests positive for COVID-19, staff will continue to provide direct education, resources and support. Skip to main navigation For Release: Thursday, September 24, 2020 DEC Announces Permit to Issue Antlerless Deer Tags for Valcour Island, Clinton County Tags Awarded by Lottery System beginning this Fall The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced new opportunities to take antlerless deer on Valcour Island with antlerless deer tags issued through the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP). Deer hunting is allowed on Valcour Island, in the towns of Peru and Plattsburgh, Clinton County, NY, but opportunities to take antlerless deer have been limited to archery and muzzleloader seasons for hunters who purchased these license privileges. DMAP tags are now being issued to increase the opportunity to take antlerless deer during all open hunting seasons, which will help to reduce deer numbers on the island and mitigate damage to its unique plant ecosystems. DMAP tags will be available for Valcour Island for the upcoming hunting season. Interested hunters must have a valid New York State hunting license to apply for tags. Tags are valid only for antlerless deer harvest on Valcour Island and will be awarded by a lottery drawing system. Tag recipients will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the island, which requires a vessel suitable to navigate Lake Champlain waters. There will be no preference for residents versus non-residents. The application deadline is Oct. 9, 2020. The duration of the program and the number of tags issued each year may vary depending on success of the program and environmental factors that affect deer populations. This program is not available for DEC employees or their immediate families. To apply for tags, or for more information about this and other DMAP opportunities on New York State lands, please visit DEC's website. New Delhi, Sep 24 : The Congress, which is protesting against the farm Bills passed by the Parliament, has chalked out a detailed programme of agitation, which will begin on September 26 with an online "Speak up for Farmers" campaign. The party has also set up a "Save Farmer and Labour" committee. On September 28, the party will organise a march from the Rajghat to the Raj Bhavan, and on October 2, the party will burn the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in each assembly segment. A signature campaign will be held from October 2 to October 31, while a state-level farmers' convention will be organised on October 10. "BJP's anti-farmer Bills ensure the profitability of a few in exchange of the prosperity of our farmers. These Bills are a direct attack on the backbone of our nation," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said on Thursday. Addressing a press conference, he said: "I want to make two points in the context of what happened in the Rajya Sabha... I want to ask if there was any quorum or not... 5 to 7 people asked for division in front of me, but nobody paid heed." The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha amid an uproar by opposition members that led to eight of them being suspended from the House. "There is no mention of MSP, no criteria for pricing... despite that you are tricking the nation by saying that we have not removed MSP," Singhvi said. A man has been found guilty of murder for ordering the revenge execution of a teenage boy. Brayden Dillon, 15, was shot dead in his bed in the early hours of April 14, 2017, after a gunman kicked open the front door of his home at Glenfield in Sydney's south-west. Conrad Craig, 29, who admitted to pulling the trigger, was jailed in July for at least 30 years. Murdered: 15-year-old Brayden Dillon. Credit:NSW Police The man accused of ordering the murder, Abdul Abu-Mahmoud, faced a judge-alone trial in the NSW Supreme Court this year. Prosecutors argued he sought to avenge the death of his nephew Adam, who was fatally stabbed in a brawl in July 2016. He believed Brayden's older brother, Joshua Dillon, was involved in the stabbing. Joshua Dillon was charged with murder over the stabbing, but last year a jury found him not guilty. Press Release September 24, 2020 CONSTRUCTION OF BULACAN INT'L AIRPORT AN ECONOMIC GAME CHANGER - GORDON Senator Richard J. Gordon expressed support for the development of Bulacan International Airport and said it will create a bigger economic footprint for the Philippines as it will bring in more investment opportunities for the country. "This is the first airport that we are doing for a long time. Certainly, when you have an airport like this, it will be an economic game changer. A lot of entrepreneurship is going to happen, not to mention the duty-free shops and restaurants that will be established," he said. Gordon added that the project will help decongest Metro Manila, which is one of the objectives of the Regional Investment and Infrastructure Coordinating Hub (RICH) of Central Luzon, a bill that he authors. "If you accompany it to the RICH bill, which I am going to sponsor next week, I think this will be great. This will put the Philippines as one of the centers in Asia. It will make a statement in the whole world that we mean business. It can be a lightning rod to create business that will thrive not only in Metro Manila but also in Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and certainly all the way up to the North," he said. Moreover, Gordon said that the construction of the airport will not only make traveling easier but could become a significant alternate airport for travelers. "This airport will be a great alternate airport. Meaning to say, if you are landing in an airport and you have engine trouble, you can have any choices from Subic-Clark to Manila and Bulacan. So, it is very important that these alternate runways will always allow an enormous amount of safety for the passengers," he said. "I strongly support this airport. I see no short end here. I think we are getting the long end and I'd like to be able to see it and land on it," he added. The proposed Bulacan International Airport, which will be built in the coastal town of Bulakan, will have a capacity of 100 million passengers per year, which is about three times larger than the current capacity of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The budget allocated for its development is P735.6 billion. WASHINGTON Nearly 500 generals, admirals and former national security officials from both parties endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday, and blasted President Donald Trump as "not equal" to the challenges of the job in a letter released Thursday. The letter, signed by 489 members of the group called the National Security Leaders for Biden, includes former Obama administration Defense Secretaries Ash Carter, Chuck Hagel and Leon Panetta, along with former Navy Secretary and NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe, who served under both former Presidents George H.W. and George W. Bush. Among the retired senior officers is Air Force Gen. Paul Selva, who until last year was the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Trump. REPUBLICANS: Former governors, congressmen, Trump administration staffers supporting Biden The signature of a senior official like Selva, with recent, relevant experience advising the Trump White House as the military's second-highest ranking officer, indicates alarm about Trump's fitness as commander in chief, said Michael O'Hanlon, a military analyst at the Brookings Institution. O'Hanlon pointed to revelations in Bob Woodward's new book "Rage" that showed the United States and North Korea were dangerously close to war in 2017. Trump's erratic, "seat of the pants" decision-making has rattled senior military and civilian officials, he said. "There is real concern among some of these folks that we're living on borrowed time with this guy having his finger on the nuclear trigger," O'Hanlon said of Trump. O'Keefe, a Republican, said in an interview that the statement is aimed at undecided voters. The group intends to write op-eds for news organizations and to speak out through the election, he said. "This is a referendum on whether we want to reinforce and establish what has kept this democratic experiment in play for the last 250 years or so or go into uncharted territory and redefine who we are as Americans," O'Keefe said. Story continues The letter praises Biden for his morality, integrity and experience. The letter excoriates Trump without mentioning him by name. "The current President has demonstrated he is not equal to the enormous responsibilities of his office; he cannot rise to meet challenges large or small," the group writes. "Thanks to his disdainful attitude and his failures, our allies no longer trust or respect us, and our enemies no longer fear us." President Barack Obama, from left, Vice President Joe Biden, Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey stand for the National Anthem during a ceremony marking the return of Gen. Lloyd Austin, right, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on Dec. 20, 2011. The return of Austin, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, his staff, and the U.S. Forces-Iraq command flag, marked the formal end to the U.S. military mission in Iraq. The letter is addressed to "fellow citizens." Its signatories "are generals, admirals, senior non-commissioned officers, ambassadors, and senior civilian national security leaders. We are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. We love our country. Unfortunately, we also fear for it." BIDEN VS. TRUMP: What each means for the military The list also includes officials from the White House such as Susan Rice, Obama's national security adviser; John Kerry, his secretary of State; and James Clapper, his director of National Intelligence. Donald Trump has weakened our global alliances, undermined trust in U.S. leadership and competence, and time after time privileged Vladimir Putin over American national interests," Rice said in a statement. "The United States cannot endure four more years of Trumps failed leadership." They conclude by saying the next president must deal with turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, recession and emboldened adversaries such as North Korea and Russia: "Joe Biden has the character, principles, wisdom, and leadership necessary to address a world on fire. That is why Joe Biden must be the next President of the United States; why we vigorously support his election; and why we urge our fellow citizens to do the same." CINDY McCAIN: 'Joe shares our values,' John McCain's GOP widow says in endorsement This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nearly 500 generals, admirals endorse Joe Biden blast Donald Trump ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers. Company NMLS Identifier #2110672 Copyright 2021 Consumers Unified LLC. All Rights Reserved. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. Tourism is one of the worst affected sectors due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Though many other sectors and industries have resumed fully or partially, tourism activity is yet to pick up, and even those in the industry do not expect a magical turn around any time soon. This is having a devastating impact on the millions who depend on the income from tourism for their livelihood. In Rajasthan too, which is one of the most sought after tourist destinations for both domestic and international travelers, the situation is no different. In capital Jaipur, it is not just the humans that are feeling the pinch. BCCL More than 100 elephants from at the Hathigaon (Elephant village) which were used as safari animals at the Amer Fort have also been struggling as their owners cannot maintain the jumbos without any income. Not returning to work anytime soon "It is unlikely that the elephants of Hathigaon will return to full work anytime soon, and while the nature of their work is itself cruel and exploitative; currently they remain tethered for 24 hours, with limited food and water, and zero medical care," the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) said. BCCL This comes amid reports that four elephants have died there in the last six months due to health issues. The cause of death is said to be complications with digestion and compounding health problems because of the lack of exercise. BCCL In fact, it has been one of the leading causes of untimely deaths among captive elephants. Elephants that would cover hundreds of kilometers every day in search of food in the forest are not able to do the same in captivity. This along with the fact that captive elephants are often fed the same food, mostly palm leaves over and over causes digestive issues and constipation. The animal may suffer for months before intestine rupture and other related complications take its life. BCCL At the Amer Fort, though the jumbos are made to walk up and down the steep road with several tourists on their back, they used to get some exercise, which does not happen now due to the lockdown. Authorities urged to take action The FIAPO has written to the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, the Chief Wild Life Warden and other relevant officers of the forest department in Jaipur asking them to take urgent steps to prevent any further deaths. FIAPOs letter demands that the elephants must be provided full time veterinarian care, appropriate food and water and adequate exercise every day. In addition, FIAPO has requested that the department must take urgent steps to rehabilitate old and sick elephants to rescue centres, so they can live freely in nature, with other elephants. BCCL In 2018 the Animal Welfare Board of India had found that 1 out of 10, Hathigaon elephants were suffering from Tuberculosis. All of the four dead elephants had been diagnosed with TB but continued to be used for safaris. Elephants are not native to Rajasthan and are often brought there from states like Bihar where they were captured illegally at a young age, trained into obeying the orders of their mahouts by tortuous methods till they forget that they are free wild animals. In Hathigaon the captive elephants are made to work for long hours, against their will, in duress, and denied their basic natural instinct to live as free wild animals in a social herd. 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. Deerfield Correctional Center, which is located in Capron, 69 miles south of Richmond, has an assisted-living unit and infirmary and holds many of the state prison systems older and medically impaired offenders. Many of the inmates at Deerfield sleep in dormitories, making social distancing difficult if not impossible. Agile development teams aim to develop innovative capabilities, while devops teams strive to release code to production more frequently. But the buck often stops with the IT service desk and customer support teams who must respond to application incidents, issues, and requests. Release too frequently with defects, performance bottlenecks, or security issues, and end-users may inundate service and support teams with incidents. Even when devops teams deploy reliable changes, they still have a responsibility to aid support teams in providing excellent customer service or end-user support. What does that look like in practice? It requires a holistic release management process where a production deployment isnt marked as done until theres feedback from support teams on the deployments overall success and an understanding of the issues. To achieve this level of collaboration, agile development teams committing to a devops culture should consider the following best practices. 1. Define and set expectations around high-quality releases This may seem obvious, but in practice it eludes many development teams because of the complexity of the environments, business demands to release capabilities too quickly, or gaps in testing. All too often, I find a cultural gap. If you release code today but must patch it a day or two later because of defects or end-user support issues, is the original release labeled a success? The answer should be no. Once the devops team releases, there should be an expectation that the deployment is high quality and the team can move on to the next set of development priorities. Once the team agrees to patch, perform an emergency break-fix release, hotfix, or execute an unscheduled deployment, the team should label the original release as a failed or degraded deployment. This principle encourages devops teams to review application flows, improve test automation, develop more robust test data sets, employ shift-left security testing, and invest in feature flagging. 2. Communicate deployment schedules and share release notes Ask many customer support and IT service desk teams about deployment schedules, and theyll tell you they are often the last to know about the development teams plans. People working in these functions often dont have access to Jira, Microsoft Teams, Jenkins, or other tools devops teams use to plan and execute releases. Even when devops teams configure email alerts to inform support teams about planned and executed deployments, the emails and release notes are often filled with unhelpful technical jargon. Devops teams should specifically tailor planning, release, and deployment communications or collaborations to their audiences. For service desk and customer support teams, communications should focus on how the release impacts end-users. Devops teams should also anticipate the impact of changes on end-users and educate support teams. When an applications user experience or workflow changes significantly, bringing in support teams early to review, understand, and experience the changes themselves can help them update support processes. 3. Invest in application monitoring and AIops Lets consider two scenarios. One devops team monitors their multicloud environments and knows when servers, storage, networks, and containers experience issues. Theyve centralized application logs but have not configured reports or alerts from them, nor have they set up any application monitors. More often then not, when an incident or issue impacts end-users, its the service desk and support teams who escalate the issue to IT ops, SREs (site reliability engineers), or the devops team. Thats not a good situation, but neither is the other extreme when IT operational teams configure too many systems and application alerts. One incident may trip dozens of monitors and alerts, making it difficult to determine the underlying cause and select a course of action. In this scenario, the IT team may benefit from implementing an AIops solution, such as Big Panda or Moogsoft, which aggregates alerts, applies machine learning to correlate monitoring data, and automates steps to address common issues. The goal should be to minimize the impact on end-users and reduce the conditions when they have to open support tickets for application incidents. 4. Provide self-service admin tools, query capabilities, and reports Heres another application development principle: Avoid releasing features that dont have administrative tools, workflows, or reports to support end-users. Agile product owners are quick to prioritize developing a feature but are sometimes slow to invest in its support functions. Its not good enough if service desks or support teams must open tickets with other areas of IT to run a query, export data, manually change data in a database, or run a batch job. These are all forms of operational or technical debt. Agile product owners should treat the service desk and support teams like other stakeholders and should capture and prioritize their requirements. Ideally, agile principles or governance defines what tools are required, when new capabilities get investment, or when existing featured are enhanced. 5. Review service desk tickets and prioritize fixing defects IT executives ask development teams to be data driven, and a good place to start is to schedule regular reviews of issues and requests reported to the service desk and customer support teams. Ideally, devops teams should look to automate flows from the service desk ticketing system as either defects or feature requests into the agile development teams backlogs. Agile development teams should use this feedback to prioritize their backlogs. Leveraging feedback, especially from customers and end-users, is a key tenet of scrum and other agile methodologies. Development teams should look at these issues from several vantage points. Some systemic issues impact many end-users or result in multiple service desk tickets, making it easy to prioritize improvements. Others are like needles in a haystack, but these outliers still impact strategic customers or critical business processes. Development teams may have limited time allocated to address all the issues, but there may be other options to provide workarounds, simple operational tools, or better documentation to aid service desk employees. Sometimes, it can be enough to be empathetic to people working at the support and service desk and on the front lines with customers and end-users. So before adding a new feature, improving the CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous deployment) pipe, or spiking on a new technology, consider these best practices that can improve end-user satisfaction and assist the service and support teams. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump was booed Thursday as he paid respects to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He plans to nominate a replacement this weekend for the liberal justice, best known for her advancement of womens rights. The president and first lady Melania Trump both wearing masks stood silently at the top of the steps of the court and looked down at Ginsburgs flag-draped coffin, which was surrounded by white flowers. Ginsburgs death has sparked a controversy over the political balance of the court just weeks before the November presidential election. Moments after Trump arrived, booing could be heard from spectators about a block away from the court building. They chanted vote him out as the president stood near the coffin. Trump walked back into the court as the chants grew louder. Watch the video: As his motorcade returned to the White House, there were also chants of Breonna Taylor from some spectators standing on the sidewalk. Their calls came one day after it was announced that a Kentucky grand jury had brought no charges against Louisville police for her killing during a drug raid connected to a suspect who did not live at Taylors home. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said people have First Amendment rights, but she found the jeers an appalling and disrespectful thing to do as the president honored Justice Ginsburg. The chants were appalling but certainly to be expected when youre in the heart of the swamp, McEnany said. Ginsburgs body will lie in state at the Capitol on Friday, the first time a woman receives that distinction, and only the second time it will be bestowed on a Supreme Court justice. William Howard Taft, who had also served as president, was also recognized in such a manner. The body of Rosa Parks, a private citizen, previously has lain in honor at the Capitol. Ginsburg will be buried alongside her husband, Martin, in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery next week. Martin Ginsburg died in 2010. Meanwhile, the president is expected to announce his nominee to replace Ginsburg on Saturday. He has said he will select from a list of five women. Republicans are working to move quickly to a confirmation vote, possibly even before the Nov. 3 election. A steady stream of mourners stood outside the high court Thursday. They packed the streets and hundreds waited in line to pay their respects to Ginsburg. The crowd was hushed and respectful, except for when the president arrived. Attorney Laura French traveled to Washington from Athens, Georgia, to pay her respects. She said she owes her success to trailblazers like Ginsburg. She also said that GOP senators set precedence four years ago when they refused to meet with potential nominee Merrick Garland, and she questioned whether they now had the right to rush through a nominee. She said it was right for Trump to come pay respects, though she doesnt agree with him politically. He should, hes the president and she gave her life and service to this country and to these beliefs that are in our Constitution, French said. Rocky Twyman, who lives in nearby Rockville, Maryland, said Ginsburgs death was a great loss for the country. She believed in equality for all people, he said. He said it was right for Trump to come, but questioned his motives. I thought it was good, but a lot of people said it was insincere because hes going to go around and nominate someone for her seat, he said. Ginsburgs granddaughter has said it was Ginsburgs wish that a replacement justice be chosen by the winner of the November presidential election. Associated Press videographer Dan Huff contributed to this report. President Donald Trump stops to talk to reporters as he walks to board Marine One and depart from the South Lawn at the White House on Aug 17. Read more In the 1920s, Adolf Hitler coined the term the big lie, meaning the use of a falsehood so huge no one would believe a leader could dare promote it were it not true. From then on the phrase the big lie became a standard description of the prime propaganda technique used by strongmen in undemocratic regimes. READ MORE: Trump's autocrat buddies would appreciate his replacement of RBG I Trudy Rubin Last week, Donald Trumps mastery of the big lie was on full display when he gave himself an A+ for his handling of COVID-19. Weve done a phenomenal job, he insisted baldly, rating his performance as an A+, even as Americas death toll soared beyond 200,000 and continued to rise at close to 1,000 per day. With 4% of the worlds population, the United States has nearly 21% of the deaths from the virus. Clearly Trump has no concern about applying the big lie to the virus a topic central to the 2020 election and to Americas economy, security, and psyche. Yet Trumps demagoguery goes beyond the normal presidential falsehoods weve come to take for granted 20,000 lies and distortions and counting since he took office, according to Washington Post fact checkers. His big lie on COVID-19 takes us into propaganda territory we are more likely to associate with autocrats like Vladimir Putin, or Hungarys Viktor Orban, or Syrias Bashar al-Assad. It offers a preview of what to expect on Nov. 3 and in the weeks and months beyond. Consider for a moment Putins response to the poisoning of Russias leading opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, with a variant of the nerve toxin Novichok, developed in Soviet military labs. Putin flatly denies Moscows involvement in any poisoning, whether of Navalny or previous assassinations of Kremlin opponents abroad even though all trace back to the Kremlin. (Trump has said hes seen no proof that Navalny was poisoned.) READ MORE: Kremlins murder of opponents cant be accepted as new global norm | Trudy Rubin But the Russian leader reportedly had the gall to suggest to French President Emmanuel Macron that Navalny may have poisoned himself. Putin also insists that Russia never interfered in the 2016 U.S. election, despite the detailed conclusions of all U.S. intelligence agencies and the GOP-led Senate Intelligence Committee. (Trump has said he believes Putin over those agencies.) What Putin knows is this: If you mouth a big lie often enough, it sticks. That was the conclusion of the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (predecessor to the CIA), which compiled a secret report on how Hitler used the big lie technique. It contained the following description of demagoguery that resonates up until now. Never allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it. The U.S. Office of Strategic Services Thus Trump repeats over and over the big lie that the virus casualty toll is the fault of the blue states. (He adds to his falsehood by stating it affected virtually nobody, only old people with prior conditions, even though he told author Robert Woodward in March that the virus affected plenty of young people.) These lies are utter nonsense. Countries that handled the virus correctly have a fraction of our casualties, even adjusted for population differentials. Germany has just over 9,500 deaths. South Korea has under 400 deaths. According to the Johns Hopkins Universitys respected coronavirus tracker, the United States is sixth worst in the world in deaths per hundred thousand population. And testing in this country has been a dismal failure, with Trump refusing to devise a national strategy that would create a grid to transfer necessary testing equipment and personnel to where there were shortages. America is still testing way, way below the optimum level. Bottom line: The country with the worlds best technology is near the bottom of the pack. Yet, even with a free press, Trump has convinced his core to swallow his big lie on COVID-19. While 62% of Americans overall think the U.S. has done a worse job than other countries in handling COVID-19, according to a Pew poll in late July and early August, 64% of Republicans think America has done as well or better. Repeat the big lie often enough and it will stick. Perhaps Trump summed up his success with his followers when he told an ABC-TV Town Hall that COVID-19 would vanish when we "develop a herd mentality. Of course, he meant herd immunity, a state when at least 60% to 70% of the population have had the virus and developed antibodies. The United States is not remotely near such a percentage, which would require an untold number of more deaths. But Trumps slip of the tongue was telling. The big lie requires a majority of the country to acquire herd mentality and fall under the sway of a demagogue who will twist the truth in ways that no previous U.S. politician imagined. Should Trump win in November, the battle between the herd and those who reject the big lie will grow fierce. McCann Suspect May Face More Jail Time After EU Court Ruling BRUSSELSA German man whom investigators suspect of murdering British toddler Madeleine McCann and currently jailed for drug dealing may face more prison time after Europes top court retroactively cleared his extradition to Germany for a rape charge. There had been concerns that Christian B., who is seeking parole, may disappear once he has served his sentence for drug dealing in a prison in Kiel in the north of Germany. A general view shows the entrance to the Justizvollzugsanstalt Kiel prison in Kiel, Germany, on June 4, 2020. (Fabian Bimmer/Reuters) The 43-year-old German, who lived in the Algarve region of Portugal when 3-year-old Madeleine vanished from her bedroom in 2007, had disputed the validity of the European arrest warrant issued by Germany when he was in Italy because it cited a drugs conviction but not the 2005 rape charge. The man challenged the warrant even though Germany had in 2018 obtained Italys agreement for his extradition to be prosecuted, and tried for rape and extortion. A German court had subsequently sought guidance from the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The CJEU on Thursday confirmed the procedures for extraditions, which Germany had complied with. A measure involving deprivation of liberty taken against a person referred to in a first European Arrest Warrant (EAW) on the basis of a prior offence different from the one which justified his surrender under a second EAW is not contrary to EU law if that persons departure from the Member State that issued the first EAW was voluntary, judges said. In that context, consent must be given by the executing authorities of the member state which surrendered the prosecuted person on the basis of the second EAW, they said. The case is C-195/20 PPU Generalbundesanwalt beim Bundesgerichtshof v XC. By Foo Yun Chee OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal government appears poised to survive a confidence vote on its throne speech after introducing legislation Thursday aimed at securing NDP support. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Gov. Gen. Julie Payette delivers the throne speech in the Senate chamber in Ottawa on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal government appears poised to survive a confidence vote on its throne speech after introducing legislation Thursday aimed at securing NDP support. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh would not immediately endorse the throne speech but hailed the bill reforming the employment insurance system as a "big victory" for New Democrats and the people they fight for. "This is a major win," he said. NDP support will be crucial for the government, which needs the backing of at least one of the main opposition parties to avoid defeat on a confidence vote, which could plunge the country into an election. The Conservatives categorically declared their intention to vote against the throne speech shortly after it was delivered Wednesday. And the Bloc Quebecois has said it won't support the speech unless Trudeau commits within a week to giving the provinces $28 billion more each year in health-care transfers. Thursday's bill follows through on the government's promise last month to create a more robust employment-insurance system and three new temporary benefits that are to replace the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (or CERB), which is scheduled to come to an end Saturday after helping millions of jobless Canadians stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the government made one key change, ensuring that unemployed Canadians will receive $500 a week in benefits the same as they've been receiving under the CERB rather than the originally proposed $400. Singh had been adamant that the NDP would not support the throne speech if it did not first see legislation guaranteeing there'll be no reduction in the benefits received by jobless Canadians. The NDP is also demanding that anyone who falls ill with COVID-19 must be entitled to paid sick leave. The bill includes a new sick leave benefit of $500 per week for two weeks for anyone who falls ill or must isolate due to the pandemic. However, Singh said his party has some concerns about how accessible the sick leave will be and is negotiating with the government on that point. "We're very optimistic about the outcome of these negotiations. Things are looking good," he said. If it gets what it wants on sick leave, Singh said his party will support the bill. But he stopped short of saying that it will also support the throne speech, insisting that's a separate issue. Wednesday, he had replied to questions about whether the NDP would back the throne speech by saying he wanted to see legislation increasing benefits and guaranteeing sick leave. Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough denied the proposed jobless benefit was increased to secure NDP support for the throne speech. She maintained the government had indicated from the outset that it would be flexible about the amount, taking into account the state of the economy and the course of the pandemic, which is entering a second wave that threatens to be worse than the first last spring. "We landed here (on $500 a week) because this is where, where the country is now in terms of the support workers need," she told a news conference. Although Trudeau prorogued Parliament for more than a month so that it could not deal with the employment insurance reforms or anything else, Qualtrough stressed that the bill now needs to be approved quickly. "Quite frankly, the urgency of this cannot be understated," she said. Other emergency aid bills have been passed with unanimous consent of all opposition MPs in a single day. It was not immediately clear Thursday whether the government will attempt a similar route for the new bill. Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez gave notice that the Commons will debate the bill Monday and Tuesday. His office refused to say what measures it might be negotiating with opposition parties to fast-track the bill's passage. Earlier Thursday, several dozen MPs took their seats in the chamber, while more signed in online as opposition parties prepared to give their official responses to Wednesday's speech from the throne. The Conservatives accused the Liberals of using prorogation, which led to the speech, to shut down parliamentary scrutiny of their decision to award WE Charity a contract to run a student grant program. Before debate on the speech, Conservative MP Michael Barrett was up on his feet saying his privileges had been breached by the redactions in documents related to the WE affair, showing that the Opposition does not intend to let that issue go. "If the speech from the throne was about presenting a refreshing agenda reflecting the COVID pandemic, the prime minister could have simply prorogued Parliament the night before last, or yesterday morning for that matter," Barrett said. "What he didn't need to do was to shut down Parliament on the 18th of August. The only thing that accomplished was to kill committee investigations cold in their tracks." The committees are to be reconstituted by mid-October. In debating the speech itself, Conservative deputy leader Candice Bergen said the Liberals' plan leaves numerous Canadians out, citing seasonal workers, people who run tourism businesses, families that are nursing along old minivans and cant afford new electric cars, people who drive pickup trucks and are "tired of being insulted by Liberal elites." Thousands of Canadians have been left behind, Bergen said, and the speech from the throne offers them nothing. "Its clear, Mr. Speaker, the only reason (Trudeau) prorogued Parliament was to cover up and distract from his own scandal," Bergen said. "So its also very disturbing that there is no plan to deal with this pandemic." Trudeau shot back a few minutes later. Its amazing the Conservatives accuse his government of having no plan, then object to the points of that plan, he said. "When the pandemic struck, Conservatives were more concerned with austerity than with helping people, and theyve doubled down on that point of view," he said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Debate on the throne speech is scheduled for six days, though they do not have to be consecutive. A vote on the speech has not yet been scheduled. Trudeau told the Commons that he intends to have a first ministers' conference call to talk about updating the Canada Health Act, which doesn't fit the modern reality of health care well. He and the premiers have worked well together for the common good and he wants to keep doing so, he said. But the country's premiers issued a statement Thursday expressing their disappointment that the throne speech did not include an immediate $28-billion infusion to the annual health-care transfer, as they unanimously demanded last week. And it was clear the Bloc won't be satisfied with anything less. Quebec Premier Francois Legault, chair of the premiers, has criticized the throne speech for failing to promise more unconditional health funding while simultaneously intruding on provincial jurisdiction with promises to introduce a national pharmacare program and national standards for long-term care homes, where more than 80 per cent of COVID-19-related deaths have occurred in Canada. Trudeau took a veiled poke at Legault as he lamented a Conservative MP's suggestion Thursday that Ottawa has no role in protecting seniors in long-term care. He noted that Legault had no difficulty asking for the federal government to send in members of the Canadian Armed Forces to help manage the COVID-19 crisis in seniors' facilities last spring. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2020. The Assam State Level Police Recruitment Board (SLPRB) has called for online applications from eligible and interested candidates, who are residents of Assam, for filling Four Forty Four (444) vacancies to the post of Stenographer (English), Tech. Assistant (Headquarter), Pharmacist (ITI), Statistical Assistant (Employment Wing), Instructor-Stenography (English), Junior Assistant (HQ/ ITI), Junior Instructor, Store Keeper (ITI), Hostel Superintendent-cum-Physical-Training Instructor, Librarian (ITI), Store Keeper (ITI), Dresser (ITI) and Grade-IV positions through direct recruitment to be posted under the Directorate of Employment and Craftsmen Training, in Assam, India. The online application-cum-registration process towards the same started on September 21, 2020 and closes on October 10, 2020. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Stenographer (English), Tech. Assistant (Headquarter), Pharmacist (ITI), Statistical Assistant (Employment Wing), Instructor-Stenography (English), Junior Assistant (HQ/ ITI), Junior Instructor, Store Keeper (ITI), Hostel Superintendent-cum-Physical-Training Instructor, Librarian (ITI), Store Keeper (ITI), Dresser (ITI) and Grade-IV Organisation Assam State Level Police Recruitment Board (SLPRB) Educational Qualification Class 8th, Class 10/SSC/SSLC/Matriculation or equivalent; Class 12/Intermediate or equivalent, Graduate/Bachelors Degree; Diploma in relevant discipline Experience Freshers can apply Job Responsibilities null Skills Required Desirable Job Location Assam Salary Scale In the range of Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 60,500 per month as per the post Industry Police Application Start Date September 21, 2020 Application End Date October 10, 2020 SLPRB Assam Recruitment 2020: Age And Fees Desirous candidates applying for various posts through SLPRB Assam Recruitment 2020 must have completed 18 years of age and not be more than 40 years as on January 1, 2020 with relaxation (upper age limit) up to 3 years (OBC/MOBC) and 5 years (SC, ST-H &ST-P) respectively as specified in the SLPRB Assam notification. Candidates, all categories, are exempted from paying the application fee for various posts through SLPRB Assam Recruitment 2020 as mentioned in the SLPRB Assam notification given at the end of article. Assam Police Recruitment 2020 For 36 Assistant, Chemist And Driver Posts, Apply Online Before Sep 30 SLPRB Assam Recruitment 2020 Vacancy Details SLPRB Assam Recruitment 2020: Education And Eligibility Desirous candidates applying for various posts through SLPRB Assam Recruitment 2020 must have passed Class 8th, Class 10/SSC/SSLC/Matriculation or equivalent; Class 12/Intermediate or equivalent, Graduate/Bachelor's Degree; Diploma in relevant discipline from a recognised University/Institution with necessary skills as detailed in the SLPRB Assam notification. SLPRB Assam Recruitment 2020: Selection And Pay The selection of candidates for various posts through SLPRB Assam Recruitment 2020 will be done through a Written Test in two phases - First Phase Test and Second Phase Test as detailed in the SLPRB Assam notification. Candidates selected for various posts through SLPRB Assam Recruitment 2020 will be paid emolument in the range of Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 60,500 per month as per the post. BCECEB Recruitment 2020 For 40 Amin Posts, Apply Online From September 30 Onwards SLPRB Assam Recruitment 2020: How To Apply Candidates applying for various posts through SLPRB Assam Recruitment 2020 must register online on the official SLPRB website and submit their applications on or before October 10, 2020. Download SLPRB Assam Recruitment 2020 PDF Notification for various posts Al-Ahram Weekly reports on efforts to establish Egypt as a regional energy hub, and cooperation to that end between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus The EastMed Gas Forum (EMGF), the founding charter of which was signed by forum members on 22 September, has succeeded in making history and will contribute to establishing peace, Egypt's Minister of Petroleum Tarek Al-Molla said on Tuesday. In an online ceremony Minister of Petroleum Tarek Al-Molla and representatives from the other member states - Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority digitally signed the charter. Turning the forum into an international governmental organisation will bolster cooperation and dialogue over natural gas Al-Molla said in a statement issued after the ceremony. The development of the EMGF as an organisationis positive for all member states aspiring to make optimum use of their natural resources, said Rakha Hassan, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs. In the last decade major gas deposits have been found in the east Mediterranean. The United States Geological Survey estimates that the Nile Delta has an extraction potential of more than 220 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and the Levant Basin over 120 trillion cubic feet. The goal of the forum is to establish a shared vision and systematic and regulated dialogue over natural gas policies to maximise the regions resources, said the joint statement issued after Tuesdays ceremony. The new organisation also aims to lower infrastructure costs and secure a competitive price for gas from the region. The organisation aims to create a regional gas market that serves the interests of its members by ensuring supply and demand, optimising resource development, rationalising the cost of infrastructure, offering competitive prices and improving trade relations,said a statement issued by Egypts Ministry of Petroleum in January when forum members first approved the transformation of the grouping into a regional organisation to be based in Cairo. Any state in the Eastern Mediterranean can apply for membership of the EMGF. Other states and regional and international organizations can join as observers. France and the US both expressed a wish to join earlier this year, the first as a member and the second as an observer. Egypt, Greece and Cyprus first posited a forum to include states that produce and import gas, and transit countries in the East Mediterranean area, in October 2018. The EMGF was officially founded in January 2019, when the seven founding members agreed to form a committee to elevate the forum to the level of an international organisation. Guaranteeing the optimum use of gas in the region had long been an Egyptian goal, to which end Cairo was keen to boost its relations with Greece and with Cyprus, exchanging numerous high-level visits. Last weeks visit to Greece by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri served to further strengthen bilateral relations, as well as boost to trilateral cooperation with Cyprus. During his trip Shoukri met with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. In a press conference following his meeting with Dendias, Shoukri said his visit reflected the importance Egypt accords to its ties with Athens. Shoukri also underlined the Egyptian governments keenness to boost Greek investment in Egypt, including in the tourism sector, according to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez. Shoukris visit took place against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Turkey and Greece and Cyprus over maritime claims, and a month after the signing of a maritime border demarcation agreement which Shoukri described as reflecting the strong ties between Cairo and Athens. The demarcation agreement between Egypt and Greece established an exclusive joint economic zone and was described at the time as a turning point in the bilateral relations between the two countries. It was widely welcomed in the region as evidence of Cairo and Athenss determination to promote stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. The border demarcation agreement also impeded Turkish attempts to interfere in the region, says Hassan. The growth in cooperation between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus dates back to the meeting between the three countries foreign ministers on the margins of the 2013 and 2014 UN General Assemblies. Seven summit meetings have since taken place, the first in Cairo in 2014. It was in the sixth summit in Crete in 2018 that the three countries decided to found the EMGF. *A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: A downtown Portland demonstration demanding police stop killing Black people came to an abrupt end Wednesday after a handful of protesters targeted officers and a precinct with fire and rocks. Police quickly extinguished the flames as they burned the edge of an awning. But soon after, someone threw a Molotov cocktail toward officers one of three thrown during the night. Police ordered the hundreds of people gathered in honor of Breonna Taylor to leave, then used force to move them including OC gas, which is similar to pepper spray. Federal officers helped. Police deemed the protest a riot, and 13 people were arrested. Here are some key takeaways from the demonstration: TAYLOR KILLING: Protesters amassed after Kentuckys top attorney announced Louisville officers would not face charges in Taylors death. Police fatally shot the 26-year-old Black emergency room technician in March after entering her home while conducting a raid in a narcotics investigation. The officers had a no-knock warrant, but the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering, said state Attorney General Daniel Cameron. The warrant was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside. Demonstrations took place throughout the U.S. and in several Oregon cities. In Portland, hundreds of people filled Southwest Third Avenue in front of the downtown Multnomah County Justice Center. A drum line played along to chants of Whose life mattered? Breonna Taylor! Several Black women addressed the crowd from the steps of the Justice Center and encouraged people to vote and continue pressing for change. UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY: As speeches continued past 9 p.m., a smaller crowd started forming in front of the Second Avenue side of the Justice Center the location of Portland polices Central Precinct. Police said people in the group outside the precinct threw rocks at the building, shattering glass, and used slingshots to launch items through broken windows. Police also claimed some tried to enter the precinct. Police declared that gathering an unlawful assembly, later citing ongoing criminal behavior and vandalism to the precinct. Most demonstrators remained focused on the speeches on the opposite side of the building. OFFICERS ADVANCE: Police warned people to leave Second, and dozens of officers then advanced on the crowd using smoke and other devices. At least one protester responded by throwing a firework toward officers. Police said glass bottles were also thrown at officers. Demonstrators returned to the larger crowd on Third, and police retreated. RIOT DECLARATION: After officers left, many people streamed back to Second. Officers repeated warnings and eventually labeled the gathering a riot, citing concerns that flames from a precinct awning lit on fire could spread. Rocks that smashed windows were thrown. Police also said green lasers were shined at officers and full soup cans were thrown in their direction. It was the first time police have declared a riot since Sept. 5. ESCALATION: Officers in riot gear were deployed, and someone threw a Molotov cocktail that hit an officer in the foot. A medic extinguished the flames. Two other Molotov cocktails were later thrown toward officers, according to police, who ordered all people to leave a large section of downtown. FEDERAL RESPONSE: Police eventually moved in on protesters at Third and Main Street, forcing part of crowd several blocks away to the South Park Blocks. Department of Homeland Security officers emerged around the same time near the federal courthouse, which is near the Justice Center. It was the first time in weeks that federal officers policed downtown streets. Federal officers formed a defensive line to block people on Third and Main. Officers at times set off smoke devices toward the crowd gathered nearby. Federal officers and Portland police soon pressed the crowd west, at times with physical force, impact munitions or pepper spray. The two forces appeared to stay separate even as they advanced on the crowd. Officers eventually started to retreat, and many demonstrators followed them. Federal police responded by shooting impact munitions and setting off an irritant that caused people to struggle to breathe and cough. ARRESTS: Thirteen people were arrested during the demonstration, including two men accused of arson and other charges. One of them is accused of attempted murder. Others arrested are accused of charges including interfering with a police officer, disorderly conduct and rioting. I am glad we were able to make arrests and hold people accountable for the reprehensible acts of violence, Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said in a statement. RENEWED PROTESTS: Portland protests against racial injustice have been held nearly every night since late May. They were touched off by the killing of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck and ignored his pleas for air. Protests in Portland paused during a recent stretch when wildfire smoke filled the city. Mark Graves and Jim Ryan The Associated Press contributed to this report Jeff Daniels as former FBI Director James Comey in Showtime's "The Comey Rule." (Ben Mark Holzberg / CBS Television Studios / Showtime) Showtimes two-part drama The Comey Rule follows former FBI director James Comey (Jeff Daniels) through the chaos and disruption of the 2016 election and the early days of Donald Trumps presidency. I know, an inside-the-Beltway miniseries is just what you want to see while you're hunkered down at home waiting out the pandemic with 40 days (and counting) until the election. There is good reason, however, to revisit the Steele dossier, Hillary Clinton, Pizzagate, Russian kompromat, pee tape era. By deconstructing the past, the miniseries shows what could and may go wrong heading to the polls on Nov. 3. But the star of this drama, which premieres Sunday, isn't Daniels, or Comey. It's the staggering chain of events. The bombshells arrive so fast and furious that one cant help but feel sympathy for Comey, even though he was deemed The Most Hated Man in America after potentially swaying the election in Trumps favor. Breaking with FBI election-year protocol, Comey publicly announced that the bureau was reopening an investigation into Clinton's endlessly discussed emails just days before voters went to the polls in 2016. He did not mention the bureaus examination of Russias dangerous ties to Trump and his campaign. Despite all of the authentic, real-life political fireworks they had to work with in this production, which is based on Comeys bestseller A Higher Loyalty, "The Comey Rule" still comes off flat and even boring in places. Its as if the cast and narrative could not compete with the larger-than-life absurdity of the actual people and events theyre depicting. Take the role of Comey himself. The real man is an enigma hes stiff, steeped in FBI protocol, yet personable, even charming, in an awkward sort of way. Daniels doesnt capture that nuance, though he does convincingly portray how conflicted Comey felt between protecting the American people, protecting the bureau and serving the president. Story continues Brendan Gleeson as President Donald Trump in "The Comey Rule." (Ben Mark Holzberg / CBS Television Studios / Showtime) Trump (played by Brendan Gleeson) is another tricky figure. The president is shamelessly full of bluster, not to mention unabashedly ill-informed and then, of course, theres the hair. Gleeson is a fine actor, but its almost impossible to portray Trump on screen without it looking like part of a "Saturday Night Live" skit: Mine was the biggest inauguration, ever! Gleeson does an admirable job, but its hard to upstage POTUS in the spectacle department. These caricatures might distract from the story, but The Comey Rule, written and directed by Billy Ray, is still worth watching. It does an impressive job of teasing out the tangle of influences that changed the face of American politics four years ago this autumn. It also shows the total unpreparedness of Washington, with all its traditions and protocols, for dealing with the rule-breaking, norm-upending Trump. Part 1 of the miniseries looks at two FBI investigations central to the narrative of the 2016 election: Russias state-sponsored cyber attacks to disrupt and influence the American election in Trumps favor, and in turn Trumps ties to Russia; and the scandal around Hilary Clintons use of her personal email server when she was secretary of State under President Obama. Part 2, which airs Monday, explores Comeys relationship with the president, which becomes way too close for comfort, as well as the mafia-like culture of the Trump administration. The story comes to a close when Comey is unceremoniously dismissed by Trump in May 2017. In addition to the two key figures, the miniseries features a who's who of figures making headlines during that fraught period, including Comeys second in command, Andrew McCabe (Michael Kelly), Comeys boss, Deputy Atty. Gen. Sally Yates (Holly Hunter), the slippery Michael Flynn (William Sadler), former Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions (Joe Lo Truglio), Comey's FBI predecessor and later special counsel Robert Mueller (Peter Coyote); and Trump advisor Stephen Miller (Nicolas Van Burek). The Comey Rule is a cautionary tale about what happens when we put all of our faith in the System, and it fails or perhaps it's about what happens when we lose all faith in the system after it fails us. Theres a lesson in here somewhere, if only we were far enough along to see the answers. A total of 357 members of Afghanistans Sikh minority have arrived in India this year to escape persecution and targeted attacks by terrorists and their sponsors, the ministry of external affairs said on Thursday. Requests from Afghan Sikhs to be granted permission to settle in India had increased since a terror attack on a Sikh place of worship in the Afghan capital earlier this year, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told a virtual weekly news briefing. Nearly 30 people, most of them Sikhs, were killed in the attack in Kabul in March. The attack was blamed on the Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which have close ties with the Pakistani military establishment. We have been receiving requests from Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan to grant them permission to settle down in India, Srivastava said. These requests have specifically gone up after the attack in the gurdwara in Kabul in March, he said, without giving details regarding the number of requests received by New Delhi. We see a targeted persecution of the minority community members by terrorists and their sponsors, and this is a matter of serious concern, Srivastava said. To ensure their safety and well-being, the Indian mission in Kabul has been actively in contact with them and they are facilitated [for] their smooth arrival from Afghanistan despite the Covid-19 related restrictions, he added. So far, 357 members of the minority community have arrived from Afghanistan to India since the lockdown and the Indian Sikh community is assisting in making their stay comfortable in India, he said. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Harley-Davidson, Inc. (HOG) revealed Thursday additional restructuring actions related to the set of actions it had previously disclosed that it refers to as 'The Rewire.' Under The Rewire, the company is now planning to optimize its global dealer network, exiting certain international markets, and discontinuing its sales and manufacturing operations in India. The India action will include an associated workforce reduction of approximately 70 employees. For the previously disclosed actions, the Company expects to incur restructuring expenses of approximately $75 million in 2020, of which approximately 80% are expected to be cash expenditures, including one-time termination benefits of approximately $3 million, non-current asset adjustments of approximately $5 million, and contract termination and other costs of approximately $67 million. The full implementation of these Rewire actions may require the Company to commit additional funds for additional contract termination and other costs. Including previously disclosed restructuring charges, the Company expects total restructuring expenses associated with Rewire restructuring actions of approximately $169 million in 2020. The Company expects to complete the restructuring activities approved through September 23, 2020 within the next 12 months. 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. Pelosi said she has confidence in American voters to cast their votes and choose the president. Hardly any Republican lawmakers came to the President's defence. Loading Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Fox & Friends on Thursday: "If Republicans lose we will accept the result. If the Supreme Court rules in favour of Joe Biden, I will accept that result." Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, a member of the House Republican leadership, tweeted: "The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. America's leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath." Longtime Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, said: "Well, we've always had a peaceful transfer of power. That's one of the hallmarks. And I think this year will be no exception." It is highly unusual that a sitting president would express less than complete confidence in the American democracy's electoral process. But Trump also declined four years ago to commit to honouring the election results if his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, won. Biden, his current Democratic challenger, was asked about Trump's comment after landing in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday night. "What country are we in?" Biden asked incredulously, adding: "I'm being facetious. Look, he says the most irrational things. I don't know what to say about it. But it doesn't surprise me." Trump has been pressing a months-long campaign against mail-in voting this November by tweeting and speaking out critically about the practice. More states are encouraging mail-in voting to keep voters safe during the coronavirus pandemic. The President, who uses mail-in voting himself, has tried to distinguish between states that automatically send mail ballots to all registered voters and those, like Florida, that send them only to voters who request a mail ballot. Trump has baselessly claimed widespread mail voting will lead to massive fraud. The five states that routinely send mail ballots to all voters have seen no significant fraud. "Regardless of how divided our country is right now, when elections are over and winners are declared, we must all commit ourselves to the Constitution and accept the results," tweeted Representative Steve Stivers, a former chair of the House Republican campaign arm. Senator Mitt Romney, one of the lone Republican voices to cross Trump, referred to an electoral crisis in Europe, tweeting: "Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable." But Graham's repeated suggestion on Fox that the Supreme Court could when acting upon seemingly inevitable legal challenges to the election end up all but declaring the winner came with an unspoken subtext: that the Senate is moving to confirm a Trump-appointed woman to fill the vacancy left by Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death before the election, potentially stacking the deck for Republicans. Trump on Wednesday had appeared to suggest that if states got "rid of" the unsolicited mailing of ballots there would be no concern about fraud or peaceful transfers of power. Loading "You'll have a very peaceful there won't be a transfer frankly," Trump said. "There'll 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." In a July interview, Trump similarly refused to commit to accepting the results. THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed they are dealing with a Covid-19 outbreak at a major direct provision centre in Cork. It came after the HSE expressed "disappointment" that only one in three residents at the complex had taken up the offer of a virus screening test during two previous testing rounds in September. Four confirmed cases of the virus have now been detected at the Kinsale Roundabout accommodation centre - but a major testing regime is now underway to determine the extent of the outbreak. Numbers vary but the Kinsale Road complex normally provides accommodation for more than 150 asylum seekers from across Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Read More It follows outbreaks of the virus at four Cork secondary schools, one nursing home and a major clothing retailer. In a letter, seen by the Irish Independent, the HSE said the residents confirmed as having Covid-19 have been taken off the Kinsale Road site to recover. "However, the majority of residents have not yet come for testing so we do not know if there are further cases or any ongoing transmission within the centre," it said. "A small number of residents were considered to be close contacts of the confirmed cases. They have been contacted and advised and transferred off-site for self-isolation. "We are very grateful for their co-operation also. "Two rounds of testing have taken place in September and we were very disappointed that only a third of residents took up the offer of a test on these occasions. "We need to know the full situation about the virus in the centre. Testing is vital to protect you and your family and friends and all the residents and staff." The HSE has now urged everyone resident at the complex to attend for a Covid-19 screening test on Saturday if requested to do so. Residents have also been asked to comply with all guidelines to protect themselves including adhering to social distancing protocols, wearing a face mask, regular hand-washing and comply with all advice from the centre management. Cork City of Sanctuary had warned last April that measures needed to be taken to protect residents at such centres from the virus. Campaigner Roos Demol stressed the residents needed to be protected. "There are families there - babies, young children, school-going children, people working and vulnerable people," she said. She also queried why first day testing was not mandatory to protect residents and staff. "It is time to get your act together. "We don't really know yet what the extent (of the outbreak) is." Two Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers have been shot in downtown Louisville amid growing unrest surrounding the handling of officer-involved shooting case of Breonna Taylor earlier this year, the department has confirmed. The officers were shot shortly before 8:30 p.m. Wednesday just ahead of a 9 p.m. curfew. LMPD interim police Chief Robert Schroeder said during a press briefing that both officers were in a stable condition with non-life threatening injuries. One was still undergoing surgery while the other was now alert in the care of Louisville University Hospital. Their identities have not been released. One person has been taken into custody in connection with the shootings, Schroeder added. The shooting came shortly after a Kentucky grand jury brought no murder charges against any of the Louisville police officers involved in Taylors death during a warranted drug trafficking investigation gone wrong on March 13. One police officer, Brett Hankison, was indicted for wanton endangerment after he blindly fired 10 shots into Taylors apartment when his colleague was shot in the leg by Taylors boyfriend. The late night search was not a no-knock one, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican, confirmedrepudiating months of false reporting that police officers did not announce their presence. Potential violations of federal law in connection with the raid are still being investigated by the FBI. It remains unclear if the shootings are related to the protests that followed the courts decision. The FBI Louisville SWAT team said it responded to the shooting incident and will continue to assist in the investigation. No further information about the shooting has been made available. The Epoch Times has contacted the department for comment. President Donald Trump said on Twitter that he was praying for the two officers and that the federal government stood ready to help Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear if called on for support. Praying for the two police officers that were shot tonight in Louisville, Kentucky. The Federal Government stands behind you and is ready to help. Spoke to @GovAndyBeshear and we are prepared to work together, immediately upon request! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2020 Beshear also said he was thinking of the two officers and their families tonight during a press conference. He urged those who remained out on the streets to please go home tonight. Lets make sure we dont see any more violence tonight, and lets make sure we find ways of expressing ourselves moving forward where your point and other peoples points are made, and that hopefully we can not just listen, but we can hear. Black Lives Matter protesters and agitators had started marching from Jefferson Square Park to Broadway in Louisville on Tuesday evening after Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer declared a state of emergency, signing two executive orders which allows him to exercise any of his emergency powers. The order was issued earlier this week. On Wednesday, streamed footage of the growing protests showed protesters calling for violence, with some saying they should burn the city down. The National Guard was activated, according to reporters in the city around midday. Some protesters were arrested. In March, Taylor was fatally shot six times in her home by officers who had announced themselves before executing a search warrant. But when no one answered or opened the door, officers breached the door. Kenneth Walker, the boyfriend, later told police he heard knocking but didnt know who was coming into the home and opened fire in self-defense. Officers then returned fire, killing Taylor. Taylors family settled with the city for $12 million last week. Zachary Stieber, Jack Phillips, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times 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 Members of the newly created Oti Regional House of Chiefs have expressed their profound gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for the creation of the Region. The Oti Region was created out of the Volta Region after an emphatic yes in a referendum last year, and the process was completed with an historic inauguration of the Oti Regional House of Chiefs by Vice President Bawumia on Tuesday September 22 in Dambai. At the colourful inauguration, traditional authorities couldn't hide their excitement and gratitude towards President Akufo-Addo, the man who made their dreams a reality. "Thank you for giving us an identity with the creation of the new Region," the traditional authorities said during their address. According to them, the creation of the new region has given them an identity, and they will remain thankful to President Akufo-Addo. Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Bawumia said the creation of six new regions has redemarcated the administrative boundaries of the country and will help speed up development. He added that the government of President Akufo-Addo is 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." "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 Governments fight against the ills of our society corruption, social and economic injustice, crime, 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 also updated the chiefs on the extent of development projects the Akufo-Addo government has undertaken in the Region so far. "There are 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, etc.," Dr. Bawumia said. "Together with flagship policies like the free SHS, planting for food and jobs, one district one factory, one district one warehouse, one constituency one ambulance, NABCO, Zongo Development Fund, as well as the provision of free electricity and water, 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 stated. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Protesters shouting "Honor her wish" heckled US President Donald Trump as he paid his respects on Thursday to Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court, invoking the liberal justice's deathbed plea not to be replaced until after the November election. As Trump, wearing a black face mask, and First Lady Melania Trump stood solemnly behind Ginsburg's flag-draped casket on the steps of the court, protestors bellowed chants from the street below. The president did not appear to acknowledge the protesters who could be heard shouting "Honor her wish!" and "Vote him out!" Later at the White House, Trump told reporters that he and the first lady "could hardly hear it from where we were" -- but his spokeswoman condemned the heckling. "The chants were appalling but certainly to be expected when you are in the heart of the swamp," Kayleigh McEnany told reporters. "I thought it was an appalling and disrespectful thing to do as the president honored justice Ginsburg." Trump is not accustomed to honoring political opponents, and his visit to the Supreme Court to pay his respects to Ginsburg is a rare tribute by the Republican president. He also rarely wears a face mask in public and has frequently mocked his Democratic opponent Joe Biden for doing so. According to National Public Radio, Ginsburg, during her final days, told her granddaughter, Clara Spera, that her "most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed." Despite Ginsburg's plea and Democratic opposition, Trump is pushing ahead with plans to replace the feminist icon on the court ahead of the presidential election. "I think it's going to go very, very quickly," he told Fox News Radio on Thursday. Trump has pledged to nominate a woman to fill Ginsburg's seat and the White House has been vetting candidates for confirmation by the Republican-controlled Senate. Story continues "I have five women. I like them all," Trump said. He plans to announce his nominee for the lifetime post on the nation's highest court at the White House at 5:00 pm (2100 GMT) on Saturday. - 'Important we have nine justices' - Ginsburg's death last week at the age of 87 could allow Trump to cement a conservative majority on the nine-member court for decades to come. Democrats are demanding that the process of replacing Ginsburg wait until after the election, when it will be known whether Trump will serve a second term. But Trump says the post must be filled, in case the election is contested and ends up before the high court -- a possibility that is raising tensions in Washington. "I think this will end up in the Supreme Court. And I think it's important we have nine justices," the president said. Republican senators insist they have the right to vote on the nomination either before the election or during the "lame-duck" session before the inauguration of the next president in January. Two Republican senators have said they do not believe the vote should be held before the election. But on Tuesday, Utah Senator Mitt Romney, who had been seen as a potential Republican holdout, said he will vote on the nominee "based upon their qualifications." Although Democrats have no way of stopping the procedure, they will seek to inflict political pain on the Republicans over what Biden called an "abuse of power." On Friday, Ginsburg, who spent 27 years on the court, will become the first woman to lie in state at the US Capitol. cl/ec Law enforcement officials have met calls for defunding police and protests against police violence with an implicit threat: be careful what you wish for. More officers are quitting in frustration at the lack of respect, police officials often tell the press, and public safety will surely suffer. This summer, reports of cops quitting en masse have popped up across the country: Colorado, North Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, and New York City, a major center of the 2020 demonstrations. No one wants to come to work every day and be demoralized and vilified as they risk their lives to protect people, NYPD detective union head Paul DiGiacomo told CNN in July, as applications for retirement picked up. We are losing people who love this city, love the people of the city, love this agency, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea rued this month. Chief of Department Terence Monahan pointed to the rise in attrition at the same time as protests as a factor contributing to the precipitous rise in shootings and homicides this year, with fewer police available to deter crime in neighborhoods away from demonstrations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The narrative makes intuitive sense: protestors are subjecting police forces to unprecedented scrutiny, and cops dont want to put up with it, so they quit and cities fall to pieces. But the relationship between the defund movement, a surge in police retirements and rising violence is not so straightforward. In fact, many of the police leaving forces may be strongly incentivized to quit right now, and a wave of retirements should have been coming around this time anyway, regardless of the protests. Actuarially speaking, a few hundred more people quitting in a year is a blip, said E.J. McMahon, the founder of the Empire Center, a think tank which analyzes New York state and local governance and has studied police pensions. There has definitely been a surge in NYPD retirements. But it likely was driven by cops who were a year or two out from leaving, McMahon said, so protests may simply have sped up retirements that would have happened soon anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, according to data provided to Newsday by the NYPD, the surge in police leaving the force has been completely driven by retirements that is, officers eligible for pensions rather than resignations, which would account for officers who just cant stick it out until their pensions vest. Resignations actually decreased in the summer of 2020 compared to the same period last year. Advertisement This pattern was expected in many cities besides New York. Police forces in the countrys 62 largest cities went on a hiring spree throughout the 1990s, with headcount increasing at twice the rate of population growth in those localities, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Pensions for cops typically vest after 20 to 25 years, so those Clinton-era hires are reaching the point where they can claim their benefits. Crucially, they dont have a lot to gain from staying on the force for much longer, said McMahon. The way the benefits work, it doesnt pay to work much longer than 20 or 25. You dont get much more benefit from doing it unless you climb the chain of command, and you can still go out and get another full time job while collecting your pension and keeping free health care. Why wouldnt you do that? So it is likely true, as Commissioner Shea said, that the city is losing its veteran officers - but it probably would have over the next few years no matter what. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police forces in the countrys 62 largest cities went on a hiring spree throughout the 1990s. Protests may have driven officers to take their retirement this year in particular not just because they hurt cops feelings or presage more oversight: the demonstrations have sent overtime pay skyrocketing and thus made pensions more valuable this year. New York City saw its overtime payments quadruple in the two weeks after the protests. The NYPD calculates pension payments based on an officers final average salary, a measure of total compensation in the prior 36 months that includes overtime. Thus, a ton of extra work increases the final average salary. But the protests and thus the overtime are not likely to continue at the same pace into next year. Better, then, to put in papers for 2020 before ones final average salary likely falls in 2021. There tend to be waves of retirement after unusual events that lead to huge amounts of overtime, McMahon said. The last time NYPD officers quit in large numbers was in the aftermath of 9/11, for example, when New York police officers were treated as unimpeachable national heroes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wave of retirements after 9/11 suggest that police attrition doesnt necessarily lead to spikes in crime. According to the New York City Independent Budget Office, average uniformed headcount decreased by ten percent from its peak in 2000 to 2007, due to both increased retirements and weaker hiring, and it has stayed at the same level through 2019. In 2002, as the number of cops quitting ramped up, the Police Benevolent Association warned that the citys safety was at risk. Yet in the 20 years before 2020, crime continued to fall to its lowest level in decades even with fewer uniformed officers. The size of police departments have shifted significantly over time in different directions, said UCLA Law professor Joanna Schwartz, who has studied efforts to reform policing. The notion that decreasing police forces will inevitably worsen public safety needs to be looked at skeptically. Advertisement Advertisement Police quitting out of pique may seem, ironically, to be doing the defund movement a favor. But in the current context, the attrition could be a big political risk for activists who want to rethink public safety. For one thing, police cuts are not being done in a thoughtful, planned way, and any savings from shrinking payrolls arent being applied to social service budgets, as many demonstrators have demanded. Local governments are aggressively slashing non-police budget items as tax revenues crater due to COVID-19 and Congress leaves states and cities out to dry. Advertisement Its really dangerous to think of austerity politics that leads to less policing as a win for the defund movement, said Jocelyn Simonson, a professor at the Brooklyn Law School who has written about police reform. After all, in some cities like New York, a rise in shootings and homicides is being blamed on protests against police. If the state not only isnt spending money on police, but also isnt spending money on health care and education or support so people dont abuse drugs or harm each other, were not going to be in a good place. I worry about people pointing to the results when we cut everything, and saying well, that didnt work. Of course that wont work! New Delhi, Sep 24 : Over two dozen farmer organisations have announced support to the 'Bandh call on Friday to protest against the farm Bills passed by Parliament amid massive protests from 18 political parties. The 31 farmer organisations in Punjab and Haryana are already on protest and come Friday the organisations want to convey their concerns to the government. V.M. Singh, convener of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, who is from central UP, said "There will be nationwide unrest if MSP is not guaranteed and the food security of the poor is handed over to multinationals and corporates," he said while appealing to President Ram Nath Kovind not to give assent to these Bills. The same demand has been raised by 18 parties who met the President on Wednesday and requested him to return the Bills for reconsideration of the House. Avik Saha of Jai Kisan Andolan said, "We have been trying to engage democratically with the government. After the ordinances were issued, hundreds and thousands of letters have been sent to the Prime Minister. But even in Parliament, this government has refused listen". Farmers' unions have requested farmers to come out in open to oppose the legislations as Bharatiya Kisan Union said "On September 25 there will be farmers' curfew, blockade and till purchase of produce as per MSP is guaranteed in the law the agitation will go on." Rakesh Tikait of the BKU has appealed its members to come out in large numbers. Farmers unions in Punjab are claiming that it is due to their pressure that Akali leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned as a minister from the Cabinet but the real success will be when the law is repealed. The most vociferous protests are in Haryana and Punjab. The farmers' unions say that the problem with the Bills goes beyond MSP to the whole issue of phasing out the 'mandis' as farmers are far more vulnerable to exploitation outside the 'mandi' system and they are producers, not agri-businesses. Hannan Mollah , of All India Kisan Sabha, an affiliate of the Left parties, said, "How can a small farmer negotiate a fair deal with the big corporates?" The farmers have received support from 18 parties including the Congress which has governments in four states, TMC in West Bengal, Left in Kerala, AAP in Delhi, TRS in Telangana while the BJD has also demanded the Bills be sent to a select committee. The farmers are opposing the Bills passed by the government as the Upper House gave the nod to the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Commuters who travel by yellow-band maxi-taxis between Port of Spain and areas in West Trinidad will have to dig deeper into their pockets from Monday. Chairman of the Yellow Band Route One Association Eon Hewitt told the Express yesterday the fares will go up by $1 across the board, and $2 for the Chaguaramas route. Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast Pro-Trump cable network One America News is selling QAnon emojis on its YouTube channel, cashing in on the conspiracy movement that the FBI considers a potential source of domestic terrorrism. OAN viewers who pay $4.95 a month to become members of the OAN channel on YouTube can use customized QAnon emojis in OANs comment sections, in an apparent attempt to win over QAnon believers. OANs sale of the right to use custom QAnon emojis in its comment stream is yet another illustration of how deep QAnon has become integrated into conservative media and, relatedly, the Republican Party, which now has two Senate candidates and several House nominees endorsing the conspiracy theory. OAN Host Embraced by Trump Collaborated With White Supremacists: Report Its not clear how many people have signed up for the OAN YouTube membership, when OAN started offering the emojis, or how many of those sign-ups were driven by the opportunity to use QAnon emojis. But the creation of the emojis reflects a decision to monetize, not expel, the conspiracy believers. If QAnon fans are going to spam QAnon in the OAN comments, it seems the network has decided they might as well get some money out of it. An upstart cable network that has been embraced by President Trump, OAN didnt respond to a request for comment. Neither did YouTube, which receives a 30 percent cut of all memberships sold in OANs YouTube channel. For that $4.95, OAN fans can buy a membership in OANs channel, which entitles them to mild perks like a star-emoji flair next to their names. But it also gives them access to custom emojisthat one can use to comment on streaming videosthat have been put in place by the channels owner: OAN. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/OAN Most of the custom OAN emojis are innocuous, featuring pictures of Trump and his allies. They also include more specific Trumpworld reference points, including a can of Goya foodwhich Trump turned into an avatar of his support among Hispanicsand an emoji of MyPillow founder and Trump supporter Mike Lindell. Others feature the outlines of various states shaded in a Republican red. Story continues But OAN has also gone big on QAnon. One QAnon emoji, dubbed QAnon1 in files, features a large Q in a patriotic color scheme. Another 2020-themed emoji replaces the zeroes in 2020 with Qs, making it 2Q2Q. Another OAN emojithat is just a yellow box with black letters spelling out GITMOostensibly offers viewers the chance to support the prospect of top Democrats being arrested and sent to Guantanamo Bay. QAnon believers hold that Trump is engaged in a shadowy war with a cabal of cannibal-pedophiles in the Democratic Party, and that hell eventually order a series of mass arrests called The Storm that will result in figures like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama facing military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay. To show their support for this purge, QAnon believers who buy the OAN membership can post the GITMO emoji. Another, similarly themed, emoji shows Clinton behind prison bars. OANs YouTube channel emojis even promote the theorya fringe one even within QAnon circlesthat John F. Kennedy Jr. faked his death and will take Mike Pences spot on the 2020 ticket. OANs chat offers a custom emoji for QAnon believers to show their support for Vincent Fusca, a scruffy Trump supporter who QAnon believers think is JFK Jr. in disguise. The emoji, entitled FUSCA, features the fedora-wearing man smiling. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/OAN This isnt the first time OAN has dabbled in conspiracy theories. The channel was the source for Trumps bogus claim that an elderly Buffalo, New York, protester who was pushed over by police was secretly trying to scan police communications. In June, Pizzagate promoter and OAN personality Jack Posobiec claimed, without offering any evidence, that a cache of pipe bombs had been discovered near the Korean War Memorial. No proof of the supposed pipe bombs ever emerged, and law enforcement agencies in the area said there were no bombs. Still, OAN has not been explicitly pro-QAnon, perhaps in part because QAnon believers have been accused of committing a series of crimes, including two murders, a terrorist incident near the Hoover Dam, and two child kidnapping plots, as an outgrowth of their beliefs. And it was Posobiec himself who produced a segment in 2018 aiming to debunk the conspiracy theory. Thousands of dollars have been made by the professional Q decoders, while others turned the movement into a cheap buck, Posobiec said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. A man who was bitten by a shark while snorkelling was rescued by his pregnant wife, who jumped out of the boat without hesitation after seeing blood filling the water, according to authorities. Andrew Eddy, 30, his wife, Margot Dukes-Eddy, and her family were on a private boat Sunday in Sombrero Key Light, Florida, when the accident occurred. According to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, Eddy, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, was bitten on the shoulder by a shark almost immediately upon entering the water. "Dukes saw the shark's dorsal fin and then blood filling the water. Dukes, without hesitation, dove into the water and pulled Eddy to the safety of the boat," Deputy Christopher Aguanno wrote in his report, according to the Miami Herald. At the time of the incident, most of the group was already in the water, according to the report. Recommended Australian surfer punches shark to save wife in attack After Eddy was pulled from the water, he was taken to Sombrero Beach around 10.30am before being airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, the sheriffs offices statement said. Authorities said Eddys injury was severe, but that his condition as of Sunday afternoon was not immediately clear. The Independent has contacted Dukes-Eddy for comment. Witnesses described the shark that attacked Eddy as being eight to 10ft in length, with witnesses also reporting seeing a bull shark in the area earlier, according to the report. No one else was injured in the attack. Following the rescue, Sheriff Rick Ramsay praised everyone who responded to the incident. 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, he said. While sharks are common in the Florida Keys, the Miami Herald notes that shark attacks are not, with just 17 unprovoked shark bites reported since 1882, according to the latest information from the University of Floridas International Shark Attack File. In 2020, there have been 28 reported shark attacks in the US, with 18 taking place in Florida, according to data from TrackingSharks.com. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 15:38:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People wearing facial masks are seen at Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Sept. 24, 2020. Egypt reported late on Wednesday 121 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number registered in the country since the outbreak to 102,375, said the Health Ministry. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Egypt reported late on Wednesday 121 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number registered in the country since the outbreak to 102,375, said the Health Ministry. In addition, 16 patients died from the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 5,822, while 700 were cured and discharged from hospitals, increasing the total recoveries to 91,843, the ministry's spokesman Khaled Megahed said in a statement. It is worth noting that nearly 90 percent of the total coronavirus cases registered in the most populous Arab country have recovered. Egypt announced its first confirmed COVID-19 case on Feb. 14 and the first death from the viral disease on March 8. Around mid-June, Egypt saw a peak of COVID-19 daily infections and deaths, with a record 97 deaths on June 15 and 1,774 infections on June 19, before they started to decline in the first week of July. Amid declining COVID-19 infections and fatalities, Egypt has been easing relevant restrictions over the past couple of months as part of a coexistence plan to maintain anti-coronavirus precautionary measures while resuming economic activities. 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 CENTREVILLE, Va., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) announced today that the company has been selected by the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) to support implementation of a Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system. The CBTC System, which will be the largest system in North America when complete, will improve passenger carrying capacity, provide a state of good repair and result in a safer, more efficient transit system. "Intermodal connections are essential to increasing mobility around and between communities BART's connections between San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Fremont, Walnut Creek, Dublin/Pleasanton are important for commuters, shoppers and visitors across the Bay Area," said Tom Topolski, executive vice president, connected communities market for Parsons. "As a leader in CBTC in the United States, we will apply our unique systems integration approach to help improve the BART system that has served the Bay Area for more than 45 years." Parsons has been providing engineering services to BART's CBTC program for the past five years, leveraging experience on CBTC projects worldwide to shape the BART program. Under the new contract, Parsons will provide Design Services During Construction (DSDC) for the CBTC implementation, which will replace the existing automatic train control system on 125 miles of track, while minimizing the impact to revenue operations. The project is part of BART's $3.5 billion Transbay Corridor Core Capacity Program which includes traction power system upgrades, new rail vehicles and development of a maintenance complex. To learn more about Parsons' critical infrastructure expertise, visit Parsons.com/markets/critical-infrastructure/. Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the global defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cybersecurity, missile defense, space, connected infrastructure, and smart cities. Please visit parsons.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how we're making an impact. Media Contact: Bernadette Miller +1 980.253.9781 [email protected] Investor Relations Contact: Dave Spille + 1 571.655.8264 [email protected] SOURCE Parsons Corporation Related Links www.parsons.com State Sen. Eric Berthel, whose car bumper sticker indicated support for the controversial QAnon group, received a rebuke Wednesday from a prominent fellow Republican who said Berthel is unfit to hold office. The statement by state Rep. Arthur ONeill, R-Southbury, is believed to be the first public criticism of Berthel, a Watertown Republican, over the bumper sticker and Berthels defense of it. ONeill, a lawyer who has been in the House since 1989, making him the senior GOP member of the chamber, said the senators affiliation with QAnon, first reported last week, is unacceptable. Berthels support of QAnon proves, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Eric Berthel lacks the character, common sense, and common decency to hold the office of state senator, said ONeill, a longtime member of the legislative Judiciary Committee who was co-chairman of the 2004 House panel that led to the historic resignation of Gov. John G. Rowland. It is with much sadness and deep disappointment that I find myself compelled to announce that Eric Berthel is unfit to hold the office of State Senator, ONeill, who is retiring from office, said in a written statement. His display of a QAnon decal, on his personal vehicle, alongside his state Senate marker plate, the U.S. flag, and the Republican elephant emblem, made much worse by his absurd excuse for displaying the sticker, demonstrate his support of QAnon, ONeill wrote. That he now claims his support is somewhat limited is an insult to the intelligence of the voters. Berthel declined a request for comment on Wednesday, but Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, issued a statement defending Berthel, who served one term in the House before his election to the Senate in 2017. I have respect for Representative O'Neill, who spent many years in the building and, like me, is retiring this year, Fasano said. However, the statements in his press release attempting to smear Sen. Berthel are misplaced. As the saying goes, politics makes strange bedfellows, and sometimes feelings can get in way of good judgment. ONeill stressed that the FBI has described QAnon as a potential domestic terrorist threat, with Deep State theories that include that Democrats and government officials are engaged in trafficking children for sex. ONeill said he agreed to be a mentor to Berthel after Berthel was elected to the House. I tried my best to guide him in his first term in the House, ONeill said in the release. Looking back, I now see there were indicators that there was something off about him, a comment here, a remark there, that suggested a tendency toward conspiracist thinking such as when he urged me to stay away from the Bnai Israel Synagogue in Southbury because people might think you support their beliefs. Last week Berthel, ranking Republican member of the legislative Education Committee, said he did not back QAnons conspiracy beliefs, but does support the groups desire for government accountability. Fasano called Berthel an upstanding lawmaker who has always fought for equality, fairness and opportunity for everyone and who has voted in favor of some of the nations strongest laws against hate crimes. He is someone who values fairness, justice, and equality in everything he does, Fasano said. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT Southern Baptist leaders are urging Christians to vote responsibly in the upcoming national elections. Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear referenced apostle Paul to underscore the importance of voting. Greear is the pastor of multi-site The Summit Church headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. "In Paul's day, ultimate authority resided in the emperor, so Paul could only pray for government leaders to act justly (1 Timothy 2:1-4) and encourage those leaders, whenever he had the opportunity, to think biblically about their roles," Greear told Baptist Press, mentioning Acts 25:10-11 and Romans 13:1-4. "In the United States, however, 'we the people' sit in the ruler's chair, and bear ultimate responsibility for how authority is used. "... In our system of government, if we fail to be informed, and to vote, we are every bit as negligent as would have been a governor in Paul's day who spent all his time in leisure and never attended to the matters of state," said Greear. National Voter Registration Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Tuesday of September and about 20,000 volunteers in all 50 states participate in a "day of civic unity" and "an opportunity to set aside differences and celebrate our democracy." The volunteers focus on registering voters, helping them receive election reminders and learn about early and mail-in voting. In 2018, the most recent nationwide elections, just 49% of registered adults cast a vote, according to the U.S. Census. In 2019, National Voter Registration Day volunteers registered more than 473,700 citizens who may not have registered without their assistance. According to their website, the effort has amassed more than 3 million voter registrations since its founding in 2012. Other members of the SBC Executive Committee extolled the necessity of voter participation from Christians. These included SBC Executive Committee Chairman Rolland Slade, SBC Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd, and Marshal Ausberry, SBC first vice president and president of the National African American Fellowship of the SBC (NAAF). Slade, pastor of Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon, Calif., told Baptist Press that Christians should consult biblical values before they make their voice heard. "Rushing into the ballot booth at the last minute is not being a responsible voter. We need to take time to read and study the issues, statements and compare them to what the Word of God says," he said. "We know in doing so, that there will be areas that will fall far from alignment and [other areas] that will be closer. Voting is a precious privilege that we must take seriously." Ronnie Floyd, Senior Pastor of Cross Church, a multi-campus church in Northwest Arkansas explained that the involvement of Christians in the electoral process is essential. "Since the founding of our republic, Christians have been active in American government, shaping our Constitution and federal institutions and opposing moral wrong," Floyd said. "Our worldview shapes everything we do, including how we approach our citizenship. It is important that we take seriously our right to vote and stay informed about the issues that our country faces today." The election season has been marred by social unrest, ignited by the murder of George Floyd and worsened by a global COVID-19 pandemic that has killed about 200,000 Americans. Marshal Ausberry, who leads a fellowship of 4,000 African American congregations, enjoined Christians to "not get discouraged with all the vitriol," but to "stay focused and vote." "Voting is a way to influence the direction of the nation," Ausberry said. "Even if your candidate does not win, your vote makes a statement that lets the winner know that there are a significant number who think differently and their views must be considered." Ausberry also reminded churchgoers and Americans that "it is a wonderful opportunity to live in a nation where your vote is not a rubber stamp." Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD), might not be a large cap stock, but it led the NYSE gainers with a relatively large price hike in the past couple of weeks. With many analysts covering the mid-cap stock, we may expect any price-sensitive announcements have already been factored into the stocks share price. But what if there is still an opportunity to buy? Lets examine Lithia Motorss valuation and outlook in more detail to determine if theres still a bargain opportunity. Check out our latest analysis for Lithia Motors Is Lithia Motors still cheap? According to my price multiple model, which makes a comparison between the company's price-to-earnings ratio and the industry average, the stock price seems to be justfied. Ive used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because theres not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stocks ratio of 18.84x is currently trading slightly above its industry peers ratio of 18.73x, which means if you buy Lithia Motors today, youd be paying a relatively reasonable price for it. And if you believe Lithia Motors should be trading in this range, then there isnt really any room for the share price grow beyond the levels of other industry peers over the long-term. So, is there another chance to buy low in the future? Given that Lithia Motorss share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us an opportunity to buy later on. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility. Can we expect growth from Lithia Motors? Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. With profit expected to grow by 64% over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Lithia Motors. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has already priced in LADs positive outlook, with shares trading around industry price multiples. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the track record of its management team. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at LAD? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below the industry PE ratio? Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on LAD, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around industry price multiples. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for LAD, which means its worth further examining other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. So if you'd like to dive deeper into this stock, it's crucial to consider any risks it's facing. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Lithia Motors you should know about. If you are no longer interested in Lithia Motors, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. FreeBridge Wine & Spirits on Thursday is set to host Robert Kool Bell, co-founder of the seminal jazz-funk-R&B band Kool & the Gang. Bell from 4 to 7 p.m. will be promoting his new sparkling wine brand, Le Kool, said Tricia Kobble, owner of the liquor store in Phillipsburgs Union Square. Hell be signing bottles available for purchase within a closed-off section of the store, and a DJ will be spinning Kool & the Gang hits like Celebration, Get Down On It, Jungle Boogie and Cherish. Patrons will need to follow coronavirus mitigation efforts, said Kobble: Well be very safe with all that. Bell on Sept. 9 lost his brother and co-founder of the group, Ronald Khalis Bell. He was 68. The Bells grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey, and started Kool & the Gang with neighborhood friends, The New York Times reported upon the death of Ronald Khalis Bell. Robert Bell, who played bass, drew the nickname Kool in elementary school, according to the report. 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. Police were knocking on a Pa. familys door with an arrest warrant Wednesday after tests showed fentanyl in their dead toddler sons system. The couple, Tracy Humphreys and Thomas Snelsire of Baldwin, Allegheny County, is facing a lengthy list of charges, including criminal homicide, after the Allegheny County Medical Examiners Office determined their 1-year-old son died of a drug overdose, ruling the case a homicide, as KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh reports. Here is video of police knocking on the familys door, attempting to arrest the couple on the charges Wednesday: #BREAKING: Allegheny County Police are banging on the door of a home on Oakleaf Road in Baldwin, hoping to find a couple now facing criminal homicide charges for the death of a 1 year old boy. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/jFl3Q2CxCN MEGHAN SCHILLER (@MeghanKDKA) September 23, 2020 UPDATE: The couple, both age 45, turned themselves in to police Thursday morning, according to media reports. Details from KDKA: Police allege the 1-year-old boy ingested the fentanyl inside his parents' home. Baldwin Police officers and EMS workers were called to the home on the afternoon of Sept. 13, where a criminal complaint reports that they found the toddler lying on the front porch on top of a blanket. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say he had been deceased for a long period of time. An older boy, age 11, who also lived with the couple was found by doctors at UPMC Childrens Hospital to have cocaine metabolite in his system, investigators add. During a search of the home, police say they found what appears to be a heroin kit on the floor; six bricks of heroin and numerous empty stamp bags; crack cocaine; marijuana; pills; open containers of alcohol and other drug paraphernalia. Humphreys and Snelsire both face charges of criminal homicide, endangering the welfare of children, and several counts each of drug possession and possession with intent to deliver. In wake of the incident, neighbor Vince Peluso told this to KDKA: It breaks my heart, definitely. It just makes me think what the hell has this world come to? BREAKING NOW: Pa. cop went on $5,500 tire-slashing tirade after being denied booze at restaurant: state police Man in Burger King uniform found shot dead on Pa. sidewalk Naked patient accused of attacking, attempting to rape nurse at Pa. hospital Republican lawmakers vowed that the presidential transition after Novembers election will occur without disruption, in a rebuke to President Donald Trumps refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted Thursday morning. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792. Trump said Wednesday that were going to have to see what happens, in response to a reporters question at a White House news conference about a peaceful transfer of power. You know that Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster. The president has raised questions about the security and legitimacy of mass mailed-in ballots, without offering evidence. FBI Director Christopher Wray told a Senate Homeland panel hearing Thursday that the FBI has seen no evidence of an organized voter fraud effort that could change the results of a presidential election. Certainly to change a federal election outcome by mounting that kind of fraud at scale would be a major challenge for an adversary, Wray said. Democrats including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed alarm at Trumps comments, with Schumer calling the president the gravest threat to American democracy. Its very sad that you even have to ask that question, Pelosi said at a news conference Thursday on whether there would be a peaceful transfer of power. It would not be a good thing in our country for our election to be ignored by the president. Schumer accused Trump of saying that if he wins, the election is legitimate and if he loses its rigged, and he might just stay in office and not count the ballots. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable, Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, the Republican Partys 2012 presidential nominee, said in a Twitter post on Wednesday. Senator Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican, didnt directly criticize Trump for his remarks but told reporters hes confident there would be a peaceful transfer. Weve always had a peaceful transfer of power, Shelby said. Thats one of our hallmarks. And I think this year will be no exception. Senator Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican, said the real issue is whether supporters of Democratic nominee Joe Biden will accept the outcome when Trump wins a second term. I think his message was crystal clear, he expects to win so he doesnt have to worry about that, Rounds said, who dismissed the idea that Republicans need to send the president a message calling in him to respect the electoral process. Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming tweeted Thursday: The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. Americas leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath. Advertisement Scientists have pinpointed a freak 'climate anomaly' which they say was to blame for 'substantially' increasing casualties during the First World War and in its aftermath. In total, some 8.5million troops died fighting between 1914 and 1918, with some of the heaviest losses coming on the waterlogged battlefields of Verdun, the Somme and Ypres, as soldiers drowned in mud or died from disease. Now, researchers believe they have pinpointed a once-in-100-year weather system that brought six years of rain and cold weather in Europe, starting in 1914 and ending late in 1919. Periods when the weather system was most active either coincide or immediately precede times when the bloodiest battles took place, they say. And the anomaly also contributed to the Spanish Flu pandemic which followed the conflict, killing an estimated 3million in Europe alone and up to 100million worldwide, the study concludes. A weather map in which researchers calculated the atmospheric conditions in Europe in January 1915, with blue and purple indicating areas of low pressure, cold weather, and rain. These conditions coincided with the First Battle of Champagne, where troops reported flooded trenches, frostbite and thick mud that slowed their movements A weather map in which researchers calculated the atmospheric conditions in Europe in December 1916. These conditions coincided with the battles of the Somme and Verdun, two of the bloodiest of the whole war, which between them caused in excess of 2million casualties The Battle of the Somme - the first day of which caused the biggest single loss of life in British military history - became synonymous with the sucking mud in which troops fought, and often died (pictured) Verdun, as notorious for the French as the Somme is for the British, also featured waterlogged battlefields which researchers said 'swallowed everything, from tanks, to horses and troops' The study, by the Harvard and Climate Change Institute, found the anomaly was caused by an low pressure system that lingered over Iceland for years, changing the circulation of air in the atmosphere. This caused more moisture to be swept across from the Atlantic Ocean and cold air to be pulled down from the Arctic, causing rare periods of intense rain and low temperatures. These periods coincided with battles during which the heaviest casualties were suffered, the study found. As evidence, the scientists point to samples taken from glaciers in the Alps which trap a record of weather systems within the ice. They believe the anomaly began around the end of 1914, as the First Battle of Champagne and the Defence of Festubert were taking place, and lasted until around 1919, after the fighting had ended. During the Battle of Champagne and the Defence of Festubert, troops reported suffering from frostbite, flooded trenches and mud which 'slowed down the movement of troops and artillery'. Combined, the battles caused in excess of 165,000 casualties, which pale in comparison to battles later in the war, but give a taste of what was to come. A weather map in which researchers calculated the atmospheric conditions in Europe in August 1917. These conditions coincided with the start of the Battle of Passchendaele, a notoriously waterlogged battlefield which quickly deteriorated as summer turned to winter Torrential rain during Passchendaele turned battlefields into quagmires, twice stalling the British offensive before forcing commanders to call it off entirely without making any strategic gains, at a loss of more than 800,000 men The heaviest period of rain, which coincided with the strongest Arctic winds, occurred between summer 1915 and late winter 1916, the researchers found, which also coincided with the bloodiest battles of the war. The Battle of the Somme and Battle of Verdun were both fought during this period, causing more than 2million casualties, while the bad weather stretched as far as Gallipoli, in Turkey, where fighting caused500,000 casualties. Australian soldier Edward Lynch, whose memoirs were posthumously published in a book called Somme Mud, recalled the 'almost unbelievable' conditions the troops battled through. 'We live in a world of Somme mud,' he wrote. 'We sleep in it, work in it, fight in it, wade in it and many of us die in it. We see it, feel it, eat it and curse it, but we can't escape it, not even by dying.' Researchers noted that that 'mud and water filled trenches and bomb craters swallowed everything, from tanks, to horses and troops, becoming what eyewitnesses described as the 'liquid grave' of the armies.' A third period of intense rains then coincided with the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele, images of which have become synonymous with the dire fighting conditions suffered during the war. A graph charting the strength of the Icelandic weather anomaly (the green bar) against deaths from all causes in Europe (the red bar) with battles or events where weather played a significant part listed along the top, in black. The graph shows that significant losses of life either coincided with, or came immediately after, periods when the weather system was strongest A graph showing the amount of precipitation in Europe (blue bar) measured against total deaths from all causes in Europe (the red bar), with battles or events where weather played a significant part listed along the top in black. It shows the deadliest battles coincided with periods of most rain Troops battled through quagmires that often brought fighting to a standstill, and ultimately led to the British calling off the offensive with no strategic gains made. Both sides are estimated to have suffered more than 800,000 casualties. Researchers argue these periods of cold weather, rain, and ongoing fighting then 'set the stage' for the most virulent phase of the Spanish Flu pandemic, which took place in 1918. This was likely caused by troops recruited in Asia, where the virus first emerged, bringing the virus to the battlefields where it spread. But another cause may have been that the cold weather disrupted the migration patterns of mallard ducks - a primary carrier of the virus - which stayed in Europe, contaminating water sources which increased the virus's spread, researchers say. Professor Christopher Loveluck, of the University of Nottingham's Department of Classics and Archaeology, said: 'We found the association between increased wetter and colder conditions and increased mortality to be especially strong from mid 1917 to mid 1918 spanning the period from the third battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) to the first wave of Spanish flu'. The deadlier second wave of flu began in the autumn of 1918. The study concludes: 'The pandemic development of H1N1 from 1915-1917 sends a warning of the ongoing risk of war zones, unsanitary conditions, wildlife trade, and humanitarian crises as incubators of disease, assisted by climate triggers. 'The role of climate anomalies such as the one described in this study must be assessed in relation to more-recent pandemics such as Covid-19, which spread in Great Britain during the fifth wettest winter on record.' A weather map in which researchers calculated the atmospheric conditions in Europe in February 1919, after the war had ended, but when the Spanish Flu pandemic was killing millions across the continent. Researchers argue the weather, combined with the conflict, set the stage for the virus to wreak havoc Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:49:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Aoun urged on Thursday Lebanon's state security to take proper measures against illegally human smugglers by sea to other countries, a statement by the Lebanese Presidency reported. "We should fight against networks that organize illegal trips by sea and expose people's lives to danger," Aoun said during a meeting held to discuss security developments in the country. Aoun emphasized the need to deal with this problem from a humanitarian and security perspective while also dealing with the social factors prompting people to use such dangerous ways to escape Lebanon. Lebanon's state security will increase naval patrols to monitor such practices, the statement noted. Several boats carrying Lebanese and Syrian nationals attempted to escape from Lebanon to Cyprus and then to other countries over the past days, given the current deteriorating economic situation in Lebanon. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) rescued on Sept. 14 a boat with 37 people inside outside Lebanese territorial waters, 48 km away from Tripoli, while it found several dead bodies on Lebanon's shores. Enditem India-Central Asia dialogue: Need to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to Afghan, says Jaishankar EAM dials envoys in US & Canada after 4 Indian nationals freeze to death along US-Canada border SAARC must deal with terrorism, obstruction in trade and connectivity: Jaishankar India pti-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Sep 24: The SAARC must overcome three key challenges of cross-border terrorism, blocking of connectivity and obstruction in trade, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday in a clear criticism of Pakistan at a virtual meeting of the regional grouping. In his address at the SAARC foreign ministers informal meeting, Jaishankar also called for a collectively resolve to defeat the scourge of terrorism, including the forces that nurture, support and encourage it. Jaishankar reaffirmed India's commitment to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and towards building a connected, integrated and prosperous South Asia. India can promise to be Africa's most steadfast partner: Jaishankar Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was among the participants of the meeting which was organised in continuation of a tradition of informal exchanges among the foreign ministers of the grouping on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The 75th session of the UN General Assembly is currently underway. The external affairs minister said SAARC has made significant progress over the last 35 years but the efforts towards collective collaboration and prosperity have been hampered by acts of terrorism and threats to national security. "Such an environment impedes our shared objective of realising the full potential of our collective endeavour. It is therefore crucial that we collectively resolve to defeat the scourge of terrorism, including the forces that nurture, support and encourage it," he was quoted as saying by MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in a series of tweets. Pak PM's offer to India was in consonance with SAARC initiative on COVID-19: Pak FO Jaishankar said such an approach will generate the much-needed trust and confidence to collectively build a stronger and prosperous SAARC. Besides India and Pakistan, the grouping comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. "Addressed the #SAARC Foreign Ministers Informal Meeting today. Reaffirmed Indias commitment to Neighbourhood First policy and towards building a connected, integrated, secure and prosperous South Asia," Jaishankar tweeted. "Cross-border terrorism, blocking connectivity and obstructing trade are three key challenges that SAARC must overcome. Only then will we see enduring peace, prosperity and security in our South Asia region," he added. Pakistan had blocked a key connectivity initiative under SAARC framework six years back besides obstructing trade among the member nations. SAARC has not been very effective since 2016 as its bienniall summits have not taken place since the last one in Kathmandu in 2014. The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances". Deepika, Sara fly back to Mumbai for drug probe in Sushant Singh Rajpur death case | Oneindia News The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet. The external affairs minister also participated in the 'special ministerial meeting' of foreign ministers of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The CICA is an inter-governmental forum to boost cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. It has 27 countries as its members. "Underlined India's commitment to a pluralistic cooperative security order in Asia through CICA. This is needed more than ever before," Jaishankar tweeted. In the virtual meeting, Jaishankar also called for greater collective efforts to counter terrorism and its sponsors. "Reaffirmed India's support for Afghan peace process that respects its national sovereignty & territorial integrity and preserves its democratic progress," he added. LUND, Sweden, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hansa Biopharma ("Hansa"), the leader in immunomodulatory enzyme technology for rare IgG mediated diseases, today announces positive high-level data from an investigator-initiated phase 2 trial that evaluated safety, tolerability and efficacy of imlifidase in 15 patients with severe anti-GBM antibody disease. Anti-GBM antibody disease, also known as Goodpasture's disease, is a severe autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly develops IgG-antibodies directed against the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), resulting in an acute immune attack causing severe kidney injury and, in some patients, also injuring the lungs. Anti-GBM is a rare and acute immunological disease with a significant unmet medical need that affects approximately 1.5 in a million people annually, with a majority of patients losing their kidney function and requiring chronic dialysis and kidney transplantation. In severe cases, anti-GBM antibody disease may lead to death. The first high-level data read out has been completed and the encouraging results indicate that imlifidase treatment may lead to increased renal survival in patients with anti-GBM antibody disease due to rapid clearance of IgG antibodies. The phase 2 anti-GBM study enrolled 15 subjects, six females and nine males with a median age of 61 years of age (range 19-79 years) recruited across centers from five European countries, including Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, France and Austria. At inclusion, ten of the patients were dialysis dependent, including five that were oliguric/anuric, while five patients were dialysis independent but had eGFR levels below 15 ml/min. Six hours after imflidase no patient had anti-GBM antibody levels above the normal range. At six months, ten patients were dialysis independent (median eGFR 27 ml/min). Four patients were dialysis dependent, while one patient had died (unrelated to imlifidase treatment). The safety profile of imlifidase in the population was concluded as being favourable. "The positive results from the phase 2 trial suggest the potential for treatment and thereby the opportunity to increase the chances of renal survival in difficult to treat patients with anti-GBM disease", says Sponsor and Coordinating Principle Investigator, Marten Segelmark, Professor of Nephrology at Lund University and Linkoping University. "We are very encouraged by the positive outcome from the phase 2 trial in anti-GBM antibody disease. Anti-GBM is the first IgG-mediated disease outside transplantation, where imlifidase has been shown to stop an immunologic attack. This marks an important milestone in Hansa Biopharma's efforts to develop potentially lifesaving and life altering therapies for patients with rare immunological diseases within a range of therapeutic areas where there is a significant unmet medical need", says Sren Tulstrup, President and CEO, Hansa Biopharma. Hansa Biopharma was granted orphan drug designation for imlifidase as a treatment for anti-GBM antibody disease in both the EU and the US in 2018. Hansa Biopharma is hosting a Capital Markets Day planned for October 29, 2020 in Copenhagen, where more information from the anti-GBM phase 2 trial will be presented. For more information and registration for this event, click here. This is information that Hansa Biopharma AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through th the contact person set out above at 20:15 CET on September 24, 2020. CONTACT: For further information, please contact: Klaus Sindahl, Head of Investor Relations Hansa Biopharma Mobile: +46 (0) 709-298 269 E-mail: [email protected] Katja Margell Head of Corporate Communications Hansa Biopharma Mobile: +46 (0) 768-198 326 E-mail: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/hansa-biopharma-ab/r/hansa-biopharm-announces-positive-high-level-data-from-investigator-initiated-phase-2-trial-with-iml,c3202826 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Hansa Biopharma AB Residents of Anyaa-Sowutuom in the Ga Central Municipality on Wednesday gave the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, a rousing welcome as she toured parts of the Constituency to canvass for votes for the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Mrs Akufo-Addo waved and showed gratitude to the crowd, especially traders at Ablekuma, the Chantan and Anyaa markets as well as people who stood along the streets to catch a glimpse of her. She thanked the people of Constituency, known to be a stronghold of the Party, for keeping faith with the NPP over the years. She said her visit was to interact with them to know their needs and to convey same to the President for the necessary action. At the Chantan Market, she urged the women to vote for President Akufo-Addo "for four more years to do more". She said the President was poised to embarking on more infrastructure projects including roads to improve the lots of the people, especially women and children. The First Lady gave the assurance that a new well-fitted market would soon be built for the traders at Chantan so they could ply their trade in a conducive environment. At the Anyaa market, a durbar of chiefs and people held in her honour turned into a mini rally, as many party faithful went agog cheering the First Lady and her entourage to victory in the December elections. Members in the entourage included Dr Adomako Kissi, the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Anyaa-Sowutuom. Mrs Akufo-Addo reminded the people of the many developmental projects undertaken by the Government, led by President Akufo-Addo, including the one district one factory, one district one ambulance, and the Free Senior High School implementation. She appealed to them to endeavour to go to the polls in December to vote massively for the NPP to renew the Presidents mandate for another term and elect Dr Kissi as the Member of Parliament. She later donated some medical items to the Ga Central Municipal Hospital. 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 An unidentified militant was killed on Thursday in an encounter with security forces in district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. An encounter broke out at Maghama in Tral area of the district after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area, a police officer said. He said one militant was killed while the operation is still in progress. The identity and group affiliation of the slain militant is being ascertained, 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.) BEIJING - The first event for the CEO of Swedish electric car brand Polestar at this months Beijing auto show: A two-week quarantine in a hotel. The auto show, the first major in-person sales event for any industry since the coronavirus pandemic began, opens Saturday in a sign the ruling Communist Party is confident China has contained the disease. Still, automakers face intensive anti-virus controls including quarantines for visitors from abroad and curbs on crowd sizes at an event that usually is packed shoulder-to-shoulder with spectators. The car show will indeed be different from any other car show, said Thomas Ingenlath of Polestar, owned by Chinas Geely Holding, by phone from his hotel room in Tianjin, east of Beijing. The automakers willingness to tackle the shows logistical challenges highlights the importance of China, their biggest market. Chinese sales have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels while U.S. and European demand is weak and the industry struggles to reverse multibillion-dollar losses. China is the only hope for many global car makers, said John Zeng of LMC Automotive Consulting. They are really counting on China to help their bottom line. Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., BMW AG and other brands are going ahead with global and China debuts of electric SUVs, luxury coupes and futuristic concept cars. Some are broadcasting events online to reach wider audiences. CEO Makoto Uchida of Nissan Motor Co. and other executives plan to appear by video from their home countries. Most brands are relying on Chinese employees or foreign managers who work in the country full-time to operate their displays while keeping contact with spectators to a minimum. Chinas auto industry has largely recovered since the ruling party declared victory over the disease in March and allowed factories and dealerships to reopen. In August, sales rose 6% over a year earlier. Meanwhile, purchases in the United States were down 9.5% from pre-pandemic levels. Sales in Europe plunged 17.6%. Automakers are responding by slashing workforces and shrinking operations. Nissan is closing factories in Spain and Indonesia and cutting global production by 20% after reporting a $6.2 billion loss for the year ending in March. Groupe Renault SA is cutting 15,000 jobs worldwide and in April pulled out of its China joint venture with state-owned Dongfeng Motor Co. To cut costs, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and PSA Peugeot Citroen want to merge and create the worlds fourth-biggest automaker. But they face an investigation by European regulators into whether that will improperly reduce competition. In China, the pandemic accelerated the consolidation of a fragmented industry with dozens of competitors by forcing a string of smaller local brands out of the market and bigger companies into alliances, said Zeng. That will change the industry landscape in the long run, he said. Chinas major auto shows, held in Beijing and Shanghai in alternate years, are the industrys biggest events, attracting every global automaker and dozens of new but ambitious Chinese brands. The last Beijing auto show in 2018 had 1,200 exhibitors from 14 countries and 820,000 visitors, according to organizers. This months event, postponed from March, follows a smaller auto show in July in the western city of Chengdu with 120 exhibitors that was a trial run for anti-virus measures. The Beijing city government has told automakers to limit the number of guests they invite but has yet to say how many people will be allowed into the 200,000-square-meter (2.2 million-square-foot) exhibition centre. Rules issued by the city say everyone at the show should remain at least 1 metre (three feet) from each other. Zeng, the industry analyst, said he was skipping the auto show because if leaves his home in Shanghai, his children would have to be quarantined after his return. Polestars Ingenlath was tested for the coronavirus before being allowed to board a plane in Stockholm. He had a second test after landing Sept. 5 in Tianjin, one of several cities where visitors from abroad undergo quarantine before they are allowed to travel to Beijing, the Chinese capital. Really, to get emotion and the passion about the brand across, you cant do that even with all the modern media we have, Ingenlath said. So I decided to go for a month. Polestar, spun off from Swedens Volvo Cars in 2017 as a standalone brand, is one of dozens of producers that plan to display electric vehicles. They range from established global giants to independent Chinese competitors including BYD Auto Co. and NIO. The Communist Party wants to make China a leader in the technology and has used subsidies and other support to transform it into the biggest EV market, accounting for about half of global sales. To spur competition, Beijing ended restrictions on foreign ownership of electric vehicle producers in 2018. Ingenlath said he brought books but has had little time to read in between working online and dealing with coworkers by phone, email and online video. I have been going through pretty hard normal work routine, he said. Ingenlaths 13-year-old daughter interviewed him for a classroom presentation about his quarantine. Barred from leaving his room, he set aside two hours a day to lift weights and do calisthenics just to be able not to go crazy. Read more about: President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he will sign an executive order to protect premature babies or babies who survived an abortion. In an appeal to conservative and religious voters, Trump's order will ensure medical care for premature babies, said a report from The Hill. Trump disclosed a pre-recorded address to the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast. "Today, I am announcing that I will be signing the Born Alive Executive Order to assure that all precious babies born alive, no matter their circumstances, receive the medical care that they deserve," he said. He said protecting premature babies was a "sacrosanct moral duty." The president added that his administration would also increase the federal funding for neonatal research, said a Washington Times report. In his speech, Trump said he wanted to "ensure that every child has the best chance to thrive and grow." Trump also touted the importance of Catholic schools in offering underserved children with a chance at better education, said a New York Post report. What Does Trump's Order Do? It's not clear what the order does since the text was not yet available after the announcement. The White House also declined to comment on the details of the order. A date of when it may be signed was also not given by officials. It was meant to strengthen pro-life efforts, but specifics were not dived into. NBC affiliate WKYC said it clear that it was part of Trump's election-year push to appeal to voters who oppose abortion. A source for Bloomberg also echoed what was said in the president's speech. They said the order would highlight existing laws that offer protections for unborn and premature babies. Trump has long supported a bill that goes by the same name sponsored by Sen. Ben Sasse. It gives fines or prison time for health care practitioners who fail to give care for babies showing signs of life after an abortion. Doctors Push Back Doctors, abortion rights groups, and Democrats argue that such instances rarely happen. They said the bill was unnecessary since a federal law for it already exists. "It seems this administration will once again seek a solution to a nonexistent problem," said Jacqueline Ayers, vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. "An executive order like Donald Trump described would only spread misinformation, shame people who get abortions, and try to score low-hanging political points," she said. A fetus can survive outside the womb at around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Only less than one percent of abortions in the U.S. in 2015 were performed after this point. Many of the pregnancies were terminated because the fetus was not expected to survive, or the mother's life was at risk, experts said. Infants who go through these abortions rarely survive. Drugs can be used to stop the fetal heartbeat before the procedure. Sometimes some parents choose not to use the drugs to let their child die a natural death. But with Sasse's bill, that option will be taken away from parents, said advocates. Check these out! Amy Coney Barrett Emerges as Supreme Court Favorite; Trump to Pick on Weekend Trump Expands Ban on Diversity Trainings First Presidential Debate To Focus on These Six Topics The first people smuggler convicted using evidence from surveillance drones over the Channel was jailed yesterday. Rebwar Ahmed, 36, was filmed by an 'eye in the sky' unmanned aircraft at the helm of a rigid-hulled inflatable boat crossing from France. The Iraqi's conviction came as the Daily Mail was granted exclusive access to the nerve centre controlling the Channel surveillance drones. Rebwar Ahmed, 36, was filmed by an 'eye in the sky' unmanned aircraft at the helm of a rigid-hulled inflatable boat crossing from France Army Watchkeeper drones fly out of Lydd Airport in Kent, 25 miles south-west of Dover, hunting migrant boats with high-definition optical sensors, infrared cameras and radar systems. Surveillance images from the drones help co-ordinate rescues of migrants at sea but are now also being used to prosecute people smugglers at the helm of the small boats. The Home Office's clandestine Channel threat commander Dan O'Mahoney said Ahmed's conviction sent a clear message to human traffickers. In his first newspaper interview since his appointment by Home Secretary Priti Patel last month, he also revealed the Government is 'very close' to securing a new deal with the French which, it is hoped, will lead to tougher action on the other side of the Channel to prevent the boats setting off. 'The surveillance footage we've captured has been absolutely critical to proving who was driving the boats and quite often we arrest that person as they step off the boat in Dover, and we prosecute them,' said Mr O'Mahoney. 'The evidence we get from the drone is so strong that they often plead guilty at a very early stage. Ahmed was at the tiller of the boat carrying 20 other migrants (pictured) on July 12 and the vessel was followed by the remote-controlled drone for 36 minutes 'It's previously been very difficult to prove to a court that the person who's driving the boat was playing a key role but now we often have video evidence of them doing that all the way across the Channel.' Ahmed was at the tiller of the boat carrying 20 other migrants on July 12. The vessel was followed by the remote-controlled drone for 36 minutes, then intercepted by a Border Force coastal patrol boat around halfway through the crossing. All passengers were photographed as they disembarked for processing in Dover, where Ahmed, who was carrying a mobile phone and lock knife, was identified as the person in control of the boat. He previously admitted a charge of assisting unlawful immigration during a hearing on August 21. He was sentenced to 31 months' imprisonment at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday. Jailing him, Judge Mark Weekes said: 'You and those on board the craft were attempting to leave a safe country, France, to enter another safe country. 'The drone footage reveals that you are the only person in control of the boat.' The drone's cameras repeatedly zoomed in on Ahmed at the tiller before the backdrop of the White Cliffs of Dover came into shot. Five of those aboard were under 18, including children aged 16, 14, 11 and a 10-year-old girl from Iraq. Don Ramble, prosecuting, told the court: 'All on board made an application for asylum but none have left the UK. The majority of those asylum claims are still outstanding. Six have been refused.' James Burke, defending, said the case was humanitarian rather than commercial. Surveillance images from the drones (pictured) help co-ordinate rescues of migrants at sea but are now also being used to prosecute people smugglers at the helm of the small boats Ahmed said in interview he paid 1,000 euros (915) for the crossing but was unable to name the organisers. His journey was filmed by a drone operated by civilian contractor Tekever, which works alongside the Army's Watchkeepers from Lydd Airport. Miss Patel wants to seal an agreement with the French that will allow boats to be turned around in the Channel and for them to accept more failed asylum seekers back from the UK. But Mr O'Mahoney said France had so far given a 'flat no' to accepting boats at its ports after British patrols intercept them. Separately, he added the Home Office is 'very close' to signing an agreement with France to allow more land, sea and air surveillance on the other side of the Channel. The Watchkeeper drones, which have a 36ft wingspan, typically fly seven-hour sorties but can remain airborne for up to 14 hours and cruise at almost 90mph. Channel arrivals beat last year's total in just 22 days More migrants have reached Britain via the Channel so far this month than in the whole of last year. Despite pledges by Home Secretary Priti Patel to make the route 'unviable', 393 made their way here on Tuesday the second-highest total this year. The numbers would have far surpassed the 416 who arrived in Britain on September 2 had the French authorities not prevented at least 98 by destroying their boats in the Calais area. The Home Office yesterday revealed that Border Force officials intercepted 26 boats on Tuesday and brought to shore the occupants, including babies and children. At least 1,880 migrants made it to Britain via the Channel in the first 22 days of this month, surpassing the 1,800 who made the journey in the whole of 2019. The huge influx coupled with a shortage of accommodation owing to the pandemic forced the Home Office this week to open two migrant 'camps' to house those waiting for asylum claims to be processed. The Government says the move could save taxpayers up to 50 per cent of the cost of placing migrants in hotels. Yesterday, men bussed into a former Army barracks near Folkestone in Kent described Britain as a 'wonderful place'. They are free to come and go as long as they return by 9pm, which has caused consternation among some residents who thought they would be detained. YouTube 'activists' have been patrolling the site, known as Napier Barracks, and uploading footage online. Amid increasingly ugly scenes, police were called 'traitors' and some migrants were followed and filmed as they left the camp to explore the area. Large protests broke out at the other site, a former Army training centre near Tenby on Monday night, prompting Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford to claim it was a target for hard-Right extremists. "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 Google has added a new COVID-19 info filter to its Maps service that colour-codes areas to show the spread of the virus. Users get a seven-day average of the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the area that they are looking at. They also get a label that shows whether the number of cases is increasing or decreasing. Google has rolled out this update for all countries and terroritories where Google Maps is available a total of 220 areas altogether and can be targeted to country, state, province, and city-level. The app gathers its data from a variety of sources, including Johns Hopkins University, the New York Times, and Wikipedia. These in turn get their information from from public health organizations including the World Health Organization, government health ministries, and local health agencies and hospitals. The update will be rolling out worldwide on both iPhones and iPads, as well as Android devices. Google has made a number of other updates to its Maps app because of the coronavirus. The search giant introduced new street-level features to make it more accurate and easier for users to get around. It also added public transport alerts when they search for directions, in the hope that it will stop overcrowding on trains or buses. Apple recently released data from its Maps app to track whether people are complying with coronavirus lockdowns. California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Wednesday requiring all new cars sold in the state to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. The order aims to phase out cars with internal combustion engines in 15 years as it mandates all new passenger cars and trucks sold in California by 2035 to be zero-emission vehicles. According to Newsom, California could reduce carbon pollution in the transportation sector with this move. The transportation sector contributes to more than half of the state's total greenhouse emissions. California is currently battling some of the worst wildfires in the state's recent history. For many decades, Newsom noted that they have allowed cars to pollute the air that children and families breathe. Newsom said California residents should not have to worry if cars are giving children asthma. "Our cars shouldn't make wildfires worse - and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn't melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines," Newsom added in a report. Newsom has been vocal about the need to address climate change, especially in response to the ongoing wildfires. The current wildfires have burned over 3.6 million acres in the state and caused at least 26 deaths. Following the order, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will develop regulations to mandate that all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the state are zero-emission vehicles by 2035. Newsom said this shift could decrease the state's greenhouse gas emissions from cars by more than 35 percent. The order further directs the CARB to adopt regulations for medium-and heavy-duty vehicle operations to be zero-emission by 2045. Newsom's office released a statement saying that the zero-emission vehicles will be cheaper than gasoline-powered cars by the time the newly signed order goes into effect. "We will use our market power to push zero-emission vehicle innovation and drive down costs for everyone," Newsom said. However, the order does not prevent California residents from owning cars with internal combustion or bar from purchasing on the used car market. Meanwhile, five of the six largest wildfires in California are still raging. The state's most aggressive fire, August Complex, has so far burned around 860,000 acres of NorCal's Tehama County. The SCU Lightning Complex has consumed 396,624 acres.The North Complex, on the other hand, has burned 301,404 acres if Butte, Plumas, and Yuma counties. Creek Fire, the youngest of the blazes, have started earlier this month and has scorched away 289,695 acres of Fresno and Madera counties. The destruction is expected to grow. People cause most of the fires in California. The El Dorado Fire has grown to more than 10,000 acres. It started when a family used a "pyrotechnic device" to announce the gender of a new baby. Many others are caused by more human actions, like driving a car that sends soot into dry vegetation. This was the case at the Apple Fire in Southern California this year. Others have been caused by power transmission lines or other utility equipment. Check these out: Covid-19 Cases in US Nursing Homes Increase by Nearly 80% Earlier This Summer Apple Is the First US Company to Hit $2 Trillion Market Value Direct Stimulus Payments: Trump Wants to Send Within One Week of Deal, Officials Say Tamzin Outhwaite has claimed that Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli refused to let her star in close-ups for an advert because of her acne. The actress, 49, told Scott McGlynn on Celebrity Skin Talk that she worked with Bruno on an advert for Freixenet sparkling wine. Tamzin explained that Bruno - who choreographed the advert - asked her to sit out on appearing in a close-up scene as her acne had 'come up really bad,' admitting the exchange left her feeling 'mortified.' 'Mortified': Tamzin Outhwaite has claimed that Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli (pictured) refused to let her star in close-ups for an advert because of her acne She said: 'There have been times in my life where I've had such bad acne that it's affected my work. 'When I was in my early 20s, I was doing a champagne commercial as a champagne bubble. I had a little blonde wig. 'It was Don Johnson playing the piano. We were the champagne bubbles on the piano keys. We were in gold all-in-ones. Open: The actress spoke candidly about her skin battles during an appearance on Celebrity Skin Talk with Scott McGlynn Jaw-dropping: Tamzin starred in an advert for Freixenet sparkling wine in her early 20s, but claims she was told to 'sit out' on filming close-ups by choreographer Bruno 'Bruno was our choreographer, we were filming in Barcelona. One morning my acne came up very bad around my jaw line, it was raised and it couldn't be covered. 'I remember Bruno said, ''I'm really sorry, but I'm going to have to sit you out for this close up shot''. It was because of my acne. 'I was mortified. I do remember feeling mortified that something so physical on my face was stopping me doing what I loved.' Tamzin went onto explain that her acne flare-up was an isolated incident, as after filming for the advert it 'never happened again.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Bruno Tonioli for comment. Fresh-faced: Tamzin first rose to prominence when she joined the cast of EastEnders as fiery Mel Owen in 1998 (pictured), after training at the legendary Sylvia Young Theatre School Speaking out: She admitted that her acne had 'come up really bad' ahead of filming for the advert, and was disheartened to learn she wouldn't feature in any close-ups Awkward: She added: 'I was mortified. I do remember feeling mortified that something so physical on my face was stopping me doing what I loved' Tamzin first rose to prominence when she joined the cast of EastEnders as fiery Mel Owen in 1998, after training at the legendary Sylvia Young Theatre School, and after returning to the soap in 2018, was killed off earlier this year. Meanwhile Bruno had long been known for his work as a choreographer before joining the Strictly judging panel in 2004, and is the mind behind some of the UK's most iconic advertisements. It comes after BBC announced that Bruno would not be appearing on the Strictly panel this series, due to travel restrictions introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The star, who lives in Los Angeles and is a judge on Strictly's US counterpart Dancing With The Stars, will make several appearances throughout the series on the results show to offer his viewers on the celebrity couples' performances. Camper fire claims the life of two people in Marshall County Indian Acting High Commissioner Vinod K Jacob on Wednesday met Sri Lankan state minister Shehan Semasinghe and held discussions on Indian and Sri Lankan bilateral economic and development cooperation. Semasinghe is the state minister of Samurdhi, home economy, microfinance, self-employment and businesses as well as underutilised state-owned-enterprise. "Acting High Commissioner Vinod K Jacob hosted State Minister Hon. @ShehanSema. Held cordial discussions on bilateral economic and development cooperation # #SriLanka #lka," Indian High Commission in tweeted. Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa will hold a virtual bilateral summit on September 26. The virtual summit would be the first official interaction between the leaders after they met in New Delhi in February this 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.) SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Penta Security, a leading cybersecurity company in Korea, announced that the company achieved certifications to ISO 9001, 14001, and 27001 for its quality, environmental, and information security management practices. The certifications were issued by a renowned certification body, KQA, Korea Quality Assurance, a member of the International Accreditation Forum Multilateral Recognition Arrangement, after in-depth auditing processes. ISO 27001:2015 differs from 9001:2015 in that it adds Information Security Risk Assessment and risk treatment into the ISMS. In order for an organization to achieve 27001, it must develop an additional methodology for the identification of information security risks. As regulations on data protection have been tightened and specified worldwide, corporate safety assessment standards such as compliance with information security laws, policies, and response systems have also become stricter. Therefore, the possession of 27001:2015 is becoming a prerequisite for participation in various project projects as social concerns have risen significantly due to frequent data breach incidents. Moreover, these certifications achieved by Penta Security are published by the International Standardization Organization (ISO) and are globally recognized for the qualification of companies' quality management processes. It proves that Penta Security can provide convincing evidence to customers and partners that they handle data in a way that is both committed and trustworthy. "These certifications signify that we have been focusing our business and development strategies on what the market is demanding. We're excited to announce that Penta Security is one of the only few companies to have been awarded 3 different ISO certifications in the industry," said Seokwoo Lee, CEO and Founder of Penta Security. "We hope that this gives our customers across different industries extra confidence since we are involved in the process of raising the bar for how the whole industry should be dealing with security as well as system availability." About Penta Security Penta Security Systems Inc. is a leader in data, IoT, and blockchain security solutions and services. With 23 years of expertise in powering secured connections, Penta Security is the top cybersecurity vendor in Asia, as recognized by Frost & Sullivan, and APAC market share leader in the WAF industry. Penta Security continues its push for innovation as a pioneer in securing blockchain-based environments. For more information on Penta Security, visit pentasecurity.com. For partnership inquiries, email [email protected] . SOURCE Penta Security (L-R) President Donald Trump in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 16, 2020. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Wilmington, Del., on July 28, 2020. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images; Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Trump Says Hell Respect the Election Results If Supreme Court Rules Biden Won President Donald Trump on Sept. 24 said hell respect the November election results if the Supreme Court rules that Joe Biden won, coming after he made comments to reporters about the presidential transition of power. When asked about it by Fox News Brian Kilmeade, Trump replied: I would agree with [that], but I think we have a long way before we get there. These ballots are a horror show. They found six ballots in an office yesterday in a garbage can. His remarks came as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said a presidential transition after the November elections would be orderly and consistent with U.S. historical precedents. The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792, McConnell said in a statement on Sept. 24. Trump declined an opportunity on Sept. 23 to endorse the peaceful transfer of power. The president has frequently expressed concerns about voter fraud amid a surge in mail-in voting as well as nationwide riots and unrest. When asked about whether he would commit here today for a peaceful transferal of power after the November election, Trump said it isnt clear what will happen. Were going to have to see what happens, he said. You know that Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster. A reporter then said that people are rioting, to which Trump replied: Get rid of the ballots and youll have a very peacefulthere wont be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation. Trump, since the start of the pandemic, has repeatedly assailed and raised awareness about the perils of mail-in voting, saying that it could lead to extensive delays or election fraud. At the same time, the president said the election could head to the Supreme Court, saying the court needs nine justices on the bench to render an appropriate decision. On Sept. 18, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died at age 87, setting the stage for a precarious nominating process in the Senate amid threats from Democrats to pack the courts and invoke rules to delay the confirmation hearings. Some Republican members of Congress, including Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), have attempted to compare Trumps comments about the transfer of power to the regime of longtime Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has faced historic protests in recent months over election results. Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus, Romney wrote on Sept. 24. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the third-highest member of the House Republican leadership, wrote on Twitter: The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. Americas leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath. Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Fox News on Sept. 24 that Republicans will hold a peaceful transfer of power, adding that if the results of the election are in doubt, the Supreme Court will decide, and if the Republicans lose, we will accept that result. But we need a full court. Johnson & Johnson said on Wednesday 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 effective. 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, said Alex Gorsky, the companys chairman and CEO. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIHs National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said, Four Covid-19 vaccine candidates are in Phase 3 clinical testing in the US 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. The US has given J&J about $1.45bn in funding under Operation Warp Speed. The vaccine is based on a single dose of a cold-causing adenovirus, combined with a part of the new coronavirus called the spike protein that it uses to invade human cells. J&J used the same technology in its Ebola vaccine which received marketing approval from the European Commission in July. The company said it was poised to imminently publish the results from an earlier stage of the trial on a medical preprint site. (Alliance News) - People across Ireland have been warned to change their behaviour in the next ten days to curb the rate of Covid-19, otherwise the rest of the country will catch up to Dublin. National Public Health Emergency Team member Philip Nolan said the incidence of the virus in Dublin remains three to four times higher than the rest of the country but that it was "growing at approximately the same rate right across the country". "The rest of the country may be a week or two weeks behind where Dublin is and will catch up unless behaviours across the entire country change," the chair of the epidemiological modelling advisory group said. He said the growing number of cases among older people was a cause of "grave concern" and it was a trend that could be traced back to late June. "We started to mix more than was safe and in an unsafe manner going back several weeks now, and the transmissions that occurred then are catching up with us now," he said. He described the reproduction number for Covid-19 as "worryingly" high but he said it did not take account of the new restrictions introduced last week. It now sits between 1.5 to 1.7. "That is far too high, that will lead to exponential growth in cases, hospitalisations, and ultimately deaths, so the objective remains as it did last week that both the restrictions and the advice are designed to bring the reproduction rate back below one," he said. He added: "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." His comments come as the Department of Health confirmed there were 234 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland and two further deaths linked to the virus. Acting Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn said there were 95 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in hospitals, 16 of which are ICU cases. Glynn said the NPHET team had "particular concerns" about the rate of Covid-19 in Louth, Waterford and Donegal. "Over one in three cases in Donegal are in people aged 15 to 24 years of age," he said. "There are a large number of family and extended family outbreaks." But he added that "people in all counties should be worried". "The single most important thing that people all across the country need to do now is to reduce their social contacts," he said. "It's vital over the coming days, weeks that people across the country reduce their social contacts. "We all quite simply have to cut down the number of people we meet otherwise we will not get this under control." He added: "It's a particularly difficult time for the country, I think, because everyone is sick and tired of this at this stage and the idea of having to face into restrictions, measures, decreasing our social contacts is frankly a horrible one for people. "I understand that but unfortunately that's the situation we find ourselves in in Ireland." source: PA Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. IndustryWired Magazine August 2020 Issue features companies focused on advanced solutions to disrupt the status quo South Jordan, Utah, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CallTower has been announced as one of the Top 20 Companies with Most Disruptive Solutions in 2020 by IndustryWired, a brand of Stravium Intelligence. The magazine issue features extraordinary companies that are revolutionizing business processes by leveraging disruptive technologies and adopting effective business strategies to deliver customer-oriented services. These next-generation companies are unleashing greater change across industries with advanced solutions to disrupt the status quo. The enlisted companies have realized the potential of technology and are working at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge solutions shaping the world of technology across industries globally, says Ashish Sukhadeve, CEO, IndustryWired. Technology is moving at a rapid pace and in several directions, making it challenging even to pay attention. Undoubtedly, disruptive technologies will have a substantial impact on businesses and provide opportunities to revolutionize conventional businesses. We are thrilled to be recognized as one of the Top 20 Companies with Most Disruptive Solutions in 2020 by IndustryWired, says CallTower Chief Revenue Officer, William Rubio. Our driving force is delivering superior Native Microsoft Teams, Cisco HCS and Webex and CT Cloud UCaaS solutions to empower our customers with extended options. Our customers leverage all our platforms within one administrative portal, CallTower Connect. These innovations and solutions are what set us apart from the rest. About IndustryWired IndustryWired features insights, trends, and opinions from the greatest business leaders, founders, C-suites, and entrepreneurs across different industries. IndustryWiredMagazine is the best go-to industry resource for helping todays leaders build tomorrows leading businesses. IndustryWired is known for making a big impact by supporting business enterprises and leaders to augment their brand image and make effective business decisions. Story continues To set up an interview or advertise your brand, contact info@industrywired.com. About CallTower Since its inception in 2002, CallTower has become a leading provider of cloud-based, enterprise-class Unified Communications solutions for growing organizations worldwide. CallTower provides, integrates and supports industry-leading, cloud-based, Unified Communications and Collaboration solutions, including Cisco HCS, Webex Teams, Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, Office 365, Enterprise Hosted Skype for Business, CT Cloud Voice, CT Cloud Boost, CT Cloud Meeting powered by Zoom and Cloud Contact Center for business customers. For more information, contact marketing@calltower.com. Attachment CONTACT: Kade Herbert CallTower, Inc. 8003475444 marketing@calltower.com Responding to the Central Bank report on household wealth and speculation last weekend about moves to cut Capital Gains Tax, Labour Finance spokesperson and Louth TD Ged Nash has said that Ireland must now get serious on "wealth taxes". Deputy Nash explained: The Central Bank report on Household Wealth in Ireland confirms what we already knew, that the distance between the wealthiest and the poorest in Irish society is growing. Wealth inequality remains very large, with the top 10% of households now holding 50% of the total wealth. The top 20% now have a median wealth of over 853k per person, up from 560k per person in 2013, and more than the other 80% combined. Most concerning is that the lower 20% have a median wealth of just 1000 per person. In order to close the wealth gap and in the interests of funding decent universal services the Government must seriously consider a series of taxes on passive wealth to broaden the tax base and ensure fiscal sustainability. A key reason for the increase in wealth levels is the rise in house prices since 2013. Yet, we have some political parties who wish to abolish tax on the houses of millionaires. We also have a Government that is seeking to reduce inheritance tax, something that will help lock-in inequality between generations. These regressive policies reward wealth over hard work and mean that no matter how hard most young people strive they constantly struggle to get ahead of those who have inherited wealth. Shockingly, OECD research shows that in Ireland it would take five generations, or roughly 150 years, for the descendants of a person in the bottom 10% of earners to secure only an average income, compared with two generations in Denmark. The Government needs to get real about the scale of inequality in Ireland, and the gap between rich and poor. On the back of todays report, other opposition parties should seriously reflect on their refusal to tax exorbitant household wealth and rather support policies that help close the gap for ordinary workers and their families. 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 Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III Thursday announced a settlement by 48 states and the District of Columbia with C.R. Bard, Inc. and its parent company Becton, Dickinson and Company requiring payment of $60 million for the deceptive marketing of transvaginal surgical mesh devices. Surgical mesh is a synthetic material implanted to support the pelvic organs of women who suffer from stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. These are common conditions faced by women due to a weakening in their pelvic floor muscles caused by childbirth, age and other factors. Thousands of women implanted with surgical mesh have made claims that they suffered serious complications resulting from these devices. The attorneys general allege that C.R. Bard misrepresented or failed to adequately disclose serious and life-altering risks of surgical mesh devices, such as chronic pain, scarring and shrinking of bodily tissue, painful sexual relations and recurring infections, among other complications. Patients should be fully informed about the serious risks associated with these devices and this settlement will require that, said General Slatery. C.R. Bard and its parent company, Becton, Dickinson and Company, have agreed to pay $60 million to the 48 participating states and the District of Columbia. Although C.R. Bard stopped selling transvaginal mesh, the settlement provides injunctive relief, requiring both C.R. Bard and Becton, Dickinson and Company to adhere to certain injunctive terms if they reenter the transvaginal mesh market. Tennessee will receive $1,114,246.00 under the settlement. Under the terms of the settlement, the companies are required to: Provide patients with understandable descriptions of complications in marketing materials. Include a list of certain complications in all marketing materials that address complications. Disclose complications related to the use of mesh in any training provided that includes risk information. Disclose sponsorship in clinical studies, clinical data, or preclinical data for publication. Refrain from citing to any clinical study, clinical data, or preclinical data regarding mesh, for which the company has not complied with the disclosure requirements. Require consultants to agree to disclose in any public presentation or submission for publication Bards sponsorship of the contracted for activity. Register all Bard-sponsored clinical studies regarding mesh with ClinicalTrials.gov. Train independent contractors, agents, and employees who sell, market, or promote mesh, regarding their obligations to report all patient complaints and adverse events to the company. Ensure that its practices regarding the reporting of patient complaints are consistent with FDA requirements. To read the Complaint and Consent Judgment click here: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/attorneygeneral/documents/pr/2020/pr20-37-complaint.pdf. Joining Tennessee in this multistate settlement are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Australian actress-turned-director Rosie Lourde has released her debut feature film. And now she's revealed how she was able to make the Brisbane suburb of Shorncliffe shine in Netflix rom-com, Romance on the Menu. 'The restaurant that we shot New York for was a restaurant in Woolloongabba, called Corella,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. Australian director Rosie Lourde is putting the Brisbane suburb of Shorncliffe on the map with her Netflix rom-com, Romance on the Menu. Pictured stars: Tim Ross and Cindy Busby (right) 'We were able to dress it, with very clever camera angles and some incredible cast.' Click here to resize this module 'All of our North American characters are played by North American actors. Besides Cindy Busby (Caroline Wilson), all of them actually live in Australia.' ADVERTISEMENT 'The only parts filmed in New York were the drone shots to be honest,' she added. 'The restaurant that we shot New York for was a restaurant in Woolloongabba, called Corella ,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. Rosie pictured right with actor Tim Ross (left) The film follows Cindy Busby (Caroline Wilson), a New York restaurateur, who inherits her aunt's cafe in Lemon Myrtle Cove, Australia and falls for a local chef, played by Wonderland's Tim Ross. Describing the moment she found out her film was being licensed by Netflix, Rosie explained: 'I just cried'. 'I was sitting with my mum having a cup of tea and I got the call to say it was being picked up... Interestingly, I was sitting on a wooden pier and looking out across the water and it just felt magical, really.' The film follows Cindy Busby (Caroline Wilson), a New York restaurateur, who inherits her aunt's cafe in Lemon Myrtle Cove, Australia and falls for a local chef, played by Wonderland's Tim Ross. Pictured together The film has so far received praise, with some outlets describing the film as 'Eat Pray Love meets The Holiday'. Speaking on the early reviews, Rosie said: 'I think that's incredibly lovely and generous. I'm just nervous it's getting to people's hearts. 'They are such incredible films to be comparing it to and I am humbled that Romance on the Menu is even in the same sentence.' ADVERTISEMENT Romance on the Menu is available to stream now on Netflix The former, longtime director of the Allentown Cadets competitive marching band entered a plea Thursday in a sexual assault case dating to 2018. George Hopkins pleaded no contest in Lehigh County Court to indecent assault without consent, court records show. He was sentenced to two years' probation. Hopkins, 63, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, has been free on $50,000 unsecured bail since his arrest Nov. 13, 2018. Charges of sexual assault were withdrawn. Hopkins had stepped down as the Cadets' director in April 2018 after a published report detailed allegations of sexual misconduct against him. The two women who accused him of sexual assault in the Lehigh County criminal case reported the allegations the following month. Hopkins was hired by the Cadets in 1979 and became director in 1982. Messages left seeking comment were not immediately returned by the prosecutor in the case, Hopkins' defense attorney or the Cadets' parent group, Allentown-based Youth Education in the Arts (YEA!). Hopkins' successor with the Cadets was himself suspended in April 2018, amid claims he was aware of allegations of misconduct against Hopkins and failed to act. That interim leader, Sean King, was cleared of wrongdoing that June and returned to the organization. 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. LOUISVILLE, Ky.: Democrat Amy McGrath called for fundamental change to combat systemic racism" as the Senate candidate met Thursday with some of the Kentucky protesters seething over a grand jurys decision not to charge officers in the killing of Breonna Taylor. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, her Republican opponent, said peaceful protests offer a way to honor Taylors memory. He defended the investigation by his political ally, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, into the Black womans death The senator condemned incidents of property damage and gunfire that broke out during demonstrations in his hometown of Louisville. Two police officers were shot and wounded during the protests Wednesday evening. Nationwide protests over the deaths of Blacks by police have been a simmering issue with just weeks left in the bitter, big-spending Kentucky Senate campaign. McConnell, who is seeking a seventh term in November, has at times focused on acts of violence at protests, as has his political ally, President Donald Trump. On Thursday, McConnell and McGrath weighed in on fallout from the decision not to charge officers for killing Taylor a case that garnered global attention. Taylor, a Black emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers after one of them was fired upon and wounded while conducting a raid in a narcotics investigation in March. No drugs were found inside. One officer was charged by a grand jury Wednesday in the Taylor case with wanton endangerment for shooting into a neighbors apartment but no direct charges where filed in the death itself, touching off angry protests. The day after the grand jurys decision, McGrath brought her change message to downtown Louisville where protesters kept up their call for justice. I am here today, and Ive been all around this state trying to campaign for change in this country," McGrath said. A change for health care affordable, accessible health care for everyone. For change to tackle the systemic racism that weve been seeing for far too long. McGrath has called for banning no-knock search warrants in federal drug cases and prohibiting police chokeholds. McGrath, a retired Marine combat pilot, said the country cant go back to normal but instead must do better to combat racial inequities, adding: Normal is what got us this. The Democrats appearance drew a mixed response from protesters. Rose Henderson, who has been a fixture at demonstrations, complained that McGrath hasnt spent time getting to know the protesters. You cant walk up in the park and think were going to have open arms for you," Henderson said of McGrath. We dont know you. Its about cameras, its about politics, and this is our life that were out here fighting for." Meanwhile, McConnell used a Senate speech to comment on the unrest. Peaceful protests honor the memory of Breonna Taylor," he said. Peaceful protests move us toward justice. Smashing windows does not. Setting fires does not. Rioting in the streets does not. And trying to gun down law enforcement officers who are bravely serving their community is the kind of despicable cowardice that must be met with the full force of the law." McConnell has defended peaceful protests, but his campaign has aired TV ads showing footage of protests turning destructive while the senator denounces the actions. The vast majority of protests around the country have been peaceful. Protesters in Louisville have occupied a downtown square peacefully for 120 days with few acts of violence since the beginning of the movement in the spring. McGrath tweeted that the shooting of the Louisville officers was unacceptable" and said the focus needs to be on tearing down systemic injustices, not tearing down our communities or harming each other." Meanwhile, McConnell said Cameron had done the kind of thorough, impartial investigation that justice demands" in the Taylor case. Cameron, the states first Black attorney general, once served as legal counsel for the senator. But McGrath said Cameron should release the evidence presented to the grand jury. Part of what we are as a nation is making sure that we have transparency," she said. And to me, thats a really important piece of this. Lets have a transparent investigation. Lets release it to everybody. 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 disappearance of a British mother-of-two, who vanished in France a year ago and whose car was found abandoned nearby, is being investigated by police. Karen Milsom, 52, left her home in the Charente region with some clothes and 5,400 of Euros after an outburst in the house she shared with electrician husband Steven. Mrs Milsom, who was born in Bristol, had been a carer for an elderly British women before she disappeared after they moved to France 15 years ago. Her husband Steven said police had been through their house with sniffer dog and even emptied their septic tank. Officers are understood to be probing three theories: that she left to start a new life , may have committed suicide, or had been murdered. Mr Milsom said he thought she would come back after she took their car, but said she texted him to say the vehicle was at nearby Ruffec station. It had a bag of men's clothes inside. He added: She had been fishing for an argument. She was in one of her moods. She said no one cared about her. She would fly off the handle and then a couple of hours later she would apologise. Mother-of-two Karen Milsom, 52, left her home in the Charente region in August last year The family car was found at Ruffec Station 25 miles away three weeks later after a tip-off I was gobsmacked when she left. She said she would be in contact as and when she wanted to. Three weeks later, I got a text off her to say that the car was at Ruffec station. She left of her own accord. I really don't know what could have happened. I don't think she'd have taken her life. I had two phone calls from withheld numbers. I spoke to her and it was a strange conversation. He told the Guardian: Maybe she was craving a more exciting life. I'm hoping she's going to show her face, but at the moment I'm in limbo." Mr Milsom said he reported her missing to the police three weeks later after it became clear she was not coming home. She vanished in August and the Gendarmerie has made appeals for witnesses as it investigated what has happened. Mrs Milsom and her family had moved to the Charente region 15 years ago to live One of her friends Claire McDermott received a text from her in September last year and she believed she had been bored with her life in France. Ms McDermott said: She felt she had nothing to look forward to. The message said she would be back in December to explain, but she has not been seen again. Another friend Sue Jones added: She was a very bubbly person, very caring and empathetic. But I knew she wasn't very happy. She said that Milsom's mother had killed herself when her daughter was a teenager. She said: I find it hard to believe that she would do that to her children. Milsom is one of more than 800 missing people on the files of the Lucie Blackman Trust. It said in an appeal: 'Karen has not been seen nor heard from since around 20th August 2019. She has been living in France for 15 years and has kept in regular touch with her family. 'Therefore this disappearance, from her home in Charente, France, is completely out of character and there are serious concerns for her.' By Trend The overhaul of the Rasul Rza dry-cargo ship, which belongs to the sea transport fleet of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping (ASCO) CJSC, has been completed, Trend reports citing the company. The ship is sailing in outer waters, said the company. The ship's main and auxiliary engines, as well as mechanisms (pumps) have been repaired at the Zigh shipyard. Along with this, the installation of pipes, electrical installation, as well as work on automation and welding of the hull was carried out on the ship, said the ASCO. Moreover, the underwater and surface parts of the ship were completely cleaned with abrasive sand and painted. The living and service areas have been renovated to modern standards, the ASCO said. After the completion of the repair, the ship was successfully tested and was handed over to the seamen. The Rasul Rza dry-cargo ship is again involved in cargo transportation in the waters outside the Caspian Sea. The Rasul Rza dry-cargo ship has been sailing in external waters flying the Azerbaijani flag since 2016. The ship is 108.33 meters long and 16.74 meters wide and its carrying capacity is 5,200 tons. I share with my Nieces and Nephew a certain narrative. One that has almost a thousand chapters. Of course I mean One Piece. A show about Pirates, Friendship and Adventure. As a student of theology and pop-culture I have attempted a dialogue between the gospel narrative of Luke and Eiichiro Odas magnum opus, One Piece. I will be concentrating on the main characters of Jesus and Monkey D. Luffy. Messianic Expectations Versus King of the Pirates Monkey D. Luffy has one goal in life. That is to become King of the Pirates and gain the One Piece. He is not the only Pirate who seeks the One Piece. Many have tried. Luffy finds himself up against those who would kill, cheat, lie, steal, commit genocide, take over nations and become dictators to achieve the title. Jesus as the Rabbi cum Revolutionary does find allusions to King of the Pirates. We read it in the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus in the eyes of many, is like Luffy declaring Im going to be King of Judea!!!. While most of the synoptic Gospels show the humble and reserved nature of the messianic mystery Jesus. It is in the Triumphal entry where Jesus presents the Kingly symbology. The people who chafe under Roman rule exult in it. Though as we know they will be disappointed. An Army Just Cramps Their Style Luffy denied a revolutionary army. Luffy has an army of pirates from across the world present themselves to become his subordinates. An armada of great power is offered to him. Luffy rejects it. He refuses to become their big-brother, he openly refuses their obeisance. They do not understand. We know that Jesus does similar. The triumphal entry in full donkey riding magnificence has Jesus riding not to the Roman seat of power but to the temple. Jesus is looking further ahead than anyone else. Is Luffy looking that far ahead? No. Luffy is not known for his ability to plan. Luffy sees the armada as cramping his style. Luffy, like Jesus, travels light. Just the main crew only, no hangers on. Sure you can be a fan of Luffy and help him out. But unless you are asked to join the Straw Hat Pirates and sail on the Golden Sunny, chill. If not a member of the StrawHats you can always follow Luffys way of being King of the Pirates. Because it is about freedom. While others see Kingship as power, strength, influence. Luffy wants to be strong so he can be free. In turn by being free he is a catalyst for positive change in the lives of others. Standing Up To Power Jesus as we mentioned earlier did not confront the Romans but the Temple. Jesus returns to Jerusalem and the Temple. Money changers are confronted. Jesus makes a whip and chases them out. This is high stakes action as Jesus is standing up for what is a financial hurdle to worship. A hurdle set by those in power. Jesus narrative explores the price of standing up to the powers that be. One Piece does not shy away from showing the price of standing up to power. Sure Luffy has his setbacks and they are big. But these are two different narratives. Lukes messianic narrative travels in a different direction than Shonen manga. Shounen Manga are power fantasies. Much like super hero comics. The hero against great odds wins out. When I read One Piece I know the ending. Not in the way I know the ending of Lukes gospel because Eiichiro Oda has not finished One Piece. Though I know Luffy will become King of the Pirates. Different Relations To Power Luke has some interesting differences compared to the other synoptic gospels of Mark and Matthew. There is no magic healing with the application of spit. Which fits when you read Acts and the not good wizard Simon Magus. Luke is also different in the genealogy and the geography of a certain Sermon. One that has recently been pointed out to me. Which also points out a difference between the narratives of Luffy and Jesus. The Sermon on the Mount. For Christians it is a well known part of the gospels. Very well known. Though in Luke it is the Sermon on the Plain. Similar text to Mark and Matthews Sermons on the Mount. The difference is a little quizzical until you look at the foreshadowing Luke does. Of the synoptic Gospels Lukes genealogy of Jesus is the longest. Luke goes back to Noah and then to Adam who is also son of God. This harks back to the Genesis narrative that has all of humanity related to each other. In this the Son of God, Jesus is connected through his human parents to humanity and divinity. As we all are. Luke has Jesus on the Plain, not on the Mount. Level with humanity. With the frailty, with the fear, with the threat of death, poverty, hunger, disease of being human. While Luffy gains power to overcome, Jesus takes on Humanity to find connection. A connection that leads to death by the powers that be. Subversion of Power A Different Idea of Freedom Subversion of the dominant conception of how power is to be used is a key theme in One Piece. It is also a key theme to the Gospel. Jesus enters the world connected to human culture and life in all the best and worst ways. Instead of connection to power that overcomes, Jesus is connected to human weakness. There is no defeat of the power of Rome. Jesus is not there for the short term of Empires. Neither is Luffy interested in the application of power that leads to Empire. For both there is so much more than empire. That only ties you down. Not just physically but in so many other ways. Freedom is not found in power. Freedom is found in relationship. Which in a power fantasy is rare, though it is essential to One Piece. For Monkey D. Luffy it is freedom to travel and have adventures with his friends. In the Gospel we see freedom from that which oppresses, dominates and controls us. Freedom to love God and love our neighbour. A freedom that puts aside fear and division. That connects the divine to the mortal. Not in a power fantasy but in a relationship that was there from the beginning. AUBURN, Ala., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Salad Chick, the nation's only southern inspired, fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announced today it will be expanding in Florida with its newest restaurant in Panama City. The Panama City location marks Chicken Salad Chick's fourth restaurant along the state's Emerald Coast and second opening in Florida this year, following the brand's debut in Trinity in January. Located at 560 Hawkins Avenue, the Panama City restaurant will celebrate its grand opening on October 7 and will offer free chicken salad for a year to the first 100 guests. Those awarded will be properly distanced and will receive a designated return time upon arrival to spread out the number of guests at the restaurant throughout the day. Chicken Salad Chick is closely following Florida's state and local guidelines for COVID-19 procedures and will open the Panama City restaurant at limited capacity with social distancing measures in place. All employees will be wearing masks and gloves, as well as practicing proper handwashing and food safety protocol, and all guests will be required to wear masks until seated for dining. For added convenience, the Panama City restaurant also features a drive-thru. During grand opening week, guests will experience the southern hospitality that Chicken Salad Chick is known for, with modified giveaways and specials that include: Wednesday, October 7 Free Chicken Salad for a Year The first 100 guests will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for an entire year, with one of those lucky guests randomly selected to win one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week.* Any guest not part of the first 100 in line can make an in-store purchase and enter for a chance to win free chicken salad for a year.** Free Chicken Salad for a Year The first 100 guests will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for an entire year, with one of those lucky guests randomly selected to win one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week.* Any guest not part of the first 100 in line can make an in-store purchase and enter for a chance to win free chicken salad for a year.** Thursday, October 8 The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Special will receive a free Chick Special redeemable on the next visit. The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Special will receive a free Chick Special redeemable on the next visit. Friday, October 9 The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick tumbler. The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick tumbler. Saturday, October 10 The first 50 guests to purchase two large Quick Chicks will receive a free large Chick cooler. Helping to grow Chicken Salad Chick on the Emerald Coast is husband and wife team Tommy and Stephanie Lauderdale of Panama Chick, LLC. The multi-unit franchise owners were introduced to the fast casual concept in 2013 when Stephanie's sister, Tiffany Dubberley, opened a Chicken Salad Chick restaurant in Columbus, Georgia. Immediately impressed by the brand's unique flavors and Southern hospitality, the Lauderdales were eager to open a location of their own and a year later, debuted their first restaurant in Panama City Beach. Six years later, the duo operates Chicken Salad Chick locations across Destin, Pensacola, Panama City Beach, and the new Panama City restaurant, along with a seasonal kiosk in Rosemary Beach. "I've been a Santa Rosa Beach resident for over a decade and in our town, the best lunchtime spots have always been fresh, quick and easy. So, when I was introduced to Chicken Salad Chick, I knew the brand's simplicity, hospitable atmosphere and made-from-scratch menu items would fit right into our laid-back beach culture," said Stephanie Lauderdale. "Six years later, that still holds true and we're thrilled to continue growing with a brand we're so passionate about. We're back to where it all started and are excited to serve yet another community of Panama City." Chicken Salad Chick in Panama City will be open Monday Saturday from 10:00a.m. 8p.m. For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com. Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and trends. *Guests should arrive between 7-10am to get checked in, while maintaining social distancing. The first 100 guests will be assigned a number and designated return time between 10:00-11:15am. Upon return, guests will make a purchase of "The Chick" or anything of greater value and scan the code '1st 100 Spot' on the CravingCredits app to officially secure your spot. If you are late, or miss return time, your spot will be awarded to next in-line. Guests much be 16 years or older, redemption begins 10/12. **Eligible winners must be 16 years or older and are required to download the Craving Credits app. 10 winners will be drawn at the end of the day. Redemption will start 10/12. For more information on giveaways and specials, visit https://www.facebook.com/ChickenSaladChickPanamaCityFL/. About Chicken Salad Chick Founded by Stacy Brown in Auburn, Alabama, in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick's robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest. Today, under the leadership of Scott Deviney and the Chicken Salad Chick team, the brand has more than 170 restaurants in 17 states and is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations. Chicken Salad Chick has received numerous accolades including rankings in Franchise Times' Fast & Serious and Fast Casual.com's top Movers and Shakers for the third consecutive year, QSR's Best Franchise Deals for the second consecutive year and Franchise Business Review's Top Food Franchises in 2020. See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information. Contact: Shana Rosenthal Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick Related Links http://www.chickensaladchick.com By Akbar Mammadov The Armenian armed forces targeted Azerbaijans important energy and transport infrastructure during the military provocation on the border in July, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said at the meeting of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) on September 23. Addressing the annual meeting held in a videoconference meeting, Bayramov spoke about Armenia's military provocation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border in July, emphasizing that the Armenian armed forces were targeting Azerbaijan's important energy and transport infrastructure. Bayramov said that this infrastructure is important not only for the economic sustainability of Azerbaijan but also for the wider Eurasian region. Bayramov also stressed the importance of resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of Azerbaijan's sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders. Furthermore, the minister also spoke about Azerbaijans transport projects. Bayramov gave information about Azerbaijan's intra-regional and inter-regional transport coordination projects, including major infrastructure projects aimed at increasing transit capacity across the Eurasian space and modernization of the transport sector infrastructure implemented in the country. The cross-border clashes near Azerbaijans Tovuz region started on July 12 after Armenias shelling of Azerbaijani 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. It should be noted that Armenia has stepped up its military provocation recently, staging sabotage both on the border and on the line of contact. Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region, which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Margarita Antidze and Nailia Bagirova BAKU, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan's state fund SOFAZ expects its assets to hold steady at around $43 billion, as its diversified investments, including in gold, offset the downward economic pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic and cheaper oil, the fund's head told Reuters. SOFAZ manages the ex-Soviet country's proceeds from oil contracts, oil and gas sales, transit fees and other revenues. "We expect that assets will not significantly deviate from the level of $43 billion at the end of 2020, which is roughly the same as a year ago," Israfil Mammadov said in emailed answers to Reuters. The fund's assets reached an all-time high of $43.3 billion in 2019, of which $2.1 billion was generated as an investment return. The fund's budget was revised in August, reducing revenues to 7.8 billion manats ($4.6 billion) from 12.4 billion manats, and increasing expenditure to 12.4 billion manats from 11.6 billion manats. Mammadov said SOFAZ did not plan any major changes and would only sell any of its real estate in the event of "an attractive offer". The fund has invested in real estate since 2012 by acquiring prime commercial properties in gateway cities around the world. Mammadov also said he expected no changes in the fund's foreign currency portfolio, which comprises the U.S. dollar (65%), the euro (20%), the British pound (5%) and other currencies (10%). Increased investment in the currently weak Russian rouble and Turkish lira, which represent 1.3% of the currency portfolio, was not planned, he said. Mammadov said that SOFAZ decided not to rebalance its gold allocation, currently 13.6% of the portfolio, and temporarily postponed purchases in gold, which hit a record high in August. SOFAZ converts its foreign currency revenue into manats to finance its expenditure, including its obligations to the state budget. Mammadov said that the upper limit of transfers to the state budget in 2020 was approved at 12.2 billion manats. "Currently, the remaining balance is approximately $3.9 billion and will be transferred by the end of the year," Mammadov said. ($1=1.7 manats) (Writing by Margarita Antidze; Editing by Barbara Lewis) Drs. Michael Klein and Allon Waltuch Provide Calming Sedation Dentistry in Cedarhurst, NY Dr. Michael Klein and Dr. Allon Waltuch, the experienced prosthodontist-dentist team at Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration, raise awareness of IV sedation in Cedarhurst, NY for patients with dental anxiety. The doctors welcome fearful patients to experience calming treatment, such as full mouth dental implants, with sedation dentistry, now without the necessity of a referral. Patients who suffer from dental anxiety or phobia often delay or forgo dental care to avoid the sights, smells, and sounds of the dentist office that cause them stress or fear. Unknown to most, dental fear affects millions of Americans. Avoiding preventive check-ups at dentist appointments can result in minor dental issues, such as a cavity. However, if left untreated seemingly minor problems can become major problems that require complex treatment or emergency care. More intensive dental treatments can lead to additional anxiety and fear about visiting the dentist for problems that may have been avoided altogether with routine preventive services. Sedation dentistry makes it possible for anxious or fearful patients to receive the dental care they need to maintain a healthy mouth and improve their physical health as well. Sedation dentistry includes a variety of techniques and services that help ease dental anxiety and provide patients with a calming, pain-free dental experience. Sedation ranges from nitrous oxide and oral sedation to conscious IV sedation and general anesthesia. Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is administered through a mask worn over the nose and puts patients in a calm and euphoric state for the duration of the appointment. Oral sedation is anti-anxiety medication taken before a dental appointment to help dull feelings of anxiety or fear. IV sedation is administered intravenously for a custom and continuous level of deep relaxation, with amnesia effects. Sedation dentistry benefits patients with a range of issues, from trouble sitting still or a sensitive gag reflex to experiencing severe dental anxiety and phobia about dental procedures. Receiving sedation dentistry can help these patients experience a comfortable and relaxing appointment, whether for routine teeth cleaning or more complex surgery like dental implants. For patients who have all failing or missing teeth, especially because of poor oral health and missed dental appointments, sedation dentistry can help them receive life-changing full mouth dental implant treatment. Full mouth dental implants replace all teeth in one or both arches with a fixed bridge of strong, stable zirconia teeth secured to dental implants. The team at Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration is comprised of a prosthodontist, Dr. Klein, and a restorative dentist, Dr. Waltuch, who have been in practice for 30 years. Experts in dental implants, this team provides personalized and innovative full mouth dental implant treatment with long-term functional and aesthetic outcomes. Using advanced technologies, they can digitally mock-up each patients new smile, print surgical guides in-house with their 3D printer, ensure a comfortable experience with IV sedation, and have custom restorations created in their in-house lab, ready to secure the day of surgery. Patients with dental anxiety who need help receiving the dental care they need due to anxiety can contact the experienced team for treatment with IV sedation in Cedarhurst, NY, with or without a referral. To learn more about the benefits of sedation dentistry for such treatments as full mouth dental implants, visit http://www.advancedimplantsli.com or call 516-665-1249 for a consultation. About the Practice Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration has provided cutting-edge dental care to Cedarhurst, NY since 1989. Dr. Michael Klein is the Director of Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration in Cedarhurst, New York and has pioneered the technology used in computer-guided dental implant surgery. A prosthodontist, Dr. Klein completed specialized training in restoring complete function and esthetics to patients smiles. Dr. Allon Waltuch received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery, his fellowship in Oral Implantology, and his certification for Esthetic Dentistry from New York University. Drs. Klein and Waltuch value state-of-the-art technology that allows them to treat patients with precision, accuracy, and the highest quality results. As a result, Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration has an in-house lab offering the most innovative technology in dentistry and providing patients with the ability to complete treatment in just one day. To learn more about Drs. Klein and Waltuch and the services offered at Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration, call the office at 516-665-1249 or visit their website at http://www.advancedimplantsli.com. Vehicle warrant of fitness inspectors alarmed at illegal repairs of seatbelts have forced action from authorities. The Transport Agency has rushed in more powers to catch out the dodgy belts - but scepticism remains whether it can, or wants to, tackle the cowboys. "It has come to our attention that there is concern in the industry that vehicles are being passed for WoF and CoF with unauthorised re-webbed seatbelts," the agency says in an advisory to the industry. A black market in seatbelt repairs has grown up around confusion, even among inspectors of cars and trucks, over who can legally do what. Doug Pflaum has seen it all at the most dangerous end of the market. "It still is uncontrolled to a certain point, because there are people that will try and put seatbelts together with staples or backyard home sewing machines," says Pflaum. "I've seen little bolts going through them, and using fishing line. "So there's quite a range of inventive, but very dangerous ways of repairing them." 'Price and nothing else' Motorists were ignorant, or worse, says Pflaum. "They're usually interested in the price and nothing else." Pflaum runs the only company in the country that's allowed to repair seatbelt webbing, Autosafe of Christchurch. It won official approval only three weeks ago, eight months after passing an NZTA trial - a delay that frustrated vehicle inspectors who'd been left in the dark, desperate for clear rules. But Autosafe faces competition from some sophisticated cheats able to hoodwink the garages. "Inspectors, generally, anything that looks unsafe, they'll reject," says Pflaum. "But some of these backyard sort of places were just putting new webbing on, and the old label back on. "And it was hard for an inspector to actually pick up whether it was a replacement seatbelt or one from a wrecker." A source of the problems is an old rule in the vehicle inspection manual, called the Virm, that forbids anyone but a seatbelt manufacturer or their authorised agent from repairing webbing - and this country has no such companies (though one Australian company APV, has been able to do repairs). Into that market vacuum have moved cowboys, kept afloat by motorists who - faced with needing a whole new belt costing $800 or a legit repair at about $200 - have opted instead to shop on the cheap. "A lot of people have in the past believed that they have got it rewebbed by an authorised company and it's fine to do, when it was not," says Graeme Swan, of the Motor Trade Association. It has been made worse by cheap seatbelt parts available online from overseas, he says. The Transport Agency moved in mid-2019 to set up a trial of Autosafe, to make sure its computerised sewing machines and test rigs were up to it, before sanctioning the firm to do repairs. Autosafe passed the trial in January. Yet it did not get its letter of exemption from the old Virm rule, until 31 August. That delay, compounding industry confusion dating much further back, infuriated some inspectors who demanded action. "We received concerns from the industry about unauthorised repairs at the start of last week," the agency says in a statement to RNZ. It rushed out a technical bulletin and made the rule change "by the end of the week, to re-emphasise inspectors' requirements around seatbelt re-webbing". "This is a short timeframe and is a swift step to maintain the integrity of the vehicle inspection process." Now, for a repaired seatbelt to be accepted by an inspector it must: be recorded against the vehicle's licence plate on Autosafe's website carry a tag with a reweb exemption number on it This only applied to Autosafe but "further companies will be added to this list as they are approved,"the agency said. The agency apologised to inspectors for the rush. "We apologise for the lack of notification to this quickly developing issue." It has caught the Motor Trade Association by surprise. "It's a little concerning this all happened very, very quickly," manager of the repair sector Graeme Swan said. "Usually we'd have weeks to months to prepare for something like this. "So we're now having to scramble and let people know that things are changing." He is now contacting MTA's 1800 member garages. The irony was MTA had been pushing for years for an overall update of the whole Virm, that dated from 1998. "But it isn't on the government's rules programme for another couple of years," says Swan. Some inspectors told RNZ it was about time the agency took action, and Swan agreed the seatbelt rule change would help. "Now it's black and white who can do webbing repairs." The repair was required to meet the same strength as a new, compliant seatbelt, says the agency. The new move "offers vehicle owners with a safer alternative to seeking replacement seatbelt assemblies from a wrecker or a repair from an inferior, unsafe and uncertified repairer". Roger Davis of Seatbelt Solutions in Auckland sends belts for repair to Autosafe. He is not blaming the Transport Agency. "This has been a grey area in the rules for quite some time, and it's just a case of educating warrant of fitness places and even people like us, what we can and can't do," says Davis. "It just makes it transparent and safer when you know the sewing has been done under the NZTA authorisation and testing programme." Pflaum is sceptical of how much further authorities might go beyond issuing the new rule - which he expected might have a small impact on the black market - to actually pursuing dodgy repairers. "Particularly in Auckland, I think there's some people that do it full time," he says. "I'm pretty sure that NZTA probably know a fair number of who they are. "But I'm not sure if they think it's their job or ... why they haven't sort of put an end to it." Swan says the agency can only investigate inspectors that it appointed, not repairers, and questioned if the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment should police them. The ministry told RNZ no, and referred us to the Commerce Commission and NZTA. The Commerce Commission says it has "no specific responsibility regarding seatbelt repairs". "We enforce the Fair Trading Act 1986 which prohibits misleading and deceptive conduct and false, misleading or unsubstantiated representations in trade." The agency is urging inspectors to take photos of any non-compliant seatbelt they find, and report it. Most such repairs "are done in a way to hide that they are re-webbed". It gave clues to spotting illegal repairs: incorrectly fitted hardware such as buckles on webbing that looks new new webbing, or webbing that looks newer than the other seatbelts in the vehicle, with the same compliance tags as the original seat belts the same identification tags as the original belts with a different stitch pattern a compliance label that is different to the other seatbelts that is not from a typical manufacturer no compliance labels fitted on new webbing or a new seatbelt. -RNZ/Phil Pennington. The Anti-Corruption Bureau authorities in Hyderabad on Thursday arrested an Assistant Commissioner of Police, a day after conducting searches in his house that unearthed assets worth 70 crore, which were disproportionate to his known sources of income. The ACB authorities produced Yelamakuri Narasimha Reddy, presently working as ACP in Malkajgiri under Rachakonda police commissionerate, before a special court for ACB cases in the Nampally criminal court complex. After medical tests, he would be remanded in judicial custody. According to an official release from ACB director general J Purna Chander Rao, the ACB authorities on Wednesday conducted searches simultaneously in about 25 locations in Hyderabad city, various places in Warangal, Jangaon, Nalgonda, Karimnagar districts, and also in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. During these searches, the authorities detected documents that showed that Reddy owned 55 acres of agricultural lands at Anantapur, four plots measuring 1960 square yards of land near Cyber Towers in Madhapur in Hyderabad, two other house plots, a four-storeyed commercial complex at Hafeezpet and two houses. The searches also found unaccounted 15 lakh in cash, two bank lockers and investments in real estate and other businesses at Reddys residence, the director general said. He said the ACB had conducted searches based on the reliable information that Reddy had acquired assets disproportionate to his lawful sources of income by indulging in corrupt practices and dubious means during his service as a public servant. The searches went on till late on Wednesday night and the officials had examined and evaluated the documents recovered from the police officer. The present market value of the properties detected by the authorities was around 70 crore, the ACB official said, adding that a case of DA was registered in this regard and investigation was going on. Narsimha Reddy, who joined the police department in 1991, had worked as inspector of police at Uppal, before being promoted to the rank of ACP only recently and posted at Malkajgiri. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Armed hoodlums on Wednesday morning invaded an Assemblies of God church in Abakaliki, raped one girl and shot another in her thigh. The youth, belonging to the drama wing of the church, were said to be having an all-night rehearsal in preparation for a drama programme proposed to hold on September 25, when they were attacked by hoodlums. The attack was said to have occurred between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. in the morning at the Azuiyiokwu branch of the church. A source said that while they raped one of the girls, they shot another, who resisted their attempts to sexually assault her, in the thigh. They also reportedly stole phones belonging to some of the youth and equipment of the church. Some other youth of the church were said to have deserted the church for safety at the time of the event. When our reporter visited the church, the pastor in charge of the church was not available, but some elders of the church who spoke confirmed the report. They, however, refused to disclose the identities of the victims. Yes, what you heard is true, we were called this morning to be notified of the incident, however, we will not be able to give you all the details you require now, said one of them who didnt want to be named. Our pastor, who is in charge of this place, is not available now. He stayed awake all through the night that this thing happened and he is down now. However, the matter has been reported to the police and the girls have been taken to hospital for treatment, he added. Police spokesperson, Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident. She said the police have commenced an investigation with a view to arresting the culprits. Former President John Dramani Mahama, has said the current challenges bedeviling the Electoral Commissions voter roll exhibition exercise do not auger well for a free and fair election. The NDC flagbearer made the comment at a press conference to address issues of missing names from the register on Thursday, 24 September 2020. The voter registration exercise was charactised by bigotry and exclusion, where many citizens were crudely prevented from registering on the pretext that they were not Ghanaian. These acts of intimidation were perpetrated by the state security apparatus, which is now filled with vigilante elements loyal to the ruling NPP, with an impunity reminiscent of events that took place at Ayawaso West Wuogon early last year. He also noted that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos inability to take action on the irregularities that occurred during the registration exercise was a threat to Ghanas peace and security. What was worse and a danger to our democracy was that in spite of the glaring evidence available, the President of the republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, denied knowledge of the occurrence of these events and he actually said that as far as he was aware, everybody eligible had an opportunity to register. He also failed to take any action to forestall the recurrence of such act of political thuggery. I regret to note that these irregularities, inconsistencies and intimidation are generating anxiety among the Ghanaian public that the upcoming elections may not be free and fair. It is deeply troubling that the ongoing exhibition of the voter register has revealed significant omissions and, in some cases, the deletion of names of registered voters on a wide scale. As an interested party in the December elections, we want to state strongly that these alarming warning signs do not bode well for a free and fair elections. ---classfm The lawyer of a man accused of murdering father Raymond Harris, 27, has said that his client is 'shocked' by the allegations and has no history of violence. Jye Sebastian Webb-Italia, 18, and Jarod James Miller, 21, were both charged with one count of murder and three counts of common assault over the alleged stabbing on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night. Webb-Italia was represented by TWC Lawyer's Rodney Keyte in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday morning. His face-tattooed friend Miller also appeared in court and made a Legal Aid application to get representation from a lawyer. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Mr Keyte said his client Webb-Italia and his family were 'in a world of shock'. Jarod James Miller (left), 21, and Jye Sebastian Webb-Italia (right), 18, have been charged with one count of murder and three counts of common assault over an alleged stabbing on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night Raymond Harris (pictured), 27, was stabbed to death during a fight with a number of men that were known to him on Cavill Avenue near Orchid Avenue in Surfers Paradise at 9pm on Wednesday 'He's obviously in shock as is his family. This is something, I'm instructed, that's never happened before.' he said. 'Jye has obviously taken everything by shock. He's cut off from his family. It's hit him very hard.' Mr Harris suffered a stab wound to the torso after an alleged brawl in Surfers Paradise on Wednesday night. But Mr Keyte said the police allegations against Webb-Italia are 'very murky'. 'What the police are alleging seems to be very murky,' he said. 'They're going off CCTV footage and the action what they're describing is a slashing motion.' The lawyer confirmed a knife had been found near the scene but said there was no proof that it was the murder weapon. 'A knife has been found within the vicinity of the deceased, it hasn't been confirmed that it was the murder weapon or even involved in the incident at all,' Mr Keyte said. Miller (left) is a father of a young daughter and has facial tattoos on each side of his face while Webb-Italia's family is 'shocked' he is charged with murder Webb-Italia appeared in court on Thursday morning and his case was adjourned until October 15. The 18-year-old's co-accused Miller also appeared in court and will face court via videolink on October 15, unless he gets legal representation before then. Miller is a father of a young daughter and has facial tattoos on each side of his face. The tattoo on his right cheek says 'Stay true. BR. Laugh with many. Trust none', while the left cheek reads 'Damaged. No regrets'. He also has a number of tattoos on his arms and legs, including a number of skulls on his left leg and an anarchy symbol on his left knee. The victim, Mr Harris, was allegedly involved in an altercation with a number of men that were known to him on Cavill Avenue near Orchid Avenue in Surfers Paradise at 9pm on Wednesday. He suffered a stab wound to the torso and rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital but died a short time later. Mr Harris (left) was a father of a young girl. The young father was stabbed and rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital but died a short time later Police guard the crime scene after a 27-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death in Surfers Paradise at 9pm on Wednesday Pictures from the crime scene show blood stains, litter and clothes on the ground, which may have been where the injured man was treated The mother of Raymond's young daughter posted a tribute on Thursday morning. 'I'll never be able to handle the fact that my little girl will never get to see her daddy again,' she wrote. 'I'm so thankful that Hannie has you in her life and I'll forever be grateful of the happiness you brung to our daughter and that you loved her endlessly. 'Rest In Peace Raymond, you'll be missed.' 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. Eventually, police officers found Webb-Italia and Miller nearby and arrested them before charging both of them with murder and assault on Thursday morning. Pictures from the crime scene show blood stains, litter and clothes on the ground. Police cars are seen near Orchard Avenue and Cavill Avenue after a man was fatally stabbed on Wednesday night It's understood children witnessed the alleged assault and stabbing. '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 can't 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. Hermit Kingdom? Not quite. To pay close attention to North Korean diplomacy is to notice the many ways it upends the stereotype of the isolated, nuclear-armed wildcard of Northeast Asia. Yes, the country's propaganda services are prone to rhetoric meant to convey a sense of towering fury, mostly for domestic consumption. But before the coronavirus outbreak sealed its borders, North Korea's state media reported on a steady stream of select foreign diplomats, academics, journalists and delegations trooping up to the capital, Pyongyang. Along with scattered embassies throughout the world, the North also has a permanent mission at the in New York, where one of its diplomats will dutifully, if virtually, join other world leaders speaking at the annual UN General Assembly. The makes a point of welcoming all nations, regardless of political persuasion. But in many ways, there's a love-hate relationship between the North and the UN. And it raises a lingering question: What, exactly, does get out of membership in the On the one hand, the world body, with its jumble of nations big and small, rich and poor, powerful and weak gives North Korea, which is formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK, a rare and highly visible platform from which to respond to the criticism it faces. Most of that comes from what it considers the world's leading bully the United States and its allies. But the United Nations also generates a fair share of that criticism. It puts the North's diplomats regularly on the defensive as they battle a stream of official reports, investigations and motions that point out the North's abysmal human rights record, its decades-long, coffers-draining pursuit of nuclear-tipped long-range missiles and other charges of infamy. One important thing the North gets from the UN: a direct point of contact with the 192 other member nations, including a host of countries that would be loath to send their diplomats to pay homage in Pyongyang the US pre-eminent among them. The two nations don't have formal diplomatic ties, and Washington relies on Sweden as its consular proxy in Pyongyang. This means the North's UN mission in New York is something of a substitute for an official embassy in Washington. When one side needs quick contact with the other, they often use the so-called New York channel at the UN. A good example of the importance of the New York channel came as the two sides were working out details of the three extraordinary summits between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in 2018 and 2019. With the United Nations, gets an excellent venue to work bilateral conversations with every country in the world without having to deploy diplomats in member capitals (at great expense), or have them travel to Pyongyang, said John Bolton, who has served as both the US ambassador to the UN under George W Bush and as National Security Adviser under Donald Trump. The criticisms of will come anyway, and having a UN mission gives the DPRK proximity to media markets and universities in order to respond," he said in an email. He added: "The opportunities for DPRK intelligence gathering go without saying. The usefulness of the UN for the North is perhaps most obvious during times of high tension. In 2017, for instance, when animosity and back-and-forth threats between Trump and Kim had many fearing the possibility of war, North Korean officials used the media at the UN to repeatedly respond to Trump, holding several press conferences and reaching out directly to reporters with statements. It's true that quite a lot of what comes out of the UN is not to the North's liking, and its diplomats have stormed out of gatherings critical of the country's human rights, considered among the world's worst. But then they've also used the body to amplify their side of things. Part of the North's approach to diplomacy is the result of its turbulent history, and the outsized role the US and the UN play in it. North Korea was born when the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonialism at the end of World War II, only to be forcibly divided into a Soviet-backed north and US-supported south. Three years later, North Korea and South Korea became nations. Two years after that, in 1950, North Korea sneak-attacked the South to start the bloody three-year Korean War. That drew in China on the North's side and the US and a host of other nations fighting under the UN flag on the South's. That war has never technically ended, and the line between the North and South is the most heavily armed border in the world. These days, aside from the North's operations at the UN, there's little reason to expect the kind of diplomacy that came in 2018, with Kim Jong Un meeting with leaders from the US, Russia, China, Vietnam and South Korea. Kim is facing domestic crises on several fronts: a crumbling economy battered by unrelenting sanctions; a ragged infrastructure that's been pummeled by a string of typhoons; and the COVID pandemic, which has caused North Korea to seal its borders even with China, its economic lifeline. Still, the UN speech at the General Assembly next week will be an opportunity for the North to take to the world stage and express its own vision of nationhood the storyline of a proud, beset people who have been forced to embrace nuclear weapons to survive against unrelenting hostility from the US, South Korea and their allies. (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.) Register with JOC.com and receive 5 free pieces of content for the first thirty days. After thirty days, you will receive 3 pieces of content and after sixty days you will receive 1 piece of content. To receive full access, Subscribe Today . You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter. Register Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: La policia esta en la primera linea de defensa de los ciudadanos ante el COVID-19. Les agradezco, en nombre del Gobierno y de todos los peruanos, por todo el trabajo de servicio que realizan. pic.twitter.com/4yJM5IXvpM Over the past year Ukraine had proved it is willing to achieve peace, the president stressed. The next steps toward resolving the conflict in Donbas should be the withdrawal of the illegal armed groups and the return of Ukraine's control over the state border, President Volodymyr Zelenksy told the UN General Assembly. Over the past year, Ukraine has proved its desire to establish peace in Donbas and hopes for further unity and support of the international community in resolving the conflict peacefully, Zelensky noted, speaking at the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, September 23. The Ukrainian leader noted that a comprehensive ceasefire was enforced in Donbas on July 27, which, despite enemy attempts to disrupt it, gives hope for a sustainable "silence," the President's Office reported. "The next steps on this path should be: withdrawal of illegal armed groups and weapons from the occupied territories, return of control over the state border and, finally, restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders," the president said. Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that over the past year Ukraine had proved it is willing to achieve peace. "We managed to unblock the dialogue, we resumed meetings of the leaders of the Normandy format countries, we made significant progress in the mutual release of detainees," the president said. Read alsoCrimea invaders force locals to drop Ukrainian passports envoy to UNThe president expressed gratitude to Ukraine's international partners for helping and supporting the country in the peaceful settlement of the Donbas conflict. "We look forward to further unity of the international community on this issue. I am convinced that the UN should play an important role in restoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as the authority of international law," Volodymyr Zelensky said. Donbas ceasefire: Background The advertising landscape in Ghana has seen a tremendous evolution over the years due to advanced technology and better marketing strategies from top-notch companies in the country. Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Some of the adverts that graced our TV screen with the invention of mass media were hilarious to say the least. Other adverts that came along the line, proved to be so popular that they became adopted into everyday life. Some of the strategies used in the TV commercials sought to tell stories before bringing out the main reason for the advert. Some companies also adopted the use of animations to advertise their brands, products and services. There were times that some companies also used their adverts to sort of degrade products and services of their competitors. Today, YEN.com.gh brings to you some of the very classic adverts (from our point of view) that would bring a lot of memories from the past. 1. Tigo's honey Coochiecoochie 2. Vodafone's ad that was made into a series 3. Pure evaporated milk 4. Vodafone's Blackberry Offer 5. Keysoap's Medofo Pa 6. The contraceptive advert that shows during the airing of "Things We Do For Love" 7. Tigo's advert 8. UTV's advert Meanwhile, Dr Ayisha Baffoe-Ashun has shattered glass ceilings and has blazed the path for other women after it was reported that she had become the first-ever female PhD holder in Architecture. She set this enviable record at Ghana's prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Dr Ayisha Ida Baffoe-Ashun formerly known as Ayisha Ida Haruna would hold her head up high as the primus inter pares and would look to see other exceptional women blaze the trail she has set. She became the first woman to receive a Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) by dint of hard work and dedication to make a name for herself. Dr Ayisha Baffoe-Ashun is currently an assistant lecturer at the renowned KNUST and with her latest feat, a huge promotion would be in the offing due to her latest certificate. 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 Additional 37 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded. This has pushed the total number of confirmed cases to 46,153. 11 out of the total number of new cases were among travelers who arrived at the Kotoka International Airport. This has increased the number of cases recorded at the airport to 29 since it was reopened to air traffic. The Ghana Health Service (GHS) latest update has confirmed. The GHS also indicated that the number of clinical recoveries has risen to 45,299. However, two more deaths related to the infection have been recorded. This has increased the death toll to 299. Active case count is now 555. (Natural News) Speaking to Axios during a recent video interview, Mark Zuckerberg openly admitted that the plan at Facebook is to squelch all information about the election that in any way suggests a result can be known on election day. As we previously covered, Zuckerberg is already planning for the election results to take days or even weeks to arrive, suggesting that the fix is in for mail-in ballots to produce a Joe Biden and Kamala Harris victory. 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, a nervous Zuckerberg, looking cyborg as ever, told Axios. The fact that Zuckerberg feels the need to prepare his platforms users and the American public at large for a contentious election suggests that chaos, the likes of which this country has not seen since the Civil War, is unfortunately on the agenda. Not only that, but there may never be an election result that the nation accepts, which seems to be what Zuckerberg is indicating. 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 further explained about how Facebook is planning to tackle any Nov. 3 election results that one side or the other says are invalid. Will Americans allow Democrats to steal the 2020 election? Because it is significantly more difficult to tamper with in-person ballots, Democrats are pushing, in some states successfully, to have mail-in ballots sent out to voters as an alternative. States that have agreed to allow this have indicated, just like Zuckerberg admitted, that the process could take several days or weeks past Nov. 3 to sort out. This is concerning in light of the fact that mail-in voting is wrought with fraud. A former Democrat-turned-whistleblower told the New York Post that he spent years leading a team of staff whose job it was to replace mail-in ballots with fraudulent ones, as one example. Mail-in ballots also require no identification, which is how homeless, senile and dead people have been able to vote with them, thanks to a little bit of help from their neighborhood Democrats. A local news station in Pennsylvania, a swing state, conducted a vote-by-mail experiment revealing that up to three percent of the mock ballots it tracked were lost in the mail. Three percent, it turns out, is enough to swing an election. Real-life mail-in voting in Michigans primary election revealed similar fraud. More than 10,000 ballots had to be rejected because of anomalies, 846 of which included dead people who were caught voting. Rather than admit that mail-in voting comes with immense risks, Zuckerberg and the tech cabal are instead trying to conceal the truth while seizing control of the narrative. Heck, even Twitter put a fact check on a tweet by President Trump warning that mail-in voting is rife with fraud, as if pointing this out somehow constitutes spreading misinformation. 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, writes Allum Bokhari for Breitbart News. 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. More related news about the election can be found at Chaos.news. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com An Auburn company which landed a big federal contract to produce vials for the expected COVID-19 vaccine will now also supply them for Canada. SiO2 Materials Science has announced a supply agreement for hybrid vials and syringes for the government of Canada. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the company is expected to supply up to 80 million doses. Anita Anand, minister for public services and procurement for Canada, said the contracts will prove essential for efficiently distributing and administering a vaccine when the time comes. Delivery of the vials and syringes will being next month. We understand the urgency and importance of this effort. The unique qualities of SiO2s technology are well-placed to meet the demands of sensitive COVID-19 vaccines, Lawrence Ganti, president and chief business officer of SiO2, said. The company currently employs more than 200 engineers, scientists and technicians, most of whom live in Lee County and are Auburn University graduates. In July the company announced a $163 million expansion, expected to create 220 jobs. SiO2 Materials Science has developed patented materials which are a combination of plastic containers with a microscopic, thin, pure glass coating for drugs and vaccines. The packaging was developed in Auburn over 10 years with experts from four major U.S. research institutions - the University of California, Santa Barbara and Berkeley, University of Chicago, MIT and Harvard. New Delhi: As many as two dozen farmer organisations, including Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), All India Farmers Union (AIFU), All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), and All India Kisan Mahasangh (AIKM), have come together for the 'Bharat Bandh' on Friday (September 25) to protest against farm Bills passed by Parliament amid massive protests from 18 political parties. According to reports, 31 farmer organisations in Punjab and Haryana are already on protest and they want to convey their concerns to the government on Friday through the bandh call. Farmers` unions have requested farmers to come out in open to oppose the bills as Bharatiya Kisan Union has reportedly said that "On September 25 there will be farmers` curfew, blockade and till purchase of produce as per MSP is guaranteed in the law the agitation will go on." Rakesh Tikait of the BKU has appealed its members to come out in large numbers. The farmers have also received support from 18 political parties including the Congress which has governments in four states, TMC in West Bengal, Left in Kerala, AAP in Delhi, TRS in Telangana. Odisha's ruling party BJD, however, demanded the Bills be sent to a select committee. Live TV In Chandigarh, the Punjab Youth Congress organised a statewide `8 Vaje 8 Minute Mashal March` on September 24 to support the Punjab bandh call of farmers agitating against the "anti-farmers" bill passed by the Modi government. In a press statement, Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) president Brinder Singh Dhillon said that the PYC extends full support to the farmers' organisations staging statewide dharnas against the bills. Meanwhile, Several trains were suspended on Thursday as farmers began a three-day `rail roko` campaign against the recently passed Farm Bills. The Ferozepur Railway division decided to suspend the operation of special trains till September 26 in view of the safety of passengers, a rail official told IANS. The trains that were suspended include Golden Temple Mail (Amritsar-Mumbai Central), Jan Shatabdi Express (Haridwar-Amritsar), New Delhi-Jammu Tawi, Sachkhand Express (Nanded-Amritsar), and Shaheed Express (Amritsar-Jaynagar). Activists of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) staged a sit-in protest on rail tracks in Barnala and Sangrur towns. Notably, 31 farmer organisations in Punjab cutting across party lines on Wednesday announced a joint statewide protest to be held on Friday. These organisations have given a call for a complete `Punjab bandh` on September 25. Earlier on September 20, the Rajya Sabha passed the Farmers` Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill amid protest from Opposition parties. Farmers now would be able to take their produce anywhere -- inter-state or intra-state -- beyond Agricultural produce market committees (APMCs). The state governments cannot levy any fee or cess on farmers, according to the bills. The Centre, however, stated that these bills will help small and marginal farms by allowing them to sell produce outside mandis and sign agreements with agri-business firms; and doing away with stock-holding limits on key commodities. The farmers` unions have reportedly stated that the problem with the Bills goes beyond MSP to the whole issue of phasing out the `mandis`. The farmers are far more vulnerable to exploitation outside the `mandi` system and they are producers, not agri-businesses, the unions have said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) Shell Philippines is scouting for a buyer for its stake in the Malampaya natural gas facility, saying it will divest from the project to preserve its financial footing. Shell Exploration B.V. or SPEX announced that it is looking to "rationalize" its local portfolio, starting with its 45 percent interest and operator status in the Malampaya gas-to-power project. "As part of an ongoing portfolio rationalization to simplify and increase the resilience of its business, Shell is exploring its options with a view to divest its interest in SC38 (Malampaya)," SPEX managing director and general manager Don Paulino said in a statement. The Malampaya facility is located off the coast of Palawan and is near the West Philippine Sea, an area believed to be rich in oil deposits. Shell started commercial oil exploration and extraction efforts in 2001, with a second rig platform opened in 2015. Oil reserves are 2,990 meters below sea level, with wells located 820 meters deep in the water. Businessman Dennis Uy, also an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, already owns a stake in the Malampaya project after Shell's original partner Chevron sold its 45 percent stake in 2019. Uy owns Phoenix Petroleum. Now, Shell is looking to do the same. "Shell would ensure a smooth transition of the asset to a credible buyer who would be well placed to optimize the value from Malampaya," the company said. Shell's main business in the country remains to be the sale of petroleum products, especially through gasoline stations for retail customers. Another businessman, Manny Pangilinan, is keen on the Malampaya facility. He also offered to acquire the project last year, but Uy beat him into securing Chevron's stake. READ: Private firm wants to develop Malampaya even after it runs dry A subsidiary of Pangilinan-led PXP Energy holds the service contract to drill for oil in the waters of Recto Bank, also known as Reed Bank. However, that project has been mothballed given China's conflicting territorial claim to the area. Earlier this month, both Uy's Udenna Corp. and Pangilinan's PXP submitted bids for oil exploration deals near Recto Bank. The government is in the middle of talks for a joint oil and gas exploration deal with China in these disputed waters, with a 60-40 sharing agreement eyed in favor of the Philippines. The search for additional oil reserves proves crucial for local supply. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi earlier said that the Malampaya reservoir is only good until 2027, while the contract with the Department of Energy ends in 2024. The Malampaya consortium has been requesting since 2008 for a 15-year contract extension. RELATED: DOE eyes own marine exploration vessel A free range egg producer is planning to create a new 8m farm near Maidstone which will accommodate more than 190,000 hens. The proposed Wealden Woods Free Range Farm will be situated on land at Reed Court Farm at Chainhurst, in the Weald of Kent. The farm would produce around 60 million free range eggs per year, Kent-based egg producer Fridays Ltd said. Over the last decade the producer has expanded its production of free range eggs to meet growing UK demand, and to help reduce imports from Europe. The project would also include the planting of more than 20 hectares of woodland and a new public access route. The company said the farm would support the UK's need for locally produced food, aid the country's transition to free range egg production and contribute to the rural economy. Graham Fuller, production manager at Fridays, said: "Like our other nearby free range farms, we will operate to the highest standards of animal welfare and our approach has been praised by the highly respected organisation Compassion in World Farming. "If approved, we will be able to plant 36,000 trees, which is more three times the number of trees at the National Pinetum at Bedgebury." Alongside woodland planting, the three hen houses will have solar panels installed - with the overall aim to make the farm carbon neutral. A planning application will be submitted to Maidstone Borough Council later this year, Fridays said. A Turkish lawyer who died after a lengthy hunger strike in jail, and her still-imprisoned lawyer sister were on Thursday awarded a major human rights prize. "The jury has chosen to remind the world the martyrdom suffered by Turkish lawyers today," Bertrand Favreau, president of the Ludovic Trarieux Award jury, told AFP. The international prize was awarded to Ebru Timtik, who died last month after a 238-day hunger strike to protest against her imprisonment on terror-related accusations, and her sister Barkin, who is serving a lengthy sentence on similar charges. The prize committee, which made its announcement in Geneva Thursday, had wanted to honour and show its "gratitude" to both sisters, "one jailed for 18 years and the other dead from a hunger strike as she demanded a fair trial," Favreau said. Ebru, weighed just 30 kilogrammes (65 pounds) when she died at the age of 42 on August 27, according to her friends. Her death drew condemnation from around the world. She had been serving a 13-year-sentence, and her younger sister Barkin, 38, is still serving her sentence of 18 years and nine months handed down in March 2019. Both were members of the Contemporary Lawyers' Association (CHD), a group accused of having close ties to the outlawed Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), a far-left Marxist organisation. The DHKP-C has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks in Turkey, including a 2013 suicide bombing at the US embassy in Ankara, which killed a Turkish security guard. The Ludovic Trarieux Award is an annual prize which recognises lawyers of any nationality who have sought to defend human rights, often at great risk to themselves. The award was named after Trarieux, who in 1898 founded France's Human Rights League (LDH). Its first laureate was anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, who was awarded the prize in 1985, and who would remain in prison for another five years before emerging to become South Africa's first black president. In 2019, the prize was given to Rommel Duran Castellanos, a young lawyer defending exploited farmers in Colombia. And in 2018 it went to Iranian rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, 57, who is currently on hunger strike while serving a 12-year sentence after defending women arrested for protesting compulsory headscarf laws. A coalition of farmers groups across the country have called for a mass protest and a Bharat bandh on Friday, September 25, to oppose the Farm Bills passed by Parliament. Meanwhile, the Narcotics Control Bureau, which is probing an alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus, has summoned actresses Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh for questioning. Deepika has been called to record her statement on Friday, September 25, the day of the farmers's protests. Dominic Xavier is puzzled by the timing of the NCB summons to Bollywood's reigning empress. Clearly, the television 'news' channels in thrall to the regime will play up whatever leaks are served up on Deepika's appearance at the NCB. We wager that the farmer protests will be just another item on the news ticker on said news channels. After all, no one practises the unsubtle art of distraction as you know who :). Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com ALBANY Two Republican state senators on Wednesday called for the leaders of four Democratic-led committees to subpoena the state Department of Health for information on the number of COVID-19 deaths in New York nursing homes. Enough stonewalling on nursing home deaths, senators James Tedisco and Sue Serino said in joint news releases. They said Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and state health Commissioner Howard Zucker "need to show us the numbers." One thing we can agree with our legislative colleagues on is that accurate and reliable data should drive smart public health decisions," wrote Gary Holmes, the Department's spokesman, in an emailed statement. "So not only are we carefully reviewing all previous data, as the commissioner committed to, but we're also requiring confirmatory and post mortem testing for anybody who may have had COVID-19 or flu symptoms, or exposure to someone who did, to ensure data integrity." On Aug. 20, the chairs of the state Senates Health, Investigations and Aging committees, as well as the Administrative Regulatory Review Commission, requested answers from Zucker to 17 questions about how nursing homes have handled the coronavirus pandemic. The questions focused on testing procedures, the availability of personal protective equipment and a detailed breakdown on fatalities, including how many nursing home residents died in hospitals. The authors requested a response to their questions within three weeks. They have since received no information from the Cuomo administration. Serino and Tedisco directed the letter to the Democratic chairs of the four committees senators Gustavo Rivera, James Skoufis, Rachel May and Simcha Felder. Sheri Tov, a spokesman for Felder, confirmed that the senator has not received responses to the Aug. 20 questions and said the senator is "currently in discussion with his colleagues as to their next step." The two Republicans say the next step is to subpoena the information. Through their inaction, the Legislature proves time and again that they are not making this issue the priority it should be. The chairs set the timeline for DOH to respond to a set of basic questions that were posed publicly at the hearings," Serino, the ranking member of the Senate's Aging Committee, said in a release. "Here we are weeks after the deadline they established, without answers, and they remain radio silent." The lack of transparency on the part of the DOH in response to your inquiry is very troubling and indicative of a potential cover-up, Serino and Tedisco wrote. In addition to subpoenas, they asked for support of legislation to create an independent investigator with subpoena power to look into the nursing home deaths. The number of nursing home residents who died from COVID-19 a crisis Cuomo described earlier this year as "like fire through dry grass" remains unclear. The two Republicans aren't the only ones pressing for more information on nursing home deaths. The right-leaning Empire Center for Public Policy is suing the health department under the state's Freedom of Information Law for access to that information. The Cuomo administration has pointed to a data point that nursing home deaths in the state are only 20 percent of all COVID-19 deaths, far lower than other states where that figure is as high as 60 percent. But critics say that number is not counting older people who were infected with COVID-19 at nursing homes, hospitalized at outside facilities and then died of the virus there. As we said after Sen. Tediscos publicity stunt last week, the truth may be inconvenient for their politics, but as has been the case with many other states it was found that the main source of infection in nursing homes was, through no fault of their own, asymptomatic staffers," said Richard Azzopardi, senior advisor to the governor. President Akufo-Addo has sacked the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sekyere East at Effiduase in the Ashanti Region, Mary Boatemaa Marfo. A statement signed by Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kwasi Boateng Adjei, made the dismissal of the DCE known. According to the statement, Mr Akufo-Addo's decision is in accordance with Article 243(3)(b) of the 1992 Constitution, takes immediate effect. Background The DCE was heard on a leaked tape plotting the defeat of the Member of Parliament for Effiduase/Asokore constituency, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie. She is reported to have vowed to work against the NPP in the constituency in the 2020 election. In the leaked audio, the DCE is heard in a conversation with a party member saying that she will do all she can to frustrate voters, thereby, reducing the votes of the NPP and the MP, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie. Me l will not tell you who to vote for, it in your head but we will reduce the votes so that the President will see that Ayew Afriyie is a nobody, she is heard in the leaked audio. ---Daily Guide Veteran MPP Jim Wilson, who was defenestrated from the Progressive Conservative caucus by Premier Doug Ford two years ago, will not seek re-election. Wilson, a senior cabinet minister in the governments of premiers Mike Harris and Ernie Eves, was removed from the PC benches by Ford after a sexual harassment complaint from a male staffer, which led the MPP to seek treatment for alcohol use. He has represented Simcoe-Grey, one of the safest Tory seats in Ontario, since 1990 and currently sits as an Independent. I have today formally informed the Simcoe-Grey Progressive Conservative riding association that I will not be seeking the party nomination to run as their candidate in the next Ontario provincial election, nor will I run as an Independent candidate, Wilson said Thursday. It has been my privilege and pleasure to have represented the riding for more than 30 years, he said. I want to congratulate Premier Ford and my colleagues in his government for the exceptional work they are doing leading Ontarios response to the most challenging health crisis the world has seen in generations, said the former health minister. Together we can defeat COVID-19. Wilson has spoken candidly about his addiction and admitted to his misbehaviour. Once I went to rehab I think the complainant was happy that I undertook every measure that I could to get my life back under control and to make amends, he said upon his return to the legislature last year. I need more time to heal and to look after my condition and I need to time to reconnect with my constituents, so thats what Im going to do. While Ford moved quickly to turf Wilson in November 2018 after the male staffer complained, the episode was personally difficult for the premier. As a former interim party leader and seasoned minister, Wilson was my security blanket in cabinet, Ford said. Thats because he wasnt shy about speaking truth to power and, as one of only two ministers with any cabinet experience in an executive council full of rookies, he understood how government worked. The next Ontario election is scheduled for June 2022. Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: The HSE has unveiled its unprecedented and ambitious winter plan which could see the recruitment of an additional 12,000 staff and hundreds of extra acute beds by early next year. More than 570 new beds will be provided under the plan as well as 4.7 million additional home support hours. It will involve additional spending of 600 million euro for the rest of this year and into early next year. There are currently 282 ICU beds across Irelands hospitals, however under the plan there will be an extra 17 critical care beds. HSE chief operations officer Anne OConnor said they plan to recruit more than 12,000 staff. Delighted to announce at the launch of the @HSELive #winterplan 10 additional #Dementia Advisors @alzheimersocirl this is a cause I have long championed through my work on All Party Oireachtas Committee @Fiona_Kildare @ColetteKelleher @IrishDementiaWG https://t.co/wkvrohO2yA pic.twitter.com/j2y4ZYFjHX Mary Butler TD (@MaryButlerTD) September 24, 2020 We are being very ambitious with this plan, we have to be because of the challenge we are facing, she added. By the end of the year the HSE hope to recruit an additional 5,000 staff with half of those brought in for testing and tracing. Next year we have a further ambitious target of just over 7,500 staff across all disciplines. The plan also pledges to cut trolley count by 30% and provide 20,000 extra planned procedures. Dr OConnor said there will be almost 45,000 additional cancer appointments across all services. HSE chief executive Paul Reid said the months ahead will be more difficult than ever. He said: We are living with Covid-19, we are living differently, however we have planned differently and we have to take confidence in our winter plan. By ensuring agility and innovative healthcare measures, we can prioritise the health and wellbeing of our staff and the public, through the provision of healthcare pathways in the community and in our hospitals. He warned, however of the increasing volumes of positive cases in the last seven days, over 1,930 cases, an increase of 32% compared to the previous week. Mr Reid also said there is an increase in hospital admissions, which include 110 people between September 8 and 21, with 15 patients admitted to ICU. Of those cases, 53 are aged 65 and over. There have been 13 hospital admissions of people aged under the age of 25. We all need to know the signs of #COVID19. If you have a cough, fever, breathing difficulties or experience changes in your sense of taste or smell it might mean you have it & could pass it on. If you have any symptoms, self-isolate & phone your GP for a free consultation. pic.twitter.com/DIXGeTNeIl HSE Ireland (@HSELive) September 23, 2020 Mr Reid also warned about the growth of peoples contacts, rising to an average of six people compared with two in recent weeks. Mr Reid added that all services within hospitals have been restored, but warned that a small number of Covid-19 cases can have an impact. He said that three wards in Dublins Beaumont Hospital were forced to shut because of the need to isolate Covid patients. I want to make a big plea to the public to support us in this plan, he added. We do really need to protect our health care workers as we go into the winter. He said there is an increased number of healthcare workers who have had to self-isolate with Covid-19. There is an urgent need for everyone to take this seriously again, he added. He called on people to protect frontline workers by reducing their number of contacts and the people visiting their home. Speaking about the plan, Mr Reid described it as an unprecedented investment for health services in Ireland. We do really need to protect our health care workers as we go into the winter Paul Reid He added: Its about protecting the public, patients and staff and the continued functioning of our services and providing extra capacity to our acute system. He said that, as well as the capacity to carry out 100,000 Covid-19 tests per week, they have additional surge capacity of 2,000 tests per day in the German laboratories. Mr Reid said Covid-19 provides unpredictability and that the Government investment gives health services the support to build resistance and deal with coronavirus. Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler said: The investment in the plan of over 600 million euro demonstrates how seriously the Governments view the challenges that we can all see are coming toward us over the winter period. It is vital that the winter can achieves essentially of building capacity, ensuring that services continue and supporting and enhancing alternative care pathways, especially those in the community. On Wednesday, the announcement that the officers who shot Taylor would not face charges set off demonstrations around the country. In Louisville, two police officers were shot Wednesday night. One officer was struck in the hip and was treated and released from the hospital Thursday. The other was in stable condition with an injury to the abdomen. Police arrested a suspect but declined to comment about a motive for the shootings. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Scott Baradell, Idea Grove Founder and CEO Election Day is the single most important day for our democracy; it should be honored and celebrated. All of us including Americas employers should do what we can to make voting easier, said Idea Grove CEO Scott Baradell. Idea Grove, a Dallas-based unified PR and marketing agency for B2B technology companies, today announced that it has joined A Day for Democracy, a nonpartisan initiative that encourages CEOs to provide time off for employees to vote and otherwise participate in elections at all levels. Election Day is the single most important day for our democracy; it should be honored and celebrated. All of us including Americas employers should do what we can to make voting easier, said Idea Grove CEO Scott Baradell. For this reason, Idea Grove is adding Election Day as a paid holiday for our employees, not only on Nov. 3, but every two years from now on. We also are encouraging and supporting every employees efforts to take part in the election process by becoming a paid poll worker, volunteering at the polls or in other wayssuch as providing childcare, elder care or rides to the polls so that others in the community can vote. Election-related deadlines are quickly approaching in Texas and nationwide. October 5 is the last day to register to vote in Texas, and October 23 is the deadline to request an absentee ballot for those voters who qualify. Additionally, early voting in Texas runs from October 13 to October 30. Even though Election Day is now a holiday at Idea Grove, we recommend to our employees that they beat the crowds by voting during the early voting period, Baradell said. Because high turnout and long lines are expected on Election Day, we urge all Americans to vote prior to Nov. 3 if possible. Some specific ways to get involved in this years election process include: Check online to ensure youre registered to vote. Vote.org informs you of your registration status, offers polling locations as well as highlighting key dates and information needed to get registered. Volunteer in your community. Become a poll worker (during early voting or day-of) to assist voters. Become a deputy registrar to officially register voters. Or find ways to help those communities that may need voting assistance. Spread the word in your workplace, community and online. Keep it nonpartisan, simple and focused on how to vote, with straightforward information on candidates and any relevant ballot information. Review and share up-to-date COVID-19 information. Voting can be done very safely, so make a plan and prepare in advance to protect yourself and your loved ones. To learn more about A Day for Democracy and to get involved, visit the initiatives website for resources, information and support. About Idea Grove Since 2005, Idea Grove has distinguished itself as that rare agency that truly understands growth-oriented B2B technology companies and their buyers. Idea Groves unified PR and marketing service offering has been built from the ground up with the specific challenges of B2B tech in mind, including grasping complex technologies, maintaining momentum through long sales cycles, and influencing the decision-making of both business and IT buyers. Idea Grove can be reached at inquiries@ideagrove.com or 972.235.3439. Gov. Phil Murphy will discuss the coronavirus with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations leading infectious disease expert during a Facebook Live on Thursday morning. The conversation between the governor and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases begins at 11:15 and will be streamed on Murphys Facebook page. Murphy and Fauci will chat days after New Jersey surpassed 200,000 cases of COVID-19 and the U.S. moved above the 200,000 death mark. Questions for Fauci can be left here or here. Use the hashtag #AskFauciNJ. NEW: Ill be live in conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci to discuss COVID-19 and its impact on New Jersey this Thursday, September 24th, at 11:15 AM at https://t.co/JVJ4vWp29Z. Leave your questions for Dr. Fauci below or use the hashtag #AskFauciNJ. pic.twitter.com/nO66KYKDgp Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 22, 2020 Appearing before a committee in the U.S. Senate Wednesday, Fauci again sounded a hopeful note that a vaccine against the deadly virus is forthcoming. We feel cautiously optimistic that we will be able to have a safe and effective vaccine, although there is never a guarantee of that, Fauci said. The 79-year-old physician told the Senate committee 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, Fauci said Wednesday, singling out mask-less crowds in bars. Going forward, we need uniformity throughout the country. There have been 14,291 deaths caused by the coronavirus in New Jersey since March and another 1,791 fatalities that officials list as probably due to the novel virus. On Tuesday, state officials announced seven additional deaths and 430 more cases. There were 459 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases in the states 71 hospitals as of Tuesday night about a 95 percent decline from the mid-April peak of more than 8,000. The rate of transmission ticked up to 1.15. Any number above 1 indicates the virus is spreading. 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. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. With notes of 70s rock, disco and punk, the AW20 collection offers an interchangeable mix of party-anywhere pieces with tailored separates. Mood board references include David Bowie's gender-fluid flair. The collection's key pieces comprise of a tailored bright blue suit with a nipped-in waist, a strong-shouldered recycled Italian wool grey coat, and recycled polyester frilled blouses. A decadent color palette of azure blue and malachite green is offset by pops of champagne pink, alongside marbled bespoke prints inspired by Italian palazzos. The campaign's exclusive social media filter hopes to encourage H&M's audience to get involved. Customers are invited to share their personal styling of the collection, along with the campaign talent on social media. Giphy stickers will also be available to inspire playful customization. "The AW20 Studio collection muse is not afraid to challenge the status quo. This collection is for those that celebrate being oneself above all else. We hope our customers feel inspired to dress with a carefree, rebellious attitude," says Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor at H&M. "In keeping with H&M's strive for innovation, the H&M Studio team experimented with an exciting new campaign format for AW20. Adapted for today's climate, this new way of working gives our global cast the creative freedom to style, photograph and express themselves in the comfort of their own space. We hope the new collection and campaign encourages everyone to celebrate their style," says Kattis Bahrke, Head of Creative Marketing and Communications at H&M. For celebrity images, click here For still-life images, click here For campaign images, click here To shop collection, click here Contact Information: Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE H&M Related Links www.hm.com It came as worker representatives have pulled out of the Low Pay Commission over a disagreement on what the new national minimum wage should be and Ms McDonald criticised the Governments approach to support payments. Just yesterday, Mr Martin told Ms McDonald to stop the hypocrisy in response to her criticism of the Government for approving 10 new special advisors for junior ministers with a starting salary of 67,000. Can you... move beyond your source of delusional reverie and into the real world with the rest of us. Youve cut the PUP (pandemic unemployment payment). We have a Low Pay Commission that wont deal with low pay. Is this your version of we are all in this together, Ms McDonald said today. Can you set out for us and move beyond your source of delusional reverie and into the real world with the rest of us, and can you address those low paid workers that youve excluded from your wage subsidy scheme, those that will be hurt by your PUP payment, she added. Advertisement The Taoiseach hit back at Ms McDonalds criticism, saying the Sinn Fein leader was trying to spread untruths. You use every situation to tell the untruths, and not to tell the truth... Youre fundamentally wrong. You use every situation to tell the untruths, and not to tell the truth, in relation to the reality out there. Youre wrong in terms of wage subsidy scheme. Youre fundamentally wrong, he said. Were still at approximately 750,000 workers supported by the State right now, so to try and create the impression that the Government is out to get people is outrageous. Minimum wage The Government has come under increasing fire for its cut to the PUP as it approved new special advisors for 10 junior ministers. A disagreement over what the new national minimum wage should be has now also caused a split in the Low Pay Commission, which makes recommendations to Government about what the rate should be. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) wants the rate, which is currently 10.10 an hour, to increase by two per cent next year. The gap between the minimum wage and living wage is 2.20 per hour. However, other Commission members were not prepared to propose an increase of more than one per cent, which amounts to 10 cent per hour. ICTU General Secretary Patricia King said the union had withdrawn from the Commission as the proposal was unacceptable: You are talking here about people who were identified in the pandemic as essential workers, people who work in parts of the retail sector. These are people who we applauded during the pandemic, people whom I would regard as underpaid and undervalued. We have to say we cannot agree an increase that is less than is applicable in other sectors. Tension prevailed in five villages in Chhattisgarh's Kondagaon district after a mob of locals allegedly vandalised the houses of some Christian families. While the police said on Thursday that the situation was under control, the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum (CCF) demanded a high-level probe. A police force has been deployed to prevent any untoward incident in Kakdabeda, Singanpur, Tiliyabeda, Silati and Jondrabeda villages under Kondagaon police station limits, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said. "There are a few families which have been following Christianity for the last five-six years. The tribal community in these villages had some issues with these people who allegedly did not follow local customs and observe local festivals," he said. "This led to tension in the area," the IG said. "After being alerted about the situation, senior officials reached the spot on Wednesday and pacified the villagers. Presently the situation is peaceful," he added. Asked about the CCF's demand for an FIR against those accused of vandalising houses, the IG said, "The police would take all necessary legal action to maintain peace and order." President of CCF Arun Pannalal alleged that a mob of around 2,000 villagers ransacked the houses of at least 14 Christian families and also thrashed members of the community in Kakdabeda, Silati and Singanpur on September 22 and 23. These families, with over 50 members, were being pressurised to quit their faith, he alleged. "Despite the presence of police and government officials, houses were vandalised in the last two days. So far, no FIR has been registered," Pannalal added. The victim families have arrived in Raipur and will move the High Court, he said. "We demand a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the victim families, immediate registration of FIR and a high-level inquiry by a retired HC judge or district judge," he said. Lawmakers took issue with Mr. Packs decision in June to fire the heads of four of the news outlets under his purview and replace the bipartisan board that oversaw them with allies of the Trump administration. He was also excoriated for withholding the approval of work visas for at least 76 foreign journalists at Voice of America, saying they were security risks because of administrative lapses in their background screenings. Representative Eliot L. Engel, Democrat of New York and the chairman of the committee, said Mr. Pack was making a mockery of the agency, and Representative John Curtis, Republican of Utah, said he wished Mr. Pack had appeared because in his absence were left to speculate as to his motives and they just dont sound good. Representatives from the U.S. Agency for Global Media did not respond to any of the concerns about Mr. Packs leadership that lawmakers or witnesses raised at the hearing. They pointed to a letter he wrote the committee saying that his absence was because of pressing and complex matters and that he would be willing to testify at a later date. Mr. Trump nominated Mr. Pack to the role in 2018, but Republicans and Democrats held up his nomination over concerns he would undermine the news agencys editorial independence. They were also concerned about an investigation underway into whether he had illegally enriched himself to $1.6 million. In June, the Senate confirmed him after Mr. Trump personally intervened to expedite his nomination. At the hearing on Thursday, former agency employees dismissed by Mr. Pack lined up to sharply condemn his leadership. Supreme Court Justice Thomas raises concerns over abortion's 'potential for eugenic manipulation' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas expressed concern about abortion having the potential for eugenic manipulation in a concurring opinion. In an unsigned opinion, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in the case of Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky Inc., upholding a lower court's decision that concluded that an Indiana law banning abortions on the basis of race, sex, and disability was unconstitutional. Thomas agreed with the unanimous decision to not take up the appeal, and said he believed that the court will soon need to confront the constitutionality of laws like Indianas because of the potential for abortion to become a tool of eugenic manipulation. This case highlights the fact that abortion is an act rife with the potential for eugenic manipulation. From the beginning, birth control and abortion were promoted as means of effectuating eugenics, wrote Thomas. Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger was particularly open about the fact that birth control could be used for eugenic purposes. These arguments about the eugenic potential for birth control apply with even greater force to abortion, which can be used to target specific children with unwanted characteristics. Thomas went on to also cite former Planned Parenthood President Alan Guttmacher, who after World War II endorsed abortion for eugenic reasons and promoted it as a means of controlling the population and improving its quality. In 1959, for example, Guttmacher explicitly endorsed eugenic reasons for abortion. A. Guttmacher, Babies by Choice or by Chance 186188 (1959). He explained that the quality of the parents must be taken into account, including [f]eeblemindedness, and believed that it should be permissible to abort any pregnancy . . . in which there is a strong probability of an abnormal or malformed infant, continued Thomas. Thomas warned that with todays prenatal screening tests and other technologies, abortion can easily be used to eliminate children with unwanted characteristics. In Iceland, the abortion rate for children diagnosed with Down syndrome in utero approaches 100%, he wrote. Other European countries have similarly high rates, and the rate in the United States is approximately two-thirds. In Asia, widespread sex-selective abortions have led to as many as 160 million missing womenmore than the entire female population of the United States. In 2016, then Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed a bill into law that banned abortions on the basis of race, ancestry, gender, or disability. "I believe that a society can be judged by how it deals with its most vulnerable the aged, the infirm, the disabled and the unborn," said Pence in a statement at the time. By enacting this legislation, we take an important step in protecting the unborn, while still providing an exception for the life of the mother. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit struck down the ban and also a measure requiring the proper burial of fetal remains. While the Supreme Court allowed the ruling against the ban to remain, it reversed the ruling against the fetal burial law, explaining in the unanimous decision that the high court had already upheld a similar law. This court has already acknowledged that a state has a legitimate interest in proper disposal of fetal remains, read the unsigned opinion, referencing Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health, Inc. The Seventh Circuit clearly erred in failing to recognize that interest as a permissible basis for Indianas disposition law. DGAP-News: Grow Solutions Holdings, Inc. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Pure Roots Holdings Reaches Funding Approval with Federal/Provincial Program, Partners with Prestigious University of Regina 24.09.2020 / 15:10 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan--(Newsfile Corp. - September 24, 2020) - Grow Solutions Holdings, Inc. (OTC PINK: GRSO) announces today that Pure Roots Holdings Canada has been approved by the Canadian Mitacs program, subject to GRSO final approval and first payment, to further its research and development programs. This will be a collaborative effort with one of the University's finest researchers in the areas of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Mitacs is a non-profit national research organization that, in partnerships with Canadian academia, private industry, and the government, operates research and training programs in fields that are related to industrial and social innovation. GRSO will be able to further analyze plant imagery through a large database of images and analyze the plants' growth and structure under different conditions, with the goal of making predictive assumptions about the plants' future growth tendencies and better planning the plant growth variables accordingly. GRSO will analyze specific indicators in the plant images using several types of specific cameras and sensors in order to gain deeper understanding of how the growing conditions and growing mediums affect the plants' health to maximize production. Our CEO, Chad Fischl, stated that "GRSO is looking forward to continuing our collaboration with the University of Regina. This will enable vast expansion into the development of our Pure Roots subsidiary and optimizing plant growth in our AeroPods. This is a rare opportunity to get to work with the Mitacs program in this role and we hope that it truly validates our commitment to our business. Additionally, we are confident this intellectual property will further contribute to our strong base of technologies that we have already developed within the company as we further our expansion and growth." CEO Chad Fischl further stated, "I would also like to address the multiple inquiries we have received from shareholders regarding the concern over a reverse split. At this time we have no intention of undertaking a reverse split, as we fully intend to preserve shareholder value, while growing the brand and technology base." Read more about Grow Solutions Holdings, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Pure Roots Holding, Ltd., on our official website, as well as further information about the Company and its latest news releases at http://www.aerogrowmanufacturing.com , www.purerootsfarms.com, www.grsoinvest.com. Chad Fischl Chief Executive Officer and Director PO Box 2869 Jackson, WY 83001 (360) 612-0180 Source: Grow Solutions Holdings, Inc. (GRSO) OTC PINK: GRSO Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may include certain statements that are forward-looking in nature and that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on Grow Solutions Holdings, Inc., current expectations and projections regarding future events, which are based on currently available information. The forward-looking statements in this press release may also include statements relating to Grow Solutions Holdings, Inc.'s anticipated new developments, business prospects, financial performance, strategies and similar matters. Grow Solutions Holdings, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64548 24.09.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de Mumbai, Sep 24 : Actress Saiee Manjrekar has signed her second film after Dabangg 3. She will be seen in the Mahesh Babu-produced bilingual, Major, starring Adivi Sesh. Actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar's daughter Saiee took to Instagram and posted a picture where she is seen dressed in a pristine white suit teamed with a chunky silver neckpiece. She completes her look with minimal make-up and her hair tied. "Honoured, humbled and excited to be a part of the braveheart, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's biopic. It's a film based on the NSG Commando, who fought with utmost bravery in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Can't wait to join the cast and start shooting next month! #MajorTheFilm @adivisesh @sobhitad@sonypicsprodns @gmbents@urstrulyMahesh @aplussmovies@sashikirantikka," she captioned the image. "Major", a bilingual shot simultaneously in Telugu and Hindu, is inspired by the life of NSG commando Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was martyred in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks of 2008. The film marks Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu's debut as producer and also features Sobhita Dhulipala along with Adivi Sesh and Saiee. So far, more than 50 per cent of the filming has been completed. Saiee will start shooting for the film next month in Hyderabad. She says what matters for her is the script and the impact her character has in the overall narrative. She added: "Once you deep dive into the dissection of a character, there are so many beautiful emotions that I can explore as an actress. This is what I saw in the script of 'Major', which is why when it was offered to me, I instantly said 'yes'. I am open to working down South and this one is a bilingual shot simultaneously in two languages. I can't wait to start shooting for the film." Director Sashi Kiran Tikka shared that casting right is the base for good direction. "When we watched her work, we felt that Saiee Manjrejar fit the bill perfectly," he explained. Sharing his thoughts about the tragic event, he added: "None of us were present when the incident happened. All we know is what was in the news that time. The challenge lies in bringing authenticity to our imagination of what happened in reality, and the pressure lies in showing it in a feature film style rather than a documentary style." IMAGE: Adm. Samuel Locklear at the Pentagon in 2014 (Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images file) WASHINGTON More than 200 retired generals and admirals endorsed Joe Biden for president in a letter published Thursday, saying he had the character and judgment to serve as commander-in-chief instead of President Donald Trump, who has failed "to meet challenges large or small." Some of the officers who signed the letter supporting Biden had retired only in the past few years, including Air Force Gen. Paul Selva, who served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Trump before he retired in August 2019; Vice Adm. Gardner Howe, a Navy SEAL leader who also retired last year; and retired Adm. Paul Zukunft, who oversaw the Coast Guard until 2018. Click here to read the letter The list of signatories featured 22 retired four-star military officers, among them Navy Adm. Samuel Locklear, who oversaw all U.S. forces in the Pacific from 2012 to 2015, and Adm. Harry Ulrich, who commanded U.S. naval forces in Europe during President George W. Bush's administration. The retired top brass signed the letter backing Biden along with nearly 300 other former national security officials and diplomats. William Webster, the former director of the CIA and the FBI, was among the signatories, along with five former defense secretaries: William Perry, William Cohen, Chuck Hagel, Leon Panetta and Ash Carter. "My own personal view is that I have a duty to be involved in civic matters of the nation that I'm a citizen" of, retired Adm. Steve Abbot said of his decision to sign the letter. Abbot served as commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet and commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces in Southern Europe, and he later became Bush's acting homeland security adviser. He said that he believed he had a duty to speak out as a citizen and that he was troubled initially by Trump's comments about the late Sen. John McCain in 2016. "To hear someone say that John McCain was a loser and they don't like people who become prisoners, I just knew I was going to have trouble going forward with somebody who held those views," he said. Story continues IMAGE: Gardner Howe (Stan Badz / Stan Badz / Getty Images file) "Over the past four years, I've seen what is a clear manipulation of our military to serve his personal needs," Abbot said. "The military has been a loyal, reliable constant in this country because of its apolitical nature. And here we had a president working to undermine it." In August, more than 70 former senior national security officials most of them Republicans who worked in previous GOP administrations issued a similar letter throwing their support behind Biden, arguing that Trump had undermined America's role in the world. In the 2016 election, dozens of former Republican senior national security officials came out against Trump and became known as "Never Trump" Republicans. Many were blacklisted for jobs in the Trump administration for having signed the letters. By law, military service members must remain apolitical while in uniform, but most senior officers stay out of the political arena even after they hang up their uniforms. Although the number of retired senior officers wading into politics has steadily increased over the past two decades, Thursday's letter was notable for the sheer number of top brass from every branch of the military who chose to endorse Biden. "We are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. We love our country. Unfortunately, we also fear for it," they wrote. The retired officers and officials said the country needs a principled, honest leader who shows empathy for fellow citizens, values alliances, makes informed decisions and takes personal responsibility. "While some of us may have different opinions on particular policy matters, we trust Joe Biden's positions are rooted in sound judgment, thorough understanding, and fundamental values," they wrote. "The current President has demonstrated he is not equal to the enormous responsibilities of his office; he cannot rise to meet challenges large or small. Thanks to his disdainful attitude and his failures, our allies no longer trust or respect us, and our enemies no longer fear us," the letter says. "Climate change continues unabated, as does North Korea's nuclear program. The president has ceded influence to a Russian adversary who puts bounties on the heads of American military personnel, and his trade war against China has only harmed America's farmers and manufacturers," it says. Several retired African American military leaders signed the letter, including retired Lt. Gen. Walt Gaskin, who commanded Marines in western Iraq; retired Lt. Gen. Willie Williams, who served as the No. 3 in the Marine Corps; and retired Lt. Gen. Ronald Coleman, who became the second African American in the Marine Corps to reach three-star rank. A number of retired ambassadors also signed on, including Robert Blackwill, who was Bush's deputy national security adviser; James Cunningham, who was ambassador to Israel and Afghanistan under both Republican and Democratic administrations; and Robert Ford, a former ambassador to Algeria and Syria. 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 On Demand We have a new story every day on the front page of thephuketnews.com. Also like us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/thephuketnews) and be the first to watch all the new stories. Finally you can watch any segment, any time by going to thephuketnews.com/tv where all the stories are listed for you to enjoy. All our programs can be enjoyed in High Definition when watching on the internet. In-Room VDO White liberals are in a panic over the 2020 election. With Ruth Bader Ginsburgs recent death, white women in particular are panicking about their reproductive freedoms, shouting about how America is turning into Margaret Atwoods Gilead. These same women believe that a Biden-Harris presidency will save us all from a dark path where women and wombs are considered objects. My white friends ask me why Im not panicked myself, and simply, its because Black women have always been under threat and will continue to be under Biden and Harris. It doesnt matter whos in the White House when youre in the dog house. I do not owe Biden my vote as a Black woman. Its not about his stupid comments made in jest about how if I dont vote for him that Im not Black; its about his legislative record which has maligned people of color for decades, socially, legally, and educationally. Harris, while being Black herself, isnt much better. Their legislative records both show that they endorse systemic and institutional racism, and they wont shake the boat and change that. Biden and Harris appeal to white liberals because thats who they work for. We can look towards Bidens 1994 Crime Bill, which effectively constructed the school-to-prison pipeline for Black men, as the most obvious example of this but his anti-Black legislative record actually began in the Reagan administration, when he refused to endorse desegregation via bussing, and pushed for more police and more prisons despite Reagan wanting to decrease federal spending. As a senator, Biden pushed Carter to ramp up the war on drugs, and his influence led to Black and Latino men being incarcerated at higher rates than their white counterparts. Today, we see 80 per cent of people in federal prison are people of color, and 60 per cent in state facilities. In tandem with racially influenced drug sentencing minimums like crack cocaine versus powder cocaine the war on drugs was truly a war on people of color. When we call for police to be defunded, for drug use to be decriminalized, we cannot at the same time lend our vote to Joe Biden. Militarized police, mass incarceration, and the criminalization of addiction are Bidens legislative impact. As we take to the streets over Black lives being unjustly ended by cops, can we trust the man who said George H W Bushs anti-drug initiative "doesnt include enough police officers to catch the violent thugs, not enough prosecutors to convict them, not enough judges to sentence them, and not enough prison cells to put them away for a long time? Even now, Biden wont commit to defunding the police, despite liberal calls for reform. Kamala Harris isnt reliable on Black issues, either, with a similar record of policies that disenfranchised the Black community as the California Attorney General and as a senator. To quote Cornel West, we must understand the Black freedom struggle not as an affair of skin pigmentation and racial phenotype but rather as a matter of ethical principles and wise politics. From that perspective, Kamala is selling out the community for political power. Despite now calling for cannabis legalization, she opposed it during her tenure as AG, incarcerating over 1,500 black men on marijuana charges and then joking about smoking in college on The Breakfast Club. Beyond that, Senator Harris was a co-sponsor of FOSTA-SESTA, a bill designed to curb sex trafficking which left full-service sex workers without online communities that kept them safer. She also worked to take down backpage.com, which she argued was a hub for sex trafficking, despite the fact that the majority of its users were independent full-service sex workers. With a major online advertising platform down, some of these sex workers were pushed back into street work. Predominantly women, black women, [were] on that platform trying to make money to support themselves, said MF Akynos, executive director and founder of the Black Sex Worker Collective, to Rolling Stone. In 2019, Harris claimed that shed support partial decriminalization akin to the Nordic Model, which criminalizes clients, not providers. Its an improvement from her past stances, but many sex workers oppose the Nordic Model all the same. With her inconsistency across issues that primarily affect people of color and sex workers, how can marginalized people expect to be supported by Harris rather than criminalized? I hold a certain privilege as a New York voter. I know my state will go to Biden theres no chance Trump would win here, so I can truly vote my conscience. As a Black woman and a sexual assault survivor, I dont want to vote for someone facing allegations of sexual misconduct and allegations of racism, which frankly, applies to both candidates. Its not a choice between the lesser evils for me. Its about understanding that the system is designed to oppress people like me, and recognizing that neither party during this election cycle is going to change that. Manju Latha Kalanidhi By Express News Service HYDERABAD: JSR Annamayya, a 25-year-old from Manikonda who works as a quality team lead in a software company in Hyderabad, says his ideas to contain Covid-19 have worked in Andhra Pradesh and that the same can and should be replicated in Telangana and across the country. He first made news when he founded a web app titled CheckCovidnow which informs users about the potential risk and symptoms through web application contact tracing and equips people with self-assessment tools. It also has a tool for precision tracking of high-risk patients with Covid-19 symptoms. Ever since it went live on March 26 has over 10,000+ users so far and requires GPS Data of the user at the initial step. In the last two months, Annamayya has created a volunteer team of 100 youngsters in AP where his team and he created a set of tools ranging from social distancing stencil designs to 3D corona boards to hands- free door alerting sticks. Mask usage was at 92% in the areas where we campaigned, the highest in town because of awareness with 3D corona stop boards. We have facilitated 30 plasma donations by collaborating with blood banks.The idea to make telephone numbers of the authorities public made people feel cared for says the youngster who recently bagged the Best Thinker for Covid19 solutions award by World Youth Organization. He also put together a QRT Quick Response Team comprising young volunteers who could handle over 26 problems he calls them A to Z response team and would respond in less than one hour via WhatsApp or a phone call. We brought together police officers, doctors and Covid officers under one umbrella. Communication helps people feel cared for and we ensured such lines were set up. He believes that the same idea can be replicated in every zone in Hyderabad. Find youngsters who are tech savvy. Invite, encourage and equip them with the right tools and the virus is going to bite the dust, he adds. He says he recently submitted his ideas to the government of India. Quick Response Teams is the way ahead Setting up QRT teams and giving them the right tools helped this youngster to join the governments fight in controlling Covid-19 virus and the model, he says, is scalable NVIDIAs GeForce RTX 3090 is going on pre-order this morning, but it sounds like youre going to need a lot of luck to get one. In a blog post, the company has essentially pre-apologized for the lack of supply, while stressing that its strictly designed (and priced) for enthusiasts. Since we built GeForce RTX 3090 for a unique group of users, like the TITAN RTX before it, we want to apologize upfront that this will be in limited supply on launch day, the company wrote. We know this is frustrating, and were working with our partners to increase the supply in the weeks to come. The RTX 3090 is designed for what NVIDIA calls extreme gamers, with features like 10,496 CUDA cores and a prodigious 24GB of GDDR6X memory. Its also made for creators making movies and rendering cinematics or 8K gaming provided youre one of the very few people with an 8K TV. It also said that youll only see a 10 to 15 percent performance boost over the RTX 3080, but youll pay over double the price $1,500 compared to $700. Still, thats not likely to discourage buyers who want to buy and flip the cards for a profit in fact, the high price and apology could create even more demand. After all, when the RTX 3080 Founders Edition went on sale, it instantly sold out and started popping up on eBay for insane prices. HONOLULU - A financially hurting Hawaii candy maker known for a memorable slogan is trying to shore up its business by offering a deal to vendors as the company faces difficulties because of the coronavirus pandemic's economic fallout. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (484 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. HONOLULU - A financially hurting Hawaii candy maker known for a memorable slogan is trying to shore up its business by offering a deal to vendors as the company faces difficulties because of the coronavirus pandemic's economic fallout. Hawaiian Host Inc. has asked vendors to settle invoices with the 60-year-old producer of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Wednesday. The company, which trademarked the phrase Hawaiis gift to the world, informed vendors it would settle past-due invoices at a discount of 75 cents per $1 of debt. The recovered funds could satisfy the company's unpaid accounts and secure new investment capital, the company said. In a letter last month explaining the offer, Hawaiian Host CEO Ed Schultz said bankruptcy was another possibility for the company, which has about 460 employees. Tourism accounts for 65% of Hawaiian Host's business and the company said it cannot pay vendors on time because of state health restrictions affecting the tourism industry. The company anticipates negative cash flow until the state achieved at least 10,000 tourist arrivals daily, Schultz said. Hawaii Tourism Authority figures indicate there were about 2,000 daily trans-Pacific air passenger arrivals over the previous week. Hawaiian Host received a $5 million to $10 million forgivable federal Paycheck Protection Program loan in April and a $30 million sale and leaseback of its Honolulu production facility in June. Try our Dish The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. Dish arrives in your inbox every other Friday. See sample. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Hawaiian Host officials did not immediately respond to requests seeking further comment on the recapitalization effort. Hawaiian Host claims to be the original producer of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, producing more of the product at a premium quality level than anyone in the world. The companys founder, Mamoru Takitani, developed a recipe of blended chocolates with his wife, Aiko, and established Hawaiian Host in 1960 in Honolulu after buying and renaming Ellen Dye Candies. The company acquired Hilo-based Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. five years ago for an undisclosed price. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some especially older adults and people with existing health problems it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested. Studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick. The second wave of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is at its peak in Delhi right now, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday. He also said that experts feel that number of cases will decline in the coming days. From July 1 to August 17, cases were in control. We noticed that cases increased and it reached 4,500 new Covid-19 cases on September 17 and are now coming down. So experts are believing that the second wave of coronavirus which had hit Delhi is now on peak and its intensity will be less in the coming days, news agency ANI quoted the Delhi chief minister as saying. Kejriwal also said that the daily testing of samples for Covid-19 has been increased in the national capital to 60,000 from the earlier 20,000 a day mark. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage When new Covid-19 cases were reported in the large number, we had controlled the coronavirus cases with the help of the central government, NGO, and Delhites. I want to thank everyone for their efforts, Kejriwal said. Speaking about a high-level virtual meeting to review Covid-19 management with the Prime Minister, the chief minister said that it was fruitful. As of Wednesday, Delhis Covid-19 caseload is at 2,56,789, including 2,20,866 recoveries and 5,087 deaths, according to the figures published by the state health department. Since the last week of August, there has been a resurgence of Covid-19 infection in the city. However, for the last four days, the number of daily cases has been below the 4,000 mark, indicating a drop in the spread. The daily average test positivity rate for the infection too has dropped to 6.89 per cent in the seven days ending Wednesday, from 7.18 per cent recorded over the seven days before that. On Wednesday, Delhi recorded 3,714 new Covid-19 cases and 36 deaths in the 24 hours. A new mobile COVID-19 test centre will open at the Magee campus of Ulster University from next week. The test centre will be available to students and members of the public. It will begin operating on Monday, September 28 and will alternate each week between the Coleraine and Magee campuses. The mobile testing unit will be located at car park four on the Magee campus and will be available to members of the local community as well as students and staff. The university has been working with the Public Health Agency (PHA) over recent weeks to establish and implement the centre which will rotate between the Magee and Coleraine campuses depending on community demand for testing It is part of the Department of Health and Social Cares (DHSC) public testing programme through which everyone in Northern Ireland with symptoms of COVID-19 is eligible for a free test and will help ensure a robust public health response as we move through the next stages of the pandemic. The availability of a mobile testing unit on campus provides students with rapid access to testing and where students are symptomatic and in need of a test, it will help the University to mitigate the risk of spread on campus. The announcement follows a pilot testing programme that was carried out by Ulster University and Queens University Belfast in collaboration with the Public Health Agency in August to examine the prevalence of current or past infection within the student community. Access to testing at the Magee centre will be by appointment only, booked via the existing DHSC channels, either online or by calling 119. For the second day in a row, Maharashtra Congress has posed a few questions to the central agencies probing Sushant Singh Rajput death case and the alleged drug dealings in Bollywood. The Congress has asked why the narcotics control bureau (NCB) did not question actor Kangana Ranaut despite the surfacing of her alleged link to drugs abuse and also alleged that those booked in Sandalwood drugs case were not being probed properly since they were related to the Bharatiya Janata Party. And lastly: despite having a video proof of @KanganaTeam, why has she not been called by NCB for a probe since she was in Mumbai especially when even whatsapp chats are considered proof ? Is Kangana not from Bollywood?, the last of Sawants tweets on the subject said. BJP responded by saying that the Congress was raking up non issues and its government should instead concentrate on real issues in Maharashtra. Maharashtra Congress general secretary and spokesperson Sachin Sawant, in a series of tweets, wanted to know the status of an alleged case of drug recovery from a BJP worker and the case against Ragini Dwivedi, arrested in the Sandalwood drug racket case, earlier this month, in Karnataka. Also Watch: Kanganas Bullywood jibe as NCB summons Deepika, others in Sushants case Sawant also referred to film producer Sandip Ssinghs alleged link to drug dealings and a relative of a Bollywood actor considered to be BJP leaning. NCB has established a big narrative on the capture of 59 gms of Ganja and summoned leading Bollywood stars in that connection. Let it do it, but we would not allow NCB to overlook BJP drug nexus in Bollywood, Sandalwood and Goa, Sawant tweeted, while naming several people allegedly linked to the BJP. Also Read: Jaya Saha names four male actors during NCB questioning: report BJP has invited Sawant to hand over any evidence against the people he named or to move court if he sees any lapses in the probe. Instead of making noise on non issues, Congress and its leaders should concentrate in Maharashtra where the governance is in shambles. The central agencies are probing the cases on the basis of the proofs they have come across and the investigation is on the right direction, said Madhu Chavan, adding that If the Congress has evidence against any BJP worker in any of the cases, it should hand it over to the agencies probing the cases. Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Sometimes, there is meaning in a juxtaposition of headlines. So it was on the front page of Tuesdays Post-Dispatch with two stories related to the concept of residency rules, a common requirement that certain taxpayer-supported employees should live in specifically identified areas. Parson signs residency bill, read the first. Until a positive COVID-19 test sidelined him on Wednesday, Gov. Mike Parson was scheduled to appear with police union representatives patting himself on the back for his only real success story in a special session he called to battle rising homicide rates in St. Louis and Kansas City. Repealing the residency rule has long been a goal of the St. Louis Police Officers Association, so its members could live in the county and commute to the city. With the support of Mayor Lyda Krewson, a Democrat, Parson turned the issue into part of his tough-on-crime agenda, though its not really that. Supporters of the new law, who have been unsuccessful getting St. Louis voters to change the residency rule, suggested to the Republicans who control the Missouri Legislature that the change would magically create an opportunity for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to make up for its shortage of around 130 officers, according to the departments prescribed strength. Never mind that such an analysis doesnt even take into consideration whether that prescribed change could help reduce homicides. The city of St. Louis has more police officers per capita about 38 per 10,000 residents, according to the FBI than most comparable cities nationwide, and is far above national averages. Early in her tenure as mayor, Krewson made a big deal out of offering waivers to the residency rule to attract police officers. It didnt work. Only two such waivers have been granted citywide in the past 16 years, says the citys personnel director, Richard Frank, only one to a police officer. Thats in part because of the way the police department recruits new officers, almost entirely through its police academy. The academy has been graduating full classes, and the applicants have all lived in the city or agreed to move to the city by the prescribed time, which could give them as long as 22 months, the way police training and probationary periods work, Frank says. Hes supportive of getting rid of the residency rule for all city employees. The entire city has about 800 openings, he says, and it could help with hiring. City voters will decide Nov. 3 whether they agree with him. But the residency rule wont magically change police hiring, unless the department plans to start hiring qualified and experienced officers from other departments to fill its ranks. I asked the mayors office if that was the plan, and they told me to ask the police department. I asked the police department and its spokesman wouldnt say what the plan is. We will surely use this to increase our recruiting, said Sgt. Keith Barrett. How? I asked. I didnt get a response. Neither did city aldermen on Tuesday when they quizzed police Chief John Hayden, who told them he hoped to gain a net of 100 officers over the next year. He did not map out a plan to get there. Hope is but a unicorn as homicides rise. Which brings us to the second headline. One of the supporters of the residency bill was state Rep. Nick Schroer, R-OFallon, or, perhaps, R-Defiance. Lawmaker listed out-of-district address as primary residence, reads the headline. As Schroer was making it easier for St. Louis police officers to move to the county, he was living outside his district, in violation of state law, alleges a lawsuit that has been filed against him. Schroer claims to be living with a constituent, in a spare bedroom, away from his family. The law in question, which tough-on-crime lawmakers didnt address, says that if an elected representative moves out of his district for whatever reason, and Schroer appears to have a good one, then he or she must give up that seat. Schroer isnt budging. So much for law and order. Truth is, Ive always been agnostic about residency requirements. Only once, when I was editor of a small weekly newspaper in a mountain resort town, was one applied to me. I couldnt afford to live in that town, but I rented a ramshackle cabin and made it work. I understood why my boss wanted me to live in town. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make. But thats not really the issue here. This is: As Parson campaigns for governor against Democratic state Auditor Nicole Galloway, he is touting the two bills he passed as being tough on crime. The residency rule, if it ever helps, wont make a dent for months, or years, at best. The second bill was a witness protection fund that Parson and lawmakers chose not to fund. Its meaningless. Just like the special session that ended with a whimper. From City Hall to the Capitol, metro columnist Tony Messenger shines light on what public officials are doing, tells stories of the disaffected, and brings voice to the issues that matter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Welcome ! Here are the latest Insider stories. U.S. motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson said on Thursday it expects to report $75 million in additional restructuring costs for 2020 related to actions including discontinuing its sales and manufacturing operations in India. The announcement comes two months after Harley unveiled a strategy to shift focus back to more profitable motorcycles and core markets such as the United States. Harley said earlier in the year that it planned to reduce its product portfolio and exit lower volume markets, without specifying which ones. The company said it now expects total restructuring costs of about $169 million in 2020, and this will also include a workforce reduction of about 70 employees in India, a market where its annual sales volumes account for less than 5% of the company's total. Its Indian branch is based in Gurgaon, Haryana, where it commenced operations in August 2009 and appointed its first dealership in July 2010. Harley-Davidsons global portal suggests that the latest set of actions are a part of an initiative called The Rewire, that will be further developed over the coming months, leading to a new strategic plan. These actions come from a comprehensive Rewire playbook that is designed to address top-priority opportunities, drive consistent execution and reset the companys operating model in order to minimise complexity, sharpen focus and speed up decision making. The Rewire actions will include a 5-year strategic plan that consists of Streamline operations to reduce complexity and increase speed. Growth through Parts & Accessories and General Merchandise Reset Global Business and Focus on High-Potential Markets Reset product launches and product line up for simplicity and maximum impact. The company is working on these key elements of The Rewire playbook and plans to share more about The Rewire in its Q2 update. SHOTLIST TAEZ, YEMENSEPTEMBER 23, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV 1. Aerial shot trucks loaded to the brim driving on the rocky Hayjat al-Abd road, which is the only lifeline that connects Taez to the outside world2. Aerial shot trucks loaded to the brim driving on the rocky Hayjat al-Abd road, which is the only lifeline that connects Taez to the outside world3. Aerial shot trucks loaded to the brim driving on the rocky Hayjat al-Abd road, which is the only lifeline that connects Taez to the outside world4. Aerial shot trucks loaded to the brim driving on the rocky Hayjat al-Abd road, which is the only lifeline that connects Taez to the outside world5. Wide shot truck loaded to the brim driving past Yemenis standing on the side of the rocky Hayjat al-Abed road to protest its lack of maintenance which risks them losing their only link to other parts of the country 6. SOUNDBITE 1 - Marwan al-Makhtary, truck driver (male, Arabic, 19 sec): "As you can see, it is full of potholes, and we face dangerous slopes, we barely get through safely without slipping off course. Sometimes trucks can no longer move forward, so they stop and roll back." 7. Cutaway: Aerial shot from the point of view of the driver of a vehicle showing an uneven and rocky Hayjat al-Abed road, dangerous turn ahead 8. Cutaway: Aerial shot truck loaded to the brim driving past a car on the rocky Hayjat al-Abed road, road on brink of collapse in the foreground 9. Cutaway: Wide shot Yemeni protesters holding signs and standing on the side of the rocky Hayjat al-Abed road 10. SOUNDBITE 2 - Abdeljaber Numan, Activist (male, Arabic, 13 sec): "This is the only road that connects Taez with the outside world, and the blocking of this artery would threaten the city. We demand the legitimate government and local adminstration accelerate efforts to maintain and fix the road." 11. Cutaway: Aerial shot truck loaded to the brim driving on the rocky Hayjat al-Abd road 12. Cutaway: Wide shot trucks loaded to the brim driving on the rocky Hayjat al-Abd road ///-----------------------------------------------------------AFP TEXT STORY: Yemen's terrifying road to Taez on brink of collapse =(Video+Picture)= Taez, Yemen, Sept 24, 2020 (AFP) - Lorries filled to the brim with goods labour up and down the dangerously winding and precipitous road of Hayjat al-Abed, the mountainous lifeline to Yemen's third largest city.Unlike all other routes linking southwest Taez to the rest of the war-torn country, the road -- with its dizzying drop-offs into the valley below -- is the only one that has not fallen into the hands of the Huthi rebels.Some 500,000 inhabitants of the city, which is besieged by the Iran-backed Huthis, depend on the seven-kilometre stretch of crater-filled road for survival, as the long conflict between the insurgents and the government shows no signs of abating.Convoys of vehicles big and small move at a snail's pace as they squeeze past each other on the narrow road that has been severely damaged over the years by heavy rainfall."As you can see, it is full of potholes, and we face dangerous slopes," Marwan al-Makhtary, a young truck driver, told AFP. "Sometimes trucks can no longer move forward, so they stop and roll back."Makhtary said nothing was being done to fix the road, and fears are mounting that the inexorable deterioration will ultimately bring the supply of goods to a halt.Dozens of Taez residents on Tuesday urged the government to take action, forming a human chain along the road -- some of them carrying signs saying: "Save Taez's Lifeline"."We demand the legitimate government and local adminstration accelerate efforts to maintain and fix the road," said one of the protesters, Abdeljaber Numan."This is the only road that connects Taez with the outside world, and the blocking of this artery would threaten the city." - 'Humanitarian disaster' - Sultan al-Dahbaly, who is responsible for road maintenance in the local adminstration, said the closure of the road would represent a "humanitarian disaster" in a country already in crisis and where the majority of the population is dependent on aid."It is considered a lifeline of the city of Taez, and it must be serviced as soon as possible because about five million people (in the province) would be affected," he told AFP.Governance in Taez is complicated, with the internationally recognised government practically absent and the city split and under the control of rival groups -- some linked to Yemen's Muslim Brotherhood-influenced Al-Islah party and others to Salafists, another Islamist movement.Meanwhile, the city's government-appointed governor Nabil Shamsan has little power, and any influence over the province is undermined by internal divisions.Yemen has been ravaged by the five-year conflict between the Huthis and the government, which is supported by a Saudi-led military coalition.The United Nations has called it the world's worst humanitarian crisis with tens of thousands killed since 2015.str-mh/dm/sls/dv ------------------------------------------------------------- Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the second time for the prestigious prize Lawmakers, professors and academic groups can submit nominations A five-strong committee then submit a shortlist before announcing winner The prize money for the award has been raised by one million Swedish krona Alfred Nobel left money to fund the prizes which have been running since 1901 Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The leader was put forward by a group of Russian writers led by Sergey Komkov, according to Russian news agency TASS. ADVERTISEMENT They submitted the application in Oslo on September 10, putting him alongside Donald Trump in the list of potential candidates for the prestigious award. A presidential spokesman said Putin, who was also nominated in 2013, was not put forward by the Kremlin. The favourite to win this year's Peace Prize is the World Health Organisation, with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Greta Thunberg also fancied. Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a group of Russian writers Donald Trump was nominated by Christian Tybring-Gjedde, an ultra-conservative member of the Norwegian Parliament Nominations can be submitted by anyone who meets the Nobel Committee's criteria, which includes lawmakers anywhere in the world, professors and academic groups. Trump was nominated by Christian Tybring-Gjedde, an ultra-conservative member of the Norwegian Parliament, who praised Trump for brokering a deal between the UAE and Israel. Reality star Gemma Collins was put forward by two YouTube pranksters, who have started up The Romford Research Institute For Peace to make themselves qualify to have the power to nominate. Greta Thunberg is hotly tipped for the prestigious award for her work in raising awareness of the climate crisis Reality star Gemma Collins was put forward by two YouTube pranksters, who have started up The Romford Research Institute For Peace to make themselves qualify to have the power to nominate It comes as it was also revealed on Thursday that winners of the Nobel prizes will receive an extra 1 million Swedish krona ($110,000) this year. The head of the foundation which oversees the awards said the prize money will increase to 10 million crowns this year ($1.1 million), daily Dagens Industri reported. Lars Heikensten said: 'The decision has been made due to the fact that our costs and capital are in a stable relation in a completely different way than previously.' Click here to resize this module Dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel left around 31 million crowns - about 1.8 billion crowns in today's money according to the Foundation - to fund the prizes, which have been awarded since 1901. ADVERTISEMENT The prize amount has varied over time, starting at 150,000 crowns and reaching 1 million crowns in 1981. The value rose sharply in the 1980s and 1990s, jumping to 9 million crowns in 2000 and 10 million a year later. Winners of the Nobel prizes will receive an extra 1 million Swedish krona (86,000) for claiming the prestigious award (pictured) Dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel left around 31 million crowns - about 1.8 billion crowns in today's money according to the Foundation - to fund the prizes How do you win a Nobel Peace Prize? Nominations for a Nobel Peace Prize are relatively easy to acquire; an actual prize is more elusive. Anyone elected to a national parliament, congress or assembly anywhere in the world, any cabinet minister anywhere in the world, professors of history, theology and religion, former prize winners and members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee are just some of the people who can all nominate whoever they like. But the five-strong Nobel committee hold the real power. They do not confirm who has actually been nominated - the list is kept secret for 50 years - then whittle down the hundreds of nominations to a shortlist which they review more thoroughly, then decide a winner. The five members all serve six-year terms and are supposed to reflect the balance of the membership of the Norwegian parliament. Tybring-Gjedde's party is too small to get a seat; two members are former politicians from the left-leaning Labour Party, and one from the center-right Center Party. Their deliberations are secret and the winner - decided by a majority vote - is announced next October. But the global credit crunch of 2008-9 hit the Foundation's investments and Heikensten, a former central bank chief, was brought in to get its finances in order. The prize money was cut to 8 million crowns in 2012 only to rise again to 9 million in 2017. ADVERTISEMENT Heikensten will step down at the end of this year to be replaced by former Norwegian foreign minister Vidar Helgesen. He said the Foundation would continue to raise the amount of the prize money 'from time to time'. Medals made before 1980 were struck in 23-carat gold, and later in 18-carat green gold plated with a 24-carat gold coating. Five awards are handed out to laureates every year, in peace, literature, chemistry, physics and medicine. An additional award for economics was also set up in 1968 as a Nobel Memorial prize, but as it was not one of the categories established by Alfred Nobel in his will, it does not officially count as a Nobel Prize. This year, Donald Trump has been nominated for the prize in the wake of diplomatic breakthroughs between Israel and Gulf Arab countries. The US President was nominated for a second time for his work in securing a deal between Kosovo and Serbia, two former Balkan war foes. Swedish parliament member Magnus Jacobsson tweeted that he nominated the governments of the United States, Serbia and Kosovo 'for their joint work for peace and economic development, through the cooperation agreement signed in the White House. Trade and communications are important building blocks for peace.' ADVERTISEMENT Serbian President Aleksander Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti signed an economic normalization deal at the White House last week that also calls for Belgrade to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and for mutual recognition by Israel and Kosovo. Trump has been nominated twice for a Nobel Peace Prize - for his work in securing a deal between Kosovo and Serbia, and for diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East Ethiopias Ministry of Finance is reportedly looking to sell off a stake in state provider Ethio Telecom next month. A report in New Business Ethiopia claims that the ministry revealed its timeframe for the sale at a consultation with potential bidders to discuss the impending auction process. TeleGeography notes that the countrys government has previously confirmed its goal of selling holdings in the operator, which until recently held a monopoly in the market. A 40% stake will be made available for overseas investors with the government retaining a 55% stake. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently confirmed that the remaining 5% stake will be available for local investors. By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijani and Georgian foreign ministers have discussed a range of issues on expanding cooperation during Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramovs one-day visit to Georgia on September 24. "Very fruitful discussions [were held] with my colleague Jeyhun Bayramov on key issues on Georgia and Azerbaijan agenda, including energy and transport projects and the strategic role they play in the region; trade-economic links, security challenges and peace and stability as a precondition for development, Georgia's Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani wrote in his Twitter account on September 24 after the expanded meeting with Minister Bayramov. In another Tweet, Zalkaliani expressed hope that he and his Azerbaijani counterpart can make a substantial contribution to the development of friendship and partnership between Georgia and Azerbaijan. A joint press briefing of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Georgia is also being held in Tbilisi. Azerbaijan and Georgia has always supported each others sovereignty and territorial integrity within their internationally recognized borders. This support is clearly expressed on multilateral platforms as well, Minister Bayramov said during the briefing, according to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's official Twitter page on September 24. It should be noted that during his one-day visit to Georgia, Bayramov will meet with President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Georgie Gakharia, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava, Deputy Speaker Kakhaber Kuchava and parliamentary delegation. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz -- 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. FP Trending Apple is reportedly going to release its iPhone 12 lineup on 13 October and the lineup will likely include a 5.4-inch variant, two 6.1-inch models, and a high-end 6.7-inch variant. A recent report suggests that the 5.4-inch iPhone will be an entry-level smartphone and will likely be called the iPhone Mini. The leak further suggests that the 6.1-inch model will be simply called the iPhone 12, which is in contrast with earlier reports that suggested the model will be called iPhone 12 Max. The other two models will be known as iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, according to the leak. 12mini 12 12 Pro 12 Pro Max (@L0vetodream) September 21, 2020 Currently, iPhone 11 Pro, with a 5.8-inch screen, is the smallest Apple flagship. With the launch of the 5.4-inch model, the iPhone 12 Mini will be the smallest of the lot. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also predicted that the purported iPhone Mini will feature a narrow notch area. As per his research notes (via Mac Rumours), the other three iPhone 12 models are going to have the same notch size as iPhone 11 models. The iPhone 12 lineup is also set to bring 5G connectivity to Apple devices, although a recent report suggested that only the flagship 6.7-inch model will support the fastest mmWave 5G connectivity. The smaller models are reportedly going to carry support for Sub-6 type of 5G service, which is more common. Despite being slower in comparison to the mmWave, the Sub-6 5G service has a wider range of coverage. The report released earlier this month had said that the mmWave 5G will be available only in three countries: the United States, South Korea and Japan. The latest lineup is expected to be launched very soon as was hinted in a leaked internal video presentation shared with the companys employees. In the video, Marc Allera, the CEO of British Telecom's consumer brands BT and EE, can be heard saying, We are just days away from Apples next major launch, a 5G iPhone, which will be a huge boost for 5G. As per Allera, Apple will be hosting the launch event for the iPhone 12 lineup on 13 October. Mary Trump, the presidents niece whose tell-all book has roiled the Trump family, is suing the commander-in-chief and his siblings, accusing them of committing fraud in an attempt to deprive her of millions of dollars associated with the familys real estate empire. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in a New York court and obtained by The Daily Beast, names Donald Trump, his federal judge sister Maryanne Trump Barry, and their late brother Robert Trump, in the alleged fraud and civil conspiracy. For Donald J. Trump, his sister Maryanne, and their late brother Robert, fraud was not just the family businessit was a way of life, the lawsuit, first reported by The New York Times, begins. Mary Trump on Whether Despicable Ivanka Could Be New VP Mary Trump alleges in the suit that, since the '80s, Donald Trump and his siblings have exploited the real estate empire left by their father, Fred Trump Sr., and used it to enrich themselves. The scheme, which allegedly included cheating on taxes, swindling business partners, and jacking up rents on their low-income tenants, was brought closer to home after Mary Trumps father, Fred Trump Jr., died in 1981, when Mary was 16. Rather than protect Marys interests, they designed and carried out a complex scheme to siphon funds away from her interests, conceal their grift, and deceive her about the true value of what she had inherited, the lawsuit says. Many of the allegations in the lawsuit are similar to those made in Mary Trumps July book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man. The Daily Beast first broke the news of the book, which was mired in legal battles before its release. But the lawsuit goes into further detail than the book, stating that the Trump siblings threatened to bankrupt Marys interests and terminated the health insurance that was keeping her nephewan infant with cerebral palsyalive. Mary Trump Book Claims Trump Praised Her Breasts and His Own Sister Called Him a Clown Story continues Then they presented her with a stack of fraudulent valuations and a so-called settlement agreement, and forced her to sign. All told, they fleeced her of tens of millions of dollars or more. The lawsuit, which seeks to recover the millions that Mary Trump claims to have lost, details three fraudulent schemes against Mary that were not only illicit on their own but also build on one another. The schemes are detailed in three sections in the suit: The Grift, The Devaluing and The Squeeze-Out. My father died when I was still a teenager, and my uncles Donald and Robert and aunt Maryanne were supposed to be protecting me as my trustees and fiduciaries, Mary Trump said in a statement to The Daily Beast on Thursday. Recently, I learned that rather than protecting me, they instead betrayed me by working together in secret to steal from me, by telling lie after lie about the value of what I had inherited, and by conning me into giving everything away for a fraction of its true value. I am bringing this case to hold them accountable and to recover what is rightfully mine. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Thursday in response to the lawsuit, The only fraud committed there was Mary Trump recording one of her relatives and she really discredited herself. Following the unexpected death of Mary Trumps father in 1981, Mary and her brother had no knowledge of the value of the minority interests they had suddenly acquired in the Trump property empire, the lawsuit says. Because of her age, a lawyer named Irwin Durben, who had been part of the Trump world for years, was appointed to act as a trustee on her behalf. According to the lawsuit, however, Durben was irredeemably conflicted in his role as Marys trustee, often siding with other family members over her own interests. He ultimately acquiesced to the Trump siblings in their campaign to squeeze her out of the family business entirely, she alleges. Durben died in 2016. By the '90s, the lawsuit states, Donald Trump and his siblings were maneuvering to take control of the familys empire while Fred Sr. then approaching his nineties, was grappling with Alzheimers. His decline presented the siblings with an opportunity to position themselves to profit from his impending death, the lawsuit alleges. And while at first they competed with one anotherwith palace intrigue reminiscent of the HBO series Successionultimately [they] worked together to consolidate their power and advance their own interests at the expense of everyone else, including Mary. Donald Trump and his sister Maryanne Trump Barry. Ed Jones/AFP via Getty In 1991, the lawsuit says, Donald Trump secretly enlisted Durben to draft a codicil, or supplement to a will, that gave the future president complete control of his fathers estate. But, after the patriarch rejected the codicil, the lawsuit claims that Maryanne, now a federal judge, finished the job by securing a revised will that named her and her brothers as the executors of their fathers estate. According to the lawsuit, that newfound power allowed them to devise and perpetrate the three schemes. The schemes included allegedly siphoning value from Mary Trumps interests to entities they already owned, depressing the value of her interests by using fraudulent appraisals and financial statements, and allegedly pressuring their niece to sign a settlement after threatening to bankrupt her interests and cancel their healthcare policy. The schemes were all allegedly executed after 1995, when Fred Trump Sr.s will was to be executed, and were intended to give Trump and his siblings control of the real estate empire. In one particularly jarring example of the siblings grab for power, the lawsuit describes a meeting Robert Trump had with his niece at the Drake Hotel in Manhattan in 1999. Robert Trump allegedly threatened to bankrupt Marys interests if she didnt comply with the siblings demands, stating that they would Leave you paying taxes on money you dont have for the rest of your lives. Despite the threats, the lawsuit says Mary Trump and her brother, Fred Trump III, continued to fight the family. On March 23, 2000, the siblings filed a court challenge to their grandfathers will. But, according to the latest lawsuit, it only ratcheted up the pressure from her aunt and uncles. Mary Trumps Book Gives Crazy Uncle a Whole New Meaning The lawsuit states that, in an act of unfathomable cruelty, the family cut off health insurance payments to Mary Trump, at Maryannes suggestion. Eventually, as Mary Trumps legal fees and the familial pressure began to grow, Donald Trump and his siblings exploited the opportunity to squeeze [Mary] out of her interests altogether by telling her they would not resolve the dispute unless she relinquished her interests. Even then, the siblings still provided their niece with false financial statements and valuations riddled with deliberate falsehoods in an attempt to drive down the amount they had to pay to buy her out. Through each of these schemes, [the siblings] not only deliberately defrauded Mary out of what was rightfully hers, they also kept her in the dark about ituntil now, the lawsuit states. Bitter splits within the Trump family have only deepened since Donald Trump became president. Robert Trump, who died in August, sued Mary Trump to stop the publication of her book, which sold more than one million copies in its first week. The president called his niece unstable. In turn, Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist, released portions of secret recordings she made in 2018 and 2019 with Maryanne Trump Barry, in which the federal judge is heard criticizing the president. Among the 15 hours of tape, Trump Barry said the president has no principles and is cruel. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. 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." A Hawker 800 twin-engine jet used for business purposes which reported to have been stolen in Mexico has crashed in a jungle in Guatemala. According to the Aviation Safety Network, the jet crashed while approaching a hidden airstrip after making a suspicious trip to Venezuela without any authorized travel plan. In addition, the crash has left two men dead and a stockpile of arms and drugs were found near the bodies. #AltaVerapaz Dos cadaveres, armas y posible cocaina reporta el @Ejercito_GT que localizo en un narcojet que se estrello esta madrugada en la aldea Santa Marta Salinas. Ahora esperan al @MPguatemala para procesar la escena. #narcotrafico pic.twitter.com/CayvFQgNsE RBCNoticiasGT (@RBCNoticiasGT) September 23, 2020 The Independent Information Service wrote on Twitter that , "two bodies, weapons and possible cocaine reports the @GT_Army that he located in a drug jet that crashed this morning in the village of Santa Marta Salinas. Now they wait for @MPguatemala to process the scene. #trafficking" READ: NTSB: Pilot's Actions Likely Caused Earnhardt Plane Crash 3 kilograms of cocaine found The Independent information Service in Guatemala have released a video on Twitter confirming that the jet crashed in a mountainous region in the Central American countrys Alta Verapaz on Wednesday, September 23. It added that the men had not been identified yet and the officials found 3 kilograms of cocaine packed in three packets along with unspecified guns next to the dead bodies. READ: US WWII Fighter Plane That Crashed Into Iceland's Glacier In 1944 Resurfaces The Guatemalan military said that the plane jetted off from the Cuernavaca airport which is located about 45 miles (72 kilometres) south of Mexico City, on Tuesday without any authorization or a scheduled flight plan. The military further added that after taking off, the jet landed at Zulia airport in northwestern Venezuela which shares the border with Colombia several hours later. Shortly after heading towards Guatemala, it crashed after 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday. The jet has a seating capacity of eight passengers and its theft was reported by both local and federal authorities on Tuesday in Mexico. A senior state government official, Pablo Ojeda reportedly said that three men claiming to be mechanics entered the Cuernavaca airport and took the plane for a test flight. Ojeda added that after refueling the oil tank of the jet, the men took off without any permission. He also added that the owner of the jet has not yet filed any formal robbery report. The transport ministry and attorney generals office in Mexico later confirmed that the stolen jet in Cuernavaca matched with the one crashed in Guatemala. The transport ministry added that it would soon initiate an in-depth investigation to find out more details regarding the incident. READ: Two Asteroids, The Size Of An Airplane, To Fly By Close To Earth On September 23 READ: Neptune Was Discovered On This Day In 1846; All About The Outermost Planet Of Solar System Image: RBCNoticiasGT/Twitter Sorry! This content is not available in your region PHOENIX, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Uncle Herbs, the award-winning brand of cannabis-infused products in Arizona, announced that its limited edition HIGHker's Lunchbox is now available at select dispensaries. The unique, artist-designed collectible comes filled with some of the company's most popular products, including: Botanical Joint Salve - 250mg Dried Pineapple - 100mg Peanut Butter Pretzels - 100mg Cherry Bombs - 100mg Natural Chapstick - 20mg The HIGHker's Lunchbox is available at these select dispensaries: Nirvana Center 2 N. 35th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85009 602-730-3236 Phoenix Relief Center 6330 S 35th Ave $104 Phoenix, AZ 85041 602-276-3401 Untamed Herbs 200 N Tonto Street Payson, AZ 85541 928-474-2420 Sticky Saguaro 12338 East Riggs Road Chandler, AZ 85249 602-644-9188 Green Hills Patient Center 3191 S White Mountain Rd Show Low, AZ 85901 928-537-4888 Curaleaf All locations, including: Bell Camelback Central Gilbert Glendale Midtown Pavilions Youngtown See Curaleaf's website for dispensary addresses: curaleaf.com/locations Due to the limited edition nature of the HIGHker's Lunchbox, customers are encouraged to call the dispensary first and confirm availability. Brandy Page Jones, Wholesale Manager at Uncle Herbs, said she expects the fun and useful lunchbox to sell out quickly. "Everyone loves the HIGHker's Lunchbox," she said. "We had a lot of fun putting it together and people seem to really appreciate the thoughtfulness and creativity that went into it. I hope everyone that wants one, can get one, before they're sold out." Uncle Herbs products are loved throughout Arizona. The company is respected because they use natural and wholesome ingredients, and carefully craft their products in small batches to ensure the highest quality. The company has won numerous awards, including: "Best Edible" from the Phoenix New Times, and at the 710 Cup. The HIGHker's Lunchbox was designed by Jasmin Meier - an internationally known artist and illustrator based in Byron Bay, Australia. Her work has been seen around the globe and includes commissions from some of the most popular brands in the world. Learn more by calling Brandy Page Jones at 602.619.8606 or emailing: [email protected] CONNECT: Instagram: uncleherbsmedibles Media: Innovation Agency Inov8.us [email protected] SOURCE Uncle Herbs LOS ANGELES - The sheriff in Southern Californias Orange County released a grainy photograph Thursday that he said showed a Black man grabbing at a deputys gun during a struggle on the ground that ended with the fatal shooting of the man. Sheriff Don Barnes said the photo was a frame of a video taken by a hotel surveillance camera that captured the incident Wednesday afternoon in the oceanside city of San Clemente. Two deputies attempted to stop the man, identified as Kurt Andras Reinhold, 42, as he tried to cross the street, then tackled him. As the three struggled, Barnes said surveillance video showed that Reinhold appeared to try to release the gun from a deputys holster, though the sheriff said its not clear if he was able to get it out. Barnes said video from a witness recorded a deputy yelling hes got my gun! four times. One deputy then fired two shots and Reinhold died at the scene. Barnes declined to release any video, saying he didnt want to influence witnesses who had yet to be interviewed by investigators. He also said he didnt yet know why the two veteran officers on the departments homeless outreach unit tried to stop Reinhold on the street. Reinhold was homeless and had been in San Clemente for about a month. Police made multiple attempts to get him help but he declined, Barnes said. Reinholds death came the same day as the decision not to charge Kentucky police officers for Breonna Taylors death. Taylor, a Black woman and an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers in Louisville after one of them was shot while bursting into her home during a narcotics investigation in March. The decision prompted protests in many cities, including Los Angeles. On Thursday morning, about 50 people protested Reinholds killing and tried to block traffic in San Clemente, about 60 miles (967 kilometres) south of LA . Four were arrested after they refused to get out of the street and a fifth was booked on a vandalism charge for scratching a sheriffs vehicle, Barnes said. Barnes acknowledged Reinholds death came at a tenuous time for the country. Given the current climate of police and community relations, I understand that this conversation is going to be a difficult one around this incident, he said at a news conference. He offered condolences to Reinholds family and asked anyone who plans to protest or mourn to do so peacefully. The two deputies are 8- and 13-year veterans who are part of a 25-member unit that attempts to engage with the homeless people and get them into service programs for mental health, drug addiction or other issues. They are trained in de-escalation and crisis intervention. A video shot by a citizen and posted by Southern Orange County Black Lives Matter shows the early stages of the confrontation between the unidentified deputies and Reinhold. He is seen trying to walk past the deputies as they stand in the middle of a street. He is heard shouting stop touching me! and pushes away the hand of a deputy who orders him to sit on the curb. For what? Reinhold asks. Because Im telling you to, the deputy replied. The deputy repeatedly shoved Reinhold, and both deputies tackled him to the sidewalk, where all three begin to wrestle. Vehicles driving along the street block the cameras view of the struggle as one shot rings out, then another about five seconds later. Barnes said deputies are taught to try to gain compliance without violence. He said the tackling of Reinhold was not something we want to see happen. The deputies have been placed on leave and the Orange County district attorney is investigating. Ed Obayashi, a use-of-force consultant to law enforcement agencies and a deputy sheriff in Plumas County, said Reinhold appeared to be aggressive and unwilling to comply with the deputies commands. To Obayashi, Reinhold seemed to be advancing toward the deputies in a hostile manner and it looked like one deputy kept touching him to keep a safe distance between them. Hes just trying to keep him at bay and also at the same time, guide him toward the sidewalk and out of the street, Obayashi said after watching the social media video. Theres no more reasoning or rationalizing, trying to convince this individual. When Reinhold allegedly grabbed the deputys gun, thats life and death, Obayashi said, noting that it made sense that the other deputy would fire his weapon in response. There are no absolute solutions or law enforcement responses that fit every situation, he said. Theres no one-size-fits-all. ___ Associated Press Writer Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed. HR Strategies and Sodales are enhancing the HR transformation journey with unique and targeted offerings with deep understanding of HR strategy, compliance and governance HR Strategies Consulting Inc. is pleased to announce its new partnership with Sodales Solutions Inc. to bring compliance best practices for Colleges and Long Term Care facilities across North America. While compliance in the areas of Health & Safety and Employee Relations are important for all lines of businesses, it has special importance for Colleges and Long-term Care Facilities. The criticality of Health & Safety & Employee/Student Relations management is due to the fact that there are a lot of shared services prevalent in people centric facilities. This importance has been further highlighted since the pandemic has taken over the world as these two sectors were most severely impacted by it. HR Strategies Consulting Inc and Sodales Solutions Inc saw the value in partnering to bring the industry best practices and content to these two sectors. The knowledge acquired through years of experience in fulfilling compliance needs of global customers has enabled both partners to bring the best platform to these two industries and meet their critical needs. It will allow Long Term Care facilities to solve their issues arising from workplace injuries such slips, trips & falls as well the ones arising from physical abuse or neglect of residence. Similarly there's a big need in the areas of reporting and management of claims related to student/staff safety & complaints in Colleges. Under this partnership, we will bring standard out of the box capabilities with pre-built process flows to solve these problems for Colleges and Long Term Care Facilities. We will be reimagining HR compliance for our customers in Canada and the United States utilizing Sodales Solutions offerings and HR Strategies Consulting experience in the noted industries. "HR Strategies and Sodales are enhancing the HR transformation journey with unique and targeted offerings with deep understanding of HR strategy, compliance and governance. We look forward to being able to provide more value to our customer through this partnership," said Ruby Maini, CEO of HR Strategies Consulting Inc. "We are very excited to create a low touch version of our solution for quick and agile deployment but at same time bring our business values to the two industries where it is needed the most at the moment," said Sana Salam, CEO of Sodales Solutions Inc. About HR Strategies Our key focus is: people, process and performance. HR Strategies Consulting's mission is to optimize the HR journey for our clients as they tackle how they engage, recruit, pay, lead, develop, retain and transition employees. We help our clients implement best practices and streamline processes for greater productivity, cost efficiency, growth, profitability and competitive advantage. For more information: http://www.hrstrategiesconsulting.com. About Sodales Solutions Sodales Solutions is an award-winning SAP Cloud Platform solution extension partner with pre-packaged business content for regulatory compliance. Sodales cloud extensions fill critical requirements for Regulated Industries including Enterprise Health, Safety & Environmental Management, Union Labor Relations, Discipline Management, and Union Seniority Job Bidding. Sodales has reference-able customers in the public sector, utilities, healthcare, education, and EC&O industries. To learn more: http://www.sodalessolutions.com Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy PacStar, a Tigard company that makes rugged communications gear for the U.S. military, said Thursday it will sell its business to a North Carolina company for $400 million in cash. The buyer, Curtiss-Wright Corp., said it expects $120 million in sales from PacStar in 2020. Privately held PacStar employs 145, double the number of workers it had three years ago. Founded in 2000, PacStar makes portable communication equipment designed to enable troops to replicate the communication setup they have on base when theyre in the field. The company announced military contracts last year worth as much as $300 million. Curtiss-Wright said the deal is its biggest acquisition in recent history. The North Carolina company reported $964 million in sales during the first half of 2020, down from $1 billion in sales a year earlier. Its profits totaled $82.8 million during those six months, down from $135.7 million in the same period in 2019. Curtis-Wright said it will fold PacStar into its defense business segment. Its stock rose 4 cents to $93.06 Thursday after news of the deal. Its shares have traded between $70.56 and $149.90 in the past year. -- Mike Rogoway | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699 The Congress on Thursday attacked the central government over the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report that said the maker of the Rafale jets, Dassault Aviation, and the weapons supplier MBDA did not confirm the transfer of technology to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which was part of the contract. In its report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, the countrys top auditor pointed out that several offset contracts built into multiple defence deals had not yielded the desired results. The observations were part of CAGs scrutiny of a raft of offset contracts including the Rs 59,000 crore Rafale deal between 2005 and 2018. The offset obligations should have started on 23-9-2019 and the first annual commitment should have been completed by 23-92020, that is yesterday. Will the government say if that obligation was fulfilled? Is the CAG report the opening of a can of worms? asked former finance minister P Chidambaram. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the country was facing a huge loss due to the delay in the transfer of technology. 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%. There are two important points in the report. Firstly, it is being claimed that the work will be done in the seventh year, which is 2021. That means you wont do anything in six years. And secondly, forget 50% not even 37% has been completed in terms of technology transfer. We are not saying this. The CAG has said it. This is complete fraud. We have been raising this issue because it is in the public interest, he added. Congress partys chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, Chronology of biggest Defense deal continues to unfold. The new CAG report admits that technology transfer shelved in #Rafale offsets. 1st, Make in India became Make in France. Now, DRDO dumped for tech transfer. Modi ji will say everything is ok. However, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who repeatedly attacked the government over the Rafale deal during the 2019 general elections, did not comment on the CAG findings. The BJP declined to comment on the Congress allegations. 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) the vendors had not yet been able to confirm their capability for technology transfer. 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 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. A February 2019 CAG report said the deal to buy the jets was kosher and cheaper than that was being negotiated by the UPA government. Executive Appointments Further Kyriba's Ambitions to Innovate Value for the Modern CFO Kyriba, the global leader of cloud finance and IT solutions, today announced it has appointed Hamza Benamar as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Thomas Butta as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). The executive appointments accelerate Kyriba's efforts to embed Active Liquidity Management within the office of the CFO and its IT partners. "Hamza and Thomas have delivered financial, operational and transformative, category-defining programs for some of the most innovative, global SaaS companies. Most recently, Hamza operationalized a high-growth enterprise for Wolters Kluwer and helped execute a $5.1B acquisition of SunGard by FIS, and Thomas positioned SignalFx as the leader in real-time cloud performance monitoring, which culminated in a $1.05B acquisition by Splunk," said Jean-Luc Robert, Chairman and CEO of Kyriba. "Their expertise will be critical in helping Kyriba enhance its position as trusted guide to global finance and IT teams needing to extract value from new ways to actively manage liquidity." "I have been working directly with CFOs and business leaders for years. Kyriba's world-class team has revolutionized treasury and financial management solutions, which have proven to be especially critical during these challenging times for multinational corporations," said Hamza Benamar, CFO of Kyriba. "I look forward to leveraging my decade-long fintech experience and track record of finance leadership in Fortune 500 technology companies to accelerate Kyriba's growth and help position the company as the leader of Active Liquidity Management." Benamar has engineered and executed double-digit growth for innovative global organizations for the past 25 years. With 12 years of international experience in Europe, Asia and Latin America, Hamza has driven financial performance, assessed risk and spearheaded transactions, acquisitions and divestitures for industry-leading public and private companies, including Amgen, Wolters Kluwer and SunGard. "Kyriba has pioneered the new market space of Active Liquidity Management, which is fundamental to managing risk, fostering growth and optimizing costs, especially in times of disruption and volatility," said Thomas Butta, CMO of Kyriba. "Kyriba has the rare opportunity to be seen as vital to the strategic interests of our customers and partners. I look forward to shaping and elevating this hugely strategic, real-time, value-creation opportunity for the office of the contemporary CFO and its IT partners." Butta joins Kyriba with more than 20 years of CMO leadership roles across disruptive SaaS market categories, including open source, product lifecycle management, customer experience management, and cloud monitoring and observability. As CMO for SignalFx, Butta most recently took the company from a venture-backed start-up to an acquisition by Splunk. Before that, he was CMO at Sprinklr where he created the Digital Customer-First Transformation System that has helped big brands become more relevant in the digital era. Butta was also CMO at Red Hat, PTC, and AppNexus. Both executives join Kyriba as it expands its international footprint, partners with major international organizations, and delivers innovative, new solutions. Kyriba's 100% SaaS, multi-tenant cloud-native Active Liquidity Network connects systems, applications, and data that expands an organization's capability to improve financial performance and add agility and resilience to its finance function. More than 20% of the global Fortune 500 use Kyriba, as well as thousands of other Kyriba clients, including the addition of nearly 300 multinationals in the past 12 months. The company has been recognized as a "Leader" by industry analyst report IDC MarketScape, and Aite Group identified Kyriba as the "Best in Class" cloud treasury and risk management solution. In 2020, The Software Report named Kyriba among the Top 100 Software Companies in the world, and ranked Kyriba CEO Jean-Luc Robert as one of the Top 50 SaaS CEOs. The Company was also named for the eighth time among Inc. 5000's fastest growing private companies and Global Finance Magazine awarded Kyriba for its supply chain finance and payments solutions, and recognized the company as the "Most Innovative Fintech in North America". About Kyriba Kyriba empowers CFOs and their IT counterparts to transform how they optimize financial technology solutions, de-risk ERP cloud migration, and activate liquidity as a dynamic, real-time vehicle for growth and value creation. With 2,000 clients worldwide, including 20 percent of Fortune 500 companies, Kyriba's pioneering Active Liquidity Network connects internal applications for treasury, risk, payments and working capital with vital external sources such as banks, ERPs, trading platforms, and market data providers. Based on a secure, scalable SaaS platform that leverages artificial intelligence, Kyriba enables thousands of companies worldwide to maximize growth opportunities, protect against loss from fraud and financial risk, and reduce costs through advanced automation. Kyriba is headquartered in San Diego, with offices in New York, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai and other major locations. For more information, visit www.kyriba.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005120/en/ Contacts: Daniel Shaffer, dshaffer@kyriba.com, +1 858-263-2218 MailOnline has been inundated with emails from people who had already jetted into Sin City from across the US, Canada , Mexico, the UK and Europe to see the star, who is making a record-breaking $685,000 (500,000) per gig before merchandising. Adele announced the decision in a tearful Instagram video, apologising and telling fans: 'I'm so upset and I'm really embarrassed. We've been absolutely destroyed by delivery delays and Covid. Half my crew and team are [ill] with Covid and still are, and it's been impossible to finish the show'. PR guru Mark Borkowski told MailOnline the last minute cancellation was a 'disaster' for the singer, saying: 'It's not great for Adele and I think she knows it', adding: 'Her response seemed very authentic. I guess it's down to whether the fans believe her word'. He said Adele will have to do something to appease her angry supporters, and fast. Ticketmaster are urging people to 'hang on to their tickets' for new dates predicted to be between April and June - but says they will give refunds. But many are already in Vegas having travelled thousands of miles to be there for the opening night, demanding the singer covers the thousands of dollars they have already laid out on flights and hotel rooms they have no hope of getting refunds for, A British fan called David posted a photo from outside Caesars Palace just after the shows were axed. He tweeted: 'Christmas gift gone pear shaped as my wife and daughter are on the way to meet me in Vegas and unfortunately Adele has had to cancel'. Gillian Rowland-Kain, 32, was already on her flight to Las Vegas from New York with her twin sister (together left) when she found out about the cancellation via social media. The attorney from Brooklyn said: 'I was furious that Adele waited so last minute to make this call. Her lack of notice is astounding. I'm angry and frustrated'. The appearance of a new Whole Foods Market or Trader Joes can be a contentious thing a welcome neighborhood amenity to some, a sure sign of gentrification to others. The question is: Does the presence of a high-end grocer directly cause rent increases? RCLCO, a real estate consulting firm, took a focused look at the topic, considering how a high-end grocer on the street level of a rental building affects that buildings initial rents, rent increases over a year, and the rate at which its new apartments are leased, known as absorption. To do it, researchers compared 64 rental apartment building projects across the country with a Whole Foods, Trader Joes or other high-end grocer on the ground floor with similar nearby buildings without one. Adjusting for ways in which the buildings differed, they determined how much rent premiums, rent increases and absorption could be attributed to the presence of the store. (The study concluded in April 2020, so the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are not reflected in the results.) Two takeaways emerged: Having a premium grocer in the building rewards landlords and, by these measures, the brand cachet of Trader Joes seems to have caught up with the competition. More Allegations of Corruption Linked to Red Cross China, Used by Ottawa to Ship PPE to China Middleman says Chinese officials involved in scheme to hoard and resell protective equipment meant for frontline health-care workers A broker for Red Cross China facilitated the hoarding of COVID-19 supplies for Chinese government officials who then sold them for profit, and Red Cross China officials were involved, says a man who was roped into the scheme. Jiang Pengyong, the General Manager of Shenzhen Jipingyong Tech Company, has come forward to reveal the scheme after being sued in China for contract fraud. The allegation is the latest scandal to dog Chinas Red Cross in recent years. In early February, the Canadian government donated 16 tonnes of protective equipment to China via Red Cross China. The move was heavily criticized by Conservative members of Parliament since Canadas front line health workers were faced with protective equipment shortages once the pandemic arrived in Canada shortly after. Canadas donation, announced by Global Affairs on Feb. 9, was facilitated by the Canadian Red Cross, which provided the supplies to Red Cross China. Around that time, Red Cross China had come under heavy public criticism as many hospitals in China remained without critical supplies despite huge volumes of donations. Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois-Philippe Champagne speaks to reporters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Feb. 9, 2020. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Latest Allegations Jiang, whose grandfather Jiang Qixian was deputy minister of agriculture in the Chinese regime from 1956 to 1970, told The Epoch Times recently that in January he was asked by Huang Zhongnan, a broker in China, to supply medical equipment related to COVID-19 to be donated to front line health workers and ordinary citizens in China. Jiang, whose e-commerce company operates in Chinas Shenzhen, is based in South Korea. Jiang said that once he had helped ship the supplies, he received notice that authorities in Suzhou city in China were suing him for committing contract fraud. He said he was aware of the bad reputation of Red Cross China, which, unlike its international counterparts, is directly controlled by the Chinese regime. However, he agreed to help after Huang insisted. The epidemic was very severe I felt that it was my duty to help my people, he said. The masks that Jiang Pengyong bought in South Korea, and the conversation records between Jiang and Huang Zhongnan, a broker for Red Cross China, in February 2020. (Provided to The Epoch Times) However, Jiang said Huang later told him that he would sell the supplies to local branches of Red Cross China and other charities at a higher price for profit, and the profit would be shared between Huang, Jiang, and government officials. Jiang also alleges that officials at Red Cross China and other charities were also in on the deal, and would sell the medical supplies at profit. The Epoch Times contacted each of the local health commissions Huang dealt with, as well as the Red Cross China branches that Jiang mentioned. They confirmed that Huang was their contact person but would not provide further details about their business dealings with him. The Epoch Times also contacted the headquarters of Red Cross China, but didnt hear back. Jiang, who has decided to go public with his story, says his business bank accounts in China have been frozen. He thinks this is retaliation from local Red Cross China officials after he wasnt able to complete some of the officials requests to purchase supplies. Recent Criticism In early February, a video of a man loading the trunk of the government vehicle he was driving with 3M masks from the Red Cross warehouse he was parked next to ignited outrage from Chinese citizens, as many hospital staff were short of protective supplies. No need to donate. Whatever you donate will be used to extend the lives of those with money and power, wrote a Chinese social media user online at the time. The local branch of Red Cross China in Wuhan acknowledged it had mismanaged the distribution of donated supplies in early February. Chinas state-owned Peoples Daily reported on Feb. 3 that in one case, Red Cross China in Hubei only shipped 3,000 masks to a public hospital which was a major battleground with the virus, while 36,000 masks went to two private hospitals. The report said the local Red Cross China branch claimed it shipped the items to the private hospitals as thats what the donors wished, but further inspection has uncovered suspected ties with private hospitals. Meanwhile, many health professionals in Hubei took to social media in February to ask for help to get protective equipment, prompting people to post questions and concerns online about where their donations had gone. Medical staff write messages on their protective suits before attending to COVID-19 patients at the Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, China, on March 16, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) According to a report by Jing Daily in February, Chinese netizens reported analyzing data on local Red Cross China websites, reporting that only close to 20 percent of N95 masks were sent to hospitals in Wuhan, while the rest were distributed to different government agencies. Canada sent the first shipments of its 16 tonnes of protective equipment to China starting on Feb. 4. In an email to The Epoch Times, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said the donation was made in response to a call by the World Health Organization. Global Affairs Canada takes the risk and allegations of fraud very seriously. Respect for taxpayers money is a top priority, Angela Savard said in an email. This is why Canada facilitated sending equipment through the Canadian Red Cross to the Red Cross Society of China in response to the WHOs call. Savard said as part of its due diligence, the Canadian Red Cross engages in discussions with Red Cross China before sending the equipment to assess and discuss need, including confirming distribution plans. Global Affairs Canada declined to comment on whether any evaluation is done on whether the donated supplies are received by the intended users, and directed further questions to the Canadian Red Cross. Leianne Musselman, director of communications with the Canadian Red Cross, said the organization was asked by the Canadian government to assist with the procurement and shipment of the protective equipment to China for distribution by the government of China. She added that since the items were from the government of Canada to the government of China, and not a donation to the Canadian Red Cross, further questions related to the PPE shipment should be addressed to the Canadian government. The donation of the equipment in this case was an exception, as in general the Canadian Red Cross doesnt accept in-kind donations. Where possible, the Red Cross looks to source items that are needed directly near the areas that are impacted, and provides assistance to people in a way where they can determine what they require to best meet their needs, Musselman said. Past Scandals One of the recent incidents that caused major damage to the reputation of Red Cross China was when a young woman named Guo Meimei posted photos of herself online posing with luxury vehicles and declaring that she holds a senior title with the China Red Cross. The incident crystalized the idea for the Chinese public that similar to other governmental organizations, Red Cross China is controlled by corrupt officials who are out to enrich themselves. It was later reported that Guo was the mistress of Wang Jun, an official with the China Red Cross. A year after the incident, there was a 25 percent drop in donations to Red Cross China. Red Cross China was also criticized by donors in the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, after it admitted years later that it redirected the more than 80 million yuan (C$15 milloin) donated by artists to build an art school to other projects. The episode is part of a bigger scandal in charitable donations following the deadly earthquake that claimed 90,000 lives. According to a 2009 report by Tsinghua University researchers, 80 percent of charitable donations for the earthquake were redirected to the government as extra revenue. With reporting by Nicole Hao BLOOMINGTON Residents gathered in downtown Bloomington and other cities across the country on Wednesday night to express frustration with a Kentucky grand jury's decision not to charge Louisville police officers with killing Breonna Taylor. There is something wrong with Americas system, said Chynna Miller, a 27-year-old Bloomington native who participated in the event. Demonstrators sang "Lean on Me" and spelled "Breonna" with candles placed on the ground near the McLean County Museum of History. Taylor, 26, was shot to death during a drug raid gone wrong on the night of March 13. Calls for the arrest of the involved officers were among rallying cries in protests against systemic racism and police brutality across the country this summer. Prosecutors said that two officers who fired their weapons at her Officers Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove were justified in using force to protect themselves. The only charges brought by the grand jury were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into Taylors neighbors homes during the raid. The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case. Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by officers who entered her home on a no-knock warrant during a narcotics 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 told police he heard knocking but didnt know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defense. 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. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday condemned the grand jurys decision and called for protests to be peaceful. The governor said the National Guard was at the ready but the state wouldnt activate soldiers until theyre needed. This is, to put it simply, a gross miscarriage of justice, Pritzker said, adding that the circumstances around Taylor's death bring "an overwhelming sense of rage, of passion, of sorrow, to so many." In Bloomington, more than two dozen people had gathered downtown by 6:30 p.m. Most wore face coverings and many carried signs with messages such as "Black Lives Matter," "Justice for Breonna," "fight police violence" and "If all lives mattered, we wouldn't have to protest." Im hurt and I am angry," said Miller, who held a sign that said "legalize being Black." "I feel like America was told that Breonnas life doesnt matter. Black lives dont matter. My life doesnt matter." She said change is needed both across the country and in McLean County. Having lived in Bloomington since she was a toddler, Miller said she grew up with an understanding that she should avoid some areas of town after a certain time of night due to a fear that she would be pulled over because she is Black. My friends and family have been mistreated just for being Black in this town," she said. Ward 6 Alderwoman Jenn Carrillo, who also attended, said she hates having to gather with the community to mourn injustice. Carrillo said police reform in Bloomington shouldnt differ much from cities across the United States. We have evidence that Black people in our community are more likely to be stopped, more likely to be searched, more likely to be canine sniffed, more likely to have forced used against them, said Carrillo, adding that officials needs to take a serious look at reform. Carrillo has been among local advocates for reallocating some resources from police departments toward resources to address mental health and social issues. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced Wednesday that Hankison would be indicted on three charges of wanton endangerment for shooting 10 rounds into an apartment neighboring Taylors that was occupied by three people. Hankison was dismissed in June. The indictment does not mention Taylor or her death. Cameron said the FBI is still investigating whether officers violated Taylors civil rights. The Taylor familys lawyer, Ben Crump, denounced the decision as outrageous and offensive, and protesters shouting, No justice, no peace! began marching through the streets. Some sat quietly and wept. Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylors 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. Taylors image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities. The charges 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. At a news conference, Cameron spoke to that disconnect. Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief, Cameron told reporters after the charges were announced. But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor. And Ive said that repeatedly. My mother, if something was to happen to me, would find it very hard, he added, choking up. But Cameron, who is the state's first Black attorney general, said the officers acted in self-defense after Taylor's boyfriend fired at them. He added that the officers who entered Taylors apartment announced themselves before entering and so did not execute the warrant as no-knock, according to the investigation. According to Kentucky law, the use of force by Mattingly and Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves," he said. "This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylors death. A Republican, Cameron 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. Asked about the decision at a White House event, Trump said he hadn't had time to consider it yet but would comment when he had. He added: My message is that I love the Black community, and that Ive done more for the Black community than any other president, with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln. Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on Wednesday noted that Taylor was the same age as her own daughter. Today, justice was denied. Breonna was shot to death in her own home Her life was taken, a life of value and promise, she said. Anticipating public protest and large gatherings in the aftermath of the announcement, Lightfoot called for peace. I know that many, upon hearing of this verdict, will feel confusion and anger and disbelief and many of you will want to express yourselves, Lightfoot said. I want you to know that I support you and will do everything in my power to protect you as you voice your righteous anger. Lawmakers across the state expressed indignation at the lack of charges for Taylors death in statements and over social media. The fact that none of the officers was charged directly for Breonnas death makes it clear that our justice system does not equally value Black life, and that has to change, state Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, said in a release. Breonna Taylor should be alive right now. We keep seeing the same stories over and over again, state Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, wrote in another. It is exhausting and upsetting; 2020 has shown just how flawed our institutions are within a system stacked against us. Do not let anyone shut down the fight for a better world. The Associated Press and Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report. Photos: 1 officer indicted in Breonna Taylor case for shooting at neighbor's apartment Contact Analisa Trofimuk at (309) 820-3244. Follow her on Twitter: @AnalisaTro Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Kenya has scrapped tariffs it imposed early this month on Egyptian exports, Arab Finance reports citing a statement by the Egyptian minister Trade and Industry Nevin Gamea. Both countries had been embroiled in a trade row after the eastern African imposed a 25% customs duty on Egyptian imports, early September. Gamea, the media notes, said Kenya will adhere to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) trade agreement until June 30th 2021. Egypt is one of Kenyas key continental trade partners. The Arab country according to the Head of the Egyptian Commercial Service Ahmed Maghawry, exported $416 million (EGP 6.56 billion) worth of goods to Kenya during 2019. The top imports from Egypt include paper and its products, sugar, steel, soap, detergent, cement, and electronics. Written by: Jaber Ali on September 23, 2020. on September 24, 2020. Fresh off failing to address a pandemic that has now killed more than 202,000 Americans, President Donald Trump this week found time to dive back into the crucial goal of getting social-media companies to stop fact-checking his statements and calling him out when he lies. Trumps meeting with Republican state attorneys general regarding Twitter and others was couched as a free-speech issue. It isnt. Not only do those companies have the right to bar toxic misinformation from their platforms, but they have a public obligation to do so. The major social-media companies took heavy criticism for allowing themselves to be manipulated by Russian and domestic disinformation during the 2016 election. In their lurching attempts to address those criticisms, some of the companies have started removing false content and fact-checking misleading assertions. Not surprisingly, Trump has been a key source of alert-worthy misinformation. Which is why Twitter this year has appended fact-check labels to several Trump tweets that falsely claimed mail-in voting has been shown to be rife with fraud (it is not). Republican attempts to show otherwise invariably end like a recent claim from Attorney General William Barr that a man in Texas was indicted for submitting 1,700 fraudulent ballots. Barrs office later was forced to acknowledge that the number of suspicious ballots involved was actually, um, one. But by falsely attacking mail-in voting during the pandemic when many voters are expected to vote by mail to avoid crowded polling places Trump lays the groundwork to dispute the election results if he loses. Its a strategy he has all but announced publicly while hinting he might not respect the Nov. 3 results. Infuriated at having this dangerous scheme challenged by Twitter, Trump is seeking to remove the special legal protections that the tech companies received in a 1996 law designed to help the then-nascent internet flourish. In Wednesdays White House meeting, which was attended by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Trump reiterated his claim that Twitter routinely restricts posts expressing conservative views, even from a president of the United States. As if for good measure, he then repeated the lie that mail-in voting is a mass Democratic scheme to deny him reelection. Hawley is a leading proponent of reining in big tech, and not all his ideas are bad stopping behavioral advertising that tracks peoples online browsing to inundate them with targeted ads, for example. But that doesnt validate the push by Hawley, Trump and others to label responsible fact-checking as an infringement on expression of conservative views. Airing a provably false statement of fact isnt justified by calling it an opinion. Unlike mail-in voting, concerted disinformation particularly from a sitting president really is damaging to democracy. It must be confronted, online as everywhere else. We are willing to join the EU in adopting targeted sanctions against those responsible for the violence, the repression and the vote-rigging, although the EU process has now been delayed in Brussels, Raab said. Given that delay ... were co-ordinating with the United States and Canada to prepare appropriate listings as a matter of urgency. WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.On October 1, live cam network Flirt4Free will launch this years version of its annual Flirt of the Year contest. Once again, the competition will feature a prize pool of roughly $300,000, the return of many popular sub-contests, and new version of the voting-based Viewers Choice competition. The sites models will take part in a series of competitions through December 31. Each couples dozens of cash prizes ranging from $50 to $2,000 with regional titles like FOTY Miss North America and FOTY Mister Russia; Top Webcam Legend in the Credit Level showdown; Rookie of the Year and Top Fetish Specialist in the FOTY categories; and Mister & Miss Flirt of the Year 2020 through the Overall rankings. In past years, the most eye-catching FOTY bounties have been tied to the Viewers Choice contest. Models collect free votes and purchased Super Votes cast by fans in pursuit of the big money. For 2020, this portion of the promotion has been reworked. Of the total prize pool, $200,000 has been allocated to what is now dubbed the Viewers Choice Royal Tournament. It consists of seven two-week rounds, each dolling out larger prizes than the last to top vote collectors, while the winners circle shrinks as the competition heats up. In Round 1, the 20 top vote collectors of each gender earn cash in amounts ranging from $50 to $1,000. Round 4 awards between $200 and $4,000 to the top eight contestants. For the final round (Dec. 21 31), the field narrows once more and the five models who collect the most votes in that time can win between $2,000 and $10,000. While each Tournament round counts only votes earned in that two-week period, there is more FOTY fortune and glory for the performers who collect the most total votes between October 1 and December 31. The top 20 Viewers Choice winners will become Flirt royalty for the next calendar year, earning titles like the Duke and Duchess of Flirts, the Earl and the Baroness of Flirt, and The Prince and Princess of Flirts. Ultimately the 1st place winners are crowned the King and Queen of Flirts and awarded $5,000 for their effort. Viewers Choice, and Flirt of the Year in general, are always big-time draws for our models and the fans who want to honor them, said Jamie Rodriguez, Flirt4Frees Director of Product. The Royal Tournament widens the range of offerings our models can compete over. Established stars may target prizes based on year-long performances, while up-and-comers might take aim at three-month or monthly contests, and models who may have other things going on in their off-cam lives can still compete and win big in any Tournament round. Now Flirts of all levels and their fans can be part of the FOTY experience. To learn more about Flirt of the Year 2020 and the Viewers Choice Royal Tournament, visit Flirt4Free.com. Models seeking to join Flirt4Frees lineup can apply here. Affiliates interested in promoting the network can apply here. The old calculation was simple and brutal: if you want to overthrow a tyrant, you must use violence. There were occasional exceptions, such as 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. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion The old calculation was simple and brutal: if you want to overthrow a tyrant, you must use violence. There were occasional exceptions, such as 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 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, including 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 2010-11 "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, is 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 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 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. 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 per cent of the population out in the streets, they almost always win. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. 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 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 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-co-operation in a sustained way for nine to 18 months? Things would be totally different in this country." Gwynne Dyers latest book is Growing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and Work). In a letter dated 19 September, Sasikala said the third parties file those applications for gaining publicity and that the motive of the applicants is to 'complicate her lawful release' VK Sasikala, close aide of late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, wrote a letter requesting authorities of the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru not to release details of her release to any third parties under the Right to Information Act, according to several media reports. Sasikala is currently serving a four-year jail sentence at the prison in a Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case. This comes just days after prison authorities, on 16 September, in response to an RTI query, stated Sasikala's 'probable date' of release is 27 January, 2021, as per News18. In a letter dated 19 September, Sasikala said the third parties file those applications for gaining publicity and also due to political vendetta. The oblique motive of some applicants is to complicate my lawful release at the right time, the letter read, according to The Indian Express. As per The NewsMinute, Sasikala said that it was an invasion of her right to privacy and also said that there were precedents regarding sharing information related to prisoner release under the RTI. Sasikala cited the Ved Prakash Aryavs case, where the jail authorities denied providing information of undertrial prisoners as well as convicts. The Chief Information Officer had cited the Supreme Court judgment on the Right To Privacy while declining to provide information to the RTI application too. "The public information officer had denied providing such information stating that details about under-trial prisoners or convicts were personal and revelation of such information is barred under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act," Sasikala's letter read, as per Indian Express. According to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, information which relates to personal information, and the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual cannot be provided by the public information officer, as per News Minute. Sasikala's sentence ends in February 2021 but she may be released earlier if she manages to pay the fine imposed by the Supreme Court. Her lawyer has also claimed that she could be released by the end of this month on grounds of good behaviour. Her release would be a significant political development in Tamil Nadu, which is due for polls in 2021. With inputs from PTI Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott rolled out a new phase in opening Texas after the COVID lockdowns of the past several months. During his press conference the governor stated the following: The people of Midland have done the actions of the first two bullet points with passion; and, given the status of Midland on the last two bullet points, I felt it necessary to let our local businesses know they had my full support to do what they felt they needed to do to open up and serve their customers. My boldness in making this statement boils down to one very important point ever since March we have resisted mandates and instead called on the people of Midland to understand the danger and challenge and respond accordingly. To date, Midlanders have heroically responded, and our numbers prove it. My great concern with what has come out of Austin over the last seven months is not the calls to action as much as the manner in which these calls have been made. In the midst of the greatest collective health crisis our state and city has faced in a lifetime, it seemed only right to me that a special session of the legislature should have been called in order to facilitate a reasonable statewide response (remember not all places in Texas are affected the same). My actions at the local level are always accountable to the city council; at the state level our elected representatives should be able to hold the governor accountable. If not all of Texas has been affected the same, then each place in Texas ought to able to manage its affairs in a way that protects and provides for the good of its residents. The protection and provision of the great people of Midland has been made possible because we have trusted you and you have more than delivered. But even as I choose to push back at what is being pushed down on us, we must all still remain vigilant and committed to protect and provide for one another as we have proven we can. My warning to businesses was that I could not protect them from state regulatory agencies but would do all I could to be a voice for them as they seek to save their businesses in a safe and responsible manner. Each will make the call as they deem worthwhile. But as our business community decides what they must do, we must likewise continue to do what we have done. Simply put, we must remain aware, vigilant and responsive in order to demonstrate that a free people who treasure their liberty can do what is necessary for their provision and protection absent statewide mandates. We are not out of the COVID nightmare. Our city, hospital, health department and others have been doing an amazing job in partnership with Midlanders to fight back against COVID. Now, as we fight to safely open and do what we must do for ourselves lets keep our guard up, fight for one anothers safety and show that opening the doors of business does not mean opening the door to another dangerous outbreak. Together, we can open up if we continue to do for others what we wish they would do for us. This is who we are, and this is what we do best out here in West Texas. The post of anti-corruption ombudsman has been lying vacant since the tenure of Justice PK Misra (retd) ended on 17 September Panaji: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Goa government to fill the post of Lokayukta, lying vacant since the tenure of Justice PK Misra (retd) ended on 17 September, within the next three months. A division bench of Justice M S Sonak and Justice M S Jawalkar said the vacancy has to be filled as expeditiously as possible so that the Institution of Goa Lokayukta functions in the state. The bench was hearing a petition filed by activist Aires Rodrigues claiming delay by the state government in initiating the process to fill the Lokayukta post. Advocate General (AG) Devidas Pangam told the bench that a communication has been sent to the registrar of the Supreme Court seeking names of eligible candidates. "It is required by the law that the post be filled by a retired supreme court judge or a retired high court chief justice," the AG said. The bench said that taking into consideration the mandate as well as the purpose of enactment of the Lokayukta Act, the vacancy had to be filled as expeditiously as possible so that the Institution of Goa Lokayukta functions in the state. The court directed the government to take effective steps to fill the post within three months. Suburbia has become a flashpoint of the 2020 election as both presidential campaigns vie for its voters, particularly suburban women. President Trump won the suburban vote by four points in 2016, but most recent polling puts Democratic nominee Joe Biden ahead by a similar or greater margin for 2020. Trump wants to undo that reversal, and his chosen strategy is to present himself as the champion of, in his phrasing, the suburban housewife and her Suburban Lifestyle Dream. The message is NIMBYismnot in my backyardgone national. It is also a new version of an old temptation of misplaced trust Christians have always faced. Ancient wisdom from a third-century African bishop, Cyprian of Carthage, can help us escape its lure. Trumps defense of the suburbs has two facets. One is about the dangerous people who could go there: Trump says a Biden presidency will mean violent criminals moving into and/or looting and otherwise terrorizing suburban neighborhoods without consequence. The president has no control over who buys which houses, of course, nor does he have much influence over local policing. This half of the claim is best read as symbolic hyperbole: What Trump is communicating is not a pledge of specific policy action but a promise of favor, security, and status for his supporters. Its about shared fears and antipathies, not deciding who lives next door. The second facet of Trumps NIMBY message is about housing. The issue at hand is zoning rules that say what can be built in which locations. These regulations are typically set by city or county governments, but Washington can encourage local officials to change them by restricting federal subsidy money to cities that zone a certain way. (This can be persuasive, because suburbia runs on subsidies.) So when Trump says Democrats want to abolish the suburbs, what he means is they want to adjust local laws and federal incentives to allow duplexes, granny flats, and perhaps small businesses or apartment buildings in areas formerly zoned solely for single-family homes. This change is called up-zoning, and Trump argues it will destroy the burbs, bother[ing] suburbanites with low income neighbors. Critics have argued (persuasively, I think) that Trumps language is code for racial exclusion, a code cracked by knowledge of the long history of zoning as a tool of state-enforced segregation and the correlation of race and poverty in America. At the very least it is wildly unrealistic: We could instantaneously eliminate single-family zoning nationwide, and most of American suburbia would change little or not at all. Established neighborhoods might see a few duplex conversions and mother-in-law suite additionsif theyre lucky, a church or coffee shop in walking distancebut developers wouldnt plunk 40-story high rises into quiet cul-de-sacs. This is why up-zoning advocacy was historically a cross-partisan position with strong conservative support: It gives property owners greater freedom and, by reducing housing costs, can make having children and caring for elderly parents more accessible. Beyond these familial benefits, for Christians, up-zoning can make it easier to worship and minister where we live, to make our church community an integral part of our neighborhood. (The very name of NIMBYisms opposite, YIMBYismyes in my backyardsounds like an invitation to a church potluck, doesnt it?) Up-zoning can also give us new opportunities to practice loving our neighbors by literally giving us more neighbors. One implication of extreme-separation zoning laws is that they reduce our contact with people of other socioeconomic classes and thus reduce our potential for compassion, writes pastor Eric O. Jacobsen in Sidewalks in the Kingdom, which delves deeper than I can here into the importance of urban design for the outworking of Christian faith. Article continues below What does all this have to do with temptation? Well, housing makes us feel safeand, in a sense, it should. Our homes fulfill a basic human need for shelter. It is good and right for us not only to have housing but also to enjoy it. In Scripture, loss of your home can be a sign of divine judgment for sin (e.g., Jer. 6:12, Ezek. 26:12), while dwelling comfortably in your home is a blessing from God (e.g., Isa. 65:2122, Ezek. 45:4). Jesus promises his followers rooms in his Fathers house (John 14:13), and Paul longs to be at home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). Home is a good gift from God, yet our homes become our idols if we make them the source of security we ought to find in Christ. Home is a good gift from God, yet our homes become our idols if we make them the source of security we ought to find in Christ. I know this because Im prone to that idolatry. My family moved often when I was growing up, and it was generally not a Suburban Lifestyle Dream. We once lived in a camper and also a motel. The house I own now figures prominently in my assessment of lifesometimes too prominently, providing a substitute sense of refuge I know I ought to find only in God. I dont think Im alone in this predilection: Eight in 10 Americans say homeownership is a vital component of achieving the American dream. Our homes mean a lot for how others see us and how we see ourselves. Writing to Christians in his pastoral care in North Africa around A.D. 250, Cyprian of Carthage warned against this misplaced trust of our homes in unsparing terms. Those, he wrote, who, excluding the poor from their neighborhood, stretch out their fields far and wide into space without any limits even in the midst of their riches those are torn to pieces by the anxiety of vague thought, lest the robber should spoil, lest the murderer should attack, lest the envy of some wealthier neighbor should become hostile, and harass them with malicious lawsuits. Such a one enjoys no security either in his food or in his sleep. The security we seek in a Suburban Lifestyle Dream is a lie, Cyprian said, because searching for security outside of God leaves us with emptiness, fear, and vulnerability instead. Enjoying a large yard or a single-family house isnt sinful. But making any homesuburban or notthe foundation of our identity or a fortress to be guarded against the intrusion of the poor into our communities most certainly is. The way to solid and firm and constant security, Cyprian advised, is to be anchored on the ground of the harbor of salvation, to lift [our] eyes from earth to heaven. For when the soul, in its gaze into heaven, has recognized its Author, it rises higher than the sun, and far transcends all this earthly power, and begins to be that which it believes itself to be. No matter the zoning laws or election results, it is God who make[s our] lot secure (Ps. 16:5). Bonnie Kristian is a columnist at Christianity Today. A man who broke into his neighbors apartment and sexually assaulted her was sentenced to more than eight years in prison, the Washington County District Attorneys office said on Wednesday. Hugo Zaldana-Mendoza was convicted of first-degree burglary, sexual abuse and sexual penetration. He was first charged in 2015, and was convicted by a jury. But the case was reversed by the Oregon Court of Appeals and sent back to the Washington County Circuit Court for a new trial. Court records say Zaldana-Mendoza broke into a womans apartment by climbing to her second-floor balcony. The victim woke early in the morning to the sound of a barking dog, and then saw Zaldana-Mendoza walk into her room and sit on her bed. Zaldana-Mendoza then sexually assaulted her. The woman told investigators she recognized him as a neighbor. The victim said she heard her son crying, and she used that as an opportunity to escape the bedroom. She locked herself and her son in the bathroom for more than 10 minutes, and told Zaldana-Mendoza to leave her home. She called police immediately after he left, court documents say. When police officers arrived, they found Zaldana-Mendoza in the apartment complex. He admitted to investigators that he climbed up the victims balcony to get to her apartment. He told police the sexual contact was consensual. Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said disengagement would require mutually agreed 'reciprocal actions', and the way ahead will be to refrain from making any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo at the LAC New Delhi: With another round of talks on the border standoff with China likely soon, India on Thursday said it is necessary to ensure stability on the ground while the two sides work towards ensuring complete disengagement of troops in all friction areas in eastern Ladakh. At a virtual media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said disengagement is a complex process that would require mutually agreed "reciprocal actions", and the way ahead will be to refrain from making any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo. Separately, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India and China are going through an "unprecedented" situation, but noted that the border row is one part of the larger issue of how the two countries adjust to each other when both are rising. Speaking at a virtual conference of the World Economic Forum, he said it is important that China and India understand the need to accommodate each other's rise. "We are going through, in a sense, an unprecedented situation. But if one looks at it from a somewhat longer-term, I would say this is one facet of a larger phenomenon for which both India and China have to sit down and find a solution," Jaishankar said when asked how ties between the two Asian giants will move forward. At his media briefing, Srivastava said the next meeting under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs is likely to take place "soon". It is learnt that the WMCC talks will take place ahead of the next round of the Corps commander-level discussions. "Even as two sides work towards complete disengagement in all friction areas, it is at the same time also necessary to ensure stability on the ground. The latest senior commanders meeting should be seen in this overall context," he said. India and China held the sixth round of Corps commander-level talks on Monday following which both sides announced a series of decisions including 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 MEA spokesperson referred to the first-ever joint press release issued by the two sides on Tuesday after any Corps commander-level meeting during the four-and-a-half-month standoff, adding it reflected their stated commitment to disengage along the Line of Actual Control(LAC). "As we have pointed out earlier, disengagement is a complex process that requires redeployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC. This would require mutually agreed reciprocal actions," he said. Srivastava also said the meeting gave the senior commanders an opportunity to have candid and in-depth exchange of views on stabilising the situation along the LAC. "The way ahead will be to refrain from making any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, while the two sides continue their discussions to achieve complete disengagement in all friction areas and to ensure full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas," he said. He also spoke about the decision of the two sides to have the next meeting of the senior commanders at the earliest. "In parallel, the next meeting of the WMCC is also likely to take place soon." Referring to the military talks, Srivastava said the two sides had decided to strengthen the ground communication to avoid any further 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 was for the first time that the Indian Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army(PLA) announced specific measures to ease tensions in eastern Ladakh where the face-off began in early May. The tensions escalated manifold after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash in Galwan Valley on 15 June. 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 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 sixth round of Corps commander-level talks on Monday which was also attended for the first time by a joint secretary from the 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. A former police officer dubbed 'Supercop' for making 1,000 arrests in 18 months has revealed how he was forced to quit his job after suffering mental health issues. Alistair Livingstone, who began his career with Suffolk Police at 18, has suffered broken fingers and feet and numerous punches in the line of duty. Other emotional incidents included holding on to a suicidal man who was hanging over the edge of a nine-storey car park for which he would later receive an award from the Royal Humane Society. Alistair Livingstone (pictured) has been heralded for making the most arrests in Britain but he said he was left 'broken' by life as 'Supercop' But he revealed the demanding job and his reputation as 'Robocop' took its toll on his mental health. Mr Livingstone, who holds the country's top arrest record for the most arrests in Britain, has now penned a book about his police experience as well as to raise awareness about the 'challenges of policing in a modern society'. In Broken Blue Line, he has written about his rise from police constable to sergeant in a short space of time, his role in the investigation of Steve Wright in connection with the infamous murders of five young women in Ipswich in 2006, and dealing with the death of a colleague while on duty. Mr Livingstone wrote: 'They used to refer to me as a 'machine' who didn't sleep, lived for the job and just never stopped. 'I became someone that people felt epitomised front-line operational policing. My job defined me. 'I felt like I was indestructible and that I would never suffer with any form of ill health, let alone have a mental breakdown. I was Sergeant Ali Livingstone.' Mr Livingstone (pictured) has now penned Broken Blue Line, in which he has written about his experiences during his time with Suffolk Police The book also reveals details of him working as a tactical advisor during an operation to deal with a double murder and violent disturbance on the West Meadows' travellers' site just outside Ipswich in December 2016. Recalling the incident Mr Livingstone revealed he worked almost 20 night shifts in a row on the 'truly dramatic' operation. He felt 'no sooner than this incident had been resolved, Ipswich descended into a period of violent crime'. He said he and his colleagues in central Ipswich felt they were 'fighting a tide of violence', with murders, stabbings, muggings, robberies and attacks on officers, in the subsequent three months,. All these incidents coupled with the 'pressure of public expectation' and media interest' took a toll on his mental health. The former office resigned in June of last year, aged 36, citing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. Mr Livingstone, who tried to return to return to the force this year but quit, now works in a student support role at a high school. He hopes the book would help both other police officers and others as well as those suffering from PTSD. PHOENIX A Black man filed a $2.5 million claim Wednesday against the Arizona city of Tempe after a police officer held him at gunpoint while looking for a white suspect at a hotel. The claim a precursor to a lawsuit was filed by hotel employee Trevonyae Cumpian stemming from his Aug. 29 detention by Tempe police Officer Ronald Kerzaya, The Arizona Republic reported. Body-camera footage showed Kerzaya responded to the Hawthorn Suites hotel based on reports involving an armed white man. While searching for the man, 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. 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. Nikki Ripley, a spokeswoman for the city, told The Associated Press the city hasnt yet received Cumpians claim. Benjamin Crump, one of Cumpians 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 wasnt 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. The claim also alleges a cover-up by the department to keep Kerzayas past conduct quiet. The attorneys said officials attempted to avoid providing the officers badge number and, when they did, they provided Kerzayas 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 Oakry incident. An investigation determined their actions were within policy and Kerzaya underwent mandatory re-training in contact communication, defense tactics and enhanced de-escalation techniques. Joe Biden is running about even with President Trump in Iowa, Georgia and Texas, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll released today. All are states that voted for Trump in 2016 by at least five percentage points. The results reflected Bidens lopsided advantage among women, even in traditionally red states, and affirmed the variety of possible paths to an Electoral College victory that may be available to the former vice president as his campaign decides where to focus its efforts in the final weeks of the race. In all three states surveyed, the Times/Siena poll found that Biden and Trump were effectively locked in a statistical tie among likely voters: In Iowa, Biden had a three-point edge, while Trump led by the same amount in Texas. In Georgia, both candidates clocked in at 45 percent. Bidens campaign is investing in Georgia and Iowa, and yesterday it started airing a TV ad in the Atlanta market aimed at young Black men. But so far Biden has resisted making a strong play for Texas, a huge and politically complex state; his campaign has reasoned that he would be unlikely to win Texas without first taking enough other states to seal an Electoral College victory anyway. House Democrats yesterday unveiled a sweeping package of changes that would rein in presidential power, a response to Trumps conduct in office and an attempt to reverse a decades-long trend toward loosening Congresss checks on the powers of the executive branch. Orchestrated by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and assembled by a group of seven House committee chairmen, the bill would add protections for federal watchdogs, beef up congressional oversight capabilities, limit the presidents power to issue pardons, and impose new penalties on administration appointees who engage in political activities on the job. The bill has hardly any chance of becoming law while Trump is still in office, but House Democrats view it as a necessary move to take after he leaves office, in order to prevent Trumps style of leadership from becoming standard operating procedure in the Oval Office. But many Trump opponents are now openly fretting over the possibility that the country may not get there at all. Bernie Sanders plans to give a speech today warning that Americans must be prepared for a nightmare scenario in which Trump loses the November election but tries to stay in power anyway. Why would Sanders worry about such a thing? Look no further than the presidents own words. Yesterday evening at the White House, when asked by a reporter whether he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power after the election if he lost, Trump refused to say yes. Were going to have to see what happens, he said, later adding: There wont be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation. Trump also said yesterday that he expected the election results to be contested and to wind up being decided by the nations highest court. I think this will end up in the Supreme Court, he said. And I think its very important that we have nine justices, a nod to the seat left open by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last week. If Republicans succeed in filling that seat before the election, the court could have a 6-to-3 conservative majority in time for any votes regarding the election results. Breaking again with his own top health advisers, Trump said that he may or may not approve a set of planned guidelines that the Food and Drug Administration intends to release to ensure that any coronavirus vaccine hitting the market has first been properly vetted for safety and efficacy. His comments came just hours after four leading officials who are helping guide the pandemic response had spoken to a Senate committee, guaranteeing that they had faith in the F.D.A. and seeking to assuage fears that it is being influenced by the administration for political reasons. But Trump, who has said that he wants to see a vaccine approved in the next few weeks, told reporters yesterday that he thought the agencys plan to release stricter guidance on a vaccine was a political move more than anything else. A Republican-led Senate investigation into corruption allegations against Biden and his son Hunter found no evidence of improper influence-peddling or wrongdoing by the former vice president undercutting a line of attack that commentators on the right have made into a motif of the campaign. While Joe Biden was the vice president under President Barack Obama, Hunter served on the board of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian company then mired in a corruption scandal. The 87-page Senate report found that Hunter had cashed in on his fathers political stature when closing lucrative business deals, raising eyebrows in the Obama administration. If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government survive the next few weeks, it will have had little to do with the throne speech delivered Wednesday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government survive the next few weeks, it will have had little to do with the throne speech delivered Wednesday. Throne speeches are, traditionally, rife with unbridled but largely meaningless poetry. This one was no different. Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, who enunciated the speech, talked about the need for Canadians to unite behind what she claimed was the government's "ambitious plan for an unprecedented reality." The speech functioned very much like a political semaphore, sending out strong, symbolic signals to key Liberal constituencies. For a government that is reeling in opinion polls and needs to distinguish itself from the still-evolving Conservatives and new leader Erin O'Toole, those signals were dispatched with great effusiveness. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Julie Payette make their way to the Senate for the throne speech. (Fred Chartrand / Canadian Press) In addition to some significant extensions to economic supports for individuals and businesses affected by the pandemic, the speech was stuffed with hot-button buzz words from the "progressive" political lexicon. The speech included its intention to establish a national child-care program, introduce universal Pharmacare and create a task force action plan to create greater opportunities for women in the economy. There were pledges to create millions of new jobs in a still emerging green economy, and introduce measures to address "systemic inequities in all phases of the criminal justice system." Almost all of these things fall into the category of generational government initiatives. Put another way, most majority governments would be lucky to accomplish one of national child care, Pharmacare and a reform of the justice system in its entire term in office. Other things, such as creating new economic opportunities for women, are so nebulous that it will be impossible to measure progress. And there just isn't enough new or substantive to warrant much in the way of genuine excitement on measures to green the economy and reduce Canada's carbon footprint. Promoting the manufacturing of electric vehicles and the batteries something already underway in Ontario to save its beleaguered auto industry is low-hanging fruit in the green economy equation. Canada is in the enviable position of having about 80 per cent of its electricity generated by fully or mostly renewable sources. But there will still be some Canadians who will need to recharge their e-vehicles with electricity generated by the burning of coal and natural gas. More importantly, this initiative does nothing to help Saskatchewan, Alberta and Newfoundland, whose economies are heavily invested in oil and gas. Canada's efforts to support a slowing of global warming can only come if we find ways of creating good jobs that create alternatives to reduce our economic reliance on oil and gas production. The other major "green" initiatives include an ambitious tree-planting program, a ban on single-use plastics and a government program to create thousands of jobs in the retrofitting of residential and commercial buildings to make them more energy-efficient. An excellent program, but very limited and hardly new. Almost all of these things fall into the category of generational government initiatives. Put another way, most majority governments would be lucky to accomplish one of national child care, Pharmacare and a reform of the justice system in its entire term in office. Missing from the environmental elements in this speech are big, seismic initiatives such as the establishment of a national electricity transmission grid that would help move clean electricity from provinces that include Manitoba to those still burning fossil fuels to supply their power grid. Ultimately, this speech will be judged on whether it can win the support of New Democrats (the only party that has not committed to voting against it) and keep the Liberals in power and whether it restores the tattered Liberal brand after months of self-inflicted wounds. Remarkably, the Liberals still seem to think Trudeau is the man to dig them out of the hole that he has dug for the governing party. As evidence, witness the unusual nationally televised address Trudeau delivered Wednesday a few hours after the speech. Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The address was pretty thinly veiled in its purpose. Trudeau encouraged the country to remain united in its fight against COVID-19, given that the second major wave of infections is "already here." This was Trudeau's call to arms, a reminder that the country is still in the grips of a major public-health emergency. He did not explicitly deal with the prospect of a fall election that could be triggered by a throne speech defeat. But he was pretty clear in his warning that now was not the time for a change in government. In the recent past, Trudeau has shown a remarkable capacity to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, even against enormous odds. In last fall's federal election, he was able to survive both the SNC Lavalin scandal and the shameful revelation that he repeatedly donned blackface in the past. Trudeau's survival was largely due to his superior oratorical skills and his ability to exhibit what appears to be genuine empathy. However, at some point, these overly emotive performances are going to wear thin, particularly if he has to continue summoning them to save himself from political destruction. In the wake of the recent WE scandal, which all but eliminated a political advantage he earned with his government's COVID-19 response, it's unclear whether the prime minister's attempt to reach once again into his grandiloquent bag of tricks will save the day. Trudeau told Canadians in his address that "can't will not define us." It will be interesting to see if Canadians respond by telling him that he just can't rely on their support anymore. dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca Actor Rockline Sudhakar, popular for playing villain, comic and father roles, died of a cardiac arrest on Wednesday while shooting for upcoming Kannada film Sugarless. Three months ago, Sudhakar had tested positive for the coronavirus but he recovered from the infection. As per a report by The News Minute, Sudhakar was with his makeup artist and was prepping for the shoot when he suddenly collapsed. The shoot was taking place in Bannerghatta and he was rushed to Fortis Hospital, where he was declared brought dead. The report further added that Sudhakar had a heart surgery before being diagnosed with Covid-19. He had an existing heart condition and the doctors said that he suffered a cardiac arrest. He was brought dead to the hospital. He acted in so many films and may his soul rest in peace, DR Jairaj, President of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, was quoted in the report. Sudhakar started his career as a driver to popular producer Rockline Venkatesh. When Venkatesh floated his production company, he made Sudhakar its controller. Eventually, he forayed into acting and starred in over 200 films. Some of his films are Dakota Picture, Paramathma, Vaastu Prakaara, Mukunda Murari, Mr and Mrs Ramachari and Love in Mandya among others. Follow @htshowbiz for more Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 00:22:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HARARE, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Emirates will resume flights to Zimbabwe on Oct. 1 after a six-month closure of international passenger flights due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The airline will also reintroduce flights to South Africa's Johannesburg and Cape Town on the same day, and to Durban on October 4 and Mauritius on Oct. 3. "The addition of the five points will expand the Emirates' global network to 92 destinations, as the airline gradually resumes its operations while prioritizing the safety of its customers, crew and the communities it serves around the world," the airline said in a statement to Xinhua Thursday. The airline said it will operate the Harare route with two weekly flights linked to its Lusaka, Zambia service. "The linked services will connect Zambia and Zimbabwe to key destinations across Europe, the Far East, the Americas, Australia and West Asia with one convenient stop in Dubai," it said. Emirates said COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving in Dubai irrespective of the country they are from to ensure the safety of travelers, visitors and the community. "Flights to Harare will be operated with a Boeing 777-300ER. Starting from Oct. 1, Emirates' flight EK 714 will depart from Harare at 1255 on Mondays and Fridays and arriving in Lusaka at 1400 and then Dubai at 0025 the next day. "Flight EK 713 will depart from Dubai at 0820 on Thursdays and Sundays, then from Lusaka at 1500 before arriving in Harare at 1605," the airline said. Emirates is offering free, global cover for COVID-19 related costs to its customers until Dec. 31, 2020. "Customers can now travel with confidence, as Emirates has committed to cover COVID-19 related medical expenses, free of cost, should they be diagnosed with COVID-19 during their travel while they are away from home," it said. Enditem Ivanka Trump was dressed to impress as she stepped out of her Washington, D.C. home on Thursday morning and took her nine-year-old daughter Arabella to school for the first time since the COVID-19 closures. The 38-year-old White House senior adviser looked ready for fall in a $1,295 tan and red wrap coat by Gabriela Hearst, which she wore over a matching turtleneck and red pants. Arabella, who made her first appearance at one of her grandfather's MAGA rallies on Tuesday night, was dressed in a school uniform: a white blouse with a Peter Pan collar, a navy blue jumper, and Mary Janes. Back to school: Ivanka Trump was seen taking her nine-year-old daughter Arabella to school on Thursday morning Protected: Both mother and daughter wore fabric face masks that matched their outfits, with Ivanka sporting a leopard print and Arabella opting for a playful blue Star Wars-themed one Both mother and daughter wore fabric face masks that matched their outfits, with Ivanka sporting a leopard print and Arabella opting for a playful blue Star Wars-themed one. Although most of her face was covered, the little girl looked excited to be heading to school, but she didn't appear to have a backpack with her. She carried a few things in her hands, including what looked like a hot pink water bottle. Ivanka, who was headed to Wisconsin and Minnesota with Vice President Mike Pence later in the day, hit the ground running when she stepped out of the front gate of home in her sky-high tan heels around 8:20 a.m. Her long blonde hair, which is usually worn straight, was styled in loose waves, and while only half of her face was visible because of her mask, she was sporting smokey eye makeup and perfectly sculpted brows. Outfit of the day: The 38-year-old mom looked ready for fall in a $1,295 tan and red wrap coat by Gabriela Hearst, which she wore over a matching turtleneck and red pants Preppy: Arabella was dressed in a school uniform: a white blouse with a Peter Pan collar, a navy blue jumper, and Mary Janes The mother and daughter made their way to the Secret Service SUV that was parked in front of their home, and then they were off for the day. Ivanka's younger children Joseph, six, and Theodore, four, were not with them when they left, and it's unclear if they have returned to their classrooms amid the pandemic. Her husband, fellow White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, got an earlier start on Thursday morning. The 39-year-old was seen leaving their home around 7:40 a.m. wearing a navy suit and matching tie. Last month, Jared said he has 'no fear' about sending his children back to in-person classes during an interview with Margaret Brennan on CBS' Face The Nation Sunday morning. Who needs a backpack? The little girl carried a few things in her hands, including what looked like a hot pink water bottle Great start: Although they were both wearing masks, they seemed to be in good spirits as they left their home Coiffed: Ivanka's long blonde hair was styled in loose waves, and while only half of her face was visible, she was sporting smokey eye makeup and perfectly sculpted brows The host told Jared that parents across the country are 'nervous' about the prospect of sending their children back to school amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, before she asked whether his kids would be heading back into the classroom. 'Absolutely,' he responded, adding that he and his wife have made the decision 'based on the data and science' that they have received. 'Children have a six times higher chance to die from the flu than from the coronavirus, so based on the data Ive seen, I dont believe thats a risk,' he stated. 'Our school's not opening back up five days a week,' he added. 'I wish they would, but we absolutely will be sending our kids back to school, and I have no fear in doing so.' Off she goes: Ivanka hit the ground running when she stepped out of the front gate of home in her sky-high tan heels around 8:20 a.m. Just mother and daughter: Ivanka's sons Joseph, six, and Theodore, four, didn't appear to be with them when they left All three of Ivanka and Jared's children attend Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School in Washington, D.C. The school started the 2020-2021 academic year earlier this month, but Grades 1-8 'will principally use distance learning for academic instruction, with regular in-person opportunities for outdoor education and community building.' The school appears only to be conducting in-person lessons in outdoor spaces and in small numbers. According to an official flyer from the school, gatherings 'will feature outdoor experiences in which the children will be physically distanced but socially connected. Early bird: Ivanka's husband, fellow White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, was seen leaving their home at 7:40 a.m. on Thursday Not worried: Last month, Jared said he has 'no fear' about sending his children back to in-person classes amid the coronavirus pandemic 'Students in the different grades will engage in developmentally-appropriate activities, from on campus outdoor play and hands-on learning for younger students to hikes, nature-inspired scientific exploration, and creative team-building challenges for older students.' With her kids back in school and the presidential election just weeks away, Ivanka has been spending most of her work days traveling to battleground states to stump for her father. After dropping off her daughter, she took to Twitter to share how excited she is to be back on the campaign trail. 'I am thrilled to be back in the great states of Wisconsin and Minnesota today with Vice President @MikePence today as we campaign for 4 more years of Trump / Pence leadership! #MAGA,' she tweeted on Thursday. Family affair: Ivanka, Jared, and their two eldest children attended President Donald Trump's rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday evening Photo op: The president was rushed by his granddaughter when he stepped off the stage at Moon Township in a moment that was captured by waiting photographers Strategic: President Trump looked every inch the adoring grandfather as he hugged his grandchildren Arabella (left) and Joseph (right) On Tuesday evening, Ivanka and Jared traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with their eldest children, Arabella and Joseph, to attend President Donald Trump's raucous rally. The president was rushed by his granddaughter Arabella and grandson Joseph 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 74-year-old commander-in-chief 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 and his 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 proud mother later took to Instagram to share photos of her children with their grandfather at the rally. 'Arabella + Joseph attended their 1st MAGA rally in Pittsburgh, PA last night! When their grandpa passionately spoke about the importance of school choice, Arabella excitedly turned to me & said "So grandpa is going to allow kids to choose if we go to school or not?! Amazing!" School choice as understood by a 9 year-old!' she wrote. New Delhi: Claiming that the economic blockade in Manipur was continuing because of the ineptitude of Congress government there, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday said despite the Centres assistance, Chief Minister Ibobi Singh is not doing his bit to resolve the issue. The blockade from October 30 is due to the ineptitude of Chief Minister Ibobi Singh and Congress party. This blockade is by the state government, for state government and of the state government, because politically they think it will benefit them, he said. The minister said central government has provided nearly hundred companies of paramilitary forces including Assam Rifles, more than 10,000 security forces (personnel) are there but Chief Minister is sending them to barracks not using them to remove the blockade. This is callous neglect....people will teach him a lesson, said Javadekar, who is BJP in charge for Manipur. The central government has also airlifted petrol and LPG products to meet the needs of the people. He said under the federal system, law and order is a state subject but despite the Centre reaching out for assistance, the state government was not keen on resolving the issue. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Chinese display manufacturing company BOE aims to capture 40-percent of the flexible OLED market by 2024. The company revealed its ambitions at a local display event in the Sichuan Province in China. Its market share for the first eight months of this year stands at 20.3-percent. If BOE manages to reach anywhere near its target over the next five years, then it may well overthrow Samsung as the global leader in the flexible OLED market. The South Korean behemoth currently dominates the market heavily. It reportedly captured 63.3-percent of the global market in Q2 2020. The figures for the first quarter are even more assuring, with Samsung reportedly controlling 81.1-percent of the flexible OLED market. On the other hand, BOEs market share for the same periods stands at 24.4-percent and 8.5-percent respectively. The Chinese display maker has seen substantial growth in Q2 and its now looking to build on that momentum. It has shipped 20 million flexible OLED panels over the first eight months of this year. 16 million of those shipments occurred during the period between January to June 2020, while the months of July and August added 4 million more units. Advertisement BOE is now looking to double that number to 40 million by the end of this year. The number will still account for only one-fourth of Samsung Displays estimated production volume for the year, The Elec reports. BOE aims big growth in the flexible OLED market BOE currently operates two flexible OLED production lines, named B7 and B11, in Sichuan Province. The company is also constructing a new, B12 line in Chongqing with plans to make it operational in the second half of 2021. Once all three lines start operating at full capacity, BOE will have a production rate of 144,000 substrates per month, the company said. It hopes the output from these factories will account for half or at least a third of the global flexible OLED market within the next three to five years. BOE is also planning a fourth OLED line called B15 in Fuqing. The company estimates the value of the flexible OLED market at around $49.7 billion in 2024. Advertisement BOEs growth has been hampered by the US-imposed trade restrictions on Huawei. The Chinese giant is struggling to keep together its smartphone business because of the US sanctions. It is expecting to produce only about 50 million smartphones next year. Thats just about one-fourth of its 2020 estimates of 190 million units. With Huawei seemingly dropping out of the picture, BOE is now looking to secure big orders from Apple and has supplied samples in the past. Its B11 line has reportedly given up on securing OLED orders from the Cupertino-based iPhone maker this year. However, the B7 line is still hopeful of getting approval. Whether BOE manages to secure flexible OLED orders from Apple remains to be seen. If the company strikes a long term deal with the American electronics giant, then it may have a good shot at its ambitions of overthrowing Samsung from the top spot in the global flexible OLED market. As Manitobans wait in long lines for COVID-19 testing by public health, industry heavyweights with deep pockets are arranging for private tests for employees and avoiding the queue. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. As Manitobans wait in long lines for COVID-19 testing by public health, industry heavyweights with deep pockets are arranging for private tests for employees and avoiding the queue. Without discussing details of private industry clients, Dynacare spokesman Mark Bernhardt said their tests don't take precedence over the COVID-19 tests performed for public health in Manitoba. All of the specimens it collects for businesses are sent to the company's facility in Brampton, Ont., for testing, he said. "We prioritize COVID-19 testing for the provincial public health-care systems over any private testing we may perform," he said in an email. PHIL HOSSACK / FREE PRESS FILES "The province should improve public COVID testing to ensure we all have fair and timely access," Molly McCracken said. No publicly operated systems in Canada allow for a private-pay option that would permit individuals to get their COVID-19 test result faster, a provincial government spokeswoman said Wednesday. "From the beginning of the pandemic, screening, testing and treatment for COVID-19 is being provided at no charge, whether or not the person has coverage through Manitoba Health," she said in an email. But allowing industry to pay for private COVID-19 tests so workers can avoid long waits undermines and threatens to erode Canada's universal health-care system, one advocate says. "Private COVID testing sets up a two-tiered system whereby those industries or companies who can afford these tests jump the queue, and the rest of us have to wait to use the health system," said Molly McCracken, Manitoba director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. "The province should improve public COVID testing to ensure we all have fair and timely access," she said. "Private COVID testing sets up a twotiered system whereby those industries or companies who can afford these tests jump the queue, and the rest of us have to wait to use the health system." Molly McCracken, Manitoba director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. She doesn't accept Dynacare's explanation that it prioritizes public health testing over its private clients. "It still remains that industry is getting special treatment for the amount of testing capacity there is," McCracken said. "The public health officer should determine which tests are a priority, not industry." Dynacare said the only COVID-19 testing for individuals it performs in Manitoba is for public health. The majority of Manitoba's COVID-19 tests is performed by Cadham Provincial Laboratory. The running total of how many COVID-19 tests have been completed in Manitoba 170,045 as of Wednesday doesn't include the results of private testing for companies, the provincial spokeswoman said. The number of private COVID-19 tests performed for industry from film productions in Winnipeg to construction projects in northern Manitoba remains a mystery. Dynacare would not disclose how many private COVID-19 tests it performs, saying that information is proprietary. Manitoba Hydro said the Keeyask Generating Station project hired a private company in the spring to do workplace "screening" for COVID-19 a nasal cavity swab test to provide a "clear" or "not clear" result, said Hydro spokesman Bruce Owen. "If we had a 'not clear' result, public health would be notified. Public health would administer a Cadham Lab test and this test result would be reported as part of the provincial stats," Owen said in an email. "To date, we have not had any 'not clear' results, or a confirmed case of COVID-19 at the project site," he said. Unless they get a "not clear" test result, Hydro doesn't report the workplace COVID-19 test results to public health. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Dynacare said the only COVID-19 testing for individuals it performs in Manitoba is for public health. In January, COVID-19 was made a reportable disease requiring medical laboratories to report positive results to Manitoba Health. Bernhardt said Dynacare will only provide the government with information on private COVID-19 tests if they are positive. That information is provided the day the results are received, he added. "This is to ensure that the entire perspective of the COVID-19 situation can be seen by our provincial health-care stakeholders, including the work we may do for private clients." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca 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. Amsterdam, 24 September 2020 - 15 museums and attractions will represent the US in the global Tiqets Awakening Weeks. The US Awakens is the last week of a six-week program spanning six countries spotlighting a host of exclusive online and offline activities from venues like Florida Aquarium, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and the Museum of Ice Cream. The Netherlands, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From 29 September - 5 October, Tiqets, one of the world's leading online booking platforms for museums and attractions, will host the US Awakens, a week of free virtual experiences and exclusive activities to celebrate the reawakening of culture. The US is the last country spotlighted in the Tiqets Awakening series, editions of which also took place in the UK, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy. Participating venues in the US span the whole country, from Universal Studios in Florida and the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York. All virtual experiences in the US Awakens Week will be held from 30 September - 4 October, and participation is free for everyone upon registration: Florida Aquarium, 30 September 08:30h - 09.30h (USA Time GMT -4). Empire State Building, 30 September 10:00h - 11:00h (USA Time GMT -4). Aquarium of the Bay, 30 September 10:00h - 11:00h (USA Time GMT -4). 9/11 Memorial & Museum, 1 October 08:30h - 09.30h (USA Time GMT -4). Fotografiska, 1 October 11:30h - 12:30h (USA Time GMT -4). Museum of Ice Cream, 4 October 10:30h - 11:30h (USA Time GMT -7). "The new reality of the global pandemic has provided opportunities to explore new, creative ways to engage with our audiences," says Pam Harris, Executive Director of Fotografiska. "We are excited to participate in the Tiqets Awakening Weeks campaign to virtually share the work of Cooper & Gorfer and welcome people back to culture in a safe way." These one-of-a-kind virtual sessions give local venues the opportunity to connect with international audiences who may not be able to travel yet, but still want to experience the best the country has to offer. Story continues The launch of new exhibitions and experiences for locals In addition to the online experiences, participating venues are also highlighting their new hygiene measures and any new activities available since their reopening. Some of these new activities include a countryside exhibition at the Guggenheim, by AMO/Rem Koolhaas, about the radical changes made on new relevance amid the pandemic; exploring one of worlds oldest and largest art museums at the Art Institute of Chicago; and discovering a world under the sea with whale sharks, beluga whales and other marine life at the Georgia Aquarium. The campaign will invite locals in each market to safely reawaken their cultural centers by experiencing these newly launched or updated exhibitions and activities, learning about the new hygiene measures venues have implemented, and participating in giveaways and special deals. We are thrilled to be partnering with a wide array of venues across the United States to facilitate and host a week of free virtual experiences and online activities, says Daniel Hackett, Americas Regional Director of Tiqets. Our venue partners, like all museums and attractions worldwide, continue to face unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. With closed borders, it is even more imperative that we fulfill the Tiqets mission, and connect future travelers to cultural institutions across the country. To get a feel for this epic return to culture, watch the Awakening Weeks video here. See the full US Awakens lineup, register for the free virtual experiences, and get your tickets to participating venues at the Tiqets Awakening Weeks website. About Tiqets Awakening Weeks Tiqets Awakening Weeks is a global campaign that highlights UK, French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, and US museums and attractions to potential visitors worldwide and offers consumers more ways to safely and confidently return to culture wherever they are. People in the US are also able to experience newly reopened venues from around the world without leaving their home through virtual experiences. These live virtual experiences offer a variety of ways to experience culture, such as learning how to make classic cocktails with bartenders from Londons View From the Shard, diving into the most iconic areas of the Palau de la Musica, and discovering the impressionist paintings at Musee dOrsay in Paris all for free, at home, and along with culture lovers around the world. About Tiqets Tiqets mission is to make culture more accessible by making it easier for more people to discover more ways to culture. From the start in 2014, the company has connected millions of people to museums and attractions with instant, last-minute and mobile tickets. Tiqets works with both hidden gems and top museums and attractions all over the world. The company is headquartered in Amsterdam and now employs 200+ people worldwide, including in Amsterdam (HQ) as well as Seattle, Las Vegas, Orlando, Philadelphia, London, Copenhagen, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Vienna, Bangkok, Tokyo and Osaka. More information can be found on Tiqets.com. -END- Attachment CONTACT: Mereille Talahatu Tiqets press@tiqets.com 'Today, political formations seem to adopt an 'us' versus 'them' approach which shows up even in their attitude towards civil servants.' 'This creates an added layer of fear.' "I don't think any sensible bureaucrat would have given advice to impose a lockdown in a country as large and as diverse as India with four hours' notice," former Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar tells Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com in Part 2 of an enlightening interview. Do you feel Mission Karmayogi should start with the political class and then move to the next step in the ladder? If the intention is only capacity development of officers through their long careers by using the new portal, politicians who are generally in public service for shorter tenures may not benefit much from it. Politicians need a different orientation in policy making, in debating skills, in acquiring wide, sweeping knowledge of global changes, public finance and the developmental needs of the country. Many entrepreneurs say, bureaucracy and red-tapism are the biggest hurdles that are slowing down India's development. Do you feel so? I agree that drastic changes have to be made in our systems to cut out delays in process. This can be achieved by recognising and rewarding results rather than adherence to processes, removing fear from the minds of civil servants, putting in place fair, transparent and stable policies for evaluating performance. The ultimate aim of Mission Karmayogi, according to the government, is to provide ease of living for the common man and ease of doing business for business people. Are bureaucrats the reason behind us not having ease of living and ease of doing business? Ease of living and ease of doing business cannot be achieved through Mission Karmayogi which, according to my understanding, is intended only to provide avenues to civil servants to upgrade their skills. To achieve progress in the areas specified, it is necessary to quantify what we want to achieve within what period and to manage and evaluate performance entirely in this light. How can we achieve both? We can achieve both by putting in place a sound performance management system. You joined the civil services in 1970, and you rose to Cabinet Secretary. What are the major changes you see in the present bureaucratic structure? Has it become better, or worse? At the top level, I see a growing tendency to centralise power. The PMO has grown much larger post 2014. The role of the Cabinet Secretariat has correspondingly declined. Most ministers have less authority than in earlier times. According to my information, they have little choice even in the selection of officers at the central level. Officers, by and large, seem to be operating in an atmosphere of pervasive fear, which hampers decision-making. Systems of promotion and empanelment undergo frequent change with the result that many officers in states prefer not to go on central deputation. Stability is not guaranteed and some changes seem sudden and whimsical. The quality of young officers continues to be very good. During my visits to different states, particularly backward states, as Cabinet Secretary, I came across several remarkable initiatives conceived and implemented by young officers. They have more opportunities than we had in our time because there are many more central and state schemes, huge inflow of money, a much higher degree of digitalisation giving them room to speed up work in many areas. They are also technically qualified and have the skills to develop new ways of doing things. In short, there is sufficient strength and quality within the present bureaucratic structure. What is needed is a shift in focus from process to results and the removal of the aura of fear that hovers over the official system. It is important also to treat civil servants as professional instruments of government. I have worked with Congress-led governments, CPI-M-led governments, BJP-led governments, even with H D Deve Gowda's government. All treated me as a professional and respected my views, even though they may not always agree. Today, political formations seem to adopt an 'us' versus 'them' approach which shows up even in their attitude towards civil servants. This creates an added layer of fear. Who has the upper hand in decision making -- the bureaucracy or the political class? In the system I have been accustomed to, the civil servant and the minister or any other political head would discuss issues, their pros and cons. In a democratic system, the responsibility for every decision has to be taken by the minister, hence the final word would be his. I have worked with some wonderful ministers who were not only receptive to ideas but had the knowledge and the capacity to point out possible pitfalls and to generate new and refreshing ideas themselves. Many people blame the bureaucracy for the problems the Indian economy faces now. Who do you think is responsible, bureaucrats or the political class? While I have not been in government for some years now, I do not think bureaucrats can be blamed for the present state of the economy. It must be noted that the economy was on a high from 2003 onwards, but for a short blip in 2008, when the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US sent the global economy into a tailspin from which India quickly recovered through two well-conceived and well-executed stimulus packages. The decline of the economy started with the sudden decision to demonetise 86% of the country's currency, a flawed introduction of GST, global slowdown and stubborn refusal of the decision makers to accept the self-evident fact, proclaimed from the rooftops by many eminent economists, that the key to revival lies in demand side fiscal measures. I am sure no bureaucrat would have given such advice or failed to give the right advice to pull the economy out of what looks like a very ominous future. Similarly, the blame for the humanitarian crisis soon after the lockdown fell on the bureaucracy for their lack of understanding of the migrant issue. Do you think so? I do not think any sensible bureaucrat would have given advice to impose a lockdown in a country as large and as diverse as India with four hours's notice. If sensible bureaucrats had been consulted, the first thing they would have told the government would have been to take the state governments on board as the frontline of resistance to the pandemic will consist of state agencies, not the Centre. An entrepreneur I interviewed said babus sitting in Delhi were not able to understand the pain industry was facing. Are the babus in Delhi cut off from ground realities? This is perhaps true. As we go higher up the ladder, we do tend to lose connection with the field. Annrene Rowe was getting ready to celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary this summer when she noticed a bald spot on her scalp. In the following days, her thick, shoulder-length hair started falling out in clumps, bunching up in the shower drain. I was crying hysterically, said Rowe, 67, of Anna Maria, Florida. Rowe, who was hospitalized for 12 days in April with symptoms of the coronavirus, soon found strikingly similar stories in online groups of COVID-19 survivors. Many said that several months after contracting the virus, they began shedding startling amounts of hair. Doctors say they too are seeing many more patients with hair loss, a phenomenon they believe is indeed related to the coronavirus pandemic, affecting both people who had the virus and those who never became sick. In normal times, some people shed noticeable amounts of hair after a profoundly stressful experience such as an illness, major surgery or emotional trauma. Now, doctors say, many patients recovering from COVID-19 are experiencing hair loss not from the virus itself but from the physiological stress of fighting it off. Many people who never contracted the virus are also losing hair because of emotional stress from job loss, financial strain, deaths of family members or other devastating developments stemming from the pandemic. Theres many, many stresses in many ways surrounding this pandemic, and were still seeing hair loss because a lot of the stress hasnt gone away, said Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal, an associate professor of dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic. Before the pandemic, there were weeks when Khetarpal didnt see a single patient with hair loss of this type. Now, she said, about 20 such patients a week come in. One was a woman having difficulty home-schooling two young children while also working from home. Another was a second-grade teacher anxiously trying to ensure that all her students had computers and internet access for online instruction. In a July survey about post-COVID symptoms among 1,567 members of a survivors group, 423 people reported unusual hair loss, according to the group, Survivor Corps, and Natalie Lambert, an associate research professor at Indiana University School of Medicine, who helped conduct the survey. Dr. Emma Guttman-Yassky, the incoming chair of the dermatology department at Mount Sinais Icahn School of Medicine, said she has treated many front-line medical workers for hair loss, including her hospitals employees. Some of them had COVID, but not all of them, she said. Its the stress of the situation. They were apart from their families. They worked for many hours. For most patients the condition should be temporary, doctors say, but it could last months. There are two types of hair loss the pandemic seems to be triggering, experts say. In one condition, called telogen effluvium, people shed much more than the typical 50 to 100 hairs per day, usually beginning several months after a stressful experience. It essentially involves a shifting or tripping of the hair growth system, said Dr. Sara Hogan, a dermatologist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, who has been seeing up to seven patients a day with the condition. In healthy hair cycles, most hairs are in a growing phase, with a small percentage in a short resting phase and only about 10% of hairs in a shedding or telogen phase. But with telogen effluvium, people are shedding more, growing less, Khetarpal said, and up to 50% of hair might skip ahead to the shedding phase, with only about 40% in the growth phase. The phenomenon, which some women also experience after pregnancy, typically lasts about six months, but if stressful situations persist or recur, some people develop a chronic shedding condition, Hogan said. The other hair loss condition that is increasing now is alopecia areata, in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, usually starting with a patch of hair on the scalp or beard, said Dr. Mohammad Jafferany, a psychiatrist and dermatologist at Central Michigan University. It is known to be associated with or exacerbated by psychological stress, Jafferany said. Guttman-Yassky said that she has seen a huge increase in this type of alopecia. Not all of the patients had COVID-19, she said, but the ones who did tended to progress very quickly from one or two bald patches to losing hair all over the body, including eyebrows and eyelashes. She said that might be because the storm of inflammation that some COVID patients experience elevates immune molecules linked to conditions like alopecia. Experts dont know exactly why stress triggers these conditions, which affect both women and men. It might be related to increased levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, or to effects on blood supply, Hogan said. The hair loss itself can cause more stress, Khetarpal said, especially for women, whose hair is often more closely tied to identity and self-confidence. Its your trademark, said Mary Lou Ostling, 77, a retired educator who lives in the Stuyvesant Town neighborhood of Manhattan. She was hospitalized for COVID-19 for eight days in the early spring and later noticed that my hair started coming out in chunks, she said. I always was clearing hair out of the comb, brush, the sink. Ostling said she also could tell that her hair wasnt growing much because she wasnt seeing roots that contrasted with the color she had previously dyed it. Ive always had very long, very thick, very curly hair, she said. But in July, she had it cut. I couldnt deal with it anymore, Ostling said. When she came home from the hairdresser, she said, my husband was just staring at me. He said, I think I have a different wife. It was very depressing. She said she has finally begun to detect some hair growth. Experts recommend good nutrition, vitamins like biotin and stress-reduction techniques like yoga, scalp massage or mindfulness meditation. Some also recommend minoxidil, a hair growth drug, but Hogan warns patients that it can initially cause more hair loss before it starts working. With alopecia areata, Guttman-Yassky said, some cases resolve without treatment and some are helped by steroid injections, but some can become permanent, especially if not treated early. For people depressed or traumatized by hair loss, Jafferany recommends psychotherapy but not necessarily medication because some antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can exacerbate hair loss. When Liz Weidhorn, 44, of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, who tested positive for COVID-19 in March, noticed members of an online COVID group bemoaning hair loss, she told herself that if it happened to her, I will take it with grace, and Ill get a kick-ass hat, she recalled. But recently after showering, I looked at my wet hair, and I could see so much scalp, she said, and I couldnt believe how emotional I got. She cried and called her husband in to look at it. Its really shocking, she said. It got me very sad. Weidhorn, who writes a blog about baking pastry, started taking biotin, had her mother cut her hair and is considering getting a headband. Rowe, who managed the front desk for a wellness spa, has gone further. I tried putting my hair in one of those messy buns, but it looks terrible with the bald spots on the sides, she said. So she got wigs: a really short pixie one, a pageboy one, a long curly one and a strawberry blonde one, she said. Im trying to make the best of it. Hogan said some patients find the situation so upsetting they avoided washing or brushing their hair because they noticed the hair loss more during those activities. She tells them they shouldnt be afraid of normal grooming. She added, Patients dont like this when I say this, but they come around to it: Hair is not crucial for your survival. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. The latest hot buzz in Tamil media is that team Annaatthe is inspecting the sets erected in Hyderabad for the film. The unit is clear that all the protocols which government has put forward are in place. Sources say that the makers are checking out the possibilities of resuming the shoot from next month. Though Rajinikanth is unable to start shooting anytime soon, the film's director Siva is working out a plan to complete the portions featuring other actors and actresses. New Irish Writing, the competition that has fostered generations of leading Irish authors, returns to the Irish Independent on Saturday, September 26. Every day this week, we have been publishing a story by a celebrated previous winner on Independent.ie. Todays is Grow a Mermaid by Marina Carr, who won the Hennessy Award for Best First Story in 1994. Marina Carr published her short story Grow a Mermaid in New Irish Writing in 1994, the year in which her third play, The Mai, was first produced. This was followed by a succession of plays including Portia Coughlan, By the Bog of Cats, On Rafterys Hill, Ariel and Hecuba. Now recognised as one of Irelands greatest living playwrights, her plays have been translated and produced around the world and her many accolades include the 2017 Windham-Campbell Prize 2017, given for her body of work, and The EM Forster Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Grow a Mermaid The child leaned across the blue Formica table and read the advertisement, her grubby little fingers leaving snail tracks under the words GROW YOUR OWN MERMAID. The child looked at the words in amazement, read it again, slowly, more carefully this time. The same. Underneath the caption was an ink drawing of a tiny mermaid in a fish bowl, waving and smiling up from the page. Behind her was a sea-horse. He too was smiling. The child, bewitched by the mermaid's smile, smiled back and waved shyly to the tiny beautiful fish woman. Send 25 cents, the advertisement said, and we will send you mermaid and sea-horse seeds. You put them into water and they grow and can even talk to you. The child imagined waking up at night and going to the fishbowl for a little chat with the mermaid. What would mermaids talk about, the child wondered. The childs mother stirred beans in a pot over the cooker, her black corseted behind moving in one controlled sway with the spooning motion. Over by the range Grandma Blaize was fossicking for some long-forgotten thing. She was pulling it out of the air above her head with her fingertips. The child looked at her and then the child's mother turned to watch as well, still stirring the beans, sideways now. Both mother and child watched as Grandma Blaize pulled some invisible treasure to earth. She saw them looking at her and gave them a quick smile, a dart of old gums and leathery tongue, before her face took up that careful concentration of fossicking and pulling again. "Ara stop it Grandma Blaize!" the child's mother snapped. Grandma Blaize ignored her. Tonight or tomorrow shell have stepped into the other world. Once the fossicking started she was on the descent. The child liked her best at this point, the moment before going down. The child imagined that Grandma Blaize was pulling open a door with a magic thread, a door on somewhere else, anywhere but away from here. Mom look, the child said, holding up the picture of the mermaid. The mother left off stirring the beans and came over to the child. Video of the Day Oh that, she said, glancing at the magazine the child was reading. Grow your own mermaid, the mother read. "Did you ever... Her voice trailed off as she too was bewitched by the little mermaid smiling and waving from her fish bowl. Well I never heard the likes o that," the mother said, sort of dismayed, but still looking at the mermaid. Can we Mom? the child asked. Can we what? Can we send away for a mermaid? We'll see. Her mother sighed and returned to the burning beans. The childs mother was building a house on the lake of the palaces. From the end of the field of their own house they could look across and see the new house. It was halfway there now. The childs mother said it was a secret. The child wasnt to tell any of the Connemara clique because theyd wonder where the money came from. The money was borrowed from four banks, the childs mother whispered, and when your daddy sees this house hell fall in love with it. especially the music room. and hell come back, for good this time. Some nights theyd talk for hours about how theyd decorate the house. Windows, windows everywhere, the child's mother whispered in the dark. They slept together a lot since the child's father had gone. And your room, the child's mother whispered, will be all in yellow, with a yellow sink and yellow curtains, yellow presses and a yellow carpet. The child didnt like yellow but said nothing. She wanted her room blue and green, like a mermaid's room. It didnt matter, shed pull blue and green from an invisible string, the way Grandma Blaize did, and then the mermaid would arrive. Some nights the childs mother held the child so tight she couldnt breathe. The child grew sticky and hot as her mother whispered into the quilt about that bastard! and all I've done for him and this is how he repays me. The child would try to put her hand outside the covers to get a bit of cool air on it and the child's mother would grab it and pull it back into the slick heat of the bed. My little darling, the childs mother would croon as the child lay there soaked in sweat, with her mothers damp face on her neck. The child fought back a scream. Down the hall Grandma Blaize sang The Connemara Lullaby: she was in the other world now and would speak to no-one but herself until the end of spring. The child lay there in the dark, growing a mermaid. First the water from the lake of the palaces, then a Tupperware box, then pour in the mermaid seeds and stir it all gently and the next day a mermaid would be floating on her back, smiling at the child. And the child would say, Hello little mermaid. And the mermaid would sing a song for the child about the sea, about castles and whales and turtles and whole cities and families who lived under the sea. And the child would tell the mermaid all about school and her friend Martina, who played with her sometimes, and about the time they saw a balloon in the sky and chased it for hours. The child would tell her about Pollonio, the fairy she never saw, but knew lived down Mohia Lane. To make it more interesting for the mermaid, the child would pretend that she often met Pollonio. The child slept as the mermaid grew away out in the dark at the edge of the child's dream. Grandma Blaize lay in bed fighting with the ghost of Syracuse. Propped by pillows, pulling on an opium pipe, she snarled at the ghost of Syracuse. Gorgin yaar gut was all yever done, ya stroinseach ya!" She takes another puff to calm herself down after this exertion. The ghost of Syracuse was the husband who stepped out the door one day to get a breath of fresh air and never came back. That was thirty years ago. The child watched through the keyhole. Hed sent her a postcard from Syracuse, Weather lovely, skies purple most every night, try it sometime. Grandma Blaize had it covered in plastic and punched it at regular intervals. The child rocked with laughter and banged her nose on the door knob. The child ate sweets belonging to her sick brother and the childs mother ordered the child into the black and red parlour. The child waited. After what seemed forever the childs mother appeared in the doorway with a wooden hanger. Now strip, the child's mother said and watched while the child took off everything. Afterwards, lying on the sofa with welts as big as carrots on her legs, the child slept and dreamt of a man with a pitchfork who lived under the sea. How long? the child whispered. Soon, soon, the man with the pitchfork answered. The child woke to find her mother standing over her. Have you anythin to say to me? Sorry Mom. It was an ancient ritual between them. And you'll never do it again? The child wavered, looked away. Will you? the mother said, a whiff of anger coming off her that would reignite given the least excuse. No, the child half-yielded but it wasnt enough to appease, the child could sense. Her mother was insurmountable in this mood and the child valued the unwelted slivers of her chubby torso. The child surrendered. No, never again. The child's mother gathered her up in her fat still young arms. The child counted her breaths, slowly, carefully. They matched her mothers footsteps on the stairs. A mermaid would die in this house. the child thought. The childs father returned and magiced nuts out of their ears and made pennies hop. One evening he came in, wearing his big blue crombie and sat the childs brother on the blue Formica table. I can make you disappear, the child's father said. The childs brother puffed out his little chest, delighted to be the chosen one. The child watched, wishing it was her. The only problem is, the child's father said, you can never come back. The child's brother's face crumpled up as he began to cry. Its all right, the child's father said. I wont make you disappear. The childs brother still cried, ashamed he was crying in front of his father and his little sister. It's all right, the father said, I won't do it. The child stepped forward. Make me disappear, the child said. You can't come back. I don't want to, the child said. The child's father shook. You're too young for this trick. The childs father left the room. The child took her brothers hand. Come on around the back and play where Mom and Dad's not looking. The child's brother allowed himself to be led from the house, his tears forgotten, his childish dignity returning. They played in the ash pit and drank water from the kitchen drain. It tasted of turnip and tea leaves. They werent caught that time. The child got up on Sam Morrisons tractor one day with her brother and her mother and Grandma Blaize who was fighting with herself on top of the dresser. The childs father lilted her up on to the trailer and put her on the black sofa. The childs mother laughed. She wore a new dress and a new hair clasp for her thick dark hair. They drove down the lane and stopped outside the new house at the lake of the palaces. A swan glided by, a pike leaped, the mermaid sang. The childs father went away again, in the middle of the night this time. The childs mother knocked the childs brothers head through the glass door. The child counted her breaths, sharp and shallow. Her brother looked at her as the childs mother held him while the doctor cleaned the wound. Its so hard to watch them, she whispers to the doctor. The doctor nods. Later the childs mother took them into the Oasis for knickerbocker glories. The jelly was gold and green, the colour of the mermaid's tail. At night the child dreamt her mother was cooking her on the range and serving her up to the tinkers with homemade bread. The child woke screaming, her mothers boiling hand slobbering over her. The child preferred the nightmare. Down in the room Grandma Blaine tears a map of Syracuse into a thousand pieces and smokes them in her opium pipe. She throws in the sea of Galilee for good measure. The childs mother sits by the window nightly, looking out on the lake of the palaces. The music room is empty. She drinks Paddy and red and kisses her children. The child heaves at her mothers whiskey breath. Any day now, the childs mother whispers. Any day now. The childs mother walked into the lake of the palaces one calm night with the moon missing. The childs father returned, for good this time. He skulks along the lake shore with his weak old whingy eyes. He pisses tears, the child whispers to the mermaid and they both laugh in the silent house. The childs brother rarely speaks now and never to the child. They exchange glances over banana sandwiches and their fathers runaway eyes. They havent drunk from drains in years, not together anyhow. When they dragged the lake of the palaces for her mothers body, the child sat in the reeds strumming her tiny guitar. She only knew My Darling Clementine. C. G seventh. C again. Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Clementine, dwelt a miner, forty-niner, and his daughter Clementine. Like she was and like a fairy and her shoes were number nine, now shes gone and lost forever, oh my darling Clementine. The child sang, strumming her small guitar as a pulley raised her mother in the air, then they lowered her till she skimmed along the surface towards the child in the reeds. They didnt stop until her head was resting on a clump of rushes, a few feet from the child. Oh my darling..., the child sang. From the childs vantage point, her mother was not unlike the mermaid, bar the pike teeth-marks on her left arm. Theyd tasted her and left her to the eels, the dirtiest eaters of all. But the eels hadnt touched her. Maybe they hadnt time or maybe eels too had their standards, the child thought. She strummed her guitar and looked away from her mothers cold heron stare. Thats enough child, a man in the boat said. The child sang louder. This was the real funeral. The coffin on tick, the procession, the sanctimonious hymns, the concelebrated Mass would all come soon enough. The Connemara clique there, grabbing on to her with their battered claws and defeated lumpy old backs. The child coughed away a titter of amusement at their mouth of the grave mhuire strua antics. She insisted on wearing her blue jeans instead of the black velvet gibble theyd bought her. They never forgave her for that. It wasnt real, none of it. Strumming her tiny guitar in the reeds was, with her mother skimmin towards her stinkin of goose scream and the bullin moon. The child's father took the child and the childs brother into the dining room. In memory of your dear mother..., he said, the whinge gaining strength at the back of his craw. The child looked at him in disgust. In memory of your dear mother I'm going to remain celibate for six months. The child blushed. What's that? the childs brother asked. The child knew. I won't sleep with anyone for six months. The child ran from the room. Later the child found a box of magazines in her father's cupboard. All lurid fat womens gees. The child put them under her bed. The next time she looked they were gone. The child knew who had them. That night she tore one of his eyes out in a dream. The next night she sewed it back in. One by one Grandma Blaize pulls out her teeth. She lays them on her dressing table. Theyre soft as toffee. The child sucks one. It tastes like old knickers. The child crunches down on it with her own strong white horses teeth. The tooth slivers like a soft mint. The child spits it in the lake of the palaces and eats a fistful of grass. It tastes of swans wing. The child sleeps for twenty years. The mermaid who never came is long forgotten. Walking down a street one day, the child takes off her mothers wedding ring and hurls it in a dustbin. It disappears among old chips, cigarette butts, an ice cream cone half-eaten. The child goes home and sleeps. The child is in a swimming pool. It seems she will never reach the bottom, then she does. A fortress door creaks open, a flash of golden fin, the mermaid appears. At last, you've come at last, the child says. The mermaid smiles, that smile of years ago at the blue Formica table. The child braces herself for the watery descent. The mermaids tail lights the way. New Irish Writing, edited by Ciaran Carty and appearing in the Irish Independent on the last Saturday of each month, is open to writers who are Irish or resident in Ireland. Stories submitted should not exceed 2,000 words. Up to four poems may be submitted. There is no entry fee. Writers whose work is selected will receive 120 for fiction and 60 for poetry. You can email your entry, preferably as a Word document, to newirishwriting@independent.ie. Please make sure to include your name, address and contact number, as well as a brief biographical paragraph. Only writers who have yet to publish their first book can be considered. Lawyers who have handled extradition cases said Rittenhouse could face an uphill climb. While its unclear what issues Pierce might raise, extradition proceedings typically do not involve a defense against the charges and instead focus on specific questions about the validity of the legal paperwork and whether the person jailed is actually the person charged with the crime, attorneys said. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: - The changes will see planes belonging to Kenya Police, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service, KenGen among others managed by military personnel - Top officials from the airforce and the National Police Service briefed their juniors on Tuesday of the intended plans - The president recently ordered the immediate transfer of the Kenya Meat Commission from the Agriculture Ministry to that of Defence PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB feed President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to issue an executive order requiring all government aircraft to be managed by the Kenya Airforce. The changes will see planes which are owned by the Kenya Police, the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Kenya Forest Service, KenGen, Kenya Power, Ketraco and other state agencies put under military control. READ ALSO: William Ruto's ally Kositany hints DP's camp will field candidate in Msambweni: "Vyama ni mingi" President Uhuru disembarks from Kenya Airforce plane upon his arrival in AMISOM headquarters in Somalia. Kenya Airforce will manage all state aircraft. Photo: Ministry of Defence. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Exclusive: Kind police officer who rescued baby dumped in toilet holds heart-warming birthday party for her Plans underway According to The Standard on Thursday, September 24, top officials from the airforce and the National Police Service briefed their juniors on Tuesday of the intended plans. Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai and Kenya Air Force Commander Major General Francis Ogolla made the announcement at the National Police Service air wing at Wilson Airport. The president recently ordered the immediate transfer of the Kenya Meat Commission from the Agriculture Ministry to that of Defence in one of the instances of military involvement in civil duties. READ ALSO: Msambweni by-election: William Ruto hints at endorsing independent candidate Feisal Abdalla President Uhuru recently transferred Kenya Meat Commission to Defence Ministry. Photo: State House Kenya. Source: Twitter READ ALSO: William Ruto's ally Kositany hints DP's camp will field candidate in Msambweni: "Vyama ni mingi" In a memo dated September 7, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya directed the Principal Secretary State Department for Livestock Harry Kimutai to oversee the transfer. Following the transfer of ministerial responsibility of the Kenya Meat Commission to the Ministry of Defence by the president, you are directed to facilitate a seamless transfer of Kenya Meat Commission to the Ministry of Defence, he said. Consequently, any associated commission's budgets will also be transferred in the next scheduled Supplementary Budget in coordination with the National Treasury. "You are required to submit a fortnight report my office on the progress made, Munya added, in the memo which was also copied to KMC managing commissioner James Ole Seriani. Militarisation of state In May, Uhuru approved seven military officers to join the Nairobi Metropolitan Services ( NMS) whose director-general Mohamed Badi is also a major general. The seven officers were drawn from the Kenya Army and Kenya Airforce. The Defence Council approved secondment to Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the undermentioned general/senior/ officers, read the letter signed by the Defence Council Secretary, Dr Ibrahim Mohamed. The officers whose secondment was approved included Brigadier F. Leuria, Major J.V Mbithi, Major A.N Nyakundi, Major J. K. Njoroge, Lt Col J.K.Biomdo and Major A.L. Musoma. Wrong move His critics, however, questioned militarisation of every government sector and department. A consortium of Kenya civil rights bodies claimed the head of state was creating a military state. "What is happening in Nairobi is not innocent. Uhuru has killed the idea of a political state, and has replaced this with a military state. Starting with Nairobi, Uhuru is building towards establishing a military state over the entire country," noted activist George Kegoro of Kenya Human Rights Commission. Their sentiments were similar with those of Elgeyo-Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen who strongly opposed the introduction of military officers in Nairobi county. According to Murkomen, it will be difficult to hold military personnel accountable given they are usually charged in martial courts. "Nairobi county has been militarised and is no longer a civilian government, something that I never imagined when we passed the Constitution 2010 that active military men are running a county government. I must say militarisation of a civilian government in a county is the worst form of violation of our Constitution," he stated. Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme. My mother abandoned me with two holes in my heart - Baby Petra's story | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke The Navy began releasing documents from the investigation into the deadliest submarine disaster in US 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. Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, honors the legacy of those who have died. Celebrated primarily in Mexico and Latin American countries, the holiday takes place on November 1 and 2. The first day, also known as All Saints Day in the Catholic tradition, honors children and infants who have passed, and the second day, All Souls Day, honors adults. The festivals origins are deeply rooted in Aztec beliefs and tied to the goddess Mictecacihuatl, or the Lady of the Dead. An important part of the celebration, according to Smithsonian Magazine , involves creating an elaborate altar, or ofrenda, decorated with photos of the dearly departed, painted skulls, bottles of tequila or Mezcal, candles and symbolic flowers. Like everything else on the altar, the chosen flowers carry deep meaning. Which specific flowers people use depends on several factors, including their availability and price point, as well as what other costumes and traditions their region employs. Lets break down the most common blooms and what they contribute to the celebration. Marigolds Often called flowers of the dead, cempasuchil, or flor de muerto, these bright orange and yellow flowers fragrance is said to attract souls to the altar. Their bright and cheery color also celebrate life instead of feeling bitter about death. Real or paper marigolds appear on altars, crosses and garlands and sometimes people even create a marigold path from their home to the altar. Remezcla reports that the earliest written mention of cempasuchil dates back to the 16th century, in the Florentine Codex. The Spanish Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagun described the Aztecs medicinal use of various flowers and plants, including the marigolds use in a festival commemorating the dead. Cockscomb The terciopelo rojo or cockscomb are combined in decorations and on altars with marigolds as a prime example of how Catholic and Aztec culture intermingle in modern Day of the Dead celebrations. According to the Mexican Folk Art Guide , the deep red flower symbolizes the blood of Christ, although their brightness keeps the altar looking vibrant and cheerful, rather than the somber and dreary mood many of us in the United States associate with death and remembrance. In addition, the flowers can last up to eight weeks, especially in the hot and humid climates where they typically grow. Story continues Chrysanthemum White flowers also frequently appear in Day of the Dead celebrations, which is fitting because theyre said to symbolize peace, beauty and sympathy. The white chrysanthemum, in particular, is used in funerals and Day of the Dead altars, according to Cake Blog . They originate from Spain, where they appear prominently on All Souls Day and in funeral floral arrangements. Similarly, white babys breath may appear in Day of the Dead arrangements, often for its cloud-like clusters that lend an ethereal aura to a bouquet. Gladiolas You may see these long-stalked blooms laid on gravesites and tombstones during Day of the Dead ceremonies, because they traditionally represent remembrance and faithfulness in many cultures. They may be used on their own or as part of a bouquet, often with babys breath or other traditional blooms to round things out. Its also an impressive-looking flower, with its long stem and showy blossoms, making it a perfect focal point for a larger arrangement. White Hoary Stock You may see white hoary stock used for altars remembering lost children, in particular. The flower symbolizes beauty and simplicity, according to the Mexican Folk Art Guide, and the blooms have a delicate, sweet fragrance. While the flowers also come in lots of other colors, including purple, red and blue, symbolism comes into play here. White recalls innocence, which is why youll typically see white hoary stock on altars memorializing those who died too young. You Might Also Like ZAMBOANGA CITY Eight villages in the southern Philippine province of Sulu are now free from the influence of the pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf... Around 2,000 people are facing charges over violence that erupted in Ethiopia after the June killing of a pop star from the Oromo ethnic group, the attorney general said Thursday, while denying that investigations were politically motivated. The June 29 shooting of Hachalu Hundessa, whose songs channelled Oromo feelings of marginalisation, sparked days of inter-ethnic attacks and violence by police and soldiers that underscored persistent security woes under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. More than 9,000 people including journalists and prominent opposition politicians were caught up in subsequent mass arrests that stoked criticism that Abiy, winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, has seized on the unrest to silence critics. "The current figure we have is about 2,000 suspects are being charged for their participation in the violence that has taken place in Oromia regional state," Attorney General Gideon Timothewos told a press conference Thursday at Abiy's office. Among the most high-profile opposition politicians set to stand trial is Jawar Mohammed, a former media mogul who was once considered an Abiy ally. Jawar is accused of crimes including terrorism and incitement to violence, but on Monday he appeared in court and denounced the charges as part of a plot to sideline Abiy's opponents ahead of national elections expected next year. Gideon on Thursday rejected any suggestion that the cases against Jawar and others were tainted by politics. "Some of the accused are politicians but they are not being charged for their political activity," he said. "We have to distinguish between peaceful, lawful political mobilisation and the kind of rhetoric, the kind of ultranationalist militant violent political activism, that results in deaths and injury of citizens," Gideon said. Abiy's press secretary, Billene Seyoum, said at the same press conference that the arrests and prosecutions should not cast doubt on the credibility of the upcoming elections, which represent a major test of Abiy's commitment to democratic reforms. "Elections will be free and fair," she said. "The rule of law proceedings have nothing to do at all with trying to get... some prominent voices out of it." Gideon said "more than 160" people were killed and "around 360" injured after Hachalu's killing. Officials have previously provided death tolls as high as 239. Shot of a woman sleeping on her front Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, it's felt as though Black people have been holding our breath, and it feels as if our collective mourning will never end. We're navigating two pandemics at once, both of which directly impact our livelihood, and they're taking a toll on our well-being. Some of us have lost our appetites due to stress and anxiety. We're masking our emotions in work environments where people don't seem to care or empathize with what it's like to exist in a country, a system, that wasn't created for us to thrive. We're struggling to sleep. And most of us are still haunted and unable to digest and comprehend the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, the knee on George Floyd's neck which killed him, and the lack of justice for Breonna Taylor, whose home was raided in the middle of the night while she slept, fatally ending her blossoming life. The pandemic has further highlighted the health inequities that exist, with one such health disparity impacting Black and brown people in the US being sleep. "We consistently found that Black or African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islanders all had worse sleep than non-Hispanic whites," Dayna Johnson, PhD, MPH, MSW, an assistant professor in the department of epidemiology at Emory University, told POPSUGAR. Related: Nina Westbrook's Quotes on Black Women and Mental Health Nina Westbrook Is Urging Black Women to Put Their Mental Health First By worse sleep, Dr. Johnson explained that these groups all experienced shorter sleep duration, and for some, the difference was over an hour, "which means that racial minorities are sleeping less on average than non-Hispanic white individuals." Their research also found that these groups had worse sleep quality, such as spending more time awake when they should be asleep and experiencing more interruptions during the sleep period. Dr. Johnson and her colleagues also analyzed sleep apnea and insomnia, common sleep disorders, and found that "When it comes to these conditions, we see that racial minorities tend to have a higher prevalence." Story continues Sleep apnea is more common among racial minorities, and it also tends to be more severe, especially among African Americans than among white individuals, she said. The literature is mixed as to how common insomnia is among the different groups, but according to Dr. Johnson, among African Americans, "We see that it takes longer to fall asleep, and we also see more awakening at night. So objectively, we do see more insomnia symptoms." Why Do Black People and People of Color Experience Sleep Disparities? There are several reasons Black people and people of color have worse sleep than non-Hispanic whites, according to Dr. Johnson. One reason is connected to what these groups have been experiencing for decades and currently, which is "a result of racism," she explained. "Health inequities period - sleep, nonsleep - the fundamental reason is racism, which contributes to differences in socioeconomic status," Dr. Johnson said. People who live in lower-income neighborhoods tend to be exposed more to inopportune light exposure, they tend to be exposed to more noise, and there also tends to be more air pollution, which all contribute to poor sleep, according to Dr. Johnson. Social factors such as neighborhood violence and neighborhood disorder also contribute to poor sleep. "Where the race part comes in is that we see that racial minorities are more likely to live in urban areas or underprivileged areas despite their individual level income. And that's what will contribute to poor sleep," Dr. Johnson explained. Another factor that contributes to poor sleep is stress. This can be manifested in many ways, with one main way being discrimination. According to the American Psychological Association, "Racial trauma, a form of race-based stress, refers to People of Color and Indigenous individuals' reactions to dangerous events and real or perceived experiences of racial discrimination." These vicarious experiences of discrimination affect these groups just as much as if they had happened to them, "and that can cause being in a state of vigilance, it can cause anxiety which affects our sleep," Dr. Johnson explained. Policy-oriented variables such as social status also affect people's sleep, Dr. Johnson explained. An example of this is the low minimum wage, which her work has shown affects both the sleep of children and adults. Someone who has to work multiple jobs to feed and shelter their family is less likely to institute consistent bed times for their children. "The whole point of this is the social patterning of it," Dr. Johnson said. "It's the fact that we have this low wage, that some people that may not have been able to pursue a higher education and are working multiple jobs and thus have these inconsistent work schedules . . . So then we see that the kids tend to have more disturbed sleep." Early school times and long commutes to get to school also impact children's sleep. "And so all of those factors contribute to the reasons why we're seeing a difference in sleep between racial minorities and non-Hispanic whites," according to Dr. Johnson. How to Improve Sleep Disparities in Black and Brown Populations There are numerous variables that negatively impact the sleep of Black and brown people, but, "There's several places where we can intervene to improve sleep for the people that are most affected by poor sleep," according to Dr. Johnson. On a policy level, she said that increasing income can help. "We know that income is associated with better health, period. So that can have residual effects for sleep and other [disparities]." She did note that educated Black individuals tend to have worse sleep than uneducated or lower educated Black individuals. According to Dr. Johnson, this could be due to many things, for example, being in an environment where they're typically the minority, which creates opportunity for more experiences of discrimination. This can also relate to feelings of having to work harder, she said. One solution is to create more diverse work environments where there isn't only one or two non-white people. "That starts to create an environment that is more welcoming and creates an environment of social support which helps our sleep," she explained. "Attacking racism and condemning things like white supremacy are important and would undoubtedly lead to better health outcomes, better sleep." "But in thinking about factors that may potentially affect racial minorities, as well as those of lower SES (socioeconomic status), of course, attacking racism and condemning things like white supremacy are important and would undoubtedly lead to better health outcomes, better sleep." This can be done by actively working toward being antiracist, facilitating and attending antiracism trainings, and combatting racial stereotypes. An actionable thing that can be done in addition to larger policies to help sleep disparities for children is delaying school start times. "That's something that we have seen some counties be able to do, and we see improved sleep for people, and that's really regardless of race." As it pertains to structural barriers that impact sleep at the neighborhood level, Dr. Johnson said, "Having policies and regulations with industrial plants that may be in some of these neighborhoods to ensure that they are following the right laws according to [the] EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to make sure they're not emitting pollutants into the environment" can help improve sleep disparities. Additionally, finding ways to reduce stress, clear your mind, and relax before sleep is important, Dr. Johnson said. For those who live in areas with inopportune light or noise, investing in things like blackout curtains, wearing an eye mask to block out light, or utilizing apps for relaxation before bed can help. Following sleep hygiene recommendations such as creating a wind-down routine, keeping your room cool, avoiding caffeine consumption in the afternoon and at night, and limiting your alcohol intake in the evening can all help improve your sleep. Dr. Johnson also said ensuring people of color get proper screenings and diagnoses from their primary care doctors will allow them to get the treatment they need based on their sleep issue. "There's still a way to handle all of this while we're still residing in a racist world," Dr. Johnson assured. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, by a 2-to-1 vote, declined to approve an unprecedented negotiation class of 33,000 cities, towns and counties that could have a vote on whether to accept any settlements proposed with drug manufacturers and distributors. LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As Americans experiment in the kitchen more than ever before, Genova Premium Tuna and King Oscar are celebrating all of the reasons, occasions and ways to enjoy high quality seafood at home by partnering with award-winning chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Marcus Samuelsson, as well as the James Beard Foundation, to bring you "Savoring Seafood, Mediterranean Style," an intimate "Beard House Goes Virtual" event featuring an interactive cooking demonstration on October 6, 2020. Chef Samuelsson will teach guests how to make two recipes that showcase how incorporating Genova Yellowfin Tuna and King Oscar Mackerel Royal Fillets is an easy way to elevate some of their favorite dishes, whether they're whipping up a simple weeknight dinner or entertaining guests: Genova Yellowfin Tuna Stuffed Piquillo Peppers with Herbed Fennel Salad: One of Spain's most legendary tapas gets an upgrade as sweet piquillo peppers are stuffed with succulent tuna fillets and paired with an herbed fennel salad to create a perfect bite. One of most legendary tapas gets an upgrade as sweet piquillo peppers are stuffed with succulent tuna fillets and paired with an herbed fennel salad to create a perfect bite. Bucatini with Swiss Chard, Preserved Lemon, Chili and King Oscar Mackerel Royal Fillets: This quick and easy Mediterranean pasta is a bright, vibrant and delicious Primi Piatti that transports you to the Mediterranean. Open to both James Beard Foundation members and the general public, attendees will cook along during the hour long, hands on workshop as Chef Samuelsson answers questions and shares some of his favorite techniques for preparing seafood. "Growing up, I learned the value of high-quality seafood while spending my summers catching fish such as Mackerel with my dad and uncles on the west coast of Sweden," said Chef Samuelsson. "Today, seafood is one of my favorite ingredients to cook with in my restaurants and kitchen at home, and I know first-hand just how great premium options like Genova and King Oscar are to help you take some of your favorite dishes to the next level." Drawing inspiration from the Mediterranean, known for its delicious seafood and light but satisfying dishes, Chef Samuelsson's recipes will make participants feel as if they're dining al fresco in one of the region's beautiful seaside cities without ever needing to leave their homes. Learn more and register to attend as well as for the opportunity to receive complimentary Genova and King Oscar products alongside the recipe details in advance of the event at www.jamesbeard.org/events/virtual-savoring-seafood-mediterranean-style. Both Genova and King Oscar offer the benefits of a European heritage from Genova's mouthwatering Mediterranean flavor to King Oscar's renowned history of Norwegian tradition. The superior tuna experience that Genova is known for comes from its hand-selected Yellowfin and Albacore fillets packed in olive oil, which allow you to taste tuna the Mediterranean way in every bite. At King Oscar, the company's exceptional tinned seafood offerings including premium Mackerel fillets with a mild taste and tender texture hail from some of the best fishing grounds in the world, the ice-cold waters of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. About Genova The exquisite taste of Genova premium tuna is central to countless inspired dishes thanks to its distinct flavor and perfect texture. Discover Genova's rich and savory Yellowfin or Albacore varieties in pure olive oil or water for a mouthwatering taste of Mediterranean flavor that opens up a world of possibilities in your kitchen. For information on Genova, including recipes, serving suggestions and retail locations go to www.genovaseafood.com, and you can find Genova on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. About King Oscar In 1902, King Oscar II of Norway and Sweden granted the Christian Bjelland Company special royal permission to use his name and portrait on the brand of Norwegian sardines. Since then, King Oscar has gone to great lengths to bring you the best the ocean has to offer thanks to a rich heritage and accumulated expertise that few can match. King Oscar's line of premium specialty seafood comes from some of the best fishing grounds in the world and the company never compromises in its search to find the best in taste, texture, consistency and nutrition. For more information, please visit www.kingoscar.com, and find King Oscar on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. About James Beard Foundation The James Beard Foundation promotes Good Food For Good. For more than 30 years, the James Beard Foundation has highlighted the centrality of food culture in our daily lives. Through the variety of industry programs that educate and empower leaders in our community, the Foundation has asserted the power of food to drive behavior, culture, and policy change. The organization is committed to giving chefs a voice and the tools they need to make the world more sustainable, equitable, and delicious for everyone. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the James Beard Foundation launched the Open for Good campaign to ensure that independent restaurants not only survive, but that the industry is able to rebuild stronger than before. For more information, subscribe to the digital newsletter Beard Bites and follow @beardfoundation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. SOURCE Genova Premium Tuna; King Oscar Related Links http://www.genovaseafood.com Ex-Director General of Police of Bihar, Gupteshwar Pandey on Wednesday said that he would enter politics only if the people of his home district Buxar want him to do so. "People have been coming to me in large numbers from Begusarai, Sitamarhi, Shahpur and several other districts, telling me that if I wish to enter politics then I should contest election from their district. Buxar is my home district where I was born and brought up. It will be a decision by them. If they want me to, then I may enter politics" Pandey said. "Criticism from political leaders is inevitable as I don't have family members in politics to look out for me. My family used to do farming and rear cattle. Some people don't find it acceptable which is why they are saying these things," he added. Reacting to the a music video 'Robinhood Bihar ke' featuring him, Pandey said, "A fan has made this video of me to express his love for me. I did not have anything to do with it, but I am glad that they look up to me." Pandey quit as DGP after his request for voluntary retirement was approved on Tuesday by the Bihar government, which waived a three-month mandatory cooling-off period. Pandey is likely to contest as a National Democratic Alliance candidate in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, sources said. Pandey, a daring IPS officer known for his rustic mannerisms, had sought voluntary retirement in 2009 amid speculation that he wanted to contest the Lok Sabha election from Buxar. It was rumoured that the Bharatiya Janata Party wanted to field him from the seat which has substantial Brahmin votes. The saffron party changed its mind and did not field Pandey. In a rare concession by a state government for an IPS officer who had voluntarily quit service, the ruling dispensation in Bihar sat over his resignation for nine months and then reinstated him. The officer, at whose suggestion, the Bihar government had recommended a Central Bureua of Investigation probe into the death of Patna-born actor Sushant Singh Rajput in Mumbai, rubbished suggestions that his outspokenness in the case was in anyway linked to his political ambitions. The officer had virtually waged an all-out war with Maharashtra politicians on national television in support of a CBI investigation in Rajput's death case, asserting that it alone could do 'justice' to the deceased actor. In line of Shiv Sena fire, Pandey, who has a fan following among a section of the youth in Bihar, was unflappable, and declared he will do everything to get the actor justice. The VRS request of Pandey, who would have retired in February 2021, was accepted by Governor Phagu Chauhan on Tuesday, the day he tendered his resignation. The election for 243 assembly seats in Bihar is due in October-November. The tenure of the current assembly will end on November 29. The Election Commission has not yet taken a final call on poll dates in Bihar due to the coronavirus pandemic. Its becoming something of a cliche in this crazy year of 2020, but in mid-September Joe Biden came to a minor-league ballpark in Moosic, Pa. a few home-run balls from where the Democratic presidential hopeful was born and staged a campaign event unlike anything America has ever seen before. In a normal year, the former vice president might have packed the seats at PNC Field, but instead he was out in the parking lot for a nationally televised CNN town hall, watched in person by 35 carloads of pre-selected voters. The attendees leaned on the hoods of their cars, confined to chalked-out rectangles that would keep them 6 feet apart, as they watched Biden hammer home a message that matched the social distancing, that President Trumps mishandling of the coronavirus has been close to criminal. A short time later, TV viewers saw Trump climb down Air Force One and address a packed rally of thousands at Mosinee, Wisconsin. Almost none of the enthusiastic attendees packed tighter than a can of sardines wore masks, even though Wisconsin had set a record for new COVID-19 infections that very day. The president told the crowd that hed seen Bidens drive-in town hall from the plane: Theyve got cars," he said. "Its the weirdest thing Ive ever seen. Now, Donald Trump might be a serial liar well over 20,000, according to the Washington Post who, as I write this, is posing the greatest threat to American democracy since the Civil War, but I cant stop worrying that the 45th president is onto something with his political analysis. In a year of earthquake-caliber shocks, one of 2020s biggest surprises has been the way that Democrats and Republicans have reacted so differently to a killer virus that doesnt care about your party ID. Republicans, it turns out, are from Mars. They are prone, in far too many cases, to see common-sense public-health mandates or guidance such as always wearing masks in public and keeping 6-foot social distance as an assault on their personal freedom. Democrats are from Venus embracing safety guidelines not only with the wise goal of not getting sick, but also with an almost tribal zeal that distancing proves their partys commitment to both science and empathy for others. But with arguably the most consequential presidential election since 1860 little more than five weeks away, the stark difference in the way that partisans of Americas two major parties are living in the shadow of the coronavirus is having a large effect on the way that Team Trump and Team Biden campaign. And even more concerning for democracy it will likely impact how and even whether votes are counted, in a race where the incumbent president is now opening making threats to somehow throw out or ignore mail-in ballots. In the media battle for attention and momentum, Trump is holding large, traditional flag-waving rallies that seem to get more attention than the socially distanced forums held by Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris. Additionally, the Trump campaign has carried out a door-knocking campaign of contacting voters, something the Biden team has largely shunned in favor of newfangled digital techniques. Is the GOP running a recklessly dangerous campaign, from a strictly health viewpoint, that could make some of its own voters sick or even die yet that gives them a better chance of winning the November election? READ MORE: How we stop Trump from stealing 11/3 by mail | Will Bunch Newsletter Marc Hetherington, a University of North Carolina political scientist whos been studying the interplay between the virus and politics since the early days of the pandemic, told me it does feel at times like the Democrats are campaigning with one hand tied behind their backs. On the Trump rallies, Hetherington said two emotions are really helpful when it comes to energizing voters one is enthusiasm and the other is anger. What these rallies that Trump is holding are able to do is increase both. Hetherington believes that its been largely Trump himself and the fiercely tribal nature of todays politics thats driven the surprisingly wide gap in how Democrats and Republicans have reacted to COVID-19. In surveys that the political scientist took in April, there was almost no polarization on issues such as government shut-down orders, but gaps over masks and business closures began to emerge in June and the split is growing even wider in the third survey that hes currently conducting. He thinks Trumps mostly anti-mask messaging and attacks on state lockdown orders have made the difference. In a highly partisan election, we really want to follow our leader, Hetherington said, even if the politicians want to take us off a cliff. In nationwide polls, the numbers are stark. In late June, an Axios-Ipsos poll found mask-wearing rose over the spring to 65 percent among Democrats but just 35 percent of Republicans. But where the partisan split on the coronavirus might matter the most in November revolves around voting by mail. In the early days of pandemic, most states quickly embraced voting-by-mail which has a successful track record in 5 U.S. states and would prevent risky in-person contact at polling places. But here, again, Trumps non-stop bashing of vote-by-mail has had a huge impact. This week, researchers at the University of California-San Diego said that while before 2020 thered been no difference in how partisans viewed mail balloting, as we enter the fall now more than half of Democrats prefer vote-by-mail, but less than a quarter of Republicans do. Thats potentially problematic for Democrats because even before Trumps non-stop bashing of the process and the arrival of a Trumpist head of the U.S. Postal Service who implemented changes that have slowed the mail the rapid expansion of postal voting has come with a high error rate. NPR reported last month that more than 550,000 absentee ballots were rejected in the primaries a steep spike and that suggests the numbers could be much bigger in a higher-turnout general election. That was before a new problem was exposed here in Pennsylvania, the state that many experts believe could decide the presidential election: Naked ballots. In complicated legal maneuverings, necessitated by the Republican Partys jihad to make voting as difficult as possible, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that election officials should discard mail ballots that dont arrive inside an inner, security envelope. One Philadelphia election official told my Inquirer colleague Jonathan Lai that the ruling could mean as many as 100,000 Pennsylvanians might see their vote thrown away with the majority of those mail ballots coming from Democrats, in a state that Trump won by just 44,000 votes in 2016. And remarkably, this, and the recent postal delays, may not be the biggest problems with voting by mail. On Wednesday, Trump refused to guarantee a peaceful transfer of power, adding: Well want to have get rid of the ballots and youll have a very well have a very peaceful there wont be a transfer, frankly. Therell be a continuation. In spite of this, Democrats have embraced voting-by-mail with a quasi-religious zeal that almost defies reason; in Philadelphias critical western suburbs where I live, some Dems even have Vote By Mail yard signs. With news of the naked ballot ruling, there was talk of yet another, costly voter-education campaign in which Pennsylvania voters would be bombarded with spots telling them how to use the security ballot. Thats essential. I continue to believe that voting through the compromised USPS should only be a last resort for those who must be quarantined or who are medically avoiding even masked contacts because of the coronavirus. The best way to vote is to receive a mail-in ballot and physically deposit it in a drop box, which ensures your vote will arrive and leaves a paper trail (although youll still need to navigate the security envelope). Or, if youre like most people who occasionally visit the supermarket, voting in person will be just as safe as that, and youll be doing more for democracy than buying those low-calorie popsicles that your wife sends you out for. I think Democrats should be proud of the fact that theyre the ones who respect science, who value community, and who believe that doing anything possible to not spread a deadly virus makes one a better citizen. But they need to hold democracy and the unique risks that 2020 now poses with the same regard as white-coated doctors. Having a plan to vote and make it count is the healthiest thing Americans can do right now. READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter Portland Saturday Market will close up shop early for 2020 with a final market day this weekend. The market normally continues through the winter holiday season. The nations longest running outdoor market, much like other businesses affected by the pandemic, has decided to shut down early and reopen in the spring of 2021. The final market will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Waterfront Park and Ankeny Plaza. Portland Saturday Market offers wares made by local small businesses, including handmade arts and crafts from the Pacific Northwest, as well as an international food court. According to a recent release, the market showcases more than 200 artisans weekly, and attracts around 750,000 visitors annually. In regular seasons, the market is open both Saturday and Sunday, March through December. Due to COVID-19, the market had been open Saturdays only since mid-June. Shoppers can continue to support artisans and find items from the market by visiting the online store year-round at shop.portlandsaturdaymarket.com Rosemarie Stein, rstein@oregonian.com MALTA GlobalFoundries CEO Tom Caulfield said Wednesday that the computer chip maker is still planning to take the Abu Dhabi-owned company public and that any plans for a second factory at its Fab 8 campus in Saratoga County would likely require government investment. "We cannot do it without partnerships," Caulfield told analysts and reporters during a virtual press conference held in advance of the company's Global Technology Conference. Caulfield, who ran Fab 8 as its general manager before becoming CEO in 2018, also said the company is on track to hold an initial public offering, or IPO, of its stock two years from now. "God willing and the creek don't rise, we're going to light that rocket in late 2022," Caulfield said. "We're going to take this company public." Caulfield and other GlobalFoundries scientists and executives were ebullient about the company's prospects for growth as the only major chip foundry headquarterted in the United States at a time when the federal government is pushing for more domestic chip production as a way of ensuring national security. Caulfield, a native New Yorker, is based at the company's headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. Caulfield cited data in a recent study by the Semiconductor Industry Association that found while U.S. chip companies sell 48 percent of the world's chips, U.S.-based chip factories, or "fabs" like Fab 8 in the town of Malta, account for only 12 percent of the global chip output. A majority of the chips are made in Asia by companies located in China, Taiwan or South Korea. "That's a big supply imbalance," Caulfield said. The SIA study said that the federal government needs to invest between $20 billion and $50 billion in the domestic chip industry to reverse those gains by Asia and especially China, which has become adversarial to the U.S. amid a trade war. The SIA report estimates that $50 billion in incentives would lead to the construction of 19 new chip fabs in the U.S. GlobalFoundries has room for one or two more fabs at its Fab 8 site in Malta, and company officials have expressed their openness to expand under a subsidy program being pitched in Congress called the CHIPS for America Act. Caulfield said any expansion at Fab 8 would require help from the federal government, much like the $1.4 billion in aid that New York state provided GlobalFoundries to build Fab 8, on which the company has invested $15 billion to build and expand over the past 10 years. Caulfield says he prefers not to call government aid subsidies because the chip industry is so vital for national security and the economy that a domestic chip supply is essentially critical infrastructure for any country. "It's really co-investment," Caulfield said. "It's truly an absolute necessity." lrulison@timesunion.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:15:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close AMMAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Ministers of Jordan, Germany, France, and Egypt on Thursday stressed that the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution is the path to achieve peace and regional security. The ministers made their remakes at a meeting in Amman, which was also attended by the EU special representative for the middle east peace process, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry. The ministers stressed that the two-state solution should lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of 1967. The ministers also voiced commitment to support all efforts to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace that fulfills the legitimate rights of all parties based on international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and agreements, including the Arab Peace Initiative. The ministers said that the building and expansion of Israeli settlements and confiscation of Palestinian structures and properties are a violation of international law that undermines the viability of the two-state solution. The ministers said the suspension of the annexation of Palestinian lands following the announcement of the decision by the United Arab Emirates and Israel to normalize ties should become permanent. The foreign ministers also reaffirmed the indispensable role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the need to provide it with the political and financial support to continue to fulfill its UN mandate and provide its vital services to refugees. Egypt, France, Germany, and Jordan will continue their efforts to help achieve the just and comprehensive peace that people of the region deserve, they added. Enditem Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove acknowledged border queues of up to 7,000 trucks are possible in a 'reasonable worst-case scenario.' Photo: Toby Melville/Reuters Britains businesses have significant unanswered questions about the end of the Brexit transition period, while around half of firms have done nothing to prepare, according to a new survey. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is warning firms report having little cash or information to plan for the impact of significant changes in UK-EU trade from the end of the year. With informal UK-EU trade talks ongoing but Downing Street itself warning time is running out to strike a deal, the government is now under mounting pressure over likely disruption. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove acknowledged border queues of up to 7,000 trucks are possible in a reasonable worst-case scenario, while firms have warned government systems and customs preparations are not ready. Meanwhile the Road Haulage Association claimed plans announced on Wednesday for a new Kent Access Permit for hauliers to enter the county en route to the border were pointless and probably counter-productive. READ MORE: No-deal Brexit would hit UK three times as hard as COVID-19 The BCC is now urging the UK government to be honest with firms about the complexity of the new rules, and to issue stronger warnings that businesses need to prepare. The business lobby group has published a list of the 35 key questions asked by member firms, alongside its own summary of official guidance. The BCC says only partial answers are available from government for 19 questions, and there is too little information to act at all for a further seven questions. Key problems include: A lack of official guidance on potential new rules of origin requirements for exporting to the EU and elsewhere, which specify how products must be made and declared to qualify for lower tariffs. This prevents firms from planning, and could create unprecedented new administration and costs. Very limited guidance on the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, and no clarity on how food and drink for sale in the EU and Northern Ireland will be labelled. No information or consultation on the Shared Prosperity Fund promised by the UK government, which will replace EU structural funds used on economic development projects across Britain. Story continues A new survey by the BCC suggests just 38% of firms have completed a Brexit risk assessment, and only around half have taken any of the governments eight recommended steps to prepare for changes. The lobby group says firms are already struggling to cope with the coronavirus crisis, suffering from weak demand, ongoing government curbs and sustained cashflow problems. Business chiefs also highlight deadline fatigue after several Brexit trade cliff-edges that were eventually delayed over the past two years. With just 98 days to go, business communities face the triple threat of a resurgent coronavirus, receding government support schemes, and a disorderly end to the transition period, said BCC director general Adam Marshall. Significant unanswered questions remain for businesses, and despite recent public information campaigns, base levels of preparedness are low. Many firms say they've heard talk of deadlines and cliff edges before, and others are still grappling with fundamental challenges as a result of the pandemic and have little cash or information with which to plan. READ MORE: UK factories demand Brexit deal and furlough extension as output falls The Check, Change, Go campaign gives the impression that Brexit-related changes are like getting an MOT whereas the reality is that for many businesses, theyre more akin to planning a moon landing. Labours shadow business secretary Ed Miliband backed calls for more support for firms. The government promised an oven-ready deal, but their incompetence is plain to see, he told PA. They must stop prevaricating, focus on getting the deal they promised and giving businesses the answers they need, and ensure all preparations are in place for the end of the transition period. But a Cabinet Office spokesman said: With fewer than 100 days to go its vital that we all prepare for new rules that will come into force at the end of the year. Over the coming weeks we will be intensifying our engagement with Business Representative Organisations like the British Chambers of Commerce and their members, so that they can hit the ground running on 1 January 2021 and seize new opportunities. To help businesses get ready, we have launched a major communications campaign in the UK and EU, committed to investing 705m ($898.6m) in jobs, infrastructure and technology at the border and provided a 84m support package to boost the capacity of the customs intermediary sector. The possibility that Ellen DeGeneres might not be the nicest person in Hollywood should never have been a complete surprise to any sentient observer of television, famous people or human behavior. A certain knifelike aspect was always part of DeGeneres's act, made more subliminal over the years by her innate joviality and shrewd branding (the dance moves, the gestures of generosity) but still there all along - evident in the glint of her crystal-blue eyes whenever she makes an ever-so-slightly cutting remark on her syndicated afternoon talk show. That gleam takes on a maniacal, laser-beam intensity when she presses the button on a trapdoor rigged beneath the anxious contestants of her curiously torturous prime-time game show. Some viewers understand this aspect of DeGeneres to be an obvious part of the package, that the queen of nice is probably sometimes a queen of ice. Because, as DeGeneres somberly noted when "Ellen" returned this week for its 18th season on a deliberate and highly watched note of recompense, no person can ever be just one thing. Suffering in a way that only someone of her status and notoriety can, DeGeneres and her handlers spent the summer in a suspended state of damage control. Long-standing rumors about her backstage demeanor (don't speak directly to her, don't look her in the eye, don't let her smell you - it sounds like the sort of advice the Jeep driver gives before the safari begins) coalesced into workplace grievances, first revealed in two BuzzFeed News stories. Former employees and industry colleagues began sharing stories about DeGeneres's dark side. WarnerMedia launched an internal investigation; three top "Ellen" producers were fired. Judging from the first three episodes that aired this week, DeGeneres has looked deep within and ... let herself off the hook, mostly. Her show remains an unsettled realm of enforced cheer. In no time at all, she was back to rolling her eyes, accepting praise from her guests, and dousing willing participants in pink and purple slime. "I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who are affected," she said during her closely watched opening monologue on Monday's show. As apologies go, it was a mixed bag of contrition and excuses, with just a whiff of legal caution: Thinking it over, DeGeneres doubts the wisdom of promoting herself as "the Be Kind lady" (the genesis of which, she noted, dates back to her grief over a young gay man who killed himself in 2010). Look where being the paragon of niceness gets you, she seemed to say. Her apology rambled from self-reflection into self-pity, casting herself "as the boss of 270 people" (earning somewhere between $85 million and $100 million annually) who, "If I ever let someone down, if I've ever hurt their feelings, I am so sorry for that. If that's ever the case, I've let myself down and I've hurt myself." One can't help but note the operative "if" in all this: If I ever. If that's ever the case. Like her talk-show peers, DeGeneres has no live audience at the moment - the die-hard fans who wait in line for hours to fawn in her presence. She is left relating to a theater full of vertical flat screens, each containing an Internet feed of her faithful viewers at home, who all seem to be in a forgiving mood. To DeGeneres's right is Stephen "tWitch" Boss, her longtime DJ and loyal sidekick, who, DeGeneres has repeatedly noted this week, has been promoted to "co-executive producer" - a direct result of the backstage shake-up. Although Boss stays in his usual spot, on an elevated side stage behind a tall table, DeGeneres joked this week that his "fake DJ" equipment is no more, acknowledging that he was never really spinning the show's upbeat tracks. DeGeneres glided past that illusion and Boss played along, both as a professed close friend and now a more powerful colleague; in one segment on Tuesday, DeGeneres asked Boss to call his mother so they could all bask together in her act of promoting him. Something about their exchange seemed to unwittingly summon a lingering awkwardness, a dynamic of superiority. Is this a happy place? Or is the vacuous experience of watching the "Ellen" show just so much more glaring now? DeGeneres emphasized during her apology that she sees her show as a safe haven from the world's issues and problems, which no place really is. "Ellen" thrives by being a kinder, gentler wash of the world around us - replete with friends who are former Republican presidents who campaigned against the same-sex marriage DeGeneres now enjoys, or expressions of symbolic solidarity with police shooting victim Breonna Taylor. "Ellen" is filled with emphatic expressions of "hope" instead of outrage; its determination to be cheerful leaves it in a permanent state of reaction instead of action. Whether a topic is cute or funny or sad or infuriating, it can all be danced off. When complaints about the show's workplace first surfaced, I was struck by one anonymous employee's observation about how the staff seemed to sort itself, according to BuzzFeed, between the "people who 'drink the Kool-Aid' and are usually well-liked by ("Ellen's") producers, and people who recognize the work environment is toxic." To stick with "Ellen" now, as a viewer, is to still savor the flavor of her Kool-Aid. She wants very much to put the unpleasantness behind her, and so do her celebrity guests, including Tiffany Haddish, who appeared Monday and told DeGeneres "I support you 110 percent," and Alec Baldwin (himself a frequent flier between the red and green zones of public scorn), who told DeGeneres: "Don't stop what you're doing - we need you, we need you, we need you." Message apparently received. By Tuesday, DeGeneres was talking about her dog's broken leg. By Wednesday, she had moved completely past her woes. "Ellen" is both an expression of DeGeneres's identity and her burden to bear. Like Oprah Winfrey before her, DeGeneres spends part of her shows doling out money to the everyday people she says have touched her heart. On Monday, it was a $75,000 check (paid for by Shutterfly, the online photo developer) to a New Orleans man raising his younger siblings after the death of their mother four years ago. On Tuesday, DeGeneres gave a $25,000 check to the W.A.F.F.L.E. Crew, a seven-man dance troupe that performs in New York subway stations. If you already enjoy DeGeneres's Kool-Aid, then all is forgiven, and such acts will help you feel better about the world, a little bit at a time. If, on the other hand, something about DeGeneres's show and this conspicuous charity gives you a moment's pause (if you're dividing $25,000 by seven dancers and taking out the taxes; if you're wishing DeGeneres was interested enough in the New Orleans family to ask how their mother died, and you want to remind them about their new tax liability) then "Ellen" is not for you, and probably never was. "Ellen" might not even be the show for Ellen herself. Sorry not sorry. KEY FACTS 4:30 p.m.: Toronto reports 191 new cases 12 p.m.: Ontario to spend more than $1 billion on expanded testing 10:57 a.m.: Ottawa vows to provide high-speed internet to all of Canada The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Thursday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available. 9:30 p.m.: British Columbias top doctor is thanking supporters after revealing she has faced abuse and death threats related to her public health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Bonnie Henry says she appreciates all the notes and positive feedback she has received since saying on Tuesday that shes had security in her home after receiving abusive letters and calls to staff. Henry says COVID-19 has created anxiety and fear and some people have lashed out in anger and frustration. She reported 148 new cases of the disease in B.C. on Thursday, along with two more deaths, for a total of 229 fatalities. Henry also says everyone should plan for a safe Thanksgiving by having small gatherings that may have to include online invitations for seniors and others who are not part of an established bubble. She says people living in areas that dont have many cases should remember people who travel could bring COVID-19 back with them. 8:50 p.m.: Three more TTC employees have tested positive for COVID-19, union president Carlos Santos said Thursday. A general body repairman last worked on Sept. 17 at Harvey Shop, the major maintenance facility for the streetcar fleet. A customer service agent last worked on Sept. 15 and a bus operator at Arrow Road Division last worked Wednesday from about 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Santos said. In total, 71 ATU Local 113 members have tested positive for COVID-19, he said. Thirteen TTC employees who are not ATU Local 113 members have also tested positive, which brings the TTCs total number of confirmed cases to 84, he added. 7:42 p.m.: Albertas chief medical officer of health says the province is not in a second wave of COVID-19 despite increased daily case numbers in recent months. Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Thursday that Alberta had identified 158 new cases in the province. She said that doesnt mean Alberta is seeing a surge in infections, although some provinces may have determined their second wave has begun. In Alberta, I dont think thats where were at right now. We have seen increased daily case counts for the past few months, but those have remained relatively stable, Hinshaw told a news conference. When I think about a second wave, I think about a very large spike of uncontrolled spread and thats not our only possible future. Read more here: Albertas top health official says province is not in a second wave of COVID-19 7:37 p.m.: COVID-19 exposure events in schools are being posted by health authority websites, B.C.s provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, said today. This statement comes amid a flurry of questions relating to school exposures, since the Fraser Health website reports many more than the Vancouver Coastal Health website. The exposure event reported last week at Richmonds McMath secondary does not appear on the Vancouver Coastal Health website. When there is a potential school exposure, the first thing that happens in all of our schools around the province is public health steps in to do contact tracing and assess the risk, said Henry. I have full confidence that Vancouver Coastal is doing what we need them to do and that we are all in alignment about what we are talking about in terms of exposures within a school setting, and what will be posted on websites as exposure events. For all of our health authorities, the most important thing that we are focusing on is investigating whether somebody was actually infectious when they were in the school environment and making sure that the families and the school community has the information first. She added that the largest school districts are in the Fraser Health region, so its not surprising to her that thats where many of the exposure events in schools have happened. All the exposure events that have occurred in schools have been relatively low risk. Read more here: School exposure events are being posted, B.C.s top doctor says 7:30 p.m.: Saskatchewan health officials have fined a person $2,000 for not self-isolating while showing symptoms of COVID-19, bringing the total amount of penalties levied in the province to date to more than $20,000. The Ministry of Health has not released specific details about the recent case except to say the penalty was imposed after a contact tracing investigation. Public health is confident that all close contacts have been determined and contacted in this case, reads a statement from the Ministry of Health. As there is no further public risk, we will not be releasing additional information about this enforcement. Public health rules state people must isolate for 14 days if they return from international travel, are diagnosed with COVID-19 or have been close to someone who is positive. Read more here: Saskatchewan health officials fine person $2,000 for not self-isolating while symptomatic 6:55 p.m.: Another case of COVID-19 at a Burlington school is under investigation Thursday evening by Halton Public Health. The Halton Catholic District School Board confirmed that theres a positive coronavirus case at St. Patrick Elementary School in Burlington, in the area of Spruce Avenue and Hampton Heath Road, and it has led to one classroom being closed. The board has yet to reply to a request for comment on whether the infected individual is a student or staff member and whether an exposure risk has been identified by Halton Public Health. 6:45 p.m.: Albertas chief medical officer of health says the province is not in a second wave of COVID-19 despite increased daily case numbers in recent weeks. Dr. Deena Hinshaw says some provinces may have determined theyre in a second onslaught of the pandemic, but thats not the case in Alberta where the numbers are relatively stable. She says there would have to be a huge spike in infections and the future at the moment remains in the hands of the public. Hinshaw says the number of cases in five- to 19-year-olds peaked in April at the height of the pandemic, and since the current school year began infections in that group have been dropping on a weekly basis. Alberta has recorded 158 more cases and one additional death, and alerts or outbreaks have been reported in 97 schools. Hinshaw isnt calling on Albertans to cancel Thanksgiving, but adds gatherings shouldnt exceed 15 people and those invited should be part of a familys usual cohort. 5:25 p.m.: Quebecs Health Minister is asking people to limit interactions outside their immediate household including cancelling their Thanksgiving plans as the province tries to beat back a second COVID-19 wave. Christian Dube told reporters Thursday in Quebec City that minimizing all non-essential private gatherings in the coming weeks might help bring community spread of the virus under control. Please, were asking Quebecers, all Quebecers, that you limit your social contact over the next few weeks, Dube said, raising the tone of the governments message. We can break this wave, but we need your support to make this additional sacrifice. The province reported 582 new cases of COVID-19 and one additional death linked to the virus on Thursday, with 184 people in hospital and 31 in intensive care. The province has seen a marked rise in outbreaks, jumping to 291 from 175 in just one week and prompting the plea to avoid family gatherings, parties, barbecues, funerals and weddings. Dube warned that people should expect higher case numbers in the next few days the result of activities in recent weeks but taking steps now could perhaps mean good news in a month. But in the meantime, the province has put Thanksgiving on the chopping block. If I have a choice, Id prefer cancelling a lot of those (events) in the next few weeks so we can have a nice Christmas, Dube said, echoing comments made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the day before. Quebec has been the province hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 69,670 cases and 5,810 deaths. 6:15 p.m.: The agency that oversees teachers in Ontario is calling on retirees to return to the classroom. The Ontario College of Teachers sent a letter this week to retired teachers and those whose licences have been suspended due to non-payment, urging them to get reinstated. The letter says the province is facing a shortage of certified teachers thats been magnified by measures aimed at fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, such as smaller class sizes and online learning. A spokeswoman for the college says it also reached out to newly licensed teachers and others without current jobs, encouraging them to apply. Gabrielle Barkany says its an opportunity for qualified teachers to provide critical support to elementary and secondary students in Ontario at this critical time. Earlier this week, Canadas largest school board said it was drawing on its pool of supply teachers as it rushed to meet a surge in demand for online learning. The Toronto District School Board said it hired 300 teachers on Monday and was working Tuesday to bring on another 100 to 150 to fulfil its staffing needs for virtual elementary school classes. Read the story from the Stars Kristin Rushowy. 5:36 p.m.: Ontarios regional health units are reporting the second consecutive day with slightly slower COVID-19 growth than recent days, according to the Stars latest count. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the health units were reporting another 416 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 414 new cases daily, slightly more than double what the health units were reporting 11 days ago on Sept. 13. Earlier this week, that average had been on a pace to double about every nine days. 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. Thursday saw significant case totals reported across the province: Toronto reported 191 new cases, its most since early June; Ottawa reported 82; York Region added 35; Waterloo Region 18; Durham Region 17 and Halton Region 16. Peel Region meanwhile reported a relatively low 23 new cases, its lowest 24-hour total this month. (The health unit has averaged 79 cases a day over the last seven days) The province has now seen a total of 50,810 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, including 2,876 deaths. No new fatal cases were reported in the last 24 hours. 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 3,774 active cases of the disease, a number that has been rising in recent weeks. The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test. The province cautions its separate data, published daily at 10:30 a.m., may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in the reporting system, saying that in the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date. 5:05 p.m.: Saskatchewan health officials have fined an individual $2,000 for not self-isolating while showing symptoms for COVID-19. The Ministry of Health has not released specific details about the case except to say the penalty was levied after a contact tracing investigation was done. It warns provinces are seeing a spike in the transmission of COVID-19 because are people failing to abide by public health orders limiting the size of gatherings. As of Thursday, Saskatchewan reported five new infections. Officials say of the more than 1,800 cases reported to date, 130 are believed to be active. Since schools reopened, they say there are 24 active infections among children. 4:38 p.m.: A murder trial in Manitoba will continue with 11 jurors after one was discharged because he was showing COVID-19 symptoms. Kane Moar is charged with second-degree murder in the 2018 stabbing death of 34-year-old Ricardo Hibi. Deliberations were to begin Wednesday but were delayed after the juror was turned away at the courthouse and went to be tested. The other jurors were sent home and advised to self-isolate until the mans test results are complete. Queens Bench Justice Vic Toews told the jury Thursday he received advice from public health that it is safe and prudent to continue. Toews says even if the juror tests positive, it doesnt mean the remaining jurors would need to self-isolate given the steps taken in court, which include physical distancing. It is not prudent to wait any longer, said Toews. Moar, 23, is accused of killing Hibi at the foster home he ran for boys. Jury trials were suspended across the country in the spring as the justice system grappled with how to handle the pandemic. 4:30 p.m.: The City of Toronto is reporting 191 new cases in its daily release Thursday. Toronto has six more patients sent to hospital for a total of 41 as of 2 p.m. Wednesday. There were no new deaths, and 101 more people have recovered for a total of 15,624. 4:23 p.m.: New Brunswick is reimposing travel restrictions on residents of Quebecs southern Gaspe area, which has seen its COVID-19 alert level rise. Premier Blaine Higgs said Thursday only residents of the Listuguj First Nation and Pointe-a-la-Croix, near Campbellton, N.B., will be allowed to make day trips into New Brunswick. The new rule enters into effect Friday. The move follows last weeks decision to reimpose travel restrictions on residents of Quebecs Temiscouata region, which is close to Edmundston, N.B. Residents of southern Gaspe and of Temiscouata are still permitted to make day trips into New Brunswick for essential reasons such as medical appointments, approved work and child custody arrangements. 4:23 p.m.: New Brunswick reported two new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. Health authorities said one case involves a person in their 40s from Fredericton who got sick while travelling in Ontario and is now recovering there. The second case involves a person in their 60s from the Moncton area who had travelled outside the Atlantic region and is now in isolation in New Brunswick. As well, the province reported that a resident of Quebec who works in the Campbellton region has tested positive and is in isolation in Quebec. Contact tracing has begun to identify those in New Brunswick who may have come into contact with the Quebec resident. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick stands at 199, which includes 191 people who have recovered, two who died from the virus and six active cases. 3:50 p.m.: Yukons government has extended its COVID-19 relief program for businesses through to March. Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai says the program has also been updated to expand eligibility and help businesses with a broader list of fixed costs. The government says in a statement territorial businesses that experience a deficit between Aug. 1 and March 31 are eligible to apply, including home-based businesses. The statement says the pandemic created unprecedented challenges for Yukon businesses. Businesses that apply for help have to indicate they are operating at a deficit. Other Yukon programs to help with the downturn caused by the pandemic include a paid sick-leave rebate and the Yukon Essential Workers Income Support Program. 3:22 p.m.: Manitobas chief public health officer says half of people who have tested for COVID-19 in recent weeks had visited bars, pubs or restaurants. Dr. Brent Roussin warned that people need to take more precautions around how they are associating with others as case numbers continue to surge in Winnipeg. He says a significant proportion of those infected lately are younger people in their 20s. The province announced 37 new cases Thursday, 30 of which were in the capital city. There was also one more death, a woman in her 90s who was in a personal care home, bringing the total to 19. There have been 1,711 positive cases in Manitoba, 449 are currently active. Eleven people are hospitalized, six are in the intensive care unit. 3:10 p.m.: Offenders in Nunavut should not necessarily get shorter jail time because of the COVID-19 pandemic, says Nunavuts top judge. Chief Justice Neil Sharkey says while the pandemic should be taken into account when determining a fit sentence, it should not automatically reduce it. I am of the view an informed and sympathetic public does not support the blanket proposition that all jail sentences during the time of COVID-19 should be reduced because of restrictive prison conditions and/or the increased risk of infection of the offender, Sharkey wrote in a decision released last week. Nunavut has not had any of its own cases of COVID-19, although three have been brought in by mine workers from outside the territory. 3 p.m.: Quebecers are being urged to minimize in-person contact and Ontario is trying to clear its COVID-19 testing backlog as Canadas two most populous provinces report increases in new daily infections. Ontario reported 409 new infections today, up from 335 on Wednesday. Quebec had 582 new cases, up from 471 a day earlier. There has also been one new death in each province related to the novel coronavirus. Quebecs health minister warns that the province could hit a wall if efforts arent taken to reduce the rising infection numbers and is urging people to minimize non-essential gatherings in the coming weeks. Christian Dube says the contagion is being driven by community transmission at family gatherings, private parties, funerals and weddings. Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott says nearly two-thirds of new cases in her province are in people under 40. Ontario tweaked its approach to asymptomatic testing on Thursday as many centres in the province have struggled with long lineups. Back-to-school demand has contributed to a processing backlog of nearly 50,000 tests. 2:59 p.m.: Health Canada says it cant provide any information about the status of any of the rapid-testing devices for COVID-19 it is reviewing. Pressure is mounting on the federal government to approve tests that can provide faster results as hospitals and public health agencies across Canada struggle to keep up with the demand for COVID-19 testing. Deputy Conservative leader Candice Bergen says the government promised in March that getting rapid tests was a priority and yet half a year later, there are still none in use in Canada. At least 14 such devices are under review by Health Canada but the departments spokesman says he cannot comment on the status of the applications during the scientific assessment process. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says it would be wrong for politicians to put pressure on Health Canada to approve any of the devices. Several other countries have had some of the faster tests in use for months now, including Japan and the United States, but Health Minister Patty Hajdu said last week Canada is not yet convinced the technology is good enough. 1:50 p.m.: Yukons chief medical officer of health says the territory is considering a child-friendly, made-in-British Columbia test for COVID-19. The test does not involve a swab up the nose and instead allows kids to rinse with a small amount of saline solution and spit it into a vial. The saliva is then tested for the novel coronavirus, and Dr. Brendan Hanley says the results have been promising and B.C. is sharing the technology. With the possibility of more children being tested for COVID-19 this fall and winter, Hanley says the B.C. test is much less invasive and could alleviate parents concerns about having their youngsters undergo the swab test. 1:27 p.m. Quebecs health minister is urging people to minimize non-essential gatherings in the coming weeks in an attempt to put the brakes on the second wave of COVID-19 in the province. Christian Dube says the contagion is being driven by community transmission at events such as family gatherings, private parties, funerals and weddings. Hes asking all Quebecers regardless of the COVID-19 situation in their region to keep contacts to a minimum. Dube warns that Quebec could hit a wall if efforts arent taken to reduce the rising number of infections. 1:15 p.m. New Brunswick is reporting two new cases of COVID-19. Health authorities say one them is a person in their 40s from Fredericton who got sick while travelling in Ontario and is now recovering there. The second case involves a person in their 60s from the Moncton area who had travelled outside the Atlantic region and is now in isolation in New Brunswick. As well, the province reported that a resident of Quebec who works in the Campbellton region has tested positive and is in isolation in Quebec. Contact tracing has begun to identify those in New Brunswick who may have come into contact with the Quebec resident. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick now stands at 199, which includes 191 people who have recovered, two who died from the virus and six active cases. (Updated) 1 p.m. Ontario is trying to limit who can get COVID-19 tests with infections continuing to rise at an alarming rate, long lines at 150 assessment centres and longer waits for lab results making it harder to control the pandemic. The new priority is on people with symptoms, anyone whos had close contact with a confirmed cases, those reached by their local public health department as part of an outbreak investigation or notified by their COVID Alert smartphone app, associate chief medical officer Dr. Barbara Yaffe said Thursday as the province reported 409 new infections. Your average person out there who is not exposed to a case, is not part of an outbreak, has no symptoms, should not be going for tests. Theres no value, Yaffe said of the change, which does not apply to residents and staff in long-term-care homes and other congregate living settings. Read more from the Stars Robert Benzie: Stay away from COVID-19 assessment centres, Ontario tells people without symptoms 12:45 New Brunswick is reporting two new cases of COVID-19. Health authorities say one of them is a person in their 40s from Fredericton who got infected while travelling in Ontario and is now recovering there. The second case involves a person in their 60s from the Moncton area who had travelled outside the Atlantic region and is now in isolation in New Brunswick. Also, the province reports that a resident of Quebec who works in the Campbellton, N.B., region has tested positive and is in isolation in Quebec. 12:30 Quebecs ombudswoman says nothing was done to resolve well-known problems in the long-term care network before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Marie Rinfrets annual report released today notes that while responding perfectly to an unprecedented event such as COVID-19 wouldve been impossible, the Health Department had been forewarned about the major problems. She says understaffing, employee burnout, lack of qualified workers and dilapidated premises were all known to successive provincial governments. Rinfret notes the situation faced in elder-care homes was repeatedly condemned in previous years, but says solutions that could have improved conditions in those facilities were often postponed. 12 p.m.: Premier Doug Ford has anounced the Ontario government is spending more than $1 billion on expanding COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. No one who needs a test will be turned away, Ford said at a news conference Thursday. The government nhas released updated testing guidelines. Ontarians should only seek testing if they are : - Showing COVID-19 symptoms; - Have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus, as informed by your public health unit or exposure notification through the COVID Alert app; - A resident or work in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak, as identified and informed by your local public health unit; and - Eligible for testing as part of a targeted testing initiative directed by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Long-Term Care. 11:51 p.m. The value of weekly benefits for unemployed workers would rise to $500 a week under legislation the Liberals introduced today. The proposal still needs parliamentary approval, but would bring the value of payments to the same level as under the soon-to-disappear Canada Emergency Response Benefit. The same floor will be placed on employment insurance benefits for those eligible for the program. A bill to create the new benefits regime was introduced in the House of Commons this morning, with only a few days before the first wave of recipients max out the CERB. The Liberals first unveiled the package of three benefits and an expanded employment insurance program in August, days after Parliament was prorogued. The $37-billion package includes a replacement to the CERB, as well as benefits for anyone who has to stay home because theyre ill or taking care of a child or family member due to pandemic-related reasons. 11:27 p.m . A Chinese pharmaceutical company said Thursday the coronavirus vaccine it is developing should be ready by early 2021 for distribution worldwide. Yin Weidong, the CEO of SinoVac, vowed to apply to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell CoronaVac in the United States if it passes its third and final round of testing in humans. Yin said he personally has been given the experimental vaccine. At the very beginning, our strategy was designed for China and for Wuhan. Soon after that in June and July we adjusted our strategy, that is to face the world, Yin said, referring to the Chinese city were the virus first emerged. Our goal is to provide the vaccine to the world including the U.S., EU and others, Yin said. Stringent regulations in the U.S., European Union, Japan and Australia have historically blocked the sale of Chinese vaccines. But Yin said that could change. SinoVac is developing one of Chinas top four vaccine candidates along with state-owned SinoPharm, which has two in development, and military-affiliated private firm CanSino. More than 24,000 people are currently participating in clinical trials of CoronaVac in Brazil, Turkey, and Indonesia, with additional trials scheduled for Bangladesh and possibly Chile, Yin said. SinoVac chose those countries because they all had serious outbreaks, large populations and limited research and development capacity, he said. 11:15 a.m. Quebec is reporting 582 new cases of COVID-19 and one additional death linked to the virus today. The provinces Health Department says no deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, but one death from last week has been added to the provincial total. Quebec has been the province hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 69,670 cases and 5,810 deaths. The number of people hospitalized with the virus increased by six to 184, of whom 31 are in intensive care. 11:10 a.m. Ontario health officials say low-risk individuals who are asymptomatic should not be going to assessment centres for a COVID-19 test. Associate chief medical officer of health Dr. Barbara Yaffe says that testing needs to be reserved for people with symptoms, or those who have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19. Testing will also be available to people involved in outbreak investigations conducted by public health. Previously, the province had encouraged anyone who wanted to get a COVID-19 test to seek one at an assessment centre. The change today comes as assessment centres across the province have been struggling with long-line ups. The government announced yesterday that asymptomatic individuals can make an appointment to get a COVID-19 test at up to 60 pharmacies across the province starting Friday. The province saw a processing backlog of nearly 50,000 tests on Wednesday as demand for the assessments surged because of the return to school. 11:04 a.m. The number of new active COVID-19 cases in publicly funded schools across Ontario has jumped by another 17.2 per cent from the previous day for a total of 210. In the latest data released Thursday morning, the province updated the totals of school-related cases with 24 more students infected for a total of 101, three more staff members for a total of 40, and four more individuals who werent identified for a total of 69. In total, there are 178 schools with an active case, which the province notes is 3.69 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. Read the full story by the Stars Irelyne Lavery 10:57 a.m. The Trudeau governments plan to shepherd the economy safely past the COVID crisis includes its long-standing promise to make sure all parts of Canada have access to high-speed internet. The throne speech read Wednesday by Gov. Gen Julie Payette to mark the reopening of Canadas Parliament said the Liberal government will accelerate efforts to ensure Canadians in rural areas have better access to the vital communications lifeline. Payette said that more people have worked, studied, shopped and accessed government services remotely in the past six months, making internet connectivity more important than ever. The government will accelerate the connectivity timelines and ambitions of the Universal Broadband Fund to ensure that all Canadians, no matter where they live, have access to high-speed internet, she said. 10:43 a.m. A Chinese pharmaceutical company said Thursday the coronavirus vaccine it is developing should be ready by early 2021 for distribution worldwide, including the United States. Yin Weidong, the CEO of SinoVac, vowed to apply to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell CoronaVac in the United States if it passes its third and final round of testing in humans. Yin said he personally has been given the experimental vaccine. At the very beginning, our strategy was designed for China and for Wuhan. Soon after that in June and July we adjusted our strategy, that is to face the world, Yin said, referring to the Chinese city were the virus first emerged. Our goal is to provide the vaccine to the world including the U.S., EU and others, Yin said. Stringent regulations in the U.S., European Union, Japan and Australia have historically blocked the sale of Chinese vaccines. But Yin said that could change. SinoVac is developing one of Chinas top four vaccine candidates along with state-owned SinoPharm, which has two in development, and military-affiliated private firm CanSino. 10:18 a.m. (will be updated) Ontario reporting 409 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday. Locally, there are 151 new cases in Toronto with 82 in Ottawa and 46 in Peel. Sixty-three per cent of Thursdays cases are in people under the age of 40. More than 30,600 tests were completed. 10:12 a.m. Doug Fords office says one of the premiers junior staff members has tested positive for COVID-19. It says the staffer is part of Fords tour team, which organizes his appearances while travelling. The premiers office says Ford did not have close contact or prolonged exposure to the staffer and will monitor for symptoms. Ford is still expected to participate in an announcement Thursday on a new part of his fall pandemic preparedness plan. Health Minister Christine Elliotts office has confirmed the announcement will provide spending details related to testing and case and contact management. 9:27 a.m. Firkin on the Bay says a server has tested positive for COVID-19 at its 68 Marine Parade Drive location, in Etobicoke. The employee last worked on Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m, the restaurant said in a release on its website. The pub has temporarily closed, and Toronto Public Health has been contacted. All employees have self-isolated and will be tested before returning back to work. A deep clean of the restaurant is being completed and employees from other Firkin on the Bay locations will be filling in until the pub is certain staff can work safely. 9:20 a.m. After days of being pilloried for lacking a detailed plan to tackle a second wave of COVID-19, Premier Doug Fords government is set to unveil a 21-page blueprint to gird for another onslaught of the virus, including measures aimed at trouble spots to avoid another lockdown. The targeted approach to closures and restrictions is in a draft document leaked to CBC News outlining $2.2 billion in spending and follows remarks from Health Minister Christine Elliott that the province is considering additional measures, which both she and Ford have repeatedly refused to detail as testing lines have grown longer. The new tack differs from the regional strategy in the spring and summer that was based on recommendations from the 34 local public heath units and affected entire regions, such as Toronto and Peel, which have been COVID-19 hot spots. The draft obtained by the CBC, which senior government officials confirmed to the Star on Wednesday is an early version of the plan that is not complete discusses a more nimble approach than the one-size-fits-all way of dealing with the virus. Read the full story from the Stars Robert Benzie and Rob Ferguson 9:19 a.m. Austrias ski resorts will open up again this winter, though tourists will have to do without the usual off-piste partying. In an effort to prevent the spate of coronavirus outbreaks that marred the last winter season, restaurants and bars will only be allowed to serve seated customers, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Thursday in Vienna. He also called on Austrians to help bring down the number of infections, which have led to travel warnings from European neighbors in recent days. Hundreds of thousands of jobs directly or indirectly depend on tourism, Kurz said, speaking alongside the governor of the Tyrol province. For all fans of winter sport, one thing is clear: there will be fun on the slopes, but without apres ski. By announcing the move personally, Kurz underscored the importance of tourism, which accounts for about 15 per cent of the Austrian economy. Its also an effort at damage control. 8:35 a.m. A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the median age of people with COVID-19 in the U.S. has declined over the spring and summer, with Americans in their 20s now accounting for more cases than people in any other age group. The findings suggest that if the U.S. wants to get its coronavirus outbreak under control, it will need more cooperation from young adults. In May, the median age of U.S. residents with COVID-19 was 46. By July, it had dropped to 37, then rose slightly to 38 in August. Likewise, in May, people in their 20s made up 15.5 per cent of confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide. At the time, they trailed people in their 30s (who accounted for 16.9 per cent of total cases) as well as people in their 40s and 50s (both of those age groups accounted for another 16.4 per cent of cases). But by June, 20-somethings had taken over the top spot, making up 20.2 per cent of all cases. That figure rose to 23.2 per cent in July, then dropped back to 21 per cent in August. The proportion of cases among Americans in their 30s also increased in June and July. But by August, it had fallen slightly below the level seen in May. Meanwhile, the share of cases among adults 40 and older decreased steadily through the end of July, according to the study. 7:35 a.m. Britains treasury chief on Thursday announced a new income support program to help workers hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, responding to pressure from businesses and labour unions to step in with more direct support for people in precarious work situations. Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a package of economic measures, including a program that subsidizes the wages of workers whose hours are cut due to the pandemic, during a speech to lawmakers. The new economic plan would replace a furloughed worker program which is due to expire next month. Under that program, the government pays 80 per cent of the wages of workers who are placed on leave. The primary goal of our economic policy remains unchanged to support peoples jobs but the way we achieve that must evolve, he said The program comes as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the U.K., blunting the countrys economic recovery from a nationwide lockdown imposed in March. To underscore that the plan has wide support, Sunak appeared outside his office holding a copy of the plan flanked by representatives of the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress. 6:27 a.m. A person who used York Region Transit routes in Richmond Hill and Vaughan Sept. 15 has tested positive for COVID-19, York Region Public Health reports. Public health stated it was first notified of the confirmed case Sept. 21. The individual was wearing a mask while travelling on the YRT, in compliance with YRTs mandatory face mask or covering bylaw, reducing the risk of transmission of the virus to others, York Region Public Health reports. A public notice has been issued by York Region to assist with contact tracing, for individuals who rode on YRT route 90, travelling north along Leslie Street, from Don Mills to 16th Avenue, and YRT route 16, travelling west along 16th Avenue, between around 3:30 and 4 p.m. Sept. 15. 6:11 a.m. A widely watched indicator of German business confidence has risen for a fifth month in a row as Europes largest economy rebounds from the coronavirus shutdowns but the index remains below its long term average and uncertainty is high with virus cases rising. The Ifo institutes index released Thursday rose to 93.4 points in September from 92.5 points in August. The index is based on a survey of thousands of businesses about their view of current conditions and expectations for the future. In this case the current assessment rose while the expectations part levelled off. After shrinking 9.7 per cent in the second quarter, the worst quarterly figure on record, the economy is rebounding from the severe shutdowns and restrictions on activity and movement of March, April and May. Carsten Brzeski, chief eurozone economist at ING bank, said growth could rebound sharply with growth between 5 per cent and 10 per cent in the third quarter. But the recovery still faces hurdles and has a long way to go to regain its pre-pandemic footing. Thursday 4:44 a.m. Swiss health authorities have ordered a quarantine for 2,500 students at a prestigious hospitality management school in the city of Lausanne after significant outbreaks of COVID-19 that are a suspected byproduct of off-campus partying. Authorities in Switzerlands Vaud canton, or region, said all undergraduates at the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, known as the Lausanne Hospitality Management University in English, have been ordered to quarantine both on- and off-campus because the number of outbreaks made a more targeted closure impossible. The World Health Organization, national health authorities and others have cautioned that young people, who tend to have milder COVID-19 symptoms than older demographic groups, have been a key driver for the continued spread of the coronavirus in recent weeks, particularly in Europe. The earliest elements of an investigation indicate that the organization of one or more parties was at the origin of these many outbreaks of infection, the Vaud regional office said in a statement, adding that the parties seemed to take place before new containment measures in the region were announced on Sept. 15. School administrators were taking all necessary measures to ensure that classes were continuing online, the statement said. Thursday 4:08 a.m. Israel on Thursday moved to further tighten its second countrywide lockdown as coronavirus cases continued to soar. The Cabinet voted to close all nonessential businesses, including open-air markets. Prayers and political demonstrations would be limited to open spaces and no more than 20 people, and participants would not be able to travel more than a kilometre (0.6 miles) from home for either. The measures are set to go into force on Friday afternoon, as the country shuts down for the weekly Sabbath ahead of Yom Kippur on Sunday and Monday. Israel annually closes down for 24 hours in honour of the solemn holiday. The restrictions are to last for at least two weeks, but synagogues will be allowed to open under restrictive conditions for Yom Kippur prayers. The restrictions on demonstrations are subject to approval by the Knesset, Israels parliament, and the limits on both prayers and protests could spark a backlash. An anti-lockdown demonstration was planned for later in the day in front of the Knesset. Israels politically influential ultra-Orthodox community has objected to limits on public prayer during the ongoing Jewish High Holidays, and opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have accused the government of using the lockdown as a cover to end weekly demonstrations against his handling of the crisis. Israel is currently reporting nearly 7,000 new daily cases, making the outbreak in the country of 9 million people among the worst in the world on a per capita basis. Israel won praise this spring when it swiftly moved to seal its borders and shut down most businesses. By May, its daily rate of new cases had dropped into the double-digits. But then it reopened the economy too quickly, leading to a surge of new infections over the summer. Thursday 4 a.m. The fate of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus minority Liberal government hangs in the balance as Parliament resumes all normal operations Thursday for the first time in six months. Opposition parties will give their official responses to Wednesdays speech from the throne but theyve already signalled that Trudeau cant count on support from any of them to survive the eventual confidence vote and avoid plunging the country into an election in the midst of a second wave of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. The Conservatives were unequivocal: they will not support the throne speech. The Bloc Quebecois was almost as categorical: Bloc MPs will not consider supporting the throne speech unless Trudeau agrees to fork over at least $28 billion more each year in unconditional transfer payments to provinces for health care, as demanded unanimously last week by premiers. Bloc Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet is giving the government just one week to accede to that demand, in the expectation that the confidence vote on the throne speech will take place next week. That leaves New Democrats as the Liberals most likely dance partner but NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has conditions of his own: legislation assuring that Canadians left jobless due to the pandemic wont have their emergency benefits cut and that Canadians who fall ill will get paid sick leave. The government could meet the NDPs conditions when it introduces promised legislation to transition jobless Canadians off the $500-per-week Canada Emergency Response Benefit and back onto a more flexible, generous employment insurance system. Thursday 4 a.m. Premier Doug Ford is expected to continue the roll out of his fall pandemic preparedness plan Thursday. Health Minister Christine Elliotts office has confirmed the announcement will provide spending details related to testing and case and contact management. The premier has already announced the province will launch a bolstered flu shot campaign in the coming weeks in a bid to keep hospital capacity down. On Wednesday, the government said that up to 60 pharmacies will begin offering COVID-19 tests to asymptomatic people starting Friday. Other yet-to-be announced elements of the provinces plan will focus on quick identification, management and prevention of COVID-19 outbreaks. The strategy will also address ways to reduce health service backlogs, prepare for case surges and recruit and train health-care workers. 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. 6:30 p.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says families wont likely be able to gather for Thanksgiving, but its 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 governments exposure-alert app and obey other public health instructions. Read more here: Wont be gathering for Thanksgiving: Trudeau says COVID-19 second wave underway 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. Read Wednesdays rolling file CARY, N.C. and BANGKOK, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --When the pandemic hit the world, it brought less COVID cases to the country but created a much bigger problem - HUNGER PANDEMIC. Thailand, known as a tourism hub which accounts to 15% of its GDP has no tourists since lockdown which led to severe job losses due to transmission control. This has affected the poor and middle-class households. Those living below 170 baht per day has significantly increased from 4.7million in Q1 to 9.7million in Q2. All of a sudden, people are more worried about food security than the deadly virus. Scholars of Sustenance (SOS), a food rescue foundation that optimize food supplies in Thailand has been rescuing food from 100+ partners from the hospitality and retail industry since 2016. This operation was a huge success in saving tons of edible food from ending up in landfills and reducing CO2 emission until COVID happened. It hit the hospitality industry, causing significant cut on our rescued food. An unfortunate timing when more people need food, we have less to give. With a difficult challenge comes a beautiful opportunity. The Retail Industry not only continued their support but increased their operation with us. Big supermarket brands such as Tesco Lotus, Central Retail, Tops Supermarket and Big C added more stores in our daily operations, with CP Fresh Mart and Family Mart joined recently. We launched our Food Repurposing Program that repurpose rescued ingredients weekly to a fresh meal served to communities in need as our immediate response to COVID last April. Now, this program evolved to what we call "Rescue Kitchen Program" launched last July that serves "nutritious" meals to low-income communities in Bangkok and in Phuket 3-4 times a week. We already served 110,000 meals in a span of 60 days with volunteers from different communities. We have reached the poorest and most ignored by the government and provided food on their table. Soon, we'll expand our operation in Hua Hin as hunger is significantly increasing to many communities and been reaching out for months now. We need to respond soon. Our operational limitation should not be a reason not to extend help to other places in need. Help us by donating towards our logistic expenses so we can bring food to many communities. Please donate to SOS Thailand! FEEDING2020: Please donate https://www.scholarsofsustenance.org/support-sos Contact: Turid Kaehny, [email protected] www.scholarsofsustenance.org www.facebook.com/scholarsofsustenancefoundation/ SOURCE Scholars of Sustenance Related Links https://www.scholarsofsustenance.org Thailand's king and queen have attended celebrations at a hospital as crop-top-wearing protesters mocked his clothing and called for his power to be reduced. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida were at the Siriraj hospital in Bangkok for Prince Mahidol Day - to commemorate his contribution to medical education. The monarch, who has spent the pandemic in Germany with an army of 'sex soldiers', laid a wreath at the foot of his grandfather's statue, local media said. It is not clear if his mistress Sineenatra Wongvajirabhakdi, who was reinstated as his royal consort after being released from jail earlier this month, was at the event. She has been given back her royal and military titles after she was previously accused of seeking to undermine the monarch's official wife, the queen. It comes as a thousand demonstrators rallied at parliament as it debated amending the constitution, one of the demands behind nearly two months daily protests. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida were at the Siriraj hospital in Bangkok for Prince Mahidol Day - to commemorate his contribution to medical education The monarch, who spends much of his time in Europe, laid a wreath at the foot of his grandfather's statue, local media said King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida are pictured at the wreath laying ceremony today King Maha Vachiralongkorn presides over the wreath laying ceremony on Mahidol day in memory of his grandfather who was considered the founding father of Thailand's modern medicine, at the Siriraj hospital in Bangkok It is not clear if mistress Sineenatra Wongvajirabhakdi (pictured with the king last year), who was reinstated as royal consort after being let out of jail earlier this month, was at the event Protesters wore crop tops and sprayed a democracy plaque outside the building as they mocked the king for his clothing. The two-day session of parliament was convened on Wednesday and was expected to vote late tonight on whether to accept a motion for constitutional changes. But a lawmaker aligned with the government proposed the vote be postponed to November and a new committee be set up to study details around the process first. The proposal was met with resistance from opposition parties and also angered the protesters. Anon Nampa, one of the protest leaders, said: 'Do you hear the people? Or is the building so thick?' The protesters want to change a constitution they say was engineered to ensure ex-junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha stayed on as prime minister after last year's election. A thousand demonstrators rallied at parliament as it debated amending the constitution, one of the demands behind nearly two months daily protests Protesters wore crop tops (bottom right) and sprayed a democracy plaque outside the building as they mocked the king for his clothing The two-day session of parliament was convened on Wednesday and was expected to vote late tonight on whether to accept a motion for constitutional changes Thai police attend to an injured anti-government protester inside the parliament compound after scaling the fence of parliament in Bangkok They want his departure and some protesters also say the constitution gives too much power to King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The biggest demonstration so far drew tens of thousands of people over the weekend. 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. On Wednesday, hundreds of royalist from the Thai Pakdee group marched to the parliament to submit a petition opposing constitutional change. The assembly combines an elected lower House of Representatives and a military-appointed Senate. The protesters want to change a constitution they say was engineered to ensure ex-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 biggest demonstration so far drew tens of thousands of people over the weekend. Pictured: Today's rally A Thai protester ties white ribbons on the door of the Thai Parliament as thousands rallied at the gates Last July, Vajiralongkorn gave Sineenatra the royal consort title of chao khun phra sineenatra bilasakalayani, reviving an old palace tradition of taking a junior wife that had not been practiced for almost a century. It came after he Vajiralongkorn named Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya his queen in May 2019 when they were married a few days before his formal coronation. Vajiralongkorn assumed the throne after the 2016 death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who reigned for 70 years. Then last October, less than three months after making Sineenatra his royal consort, the king issued a command rescinding the appointment. In a statement, he accused her of misbehaving by actively seeking to block Suthida's appointment as queen in order to take the position herself. He said when she failed to block Suthida, her 'ambitions and aspirations' led her to continue to seek ways to promote herself. That statement said the king tried to alleviate the problem by appointing Sineenatra his official royal consort but she remained unsatisfied and continued to compete. Both Queen Suthida and Sineenatra have served as senior officers in palace security units. Sineenat had trained as a pilot in Thailand and abroad, served in the King's royal bodyguard unit, and in 2019 was awarded the rank of a major-general Suthida was previously a flight attendant with Thai Airways, while Sineenatra was an army nurse. The king has seven children by three previous marriages, all of which ended in divorce. It emerged earlier this month the king, who has spent much of the pandemic in Germany with a reputed entourage of 'sex soldiers' assembled as a military unit at a four-star hotel, had pardoned Sineenat and went to Munich Airport himself to pick her up. The consort, also known as Koi Wongvajirapakdi, was gifted the title of royal consort to mark the king's 67th birthday last July. It was the first time in nearly a century that a Thai monarch had taken a consort, after the king married his fourth wife Queen Suthida earlier in 2019. Sineenat had trained as a pilot in Thailand and abroad, served in the king's royal bodyguard unit, and in 2019 was awarded the rank of a major-general. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida during their wedding ceremony in Bangkok in May last year. According to tradition, the King has a semi-divine status and must be seated higher than those around him During the king's elaborate three-day coronation ceremony, Sineenat was seen marching in full military uniform in a procession that travelled from the palace to several Buddhist temples. However, Sineenat was out within three months and stripped of all her titles for 'disloyalty' and alleged 'ambition' to match the Queen's position. Her actions showed 'she does not give any honour to the king and does not understand royal tradition... her actions are to benefit herself', a statement claimed. Koi has apparently been in prison since then, although her exact whereabouts were unclear. According to Bild, she was in the Bang Kwang maximum-security prison where inmates including drug dealers are constantly monitored with webcams. The prison is said to include around 1,000 people on death row, and was the venue where Thailand carried out its first execution for nearly a decade in 2018. Thailand expert Andrew MacGregor Marshall said she had been in a women's prison at a different compound in Bangkok. However, he cited palace sources saying Sineenat had been released and was due to fly to Germany imminently. The report by Bild said she was taken straight to the airport and flown to Munich on a private plane, with a refuelling stop in Dubai. The king himself is said to have picked her up wearing his customary tank top at Munich Airport. The king and his entourage then drove straight to the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl in the German resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, it is claimed. Reports earlier this year said the king had booked out the whole fourth floor which includes a 'pleasure room' and is decked out with 'treasures and antiques' from Thailand. His 'sex soldiers' are said to be assembled as a military unit called the SAS like Britain's special forces - with the same motto, 'who dares wins'. One hotel worker said staff are forbidden from the fourth floor where the king and his entourage have set up camp. However, the king's diplomatic immunity means that there is little German authorities can do about it. Queen Suthida reportedly spends most of her time at Hotel Waldegg in Engelberg, Switzerland, without her husband. The king is protected from criticism in Thailand by one of the world's toughest defamation laws, with prison sentences up to 15 years. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Azerbaijan has ably steered the Non-Aligned Movement during these difficult times and provided leadership for developing countries who are increasingly beset by health, humanitarian and economic challenges arising from COVID-19 pandemic, Bilal Hayee, Ambassador-designate of Pakistan to Azerbaijan told Trend. Pakistan attaches great importance to brotherly relations with Azerbaijan. President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi led Pakistans delegation to the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held in October 2019. On the sidelines, President of Pakistan also met H.E. President of Azerbaijan. Pakistan congratulates the President of Azerbaijan on his timely initiative and successful convening of the Non-Aligned Movements Summit-level Contact Group meeting on 4 May 2020. President of Pakistan participated in the Online Summit meeting convened to discuss implications arising from COVID-19. We also greatly appreciate the proposal by the President of Azerbaijan to convene a Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on COVID-19 pandemic. We are pleased to note that Azerbaijan has been entrusted with co-chairing this important Special Session of the General Assembly. Pakistan continues to support this initiative and NAM Chair and would actively participate at the Special Session, he said. Hayee noted that Pakistan stands ready to contribute to NAM initiative of strengthening international response to COVID-19 pandemic. Both Azerbaijan and Pakistan believe in multilateralism and international cooperation. Bandung Principles are even more relevant today than ever, as multilateralism is the only way forward to meet todays global challenges. We are gratified to note that despite the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, Azerbaijan, as NAM Chair has made efforts to strengthen the work of NAM. Under the able stewardship of President of Azerbaijan, the Non-Aligned Movement has strengthened its work for the promotion of the interests of its Member States. This is manifested through Azerbaijans initiatives at the United Nations and the NAM. Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy commonality of views on range of issues. Both countries closely coordinate at the United Nations and other multilateral forums including NAM. Pakistan supported Azerbaijans proposal to convene a Special Session of the UN General Assembly devoted to discuss implications of COVID-19 especially on developing countries.Similarly, Azerbaijan supported Prime Minister Imran Khans appeal to the international community for a Global Initiative on Debt Relief. Pakistan also appreciates Azerbaijan for kind gesture of support to developing countries in fighting COVID-19 outbreak (Azerbaijan had also donated USD 1 million to Pakistan in May 2020), said the envoy. Hayee went on to add that as the largest grouping of countries at the international level (with 120 Member States), Non-Aligned Movement has great relevance and role to play in the international system especially at the United Nations. United in their common adherence to founding principles of NAM and its ethos, NAM Member States have a robust platform to offer their views on a range of issues from peace and security, human rights, sustainable development and climate change, he concluded. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. The Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ghana Education Service (GES), in collaboration with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, has begun phase three of the national disinfection exercise of senior high schools (SHSs) across the country. The seven-day exercise, which kick-started simultaneously on Wednesday September 23, 2020 with SHSs in four regions namely Greater Accra, Central, Eastern and Upper West was to pave way for the reopening of SHSs for Form Two students on October 5th, 2020. The exercise is part of the government's measures in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the schools disinfected on the first day in the Greater Accra Region were Accra Wesley Girls' High School, Ideal College, Sakama branch, St Mary's Senior High School, and Accra Academy Senior High School. Others were Achimota Senior High School, Osu Presbyterian Senior High School, St. Margaret Mary Senior High/Technical School and Wesley Grammar Senior High School. Facilities disinfected in the schools included dining halls, assembly halls, administration blocks, libraries, ICT blocks, dormitories, bungalows, classrooms among others. In addition to the Zoomlion disinfection crews, the company also used its atomisers to spray open spaces and surfaces of the schools. At the Accra Wesley Girls' SHS, the Assistant Headmistress (Administration), Mrs Gifty Korantemah, heaped praises on the MoE, GES and Zoomlion for the exercise. She said the national disinfection exercises has helped a great deal in containing the spread of the virus, particularly in the SHSs. From the Accra Wesley Girls' SHS, the team moved to the Ideal College branch at Sakama in the Ablekuma North Municipal which saw the school's facilities disinfected. Speaking to journalists on the side-lines of the exercise in Wesley Grammar SHS, the General Manager, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Accra Zone, Mr Ernest Morgan Acquah, revealed that the exercise will cover 109 SHSs and Special Schools in the Greater Accra Region. According to him, the third phase was strictly disinfection against the COVID-19 pandemic in the SHSs in the country. He explained that it was crucial that a third disinfection exercise was carried out in the SHSs and basic schools, especially when the schools received final year students to enable them write their exit examinations. So looking at the interval that they finish their exit exams and the fact that the schools will soon be receiving another batch of students, it was key that we disinfect their environment to protect the children from the coronavirus, he stressed. He indicated that the cooperation so far between the various heads and his company has, once again, been excellent, noting we have not faced any challenge since the beginning of the third phase of the disinfection exercise. While commending the government for its efforts in the fight against the virus, Mr Morgan Acquah urged parents to educate their children on the need to continuously observe the COVID-19 preventive protocols. In the Central Region, Zoomlion disinfected St Augustines College, Wesley Girls among others on the first day of the exercise. Aburi Girls SHS, Ghana Secondary School, Koforidua Secondary Technical Senior High School, New Juaben Secondary and others were some of the schools the benefited from the exercise. Meanwhile, regions including Northern, Savannah, Upper East, Volta Region, Western, Western North, Bono Region, Bono East and Ahafo will have their start tomorrow (Thursday, September 24, 2020). Source: Graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video MARIGOT:--- The President of the Collectivity of Saint-Martin, Daniel Gibbs, participated this Wednesday, September 23, 2020, in the cooperation meeting organized in the prefecture, in the presence of the deputy Prefet Sylvie Feucher, the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten Silveria Jacobs, the director from the Regional Health Agency of Guadeloupe and the Northern Islands, Valerie Denux and their respective teams. Competent in matters of public health, the State and Sint Maarten authorities discussed the establishment of joint health protocols for both parts of the island as part of the fight against the spread of Covid19. The creation of a common screening center and the application of similar health rules animated the discussions. President Daniel Gibbs is particularly satisfied with the holding of this meeting and the desire for health cooperation displayed by the health authorities of Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten. The president, who has been calling for this cross-border cooperation for several months, urged the health authorities to act quickly, by implementing this health cooperation protocol as soon as possible. Madam Denux has indicated that she will make a concrete proposal to the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten by the end of next week. Silveria Jacobs favored this method. Following the new restrictions announced by the Minister of Solidarity and Health, Olivier Veran, who placed Guadeloupe in the maximum alert zone and decided to close the bars and restaurants of the archipelago from Monday, September 28, President Gibbs recalled the socio-economic issues for Saint-Martin if such a measure were to be applied. For the President, as the positive cases have dropped significantly on both parts of the island, where restaurants on Sint Maarten are open, where protocols are already strict in establishments on both parts of the island and where a reflection is currently underway to harmonize the prevention protocols, it would be inappropriate to apply this restriction. For the President, as the positive cases have dropped significantly on both parts of the island, where restaurants on Sint Maarten are open, where protocols are already strict in establishments on both parts of the island and where a reflection is currently underway to harmonize the prevention protocols, it would be inappropriate to apply this restriction. The health authority has indicated that for the time being these new restrictions are applied only to Guadeloupe. The northern islands are therefore not concerned. The president also insisted on the need to strengthen preventive actions and health protocols in our territory, on the one hand, to contain the spread of the virus and confirm the declining statistics recorded in recent days, and on the other share allow socio-professionals to stay in business to save their business. "While we have been calling this cooperation since March, it is now urgent to fully enter into a phase of concrete health cooperation with Sint Maarten". President Gibbs expressly calls for the parallelism of forms and the harmonization of screening protocols, in particular on the mandatory test deadlines for entry into the territory (72 hours for European countries, 120 hours for Sint Maarten). It also asks that the health authorities meet as quickly as possible to determine the technical methods of applying the joint measures (operating method, location of the screening center, financing of operations, setting up of a rapid test at the two airports. , Princess Juliana and Grand Case L'Esperance Both President Gibbs and Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs recalled their joint priorities: protecting populations, reviving the economy without relaunching the epidemic! On this last point, everything will depend on the behavior of our fellow citizens. "If we want to prevent the new restrictions for bars and restaurants from being extended to Saint-Martin, we will have to act with full responsibility, be even more respectful of barrier gestures in public space and the family sphere, and thus prevent the epidemic from rising again, concluded the President of the Collectivite, who calls for everyone's vigilance in this tense health context. ROME - The powerful head of the Vatican's saint-making office, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, resigned suddenly Thursday from the post and renounced his rights as a cardinal amid a financial scandal that has reportedly implicated him indirectly. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (484 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2017 file photo, Mons. Giovanni Angelo Becciu presides over an eucharistic liturgy, at the St. John in Latheran Basilica, in Rome. The powerful head of the Vatican's saint-making office, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, has resigned from the post and renounced his rights as a cardinal amid a financial scandal that has reportedly implicated him indirectly. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File) ROME - The powerful head of the Vatican's saint-making office, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, resigned suddenly Thursday from the post and renounced his rights as a cardinal amid a financial scandal that has reportedly implicated him indirectly. The Vatican provided no details on why Pope Francis accepted Becciu's resignation in a statement late Thursday. In the one-sentence announcement, the Holy See said only that Francis had accepted Becciu's resignation as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and his rights connected to the cardinalate." Becciu, the former No. 2 in the Vatican's secretariat of state, has been reportedly implicated in a financial scandal involving the Vatican's investment in a London real estate deal that has lost the Holy See millions of euros in fees paid to middlemen. The Vatican prosecutor has placed several Vatican officials under investigation, as well as the middlemen, but not Becciu. Becciu has denied all wrongdoing and it's not clear whether the scandal, which has convulsed the Vatican for a year, is behind his resignation. But the late-breaking news of his resignation, the severity of his apparent sanction, the Vaticans tight-lipped release and the unexpected downfall of one of the most powerful Vatican officials all suggested a shocking new chapter in Francis already tumultuous seven-year pontificate. The last time a cardinals rights were removed was when American Theodore McCarrick renounced his rights and privileges as a cardinal in July 2018 amid a sexual abuse investigation. He was subsequently defrocked altogether by Francis last year for sexually abusing adults as well as minors. Before him, the late Scottish Cardinal Keith OBrien in 2015 relinquished the rights and privileges of being a cardinal after unidentified priests alleged sexual misconduct. OBrien was, however, allowed to retain the cardinals title and he died a member of the College of Cardinals, the elite group of churchmen whose main job is to elect a pope. In the Vatican statement, the Holy See identified Becciu as His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Becciu, making clear he remained a cardinal but without any rights. At 72, Becciu would have been able to participate in a possible future conclave to elect Francis successor. Cardinals over age 80 can't vote. But by renouncing his rights as a cardinal, Becciu has relinquished his rights to take part. Becciu was the substitute, or top deputy in the secretariat of state from 2011-2018, when Francis made him a cardinal and moved him into the Vaticans saint-making office. He straddled two pontificates, having been named by Pope Benedict XVI and entrusted with essentially running the Curia, or Vatican bureaucracy, a position that gave him enormous influence and power. The financial problems date from 2014, when the Vatican entered into a real estate venture by investing over $200 million in a fund run by an Italian businessman. The deal gave the Holy See 45% of the luxury building at 60 Sloane Ave. in Londons Chelsea neighbourhood. The money came from the secretariat of states asset portfolio, which is funded in large part by the Peters Pence donations of Catholics around the world for the pope to use for charity and Vatican expenses. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The Holy See decided in November 2018, after Becciu had left the secretariat of state, to exit the fund, end its relationship with the businessman and buy out the remainder of the building. It did so after Becciu's successor determined that the mortgage was too onerous and that the businessman was losing money for the Vatican in some of the funds other investments. The buyout deal, however, cost the Vatican tens of millions of euros more and sparked the Vatican investigation that has so far implicated a half-dozen Vatican employees. Becciu has insisted he wasnt in power during the 2018 buyout deal and always acted in the sole interests of the Holy See. In the Vatican prosecutor's initial warrant, Becciu is not named, and it remains unclear if his role in managing the secretariat of state's vast asset portfolio was connected with the resignation. Francis would meet regularly with Becciu in the Italian's role as prefect of the saint-making office, since every month or two he would present lists of candidates for possible beatification or canonization for Francis to approve. In addition, since the beginning of his pontificate, Francis had an annual luncheon date at Becciu's apartment along with 10 priests on the Thursday of Holy Week leading up to Easter. The Vatican always reported the get-togethers were a chance for the pope to chat informally with Becciu and priests of his diocese on the day the church celebrates the institution of the priesthood. The luncheon didn't happen this year amid the Vatican's coronavirus lockdown. Why was Bradley Edwards, the man who brutally murdered Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon, found innocent of the murder of Sarah Spiers? It's the question the entire state will be asking. How could Justice Stephen Hall convict a confessed rapist of two brutal murders, but not the third? And where does the family of Sarah Spiers, who have been waiting decades just to hear the words "not guilty", go now to find justice? The investigation into the death of Sarah Spiers is not over, despite Thursday's verdicts. When you boil down Justice Hall's reasoning in his 619-page legal judgment, the answer is in a 200-year-old legal principle. It says that where the evidence of a crime is circumstantial, an accused cannot be convicted if there is an inference that can be drawn from the evidence that is consistent with innocence. Edwards' defence lawyer Paul Yovich argued in his closing submissions during the trial that it was "perfectly plausible" a different offender was responsible for Ms Spiers' death. Samsung Electronics has signed up Verizon as its first customer in the United States for its 5G products to increase indoor coverage, weeks after winning a $6.64 billion order for telecom equipment from the mobile network operator. A small player until recently in the telecom equipment business, Samsung has gained ground in recent years and is challenging the dominance of Nokia and Ericsson in telecom gear. It has also benefited from China's Huawei getting barred from bidding for 5G contracts in the United States. Samsung's new 5G portfolio will help operators add coverage and ... Supermarket giant Woolworths has become Australia's first corporate retailer to have its emission reduction goals endorsed by an independent, UN-backed body amid rising pressure from investors for companies to take climate action seriously. The company has pledged to cut the emissions produced by its 3000-strong retail and warehouse network by 63 per cent by 2030, working from 2015 as a baseline. This target will affect scope one and two emissions, which relate to Woolworths' direct or indirect emissions. Woolworths' solar panels on a supermarket roof in Orange, NSW. A net-zero emissions target is also pinned for 2050. The company's 2030 targets have been ratified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTI), an independent global body formed by the United Nations, CDP, the World Resources Institute and the World Wild Life Fund for Nature (WWF). The SBTI assesses and approves companies' targets through a scientific lens and ensures they align with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting climate change to an increase of 1.5 degrees on 2015 levels. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 07:40:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- World leaders on Wednesday called for efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, a shared vision to end poverty, rescue the planet and build a peaceful world. "The effective implementation of the 17 SDGs remains critical to making the multilateral system relevant in addressing the global challenges we face," said Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, addressing the ongoing general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. He said close attention should be paid to the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals, "especially as we mark the beginning of the Decade of Action to deliver the goals and targets of Agenda 2030." The 17 SDGs were adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which set out a 15-year plan to achieve the goals. "The Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals are instruments that fuel the hope of billions of people around the world in achieving the long-awaited progress and well-being of all peoples," Mozambican President Filipe 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." The "future we want" lies in the actions of the present; the "United Nations we need" depends on the posture and responsible action, today and tomorrow, said Nyusi. He noted that "only with a collective approach and humanism, we will successfully implement the agenda of inclusiveness that we have chosen of 'leaving no one behind.'" "We all know that the majority of the UN's sustainability goals are unattainable in the absence of appropriate water policy," Hungarian President Janos Ader said, calling for the need to create conditions for sustainable water management and ensure safer food production. "Until we are able to transform our energy generation systems, the coal fuelled power plants will not only increase CO2 emissions, but will also consume water that would be enough to supply one billion people," Ader added. World leaders also called for enhanced efforts to mobilize financing, enhance national implementation and strengthen institutions to achieve the goals by the target date of 2030. "Talking about peace and security without talking about development is, simply and plainly, wasting time," said Dominican President Luis Abinader. Noting that achieving the SDGs requires an "accelerated implementation" with the purposeful commitment of the developed countries, Abinader pledged that "the Dominican Republic will spare no effort with the 2030 Agenda." The general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday. This year's general debate in its new format attracts more heads of state and government to attend virtually. According to the provisional list of speakers provided by the United Nations, some 170 heads of state and government are going to make pre-recorded statements. Last year, 82 heads of state and 43 heads of government spoke from the dark green marble podium. Enditem Jesus Christ Statue in Texas Cathedral Destroyed, Suspect Arrested A 90-year-old Jesus Christ statue in St. Patrick Cathedrals in El Paso was destroyed during vandalism in a Texas church, said officials. Isaiah Cantrell, 30, of El Paso, was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and possession of marijuana, as reported by the El Paso Times. Cantrell allegedly told police that he destroyed the statue because the statue should be a darker skin color, he said, KVIA reported. The rector of St. Patrick, the Rev. Trini Fuentes, said in a statement that I am in shock and we at the cathedral are heartbroken over such an unexpected situation. This statue is one of my favorite representations of Jesushis arms open wide in welcome, his heart aflame with love for us. I would often take inspiration from this image as I prepared for Mass, Bishop Mark J. Seitz said in a statement. As sad as I am to see a statue attacked and destroyed, I am grateful that it was not a living person, the bishop added. But a statue, particularly this statue, concretizes and connects us to persons and ideals that are not visible to our eyes. They reveal to us realities that are close to us, but unseen. Cantrell was charged with two counts of theft after an investigation found he was responsible for the theft of a Trump campaign sign and a Thin Blue Line flag at a residence in El Paso, according to KTSM. Magistrate Penny Hamilton said Cantrell has a lengthy arrest history and declined to lower his bond from $20,000, KVIA reported. In the midst of riots and unrest triggered by George Floyds death over the summer, a number of churches have been vandalized. In mid-July, a statue of Jesus Christ was found toppled and beheaded in Miami. They had some powerful hands to remove it. Seeing what is happening in our country, I presume so, but we dont have 100 percent assurance, Rev. Edivaldo da Silva told Florida news station WSVN at the time. This crime reflects the increasing attacks on the Catholic church across the country, the archdiocese said in a statement, referring to a series of arson attempts on churches. Over the summer, similar acts of vandalism have included the toppling of the statue of Rev. Junipero Serra, the priest who founded the California mission system. In another incident, a man attempted to set a Florida church on fire after crashing into it in July. Meanwhile, a statue of the Virgin Mary was desecrated in Tennessee in July. NORTH READING, Massachusetts, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TraceLink Inc., the leading digital platform company for the life science supply chain, today announced it is successfully receiving verification requests from all three major wholesalers, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson, ahead of the upcoming November deadline for the Drug Security and Supply Chain Act (DSCSA) saleable returns verification requirement. "With only 65 days left until the November 27 deadline, the industry is moving rapidly towards enforcement of the saleable returns verification requirement. Many companies should be progressing well down their path towards compliance and meeting their wholesaler requirements," said Shabbir Dahod, president and CEO, TraceLink. "With over 200 customers using our saleable returns solution, TraceLink can help fast track companies to meet both compliance and wholesaler requirements, while ensuring that returned products can be placed safely back into the pharmaceutical supply chain, avoiding potential supply disruptions and stock-outs during a critical time for healthcare." TraceLink's saleable returns verification solution is currently used by 210 pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesale distributors and is the verification responder for nearly half of the estimated Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) flowing through the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain. Combined with its verification capability, TraceLink has launched its Master Data Sharing capability allowing pharmaceutical manufacturers to share their GTINs, product attributes and pack level master information to its supply chain partners. This information is required for wholesalers, pharmacies and health systems to receive and manage serialized product. For more information on TraceLink's saleable returns verification solution and meeting the DSCSA saleable returns verification requirement, please visit: https://www.tracelink.com/solutions/networked-health/saleable-returns-verification Follow TraceLink: LinkedIn Twitter Facebook YouTube About TraceLink TraceLink is the leading platform company for the life science supply chain, bringing hundreds of thousands of pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organizations closer to their patients on its digital supply network. In today's world of unpredictable supply chain disruptions, TraceLink solutions bring the precision, agility and visibility necessary for high performance digital supply chains to thrive in a constantly evolving environment, enabling companies to ensure every patient gets the medicines they need, when they need them, safely and securely. With headquarters in Massachusetts, TraceLink has six global offices through North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. For more information on TraceLink, visit www.tracelink.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1004729/TraceLink_Logo.jpg One of John Edwards' ten children has left a murder-suicide inquest in tears speaking of her lifetime of terror and how she wished she could have saved the siblings she never got to meet. Edwards shot dead his daughter Jennifer, 13, and son Jack, 15, in West Pennant Hills in Sydney's north-west on July 5, 2018. The 67-year-old killed himself at his rented home near Normanhurst on the night of the killings. Five months after the murders, the mother of the children, Olga, took her own life. Before her suicide, the heartbroken mother carried around the ashes of her slain children in two urns - one pink and another blue. The deaths have been the focus of an inquest in the NSW Coroners Court over the past three weeks, which has heard of the financial planner's shocking history of domestic violence. John Edwards shot dead his daughter Jennifer (left), 13, and son Jack (right), 15, in West Pennant Hills in Sydney's north-west on July 5, 2018. On Thursday, one of Edwards' children - who never met their slain half-siblings - told the court they understood the teenagers' struggles. 'They were other versions of us,' she said. 'They had lived with John.' The daughter also recounted the moment Olga asked her to hold the urns of her half-siblings. 'When I did I wept, not only for my siblings but as a mother, feeling Olga's immense grief in my hands,' she told the court. The courtroom was left in tears as the daughter spoke. 'Their mother loved them so much, just like our mothers. She was the last one. The one to bear it all. A lifetime of his anger pent up and unleashed,' she said. After Edwards' fatally shot Jack and Jennifer, their heartbroken mother Olga (pictured) carried around their ashes in two urns - one pink and another blue Four people linked by blood or marriage to Edwards appeared before the inquest on Thursday and spoke of the fear, control and abuse suffered over decades. 'He was not the good bloke who lived next door,' a former partner said. 'He was not - as he claimed - a victim of the Family Court system.' One of Edwards' children said she 'got to survive John but Jack and Jennifer did not'. She recalled the time Edwards ran a lit cigarette lighter along the lounge room coffee table as he yelled at her nursing mother. 'Should I set fire to the whole house? Is that what you want me to do?' she said he yelled. The daughter said she was forced to endure court-ordered visits after her mother left Edwards. She said the time spent alone with Edwards 'was not fun' and she feared he would kidnap her. The girl had an 'abduction plan' drilled into her in case Edwards ran off with her and her young brother. Edwards, 67, turned the gun on himself at a rented home near Normanhurst, northern Sydney (pictured) The daughter recalled one occasion where Edwards used his feet to kick her out of the car while dropping her off after a visit. He drove off with her brother still inside and police were called. The officers attended Edwards' home but returned without the boy, she said. 'He managed to say all the right things and convince them he had rightful custody,' the now-adult woman said. Another former partner saw parts of herself in Jack and Jennifer's mother Olga - who met Edwards online when she was just 18. 'I was a young, naive 17-year-old when I met John Edwards,' she said. 'The emotional, physical and monetary impact has been the same. The deaths have been the focus of an inquest in the NSW Coroners Court over the past three weeks, which has heard of Edwards' history of domestic violence 'He made our lives hell. You had to live it to really understand that someone could behave the way he did.' Like Olga, she tried to get away - escaping over a backyard fence with her children while Edwards was showering. Minutes earlier she had felt Edwards' wrath over an unironed shirt and had dodged a rolling pin thrown full pelt at her head. And just like Olga, she wasn't allowed to leave in peace - tracked down at a relative's home and dragged through the courts for 11 years. 'In the end, he won,' she said. 'He got to keep everything and got to see the kids. 'He was not going to be told by anyone what he could do and couldn't do.' Noting the cruel nature of Jack and Jennifer's deaths and her continuing post-traumatic stress disorder, the woman said Edwards' suicide had brought her some immediate relief. 'After 40 years of constant fear ... I drove off in my car and I didn't have to check in my rear-vision mirror to see if I was being followed,' she said. State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan is due to hand down her findings on December 18. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Iran on Thursday accused Saudi Arabia of distorting facts and shifting the blame for its own crimes, after the Saudi king slammed the Islamic republic in a UN address. King Salman alleged in a speech Wednesday to the UN General Assembly that Iran had targeted oil facilities in the Sunni-ruled kingdom last year. He also accused Iran of expansionist activities and terrorism. Irans foreign ministry hit back on Thursday. Saudi Arabia has for years tried to escape realities and not answer for its crimes by adopting a policy of projecting the blame and distorting the facts, spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement. Riyadh and Washington accuse Tehran of involvement in September 2019 attacks on Saudi oil facilities claimed by Yemens Iran-backed Huthi rebels. They also allege Tehran arms the Huthis for attacks on the kingdom. Iran denies the charges. The Islamic republic, for its part, accuses Saudi Arabia of committing war crimes in Yemen, where the kingdom leads a military coalition against the Shiite Huthi rebels. In the statement, Khatibzadeh called Riyadh the main financial and logistical supporter of terrorism in the region and the origin of takfiri terrorist thinking. Officials in Shiite Iran use the term takfiri to refer to Sunni jihadists. Continuous field and political defeats in Yemen have brought Saudi Arabia to delusion, Khatibzadeh said. The foreign ministry spokesman called the kingdom a wretched creature among Arab countries over its support for US pressure against Iran and attempts to expand ties with Irans arch enemy Israel. Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran following 2016 attacks by demonstrators on its missions in Iran after the kingdom executed revered Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Tensions escalated last year over a series of attacks on tankers in sensitive Gulf waters, which Washington blamed on Tehran. The United States has waged a campaign of maximum pressure against Iran since 2018, when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from a landmark nuclear agreement and reimposed punishing sanctions. By Ross Kerber BOSTON (Reuters) - Top accounting firms and the World Economic Forum were scheduled to release on Tuesday key metrics for companies to use when reporting on their environmental, social and governance impacts. Report sponsors said the effort aims to cut through a mishmash of existing standards on topics like carbon emissions and workforce diversity. "The goal here is to elevate from thousands of metrics a number of subjects that are a baseline," said Maha Eltobgy, head of investment for the World Economic Forum, known for the annual economic conference it sponsors in Davos, Switzerland. While companies have formal guidelines to follow for traditional financial reporting areas like revenue or cash flow, there is little formal agreement on how to measure the impact of so-called ESG issues. Meanwhile such topics have drawn new attention from financial companies looking to price in their impact on asset values. Efforts including the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board and the Global Reporting Initiative have offered various suggestions and pledged to work together. Eltobgy pointed to the example of climate change. Tuesday's report suggests companies disclose both how many metric tonnes of carbon dioxide they emit, and whether they have set targets on greenhouse gas emissions, drawing on separate recommendations from the different standard-setters. "The work was scanning all the standards and metrics out there and picking the ones that would be seen as most universal," she said. The new metrics were developed with input from Bank of America and accounting firms Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC. (Reporting by Ross Kerber in Boston; Editing by Matthew Lewis) Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA) Tien Giang - No households should be left without water and water storage measures are very much in need, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on September 23. He made the statement at a meeting with representatives of Mekong Delta localities in My Tho city of Tien Giang province, which sought ways to respond to risks from drought and saltwater intrusion during the 2020-2021 dry season. He suggested rescue measures not only for residents but also for animals, crops, and fruit trees. Apart from maintaining production in the new circumstances, it is also necessary to continue with the export of fruit and agro-forestry products such as rice and shrimp, which are major staples of the region, the PM said. Besides raising public awareness of drought and saltwater intrusion, he ordered that a close eye be kept on weather conditions and water resources, a shift in farming structure be made, and response plans devised. The PM assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to speed up the implementation of major irrigation and water supply projects and the Ministry of Health to guide the localities in monitoring water quality. Apart from drought and saltwater intrusion, attention should also be paid to flood prevention, he said, stressing that it is necessary to protect human life and property during flooding. In the long run, he suggested solutions regarding science-technology, digital applications, and new technologies in the fight, and reviews of water supply plans for the Mekong Delta, especially coastal localities and the Ca Mau peninsula, as well as agricultural production plans. While in Tien Giang, PM Phuc also made a field trip to farming models in Hiep Duc and Cai Lay communes. It has been reported that the Mekong Delta experienced record saline intrusion in the 2015-2016 and 2019-2020 dry seasons, seriously affecting local production and daily life. The region is forecast to see a high level of drought and saltwater intrusion in the upcoming 2020-2021 dry season, with about 5.3-6.1 percent of its total rice area and 14-23 percent of its fruit-growing area affected. Some 70,600 local households will also face water shortages. Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) Nigerian 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 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. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. With becoming the new normal amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have started complaining of neck pain and backache while working for long hours and are seeking help from physiotherapists. Health experts say this is due to improper sitting postures and people need to follow good ergonomics and working habits at home. Employees of several corporate firms and industrial bodies have been working from home for nearly six months now since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country. "Initially, system brought cheers among employees. But, due to long working hours and improper sitting postures, many have started complaining of neck pain, backache and other issues," Dr Apurv Shimpi, head of the community physiotherapy department in Pune's Sancheti Hospital told PTI. He said the National Institute of Personnel Management's (NIPM) Pune Chapter, a body of HR professionals here in Maharashtra, approached the hospital to conduct physiotherapy sessions for their associate members. "Over 700 people took part in the recent session where they were given tips on ergonomics," he said. "Our physiotherapists explained about the wrong postures and positions adopted by employees while working from home. We gave them tips like raising the height of laptop screen to eye-level, use of pillows, taking frequent breaks and doing exercises for relaxing the mind and eyes," he said. NIPM Pune Chapter's Chairman Dr (Capt) C M Chitale said many professionals have been complaining of spinal cord- related issues. "During the webinar, physiotherapists gave participants several ergonomic tips and explained the ideal work postures to avoid backache and other health-related issues," he said. Narendra Patil, HR head of Pune-based Kalyani Maxion Wheels Pvt Ltd, said though their firm is into manufacturing, several employees are currently working from home and have been complaining of backache and neck pain. "We asked our employees to take part in the physiotherapy session organised by NIPM and it turned out to be beneficial for them," he said. Anita Perla, senior manager (human resource) at KSH Distriparks here, said she attended a webinar on physiotherapy arranged by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture. "Working from home is very different from working in an office. Infrastructure in the office is set up to support working conditions, but its not possible in a work from home set up. Hence, such sessions are important," she said. Dr Sourabh Sane, a physiotherapist with city-based fitness startup HealYos, said they are teaching people how to set up a proper work station at home. "We guide them on what should be the ideal height of the laptop and their work screen. The table-chair arrangement should be such that the computer screen should be at the eye- level," he said. "Keeping a hard pillow on the chair for back support and simple stretching exercises also help people who have a sedentary working style for long hours," 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.) September 23, 2020 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a report on Oregons oversight of its coordinated care organizations (CCOs). The report reviewed four CCOs and found they met requirements related to time and distance standards, timely access to care, and assignment of primary care physicians. However, the report faulted the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for not holding the four CCOs better accountable to comply with requirements related to provider credentialing and grievances. The audit covers services delivered by Oregons Medicaid program for the years 2016-2017. "While flexibility that allows for innovation is part of how we approach running the Oregon Health Plan, clear contracts, reporting and enforcement also allow us to make sure members receive the care they deserve," said OHA director Patrick Allen. "It was our goal in CCO 2.0 to hold CCOs and the Oregon Health Authority more accountable for working together to deliver better results for OHP members and taxpayers. Were providing support to CCOs where needed and setting clearer expectations in our contracts. We expect Oregons CCOs will rise to meet these expectations." The report offered four main findings for OHA to act on: Provide additional guidance to CCOs on the processes for provider credentialing and for beneficiary grievances and appeals. Provide additional guidance to CCOs on monitoring subcontractors. Take actions to ensure that CCOs do not subcontract the adjudication of final appeals. Take actions to ensure that the data that CCOs submit on grievances and appeals in the grievance workbooks are accurate and complete. OHA agreed with the audits findings. The agency has made the following changes to program oversight and through its CCO 2.0 contracts that address the audits compliance concerns: Increased requirements for the development and monitoring of provider networks. Clarified that CCOs were fully responsible for oversight of behavioral health, dental, and transportation benefits. Required CCOs to report annually on subcontractor performance. Required CCOs to submit quarterly reports on grievances and appeals. Required CCOs to develop an annual health equity plan and provide language access and interpreter reporting. Improved and streamlined OHAs oversight of CCO performance. Increased enforcement and monitoring of CCO contracts, including issuing three notices of corrective action since 2019. OHAs full response to the audit findings can be found on the Health Systems Division website The report, "Oregons Oversight Did Not Ensure That Four Coordinated-Care Organizations Complied With Selected Medicaid Requirements Related to Access to Care and Quality of Care," can be found on the OIG website. # # # The Governments top legal adviser has faced calls to resign as she defended controversial Brexit legislation which enables the UK to break international law. Attorney General Suella Braverman told MPs it is entirely proper, entirely constitutional and lawful in domestic law to enact legislation that may operate in breach of international law or treaty obligations. She also insisted she is proud to support the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill and suggested those MPs who voted against it are unpatriotic. The Bill gives the Government the power to breach the Brexit divorce deal brokered with Brussels last year. Expand Close Attorney General Suella Braverman responds to questions in the Commons (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Attorney General Suella Braverman responds to questions in the Commons (PA) Ministers have argued such powers to override the Withdrawal Agreement are needed to protect the relationship between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Critics of the measures include Conservative former prime minister Theresa May, who warned the controversial powers are not necessary and will cause untold damage to the UK and threaten the future of the Union. Speaking in the Commons, Conservative former minister Sir Desmond Swayne asked: So it doesnt break any law, does it? Ms Braverman replied: Consideration of and voting for this Bill does not constitute a breach of the law. However, there are powers in the Bill which if and when exercised will operate to disapply treaty obligations at the international law level in particular, article 4 of the Withdrawal Agreement and articles 5 and 10 of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Parliamentary supremacy means it is entirely constitutional and proper for Parliament to enact legislation even if it breaches international treaty obligations. SNP attorney general spokesman Stuart McDonald accused Ms Braverman of putting her political loyalties, her Brexit fanaticism ahead of her loyalty to the rule of law, when it should be the other way round. Expand Close SNP MP Stuart McDonald (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp SNP MP Stuart McDonald (PA) Mr McDonald added: That is why she should resign. Doesnt this whole episode also illustrate why future attorney generals should be lawyers and not party politicians? Its all right for her to trash her own reputation but not the reputation of the office of Attorney General. Ms Braverman replied: Its entirely proper, its entirely constitutional and lawful in domestic law to enact legislation that may operate in breach of international law or treaty obligations. Its a pretty basic principle of law and if the honourable gentleman is having trouble understanding, Id be very happy to sit down and explain it to him. For Labour, shadow solicitor general Ellie Reeves earlier highlighted criticism from former prime ministers, including Mrs May. Ms Reeves asked: Are they all wrong? Ms Braverman replied: The question of whether in law the Government can act in this way is very simply answered yes it can. The question of whether it should is one for political debate, not legal argument. (Ms Reeves) may not like that answer but it is one founded on a robust legal footing. Expand Close Shadow Solicitor General Ellie Reeves (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Shadow Solicitor General Ellie Reeves (PA) Ms Reeves countered: As a barrister she knows full well the role of the Government law officers, they must uphold the rule of law without fear or favour. And as her own political hero Margaret Thatcher once said: In order to be considered a truly free country, we must have an abiding respect for the rule of law. But theres a universal view among those who look to the Attorney General to defend the rule of law that she has betrayed them. So could she tell the House what she has done to defend the rule of law in the face of the Governments breach? Ms Braverman said she would take a less emotional approach, adding: Im extremely proud to be supporting this Bill. It protects our country and safeguards the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. (Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer) called for patriotism this week, but their opposition to this Bill is anything but patriotic. How she can call herself an MP who sits in the United Kingdom Parliament and at the same time vote against a Bill that defends the unity of our country, maintains peace in Northern Ireland and enables the United Kingdom, our country, her country to thrive is not only illogical but does a grave disservice to the nations interests. MANILA For 20 years, amid military coups, typhoons and terrorist attacks, Rollie Magalonas clients have streamed into his barbershop in Metro Manila for more than just a cut and a shave. Through it all, rich and poor alike have crammed into the shop in the Philippine capitals Mandaluyong district and lingered longer than necessary to discuss the days news and trade the latest political gossip. But the pandemic has changed all that. The shop these days is nearly empty. The din of chatter has been silenced, and the few people who nervously trickle in are in no mood for small talk. RTHK: Vatican announces shock resignation of top cardinal One of the most influential Vatican cardinals, Angelo Becciu from Italy, resigned his position unexpectedly on Thursday, the Holy See announced without explanation. "The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the office of Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and from the rights connected to the Cardinalate, presented by His Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu," a one-line statement late on Thursday said. After a career as a Vatican emissary, Becciu has worked for the last six years as the Substitute for General Affairs, a role akin to chief of staff which means he sees Pope Francis daily and is one of his most trusted aides. The 72-year-old was named as a cardinal in summer 2018 and has also had responsibility for the department that oversees beatifications and sainthoods. His surprise resignation could be a sanction. He has been linked in the past to an investigation underway within the Vatican over the last year into a property development in the exclusive Chelsea area of London which was paid for with offshore funds and companies. The process to invest in the scheme to build luxury apartments began in 2014 when Becciu was in the Vatican secretariat, the central bureaucracy of the Holy See. The Vatican's police force raided the offices of the secretariat last year to seize financial documents and computers, while five members of staff were suspended. Becciu defended the purchase at the beginning of the year during an interview. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-09-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. With every step forward it seems we have to take at least two steps back when it comes to living with Covid. We spent the last couple of months pretending things were returning to normal as we smiled politely behind our masks while sidestepping fellow customers in our local supermarket. And it was great to go to the pub for a few drinks and a meal with family and friends you hadn't seen for months. If you're living in Dublin, most of that has been taken away from you and, judging by the escalation of restrictions in other European countries, the rest of the country is probably not far behind the capital. One aspect of modern life that has been almost entirely stripped away from the vast majority of us is air travel. Thousands of Irish holidaymakers have been forced to abandon trips abroad due to the pandemic. But our Cabinet ministers have been getting away - for business reasons, of course. However, their trips across the continent are not without their own pitfalls. Three weeks out from the Budget and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is holed up in his Dublin home. Almost two weeks ago, he returned home from a Eurogroup meeting in Berlin. It was his first meeting as president of the Eurogroup, so you can't really blame him for wanting to make the trip. But a week after he returned from the trip, on September 18, he learned his French counterpart, Bruno Le Maire, tested positive for the virus. The French finance minister didn't display symptoms, but a routine test showed he was positive. So now Donohoe is house-bound. Simon Coveney is also restricting his movements after he returned from EU business in Brussels - which is not on Ireland's Green List. This is in line with the current travel rules. Leo Varadkar is also restricting his movements after he was informed a close contact tested positive, but it is understood this is not related to his recent trip to Berlin. Rather it involves someone he works with in Dublin, which shows the dangers of the virus lurk both here and abroad. The restrictions and isolating that comes with international travel may ease when the Government signs up to the EU Commission's 'traffic light' system. But then again that is very much dependent on the virus. For now, ministers and the public alike will have to factor quarantining into their travel and accept they roll the dice on contracting the virus or not when they travel abroad. Ministers will argue international travel is essential to their job and they need to be at the table when big decisions are being made. Some will also insist it is just as risky going to your local supermarket. The model constructed by Jinying Zhang and Melvin Cross decomposes the impact of fossil fuel prices on employment to several economic factors. Credit: Dalhousie University A recent study published in Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy reveals new findings on the impact of fossil fuel prices on employment. Researchers Jinying Zhang and Melvin Cross partnered to construct a model to measure how a rise in fossil fuel prices could have an impact on jobs in within carbon industries. The two met at the Shandong University of Finance and Economics (SDUFE) in Shandong Province, China through the joint program led by Dalhousie University. Their shared interest in environmental issues led them to develop an economic model, when they were granted a research fund in 2016 from Dalhousie and SDUFE to support their research. Melvin Cross is a retired associate professor of Economics in the Faculty of Science, where he taught courses in Environmental Economics from 1986-2015. Dr. Cross was teaching at Shandong University through the Dal and SDUFE Joint Program in 2014 when he met fellow researcher Jinying Zhang. Jinying Zhang is an associate professor at SDUFE. When Zhang visited Dalhousie University in 2018, she brought with her an outline of what would become the research article that was published this April. "Our paper has two contributions to existing research," Dr. Zhang explains. "We provide an economic model for examining how carbon policies that increase the price of fossil fuel affect employment in an industry. We also provide an empirical analysis of the employment effect of carbon policies in China's thermal power industry." Reducing carbon emissions We can expect to see a rise in the relative price of fossil fuels in the coming yearspartly due to the introduction of carbon policies, regulations or carbon taxes. These policies are essential tocollective efforts to reduce our global carbon emissions. The study, titled "Carbon Policies, Fossil Fuel Price, and the Impact on Employment" breaks down how this process will look as it applies to jobs within an industry that uses carbon-based fuels. "It might seem intuitively obvious that an increase in the price of carbon-based fuel will reduce the number of people employed in an industry that uses carbon-based fuel," says Dr. Cross "However, this is not a foregone conclusion. When the economic model was used to guide analysis of data from China's thermal power industry, there was a small, but statistically significant, increase in the number of people employed in the industry. The data did not show a reduction in employment in China's thermal power industry." While the finding was somewhat unanticipated, the small but discernible increase in jobs could occur as a result of industries employing workers to discover ways of using substitute fuels and of getting coal from less damaging sources, as well as economizing on the use of coal to generate electricity. "We used econometric methods to test conclusions derived from the model by using data from China's thermal power industry. The empirical analysis validates the insights derived from the theoretical model," says Dr. Zhang. A cleaner future Drs. Cross and Zhang hope that their analysis will act as another valuable tool to inform countries who are enforcing policies within their carbon industries. China is the world's largest carbon emitter and how employment would be impacted by any policy is an ongoing concern everywhere. "I think what's novel in the paper is the economic model," says Dr. Zhang. "What is critical for policy is the implications of the empirical model. The coordination of employment policies and carbon polices is necessary for mitigating the adverse effects on employment in the industries with price elastic demand for thermal coal and price inelastic demand for electricity or vice versa." It is important to understand interactions of elasticities when a policy changes the price of an input. If demand is price elastic, quantity demanded is relatively sensitive to a change in price. An increase in price will cause a relatively large decrease in quantity demanded. Typically, an increase in the price of an essential resource will cause a relatively small decrease in quantity demanded; that is, demand will be price inelastic. The interaction of an industry's price elasticities of demand for the inputs it uses with price elasticities of demand for the products it produces will affect the quantity of the inputs it uses when the price of an input changes. Labor and fuel are inputs in the production of thermal power. If a policy causes unfavorable effects on employment that are not addressed, it becomes politically more difficult to implement the policy. When applying this model to carbon industries in different parts of the world, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration. "If you're in a different country, your data will be different, and the way in which you use your natural resources will differ as well," says Dr. Cross. Reducing carbon emissions requires a global effort, and studies such as this help us better understand the multifaceted implications of carbon policies, taxes and regulations. Explore further World's largest study shows carbon pricing reduces emissions More information: Jinying Zhang et al. Carbon policies, fossil fuel price, and the impact on employment, Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy (2020). Jinying Zhang et al. Carbon policies, fossil fuel price, and the impact on employment,(2020). DOI: 10.1007/s10098-020-01850-x / Contributed photo /Salvation Army DANBURY A local food pantry expects to receive a cooler this week that can old 64 gallons of milk for families in need. The cooler will go to the Salvation Armys pantry at 15 Foster St., which is one of 21 food pantries in the state to receive one through a grant program. Enough money to initially stock the cooler with dairy products will also be donated. 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: With the war on COVID-19 nowhere near to being won, the Ontario government made a promising start this week in launching a new autumn offensive against it. But have no doubt. As welcome as the new initiatives announced Tuesday and Wednesday undoubtedly are, theyre only a start, mere baby steps on a 1,000-kilometre journey. And unfortunately, while Premier Doug Ford says hes readied a full-blown plan to get us where we need to go, hes dragging his feet in sharing all the details with the people of this province. Why, oh why, are Ontarians still waiting for something so crucial to their health, welfare and peace of mind? To be sure, Fords plan to dramatically boost the number of seasonal flu inoculations is a step in the right direction. The province will spend $70 million to buy 5.1 million doses of the flu vaccine 700,000 doses more than last year. While Fords critics argue COVID-19 should be his priority, the premier is wise to step up the fight against seasonal flu. That scourge claims an average of 3,500 Canadian lives every year. Canadian public health officials fear flu season could exact an even deadlier toll this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They warn of a possible twindemic where hospitals are overwhelmed trying to deal both with COVID-19 cases and people suffering from seasonal flu. The value of bolstering Ontarios long-established flu vaccination program is that it should result in more people being inoculated, fewer people with seasonal flu clogging hospital emergency rooms and greater medical resources being freed up to battle COVID-19. This, above all years, is the time for every Ontarian who possibly can to be vaccinated. There are reasons, however, to be less confident this government can finally address one of the most serious ongoing problems in the pandemic meeting the ever-rising demand for quick COVID-19 testing. Part of Ontarios fall pandemic readiness plan will see COVID-19 testing begun in pharmacies, with as many as 60 pharmacies across the province providing these tests as of Friday. That can only be an improvement over the frustratingly slow and dangerously inefficient system Ontarians have been dealing with for months as the demand for tests routinely exceeded the supply. Ford long ago set a goal of providing 50,000 tests a day. Hes never come close to hitting that target. And considering that on Monday, 35,436 tests were conducted, the province still has a steep hill to climb. Its a fair question whether 60 pharmacies or even twice that number can make up the gap of nearly 15,000 daily tests. Meanwhile, Fords to-do list is even longer. The public is still waiting to see this government deliver on one of its other promises to provide greater protection for the residents of Ontarios long-term care homes where the overwhelming number of COVID-19 deaths have occurred. This week, a group representing the provinces long-term care industry told the government many homes are not prepared to handle a second wave. Given this troubling state of affairs, along with ongoing and well-founded concerns about Ontarios school reopenings, the slow rollout of Fords fall pandemic readiness plan is unacceptable. The government says its had this plan ready since July. All right. Give it to us. As each day passes, the likelihood Ontario is in the second wave of COVID-19 grows. As each week passes, our ability to cope with such a surge shrinks, even with more flu shots. Lets see your full plan, Mr. Premier, and lets see it acted upon now. Read more about: WhatJobs partners with NHS to fight Covid-19 WhatJobs partners with NHS to fight Covid-19 WhatJobs partners with NHS to fight Covid-19 LONDON, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WhatJobs.com, a global leader in online job search who has their headquarters in London, England has partnered with the NHS to help fight the second wave of Corona related illness. At a time when the UK is facing one of its worst recessions in 300 years, with 410,000 confirmed cases and more than 42,000 deaths; support and immediate action is the need of the hour. WhatJobs has taken the initiative of publishing all of the NHS jobs across its platforms and through their partners' network for free. WhatJobs has currently 750,000 active users in the United Kingdom and 10,000 global customers. This move will certainly help to address one of the many unprecedented challenges that the NHS is facing due to the second coronavirus outbreak. There is a desperate need for more healthcare professionals in the UK and WhatJobs is trying to help fill any shortfalls across the United Kingdom. "The NHS is the backbone of this country and we are more than happy to help them with recruiting now and in the future" said Alex McDowell, Global Traffic & Partnership Manager at WhatJobs. WhatJobs is a well-known job portal and trusted by thousands of users across the UK. They identified the need to support the healthcare system and make a difference in the battle against COVID-19. The healthcare professionals are at the frontline of this battle and it's our duty to help in any way possible. It's in a time of global crisis that opportunities are identified to minimise the economic and social impacts. To find out more about the latest NHS vacancies please visit uk.whatjobs.com/jobs/NHS Media contact Company: WhatJobs Contact: Alex Paterson E-mail: alex@whatjobs.com Telephone: +44 7736 677777 Website: https://www.whatjobs.com/ Address: International House, Nile Street, London, England, N1 7SR A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ae12bdd3-78f7-4780-bddf-8eca18bb3869 Infill Drilling at Break of Day Confirms High Grades Perth, Sep 24, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Musgrave Minerals Ltd ( ASX:MGV ) ( FRA:6MU ) is pleased to report assay results for 18 reverse circulation ("RC") drill holes from the recent infill program at Break of Day. Drilling has confirmed a number of near surface extensions to the gold mineralisation at Break of Day on the Twilight and Velvet gold lodes. The intent of the program was to identify shallow extensions to the existing gold lodes and improve the confidence in the geological model. The majority of this drilling was within the limits of the existing Break of Day resource estimate, however some intervals of high grade gold were intersected outside the current resource.Musgrave Managing Director Rob Waugh said: "These are encouraging results and confirm the near surface gold potential on the Twilight and Velvet gold lodes. The identification of high-grade results outside the existing Twilight and Velvet geological model increases the upside potential and the possibility of additional, previously unidentified lodes being discovered."Break of DayThe current resource estimate for the Cue Gold Project totals 6.45Mt @ 3.0g/t Au for 613koz including the Break of Day deposit (868Kt @ 7.2g/t Au for 199koz contained gold) and the Lena deposit (4.3Mt @ 2.3g/t Au for 325koz contained gold) located 130m to the west (see MGV ASX announcements dated 14 July 2017 and 17 February 2020).This current resource estimate does not include any recent results from the new Starlight and White Light gold discoveries. The updated resource estimate incorporating these results is scheduled for late October 2020.The Twilight and Velvet gold lodes at Break of Day are located on the Company's 100% owned ground at its flagship Cue Gold Project in Western Australia's Murchison district (Figure 1*).Eighteen short infill RC holes have been completed to further test the near surface Twilight and Velvet gold lodes at Break of Day to aid in the proposed resource update. The mineralisation consists of quartz lodes hosted within a foliated and altered basaltic stratigraphic sequence and typically dips steeply to the west (Figure 2*). All assays and drill hole details are reported in Tables 1a and 1b.Musgrave's decision to extend the RC and diamond drill programs at Break of Day on the basis of the exceptional results received to date, and a backlog of samples at the laboratory, will delay the updated Break of Day resource estimate which will include the Starlight and White Light gold lodes, to late October 2020.Discussion of ResultsA combination of six metre composites and one metre individual samples have been analysed from the RC holes drilled in the current program with details presented in Tables 1a and 1b*. All 6m composite samples above 0.1g/t Au have been re-submitted for individual 1m sample analysis.Significant new intercepts on the Twilight and Velvet lodes at Break of Day include:o 9m @ 3.1g/t Au from 30m (20MORC110) and;o 3m @ 40.0g/t Au from 83m (20MORC110)o 3m @ 20.8g/t Au from 79m (20MORC099)o 3m @ 9.2g/t Au from 44m (20MORC088)o 9m @ 5.6g/t Au from 106m (20MORC090) including;o 2m @ 16.0g/t Au from 110mo 2m @ 13.3g/t Au from 39m (20MORC082)o 2m @ 5.0g/t Au from 15m (20MORC079)o 7m @ 2.1g/t Au from 18m (20MORC080)o 6m @ 1.2g/t Au from 32m (20MORC092)Drilling also identified intercepts approximately 60m north of the Starlight lode that do not align with the current interpreted geological model. These intersections may reflect possible new lodes and include:o 5m @ 13.8g/t Au from 63m (20MORC088) including;o 2m @ 32.8g/t Au from 63mo 1m @ 18.5g/t Au from 45m (20MORC099)Further follow-up drilling is currently being planned to test this position.Ongoing ExplorationMusgrave 100% tenements- Further assays from RC and diamond drilling on the Starlight and White Light lodes at Break of Day are expected soon.- A resource update for Break of Day including Starlight and White Light is now expected in late October due to an extension of the drilling program and delays with sample analysis due to increased sample volumes at the laboratory.- Regional Phase 1 aircore/RC drilling of Starlight analogue targets is continuing. Drilling on ten of a planned 18 targets is now complete, with first assays expected in October.Evolution JV- The Phase 2 aircore drilling program testing high-priority gold targets on Lake Austin has commenced with approximately 10,000m completed of a planned 21,900m program.- An interpretation of passive seismic survey data acquired to better estimate cover depths over prospective undrilled areas of Lake Austin is now complete with further target areas identified.THE CUE PROJECTThe Cue Project ("the Project") is located in the Murchison district of Western Australia (Figure 3*) and hosts Mineral Resources (Indicated and Inferred) totalling 6.45Mt @ 3.0g/t gold for 613,000oz contained gold (MGV ASX announcement dated 17 February 2020, "Lena Resource Update"). The Company has defined a +28km-long prospective gold corridor that includes the Break of Day-Starlight, Lake Austin North and Mainland-Consols gold discoveries.The Company believes there is significant potential to extend existing mineralisation and discover new gold deposits within the Project area, as demonstrated by the recent drilling success at Break of Day/Starlight, Lena and Lake Austin North. Musgrave's intent is to investigate options to best develop a low-cost operation, capable of delivering strong financial returns for its shareholders.Musgrave has executed an $18 million Earn-in and Exploration Joint Venture with Evolution Mining Ltd over the Lake Austin portion of the Cue Project (Figure 3*). The Break of Day/ Starlight, Lena and Mainland areas are excluded from the Earn-in and Exploration Joint Venture with Evolution Mining Ltd.Cyprium Australia Pty Ltd ("Cyprium") has earned an 80% interest in the non-gold rights over the northern tenure at Cue including the Hollandaire deposit and a formal joint venture was executed in May 2020 (Figure 3). Musgrave will retain 100% of the gold rights and a 20% free-carried interest in the non-gold rights to the completion of a definitive feasibility study.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Musgrave Minerals Ltd Musgrave Minerals Ltd (ASX:MGV) is an active Australian gold and base metals explorer. The Cue Project in the Murchison region of Western Australia is an advanced gold and copper project. Musgrave has had significant exploration success at Cue with the ongoing focus on increasing the gold and copper resources through discovery and extensional drilling to underpin studies that will demonstrate a viable path to development in the near term. Musgrave also holds a large exploration tenement package in the Ni-Cu-Co prospective Musgrave Province in South Australia. (CNN) While nearly half of US states now report a rise in new Covid-19 cases, a leading public health official announced the majority of Americans remain susceptible to the virus. Speaking to the Senate Health Committee this week, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield said preliminary results on the first round of a study by the agency show more than 90% of the population is susceptible. That means more than 295 million Americans could still get infected with the virus. Redfield spoke at the Senate hearing on Wednesday along with several other leading coronavirus political figures, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, testing czar Adm. Brett Giroir and FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn. Together, the group advocated for a fact-based response to the pandemic and pushed back against concerns that the vaccine approval process would be hampered by political interference. "We do feel the urgency of the moment. We do take very much.... very seriously our responsibility to protect American lives," Hahn said. "We will not delay, but we will not cut corners in our process." Hours later, though, President Trump stomped on that united front by claiming he may override the FDA if the agency released tougher standards for the authorization of a vaccine. About 6.9 million people across the country have already contracted the illness and more than 200,000 people have died since the start of the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University. The US continues to lead the world in both deaths and infections and now experts warn that the spread of the virus could get much worse with schools now open and flu season on its way. At least 21 states -- mostly across the US heartland and Midwest -- are reporting an increase in new Covid-19 cases compared to the previous week. Nationwide, the US is averaging more than 43,000 new cases per day -- about double what the country was averaging back in June when lockdown restrictions were easing. And the country is no longer seeing the kind of decline in deaths it was seeing in late August, according to infectious diseases expert Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo. Marrazzo said it's not unfathomable another 100,000 Americans could die by the end of the year. Researchers with the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predict a total of more than 378,000 Americans will have died from Covid-19 by January 1. "The bottom line is that it doesn't matter what side of the aisle you're on politically," Marrazzo said during an Infectious Diseases Society of America briefing Wednesday. "The numbers are the numbers. You can't argue with them. And they are not going in the right direction." 20% of summer Covid-19 cases were in young people Warnings from experts have remained the same for months: wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance and avoid crowded places. Over the summer, many of those warnings targeted younger groups, after public health officials and state leaders said young people were helping drive a surge of new cases. A new report from the CDC now shows people ages 20 to 29 accounted for more than 20% of all confirmed Covid-19 cases between June and August. In June, Southern states saw an increase in positive tests among 20 to 39-year-olds a little more than eight days before increases among those 60 or older were reported -- suggesting younger adults drove community spread of the virus. The CDC noted younger people are more likely to work frontline jobs that leave them exposed and they may be less likely to heed social distancing guidelines. And because younger groups are more likely to have milder symptoms or show no symptoms at all, they could have been spreading the virus without ever knowing. That's also what some experts have cautioned could happen if students go back home from college campuses and unknowingly bring the virus with them. More than 59,000 Covid-19 cases have been reported in colleges and universities in all 50 states. Covid-19 cases increase in children Younger children are also getting increasingly infected. More than 587,000 children in the US have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association. The organizations found that 74,553 child cases were reported between September 3 and 17 -- a 15% increase in this group over two weeks, according to their weekly pediatric report. Cases listed by age are provided by health department websites in 49 states, New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, but only a subset of states report hospitalizations and mortality by age, the groups said. The AAP called for more detailed reporting from states. "At this time, it appears that severe illness due to Covid-19 is rare among children," the report said. "However, states should continue to provide detailed reports on Covid-19 cases, testing, hospitalizations, and mortality by age and race/ethnicity so that the effects of Covid-19 on children's health can be documented and monitored." The updated numbers come as many students across the country have returned to class. Scientists are still looking to better understand the role children play in transmission, but studies have shown they can spread the disease. And a recent report released by the CDC says children can not only spread the virus, but they can do so even when they show mild or no symptoms at all. More Phase 3 vaccine trials could begin While a timeline for when a vaccine will be widely available still remains unclear, National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins says two more Phase 3 vaccine trials will likely start "in the next month or month and a half." His statement comes as sources say the US Food and Drug Administration is considering new rules for authorizing a Covid-19 vaccine. One source said the FDA is expected to tell vaccine makers they need to wait two months after giving all their study participants their second doses of the vaccine until they can apply for an emergency use authorization. According to Dr. Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, a "large proportion" of the US will not be vaccinated against Covid-19 this year. "We're not going to have all of the doses available, for example, by the end of December, they will be rolling in as the months go by," Fauci said. "By the time you get to maybe the third or fourth month of the 2021, then you'll have doses for everyone," he said. Those prioritized for the vaccine will likely be healthcare providers, people with underlying conditions and vulnerable populations, he said. This story was first published on CNN.com, "As 21 states report a rise in new Covid-19 cases, CDC chief says more than 90% of Americans remain susceptible." MANSFIELD, Ohio A Mansfield man hunting last weekend at a state park in Alaska was attacked and killed by a grizzly bear, according to reports. The Mansfield Police Department confirmed that Austin Pfeiffer, 22, died in the attack Sunday in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the Mansfield News-Journal reports. Pfeiffer was just two days short of his birthday when he was killed, the News-Journal reports. Pfeiffer was at the park with two other Ohio men hunting for moose. The Richland Source reports Pfeiffer was attacked by the bear while he was field-dressing a moose he had just killed. According to ABC News, the National Parks Service says it is first-known bear mauling fatality at Wrangell-St. Elias since it was established as a park in 1980. The park in southeast Alaska covers 13.2 million acres and is the same size as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined, ABC News reports. It is the largest of the U.S. national parks and has nine of the 16 highest peaks in the nation. The Source reports Pfeiffer was married with no children. Election 2020 Karen Ethnic Affairs Minister Candidates in Myanmars Yangon Square Off in Online Debate (From left to right) Mahn Than Win Oo, Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe and Naw Ohn Hla will compete for the Karen ethnic affairs minister post for Yangon Region in the November 2020 election. Candidates competing for the post of Karen ethnic affairs minister in Yangon promised to bring equality and better social services to members of the minority residing in the commercial capital, during an online debate on Wednesday. It was the first-ever debate between rival ethnic affairs minister candidates. Ethnic affairs ministers (EAMs) are the only members of state or regional governments that are elected directly to their positions. All other sub-national cabinet members are appointed by the President. Three candidatesNaw Susanna Hla Hla Soe from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), Naw Ohn Hla from the United Nationalities Democracy Party (UNDP) and Mahn Than Win Oo from the Karen Peoples Party (KPP)participated in the event, which was organized by Karen youth. Campaign activities for the Nov. 8 general election are being conducted under restrictions due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The debate centered on ethnic Karen affairs, with candidates promising more access to jobs as well as promotion of education and literature in the groups mother tongue. The wide-ranging talks covered everything from equality, self-determination, peace building and federalism to recognition of Karen freedom of expression, particularly when it comes to commemoration of Karen Martyrs Day in memory of legendary leader Saw Ba U Gyi. The ethnic affairs ministerial post candidates are busier than those running for seats in Parliament. Their constituency is the whole state or region, with their respective ethnic groups scattered over large areas. The Karen are the second-largest ethnic group in Myanmar. They reside primarily in Karen and Mon states and Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Bago and Tanintharyi regions. In Yangon, there were 181,000 ethnic Karen voters and only four parties competing in the last election. This year, seven candidates have registered to run for the post in Yangon. The exact number of 2020 voters has not yet been released by the Union Election Commission. Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe said having the NLD as the ruling party creates more chances for ethnic affairs representatives to cooperate for the development of each respective ethnic group. Citing an online survey she conducted in early August about what the Karen in Yangon want, she said, Our Karen need socioeconomic development, equality, federalism and peace. For that I have started a program to hear more local Karen voices through an online Yangon Karen community. I will continue doing that when I am elected [in November]. She cited her efforts to help more than a hundred young people in Insein get jobs in the hotel and tourism sectors. She promised similar efforts in the future. Yangons Insein Township, where many Karen reside, is currently part of her constituency, as she is the NLDs Upper House lawmaker representing Yangons Constituency 10. She said many young people who migrated from Ayeyarwady Region to Yangon could not get decent work and are working in low-level jobs such as waiters at teashops. Her focus is on providing training so they can find better employment. While the NLD candidate cited her record as a lawmaker, the other hopefuls outlined their parties policies, stances and general views on the issues. Naw Ohn Hla, the UNDP candidate, is a former NLD member-cum-political activist and has been active in the equality movement. Vowing to work for entitlement and human rights for Karen, she said she is ready to join hands and stand firm with the Karen, including young people. Mahn Than Win Oo from the KPP said in Parliament, his party aims to raise its voice for change. He is also a leader working for the development of the Karen language curriculum and Karen history. But the KPP candidate lashed out against Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe and other Karen nationals for being members of the other national parties despite the fact that they are ethnic Karen. He said they must inevitably conform to those other parties agendas, which are not specifically created with the Karen people in mind. Two of the candidates shared their concerns about whether the 2020 election will be free and fair, saying the ruling NLD has the upper hand while travel restrictions are in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NLD candidate rejected all those claims, saying she faces the same restrictions as other candidates. As a result, she said, she is running an online campaign. She added that as an ethnic MP representing the ruling party, there were no obstacles to her efforts to raise issues in Parliament. She said firmly that her actions are based on her commitment to her constituents and highlighted her successes in terms of land rights and forest legislation. On the issue of peace building, lawmaker Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe focused on building peace within society, fighting against extremism and hate speech. At the same time, ceasefires between ethnic armed groups and the Tatmadaw (the Myanmar military) are an important part of the peace process on a national level. It is not just about ceasing gunfire, she said. It is about stopping extremists and hate speech. I will continue working to have more public participation in building peace. The candidates also shared their thoughts on federalism and self-determination. Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe said collective effort on the part of all ethnic groups in the Union is the key to achieving federalism, adding that the Karen cannot do the job alone. We Karen are not the minority. We are the second-largest ethnic group. We dont need special rights, but we need equal rights, she said, citing the need to eliminate discrimination. A total of 212 candidates will compete for 29 EAM posts nationwide, except in Chin State, in November. Under the 2008 Constitution, the EAMs are elected directly as ministers in the state/regional governments. They are the only ministers elected directly by the people. The EAM positions are created where the minority in the state/region represents 0.1 percent or above of the total population. Their focus is on the development of the ethnic groups literature and culture. You may also like these stories: For Myanmar Voters, the Election Is a Chance to Cast a Ballot for Democracy Itself Candidates From Four Parties in Myanmars Kachin State Face Off in Debate Amherst Town Council Monday unanimously approved a new bylaw that authorizes the municipality to commission visual artists to create works that would be displayed inside public buildings and outside spaces. The idea had been on the drawing board for years. Its fruition is good news for artists and society, the chair of the towns Public Art Commission, William Kaizen said in an email statement on Wednesday. He said besides Amherst, the city of Cambridge is the only other community in the state with such a municipal bylaw to fund artwork. Such art may include, but shall not be limited to, paintings, sculpture, engravings, carvings, frescoes, stained glass, mobiles, murals, collages, mosaics, bas-reliefs, tapestries, photographs, drawings, and landscape items, including the artistic placement of natural materials or manmade fountains or other functional art objects, the bylaw says. The 12-0 Amherst Town Council vote means construction projects costing at least $1 million would include 0.5% to fund the artwork. For a $10 million project, that would be $50,000. I am very pleased that Amhersts Town Council has finally--unanimously--approved the Percent for Art bylaw. When I moved to Amherst in 2016, I was elected a Town Meeting rep. The Percent for Art bylaw was one of the pieces of legislation I that was most excited about. I joined the Public Art Commission expressly to work on its implementation, Kaizen said. I made it my mission to help re-work the bylaw. . . and get it passed. After several years of work by members of the Public Art Commission and an ad hoc committee of the Town Council, it finally has, although unfortunately the provision for performing arts had to be scrapped, he said. One of the reasons my family moved to Amherst was because of the excellent public school system. The bylaw will apply to the proposed new elementary school, he said. The new bylaw states: The public artwork shall be located at, within or upon the site of the building, facility or space associated with the construction project, so long as the public artwork is accessible to the public. Funds appropriated for this purpose may be used for design services of artists, for the selection, acquisition, purchase, commissioning, installation and display of public art, and other incidental and related costs, the bylaw says. It says the town becomes owner of the artwork, once completed and installed. Language in the bylaw says that should artwork be removed and sold, the town receives those proceeds. However, whether to remove and sell the public artwork also called deaccessioning is the purview of the towns Public Art Commission in consultation with town manager. Any decision concerning deaccessioning shall be made by the Public Art Commission in consultation with the Town Manager. Any funds generated from such deaccession shall be treated as General Fund revenue, the bylaw says. The PAC is charged with administering the commissioning of artists under the town managers supervision. The PAC responsibilities included: establishing general guidelines for the selection of artists and public artworks; meetings with relevant Town departments in coordination with the Town Manager, nonprofit organizations, and members of the public; and public hearings. Kaizen said: Public works of visual art enliven social spaces, attract visitors and make towns more desirable places to live. . . . While the creative economy is often cited as an economic engine, public support nurtures it and helps it grow. Prior to voting on the art bylaw on Sept. 21, Council President Lynn Griesemer said: We wanted to make sure, at this point, we are not going to go ahead and try to put in special language that accommodates the Jones Library. We will leave that open for a possible future amendment to the bylaw, but not at this time, she said. The Percent for Art Bylaw is now part of Amherst General Bylaws. Related: Evel Knievel's son is on a collision course with the Walt Disney Co. and Pixar over a daredevil character named Duke Caboom that appeared in Toy Story 4. A federal trademark infringement lawsuit filed in Las Vegas accuses the movie company of improperly basing the character the movie on Knievel. Knievel became famous for stunts including motorcycle jumps over the Caesars Palace fountain in Las Vegas and a row of buses at Wembley Stadium in London, and a rocket shot into Snake River Canyon in Idaho. Las Vegas-based K and K Promotions accuses Disney-owned Pixar of intentionally modeling the Caboom character, voiced by Keanu Reeves in the movie, after Knievel - although Knievels name is never mentioned. Evel Knievel's son has filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against Disney, claiming they based a Toy Story character off the daredevil stuntman (pictured) Duke Caboom, voiced by Keanu Reeves, is described as a 'Canada's greatest stuntman,' the lawsuit states Son Kelly Knievel, head of K and K, has had publicity rights to Evel Knievel's name since 1998, according to the Tuesday court filing in U.S. District Court. He said Thursday the moviemakers never sought permission to use his father's likeness. The Walt Disney Co. , in a statement from corporate spokesman Jeffrey R. Epstein, said it will defend itself vigorously against what it called Knievel's meritless claims. Knievel is seeking unspecified damages totaling more than $300,000 on allegations that also include false endorsement and unjust enrichment. The Caboom character is described by Disney Pixar as a 1970s motorcycle-riding toy based on 'Canada's greatest stuntman,' according to the lawsuit. An Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle toy released in 1973 featured a Knievel action figure clad in a white helmet and jumpsuit A toy from McDonald's shows the Caboom character being propelled off a ramp Photos in the court filing put Caboom side-by-side with Knievel, who became an American icon after his near-fatal 1967 Caesars Palace crash. An Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle toy released in 1973 featured a Knievel action figure clad in a white helmet and jumpsuit with red, white and blue embellishments on a motorcycle that could be propelled with a wind-up device. In vivid descriptions of the movie, the lawsuit notes the Caboom character is a 1970s-era daredevil clad in a white jumpsuit and helmet with Canadian insignia and a 'Duke Caboom Stunt Cycle.' A propelled toy was marketed in conjunction with the movie, Knievel's attorneys note, and the Caboom character became part of a McDonald's fast-food 'Happy Meal' promotion. Knievel is pictured on a motorcycle in 1975 Kelly Knievel is seeking unspecified damages totaling more than $300,000 on allegations that also include false endorsement and unjust enrichment Consumers and film reviewers 'universally caught on to the connection,' the lawsuit observed, while the movie company and Reeves avoided making any public association, connection or comparison 'even if directly asked.' 'Evel Knievel did not thrill millions around the world, break his bones and spill his blood just so Disney could make a bunch of money,' Kelly Knievel said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. Knievel was seriously injured many times during more than 75 motorcycle jumps. He died in 2007 at 69 in Florida of lung disease, not in a crash. A group of prominent former U.S. officials is joining state and local governments, U.S. lawmakers, religious leaders and resettlement agencies in urging the Trump administration to increase refugee admissions in fiscal year 2021 amid historic need around the world. The administration is supposed to consult with Congress and make a decision by the end of the fiscal year, in one week. But there is growing concern that President Donald Trump will decide to zero out refugee admissions, delay them indefinitely, or reduce the admissions cap even further. MORE: Fears grow over coronavirus outbreak devastating refugees, civilians trapped by war So far, the U.S. is on track to admit just over 10,000 refugees, which is also the lowest number of admissions since 1975, according to U.S. government data. The next closest figure is nearly double as many, in 1977. PHOTO: In this June 6, 2019, file photo, Irma Rivera, an asylum-seeker from Honduras, spends time with her children after getting home from work in Fort Worth, Texas. (Loren Elliott/Reuters, FILE) A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on Trump's cap and "the internal discussions or the timeline related to its development," but told ABC News it was ultimately the president's decision. Reuters reported earlier this month that the administration is considering postponing or further cutting admissions. Seven former U.S. officials who ran the refugee admissions program under both Republican and Democrat administrations urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to express alarm at such a suspension and call for a "substantial increase" in admissions. MORE: Trump administration to slash refugee program, capping number at 18K "We believe that any further reduction in refugee resettlement would represent the disregard of dire needs of displaced people around the world at a time when other governments are bearing substantial responsibilities to provide refuge," while a "suspension would walk away from a proud U.S. tradition of welcoming those individuals to our country who are seeking better lives for themselves and their children," wrote Republicans James Purcell and Arthur Dewy and Democrats Frank Loy, Phyllis Oakley, Samuel Witten, Eric Schwartz, and Anne Richard. Story continues The U.S. had suspended refugee admissions during the first few months of the coronavirus outbreak, one of the ways the administration cited the pandemic to curtail legal immigration. Some refugee advocates are concerned the administration will again delay admissions, or blow past the Oct. 1 deadline and de facto bar new admissions. PHOTO: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, accompanied by Colombian President Ivan Duque, talks with Venezuelan refugees during a visit to the Transitional Attention for the Migrant Office in Cucuta, Norte del Santander Department, Colombia, April 14, 2019. (Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) Pompeo approved the resumption of admissions on July 29, with the first arrivals of approved refugees starting the next day "with significant COVID health measures in place," the State Department spokesperson told ABC News. "Refugees remain subject to the same COVID-19 travel restrictions as other foreign national travelers to the United States," they added, as well as "extensive COVID-related health screening prior to arrival that other foreign national travelers are not, which safeguards the refugees and the U.S. communities to which they arrive." MORE: Number of displaced people reaches new high of 70.8 million ahead of World Refugee Day Given those protective measures, it's unclear what grounds the administration would cite to reduce the refugee cap or freeze admissions again. The administration is facing a legal battle in courts after Trump authorized local governments to refuse the resettlement of refugees in their jurisdictions last September. But that decision continues to work its way through the courts, possibly to the Supreme Court, and may take months. PHOTO: In this Sept. 8, 2017, file photo, Rohingya refugees arriving by boat near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, after fleeing Myanmar's strife-torn Rakhine State. (Kyodo via Newscom, FILE) Trump's political campaign in the 2016 presidential election focused heavily on unfounded attacks on refugees, blasting them as national security threats despite the vigorous vetting process involved in the U.S. program. Instead of accepting refugees, his senior aides like Pompeo have called for countries closer to a refugee's country of origin taking them in temporarily. Last year, the administration also claimed its drastic reduction was necessary so that the U.S. could focus on border operations and reducing a massive backlog of legal cases for people seeking asylum in the U.S. MORE: 75% of migrants deported to Guatemala on single flight tested positive for coronavirus: Health minister According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, the world is facing a record number of people -- nearly 79.5 million -- who have been forced to leave their homes. Among them, nearly 26 million are designated refugees and around half of those are under age 18. Joe Biden, Trump's Democrat opponent, has called for raising the refugee cap to 125,000, adding the former vice president would "seek to raise it over time commensurate with our responsibility, our values, and the unprecedented global need." Trump admin urged to accept refugees amid concerns it will indefinitely delay admissions originally appeared on abcnews.go.com After a quarter century serving as the global arbiter of commerce, the World Trade Organization is facing an existential moment in an era of rising protectionism. The U.S. under President Donald Trump has called for a fundamental reset at the institution and sabotaged its ability to settle disputes. A key U.S. goal at the WTO has been to challenge Chinas state-led approach to trade and investment, an aim shared by Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Acknowledging that the WTO has failed to adapt to shifts in the global trading system, some observers see an opportunity for reform. Whats unclear is whether the U.S. approach will result in the WTOs reinvention or obsolescence. Pushpins results have been a game changer for us. Keeping our staff safe while efficiently managing their time in the field is a complex balancing act. Pushpin equips us with better information before we even leave our desks. We see a lot of value in their platform in our future work. Pushpin announced today that it had completed a parcel change detection project for Cook County, Illinois. Pushpin analyzed 522,562 of the countys parcels in 6 weeks. Pushpin found that 28,664 parcels (5%) had property changes between 2016 and 2019. Property changes included additions, construction, decks, flatwork, garages, new homes, pools, and sheds. Pushpin estimated an assessed value increase of $982,621,952 associated with the changes. Pushpin leverages artificial intelligence plus a workforce of 48 GIS analysts to quickly and accurately identify property changes that affect assessed value. Pushpin charges just 15 per parcel and completes most projects in under 4 weeks. Pushpin is currently executing a record number of change detection projects for cities and counties. Municipalities are leveraging Pushpins platform to remain productive while many employees are working remotely due to stay-at-home advisories. Pushpin leverages aerial imagery to perform its analysis, so assessors and their staff can review results and update property records without having to go into the office or visit properties in person. Pushpins results have been a game changer for us, said Raymond Gottner, Director of Residential Valuations in the Cook County Assessors Office. Keeping our staff safe while efficiently managing their time in the field is a complex balancing act. Pushpin equips us with better information before we even leave our desks. We see a lot of value in their platform in our future work. We relish the opportunity to work with tech-forward customers like Cook County. They are leveraging cutting-edge technology to increase accuracy and save money while keeping their staff safe, said Randy Milbert, President, Pushpin. We are looking forward to working on future projects with Cook County and others within Illinois. About Cook County Assessor With a population of 5 million, Cook County is the second-most-populous county in the United States. The county seat, Chicago, is the third-most-populous city in the United States. The Assessors Office is responsible for setting fair and accurate values for the countys 1.8 million parcels. The office achieves this by leveraging a mass appraisal system and other cutting-edge tools. For more information, please visit https://cookcountyassessor.com. About Pushpin Founded in 2015 and based in Minneapolis, Pushpin believes that people and computers intelligently combined can solve difficult mapping challenges better, faster, and cheaper than the alternatives. Pushpin works with tech-forward customers and partners to dramatically increase automation, accelerate workflows, and decrease costs. Pushpin applies patent-pending deep learning algorithms to aerial and satellite imagery to identify parcel changes, extract building footprints, estimate impervious areas, and more. Pushpin has worked with 62 cities and counties in 21 states as well as partners such as CoreLogic, CycloMedia, and Nearmap. For more information, please visit https://pushpin.us. Images courtesy Rolls-Royce All the technology has been tested on a full-scale replica of the planes core, called an ionBird, including a 500hp electric powertrain powerful enough to set world speed records and a battery with enough energy to supply 250 homes. The plane is part of a Rolls-Royce initiative called ACCEL, short for Accelerating the Electrification of Flight. Our ACCEL project team includes key partners YASA, the electric motor and controller manufacturer and aviation start-up Electroflight. The team has been developing the technology while adhering to the UK Governments social distancing and other health guidelines and the systems will soon be integrated into our Spirit of Innovation plane. There is a long history of iron-birds in aviation for testing propulsion systems ahead of flight but in this case we have named the test airframe ionBird, after the zero-emission energy source propelling the aircraft. UK Business and Industry Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: From trains to planes, our transport of the future will be powered by clean, electric sources - with companies like Rolls-Royce developing the tech to help meet our net zero ambitions. The completion of ground-testing for the government-backed ACCEL project is not only a step towards an exciting world record attempt, but a leap towards developing all-electric and hybrid-electric planes that one day could ferry large numbers of passengers around the world. The dedicated team have tested each and every component of the system including: Running the propeller up to full speed (approximately 2,400 rpm) using the most power-dense battery pack ever assembled for aircraft propulsion. When at full power during the flight-testing phase, it will propel the aircraft to more than 300mph setting a new world speed record for electric flight. Over 6,000 cells are packaged in the battery for maximum safety, minimum weight and full thermal protection. Since January, our engineering and test pilots have spent many hours optimising the system and developing operating procedures for electric flight. Generating GBs of data every hour of operation which the team have analysed to improve performance wherever possible. Rob Watson, Director Rolls-Royce Electrical, said: Rolls-Royce is committed to playing a leading role in reaching net zero carbon by 2050. The completion of ground-testing for the ACCEL project is a great achievement for the team and is another important step towards a world record attempt. This project is also helping to develop Rolls-Royces capabilities and ensure that we remain a leader in delivering the electrification of flight, an important part of our sustainability strategy. Bremont, will be the official timing partner for the all-electric speed record attempt. The British luxury watch maker has also helped develop the design of the planes cockpit which will feature a stopwatch, while the company has machined canopy release parts at its Henley-on-Thames manufacturing facility. The first flight is planned for later this year and Rolls-Royce are aiming to beat the current all-electric flight world record early next year. Half of the projects funding is provided by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), in partnership with the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Innovate UK. Mark Scully, Head of Technology for Advanced Systems & Propulsion at the Aerospace Technology Institute, said: The significance of reaching this milestone should not be underestimated. The ACCEL team is pioneering the integration of high-performance batteries, motors and drives to deliver an electric propulsion system in an ambitious flight test programme. These technologies and the systems integration needed to utilise them hold great potential for future sustainable aviation, which is why the ATI is proud to support the project. The ACCEL project is a series of firsts for Rolls-Royce as it progresses towards net zero carbon by 2050. It is the first Rolls-Royce project to use offsetting to make the whole programme carbon neutral. Rolls-Royce are also looking to inspire young people, with the ACCEL project, to consider STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and have developed downloadable materials aimed at primary school children around the project. These are linked to the UK curriculum and everything can be downloaded from the Rolls-Royce website. The battle pitted the generally pro-Netanyahu ultra-Orthodox against the sturdy contingent of anti-Netanyahu protesters. The ultra-Orthodox leaders argued that they should be allowed to pray without restrictions as long as the protesters were allowed to protest en masse, and the protesters argued that the situations were not comparable because the protests were outside and that the government was seeking to use the virus as an excuse to shut down the opposition. The rules announced Thursday effectively ended both the protests and indoor worship, although they made an exception for Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, which begins at sundown on Sunday. The restrictions allow prayer services inside synagogues on Yom Kippur but with limits on the number of worshipers. The protests, which have drawn tens of thousands of demonstrators each week to the streets outside of Mr. Netanyahus official residence in Jerusalem, are calling for his resignation. Mr. Netanyahu, a polarizing conservative, is standing trial on corruption charges and is blamed by many Israelis for failing to prevent the countrys high rate of infections. He has long railed against the protesters and cast them as anarchists and spreaders of the virus. Until Thursday, they were allowed to continue demonstrating because of an Israeli law that protects the freedom to protest. Congress MLA B Narayan Rao, 65, who was admitted to a private hospital after contracting COVID-19, passes away on Thursday at a private hospital in Bengaluru. He was in a critical state, the hospital had said on Wednesday. Rao, the sitting MLA from Bidar, was admitted to the Manipal Hospital on September 1 with diagnosis of severe COVID-19 infection, hospital director Dr Manish Rai said. He was critically ill with multi-organ failure on multiple supports including ventilator in the Intensive care unit under constant observation by our expert panel of doctors," Dr Rai said. The Assembly session was adjourned briefly after the news of Raos death came in. While Indias coronavirus cases are increasing at an alarming rate, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments health minister, Harsh Vardhan, has downplayed the threat posed by the pandemics relentless spread. Vardhans remarks were aimed at justifying the governments reopening of the economy, which has also been supported by the state governments led by the opposition parties and has needlessly exposed millions of workers and rural toilers to the virus. Even according to the highly under-reported official figures, Indias total number of COVID-19 infections has passed 5.6 million, while more than 90,000 deaths have been registered. India is second only to the United States in terms of the number of coronavirus cases. However, due to the high level of transmission, with new cases routinely exceeding 90,000 per day, India is expected to surpass the US sooner rather than later. In an hour-long appearance on social media Sunday, health minister Vardhan made the truly absurd claim that community transmission of the virus is not yet occurring in India. Only 10 states are contributing 77 percent of active cases, argued Vadhan. If you see state-specific data, you will find that these cases are concentrated in few districts. Addressing Indias parliament on the first day of its Monsoon session, on Sept. 14, Vardhan similarly tried to cavalierly downplay the pandemics impact. He claimed that 92 percent of cases are reported to be a mild disease, and contended Indias response to the pandemic is among the best in the world. India, he said, has been able to limit its cases and deaths to 3,328 cases per million and 55 deaths per million population respectively, which is one of the lowest in the world as compared to similarly affected countries. Vardhans effort to cherry pick statistics that compare relatively well to other countries thanks only to Indias large population of 1.3 billion people cannot disguise the fact that all states and Union territories have recorded increasing infections, and that the pandemic and its economic fallout have produced a social catastrophe. On Saturday, the Delhi governments health minister, Satyendar Jain, from the Aam Aadmi Party, admitted the vast increase in infections, adding, We should have accepted there is community spread. In a further exposure of the bogus character of Vardhans denial that community spread is taking place, 30 MPs and 50 members of staff tested positive for the virus prior to the commencement of the new parliamentary session. Even based on the severely under-counted official death toll of more than 90,000, India is currently third globally in terms of coronavirus deaths, behind only the United States and Brazil. Indian authorities are notorious for failing to provide the cause of death in the majority of cases even under non-pandemic conditions, making it all but certain that the actual death toll is far higher. Compared to the other countries of South Asia, Indias recorded deaths per million population is much higher. As of September 21, according to Worldometer, deaths per million cases in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were respectively 64, 29, and 30. Various scientific studies have shown that Indias official tally of coronavirus cases grossly understates the pandemics prevalence. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) published a sero-survey, which measures the percentage of the population with coronavirus antibodies, on September 10. Conducted in 700 villages/wards from 70 districts across 21 states, the study found that in early May, India potentially had 6.4 million COVID-19 infections. This indicated an overall infection to case ratio (ICR), i.e., the ratio of undetected infections to confirmed cases, of between 82 and 130 to 1. Extrapolating from this finding, the survey concluded half of the Indian population could now have been infected with the virus. These findings indicate the perilous situation produced by the BJP governments homicidal policy of herd immunity, under which the virus is allowed to spread unchecked through the population. Such a policy invariably means accepting large-scale death, especially among the elderly and immune-compromised populations. One of the governments top epidemiological advisers, himself an advocate of herd immunity, admitted in the early stages of the pandemic that the pursuit of such a criminal policy could result in the deaths of 2 million Indians. Mass death on such a horrific scale is justified by the proponents of herd immunity with the need to protect the economy and corporate profits. As Vardhan told parliament, We are in the stage of unlock to revive the economy. With the economy now largely reopened, the government has placed all responsibility for containing the virus onto working people. Prime Minister Modis advice for citizens to follow all precautions including masks and social distancing shows the utter contempt of the ruling class for the vast majority of the population, large sections of which live in slums or rural areas with no chance to follow basic hygiene measures or socially distance. The BJP government sanctioned the reopening of workplaces and factories as early as late April. Despite the subsequent surge in infections, no restrictions have been put in place on big business profit-making operations. Moreover, public transport services throughout India such as buses, trains, metros (subways), and smaller vans cannot comply with public health precautions as they are crammed to capacity with people trying to get to work. While no expense has been spared on supporting major companies and funding the Indian military, which recently held a ceremony to accept the first batch of a fleet of Rafale fighter jets worth some $7.8 billion, the chronically under-funded public health care system is in crisis. Several states have reported severe shortages of oxygen and intensive care beds. Indian media outlets reported last week that four COVID-19 patients died in Madhya Pradesh due to oxygen shortages. Similar shortages have been reported by Maharashtra and Punjab. In Bengalaru (Bangalore), the main city in Karnataka, which recorded close to 10,000 new cases on Sunday, there is an acute shortage of ICU beds with ventilators. Responding to a public outcry over the oxygen shortages, Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan claimed that there is no shortage of medical oxygen and that the problem is with organizing the replenishing of supplies. However, figures from the All India Industrial Gases Manufacturers Association contradict this assertion, since they indicate that oxygen usage by hospitals has grown exponentially as the number of patients has risen. Compared to an average daily consumption of 750 tonnes by hospitals and care centers in April, this months daily consumption has shot up to 2,700 tonnes. The Modi government and Indian ruling class herd immunity policy is the spearhead of their drive to intensify the exploitation of the working class and rural toilers. Facing a catastrophic 23.9 percent drop in GDP in the April-June quarter and predictions of a year-long contraction of at least 5 percent, Modi has promised to implement a quantum jump of pro-investor reforms. The government has already announced a wave of privatizations, and in the face of mounting farmer protests, last week rammed through parliament two laws that will facilitate the rapid expansion of agri-business. The government is also intent on passing three labor laws in the coming days that will further expand contract labour, gut restrictions on layoffs in the formal or large-scale enterprise sector, weaken Indias already notoriously lax occupational health and safety regulations, and outlaw many worker job actions. This class war assault on the working class, goes hand-in-hand with the governments aggressive drive to expand Indias reactionary, anti-China military-strategic partnership with US imperialism. With active encouragement from Washington and the support of the opposition Congress Party, the Modi government has taken a provocative, bellicose stand in the current border crisis with China; while working with the US, and its principal Asia-Pacific allies, Japan and Australia, to bully and entice western-based firms to develop India into an alternative manufacturing production-chain hub to China. Fearing the growing opposition of workers and rural toilers to its right-wing policies and ruinous response to the pandemic, the BJP government is also exploiting the tensions with China to whip up national chauvinism, and it continues to shamelessly promote anti-Muslim Hindu communalism with the aim of dividing the working class. In this situation, the Indian Stalinists are playing a treacherous role. They are redoubling their efforts to shackle the working class to the BJPs ruling class opponentsthe big business Congress Party, which has long spearheaded the capitalist elites neo-liberal agenda and pursuit of a global strategic partnership with US imperialism, and various regional-chauvinist and caste-based bourgeois parties. The main Stalinist party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM, is in the process of formalizing an electoral alliance with the Congress in West Bengal, Indias fourth largest state. Earlier this month, the CPM publicly welcomed Congress Party President Sonia Gandhis choice of president of the partys state unit, declaring him the right person to lead the Congress-CPM alliance. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 20:30:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's regulation on unreliable entities list does not target any particular country or enterprise, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) stressed Thursday. Whether businesses are included on the list depends on their practices, MOC spokesperson Gao Feng said at a press briefing, adding that China has not preselected enterprises to be included on the list. Gao further noted that the working mechanism of the list will strictly follow the regulation and related work will be carried out in a serious, lawful and prudent manner. "The Chinese government adheres to deepening reform and expanding opening up, and its stance to resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of various market entities will not change," Gao said, noting that honest and law-abiding foreign entities have no need to worry. The MOC on Sept. 19 issued the regulation on the unreliable entities list, which took immediate effect upon release. Enditem The Chairman of Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR), Kelemen Hunor, encouraged people to go to the polls on September 27, claiming that there is no risk of getting sick on election day, if the sanitary rules are observed. "We have seen that in those countries where there have been elections from February until today, there has been a little lower turnout than in other periods, but it was at the beginning of the pandemic. We say: go to the polls! There is no higher risk for you health than when you go to buy a loaf of bread or milk or when you drink a beer with friends on the terrace. A few minutes in the polling station do not make you sick if you follow the proposed sanitary rules, recommended, imposed by specialists, not by politicians. And, therefore, there is no risk of getting sick on election day if you follow the rules," Kelemen Hunor said in a press conference held in Miercurea Ciuc. He pointed out that voting was important, as local authorities need to have legitimacy. He added that it was important for the country to function and that elections could not be abandoned. The press conference in Miercurea Ciuc, organized at the end of the electoral campaign, was also attended by the UDMR candidate for Miercurea Ciuc's mayoralty, Korodi Attila and the Union's candidate for the presidency of the County Council, Borboly Csaba. BRIDGEPORT The probable cause hearings in federal court for former Police Chief Armando AJ Perez and former Personnel Director David Dunn have been rescheduled. Dunns lawyer, Frederick Paoletti, confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the hearings, scheduled for noon Thursday, had been continued. Paoletti said he and Perezs lawyer, Robert Frost, had requested the continuances but he declined further comment. Frost could not be reached for comment. Federal officials did not return calls for comment. No new date for the hearings was immediately scheduled. On Sept. 10, Perez, 64, and Dunn, 72, were charged by federal prosecutors with defrauding the city of Bridgeport by allegedly rigging the 2018 police chief examination and making false statements to federal agents in the course of the investigation. During their arraignment that same day, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Garfinkel continued the case for a probable cause hearing on Thursday. Both men, following their release on $150,000 bonds, resigned their positions with the city. Former assistant U.S. attorney Brian Spears said it is exceedingly rare to have a probable cause hearing in federal court after the government has filed a criminal complaint. Usually the government will go before a grand jury and try to get an indictment. Once a grand jury indicts, that obviates the need for a probable cause hearing, said Spears, speaking generally about federal cases. The criminal complaint against Dunn and Perez states that evidence in the case was presented to a grand jury. Spears said the government generally has 30 days from the time of the arrest to obtain an indictment. But, he said, the parties can agree to continue the date for a probable cause hearing to give the government more time to get an indictment. An investigation is underway after a woman was found dead following a vehicle fire in Etowah County. Sheriffs deputies, Attalla Fire and Rescue and Attalla police responded about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday to a report of a fire on Country Road off Burgess Road in Attalla. A caller to 911 reported that a Chevrolet Astro van was on fire in front of a residence and that a woman was trapped inside, according to sheriffs officials. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and found a woman dead inside. Authorities said she lived at the home where the van was parked. The Etowah County Sheriffs Office is assisting the Alabama Fire Marshalls Office in the continuing investigation of the circumstances that led to the fire and death of the woman. Her body has been sent to the Alabama Dept. of Forensic Science for positive identification and analysis. Tyra Banks made her debut as host of Dancing With The Stars earlier this month, on the show's season 29 premiere. And fans of the long-running celebrity competition series were immediately full of criticism, as they mourned the replacement of veteran hosts Tom Bergeron, 65, and Erin Andrews, 42. After remaining quiet about the initial backlash on social media, the 46-year-old supermodel shared a video on TikTok, about pushing through her mistakes. Speaking up: Tyra Banks defended herself as the new host of Dancing With The Stars after facing criticism on Tuesday night's episode and the show's season 29 premiere 'Tonight I hosted the second episode of Dancing with the Stars... and, it wasn't perfect,' the TV host said in the video. 'Yeah, I had a lot of fun but I messed up, I said the wrong words, but the thing is I kept going.' Then, Banks compared herself to contestant Skai Jackson, who made a noticeable fumble during her samba with partner Alan Bersten on Tuesday. 'She got back up and she kept going, and because of that she's here for another week,' Banks said. 'So the message is: I messed up this week, Skai messed up this week, but we're gonna keep on going and going.' 'Tonight I hosted the second episode of Dancing with the Stars... and, it wasn't perfect,' the TV host said in the video (pictured on Tuesday's episode) 'Forgive yourself when you mess up and keep going,' Banks urged her more than 1.3 followers on the video-sharing app. The former America's Got Talent host has undergone two weeks of trolling on Twitter, with many viewers describing her hosting as 'awkward.' On Tuesday night's episode, many pointed to an exchange with Bachelorette alum Kaitlyn Bristowe. Asking for understanding: Banks compared herself to contestant Skai Jackson, who made a noticeable fumble during her samba with partner Alan Bersten on Tuesday Nobody is perfect: After remaining quiet about the initial backlash on social media, the 46-year-old supermodel shared a video on TikTok, about pushing through her mistakes After performing on an injured ankle, Banks asked how Bristowe was feeling, to which the podcast host joked that the 'cortisone helps' and she was 'doing okay.' After remarking not wearing heels during the performance helped, Banks asked to see her shoes. The request led to an awkward silence, before Banks abruptly said, 'Okay, let's get scores.' Odd: Many pointed to an exchange with Bachelorette alum Kaitlyn Bristowe on Tuesday night Awkward: Fans were confused by the awkward moment between Banks and Bristowe Issues on set: It was unclear if Bristowe simply did not Banks or if she did not have time to respond Fans were confused over the moment, with one Twitter user asking why 'nobody' can hear Tyra, even after she 'repeated herself three times.' Meanwhile, another noted the similarity to last week, when Tiger King's Carole Baskin simply did not respond to Banks' question about whether she 'tapped into her inner tiger' during her performance. 'Carole Baskin not responding to Tyra was just so awkward for TV, I cant,' one viewer tweeted last week. Mixed reviews: Fans were confused over the moment, with one Twitter user asking why 'nobody' can hear Tyra, even after she's 'repeated herself three times' After her debut, a flood of DWTS fans desperately begged for the reinstatement of former hosts Bergeron and Andrews, who were shockingly canned in July. Bergeron had been with the Dancing With The Stars franchise since it launched in 2005, while his former co-host Andrews joined the show in 2014. In an interview with Extra earlier this month, Andrews revealed that her and Tom's unexpected dismissals from Dancing With The Stars 'was a surprise' and that hers came via phone call. Loss of heart: One Twitter user declared that replacing Tom and Erin with Tyra 'replaced the heart of the show' Though there was never a direct reason given as to why the pair were axed, Valerie Bruce, general manager of LA Productions, stated that Dancing With The Stars was being taken 'in a new creative direction' for season 29. She also offered her, 'sincere thanks to Tom and Erin, whom we will always consider part of the Dancing with the Stars' family.' The pair were let go just days before DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that Tyra Banks would be taking over their hosting gig. Adjusting: After her debut, a flood of DWTS fans desperately begged for the reinstatement of Bergeron, 65, and Andrews, 42, who were shockingly canned in July 'Can Tyra please be the first one sent home?' wrote one fan, referencing to the series' nerve-wracking weekly eliminations. Another Twitter user declared that replacing Tom and Erin with Tyra 'replaced the heart of the show.' 'Nothing against her, but it just sounds so off when you hear her voice instead of Tom Bergeron's. On a year where people WANT comfort of the familiar... it's just a really poor decision,' they explained. Even worse: One clearly unimpressed DWTS viewer labeled Tyra as the 'most hated woman on DWTS this season,' above the polarizing Tiger King star Carole Baskin On blast: 'Who ever came up with putting Tyra on this show needs to be fired,' mirrored another The Tyra show: Devout Dancing With The Stars viewers accused Banks of making the show 'all about her,' due to her frequent comments and her eye-catching ensembles worn during the premiere episode Many fans on Twitter aggressively attacked the higher-ups at Dancing With The Stars for 'firing' Tom and Erin. 'The person who fired Tom Bergeron and replaced him with Tyra Banks needs be run out of town. She's awful,' one wrote. 'Who ever came up with putting Tyra on this show needs to be fired,' mirrored another. ROCHESTER, N.Y New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Saturday she will empanel a grand jury to investigate the death of Daniel Prude after he was restrained by three Rochester police officers and stopped breathing in March. The announcement marks a significant milestone in the investigation. Having as yet been unable to interview the officers, James has signaled a willingness to move ahead with presenting a criminal case without them. The Prude family and the Rochester community have been through great pain and anguish," James said in a statement. "My office will immediately move to empanel a grand jury as part of our exhaustive investigation into this matter. Hundreds of protesters gathered Saturday for the fourth night in a row and marched through the city. Chants of "No justice, no peace" and a call-and-response of "Black Lives Matter" filled the air. Police eventually declared the demonstration to be an unlawful assembly and ordered the crowd to disperse. There were reports of police using pepper balls and tear gas and multiple accounts were that the police response came after someone lit and possibly threw a firework. Rochester protest: Sights and sounds from Saturday The state has been investigating Prude's death since mid-April. But it wasn't until Wednesday, when Prude's family came forward with police body-cam video of their loved one's encounter with Rochester officers that the community and now the entire nation learned what had happened. Daniel Prude The Monroe County medical examiner ruled Prude's death a homicide, resulting from asphyxiation after being pinned to the pavement while handcuffed, naked and suffering a mental-health episode. Prude's brother Joseph Prude had called 911 after his brother fled his house in the early-morning hours of March 23. Rochester police officers involved in the case "have not been made available" to speak to investigators, the attorney general's office said Saturday. Reasons for that and other holdups in the case are disputed by parties including the union representing Rochester police officers. Story continues Daniel Prude timeline: Black man died after Rochester, NY police restrained him Rochester mayor: 'Daniel Prude was failed by our police our society, and by me' A grand jury is not a means to compel that testimony, as officers would need to be granted immunity to do so. In a prepared statement, Mayor Lovely Warren thanked James and asked "that the community ... allow the AGs process to go forth on behalf of the Prude family. Separately, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello issued a statement that read: "Daniel Prudes life mattered and the tragic circumstance surrounding his death has caused enormous pain for our community. We have all been left with too many questions and not enough answers. Attorney General Letitia James announcement that she will move to empanel a grand jury is an important first step in getting those answers that Mr. Prudes family and our community rightfully deserve." Michael Mazzeo, president of the Rochester Police Locust Club, the officers' labor union, said via email: "We understand and support New York Attorney General Letitia James' announcement to complete an exhaustive investigation. We believe that an independent Investigation that is conducted by her office in a fair and unbiased way determining and seeking the truth is needed in our community." Spit hoods: Why are they used by police? Sept. 3: Rochester mayor suspends 7 police officers with pay in death of Daniel Prude If the grand jury does not return an indictment, James office will be required to issue a report explaining the circumstances surrounding Prudes death and the outcome of the case. That is according to a 2015 executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo granting the Attorney Generals Office jurisdiction in cases where unarmed civilians die in police confrontations or custody. The report would also recommend any systemic changes that should be implemented in the wake of the case. Cuomo issued a statement Saturday evening that read: "Earlier this week, I called for the investigation into Daniel Prude's death to be expedited. Today, I applaud Attorney General Tish James for taking swift, decisive action in empaneling a grand jury justice delayed is justice denied and the people of New York deserve the truth." Follow Brian Sharp on Twitter @sharproc. Contributing: Ryan Miller, Jon Campbell This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Daniel Prude death: New York to empanel grand jury United States President Donald Trump has declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the November 3 presidential election, complaining about the use of mail-in ballots and terming them a "disaster". Asked whether he will leave the White House peacefully, if he loses the election, Trump responded: "Well, we're going to have to see what happens." "We are going to have to see what happens, you know that. I have been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster...," Trump told reporters at a White House news conference on Wednesday. "Mr President, real quickly, win, lose or draw in this election, will you commit here today for a peaceful transferral of power after the election? And there has been rioting in Louisville, there has been rioting in many cities across this country -- red and so-called red and blue states -- will you commit to making sure that there is a peaceful transferral of power after the election?" he was asked. Not satisfied with the answer, the reporter again asked. "Do you commit to making sure that there is a peaceful transferal of power?" Trump exuded confidence that there will be continuation of power. "We want to get rid of the ballots and we will have a very peaceful -- there will not 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," the president said as he refused to take any other question from the same journalist. "Go ahead. Please go ahead. Yes, go ahead. You asked a question. Go ahead please," he said. In response to Trump's comments on committing to a peaceful transition of power, former Vice President and Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden said: "What country are we in? I'm being facetious. I said what country are we in? Look, he says the most irrational things. I don't know what to say." Utah Senator Mitt Romney also commented on the president's words, writing on Twitter on Wednesday, he said: "Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable." During an interview with Fox News earlier this year, Trump didn't commit to accepting the election results either, saying "I have to see." Trump has claimed that mail-in voting is susceptible to massive fraud. Trump's attacks on the balloting have led to concerns that he is undermining the trust in the election process and will contest the results if he loses. Even though he won the 2016 election, he still falsely claimed that there was massive fraud in California, which his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton won handily. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) swiftly condemned President Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he lose the November election, tweeting, "This is how democracy dies." Trump told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that mail-in ballots are "a disaster" and officials will need to "get rid" of them. Trump has been claiming, without any evidence, that more mail-in ballots being sent due to the coronavirus pandemic will result in a rigged election, and it won't be in his favor. Schiff tweeted that Trump won't commit to a peaceful transition because he is "so desperate to cling to power," and that's also why he "seeks to throw out millions of votes." The Republican Party is "too craven to say a word," he continued, but Americans "will fight back." Schiff later appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show, and said now is the time for "all good people of conscious to speak and to act to preserve our democracy, because there is no longer any question about this president's intentions. His autocratic intentions are as clear as the writing on the wall." Trump has "so clearly telegraphed his intent" not to give up power if he loses re-election, and his statements are those of "a would-be dictator," Schiff said. "There's just no ignoring them anymore. There's no wishing them away. There's no pretending he doesn't mean what he says. There's too much evidence to the contrary." Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) also spoke out against Trump's remarks, although his tweet was milder. "Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus," Romney said. "Any suggestion that a president might not respect this constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable." 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 A baby born just a fortnight after the abortion limit weighing 2lbs 6oz has been thriving at home after spending eleven weeks on a ventilator. Now six months old and a healthy 16lbs, Bailey Appleyard arrived more than three months early when his mother Clair Felstead, 25, from Leighton, Cheshire, went into labour at 25 weeks and six days. Most abortions in England, Wales and Scotland are carried out before 24 weeks of pregnancy - and only performed after if the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability. Doctors put Bailey on a ventilator after he was diagnosed with chronic lung disease - which causes breathing problems - and Clair and partner Jordan, 25, were forced to leave their son alone at the hospital due to COVID-19 restrictions. The parents were allowed to visit separately on alternating days, before finally taking their newborn home in late May, a week before his initial due date. A baby born just a fortnight after the abortion limit weighing 2lbs 6oz has been thriving at home after contracting chronic lung disease and spending eleven weeks on a ventilator. Pictured, Bailey Appleyard and mother Clair Now six months old and a healthy 16lbs (pictured right), Bailey Appleyard (pictured left, after his birth) arrived more than three months early when his mother Clair Felstead, 25, from Leighton, Cheshire, went into labour at 25 weeks and six days Doctors were forced to put the 2lbs 6oz baby (pictured recently) on a ventilator after he was diagnosed with chronic lung disease - which causes breathing problems Clair said: 'Jordan and I were terrified when we were told that he could die at any moment if not under the most professional care. We were told by the doctor that I was asking questions they don't know the answer to which scared me even more.' The call centre worker said she was surprised when she went into labour on the 23rd February after being told the pregnancy was progressing normally. She was getting ready for work, but visited the hospital immediately after feeling labour pains, recalling: 'It was almost like he was just ready to come out early, we experienced no complications or health warnings.' Clair went to the hospital that morning and found out from the doctor that she was 6cm dilated. 'I was given tablets to delay the pregnancy by 48 hours as I wanted to make sure the baby was safe, two days later, I gave birth to baby Bailey', she added. Clair and partner Jordan, 25, were forced to leave their son (pictured) alone at the hospital due to COVID-19 restrictions The parents (pictured with their son after his birth) were allowed to visit separately on alternating days, before finally taking their newborn home in late May, a week before his initial due date The call centre worker said she was surprised when she went into labour on the 23rd February after being told the pregnancy was progressing normally. Pictured, Bailey just after he was born EXPLAINED: PREMATURE BIRTH AND ITS RISKS TO BABIES Around 10 per cent of all pregnancies worldwide result in premature labour - defined as a delivery before 37 weeks. When this happens, not all of the baby's organs, including the heart and lungs, will have developed. They can also be underweight and smaller. Tommy's, a charity in the UK, says this can mean preemies 'are not ready for life outside the womb'. Premature birth is the largest cause of neonatal mortality in the US and the UK, according to figures. Babies born early account for around 1,500 deaths each year in the UK. In the US, premature birth and its complications account for 17 per cent of infant deaths. Babies born prematurely are often whisked away to neonatal intensive care units, where they are looked after around-the-clock. What are the chances of survival? Less than 22 weeks is close to zero chance of survival 22 weeks is around 10% 24 weeks is around 60% 27 weeks is around 89% 31 weeks is around 95% 34 weeks is equivalent to a baby born at full term Advertisement Despite the medics best efforts, Bailey was born at 25 weeks and six days at Leighton Hospital in Crewe. Neither Clair or Jordan were allowed to hold him, and at just 30-minutes-old, Bailey was rushed 31 miles away from his parents to a hospital in Liverpool. Clair said: 'I saw my baby come out and he was laid on the table for a moment and then sweeped off into an ambulance to Liverpool. Doctors at Leighton hospital told me the baby would have a better chance of survival at the Liverpool hospital. 'I struggled with so many emotions. This was my first baby and I just wanted everything to go perfectly.' Doctors weren't able to say what caused his early arrival, but put him on continuous antibiotics to avoid contagious illnesses and infections and monitored his lungs and oxygen. Clair (pictured left) was getting ready for work, but visited the hospital immediately after feeling labour pains, recalling: 'It was almost like he was just ready to come out early, we experienced no complications or health warnings.' Pictured right: Bailey and dad Jordan Clair went to the hospital that morning and found out from the doctor that she was 6cm dilated. Pictured, Bailey recently Bailey (pictured with his mother after his birth) was born at 25 weeks and six days at Leighton Hospital in Crewe He was diagnosed with chronic lung disease as a result of his prematurity and was put on a ventilator for eleven weeks, until he reached 36 weeks of gestation. WHAT IS CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE? Chronic lung disease (CLD) is a lung condition that can cause long-term breathing problems. Babies born prematurely are more likely to get CLD. The condition can develop in infants who need ventilators to help them breathe in their early days. Sometimes premature babies are born before their lungs are fully formed, meaning they cannot properly take in and absorb oxygen to stay alive. The lungs also may not produce enough surfactant - a fluid that helps keep the lungs open. Children suffering with this condition are given extra oxygen. The condition most commonly affects babies who are born more than 10 weeks before their due dates and weigh less than 2 pounds. It affects around 10,000 newborns every year in the US. It's not known how many children in the UK develop the illness. Advertisement During his growth, Bailey was also diagnosed with E-coli, which symptoms include severe stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Clair said: 'As a first time mother, I was scared of anything and everything. We had fears that Bailey would have different infections everyday that could be deadly. 'He was put on a ventilator and was fed through a drip but we weren't told much else unless we were there.' Due to the coronavirus lockdown, Clair and Jordan, 25, stayed in a local hotel and were only allowed to visit baby Bailey separately and on alternating days. Clair said: 'Coronavirus ruined my first three months with my baby - I just wanted to spend everyday cuddling him, but I couldn't. 'It's one thing going through what we went through and that heartbreak, but it's another just not being able to see him and spend time with him.' Bailey was discharged in late May, a week before his initial due date and is now six- months-old and weighs around 16lbs, and is a healthy, bubbly baby. He even towers over the cherished cuddly teddy octopus which once dwarfed him following his recovery. Due to coronavirus, parents are unable to take their babies to the clinic as often unless of emergency. Clair added: 'I laid him next to the octopus teddy in his crib and he is has grown so much bigger than it he's so cute. 'The whole experience was full of ups and downs and so many emotions. I am so glad to have him in the house living with me and Jordan.' SRINAGAR: The security forces on Wednesday killed one unidentified terrorist in Tral Awantipora area in Jammu and Kashmir. According to initial reports, the encounter started at Maghama area of Tral Awantipora after receiving specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area. According to J&K Police, one unidentified terrorist has been killed in the encounter. One terrorist killed. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow, the Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet. #Encounter has started at #Maghama area of #Tral #Awantipora. 01 unidentified #terrorist killed. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) September 24, 2020 The identity of the slain terrorist is being ascertained by the security forces. Live TV Additional reinforcement has also been rushed to the encounter site. Meanwhile, a search and combing operation is also currently underway in the area to flush out terrorists hiding in the area. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 16:52 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46fa659 1 National Jokowi,village-economy,village-funds,COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,Joko-Widodo,economic-crisis Free The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic should serve as a turning point for the improvement of the village economy as ruralization takes place amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, President Joko Jokowi Widodo has said. The President said the current economic downturn experienced by the country, which has resulted in rising unemployment in big cities, had eventually forced large numbers of people to return to their hometowns to survive. When economic crisis happens in urban areas, villages are supposed to be the buffer zones as ruralization occurs, Jokowi said during a meeting on accelerating the village economy in Merdeka Palace on Thursday. Read also: Govt targets village funds program to speed up aid to 8 million poor families He said he had instructed his subordinates to ensure that all social safety net programs targeting people in rural areas run effectively and on target. Among the said programs are the Family Hope Program (PKH) and the village funds program. Make sure that the funds are received by the COVID-19-affected villagers and those who badly need them, the President added, as quoted by kompas.com. The government estimates that up to 5.23 million Indonesians may lose their jobs during the pandemic, while up to 4.89 million people may fall below the poverty line as the health crisis brings economic activity to a standstill. His administration has planned to increase spending on village fund cash assistance to Rp 31.8 trillion (US$2.14 billion) after previously allocating Rp 21.2 trillion to protect those at greater risk of falling into poverty. (vny) New Delhi, Sep 24 : Terming it "frivolous", the Supreme Court on Thursday imposed Rs 10,000 cost on a petitioner who filed a PIL seeking direction to the Centre and IITs to formulate and implement a programme to address the menace of rising suicide cases on their campuses. A bench comprising Justices R.F. Nariman, Navin Sinha and Indira Banerjee said this is an utterly frivolous petition and asked the petitioner-in-person Gaurav Kumar Bansal: "How much cost should we impose on you?" The bench noted that the Centre is well aware of the situation and dismissed the plea raising the issues of suicides on IIT campuses across the country. During a brief hearing on the matter, Bansal argued that nearly 50 students have died by suicide in the IITs in the last five years. He urged the top court to intervene in the matter and also directed the Education Ministry and the IITs to formulate and implement a "student wellness programme" but the bench said it is not inclined to entertain the plea. The lawyer submitted that a committee was earlier formed to probe into the causes behind suicide by students, and insisted that the situation remains the same. Citing the Centre's response on the matter, the court told the petitioner that authorities were alive to the matter. "We are dismissing it with Rs 10,000 as cost payable to the legal services authority," said the bench. The plea had urged the apex court to direct all IITs to immediately plan, design, formulate and effectively implement a student health wellness programme. And, this programme should focus on prevention and reduction of suicides within the institutes, the plea sought. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A lawsuit filed by a parent alleges that a South Jersey school administrator repeatedly contacted her high school daughter via cellphone for no school-related reason. The state Superior Court lawsuit against Penns Grove Middle School Vice Principal Abner Mendoza, the board of education and the superintendent, alleges that on several occasions Mendoza sent the teen text messages using his personal phone. The suit states that the district took no serious action when the matter was raised, saying BOE acknowledges that Mendoza acted outside the realm of what is deemed appropriate and only required him to take a class on the use of technology and communication with students. These text messages were of an unwarranted and of a personal nature, according to the suit. School officials rejected the allegation in a statement issued Wednesday. The district emphatically denies the baseless charges in the complaint, will vigorously defend the matter and looks forward to a dismissal," according to the statement provided by Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District Superintendent Zenaida Cobian. The girls mother, whose name is not being released by NJ Advance Media in order to avoid identifying her child, said in an interview earlier this year that Mendoza had been contacting her daughter for years through the school email server. When the conversations moved to her cellphone, her daughter decided to take action. She realized something was not right with that situation at that point, the students mother told NJ Advance Media. "He was asking her things like, are you home alone? There is nothing that you can say to me that this is innocent. The suit does not describe the content of the messages, beyond saying Mendozas actions were inappropriate. Penns Grove High School Principal Lory OBrien, who reported the students claims to the Carneys Point Police Department in January, called the administrators conduct alarming, according to a police report filed over the matter. OBrien stated it is not unusual for students and teachers to form a bond or friendship, but the fact that (the administrator) began contacting the student by cellular phone, which is against school policy, is alarming, the police report states. School district policy prohibits contact between district employees and students unless they are sent to the entire class, team, club or organization, and are limited to only discussing school business. The Division of Child Protection and Permanency was contacted and advised the district to document the incident with police, according to the police report. The mother of the student told NJ Advance Media she was alarmed when she learned about the texts. He told her not to store his phone number, she said. That was the telling one right there. Authorities confirmed this week that no charges were filed against Mendoza. As far as I can see, he has not been removed from his job, the mother added. As far as I know, nothing has happened. The mother said when she met with the superintendent, she was told any disciplinary action against the administrator was confidential. Mendoza remained employed by the BOE and had remained able to have contact with the minor student, according to the suit. Mendoza was not removed from his position, but in fact promoted with little to no consequences. Beyond the statement issued by the district, Cobian and Mendoza did not respond to questions about the allegations. The suit, which claims intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence, seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as damages for mental anguish. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. A teacher who spoke out about alleged cheating at a primary school has told a court she had endured 'months of hell' and was told to watch her back. Donna-Maria Thomas raised concerns about 'overgrading' and said pupils were being told 'don't write that, write this'. Her allegations, which came out at her trial on Thursday, relate to Aldingbourne Primary School near Chichester, West Sussex. The 45-year-old is accused of illegally accessing up to six of her colleagues' email accounts to see if they were talking about her. She is appearing at Portsmouth Crown Court for trial after pleading not guilty to securing unauthorised access to computer material. Donna-Maria Thomas is accused of email snooping and says she 'was told to watch her back after complaining colleagues were boosting test scores by telling pupils to change answers' Giving evidence on Thursday, Thomas told the court: 'The cheating is overgrading the children, so helping them, telling them to change their answer, don't write that, write this. 'It could be not marking accurately the test papers they did or just not having evidence to back up what we have teacher-assessed them.' Jurors heard that she reported her concerns and an investigation was launched. Her defence barrister Daniel Darnbrough asked her if that investigation changed her relationship with anyone at the school. She said: 'Yes, with everybody at the school. 'People were openly hostile to me. People made derogatory comments. People would walk out of rooms when I walked in.' Thomas said she was regularly asked when she was leaving and added that her lunch went missing. In an email read out in court, she described how one member of staff had warned her to watch her back because 'they are all gunning for me'. She added to the court: 'I wasn't happy but I knew that what I did in disclosing the cheating was the right thing to do. 'It was about doing what was right for the children and ultimately what was right for the school.' Thomas said she identified a 'definite undercurrent' and there were members of staff who would not forgive her for being 'disloyal' to the headteacher. In her police interview, part of which was read out in court on Thursday, she told officers she had endured 'six months of hell'. She said: 'I felt vulnerable at school in a position where people are looking for ways to get rid of me because of the whistleblowing. 'I have had now nearly eight months of having to watch my back, watch what I say.' She said this was 'because I told the truth in a very difficult situation' and added that she believed people were 'plotting' ways to get rid of her. Relationships at the primary school 'soured' when Thomas discovered a holiday to Ibiza she had already booked flights for was authorised by 'mistake' and she was forced to cancel. Her row with headteacher Liz Webster (pictured) then escalated and Thomas began making a string of complaints to school governors, Portsmouth Crown Court heard yesterday Thomas is accused of illegally accessing computers at Aldingbourne Primary School, Chichester, (pictured) West Sussex, and scouring accounts with 'highly confidential' material It comes after a court heard she is accused of illegally accessing up to six of her colleagues' email as part of a feud with the headmistress for cancelling her holiday. Prosecutors told the jury relationships at the school 'soured' when Thomas discovered a holiday she had already booked flights for was authorised by 'mistake' and she was forced to cancel. Her row with headteacher Liz Webster then escalated and Thomas began making a string of complaints to school governors, Portsmouth Crown Court heard yesterday. She then allegedly began logging into the private school accounts of at least five staff members 'without authorisation', scouring emails for anything 'she could use'. The trial continues. SPRINGFIELD Massachusetts State Police and Springfield Police arrested a Chicopee man on gun charges after he fought with them and allegedly attempted to grab an officers gun. Darnell Engram, 33, of Chicopee, was arrested at about 10 p.m., Tuesday, and charged with carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of ammunition without a permit, assault and battery on a police officer, attempt to disarm a police officer, resisting arrest and on motor vehicle charges, state police said. Trooper Justin Dauplaise was patrolling Interstate-91 near Exit 11 when he saw Engram driving a rental car erratically. Engram left the highway and Dauplaise pulled him over on Walter Street in Springfield. There he learned Engram was required to wear corrective lenses when driving and was not, so he asked him to exit the car, police said. Engram stalled and then exited the car ran from Dauplaise. He and Springfield Police Officer Teddy Cass, who arrived to assist, caught up to Engram who then fought with the two, police said. During the struggle, Engram kicked and punched in an effort to escape again. The struggle continued until a point where Engram attempted to removeCasss duty firearm, partially dislodging it from his duty belt, police said. The two with the help of Sgt. Reynaldo Bermudez, who responded to assist, were able to handcuff Engram. Police then searched the area where the struggle occurred and located a loaded 9mm Ruger pistol, police said. Engram was held overnight on $100,000 bail and was scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday. Related Content: Qantas is now selling its old drink trolleys stocked to the brim with mini bottles of red and white wine, Champagne, and bar snacks. The vintage bar carts were removed from the airline's iconic Boeing 747 aircraft after operating for almost 50 years before retiring in July. The sale comes after Qantas revealed plans to cut further costs, including ending its 30-year partnership with Rugby Australia, in an attempt to recover lost profits during the coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday, the airline opened its memorabilia storage shed to the public, offering 1,000 Qantas 747 bar carts for sale from $947.70 each. Each pre-loved cart comes complete with 40 mini bottles of red wine, 40 mini bottles of white and a bottle of Champagne from the airline's business class cellar, Tim Tams, pajamas and an exclusive-to-Qantas first class Sheridan throw. Within hours of the sale going live, all 1,000 drink trolleys were completely sold out after nostalgic flyers wanted a piece of aviation history. Qantas is now selling its old drink trolleys stocked to the brim with mini bottles of red and white wine, Champagne, and bar snacks Within hours of the sale going live, all 1,000 drink trolleys were completely sold out after nostalgic flyers wanted a piece of aviation history Qantas executive manager of product and service Phil Capps said the airline wanted to offer a unique opportunity for aviation enthusiasts to own a piece of the 747 legacy, particularly at a time when travel was out of reach for many. '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,' he said. 'While we no longer have use for them, they still have life in them, especially for those with an appreciation for aviation collectables and an eye for design. 'There has been huge demand for Qantas 747 memorabilia and Frequent Flyers have expressed keen interest to convert the bespoke in-flight trolley into everything from lamp stands to storage units. 'The fact they come fully stocked with some of Qantas' most popular on-board service items will hopefully inspire some high-flying fun at home.' Mr Capps said customers have been ordering the airline's wine to enjoy at home while its 'iso care kits' featuring pajamas sold out within hours. The half bar carts were sold for $974.70 each, including delivery, while the full size carts with double the items were available for $1474.70. Each pre-loved cart comes complete with 40 mini bottles of red wine, 40 mini bottles of white and a bottle of Champagne from the airline's business class cellar, Tim Tams, pajamas and an exclusive-to-Qantas first class Sheridan throw The airline operated various incarnations of the 747 'Queen of the Skies' for almost 50 years before retiring the jumbo jet six months early as part of its response to the COVID-19 crisis. The farewell of the last Qantas 747 in July inspired an outpouring of affection and nostalgia from Australians. Meanwhile, Qantas has grounded most of its fleet due to travel restrictions and recently recorded a $1.9 billion annual loss for the 2019/2020 financial year. Up to 20,000 staff have been stood down while 8,000 have been made redundant. On Wednesday, the airline announced it will end its 30-year partnership with the Wallabies at the end of this year. 'In an environment where thousands of our people have lost jobs and thousands more are stood down while they wait for flying to restart, we can't maintain these sponsorships in the way we have in the past,' Qantas chief customer officer Stephanie Tully said. 'While we're dealing with this crisis and its aftermath, the cash cost of our sponsorships has to be zero. Without exception, our partners have been incredibly understanding of the situation, particularly as most are facing their own COVID challenges. 'Qantas has had a very long association with Rugby Australia and the Wallabies, and we've stuck with each other during difficult times. Unfortunately, this pandemic has been the undoing. Like all Australians, we'll continue to cheer them on from the sidelines.' By PTI MUMBAI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Thursday said that actor Rakul Preet Singh has acknowledged the summons sent to her to join the probe being conducted by the agency into an alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus. Earlier in the day, the actor in her official statement said that she has "not received the alleged summons either at Mumbai or Hyderabad so far". However, NCB officials said the actor was contacted through various platforms, including a phone number which is available with the agency. "She has acknowledged the summons," a senior NCB official said adding that she will join the probe soon. The NCB, which began the probe after a drugs angle came to light in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajput's alleged suicide, has now widened its investigation and asked some 'A-list' celebrities of the Mumbai film industry, to "join the probe", an official said on Wednesday. The NCB on Wednesday summoned actors Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh, among others, for questioning. Earlier, NCB sources had claimed that there was a "reference" to Rakul Preet Singh and Sara Ali Khan in the statement of Rajput's girlfriend and actor Rhea Chakraborty, who has been arrested in the case. An official said that on Thursday morning, fashion designer Simone Khambata, who was summoned by the NCB to join the probe, reached the agency's guest house in south Mumbai around 9:30 am. "Her name cropped up in the questioning of some persons during the probe in the matter," he said. Rajput's former manager Shruti Modi also appeared before the NCB probe team on Thursday, the official said. "Some WhatsApp chats of the persons who were questioned earlier by the NCB suggested discussion about drugs," he said. The agency has so far registered two cases, one pertaining to drugs angle related to Rajput's death case and the other in connection with the alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus, a senior official said, adding that "both the cases have common linkages". "Actors Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor will be questioned in connection with both the cases," he said. WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he lose this year's presidential race, while suggesting that the election will be challenged in court. "We're going to have to see what happens," Trump said during a press briefing at the White House when asked if he would make sure there is "a peaceful transferal of power" after the election in November. He went after mail-in ballots, which many parts of the country have expanded to allow people to vote safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster," said Trump, who has claimed that a wider use of mail-in ballots would lead to massive voter fraud, while U.S. election experts and media have argued there is no evidence of meaningful fraud in vote by mail. The president went on suggesting he would win the election if there is no expansion of mail-in voting. "Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful -- there won't be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation," he added. Trump is currently trailing 2020 Democratic presidential nominee and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden nationally by 10 points, according to a pair of polls released on Wednesday. Surveys showed tight races in a number of key battleground states, where the two rivals have made frequent campaign stops. During a White House event earlier on Wednesday, Trump said he believes the country's highest court would have to weigh in on the election. "I think this will end up in the Supreme Court," the president said. "And I think it's very important that we have nine justices." Trump is considering candidates to fill the seat vacated by the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last week at age 87 due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer. Five women are on his shortlist. He will announce the Supreme Court nominee on Saturday afternoon and has said he wants a full Senate vote before Election Day, which falls on Nov. 3, a move intended to fire up his supporters. Republicans, who have a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, appear to have enough votes to confirm the pick that would cement a 6-3 conservative majority on the nine-justice bench. Only two Republican senators have said they opposed taking up a Supreme Court nominee prior to the election. "I think we should go very quickly. You see the Republicans are very united," Trump said. "I think it's better if you go before the election because I think this -- this scam that the Democrats are pulling -- it's a scam -- this scam will be before the United States Supreme Court. And I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation." In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in a disputed recount of votes in Florida with a 5-4 ruling, effectively handing that year's presidential election to Republican presidential candidate and then governor of Texas George W. Bush, who won 271 electoral votes, one more than a majority. However, Bush lost the popular vote to Democrat Al Gore. Biden campaigned in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday. Trump will also visit the city on Thursday before traveling to Jacksonville, Florida, for a rally. Responding to Trump's remarks on the election on Wednesday, Biden said "Look, he says the most irrational things. I don't know what to say." US Secretary of State on Wednesday said that the Chinese Communist Party knew how virulent COVID-19 that originated in Wuhan was adding that Beijing censored and made courageous whistleblowers who tried to sound the alarm disappear. US Secretary of State on Wednesday said that the Chinese Communist Party knew how virulent COVID-19 was that originated in Wuhan adding that Beijing "censored and disappeared courageous whistleblowers who tried to sound the alarm". "The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) knew how virulent the was that originated in Wuhan. They censored and disappeared courageous whistleblowers and journalists who tried to sound the alarm. They allowed people from Wuhan to travel abroad," Pompeo said at an address in Wisconsin. He further accused the CCP of having a sinister vision of engagement and wants to make Americans receptive to its authoritarianism. "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. I say "CCP" because I want to draw a distinction between China's leaders and the Chinese people, who just want to live in freedom, peace, and prosperity...whose vibrancy is also evident in the many Chinese-American communities wonderfully woven into the fabric of America," Pompeo added. Pompeo further said that in August, the General Secretary of the CCP, Xi Jinping, told a group of government economists and sociologists in Beijing that must actively develop cooperation with all countries, regions and enterprises willing to cooperate with Beijing, including states, localities and enterprises in the United States. "As Secretary of State and the former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, allow me to translate. Xi knows that the federal government is pushing back again the CCP's malign influence. He sees that here in the US, and increasingly, around the world. General Secretary Xi thinks you're the weak link. For him, 'cooperation' and 'opening-up' mean the CCP wants to create arrangements that only benefit the CCP," he said. Pompeo added, "We know that because, for decades, the CCP deployed friendly language while stealing from our innovators, building military strength, and co-opting our elites." Pompeo further said that this "wasn't" Cold War calling the CCP's efforts as "more sophisticated, multi-layered, and nuanced" however added that the people are "starting to have these conversations". "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 challenge. The good news is that we're starting to have these conversations, and not a moment too soon," the Secretary of State said. Pompeo pointed out that the CCP campaigns targeting state-level officials, and local interests, have been in full swing for years, and they're increasing in intensity. "The Trump administration rejects the idea Beijing is destined for hegemony. No top-down totalitarian regime can ever best the ingenuity, will, and power of the American people... Democrat or Republican, you have a friend in the Trump Administration to help you push back against the CCP's exploitation of our open society," 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.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 24 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Azerbaijan is one of the most tolerant countries in relation to representatives of other nations, former First Secretary of Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan Mikhail Barkan told Trend. The countrys tolerance can also be seen in the way how Azerbaijan respects the culture of other people in the country, he added. "Azerbaijan is the only country in the world where there is a historical Jewish settlement Krasnaya Sloboda," Barkan said, adding that previously there were such settlements in Russia, the US, Belarus, and other countries. He also noted that Azerbaijan has a clear understanding of foreign policy priorities. "Despite the fact that Israel previously had tense relations with some Muslim countries, Azerbaijan has always been a close friend of Israel," Barkan said. Barkan added that the people of Azerbaijan and Israel have centuries-old relations of friendship, which is reflected in the multi-level cooperation of the countries. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva JOLIET, IL Fall is officially here, and there aren't too many weeks of gorgeous weather left in 2020 for Will County. But, if you're in the mood to eat your lunch outside, you should consider a visit to Supermercado Joliet. A lot of people in Joliet already know this, but Supermercado has an outstanding taco stand in the back of its grocery store at the busy intersection of Cass and Collins Streets. On Tuesday, I visited Supermercado and ordered their taco dinner. For exactly $8, you get three fresh tacos, rice and beans, plus a can of pop. And the sales tax is also figured into the pricing, so when Supermercado proclaims that the meal is $8, it's $8, not a penny more. This was my first time trying out the taco stand. I was amazed at how fast my taco dinner was ready. It kind of reminded me of Joe's Hot Dogs on Plainfield Road as far as the efficiency. For instance, you don't see customers standing around the lobby of Joe's Hot Dogs for 10 or 15 minutes waiting for their food order. Joe's is fast when it comes to serving up hot dogs, fries and onion rings, and so is Supermercado Joliet when it comes to their tacos. At Supermercado, my meal came out of the pick up window about 90 seconds after I paid for it. Owner Lucia Kulbartz kept busy preparing customers' meals at the Supermercado Joliet taco stand on Tuesday. Image via John Ferak Supermercado has several metal chairs and tables overlooking Collins Street, and that's where I enjoyed my food. One thing I'll say about the beans. They're a little on the spicy side. They have a little kick to them, and I enjoyed that. For my three taco choices, I went with Asada, Pollo and Al pastor. Supermercado also has Chorizo, Cabeza, Barbacoa, Chicharron, a veggie taco, Shrimp, Tripa and Cecina. If you aren't in the mood for an entire taco dinner, Supermercado offers several tacos for $2. For many years, Supermercado was famous for their $1 taco, but since the new coronavirus impacted the worldwide economy, Supermercado said it's not feasible to sell the $1 tacos for the time being. Story continues One of the only things on the menu that isn't a taco are the Elotes. For $2, you can get the corn on a stick, or for $3 you can get the corn in a cup. Supermercado's Taco Stand draws a pretty good crowd when the weather's terrific like it has been of late. Supermercado's other claim to fame is painted in front of the taco stand. "The Original Taco Truck." At the moment, the family owners of Supermercado Joliet have their food truck parked along Plainfield Road near Caton Farm Road in an unincorporated part of Crest Hill. A sign on the brick wall at Supermercado Joliet says, "Our story began with a family butchers from Jalisco, Mexico, and their journey to Joliet, Illinois. In 1996, after noticing a growing need for the foods they missed so dearly, they decided to do what they knew best and opened a small grocery store making Hispanic products easily available." On Tuesday afternoon, Supermercado owner Lucia Kulbartz told me that she is proud of the diversity at the taco stand. Tuesday's lunch-hour crowd included several people who are Hispanic, as well as a number of people who are white and Black. The Joliet business owner said the location of Supermercado Joliet continues to work well for her family. She's just a couple blocks away from the Joliet Central High School campus. "The location we have is the perfect spot," she said. "Cass Street is Route 30 and Collins Street is Route 171." The taco stand is also a hit for people outside Joliet, the owner told me. Since the pandemic, Supermercado regularly gets customers who drive in from Morris and Romeoville. There is one man from Wisconsin who rides a motorcycle, and every summer he makes it a priority to visit Supermercado's taco stand. "Every summer he comes looking for a place to eat," Kulbartz told me proudly. Supermercado Joliet has lots of information about its foods on its website, which is rich with the grocery store's Joliet history. To learn more, visit the website here. The Supermercado Joliet grocery store was busy helping customers on Tuesday. Image via John Ferak/Patch Since Certified Foods closed both its east-side grocery stores in 2017, Supermercado Joliet is even more important for residents of Joliet's east side in search of produce and meats. Image via John Ferak/Patch This article originally appeared on the Joliet Patch A fly-in-fly-out worker had to be fitted with an electronic ankle bracket after allegedly breaching coronavirus hotel quarantine on multiple occasions. Thomas Forster, 35, arrived on a flight from Queensland to Western Australia and was directed to undergo mandatory self isolation for 14 days in the Perth suburb of Redcliff. But police prosecutors told Perth Magistrates court on Wednesday the Fortescue Metals worker invited a woman in his hotel room twice between September 12 and 14, and later went out to a party where he 'mingled with a small group of people'. Fly-in-fly-out worker, Thomas Forster, has faced court over multiple quarantine breaches He has been charged with four counts of failing to comply with a direction from the state's Chief Health Officer. The court heard that police and health authorities decided to fit Forster with the monitoring device after it was revealed he had breached quarantine laws in South Australia on July 20. Forster and two others were fined a total of $9,000 after faking an urgent medical emergency to sneak into across the South Australian border from the coronavirus hotspot Victoria. They had received a police exemption to attend the Riverland General Hospital at Yamba Point to treat a fractured ankle, but the group never arrived. Forster was spotted the following day having a beer at the Mawsons Lake Hotel. The court was also told Forster failed to answer bail on March 13 in Victoria after two bail breaches stemming from 2018. Police fitted Forster with an electronic ankle bracket after it was revealed he had breached quarantine laws in South Australia on July 20 (stock image) Forster (pictured left) was one of three people who faked a medical emergency to sneak across the South Australian border from Victoria 'After careful consideration of the circumstances of the breaches and the man's history, the State Emergency Co-ordinator formed a view that it was necessary to monitor his location during the quarantine period,' Police told the court, the West Australian reported. Forster, who was the second person in Western Australia ordered to wear an ankle bracelet while under hotel quarantine, did not enter a plea at the hearing. Magistrate Joanne Andretich said the allegations are 'very serious' and banned Forster from being 1km from an airport unless travelling to his work site in the Pilbara. Magistrate Andretich also imposed several other bail conditions which included a $1000 personal undertaking and surety. Police have since removed Forster's monitoring device upon the completion of his quarantine period. The matter will continue in court on November 2. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_4d6.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_4d6 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_4d6.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_4d6.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_4d6.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement The government of Anambra State has heartily congratulated Councillor Ernest Ezeajughi, the trailblazing scientist who was recently re-elected to serve a second four-year term as the Mayor of Brent. Ernest Nnaama Ezeajughi first made worldwide headlines in 2019 when he was first elected the Mayor of the London Borough of Brent in England with a population, with a populatiin of 331,000. According to a statement in Awka today by the Anbambra State Commissioner for Information, C. Don Adinuba, both Governor Willie Obiano and his wife, Mrs Ebele Obiano, have spoken to Mayor Ezeajughi, who was also the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) leader in the United Kingdom, on his victory. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_868.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_868 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_868.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_868.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_868.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Born in Awgbu town of Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ezeajughi had his education at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka before sojourning abroad for greener pastures. Ezeajughis re-election is indeed a testament to his impressive achievements in his inaugural tenure of service to the Brent people. In a world where many Nigerians are generally stigmatized, Ezeajughi is a shining light that deserves consummate emulation and commendation. It is striking that Ezeajughi won re-election following the first ever virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the council. Not even the Coronavirus pandemic across the globe could dim his good works. The Anambra State government is thrilled that Councillor Ezeajughi will during his mayoral tenure continue to promote Brent and participate in activities that will help the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of Brent and its residents. Also, Ezeajughi will continue to support his chosen charities. Ezeajughi is in league with so many other Anambra achievers all over the world. Two months ago, Professor Charles Egbu emerged as the first black Vice-Chancellor of a British university when he was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University in England. Patrick Okigbo from Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area, is one of the 12 Senior Fellows named this year at Kennedy School of Government at Harvard while Chinedu Obi from Ifite Dunu in Dunukofia LGA was in July the best student in the oldest and most prestigeous medical school in Russia, the first time an African gas been so honoured. Another Anambra State world-beater, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, was also recently appointed as head and senior director of the Africa Investment Forum by the President of African Development Bank Group (AFDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina. A highly accomplished international corporate lawyer, Anohu-Amazu was before the appointment a member of the London Stock Exchange Africa Advisory Board. Ezeajughi, alongside the other achievers, has amply shown the world that Anambra State is the esteemed Lght of the Nation. Signed C. Don Adinuba Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment. In addition to the COVID-19 health crisis, the pandemic has brought food insecurity, financial anxiety and homelessness. Houston has been hard hit but our resilience has helped us recover from disaster before. Here, in one of the nations most generous cities, people pitch in however they can. They put on a mask, roll up their sleeves and get it done. In our annual Houston Gives, we celebrate all the ways Houstonians have helped the community. This year, we salute the Heroes of the Front Line, people who have gone above and beyond in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. And we check in on local nonprofits and arts organizations to see how theyre faring. The Renaissance-style residence at 308 Kennedy Ave. was constructed by and for an owner with a discerning eye. W.N. Hagy built the Alamo Heights mansion in 1924. Hidden behind hedges on a corner lot, the home was one of many houses, churches, and schools the San Antonio architect erected. The 6,947 square-foot abode was Hagy's personal residence, according to the listing. Jennifer Shemwell of Phyllis Browning Company listed the property for $2.75 million on Sept. 16. READ ALSO: New Braunfels made Money's list of the 50 Best Places to Live in America An April 1920 advertisement for Hagy's firm in the San Antonio Evening News noted that he had over 30 years building in the city. Hagy was no stranger to the newspapers. In July 1914, the society pages of the Austin American informed readers, "Mr. and Mrs. W.N. Hagy and their daughters are spending the summer at Corpus Christi." On Kennedy Ave., pass through two columns and a large white door to enter the home, where you'll find a grand piano peeking out of the living room. The kitchen boasts a chef's island, while the dining room has a butler's pantry. In the en-suite bathroom off the master bedroom, there are dual vanities, a tub, and a walk-in shower enclosed on three sides by glass. A guest house offers extra room, if necessary. Continue scrolling to check out the Alamo Heights mansion. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 05:06:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Albanian President Ilir Meta on Thursday told the ongoing United Nations virtual summit that his country owed much to the World Health Organization for helping contain COVID-19. After the COVID-19 hit the country, "the World Health Organization has accompanied our response every step of the way," Meta told the General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly via a pre-recorded speech. "Jointly, the UN has also prepared a socio-economic response plan to ensure coordinated action across the UN, and efficient support to the national response," said the president of the small, mountainous country on the Balkan Peninsula. "Stronger United Nations is needed to address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, a crisis that is likely to reverse progress towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals," said the president. He said that Albania's chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for 2020 is "a clear indication" of its commitment to multilateralism. In that capacity, Albania is championing the secretary-general's call for a global ceasefire. Small countries like Albania can enrich the world through their identity, history, culture and traditions, he said, pointing to interreligious harmony as a hallmark of Albanian culture. Accession to the European Union remains Albania's main strategic objective, he told the assembly, adding that the government is fully committed to achieving the required benchmarks. "I, as well as many of you, grew up in peace and prosperity, in a world built on the values and ideas of the United Nations founders," he said. While the organization has failed to prevent all conflicts, the world has clearly been a better place since Oct. 24, 1945 because of the United Nations. Congratulating "the generation of our parents and our own generation" for keeping it going despite obstacles and wishing today's youth, who are slowly taking over, "the courage and wisdom to do better than us," he quoted the eminent Slovenian novelist Boris Pahor, the oldest known survivor of the Nazi concentration camps, who said that humanity has enough wisdom and power to find a path to lead itself out of its crises. Enditem South Africa: SA records 1 906 new COVID-19 cases, 88 more deaths South Africa reported 1 906 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday which brings the total number of people infected with the virus to 665 188 since the outbreak. Meanwhile, 88 more Coronavirus related deaths were recorded. Of the additional fatalities, 22 are from Limpopo, 18 from KwaZulu-Natal, 13 from Mpumalanga and 11 from the Western Cape and Gauteng. Two provinces recorded single-digit deaths, of which nine are from the North West and two from the Eastern Cape, pushing the death toll 16 206. Our recoveries now stand at 594 229 which translates to a recovery rate of 89.3%, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said. Also, 4 083 757 tests have been performed since the outbreak of which 19 640 were done in the last 24 hours. The Western Cape which was once the countrys epicentre now has 2 492 active cases of COVID-19, with 109 109 confirmed cases and 102 471 recoveries. Mkhize has also encouraged people to take on the Jerusalema challenge. This after President Cyril Ramaphosa called on citizens to get their groove on by taking part in the Jerusalema global dance frenzy by duo Master KG and Nomcebo Zikode on 24 September. Its our Heritage Month; lets actually use this to uplift ourselves and unite ourselves by having fun, remembering weve gone through a difficult time and we possibility still have difficult times ahead, Mkhize said. However, this is time to take a bit of a break and have fun instead of being gloomy, he told his followers on Twitter. Lets also encourage and comfort each other, thats what this song means. Globally, there have been 31 425 029 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 967 164 deaths reported to the World Health Organisation. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-09-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. To salvage his flagging reelection bid this summer, President Donald Trump made a tactical decision to go all in on his base. His campaign appearances, policy announcements and attacks against Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden were suddenly aimed squarely at evangelical and Catholic voters, core voting blocs whose eroding support threatened to jeopardize his shot at a second term. He turned coronavirus-related church closures into a new battle on the culture war front, accused his opponent of being against God, and welcomed hundreds of religious conservatives to the White House to witness the decadent rollout of new peace treaties with Israel. Yet his poll numbers continued to tumble. Among white Catholic voters, a survey this week showed Trumps lead over Biden narrowing to just five percentage points an alarming development for the candidate who carried this group by a 23-point margin in 2016. But in the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a fierce champion of womens rights and left-wing legal icon, Trump and his conservative allies believe theyve found a political Hail Mary. On one hand, Trump and his aides are betting that Catholic voters will feel enough of a kinship with either of the women he is eyeing for the vacancy 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a Catholic mother of seven, or 11th Circuit Judge Barbara Lagoa, a Catholic mother of three that his nomination of one of them will lock in a majority of the Catholic vote just in time for the November election. On the other hand, they are hoping Catholic voters who have already swung toward Biden, due to grievances with the presidents behavior or policies, will return to Trumps column if the former vice president remains quiet as Senate Democrats and progressive activists knock the faith of his impending nominee. From a political point of view, this is the ultimate base play, said one influential Catholic conservative. If Trump chooses Barrett, who is the preferred candidate among religious conservatives in his orbit, he gets to tell conservatives, Youre going to get the nominee you want and were all going to watch as Democrats attack a woman who is deeply Catholic, deeply devoted to her family and deeply successful in her career, this person added. Story continues Barrett was grilled about her religious background and affiliation with a charismatic group called People of Praise during her 2017 Senate confirmation hearing. One exchange that was scrutinized by conservatives involved Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) telling the Notre Dame law professor, the dogma lives loudly within you. The phrase quickly became a rallying cry for conservative Catholics, who emblazoned t-shirts and coffee mugs with Feinsteins words or added them to their Twitter bios as a badge of honor. Several conservatives rallied to Barretts defense again this week amid a pair of articles that compared People of Praise, a Christian group that blends Pentecostal religious experiences with the liturgical traditions of the Catholic Church, to the patriarchal society featured in The Handmaids Tale, a popular dystopian novel. Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska described the comparisons as whacky McCarthyism, while Trump allies considered them foreshadowing. The Feinstein exchange from 2017 is a moment Trump and his team hope to replicate after he announces his nominee on Saturday, kicking off a confirmation process that White House allies expect to devolve into a bitter anti-Catholic campaign. Despite the personal toll it could take on the presidents nominee, they welcome the anticipated attacks. Joe Biden knows that if he gets a majority of the Catholic vote hes going to be elected president, so theres been a very aggressive effort by his campaign to underscore his faith, said Republican lobbyist Matt Schlapp, whose wife Mercedes works for the Trump campaign. But if the presidents choice for the Supreme Court is a Catholic mother who, because she believes deeply in her faith, is considered disqualified for the job by Democrats, that puts Biden in a pickle. Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden bows his head in prayer during a visit to Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Del., Monday, June 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) John Carr, an abortion opponent and a former aide to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops who recently endorsed Biden, acknowledged the political risks that lie ahead for Democrats and their presidential nominee. The one thing that could blunt what I think is a lot of Catholics in the middle who are repelled by Trump and intrigued by Biden is overt hostility to faith, family and unborn children during the course of this confirmation process, Carr said. With this in mind, Senate Democrats have already discussed ways to avoid viral moments that could easily give Trump the fodder he wants at a time when he most needs it. While some, like Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), have said they intend to focus on substantive issues, others have implied that religion should come up during the nominees confirmation hearings, especially if its Barrett. I have no qualms about Senator Feinsteins questioning of court nominees or any other efforts to vet who these candidates would be on the Court, said Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of the Catholic social justice group Network. In the weeks preceding Ginsburgs death, polls showed Biden with a slight edge over Trump among Catholic voters, drawing panic from some of the presidents top campaign advisers who have often said the November election will come down to which candidate does a better job maintaining and mobilizing their partys base. For the president, this means drawing the same or a slightly better margin of support from white evangelicals and white Catholics to offset his fractured relationship with suburban women and college-educated voters. A survey released Tuesday by RealClearPolitics and the Catholic television network EWTN, which was taken before Ginsburg died, showed Biden with a 12-point lead over Trump 53 percent to 41 percent among likely voters who identify as Catholic. Additional surveys of religious voters have shown declining approval among Catholic voters for the presidents handling of the coronavirus pandemic, racial unrest and overall job performance. Catholics are deeply polarized along party lines and we can also see they are very divided politically along racial and ethnic lines, said Greg Smith, an associate director of research at Pew Research Center. Though other surveys have shown erosion in Trumps appeal among Catholic voters, the RCP-EWTN poll may be an outlier since white Catholics have, for the most part, trended toward the Republican party in the last two decades, according to Smith's research. For instance, the most recent Pew survey found that 59 percent of white Catholics would support Trump if the election were held today. (The survey was conducted in late July, prior to either partys national convention or Ginsburgs death.) With an eye toward those Catholic voters who supported him in 2016 and persuadable Catholics in critical battlegrounds such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, Trump delivered remarks on Wednesday at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, an annual gathering of conservative Catholics that is typically held in Washington but was relegated to the virtual sphere this year. He used his first appearance at the event to unveil an executive order that he claimed would boost federal funding for neonatal research and ensure adequate medical care is afforded to premature babies and babies who survive abortions. 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, Trump said in his virtual address. Trump critics say the presidents actions such as choosing an ultraconservative Supreme Court nominee, delivering remarks at the annual anti-abortion March for Life or using a religious prayer breakfast to roll out an executive order underscore the exploitative view of religious Americans that they claim is embedded in his campaign and administration. If Trump believes he will win back disaffected Catholic voters by nominating a conservative Catholic to the Supreme Court, Carr said Trump is likely to be disappointed by the transaction because many Catholics will recognize it as that and further recoil from the president. The I give you judges, you give me votes approach has its limitations. It seems so calculated that it may reinforce some of the questions about Trumps character, which is the decisive issue for a lot of Catholic voters, said Carr. A gangster arrested during a money-laundering investigation linked to gangland hitman Robbie Lawlor's murder is also suspected of organising the desecration of an innocent man's grave. The criminal, who is in his late 30s and a key member of the Owen Maguire faction, was released without charge from Portlaoise Garda Station yesterday after being arrested by armed gardai on Tuesday. Another gang member, a 21-year old 'gofer' for the gang, was also released, and a file on the case will now be prepared for the DPP. The Herald can reveal the older suspect has for years been running a major drug-dealing network for the Maguire gang in Ardee, Co Louth. Paralysed He is one of paralysed mob boss Owen Maguire's most trusted associates, and has received official garda warnings of threats against his life even before the Drogheda feud kicked off in 2018. "Previously, he was targeted by dissident republicans including the INLA for his drug-dealing activities in Co Louth and he even posted a GIM form, issued to him by gardai on social media to impress his pals," a source told The Herald. A Garda Information Mess-age (GIM) says officers are aware of a possible threat to a person's life or safety. "He took it in his stride - this is an individual that thinks he's smarter than rival criminals and gardai, but he got some fright when armed gardai stormed his home on Tuesday morning," a source said. "Whatever about his drug- dealing enterprises, his suspected involvement in digging up that grave can only be described as pure evil." Gardai believe the thug organised and may have been present when gangsters went to Bohernabreena Cemetery in Tallaght at 2am on August 18, 2016 and dug up the grave of a relative of a man their mob are suspected of murdering. The grave of Michael 'Bobby' Maughan, whose brother Willie and Willie's girlfriend Ana Varslavane are feared to have been killed by the gang in April 2015, was targeted. The incident happened the a day after Michael Maughan's father Joe appealed for information to help find the remains of Willie and pregnant Ana, who gardai believe were murdered by associates of jailed gang boss Cornelius Price. A 26-year-old Drogheda criminal was arrested last month in relation to the grave desecration, but was later released without charge. He is now on different sides in the Drogheda feud from the two gangsters arrested this week for money-laundering. The 21-year-old who was arrested is on bail and facing violent disorder charges. Despite their release from custody yesterday, gardai say the money-laundering investigation will continue. "These two are key members of the Maguire gang who travelled to Laois to hand over the cash to two women two days after the murder of Lawlor," a senior source said. Payment Gardai believe criminals linked to Owen Maguire, who Lawlor is suspected of maiming in a gun attack in July 2018, are the chief suspects for the murder of serial killer Lawlor in Belfast last April 4. Only two days after he was shot dead, gardai arr- ested two women with close links to Limerick's McCarthy/Dundon gang after members of the Maguire mob travelled from Drogheda to Clonkeen, Co Laois, to hand over 50,000 described as Lawlor blood money - part payment for the hitman's murder. NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP) today announced that Meredith Premium Publishing, the company's special interest magazine operation, has joined forces with TIME on a special issue dedicated to the extraordinary life and legacy of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This commemorative edition features an exclusive introduction by President Bill Clinton, as well as high praise of Ginsburg from both sides of the political aisle, a selection of the Justice's most historic cases and reflections on RBG's surprising turn late in life as a pop-culture icon. On sale now for $14.99, this bookazine is available at Magazine.Store, on Amazon and at retailers nationwide. "Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was among the fiercest champions of gender equality and women's rights of our time. We applaud her unstoppable, unapologetic worka powerful legacy that will live on for generations," said Doug Olson, President of Meredith Magazines. "As a company that serves nearly 95% of all U.S. women, we salute her and honor the exceptional powerhouse and changemaker she was." In a remarkable career that spanned six decades, Justice Ginsburg helped shape law and culture in the U.S. through her passion for justice, advocacy for gender equality and unflinching dedication to democracy. Even before her 1993 nomination by President Bill Clinton to become the second woman seated on the Supreme Court, Ginsburg's career was impressive: She was the first woman to receive tenure on the Columbia University Law School faculty, co-founded the ACLU's Women's Rights Project and argued several landmark anti-sex-discrimination cases before the Supreme Court. On the bench, Ginsburg's opinions made history up until her death at 87 years old on September 18, 2020, though it was her dissentssharp, precise and passionate, especially those that were delivered from the benchthat garnered the most attention. The issue is part of several special edition projects involved in Meredith Premium Publishing's partnership with TIME. Meredith Premium Publishing (MPP) produces more than 300 special interest issues per year, most priced between $10 and $15, with nearly 1.3 million pockets nationwide and over 42% of the premium bookazine category. Recent launches from MPP include Sweet July with Ayesha Curry, Reveal with Drew and Jonathan Scott and the reimaginations of Rachael Ray In Season, Traditional Home, Coastal Living and Cooking Light. ABOUT MEREDITH CORPORATION Meredith Corporation has been committed to service journalism for 118 years. Meredith uses multiple distribution platformsincluding broadcast television, print, digital and videoto provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners. Meredith's National Media Group reaches over 190 million unduplicated American consumers every month, including nearly 95 percent of U.S. women. Meredith is the owner of the largest premium content digital network for American consumers and the No. 1 magazine operator in the U.S. The company's Local Media Group includes 17 television stations, reaching 11 percent of U.S. households. SOURCE Meredith Corporation Related Links https://www.meredith.com 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. As the pandemic drags on, REITs are busy shopping for bargains. Early this month, Frasers Centrepoint Trust (SGX: J69U), or FCT, announced the acquisition of the remaining 63% of AsiaRetail Fund, which owns a portfolio of five suburban malls. And just last week, Keppel REIT (SGX: K71U) entered into an agreement to purchase a commercial property in Sydney, Australia. Now, Ascendas REIT (SGX: A17U), under CapitaLand Limiteds (SGX: C31) stable of REITs, has announced the acquisition of a suburban office in Sydneys Macquarie Park. Details of the transaction Ascendas REIT will acquire a development in 1 Giffnock Avenue named MQX4 for A$167.2 million from the developers Frasers Property Industrial, a unit of Frasers Property Limited (SGX: TQ5), and Winten Property Group. The two property developers will be designing and developing the property. The total cost for the transaction is expected to be slightly lower at A$166 million as the REIT will receive a coupon at a rate of 5.75% per annum in return for funding the construction cost of the property. The net property income yield for the first year after accounting for all transaction costs is expected to be 6.1%, higher than the REITs current dividend yield of around 3.9%. The property sits freehold land of around 3,300 square metres. Upon completion, the property will have a net lettable area of around 19,384 square metres, of which approximately 91.6% will be used for office while the rest is allocated to retail. The developers will provide a three-year rental guarantee upon completion in case of any vacancies, and completion is expected around mid-2022. Here are three reasons why we like this acquisition. DPU accretive Income-driven investors should cheer this acquisition as it will result in a slight bump to distribution per unit (DPU) for the REIT. With Ascendas REITs properties under management valued at S$12.75 billion as of 30 June 2020, its not easy to move the needle unless the acquisition is sizable enough. Story continues Based on pro-forma estimates, the DPU is expected to rise by S$0.00046. Enhances REITs resilience Macquarie Park, where the property will be located, is host to a number of multi-national companies from the pharmaceuticals, technology, electronics and communications industries. These sectors are widely-considered to be being resilient during tough times. This resilience can help to mitigate the risk of tenants breaking the lease and leaving the property vacant, thus providing the REIT with a risk mitigant. Strengthens and diversifies the portfolio As MQX4 will be the REITs fifth suburban office property in Australia, it will increase the REITs suburban office exposure from the current 21% to 28%. The acquisition will also increase the assets under management for the Australian portfolio by 10.2% to S$1.72 billion. With greater assets under management, Ascendas REIT will also have more clout when it comes to negotiating deals and scouting for collaborations. Get Smart: Monitor the metrics Investors should note, however, that this contribution will only come two years later in 2022 once the property is completed. They will need to monitor the take-up rate for the property as it is too far into the future to tell what demand for Australian office space will be like. The pandemic has altered working patterns as more employees are allowed to telecommute. This new trend may irreversibly alter the demand dynamics for office space in many countries. If companies need less office space, this may increase the overall supply and push down rental rates over time. While the risk of this occurring is not high at the moment, it pays to continue to monitor metrics such as office occupancy and reversion rates. With share prices battered to multi-year lows, many attractive investment opportunities have emerged. In a special FREE report, we show you 3 stocks that we think will be suitable for our portfolio. Simply click here to scoop up your FREE copy before the next stock market rally. Click here to like and follow us on Facebook, here for our Instagram group and here for our Telegram group. Disclaimer: Royston Yang does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned. The post 3 Reasons to Like Ascendas REITs Latest Acquisition appeared first on The Smart Investor. EV Performance testing of the #LucidAir platform continues. As we push Lucid's in-house developed EV powertrain tech to new heights, today we share our latest work-in-progress: A 9.245 second 1/4 mile @ 157.26 mph. Stay tuned for more. pic.twitter.com/7OQQodTjuk Lucid Motors (@LucidMotors) September 24, 2020 Porsche did emphasize the Taycan's performance, but it was more about its handling and the ability to lap a circuit than quarter mile times and that sort of thing. With the Air, though, Lucid Motors is aiming right where it hurts the most for Tesla and, unlike the German sedan, the newcomer also has the maximum range argument to fall back upon.A lot of people criticized the Taycan for its underwhelming range, and even though there's some truth to it, it's worth bearing in mind it was developed with the European market in mind first, and anything over 200 miles can be seen as a bonus there. Besides, the first all-electric Porsche is known to register much better results in real-world tests than the official figures.With 517 miles, the Lucid Air has that more than covered. The performance figures for the top Air Dream version, on the other hand, may seem a little disappointing at first, particularly the 0-60 mph acceleration time of 2.5 seconds. The Model S claims to be roughly 0.3 seconds quicker, though things tend to get a bit murky when dealing with such fine margins.Even so, the dual-motor Air is supposedly clearing the quarter mile in 9.9 seconds, which is a full half a second quicker than the quickest Model S available now. A teaser just a few days ago suggested the tri-motor Air could do it roughly 0.3 seconds quicker, putting Lucid even further up ahead.In the meantime, Tesla held its Battery Day and, just as the presentation was about to end, Elon Musk mentioned the upcoming Model S Plaid . The tri-motor Tesla sedan that should launch about the same time as the Lucid Air will supposedly hit 60 mph in under two seconds while also finishing the quarter mile in under nine seconds. Of course, we only have Elon's word as proof for now - sorry, Elon's word, and this clip of the Model S Plaid lapping the Laguna Seca in a record 1:30.3.Earlier today, Lucid Motors released a clip of its tri-motor Air prototype doing a 9.245 quarter mile run. There's no info on the conditions under which the pass was achieved, but from what we can see in the clip, two things seem worth pointing out: one, the prototype seems to have used regular street tires, which is a good thing; second, the vehicle is completely stripped down with only a roll cage added, which makes the result a little less relevant.One thing is clear: Lucid definitely ruffled Tesla's feathers, and now the two companies are locked in a pissing contest that we, the public, can only benefit from. Competition is what driver progress, so Lucid Motors might be the best thing to happen to the wholemovement since, well, Tesla. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE New Mexico has added three states to its list of high-risk destinations that fall under a 14-day travel quarantine order, even as its own COVID-19 case count continued a recent uptick. Colorado was one of the states moved to high risk Wednesday by New Mexico officials along with Oregon and Rhode Island due to its recent virus spread rate. New Mexicos northern neighbor had been among a list of low-risk states that were exempted from the mandatory travel quarantine under a revised order issued this month by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Michigan and Hawaii were removed from the states list Wednesday, meaning there are now 39 states including all of New Mexicos neighbors that are currently covered by the states travel quarantine order, which is updated weekly. New Mexico has one of the nations strictest travel quarantines, even in its revised form. But the mandate has not been strictly enforced since first being enacted in March, as state officials have said its intended to function as more of a deterrent. There are some allowable exemptions to the order, including for individuals who leave the state to obtain medical care and for residents who travel outside New Mexico for less than 24 hours due to parental responsibilities. Another exemption allows anyone who tests negative for COVID-19 shortly before or after arriving in New Mexico to not have to comply with the quarantine mandate. Meanwhile, state health officials announced on Wednesday the states highest number of new coronavirus cases in nearly a month, with elevated case counts in several southern New Mexico counties driving the increase. The 200 new confirmed COVID-19 cases are the states highest single-day figure since Aug. 26, and raised the states seven-day rolling average of new cases to 135, according to a Journal analysis. Thats still significantly lower than the states average case growth during most of July and August, but it marks the largest number so far this month. Top state epidemiologists said this week theyre tracking whether the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases may be attributable to travel and social gatherings over Labor Day weekend. On Wednesday, more than 20 new cases were reported in each Dona Ana, Bernalillo, Chaves and Eddy counties, while 11 new cases were reported among inmates at the Lea County Correctional Facility in Hobbs. Meanwhile, state health officials also announced three additional deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the states death toll to 857 since the pandemic first hit New Mexico in mid-March. The three new deaths were reported in Lea, McKinley and Dona Ana counties. All involved individuals in their 60s or 70s. Most New Mexicans who have died from the virus have been elderly individuals with underlying health conditions like diabetes, heart disease and lung disease, though some younger residents have also died. China in Focus (Sept. 23): Mike Pompeos China Adviser Says China Has No Allies A key person in shaping Secretary of State Mike Pompeos hard-line policy on China says the CCP has no allies, while democracies are forming an alliance to counter that threat. Chinese police are collecting blood samples from residents but refusing to tell them why. Its not the first time its happened either. Facebook shuts down a network of 155 fake accounts run by China. One of the networks targets was the 2020 U.S. election. China honored the 100th anniversary of a late generals birth and praised his outstanding contributions. He was the one that gave the order to shoot down unarmed protesters during the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. And Mike Pompeo warned U.S. politicians to be alert of Chinese influence. He said local Chinese diplomats could try to woo them as part of Beijings espionage campaign. Subscribe to our Youtube channel for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter. SOUTH WINDSOR The suspect in a workplace shooting this week claimed he brought a gun to confront his supervisor as a scare tactic, but the weapon accidentally fired, according to his arrest affidavit. The affidavit, released by police Thursday, details the events leading up to the workplace shooting in the parking lot of 105 Edwin Road shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday. Alan Rosario, 33, of Ambrosa Street in Springfield, Mass., was charged with second-degree assault with a firearm, first-degree threatening, first-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree assault. He was held on a $250,000 bond. The affidavit sheds light on the relationship between the victim and Rosario and a possible motive. The victim told investigators he is Rosarios supervisor. The man said Rosario shot him over a dispute they had, the affidavit said. In an interview with investigators, Rosario said the victim has been taking advantage of him for years and assigning him older trucks that do not work, the affidavit said. Rosario claimed the man also filed for unemployment under his name, according to the affidavit. The two decided to meet up in the parking lot where their trucks get fixed, Rosario told investigators, according to the affidavit. Rosario walked up to the truck the victim was sitting in and pulled the drivers side door open, the affidavit said. The affidavit said there were two passengers in the truck with the victim. Rosario stated when he got the door open, he was going to grab (the victim) but while he was doing that, he unintentionally discharged the firearm, the affidavit said. He said that was not his plan, that he had the revolver in his possession to scare (the victim). Once the gun fired, Rosario took off, he told investigators. When investigators talked to the victim at the hospital, he told them Rosario attempted to physically remove him and discharged a shot at him, the affidavit said. The victim told police Rosario said my bad and then told him not to snitch. KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The owners of Kansas City's two leading coffee brands, The Roasterie and Messenger Coffee Company, have joined forces to create FairWave Holdings, a specialty coffee collective. The new holding company will build upon the success of both local brands' excellent coffee and customer experience, and shared mission to respect every hand in the journey from grower to consumer. The Roasterie and Messenger Coffee Company brands, and their respective locations in the Kansas City area, are not changing, but instead moving into a new season of growth as local businesses. "Creating this collective is our way to continue to grow and promote local coffee, while keeping our brand and cafes feeling just as they always have been," Danny O'Neill, founder and CEO of The Roasterie said. "FairWave will build upon our strengths as businesses, give us the platforms to share best practices, and allow both The Roasterie and Messenger to thrive as individual brands and to continue being connected with our customers right here in our KC community, which we've been ingrained in for over 27 years." The catalyst for launching FairWave was born from the shared passion both brands have for memorable customer and coffee experiences. While The Roasterie and Messenger Coffee Company are iconic on their own, and will continue on as their respective brands, both are looking forward to the opportunities to grow together. This new partnership will enable the individual brands to thrive while sharing best practices to accelerate innovation, and support and elevate the beloved local coffee industry. The holding company's full portfolio will also include Kansas City's Blackdog Coffeehouse, Filling Station Cafes and IBIS Bakery, which are nestled within the Messenger Coffee Company brand. "Messenger Coffee, and our portfolio of cafes and artisan bakeries, has always had relentless focus and drive between our family, employees and partners to consistently bring exceptional, unique and creative beverage and food experiences that delight our customers with every visit," said Ron Matsch, a Partner of Messenger Coffee Company. "Messenger and The Roasterie are known for our customer experiences, our commitment to our teams, and overall supply chain transparencies. As we designed FairWave, it was paramount for us to ensure that the company will always protect these individual identities and what has made our brands special to the community for years." O'Neill along with the Matsch Family and partners will continue to remain involved as investors of FairWave, with Danny O'Neill and Ron Matsch serving as stakeholders on the new company's Board of Directors. For overarching leadership, FairWave is proud to appoint Kansas City local, Dan Trott, as the Chief Executive Officer. Trott brings over 30 years of experience leading businesses in the Food & Beverage industry, including nearly 14 years with PepsiCo. Most recently, Trott served as CEO for Pegasus Foods Inc. and prior served as Chief Operations Officer for Russell Stover. Fairwave is looking forward to seeing the collective portfolio grow over the years, with future sights set on aligning with other specialty, local coffee brands in the Midwest and beyond. FairWave is backed by Great Range Capital, a local private equity firm based in Kansas City. "We are excited for the opportunity to strengthen both of the brands as we come together and continue building the presence and availability of The Roasterie and the Messenger brand family," Trott said. "There is so much more potential as we join forces, celebrate our wins together, innovate side-by-side, and continue to create a coffee culture and industry Kansas City will be proud of for decades to come." About FairWave FairWave Holdings LLC is a Specialty Coffee Collective that fuels the future of local specialty coffee, through superior experiences and a mission to respect every hand in the journey from seed to cup. FairWave brings financial insights, industry best practices, and behind-the-scenes support, so brands can stay invested in their product, experience, and local market. FairWave is located in Kansas City, Mo., and led by CEO and beverage industry expert, Dan Trott. For more information, please visit fairwave.com About Great Range Capital Great Range Capital, a private equity firm based in greater Kansas City, primarily targets equity investments in Midwestern companies with revenues ranging from $20 to $150 million. Learn more about Great Range Capital at greatrangecapital.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Christie McFall Business Development Director - Great Range Capital M: 913-952-3037 E: [email protected] SOURCE FairWave Holdings Related Links https://greatrangecapital.com/ Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Isabelle Sciamma (Agence France-Presse) Milan, Italy Thu, September 24, 2020 16:06 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46f67c0 2 Lifestyle fashion-week,Milan-Fashion-Week,Milan,fashion,Italy,coronavirus Free Getting a front-row seat to Milan's fashion week is harder than ever this year, with uninvited influencers and buyers nursing bruised egos as the shows start Wednesday under coronavirus restrictions. The virus, which is resurgent in Europe, forced many luxury houses to put off confirming their presence until the last minute -- and in the end, only a third have committed to appearing. Nevertheless, said the Italian fashion chamber's head Carlo Capasa: "In this year marked by the Covid-19 epidemic, fashion has demonstrated, despite the difficulties that lie ahead, a great strength and sense of unity." Missoni, the Italian label known for its explosions of color, will start, presenting its new collection virtually, just like 41 other labels among the 64 spring/summer 2021 catwalks on the calendar. In these social-distancing times, brands from Moschino to Versace and Prada have opted to simply stream their shows on social media. Not so Giorgio Armani, who will be showing his collection on Italian prime time television Saturday. Twenty-two houses are braving a live audience, from Fendi and Dolce&Gabbana to Etro, Ferragamo and Max Mara. "Organizing a fashion show with public present is a real headache at the moment," confesses an organizer at a major fashion house, who preferred to remain anonymous. "The number of seats has been drastically reduced and the seating plan, a diplomatic and political Tetris at the best of times, is driving us wild. We don't want to offend anyone, but we don't have enough room for everyone," he said. Read also: Milan Fashion Week makes cautious live return but major brands stay virtual Masked selfies The ban on fashionistas travelling to Europe from China, South Korea or the US will certainly free up some strategic places. But their absence is also symbolic of the continued crisis in the sector, despite signs of recovery in China in recent months. Italian fashion revenue fell 30 percent in the first half of 2020, with a marked contraction in the second quarter. Those who get to physically attend shows will have to go through thermal scanners and use hand gel and face masks -- rendering the obligatory pouting selfie in front of sashaying models rather less sexy than usual. Houses are keeping their fingers crossed that Italy's relatively low numbers of new cases -- some 1,500 per day -- do not dramatically rise to match those in Britain or France, which have been seeing up to 10,000 daily. That could force last-minute changes for big names such as Valentino, which has already bowed to virus pressure by moving its Paris show to Milan this year to limit travel. To make an unprecedented fashion week even odder, Gucci will not be showing, the house having decided to reduce the number of its shows from five to two per year and hold them outside fashion weeks. Milan's edition this season will reflect the major themes in the headlines in recent months. That includes an initiative organized by the Black Lives Matter in Italian Fashion Collective to present five black designers under the title "We Are Italy". And in solidarity with the people of Beirut, still recovering from the vast explosion in August that killed over 190 people, it will shine a spotlight on young Lebanese labels such as Azzi & Osta, Emergency Room and Hussein Bazaza. Clockwise from top left: Robin Hollis, Illinois Credit Union League; event attendees; Drs. Joronda and Hiram Crawford; Tom Sakash; Tom Kane; and Rodney Hood. As a former church missionary in Africa, NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood imagined his lifes path would follow the ministry. While his professional course veered from the church, he eventually found his true calling as a credit union evangelist. I never lost my urge for service, and that led me to banking and becoming the first African American to lead a federal banking agency, says Hood, who addressed a virtual event last week celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Faith Based Credit Union Alliance. Theres a clear connection between missionary work and community finance. Both are about building up communities and serving others. The Faith Based Credit Union Alliance provides training and other support for faith-based, low income-designated credit unions. The virtual event featured presentations by Hood,Illinois Credit Union System President/CEO Tom Kane, and Tom Sakash, CUNAs manager of small credit union initiatives. With contactless delivery to curb the spread of coronavirus, she added, you can't tell servers... Gail O'Rorke was trembling as she put the key into the door of her best friend's flat. Bernadette Forde had been inside waiting for hours, anxiously wondering why an errand to pick up their travel documents for Zurich was taking so long. What she didn't know was that gardai had intercepted Ms O'Rorke at the travel agency in Dublin, where she had spent most of the day being questioned. Ms Forde's plan to end her life at an assisted-suicide clinic in Zurich had fallen asunder. Expand Close Her friend Bernadette Forde, who died in 2011 after taking a lethal dose of barbiturates. Photo: Gerry Mooney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Her friend Bernadette Forde, who died in 2011 after taking a lethal dose of barbiturates. Photo: Gerry Mooney "I knew when I told her it was off it would be catastrophic," recalls Ms O'Rorke. "I was terrified of what it would do to her and when I walked through the door and she was asking me where I had been all that time, she could see I was a mess. "I just blurted the words out, 'It's off, Bernadette'. She was hysterical, banshee-screaming hysterical, repeating over and over, 'Why have they done this, why have they done this?' "Then, within maybe an hour, the anger came. She was absolutely furious. They had taken away her choice and that was all she had left in life. "We sat there crying and it was just absolute devastation. She was in so much pain and was so unwell and this was her way of ending the suffering before she lost the control about what would happen to her. Within a few hours, plan B began." Read More The events that unfolded that day in 2011 culminated in a landmark legal trial that saw Ms O'Rorke accused of two charges of assisting a suicide and one charge of attempting to assist a suicide. That day, however, she saw herself as someone who was helping a friend in desperate need. She was at the travel agency with the intention of organising ights to Switzerland for herself and Bernadette. Ms Forde did not plan to y home with Ms O'Rorke. Instead, she planned to end her own life at Dignitas, an assisted-suicide clinic in Switzerland. Diagnosed 10 years earlier with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, the 51-year-old, a once fiercely independent woman who had a successful career in Guinness, had reached the limits of her endurance. She had decided, long before her condition would claim the last remnants of the person she once was, that she would end her life on her own terms. She had written letters to her loved ones and prepared trinkets for those closest to her. She had boxed up her belongings and, as Ms O'Rorke says, started to shut down her life. "I have never met anyone else in life who was so pragmatic," recalls Ms O'Rorke. "It was like anything else in her life, she had a definite way of planning and deciding on things and it was never going to be different with this. "She had researched MS enough to know what was coming. She thought in black and white and that was how she saw it. She had had enough. "She didn't want to die, but she was ercely independent and she couldn't live the way she wanted to. We really had no idea that what we were doing might be illegal here. We just assumed it was OK as it was legal in Switzerland." The gardai, who had been alerted by the travel agency, did not see it that way. They strongly advised Ms O'Rorke against travelling and cautioned that it could be seen as a criminal oence, namely assisting a suicide. Ms O'Rorke was told to cancel everything, which she did. Both women first met in or around 2003, when Ms O'Rorke began working for Ms Forde as a cleaner. Friendship followed quickly and they began to spend more time together, with Ms Forde becoming more reliant on her friend and carer as her MS progressed. During the many conversations that took place over the course of their friendship, Ms Forde made it clear that she wanted to die on her own terms and that nobody could persuade her otherwise. "It was her choice," says Ms O'Rorke. "Her body was deteriorating and she was so scared that she would end up in a home, unable to do anything for herself." After the Dignitas plan fell through, Ms Forde quickly sought out an alternative. She ordered barbiturates over the internet and settled on a date to take them. Aware that Ms O'Rorke was already under investigation, Ms Forde booked a hotel in Kilkenny for O'Rorke and her husband in order to distance them from the scene. "Bernadette insisted I was far away," says Ms O'Rorke. "I would have gladly sat with her and faced the consequences with authorities. I know now that would have been a big mistake. But at the time I just wanted to be there, to hold her hand, to say goodbye. If I have any regrets about any of it, it's the fact that she was so sacred, that she died on her own. That kills me. "After all the pain she went through, she had to die alone. It was a case of 'you can do this, but you cannot have anyone with, you must be alone'. "My best friend had to get rid of everyone she loved, everyone close to her and reached for that bottle of drugs hoping to God she could lift it. Hoping to God she didn't choke on it because she was losing her swallow because of MS. She couldn't look into anyone's eyes as she died. I'm angry about that and it should never have happened." It has been five years since Ms O'Rorke was acquitted of assisting in her friend's suicide. This week she joined CervicalCheck campaigner Vicky Phelan and Tom Curran, husband of Marie Fleming, in pledging her support to the Dying with Dignity Bill. The bill, which was proposed by Solidarity/People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny, has passed the first stage in the Dail but will be subject to further scrutiny and debates before it could become law. It advocates for people with terminal illnesses to be given the right to choose when they end their life. Those behind the bill say it has adequate protection measures in place. "This is about dignity in death," says Ms O'Rorke, "I know there are contentious cases, like that of the 17-year-old kid in Holland who was suffering from depression. I do understand there are cases like that which do not sit well, and they don't sit well with me either. "With Gino's bill, you have to be terminally ill and that is a significant difference. But most of all, I think we need to start having an open and honest conversation about this." Having sat through a gruelling trial and contemplated the possibility of going to prison, some might wonder why Ms O'Rorke would want to be back in the spotlight with such an emotive issue. But friendship, even in death, still endures. "I can't sit back and be silent about this," she says. "It was important to Bernadette and it's important to me because I would like to try and give her and all the people like her, and me, a voice in this debate." Amnesty International called on the European Union to reconsider its cooperation with Libyan authorities after thousands of migrants en route to Europe this year were intercepted and subjected to a litany of abuses in the war-ravaged country. In a report published Thursday, the London-based rights group urged the EU to make any further support to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) conditional on ending long-standing patterns of abuse against refugees and migrants, including by state officials and affiliated militias. The GNA is one of two rival administrations vying for control of the North African country. The UN-backed government is opposed by Khalifa Hifters self-styled Libyan National Army, which has the support of Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Since the toppling of longtime Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, Libya has become a main transit country for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. The Mediterranean Sea route is a perilous journey, but thousands of migrants risk it every year for the chance of a better life in Europe. Italy the first destination for most migrants fleeing Libya and other EU member states have worked with the Libyan Coast Guard since 2016 to intercept some 60,000 Europe-bound migrants. Between January and mid-September 2020, roughly 8,500 people were returned to Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration. The United Nations, human rights organizations and journalists have warned that migrants forcibly transferred back to Libya routinely fall prey to traffickers or are abused inside government-affiliated detention centers. Thousands of migrants are subject to forced disappearance and sent to unofficial detention centers, including the so-called Tobacco Factory in the capital of Tripoli, Amnesty said. Some are tortured or raped until their families pay ransoms to secure their release, the report said. Others die in custody as a result of violence, torture, starvation or medical neglect. Instead of being protected, they are met with a catalogue of appalling human rights abuses, said Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International's deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. The EU and its member states continue to implement policies trapping tens of thousands of men, women and children in a vicious cycle of abuse, showing a callous disregard for peoples lives and dignity. In August, at least 45 migrants drowned when their boat capsized off the coast of Libya. The UN estimates more than 300 people have died attempting the central Mediterranean crossing since the beginning of this year. TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellomay Capital Ltd. (NYSE American: ELLO) (TASE: ELLO) ("Ellomay" or the "Company"), a renewable energy and power generator and developer of renewable energy and power projects in Europe and Israel, today reported its unaudited financial results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2020. Financial Highlights Revenues were approximately 4.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to approximately 10.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 . The decrease in revenues is mainly due to the sale of ten Italian indirectly wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, which held twelve photovoltaic plants in Italy with an aggregate installed capacity of approximately 22.6 MWp (the " Italian PV Portfolio "), during December 2019 . A small portion of the decrease in revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2020 resulted from the decrease in demand and prices of the European electricity markets due to the Covid-19 crisis. In addition, in February 2020 a strong storm hit one of the Company's biogas facilities in the Netherlands , causing the facility to be partially deactivated. The damage repair and return of the facility to full activity took approximately eight weeks (as the process of returning to full biological facility output is gradual) and in May 2020 the facility returned to full operation. , compared to approximately 10.3 million for the six months ended . The decrease in revenues is mainly due to the sale of ten Italian indirectly wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, which held twelve photovoltaic plants in with an aggregate installed capacity of approximately 22.6 MWp (the " "), during . A small portion of the decrease in revenues for the six months ended resulted from the decrease in demand and prices of the European electricity markets due to the Covid-19 crisis. In addition, in a strong storm hit one of the Company's biogas facilities in , causing the facility to be partially deactivated. The damage repair and return of the facility to full activity took approximately eight weeks (as the process of returning to full biological facility output is gradual) and in the facility returned to full operation. Operating expenses were approximately 2.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to approximately 3.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 . The decrease in operating expenses is mainly attributable to the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio, to increased operational efficiency of the Company's Waste-to-Energy projects in the Netherlands and to insurance reimbursement in connection with the storm damages in one of our biogas facilities in the Netherlands that reduced operating expenses. Depreciation expenses were approximately 1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to approximately 3 million for the six months ended June 30 , 2019. The decrease reflects the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio. , compared to approximately 3.5 million for the six months ended . The decrease in operating expenses is mainly attributable to the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio, to increased operational efficiency of the Company's Waste-to-Energy projects in and to insurance reimbursement in connection with the storm damages in one of our biogas facilities in that reduced operating expenses. Depreciation expenses were approximately 1.4 million for the six months ended , compared to approximately 3 million for the six months ended , 2019. The decrease reflects the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio. Project development costs were approximately 2.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to approximately 2.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 . The decrease in project development costs is mainly due to a decrease in consultancy expenses in connection with the project to construct a 156 MW pumped storage hydro power plant in the Manara Cliff, Israel , partially offset by consultancy expenses in connection with the development of photovoltaic projects in Italy . , compared to approximately 2.7 million for the six months ended . The decrease in project development costs is mainly due to a decrease in consultancy expenses in connection with the project to construct a 156 MW pumped storage hydro power plant in the Manara Cliff, , partially offset by consultancy expenses in connection with the development of photovoltaic projects in . General and administrative expenses were approximately 2.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to approximately 1.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 . The increase is mostly due to D&O liability insurance costs. , compared to approximately 1.9 million for the six months ended . The increase is mostly due to D&O liability insurance costs. Company's share of profits of equity accounted investee, after elimination of intercompany transactions, was approximately 0.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to approximately 0.03 million in the six months ended June 30, 2019 . The increase in the Company's share of profit of equity accounted investee is mainly attributable to lower financing expenses incurred by Dorad Energy Ltd. for the period as a result of the CPI indexation of loans from banks. , compared to approximately 0.03 million in the six months ended . The increase in the Company's share of profit of equity accounted investee is mainly attributable to lower financing expenses incurred by Dorad Energy Ltd. for the period as a result of the CPI indexation of loans from banks. Financing expenses, net was approximately 1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to approximately 3.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 . The decrease in financing expenses, net, was mainly due to: (i) income recorded in connection with the reevaluation of the Company's euro/US$ forward transactions and revaluation of Dori Energy loan in the aggregate amount of approximately 1.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to approximately 0.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2019 , (ii) decreased expenses resulting from exchange rate differences amounting to approximately 0.9 million in six months ended June 30, 2020 , mainly in connection with the New Israeli Shekel (" NIS ") cash and cash equivalents, compared to approximately 1.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 , mainly in connection with the Company's NIS denominated debentures, caused by the 0.1% appreciation of the euro against the NIS during the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to the 5.4% devaluation of the euro against the NIS during the six months ended June 30, 2019 and (iii) a decrease in financing expenses of approximately 0. 9 million resulting from the early repayment of the Company's Series A Debentures and the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio, including all related project finance. , compared to approximately 3.1 million for the six months ended . The decrease in financing expenses, net, was mainly due to: (i) income recorded in connection with the reevaluation of the Company's euro/US$ forward transactions and revaluation of Dori Energy loan in the aggregate amount of approximately 1.1 million during the six months ended , compared to approximately 0.5 million during the six months ended , (ii) decreased expenses resulting from exchange rate differences amounting to approximately 0.9 million in six months ended , mainly in connection with the New Israeli Shekel (" ") cash and cash equivalents, compared to approximately 1.3 million for the six months ended , mainly in connection with the Company's NIS denominated debentures, caused by the 0.1% appreciation of the euro against the NIS during the six months ended , compared to the 5.4% devaluation of the euro against the NIS during the six months ended and (iii) a decrease in financing expenses of approximately 9 million resulting from the early repayment of the Company's Series A Debentures and the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio, including all related project finance. Taxes on income was approximately 0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to approximately 0.5 million for the six months ended June 30 , 2019. The decrease in tax expenses is mainly attributable to the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio and deferred tax income related to the operations of the project company constructing a photovoltaic plant with a peak capacity of 300MW in the Spain , in which the Company holds 51%. , compared to approximately 0.5 million for the six months ended , 2019. The decrease in tax expenses is mainly attributable to the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio and deferred tax income related to the operations of the project company constructing a photovoltaic plant with a peak capacity of 300MW in the , in which the Company holds 51%. Net loss was approximately 4.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to approximately 4.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 . , compared to approximately 4.4 million for the six months ended . Total other comprehensive loss was approximately 9.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to a profit of approximately 0.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 . The change was mainly due to changes in fair value of cash flow hedges and from foreign currency translation differences on NIS denominated operations, as a result of fluctuations in the euro/NIS exchange rates . , compared to a profit of approximately 0.5 million for the six months ended . The change was mainly due to changes in fair value of cash flow hedges and from foreign currency translation differences on NIS denominated operations, as a result of fluctuations in the euro/NIS exchange rates Total comprehensive loss was approximately 13.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to approximately 4.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 . , compared to approximately 4.9 million for the six months ended . EBITDA was approximately (1.6) million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to approximately 2.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 . , compared to approximately 2.3 million for the six months ended . Net cash used in operating activities was approximately 1.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , compared to net cash provided by operating activities of approximately 1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 . The decrease in net cash from operating activities is mainly attributable to the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio. , compared to net cash provided by operating activities of approximately 1.1 million for the six months ended . The decrease in net cash from operating activities is mainly attributable to the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio. As of September 1, 2020 , the Company held approximately 52 million in cash and cash equivalents, approximately 8 million in short-term deposits, approximately 0.8 million in marketable securities and approximately 10.6 million in restricted short-term and long-term cash. , the Company held approximately 52 million in cash and cash equivalents, approximately 8 million in short-term deposits, approximately 0.8 million in marketable securities and approximately 10.6 million in restricted short-term and long-term cash. On September 24, 2020 , the Company's Board of Directors approved an extension to the previously announced plan to repurchase the Company's debentures in an aggregate amount of up to NIS 15 million for an additional six-month period. The timing, volume and nature of repurchases will be at the sole discretion of management and will depend on market conditions, the price and availability of the Company's debentures, and other factors. No assurance can be given that any particular amount of debentures will be repurchased and the repurchase plan does not obligate the Company to acquire a specific amount of debentures in any period. , the Company's Board of Directors approved an extension to the previously announced plan to repurchase the Company's debentures in an aggregate amount of up to for an additional six-month period. The timing, volume and nature of repurchases will be at the sole discretion of management and will depend on market conditions, the price and availability of the Company's debentures, and other factors. No assurance can be given that any particular amount of debentures will be repurchased and the repurchase plan does not obligate the Company to acquire a specific amount of debentures in any period. As noted above, the revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2020 were impacted by the decrease in demand and market prices of electricity in Spain resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the Company's operations have not thus far been materially adversely affected by the pandemic, the Company's operations, including, but not limited to, its results of operations, ability to raise capital and ability to develop new projects, may in the future be adversely affected by the implications of the spread of Covid-19 in Israel , Europe and worldwide. These potential affects could last until a vaccine or successful treatment plan are developed and implemented worldwide. Second Quarter 2020 CEO Review Ran Fridrich, CEO and a board member of the Company, provided the following CEO review: The spreading of the Covid-19 pandemic during the last six months posed new challenges for the company and its employees. Despite those challenges, due to our presence in each of the countries in which we operate through our representatives, and thanks to an efficient and tight management and control system, the development of projects in Europe continued at a rapid pace and was not halted. While meeting the schedule and without exceeding the budget. The Talasol project, which is one of the largest mega-projects built in Europe in the past year, is on the verge of completion of the construction process, meeting the schedule and without exceeding the budget. continued at a rapid pace and was not halted. While meeting the schedule and without exceeding the budget. The Talasol project, which is one of the largest mega-projects built in in the past year, is on the verge of completion of the construction process, meeting the schedule and without exceeding the budget. The 2 nd quarter was characterized by the continued development momentum of various projects in the field of renewable energy. The Italian PV portfolio under advanced development continued to grow and currently 242 MW are already in advanced permitting stages. quarter was characterized by the continued development momentum of various projects in the field of renewable energy. The Italian PV portfolio under advanced development continued to grow and currently 242 MW are already in advanced permitting stages. In Spain , a 28 MW PV project is expected to receive the final permits in the near future and commence construction. The Company received bids from several contractors and the contractor selection process is in its final stages. , a 28 MW PV project is expected to receive the final permits in the near future and commence construction. The Company received bids from several contractors and the contractor selection process is in its final stages. The Company won a quote of 20 MW of PV and battery storage in a tender published by the Israeli Electricity Authority. The project involves the construction of 40 MW PV and 80 MW of battery storage capacity (20MW times 4 hours storage). As of today, Talasol's construction is on the verge of completion and the operating permit has been obtained. This permit is the final permit issued by the government, and once obtained the guarantees provided upon receipt of the building permit will be released. The process of connection to the grid, which is expected to take between 5-7 weeks, is expected to commence shortly. The operational improvement of the biogas facilities in the Netherlands continues. During September 2020 a CHP system was installed in the Oude Tonge facility, which will allow cheap electricity generation for self-consumption and utilization of the residual heat and receipt of subsidies accordingly. The output in the last three months represents 100% production and the facility is approaching full alignment with the business plan. The Goor facility is in line with production targets and business plan for the last several months. Further improvements are planned, which are expected to enable increased production and a reduction of costs in our existing facilities. Use of NON-IFRS Financial Measures EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure and is defined as earnings before financial expenses, net, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Company presents this measure in order to enhance the understanding of the Company's historical financial performance and to enable comparability between periods. While the Company considers EBITDA to be an important measure of comparative operating performance, EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or other statement of operations or cash flow data prepared in accordance with IFRS as a measure of profitability or liquidity. EBITDA does not take into account the Company's commitments, including capital expenditures, and restricted cash and, accordingly, is not necessarily indicative of amounts that may be available for discretionary uses. Not all companies calculate EBITDA in the same manner, and the measure as presented may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures presented by other companies. The Company's EBITDA may not be indicative of the historic operating results of the Company; nor is it meant to be predictive of potential future results. A reconciliation between results on an IFRS and non-IFRS basis is provided in the last table of this press release. About Ellomay Capital Ltd. Ellomay is an Israeli based company whose shares are registered with the NYSE American and with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "ELLO". Since 2009, Ellomay Capital focuses its business in the renewable energy and power sectors in Europe and Israel. To date, Ellomay has evaluated numerous opportunities and invested significant funds in the renewable, clean energy and natural resources industries in Israel, Italy and Spain, including: Approximately 7.9MW of photovoltaic power plants in Spain and a photovoltaic power plant of approximately 9 MW in Israel ; and a photovoltaic power plant of approximately 9 MW in ; 9.375% indirect interest in Dorad Energy Ltd., which owns and operates one of Israel's largest private power plants with production capacity of approximately 860MW, representing about 6%-8% of Israel's total current electricity consumption; largest private power plants with production capacity of approximately 860MW, representing about 6%-8% of total current electricity consumption; 51% of Talasol, which is involved in a project to construct a photovoltaic plant with a peak capacity of 300MW in the municipality of Talavan, Caceres, Spain ; ; 100% of Groen Gas Goor B.V. and of Groen Gas Oude-Tonge B.V., project companies developing anaerobic digestion plants with a green gas production capacity of approximately 375 Nm3/h, in Goor, the Netherlands and 475 Nm3/h, in Oude Tonge, the Netherlands , respectively; and 475 Nm3/h, in Oude Tonge, , respectively; 75% of Ellomay Pumped Storage (2014) Ltd. (including 6.67% that are held by a trustee in trust for us and other parties), which is involved in a project to construct a 156 MW pumped storage hydro power plant in the Manara Cliff, Israel . Ellomay Capital is controlled by Mr. Shlomo Nehama, Mr. Hemi Raphael and Mr. Ran Fridrich. Mr. Nehama is one of Israel's prominent businessmen and the former Chairman of Israel's leading bank, Bank Hapohalim, and Messrs. Raphael and Fridrich both have vast experience in financial and industrial businesses. These controlling shareholders, along with Ellomay's dedicated professional management, accumulated extensive experience in recognizing suitable business opportunities worldwide. Ellomay believes the expertise of Ellomay's controlling shareholders and management enables the Company to access the capital markets, as well as assemble global institutional investors and other potential partners. As a result, we believe Ellomay is capable of considering significant and complex transactions, beyond its immediate financial resources. For more information about Ellomay, visit http://www.ellomay.com. Information Relating to Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements that are based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company's management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding the Company's plans and objectives, expectations and assumptions of management are forward-looking statements. The use of certain words, including the words "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by the Company's forward-looking statements, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Company's operations and projects, including in connection with steps taken by authorities in countries in which the Company operates, changes in the market price of electricity and in demand, regulatory changes, changes in the supply and prices of resources required for the operation of the Company's facilities (such as waste and natural gas) and in the price of oil, and technical and other disruptions in the operations or construction of the power plants owned by the Company. These and other risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business are described in greater detail in the filings the Company makes from time to time with Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements are made as of this date and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position June 30, December 31, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 (Unaudited) (Audited) (Unaudited) Convenience Translation in thousands into US$ in thousands* Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 51,232 44,509 57,393 Marketable securities 2,226 2,242 2,494 Short term deposits 6,439 6,446 7,213 Restricted cash - 22,162 - Receivable from concession project 1,486 1,463 1,665 Financial assets - 1,418 - Trade and other receivables 4,790 4,882 5,366 66,173 83,122 74,131 Non-current assets Investment in equity accounted investee 32,165 33,561 36,033 Advances on account of investments 882 883 988 Receivable from concession project 26,173 27,122 29,320 Fixed assets 194,521 114,389 217,913 Right-of-use asset 15,291 15,401 17,130 Intangible asset 4,857 5,042 5,441 Restricted cash and deposits 10,275 10,956 11,511 Deferred tax 5,777 2,285 6,472 Long term receivables 5,305 12,249 5,943 Derivatives 209 5,162 234 295,455 227,050 330,985 Total assets 361,628 310,172 405,116 Liabilities and Equity Current liabilities Current maturities of long term bank loans** 4,603 4,138 5,157 Current maturities of long term loans** 2,472 - 2,769 Debentures 4,592 26,773 5,144 Trade payables 1,730 1,765 1,940 Other payables 5,425 5,010 6,077 18,822 37,686 21,087 Non-current liabilities Lease liability 15,487 15,402 17,349 Liabilities to banks ** 110,906 **40,805 124,243 Other long-term loans ** 46,711 **48,377 52,328 Debentures 40,087 44,811 44,908 Deferred tax 6,854 6,467 7,678 Other long-term liabilities 1,289 1,795 1,444 Derivatives 14,152 7,263 15,854 235,486 164,920 263,804 Total liabilities 254,308 202,606 284,891 Equity Share capital 23,933 21,998 26,811 Share premium 75,433 64,160 84,504 Treasury shares (1,736) (1,736) (1,945) Transaction reserve with non-controlling Interests 6,106 6,106 6,840 Reserves (1,454) 3,283 (1,629) Retained earnings 9,346 12,818 10,470 Total equity attributed to shareholders of the Company 111,628 106,629 125,051 Non-Controlling Interest (4,308) 937 (4,826) Total equity 107,320 107,566 120,225 Total liabilities and equity 361,628 310,172 405,116 * Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at June 30, 2020: EUR 1 = US$ 1.120) **Reclassified Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (in thousands, except per share data) For the three months ended June 30, For the six months ended June 30 For the year ended December 31, For the six months ended June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 2019 2020 Unaudited Unaudited Audited Unaudited Convenience Translation into US$* in thousands in thousands in thousands Revenues 2,271 5,570 4,214 10,303 18,988 4,721 Operating expenses (1,085) (1,791) (2,146) (3,455) (6,638) (2,404) Depreciation and amortization expenses (721) (1,465) (1,447) (3,043) (6,416) (1,621) Gross profit 465 2,314 621 3,805 5,934 696 Project development costs (584) (1,840) (2,338) (2,714) (4,213) (2,619) General and administrative expenses (1,123) (982) (2,204) (1,879) (3,827) (2,469) Share of profits of equity accounted investee (481) (1,133) 850 31 3,086 952 Other income (expenses), net - - - - (2,100) - Capital gain - - - - 18,770 - Operating profit (loss) (1,723) (1,641) (3,071) (757) 17,650 (3,440) Financing income 378 480 886 870 1,827 993 Financing income in connection with derivatives and warrants, net 145 29 1,099 460 897 1,231 Financing expenses (1,220) (1,972) (3,095) (4,457) (10,877) (3,467) Financing expenses, net (697) (1,463) (1,110) (3,127) (8,153) (1,243) Profit (loss) before taxes on income (2,420) (3,104) (4,181) (3,884) 9,497 (4,683) Tax benefit (Taxes on income) 16 (325) (88) (514) 287 (99) Profit (loss) for the period (2,404) (3,429) (4,269) (4,398) 9,784 (4,782) Profit (loss) attributable to: Owners of the Company (2,055) (2,040) (3,472) (2,751) 12,060 (3,890) Non-controlling interests (349) (1,389) (797) (1,647) (2,276) (892) Profit (loss) for the period (2,404) (3,429) (4,269) (4,398) 9,784 (4,782) Other comprehensive income (loss) items that after initial recognition in comprehensive income (loss) were or will be transferred to profit or loss: Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations 113 (250) (86) 982 2,103 (97) Effective portion of change in fair value of cash flow hedges (23,401) (718) (9,289) (368) 1,076 (10,406) Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges transferred to profit or loss 87 (94) 190 (1,104) (1,922) 213 Total other comprehensive income (loss) (23,201) (1,062) (9,185) (490) 1,257 (10,290) Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to: Owners of the Company (11,638) (667) (4,737) (13) 2,114 (5,307) Non-controlling interests (11,563) (395) (4,448) (477) (857) (4,983) Total other comprehensive income (loss) (23,201) (1,062) (9,185) (490) 1,257 (10,290) Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period (25,605) (4,491) (13,454) (4,888) 11,041 (15,072) Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period attributable to: Owners of the Company (13,693) (2,707) (8,209) (2,764) 14,174 (9,197) Non-controlling interests (11,912) (1,784) (5,245) (2,124) (3,133) (5,875) Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period (25,605) (4,491) (13,454) (4,888) 11,041 (15,072) Basic net earnings (loss) per share (0.17) (0.19) (0.29) (0.26) 1.09 (0.32) Diluted net earnings (loss) per share (0.17) (0.19) (0.29) (0.26) 1.09 (0.32) * Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at June 30, 2020: EUR 1 = US$ 1.120) Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Interim Statements of Changes in Equity Attributable to shareholders of the Company Non- controlling Total Interests Equity Share capital Share premium Retained earnings Treasury shares Translation reserve from foreign operations Hedging Reserve Interests Transaction reserve with non-controlling Interests Total in thousands For the six months ended June 30, 2020 (unaudited): Balance as at January 1, 2020 21,998 64,160 12,818 (1,736) 4,356 (1,073) 6,106 106,629 937 107,566 Loss for the period - - (3,472) - - - - (3,472) (797) (4,269) Other comprehensive loss for the period - - - - (98) (4,639) - (4,737) (4,448) (9,185) Total comprehensive loss for the period - - (3,472) - (98) (4,639) - (8,209) (5,245) (13,454) Transactions with owners of the Company, recognized directly in equity: Issuance of ordinary shares 1,935 11,253 - - - - - 13,188 - 13,188 Share-based payments - 20 - - - - - 20 - 20 Balance as at June 30, 2020 23,933 75,433 9,346 (1,736) 4,258 (5,712) 6,106 111,628 (4,308) 107,320 Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Equity (in thousands) (cont'd) Non- controlling Total Attributable to shareholders of the Company Interests Equity Retained Translation Transaction earnings reserve from reserve with Share Share (accumulated Treasury foreign Hedging non-controlling capital Premium deficit) shares operations Reserve Interests Total in thousands For the six months ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited): Balance as at January 1, 2019 19,980 58,344 758 (1,736) 1,396 (227) - 78,515 (1,558) 76,957 Loss for the period - - (2,751) - - - - (2,751) (1,647) (4,398) Other comprehensive loss for the period - - - - 1,459 (1,472) - (13) (477) (490) Total comprehensive loss for the period - - (2,751) - 1,459 (1,472) - (2,764) (2,124) (4,888) Transactions with owners of the Company, recognized directly in equity: Sale of shares in subsidiaries to non-controlling interests - - - - - - 5,614 5,614 4,899 10,513 Options exercise 8 11 - - - - - 19 - 19 Share-based payments - 3 - - - - - 3 - 3 Balance as at June 30, 2019 19,988 58,358 (1,993) (1,736) 2,855 (1,699) 5,614 81,387 1,217 82,604 Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Equity (in thousands) (cont'd) Non- controlling Total Attributable to shareholders of the Company Interests Equity Translation Transaction Reserve from reserve with Share Share Retained Treasury foreign Hedging non-controlling capital premium earnings shares operations Reserve Interests Total in thousands For the year ended December 31, 2019 (audited): Balance as at January 1, 2019 19,980 58,344 758 (1,736) 1,396 (227) - 78,515 (1,558) 76,957 Profit (loss) for the year - - 12,060 - - - - 12,060 (2,276) 9,784 Other comprehensive loss for the year - - - - 2,960 (846) - 2,114 (857) 1,257 Total comprehensive loss for the year - - 12,060 - 2,960 (846) - 14,174 (3,133) 11,041 Transactions with owners of the Company, recognized directly in equity: Sale of shares in subsidiaries to non-controlling interests - - - - - - 5,439 5,439 5,374 10,813 Purchase of shares in subsidiaries from non-controlling interests - - - - - - 667 667 254 921 Issuance of ordinary shares 2,010 5,797 - - - - - 7,807 - 7,807 Options exercise 8 11 - - - - - 19 - 19 Share-based payments - 8 - - - - - 8 - 8 Balance as at December 31, 2019 21,998 64,160 12,818 (1,736) 4,356 (1,073) 6,106 106,629 937 107,566 Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Interim Statements of Changes in Equity (cont'd) Attributable to shareholders of the Company Non- controlling Total Interests Equity Share capital Share premium Retained earnings Treasury shares Translation reserve from foreign operations Hedging Reserve Interests Transaction reserve with non-controlling Interests Total Convenience translation into US$* For the six months ended June 30, 2020 (unaudited): Balance as at January 1, 2020 24,643 71,876 14,360 (1,945) 4,880 (1,202) 6,840 119,452 1,049 120,501 Loss for the period - - (3,890) - - - - (3,890) (892) (4,782) Other comprehensive loss for the period - - - - (110) (5,197) - (5,307) (4,983) (10,290) Total comprehensive loss for the period - - (3,890) - (110) (5,197) - (9,197) (5,875) (15,072) Transactions with owners of the Company, recognized directly in equity: Issuance of ordinary shares 2,168 12,606 - - - - - 14,774 - 14,774 Share-based payments - 22 - - - - - 22 - 22 Balance as at June 30, 2020 26,811 84,504 10,470 (1,945) 4,770 (6,399) 6,840 125,051 (4,826) 120,225 * Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at June 30, 2020: EUR 1 = US$ 1.120) Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Interim Statements of Cash Flows For the three months ended June 30, For the six months ended June 30, For the year ended December 31, For the six months ended June 30 2020 2019 2020 2019 2019 2020 Unaudited Unaudited Audited Unaudited in thousands Convenience Translation into US$* Cash flows from operating activities Profit for the period (2,404) (3,429) (4,269) (4,398) 9,784 (4,782) Adjustments for : Financing expenses, net 697 1,463 1,110 3,127 8,153 1,243 Capital gain - - - - (18,770) - Depreciation and amortization 721 1,465 1,447 3,043 6,416 1,621 Share-based payment transactions 6 2 20 3 8 22 Share of profits of equity accounted investees 481 1,133 (850) (31) (3,086) (952) Payment of interest on loan from an equity accounted investee - 370 582 370 370 652 Change in trade receivables and other receivables (461) (48) 127 (1,744) 403 142 Change in other assets (19) - (234) (708) (1,950) (262) Change in receivables from concessions project 503 475 704 646 1,329 789 Change in accrued severance pay, net - 4 - 8 9 - Change in trade payables (350) 556 (35) 1,065 461 (39) Change in other payables 642 638 368 1,054 5,336 412 Income tax expense (tax benefit) (16) 325 88 514 (287) 99 Income taxes paid - - - - (100) - Interest received 428 420 869 835 1,719 974 Interest paid (1,685) (2,450) (1,853) (2,655) (6,083) (2,076) Net cash from (used in) operating activities (1,457) 924 (1,926) 1,129 3,712 (2,157) Cash flows from investing activities Acquisition of fixed assets (39,866) (37,230) (81,280) (44,519) (74,587) (91,054) Acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired - - - (1,000) (1,000) - Proceeds from sale of investments - - - - 34,586 - Compensation as per agreement with Erez Electricity Ltd. 1,418 - 1,418 - - 1,589 Repayment of loan by an equity accounted investee - - 1,923 - - 2,154 Proceeds from settlement of derivatives, net - - - 532 532 - Proceeds (investment) in restricted cash, net (5) (5,306) 22,580 (5,219) (26,003) 25,295 Investment in short term deposit - - - - (6,302) - Repayment of loan to others - 3,500 - 3,500 3,912 - Net cash used in investing activities (38,453) (39,036) (55,359) (46,706) (68,862) (62,016) Cash flows from financing activities Repayment of long-term loans (1,994) (3,652) (2,804) (4,158) (5,844) (3,141) Repayment of Debentures (4,761) (4,532) (26,923) (4,532) (9,836) (30,161) Cost associated with long term loans - - - - (12,218) - Proceeds from options - - - 19 19 - Sale of shares in subsidiaries to non-controlling interests - 14,062 - 14,062 13,936 - Acquisition of shares in subsidiaries from non-controlling interests - - - - (2,961) - Issue of warrants - 320 - - 358 Issuance of ordinary shares - - 13,188 - 7,807 14,774 Proceeds from long term loans 39,661 41,470 80,584 58,894 59,298 90,275 Proceeds from issuance of Debentures, net - - - - 22,317 - Net cash from financing activities 32,906 47,348 64,365 64,285 72,518 72,105 Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents 471 (54) (357) (55) 259 (400) Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (6,533) 9,182 6,723 18,653 7,627 7,532 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 57,765 46,353 44,509 36,882 36,882 49,861 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 51,232 55,535 51,232 55,535 44,509 57,393 * Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at June 30, 2020: EUR 1 = US$ 1.120) Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Profit (Loss) to EBITDA (in thousands) For the three months ended June 30, For the six months ended June 30, For the year ended December 31, For the six months ended June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 2019 2020 Unaudited in thousands Convenience Translation into US$* Net profit (loss) for the period (2,694) (3,429) (4,269) (4,398) 9,784 (4,782) Financing expenses, net 782 1,463 1,110 3,127 8,153 1,243 Taxes on income (18) 325 88 514 (287) 99 Depreciation 808 1,465 1,447 3,043 6,416 1,621 EBITDA (1,122) (176) (1,624) 2,286 24,066 (1,819) * Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at June 30, 2020: EUR 1 = US$ 1.120) Information for the Company's Debenture Holders Pursuant to the Deeds of Trust governing the Company's Series B and C Debentures (together, the "Debentures"), the Company is required to maintain certain financial covenants. For more information, see Item 5.B of the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2020. Net Financial Debt As of June 30, 2020, the Company did not have a Net Financial Debt, as the calculation of Net Financial Debt (as such term is defined in the Deeds of Trust of the Company's Debentures), resulted in a negative amount (i.e., an excess of assets over liabilities) of approximately (15.4) million (consisting of approximately 174.2 million of short-term and long-term debt from banks and other interest bearing financial obligations and approximately 44.7 million in connection with the Series B Debentures issuance (in March 2017) and the Series C Debentures issuance (in July 2019), net of approximately 59.9 million of cash and cash equivalents, short-term deposits and marketable securities and net of approximately 174.4* million of project finance and related hedging transactions of the Company's subsidiaries). _____________________________ * The project finance amount deducted from the calculation of Net Financial Debt includes project finance obtained from various sources, including financing entities and the minority shareholders in project companies held by the Company (provided in the form of shareholders' loans to the project companies). The minority shareholders' loans were not included in the project finance amount in previous calculations due to an oversight, despite such loans' terms and characteristics as "financing of projects" as set forth in the definition of Net Financial Debt in the Deeds of Trust governing the Debentures. The Company updated its calculations of Net Financial Debt and of the financial covenants based on Net Financial Debt for the recent four quarters, amending the oversight, and provided them to the Trustee of the Debentures. Based on the updated calculations, the calculation of Net Financial Debt of the Company as of June 30, 2019, September 30, 2019, December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020 resulted in the following: (6.3) million, (4.3) million, 18.2 million and (17.3) million, respectively. The updated financing of projects amount for such periods is 136.2 million, 136.5 million, 101 million and 139.5 million, respectively. The change in calculation did not affect the Company's fulfillment of the financial covenants as of such dates. The change in calculation also did not affect the Company's fulfillment of the financial covenants as of June 30, 2020, as the Net Financial Debt excluding the minority shareholders' loans as of June 30, 2020 was 33.7 million (based on a financing of projects amount of 125.3 million). Information for the Company's Series B Debenture Holders The following is an internal pro forma consolidated statement of financial position of the Company as at June 30, 2020. This information is required under the Series B Deed of Trust in connection with the adoption of IFRS 16 "Leases" by the Company and provides the consolidated statement of financial position of the Company as of the date set forth below after elimination of the effects of adoption of IFRS 16. Based on the pro forma statement of financial position, the ratio of the Company's equity (which the Company calculated in line with the definition of Balance Sheet Equity in the Series B Deed of Trust) to balance sheet as at June 30, 2020 was 31.1%. Unaudited Internal Pro Forma Statement of Financial Position June 30, 2020 Unaudited Pro Forma in thousands Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 51,232 Marketable securities 2,226 Short term deposits 6,439 Receivable from concession project 1,486 Trade and other receivables 4,790 66,173 Non-current assets Investment in equity accounted investee 32,165 Advances on account of investments 882 Receivable from concession project 26,173 Fixed assets 194,521 Intangible asset 4,857 Restricted cash and deposits 10,275 Deferred tax 5,954 Long term receivables 5,305 Long term receivables 209 Derivatives 280,341 Total assets 346,514 Liabilities and Equity Current liabilities Current maturities of long term loans 7,075 Debentures 4,592 Trade payables 1,730 Other payables 5,185 18,582 Non-current liabilities Long-term loans 157,617 Debentures 40,087 Deferred tax 6,963 Other long-term liabilities 1,289 Derivatives 14,152 220,108 Total liabilities 238,690 Equity Share capital 23,933 Share premium 75,433 Treasury shares (1,736) Transaction reserve with non-controlling Interests 6,106 Reserves (1,454) Accumulated deficit 9,850 Total equity attributed to shareholders of the Company 112,132 Non-Controlling Interest (4,308) Total equity 107,824 Total liabilities and equity 346,514 Information for the Company's Series C Debenture Holders The Deed of Trust governing the Company's Series C Debentures includes an undertaking by the Company to maintain certain financial covenants, whereby a breach of such financial covenants for two consecutive quarters is a cause for immediate repayment. As of June 30, 2020, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in the Series C Deed of Trust as follows: (i) the Company's shareholders' equity was 107.5 million and (ii) the Company did not have a Net Financial Debt. In the event the Company does not have a Net Financial Debt the calculation of the two covenants that are based on Net Financial Debt (i.e., the ratio of the Company's Net Financial Debt to the Company's CAP, Net (defined as the Company's consolidated shareholders' equity plus the Net Financial Debt) and the ratio of the Company's Net Financial Debt to the Company's Adjusted EBITDA(1)), becomes irrelevant and the Company is therefore in compliance with such covenants. ______________________________________________ (1) The term "Adjusted EBITDA" is defined in the Series C Deed of Trust as earnings before financial expenses, net, taxes, depreciation and amortization, where the revenues from the Company's operations, such as the Talmei Yosef project, are calculated based on the fixed asset model and not based on the financial asset model (IFRIC 12), and before share-based payments. The Series C Deed of Trust provides that for purposes of the financial covenant, the Adjusted EBITDA will be calculated based on the four preceding quarters, in the aggregate. The Adjusted EBITDA is presented in this press release as part of the Company's undertakings towards the holders of its Series C Debentures. For a general discussion of the use of non-IFRS measures, such as EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA see above under "Use of NON-IFRS Financial Measures." The following is a reconciliation between the Company's net profit and the Adjusted EBITDA for the four-quarter period ended June 30, 2020*: For the four quarter period ended June 30, 2020 Unaudited in thousands Net profit for the period 9,913 Financing expenses, net 6,136 Taxes on income (713) Depreciation 4,820 Adjustment to revenues of the Talmei Yosef project due to calculation based on the fixed asset model 2,889 Share-based payments 25 Adjusted EBITDA as defined the Series C Deed of Trust 23,070 ___________________________________ * As noted above, the Company is in compliance with the covenant with respect to the ratio of Net Financial Debt to Adjusted EBITDA as the Company does not have a Net Financial Debt as of the end of the period. Therefore, the Adjusted EBITDA calculation above is provided for convenience and consistency purposes only. Contact: Kalia Weintraub CFO Tel: +972 (3) 797-1111 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Ellomay Capital Ltd Related Links http://www.ellomay.com Ireland's 'Green List' of countries that people can travel to without restricting their movements on return has been cut further. The revised list, which takes effect today, is made up of just four countries - Cyprus, Finland, Latvia and Liechtenstein. The 'Green List' uses a cut-off of 25 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people, with rising incidences in Germany (27.0), Iceland (90.4), Lithuania (27.5) and Poland (25.6) leading to their removal after just one week. Liechtenstein (20.8) is the only new addition - a tiny state with no airport. The list is being updated every Thursday, with changes taking effect the following Monday, as an interim measure until a new European 'traffic light' system for travel is approved. Read More The common European approach is expected to be in place from mid-October and will see countries colour-coded as red, orange or green based on a weekly assessment of their 14-day incidence of Covid-19 by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Other metrics such as the percentage rate of positive cases will also be a factor. Under the proposed system, 'green' countries would have 25 cases or less per 100,000 people, 'orange' countries would have between 25 and 50 per 100,000, and 'red' countries would have more than 50. Aer Lingus and Ryanair have expressed disappointment at Ireland's interim approach, as it does not include 'orange' countries such as Italy, Greece or Sweden. However, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said that different countries may opt into the 'traffic light' system in different ways. 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. Read More Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has also pointed out that travellers should be mindful of any restrictions at their destination. Ireland's 14-day average is currently 71.6 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 of the population - well above the 'red' threshold. The figures mean travellers from Ireland to Cyprus must show negative test results on arrival, for instance, while those travelling to Latvia are required to self-isolate there for 10 days. Meanwhile, calls have been growing for a pre-departure testing regime in Ireland to complement the proposed 'traffic light' system, eliminate quarantines and help to restore confidence in travel. Dublin and Cork airports are reportedly in talks about establishing possible testing centres, and the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) said it was in favour of pre-departure testing. "Covid-19 testing has progressed rapidly since March," it said. "The ITAA believes that the use of quick, accurate, easy to use and affordable testing measures could be an interim solution and have a positive effect on air travel in the coming weeks and months." The Department of Health last week told the Irish Independent that consideration is being given to additional travel measures, "including the nature of any testing regime". However, it also pointed to what it termed the "elevated risk of imported cases of Covid-19" through international travel. "The measures we have adopted in relation to international travel have been essential in suppressing the spread of the disease in Ireland," the Department said in a statement. According to Government data, around 2pc of Ireland's cases are related to "travel abroad", a figure that has remained stable since June. Sign up for our free travel newsletter! Like what you're reading? Subscribe to 'Travel Insider', our free travel newsletter written by award-winning Travel Editor, Pol O Conghaile. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Thu, September 24, 2020 09:31 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46dd42f 2 World US,CDC,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-vaccine,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free A top US health official told a US Senate committee on Wednesday that he expects COVID-19 vaccinations to take place over many months and that most Americans could be vaccinated by July of 2021 at the latest. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention head Robert Redfield 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, to get the entire American public completely vaccinated," Redfield told the US Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. 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, which has caused more than 200,000 deaths in the United States. There is no vaccine for COVID-19 yet, but there are several in late stage trials here, 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. 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 President Donald 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. 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. Playing defense Senator Patty Murray, the highest ranking Democrat on the committee, pointed to some reported examples of Trump administration pressure on the health agencies, including FDA authorizations of hydroxychloroquine and convalescent plasma as treatments for COVID-19 and changes in the CDC's guidance on testing for asymptomatic individuals. "Any of these examples of political pressure would be alarming on their own. But together they paint a clear pattern of interference that is downright terrifying," she said. Redfield and Hahn defended their agencies against criticism of their handling of the pandemic, telling the committee they were using science as their guide, not politics. "FDA will not authorize, or approve, a vaccine that we would not feel comfortable giving to our families," Hahn said. Redfield said the agency's change to guidance for testing for asymptomatic individuals with close contact to a COVID-19 positive person was poorly written. It has since been updated to make it clear that such individuals should get a test, he said. The CDC will release new guidance on the role of aerosolized coronavirus in its spread, Redfield said. The agency took down a Sept. 18 update to its transmission guidance that mentioned airborne virus for the first time, as it lacked the needed technical review. Redfield also said that based on an antibody testing study, about 90 percent of Americans are still vulnerable to the virus. New trains being delivered from China as part of the already late $2.3 billion high-capacity metro train program are likely to be further delayed because of COVID-19, leaked cabinet documents warn. The delay comes amid a broader productivity slowdown on major infrastructure projects caused by the coronavirus restrictions. Confidential Treasury advice to cabinet obtained by The Age warns projects could get bogged down by contractual disputes. An artist's impression of the High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT). Credit:Victorian Government The delivery of 65 high-capacity trains ordered under a partnership between the government and private consortium Evolution Rail is already running more than a year late. The first load of trains was supposed to be in service on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in March last year, with insiders blaming delays on challenges with supply, commissioning and a lag in testing. MY SALON Suite Earning a spot in the Top Growth Franchises list demonstrates the companys commitment to franchise development and overall success. MY SALON Suite, a turnkey salon suite studios franchise that allows salon professionals to provide health and beauty services to their own respective clients, was recently ranked in Entrepreneur magazines first Top Growth Franchises list. This list recognizes the 150 companies with the greatest positive franchise unit growth in North America over a three-year period, based on data submitted for Entrepreneurs Franchise 500 ranking. Thanks to its exceptional growth, MY SALON Suite was ranked number 100. MY SALON Suite is currently ranked number 279 in the magazines Franchise 500, the worlds first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Placement in the prestigious list is a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry. The health and beauty industry is solid, and MY SALON Suite is part of a growing, in-demand sector that allows stylists to run their own businesses, explains MY SALON Suite CEO and President Ken McAllister. Earning a spot in the Top Growth Franchises list demonstrates the companys commitment to franchise development and overall success. "By maintaining steady, sustained growth over several years, these franchises have demonstrated that they have the systems in place to support their franchisees and help them become successful, says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneurs editor-in-chief. Now, as these and other companies around the country face unprecedented challenges, they may see their growth slow, but that record of success could prove more important than ever." To determine the 2020 Top Growth Franchises ranking, Entrepreneur looked at each companys United States and Canadian franchise numbers over a three-year period (from July 2016 to July 2019; given the rapid changes, COVID-19 impacts werent taken into account). While certain companies, like MY SALON Suite, have maintained course or even grown during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ranking timeframe was defined as such in an effort to highlight successful franchises on a level playing field. To qualify, companies had to have positive growth of at least five units each year. They were ranked based on a formula that considers their total positive U.S. and Canadian franchise growth over the three years as well as factors that negatively affect growth, such as terminations, nonrenewals, and other closures. To view MY SALON Suite in the full ranking, visit entrepreneur.com/franchises/topgrowth. Results can also be seen in the September issue of Entrepreneur. ### About MY SALON Suite MY SALON Suite is the latest concept in the beauty services industry bringing together a collection of independent beauty professionals in one luxurious location. Ken and Alanna McAllister opened the first MY SALON Suite in Metairie, Louisiana, in 2010. They had three locations in Louisiana and Florida by 2012, and the franchise expanded across North America. In 2015, MY SALON Suite partnered with Salon Plaza, a salon operation with more than 25 years of experience, to drive expansion and provide knowledge for new and existing franchise partners. With industry-leading knowledge, operational processes and support services, we help franchise owners successfully build, open and manage upscale private salon suite facilities for highly-qualified, established beauty service professionals, who are ready to make an investment in themselves and their professional success by running their own salon business. For more information about MY SALON Suite, please visit: https://www.mysalonsuite.com/. For more information about MY SALON Suite franchise opportunities, please visit: https://www.suitemanagementfranchising.com/. The market corrected for the sixth consecutive session on September 24 with the Nifty falling well below the psychological 11,000 mark amid uncertainty over economic recovery and rising COVID-19 infections. The BSE Sensex plunged 1,114.82 points or 2.96 percent to close at 36,553.60, while the Nifty50 closed the expiry day for September derivative contracts at 10,805.50, down 326.40 points or 2.93 percent and formed a big bearish candle on the daily charts. "A long bear candle was formed on Thursday, which indicates that bears are in the driver's seat and dragging the market sharply lower. This is a negative indication and signals probable completion of an intermediate uptrend of the last 4-5 months and the downside momentum is picking up," Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities told Moneycontrol. "The sharp downward corrective action is unfolding in the market from the important swing highs (11,794) and the retracement theory shows almost reaching of 23.6 percent retracement at 10,800 (taken from the low of 7,511 and the high of 11,794) and the next important lower retracement area is at 38.2 percent, which is around 10,175 levels. Nifty testing this area can't be ruled out in the near term," he said. All sectoral indices closed in the red with Bank, Auto, IT, Metal and Pharma falling in the range of 3-4 percent, while the Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices declined over 2.5 percent each. 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 10,725.37, followed by 10,645.23. If the index moves up, the key resistance levels to watch out for are 10,950.47 and 11,095.43. Nifty Bank The Bank Nifty fell 721.70 points or 3.41 percent to end at 20,456.80, underperforming Nifty50 on September 24 and formed a bearish candle on the daily charts. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 20,255.94, followed by 20,055.07. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 20,806.63 and 21,156.47. Call option data Maximum Call open interest of 51.41 lakh contracts was seen at 11,000 strike, which will act as crucial resistance in the October series. This is followed by 11,200 strike, which holds 42.59 lakh contracts, and 10,900 strike, which has accumulated 38.21 lakh contracts. Call writing was seen at 11,000 strike, which added 43.41 lakh contracts, followed by 10,900 strike, which added 37.26 lakh contracts, and 10,800 strike, which added 10.89 lakh contracts. Call unwinding was seen at 11,300 strike, which shed 10.41 lakh contracts, followed by 11,500 strike, which shed 9.69 lakh contracts and 11,600 strike which shed 9.33 lakh contracts. Put option data Maximum Put open interest of 43.43 lakh contracts was seen at 10,800 strike, which will act as crucial support in the October series. This is followed by 10,500 strike, which holds 29.23 lakh contracts, and 10,700 strike, which has accumulated 16.83 lakh contracts. Put writing was seen at 10,800 strike, which added 22.97 lakh contracts, followed by 10,700 strike, which added 4.08 lakh contracts and 10,600 strike which added 1.3 lakh contracts. Put unwinding was witnessed at 11,000 strike, which shed 29.18 lakh contracts, followed by 11,100 strike which shed 21.17 lakh contracts and 11,200 strike which shed 10.53 lakh contracts. Stocks with a high delivery percentage A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks. Rollovers Here is the list top 10 stocks which witnessed higher rollovers. 2 stocks saw long build-up Based on the open interest future percentage, here are those 2 stocks in which long build-up was seen. 116 stocks saw long unwinding Based on the open interest future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long unwinding was seen. 14 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. 6 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 those 6 stocks in which short-covering was seen. Bulk deals (For more bulk deals, click here) Analysts/Board Meetings Eicher Motors: The company's officials will hold a conference call with Sundaram Mutual Fund on September 25. Atul Auto: Neeraj J Chandra, Whole-time Director and J V Adhia, President - Finance of the company is going to meet analyst/s of Laburnum Capital on September 25 through video conference. Nestle India: The company on October 23 will consider un-audited financial results for the third quarter ending September 2020. Stocks in the news TCS: The company bagged an order from fashion apparel retailer Maurices for digital services. ONGC: The company to soon resume operations in Hazira plant after the fire. RITES: The company received a turnkey contract for the construction of road over bridges for Rs 205.85 core. Mahindra & Mahindra: The company raised stake in Sampo Rosenlew to 74.97 percent from 49.14 percent. Nippon Life: The company received a joint mandate to manage Post Office Life Insurance Fund and Rural Post Office Life Insurance Fund for 3 years. FII and DII data Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) net sold shares worth Rs 1,885.69 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DIIs) net bought shares worth Rs 188.64 crore in the Indian equity market on September 24, as per provisional data available on the NSE. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) London, United Kingdom Thu, September 24, 2020 07:40 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46d170e 2 World UK,Britain,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free Britain reported 6,178 new daily cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, the highest number of infections since May 1, government data showed. Officials 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 soaring 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. HISTORY Hitler's Northern Utopia by Despina Stratigakos (Princeton 25, 328 pp) Adolf Hitler was mesmerised. In the spring of 1934, he went on holiday, a secret cruise in a German battleship through the fjords of Norway and, for hours on end, stared at the natural beauty around him. A Norwegian crew member later recalled him being 'enthused like a little boy over the mountains and the magnificent weather'. That trip was apparently the beginning of a strange love affair which comes as a surprise. If you thought (as I did) that, 75 years on from Hitler's death, there could surely be nothing new to learn about him, then this book by U.S. architectural historian Despina Stratigakos is an eye-opener. German women carrying children of an alleged 'Aryan purity' in Lebensborn, during The Second World War It reveals that, after he attacked Norway in 1940, Hitler devised plans for it that went beyond the brutal subjugation he intended for France, Poland and Russia after he'd conquered them. His grand design was for beautiful Norway to be transformed into a Nazi utopia. As he reigned supreme over a vanquished Europe, the author explains, Hitler and his Nazis would 'take root in Norway and create a space for themselves as rulers of a Nordic empire that stretched to the Arctic Circle'. But Hitler's fascination with Norway was not just sparked by the magnificence of its fjords. He also admired its genetic history, believing, as he wrote in Mein Kampf, that with their Viking origins, its blond-haired, blue-eyed people had the purest of Aryan bloodlines. They were at the very top of the racial ladder. Adolf Hitler visiting the Norwegian fjords aboard a war ship, Weimar Republic Here was a dictator who exterminated millions he considered racially degenerate. But he also encouraged selective breeding, and Norway was a chosen test bed for Nazi eugenics. Under an SS-inspired programme known as Lebensborn ('Fount of life'), German troops were encouraged to impregnate the best-looking local girls, with the promise that the Nazi state would look after them and their children. Newspapers back home projected jolly images of sunny Norwegian milkmaids falling in love with Adolf Hitler for saving them from moral and racial degeneration and doing their duty by breeding with his pure-blooded soldiers. Thousands of expectant mothers judged to be racially valuable were given priority medical care in specially built maternity homes, hotels and orphanages. Pampered Lebensborn mothers were rigidly indoctrinated in Nazi ways. Lebensborn Nazi maternity hospital, used as a base for German programme opened 1935 was one of the most secret and terrifying Nazi projects June 1940: A man runs through wreckage in front of a large house in flames, after Luftwaffe air raids secured the Nazi occupation of Norway. Narvik, Norway, World War II Inge Viermetz, the only woman defendant being tried before Tribune 1 in RuSHA Nuremberg Trials, pleads 'not guilty' to being responsible for Lebensborn in Nazi Germany, 1947 Childcare was strictly Germanic there was to be no wailing in the nursery. The 'purest' babies were often removed from their mothers, forcibly if necessary, and sent to Germany to be raised in approved SS families, though most stayed in Norway. Over the course of their five-year occupation of Norway, the Germans gave the country special treatment seen nowhere else, using forced labour and prisoners-of-war to build roads, bridges, tunnels, railroads, docks, power stations and facilities for business and industry. Norway soon became 'the only occupied country in Europe where Nazi Germany invested more resources than it withdrew'. In Hitler's plan for his utopia, towns devastated in the brutal two-month invasion would be re-built on radically different National Socialist lines, emphasising the power of the state and the party rather than, say, the church. German police carry off children in occupied Yugoslavia-part of them will be destined to be taken over by the 'Lebensborn' organisation, 1941 or 1942 1754: Lebensborn nursing home. Lebensborn (Fount of Life) was a Nazi organization set up by SS leader Heinrich Himmler, which provided maternity homes and financial assistance to the wives of SS members and to unmarried mothers 1940: Nazi troops setting up their big guns on one of the many battle fronts in Norway More grandly, he had a vision for a purpose-built 'Fuhrer city', clawed out of the wilderness on a peninsula close to Trondheim in the north of the country away, as he saw it, from the inter-racial decadence of Oslo, the capital, in the south. With a population of 300,000, Nordstern (meaning North Star) was intended to be one of the jewels of the Third Reich, along with Berlin, Hamburg, Nuremberg, Munich and Linz (Hitler's home town). It would crown a Greater Germany that ran from the Arctic to the Alps. Hitler's mad, messianic imagination went into overdrive. This new Athens of the north, he insisted, would have an opera house, theatres, libraries and art galleries but, also, a stadium and swimming pools everything necessary for a modern city of cultural importance. There would be extensive green spaces, and homes for its exclusively German citizens would be laid out in terraces on a south-facing slope, so every house had sunlight all day. German parents with a German allegedly Aryan girl born in a Lebensborn : Center Of Eugenics during The Second World War Needless to say, his dream Aryan city never materialised, although the vainglorious Hitler, his legacy always foremost in his mind, spent hours closeted with his chief architect, Albert Speer, drawing up plans and making models of what Speer claimed would be 'the most beautiful German city'. It was abandoned though merely postponed in Hitler's crazed eye when defeat by the Red Army at Stalingrad on the eastern front in 1943 brought a switch of fortune, putting Nazi Germany on the defensive for the first time and heading for defeat two years later. What's more, as the war neared its end, withdrawing German forces followed a scorched-earth policy, destroying much of what they had built. Included in this destruction were the plans for the Fuhrer's dream city. Only in recent years have researchers such as Stratigakos been able to piece together the odd map fragments and documents that survived and get a snapshot of the fantasy northern utopia he longed to build. Circa 1935: Norwegian diplomat and Fascist leader Vidkun Quisling (1887 - 1945) inspects German troops in the Nazi style on a visit to Germany The human cost was high: those Lebensborn mothers and their children paid a terrible price when the war ended. Thousands of women were arrested and imprisoned in the summer of 1945 for fraternising with the occupiers. There was no mercy either for their 'German brats', who were branded as outcasts and treated accordingly. In an ironic turning of the tables, the postwar Norwegian authorities ruled that the mothers who'd slept with German soldiers were clearly mentally retarded, and so were their offspring. Children once elevated for their genes were now scorned for them. Hitler's dream of a purged and racially 'pure' Europe went the same way as his utopia of a shining new legacy city near the Arctic. It ended up in the dustbin of history. Federal officials have sued a Houston-based staffing firm over allegations of workplace disability discrimination. Swift Technical Services LLC, doing business as Airswift, a Houston-based staffing firm focused on the oil and gas industry, violated federal law when it refused to accommodate an employee with a disability who worked in a liquid natural gas facility in Gregory, Texas, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to the EEOCs lawsuit, at the start of his employment, the building superintendent told his employer that he had thyroid and prostate cancer in remission and that the prescription medication he was taking could cause false positives for illegal substances on a drug test. He explained that he takes prescription medication to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, which was a side effect of his cancer treatment. The EEOCs lawsuit asserts that when the building superintendent later failed a urinalysis drug test, he requested the reasonable accommodation of a retest using either a blood or hair sample. Rather than allow this accommodation in testing, however, Airswift fired him. Such alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits employers from making employment decisions based on an individuals disability or need for reasonable accommodation and requires them to make such accommodations absent an undue hardship. The EEOC filed suit, Civil Action No. 2:20-cv-231 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. In this case, the EEOC seeks back pay, compensatory and punitive damages, and injunctive relief, including an order barring Airswift from engaging in discriminatory treatment in the future. Source: EEOC Topics Lawsuits Texas Drugs The dreary evening of February 23 saw parts of North-East Delhi gripped by a communal frenzy, reminiscent of the carnage during the days of Partition. The police dithered for a considerable time before taking firm action when they should have crushed the violence right away. Soon, the riots spread like wildfire across the smoke-grey skyline of the Capital, engulfing new areas and snuffing out more and more innocent lives. Chief minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal looked on helpless, sitting on a peace mission at Rajghat, while various politicians traded charges. Much to the relief of the citys citizens, some semblance of order returned gradually from February 26. Six months after the incident, the probe into the riots has come under public scrutiny. The most contentious case is the overarching one, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, covering the conspiracy for planning, instigating and executing the riot action plan. The arrest of Umar Khalid under UAPA has unleashed a bitter debate over the alleged bias in the police probe. Even former director-general of police Punjab and Gujarat, and police commissioner, Mumbai, Julio Ribeiro and other retired police officers have expressed their reservations on the matter. The police investigation of the riot cases has clearly polarised the public. While a section finds the police biased for targeting the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protesters, the other justifies the police action, clamouring for stringent legal action against the accused in the UAPA charge-sheet. The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between. While the Delhi Police has done meticulous investigations in many cases, it has failed on some counts too. The probe can thus be covered broadly under three categories. First, it was a mammoth exercise to conduct a probe in the riots which claimed 53 lives and injured 583 others. Two policemen were killed and over 100 injured. A total of 781 cases were registered by the local police, special cell and the crime branch. The police arrested 1,575 people, including 776 Hindus and 799 Muslims, and 250 charge-sheets have been filed till now. Seizures by the police include 12 pistols, 121 empty cartridges, 92 live cartridges, 61 glass bottles full of noxious chemicals and an assortment of sharp-edged weapons. One policeman died from bullet wounds. The cases are being vetted by 11 special prosecutors for presenting in four special courts set up for the purpose. The charge-sheet submitted under UAPA runs into 11 volumes, totalling over 17,000 pages. The hallmark of an investigation in a majority of these cases has been the extensive use of scientific evidence, including the facial recognition system matching the faces of the accused with the help of a databank of drivers licences and dossiers maintained by the police CCTV, electronic data and the Vahan portal. Some probe teams did particularly well, including the one which unearthed the killing of nine Muslims by 11 members of the Hindu Kattar Sangh in Gokulpuri. The painstaking collation of clues and messages of a chat group led to the case being cracked. Second, it is the case instituted under UAPA that has generated a heated debate as it relates to the planning, instigating and fanning the flames of communal conflagration. While social activists maintain that Umar Khalid and company are mere dissenters and protesters of CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Delhi Police maintain that they have unimpeachable evidence against them regarding well-planned sit-ins and blocking of roads, collection of acid and incendiary devices, funding through the Popular Front of India (PFI) and confrontation with the state law and order machinery. The statements of a few witnesses before the court and electronic data have added heft to the charges. For the case to succeed, the prosecutors have to convince the judge that the acts of the accused extended beyond sit-ins and protest speeches which come under the ambit of democratic dissent, to the instigation of riots and confrontation with the state leading to the killing of two policemen and injuring 108 others. Hence, this issue is in a grey area awaiting a judicial verdict. Third, the high court observed after the riots that all hate speeches delivered around this time should be analysed and FIRs registered accordingly. The lack of real action taken by the Delhi Police against the speeches by Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur and Pravesh Sharma has got civil society in a ferment. The forces failed to summon the courage to take legal action against the minister, the Member of Parliament (MP) and some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadres for rabble-rousing. Kapil Mishra was called to the police station only to be let off soon after. The minister and MP were not even called by the same police which had once questioned the Delhi CM in the case of an assault against the chief secretary. A clutch of petitions filed with the High Court on such issues is waiting to be taken up. When history looks back at the worst communal riot since Partition in Delhi, it is the failure to hold to account rabble-rousers from the ruling dispensation which will torment the sentinels of democracy. Yashovardhan Azad is former IPS officer and Central Information Commissioner The views expressed are personal The Narcotics Control Burea, who is currently nabbing everyone related to the use and procurement of drugs in Bollywood, has summoned Deepika Padukone according to news reports. It is claimed that Deepika, who is currently shooting in Goa, will fly back to Mumbai today in a charter plane ahead of the meeting with the probe agency. The reports claim that she will be interrogated tomorrow i.e September 25, 2020. The Narcotics Control Burea, who is currently nabbing everyone related to the use and procurement of drugs in Bollywood, has summoned Deepika Padukone according to news reports. It is claimed that Deepika, who is currently shooting in Goa, will fly back to Mumbai today in a charter plane ahead of the meeting with the probe agency. The reports claim that she will be interrogated tomorrow i.e September 25, 2020. The reports further state that there might be a delay in the probe as her legal team could ask for a later date for interrogation, since the actress is shooting out of the city. Keep watching this space for more updates on the case. (Natural News) Its not enough to get a full nights sleep for a healthier gut, its also important to sleep at the right time of day. Researchers from Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Portugal and the University of Lisbon examined how altered sleeping habits affect gut health. They discovered a group of immune cells that play a role in various gut processes, such as fighting infections and boosting the protective layer of the epithelium. However, these processes can get disrupted among people who go on sleepless nights. It comes as no surprise, then, that people who work at night can suffer from inflammatory intestinal disorders, said co-author Henrique Veiga-Fernandez. The findings of the study were published in the journal Nature. Master circadian clock influences immune cells The body is equipped with its own internal timekeeper called the circadian clock. It serves as a master clock for various circadian rhythms, or 24-hour cycles that make sure bodily functions and processes are optimized at certain times of the day. Cells follow certain circadian rhythms through their cellular genetic machinery, which is encoded in clock genes. These genes work like little clocks that inform cells of the time, which helps organs and bodily systems know if its time to perform a certain process. But while these cell clocks work independently, they still receive input from the brains circadian clock. According to Veiga-Fernandez, cells can easily lose track of time because they dont have direct information about the environment. Thus, they rely on the master clock to get this information and keep their individual clocks up-to-date and synchronized to the bodys overall schedule. The job of the brains clock, which receives direct information about daylight, is to synchronize all of these little clocks inside the body so that all systems are in sync, said Veiga-Fernandez. The team was particularly interested in a particular group of immune cells called type 3 innate lymphoid cells, or ILC3s. These cells play important gut functions, such as fighting infections, controlling the integrity of the gut barrier and instructing lipid absorption. When the researchers disrupted their clocks, they learned that the number of ILC3s in the gut was significantly reduced. This led to severe inflammation, breaching of the gut barrier and increased fat accumulation. The researchers investigated some more, this time disrupting the master clock to see how it influences the expression of different genes in ILC3s. They found that the molecular zip code of ILC3s was missing. This zip code is a protein expressed by the cells on their membrane. It tells ILC3s, which are temporary residents in the gut, how to get to their destination. But without the brains circadian input, the cells failed to express this protein, which meant they were unable to reach the gut. Veiga-Fernandez said that these findings shine a light on why gut health becomes compromised in people who are routinely active at night. When the body is scheduled to feed, the brains circadian clock reduces the activity of ILC3s to promote healthy lipid metabolism. But because the gut can be damaged during feeding, the brains circadian clock instructs ILC3s to come back to the gut once the feeding period is over. In turn, the ILC3s fight invaders and promote the regeneration of the gut barrier. This mechanism is a beautiful example of evolutionary adaptation, said Veiga-Hernandez. He added that any changes in peoples sleeping habits could have an immediate impact on ILC3s, such as the development of inflammatory bowel disease. This condition refers to disorders that involve the chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, believed to be caused by an immune system malfunction. (Related: Dreamless sleep actually contributes to illness, according to sleep expert.) By looking at how the brains circadian clock affects immune cells, the researchers posit one possible link between the immune and the nervous system. Brain.news has more on how lack of sleep affects gut health. Sources include: IntegrativePractitioner.com SleepFoundation.org MayoClinic.org Mary Tarnowka (sitting, left), director of the AmCham Vietnam, and Pham Phu Truong (sitting, right), CEO of VBI Fast Track, sign a memorandum of cooperation in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, August 20, 2020. Photo: Nhu Binh / Tuoi Tre Vietnam Business and Investment (VBI) Fast Track, an organisation that offers assistance in promoting business and investment opportunities in Vietnam, is rushing to organise consultancy and investment promotion activities to connect with US investors. This week, VBI Fast Track will organise a dialogue on improving the business environment and boosting private investment and new-generation foreign investment with the participation of the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham). A representative of Amcham will share the concerns of US investors as well as propose solutions to lure more large-scale US investment. Last month the two parties signed a new MoU in Ho Chi Minh City. Mary Tarnowka, director of AmCham Vietnam, said that the memorandum is expected to draw more US investment flows to Vietnam in the near future. She added that US entrepreneurs are paying particular attention to the sectors of renewable energy, infrastructure, and healthcare. Pham Phu Truong, CEO of VBI Fast Track, told VIR, Investment inflows from the United States to Vietnam have yet to reach potential due to the difference in culture and the geographical distance, and a lack of information about the investment environment in Vietnam. Thus, the organisations target is to remove these obstacles to foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, including capital from the US. Notably, we will introduce distinctive features about the country and culture. In addition, VBI will also address difficulties that they may face when investing in Vietnam and are willing to help deal with these problems in order that they can feel secure about their choice, Truong said. VBI Fast Track focuses on luring in projects of at least $500 million and plans to become a bridge that brings foreign investors, including US entrepreneurs, closer to the Vietnamese government. The Vietnamese government has recently announced many policies with a view to attracting FDI, with US investors being a prime target. At an online discussion in Washington DC in July, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc highlighted the favourable factors for US investors in Vietnam, including the two countries flourishing comprehensive partnership and Vietnams network of free trade agreements. Vietnam is home to the manufacturing arms of billion-dollar US groups like Intel, Microsoft, IBM, Coca-Cola, GE and PepsiCo. Furthermore, other groups like AIG, ExxonMobil, and Boeing, are also looking for opportunities to invest. Most recently, Millennium Group announced plans to develop a 600-hectare liquefied natural gas project with the capacity of 9,600MW in the South Van Phong area in Ninh Hoa town of the central province of Khanh Hoa. 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. Times Union file photo ILION More than 700 workers at the Remington Outdoors gun factory here received a brief reprieve this week as an Alabama bankruptcy judge extended to the end of September the deadline for finding a buyer for the bankrupt company. Burdened by debt and facing a welter of lawsuits, the historic company, which was founded here in 1816, filed for bankruptcy protection over the summer. The court is planning an auction in hopes of finding a buyer, which could be another gun manufacturer, to take over the company. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky would like the United Nations (UN) to play a more important role in ending the war in Donbas and restoring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "I am sure that the UN should play the important role in restoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as the authority of international law. For this purpose, the existing mechanisms should be improved. It is unacceptable when the sovereignty of an independent state is violated by one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council. This fact conclusively proves that the mechanisms of the 1945 model do not work in the proper way today," he said in his video speech at the plenary session of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. In his opinion, although the UN system played the role of "software that saved the world from critical errors," it must be admitted that the system is starting to malfunction more and more often, it is attacked by new "buggies" and "viruses," and countering them is not always effective. "I am talking about this as the head of state, from whom the Russian Federation annexed Crimean peninsula in the 21st century. The state that has been holding back its [Russian] military aggression in Donbas for the seventh year," he said. Zelensky believes that all this could lead to further devaluation of the UN Security Council. "Ukraine will actively participate in the process of its reform. This agency should become more representative, balanced, transparent and effective. It is in the interests of the UN to have an effective tool if someone abuses the veto and permanent member status," he said. The President of Ukraine said that the creators of the UN could hardly have imagined that 75 years later, there would be a war in the center of Europe: "That in Crimea, human rights are grossly violated, Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars are being persecuted. The militarization of the peninsula and the water areas next to it is intensifying balance of security in the Black Sea region. Would they change something in the charter and mechanisms of the UN if they knew that in 75 years, as a result of the war in Donbas, there will be 14,000 deaths and almost 1.5 million people will lose their homes?" Zelensky said that over the past year, Ukraine has proven that it really wants peace. "We managed to unblock the dialogue, we restored the meetings of the leaders of the Normandy Format countries, made significant progress in the mutual release of the detainees. On July 27, a comprehensive ceasefire started, which, despite attempts to disrupt it, still gives hope for achieving stable silence. It is extremely necessary to continue moving on the path to peace," he said. The President of Ukraine believes that the next steps on this path should be the withdrawal of illegal armed formations and weapons from the occupied territories of Donbas, the return of control over the state border and, finally, the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine within the internationally recognized borders. ANAHOLA, HI: 9/21/2020 Volunteers with the American Red Cross responded earlier today to a residential fire reported in Anahola. Red Cross disaster volunteers are meeting with the affected family of four to deliver assistance. Caseworkers will continue to follow up with anyone affected in the coming weeks to provide referrals, guidance or additional resources as needed to help with the recovery process. The Red Cross encourages all families to make a disaster plan to include an evacuation plan with two different routes of escape, a communications plan to help families reconnect after disaster and a disaster supplies kit that is readily available to aid in a quick evacuation. Information on developing a family plan is available to the public at redcross.org/hawaii, or a brochure can be requested by calling 734-2101. The Red Cross is a non-profit humanitarian organization which provides assistance to meet the immediate emergency needs of those affected by disasters. All Red Cross assistance to disaster victims is free. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it depends on public contributions to help others. Your gift supports the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross in your community, across the country and around the world. To send a contribution, mail your check to: American Red Cross of Hawaii 4155 Diamond Head Road Honolulu, HI 96816 Make a secure online donation at redcross.org/hawaii or call: (808) 739-8109 ### New Delhi, Sep 24 : The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that it will declare the compartment results for Class 12 students on or before October 10. Even as the counsel for University Grants Commission (UGC) submitted before a bench comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna that as per its academic calender the admissions will close by October 31. The bench recorded the submissions of the counsel. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had asked the CBSE to declare results of compartment exams of around 2 lakh students as soon as possible, so that they could apply in colleges by the cut-off date. The bench had urged the CBSE and the UGC to devise an arrangement on the issue and work in tandem so that the future of stidents were not put at stake. The observation from the top court came on a plea seeking extension of college admission deadlines in the backdrop of delayed compartment exams. Senior advocate Vivek Tankha, representing petitioners, had submitted before the bench that the compartment exams will begin on Tuesday and end on September 29, and if the college admissions were over before the results were announced then the students would lose out on the opportunity for the current academic year. The bench asked the UGC that this being a peculiar situation, could it explore making some room for students taking the compartment exam. "Academic career of 2 lakh students cannot be hampered. If the CBSE declares results by end of October, then you can wrap up admissions by first week of November," the bench had noted. The counsel appearing for the UGC submitted that the academic calendar has been finalized and the admissions would conclude by the end of October. The bench asked the UGC to hold the academic calendar till September 24. "Let CBSE inform us and then you both coordinate. Two lakh students -- is not a small number... You need to work in tandem with CBSE," the bench told the UGC counsel. The CBSE counsel contended before the bench that the compartment papers would have to be checked in 16 regional centres, therefore it could take nearly 4 weeks to declare the results. Caribbean Anthony Bamford, the billionaire chairman of excavator maker JCB, has transferred his shares in the firms Caribbean holding companies to Switzerland, altering arrangements that fostered his familys fortune for decades. JCB Group Holdings Sarl, based in the Swiss canton of Vaud, now holds shares that the British tycoon and his family control in one of the worlds largest closely held construction-equipment makers, filings show. They previously managed the stock through entities based in Curacao, a Dutch Caribbean island that once flourished as a low-tax territory for foreign businesses and wealthy individuals. The move illustrates the lengths many of the worlds richest people go to to protect their wealth. Two years ago, four Chinese tycoons transferred more than $17 billion into family trusts with the ownership structures involving various Caribbean entities, while a trio of tax havens support the wealth of Stefano Pessina, the outgoing chief executive officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. A spokesman for JCB and Bamford, who has a net worth of $6 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, declined to comment. The Curacao entities that previously controlled the JCB shares were set up in 1976. The territory was then a booming offshore financial center, partly because dividends paid to local firms by Dutch companies received favorable tax treatment, according to the Tax Justice Network. Curacao has since amended its laws to align with global standards, avoiding the risk of the European Union naming the territory on its tax haven blacklist. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing from JCB or the Bamford family. Attractive Location Switzerland has also changed its tax regime to meet global standards, but still remains an attractive location for multinational firms like JCB, which has 22 factories worldwide. In addition, the European nation has agreements with more than 100 other countries to avoid double taxation, making it a compelling hub for international activity. Theres definitely longevity in Switzerland, and its unlikely to go on the EUs blacklist, said Mark Davies, a London-based tax adviser to rich individuals. Plus, it has a great banking network. Bamford, 74, a Brexit supporter, has been chairman of the company his father founded since 1975. Other billionaire backers of the U.K.s EU exit have also shifted their wealth since the nation voted to leave the trading bloc in 2016, with inventor James Dyson relocating to Singapore. JCB reported 2019 revenue of 4.2 billion pounds ($5.6 billion), a 1% increase from a year earlier, filings show. The companys sales slumped more than a third during the first half of 2020 from 2019 amid Covid-19 disruptions, but JCB said the pandemic wont have a material adverse effect. Police continue search for mother of abandoned Patong newborn PHUKET: Patong Police are still trying to track down the mother of a newborn boy left abandoned on a wooden bench in Patong early yesterday morning. Police now believe the mother is a Myanmar woman who has already left the island for Surat Thani by bus. patongpoliceMyanmar By Kiattikul Chumanee Thursday 24 September 2020, 05:46PM The newborn boy was left on a bench seat in Aroonsom Square plaza. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Police and other officials tracked the woman to a Myanmar workers camp. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The woman was recorded on CCTV leaving the baby boy on the bench seat before dawn yesterday morning. Image: via Eakkapop Thongtub The woman was recorded on CCTV leaving the baby boy on the bench seat before dawn yesterday morning. Image: via Eakkapop Thongtub The newborn was found left in a black fabric bag in the area at Aroonsom Square plaza at about 6am yesterday by a woman passing through the square. Inside the bag, along with the baby swaddled in cloths, were diapers, baby clothes and a bottle of milk prepared for the newborn. The baby was estimated to be no more than seven days old. Patong Police Chief Col Aganit Danpitaksat told The Phuket News this afternoon (Sept 24) explained that a young woman believed to be the mother was recorded on CCTV walking up to the bench seat at 5:39am. The woman was about 150 centimetres tall, and wearing a short skirt and a white T-shirt bearing the number 88, Col Aganit explained. At 5:42am, the woman placed the baby on the seat and walked away, he said. Police managed to track the woman [through CCTV footage] to a Myanmar workers camp, Col Aganit said. We showed a photo of the woman to workers, and one of the workers told police that the woman was also a Myanmar national. She came and showed her the child on the evening of Sept 22 [Tuesday, the day before the baby was found abandoned], he added. We continued tracking down the woman and learned that she has already taken a bus to Surat Thani, but at this stage we do not know where she got off the bus, Col Aganit noted. Asked whether police knew her name or any other details, Col Aganit said, No, we dont. However, Col Aganit confirmed that police in Surat Thani have been notified of the womans description in the hope of finding her. Officials involved in the search initially suspected that the mother had given birth while facing a poor economic situation, leading her to abandon the baby in the hope the baby will be better cared for. Regardless, officers have pointed out that doing so is illegal and the authorities may have to charge her according to the law. Meanwhile, the baby is being cared for at Patong Hospital, where at last report doctors said the infant was in good health. Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Lok Nayak hospital on Wednesday evening after a spike in fever and dip in oxygen saturation, was diagnosed with dengue on Thursday. He was shifted to the ICU of Max Hospital in Saket on Thursday night, government officials said. Sisodia had tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this month. Sisodias condition had improved on Thursday morning, and he was moved to a ward in Lok Nayak later in the day, hospital officials said. Delhi government officials did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday. Click here for complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic The minister was admitted to the hospital with high fever and low oxygen saturation. He was being monitored in the ICU and was put on oxygen support while various tests were conducted. It was found that he had low platelet count which led to the doctors to believe he might have a co-infection of dengue, a senior doctor from Lok Nayak hospital. Sisodia has slightly elevated blood pressure, a co-morbidity known to increase the risk of severe Covid-19 disease. Also read: Study suggests dengue fever may provide immunity against Covid-19 The minister had tested positive for Covid-19 on September 14, when he tweeted, Had got my Covid-19 test done after I had a mild fever. The report has come positive. I have gone into self-isolation. As of now, I have no fever or any other issue. I am fine. By your blessing I will recover fully and return to work soon. He is the second minister in the Delhi government to contract Covid-19 after health minister Satyendar Jain in June. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Health secretary Matt Hancock found himself embroiled in an awkward conversation with Sky News presenter Kay Burley when he was asked to define the governments definition of an established relationship. In what was a very British exchange between the pair, Hancock was left stuttering and laughing nervously as he was grilled on government guidelines around casual sex and when couples do and dont have to socially distance. The interview comes as confusion continues over suggestions that people shouldnt engage in casual sex in order to help limit the spread of coronavirus, with official advice being that only established couples should be having sex. The health secretary has urged Britons to be careful when it came to having sexual relationships outside established relationships, saying they should be sensible. #KayBurley asks the health secretary, 'how long will the ban on casual sex last?' Matt Hancock says sex is "ok in an established relationship" but adds people need to be "careful". Get live updates on #coronavirus: https://t.co/K1H8hIapJW pic.twitter.com/2uFJlEiMa4 SkyNews (@SkyNews) September 24, 2020 In his Sky News interview, he was asked by Burley: How long is this casual sex ban going to last? Youre saying that no social distancing is needed in established relationships. What about people who are not in established relationships? she asked, adding: Why am I whispering? Hancock laughed nervously in response: I dont know, youre live on national TV Kay. He said the new rules meant there had to be boundaries, adding: If youre saying that two households shouldnt mix, which we are in some parts of the country... then you have to then define what is the boundary. Story continues In an interview punctuated by laughter, Burley pressed Hancock on the definition of an established relationship, saying: If I say I love you? Are you in an established relationship then? Hancock replied: I think we should stick to the letter of it which is it is OK in an established relationship. Burley then asked: What does it mean to you? I mean I know what it means to you and Mrs Hancock, to which he responded: That is exactly how I was going to answer. I know Im in an established relationship. Hancock said: It just means that people need to be careful. People need to be sensible. And if youre in a relationship thats well established thats what it means. In an earlier interview, the health secretary said: In these rules that we have to bring in, there have to be boundaries, to coin a phrase. If youre saying that two households shouldnt mix, which we are in some parts of the country in the north-east, the north-west, in Scotland, in parts of Wales then you have to then define what is the boundary of that. I think we should stick to the letter of it, which is it is OK in an established relationship. It just means that people need to be careful, they need to be sensible. If youre in a relationship that is well established... what it means is people realising that coming into close contact with people from other households, then that is how the virus spreads. During the early days of the coronavirus lockdown, couples were told to move in together or stay apart but government guidance was later updated to say that those in an established relationship did not need to socially distance from each other. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas Two men died after their ultralight aircraft crashed on an interstate in front of a hospital in Central Texas on Thursday, authorities said. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Bryan Washko said a 911 call came in about 11 a.m. that a plane had gone down on Interstate 14 near the city limits of Harker Heights and Killeen. Washko said the two men aboard the Quicksilver MX II Sprint aircraft were taken to Seton Medical Center Harker Heights, where they were pronounced dead. Washko said the two men who were killed were 71-year-old David Wesley, who was the pilot, and 54-year-old Stephen Cockrell. Both men were from Killeen. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Tony Molinaro said the single-engine aircraft hit a guardrail on the interstate. He said there were no immediate reports of anyone on the ground being injured. The aircraft took off from nearby Skylark Field Airport in Killeen, Washko said. He did not know its destination. Washko said the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. Harker Heights is about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Austin. Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu participated on Thursday in the meeting of foreign minister of the Central European Initiative (CEI), organized in a videoconference format. According to a Foreign Affair Ministry (MAE) release, in his speech, the Romanian chief diplomat said that the challenges generated by the pandemic crisis represented a test of resilience for states and societies, a moment that can only be overcome through international solidarity, as an expression of common responsibility and efficient multilateralism, by defending the democratic values and the world order based on rules, as well as by adapting to the current context. "Minister Bogdan Aurescu referred to the initiatives launched since the beginning of the epidemiological crisis in Europe, especially the financial support and the coordination on a European level for the common efforts in front of the pandemic, Thus, the Romanian dignitary also approached the EU's demarches for overcoming the crisis and for recovery, under the adjustments to the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and the adoption of the most ambitious investment plan in the history of the Union, Next Generation EU. At the same time, Minister Bogdan Aurescu highlighted the consistent financial support from the EU for the Western Balkan and the Eastern Neighbourhood countries, in addition to the European facilities devoted to combat the pandemic and the crisis consequences in these states," the release reads. In context, Aurescu stressed Romania's contribution to the effort of combating the pandemic, including the measures to the benefit of the Republic of Moldova citizens, through medical teams deployments, fund allotments and donations of sanitary products of first necessity, or hosting the RescEU strategic reserve of medical equipment, benefitting countries from the Western Balkans included. "Minister Bogdan Aurescu reiterated the political, financial and technical support which the Romanian state continues to provide to its partners in the region in their European path. The head of the Romanian diplomacy reaffirmed the importance of respecting the democratic values, as a precondition of resilience in the demarches to overcome the crisis, and the need to implement some sustainable recovery measures," MAE also showed. At the end of the meeting decisions were adopted on the enlargement of the current mandate of Montenegro within the CEI in the period January 1 - December 31, 2021 and the establishment of earmarks to the Cooperation Fund for next year. At the same time, the CEI foreign ministers adopted a joint declaration, reaffirming the significance of the consolidated cooperation in this regional format with other international bodies as well for overcoming the current medical crisis. The document points out the importance granted by the CEI states to observing the democratic principles which the efficient employment of epidemiological crisis control measures and the success of the post-pandemic recovery depend on. The meeting of the foreign ministers was organised by Montenegro, as Chairman-in-Office, in collaboration with the CEI Executive Secretariat. CEI represents a flexible form of regional cooperation including 17 countries, out of which 9 EU member states: Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia - and 8 non-EU states: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, R. Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine. Romania joined the CEI on June 1, 1996. CEI contributes to the process of connecting the countries in the EU neighbourhood to the Union's standards and values. The CEI activity includes the political dialogue and funding projects for the transfer of European expertise in the vicinity, in various areas (transport, energy, environment, administrative reform, fight against corruption, etc.) and the promotion of good relations, rule of law, democracy and fundamental freedoms. In his interaction with the seven chief ministers on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the states to assess the impact of localised lockdowns. He indicated his scepticism over local lockdowns imposed for a day or two in an attempt to curb spread of coronavirus. PM Modi urged the states to assess if these lockdowns were indeed effective or only hindering economic recovery. The Prime Minister urged the states to weigh the impact and utility of local lockdowns and emphasised on the implementation of "micro containment zones". He suggested that micro containment zones would not only curb the spread but also allow usual economic activities, as mentioned in a report in Times of India. Centre had asked states to avoid arbitrary lockdowns as implemented in July and August as it was seen hurting economic activity. PM Modi also highlighted the crucial role of masks in overcoming coronavirus. He also said that there are 700 districts in the country but only 60 districts in seven states are a cause of concern. "I suggest CMs hold virtual conferences with people at district or block level for seven days. We have to learn from the best practices from across the states," he said. PM Modi interacted with the chief ministers of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Delhi. Government statement had earlier said that these states contributed to 65.5 per cent of the total cases and 77 per cent of COVID-19 deaths in the country. The PM also pushed for effective testing, tracing, treatment as well as surveillance. "Effective messaging is also necessary because most Covid-19 infections are asymptomatic. 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," Modi added. India added 86,508 new cases on Thursday morning, taking the total to over 57 lakh cases. More than 91,000 deaths have also been reported. India is currently the second worst-affected country in the world. Also read: IIT Guwahati convocation 2020: PM Modi says NEP will establish India as global education destination Also read: 'Watershed moment' in history of Indian agriculture: PM Modi on passing of farm bills NEW HAVEN The inaugural class of the New Haven Police Departments clergy academy was celebrated this week and sent out into the world with a mission. Its akin to their normal one, but heavy with the weight of the moment: serve as a bridge between police and residents; create understanding; bring peace. Local officials and clergy gathered at the Star of Jacob Christian Church on Howard Avenue to celebrate the graduating class, which featured 19 faith leaders from across the city. They met for a series of seminars earlier this year before the coronavirus pandemic, touching on, among other topics, domestic violence issues; de-escalation training; Project Longevity and the Yale Child Study Center; the legal system; and speaking with people who have suffered traumatic incidents. Clergy also were offered the opportunity to do ride-alongs with patrol officers. Pastor Donarell Elder, of the Way of the Cross Church on George Street, and the Rev. Jackie Williams, of the Mt. Bethel Missionary Baptist Church on Webster Street, both graduates of the academy, said they were both struck that officers were human; fallible people placed into stressful, potentially dangerous situations. I was struck by the humanness, said Elder. Just the level of care and concern (they had for the community and their role) and willingness to be vulnerable. Elder said he went on a ride-along with an officer in Fair Haven. The officer was less than 30 years old; he is 71. He came away thinking about the parents of law enforcement officers, who may not be comfortable with possibility that their children will be in violent circumstances, and the professionalism of the officers. It touched me. It let me see this whole law enforcement thing.... (as) someone who really wants to be there for the community, said Elder. It touched me deeply. Williams said he was left thinking about post-traumatic stress disorder. He served in the military for 15 years, but only realized later in life that what he experienced had taken a lasting toll on him. Officers, he said, have to face that same sort of stress, without necessarily having the chance to step away or an outlet to share and release it. (Police officers) are not invincible. They can be touched, said Williams. They could be here today and gone today. He said he would strive to remind residents that officers are human beings and thus imperfect. Officers, he said, with the best of intentions, can mess up. Police Chief Otoniel Reyes, Mayor Justin Elicker, States Attorney Patrick Griffin, the Rev. Boise Kimber also a graduate of the class and the Rev. John Revell, the chaplain of the Stamford Police Department, spoke on the occasion. Reyes said the need to partner with the clergy had struck him as he drove to work on his first day as interim chief. He grew up in a church in New Haven the Pentecostal Church Door of Salvation on Arch Street, where he served as a director of music and spent time in the Star of Jacob church as a youth. The power of faith to bridge divides has stuck with him. You are here precisely for this very moment in the city of New Havens history, to be the galvanizers, to be the ambassadors, to be the messengers of hope, the messengers of truth, the messengers of unity, said Reyes. Elicker noted the power of the citys leadership at a difficult time in the nations history, hes found himself heartened by the dedication and ability of the people in New Haven. Griffin said he grew up in a religious household, coming away with the understanding that where theres faith, theres hope that things can change, and noted that, although the criminal justice system is imperfect, there are people of good faith working hard every single day to try to do the right thing. Kimber called on those in attendance to battle the forces of violence and darkness in society. He noted the protests surrounding the death of Breonna Taylor going on throughout the country, urging the clergy to prevent those who have not built New Haven from destroying it. Revell, the keynote speaker and an instructor during the academy, urged the clergy to remember that a number of faith traditions were centered around peace. In a time when a spirit of lawlessness has descended upon the land, he said, the clergy can remind the community that there are parameters that are necessary to maintain a civil society. Lt. Robert Maturo, the head of the departments training academy, brought the proceedings to a close with a quote from Romans 5:3. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings. Because we know that sufferings proceed perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope, said Maturo. Together, we have hope. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25 Trend: General debates of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly have today been held. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a speech at the general debates in a video format. Speech of President Ilham Aliyev: Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Distinguished Heads of State and Government, I congratulate the President of the 75th session of the General Assembly, Mr. Volkan Bozkir, on his election. We were delighted with the election of a representative of the brotherly Turkey to such a distinguished post. You can be sure that Azerbaijan will spare no effort in extending its support to you in this responsible and honorable endeavor. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals stipulates that, there can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development. To achieve sustainable international peace and security, there must be put an end to occupation. Adherence to the norms and principles of the international law and implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions must be ensured. Almost 20 % of the territory of Azerbaijan remains under occupation of Armenia for almost 30 years. Armenia used military force against Azerbaijan, in brutal violation of the UN Charter and occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and seven other regions of Azerbaijan. More than one million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons. Armenia carried out the ethnic cleansing against the Azerbaijani population in the occupied territories. All Azerbaijanis have been forcibly expelled from occupied territories. Armenia committed a number of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Azerbaijani civilians. Armenia established the criminal, terrorist puppet regime in these territories to hide its responsibility for occupation of our lands. Armenia committed Khojaly genocide in 1992 killing 613 peaceful residents of Khojaly, among them 106 women and 63 children. More than ten countries have recognized the Khojaly genocide. Four UN Security Council resolutions demand immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijan's occupied territories. In some case, UN Security Council resolutions have been implemented within days. However, Armenia continues to ignore the UN Security Council's resolutions for almost 30 years. International sanctions must be imposed on Armenia as an aggressor state. In blatant violation of the international law norms, Armenia implements a policy of illegal settlement on the occupied territories. While the international community, including Azerbaijan is concentrating on eliminating the consequences of Beirut explosion, Armenia misuses the situation by settling Lebanese people of Armenian origin in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The illegal settlement is a gross violation of international law, including the Geneva Convention of 1949. This is a war crime. The illegal settlement in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan cannot have any legal effect. Cultural heritage of Azerbaijani people on the territory of todays Armenia has been demolished and plundered. Armenia also destroyed all Azerbaijani historical and religious monuments in the occupied territories. The aim is to erase all Azerbaijani traces there. Armenia illegally exploits natural resources and uses water reserves to create an artificial environmental crisis in the occupied territories. Armenia extracts gold and other precious metals and minerals of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan and exports to the international markets. It is a scheme of illegal business activities and money laundering. International companies illegally exploiting Azerbaijans natural resources on the occupied territories will face legal responsibility, if they dont stop their illicit activity immediately. Azerbaijan has already started to take legal action against persons and companies illegally exploiting our natural resources on the occupied lands. Armenia deliberately targets civilian population and perpetrates provocations along the Line of Contact and Armenia-Azerbaijan border. In April 2016, Armenia launched a large-scale military attack against Azerbaijan. As a result of this attack, 6 Azerbaijani civilians, including one child were killed, 26 civilians were wounded. Armed Forces of Azerbaijan took counter-measures and liberated a part of occupied territories. Deliberate attack by Armenia in 2017 led to death of 2 years old Zahra Guliyeva and her grandmother. On July 12, 2020 Armenia perpetrated another provocation along the state border. Our military servicemen and a 76-year-old civilian were killed due to the artillery bombardment of Azerbaijans Tovuz district, while extensive damage was done to civilian infrastructure. The purpose of this provocation by Armenia was to create a new source of tension in the region, set aside the issue of Armenias occupation of Azerbaijans territories, involve third parties in the conflict, and damage Azerbaijans strategic infrastructure projects. They also attempted to distract its peoples attention from growing socio-economic problems in Armenia. However, Azerbaijan retaliated resolutely, and Armenia failed to achieve any of those objectives. Armenia faced another military defeat. Armenia appealed to ODKB (Collective Security Treaty Organization) for military assistance, thus admitting its defeat. Recently, Armenian sabotage group attempted to penetrate through the Line of Contact. The head of this group was detained by Azerbaijani military servicemen on 23 August this year. He confessed that the group was planning to commit terror acts against Azerbaijani military servicemen and civilians. The Armenian Government turned down Azerbaijans proposal to exchange all captives based on the principle all to all. Azerbaijani civilians Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, who visited the graves of their parents in the occupied territories, were taken hostage and tortured. They remain in captivity for more than six years. The so-called elections this March on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan were yet another provocation. These so-called elections, like previous ones, were strongly condemned and rejected by the international community, including OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, European Union, European Parliament and others. Illegal presence of the armed forces of Armenia in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan remains a major threat to regional peace and security. Armenia tries to derail the peace process under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. The aim pursued by Armenia is to maintain the current status-quo of occupation and to annex the occupied territories. Contrary to the constructive engagement of Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister of Armenia deliberately undermines the format and substance of negotiation process. His statement that Karabakh is Armenia seriously damages the negotiations process. His unacceptable and groundless so-called seven conditions to Azerbaijan have been rejected by us. We have put forward only one condition to achieve the peace. The armed forces of Armenia must withdraw from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The entire world recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as integral part of Azerbaijan. The Armenian Prime Minister announced the establishment of civilian militia consisting of tens of thousands of civilians who will be forced to undertake military actions against Azerbaijan. The minister of defense of Armenia calls for new war for new territories. Armenia threatens Azerbaijan to strike major cities, critical civilian infrastructures such as Mingachevir water reservoir and Sangachal terminal, which is one of the worlds biggest oil-gas terminals situated near Baku and providing energy security to tens of countries. Armenia recruits and uses mercenaries and terrorists from different countries against Azerbaijan. Armenia is a state sponsoring terrorism. Armenia committed more than 30 terror acts in Azerbaijan. We have credible information about the presence of Armenian ASALA terror organization on the occupied territories. Armenian terrorists have killed 24 Turkish diplomats. Varuzhan Karapetian, member of ASALA terror organization who committed a terror act killing many people of different nationalities, in the airport Orly in Paris later was extradited to Armenia and then pardoned by the president of Armenia. This terrorist was treated as a hero in Armenia. Recently, Armenia has adopted its aggressive and offensive military doctrine and National Security Strategy. The National Security Strategy contains racist, chauvinistic and Azerbaijanophobic ideas. The glorification of Nazism is the state policy of Armenia. Nazi general Garegin Nzhdeh has been turned into national hero. After the Second World War, he was detained and sentenced to 25 years in prison and died there. Almost 6 meter high monument was built in the memory of Nzhdeh in the center of capital of Armenia. Members of a number of Armenian terror organizations like ASALA are glorified in this country. Hostile, Azerbaijanohobic statements and provocations of Armenian leadership demonstrate that Armenia is preparing for a new aggression against Azerbaijan. We call on the UN and international community to urge Armenia to refrain from another military aggression. The military-political leadership of Armenia will bear all responsibility for instigating provocations and escalation of tensions. Regretfully, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs activity has not yet delivered any results. Negotiations must not be conducted just for the sake of negotiations, they must be target-oriented and meaningful. Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries France, Russia, United States in their statements stressed that the status-quo is unacceptable. We welcome these statements, but statements are not enough. We need actions. Our involvement in the negotiation process for almost 30 years is a clear demonstration of our commitment to peace. All 11 members of Minsk Group should be actively involved in the process. In accordance with the UN Security Council resolution 853, updated timetable for withdrawal of armed forces of Armenia from occupied territories of Azerbaijan must be prepared. Appropriate UN institutions must contribute to the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions and return of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons to their native lands. The UN Security Council resolutions are not time-specific. These resolutions are valid until they are implemented. Misinterpretation of UN Security Council resolutions is unacceptable. The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict must be resolved on the basis of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijans territorial integrity has never been and will never be a subject of negotiations. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be completely restored. Nagorno-Karabakh is ancient and historical Azerbaijani lands. Karabakh is Azerbaijan. We are seriously concerned by increasing cases of arms supply to Armenia, especially right after the military provocation of Armenia in Tovuz district of Azerbaijan. Active military clashes at the state border stopped on July 16. Next day starting from July 17 until September, we witnessed delivery of more than one thousand tons of military equipment to Armenia by military cargo planes. Taking into account that Armenia is one of the poorest countries of the world and can not afford paying for weapons billions of US dollars, we assume that it gets weapons free of charge. Supply of weapons to an aggressor and a country that perpetrated ethnic cleansing significantly undermines the peace negotiations and encourage the occupying state to instigate new military provocations. In this context, we urge all countries to refrain from supplying arms to Armenia. Because of aggression against Azerbaijan, Armenia continues to face deep demographic, social and economic crisis. Regime change happened in Armenia two years ago, but fascist ideology of this failed state remains unchanged. Human rights are massively violated in Armenia. Judges are pressured and blackmailed, journalists, opposition activists and political opponents jailed by despotic regime. In fact, a dictatorship has been established in Armenia. Criminal cases have been opened against two former presidents of this country. Members of parliament despite their immunity are detained. Mher Yegiazarian, an Armenian journalist and politician died in prison following hunger strike in January 2019. But there was no reaction from international organizations whose duty is to observe democracy and human rights worldwide. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom House and others turned a blind eye on unhuman and brutal actions of despotic regime of Armenia. The reason can be that Pashinyan regime is financed and supported by Soros who sponsors many so-called human rights non-governmental organizations worldwide. Political relations in this country have reached the point of crisis. The country has been ruled by warlords over 20 years. Incumbent political leadership continues the practice of previous regimes. There is no prospect for development of Armenia unless the consequences of military aggression against Azerbaijan are eliminated. Armenia was the only country to oppose the initiative of holding the Special Session of UN General Assembly in response to COVID-19, whereas in Armenia, the situation with coronavirus is the most desperate. Armenia objected to this initiative only because Azerbaijan has launched it. The objection to such an endeavor is a product of irrational thought. It is another demonstration of the policy of Azerbaijanophobia that has prevailed in Armenia and promoted by the government. Hatred against Azerbaijani people is instilled in the young generation. Despite the enormous difficulties caused by Armenian occupation, Azerbaijan managed to build a stable, modern, democratic and multicultural country. Development of democracy and human rights protection are among top priorities of our government. All fundamental freedoms are fully provided, including freedom of expression, media freedom, freedom of assembly, religious freedoms, as well as development of civil society. We launched broad political dialogue initiative several months ago. All major political parties supported this initiative. The political dialogue which successfully started would help to strengthen our political system and serve the cause of sustainable development of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijans economy has developed rapidly, and GDP tripled in the last 17 years. Poverty in Azerbaijan went down from 49% to 5% within 17 years. Over 3700 schools have been built or completely renovated in Azerbaijan in the last 17 years. The literacy rate is close to 100% in our country. As a country with significant progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, Azerbaijan has been one of the few states to submit voluntarily national reviews to the UN twice. Azerbaijan ranks 54th among 166 countries in the Sustainable Development Goals Index, according to the Sustainable Development Report 2020. Azerbaijan has participated actively in regional connectivity projects, such as East-West, North-South, North-West transportation corridors, becoming one of Eurasia's primary and reliable transport and logistics hubs. We have also commissioned the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad and the Baku International Trade Seaport with the potential of handling capacity of 25 million tons. According to the Davos Economic Forums Global Competitiveness Report 2019 - among 141 countries, Azerbaijan ranks 11th for Efficiency of railroad services, 12th for Efficiency of air transportation services, 25th for Efficiency of seaport services and 27th for Quality of road infrastructure. Azerbaijan is a member of the international space club. Today we have 3 satellites - 2 for telecommunication and one earth observation satellite. 80% of our population uses the internet. We have launched efficient measures to tackle the problem of freshwater shortage due to the climate change. Azerbaijan has ratified the Paris Agreement, with a voluntary obligation to achieve a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to the base year 1990. In Azerbaijan, we use environmentally friendly natural gas and hydroelectric power stations for electricity generation. Multiculturalism is the way of life for the people of Azerbaijan. We present to the world the example of tolerance and coexistence. The Baku Process launched by Azerbaijan in 2008 to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the Muslim world and Europe, is supported by the United Nations. The UN General Assembly's resolutions have recognized the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue held in Azerbaijan every two years as a key global platform for promoting intercultural dialogue. The 7th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations was held in Azerbaijan in 2016. Furthermore, Azerbaijan hosted the first ever European Games and 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in 2015 and 2017 respectively. These sporting events are our great contribution to the promotion of multiculturalism as well. Pope Francis paid a visit to Azerbaijan in 2016. This February, I visited the Vatican and had a meeting with Pope Francis. During our meeting, Pope Francis referred to Azerbaijan as a true example of tolerance. Azerbaijan attaches great significance to the restoration of religious monuments, mosques, churches, and synagogues. We have implemented joint projects to restore such religious and historical monuments in different countries. The coronavirus pandemic has changed the situation in the world entirely, and as a result, new realities have emerged. Initially, the virus was expected to affect developing nations. However, the pandemic has had a significant impact on the developed nations as well. It shows once again that the virus recognizes no borders. It is only through mutual support and joint efforts we can overcome the pandemic. Azerbaijan has taken timely and necessary preventive measures to stop the spread of the virus. Azerbaijans attainment of the Millennium Development Goals and progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals has enabled us to conduct an effective fight against the pandemic. The healthcare infrastructure in Azerbaijan has been developed and renovated significantly, with almost 700 hospitals and healthcare facilities built or completely renovated in the past 17 years. Thanks to measures undertaken, the country's situation with COVID-19 has remained under control. Our citizens' life and health is priority for us, despite the economic difficulties caused by pandemic. The socio-economic stimulus package worth over $2 billion has been released to ensure economic stability, tackle employment issues, and ensure macroeconomic and fiscal stability. The social relief measures cover nearly 5 million people, which is a half of our population. The World Health Organization named Azerbaijan an example in the fight against the pandemic. We have made voluntary contributions to the World Health Organization in the amount of $10 million in 2 equal tranches. The second tranche was allocated for the Non-Aligned Movements member states. Azerbaijan has provided humanitarian and financial assistance to more than 30 countries with respect to coronavirus. With a unanimous decision of all 120 countries of Non-Aligned Movement Azerbaijan was elected as a chair of this body. In October 2019 Azerbaijan assumed the chairmanship of Non-Aligned Movement during the 18th Summit of the Heads of State and Government held in Baku. In my statement at the summit I stressed that Azerbaijan will do its utmost to advocate for interests of the Non-Aligned Movements countries. Azerbaijan will defend justice and norms of international law. The Non-Aligned Movements Extraordinary Summit in response to coronavirus via videoconference, was held on our initiative in May 2020. During that Summit, I suggested holding of the Special Session of the UN General Assembly in response to coronavirus at the level of the heads of state and government. This initiative was supported by more than 130 UN member states. I think the Special Session will serve as a framework for addressing the pandemic's impact on all spheres and contribute to the efforts of eliminating its consequences. International peace and security problems, the pandemic's impact on the countries of the world call for solidarity between the countries. I want to put forward several proposals to this end: The reforms within international organizations are particularly timely and essential in the post-pandemic period. In this regard, particular attention should be paid to increasing the UN's role and prestige on the global level and its ability to undertake more adequate response measures concerning the challenges of modern times. The non-fulfillment of the Security Council resolutions undermines the prestige of the United Nations. Implementation mechanisms must be created for the UN Security Council resolutions. Refugees and IDPs have become the most vulnerable group of the pandemic period. The return of these vulnerable groups to their native lands in safety and dignity gains great urgency. Ensuring affordability and fair distribution of a vaccine is necessary, while the least developed countries should get it free of charge. In this regard, additional oversight mechanisms should be developed. The scope of the pandemics negative impact on implementing the Sustainable Development Goals by the countries must be carefully analyzed, and solutions must be formulated. Thank you for your attention. A few short weeks ago it looked like the Liberal governments throne speech might signal a hopeful new chapter in the countrys recovery from COVID-19. It seemed just possible that the worst was over and we could start to think about moving on. But no. Far from getting better, the pandemic is back with a vengeance in key parts of the country, and what Canadians heard from the government on Wednesday was very much about continuing the fight against COVID-19 and supporting people through the emergency. Thats as it must be. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said flatly in his national address that the long-feared second wave isnt just a possibility, its already here. If we dont mount an effective battle on that front all the ambitious talk about child care, pharmacare and so on will crumble as the economy comes to a standstill. So the government was right to front-load the throne speech with measures on the pandemic on increasing testing capacity and approving new and quicker types of tests, on extending the wage subsidy all the way until summer 2021, on making sure Canada gets a vaccine as soon as a safe and effective one becomes available, and on revamping Employment Insurance to include gig workers and others. All this will cost a lot more money, so it was entirely predictable that the government will continue to spend and spend whatever it takes. As the government put it, this is not the time for austerity. The Liberals will get little pushback on that, given the depth of the ongoing crisis. Beside the immediate threat of the pandemic, its no surprise that the governments long list of agenda items for a better society seems to be as much hope as reality. The most ambitious significant, long-term, sustained investment in national child care and a renewed push for pharmacare have been staples of Liberal election platforms and throne speeches for years. As desirable as they are, Canadians are right to be cynical when the government hauls them out yet again. Of course, those measures and some others, such as establishing national standards for long-term care that might prevent a replay of the mass deaths last spring, require buy-in and co-operation from the provinces. And some of them (Quebec first, of course) are already grumbling about federal interference in their areas of jurisdiction. Pandemic or not, some things in Canada never change. On the federal side, too, there seems to be a growing frustration with other governments after many months of uncharacteristic sweetness in federal-provincial relations. Ottawa has set aside billions, for example, to support the provinces in ramping up COVID-19 testing but Ontario and Quebec are both stumbling on that front. Canadians should not be waiting in line for hours to get a test, the speech said pointedly. All the money in the world, it turns out, doesnt guarantee that local officials will get the job done. How to pay for all this? The government made some positive noises here, saying it will bring forward additional ways to tax extreme wealth inequality, including limits on stock option deductions for executives at big, established companies. Thats welcome, as is the promise to address corporate tax avoidance by the so-called FAANG companies, the digital giants like Google and Facebook. Web giants are taking Canadians money while imposing their own priorities, said the government, promising it will act to ensure their revenue is shared more fairly with our creators and media. Details to come, but that public pledge is, to put it mildly, long overdue. Critics will pick it apart, but there is nothing in this speech that warrants triggering an election. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh bobbed and weaved on Wednesday when asked whether his party will support the government, and no doubt New Democrats will keep pressing for action in a couple of areas, such as guaranteed sick days. Theres plenty of room for the Liberals and NDP to make a deal, and they should. COVID-19 is on the march and the next few weeks will be crucial. Canadians deserve a government focused on that, not an election that no one wants. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor President Trump has vociferously objected to historical projects that are in any way critical of the United States or that seek to spread new scholarship that challenges past hagiography to broader audiences. Last week, he even held a conference on U.S. history assailing "decades of left-wing indoctrination in our schools" and intending to launch a commission to promote "pro-American curriculum that celebrates the truth about our nation's great history." While Trump's rhetoric on U.S. history is often impenetrable to his critics, the appeal to his base may be its familiarity to Americans who were educated either at home or in evangelical Christian schools where his myopic, racist and fundamentalist nationalist view of U.S. history is part of the standard curriculum. He parrots a vision of the past that was once mainstream but more recently has been found mainly in textbooks marketed to home-schoolers and Christian schools. The history of their development reveals how such messages, once considered unobjectionable, have more recently become associated with this particular market, helping explain today's political chasm in the U.S. In 1954, Southern Baptists Arlin and Rebekah Horton founded a small Christian school in Pensacola, Fla., that would become the hub for one the most popular suppliers of K-12 curriculum in Christian education. The couple had met at Bob Jones University (BJU), an institution founded in 1927 by evangelist Bob Jones Sr. as a haven for fundamentalist Christian students in the aftermath of the sensational Scopes trial over teaching evolution in schools in Tennessee. The founding of BJU was part of a growing schism among American Protestants over the authority of the Bible, interpretation of history and the relationship between scientific and theological knowledge. Known as the fundamentalist-modernist controversy, this intellectual, cultural and religious divide motivated conservative evangelicals to establish institutions like BJU to offer alternatives to both public schools and liberal Protestant education, which they viewed as increasingly worldly and godless. Such fundamentalist institutions grew incrementally over four decades, thanks to the efforts of people like the Hortons. The 1960s witnessed an explosion of traditional schools known as the "Christian day school" movement. Protestant fundamentalists established private schools to counter social, cultural and legal transformations in American public education. The federal courts had deemed Bible reading in publicly funded schools unconstitutional and enforced racial integration of schools in the South, convincing evangelicals public education was becoming hostile to their worldview. The proliferation of private conservative evangelical schools across the country left a need for a unified education philosophy, and a curriculum from a "Christian American tradition" had to be built. According to their biography "Builders of the Dream: The Education Ministry of Arlin and Beka Horton in Pensacola, Florida," after starting their school, the Hortons ventured into publishing in 1972 because of frustrations over having to "teach around" "secular textbooks" that "were becoming less usable in a traditional Christian school." The surge in new schools and home-schooled students from the 1960s and into the '70s created demand for the materials their company, Abeka, crafted. Ironically, this material initially came from old, secular textbooks to which the Hortons bought the copyrights, and the ideas of secular educational conservatives such as Max Rafferty, the former California superintendent of schools. This produced some blowback from rivals in the 1970s and 1980s, who accused Abeka books of being too similar to secular publishers. Despite these charges, Abeka's teaching materials relied on an authoritarian model that demanded students unequivocally accept the information in textbooks and humbly submit to teachers. Abeka's leadership, along with other fundamentalist colleagues, grew more adamant in this approach as they viewed other evangelical schools and leaders as influenced by "liberal" ideas - even accusing notable figures such as Billy Graham and, somewhat amazingly, the conservative Jerry Falwell Sr., founder of Moral Majority, of being too accommodating to progressive Christianity. In a letter to Graham in 1966, Arlin Horton accused the preacher of "making common cause with liberals [and apostates] across our land." What started as a small, couple-led initiative grew into a multimillion-dollar company that today generates more than 1,000 educational resources "from a Christian Perspective." While Abeka's creationist science curriculum has come under criticism and is the focus of several lawsuits, the content of its history education also presents cause for concern. Abeka's history curriculum touts its distinctive approach as "a realistic view of time, government, geography and economics based on eternal truths." But instead, the publisher, which did not respond to a request for comment, doles out a slanted take that fuses Christianity with conservative political beliefs and a hagiographic tale of America's past. As early as first grade, students are trained to learn "the benefits of free-enterprise economics . . . in contrast with the dangers of Communism, socialism, and liberalism." These ideological, political and economic commitments reflect the long-standing alliance between corporate capitalism and conservative evangelicals that dates back to the Great Depression. During that period, evangelical business executives forged connections with Protestant religious practices and institutions that would remain throughout the 20th century thanks to the preaching of a gospel of wealth. This interwar alliance inculcated distrust of government services and regulations that were perceived as restricting God's blessing and interfering in religious education. Abeka history textbooks for grades 1 through 8 prime young students to shirk a critical approach to learning by focusing on nostalgic, heroic and triumphant vignettes of "Western civilization" and Christian prosperity. The high school material then pivots easily to advancing its vision of U.S. power, governance and purpose. The second edition of Abeka's 11th grade textbook, "United States History: Heritage of Freedom," sets the tone for its secondary school history curriculum: "From the perilous beginnings on the shores of a wilderness continent, the United States of America has become a leader of nations and the bastion of freedom for the world . . . it has given birth to the highest civilization the world has ever known." This origin story of the United States casts its settlers, founders and leaders as morally above reproach, despite the removal and dispossession of Indigenous peoples, the proliferation of chattel slavery and systemic racism and the adoption of anti-immigrant legislation. The distortions go even further: The textbook's Civil War section describes the Ku Klux Klan as a secret society that sought to improve the livelihoods of Southern Whites during Reconstruction and only occasionally "resorted to violence" - rather than an instrument of White supremacy and terrorism that crushed Black people's access to the vote and eroded democracy. Shifting focus to contemporary issues such as affordable housing and the inner-city, the textbook considers poverty the result of a "lack of homeowner's pride" that "led to vandalized and neglected housing." This description denies entirely the well-documented reality of racially based segregation as rooted in laws and policies, from redlining to zoning ordinances. And "United States History" attempts to keep students from considering other perspectives, warning them of "false philosophies" and framing other historical interpretations as untrue. Yet ironically, this interpretation drew on older mainstream textbooks. The narratives embedded in Abeka's books centering the experiences of White enslavers and ignoring the lived reality of slavery in the United States came straight from how history was taught to generations of schoolchildren before them. Today, educators have widely recognized that these narratives are false and unsupported by the historical record, but remnants remain in mainstream textbooks. And they still dominate the curriculum put out by Abeka and other publishers. Earlier this summer, Trump parroted "United States History's" demonization of other historical approaches, deriding current approaches to history as "a web of lies" where "all perspective is removed, every virtue is obscured, every motive is twisted, every fact is distorted, and every flaw is magnified until the history is purged and the record is disfigured beyond all recognition." Students and parents used to reading fundamentalist textbooks and materials - and older Americans - may be likely to agree with him. The commonality between Trump's twisted take on the past and that found in Abeka's textbooks is even more worrisome in our current covid-19 moment, when many families are looking for alternatives to in-person education for their children. Abeka and other providers of fundamentalist curriculum like Bob Jones University Press and Accelerated Christian Education are promoting their offerings, especially digital and video-based instruction, to at-home educators and religious schools. A good understanding of history is crucial to understanding covid-19, the uprisings of 2020 and the divisions roiling our country. Yet by teaching that our interpretations of the past need never change, Abeka's texts instead fuel these divisions and distort the past in ways that will do little to improve our future. - - - Fallas is a writer and PhD Student in History at UC Santa Barbara. UPDATED Thursday, Sept. 24: Portland protest of Breonna Taylor grand jury decision prompts riot declaration, arrests (key takeaways) *** A downtown Portland demonstration demanding police stop killing Black people came to an abrupt end Wednesday night after a handful of protesters targeted a police precinct with fire and rocks. Police quickly extinguished the flames as they burned the edge of an awning. But soon after, someone threw a Molotov cocktail toward officers. Police ordered the hundreds of people gathered in honor of Breonna Taylor to leave, then used force to make people move. Federal officers helped. Federal officers shot impact munitions on downtown streets a half-mile away from the federal courthouse that President Donald Trump pledged to protect. Police deemed the protest a riot, marking the first time theyve made such a declaration since Sept. 5. The scene mirrored many July nights, when federal officers regularly and aggressively dispersed crowds outside the courthouse. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who oversees police, decried the federal forces and pledged not to coordinate with them during protests. In an email early Thursday, Portland police declined to immediately describe its level of coordination with federal forces. A spokesperson said that information would be released to the public later. The night started hours after Kentuckys top attorney announced earlier in the day that Louisville officers would not face charges in the killing of Taylor. Police fatally shot the 26-year-old Black emergency room technician in March after entering her home on a no-knock warrant. Demonstrations took place throughout the U.S. and in several Oregon cities. In Portland, hundreds of people filled Southwest Third Avenue in front of the downtown Justice Center, despite the rain. Live videos showed a drum line played along to chants of Whose life mattered? Breonna Taylor!" Several Black women addressed the crowd from the steps of the Justice Center and encouraged people to vote and continue pressing for change. As the speeches continued past 9 p.m., a smaller crowd started forming in front of the Second Avenue side of the Justice Center the Central Precinct of the Portland police. Portland police said people in the group outside their Central Precinct threw rocks at the building, shattering glass, and used slingshots to launch items through broken windows. Police also claimed some people tried to enter the precinct. Portland police declared that gathering an unlawful assembly" shortly before 10 p.m., later citing ongoing criminal behavior and vandalism to the precinct." Most people remained focused on the speeches on the opposite side of the building. Police warned people to leave Second Avenue, live videos showed. Dozens of officers then advanced on the crowd, using smoke and other devices to force people to move. At least one protester responded by throwing a firework toward officers. Police said glass bottles were also thrown toward the officers. Demonstrators returned to the larger crowd on Third Avenue and police retreated. After officers left, many people streamed back to Second Avenue. Officers repeated warnings and eventually labeled the gathering a riot, citing concerns that flames from a precinct awning that was lit on fire could spread. People did not immediately leave. Someone threw objects, which police later identified as rocks, that smashed windows. Police also said green lasers were shined at officers and that full soup cans were thrown in their direction. Officers in riot gear rushed in. Someone threw a Molotov cocktail toward officers, videos and police confirmed. The device hit an officer in the foot, police said, and a medic extinguished the flames. Two other Molotov cocktails were later thrown toward officers, according to police, who ordered all people to leave a large section of downtown. Police and protesters faced off on Third Avenue and Main Street. The crowd chanted, Breonna Taylor! Police eventually moved in on the crowd around 10:40 p.m. Portland police forced part of crowd several blocks away to the South Park Blocks. Department of Homeland Security officers emerged around the same time near the federal courthouse. It was the first time in weeks that federal officers had policed downtown streets. Federal officers formed a defensive line to block people on Third Avenue and Main Street. Officers at times set off smoke devices toward the crowd gathered nearby. Federal police then pressed west to Fourth Avenue. Federal officers and Portland police soon pressed people west, at times with physical force, impact munitions or pepper spray. The two forces appeared to stay separate even as they both advanced on the crowd. The federal push stretched to the Salmon Street Interstate 405 overpass. Officers began retreating around 11:20 p.m. Many people followed them. Federal police responded by shooting impact munitions and setting off some type of irritant that caused people to struggle to breathe and cough. Smaller groups of protesters continued to wander, and Portland police arrived to drive the crowds away. The sporadic showdowns between police and small groups of demonstrators continued past midnight. When some people made their way back to the Justice Center, police repeated their demands to leave. Several dozen people remained near the building past 1 a.m. The crowd dispersed about 1:30 a.m. Three officers suffered minor injuries while dispersing protesters throughout the event, police said. Several people were booked into Multnomah County jail custody early Thursday on suspicion of charges generally associated with Portland demonstrations, including interfering with a peace officer, disorderly conduct and rioting. Two men booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center early Thursday are accused of arson and other charges. One of them is accused of attempted murder. Police have not said whether those booked into jail were arrested in connection with the protest. Portlanders demanding the end of police violence against Black people gathered Wednesday night downtown in honor of Breonna Taylor. Officers repeated warnings and elevated their designation of the event to a riot.Mark Graves/The Oregonian Demonstrations calling for criminal justice reforms began in late May after the killing of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck and ignored pleas for air. The protests have taken place nearly every night in Portland, except for a recent stretch when wildfire smoke filled the city. Portland police have received criticism for officers' use of force against protesters in response to building damage, thrown eggs or dumpster fires. Mayor Ted Wheeler banned the use of tear gas earlier in September. The Oregon State Police and 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. Daryl Turner, who leads the Portland police union, appeared on Fox News Wednesday night to denounce how city officials had responded to calls for police reform. The City Council voted to cut the police force budget and end the bureaus gun violence unit, among other changes. Turner criticized actions to defund police as political stunts. Politicians bent on power, who perpetrate misinformation and untruths, are just as guilty as using their privilege to hijack this movement, the movement of racial equity, the movement of social justice, as the rioters who are committing violent acts, burning and looting and causing chaos in the streets," Turner said. Interviewer Martha MacCallum asked Turner what he thought about the grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case. I havent read enough to comment on that, Turner said. K. Rambo, Jim Ryan and Maxine Bernstein of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. -- Mark Graves, The Oregonian/OregonLive Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. 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." 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. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. New Mexico State Police have reached a $300,000 settlement with a disabled woman who accused an officer of grabbing and handcuffing her after she refused to provide ID in 2016. Jessica Guttman claimed in her 2018 lawsuit that she and two friends were parked on the side of a highway looking at horses when Officer Kevin Smith pulled up with his cruisers lights flashing and asked what they were doing. Smith wrote in his report that he had been sent to the site following a call from nearby prison officials who were suspicious of the women, The Santa Fe New Mexican reported. Guttman, 45, gave her name to the officer and Smith asked to see her ID. Guttman refused and started walking away. Smith grabbed Guttmans arms and placed them behind her back while trying to handcuff her. Guttman said in her lawsuit that the incident caused her so much anxiety she fell to the ground and had seizures. Guttman had suffered a traumatic brain injury earlier in her life and has difficulty communicating verbally, she said in her lawsuit. It would have been reasonably apparent to a well-trained officer that Ms. Guttman is or may be disabled, the lawsuit said. Smith wrote in his report at the time that Guttman refused to calm down and that she tried to bite an officer who was attempting to support her as she thrashed. He added that he determined that Guttman and here friends were not parked for malicious intent, rather they were there for the horses. Two state police spokesmen, Dusty Francisco and Ray Wilson, did not respond to questions from the Associated Press about the case or Smiths current employment status. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Mexico A mother and daughter singing duo whose battle with cancer moved Britains Got Talent judge Amanda Holden to tears are to run the Race for Life. After a difficult year when Sammy Harrison, 43, beat breast cancer, Honey, 15, signed them up to the ITV contest in secret and told the judges of their fight against the disease. The pair received a golden buzzer from Holden sending them to the semi-finals. They are in the public vote to make the final after appearing in the second semi-final earlier ths month. The pair from Chigwell, in Essex are using their newfound fame to help support Cancer Research UK. The Covid pandemic resulted in the cancellation of all 400 of the Race for Life events. But the charity is encouraging people to still register and take part in a socially distanced 5K run in their local area on September 26 to raise funds for life-saving research. Ms Harrison, 43, who was diagnosed in January 2018 with a four and a half centimetre tumour in her breast has taken part in the events before but hopes the new found fame can help raise more money. Britain's Got Talent - Manchester red carpet: In Pictures 1 /12 Britain's Got Talent - Manchester red carpet: In Pictures Amanda Holden arrives at the Britain's Got Talent photocall PA Anthony McPartlin (left) and Declan Donnelly (right), arrive at the Britain's Got Talent photocall PA Amanda Holden greets fans as she arrives at the Britain's Got Talent photocall PA David Walliams (left) and Simon Cowell, attending the Britain's Got Talent photocall PA Anthony McPartlin (left) and Declan Donnelly (right), arrive at the Britain's Got Talent photocall PA David Walliams (left) and Simon Cowell PA Simon Cowell (left) and David Walliams (right) PA Anthony McPartlin greets fans PA Marilyn Monroe lookalike Suzie Kennedy PA When youve been given life-saving surgery, you dont expect this downward spiralling surge, said Ms Harrison, who had a complete removal of her right breast and lymph nodes,I just wasnt prepared for the emotional trauma that went with it. She added before they went on stage they were asked by the BGT crew what they would do if they won, and her daughter said I would definitely donate some money to Cancer Research UK. It was important to us then it and its even more important to us now, with so many people struggling with cancer and Covid, said Ms Harrison. The event will start off with a live from the Race for Life Facebook from 9:30am followed by an energiser from a fitness expert and messages from cancer patients and survivors. As Upstate New York teeters on drought conditions in many areas, the annual fall salmon spawning run on Lake Ontario tributaries continues despite low and warm water conditions. And with warm, sunny weather predicted for this weekend, along with the fact that Saturday is a Free Fishing Day in New York (no license required), many streams will undoubtedly be packed. Early last week, the state Department of Environmental Conservation closed the Lower Fly Fishing-Only Zone on the Salmon River until further notice just below the DECs fish hatchery to ensure a good egg take from spawning Chinook and coho salmon. Earlier this week, NYupcom asked the DEC if any further salmon angling restrictions would be forthcoming. The response: DEC is not contemplating any changes to fishing regulations or additional restrictions at this point in time. Snagging is illegal regardless of water levels and persons violating the law will be ticketed. The bottom line is that despite the low water conditions, a number of tributaries already have lots of fish that have made their way in from the lake. And in most cases, the mouths of these waterways are teeming with salmon prepared to make their run when the conditions are right. The following is this weeks report on the fall salmon run, with streams graded on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the best score. SALMON RIVER The privately run Douglaston Salmon Run near the mouth of the river noted in its Wednesday fishing reports "a similar pattern to the past several days in that the fishing was more challenging. Still plenty of fish around. and many were brought to hand. A mix of kings and cohos (although the coho seemed a little more scarce, We continue to get good reports of good numbers of brown trout being brought to hand. And not your average brown. Fish in the teens (weight-wise) being reported. Also, reports of good numbers of fish milling around in the estuary. Rob Ripka, from Fat Nancys noted there was a good run of Chinooks from the lake into the river this past weekend. Its no secret, he added. that we need rain and theres forecasts of some next week. On a side note, he said he gets at least 10 calls a day from out-of-state anglers inquiring, that with New Yorks tough Covid-19 restrictions, if licenses are being sold to out-of-staters. Yes, they are, he said. License sales so far are on par at his store from last year. "Were encouraging people to come telling them the best time is mid-week, when the angling crowd is its smallest. For those considering whether to come, Wheeler said, Theres already fish up at the hatchery. You aint going to catch any if aint here. Once again, well give the Salmon River a 5 going into the weekend. Rating for 2019 fall salmon run OSWEGO RIVER This waterway continues to be among, if not the hottest fishing spot on the south shore of the lake, according to Hunter Wojslaw, who runs two fish cleaning stations on the river. Weve had a run of fish almost every night. And theyre staying (in the river). Its really been incredible, he said. Wojslaw said anglers are catching salmon off the wall floating skein (salmon roe egg sacs). And anglers up at the dam are likewise cashing in with egg sacks. Well rate the Oswego River a six this week. Scoring or speed gauges with numbers one through ten. GENESEE RIVER Theres reports of lots of salmon porpoising near the mouth of the river, and a number have made their way into the river with the largest numbers yet to come. Capt. Gary Begy, of Freedom Charters, said the river is about 8 to 9 inches lower than usual for this time of year and the run is late. Nevertheless, a number of fish have made their way into the river and salmon are being caught. Some days more are landed than others, he said, adding when the weather gets colder things will kick more into gear. Its all up to Mother Nature, he said. Were rate this waterway a 4 going into the weekend. Scoring or speed gauges with numbers one through ten. OAK ORCHARD RIVER Sharon Narby, of Narbys Superette and Tackle in Kent." said the salmon are slowly making their way into the river. Some are being caught off the pier at the rivers mouth and a few up at the dam. We really need some rain to pick things up, she said. Well rate this waterway a 2. Rating for 2019 fall salmon run EIGHTEENMILE CREEK Jim Evarts at the Boat Doctors in Olcott said anglers have been catching salmon and brown trout off the two piers. The time of day and location depends on which way the wind is blowing. A westerly wind seems to be the best for casting into the lake, he said. Anglers are using Cleos, Moonshines, Tail Wobblers with the Rapala J-13s (fire tiger colored) being the hottest. Some salmon are in the creek, but not many. No reports yet of any being landed up at the Burt Dam. Once again, were keep the creek at 2 this week. Rating for 2019 fall salmon run LOWER NIAGARA RIVER Lisa Drabczyk at Creek Road Bait and Tackle in Lewiston said the Lower Niagara River is definitely picking up, with anglers from boats using skein (salmon roe egg sacs). Those anglers fishing from shore are using heavy jigs and sinkers tipped with Twister grubs and fake eggs." According to the Niagara Falls USA Fishing Forecast, Salmon are being caught off the NYPA fishing platform and water levels have not come up in a while to close that popular fishing area. If you want to check it out, call 286-6662 for updates. From shore, from Devils Hole up to the Whirlpool, some salmon are being caught. The river warrants an upgrade. Well give the Lower Niagara a 5 this week. WASHINGTON - Lawyers for former national security adviser John Bolton told a judge Thursday they want to interview White House officials following new allegations that a pre-publication review of his tell-all book was politicized in an effort to block its release. Michael Kirk, a lawyer for Bolton, said the interviews were needed to help establish whether President Donald Trumps political appointees at the White House acted in bad faith when overruling the judgment of a career classification official and concluding that Boltons manuscript still contained classified information. A lawsuit over Boltons book, including on the question of whether the Justice Department is entitled to proceeds from the publication, is still pending even though a judge in June denied a request for an injunction to block its release. Arguments in the Justice Departments lawsuit against Bolton over his book, The Room Where it Happened, took place one day after a new court filing from a lawyer for Ellen Knight, the White House official with whom Bolton worked for months to ensure that his manuscript was free of classified information that could possibly threaten U.S. national security. The filing says that Knight determined in late April that the manuscript no longer contained classified information and that she told Bolton she had no more proposed changes. But after she advised National Security Council lawyers that she intended to clear the book for publication, she was told to take no action and to tell Bolton that the process was ongoing. Weeks later, she learned that a White House official who she says had no previous classification experience had been instructed to conduct a second review of the manuscript. That official, Michael Ellis, flagged hundreds of passages that he believed were still classified. Knight disagreed with that conclusion and considered the re-review to be fundamentally flawed, according to the filing. The book, which details Boltons 17 months as Trumps national security adviser, contains descriptions of conversations with foreign leaders that could be seen as politically damaging to the president. Those include accounts that Trump tied providing military aid to Ukraine to the countrys willingness to conduct investigations into the Bidens, and that he asked Chinas President Xi Jinping to help his re-election prospects. The Justice Department in June sued Bolton to immediately block the release of the book. Though U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth denied the request since thousands of copies had already been distributed, he also sharply scolded Bolton for moving ahead with the books publication without waiting for formal, written authorization that it had been cleared. The case is still pending as the government looks to be able to seize proceeds tied to the book. Lamberth heard arguments Thursday as he weighs whether to dismiss the lawsuit or to allow it to move forward into an information-sharing stage known as discovery. It was not immediately clear when Lamberth might rule. Kirk, Boltons lawyer, argued that Knights behind-the-scenes account opened the door to arguments that the White House acted in bad faith during the classification review process, with an eye not toward protecting national security but rather to avoiding embarrassment. He requested access to White House communications on the matter as well as depositions of senior White House officials, including current national security adviser Robert OBrien, who according to Knights statement directed Ellis to undertake another classification review after Knight had completed hers. The government cannot and does not dispute that the law does not permit it to classify information for the purpose of preventing embarrassment, he said. Lamberth, who has previously said that Boltons actions may have exposed him to possible criminal charges, chided the lawyer for what he said was a political diatribe unrelated to the question of whether Bolton mishandled classified information. Justice Department lawyers, meanwhile, maintain that Bolton shirked his obligation to wait for formal clearance and wasnt entitled to abandon the pre-publication review process out of frustration. What is unprecedented here is a national security adviser releasing his memoir (of his time as) a national security adviser within months of leaving that job, said Justice Department lawyer Jennifer Dickey. ____ Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP 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. '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. Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf apologized for comments he made suggesting it is difficult to find qualified black executives in the financial industry (File image) '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 apologized on Wednesday for 'making an insensitive comment reflecting my own unconscious bias.' 'There are many talented diverse individuals working at Wells Fargo and throughout the financial services industry and I never meant to imply otherwise,' he said in a statement. 'I've worked in the financial services industry for many years, and it's clear to me that, across the industry, we have not done enough to improve diversity, especially at senior leadership levels. 'There is no question Wells Fargo has to make meaningful progress to increase diverse representation.' 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. Black senior executives across corporate America hit back at Scharf's comments saying the excuse is a major reason why companies have struggled to add enough racial and ethnic diversity to their leadership ranks. 'There is an amazing amount of Black talent out there,' said Ken Bacon, a former mortgage industry executive who is on the boards of Comcast Corp, Ally Financial Inc and Welltower Inc. Wells Fargo Chief Executive Charles Scharf defended the company's record on diversity in a Zoom call over the summer and shifted the blame to a lack of black talent in the industry, according to two employees who were on the call 'If people say they can't find the talent, they either aren't looking hard enough or don't want to find it.' Bacon said he was 'shocked and puzzled' by Scharf's comments. Lauren Holland, who chairs a word-of-mouth professional network called Wall Street Friends, said she has 8,000 members in minority communities, and sent out more job posts to them in the last two months than in the last five years. 'I literally get emails every single day from people asking to be added to our list,' she said. 'The talent is there. It's just a matter of the firm accessing it and connecting with it.' Wells Fargo defended the CEO and pointed to the diversity efforts that have happened under his watch. The bank has pledged to double the number of black leaders at the firm over five years and has tied executive compensation to reaching diversity goals. Scharf also made the claims in a company-wide memo on June 18 that announced the bank's diversity initiatives Scharf is also requiring hiring managers to consider diverse candidates for high-paying roles that are vacant and ensure diversity on interview teams. Wells Fargo's latest proxy disclosed more diversity data than those of many other companies, with two of 12 directors black and one Latino or Hispanic. Scharf 'is committed to deep and systemic change to increase diversity and has held several forums where there has been candid conversation and unfiltered feedback,' Wells Fargo spokeswoman Beth Richek said in a statement. Scharf was not available for an interview, she said. One attendee on the Zoom call said they weren't offended by Scharf's comments and praised their boss as 'genuine and sincere'. 'The meeting was incredibly constructive... I walked away being incredibly surprised at how genuine and sincere he is,' said Alex David, president of the Black/African American Connection Team Member Network. His comments come as companies face mounting calls to improve the diversity of their organizational make-up amid nationwide protests demanding an end to systemic racism following the killings of multiple black men and women by cops across America. 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 color. His comments come as companies face mounting calls to improve the diversity of their organizational make-up amid nationwide protests demanding an end to systemic racism following the killings of multiple black men and women by cops across America. Pictured a protest in LA after the death of Dijon Kizzee Demonstrators raise their fist in the air at protests in Kenosha Wisconsin over the shooting of Jacob Blake 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 color, 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 neighborhood where they live. About 13 per cent 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. New insolvency laws that will give business owners time to restructure and stave off collapse are likely to save 2000 small businesses, experts in the field believe. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg wants to push through legislation to allow business owners with liabilities of less than $1 million to stay in charge while they deal with their debts from the start of 2021. About 8000 of the 150,000 businesses that fold each year have administrators appointed. Of these, 85 per cent have less than $100,000 in assets and 58 per cent have less than $10,000. A liquidation process typically costs about $60,000. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg wants to let small businesses struck by the coronavirus-driven recession to be able to trade their way out of insolvency. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Former Nationals senator John Williams, who chaired a small business ombudsman insolvency inquiry that reported in July, said this meant for most of them, all their remaining assets were "gobbled up" in fees. Con artists are pretending to be government COVID-19 tracers in an elaborate new text message scam. Fake SMS messages warn innocent Australians that a possible coronavirus case has been detected in their neighbourhood. The alert then asks victims to click on a link on a map to find out 'the most dangerous places to avoid tomorrow'. Scamwatch, which is run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, posted the message on Twitter with warning to all recipients. Fake SMS messages warn innocent Australians that a possible coronavirus case has been detected in their neighbourhood (pictured) 'Beware of the latest COVID-19 themed government impersonation scam,' Scamwatch wrote. How to protect yourself against scams: Dont click on hyperlinks in text/social media messages or emails, even if it appears to come from a trusted source. Go directly to the website through your browser. For example, to reach the MyGov website type my.gov.au into your browser yourself. Never respond to unsolicited messages and calls that ask for personal or financial details, even if they claim to be a from a reputable organisation or government authority - just press delete or hang up. Source: Scamwatch Advertisement 'If you receive this text, don't click the link, just delete it.' The watchdog also urged people who are unsure whether a message is legitimate to to contact the relevant agency. According to scamwatch, fraudsters have collected more than $3.3million from Australians who have fallen victim to scams since the outbreak of COVID-19. 'Scammers are hoping that you have let your guard down,' Scamwatch said on its website. 'Do not provide your personal, banking or superannuation details to strangers who have approached you.' A new tax office scam was also found on Wednesday to be targeting people in the form of a phone voicemail message or SMS. The ploy urges people to hand over their credit card details - threatening taxpayers with arrest if they don't comply. 'Attention: this call is from the legal department of Services Australia,' the message says. '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.' A spokesperson from the Australian Tax Office said the body is concerned about the increasing number of people paying fake tax debt scammers. The watchdog urged people who are unsure whether a message is legitimate to to contact the relevant agency (stock image) '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.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 17:36:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KATHMANDU, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Rasuwagadhi-Kerung (Geelong) border point between Nepal and China has reopened after closure for around three weeks, a senior official Nepali customs official said. The border point, which is one of the key trade routes between the two neighbours, was closed around three weeks ago after a Nepali worker who used to load goods to cargo trucks, was found infected with the novel coronavirus. Earlier, the border point reopened in early July after closing for nearly six months firstly due to snowfall in the bordering Chinese region and later the COVID-19 outbreak in China. "Two containers of medical goods entered into Nepal after the reopening of border point on Wednesday," Punya Bikram Khadka, chief customs officer at Rasuwagadhi customs office, told Xinhua on Wednesday evening. "Now, we hope the movement of goods will take place normally." According to him, there has been a restricted flow of goods through this border as both countries have adopted zero human-to-human contact policy between the two sides until the pandemic is over. The latest reopening of the border will be important for bilateral trade as Nepal imports a significant chunk of goods this time around targeting the upcoming festival seasons that will begin in late October. Upcoming festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhat are major festivals of Nepal. Tatopani-Zhangmu, another border point, which reopened in late March after closing in January, has also remained closed for the last few months. Nepal imported goods worth 305 million U.S. dollar in the last fiscal year 2019-20 that ended in mid-July, according to Nepali central bank's statistics. Nepal's export to China through these two border points stood at 6 million U.S. dollar. Meanwhile, virtual trade talks between Nepal and China are scheduled to be held in late September. Nepal's Foreign Minister and the government's spokesperson Pradeep Kumar Gyawali told a press conference on Wednesday that the talks would be concentrated on establishing special economic zones across the border, development of trade infrastructure and reopening of more border points. Enditem LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Angry, confused and shedding tears, demonstrators who spent months calling for justice in the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor resumed their protests Wednesday after prosecutors announced a single officer had been indicted but not on charges involving the Black womans death. The protests, which rekindled as soon as news of the grand jurys decision broke Wednesday afternoon, appeared to be largely peaceful, although as the day wore on, police in protective gear clashed with protesters in some areas and used batons to push some of them down. Late Wednesday, Louisville police said two officers had been shot and a suspect was in custody. Interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder did not offer details about whether the suspect was participating in the demonstrations. He said both officers were expected to recover, and one was undergoing surgery. During the protests, officers detained several people. In one instance, four people were seen sitting on the ground with their wrists bound behind them. As television cameras broadcast the scene live, a protester pointed at an officer and shouted: Say her name! An Associated Press reporter saw National Guard members and armoured military vehicles in downtown Louisville. At one point Wednesday night, police in riot gear fired flash bangs and formed a line at Jefferson Square, which has been at the centre of protests. The square had largely cleared out ahead of a nighttime curfew as demonstrators marched through other parts of downtown Louisville. Protests quickly erupted elsewhere as well: Demonstrators marched through the streets of New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Philadelphia. Packed into a New York City Plaza, protesters chanted, Say her name, Breonna Taylor, before marching in the street in downtown Brooklyn, past onlookers and honking cars. They were accompanied by musicians setting a steady drum beat. Its a volcano built up and now its exploded, said Dekevion Gause, who sat beside a Louisville park memorial to Taylor made of flowers, paintings, and tiny grave markers representing Black people killed by police. Gause said all of the officers involved in the March 13 raid on Taylors home should have been charged with manslaughter. Its kind of a slap in the face, he said of the grand jurys decision. Gause gathered with dozens in Jefferson Square Park, dubbed Injustice Square by protesters who made it their impromptu hub during months of demonstrations. People huddled around a single speaker Wednesday to listen as prosecutors announced that fired police officer Brett Hankinson had been charged with wanton endangerment for firing into a home next to Taylors. A grand jury brought no charges for killing Taylor, who was shot multiple times by police who burst into her home during a drug raid gone wrong. While there were no drugs in Taylors apartment, her boyfriend shot and wounded a police officer. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said the officers shots that killed Taylor were fired in self-defence. Upon hearing the news, many gathered in the square began to cry, expressing confusion and sorrow. Others exclaimed they had seen this coming. We know that this means that this is the next level of our protest, said Shameka Parrish Wright, who joined the protests Wednesday. We got work to do, we got to get Breonnas law passed. She was referring to a push for a state law to ban so-called no-knock search warrants like the one police had when they went to Taylors home. Within minutes of the announcement, about 100 demonstrators marched from Jefferson Square along the downtown thoroughfare of Sixth Street chanting: No justice, no peace! Many simply sat or stood in stunned silence after hearing the grand jurys decision. Jefferson Square became the epicenter of Louisville residents outrage over the killing of Taylor, who became a national symbol of racial injustice much like George Floyd, the Black man who died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. Cameron, a Republican and Kentuckys first Black attorney general, insisted prosecutors had followed the law even though my heart breaks for Miss Taylor. Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief, Cameron said after the charges were announced. New review launched into NHS gender identity services, puberty blockers, hormones Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A new independent review has been launched into Britain's National Health Service regarding gender identity services for young people and children. The NHS said Tuesday that Dr. Hilary Cass OBE, who is the former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, will lead a wide-ranging review examining several dimensions of such services, including how and when referrals are made to specialists and how clinical decisions are made pertaining to treatment of gender dysphoric patients. The review will additionally establish "workforce recommendations for specialist healthcare professionals and examine the recent rise in the number of children seeking treatment." The Gender Identity Development Service for Children and Adolescents is managed by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. The London-based Tavistock clinic has come under considerable scrutiny this year amid allegations that minors were being rushed into medicalized gender transition and that the physical and psychological risks were not explained. Keira Bell, a detransitioner in her 20s who underwent hormonal transition as a teenager and then went on to have her breasts amputated, joined a lawsuit against the clinic early this year, saying she was harmed. "The news of this review has come as a surprise as it was unexpected and it covers the same issues my proposed court case was going to raise," Bell said in a Tuesday update on her crowdfunding page. "This type of case is front-loaded and my legal team had worked hard to prepare evidence that raised concerns about the [memorandum of understanding], the default approach of positive affirmation [of trans identity] that it created and the dangers associated with the lack of therapeutic work to address the reasons why a young person has gender dysphoria." She added: "In the light of the decision of the NHS to conduct a thorough review of practice at GIDS my lawyers have advised me that my case would be unsuccessful. Judicial Review is a legal remedy of last resort and there is an alternative remedy that it going to explore my concerns namely the NHS review of GIDS." The case against the Tavistock clinic that pertains to informed consent and was brought by whistleblower psychologist Sue Evans is reportedly still going forward and will occur on Oct. 7 and 8. The independent review includes an examination of the issues surrounding children and young people who are given puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. Earlier this year, the NHS quietly removed language from the transgender guidance section of its website claiming that drugs used to arrest the pubertal processes in trans-identifying youth were "fully reversible." The updated guidelines noted that little is known about the long-term side effects of hormone or puberty blockers in children suffering from gender dysphoria. "Although the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) advises this is a physically reversible treatment if stopped, it is not known what the psychological effects may be," the new guidelines read. "It's also not known whether hormone blockers affect the development of the teenage brain or children's bones. Side effects may also include hot flushes, fatigue and mood alterations." The doctor leading the review welcomed the process. "It is absolutely right that children and young people, who may be dealing with a complexity of issues around their gender identity, get the best possible support and expertise throughout their care, Cass said in a statement. This will be an inclusive process in which everyone will have the opportunity to make their views known. In particular I am looking forward to hearing from young people and their families to understand their experiences." Dr. Michael Brady, the National Adviser for LGBT Health stated: Every child matters and children and young people who are exploring their gender or experiencing gender dysphoria, including those who are trans or non-binary, deserve the very best from the NHS." It really is important this year, this year more than any other year, to make sure we all get our flu vaccines, said Dr. Allison Bartlett, an associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at University of Chicago Medicine. Its also going to be a little challenging as we navigate how and where we can get our flu vaccines. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) The Philippines welcomes the United Nations COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund and will make requests to access it, the presidential spokesperson said. During the Palaces regular press briefing on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that requests for assistance will be coursed through the Philippine Mission to the UN and the Foreign Affairs Department, following the launch of the UN fund in April. Kampante po ako na (I am confident that) whatever the mechanism is, we have a permanent mission in the United Nations and that all requests to tap that fund will be coursed through the DFA and our permanent mission in the United Nations. Roque affirmed President Rodrigo Dutertes statement before the United Nations General Assembly that the country values the role of the UN in the worlds fight against COVID-19. Duterte in his speech said as a middle-income country whose economic advances have been derailed by the pandemic, the Philippines welcomes the launch of the UN COVID Response and Recovery Fund.. The recovery fund is a UN-interagency mechanism established by the UN Secretary-General to help low and middle-income countries fight the COVID-19 pandemic. As of September 3, $53 million has been secured for the fund, and it has already disbursed $43 million to 47 countries as of May. The Funds assistance targets those most vulnerable to economic hardship and social disruption, the UN stated. Patna, Sep 24 : The Jan Adhikar Party headed by Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav on Thursday claimed that voters will not allow Gujarati CM in Bihar any longer. Playing the regional pride card, Yadav targeted the coalition government of the JDU and the BJP, alleging that the Gujarati leaders in the BJP are exerting a huge influence on CM Nitish Kumar. "The people of Bihar do not want a Gujarati CM anymore. In the 2020 elections, a Bihari leader will emerge as the CM of the state," Ranjan said. The strong man of North Bihar also launched the party manifesto. Ranjan said he had submitted an affidavit before a first class judicial magistrate in the Patna High Court before releasing the manifesto. The affidavit was given on Wednesday in which it was mentioned that his party was ready to face legal action in case it failed to fulfil the promises made in the manifesto. "As per the manifesto, every point shall be completed in a time-bound manner once my party forms the government in Bihar," Yadav said. Ranjan said that if his party did not turn Bihar into a corruption-free state within six months, he will tender his resignation and sent it to the governor's office. According to the manifesto, CCTV cameras will be installed in every shop as well as every home within one year to prevent crime. Any person found outraging the modesty of women will be punished within two weeks. There will be also a provision of deleting their names from the voters' list. Ranjan promised to develop Patna into Asia's top city within three years. A film city will be set up in the name of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, land acquisition will be done as soon as any industrialist was ready for for investment. The other points of the manifesto promise stopping the migration of people from Bihar within two years and permanently resolving the flood situation within three years. "We have given the slogan of three years verses 30 years of RJD and NDA regime. This would be first time in the history of the world that a political party has given an affidavit in High Court with a promise to fulfil the promises made in the manifesto in a time-bound manner," He said. "I have a list of 60 scams that happened during the NDA regime. All of these will be investigated," added the four-time MP. Even now, nearly a third of them are on those lower-speed plans and NBN Co expects that by 2024 there will still be only about 20 per cent of businesses and households on plans with 50 Mbps-plus speeds. Today, even where there is fibre-to-the-premises, the take-up of plans with download speeds greater than 50 Mbps among those premises is in the mid-teens. Thered be a lot of very expensive and wasteful unused capacity if every premise in the network were connected to fibre. Its a demand-driven and commercial approach. The incremental investment will add, not just extra revenue, but profitable revenue to NBN Co. Labors gold-plated network was originally expected to cost $44 billion, although Mr Turnbulls strategic review estimated it would actually cost nearly $73 billion. Given what we now know the cost of the multi-technology rollout has blown out from Mr Turnbulls initial estimate of $29.5 billion to $51 billion that $73 billion was probably wildly conservative, as would have been the completion date of 2021. At the rate the rollout was going when Bill Morrow took over in 2014 only 70,000 premises were using the network by mid-2013, four years after the build started and three years after the first customer was connected it would probably have been the back half of this decade, if not later, before the build was completed. As it happens the NBN was effectively completed in June just in time. The pandemic has seen demand for broadband and for higher speeds soar as work and education and health services have migrated from offices, schools and clinics to homes. Some aspects of those changes are likely to be permanent there will be a structural increase in demand beyond the 20 to 30 per cent per year compound rate at which demand had been increasing. It is the completion of the network and that fundamental change in demand the pandemic will create that validate the new plans revealed by NBN Co chief executive Stephen Rue on Wednesday. NBN Co will spend $3.5 billion to upgrade its fibre-to-the-node, fibre-to-the-curb and HFC networks, $700 million to support businesses and $1.5 billion to fund both the normal expansion of the network as well as increased investment in regional areas. NBN CO chief executive, Stephen Rue, unveiled the new plans for the national broadband network in Canberra this week. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The core of the investment strategy isnt to migrate to an all-fibre-to-the-premises network the HFC network will still support about 2.5 million premises, or more than 20 per cent of users, for instance but to bring fibre closer to premises so that those willing to pay for higher speeds can access them. Its a demand-driven and commercial approach. The incremental investment will add, not just extra revenue, but profitable revenue to NBN Co. More to the point, it will be funded by NBN Co borrowing from private debt markets, not by increased taxpayer exposure. NBN Co is planning to repay the $19.5 billion of government funding it now has by mid-2024 and fund the new investments and its normal needs by borrowing $27.5 billion in those private markets. NBN Co had expected to be cash flow-positive by the second half of the 2022 financial year. The new investment program and the cost of funding it probably pushes that moment back a little but will, if NBN Co executes the strategy effectively, subsequently add to its revenues, cashflows, earnings and value relative to where they might otherwise have been. There is an assumption in the NBN Cos new corporate plan that underscores what Mr Turnbull said back in 2014, that validates the multi-technology approach and the way Mr Morrow and then Mr Rue have executed it and that underwrites the new investment program. When the NBN was first envisaged its sponsors plucked a figure about 7 per cent for the estimated internal rate of return (IRR) on the investment. That was modestly above the then Commonwealth Government 10-year bond rate of about 5.5 per cent, enabling the funding of the NBN to be kept off-budget. It was a useful fiction. Subsequently, the IRR target for the NBN has tracked down to 3.2 per cent. Mr Rue now says that, after the additional investment and the returns NBN CO expects from it, the IRR will rise to 3.7 per cent, which is a very material uplift not just in the expected returns but in NBN Cos value and the value of the $29.5 billion of equity (as opposed to debt) that taxpayers have invested in the NBN. Loading Mr Rue and his team have hit most of their targets and reached them a little ahead of schedule. If they can continue to do so they will free up the debt capacity the Federal Government has tied up in the NBN and start adding value to the equity. That makes this week, and the flipping of strategy and mindset from construction to growth a key and very positive moment in the previously contentious history of the NBN and something very different to a backflip and the embarrassing admission of error that would imply. Tank crews from the Chinese troops participating in the Kavkaz-2020 strategic exercise conduct driving training at a training range in the Astrakhan Region, Russia. BEIJING, Sep. 24 -- According to the consensus reached by China and Russia, the Chinese participating troops have arrived in Russia in mid-September to take part in the "Kavkaz-2020" strategic exercise, said Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a new spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense, at aregular press conference on September 24. Tan said that the Chinese participating troops are mainly from the PLA Western Theater Command. At present, they have completed tasks such as long-range cross-border power projection, establishment of command structure, combat-readiness training, and joint campaign planning, etc. It is learnt that the live-fire drills of the "Kavkaz-2020" strategic exercise will be conducted at the Kapustin Yar Range in Astrakhan region, Russia, on September 25. The Chinese Defense Spokesperson Tan pointed out that the"Kavkaz-2020" exercise aims to enhance the capabilities of the multinational forces to jointly respond to security threats and maintain regional peace and stability. "It will also further deepen China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era," Tan stressed. Wildlife rescuers in Tasmania are hoping to return 20 more whales to sea on Thursday, after saving about a fifth of the group of 470 that beached themselves on the state's West Coast. About 380 are believed to have died as the rescue operation closes on its fourth day. Rescue teams prepare to head out on the water at Macquarie Harbour on Thursday. Credit:Getty The mass stranding the largest ever in Tasmania came to light on Monday when about 280 whales were found at Macquarie Harbour, near the isolated seaside town of Strahan. On Wednesday, close to 200 additional animals were discovered seven to 10 kilometres south of the initial site. It is believed all of this group were dead. My clients release from Alpine was supposed to be dependent upon approval from both Alpines medical staff and the superior court. Alpines staff is in favor of him going to the step-down facility. Rosenfeld was responsible for negotiating the plea bargain for Kirkendall in February of 2019 to ensure his client received treatment, rather than life in prison, following the manic episode that led his client to open fire with a shotgun on a Big Sur firefighter in 2017. According to the documents from the Monterey County Superior Court Case # 17cr006035, the plea deal required Kirkendall to spend a minimum of one year at the Alpine Special Treatment Center, a secure mental health facility in San Diego, as part of a 14-year formal probation. In May, the Monterey County Superior Court reached its decision to deny Kirkendalls request to be released to a step-down facility without the input of the Alpine Centers mental health professionals. My clients release from Alpine was supposed to be dependent upon approval from both Alpines medical staff and the superior court, said Rosenfeld. Alpines staff is in favor of him going to the step-down facility. (Monterey County Superior Court Case # 17cr006035) Rosenfelds petition for the writ of habeas corpus referenced the Alpine Centers recommendation for Kirkendalls release. The appellate court in turn issued an alternative writ of mandamus to the superior court, commanding it either to vacate its previous order and conduct a hearing to reconsider the matter in light of the Alpine Center recommendation before entering a new and different order, or to provide the appellate court an explanation as to why it will not take this action (Monterey County Superior Court Case # 17cr006035). An accident involving electrocution eight years ago caused permanent damage to areas of Kirkendalls brain, including that responsible for judgment. Rosenfeld said he and Kirkendalls family are pleased and hopeful regarding the potential amendment of Kirkendalls sentence (Monterey County Superior Court Case # 17cr006035). About The Rosenfeld Law Firm The Rosenfeld Law Firm, located in Sacramento and San Jose, is responsible for the successful defense of multiple high-profile criminal defense cases. California criminal defense attorney Ken Rosenfeld provides aggressive defense for his clients across range of cases, from first-degree murder to driving under the influence (DUI defense), with a specialty in defending sex offense cases. His expertise as a criminal law commentator has led Rosenfeld to make several television and radio appearances as a legal expert, including on a national level. Mr. Rosenfeld was named 2020 Litigator of the Year by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers. In addition to mental health criminal defense, Rosenfelds law firm also practices federal criminal defense and juvenile defense, as well as appellate law and prison law. For more information, please contact Ken Rosenfeld directly at (916) 447-2070, or visit http://www.therosenfeldlawfirm.com. Press release writing by WebSiteText and Proofreading Services by The Proofreaders. This report is part of "Turning Point," a groundbreaking month-long series by ABC News examining the racial reckoning sweeping the United States and exploring whether it can lead to lasting reconciliation. In the week after George Floyd was killed in police custody, protests erupted in cities across the United States. The Tuesday after Floyds death, more than 20 million social media users posted a simple black square, many accompanied with #BlackoutTuesday, flooding platforms like Instagram. The posts were meant to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. However, within hours there was intense criticism of the trend. Many supporters and activists argued that the posts were interfering with the spread of productive information about how to safely organize, and drowning out voices that needed to be heard, overshadowing the conversation that really mattered: How to protect Black lives. PHOTO: A woman holds a sign with the words, South Asians with / 4 / by Black Lives Matter at a protest over the death of George Floyd in downtown, Los Angeles, June 5, 2020. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Many who may want to get involved feel reluctance to risk backlash and hesitate, thinking, How am I supposed to learn what to say and when to say it? What if I mess up? Why get involved at all? The debate over the black square is in some ways a microcosm of a climate that appears to urge people to get involved and take action, but also expects them to know exactly when to speak up, what to say and when to step back to make space for others. Alicia Garza, principal of the Black Futures Lab and co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter, is one of many activists and community leaders who say the answer isnt that complicated. If you share the value that everyone should live with respect, and the idea that people are being left behind enrage[s] you and break[s] your heart -- the only way to fix it is to become part of the solution. PHOTO: Alicia Garza is principal of the Black Futures Lab and co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter. (ABC) Movements need allies Allies are people who arent directly affected by a problem, but invest time and energy into the cause. That includes everything from looking critically at their own lives and subconscious biases, to learning and having conversations about the movement, to donating money and marching on the frontlines of a protest. Story continues True allies begin to think of themselves as more than allies, Fatima Goss Graves, CEO of the National Women's Law Center, told ABC News. They start to realize that their lives, their fate, their futures are actually bound up with others. PHOTO: People protest the death of George Floyd at the Bethesda Library on June 2, 2020, in Bethesda, Md. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) Nevertheless, agreeing that fighting for equality is morally right only goes so far. Gross Graves says it's a "much harder line of work" to expand the movement by convincing people to join. MORE: How young TikTok users are making their activism go viral And people are being spurred to action. In July, the New York Times proclaimed Black Lives Matter may be the largest movement in U.S. history. Well-attended protests reached some of the U.S.s smallest, most rural towns, like Norfolk, Nebraska, Alpine, Texas, Lodi, California, Hagerstown, Maryland, and Taylorville, Illinois. PHOTO: Fatima Goss Graves is President and CEO of the National Women's Law Center. (ABC) That includes the most privileged among us, the activists who spoke to ABC News said -- those who are not a part of a community thats suffering are still affected by their plight. Allies make mistakes We dont want to talk to people who believe exactly what we believe in, activist and founder and president of Justice for Migrant Women, Monica Ramirez said. If we dont talk to each other, then we dont have the opportunity to grow. Ive certainly evolved; people teach me things all the time. Knowing when to speak up and when to step back changes with each situation. All of the activists ABC News spoke to said people joining the movement will get things wrong, and that its OK. Monica Ramirez is an activist and the founder and president of Justice for Migrant Women.PHOTO: (ABC) Change requires courage. Organizing is full of failures. Thats how we learn and [how] we grow, said Ai-Jen Poo, director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. If youre not taking risks, youre not in the arena. Thats the kind of bravery this moment requires. Despite urgings that making mistakes is okay, the reality is that an allys actions may be received with harsh feedback. Author and activist Glennon Doyle is intimately familiar with navigating that. Its so intimidating to speak out in any way. There are people who believe that white women should never speak up in the race conversation Absolutely valid, said Doyle, who is a white woman. Every time I speak up people from the other camp tell me that. She said she decided its a balancing act of mostly amplifying other voices, but making sure, at the end of the day, that she put in the work herself and left everything on the field. Im going to need to be accountable for myself, she said. Its ok if people dont like me, its ok to be criticized. All of that is just part of activism. PHOTO: Glennon Doyle, activist and author of 'Untamed,' helped launch the 'Share the Mic Now' campaign to help amplify voices of color. (ABC) Being unaware of the right terms to use or actions to take doesnt make someone unqualified to be an ally. MORE: Black entertainers, athletes converge to deliver messages of social activism Ramirez says any step in the direction of justice is enough to start being an ally. Im not one to judge people in the way theyre choosing to show their solidarity, she said. We have to meet them where they are; we should assume the best. PHOTO: [We] have an obligation to stand up for everyone,' Rep. Debra Haaland of New Mexico said. 'Its American to stand up for each other for the least among us. (ABC) However, she also said its each persons individual responsibility to educate themselves on the issues. Allie Young, who is Dine, meaning from the Navajo nation, says we can all get online and learn. Its so simple nowadays to Google things, she said. There are so many resources that didnt exist 10 years ago Some of the responsibility falls on the individual, going out and self-educating. What were learning in school isnt enough. PHOTO: Allie Young is the co-founder of Protect the Sacred. (ABC) Ramirez added that these issues can be too sensitive to bring up with friends who belong to these affected communities. Its traumatic to have to relive and retell those experiences. That is an additional burden that we are placing on them. Its really important to be respectful and be sensitive, Ramirez said. We need to do the work ourselves, then ask for clarification. When should an ally speak up? When should they step back? Young says her people are taught to live by hozho, a Navajo philosophy that meanswalking and living in balance. For an ally, there is a time to listen and a time to speak up. PHOTO: Our country and our society is better off when we help the communities struggling the most, Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas said. Its the right thing to do, particularly for people who are elected officials. (ABC) If you are directly impacted by something, its always the right time to speak out, Garza said. If you are somebody whos directly impacted by the way somebody else is being impacted, then that is a good time to assess, Is it better for somebody elses voice to be amplified? ... We have to make sure were removing the barriers for people to speak for themselves. MORE: How Black Lives Matter became a multicultural awakening Chivona Newsome, co-founder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, pointed out that allies should support a movement, not police it. Its important for Black people to be at the forefront of leadership, she said of Black Lives Matter, adding that its important for allies to respect their decisions. PHOTO: Chivona Newsome is the co-founder of Black Lives Matter Greater NY. (ABC) We need to stay silent when there are impacted community members speaking and leading We need to follow their direction. What we should not do is try to become a spokesperson or try to become an educator on someone elses experiences, Ramirez said. When its time to speak, she says itll be easy to tell -- We will feel it in our hearts, feel it in our bodies. There are times in which you see someone being beaten down verbally, or whos being treated completely inappropriately and they seem all alone and defenseless. I think that is when we are compelled to speak and compelled to do something about it, she added. That is when we do not look away. Poo says its about addition, not subtraction to the ally cause. All of us are in the process of change and transformation There needs to be room for that; room for debate, discussion and grappling, she said. Theres no such thing as an unlikely ally. We have to hold [onto] that... I dont agree with everyone I organize with but theres a reason we come together. PHOTO: Katerina Jeng, co-founder of Asian American collective 'Slant'd,' says the next time something like the black square comes around, 'Instead of just jumping on the trend... [Think about] how is it actually helping?' (ABC) Activists share first steps you can take to become an ally originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Cardinal Angelo Becciu, head of the Vaticans saint-making office, announced his resignation on Thursday amid a burgeoning financial scandal that has roiled the Vatican for over a year. Becciu has repeatedly denied involvement in the financial dealings under investigation. However, the Holy See said that Pope Francis had accepted Beccius resignation from his post and his rights connected to the cardinalate. This more drastic step leaves Becciu unable to participate in deliberations to replace Pope Francis. Today, Thursday, Sept. 24, the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the office of Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and related rights of the Cardinalate, presented by His Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, the Vatican said in a statement. Under investigation is a $200 million real estate investment made by the Vatican in 2014, when Becciu was head of the Curia, or the Vaticans bureaucracy. The Vatican exited the investment in 2018, but the exit has ended up costing the Vatican tens of millions of Euros (Becciu has maintained he was not involved in the buyout). Six Vatican employees have been implicated in the internal probe of the deal. Funds for the initial investment were drawn from the Peters Pence donations which Catholics around the world make directly to the Holy See. Much of the funding was transferred through a Swiss bank with a history of breaking fraud and money-laundering rules, the Catholic News Agency reported. More from National Review David Oyelowo Steps Behind the Camera with The Water Man TIFF Screening There is something regal about Selma star David Oyelowo (oh-YEL--woh). You experience that sense of sturdiness in his film roles or interviewing him in person or virtually which was the case, last week, as part of TIFFs master series. Stepping behind the camera directing his first film The Water Man which screened at TIFF hes tapped his childhood to make an adventure fantasy film where young Black kids can see themselves on screen. The adventure, fantasy is written by Emma Needell. The story centers around a sensitive young boy, (Lonnie Chavis) who tries to save his mother (Rosario Dawson) from terminal cancer. He does so by going in search of the towns bogeyman, The Water Man, who is fabled to have conquered death. The film, which Oyelowo also produces and stars in, is executive produced by Oprah Winfrey. ADVERTISEMENT A bit about Oyelowo in case youve been living under a rock without wifi, hes BritishAmerican and the actor, producer, and now director is best known for his high-profile role to as Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2014 biographical drama film Selma directed by Ava DuVernay. Some of his other credits include A United Kingdom (2016); Queen of Katwe (2016); Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011); Lincoln (2012), Jack Reacher (2012) and The Butler (2013). On television, he played MI5 officer Danny Hunter on the British drama series Spooks (20022004) and Javert in the BBC miniseries Les Miserables (2018). Oyelowo shared that adventure pictures like E.T. the Extra-Terrestial, The Goonies, and Stand By Me served as inspiration. Adding that those family-friendly films he watched growing up inspired his creative collaboration with his cast Rosario Dawson, Lonnie Chavis, Amiah Miller, Alfred Molina, and Maria Bello. Here is what Oyelowo shares about directing and giving life to his new film The Water Man. WHO DID YOU MAKE THIS FILM FOR AND WHY? I made it for my 12-year-old self. I made it for those kids who dont get to see themselves represented in this kind of story. Its very rare to see a Black family at the center of this kind of story. And Im not just making it for Black and brown people. Im hoping that white people will watch it and see themselves represented in it because I believe seeing ourselves in different kinds of people is what engenders empathy and erodes ignorance. And at this moment of so much division and divisiveness, anything that one can put out into the world that makes us feel more connected, I want to be part of that. ON DIRECTING ADVERTISEMENT Well, I did know that I wanted to direct. I have had a blessed career in terms of working with some truly phenomenal directors and I have always thought that was going to be my film school. And when I was beautifully persuaded by Emma [Needell] to direct this I went to one of those great directors. I spoke with Ava DuVernay. WHAT DID THESE DIRECTORS TEACH YOU? The common thread Ive seen with great directors is they hire great people who they trust to do their job well, which releases the director to do their job well, which is having an overview of the total vision for the story. The less successful experiences Ive had are when Ive seen directors who are trying to micromanage everyone and tell them what their job is and how to do it well. I think hiring great people is the number one job of a director, and then empowering them to do their job well. ON FANTASY FILMS I have four kids, and I love watching movies with them, and I love watching movies which I grew up enjoying, and those films had adventure and escapism, but they also have a depth and a meaning to them. You know, juxtaposing the world and struggle through the eyes of a child, and how we approach it as a grown-up, it makes it more relatable and it reminds us of whats important. It enables grown-ups to reconnect with the truth of what love is through the eyes of a child who is discovering it in real-time. WHAT WAS YOUR VISION FOR THIS FILM? What really drew me to the film is the fact that it has such heart. I love the themes of self-sacrifice. It has a huge adventure component to it. But its also a film about navigating potential loss and discovering purpose. And whenever you find a film centered around kids that can have both adventure and meaning, I think thats a pretty potent mix. HOW BEING AN ACTOR HELPED HIM AS A DIRECTOR There is so much more that goes into the making of a film, and I personally think some actors get a little self-important because we focus so much on what actors bring to a film. But the crew and the work they do, and the post-production crew theres just so much that goes into making a film. And that is something that I now appreciate even more than I did before now that Ive really interacted and intersected with all of those different facets of what goes into making a movie. ON STORYTELLING Look, storytelling is important. Its not going to be how it is in the past. But this is something that people want and need. We made this film before the pandemic, before a time where we anticipated everyone would be having to contemplate the illness or the potential death of their loved ones and how we can be socially and culturally responsible in order to try and avoid that. But what is always going to be the case is that if you truly love someone, you know that to do anything you can to protect them is what love looks like. So to see that through the eyes of this 11-year-old boy, I believe everyone can relate. ON HOW HIS KIDS (18, 15, 12, and 8) REACTED TO THE WATER MAN That was the most nerve-wracking thing, showing it to my kids. Thankfully, Daddy did OK. They love the film (and) they recognize themselves in the film. To learn more go to @David_oyelowoo1 The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Trump refuses to promise transfer of power if he loses US vote US President Donald Trump says the election could be rigged and he doesn't guarantee a transfer of power US President Donald Trump on Wednesday refused to guarantee that he will transfer power if he loses the November election, earning scorn from his Democratic challenger Joe Biden and even from within his own party. "Well, we're going to have to see what happens," Trump responded when asked at a White House press conference whether he is committed to the most basic tenet of democratic rule in the United States -- the peaceful handover of power upon a change of president. Biden, who holds a steady lead over the Republican incumbent in opinion polls ahead of the November 3 vote, expressed incredulity. "What country are we in?" the former vice president said, when asked about Trump's comment by reporters. "Look, he says the most irrational things. I don't know what to say." Republican Senator Mitt Romney, a frequent but rare party critic of Trump, went further, saying that any hesitation on the core constitution guarantee was "unthinkable and unacceptable." "Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus," he tweeted. - 'Get rid' of ballots - Trump followed up his remarks -- unprecedented in modern times for a US president -- by resuming his near daily complaint about the fairness of the election. Apparently referring to the increased use of mail-in ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic, he said: "You know that I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots and the ballots are a disaster." Trump frequently claims that mail-in ballots are vulnerable to mass fraud and are being encouraged by Democrats to rig the election. However, there is no evidence that ballots sent through the postal service have ever led to significant fraud in US elections. At the press conference, Trump seemed to suggest annulling what are expected to be the huge numbers of mailed-in ballots, noting that in such a scenario, he would remain in power. Story continues "Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful -- there won't be a transfer, frankly. There'll be a continuation," he said. Trump's latest insistence that there cannot be a free and fair presidential election came as pressure mounts over his plan to put a new, right-leaning justice on the Supreme Court. Trump is set to nominate a replacement on Saturday for the late liberal-leaning justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last week. His Republican Party, which has a majority in the Senate, is then expected to quickly confirm the nominee. If they succeed, the nine-justice court would then likely have a strongly pro-conservative bent for years to come. Democrats are crying foul, saying that the process should wait until the results of the election are known, allowing the winner to shape the Supreme Court. With Trump and the Republicans mounting a series of court challenges against the use of mail-in ballots, the chances of a contested election result are considered high. On Wednesday, Trump said he thinks the election "will end up in the Supreme Court." sms/sst The National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity (NCCC) under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) has started developing a Cyber Security Strategy of Ukraine, the NSDCs press service reports. "After the President of Ukraine approved the National Security Strategy of Ukraine, a working group on the development of the Cyber Security Strategy was created at the NCCC. Representatives of key state bodies - the subjects of cybersecurity, members of the group, began to submit their proposals to the NCCC, reads a report. According to NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov, the strategy will determine the priorities of Ukraine's national interests in the field of cyber security, as well as the main approaches and directions for forming the issues of cyber security. The drafting of the strategy will take into account the best international practices; experts from the private sector and the public will be involved in its development. As reported, on September 14, President Zelensky signed a decree enacting the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) decision of September 14, 2020 "On the National Security Strategy of Ukraine." In line with paragraph 2 of Article 31 of the Law of Ukraine "On the National Security of Ukraine," the organization of drafting of the Strategy of Cybersecurity of Ukraine is carried out by the National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity. iy The issue received bids for 5.42 crore shares as against 1.37 crore shares on offer. The initial public offer (IPO) of Angel Broking received bids for 5.42 crore shares on Thursday, 24 September 2020, as against 1.37 crore shares on offer, as per the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) website data at 17:00 IST. The issue was subscribed 3.94 times. The issue opened for bidding on Tuesday, 22 September 2020 and it will close today, 24 September 2020. The price band for the IPO was set at Rs 305-306 per share. The IPO comprised 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. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Press Release 24 September 2020 WASHINGTON - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLA Foundation) today received top honors at the White House for their collective work to support and empower hotel industry employees. AHLA and AHLA Foundation were among a small group of companies and organizations awarded the Pledge to America's Workers Presidential Award in recognition of outstanding comprehensive workforce development efforts to create new and enhanced education and training opportunities for current and future hotel employees. Advertisements "On behalf of President Trump, I am honored to award the inaugural Pledge to America's Worker Presidential Award to the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) and eight other outstanding organizations," said Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump. "The American Hotel and Lodging Association has demonstrated a meaningful and substantive commitment toward re-skilling and investing in the futures of their workers, more urgent now than ever before due to the changes brought on by the pandemic. Prioritizing American workers and ensuring they are well prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow will guarantee the continued exceptionalism of our country's workforce for decades to come. Congratulations, AHLA!" Since signing the initial pledge in 2018, AHLA and its Foundation have developed, educated, and certified over 105,000 hotel employees, already fulfilling 80 percent of AHLA's original commitment to support 130,000 hotel employees over five years. Additionally, nearly $6 million has been invested to support career development programs, degree courses, industry certifications and apprenticeships to support the hotel and lodging industry. "We are honored to receive the Pledge to America's Workers Presidential Award during a time when supporting our workforce has never been more critical," said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). "Our industry is doing all we can to survive, and yet, we are resilient and committed to advancing our workforce by expanding the work of the AHLA Foundation, our career development programs, and scholarship grants to help our employees get one step ahead once travel resumes. As an industry that employed 8.3 million people before the pandemic, we urge the Administration and Congress to come together immediately to pass additional support so that we can bring back the nearly four million hotel workers whose jobs remain in jeopardy." The impact of workforce development offerings from AHLA and its Foundation both pre- and post-COVID have been substantial. With nearly nine in 10 hotels having to lay off or furlough workers this year, the AHLA Foundation pivoted in recent months to offer current and furloughed employees the opportunity to learn new skills through training and credentialing programs to prepare for a return to the workforce or their next career position in the industry. "Even at a time when the industry is struggling for its very survival, we are all coming together to support our greatest resource - our employees," said Rosanna Maietta, president of AHLA Foundation. "This is still one of the few industries where achieving the American Dream is possible, even today. That's why some 20,000 individuals signed up to take advantage of free skills-based trainings and educational courses we offered this spring and summer to help keep them connected to the industry. We appreciate today's recognition and look forward to working with the White House and other partners to help more individuals create life-long careers in this great industry." For additional information on AHLA and its Foundation workforce strategies, visit https://www.ahlafoundation.org/career-development. About The AHLA Foundation The AHLA Foundation, the charitable giving arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, is dedicated to helping people build careers, improve their lives, and strengthen the lodging industry. From lifting individuals out of poverty and connecting them with a life-long career in the industry to providing certifications to promote current hotel employees into leadership positions, the Foundation's programs are changing the industry by changing lives. We are committed to elevating, educating, and empowering individuals and the public on the industry's story of opportunity and advancement. Since its founding in 1953, the Foundation has distributed over $27 million in support of the industry and is committed to ensuring a strong and viable workforce for the entire lodging industry. The Foundation is funded solely by contributions from generous individuals and companies who want to give back to the hotel industry and ensure a successful future. Learn more at www.ahlafoundation.org. A tribunal panel has reserved its judgement in the case of a Christian who was sacked from her job at a school after she shared posts on Facebook criticising the teaching of LGBT relationships to young children. Kristie Higgs, 44, claims she was dismissed for gross misconduct by Farmor's School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, because of her religious beliefs. The mother-of-two, who is supported by the Christian Legal Centre, has taken the secondary school to an employment tribunal claiming the sacking last year breached her freedom of speech and freedom of religion. The school denies the allegations and says Mrs Higgs was dismissed because of the language used in the two Facebook posts, which she shared with around 100 people in her network. Kristie Higgs, 44, claims she was dismissed for gross misconduct by Farmor's School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, because of her religious beliefs The posts raised concerns about relationship education at her son's Church of England primary school, which was to teach the No Outsiders in Our School programme. In one Facebook post, Mrs Higgs urged people to sign an online petition against making relationships education mandatory. In another she shared an article about the rise of transgender ideology in children's books in American schools. One of the posts referred to 'brainwashing our children' and added: 'Children will be taught that all relationships are equally valid and "normal", so that same sex marriage is exactly the same as traditional marriage, and gender is a matter of choice, not biology, so that it's up to them what sex they are. 'We say again this is a vicious form of totalitarianism aimed at suppressing Christianity and removing it from the public arena.' The school denies the allegations and says Mrs Higgs was dismissed because of the language used in the two Facebook posts One anonymous Facebook friend of Mrs Higgs complained in October 2018 to the secondary school, where she worked as a pastoral assistant. Referring to the content of the posts, the complainant said: 'I know several children who might fall into the category that your staff member finds so obnoxious.' Mrs Higgs, who posted under her maiden name, was subsequently suspended and following a disciplinary process was sacked. The panel, consisting of an employment judge and two lay members, heard three days of evidence at the Civil Justice Centre in Bristol. Mrs Higgs told the panel: '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. 'I just don't think what I did was wrong on social media. This is what I thought - they are brainwashing our children. In one Facebook post, Mrs Higgs urged people to sign an online petition against making relationships education mandatory 'I shared these posts for information and my Christian belief is that God says marriage is between a man and a woman. 'God's law says they cannot change their gender, the law says they can. This does not mean you have to accept it. It doesn't mean I hate them, or they are not my friends.' School governor Stephen Conlan, who chaired the disciplinary panel, said she was dismissed because of the language used in the posts. He said: 'We were not concerned with Mrs Higgs's religious beliefs. We were concerned with the manner in which those beliefs were expressed. '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.' In legal submissions, Debbie Grennan, representing the school, said it had a duty to be 'inclusive to all staff and pupils'. In another she shared an article about the rise of transgender ideology in children's books in American schools She added: 'This will turn or fail on your conclusion as to whether the claimant was dismissed for her religious beliefs or for other reasons and it is as simple as that.' Pavel Stroilov, representing Mrs Higgs, told the panel: 'To suggest these religious beliefs which have been held for centuries, is some obscure cult and not religious beliefs shared by a number of different religions and is not worthy of recognition in society is quite a revolutionary decision.' Mrs Higgs is seeking 56,000 in damages at a Bristol employment tribunal after senior staff allegedly branded her a 'Nazi Right-wing extremist'. The tribunal will give its decision at a later date. As the coronavirus made its way here from China and swept across the United States, Texas was hit particularly hard. For families, business owners and community leaders alike, our state undoubtedly struggled. Although Texas faced its own difficulties during the height of the pandemic, the people of the Lone Star State stepped up to the challenge. One local business, Gulf Coast Distillers, transitioned its production to help the community in a critical time of need. Rather than supplying its typical spirits, this American-made, Latino-run business began producing and bottling hand sanitizer. As a result, Gulf Coast Distillers has donated over $250,000 in bottles of hand sanitizer to first responders and non-profit organizations and shipped over 100,000 gallons of hand sanitizer across the state of Texas. On the Women for Trump Bus Tour in Texas, I joined Latinos for Trump Advisory Board Co-Chair Maggie Hernandez, Women for Trump Advisory Board Member Danielle DSouza Gill and Vice President of the Texas Federation of Republican Women Kit Whitehall to meet with the owners of Gulf Coast Distillers who are proud to keep supporting their state. But, the story of Gulf Coast Distillers wasnt the only example of resilience on our tour. We also stopped at Trump Burger, which opened their doors only a week before the COVID-19 lockdown began. The owners were able to keep their restaurant afloat with the support of Trump Victory volunteers who have made this business their favorite lunch stop. Despite the struggle Trump Burgers initially faced, it is ready to fully reopen and thrive. Businesses like Gulf Coast Distillers and Trump Burger arent alone. Across the state of Texas, the Women for Trump Bus Tour met with community leaders who all faced unique challenges during the peak of the pandemic, and they were all resolute in their support of Trump. The people of Texas are standing behind Trump for four more years because he led the charge to empower Texas. Before the economy was artificially interrupted, Texas was thriving. With Trump in the White House, Texas had record low unemployment and added over 70,000 jobs in manufacturing alone. This empowerment in energy and manufacturing is in sharp contrast to Bidens agenda. The oil, gas and coal industries would be restricted under a Biden-Harris administration. Thats right the same industry that indirectly supports roughly 2 million jobs in the state. With the leadership of Trump, Texas added back over a half million jobs in the past three months alone. Just as Texans stepped up to fight for the community, Trump is fighting for Texas. Under the Paycheck Protection Program alone, 4.5 million jobs are being protected in Texas at over 417,000 businesses. Under the presidents leadership, FEMA has provided millions of N95 respirators, gloves and dollars in direct funding. The administrations historic leadership is essential in helping the state recover. The Texas spirit is strong. For families across this great state, we need a leader who will continually empower us. On November third, we know that the only leader willing to embody our strength and resilience is Trump. Mosbacher, widow of the 28th U.S. Secretary of Commerce, is a political strategist, author, and frequent political commentator on multiple news programs. She has held national roles in five presidential campaigns and is presently an Advisory Board Member for Women for Trump. The Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe Abronye, popularly known as Abronye DC, has taken a swipe at former President John Dramani Mahama, after the latter's claims of accomplishing uncompleted programmes under the New Patriotic Party when voted to power. According to him, the President Akufo-Addo government has performed beyond doubts in the four-year mandate and has asked Ghanaians not to fall for Mahama's mischief. The election is between Jesus and Satan, Nana Addo is Jesus and Mahama is Satan so Ghanaians should beware. Nana Addo has done a lot for us and we should honour him in the general elections. He said the flagbearer of the NDC is not God-fearing and for that matter, he cannot lead the country into success. He indicated that Mr Mahama was unable to pay GHC33 million for the progressively free senior secondary education initiative and is of the view it took a certain Akufo-Addo to settle such debt. He said once he was unable to raise fund to pay the debt he cannot get GHC1 billion to implement the free SHS programme. Abronye made these assertions during the campaign launch of Micheal Okyere Baafi, parliamentary candidate for the New Juaben South constituency in the Eastern Region. He said the NPP will soon embark on town hall meetings to reveal what the NDC did during the term in office under Mahama. This year's election is the future for all of us. So I will urge everyone to do what is expected of him so that the NPP will maintain the seat. We need to sideline him because he has nothing good to offer us. Even at the opposition, he is been able to buy Range Rover for his 19-year-old ward on his birthday, how can this man eradicate corruption, he quizzes. He continued We should be vigilant in the upcoming elections. Since 1957, Nana Akufo-Addo is the only president who has gifted Ghanaians a lot of things and no one can cast doubt about that. He is competing with Mahama but if you go into the history books of the country, he is the cruel President among all. He has asked Ghanaians to vote for a visionary leader instead of one who will be channelling the country's resources to sponsor ladies. He urged all and sundry to get involve and campaign massively for the NPP in the bid to maintain their seat for another four years. ---Daily Guide Bir Lahlou, 24 Sept 2020 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Frente POLISARIO, Mr. Brahim Gali, has sent a congratulatory message to President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, H.E. Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo, on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the independence of his country. On his own behalf and on behalf of the Sahrawi people, the President of the Republic expressed his sincere congratulations on the 47th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, wishing his counterpart Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo the happiness and success in his duties and prosperity and progress to the people of Guinea-Bissau. Gali has also added that in this challenging time marked by difficulties in all the aspects of live posed by the Covid-19 pandemic where all the humanity face the same enemy, I would like to express our strong support and solidarity with the brotherly people of Guinea-Bissau, insisting in solidarity and unity between all the African Nations as primal mean to face this threat. The Republic of Guinea-Bissau and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic share the same principles and values as two member States of the African Union but also as to Nations that aspire for a just, stable and prosperous Africa; we look forward to revive and strength our historical relations and extend bridges of cooperation and coordination in the same spirit of the construction of the Africa we want. Gali concluded his letter SPS 125/090 Thai lawmakers met Thursday to vote on six proposed amendments to the country s military-backed constitution, as protesters pushing for charter reform gathered outside the Parliament building. Changes to the constitution are one of three core demands that a coalition of protest groups has been seeking in recent months. The groups, which on Sunday held one of the biggest protest rallies in years, also want new elections and an end to intimidation of political activists, saying they are needed to strengthen democracy. The protests, spearheaded by students, come as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha s government faces broader criticism that it is ineffective and without direction as the economy sputters due to the knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The government is also under pressure from some influential Thai royalists chagrined that the protesters are seeking unprecedented reforms to the monarchy, a sacrosanct institution to conservatives. The current charter was written under the auspices of the military junta that took power after a 2014 coup and pushed it through in a referendum in which campaigning for a no vote was illegal. Prayuth led that coup, headed the military government and was named prime minister again after last years general election, held under the rules laid out by the new charter. The constitutions critics say its main aim was to secure the grip on power of the countrys traditional ruling elite royalists, unelected bureaucrats and the military by breaking that of political parties. The constitution does not come from the people 100%, said Kanyakorn Suntornprug, a 20-year-old rallying outside Parliament. Even if in the past, it was not 100% democratic but at least there was some participation from the people. The two-day debate on the amendments which started Wednesday, is seen largely as an attempt to placate the protesters and ease pressure on the government. Voting by both houses of Parliament was expected to be completed late in the night. While there is growing agreement that changes to the constitution are needed, theres wide divergence over what those changes should be. Key sections in dispute include the position and privileges of the monarchy which protesters want to see redefined and the role and powers of the unelected Senate. The Senates 250 appointed members are seen as unequivocal backers of the present government and greatly influenced by the military. Most controversially, they are allowed to vote in the selection of a prime minister, a provision critics slam as fundamentally anti-democratic. There are six proposals for charter amendment: one from Prime Minister Prayuths governing coalition and five from the opposition. The one point both sides support is amending Section 256, which would establish a Constitution Drafting Assembly to write a new charter from scratch. The process could take as long as two years to complete. However, it is unclear if enough senators would support the measure for it to pass, because voting on the amendments is conducted by a joint sitting of both houses. For any motion to pass it will need the support of at least a third of the senators, making victory uncertain even for the governments draft supporting revision of Section 256. Thailand, which has seen more than a dozen coups, has had 20 constitutions since the end of direct rule by kings in 1932. 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. 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." Sarah Paul, a clinical psychology graduate student 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." A South Sudanese refugee collects water at Bidibidi refugee settlement in Yumbe district of Northern Uganda, 2 May 2017. UNHCR/Jiro Ose BRUSSELS When David Githiri arrived in Uganda in 2017 to oversee the technical team delivering services to refugees and host communities in the country for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, his posting began amid a massive influx of people fleeing conflict in South Sudan. One of the biggest challenges that Githiri a civil and environmental engineer from Kenya and his team faced was how to ensure the supply of enough water to meet the daily needs of the refugees, most of whom were women and children. At the height of the emergency, with over half a million refugees arriving to the northwest region of the country, the only way UNHCR could deliver water to refugees in these remote and underdeveloped locations was by using a fleet of 630 trucks to supply water at a prohibitive cost. Safe drinking water was needed to prevent death and disease but delivering water by truck is expensive and notoriously difficult to monitor, Githiri said. We had to account for every dollar that was spent, but this presented major challenges. The country operations office, hundreds of kilometres away in the capital Kampala, would receive a continuous stream of hand-written paper receipts that were virtually impossible to verify. "We needed a solution that was reliable." To try to address these concerns, at its headquarters in Geneva another group of UNHCR engineers with experience working on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) operations in many refugee settings around the world set out to find an innovative way of monitoring water truck deliveries. We needed a solution that was reliable, inexpensive and could be applied in emergency settings in some of the most challenging operational environments in the world, explained UNHCR WASH Consultant Ben Harvey. The solution they came up with is now being used successfully in refugee and displacement camps in five difference countries, and on 24 September was announced by the European Commission as the winner of a prestigious 1-million-euro technology prize. In creating the system, the team looked at a range of possible solutions before settling on technologies that had been used in the oil industry and setting out to apply them to the water sector. The system uses a series of networked, ultra-sonic water-level sensors that are installed in the tanks of water delivery trucks as well as static water tanks in refugee settlements to provide real-time data on water deliveries and consumption. It is based on the Internet of Things physical objects fitted with sensors in order to connect and exchange data over the Internet. The devices, which cost around 50 euros each, send their readings to a central gateway similar to a mobile phone mast. The gateways have a range of 30 kilometres and can collate data from up to 20,000 individual sensors, meaning a single gateway can cover all the water tanks and trucks serving an entire refugee settlement. The data is then fed to an online dashboard which gathers information from all the active gateways in a country or region, allowing Githiri and colleagues to see in real time how much water is being delivered and consumed across the entire country. "The refugees are happier." It has improved service delivery and reduced shortages, because we are easily able to monitor deliveries and consumption and address potential shortages before they happen, Githiri said. The refugees are happier because they receive the services when they need them when it comes to water supplies. Providing refugees with a reliable and easily accessible supply of clean water is key to not only safeguarding health but also avoiding protection risks. Long distances to water points have been shown to put women and girls at risk of sexual violence and lead children to missing out on education opportunities. During the pilot phase of the project, as well as Uganda the technology has already been installed in settlements in Iraq, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya, and is due to be rolled out in the worlds largest refugee camp in Bangladesh by the end of this year. As well as monitoring water provision in camps, the system will also be installed in boreholes to monitor the impact of pumping on natural aquifers and therefore mitigate the negative environmental impact of extraction. Sensors will also be installed to measure water quality, flow rates and pressure in distribution networks. This will help UNHCR ensure equitable distribution of water within camps and ensure efficient operation of the systems. "Innovation can help us deliver better and more effective aid." The project was chosen as one of the five winners of the European Commissions EIC Horizon Prize for Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid, claiming the prize in the water, sanitation and hygiene category. Announcing the award, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel said: These innovations clearly show how physical technologies such as sensors, solar panels or additive manufacturing can be combined with digital technologies to help those desperately in need, empower them, and improve resilience. I am very pleased to award this Prize both to well-established humanitarian organizations and to young, innovative companies that are dedicated to improving peoples lives. European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic added: Innovation can help us deliver better and more effective aid to people most in need. The technologies recognized today are a great testament to that. It is encouraging to see the great diversity of actors and new partnerships for innovation, from start-up companies to existing humanitarian organizations. I hope this award serves to support the scaling and broad adoption of these innovations in humanitarian work around the world. It is expected that among other initiatives, the 1-million-euro prize money will be used to expand the use of the technology to other parts of the world where UNHCR operates, and to fund projects to look at how similar systems can be applied to other aspects of humanitarian operations such as energy and environmental monitoring. We are all proud that the work we have done has been recognized in this way, and look forward to using the prize money to find new solutions to the problems facing refugees and improve their lives, Harvey concluded. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite provided an infrared image of Post-tropical cyclone Teddy over the province of Newfoundland, Canada in the early morning hours of Sept. 24. Teddy's Last Advisory At 11 p.m. EDT on Sept. 23 (0300 UTC on Sept. 24), NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued the final advisory on Post-Tropical Cyclone Teddy. At that time, the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Teddy was located near latitude 51.0 degrees north and longitude 57.3 degrees west based on the Marble Mountain, Newfoundland, radar and surface observations along the west coast of Newfoundland. The post-tropical cyclone was moving toward the north-northeast near 32 mph (52 kph), and this general motion is expected to continue through Thursday. Maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph (85 kph) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 975 millibars. The center of Teddy moved closer to the northwestern Newfoundland coast overnight. NASA's Night-Time View The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a nighttime image of Post-Tropical Storm Teddy over Newfoundland, Canada. The image was taken at 1:40 a.m. EDT (0540 UTC) on Sept. 24. The nighttime lights of Newfoundland can be seen somewhat through Teddy's clouds, and the nighttime lights of Nova Scotia were visible, revealing that Teddy had moved past the province. The image was created using the NASA Worldview application at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Teddy's Final Fate On the forecast track, Teddy is expected to move into the Labrador Sea today, Sept. 24 before merging with a larger extratropical low-pressure area. ### About NASA's EOSDIS Worldview NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Worldview application provides the capability to interactively browse over 700 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks "right now." NASA Researches Earth from Space For more than five decades, NASA has used the vantage point of space to understand and explore our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA brings together technology, science, and unique global Earth observations to provide societal benefits and strengthen our nation. Advancing knowledge of our home planet contributes directly to America's leadership in space and scientific exploration. For updated forecasts, visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov By Rob Gutro NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The premier, it seems, is perplexed. Just days after the Free Press ran a series of stories revealing efforts to curtail the business activities of a Manitoba Hydro subsidiary and concerns among staff members about the future of the enterprise, Premier Brian Pallister counted himself among the many who are confounded by whats going on at Manitoba Hydro International. "I want some clarity on it, too," Mr. Pallister said Monday from Ottawa, where he currently is on an extended trip whose agenda and return date remain somewhat fluid. "Im concerned, because I believe Manitoba Hydro belongs to all Manitobans... I think Manitobans deserve more clarity... on what it is theyre after here." More clarity, indeed. What has been revealed to date regarding recent goings-on at the Crown utility and its suddenly slowed-down subsidiary has left employees, ratepayers and, apparently, politicians alike scratching their heads and itching for an explanation. Interest in MHIs current and future fortunes came into focus last week after the Free Press obtained internal emails in which staff were told "not to aggressively pursue new work" and "not to actively pursue new bids or seek out new customers." JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister The email also stated that any potential new work would require a senior management sign-off and must have an end date of Dec. 31, 2021, or earlier. While not offering a clear explanation for the slowdown, a Manitoba Hydro spokesman said MHIs operations are included in a larger-scale review being conducted as part of the Crown utilitys long-term strategic planning process and, as such, its activities have been "moved into a non-aggressive approach for new business development to allow the review to continue without complication." MHI, which has been an offshoot of Manitoba Hydro for nearly three decades, provides consulting services in various electricity-related fields to more than 120 countries abroad, and is also the parent company of Manitoba Hydro Telecom. Over the past two years, MHI has generated $109 million in revenue and contributed almost $16 million to Hydros balance sheet. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. It was also reported last week that the Pallister government discouraged Manitoba Hydro Telecom from bidding on a lucrative contract to provide interoffice data connectivity to more than 600 provincial offices (the request for proposals was ultimately never issued as the province opted to extend its existing agreement for the services). MHI employees expressed concerns to the Free Press that Hydro is in the process of winding down the moderately profitable subsidiarys operations, for reasons that remain unclear, and some staffers have reported being advised to look for employment opportunities elsewhere. Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton, for his part, maintains the province is not looking to privatize MHI. Mr. Wharton also dismissed as "baseless" NDP speculation that the MHI slowdown is part of a larger effort that might lead to the privatization of Manitoba Hydro. Questions abound. Answers, to date, have not been forthcoming. The premier and Wab Kinew tend not to agree on many things, but it seems Mr. Pallister is in lockstep with the NDP leader when he says clarity is needed regarding the future of Manitoba Hydro and its subsidiaries. It goes without saying that ratepayers agree. And since Mr. Pallister leads the government to which all Crown corporations are answerable, it logically falls to him to replace his recently expressed perplexity with a detailed public pronouncement that will, once and for all, lay this highly charged issue to rest. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 18:51 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c47023b0 1 National Lampung,EndangeredSpecies,ivory-tusk,elephant-tusk,endangered-animal,illegal-trade,EnvironmentConservation,elephant Free The Lampung Police have arrested three individuals who were allegedly engaged in illegal elephant ivory trade in the region. Lampung Police spokesperson Comr. Zahwani Pandra Arsyad said the suspects identified as BT, TW and AS had been apprehended in a hotel in Pringsewu regency on Wednesday. Our officers received information that an illegal transaction involving elephant ivory was about to take place. Following an investigation, the three perpetrators were indeed planning to sell tusks, Pandra said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com. After confirming the trade, a joint team consisting of the Lampung Polices general crimes unit and personnel from the South Bukit Barisan National Park (TNBBS) was deployed to foil the illicit activity. Police seized two tusks as evidence, each measuring about 50 centimeters, and said all three suspects were being questioned about the origin of the tusks. Read also: Two endangered Javan rhino calves spotted in Indonesian park In addition, police confiscated nine ivory smoking pipes and three unprocessed elephant teeth. The suspects were charged under Articles 21 and 40 of Law. 5/1900 on the conservation of natural resources and ecosystems. They face up to five years in prison and a fine of Rp 100 million (US$6,721), Pandra said. The government has stepped up its measures to crack down on illegal ivory trade in recent years. In April, investigators from the Environment and Forestry Ministry arrested three individuals on suspicion of illegal online trade in ivory and other products from elephants and other endangered animals. The trio allegedly sold jewelry and other accessories like cigarette holders through three separate Facebook accounts. (rfa) DeGeneres emphasized during her apology that she sees her show as a safe haven from the worlds issues and problems, which no place really is. Ellen thrives by being a kinder, gentler wash of the world around us replete with friends who are former Republican presidents who campaigned against the same-sex marriage DeGeneres now enjoys, or expressions of symbolic solidarity with police shooting victim Breonna Taylor. Ellen is filled with emphatic expressions of hope instead of outrage; its determination to be cheerful leaves it in a permanent state of reaction instead of action. Whether a topic is cute or funny or sad or infuriating, it can all be danced off. Activists 1.5-year jail sentence for rally order breaches upheld RAPSI, Eugeny Varlamov 17:36 24/09/2020 MOSCOW, September 24 (RAPSI) - The Second Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction on Thursday upheld a 1.5-year sentence in penal colony given to activist Konstantin Kotov for repeated violations of a rally holding order, RAPSI was told in the courts press office. Moscows Tverskoy District Court convicted and sentenced Kotov to 4 years in jail in September 2019. A month later, the Moscow City Court upheld the verdict. He filed a cassation appeal against the ruling. In early March, the Second Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction returned the case of Kotov to a lower court for reconsideration. In April, the Moscow City Court reduced a 4-year prison sentence passed on Kotov to 1.5 years. The court included in the sentence the term Kotov spent in detention from August 13, 2019 to April 20, 2020. Investigators claim, the man, who was repeatedly brought to administrative liability for breaking an order of public events in the last 180 days, recently took part in an unauthorized protest action ignoring police demands to stop illegal actions. Investigative authorities claimed that his actions had an intentional nature. Kotov pleaded not guilty. His defense insisted that there were no elements of a crime in his actions.Protest actions began in Moscow in mid-July after election commissions denied registration of certain opposition members as candidates for the Moscow City Duma elections reasoning that documents submitted by them contained numerous violations. The first unauthorized rally took place hear the Moscow City Election Commissions building on July 14, 2019 and looked like a provocation, according to law experts. Unauthorized rallies in support of candidates seeking to become lawmakers of the Moscow State Duma but refused registration by the Election Commission were also held on July 27 and August 3, 2019, in central Moscow. Over 1,000 people were arrested for various violations as a result. Following the 27 July rally, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case over mass riots. Investigators believe that the protest action was held with the use of force against representatives of authority. NBMBAA Announces Its New President & CEO On behalf of the National Black MBA Association Board of Directors, it is with great pleasure that we inform you that the next National Black MBA Association President and CEO has been identified. We welcome Joseph Joe Handy to the NBMBAA family as president and CEO, effective October 5, 2020. Joe most recently served as the President of Georgia Aquarium Foundation, having served as Georgia Aquariums President and chief operating officer since 2017. He brings a strong history of leadership along with more than 20 years of experience in cultural institutions. We believe Joe will take the organization to the next level bringing vision, thought leadership and unparalleled fundraising expertise. Joe was born and raised in New York, where he graduated with honors from The College of New Rochelle with a Liberal Arts Degree and a concentration in Political Science. He later went on to earn his Executive MBA from Kennesaw State University. While in New York, Joe spent nine years at the American Museum of Natural History and helped launch the Rose Center for Earth and Space. ADVERTISEMENT Anticipating his new position as president, Joe said, I am excited and thrilled to be a part of such an amazing organization. The work that has been accomplished over the years has set a strong foundation. I am honored to work with a team that will continue to build on that foundation to make us even stronger. I look forward to getting to know all of you and doing the work that will benefit our community for generations to come. Bruce Thompson, NBMBAA interim president & CEO, will remain with the Association in a consultancy role through the end of the year working on growth and technology initiatives. We extend a special thank you to Bruce for being an agent of change and leading the Association through a tumultuous 2020. He has set the Association up for a successful conference and beyond! We remain committed to keeping the Association strong, continuing as a leader among professional member-based organizations and developing partnerships that benefit our stakeholders. We are looking forward to what Joe will bring to the NBMBAA as we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has warned the financial services sector that the $1.3 billion fine levied against Westpac shows the government will not tolerate breaches of federal anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. The Age and Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday night revealed the country's second largest bank came to an agreement with the financial intelligence regulator to pay the largest civil penalty in Australian corporate history after it was accused of breaching anti-money laundering laws and failing to stop child exploitation payments. "This is a very significant penalty in response to very serious breaches of our anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing laws," Mr Frydenberg told this masthead. "It sends the strongest possible message to all financial institutions about the importance of these laws and the government's preparedness to enforce them." Westpac has announced it will pay a $1.3 billion fine, the largest in Australian corporate history. Credit:Wayne Taylor The agreement between Westpac and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), announced Thursday morning, includes the fine as well as Westpac's admission it failed to properly report over 19.6 million international transfers amounting to over $11 billion. Scott Disick did not leave a good impression on Sofia Riche's family. Even though Scott and Sofia were together for quite some time, their breakup even made Richie's family relieved. While they are probably sad that Sofia got heartbroken, Us Magazine reported that her family is not mourning what happened. They believe that Disick was not healthy for Sofia, and they are better off separated from each other. Instead, their advice to Sofia is to look inward and do her own thing, especially during the quarantine when people suddenly got time in their hands. "Sofia's family think she is way better off without him. They have been advising her to do her own thing, especially during the quarantine," a source told Us Magazine. The source added that Richie's family also thinks it is better if Sofia just let Discik be the father he is supposed to be to Kourtney Kardashian's children. It appears that Sofia is listening to their advice though, as the source also shared that the model has already started to detach herself from the whole equation and is now seeing how healthy the decision is. It can be remebered that Richie and Disick separated for the second time back in July. The two became an item three years ago, but they called it quits back in May while the world is in the thick of the pandemic. Their breakup reason was unclear, but rumors have it that it has to do with Scott's decision to seek treatment for his past traumas. May was also the month that Scott checked himself into a treatment center before checking out immediately when he realized that the media had a whiff of his decision. While in a breakup, Scott and Kourtney were noticed to have become very close once more, although sources have it that they are merely friends and co-parents to their children. Some believed that the two were already getting back together, but then Scott and Sofia started hanging out in June again. Now that they have broken up the second time, it appears that Richie is ready to just let go and move on, more so since she now knows that her father and the rest of the family do not approve of Disick. "Scott and Sofia had really great chemistry, but missing each other isn't a huge factor right now," the insider explained. "They do miss each other, but at the end of the day, Sofia is a family girl and knowing her sister and dad haven't approved of him from the beginning has been a big thing for her." This is old news, though -- the fact that Sofia's dad, Lionel Richie, does not like Scott Disick for his daughter. It was nothing personal, too. He was just concerned with the age gap of 15 years between the two, and the fact that Sofia is technically really young in general. In 2018, Lionel said that he is just letting her daughter be because he knows people at the age of 19 think they know everything already. It remains to be seen how detached Sofia can be, given the fact that Scott keeps popping in and out of her life! But since Disick also allegedly said he wants another child with Kourtney, Richie better stay far away from a confused man like that. READ MORE: Brad Pitt New GF OBVIOUSLY Seeking Attention, Wendy Williams Says Vialva was 19 years old when he and fellow members of a gang in Killeen, Texas, killed Todd and Stacie Bagley, white married Christian youth ministers from Iowa, on the Fort Hood army base in 1999. He was pronounced dead at 6:46 p.m.(11.46pm Irish time) after US Department of Justice officials injected him with pentobarbital, a barbiturate, at the execution chamber in Terre Haute, Indiana, according to reporter serving as a media witness. It was the sixth federal execution this year, and the second this week, after the practice was resumed by US President Donald Trump's administration. Under Trump, the Justice Department has now executed twice as many men this year than all of Trump's predecessors combined going back to 1963. The last time the US government executed six or more people in a single year was in 1942, according to the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) in Washington. The execution of Vialva, 40, comes as the nation grapples with racial disparities in the criminal justice system, with daily protests occurring in U.S. cities against police brutality against Black people. Advertisement Of the 56 people on federal death row, 26, or 46%, are Black, and 22, or 39%, are white, according to the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), a non-profit organisation based in Washington. Black people make up only 13% of the US population. DPIC published a report this month concluding that racial bias persists in the US system of capital punishment. The report said that the killers of white people were more likely to face the death penalty than the killers of Black people, and a study in North Carolina found that qualified Black jurors were struck from juries at more than twice the rate of qualified white jurors. At Vialva's trial in the US District Court for Western Texas in 2000, a jury of 11 white people and one Black person found him and a Black accomplice, Brandon Bernard, guilty of carjacking and murder, and voted for them to receive the death penalty. Bernard's execution date has not been set. The American Civil Liberties Union has said that the teenaged Vialva was unfairly tried as an adult and circulated a video of Vialva this month speaking from prison about racial disparities. "The death penalty has been used disproportionately against Black people for decades," Vialva says in the video. "People are unaware that many of us here were arrested before we were old enough to drink." According to court records, Vialva and his accomplices were looking for someone to rob when they found Todd Begley using a payphone at a convenience store, and he agreed to give them a ride in his car. In the back seat, Vialva pulled out a gun and ordered Begley and his wife to get into the car's trunk. After forcing Begley to disclose his PIN, Vialva withdrew cash from Begley's account at an ATM, though there was less than $100 on deposit. He used the cash to buy fast food and cigarettes, among other items. During the several hours they spent in the trunk, the Begleys could be heard telling their kidnappers to embrace Christianity. Eventually, Vialva parked the car in an isolated part of Fort Hood, opened the trunk and shot both Begleys in the head, killing Todd and rendering Stacie unconscious. Bernard then set the car on fire, and an autopsy showed that she died from smoke inhalation. Facebook election information page is displayed on a smartphone; Twitter, TikTok and Youtube logos are displayed on mobile devices Credit - From top left, clockwise: Gabby JonesBloomberg/Getty Images; Mehmet KamanAnadolu Agency/Getty Images; Igor GolovniovSOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images; Brent LewinBloomberg/Getty Images If there is one thing that social media companies, political campaigns and all of their critics agree on, it is that widespread uncertainty and confusion is all but inevitable on Nov. 3. With likely delays in counting due to an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots and the suspension of most traditional campaign events due to the ongoing pandemic, social media platforms are bracing themselves to handle the dissemination of news on Election Day and its aftermath, all of which will largely play out online. In recent weeks, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, as well as less politics-focused platforms like TikTok and Pinterest, have all released new policies on how to stem the spread of election and voting disinformation, such as removing or labeling false voting information or claims of election rigging. Now they are grappling with how to enforce those new measures if the results of the election are unclear for a prolonged period or contested. The range of platforms contingency plans includes what to do if a candidate prematurely declares victory before the results have been made official to how to stop videos calling into question the legitimacy of the election from going viral. In an indication of how starkly Twitter sees the potential impact, the company has said it will take action on tweets inciting unlawful conduct to prevent a peaceful transfer of power or orderly succession a jarring line to read about an American election. After 2016, many of these platforms spent the last four years learning to quickly detect and remove content from foreign actors, but the mass spread of domestic disinformation presents a new and more difficult challenge. This is especially true when it comes to the dilemma of how to handle posts by President Donald Trump and his allies, who for months have used their social media accounts to spread the very kind of misinformation about voter fraud and election rigging that this raft of new policies is designed to prevent. Taking down social media posts on Nov. 3 wont stop the spread of false claims or diffuse tensions if the very process of the election has been called into question for months by the commander-in-chief. Story continues Within that context, whatever social media platforms do is null and void. The election results will be confused thats just a foregone conclusion, says Graham Brookie, the director of the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab, which tracks misinformation. Much like we wont know the results on election night, we need to stop thinking of the election as Election Day. Its already happening, Brookie says. He says platforms need to focus on building up Americans trust in official, non-partisan sources that they can go to for reliable information. If the U.S. is depending on private social media platforms to reliably communicate the results of the election, then were in bad shape. I cannot communicate how f-cked we are. This year, social media companies have become increasingly willing to moderate more content not because of the election, but because of the rampant spread of public health disinformation by politicians and partisan outlets during the pandemic. Their efforts to stem the barrage of dangerous COVID-19 conspiracies show both the promise and the limits of these new policies, experts say. In August, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube all succeeded in stopping the sequel to the conspiracy video Plandemic from going viral. According to Facebook, it removed more than 7 million posts spreading misinformation about COVID-19 from its main site and Instagram between April and June. They also attached warning labels to a staggering 98 million posts that were judged to be misleading about the virus, but less harmful. Despite these efforts, large amounts of misinformation still stayed up long enough to spread beyond their control. Right-wing news website Breitbart posted a video in which a group of white-clad people calling themselves Americas Frontline Doctors claimed that you dont need a mask to protect yourself from COVID-19, and that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is a cure for COVID. It quickly racked up a staggering 20 million views on Facebook before it was taken down. It was amplified in several tweets by Trump and prominent supporters. Even after it was taken down, clips of it continued to circulate via WhatsApp and other messaging platforms a preview of what is likely to happen with disinformation in the aftermath of the election, according to analysts. Social media companies will need to act more quickly when it comes to handling bad information about election results, says Carly Miller, a research analyst at the Stanford Internet Observatory who has been tracking how different social media platforms are addressing election misinformation. The next step is to enforce these policies in a clear, transparent, and timely manner, which we have seen really makes a difference in preventing the spread of election-related misinformation, she says. On the night of the election, the devil will be in the details, says Brookie. It will depend on how strongly and quickly they enforce these policies. Heres what five of the top social media platforms are doing to prepare for the next two months: FACEBOOK In a lengthy post on Sept. 3, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he worried that with our nation so divided and election results potentially taking days or even weeks to be finalized, there could be an increased risk of civil unrest across the country. This election is not going to be business as usual, he wrote. Its important that we prepare for this possibility in advance and understand that there could be a period of intense claims and counter-claims as the final results are counted. This could be a very heated period. That same day, Facebook, which is the worlds largest social media platform with roughly 175 million users in the U.S. alone, announced a series of election-related initiatives. It said it will prohibit new political ads in the week leading up to Nov. 3, though those placed earlier can continue running. It is also applying warning labels to posts that seek to undermine the outcome or legitimacy of the election, or allege that legal voting methods led to fraud. If any candidate or campaign tries to declare victory before the final results are in, they will add a label directing users to official information from Reuters or the National Election Pool, a consortium of U.S. television news networks. The platform had already been working on the problem during the presidential and state primaries earlier this year. From March to July, Facebook removed more than 110,000 pieces of content from Facebook and Instagram in the U.S. for violating the companys voter interference policies, spokeswoman Katie Derkits told TIME. These policies are meant to prevent any efforts at voter suppression by spreading inaccurate information about how, where, and when to vote. From March to May 2020, Facebook also displayed warnings on more than 50 million pieces of content on the platform. Nearly 95% of people who saw these warning labels did not click through to see the original post, according to the company, which plans to continue these policies through Novembers election. Facebook does not fact-check misinformation in politicians posts or ads, unlike Twitter, which flags false claims. Zuckerberg has defended this move, saying users should hear directly from politicians and that they dont want to stifle free speech. But in the face of Trumps repeated allegations that the election is already rigged, the company has reportedly been exploring its options if the President refuses to accept the results of the election, questions its validity or claims that the Postal Service somehow interfered with mail-in ballots. TWITTER Twitter similarly updated its civic integrity policy in early September to lay out a game plan for the election including that it will go as far as taking down posts from its platform. The company says it will not only remove or attach a warning label to any claims of victory prior to election results being official, but also take action on any tweets inciting unlawful conduct to prevent a peaceful transfer of power or orderly succession. When deciding whether to remove or label these posts, Twitter will consider whether the content falls into the category of the most specific falsehoods and the propensity for the greatest harm, or simply a mischaracterization that could be labeled, spokesperson Trenton Kennedy told TIME. In the latter case, only users who follow the account in question will see the tweet shared to their timeline, complete with a tag warning the information is disputed and a link to an official source. The companys algorithm also wont promote it to others, even if its a top conversation. Twitter says it will also act on any claims that might cast doubt on voting, including unverified information about election rigging, ballot tampering, vote tallying, or certification of election results. This policy has already been thoroughly tested by Trump, who uses the platform as his primary means of communication and has more than 85 million followers. In recent months, the company has attached warning labels to several of his tweets for spreading misleading information about mail-in ballots, for sharing a manipulated video, and for inciting violence. YOUTUBE YouTube rolled out plans to remove misleading election and voting content back in February, on the day of the Iowa caucuses. The video-sharing platform said it would remove posts that promoted fake information about voting days and locations, lies about the candidates eligibility, and videos manipulated by artificial intelligence. It will enforce these policies consistently, without regard to a videos political viewpoint, the companys VP of Government Affairs & Public Policy Leslie Miller insisted in a blog post. But the task is daunting. Around three-quarters of U.S. adults use YouTube, according to a 2019 Pew survey, and more than 500 hours of video are uploaded to the site every minute. Thousands of popular YouTube personalities live-stream on the site, often mixing politics or misinformation into the rest of their content. The platform has long had a problem with its recommendations algorithm, which experts and critics say pushes users towards more extreme content and rewards problematic videos. In August, YouTube pledged that it would elevate authoritative voices before and during the election for example, it will recommend content from official verified sources in the watch next column and in searches about the election or the candidates. On Election Night, it will give users previews of verified news articles in their search results along with a reminder that developing news can rapidly change, according to Miller. It has previously seen some success with this method during breaking news events. In 2019, the consumption of content from official authoritative news partners, which include CNN, The Guardian and Fox News, grew by 60%, it says. TIKTOK TikTok, the massively popular short-form video app owned by a Chinese tech firm that has been caught up in a recent battle over national security concerns, has also rolled out new policies for its more than 100 million U.S. users. In August, the company announced new measures to combat misinformation, disinformation, and other content that may be designed to disrupt the 2020 election. These include expanded fact-checking partnerships to verify election-related news, and adding an option for users to report election misinformation. TikTok says its working with experts, including the Department of Homeland Security, to guard against influence campaigns by foreign actors. It has also partnered with popular creators to make video series about media literacy and misinformation with names like Question the Source, Fact vs. Opinion and When to Share Vs When to Report. While its the least political of the big social media apps, Tiktok has had its own recent brushes with misinformation. In June, a group of TikTok users took credit for inflating expectations for a massive Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma by encouraging thousands of users to register and then not show up. The Trump campaign, which had touted more than 1 million RSVPs for the rally, did not fill the 19,000 seat capacity at the arena. The company has also focused on blocking synthetic or manipulated content that misleads users by distorting the truth of events in a way that could cause harm. In August, for instance, it removed a fake video that had been manipulated to imply that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was drunk or drugged, which was viewed on the platform more than 40,000 times. Facebook, by contrast, attached a warning label to the video, but allowed the video to stay up, racking up millions of views. PINTEREST Pinterest, the image sharing social platform, similarly started rolling out policies surrounding COVID-19 misinformation earlier this year and then updated them for election. On Sept. 3, it added a civic participation misinformation section to its community guidelines, saying it would remove or limit posts with false or misleading content about how and where to vote, false claims about ballots, threats against voting locations or officials and content apparently intended to delegitimize election results on the basis of false or misleading claims. The company, which banned political advertising in 2018, also said it would no longer show ads to users searching for elections-related terms or the names of candidates. Dear Annie: I just found out tonight that my brothers second-oldest adult son passed away today. My brothers oldest son died three years ago. My brother has been estranged from the family for a long time -- since he was in Vietnam. I have maintained a relationship with him by calling him a few times a year. He never calls me. I am the only sibling out of six who keeps in touch with him. My husband does not think highly of him, nor did he think highly of my nephew who just passed. The reason is that there was not a great meeting, which took place at our wedding. So, when I broke the news to my husband, he said to me, Sorry, but (expletive) your nephew for how he treated me, and (expletive) your brother. I am really hurt. I told my husband that his comments left me feeling hurt and sad. Are my feelings legitimate? -- Hurting Dear Hurting: Yes, your feelings are legitimate. No one has the right to tell you how to feel, and you just found out that your nephew died. That is very sad, and when we are sad, it is nice if our spouse comforts us. Continue to encourage your husband to seek forgiveness in his heart for your nephew and brother. Tell him that it is not for their sake but for yours and his. It doesnt feel good running around with a big bag of gripes that you have with people. If he is unable to respond to your grief, then I would seek counseling. Dear Annie: I am writing in regard to Lonely Later in Life. I am 94 years old. When I retired, I donated my time to the SPCA, retirement homes and many other organizations in the community. I was on many different boards. You can build relationships, as Annie said, by asking people for coffee or a movie. People in retirement homes dont always get visitors, so seeing a smiling face coming to do activities or just to chat with them is much appreciated. I am not sure if you are religious, but my church family has always been there for me in times of need. Churches are great places to build long-lasting friendships. There are many groups to join and ways to help. Reach out to whatever group interests you. You may feel alone, but you arent. There are many friendships out there waiting for you! -- Friendship Is Waiting Dear Friendship Is Waiting: Thank you for your letter. You have found joy, happiness and connection while serving others. Sometimes, when we make other people feel better, we feel better ourselves. Its amazing how that works. Dear Annie: I have learned over many years that children and their spouses may have a great deal of love for others but also may like their space. Im a the more the merrier type, but I realize that everyone doesnt march to that drum. Giving space and patience to adult children who like quiet time is a gift of understanding. And, yes, we cant envy others just because their families are more social. Its quality time, not quantity of time, that counts. -- Accepting Different Needs Dear Acceptance: Thank you for your letter and wisdom. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM The National Peoples Party (NPP) led by Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma is trying to gain ground in the hills of north Bengal, where Gorkhas are in majority, by raising the Gorkhaland issue. The NPP on Thursday opened its first unit in Kalimpong. The partys local functionaries said Sangma will visit the region soon. The development came 20 days after Sangma wrote a letter to Union home minister Amit Shah expressing his support for creation of a separate state for Gorkhas. The Gorkhas too are rightful Indian citizens who deserve to have their own identity and Bas Bhoomi (homeland), he wrote, highlighting the contributions of the community during freedom struggle. Kenza Foning, the north Bengal coordinator of NPP, said, The long term goal of our party is separation of Darjeeling and Kalimpong from West Bengal. The NPPs plan has not gone well with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Binoy Tamang faction). Keshav Raj Pokhrel, GJM (Tamang) spokesperson, said, When P A Sangma was chief minister of Meghalaya in the 1980s many Gorkhas were driven out of the state. It is ironic that Sangmas son is now talking about Gorkhaland while Gorkhas in Meghalaya are still treated as second-class citizens. The Gorkha National Liberation Front and All India Gorkha League have, however, welcomed the NPP. Sangma is the second chief minister to support the Gorkhaland issue. In March 2011, when Pawan Chamling was the chief minister, the Sikkim state assembly adopted a resolution in favour of creation of Gorkhaland. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Gandhinagar, Sep 24 : Minister of energy and petrochemicals Saurabh Patel has challenged the opposition Congress to unveil a package similar to 'Atma Nirbhar Gujarat' announced by the Gujarat government, in the Congress led state governments for the benefit of the people during the corona crisis. "I challenge them to produce such a package from the Congress led governments in other states. I am sure that even collectively they wouldn't be able to match the 14.22 thousand crore package announced by the Gujarat government for the benefit of the people during the corona crisis," said Saurabh Patel on the sidelines of the Gujarat Assembly session on Thursday. The Gujarat government had announced this package, following the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' announcement by the central government, to provide relief to the lockdown and pandemic affected people. Under the package, underprivileged people have been provided essential commodities to the tune of Rs 392 crore, like wheat, rice, sugar, salt and other essentials. Similarly 61 lakh Above Poverty Line (APL) families have been provided essential commodities to the tune of Rs 590 crore while rations have been given to 6 lakh people who didn't have ration card documents, under the 'Anna Bhrahm' scheme. "We have also given relief of around Rs 2300 crore through waiving off and reducing property tax, commercial tax, electricity bill, vehicle tax under the Atma Nirbhar package. Under this, we waived off 100 units charge of households utilising less than 200 units of electricity. We gave relief of Rs 600 crore to 1.44 crore electricity consumers in the state, out of which 1.16 crore consumers availed the benefits," said Saurabh Patel. "We also waived off Rs 144 crore in property tax to 72 lakh households by giving them 10% relief in taxes. We have also helped the farmers," added Patel. "The opposition Congress only criticizes the BJP government through negative politics, which is not good. If they have any positive suggestions, we would surely accept them," added Patel. Dhinesh Kallungal By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The plan of airline companies to take to the skies full scale by the middle of October as part of resuming international travel has come unstuck with Saudi Arabia suspending travel to and from India, Brazil and Argentina. Moreover, Saudi Arabias decision will affect the Keralites severely as it would have a direct bearing on other Gulf countries as well. At present, Kuwait has suspended operation of flights to Kuwait from India in the wake of a rise in Covid cases there. Hardly a week ago, the Dubai civil aviation authorities had suspended the operation of Kerala-based Air India Express flights after two passengers tested positive for the virus upon their arrival there. The passengers were from Jaipur and New Delhi. The Dubai authorities lifted the ban following an explanation submitted by the airline. A senior airline official said, Saudi Arabias decision to suspend the flights from India at a time when the country is planning to resume full-scale international services by October is likely to influence other countries. After the regular international flight services were suspended following the Covid-19 spread, the airline companies have been operating services by establishing exclusive air bubbles with countries like Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Qatar, the Maldives, UAE, the UK and the USA. These were temporary arrangements before starting regular international flights. According to Norka officials, the repatriation flights from Saudi Arabia have ferried 60,150 passengers to Kerala after the Vande Bharat Mission started, whereas 14 lakh Keralites are estimated to be in the Gulf country, the second highest after the UAE which hosts 15 lakh Malayalis. After Kuwait suspended flights from India, the expats in Kuwait who were planning to come home for various purposes postponed their journeys for the fear of losing their jobs in the absence of return flights. Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that Saudi Arabia may reconsider the suspension of repatriation flights to India, although the suspension of flights from India would remain. The low-cost arm of the national carrier has alone operated 1,754 flight services, carrying 2,08,209 passengers from May 7 to August 31. The Norka statistics showed 3.80 lakh Keralites have reached home after the repatriation flights started operating. SPRINGFIELD The number of COVID-19 cases in the city spiked on Wednesday after four weeks with fewer than 10 cases reported daily. Today for the first time in over a month I have a report of over 20 cases. It is more cases than we have been seeing, said Helen Caulton-Harris, the commissioner of health and human services. A total of 24 new cases of COVID-19 infections were reported on Wednesday. In the two previous days there were six and nine cases reported, respectively. On one day, Aug. 26, there were no new cases, she said. The city has not had time to trace the contacts for people who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, so Caulton-Harris said she does not have enough information about how people contracted the disease. I dont know if it is a super-spreader event, she said. Hopefully this is an anomaly and not a consistent increase. Caulton-Harris announced on Monday during Mayor Domenic J. Sarnos weekly coronavirus update that there has been a slight increase in the number of cases after the city reported a record low of 29 cases in the week of Aug. 31 to Sept. 6. The following week the case count increased to 39, and the week of Sept. 14-20 there were 51 new cases reported for Springfield residents. Data released by the state on Wednesday showed Springfield had an average of 4.3 daily cases over the last two weeks, moving it from a low-risk to a higher-risk category. The increase may be because people were getting out more for the Labor Day weekend. There was a similar spike of cases after the July 4 and Memorial Day weekends. Some students have also been returning to college over the past few weeks, which may be contributing to the increase, Caulton-Harris said. In addition, the days are getting shorter and the weather is colder, so people are starting to gather inside more. It is less likely for the coronavirus to spread when people are outdoors where there is more airflow, she said. Residents are reminded to wear masks that cover their mouth and nose any place where it is difficult to keep at least 6 feet apart from anyone else, especially indoors. They are also reminded to frequently wash their hands. Related Content: In addition, Luxottica operates eyecare providers like Pearle Vision, LensCrafters, and EyeMed, as well as eyewear retail outlets such as Sunglass Hut. Last week, consumers reported that the websites for Ray-Ban, EyeMed, Pearle Vision, and Sunglass Hut were down. Several took to social media and shared speculation that the sites were hacked. At the same time, Luxotticas own websites one.luxottica.com and university.luxottica.com were also reported down, displaying messages that the websites were temporarily unavailable and were undergoing maintenance. Italian cybersecurity news portal SecurityOpenLab.it reported earlier this week that Luxotticas offices in Agordo and Sedico, Italy, suffered computer system failure. Employees were sent an SMS message to stay home, as the offices were practically disabled. Several union sources later confirmed with news site Ansa that the employees were sent home due to serious IT problems. A Luxottica employee eventually contacted BleepingComputer and confirmed that the company had been hit by a ransomware attack. According to the employee, the cyber incident occurred on Sunday evening, and it affected the company worldwide. A security professional unattached to Luxottica later said that no data had been stolen during the malware attack, but this information has yet to be independently verified. The malware attack plaguing Luxottica may have exploited a vulnerable Citrix ADX controller device, cybersecurity firm Bad Packets told BleepingComputer. The exploit is a favourite tactic among ransomware threat actors, allowing hackers to access an affected network and its credentials. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) Consumer confidence among Filipinos took a nosedive in the third quarter, bogged down by lower incomes and high unemployment amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the consumer confidence index netted -54.5 percent, showing that more Filipinos saw their family incomes and financial situations worsen as the country remains in crisis. The July 1-14 survey covered 5,563 households, and is the first to be conducted since Luzon went on lockdown since March. The BSP cancelled the second quarter survey due to quarantine restrictions. More Filipinos were pessimistic about financial prospects as they saw lower incomes and a faster pickup in the prices of basic goods. Consumer confidence dropped across all income groups, with three in five poor families reporting negative sentiment. Two-thirds of respondents said they expect economic conditions turn for the worse, while half said they see their family income and financial situation hit hard by the pandemic. READ: Steady rise in COVID-19 cases to hamper quick economic recovery HSBC By location, Metro Manila residents were more upset about their prospects at -57.9 percent. Those from provinces were a little less pessimistic at -53.9 percent, data showed. Fewer households were able to maintain savings during the quarter, which saw more than four million Filipinos without jobs. Only 24.7 percent were able to set aside some money, against 37.8 percent of families who managed to save from January-March. This gloomy outlook is seen to stretch to the last three months of the year, notwithstanding the holiday season. Low consumer confidence translates to fewer people shopping or dining out amid the pandemic. Business outlook bleak More companies also thought times were tough, with business confidence slipping to -5.3 percent from a positive 22.3 percent rating in the first quarter. Businesses are also reeling from the COVID-19 crisis and community quarantine rules, with many establishments shut down during the lockdown period. There's also a drop in orders, sales, and profits, while other business owners worry about "perceived insufficient mitigation measures" on the part of government to fight the virus. Players in the services sector reported the biggest downturn, while those in the construction sectors managed to keep a positive outlook. However, there was a marked decline in capacity utilization as firms limit their operations following state protocols. Many tempered their expansion plans for the year as well. RELATED: How will small businesses survive in this crisis? Businesses are optimistic about the upcoming holiday season, but expect muted economic activity as the impact of the pandemic lingers. BSP Assistant Governor Iluminada Sicat said that while the indices remain negative, there are signs of economc recovery seen in other economic indicators on trade, remittances, and investments. Movement restrictions have also been eased. "Based on these indicators, we've seen the worst in Q2. We're expecting improvements in Q3 (economic performance) probably it will remain to be negative but not as deep as what we have seen in Q2," Sicat said in a press briefing. Better 2021 expected Consumers and companies are counting on better days next year, banking on the invention of a coronavirus vaccine and the sustained reopening of the local economy. Consumer confidence for the year ahead is at a positive 25.5 percent, better than the previous 19.9 percent, as they expect their lives to return to normal with more jobs, higher incomes, and stable prices of goods. Businesses are also optimistic, but tempered compared to the previous survey as they see the ill effects of COVID-19 persisting. President Rodrigo Duterte's economic team believes the Philippines can return to its growth path and see output rise by 6.5-7.5 percent. However, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said growth cannot "rebound significantly" until confidence is restored. READ: Economic team tells IATF to reopen more industries as vaccine not expected until mid-2021 About 75 percent of the economy has reopened, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua earlier said, but pointed out that people are still reluctant to head out due to limited public transport options and the general fear of getting infected. Advertisement London is thought to be on the brink of a localised lockdown but official figures show the outbreak may finally be slowing down, despite hospital admissions for coronavirus having tripled in a fortnight and public health chiefs warning of a 'rising tide' of the virus in the capital. During a behind-closed-doors briefing this week, Kevin Fenton, director of Public Health England in the capital, told London mayor Sadiq Khan and the leaders of all 32 boroughs that all signs indicated the disease was making a rapid resurgence in the city. Ministers are now said to be mulling a decision to place more than 9million people in the city under even tighter restrictions, if the new suite of national social distancing measures announced by the Government this week fail to curb climbing numbers. Infections across the city has more than doubled since August, with the seven-day weekly average number of cases rising from 86 per 100,000 to 262 per 100,000. But official figures show that upticks in cases have ground to a halt across the capital, with only a handful of boroughs now seeing a sustained rise in infections including Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham, two of the three worst-hit parts of the capital. It's true that Covid-19 hospital admissions in the capital have tripled in a fortnight, with the rolling average rising from 11 on September 2 to 33.4 by September 18. But the number of hospitalisations in the city is still a far cry from the 700-plus at the height of the pandemic in spring and only slightly higher than they were the start of July (around 25), when the country was deemed safe to reopen again. For comparison, 13 times as many admissions were being recorded in March (425 on March 22) before the national lockdown was imposed. And the most up-to-date statistics released by Public Health England, which cover the week ending September 18, reveal that just a single borough in the capital Redbridge ranks among the top 40 worst-hit regions of the country. The Government will publish its latest batch of figures on infections tomorrow. However, Professor Fenton argued testing infrastructure had been stripped out of the capital and reallocated to hotspots in the north, meaning many Londoners may have gone undiagnosed. But the latest Department of Health figures show testing in London has actually increased week-on-week. There were 85,000 tests done across the capital in the week up to September 16, up from 75,000 the previous seven days. Even the capital's hotspots are enjoying more access to swabs - Barking carried out 2,669 tests in the week ending September 16, 25 per cent more than the week before, when 2,036 swabs were done. In Redbridge, 3,370 residents were checked for the virus in the latest reporting period, compared to 3,046 the week prior, a rise of nearly 10 per cent. London is thought to be on the brink of a localised lockdown after public health chiefs warned of a 'rising tide' of the virus in the capital. More than 500 people are being diagnosed in London every day, more than double the number in August Covid-19 hospital admissions in the capital have tripled in a fortnight, with the seven-day average rising from 11 on September 2 to 33.4 by September 18. But the number of hospitalisations in the city is still a far cry from the 700-plus at the height of the pandemic in spring and only slightly higher than they were the start of July (around 25), when the country was deemed safe to reopen again Public Health England data shows only a handful of London's 32 boroughs are now seeing a sustained rise in infections - including Redbridge, Hounslow, Barking and Dagenham and Enfield Redbridge, in east London, is suffering the highest number of infections of anywhere in the capital, with a weekly case rate of 34.2 per 100,000 people, according to PHE data up to September 18. The borough of 300,000 people currently has just the 40th highest infection rate in the UK but it has suffered a sustained increase in diagnoses of Covid-19 over the past month and a half. Figures show infections have tripled in Redbridge since September 4, when the rate was 11.2 per 100,000 per week, and have risen by tenfold since the start of August (3.3). And Redbridge's actual number of new infections being diagnosed each day figures which are provided by the Department of Health is one of the only borough's to still be on the up. It went from a rolling seven-day average of three cases at the end of August to almost 23 at the end of last week. The Department of Health data, published on the government's coronavirus dashboard, takes into account daily cases by specimen date, meaning they lag behind by a few days because it can take upwards of 72 hours to get a result back. The west London borough of Hounslow has been the second worst-hit region in the capital, with a weekly case rate of 32.5 per 100,000 in the week ending September 18. Like Redbridge, Hounslow has seen cases triple in the past three weeks after rising from 5.9 new infections per 100,000 people at the start of August. But Department of Health data shows cases in Hounslow, home to 290,000 people, have started to fall. Around 16 actual cases were being diagnosed each day on September 7, up from four at the end of August. But this dropped to below nine on the most recent full-day of data, September 16. Hounslow has one of the largest South Asian populations in the country - about 20 per cent, compared to the 2 per cent national average - who have been disproportionately affected the virus throughout the crisis. Figures show infections have tripled in Redbridge since September 4, when the rate was 11.2 per 100,000 per week, and have risen by tenfold since the start of August (3.3) The east London borough of Barking and Dagenham is suffering 29.3 infections per 100,000, having more than doubled since the start of the month, when the case rate was 12.3 per 100,000, and quadrupling since August 1 (5.9 per 100,000) The west London borough of Hounslow has been the second worst-hit region in the capital, with a weekly case rate of 32.5 per 100,000 in the week ending September 18 Coronavirus infection rates in 20 London boroughs are higher than areas of England already hit by restrictions Coronavirus infection rates in 20 London boroughs are higher than areas of England already hit by restrictions, data shows. Public Health England's most recent watchlist shows the authority in England with the lowest case rate considered an 'area of intervention' - the highest degree of concern - is Ribble Valley, with 18.3 cases per 100,000. But Kensington and Chelsea, Enfield and Southwark, among others, have infection rates higher than that. Redbridge (34.2), Hounslow (32.5) and Barking and Dagenham (29.3) are the three worst-hit parts of the capital. And the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates 0.2 per cent of London's population - 18,000 people - are currently carrying the coronavirus, which is second only to the North West. For comparison, the rate in the North East is just 0.16 per cent. Public Health England figures show Redbridge, a borough in the east of the city, has the highest Covid-19 infection rate at 34.2 and cases have risen in the authority for four weeks in a row. For comparison, the highest in England is 175.2 in Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is followed by Hounslow (32.5) and Barking and Dagenham (29.3) - boroughs on two opposite sides of the city, suggesting spread is not just limited to one part of the capital. If they had been given 'area of intervention' status, the Government would support the implementation of a 'detailed action plan' to stop cases spreading. Advertisement The weekly infection rates in both boroughs are still significantly lower than the UK average, which is about 47 per 100,000. Although this figure is being skewed upwards due to outbreaks in the likes of Bolton, Blackburn and Oldham. The east London borough of Barking and Dagenham is suffering 29.3 infections per 100,000, having more than doubled since the start of the month, when the case rate was 12.3 per 100,000, and quadrupling since August 1 (5.9 per 100,000). Department of Health figures suggest its rolling seven-day average number of daily infections is also still on the up. The borough, home to around 210,000 people, recorded an average of four cases a day at the end of August. This jumped to around nine during the start of September before levelling off. But figures for the past week, which are not yet deemed to be accurate because of the three-day lag it takes for coronavirus test samples to be analysed, suggest it may yet be hit by another spike. Rounding out the top 10 worst-hit boroughs in London for infection rates are Enfield (27.3), Newham (27), Ealing (26.9), Hackney (25.7), Tower Hamlets (25.5), Hammersmith and Fulham (24.8), Harrow (24.4) and Havering (24.4), all of which were up on the week before except Newham. MailOnline analysis this week revealed that 20 boroughs in total across London have infection rates higher than areas of England already hit by restrictions, including Kensington and Chelsea (23.7), Wandsworth (23), Brent 22.7. Public Health England's most recent watchlist shows the authority in England with the lowest case rate considered an 'area of intervention' the highest degree of concern is Ribble Valley, with 18.3 cases per 100,000. Meanwhile, several boroughs in the capital have managed to keep virus cases suppressed since August, despite the upwards trend seen across the nation. The south London borough of Sutton ranks among the 25 least affected areas in England, with a current weekly case rate of 9.3 per 100,000, according to PHE data up to September 18. This actually fell from the previous week (10.3) and has just by just 45 per cent from the start of August (6.4). Bromley (11.8), Bexley (12.1), Merton (13.6), Croydon (14) and Kingston upon Thames (14.3) have the five lowest weekly infection rates after Sutton. All of those boroughs, excluding Merton, do not have an underground station, which may partly explain the low number of cases. British scientists have previously linked busy tube stations to worse flu outbreaks. Professor Fenton has warned cases could be being massively under-reported due to Londoners struggling to get access to tests. He said that increased hospital admissions and a rising number of calls to 111 were better indicators that London was in the midst of an outbreak as serious as in the northeast. Professor Fenton revealed that about that about a fifth of testing capacity had been stripped from the capital and reallocated to hotspots in the north this month. In the middle of August there were about 90,000 tests being done every week in London, but there were just 65,000 carried out last week, according to Professor Fenton. Latest Department of Health figures - which are a week behind - show that 85,000 tests were done in the week ending September 16. Testing bosses say they've had to prioritise resources at a time when the country is struggling to ramp up capacity fast enough to deal with the looming second wave. Boris Johnson has pledged for the UK to be able to process 500,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of next month, more than double the current 242,000 capacity. But industry insiders say this target could be missed because of delays in machines and chemicals. Professor Fenton told The Times: 'We are seeing a rising tide of coronavirus cases in London across a broad range of ages. This is no longer limited to young people in their twenties.' He said that 'whilst the number of cases by borough varies, the general trend across the city is one of steadily increasing transmission and if that continues then the situation may escalate'. Residents of Kulungungu in Pusiga District of the Upper East Region are lamenting over the encroachment of land on which the first president Dr Kwame Nkrumah was nearly killed with a bomb. A visit by the ModernGhana News team reveals that private developers have taken over almost half of the 5-acre land allocated for the redevelopment of Kwame Nkrumah's statue. According to the Adamu Dugumse Dubiyale, an African personality said, the land was provided by the chiefs and people of the area to build an ultra-modern library and day nursery for kindergarten pupils but private developers have taken over the land due to government inability to develop it. Mr Adamu Dugumse narrates that, on August 1, 1962, the President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah stopped at Kulungugu, in the then Bawku District on his way back from an official meeting with President Maurice Yameogo of the Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) at Tenkudugo. The visit was to discuss and further plans to eliminate customs barriers between the two countries, a small step in the larger Pan-African unity scheme. Mr Adamu Dubiyale further added that, when Dr Kwame Nkrumah stopped over at Kulungungu, there was a durbar and so, he went and exchanged greetings with the chiefs and a flower was presented to him but he didn't touch the flower and he (Amadu) thinks the noise that emanated from the flower he (Nkrumah) must have also heard it. According to him, Nkrumah immediately after turning back the bomb exploded and hit his back. Many people lost their lives, others injured in the process and about three people are still alive. He said after the incident, an appealed for funds were made and the CDR's couldn't disburse which delayed the redevelopment of the statue of Dr Kwame Nkrumah from that time. He however called on government to make good use of the land by building the memorial library in honour of Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Assembly man for Kulungungu, Faoruk Wusupho, said the redevelopment of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah statue as tourist centre will generate income for the government as well as provide jobs for youth in the area. He however called on government to as a matter urgency develop the land or risk losing it to private developers. Speaking on behalf of the youth, Pouri Abdul-Farouk Braimah, appealed to government and other developmental partners to engage the youth in the area by redeveloping the statue of the former president Kwame Nkrumah. He added that the redevelopment of the statue of Dr Kwame Nkrumah will bring people from all over the world to visit the bombing place of the first President. The site, which has great tourism potentials and could rake in great fortunes for the people of the Region, is neglected without any proper attention from the Ministry of Tourism. A visit by ModernGhana News teams to the site revealed that the statue of the first President was faceless, with visible cracks on it begging to collapse. 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 CHANGE: By the residents of Watts, For the residents of Watts In their Sentinel op-ed last month, Tim Watkins and Mark Ravis made an argument that in the upcoming round of redistricting Watts should be moved from the 15th Council District, which I represent, to the 9th Council District. They compared Watts to San Pedro, one of the five communities in the 15th Council District and argued that Watts is overshadowed by San Pedro. This comparison left out the other three communities I represent Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, and Wilmington which share many commonalities with Watts and like Watts have faced historic inequity which I have worked hard to rectify. In the last nine years that I have represented Watts, the neighborhood has accomplished an unprecedented amount of progress to overcome that historic disinvestment. ADVERTISEMENT Three years ago we launched the redevelopment of Jordan Downs Housing Development, doubling the amount of housing from 700 to 1,400 units without displacing any of the current residents while simultaneously using a local hire program for the buildout of all of the new units! The redevelopment created 115,000 square feet of new retail, which includes a new Nike flagship store and a Starbucks training center, with both stores participating in local hire programs. We extended Century Boulevard through the development to connect Watts to the surrounding cities. The redevelopment is in the process of adding park space and a 50,000 square foot community center. We invested $11 million dollars to renovate and build new recreation spaces, including the reconstruction of the 109th street pool, and what will be the first skatepark in Watts. Over 100 Watts residents experiencing homelessness are now living in the Watts A Bridge Home, getting job training and being put on a path to permanent housing. I have worked diligently with the Watts Gang Taskforce to prove and expand the effectiveness of the Community Safety Partnership a model that has proven to reduce crime and establish great relationships and harmony between the LAPD and the community. ADVERTISEMENT The CSP program recently underwent a rigorous evaluation by the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. The results were clear: though not perfect, the CSP program has reduced crime and made residents feel safer. Over the six-year evaluation period, the CSP program resulted in seven fewer homicides, 93 fewer aggravated assaults and 122 fewer robberies than would otherwise have been expected, the murder clearance rate went from less than 50% to 81%, and officer-involved shootings decreased form an average of 9 a year to 1. But I think the biggest indicator of the change coming to Watts was when in 2018, Watts won the $35 million Transformative Climate Communities grant from the State after failing in two previous attempts. After each failed attempt, the community did not give up and came back stronger. Success was achieved because the organizations in Watts came together to create Watts Rising a coalition of organizations in the community. Those organizations include; Childrens Institute, Partnership for LA Schools, Boys & Girls Club Metro LA, College Track, Operation Progress, Kaiser Permanente, Charles Drew U, Bridge Housing Corp., The Michaels Group, Build Plus, WLCAC, Food, Policy Council, Tree People, Rebuild, Neighborhood LA, Macedonia CDC, Think Watts, and Eastside Riders Bicycle Club. These organizations came together to make change by the residents of Watts, for the residents of Watts. These organizations are mostly responsible for accelerating the training of a new generation of Black and Latinx leaders in Watts who are producing real results for the first time in decades. The TCC award catapulted Watts to win the coveted federal $25 million Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) grant this year. The CNI grant funding will provide leveraged investment to create commercial retail space, increase housing opportunities in Watts, develop new community and park space, create jobs, and improve health and economic outcomes for households in the neighborhood. The investment in the Jordan Downs redevelopment coupled with these grants equals over $1 billion in public and private investment for Watts! That is more than $25,000 of investment per community member. The progress in Watts doesnt have to do with what council district Watts is in, rather the secret to Watts recent success is that the change is being driven by the community participation towards change and improvement. Change ultimately does not come at the hands of a single person, it comes from within. The change coming to the Watts community is no longer in first or second gear. We are in third gear and we are ready for FULL. SPEED. AHEAD! Transformation is coming for Watts, from within Watts and I wouldnt have it any other way. Councilmember Joe Buscaino was elected in 2012 to the LA City Council and represents the 15th Council District which includes Watts, Wilmington, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, and San Pedro. He is also currently serving as the president of National League of Cities, an organization that is a resource and advocate for American cities and its leaders. Tropical Depression Beta seemingly spared most of Southeast Texas from previously-predicted torrents of rain and flash flooding, but some areas in the storms path were not unaffected. As reports in Houston of swollen river banks and flooded residential streets made waves Tuesday afternoon, residents east of Harris County prepared for a similar fate. Instead, Beta continued its unpredictable pattern and started breaking apart, shifting its rain bands around its unstable center of rotation. Seth Warthen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Lake Charles, said Beta lacked the rain that has been seen in previous storms like Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storm Imelda. But what rain it did carry was split up and pushed away from the Beaumont area as its center destabilized. The rain has been pushed off the northeast center to the other side toward Houston, which caused the havoc there, Warthen said. We saw that kind of spare things in the Golden Triangle. Dry air fueled by massive forest fires in the western U.S. and the storms movement helped prevent rain bands from setting up in a way that might have caused torrential downpours over the region. The northeastern push did mean rain was dumped in parts of Jasper and Newton counties, which will eventually have to drain into the Gulf of Mexico. From Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, Jasper saw a little more than 2 inches of rain at the Jasper County-Bell Field Airport rain gauge. More than half an inch fell in just under an hour around 3 a.m. Wednesday. The rainfall slightly swelled the Sabine River in Kirbyville, but the body of water wasnt expected to reach minor flood stage levels until Saturday as the storms rainfall makes its way south. Billy Ted Smith, emergency management coordinator for Jasper, Newtown and Sabine counties, said there were chances of flooding around bodies of water and traditional trouble spots; but there werent any worries as of Wednesday afternoon about high levels of property damage. Further southeast of the pines, some were taking advantage of Betas mercurial path. Patti Castille found her first sand dollar Wednesday as she searched for items on Bolivar Peninsula that washed up in the wake of high tides and churning Gulf waters. She was among a handful of beachcombers dotting the shoreline along Texas 87. Castille has been a 10-year resident of the peninsula and said her family stayed put this week as Beta made its way up the coast. "The weather wasn't bad enough to leave," she said. We never lost electricity at all." Texas 87 was closed until mid-morning Wednesday before road crews washed away dune and debris from the highway. Roadways on the bay side of the peninsula, however, remained flooded throughout the day, as a steady north wind kept the bay water inland. Photojournalist Kim Brent contributed to this article. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism Related video above: New push to test COVID-19 shots in diverse groups According to National Institutes of Health, communities of color have been particularly affected by the coronavirus, and also historically underrepresented in clinical research so it is essential that they be included in coronavirus research studies. Sister station WBAL-TV spoke with a woman who knows the importance of clinical trial participation. For years people of color have not participated in clinical trials because of a distrust of the medical system. Kim Bryant says it's time to let that go. In June, Bryant learned she had an aggressive form of breast cancer. She was told she was eligible for clinical trials. My knee-jerk reaction was, Yeah, it would be kind of a guinea pig situation, Bryant said. After talking with a research nurse who promised to hold her hand through it, she agreed. So far, Bryants been in one trial and starts another soon. Historically, there's been a distrust with clinical trials that dates back to the Tuskegee Experiment. That experiment by the federal government and Tuskegee Institute studied the progression of untreated syphilis in Black men. It was conducted without their informed consent and the men did not receive proper treatment for their illness. People of color have an innate sense of distrust since the beginning of life. You're told that this is different from that and these people look out for these people more than they your own, Bryant said. Even though Bryant's trial is for breast cancer, she wants to encourage people to participate in the coronavirus vaccine trials. Somebody has to take that first step, somebody has to get on the curve to level the curve, she said. Bryant says people need to ask questions, read and once you develop a trust with the person in charge of the trial, stay in touch with them. She says the medical community also needs to step up to be more transparent and spread the wealth. Traditionally, you can see when certain areas get more than the other more attention, more financing, more results, she said. Bryant says it's going to take a leap of faith. Just like she's in the fight of her life, the country is in a fight to find a coronavirus vaccine. It is important to be seen and be heard and the way to do that is to participate, Bryant said. dr.aviansh BHPian Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: delhi Posts: 108 Thanked: 888 Times Re: 13-year old Innova completes 10 lakh kilometres Checked the details on RTO website, its still owned by its first owner since July07. We all have previously come across Qualis doing 5-6 Lac kms. Though it was an NA, but this modern Turbo Diesel just takes the cake away. Toyota should make this particular vehicles service history public, to justify the periodic maintenance by ASCs, provided the owner didnt go to his FNG for the same. Apart from the engine, there are so many running parts which must have been changed. Id like to have a look if the Air Con assembly survived or if Drive shafts were replaced. Power Steering (Hydraulic in this model?) too is susceptible to give up during these years. With the new Ertiga and the Kia Carnival coming in, Toyota should seize the opportunity of advertising this on a massive scale without giving a second thought. Kudos to you Toyota, youve earned it. Thats really impressive! I was expecting a Yellow Licence Plate though.Checked the details on RTO website, its still owned by its first owner since July07.We all have previously come across Qualis doing 5-6 Lac kms. Though it was an NA, but this modern Turbo Diesel just takes the cake away.Toyota should make this particular vehicles service history public, to justify the periodic maintenance by ASCs, provided the owner didnt go to his FNG for the same.Apart from the engine, there are so many running parts which must have been changed. Id like to have a look if the Air Con assembly survived or if Drive shafts were replaced. Power Steering (Hydraulic in this model?) too is susceptible to give up during these years.With the new Ertiga and the Kia Carnival coming in, Toyota should seize the opportunity of advertising this on a massive scale without giving a second thought.Kudos to you Toyota, youve earned it. Last edited by dr.aviansh : 23rd September 2020 at 15:22 . Washington, Sep 24 (UNI) US envoy to UN said another Arab country to sign peace deal with Israel Soon. Kelly Craft said said in an interview with Al Arabiya news that Our plan is to bring more countries, which we will have more being announced very soon'. 'One country will sign in the next day or two. I know others are going to be following, Craft adds. she has been known for framed the normalization effort, following Israels deals with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed earlier this month, as a counter to the Iranian regime. Obviously, we would welcome for Saudi Arabia to be next. But whats important is that we focus on the agreement and we do not allow Iran to exploit the goodwill of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, or Israel, Craft said. We want to bring everyone on board in hopes that this will allow the Iranian citizens to see that people really want peace in the Middle East, and they are part of this peace, she said. Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that up to nine countries could join the agreements between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain on the normalization of relations. UNI XC PR 0940 New Delhi, Sep 25 : China is insisting that India vacates strategic heights on the south bank of Pangong Lake ahead of talks on disengagement on the LAC, top Indian Army sources said. During the Corps Commander-level talks, China told India that will not discuss disengagement in eastern Ladakh, where the build-up by both sides has triggered a war- like situation over the last four months, till the time India vacates the strategic positions. Chinese People's Liberation Army troops are adamant on resolving the situation first on the south bank where the Indian troops are in position of strength tactically, but India wants a roadmap for de-escalation all along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh to be drawn out. India stated, during the talks, that all friction areas, including Depsang, should be discussed for disengagement all along the LAC. "Why should discussions be restricted to one or two places when there is a massive build-up all across the LAC," a top Indian Army officer said. India has occupied critical mountain heights on the south bank of the Pangong Lake, including Rechin La, Rezang La, and Mukpari that were unmanned till now. This step, along with some others peaks it holds, allows India to dominate the Spangur Gap under Chinese control and also the Moldo garrison on the Chinese side. This has irked the PLA which has made multiple attempts to dislodge Indian troops, leading to instances of warning gunshots being fired. India had changed the rules of engagement after the Galwan Valley clash of June 15 where 20 Indian soldiers and unknown number of Chinese soldiers were killed. Chinese had attacked Indian troops with medieval barbaric weapons like iron-studded clubs. After that, the Indian Army had empowered its commanders on the ground to take a decision whether to use firearms if their troops face a life-threatening situation and this has been communicated to China as well, sources said. The Indian Army has also put barbed wire obstacles near the heights under its control at the LAC, signalling to the Chinese not to enter its territory. Three days ago, the Indian and Chinese sides, in a joint statement, after the 14-hour-long diplomatic-military talks in Moldo said that both have agreed to implement the consensus reached by their leaders over the border issue. On September 21, senior Indian and Chinese commanders held the 6th round of Military Commander-Level Meeting. "The two sides had candid and in-depth exchanges of views on stabilising the situation along the LAC in the India-China border areas," Indian Army had stated. "They agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen communication on the ground, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgements, stop sending more troops to the front line, 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 the Military Commander-Level Meeting as soon as possible, take practical measures to properly solve problems on the ground, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area. It was for the first time that the Indian delegation had two Lt Generals, two Major Generals and a Joint Secretary from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Headed by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, the Indian delegation also had Lt Gen P.G.K. Menon from the Army headquarters in Delhi. Menon will eventually take over Commander of the 14 Corps in November. Joint Secretary, East Asia, Navin Srivastava was there to ensure that deliberation with China takes place on an agreed five-point roadmap, including quick disengagement of troops, between both the countries. The countries reached he five-point roadmap during the talks between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow on September 10. India and China are engaged in a four-month-long standoff at the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. Despite several levels of dialogue, there has not been any breakthrough and the deadlock continues. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text 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. print version The fires are burning. The climate should not be some kind of side issue that only comes up in the context of some other subject, if at all, said Jeff Cohen, a former cable-TV pundit and co-founder of RootsAction Education Fund, which has gathered thousands of signatures on a petition to the moderators of the three presidential and one vice presidential debates. (Cohen also founded the media-watch group FAIR, for Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting.) 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. The development of the Cybersecurity Strategy began after the approval of the National Security Strategy of Ukraine. Specialists of Ukraine's National Cybersecurity Coordination Center (NCCC) under the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) have started developing the country's cybersecurity strategy. Read alsoCyberpolice nab Odesa man selling personal data from banking databasesIn particular, NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said an ad hoc group had been formed under the NCCC, which included representatives of key state agencies that are engaged in cybersecurity. They have already begun submitting their proposals to the NCCC, as reported by the NSDC's press service. "The strategy will determine priorities of Ukraine's national interests in the field of cybersecurity, as well as main approaches to and directions in the formation of cyber defense issues," Danilov said. He added the best international practices were taken into account when preparing the strategy. It will also involve the private sector and the public who specialize in cybersecurity issues. The development of the Cybersecurity Strategy began after the approval of the National Security Strategy of Ukraine. Background Two years ago, Mark Judge was nearly crushed when the tumbril carrying high school pal Brett Kavanaugh to his intended execution ran him over. I caught up with Mark this week, and I am happy to report he has recovered from his unhappy stint as Democratic roadkill. Over the years, I have gotten to meet any number of other truth-tellers crushed by a media that Judge calls "cancerous with dishonor." I tell many of their stories in my new book, Unmasking Obama. An excellent writer, Mark Judge tells his own story and does so eloquently. Judge is the first to admit he was a troubled young man. In 1997, as a form of atonement, he wrote an only slightly fictionalized book titled Wasted: Tales of a Gen X Drunk. He could never have guessed that more than twenty years later, Democrats would use the book in a clumsy but nearly successful plot to derail Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination. The mechanics of the plot were obvious to anyone paying attention. On July 6, 2018, the formal launch date, Christine Blasey Ford contacted the Washington Post tip line with this message: "Potential Supreme Court nominee with assistance from his friend assaulted me in mid 1980s in Maryland. Have therapy records talking about it." On July 9, Trump nominated Kavanaugh. On September 16, the Post's Emma Brown broke the attempted rape story: "Ford said that one summer in the early 1980s, Kavanaugh and a friend both stumbling drunk, Ford alleges corralled her into a bedroom during a gathering of teenagers at a house in Montgomery County." The "friend" was Mark Judge. The story shook the nation. Once outed, Judge braced for the media assault. "I knew that they were not going to act with honor," he writes, and they more than lived up to his expectations. Sometime before the Post article, Ford and her allies had apparently gotten hold of Wasted. The book provided the detail needed to shift the alleged assault from "mid-1980s" to the "early 1980s," a major discrepancy the Post chose not to notice, just one of many to come. In that same article, Brown referenced the therapy records that Ford shared with the Post. The notes speak of "four" boys in on the attack not just Kavanaugh and Judge all of whom went on to become "highly respected and high-ranking members of society in Washington." Although Judge turned his life around, no one could accuse him of becoming a "highly respected and high-ranking" member of Washington society. Brown made no mention of that discrepancy. Brown did question Ford about the number of attackers but took Ford at her word that the therapist had made an "error" by saying there were four. At the time, Judge found himself caught in the middle of this media maelstrom. In an email Brown sent to Judge before the bombshell article was published, she unwittingly revealed that Ford had told her of a girlfriend named "Leland" who was also at the party. In her article, however, Brown made no mention of Leland Ingham Keyser. The reason why is not hard to guess: Keyser would have already told Brown she had no memory of any such party and denied even knowing Kavanaugh. Better to suppress that bit of buzzkill. Judge had no memory of the event, either, and, despite media accounts to the contrary, was not shy about saying so. "People have said that during the Kavanaugh war I avoided the press," he writes. "That's not true. I talked at length to the New York Times, telling them the truth." As with Keyser, the media simply did not want to hear what Judge had to say. Brown failed to question Ford about a more obvious discrepancy. The therapy records, reported Brown, "show Ford described a 'rape attempt' in her late teens." During her Senate testimony on September 27, Ford insisted she was 15 at the time of the attack, which she specifically placed it in 1982. This is where Wasted comes into play. Early in her questioning by attorney Rachel Mitchell, Ford said, "I did see Mark Judge once at the Potomac Village Safeway after the time of the attack. And it would be helpful with anyone's resources if to figure out when he worked there." Ford was just playing dumb. She and her allies knew when Judge worked at Safeway. Judge says as much in his book. "It was the summer before senior year," he writes. That was the summer of 1982, when Ford was 15. Later, Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin asked Ford, "Would you please describe that encounter at the Safeway with Mark Judge and what led you to believe he was uncomfortable?" Ford answered Durbin's question with a suspicious amount of detail. She told of how she went with her mother to "the Potomac Village Safeway ... on the corner of Falls and River Road," where she saw Judge "arranging the shopping carts." This was another item pilfered from Wasted. Judge writes that his job was to manage the "grocery baskets" that people left in front of the store. According to Ford, Judge "looked a little bit ill." Again, it was Judge himself who provided the necessary detail. "Invariably I would be hungover or still drunk when I got to work at seven in the morning," he writes in Wasted, "and I spent most of the first hour just trying to hold myself together." If the Senate Democrats had the book Sen. Leahy read a quote directly from it how could Ford and her allies not have read it? Wasted provided them all the details they needed to specify a timeframe and set Kavanaugh up as Judge's partner in drunken crime. One gaping hole in Ford's Senate testimony was her failure to recall how she got home from a distant suburban neighborhood in the era before cell phones. "I do not remember," she told Mitchell, "other than I did not drive home." In their embarrassing book, The Education of Brett Kavanaugh, New York Times reporters Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly casually dismiss this memory lapse. "[Ford] suspects that she grabbed [Keyser] who probably drove her home," they write. "The details of that hasty departure are no longer clear." They are not clear at all. Keyser denied that the party ever occurred, let alone the drive home. Ford knew she did not drive home because in the summer of 1982, the summer Judge worked at Safeway, she was too young. "I did not drive home from that party or to that party, and once I did have my driver's license, I liked to drive myself," she added later. As a "late teen" in the "mid-1980s" Ford would have driven herself home after being assaulted by "four boys," all of whom were to become "highly respected" members of Washington society. The fact that those boys obviously did not include Judge or Kavanaugh was of no consequence to the reporter who broke the story. Judge knows why. "Brown never needed for a moment to worry about her job," he writes. "Nor did she express any shame. In journalism's current culture of dishonor, nobody ever has to." That culture has only grown more cancerous. The next Supreme Court nominee can expect the worst. Jack Cashill's new book, Unmasking Obama, is now widely available. To learn more, see www.Cashill.com. 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. 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. Read more about: New Delhi: Extending Republic Day greetings to everyone, the Delhi Police had a word of praise for its personnel for undertaking a prestigious security arrangement successfully. The Delhi Police on Thursday in a message posted on Twitter after 10 PM congratulated its personnel tagging the handles of Delhi Traffic Police and Office of the Home Minister of India. Delhi Police successfully undertook the most important & prestigious security arrangement of the year. Wishing again a very happy #RepublicDay (sic), the tweet read. In view of intelligence inputs warning of a terror attack, unprecedented security measures were put in place across the country for Republic Day celebrations where Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the chief guest. ALSO READ | Republic Day Parade: NSG commandos, Tejas, Dhanush steal show in maiden appearance The national capital was brought under an unprecedented ground-to-air security cover with thousands of armed personnel keeping a tight vigil for the 68th Republic Day celebrations. As many as 15,000 Delhi Police personnel, including officials from Special Branch, Security wings of Delhi Police were involved in manning the area. Almost 60,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel were involved in guarding the area around Central Delhi that had been turned into a virtual fortress. A mother-of-three has admitted to causing a fatal car crash which killed her seven-year-old son and her friend when she was drunk and high on drugs. Andrea Groening only had her provisional licence for about six weeks when she was involved in a horror crash at Wishart in the Northern Territory. Son Mehali Anastasios Pastrikos, seven, and friend Wade Williams, 21, were killed when she ran a red light and hit another car on May 22 last year. Her two other children now face growing up without a mother as she stares down serious jail time. Andrea Groening only had her provisional licence for about six weeks when she had a horror crash at Wishart in the Northern Territory which killed her seven-year-old son Mehali Anastasios Pastrikos (pictured together) The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death over the double fatality at the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Thursday. She also admitted to seriously wounding the 42-year-old driver of the other car, after she smashed into him at 112km/hour. Groening was taken into custody after the guilty plea and will remain behind bars until sentencing in October. Her Barrister Nicola McCarron begged the court to consider home detention so the 25-year-old could continue to care for her other two daughters, reported Nine News. The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death over the double fatality at the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Thursday The car was a mangled wreck after it ran a red light and hit another car at around 112km/hour at Wishart in the Northern Territory Her son Mehali Anastasios Pastrikos, seven, (left) and close friend Wade Williams, 21, (right) were killed when Groening ran a red light and hit another car on May 22 last year 'Ms Groening acknowledges that a custodial term will be imposed. She does however remain very fearful of her children and the affect that her incarceration, which she has to be away from them, will have on them,' Ms McCarron said. 'She is scared that her separation will impact on her attachment and their social development.' Her barrister told the court her client thinks about her son every day and finds it difficult to live with herself since the crash. But Crown Prosecutor Stephen Geary told the court the crime was too serious not to impose a prison sentence, reported the NT News. He said while it was its own punishment to lose a child her behaviour was inexcusable. 'There's just absolutely no excuse for driving in this way on that particular night,' Prosecutor Stephen Geary said. Groening was taken into custody after her court appearance at the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Thursday 'It would be manifestly inadequate if there was a fully suspended sentence regarding this matter, it's just too serious.' The court heard Groening didn't remember smoking cannabis the night of the crash but admitted she had been self medicating to help her relax. Police facts revealed her blood alcohol content was around 0.194 during the time of the crash with a cannabis concentration of at least 4.6 per cent. The mother-of-three still has no memory about why she was behind the wheel with her young son in the car at midnight on a school night. Meanwhile, the family of the dead child revealed their grief in victim impact statements tendered in court. The child's father, grandparents, aunts and uncles are still coming to terms with the loss of the little boy. They say no prison sentence will be enough to remove the pain of losing Mehali. The seven-year-old was laid to rest at a ceremony at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in June last year, where his father, Anastasios Pastrikos, choked back tears as he placed his eldest son's body in the back of the vehicle. 'Mehali was a beautiful cheeky boy,' Mr Pastrikos' best friend, Luke Ruxton said. 'Even if you'd only met him once, met him twice, if you met him every single day of your life that would be enough for you to never forget. 'He never, ever had a frown on his face he was a bright, bubbly, cheeky little boy, he literally walked into every room and lit it up.' Joe Biden was at a loss for words Wednesday night when he was asked how he felt about Donald Trump refusing to vow to leave office peacefully if he lost the election in November. 'What country are we in?' the former vice president queried to reporters. 'I'm being facetious,' he clarified. 'I said, what country are we in? Look, he says the most irrational things. I don't know what to say.' President Trump was asked Wednesday during a press conference at the White House if he would peacefully transfer power after the November election. He declined to make such a commitment. 'Well, we'll 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. Independent Senator Angus King weighed in on the comments Thursday morning, claiming they are 'incredibly dangerous' and an 'invitation to violence.' 'Peaceful transfer of power is really at the essence of who we are as a country,' King told CNN's 'New Day.' Joe Biden didn't know what to say after Donald Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses to presidential election in November 'What country are we in? Look, he says the most irrational things. I don't know what to say,' Biden said to reporters 'Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful there won't be a transfer frankly, there'll be a continuation,' President Donald Trump said, in a likely reference to mail-in ballots 'For him to say what he did last night is 'chilling' is too mild a word,' he continued. 'Apparently holding onto power is the only thing [on Trump's mind].' King admitted that on Election Night there will not be a final count due to mass mail-in voting measures implemented to accommodate those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. 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. '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, we'll 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. I've 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. 'Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful there won't be a transfer frankly, there'll be a continuation,' Trump said. 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. 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 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 14:50:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Parks Australia has asked Google to remove images of Uluru that allow users to virtually climb the sacred indigenous site. Parks Australia in 2019 banned visitors from climbing Uluru out of respect for its cultural significance to the traditional owners of the land, the Anangu people. It has now gone one step further by asking Google Maps to remove 360-degree images of the summit of the rock, which allowed users to take a virtual walking tour of the site and defy the visitors' ban. A spokesperson for Parks Australia told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) recently that it had "alerted Google Australia to the user-generated images from the Uluru summit that have been posted on their mapping platform." They had "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." Google Australia said it had received the request and was working to remove the images. "We understand Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is deeply sacred to the Anangu people," a spokesperson told the ABC. "As soon as Parks Australia raised their concerns about this user contribution, we removed the imagery." The decision to close the Uluru climb in 2019 came after years of calls to do so from indigenous Australians. Tjiangu Thomas, a local Anangu ranger, said at the time of the closure that it was a landmark moment for indigenous Australians. "It's rather emotional, having elders who picked up this long journey before I was born, to close the climb, and now they are no longer here but we are carrying on their legacy," he said. Enditem By Express News Service PATNA: A minor girl, sexually exploited on the pretext of marriage by a youth, delivered a baby outside the office Kishanganj SP where she went to seek justice, on Tuesday evening. She was lured by a youth namely Munna Kumar of her neighbouring village under Pahadkatta police station about 10 months ago while grazing cattle. The victim, who fell in love with the accused, was sexually exploited for months. The youth refused to marry her When she became pregnant. Later, the victim disclosed the matter to her family. But, when her father reached the accused's house and narrated the incident, he was allegedly beaten up. Confirming the incident, Kishanganj SP Kumar Ashish said that the family of the victim tried to get justice first from the village panchayat (through social initiative) which was held about five times over the matter. The victims family initially did not approach the police. They tried getting the matter solved at the social level as the matter pertained to the dignity of a woman. When the victims family failed to get justice for nine months, she along with her family were on way to my office. She delivered a newborn in the office corridor on Tuesday, Ashish said. When informed, Ashish called an ambulance and assigned a woman SHO to take the victim to nearby Sadar Hospital. He also deployed two women cops to safeguard her at the hospital. The SP said that an SIT has been formed to investigate the case. Raids are on to nab the accused. The accused is absconding after the case was lodged, the SP said, adding that the victim was discharged on Thursday. The newborn and the mother are in good health, he added. When the attorney general of the United States starts using the same language as an unhinged political operative in imagining anti-government plots, the Department of Justice is dangerously off course. The language in this case is about "sedition" and "anarchy," words that TV and talk radio commentators may toss about casually but ought never to be so blithely used by public officials. Yet here's Attorney General William Barr directing prosecutors to consider charging people accused of violent crimes at protests with sedition. And there's Mr. Barr issuing a memo laying out the circumstances by which "anarchist" cities could be denied federal funding. Those circumstances include "defunding" police departments whatever that nebulous term may mean refusing law enforcement assistance from the federal government or "any other related factors the Attorney General deems appropriate." It is right to be concerned about violence in some cities where people have been protesting police abuses, particularly of Black people. But Mr. Barr's actions, language and tone reflect the disproportionate attention that right-wing media - and a president who spends far too much time immersed in it - have paid to a relatively few incidents. These directives raise grave concerns about how they'll be applied and how far they will go. Will sedition charges be extended beyond those accused of truly violent anti-government acts? Will reducing police funding in order to divert it to anti-poverty, violence prevention and mental health programs be considered anarchy? And just what "other related factors" does Mr. Barr have in mind? We have plenty of laws to deal with rioting, looting, vandalism and assault and they ought to be enforced. But one of the worst anti-government acts in recent memory, Timothy McVeigh's 1995 attack on the federal building in Oklahoma City, which left 168 people dead, didn't result in a sedition charge. This contortion by Mr. Barr is, of course, driven not by legal concerns but by politics. Such talk of sedition and treason against citizens who have grievances with their government has long been a staple on right-wing radio. It has percolated into the Trump administration, where Michael Caputo, assistant secretary for public affairs in the Department of Health and Human Services (a former right-wing radio host himself) recently ranted about a "resistance unit ... deep in the bowels" of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention working against President Donald Trump for the purposes of "sedition." He's now on leave. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. More insidiously, we have a president in Mr. Trump who absorbs and regurgitates such noxious views. He blurs the line between riots and peaceful protests, between law and order and the violent exercise of authority. He uses the injury of a reporter by a police tear gas canister to get laughs at a campaign rally. He has federal agents violently force demonstrators out of a public park to stage a photo op. And now he has his attorney general use the Justice Department to attack people, and whole communities, that disagree with his policies and his clear authoritarian impulses. Even before an election, it may well take the intervention of Congress to halt the course Mr. Barr is on -- toward a clash with the First Amendment, and a war on American citizens. Shoukry is in Jordan to participate in a quadripartite meeting on Thursday on Palestine with regional and international counterparts Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Al-Safadi affirmed both countries steady position on support for the restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinians. Both ministers stressed in a meeting in Amman on Wednesday the necessity of reaching a fair and comprehensive settlement for the Palestinian issue according to international law. Shoukry is in Jordan to participate in a quadripartite meeting on Thursday on Palestine with regional and international counterparts. 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 peace process and support to reaching a comprehensive and fair political settlement in Palestine on the basis of a two-state solution. In the past months, Egypt and Jordan have stressed their rejection of any unilateral Israeli action concerning the annexation of the occupied West Bank, which has been delayed temporarily as part of the recent normalization agreement between Israel and the UAE. Search Keywords: Short link: - Karebe Gold Mine Limited (KGML), which trades as an investee company of Maris Group, an Africa-focused holding company, commenced its operations in Kenya in 2009 - Documents seen by TUKO.co.ke painted a picture of a company struggling to stay afloat thanks to local political interference - Karebe claims Deputy President William Ruto through political allies Governor Stephen Sang, Senator Samson Cherargei and local MCA Hillary Cherem sponsored smear campaign against it Deputy President William Ruto's name has been dragged into operational crisis weighing down Kenya's largest gold mining company, Karebe Gold Mine Limited (KGML). Documents seen by TUKO.co.ke painted a picture of a company struggling to stay afloat, thanks local to political interference. READ ALSO: Michelle Obama says daughters are already tired of living with them Karebe Gold Mine Ltd is located in Nandi county. Photo: Karebe. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Sauti Sol members names, ages, tribes, and girlfriends Began operations in 2009 The company, which trades as an investee company of Maris Group, an Africa-focused holding company, commenced its operations in Western Kenya in 2009. It is based near Chemase in Nandi county, about 30 km from Kisumu town, and according to the documents, the location attracted interest from political leadership. On March 2019, Environment and Lands Court in Eldoret overturned an arbitration ruling in which Karebe had won suit against its landlord, the Korir family, for breach of lease agreement. READ ALSO: Actress Wilbroda says her ex-lover asked her to pack and leave while their baby was months old The company closed for three months in 2019, then closed in February 2020 over land tussle. Photo: Karebe. Source: UGC READ ALSO: All gov't aircraft to be put under Kenya Airforce Court ruling and implications The ruling in March delivered far-reaching implications, including the decommissioning of the mine, financial losses and subsequently loss of over 350 jobs. The Eldoret court gave Karebe 90 days to decommission the 10-year old operation against the opinion of both Ministry of Petroleum and Mining and NEMA that the decommissioning should take at least three years due to the tailings and the cyanide dam on site. "Despite the companys best efforts to relocate from a land site it was leasing from the Korir family to an uncontested land parcel owned by the company, the company has been sabotaged and prevented from doing so," it said. Karebe claimed Ruto through political allies, Nandi governor Stephen Sang, Senator Samson Cherargei and the local MCA Hillary Cherem, sponsored smear campaigns against it. READ ALSO: Cyrus Oguna says he was unable to brush his teeth for 14 days while battling COVID-19 The company claims Ruto is working with local politicians to frustrate its operations. Photo: William Samoei Ruto. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Exclusive: Kind police officer who rescued baby dumped in toilet holds heart-warming birthday party for her The gold miner linked Cherargei and Cherem to a series of barazzas and media campaigns which it claimed were aimed at extorting money from the company. The local leaders allegedly reached out to a Japanese company identified as Okazetto Limited whom they engaged with intention of taking over and running the operations. "The company is aware that the deputy president is involved in the plan and is using Governor Sang in an effort to collapse the current company and misappropriate the mine for their own gain," the document read. Following the tussle, a ministerial task force was sent to the mine in March to assess the situation so that the firm could secure its mining licence. READ ALSO: Parliament dissolution: Court suspends CJ Maraga's advisory to Uhuru Kenyatta Unconfirmed reports, however, alleged the taskforce report may have been substantially altered at a meeting the governor and the team had at a hotel in Kisumu. "The governor and individuals working with the deputy president have intervened within the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining to prevent Karebe securing its licence, bring court cases against the company and withhold all and any local approvals required from Nandi county government," KGML claimed. Cabinet Secretary for Petroleum and Mining John Munyes, in a meeting of on June 26, 2020, at the offices of the county commissioner in Kapsabet, said the county had finally agreed to approve the mines applications. "To date nothing has been approved at all, and county officials advise us confidentially that they are still under instruction to block everything from Governor Sang," the company added. The CS gave Governor Sang a deadline of July 10 to issue the various permissions that were being withheld by his administration, which prevented Karebe from moving to its own premises and re-building the mine. The deadline was ignored. Karebe further clamed it had in its possession a report that Ruto and Sang were planning to seek an injunction in court against the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining. The injunction will prevent the issuance of licence and possibly tie up the ministry and the company in another protracted lawsuit. On January 25, 2020, there was a gross security breach instituted against Karebe when the county executive committee member only identified as Dr Bureti and another individual known as Kuto forced their way into the mine. The two were with a police escort in the company of Japanese investors. They demanded a tour of the facilities. Our calls to the governor went unanswered. Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme. My mother abandoned me with two holes in my heart - Baby Petra's story | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Only a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic, a groundbreaking poll was published highlighting the shocking pace of decline of Christianity in America. The Pew research poll included the following alarming statistics: In the last 10 ten years, the percentage of Americans identifying as Christian has dropped from 77% to only 65% During that same time, the percentage of those unaffiliated with religion skyrocketed from 17% to 26% Protestant Christian Americans plummeted from over half of Americans (51%) to only 43% by 2019 The percentage of atheists doubled during that period from 2% to 4% As would be expected, the younger age cohorts, and particularly the Millennials, saw the steepest decline. Coinciding with the decline in Christianity has come the burgeoning support for socialism over capitalism by the Millennial age cohort, with over half supporting socialism over capitalism. The consequences of this upheaval explain much of what we are witnessing in society, and this should motivate Christians to reassert themselves in American life. Let me explain. Most have witnessed the increasing and continuing anarchy and anti-police rioting (note: This is not to diminish the presence of those truly peaceful protesters, whom we support in their right of assembly) in major urban areas like Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, and others, to a level of violence not seen previously. This anarchy has brought tens of billions of dollars of destruction in both private and public property, accompanied by rhetoric of ending the system of property rights and capitalism in America. A leading protest organizer in Portland went so far as to call for not only the abolition of police, but the "abolition of America" to the cheers of crowds. The head of the greater New York BLM threatened to "burn down this system" in a Fox News interview. BLM activist Ariel Atkins supported "100%" the looting of private businesses in Chicago as an alleged form of reparations. The rhetoric and corresponding actions appear incomprehensible to many quietly watching throughout America, and yet continues virtually unabated. In addition to the destruction of property and violence, which acts as a clear repudiation to Christian teachings followed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., those involved have made direct attacks against the Christian church. Most are aware of the well-publicized Bible-burning demonstration in Portland. What has not received as much coverage are the many other attacks against the Christian church, including its sacred symbols. Catholic Action League Executive Director C.J. Doyle wrote: Given that there were four attacks on Catholic churches nationwide over a 48-hour period, from July 10 to July 12, suspicion, obviously, turns toward the left-wing extremists who have been toppling statues of Saint Junipero Serra and attempting to remove a statue of Saint Louis. Christians praying in front of the statue of a Christian saint in St. Louis were subject to potential hearing loss by protesters disrupting prayers with air horns. Air horns blown near the ears of the women and men praying. The examples of anti-Christian radicalism abound, while calls for moving to socialism become more strident. We should not be surprised at the increasing anarchy and corresponding calls for socialism, as Christianity plummets. Most of our founding fathers spoke about the prerequisite of religion among the American people in order for the constitutional system to work. John Adams put it perfectly: "This Constitution was made for a moral and religious people, it is wholly unsuited to the governance of any other." Famed Christian biographer Eric Metaxas had this to say about the connection of Christianity and anarchy within a historical context: I think a lot of the nastiness thats being directed at these statues, it really has to do with something deeper. ... You saw this with the French Revolution. There was a hatred at the bottom of it of God, of any kind of authority, and these people are drunk with the idea that they can somehow be an authority themselves, they can seize power. ... you go right for God, you go right for the Virgin Mary, my goodness, you go for churches. Metaxas provided this warning for Christian leaders: Any Christian leader who doesnt understand that this is a Marxist, violent organization this has nothing to do anymore with George Floyd, theyve hijacked this, and they want to burn down everything that has been built by good people over centuries, most of whom, of course, were Christians. It's important to remember that the forefather of socialism, Karl Marx, claimed religion was the "opiate of the people" and that the future worldwide communism must take the place of religion. The Soviet Union persecuted Christians, as does Communist China to this day. Marx claimed his primary goal in life was to "dethrone God, and destroy capitalism," as they go together. Marx also attacked the biblical "nuclear family" as a hindrance to socialism, and so it's not a coincidence that a goal of BLM is to "disrupt the nuclear family." Pastor Marc Little has warned, we are witnessing a Marxist takeover ... fighting a new religion disguised as racial justice ... (this is) the unveiling of what has been percolating against the church ... Make no mistake: The body of Christ is the target of the Marxists, for it cannot succeed when morality stands in the way. Peaceful protesters have every right to peacefully assemble for their cause under the First Amendment to our Constitution. I acknowledge that many are not aware of the ulterior Marxist and anti-Christian motives of those involved in the mayhem. Regardless, anarchy and calls to upend the American republican system (to move to socialism) could not occur without the massive decline in Christianity in America. It is time Christians come together, pray together and act to move America to that nation Alexis de Tocqueville wrote about in his famous treatise "Democracy in America": "There is no nation on Earth in which the Christian religion holds greater sway over the souls of men than in America". May that become the Christian future of America. The Orange County Fire Authority airlifts a horse to safety in Rancho Mission Viejo, Calif., on Sept. 21, 2020. (Screenshot/Video Courtesy of the Orange County Fire Authority) Horse Takes Flight After Falling Into OC Ravine A horse was airlifted to safety by the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) on Sept. 21 after falling 60 feet down a ravine in a regional park near Rancho Mission Viejo, California. A woman was riding her 8-year-old horse, Lola, on the remote trails of Caspers Wilderness Park when Lola began to buck. When the rider jumped off, Lola fell down a steep ravineand her owner quickly dialed 911. Everyone on the scene was very concerned for the horse. We wanted to ensure we got her out as safely as possible, OCFA Capt. Greg Barta told The Epoch Times. Fortunately, our technical rescue team and helicopters train on this sort of rescue. We were all very happy to be able to reunite Lola with her owner. Barta, the OCFAs public information officer, arrived on the scene shortly after the incident took place. Our first option was to walk the horse out. This was not possible due to the terrain, Barta said. Thats when OCFA opted to call in the helicopter. We had a vet come to the scene and sedate the horse, so we could safely use our helicopter to hoist and carry the horse to a safe location, to our waiting technical rescue team members, Barta said. We then used our helicopter to hoist personnel on the ground, including the vet, to a safe location. Neither the horse nor the owner suffered any major injuries, Barta said. A horse is lowered into a corral by the Orange County Fire Authority after being rescued by helicopter airlift in Rancho Mission Viejo, Calif., on Sept. 21, 2020. (Screenshot/Video Courtesy of the Orange County Fire Authority) Lola the horse is reunited with her owner after falling into a steep ravine and being airlifted to safety by an Orange County Fire Authority helicopter near Rancho Mission Viejo, Calif., on Sept. 21, 2020. (Courtesy of the Orange County Fire Authority) OCFA Capt. Thanh Nguyen told The Epoch Times that difficult rescue operations are part of the departments training regimen. We actually train for large animal rescues like that, Nguyen said. Its not the first time theyve done it. OCFA encouraged people to enjoy nature, but reminded them to take proper safety precautions. If youre out there by yourself obviously bring a cell phone that is fully charged, Nguyen said. Some of those locations are pretty remote that you dont have any cell service, so its always good practice to have somebody be aware of where youre at and when youre supposed to be back. Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said during an Aug. 26 press conference that there had been a 225 percent increase in the number of remote rescues in the county compared to the same period over the last two years. The rescue operations threaten fire relief efforts by diverting needed helicopters. The combination of an increase in the number of hikers and the excessive heat we have been experiencing has led to a record number of search-and-rescue calls in Orange County, Barnes said at the time. China-Born Pompeo Adviser Rejects Xis Multilateralism Claim: China Has No True Allies Xi called for 'multilateralism' at the UN General Assembly Secretary of State Mike Pompeos principal China policy adviser, Anhui-born Dr. Miles Yu, made a rare public appearance on Sept. 22 to reject the multilateralism approach advocated to the world by Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the U.N. General Assembly. Yu, who has been labelled the number one traitor to the Chinese race in modern history by Chinese state media, said that Xis comments stemmed from a lack of self-awareness. He said Chinas ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is isolated with no true allies, apart from North Korea and Russia, which is playing hard to get. He also commented about the CCPs lack of trustworthiness as shown by its brutal and semi-fascist actions in Hong Kong. Yu made the comments while addressing an online discussion about the implications of the CCPs actions in Hong Kong, hosted by Canadian think tank the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. He stated: Shared valuesthats the foundation for multilateralism. We (the United States) have countries like Australia, Japan, the UK, Canada, EU, NATO, and ASEAN organization countrieswe all share the same values. He called on friends and allies all over the world that share the same values as the United States to build an alliance of democracies to counter the China threat. Just about every liberal democracy in the world recognizes China is a threat, he said. Always keep in mind, China has none that can be trusted as a really true ally. So its very ironic yesterday to hear Xi Jinping at the U.N. to talk about China being the champion of multilateralism. Yu rejected Xis claim and called it a complete reflection of lack of self-awareness. He said that the United States is more multilateral than any other country in the world when facing the China challenge, which is global and existential, but argued that multilateralism has to have a goal itself. Parties, dialogues, and banquets [them]selves [are not] necessarily a kumbuya that will solve all the problems in the world, he said, citing multilateral talks by previous U.S. administrations with five other parties that failed to move the dial on the North Korea problem. He said that President Donald Trump had chosen a different approach, opting to talk to Kim Jong Un directly and having neutralized him for a good three and a half years now. Yu went on to say that the goal for the United States regarding China and the region is the preservation of values like freedom and rule of law that have been extinguished in Hong Kong. China views the entire international system as this endless struggle between the Chinese socialismsocialism with Chinese characteristicsand the rest of the world. So they want us to forget the systemic, political, and ideological differences between the two systems, he said. Miles Yu, whose Chinese name is Yu Maochun, was born in China and came to the United States for graduate school in 1985. He is a professor of East Asian and military and naval history at the United States Naval Academy (USNA), and a key member of the State Departments policy planning staff, which is known as the departments internal think tank. Many believe that Yu is the central figure in the Trump administrations policy making regarding China. Secretary of State Pompeo described him as a central part of my team, while David Stilwell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs called Yu as a national treasure. Yus tough stance against the Communist China has irritated Beijing. The CCP has recently taken a series of actions to retaliate against him, as reported by The Epoch Times. In July 2020, Yus old school, Yongchuan Middle School in Chongqinga mega city in Southwest Chinachiseled his name off its wall of honor. Yu had been recognized for ranking first in Chinas national college entry test for the humanities in 1979. Earlier this month, a group of elderly Chinese men with the same last name as Yu claimed that Yu is a traitor to the Chinese nation and removed his name from the genealogical chart of the Yu Clan. Yu responded on his social media account, Taking my name off a genealogical chart that I have never heard of, and never cared about, seems bizarre. The farce crumbles under the weight of its absurdity. Taking my name off a genealogical chart that I have never heard of, and never cared about, seems bizarre. The farce crumbles under the weight of its absurdity. https://t.co/ZHYifG9kEr milesyu (@milesyu10) September 19, 2020 A Grand Experiment In the online discussion on Tuesday, Yu also described Hong Kongs situation since 1997 as a grand experiment that has failed miserably. He said that Hong Kong was an experiment to test the validity of [the] Chinese Communist Partys trustworthiness which has failed, revealing to the world that they cannot trust Beijing. Beijing promised to maintain the one country, two systems for 50 years when the UK returned Hong Kong to Chinese rule it in 1997. But the communist regime has already gone back on its words, trying to impose communism and totalitarianism on the Hong Kong people. Yu views the CCPs one country, two systems as a bankrupt idea because of its own inner contradiction. He pointed out that national unification for China would be meaningless without political freedom. He cited the reunification of East and West Germany as an example, and also the Korean Peninsula. People would not be united under a totalitarian regime, he said. He added, I think the people in Hong Kong have chosen the system of freedom and the rule of law, not the system of communist autocracy in the name of natural unification. He said that Communist Chinas brutal crack down on democracy and imposing its National Security Law in Hong Kong has seen its one country, two systems model completely lose its exemplary effect on Taiwan. ARCHIVED - Migrant transit centres to be re-opened in Spain following increased pressure from migrant boats The National Police is also no longer willing to accept that repatriations cannot be undertaken and has requested diplomatic action to resume the expulsions process This week has seen an intensification in the numbers of irregular migrants arriving along the Spanish coastline, overwhelming marine rescue services, the coastguard and the Cruz Roja which has been offering humanitarian aid to those crossing in small boats (pateras) to Spain. Its an emotive subject, which has sparked a great deal of debate in Spain recently, the recent rise in numbers causing resentment within the various police services, which are already stretched to breaking point trying to handle the huge additional workload created by the covid crisis, upsetting the local and regional governments who must try to accommodate and cater for hundreds of illegal migrants in covid quarantine without having suitable facilities in which to house them, causing significant problems for the health services which have had to care for covid positive migrants, the majority of whom speak no Spanish, within the hospital system, which has included contracting private security companies due to the number of break-outs from hospitals (in Cartagena for example, one covid-positive migrant tied his sheets together and climbed out of a third floor hospital window in the middle of the night) to say nothing of the resentment the situation has evoked in the local populations of the areas where the boats have been landing. Knowing that a percentage of the migrants are covid positive has caused protests and anger, a situation here in Murcia which even reached the national press on the day a group of Los Alcazares residents were videod hurling abuse at a group of migrants who had been temporarily housed in a private property run by the Cruz Roja whilst attempts were made to house them so that quarantine could be observed. The number of boats arriving has continued to increase: during a 48 hour period earlier this week nearly 600 migrants in dozens of boats landed in the Murcia Region, Alicante province, along the Andalusia coast and on the shores of the Canary and Balearic Islands; the straw that finally seems to have broken the back of the camel representing the Policia Nacional, the national police body which has responsibility for immigration. There are many sides to this complex problem, the first being that those making the crossing to Spain are virtually all economic migrants, NOT refugees, and in the last few weeks the majority have been Algerians. Neither Algeria or Morocco are EU members and there are no automatic residency agreements for nationals of either country to live in Spain other than through acquiring a visa, tied to an employment contract, or by having sufficient funds to support themselves, the same as for any third party national. Most of those entering Spain have neither, so are illegal migrants, irregularly entering the country by boat. The crossings from Algeria are now being operated by criminal gangs, hence the change in the pattern of the way the boats arrive, so rather than a boat be purchased by 3-4 people who cross when the weather forecast seems favourable, the runs over to the Spanish coast are now being organised by commercially-driven gangs, charging significant sums of money to make the run in boats carrying 12-18 people with powerful outboard motors, a large number of boats departing at the same time to spread coastguard resources as thinly as possible. Normally, attempts are made to repatriate any of these migrants detained and they are temporarily housed in Foreigners Internment Centers (CIE) which were temporarily closed during the Covid lockdown as the borders of both countries were closed, so it was impossible to repatriate anyone entering Spain illegally in this fashion.The centres were all emptied by May 6th and since then, migrants have been released once they have been tested and found to be covid negative as Spain has no legal jurisdiction to hold them past a 72 hour period without a judicial expulsion order being issued. This, in turn, has fuelled the number of arrivals and the National Police has now ordered that as of Wednesday, September 23rd, the Foreigners Internment Centers (CIE) will re-open in order to house the migrants until they can be repatriated. In an official letter dated September 23rd, the General Secretariat of the General Commissariat for Immigration and Borders informed the Territorial Operational Coordination Units of this decision, which affects the CIEs of the mainland peninsula and the Canary Islands (this includes the Santomera CIE in the Region of Murcia). The document states that operational activity is restarted in the CIEs of the peninsula with the internment of Algerian and Moroccan citizens arriving by boat and in the CIEs of the Canary Islands for sub-Saharan immigrants arriving from Mauritania. The letter also orders that the Central Repatriation Unit carry out the "appropriate procedures with the consulates of the countries of origin to be able to reinitiate the expulsions processes. CIEs are non-penitentiary police facilities and are designed to contain irregular migrants in order to execute expulsion from Spain. The law allows migrants to be kept within the CIE for a maximum of 60 days and, if they have not been returned to their countries of origin within this period, they must be released. In order to facilitate a repatriation, they must be identified and their country of origin proven; this process can be difficult and as a result only around a third of migrants are actually repatriated. EU unveils new migration plan which removes the unpopular refugee quotas system Migration has been a long-running divisive issue for the EU and this week Brussels unveiled plans to overhaul an unpopular EU migration policy which has caused deep divisions amongst EU members. The majority of migrants arriving in Spain are, as stated above, are economic migrants, NOT refugees, so the bulk of the new proposals change little for Spain as the plan seeks to return more failed asylum-seekers to their home countries and meet the demands of some northern and central European nations that refuse to accept relocated migrants. The new proposals seek renewed initiatives to repatriate more failed asylum-seekers, a process which also achived a 31.5 per cent return rate success last year (similar to the level achieved by Spain regarding economic migrants). Non-EU countries which fail to co-operate risk losing European visa rights and those which are helpful are promised benefits such as investment. Nations opposing mandatory relocations of asylum-seekers from the Mediterranean nations where most arrive can provide alternative help instead. Spain has found a collaborative approach towards both Morocco and Algeria the most successful route to reducing the numbers of migrations; investing into schemes which help to prevent the migration occurring in the first place and help to create jobs in both countries has proven a practical avenue through which to help improve the situation in the past. It will be really key to see how member states deal with these people, what rights they will have and who will monitor their situation, said Hanne Beirens, director of the Migration Policy Institute Europe think-tank speaking about the new plan on Wednesday. European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen called it a "European solution... to restore citizens' confidence". Even before the planned pact was laid out Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said it would not work. Hungary's nationalist government, which has consistently refused to house refugees, said the EU's external borders should "remain perfectly sealed along all sections". Health Workers Union Calls for the Dismissal of Victorian Health Minister A union has reportedly called for the dismissal of Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, accusing her of breathtaking incompetence. A Health Workers Union letter to Premier Daniel Andrews urging her removal has been made public with Mikakos to appear on Sept. 24 before the inquiry into Victorias hotel quarantine program, which led to the states devastating second wave of coronavirus. Sadly, our unions relationship with your government is now officially dead, due solely to the breathtaking incompetence of your current Health Minister, HWU Secretary Diana Asmar writes, according to the Herald Sun. For the good of all Victorians, and health workers, I ask that you insist on Ms Mikakos resignation, effective immediately. Mikakos appearance comes after fellow ministers Lisa Neville and Martin Pakula claimed the Department of Health and Human Services was in charge of the program. Their evidence on Sept. 23 contrasted that of DHHS secretary Kym Peake, who told the inquiry there was shared accountability. While Pakulas Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions was tasked with contracting hotels and security companies for the program, he said the DHHS held overall responsibility. Neither he nor Neville, who is police and emergency services minister, knew who made the decision to use private security in the program. Neville said the issue didnt jump out immediately, noting contractors were used at parliament, hospitals and police headquarters, as well as for major events. Reflecting on the question now, there are clearly things that went wrong, she wrote in her submission to the inquiry. 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. More than 30 staff and guards working at two quarantine hotelsthe Rydges on Swanston and Stamford Plazacaught COVID-19 from returned travellers and spread it into the community. It was also revealed Peake and her deputy Melissa Skilbeck denied a request from Andrews to house passengers from the Greg Mortimer cruise ship at a hotel near the airport. Eighty of the passengers were COVID-positive. Premier has also requested that we use a hotel that is close to the airport, not in the CBD, Peake wrote in an email on April 9. Skilbeck replied: At this late stage of planning it would be risky to seek to convince another hotel to contract to take such guests. The passengers were sent to the Rydges on Swanston. Peake also failed to brief Mikakos on two Safer Care Victoria investigations that identified problems with the program. Andrews will appear before the inquiry on Sept. 25 afternoon in its final week of public hearings. By Benita Kolovos Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump Oliver Contreras-Pool/Getty Images President Donald Trump on Wednesday appeared to refuse to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, sparking concerns on both sides of the aisle. Trump continued to push debunked conspiracy theories about voting by mail to sow doubt in the election during a news conference at the White House before suggesting that if we "get rid" of mail-in ballots there would not be a transfer of power. "Well, we're going to have to see what happens," Trump told reporters. "You know that I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster. "We'll want to have get rid of the ballots, and you'll have a very we'll have a very peaceful there won't be a transfer, frankly," he added. "There'll be a continuation." https://twitter.com/JustinWolfers/status/1308917066225905664 Trump has repeatedly refused to say that he would accept the results of the election, telling Fox News in June that he would "have to see" as he pushed a baseless charge that voting by mail would "rig the election." Voting by mail has repeatedly been shown to be secure and has numerous safeguards to prevent voter fraud, which is virtually nonexistent. Trump and first lady Melania Trump have voted by mail and even urged the president's supporters to do so. At the same time, the president has attempted to sow doubt in the integrity of the vote as his campaign has pushed lawsuits over states' expansions of voting by mail. Trump said he is "counting" on federal courts to determine the winner of the election. He also suggested reporters in the Oval Office earlier on Wednesday that he wanted to have his Supreme Court pick confirmed by the election for that exact reason. "I think this will end up in the Supreme Court, and I think it's very important that we have nine justices," he said. "And I think the system's going to go very quickly." Story continues https://twitter.com/kellydaschle/status/1308873933115011073 Asked by reporters about Trump's remark, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden replied, "What country are we in?" "He says the most irrational things," Biden said. "I don't know what to say to that. It doesn't surprise me." Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., responded to the comments by calling Trump a "would-be dictator." "This is how democracy dies," he tweeted. "A president so desperate to cling to power that he won't commit to a peaceful transition of power. That he seeks to throw out millions of votes. And a Republican Party too craven to say a word." Though Trump's comments were largely met with silence by the GOP, some Republican lawmakers criticized them. "Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus," tweeted Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who said he would support a Supreme Court confirmation ahead of the election. "Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable." "Nothing defines our Constitutional Republic more than the peaceful transition of power. I've taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and I will uphold that oath," Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, the former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said. "Regardless of how divided our country is right now, when elections are over and winners are declared, we must all commit ourselves to the Constitution and accept the results." Federal Election Commissioner Ellen Weintraub also took issue with Trump's comments about ballots and courts. "In case anyone is unclear on the concept, in the United States of America, we do not 'get rid of' ballots. We count them," she said on Twitter. "Counting the ballots *all* the ballots is the way we determine who leads our country after our elections. The only way." Related Articles FILE PHOTO: The logo of Australian casino giant Crown Resorts Ltd adorns the hotel and casino complex in Melbourne, Australia By Byron Kaye SYDNEY (Reuters) - The CEO of Australian casino giant Crown Resorts Ltd said on Wednesday the company's holiday package clients posed a higher risk of money laundering breaches than other gamblers, and acknowledged it could do more to prevent illegal payments. The evidence came during an inquiry ordered by the New South Wales state government last year after local media reported Crown hired tour operators with ties to drug traffickers to bring wealthy Chinese gamblers into its Australian resorts - allegations the A$6.2 billion ($4.42 billion) company emphatically denied in full-page newspaper advertisements. "It's certainly a higher risk than other customers, yes," Ken Barton told the inquiry, when asked about hiring tour or "junket" operators to bring in gamblers, as is common in the global gaming industry. "The entry point of risk with junkets starts off as high. We have to accept that they're high-risk when we start the relationship," added Barton, who was promoted from the role of chief financial officer in January. Like casino operators around the world, Crown has experienced a sharp downturn in foreign tour-based, or "VIP", turnover, largely from China, because of border closures and enforced shutdowns to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. But the company has for years targeted VIP gamblers as a growth prospect as it gets closer to opening a A$2.2 billion casino resort in Sydney slated for December. Barton told the inquiry the company had previously focused on compliance and reporting of risks of breaching anti-money laundering laws, but "the ability to go beyond that and be proactive at eliminating risk ... is something that is incumbent on us to do and we have the capability of doing over time". The inquiry continues. (Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Christopher Cushing) White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx visited Texas A&M Universitys campus Tuesday and praised its COVID-19 positivity rate, saying its one of the lowest shes seen, but is it really low? The College Station flagship, which has more than 65,000 students and 10,160 faculty, reported that its weekly positivity rate for its random testing program, which includes student test results collected at special testing sites in the area, was 1.6 percent for the week ending on Sept. 12, according to A&Ms online dashboard. Tests in this program are performed specifically by its Student Health Services in efforts to identify students who are asymptomatic or where there are hotspots for transmission. Texas A&Ms overall positivity rate, however which includes results of students, faculty and staff was around 10 percent. The college reports that tests factored into this postivity rate are conducted by both its health services and contracted company Curative Inc. within the Bryan-College Station area. The university also reported that more than 600 students and 23 faculty have tested positive this month, and 255 of these cases are still considered active as of Sept. 22. Now Playing: A new Houston Chronicle investigation reveals COVID-19 spread faster and farther than the public was told. Top officials were warned years ago we were unprepared for a pandemic. For months, the death toll was distorted. In the end, COVID-19 exposed a cascade of failures that let the virus spread unchecked, killing thousands of Texans. Video: Laura Duclos A White House media representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ten percent seems pretty high to me, said Peter Hotez, co-director of Texas Childrens Hospitals Center for Vaccine Development. Maybe she was looking at the wrong number. Compared to other Texas colleges, like Rice and Baylor universities, both of which provide their positivity rates and cases online and test both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals like Texas A&M, Texas A&M results are higher. Birx also visited Auburn University, Louisiana State University, and Virginia Tech University. University of Kentucky, USC, Columbia Rice, with about 8,000 students, reported a 0.09 percent positivity rate on its dashboard as of Thursday morning. The private Houston college has had 21 people test positive for the virus since Aug. 1 13 of them students and eight of them faculty or staff. On HoustonChronicle.com: White House official Birx praises A&Ms low COVID-19 rates, vaccine manufacturing Kevin Kirby, Rice vice president for administration, said positivity rates between different schools can vary depending on the testing strategy. For example, some schools test only those who are symptomatic, which can result in higher positivity rates. At Rice, officials test both those with and without symptoms, which can result in a lower positivity rate. But Kirby adds that Rice has some structural advantages compared to many larger universities. For one, Rice is situated next to the Texas Medical Center, which has been a crucial resource when it comes to testing and advice, Kirby said. Additionally, the opportunity and temptation of being around more people or to attend events, which can spread a virus, can be stronger at larger institutions. Rice also doesnt have fraternities and sororities, which Kirby believes has helped. Rice has also aimed to implement best practices used at colleges around the country, including wearing masks, limiting class sizes, testing and prompt delivery of results. In addition, the college gives students and faculty the option of how they would like to engage in instruction and education, whether it be in-person, remote or hybrid. Birx also visited Baylor University Monday. The Waco college boasts a 2.6 positivity rate as of Thursday, with 75 active COVID-19 cases reported within its community on Sept. 24 a drastic decline from the 477 cases reported on Sept. 3. Nearly all of its current active cases are students. Baylor spokesman Jason Cook credits the private Baptist colleges decline to following the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions guidelines on contract tracing, maintain social distancing, and adamant enforcement of masks and face coverings. Cook said many colleges went into the semester expecting that there would be a spike in cases at some point. Our students have indicated they want to be on campus for the fall semester and that has been a great motivating factor, Cook said. That desire from students prompted Baylor officials to prepare the college on how it would manage a spike with preventative education, quarantine efforts, and mask wearing. As a result, Cook said Baylor, which enrolled 19,297 students this fall, has not had any COVID-19 cases linked to classrooms. A lot of it is the infrastructure of the institution leading into the semester coupled with the ability to institute behavior change, Cook said. As for Birxs assessment of low COVID-10 positivity rates, Hotez questions whether it is a reliable statement. The White House Coronavirus Taskforce is such an unreliable source of information, Hotez said. Theres often a heavy political spin on it. Its really hard to sort out whats right, and its getting worse now. Hotez, who also serves as dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, has predicted that there will be a third peak or surge of the virus later this fall, following the first in April-May and the second peak in Southern states in July-August. The third peak, he said, could be the worst, contributed to colleges and schools reopening for on-campus learning. Hotez said in some cases U.S. colleges and universities have opened in areas of high transmission and are a bit oblivious to the greater impact on the communities and states that theyre in. In-person voting in November, considering the restrictions to mail-in voting, could also contribute to an uptick, Hotez said. Without more awareness and strong leadership, especially in the Southern states, its not going to go well, he said. brittany.britto@chron.com The Laois Digital Archive, an initiative of Laois Library Service, is delighted to receive the donation of digitised maps of the Ballykilcavan Estate near Stradbally by the Walsh Kemmis. The Walsh-Kemmis estate maps are held privately by the Walsh-Kemmis family. In 2018 David Walsh Kemmis facilitated the listing of the entire collection, and the digitisation of part thereof, for publication in Arnold Horners book Mapping Laois. This was published in 2019 by Wordwell Books, and the book and the research that went into it including digitising the Ballykilcavan maps were coordinated by Laois Heritage Office with funding from the Heritage Council. To further enhance public access to this important collection, David has generously donated the digital copies to Laois Local Studies. The maps are currently available to view on the Local Studies website www.laoislocalstudies.ie. David Walsh Kemmis spoke about the donation event on the Ballykilcavan Estate. Lisa and I are delighted to be able to share these maps, and to have fantastic digital copies made of them. We really enjoy looking at them, and we hope that lots of other people will to," he said. MORE BELOW PICTURE. The digital map collection consists of a volume of thirteen maps from 1855 and a map of the Ballykilcavan Estate from 1754. The early map was produced by Carlow based surveyor William Thornton and covers the 1,800 Irish acres of the Ballykilcavan Estate of Major Hunt Walsh. This large detailed map is accompanied by a reference table of 53 items and includes sketches of various houses, a windmill, a mill, a tower, cotters crofts and a deerpark. It provides a detailed representation of the area, predating Ordnance Survey maps by 80 years. The volume of maps by William Coughlan includes a map of the entire estate covering 13 townland units, with an additional 11 maps featuring either one or two of the townlands in greater detail. It also contains a plan of sewerage at Ballykilcavan. Maps are a snapshot in time and this collection captures the Ballykilcavan Estate as it was in the mid 18th and 19th centuries. The 1754 map depicts the area as it was almost a century before the social and economic upheaval of the Great Famine, whereas the set of maps from the 1850s captures the area in the post-famine era. Estate maps are a wonderful resource for the local historian and interested amateur alike. They record buildings, fieldnames, placenames and geographic feature that have long disappeared or altered over time. They indicate the development of land usage in a particular area, providing an insight into the lives of tenants and landowners. Laois townlands covered by the Walsh-Kemmis Collection include Ballyduff, Ballykilcavan, Bawn, Binbawn, Blackford, Curraclone, Drumneen, Garrans, Inch, Kylebeg, Milland, Moneyferick and Park. Laois Local Studies is based in Laois County Library HQ in Portlaoise. It was established to collect, preserve and make available for reference, material relating to the history and heritage of County Laois. It is home to the Laois Collection, a specialist collection on the local, social, political, economic and geographic history of the county. Laois Local Studies actively acquires publications and records of private origin, in line with our Acquisition Policy. Private donations have greatly enhanced the Laois Collection and enriched the understanding of Laois heritage. Laois Local Studies would like to acknowledge the generosity David Walsh-Kemmis and the generosity of the many individuals, families and organisations who have donated material over the years, including local historians, artists, photographers, schools, businesses, organisations, clubs, societies and collectors. Do you want to donate or make material public If you have material you would like to donate please contact Laois Local Studies to discuss the matter further. Donation usually involves full transfer of ownership, which may or may not include copyright ownership. If you would like to make material available to the public, without the obligation of outright donation, the material can be digitised as part of the Local Studies Digitisation Project. This allows items to be made available to the public through the Laois Digital Archive, for purposes of education, research and enjoyment. Ownership and custody of the physical item is not transferred, although permission to reproduce and display, as outlined above, is required. For further information, contact Laois Local Studies at 05785 94985 and/or email localstudies@laoiscoco.ie. The Laois Digital Archive is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017 2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. The analysis of mobile phone traffic is playing a key role in the garda investigation into the hit-and-run death of a Deliveroo rider. There have been no arrests yet in the case of Brazilian national Thiago Cortes (28), who died in the Mater Hospital on September 1 from catastrophic head injuries he received when he was mown down by a car at North Wall Quay at around 10.30pm on August 30. Gardai have spoken with the suspected driver of the car and other teenage males who were in the vehicle. "There have been no arrests so far, but gardai have been following a definite line of enquiry from the outset of this case," a senior source told the Herald. "What is happening now is analysis of mobile phone traffic and other technical issues before the investigation moves to the next phase. "This is a matter that is expected to come to a successful conclusion, but all loose ends will be tied up before arrests are made." The Herald previously revealed that "excellent quality" CCTV captured the four occupants of the uninsured car fleeing from nearby Castle- forbes Square, where they abandoned the 05 registration, light-coloured Ford Focus before running off. The suspect in the case is a juvenile from the north inner city who is well-known to local gardai for offences linked to anti-social behaviour. It is understood he is not cooperating with detectives. Harm The case is being investigated as one of dangerous driving causing death, as well as leaving the scene of an accident. Gardai are satisfied the driver did not intend to harm Brazilian national Mr Cortes. The hatchback car, which had no tax, insurance or NCT, has been examined by garda forensic experts, and the investigation team are also waiting for technical reports before arrests are made. Mr Cortes was finishing work and about to cycle home to his fiancee at their Portobello home when he was hit by the car that failed to stop. Speaking to the Herald earlier this month, Teresa Oliveira said that whoever hit him drove away knowing how badly injured he had to be. "I appeal to whoever was in the car to be brave and admit to what you did," she said. "How do you sleep at night? Thiago is not coming back. "I don't sleep. His family don't sleep. His friends don't sleep. "Hand yourself in to gardai and serve what you have to serve." Ms Oliveira said she had been messaging Mr Cortes on the night of the hit-and-run and had been expecting him home. "It was unusual for him not to answer. Then a friend sent our WhatsApp group a message saying a Deliveroo driver had been knocked down in town," she said. "I was worried and started ringing and ringing Thiago, but there was no answer. "Then a garda answered and told us what happened and we went to the hospital. "I thought maybe he had a broken leg or arm, but then the nurse said to me Thiago was 'still alive' and I was worried then, because it sounded serious. "They let me see him, and when I saw how he was, and his face, I knew it was bad. "Thiago did not have surgery. He was on life support, but he was too badly injured." Speaking last weekend, Ms Oliveira said she was still devas- tated over the loss of her fiance, but was getting "stronger every day". She said Mr Cortes's remain were cremated in a "very nice" ceremony at Mount Jerome in Harold's Cross "His parents are trying to decide what to do with his ashes," she said. "I am going to be staying in Ireland for now. I have friends and support here and a sister in France." Mourners, including friends and fellow delivery riders, held a vigil in Dublin in honour of Mr Cortes. Holstens Brookdale Confectionary in Bloomfield, which was the setting for the final scene of The Sopranos in 2007, was supposed to be closed for renovations this week. But vintage cars and a large snowdrift on a warm September day took up much of the block in front of the iconic ice-cream shop on Wednesday. There were movie cameras, too. The cat is officially out of the bag, Holstens announced on their Facebook page. Really we are closed for The Sopranos (prequel filming). The Many Saints of Newark, originally scheduled to premiere Sept. 25, was postponed to March 12, 2021 after the COVID-19 outbreak. Actors have been working on the film once again in New York and a production crew was spotted at Holstens on Broad Street this week. A vintage bus outside the iconic Holsten's ice-cream shop on Wednesday.Courtesy of Holsten's Samuel DeMaio, director of public safety in Bloomfield, told NorthJersey.com the production company applied for permits to film several weeks ago. Several streets were closed around Holstens as filming went on, possibly as late as Thursday. Holstens says it plans to reopen the business to its customers at 11 a.m. on Friday. Another Bloomfield business, Rombiolo Bakery Cafe on Broughton Avenue, was the scene of filming earlier this week. The bakery posted photos of vintage cars and production staffers to its Facebook page on Thursday. In the prequel, Michael Gandolfini son of Sopranos star James Gandolfini, who died in 2013 plays a young Tony Soprano. The films stars also include Alessandro Nivola, Corey Stoll, Jon Bernthal, Leslie Odom Jr. and Ray Liotta. Production crew gathered Wednesday outside Holsten's on Broad Street in Bloomfield.Courtesy of Holsten's 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. Contributed WEST HAVEN Mike Southworth, a Republican candidate seeking to represent the 14th state Senate district, issued a statement Thursday apologizing for past Facebook posts , saying he had not intended to be sexist or ageist. Southworth had commented in 2018 haha on a meme insinuating that former Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had been the object of inappropriate affection from Abraham Lincoln in 1862. West Haven resident Rachel Peck Solveira objected to the post in a statement from the Milford & Orange Women Democrats this week, describing the post as disgusting and a terrible show of bigotry. A national strike and major marches took place on Monday in Colombia to protest recent police killings, a massacre of protesters on September 9 and the broader government response to the social crisis deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its peaceful character, anti-riot police broke up the mass demonstration in the capital of Bogota, confirming the continued drive of the Ivan Duque administration and the entire Colombian ruling class toward dictatorship. Demonstrators gather at Plaza Bolivar, September 21, Bogota (Credit: @InstitucionalTV) This follows the bloody clampdown on September 9 against mass protests in Bogota that erupted after the police tortured and killed worker Javier Ordonez the previous night. The National Police used gunfire in a systematic fashion, killing 14eight young workers in the service sector, two young engineers, one university student, and three whose backgrounds were unclearand leaving 72 people wounded by bullets. On Monday, people in cars, bicycles and on foot formed caravans across the cities of Bogota, Medellin, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga and Cali, and significant demonstrations took place in smaller cities from the coastal Tumaco to Magangue, up the southern Andes range in Villavicencio and to Arauca next to the Venezuelan border. Socially heterogenous marches grew into the thousands in Medellin and Bogota. In the afternoon, the police reported significant gatherings in 107 municipalities (out of 1,103) and said repeatedly that they were all peaceful. They were also largely following health protocols to minimize infections. Nonetheless, the mayor of Bogota, Claudia Lopez of the Green Alliance, nervously called on people to be home by 7 p.m. Before 5:00 p.m., however, as a mass gathering in Bogotas Plaza Bolivar kept growing, Lopez pointed to one isolated and suspect incident of looting, in a heavily patrolled area, to order the Mobile Anti-Riot Squadron (ESMAD) to disperse all demonstrators, media and human rights observers alike. The ESMAD moved in violently with armored vehicles, tear gas, stun grenades, batons and rubber bullets. Dozens were immediately snatched into police vehicles, while others were chased and beaten up. Tear gas canisters and stun grenades were shot directly at protesters, leaving some with severe injuries. Mayor Lopez then tweeted a video showing a line of riot police surrounding the emptied Plaza Bolivar, adding, There are no injuries and calm has been reestablished. The repression happened as a new cellphone video began circulating online, showing Javier Ordonez, in agony and handcuffed on the floor of a police station, as cops watched amused. The video refutes the official police version claiming that Ordonez harmed himself at the station. Mondays demonstrations are only the tip of the iceberg. Millions of outraged workers are eager to fight against the murderous Duque regime and see the police repression as a defense of intolerable levels of poverty, unemployment and inequality. On Monday, demonstrators called for an end to police abuse, jobs and income, no privatizations, and an end to handing over our countrys resources. With a seven-day average of 7,000 new daily cases, Colombia has the fifth-highest number of cases in the world, with more than 770,435 cases and nearly 25,000 deaths. Fatalities have been concentrated among the poorest layers, which have been forced to risk exposure to earn a living, while official efforts to contain the pandemic have been abandoned. The National Strike Committee, composed of the three main trade-union centrals, focused its demands on a restructuring of the National Police and resignation of the Defense Minister. It also called for the cancelling of decree 1174which they claim promotes part-time employmentand suspending a $370 million loan to the bankrupt airline Avianca. The real reason behind convoking the strike was summarized by former presidential candidate Gustavo Petro, who tweeted as early as September 10: I have asked you the union centrals to call a strike, but you might not do it. The people will [strike] regardless. In other words, with only 4.6 percent of workers affiliated to trade unions, these apparatuses serve merely as fronts for the bourgeois political establishment to intervene in times of social unrest in order to contain it. Petro, Mayor Lopez and the entire establishment opposition to Duque have also centered their calls on resignations in the Defense Ministry and the reform of the National Police. These trade unions and parties, thousands of whose members and leaders have been murdered by the Colombian security forces, understand more than anyone the futility of calling for a superficial overhaul of the police. In fact, their demands expose their staunch defense of Colombian capitalism and imperialism, whose existential crisis has been deepened by the pandemic, and are aimed at duping workers and youth with illusions in the prospects of democratic and social reforms within bourgeois politics, while preparations are made for a further crackdown. The Duque administration and the corporate media are already working to criminalize all forms of protest. In a manner similar to the New York Times in the United States, Noticias RCN published on September 10 a fabricated report from the Colombian intelligence agencies claiming that the protests were being coordinated by the guerrillas on social media. The following day, Semana doubled down with a video on the hidden causes of the protests, claiming that social media was inciting unjustified violent protests led by criminals and organized anarchists. The video then calls for building up the Bogota police. RCN is owned by Carlos Ardila Lulle (net worth $1.5 billion), a business partner of Rupert Murdoch. Semana is owned by banker Jaime Gilinski Bacal (net worth $3.5 billion), who became the main benefactor of the privatization of Banco de Colombia, by raising money from international investors to buy it. Washington, for its part, endorsed the massacring of protesters in Colombia. As it continued to shed crocodile tears over democracy in Venezuela, the US State Department and Pentagon made no statement to condemn the repression in Colombia and seamlessly continued joint activities with the Colombian National Police. The US Embassy tweeted on September 12: Colombia counts with the US in tough times. Allies and Friends. This was followed by joint war games and a visit by State Secretary Michael Pompeo in Bogota, aimed at threatening the Venezuelan government. The day of the massacre, the US International Development Finance Corporation granted the Colombian bank Davivienda $250 million to weather the crisis. The bank is owned by Grupo Bolivar, a major financial backer of Duque. This attitude is not limited to the Trump administration and the Republicans. According to a cable published by WikiLeaks, the Colombian Army inspector general told the US ambassador in February 2009 that the militarys extrajudicial execution problem was widespread and stemmed from the insistence by some military commanders on body counts as a measure of successcoupled with some commanders ties to criminals and narcotraffickers. The Democratic Obama administration in power at the time continued to pour in billions in military aid. As Washington ratchets up its confrontations against its geopolitical rivalschiefly Russia and Chinaand faces growing social unrest at home, the vassal state in Colombia constitutes a military and economic stronghold for US imperialism to secure its domination over Latin America. The Colombian Police, specifically, has been built up by US imperialism as a quasi-military force to wage counter-insurrectionary operations against guerrillas and working-class opposition, while it carries out even more US-sponsored trainings of regional special forces than the Colombian military itself. The fight against police abuse and authoritarianism constitutes a struggle against the entire Colombian oligarchy, its imperialist patrons and their hirelings in the trade unions and political parties. This includes those forces that, throughout the post-World War II period, portrayed themselves as socialist and even revolutionary only to channel opposition behind claims that one or another faction of the national bourgeoisie was more democratic, chiefly the Stalinist Communist Party of Colombia (PCC) and the Socialist Workers Party (PST). The latter was founded by the anti-Trotskyist revisionist Nahuel Moreno. Both have joined the bandwagon of calls for police restructuring and resignations, with the PST arguing in defense of good police and soldiers that refuse to repress their class brothers. The NGO Temblores has documented 664 police killings since 2017, while many more have been killed by the military. Colombias 330,000 troops and 167,000 policewhich compare to 321,000 formal teachersconstitute the core of the capitalist state, conceived of by Marxists as special bodies of armed men committed to enforcing class rule. Drawing from this conception, Russian Revolutionary Vladimir Lenin wrote in State and Revolution that it follows that the special coercive force for the suppression of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie, of millions of working people by handfuls of the rich must be abolished in revolution and replaced by a workers state that takes possession of the means of production in the name of society. The only political organization fighting for this program, rooted in a long history of struggle against all forms of Stalinism, bourgeois nationalism and the pseudo-left internationally, is the International Committee of the Fourth International, the World Party of Socialist Revolution. The only revolutionary road forward is to build a section of the ICFI in Colombia and every country. As India reports the second highest cases of coronavirus in the world after the United States, Rajasthans Jodhpur district administration has launched the No Mask - No Entry and No Mask - No Service campaign on Tuesday. Face masks have been declared mandatory in many parts of the world and as India reported 5,646,010 cases of virus, taking precaution has become more important. According to ANI, Jodhpur district collector said, Besides strictness, awareness is also necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The number of severe cases has been increasing in the state. He mentioned that the district administration, police & municipal corporation have joined hands together to create awareness among people. A Hindutsan Times report said posters encouraging people to wear masks were pasted on vehicles as part of the campaign. According to ministry of health data, Rajasthan has reported 1,00,365 cases of coronavirus and 1,382 deaths. Rajasthan is not the first state in India to come up with such a rule. In April this year, the Arunachal Pradesh government had asked all petrol depots and gas agencies to refuse service to customers who visited their outlets without wearing a face mask. As reported earlier, in a notice issued to the fuel stations, the District Food and Civil Supplies Officer (DFCSO) Amit Bengia said the governments move was aimed at ensuring safety of people living in the state amid the spurt in Covid-19 cases across the country. World Health Organisation, and health ministries of countries have asked their people to follow the social distancing rules and wear a face mask to curb the spread of the deadly virus. In Indonesia, authorities are asking people without face masks to dig graves for victims of COVID-19. Three middle-aged men and five minors in the Cerme district of Gresik Regency, East Java, were given the punishment on September 9. Indonesia has reported 2,57,388 cases of Coronavirus till now and 9,977 deaths. New Delhi The Supreme Court on Thursday observed that lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, who is an accused in a case related to caste clashes that broke out in Bhima Koegaon near Pune on New Years Day in 2018, has good grounds to seek bail on the merits of her case, but declined to entertain her bail plea, which she filed on medical grounds. A bench headed by justice UU Lalit said the court was not inclined to grant bail to her on medical grounds, but suggested that she move a plea on standard grounds. We are not with you on medical grounds. You have a good case on merits. Why are you not filing for bail on merits, the bench, which also comprised justice Ajay Rastogi ,asked. Bharadwajs counsel Vrinda Grover agreed to withdraw the bail plea on medical grounds and file for bail on the merits of the case.Bharadwaj, 59, sought bail citing her vulnerability to Covid -19 because of comorbidities. Bharadwaj is diabetic and also suffers from hypertension and had cited these as grounds for interim bail before the high court. The Bombay high court rejected her plea on August 28 after which she moved the Supreme Court in appeal. Bharadwaj was arrested by Maharashtra police in 2018 for allegedly inciting caste clashes during the bicentennial celebration of a British-era war on January 1 that year.One person died and four were injured in the clashes. The British East India Company, which largely comprised the Mahars, a Dalit community, emerged victorious from the war with the Peshwas. The victory is celebrated by the Mahar community annually. Bharadwaj along with activists Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Anand Teltumbde, and Gautam Navlakha have been charged with offences under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for their alleged role in inciting the violence. After the change of government in Maharashtra in 2019, the central government had intervened and transferred the investigation from Maharashtra police to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in January. Bharadwaj, who was initially lodged at Yerawada jail in Pune, was shifted to Byculla jail in February 2020 after the probe was transferred to NIA. Grover, on Thursday, argued that Bharadwaj had developed two new diseases while in custody -- ischemic heart disease and arthritis. A medical report of July 21 stated that Bharadwaj was suffering from Ischemic heart disease, a condition in which coronary artery becomes narrow, thereby reducing blood flow to the heart. A second medical report which was submitted on August 21 by the jail authorities did not mention such a condition, following which the high court had rejected her bail plea. Ischemic heart disease is a ticking time bomb. Anytime, her condition can deteriorate, Grover said, seeking bail so that Bharadwaj can be subjected to a detailed medical examination. Grover also submitted that Bharadwaj was a lawyer in Chhattisgarh who used to fight cases on behalf of marginalised sections of the society. No incriminating material was recovered from me. I was teaching at National Law University, Delhi when I was arrested, Grover argued on behalf of her client. My prayer is to allow me to get myself (medically) examined because the kind of check-up and tests which are required cannot happen in jail, the lawyer said. The court, however, made it clear that it will not grant bail on medical grounds. Bharadwajs bail plea on medical grounds was earlier rejected by a special NIA court on May 29. As Natsumi Hookabe snorkeled around Panama's Bocas del Toro archipelago, during the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's Training in Tropical Taxonomy program, she encountered an unusual ribbon worm or nemertean: large and dark colored, with numerous pale spots. It was her first field trip outside of Japan, so she wondered if it was a rare species or just one that she had never seen before. Natsumi had been interested in worms since childhood, but when nemerteans were introduced during a university course, she was hooked. "I was mesmerized by their body movement while crawling, which involves beautiful muscular waves," she recalled. "This led me to pursue nemertean biology for my bachelor's and master's degrees." She then found out about the Training in Tropical Taxonomy workshop offered by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama, and did not have to think for long before flying from Tokyo and plunging into the warm waters of the Caribbean in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. The two-week course, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, teaches skills for the identification of understudied marine organisms, including nemerteans. It also offers an opportunity for students to make connections with other researchers from around the world. "Hosting the courses has been a really fantastic way, not just to train the next generation of biodiversity researchers, but to also have the Bocas fauna carefully surveyed and identified by experts," said Rachel Collin, STRI staff scientist and director of the Bocas del Toro Research Station. "Over the years this has led to the discovery and description of many new species in Bocas del Toro. For some groups, Bocas has the most documented species for anywhere in the Caribbean." During her stay in Bocas del Toro, Natsumi met Maycol Madrid, a biologist and assistant in Dr. Collin's lab. She quickly noted Maycol's deep knowledge about Japanese culture. In their spare time, they talked about Japanese manga, anime, and games and taught each other Japanese and Spanish words, respectively. When Natsumi collected the unusual-looking nemertean, she knew she wanted to study it further in her lab in Japan, but this required sorting out a few bureaucratic processes. Maycol jumped in and lent his hand in getting the permissions to collect specimens, transportation to Japan, among other tasks. All these efforts paid off: what seemed at first sight like a rare worm to Natsumi, turned out to be a new species of nemertean. "Without Maycol's help, my trip would not have been as successful as it actually was," said Natsumi. "I really appreciate his sincere assistance throughout the period of my stay in Bocas." She recently described the new species in the journal Marine Biodiversity, and named it Euborlasia maycoli sp. nov. after Maycol Madrid, as a token of appreciation for all his help. This new Panamanian species became the first Caribbean representative of the genus. "For me it was a great surprise that Natsumi decided to name the new species of Euborlasia in my honor," said Maycol. "It fills me with great pleasure, knowing that I was somehow able to help Natsumi in the discovery of this new species." ### Members of the research team are affiliated with Hokkaido University and the University of Tokyo. Research was partially supported by Japan Society for Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grant Number 17K07520). The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, headquartered in Panama City, Panama, is a unit of the Smithsonian Institution. The institute furthers the understanding of tropical biodiversity and its importance to human welfare, trains students to conduct research in the tropics and promotes conservation by increasing public awareness of the beauty and importance of tropical ecosystems. Michigan Democrats are pressuring Republican U.S. Senate candidate John James to state whether a vacancy on the Supreme Court should be filled before the Nov. 3 election. James issued a statement Monday urging his opponent, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, to fairly and honestly evaluate the candidate whenever a nominee is put forward. The statement did not address whether the Senate should confirm a nominee before the election, however, and James' campaign declined to clarify his position further when asked by MLive. Peters campaign and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, who James unsuccessfully challenged in 2018, said James is hiding his position from voters. The Michigan Democratic Party held a press call Thursday pushing James to take a public stance on the issue. If James wants to be an independent voice for Michigan, then he should prove it, said MDP Chair Lavora Barnes. Nows the time when James could break from his party and let Michiganders voices be heard. We deserve the truth, there is too much at stake in this election and voters need to know if James stands with Michigan, or with (Senate Majority Leader Mitch) McConnell. During a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday, Peters said filling a seat vacated by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg should wait until after Inauguration Day in 2021. Jamming this Supreme Court nomination through now will, without question, further divide our country and disregard the fact that the American people are now voting or soon will be in many states, he said. Early voting in Michigan began Thursday as election clerks began delivering absentee ballots to the nearly 2.4 million registered voters who requested them. Republicans argue the president has a constitutional obligation to fill any vacancy on the Supreme Court. Democrats say pushing a nominee forward in an election year is hypocritical, considering McConnell refused to even hold a hearing for former President Barack Obamas nominee. Obama nominated Merrick Garland for the court 237 days before the 2016 election. Trump has not yet named a nominee with 40 days to go until the 2020 election, as of Thursday, but said he plans to do so soon. In a statement, James accused Peters of only supporting judicial nominees from Democratic presidents. He noted that Ginsburg was elected by a bipartisan vote of 93-3 and lamented that the political parties are more divided now. Votes to confirm Supreme Court justices have been more split along party lines since Ginsburg was appointed in 1993. James said he would have the same standard when weighing a nominee, regardless of which party controls the White House. James also said Republicans in the Senate should focus on passing a new COVID-19 relief bill. Republicans should take the next few weeks and reach out with an olive branch, he said. ... Lets get COVID relief passed so small businesses and struggling families get the help they need. Lets get health care reform that keeps pre-existing condition protections but focuses on affordability and patient-choice... And lets see how Democrats and Republicans can work together on these great things. Democrats said James is not likely to vote against his party, highlighting comments he made in 2018. During his first Senate campaign, James said he stands by Trump 2,000%." James clarified in June that he was referring to Trump appointing "textualist Supreme Court justices on the bench. Democrats said the Supreme Court vacancy carries high stakes because the court is set to hear a case seeking to end the Affordable Care Act. James has not said whether he supports the lawsuit, which is backed by the Trump administration. Peters said abortion rights, womens rights, voting rights and other civil liberties are at stake. Stabenow said voters deserve to know whether James supports Trump nominating a justice who will weigh in on those critical issues. There is no maybe button in the United States Senate -- you either have to vote yes or no," Stabenow said in a statement. Once again, John James is trying to have it both ways and hide his real position from Michigan voters. READ MORE ON MLIVE: Michigans U.S. Senate candidates talk COVID recovery, police reform in town hall Poll: Trump trails Biden in Midwest battlegrounds, but undecided voters could make the difference Kamala Harris urges Black Michiganders to vote for Biden during events in Flint, Detroit "This is the first time they have issued a note about this subject, about the South China Sea situation. They had spoken together before, but this is a significant move to issue a public, two-page, detailed letter to the U.N. about China's actions," said Jonathan Odom, Military Professor of International Law in the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. In August last year, the E3 had issued a public statement expressing concern about the South China Sea situation but stopped short of direct criticism with a call for peace and stability in the sea, Odom noted. "This is a very significant and positive step. It's important to see who these three nations are," he added. The E3 has three of the seven largest economies in the world, not to mention two permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and they are speaking independently of any other powerful country, including the U.S. "What is also important is all three nations are parties to the Law of the Sea Convention. So they speak with credibility, especially given that the international tribunal for the Law of the Sea is hosted in Germany," Odom said. The E3s note also stated that there was no legal ground for continental states to treat archipelagos or marine features as a whole entity, emphasizing the specific and exhaustive conditions set forth in UNCLOS for the application of straight and archipelagic baselines. The group also stressed that land building activities or other forms of artificial transformation cannot change the classification of a feature under UNCLOS. Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute of SOAS University of London, said he was "not aware of a similar statement by the three collectively on this subject before. So, it looks like this is the first time they are doing so in concert, though their position on the matter is known and consistent. "The real significance is not that their joint statement will change Chinas behavior, but that they feel the need to issue the statement together and now. It reflects how much more uncomfortable the three countries feel about Chinas assertiveness, particularly after the full flurry of wolf-warrior diplomacy [an aggressive style of diplomacy] since the Covid-19 pandemic," he said. Carl Thayer of the Australian Defense Force Academy at the University of New South Wales said the E3 view the role of international law as a key component of stability in the South China Sea. He said their joint note verbale set out their legal views on six issues - the universal application of UNCLOS, freedom of the high seas, respect for UNCLOS provisions regarding straight baselines around land features, land building not being able to change the maritime entitlements of land features, rejection of claims based on historic rights and peaceful settlement of disputes. Isaac B. Kardon, assistant professor at the U.S Naval War College, said "this is a novel move by the E3 and represents the sharpest, clearest criticism of China's South China Sea claims and activities from any of those countries individually as well as in a group." The statement alone is not going to change China's claims or activities, but should be taken as an indication that major European states are visibly joining the U.S. in confronting China on the South China Sea issue, he said. A satellite photo of China-occupied Subi Reef at Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands, March 20, 2018. Photo by Planet Labs/Handout via Reuters. Clear stance Vu Thanh Ca, former head of the Research Institute of the Sea and Islands, Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said by sending the note verbale to the U.N., E3 has made a clear statement of its stance in the face of China's false claims and actions. The E3 note is very strict, fully complies with the provisions of international law, refutes most of China's claims, sovereignty rights and jurisdictional rights which are contrary to UNCLOS in the East Sea, implicating China's future statements and actions as well. Ca said European nations are increasingly aware of the threat posed by China, based on Beijing's ambitions and actions in defiance of international law. China's "wolf warrior diplomacy" in relations with European countries when they have to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic has deteriorated Europe's relations with China. Therefore, Europe's activities to contain China are being carried out on multiple fronts, economic, political and diplomatic, with the South China Sea emerging as one of the key issues, Ca said. Chinas reaction On September 18, China submitted a note of response to the E3s note verbale. Odom noted that Chinas move came just two days after the note, which means "they realize that this was significant for those three countries to speak (out thus); otherwise, why would China have acted so quickly?" The note may be a tactful way to shape China's negotiating posture, but "China will still likely pressure each of these countries individually not to stick their necks out for what Chinese observers characterize as an American agenda," said Kardon. The joint statement of the E3, Tsang predicted, will be ignored by Beijing, which will continue as before in the South China Sea. "Beijing will not change even if the E3 coordinates with the U.S. and other members of the democracies," he said. China said in its response letter that: "Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are established in the long course of history and have been consistently upheld by successive Chinese governments. They are consistent with international law including the Charter of the United Nations and UNCLOS, and shall not be prejudiced under any circumstance by the illegal awards of the South China Sea arbitration." China urges relevant countries to earnestly respect Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries to maintain peace and stability in the waters, it said. Next moves The U.K., France and Germany could use the note verbales content at international forums such as General Assembly meetings or U.N. Security Council meetings. Odom said it would be very powerful if they consistently send a message that is consistent with what has been said in the note verbale. The group could also have bilateral talks on the matter with countries in the region like Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, or even China and Japan, Odom said. He also felt that when the opportunities arise, each member of the E3 could have their navies help protect maritime freedom in this sea area. "I'm not familiar with Germany's activities, but I know that France and the U.K. have operated in those waters, and I hope they continue to do that, because state action involves both words and actions, including maritime presence by the navies," he said. Tsang concurred, saying that potentially, E3 supports freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea. But he also said that he "does not expect either the France or Germany navy to sail there any time soon." Thayer said the E3 agree that they need to work with the countries of the Indo-Pacific region to maintain a stable rules-based order to ensure their economic prosperity. Thus they can take further actions in countering Chinas claims and actions in the South China Sea. "The E3 can lend diplomatic and political support to ASEAN as a multilateral institution and to its individual claimant states. The E3 can shape the European Unions policies towards the Indo-Pacific Region in general and China in particular. Finally, France and the U.K. can assert their rights to freedom of the high seas by deploying naval vessels to patrol the South China Sea either individually or in combination with other states," he said. An important step Ca said the three European nations could intensify their cooperation with other EU members and allies to raise voice against illegal actions of China in the East Sea. The E3 will also coordinate with the U.S., Japan, Australia and other countries with interests in the South China Sea to ensure security, including increasing operations and exchanges of warships, forming an Indo-Pacific region that is free and open. In addition, these three countries can take economic measures to pressurize China to comply with international law. Kardon said: "I expect this [the note verbale] to be one of several steps in coming months to form an international coalition that hopes to cause China to reconsider the costs and benefits of pressing forward with aggressive claims and practices in the South China Sea." A determined Co Down girl who suffers from a congenital heart disease and lives with constant pain in her joints is refusing to let anything stop her from raising funds for a local charity. Calleigh Rodgers (10) from Kilkeel survived a heart operation at just five weeks old and has smiled through countless other medical conditions in her young life. She still requires knee braces to aid her walking, and wears a back brace 23 hours every day after being diagnosed with scoliosis, but is still on course to hit her target of 80,000 steps in the month of September to raise funds for Heartbeat NI. "She's had a battle since I was 19 weeks pregnant," said proud mum Laura. "A scan showed she could either have Down's Syndrome or Turner's Syndrome. It was Turner's and there was a good chance she wouldn't survive until birth. We'd never heard of it, but despite being advised a medical termination we chose to let her decide. "It turns out she was stubborn and she's been stubborn for 10 years now! "It does come with a lot of other medical conditions though, one of them being congenital heart disease. "She was very ill when she was born and had her first heart operation at just five weeks old. "She also needs more open heart surgery, has a murmur and a slight distortion in her ventricle as well. She faces a lot of challenges but she's always tackled everything with a smile." Calleigh's determination has seen her thrive, and she's now a P7 pupil at Grange Primary School in Kilkeel. "As a family we've been helped a lot by a local charity, Heartbeat NI, and she overheard me talking with her dad Cathal that we'd like to do their Step-tember challenge to raise money after all they have done for us. Once she heard about it that was it. She was doing it. She refuses to let us do anything for her if she can help it." Laura said walking is difficult for Calleigh. "This is a really big challenge, but she's out there at 7pm every night with her wee crutches and her knee braces and her back brace," she said. "Calleigh suffers from a lot of joint pain in her knees, hips and ankles and her knee caps can dislocate so easily. "When she was eight years old we finally got somewhere with her knees and she now wears two knee braces to help stop them from popping. "She still has daily physio on her knees and hips and ankles to help strengthen them, and she uses her crutches for walking to help take the pain and pressure of her joints. "We have been told that she does need operations on her knees when she's older but she's far too young at the minute. "On top of that we also found out that she has scoliosis so she now wears a back brace 23 hours a day. She's put up with a lot, but we're so proud of her for her determination to do this. "Her dad goes out with her every night, and her brother is her biggest supporter, though he hates walking and takes his bike! "It's tough on us seeing her in pain on a daily basis. It's even tougher on her, but she always has a smile on her face and we couldn't be more proud. "She said at the start of this she would like to raise 300. She's now over 2,000 so she's done brilliantly." With just over a week left of her challenge, Calleigh's looking forward to finally getting back to her favourite pastime of baking. "She's loves making buns and cakes for her nanny and granddad. She already has another challenge lined up and has entered a baking competition," said Laura. "She's very strict with herself when she puts her mind to these things so once the heat pads come off to ease the joints I'm sure we'll be straight into the kitchen!" By the end of September Calleigh will have walked around 45 miles to raise funds for Heartbeat NI. Find out how to support her at justgiving.com by searching 'Calleighs Spet-tember Challenge' 24.09.2020 LISTEN World Vision Ghana and its partners under the Universal Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project have presented some handwashing stations and a number of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) to the Asutifi North District Assembly in Ahafo Region to help contain the spread of the COVID-19. The items presented at the forecourt of the office of World Vision Ghana and its partners in Kenyasi include 130 handwashing stations and 105 dustbins with funding from the Conrad Hilton Foundation and World Vision Ghana match funding. In addition to that World Vision Ghana donated some infrared thermometers, facemasks, liquid soaps and boxes of rubber gloves as part of the organisation's COVID-19 emergency response cover plan. The Project Coordinator of World Vision Ghana for the district's universal WASH project, Cephas Wedam said the items are to be distributed to Health Care Facilities and schools to promote sanitation and hygiene and protect healthcare workers at the frontline of this deadly pandemic. According to Cephas Wedam the implications of the pandemic cannot be taken for granted so World Vision Ghana and partners recognized the need to procure the handwashing stations and PPEs to help safeguard the health and life of project beneficiaries in the midst of this pandemic. He explained that though the District Assembly has extremely performed well in handling the pandemic and its related issues still hands must be on deck to always beef-up the availability of PPEs and handwashing stations, which are key in combating the virus according to World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministry of Health (MoH). In addition, he stated that aside the items curtailing the spread of the virus they will also improve the issues of sanitation in the District where currently WASH programme is been rolled out. "We believe the presentation of the items will go a long way to address issues of water and sanitation which has a link with COVID - 19 pandemic," he stated. The District Chief Executive (DCE), Anthony Mensah received the items on behalf of the assembly, thanked the donors and said he is excited that the donors have noticed that to have effective fight against the virus individuals and companies must support the government. The DCE said the presence of World Vision Ghana and its partners in the district has been a blessing because of the numerous interventions relaid to the people which has improved their living standards. "With these items, the district is now positioned well prevent the spread," he stated. The DCE, Anthony Mensah assured them of distributing the PPEs to the schools and Health Care Facilities as directed to meet the aim of the presentation. 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 Protests held across Canada call for a solution to delays in spousal and family sponsorship, a problem that predates the pandemic. Canadians call for faster family reunification Protests held across Canada call for a solution to delays in spousal and family sponsorship, a problem that predates the pandemic. Canadians call for faster family reunification Protests held across Canada call for a solution to delays in spousal and family sponsorship, a problem that predates the pandemic. Canadians call for faster family reunification Protests held across Canada call for a solution to delays in spousal and family sponsorship, a problem that predates the pandemic. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Protesters once again took to the streets across Canada this past weekend, calling on the government to address delays in spousal and family sponsorship applications. Foreign spouses and common-law partners of Canadians are exempt from coronavirus travel restrictions, however, many couples are finding that they cannot even get a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) for their spouse. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) oftentimes denies TRVs for people from visa-required countries if they already have a family sponsorship application in processing. This is because they have to prove they can leave Canada at the end of their authorized visit in order to get the TRV, which conflicts with their intent to immigrate permanently through family sponsorship. As a result, many couples are forced to live apart while their permanent residence applications are in processing. Some couples claim that they have been waiting over three years for their application to be approved. Learn more about Canadian family sponsorship Demonstrations were held in several Canadian cities on Saturday, September 19. The events were organized by a group called Spousal Sponsorship Advocates, who emerged during the coronavirus pandemic. They are calling for amendments to the current visa requirements and the creation of a new visitor visa that would allow family members to stay in Canada while they wait to get permanent residence. The group has an online petition with nearly 15,000 signatures. Immigration critic, Jenny Kwan, from the New Democratic Party also held a petition that gathered over 6,000 signatures calling for the creation of a special temporary resident visa. The petition is expected to go before parliament sometime after September 23 when sittings resume. Kwan has been exchanging open letters with Canadas immigration minister, Marco Mendicino, pushing for the special temporary resident visa. In her latest letter, Kwan says that although Canada is extending immigration application deadlines due to COVID-19, these extensions will ultimately result in longer processing times. She says that it does not address peoples calls to reunite with their families in a timely manner. Learn more about Canadian family sponsorship Mendicino had previously suggested that family sponsorship applicants affected by the current TRV requirements could still be allowed into Canada with the concept of dual intent, that is, an applicant seeking permanent residence does not prevent them from seeking permanent residence. However, TRV applicants still have to satisfy IRCC that they will meet the temporary residency requirement, which Kwan says works against people who have strong family ties to Canada. It sets the expectation much higher for them to demonstrate that they intend on leaving the country once the TRV is expired, Kwans open letter read. Kwan says the special temporary resident visa would offer solutions to the problems that are keeping Canadian families apart, provided they meet basic requirements such as criminality checks. More Canadians are also saying that the federal government should prioritize family reunification over other immigration classes. A recent survey found that about 36 per cent of Canadian respondents called for immigration to focus on family reunification in 2020, up from 30 per cent in 2016. Learn more about Canadian family sponsorship In fresh signs of a slowdown in the pandemic, India has begun to report more coronavirus recoveries each day than new patients. The trend began last Saturday and has lasted six days. This has helped India achieve its slowest weekly pace in the growth of active cases since the pandemic began: the number is now back below 1 million. Most states reported a slower growth in active cases as well as deaths this week. Kerala remains a point of worry, though, as it added over 10,000 active cases within a weekby far the most among all states. Chhattisgarh, the hotspot for a few weeks, recorded a 12% rise in active cases, as compared to 41% last week. The states testing remains dismal. Maharashtra, where the infections had again paced up recently, improved in the last seven days. However, such a trend need not always hold. A similar slowing trend in the whole of mid-August did not continue in early September. India now has 91,149 covid-related deaths as of Thursday morning, after a 10% weekly jump, latest data from the Union health ministry showed. Kerala and Uttarakhand crossed 500 deaths each, while Jammu and Kashmir became the 14th state to cross 1,000 deaths. Karnatakas toll went past 8,000. Uttar Pradesh now has the fifth highest toll after it crossed Delhi. As many as 21 states have more than 10,000 active cases now, but all except Chhattisgarh and Jammu and Kashmir have crossed the 70% mark in recovery rate, or the share of patients who have been discharged. About 61% of the patients in Chhattisgarh and 69% in Jammu and Kashmir have recovered. This shows most of these two states case-load has come in recent weeks. With a 30% weekly growth, Kerala reported the worst jump in active cases in the last seven days, followed by 24% in Jammu and Kashmir and 18% in Uttarakhand. All calculations are based on seven-day rolling averages, which minimize the effect of volatile and delayed reporting. Only states with more than 10,000 active cases were considered. The total number of active cases now stands at 966,382, while 4,674,987 patients have been discharged. The five states with the most deathsMaharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradeshhave a 68% share in the national death count. Among the states and Union territories with at least 500 deaths, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, and Assam observed the biggest jumps in their toll this week. This week, Bengaluru in Karnataka became the third city to cross 200,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus after Pune and Delhi. Among the 219 districts with at least 5,000 confirmed cases so far, the biggest percentage spikes over the last seven days were reported by Gondiya (43%) and Chandrapur (36%) in Maharashtra and Dehradun (41%) in Uttarakhand, data compiled by howindialives.com showed. Right since the beginning of the pandemic, data has shown that states testing strategies can influence the numbers they report. Among the top 10 states, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh have conducted the most tests per million population over the last fortnight, and Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh the fewest, data from covid19india.org showed. Indias total count of coronavirus patients has risen to 5,732,518 as of Thursday morning. The country accounted for 34% of the 2.1 million cases added globally over the last seven days. This is the highest share by far among all countries. The United States and Brazil had 14% and 8% share each, data from the Johns Hopkins University showed. After rising steadily, Indias share in the cumulative death count has crossed 9%. In just the last seven days, the country accounted for 25% of nearly 37,000 deaths recorded globally, nearly equal to both the US and Brazil combined. Worryingly, the trajectory of deaths is still rising. Globally, the coronavirus case count has crossed 31.8 million, including over 976,000 deaths and nearly 21.9 million recoveries (69%), data from Johns Hopkins University showed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. MEDIA COURTHOUSE An Upper Darby man convicted in February for a 2018 road rage incident involving a firearm was sentenced Wednesday to 91/2 to 19 years in a state prison. For what, your honor? an agitated Darryl Woodard asked Common Pleas Court Judge G. Michael Green after the sentence was handed down. This is a setup and you know its a setup! Woodard, 54, of the 200 block of Long Lane, was convicted by a jury on charges of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, firearms not to be carried without a license, terroristic threats, possession of a weapon and simple assault. Woodard maintained his innocence throughout the trial and again Wednesday, giving a rambling and repetitive allocution that blamed one of the victims for being vindictive and his attorneys for failing to properly represent him. I didnt do nothing wrong, he said. Im not a violent person. I never shot a gun Ive never owned a gun a day in my life. Woodard was arrested June 7, 2018, shortly after a confrontation with Brendan Brown and his mother, Waltina White, in front of Whites home on the 200 block of Copley Road. Brown testified at trial that he was visiting from Louisiana and had double parked for about a minute in front of his mothers house with the hazard lights on so he could run inside. When Brown reemerged, he said he heard a man in a white SUV honking his horn and saw him talking aggressively to his mother. Brown said he explained to the other driver, identified as Woodard, that he was not from the area, after which the driver continued to curse at him. As Brown got into the car, he said he saw Woodard reach into the passenger side of his SUV, but Brown drove away quickly. Brown said the SUV followed him down Copley, across Marshall Road and pulled up next to his vehicle before he turned right on Long Lane. When Brown returned to his mothers house, he said police were there talking to his mother and sister. White also testified that Woodard asked if Brown was her son and then told her I got something for that m- before reaching into his car and getting a handgun. White said Woodard pointed the gun at her son before she jumped in front of him and put her hands up, then Woodard pointed the gun at her. Both White and Browns sister also said Woodard had said words to the effect of Ill show him how we get down around here. Upper Darby Police Officer Lou Gary received a call about 7:45 p.m. that provided a description of Woodards vehicle. He and Officer Michael Taylor camped in the area where the vehicle was registered and soon saw it coming down the 200 block of Long Lane. When he tried to pull the vehicle over, he said it initially began pulling away but was stopped by another police cruiser driving the wrong way up the one-way road. Woodard was placed into custody and Gary said he saw a silver handgun with extended magazine sticking out from under the passenger side seat. Upper Darby Detective Robert Marvil testified that Woodard is not registered to own a firearm in the state. Woodard, who has been in custody since his arrest, gave a differing version of events at trial, saying it was Brown who had threatened him. Woodard claimed he feared Brown was reaching into his car to get a gun, but a passenger in Woodards car pulled out a gun first. Woodard said he dropped that passenger off shortly after the confrontation, but the gun was still in the car when he was pulled over by police. Assistant District Attorney Ashleigh Latonick told Green Wednesday that Woodard has a history of violent offenses on his record, including a 2006 conviction for a first-degree felony aggravated assault and that this was his fifth conviction for a crime of violence. He has been a consistent violent offender who has been unable to remain crime free despite his alleged physical impairments, said Latonick. He has been given the benefit of multiple opportunities to reenter the community, yet his prior sentences have failed to deter his behavior. Latonick asked that the judge give Woodard consecutive sentences on each count for a total of 111/2 to 23 years with no possibility for early release. She noted each of the sentences were at the bottom of the standard range. Woodard, represented by defense attorney Glen Hoffman, disputed his past convictions and what Latonick referred to as prior lengthy sentences, saying he never served for more than nine months in the past. Hoffman sought a downward departure and asked that the sentences be run concurrently because they all stemmed from the same incident. He noted Woodard, sitting in a wheelchair at sentencing, had suffered from at least two strokes that could make him an easy target for violence in prison. He said Woodward had already been assaulted by a cellmate at the county jail and spent eight days in the infirmary. Green indicated that he had taken Woodards physical condition into account when crafting the sentence, which was two years less than what Latonick had sought. Woodard will also have to comply with the recommendations of a drug and alcohol evaluation, psychiatric and psychological evaluations, and pay a $1,340 lab fee. He will also pay Brown $134 in restitution and forfeit the firearm. Woodard is not eligible for early release, but was given credit for time served back to his arrest. Woodard ended Wednesdays hearing by loudly protesting the sentence, talking over Hoffmans attempts to read him his post-sentence rights and demanding he be given his written statement back. He was escorted from the courtroom after calling the judge a f b-. (Natural News) Eating a Weekly Serving of Walnuts Relates to Beneficial Brain Imaging Phenotypes in a Cohort at Increased Risk of Alzheimers Disease (Article by Shane Trejo republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com) The World Socialist Web Site wrote a blog complaining about how the 1619 Project has altered their entire thesis. They noted that the initial text describing the project on their website has been changed from this: The 1619 Project is a major initiative from the New York Times observing the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the countrys history, understanding 1619 as our true founding, and placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are. To this: The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the countrys history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative. The 1619 Project also changed its print version, which has been used to indoctrinate millions of school children nationwide. The original text read: In August of 1619, a ship appeared on this horizon, near Point Comfort, a coastal port in the British colony of Virginia. It carried more than 20 enslaved Africans, who were sold to the colonists. America was not yet America, but this was the moment it began. No aspect of the country that would be formed here has been untouched by the 250 years of slavery that followed. It now reads: In August of 1619, a ship appeared on this horizon, near Point Comfort, a coastal port in the English colony of Virginia. It carried more than 20 enslaved Africans, who were sold to the colonists. No aspect of the country that would be formed here has been untouched by the years of slavery that followed. The hardcore socialists are not happy about this capitulation by the 1619 Project, which was founded with the intent to make slavery the sole focal point of any teaching about American history. The Times disappearing, with a few secret keystrokes, of its central argument, without any explanation or announcement, is a stunning act of intellectual dishonesty and outright fraud, they wrote. The socialists argue that the 1619 Project was designed to inject divisive racial propaganda into the mainstream and therefore keep the focus off of workers collective rights. They claim that the 1619 Project is one component of a deliberate effort to inject racial politics into the heart of the 2020 elections and foment divisions among the working class. Big League Politics has reported on the racist, anti-white ideology held by the founder of the 1619 Project: Nikole Hannah-Jones, leader of the New York Times 1619 Project, has a history of making extremely racist comments about white people. In 1995, she wrote to Notre Dames The Observer that the white race is the biggest murderer, rapist, pillager, and thief of the modern world in a letter to the editor published by the paper. Hannah-Jones made clear her racist hatred of America and its rich history in her screed titled, Modern Savagery. She called the European settlers and explorers responsible for the acts of devils for bringing civilization to the continent. [The whites] lasting monument was the destruction and enslavement of two races of people, Hannah-Jones wrote. She made the claims, not backed up by evidence, that Africans came to the Americans before white settlers and made peace with the Indians. She also stated that pyramids built in Mexico were built as a symbol of friendship and goodwill between the indigenous peoples and the Africans. Hannah-Jones also placed the blame of all social problems in her community squarely on white people, spewing various conspiracy theories of dubious merit. The descendants of these savage people pump drugs and guns into the Black community, pack Black people into the squalor of segregated urban ghettos and continue to be bloodsuckers in our community, she wrote. But after everything that those barbaric devils did, I do not hate them, Hannah-Jones concluded. I understand that because of some lacking, they needed to [sic] constantly prove their superiority. Even though the 1619 Project has been thoroughly discredited, it will still continue to be pushed as dogma by the far left as they continue their Orwellian war against truth and freedom in their quest to destroy Western Civilization. Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com 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. CULVER CITY, CA With flu season bumping up against the coronavirus outbreak, health officials are warning Los Angeles County residents about the threat of a "twindemic" overwhelming hospitals this fall and winter. Officials are encouraging residents to get their flu shots now in hopes upon improving upon last year when only half of Americans got a flu shot. Free flu vaccines are being offered by the county and in the City of Los Angeles. Residents can find a flu vaccine through their doctor or at local pharmacies. To find the nearest flu shot clinic, search VaccineFinder.org. Teams from USC's School of Pharmacy will administer free flu shots to people in Los Angeles beginning in October, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Wednesday. Garcetti said he wanted people to remember what life was like in April when restrictions were tight on going anywhere in public. "I want us to recall the horrors that we saw playing out on the news, the fears that we had, the scenes that we saw playing out around the world from Manhattan to Milan," Garcetti said. Garcetti said the teams from USC would rotate around the city to places in need of flu shots. Garcetti said although the city's numbers are going down, he said health officials are worried about a "twin-demic" between influenza and COVID- 19. "Here in this city of angels, you have helped us prevent the worst- case scenario that we saw play out in other places," Garcetti said. "But we are not immune from the nightmare that we saw, as we head into the fall, there are things we need to be conscious of right now to make sure that we do our part to protect one another." Garcetti said at the USC flu shot sites, people will be asked to provide their medical insurance card, but no one will be turned down for not having one. Los Angeles Residents can check for flu shot availability in the City of Los Angeles and information at coronavirus.lacity.org/flushot. Story continues According to the city, each site will apply the necessary precautions to protect all staff and patients. These include strict masking requirements, additional disinfecting between vaccinations, physical distancing, and other measures to maintain health and safety. USC Pharmacy teams will also be screening to ensure you can safely receive the flu vaccine. Flu vaccines are widely available across Los Angeles this fall, outside of City-run sites. Residents can receive a flu vaccination at L.A. County Public Health Clinic Community Clinics. The Los Angeles County Library will be hosting flu clinic events this season. For more information on the flu, please visit the County of Los Angeles Public Health Flu Season website. According to the Los Angeles County Public Health Department, it is especially important to get a flu vaccine if you: Are 6 months through 18 years of age Are 65 years of age and older Are pregnant or just had a baby Live in a nursing home or long-term care home Have a weakened immune system Have chronic medical condition (asthma, heart disease and stroke, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, cancer) Live with or care for someone who is more likely to have flu complications Are a healthcare provider. ERIC HEINZ, City News Service contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on the Culver City Patch Credible compiled a list of 20 U.S. metro areas where homes are selling the fastest, using data from Zillow and ranking homes according to the average number of days they were listed before there was a pending sale in December 2020, the most recent month in which data was available for all metros. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A farmer gathers saplings to be planted at a paddy field in a village in Nagaon district By Mayank Bhardwaj NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian farmers are expected to harvest a record 144.52 million tonnes of grains from summer-sown crops in the crop year to June 2021, the government said on Tuesday, against 143.38 million tonnes gathered in the previous year. In 2020/21, the output of summer-sown rice is estimated at a record 102.36 million tonnes, up from 101.98 million tonnes in 2019/20, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare said in a statement. Higher rice output will help India, the world's biggest exporter of the grain, to boost its shipments of the staple. Corn output could rise to 19.88 million tonnes from 19.63 million tonnes in the previous season. Oilseed output is expected at 25.73 million tonnes, up from 22.31 million tonnes. Production of peanuts is expected at a record 9.54 million tonnes against 8.36 million tonnes produced in the previous year. Soybean output is seen at 13.58 million tonnes, up from 11.21 million tonnes in the 2019/20 crop year. Higher oilseeds output will cut India's dependence on expensive vegetable oil imports. India is the world's biggest importer of edible oils, the third-biggest import item after crude oil and gold. India, which spends about $10 billion a year on edible oils imports, buys palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia and other oils, such as soyoil and sunflower oil, from Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine and Russia. Production of protein-rich pulses, or lentils, is estimated at 9.31 million tonnes, up from 7.72 million tonnes. Cotton output could rise to 37.12 million bales of 170 kg each from 35.49 million. Cane production in the world's biggest consumer of sugar is estimated at 399.83 million tonnes, up from 355 million tonnes. This year's plentiful monsoon rains, which deliver about 70% of India's annual rainfall, have helped farmers plant a record acreage with summer crops such as rice, corn, cotton, soybeans and sugarcane. (Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj in New Delhi; Editing by Amy Caren Daniel) Hunter Biden had a 'financial relationship' with the widow of a Moscow mayor who was ousted over corruption allegations, according to a report from Republican senators. The 87-page report was released on Wednesday by the Republican-led Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee, and focuses on Hunter Biden's business dealings in Ukraine. The report did not implicate Joe Biden in wrongdoing, focusing instead on his son Hunter, who it said 'cashed in' on his father's position by joining the board of a Ukrainian gas company. It also states that on Valentine's Day in 2014, Hunter Biden's company Rosemont Seneca Thornton received a $3.5 million wire from Elena Baturina, a Russian billionaire and the widow of former Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. Hunter Biden had a 'financial relationship' with the ex-wife of a Moscow mayor who was ousted over corruption allegations, according to a report from Republican senators Biden's firm received a $35 million wire transfer from Elena Baturina (left, and right with Vladimir Putin), the richest woman in Russia with a fortune of $1.2 billion In 2010, Russia's president fired Luzhkov as mayor over corruption allegations, which were never proven in court prior to his death last year. Baturina, with an estimated fortune of $1.2 billion, is the richest woman in Russia. Much of her fortune was built with construction firm Inteco, which dominated the construction business in Moscow, thanks in part to lucrative government contracts. The GOP report also states that between May 6, 2015 and December 8, 2015, Baturina sent 11 wires in the amount of $391,968.21 to a bank account belonging to BAK USA LLC, a technology startup based in Buffalo, New York. The transactions all listed 'Loan Agreement' in the payment details section. Nine of the 11 transactions, totaling $241,797.14 were first sent from Baturina's accounts to a Rosemont Seneca Thornton bank account, which then transferred to the money to BAK USA, according to the report. BAK USA, which proposed to manufacture computer tablets in partnership with unnamed Chinese partners, was repeatedly touted by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo as a success story in his tax-break scheme to lure startups. The company filed for bankruptcy liquidation in 2019 with $39.4 million in debts and just $147,000 in assets. It's unclear what connection Hunter Biden or his firm had to the now-defunct company. Baturina is the widow of former Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov (with her above). In 2010, Russia's president fired Luzhkov as mayor over corruption allegations, which were never proven The report also highlighted payments that Baturina made to Hunter Biden's firm, which were then passed on to a tech startup in Buffalo touted by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (above). The startup, BAK USA, later declared bankruptcy with net debt of $39 million Joe Biden's campaign did not immediately respond to an inquiry from DailyMail.com on Wednesday seeking comment about his alleged financial relationship with Baturina. However, Biden's campaign immediately panned the report, released six weeks before the election, as an effort by an ally of President Donald Trump's 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 Biden's 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. The report did not implicate Joe Biden in wrongdoing, focusing instead on his son Hunter, who it said 'cashed in' on his father's position as vice president He's 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. FLINT, MI -- Around three dozen protestors carried signs and raised their voices through downtown Flint Wednesday night. The signs read Black Lives Matter and Police the Police, while the chants echoing between the building included one name: Breonna Taylor The protest organized by Black Lives Matter Flint came after a grand jury returned charges against former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison. He was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment -- but not Taylors death -- for his role in a March 13 police raid. Two other officers with Hankison at the time were not charged, which angered protesters and activists and sparked marches in cities nationwide Wednesday night. The charges are connected to allegations of Hankison firing his weapons into an apartment adjoining Taylors residence during a no-knock warrant. When asked what he felt about the ruling, Johnie Franklin III, vice president of Black Lives Matter Flint said: Pissed off." Franklin said he knew the outcome when some businesses chose to close ahead of the grand jury decision. Everybody should have known as soon as the boards started going up," he said. "Its kind of a telltale sign. While Franklin said he didnt expect first-degree murder charges for the officers, he argued, This is just a full mishap of everything. Franklin helped lead protests after the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Organizers call for seat at the table with police during second night of protests in Flint He feels something different, however, with the Taylor news. If people come into your house youre not supposed to shoot if you have a firearm in your house? questioned Franklin, citing the Castle Law which allows residents to use deadly force in defense of their home. I didnt know that was a thing (youre not allowed to do). Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shot at officers who burst into her Louisville apartment executing a no-knock search warrant, according to AP reports. Taylor was fatally shot by officers returning fire. Flint native Priscilla Nazarijchuk stood among the crowd with a sign that read, Police The Police. Just holding them accountable, she said. Nazarijchuk said all officers should be equipped with body cameras. We can also film the police," she said. "They dont like to wear their body cameras, so filming them is the best way to police the police. Nazarijchuk also called on police to help people when they call for an officer versus trying to look for and hunt criminals that dont exist. Franklin said hes had discussions with political leaders including Michigan Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow in recent weeks about reform. He also spoke with vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris during her visit to Flint this week. But its not a political issue for Franklin. Theres nothing political about a black life mattering, he said. Theres nothing political about that. The grand jury ruling, Franklin said, made him feel like his life didnt matter. Were not going to say all lives dont matter, he said. Thats not the case, but according to law youre saying that somebody asleep who is also a first responder, who is one of themit just doesnt make sense. Read more: Breonna Taylor killing: 1 ex-police officer charged with endangerment for shooting into apartments Grand Rapids leaders ahead of rally following Breonna Taylor ruling: We see you, we hear you Its negligence, Breonna Taylors cousin speaks in Grand Rapids after ruling The China share market tumbled on Thursday, 24 September 2020, in the wake of an overnight plunge on Wall Street on renewed concerns over a coronavirus-led slowdown in global economic recovery. Meanwhile, selloff fueled further on concern authorities will stiffen penalties against financial crimes. At closing bell, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index declined 1.72%, or 56.53 points, to 3,223.18. The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, decreased 2.46%, or 54.10 points, to 2,148.8. The blue-chip CSI300 index dropped 1.92%, or 89.26 points, to 4,563.07. The financial sector sub-index was lower by 1.35% and the consumer staples sector shed 1.68%. The real estate index was down 1.86% and the healthcare sub-index lost 1.63%. The U. S. market tumble came as hopes for a recovery in the U. S. economy receded due to the lower-than-expected U. S. service sector purchasing managers index for September, released by British financial data provider IHS Markit. Investor sentiment was hurt by the U. S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell expressing concern over economic uncertainties amid the novel coronavirus crisis, and pointing to the need for a new stimulus package. Additionally, a survey showed that business growth in the Euro zone ground to a halt in September, throwing economic recovery into question, as fresh restrictions to quell resurgence in coronavirus infections slammed the services industry into reverse. Meanwhile, a recent increase in rising cases of Covid-19 in the US and other nations added to the weak sentiment, with some European countries imposing more social distancing measures. Also, traders rushed to unwind their holdings of small-caps, which are typically targeted by speculators because of the small proportion of free-floating shares, after Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday that Beijing would ramp up a crackdown against stock manipulation and insider trading. Just a day later, the supreme court singled out seven major cases linked to stock and futures trading, echoing Li's call and showcasing its determination to clamp down on market excesses. Zhengzhou Sino-Crystal Diamond, a smaller company on the ChiNext board, shed 19.9% to 5.71 yuan after the Shenzhen bourse restricted the trading of a retail investor who was found to have manipulated the stock this month. All four IPO debutants - Beijing TopNew Info&Tech, Zhejiang Songyuan Automotive Safety Systems, Pinlive Foods and Friend Co. - surged on the mainland's exchanges. Beijing TopNew, an operator of data centres, was the best performer, jumping 446% from its offer price to 69.09 yuan on Shenzhen's ChiNext board. Zhejiang Songyuan, a car parts maker, surged 205% to 41.10 yuan. Pinlive Foods, a food retailer, gained 189% to 77 yuan, while Friend, which provides steel logistic supply-chain services, climbed 44% to 15.70 yuan. CURRENCY NEWS: China's yuan eased against greenback on Thursday, after the central bank set a fixed softer mid-point rate. Prior to the market's opening, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the midpoint rate CNY=PBOC at 6.8028 per dollar, down by 0.06% than previous day fix of 6.7986. In the spot market, onshore yuan CNY=CFXS was changing hands at 6.817, lower by 0.12% from the previous day session close at 6.809. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two days after military talks with China to resolve the border standoff in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India on Thursday said the way ahead will be to refrain from making any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo while the two sides continue discussions to achieve complete disengagement in all friction areas. At a virtual media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said disengagement of troops is a complex process and would require mutually agreed reciprocal actions". Even as two sides work towards complete disengagement in all friction areas, it is at the same time also necessary to ensure stability on the ground. The latest senior commanders meeting should be seen in this overall context," he said. The meeting took place in the backdrop of that held between the defence ministers of the two countries in Moscow on September 4 and another between the two foreign ministers on September 10. The two foreign ministers had reached an agreement that the sides should continue the dialogue and quickly and comprehensively disengage in all the friction areas. India and China held the sixth round of Corps commander-level talks on Monday following which both sides announced a series of decisions including 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. Srivastava said the talks gave the senior commanders an opportunity to have candid and in-depth" exchange of views on stabilising the situation along the LAC. The way ahead will be to refrain from making any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, while the two sides continue their discussions to achieve complete disengagement in all friction areas and to ensure full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas," he said. Srivastava said the next meeting under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs is likely to take place soon. (With inputs from PTI) The Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture has honoured the memory of Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, a former minister of tourism and his special assistant Mr Ferdinand Ayim posthumously, for their visionary leadership that engendered the institution of the Kwahu paragliding festival. A bust of the two was erected and unveiled at the Odweanoma Paragliding field. Mrs Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, the sector minister, unveiled the busts and commissioned the upgraded field at a colourful ceremony at the Odweanoma mountains in the Kwahu South District. A role of honour has also been erected to recognize some special people whose "toil, sacrifices and contributions made the festival feasible". The upgraded paragliding field has facilities such as a modern events ground to host recreational activities, an expanded take-off point for four persons, an enclosed VIP kitchen area and pavement of the event grounds. Speaking at the event, Mrs Oteng-Gyasi said the upgrade of the field was a key component to promote domestic tourism. She said COVID-19 emphasized the need to promote domestic tourism, noting "we cannot rely on foreign tourists all the time and so need to promote domestic tourism to sustain and develop the sector." The Minister hinted of plans to establish a paragliding training school to train local pilots as part of the investment drive in the tourism sector. The history of paragliding dates back to 2003 when as the Tourism Minister, the late Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey initiated the move for paragliding in the Kwahu area. It has since become an annual event as part of the famous Kwahu Easter festival. Barely a year, after the maiden event in 2006, Mr Ferdinand Ayim, the then Special Assistant to the Minister died while on an official trip to see preparations for that years paragliding event in Kwahu. The Odweanoma Paragliding festival was adopted as an activity on the tourism calendar of events in Ghana and except for 2009, it has been held as an aviation sport patronised by both local and international tourists during the Easter season. Distinguished guests at the ceremony include the family members of the two, the Board chairperson of the Ghana Tourist Authority, Mrs Adelaide Ahwireng, Dr Ziblim Iddi, Deputy Minister and chiefs from the Kwahu traditional area. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Sri Lanka will ban the import of most plastic products in a bid to protect wild elephants and deer that die eating the waste, the environment minister announced Friday. Plastic in Sri Lankan landfills is a major killer of elephants, with autopsies showing kilos of it in the stomachs of animals who died after rummaging at dumps. Environment minister Mahinda Amaraweera told parliament legislation was being drafted to stop imports of plastic goods, including polythene, that end up in landfills. Officials said it would be introduced within months. "Plastics are doing untold damage to our wildlife -- elephants, deer and other animals," Amaraweera told AFP shortly after his announcement. "We need to take immediate action to arrest this situation." Sri Lanka has already banned the manufacture or import of non-biodegradable plastic used for wrapping food and shopping bags since 2017. Endangered wild elephants are protected in Sri Lanka by law although clashes with farmers are claiming a heavy toll on both sides. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has given wildlife officials two years to implement a plan to reduce human-elephant conflict that has claimed the lives of 607 elephants and 184 people since last year. Amaraweera said the proposed import ban -- that covers mainly toys and household utensils -- will be extended to local manufacturing, but did not give a timeline. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics Michael Caputo, the Trump loyalist who took a 60-day leave from his post as a Health and Human Services Department spokesman after telling supporters to 'buy ammunition,' has been diagnosed with neck and brain cancer. Caputo burst into the headlines after the emergence of a Facebook video where he accused scientists of sedition. He has metastatic cancer, a state lawmaker said Thursday. Doctors have diagnosed cancer in the head and neck, David DiPietro, a Republican state assemblyman in western New York who said he was acting as a spokesperson for Caputo, told reporters. The Buffalo News first reported the diagnosis. The squamous cell carcinoma originated in Caputo's throat, DiPietro said. Caputo is now home in western New York with his family, the lawmaker said. HHS spokesman Michael Caputo, who has gone on a 60-day medical leave, has been diagnosed with brain and neck cancer, according to a New York state lawmaker. He was directed to treatment by Centers for Disease Control head Dr. Robert Redfield, the Buffalo News reported The Department of Health and Human Services had announced Sept. 16 that Caputo decided to take 60 days 'to focus on his health and the well-being of his family.' The loyalist of President Donald Trump was installed as assistant secretary for public affairs by the White House in April at a time of tense relations with Health Secretary Alex Azar. Caputo, who was born in Buffalo and has no health care background, has faced scrutiny in recent weeks over news reports that he tried to gain editorial control over a scientific weekly published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Caputo also hosted a video on his Facebook page in which he likened government scientists to a 'resistance' against Trump and warned that shooting would break out if Trump won reelection in November and Democratic rival Joe Biden refused to concede. He blasted them as members of the 'deep state.' 'He is now home in Western New York, resting in the loving arms of his family, under the watchful eye of Jesus Christ,' a New York lawmaker said in a statement 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 ''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,' he said. Caputo got treatment at the National Cancer Institute. He went there 'at the urging of a Coronavirus Task Force doctor who noticed the lump,' the Buffalo News reported. He said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield noticed the lump and urged him to get it examined. The paper added that President Trump directed arrangements for him to be admitted at the top national facility. 'He is now home in Western New York, resting in the loving arms of his family, under the watchful eye of Jesus Christ,' DiPietro said. 'The Caputo family wants to thank President Donald Trump and [HHS] Secretary Alex Azar for their friendship and support,' DiPietro said. He told the paper last week he discovered a 'walnut sized' lump on his neck. ''It's something I've been dealing with for months but didn't do anything about it, even though I work in a building full of doctors,' he said. This week during congressional testimony Redfield hit back when asked about Caputo's comments. 'I want to add how disappointed I have been personally when people at HHS made comments that they felt that there was a 'deep state' down at CDC,' Redfield said. '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. NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited ("Teva" or the "Company") (NYSE: TEVA) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and docketed under 20-cv-04660, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise, acquired Teva securities between October 29, 2015 and August 18, 2020, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchased Teva securities during the class period, you have until November 23, 2020, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here for information about joining the class action] Teva, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes generic medicines, specialty medicines, and biopharmaceutical products in North America, Europe, and internationally. Among Teva's products is Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), a prescription drug that is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis ("MS"). Throughout the Class Period, Teva consistently described Copaxone as the Company's "leading specialty medicine," reporting Copaxone sales and revenues that consistently dwarfed the same metrics for other Teva specialty products. Teva attributed Copaxone's commercial success to "having the right mix" of, among other things, "a fantastic underlying demand," "patients hav[ing] access to it," and an "unparalleled . . . track record of both efficacy and safety." The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Teva had made substantial illegal kickback payments to charitable foundations to cover Medicare co-payment obligations of patients taking Copaxone; (ii) accordingly, Teva's revenues derived from Copaxone were in part the product of unlawful conduct and thus unsustainable; (iii) the foregoing misconduct subjected Teva to a foreseeable risk of heightened regulatory scrutiny and enforcement, as well as reputational harm when the truth became known; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On August 18, 2020, the United States Department of Justice ("DOJ") issued a press release announcing that it had filed a complaint against Teva under the False Claims Act. Specifically, "[t]he government alleges that, from 2007 through 2015, Teva paid The Assistance Fund (TAF) and Chronic Disease Fund (CDF) with the intent and understanding that the foundations would use Teva's money to cover the Medicare co-pays of patients taking Copaxone. During the same period, Teva raised the price of Copaxone from approximately $17,000 per year to over $73,000 per year." On this news, Teva's American depositary receipt ("ADR") price fell $1.11 per ADR from its previous close on August 17, 2020, or 9.6%, to close at $10.48 per ADR on August 18, 2020, on unusually heavy trading volume. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP Related Links www.pomerantzlaw.com BOSTON - One of the of the most important questions in managing a hospital's response to the COVID-19 pandemic is determining when healthcare workers infected with COVID-19 can return to the job. Recently, investigators from Mass General Brigham (MGB) assessed the experience of using a test-based protocol in over 1000 infected health care workers. Their research was published in the latest edition of Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. The "test-based" approach involves repeat testing after resolution of symptoms until two consecutive negative tests are obtained 24 hours apart. In the alternative time-plus-symptoms approach, healthcare workers return to work after a set period of time since their symptom onset (or in the case of asymptomatic infection, the date of their positive test) has elapsed and symptoms, if present, have improved or resolved. "We've learned a lot throughout the pandemic," explains Erica S. Shenoy, MD, PhD, associate chief of the Infection Control Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the study's lead author. "For example, we now know from multiple published studies that individuals can have repeat positive tests for weeks and those positive test do not reflect infectivity after their initial illness has resolved." These findings have led to modifications in how public health and healthcare facilities determine how long individuals need to be isolated to prevent transmission to others, Shenoy says. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s April guidance advised either repeat "test-based" strategy to determine when workers could return to their healthcare jobs or "time-plus-symptoms" approach. Under the test-based strategy, healthcare workers had to have two negative back-to-back PCR tests to return to work. For this study, conducted between March 7 and April 22, 2020, employees from across Mass General Brigham (MGB) health system who showed symptoms of COVID-19 were referred to its Occupational Health Services department for evaluation and a nasopharyngeal (NP) sample test using viral RNA nucleic acid amplification methods. Return to work criteria at that time required: resolution of fever without fever-reducing medications, improvement in respiratory symptoms, and at least two consecutive negative nasopharyngeal tests collected longer than or equal to 24 hours apart. There was no minimum interval of time from resolution of symptoms to first test of clearance specified. The researchers then analyzed the data to evaluate results of the two strategies and found that using resolution of symptoms and passage of time would have averted more than 4,000 days of lost worktime, or a mean of 7.2 additional days of work lost per employee compared to using a time-plus-symptom approach. Both approaches are options per public health recommendations, though more recently, the time-plus-symptom approach is now the preferred strategy per the CDC the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and has replaced the prior test-based approach at MGB. One additional potential benefit of moving away from test-based approaches, though not assessed in this study, was the psychological impact on employees of repeat testing. "We've had employees who tested positive repeatedly but had recovered for weeks and they were frustrated we couldn't bring them back to work," Shenoy says. About 70 percent of participants had at least one negative test result during the study, and of those, about 62 percent had a two negative test results in a row, she adds. A substantial number of healthcare workers diagnosed and treated for COVID-19 had repeatedly positive PCR tests. Such long duration of PCR positivity has been seen in other studies as well. Determining when workers can return to work is a process that can affect many aspects of hospital operations, Shenoy says. "Patient and worker safety, flow of resources, speed and access to care, are some of the things impacted." Based on the studies findings, and evolving public health guidance to prefer time-plus-symptom over test-based strategies, MGB moved to the latter over the summer. "Moving to a time+symptom approach was a vast improvement over past reliance on a less predictable test-based approach. Employees are now able to anticipate when they will be allowed to return to work, and it has reduced the strain on our testing capacity. This revision in testing strategy is consistent with our evolving medical understanding of test results and in keeping with our high commitment to workplace safety," said Dean Hashimoto, MD, chief medical officer of MGB Occupational Health Services. ### About the Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH Research Institute conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the nation, with an annual research budget of more than $1 billion and comprises more than 8,500 researchers working across more than 30 institutes, centers and departments. In August 2020 the MGH was named #6 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its list of "America's Best Hospitals." NEW HAVEN School officials say that, despite challenges, a fleet of school buses is ready to take to the road safely when in-person school resumes in November. With concerns afoot about disinfecting and social distancing on school buses, the Board of Alders Education Committee this week spoke to district and transportation officials about planning theyd done for transporting city students. The workshop was planned before the COVID-19 pandemic. Alder Anna Festa, D-10, requested the session after the decision to eliminate thousands of bus stops led to hundreds of students being skipped over for transportation at the start of the 2019-20 school year. Chief Operating Officer Michael Pinto told the alders that the districts poor communication with bus cards being mailed out two days prior to the start of school led to the mass confusion. However, once the district handled the mistakes, it accomplished a much-needed update to bus routes to increase efficiency and reduce costs, he said. Im happy to hear a lot of those issues were rectified and addressed, Festa said. School district officials do not expect families to be caught unaware this year, noting bus cards were sent out, so most families know what route their children are on. However, the prevalence of COVID-19 has kept school transportation a concern. We want to be sure the kids are following protocol and behaving themselves, particularly in regard to the COVID situation, Festa said. Pinto said buses will be disinfected after every service with Signet Neutral Disinfectant. Its both safe for use and effective at killing the SARS/COVID-19 virus, Pinto said. Buses will be loaded back to front in the morning, with the first student picked up each morning going to the back of the bus and each subsequent student sitting a row ahead on the alternate side. In the afternoon, students will line up in that order before boarding the bus, leaving the first student to be dropped off in the front of the bus so he or she does not bypass other students when stepping off the vehicle. New Havens schools are operating remotely now, other than 11 special education classrooms. Although only about 100 students were learning in New Haven Public School buildings as of Monday, the district also provides transportation for charter and parochial schools. Paul Demaio, a senior manager for First Student, said the company is operating 65 buses in New Haven as of this week; bus monitors are on every bus currently running, although there are more than 200 buses that do not have bus monitors ready to work. Pinto said funding for bus monitors is not inexpensive. The district has projected it would cost $2 million. We recognize the challenges of having kids stay in their seat and getting antsy, so we have posted to hire additional bus monitors, Pinto said. There is going to be signage on the bus to remind kids to stay seated and maintain their mask at all times and social distancing. Pinto said there are no mandatory temperature checks for students and Demaio said there are no mandatory temperature checks for drivers. Well encourage all families to do self checks at home, Pinto said. Demaio said temperature checks were found to be unreliable in planning because of the influence weather has on thermometer readings. When Alder Eli Sabin, D-1, asked whether there was a plan to ventilate buses such as keeping windows open. Demaio said drivers were issued guidance to keep windows open as a ventilation best practice, but there is no requirement to do so. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com Ahmedabad: Putting up a smokescreen of arguments to defend ones client may be par for the course, but the Gujarat High Court did not take it lightly when it saw a lawyer smoking during a virtual hearing. Due to the coronavirus scare, the high court is hearing cases through video conference. During one such hearing, Justice A S Supehia noticed that the complainants lawyer was sitting in a car and smoking. The court chided the lawyer, J V Ajmera, for his irresponsible conduct" and imposed a fine on him. This Court seriously deprecates such conduct of advocate J V Ajmera," it said in an order and asked him to deposit Rs 10,000 in the registry within a week. It was not expected from an advocate to be smoking in the car during Court proceedings. Such behaviour of the advocate is required to be strictly condemned," the judge further said. After this episode, the court has also barred advocates from attending proceedings from any vehicle or any open ground". The court directed the Bar Council of Gujarat and Bar Association of High Court to instruct their members to attend online hearings from residences or offices". WASHINGTON -- Hundreds of lawmakers from Europe and North America have written to Alyaksandr Lukashenka to demand he release Belarus's political prisoners -- a move underscoring widespread outrage in the West over the violent repression of protests in the country. The 270 legislators from 29 countries raised concerns about the detention of Maryya Kalesnikava and two of her colleagues on the opposition Coordination Council. They also raised concerns about the detention since late July of Vitali Shkliarov, a political strategist with dual U.S. and Belarusian citizenship who is the husband of a U.S. diplomat. As transatlantic legislators strongly committed to preserving and strengthening liberty, democracy, and human rights in Europe, we write with deep concern regarding the [Lukashenka] regimes unjust detention of opposition leader [Maryya] Kalesnikava and her colleagues,the legislators wrote. Kalesnikava, Maksim Znak, and Illya Saley are ranking members of the Coordination Council -- the opposition organization set up after Belarus's disputed August 9 presidential election with the stated aim of facilitating a peaceful transfer of power. Kalesnikava and her colleagues have been jailed along with thousands of demonstrators as Lukashenka has sought to squash the largest political protests in the country since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Lukashenka's security forces also are accused of torturing hundreds of citizens who oppose his grip on power. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusian citizens have taken to the streets to protest the official results announced after the election -- which gave Lukashenka another five-year term with about 80 percent of the vote. The demonstrators say the vote was rigged in Lukashenka's favor. They are demanding he step down from power and hold a new election. Lukashenka has not shown any sign of giving in to the demonstrators' demands. He held a secretive inauguration on September 23 -- prompting the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union to declare him an illegitimate ruler. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the EU are preparing to impose sanctions against Belarusian officials deemed responsible for human rights abuses. We strongly support carefully targeted sanctions against human rights offenders in and outside of Belarus, in coordination with transatlantic allies and international partners, the lawmakers stated in their joint letter. A 44-year-old man has been charged with two counts of mischief after a new rainbow crosswalk was vandalized last month in Aurora. Just before midnight on Aug. 20, York Region police said a pick-up truck driver left black tire skid marks over the rainbow area and then returned a short time later to leave more tire marks. The rainbow crosswalk, installed earlier that day at the intersection of Yonge and Wellington streets, is the first one in York Region and has been hailed as a permanent symbol of inclusivity in the region. Phillip Simmons, of Newmarket, was arrested Wednesday after investigators released photos of the vehicle. The crosswalk was also targetted two days later in a separate incident after it was spray-painted. Police have charged a 57-year-old man in that incident. York Region police are asking anyone with additional information to call 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7141. Irelyne Lavery is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: ilavery@thestar.ca Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Satterfield, prepares ahead of his address to the 11th Annual International Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) Conference in Tel Aviv ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador to Turkey said on Wednesday companies will consider abandoning its market if it fails to fully meet debt payments to American pharmaceutical firms, and he criticised a new Turkish law clamping down on big social media sites. Addressing a trade conference streamed online, David Satterfield said debts owed by government hospitals to pharmaceutical companies in the United States and elsewhere had risen to around $2.3 billion from some $230 million a year ago. Satterfield said U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross had raised the issue with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak a year ago and was assured that arrangements would be made for prompt payment. A year later those companies were being asked to accept significant reductions in the amounts owed, Satterfield said, adding there will be consequences for non-payment of debt or reductions in payment. "Companies will consider departing the Turkish market or will reduce exposure to Turkish market. This is not a direction which serves the interests of Turkey," he said. Bilateral trade amounted to some $21 billion last year and the NATO allies have said they aim to lift that to $100 billion. Yet there are hurdles including U.S. tariffs on Turkish steel, and Ankara's purchase of Russian missile defences last year that prompted Washington to oust Turkey from a consortium producing F-35 jets. At Tuesday's conference hosted by the U.S.-Turkey Business Council, Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said the steel tariffs and the removal of Turkey from a U.S. trade preference programme have damaged efforts to reach the trade goal. "Such policies by the U.S. severely limit Turkish firms' ability to enter the U.S. market," she said. Satterfield also voiced concern over a law adopted in July that Erdogan's party says will make mostly U.S. social media sites more accountable to Turkish authorities' concerns over content. Critics say it will silence dissent. "A policy that mandates large social media firms to store consumer data only in Turkey can create an inherently uneven playing field," he said, adding it could ultimately compel U.S. firms to leave the market. (Reporting by Jonathan Spicer and Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Transistors based on carbon rather than silicon could potentially boost computers' speed and cut their power consumption more than a thousandfold -- think of a mobile phone that holds its charge for months -- but the set of tools needed to build working carbon circuits has remained incomplete until now. A team of chemists and physicists at the University of California, Berkeley, has finally created the last tool in the toolbox, a metallic wire made entirely of carbon, setting the stage for a ramp-up in research to build carbon-based transistors and, ultimately, computers. "Staying within the same material, within the realm of carbon-based materials, is what brings this technology together now," said Felix Fischer, UC Berkeley professor of chemistry, noting that the ability to make all circuit elements from the same material makes fabrication easier. "That has been one of the key things that has been missing in the big picture of an all-carbon-based integrated circuit architecture." Metal wires -- like the metallic channels used to connect transistors in a computer chip -- carry electricity from device to device and interconnect the semiconducting elements within transistors, the building blocks of computers. The UC Berkeley group has been working for several years on how to make semiconductors and insulators from graphene nanoribbons, which are narrow, one-dimensional strips of atom-thick graphene, a structure composed entirely of carbon atoms arranged in an interconnected hexagonal pattern resembling chicken wire. The new carbon-based metal is also a graphene nanoribbon, but designed with an eye toward conducting electrons between semiconducting nanoribbons in all-carbon transistors. The metallic nanoribbons were built by assembling them from smaller identical building blocks: a bottom-up approach, said Fischer's colleague, Michael Crommie, a UC Berkeley professor of physics. Each building block contributes an electron that can flow freely along the nanoribbon. While other carbon-based materials -- like extended 2D sheets of graphene and carbon nanotubes -- can be metallic, they have their problems. Reshaping a 2D sheet of graphene into nanometer scale strips, for example, spontaneously turns them into semiconductors, or even insulators. Carbon nanotubes, which are excellent conductors, cannot be prepared with the same precision and reproducibility in large quantities as nanoribbons. "Nanoribbons allow us to chemically access a wide range of structures using bottom-up fabrication, something not yet possible with nanotubes," Crommie said. "This has allowed us to basically stitch electrons together to create a metallic nanoribbon, something not done before. This is one of the grand challenges in the area of graphene nanoribbon technology and why we are so excited about it." Metallic graphene nanoribbons -- which feature a wide, partially-filled electronic band characteristic of metals -- should be comparable in conductance to 2D graphene itself. "We think that the metallic wires are really a breakthrough; it is the first time that we can intentionally create an ultra-narrow metallic conductor -- a good, intrinsic conductor -- out of carbon-based materials, without the need for external doping," Fischer added. Crommie, Fischer and their colleagues at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) will publish their findings in the Sept. 25 issue of the journal Science. Tweaking the topology Silicon-based integrated circuits have powered computers for decades with ever increasing speed and performance, per Moore's Law, but they are reaching their speed limit -- that is, how fast they can switch between zeros and ones. It's also becoming harder to reduce power consumption; computers already use a substantial fraction of the world's energy production. Carbon-based computers could potentially switch many times times faster than silicon computers and use only fractions of the power, Fischer said. Graphene, which is pure carbon, is a leading contender for these next-generation, carbon-based computers. Narrow strips of graphene are primarily semiconductors, however, and the challenge has been to make them also work as insulators and metals -- opposite extremes, totally nonconducting and fully conducting, respectively -- so as to construct transistors and processors entirely from carbon. Several years ago, Fischer and Crommie teamed up with theoretical materials scientist Steven Louie, a UC Berkeley professor of physics, to discover new ways of connecting small lengths of nanoribbon to reliably create the full gamut of conducting properties. Two years ago, the team demonstrated that by connecting short segments of nanoribbon in the right way, electrons in each segment could be arranged to create a new topological state -- a special quantum wave function -- leading to tunable semiconducting properties. In the new work, they use a similar technique to stitch together short segments of nanoribbons to create a conducting metal wire tens of nanometers long and barely a nanometer wide. The nanoribbons were created chemically and imaged on very flat surfaces using a scanning tunneling microscope. Simple heat was used to induce the molecules to chemically react and join together in just the right way. Fischer compares the assembly of daisy-chained building blocks to a set of Legos, but Legos designed to fit at the atomic scale. "They are all precisely engineered so that there is only one way they can fit together. It's as if you take a bag of Legos, and you shake it, and out comes a fully assembled car," he said. "That is the magic of controlling the self-assembly with chemistry." Once assembled, the new nanoribbon's electronic state was a metal -- just as Louie predicted -- with each segment contributing a single conducting electron. The final breakthrough can be attributed to a minute change in the nanoribbon structure. "Using chemistry, we created a tiny change, a change in just one chemical bond per about every 100 atoms, but which increased the metallicity of the nanoribbon by a factor of 20, and that is important, from a practical point of view, to make this a good metal," Crommie said. The two researchers are working with electrical engineers at UC Berkeley to assemble their toolbox of semiconducting, insulating and metallic graphene nanoribbons into working transistors. "I believe this technology will revolutionize how we build integrated circuits in the future," Fischer said. "It should take us a big step up from the best performance that can be expected from silicon right now. We now have a path to access faster switching speeds at much lower power consumption. That is what is driving the push toward a carbon-based electronics semiconductor industry in the future." ### Co-lead authors of the paper are Daniel Rizzo and Jingwei Jiang from UC Berkeley's Department of Physics and Gregory Veber from the Department of Chemistry. Other co-authors are Steven Louie, Ryan McCurdy, Ting Cao, Christopher Bronner and Ting Chen of UC Berkeley. Jiang, Cao, Louie, Fischer and Crommie are affiliated with Berkeley Lab, while Fischer and Crommie are members of the Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute. The research was supported by the Office of Naval Research, the Department of Energy, the Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Science and the National Science Foundation. ANN ARBOR, MI After casting his absentee ballot at the University of Michigan Museum of Art on Thursday, Sept. 24, UM law student Peter Lom left knowing he has done his civic duty with Election Day still more than a month away. Ive always voted, but I have never been this certain to vote in my life and it really feels somewhat existential, Lom said, adding he felt passionately about his vote for Joe Biden over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential race. It just feels like our democracy is sort of crumbling and this is sort of the last chance we have before something really bad might happen. I mean, just yesterday the president did not definitively say that he would accept the results, which is a terrifying thing. If Obama had said that, the right would be freaking out. So, instead its me whos freaking out. Trump wont pledge peaceful transfer of power if he loses Lom was among a steady stream of UM students who filtered into the new campus voting location Thursday as early absentee voting is now underway across Michigan. Thursday was the deadline for local clerks across the state to make absentee ballots available to voters. The Saginaw city clerks office said it started issuing absentee ballots on Wednesday. In Grand Rapids, voters have been able to go down to the city clerks office and fill out absentee ballots for several days already, a clerks office representative said. Anticipating record-high turnout, the Ann Arbor clerks office has opened a new satellite office at the UM art museum, complete with voting booths and a ballot drop box. The campus voting location is currently open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Voter registration and in-person ballot requests there began Tuesday, City Clerk Jackie Beaudry said. We are registering about 200 new voters per day there and most are requesting ballots at the same time, she said. We are very pleased with these numbers and expect to hit 1,000 registrations by early next week. Its a similar scene at the Ann Arbor clerks office inside city hall, where early in-person absentee voting also is underway, with a limit to seven or eight voters at a time due to COVID-19 pandemic safety precautions. Some voters are requesting and casting ballots on the spot, while others are taking them home to return later. Ballots were sent to about 35,000 Ann Arbor voters by mail Thursday, Beaudry said. Ann Arbor voters to decide tax proposal that could raise $160M for affordable housing Ann Arbor voter Albert Cavallaro was at city hall Thursday, filling out a change-of-address form with plans to later cast an absentee ballot for Biden. He said he is feeling stressed about the election and making sure to cast an in-person ballot in case there are any legal challenges to mail-in votes. Im worried about lawsuits, Cavallaro said. I think, even though theres coronavirus, it might be important for Biden to get an early lead in the in-person vote. Over at the campus voting location, UM freshman Aaryan Shah had just registered and received a ballot after a 10-minute wait. Its his first time voting in a presidential election. Shah said he is excited about voting, but hes taking his ballot home to do his homework first. Aside from the presidential contest, in which he said he will probably go blue for Biden, there is a long list of races and issues to decide on both sides of the ballot. Students leaving the museum Thursday said they appreciated the convenience of having a one-stop shop to register and vote early right on campus. For the presidential primary back in March, students were bused from the UM campus over to city hall, where there were long lines. It took longer to fill out the ballot than standing in line, Lom said after he voted at the museum Thursday, saying it went smoothly. I just hope everyone does their research before they step in line. Ed Golembiewski, Washtenaw Countys elections director, said city and township clerks in the county had issued over 103,000 absentee ballots as of Thursday. The countys previous record for a November election was set in 2018, when 47,720 voters requested and received absentee ballots, 45,975 of which were returned in time, he said. Various cities across Michigan and the country have received grant funding from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, a group backed by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to ensure the 2020 elections go safely and smoothly. The Kalamazoo City Commission this week voted to accept a $218,869 grant from the center to encourage absentee voting, ensure safe Election Day voting, expand voter education and outreach and launch poll worker recruitment and training. Kalamazoos plan also includes $11,000 in costs to be reimbursed by the Michigan Secretary of State to put return postage on absentee ballots. Other municipalities are doing the same. We want to encourage voting, Kalamazoo City Clerk Scott Borling said. We want people to vote. MLive reporters Brad Devereaux, Bob Johnson and Michael Kransz contributed to this report. MORE FROM MLIVE: Poll: Trump trails Biden in Midwest battlegrounds, but undecided voters could make the difference Michigan congresswoman worries Trump wont concede if he loses election City of Saginaw gets $400K grant for safe election process in November election Ann Arbor nets $417K grant from center backed by Facebook CEO for 2020 election Donald Trump on Detroit Police Chief James Craig: I think hes terrific (Newser) President Trump has made no secret of his feelings for Meghan Markle after she and Prince Harry urged Americans to vote during a Time 100 special. "I'm not a fan of hers and she probably has heard that, but I wish a lot of luck to Harry," Trump said at a White House press conference on Wednesday. "He's going to need it." Neither the Duke nor Duchess of Sussex mentioned a candidate by name in the video released on Voter Registration Day, though some interpreted it as anti-Trump. The reporter who questioned Trump said the California-based couple had "essentially encouraged people to vote for Joe Biden," per the AP. story continues below Actually, Markle said this was the most important election of our lifetime. "When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard," she said. Harry called on Americans to "reject hate speech, misinformation, and online negativity," after which Buckingham Palace clarified that his comments were "made in a personal capacity." Trump and Markle have a history of trading insults, though. In 2016, Markle called Trump "divisive" and "misogynistic" and suggested she'd move to Canada if he won the presidential election, per People. Alerted to these comments last year, Trump said the duchess was "nasty." (Others were critical of Harry and Meghan's video.) Israel is on the way to a full lockdown. The government decided last night to impose a full lockdown starting Sept. 25 until the end of the Sukkoth holiday on Oct. 10. The debate that preceded the decision lasted for eight hours. The main disagreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partners from Blue and White was around the question of protests. Reportedly, Netanyahu pushed to impose a complete closure in order to prohibit and limit protests against him by the prime ministers residence in Jerusalem. But while Israels prime minister is busy stopping protests against him even at the economic price of a full lockdown and stopping all commercial activity, some cities have taken their own measures and decided to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 within the city bounds instead of waiting for the state. One of the cities that has excelled at this task is Kafr Qasim. Shortly after his nomination, coronavirus tzar Ronni Gamzu decided on a "traffic light plan," categorizing Israeli towns and villages into red, orange, yellow and green, according to the rate of infection. Kafr Qasim was declared last month a red city," but today it is already designated a yellow city, and the mayor hopes that it will turn green in a week. This success story even won praise and a visit from former Minister of Defense and current Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett, for whom the fight against COVID-19 in Israel has become a goal on the way to the next election, as today he has 21 mandates according to a Channel 12 poll. So what is the secret to the success of Kafr Qasim? In a conversation with Al-Monitor, Mayor Adel Bdir said, A month ago we were labeled a red city, and we were even a hot red city with an infection rate of 10.6%. Today we are classified as a yellow city with a 6% infection rate, according to the traffic light plan. We all hope we are on the way to becoming a green city, as we are already down to 149 active patients." In regard to the action plan the city has adopted, he said, We developed a plan called 'Moving from red to green in seven steps,' which was formulated in cooperation with COVID-19 czar Ronni Gamzu, to deal with the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the city. The plan is based on seven steps that include creating action staff and delegating roles, training the staff, creating a database, frequent meetings to assess the situation, drafting residents to comply with the plan, starting work and adjusting in real time, and an information system that supports full control of the data." Bdir added, "The plans emphasis is on raising awareness of tests, cutting off chains of transmission by reaching all residents and clarifying the need for isolation, full control over illness data by building a database, supervising and enforcing health guidelines, and frequent evaluation of the situation by means of cooperation between all the parties like the local authority, the Home Front Command and the health maintenance organizations. In view of this plan and its success in lowering the number of coronavirus patients in Kafr Qasim, which had become a national hot spot a few months ago, one might ask if the time has come to transfer authority from the government to local authorities. Indeed, the southern town of Yeruham has also turned from red to green within two weeks, not least because of Mayor Tal Ohana, who decided to take the reins and deal personally with the fight against the coronavirus, with great success. Back to Kafr Qasim: Theres no doubt that one of the main factors that led to the rise in infections were the many weddings in the town of Kafr Qasim specifically and in the Arab population in general, as I wrote in a previous Al-Monitor article. According to the mayor, he decided personally, together with many physicians and public officials, not to participate in weddings. Their example, among other things, led to a decrease in the number of weddings in the city. And what do city residents say? It seems opinions are divided regarding the success of the plan, despite the data that shows great success. On the one hand, Mahmoud Frej, a supporter of the plan who works in the high-tech industry, said, As of now Kafr Qasim is classified as a yellow city. If we continue at this rate, I believe that in a few days we will also become a green city. We had 450 active patients and we went down to 138, and today there were only four positive cases out of 60 tests, as of this evening. Theres no doubt that the plan isnt perfect and there are sometimes failures, but theres a decrease in the number of patients, where the main source of infection was weddings. The municipality got on top of the fight against COVID-19 with the help of quite a few volunteers and the Home Front Command, which opened a center in the municipality and recruited a private medical center in the city, convinced patients to move to a motel and promised to financially assist families with the budget the municipality received from the Home Front Command. On the other hand, there are some who argue that despite the positive data the celebration in the city is premature. In conversation with Al-Monitor, Donia Abu Zayid, an educational consultant, said, The intent behind the plan is good but unfortunately the implementation isnt always right. I feel that there arent enough [health] professionals in town who are involved in the plan, and it depends too much on public information. Its true that the rate of infection in the city declined, but we have to remember that it happened with the beginning of the school year when they mandated that all teachers be tested, and this lowered the positivity rate in the results. Indeed, the direction is positive, but as I said they are celebrating too soon, because theres not 100% compliance on the part of residents, especially since many residents are living with the sense of denial of the situation and the virus. DURHAM, N.H., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Soteria Solutions, the leader in innovative programs that prevent sexual and interpersonal harassment while building safe and respectful organizational cultures, was awarded the OVW's Training and Technical Assistance (TA) Initiative Grant for $399,924. Soteria Solutions will provide training and technical assistance to institutions of higher education through the Strengthening Campus Needs Assessments and Strategic Planning Project. U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), along with Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Annie Kuster (NH-02) announced the award. "Combatting sexual violence in our society requires training, education and resources to help stop violence before it happens, as well as empower peers, colleagues or friends to step in if they suspect someone is unsafe. Looking upstream by focusing on prevention education is essential in creating long-lasting change and eradicating violence in our communities. These federal funds will make important investments in research to develop programs to enhance safety at our schools," said Senator Shaheen. "I'm glad to see Soteria Solutions receive this award, which will bolster their programming that enhances safety training and prevention practices at campuses throughout the region and state. As government funding legislation for next year is negotiated, I'll keep fighting to secure funds for OVW grants that allow organizations like Soteria to continue their important work." Soteria Solutions President, Jane Stapleton, explains that "We are excited to work with the Office on Violence Against Women Campus Grant unit to support campus grantees in their efforts to create safe campuses. We will provide training and technical assistance to support grantees strategic planning and assessment so that they can increase their effectiveness to respond to and prevent sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking on campus. This important work aligns with Soteria's mission to create safe and respectful living, learning and work environments. Strategic planning and assessment are foundational elements to creating comprehensive approaches to prevent sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking on campus. Soteria Solutions is a leader in using research and best practices to inform our clients' prevention and response strategies." Soteria Solutions , a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping practitioners reduce incidents of sexual and interpersonal violence and harassment, was co-founded by Jane Stapleton and Dr. Sharyn Potter, University of New Hampshire (UNH) researchers who also established the Prevention Innovations Research Center (PIRC) at UNH. As co-founders, Stapleton and Potter have conducted extensive original research about sexual violence prevention and response. They are routinely called upon by academic, military, and government bodies for input and guidance, and their work has been recognized through both awards and participation on bodies such as President Obama's White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. Jane Stapleton will lead this project with the support of Soteria Solutions' employees: LB Klein, Caroline Leyva, Michelle Bangen, along with project consultants at RTI International and Langford & Associates. Specifically, this project aims to improve both the effectiveness of campus grantee's work and strategies used to respond to and prevent sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking while also increasing communication between the OVW Campus Unit and Campus grantees. In addition to this award, Soteria Solutions continues to make a positive impact with its flagship products of Bringing in the Bystander Prevention Programs in Colleges and High Schools as well as Workplace Solutions for businesses looking to build sexual harassment prevention skills. Developed within PIRC and licensed to almost 600 high schools and colleges, with partners in the U.S. and around the world, Bringing in the Bystander is a proven, research-informed curriculum that gives individuals the tools to safely and effectively intervene in situations where an incident is occurring, or where other individuals may be at risk. Soteria Solutions also offers the Know Your Power Bystander Social Marketing Campaign. This messaging campaign tool has been demonstrated to resonate with students while reinforcing important bystander intervention principles. SOURCE Soteria Solutions Related Links https://www.soteriasolutions.org Kelly Craft, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said she was "astonished and disgusted" by the discussion. Credit:AP "Shame on each of you. I am astonished and disgusted by the content of today's discussion," Craft said. She said other representatives were "squandering this opportunity for political purposes". "President Trump has made it very clear: We will do whatever is right, even if it's unpopular, because, let me tell you what, this is not a popularity contest," Craft said. She quoted Trump's speech on Tuesday to the virtual opening of the General Assembly's leaders' meeting in which he said that to chart a better future, "we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China". "The Chinese Communist Party's decision to hide the origins of this virus, minimise its danger, and suppress scientific co-operation transformed a local epidemic into a global pandemic," Craft said, adding that these actions "prove that not all member states are equally committed to public health, transparency , and their international obligations". Chinese UN Ambassador Zhang Jun asked for the floor at the end of the meeting and delivered a lengthy retort, saying "China resolutely opposes and rejects the baseless accusations by the United States". "Abusing the platform of the UN and its Security Council, the US has been spreading political virus and disinformation, and creating confrontation and division," Zhang said. Zhang said: "The US should understand that its failure in handling COVID-19 is totally its fault." The United Nations chief said in opening the Security Council meeting that the world failed to co-operate in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Guterres said that if the world responds to even more catastrophic challenges with the same disunity and disarray, "I fear the worst." He said the international community's failure "was the result of a lack of global preparedness, co-operation, unity and solidarity". Guterres pointed to the nearly 1 million people around the world that the coronavirus has killed, and the more than 30 million who have been infected. He said the global response was more and more fragmented, and "as countries go in different directions, the virus goes in every direction". Spain tops 700,000 coronavirus cases Spain's cumulative tally of confirmed coronavirus infections passed 700,000 on Thursday and authorities warned of tougher times ahead in the densely populated virus hotspot region of Madrid, which accounts for more than a third of hospital admissions. The number of confirmed cases has spiked since the end of a nationwide lockdown in late June, adding 200,000 in less than a month, and now stands at 704,209, the highest in Western Europe. The total number of COVID-19 fatalities rose by 84 to 31,118, including 13 deaths registered in the past 24 hours. Daily deaths are now around their highest levels since early May, but below the late March record of nearly 900. Authorities in Madrid, which has the highest share of hospital capacity occupied by COVID-19 patients and about 500 people hospitalised a day this week, have imposed a partial lockdown in districts with high contagion rates, and could announce more measures on Friday, according to local officials. "Tough weeks are coming in Madrid. We must act with resolve to bring the pandemic under control," Health Minister Salvador Illa said before meeting regional officials. Illa has said the second wave of infections in Spain has a lower intensity and velocity than the first one, the high numbers owing mostly to mass testing that now allows authorities to detect six or seven cases out of 10, as opposed to one in 10 a few months earlier. Critics say UK hasn't learned from mistakes Britain bungled its response to the coronavirus the first time around. Now many scientists fear it's about to do it again. The virus is on the rise once more in the UK, which has recorded almost 42,000 COVID-19 deaths, with confirmed daily infections hitting a record-high 6634 on Thursday, though deaths remain far below their April peak. A sign in central Manchester urges people to act now to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as cases surge. Credit:AP The surge has brought new restrictions on daily life, the prospect of a grim winter of mounting deaths and a feeling of deja vu. Loading "We didn't react quick enough in March," epidemiologist John Edmunds, a member of the government's scientific advisory committee, told the BBC. "I think we haven't learnt from our mistake back then and we're, unfortunately, about to repeat it." The UK is not alone in seeing a second wave of COVID-19. European countries including France, Spain and the Netherlands are struggling to suppress rising outbreaks while limiting the economic damage. But Britain's pandemic response has revealed a roster of weaknesses, including unwieldy government structures, a fraying public health system, poor communication by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government and a reluctance to learn from other countries. "We have to ask why a country with such reputed health and intelligence institutions has been so incapable of combating the COVID pandemic," Gus O'Donnell, the former head of Britain's civil service, said. The state Assembly passed a bill Thursday to potentially free thousands of New Jersey inmates early from a prison system with the highest coronavirus death rate in the nation. The proposal, S2519, cleared the Assembly in a 41-33 vote, with three abstentions after a brief debate, gaining just the minimum number of votes needed to pass the lower house. A broader version was previously given the green light by the state Senate, and senators re-approved the new, more limited bill in a 22-15 vote Thursday afternoon. Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign it into law, according to an administrative source who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. If we dont act now as policy makers, we will continue to have blood on our hands, Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, D-Hudson, and one of the bills sponsors, said Wednesday. While the crisis within prisons isnt nearly as dire as it was earlier in the pandemic, proponents say early releases are still necessary because the state could be hit with a second wave of COVID-19. Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips, R-Bergen, disagreed. Knocking months off peoples sentences was counterproductive to the deterrent effect of punishment, he said Thursday, especially since some inmates convicted of violent crimes were still eligible. If the proposal is fully approved, the first releases should begin within 16 days of Murphys signature. While the bill moved faster than some legislation, its winding path was still agonizing for those affected. Many inmates were even told they would get out earlier in the month when the bill looked like it would pass in August. Nobody can begin to understand how painful and devastating that was to us and to our families, Nicole Guyette, an inmate at the Millicent Fenwick Halfway House in Paterson, said Wednesday on a conference call organized by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. Women packed their bags weeks ago in anticipation of release, Guyette said, and many still couldnt bring themselves to unpack. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Protesters first demanded early releases in May as deaths mounted behind bars. The bill gained early bipartisan support, but some of those same supporters hesitated when organizations that help inmates find jobs and housing said they werent equipped to support new releases. Other lawmakers were concerned a former prisoner might commit a violent crime, Mukherji said, similar to how the convicted murderer Willie Horton assaulted more people in the 1980s, in a case that helped derail Michael Dukakis' presidential campaign. As a result, proponents beefed up support for reentry groups and changed the bill to exclude anyone convicted of murder or aggravated sexual assault. That exclusion affects about 71 people who would otherwise be eligible, according to Mukherji and the ACLU-NJ. The civil rights group said about 2,500 to 3,000 could still benefit from the legislation, which is unique in the nation. The number is close to a fifth of the current prison population. Under the proposal, anyone with less than a year left could have up to eight months knocked off their sentence. Juveniles would be eligible and people on parole could also have time reduced, as long as their parole was not in the process of being revoked. Reductions would continue on a rolling basis as long as the public health emergency continues. Repetitive, compulsive" sex offenders would also be excluded, and the bill bars former prisoners from contacting victims. Violating that rule could put someone back in prison for more than a year. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after police were called to reports of a man on fire in south London. The arrest was made by detectives investigating the death of Loeike Guei, 23, of Thornton Heath. Police were called to Commonside East, Mitcham, at 6.12am on September 17 to reports of a man on fire. Officers attended and the body of Mr Guei was found. Scotland Yard said the suspect, 32, is in custody at a south London police station. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and perverting the course of justice. Mr Guei's family have been told about the arrest. A post-mortem examination gave a head injury as the preliminary cause of Mr Guei's death. Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, of the Specialist Crime Command, said: Loeikes family have been intensely shocked by the loss of their loved one and are at the very beginning of coming to terms with their grief. Foremost in our thoughts are their welfare they are being supported by specially trained officers and we ask that their privacy is respected at this terribly sad time. Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who has not yet spoken to police, including those who may have seen any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area. Mr Jolley said: You may have information that may seem insignificant but could prove crucial to our investigation. I urge you to contact us immediately, or tell us what you know via Crimestoppers if you wish. What matters most is that you make the call. Loeikes family are traumatised and we need the support of the public in bringing them justice. Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting CAD 1135/17Sep. To remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers. - Section of Kenyans believe more state agencies are lined-up to be handed over to the military - They expressed concern that President Uhuru may be planning to turn Kenya into a military state - Others, however, stated that defunct state agencies need to be handed over to the military for them to receive a fresh lease of life - Uhuru earlier handed over Nairobi county to General Mohamed Badi under NMS and transferred the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) to the military - In another order that has again ignited a fresh debate, the head of state directed that all state-owned aircraft be handled by the Kenya Air Force PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB Feed About two weeks ago, President Uhuru Kenyatta ignited a nationwide conversation after he directed the Ministry of Agriculture, Wildlife and Fisheries to surrender the Kenya Meat Commission to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). Section of citizens claimed the move was going to breathe new life into the financially crippled parastatal while others faulted it terming it "militarisation" of state agencies. READ ALSO: 8 side jobs you can start with a pickup or truck President Uhuru Kenyatta. Photo: State House Kenya. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Sossion asema shule zitafungwa endapo visa vya COVID-19 vitaanza kupanda Even before the dust settled on the said "militarisation" of the KMC, the president has once again stirred up a hornets' nest after he directed all state-owned aircraft to be handled by the Kenya Air Force. Following the directive, planes owned by the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS), KenGen, KPLC, the Kenya Police and the Kenya Forest Services among others will be manned by soldiers. READ ALSO: LSK president Havi says Uhuru should dissolve Parliament by October 12 Just as it happened when Uhuru handed KMC to KDF, Kenyans took to social media where they expressed a cocktail of reactions towards the latest development. A tweep identified as Koskei Sonoya claimed that the president might be planning something "big" by putting government agencies under the military. "With military taking over KMC and Kenya Air Force taking over police planes, I think Uhuru is planning something big," Sonaya tweeted. Hon. Dismas Kips wondered what other state agencies were on the chopping board waiting to be handed over to KDF. READ ALSO: Betty Bayo exposes married man who wanted to give her KSh 150k for monthly rent Kips expressed concern that the trend might continue, citing the leadership of Nairobi county which has been taken over by army man Director-General Mohammed Badi under the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS). "After heavily militarising Nairobi county and Kenya Meat Commission, President Uhuru Kenyatta has militarised all state planes under Kenya Air Force. What will he militarise next? Kenyans should be very worried now because these schemes are a precursor to something heinous," stated Kips. Others, like Patrick MK, claimed that Uhuru was possibly planting the military in state agencies as a plot to stick to power after the expiry of his term in 2022. "Wanjo realised that the BBI avenue for clinging to power was failing terribly. He has decided to use the Kenya Air Force/military to cling to power. Anyone who wins in 2022 will most likely be overthrown by his men," MK averred. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Trans Nzoia leads with 28 cases as Kenya records 141 new infections 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 PEKIN (AP) As a primary care physician at UnityPoint Health Pekin East, Dr. Tom Luft is accustomed to seeing the hospital experience through the lens of a caregiver. This summer, he had an opportunity to view an emergency room through a patients perspective because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was really eye-opening for me, Luft said. I was very scared. In some ways, I was maybe more scared than people who arent in health care, because you kind of have that background knowledge and know all the bad things that could happen. As a health care professional, Luft knew he was at a higher risk than people working in other fields to contract the disease coronavirus causes. But when he began to experience a stuffy nose and a sore throat in early June, he dismissed it as a consequence of summer in central Illinois. Summer in Illinois is kind of an allergy time for me, so that wasnt terribly unusual, said Luft. What clued me in that it wasnt allergies was that I was taking some over-the-counter antihistamines, and I wasnt really getting better. Even when Lufts test for the novel coronavirus came back positive, he was not particularly worried, because his symptoms were initially mild. I was kind of thankful because I thought maybe Id be a minimally symptomatic person, Luft recalled. I thought that would be good because maybe I could get some immunity and put some of the stress on me and my family behind us. Several days after he began to experience symptoms, however, Luft began to experience shortness of breath that could not be described as a mild event. When his wife remarked that he seemed to be breathing hard, Luft had not been aware of it and did not feel as if he was in any particular distress. But within 10 minutes, the severity had increased to the point where he required emergency treatment at UnityPoint Health-Methodist in Peoria and was hospitalized for several days. It certainly was scary, Luft said. Working in a hospital and helping patients and families through critical illnesses, Id been on one side of that equation. Id never personally been on the other. More than two months later, Luft continues to periodically experience shortness of breath and fatigue. His personal recovery routine includes multi-vitamins, meditation, and proper rest. He was initially not able to exercise because of the need for his lungs to recover, but is now able to at least take daily walks. He added that an important, but often underestimated, component to a COVID-19 patients recovery is the morale boost that can come from supportive families and friends. If you have a friend or family member who has this, its important to reach out to them and connect in any way possible so they maintain those social connections, Luft said. Whether somebody has a suspected case or a diagnosed case, when youre quarantined, its very lonely. Our greatest strength as humans is also our greatest weakness during this pandemic. Were social. It does make it very hard on somebody to quarantine, so I think reaching out to them by phone or through technology are really important. After nearly six months of observing social distancing and safety protocols due to concerns about the virus, it is understandable that some area residents may experience pandemic fatigue, according to Luft. But in spite of a very rational impatience to return to normal, pre-pandemic lifestyles, he said it is imperative that the region maintain vigilance. Its hard to social distance and to not do the things we all did before, Luft said. But I think its still important to be doing those things. Cases are rising in our community. Over the last several weeks, weve seen a sharp increase. The has held that the Centre's decision to increase on goods from Pakistan by 200 per cent in the backdrop of last year's Pulwama attack could not be applied retrospectively. A bench comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and K.M. Joseph said that the notification published under Section 8A of the Customs and Tariff Act, 1975, late in the evening of February 16, 2019, cannot have retrospective effect. "The object and purpose is not to penalise Indian importers who had completed their imports, presented bills of entry for home consumption and had completed self-assessment in terms of the provisions of the Customs Act, prior to the issuance of the notification," said the bench. Chandrachud and Joseph wrote separate but concurring opinions. Forty CRPF men were killed in a terror attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14 last year. Two days after the attack, the Centre issued a notification under Section 8A of the Customs Tariff Act 1975, which subjected all goods originating from Pakistan to 200 per cent enhanced customs duty. The consignments of import covered a diverse range of goods, ranging from dry dates to cement. "The legal position which needs emphasis is that the entrustment of the power to issue a notification enhancing the rate of duty under Section 8A is not accompanied by a statutory entrustment of authority to the Central government to exercise it with retrospective effect. An enhancement of the rate of duty pursuant to the exercise of power under Section 8A can only be prospective," noted the top court. The precise time when the notification was uploaded on the e-Gazette was 20:46:58 hours. Customs authorities at the land customs station at Attari 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. This action was challenged before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which ruled in favour of the petitioners. The Centre had appealed this decision in the apex court. The bench noted that the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (4) of Section 7, which are made applicable by sub-section (2) of Section 8A, are to ensure Parliamentary oversight, but this does not enable the Centre to exercise the power under Section 8A with retrospective effect. The rate of duty which was applicable was crystallised at the time and on the date of the presentation of the bills of entry in terms of the provisions of Section 15 read with Regulation 4(2) of the Regulations of 2018. "The duty was correctly assessed at the time of self-assessment in terms of the duty which was in force on that date and at the time. The subsequent publication of the notification bearing 5/2019 did not furnish a valid basis for re-assessment. For the above reasons, we have come to the conclusion that there is no merit in the appeals. The appeals shall stand dismissed," said the top court. --IANS ss/arm (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 ANI NEW DELHI: India took up the issue of cross-border terrorism in the informal meeting of SAARC Foreign Ministers which happened virtually on the sidelines of UNGA this year. After the meeting, the Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar tweeted, "Cross-border terrorism, blocking connectivity and obstructing trade are three key challenges that SAARC must overcome. Only then will we see enduring peace, prosperity and security in our South Asia region". External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said Jaishankar stated at the meeting that over the last 35 years, SAARC has made significant progress but efforts toward collective collaboration and prosperity have been hampered by acts of terrorism. EAM said it was crucial to take a collective resolve to defeat the scourge of terrorism, including the forces that nurture, support and encourage it. Participated in the Special Ministerial Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Conference on Interaction & Confidence Building Measures in Asia #CICA Underlined Indias commitment to a pluralistic cooperative security order in Asia through CICA.This is needed more than ever before. pic.twitter.com/1oy3cZddNd Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 24, 2020 "At the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting today, EAM S Jaishankar said- Over the last 35 years, SAARC has made significant progress. But our efforts toward collective collaboration and prosperity have been hampered by acts of terrorism and threats to national security," Srivastava said in a tweet. "Such an environment impedes our shared objective of realizing the full potential of our collective endeavour. It is therefore crucial that we collectively resolve to defeat the scourge of terrorism, including the forces that nurture, support and encourage it. This will generate the much needed trust and confidence to collectively build a stronger and prosperous SAARC, " he quoted EAM as saying. Jaishankar also talked about India's support to its SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) neighbours including Maldives, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. "Emphasised India's support for our SAARC neighbours; Extended USD 150 million foreign currency swap support to the Maldives; Currency swap support of USD 200 million to BhutanUSD 400 million to Sri Lanka during the course of this year," he said in a tweet. India has maintained that talks and terror cannot go together has blamed Pakistan for stalling functioning of SAARC by blocking connectivity and sponsoring terrorism. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also took part in the meet. "Highlighted need to condemn and oppose unilateral/illegal measures to change the status of disputed territories in violation of UNSC resolutions. Such unilateral measures run counter to the shared objective of (the) SAARC to create regional amity and cooperation and must be opposed resolutely," he said in a tweet. Qureshi also emphasised on hosting 19th SAARC meet in Islamabad. "In this same spirit, I restated Pakistan's willingness to host the 19th SAARC Summit and for obstacles created in its way to be removed for SAARC to function as an effective instrument of regional cooperation," he said. Foreign Ministers from Maldives, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan also took part in the virtual meet which was hosted by Nepal. Increased collaboration in the fight against COVID-19, connectivity and trade were also discussed in the meeting. 1. President Trump stood by his extraordinary suggestion that he might not accept the results of the election if he loses. We want to make sure the election is honest and Im not sure that it can be, he told reporters, branding mail-in ballots as a whole big scam. His comments came a day after he refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power after the Nov. 3 election. Republican leaders insisted there would be a peaceful transition, but they stopped short of directly criticizing the president. A four year old video from Wi-Fiber Technology does not even come close to telling the whole story of how law enforcement and Fusion Centers can use this product to secretly monitor Americans. At approximately the 1 minute mark of the above video, Wi-Fiber offers a glimpse into how government agencies use their product to "improve public safety and emergency response in real-time." A look at Wi-Fiber's website reveals next to nothing about how their "Self-Forming, Modular, Autonomous, Real-Time, Turn-Key" (S.M.A.R.T.) product is used. Which opens up a ton of questions. Readers are left guessing as to how and why law enforcement would want to use S.M.A.R.T. until you start to read between the lines. You see, S.M.A.R.T. is really just an acronym for smart cities and everything it entails. Wi-Fiber uses Smart Mesh, Edge Computing, Inter-Operability, Visualization, Cloud and G.A.R.I.2. The G.A.R.I.2 PowerPoint Presentation reveals exactly why police are so excited to purchase Wi-Fiber. All of these smart city devices are designed to do two things, be accessible by one platform and provide intelligence in real-time. As Canton, Ohio Police Chief Jack Angelo said, "the more and more we dug into it, we saw that it was going to be probably more of a cost-effective solution." A grand jury has declined to bring charges against the officers involved in Breonna Taylor's shooting death in Kentucky. The jury, however, indicted one officer, Brett Hankinson, for three counts of wanton endangerment over stray bullets that were shot into the apartments surrounding Taylor's home. The other officers, Jon Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, were considered justified in their actions. The decision, which comes six months after Taylor's death, has sparked outrage in the city of Louisville. "This is outrageous and offensive to Breonna Taylor's memory. It's yet another example of no accountability for the genocide of persons of color by white police officers," said Ben Crump, civil rights attorney and legal counsel for Taylor's family. "The rallying cries that have been echoing throughout the nation have been once again ignored by a justice system that claims to serve the people." "Make no mistake, we will keep fighting this fight in Breonna's memory, and we will never stop saying her name," Crump added. Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency technician, was killed after police executed a search warrant on her home in March. Since her death, her name has become a rallying cry in marches across the nation as Black Lives Matter protests became the backdrop of an already trying summer. While other high-profile cases like George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks saw swift and decisive decisions for the officers involved, the intricacies of Taylor's case have caused it to stretch on, with the entire city of Louisville waiting on edge. With a verdict now in hand, protestors have already begun to march across the city, chanting "No justice. No peace." "We've been out here for 100-plus days, this is ridiculous, you know, it's not fair. At the end of the day, how much is a Black woman's life worth?" protester Carmen Jones told CBS News. Story continues Demonstrators march in the street following the Grand Jury verdict on September 23, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky. / Credit: Brandon Bell / Getty In a statement, Kent Wicker, an attorney for Mattingly, called Taylor's death a "tragedy" but said the officers "did not act in a reckless or unprofessional manner." He added, "They did their duty, performed their roles as law enforcement officers and, above all, did not break the law." Mattingly, the only officer to enter the house, fired six times, but the grand jury considered his use of force justified because Kenneth Walker, Taylor's boyfriend, fired first. On social media, other members of Taylor's family used Twitter and Instagram to remember the EMT. "Sister I am sorry," read a post from Ju'niyah Palmer, Taylor's sister. And she's not the only one. Since the grand jury announcement, several marches have begun to make their way through Louisville. Clashes with police have already started, with some protesters arrested, according to CBS affiliate WLKY. Protestors were caught on camera reacting to the indictment, some even breaking down in tears on the street. "We, as Black, Brown and poor people, struggle from police violence and brutality every day, about so many that are unnamed, so many didn't get videotaped, so many that weren't an EMT or an essential worker like she was," said Shameka Parrish-Wright, co-chair of Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. "So many that are at home right now minding their own business and right now our police can storm through their doors and murder them. That wanton endangerment was about her neighbors. That was not about Breonna Taylor." So, what happens next? Protests are expected to continue throughout the week, including in other major cities like New York and Los Angeles. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced a countywide curfew to "protect infrastructure" in the city, which will last between 9 p.m and 6:30 a.m. "I urge everyone to commit once again to a peaceful, lawful response like we've seen here for the majority of the past several months," said Fischer. The National Guard has also been deployed, although Governor Andy Beshear has assured reporters that the guard will not take a front-facing role. And for Taylor's family? The state's decision did not affect the FBI's investigation into whether the officers committed any civil rights violations. "FBI Louisville continues its federal investigation into all aspects of the death of Breonna Taylor," Special Agent Kelly Kindness said in a statement. "This work will continue beyond the state charges announced today." For other families of public police brutality victims, the deaths of their loved ones have sparked careers in politics or activism. Trayvon Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, qualified to run for Miami-Dade county commissioner in June, while Eric Garner's daughter, Erica, spent the years before her young death speaking out against police brutality. While Taylor's family will not make any public statements today, their actions in the past weeks have spoken to a spirit not easily broken. When awarded a historic $12 million wrongful death settlement from the city of Louisville, Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, continued to say the officers should be charged in her daughter's death. In an interview with NPR before the grand jury decision, Palmer focused on her daughter's legacy. "Breonna was a beautiful person inside and out," she said. "Even in the very beginning of this year, she kept saying 2020 was her year, and she was absolutely right. I hate that it came in that form, but it definitely is her year." When asked what would happen if the officers were not charged, Palmer simply said, "I won't go away. I'll still fight." Jericka Duncan contributed to this report. Police release body camera video of an officer shooting teen with autism Louisville police prepare city for an upcoming decision in Breonna Taylor case United Kingdom imposes new restrictions as COVID-19 cases spike A high-powered group of academic and private sector players in the power systems sector in the province have written to the Manitoba Hydro board and the Premier expressing concerns about the disposition of technology controlled by Manitoba Hydro International. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (484 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A high-powered group of academic and private sector players in the power systems sector in the province have written to the Manitoba Hydro board and the Premier expressing concerns about the disposition of technology controlled by Manitoba Hydro International. The companies and institutions who signed the letter obtained by the Free Press say that while they recognize "that the reorganization or the workings of MHI is a matter for Manitoba Hydro to decide" they are concerned about what will happen to a key piece of simulation software called PSCAD-EMTDC. The letter from the electrical and computer engineering department of the University of Manitoba, Red River College, and a handful of private sector engineering firms, expresses concern "that Manitoba Hydro and the Government of Manitoba in their reorganization of MHI may end up disposing of the "PSCADEMTDC" to an out of province entity." The concern has been prompted by reports that Manitoba Hydro may be in the process of winding up the operations of MHI. It is not clear what the strategic rationale for doing that would be and officials from MHI, a subsidiary of Manitoba Hydro, have not confirmed exactly what is taking place. But internal memos telling staff "not to aggressively pursue new work" have rattled MHIs 125-person workforce. Some staff have been advised by superiors to seek alternative employment. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Adrien Sala, NDP critic for Manitoba Hydro. There were several reports this week, confirmed by Adrien Sala, NDP critic for Manitoba Hydro, that the Manitoba Hydro board of directors convened an emergency meeting on Thursday. Sala said, "They will very likely be discussing the future of Manitoba Hydro International." Sources say the software in question generates millions of dollars in revenue for MHI and according to the industry letter dated Wednesday, it is integral to the operations of many local players. The letter states, "PSCAD has significant impact on the day to day international operations of the engineering firms and the university. In fact, if it leaves the province, it will have a negative impact on all of us resulting in an adverse impact on the provincial economy." Mohamed Rashwan, president of a Winnipeg company called Transgrid Solutions Inc., is the named contact on the letter. In addition to Transgrid, Teshmont Consultants LP, RTDS Technologies, Electranix Corporation and Solar Solutions Canada Inc. are the other signatories and sources said there were others who attended a meeting to discuss the matter earlier in the week. Some of the principles of these firms had a hand in developing the technology that goes back more than 30 years. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Rudi Wierckx, one of the directors of RTDS said, "First of all I have no idea if MHI or Manitoba Hydro is planning to do anything with that software, but the community is wanting to tell Hydro that the software is pretty important to the power system industry." Among other things, the simulation technology helps utilities figure out how to design transmission grids and sources say that its demand is picking up as utilities around the world are integrating more and more alternative power generation from solar and wind, for instance into their grids. Many electricity grid operations were not designed to accept power from so many different types of sources which requires maintenance and careful design to ensure reliable operation. PSCAD is a tool used around the world to allow that to happen. The letter states, "If an out of province entity ends with the software, Manitoba companies will lose control of a very important tool and product and (this) is where the knowhow of PSCADEMTDC resides. The software is giving Manitoba a unique reputation on the world stage that will be suddenly claimed by someone else." At least two senior players in the industry indicated it is the kind of technology that will be in increasing demand in China and they do not believe it would be a good outcome for Manitoba if PSCAD was acquired by a Chinese concern, for example. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca Farmers in Punjab and Haryana will go on a strike on Friday in protest against the contentious farm bills that were passed in the Parliament. As many as 31 farmer organisations have joined hands for the Punjab Bandh. Several organisations in Haryana, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), said they had extended support to the nationwide strike called by some farmers bodies against the bills. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh appealed to the farmers to maintain law and order, and adhere to all coronavirus-safety protocols during the strike. In a statement, Singh said the state government was fully with the farmers in their fight against the bills and no FIRs would be registered for violation of Section 144, which bars assembly of more than four people. There should be no disturbance of law and order during the strike, the chief minister said. He appealed to the farmers to ensure that the citizens were not inconvenienced, and lives and property of people were not endangered due to the agitation. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh appealed to the people, including shopkeepers and commercial establishments, to keep their shop shut in support of the strike. Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar also urged people to support the farmers and make the strike a success. The main opposition Aam Aadmi Party has already extended its support, while the Shiromani Akali Dal has announced to hold road blockades. Farmers started a three-day rail blockade against the bills and squatted on tracks at many places in Punjab on Thursday. The farmer outfits have also decided to go for an indefinite rail blockade from October 1. The protesters have expressed apprehension that the Centres farm reforms would pave the way for dismantling of the minimum support price system and they would be at the mercy of big corporates. The farmers said they would continue their fight till the three farm bills were revoked. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill were passed by the Parliament earlier this week. Haryana BKU chief Gurnam Singh said besides the outfit, some other farmer organisations had also extended their support to the nationwide strike. We have appealed that sit-ins should be held on state highways and other roads in a peaceful manner, Singh said. No sit-ins should be held on national highways. Nobody should indulge in any kind of unlawful act during the strike from 10 am to 4 pm, Singh said. The BKU leader said the commission agents, shopkeepers and transporters had also been urged to support the strike. Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij held a meeting with officers of the home and police departments on Thursday to review the situation, and directed the DGP to ensure elaborate police arrangements to prevent any untoward situation, according to a statement. FILE PHOTO: A small bottle labeled with a "Vaccine" sticker is held near a medical syringe in front of displayed "Coronavirus COVID-19" words in this illustration (Reuters) - Britain is planning to host clinical trials where volunteers are deliberately infected with the new coronavirus to test the effectiveness of vaccine candidates, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing people involved in the project. So-called "challenge trials" are expected to begin in January at a quarantine facility in London, the report https://on.ft.com/2G5o0jP said, adding that about 2,000 participants had signed up through a U.S.-based advocacy group, 1Day Sooner. (https://on.ft.com/2G5o0jP) Britain said it was working with partners on the potential for human challenge trials without commenting on a specific plan. "We are working with partners to understand how we might collaborate on the potential development of a COVID-19 vaccine through human challenge studies," a government spokeswoman said. "These discussions are part of our work to research ways of treating, limiting and hopefully preventing the virus so we can end the pandemic sooner." The FT reported that the studies will be government funded, although 1Day Sooner said it would also launch a petition for public funding of a biocontainment facility big enough to quarantine 100 to 200 participants. Imperial College London, reportedly the academic lead on the trials, did not confirm the studies. "Imperial continues to engage in a wide range of exploratory discussions relating to COVID-19 research, with a variety of partners. We have nothing further to report at this stage," a spokeswoman said, asked about the possibility of challenge trials. Any trials conducted in the United Kingdom have to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the healthcare regulator which looks into safety and protocol. The MHRA did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment, but 1Day Sooner, which lobbies for challenge trials to accelerate vaccine development, welcomed the report. Story continues "1Day Sooner congratulates the British government on their plans to conduct challenge trials to test vaccines," it said in a statement, confirming it would petition the government to house the trial participants. The industry has seen discussions in recent months about potentially having to inject healthy volunteers with the novel coronavirus if drugmakers struggled to find enough patients for final trials. The FT report said that volunteers would first be inoculated with a vaccine and later receive a challenge dose of the coronavirus. It did not name the vaccines that would be assessed in the project. British drugmaker AstraZeneca, and French firm Sanofi both told Reuters that their vaccine candidates were not involved in the programme. (Reporting by Manas Mishra, Pushkala Aripaka and Manojna Maddipatla in Bengaluru, Kate Kelland, Alistair Smout and Paul Sandle in London, Matthias Blamont in Paris, Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt and Peter Henderson in Oakland; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli, Elaine Hardcastle and Jonathan Oatis) 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. Researchers from the University of Tsukuba find a mutualistic growth mechanism between a filamentous fungus and a bacterium that allows the bacterium to travel in exchange for thiamine Tsukuba, Japan - Tiny organisms head out on the highway, looking for adventure like they've ridden straight out of the 1960s rock hit, "Born to Be Wild." Researchers from Japan have discovered that while perhaps not as thrill-seeking, bacteria do indeed travel on fungal highways and pay a toll in return. In a study published this month in Life Science Alliance, researchers from the University of Tsukuba have revealed a mutual bacterial-fungal relationship that lets bacteria travel in exchange for thiamine. Thiamine (vitamin B1) is essential to the health of almost all living organisms, and is synthesized by bacteria, plants, fungi and some protozoans. Free thiamine is scarce in the environment, and organisms appear to have developed numerous ways of obtaining it. "Some species have developed mutually beneficial strategies that allow them to coexist," says lead author of the study Professor Norio Takeshita. "But few strategies that satisfy the need for nutrients and physical niches have been documented. So, we examined the interaction of a fungus and a bacterium to investigate strategies that meet those needs." To do this, the researchers used transcriptomic analyses (i.e., examining all the RNA molecules of an organism), as well as genetic, molecular mass and imaging methods, including live imaging. Stable isotope labeling was used to investigate thiamine transfer from bacteria to the fungus. "The bacteria cultured with the fungus traveled along fungal filaments using their flagella," explains Professor Nozomu Obana, senior author. "They dispersed farther with the expansion of the fungal colony than they would have otherwise, suggesting that the fungal filaments supply space for bacteria to migrate, disperse and multiply." The fungus in this study is a type that can synthesize thiamine on its own, but used thiamine produced by the bacteria. Because these bacteria synthesize thiamine extracellularly, neighboring bacteria and fungi in nature could uptake it and use it, saving them the cost of synthesizing it themselves. "We're proposing a new mutualistic growth mechanism in bacterial-fungal interactions, in which the bacteria move along the fungal highway and pay thiamine as a toll to the growing fungal filaments," says Professor Takeshita. This research and future studies will contribute to an understanding of selective microbial communication, and live imaging could be used to screen for affinities between bacteria and fungi. Research in this area could be applied to a range of settings from fermentation, biomass degradation, and the promotion of plant growth, as well as plant and human pathogenesis. ### The article, "Fungal mycelia and bacterial thiamine establish a mutualistic growth mechanism," was published in Life Science Alliance at DOI:10.26508/lsa.202000878 - Racquel Coral said although the company did not give her a job, it asked to pay her a KSh 16, 200 consolation stipend - Racquel added the money was to appreciate the labour she put into the interview process - Mixed reactions trailed her post as people relived both the good and bad experiences they have had while job hunting PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB Feed A woman identified as Racquel Coral has shared her experience with a company where she did an interview in August 2020. Racquel said the company settled on another candidate for the vacant position but what it did later has got many praising it. READ ALSO: God's time is best: Jubilation as couple welcomes quadruplets after long wait for a child A collage showing the lady. Photo source: Twitter/Racquel Coral Source: UGC READ ALSO: Parents say they're not ready for school reopening in 2020: "We don't have money" Sharing her experience on Twitter, the young lady said she received a comforting email on Tuesday, September 22, as the firm asked for her account details. This was in order to pay her $150 (KSh 16, 200) for the efforts she had invested in the application, interview, and the project to the final stage. Her tweet went viral with over 2,000 quoted replies, 176,000 likes, and loads of comments. READ ALSO: Botswana moves to introduce Swahili in local schools months after South Africa The reactions to her tweet showed the different practices of companies around the world and the encounters many job hunters have had during and after their interviews. Some had nice experiences, citing how they were also compensated. READ ALSO: COVID-19 vaccine: 400 Kenyan healthcare workers to take part in trials Others, however, commented on the shadiness of companies asking candidates to work on projects before they are hired. READ ALSO: Nestle apologises to man who bought sealed milk to use in porridge only to find it spoil In a separate report, a man identified as Chris Sean narrated how learning how to code saved his life. In a post shared on his Twitter handle, he chronologically gave a summary of how his life had been. Sean said five years ago, he was homeless. Years after that, his situation slightly improved as he started staying in a closet. In 2018, he upgraded and started living in a master bedroom and 2019 was better as he officially moved into his first real apartment. He said he was about to move to his first house in a weeks time and the following day he buy a brand new car. Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme Source: TUKO.co.ke Police in Assam are probing the role of a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer for his alleged involvement in leaking question paper for a written examination for the post of sub-inspectors (SIs). The examination to recruit 587 SIs was cancelled in 154 exam centres across the state on September 20 after the question paper was leaked and was found circulating on Whatsapp. Nearly 64,000 applicants were scheduled to appear for the examination. Immediately after the matter came to light, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who holds the home portfolio, directed the police to conduct a detailed inquiry and nab the culprits responsible for the leak. The criminal investigation department (CID) of police has lodged an FIR and is investigating. On Wednesday, police teams conducted raids at five hotels in Guwahati reportedly owned by retired deputy inspector general (DIG) of Assam Police PK Dutta as well at his residence at Hengrabari area of the city. The raids continued on Thursday as well. It is alleged that Dutta, who is absconding with his family, had some role in the leaking of question paper as well in conducting a secret exam for nearly 100 applicants at two separate places in Guwahati a day ahead of the actual exam. Police are also investigating the roles of a senior Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) functionary and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader as well for their roles in the question paper leak. Both parties are part of the ruling coalition in Assam. No one involved in this conspiracy will be spared and exemplary punishment will be meted out. My instructions to the police have been clear - nab the culprits and ensure a free and fair recruitment process, Chief Minister Sonowal told journalists on Thursday. Till Wednesday, the CID had arrested three persons for their involvement in the question paper leak. Several others were picked up for questioning . Seven more people were arrested on Thursday in connection with the case taking the total number of arrests to 10. The written exam, which was cancelled following the question paper leak, will be held next month. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Aerospace giant Bombardier has dismissed concerns over the sale of its NI business employing around 2,700 people after the US buyer said there were still conditions to be met. But DUP East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson urged against complacency over the transaction, which is due to complete at the end of October. The collapse of the deal would be a major blow to the economy here - which is in a "perilous" state, according to Economy Minister Diane Dodds, who was speaking to members of the Economy Committee in Stormont. Around 1,500 aerospace jobs have been lost here since the outset of the pandemic, including around 700 in Bombardier. Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita had agreed to pay up to $630m for the business but in an update on Tuesday, said the deal is looking uncertain. However, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday night: "Spirit AeroSystems continues to see the long-term strategic value in the acquisition and is working closely with Bombardier to ensure all conditions are met. "The Bombardier aerostructures deal brings customer diversification, low cost country footprint and expanded aftermarket content, all of which are in line with our stated strategic growth priorities." Covid-19 has weighed heavily on the global aviation industry, with aircraft grounded as quarantine restrictions limit travel. It's understood Spirit may now wish to pay less for the business given the deterioration in aerospace as a result of Covid-19. Bombardier said the details were confidential. Mr Robinson said: "Given the importance of Bombardier to the NI economy, we must never be complacent, but I understand the sales process is progressing well - and given my engagement with them, the synergy and the strategic benefit of the acquisition remain strong." Expand Close MP Gavin Robinson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp MP Gavin Robinson A spokesman in 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 we've 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." He said the parties still intended to complete by October 31. In a regulatory filing on Tuesday, Spirit had said that "there can be no assurances" that conditions will be in place to go ahead with the deal. The Bombardier deal's 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 Spirit's 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. Aircraft seat manufacturers Thompson Aero in Portadown and Collins Aerospace in Kilkeel have also cut jobs. JACKSON, Mississippi -- Lucien Smith on Monday announced hes stepping down as Mississippi Republican Party chairman, with Gov. Tate Reeves backing Coast businessman Frank Bordeaux to replace him. Smith said Monday he intends to call a state GOP Executive Committee meeting to elect a new chair. The move was not unexpected. Numerous Republican sources in July told Mississippi Today that Reeves, as new de facto head of the party in his first term as governor, wanted new leadership. Its typical for a sitting Republican governor, as head of the state party, to pick a new chairman. While the executive committee technically elects a GOP chairman, a governors choice is typically installed by acclamation. There has been no major executive committee challenge to a Republican governors chairman nomination in recent history. All Republicans should be grateful for Lucien Smiths steady stewardship of the party, Reeves said in a statement on Monday. He has been a great chairman, and will continue to be an important figure in Mississippi. I support Frank Bordeaux, and believe that if the Committee chooses to elect him that he will do an excellent job growing the Republican Party, Reeves said. His work ethic, integrity, and conservative credentials are unmatched. Bordeaux, a Gulfport insurance executive, was chair of Reeves' Harrison County campaign committee, and a strong showing on the Coast was crucial to Reeves winning last years GOP primary and general election. The governor recently appointed Bordeaux to a commission that came up with a new design for the state flag that will go before voters for an up-or-down vote on Nov. 3. Im honored Governor Reeves has asked me to seek this key Party role," Bordeaux posted to his Facebook page. "I look forward to visiting with the members of the MSGOP Executive Committee and earning their support. Sen. Joel Carter, who represents District 48 in Harrison County, echoed Reeves' support for Bordeaux. Im very proud of my good friend, Frank Bordeaux. He will do a great job as Chairman, Carter posted to Facebook. The change in state party leadership, some GOP leaders said, was not because of any major political dispute, and Smith has appeared to be widely respected among party leaders. Its partly because Smith is an attorney at a major law firm that does millions of dollars in business with the state and Reeves believes that is untoward and wanted a chairman with no such entanglements. Reeves and Smith did appear to be politically crosswise recently over the Legislature changing the state flag, with its divisive Confederate battle emblem. Although the party proper didnt take a position, Smith told Mississippi Today, Now is the time for Mississippi to retire its current flag and adopt a flag that unifies all Mississippians. Reeves, at the time, had opposed the Legislature making the change, saying that decision should be made by popular vote. Smith on Monday said serving as GOP chair has been the greatest honor of my professional life and I am proud of what we have achieved. Former Gov. Phil Bryant nominated Smith as the 12th chairman of the MSGOP in 2017 after then-Chairman Joe Nosef abruptly resigned. Smith, an attorney with Balch and Bingham law firm, previously served as chief of staff to Bryant and as counsel and budget adviser to former Gov. Haley Barbour. Smith ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer in 2011. Smith was at the helm of the party during one of its most politically prosperous times. In last years elections, Republicans took all eight statewide elected seats including the the governors office, most districtwide seats and increased their supermajority control over the Legislature. Smith said: The Republican Party is as strong as it has ever been in Mississippi, and the state is better for it. After three years in this role, I believe it is time for a new chairman Frank is a friend and a strong Republican. Im confident the party will continue to prosper under his leadership. The Mississippi Press' Warren Kulo contributed to this report. An Israeli woman walks past a banner encouraging people to wear face masks in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday announced plans for a strict, two-week nationwide lockdown in a bid to slow a raging coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) Israel on Thursday moved to further tighten its second countrywide lockdown as coronavirus cases continued to soar, ordering all nonessential businesses to close and requiring people to stay within 1,000 meters (yards) of their homes. Prayers during the ongoing Jewish High Holidays, as well as political demonstrations, would be limited to open spaces and no more than 20 people, and participants would have to remain within the restricted distance from home. The measures are set to go into force on Friday afternoon, as the country shuts down for the weekly Sabbath ahead of the solemn holiday of Yom Kippur on Sunday and Monday. Even during normal times, Israel completely shuts down for Yom Kippur, with businesses and airports closed, roads empty, and even radio and television stations going silent. The restrictions on demonstrations are subject to approval by the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and the limits on both prayers and protests could spark a backlash. An anti-lockdown demonstration was planned for later in the day in front of the Knesset. Israel's politically influential ultra-Orthodox community has objected to limits on public prayer during the ongoing Jewish High Holidays, and opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have accused the government of using the lockdown as a cover to end weekly demonstrations against his handling of the crisis. Ultra-Orthodox Jews keep social distancing during a morning prayer next to their houses as synagogues are limited to twenty people during a nationwide three-week lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Bnei Brak, Israel, Thursday, Sept 24, 2020. Israel moved to further tighten its second countrywide lockdown as coronavirus cases continued to soar. The Cabinet voted to close all nonessential businesses, including open-air markets. Prayers and political demonstrations would be limited to open spaces and no more than 20 people, and participants would not be able to travel more than a kilometer (0.6 miles) from home for either. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) The government ordered synagogues to close for the lockdown, which is expected to last for at least two weeks, but said they could open with limitations for prayers on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Hagai Levine, a professor of epidemiology and a member of an expert panel advising the government, warned that allowing Yom Kippur prayers in synagogues could lead to mass transmission. He went so far as to compare it to the 1973 war, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel during Yom Kippur. "Now, it's no surprise. We are going to have a massive problem and massive transmission on Yom Kippur in a few days," he said. He said the government should instead impose a complete lockdown for a short period to underscore the seriousness of the situation, followed by the gradual easing of restrictions on essential but low-risk activities. An Israeli woman walks past banners encouraging people to wear face masks in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday announced plans for a strict, two-week nationwide lockdown in a bid to slow a raging coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) Israel is currently reporting nearly 7,000 new daily cases, making the outbreak in the country of 9 million people among the worst in the world on a per capita basis. Israel won praise this spring when it swiftly moved to seal its borders and shut down most businesses. By May, its daily rate of new cases had dropped into the double-digits. But then it reopened the economy too quickly, leading to a surge of new infections over the summer. In recent months, a national unity government that was formed to address the pandemic has been mired in infighting, with authorities issuing unclear and sometimes contradictory guidelines, leading much of the public to disregard the risk. Many businesses, meanwhile, have yet to recover from the earlier lockdown, and the new restrictions are expected to take a heavy toll on the economy even though they are being imposed during the holidays, when many businesses would ordinarily scale back hours. An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man wears a face mask during a morning prayer next to his house as synagogues are limited to twenty people during a nationwide three-week lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Bnei Brak, Israel, Thursday, Sept 24, 2020. Israel moved to further tighten its second countrywide lockdown as coronavirus cases continued to soar. The Cabinet voted to close all nonessential businesses, including open-air markets. Prayers and political demonstrations would be limited to open spaces and no more than 20 people, and participants would not be able to travel more than a kilometer (0.6 miles) from home for either. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) An Israeli woman rides past banners encouraging people to wear face masks in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday announced plans for a strict, two-week nationwide lockdown in a bid to slow a raging coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man reflects in a mirror during a morning prayer next to his house as synagogues are limited to twenty people during a nationwide three-week lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Bnei Brak, Israel, Thursday, Sept 24, 2020. Israel moved to further tighten its second countrywide lockdown as coronavirus cases continued to soar. The Cabinet voted to close all nonessential businesses, including open-air markets. Prayers and political demonstrations would be limited to open spaces and no more than 20 people, and participants would not be able to travel more than a kilometer (0.6 miles) from home for either. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) Israel has reported a total of more than 200,000 cases since the pandemic began, including 1,335 deaths. It has more than 50,000 active cases. The Health Ministry says at least 667 people are hospitalized in serious condition, and in recent days health officials have warned that hospitals are rapidly approaching full capacity. The government last week imposed a nationwide lockdown that closed schools, shopping malls, hotels and restaurants, making Israel the first developed country to impose a second closure. But the restrictions included numerous exceptions, including allowing people to leave their homes for work, exercise, prayers and public demonstrations. The new lockdown is expected to eliminate most of those loopholes. 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. Adds Industry Recognized Audio-Visual Products for the K-12 Education and Collaboration Market TOCCOA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 2020 / Galaxy Next Generation, Inc. (OTCQB:GAXY) ("Galaxy" or the "Company"), a provider of interactive learning technology solutions, is pleased to announce that it has targeted mid-October to close its previously announced acquisition of Classroom Technology Solutions ("CTS"). The proposed acquisition was signed as a Letter of Intent ("LOI") in late-May to acquire a designer, manufacturer, importer and integrator of audio-visual products, with headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida. CTS received the 2020 Best of Jacksonville Award in the Audio-Visual Supplier category and has also been recognized as one of the "Fastest Growing Private Companies in Northeast Florida" as well as "Largest Technology Service Companies" and "Top Integrators" by the Jacksonville Business Journal. CTS has a robust portfolio of new products that will be released over the coming year. Many of these products will enhance the current and future Galaxy product offerings. CTS is a leader in the development of sophisticated technologies used in the education marketplace and other collaborative environments. Many of CTS's products qualify for the "Made in America" distinction while others are a combination of U.S. and offshore products. Gary LeCroy, Galaxy's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are confident that by adding CTS' collaboration technology offerings and geographic footprint, that it will help accelerate our revenue growth. We are excited about advancing our due diligence and documentation to now target a closing over the next few weeks." Cy Marshall, Classroom Technology Solutions' Chief Executive Officer, stated, "today that, while the pandemic, unfortunately, has slowed down the closing process of our deal with Galaxy we continue to work closely together to bring this to fruition. We are excited about the future and have been working behind the scenes on numerous new products that will catapult the Galaxy brand. Customer-focused solutions have been the driver of both Galaxy and CTS and will continue as we move forward together." About Galaxy Next Generation, Inc. Galaxy Next Generation (OTCQB:GAXY) is a provider of interactive learning technology solutions that allows the presenter and participant to engage in a fully collaborative instructional environment. Galaxy's products include Galaxy's own private-label interactive touch screen panel as well as numerous other national and international branded peripheral and communication devices. Galaxy's distribution channel consists of 22+ resellers across the U.S. who primarily sell the Company's products within the commercial and educational market. Galaxy does not control where resellers focus their resell efforts, although generally, the K-12 education market is the largest customer base for Galaxy products - comprising nearly 90% of Galaxy's sales. For additional information, please visit our website at: www.galaxynext.us Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investors Contact: IR@GalaxyNext.us P:888-859-1274 SOURCE: Galaxy Next Generation, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607558/Galaxy-Next-Generation-Expects-to-Close-Acquisition-of-Classroom-Technology-Solutions-Inc-by-Mid-October New Delhi: Facing numerous terror threats, a total of 357 members of the Afghan minority community has arrived in India and the Indian mission in Kabul helped them. India said that it has been receiving requests from Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan to grant them permission to settle down in India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Anurag Shrivastava in response to a question said, "We have been receiving requests from Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan to grant them permission to settle down in India. The requests have gone up after the attack in the Gurdwara in March 2020." Live TV "We see targeted persecution of minority community members by terrorist and their sponsors and this is a matter of serious concern. Now to ensure the safety and well-being, our mission in Kabul has been in contact with them and facilitated smooth arrival from Afghanistan despite COVID-19 related restrictions," he said. The MEA spokesperson said, "So far 357 members of the minority community have arrived from Afghanistan to India in the lockdown and Indian Sikh community here is assisting their stay comfortable in India." The March 25 attack on Gurdwara Har Rai Sahib saw the death of 24 Afghan Sikhs and one Indian Sikh. This was one of the worst attack on the Afghan Sikh community since the 2018 Jalalabad attack in which 19 people died, mostly Sikh. Earlier in 2020, the first batch of 11 Afghan Sikhs, keen to come to India, landed in Delhi in June. This included Delhi based Afghan Sikh Nidan Singh who was abducted but later released. 10 of the 11 Afghan Sikhs were the family members of Sikhs killed in Kabul gurdwara terror attack. By Troy Stangarone On July 5, 1945, British citizens went to the polls for the first time since 1935. Less than two months earlier the Allies had celebrated VE Day, an achievement that should have easily garnered incumbent Prime Minister Winston Churchill another parliament in 10 Downing Street. However, when the votes were counted the Labour Party had won a 145 seat majority and Clement Attlee was Prime Minister. The United Kingdom is not the United States, but Churchill's defeat in the aftermath of one of the most significant foreign policy successes of the 20th century highlights why foreign policy has minimal impact on elections. In the aftermath of the Second World War the election was fought on future of the country and issues such as unemployment and housing. It was domestic affairs rather than international affairs that was driving voters. Since the end of the Second World War a similar pattern has emerged in the United States with the economy the most salient issue for voters. The 1992 election helps to illustrate this. Similar to Churchill President George H.W. Bush had successfully managed international events. He shepherded a peaceful end to the Cold War and assembled perhaps the world's largest ever coalition for the first Gulf War. Prior to the war President Bush's approval rating stood at 59 percent and would rise to 89 percent by the war's end. A little more than a year later he would lose to Bill Clinton. In exit polls voters identified the economy and jobs as the most important issue. The one exception might be 1968 when domestic divisions over the Vietnam War were a factor in President Lyndon B. Johnson decision not to seek another term in office, but divisions over civil rights and the role of government in American lives were also dividing the country. It's difficult to find another example of foreign policy playing such a defining role. The closest might be the 2004 election between President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry. In the aftermath of 9/11 and the Iraq War terrorism and Iraq were on the voters mind, but the economy and moral values were the two most important issues for voters that year. Though, voters favored those issues by a smaller margin than in previous presidential elections. President Donald Trump's own election reinforces the role of the economy in driving elections. Exit polling indicate that 39 percent of Americans wanted a president that could bring about change and 47 percent wanted a president who would be more conservative than President Barrack Obama. But it wasn't a change in U.S. foreign policy that voters were focused on as 52 percent of Americans thought that the economy was the most important issue facing the country. Only 13 percent of Americans thought foreign policy was the most important issue. Despite the limited role that foreign policy plays in U.S. elections the idea foreign policy could provide an October Surprise to shake up an election has become a recurring theme in U.S. politics. In the case of the 2020 election, North Korea has been floated as a potential candidate. Earlier this year Harry Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest quoted a Trump campaign official as saying that "Ending the Korean War not only helps Trump achieve a historic milestone but it's something that if the timing is right, say in October, allows us a win Democrats would have a hard time blunting. How do you run against peace? You can't without looking like a sore loser or jealous." A recent report from KINU has also suggested that North Korea could be one option for President Trump to improve his polling numbers, while former National Security Advisor John Bolton suggested in his recent book that Trump could look to North Korea for an October Surprise if his reelection campaign was in trouble. Others such as former U.S. government official Victor Cha have suggested, however, that Trump may have already secured the foreign policy victories that he needs heading into the election with the recent peace deals between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. However, in the initial two weeks after the deal with the United Arab Emirates was announced on August 13 Biden's lead over Trump actually grew in FiveThirtyEight's poll of polls before beginning a slight decline as the race tightened. Peace in the Middle East appears to have done little to change the dynamics in a race already shaped by domestic concerns in the United States. None of this of course precludes an "October surprise" between President Trump and Kim Jong-un, it just suggests that it is unlikely to sway voters already concerned about COVID-19, the economy, jobs, and healthcare. Troy Stangarone (ts@keia.org) is the senior director of congressional affairs and trade at the Korea Economic Institute. Find all of the most important pandemic education news on Educating N.J., a special resource guide created for parents, students and educators. As schools reopen across N.J., we want to know what is and isnt working. Tell us about it here. About 20 schools across the state have halted in-person learning, just over two weeks into the school year, because of students and teachers testing positive for the coronavirus. T he wife of Fleet Street legend Sir Harold Evans has paid tribute to the love of her life after he died in New York aged 92. Tina Brown, who was married to the former editor of The Sunday Times for 40 years, said her husband had died peacefully at home with his family. Tributes have since flooded in for Sir Harold with campaigners, fellow journalists and politicians among those sending condolences to his family. Ms Brown wrote on Twitter that Sir Harold was "the most magical of men". I lost the love of my life last night, my darling Harry," she wrote He was peaceful at home with his family. My soulmate for 39 years. Sir Harold Evans - In pictures 1 /12 Sir Harold Evans - In pictures Sir Harold Evans, editor of The Sunday Times, London, UK, 25th September 1968 Getty Images Sir Harold Evans, Editor of the London Sunday Times, 1975 Getty Images Sir Harold Evans at Buckingham Palace in London Friday June 25, 2004, with his wife, Tina Brown, and their children George, 18 and Isabel, 13, after he was knighted by the Prince of Wales for service to journalism. The son of a railway worker, Sir Harold rose through the ranks to become editor of the Northern Echo and was in charge of the Sunday Times PA Fleet Street legend Sir Harold Evans in 2015 PA 18th January 1967: (Left to right): William Rees-Mogg, editor of 'The Times'; Harold Evans, editor of 'The Sunday Times' and Denis Hamilton, editor-in-chief of 'The Times' and 'The Sunday Times', after being recently appointed by 'The Times' new owner, Lord Thomson Getty Images Sir Harold Evans, Editor of the Sunday Times, speaking to the Executive Committee at the Overseas Press Club of American about the future of the newspaper, January 11th 1978 Getty Images Fleet Street legend Sir Harold Evans in 1982 PA Sir Harold Evans (2007) AFP via Getty Images Sir Harold Evans and Tina Brown attend the after party for "They Made America" at the Broadhurst Theatre on October 7, 2004 in New York City Getty Images Thank you for all the beautiful tributes to the most magical of men. Among those paying homage were the victims of the thalidomide scandal, which Sir Harold helped to expose. Glen Harrison, a thalidomide survivor and deputy chairman of the campaign group Thalidomide UK, described him as a true warrior, a true champion for our cause. The former editor of The Sunday Times and editor-at-large for the Reuters news agency died of congestive heart failure, his wife Tina Brown said / PA Sir Harold, who was also editor-at-large for the Reuters news agency, died of congestive heart failure, according to Ms Brown. Born into a working-class family in Manchester in 1928, Harold Evans began his career at a weekly newspaper in Ashton-under-Lyne aged 16. He rose through the newspaper industry with roles including assistant editor of the Manchester Evening News and, after a stint in the US, editor of The Northern Echo in Darlington. Peter Barron, Northern Echo editor from 1999 to 2016, paid tribute to his predecessor, saying: I was editor half a century later and the people of County Durham, North Yorkshire and Darlington still revered him. If I went to give a talk in the community, Harold Evans always came up, at Womens Institutes, Townswomens Guilds and Rotary Clubs, somebody always had a memory of him. He made a lasting impression on the people of the North East because of his journalism. Sir Harold Evans at Buckingham Palace in London with his wife, Tina Brown, after he was knighted by the Prince of Wales for service to journalism / PA He changed the world, he believed in campaigning journalism and he also understood the importance of getting out and listening to people. Sir Harold, who received a knighthood in 2004, became editor of The Sunday Times (ST) in the late 1960s and editor of The Times soon after Rupert Murdoch bought the paper in 1981. He left around a year later after clashing with Mr Murdoch over editorial independence. Sir Harold was renowned for his promotion of investigative journalism. His most famous investigation involved thalidomide, a drug prescribed to expectant mothers for morning sickness which caused many thousands across the world to give birth to children with missing limbs, deformed hearts, blindness and other problems. Sir Harold fought off a legal attempt by UK manufacturer Distillers a major Sunday Times advertiser at the time to stop the paper revealing that the drugs developers had not gone through proper testing procedures. And his campaign, launched in 1972, forced Distillers to increase the compensation received by victims. Mr Harrison said: He was an outstanding human being for our cause. A true gentleman and honestly we wouldnt know where we would be without him, a really sincere loss and condolences to his family. Another thalidomide campaigner, Guy Tweedy, from Harrogate, also mourned the passing of a dear friend. He was an icon. The worlds greatest journalist and Harry was, and will always remain, a hero of thalidomiders worldwide. What he did for thalidomide survivors and their families in the UK was enormous. He trod where no one else did. If it wasnt for him fighting against the establishment, and having the courage to expose this horrendous scandal, we would never have got any justice at all. Sir Harold described journalism as his basic passion and was a firm advocate for accurate, truthful reporting. He was also conscious of the power of journalism and the media, saying: The camera cannot lie, but it can be an accessory to untruth. On his investigations, he once said: I tried to do all I hoped to do was to shed a little light. And if that light grew weeds, wed have to try and pull them up. Sir Harold Evans (left) with Rupert Murdoch / PA Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the death of Sir Harold should remind us of the vital role the free press plays in our democracy. He was a giant of investigative journalism, uncovering great injustices and informing the public without fear or favour, he said. At a time our newspapers remain under serious pressure, we can all help #buyapaper. Boris Johnson, a former journalist at the Times who was dismissed for inventing a quote, said: Sir Harold Evans worked his way up from local papers to become a giant of British journalism. He will always be remembered for exposing the thalidomide scandal and for tirelessly campaigning on behalf of those who were affected. A true pioneer of investigative journalism. Kemal Hawa, a shareholder at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, will moderate a panel at the TMT M&A Forum 2020. The panel on Sept. 30, 9:00 am to 10:00 am ET., Datacenters and Hosting What is Driving Consolidation and Investment? will include hosting and datacenter leaders, investors and advisers as they discuss investment, growth and consolidation strategies. The panel will be comprised of some of the leading voices in the industry, including Chris Downie, CEO, Flexential; Bob DeSantis, CEO, 365 Data Centers; Patrick Fiel, SVP, Corporate Development, EdgeConneX; and Rangu Salgame, Chairman and CEO, Princeton Digital Group. TMT Connect is the digital platform of TMT Finance, an exclusive news provider for telecom, media and tech M&A, financing, and investment. The platform connects TMT leaders, M&A executives, investors, financiers, and advisers to share knowledge and partnership opportunities globally. Hawa, a shareholder in the firms Corporate Practice, focuses his practice on corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on the telecommunications, media, and technology industries, domestically and internationally. He regularly advises public and private companies, private equity firms, investment banks, and creditors committees on a variety of matters, including mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcies and restructurings, investments, financing arrangements, licensing agreements, and commercial transactions. Hawa assists clients with the negotiation of transactions in the cloud computing space, including the negotiation of data center and co-location leases, globally. He also has broad experience in the negotiation of network infrastructure transactions, including submarine cable systems (builds, financings, and capacity procurement), as well as terrestrial fiber optic network transactions. Greenberg Traurig is also a sponsor of the webinars. 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 China's network of detention centres in the northwest Xinjiang region is much bigger than previously thought and has been expanded in recent years, according to research presented by an Australian think tank Thursday. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute said it had identified more than 380 'suspected detention facilities' in the region - where China is believed to have detained more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic-speaking residents. The number of facilities is around 40 per cent greater than previous estimates and, according to Australian researchers, has been growing despite China's claims that many Uighurs have been released. China's network of detention centres in the northwest Xinjiang region is much bigger than previously thought and has been expanded in recent years, according to research presented by an Australian think tank The Australian Strategic Policy Institute on Thursday The Australian Strategic Policy Institute said it had identified more than 380 'suspected detention facilities' in the region. The photo allegedly shows detainees in a re-education camp It comes after another study says China is 'coercing' more than 500,000 Tibetan people into military-style training centres that act as labour camps. Beijing describes its Xinjiang camps as vocational training centres where education is given to lift the population out of poverty and to chisel away at Islamic radicalism. But rights groups, academics and journalists have exposed a harsh crackdown against Uighur and Kazakh Muslims in Xinjiang, including mass internment, enforced sterilisations, forced labour as well as intense religious and movement restrictions. Using satellite imagery, eyewitness accounts, media reports and official construction tender documents, the institute said 'at least 61 detention sites have seen new construction and expansion work between July 2019 and July 2020.' Fourteen more facilities were under construction in 2020 and around 70 have had fencing or perimeter walls removed, indicating their use has changed or they have been closed. The Communist country has faced fierce backlash after rights groups say over a million Uighurs languish in political re-education camps. This photo taken on June 2, 2019 shows a facility believed to be a re-education camp where mostly Muslim ethnic minorities are detained in Artux, north of Kashgar in China's western Xinjiang region US lawmakers recently voted to ban imports from Xinjiang, citing the alleged use of systematic forced labour. Beijing recently published a white paper defending its policies in Xinjiang, where it says training programmes, work schemes and better education mean life has improved. It has defended the so-called training centres as necessary to stamp out extremism. Following the publication of the latest report, Chinese government-controlled nationalist tabloid the Global Times cited 'sources' saying Australian Strategic Policy Institute contributors Clive Hamilton and Alex Joske were banned from entering China. Beijing has come under intense international criticism over its policies in the resource-rich region, where rights groups say as many as one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities are being held in internment camps. The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to ban imports from China's Xinjiang region, vowing to stop what lawmakers say is systematic forced labor by the Uighur community. Despite opposition by US businesses, the act passed 406-3 in a sign of growing outrage over Xinjiang, where activists say more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic-speaking people have been incarcerated in camps. 'Tragically, the products of the forced labor often end up here in American stores and homes,' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said before the vote. 'We must send a clear message to Beijing: These abuses must end now.' Beijing recently published a white paper defending its policies in Xinjiang, where it says training programmes, work schemes and better education mean life has improved. Women wearing face masks work at a garment factory in a resettlement area in Xinjiang on June 21 The news comes after China is accused of coercing more than 500,000 Tibetan people into military-style training centres that act as labour camps, according to a new study. Pictured: Paramilitary policeman stands guard in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet The Uighur Forced Labor Prevention Act still needs to be passed by the Senate, which may have limited time before November 3 elections. The United States already bans products made through slavery but the act would put a blanket ban on products from Xinjiang, saying that forced labor is inextricably linked to the region's economy. State media frequently shows apparently happy vocational students studying or working in the large facilities. But rights groups have warned of forced detentions and political indoctrination as part of a campaign by the Chinese Communist Party to erase the ethnic group's identity and culture. The news comes after China is accused of coercing more than 500,000 Tibetan people into military-style training centres that act as labour camps, according to a new study. 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. Hgh school graduate Lizzie Quinlivan and her mom, Julie, hold a Georgetown University windsock at their home in Hingham, Mass., in June. Read more A snapshot of fall enrollment shows that fewer students are pursuing undergraduate degrees this semester as the coronavirus continues to sow fears of infection and devastate the economy. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center on Thursday released its first look at fall enrollment through Sept. 10, confirming what many in higher education already suspected: that the public health crisis would lower head counts at the nation's colleges and universities. Though only 629 schools are captured in the data, the report is a closely watched indicator of sector-wide trends. Enrollment among undergraduates is down 2.5% this year across all types of institutions, while the head count of graduate students is up 3.9%. That places overall enrollment in higher education down 1.8% compared with the same period last year, according to the Clearinghouse. Eleven states had undergraduate losses greater than the national average of 2.5 percent, including Pennsylvania, at 9.2 percent. The report did not identify individual schools or have enough data to rate New Jersey colleges. Enrollment at the undergraduate level slipped for every racial and ethnic group, with the steepest declines among Native Americans at 8%. The head counts of white and Black students were down 6%, while dropping more than 3% for Hispanic and Asian undergrads. Early data also show a precipitous drop of 11.2% in the enrollment of international undergraduate students. Public four-year institutions are faring better than their private counterparts at the undergraduate level, the data show. State schools in urban areas witnessed a slight uptick in enrollment, although those in rural settings reported a slide. Community colleges reported the steepest declines at 8%, continuing a downward trend that the Clearinghouse took notice of over the summer. "The fall data continue to show how much higher the stakes are for community college students during disruptions like the pandemic and the subsequent recession," said Doug Shapiro, executive director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Martha Parham, a senior vice president and spokeswoman for the American Association of Community Colleges, said the early data align with what the trade organization is hearing from member schools. Many of them serve students who have suffered job losses and no longer can afford to take classes or are struggling to juggle work while caring for children stuck at home. Another major hurdle, she said, is the lack of reliable broadband for students whose courses are virtual. "At some of our rural colleges, there is just not the same access to broadband that is necessary for online classes," Parham said. "Our students are not affluent. If they've lost a job, don't know how they're going to pay rent, certainly they are not going to take a class." Higher-education experts have been struck by the downturn in community college enrollment because the sector historically thrives in recessions. High unemployment typically drives people toward higher education to sharpen their skills, while a strong job market siphons off would-be students. This recession is different because of the ever-present health risks of the pandemic and the disproportionate economic impact on lower-income families, said Terry Hartle, a senior vice president of the American Council on Education, a higher education group. Hartle said the council expected heavier losses in enrollment but is especially concerned about the drop-off in international students and the trends among community colleges because of the equity implications. "These are the schools that are most likely to enroll low-income minority students, and we fear they're the ones most likely to go missing as a result of the pandemic and the associated fallout," Hartle said of community colleges. "The progress we've made at boosting low-income and minority student participation in higher education over the last decade could be washed away very quickly." A boost in graduate school enrollment was one of the few bright spots in the report, with a 14.2% uptick among Hispanic students. Graduate enrollments are up for 21 states, with 15 states exceeding the national average growth rate of 3.9%. Maryland and Virginia were among a handful of states where enrollment is up at both undergraduate and graduate levels. China, the United States and Russia butted heads at the United Nations on Thursday over responsibility for the pandemic that has interrupted the world, trading allegations about who mishandled and politicized the virus in one of the few real-time exchanges among top officials at this years COVID-distanced U.N. General Assembly meeting. The remarks at the U.N. Security Council came two days after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres decried the lack of international cooperation in tackling the still out-of-control coronavirus. The sharp exchanges, at the end of a virtual meeting on Post COVID-19 Global Governance, reflected the deep divisions among the three veto-wielding council members that have escalated since the virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking first, stressed the importance of U.N.-centered multilateralism and alluded to countries including the U.S. opting out of making a COVID-19 vaccine a global public good available to people everywhere. In such a challenging moment, major countries are even more duty-bound to put the future of humankind first, discard Cold War mentality and ideological bias and come together in the spirit of partnership to tide over the difficulties, Wang said. And in a jab at U.S. and European Union sanctions including on Russia, Syria and others, he said: Unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction needs to be opposed in order to safeguard the authority and sanctity of international law. Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the pandemic and its common misfortune did not iron out interstate differences, but to the contrary deepened them. In a whole number of countries there is a temptation to look abroad for those who are responsible for their own internal problems, he said. And we see attempts on the part of individual countries to use the current situation in order to move forward their narrow interests of the moment in order to settle the score with the undesirable governments or geopolitical competitors. That was too much for the United States U.N. ambassador, Kelly Craft, who opened her remarks late in the meeting with a blunt rejoinder. Shame on each of you. I am astonished and disgusted by the content of todays discussion," Craft said. She said other representatives were squandering this opportunity for political purposes." President Trump has made it very clear: We will do whatever is right, even if its unpopular, because, let me tell you what, this is not a popularity contest, Craft said. She quoted Trumps speech Tuesday to the virtual opening of the General Assemblys leaders meeting in which he said that to chart a better future, we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China. The Chinese Communist Partys decision to hide the origins of this virus, minimize its danger, and suppress scientific cooperation (that) transformed a local epidemic into a global pandemic, Craft said, adding that these actions prove that not all member states are equally committed to public health, transparency , and their international obligations. Chinese U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun asked for the floor at the end of the meeting and delivered a lengthy retort, saying China resolutely opposes and rejects the baseless accusations by the United States. Abusing the platform of the U.N. and its Security Council, the U.S. has been spreading political virus and disinformation, and creating confrontation and division, Zhang said. Zhang said: The U.S. should understand that its failure in handling COVID-19 is totally its fault. The United Nations chief says the world failed to cooperate in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Guterres said that if the world responds to even more catastrophic challenges with the same disunity and disarray, I fear the worst. He said the international communitys failure was the result of a lack of global preparedness, cooperation, unity and solidarity. Guterres pointed to the nearly 1 million people around the world that the coronavirus has killed, the more than 30 million who have been infected. He said the global response is more and more fragmented, and as countries go in different directions, the virus goes in every direction. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during a televised address on the coronavirus pandemic Wednesday that for Canada's four biggest provinces, "the second wave isnt just starting, it's already under way." Driving the news: Daily case numbers have gone from roughly 300 cases a day in mid-August to 1,248 by Tuesday, with most outbreaks in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, CBC notes. "We're on the brink of a fall that could be much worse than the spring," Trudeau said. "It's all too likely we won't be gathering for Thanksgiving, but we still have a shot at Christmas." Over 147,700 Canadians have tested positive for COVID-19. Report suggests Iran has over a million converts to Christianity Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In a recent survey of about 50,000 Iranians over the age of 20, a Netherlands-based secular research group found that 1.5% of respondents identify as Christian. Applied across Irans population of more than 80 million, the number of Christians in Iran is without doubt in the order of magnitude of several hundreds of thousands and growing beyond a million, the research group GAMAAN said after the study. Open Doors USA, a global persecution watchdog organization, says until now, there was no in-depth research to substantiate the claims about the number of Christians in Iran. Given the high-stakes consequences of leaving Islam in Iran, estimates by Christian organizations in the past decade have been based only on extrapolations of the small known number of conversionslargely based on contact with Christian satellite television channels. The nonprofit watchdog group Article 18 noted, If this figure is extrapolated across Irans over 80 million people, then even taking into account the approximately 300,000 recognized Christians of Armenian and Assyrian descent, this would suggest an additional one million converts to Christianity. Mike Ansari of Mohabat TV, a ministry that broadcasts the Gospel into Iran, was quoted as saying, Iranians are turning their back [on] their faith, [on] their institutional faith, and receiving Christianity as their new faith. One-point-five percent becoming Christian may not seem a big number. But for a country that is closed and persecutes Christianity, that number is a huge indication of the gospel growth. Ansari told The Christian Post in 2018 that Iran had "one of the fastest growing underground church movements in the world" and that hundreds were asking about Jesus on a daily basis. But the growth has also led to ongoing persecution. Iran is an Islamic republic and Shia Islam is the official religion of the country. It is illegal for Muslim citizens to convert or renounce their religious beliefs. Conversion from Islam is considered a crime punishable by death. It is also illegal for Christians to share the Gospel with Muslims. Proselytizing is punishable by death. Those who convert to Christianity usually practice their faith in secret. House churches are often monitored and raided and dozens of Christians are imprisoned, Open Doors noted in its annual World Watch List, which ranked Iran as the ninth worst county when it comes to Christian persecution. That ranking comes as several house churches were raided during the World Watch List reporting period Nov. 1, 2018, to Oct. 31, 2019. During that period, Open Doors reports that at least 169 Christians were arrested in Iran. In June, Article 18, which promotes religious freedom and tolerance for Christians in Iran, released a report in collaboration with its partner organizations Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Middle East Concern and The World Evangelical Alliance, listing five ways Iran violates Christians right to religious freedom. Iran prohibits Persian-language church services and religious materials, and forces closure of those that fail to comply, the report pointed out, adding that the countrys Penal Code is used to prosecute Christians for their peaceful religious activities. Iranian authorities prosecute and in one case executed Iranians who leave Islam on charges of 'apostasy,' and justifies it through the use of Article 220 of the Iranian Penal Code and Article 167 of the Constitution, which allows judges to rely on non-codified Islamic law, the report pointed out. This month, three Iranian Christian converts, who were facing a combined 35 years in prison because of their faith, fled the country after a court rejected their appeal. The three converts, identified as Kvian Fallah-Mohammadi, Hadi Asgari and Amin Afshar-Naderi, were charged due to their connection to a December 2014 Christmas celebration, according to the U.S.-based International Christian Concern. The three men fled the Islamic country just weeks after two other Christians a pastor and his wife were forced to flee after their appeals were rejected, ICC reported, noting that the flight of five Christians from within a space of a few weeks is noteworthy, especially as their cases were some of the most publicized among Irans persecuted Christian community. (CNN) People who have had heart attacks can boost their chances of long-term survival by returning to normal levels of sexual activity, a new study shows. Many people stop having sex after a heart attack in the belief that it could trigger another episode, but research published Wednesday in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology says sex is good for survival rates. Researchers followed 495 couples for around 20 years and found that those who maintained or increased their frequency of sexual activity in the first six months after a heart attack had a 35% lower risk of death than those who stopped having sex or reduced their frequency. "Sexuality and sexual activity are markers of wellbeing," study author Professor Yariv Gerber of Tel Aviv University in Israel said in a press release. "Resumption of sexual activity soon after a heart attack may be a part of one's self-perception as a healthy, functioning, young and energetic person. This may lead to a healthier lifestyle generally." While sudden physical exertion, such as having sex, can trigger a heart attack, the long-term risk of heart problems is reduced by regular physical activity, the researchers said. While isolated episodes of sexual activity have been shown to trigger heart problems in some cases, people who exercise regularly are at lower risk. The 495 patients were aged 65 years or under and hospitalized for their first heart attack in 1993. Their average age was 53 and 90% of them were men. Researchers found that after 22 years, 211 patients, or 43% of the total participants, had died. They then adjusted for factors such as obesity, physical activity and socioeconomic status to determine the difference in risk of death between the two groups, and found that the survival benefit "was mostly attributable to a reduction in non-cardiovascular mortality such as cancer" -- ie, the people in the group who died had mainly fallen victim to conditions other than heart disease. Gerber told CNN that people who can climb stairs or jog or walk a mile without difficulty are safe to have sex again -- a caveat that brings to mind the famous scene in the movie "Something's Gotta Give," in which heart attack patient Jack Nicholson has to prove he can climb a flight of stairs before he can have sex with Diane Keaton. Patients should also resume sexual activity "as soon as possible," Gerber told CNN, "preferably within a few days after hospital discharge." However, the severity of the heart attack, as well as complications such as heart failure or atrial fibrillation, can affect the ideal time frame, and individual patients should consult their doctors, Gerber added. While this study did not examine the ideal frequency of sexual activity, Gerber told CNN that his research group has previously shown that "even a low frequency of less than once a week was associated with better long-term survival compared with no sex at all." Gerber said sexual activity is a marker for a better recovery because of "improved physical fitness, stronger spouse relations, and a mental ability to 'bounce back' from the initial shock of the event within a few months. Those who believe they are in poor health may be less likely to resume sexual activity, Gerber added, and they may also be less likely to attend cancer screenings or other health checkups. "This may explain the strong inverse association between resumption of sexual activity and cancer mortality that was seen in our study," he said. Gerber noted, however, that the relatively young age profile of participants, as well as the small number of women involved, may limit the strength of findings for older and female patients. He also underlined that the study does not assume that sexual activity is the only factor that influences survival rates. "Numerous physical and psychosocial health parameters are required for maintaining regular sexual activity," he said. "In light of this, the net benefit of sexual activity itself is still a matter of debate." However, the results should show patients that they shouldn't be worried about resuming sexual activity soon after a heart attack, Gerber concluded. This story was first published on CNN.com 'A healthy sex life boosts long-term survival hopes for heart attack victims' As we reported last night, protesters hit the streets in Louisville, NYC, LA, Denver, Oakland, Washington DC and other cities across the US after a Kentucky grand jury decided that no officers would be charged in the killing of Breonna Taylor, a tragic accident that was the result of officers serving a "no-knock" warrant. In Louisville, the city where Taylor was shot and killed, 2 police were shot as gunfire broke out downtown after hundreds "peacefully" marched earlier in the evening. But as has become distressingly familiar, the real hard-core agitators came out after dark. A suspect in the shooting of the two officers was taken into custody shortly after, but he wasn't the only "protester" who was packing heat at the "non-violent demonstration." LOUISVILLE: a rioter is detainee by police for brandishing a firearm Reporter @livesmattershow is on the scene now, says reporters are getting arrested pic.twitter.com/FcB4UTD5y2 ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) September 24, 2020 Amazingly, left-leaning media outlets had the gall to frame the shooting of two police as an "inevitable", while framing the events of last night in distorted terms that served to support their narrative of a corrupt justice system absolving three murderers, instead of reporting the facts: that a jury of their peers - not some unassailable magistrate - decided on the indictments for the three officers. The Daily Beast reported that none of the officers were charged for Breonna Taylor's killing. While that's technically true - officer Brett Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into a nearby occupied apartment, not for the shots that killed Taylor, which were fired by a colleague - the result is misleading, and intentionally so, we suspect. But we digress. Circling back to the events of Wednesday night, the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department - better known as the LMPD - aggressively enforced curfew violations after the shooting. Several reporters - including two journalists for the Daily Caller - were arrested during the sweep, and despite protests from their editors, were charged with breaking curfew and attending an "unlawful" assembly. It's believed that dozens of protesters and reporters were taken into custody during the sweep of Jefferson Square, which has served as the base for BLM protesters who have been out demonstrating every night for the past 118 days. A mass arrest is underway near Jefferson Square, even press detained for this one. Unclear how many will be taken into custody #Louisville #LouisvilleProtests #BreonnaTaylor Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 24, 2020 Narrowly avoided arrest. Tremendously intense night in Louisville. Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 24, 2020 Multiple members of the press were arrested tonight and are facing charges, along with an even larger number of protesters facing a multitude of charges. Chaotic night here in Kentucky. #Louisville #LouisvilleProtests Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 24, 2020 As far as violence goes, this video has gone viral after being shared by several mainstream media outlets. Molotov cocktail thrown during Breonna Taylor march as protesters clash with authorities in Portland, Oregon. https://t.co/JBtqGXl0kS pic.twitter.com/kedtV1wU81 ABC News (@ABC) September 24, 2020 The DC reporters arrested included Jorge Ventura and Shelby Talcott. Our reporters @ShelbyTalcott and @VenturaReport are being detained by @LMPD as law enforcement corrals protesters en masse in Louisville https://t.co/kQ1yAd3gfg Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 24, 2020 When editors reached out, the department refused to budge. Ive now notified @LMPD that both @shelbytalcott and @VenturaReport were reporting for an accredited media outlet and were operating in the capacity of press. My expectation is that they will be swiftly released. https://t.co/BBa1b8yF1W Geoffrey Ingersoll (@GPIngersoll) September 24, 2020 Update: The Louisville doc tells me @ShelbyTalcott and @VenturaReport will be processed and charged like everyone else, despite my best efforts to alert official channels that they were operating in the capacity of press at a live news event. @LMPD Geoffrey Ingersoll (@GPIngersoll) September 24, 2020 Another update: @LMPD tells me @ShelbyTalcott and @JorgeVentura05 will be charged with two misdemeanors related to breaking curfew & unlawful assembly for their alleged failure to comply with police orders to disperse and for press to relegate themselves to an observation area Geoffrey Ingersoll (@GPIngersoll) September 24, 2020 Sorry @JorgeVentura05 is not the right guy. I meant @VenturaReport Geoffrey Ingersoll (@GPIngersoll) September 24, 2020 Circling back to the wounded officers, Interim LMPD chief Robert Schroeder confirmed the two officers had been shot and sustained life-threatened injuries, and that a suspect was in custody. One of the officers was shot in the abdomen, while the the other was shot in the thigh. "I am very concerned about the safety of our officers," Schroeder said. "Obviously weve had two officers shot tonight, and that is very serious. ... I think the safety of our officers and the community we serve is of the utmost importance," Schroeder said, according to the Courier-Journal. As of 11pm local time on Thursday, police had arrested 46 people, which includes those arrested in the sweep of Jefferson Square, which reportedly happened around 8pm. Independent video journalist Brendan Gutenschwager narrowly avoided arrest last night. Afterward, he chronicled the eerily silent streets, and surveyed the damage. Within 12 hours of the Breonna Taylor announcement - Miles of marches through Louisville - Looting and vandalism in various parts of the city - Fires lit downtown - Live ammunition fired off - 2 officers shot and taken to the hospital - Mass arrests This city is on edge. Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 24, 2020 With a severe crackdown on the curfew, things are calm here in Louisville for the night. Simultaneously, the Pacific coast is going off right now in Portland and Seattle. Hearing retroactively about DC, Chicago and elsewhere. Unrest across Americas cities tonight. Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 24, 2020 The scene along Main Street in downtown Louisville, desolate here tonight as the curfew and police lockdown of the area are underway #Louisville #LouisvilleProtests #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/d82G6O2itq Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 24, 2020 Thousands gathered across NYC and LA, and hundreds more in Portland, Chicago, Atlanta and other cities around the country as others marched "in solidarity". Expect the unrest to continue Thursday, as it has for nearly 120 days. Advertisement A convicted child rapist was whipped until he collapsed in the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh under the province's strict Sharia Laws. The man, named only as Roni in local reports, was due to be hit 169 times with a rattan cane in a public building on Thursday, but fell down after 52 strikes. Medical examiners ruled that he was unfit to continue, meaning he will be beaten a second time, when the remaining 117 lashes will be administered. A man, named in local reports as 'Roni', was beaten in a public building in the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh on Thursday after serving six months in prison for child rape Roni had been sentenced to 175 lashes, reduced to 169 for the six months he spent in jail, but collapsed after 52 as medical examiners rushed to assist him Medics ruled that Roni was unfit to continue with the punishment after collapsing, meaning he will have to come back a second time when the remaining 117 lashes will be administered A medic wearing a face mask to protect herself against coronavirus examines the man after he collapsed during his punishment, ruling him unfit to continue because blood vessels in his back might rupture Roni had already served six months in jail before the beating was carried out, which had reduced his sentence from 175 to 169 - one for each month behind bars. 'When he was lashed 52 times, he was found on his right back there were heavy blisters, if he continued and was hit by the same beating, the blood vessels could burst and bleed," one of the medics told IDN Times. 'It is better if we postpone it until the recovery is good and the convict can be punished again.' Roni was whipped alongside five people who had been convicted of gambling, and were given eight lashes of the cane each. Whipping is used to punish a variety of crimes in Banda Aceh, Indonesia's most-conservative province, and the only one to base its legal system on Sharia Law. Drinking, having an affair and homosexual sex can also be punished with whipping under the legal system. Roni was beaten in front of a socially-distanced crowd in the province of Banda Aceh, the only province in Indonesia to use Sharia Law as the basis of its legal code As well as the convicted rapist, another five people were also beaten for gambling - though they were only forced to suffer eight lashes of the cane each (pictured) Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 70% of all Phuket tourism businesses remain closed: Governor PHUKET: Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew has revealed the nearly 70% all tourism businesses across Phuket remain closed due to the economic impact of COVID-19. By The Phuket News Thursday 24 September 2020, 10:54AM Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew speaking at event in Srisoonthorn yesterday (Sept 23). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub According to data collected by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), 30.4% of businesses in Phuket are now open as normal, he told a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on Tuesday held to discuss strategies to accelerate economic recovery and tourism to expedite aid to people affected by COVID 19. Citing the data, Governor Narong explained that 66.8% of all tourism business are still closed temporarily, and 2.8% had closed permanently. By the end of September, the number of businesses to be closed will increase up to 70% for sure, he said. The DEPA report also marked that 50% of staff working in the Phuket tourism industry were Phuket natives, while 34.3% of staff came from other provinces in Southern Thailand. The rest, 15.7%, were from other parts of Thailand, Governor Narong explained. Speaking yesterday (Sept 23) at the launch of a Sufficiency Economy Center educational centre set up in Srisoonthorn, Governor Narong assured that Phuket was almost 100% ready to welcome foreign tourists. Governor Narong explained that at this stage there is no second wave of COVID-19 in Thailand. However, we have to work and prepare carefully to welcome foreign tourists We have to gradually open our door to welcome small groups of people first, in order to test our system, and then open for bigger groups, he said. If you ask whether foreign tourists will come on Oct 1 or not, I cannot give an answer today, but we have already prepared every step, from checking at the airport to quarantine at the hotels, Governor Narong said. New temperature-checking machines will be installed at Phuket International Airport next Monday (Sept 28) and the review of the procedures for welcoming foreign tourists is still ongoing, he said. Officers from the Department of Disease Control will come to install the temperature-checking machines and test the procedures in place by themselves, he added. All hotels registered to be venues for alternative local state quarantine (ALSQ) have to cooperate with hospitals, Governor Narong also noted. However, even today only two hotels, registered as three separate venues, have been approved by the CCSA to operate as alternative local state quarantine accommodations: 100 available rooms at the Anantara Phuket Suites & Villas and 36 villas available at the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket; and 15 villas available at the Trisara resort. Governor Narong also said yesterday that the governments domestic tourism campaign had so far seen nearly 20,000 village health volunteers from all parts of the country travel to Phuket. However, he noted, Their visits can help solve some of our economic problems, but they cannot replace the need of foreign tourists. Governor Narong pointed out that before the pandemic, Phuket generated around B450 billion a year from tourism B400bn was generated from foreign tourists, and the remaining B50bn was generated from Thai tourists, he said. Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub Mathura (UP): The Shekhar Dixit-led Rashtriya Kisan Manch on Thursday said the farm sector Bills, passed by Parliament recently, would benefit farmers as it opposed the Bharat Bandh call given by some peasants outfits against the proposed legislative measures. Talking to reporters here, Dixit said the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill would give farmers the freedom to sell their produce anywhere in the country. It would help save farmers from the exploitation of middlemen", he said and slammed the organisations opposing the measures. It appears that these organisations were waiting for the passage of these Bills so that they may again come to limelight through agitation," he said and alleged that they were shedding crocodile tears. He said that had these organisations found shortcomings in the Bills and built pressure on the government for their rectification, it would have benefited farmers. Parliament has passed three farm reform bills the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill in the Monsoon Session, which concluded on Wednesday. The Opposition has called these bill as anti-farmers". Some farmer organisations have called a Bharat Bandh on Friday in protest against these Bills. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor Some soldiers have also questioned the shift to an age-blind test, saying that many troops over 35 have chronic injuries from years of deployments and carrying heavy gear, in addition to the changes that come with age. That may also disproportionately affect women. According to the Army, 20 percent of male soldiers around age 40 are unable to take the old test because of an injury; the same is true for 46 percent of female soldiers. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 17:12 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46fc15b 1 SE Asia TKI,Singapore,Indonesian-migrant-workers,migrant-workers,workers-protection,MigrantCare,gugatan-hukum,parti-liyani,Changi-airport Free Former Indonesian migrant worker Parti Liyani has sued two prosecutors who charged her with allegedly stealing over S$34,000 (US$24,738) worth of items from her previous employer. Partis former employer, former Changi Airport Group (CAG) chairman Liew Mun Leong, had previously accused her of stealing his familys belongings. She was cleared of all charges by the Singapore High Court on Sept. 4. Her lawyer, Anil Baclchandani, argued that she was framed by the family to prevent her from going to the authorities to report the family over illegal deployment. The South China Morning Post also reported that there was a break in the chain of custody of the alleged stolen items, where the Liew family improperly handled the items before the police seized the items as evidence. On Wednesday, Anil, on Partis behalf, requested the court take disciplinary action against Tan Wee Hao and Tan Yanying, the two prosecutors who dropped charges on Parti. The Singapore High Court has temporarily freed both prosecutors from their duties for evaluation. If the court grants the request, they will form a disciplinary court to investigate the prosecutors. Read also: Indonesian worker locked up by Saudi Arabian family who employed her for 18 years If they are found guilty, the High Court chief will sentence them with legal censure and fine them a maximum of S$20,000 or other sentences. Migrant Care executive director Wahyu Susilo said his organization supported Partis decision and hoped that her achievement would help to eradicate negative stigma against domestic workers. Wahyu also stated that Partis case managed to reach a satisfying outcome due to her proactiveness, as well as the progressive lawyers who backed her. He also noted that this success was also supported by the fact that each country has a different domestic legal system. In Saudi Arabia, for example, the domestic legal system does not put migrant workers in favor. The Indonesian Embassy also barely participated in Indonesian migrant workers' protection. However, our Indonesian representatives should be more proactive in protecting migrant workers, Wahyu told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. Gene P. Mater, a former senior vice president of CBS broadcasting who handled operational, regulatory and legislative matters for the network, died Sept. 20 at a hospice center in Bethlehem, Pa. He was 93. The cause was complications from covid-19, said a daughter, Jeanne Mater. A former executive with Radio Free Europe, Mater worked for CBS from 1970 to 1986. He represented the network at congressional and regulatory agency hearings and before European and Asian broadcasting unions. In the 1970s, he played a role in promoting women to management positions at CBS. With Columbia University, he helped establish a program to train Black journalists. From 1998 to 2012, he was a media consultant to the Freedom Forum, the parent organization of the Newseum. He gave lectures to visiting international journalists on the role of a free news media in democracies. The Newseum closed in 2019. Gene Paul Mater was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Nov. 27, 1926. His father was a house painter and his mother a housewife. Army service during World War II led him to journalism. He was assigned to a psychological warfare unit where, after the war ended, he helped establish independent German newspapers. At an officers' mess in Stuttgart, he met his future wife, Paris-born, London-raised Jeanne Blanc. They were married from 1947 until her death in 1994. Their son Phillip Mater died in 1996. In addition to his daughter, of Bethlehem, survivors include a son, Richard Mater of Studio City, Calif.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. In the 1950s, Mater held newsroom jobs with the Newark Star-Ledger and the New York World-Telegram and Sun. By the early 1960s, he was the Munich-based news director of Radio Free Europe, where he oversaw Cold War coverage of incidents such as the shooting down of an American U-2 spy plane over the Soviet Union, the building of the Berlin Wall and the Cuban missile crisis. Ghana stands to lose more than GHS802 million in three years, if the Customs Amendment Act, 2020, which bans the importation of accident cars, is implemented, Mr Clifford Ansu, General Secretary of the Automobile Dealers Union of Ghana (ADUG) has told Valentina Ofori-Afriyie on Class91.3FMs The Manifesto segment of the radio station's news analysis programme 505. The amount Ghana is going to lose within these three years is huge, Mr Ansu said, explaining: Ghana is going to lose GHS802, 251,785 for the first three years if Customs Amendment Act, 2020 becomes operational. According to him, We are going to lose this money because the law says that if you are able to even assemble one particular vehicle in this country, you have the opportunity and advantage to bring in as many as you can of this particular product into this country without paying a pesewa. So, if this is the case, and youre asking those of us in the industry that we rather should pay or youre even increasing our duty five per cent now to 35 per cent it means that we rather are going to pay the money to the people who are bringing the cars into the country free of charge, Mr Ansu noted, adding that the dealers intend going on a 7-day demonstration against the government if it fails to scrap certain parts of the law. The government of Ghana recently suspended the enforcement of the law, the Tema Regional Chairman of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Mr Alex Asiamah, revealed. He said the Customs Commander at the Tema Port made an announcement to that effect. Mr Asiamah said on Thursday, 17 September 2020 that: Just this evening, I received information informing the general public, stakeholders and the importing public that, Customs will continue to do their normal clearance of such vehicles. So, the importers can go on with their business of importing such cars. So, thats the news at the moment. It is coming from the Ministry [of Finance], but through our sector commander, the Assistant Commander of Customs in Tema, he told Accra-based Citi FM. According to Mr Asiamah, the ban sparked a lot of anger among importers. You could remember that when the news came, importers or dealers in those cars were not happy about it and then it was even twisted in different directions to make it look like something odd, he said. For us, as freight forwarders, we will continue to enjoy our business of providing such cars for our customers and when that one happens, it means we are going to continue to enjoy the service so its welcoming news, Mr Asiamah said. A few weeks ago, the Coalition of Car and Spare Parts Dealers, Clearing Agents and Artisans in Tema, Spintex and Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region, in conjunction with Vehicle and Asset Dealers Union of Ghana (VADUG), called off an intended demonstration scheduled for Thursday, 27 August 2020 over the ban on the importation of salvaged cars. A statement signed by Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary, Tema Car Dealers Association, dated Wednesday, 26 August 2020, explained: This follows a meeting convened by the Minister of Trade and Industry, which was attended by the Commissioner and Senior Officials of the Customs Division of GRA, the Director-General of Ghana Standards Authority and Representatives of the Coalition, as well as the leadership of Automobile Dealers Union of Ghana (ADUG) and Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association. The statement said: The Minister and the Commissioner of Customs have assured members of the Coalition that their concerns will be addressed during the implementation of the Customs Amendment Act, 2020 and that further consultations will be held in defining the detailed implementation modalities of the Act. In its earlier statement serving notice of the demonstration, the coalition said the Customs Amendment Act, 2020, which was expected to come into force in November this year, will have an adverse impact on the sector as far as jobs are concerned. Ghana banned the importation of cars older than 10 years to encourage international companies including Volkswagen AG and Nissan Motor Co. to set up local plants in the West African country. The new law also provides import-duty rebates for companies that manufacture or assemble cars in Ghana, according to the act of parliament obtained Thursday by Bloomberg. The embargo will take effect six months after the manufacturing or assembling of new vehicles in Ghana begin under a special government program meant to draw investment. Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota Motor Corp. , Suzuki Motor Corp. and Renault SA are among automakers weighing the local assembly of vehicles in a country where used cars make up about 70% of vehicle imports. Ghana is seeking to become a car-manufacturing hub for West Africa, a region with more than 380 million people. The import restrictions could cost the government as much as $143 million in customs revenue in the first three years after implementation, according to parliamentary documents. Used-car sellers offer more affordable deals in a country where auto loans are rare. The law, signed by President Nana Akufo-Addo on April 30, also bans the importation of cars which have been involved in accidents, which dealers bring in and repair to provide even cheaper options to consumers. ---classfmonline In this Dec. 22, 2010, file photo, a government ship sails past the South Korean Navy's floating base as the sun rises near Yeonpyeong island, South Korea. AP North Korea shot a missing South Korean official to death and burned his body earlier this week, the defense ministry confirmed Thursday, condemning its "brutality" and calling for explanations and punishment for those responsible. The 47-year-old official affiliated with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries disappeared from the 499-ton boat before noon Monday while on duty aboard an inspection boat in waters off the western border island of Yeonpyeong. "North Korea found the man in its waters and committed an act of brutality by shooting at him and burning his body, according to our military's thorough analysis of diverse intelligence," the defense ministry said in a statement. "Our military strongly condemns such a brutal act and strongly urges the North to provide an explanation and punish those responsible," the statement read. "We also sternly warn North Korea that all responsibilities for this incident lie with it." It is the first time since July 2008 that a South Korean civilian has been shot dead in North Korea. At that time, Park Wang-ja was shot and killed at the North's mountain resort of Kumgang while wandering into a restricted zone. The incident is expected to further deteriorate inter-Korean relations that have already been frayed badly, as the North angrily protested propaganda leaflets flying in from the South and blew up an inter-Korean liaison office building in June. According to officials of the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missing official is presumed to have jumped into the sea Monday in a suspected attempt to defect to the North and had drifted into North Korean waters. The ministry earlier said that colleagues of the fisheries official found his shoes on the boat and reported his disappearance to the Coast Guard. But an intensive search operation failed to find him. Upon spotting the individual at sea at around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, sailors of a North Korean vessel put gas masks on and questioned him from a distance while leaving him in the waters. The South Korean was wearing a life jacket and relying on an unidentified floating item. He was found in waters about 3 to 4 kilometers north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto inter-Korean maritime border, near Deungsangot, or Deungsan Cape, and the location was about 38 kilometers from where he went missing, according to the JCS. During the questioning, the South Korean official appears to have expressed his desire to defect to the North, according to a JCS official. "At around 9:40 p.m., the North Korean soldiers aboard their vessel shot him before pouring oil over his body and setting it aflame at around 10 p.m.," the JCS official said, adding that the act was believed to have been done in accordance with "orders from its superior authority." South Korean surveillance equipment set up on Yeonpyeong Island also captured flames Tuesday night, which were later confirmed to have been from the North's burning of the body. "We judge that North Korea appears to have done such acts against humanity of unconditionally shooting an individual as part of its COVID-19 quarantine guidelines," the official said. North Korea has made all-out efforts to stave off the new coronavirus. Pyongyang claims there has not been a single case there, and the country closed its border with China in January and implemented the maximum emergency level against the virus in July. Representative Jim Jordan on Thursday sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray demanding that he provide answers on whether his agency is investigating allegations against Hunter Biden that appeared in a report by Senate Republicans this week. The report by investigators for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs along with the Senate Finance Committee contained serious allegations of potential criminal activity against Hunter Biden, son of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, including that he allegedly received a wire payment of $3.5 million from the wife of the former mayor of Moscow. The 87-page report also claimed that the younger Biden had business associations with Chinese nationals linked to the Chinese Communist government and the Peoples Liberation Army and made payments to women who appeared to be linked to an Eastern European prostitution or human trafficking ring. We write to ask what investigative stepsif anythe Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken in response to the information in this report, Jordan wrote in his letter to Wray. The report shows that the FBI has been aware of some alleged misconduct for years, and detailed widespread concern within the Obama-Biden Administration about Hunter Bidens role on the board of Burisma Holdings, the Ohio Republican wrote. Hunter Biden joined the board of Burisma, a Ukranian natural gas company, in 2014 after his father became vice president. In that role, court records suggested he earned at least $50,000 a month advising the energy company on transparency, corporate governance and responsibility, international expansion and other priorities, according to Burisma. He resigned from the board in April of last year. A consulting firm representing Burisma Holdings, Washington-based Blue Star Strategies, at one point used the Biden name to leverage a meeting between the gas company and State Department officials, according to internal State Department email exchanges. Story continues The FBI suffered from a pattern of misconduct and politicization at the highest levels of the FBI during the Obama-Biden Administraton, Jordan wrote in his letter, adding that the new revelations in the Senate report only add more concern about the FBIs actions. More from National Review Despite a rising number of coronavirus cases, Riyadh has decided to allow pilgrimages. After restricting Hajj, the Saudi government is focusing again religious tourism, despite the great risk of further contagion. Riyadh (AsiaNews/Agencies) Despite the dangers associated with the pandemic, Saudi Arabia has decided to gradually resume the Umrah, the small pilgrimage to Makkah, which can take place at any time of the year. The decision is motivated by the need to boost the countrys economy, badly hit by the slump in oil prices. Back in March, Saudi authorities suspended pilgrimages from around the world to Makkah and Madinah. Haj, the great pilgrimage that was scheduled this year for July and August, was placed under tight restrictions due to the health emergency. Only about 10,000 people were able to come this year compared to 2.5 million last year, subject to social distancing, body temperature control and subsequent mandatory quarantine. No COVID-19 case was reported. Building on this success, the Haj and Umrah minister announced that phone app would be available for future pilgrimages. The software will allow people to book access to sacred places and follow precise guidelines, whilst government drones will monitor the body temperature of people in the streets. On 4 October, some 6,000 Saudis will be allowed to perform the Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, an Interior Ministry source said. The number will increase to 15,000 on 18 October. Muslims abroad will be allowed to travel to the kingdom for the pilgrimage from 1 November, when 20,000 pilgrims will be allowed per day. Still, the decision to allow pilgrimages worries some people who fear further contagion during the ritual. According to data from John Hopkins University, Saudi Arabia has reported 331,349 cases with 4,569 deaths, the highest number among Gulf countries. About 312,000 people have recovered. Government sources note that it will be possible to perform the ritual whilst limiting the spread of the virus since it will resume gradually. In view of this, Riyadh recently lifted some restrictions on international flights, allowing the repatriation of some groups of Saudi nationals stranded abroad. The goal is to eliminate all restrictions on 1st January. The decision to allow umrah is also linked to the strategic importance of religious tourism, which represent US$ 12 billion for the Saudi economy. Saudi Arabia aims at 30 million pilgrims per year by 2030 in order to compensate for the expected collapse in oil prices. The kingdom is the worlds leading oil exporter. The prime minister should have used the debate on farm bills to underscore their virtues Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla worked diligently with Parliament staff to work out Covid-19 protocol-compliant arrangements for the monsoon session. Normally, it should have begun in the middle of July and wrapped up a little before Independence Day. But then these are not normal times: Covid-19 numbers have shot up from about 200,000 in June to more than 5 million in September. So, Venkaiah Naidu and Birla deserve praise for working out the logistics to hold the session between September 14 and October 1, inclusive of the weekends. Doing away with Question Hour was sought to be justified on the grounds that officials could not be present to help the ministers answer the questions. In the hallowed House of Commons in Britain, the prime minister and all other ministers were left to fend for themselves when parrying questions from the opposition. But in India ministers cannot stand without the help of bureaucrats. There was also a compulsion. The government had been working through the ordinance raj and it now had the perfect alibi to do so because of the raging pandemic. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had explained the rationale of amending the law on GST payments on the dates specified and said that the need to defer the payments also meant changing the due dates specified in the law. The ordinance was inevitable and the bill to replace the ordinance was a necessity. But not all the bills arose out of the exigencies of running the government, and that is where the rub lies. This was a government business session, and that is why so many bills were pushed through in order to avert a governmental breakdown. But there was a difference. Making his customary statement to the media -- where of course he does not take any questions -- prime minister Narendra Modi talked about the need for a robust discussion and the expression of diverse views as the flavour of democracy. But this time around he got plenty of it from a decimated but loud and assertive opposition, which pushed the government on to the backfoot as it were. The minister who held his own was Rajnath Singh, who made a comprehensive and clear statement on the India-China standoff in eastern Ladakh, and he included external affairs minister S Jaishankars meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Moscow on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), as also his own meeting with Chinese defence minister Wei Fenghe, and all this without taking vulgar potshots at Jawaharlal Nehru. He seems to have felt that on a matter of national importance, partisan grudges should be laid aside. The other person from the government who conveyed a sense of gravitas was health minister Harsh Vardhan. But this spirit did not always hold. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, instead of explaining the rationale of the PM Cares fund, indulged in a belligerent tirade on the amendments that the Manmohan Singh government brought in to deprive the states of the advantages of corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions to chief ministers relief funds. And her junior colleague, Anurag Singh Thakur, did what most BJP members know how to -- mount an undignified personal attack on the Congress Nehru-Gandhi family. It put the Lok Sabha speaker in a tight spot, but the members of the Lower House from all sides expressed their confidence in his sense of fair play. This did not work in the Rajya Sabha, when members clashed with deputy chairman Harivansh, who was re-elected to the post and prime minister Modi commended his ability to run the House, over putting two of the three agriculture reforms bills to vote. Trinamul Congress leader in the Upper House Derek OBrien and several others rushed to the Well of the House and insisted that there should be a division instead of going by voice vote. OBrien and the others were shown crowding around the seat of the presiding officer on the Rajya Sabha TV channel. Congress Rajiv Satav, among others, was said to have danced on the table of the House, where the House officials sit. This was as ugly as it could be. Beyond the unjustifiable unruliness, unbecoming of the Upper House, there is the issue of procedure on one hand, and that of the intent of the legislation. Harivanshs silence over whether he would have allowed for a division and electronic voting remains puzzling and law minister Ravi Shankar Prasads argument that the government had enough numbers to win the vote does not solve the puzzle. This also points to the other troubling factor that presiding officers, in their bid to improve the so-called productivity of the legislature, might be cutting into deliberations, even protracted ones, on many important matters. The other aspect is that of the prime minister initiating reforms through ordinances. We know that the government finds itself beleaguered through no fault of its own -- Covid-19, the pre-Covid sluggish economy and the military standoff with China in Ladakh -- and it wants to be seen to be doing something positive. It has been the strategy of governments pushing necessarily unpopular reforms, from the days of P.V. Narasimha Rao, to push them through without too much discussion and to face pointed criticism from the Opposition. But unlike in the times of Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh, the BJP has sufficient strength in both Houses to push through any legislation. There is no need for Modi and his Cabinet colleagues to fight shy of an open debate. But it seems that Modi seems to be realising that despite an unassailable parliamentary majority, unpopular measures do not go down well with the people. The farmers in Punjab and Haryana, rightly or mistakenly, are angry over the new farm legislation. The prime minister should have used the parliamentary debate to underscore its virtues. He did not. The entire effort to keep Parliament working in difficult times goes to waste when the national legislature fails to debate the burning issues. What is he really afraid of? One of the NSW Nationals' most vocal opponents of the koala planning policy relayed concerns about the divisive issue to Planning Minister Rob Stokes on behalf of political donors connected to a major property venture. Nationals MP for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead wrote to Mr Stokes in February, passing on an email from Raymond Stack, the chairman of Stacks Finance, concerning the states new koala planning policy. NSW Nationals member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead (right) and party leader John Barilaro. Credit:Louise Kennerley The letter to Mr Bromhead from Mr Stack on February 24, released to NSW Parliament on Wednesday, included correspondence from two other engineering and land development companies raising concerns with the states koala planning policy. "Is there anything that can be done to delay it 'till there is proper consultation," Mr Stack wrote to Mr Bromhead. This is an opinion column. The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.Malcolm X They shouldnt have even said her name. Not the members of that Louisville grand jury, nor certainly Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. They didnt deserve to say her name. To say Breonna Taylor. Or even to call her death six months ago in a hail of bullets fired by three Louisville police officers executing a late-night warrant in a narcotics investigation in which the 26-year-old emergency room techniciana Black womanwas not a target as tragic. Not when nary a single one of the officers will be held accountablenot for her death. Not for the triggers they pulled that left her shot five times after being startled from slumber while sleeping next to her boyfriend in her apartment. That left her bleeding out before Taylors EMT colleagues could arrive. They said her name, though, in announcing one of the officersformer officer Brett Hankisonwould be indicted for first-degree wanton endangerment blindly firing into a patio door and window when the view inside was obstructed by blinds. Thats a violation of policy that endangered Taylors neighbors as Hankisons bullets pierced the walls of Taylors apartment, Cameron said. Yet did not endanger Taylor. Her shooting was justifiedIm growing to despise that wordbecause Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired first. Which is true and his shot hit one of the intruding officers in the leg, promoted the hail-ific response. He did so, Walker later told investigators, because he thought the frightening encroachment was being perpetrated by Taylors sometimey ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, who had served time in prison, was the primary target of the investigation, and with whom Taylor had been variously entangled. Cmon, all my stand-your-ground folks, stand for him. Yet, I repeat, Taylor was not a target of the warrant or investigation. Yet, she is dead. Yet the men who pulled the triggers can breathe easier. Can breathe. In the eyes of many, Taylors killing, her endangerment, has yet to be addressed. Not by the grand jury. Certainly not by Cameron, who used every law-and-order rule in the book to justify the injusticethe moral and human injustice. Now Taylors death, a life just beginning to be lived, may never be addressednot by a city with a long and deep and treacherous entanglement with its black citizens. No doubt Ill hear from folks citing the $12 million the city of Louisville recently agreed to pay the family in compensation for their loss$12 million for a justifiable shooting. A settlement, its always called. To which Ill respond: How much would be justifiable for the loss of your child, your sibling, your lovein such a way? For how much would you settle? On May 22, 1962, Malcolm X stood before a room of Black Americans in Los Angeles and challenged them to do better by Black women. Who taught you to hate the color of your skin? he extorted. Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair? Who taught you to hate the shape of your nose and the shape of your lips? Who taught you to hate yourself from the top of your head to the soles of your feet? This was almost six decades ago, remember. Had he not been slain and was still among us he might actually be empowered by Black Girl Magic in all its forms. On that day, though, the Muslim leader was specifically addressing Black men, challenging them to do better by Black women, to better respect and protect them. And certainly not neglect them. Including Breonna Taylor. Respect and protect her. A voice for whats right and wrong in Birmingham, Alabama (and beyond), Roys column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as in the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register. Reach him at rjohnson@al.com and follow him at twitter.com/roysj Prominent advocate Babar Qadri, who used to appear in television debates on Indian national channels very frequently, was shot dead by unknown gunmen at his in residence in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. According to Jammu and Kashmir Police, the suspected terrorists fired upon Qadri from point-blank killing him on the spot at Hawal area of downtown Srinagar. Though he was rushed to the hospital, doctors declared him bought dead. Live TV Soon after the attack, the whole area was cordoned off to nab the attackers. Qadri a prominent advocate, panellist, debater and also a writer was continuously under threat since 2018 after the killing of prominent journalist Shujat Bukhari. His name also appeared in a blog which was written from Pakistan in which it was called an Indian agent. In 2018 his car was once stopped by gunmen to kill him but at that time it was his brother driving the car. Qadris body was brought to his home in Srinagar after post-mortem from a hospital. Later his body was taken to his ancestral graveyard in Kunzar area of Tangmarg in north Kashmir for burial. SHREVEPORT, La.A federal grand jury returned indictments yesterday charging two former United States Postal Service employees, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced. Shinice Jordan, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana, has been charged with one count of theft of mail matter and one count of delay or destruction of mail. According to the indictment, on July 23, 2019, Jordan , who worked as a Letter Carrier with the U.S. Postal Service, stole a Walmart gift card from a letter which had been entrusted to her to deliver. It is further alleged that on that same date, Jordan delayed the opening of the letter which was intended to be delivered by her as an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. Sedarius Howard, 33, of Shreveport, Louisiana, has been charged with one count of delay or destruction of mail. The indictment alleges that on March 16, 2020, while working as a Letter Carrier with the U.S. Postal Service, Howard destroyed or delayed delivery of mail that was his duty as an employee to deliver. If convicted, both Jordan and Howard face up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody is prosecuting the cases. An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. By Donald Kirk PHILADELPHIA The Independence Hall where 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence is a vision in red brick, its clock tower looking over a park where the Liberty Bell is now encased in glass. It was that bell, famed for its hairline crack, that rang out the news of the 56 members of the continental congress approving the declaration on July 4, 1776. These days, though, Independence Hall looks almost modest, dwarfed by much taller icons of modern society and barely noticed by tourists since the hall was reopened to socially distanced visitors. On a beautiful autumn day, demonstrators might prefer to protest in the center of the city at the rococo City Hall, an enormous gem of 19th century architecture. At the pinnacle of City Hall stands a statue of William Penn, a leader of the Society of Friends, i.e. the Quakers, who had led his people to the new colony more than a century before the creation of the U.S. A famous painting called the Peaceable Kingdom shows Penn dispensing good will to American Indians, a.k.a. Native Americans, along with assorted charming animals. Luckily, so far no one's calling for tearing down the statue. For one thing, it's far out of reach of protesters who might lump Penn along with Christopher Columbus for having introduced disease and conquest to the New World. It's not until one gets several miles away, into crowded streets and alleys several miles from stately banks and office buildings and department stores, that one gets a sense of the violence that has rocked Philadelphia, whose name in Greek means "brotherly love." It was there that rioters months ago ran wild, looting shops and breaking down windows as they have done in other American cities in a summer of protest mingled with the menace of the coronavirus pandemic. The slogan "Black Lives Matter" resonates here more than the noble words of the country's founders while President Donald Trump battles for another chance to polish up a legacy tarnished by his misjudgment on the severity of the virus and his failure to deal effectively with political violence. He can only pray that scientists can come up with a vaccine against the virus before the election on Nov. 3 when Americans have a chance to depose him. Still behind in the polls, he can hope that his foe Joe Biden will fail to convince enough people to get out and vote. As if all that were not enough, the race to the finish is complicated by the death of the 87-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a tough liberal voice on the Supreme Court who once described Trump's presidency as "an aberration" that voters would rectify in the next election. Sadly, while she's laid to rest six weeks before election day, the fight to replace her with a conservative woman to Trump's liking adds yet another unexpected dimension to the campaign. Trump is counting on a slim Republican majority in the Senate to approve his choice in time to enhance his chances of an upset victory over Biden, a pleasant, courtly figure, fine as President Barack Obama's vice president but an uninspiring candidate who turns 78 two and a half weeks after the election. It's almost as though the country faces a perfect storm of rampant disease and intermittent mayhem topped off by a battle royale in which Democratic Party leaders are poised to defy Trump's choice of a justice while extremists are ready to spur on more violence if Trump wins reelection. Looking around Independence Hall, you wonder if the country is in the midst of a cataclysm that could have as far-reaching an effect as the declaration of independence and the revolution from which it emerged. Well, the country did hold together during the terrible Civil War 90 years later that ended the curse of slavery, though not the prejudices and racism that linger today. In the midst of the storm, you also wonder if the U.S. is at all ready to respond to an emergency overseas, for instance a serious North Korean threat in the form of another nuclear test or the launch of a long-range missile capable of carrying a warhead to the American mainland. These days, neither Trump nor Biden is saying much of anything about foreign affairs. Perhaps an international crisis would be just the thing to distract from crises on the home front. Trump is so entranced by dictators, though, that you have to ask if he would have the will to stand up against any of them. Would the man who fell "in love" with Kim Jong-un be willing to fight for South Korea in a showdown? Let us pray we'll never have to answer that question. ) writes from Seoul as well Washington. Donald Kirk ( www.donaldkirk.com People enjoy the sun without observing social distancing or wearing face masks in Malmo, Sweden, in June Sweden was the only major European country to reject lockdown and have most of its bars, restaurants and shops open during the Covid-19 crisis. Ireland took the least maverick route and yesterday experts said we are at the start of a second wave. The 14-day incidence rate here was 68.6 per 100,000, while Sweden's was just 36 per 100,000. A suggestion from a Swedish epidemiologist that Ireland adopt the more 'softly, softly' strategy was among the possible solutions to emerge yesterday from a brainstorming session of experts at the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response. Others proposed borrowing the best ideas from Finland and Taiwan. Comeback kid Sweden has been dubbed the comeback kid of Europe after reversing a high infection and death rate. Dr Johan Giesecke, a former chief epidemiologist in Sweden, said we should allow controlled spread among people aged below 60, but concentrate efforts on the old and frail. Sweden has frequent testing of staff and residents in nursing homes. Mask wearing is not mandatory, but there is a very high level of voluntary compliance to anti-Covid measures such as physical distancing. "People are not stupid," Dr Giesecke said. Over-60s Sweden's biggest failure in the early months of the pandemic was the high number of deaths among the elderly, which breached 2,700 by early May. He said there will be a "tolerable spread" among the over-60s. But there has been a "sea change" in the way people in care homes are now looked after. Asked by Social Democrats TD Roisin Shortall how more active older people would be protected, he said they need to be careful of how they behaved. "We have not changed anything for the six months whereas other countries are going in and out of lockdown," he said. But acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn last night ruled out following Sweden's path. Seven years Infectious disease consultant Prof Sam McConkey said there needs to be a plan to deal with Covid-19 for up to seven more years. Living with Covid-19 community transmission is like having a tiger in your house - it will come back and bite you, he said. If it is not eliminated "we face multiple regular waves here, of infection, disease and death, and disability" for possibly many years. An essential element is that once there is an outbreak, there should be testing and detailed contact tracing, pop-up testing and mobile teams. Incoming travellers Prof McConkey pointed to successes in Australia and New Zealand that we should adopt by better control of incoming travellers using testing, home visits and quarantines. A package of measures is needed and the current testing and control measures are not enough. Physical distancing needs a complete community buy-in and there needs to be improvement in the quality and speed of what we are doing already. Within the EU there should be a collective effort to get the whole group of countries to aim for elimination. It would mean areas gradually free of Covid-19 could be opened up. Scandinavian success Finland - not Sweden - was held up as the European country to follow by Dr Tomas Ryan of Institute of Neurosciences in Trinity College Dublin. He said there is no magical ingredient in Finland but they seem to be doing everything really well, from mask-wearing to physical distancing. He said it has a sparser population than Ireland, different customers and possibly more compliance. Transparency People in Ireland are not getting the kind of information they need on the location of outbreaks, whether they are in family homes, weddings or restaurants, said Prof Kirsten Schaffer, a microbiologist at the UCD School of Medicine. If they did, restrictions would seem more logical and consistent. She pointed to Germany where there is detailed tracing to find the source of the infection. Public health officials only checked what close contacts people had in the previous 48 hours. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A 21-year-old New Brighton resident has been indicted for first-degree assault for severely slashing two other women in her community three months ago, prosecutors allege. Tatianna Lindo, of the 300 block of York Avenue, pleaded not guilty Wednesday at her arraignment in state Supreme Court, St. George. A criminal complaint said the attack occurred at 1:30 p.m. on June 23 at Brighton Avenue and Jersey Street. Lindo stabbed two victims multiple times with a knife, alleges the complaint. One woman suffered a deep laceration across her face, extending from her nose to her bottom lip, the complaint said. The other victim was slashed across the side of her face, said the complaint. She suffered a 4-inch-long laceration, as well as cuts to her hand and chest, the complaint said. The first victim was taken to the hospital for immediate surgery and stitches, said the complaint. The other woman sought medical attention at the hospital. The complaint does not say what precipitated the alleged attack. Besides first-degree assault, Lindo was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, also a felony. In addition, shes accused of misdemeanor charges of third-degree assault and criminal weapon possession. Lindo is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Her next court date is Oct. 21. Ms. Lindo is a 21-year-old special-needs individual with no prior contact with the criminal justice system who was viciously attacked two times in the same location, said defense lawyer Mario F. Gallucci. She defended herself, and now the poor woman is stuck in Rikers Island looking forward to clearing her good name while the true assailants remain free to commit more crimes in the community. Online court records show Lindo is charged with felony and misdemeanor assault in a separate alleged incident occurring on July 29. That case is pending in Criminal Court. WELLESLEY, Mass., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of Sun Life's larger global efforts to combat racism and support organizations actively fighting for equality, Sun Life U.S. will be working with two organizations on the frontlines of promoting and fighting for racial justice and equality. Sun Life has partnered with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) and More Than a Vote, to support the nonpartisan "We Got Next" campaign aimed at voter education and recruiting young people to serve as poll workers in vulnerable Black communities across the nation during the 2020 general election. Sun Life U.S. is also supporting the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture's new Talking About Race portal, an online resource offering digital tools, exercises, scholarly articles and multi-media resources for those interested in racial equality. In choosing these partnerships, Sun Life worked directly with Black Excellence Alliance (BEA), one of several inclusion networks at the company. "We want to offer ongoing support to programs focused on action and long-term, sustainable resolutions to racial injustice in the United States," said Shamika Hoyt, associate director of internal support and client outreach of Stop-Loss & Health at Sun Life, and co-director of BEA. "We look forward to contributing to the success of these initiatives, and will continue to work with them to further the fight for equality and equity." Internally, Sun Life has launched a racially and professionally diverse task force of employees called Allies Acting for Change, to boost the company's inclusive hiring efforts and support for racial equality and equity within the workplace. The task force agenda includes the assessment and evolution of recruitment and retention practices as well as career development opportunities for Black and African American employees. Learn more about Sun Life's inclusion networks and commitment to racial equality here. About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2020, Sun Life had total assets under management of C$1,122 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. In the United States, Sun Life is one of the largest group benefits providers, serving more than 60,000 employers in small, medium and large workplaces across the country. Sun Life's broad portfolio of insurance products and services in the U.S. includes disability, absence management, life, dental, vision, voluntary and medical stop-loss. Sun Life and its affiliates in asset management businesses in the U.S. employ approximately 5,500 people. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except in New York, where policies are issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, Mich.). For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com/us. Media contact: Devon Fernald Sun Life U.S. 781-800-3609 [email protected] Connect with Sun Life U.S. https://www.facebook.com/SLFUnitedStates https://www.linkedin.com/company/sun-life-financial https://twitter.com/SunLifeUS SOURCE Sun Life U.S. Related Links http://www.sunlife.com Voting rights advocates are mulling doomsday election scenarios, expecting contested election results and protracted legal battles around mail-in ballots and voter intimidation. That uncertainty amid a pandemic, chaos at the US Postal Service and a renewed battle over the future of the US Supreme Court has prompted election analysts and legal scholars to brace for worst-case scenarios, aggravated by threats from Donald Trump and his Republican allies to deploy active-duty military into American streets while falsely accusing vote-by-mail efforts of enabling widespread voter fraud. Roger Stone, pardoned by the president after being convicted of lying to Congress, told far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones that the president should declare martial law if he loses the election, suggested ballots in the crucial battleground state of Nevada be seized by federal marshals and echoed the presidents false claims about mail-in voting. Michael Caputo, the now-former assistant secretary of public affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services, claimed left-wing Americans were planning an armed revolt. When Donald Trump refuses to stand down at the inauguration, the shooting will begin, he said on Facebook. The drills that youve seen are nothing. Meanwhile, the president has refused to say whether he would accept the outcome, claiming mail-in votes are fraudulent, and suggesting that there is no legitimate outcome unless he wins a second term. He has also signalled an unprecedented voter suppression and intimidation effort by urging supporters to menace voters at the polls and suggesting he could invoke the Insurrection Act to quash election-related protests. The president told supporters in North Carolina on 19 September that we're going to have a victory on 3 November, the likes of which you've never seen. We're counting on the federal court system to make it so that we can actually have an evening where we know who wins, he said. Not where the votes are going to be counted a week later or two weeks later. Global demonstrations against the incoming administration followed 2016s election, but protests warning against Americas hard-right turn and nascent fascism have only grown in scale in the years that followed. If there are protests on Election Day, the president has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty service members against other Americans. "Well put them down very quickly if they do that, he told Fox News on 12 September. We have the right to do that. We have the power to do that, if we want. Last month, he told Fox News host Sean Hannity: We're going to have sheriffs, and we're going to have law enforcement, and we're going to have, hopefully, US attorneys, and we're going to have everybody and attorney generals [sic] monitoring polls and at polling stations across the US. During an August campaign rally in Wisconsin, he told supporters: The only way were going to lose this election is if the election is rigged. In North Carolina, he told supporters to watch all the thieving and stealing and robbing they do at the polls. Elections already are underway for thousands of Americans who are voting early. On 19 September, a group of the presidents supporters protested outside early-voting locations in Virginia, waving flags and attempting to block them from entering. Voting rights advocates do not believe the president would have to activate any of his myriad emergency authorities including secret documents that suggest sweeping executive powers to create an emergency-like response as a form of intimidation and suppression at the polls. New York School of Laws Brennan Centre for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute, has sounded that alarm over potential executive overreach and election safety following the presidents dangerous rhetoric. The chances we will see more deployments of federal troops or [Department of Homeland Security] agents in the coming weeks is quite high, because I think he considers that a good campaign ad for him, Elizabeth Goitein, the Brennan Centers Liberty and National Security director, told The Independent. When it comes to the vote itself, and his plans for responding in a situation where things dont look good for him, my guess is he will use means other than emergency powers for that, she said. There is enough of a danger to having a fair and free election without the president actually having to invoke emergency powers. The president is not legally able to intervene with the state and local election officials, but a months-long campaign to undermine the results of the vote and threats to deploy autocratic military maneuvers on American streets, supported by the presidents allies and armed right-wing extremists, could serve as a pretext to deploy heavily militarised federal and civil law enforcement agents like we saw in Portland acting as a kind of paramilitary in the days surrounding the election, Ms Goetein said. If that were to happen in days leading up to the election and on Election Day, the concern is it would discourage turnout, that it would be intimidating for people to go to the polls, she said. Scaring people into staying home might not be the best strategy for the president, but right-wing extremists might be more willing to go out in that scenario, and in general, white Americans are going to be less worried about going out if theres a heavily armed military presence on the streets. Tabulating mail-in ballots, if there is an influx from voters avoiding in-person polls during the pandemic, is likely to take longer than counting in-person results, a simple procedural issue that the president has suggested proves the existence of voter fraud. If early ballot returns suggest a Trump victory, and delayed mail-in ballots begin to favour his Democratic rival, the president would point to his history of alleging mass voter fraud to justify undermining the result, Ms Goetein said. Its remarkable how much confidence we can have in this country that the results that are reported accurately reflect how people vote, she said. Im not saying the system is perfect by any means, but the one thing that we can rely on is the numbers we get when we watch returns come in reflect the vote and will of the people, and that is no small thing. But president Trump is doing his very best to rip that confidence out from under people. Threatening to deploy law enforcement for elections isnt just scaring people from the polls but also continuing to fan the flames of violent conflicts between right-wing extremists and peaceful protesters, she said. Thats not interfering with the election per se but it is a dramatic misuse of emergency powers for the purpose of a political campaign. Emergency declarations would not have to be issued to deploy federal agents the president deployed National Guard troops without support from Washington DCs mayor, and DHS agents patrolled Portland, Oregon streets without the consent or request of the state. He doesnt have to wait for a state request, and he doesnt wait for a state request under the Insurrection Act, which he has not used, Ms Goetein said. 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. Senators Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer have urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to initiate a bipartisan committee to assure Americans that voting rights will be protected. The senators told Senator McConnell to hear testimony from state and local officials and election experts to reassure the American people that the election will go smoothly and reliably." "Nothing is more fundamental to our democracy than the integrity of our elections, the senators said in a statement. Sadly, there are some who are systematically undermining public confidence in the voting process, and irresponsibly fanning suspicions and conspiracy theories about the legitimacy of election results. The committee would "hold hearings about what is being done around the country to make certain that our public institutions are prepared to conduct a smooth and reliable election which will be free from voter suppression and intimidation, that every vote will be counted and that there will be confidence in the ultimate outcome. The American Civil Liberties Union, which has waged a legal campaign to ensure voting rights are upheld across the US, is watching closely. There are state and federal laws criminalising voter intimidation and harassment, and the ACLU is preparing legal actions, if necessary. I dont want to be a doomsday scenario person, but part of my job is to think through that, said Sophia Lin Lakin, Deputy Director of the ACLUs Voting Rights Project. Unfortunately weve been given reason to take some of those potentially more sinister concerns perhaps more seriously, and to devote more resources to being prepared across more places. The Republican National Committees National Ballot Security Task Force, founded in 1981 in New Jersey by the Republican National Committee, aimed to discourage Democratic voter turnout in the states gubernatorial election. The group was sued by Democration National Committee on grounds that the GOP had violated Voting Rights Act. The RNC entered into consent decree with the state in 1982. Despite efforts to extend the agreement, it expired in 2017. Weve been concerned about the potential abuse of that kind of tactic since the expiration, Ms Lakin said. There will almost certainly be lawsuits if troops are deployed, she said. Since the president has said that he would potentially call on military or other law enforcement at the polls, weve been obviously concerned about what that means, she said. But the presidents statements alone account for some degree of intimidation Even if hes bluffing or saying something coming to mind, theres a certain amount of concern about the statements themselves, potentially making people nervous about going out and exercising their right to vote, she said. From a legal standpoint, what hes been saying and has done, it doesnt matter whether it is or isnt something one would consider legal. We prepare for it in that matter even though it seems far beyond the pale. The ACLU and voting rights advocates are working to give voters information they need to safely vote, whether thats having access to mail-in ballots to knowing how to vote early in their states. Thats a challenge any time, but with so much going on its a particularly challenge to make sure were reaching as many people as we can, as early as possible, so they can take advantage of the positive things states have put in place to make sure elections move as smoothly as possible and as many people can vote in the safest way they can, Ms Lakin said. Local voting officials, and voters, are often the first line of defence to protect voting rights, she said. The energy from people we worry about not being involved in high numbers is what gives me some optimism that much of this will be resolved simply because people are there and wont stand for this, she said. In terrible, terrible circumstances, that level of engagement is a silver lining I will hold onto as the election progresses and becomes more chaotic. Australian professor Clive Hamilton speaks about his book, Silent Invasion, before an audience at the Macdonald-Laurier institute in Ottawa, Canada on Oct. 16, 2018. He is one of the Australian scholars reportedly banned from traveling to China. (Gerry Smith/NTD) Chinese Regime Bans Two Australian Scholars, State Media Reports BEIJING/SYDNEYChina has barred entry to two Australian scholars amid heightened tension between Beijing and Canberra, the state-run Global Times newspaper said on Sept. 24, citing unidentified sources. The decision to bar the anti-China Clive Hamilton and Alex Joske came after Australia revoked the visas of two Chinese scholars over alleged infiltration in early September, according to the paper, which is published by the Chinese Communist Partys official mouthpiece Peoples Daily. While Chinas foreign ministry didnt confirm the bans, officials said during a regular briefing on Sept. 24 that the regime has the right to bar any foreign national, and blamed Australia for difficulties in relations. Ties have become strained over issues that range from trade disputes to Australias call for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus that first emerged in China last year, and by accusations of Chinese meddling in domestic affairs. This ban is quite unexpected, although I have been on Beijings enemy list for some years, Hamilton said in an email to Reuters. He added that he and Joske were banned as retaliation for the Australian governments actions against Chinese scholars; he said hed had already decided two or three years ago it would be too dangerous to travel to China. Only when Beijing decides to stop interfering in Australian politics and attempting to bully the Australian government will relations improve. I hope that happens soon, he said. In a 2018 book, Hamilton, a professor of public ethics at Australias Charles Sturt University, accused the Chinese Communist Party of a campaign to exert influence in Australias domestic politics. Joske is an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, which the Global Times said is infamous for churning out anti-China propaganda and fabricating anti-China issues. He said on Twitter that the ban is the latest in a series of attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to punish those who shine a light on its activities and that hed also judged the risk of traveling to China to be too high. I have not held or applied for a Chinese visa for years, Joske said. By Cate Cadell Se & Young Lee NANUET, NY For school-aged children in Nanuet have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a new section of New York State's School COVID-19 Report Card. The new section reports lab results. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news conference Thursday that testing labs would report on the district's report card daily results of all children aged 5-17 whose address was within the area served by that district. Also, although the report card showed no students or staff tested positive at any school in the Nanuet Union Free School District as of Wednesday, The Journal News reported that one person at Barr Middle School's Academy for Excellence reported testing positive, as did a person at George Miller Elementary School. The district's hybrid learning program continues. School district officials said in a statement they consulted with the county's health department and that students and staff who were exposed to the individuals had been contacted. This article originally appeared on the Nanuet Patch KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN All 15 members of a West Michigan cocaine ring have now pleaded or been found guilty, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge. Following a three-day trial in U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, Luis Ayala-Vieyra was found guilty of one count of conspiring to distribute cocaine and two counts of distribution of cocaine, according to court records. Birge stated that with the Sept. 23 conviction of Ayala-Vieyra, the trafficking operation has now been dismantled. Ayala-Vieyra was arrested in Grand Rapids in August 2019 during the takedown of the cocaine ring. His arrest followed a long term investigation into a group of drug dealers in the Grand Rapids area, a news release from the attorneys office states. Fourteen other defendants previously pleaded guilty, the release states. The evidence in Ayala-Vieyras trial demonstrated that he and his brother, Inocencio Ayala-Vieyra, bought cocaine from a supplier in Chicago and then distributed it to a network of dealers in the Grand Rapids area, the release states. Yesterdays verdict is the culmination of the hard work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, local law enforcement, and the U.S. Attorneys Office, Birge said. My office is committed to disrupting drug sales and dismantling drug trafficking organizations to keep Michigan communities safe. Ayala-Vieyra faces up to 20 years in prison and will be sentenced in Kalamazoo by U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney in the next three to four months, the release states. This verdict is a clear indication of the progress made by DEA and our state and local partners in the fight against drug trafficking, said Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the DEA. We will continue to employ our combined resources to investigate and bring to justice those who disregard laws and distribute illicit drugs in Western Michigan communities. Also on MLive: Fixing Northern Michigan bike trail that collapsed into Lake Michigan could cost $10M Why dead squirrels are washing up on Grand Havens beach Kalamazoo pastor not reappointed to police accountability board Child-care advocates welcomed the federal governments commitment to build a national child-care system, and theyre hopeful Wednesdays throne speech marks the beginning of a path toward achieving affordable child care across the country. This is a start, said Morna Ballantyne, executive director of Child Care Now, an advocacy organization based in Ottawa. Its going to take a while to realize universal child care in Canada that is high-quality and fully inclusive of all children including children with disabilities but this is the signal that we were looking for in the throne speech. Framing child care as crucial to economic recovery, Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus speech read by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette said it has been nearly 50 years since the Royal Commission on the Status of Women found that child care was essential for womens social and economic equality, and they cannot allow the COVID-19 pandemic to roll back the clock on womens participation in the workforce. We have long understood that Canada cannot succeed if half of the population is held back, Payette said, reading from the speech. Canadians need more accessible, affordable, inclusive and high-quality child care. Payette said the government will make a significant, long-term, sustained investment to create a Canada-wide early learning and child-care system. She added that the government will build on previous investments, learn from the model that exists in Quebec and work with all provinces and territories to ensure that high-quality care is accessible to all. The phrase accessible to all is what caught Martha Friendlys ear. Thats key, she said. Friendly, the founder and executive director of the Childcare Resource and Research Unit, has been advocating for a publicly funded universal child-care system for more than 40 years, and although governments have made unfulfilled promises on child care before, she said she could not remember a commitment as strong as what was delivered Wednesday. Im optimistic, Friendly said. Theres a great deal of work to be done, but its work in a situation where there seems to be the will to move it forward, and I think thats really important. The minority Liberals will need the support of at least one other major party to avoid an election. Although details of the actual investment wont come until the budget, advocates were heartened by the governments apparent commitment to shift child care away from a market-based system that relies on parent fees. I think what theyre committing to is real transformative change in how child care is organized in Canada, Ballantyne said. Leah Gazan, a New Democrat MP and the partys critic for the Ministry of Families, Children and Social Development, said she supports a national child-care system but she wants to see the budget before she applauds Trudeau. Theyve promised many things in the past and havent delivered, so Im not holding my breath, she said. Gazan, who said she is a former child-care worker herself, criticized the speech for not addressing the issue of low wages for child-care workers a concern long raised by advocates and early childhood educators as a major obstacle to staff recruitment and retention. Ballantyne said increasing wages in the child-care sector is critical to expanding access and improving quality. As long as the wages remain as low as they are, its going to be extremely difficult to recruit the workforce, to make sure the workforce is adequately trained and also to retain those who are trained and recruited into the sector. When the budget comes, Ballantyne said she will be looking for a big enough investment over several years, starting with at least $2 billion in the next fiscal year to start the work of building the system, followed by $4 billion in the second year and $6 billion in the third year. She said there also needs to be accountability for funds transferred to the provinces by way of measurable goals and timelines related to affordability, accessibility and quality. Its really important when you build a system that the money is spent well and progress is really closely monitored so adjustments can be made over time. Luxembourg's Minister of Health Paulette Lenert will present details of the new approach to be used in phase 2 of the large-scale testing scheme. The scheme was given the green light by the Chamber at the end of July, to the tune of around 60 million euros. The Health Directorate will take over full coordination of the project, with a planned capacity of up to 53,000 tests per week. The briefing will be available to view via livestream here on RTL Today at 10.30am. As always, the press conference will be accompanied by live ticker translations in English. Our summary will follow shortly. A health worker in protective clotes takes a Covid-19 quick test on the novel coronavirus on September 23, 2020 in Vienna, on the sidelines of the Austrian Media Days.(GEORG HOCHMUTH / APA / AFP) The head of the VSV consumer protection association, Peter Kolba, told a press conference that several civil lawsuits had been filed in a Vienna court over the outbreaks, including one in the now notorious resort of Ischgl. Kolba says more than 6,000 tourists from 45 countries, including Germany, the UK and the US, have been in touch with the association to report having been infected in ski resorts in western Austria. At least 32 tourists who visited Austrian ski resorts have died, according to Kolba. The VSV accuses officials of failing to inform the public of the outbreak in a timely fashion. Icelandic authorities said on March 5 they thought Ischgl was a risk area after skiers returned from there with coronavirus infections and on March 7 a waiter in a bar became the first person in Ischgl itself to test positive. However, the ski season -- and its attendant partying -- continued for several days. The valley was not put under quarantine until Match 13, and Kolba says the hasty evacuation of tourists aboard crammed buses led to further infections. Evacuated tourists have described sitting next to others who were sneezing and coughing. "Chancellor (Sebastian) Kurz is the one who introduced all this chaos," said Kolba, saying that the abruptness of the government's quarantine announcement did not leave local authorities enough time to better manage the evacuation. One case filed by the VSV concerns a 72-year-old Austrian who is thought to have contracted the virus on one of the evacuation buses and later died. Another case involves a German tourist who was admitted to intensive care. In both cases the plaintiffs are seeking 100,000 euros ($117,000) in damages. "These are just the first, but we will bring other lawsuits as well," Kolba said. The VSV has also lodged legal complaints in Tyrol, the region where the outbreaks occurred, but says that prosecutors there have not investigated thoroughly enough. The Great British Bake Off has received 202 complaints after Matt Lucas lampooned Boris Johnson on the show as it returned for its 11th season on Tuesday night. Making his show debut, co-host Matt Lucas impersonated a bumbling Boris Johnson as he recreated a spoof press conference with the slogan 'Stay Alert, Protect Cake, Save Loaves'. An Ofcom spokesman told MailOnline: 'We are assessing these complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.' The comedian, 46, who has replaced Sandi Toksvig as host, was a spitting image of the Prime Minister in the show opener, which was postponed by 15 minutes, after Boris addressed the nation with the new lockdown measures in the fight against coronavirus. Uncanny: Matt Lucas left viewers in stitches as he impersonated a bumbling Boris Johnson (right) in his Great British Bake Off debut on Tuesday night Lucas is pictured with Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith later on during his debut as co-host In the skit Matt, who donned a platinum blond wig and stood in front of a Union Jack flag, said: 'I've talked about this, you know, the printer is upside down again. And oh no.. well how? Ah, yes well that works actually, I can read that fine. 'Um, right, let's err yeah. Good evening, let's get straight to it. We are now approaching Phase 46. 'Which means that from Tuesday morning, or Wednesday evening depending on your height. We are, we are, we are saying with regards to baking if you must bake in a tent, bake in a tent. 'Stay Alert, Protect Cake, Save Loaves': The comedian, 46, who has replaced Sandi Toksvig as host, was a spitting image for the Prime Minister as he recreated a spoof press conference 'But please don't bake in a tent. And we are asking people to use common sense with regards to the distribution of hundreds and thousands.' Matt then said he was going to take a question from 'the lady in the funky dress, Noelle'. The Little Britain's star's co-host Noel Fielding then said: 'Hello Prime Minister. Just one question: 'Is it sc-oh-ne or sc-on?'. Bumbling Boris: In the skit Matt, who donned a platinum blond wig and stood in front of a Union Jack flag, and mumbled to himself in the uncanny impersonation of the Prime Minister Matt said he was going to hand over the query to the 'experts'- a spoof of Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Valance- Prue Whitty (Prue Leith) and Professor Paul Hollywood. After Prue and Paul gave alternate answers, Matt said: Right well I hope that clears things up for you,' before he ripped off his wig to say: 'All that remains is for me to say. Welcome to The Great British Bake Off'. Viewers soon flooded Twitter to laud Matt on the ingenious spoof. Spoof: In reference to the work from home message he said, ''We are, we are, we are saying with regards to baking if you must bake in a tent, bake in a tent. But please don't bake in a tent' One fan of the show wrote: 'I'm loving Matt Lucas on Bake Off already', while another added: 'Sensational. #mattlucas #boris #BakeOff'. A third chimed: 'Matt Lucas is already a fabulous addition to #GBBO'. A fourth viewer gushed: 'Matt Lucas makes a better Boris Johnson than Boris Johnson does.' 'Matt Lucas being Boris is just what I needed #smile', typed a different fan. Another said: 'no context bake off back with a bang'. Funny: Matt then said he was going to take a question from 'the lady in the funky dress, Noelle', aka his co-host Noel Fielding Pressing matters: The Little Britain's star's co-host said: 'Hello Prime Minister. Just one question: 'Is it sc-oh-ne or sc-on?' Experts: Matt said he was going to hand over the query to the 'experts'- a spoof of Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Valance- Prue Whitty (Prue Leith) and Professor Paul Hollywood This isn't the first time Matt has taken aim at Boris with a bumbling impersonation. Back in May, he summed up the confusion over the Prime Minister's speech in a mocking 20-second video. Baffled members of the public had poked fun at Boris and his Government after he ditched the 'stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives' slogan, instead urging people to 'stay alert, control the virus, and save lives'. He also unveiled a three stage exit plan and a five stage alert system to describe the country's outbreak condition. But the new measures, and tweaks to the draconian lockdown rules - which includef being able to leave the house for exercise as often as you want - left people feeling decidedly confused. 'Sensational': Viewers soon flooded Twitter to laud Matt on the ingenious spoof Little Britain star Matt summed up the mood of the nation with a hilarious impersonation of the Prime Minister. In a YouTube video he said: 'So we are saying don't go to work, go to work, don't take public transport, don't go to work. Stay indoors, if you can work from home go to work, don't go to work. 'Go outside, don't go outside. And then we will or won't something or other.' Piers Morgan played the clip on Good Morning Britain this morning and said it was 'very, very funny' but that the confusion from Mr Johnson's speech would lead to more deaths. Today Australia is to sign an immigration agreement with Italy which will increase the number of Italian migrants arriving here to about 16,000 annually. CANBERRA. Italy's President Saragat arrived here yesterday to begin an Australian tour as news of a major new Italian immigration plan was announced. This will be an increase of 3000 to 4000 on the intake for the past two years. The agreement is expected to appoint a commission of representatives of both governments to discuss questions unresolved by the intensive talks over the past two weeks. The Italian President was welcomed at the airport yesterday by the Governor-General (Lord Casey) the Prime Minister (Mr. Holt) and 160 other dignitaries. About 1000 Italians from Canberra and nearby Queanbeyan were in the public enclosure to applaud him as he waved and bowed to the crowd. Children, given time off school to attend the welcome, waved Australian and Italian flags as their parents held banners declaring "Benuvento Presidente." After a brief, uneventful ceremony in which President Saragat inspected a naval guard of honor, he was guard to a Canberra hotel where he received Mr. Holt. A South Korean government official has been killed and his body burned by North Korean troops, after they found him on a floating object in water near the disputed sea boundary, Seouls defence ministry has said. The man, who was affiliated with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, disappeared from a patrol boat near the border and was found in North Koreas waters a day later. North Korean soldiers shot him, poured petrol on his body and set it alight, the ministry said, citing intelligence gathered by surveillance equipment and other assets. It was unclear what caused his death and whether he died after being shot. South Korean officials, condemning the brutal act, said North Korea may have determined to kill the man in line with strict anti-coronavirus rules that involved opening fire on anyone who crosses the border illegally. North Korea claims it is free of coronavirus and there has not been a single case of the infection on its territory, which many experts have disputed. South Korea sent a message to North Korea through a communication channel at the UN Command in South Korea on Wednesday to ask about the missing official, but received no response, said the defence ministry. Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of the national security office, said in a statement on Thursday that North Korea should reveal the events that led to the inhumane act and reiterated calls from the defence ministry to punish those responsible for it, reported South Koreas Yonhap news agency. Mr Such added the death and damage done to the mans body cannot be justified for any reason. The defence ministry added in a statement: We also sternly warn North Korea that all responsibilities for this incident lie with it. Little else is known about the man, who was among 18 officials aboard the patrol boat belonging to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on Monday. After he disappeared, colleagues searched the vessel for him but found only his shoes on board. Days of searches involving aircraft and vessels came up empty-handed, according to the defence and oceans ministries. The incident marks the first time since July 2008 that a South Korean has been shot dead in North Korea. Park Wang-ja was shot and killed at the North Korean mountain resort of Kumgang after he inadvertently wandered into a restricted zone. North-South relations are expected to sour further as a result of the killing. Ties have already been strained between the two countries, whose exchange and cooperation programmes have nearly all been suspended amid a deadlock in broader nuclear diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington. In June, North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office on its territory in protest against South Korean civilians sending anti-North leaflets across the border. Additional reporting by agencies One of the country's largest chicken processors has defended charging staff at its plants for personal protection equipment (PPE). Manor Farm, which operates plants and offices in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath, provides chicken products to a range of the biggest supermarkets in the country and employs around 750 staff. Payslips seen by the Irish Examiner show that some staff had up to 50 deducted directly from their wages for the price of PPE during the pandemic. A spokesman for the Manor Farm company told the Irish Examiner: "There is a PPE deduction for all new starts to the business. "A one-off deduction/ charge of 50. "This one-off payment deduction is refunded to employees after 12 weeks through payroll. "For the avoidance of any doubt, this is a pre-Covid-19 policy. The policy was implemented in 2014." It's understood that the business had an issue previously with new entrants getting fully kitted out with PPE and then leaving shortly afterwards which led to the 12-week policy and the charge being later paid back through payroll to the employee. The company's policy also relates to seasonal workers including students. Appropriate PPE is considered essential to stopping the spread of Covid-19 in meat-processing plants. Read More Tanaiste wants all-party committee to examine issue of assisted suicide Concerns have been raised about the welfare of meat-processing workers concerning the spread of Covid-19 for several months, over 1,500 cases have been linked to outbreaks in meat plants. A number of outbreaks linked to the meat-processing plants led to county-wide shutdowns last month in Kildare, Laois and Offaly. Last week, trade union Siptu and Meat Industry Ireland agreed a wide-ranging safety protocol for workers in the meat-processing industry, including a commitment to maintaining serial testing of workers at meat plants and "the mandatory use of PPE". Siptu divisional organiser Greg Ennis says that charging workers for the provision or use of PPE in any circumstances is deplorable. This flies in the face of the commonality of purpose shown by other sectors and indeed most other employers within the meat- processing sector, he said. For any employer to do so in the middle of a pandemic is reprehensible," he said. He called on such outliers in the industry to cop on and use their significant financial resources to supply necessary PPE. A spokesperson for Meat Industry Ireland said the industry was working hard to contain the virus and was not aware of any charges for PPE. "Meat Industry Ireland is not aware of any such situation. "PPE of all nature is provided by employers to staff, as the industry continues to work relentlessly to protect employees during the course of this pandemic." The famous Babadham peda of temple town Deoghar could soon get a Geographical Indicator (GI) tag as the district administration is making efforts towards putting up an application for getting the unique distinction for this popular sweet. Deoghar Deputy commissioner (DC) Kamleswar Prasad Singh said that for branding and marketing of Babadham peda, the district administration has decided to apply for GI tag. Babadham peda Prasad is famous across the country and among crores of devotees who visit here for darshan at Baba Baidyanath Temple round the year. Though this ambitious proposal of getting GI tag for peda is an old one, the district administration has initiated steps now to get it implemented on ground as soon as possible, said Singh. The authorities will apply to the Chennai-based GI Registry for the GI tag. Though this sweet made of khoya is not offered as prasad at Baba Baidyanath Temple, over time, it has become a kind of ritual that most devotees coming to the temple town would buy peda and carry it back home. Taking the initiative forward, the district administration held a meeting at Vikash Bhawan with Babadham Peda Traders Association (BPTA) on Wednesday and directed to prepare a list of regular peda traders from the district. Deoghar deputy development commissioner (DDC) Shailendra Kumar Lal discussed the proposal with concerned officers of district administration and directed them to initiate steps for getting the coveted tag. GI tagging will increase income of peda traders and give global identity to the product. The financial condition of Peda traders who have been involved in this trade for generations would be enhanced manifold, said DDC. A GI tag is a distinctive sign, name used on a product which can be used on basis of its unique characterisation and geographical origin, an official said. Once any product gets GI tagging it can also invite fine on copying by anybody outside that geographical region, the official said. Detained Belarusian opposition politician Maria Kolesnikova has urged protesters against long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko not to give up and mocked the security forces who arrested her, in a letter shared by the Tut.By news portal on Thursday. Kolesnikova, 38, was last seen in public on September 7th being snatched off a Minsk street and shoved into a van by masked men. In a statement made through her lawyer soon afterward, Kolesnikova said she had been driven to the Ukrainian border by security officers in the middle of the night, and threatened with expulsion "alive or in bits". Kolesnikova then ripped up her passport to avoid expulsion, a move that has burnished her status as a hero to the mass protest movement against Lukashenko. His 26-year grip on power is being challenged by opponents who say his August 9th presidential victory was rigged. In the letter, sent to her father from jail, Kolesnikova urged fellow Belarusians not to buckle in their fight against the rule of Lukashenko, a former Soviet collective farm boss. "You must tell them not to give up, just keep going! These people who have kidnapped me are all incredibly weak and hysterical. They don't even know how to do their job well. "Everything is fine with me, the conditions are tolerable and the new friends are wonderful," she wrote in the letter, which Tut.By said was delivered in an envelope decorated with red and white hearts, the colours of Belarus' opposition. Lukashenko, 66, was sworn in for a new term on Wednesday in an inauguration held without prior notice and denounced as illegitimate by the opposition and the European Union. Protests erupted in Louisville and around the nation after a Kentucky grand jury brought no direct charges against police officers in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. In Taylor's hometown, two Louisville police officers were shot and wounded Wednesday night. A suspect was in custody, according to interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder, who did not say whether that person was participating in the protests. Both officers are expected to recover, authorities said. Hours earlier, prosecutors said two officers who fired their weapons at Taylor 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 the residence of the Black woman's neighbors. Taylor, who was an emergency medical worker, was at home with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, on the evening of March 13 when officers raided the residence and fired multiple shots. Police were executing a search warrant for drugs or money related to an investigation involving Taylor's former boyfriend. Police said they fired shots after they were shot at as they went into the house. Taylor's relatives said Walker fired to defend himself because he believed someone was breaking into the house. Demonstrators on Wednesday chanted Taylor's name and marched in cities including New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Portland, Oregon. Here are some scenes from the protests. WASHINGTON Many American workers applying for unemployment benefits after being thrown out of a job by the coronavirus face a new complication: States efforts to prevent fraud have delayed or disrupted their payments. California has said it will stop processing new applications for two weeks as it seeks to reduce backlogs and stop phony claims. Pennsylvania has found that up to 10,000 inmates improperly applied for aid. The biggest threat is posed by sophisticated international fraud rings that often use stolen identities to apply for benefits, filling out the forms with a wealth of accurate information that enables their applications to sail through the system, said Michele Evermore, an expert on jobless aid at the National Employment Law Project. The bogus applications have combined with large backlogs and miscounts to make unemployment benefit data, a key economic indicator, a less-reliable measure of the nations job market. On Thursday, the Labor Department said the number of people applying for unemployment rose slightly last week to 870,000, a historically high figure that shows the outbreak is still forcing many companies to cut jobs, six months into the crisis that has killed more than 200,000 people in the U.S. The overall number of people collecting jobless aid in the U.S. fell slightly to 12.6 million. The steady decline in recent weeks indicates some of the unemployed are getting re-hired. Yet it also means others have exhausted their benefits, which last six months in most states. About 105,000 people who have used up their regular aid were added to an extended jobless benefit program, created in the economic relief package approved by Congress this spring. That program is now paying benefits to 1.6 million people. Applications for jobless aid soared in March after the outbreak suddenly shut down businesses across the U.S., throwing tens of millions out of work and triggering a deep recession. Since then, as states have slowly reopened their economies, about half the jobs that were initially lost have been recovered. Yet job growth has been slowing, and unemployment remains elevated at 8.4%. Many employers appear reluctant to hire in the face of deep uncertainty about the course of the virus. Most economists say it will be hard for the job market or the economy to sustain a recovery unless Congress enacts another rescue package. The economy may not fully recover until a vaccine becomes available. The concerns about fraud have focused mainly on a new program, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which made self-employed people, gig workers and contractors eligible for jobless aid for the first time. The program has been targeted for fraud in many states and has also double-counted beneficiaries. Last week, California cut nearly in half the number of people receiving benefits under PUA, apparently after purging double-counts. It now says 3.4 million people are collecting the aid. Sharon Hilliard, director of Californias Employment Development Department, said her agency has stopped accepting applications for aid for two weeks while it adopts reforms. The department will try to clear a backlog of nearly 600,000 first-time applications and review about 1 million people who have received benefits but whose cases have come under scrutiny. Kimberly Maldonado, a 31-year-old out-of-work music instructor, is among the thousands of Californians whose benefits are tied up by bureaucratic snags and the suspension. Maldonado applied four weeks ago. She said she calls daily to check on the status yet reaches only a recording that says the department is overwhelmed. For her, the wait is growing critical. Its literally the difference between food on my table or not, says Maldonado, who lives in Placentia. Ive got a 2-year-old, and Im not really sure how I pay for anything in the coming weeks. Christopher Thornberg, a founder of Beacon Economics, an economic consulting firm, said all the new programs have taxed most states unemployment agencies and made the economic data less reliable. Its kind of the Wild West, Thornberg said. I have just largely dismissed this data. Other state unemployment agencies have been bedeviled by fraud during the crisis. Washington was the first state to be hit as an international fraud ring based in Nigeria managed to steal up to $650 million in benefit payments, though at least half that money has been recovered. Texas, Florida and Oklahoma have also been affected. On Wednesday, Pennsylvania officials announced that 18 inmates and two girlfriends on the outside were charged in a scheme to fraudulently obtain jobless benefits. The 20 defendants were accused of seeking a combined $300,00 from PUA. Its not clear how many other applications involving inmates were approved, but officials believe the losses could be steep. Pennsylvania this summer began requiring applicants to upload two forms of identification, a challenge for poor people and immigrants who may not have a drivers license or passport. Any time you try to do fraud prevention or fraud detection, it is often over-inclusive, and the people who are hurt are often the most vulnerable workers, said Julia Simon-Mishel, supervising attorney at Philadelphia Legal Assistance. I dont have a single client who hasnt had a benefit interrupted at some point. The new requirements have halted benefit payments for Angela Grimley, 38, who lives in Voorhees, New Jersey, but worked in Pennsylvania as a hotel events planner. She hasnt received money for nearly six weeks, despite regular calls and emails to Pennsylvanias unemployment agency. Its a hot mess, she said. ___ This story has been corrected to show that up to 10,000 Pennsylvania inmates applied for aid, not received it. - Dale reported from Philadelphia. AP Writer Jake Coyle in New York contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Panarat Thepgumpanat (Reuters) Bangkok, Thailand Thu, September 24, 2020 07:10 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46cee4c 2 SE Asia Thailand,legal-battle,Facebook,Google,Twitter,social-media Free Thailand's digital ministry said on Wednesday it would start legal action against Facebook, Twitter and Google this week for ignoring some requests to take down content, in what would be the country's first such cases against major internet firms. The ministry would file complaints with cybercrime police on Thursday after the US companies missed deadlines to comply fully with court-issued takedown orders, digital minister Puttipong Punnakanta said. "We've notified the companies and sent them warnings twice, but they haven't complied with all the requests," Puttipong told Reuters. He did not disclose details about the content or what laws it had violated. Representatives of the three companies were not immediately available for comment. The ministry will also file separate complaints against 10 people who it said criticized the monarchy in social media posts during a major anti-government demonstration at the weekend, he said. Thailand has a tough lese majeste law that prohibits insulting the monarchy. The Computer Crime Act, which outlaws the uploading of information that is false or affects national security, has also been used to prosecute online criticism of the royal family. In recent years, authorities have filed court orders with requests to social media platforms to restrict or remove perceived royal insults and illegal content like gambling or copyright violations. Under the Act, ignoring a court order can result in a fine of up to 200,000 baht ($6,347), then 5,000 baht ($159) per day until the order is observed. The ministry on Aug. 27 asked Facebook to block 661 posts but it took down less than a third of those, Puttipong said. Twitter and YouTube, owned by Alphabet, received requests that same day to restrict scores of posts, but have not acted on all of them, he said. Facebook last month blocked access within Thailand to a group with a million members that discussed the monarchy, saying it was compelled to after Puttipong threatened legal action against its local office. Three men receive long prison terms for shooting at officers of Russian police flickr.com/ J P Davidson 15:23 24/09/2020 ST. PETERSBURG, September 24 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) Three defendants in a case over firing at officers of a transport special-purpose police squad illegally acting as cash-in-transit guards were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 20 to 22 years, the United press service of St. Petersburg courts told RAPSI on Thursday. Arkady Nusimovich and Gennady Levinsky were given 22 years in high-security prison each; while the third man Alexey Gevorkyan received 20 years as he acted as a driver and was not personally involved in the murder. The case was heard for the second time. Nusimovich, Levinsky and Gevorkyan, earlier acquitted by the St. Petersburg City Court, were unanimously found guilty and deserving no leniency by a jury after the first ruling had been reversed by Russias Supreme Court. Earlier, the prosecution moved for life sentences as concerns Nusimovich and Levinsky, and 24 years for Gevorkyan in maximum security prisons. The defendants pled not guilty; the defense believed their innocence was proved in the framework of court hearings. Prosecutors alleged that in 2015 in St. Petersburg two crime figures fired at the policemen after blocking their service vehicle with a van; one officer was killed, another suffered a heavy wound. The attackers could steal 24 million rubles (about $320,000 at the current exchange rate). According to investigators, in 2014 and 2015 officers of a transport special-purpose police squad were having a side job as cash-in-transit guards earning 50,000 rubles (about $670) a month; altogether they carried out 22 operations. The unlawful nature of their actions has been established by a court. Blake Gillies, NAIFA Young Advisor Team National Committee Chair It just makes sense that we should expand our reach to now include students who are interested in coming into the business and teach them the tremendous role NAIFA plays in advocacy in the financial services industry. The Young Advisor Team of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is proud to announce the launch of a new Future Leaders program for students interested in careers in the financial services industry. The new program is under the oversight of NAIFA Nationals Young Advisor Team Committee, chaired by Blake Gillies, DIA, Brokerage Director, Acacia Financial Group. The new Future Leaders program expands the offerings of NAIFAs Talent Development Center of Excellence, launched in Q2 2020. The Talent Development Center is a new initiative of NAIFA to create a content and event hub focused on topics of personal and professional performance during every stage of the advisor business lifecycle. In addition to the Young Advisor Team, which focuses on programs for advisors under the age of 40 or with less than 5 years in the business, The Talent Development Center also houses NAIFAs Diversity, Equity & Inclusion work and award programs. The Young Advisor Team has been hard at work this year amplifying our message to new advisors as to the value of belonging to your professional association, stated Gillies. It just makes sense that we should expand our reach to now include students who are interested in coming into the business and teach them the tremendous role NAIFA plays in advocacy in the financial services industry. The University of Illinois was the first educational institution to sign onto the program and has included attending NAIFAs Performance + Purpose professional development conference as part of its curriculum for the current semester. Students from Kansas State University, Texas A&M University and George Mason University will also participate. The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students, and colleges and universities are invited to contact NAIFA to be included. The new program will begin the morning of October 6 with a short program featuring top NAIFA members. Christopher Gandy, University of Illinois alumnus, NAIFA-Chicagoland President and founder of Midwest Legacy Group, will kick off the program in a session entitled The Power to Provide Financial Security. Next, will be a panel discussion of Young Advisor Team members representing different roles in the financial services industry: Cheryl Canzanella, LUTCF, (2019 Young Advisor Team Leader of the Year) and Brokerage Director at MassMutual, Becky Brothers, Regional Marketing Strategist at Principal Financial Group, Derek Scheetz, Financial Advisor at Lifetime Financial Growth and Isaac Amaya, Annuity Sales Manager at The Pinnacle Group. Delvin Joyce, CLU, ChFC, Managing Director at Prudential and member of NAIFAs Board of Trustees, will focus on The Power of Mindset, and Brian Haney, CLTC, CFS, CFBS, CIS, LACP, CAE, Vice President of The Haney Company will conclude the program with a session focused on how membership in NAIFA elevates your personal brand and differentiates you in a competitive landscape. All Future Leaders will receive a free pass to attend the three-day Performance + Purpose conference. The program will conclude with an hour-long post-conference debrief and discussion led by key representatives from Cambridge Investment Research. To learn more about the program and register, visit tdc.naifa.org/futureleaders. ABOUT NAIFA: Founded in 1890, NAIFA is the oldest, largest and most prestigious association representing the interests of financial services professionals from every Congressional district in the United States. Our mission to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of its members is the reason NAIFA has consistently and resoundingly stood up for financial services professionals and called upon members to grow their knowledge while following the highest ethical standards in the industry. New Delhi, Sep 24 : The Supreme Court on Thursday asked Bhima Koregaon case accused Sudha Bharadwaj's counsel if she already has a strong case on merit then why was her bail plea moved on medical ground. The apex court then declined to entertain Bharadwaj's bail plea and dismissed it as withdrawn. Bharadwaj moved the top court challenging a Bombay High Court order, which dismissed her plea to get interim bail on medical grounds amid the ongoing pandemic. A bench of Justices U.U. Lalit and Ajay Rastogi asked Vrinda Grover, counsel for Bharadwaj, why a regular bail plea has not been filed. Grover replied it was pending before the High Court. Justice Lalit cited the high court where it was mentioned that her medication was in order. Grover submitted: "I only seek your indulgence to get checked. These tests cannot happen in the jail hospital." Justice Rastogi pointed out that she was examined by the jail authorities in August. Grover disputed this and read out the medication given to her client in jail. She added that her client has been in custody for nearly 2 years and even charges have not been framed and also no incriminating evidence found against her. Justice Rastogi then asked Grover: "If you have a good case on merits, then why don't you file a regular bail application? Grover argued that her client has co-morbidities, which is an issue in the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic, and also there are two diseases which she has developed while in custody. Grover also urged the court to grant her client interim bail to get a cardio profile, lipid profile and kidney check-up. Justice Lalit said the medical condition is not stable and it keeps changing, therefore on this account, you can move the court again. The bench told Grover that she may choose to withdraw the plea, or it will be dismissed. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Winston Watusi Music Plus I often come across stories I'd like to share that have no musical component. That's why this column is called Music Plus; a certain amount of tangential leeway is allowed. Movies, books, art, they all have a vague connection to music, especially if I shoehorn one in. But just occasionally there's a story that doesn't really fit in any way but still piques the interest of my intensely unfocused brain. The sort of thing that might provide an obscure answer on The Chase but is essentially irrelevant in every other way. I'd finally abandoned any thoughts of passing this particular titbit on because of the complete lack of any musical or even artistic connection. But then I found one. And quite a good one if do say so myself. So, with that in mind, I'd like to tell you about the last sultan of Zanzibar. I was drawn to this story by nothing more than those two words: sultan and Zanzibar. There is something inescapably exotic about both of them, an almost mythic resonance. Zanzibar is a name that conjures images of adventure. Like Timbuktu. Or Constantinople. Perhaps it is just my unreconditioned colonial mindset but these names speak to me. Much as some romanticise Machu Picchu or Niagara Falls or Antarctica, so for me the thought of Zanzibar creates images of treasure, excitement and romantic derring-do. Reality Mind you, it was only images. I knew nothing about Zanzibar. I didn't even realise it is in fact an island. A small island off the coast of Tanzania in Africa to be precise. However, for the past 56 years Jamshid bin Abdullah al-Said, the last sultan of Zanzibar, has been living in Southsea, a suburb of Portsmouth on the south coast of England, enjoying the pleasures of unpredictable British weather, shingle beaches and a Victorian pier. Listing local attractions Google notes that there are plenty of pubs, tea rooms, and curry houses. But now the sultan, at the stately age of 91, has gone home. Well not home exactly. Abdullah al-Said is distantly related to the present sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, so he's gone there. It must have been a long strange half decade... He became sultan of Zanzibar, a British colony, after the death of his father in July 1963. Just five months later the islands were granted independence from Britain. One month later the sultan was deposed and a republic was proclaimed. The palace was seized by rebels and the sultan escaped on the royal yacht, eventually flying to Britain with an entourage of 61 relatives, friends and household staff. But, sadly, no money. So in May 1964, the British government paid the sultan NZ$200,000, which allowed him to settle in a semi-detached house on a quiet street in Southsea, Hampshire. After that revolution thousands of Zanzibar citizens relocated to Oman, including the former sultans seven children and two of his siblings. Abdullah, still banned from returning to Zanzibar, is at least now with his immediate family. The connection You must by now be wondering about that musical connection I mentioned. Well here it is... Amongst the many who fled Zanzibar in 1964 was the family of Farrokh Bulsara, who was born in Stone Town, the historic quarter of Zanzibars capital. They moved to the UK Farrokh Bulsara was born in 1946 to parents Bomi Bulsara and Jer Bulsara. Farrokh means lucky and fortunate. The family belonged to the Zoroastrian religion, one of the worlds oldest religions and Farrokh first started singing in the town's Zoroastrian Temple when he was a child. At the age of 5, in 1951, he started school at St. Josephs Convent Missionary School and learned to play piano. He stayed in Zanzibar until the age of 8, after which he was sent to St. Peters School in Panchgani, India. It was at St. Peters he started calling himself Freddie Bulsara and started his first band called The Hectics. You can discover all this yourself if you visit Zanzibar, for it is now the site of a museum in the young man's honour, the world's first Freddie Mercury Museum. A queen and a sultan - I wonder if they ever met? watusi@thesun.co.nz Nope, it's not a lighthouse. Its a single-family home designed to look like a lighthouse, perched along the Ohio River. The distinctive dwelling is in Prospect, KY, a charming town of 5,000 that rates as one of the states wealthiest communities. In 2006, a retired couple completed this dream home: a 2,200-square-foot, three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom structure on a 1.08-acre lot. It's now on the market for $779,000. The listing agent Lynette Masterson, with Lenihan Sothebys International Realty, says they were inspired by the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse in Annapolis, MD. However, this residence juts out onto the Ohio Rivernot the Chesapeake Bay. A new owner can sip a mint julep while gazing out at 200 feet of private river frontage. The current owners are the home's second. They're Indiana residents who snapped up the property in 2016, intent on weekend getaways. Over time, it became harder for them to spend time there. Masterson thinks the place is likely to attract buyers in search of a vacation homeor possibly a couple or single person who work from home. Its not set up for a family, because theres not a lot of space. Maybe just a family of two, she says. Aerial view of home in Prospect, KY realtor.com Entry realtor.com Kitchen realtor.com Kitchen realtor.com Built-in beds realtor.com Upstairs bathroom realtor.com Another bathroom realtor.com One of the bedrooms realtor.com Deck realtor.com Recent improvements by the current owners include replacing the decks former railing with cable, which no longer blocks the view. They also swapped out the traditional interior in favor of a more coastal vibe, says Masterson. Lime-green cabinetry in the kitchen and lime-green paint in the bunkroom area are just two examples. A spiral staircase with supple curves connects the two stories. Theres also a brick floor-to-ceiling fireplace in the living room. And about those views. You can see up and down the river from every room in the home, says Masterson. That was really important [for the builders], to maximize the views. An elevator expands the homes accessibility, and an open floor plan further capitalizes on the river view. On the main floor, you'll find the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom. The top floor has an additional bath (check out the mirror in the shape of sunglasses!) with a farmhouse-style sink, plus two queen built-in beds. Its really one of the most unique properties for the area, says Masterson, praising the thoughtful design that maximizes its 2,200 square feet. Theres also no need to travel into Louisville for dinner. This home is adjacent to Captains Quarters, the areas largest riverfront restaurant. Also a short walk away: Captains Quarters Yacht Club, where many locals store a boat. Just don't expect this home to shine the way back for you! The post $779K Lighthouse-Inspired Home on the Ohio River Waiting To Guide In a Buyer appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a virtual bilateral summit with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday, September 26. This will be the Sri Lankan Prime Ministers first diplomatic engagement since taking the oath of office on August 9. Read: Sri Lanka Names Captain Of Oil Tanker A Suspect In Fire India-Sri Lanka Virtual bilateral summit On Thursday, September 24 during a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, "The Virtual Bilateral Summit will be Prime Minister Modi's first such virtual engagement with a neighbouring country and also Prime Minister Rajapaksa's first diplomatic engagement with a leader of a foreign country after he was sworn in as PM on August 9. Srivastava went on to add that PM Modi has been in regular contact with both the President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. He informed that the virtual bilateral summit precedes the state visit of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in November 2019 and Mahinda Rajapaksa in February 2020. Read: Sri Lankan PM Mahinda & President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Wish PM Modi On His 70th Birthday Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said that Prime Minister Modi has continued to keep the dialogue open and has engaged in several telephonic conversations with the Sri Lankan leaders wherein they discussed the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and further cooperation between the two nations in this regard. During the briefing, the MEA spokesperson also added that the upcoming bilateral summit would allow both leaders to review the relationships in the context of the time tested friendly ties between the nations. Srivastava said, A Virtual Bilateral Summit under challenging circumstances due to COVID-19 testifies the deep-rooted civilisational ties and shared heritage between the two neighbouring countries. This is also a reflection of India's 'Neighbourhood First' approach and SAGAR doctrine. (With ANI inputs; Image Credits - PTI) Read: Bangladesh Cricket Board Shuns Sri Lanka Cricket's Bio-bubble Measures, Oct Tour In Doubt Read: Sri Lanka Navy Plugs Fuel Leak From Fire-damaged Oil Tanker Off The Island's East Coast The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI) has announced it applauds and supports the increased tax incentives proposed by Presidential candidate Joe Biden. "America has no plan to help individuals deal with the very real and very costly need for long-term care services," explains Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. "Insurance is one part of the solution but only greater tax incentives will make it attractive to larger numbers of individuals." The Biden Plan for Older Americans includes several measures to help Americans pay for long-term care. The plan proposes creating a $5,000 tax credit for informal caregiver. In addition, Biden will increase the generosity of tax benefits for older Americans who choose to buy long-term care insurance and pay for it using their savings for retirement. "Tax incentives propelled the growth of retirement savings plans such as 401ks," Slome notes. "Greater tax incentives will make long-term care planning something Americans will adopt and thus they won't become a future burden to taxpayers who fund the Medicaid programs." Slome pointed out that currently traditional long-term care insurance policies offer tax incentives to purchasers. "The life insurance policies that may pay a long-term care benefit generally do not include any tax deductibility," the long-term care insurance expert adds. In 2020 a couple both age 70 or older could each deduct as much as $5,430 for the cost of long-term care insurance coverage." The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance advocates for the importance of planning and supports insurance professionals who market long-term care insurance. To get information or request long-term care insurance quotes from a specialist in your area call the organization at 818-597-3227 or visit their website at www.aaltci.org. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 01:11:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Italy's exports to non-European Union (EU) countries dropped 11.7 percent in August 2020 compared with the same month last year, according to preliminary data published by the country's National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) on Thursday. Italy's exports to members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) were down 27.5 percent, its exports to MERCOSUR countries (a South American trade bloc) dropped 25.5 percent, and its exports to Russia fell 20 percent in August compared with the same month last year, ISTAT said. However, exports to China increased by 4.8 percent in the same period, the ISTAT report showed. The year-on-year contraction in exports "spread across all sectors and was more marked for energy (down 54.8 percent), consumer durables (down 14.3 percent) and consumer non-durables (down 11.8 percent)," the ISTAT report said. In August 2020, imports also declined year-on-year, dropping 16.4 percent compared with the same month last year, according to the report. The decline in imports was "determined mainly by a significant drop in energy purchases (down 50.3 percent)," while imports of intermediate goods rose by 9.7 percent and imports of durable consumer goods were up 7.5 percent, ISTAT said. The OPEC member countries are Algeria, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. MERCOSUR's full member countries include Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. Enditem Coronavirus infections continue to soar in the North of England despite draconian restrictions imposed upon millions of residents. Swathes of the North West and North East are struggling with large outbreaks while the virus remains under control in most of the South. However, cases have also risen sharply in London over the past fortnight, which could lead to 9million people in the capital being placed under a local lockdown. Coronavirus infections continue to soar in the North of England despite draconian restrictions imposed upon millions of residents But the infection rate in London boroughs is still significantly lower than the worst-hit areas of the North West, where there are currently 439 Covid-19 patients in hospital up from 174 a fortnight ago. Bolton, which has the highest current infection rate in England, has had 213 new cases per 100,000 people in the past week. Other hotspots include Liverpool, where the rate is 170, and Manchester, where it is 153. Cities in the North East are also badly affected. Newcastle has a seven-day case average of 159 per 100,000, while the rate is 132 in Sunderland and 52 in Middlesbrough. Areas of the Midlands, including Leicester, which was the UK's first city to be put in a local lockdown, continue to struggle with outbreaks. But there is no evidence of a second wave of the virus in most of the South, although London is on the brink of a lockdown. There are currently 206 virus patients in London hospitals. Swathes of the North West and North East are struggling with large outbreaks. The map shows each area's probability of becoming a hotspot by October 3 However, in April almost 5,000 virus patients were in hospital in the capital. Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan and Boris Johnson discussed the recent worsening situation in the capital earlier this week and health officials are said to favour tougher restrictions. A spokesman for Mr Khan said: 'They discussed the rapidly-worsening situation in London, including increasing intensive care unit admission rates and the need to go further now to prevent a disastrous full lockdown in future including mandatory face coverings for hospitality workers and more widespread wearing of face coverings.' Of the 32 boroughs in London, only one Redbridge has an infection rate over 50 per 100,000. In several parts of the capital, the rates are below 20 per 100,000, but health officials are concerned by a gradual upturn in hospital admissions. No areas of London are currently included in Public Health England's local authority 'watchlist'. A map showing the rate of infection per 100,000 people across London's 32 boroughs Virus deaths in the capital remain low, with 21 in hospitals over the past fortnight. Professor Kevin Fenton, of Public Health England in London, said: 'We are seeing a rising tide of coronavirus cases in London across a broad range of ages. 'This is no longer limited to young people in their 20s. 'Whilst the number of cases by borough varies, the general trend across the city is one of steadily increasing transmission and if that continues then the situation may escalate'. Local lockdown restrictions currently cover 13million people in the UK. The Government is considering using a traffic light system that will send automatic alerts to people's mobile phones in order to trigger local lockdowns. Under the system, local infection rates will be used to split parts of the country into one of three categories red, amber or green that will determine the restrictions in place. This system will work in tandem with the NHS test and trace app, which includes a feature where users can scan a barcode to check in and out of bars and restaurants. Nick Dunne, recipient of the Hon. Edward Goff Penny Memorial Prize for Young Canadian Journalists donated his prize to the Akwesasne Freedom School and the American Legion Post 1479. Dunne recently returned to this area to deliver his donation in... The West African bloc ECOWAS will likely decide on Friday whether to lift potentially crippling sanctions imposed on Mali after last month's coup, its mediator said. The mediator, Nigerian former president Goodluck Jonathan, called the 15-nation bloc's sanctions "unfortunate" during a visit to Mali's capital Bamako on Wednesday. West African leaders have heaped pressure on the ruling military junta to return power to civilians since the coup toppled president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18. ECOWAS has used the sanctions, which include closing borders and restricting trade, as leverage in negotiations with the junta. Sticking points in those negotiations have included whether civilians or soldiers will run a transition government until fresh elections. The junta asked for the sanctions to be lifted this week after former defence minister Bah Ndaw was named interim president, tasked with governing for at most 18 months before holding polls. ECOWAS mediator and ex-Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, centre wearing hat, in Mali earlier this month for talks with the junta. By ANNIE RISEMBERG (AFP/File) The 70-year-old retired colonel will be sworn in on Friday, alongside junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita, who will serve as interim vice president. According to the transition plan adopted by the junta, Ndaw will then appoint a prime minister, with the decision expected within a few days. Jonathan, in Mali on Wednesday to assess the progress the junta has made in returning order to the country, said that ECOWAS was "eager" to make a decision on the sanctions. "ECOWAS doesn't want any sanctions in any part of the community," he told reporters. However Jonathan added that it is up to Ghanaian President and current ECOWAS leader Nana Akufo-Addo to announce the decision. "I believe that on Friday after the inauguration, probably he will make that pronouncement," Jonathan said. Sanctions have 'direct impact' Mali's neighbours are anxious to avoid the fragile nation of some 19 million people slipping into chaos. Swathes of the vast country already lie outside of government control, due to a lethal jihadist insurgency that first emerged in 2012 and has also inflamed ethnic tensions. Keen to set an example to other countries, ECOWAS has taken a hard line, threatening a "total embargo" on the country should the junta install military leaders of an interim government. Mini-profiles of Malian interim president Bah Ndaw and vice-president colonel Assimi Goita. By Jonathan WALTER (AFP/File) Current restrictions ban commercial trade and financial flows, but not basic necessities, drugs, equipment to fight coronavirus, fuel or electricity. Junta leader Goita on Tuesday said that "in the coming days ECOWAS must remove these sanctions for the happiness of the Malian". "The international community is watching us... which is why we accepted the ECOWAS principles," he added. ECOWAS said at a summit on September 15 that the sanctions would be lifted as soon as its conditions were met, including the appointment of a civilian president and prime minister. But the junta has yet to respond to other ECOWAS demands, such as the release of other officials detained during the coup such as ousted prime minister Boubou Cisse. Economist Etienne Fakaba Sissoko said that the sanctions -- coupled with the coronavirus pandemic -- meant that Mali was barrelling into a recession. "The immediate consequence is a reduction in public expenditure. This has a direct impact on the population," he told AFP. Before the coup, the Sahel country had already been facing an economic downturn, aggravated by the jihadist insurgency and chronic inter-ethnic violence. It was frustrations over this intractable conflict -- plus economic concerns and perceived corruption -- which spurred anti-Keita protesters onto the streets this year, with the building unrest culminating in the coup. People seeking refuge in the UK face a serious risk of injustice as the Home Office plans to outsource another element of its immigration services, lawyers warn. The department says it has plans to bring in contractors to carry out asylum interviews and gather evidence for claims, which are used to determine whether applicants should be granted refugee status. But many of the firms in the running for this new contract including G4S, Serco, and Sopra Steria have been embroiled in previous scandals over handling of immigration services. Sopra Steria, which was contracted to run the UKs visa processing system in 2018, was accused last year of overseeing a substandard operation that risked unlawful decisions and excluding people from the system because of inflated prices and inaccessible services. In 2017, nine G4S guards were suspended after they were filmed mocking and abusing detainees at Brook House removal centre, while Serco prompted outrage when it introduced lock changes in asylum accommodation in Glasgow in 2018. In a letter to groups and charities working with asylum seekers on Tuesday, the acting head of asylum operations Dave Draper said the department was scoping out and testing the concept of using a third-party supplier to conduct asylum interviews and gather evidence, in a bid to get the system moving again following a suspension of the process during coronavirus. One supplier will be selected for a pilot programme, which will involve carrying out real asylum interviews over a six to eight week period, to establish whether it would function as a longer-term service and to identify areas of improvement, said Mr Draper. Several of the governments strategic suppliers which include Serco, G4S and Sopra Steria have already confirmed that they have capacity to assist them, the letter states. Refugee charities and lawyers said that while the current delays on asylum decisions needed to be urgently reduced, outsourcing the process to private companies particularly those previously criticised for poor treatment of immigrants was hugely risky. Sonia Lenegan, legal director at the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA), said the idea of private companies profiting from the asylum process was completely abhorrent. While the delays in asylum casework are concerning and do need to be addressed, the answer cannot be to outsource these processes, she added. The Home Office has a very poor record when it comes to outsourcing immigration activities, from G4S and immigration removal centres to the ongoing problems experienced with UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services and the ability to access free appointments. Sonya Sceats, chief executive of Freedom from Torture, said the move was alarming, adding: Asylum decisions often turn on what happens in the interview and there is a real risk of forcible return to torture if mistakes are made. Freedom from Tortures report Beyond Belief shows that even experienced case workers can fail to spot signs of trauma and struggle to elicit difficult disclosures from survivors. Outsourcing such a sensitive process to a commercial provider and severing the link between the interview and the decision-maker is a dangerous move that could jeopardise the Home Offices commitment to make the right decision first time and push more people into the appeal system. There is already concern about the way the Home Office conducts asylum interviews and processes decisions. Figures show that more than half of immigration and asylum appeals are now successful, with over 23,000 people seeing their refusals overturned after appealing decisions in the 12 months to March last year. A report by Freedom from Torture earlier this year found that Home Office case workers had employed poor questioning technique and were likely to default to disbelieving the survivor during asylum interviews, with sensitivity and professional approach to claimants not always maintained. Stephen Hale, chief executive of Refugee Action, said that while waiting times for decisions on asylum claims needed to be brought down urgently, outsourcing the process was hugely risky. The human cost of getting this wrong would be huge. The Home Office must ensure there are robust safeguards in place to ensure decisions are fair and effective, he added. Alasdair Mackenzie, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, said: Interviewing people, who are often traumatised, about their asylum claims calls for great skill and sensitivity. Those are qualities which have all too often been lacking in firms to which the Home Office has outsourced its functions in the past. Home Office to carry out review of hostile environment following Windrush says Priti Patel Inadequate or insensitive interviewing techniques can mean that important information doesn't come out at the right time and can cause additional distress to already anxious and traumatised applicants. The risk of injustice from these proposals is serious and very concerning." A Home Office spokesperson said: Throughout the pandemic, we have continued assisting asylum seekers to access the services they need. We have recently restarted interviews, and have been working to progress as many cases as possible. We are exploring many options to reduce the number of outstanding asylum claims, and alongside seeking temporary resource from within the Home Office and other government departments, we are exploring with external suppliers whether they can deliver the support required as a short term measure. Asylum interviews have not been outsourced, and at this stage we are only exploring the potential feasibility. Anyone who conducts asylum interviews receives thorough and bespoke training to ensure they are fully equipped for the role and any supplier providing support would have to meet our rigorous standards. Protesters gather at City Hall after a Kentucky grand jury announced on Sept. 23, 2020 an indictment against one officer six months after the death of Breonna Taylor. Breonna is featured on the poster on left. Read more Invoking Breonna Taylors name, hundreds of Philadelphians marched through Center City on Wednesday, calling for justice hours after a grand jury in Kentucky failed to indict officers in the 26-year-olds death and charged only one officer with firing into a neighbors unit. By 7 p.m., about 100 people had gathered. The crowd continued to swell, growing to about 300 an hour later, when the group decided to march through the city. At the outset of the protest at City Hall, speakers listed Taylors name alongside other Black men and women killed by police in recent years. They shouted in memory of George Floyd, Tamir Rice, Tony McDade and others whose legacies had been the subject of a summer of protests that roiled both this city and the United States. Tamar Wilson, an organizer with Socialist Alternative, said Wednesdays news shows the criminal justice system remains broken, even after the months of unrest. He called fellow protesters the faithful few who continued to demonstrate. After thousands of people have marched demanding change, the system has not yielded, because we do not live in a democracy, Wilson, of Philadelphia, said. The only way that the system is going to change is if the young people band together into organization. As the crowd snaked through Center City, passing by blocks damaged during earlier protests, speaker Sam Rise addressed diners eating outside at restaurants along Locust Street, telling them the group was there to interrupt your regularly scheduled programming. Several diners held up fists in solidarity, some pulled out their phones to record, and many silently looked on. During the hours-long march Wednesday, protesters gave inspirational speeches to rally the crowd. We will still be amazing and powerful and brilliant and magical beings. You cannot take that away from us ... because we are like the sun, powerful, one said. READ MORE: Police officers not charged for killing Breonna Taylor; 1 officer indicted on endangerment charges Another speaker named Diamond, who declined to give their last name, said they had a sister the same age as Taylor. We aint backing down for nothing. And if you think were scared, youve got another thing coming. Because I am looking fear straight in its face, and I am saying, Not today, Satan. Im way past being peaceful and whatnot. Im so enraged at the gross negligence this country has when it comes to Black and brown lives, Diamond, 28, said later. Every single day I dont know if Im going to live. Speakers had similar sentiments, issuing a call to arms and saying protests arent enough and political organization is key. Others sounded tired and enraged. One speaker had tears streaming down her face. One chant from the crowd: "Are you tired of it? Yes! Put your hands up if youre tired of this s! In March, Louisville officers fatally shot Taylor, an emergency medical worker, multiple times after entering her apartment with a warrant connected to a suspect who did not live in the home. Former detective Brett Hankinson was charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for shooting into a home next to Taylors. Two other officers involved in the shooting Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove were not indicted. READ MORE: They said his name: How George Floyd changed a city 1,100 miles away About 100 Philadelphia police officers carrying helmets were stationed around City Hall and the Municipal Services Building before 5 p.m. Wednesday. More were milling about on Chestnut Street between 15th and 16th, where some looting took place in the wake of Floyds killing. Philadelphia officials said Wednesday afternoon the Police Department was increasing its presence in Center City and roving officer details would be stationed around the citys commercial corridors. Mayor Jim Kenneys administration recommended any storefront businesses that are openly accessible because of past vandalism or other reasons board up doors and windows. Talia Giles, a 25-year-old who lives in West Philly, was at City Hall prior to the protest for a presidential campaign event with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, which Giles joined in June after Floyds death. She said the outcome of the grand jury investigation solidified her conviction in becoming an organizer this summer, fighting to defund the police and allocate more funds to community-based programming. This justice system is not broken. Its working exactly how it was designed to, she said. It doesnt need to be changed. It needs to be replaced. The Kentucky grand jurys indictment and ensuing civil unrest came four months after the police killing of Floyd in Minneapolis spurred weeks of demonstrations and a national reckoning over racism and policing. Protesters took to the streets in Philadelphia every day for weeks after Floyd was killed. Throughout the summer of protests in Philadelphia, Taylors name and the chant Say her name: Breonna Taylor became a common refrain for demonstrators calling for justice for Black people shot by police. In West Philadelphia, an artist painted a memorial to Taylor on a boarded-up restaurant. And in June, as thousands marched from the Philadelphia Art Museum to City Hall calling for racial justice and an end to police brutality, some protesters erected a birthday tribute to Taylor, who would have turned 27 on June 5. Empty streets of the city are seen in Melbourne, Australia, on July 27, 2020. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Victoria Has 2 Virus Deaths, 12 New Cases Victoria has had two more COVID-19 deaths, taking the state toll to 773 and the national figure to 861, as new case numbers continue to drop. There were 12 new cases on Sept. 24 and the 14-day rolling average for Melbourne dropped to 26.7. The regional Victorian average remains steady at 1.1. Cases with an unknown source in Melbourne between Sept. 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 unions letter to Premier Daniel Andrews has been made public ahead of Mikakoss appearance before an inquiry into Victorias hotel quarantine program, which led to the states devastating second wave of coronavirus. Sadly, our unions 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, Andrews has hinted Melbournes coronavirus restrictions could be lifted faster than planned as the state steadily manages down its second wave. With Melbournes 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. Asked on Sept. 23 if he was looking at going further when he announces an easing of restrictions in coming days, Andrews said: Yes, I am. But Im not in a position to give you the full list of what were looking at. Any announcements are expected on Sept. 27. 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. A video clip was shared on social media of patrons in the popular venue on Dame Lane in Dublin city-centre. A masked staff member danced on the bar as he poured shots into dancing customers mouths during the controversial bar brunch. The event was advertised as A Very Boozy Baked Brunch With Your Buds, The footage went viral online. The bars manager, businessman Jay Bourke, described it as 20 seconds of madness when he commented to the media. The restaurateur told RTE's Morning Ireland: "That footage does not reflect what went on that day at all." Licence application However, gardai have formally objected to the bar retaining its licence in an application which came before Judge Michael Coghlan at the Dublin District Court on Thursday. It has been brought by Garda Inspector John Finucane from Pearse Street station. Advertisement Barrister Dorothy Collins confirmed it related to the Berlin Bar, which is operated by her client Trillium Leisure Ltd. A Garda sergeant told Judge Coghlan the objection was, on the basis of non-compliance with covid regulations. Evidence has not yet been heard. Judge Coghlan ordered that the hearing would take place on October 28th next. Mr Bourke was not present for the proceedings on Thursday. Judge Coghlan also acceded to request from Ms Collins to direct disclosure of full statements in relation to the various alleged breaches of the regulations by her client. At the outset of the busy licensing court list, Judge Coghlan reminded parties in the cases that these were unprecedented times. Licences were granted to or renewed by pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes, with pre-conditions that strict compliance will be observed, he said. If gardai have found there were acts of misbehaviour, it is not just an endorsement and a slap on the wrist, it is the loss of a licence, he warned. FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on "Threats to the Homeland" on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 24, 2020. FBI Director Christopher Wray said Thursday that the bureau has not seen evidence of widespread voting fraud, an assertion that undercuts President Donald Trump's recent warnings about the integrity of the election. "We have not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it's by mail or otherwise," Wray told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Wray's remarks come a day after Trump again claimed, without evidence, that mail-in voting is susceptible to massive fraud, perhaps by foreign adversaries. The president refused Wednesday to commit to a peaceful transition of power if Democratic nominee Joe Biden wins the November election, citing concerns about "the ballots." Wray told lawmakers the FBI has seen voter fraud at the local level "from time to time" but disputed the possibility of fraud at the national level. "To change a federal election outcome by mounting that kind of fraud at scale would be a major challenge for an adversary," Wray said. At a White House briefing on Thursday, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Trump's concerns surrounding election security: "As Attorney General Barr has said, we've never had an election where we've done mass mail-out voting like this before." Wray also had advice for Americans in dealing with a flood of disinformation on social media. "I would encourage people to be critical thinkers and to get their news from a variety of sources and make up their own mind and be a skeptical, discerning electorate, which is what I think is the best defense against malign foreign influence," Wray said. A federal judge has given the Trump administration until Sept. 28 to stop the practice of holding immigrant children in hotels for prolonged periods under a secretive policy that rapidly expels undocumented immigrants who arrive at the border amid the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee denied on Monday the Trump administration's request to put on hold her original Sept. 4 order to end the practice while an appeal is pending, reports the Arizona Republic, which is a part of the USA TODAY Network. The Trump administration has been holding hundreds, and possibly thousands, of immigrant children in hotels in Phoenix and several other cities under emergency pandemic measures implemented in March to quickly expel undocumented immigrants, including children. In the past, immigrant children were transferred to state-licensed supervised shelters and provided a chance to apply for asylum. 'Be vigilant': Hotel group condemns Trump administration's use of hotels to hold migrant kids A Hampton Inn is shown July 21, 2020, in Phoenix. The Trump administration is detaining immigrant children as young as 1 in hotels before deporting them to their home countries. Gee ruled Sept. 4 that the government's detention of children longer than 72 hours violated the decades-old Flores settlement that governs the treatment of immigrant children in custody. She had ordered the Trump administration to stop holding immigrant children in hotels as part of the policy by Sept. 15, with limited exceptions, but the practice has continued while the Trump administration sought stays pending an appeal. A review of federal court records by The Arizona Republic shows that a total of 660 immigrant children were held at 26 hotels between April 18 and July 31 as part of a Trump administration policy to expel undocumented immigrants rapidly. The hotels were located in Phoenix; in El Paso, McAllen, Pharr, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; and in Alexandria, Louisiana, court records show. Of the 660, 577 of the children were minors not accompanied by parents. The data was included in court records filed by the National Center for Youth Law and the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, plaintiffs in the Flores settlement case, based on data provided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. An analysis by the National Center for Youth Law of the ICE data provided by ICE found several inconsistencies, including discrepancies in the dates some children were held in hotels and more alarmingly discrepancies in which cities they were held, court records show. Story continues The fact that the government cannot seem to consistently keep track of how many children it has held in its custody is disturbing, to put it mildly. It is emblematic of the problem with such an opaque, unregulated, ad hoc program, Gee wrote in the Sept. 21 order. The children ranged in age from 3 months to 17 years and were held in hotels as long as 29 days by a private contractor, MVM Inc., working for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, court records show. Many of the immigrant children held in hotels during that period have already been expelled, the records show. The court records show that more hotels in Phoenix were used to hold immigrant children than was previously known. They also show how many children were held in each hotel. Of the 660 immigrant children held in hotels, 124 were held at three hotels in Phoenix. Of the 124 immigrant children held at hotels in Phoenix, the vast majority, 121, were held at the Hampton Inn Phoenix-Airport North hotel on 44th Street near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. That is the second highest number of children held at any one hotel during that period, according to the court records. Two immigrant children were held at the Crown Plaza Phoenix Airport hotel on Washington Street during that period, the records show, and one child was held at an unnamed hotel in Phoenix listed in court records only as "hotel." Previously, it was only known that immigrant children were held at the Hampton Inn Phoenix-Airport North hotel. The number of children held there also previously was not known. In this July 23, 2020, file photo, protesters wave signs in front of the Hampton Inn hotel in McAllen, Texas. The Trump administration has sharply increased its use of hotels to detain immigrant children as young as 1 before expelling them from the United States during the coronavirus pandemic despite facing outcry from lawmakers and human-rights advocates. (Joel Martinez/The Monitor via AP, File) The 121 immigrant children held at the Hampton Inn Phoenix-Airport North was the second highest total behind the Hampton Inn and Suites in McAllen, where a total of 339 immigrant children were held during that period, court records show. Owners of the Hampton Inn Phoenix-Airport North and the Crown Plaza Phoenix Airport hotels did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, a critic of holding immigrant children in hotels, said the 124 immigrant children held in Phoenix shows the scope of the program is larger than the federal government has acknowledged. "I've spoken to the federal government and they claimed this was a very small program. Your reporting indicates that it's much larger than I was led to believe," Gallego said. Gallego wrote to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf asking for information about the program after the Associated Press first reported that hotels in Phoenix, El Paso and McAllen Texas had been used to hold immigrant children. Wolf said during a Senate hearing in August that the practice of holding immigrant children in hotels was ongoing and said DHS officials would provide information about the practice to Phoenix officials. That has not happened, Gallego said. "This is a very significant program and we are not getting the information we need. Given the magnitude of the program it could look like human trafficking," Gallego said. "The hotels are not set up to provide the necessary security for children including accountability of who enters their rooms when they are alone. "Children should be kept in facilities that were designed for this purpose," Gallego said. She noted that there are state-licensed facilities that have been used to house immigrant children in the past available in Phoenix. The facilities "had many beds open during this time period. I'm very concerned about this program. It needs to end," Gallego said. Owners of the Hampton Inn Phoenix-Airport North and the Hampton Inn and Suites in McAllen where the bulk of the immigrant children were held early have said they have ended contracts and had stopped allowing immigrant children to be held at the two hotels. The total number of immigrant children who have been held in hotels since the Trump administration implemented the emergency COVID-19 policy is not known. "The governments detention of children in unlicensed and unmonitored hotels presents a significant risk of harm to these children, as children are supervised by private contractors who do not have licensure or appropriate training in childrens development, trauma, or legal rights," said Melissa Adamson, an attorney at the National Center for Youth Law. "The governments detention of children in unlicensed and unmonitored hotels is particularly egregious given that there are over 10,000 available licensed beds in ORR shelters," she said. At least 147,601 immigrants who arrived at the southern border without documents have been expelled under the policy, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. Of those, least 8,800 immigrant children have been expelled, court records show. In denying the Trump administration's request for a stay, Gee, the judge, rejected the Trump administration's argument that holding immigrant children in hotels to expel them quickly protected the public and others from the spread of COVID-19 at state-licensed facilities operated under contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement. Holding immigrant children in hotels, on the contrary, poses just as much a risk, while also exposing children to unsupervised and potentially traumatic conditions, Gee wrote. "Defendants have failed to demonstrate how hotels, which are otherwise open to the public and have unlicensed staff coming in and out, located in areas with high incidence of COVID-19, are any better for protecting public health than licensed facilities would be. Gee wrote, citing the Sept. 4 order. "Not only are the minors and their families potentially endangered by hoteling, but so are (ICE contract) personnel, hotel staff, and other guests that stay at the hotels." Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-8312. Follow him on Twitter @azdangonzalez. In case you missed: US now using several hotel companies including Hilton, Marriott to detain migrant children Here, too: Judge orders US to stop detaining migrant children in Texas, Arizona Hampton Inn & Suites hotels This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Under Trump policy, 124 immigrant children held in hotels in Phoenix Malaysia's flagship budget airline AirAsia Group Bhd said on Thursday it is considering raising capital to expand its digital business. Without giving any figures, Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes said in a briefing that the group could take an investment to help speed up growth, but would not need to raise a huge sum. "We are not here to raise billions and spend it all. We just started the process but we don't need a lot. We've built this on our own capital so far," he said. He said there was already some debt capital secured for a few of its digital units, including logistics unit Teleport, fast food business Santan and agriculture e-commerce platform OurFarm. AirAsia has rebranded its digital arm as AirAsia Digital, which also houses travel and lifestyle platform AirAsia.com and fintech unit BigPay. Executive Chairman Kamarudin Meranun said the digital business could provide some support for the group to weather the coronavirus pandemic that has hit its airline business as borders remained shut for months. "In the short term, I don't think anything can compensate (the shortfall in earnings). For the short term, it provides some cushion...enough for us to survive," Kamarudin said. While Teleport made profits in the January-March period, the group's following second-quarter results last month showed that all the digital businesses recorded losses. Pennsylvania voters are closely tuned into the 2020 election, pessimistic about the coronavirus, the economy, and their own personal finances and currently giving Joe Biden the edge over President Donald Trump, according to a new poll. The Franklin & Marshall College survey released Thursday showed the former vice president and Democratic nominee with a six-point lead over Trump among likely voters, 48% to 42%. Seven out of 10 voters are very interested in the race. Voters continue to give Trump a slight edge over Biden on handling the economy, 48% to 46%. Biden is favored by a majority of voters on other issues like the coronavirus (50%), the military (53%), foreign policy (52%), and racial issues (54%.) Fifty-two percent find Biden honest and trustworthy, while just 28% see Trump that way, according to the poll. An average of Pennsylvania polling compiled by RealClearPolitics has shown the race narrowing in the state, with Biden ahead by 3.8 percentage points, within the margin of error for some surveys. That average was 5.5 points when Franklin & Marshall released its August poll. The race has tightened a bit, pollster G. Terry Madonna said. Theres no doubt about that. The survey of 625 registered voters, including 480 likely voters, conducted Sept. 14 to 20, has a margin of error of plus or minus 6.5 percentage points. READ MORE: How naked ballots in Pennsylvania could cost Joe Biden the election The new poll comes as Trump visits Pennsylvania twice this week in Pittsburgh on Tuesday and in Middletown, near Harrisburg, on Saturday. Biden delivered a televised speech Sunday from Philadelphia on the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and filling her seat. He was due to campaign Wednesday by virtual bus tour, seeking support from the states Latino voters. Trump and Biden are in a battle for a shrinking number of undecided voters in the states suburbs and exurbs. Just 8% of voters said they are undecided about the race, while 97% of Bidens supporters say they have definitely chosen him, and 92% of Trump supporters plan to stick with him. The poll also found far fewer voters interested in third-party presidential candidates than in September 2016. That year, the number of voters who ultimately cast their ballots for Green Party candidate Jill Stein was slightly higher than Trumps narrow margin of victory in the state. Trump beat Hillary Clinton by just 44,000 votes in 2016, or 0.7%. Pennsylvania is increasingly seen as one of the states most likely to determine the winner this year. READ MORE: 5 questions that will help decide the presidential race in Pennsylvania Almost half of voters, 49%, say Pennsylvania is headed in the wrong direction. That pessimism has been on the rise in previous F&M polls, but had not hit those same levels since September 2017, when it was 48%. That poll three years ago captured sentiment following white nationalist violence in Charlottesville, Va. The linked issues of the coronavirus (25%), personal finances (14%), and the economy (10%) accounted for half of all concerns voters listed as most important in the state in Thursdays poll. Trump continues to be the dominant force in the race on both sides of the electorate: 84% of his supporters say their vote is about him, while 56% of Bidens supporters say they are primarily voting against Trump. The president has falsely attacked mail ballots as being susceptible to widespread fraud, even as his campaign, the Republican National Committee, and the state Republican Party have urged voters to use them. A majority of those polled, 58%, said they favor the use of mail ballots, while 38% opposed them. And 59% said they are confident the states vote tally will be accurate if mail ballots are widely used, while 40% said they are not confident. There is a clear partisan split on that question: Just 32% of Republicans expressed that confidence, compared with 83% of Democrats and 51% of independents. Madonna noted that 60% of the voters said they intend to vote in person on Nov. 3, while 37% will use mail ballots. That does surprise me, he said. I thought more people would do mail-in ballots." English Danish 24 September 2020 Announcement no. 39/2020 Mikael Hvolgaard appointed permanent Executive Vice President, Private of Alm. Brand In continuation of company announcement no. 30/2020, Alm. Brand announces that Mikael Toke Hvolgaard has been appointed permanent Executive Vice President, Private of Alm. Brand. In this position, he will come to play an important role in developing top-of-the-line solutions for the companys customers and achieving the companys ambitious growth targets. Mikael Hvolgaard (44) has been appointed permanent Executive Vice President, Private of Alm. Brand. Mikael Hvolgaard has held the office of interim Executive Vice President of Private lines for the past few months and has many years experience in portfolio management and pricing in the financial sector. The appointment of Mikael Toke Hvolgaard is the result of a thorough recruitment process among a strong field of qualified candidates. In the new position, he will play a key role in developing new offers for our customers and catering to the constantly evolving demands for interaction with Alm. Brand as their bank, insurance or pension provider. Prior to being appointed interim Executive Vice President, Private, Mikael Hvolgaard was Head of Products, Pricing and Portfolio reporting to the former Executive Vice President of Private lines. He joined Alm. Brand from Codan, where he had worked three years as head of underwriting, and before that he was head of portfolio management of Trygs Danish private line business. Mikael Toke Hvolgaard will take up the position as permanent Executive Vice President, Private effective from today and will join Alm. Brands group management consisting of Rasmus Werner Nielsen (CEO), Andreas Ruben Madsen (CFO), Kristian Hjort-Madsen (Executive Vice President, Business Development & Digitalisation) and Kim Bai Wadstrm (Executive Vice President, Commercial). Attachment By Trend Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Kazakhstan are three key players that laid the foundation for the creation of a Turkic-speaking alliance, Kazakh political scientist, director of the Risk Assessment Group, Dosym Satpayev told Trend, commenting on the role of the activities of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the creation of the Turkic Council. Satpayev recalled that back in the 90s after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the very idea of a Turkic-speaking single cultural-political field arose, Kazakhstan actively supported this idea. As a result, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan became key players that laid the foundation for the creation of a Turkic-speaking alliance. Later, Kyrgyzstan joined the alliance. Recently, Uzbekistan also joined the Turkic-speaking union, which is also an important event, since Uzbekistan is a fairly large state in Central Asia. The absence of such a key player in many directions in the Turkic-speaking union was nonsense, said Satpayev. With a new President Shavkat Mirzeyev, Uzbekistan decided to actively engage in the Turkic-speaking field, which is also a merit of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, which for many years not only actively supported but also created institutions and held regular summits. All this led to the fact that Uzbekistan considered that the idea of joining a Turkic-speaking union has great prospects and that connection to the Turkic-speaking sphere has a significant advantage, including for Uzbekistan. Speaking about the Turkic-speaking world, firstly, this is a very important element for self-identification of our countries, just as for Turkic-speaking people, and secondly, it is the possibility of close economic interactions,, said the interlocutor. Satpayev also noted that the emergence of the Turkic-speaking alliance is an attempt to protect the sovereignty of culture, sovereignty in the field of language, information field, as well as political and economic sovereignty. He also noted that, as practice shows, without integration, without cooperation, no country in the world will be able to feel confident or count on any prospects in terms of economic development. For Kazakhstan to have alternative routes to access markets, including to the west, Azerbaijan is seen as a transit for transport and logistics. This is one of many reasons why Kazakhstan is interested in close cooperation with Azerbaijan, said Satpayev. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Turkey's research vessel, Oruc Reis, rear, anchored off the coast of Antalya on the Mediterranean, Turkey, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed the return of a Turkish survey vessel to port Sunday from a disputed area of the eastern Mediterranean that has been at the heart of a summer stand-off between Greece and Turkey over energy rights. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greece and Turkey are close to reviving talks on long-standing maritime disputes following a tense standoff over rights to exploit potential offshore natural gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean, a Greek official said Monday. We are close to restarting the exploratory talks," government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters. Petsas also said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to visit Greece for a meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss the crisis, but no date has been set yet. NATO members Greece and Turkey have been at odds for decades over maritime boundaries for commercial exploitation in the Aegean Sea, as well as in an area of the eastern Mediterranean between Turkeys southern coast, several Greek islands and the war-divided island of Cyprus. Under international pressure, Turkey pulled back a research vessel in the area while both countries have also eased their naval presence and halted military exercises. Greek-Turkish talks on maritime boundaries were last held in 2016. In recent years, the dispute has been fueled by soured relations between the European Union and Turkey and well as the discoveries of large natural gas fields in other parts of the eastern Mediterranean. In a televised address, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he believes the dispute can be resolved through dialogue as long as fair proposals are on the table but he still warned that the alternative was a fight. In Cyprus, the Mediterranean and the Aegean ... we are not impinging on anyones rights or honor, Erdogan said. We are just asking for respect for our rights. Erdogan said: We believe that there is no issue that cannot be resolved through dialogue, negotiation and agreement. Of course, this approach is valid on condition that they come in front of us with proposals that fit fairness and reality. Otherwise, we could not evade any fight. Turkey argues that Greek islands near its coastline should be excluded from the calculation of commercial maritime boundaries that far exceed the limits of territorial waters. Athens calls the Turkish position a violation of international law, but says it is willing to settle the dispute at an international court. Story continues Following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said his colleagues regarded the withdrawal of the Turkish research ship a positive indication, but a preliminary indication. Turkey will have to provide many more indications that it respects international law, Dendias added. EU leaders will discuss the matter later this week. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Turkish and Greek teams would hold a fifth round of talks at the NATO headquarters on Tuesday aimed at preventing accidents or armed conflict between the two allies. Separately, Turkish prosecutors launched an investigation into a Greek right-wing newspaper, Dimokratia, over a front-page headline last week that used an obscene expression in Turkish against Erdogan. The investigation, triggered by a complaint by Erdogans lawyers Monday, could lead to a court case in Turkey against the newspaper's journalists. Last week, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Greeces ambassador over the incident. The Greek Foreign Ministry condemned the headline while stressing that Greece respects freedom of the press. Thousands of people have been convicted in Turkey for insulting the president, which is a crime. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The 'Global Sodium Triphosphate (STP) Market Outlook 2019-2024' offers detailed coverage of sodium triphosphate industry and presents main market trends. The market research gives historical and forecast market size, demand, end-use details, price trends, and company shares of the leading sodium triphosphate producers to provide exhaustive coverage of the market for sodium triphosphate. The report segments the market and forecasts its size, by volume and value, on the basis of application, by products, and by geography. Request For Report sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3765 The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from key industry participants. The global sodium triphosphate market has been segmented into five major regions, namely, North America (U.S., Canada, and others), Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and others), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, and others), South America (Brazil, Argentina, and others), and Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and others). Furthermore, the report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key vendors operating in this market. Key Regions - North America - Europe - Asia Pacific - Middle East & Africa - South America Key Vendors - Aditya Birla Chemicals (India) Limited - Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd. - Innophos Holdings, Inc. - Jiangyin Chengxing Industrial Group Co., Ltd. - Shifang Sundia Chemical Industry Limited Company - Sichuan Blue Sword Chemical (Group) Co., Ltd. - Yichang Kaixiang Chemical Co., Ltd. - Yunnan Phosphorus Group Co., Ltd. - request free sample to get a complete list of companies Key Questions Answered in This Report - Analysis of the sodium triphosphate market including revenues, future growth, market outlook - Historical data and forecast - Regional analysis including growth estimates - Analyzes the end user markets including growth estimates. - Profiles on sodium triphosphate vendors including products, sales/revenues, SWOT, and market position, recent developments. - Market structure, market drivers and restraints. More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/3765 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 Trend: The Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov has left to Georgia for an official visit, Trend reports on Sept.24 referring to the ministry. During the visit, the minister will hold a number of meetings with high-level officials of Georgia. History was made on Wednesday September 23, 2020 in Nalerigu and Damango when Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia inaugurated new Regional House of Chiefs for the North East and Savannah Regions respectively. The establishment and inauguration of regional house of chiefs for the North East and Savannah Regions follow the creation of the two regions out of the Northern Region last year. Hitherto, traditional rulers in the new regions belonged to the former Northern Regional House of Chiefs, which has also been reconstituted to reflect its new status. In Nalerigu, there was a rich culture of the North East Region on display as Paramount Chiefs and traditional rulers in the region assembled for the historic inauguration. The situation was not different in Damongo, where ecstatic residents of the region and traditional rulers defied a heavy downpour for the historic day. In both the North East and Savannah Regions, traditional rulers expressed their appreciation to President Akufo-Addo for granting them their wishes of having their own regions. They looked forward to a new era, and expressed optimism that the creation of the new region will speed up development in their respective areas, as well as increase their participation in the democratic process. Speaking at both events, Vice President Bawumia assured the traditional rulers of government's quest to expand development to the newly created regions in line with government's vision of development for all. Significant changes are already in place with massive developmental projects currently going on in the North East and Savannah Regions, as well as the four other new regions. Apart from a new, 100-bed regional hospital which has been earmarked for all new regions, government is also building ultra-modern Regional Coordinating Council offices, staff bungalows and regional offices for various government departments and agencies in all the newly-created regions, including North East and Savannah. While assuring the chiefs of government's continuous support to strengthen the chieftaincy institution, Vice President Bawumia urged them to partner government and play their roles in the development process. "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," Dr. Bawumia said. "I urge you to speak out and join governments fight against the ills of our society corruption, social and economic injustice, crime, and the illegal mining menace, wherever they occur. "As Chiefs, you have a responsibility, as was done in the days of our forefathers, to help preserve our lands, water bodies and environment." The Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area Nayiri Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga is the first ever President of the North East Regional House of Chiefs while the Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresah (I) is the President of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs. The Vice President was accompanied by the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister for Regional Reorientation and Development Dan Botwe and the Minister for 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. Featured Video Celebrities reacted with outrage to a Kentucky grand jury's decision to indict only one of the police officers being investigated for their roles in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor. And as the messages poured in, Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron was quick to dismiss critics as 'celebrities, influencers and activists who [have] never lived in Kentucky' in remarks made shortly after the grand jury's decision. However, George Clooney fired back that he said he was 'ashamed' by the outcome of the grand jury - and pointed out he was 'born and raised in Kentucky'. George Clooney [L, in 2019] has fired back at Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron [R, on Wednesday] who dismissed 'celebrities and influencers' critical of Breonna Taylor grand jury verdict George and Amal Clooney are pictured at Magee's Bakery in Augusta, Kentucky in 2015 after attending a family reunion in the small town Cameron downplayed the concerns of 'activists' in the wake of the grand jury's outcome, which came over four months after the 26-year-old EMT's death. 'There will be celebrities, influencers and activists who having never lived in Kentucky will try to tell us how to feel, suggesting they understand the facts of this case, that they know our community and the Commonwealth better than we do, but they don't,' Cameron said. 'Let's not give in to their attempts to influence our thinking or capture our emotions.' In response to that, Kentucky native Clooney offered a scathing response where he said he was 'ashamed' by the outcome of the grand jury. Celebrities reacted with outrage to a Kentucky grand jury's decision to indict only one of the police officers being investigated for their roles in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor 'I was born and raised in Kentucky,' Clooney wrote in a statement shared with the media. '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.' Seen here in 2019 'I was born and raised in Kentucky,' he wrote in a statement shared with the media. '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. ' 'The justice system I was raised to believe in holds people responsible for their actions,' he went on. 'Her name was Breonna Taylor and she was shot to death in her bed by 3 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.' Kentucky's Jefferson County Circuit Judge Annie O'Connell on Wednesday announced the grand jury's decision to charge former detective Brett Hankison with three counts of wanton endangerment in connection to the police raid 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 Hankinson shooting into the neighboring apartments during the incident, not Taylor's death. George Clooney and his father Nick walk the red carpet during the premiere of Leatherheads in Maysville, Kentucky in 2008 Kentucky native Clooney offered a scathing response where he said he was 'ashamed' by the outcome of the grand jury. Seen here with Amal Clooney in 2019 Kentucky's Jefferson County Circuit Judge Annie O'Connell on Wednesday announced the grand jury's decision to charge former detective Brett Hankison with three counts of wanton endangerment in connection to the police raid on the night of March 13 Hankinson 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. Sgt Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, who were also present at the time of the fatal operation, were not charged. Neither the grand jury nor the presiding judge elaborated on the charges. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron addressed the long-awaited decision shortly after the announcement in a news conference in Frankfort. He 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. Hankinson 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 But Cameron, who is the state's first Black attorney general, said that the officers were not charged because they acted in self-defense after Taylor's boyfriend fired at them. '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 told reporters. '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, and that is true here. But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor,' the AG said. Cameron, who is the state's first Black attorney general, said that the officers were not charged because they acted in self-defense after Taylor's boyfriend fired at them. Seen here is a memorial for the slain EMT, in Louisville, KY on Thursday 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. Riots in Portland ON on Wednesday Investigators believe Cosgrove was responsible for firing the bullet that took Taylor's life. Taylor was shot at least five 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. U.S. Presidential candidate Joe Biden has made his stance on the matter clear, as seen in this recent tweet by the former Vice President 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 Hankinson's gun, Cameron said. Bullets fired by Hankison traveled into a neighboring apartment. The first-degree charge, a Class D felony which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, relates to Hankinson [pictured] shooting into the neighboring apartments during the incident, not Taylor's death 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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. 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. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump was booed Thursday as he paid respects to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He plans to nominate a replacement this weekend for the liberal justice, best known for her advancement of womens rights. The president and first lady Melania Trump both wearing masks stood silently at the top of the steps of the court and looked down at Ginsburgs flag-draped coffin, which was surrounded by white flowers. Ginsburgs death has sparked a controversy over the political balance of the court just weeks before the November presidential election. Moments after Trump arrived, booing could be heard from spectators about a block away from the court building. They chanted vote him out as the president stood near the coffin. Trump walked back into the court as the chants grew louder. As his motorcade returned to the White House, there were also chants of Breonna Taylor from some spectators standing on the sidewalk. Their calls came one day after it was announced that a Kentucky grand jury had brought no charges against Louisville police for her killing during a drug raid connected to a suspect who did not live at Taylors home. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said people have First Amendment rights, but she found the jeers an appalling and disrespectful thing to do as the president honored Justice Ginsburg. The chants were appalling but certainly to be expected when youre in the heart of the swamp, McEnany said. Trump acknowledged hearing the chant, but dismissed it as not very strong. We could hardly hear it from where we were, he told reporters on the South Lawn later Thursday. Trump has called Ginsburg an amazing woman. Her body will lie in state at the Capitol on Friday, the first time a woman receives that distinction, and only the second time it will be bestowed on a Supreme Court justice. William Howard Taft, who had also served as president, was also recognized in such a manner. The body of Rosa Parks, a private citizen and not a government official, previously has lain in honor at the Capitol. Ginsburg will be buried alongside her husband, Martin, in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery next week. Martin Ginsburg died in 2010. Meanwhile, the president is expected to announce his nominee to replace Ginsburg on Saturday. He has said he will select from a list of five women. Republicans are working to move quickly to a confirmation vote, possibly even before the Nov. 3 election. A steady stream of mourners stood outside the high court Thursday. They packed the streets and hundreds waited in line to pay their respects to Ginsburg. The crowd was hushed and respectful, except for when the president arrived. Attorney Laura French traveled to Washington from Athens, Georgia, to pay her respects. She said she owes her success to trailblazers like Ginsburg. She also said that GOP senators set precedence four years ago when they refused to meet with potential nominee Merrick Garland, and she questioned whether they now had the right to rush through a nominee. She said it was right for Trump to come pay respects, though she doesnt agree with him politically. He should, hes the president and she gave her life and service to this country and to these beliefs that are in our Constitution, French said. Rocky Twyman, who lives in nearby Rockville, Maryland, said Ginsburgs death was a great loss for the country. She believed in equality for all people, he said. He said it was right for Trump to come, but questioned his motives. I thought it was good, but a lot of people said it was insincere because hes going to go around and nominate someone for her seat, he said. Ginsburgs granddaughter has said it was Ginsburgs wish that a replacement justice be chosen by the winner of the November presidential election. ___ Associated Press videographer Dan Huff contributed to this report. Remarks by Labour Party education spokesperson Kate Green and the panicked response of her frontbench colleagues have underscored the policy of malign neglect shared by Tory and Labour alike on COVID-19. Speaking to an online session of the Labour Party conference, Green said, I think theres obviously a real immediate pressure to address these funding needs for the crisis. But I think we should use the opportunity, dont 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. And I think that particularly for those of us in Labour, lets be talking now about what this has really exposed, about the way in which weve undervalued our whole education system. Her reference to not letting a good crisis go to waste was seized on by Rupert Murdochs Sun and the right-wing Guido Fawkes to issue outraged denunciations of the Labour Party for seeking to use the pandemic for political advantage, when the iron rule must be national unity and no criticism of the Johnson government. The outrage is, of course, bogus. The ruling elite has and is using the pandemic, which is on track to claim the lives of 1 million people worldwide, to its advantage by passing a multibillion-pound subvention to big business, banks and hedge funds, while driving workers into unsafe workplaces, schools and universities. Nevertheless, senior Labourites stepped in to offer their apologies, with Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy telling ITVs Good Morning on Tuesday that Green was making the point that weve got to now make sure this Covid crisis doesnt worsen [the social] divide and doesnt write some children off. It was absolutely the wrong way to express that and Kate knows that. She feels very passionately about this. Im sure she will apologise if she hasnt already. Let me apologise for the way that thats come across as well. Greens address to Labours online congress, aside from the platitudes quoted, in fact made no substantive criticism of Johnsons murderous back to work/reopen schools policies. She spoke as the number of COVID cases continued to rise to more than 41,000 officially, driven particularly by the reopening of schools from September 1. Infections have risen precipitously ever since, especially among the young, and 1,776 schools have reported cases. Yet Labours education spokesperson had virtually nothing to say on this trail of death and destruction. Outlining the partys vision as to how to develop and re-energise the role of schools, colleges and universities as hubs of their community, Green treated the pandemic as a non-event. Far from breaking Labours de facto pact with the Tories, Greens contempt and indifference for the impact of COVID-19 on working people and their families goes to its heart. Since assuming Labour leadership on April 4, Sir Keir Starmer has been the most vociferous proponent of reopening the economy, especially schools. He has consistently stressed that under my leadership we will engage constructively with the government, not opposition for oppositions sake. Not scoring party political points or making impossible demands. ... Just weeks into a national lockdown, Starmer demanded a government exit-strategy. In an April 14 letter to then-acting Prime Minister Dominic Raab, Starmer said this should be published now or in the coming week and should outline the sectors of the economy and the core public services (e.g., schools) that will most likely see restrictions eased. ... That day, the official daily death toll in the UK reached 744 and continued to climb. On May 5, UK fatalities became the highest in Europe and the second highest in the world. Nonetheless, on May 10, Johnson announced schools would reopen on June 1 as central to forcing workers back into the workplace. Behind the scenes, the government and Labour were conspiring to this end. On May 18, Starmer wrote a confidential letter to Johnson in which he asked if I could help build a consensus for getting children back into our schools. I did it confidentially and privately, because I did not want to make a lot of it. Starmers letter was copied to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, offering the services of Labour and the teaching unions as central to the efficient reopening of schools. He only disclosed the letter when his offer was not taken up. The June 1 re-opening failed in the face of mass public opposition and was pushed back to September. This led to a doubling down by Labour in its demand for a full reopening. On August 15, as it was clear the government had no intention of delivering on its pledge for mass testing, Starmer nonetheless insisted it was a moral duty to reopen schools. Let me send a clear message to the Prime Minister: I dont just want all children back at school next month, I expect them back at school. No ifs, no buts, no equivocation. This joint offensive, backed by the teaching unions, is what enabled schools, and now universities and colleges, to reopen with disastrous consequences. And still Labour repeats its mantra that another national lockdown must be avoided at all costs. Its concern is not the health or livelihoods of working people and their children. It is recouping the billions of pounds in bailouts handed over to the corporations, banks and hedge funds made at the start of the pandemic through driving up the exploitation of the working class. Grotesquely, Starmer is now urging the government to put children at the front of the queue for testing, while demanding schools remain open. Tests are now rationed to those with acute clinical needs, followed by care home, NHS staff and teachers in that order. Last week, the Office for National Statistics revealed clear evidence that COVID-19 cases were rising amongst the young. The strongest surge in the infection rate is amongst 2- to 11-year-olds, which this month is already seven times higher than in July, albeit from a lower base rate. The infection rate is climbing across all age groups, with cases doubling every week. The mendacity of Johnson and Starmer was on show in their staged battle during Prime Ministers Question Time on Wednesday. Responding to Johnsons ludicrous claim that testing and tracing has very little or nothing to do with the spread of COVID and that children were low risk, Starmer said, the point...isnt whether the children have got COVID, its that theyve got COVID symptoms and then theyre off school. ... The governments own department shows that one in eight children are off school this week. That disrupts their education. Whether its COVID symptoms or other symptoms is nothing to the point. [emphasis added] The Labour leaders dismissal as to whether children have COVID-19 was made as it was reported that a 52-year-old father in Blackburn had died from the virus, after his child had been told to isolate at home due to a school outbreak. Blackburn, Lancashire, had been placed under tighter restrictions as it is amongst the 10 worst-affected areas in England by COVID-19, but schools and workplaces remain open. Parents, educators and students, join the fight against the unsafe reopening of schools, colleges and universities. To participate in the next meeting of the newly founded Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, this Saturday, September 26 at 2 p.m., click here. Bethlehems Walnut Street parking garage may cost millions of dollars to repair over the next 15 years. The citys parking authority is investigating whether it is better to replace it altogether. The Telangana High Court on Thursday ordered re-postmortem of three Maoists, a day after they were killed in an exchange of fire with the police in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district in the state. The court, after hearing a petition filed by advocate P Raghunath directed the state government to arrange for the autopsy by a forensic expert from MGM Hospital in Warangal. Petitioner Prof Gaddam Laxman alleged that the action of the police was illegal and arbitrary. The exchange of fire took place on Wednesday at some hillocks in Chennapuram forest under Charla police station limits during combing operations, police had said. Many of the same problems plaguing K-12 schools reopening delays, staffing shortages and overall uncertainty also apply to New York Citys free child care program. Many parents reported a week before the full school reopening that they still didnt know whether their children had received a slot in the Learning Bridges program, which provides a supervised space for students to attend remote classes. The city created the program to help parents who needed child care for their kids in 3-K through eighth grade on their remote learning days. The program was supposed to prioritize placement for foster youth, children with disabilities, children in homeless shelters and the children of essential workers. The Learning Bridges program which is being overseen by the New York City Education Department as well as the Department of Youth and Community Development suffered from overstated promises from Mayor Bill de Blasio. He initially pledged that there would be 100,000 child care slots when he first announced the program. But the city has since lowered that number to about 30,000 students once all school buildings reopen next week. As of Monday, when the first round of classes opened for students with disabilities and children enrolled in 3-K and pre-K, just 3,600 seats were available in the program. Some community organizations operating Learning Bridges sites were still in the process of finalizing the list of students they will be enrolling despite the fact that full in-person learning starts on Oct. 1. The Childrens Village received its first list of names from the Education Department on Monday, and it is still waiting on a second list, said Deborah Giordano, who serves as assistant vice president at the nonprofit and oversees the program. Commonpoint Queens started receiving the names of its students toward the end of last week, said Mitch Karpp, associate vice president of youth education services, and the organization is still waiting for additional lists as well. Once they receive the lists, organizations must still contact the families to confirm that they will accept the spot in the Learning Bridges program, and then the parents have to send in the relevant documentation, which can also delay the process. In some cases, it seemed that parents were also committing to a slot for their child, but were still deciding whether or not to actually send them, said Mary Cheng, director of childhood development services at the Chinese-American Planning Council, which could delay the process for other parents. At the six sites the nonprofit began operating for younger students who started classes this week, each site had under 20 students attending so far. Were working with Learning Bridges partners to help address their staffing and operating needs so we can provide an enriching and supportive learning environment for our students, Sarah Casasnovas, a spokesperson for the Education Department, wrote in a statement. These efforts include running virtual job fairs, facilitating enrollment, and expediting approvals and permits. The notification process for families began last week and will continue on a rolling basis throughout the fall as more seats are added to help support our students and their families. The nature of the program also created new staffing demands for some organizations. Providers are wanting to ensure that the city supports them in staffing up very quickly, because these are programs that are coming online very quickly, said Gregory Brender, director of children and youth services at United Neighborhood Houses, which is active on early childhood issues. The staffing process was hampered by delays in approving background checks for child care staff through the city Department of Health, which predates the coronavirus pandemic. Cheng said she hired people to fill certain roles for the program only to have them leave after a certain amount of time because they couldnt get paid until their background check cleared. Its been definitely difficult to onboard new staff at this time, she said. Were kind of lucky that its really low enrollment. But we do know that if it goes to full capacity and everybody is in class, this will be an issue. This is particularly important given new constraints to ensure children at Learning Bridges sites remain isolated in pods. Students are supposed to remain in groups with their fellow classmates to avoid spreading the coronavirus. Normally when a staff member in a classroom would call out sick, Bender said, another staff member could be assigned to help in that classroom and others. But that isnt allowed due to the structure of the groups during the pandemic, which could require new staff to be brought in. Several nonprofits managed to offset much of that burden by shifting existing staff to work on the Learning Bridges program. Commonpoint Queens, for example, managed to pivot the work of hundreds of employees at 24 after-school programs. The fact that it was challenging shows you how difficult it is, because were talking about hundreds of people, but yet we definitely have had struggles getting people, Karpp said. Despite the challenges, community organizations were grateful that the city was funding the program. Karpp said the costs would have amounted to a $350 per week fee for families if they had to operate a similar program without the citys support. The fact that Learning Bridges came in and to do this is an incredible thing for these families, he said. Giordano at The Childrens Village agreed, I think that (the Department of Youth and Community Development), when they do these types of programming, as well-intentioned as they are, they have to have a very clear directive which would help with all of the agencies that are implementing the program. The group marched to Black Lives Matter Plaza about 9 p.m. for speeches. People then marched north on 16th Street NW, followed for a brief time by a school bus refitted as the Black Lives Matter Hoops Bus. Police cars blocked the bus at L Street, but the marchers moved on, with a few using umbrellas to prevent bystanders and media observers from taking videos of the protest. Theyre ready to roll and to give their life to the cause of unification. Running, jumping and marching in formation, hundreds of soldiers of the Peoples Liberation Army go through their paces, swearing allegiance to the flag. If war breaks out, this would be my answer. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. So goes the chorus of a new propaganda song If the War Broke Out Today, in a video released on Tuesday on the official media account of the PLAs Eastern Theatre Command, which oversees the military operations in relation to Taiwan and the East China Sea. The videos release comes as tensions mount with the United States and Taiwan, the self-rule island that Beijing claims as its own. Every day fully armoured and every moment ready to go, I am committed to the mission with my life, the song goes. The video shows troops ready to go to war. Photo: Handout The video, which was produced by the PLA Rocket Force, shows soldiers in live-fire exercises in various environments, from jungles to beach landings, as well as land-based missiles being set up and fired. We will march to the battlefield without looking back, shoulder the duty and hope of the people, safeguard every inch of our land and everything on it, if one day the war broke out, the Eastern Theatre Command says in the end. Beijing, which sees Taiwan as a breakaway province, has prepared the PLA for decades to stop the island pursuing independence and to bring it back under the mainlands rule. To that end, the Eastern Theatre command has been carrying out a series of air and sea exercises in the Taiwan Strait and for several days in a row sent warplanes across the median line, what had been the unofficial division between the two sides of the strait. Beijing said this week that the line does not exist. It follows a visit to Taipei last week by US undersecretary of state Keith Krach, the highest ranking American official to go to the island in more than four decades. Beijing said the trip was a serious provocation and threatened to retaliate. Story continues Tensions have been further fuelled by Washingtons reported plan to sell seven major weapons systems including mines, cruise missiles and drones to Taiwan. The command has said that all the military action in the region was necessary to deal with the current situation across the Taiwan Strait. The PLA Eastern Theatre Command troops will resolutely perform their duties and missions, and have the confidence and determination to thwart any attempt by any person or force to carry out Taiwan independence separatist activities in any form, it said. This article Lights. Camera. War cry: China rallies troops with video as Taiwan tensions mount first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. The Bhutan book. One of the world's biggest books is on display at the University of Washington's Suzzallo Library in a custom case designed by Ed McKinley and fabricated by Carmine Ruggiero. Books are magical treasure troves of knowledge and art. Academics love books. It makes sense that places of study such as colleges and universities would house libraries of rare collections. The University of Washington's Bhutan book, for example, is a massive seven-foot by five-foot behemoth. This thing weighs 133 pounds and took an entire 24 hours to print. As a former Guinness Book of World's Records holder, Bhutan, at its mammoth scale, offers landscapes as big as windows and life-size portraits of the Himalayan kingdom and its citizens. But books themselves are art at any size. With advances in mass production, less thought is given to how they're made. Not so long ago (and in some places still), books were made by hand. When most "written" words live and die digitally, it has become a common cliche to say "print is dead," yet it lives. Bookmaking puts the art at your fingertips, and there are a variety of ways to go about it. Books can be bound by staples, glue, or stitches. Staples are quick and easy but add to the project's budget and the finished product's weight. Glue is also relatively quick, though not quite as easy. The book has to be held in place until the adhesive dries. Stitching books together is the traditional method. Colloquially, a signature is the official writing of one's name. In book terminology, a signature is a collection of four or five sheets of paper folded in half and gathered into bundles. A stack of signatures is called a book block. Bookmakers, using waxed linen thread, stitch signatures directly to the book's spine. Some common stitching methods are the pamphlet stitch, Japanese stab binding, Romanesque braid binding, and Coptic stitching. Before delving into the full-sized project, it is tradition to create a smaller scale version with the intended materials. This mini version is called a dummy. Even dummies are valuable in bookmaking. They help us iron out details before fully committing resources. Overwhelmed to find yourself in stitches? Art books don't stop there. Take an old, outdated throwaway book (maybe from a thrift store) and fold pages back to create artful designs. Or, go a step further to create an art journal. Paint over pages and add elements of collage. By the time you're finished, you'll have a work of art as one of a kind as Waitsburg. Red Bull did not support Toto Wolff's attempts to delay the signing of the 2021 Concorde Agreement. That is the admission of Dr Helmut Marko, after Mercedes boss Wolff and every other team ultimately signed up. But it followed reports that Wolff was asking his fellow team bosses to delay the signing pending the modification of certain terms and clauses. "We don't care about what Toto wanted," Marko told motorsport-total.com. "With two teams and a race track, we have our own interests and we have seen them protected accordingly. "What was important to us is included in the Concorde Agreement," he added. Marko said one of Red Bull's main desires was that the agreement is no longer a "fixed contract", because "our Honda contract currently ends in 2021". He said that by the time Wolff was going public with his concerns in Barcelona, Red Bull had already reached a deal with Liberty Media. "That's why we didn't join in with all of that," he said of Wolff's push for a universal position against Liberty. "It doesn't work anyway," the Austrian official continued. "There are too many interests for that. It has been tried many times and it never works." Marko said a new deal for the Red Bull Ring, and also the signing of TV rights for the company's broadcaster Servus TV, was also agreed because "we have a good relationship with Liberty". Another provision Marko agrees with is the change in governance for 2021 and beyond. "Some things will be decided with an overwhelming majority and no longer with unanimity," he explained. "For example, the reverse grid in Austria, which was prevented only by Mercedes." Marko says he doesn't even mind that Ferrari continues to receive the most money, insisting: "Ferrari is Ferrari. If you ask any little boy what a racing car is, he'll point to a Ferrari. "That's a fact that you have to accept." (GMM) More than 40 Tory lockdown rebels tonight backed a plan to force Boris Johnson to give Parliament the last say on new coronavirus laws. Ex-ministers, hardcore Brexiteers, party moderates and new Red Wall MPs are among those who are supporting a push by Sir Graham Brady to make ministers accountable to the Commons. MPs vote next week on extending emergency powers put in place to allow Mr Johnson's administration to take action to shut down parts or all of England. But he faces a struggle to get the six-monthly update to emergency powers past the Commons. Former Brexit Secretary David Davis, ex-Tory leader Ian Duncan Smith and Labour MPs including Harriet Harman are among those backing the amendment by Sir Graham, the chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee. They are joined by former ministers Steve Baker, Julian Lewis and Damian Green, plus Red Wall newcomer Dehenna Davison. Aside from the Tories, signatories include the DUP's MP Sammy Wilson and Labour's John Spellar. The 40-odd Tories, along with opposition parties, would wipe out Mr Johnson's 80-strong majority in the Commons. Transport Committee chairman Huw Merriman tweeted: 'Added my name because decisions impacting life chances and livelihoods are better made when scrutinised and stress-tested. 'Good for cohesion if MPs directly endorse and own the action Govt needs to take.' There is growing disquiet on Tory benches at the evidence used to justify a return to working-from-home announced by Mr Johnson (left) on Tuesday, as well as measured like a 10pm pub and restaurant curfew. An amendment (below) proposed by Tory backbench leader Sir Graham Brady (right) would give MPs a say over lockdown legislation A small number of commuters at Waterloo Station, in London in the middle of what should be rush hour on Thursday, after the PMannounced a range of new restrictions to combat the rise in coronavirus cases in England There is growing disquiet on Tory benches at the evidence used to justify a return to working-from-home announced by Mr Johnson on Tuesday, as well as measured like a 10pm pub and restaurant curfew. They fear for the impact on an economy already holed below the waterline. Reports today suggested Sir Graham's amendment may have been kicked into touch by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle over whether it was legally binding. But having cross-party support will make it harder for the Speaker not to allow it to be put to a vote. Earlier today, Sir Graham told MailOnline he hoped that the sizable backing for his amendment would be 'persuasive' in getting it put to MPs. He added that he had had 'encouraging discussions' with the Government over the concerns it covered, adding: 'I'm very hopeful they will do it and it won't have to be pushed to a vote.' MPs will have a full day's debate on the lockdown powers on Monday, but Sir Graham said that the way the hybrid House of Commons was functioning under social distancing and shielding measures was limiting the ability of Tory MPs to voice concerns with the legislation. 'One of the problems is the way the House of Commons is still not allowed to function properly, he said. 'You have a very limited number, no more than I think 25 or 26, of Conservative MPs in the chamber at any one time. They are all people who happen to have come up in a ballot as wanting to ask a question. 'It really does limit the capacity for people to raise concerns. You have a colleague who is very worried about what these things are going to do to local businesses, who doesn't come up in the ballot for two weeks in all sorts of statements and questions. 'I think that is one of the reasons I think there is a building frustration among colleagues.' Experts have warned the UK will face 'hefty tax rises' by the middle of the decade to pay for the coronavirus crisis as Rishi Sunak prepares to today unveil his plans to replace furlough and stave off massive job losses over the winter. The Chancellor will announce his new Winter Economy Plan at lunchtime and its centrepiece is expected to be a wage subsidy scheme which will see the Government top up the pay of people who can only work part-time. Mr Sunak's multi-billion pound package of support is also likely to include further VAT cuts and the extension of emergency loan schemes for struggling businesses. The closure of the Government's furlough scheme at the end of October has sparked dire warnings of waves of redundancies in the coming months with the Treasury due to focus its firepower on saving viable jobs rather than 'zombie' ones which have no future. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the Government would 'put in the absolute maximum economic support' it could, but recognised it could not save every job or every business. Asked why Prime Minister Boris Johnson had suggested there could be a six-month timeline to restrictions, Mr Hancock said: 'I think it's really important to level with people. I think it's really important for us in Government, leading people through this very difficult time, to be straight with people about what we see as the problems ahead and the timetable ahead. 'We want to give hope with what's coming - you know what, we can get through this - of course we do. But we also need that hope to be grounded in realism, because if it's not grounded in realism, then it's not true.' Mr Hancock said he would not rule anything out when asked whether students at universities suffering outbreaks would be told not to go home for Christmas. 'I don't want to have a situation like that, and I very much hope we can avoid it,' he said. Asked if it was under consideration, he said: 'I've learned not to rule things out. And one of the challenges we have is making sure that people are as safe as possible and that includes not spreading between the generations, but... this is not our goal.' The students of the (AMU) have urged the state police to re-investigate the December 15 anti-CAA protest violence and drop charges against those who are "innocent". A delegation of students, led by the varsity's registrar Abdul Hamid, met Additional Director General (ADG), Agra zone, Ajay Anand and gave him a memorandum in this regard on Wednesday. ADG Anand has assured them that their demands will be looked into. "Not all students should be named on the basis of recovery of motorcycles by the police from the spot after the incident as many of them are innocent. The charges should be framed only after the re-investigation," said the memorandum. It further said that the students, who do not have a criminal record, should not be punished for the "politically-motivated" incident. It was also mentioned in the memorandum that no action has been taken against the police personnel for using disproportionate force against students. Last year, on December 15, over 70 people including AMU students, security guards and a dozen policemen including the then DIG Aligarh range, Preetinder Singh, were injured in the campus violence following the students' protests over the CAA. The district police had registered two FIRs into the matter and arrested 26 people, including seven AMU students. Later, they were released on conditional bail. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) had also registered an FIR against 1,000 unidentified protesters under various sections of IPC into the matter. --IANS amita/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For the first time in its seven years, the Oconeefest scholarship fundraiser will not take place on the front lawn of the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Oconee Campus. Instead, the event will be an online fundraiser from Oct. 1-8. "As families cope with the financial realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for scholarships is greater than ever," said Dr. Cyndee Perdue Moore, executive director of UNG's Oconee Campus. "We ask our community and supporters to consider making a donation in the amount you might have spent if you'd attended our usual dinner and auction. Any size donation will provide support for our students." Donations can be made online or by mail to UNG Attn: Oconeefest Fund, P.O. Box 1748, Watkinsville, GA 30677. Hannah Queen, a sophomore from Watkinsville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in marketing, received one of the Oconee scholarships as a freshman. She said the scholarship can alleviate concerns about debt for students considering UNG. "By earning a scholarship, such as this one, students may see college as a more feasible endeavor," Queen said. "I believe students should be given every opportunity to make college a possibility if that is what they choose to do with their future." Raffle tickets are available ($1 each, 4 for $10, 10 for $20) at UNG's Oconee Campus and the Macon Highway location of BankSouth. Contactless raffle entry is available through Venmo and PayPal (with barcodes available on a UNG Oconee Twitter post) with pick-up available at the Oconee County Welcome Center. Some of the raffle prizes available are a year membership for two people to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Stripling's General Store gift baskets from Walton EMC and Walton Gas, and four tickets to Zoo Atlanta. "Even though we can't have the live event, we're still going to try to raise as much money as we possibly can for these students," said Sarah Gilbert, special events coordinator on the Oconee Campus. The $1,000 scholarships for students from Oconee County attending any of UNG's five campuses may be used for tuition, books, lab fees, study abroad, or other scholarly opportunities. Funds raised from this year's event will be available for students in spring 2021; students can apply through UNG's Financial Aid Office. Scholarships are renewable for a second year. "Money raised from our community's support of a virtual Oconeefest will help so many young people realize their educational and career goals," Moore said. The 2019 Oconeefest raised almost $14,000 for scholarships. Peach State Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor for Oconeefest. Piedmont Athens Regional and Georgia United Credit Union are platinum sponsors. Athens Seed Company is a gold sponsor. Athens Ford and Aramark are friend sponsors of the event. Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday officially put into operation its Remote Medical Consultation and Examination Center, becoming the latest hospital in the city to offer telehealth services. The center is part of the Ministry of Healths telehealth project for the 2020-25 period in collaboration with the Viettel Business Solutions Corporation. According to Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc, Cho Ray Hospitals director, the telehealth center connects with more than 300 other facilities nationwide. With the tetehealth services, health workers at Cho Ray Hospital can provide virtual consultation whenever their peers in grassroots-level hospitals across Vietnam require assistance in difficult cases. Dr. Thuc said that the inauguration of the telehealth center not only brings many benefits to remote patients in emergency situations but also helps save time and cost of medical treatment for both the patients and the hospital, which receives nearly 10,000 patients every day. The center also contributes to improving the quality of treatment for grassroots-level hospitals, increasing opportunities for patients in remote areas to access modern techniques and methods in diagnosis and treatment, Dr. Thuc added. At the opening ceremony, Cho Ray Hospital provided consultation for treatment of three patients at medical clinics in Con Dao District off the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, the southernmost province of Ca Mau, and the south-central province of Binh Dinh. The health ministry, together with the Viettel Business Solutions Corporation, has so far connected 26 hospitals with 1,045 other hospitals and medical facilities in the country, according to Dr. Cao Hung Thai, deputy head of the Medical Examination and Treatment Department under the health ministry. Before Cho Ray Hospital, the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, and the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases had also offered telehealth services in the southern metropolis. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A 31-year-old Easton man suffered life-threatening wounds in a shooting just after 10:45 p.m. Wednesday at the mouth of an alley in the citys West Ward, police report. It is believed the victim was targeted, Lt. Matthew Gerould said. Nobody was in custody as of early Thursday. The shooting happened on South Cherry Street just north of Lehigh Street, Gerould told lehighvalleylive.com about 12:30 a.m. at the scene. The bleeding man fled about two blocks to South 12th and Washington streets where city police officers performed life-saving actions until EMS personnel arrived, Gerould said. The man was taken taken by ambulance to an area hospital, Gerould said. The initial call indicated South 12th and Washington was the shooting scene, Gerould said, but soon after, police attention switched to South Cherry near Lehigh where numerous yellow evidence markers could be seen in the alley and a police investigations truck was parked nearby. Two vehicles on Lehigh and one on South Cherry were struck by gunfire, Gerould said. A gun stolen from Bethlehem was found near where the victim was located, but it is unclear who might have dropped it there, Gerould said. There was a cellphone and a red fanny pack on the curb, and the weapon was in the street. There was apparent blood nearby. When asked if more than one gun could have been used in the shooting, Gerould said it was far too early in the investigation to say. He said much the same thing when asked if there were gang activity involved. A large group of people at South 12th and Washington and others nearer the shooting scene were uncooperative with police, Gerould said. Even people who knew the victim refused to speak with police, Gerould said. A man who was sitting on a stoop near the crime scene and who had been celebrating a womans birthday in the neighborhood told lehighvalleylive.com he didnt hear or see anything. The streets were mostly quiet at midnight outside of investigators doing their work. Yellow crime scene tape -- and later city barricades -- closed off traffic between Butler and Ferry streets from 11th to 13th streets. The fire department was called about 1:30 a.m. to clean up any blood, Gerould confirmed. Streets had mostly reopened by that point and Gerould said the scene was cleared about 2 a.m. Wilson Borough police assisted with crowd control. There were more than 15 shootings over the summer in the city, including homicides on the South Side and in the Downtown. There hadnt been a killing in more than four years in the city before mid June. Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 610-250-6645 or the departments tip line at 610-250-6635. 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. 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 that 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. Democrats largely opposed the Invest in Kids private school scholarship program, which gave tax credits for donations that went to tuition for an Illinois resident to attend private school. U.S. Sen Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, wants a larger 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 1 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. The shift to virtual learning across the country has become a massive economic drain. A study from BankRate found three out of five parents nationwide said remote learning will negatively impact their finances, with more than a third saying they would have to either reduce their hours at work or quit altogether. A study by Barons estimates the number of single-parent or dual-income families forced to either reduce hours or quit a job altogether could sap $700 billion in productivity and lost revenue from the American economy. The Illinois bill also provides tax breaks for employers providing education care and teachers of virtual learners. I am disappointed on hearing that the good doctor has received threats. You have look at how other provinces are doing with the pandemic to be able to make comparisons. She has done a bang up job with contact tracing. So she shut down the bars, big deal. Its what other countries have done. The way people act at these establishments is appalling and there is no rhyme or reason for this. The only reason I can think of is, that some people dont like authority telling them what to do. Well, grow up people! How do we expect your kids to cooperate when adults behave like this? Be a role model, because this thing isnt going away any time. And there will be many more pandemics and its important that youth learn now. I feel sorry for workers who have to put up with this nonsense for minimal wages! Its the rich entitled people doing this. They are part of the problem, not the solution. For them there is no threats and they think all their money will save them. They dont think or care about their health or anyone elses. Sad world! Debbie Belair Credit where it's due, KSHB provided the best coverage of last night's protest whilst trying to play both sides of the culture war debate. There were quite a few arrests last night amid a "cat & mouse" game betwixt protesters & police inside the loop . . . However, this local news outlet still called the protest "peaceful" despite the law enforcement crackdown and upcoming charges. Checkit: CLEVELAND, Ohio City prosecutors on Thursday charged a 43-year-old man shot by a Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority police officer after officials said he charged at officers and social services employees with knives. Brian Ellenburg, 43, is charged with assaulting a police officer, a first-degree felony. He suffered gunshot wounds to his abdomen and wrist when the officer shot him during the mental health crisis. Ellenburg remains at MetroHealth. A court date has not yet been set. CMHA officials have not yet released the name of the officer who shot Ellenburg, nor said if the officer is on any kind of restricted duty. CMHA police do not wear body cameras. The shooting happened about 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Carl B. Stokes Mall on Woodland Avenue near East 61st Street. The building houses offices, housing and social services including for 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. Ellenburg was a resident of the Y-Haven housing program, a spokesman previously said. Cleveland police and housing officials said Ellenburg suffered from a mental health crisis, cut himself with a knife and described him as despondent. He 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. Ellenburg held two butcher knives in his hand as police tried to deescalate the situation, according to court records. The officers ordered him to drop the knives and stand back several times, court records say. Ellenburg suddenly charged at the officers and Y-Haven employees in a crowded hallway, according to police and court records. One officer fired shots, according to police. No one else was injured in the incident. Ellenburg has no prior criminal history. A Y-Haven spokesman declined further comment on Thursday. Cleveland police is leading the investigation into the case against Ellenburg and the investigation into the officer who fired the shots. Read more from cleveland.com: Man shot by CMHA police charged at officer, social services employees with knives, officials say CMHA police shot despondent man threatening social services employee in Cleveland, police say CMHA police shoot man in Clevelands Central neighborhood She's been known for her funky style choices. And Game Of Thrones' Maisie Williams certainly turned heads with her new blonde mullet as she walked the blue carpet at the 2020 Monte Carlo Gala for Planetary Health on Thursday. The actress, 23, opted for an eye-catching dress with a sheer embroidered skirt and a velvet top as she joined boyfriend Reuben Selby for the event. Gorgeous: Maisie Williams turned heads with her new blonde mullet as she walked the blue carpet with beau Reuben Selby at the 2020 Monte Carlo Gala for Planetary Health on Thursday Maisie showed off her new hairstyle mere days after unveiling the look on Instagram, having ditched her brunette bob in favour of a choppy blonde mullet. The Two Weeks To Live star made an impact on the blue carpet in a velvet top and sheer skirt with beaded and embroidered detailing. Sporting a mask, Maisie cosied up to her hunky beau Reuben of one-year, who wore a sharp black and white checked suit and a ISKO Vital face covering as they arrived for the charity gala. Standing out: The actress opted for an eye-catching dress with a sheer embroidered skirt and a velvet top Funky: Maisie showed off her new hairstyle mere days after unveiling the look on Instagram, having ditched her brunette bob in favour of a choppy blonde mullet A vision: Maisie and Reuben were every inch the stylish pair, with the hunk looking sharp in a black and white checked suit and a ISKO Vital face covering Hosted by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the annual event gathers leading philanthropists, talents and scientists to join forces and launch the charity's initiatives to bridge the widening gap between health and the environment. The 2020 Monte-Carlo Gala for Planetary Health aims to highlight the idea that our future is dependent on healthy ecosystems. Hosted by the Princes foundation, it has gathered talents, philanthropists, decision makers and scientists to discuss the challenges the planets environment faces. Wow! Maisie looked stunning in the chic look as she dazzled for the cameras Standing out: The Two Weeks To Live star made an impact on the blue carpet in a velvet top and sheer skirt with beaded and embroidered detailing The night is usually auction filled with many collectables, memorabilia and fine art from some of the most high-profile artists across the globe going on sale. Proceeds will be used to help the Foundation's initiatives, which includes the development of marine protected areas, protection of threatened marine species, the mitigation of the impact of climate change and acidification on the ocean, as well as the fight against plastic pollution. However it's likely this year's event has seen drastic changes to ensure social distancing can be adhered to, with many stars also donning masks as they arrived on the blue carpet. ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey said on Tuesday the European Union sanctions on a Turkish firm accused of breaking a U.N. arms embargo on Libya displayed the EU's double standard and biased stance. The EU on Monday froze the assets of Avrasya Shipping, whose cargo vessel Cirkin was involved in a naval incident between NATO members France and Turkey in June. The EU has accused the company of using the ship to smuggle weapons to Libya. Ankara denies the arms-trafficking claim and says the ship was carrying humanitarian aid. "The EU's Irini Operation is rewarding Haftar, and punishing the U.N.-recognised Libyan Government," Turkey's foreign ministry said on Wednesday, referring to the EU's military mission in the Mediterranean to stop arms from reaching warring factions in Libya. Ankara has supported Libya's internationally recognised Government of National Accord based in Tripoli. Eastern Libya and much of the south, however, is controlled by Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), which is backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Russia. "Overlooking those countries and companies, starting with the UAE, that send weapons from land and air to the putschist Haftar in violation of the (United Nations Security Council) decisions, while the support provided to the legitimate government ... is deemed an embargo violation, is a clear signal that the EU is ... biased," Turkey's foreign ministry said. In addition to sanctions on the Turkish company, the EU also imposed sanctions on two Libyan men, and two other companies - Kazakhstan's Sigma Airlines and Jordan's Med Wave Shipping. Turkey may also face EU sanctions due to a dispute with Greece and Cyprus over ownership of natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean, although tensions between Ankara and Athens have declined in recent days. "When effort is being made to decrease the tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, taking such a wrong decision is unfortunate," Turkey's foreign ministry said, referring to the sanctions on Avrasya Shipping. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Tom Hogue) Mr. Barrs decision countered a national shift away from the death penalty since the 1990s, when public support for capital punishment began to dwindle. Twenty-two states do not allow the death penalty, and three others Pennsylvania, Oregon and California, which has the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere have governor-imposed moratoriums. The United States was one of 20 countries that executed prisoners last year, according to Amnesty International. Most of those executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt, the group said. The seven federal executions carried out since July have come as Mr. Trump has campaigned for a second term by casting himself as a defender of law and order against Democrats, whom he accuses of giving license to violent anarchists and criminals. Mr. Trump has long been an enthusiastic supporter of the death penalty. In 1989, he placed full-page advertisements in four New York City newspapers, including The New York Times, calling for New York State to adopt the death penalty in response to the case of the Central Park Five, the five Black and Latino teenagers wrongly convicted of the rape and beating of a jogger in Central Park. The executions also come as nationwide protests over the police killings of Black people have drawn attention to racism in the criminal justice system. This month, a report by the Death Penalty Information Center traced the roots of capital punishment in the United States to slavery, lynching and Jim Crow-era segregation. Racial discrimination in capital punishment persists to this day, the report said. It pointed to a 2015 analysis that showed that the killers of white people were more likely than the killers of Black people to face a capital prosecution. Mr. Barr has defended the death penalty by noting that Congress has expressly authorized it. The Justice Department upholds the rule of law and we owe it to the victims and their families to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system, he said last year. Toby Antony By Express News Service KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorates (ED) investigation into the money trail of gold smuggling through the diplomatic baggage has been hit with one of its officers testing Covid-19 positive. The coronavirus jolt came even as ED was proceeding quickly with the probe and had interrogated some key personalities in connection with the case. According to sources, most of the officers at the ED office here have gone into quarantine after a junior officer in the rank of Inspector turned positive. The development has upset the plans of the agency already affected by staff shortage. Covid-19 has partially affected the probe. Though some officers involved in the investigation are under quarantine, we are covering aspects which require minimum manpower. Statements given by witnesses are being verified. We are also collecting information over the phone, an officer told TNIE. ED had interrogated high-profile people like former Principal Secretary M Sivasankar, Higher Education Minister K T Jaleel and Bineesh Kodiyeri, the son of CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.We summoned at least 20 persons to appear before us as part of the probe. Because of Covid-related issues, the recording of statements will restart from next week, the officer said. Meanwhile, the Special Court for cases registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on Wednesday extended the remand of three accused persons Swapna Suresh, Sandeep Nair and Sarith P S to two more weeks. In a report filed at the court, ED claimed the investigation is still in a preliminary stage and the accused persons activities are being examined. In the report, ED reiterated that the accused held a meeting in Dubai and started smuggling gold from August last year and that Swapna visited Oman when Sivasankar too was there, and they returned together. New York will conduct its own review of a coronavirus vaccine even if the Food and Drug Administration approves one, Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced, citing the Trump administrations politicisation of the vaccine review process and federal messaging on Covid-19. Frankly, Im not going to trust the federal governments opinion, and I wouldnt recommend to New Yorkers, based on the federal governments opinion, Mr Cuomo said at a news conference on Thursday. The Democratic governor will summon a panel of doctors, scientists and public health experts to review the trial data on an FDA-approved vaccines safety and effectiveness, he said. Mr Cuomo is ordering the secondary review so he can look at the camera and say to New Yorkers that its safe to take. As Mr Trump has continued to apply public pressure on the FDA to speed up its process for testing the effectiveness and verifying the safety of a vaccine through clinical trials, public faith in a forthcoming administration-approved vaccine has plummeted. Most Americans have said they will wait to take a Covid-19 vaccine rather than get it as soon as it is available, new polling indicates. Anthony Fauci loses his patience with Senator Rand Paul Despite the US passing a coronavirus death toll of 200,000 earlier this week, six of 10 people told an Axios/Ipsos poll they would not take the vaccine immediately. That number is up from 53 per cent in August. Only 9 per cent of respondents to the most recent iteration of the poll said they will get the vaccine immediately, down from 17 per cent. Thirty-three per cent told pollsters they are not at all likely to take the vaccine. Public health officials at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health have sought to assure Americans in recent weeks that whenever a vaccine is approved, it will be both safe and effective, even if the presidents messaging has raised concerns. On Wednesday, the president suggested the White House could dismiss more rigorous guidelines for approving a Covid-19 vaccine, saying the new guidelines sounded like a political move intended to hinder progress toward a vaccine before the 2020 presidential election. Career health officials and scientists have dismissed such claims of political subversion as ludicrous. While Mr Trump continues to project the FDA will approve a vaccine before the 3 November elections, the director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has projected a gloomier timeline for the mass deployment of the vaccine in the US, saying it will not be available to most Americans until roughly the middle of next year. If you're asking me when is it going to be available to the American public so we can begin to get back to our regular life, I think we're probably looking at late second quarter, third quarter 2021, CDC Director Robert Redfield testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on last week. Mr Redfield said there should be a viable vaccine available sometime between November and December, but that it will be in very limited supply and will have to be prioritised for people in vulnerable age groups and with pre-existing conditions. WESTON Following a district-wide pivot to temporary remote learning, the Board of Education expressed disappointment in some members of the community who apparently have not been adhering to town policy on COVID-19. The district moved to remote learning for Monday and Tuesday after administration discovered there was a positive case of the virus at Weston High School and its connection to another case at Hurlbutt Elementary School. We definitely knew it was connected and we thought it was connected with various people, Superintendent William Mckersie said at a Board of Education meeting Tuesday. That said to us we could potentially have significant spread throughout the entire district. But BOE members said a discussion on community responsibility was also needed because the incident allegedly was caused by choices made by people outside of the school, they said. At some point there has to be a conversation, again, about the expectations of the members of our community, Gina Albert, a BOE member, said. Rather its staff, students, other family members of our students so that we dont have staff and students impacted by irresponsible and ignorant decisions. BOE Chair Tony Pesco said the incident involved a very disturbing set of facts. He said it also illustrated the consequences of not adhering to the towns policies regarding COVID-19. If this goes on, well be shutting down schools every week, he said. We cant emphasize how important the community involvement and community responsibility and parent responsibility is in making sure that we keep everyone safe and the schools open. Mckersie said the possible connection between the two cases came after the health department contacted one of the families. He said hes also faced resistance while working with some families on quarantining. None of us created COVID-19, none of us want it, all of us are figuring out how to operate here, Mckersie said, adding mask wearing, social distancing and abiding by quarantine recommendations was key. But some students expressed disappointment of being quarantined strictly because of their seat placement in a classroom, according to Albert. Thats just really unfortunate that, again, irresponsible and ignorant behavior is causing this type of impact on the education system, she said. I respectfully request that we try to look again at the placement of the seats in the classroom to make sure we can meet that six foot criteria when possible. BOE members also questioned the timeline on shifting from the districts current hybrid, early dismissal model. Mckersie said administration is still reviewing the districts opening to look at a potential shift to a full day hybrid model. He said logistics, scheduling at the elementary level and more needed to be reviewed before theres a change. Even if right now we moved tomorrow into full day hybrid, theres some pieces we need to get better at, he said. dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com More people have died after contracting Covid-19 in Ireland while over 300 new Covid-19 cases in Ireland have been detected with Dublin representing half while Donegal has emerged as a hot spot for the disease with more than 12% of the daily increase. Laois is not highlighted in the National Public Health Emergency Team's (NPHET) daily statement for Thursday, September 24, which publishes the daily incidence notified to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). The rate of increase in Donegal caused the Government to impose tighter Level 3 restrictions on the recommendation of NPHET. However, a new case identified on Monday brings to more than 50 the number confirmed infections in Laois since the start of September. It means there have been 436 cases in Laois since February. There were increases in all of Laois' neighbouring counties on Monday. Offaly has now reached the 700 mark while Kildare has passed the 2,500 threshold. Of the 324 cases that emerged nationally on Thursday, NPHET says the breakdown is as follows; 167 cases are in Dublin, 42 in Donegal, 34 in Cork, 13 in Monahan, 12 in Kildare, 8 in Cavan, 6 in Limerick, 6 in Meath, 6 in Roscommon and 5 in Wicklow. 25 cases in 11 counties. 169 are men / 155 are women 64% are under 45 years of age 52% are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case 81 cases have been identified as community transmission The three new deaths bring to 1,797 the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight Wednesday, 23 September, the 324 confirmed new cases bring to 33,994* confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said new infections are emerging as a result of more people appear not to comply with measures that will slow infections. Public health doctors are coming across more cases arising from people who are close contacts of confirmed cases and are not restricting the movements. Remember that COVID-19 is highly contagious and you can be infectious without symptoms. 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. Please avail of a test when it is offered. Last week 1 in 10 close contacts who had a test were found to be positive many of them had no symptoms, he said. The county by county breakdown is revealed two days after the daily figures are published. The increases for Laois and neighbouring counties for Monday, September 21 was as folows: Laois 436 - up 1. Offaly 700 - up 2. Kildare 2,506 - up 9. Carlow 278 - up 1. Kilkenny 444 - up 1. Tipperary 762 - up 2. Dublin 15,980 - up 98. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community. The leaders of Houstons leading performing arts organizations have found themselves going through a re-forecasting exercise. That kind of budgeting has become all too familiar during the COVID-19 pandemic, but downtown Theater District companies were still piecing together the jigsaw puzzle wrought by 2017s Hurricane Harvey when the pandemic blew them much deeper into the red this year. This shutdown is more existential than Harvey. No one can predict exactly when it will be safe again to bring artists and audiences back to the Theater Districts venues in numbers large enough to sustain the citys major companies. The worst thing would be to come out of this and realize all the things you love about life are gone, said John Mangum, Houston Symphony CEO. Each organization has different needs, but all saw about a 50 percent drop in earned and contributed income for their 2019-20 seasons, according to data collected by the Houston Arts Alliance. In spite of layoffs, furloughs and too many canceled performances to count, they expect to see bigger losses for the heavily virtual 2020-21 season that began in September. All are hustling to raise funds with their own relief campaigns. This is not our final act, Houston Ballet declares with its pitch to donors. The Alley Theatre took a similar approach with, Lights up! This is just intermission. How to help Here's how to donate to the arts organizations in the downtown Theater District. For tickets to the Houston Symphony's performances or livestreams, or to donate to the Hear and Now campaign, visit houstonsymphony.org. Alley Theatre's Lights Up campaign goal is $6.5 million; to donate, visit alleytheatre.org. Houston Ballet supporters can click on "Become a fundraiser" on houstonballet.org for options for launching a campaign as an individual or joining a team. Houston Grand Opera is on hiatus through February; the organization presents bi-monthly video content for its audiences. For information or to donate, visit houstongrandopera.org. Society for the Performing Arts has launched the Arts Forward Fund for relief and response to weather the crisis. To donate, visit spahouston.org. See More Collapse Philanthropic foundations and individuals have responded. Houston Ballet has raised $3.27 million of its $5 million goal. The Alley was at $5.2 million of its $6.5 million goal in mid-September. Houston Grand Opera launched its HGO Virtual Series in September with a $1 million gift from longtime donors Sarah and Ernest Butler that it will share with Austin Opera. The lineup includes recitals filmed in the new Cullen Live! Studio built by Houston First at the Wortham Theater Center. Houston Symphony is leading the way back to live-audience performances with a classical season that allows 150 people per concert at Jones Hall. But virtual and small-scale live performances bring in only a fraction of the income it needs. Mangums business as usual budget of $36 million last season came in about $6 million short, and he anticipates a $25 million budget this season. Were going through a re-forecasting exercise now because we are not able to bring people back into the hall as quickly as we need to, Mangum said. We were hoping we could have 400 people for performances in September. Jones Hall seats over 2,700 people, but 400 was something we could see working. This will put additional stress on the budget. The symphony charged $10 this summer for virtual programs, but the livestreaming earned less than one-tenth of the $1 million the company usually earns in that period. Fall program streaming costs $20 per concert, but thats still three times less than tickets to shows in Jones Hall. Before COVID, we did three or four concerts each week of our season, with 2,700 seats, Mangum said. The symphony has received about $6.2 million in relief funds since the pandemic began, primarily from foundations, board members and other individuals. Our peers in other cities have pressures directly related to COVID. Ours are compounded with the decline in the energy industry and the continuing impacts of Harvey, Mangum said. Houston Ballet executive director James Nelson has also had to rethink numbers more than once. Our early summer financial projections have changed drastically, he said. He sees an $11-$17 million shortfall in his $34 million annual budget. Theres no way around that being anything but challenging, he said. Houstons major companies have endowments, but typically their boards only allow small annual draws from those funds for annual operations. Nelson can use up to 5.5 percent of the Houston Ballet Foundations endowment value each year without special board approval. But he might ask for more this year, he said. Theres a bigger effort to court every penny possible and peer under every mattress, so to speak, for new funding sources. Without advertising dollars, we are really depending on social media to raise funds, said Angie Lane, the ballets chief development officer. Pitches for support that appeared when the company premiered its first Zallet, or Zoom ballet earned about $12,000 from viewers around the world, mostly in small increments. The ballet also has found a robust tool as one of the first users of the new online social-media giving platform Classy, which enables friends to create their own mini-campaigns or dedicate an effort to particular needs using supplied visuals on their Facebook pages. That effort had raised more than $180,000 by mid-September, and those funds get a boost with a dollar-for-dollar matching grant from the Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts. We typically dont see that amount of support from online channels, Lane said. Society for the Performing Arts has a smaller budget since it is a presenting organization that supports touring artists, but the whole touring framework has unraveled. We have a very significant reduction for fiscal year 2020-21, said CEO Meg Booth. Its in excess of $3.5 million. For us, thats a big hit. The organization has hosted virtual green rooms to stay in touch with its donors. Its first virtual board dinner in late August also became a kind of event, involving home-delivered dinners from Backstreet Cafe with wine pairings introduced by sommelier Sean Beck. We missed seeing the SPA family, and it gave us an opportunity to laugh and be together, Booth said. She has applied monies from the groups Arts Forward Fund to build deeper local roots. The first six winners of the SPAs new Houston Artist Commissioning Project will debut virtual performances this fall. Booth plans to commission several live performances by local artists next year. Were doing as much as we can with what we have, Booth said. molly.glentzer@chron.com Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (18) Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Forces loyal to Libya's internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) announced on Wednesday that they have intercepted a military convoy of the rival eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar on its way to central Libya. An official of the LNA said the convoy, composed of 80 armed vehicles, were leaving al-Joufra to al-Loud, near Sirte, 450 km east of Tripoli, stressing that this is part of a suspicious strong mobilization of the LNA. The spokesperson of the army loyal to the GNA, Colonel Mohamed Ganounou, said that the Intelligence and Information Analysis Unit of its Operations Command noticed the movement of the convoy to al-Loud. He said that Tuesday night's movements coincided with "mobilizations of suspicious military troops from the enemy camp supported by mercenaries". Colonel Ganounou added, in a statement issued by the "Volcano of Wrath" military operation affiliated to the GNA that the movements also coincided with "five expected and repeated violations since the declaration of the ceasefire" last on 21 August, which the government forces have pledged to respect. He stressed that the instructions given to the government forces are to be fully prepared while awaiting orders from the "Supreme Commander to deal with and respond to the sources of fire at the appropriate place and time". Since the defeat of Haftar's forces in Tripoli and the Western region at the end of May, the areas of Sirte and al-Joufra have constituted the frontline where troops from both sides are positioned. Separate statements on 21 August by the president of the Presidential Council, Fayez al-Sarraj, and the Speaker of Parliament, Aguila Saleh, proclaimed a ceasefire which has been welcomed by the international community pending the resumption of the political process. These ceasefire declarations also asked for the demilitarisation of the areas of Sirte, al-Joufra and the Oil Crescent. Meetings between the rival administrations which opened in Morocco on Sunday have revived hopes for a resumption of the political process to establish a permanent ceasefire and prepare modalities to end the current political transition ahead of general elections in March 2021. -0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/MA 9Sept2020 Donald Trump's niece followed up her best-selling, tell-all book with a lawsuit Thursday alleging that the president and two of his siblings cheated her out of millions of dollars over several decades while squeezing her out of the family business. Mary L. Trump is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit that was filed in a state court in New York City. 'Fraud was not just the family business - it was a way of life,' the lawsuit reads. The lawsuit alleged the president, his brother Robert, and a sister, the former federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry, portrayed themselves as Mary Trump's protectors while secretly taking her share of minority interests in the family's extensive real estate holdings. Robert Trump died last month. Donald Trump's niece, Mary (left and right), filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging that the president and two of his siblings cheated her out of millions of dollars over several decades while squeezing her out of the family business The suit claims the president, his brother Robert (far right), and sister, the former federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry (left with president), portrayed themselves as Mary Trump's protectors while secretly taking her share of minority interests in the family's real estate holdings Messages seeking comment were sent to the Justice Department and lawyers for the president. Messages also were sent to a lawyer for Robert Trump and to email addresses listed for Barry. Mary Trump and her brother, Fred Trump III, inherited various real estate business interests when her father, Fred Trump Jr, died in 1981 at 42 after a struggle with alcoholism. Mary Trump was 16 at the time. According to the lawsuit, Donald Trump and his siblings devalued Mary Trump's interests, which included a share of hundreds of New York City apartments, by millions of dollars even before Donald Trump's father, Fred Trump Sr, died on June 25, 1999. After the family patriarch's death, Mary Trump and her brother filed objections to the will and Donald Trump and his siblings 'ratcheted up the pressure' to settle by cutting off health insurance to their niece and nephew, the lawsuit said. It said the action amounted to 'unfathomable cruelty' because Fred Trump III's third child, born hours after Fred Trump Sr's funeral, was having seizures and required extensive medical care including months in a neonatal intensive care unit. As they pressured Mary Trump to accept a settlement and relinquish all interests in the Trump businesses, the uncles and aunt provided fraudulent accounting and financial statements that misrepresented the value of their father's estate at $30million or less, the lawsuit said. Mary Trump (pictured) is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit, filed in a state court in New York City on Thursday In a lawsuit aimed at stopping the July publication of Mary Trump's book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man, Robert Trump said the payout was substantial 'In reality, Mary's Interests were worth tens of millions of dollars more than what Defendants represented to her and what she received,' the lawsuit said. In keeping with a confidentiality clause in a settlement of the dispute over Fred Trump Sr's will, lawyers for Mary Trump refused to say how much she received. But the numbers provided in Thursday's lawsuit make it unlikely that she would have received more than several million dollars. In a lawsuit aimed at stopping the July publication of Mary Trump's book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man, Robert Trump said the payout was substantial. Roberta Kaplan, one of Mary Trump's lawyers, said in an interview that today she lives 'at a level that is certainly miles away from the luxury her aunts and uncles enjoy'. Since her book's publication, Mary Trump has promoted it extensively. She also has released portions of 15 hours of recordings she made in 2018 and 2019 with Maryanne Trump Barry in which her aunt is heard criticizing Donald Trump, saying 'he has no principles' at one point and 'Donald is cruel' at another. The lawsuit said the fraud against Mary Trump 'was particularly egregious and morally culpable because Defendants deliberately targeted her because they disliked her'. It noted that the president, in a tweet, has said she was 'rightfully shunned, scorned and mocked her entire life'. The lawsuit cited tweets in which he described her as 'a mess' who her grandfather 'couldn't stand'. In her book, Mary Trump, a psychologist, analyzed the president extensively in unflattering ways and made an assertion - which he denied - that he paid someone to take the SATs for him when he sought to transfer to the University of Pennsylvania. The lawsuit, which seeks a jury trial, would have to overcome laws that limit how long someone can wait to sue over fraudulent activity. Mary Trump maintains that she learned of the fraud only after an in depth analysis of the Trump family financial history by The New York Times that discussed how Donald Trump and his siblings inherited and built fortunes. In a statement, she said: 'Recently, I learned that rather than protecting me, they instead betrayed me by working together in secret to steal from me, by telling lie after lie about the value of what I had inherited, and by conning me into giving everything away for a fraction of its true value. 'I am bringing this case to hold them accountable and to recover what is rightfully mine.' Firefighters from Sri Lanka and India battled a week-long blaze on the New Diamond caused by an explosion in its engine room The owners of an oil tanker crippled by an explosion and week-long blaze off Sri Lanka's coast have agreed to foot an initial firefighting bill of almost $2 million, the government said Thursday. The Panamanian-registered New Diamond, carrying over 270,000 tonnes of crude, was en-route from Kuwait to India when an explosion in its engine room in early September killed a Filipino crew member and set off a massive fire. Firefighters from Sri Lanka and India battled and put out the blaze on the ship, which is now 122 kilometres (76 miles) off the Sri Lankan town of Batticaloa. "Owners of crude oil tanker MT New Diamond have informed... of their agreement to settle fully the interim claim... of 340 million rupees ($1.83 million)," the Sri Lankan Attorney-General's office said in a statement. The vessel is owned by Liberian-registered Porto Emporios Shipping Inc and managed by Greek ship owner, New Shipping Limited, according to the Sri Lankan navy. The Attorney-General did not specify which organisation will pay the costs. The remaining 22 crew were rescued and are in quarantine as a precaution against the coronavirus in the southern port city of Galle. The vessel leaked some of its heavy fuel oil but salvage workers have since fixed the rupture, the navy added. Sri Lanka last week said it would file negligence and pollution charges against the New Diamond's Greek skipper. aj/grk/rma Buckingham Palace was last night 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, the Duke of Sussex 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. In a joint video message, Harry and wife Meghan urged US citizens to vote, with the prince warning they must reject "hate speech, misinformation and online negativity" in the lead-up to the November election. "We're just six weeks out from election day, and today is National Voter Registration Day," Meghan said, in a joint video played to the Time 100 awards. "Every four years, we're told, 'This is the most important election of our lifetime.' But this one is." Harry added: "This election, I'm not going to be able to vote here in the US. But many of you may not know that I haven't been able to vote in the UK my entire life. "As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation, and online negativity." A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said: "The duke is not a working member of the royal family and any comments he makes are made in a personal capacity." Meghan's campaigning in the past has been seen by insiders as less controversial, given her position as a US citizen whose political views are already well known. While the couple did not endorse a party or candidate, the comments were seen as criticism of President Donald Trump and his supporters. It follows a series of campaigning appearances from Meghan, who spoke of the importance of voting for "change", alongside notable Democrat supporters. Until now Harry, grandson of the queen, has felt an obligation to remain outside of any political discussion, having made an undertaking to uphold the values of the queen when he left the working royal family in January. A source close to the prince said his words were not party political or aimed at any individual, including Mr Trump, but referred only to the level of online debate surrounding the election. "He is building on stuff that he's said before about online communities, how we engage with each other online, rather than specifically making any political points." Senior members of the British royal family do not vote by choice and convention, believing it is essential for the senior royals to be scrupulously above party politics. Meghan has been outspoken in her criticism of Mr Trump, calling him "divisive" and "misogynistic", and did not meet him during his official visit to Buckingham Palace while she was on maternity leave. The prince joined his family to host the US president and first lady with the queen in June 2019, but appeared to hang back before the cameras, to avoid being photographed close to Mr Trump. The couple's intervention did not go unnoticed in the US. Corey Lewandowski, Mr Trump's former campaign manager, said: "They made Britain great again by leaving. I hope they do the same for us." ( Daily Telegraph, London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 04:20:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The lack of funding for assistance in Yemen, which is still threatened with famine, is crippling humanitarian aid operations in the country, a UN spokesman said on Thursday. "Some 20 million people are food insecure, including almost 10 million facing acute food insecurity," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Another 3 million people are at risk of worsening hunger as the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps across the war-torn country, he said. The funding situation is so bad that 15 of the United Nations' 41 major programs have already been reduced or shut down and 30 more will close or reduce services in the coming weeks, Dujarric said. There are about 2 million children needing treatment for acute malnutrition, and out of that number 360,000 of them are at risk of dying without treatment, he said. Nearly half of all children are stunted by malnutrition. Also, 1 million pregnant or breastfeeding women require treatment for acute malnutrition, he told a regular briefing. The UN humanitarian response plan for Yemen is only 38 percent funded, the spokesman said. "We welcome recent announcements of new funding and call on all donors to pay outstanding pledges and increase their support, so we can help with this man-made crisis," he said. Enditem SUV That means next year Jeep turns a respectable 80. Thats eight decades of a complicated existence and several masters that culminates today with six models in the lineup, each serving a certain need of the customers.On the verge of once again changing its corporate structure, Jeeps parent FCA thought it would be a great idea to start celebrating much earlier the brands birthday, and announced this week the launch of the 80th Anniversary edition for the entire range.That means the Wrangler, Gladiator , Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Compass and Renegade are putting their party pants on, get a price hike, and off they go to celebrate on or off the road, where they belong.Priced from $33,340 for the Renegade to $59,690 for the Grand Cherokee , the 80th Anniversary edition brings just enough special items to make eachfeel and look special, without changing too much as to be an extra burden on FCAs budget.Things like 18-inch wheels, new colors, logos and badges, the Cold Weather Group (heated front seats, heated steering wheel and remote start system), or the new Uconnect system are part of the deal you can have a full picture of whats featured in the press release section below.After nearly 80 years, the Jeep brand remains true to the original SUV by continuing to deliver legendary 4x4 capability that has enabled countless adventures and open-air freedom, said in a statement Jim Morrison, Head of Jeep Brand - FCA North America.As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, were pleased to provide our customers with 80th Anniversary models that offer a unique appearance, great value and loads of safety and technology features. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has decided to launch a special drive -- Operation Durachari -- to pin down the eve-teasers, the accused of crime against women and habitual offenders in cases of sex-related crimes through name shaming. UP CM Yogi Adityanath has issued directives to the police department to put up posters of the offenders of crime against women on road crossings across the state. Yogi government had earlier used the same tactic to name and shame the protestors of the Citizenship Amendment Act after they had indulged in large scale violence and vandalism destroying public property in December, last year. However, after the High Courts intervention, the posters were brought down. The CM further cautioned the police department against slackness in taking action against persons committing crimes against women. He issued directives to the police authorities to activate anti-Romeo squads. He further said that if any incident related to crime against women took place, the beat in-charge, chowki in-charge, station officer, and the circle officer would be held responsible and liable for action. According to the government spokesman, Yogi entrusted the women police officials to launch Operation Durachari to check crime against women. The Chief Minister has directed women police personnel to take firm action against such anti-social elements, offenders and their photographs should be pasted at the road crossings in order to name and shame them, the spokesman said. The intent of 'Operation Durachari' is to name, shame, and expose those who are vitiating the atmosphere in society and indulging in crime against women, the CM said, while directing the authorities concerned to make the names of the protectors and patrons of such forces public. IG Lucknow range Lakshmi Singh has been running 'Operation Shakti' in the capital city and the adjoining districts including Kanpur, Unnao, Hardoi, Sitapur, Lakhimpur, and Rae Bareli. Under the operation, the police have acted against 2200 such criminals who were found embroiled in crimes against women. In all 822 FIRs were lodged. A total of 699 persons were restricted and another 770 were issued notices. The lawyer-activist withdrew her plea after the court suggested she file a regular bail application on merit New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a bail plea by lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). A bench comprising Justices UU Lalit and Ajay Rastogi dismissed as withdrawn the plea filed by Bharadwaj. Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the activist has been in jail for over two years and charges have not been framed in the case. Nothing has been recovered from the petitioner and no incriminating material found, she said. Referring to her health condition, the lawyer said Bharadwaj is suffering from diabetes and other comorbidities. "They are giving me medicine but several tests are required. Grant me interim bail. I will get diagnosed myself and thereafter surrender myself," she said. The apex court noted that a bail plea is pending in the high court. Grover said that she sought the court's indulgence to get checked and the tests cannot happen in the jail hospital. "You have a good case on merits. Why don't you file a regular bail application?", the bench said. The court then said, "either you withdraw it or we will dismiss it, and suggested that a regular bail plea can be filed. The plea was then withdrawn. Bharadwaj, 58, had earlier approached the Bombay High Court seeking bail, saying that she suffered from chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. She had said comorbidities put her at a higher risk of contracting coronavirus while at the Byculla women's prison where an inmate had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier. The court, however, had noted the submissions made by the NIA and the Maharashtra government that the prison authorities were taking all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and that they were providing necessary medical care to Bharadwaj for her comorbidities. On 21 August, pursuant to a high court order, the state government had submitted a report stating that Bharadwaj had been examined in the prison by a medical officer and that her health condition was found to be "stable and satisfactory". The report stated that Bharadwaj's vital health parameters were stable, though she had been suffering from mild depression and had complained of body ache. The state said that Bharadwaj had been given medication for dizziness and had been advised to continue medicines for her chronic conditions. Bharadwaj has been lodged in the Byculla women's prison since September 2018 following her arrest in the case. The case pertains to the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune district on 31 December, 2017. It is alleged that speeches made by some activists at the conclave led to violence near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on the outskirts of Pune city the next day. Doug and the people. Hes for the people, he says, but sos everyone, en principe. Now its at a point where he should take time off from hectoring the people about their own failures and yell at himself. Hes good at it. He went after the thousand yahoos who attended a car rally in Ancaster: If they had brains theyd be dangerous. Those types are a few fries short of a Happy Meal. Theyre cliches, but not typical Ford ones they hover above his usual arsenal. At such moments, his vocabulary glows. The problem? He puts blame for the mess were back into, on individuals: student partiers, car ralliers. But the difference between them and him is they didnt have the capacity to alleviate or screw up the lives of a whole province. The students and car guys should yell back: Stop screaming at us and fix the damn testing system! Why werent you ready for the fall surge you knew was coming? Theres no excuse for standing in line for hours, then being sent home untested. He doesnt take responsibility. Instead, he waxes Trumpian: our record is fabulous, like youve never seen before, others ask how I did it. (I firmly believe that one duty of a peoples leader is not making citzens lives more miserable than need be. That includes wretched crowding on transit or airlines, grinding daily commutes and ingeniously humiliating test lines.) Why didnt he mandate smaller classes, as we watch the schools grind predictably to a mass closing, instead of dicking around with more nurses and custodians? Sending teachers into those packed classrooms is sadistic. What about kids who go home, transmit the virus to parents and in the worst cases may have to spend the rest of their lives feeling guilty for it? Long-term care homes are again the main source of this second wave, since Ford has done nothing for them (as the Globe and Mail said) since the first round. What is he doing? Step one was tell us to get flu shots, which arent even available yet. Next was getting pharmacies to test. Huntsville didnt have a test centre until its MPP called Doug and he conscripted Shoppers. I like the on call shtick, but its redolent of Russian serfs feeling if only the Czar knew, hed fix it. Please, just acknowledge the difference between individual and political roles. Still, compared to the U.S., theyre all there with their masks on at briefings, daintily distancing as they angle to the mic though theres always a moment when Doug says he relies on the advice of his chief medical officer. We deserve medals for not expiring each time he blurts that out. He did an impressive turnaround when this began. Hes managed to piss it all away since then. Doug and Boris, together at last. Boris Johnson took a Dougish tack in the U.K. this week: Never has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behaviour. He said it, granted, on Twitter, slightly diminishing the Churchillian timbre. He called the U.K. a great and freedom-loving country; accordingly, there have been too many breaches of the rules. Not that we love life less, then, but that we love our freedoms more. A pollster peevishly noted, though, that vast majorities there support all the restrictions masks, quarantines, etc. and in a values survey, British freedoms ranked below having a Sunday roast. Opposition leader Keir Starmer said, Its a national scandal that we still dont have a testing system that works. Or a plan to protect our care homes. It shouldnt be like this. Now why was he talking about Ontario in the U.K.? Oh, wait, he wasnt Most satisfying line in a throne speech: This is not the time for austerity. Though really: When is the time? After everyones basic needs are met, perhaps. Till then, spend whatever it takes. (Also in the speech.) Where will the money come from? Wrong question. The question is, What are your priorities? Who wouldnt spend whatever they have, for someone they love. If thats true for an individual, how much easier should it be, shared by a society. By Online Desk The number of new recoveries in India has exceeded the new cases for 5 consecutive days, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has said as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic. India's COVID tally has crossed the 57-lakh mark with a spike of 86,508 new cases. 1,129 deaths on Thursday The total case tally stands at 5,732,519 including 9,66,382 active cases, 46,74,988 cured/discharged/migrated & 91,149 deaths, Health Ministry's latest update informed. 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. 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. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Research Future (MRFR) published its latest report specialty papers market 2020, states that across the review period (2017 and 2023), the global specialty papers market size can touch USD 28.7 Bn by 2023. The customization feature of specialty papers is the prime factor for the expansion of the speciality paper market. The easy availability of chemicals that converted normal paper into specialty paper can support its market expansion. MRFR findings reveals that the world specialty papers market can thrive at 5.7% CAGR on the conclusion of the assessment period. The prominent factors that boost the market are rise in the trend of online shopping and high for specialty paper in the cash rich food & beverages sector. ALSO READ: https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/19/10/ab14579557/specialty-paper-market-report-2019-size-share-global-industry-analysis-competitive-landscape-like On the analysis of the specialty papers market, MRFR designed the report that offers insights on factors that can affect the expansion of the market. Historical aspects and forecast revenue are evaluated to predict the market size. On observing the major players of the market, the report covers the competitive landscape and contribution of joint ventures. Mergers and acquisitions, research and developments (R & D), new product developments, and strategic alliances are studied to estimate the market potential. Market Segment The world specialty papers market segment study is based on raw material, application, and type. The application-based segments of the specialty papers market are packaging & labelling, printing and writing, building & construction, industrial, and others. The raw materials based segments of the specialty papers market are additives, pulp, fillers & binders, and others. The types based segments of the market are flexible packaging papers, release liner paper, decor paper, printing paper, masking tape, and others. Regional Analysis Europe is known to head the world specialty papers market. The expansion of the F&B sector can prompt the rise of EU specialty papers market in the study period. Europe is likely to contribute considerably to the rise of the specialty papers global market revenue. France, the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, and Spain followed by the rest of Europe are potential producers of specialty papers. Thus, leading the regional market. Through 2017 and 2023, the rise of the specialty papers market in Asia Pacific is expected to be highest. Urbanization is observed to produce several growth prospects, thus rise in demand for specialty papers can boost Asia Pacific specialty papers market growth. The specialty papers market in regions, such as China, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and India, followed by the rest of the APAC region. In North America, the specialty papers market can rise significantly due to moderate industrialization. Canada and the United States of America (USA) are leading the regional market. Modern technologies and firm tech base allow the smooth run of different industries, plus the high demand for specialty papers can prompt the market growth. Key Players MRFR listed key players functioning in the specialty papers global market. They are Griff Paper and Film (USA), Domtar Corporation (Canada), Kanzaki Specialty Papers Inc. (USA), International Paper Company (USA), Munksjo Corporation (Sweden), Mondi Plc (Austria), Robert Wilson Paper Corporation (USA), Sappi Limited (South Africa), Nippon Paper Group, Inc. (Japan), and Stora Enso Oyj (Finland) among others. MRFR depended on industrial expertise, origin, product line, regional branches, and key innovations to identify these well-established specialty papers dealers. The report supplies indispensable data on the global market of specialty papers. Powers that influence the specialty papers market are elaborated and sustained by effective evidences, along with rational justifications. Key roles played by marketers that can define the specialty papers market progress are broadly explained in the report. FOR MORE DETAILS https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/specialty-papers-market-2953 An Illinois man has managed to preserve an old buffalo barbecue sandwich that Richard Nixon half ate at a campaign event 60 years ago. Steve Jenne says he marked the unusual 60-year milestone this week. Jenne was a 14-year-old boy scout when Nixon, who was then Vice President, stopped by his small town of Sullivan for a campaign event on September 22, 1960. He watched on as part of a boy scout honor guard as Nixon took a few bites from a barbecue buffalo sandwich during a cookout ahead of a speech he was giving for his presidential campaign. Steve Jenne, of Illinois, has managed to preserve an old buffalo barbecue sandwich that Richard Nixon half ate at a campaign event 60 years ago After Nixon was finished, Jenne says he snatched up the half-eaten sandwich. 'He took a couple of bites and commented on how tasty, how good it was,' Jenne told the Herald-Review. 'Once he left, I just looked down at the picnic table and everybody else was gone and that half-eaten sandwich was still on the paper plate. 'I looked around and thought, "If no one else was going to take it, I am going to take it"'. He said he rode home on his bicycle and presented his souvenir to his mother. 'I ran in the door and I said, "Mom, I got the sandwich that Nixon took a couple bites out of," and she was surprised and said, "So, what do you want me to do with it?" So I said, "Freeze it," he said. The half-eaten sandwich has been preserved in this apple sauce jar since September 22, 1960 Jenne was a 14-year-old boy scout when Nixon (left), who was then Vice President, stopped by his small town of Sullivan for a campaign event on September 22, 1960. He says he watched on as Nixon took a few bites from the sandwich His mother wrapped it in plastic and put it in an apple sauce jar before placing it in the freezer. The half-eaten sandwich has been in Jenne's freezer ever since. Word of his frozen sandwich caught the attention of the local newspaper and, once they published an article, was picked up by media outlets across the world. It even earned him an appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson back in 1988. 'As long as I am living, that sandwich will be stored in my freezer in a container that is labeled, "Save, don't throw away,"' Jenne said. Jenne is pictured above showing off the preserved sandwich in 2006. Word of his frozen sandwich caught the attention of the local newspaper in the 80s and, once they published an article, was picked up by media outlets across the world By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijani cities have been elected as members of UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. Baku, Ganja and Gabala have been chosen as members of the network. The process of the cities being a member of the network is initiated by the Permanent Secretariat of Azerbaijan National Commission for UNESCO with the support of the Education Ministry and participation of Azerbaijans Permanent Delegation to the UNESCO as well as relative executive bodies. The UNESCO GNLC is an international policy-oriented network providing inspiration, know-how and best practices. The network supports and improves the practice of lifelong learning in the worlds cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning among member cities; forging links; fostering partnerships; providing capacity development; and developing instruments to encourage and recognize progress made in building learning cities. This year, in general, 55 cities from 27 countries have joined in Global Network. A learning city enables people of all ages, from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, to benefit from inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities. Azerbaijan and UNESCO have been enjoying successful cooperation since1992. In 2003, the parties signed the framework agreement on cooperation in the areas of culture, science, education and communication, which allowed Azerbaijan to become one of the donors of UNESCO. Many Azerbaijan's cultural sites have been included into UNESCO's World Heritage List. Icherisheher (Old City), Maiden Tower and Shirvanshah's palace were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000, while since 2007 the Gobustan National Historical-Artistic reserve was also listed among these heritages. Shaki, a significant city at the crossroads of the historic Silk Roads was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List during the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee held in Baku. In 2017, UNESCO recognized Azerbaijan's dolma as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Art of crafting and playing with kamancha, presented jointly by Azerbaijan and Iran, was also inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO successfully celebrated the 600th anniversary of the death of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Imadaddin Nasimi and the 200th anniversary of the first settlement of Germans in Azerbaijan last year. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Scandinavian airline SAS said on Thursday that it was resuming direct flights to China from the Nordic region, after they had been suspended since Jan. 31 due to the pandemic. The airline, part-owned by Sweden and Denmark, said it would carry out weekly flights from Copenhagen to Shanghai from Sept. 29, aiming to resume flights to Beijing at the end of October. "After approval from Chinese authorities, SAS can now meet the demand that exists for business travel and transport," the airline said in a statement. SAS said earlier this week that it would proceed with its recapitalization plan, aimed at seeing it through the collapse in air travel caused by the coronavirus, after an extraordinary general meeting voted in favour of it. (Reporting by Helena Soderpalm; editing by Niklas Pollard) Pandemic forces Nobel Foundation to cancel live prize ceremony FILE PHOTO: A bronze bust of Alfred Nobel is pictured before the Nobel Prize ceremony at Stockholm Concert Hall, in Stockholm STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The winners of this year's Nobel Prizes will not get their medals and diplomas presented to them at Stockholm's concert hall as usual due to the coronavirus pandemic, the award organisers said on Tuesday. The prizes, due to be announced next month, will instead be handed out during a televised ceremony in December with laureates receiving their awards in their own countries. The Nobel Foundation had already cancelled the glittering banquet which marks the end of the annual festivities in December. It was the first time since 1956 that the banquet had been cancelled. "We had decided already in spring that we would not have a traditional prize ceremony," Nobel Foundation Chairman Lars Heikensten told news agency TT. "But we wanted to wait over summer to see what would happen before we communicated that." He said that each laureate would receive their prize either at a Swedish embassy or the institution where they work. The ceremony for the high-profile Peace Prize takes place in Oslo as it is chosen by a Norwegian committee. The prizes for achievements in science, literature and peace were created and funded in the will of Swedish dynamite inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel and have been awarded since 1901. More than 5,850 people in Sweden have died in the COVID-19 pandemic, far more in relation to the size of its population than in the rest of the Nordic region, though less than countries such as Britain and Spain. (Reporting by Simon Johnson; Editing by Alison Williams) First Presidential Debate - Tuesday, 29 September 2020 Venue: Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio Moderator: Chris Wallace Chris Wallace, the anchor of Fox News Sunday, is a veteran political journalist, having also worked for both NBC and ABC earlier in his career, as a White House correspondent and host of Meet the Press and Nightline. With 17 years at Fox News under his belt, Wallace has covered nearly every major political event during that period and is regarded as a tough interviewer. He secured the networks first interviews with both Barack Obama and Donald Trump after they took office. Wallace earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Interview for a July 2018 meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin in which he asked him why so many of his political opponents end up dead. In the 2016 election, Wallace was a moderator of one of the Republican Party presidential primary debates, alongside Bret Baier and Megyn Kelly; and was then chosen as the third presidential debate moderator. The 19 October 2016 showdown between candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton was the first time a Fox News anchor had moderated a general election debate event. Wallace received praise from both sides for his tough questioning of both candidates, with one commentator calling him among the best in the business. During the Trump presidency, while Fox News has often been mocked as state TV for its often unquestioning praise of the president during its morning and evening line-ups, Wallace has maintained his reputation as the most professional of journalists. He has questioned the administrations actions and challenged the talking points of conservative commentators during both the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination hearings and the Impeachment of President Donald Trump. Chris Wallace calls out Trump for claims about a cognitive test he took Most recently, in one of a series of disastrous television interviews for the White House over the summer of 2020, Wallace sat down with President Trump on 19 July for a wide-ranging discussion. He was widely praised by his press contemporaries, political commentators, and on social media generally, for his live fact-checking of the president and for holding him accountable for the actions of his administration. Wallace corrected the presidents assertion, at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests, that Joe Biden wants to defund and abolish the police No, sir, he does not and challenged the inaccurate and skewed data regarding testing and mortality rates from Covid-19. He maintains that through his life he has voted for both parties, and politicians from both sides of the aisle are wary of his hard-line of questioning. A profile in The New York Times says that he is comfortable being a bit of an enigma: For every Trump loyalist who views him as a heretic, there is a liberal who wishes hed denounce colleagues like Sean Hannity. Wallace has selected six topics for the first presidential debate of 2020, each to be covered in a 15 minute-long segment: The Trump and Biden Records; The Supreme Court; Covid-19; The Economy; Race and Violence in our Cities; and The Integrity of the Election. As the State Bar prepares for Californias first-ever online bar exam next month, the state Supreme Court rejected one alternative Wednesday, a request by a group of law school graduates to practice law without passing the exam. A petition by two recent graduates, signed by nearly 1,900 students, said an online exam using little-tested software would be unreliable and unfair to low-income and minority students who lacked equal access to computers and quiet space at home. The justices denied a hearing on their request without comment. But the court will soon consider another option, a plan by the State Bar to let law school graduates practice law in California under a licensed attorneys supervision until June 2022, when they would have to pass the bar exam. The bars governing board is scheduled to consider the proposal Thursday and, if approved, relay it to the court, which supervises law practice in California. More than a dozen other states have authorized supervised-practice plans since the coronavirus outbreak. The exam, conducted twice a year, had been scheduled for July but was postponed to Oct. 5-6 because of the pandemic. As in many other states, California is conducting the exam online so that test-takers would not have to sit near each other. The bar plans to use facial-recognition software to identify the students, and additional proctoring software to monitor them plans that have drawn protests. The American Civil Liberties Union says the recognition software is an invasion of privacy. Deans of most of the states major law schools have urged the court to allow an open-book exam, without remote monitoring, saying it would decrease the stress for many taking the bar while still requiring test-takers to show their knowledge of the law. Indiana and Nevada conducted open-book bar exams in July, the deans 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. In their petition to the court, Pilar Maragrita Escontrias and Donna Saadati-Soto said the recognition software had built-in biases that would not only fail to identify many minority test-takers but, by misreading their facial expressions, would wrongly accuse minorities of cheating. Any bar exam administered during this global pandemic is more likely to measure an applicants financial means, personal status, societal privilege, and/or generational wealth rather than his, her, or their knowledge of the law, said the graduates, who filed their petition without a lawyer. Escontrias, who lives in Camarillo (Ventura County), attended UC Irvine Law School, while Saadati-Soto, of Cerritos (Los Angeles County), attended Harvard. Despite their objections, both of them plan to take next months bar exam, Escontrias said in an interview. She said she hopes the court orders an open-book exam, which would relieve many of their concerns, though it wouldnt solve the underlying problem. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@BobEgelko Scene of shooting in a parking lot at Sonora High School View Photos Sonora, CA The name of the teenager killed in a shooting in a parking lot at Sonora High School has been officially released by investigators. He is 17-year-old Eric Aguiar of Jamestown a Sonora High school student, who was gunned down last Wednesday just before midnight. When Sonora Police Officers arrived on the scene on School Street, they were unable to locate anyone. That is because Aguiar was already being treated at a local hospital, but sadly succumbed to his injuries, turning the shooting into a homicide case. On Monday evening, Sonora Police Chief Turu VanderWiel released a statement detailing that the case had quickly grown outside of our current capabilities to properly manage with regard to staffing and resources and turned it over to the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office. After inquiries from Clarke Broadcasting regarding the status of the investigation, Sheriffs spokesperson Nicco Sandelin disclosed this information regarding any arrests, stating, No arrests have been made in relation to this case. A day after the shooting, as reported here, Chief VanderWiel told us that a suspect has been identified along with other persons of interest, but no names are being released at this time. He also warned that the suspects should be considered armed and dangerous. Today, Sandelin would only say that We have all available resources pursuing all leads. He went on to detail the scene of the murder relaying that shots rang out just before midnight last Wednesday (Sept. 16) and dispatch received multiple reports of gunfire near the school. He adds that within fifteen minutes they got an additional report of a gunshot victim being treated at the local hospital. In a written statement released by the sheriffs office it states, At this time, no further information will be released to ensure the integrity of the investigation. Rest assured, our office will spare no resource to solve this case. Sandelin added, We are 48 hours in from taking this investigation. Of course, there is a lot of work to be done to make sure that everything is buttoned up before we do release anything that could be harmful to the investigation. The sheriffs office is also turning to the public for help and asking that anyone who may have information related to this case should call the Investigations Division of the Sheriffs Office at (209)694-2900. Brussels unveils plan to share responsibility for migrants It will face a rough reception in national capitals (ANSA-AFP) - BRUSSELS, 23 SET - The European Commission launched an effort Wednesday to rally sceptical member states around a plan to better share responsibility for settling refugees and sending rejected asylum seekers home. The long-awaited proposal for a "New Pact on Migration and Asylum" comes two weeks after a devastating fire in 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 who 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 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 professor of environmental geopolitics Francois Gemenne. But the plan is likely, nevertheless, to face a rough reception in national capitals, many of which are keen to see the EU take ownership of the problem, without wanting to take charge of large numbers of refugees on their own soil. (ANSA-AFP). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged UN leaders not to let climate action become 'another victim of coronavirus' at a roundtable event. Johnson called on nations to make ambitious commitments to secure the planet for the next generation at the event hosted by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Appearing over video link at 11:50 BST on Thursday, he said world leaders should 'look ahead to how we will rebuild' after the pandemic and 'build back better'. He declared that the UK would 'lead by example' in keeping the environment on the global agenda and become a launchpad for the 'global green industrial revolution'. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged UN leaders not to let climate action become 'another victim of coronavirus' at a roundtable event The virtual UN Climate Action Roundtable, running throughout the day on Thursday September 24, formed part of the preparations for the COP26 global climate summit set to be held in Glasgow next November. The goal of COP26 will be to get nations to agree to deeper cuts in carbon emissions and tougher targets if the aim of keeping the global temperatures from rising by no more than 2.7F above pre-industrial levels is to be achieved. Tougher targets will be needed to meet that goal as a recent UN report found we may hit global temperatures of above 2.7F at least once in the next four years. Johnson also announced a joint UK and UN event on December 12 to mark the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rises. The Paris Agreement anniversary event will kick off a year of action in the run up to the global climate summit COP26 in November 2021, the government confirmed. As part of the Paris Agreement, countries agreed to set their own targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to limit the potential damage to the climate. Every five years world leaders are expected to announce new, more ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions and how they will hit 'net zero emissions' by 2050 - the agreed target for limiting the worst affects of climate change. This is where greenhouse gas emissions are either not produced or offset by planting trees or other methods of removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Appearing over video link, the prime minister is expected to to say world leaders should 'look ahead to how we will rebuild' after the pandemic and 'build back better' The prime minister called on world leaders to announce genuinely transformational net zero targets and bold climate finance pledges at the December event. 'No one country can turn the tide - it would be akin to bailing out a liner with a single bucket,' Johnson told the world leaders at the UN event. 'Let us be the leaders who secure the very health of the planet for our children, grandchildren and generations to come.' The COP26 was due to be held in Glasgow this November inline with the five year anniversary of the Paris Agreement but was postponed due to coronavirus. It will now be held in 2021 and is expected to be the most important round of climate talks since 2015 when the Paris Agreement was reached. British potato growers who supply McDonald's will receive 1 million in grants to help boost soil quality and optimise water management. The launch of the Sustainable MacFries Fund aims to increase the resilience of Britain's potato supply base. McDonald's has partnered with McCain to launch the fund, which will help growers use new technology to become more sustainable. Together, both companies will provide 1 million in grants to those farmers who produce the varieties that make McDonalds fries. The fund will help introduce new infiltration tines, which breaks up soil following planting, allowing water to infiltrate the ridges in fields and enable the potato plant to create a better root structure and increase the uptake of water. Growers will introduce advanced crop monitoring on their mobile devices to ensure the right amount of water is being used on the crop, optimising their water usage. McDonalds and McCain will also look to fund new research to help understand the benefits of using cover crops to retain soil quality, pre and post potatoes. Lastly, funding from the grant will give farmers an opportunity to conduct their own research into soil and water usage in their fields, with a chance to invest in technology that could help them grow more sustainably. Daniel Metheringham, agriculture director at McCain GB & Ireland, said: The investment will help fund practical on-the-ground solutions and accelerate best practice on farms to improve soil health and water quality, allowing farmers to thrive." It comes as McCain recently announced a 25m investment into British agriculture to support the long term sustainability of its potato suppliers. The intranasal vaccine, which is administered through nose, is gaining new interest after the Serum Institute of India announced that it will manufacture US-based Codagenix's COVID-19 vaccine candidate. On September 23, Bharat Biotech had announced a similar deal with Washington University School of Medicine. Meanwhile, Dr Anthony Fauci has said that scientists should know by the end of the year if they have a safe and effective vaccine. However, he warned that people should continue using masks and follow social distancing norms even after vaccination. Tune in to the Coronavirus Essential podcast for more. Exxon Mobil Corporations XOM assets in the U.K. North Sea have drawn several companies attention, per Bloomberg. The energy mammoth is planning to leave the ageing region. ExxonMobil commenced the sale process this July, following operational delays due to the pandemic and low crude prices. Per Bloomberg, the company is selling stakes in 15 fields in the region. These assets are expected to come up with net production of 37,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day for ExxonMobil during this year. The list of assets for sale includes two exploration areas and stakes in pipeline infrastructure. The companies that are reportedly bidding for the U.K. North Sea assets include China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation or Sinopec SNP, EnQuest PLC ENQUF, Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company, Tailwind Energy Ltd, NEO Energy, Siccar Point Energy and Viaro Energy. The binding bids for the assets are expected to be received in October. The divestment will likely close in first-quarter 2021. Notably, the company divested Norway assets to Var Energi for $4.5 billion in 2019. It is retreating from Europe through a massive global divestment plan, while focusing more on operations in the United States. Moreover, the company has other major assets to focus on such as offshore Guyana, where it made 18 world-class oil discoveries at the Stabroek Block. In the block, the company estimates gross recoverable resource of more than 8 billion oil-equivalent barrels. Importantly, the firm projects daily Guyana oil production volumes of more than 750,000 gross barrels by 2025. Price Performance The stock has lost 7.8% in the past six months compared with 9.6% fall of the industry it belongs to. Zacks Rank & Stock to Consider Currently, ExxonMobil has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked player in the energy space is Equinor ASA EQNR, holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Story continues Equinors bottom line for 2021 is expected to skyrocket 125% year over year. Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. Theyre also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases. Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +50%, +83% and +164% in as little as 2 months. The stocks in this report could perform even better. See these 7 breakthrough stocks now>> 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 Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report China Petroleum Chemical Corporation (SNP) : Free Stock Analysis Report ENQUEST PLC LON (ENQUF) : Free Stock Analysis Report Equinor ASA (EQNR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research SAN DIEGO, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Force Technologies ("DFT" or the "Company") announced today that it has formed a strategic partnership with DC Capital Partners ("DC Capital"), a private equity investment firm headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. DFT will become a platform company in the DC Capital portfolio and will focus on broadening the Company's offerings to existing customers and expanding into adjacent markets. DFT is a leading innovator in the design and development of hardware and software products used for force protection and tactical surveillance primarily for government customers. DFT's management team has developed a mission-focused organization dedicated to serving its customers' requirements through multiple touch points and relationships. DFT utilizes its core intellectual property, trade secrets, and talented engineering team to create industry-leading, mission-oriented products. DFT's highly skilled and accomplished engineering team is a driving force behind the Company's demonstrated ability to develop innovative and relevant products. DFT's employees pride themselves on rapidly providing unique solutions to their customers' most critical challenges. Thomas J. Campbell, Founder & Managing Partner of DC Capital, said, "DFT is an extraordinary company with a dedicated and experienced management team who are ready to take their Company to the next level. DFT has a culture that places their customers' mission first, and their highly skilled workforce can be trusted to solve the most difficult problems encountered by their customers. DFT has created an organization that has earned the trust of a demanding customer base, and we intend to build on that trust in the coming years." Justin MacLaurin, DFT's Chief Executive Officer, said, "I am very pleased that DFT will become a platform company within DC Capital's portfolio of world-class businesses. Our mission has always been to bring cutting-edge C4ISR, force protection, and tactical surveillance technology solutions to our customers. DC Capital's long history in the Government sector, experienced leadership team, proven strategic approach, and strong record of successfully growing businesses will enhance DFT's prospects. With the backing of an industry leader like DC Capital, we can continue to grow our product lines and provide a solutions-oriented approach to our current customers, expand our customer base, and provide our employees with more personal and professional development opportunities." Jeffrey C. Weber, a Partner at DC Capital, stated, "DC Capital is proud to partner with Justin and the DFT management team, and together we have developed a clear vision for what we want to accomplish as a company over the next five years. We are excited by the opportunities that are in front of the Company, and we look forward to executing our strategy and taking DFT's expertise to a broader group of national defense customers." Raymond James & Associates, Inc. acted as financial advisor, and DLA Piper acted as legal advisor to DFT in connection with the transaction. Latham & Watkins, LLP acted as legal advisor to DC Capital. About Digital Force Technologies Digital Force Technologies designs, develops, and manufacturers a host of proprietary force protection and tactical surveillance products and solutions primarily for the special operations community. These products and solutions are equipped with A.I.-enabled edge processors and advanced cameras and sensors providing innovative and comprehensive situational awareness, surveillance, and security solutions for the end-user. DFT's products are deployed globally in a myriad of manned, unmanned, and autonomous platforms. DFT was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in San Diego, California. Learn more at www.digitalforcetech.com. About DC Capital Partners DC Capital Partners is a private equity investment firm headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, focused on making control investments in middle market, U.S.-based, Government Services and Engineering & Construction Services businesses. Learn more at www.dccapitalpartners.com. Media Contact Tom Campbell 202-796-1987 SOURCE DC Capital Partners Management, LP Related Links http://www.digitalforcetech.com A federal research facility in Crane, Indiana, has developed a temperature scanning sensor system and software to help contain the coronavirus. The U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center's "sensor agnostic thermal imaging system" was licensed to Greene County General Hospital, according to a news release Tuesday, allowing the staff to detect feverish persons up to 200 yards away. "Since the tech can detect temperatures in a crowd and from a long distance, it's more flexible than other solutions we had been looking at," said Stacy Burris, the hospital's director of community outreach. "This will cause less interruption in normal operations and allow for more social distancing between staff and anyone coming into the hospital. That could mean less screening staff having to quarantine from exposure." The U.S. has suffered more than 200,000 deaths from the coronavirus, adding to the one million globally. And public health experts are concerned that a COVID-19 resurgence is mounting as the weather cools and schools and universities reopen. High body temperature is a key indicator of COVID-19 infection. Burris said the hospital had not found a system for fever detection until they learned of Crane's thermal imaging technology. "Without Crane, we might still be weighing the pros and cons of other solutions," she said. "Instead, we're already working to schedule a time for the Crane scientists to set the equipment up." The software runs on any laptop with USB capability, which is paired with a capture card, a commercial infrared sensor, and a calibrated black body, a temperature reference tool that the software compares with the temperature of a person. The Navy's software-enabled system, invented by Aaron Cole and Marcin Malec, is also capable of detecting fevers in near real-time - every 0.016 seconds and works on individuals and moving crowds. Tech Transfer Opportunity The Navy's temp-scanning invention, a novel combination of technical knowledge, sensors, and software, was made available to the hospital via a royalty-free license agreement and a cooperative research and development agreement, with support from Radius Indiana, an economic development agency, and TechLink, the Department of Defense's national partnership intermediary for tech transfer. In April, the Navy lab's Tech Transfer Office, led by Ms. Jenna Dix, made its 300+ patent portfolio available through a new "Rapid Response Licensing Program," giving licensees up to 18 months to develop COVID-19 related applications before paying the royalties normally part of a patent license agreement. Dix said that tech transfer allows federal R&D to spur growth in the private sector, creating jobs and new tech solutions for the public. Dix said other private companies and entrepreneurs can also license then use, or license to manufacture and sell, the temp-checking tech. "This technology was made for sailors and Department of Defense civilians, but has applicability just about anywhere," said Dix. "We want Crane's resources to be made available to others-out of the lab and right into the hands of the public." ### Billionaire Mark Cuban is advocating for American families by recommending each household in America receive a $1,000 stimulus check every two weeks for the next two months, according to CNBC's Taylor Locke. "We need to get them help," Dallas Mavericks owner and Shark Tank investor Cuban said in the CNBC Make It interview. GIFT FROM THE HEART: Neighbors show love to Houston cashier who gave her last $20 to help customer Cuban's appeal to help out American families comes amid a tumultuous time between Democrats and Republicans, who are now in a stalemate over another stimulus package. Cuban stressed that there are "two economies" operating in American right now: one for those who are able to stay afloat and another economy for those who are unable to make ends meet. "Those without [help] are struggling badly," Cuban said in the CNBC interview. In March, the CARES Act was signed to help provide families defray the financial hardship from the pandemic with economic impact payments of $1,200 per household. However, the CARES Act provisions expired in July, leaving people without an economic boost, according to CNBC. Another federal package, the HEALS Act, was also introduced to help provide families with stimulus checks, but the package did not move forward through Congress, according to Jacob Jarvis with Newsweek. According to Cuban's plan, the money would be distributed to households regardless of income. But there's one caveat: the stimulus money would need to be spent within 10 days of being received, to promote spending and economic growth. In a September poll by Financial Times-Peterson Foundation, 89 percent of Americans said that another relief package was needed. Cuban proposed a similar idea in May 2020, and firmly holds to the plan. "I still believe in doing it in the same exact way," Cuban added. Police and protesters converge during a demonstration, Wednesday, in Louisville, Ky. (John Minchillo / Associated Press) The shooting of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police in March could easily have slipped into obscurity one more deadly encounter between law enforcement and a Black American. Instead, her name and image became nationally known during a summer of protests against racial injustice and excessive use of force, triggered by the May 25 killing of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody. In the streets and on social media, demonstrators, celebrities and politicians demanded that the officers who shot Taylor in her apartment while executing a search warrant face criminal charges. On Wednesday, the decision by a Kentucky grand jury not to hold the officers legally responsible for Taylor's killing generated protests in cities across the country and raised the specter of more explosive demonstrations that could further inflame the nation's cultural wars ahead of the November presidential election. "The rallying cries that have been echoing throughout the nation have once again been ignored," said a statement from Benjamin Crump, one of the attorneys who represents Taylor's family. Crump called the grand jury decision to only bring three charges of wanton endangerment against an officer who shot into Taylor's neighbors' homes "outrageous and offensive" to her memory. After the decision was announced, protests erupted in cities including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. In Louisville, demonstrators wept and chanted Taylor's name. Authorities announced a curfew of 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. and Gov. Andy Beshear sent 500 National Guard troops to the city. Tensions escalated when two police officers were shot near the protest site. Interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said both officers were in stable condition and a suspect was in custody, but did not give more details. The officer who was charged by the grand jury, Brett Hankison, was fired from the Police Department on June 23. A termination letter from Schroeder accused Hankison of violating procedures by showing extreme indifference to the value of human life when he wantonly and blindly fired 10 shots. Story continues Kentucky Atty. Gen. Daniel Cameron said during a news conference Wednesday that the state found that the officers who entered Taylor's apartment Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove were justified in their actions March 13 because Taylor's boyfriend fired a gun at them first. "This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges," said Cameron, a Republican who is Kentucky's first Black attorney general. He acknowledged that the ruling may be disappointing to some. 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," he said. "The answer to that is unequivocally yes. Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician, had finished a long shift at a local hospital and had just nodded off while watching a movie when officers banged on her door. Who is it? her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said he yelled multiple times. When nobody answered, he reached for his licensed handgun. The door burst open, and three men rushed in, weapons drawn, Walker said. He fired a shot, striking one of them in the thigh. The men responded by firing multiple shots. Several shots hit Taylor, who was killed. Walker and Taylor were both initially described as suspects, and Walker was jailed and charged with attempted murder of a police officer. Prosecutors later dismissed the charge, citing a lack of evidence. The officers were serving a warrant at the apartment while in search of a suspected drug dealer, a former boyfriend of Taylor's. At the time of the raid on Taylor's home, the man had already been arrested by other officers at his house 10 miles away. Journalists have reported numerous inconsistencies in the government's version of events, including what appears to be a false statement on a search warrant used to justify the search of Taylors home. On the warrant, police said a postal inspector said that the target of the drug investigation had received packages at Taylors address. The citys postal inspector denied that claim in an interview with a local television station, saying there was no history of Taylor receiving suspicious packages. There are also conflicting accounts about whether officers identified themselves before they broke down Taylors door with a battering ram. Police had obtained a controversial no-knock warrant, meaning they were not required to announce themselves. Still, they said they did identify themselves as police, which Cameron repeated Wednesday. Three neighbors who said they were present the night of the Taylor killing told The Times that while they heard loud pounding on Taylors door, they did not hear the officers announce themselves. Taylor's family struggled as they sought to bring media attention to the case, which occurred as the coronavirus outbreak was generating concern nationwide. In addition, there was no video of the shooting, unlike in other police-involved killings that have sparked immediate anger in recent years. Things began to change when audio of a 911 call from the night of the shooting was released by police May 28. In it, Walker, weeping, tells a dispatcher that he and Taylor were attacked by unknown intruders. I dont know what is happening, Walker said. Somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend. Protesters and lawyers said the call proved that Walker did not know it was police at the door. The audio was released as fury was growing across the country in response to a graphic video filmed three days earlier, on May 25, that showed a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on Floyds neck for nearly eight minutes until his body went limp. As protests mounted over the Floyd killing, demonstrators began to shout Taylor's name as well. The case became a touchstone for nationwide protests against racism, with Taylors image painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on shirts. The pressure was successful in one realm. On Sept. 15, Louisville settled a lawsuit against the three officers brought by Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms. But what the family and protesters wanted most, they said again and again, were charges against the officers for Taylor's killing. The grand jury decision not to bring them was "the ultimate slap in the face," said national civil rights leader Maurice Mitchell. He said the charge of Hankison with wanton endangerment was "a crumb for a community that has been denied justice for too long." It comes as no surprise that a legal system that has almost uniformly propped up and protected cops who kill continued to do so today," he said. Others said the grand jury decision proved the necessity of the Black Lives Matter movement, which demands that authorities value Blacks as they do other Americans. "It is a grave injustice," said Shaun King, co-founder of a political action committee that advocates for policing and criminal justice reforms. "The have treated Breonna Taylor's life like it doesn't matter one bit." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. More than 150 years of history is being wiped from the landscape in downtown Valparaiso. The stately Victoria-era mansion at Morgan Boulevard and East Jefferson Street that was built by an early civic leader in the mid-19th century, owned by early Valparaiso University President Henry Baker Brown, and long home to the White House restaurant, is being demolished. The 21-room, four-story home was substantially damaged in a fire in 1998 and has been in disrepair for years. While its sad to see the building go, it has been equally sad to see it so long neglected, Mayor Matt Murphy said. As we fondly remember this Valparaiso landmark, we also look forward to seeing new energy at this important corner of Valparaisos downtown." Architectural salvage professionals have rescued chandeliers, woodwork, hardware and other fixtures from the home that was built around 1860, with accounts varying of exactly when. Developer Faganel Builders will build eight paired townhomes and two standalone homes on the site being dubbed Calkins Hill. The name is in honor of the Valparaiso merchant William T. Calkins, who first lived in the home, which is often known as the Calkins-Brown House or the Brown Home. The education communitys optimism about a big pandemic relief package from Uncle Sam has curdled into dismay and frustration. And with a presidential election and furor over a Supreme Court nomination at the top of Washingtons agenda, its possible that it will go bad beyond all recognition. Ever since President Donald Trump signed a coronavirus relief bill in late March in the pandemics earliest phase, educators warned that looming state and local K-12 budget cuts amounting to billions of dollars, along with safety concerns from school communities caused by the coronavirus, required another response and more resources that only the federal government could provide. Leaders from both parties in Congress publicly and vigorously agreed. They pronounced repeatedly that something had to be done to help education beyond the roughly $13 billion for K-12 schools included in the CARES Act and an additional $3 billion it provided for governors to use for K-12 and higher education. Democrats controlling the House of Representatives have sought $58 billion in direct aid for K-12 schools, and more than $900 billion in aid to state and local governments in part to help them shore up their own education budgets. Republicans running the Senate have countered with $70 billion in aid for K-12, but have conditioned most of it on whether schools offered an in-person learning option. Their bill also provides support to parents for educational materials and private school tuition, but no aid to state and local governments. The late spring and summer were consumed with these and other proposals, frenzied demands, and intense speculation about a final deal. But as weary teachers, school leaders, and others looked on, this much-discussed aid that federal officials dangled before their eyes failed to materialize. Votes to move partisan bills have failed to break the logjam. Trumps upcoming nomination of a Supreme Court justice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg has sucked oxygen away from other Washington issues. And a close presidential election between Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden could push a new relief package further down the priority list. I am incredulous that Congress has not done more. It never occurred to me that they would leave for the summer without enacting additional relief, said Sarah Abernathy, a former Democratic congressional staffer and the deputy executive director of the Committee for Education Funding, an umbrella advocacy group that lobbies for federal education spending. With Washington ignoring issues like the estimated 16.9 million children who lack the internet they need to learn effectively at home, It is mind-boggling to me that folks arent just standing up and screaming out the windows: We cant take this anymore, said Deborah Delisle, the president and CEO of the K-12 advocacy group Alliance for Excellent Education. Students in Need of Support While school funding is not the biggest issue to be worked out in any national pandemic relief deal, it has been (or was) a key part of negotiations. As a result, its become a stumbling block. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., the chairman of the House education committee, attacked Senate Republican proposals in their aid bill that focused on providing tax-credit scholarships and help for private schools, but not things like aid to state and local governments and meals for students. Stating that senators have shown a disturbing willingness to do nothing, Scott also said, the Senate has shown no ability to pass a bill. So what are we negotiating? His counterpart, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the chairman of the Senate education committee, criticized Senate Democrats for bottling up his partys virus relief bill. He said in a statement the Senate proposal would help schools reopen and gives parents more choices of schools for their children. The presidents summer pressure campaign for schools to reopen buildings threw a spotlight on the issue, but also cranked up partisan attention and angst about balancing safety, the economy, and childrens educational needs. Meanwhile, the federal government is ignoring the disadvantaged students who are supposed to be the primary recipients of federal resources and support at all times, and who are some of the pandemics biggest victims amid school closures and job losses, said Jess Gartner, the CEO and founder of Allovue, an education management firm that helps districts create and plan budgets. And those same children, she said, are more likely to live in school districts that rely most heavily on the state education aid that is most likely to be cut dramatically during the pandemics fiscal fallout without a big dose of relief from Washington. To me, it sends a very clear message that Congress does not care about the solvency of public education in this country, Gartner said. This could very well be the death knell for the solvency of many districts if they do not receive their aid. Sends a Terrible Message There was a possibility that a final deal would provide a political win as well as finite resources for people across the spectrum of education politics. But so far that opportunity has not led to a breakthrough. A Sept. 15 proposal from the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus in Congress that was pitched explicitly as common ground includes $145 billion for school and child care and $500 billion for state and local governments. Its been ignored. Gartner has said that Congress needs to go all-in on a relief package that is not just big on dollars, but broad. To her, that means $200 billion in direct aid for schools, $5 billion to expand the federal E-Rate program to connect students to high-speed internet, and $132.5 billion for retroactive and future child care costs, among other programs, for a total relief package of $383 billion. Such relief, she noted, would help take burdens off schools they should not have to be carrying in the way they are now: Why on earth are school districts out there providing internet service in big cities? We have schools that are operating as food banks, and providing meals for entire communities every day. In August, the advocacy group 50CAN issued a report calling on Washington and the nation in general Fund Everything in education, from schools providing remote learning to ad hoc learning pods organized by parents. To maximize the adaptability of our system of schools in an unpredictable year, our emergency investments should focus on maximizing these choices across all school typesdistrict, charter, parochial and private, the report stated. Derrell Bradford, 50CANs executive vice president, said that when it comes to an inability for Washington policymakers to reach a deal, The fact that nobody wants to be a cheap date or give away the store, so no one looks bad in a partisan context, sends a terrible message to every American about where we are politically. While parents are being burdened with problems to solve that they never had to solve before, across all income levels, Washington has proceeded as if the nations long-term economic health and viability for decades to come isnt at stake, he said. The fact that millions of American kids are going to suffer deep and possibly irreparable learning loss because Congress cant decide on a number is a low point, not just in education policymaking, but policymaking, Bradford said. When Schools Reopen Their Doors Its been just over a decade since a House, Senate, and executive branch controlled by Democrats approved $100 billion for education in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. With the parties now splitting control of Congress, a big-ticket coronavirus relief bill has always been destined to be a tougher political knot to untangle than that 2009 still stimulus. But in addition, Abernathy said, Congress has gotten a lot less cooperative in the last 10 years. So its a lot harder to produce anything. Even if a deal gets done in the coming weeks or months, Congress has lost the power to claim that any agreement is helping schools at the start of the school year. Yet Delisle, who also served as an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education and as Ohios state schools chief, said that given the depth and breadth of education needs, schools that are using virtual or hybrid learning models will only need more help when they resume normal operations, not less. Money is still necessary to support schools, and most importantly, to support the students in them, Delisle said. Prince William has helped push through a staggering 120 innovations to increase diversity at Bafta. The 'watershed' new moves are related to an impassioned speech the Prince made during the televised British Academy Film Awards in February where the visibly angered royal attacked the overwhelming 'whiteness and maleness' of the prestigious awards. Plans were introduced today to invite 1,000 new members from diverse communities within the film industry to join Bafta - the British Academy of Film and Television Art. Prince William has helped push through a staggering 120 innovations to increase diversity at Bafta. Pictured delivering an impassioned speech at the awards show in February this year about the overwhelming 'whiteness and maleness' of the prestigious awards Such measures include special discounted rates, conscious voter training will be required of all members before they can vote for a film or performance and there will be a drive to ensure members see all movies on the longlist and not just Hollywood blockbusters. In addition, wide-ranging membership surveys 'to see who we are' will be introduced plus plans to put the British back into Bafta by putting the spotlight on British films. 'There are going to be ten British pictures in the best British film category, up from five with new measures for voting for them,' said Bafta chair Krishnendu Majumdar today. He said it would give the award ' a stronger British identity' as pictures that are normally sidelined would be seen by Bafta voters. Majumdar told the Daily Mail that the Duke of Cambridge was updated as Bafta officials consulted with four hundred people from within the industry including actors, filmmakers, technicians, film distributors plus many from outside of the business. 'You just have to look at HRH's speech at the film awards where he talked again about the need to do more to ensure diversity in the sector and in the awards process.He gets it and he's behind it,' said Majumdar. Kensington Palace said that the Duke 'as president of Bafta, welcomes the review as a positive step towards greater diversity in the awards process and across the industry.' The Duke of Cambridge, pictured with the Duchess of Cambridge at the awards earlier this year, helped push through diversity changes such as special discounted rates, conscious voter training and plans to put the British back into Bafta by putting the spotlight on British films The chair explained that the review would enable the academy to say, 'Have we got enough hair and make-up designers? But, also have we got enough disabled filmmakers, have we got enough people from a lower socioeconomic background.' He stressed, however 'It's absolutely not just about people of colour and gender, which is obviously two of the most unrepresented groups. Class is one of the biggest ones not just ethnicity. 'We've got to be more representative of society. We want members to experience all kinds of films not just the standard blockbusters but films made by and starring people from diverse communities.' Bafta chair Krishnendu Majumdar, pictured in 2018, told the Daily Mail that the plans aren't woke they're 'contemporary' Asked what would happen if members declined to engage in the survey and conscious training, Majumdar responded 'Well, if you don't engage with the survey you can't vote. You don't have to answer every question but we ask members just to engage.' Majumdar, a producer who runs his own film and TV production company, denied that the new changes were 'woke'. He said,'I don't think we're being woke, we're just being contemporary, the world has just absolutely changed in the last few months in terms of these issues. 'We consulted lots of people who talked about the pain and the grief of discrimination and we want to say, "We've heard you."' Referring to a letter he sent to Bafta members, Majumdar said: 'We're not excluding anyone.' Repeating his mantra of 'it's about inclusion, not exclusion', Majumdar said: 'We're not excluding older white members. 'We absolutely value and treasure all of our members, specifically the people who've been longstanding members with huge experience. 'They have an enormous amount to give to the next generation. We treasure those people. 'So people shouldn't feel that they're going to be forgotten, it's about including other people,' he said, noting that the organisation wanted to 'broaden the palette of everyone and engage with contemporary work.' Last year there was outrage at the exclusion of South-London born Cynthia Erivo from the best actress nomination list for her role as runaway slave Harriet Tubman in the film Harriet even though she'd been nominated for an Oscar. Many said that Harriet hadn't been marketed enough while cash was thrown at big budget pictures From now on film distributors are to be asked to cut back their awards marketing budgets to make it fairer for the many British independent films unable to compete. There was also dismay that no female directors were listed in the best director section at the last Bafta awards.That category will now increase the number of nominees. It will take time for the new plans to work their way through the system.'We can't legislate what gets entered and what gets nominated and Covid is going to change the distribution pattern of films so I think 2021 will be a slightly odd year but those 120 changes will make a difference for the future, ' said Majumdar. With everything going on this year the pandemic and the world is kind of in a tail spin I just think its extremely important to vote the right person into office as far as the good of America, Finerty said. I just wanted to make sure I was here in person to hand in my ballot. New Delhi, Sep 24 : A Delhi court on Thursday sent former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid, arrested in connection with a case related to the widespread violence which broke out in Delhi's North-East area in February, to judicial custody till October 22. Delhi Police's Special Cell had arrested him on September 13 night under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, following which he was sent to 10 days police custody. He was produced before Additional Session Judge Amitabh Rawat of Karkardooma court via video-conferencing earlier in the day at the end of the remand period. On the request of Umar Khalid and his counsel Trideep Pais, the court allowed him to meet his parents before going to jail and directed his counsel to move an application for providing him spectacles. Advocate Pais will also move an application requesting the court to provide him security. "In the last 10 days in police custody, I have not signed any paper or statement," Umar Khalid informed the court during the video conferencing. He is accused of hatching a criminal conspiracy to cause communal unrest by inciting people protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens. On March 6, the FIR was registered against Khalid and one Danish based on information provided by an informer to Crime Branch Sub-Inspector Arvind Kumar. According to FIR number 59/2020, complainant Sub-Inspector Arvind Kumar said that riots are a premeditated conspiracy. "The conspiracy was hatched by Umar Khalid and two others associated with different organisations," the FIR further stated. Umar Khalid gave provocative speeches at two different places and appealed people to block the roads during US President Donald Trump's visit, to spread propaganda at the international level about how minorities in India were being persecuted, the FIR added. Umar Khalid and his associates brought women and children to the road at several places in a bid to hatch conspiracy to incite riots, the Sub-Inspector alleged, adding that firearms, petrol bombs, acid bottles, and stones were stored at homes in Kardampuri, Jafrabad, Chand Bagh, Gokulpuri, Shiv Vihar and nearby areas as part of the conspiracy. Explaining the conspiracy, the complainant said that co-accused Danish was given the responsibility of gathering people from different places to take part in the violence. "On February 23, women and children were made to block the roads under the Jafrabad Metro Station to create tension amidst the neighbourhood people in a bid to give rise to riots," it added. Besides this, Khalid has also been named in charge sheets filed in various cases of the riots. Communal violence broke out in North-East Delhi on February 24 after clashes between the citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. It is necessary international efforts continue to ensure the agency's vital services are provided, especially in the healthcare, education, and relief sectors, the foreign minister noted Egypts foreign minister Sameh Shoukry urged international support to ensure the continuation of relief efforts of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) during a meeting on Wednesday with UNRWA's Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini in Jordan. Shoukry had arrived in Jordans Amman on Wednesday to take part in a quadripartite ministerial meeting Thursday to discuss a framework to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with the foreign ministers of Jordan, Germany and France. During the meeting with Lazzarini, Shoukry voiced Egypt's support of the agency's humanitarian role to relieve the suffering of Palestinian refugees, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is necessary international efforts continue to ensure the agency's vital services are provided, especially in the healthcare, education, and relief sectors, the minister noted. Lazzarini praised Egypts efforts to support the agency and also expressed appreciation for the countrys efforts to resolve the Palestinian crisis and achieve peace in the Middle East, the statement added. Shourky also held a meeting on Wednesday in Amman with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Al-Safadi, during which they confirmed their countries solid stance to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and affirmed the need to reach a fair and comprehensive political settlement to the Palestinian issue based on international legitimacy references. UNRWA provides relief efforts to five million Palestinian refugees worldwide. In recent years, UNRWA has been facing a severe drop in its ability to support Palestinian refugees after the US cut funding to the relief agency in 2018 Search Keywords: Short link: I recently took and won a gender inequality pay case against a large corporation. That case was personal for me because, although my industry is 55 percent female, we are rarely the main decision makers. It also summed up the reason I went into law - to be of practical use to people. I grew up on a farm in Cavan, and though I had no family connections in law, I was set on becoming a solicitor because I wanted a useful career that improved lives. My first internship with solicitor Maria Connelly in Monaghan was pure inspiration. She had her own firm and was a trailblazer - her energy was immense. I was eighteen and I thought that's what I want to do. I did a summer internship with Bank of Ireland and my four-year traineeship with Giles J. Kennedy in Dublin 7, where I stayed on for a year after qualifying in 2014. I loved the work and would often be there from 9am until 11pm - I just could not go home. I wanted to experience the internal ecosystem of a large company, so I worked for a corporate law firm in Dublin where the dog-eat-dog environment convinced me even more to go out on my own. Cut-throat competition I found I did not suit the hierarchical type institution. I found it ultra-competitive, with structural obstacles at every turn. The obsession with titles - associate, partner - meant often people in tears when they did not get the promised positions. At times there was outside promotion and the person who had slogged for 10 years was ignored. To get to partner level, and I think I could have, it felt hard work and commitment may not be enough. For women, it can be harder to reach the top because it's not always accepted you can do an excellent job in normal working hours. Maybe the old order will change. The younger generation seem to be questioning the "always on" culture; I don't see the same work ethic. When I took that first internship I felt I had been given a pot of gold but now this is viewed as working for free. Home ownership My company specialises in property law along with other areas. I conduct legal research on title deeds and business documents and provide advice to clients. I buy and sell residential and commercial properties for first-time buyers and business owners and the excitement I see daily that comes with home ownership is so encouraging. A few years ago, myself and my husband lived in an orphanage in Calcutta for three months helping out and teaching English to seven boys and it was life changing for us. On the way out at the airport trying to get through customs we had to prove we would not be taking one of the boys back to Ireland, which we considered an overreaction, but when our time was over that's all I wanted to do. I am still in daily touch with them. This week I have three closing deals of people moving into their own homes and I feel so strongly everyone has a right to that security. I'm on the committee for the annual Calcutta law run which raises money for homeless charities in Ireland and Calcutta and we have a virtual event in October. I am also taking part in the Focus Ireland business leader sleep-out in October. Hungry for work My day to day working life means I am mostly chained to my desk, although when I started up three years ago I did a lot of networking. In order to gain business as a solicitor, first you have to gain trust and prove your worth. I only had a couple of clients starting out and now I have 500 and employ six people. I had to ask people to give me a chance and show I was competent. Being a solicitor is not glamorous - it's blood, sweat and tears. It is tough to go out on your own and often dealing with older solicitors being condescending to me down the phone. I was told by the law society finance consultant I was not going to make a profit in the first three or four years but it took six months. New business does not just appear; at the start I was wondering why the phone was not ringing and I realised I had to get out and show people how hungry I was. So, I went to every networking event, I did pro bono work, I would drive out to Howth for 30 to do a will. I was running on empty for a long time, doing all the work myself, but it paid off. Working it out I'm up at 6.30am for a personal training session at the gym three times a week - it's worth every cent. I do weights and feel so energized. I start work at 8.30 and chances are I'm still there twelve hours later. I meet clients one-to-one to execute and sign legal documents, it's almost impossible to conduct legal work from home as the legal profession has not yet moved into the area of DocuSign and e-conveyancing and its important the client understands the implications before signing a legal document. I usually bring in my lunch as I am vegan and it can be hard to find nice options. When Friday evening comes around I hit a wall. All week my mind goes not-stop and it's buzzing away until I shut my eyes at night, so I need a day to refresh my mind when work is put aside. On Saturday I enjoy getting a coffee, reading the papers and catching up on my life. On Sunday I prep for the week ahead. My husband does the cooking in our house - I have no talent there. I wish it was something I had time to learn but for the moment work is my focus. I work long hours but I don't mind because it does not feel like work to me. I feel lucky to be doing what I set out to do. China Insider: Australian Correspondents Escape China, Fear They Will Be Disappeared Recently, two Australian journalists stationed in China were raided by the Chinese National Security Police in the middle of the night and were restricted from leaving China. Chinese authorities did not explain the reason for such action, but after the Foreign Ministry of Australia stepped in, two journalists have returned to Australia safely. This unprecedented event accelerated the deterioration of the relationship between Australia and China. Presently, there is no Australian journalist stationed in China. Due to the pandemic, the Australian-China relation took a turn for the worse earlier this year. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is unsatisfied with Australia calling for an independent investigation into the origin of the CCP virus and thus has been repeatedly retaliating against Australia. Recently, the Australian government has raised a travel alert, warning Australian nationals in China of the risk of arbitrary arrest. After receiving advice from the Australian Embassy about their safety last week, Bill Birtles, a journalist from Australia Broadcasting Corporation, and Michael Smith, a journalist from Australian Financial Review, were both raided at home at midnight on Sept. 3 by Chinese National Security Police. They were interrogated by the police with bright light and were told that they have been restricted from leaving the country. The police warned that they must stay and cooperate with the national security investigation. After being interrogated, two journalists feared being disappeared and immediately took shelter at the Australian Embassy in Beijing and Shanghai respectively. On Sept. 7, they returned to Australia safely after the Australian Foreign Ministry stepped in. After arriving in Australia, both journalists said that it is a relief to be back to the country with a genuine rule of law. As they look back at their rush departure from China, they believe that this is a political move from Beijing. US: CCP Infiltrates K-12 Education Through Collaboration With College Board According to a new report by the National Association of Scholars (NAS), the College Board has partnered closely with the CCP for over a decade, allowing Beijing to influence Chinese language and culture teaching in K-12 classrooms across the United States. On Sept. 6, the report found that the College Board, a New York-based nonprofit best known for administering the SAT and AP standardized exams for college admissions, worked with the CCP to develop an AP (Advanced Placement) Chinese language and culture course for high schools, helped China gain control over training for Chinese-language teaching in the country, and strongly promoted Beijing-funded Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms. Billed as Chinese language and culture programs, Confucius Institutes and Classrooms have drawn heavy criticism over its role in spreading Chinese propaganda and suppressing free speech on college campuses and K-12 classrooms. At the reports online launch hosted by The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program, Rachelle Peterson, the report author and NAS senior research fellow, said: China has managed to build out an entire educational system before the public caught on to what has happened. The findings come amid heightened scrutiny over the CCPs efforts to influence American universities, as well as its aggressive campaign to steal U.S. research and technology. Corrupt Officials Stop Handicapped Petitioner Filing Complaint in Beijing Zhu Jianqiang, a disabled petitioner from Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, was stopped by more than 20 officers at Beijing Railway Station on Sept. 8 as he and his wife traveled to the nations capital to lodge a complaint to the National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration. After local officials at his village forced him to sign a demolition agreement for his house eight years ago, Zhu Jianqiang was beaten, leading to lifelong paralysis. After payments for his medical and nursing expenses were suspended in May, Zhu was left helpless and decided to raise his case in Beijing. Zhu Jianqiang told The Epoch Times, When we left home last night, people who were watching me followed me 24/7. Wherever I went, they followed. They even grabbed my wheelchair and wouldnt let me go. Finally, with the help of a friend, we got on the train. Today, we arrived in Beijing at 10:30 a.m, and so did a man who was watching me. Were outside the police station now. They have about 15 people following us. They asked me to go back to the police station. I wont, because I saw the police station arranging the cars from my hometown to come, to take me back by force. I said isnt such action forbidden now? He said, Theres no such thing as illegal. Money can buy everything.' Wameedh Khalid Francis, 21, is one of 15 students attending St Peters Chaldean Seminary in Ankawa. He had his first inklings of a vocation when he went to church during childhood. The priest of Telskuf set an example during the early rise of the Islamic State. Service is the heart of the mission. This is the second part of a report on vocations in Iraq. Erbil (AsiaNews) In the current context in Iraq and the world, the priestly and monastic vocations are the pinnacle of love and service, said Wameedh Khalid Francis, one of 15 students attending St Peters Chaldean Seminary in Ankawa, the Christian neighbourhood in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. In the village of Telskuf, he underwent this experience following the attack by the Islamic State group in the summer of 2014, which destroyed everything, he told AsiaNews. "In a dangerous context [caused by the jihadi advance], the priest did his utmost as an engineer and as the humblest of workers: people turned to him for everything. In this situation, I understood the meaning of mission; for this reason, I urge young people to undertake the loving service that our world needs today. Wameedh Khalid Francis, 21, hails from Telskuf, a Christian village in the Nineveh Plain, northern Iraq, where he completed his studies up to high school. He comes from a large family, with a brother, four sisters and their parents, growing up in harmony despite hardships, aggravated by the Islamic States advances in Iraq and Syria. Recently, the Chaldean patriarch, Card Louis Raphael Sako, launched an appeal saying that the country and its Church need "new vocations, both male and female. Speaking first to families, he told them to encourage and support their children in this choice by nurturing their faith "through prayer and contemplation". In Wameedh Khalid Franciss case, "I felt for the first time the desire for the priestly vocation at the age of 12. At the time, I used to attend church every day and serve Mass as an altar boy. One day I asked the priest to take me to the monastery to visit it. However, I was still very young . . . He advised me to finish high school first and then come back in case I still had a strong desire to become a priest. Today Iraq is still in a critical situation due to sectarian violence and widespread corruption. The Christian community must struggle to keep its culture, presence and traditions alive despite the massive exodus of recent years. "In this context, the heart of the mission is precisely to serve our people, with the love and dedication that Christ himself taught us. Again, we are called to make Jesus known by proclaiming and witnessing through our actions to those who do not yet know him, cognizant of the fact that Iraq is largely Muslim, characterised by rifts and tensions between Sunnis and Shias. For Wameedh Khalid Francis, the best way to respond to the primary task of proclamation "is to live the Gospel in a total and radical way" and show it to people. Today's world needs more deeds, [more] seeds planted in the ground than words which too often are empty or unheeded. It needs people, like the priest in Telskuf, bearing witness through works and deeds to confront the huge demands of people in need, desperate in the face of the jihadi tragedy. To his peers, male or female, he wants to show the beauty of priestly service and consecrated life. Becoming a priest, a monk or a nun, says the seminarian, means living the Christian mission in its fullness. This involves total service, even if it has greater value and breadth for a priest or a consecrated person " than any other profession or lifestyle. For Wameedh Khalid Francis, many saints influenced his spiritual and vocational training, but one stands out, Saint Charbel, a 19th century Lebanese Maronite monk who was canonised in 1977 by Pope Paul VI. Several miraculous healings are attributed to him and he is among the best known and revered figures of the Church in the East. Finally, the Chaldean seminarian turns his thoughts to the worlds Catholic community, especially Catholics in the West, which has welcomed hundreds of thousands of Christians who have fled from Iraq in recent years. "To you, Christians and peoples of the West, I ask you not to forget us, and to always pray for us, that peace may reign throughout the East, so that Christians can finally live in peace in their land." (End of part two) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. The Legacy Concussion Foundation estimates that 5 out of 6 concussions are undiagnosed. New advances for a neurological diagnostic tool for traumatic brain injury and various cognitive issues are helping more health care professionals access the technology to treat patients. The Reflex product suite from brightlamp, a Purdue Foundry-affiliated company, allows a broad spectrum of medical professionals to securely capture critical diagnostic pupillary light reflex data. Next month, the company will release its third version of Reflex, Reflex Pro, a powerful iPad solution for clinicians. This new advanced form-factor for Reflex makes it accessible to clinics across the country and significantly outpaces hardware pupillometers in performance and usability, said Kurtis Sluss, CEO and founder of brightlamp. Our team has revamped the Reflex tool with a fresh design, better workflow, and heightened analytics. The problem with diagnostic tools today is that theyre ugly and hard to use. Weve crafted a better experience to provide cleaner and concise information that neurologists, optometrists and general clinicians need in a format thats easy to understand. Reflexs proprietary SaaS platform leverages the user-friendly HD Apple iPhone and iPad video camera, which serves as a secure mobile data collection and transmission platform for Reflexs pupillary evaluation software. An optometrist, chiropractor or medical technician can simply bring up the Reflex or Reflex Pro app on their iPhone or iPad, hold it at the optimal distance from the patients eye and Reflexs machine learning algorithm takes it from there. The secure mobile Reflex platform offers near-instant repeatability of physiological and unbiased tests, which allows diagnosis and recovery monitoring for multiple neurological applications through pupillary light reflex measurements. These latest advances help clinicians and researchers from many fields in further unlocking the diagnostic properties of the pupil, Sluss said Sluss has received commercialization guidance from the Purdue Foundry, an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub housed in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in Purdues Discovery Park District, adjacent to the Purdue campus. His company is now part of the Purdue Foundrys Double Down Experiment, which includes high-growth businesses. About brightlamp Brightlamp is an Indiana-based health care technology company that specializes in frontier computer vision methods. As recognized by experts such as Donald Kuratko of Indiana University, the company develops innovative breakthrough methods and applies them to mobile solutions to assist in the advancement of health care. Brightlamps premier patented technology monitors the eyes reaction to light so medical professionals can obtain more accurate and consistent neurological information in seconds through a mobile device. The name iPhone and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. For more information, visit https://reflexapp.io/. About Purdue Foundry The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub whose professionals help Purdue innovators create and grow startups. The Purdue Foundry is housed in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in Discovery Park District, adjacent to the Purdue campus. The Purdue Foundry has been involved with creating more than 300 companies. The Purdue Foundry is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2020, IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation. For more information about involvement and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu. Writer: Chris Adam, cladam@prf.org Source: Kurtis Sluss, ksluss@brightlamp.org MONTREALThe 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 coroners 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. The private facility was placed under government trusteeship after regional health authorities in late March found only three employees on site to care for 133 residents, some of whom were sitting in overflowing diapers and suffering from dehydration. In the days that followed the first case, residents and staff began showing symptoms. There was no protective equipment until March 28, except for a few masks, the report reads. Staff began staying home, either out of fear or because they were told to go into isolation. On March 29, co-owner Samantha Chowieri texted the local health authority to inform them that the residence was short at least 27 people, including nurses, auxiliaries and care attendants. A team dispatched from the health authority found dirty floors, air that smelled of urine and feces and residents who were thirsty and dehydrated. Several (residents) were soiled, because their incontinence briefs had overflowed and the beds were dirty and the stains suggested it was several days old, the report says. When the incontinence briefs were changed, several residents had burns on their skin and the hygiene of the genital areas had not been done adequately. In a statement, Herrons owners said they would take the time to carefully analyze the report before commenting. The investigator commissioned by the health minister, Sylvain Gagnon, also criticized Herrons owners for failing to collaborate with health authorities, who eventually sought a court order on the matter. He concludes that the managers of the facility did not have malicious intentions but they did not have full control over their facility and they lacked understanding of what was required to respond to residents needs. As a result, I must conclude that in the present affair the authorities of the Herron CHSLD demonstrated organizational negligence, Gagnon writes. But the investigator reserved some of his harshest criticism for the provinces health-care system, which he says failed to address problems with long-term care and persistent staff shortages across the network. He was highly critical of the former Liberal provincial governments health-care reform of 2015, which was supposed to save costs and improve organization but had a negative effect on patient care, he said. Were our elders forgotten? Did the authorities at the time lack foresight? We have to answer in the affirmative, he said. He also recommended the province study whether private long-term care homes have the resources to adequately meet the needs of people who have serious health conditions or loss of autonomy. The government also made public a report into the Ste-Dorothee long-term-care home in Laval, which had the provinces highest death toll in the pandemic. Investigator Yves Benoit found that pre-existing staff shortages were exacerbated when staff members had to self-isolate due to exposure and agencies refused to send their workers to hot zones. Asymptomatic employees helped COVID-19 spread through the facility, throwing it into a crisis that resulted in more than 40 per cent of residents testing positive in early April. Managers at the nursing home criticized health authorities for not setting foot on the site, leading them to feel abandoned. The report concluded that the workers did the best they could, and the problems at Ste-Dorothee were largely the same as those faced by other long-term care homes: a lack of staff, ineffective management structure and shortages of personal protective equipment. In a statement, Health Minister Christian Dube said the government has already acted on many of the recommendations in the reports, which were submitted to the government in June and July. Not only did the major changes undertaken serve to prepare us for the second wave, our actions are sustainable and their benefits will continue after the pandemic, he said in a statement. Those changes include mandating that a manager be named to lead each long-term-care home, raising salaries, hiring thousands of health-care staff and ensuring infection-control measures are in place in each residence. Read more about: During the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran used his time at the podium to send a message of resistance to the US, denouncing the pressure brought by sanctions that America has placed upon the Islamic Republic. In the video message which was pre-recorded by Rouhani and was viewed during the UNGA, he pointed out how the COVID-19 pandemic has crippled the world and placed everyone in the same situation. However, he emphasized that instead of being able to benefit from international cooperation, Iran has been given one of the harshest sanctions in its history. He also noted that the given sanctions were in violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, the UN Charter, and international agreements. According to Aljazeera, the Iranian President used photos of George Floyd, who after being killed by police officers sparked protests in the US as a representation of what his countrymen are going through. According to him, Iranian for decades have felt the pressure from other nations yet still continue to aim for progress and strive for peace. In addition, Rouhani named a variety of initiatives by Iranian which are aimed towards the achievement of regional peace. He also noted that the said initiatives' goals also include standing up against "occupation, genocide, displacement and racism," which have been key issues in the four decades since the Islamic Republic was formed. Read also: Deadly Assault Kills at Least 28 Afghan Police Amid Historic Peace Talks With Taliban Insurgent Group The Iranian president then addressed Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th UNGA directly, and said that Iran does not deserve the sanctions that were placed upon it. He emphasized that the answer to the problems is peace and not war, stressing that terror is not the reward for Iran's fight against extremism. Rouhani also recalled the Iran-Iraq war a day before its 40th anniversary. He narrated how at least half a million people from both parties died after dictator Saddam Hussein, who was ta the time backed by the US invaded Iran. He also threw shade at the US, stating that their words do not matter if not backed with actions. He also accused the US of backing armed chemical weapons of Iraq while it boasted about promoting peace, The National reported. It can be recalled that the US announced that it has reinstated all Un sanctions placed on Iran. The said sanctions include the ban on the arms embargo which is already set to expire. The said aforementioned sanction is part of a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran back in 2015. In light of this, the Iranian president addressed all members of the UNG, calling out the US for not keeping its end of the stick on the nuclear deal. According to Rouhani, the US turned its back on the deal after it took more than a decade to agree on terms of the negotiations. Rouhani also asserted that the US cannot impose war or negotiations on them. "Living with sanctions is difficult, but more difficult is living without independence," the Iranian president stated. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has previously claimed that he will be brokering a new deal with Iran if he gets elected in the upcoming November elections. Related article: Saudi Arabia King Salman Accuses Iran of Non-Peaceful Efforts in UN Assembly Speech @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. More than half of Americans working from home do so from shared rooms or bedrooms; more than one-third have poor internet connections or none at all. A June survey of Japanese workers found that even among early adopters of remote work, only a third found it more productive than working in the office, citing poor equipment. Deutsche Bank AGs monthly survey of financial-market professionals found their assessment of whether they were on balance more productive or less productive at home declined from 20% in June to 11% in September. (It had plunged to -13% in April as everyone was forced home full-time all at once.) To the Editor; Cmon Mayor Walsh, we are not fooled. We all know this is political posturing. Nothing more, nothing less. Let me take a stab at this. "There has never been a more important (election) in my lifetime,'' Walsh said in an interview. There couldnt be more riding on it. How many election cycles do we have to hear this nonsense? This is no different than how every episode of The Bachelor includes the most dramatic Rose Ceremony ever! Mayor Walsh continued: "I think as a public servant, its important to be honest and transparent, and I dont see those as values that the president embodies.'' True. But does the mayor think Joe Biden embodies those values? Lets look at his record. While attending Syracuse University Law School, he was caught cheating. Early in his political career, he was caught delivering speeches from JFK and a British politician as his own. Mr. Biden had to withdraw a previous bid for the presidency when he was caught blatantly lying about his academic achievements, class rank, and even the number of degrees he earned. Mr. Bidens relationship with the truth did not improve from there. Here are just a few of his more recent falsehoods: 'The NAACP has endorsed me every time Ive run." (The NAACP never endorsed him) On the Iraq war: the moment it started, I came out against the war (False) Last week, he claimed he was the first in my family to go to college. (Not only in this false, but he got caught in this same lie back in 1987) He claimed he called for nationwide social distancing prior to March 8th of this year. (He didnt. He also held a campaign event with 1,000 people on March 9th.) In reference to the Obama Administrations record on immigration, he said, We didnt lock people in cages. (They did). There are many more. Search the internet for Joe Biden lies. Clear your schedule first. If honesty and transparency are the values Mayor Walsh seeks in a public servant, why is he endorsing Joe Biden The answer is both simple and sad. The mayor confines his choice to one of the two major party candidates. In doing so, he pressures voters to do the same. As a lifelong independent, the mayor should know this narrative disenfranchises voters. Shame on him. Mayor Walsh blames Trump and Republicans in the Senate for a lack of federal aid to Syracuse and other cities in the wake of a financial crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The president did not implement a top-down mandate across the country, and for good reason. He authorized state governors to take the lead. State leaders can better determine the specific needs and concerns of their states. The NYS Legislature, however, ceded all power to the governor. The governor imposed crippling lockdowns, nearly put hospitals out of business, devastated local economies and crippled municipal budgets. Gov. Cuomo also catastrophically mismanaged nursing homes and still refuses to release accurate mortality statistics for NY nursing home residents. Our financial crisis was caused our states policies. The state budget was a mess before Covid-19 hit. Then, we were going to shut down for 15 days to flatten the curve. Six months later, Gov. Cuomos arbitrary rules continue to cripple businesses, ruin livelihoods, increase drug overdoses and mental health problems, increase domestic violence, and put lives at risk. Our financial crisis was caused our states policies. Mayor Walsh believes federal funding for Syracuse is appropriate. He may be right, but he should be honest about what caused the financial problems we face. And finally, Walsh says, I believe strongly that a Joe Biden presidency is in the best interest of the city of Syracuse. This may be true, but not for any of the reasons he suggested. Mayor Walsh believes that supporting Biden improves his chances at winning re-election. Unsurprisingly, he believes his re-election is in the best interest of the city of Syracuse. This is just politics. From a politician. Shawn Hannon | Chairman, Onondaga County Libertarian Party Read more Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh: Why Im voting for Joe Biden Former GOP Rep. Jim Walsh endorses Joe Biden for president Write us How to submit letters and commentary to Syracuse.com LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it would be beyond the pale for Iranian-British aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe to be returned to detention in Iran at this time. He added that Britain was still enagaged in a process of paying back a debt it owns to Iran but that this was "not linked but in parallel" to the legal case. "There's been a process that has been ongoing," he told Sky News about the debt dating back to 1979. "It's not linked but it's in parallel, where we've been saying look we recognise this debt and we'll look at how we can resolve it as best we can. "Frankly that is separate from the clear and immediate obligation on the right to not to detain British nationals. "It will be beyond the pale, for her to be returned to detention at this time." Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation. (Reporting by Sarah Young; writing by Kate Holton; Editing by Andrew Heavens) (Newser) President Trump's son Eric has until Oct. 7 to speak to New York investigators probing his family's business practices, a judge ruled Wednesday, rejecting his lawyers' contention that his "extreme travel schedule" on the campaign trail warranted a delay until after the November election. State Judge Arthur Engoron said Eric Trump, an executive at the family's Trump Organization, had no legal basis to postpone a subpoena seeking his deposition testimony under oath, concluding that neither the probe nor the court were "bound by the timelines of the national election," per the AP. New York Attorney General Letitia James went to court to enforce the subpoena after Eric Trump's lawyers abruptly canceled a July interview with investigators looking into whether the Trump Organization lied about the value of its assets in order to get loans or tax benefits. The investigation is civil in nature and investigators have yet to determine whether any law was broken. story continues below James, a Democrat, said the ruling "makes clear that no one is above the law, not even an organization or an individual with the name Trump." In a court filing last week, Eric Trump's lawyers said he was willing to comply with the subpoena, but could do so only after the Nov. 3 election. In addition to scheduling conflicts related to his father's reelection campaign, they said they wanted "to avoid the use of his deposition attendance for political purposes." Lawyers had proposed four dates for him to testify, the earliest being Nov. 19. Matthew Colangelo, a lawyer for the attorney general's office, countered that Eric Trump's lawyers were seeking a delay "simply on the grounds of personal inconvenience to the witness" rather than any legal grounds. Any deposition would happen out of public view and would likely remain confidential because of the ongoing investigation. (Read more Eric Trump stories.) 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, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Ginsburg, 87, died of cancer on Sept. 18. Read more The death of 87-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has renewed debate over Americas highest judicial office. Like all federal judges, Supreme Court justices serve lifetime appointments on the court, as outlined in the Constitution. Because of increased lifespans, that often means more than three decades on the court, causing some to wonder if lifetime appointments are still appropriate. The Inquirer turned to two experts to debate: Should Supreme Court justices have term limits? READ MORE: Kavanaugh takeaway: SCOTUS reforms worth considering | Editorial Yes: Ensure seats are filled fairly and rationally. By Tyler Cooper We lost, perhaps, the most recognizable Supreme Court justice weve ever known last Friday. But rather than the aftermath being a singular national moment full of remembrances and reflections on a legendary legacy, the last week has been marked by a hyperpartisan discussion over the seat now vacant. A moment that should have brought us together as Americans in celebration of the values Ruth Bader Ginsburg helped elucidate during her decades of public service has instead become one that will deepen our divisions and corrode our already crumbling sense of shared purpose. It didnt have to be this way. This was a choice not a choice we actively made, but one passively made for us, as we have allowed our democratic system to continue to rely upon justices afforded life tenure. This is despite the fact that term limits for the Supreme Court have long been popular among the American people, with demonstrated strong support across the partisan spectrum for years. The most common reason were told that this proposal cannot be enacted is that it would be unconstitutional. Federal judges and justices serve for life because the founders wrote in Article III of the Constitution that jurists hold their offices during good behaviour, and simply declining to cede the power of the office after a reasonable term of service hasnt been deemed a violation of this clause. It would restore predictability and fairness to an institution based on predictability and fairness." Tyler Cooper Regardless, there is no need to reinterpret good behavior because the most common proposal to fix interminable tenures at the high court an 18-year nonrenewable term limit for future justices, with an appointment every other year would not remove a justice from her office upon completion of her term. Instead, after 18 years the justice would become a senior justice, which would operate similarly to how federal judges become senior judges after reaching age 65 and a certain length of service. When there are unexpected vacancies, senior justices would be called back into service in order to maintain a full bench. In the meantime, theyd be able to serve on a different federal appeals court, as a dozen retired justices have opted to do since the law was changed to accommodate this in the 1930s. Sandra Day OConnor and David Souter themselves have chosen this path for their own post-Supreme Court lives. Our nomination and confirmation process is clearly broken. Leading Democrats and Republicans agree on that. However, this is just a downstream consequence of life tenure. Its undoubtedly imprudent that American jurisprudence, which touches the lives of more than 330 million individuals, is based upon the mortality of nine individuals. Its a breakdown of democracy when one of those nine individuals manipulates the timing of his or her retirement to coincide with the term of a president he or she personally finds politically palatable or tries to, as conservative Justice Antonin Scalia was through President Barack Obamas second term, or as liberal Justice Ginsburg was through President Donald Trumps first term. READ MORE: Toomey joins Trump and McConnell in backing push to fill Supreme Court seat, reversing 2016 stance The Supreme Court had no Scalia seat, no Ginsburg seat. It has only seats occupied by individuals, not seats belonging to individuals. Fixed terms for Supreme Court justices would help us, and the individuals on the court, remember that. It would restore predictability and fairness to an institution based on predictability (its rulings are grounded in precedent, or stare decisis) and fairness (equal justice under law emblazons the courts facade). It would ensure that seats are filled on a rational basis two each presidential term rather than upon the whims, or the deaths, of individual justices. Tyler Cooper is a senior researcher of Fix the Court, a national nonpartisan organization that advocates for greater transparency and accountability in the federal judiciary. No: Short-term appointments will escalate divisiveness. By Suzanna Sherry Term limits for Supreme Court Justices are a bad idea. They wont solve any problems, will make some existing problems worse, and will cause new ones. Adherents of term limits suggest that limiting justices to a fixed term will reduce the stakes of the confirmation process, and thus depoliticize it, because every president will be guaranteed an equal number of appointments. Unfortunately, however, term limits are likely to have exactly the opposite effect. Justices who know that they will likely need another job after they retire from the court may well tailor their rulings to curry favor from potential employers. Suzanna Sherry Presidents, knowing that their appointees will be on the court for a relatively short time, might well search out the most extremist judges. Given the political polarization of the Senate, that will make the confirmation process more rather than less divisive. And instead of the Supreme Court being an issue in only some presidential elections, it will become an issue in every presidential election. Even worse, justices who know that they will likely need another job after they retire from the court may well tailor their rulings to curry favor from potential employers. Justices who think they might want to work for a law firm, a foundation, a quasipolitical organization, or even an educational institution will think twice about how they vote on issues affecting such entities. If the court seems to be polarized and political now, imagine if some justices plan to work for the Heritage Foundation when they leave the court, and others plan to work for the Brookings Institution (or substitute your own favorite conservative or liberal organizations). Those in favor of term limits also argue that replacing justices more frequently will keep the court in step with political majorities, instead of having long-serving justices keep the court locked into the politics of an earlier time. The problem with this argument is that it undermines the primary function of the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court: preventing political majorities from trampling on others constitutional rights. As we know from states in which judges have to stand for reelection, judges without life tenure are less likely to act independently of the political branches or of public opinion, and thus cannot serve the purpose of holding the tyranny of the majority in check. Our Constitution would be a useless parchment if political majorities could safely ignore it because the judiciary always shared the majoritys views. Indeed, having a Supreme Court fixated on earlier times is a benefit: the court should be a lagging indicator. We need constitutional law to be stable and predictable, and to change only slowly and incrementally. Sudden shifts based on changes in personnel disrupt settled expectations and create difficult problems of enforcement, fairness, and retroactivity. READ MORE: Pennsylvania braces for a presidential election reshaped by a Supreme Court fight And it is likely that term limits would lead to doctrinal instability, as a coauthor and I suggested in a 2019 article. We used computer simulations to predict how the Supreme Court might have treated abortion rights if 18-year term limits had been in effect at the time Roe v. Wade was decided. We concluded that the most likely result is that Roe would have been overruled in the 1980s, reinstated in the 2000s, and overruled again during Trumps first term. Finally, as a political solution to the short-term problem of a Democratic administration faced with a solid conservative majority on the Supreme Court, term limits wont help. All the justices currently on the court and Trumps new nominee, if confirmed before term limits are enacted will serve for life. If an incoming Democratic Congress wants to change the political tilt of the current court, only increasing the size of the court or impeaching one or more justices can accomplish that. Term limits wont help. Suzanna Sherry is the Herman O. Loewenstein professor of law at Vanderbilt Law School. She has published widely on a broad range of constitutional issues. Unlike too many others who hold positions throughout the City of Gary, my team and I are committed to moving the City forward and giving our residents a government they can trust and that is working for them," he said in the statement. "The residents want city leaders who will do the right thing for them, instead of career obstructionists who claim to work in the citys best interests when they are hiding selfish interests. In her best-selling memoir, Mary L. Trump, President Trumps niece, told a family story that detailed the ways in which she claims her relatives the president among them tricked, bullied and ultimately cheated her out of an inheritance worth tens of millions of dollars. On Thursday, more than two months after the book was published and a little more than one month before the election, Ms. Trump told her story again this time in a lawsuit. The suit, filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, accused Mr. Trump, his sister Maryanne Trump Barry and their brother Robert Trump, who died in August, of fraud and civil conspiracy. It seeks to recover the millions of dollars Ms. Trump claims to have lost. In its first sentence, the lawsuit says that, for the Trumps, fraud was not just the family business it was a way of life. Beginning in the 1980s, the suit contends, the president and his siblings took control of the New York City real estate empire their father, Fred Trump Sr., had built and exploited it to enrich themselves to the detriment of everyone around them. There are glaring problems with the deal itself. Its unclear whether TikToks algorithm is part of the deal, who would control the app and what control even means. The Chinese government has yet to sign off. ByteDance is challenging Trumps executive order in U.S. courts, so far successfully. Trump has demanded a payoff to the U.S. government he called key money described by others as a $5 billion education fund which ByteDance said it was unaware of. Trump said he had tremendous trust in these massive companies developing prospective vaccines and suggested that they, not federal regulators, could best determine when a vaccine should be made available to the American people. When you have great companies coming up with these vaccines, why would they [the FDA] have to be, you know, adding great length to the process? We want to have people not get sick. CARACAS: The European Union has sent a mission to Venezuela in the run-up to parliamentary election scheduled for December, the EU said on Thursday, as the country prepares for a vote that will likely be boycotted by much of the population. Dozens of opposition parties are refusing to participate in the vote on the grounds that it is rigged in favor of the ruling Socialist Party, though one group within the opposition has said it is seeking better conditions for possible participation. An EU mission is in Caracas this week to have contacts with all stakeholders (including all main political forces, civil society, academia, the private sector and the church)," an EU spokesperson said in an email. This mission takes place in the context of the ongoing efforts to promote minimum democratic conditions ahead of legislative elections." The EU said it has received an invitation to observe the elections in Venezuela in December, but said President Nicolas Maduros government so far has not met minimum conditions" to allow it to do so. Maduro responded that it would be impossible" to delay the vote. European nations have broadly disavowed the government of Maduro on the grounds that his 2018 re-election was fraudulent and have instead recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuelas rightful head of state. The legislature has been controlled by the opposition since 2016 following a landslide victory the year before, but the pro-government supreme court has blocked nearly every piece of legislation it has approved. The United States has launched a broad sanctions program against Maduro in efforts to force him from office. Maduro says the sanctions are illegal and harm the countrys population by limiting the governments capacity to import food and fuel and restricting its capacity to earn export revenue from oil sales. 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 Pisasale kept records of the birthdays of everyone he came into contact with. It was an excuse to butter them up at least once a year. He had charm, charisma and rat cunning, and too often people didnt see through it, or it suited them not to. The Queensland ALP backed Pisasale and his council, almost all of whom were party members, unreservedly despite repeated complaints from local ALP branches about his corrupt activities. There was a blip when Pisasale helped then-LNP leader Campbell Newman in the 2012 election - but it was quickly forgiven. He was shopped around the state by Queenslands Local Government Association and feted at industry and government events in China and around the world. The LGAQ always had Paul Pisasale up and down the length and breadth of Queensland talking about how Ipswich worked and how other councils could do the same thing, said former veteran Ipswich ALP state MP Jo-Ann Miller who has an acrimonious relationship with Pisasale. Then-premier Campbell Newman in Ipswich with then-mayor Paul Pisasale. Credit:Jorge Branco He was all over the place. Hed be in Cairns, he had a girlfriend in Cairns and he would often go up to talk to local authorities in Cairns, he was everywhere. He was never much in Ipswich, to be honest. When foreign officials heard Pisasale regularly won more than 80 per cent of the vote back home in Queensland, they sighed with envy. Haha, very good, Mr Ipswich, Mr Ipswich! But charm doesnt explain it all. Pisasale got an easy run because he knew how to manipulate the media and his local popularity made him and his administration untouchable for 13 years. He could also be a vicious bully to anyone he considered a threat but who wasnt protected. Inside his administration, colleagues who owed him their jobs helped make sure internal complaints never saw the light of day, damaging documents were buried and whistleblowers silenced, fostering the toxic and corrupt culture later identified by the CCC. Outside, Pisasale knew how to work TV, give a great grab, play the victim, or just utter some carefully crafted nonsense, knowing it would fill up the airwaves and help avoid proper scrutiny of him or his administration. Some of the media outlets that will run rise and fall packages over the next 24 hours know they were complicit in delaying Pisasales downfall, if not outright protecting him. A plan for a lagoon resort in the Ipswich CBD while the council is in caretaker mode prior to the local elections? Fantastic. Are there pictures? Stories were published over the years linking Pisasale to cocaine dealers, corrupt interstate politicians, dodgy property deals and campaign funding rorts, but they mainly just ensured Pisasale carried the epithet of colourful attached to his name and title wherever he went. Pisasale worked the victim card hard and wore as badges of honour the investigations into him by the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission, which in 2015 had examined more than a dozen allegations of campaign funding irregularities and found nothing but the mildest of offences. "They've investigated my whole life and I've got the tick," Mr Pisasale told me at the time. The following year he won office for a record fourth term with 83 per cent of first preference votes. Pisasale in the now-famous photo with then-NSW premier Barry O'Farrell and Nick Di Girolamo. Later, stories began to expose how his administrations mismanaged schemes to redevelop the Ipswich CBD (not with a lagoon) had gone off the rails and cost ratepayers tens of millions of dollars for no result, but the details stayed locked up in the private companies his council had set up deliberately to avoid such scrutiny. It was the same privatisation model that Pisasale spruiked around the state at local government conferences. The thing is hes so popular and hes done a lot for the city of Ipswich, a former editor used to tell me many years ago when explaining why stories raising questions about Pisasales business dealings and personal links never seemed to get much of a run, if at all. Get the evidence and then well have a look. In the end, it wasnt journalists or an anti-corruption watchdog that brought Pisasale undone. It was a real dog - and not even a Queensland dog. An Australian Federal Police sniffer dog caught whiff of $50,000 in Pisasales bag at Melbournes domestic airport in May 2017 and he resigned in his hospital pyjamas a few weeks later, citing ill health. Close associates say Pisasale has found God in jail and has tried in vain to seek reconciliation with former friends who have abandoned him. He has acknowledged mistakes and finds life in jail interesting but thats about as far as it goes, they say. 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. 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. Gradiant, an international end-to-end water solutions provider, has acquired Malaysia-based Sigma Water Engineering as part of its South East Asia growth strategy. It will help the group provide support to its project achievements in Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia. Sigma Water Engineering, based in Selangor, Malaysia, is an industrial water and waste water treatment company with repeated success in delivering industrial water treatment systems in food and beverage, oil and gas, glove manufacturing, and other various water intensive industries. Additionally, Sigma Water has a strong manufacturing front with a fabrication and chemical storage facility also based in Malaysia along with established relationships with both global and local customers, contractors, and other resources supplying Gradiant with further reach and experience throughout the region. The combination of Gradiants award-winning technologies and strong financing capabilities alongside Sigma Waters project delivery and O&M expertise presents the Southeast Asian water market with a new and significantly improved suite of sustainable and cost-effective solutions to water treatment. As per the deal, Gradiant will integrate its brine concentration product suite utilizing its proprietary Carrier Gas Extraction CGE and RO Infinity ROi systems with Sigma Waters engineering and execution abilities to better serve regional customers across different sectors. These customers will also benefit from the new asset performance management services that will manage plants remotely and on-site. "This acquisition solidifies Gradiant as the premier choice for complex wastewater treatment in the Southeast Asian water market. Sigma Water has the experience, the manufacturing scale, and the reputable network bolstering Gradiants presence throughout the region and improving upon our customer offerings," stated Prakash Govindan, co-founder and COO of Gradiant. "Our collective approach will increase freshwater recovery, reduce harmful wastewater volumes to Zero or Minimum Liquid Discharge (ZLD/MLD), improve asset performance and improve overall lifecycle costs for our customers," stated Govindan. This means better for our environment and better for our customers-- a true win-win, he added. Swaminathan Tanjore, founder and Managing Director of Sigma Water, said: "We are very excited to work together with Gradiant and deliver their award-winning water technology portfolio to our growing list of customers. We cant wait to see the impact it will have here." "This announcement comes off the back of a strong year for Gradiant, which recently announced that it won 12 projects in H1 2020 across Asia Pacific, ranging from the production of domestic water from rivers to treatment of high-contamination industrial effluent for reuse, including Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) applications," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Hundreds of have taken advantage of the warm weather and calm seas in the English Channel to reach the UK in a flurry of small boat crossings, British officials said on Wednesday. The Home Office said at least 393 people made the crossing aboard 26 boats on Tuesday. The Press Association news agency reported that this brings the number of who arrived in in September to at least 1,880 - roughly the same number believed to have crossed the Channel in the whole of 2019. Dozens of men, women and children picked up by border control vessels were seen arriving in Dover harbor on the southern English coast, and many had to line up before they were allowed to disembark because of the large number of arrivals. Bella Sankey, director of humanitarian charity Detention Action, said it has been the busiest month for the crossings on record. She added that British Home Secretary Priti Patel's pledge to make Channel crossings unviable now lies in tatters. Dan O'Mahoney, the government's newly-appointed Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, met with the French ambassador on Tuesday to discuss the crisis. have long used northern France as a launching point to reach Britain, either stowed in trucks or on ferries. Many appear to have turned to small boats organized by smugglers during the coronavirus pandemic because virus restrictions have reduced traffic between France and (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Moon Jae-in, left, and Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga / Yonhap South Korean President Moon Jae-in had phone talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday, during which he proposed that the two countries seek an "optimum" resolution to the wartime forced labor issue at the center of soured bilateral relations. Moon noted there are different positions between the two sides on the issue of South Korean victims of Japan's World War II forced labor but expressed hope that Seoul and Tokyo will explore an "optimum" solution that can be accepted by their governments and all other parties concerned, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok. Moon suggested they accelerate "communication efforts" to resolve pending issues "with a new mindset" on the occasion of Suga's inauguration as Japan's prime minister, Kang said. Suga agreed to "encourage" dialogue efforts to that end during the conversation that lasted 20 minutes, he added. Moon said South Korea and Japan are not only the closest neighbors sharing basic values and strategic interests but also partners in creating peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world. Suga said he hopes for the establishment of bilateral ties in a "forward-looking" way together with Moon. The two also agreed to work together to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and cooperate more closely on the Korea peace process. Suga mentioned the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, and Moon agreed to support Tokyo's campaign to resolve it. It marked their first talks since Suga took over from Shinzo Abe, who resigned for health reasons. (Yonhap) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations on Wednesday expressed firm opposition to the U.S. attack and slander at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The Chinese mission made the remarks in exercising the right of reply, in accordance with the rules of the UNGA, to the attack and slander against China made by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday at the general debate. At the UNGA general debate, the United States attacked and slandered China in total disregard of basic facts. China expresses firm opposition, said the Chinese mission. "The world is facing formidable challenges posed by COVID-19 and the serious threats of unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying practices. The world has come to a crossroads," said the Chinese mission. "At this moment, what is needed is unity, cooperation, and mutual trust, instead of confrontation and the spread of 'political virus.'" The novel coronavirus is the common enemy of humankind. It is yet another unknown virus from nature, which can break out among humans anytime anywhere. China is a victim of the virus and a contributor to the global fight against it, the Chinese mission said. 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 was imposed on the exit routes from Wuhan City and Hubei Province, and traffic control was put in place. 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, said the Chinese mission. 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 with China. When the United States closed its borders to all Chinese citizens on Feb. 2, only a dozen of confirmed cases were reported in the United States, it noted. "China's epidemic response has been open and transparent every step of the way. The timeline is clear, and the facts and data speak for themselves," said the mission. The United States, as a developed country with the most advanced medical technology in the world, has nonetheless become the most severely affected country in the world, with more than 6 million confirmed cases and 200,000 deaths. The reasons behind are thought-provoking, it said. The smear campaign against China on COVID-19 is an attempt by the United States to shift the blame for its own poor handling of the epidemic. The United States also arbitrarily attacked and pulled out of the World Health Organization (WHO), putting global anti-epidemic cooperation in jeopardy, harming people around the world and incurring a heavy cost for its own people, the Chinese mission said. "What the U.S. needs to do now is stop the political manipulation, stop labeling or politicizing the virus, focus on combating the virus at home, and support the UN and the WHO in playing their roles," it noted in the statement. On climate change and environmental protection, China has actively fulfilled international responsibilities compatible with its own stage of development and national conditions, and adopted a host of policies and actions. The outcomes achieved are widely recognized, said the Chinese mission. China attained its 2020 climate action targets two years ahead of schedule, a major contribution to the global response to climate change. Non-fossil fuels now take 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, it said. Chinese President Xi Jinping just announced at the general debate of the UN General Assembly that China will update and enhance its nationally determined contribution targets, introduce stronger policies and measures, and strive for the peaking of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 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, it said. China takes an active part in global climate governance. China is one of the first signatories to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and has contributed significantly to the conclusion of the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement and related implementation guidelines, it said. Thanks to the concerted efforts by China and other parties, the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain, 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, it 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. By doing so, the United States 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 Chinese mission. 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 set obstacles to the global governance process on plastic waste. It has even shipped a huge amount of waste to developing countries, doing enormous harm to local and global environments. The United States is in no position to blame others, it said. Pursuing unilateralism and bullying practices, the United States keeps withdrawing from international treaties and organizations, severely undermining the UN-centered international system and the rules-based international order. The United States flexes its muscles in many parts of the world, interfering grossly in the internal affairs of other countries and instigating "color revolutions," thus jeopardizing regional peace and stability, it said. The United States, by reverting to "the cold war mentality" and creating ideological confrontation, is pushing the world into a dangerous situation. Working against globalization, the United States is erecting protectionist barriers and destabilizing the world supply and industrial chains. It is wielding the big stick of unilateral sanctions, frantically containing and suppressing foreign companies, and attempting to artificially cut off the international flow of capital, technology, product, industry and personnel. All these pose a serious threat to world peace and development, said the Chinese mission. "We urge the U.S. side to reflect on its own problems, change course and do more in the interest of world peace and development, rather than going further down the path of unilateralism and hegemony," it said. WATERLOO If you walk down any number of side streets near Wilfrid Laurier University on a Friday or Saturday night, youll be able to find a house party going on. They are not difficult to find, says Sarah Peddle, a third-year student from Laurier. Just listen for the music pumping and watch for people spilling out of houses on to the sidewalk. During any other September, gatherings like these would be expected without question the start of a school year is all about students reconnecting and meeting new people. But COVID-19 has been spreading quickest through people in their teens and 20s. These gatherings are exactly what health experts are desperately trying to stop. Peddle lives on Hazel Street, not far from the Laurier campus. She said house parties in the area have been happening every weekend, and its been frustrating to see people flouting public health guidelines, especially as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise. You see this blatant disregard all around us, and its annoying, she said. Its also stressful, she said, knowing that if she gets sick, she could bring the virus home to her parents, or it could keep her from working and paying her rent. On Sept. 19, the province took action on these types of social gatherings specifically, reducing the number of people that can legally gather together to 10 indoors and 25 outdoors. The limits had been 50 indoors and 100 outdoors with physical distancing. The minimum fine for hosting a party that breaks these new rules is $10,000 and party guests could receive a fine of $750, just for showing up. So far this month, Waterloo Region Police say theyve responded to 10 calls that involve gatherings: four in Waterloo, four in Cambridge, one in Kitchener and one in Wilmot Township. As of Thursday, Waterloo bylaw officers have responded to 121 noise complaints related to loud music since Sept. 1. During this period, there have also been 16 noise bylaw charges issued and three for large gatherings. On Tuesday during the regions weekly briefing, police Chief Bryan Larkin spoke about the challenges of dealing with unsanctioned gatherings that traditionally come along with Homecoming celebrations each year. The annual event is set to take place this weekend, but in a virtual way. He said there will be a significant police presence in Waterloo this weekend to address the expected parties that tend to come along with Homecoming each year. Waterloo council has enacted temporary restrictions to shut down any music loud enough to be heard from the street between Sept. 25 and 27. The regions medical officer of health, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, said public health has heard of people getting a test so they can go to a party. Dont do that. Thats not recommended because it doesnt mean youre in the clear, she said during Tuesdays briefing. Someone whos asymptomatic could test negative one day and develop symptoms the next. On Sunday, Laurier announced that four students had tested positive for COVID-19 and were self-isolating. Management at the Ezra-Bricker student apartment buildings confirmed that two residents tested positive for the virus and were under quarantine in their units. One student who lives in an Ezra-Bricker building told The Record she was anxious hearing a student who lives nearby possibly in her building was isolating with the virus. With parties or larger gatherings happening all the time on her street, she and her roommates have decided to form a social bubble and not see anyone new until cases fall. Ezra-Bricker building management notified residents that this year no guests will be allowed inside the buildings during Homecoming weekend. Abbas Safdari lives on the other side of the campus, near Albert Street and University Avenue. He just graduated but is still living in the area and says hes seen an increase in large gatherings since the start of the month. Ive been seeing a lot of in-house parties going on, he said. The fear he felt during the first wave of the pandemic has now shifted to anxiety. He says living in an area where parties are taking place and students are catching the virus, it makes him rethink his plans to visit his grandparents. It kind of makes me a little bit angry that people arent taking it seriously, he said. But at the same time, he understands how people have grown complacent. The virus is an invisible threat, and when youre not seeing people with it, its easier to ignore. The Taliban launched a wave of attacks on security checkpoints in southern Afghanistan overnight, killing a total of 28 Afghan policemen, officials said on 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 US-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 governor's 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. By Ayya Lmahamad High level of partnership exists between Azerbaijan and the European Union, President Ilham Aliyev said while receiving credentials of the newly-appointed Ambassador of Sweden Christian Kamill on September 24, Azertag reported . Sweden has always actively participated in cooperation between the European Union and the region. There is now a very high level partnership between the European Union and Azerbaijan and this partnerhship covers many areas. I hope the negotiations on the new agreement will continue successfully, the president said. The president said that the cooperation with the EU continues, despite disruption of some plans due to COVID-19. Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan has signed documents on strategic partnership with one third of EU member states, which demonstrates the high level of cooperation. In addition, he stated that two years ago Azerbaijan and EU also signed a document on partnership priorities, which is very important for further development of cooperation. We are very grateful that the European Union supported Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereignty of its borders in this document. It is a very important sign of a fair and just approach to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the president emphasized. As for our bilateral relations, we want them to become more intense. I am confident that such opportunity will appear through the ambassadors' activity, Aliyev said. In turn, Ambassador Kamill stressed that Sweden is ready to support the Azerbaijan-EU cooperation. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Cities, townships and villages in Ohio will receive $650 million, the final round of federal CARES Act coronavirus relief funding available for local governments, if Gov. Mike DeWine signs a bill approved Wednesday by the Ohio General Assembly. The Senate and House voted the $650 million into an amended version of House Bill 614, a bill that otherwise reforms oversight of the states unemployment compensation system. The money will be allocated to local governments on a per-capita basis. Under the terms of the federal CARES act, the money can only be spent on direct coronavirus-related expenses, and not used to cover lost tax revenues stemming from the related economic crisis, as local governments had requested. State lawmakers previously allocated $350 million in CARES money to local governments. They had been waiting to approve the final round of money, hoping for additional flexibility from Congress. But that never happened. The manner in which the bill was passed led to heated debate on the House floor, with Democrats complaining that Republican House Speaker Bob Cupp circumvented the typical legislative process in a way that stifled debate. It got a single informal legislative committee hearing Tuesday before being sent to the Senate and House to be voted out Wednesday, although a similar bill approved by the Senate earlier this month got multiple hearings. The House ended up voting 87-2 to approve the bill, with two Cleveland Democrats, Reps. Juanita Brent and Stephanie Howse, voting no. Compared to the previous $350 million, which was allocated using the state formula for distributing local government funds, they said the per-capita formula for the $650 million led to Cleveland getting a smaller share of the money than it would have, despite having high poverty levels that caused the city to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Specifically, Cleveland will get an estimated $13.7 million under the bill approved on Wednesday, compared to $57.6 million it would have gotten under the LGF formula, House Democrats said. We have to get to a place where we are being thoughtful about using the peoples money," Howse said. The per-capita formula will give townships a relatively larger share of the money. But Cincinnati-area Rep. Bill Seitz, a Republican who lives in a township, said per-capita funding is a fairer formula, since township governments also have dealt with the coronavirus and its effects. Heres how the money will be split among local governments in the local area: Cuyahoga County, which will get $44.5 million; Geauga County ($6.7 million); Lake County ($16.6 million); Lorain County ($22.3 million) Medina County ($13 million) and Summit County ($19.5 million). The counties will allocate the money to local governments within their boundaries. Like earlier waves of CARES Act funding, the money must be spent by the end of the year, or else it will be returned to the federal government. The bill excludes Ohios six largest local governments, including the Cuyahoga and Summit county governments, which were eligible for $775 million in funding directly from the federal government earlier this year. Ohio got $4.5 billion in CARES money in total. State legislators and the Ohio Controlling Board have been voting to allocate the money for health departments, schools and universities, and other government entities throughout the year. Also on Wednesday, the House and Senate passed a bill that will allow Cupp to remove former House speaker Larry Householder from two state panels, one that oversees legislative ethics and another thats responsible for taking care of the Statehouse grounds, a move responding to Householders arrest on federal corruption charges in July. The language was amended Wednesday into an unrelated bill by the Senate and then passed by the House. Householder, a Republican, had gotten an automatic seat on both boards when he was speaker, and state law otherwise was designed to prevent removing a lawmaker once theyre on the board unless they leave office. Although he lost his leadership position, he has refused to resign from the legislature. He voted for the bill removing him from the two panels on Wednesday. A prior attempt by Cupp to remove Householder from the two panels earlier this month was derailed after House Democrats objected to the language doing so being added to an unrelated bill dealing with the Womens Suffrage Centennial Commission. The bill cleared the House unanimously Wednesday, but during a floor debate, state Rep. Jeff Crossman, a Parma Democrat, protested that Cupp still had not allowed a vote to repeal House Bill 6, the nuclear bailout bill thats central to the federal corruption probe that led to Householders arrest. Democrats have attempted unsuccessfully to introduce amendments to bills forcing an up-or-down vote on repealing House Bill 6 repeatedly in recent weeks. Cupp procedurally circumvented those efforts on Wednesday by moving to accept bills as passed by the Senate. Meanwhile, a committee has continued to hear testimony as it considers whether and how to repeal the bill. This story has been updated to clarify the CARES funding described in this story is the final round of Ohios share thats set aside for local governments. Poe Kiely Hogan Lanigan, the Kilkenny based law firm, has today announced that John Hickey will be appointed as Managing Partner on October 1 next. John, a partner and head of the firms property and Private Client department, will succeed long standing Managing Partner, Brian Kiely (who is pictured below). Brian has proved to be a popular and highly successful Managing Partner over the last 20 years and has navigated the firm through many years of continued growth, including overseeing the firms merger with Lanigan Solicitors in 2009 and M.J. Crotty & Son in 2019. Brian is also widely regarded as one of Irelands foremost legal experts in the area of Renewable Energy and has advised numerous clients on many and varied commercial transactions. Brian Kiely Brian will remain with the firm and will continue to advise the firms energy and commercial clients to ensure that they continue to receive the high levels of service they have come to expect from Poe Kiely Hogan Lanigan Solicitors. This will involve working closely with his colleague, Owen Sweeney, also a partner in the firms Corporate & Commercial department. Coming from a renowned family of Kilkenny hurlers, John is very well known in both hurling and wider sporting circles. A native of Dunnamaggin, John won Leinster minor medals with Kilkenny and is the brother of legendary Kilkenny full back Noel Hickey. Another brother, Tom, was captain of the Kilkenny team for the 1998 All-Ireland final. He joined Poe Kiely Hogan Lanigan in 2006 and became a partner in 2014. John has managed many large Commercial property transactions and regularly advises Developers, Financial Institutions and Private Clients including a large number of agricultural clients in addition to overseeing the firms Property, Wills and Probate teams. It is a great honour to be appointed Managing Partner and to lead the firm through its next phase of development. Brians contribution to Poe Kiely Hogan Lanigan Solicitors has been phenomenal. During his time the firm has grown on all fronts whilst simultaneously investing in new technologies to ensure our clients receive the best and most efficient service at all times. I am delighted to accept the position and look forward to working with Brian and indeed the whole team over the years ahead," said Mr Hickey. Brian Kiely commented - It has been an enormous privilege to lead Poe Kiely Hogan Lanigan Solicitors during such a period of change in its history. I look forward to working closely with John and to continue serving my clients over the next few years as the firm embarks upon the next chapter in its development. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne is criticizing the national news media for having a short attention span on the devastation of Hurricane Sally, claiming that some of his colleagues in Congress were unaware of the extent of damage suffered along the Alabama Gulf Coast. Byrne, R-Fairhope, who suffered damage to his own house, said the national spotlight on weather-related events depends on where the event occurs. He accused the national media of snubbing post-disaster coverage in states that lean Republican often referred to as red states than those that lean Democratic, or blue states. If there is a forest fire on the West Coast, its a big story, said Byrne. If there is a hurricane on the Gulf Coast, theres a story on the run up and then its a big story, but then its gone. Thats a fact when you represent a red part of America. (The national media) treats you differently from the blue parts of America. Byrne said the lack of national coverage about hurricane damage is a concern when hes trying to get his colleagues to help him out on matters related to storm recovery. I can tell you from communication with my colleagues, they didnt have any idea on the extent of damage here, he said. It complicates my needs when the national media has ignored us. The run-up to the storm was widely covered by several national outlets, led by the The Weather Channel, which sent a fleet of reporters to the Alabama Gulf Coast and Florida Panhandle. Celebrity storm chaser Jim Cantore was positioned in Gulfport, Mississippi, ahead of the storms arrival, which took an unexpected jaunt east as it slowly took aim on the Alabama coast with the eyewall slamming into Gulf Shores. Driving from Gulfport into Mobile isnt fun in this mess. #Sally Hunker down all. pic.twitter.com/76KfaLyacb Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) September 15, 2020 CNN, after the storm hit, broadcast live outside badly-damaged Souvenir City in Gulf Shores. NBC sent a reporter to Pensacola, and a CBS reporter rode in a helicopter with U.S. Customs and Border Control to provide aerial coverage of the devastation. The New York Times and The Washington Post also had multiple storm-related stories last week. But little national coverage on the storms devastation has extended into this week, as the national coverage has shifted to the roiling politics of replacing Ruth Bader Ginsberg on the U.S. Supreme Court, and to the unrest in Louisville following a grand jurys decision not to pursue charges against police who were involved in the March death of Breonna Taylor. Byrne said that the national media has had extensive coverage on the ongoing wildfires in California, which have burned 3.6 million acres and has caused 26 fatalities and destroyed over 6,600 structures since the beginning of the year. How many gazillion stories have we seen from the forest fires? Byrne said. Its a tragedy out West. But they dont report the natural disasters out here this way and that shows me the bias o f the national news media. A similar concern was raised earlier this month in Louisiana over a lack of ongoing coverage of the devastation left by Hurricane Laura, a Category 4 storm that walloped the city of Lake Charles. The hurricane was responsible for 42 deaths in the U.S. and caused more than $10 billion in damages. Hurricane Sally, by contrast, resulted in one direct fatality and preliminary estimates are expected to show the damage in excess of initial assessments of $2 billion to $3 billion. Phillip Rawls, a retired journalism professor at Auburn University who spent decades covering Alabama politics for The Associated Press, said natural disasters with lots of fatalities get more coverage than those with fewer deaths. He added, The deaths from Hurricane Sally were in the single digits. The deaths from the wildfires were in the double digits. Rawls said that red states do not get ignored by media outlets when national disasters occur. He noted the extensive coverage in Texas following Hurricane Rita (2005) and Hurricane Harvey (2017), which both resulted in more fatalities than Sally and the wildfires combined. Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walks to the Senate floor in the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 23, 2020. (Erin Scott/Reuters) While not mentioning him by name, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday morning pushed back on President Donald Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election. McConnell tweeted, "The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792." The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792. Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) September 24, 2020 But McConnell made no mention of the explosive subject when he spoke on the Senate floor later Thursday morning,. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi didn't hold back, using the president's remarks to urge voter turnout in the 2020 election. Related video: Mitch McConnell vowed to vote on Supreme Court nomination "We don't agonize, we organize, and we want to make sure the American people know how important their vote is," she said. "It's very sad that you even have to ask that question, a real testimony to the need to protect our democracy." The California Democrat, who has said Trump "admires" leaders like Vladimir Putin of Russia, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called on the president to honor his oath of office. "He's trying to have the Constitution of the United States swallow Clorox," Pelosi said. He is trying to have the Constitution of the United States swallow Clorox. Asked of her plan if Trump wont recognize a Biden victory, Pelosi says, she has "a pretty good idea of the method of his madness" and it's "stunning" how "complicit" GOP are. https://t.co/fylU8NGJf8 pic.twitter.com/0Sr6904gnI ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) September 24, 2020 Asked if he will leave the White House peacefully at a White House news conference Wednesday night, Trump responded, "Well, we're going to have to see what happens. You know that." Story continues PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on Sept. 23, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) MORE: President Donald Trump declines to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'There won't be a transfer' When pressed for a second time if he would "commit to making sure that there's a peaceful transferral of power," Trump again turned to his baseless claim of widespread fraud involving mail-in ballots. "We want to have -- get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful, there won't be a transfer, frankly," Trump said. "There'll be a continuation." On Thursday, ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl asked White House press secretary Kayleigh McNenany, If the president loses this election, will this White House, will this president assure us that there will be a peaceful transfer of power? Its a very simple question. The president will accept the results of a free and fair election, McEnany responded. When another reporter followed up, asking: Just to understand this clearly, are the results legitimate only if the president wins? "The president will accept the results of a free and fair election, she repeated. He will accept the will of the American people. The Republican who heads the Senate Judiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham, told "Fox and Friends" Thursday morning there was nothing to worry about. "People wonder about the peaceful transfer of power. I can assure you it will be peaceful. Now, we may have litigation about who won the election ... and if Republicans lose we'll accept the result," Graham said, noting a court challenge was a key reason why Trump's Supreme Court nominee needed to be confirmed before the election. GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was more pointed in his reaction in a tweet overnight, saying a peaceful transition of power was "fundamental to democracy," but he also did not call out Trump by name. Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable. Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) September 24, 2020 On Thursday, Romney said he was "absolutely confident there will be a peaceful transition if theres a new president," when asked by reporters. "No question that all the people sworn to support the Constitution would assure that there would be a peaceful transition of power, including the president," Romney said. Rep. Liz Cheney, the third-ranking House Republican who has pushed back at Trump previously, tweeted a peaceful transfer of power is "fundamental to the survival of our Republic." The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. Americas leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath. Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) September 24, 2020 Several other Republicans pointed to the vital role a peaceful transfer of power plays in a democratic system, including Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who said she was concerned by Trump's comments. "The peaceful transfer of power is a fundamental tenet of our democracy. And I am confident that we will see it occur once again," Collins said Thursday. "I don't know what his thinking was, but we have always had a controlled transition between administrations." In an effort to deflect criticism of Trump's remarks, several Republicans pointed to comments Hillary Clinton made in August to Showtime's "The Circus". Clinton, after outlining that she believes Trump may target absentee ballots to discredit the election outcome, advised that Biden "not concede." "Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances because I think this is going to drag out, and eventually I do believe he will win if we don't give an inch and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is," Clinton said in the interview. "What he says doesn't matter any more than what Hillary Clinton advised Biden to do: Don't concede the election," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley told reporters Thursday. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., also pointed to the Clinton comment. "Whether its Mrs. Clinton telling Joe Biden to never concede or any other suggestion that somehow we wont finish this election year appropriately of course Im concerned about that but both sides are unhelpful on this topic," Blunt said. "But there will be a - if the president is reelected there is no transition and if hes not there will be a peaceful transition on January 20." Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said Thursday he is not at all concerned that Biden would not accept the outcome of the 2020 election. "If it's a clear outcome, there is no question," Kaine said. "We could have a murky outcome and then we have to wait and get it to be clear but there is no question that he will accept a clear outcome." The second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin of Illinois, called Trump "a real danger to the Constitution." "This is frightening rhetoric from the President of the United States. What he said to the American people was, go ahead and vote if you wish. But I'm not sure Ill accept your vote as the real sentiment of America. That questions the very foundation of our democracy, if a president does not accept the results of an election. It's not the first time hes said it, so we know that hes convinced of how important that statement is. But the American people should be convinced that this president is a real danger to our Constitution," he told reporters Thursday morning. His comments were echoed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who likened the president to a dictator. "Donald Trumps statement is what a dictator says although usually dictators dont announce in advance what their plans are," Warren said. "He wants to be named president for life, king of the country. Thats not how Democracy works." GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota wasn't concerned. "The president speaks in overly extreme manners on occasion, I didn't find what he said last night to be overly extreme quite honestly. I just thought that what he's making the point that we'll see what happens after the election," Cramer said. ABC News' Ben Gittleson, Ben Siegel and Trish Turner contributed to this report McConnell pushes back at Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power if he loses originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Samsung announced a new FE smartphone earlier today, the Galaxy S20 FE. That device actually comes with a flagship SoC, and its quite compelling across the board. Well, some of you are probably already trying to decide whether to get the Galaxy A71, or spend more and purchase the Galaxy S20 FE. Well, thats exactly what well try to help you with, in this article, as well compare the Samsung Galaxy A71 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. These two phones do have some things in common. Its hard to deny that the Galaxy S20 FE is a more premium device, though. Its more powerful, which is easy to notice by glancing over its spec sheet. Is it worth the extra money, though? Well, thats the question that needs answering, as smartphones sure are not cheap these days. As per usual, well compare the two phones across a number of categories. Well kick things off by comparing their spec sheets, and then more to the design, display, performance, battery, cameras, and audio comparisons. That being said, lets kick things off, lets start the Samsung Galaxy A71 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE comparison. Advertisement Specs Samsung Galaxy A71 Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Screen size 6.7-inch fullHD+ Super AMOLED display (60Hz) 6.5-inch fullHD+ Super AMOLED display (120Hz) Screen resolution Main: 2400 x 1080 2400 x 1080 SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 RAM 6GB / 8GB (LPDDR4X) 6GB (LPDDR5) Storage 128GB (UFS 2.1); expandable 128GB; Non-Expandable Rear cameras 64MP (f/1.8 aperture, 0.8um pixel size, 26mm lens, PDAF) 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 123-degree FoV, ultrawide) 5MP (f/2.2 aperture, depth) 5MP (f/2.4 aperture, macro) 12MP (f/1.8 aperture, 1.8um pixel size, Dual Pixel AF, OIS) 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 123-degree FoV, 1.12um pixel size, ultrawide) 8MP (f/2.4 aperture, 1.0um pixel size, telephoto, 3x optical zoom, OIS) Front cameras 32MP (f/2.2 aperture, 0.8um pixel size, 26mm lens) 32MP (f/2.2 aperture, 80-degree FoV, 0.8um pixel size) Battery 4,500mAh, non-removable, 25W fast wired charging 4,500mAh, non-removable, 25W wired charging, 10W wireless charging, Wireless PowerShare Dimensions 163.6 x 76 x 7.7mm 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4mm Weight 179 grams 190 grams Connectivity LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C Security In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) OS Android 10 One UI 2.1 Android 10 One UI 2.5 Price $499 $699 Buy Amazon Samsung (not yet available) Samsung Galaxy A71 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Design Now, in terms of the design, the two devices are extremely similar. Both phones look like theyre are made out of metal and glass, but theyre not. The Galaxy A71 comes with both a plastic frame and backplate, while the S20 FE offers a metallic frame and a plastic back. Both devices offer thin bezels, and a centered display camera hole. Even the general shape of the two phones is similar, with identical curves on the edges. Their displays also feature rounded corners. The phones are not identical, though. The display camera hole on the Galaxy S20 FE is smaller than the one on the Galaxy A71. Bezels are similar in terms of thickness, though not identical. The power / lock button is located on the right side of both phones, and the same goes for the volume up and down buttons. Advertisement Samsungs branding is present on the back of both devices. Both of these phones feature rear camera modules in the same spot. You will notice that theyre located in the top-left corner on both devices. The Galaxy A71 does include one more camera on the back, as it has four of them, but that doesnt mean it can take better pictures. More on that later. The Galaxy A71 has a slightly larger display than the Galaxy S20 FE, and it is both taller and wider than the Galaxy S20 FE. The Galaxy A71 is also thinner than the companys newest smartphone. It is also a bit lighter at 179 grams, while the Galaxy S20 FE weighs 190 grams. The Galaxy S20 FE is more slippery than the Galaxy A71, so keep that in mind. Using a case on that device is probably a good idea. Samsung Galaxy A71 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Display The Samsung Galaxy A71 features a 6.7-inch fullHD+ Super AMOLED display. The Galaxy S20 FE, on the other hand, features a 6.5-inch fullHD+ super AMOLED panel. The Galaxy S20 FEs display does include a high refresh rate, unlike the Galaxy A71s. It offers a 120Hz refresh rate, while the Galaxy A71s panel is limited to 60Hz. That high refresh rate will make scrolling, and the general use of the display seems more fluid. Once you get used to it, its really difficult to go back. Advertisement The display aspect ratio is the same on both phones. Were looking at a 20:9 aspect ratio here. Both of these displays are flat, and both look really good. Black are quite deep on both displays, while you can also expect punchy colors. These may not be the newest or the best displays from the company, but theyre quite great, and very few people will have complaints. The Galaxy S20 FEs panel is technically better, but if you dont care about the refresh rate, the image shown isnt all that much different. Also, if you care about HDR10 content, go with the Galaxy S20 FE, as the Galaxy A71 does not support it. Samsung Galaxy A71 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Performance When it comes to performance, the Galaxy S20 FE is the better of the two, theres no doubt about that. Dont get me wrong, the Galaxy A71 is not a bad performer, quite the contrary, but if you put them side-by-side and try using them, youll see that the Galaxy S20 FE is in a league of its own. That is not surprising at all considering that it has a much more powerful processor on the inside. The Galaxy A71 is fueled by the Snapdragon 730 SoC, the same processor that is included inside the Pixel 4a. The Galaxy S20 FE, on the other hand, is fueled by the Snapdragon 865 SoC. The Snapdragon 865 is a flagship-grade processor, while the Snapdragon 730 is a bit older chip now, and it was newer the best mid-range chip from the company. Both devices come with 6GB of RAM, though the Galaxy A71 has an 8GB RAM variant as well. Do note that the Galaxy S20 FE offers faster RAM, though. Advertisement Both devices will serve you really well in day-to-day usage, but the Galaxy S20 FE can load apps a bit quicker, and the same goes for games. Youll also see less stuttering on the Galaxy S20 FE, thats for sure. The device also allows you to play the most graphically-intensive games without a problem, while you may see some dropped frames with the Galaxy A71. These two phones are aimed at completely different types of consumers. Samsung Galaxy A71 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Battery What about battery life, is the Galaxy S20 FE better in this regard as well? Well, no, not really. That is to be expected, though, as both devices have the same battery pack, and yet the Galaxy S20 FE comes with a much higher refresh rate, and a much more powerful SoC. Truth be said, the device does include a smaller display, but its display is not that much smaller, plus it has the same resolution as the Galaxy A71s panel. Advertisement Truth be said, you can expect solid battery life on both phones, but the Galaxy A71 will be able to provide much more in that regard. Both devices include a 4,500mAh battery pack, which should be able to get most of you through a full day of use, even a bit more intensive use. The Galaxy A71 should be able to provide you a full days worth of use even on heavy use, but your mileage may vary. If you push your phone hard enough, pretty much every one of them can be left without juice earlier than expected. Both of these phones do support fast charging. You will be able to take advantage of 25W fast wired charging on both devices. Only the Galaxy S20 FE offers wireless charging, though. Its wireless charging is not exactly blazing fast at 15W, but at least youre getting it. The phone also supports Wireless PowerShare (reverse wireless charging) at 9W. The Galaxy A71 only offers wired charging, thats it. Samsung Galaxy A71 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Cameras When it comes to camera prowess, the Galaxy S20 FE takes the cake. This handset took the main camera from the Galaxy S20 and S20+, and we all know how capable that sensor is. It combines that with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera (which is not to the level of the one on the Galaxy S20+), and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera for 3x optical zoom. Advertisement The Galaxy A71, on the other hand, utilizes a 64-megapixel main camera, and it combines that with a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. A 5-megapixel depth camera and 5-megapixel macro camera are also included here. Both phones include a 32-megapixel camera on the front, in case you were wondering. During the day, when theres plenty of light, both phones are quite capable. Both can shoot images with great detail, and good dynamic range, though the Galaxy S20 FE does a better job in the dynamic range department. Images taken with that phone are slightly better during the day, but the real difference is noticeable when the light goes away. It simply manages to capture more detail, and it does a better job keeping the noise away. Ultrawide camera performance is pretty much the same between the two devices, while the same can be said for their selfie cameras as well. When it comes to telephoto cameras, both are good in good lighting, but they do fall apart in low light, so youll want to use the main sensor in low light. Advertisement Audio When it comes to audio, the Galaxy S20 FE is the better choice as well. This handset offers stereo speakers, while the Galaxy A71 comes with a single, bottom-firing speaker. That speaker is not bad at all, but compared to the stereo setup on the Galaxy S20 FE, its pretty underwhelming. The stereo setup on the Galaxy S20 FE is actually quite good, those speakers do get pretty loud, and the distortion is minimal on high volume settings. Sound via a good pair of headphones is better on the Galaxy S20 FE as well. The sound is well-balanced, across the spectrum. The lows are a bit weaker than the mids and highs, but its really good overall. The Galaxy A71 offers good sound via headphones, but its a bit weaker than the Galaxy S20 FE in every way. Its not bad by any means, but its just not as good as what the Galaxy S20 FE has to offer. Its also worth noting that only the Galaxy A71 has a 3.5mm headphone jack. France introduced new measures to fight the rapid resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic in major cities, adding to risks weighing on an already slowing economic recovery. The first significant tightening of restrictions on daily life since the end of the lockdown in May includes closing bars at 10 p.m. in Paris and several other large urban centres. The tougher restrictions follow similar moves in the UK, as Europe reemerges at a hot spot for the disease. If we dont take measures rapidly, we risk being in a critical situation in some regions in a few weeks, Health Minister Olivier Veran said at a press conference in Paris late Wednesday, insisting that the government isnt considering another nationwide lockdown. There are signs the prospect of harsher curbs has already hit confidence, which improved less than expected in September. National statistics agency Insee said that while business leaders are more upbeat about recent activity, they are losing optimism about the outlook for their own companies and the entire services sector. Todays measures are an extra shock to confidence as it reminds consumers that it isnt over, said Julien Manceaux, an economist at ING. While some sectors could be hit, its not a general shock. France is the latest in a string of European governments to change tack in the face of mounting infection rates as they try to avoid the widespread restrictions that tipped the continent into a deep recession earlier this year. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week abandoned his appeal for Britons to return to offices as he warned of many more deaths unless people obey a raft of new restrictions. The British government is due to set out a fresh round of policies to support jobs on Thursday after abandoning plans for a fall budget. A government official said Wednesday that now is not the right time to outline long-term strategy, a sign the Treasury is preparing for months of economic disruption. In France, the virus has gathered force after tailing off at the start of the summer. The country has recently hit fresh highs in daily infections of more than 13,000 positive tests. Gyms in the hardest-hit French cities will be shuttered for two weeks, and there will be limits on public and private gatherings. In Marseille -- one of the most seriously affected areas -- all restaurants and bars will be shut from Saturday. Any new restrictions will apply for two weeks and can be extended, Veran said, adding that businesses affected will be compensated. Prime Minister Jean Castex will be under pressure to explain the strategy when he appears on TV talk show Thursday evening. Its an unfair decision that the government has taken only to mask its inability to handle the crisis, Franck Trouet, spokesman for the employers union GNI, told Agence-France Presse on Thursday, adding that bars and restaurants will suffer from a new loss of business after having invested heavily to meet social distancing rules. Shares in exhibition organizer GL Events fell as much as 10% to its lowest level in more than a decade. The widening spread has disrupted national politics. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who is in quarantine after confirming he tested positive for Covid-19 last week, will hold a call Thursday with representatives from sectors hit by the new restrictions. Frances neighbors are reacting by restricting travel. Italy on Monday ordered mandatory virus tests for people arriving from Paris and some other parts of France. Germany on Wednesday added the regions of Brittany, Normandy and Centre-Val de Loire to its list of coronavirus risk areas. The Paris region has been on the list since the end of August. Many of the new infections have been linked to vacationers bringing the virus home, as well as young people socializing without respecting distancing and hygiene rules. So far, the fresh wave of infections hasnt claimed large numbers of lives. More than 30,000 people died from the disease in France between March and July. The government reported 43 deaths linked to Covid-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total to 31,459. Thats given President Emmanuel Macron the leeway to use more targeted measures to fight the disease to minimize the hit to the economy, following the path taken by Frances European neighbours. The government has said that France cant afford to impose another full lockdown. Farm Bills: Farmers' organisations call for Karnataka bandh, likely to be held on September 28 India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Bengaluru, Sep 24: Several farmers' organisations across Karnataka is likely to hold a state-wide bandh on Monday (September 28) as a sign of protest against the Karnataka government's Land Reforms Ordinances and Union government's farm bills. Earlier, it was decided that the strike would take place on Friday (September 25) after a massive rally was conducted in Bengaluru over the same issue. However, the state-wide bandh is likely to be held on September 28. The farmers' groups have said they will block the national highway, too. Indian are allowed to travel to these 14 destinations across the world amid COVID-19 According to reports, many farmers in Karnataka are against the contentious ordinances passed by the state government on land and agricultural issues - namely the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Ordinance 2020, Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020. So far, many labour organisations, Peace Auto and Taxi Association, Bharath Vehicles drivers Union, Ola, Uber and Taxi for Sure Owners and Drivers Association, Lorry Owners Association and others have already announced their support to the farmers. Even the Bengaluru Restaurant Owners Association has voiced their support for the farmers' strike. Fit India Movement: PM Modi to interact with Kohli, Milind Soman among others Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News Among other provisions of these laws, the farmers are opposing the easing of norms which will allow non-agriculturalists of any income group to purchase agricultural lands and retrospectively decriminalise those who bought farmlands illegally till now. Sexual intercourse can not only improve your mood but is also associated with a lower risk of heart disease and an improved immune system There is plenty of evidence to indicate that sex has both physical and mental benefits. We know that sexual intercourse can not only improve your mood but is also associated with a lower risk of heart disease and an improved immune system. A recent research study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology on 22nd September 2020, found that people who resumed sexual activity within three to seven months after a heart attack had a better survival rate. Myocardial infarction and sex Myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when one of the blood vessels (usually an artery) of the heart gets blocked, resulting in a reduced or complete cessation of blood flow in that portion of the heart. Scientists from Israel conducted a study on 495 sexually active patients, with a mean age of 53 years, who were already enrolled in the longitudinal Israel Study of First Acute Myocardial Infarction. About 90 percent of these participants were male. All the participants were interviewed when they were admitted to the hospital for the first time and then after 3 to 6 months. After their first heart attack, 88 percent of the patients, that is 434 participants, resumed their sexual activity within 3 to 7 months. As compared to the number of times these patients indulged in sexual activity before the heart attack, 263 patients were able to maintain or increase their frequency of having sex. Specifically, 179 of the 263 were able to maintain their pre-MI sex frequency, while 84 patients showed an increase in the frequency. However, 171 patients showed reduced sexual activity frequency and the rest abstained from having sex. All of the 495 participants were monitored for around 22 years, during which time 211 of the patients died. Results of the study After following up for almost 22 years, it was found that the chances of survival improved by maintaining or increasing the frequency of sexual activity within the first few months after a heart attack. However, it was noted that on average, patients who reported an increase in their sexual activity frequency were slightly younger, maintained good overall health, had low scores of depression and higher socioeconomic status than those who abstained or died. The study also showed that people who maintained or increased their sexual activity after a heart attack had a 35 percent lower risk of death as compared to the people who either became less sexually active or completely refrained from having sex. Conclusion: Sexual activity is safe after a heart attack According to the scientists, this study has a lot of drawbacks, as it majorly included men and is more prone to have participation bias, as it is an intrusive study. However, they concluded that people with a history of myocardial infarction should resume sexual activity after a few months as it is positively associated with long-term survival and does not possess any risk. For more information, read our article on Heart attack. Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 23:48:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close YANGON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities seized nearly 500,000 stimulants in Shan state, according to a release from the Military True News Information Team on Thursday. Acting on a tip-off, the joint police force made a seizure in Tachilek township on Wednesday. A total of 499,800 stimulants worth over 240 million kyats (183,206 U.S. dollars) were confiscated from a house and a car along with five suspects. The township police filed a case against the suspects under the country's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law, the release said. According to a latest release issued by the President's Office on Monday, a total of 1,342 drug-related cases were registered across Myanmar while 2,051 suspects were charged in connection with the cases as of Sept. 19 this year, since the formation of the Drug Activity Special Complaint Department on June 26, 2018. Enditem Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy and Minister of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic Andrej Dolezal signed a memorandum of cooperation within the Silk Road Economic Belt. The press service of the Infrastructure Ministry said on Thursday that the document will contribute to creating conditions for the further development of multimodal transport in transfer between Asia and the EU through Ukraine and Slovakia, as well as for increasing the number of container block trains that will be used for combined freight transport; putting into practice the implementation of the project on the creation of multimodal logistics centers that will handle cargo on the Silk Road route, which will make it possible to form an appropriate bilateral working group and create a basis for negotiations with the Chinese side; developing a common approach to organizing the movement of container trains running between Asia and the EU through Ukraine and Slovakia. "Both Ukraine and Slovakia are extremely interested in developing their transit potential and improving the processes of organizing the delivery of goods in containers from the EU countries to China and vice versa. In early September, we held consultations with the Slovak side to intensify cooperation in the development of the Silk Road through the territory of Ukraine and Slovakia. Today we are fixing them with the relevant memorandum," the press service said, citing Vladyslav Krykliy. The ministry said that the memorandum has been drawn up for an indefinite period and will enter into force on Thursday, September 24. In addition, according to the ministry, during a meeting with the Slovak side, the Minister of Infrastructure confirmed the readiness to intensify the work of the Ukrainian and Slovak sides on the development of logistics terminals in Chop, Mukacheve and Kosice and proposed a joint search for financial resources for the implementation of the Creation of Multimodal Logistics Center Between Ukraine and Slovakia Based on the Existing Terminal in Chop project. STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- Condado Tacos will officially open its third location in Northeast Ohio at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1. The restaurant, located at 17830 Royalton Road, will be a part of the Royalton Collection development. Originally, it was set to open in July, but it was delayed to early autumn. Condado, a Columbus-based build-your-own taco chain, has spread rapidly with 19 locations across four states. Its other two Northeast Ohio locations are in Westlakes Crocker Park, which opened in 2019, and the Pinecrest development in Orange Village, which opened in 2018. On Oct. 1, Condados Strongsville location will host a grand opening celebration that will feature one free taco with purchases all day on opening day, according to a press release. The specials continue over the weekend: Customers who visit the restaurant on Oct. 2 or Oct. 3 will receive peel and win cards with prizes like free menu items and gift cards, and customers who visit the restaurant on opening weekend and post to Instagram with the hashtag #condadostrongsville will be entered to win $100 Condado gift cards, according to a press release. Northeast Ohio is a great area for Condado, and were eager to bring our newest location to Strongsville, said Joe Kahn, founder and CEO of Condado Tacos, in a press release. Were thrilled to welcome guests with our community vibe and look forward to providing enough yum for everyone in the Strongsville area for many more years to come. The Strongsville locations interior space will feature original artwork by Condado art director Lindsay Pilko, who was raised in Strongsville, according to a press release. You can find more information about the new Condado restaurant at condadotacos.com/strongsville. (Natural News) Conservatives are clamoring online, hoping that President Trump nominates Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be the next Supreme Court Justice of the United States. As conservatives rush to nominate a Supreme Court Justice before the 2020 election, they may get the opposite of what they really want. Republicans are on the verge of electing one of the most egregious authoritarians, a woman who has a track record of defending the power of the state over the freedom of the individual. Conservative darling Amy Barrett is for indefinite lock downs, forced vaccination In order to get approval from conservatives, a Supreme Court candidate merely has to espouse disdain for one case, Roe vs Wade. This was the infamous ruling that led to modern day infanticide unchecked, taxpayer funded abortions that conscript medical professionals to terminate human life from the womb. While this case is important, what about all the other court opinions that have led to human abuses? In 2020, Judge Barret sided on behalf of J.B. Pritzker, Governor of Illinois giving him supreme authority to lock down the state for as long as he pleases. Judge Barrett gave in to the authoritarian left by hiding behind a 1905 ruling in Jacobsen v. Massachusetts. This ruling gave local Massachusetts authorities free reign to vaccinate and re-vaccinate every adult in their jurisdiction and fine those who did not comply. Jacobsen v. Massachusetts (1905): The board of health of a city or town if, in its opinion, it is necessary for the public health or safety shall require and enforce the vaccination and re-vaccination of all the inhabitants thereof and shall provide them with the means of free vaccination. Whoever, being over twenty-one years of age and not under guardianship, refuses or neglects to comply with such requirement shall forfeit five dollars. Barrett is prone to side with the state in all matters of public health hysteria, disregarding individual liberty, medical privacy, informed consent and human rights. She concurred with the majority in Illinois Republican Party et al. v. J.B. Pritzker, Governor of Illinois and agreed to hold down the people of Illinois through indefinite, illegal lockdowns and economic restrictions. If nominated, Barret would continue to allow Democrats to rip up the Constitution under the guise of safety and protecting the greater good. If nominated, Barrett would ultimately rule in favor of compulsory vaccination, giving government the power to force experimental covid-19 injections, faulty flu vaccines, and all other pharmaceutical products that are promoted as one-size-fits-all public health solutions. Judge Barrett would allow governors to restrict religious freedom Furthermore, it seems that Barrett would restrict religious liberty. In Illinois Republican Party et al. v. J.B. Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, she concurred that the governor was not compelled to make a special dispensation for religious activities. She agreed that the First Amendment Free Speech Clause did not prevent him from controlling religious exercise. As in the cases reconciling the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses, all that the Governor did was to limit to a certain degree the burden on religious exercise that [the governors executive order] imposed. Pennsylvania District Judge William S. Stickman refuses to hide behind the fragile precedent that continues to mock the original intent of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution. Judge Stickman stood against the human rights abuses that followed the 1905 Jacobsen v. Massachusetts compulsory vaccination ruling. He ruled against Pennsylvanias illegal lock down in 2020 and wrote, Jacobson was decided over a century ago. Since that time, there has been substantial development of federal constitutional law in the area of civil liberties That century of development has seen the creation of tiered levels of scrutiny for constitutional claims. They did not exist when Jacobson was decided. [] Just because Barrett worked as clerk for former Justice Antonin Scalia, does not automatically make her an honorable originalist who can interpret the law by following the Constitution. Her track record, especially during 2020, proves the opposite to be true. Watch Robert F. Kennedy Jr. debate Alan Dershowitz on Jacobsen v. Massachusetts (1905), in regard to vaccine safety, informed consent and human rights. Sources include: BigLeaguePolitics.com Supreme.Justia.com Brighteon.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Michel Rose (Reuters) Paris, France Thu, September 24, 2020 10:34 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46e364a 2 World France,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,pandemic Free France's health minister unveiled a map of coronavirus "danger zones" around the country on Wednesday and gave the hardest-hit local authorities, including that of Marseille, days to tighten restrictions or risk having a state of health emergency declared there. Olivier Veran told a news conference the country would be divided into zones by alert level with Marseille, the second-largest city, and the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe for now the only two areas put on the "maximum" alert level. Paris and its suburbs but also the northern city of Lille, the southwestern town of Toulouse and six other cities were declared "reinforced danger zones", Veran added. "Should the sanitary situation worsen further in those areas, then a state of health emergency would be put in place", the minister said. Like other European countries where the infection rate has soared in the past month, France has been gradually tightening limits on public and private gatherings locally, hoping it will be enough to contain the disease and avoid a second national lockdown. 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. Several indicators are being taken into account to define the different danger levels presented by Veran: the number of infected people in general; the number of 65-and-over people infected; and the share of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units. Shortly after Veran spoke, French health authorities reported 13,072 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over 24 hours, the daily tally coming in above 13,000 for the third time in six days. And, on a national level, the number of people in ICUs are around the 1,000 threshold, which is a 3-1/2-month high. In Paris and the other cities now labeled "reinforced danger zones", attendance at major events will be limited to 1,000 people from the 5,000 allowed now, pre-planned events such as student parties will be banned, and bars and restaurants will have to close at 10 pm at the latest. Local officials representing the central government in different regions will have a couple of days to enforce these measures. Two government sources said Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo had strongly resisted restrictions on the opening hours of bars and cafes in the capital, arguing that this would be economically devastating for the sector. Hidalgo's councilor in charge of health issues confirmed the mayor's resistance to the measures, on the grounds that they would not be sustainable over the long term. Among other measures, there will be a ban on public gatherings of more than 10 people and, in "maximum" alert level areas like Marseille, bars and restaurants will be closed from Saturday. Credit Suisse, UBS held tie-up talks backed by both chairmen - Bilanz FILE PHOTO: Logo of Swiss bank UBS is seen in Zurich ZURICH (Reuters) - The chairmen of UBS and Credit Suisse supported a merger of equals between Switzerland's two largest banks during discussions earlier this year, Swiss magazine Bilanz reported on Wednesday, adding talks had since stagnated. The details reported by finance periodical Bilanz suggest that a merger between Credit Suisse and UBS, which had been examined by staff working under UBS chairman Axel Weber in recent months, had been more seriously considered than previously known, receiving backing from both parties. Both UBS and Credit Suisse declined comment. Switzerland's two biggest banks held tie-up negotiations in the first half of the year, Bilanz reported, citing two unnamed sources involved in the discussions. Although kept secret, a merger had been considered seriously, one source told Bilanz, receiving the backing of both UBS Chairman Axel Weber and Credit Suisse Chairman Urs Rohner, who is due to retire from his post in 2021. However, discussions had dropped off since the summer holidays, one source told Bilanz, amid a drop in Credit Suisse's share price placing the banks' respective valuations beyond the merger of equals threshold. Reuters reported last week that the board of UBS had gathered to discuss strategy, but a merger with Credit Suisse was not on the official agenda, suggesting cooling interest in the idea. Both chief executives of UBS and Credit Suisse expressed expectations of an up-tick in consolidation within Europe's banking sector at a conference on Tuesday, with UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti calling more deals "inevitable". (Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; Editing by Barbara Lewis) Egypt is recruiting volunteers to take part in the clinical trials for a Covid-19 vaccine The Ministry of Health and Population announced on 12 September the beginning of clinical trials for a Chinese developed COVID-19 vaccine. According to Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said the vaccine will be tried on 6,000 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 60. Volunteers must be free of chronic diseases and will be free to withdraw from the trial at any time. Minister of Health Hala Zayed pointed out the third stage of the trials of the vaccine developed by the Chinese company Sinopharm will be conducted worldwide. The 10 countries taking part in the current phase include Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and Bahrain, and the trials are being conducted in cooperation with the Chinese government and the UAE healthcare company G42. Egypts Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) has said it will produce the vaccine if it is licensed. Megahed says the vaccines side effects are expected to replicate common reactions to other medicines and typically will be mild. They may include moderate pain, redness and stiffness at the place of vaccination and/or symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, allergies, muscle pain, joint pain, lethargy, and seizures. If any of the volunteers suffer these symptoms they must inform the responsible medical official within 24 hours through the hotline 15530, explained Megahed. The trial protocols include giving 2,000 volunteers a dose of a first vaccine prototype and 2,000 a dose of a second prototype. The remaining 2,000 will receive a placebo. Hossam Hosni, head of the Health Ministrys scientific committee, noted that earlier suggestions that Egypt conducts clinical trials of a Russian vaccine were eventually abandoned due to safety concerns. Unlike its Russian counterpart, the Chinese vaccine has been produced under the World Health Organisation (WHO). Last week the health minister inspected the VACSERA premises which will assess volunteers for the third phase trials. Anyone interested in volunteering can visit the website http://www.covactrial.mohp.gov.eg/ to apply. The trials themselves will be conducted at VACSERA, the Abbasiya Chest Hospital and the National Liver Institute. Volunteers will take two doses of the vaccine, 21 days apart, and will be closely monitored by the Ministry of Health for a year. Prior to the trial volunteers will take a PCR test to ensure they have not been previously infected with Covid-19, said Megahed. Zayed confirmed in a press release that a national committee has been formed to monitor the clinical trials. The committee is headed by Mohamed Hassan, assistant minister for public health initiatives, and includes representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Armed Forces Health Services, the Egyptian Drug Authority, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Justice. So far more than 500 volunteers have applied to take part in the vaccine trials. Volunteers are paid LE250 for each trial. To ensure the objectivity of results they will not be informed which vaccine they will be taking. Egypts 6,000 volunteers will join a further 30,000 around the world who are taking part in the trials. *A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Clackamas County deputies identified the 16-year-old killed in an early September crash near Wilsonville and said they will forward a manslaughter case against the teenage driver for review by the county prosecutor. Deputies said the driver lost control of the car on Sept. 6 and struck an oncoming SUV at Southwest Stafford and Newland roads. Nicholas King, of Lake Oswego, was killed, the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office said. The 16-year-old driver, also from Lake Oswego, sustained traumatic injuries. Deputies said three people in the other car were also hurt in the crash. Deputies said they found the driver with a small amount of drugs" after the crash, but authorities have not specified what type or whether the driver had recently consumed them. Deputies said the district attorney is expected to review manslaughter charges against the driver. The Oregonian/OregonLive is not naming the driver because he has not yet been charged. It is the second fatal crash of the summer involving a teenage driver and victim. A teenage girl was killed in a Washington County crash in June that resulted in charges against the teen driver. This story has been updated to reflect the current case status. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijans State Security Service (SSS) has warned citizens against Armenian provocation and espionage attempts in social media. In a press release published on its website on September 22, the State Security Service said that with the intensification of military provocations on the line of contact, Armenia uses fake Azerbaijani names and the Azerbaijani language on social networking platforms to create tension and panic among the population in the frontline areas and to collect information about the activities, operational intentions, movements of military units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. In connection with the above-mentioned cases, the State Security Service urges the Azerbaijani citizens to be vigilant, not to follow the provocations of the adversary, not to disseminate information that constitutes a military secret that could harm the combat capability of our army and the security of the local population, the SSS said. The SSS recommended citizens not to respond to materials sent by anonymous profiles, social networking chats and messengers, and not to share such content with acquaintances and relatives. The agency urged citizens to refer only to the information of the official state bodies of our country regarding the situation on the front. The citizens were recommended to address the State Security Service over any intelligence-provocative appeals addressed to them under fake names and via various communication channels. 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. 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. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Jon Platt Joins Berklees Board of Trustees Berklee has named Jon Platt to its Board of Trustees. Platt is chair and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the leading global music publisher, where his inclusive leadership style has reshaped the corporate culture and continues to set a powerful example for the music industry. Platts term on Berklees board begins on October 1. Since Platts arrival, Sony/ATV has increased executives of color within its ranks and significantly grown representation by women on its senior leadership team. He has also attracted key new signings and executive talent, as well as expanded opportunities available to songwriters. With a mantra to always put songwriters first, Sony/ATV is setting the standard on how songwriters are paid as the first music publisher to expedite foreign royalty payments. Were looking forward to having Jon Platt serve on the Board of Trustees, said Berklee President Roger H. Brown. He is a visionary who brings strong leadership and business expertise that are essential in connecting our students to the ever-evolving music industry. ADVERTISEMENT Platt is acknowledged for his influence as a creative executive. He is widely credited for bringing hip-hop music to dominance in the music publishing industry by elevating how R&B and hip-hop artists are respected and compensated as songwriters. Throughout his career, he has signed and collaborated with prominent songwriters including Jay-Z, Beyonce, Drake, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, and Usher. He previously served as chair and CEO of Warner Chappell and led the companys turnaround. Platt also worked for 17 years at EMI Music Publishing. He has received numerous honors including Billboards Power 100, SESACs Visionary Award, Morehouse Colleges Candle Award, and City of Hopes prestigious Spirit of Life Award. In 2005, he launched the Big Jon Platt Scholarship Program for high school students from his hometown of Denver, Colorado, to attend college. The Vatican on Tuesday reaffirmed its stance that euthanasia and assisted suicide are intrinsically evil, and told priests they should minister to those contemplating such deaths to try to change their minds but shouldnt be present at the end if they dont. The Vaticans doctrine office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a lengthy new document on end-of-life care for the terminally ill on Tuesday. It takes into account medical advances, the advent of do not resuscitate orders and legal approval for assisted suicide, as well as new Vatican perspectives on palliative care, including for children. Vatican declares euthanasia and assisted suicide intrinsically evil. Catholic teaching holds that life must be defended from conception until its natural death. It insists that chronically ill patients, including those in vegetative states, must receive ordinary care such as hydration and nutrition, but that extraordinary or disproportionate care can be suspended if it is no longer beneficial or is only prolonging a precarious and painful life. The Vatican stressed in the new document that the renunciation of extraordinary care in no way can mean a request for assisted suicide or euthanasia which it called a crime against human life. The judgment that an illness is incurable cannot mean that care has come at an end, it said. Euthanasia, therefore, is an intrinsically evil act, in every situation or circumstance. It said those who participate in it, including medical personnel, are committing homicide and that lawmakers who approve it become accomplices of a grave sin. Pope Francis has described euthanasia and abortion as evidence of todays throwaway culture, in which the sick, the elderly and disabled are considered unworthy of life. In the text, the Vatican told priests they should provide spiritual accompaniment to those who have expressed a desire to end their lives through assisted suicide or euthanasia. But it said priests can only offer the sacraments of confession or anointing of the sick if the patients truly repent and change their minds. To delay absolution is a medicinal act of the church, intended not to condemn, but to lead the sinner to conversion, it said. And it told priests that if such patients dont change their minds, the priests shouldnt be present at the time of death since that could be interpreted as approval of this action. The Vatican backed the use of hospice centers and palliative care, including deep sedation to reduce pain. But it said such medication must never be used with the intent of hastening death. And it called for the expansion of prenatal hospice centers to provide medical, psychological and spiritual care to parents and children suffering pre-natal pathologies that are inconsistent with life. Rather than resorting to abortion, the Vatican said, providing this assistance helps the parents to handle their grief and to regard this experience not just as a loss, but as a moment in the journey of love which they have travelled together with their child. Associated Press A mother who has two children enrolled in Manitobas French-language school division is seeking a court injunction to allow them to attend class without wearing masks. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A mother who has two children enrolled in Manitobas French-language school division is seeking a court injunction to allow them to attend class without wearing masks. Krista McKenzie, a practising lawyer who is representing her family, has taken the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine to court because administrators have asked her to keep her kids home until she can provide more detail about why they cannot wear masks at school. She made her case Monday during a bilingual hearing held via conference call in front of Court of Queens Bench Justice Gerald Chartier. "There is no doubt that this is a serious question to be tried: Does a school board have the right to deny mask exemptions and on what basis? Does the school board have the right to medical information to assess mask exemptions and to what extent, if so?" said McKenzie, who owns a boutique law firm in Orillia, Ont. She is not registered as a practising lawyer in Manitoba, but her children attend school in the province. McKenzie did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Manitoba has mandated the use of non-medical masks for students in Grade 4 and up, staff and all visitors in schools, when two metres of physical distancing is not possible. Grade 3 students in 3-4 split classes "should" wear a face covering for the benefit of all students and staff in the classroom, according to provincial guidelines, which also require masks to be universally worn on school buses. New guidelines on limitations indicate divisions can grant exceptions for nine reasons, ranging from a child being younger than two to having a facial deformity to living with a medical condition that would prevent them from safely wearing a face covering. Citing privacy laws, McKenzie declined to disclose specifics about her childrens health, saying only the exemption is for "medical and other reasons." "The court is not entitled to say, yes, your medical reason is valid, or not what is it? Thats what the (division) is trying to do. Theyre not entitled to do that. Thats the whole issue," argued McKenzie, when pressed by the judge about her basis for an exemption. She said she is seeking an exemption on the grounds there is limited research about kids wearing masks, little is known about the repercussions of wearing masks on children especially those with medical conditions, and children are too young to be able to voice when they need to take off a mask. McKenzie spoke during the hearing about her youngest child being a Grade 3 student in a 3-4 split while her eldest is intimidated by school staff and thus, unable to speak up for himself. The divisions position is that its duty is to protect school communities and the mask mandate is one tool to keep students and staff safe from COVID-19. The defence put forward an affidavit from the president of the Manitoba Teachers' Society, in which James Bedford states the collective well-being of school communities must prevail over individual rights and personal preferences. In French, Christian Monnin, lawyer for the Division scolaire, argued the division has the authority to ask for more information about an exemption, which could affect the security of other students and the school community. Monnin said the division needs details about each child's individual limitations so both parties can work together to find a reasonable solution. He cited vague statements about the request, including an email from McKenzie in which she wrote the exemption is "for a number of reasons, including mental, dental, medical and personal choice." McKenzie has also provided the division with a medical note from her childrens doctor in Ontario. It states the students cannot wear masks continuously. As per provincial guidelines, medical notes are not mandatory for an exemption. However, the latest guidelines released on Sept. 18 state guardians must provide information about limitations to a school and at the divisions discretion, administrators may request a note from a health-care provider. McKenzie argued the ever-changing protocols have not been properly communicated and the division has acted arbitrarily, the result of which has been her children's right to education being denied for two weeks. 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. In response, Monnin spoke at length about the fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chartier said on Monday he would deliver a decision before the end of the week, noting the "relative urgency" of the case. Monnin, superintendent Alain Laberge and the teachers society declined to comment on the open case. Neither the Manitoba School Boards Association nor the lawyer representing the association responded to the Free Press. The French division had received 10 requests for mask exemptions seven of which have been accepted and three of which are, as of Wednesday, pending. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie A New York judge on Wednesday ordered Eric Trump, the president's son most involved with running the family business, to be deposed by October 7 as part of an investigation over charges that the organization improperly inflated the value of real estate assets. Letitia James, the Democratic attorney general of New York state who opened the inquiry, has been asking since May to question Eric Trump, 36, who has emerged as the helmsman of the Trump Organization since his father moved to the White House in early 2017. Even though Eric Trump has said he was ready to 'cooperate' with the inquiry, his lawyers recently asked for the session to be pushed back until after the November 3 election, arguing that he was too busy, as he is heavily involved in his father's re-election campaign. The attorney general had challenged that request in a court in the state, asking that Eric Trump be forced to provide documentation on several of the company's properties, including a building on Wall Street and the Trump International Hotel in Chicago. A New York judge has ordered Eric Trump, the president's son, to testify in a fraud probe by October 7, before the elections After a court hearing on Wednesday, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled in favor of the attorney general, calling the younger Trump's arguments 'unconvincing' and noting that 'nor is this Court bound by the timelines of the national election.' 'We will immediately move to ensure that Donald Trump and the Trump Organization comply with the court's order and submit financial records related to our investigation,' said James. '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,' she said. The investigation is one of several legal proceedings involving Trump and his family. The attorney general opened the probe in 2019 after the president's former lawyer Michael Cohen, who has since been jailed, testified to Congress that Trump had inflated or under-reported the values of certain properties to secure loans or reduce his taxes. In another investigation, Trump has been put on notice by Manhattan's attorney general, Cyrus Vance, after failing to provide eight years' worth of accounts. Despite a decision that went against him in July in the Supreme Court, his lawyers are still fighting in the courts to avoid submitting those documents, and the case could head back to the Supreme Court again. Protesters have lashed out at a criminal justice system they say is stacked against black people. Violence seized the demonstrations in her home city of Louisville as gunfire rang out and wounded two police officers. Police said they will enforce a curfew for the next two nights in Louisville, where Mayor Greg Fischer said violence is not the answer. Im asking everyone to reject violence, he said. Our community is hurting the question obviously is what do we do with that pain. Activists, celebrities and everyday Americans have been calling for charges since Ms Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home during a drugs investigation in March. State attorney general Daniel Cameron, a Republican and Kentuckys first black top prosecutor, said while the officers had a no-knock warrant, the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering. Advertisement A grand jury returned three charges of wanton endangerment on Wednesday against fired officer Brett Hankison over shooting into a home next to Taylors with people inside. Hundreds of demonstrators chanted Taylors name and marched in cities including New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Portland. People gathered in Millennium Park, Chicago, chanting demands for justice as drivers in Michigan Avenue honked their horns. Police in Atlanta unleashed chemical agents and made arrests after some protesters tried to climb on a SWAT vehicle. In Wisconsin, peaceful marchers blocked traffic on an interstate and spoke about Ms Taylor on the steps of the state Capitol. In Louisville, police said they arrested 127 people after what began as peaceful protests. Officers declared an unlawful assembly after they said fires were set in bins and several vehicles were damaged. A police statement also described the looting of several stores. Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder said a suspect was detained in the shooting of two officers, who are expected to recover from their wounds. Jail records later confirmed Larynzo D Johnson, 26, was charged with two counts of assault on a police officer and multiple charges of wanton endangerment of police officers. Along with George Floyd, a black man killed by police in Minneapolis in May, Ms Taylors name became a rallying cry during nationwide protests that called attention to entrenched racism and demanded police reform. Advertisement Her image is painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities. According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves The FBI is still investigating potential law violations in connection with the raid at Ms Taylors home on March 13. After the announcement, Ben Crump, a lawyer for Ms Taylors family, denounced the decision as outrageous and offensive. Mr Cameron said the officers acted in self-defence after Ms Taylors boyfriend fired at them. Kenneth Walker told police he heard knocking but did not know who was coming in and fired in self-defence. The warrant was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside. The city has since banned such warrants. According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves, Mr Cameron said. This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylors death. US President Donald Trump read a statement from Mr Cameron saying justice is not often easy. He later tweeted he was praying for the two police officers that were shot. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, called for policing reform. Mr Biden said 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, Ms Harris said on Twitter. Hankison was fired on June 23. The three wanton endangerment charges he faces each carry a sentence of up to five years. A termination letter said he had violated procedures by showing extreme indifference to the value of human life when he wantonly and blindly fired his weapon. Last week, the city agreed a settlement with Ms Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, which includes 12 million dollars (9.26 million) and police reforms. 23:09 Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, admitted to hospital due to the coronavirus infection, was also diagnosed with dengue on Thursday and his condition took a turn for the worse, sources said. Sisodia was moved to the private Max Hospital in Saket from the Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital in the evening, considering his 'falling' blood platelet count and low oxygen level, they said. He was admitted to Max Hospital ICU. They said the deputy CM's platelet count was around one lakh in the evening as against the normal rage of 1.5-4.5 lakh per microliter of blood. Sisodia is perhaps the first prominent personality in Delhi to have contracted a 'double infection' of the novel coronavirus and dengue. He is the second minister in the Arvind Kejriwal government to contract COVID-19 infection after Health Minister Satyendar Jain. The health minister had tested positive for COVID-19 in June and was hospitalised. He was later administered plasma therapy. The deputy chief minister, who had tested positive for COVID-19 on September 14, was admitted to the LNJP Hospital on Wednesday after he complained of fever and low oxygen level. Earlier, an official said that the minister had been put on oxygen support as per requirement and had been under constant observation at the LNJP Hospital, which is a dedicated COVID-19 facility. Sources at LNJP Hospital earlier said, 'There is no standard protocol for treatment of double infection of COVID-19 and dengue, and treatment is 'patient-specific'.' Earlier in the day, a doctor said, 'The deputy CM will be administered an RT-PCR test in a couple of days.' Another source said that the minister's age, condition, co-morbidities and other factors will be taken into account for treatment of both the ailments, adding that right now, his condition is being assessed. Asked if there are any side effects of treatments in cases of a 'double infection', the source, said, 'any treatment can have a side effect, but the treating doctor decides the methodology for it'. A dengue patient, if his or her platelet level falls dangerously below the normal level, needs external platelet infusion. Asked if the 48-year-old Aam Aadmi Party leader has any co-morbidities, a doctor, also a senior official said, "He has hypertension". Earlier in the day, in a video message, Sisodia praised the efforts made by doctors at the LNJP hospital. "I have been brought to the LNJP Hospital after a need was felt for it. But, seeing the spirit with which the doctors and other healthcare workers are serving patients, I must say, as a deputy chief minister, it is very encouraging," he said. "It is a wonderful facility here and I am very proud of them. If you need any medical attention in this coronavirus time, LNJP is ready to serve you," the minister said. Sisodia was unable to attend the one-day Delhi Assembly session on September 14 since he had tested positive for the disease. -- PTI It is such a simple and fundamental question in a democracy, with such a heretofore plainly easy and obviously correct answer, that no reporter ever bothered to ask presidents Barack Obama in 2012, George W. Bush in 2004 or Bill Clinton in 1996: Win or lose, will you commit to making sure that there's a peaceful transfer of power? But President Donald Trump twice refused to make that commitment when pressed during a news conference on Wednesday evening. Instead, he baselessly cast doubt on the integrity of mail-in ballots and accused his opponents, also without evidence, of rampant fraud. "Well, we are going to have to see what happens," Trump said. "Get rid of the ballots, and you'll have a very - we'll have a very peaceful, there won't be a transfer, frankly. There'll be a continuation." This came on the same day that Trump predicted that the Supreme Court will be called upon to determine the winner of the presidential election and that whomever he nominates on Saturday to replace the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg might cast the decisive vote in his favor. "I think this will end up in the Supreme Court. And I think it's very important that we have nine justices," Trump said. "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. And I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation." Five of the justices were appointed by Republican presidents and three were appointed by Democrats so it is not clear what he means by 4-4 unless he is counting conservative Chief Justice John Roberts as part of the opposition. Roberts has consistently supported GOP stances on voting since his service in President Ronald Reagan's Justice Department, including his landmark 2013 decision to invalidate a key section of the Voting Rights Act of 1964. Moreover, if there is an even split among the justices before the ninth seat is filled, the lower court's ruling would stand. Trump has spent months warning that the election will be "rigged" against him and complaining that the expansion of mail-in voting, amid the coronavirus pandemic, will doom his reelection hopes. At least 84% of American voters can cast ballots by mail in the fall. Data shows that states with universal mail voting have documented tiny rates of possible ballot fraud. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, the 2012 GOP nominee for president, voted to remove Trump from office earlier this year for abuse of power but said this week that he will vote to confirm a nominee by this president for the Supreme Court before the election. On Wednesday evening, Romney expressed alarm about Trump's latest comments. Other Republicans also signaled support for the peaceful transfer of power, even if Trump will not. Washington Post photo by Matt McClain In late July, Trump floated postponing the November election amid the pandemic, but he quickly backed off when it became clear that congressional Republicans would not go along. The president has said recently that he should be able to serve a third term because he lost so much of his first term to defending himself amid the Russia investigations. He has joked that he would like to be "president for life" like China's Xi Jinping. This is all part of a broader pattern: Scholars warn that the United States is backsliding into autocracy under Trump. "The only way they can take this election away from us is if this is a rigged election," Trump said during his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, which was one month ago today. We've seen this movie before. During the debate in 2016 that was moderated by "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace, Trump refused to say whether he would accept the election results. "I have to see," he said. "I will keep you in suspense." Even after Hillary Clinton conceded, though, Trump was a sore winner.Angry that he lost the popular vote by 2.9 million votes while winning the Electoral College, the president insisted into 2017 that 3.5 million undocumented immigrants had illegally cast ballots in California against him. There was never any evidence of this, and it never made any sense, but Trump created a commission to look for evidence of voter fraud. It failed to accomplish what he wanted and eventually disbanded. One of the six topics Wallace has chosen to cover in the first debate next Tuesday night is the integrity of the election. "Trump's state and national legal teams are already laying the groundwork for postelection maneuvers that would circumvent the results of the vote count in battleground states," Bart Gellman reported on Wednesday in the Atlantic magazine. "According to sources in the Republican Party at the state and national levels, the Trump campaign is discussing contingency plans to bypass election results and appoint loyal electors in battleground states where Republicans hold the legislative majority. With a justification based on claims of rampant fraud, Trump would ask state legislators to set aside the popular vote and exercise their power to choose a slate of electors directly." A Trump campaign legal adviser told him that the push to appoint electors would be framed in terms of protecting the people's will. "In Pennsylvania, three Republican leaders told me they had already discussed the direct appointment of electors among themselves, and one said he had discussed it with Trump's national campaign," he writes. "Republicans control both legislative chambers in the six most closely contested battleground states. Of those, Arizona and Florida have Republican governors, too. In Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, the governors are Democrats." The Atlantic story also reveals a Trump campaign battle plan to disqualify as many mail-in ballots as possible when they're sent in: "During the primaries this spring, Republican lawyers did dry runs for the November vote at county election offices around the country. An internal memo prepared by an attorney named J. Matthew Wolfe for the Pennsylvania Republican Party in June reported on one such exercise. Wolfe, along with another Republican lawyer and a member of the Trump campaign, watched closely but did not intervene as election commissioners in Philadelphia canvassed mail-in and provisional votes. Wolfe cataloged imperfections, taking note of objections that his party could have raised. There were missing signatures and partial signatures and signatures placed in the wrong spot. There were names on the inner security envelopes, which are supposed to be unmarked, and ballots without security envelopes at all. ... He recommended that 'someone connected with the party review each application and each mail ballot envelope' in November." Nearly 500 retired senior military officers, as well as former Cabinet secretaries, service chiefs and other officials, have signed a new open letter in support of Joe Biden. "We are former public servants who have devoted our careers, and in many cases risked our lives, for the United States," says the letter, published this morning by National Security Leaders for Biden. "We are generals, admirals, senior noncommissioned officers, ambassadors and senior civilian national security leaders. We are Republicans and Democrats, and Independents. We love our country. Unfortunately, we also fear for it." One of the signatories is retired Air Force Gen. Charles Boyd, the only former prisoner of war to have reached four-star rank. "I spent 36 years in the United States Air Force, almost seven of those as a prisoner of war in Vietnam," Boyd says in a video that accompanies the letter. "Since my return, I've been a Republican, but quietly. I fervently believe that military officers should not be involved in presidential politics, even when retired. But this year is different. Donald Trump's assault on the rule of law that makes a democracy possible has been so egregious I've decided to speak out. ... We need to vote for Joe Biden this year. I'm going to vote for him. I hope you do, too." Some in Trump's orbit are privately questioning his rush to confirm a justice before Election Day, fretting that this will backfire by energizing the left more than the right. "Among some of the president's advisers, jitters stem from a recent internal Republican poll discussed among officials in the White House and the Trump campaign this week that contained an alarming range of signs about the vacancy," Rachael Bade, Josh Dawsey and Paul Kane report. "The poll - conducted over the weekend among about 1,500 likely voters in 17 swing states, including Arizona, Wisconsin, Florida, North Carolina and Pennsylvania - showed that 51% of voters said they trust Biden more than Trump to handle the vacancy, while only 43% said they trusted Trump. "The document also found that only 28% of the voters said they would be more likely to vote for Trump if a replacement is confirmed, while 38% said they would be less likely. And 52 percent said the Senate should hold hearings after the election, while 41% said it should hold hearings before the election. . . . "Some Republicans fear injecting abortion politics into the election with the choice of judge Amy Coney Barrett - a potential vote to overturn Roe v. Wade - which could be damaging for the president and Republican senators. Indeed, the GOP polling scrutinized by the White House showed that a majority of swing-state voters wanted a justice who supports abortion rights. . . . Campaign advisers also say they expect the Supreme Court pick could drive up turnout among evangelical and Catholic supporters, and the president has told advisers he believes that Democrats will overreach in the fight - giving him a target to mock. . . . Democrats argue that the renewed interest has bolstered their own fundraising, pointing to the more than $200 million that ActBlue, the party's online fundraising platform for small-dollar donations, has raised since Ginsburg's death Friday." A CNN-SSRS poll released Wednesday found that 59% of Americans say that the winner of the upcoming presidential election should be the one to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, including 17% of Republicans, 59% of independents and 97% of Democrats. A 38% plurality of the public says that Trump's choices for the court have changed it for the worse. And a 54% majority disapproves of the Senate's rules changes that have allowed Supreme Court nominees to move forward to a vote with the support from a simple majority. The Supreme Court would be the most conservative it's been since 1950 if Trump's third justice gets confirmed, according to research from Georgetown professor Michael Bailey, and it would be the furthest it's been ideologically from the other two branches in a long time. In the Senate, a ceremonial resolution honoring the life of Ginsburg failed after Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., objected.Cruz criticized Democrats for adding language that noted her dying wish had been for a successor not be chosen until after the presidential election. During a Thursday memorial service across the street from the Senate, in the Supreme Court's Great Hall, Roberts noted that Ginsburg wrote 483 opinions and dissents in her 27 years on the court. She also argued six cases there as a lawyer in the 1970s. "It has been said that Ruth wanted to be an opera virtuoso but became a rock star instead," said the chief justice, who attended Harvard Law School with RBG's daughter. "She found her stage right behind me in our courtroom." Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi deployed mobile retail stores to reach rural areas of India, in a bid to recover sales lost during the shutdown of the countrys economy. Manu Kumar Jain said in a tweet, the concept called Mi Store-on-wheels, was completed in 40 days to bring retail experience the heart of India by connecting villages throughout the country. "Mi"les to go before we sleep! Excited to launch "#MiStore-on-wheels", an innovative concept that brings #retail experience to the heart of #India, connecting villages through a moving store. So proud of our #offline #team who completed this project in just 40 days. I Mi pic.twitter.com/7OECCNnlgb Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) September 21, 2020 The move comes as the Indian smartphone market in Q2 saw a year-on-year drop of 48 per cent to 17.3 million units, due to the unprecedented shutdown of the Indian economy, a Canalys report showed. During the quarter retailers were forced to shutter, saw low supplies anyway due to the halt of production and dried up demand for devices. Online and offline retailers were also forced to cease operations by the government. Xiaomi is Indias leading smartphone manufacturer by units with 5.3 million sold during Q2, giving the vendor a 30.9% market share. Vivo placed second with 3.7 million units (21.7%), Samsung third with 2.9 million units (16.8%), Oppo fourth with 2.2 million units (12.9%), Realme fifth with 1.7 million units (10%). Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 00:12:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's horticulture sector lost 3.3 billion shillings (about 30.5 million U.S. dollars) due to COVID-19 related disruptions including cancellation of international flights, officials said on Thursday. Jas Bedi, chairman of Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency, said that suspension of international flights led to loss of revenue that could have been accrued from export of fresh produce overseas. "The horticulture lost about 3.3 billion shillings in the early stages of COVID-19 pandemic when border closures and suspension of international flights reduced the volume of exports," Bedi said at a virtual briefing in Nairobi. He said that Kenya's horticulture sector was hit hard but it is in a recovery path amid resumption of international flight and favorable weather. "The horticulture sector is expected to flourish thanks to a spike in orders overseas. We are slowly overcoming shocks linked to COVID-19," said Bedi. Kenya exports up to 90 percent of its flowers to European countries, a market that has been disrupted by anti-COVID-19 containment measures like suspension of passenger and cargo flights alongside closure of flower sale outlets. He urged players in the local horticulture sector to adopt technology and explore new markets in order to remain afloat amid shocks like pandemics and climate change-related disasters. "We need to use technology to connect with the markets, and this is the new culture of doing business and we have no option but to adapt," said Bedi. He said that Kenyan horticultural farmers can leverage digital platforms to boost exports abroad and cut off exploitative middlemen. Bedi said the government has supported development of an online portal where farmers can access real-time information about new markets for horticultural produce. He said that implementation of a horticulture sector recovery has gained steam to boost exports to emerging markets in Africa, Middle East and Asia. Bedi said that improved agronomic practices combined with proper handling and storage are key to boosting the competitiveness of Kenyan horticultural produce in foreign markets. Enditem "Some of the instances I've heard where people have come off the plane because they wouldn't wear the mask, the customers were the ones pointing out," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said. "It wasn't our people having to do the heavy lifting." Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines has banned about 350 passengers for refusing to wear masks during flights, CEO Ed Bastian said on Tuesday. That number was up from 240 in late-August. The airline recently strengthened its rules recently to combat phony medical exemptions. A review from Harvard recently found that the universal use of face masks on flights substantially reduces the risk of COVID-19 transmission on flights. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Delta Air Lines has now banned about 350 passengers for refusing to wear masks on board planes, CEO Ed Bastian said on Tuesday. "For political reasons, or other reasons, they insisted on not wearing a mask after being asked multiple times to put it back on," Bastian said, speaking at the Skift Global Forum. "So they're not going to fly Delta. They're not going to have the privilege." Delta and other US airlines began requiring passengers and crewmembers to wear masks on flights in May. However, flight crews initially had little ability or direction on enforcing the requirements. In June, most US airlines, including Delta, said they would begin banning passengers who refused to cooperate. "While that was a little choppy in getting going, because you don't want your flight attendants to turn into a police, having to monitor compliance, customers appreciate it," Bastian said. Many of the bans were issued after other passengers complained about maskless fliers, Bastian said. "Some of the instances I've heard where people have come off the plane because they wouldn't wear the mask, the customers were the ones pointing out," he said. "It wasn't our people having to do the heavy lifting." Delta has added more than 100 passengers to its no-fly list over the last month alone. In late-August, Bastian said that 240 passengers had been banned. That number was up from 100 on July 22. Among those banned in recent weeks was Robert O'Neill, the former Navy SEAL known for his part in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Story continues O'Neill was on board a flight on Wednesday, August 19, when he tweeted a selfie with the caption "I'm not a p----." Unlike a fellow passenger in a US Marine Corps hat and a flight attendant visible in the photo, O'Neill was not wearing a mask. The airline banned O'Neill the following day. Delta recently strengthened its mask policy, requiring anyone claiming a medical exemption to consult with an airline-contracted telehealth medical professional before boarding. "Any false claims of a disability or health condition to obtain an exemption from wearing a mask or face covering may result in the suspension of travel privileges on any Delta flight for the duration of the mask/face covering requirement," the airline said. A review from Harvard's TH Chan School of Public Health found that the proper use of face masks on airplanes, combined with other measures, substantially lowers the risk of the SARS-CoV-2 virus being transmitted during a flight. Read the original article on Business Insider MUSIC Hey Hi Hello by Annie Nightingale (White Rabbit 20, 288 pp) In February 1970, when Annie Nightingale became Radio 1's first female DJ, Two Little Boys by Rolf Harris was riding high in the UK singles chart. Who could have predicted that, 50 years later, Harris would be a pariah who has served a prison sentence, while Annie would still be broadcasting every week on Radio 1? Born in west London in April 1940, Annie made up her mind to become a DJ after listening to the pirate radio stations of the early Sixties. Annie Nightingale, 80, became Radio 1's first female DJ in February 1970 (pictured) By the time Radio 1 launched in 1967, she had already worked as a newspaper journalist, made documentaries and hosted music shows on TV, but the BBC bosses weren't interested in hiring her. They decreed all Radio 1 DJs had to be men. The likes of Terry Wogan, Jimmy Young and Simon Dee weren't just spinning records, they were husband substitutes: nice chaps whose job was to keep the nation's housewives entertained until their husbands came home from work. 'It was as though the social revolution of the Sixties . . . had never happened,' Annie rages. She doggedly kept sending in applications and, in early 1970, was finally given a three-month trial. 'I knew as soon as I sat in a studio and put on a pair of headphones... this was what I really wanted to do,' she says. 14th December 1964: Disc jockey and presenter of 'That's For Me' on television, Anne Nightingale reclines on her stereogram at her home in Brighton Annie Nightingale in the 1960s. She recalls the moment Paul McCartney called her up on air to give a statement following the death of John Lennon Given Radio 1's hostility to women it was another 12 years before a second female DJ, Janice Long, joined the station Annie was pleasantly surprised that her contract kept being renewed, but then she did have a secret weapon: her friendship with The Beatles, with whom she used to hang out at their Apple headquarters. When John Lennon was killed, Annie was presenting The Old Grey Whistle Test on TV and, to her astonishment, Paul McCartney called her while she was on air to give a statement about John. Annie struggled to hold it together: 'Don't wobble,' she told herself. Annie has kept quiet about her personal life, but has been married twice and has two children Annie, 15th January 1976. She is rightly proud of being the only Radio 1 DJ to have a CBE The chapter about the legendary Nightingale Request Show, which ran for many years on Sunday at 7pm, is one of the best. The listeners made strenuous attempts to persuade her to play their requests, sending in their song choices on rolls of fake parchment or banana skins, cutting out letters to make it look like a ransom note, or writing their request backwards so it could be read only in a mirror. The show ended in 1994 but she still gets tweets from people who have kept their cassette tapes of those broadcasts. One of the problems with Hey Hi Hello is that Annie simply refuses to spill the beans. Her DJ colleagues included the appalling Jimmy Savile and Dave Lee Travis, who was convicted of indecent assault in 2014, but there is no mention of this apart from a reference to the station having some 'unsavoury characters'. And her encounters with the wild men of rock end up sounding as wholesome as a vicarage tea party. Annie gives little away about her personal life, apart from the fact that she has two children and has been married twice. She is rightly proud of being the only Radio 1 DJ to have a CBE. Now 80, she is still completely immersed in all kinds of music, championing unknown artists and broadening her audience's musical horizons. Drilling rights and escalating tensions Tensions between Greece and Turkey over Eastern Mediterranean natural gas and oil fields, intertwined with maritime claims, have rapidly escalated in August 2020. On August 10, 2020, Turkey sent the Oruc Reis research ship, accompanied by warships to look for hydrocarbon resources in the waters between Crete and Cyprus, which Greece claims as its own. Since then, Greece has responded by sending warships into the area, and both countries vessels collided. The escalation of Greek-Turkish relations has compromised the energy ambitions of private actors and regional nation-states and has exacerbated an already challenging regional security environment. Old disputes, new developments Regional tensions and skirmishes between Greece and Turkey are nothing new. Greece and Turkey have historically disagreed on the status of Cyprus, split into two after the 1974 war between them. This resulted in the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, solely recognized by Turkey. The proximity of the Greek islands to the Turkish mainland has also been a source of disagreements. Most notably, in 1996, the two almost went to war due to a series of disputes over the delimitation of exclusive economic zones (EEZ), territorial waters, continental shelf, international flight rights, and demilitarisation of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. Turkeys announcement that it would not be able to keep migrants from entering the EU, renewed tensions between Ankara and the block, and the resultant migrants crossing from Greece and Turkey, among other issues, has strained relations between the two countries in 2020. Moreover, Ankaras decision to turn Hagia Sophia, a Byzantine-era cultural and historical landmark, back into a mosque, received serious disapproval from Greece. The current crisis has been the result of both countries competition over hydrocarbon reserves in the territorial waters and the EEZ of Cyprus. Turkey has argued that Cypruss resources should be shared, and it stepped back from drilling last year. However, Ankara signed an agreement with the UN-recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), establishing an EEZ from the southern Turkish coast to the northern Libyan coast, ignoring Cretes territorial waters, EEZs, and continental shelf. In early August 2020, Greece and Egypt reached a deal, creating an EEZ between the two counties coasts, which contradicted the Turkish-Libyan agreement. This resulted in Turkeys decision to send the Oruc Reis research ship near the small Greek island of Kostellorizo. Since the collision, tensions have been high with Turkey threatening Greece with war if it does not withdraw its naval vessels from the area. France and Italy have notably sent warships and conducted military exercises with Greece. Greek-Turkish claims in the Eastern Mediterranean, BBC, 25 August 2020 Turkeys endangered energy ambitions The current maritime escalation between Greece and Turkey exceeds usual neighborly quarrels, as it adds tension to an on-going struggle for resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. Since the discovery of the Leviathan (Israel) and Zohr (Egypt) gas fields ten years ago, the previously deemed oil-and-gas-free region has attracted the attention of international investors and European and Middle-Eastern states. The discovery of Cypruss gas fields in 2015 has encouraged the strategic cooperation between Israel, Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt. In January 2020, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel signed an agreement to build a 1,900-km pipeline distributing natural gas to Europe and bypassing Turkey. In addition, although temporary drills of Cyprus waters have been put on hold, the American ExxonMobil, Qatar Petroleum, and Italian Eni amongst other key players are to continue exploiting the resources. Related: Why Russia Is Pushing Unneeded Nuclear Power Plants On Egypt This powerful geopolitical alliance contradicts both Turkeys ambitions of becoming an energy hub and its maritime claims. Ankara currently seeks to develop the Trans-Anatolian pipeline, which can deliver natural gas from Azerbaijan to Turkey and Europe. However, the Azerbaijani gas is not sufficient in distributing the target 61bcm. Thus, Turkeys Blue Homeland Doctrine, which disregards the Greek islands territorial waters and continental shelf, aims at providing Ankara with the necessary energy resources to sustain that plan. Maritime claims and legal resources Legal uncertainties further complicate a possible solution to the naval dispute and a de-escalation of tensions in the region. Greeces maritime claims are based on the Seville map, which provides every Greek island with maximum territorial waters (12 nautical miles) and EEZ (200 nautical miles). The map, authorized by the European Commission in the early 2000s, has been dismissed by Turkey as unjust and unfair. Although Ankaras territorial waters and continental shelf have been arguably damaged by the map according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Turkey is not a signatory to the Convention and thus loses this legal resource. The situation is further complicated by Ankaras maritime agreement with the GNA, which actively dismisses the territorial waters and EEZ of Crete. This is in violation of UNCLOS, of which Greece is a signatory. Prognosis Although tensions in the region are high and military build-ups continue, it is unlikely that Greece and Turkey will go to war. Both countries are NATO allies and are thus obligated to resort to peaceful means when resolving a dispute between them. Notably, U.S. President Donald Trump has advised Turkish President Erdogan to resort to negotiations. In addition, Germany, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, has already made attempts to foster dialogue and a consequent peaceful resolution of the conflict, despite the blocks evident support for Greece. On 28 August, EU member states also decided to impose sanctions on Turkey in case it continues to refuse to withdraw its vessels from the territorial waters and EEZ of both the Republic of Cyprus and Greece. Although Ankara remains resolved to keep its research mission in the Eastern Mediterranean, the conflict is likely going to be peacefully resolved. Turkeys maritime activities hurt a high number of international and private actors strategic interests. Historic animosity between Greece and Turkey is highly likely to remain, with frequent quarrels and clashes due to overlapping maritime claims and energy ambitions. By Boryana Saragerova for Global Risk Insights More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt broke the internet during the table read of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." For the first time since their divorce in 2005, the former couple reunited in the virtual read-through, along with fellow Hollywood A-listers including Matthew McConaughey, Sean Penn, Jimmy Kimmel, John Legend, Ray Liotta, Julia Roberts, Shia LaBeouf, Morgan Freeman, Henry Golding and comedian Dane Cook, who organized the event for the benefit of two charities. Fans, nonetheless, can't help but notice that they are seemingly comfortable with each other. Jennifer Anniston, Brad Pitt "Nervous" Over Virtual Reunion According to Us Weekly, however, the "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" star and the Primetime Emmy Award winner "were a little nervous" doing the virtual reunion, though they eventually "both enjoyed themselves." Aniston ad Pitt read the iconic topless scene of Phoebe Cates in the 1982 coming-of-age film, as they play the roles of the sex queen Linda Barrett and campus crush Brad Hamilton, respectively. One of the best scenes during the table read was when "The Morning Show" actress delivered the famous line, "Hi Brad, You know how cute I always thought you were. I think you're so sexy. Will you come to me?" Donning his green shirt and his pirate hat, the "Ad Astra" actor was spotted smiling throughout Aniston's scene. Jennifer Aniston Has "Hidden Thoughts" for Brad Pitt? On the other hand, body language expert Tonya Reiman told the publication that the "Friends" alum might still have some "hidden thoughts" with her ex-husband; however, an insider assured that the two are in good terms and have retained their great friendship. "It used to bug them how everyone pulls for them to get back together, but now they laugh it off," the source explained to the outlet. "The truth is they have each other's backs. They constantly bounce ideas off each other and share happy news when they have it. They have such a natural, easy energy together." For what it's worth, the two were said to be overwhelmed by the public's response and how they are obsessing over a possible Pitt-Aniston reunion on the big screen. However, the source pointed out that Pitt and aniston do not want to cash in with the "friendly exes" hype, but they are willing to work together when the time is right. "They don't want to milk this 'friendly exes' dynamic they've got going on too much," the insider added. "They're both very mindful of that." Once dubbed as Hollywood's most powerful couple, tJen met Brad in 1994 through their managers. At that time, Pitt was dating "Shallow Hall" star Gwyneth Paltrow. Four years later, the two met again through a blind date arranged by their handlers. In 2000, they got married in Malibu in a venue overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, after five years of marriage, they called it quits due to "irreconcilable differences." Now, the 51-year-old actress is reportedly "satisfied with her work and personal life," per Us Weekly. Meanwhile, Pitt is rumored to be dating the German model Nicole Poturalski. READ MORE: Brad Pitt's Girlfriends: 3 Famous Celebs Pitt Dated Before Jennifer Aniston Since the first oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico was built in 14 feet of water off the coast of Louisiana in 1938, offshore oil and gas companies have drilled in ever deeper waters to prospect for black gold. Oil companies employ large floating platforms and drillships to bore under thousands of feet of water, battling high pressure and extreme temperatures. In 2016, Total and Maersk Drilling bored a well off the coast of Uruguay in more than 11,140 feet of water, the equivalent of 11 Chase Towers stacked end to end and the the deepest water in which a well has ever been drilled. But the tide is turning for deep water drilling as offshore companies are squeezed by two oil busts in five years and as the outlook for crude demand sours with the rise of electric vehicles and policies aimed at combating climate change. The coronavirus pandemic, which brought the worst oil bust in generations, is expected to accelerate the shift from deep water to shallow water. I wouldnt be surprised if companies are going away from deep water because of the long-term risks and the absolute cost of projects, said Tom Kellock, director of offshore rig market consulting for IHS Markit. As the environment becomes more uncertain, we could see a trend to more shallow water. A move from deep water drilling would have major implications for the offshore industry along the Gulf Coast, which employs tens of thousands of workers. Deep water drilling is generally more complex, time-consuming and costly, requiring three times the expense of its shallow water counterpart. Therefore, a decline in deep water drilling would mean smaller investments, shorter projects and ultimately fewer jobs. The shift to shallow water started long before the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on the industry. Over the past decade, the share of offshore rigs under contract for deep water projects globally has been falling while those under contract for shallow water projects have been rising, according to IHS Markit, an energy research firm. The share of floating rigs used in deep waters under contract globally has fallen to 24 percent this year, down from 41 percent in 2012. On the other hand, the share of shallow water rigs under contract globally has risen to 76 percent, up from 59 percent in 2012. Shallow water drilling occurs in less than 1,000 feet of water, while deep water drilling occurs in 1,000 feet to 2,500 feet of water. Offshore production in 2,500 feet to 12,000 feet of water is known as ultra deep water drilling. Driven by economics Offshore oil and gas companies have been drilling in deeper waters over the past two decades as older oil reserves in shallow waters were depleted and as seismic and drilling technology improved. The share of oil production from ultra deep water wells in the Gulf of Mexico has risen to 52 percent in 2017 from 15 percent in 2000. Last year, the Gulf of Mexico produced a record 2 million barrels of oil per day, second only to shale in the U.S. Though far more expensive to drill in deep water, the billions of dollars spent upfront paid off for oil and gas companies that could expect stable, decadeslong production. When oil prices are high, deep water production can be highly profitable. However, deep-water production has been challenged in recent years by the shale boom that sapped resources from offshore projects and recent oil busts that put pressure on the sector. Deep water is driven by economics, said Ed Hirs, an energy economist at the University of Houston. North of $70 a barrel, it made a lot of sense to pursue deep-water projects. At $40 a barrel, not so much. By the time oil fell to $40 in March, the number of contracted floating rigs around the globe was 131, about half of the number at its peak in January 2014, when oil was priced above $100 a barrel. After the pandemic swept the U.S. in spring, that number fell to 102, according to IHS Markit data. By contrast, the number of contracted rigs used in shallow water was 354 in March, down from a peak of 427 in September 2014. Since March, the number has fallen to 325 rigs, IHS Markit said. Nevertheless, well-capitalized oil companies, such as Exxon, Chevron and Total, remain bullish on deep water production, particularly from large untapped reserves off the coast of South America, Africa and in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. In January, Total tapped Maersk Drilling to drill in more than 11,900 feet of water, a record depth, off the coast of Angola and Namibia. Despite the recent oil bust, offshore companies continue to drill in deep waters. Hess this month said it discovered oil under more than 6,000 feet of water off the coast of Guyana, adding to the areas projected 8 billion barrels of oil and gas reserves. Apache and its partner Total this year made an oil discovery in 3,281 feet of water off the coast of Suriname. The future of deep-water drilling, however, like that of the industry overall, looks uncertain as countries push to curb carbon emissions and reduce fossil fuel use. I think there has to be increasing reluctance to invest in long-term projects when you dont know what the payout is, IHS Markits Kellock said. When you start on these deep water projects, you have no idea what your return is going to be when you start producing. You cant hedge that far in advance. Its safer to go for a project that has a shorter payback time. Who knows how much oil people may want in 30 years time. Significantly cheaper For now though, offshore oil and gas companies are fighting to survive the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. They are idling offshore rigs, cutting spending for new projects and restructuring debt. Offshore spending this year is expected to plunge by 80 percent to $20 billion from $104 billion in 2019 commitments, according to Rystad, a Norwegian energy research firm. At the worst of the 2014-16 oil bust, offshore spending dropped to $38 billion. There are 15 offshore rigs operating in the Gulf of Mexico, down from 25 rigs a year ago, according to oil-field services firm Baker Hughes and research firm Enverus. Offshore oil and gas companies are increasingly looking for oil in untapped shallow waters they passed over in favor of deep water projects. Improved seismic technology in shallow waters is helping to usher in a new wave of shallow water projects. Shallow water is significantly cheaper than deep water, Hirs with UH said. And right now, youre going to get really good prices on rigs and crews. EOG Resources is looking to build new production platforms next year in shallow waters off the coast of Trinidad, where the Houston company has been in business for 27 years. EOG expects about a fifth of its natural gas production will come from the shallow waters in the shallow Columbus Basin in the Caribbean Sea. Production from this drilling campaign will more than offset natural declines from existing wells and provide a foundation of growth for EOG's total production in Trinidad, Ezra Yacob, EOGs executive vice president of exploration and production, told investors last month. Talos Energy is looking to produce oil from its Zama and Xaxamani projects in the shallow waters off the gulf coast of Mexico, which are estimated to have more than 800 million barrels of oil and gas combined. The Houston offshore company is working with Mexicos state oil company Pemex to come to an agreement on how they will jointly develop the projects. Zama, discovered by a Talos-led consortium in 2017, is the first major discovery in Mexico waters after the country ended its 75-year-old oil monopoly and opened the country to foreign oil and gas investment. The Zama discovery was made in the Talos-operated section in the Gulf of Mexico but extends into the neighboring section owned by Pemex. Talos is now caught in the middle of geopolitical tensions as Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador seeks to take back control of the countrys oil resources. Despite the geopolitical challenges, Talos said it is optimistic about shallow oil prospects off the coast of Mexico. Zama is located in about 550 feet of water while Xaxamini is in just 60 feet of water. Shallow oil, similar to the stuff we would find years ago as we were developing the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, seems to be all over the contract area not only where we've discovered it, but in other areas as well, Talos CEO Tim Duncan told investors during its most recent earnings call in July. (This geologic section) we really believe is underexplored and underexploited here in offshore Mexico. paul.takahashi@chron.com twitter.com/paultakahashi - FASTSIGNS Offers Entrepreneurs Opportunity to Partner with Leading Sign, Graphics, and Visual Communications Franchisor with Proven Business Model and Unparalleled Training and Support - CARROLLTON, Texas, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FASTSIGNS International, Inc. , franchisor of FASTSIGNS, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, is recruiting existing business owners looking to grow through its cobrand and conversion program. The franchise offering allows entrepreneurs to add a FASTSIGNS to their business or fully convert their store to a FASTSIGNS center to take advantage of FASTSIGNS' established brand recognition, state-of-the-art products, unmatched training and support, and status as the No. 1 franchise opportunity in the sign and graphics industry. Earlier this year, FASTSIGNS centers nationwide were deemed essential as COVID-19 forced thousands of businesses across the country to temporarily close, allowing FASTSIGNS franchisees to pivot their services to best serve their customers and local communities. "Small business owners have been navigating through the unknown during the pandemic, with many businesses struggling and others shutting their doors forever. But FASTSIGNS franchisees have fared extremely well with the backing of our strong support center, allowing them to be in business for themselves, but not by themselves during these unprecedented times," said Mark Jameson, EVP of Franchise Support and Development, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. "At FASTSIGNS, we stay on the cutting edge of technology and trends, so our franchisees don't have to, and, throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, our constant stream of knowledge and resources amplified their ability to focus on what matters most their customers. With a recognized brand name, advanced technology, a global supply chain network and an international system of franchisees, we're proud to assist existing businesses as they look to diversify their product offerings and services to weather this storm." FASTSIGNS has helped countless owners of print shops, photography studios, camera stores, embroidery shops, and more add a FASTSIGNS to their existing business or fully convert their center to a FASTSIGNS franchise. In 2019 alone, cobrand and conversion centers opened in markets including Brooklyn, New York; Windsor, California; and Findlay, Ohio among others. FASTSIGNS franchisees receive ongoing training and support to stay ahead of the competition and exceed the needs of their local business community. Both the co-brand franchise opportunity and conversion can be started with only $15,000 down on the initial franchise fee and lower royalties during the first 12 months. "After establishing a thriving business within my local community over the past two decades, I was looking for a new way to expand and take my signage and awnings shop to the next level," said Nikki Taheri, who converted her existing business to a FASTSIGNS center in Bayonne, New Jersey, with her husband, Brendan Duane. "FASTSIGNS has proven to be an invaluable partner as they've provided us with a deeper connection to the signage industry. Beyond the national brand name recognition, FASTSIGNS gives us access to new resources, immeasurable support and vendor relationships, which allow our business to provide additional services to our customers." FASTSIGNS is known in the industry for equipping its franchisees with tools vital to securing the ongoing success of each individual location. In addition to the brand's online FASTSIGNS University, FASTSIGNS partners with 1HUDDLE, a workforce-training platform that converts unique training content into science-backed, quick-burst training games that are proven to accelerate workforce productivity. FASTSIGNS also offers a special incentive for first responders, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, sheriffs, and firefighters, which includes a 50% reduction on the franchise fee a savings of $24,875. FASTSIGNS is consistently ranked as a top franchise opportunity. In 2020, Entrepreneur magazine named FASTSIGNS the #1 franchise opportunity in its category and #55 overall on its annual Franchise 500 list, making it the only sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise to be recognized in the top 100. Entrepreneur also named FASTSIGNS a Top Growth Franchise for 2020. Additionally, Franchise Gator named FASTSIGNS to its Top 100 Franchises of 2020 list, and Franchise Business Review named FASTSIGNS one of its Top Franchises for Second Careers . In 2019, Entrepreneur named FASTSIGNS one of the Top Franchises for Veterans , and the brand was also recognized in Franchise Business Review's Top Franchises for Veterans report, was named to America's Best Franchises to Buy list by Forbes magazine, and made Franchise Direct's list of the Top 100 Franchises. Franchise Business Review has also recognized FASTSIGNS as one of the "Best of the Best" for franchisee satisfaction for the last 10 years as well as its Top 50 Franchises for Women and Top Service Franchises lists in 2019. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson ([email protected] or 214-346-5679). About FASTSIGNS FASTSIGNS International, Inc. celebrates its 35th anniversary in business in 2020 as the leading sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 735 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS centers in 9 countries including the United States and Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Grand Cayman, the United Arab Emirates, Malta, France and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE). FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive signage and graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, promote their products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touchpoints. FASTSIGNS has been ranked the #1 franchise opportunity in its category in Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 for the past four years, a 2019 Top Franchises for Veterans by Franchise Business Review and a 2019 America's Best Franchises to Buy list by Forbes magazine. Learn more about sign and graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com . Follow the brand on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fastsigns , Twitter @FASTSIGNS or Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS . For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson ([email protected] or call 214.346.5679). CONTACT: Natalie Candela Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc. Related Links http://www.fastsigns.com Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson Appointed Chair of the Select Committee on Police Reform This week, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D- Lakewood) announced the formation of the Select Committee on Police Reform and appointed committee members. The committee will continue Californias leadership in police reform and seek measures to ensure public safety. California has again led the nation by passing some of the strictest police use-of-force standards while also mandating de-escalation and use-of-force training. The legislature also recently sent bills to the Governors desk to ban deadly carotid choke holds, reorganize sheriff oversight commissions and increase transparency and impartiality in officer-involved shooting investigations. The Select Committee on Police Reform will be chaired by Assemblymember Mike Gipson and include Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer Kahan, Rob Bonta, Jordan Cunningham, Jesse Gabriel, Lorena Gonzalez, Tom Lackey, Evan Low, Chad Mayes, Eloise Reyes, Blanca Rubio, and Shirley Weber. ADVERTISEMENT Asm. Gipson is the author of AB1196 which bans the use of the carotid artery/chokehold by law enforcement in California. The bill is currently on the Governors desk. I am honored by the Speakers appointment and the solemn responsibility to address police reform. I urge the Governor to sign AB 1196 and all the police reform bills, but no matter what the outcome the Assembly Select Committee will do more, said Chair Gipson. We have a critical job ahead of us and I invite all interested parties to participate in the Select Committee. Every voice will be heard. The Select Committee on Police Reform will convene later this year to continue the development of meaningful changes to policing in California. Mumbai: Film and stage actor Bhupesh Pandya, best known for roles in movies Vicky Donor" and Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran", has passed away after battling cancer, according to actor and colleague Rajesh Tailang. The National School of Drama (NSD) graduate was fighting lung cancer and needed financial help for treatment at a hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He was in his late 40s. Tailang, who was Pandyas senior in NSD, said some colleagues had raised over Rs 20 lakh via an online fundraiser platform to provide monetary assistance to the actor but he died on Wednesday. We have worked together a lot, he was my junior in NSD. When I learnt about his health condition and the expenses required for his treatment, I thought of sharing it with people. Through fundraising site Ketto about Rs 21 to 22 lakh were raised and some people had transferred money directly into his wifes account. Sadly, he passed away yesterday at Apollo Hospital in Gujarat," the Mirzapur" actor told PTI. Pandya is best known for starring in Shoojit Sircars 2012 film Vicky Donor", in which he played Chaman, an assistant to Annu Kapoors fertility expert Dr Chaddha. His film credits also include Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi" and Gandhi To Hitler". Pandyas alma mater, NSD and other colleagues, including actors Manoj Bajpayee, Gajraj Rao and casting director-filmmaker Mukesh Chhabra mourned his death on Twitter on Wednesday. The news of Bhupesh Kumar Pandyas (alumnus NSD 2001 batch) death is extremely sad. The NSD family pays a heartfelt tribute. God bless the departed soul," the tweet on the drama schools official account. Bajpayee wrote, God bless Bhupesh Pandyas soul". Several actors, including The Family Man" star and Adil Hussain, had previously shared a link of a fundraiser on social media to lend monetary support to Pandya. According to NSD, Pandya will be cremated at his hometown Banswara, Rajasthan. He is survived by his parents, wife and two children. COLUMNISTS Andrew Ostrowski Pan z Wami. That was the first thing we heard upon our inaugural sightseeing adventure to Poland. Im referring to a trip my family and I took to Poland exactly 19 years ago this month. We arrived in Lublin at our destination for openers, the rectory of a church run by the friend of our local pastor at the time, Fr. Joe Tokarczyk. Fr. Joe, by the way, currently heads up St. Josephs Church in Florida, NY as pastor. Kicking myself in the dupa now for failing to recall the churchs name, what struck our fancy the most was the architectural structure of its roof. Huge sloping tiles cascaded into a lengthy gutter for necessary rainwater run-off, and at the time we were treated to a nice display as the clouds opened up. A dash inside the church revealed no less of a structural marvel, with modern-artsy sculptures of the saints and a nice array of the 14 stations all done in multicolor. The next day we were invited to dinner, eh that is, dinner in triplicate. My father had three cousins living in Lublin, children of his mothers sister. Her family, the Turons, bade farewell to my babci as she left in the early 1900s for a better life in America. After dinner with Waldemar, the first cousin, and his family, we headed to the house of Bogdan and his family for our next dinner, and then finally to see Zish as he was called for yet another meal, with his family. Through it all, though we were stuffed, we learned that each of these families was struggling to make ends meet. Yet, they cooked the prized turkey for us, placing us on the pedestal despite all of their hardship. That was our profound takeaway that evening. Next morning after a side stop to heraldic ancut, we headed due south via Rt.9 in search of our most treasured target, the tiny town of Lutcza. This was the town where my babci grew up, and nearly crashing our rented SUV into a ditch, we spotted the roadside signpost in all the excitement. We drove into town continuing to look for any scraps of evidence connected to our babci. Then we spotted the Church of the Assumption and decided to inquire at its rectory. Good thing we did, because the pastor, Fr. Ochat, took us to a room holding age-old record books. We blew the dust off of them, and found the original signature of Franciszek Turon, father of our babci, recording her baptism in 1897 at the old Church of the Assumption, locked up now in an overgrown area in the near distance. What next? Are you kidding, we were prepared to break the door down of that place if we had to. Luckily Fr. Ochat had the keys, and entering the spooky cobwebbed church was like stepping into a time machine. We touched the same baptismal font that my babci was baptized in. Incredible, here was a symbol of the very foundation of our familys upbringing. And then, absolutely out of nowhere, appeared an elderly woman in a red vest. The next thing we knew, that evening we were sitting around a kitchen table with her family enjoying warm conversation and homemade pierogi. Afterwards before sunset, her husband pointed to a hilltop in the distance and said: There, on that hilltop lived the Turon family. That was certainly the pinnacle of our pilgrimage. Of course, the easiest way to travel from point A to point B is via a highway. However, in Poland, what we really wanted to see was between those points. After a stop at the art haven of Kazimierz Dolny, we opted to take Rt. 988 and came across an old woman in a horse-drawn wagon. We stopped to greet her, as my mother speaks Polish. The old woman intermixed tones of struggle and joy; her tired wrinkled farming hands contrasted the bliss she felt of her only daughters wedding. She was the epitome of pure Poland. The particular wonderment along Rt. 773 is astonishing, as we spotted a sore thumb sticking out on the horizon. That was Hercules Club, just down the road from Pieskowa Skala castle. We then took a turn into what appeared on our map to be very rural terrain. Rural was the word, as we found ourselves creeping up on a quaint, little farmhouse whose occupants were none other than a gang of chickens. Striking a different acoustical chord was discovered at Chopins home in Zelazowa Wola as just when we got there a teenage virtuoso dressed in black tie and tails was prepping for a performance on piano. That was a nice precursor to our next stop, Czestochowa. Despite the mob scene, we got a glimpse of the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Jasna Gora. Sad and dark, meek, humble, and sword-scarred, quietly acknowledging the life of Christ. Should this not be the face of us all? I hope my confession of stealing a Polish eagle poster, one of about a hundred attached to the fences there, will be forgiven. Niech Zyje Polska Liga Polskich Rodzin hangs proudly on my wall. A sad and somber beacon awaited us, and that was our inevitable trip to Majdanek, Auschwitz I, and Auschwitz II-Birkenau concentration camps. No truly heartfelt trip on Polands soil should detour from these realities. Cant wait to go back. President Donald Trump signalled that he could veto any tightening of US rules for the emergency clearance of a coronavirus vaccine, a move that could increase concerns that the race to find a Covid-19 shot is being politicized ahead of the presidential election. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to soon issue final guidelines for an emergency-use authorization. Regulators and drugmakers have in recent weeks vowed to adhere to science, not politics, in deciding when a vaccine is ready to reach the market. At a news conference on Wednesday, Trump said it sounds like a political move when asked whether the FDA was considering stricter standards for an authorization, suggesting that the White House could intercede if it thought the agency was too rigorous. That has to be approved by the White House, Trump said. We may or may not approve it. A representative for the FDA declined to comment. If a vaccine shows promising early signs of being safe and effective, it could be allowed to reach the market on an emergency basis before full results from a clinical trial are available. Companies including Pfizer Inc., Moderna Inc., AstraZeneca Plc and Johnson & Johnson have vaccine candidates in late-stage clinical trials. Some of those studies could produce efficacy data as soon as October. Trump is trailing Democrat Joe Biden in polls ahead of the November election, with surveys showing that a majority of Americans disapprove of the presidents handling of the virus. Trump has sought to focus on other topics while claiming that his administration is doing a good job handling the virus. The president has been promising that a coronavirus vaccine will be approved within weeks -- a gambit to turn a pandemic inoculation into an October surprise for his struggling re-election campaign. Trump and his supporters have also questioned whether government employees are trying to sabotage his efforts to combat the virus. In August, the president attacked the FDA for harboring deep state staff slowing vaccine and drug work to hurt him politically. Theres no evidence thats the case. FDA officials have indicated they would hold a vaccine to a higher standard than other medications that typically receive emergency waivers from the agency. Peter Marks, head of the agencys biologics office, earlier this month described what he called an EUA-plus program that would accelerate the review of a vaccine but require data standards similar to those that are used when the FDA is considering a full approval. Marks also said at the time that the FDA would like companies to have a median of two months of follow-up on trial participants after they receive the vaccine. Thats what were hoping for, Marks said. Most adverse events will happen about a month and a half after vaccination. He also said any plan for an emergency authorization would include longer-term follow-up once the vaccine is on the market. The FDA has been attempting to rebuild trust as Trump publicly pushes for a vaccine to be authorized by the Nov. 3 election. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn has been criticized for exaggerating the benefit of a plasma treatment the agency authorized for use against the virus last month. Hahn has tweeted several times since that outside FDA advisers would review vaccine data. Border Security Force has seized 100 kg of 'Hilsa' fish while the consignment was allegedly being smuggled from Bangladesh into India through Petrapole integrated checkpost in West Bengal, a BSF officer said on Thursday. During routine checking at the integrated checkpost in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday, BSF personnel found six bags containing the prized fish hidden inside the upper hood of a truck, the BSF spokesman said. The truck driver, the vehicle, and the fish were handed over to the Customs authorities at Petrapole, he said. The value of the seized fish was around Rs 9 lakh in the Indian market. The apprehended driver was identified as a resident of Kalianai village of Duttapukur area in North 24 Parganas district, the officer said. The driver claimed that he had gone to Bangladesh with his truck containing motor parts and when he was returning after unloading the goods he was offered Rs 6,000 by a man in the neighbouring country, for delivering the bags to a person at Bongaon in North 24 Parganas distrct, he said. 'Hilsa', often described as the 'queen of fish' is liked for its taste and smell. It can be savoured when fried or cooked in mustard sauce. Although, it is a tropical saltwater fish (scientific name: Tenualosa ilisha), it thrives in rivers and estuaries. READ | NCB Arrests 7, Seizes Rs 48-cr Worth Drugs, Busts Int'l Heroin Racket READ | BSF Foils Mischievous Attempt Along Indo-Pak Border, Seizes Rifles, Pistols & Ammunition Egypts Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek el-Molla recently announced that Egypt has reached a record in the production of crude oil, exceeding 65,000 barrels per day, for the first time since 1957. During a Sept. 13 meeting of the General Petroleum Company's General Assembly, which he presided over, Molla stressed the importance of increasing research work and activities, exploration, development of existing fields and setting new production wells to increase production, in addition to developing the main infrastructure needed for ongoing production operations and enhanced exploitation. Egypt is considered one of the first countries in the world to achieve a precedent in all stages of petroleum production, as it started in 1886 drilling the first well in the Jamsa area on the west coast of the Red Sea. Field production began in 1910, and petroleum discoveries in Egypt followed. In 1961, the first sea petroleum field in Egypt and the Middle East Belayim marine oil field was discovered. The Western Desert region represents the largest part of crude oil production in Egypt with 56%, followed by the Gulf of Suez with 23%, the Eastern Desert with 12% and the Sinai Peninsula with 9%, through 43 companies, the most important of which are Khaleda Petroleum Company, Belayim Petroleum Company (Petrobel), GAPCO Company, General Petroleum Company, Agiba Petroleum Company and Badr al-Din Petroleum Company. The major foreign companies operating in production activities in Egypt are the American Apache Corporation, the Italian Eni, the Emirati Dragon Oil and the Dutch Shell. Nabil Abdel-Sadiq, president of the General Petroleum Company, revealed, during the same meeting, that seven new petroleum discoveries were achieved, and that the total trial rates reached around 6,700 barrels of crude oil per day and 21.4 million cubic feet of gas per day. He said that the new discoveries and technical studies that were carried out and the reassessment contributed to adding proven oil reserves during the year by about 33.8 million barrels of oil equivalent. Over the past six years, Egypt has achieved 295 new petroleum discoveries, 197 crude oil discoveries and 98 gas discoveries in the areas of the western and eastern deserts, the Mediterranean, Sinai, Delta and the Gulf of Suez. These discoveries have added to the petroleum reserves about 371.619 million barrels of oil and condensates, and about 38 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The total production of petroleum wealth amounted to about 440 million tons, 189.6 million tons of crude oil and condensates, about 234 million tons of natural gas and 7.8 million tons of butane gas other than butane produced by refineries and investment companies. In this context, Abdel Sadiq noted, The production rate from the companys fields reached about 61,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day during the year, and by adding the company's share of production of the participating companies, the total production exceeds 95,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Several measures were taken and had a direct impact on increasing the productivity of some docks and land wells, mainly Al-Hamad Wharf that saw a productivity increase from 4,400 to 9,900 barrels per day, using the latest technologies in the field of electrical recordings in marine wells for the first time in Egypt. Talaat al-Suwaidi, a member of parliament and head of the parliamentary Energy and Environment Committee, said the ministrys announcement that Egypt has reached a record in crude oil production shows that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attributes great importance to supporting this promising sector. Suwaidi told Al-Monitor over the phone that Egypt has become one of the most important countries in the Middle East and Africa region, which attracts global investment. He underlined that Egypt's production has enabled it to achieve self-sufficiency in gas and resort to exporting. Atef Hassan, head of Petrobel, told Al-Monitor that Egypt is currently producing about 1.1 billion cubic feet of gas per day and about 70,000 barrels per day of crude oil, after its success in implementing plans to develop production fields in the Gulf of Suez, in addition to 12,000 barrels of condensate per day and about 280 tons of butane gas per day. He pointed out that Petrobel made investments in the fields of exploration, development and operation of gas and crude oil fields, amounting to $720 million during the ending fiscal year. It also succeeded in rationalizing expenditures by more than $50 million, amid highly efficient production processes and plans. On Sept.16, Eni and its partner BP announced the discovery of new gas in the Greater Noros area, in the Abu Madi West lease agreement, off the coast of Egypt. Hassan noted that Egypt announced in August the starting operation of al-Hamra petroleum port in New Alamein, which comprises 12 petroleum agreements with international companies, including eight with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company, for research, exploration and drilling in the Western Desert, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. He added that the total investment in research and exploration for these agreements exceeds $1 billion. Egypt owns eight crude oil refineries with a production capacity of around 38 million tons only 25 million tons of which are exploited yearly. According to figures issued by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics at the end of August, and cited by the Egyptian Al-Bawaba news website, crude oil imports increased by 34.7% to a record $217.6 million compared to $161.5 million. Forecasts indicate that Egypt's oil imports will drop by at least 17% due to a decline in imports of crude oil and petroleum derivatives by 17.1% during fiscal year 2021, to reach 18.4 million tons, compared to 22.2 million tons during fiscal 2020. Egypt has been seeking for years to transform into a regional hub for trade in gas and petroleum, as part of its National Energy Efficiency Action Plan. GHANA, West Africa, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The new docufilm "The African Dream: The Man with the Audacity to Build the New Africa" is scheduled to premiere Oct. 10, 2020, with a Global Watch Party on YouTube. The docufilm explores the impact Freedom Jacob Caesar, the visionaire behind this project, has made both as a pioneering business leader and a socially aware philanthropist. "The African Dream" chronicles the hopes of an entire continent and showcases the exemplary story of a great son of the land. It captures Freedom Jacob Caesar (FJC), the Neo Pan-Africanist alter ego of Nana Kwame Bediako, a wealthy, African visionary, an industrialist and nation builder who has embarked upon an ordained mission of building a united New Africa, bridging it to the rest of the world. FJC is personified as a spirit, a myth and a unique African ancestral identity. It has a unique plot twist that also showcases the tangible works of Nana Kwame Bediako who has single-handedly redefined the skylines of Ghana and built an extensive portfolio of business successes. He provides a story of hope and inspiration to empower a new generation of Black and young Africans throughout the diaspora by sharing his remarkable entrepreneurial journey and his vision for leadership in transforming the new Africa. At the core of the docufilm is Freedom Jacob Caesar's template for wealth creation and his visionary principles of maximizing the utilization of land and property, from a minuscule-scale development to a transformation of the region's skyline with nearly 600 residential and iconic commercial properties covering over 2,000 acres of land. Freedom's vision for the future of Africa is brought to life with Petronia City, his planned development of West Africa's first large-scale industrial and manufacturing smart city to bring energy and power to a continent that will boast an Industrial Park, Africa's "Silicon Valley" Technology Hub and an Energy City. Witnessing the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic made it apparent to Freedom how much people needed hope. "This period was also the first in modern times that Africa realized we would have to save ourselves. Our vision of Africa becoming a global giant can only be attained if Africans begin to provide for each other. It was important that I, Freedom, began to share my story with regard to creating wealth on the continent as well as the work I have been doing with The Freedom Movement," FJC says. He returned to his homeland of Ghana from the U.K. nearly 20 years ago and began silently building in the background for almost two decades what has now become The Kwarleyz Group. The Kwarleyz Group is a diversified group of companies involved in real estate development and financial investments in West Africa. Freedom states that "I have accepted the spiritual calling to embody the ambition and lineage of some of the greatest black men in history such as Haile Selassie, Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X. Mansa Musa, the wealthiest king in ancient history, awakened my attributes of vision and the power of manifestation that has been needed to transform Africa for the past five centuries." Freedom's philanthropy work, entrepreneurial prowess, and social activism are boldly emerging as a courageous voice of African solidarity. "An inspiration for what is possible," says Caesar, the alter ego of Nana Kwame Bediako. For media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Related Images image1.jpg Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg4kHRw9PWs SOURCE Freedom Jacob Caesar Christian Brueckner, prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, had his bid for early jail release rejected by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Thursday. The case centered on whether German authorities were breaching protocol when they convicted Brueckner last year for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in 2005. He was extradited from Italy to Germany in 2018 on an arrest warrant for drug trafficking. Brueckner challenged the rape sentencing in Germany on the grounds that the charge was not cited on the original 2018 arrest warrant. His lawyer, Friedrich Fulscher, challenged the validity of the warrant, arguing for a breach of international protocol in trialing him on a separate charge. The ruling found the conviction of rape and extortion was justified and Italian authorities who handed Brueckner to Germany had given their consent for him to also be additionally prosecuted for the rape. The 43-year-old is currently serving a 21-month sentence for drug trafficking in the German city of Kiel. If the separate case had been thrown out by the court, Brueckner would have been released when his current sentence is due to end on 7 January 2021. The ECJ ruling now means when the jail term for drug trafficking ends, the seven-year prison time for the rape will begin. In June, German prosecutors, led by Hans Christian Wolters, announced they had identified the convicted paedophile and rapist Brueckner as the prime suspect in the McCann investigation. The British three-year-old disappeared from a holiday apartment in 2007 in the resort of Praia Da Luz, Portugal, while her parents dined with friends nearby. Despite an international investigation and ongoing manhunt, no traces of McCann have been found and no convictions have been made. On Tuesday, Mr Wolters announced there is material evidence that McCann is dead. The 43-year-old had been living nearby the resort at the time and telephone data suggests he was near the apartment just hours before she was last seen. Authorities say they do not yet have enough evidence to hold him in prison for McCann's disappearance. Brueckner denies having anything to do with McCann while his lawyer, Fulscher, told The Sun on Monday he had proof that Brueckner was innocent and that German authorities had the wrong man. Meanwhile, British police are still treating the case as a missing persons inquiry. In the middle of a tree-planting tour, Mayor Brian Bowman noted Winnipeg is still far from ensuring the number of new trees added to its canopy each year exceeds the number lost. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In the middle of a tree-planting tour, Mayor Brian Bowman noted Winnipeg is still far from ensuring the number of new trees added to its canopy each year exceeds the number lost. The mayor planted one tree in each of the citys 15 wards Wednesday, while urging others to join the civic One Million Tree Challenge. The program aims to have a million new trees planted by the time Winnipegs population reaches one million people, which is expected around 2040. "Its a long-term challenge for a reason, recognizing that we cant completely reverse the tide overnight," said Bowman. "Right now, weve got about 300,000 trees on public lands. If we can get a million (new) trees thats going to make a huge, positive difference." The public service estimates about 50,000 trees must be planted each year to reach the one-million mark, once program donations and events have ramped up over the next few years. The effort could cost the city and its partners about $43 million over two decades, as each tree can cost between $5 and $750. The city currently loses thousands of trees each year, largely due to disease and invasive species. Officials removed 8,588 trees from public and private property in 2019 (5,657 due to Dutch elm disease), city spokeswoman Julie Horbal Dooley wrote in an emailed statement. During the same year, the city planted 1,434 trees in parks and on boulevards. To date, an additional 3,700 have been planted through the One Million Tree Challenge. Bowman said the overall loss of thousands of trees each year sparked the program. "We know that invasive species like Emerald ash borer and Dutch elm disease are decimating our tree canopy. And if we dont treat that challenge with urgency and as a sustained community effort, the city is going to look a lot less green in the decades to come," he said. The mayor said about one-third of the citys trees could be lost to Dutch elm disease over the next century, while Emerald ash borer is expected to decimate local ash trees within the next 15 to 20 years. Oly Backstrom, an Earl Grey resident, said such loss is already apparent in his neighbourhood, where many trees have already been removed or marked for destruction. Backstrom said the city appears to be at an "escalation point" toward the rapid decimation of the tree canopy. "What I would like our city to work on now is to slow the death of the remaining elms and to expedite the replacement of our trees (in ways) that diversify our urban forest and make them more robust to hold up against disease," he said. Backstrom said he realizes the price of that effort could prove an obstacle but believes tree preservation should be a priority. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "I think the city still needs, basically, a strategic plan to get back on top of the loss of their urban forest and Im not sure if the million tree challenge really addresses that," he said. Bowman said Winnipegs forestry branch is working to increase the diversity of the trees planted to better prepare for invasive species. When asked if he would move to increase the forestry budget to speed up tree removals and replacements, the mayor said that will be considered. "I dont think anybody denies that we need to keep doing more. So well take a look at our multi-year budgets and well see what we can do," said Bowman. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga (Newser) California will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered passenger cars and trucks in 15 years, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday, establishing a timeline in the nation's most populous state that could force US automakers to shift their zero-emission efforts into overdrive. The plan won't stop people from owning gas-powered cars or selling them on the used car market. But in 2035 it would end the sale of all new such vehicles in the state of nearly 40 million people, which accounts for more than one out of every 10 new cars sold in the US, the AP reports. California would be the first state with such a mandate while at least 15 other countries have already made similar commitments, including Germany, France, and Norway. story continues below Newsom used the hood of a red, electric-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E to sign an executive order directing state regulators to develop new regulations to meet the deadline. He urged Californians to "pull away from the gas pumps" and encouraged other states to join California for the good of the environment and public health. While environmental groups cheered the announcement, the oil industry panned it and the automakers' industry group sought a middle ground, saying it's committed to increasing zero-emission vehicles but through cooperation among governments and businesses, not by mandates. Meanwhile, White House spokesman Judd Deere said flatly: President Trump wont stand for it. (Read more auto industry stories.) Vitaly is forced to confess to untruths in prison. The wife of the political prisoner Shkliarov commented on his arrest for the first time The wife of the Belarusian political strategist Vitaly Shkliarov is not allowed to see him in the pre-trial detention center, despite the diplomatic passport of a State Department employee The wife of the Belarusian political prisoner Vitaly Shkliarov, State Department employee Heather Shkliarov, despite her numerous requests, has not yet received permission from the country's authorities to visit her husband in the pre-trial detention center. She stated this, commenting on the situation regarding her husband, reports BuzzFeed News . She emphasized, she is aware that Vitaly Shkliarov is subjected to ill-treatment and is deprived of medical care in the pre-trial detention center in Minsk, even when he feels symptoms similar to COVID-19. Heather Shkliarov stressed that she was seriously concerned about the physical and psychological health of her husband. Vitaly is subjected to strong psychological pressure and is deprived of basic physical freedoms. What he said to his lawyer is an attempt to force him to confess to untruths, she said, adding that she only got news about his condition from the notes that his lawyer was passing to her. Shklyarova did not rule out that such an attitude towards her husband on the part of the management of the remand prison may indicate an attempt to weaken his will in order to achieve a false confession of guilt. On September 8, Vitaly felt very bad and for several days in a row reported a critical increase in body temperature, as well as breathing problems, chills and muscle pains. The prison authorities refused to provide him with a COVID-19 test or cure him of a fever, which can only be viewed as another attempt to weaken his psychological will to obtain a false confession, she stressed. The views expressed in this statement are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the State Department or the US government, she added. The publication notes that it is unusual for an active American diplomat to speak publicly in this way this task is usually entrusted to senior State Department officials. In a conversation with reporters in mid-September, US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun called on the Belarusian authorities to release all detained protesters and, in particular, said: Vitaly Shkliarov should be released. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also mentioned Vitaly in a September 8 statement condemning the abduction of the Belarusian opposition leaders. But Pompeo and Biegun did not speak on this matter any more and did not elaborate on the taken efforts to free him. On condition of anonymity, the American diplomats told the publication that some State Department officials expressed frustration over what they believed was the Secretary of State's lack of action in Vitaly's case. One diplomat called Pompeo and Biegun's public statements trite. Let us remind you that the Belarusian authorities detained the well-known opposition politician Sergey Tikhanovsky, and later political consultant Vitaly Shkliarov. They are charged with organizing an illegal rally in support of the presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on May 29 in the city of Grodno. Shkliarov himself denies all charges against him and claims that his detention is the revenge of Europe's last dictator for publicly criticizing Lukashenkos actions. The media call Shkliarov one of the most dangerous political figures for the Lukashenkos regime. On August 18, Shkliarov passed an open letter to the media in which he spoke about torture, psychological pressure and humiliation towards him and other people held in the Minsk remand prison. Shkliarov worked on the 2016 US presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders. He also volunteered for President Obamas 2012 re-election campaign. He is a citizen of the United States and Belarus. Danny J. Bakewell. Sr. & the Taste of Soul Team Visit Food Vendors Taste of Soul, one of the largest one-day food and music festivals in the world, wont be happening this year due to the health risks of the pandemic, but TOS Founder, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. and his staff felt it was critical that the festival reached out to those vendors whove been supportive and committed to the festival and community for the 15-year run, as well as supporting new upstart restaurants run by business-savvy Millennials. On Saturday, September 16, Bakewell visited Sip & Sonder coffee house in Inglewood, Hawkins House of Burgers in Watts, Chef Marilyns in the Crenshaw District, and Mels Fish Shack in the Jefferson Park area, to show moral and financial support, despite the festival producers decision to cancel the massive event, opting for a safer, virtual concert experience. We are following the guidelines of our city and health officials told keep the Taste of Soul nation safe, said Bakewell. But that doesnt relieve us of our responsibility to support the businesses who support the festival and community. ADVERTISEMENT So, with no festival to plan for, there was an opportunity to catch up with some of the most unique, and maybe even overlooked, food and beverage experiences in inner-city L.A. They represent small business owners who make a living by selling their unique cuisine and brand in urban communities. TOS is reminding consumers to be safe, wear masks, and patronize the restaurants in their communities. Additional Photos E. Mesiyah McGinnis Christian Brueckner challenged arrest warrant issued over 2005 rape charge The 43-year-old was extradited from Italy to Germany under the warrant in 2018 But the European Court of Justice earlier today found the conviction justified Christian Brueckner, 43, had challenged the arrest warrant issued over a 2005 rape charge in relation to a separate case The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case has bid to get out of jail rejected as the European Court of Justice ruled his extradition was legal. ADVERTISEMENT Brueckner's challenge had been against a conviction in Germany for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005. The 43-year-old had challenged the arrest warrant issued in relation to the case which saw him extradited from Italy to Germany in 2018. His lawyer Friedrich Fulscher had attempted to argue that protocols in the use of the European Arrest Warrant were breached. Mr Fulscher claimed on a technicality that 'specialty protection law' was broken because he was extradited for the drugs conviction but then subsequently put on trial for raping the elderly woman. But the European Court of Justice earlier today found the conviction justified because Italian authorities, who had handed the German suspect over to German authorities, had given their consent for him to be prosecuted for that separate rape case. In a statement the court confirmed it had ruled against Brueckner and stated he is no longer entitled to rely on the specialty rule'. Click here to resize this module Brueckner is currently serving a sentence for drug trafficking in the northern German city of Kiel which ends on January 7, 2021. He had applied for early release and could have been freed if the separate sentence over the rape in Portugal had been thrown out by the European Court of Justice. But the ruling now means when the jail term for drug trafficking ends, the prison time for rape would then follow. In June, Brueckner was identified the German man as a suspect in the case of Madeleine McCann. In June, Brueckner was identified the German man as a suspect in the case of Madeleine McCann (pictured), who disappeared from an apartment in 2007 while her family was on holiday in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal The three-year-old disappeared from an apartment in 2007 while her family was on holiday in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal, as her parents dined with friends at a nearby tapas bar. ADVERTISEMENT Despite a huge international manhunt, no trace of her has been found, nor has anyone been charged over her disappearance. Earlier this year, German prosecutors made the stunning announcement that they were investigating a 43-year-old German man in connection with the case, saying they have 'concrete evidence' he had killed Maddie. Brueckner had been living nearby at the time of Madeleine's disappearance and telephone data suggests he was near the apartment just hours before she was last seen. But authorities say they do not have enough evidence to hold him in prison on the strength of the McCann case alone. British police are still treating her disappearance as a missing persons case. Tonight a gathering of more than 100 protesters rallied in front of Kansas City police headquarters to express outrage against police brutality. Thankfully, the protest was "mostly peaceful" as the Black Lives Matter flag placed atop a KCPD memorial to fallen officers was voluntarily removed. Update . . . KSHB: 1 protester arrested in KC as others march to Metro Patrol HQ in support- Breonna Taylor decision spurs KC calls for justice KMBC: Group protests outside KCPD headquarters over Breonna Taylor case Fox4: Protesters march across downtown KC over lack of charges for officers in Breonna Taylors death After a couple of hours, speeches demanding justice and voicing concerns with police violence concluded . . . The downtown scene has been mostly vacated. For now. The protesters are hitting various locations throughout Midtown and the urban core tonight. Moreover, across the nation the protest are just starting to heat up. Check the links: NPR: Louisville Police Officer Shot As Protests Erupt After Charges In Breonna Taylor Case WLKY: 2 LMPD officers wounded in downtown shooting Guardian: Louisville police officer shot amid nationwide protests Fox News: Colin Kaepernick speaks on Breonna Taylor shooting indictment: 'Abolish The Police' AL: Breonna Taylor decision protest: Kentucky governor mobilizes national guard; Trump says itll all work out' UST: Joe Biden urges peace, patience following Breonna Taylor grand jury decision NY Daily News: Really brilliant: Trump praises Kentucky prosecutor after no charges in Breonna Taylors death Developing . . . New Delhi: Two IAS officers working in the north-east have been appointed in the Prime Minister's Office(PMO), an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said on Friday. The officers, Vijay Kumar Mantri and Aishvarya Singh, are from Assam and Meghalaya, and Sikkim cadres respectively, it added. Mantri has been appointed as a Deputy Secretary and Singh will work as an Under Secretary, the order said. Mantri, a 2007-batch IAS officer, is a native of AndhraPradesh, while Singh, a 2008-batch IAS officer, hails from Uttar Pradesh, it added. Both the officers are currently in their respective cadre states. As per official data, there are five deputy secretaries and eight under secretaries already working in the PMO. Beijing ranked as the top science city globally, followed by New York, Boston, San Francisco/San Jose and Shanghai, in the Nature Index global science city 2020 rankings released during the recently concluded Zhongguancun Forum. Four other Chinese cities Nanjing, Wuhan, Guangzhou and Hefei ranked among the top 20 global science cities. David Swinbanks, founder of the Nature Index, said a concentration of talent, funding, research institutions and other resources is crucial for the top five global science cities to maintain their leading positions. He spoke via video at the forum, saying that cooperation between the top five cities is pretty close. A key metric used by the index is "share" a city's contribution to science publication with its own country. Beijing's contribution to China was 21 percent, more than double that of any other city in the top five New York (10.3 percent), Boston (9.5 percent), San Francisco/San Jose (8.4 percent) and Shanghai (10.9 percent), according to STM Publishing News which focuses on science, technical and medical publishing professionals of the world. Beijing is also home to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which, at the institutional level, leads the index in share and acts as a central hub of Chinese scientific collaboration. Hawaii has set Oct. 15 as the date when it will open tourism to visitors who have tested negative for COVID-19, and United Airlines aims to make that easier by offering a pilot testing program for its San Francisco passengers. But it won't be cheap. In a partnership with GoHealth Urgent Care, United will offer its customers flying to the islands out of SFO a coronavirus test on the day of departure that provides results in about 15 minutes, the company said. The cost of the rapid test and health evaluation at the airport will be $250, according to United. (That's more than many travelers will pay for their round trip tickets, which have dipped as low as $198 in recent weeks.) Also, the cost of the on-site rapid test cannot be billed to personal insurance policies, according to GoHealth. As a second option, customers can take a mail-in test administered by a company called Color. In that case: It is recommended that customers initiate testing at least 10 days prior to their trip and provide their sample within 72 hours of their trip, United said. Color's at-home option is much cheaper: A spokesperson told SFGATE, "Colors at-home self collection COVID-19 test kit will be available to United travelers for $80, plus the cost of shipping." (Overnight shipping is not cheap.) The airline said it has worked closely with Hawaiian officials to make sure that any passenger who obtains a negative result on either test would not be subject to the states 14-day quarantine rule for inbound travelers. UPDATE: On Friday, Sept 25, Hawaiian Airlines announced a similar testing program for SFO and LAX originating passengers. Last week, Hawaii officials said that they will work with Kaiser Permanente and CVS on testing Hawaii-bound travelers, but it's not clear at the moment if or how results from those providers will work with United. What's also unclear is how the labs will communicate test results to the state and/or the airlines, and how they plan to thwart fake certifications. We've heard from several readers eager to get back to Hawaii, but befuddled by the scant and conflicting news coming out of authorities on the mainland and on Hawaii. On Thursday, a reader who has tickets for her family to travel to Maui in November wrote: "I read that CVS and Kaiser are 'approved testing partners' so I called each of them this week to get more info on how to get an appointment for testing. Interestingly, neither organization had heard anything about this program. In fact, both transferred me to several different representatives and they all were surprised to hear that they were 'testing partners." At CVS they said they were rather surprised because they are only testing by appointment and then only if you meet the parameters on their site (i.e. not for leisure travel)." Eventually, state authorities, testing partners, airlines and airports are going to have to get on the same page, and communicate the new requirements clearly, in order for all this to work. They have to in order for Hawaii tourism to survive. United currently operates daily flights from SFO to Honolulu, Kona and Maui; on Oct. 15, it will resume service from San Francisco to Lihue, Kauai, and will add more flights to Maui and Kona. Passengers who want to get their test at the airport can go online to schedule an appointment at the testing facility, which is in the International Terminal and will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Keep in mind that only Hawaiian Airlines offers flights to the islands from the International Terminal at SFO. Alaska flies from Terminal 2, United from Terminal 3, which are both a hike from the testing facility.) Don't miss a shred of important travel news! Sign up for our FREE weekly email alerts. United said it will also send an email to customers scheduled to fly out of SFO to Hawaii with an invitation to purchase their physician-ordered Color self-collection kit at least 10 days ahead of their departure, collect their own samples at home 72 hours prior to their departure and return their test via overnight mail or to a drop box at SFO. The kit includes a plastic collection tube, nasal swab and instructions. Results are sent by text or email within 24 to 48 hours. United/Color GoHealth Urgent Care has been working with United since July, administering tests at SFO to its international flight crews. And the new COVID-19 testing for passengers to Hawaii could be just the beginning of a much larger program, since so many destinations now require coronavirus tests and/or quarantines for international visitors. Well look to quickly expand customer testing to other destinations and U.S. airports later this year to complement our state-of-the-art cleaning and safety measures that include a mandatory mask policy, antimicrobial and electrostatic spraying and our hospital-grade HEPA air filtration systems, said Toby Enqvist, Uniteds chief customer officer. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE weekly email updates! SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Even if omicron peak nears, Long Beach cases and hospitalizations will still be up for weeks, official says This software will give dispensaries a competitive advantage in their local market by maximizing their advertising spend and increasing conversions and revenue. Foottraffiks new AI software connects real-time trends to client Google Ads campaigns, supercharging performance and increasing revenue by up to 25%. Using a combination of historical ecommerce transaction data, real-time weather data, and consumer social media trends, Foottraffiks new machine learning technology creates models around a variety of rich data sets. This extensive modeling produces dynamic bid strategies that respond to trends and shifts in demand, thus yielding greater returns. Google Ads is the most popular and most used advertising channel on the number one search engine, Google. With Googles massive reach, the ability to leverage Google Ads for dispensaries is crucial for legitimizing the cannabis industry and increasing its visibility. Founder and CEO Guillermo Bravo adds that, As dispensary marketing is limited, its great that we can offer a highly effective and reliable marketing channel for dispensaries to reach their local customers. This software will give dispensaries a competitive advantage in their local market by maximizing their advertising spend and increasing conversions and revenue. Foottraffik is happy to announce even more functionality when it comes to launching Google Ads campaigns for dispensaries and delivery services. Thanks to their focus on transparency and revenue attribution, Foottraffik has been able to provide ecommerce transaction reporting on the return on investment of their Google Ads campaigns. With their new AI initiative, they will also be able to ensure that their clients campaigns are as successful as possible and continue to improve their effectiveness by spotting and taking advantage of trends instantly. Headquartered in San Francisco, Foottraffik is a dispensary eCommerce growth company specializing in ROI-focused campaigns, including Google Ads, targeted mobile display ads across 3000+ mobile apps and websites, and search engine optimization exclusively for cannabis dispensaries and delivery services. They are focused on increasing revenue generation through real-time data. Foottraffik revenue attribution integrates with online menus dutchie, Jane, Weedmaps, Woo-commerce, Tymber, Blaze, and more! Mike Pence and Ivanka Trump will meet with a pro-Trump police association in Minneapolis, where George Floyd died in the custody of police four months ago, sparking nationwide protests against racism and police violence. As well as a community listening session with Cops for Trump on Thursday, the US vice president and daughter of Donald Trump will meet residents who the Trump campaign says have been "negatively impacted by crime and violent extremism". The visit comes about a month after president Trump met with small-business owners whose stores in Minneapolis were damaged in violence that erupted after Floyd's death on 25 May. Mr Trump did not visit protest locations nor the site where police held Floyd, an unarmed black, down until he could no longer breathe. Mr Pence and Ms Trumps schedule on Thursday does not include those places either. The visit comes after judges weighing charges in the death of Breonna Taylor decided against indicting the white officers directly involved in the black womans death, leading to cries of injustice from anti-racism campaigners. Anger over that decision led to two officers being shot on Wednesday night in Louisville, Kentucky, to which the president wrote on Twitter: LAW & ORDER! - For some in Minneapolis, the Trump campaign's law-and-order message is calculated, divisive and damaging, as he attempts to wrestle the state from Democratic control in 2020. "Hate and fear are good for getting votes, but it's not good for governing," said Paul Eaves, a Minneapolis resident, to the Associated Press. The white 72-year-old, who regularly tends to artwork and flowers at the intersection that has become a memorial to Floyd, added that the president was a "vile politician". Following Floyds death and demonstrations over it, City Council members pledged to abolish the Minneapolis Police Department and replace it with a new socially-minded agency That vote, which was blocked by a city commission, will not happen until at least 2021, if ever. Additional reporting by Associated Press. 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 last three years, said Topa 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 currently available in eight western states. The partnership has allowed both companies to build their core business, supporting the national expansion of Hippos insurance products, which are currently available in 31 states. Topa has been instrumental in advancing the growth of our business to reach more homeowners, said Rick McCathron, president of Hippo. Hippo is 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. The state Board of Elections rewrote the mail-voting application to encourage people to request that their ballots be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service rather than online. The board also instructed a public relations firm, hired to inform voters about how the election would be conducted, to emphasize the cumbersome nature of the counting of Web-delivered ballots. "Property Brothers" stars Drew and Jonathan Scott know that people love homes with unexpected extrasand on the latest episode of Brother vs. Brother," they reveal which extras matter most. In the episode Super Bonus Spaces," the Scott brothers are renovating their Los Angeles homes' bonus areas: nonessential rooms that can be turned into a home office, guest suite, home gym, or whatever they think would make home buyers swoon. Since Jonathan won the past two challenges, Drew is keen to come out victorious this time! So he goes all out to impress guest judge Breegan Jane of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. So what upscale extras do the brothers decide to add? Read on for some fun ideas you might be inspired to try in your own home, too. Turn garage into a guesthouse This Murphy bed is sleek and stylish. HGTV Jonathan decides to focus his energies on turning the detached garage into a bonus room/guesthouse. But since he knows that the future homeowners wont always have guests staying overnight, he must make this space multifunctional. To do this, he chooses a stylish Murphy bed, which will fold up into a quaint sitting area with storage. This cozy couch looks beautiful on its own, and with the bed hidden, this space is a perfect office or bonus living room. When Jane inspects the guesthouse, she agrees that the Murphy bed is the right choice. These are perfect because it becomes that multifunctional space, Jane says. Very L.A. Im loving this. Go big with the coatroom This coatroom has so much storage! HGTV Jonathan knows that with his garage being turned into a guesthouse, buyers will need a space to put all the things theyd usually store in the garage. His solution? He goes all out adding cabinets, closets, and even a workbench with tools to another bonus area in the house: the coatroom. When Jane inspects the space, she fully approves. In L.A. you can never have enough storagestorage is important to buyers, she says. A powder room should have personality The wallpaper and tile in this powder room complement each other. HGTV Jonathan creates a bold bathroom he knows L.A. buyers will love, taking a chance with ornate wallpaper and blue tile that has an old Hollywood look. Right away, Jane recognizes this bathroom design is something special. L.A. buyers are totally going to understand that this is a unique, unusual space," she says, "and theyre going to want it. Make a small guest room feel larger with white paint The kitchenette in the white guest room is gorgeous. HGTV While Jonathan works on his garage-turned-guesthouse, Drew is busy building his own guest suite in his house. Usually homeowners set aside the smallest bedroom to be used as a guest room (that is, if theyre lucky enough to have a guest room at all). While this is practical, it usually means that guests are stuck in a room that feels cramped. Drew provides a solution to this space issue by designing his guest suite to be all white. He chooses white walls, white furniture, and even a white oven in the kitchenette. The white makes the space seem bright and airy. Nothing in there is cramped, Jane says. Its like the perfect hotel room. Add value with a dedicated home gym This dedicated home gym adds huge value. HGTV Drew knows that he has to work hard to impress L.A. buyers, so he decides to build a small addition with lots of windows and turn this space into a home gym. It's an expensive addition, but he knows having a dedicated workout room will impress buyers. And since this space has only one purpose, Drew is able to add gym-specific details, like floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and workout gear. In the end, Jane is impressed by how much Drew has been able to stuff into this small space. It takes knowing your L.A. customer to truly understand that we cant live without our yoga, our spin bikes, and our reformers, she says. Which brothers home is better? Both brothers impress Jane with their bonus room renovations, but both also go over their budgets. Jonathan plans to spend $205,000, but ends up spending $218,000, or $13,000 more than planned. Meanwhile, Drew plans to spend a massive $375,000 on his bonus spaces, but ends up spending more after realizing he has to tear down the back of the house and rebuild it so that his addition will be stable. He spends a whopping $20,000 over budget. Apparently the extra cash Drew blew is worth it. Once both renovations are done, Jane declares Drew the winner. Finally! The prize? A custom-made superhero cape, which Drew dons with relish to celebrate his first "Brother vs. Brother" win this season. Drew Scott wins this challenge! HGTV The post The Property Brothers Reveal Those Little Extras That Mean Everything in a Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. A view of the damaged grain silo at the site of the massive explosion at Beirut's port area, as Lebanon marks one month since the August 4 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon on Sept. 4, 2020. (Mohamed Azakir/Reuters) Lebanons Fractious Politics Puts French Lifeline at Risk BEIRUTLebanons sectarian politicians have overshot one deadline with France and missing more may put at risk a lifeline from Paris to haul the Middle East nation out of its worst crisis since a 1975-1990 civil war. France has drawn up a timeline for Lebanon to tackle corruption and deliver reforms to help secure billions of dollars in foreign aid to save a country drowning in debt. But the leaders who oversaw years of wasted state spending and corruption have stumbled at the first hurdle by failing to deliver on a promise to French President Emmanuel Macron to form a new cabinet by mid-September. Choosing a cabinet may prove the easy part. Once named, the ministers have a mountain of challenges, ranging from reviving a paralyzed banking industry to fixing a power sector that cant keep the lights on in a nation of about 6 million. Macron, who visited Beirut after a devastating port blast in August, has told politicians they could face sanctions if graft gets in the way. And Paris has repeatedly said there will be no aid without change. Sectarian Politics Fuel Logjam Factional, sectarian politics is to blame. At the heart of the cabinet, logjam has been a demand by the two main Shiite Muslim parties, Iran-backed Hezbollah and its ally Amal, to pick several ministers and to keep the finance post in their hands. The finance ministry will have a vital role in drawing up plans to exit the economic crisis. Under Lebanons sectarian power-sharing system, Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib, a Sunni, had sought to shake up the leadership of ministries, some of which have been controlled by the same factions for years. Hezbollah, whose political influence has grown, and Amal view moves to shift them out of key cabinet posts as a bid to weaken their sway, politicians say. They have a parliament majority with their Christian and other allies, although the cabinet dispute has put them at odds. President Michel Aoun, a Maronite Christian allied to Hezbollah, has said no sect should claim any ministry. But Washingtons decision in September to impose U.S. sanctions on Hezbollahs allies deepened the Shiite blocs resolve to dig in over cabinet appointments, political sources say. Washington deems Hezbollah a terrorist group. Yet foreign pressure could also deliver results. Macrons intervention prompted Lebanons bickering leaders to agree on the prime minister-designate hours before the French president arrived in Beirut on his second visit in less than a month. Whats at Stake? France has said Lebanon faces collapse if it doesnt change course. The Lebanese president has said the country is going to hell if it doesnt name a cabinet. Many Lebanese, thousands of whom took to the streets in 2019 to demand change, have already been plunged into poverty as the economy has crashed. Lebanon needs cash (and fast) after defaulting on its towering sovereign debt and with its banks on their knees. The Beirut port blast, which killed almost 200 people, handed the nation a new repair bill estimated at up to $4.6 billion. The central bank has been using up dwindling foreign reserves to subsidize vital imports of wheat, fuel, and medicine. Lifting subsidies, which the center has said cannot go on indefinitely, will bring more misery and may stoke tensions. Minor episodes of sectarian unrest and factional skirmishes have accompanied the economic freefall. Further deterioration threatens more flare-ups, while security forces are paid in a currency that is rapidly losing its value. Donors who promised billions of dollars to help Lebanon in a 2018 Paris conference refused to hand over the cash when the country failed to deliver reforms. They have made changing course a condition for any future help. Macron delivered a stark message in Beirut on Sept. 1: If your political class fails, then we will not come to Lebanons aid. New Government Would Face Tight Deadline There are big challenges ahead. France has drawn up a detailed roadmap for the new cabinet, ranging from swiftly restarting talks with the International Monetary Fund to launching tenders to start building new power stations. Crucially, France has said the government must start to tackle endemic corruption quickly in order to secure funds at another donor conference that Paris has said its ready to hold in the second half of October. This means any new government faces a tight deadline. It may prove a tall order for Lebanons fractious politicians who have already failed to name a cabinet on time. By Ellen Francis The activist who helped bring Aleksei Navalny to Germany for treatment after he was poisoned has predicted the Kremlin critic will need a month to regain full fitness. Navalny made his first public appearance on September 23 after being discharged from a Berlin hospital where Germany said he was being treated for poisoning with a potentially deadly Soviet-developed nerve agent. "He is still not 100 percent from what he was before [falling ill]," Jaka Bizilj, founder of the Cinema for Peace Foundation, told foreign journalists in Berlin on September 24. "When we got the first reports, we got the impression he had made a fast recovery and was fit, but we have to be careful," he said. "I think he will need at least a month to be fit again." Navalny was flown from Russia to Berlin last month after falling ill on a domestic flight in Siberia. The West has demanded an explanation from the Kremlin, which has denied any involvement in the incident and says it has yet to see evidence of a crime. Bizilj, who had previously helped anti-Kremlin activist Pyotr Verzilov get treatment in Germany after a suspected poisoning, said he had no doubt Navalny would return to Russia. "His chief of staff has made clear there is no doubt he wants to go back to Russia," he said, adding that he had not seen Navalny in person but was in contact with his aides and family. The 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner posted on social media a picture of himself sitting on a park bench in the German capital on September 23 after being released, adding that while he still didn't have full use of his left hand, he had started learning how to regain his balance by standing on one leg. 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 official 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 with a chemical agent from the Novichok group of bioweapons. 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 on September 23. 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. With reporting by Reuters and Interfax In a statement, she said: Recently, I learned that rather than protecting me, they instead betrayed me by working together in secret to steal from me, by telling lie after lie about the value of what I had inherited, and by conning me into giving everything away for a fraction of its true value. I am bringing this case to hold them accountable and to recover what is rightfully mine. TL;DR: With the deal between TikTok and Oracle/Walmart looking like no party can agree on terms, the app has filed for a preliminary injunction against the US ban set to start in a few days. The move comes after WeChat won a similar reprieve over the weekend. The saga began back in August when Donald Trump signed a pair of executive orders that gave US businesses 45 days to stop any transactions with WeChat and ByteDanceostensibly over security concernsleaving the latter with little option but to sell TikTok's US operations. It looked as if Microsoft would win the race to buy TikTok, but the Redmond firm was knocked back in favor of a partnership with Oracle and Walmart. Trump said he approved the deal "in concept," and the US Department of Commerce delayed the September 20 ban to September 27, 11:59 PM. President Trump is speaking out on a TikTok deal, suggesting that Oracle and Walmart must have total control of TikTok, @EamonJavers reports. https://t.co/nZtpHFiKgw pic.twitter.com/9ZSFgMg8LK CNBC (@CNBC) September 21, 2020 The TikTok/Oracle/Walmart deal appears to be progressing far from smoothly. ByteDance said it would retain an 80 percent share in TikTok, but Trump insists he won't approve any deal in which the Chinese firm retains partial ownership of the app. Oracle, meanwhile, says both it and Walmart will be majority owners, and "ByteDance will have no ownership in TikTok Global." China previously said it wouldn't accept such a deal. TikTok had already sued the Trump administration back in August, challenging the executive orders in court. After a California judge temporarily blocked the ban on WeChat following a petition from a group of users, citing "serious questions" about whether it was a first amendment violation, TikTok has now filed for a similar preliminary injunction in district court in Washington. It argues that "there is no plausible reason to insist the prohibitions be enforced immediately," adding that orders preventing downloads from the app stores dramatically exceed the administration's power under US law. For those interested in reading the entire Pappas declaration, here you go: https://t.co/CWyvwQhIJP Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) September 23, 2020 NPR reporter Bobby Ally tweeted a declaration by TikTok that claims Trump's targeting of the app caused a dozen brands to cancel deals, costing the company $10 million. It also alleges that 52 candidates have declined job offers with TikTok and ByteDance due to uncertainty over the ban. The Congress on Thursday said it was all for speedy justice in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case but disapproved of the emotive issue eclipsing pressing concerns of Bihar like recurring floods, unemployment and problems faced by farmers. Addressing a press conference in Patna, All India Congress Committee general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said the party would like the Central Bureau of Investigation to complete its inquiry in three months and favoured setting up of a special court to facilitate expeditious trial. "We understand the pain that the untimely death of a son of the soil might have caused. His family has a right to seek justice and it is good that their wish has been granted. "But let us not lose focus because of this issue. Let us not give an escape route to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is driving a jhooth ki railgaadi (a train carrying falsehoods) and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who has happily agreed to become one of its passengers", Surjewala said. He was responding to queries about relentless attacks by the ruling National Democratic Alliance in Bihar on the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra in which the Congress is a partner. Governments of both the states have been engaged in a tug of war ever since the father of the Patna-born actor lodged a first information report in Patna, accusing actress Rhea Chakraborty of abetting the suicide and the Mumbai police of paying no heed to his complaints. When the Bihar police began probing the matter and, later, when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recommended a CBI probe, the Maharashtra government came out strongly in support of Chakraborty's contention that the home state of the deceased actor, with whom she was in a relationship, had 'no jurisdiction' in the matter. The contention was eventually struck down by the Supreme Court. Though the NDA leaders have said that Rajput's death case is not an election issue, but considering sentimental attachment of citizens of Bihar with the matter, the issue becoming a campaign talking point in the upcoming state polls can't be ruled out. Surjewala also dismissed reports about a rift in the Grand Alliance in Bihar and pointed out that the Congress was joined by its partner Rashtriya Janata Dal in opposing the farm bills. "Our in-charge for Bihar Shaktisinh Gohil and state unit chief Madan Mohan Jha are present here. In a few days from now, they will start unveiling before you the strategy we intend to adopt for ousting the Nitish Kumar government from power", he said. Hindustani Awam Morcha, an important constituent of the opposition grouping, has already walked out of the coalition and another partner Rashtriya Lok Samata Party of former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha has asserted all is not well in the grand alliance. Surjewala reiterated the Congress' contention that the recently passed farm bills would deprive cultivators of benefits like minimum support price (MSP) and help big corporates in gaining an undue advantage. The Congress leader said the party was, therefore, extending its support to the 'Bharat Bandh' called by farmers' bodies Friday, besides launching it's own agitation programmes. Telugu comedy actor Kosuri Venugopal passed away in Hyderabad. He breathed his last on Wednesday (September 23, 2020) at a private hospital reportedly due to COVID-19. According to reports, the actor was being treated for COVID-19 in a hospital in Hyderabad's Gachibowli. It is said that his condition worsened with time and later he succumbed to the virus. He was admitted 2 weeks ago, when he was tested positive for Coronavirus. Fans and followers of the actor who are shocked by the news of his demise were seen expressing their condolences to the family. Talking about his film journey, Kosuri Venugopal had made his acting debut with the 1994 film Thegimpu directed by PN Ramachandra Rao. In a film career spanning 26 years, the actor had been a part of several hit films including Maryada Ramanna (2010), Chalo (2018), Vikramarkudu (2006) among many others. He was last seen in Mohana Krishna Indraganti's Ami Thumi that features Adivi Sesh, and Eesha Rebba in the lead roles. The film was released in 2017. Chiranjeevi Confirms Sujeeth's Exit From Lucifer Remake; VV Vinayak To Helm The Project! Saiee Manjrekar Joins The Cast Of Adivi Sesh's Major; Actress Says 'I Can't Wait To Start Shooting' Maj. Bridget Hallahan, who commands the Louisville Metro police department Fifth Division, allegedly sent a message to co-workers calling BLM protesters 'punks' A Louisville Metro Police major blasted Black Lives Matter protesters and Antifa as 'punks' who will always be living in their parents' basement, working in Walmart or 'washing our cars' in a message to colleagues last month. Maj. Bridget Hallahan, who is white and commands the city's Fifth Division, allegedly claimed that police officers in the city and their families are also being 'doxed'. She invited cops in her division to come to her office to 'vent together' and called on them not to 'validate' the protesters or to 'make them important'. Her alleged words were published by the Courier Journal Wednesday just hours before protesters erupted in anger over the decision by a Kentucky grand jury not to induct any of the three officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor with her murder. 'I know it is hard to keep our thoughts and opinions to ourselves sometimes, especially when we, as a whole or as an individual, become the target of people in the public who criticize what we do without even knowing the facts,' the Courier Journal says the message sent in August read. 'These ANTIFA and BLM people, especially the ones who just jumped on the bandwagon 'yesterday' because they became 'woke' (insert eye roll here), do not deserve a second glance or thought from us. Our little pinky toenails have more character, morals, and ethics, than these punks have in their entire body. 'Do not stop to their level. Do not respond to them. If we do, we only validate what they did. Don't make them important, because they are not. They will be the ones washing our cars, cashing us out at the Walmart, or living in their parents' basement playing COD for their entire life.' Her message was revealed as another night of protests erupted in Louisville Wednesday She said protesters will always be living in their parents' basement, working in Walmart or 'washing our cars' in a message. to her division. Pictured, officers stand in the street shortly after shots are fired at police in Louisville on Wednesday night Her message was revealed Wednesday as city officials called for her removal The message then made non-specific claims about the doxing of officers in the department. Hallahan claimed it was happening 'merely because people just don't like being told what to do or what not to do by police'. 'There is currently no recourse we have for incidents involving the doxing of officers or their families,' the message reads. 'What we can do is speak up against them and put the truth out there. Through the PIO office and the LMPD FB page, we will come back at them on their own page to let them and everyone else know they are lying. We will print the facts. I will see to it. 'We have already taken care of one incident. I hope we never have to do it again. Just know I got your back,' she added. DailyMail.com reached out to the Louisville Police Department for comment on the message but a representative was not available. LMPD spokesman Sgt. Lamont Washington told the Courier Journal that the department is looking into the message and has no other comment. Hallahan has been commander of the division since last July and before that, oversaw the department's training division. City officials have called the message 'out of character' for her but that it still remained 'totally unacceptable'. 'I'm disappointed,' said Metro Councilman Brandon Coan. 'I think it's a totally unacceptable attitude of any police officer and extremely poor leadership from a major. I think she owes the community an apology and she'll have to deal with the consequences of her conduct.' Hallahan was speaking about the 100-plus days of protests in Louisville sparked by the police shooting of Breonna Taylor, pictured 'I think it hurts the entire department,' added Councilman Bill Hollander. It's making constituents wonder what kind of people we're really employing and promoting to leadership positions. And that's very unfortunate. Our police officers have a very difficult job and they don't need this kind of inappropriate communication.' He recommended that Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer relieve Hallahan of her command. The message emerged just hours after the Courier Journal also revealed a message from one of the officers involved in Taylor's fatal shooting in which he defended his and his colleagues'' actions. Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, who was wounded during the shooting that claimed Taylor's life, emailed coworkers to accuse city officials of failing officers 'in epic proportions for their own gain and to cover their asses'. Taylor's death sparked more than 100 days of protests in Louisville and around the country, that erupted with renewed energy on Wednesday night following the jury decision. Protests gathered across America as soon as the Kentucky grand jury's decision over Taylor's death were revealed as thousands - including Taylor's family - voiced outrage over the cops not facing murder charges. A total of 13 people were arrested Wednesday night in Louisville on charges including property destruction, resisting arrest, failure to disperse and assault on a police officer. Two police officers were also shot. Protests also took place in New York City, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Atlanta, Denver, Washington D.C. and many other major cities. Protesters raise their fists and signs near Jefferson Square Park in Louisville on Wednesday. The protests revived energy this week following the Breonna Taylor verdict A protester shouts in the street in front of City Hall in Louisville on Wednesday Taylor, 26, was killed on March 13 when Sgt Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison burst down the door to her home in Louisville while executing a botched late-night raid and shot her six times. The black EMT died in the bungled raid after officers fired 32 rounds into her home and neighboring addresses. The search warrant for her home related to a drugs investigation over her ex-boyfriend who was not present at the property and who had been arrested at a different address earlier that night. More than six months on from her killing, a grand jury returned a decision Wednesday on possible charges against the three cops, choosing to indict just one of the officers - Brett Hankison - on the lesser charges of wanton endangerment. 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. No charges were brought against him in relation to the death of Taylor and the other two officers were not charged. Hodder, WVU team to lead $1.5 million, multi-state data project to examine COVID-19 outcomes The power of data, often an underappreciated catalyst to fixing the world's pressing problems, was recognized by Dr. Sally Hodder as a critical key in battling COVID-19 before West Virginia even reported its first case. Months later, her vision has taken to the national stage, as Hodder and a team at West Virginia University earned a $1.5 million federal grant to head a multi-state consortium for a centralized, national data resource. Such a resource could lead researchers into uncovering the best treatment options for COVID-19 patients, said Hodder, an infectious disease expert who directs the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute headquartered at WVU. The funding, awarded by the National Institutes of Health, will allow the WVCTSI to work with Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and West Virginia in compiling a large, granular dataset that can examine associations of improved outcomes with various treatments. In the clinical and research worlds, patient registry data is utilized by scientists to assess health outcomes for a population. "The NIH is currently looking at the best treatment regimens to minimize mortality across different patient populations," said Hodder, also a professor at the WVU School of Medicine, who is leading the eight-state consortium. "What's best for a patient in New York City who's 30 might be different from someone in West Virginia who's 70 with heart issues and diabetes. We can ask very fundamental, straightforward questions that, quite frankly, we don't know the answers to with this new virus." The consortium will feed into the National COVID Cohort Collaborative, the national COVID data source being developed by the NIH. The project stems from a COVID-19 patient data registry developed by WVCTSI in early spring 2020. Updated daily, the registry includes detailed information from patients including testing method, ICU stays, ventilator use, medications, vital signs, preexisting conditions, labs, procedures and basic demographics such as age, gender and race, to name a few. "That was the genesis for a suggestion to other centers for translational research," Hodder said. "When the COVID epidemic came up, I suggested we could develop a consortium of research centers located in largely rural states for purposes of developing a patient registry through which investigators could answer important research questions relevant to patients in their geographic area." What makes this particular initiative important, Hodder said, is that the eight states involved represent diverse and historically underserved and underrepresented populations. West Virginia, for example, ranks third behind Florida and Maine in having the oldest population and has a high prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes - conditions associated with an increased likelihood of COVID-19 mortality. Hodder said this funding is a win for West Virginia and other participating states. "West Virginia should not be anybody's poor brother or sister," she said. "I think federal funding should be applied here to answer the questions about folks in our state. Often, funding goes to urban centers. So this is very important and is closely aligned with the mission of the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute to develop research infrastructure that improves health outcomes for West Virginians." In April, the WVCTSI registry contained data on about 8,000 individuals tested through the WVU Medicine system. As of Wednesday (Sept. 23), the number had ballooned to more than 60,000. Identifiable personal information, such as patient names, is not included, and researchers are provided specific datasets upon approval. WVCTSI staff Wes Kimble, Matt Armistead and Rick Santee led the charge in building the registry as the Institute partnered with WVU Medicine's Ilo Romero, vice president and assistant chief information officer, and David Rich, chief medical information officer. And as much as the world wants COVID-19 to go away, Hodder believes that, even after a vaccine, the effects of the virus will be lasting, making the national data resource a long-term valuable tool. "One of the questions raising its head is 'What are the chronic complications of having been infected with COVID?' There have been reports of individuals who, weeks after their acute symptoms have gone away, experience heart involvement or neurologic symptoms or ongoing fatigue. Establishing this cohort now will provide valuable data for future investigations of the potential long-term effects of COVID-19." ### WVCTSI Background WVCTSI is funded by an IDeA Clinical and Translational grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U54GM104942) to support the mission of building clinical and translational research infrastructure and capacity to impact health disparities in West Virginia. This story has been published on: 2020-09-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Stocks plummeted to an eight-week low after Federal Reserve officials' warnings on the need for more stimulus to lift the country's economy. The U.S. economy has been widely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which brought a recession. Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Richard Clarida said that the central bank believed additional financial assistance would be needed to boost the economy. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell believed the same sentiments. Powell warned on Tuesday in congressional testimony that a U.S. recovery from the pandemic remains highly uncertain. Powell said that the recovery would go faster if there is support coming from Congress and the Fed. Governor Randal Quarles and regional chiefs Charles Evans, Loretta Mester, and Eric Rosengren also stressed the need for more fiscal support. These officials' warning came after Congress ended its talks for a bipartisan spending bill and instead focused on replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Reports said that Congress's chances passing another legislation for a stimulus package have gotten slimmer as both parties focus on filling the Supreme Court vacancy. Ginsburg's death has caused another political fight over when U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee, which is yet to be named, would come up for a vote. Washington has become since then consumed by the Republican-led Senate's desire to approve Trump's pick quickly. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., said that the prospects of passing a second stimulus bill have gotten increasingly difficult. It has become another blow to investors who observe the uprise of cases in the United States. Traders are becoming wary about the strength of the economic recovery. "Markets are digesting and grappling with this idea that the growth expectations that investors have might not materialize," Lauren Goodwin, economist and multi-asset portfolio strategist at New York Life Investments, was quoted in a report. Goodwin added that as the U.S.'s fiscal impulse starts to wane, some of these expectations for a slow and steady recovery are shaken. Second Stimulus Package Many Americans have been hoping that Congress would pass a deal after many of the benefits it approved ran out. An extra $600 weekly unemployment benefit expired in July, a loan forgiveness program for small businesses also dried up, and Americans have not seen another stimulus check. Both parties have pointed the need for government relief to help Americans combat the effects of the pandemic. However, Republicans and Democrats have not budged from their positions, causing a prolonged impasse. The fight for a new Supreme Court justice has, even more, tightened the tensions. Earlier this month, GOP proposed a second stimulus bill. The GOP-backed stimulus bill failed to advance as the relief package fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward. All Democrats and one Republican opposed the said legislation. The measure included reinstating enhanced unemployment insurance, but at $300 per week from the previous $600. It also included the authorization of new small business loans. However, Democrats called it inadequate as it did not include state and local government relief and food assistance. Check these out: GOP Proposed New Stimulus Package. Who Will Be Included? Are You in the First Line of Receiving the Second Stimulus Check? Student Debts Excluded From Second Round of Stimulus Package, Should Be Scrapped Remember all the hype about Crown Royals Northern Harvest rye a few years back? The year was 2016. Everything was coming up Canada, from Americans looking to move here after the election to our whisky, which had just been named World Whisky of the Year in the influential Jim Murrays Whisky Bible. Well, last week we learned that Canada had scooped another World Whisky of the Year prize, this time by Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye, which was given the top spot in the latest edition. Were guessing, though, that the hype is going to be a little more subdued than it was four years ago. Why? Because Murray, who never met a bottle of brown liquor he couldnt compare to having sex with a woman, is now facing a backlash for his trademark vulgar language. Heres an abridged version of the description of this years top pick. (And, to be fair, highlights the most offensive parts, for space reasons.) The delivery should be exhibited at the Museum of Canada because even the smallest mouthful simply ejaculates the most rampant toasty rye notes known to mankind, Murray wrote. And then a few lines later: Just lie back and think of the spices. How you feel about this whisky description probably depends on your tolerance for mental images of things inside your mouth ejaculating and/or how hilarious you find references to women coping with unwanted sex. Or hackneyed writing in general. This is far from the only tasteless passage in the 2021 edition, as whisky writer Becky Paskin pointed out on social media over the weekend. Paskin, former editor of scotchwhisky.com and co-founder of OurWhisky, counted 34 instances of a whisky called sexy and countless other vulgar passages comparing drinking a whisky to having sexpart of an age-old tradition of objectifying women and using them to sell booze. Today, there are so many women working in the industry and some of our best blenders, distillers and brand ambassadors are women and weve got amazing female writers as well, Paskin told me from her home in Brighton, England, over FaceTime earlier this week. So, for a book to be reviewing whisky in such vulgar terms is so disrespectful. But it also is dangerous, she continues, Because its telling readers that its okay to speak about women this way. But its not. Its not okay. Jim Murray responded with a long statement denying he is sexist: This is not a matter of alleged sexism on the trumped up charges against me which have clearly been concocted for very clear purposes this is an attack on the very essence of what it is to be a critic in any sphere, be it music, art, sport, wine or whisky. In other words: an attack on free thought and free speech. Others agreed with Paskin, however. Within two days, over 1,000 Twitter folks liked her thread and her Instagram feed blew up with hundreds of (mostly) supportive comments. Several whisky magazines, websites and distilleries have issued statements in support of Paskin, including Glenfiddich, a legendary behemoth producer thats been an industry leader in terms of closing the whisky gender gap. Just like with other industries, Paskins criticism has struck a chord with many women who have been dismissed, belittled, leered at, condescended to and harassed at countless trade shows and tasting rooms. Dont even get me started on the many hours well never get back that were spent nodding at men explaining booze to us. Once I was the only woman on a distillery tour and, despite the fact that I was the only one who had a basic understanding about how a still workedand the only journalist drinking single barrel (neat), while the guys chugged honey whiskythere was no end of talk about girly drinks. You know who never used gender-based pejoratives about drinks and drinkers on that trip? The head distiller. Or, in fact, any of the people who worked at the distillery. Over the past decade or so, almost every spirits company has had an epiphany that they could sell a lot more liquid if they didnt market their product exclusively to white men. The problem is that its a long game. Men are still the primary market right now. Even so, some spirits producers have even pulled Don Draper from the marketing department and backed away from campaigns steeped in toxic masculinity that objectified women. Murray, of course, isnt part of the marketing team at any distillery that I know of. However, as soon as a whisky gets named in the iconic whisky guide, the press releases start flying, propping up Murrays publication. The next step is that a distillery puts in bulk orders for the book and sends them out to writers, critics, influencers and important buyers around the world. After that, the marketing team at the retail outlet dutifully transcribes the material and sells the whisky by plugging the book in fliers, web copy and in-store promotions. The book helps sell the whisky and then the stakeholders buy, publicize and support the book, which moves more copies. Or, put another way, almost all writing about consumer items is part of an apparatus that helps sell productand interdependence is baked-in. But, some are more interdependent than others and industry folks have been grumbling about Murray for years, for both his vulgarity and the fact that the criteria for World Whisky of the Year is kinda vague. What does it mean? How can a Canadian whisky be thoughtfully judged against peaty Islay malts, sweet vanilla bourbons and delicate Nordic expressions? And, unlike big spirit awards that recruit dozens of judges, this is a panel of one. This all puts the many distilleries who did well in the new edition of the guide in a serious bind. Do you move forward with Murray and ignore all the criticism? Or do you get serious about inclusivity? This is a conversation thats hit the board tables of all the biggest whisky producers in the world, says Paskin. Remarkably. And if it moves the whole industry forward and makes whisky a more inclusive, welcoming and accessible spirit, then thats great. Heres an abridged version of the Alberta Distillers Limited statement: While we are honoured that our Alberta Premium Cask Strength rye whisky was named World Whisky of the Year by Jim Murrays Whisky Bible, 2021, we are extremely disappointed by some of the language used in many of the publications product reviews. Language and behaviour of this kind have been condoned for too long in the spirits industry, and we agree that it must stop. As a result, we are reevaluating all planned programming that references this recognition. So, joining the panel, I should say a little something about the actual whisky. Alberta Premium Cask Strength is a great expression from one of Canadas all-time best distillers. It deserves a lot of credit for the fact that it was producing spicy rye long before it came into fashion. It also deserves credit for this lovely limited edition release, which I finally got my hands on right on deadline. Its great. Profoundly sweet and fruity on the nose. The orange aroma carries through to the rich body, where it mingles with vanilla and spicea classic rye whisky aged in oak. No ejaculations that I noticed, which is probably a good thing. It appears to retail for just over $50 (the listing has disappeared from the LCBO), which makes it a truly great bargain for some quality cask-strength Canadian whisky, as per usual for this distillery. I dont envy Alberta Distillers and many others named in the book who have to re-evaluate their marketing but, if I were them, Id go bold to match their spirits. Although nobody has a crystal ball to see whether or not were about to witness an avalanche of allegations against men in the industry who have been harassing women for years to keep them out of their male domain, theres probably more dirt about to drop. You only have to look at the other industries who have had a reckoning to know that this is likely the tip of the iceberg. I think this is a moment and I dont think we can go back, says Paskin. This has been an issue for years and I really didnt intend for this, I do think this is whiskys me too moment. So do I. The misogynys out of the bottle. And by the time this is over, theyre going to have a tough time jamming that cork back in. Read more about: UT Dallas researchers used diffusion tensor imaging, which indicates the directionality of water diffusion in the brain, to examine how white matter connections lose integrity. These frontostriatal tracts are shown moving anterior to posterior (green), left to right (red) and superior to inferior (blue). Credit: University of Texas at Dallas As the human brain ages, the neural circuits that allow its different parts to communicate with each other gradually wear down, even in healthy adults. Scientists at The University of Texas at Dallas are using imaging techniques to investigate this process to understand better how it relates to cognitive decline in healthy individuals across the lifespan. "We're trying to figure out what's breaking down in the brain that yields this cognitive decline as we get older, even if we're healthy," said Dr. Kristen Kennedy, associate professor of psychology in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and in UT Dallas' Center for Vital Longevity. "Everything we do in our lab is adding pieces to that puzzle." In a study published online June 7 and in the October issue of Neurobiology of Aging, principal investigator Kennedy and her colleagues describe how they used a pair of imaging techniques to tie the degradation of circuitry in one region of the brain to reduced efficiency in executive functions. The study included 169 healthy human subjects between the ages of 20 and 94. On a basic level, the brain consists of regions of gray matter that are interconnected by white matter. Composed primarily of neuronal cell bodies, gray matter is the center of activity, from higher learning and memory to sensory reception and muscular responses. White matter consists mainly of myelinated axons, the part of neurons that relay signals to and from gray matter regions. Dr. Christina Webb, lead author of the study and a research associate in Kennedy's lab, said that the evolving research on white matter shows that its ability to propagate signals strongly affects cognition and higher-order processing. "More and more, research shows us that the structure of the brain affects its function, especially in terms of aging and white matter," she said. "In earlier work, we've shown this effect more broadly across white matter networks. Here, we're tying it more specifically to the frontostriatal white matter networks, which we know are linked to higher-order executive function." Kennedy said that when the brain is confronted with a challenging task, it has to "ramp up" its activity, and that the amount needed changes across the lifespan. "This research shows that you don't ramp up the output of your gray matter regions as well when you're older," she said. "One reason is that the white matter connections have degraded. The electrical transmission between neurons is not as intact." The research team used two different imaging techniques to examine how white matter connections lose integrity, as well as how this affects cognition in people of different ages. One of the techniques, diffusion tensor imaging, measures the directionality of water diffusion in the brain. Webb compared the ideal performance to water moving through a straw. "If the water is constrained on this path, this represents faster information processing," she said. "If water is very diffuse, flowing freely, that can slow down communication efficiency between neurons. So we're measuring the effectiveness of structural connectivity." The scientists combined this insight with functional MRI (fMRI), which Kennedy described as "a dynamic, moment-to-moment look at what the brain is doing in real time." "While the other scans are structural, the fMRI scanstaken while subjects are performing a taskallow us to see what resources the brain is using by tracking blood-oxygen levels," she said. "More and more, research shows us that the structure of the brain affects its function, especially in terms of aging and white matter. In earlier work, we've shown this effect more broadly across white matter networks. Here, we're tying it more specifically to the frontostriatal white matter networks, which we know are linked to higher-order executive function," says Dr. Christina Webb, lead author of the study and a research associate in the Kennedy Neuroimaging of Aging and Cognition Lab. With these two sets of metrics, the researchers could predict cognitive performance and then compare expectations to how the subjects actually performed. "While this doesn't examine causality, this technique can be used to test hypotheses, which are based on our knowledge of how we think the brain works," Kennedy said. "Our theory is that age directly degrades the white matter, and this in turn results in a failure of the gray matter to fully ramp up. The result is a detrimental effect on cognition." Kennedy's work is part of a trend toward studying healthy neurological aging as much as pathological conditions, which were much more thoroughly studied through the end of the 20th century. "There's been an increasing feeling that it can only help us so much to understand these handful of diseases versus understanding how people ideally age," she said. "That baseline is needed to better understand, by comparison, any disease." The researchers have continued to collect new data from the study's cohort since the original measurements were obtained four years ago. They plan to address some of the larger questions of aging via a forthcoming longitudinal study, which will compare data from the same people at two different points in time. "Maybe we can capitalize on seeing what's happening very early, when everyone's healthy and normal, and determine when that changes, or to help define a path toward pathology," Webb said. "We see differences early in the lifespan with this group. Seeing what's happening early in the lifespan, and with the longitudinal data coming in, will hopefully help us determine if these people are already on different paths." Explore further Bilingual children may lose less brain matter as they grow up More information: Christina E. Webb et al. Frontostriatal white matter connectivity: age differences and associations with cognition and BOLD modulation, Neurobiology of Aging (2020). Journal information: Neurobiology of Aging Christina E. Webb et al. Frontostriatal white matter connectivity: age differences and associations with cognition and BOLD modulation,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.05.014 Residents in U.S. cities have taken to the streets to protest a Kentucky grand jurys decision this week not to charge any police officers in the killing of Breonna Taylor during a raid of her apartment on March 13, 2020. The grand jury charged one former police lieutenant, Brett Hankison, for shooting into the homes of Taylors neighbors during the raid. Latest updates from today: 11:15 p.m. Multiple people arrested for assault, police say: Oakland police said on Twitter that they arrested multiple people arrested for assault on officers on Friday night and deployed minimal smoke in response to conduct from people in the crowd. Police said there were no reports of damage to local businesses. 10:20 p.m. Crowd returns to Lake Merritt: Marchers had snaked back to Lake Merritt by 10 p.m., and demonstrators led the crowd in chants of go home. On organizer told the crowd, This is probably one of the safest dispersals Ive seen. 10:05 p.m. Oakland police urge motorists to stay away from 1500 block of Harrison Street: Oakland police said people who were turning over orange barricades and placing them in front of officers was causing traffic congestion in the 1500 block of Harrison Street in Oakland. Police also said that some people in the crowd were becoming violent throwing bottles cans and other objects at officers. 10 p.m. 12th St. Oakland City Center Station closed due to civil unrest: BART officials said the 12th St. Oakland City Center Station was closed shortly before 10 p.m. because of civil unrest in the area. Now Playing: Protesters gathered in Oakland, and across the Bay Area Wednesday night following a Kentucky grand jurys decision not to charge any police officers with the killing of Breonna Taylor. Video: San Francisco Chronicle 9:55 p.m. One arrested in Oakland: At least one person was arrested by police in Oakland. About 15 minutes after deploying an irritant toward the crowd, a group of police officers ran toward a protester and detained them. Loud crowd-control devices and breaking glass could be heard as police deployed more smoke. 9:22 p.m. Oakland police says some in crowd throwing bottles: Oakland police said on Twitter that some people in the swelling crowd marching westbound on 14th street toward City Hall were throwing bottles and other objects at officers. Please be mindful when traveling in and around our city, police said. 9:20 p.m. Police appear to deploy irritant at crowd: Police appeared to deploy an irritant at at the crowd at 14th and Harrison streets in Oakland shortly after protesters moved construction barriers into the street. 9:15 p.m. Crowd marches through Oakland: Hundreds of demonstrators marched through Oakland, some of whom carried signs that read All power to the people, White silence = violence, and Black lives matter. Organizers urged demonstrators to get off of the sidewalk, into the street! The crowd began marching down 14th Street, with a line of several dozen police officers in riot gear and police vehicles trailing behind. 9 p.m. Hundreds gather at Oaklands Lake Merritt: Hundreds of people gathered at Oaklands Lake Merritt, where they passed Sharpie pens around to each other to scrawl a legal organizations phone number on their arm. Attendees were encouraged by other demonstrators not to get arrested. 8:30 a.m. Breonna Taylor family calls for daylight on grand jury transcript: Release the transcript! supporters, lawyers and family of Breonna Taylor chanted Friday at a Louisville, Ky., news conference where they demanded to see the record of grand jury proceedings that led to a decision not to charge police for the shooting death of an unarmed Taylor. They want to see how the grand jury, operating in secret, came to its conclusions. 8:12 a.m. Support dips for racial injustice protests: A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, conducted just before renewed racial justice demonstrations erupted Wednesday over the Breonna Taylor case, found that 44% of Americans disapprove of protests highlighting police violence against Black Americans, while 39% approve. In June, 54% approved. The new survey was conducted Sept. 11-14. 7:53 a.m. Louisville protest ended after negotiation: A demonstration ended outside a Louisville church after negotiations ended a tense confrontation Thursday night in a protest over the Breonna Taylor case . Police who had gathered there with riot gear also pulled back. Several arrests were made earlier that evening near the church. But there appeared to be no police interference as the protest disbanded, the Associated Press reports. 7:37 a.m. CHP stop caused rubbernecking slowdown on bridge: An hour into a planned slowdown on the Golden Gate Bridge to protest the grand jury decision not to charge police officers in Breonna Taylors death in Louisville, Ky., only two vehicles had slowed. A van slowed but traffic did not stop. At about 5:30 p.m., a Ford Mustang tried to slow, but was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol and cited for not having a license plate and impeding traffic, CHP officials said. Rubbernecking by other cars caused the most significant slowdown. Updates from Thursday, Sept. 24: 7:20 p.m.: Muni resumes regular service: Muni resumed regular service of the 25 bus line. Some delays are expected. 6:30 p.m.: Oscar Grants uncle speaks at Oakland protest: Cephus Uncle Bobby Johnson, the uncle of Oscar Grant, told a growing crowd in Oakland, Let today be about your real work that youre going to put in to bring about change. Dont sit on the fence and do nothing. 6:22 p.m.: Protesters gather at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland: Dozens of masked and socially distanced protesters chant the names of individuals killed by police, spurred by the memory of Breonna Taylor. Gatherers also rembered Erik Salgado, who was shot to death by California Highway Patrol in June. His girlfriend, who was pregnant, was also shot, but survived. Also present were family members of Oscar Grant, killed by BART police at Fruitvale station in 2009, Colby Friday, who was killed by police in Stockton in 2016 and Richard Pedie Perez lll, who was killed by a police officer in Richmond in 2014. 6:05 p.m.: The WestCAT Lynx bus cancels service to San Francisco due to protests: The WestCAT, a public transportation service in western Contra Costa County, canceled bus service from Hercules to San Francisco due to protests blocking traffic on the Bay Bridge. The Lynx will not operate for the remainder of the evening. 5:58 p.m.: AC Transit warns riders of possible traffic from protests: AC Transit said some riders may experience delays on Interstate 80 due to police activity. 5:53 p.m.: One driver attempting to slow traffic on GGB cited: A gray Mustang tried slowing northbound traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge but was immediately pulled over by California state troopers. Other drivers slowed down to see what happened and the Mustang driver held up her fist up as other vehicles honked in support. Traffic only came to a stop when troopers directed the driver back into traffic. The driver was cited for not having a license plate and impeding traffic on the bridge, a trooper said. 5:46 p.m.: Muni suspends service of one line: Due to traffic on the Bay Bridge caused by protests, Muni temporarily suspended bus service on the 25 line to Treasure Island. Service will resume when traffic subsides, the agency tweeted. Traffic also affected other Muni lines heading northbound on Interstate 101 on the Bay Bridge. 5:30 p.m. Photos of Californians killed by police installed at Oakland plaza: The amphitheater at Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland was lined with 500 black and white pictures of Californians killed by law enforcement since 2015. The images were compiled by local civil rights organization, All of Us or None. A crowd of about 50 gathered at the plaza on Thursday afternoon for a peaceful protest organized by local police reform advocates and family members of Bay Area residents who were killed by police. 3:35 p.m. Another protest night shaping up: Activists planned demonstrations on three major Bay Area bridges Thursday in what was shaping up to be another night of protests in the name of Breonna Taylor, slain by police bullets in Louisville. Another demonstration was planned in Oaklands Oscar Grant Park at 5 p.m., hosted by groups including Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, The Anti Police-Terror Project and the California Families United 4 Justice Network. 2:30 p.m. Calls for grand jury information: Calls are mounting from activists and high-profile politicians for more information on how a grand jury decided not to charge Louisville police officers in the death of Breonna Taylor, the Washington Post reports. Amy McGrath, the Democrat running against Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Thursday that Kentuckys attorney general needs to release the grand jury report now, including what evidence and recommendations he chose to present. 12:50 p.m. Taylor family lawyer urges peaceful protests in her name: Ben Crump, the attorney for Breonna Taylors family, urged people Thursday to show Breonna the ultimate respect by having peaceful protests in her name. In an ABC The View interview, he acknowledged the anger of many that police are not being charged in Taylors shooting death. We understand their righteous anger, because we feel it too, he said. But as Breonnas family has asked, as her mother Tamika has asked, please demonstrate peaceful protests. 11:45 a.m. Beyond spotlight of street protests, range of discrimination continues: Insurance company Prudential Financial announced on Twitter Tuesday that it had fired an employee who allegedly told YouTuber and entrepreneur Sophia Chang and her sister to go back to Wuhan at a restaurant in Newport Beach last week. 11:01 a.m. Reporters arrested during protests in Louisville: Two Daily Caller reporters were arrested while peacefully doing their jobs during protests in Louisville after a grand jurys decision to not indict officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, publisher Neil Patel says. Police on Thursday confirmed that Shelby Talcott was charged with failure to disperse and unlawful assembly and Jorge Ventura was charged with failure to disperse and violation of curfew. 10 a.m. Bridge caravans planned: Protesters called for go-slow caravans on three Bay Area bridges Thursday the Golden Gate, Bay Bridge and Dumbarton to show outrage over the Kentucky grand jurys failure to charge police officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor.The action was set for 5 p.m. 8:52 a.m. Violence in Portland protests: Police in Portland say protesters hurled Molotov cocktails at officers during a demonstration over a Kentucky grand jurys decision to not indict officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor. Portland police said protesters Wednesday night also threw rocks that shattered windows at a law enforcement station. A Molotov cocktail jot an officer in the foot, but a fire department medic managed to extinguish the flames. 8:44 a.m. Two officers involved in Breonna Taylor matter are on leave: Interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said Thursday that two officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor remain on administrative leave. Officers Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly were among the officers who burst into Taylors apartment on March 13, and have not returned to active duty. The third officer, Brett Hankison, was fired, and was charged Wednesday for shooting into neighboring apartments. 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. 8:40 a.m. Man charged in shooting of 2 Louisville officers: Louisvilles police chief said Thursday a man has been charged in the shooting of two officers during protests over a grand jurys decision in the police shooting of Breonna Taylor. Mayor Greg Fischer says one officer was treated and released with a leg wound. Another officer was shot in the abdomen and was reported doing well after surgery. A curfew remains in effect for the next two nights after fires and and violence against officers during protests. 8:36 a.m. Oakland quiet after night of protests: Oaklands streets appeared calm and quiet Thursday morning, the day after peaceful protesters took to the streets decrying the decision by a Kentucky grand jury to not charge any police officers in the March killing of Breonna Taylor. There was minimal damage to public or private property in Oakland, beyond a few instances of graffiti. 8:24 a.m. Sen. Harris speaks out on Breonna Taylor: Sen. Kamala Harris of California has been a vocal proponent of justice for Breonna Taylor, but did not make a statement on the grand jury announcement until late Wednesday night, a couple of hours after her running mate Joe Biden did. She was entering a closed intelligence briefing as the news broke, and later tweetedTonight, Im thinking of Breonna Taylors family who is still grieving the loss of a daughter and sister. We must never stop speaking Breonnas name as we work to reform our justice system, including overhauling no-knock warrants. 7:27 a.m. Louisville police arrest 127 in protests: Louisville police said they arrested 127 people after what began as peaceful protests in reaction to the grand jury decision not to charge officers in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. Officers declared an unlawful assembly after they said fires were set in garbage cans and several vehicles were damaged. A police statement also described the looting of several stores. A suspect was detained in the shooting of two officers, who are expected to recover from their wounds. 7:19 Bay Area protests mostly peaceful, passionate: Demonstrators marched with voiced raised Wednesday night, chanting the name of Breonna Taylor. In San Jose a smaller group of marchers splintered off to the Thomas Fallon Statue near the entrance to the Route 77 freeway, and one person set a U.S. flag afire on top of it. The majority of the crowd watch as a small group of people spray painted the base of the statue with F white settler colonialism. Updates from Wednesday, Sept. 23: 9:31 p.m. Hundreds of people march in San Francisco: Hundreds of people march down 17th Street in San Francisco chanting, Say her name... Breonna Taylor. 9:18 p.m. San Jose protesters spray paint city property and light flag on fire: More than 100 people marched to the Thomas Fallon Statue in Downtown San Jose, near the entrance to State Routh 87 North. The majority of the crowd watch and videoed as a small group of people spray painted messages at the base of the statue saying, F white settler colonialism. A small group of people also painted, Say Her Name. One person climbed the statue and affixed a blue Trump flag and American flag to the top, and set it ablaze to cheers from the crowd. 9:13 p.m. Oakland protesters block intersection to Interstate 580: Dozens of protesters in Oakland blocked the entrance to Interstate 580 near 27th Street and Northgate Avenue. Some protesters marched onto the freeway and stopped traffic for several minutes before returning to city streets. 9:10 p.m. San Francisco protester criticizes police: Chantelle Ruff stood at the intersection of 17th and Valencia streets in San Francisco and said she doesnt believe that either major political party is willing to reform police departments. We are furious that we have to continue fighting for our lives, said Ruff, who is Black, and teaches at James Lick Middle School in Noe Valley. 8:58 p.m. Protesters gather for Breonna Taylor nationwide: Dozens of people marched throughout the streets of Los Angeles holding signs that read, No justice no peace and Black lives matter, according to the Los Angeles Times. Earlier in the evening in New York, thousands of people gathered outside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn before marching to the Manhattan Bridge. In Sacramento, dozens of people marched throughout Sacramento. Dozens of Sacramento County Sheriffs deputies stood guard, but havent engaged with the protesters. 8:40 p.m. Protesters march in Oakland: A group of protesters is marching along 14th Street, beating drums and chanting. 8:05 p.m.: One suspect in custody after Louisville officers shot: Louisville police said one suspect is in custody after two officers were shot during demonstrations, according to ABC News. One of the injured officers are alert and stable and the other is undergoing surgery. No other information was released. 7:52 p.m. San Jose crowd swells to about 200: The group of demonstrators outside San Jose City Hall has grown to about 200. Among them was Lou Dimes, leader of B.L.A.C.K. Outreach San Jose. He stood at the base of a wooden guillotine assembled in front of City Hall. Speakers told the crowd it was a symbol for holding leaders accountable in the United States, and a nod to the French Revolution. Dimes led demonstrators in chants of, Black pride and Black power, before saying that leaders must be held accountable. 7:30 p.m. More than 100 protesters march in S.F.: A group of demontrators marched along 17th Street, passing San Franciscos Mission police station, chanting Breonna Taylor name. Police stood in riot gear in a line on front of the station. The 17th Street area between Valencia and Guererro streets was shut down. 7:20 p.m. Protesters ditch Oakland for San Jose: A planned protest in Oakland did not occur. Instead, protesters headed to San Jose, police said. 7:14 p.m. Two police officers shot in Louisville, Kentucky: At least two Louisville police officers were shot during demonstrations on Wednesday night, according to The Courier Journal in Louisville. One officer was shot in the abdomen below their bulletproof vest and is in surgery, and a second was shot in the thigh, a source told the news organization. 5:49 p.m. Protesters are gathering in San Jose: In Downtown San Jose, about 50 people gathered in front of the San Jose City Hall rotunda, where they chanted, Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor. Demonstrators raised cardboard signs with the phrases, Black Lives Matter and Say Their Names, referring to the Black men and women killed by police across the United States. Passing vehicles slowed and honked in support of the protesters, some thrusting closed fists out their car windows. The San Francisco Chronicles ongoing coverage is available to subscribers. Subscribe now for full access and to support our work. As coronavirus cases once again begin to surge across the UK, the issue of false positive test results has once again been raised. Politicians and scientific advisers have warned that rising case numbers could be attributed, at least partly, to the problem. Conservative MP Desmond Swayne warned in parliament this week that they were giving a distorted impression of the trajectory of the disease. He said: It doesnt take a mathematician to tell you that a relatively small percentage of false positives will have a significant impact on our estimate of how many people are infected. A number of journalists and public figures have jumped on this to spread a theory that false positives test results actually account for more than 90 per cent of all positive results in the country. So what exactly is the problem with false positives and how much heed should be paid to them when assessing the UKs response to the pandemic. An upstate New York community called Swastika has voted to keep its controversial name, despite calls to adopt another name. Officials in the town of Black Brook, Clinton County, some 50 miles from the Canadian border, who have a domain over the hamlet, voted down proposals to change Swastikas name in a unanimous vote, CNN reported. Arguing that the hamlets founders named it after the Sanskrit word meaning well-being and not the Nazi symbol, the town board said Swastika was the name their ancestors chose. All four members of Black Brooks town board voted on 14 September, reported NPR, following just five minutes of discussion. "We regret that individuals, for out of the area, that lack the knowledge of the history of our community become offended when they see the name," said Jon Douglass, the towns supervisor. He told CNN: "To the members of our community, that the board represents, it is the name that their ancestors chose Swastikas name predates the Second World War, said Mr Douglas, having been chosen by the hamlets settlers in the 1800s. The name became associated with hate and anti-Semitism after Nazi leader Adolf Hitler adopted the symbol in the 1920s, and has come under intense scrutiny since anti-racism protests erupted across the United States this year. "I think that's probably, maybe some viewpoint that it's associated with hate. But then I believe there are others that do not associate it with hate," Mr Douglas told NPR after the town boards decision. "Did the Hindus and the [Buddhists] and all them, did they erase it from their religious history because of the Germans?", he added. New York City cyclist Michael Alcamo proposed the name change to Clinton County authorities following a ride past Swastika this summer, which brought the name to his attention. According to NPR, Mr Alcamo then contacted Black Brooks town board, who agreed to vote on the proposal. He told the news station after the vote that he was disappointed by the towns rejection, saying "I think it should be obvious that the town should update its name and should pick a name that is not so offensive to so many Americans and so emblematic of intolerance, hate and tyranny". LOS ANGELES 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 (81 hectares), 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 (440 square kilometers). As of Monday, the fire was still advancing at one to two miles (1.6 to 3.2 kilometers) 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. Cheryl Poindexter lost her desert home. That fire came over the hill so hard and fast that I turned around and I barely got my eight dogs and my two parrots out, Poindexter told ABC7. You can see everything is ash. Firefighters also battled flareups near Mount Wilson, which overlooks greater Los Angeles and has a historic observatory founded more than a century ago and numerous broadcast antennas that serve Southern California. The fire was pushed by erratic winds over the weekend, although they had died down by Monday and were expected to remain light through Tuesday. About 1,100 homes and some 4,000 residents remained under evacuation orders, and the fire was only 17 percent contained, fire officials said. Numerous studies in recent years have linked bigger U.S. wildfires to global warming from the burning of coal, oil and gas, especially because climate change has made California much drier. A drier California means plants are more flammable. The Bobcat Fire was one of more than two dozen major wildfires burning across California, including five of the largest in state history. Twenty-six people have been killed. Officials were investigating the death of a firefighter at another Southern California wildfire that erupted earlier this month from a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their babys gender. Charles Morton, 39, died Sept. 17 while battling the El Dorado Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest east of Los Angeles. Morton, was a 14-year veteran of the U.S. Forest Service and a squad boss with the Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Crew. Charlie is survived by his wife and daughter, his parents, two brothers, cousins, and friends. Hes loved and will be missed, Mortons family said in a statement. In Wyoming, a wildfire that roared across a wilderness area toward cabins and a water supply reservoir for Cheyenne, the capital city, calmed down Tuesday. But predictions for more gusty winds were cause for concern. The blaze has charred over 21 square miles (55 square kilometers) of Medicine Bow National Forest. Officials were investigating signs the fire was human-caused. More than 9,000 firefighters were battling large wildfires across Oregon and Washington, where thousands of homes have been destroyed, the Pacific Northwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service said. About the photo: This Monday, Sept, 21, 2020, shortwave infrared satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an area of the Bobcat Fire burning northeast of Los Angeles. 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. (Maxar Technologies via AP) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 100 million women missing worldwide trapped in sex slavery, killed by abortions or domestic violence Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As many as 100 million women and girls are estimated to be missing and unaccounted for mostly in Asia and Africa as the quantitative impact of sex-selective abortions, sex slavery and horrific abuses against women is shown in available data, a new report claims. Christian humanitarian agency Gospel for Asia released the report One Hundred Million Missing Women this week to provide an overview of the population crisis arising worldwide. The new report cites experts who have used data available dating back to the 1980s to determine that between 90 to 100 million women and girls who should be alive today simply do not exist. According to GFA, census studies on gender ratios in Asia show that there are 106 males to every 100 females. GFA founder K.P. Yohannan contends that while such a discrepancy might not seem like much, it actually speaks to the inequality and neglect that has led to the excessive mortality of women. As we in America celebrate Mothers Day, the devaluation and horrendous treatment and abuse of women and girls is a global crisis, Yohannan said in a statement. In the poorest regions of the world, and especially in Asia, womens lives are threatened from the womb to widowhood and millions of these precious girls will not survive to become mothers. Author Karen Mains, who wrote the GFA report, said the devaluation of women and societal discrimination frequently faced by women is creating the global crisis. The irony of the missing-women demographics enabled by entrenched cultural attitudes and systemic discrimination against the female sex is that many places in the world with a skewed sex ratio are now experiencing such high female shortages that there are no longer enough women to mate in marriage with the existing male population, she wrote. There are a number of different factors that play into the wild imbalance in sex ratio for certain countries. According to Mains, there is a general consensus that the factors that are at play include female infanticide, sex-selective abortions, domestic violence, inadequate health care, lack of pregnancy and childbirth training as well as the booming sex-slave industry. Mains estimates that about 34 million women and girls are caught in the sex trafficking trade globally, including 16 million in India. Prostitution is legal in some parts of South Asia so the chances of victimization are drastically increased, Yohannan said in his statement. Many of the poorest families are manipulated into selling their daughters to opportunists who promise a better life for them. But many of these girls some as young as 10 are never heard from or seen again. In this century, more women and girls are enslaved in brothels each year than were shipped to slave plantations at the height of the slave trade in the 18th and 19th centuries. Mains also highlighted the struggles with childbirth, stressing that 99 percent of women who die in childbirth live in impoverished nations. The highest maternal mortality risk in the world is in the African country of Niger. There the lifetime risk of death is 1 in 7, Mains wrote, adding that ratio is 1 in 4,800 in the United States. In India, that ratio is 1 in 70. Other factors leading to the disproportionate sex ratio include failed abortions and parents under-feeding girls. The estimate of 100 million women missing is not a new one. The estimate appears to first have been made in 1990 by Harvard University professor Amartya Sen. It is often said that women make up a majority of the worlds population. They do not, Sen wrote in the 1990 article More Than 100 Million Women Are Missing published by the New York Review of Books. This mistaken belief is based on generalizing from the contemporary situation in Europe and North America, where the ratio of women to men is typically around 1.05 or 1.06, or higher. In South Asia, West Asia, and China, the ratio of women to men can be as low as 0.94, or even lower, and it varies widely elsewhere in Asia, in Africa, and in Latin America. The United Nations Population Fund estimates that 126 million women are believed to be missing around the world as a result of son preference and gender-biased sex selection, a form of discrimination. Since the 1990s, some areas have seen up to 25 percent more male births than female births, the UNFPA explains online. The rise in sex selection is alarming as it reflects the persistent low status of women and girls. The resulting gender imbalance also has a damaging effect on societies. Instances of increased sexual violence and trafficking have already been linked to the phenomenon. By Ann McFeatters SEATTLE If you are at all claustrophobic, seeing nothing but white smoke from the windows is unsettling. If you go outside, even a precious N95 mask unearthed from a dusty pile of paint cans and brushes is insufficient. Your lungs hurt. Your eyes burn. Worse, just a few miles away, is the unending destruction. Houses evaporated, leaving asymmetrical piles of ash. Hulks of cars not yet paid off beyond salvage. The forlorn, black hulk of a child's tricycle, seat gone, overturned on its side. The sounds of inconsolable sobbing from parents who shudder at what comes next. The horror as realization dawns that some neighbors did not make it. Just weeks ago there was a kind of weird jubilation that even amid the heartbreak of the pandemic, the air seemed cleaner, the rivers more sparkling. Climate change couldn't be that bad if a few weeks of shutdown showed such promise for the environment. That hope, like trees and homes in California, Oregon, Idaho and Washington, has vanished. Climate change is manmade evil. Flooding in the East Coast. Powerful hurricanes, far more dangerous than a few years ago, hurling at us so fast we are running out of names for them. Dozens of uncontained fires incinerating whole towns. Elsewhere, drought destroying more farmers' desperate plans for survival. When Donald Trump smirked at the California scientists earnestly warning of the peril of climate change and said that "it will get cooler," it was a taunt that showed he does not even understand what he is mocking. Global warming is real and is making the Earth hotter and we haven't even figured out all the ramifications. But climate change, the better term, is much more frightening. It is making climate far more extreme. Snow storms measured in feet, not inches. Drought that consumes crops for miles, year after year. Slower, wetter storms that ravage the coastlines week after week, not just once a century. Endlessly, all over the world. We are bit players in a movie we've seen a hundred times. The monster is outside the door. Nobody in charge will pay attention. The scientists trying to warn that apocalypse is happening are fired, ridiculed, silenced. People die. We are in a movie on a loop. Today it's environmental destruction. But all year long it has been death and denial, over and over and over. A president assures us over and over and over that the virus will just disappear, like magic, knowing all the while it is a killer leaving not just death but maimed bodies as it moves from campus to nursing home to elementary classroom. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are muzzled by a ranting person put in charge of deciding what information is released and, mostly, what is not. A climate change denier is now in charge of a vital post in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The United States abandons its leadership roles around the world and dismisses hard-fought efforts at saving the planet as hoaxes. Scientific American, the 175-year-old magazine, is so appalled by science denial at the highest levels it endorsed Joe Biden for president, its only political endorsement since 1845. The president openly holds super-spreaders, the nation's only large rallies with thousands of yelling, fired-up supporters without masks or social distancing, as he puts all the resources of the federal government behind his re-election effort. He goes endlessly to court, seeking new ways to prevent people from voting in areas where they might vote against him. He goes to court to try to keep people from getting health care. Immigrants, including those here legally, widely face discrimination. A doctor is accused of stealing the uteruses of detained immigrant women, bringing to mind Nazism's worst atrocities. Children remain separated from their parents for years. Know-Nothingism rules again. From coast to coast, Americans are singing the same refrain: Life as we know it seems to be coming to an end, and we know that what comes next may be more devastating and painful than we could have imagined. Trump has disregarded science at our peril. Repeatedly. Repeatedly, science warned us, and science is proving far more correct than the man behind the caustic, impenetrable white smoke. Ann McFeatters (amcfeatters@nationalpress.com) is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service. Her commentary was distributed by Tribune Content Agency. HEADLINE:Share buy-back authority Invesco Income Growth Trust plc (the Company) is amending its disclosure policy to include on a regulatory information services (RIS) details of its share buyback powers which it renews annually. It is expected similar announcements will be made every time the share buyback authority is renewed. The Company announces that it has authority to repurchase a maximum of 8,776,874 of its ordinary shares (being its outstanding shareholder authority). Such authority lasts until conclusion of the next annual general meeting (AGM) of the Company or, if earlier, the expiry of 15 months from 10 September 2020, being the date of the last AGM, unless the authority is renewed at any other general meeting prior to such time (but the Company may make a contract to purchase shares prior to such expiry which will be executed wholly or partly after such expiry or a purchase pursuant to any such contract). The buyback may be funded from the Company's resources (including cash, portfolio sales and borrowing facilities). The maximum price that may be paid for a share in accordance with the authority is the higher of (a) 5% above the average of the mid-market values of the shares for the 5 business days before the purchase is made and (b) 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. No maximum aggregate consideration payable for all shares purchased under the authority has been determined by the Company. The Company is unable to pay a price for any shares pursuant to the buy-back which would equate to the net asset value or a premium on the net asset value. The Company has appointed J.P. Morgan Securities plc to act as its broker in respect of any buybacks. The buy-backs will be undertaken pursuant the Company's discount management policy. This arrangement is in accordance with Chapter 12 of the FCA Listing Rules and the Company's general authority to repurchase shares. 24 September 2020 Enquiries: Invesco Asset Management Limited +44 (0)20 3753 1000 Angus Pottinger J.P. Morgan Cazenove +44 (0)20 7742 4000 William Simmonds 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? CHICAGO, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Redwood Capital Group, a vertically integrated multifamily investment manager, today announced that Bob Flannery, a seasoned real estate executive with proven experience leading multi-billion-dollar organizations, has joined the company in the newly created positions of executive vice president and chief operating officer. Flannery's position was created in conjunction with Redwood Capital Group's strategic plan to double in size in the next five years. Among his other duties, Flannery will work to raise Redwood Capital Group's profile and relationships within the institutional and private-equity investment communities. He leads all aspects of Redwood Capital Group's operating activities, including property management, asset management, construction management, accounting, financial reporting and corporate office operations. He serves on the Investment Committee and collaborates across the company to foster long-term strategic growth and profitability. Flannery also is serving as the president of Redwood Residential. "We believe the creation of this position and the addition of Bob to our best-in-class team marks an important inflection point for our company," said Mark Isaacson, managing partner and co-founder at Redwood Capital Group. "Over the last several years, Redwood has grown systematically into a fully integrated multifamily real estate company. Most recently we created construction management and asset management divisions, while greatly enhancing our property management division. "With Bob's expertise, leadership and industry relationships, we can even further leverage our robust capabilities to build programmatic capital relationships and become the foremost choice of institutional and private equity in pursuit of strategic multifamily investments." Since its launch in 2007, Redwood Capital Group has acquired, renovated and repositioned nearly 23,000 apartment homes encompassing more than 70 individual communities valued at over $2.9 billion. The company has invested nearly $1 billion of equity on behalf of institutions, life companies, global fund sponsors and family offices. Today, Redwood Capital Group has more than $1.5 billion of assets under management. Despite the uncertainty created by the coronavirus pandemic, Redwood Capital Group has continued to successfully transact deals and expand in 2020. The firm recently completed a property acquisition, two dispositions and finds itself on pace to add 1,000 units to its property management division in the second half of the year. Under Flannery's leadership, Redwood Capital Group is aiming to double its current portfolio of assets over the next five years. "I am incredibly energized by this opportunity," Flannery said. "This is already a best-in-class organization and I have tremendous respect for the history and existing culture of the firm founded by David Carlson and Mark Isaacson. I look forward to working with the leadership team to build on a fantastic foundation to drive innovation and scale. Together, we will execute the strategic partnerships, acquisitions and joint ventures necessary to maximize our growth, enhance our competitive position and make us a coveted destination for institutional investment." With more than 25 years of experience in executive leadership, strategic planning, investment management, joint ventures and capital raising, Flannery most recently served as President of CA Residential, the multifamily development platform of CA Ventures. In this role, he built a team of professionals with diverse expertise for a $3 billion portfolio of Class A assets in major growth markets across the U.S. About Redwood Capital Group Based in Chicago, Redwood Capital Group is an institutionally focused, vertically integrated real estate investment manager concentrated on the multifamily sector, with capabilities in transaction, asset, construction and property management. The company employs a highly disciplined investment strategy focused on core plus and value add strategies of multifamily communities. It identifies distinctive opportunities with the potential for attractive risk adjusted rates of return and has more than $1.5 billion of assets under management. Contact: Peter Jakel [email protected] 303-682-3944 SOURCE Redwood Capital Group LLC Related Links redwoodcapgroup.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 09:01:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Video: Some U.S. politicians should wake up from their self-created illusions, says Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, on Sept. 22, 2020. (Xinhua) "What the U.S. needs to do now is stop the political manipulation, stop labeling or politicizing the virus, focus on combating the virus at home, and support the UN and the WHO in playing their roles," says the permanent mission of China to the United Nations on Sept. 23, 2020. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The permanent mission of China to the United Nations on Wednesday expressed firm opposition to the U.S. attack and slander at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The Chinese mission made the remarks in exercising the right of reply, in accordance with the rules of the UNGA, to the attack and slander against China made by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday at the general debate. At the UNGA general debate, the United States attacked and slandered China in total disregard of basic facts. China expresses firm opposition, said the Chinese mission. Video: China resolutely rejects the "baseless accusation" against it and opposes "political virus," says China's permanent representative to the UN Zhang Jun on Sept. 22, 2020, following U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of China's handling of COVID-19 at the UN General Assembly. (Xinhua) "The world is facing formidable challenges posed by COVID-19 and the serious threats of unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying practices. The world has come to a crossroads," said the Chinese mission. "At this moment, what is needed is unity, cooperation, and mutual trust, instead of confrontation and the spread of 'political virus.'" The novel coronavirus is the common enemy of humankind. It is yet another unknown virus from nature, which can break out among humans anytime anywhere. China is a victim of the virus and a contributor to the global fight against it, the Chinese mission said. 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 was imposed on the exit routes from Wuhan City and Hubei Province, and traffic control was put in place. 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, said the Chinese mission. 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 with China. When the United States closed its borders to all Chinese citizens on Feb. 2, only a dozen of confirmed cases were reported in the United States, it noted. Police officers stand guard outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, Sept. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) "China's epidemic response has been open and transparent every step of the way. The timeline is clear, and the facts and data speak for themselves," said the mission. The United States, as a developed country with the most advanced medical technology in the world, has nonetheless become the most severely affected country in the world, with more than 6 million confirmed cases and 200,000 deaths. The reasons behind are thought-provoking, it said. The smear campaign against China on COVID-19 is an attempt by the United States to shift the blame for its own poor handling of the epidemic. The United States also arbitrarily attacked and pulled out of the World Health Organization, putting global anti-epidemic cooperation in jeopardy, harming people around the world and incurring a heavy cost for its own people, the Chinese mission said. "What the U.S. needs to do now is stop the political manipulation, stop labeling or politicizing the virus, focus on combating the virus at home, and support the UN and the WHO in playing their roles," it noted in the statement. U.S. senators claim that Hunter Biden, while working at Burisma, was involved in millions of dollars in questionable transactions. United States senators who investigated a possible conflict of interest during Hunter Biden's work in Ukraine believe that his position on Burisma's board has been awkward for U.S. anti-corruption policy in the country. This is stated in a report by U.S. Senators Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, published on September 23, according to European Pravda. "Hunter Bidens role on Burismas board hindered the efforts of dedicated career-service individuals who were fighting for anticorruption measures in Ukraine [] Unfortunately, U.S. officials had no other choice but to endure the 'awkward[ness]' of continuing to push an anticorruption 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 full report reads. Read alsoZelensky: Ukraine mustn't be dragged into U.S. election process over leaksAccording to the senators, they are aware of two U.S. officials who earlier spoke up on the issue. In early 2015, former Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, George Kent raised concerns to officials in Vice President Joe Biden's office about the perception of a conflict of interest with respect to Hunter Biden's role on Burisma's board. "The presence of Hunter Biden on the Burisma board was very awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anticorruption agenda in Ukraine," the senators quoted him in their report as saying. In October 2015, senior State Department official Amos Hochstein raised concerns with Vice President Biden, as well as with Hunter Biden, that Hunter Biden's position on Burisma's board enabled Russian disinformation efforts and risked undermining U.S. policy in Ukraine. The senators, based on their investigation, claim that Hunter Biden during his work at Burisma was involved in questionable transactions worth millions of dollars. So-called Derkach tapes and Biden row: Background On May 19, 2020, Ukrainian MP Andriy Derkach, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani, released heavily edited audio recordings he said he had received from "investigative journalists" of what he claims are phone conversations between former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, former State Department head John Kerry, and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko made at the time the said politicians held the said offices. The conversations, in Derkach's opinion, testify to "international corruption" and Ukraine being "governed" from beyond. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked that his country be left out of November's U.S. presidential election after Derkach published tapes presumably intended to affect Joe Biden, the rival of incumbent President Donald Trump. Volodymyr Zelensky denied involvement in the first portion of leaks last month of conversations between ex-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, his predecessor, and told the Telegraph he did not want the scandal to undermine Ukraine's strategic alliance with the United States. Audio quality and background noises in leaked tapes of what MP Derkach says are phone conversations between Petro Poroshenko and U.S. officials suggest they were recorded on the Ukrainian side, in the office where Poroshenko held talks with his counterparts. The investigation has been launched into eavesdropping on presidential communications. Seven ex-ambassadors of the United States of America to Ukraine have addressed politicians of both countries over the opening of proceedings regarding alleged meddling by the then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in the then Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin's activity. "We strongly condemn these efforts to divide our two countries and call on officials in both to avoid steps that will only erode the bilateral relationship and alienate our countries from one another," they said in a joint statement posted by the Atlantic Council on May 26. Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said the U.S. had not sent any inquiries regarding the leaked recordings. On June 22, Derkach convened a press conference to release what he said were leaked recordings he allegedly got from "investigative journalists" of communications between ex-President Petro Poroshenko and ex-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, which, in his opinion testify to "international corruption" and Ukraine being "governed" externally. On July 9, Derkach released another part of the recordings of Poroshenko's purported conversations with Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. On September 10, U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on Derkach over his "efforts to influence the 2020 U.S. presidential election," branding him a "Russian agent." On September 16, Derkach claimed millions of dollars had been withdrawn from Ukraine to the accounts of a company affiliated with Hunter Biden, son of former U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden. Its a long list. In part by diverting funds approved for other purposes, the Trump administration has built about 300 miles (and counting) of tall steel fencing along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border, mostly as upgrades to existing barriers. It barred immigration by citizens of 12 countries, eight with Muslim majorities, on the grounds that their governments dont share enough information about potential criminals or terrorists. Trumps zero tolerance policy on illegal border crossings led to thousands of migrant children being separated from their families, before an outcry forced an end to that practice. Trump extended waiting times for residency and citizenship applications and expanded the public charge rule that denies immigrants legal-resident status if they rely on public assistance such as food stamps or Medicaid. He temporarily suspended immigration into the U.S. in response to the pandemic. He ordered the end of a program that allows so-called Dreamers -- undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children -- to stay and work in the U.S. (Courts have stalled enforcement of that order.) And Trump cracked down on Americas asylum policy toward migrants from Central America claiming to face persecution at home. In a televised speech, Madbouly said 1.4 million people have started their reconciliation procedures, adding that the government may extend the deadline again at the end of October if reconciliation requests increase Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Thursday the government has extended the deadline to receive reconciliation requests for building violations until 30 October due to the large number of reconciliation applications. The deadline was set at the end of September. In a televised speech, Madbouly said 1.4 million people have started their reconciliation procedures, adding that the government may extend the deadline again at the end of October if reconciliation requests increase. 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. The reconciliation fees are set to be allocated for development in governorates and to upgrade the level of services provided to citizens. Madbouly said on Thursday authorities receiving reconciliation requests continue to be crowded although their working hours have been extended. The prime minister urged the public to finish their reconciliation procedures as early as possible to help the government process their legal procedures, including giving the violators state certificates that protect them against legal action on their units. The state does not intend to demolish inhabited buildings, Madbouly said, adding that the law on reconciliation for building violations aims to help citizens legalise their units and protect them from being exploited by any parties, including government employees. Madbouly said a May decision to halt the issuance of building permits for six months in Greater Cairo and Alexandria as well as capitals of governorates and major cities across is being reviewed to determine whether construction could be allowed earlier than the 24 November end of suspension mark. He added that each property, whether it is a commercial or a housing unit, will be assigned a specific national number in order to regulate and officialise the sale and purchase of these properties. Concerning building on agricultural lands, Madbouly said the state will encourage vertical construction to save agricultural lands from being wasted and to help citizens benefit from the land plots they own. Rectifying the status of illegal buildings Today's announcements come two days after Madbouly said authorities have so far received around 2.275 million reconciliation requests for building violations nationwide. Madbouly praised the high turnout by citizens looking to reconcile, adding that he 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. He 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 had said warnings have been issued to many governorates as the Nile flood this year can inundate some of these lands. 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 prime minister said. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Offences of sale, purchase, manufacture, possession, and financing of illicit trafficking of drugs under the NDPS Act entail a sentence ranging between six months and 20 years and a fine ranging between a few thousands to up to Rs 2 lakh, depending upon the drug involved. For the charges that Chakraborty has been booked under, the minimum sentence prescribed under the Act is one year, while the maximum jail term is 20 years. The sections under which she has been booked relate to possession of drugs or psychotropic substances, abetment and harbouring offenders and for financing of illicit trafficking of such drugs. The actress said a bar on grant of bail can come into play only if the drugs seized are in commercial quantities (whose possession invites longer jail term). 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. WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A national poll of state and local employees finds that African American workers are more concerned than their colleagues about the potential health and economic impacts of COVID-19. Thirty-nine percent of African American state and local employees are worried about contracting the coronavirus at work as compared to 22 percent of all other survey respondents. Twenty-one percent of African American workers are concerned about a reduction in pay, which is nearly twice the level of other state and local employees (11 percent). As the pandemic lingers, 39 percent of African American state and local employees expect to take on more debt in the next year. By comparison, 22 percent of all other survey respondents say they anticipate taking on more debt. Debt already is a problem for 69 percent of African American state and local employees, as compared with 53 percent of all other survey respondents. These findings are contained in a new infographic from the Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE) and ICMA-RC, African American State and Local Employee Views on COVID-19. This research is a supplement to a wide-ranging analysis of state and local employees' views detailed in the recent report, Public Sector Employee Views on Finances and Employment Outlook Due to COVID-19. Despite their worries, the research finds that African American respondents are more likely to express positive feelings while at work as it relates to serving their communities during the time of COVID-19. Forty one percent said they feel grateful, and 23 percent are optimistic. For all other survey respondents, 31 percent indicated they felt grateful while 14 percent felt optimistic. "As millions of state and local workers remain on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, our research indicates that African Americans see higher health and financial risks. This may correlate to the greater incidence and virulence of COVID-19 among Americans of color," said Gerald Young, SLGE senior research associate. "Also troubling is that even before the pandemic, 41 percent of African Americans working in state and local jurisdictions did not have emergency funds set aside for unexpected expenses. Yet, despite these challenges, African Americans are feeling less anxious and pessimistic than their fellow workers," Young noted. "We hope this research helps state and local employers with workforce management programs, especially as jurisdictions grapple with employee wellness, recruitment and retention during these trying times." Additional findings from the infographic are summarized below: African American respondents were most likely to work in education (27 percent) and health and human services (23 percent). Nineteen percent work in administrative positions, while 13 percent work in public safety. African American respondents were more likely than others to indicate that they are extremely concerned about the impacts of the pandemic on their retirement plans (27 percent). Thirty-nine percent of African American state and local employees are worried about keeping their family safe from contracting the virus, as compared to 23 percent of all other survey respondents. Sixteen percent of African American workers are concerned about a reduction in job hours, as compared to 11 percent of all others. Also, 13 percent of African Americans polled are concerned about job loss, versus seven percent of others surveyed. Twenty-three percent of Africans Americans surveyed expected to spend significantly less than normal during the next year. Thirty-eight percent of African Americans in state and local government are working remotely. Prior to the pandemic, 15 percent worked remotely to the same or to a greater extent than they do now. Twenty-seven percent of African American state and local employees strongly agree that the pandemic has made people more aware of the importance of their work, as compared with 14 percent of other respondents. African Americans represent 18 percent of the U.S. state and local workforce, and state and local governments employ about 19 million workers. This research is based upon a survey of 1,008 full-time state and local government employees conducted by SLGE and Greenwald & Associates from May 4 through May 20, 2020. The final data were weighted by gender, age, household income, and industry type to reflect the distribution of the state and local government workforce as found in the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey. The Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE) helps local and state governments become knowledgeable and competitive employers so they can attract and retain a talented and committed workforce. SLGE identifies leading practices and conducts research on public retirement plans, health and wellness benefits, workforce demographics and skill set needs, and labor force development. SLGE brings state and local leaders together with respected researchers. Access all SLGE publications and sign up for its newsletter at slge.org and follow @4GovtExcellence on Twitter. About ICMA-RC Founded in 1972, ICMA-RC is a non-profit, independent financial services corporation with approximately $60 billion in assets under management and administration (as of June 30, 2020), focused on providing retirement plans and related services for over 1.5 million public participant accounts. ICMA-RC's mission is to help those who serve their communities work towards achieving their retirement savings goals. For more information, visit www.icmarc.org, download ICMA-RC's mobile app from the App Store and Google Play or follow ICMA-RC on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. SOURCE Center for State and Local Government Excellence Related Links http://www.slge.org The two Republicans on the North Carolina Board of Elections resigned in protest late Wednesday, after elections officials on Tuesday agreed to extend the deadline for receiving mail ballots in North Carolina by six days. In their letters of resignation, the two Republicans, Ken Raymond and David Black, both claimed they had been misinformed about the settlement that had extended the deadline for ballots to be counted. Justin Clark, President Trumps deputy campaign manager, called the resignations a courageous stand against the egregious and collusive settlement agreement their Democrat counterparts created that would significantly rewrite North Carolinas election law 40 days out from Election Day. Mr. Clark also accused liberal activists of trying to rig the election. In North Carolina, where polls show Mr. Trump tied or narrowly trailing Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Trump campaign has mounted an assault against the integrity of the state elections board. Mr. Clark accused Democratic activists of suing to move Election Day even further out so they can harvest ballots after the polls close to steal the election for Joe Biden. The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday said it would permit students of classes 10 to 12 to go to school on a voluntary basis for taking guidance from their teachers from October 1. According to the government order, permission is given to students of 10th, 11th and 12th class studying in government and government-aided and private schools to come to school voluntarily to take guidance from their teachers and further related works. The government said, schools can call 50 per cent of the teachers taking classes for 10th, 11th and 12th classes at a time in areas outside the Covid-19 containment zones from October 1. Charles Feeney, a former billionaire and also a co-founder of airport retail, 'Duty-Free' has recently given away his wealth as he insists he couldn't be happier than before. Feeny mentioned donating more than $8 billion to charities, universities, and the foundations of organizations has fulfilled his dream. For the past 38 years, Feeny made billions from a duty-free shopping empire and now he has finally run out of money. Charles shared that he hoped the remaining billionaires would follow his examples and use their money to help address the world's biggest problems. He exclaims that 'wealth brings responsibility.' Feeny and his wife, Helga Feeney, notified that they just celebrated with Bill Gates and the former California Governor, Jerry Brown. Warren Buffet, one of the most successful investors explained, "he's a model for us all. It is going to take me 12 years after my death to get done what he is doing within his lifetime." Bill Gates expressed Chuck took giving to a bigger extreme than anyone else. "He told me we should encourage people not to give just 50 percent but as much as possible during their lifetime. No one is a better example and it is truly amazing." According to Forbes, It is reported that Charles Feeny donated 3.7 billion to education, $1 billion to his alma mater Cornell, $870 million to human rights, $62 million in grants to abolish the death penalty in the U.S, $76 million for grassroots campaigns supporting Obamacare, $700 million in gifts to health causes ranging from a $270 million grant to improve public healthcare in Vietnam, $176 million gifts to the Global Brain Health Institute at UCSF, and last but not least, $350 million for Cornell to build a technology campus on NYC Roosevelt island. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 07:30:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Hungarian President Janos Ader (on the screens) addresses the General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 23, 2020. The General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly entered the second day on Wednesday. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) Indian strategists tend to believe that China has no ability and willingness to confront India amid strategic pressure from the US. They surely have their own way to calculate the risks and benefits, but certainly have misjudged China on this. by Xie Chao Senior Chinese and Indian officers held the sixth round of the military commander-level meeting on Monday. Before that, a speculation went viral that the talks might have to be postponed due to increasing hostilities on both sides. To the relief of observers, the talks took place and both sides confirmed that the seventh round of the meetings will be held as soon as possible, which shows a mutual willingness to continue to talk to ease border tensions. The two countries also reached a consensus to stop sending more troops to the frontline, which at least can cool down the rising temperature of confrontation, thus tensions along the China-India border may take a pause. People who are concerned with the situation can feel a little more at ease. However, it is hard to expect a comprehensive agreement to be reached in just one or two meetings. And their joint press release made no mention of "complete disengagement" of their troops, which indicates that their previously reached consensus lost efficacy following continuous provocations from India. The sixth round of talks serves only to maintain the status quo, which is already very intense, and from that point they will find a possible agreement on disengagement. In other words, Beijing and New Delhi now need to start over to establish a new consensus through talks. As a scholar on Indian studies, I have a particular interest on observing India's way of negotiating. It entails asking for a wild price to create room for bargaining, which means it will take a farther way back but still expects to meet its counterpart halfway. In such cases, India doesn't have to change its original stance, but still gives a concessional gesture. That is to say, it will make a concession that didn't exist in the first place in exchange for its counterpart making the real concession. Otherwise, the latter will take the blame for reaching no deal. Such a negotiation tactic has won India quite a few favorable conditions in its accession to international trade organizations, but little has been accomplished on military negotiations, especially on border talks, as India's original stances have gone too far to infringe upon other's sovereignty, and there is no room for its counterpart to give in. It will only force its counterpart to match the toughness or take the blame for no deal. This holds true in its talks with China on the latest border situation. According to Indian media reports, sources from India said New Delhi insisted that the Chinese People's Liberation Army withdraw from all friction points with a timeline, and give "free and unhindered access to Indian forces to all patrol points." This is the Indian tactic to strike a deal. New Delhi wishes for Beijing to accept the LAC determined by India, and to accept the consequences of a damaged sovereignty. Chinese diplomatic and military representatives have refuted such unreasonable requests. If India continues to stick to such stubborn stances, no frontline disengagement will ever occur, and all forthcoming negotiations and talks will be meaningless. Reports have shown that a representative from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs also participated in the latest talks, and hopefully India's attitude toward negotiations with China can come down to reality. Indian strategists tend to believe that China has no ability and willingness to confront India amid strategic pressure from the US. They surely have their own way to calculate the risks and benefits, but certainly have misjudged China on this. China is protecting its home at its doorstep, and you can imagine how determined it is to push back against bullying from either the US or India. India tends to clamor about how aggressive China is, and such assertion only illuminates a paradox of logic: If India truly believes China is an aggressive power, what kind of aggressive power will China be if it can't defend its own soil? The irony is such misjudgment shows only a lack of strategic vision of Indian strategists. The Indian government is addicted to its usual tactic of displaying toughness, such as its war preparedness and the inclusion of Rafale fighter jets in the conflicting border areas. It is understandable for them to show a tough image to its own people, but such a display of Indian military muscle will have no effect. Beijing have far more superior weapons to deploy, but has not done so for the sake of mainlining peace and tranquility along the border areas. The confrontation and hostility between China and India has lasted since May. There is no longer an ounce of mutual trust between China and India at the strategic level. There is good reason to believe that even with a temporary plan of disengagement, India will again make provocations when it perceives international environment is in its favor. At any time, Beijing has demonstrated its ability and willingness to match India's military provocations. Given India's constant provocations, China's military deployments in relevant areas have now improved, and still have far more room for further improvement. The choice is in the hands of New Delhi. The author is assistant professor at the Institute for International and Area Studies, Tsinghua University. He writes for Global Times, where this piece first appeared. Advertisement Damian Lewis showcased his musical side as he pulled out a guitar to perform at his friends' wedding, held at Kensington and Chelsea Register Office in London on Thursday. The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star, 49, was joined by his actress wife Helen McCrory, 52, as they celebrated the occasion by singing along to a series of classic Irish tracks. As ceremonies and receptions in England set to be capped at 15 people from Monday, the screen stars' pals were able to narrowly avoid the new restrictions as they marked their milestone with their loved ones. Merry: Damian Lewis pulled out a guitar to perform at his friends' wedding, held at Kensington and Chelsea Register Office in London on Thursday (pictured with his wife Helen McCrory) The Band of Brothers star put on a dapper display as he was dressed in a dark blue suit, teamed with a white shirt and a patterned tie. Damian couldn't contain his delight as he congratulated the newlyweds while strumming the strings of his instrument. Peaky Blinders' Helen, meanwhile, cut a sophisticated figure in a polka dot blouse, high-waisted trousers and a wool coat. The mother-of-two's right arm was held up in a sling, nearly a year after she used a scarf to support the same limb during a night out. MailOnline has contacted Helen's representatives for further comment. Congratulations! The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star, 49, and the actress, 52, celebrated the occasion by singing along to a series of classic Irish tracks Lucky! The screen stars' pals were able to narrowly avoid the new coronavirus restrictions as they marked their milestone with their loved ones Limitations: From Monday, wedding ceremonies and receptions in England will be capped at 15 people Suave: The Band of Brothers star Damian put on a dapper display as he was dressed in a dark blue suit, teamed with a white shirt and a patterned tie Wedding ceremonies and receptions in England are to be restricted to just 15 people - half of the current guidelines - as part of new coronavirus measures to curb a surge in cases. Prime Minister Boris Johnson added that funeral services would be exempt from the limitations, with the maximum number of mourners remaining at 30. Setting out the measures in the House of Commons, the politician, 56, said: 'Fifth, now is the time to tighten up the rule of six. 'I'm afraid that from Monday a maximum of 15 people will be able to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, though up to 30 can still attend a funeral as now.' What's going on? Peaky Blinders' Helen, meanwhile, cut a sophisticated figure in a polka dot blouse, high-waisted trousers and a wool coat, but her right arm was held up in a sling Reoccurring? Nearly a year ago, the skilled thespian used a scarf to support the same limb during a night out (pictured) Wahay! Damian couldn't contain his delight as he congratulated the newlyweds while strumming the strings of his instrument You may kiss the bride: The new husband and wife shared a sweet smooch to ring in their new relationship status Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions were included in a list of exemptions to the ban on social gatherings of more than six. Current guidance states that up to 30 attendees are permitted in Wales, while in Scotland, ceremonies and receptions are limited to 20 people, and numbers are dependent on the venue in Northern Ireland. In March, Damian joked he finally knows what fellow thespian Helen looked like as they self-isolated together in their Suffolk home amid the coronavirus pandemic. Stopping the spread of COVID-19: Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions were included in a list of exemptions to the ban on social gatherings of more than six Sweet memories: Attendees ensured they documented the celebration on their mobile devices On cloud nine: The happy couple grinned from ear-to-ear, with the bride holding a bouquet of flowers Love wins: Despite COVID-19, Damian and Helen's friends proved there's no stopping them as they still managed to have a fun-filled wedding during the pandemic Milestone: The group posed for snaps outside the office The duo were asked how they were coping with life in quarantine, in contrast to their typically busy schedules during an appearance on Good Morning Britain. Homeland actor Damian quipped: 'I know, its amazing! I had no idea [Helen] looked like that!' The celebrity couple, who have been married for 13 years, raise their two children, 13-year-old daughter Manon and son Gulliver, 12, at their home in north London. Helen previously revealed to the Radio Times that when she met the flame-haired actor, it had been love at first sight. 'He just made me laugh a lot. And still does,' she gushed of her longtime partner. 'Of course, everyone in life wants someone to love and be loved by, but I think I was always just engrossed and involved in work. 'And no, the timing was pure fluke, pure chance, it always is, isnt it?' Raising strong objections against the farm Bills, the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has called for a Bihar 'Bandh' on Friday. Party leader Tejashwi Yadav has asked supporters to hit the roads in each of the 38 districts headquarters of Bihar and register strong protests against the Bills. "The farmers of Bihar are already distraught. The agri Bills will make them completely helpless. These Bills will allow industrialists to take over the agriculture sector," he said. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, he also said that if RJD supremo Lalu Yadav would shake hands with the BJP, he would be seen as "Raja Harishchandra" and the fodder scam or "Chara Ghotala" would be converted into "Bhaichaara" or brotherhood. In Patna, supporters have been asked to assemble at the party office on Veerchand Patel Path followed by march towards Income Tax roundabout, Dak Banglow Chowk and return to the party office. Party insiders believe it is a show of strength by the RJD. Tejashwi himself uploaded a photograph on social media posing as a protester while driving a tractor on Thursday evening. A teenager who set off illegal fireworks in a park which started a blaze that came close to homes during Australia's devastating bushfire season has been fined $500. Fadi Zraika, one of two 18-year-old men who who set off the fireworks at Bright Park, Guildford, western Sydney, on December 22, smirked outside Parramatta Local Court and mocked reporters after being fined on Wednesday. The fireworks started a fire that came dangerously close to homes and the NSW Rural Fire Service were forced to take resources away from other fires to put it out. Fadi Zraika (pictured) was one of two 18-year-old men who who set off the fireworks at Bright Park, Guildord, western Sydney, on December 22 The fireworks started a fire that came dangerously close to homes and the NSW Rural Fire Service were forced to take resources away from other fires to put it out (Bright Park pictured) Police alleged Zraika and his distant relative Abraham Zreika's actions lit the fire after Zrieka used a cigarette lighter to light the fireworks that triggered grassfires. Zraika's lawyer told the court his client was the main breadwinner in his household, Parramatta Advertiser reported. 'He doesn't need the book thrown at him. He's an offender that's before the court has learned a lesson,' he said. 'Unfortunately it's a young man of our community that didn't take heed of what was going on.' The prosecution pushed for a conviction as Zraika's actions happened when the country was gripped by devastating fires. The magistrate thanked the RFS for their actions. Zraika made headlines earlier this year for laughing outside of court and filming reporters 'The air was filled with smoke, there was a large loss of property, huge areas burnt out, and deaths,' Magistrate Tim Keady told the court, Nine News reported. 'Throwing fireworks into a park was bound to cause a problem. It would have been obvious.' He told Zraika he was old enough to function as an adult and convicted him, and fined him $500. Zraika's co-accused was fined $1,500 and convicted of negligently handling explosives to cause property damage, having a knife in a public place, and not disclosing his identity. Joe Biden, Democratic presidential nominee, is up against President Donald Trump in a race to gain the support of Latino voters. But he's struggling to keep them on his side. A new poll from Washington Post and ABC News shows Biden's slow outreach with the Latino voters. In the final stretch of the election season, the poll showed Florida's Latino voters were split 52% for Biden and 39% for Trump. But the advantage he has in this group is not that large since the poll only had a small sample size. For perspective, Biden is not performing if compared to Hillary Clinton in 2016. She had 62% of Florida Latino voters on her side at the time, according to CNN's exit polls. Biden is also not performing as well as Barack Obama, said The Guardian. Two weeks ago, an NBC-Marist poll also found that Trump had a lead among Latinos in Florida. The president had a 50% rating while Biden has 46%. Trump is also leading among Latinos of Cuban descent. Why Does the Latino Vote Matter? Florida Latinos play a significant role in determining the winner in the battleground state. While they are minorities in the U.S., their votes still matter to both candidates, said a Washington Post report. The group can make a significant impact on who wins or loses, just as Trump proved in 2016. He won in Florida by just 1 percentage point. Historically, Latinos are also known to be late deciders when it comes to voting, said The Atlantic. Their last-minute decisions could lead to results that are different from what polls showed. As late deciders, they can still be convinced to vote for a specific candidate. This is why they have to work on havinh these late-deciding voters as supporters before they actually cast their vote. Latinos Need Convincing According to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, Latino men still need to be convinced that Biden is looking after their interests. Over the years, Latino voters weren't always a priority for Democrats. But some of them have a long history of strongmen leaders like Trump, said Politico. They are drawn to Trump's form of leadership because it is what they are familiar with. In addition to that, Trump's campaign is also centered on an economic pitch. It is a need for some corners of the Latino voting community. Some other recent polls also suggest that Trump is making great progress with the critical voting group. Politico conducted interviews with 20 Democrats. They talked to strategists, lawmakers, pollsters and activists. During these interviews, Politico found out that Democrats themselves have mixed feelings about Biden, and Trump's campaign is taking advantage of it. Trump has been doing an aggressive campaign strategy to appeal to voters of color. They are spending more than Democrats on social media and advertising. Sindy Benavides of the League of United Latin American Citizens said there was a "lack of enthusiasm" from Biden. The cause of this is Trump's "early investment" to campaign in the group, and Biden's "lack of investment". Benavides noted how Bernie Sanders did his campaign when he dominated Latino vote in western states. She said Sanders was successful among young Latinos because his campaign included the Latino community. She said Biden has to speak to Latinos and hear out their concerns, which he isn't doing. A representative of Biden said the pandemic made it hard to plan direct Latino outreach. But said they are planning these kinds of events in the coming weeks. Check these out! Amy Coney Barrett Emerges as Supreme Court Favorite; Trump to Pick on Weekend First Presidential Debate To Focus on These Six Topics Trump Expands Ban on Diversity Trainings Courtesy of PCH Films Linda Ronstadt may have retired from singing, but she's pretty busy. She and her friend Jackson Browne both star in a new documentary arriving next month called Linda and the Mockingbirds. The doc features Ronstadt revisiting her Mexican roots, and she and Browne travel to Mexico by bus with the students of Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy, of which Linda's been a patron since the '90s. "Cenzontle" means "mockingbird." The group visits the town in the Mexican state of Sonora, where Linda's grandfather grew up. Linda hopes the documentary will strike a blow against anti-immigrant rhetoric. "It will make people aware of what they're discriminating against so vigorously," she tells Rolling Stone. "Anti-Mexican discrimination has been one of the main planks in the platform of Donald Trump," Ronstadt notes. "It's one of the things that got people energized." She adds, "It was like, 'We aren't going to let these people in here. They'll get something for nothing and they're going to take away our jobs.' It's a total myth that they impact the economy in a negative way. They're actually adding to the economy tremendously." Linda and the Mockingbirds will be released digitally and on demand on October 20. In addition to the documentary, Ronstadt plans to release some live archival performances, similar to last year's Live in Hollywood, from 1980. Among the recordings are concerts she did in support of her standards albums What's New, Lush Life and For Sentimental Reasons, and her Mexican album Canciones de Mi Padre. "I don't do any social media, but I was convinced this year to put up a website because we have found a lot of board mixes of old live performances," she tells Rolling Stone. "Were going to put a selection of those out." By Andrea Dresdale Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen The 2021 ID.4 is Volkswagen's first all-electric offering here in the US. It's a small SUV that's about the size of a Tiguan and has an estimated range of 250 miles. Prices start at $39,995, but VW reminds us to factor in the potential federal tax credit of $7,500. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The 2021 ID.4 is Volkswagen's first all-electric car for the US market, and it's a big deal. It is the first volley in what VW says will be a major push to put Americans in battery-powered cars a campaign that will play out over decades. Built on VW's new, modular electric drive architecture, or MEB, the ID.4 will offer an estimated range of 250 miles. The rear-mounted motor (similar to the brand's iconic Beetle) will send a claimed 201 horsepower and 228 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. An all-wheel drive AWD Pro version with 302 horsepower will become available sometime in 2021. Prices for the ID.4 Pro start at $39,995. VW, however, reminds us that buyers can receive a $7,500 federal tax credit a benefit Tesla buyers can no longer access. But before the ID.4 can settle in and start scooping up sales, it needs to answer a key question: How will it compare to Tesla's Model Y, the big dog in the small electric SUV segment? Keep scrolling to see how the ID.4 compares with the Model Y, the long range version of which start at $49,990. The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 is the brand's first all-electric offering in the US. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen It's a smallish SUV that most closely competes with the Tesla Model Y, whose long range version starts at $49,000. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen The Model Y lineup includes Performance, Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive, and Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive versions, with a Standard Range version to come in early 2021. Tesla Model Y. Tesla Source: Tesla The rear-wheel drive ID.4 Pro will be offered at launch, with an all-wheel-drive version to follow later in 2021. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen The Model Y can seat seven adults. Tesla Model Y. Tesla Source: Tesla Story continues The ID.4 seats five. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen In Standard Range form, the Model Y will have 230 miles of estimated range. The Long Range version will have 300 miles of estimated range. Tesla Model Y. Tesla Source: Tesla The rear-drive ID.4 Pro will have a claimed 201 horsepower and 228 pound-feet of torque. The AWD version will have 302 horsepower. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen The ID.4 Pro will have a claimed 250-mile range. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen The Standard Range Model Y will start at $39,000 and be available in early 2021. It's not yet available to order through Tesla's website. Tesla Model Y. Tesla Deliveries for the Long Range and Performance versions will start in the fall of this year, Tesla says. Source: Tesla Inside, the ID.4 looks like it will have an airy but conservative interior. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen Conservative isn't always a bad thing, however it can mean it won't alienate buyers. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen Wireless mobile charging is a standard feature. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen The standard 10-inch infotainment display can be upgraded to a 12-inch display. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen You can see more of the interior here. The VW's interior certainly seems less spartan than the Model Y's. Tesla Model Y. Tesla The ID.4 is built on VW's new modular electric drive architecture, also known as MEB. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen That packaging allows for Volkswagen to lay all the batteries along the floor. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen This makes the center of gravity low, which adds driver confidence in the car's handling feedback. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen The ID.4's chassis and body are made of steel. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen No engine, no grille. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen Exterior dimension-wise, it's about the size of a Tiguan. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen It has a slippery drag coefficient of 0.28. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen All ID.4s will come with a suite of driver-assistance technology, such as blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen VW will also offer the ID.4 with three years of fast-charging with Electrify America the biggest DC fast-charging network in the US (which is funded by VW as part of its Dieselgate scandal settlement). 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen Electrify America is also a subsidiary of VW. The 2021 ID.4 Pro will start at $39,995. VW reminds us that there's also a potential $7,500 tax credit to factor in. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen There will be a limited-edition ID.4 1st Edition at launch, which will cost $43,995. In 2021, the ID.4 AWD will become available, starting at $43,695. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen Availability of the ID.4 Pro will start during Q1 of 2021. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen VW expects the price to drop to $35,000 once it starts producing the ID.4 at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant in 2022. 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen Read the original article on Business Insider As Americas death toll from Covid-19 crossed 200,000, President Donald Trump called the alarming milestone a shame even as he deflected the blame for the coronavirus pandemic on China. I think if we didnt do it properly and do it right, youd have 2.5 million deaths, the US president told reporters, defending his administrations handling of the health crisis. The worlds most powerful nation hit the figure 41 days before a presidential election, and as the World Health Organization warned that new cases worldwide have risen to record highs. Trump used a video address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to attack Beijing for not stopping the spread of what he called the China virus. He has repeatedly played down the seriousness of the crisis, even as the United States suffered one of the worlds highest death tolls. According to a tally run by the US-based Johns Hopkins University, more than 31.6 million people have been infected worldwide and nearly 972,000 have died from Covid-19 since the virus emerged in Wuhan, China in late 2019. Across the Atlantic, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a fervent appeal to the public, urging them to diligently follow the new curbs or face the prospect of yet another lockdown. He sent out the message in a special broadcast of Tuesday evening, hours after outlining a new set of restrictions. He said, (Unless) we take action, the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later If we let this virus get out of control now, it would mean that our NHS had no space - once again - to deal with cancer patients and millions of other non-Covid medical needs. And if we were forced into a new national lockdown, that would threaten not just jobs and livelihoods, but the loving human contact on which we all depend We must do all we can to avoid going down that road again. But if people dont follow the rules we have set out, then we must reserve the right to go further. India and China are set to hold another round of diplomatic and military talks to try and take forward the disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), with New Delhi on Thursday pressing for stability at the friction points in Ladakh sector. A meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs is expected to be held before the seventh round of talks between military commanders, people familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity. The dates for both meetings are yet to be finalised, they said. The two sides had decided to have the next meeting of the corps commanders at the earliest, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told a weekly news briefing. In parallel, the next meeting of the WMCC is also likely to take place soon, he said, without giving details. The sixth meeting of the corps commanders, held at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC on September 21, ended inconclusively on the main issue of disengagement after more than 13 hours of talks. The commanders met after nearly 50 days, and the only headway was a rare joint statement from the armies of the two sides that said they had agreed to stop sending more troops to the frontline and to refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground. The external affairs ministry, which was part of the military talks for the first time on Monday, insisted that adhering to this agreement would be key for the upcoming talks. Even as two sides work towards complete disengagement in all friction areas, it is at the same time also necessary to ensure stability on the ground, Srivastava said. He added, The way ahead will be to refrain from making any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, while the two sides continue their discussions to achieve complete disengagement in all friction areas and to ensure full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas. Srivastava also highlighted that this was the first joint statement issued after any meeting of the corps commanders, and it reflected the stated commitment of both sides to disengage along the LAC. Disengagement, he pointed out, is a complex process that requires redeployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC, and this would require mutually agreed reciprocal actions. The last meeting of the corps commanders provided them an opportunity to have candid and in-depth exchanges on stabilising the situation along the LAC, he said. The two sides also decided to strengthen ground communications to avoid any further misunderstandings and misjudgements, and to avoid any actions that may complicate the situation, he said. The people cited above said India would stick to its demand for a comprehensive disengagement at all friction points, instead of a piece-meal approach suggested by the Chinese side. India will also insist on restoration of the status quo as it existed in April so that the ultimate goal of de-escalation along the LAC can be achieved, the people said. China has been asking India to withdraw its troops from strategic heights on the southern bank of Pangong Lake as a prerequisite for disengagement at other friction points but this has been ruled out by the Indian side. Before the last corps commanders meeting, the defence ministers of the two sides met in Moscow on September 4 and this was followed by talks between the two foreign ministers, also in Moscow, on September 10. The foreign ministers had reached agreement on a five-point roadmap for comprehensive disengagement in all the friction areas. Former ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, distinguished fellow for foreign policy studies at Gateway House, said that with the border standoff now into its fifth month and winter about to set in, the endeavour by both sides appeared to be to prevent any further escalation. However, I still take comfort from the desire on both sides to prevent further escalation, to ensure stability and to continue talking. It is a positive sign at the political level that there is a similar message from both sides that there is no question of an armed conflict and peaceful negotiations are the way forward though there is little less clarity in the messaging from Chinese side, he said. Combined with the onset of winter and some luck, there will be no further escalation while we await a breakthrough. Both sides need more time to resolve these complex matters. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Bombay high court on Thursday asked Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut to file a reply to actor Kangana Ranaut's petition against the demolition of a part of her bungalow in Mumbai, and said it will start final hearing from Friday. The hearing can not be delayed because the bungalow should not be left in the present partially demolished state during monsoon as some mishap might happen, the judges said. A bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and R I Chagla also directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) H-ward officer Bhagyawant Late to file his reply to the plea. Late had signed the demolition notice served to Ranaut on September 7. On Tuesday, Ranaut's lawyer senior counsel Birendra Saraf had submitted a DVD of a speech in which Raut allegedly made a comment threatening the actor. Following it, the HC permitted Ranaut to make both Raut and Late parties to the case. On Thursday, Raut's counsel Pradeep Thorat asked for more time to file reply, saying the Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member was in New Delhi. BMC's senior counsel Anil Sakhre also sought more time for filing reply on Late's behalf. Justice Kathawalla said the bench will begin hearing the petitioner (Ranaut) on Friday and Raut could file his reply anytime before his lawyers start their arguments. The bench, however, directed the BMC to file the reply on Late's behalf by Monday. 'Since 40 per cent of the Petitioner's Bungalow is already demolished on September 9, 2020 and the Bungalow continues to stand in partially demolished condition, it is likely that some mishap may be caused due to the heavy rainfall in Mumbai. It is therefore necessary to hear the matter at the earliest,' the bench said, scheduling the hearing at 3 pm on Friday. Ranaut, in her plea filed in the HC on September 9, sought that the demolition carried out by the BMC at her Pali Hill bungalow be declared illegal. She rushed to the court after demolition began earlier that day. The HC then stayed the BMC's action. She subsequently amended her plea to demand Rs 2 crore as damages from the civic body and its officials. In her plea, Ranaut alleged that the BMC had demolished the bungalow out of personal vendetta, since she had made some comments critical of the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government. The BMC in its affidavit denied the allegation. The civic body said Ranaut had carried out illegal structural changes and repairs at the bungalow, and the officers were merely following the law. The civic body also urged the high court to dismiss Ranaut's plea and impose a cost on her. The Ke Ga offshore wind power project in the central province of Binh Thuan. With a massive estimated potential of 160 gigawatts of offshore wind power, Vietnam has favourable conditions to create an offshore wind industry. - Photo nangluongsachvietnam.vn The studies on the development of a new offshore wind sector by the Vietnamese Government were presented during a two-day international conference which wrapped up on Tuesday just ahead of the release of the new Power Development Plan 8. With estimated potential of 160 gigawatts of offshore wind power within a distance of 5km to 100km from shore, Vietnam has favourable conditions to create an offshore wind industry. The long coastline, ample wind resources and political will are key parameters to creating a green and forward-looking industry that can supply huge amounts of green electricity at attractive prices while creating new jobs and attracting investments. At the conference, the consultants presented their studies on aspects including the assessment of potential and grid transmission capacity, the current local supply chain capacity, opportunities and challenges in offshore development, policy and management experience from countries with advanced offshore industry as well as recommendations for a roadmap to offshore wind power development. The studies will be finalised taking into consideration the opinions and suggestions from the conference participants and will be submitted to the government of Vietnam in the near future. The outcome of the conference will be an important input for shaping the policy targets in the Vietnamese national Power Development Plan 8, which is the most important policy guiding Vietnams development in the energy sector in the next 10 years. The Government of Vietnam is always committed to the development of a sustainable energy sector and the timing is critical to the preparations of the national Power Development Plan 8 by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoIT). We, therefore, highly appreciate advice and recommendations from Denmark and the World Bank, our long term partners who possess many years of experience and knowledge in renewable energy, said Hoang Tien Dung, Director General of MoITs Electricity and Renewable Energy Agency. The Danish Energy Agency and the World Bank Group presented key recommendations include clear, long-term and progressive capacity deployment targets, a sound legal framework and a financeable Power Purchase Agreement in line with international practices, mandate a government agency to act as a single point of contact to streamline the permitting and consent processes for offshore wind projects, thus ensuring timely delivery of projects and award of large-scale demonstration projects to be commissioned in phases in order to kick-start the sector. As Vietnam is keen on moving towards a green transition of its energy sector, offshore wind power will definitely be one of the most cost-effective options as proven in many countries, including Denmark. A developed offshore wind industry will not only provide a new source of clean energy and contribute to climate change mitigation but also create a significant number of new jobs for local people while creating a new maritime economy and attracting significant new investments. The final decision of course fully rests with the Government of Vietnam, but Denmark, being a long-term and close partner with Vietnam in the energy sector, is always willing to share knowledge, experience and best practices from our 30-year offshore wind development, as we did at this conference, said Kim Hjlund Christensen, Ambassador of Denmark in Vietnam. Director at the Danish Energy Agency, Anton Beck, said: Offshore wind turbines represent the most potent renewable energy technology with just one 8-megawatt turbine being able to power annual electricity consumption corresponding to more than 43,000 Vietnamese households. We are happy to be able to share our vast Danish experience with offshore wind power with our close Vietnamese partners. Pressing play has been underway for some time, and our Vietnamese partners are both eager to get going and determined to get it right." The World Bank studies show important economic benefits of deploying offshore wind at the scale of up to 10 gigawatts by 2030, which can render between 190,000-700,000 full-time years of employment. It will be important to take these considerations on board during the development of the National Power Development Plan 8, said Rahul Kitchlu, Programme Leader for Infrastructure and Energy Sector Co-ordinator, World Bank. The workshop also addressed a wide range of concerns regarding offshore wind development, ranging from the perspective of the developers, the supply chain as well as investor interests. The dialogue provided a holistic input to the future of Vietnams offshore wind development. The conference took place both off-line in Ha Noi and online through a video link between the capital city, Copenhagen and other locations around the world. It attracted broad participation of Vietnamese decision-makers and sector managers both at the central and provincial levels, international and local professionals from the offshore wind industry and supply chain, and the private sector. New Delhi: Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's sister Neha will be helming the upcoming web-series based on notorious Uttar Pradesh gangster Vikas Dubey. The project has gone on the floors and the shoot has begun in Baghpat. Neha Kashyap today held a press conference in Baghpat and talked about the project, Sushant Singh Rajput and controversy related to brother filmmaker. The director, who is helming the web-series based on gangster Vikas Dubey was asked on Sushant's death. She said, "Whatever happened with Sushant is wrong. When he was alive, people learnt a lot from him." Neha Kashyap added that the culprits should be behind the bars. However, when prodded on the sexual assault charges levelled against her brother Anurag Kashyap by Payal Ghosh, Neha refused to comment on the issue. She said that we all must depend on ourselves and whenever there is dirt, we must clean it. Slain gangster Vikas Dubey was held by the Madhya Pradesh Police in Ujjain on July 9, 2020, from the premises of Mahakal Temple. He was later killed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police on July 10 after he 'attempted to flee'. The gangster was the main accused in the encounter that took place in Bikru village in Chaubeypur area of Kanpur, in which a group of assailants opened fire on a police team, which had gone to arrest him. Eight police personnel were killed in the encounter. The first consortium includes Afcons Infrastructure, IRCON International and JMC Projects, while the second group of companies include NCC, Tata Projects and J. Kumar Infra Projects. Mega industry players, including Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Tata Projects, JMC Projects and NCC have evinced interest in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail (MAHSR) or bullet train project. As technical bids for the design and construction of 237 kilometers (kms) in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor was opened on Wednesday, a total of three bids were submitted - by L&T and two separate consortium of companies. The first consortium includes Afcons Infrastructure, IRCON International and JMC Projects, while the second group of companies include NCC, Tata Projects and J. Kumar Infra Projects. This tender covers about 47 per cent of the total alignment, between Vapi and Vadodara in Gujarat. This includes four stations - including Vapi, Billimora, Surat and Bharuch - and also includes a river and 30 road crossings. This entire section is in Gujarat, where more than 83 per cent of the land has been acquired for the project. The National High-Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL), which is responsible for executing the Mumbai -Ahmedabad high-speed project, said it will alone create more than 90,000 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase. Not just the employment market but even the manufacturing sector is expected to gain from the project. It is estimated that close to 75 lakh million tonnes (MT) of cement, 21 lakh MT of steel, and 1.4 lakh MT of structural steel will be used in the construction. All of these will be produced in India. In addition, large construction machinery is another segment that will gain big time owing to the project. This comes at a time when the NHSRCL is working on seven new projects - including Delhi-Varanasi, Mumbai-Nagpur, Delhi-Ahmedabad, Chennai-Mysore, Delhi-Amritsar, Mumbai-Hyderabad and Varanasi-Howrah - at an expected cost of around Rs 10 trillion. The first high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is being built with Japanese aid. With a total of 12 stations in Maharashtra, Gujarat and union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the corridor will have a length of 508.17 kms. The rail will cover 155.76 kms in Maharashtra (7.04 kms in Mumbai sub-urban, 39.66 kms in Thane district and 109.06 kms in Palghar district), 4.3 kms in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and 348.04 kms in Gujarat. The high-speed corridor will cover a total of 12 stations, namely Mumbai, Thane, Virar and Boisar (in Maharashtra) as well as Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati (in Gujarat). The high-speed rail will be operating at a speed of 320 km per hour at an elevated track on a viaduct all along except 26 km in Mumbai, which will be underground. Image used for representation purpose only. Photograph: Reuters STAMFORD Officers were investigating a fatal car accident on Newfield Avenue that left a male jogger dead on Thursday morning, police said. The 72-year-old city man was struck at about 5:50 a.m. in the northbound lane of Newfield Avenue, said police Sgt. Jeffrey Booth of the departments Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad. Investigators said they believe the man was running north and was struck by a northbound vehicle, Booth said. The mans identity has not been released while officers contact his family, he said. The woman whose car struck the man stopped and called 911, and she is cooperating with the investigation, Booth said. The woman claimed that she did not see the man until she hit him, he said. The accident is under investigation and all the information gathered will be turned over to the Stamford states attorneys office, which will decide whether criminal charges will be filed, he said. We dont know if the car went off the roadway or the jogger was in the road when he was hit, Booth said, pointing out that it was early in the investigation. The mans death marks the first fatal pedestrian accident of the year in Stamford, he said. Last year, the first fatal pedestrian accident in the city occurred on Nov. 13, 2019, when Nancy Flores, 60, a Target employee, was struck and killed as she was crossing Washington Boulevard at Tresser Boulevard, according to police. Four months later, Courtney Sabia, 24, the driver of the vehicle that struck Flores, was charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, police said. Sabia has pleaded not guilty, and the case is pending at the Stamford courthouse, according to court documents. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. The truth has finally emerged about Breonna Taylor's death this past March. It turns out (surprise!) that the Democrat party in Congress, in the media, and on the streets has been lying. Taylor was not a complete innocent whom racist police slaughtered in her bed during a no-knock raid. Instead, she was the victim of her poor choices in men: her friendship with a local drug kingpin justified the raid, and her boyfriend's decision to open fire on police who had knocked and identified themselves led to her shooting. That certainly doesn't mean she deserved to die, but it explains why she did. The case begins with Breonna's ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover. The Louisville Courier-Journal delved deeply into that relationship, while the following is a summary. Glover is an accused drug-trafficker who is believed to be part of a large drug- and weapons-trafficking ring in Louisville. According to an affidavit, Glover went to Taylor's apartment in January, left the apartment holding a package, and went straight to a "known drug house." That wasn't Glover's only trip to Breonna's apartment. Police had placed a tracking device on Glover's car, which showed he made frequent trips to her apartment, leading police to believe that her apartment was a holding place for drugs and money. Glover was also heard telling someone that Taylor handled his money, although there is no evidence that this statement was true. Taylor also seemed familiar with Glover's world of drugs. When he was arrested in January, he called to ask her to locate an associate who could post bail. She answered that the associate was "already at the trap," slang for a drug-trafficking house. On another occasion, Taylor posted a $2,500 bond for Darreal Forest, another man who police suspect was involved in the drug ring. The Courier-Journal has still more evidence of the close connection between Glover and Taylor. That's why the police got a warrant to search Taylor's house. Whether or not Taylor was involved in the drug and weapons ring, she ran with a bad crowd. She would have done well to heed Aesop, who warned, "If you choose bad companions, no one will believe that you are anything but bad yourself." Taylor didn't choose any more wisely when it came to her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. He was the reason the police shot Breonna. Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron held a press conference on Wednesday, explaining all of the grand jury's findings. The most important one was that the police did not do a no-knock raid. That was what everyone was told to justify why Breonna's boyfriend, Walker, shot at the police when they entered the apartment: Evidence shows that officers both knocked and announced their presence at the apartment. The officers' statements about their announcement are corroborated by an independent witness who was near in a proximity to apartment four. In other words, the warrant was not served as a no-knock warrant. When Walker and Taylor did not answer the door, the officers broke the door. Sergeant Mattingly entered, saw Walker with a gun pointed at him, and felt himself get shot. It happened that quickly. Walker confirmed that he fired the first shot, and ballistics shows his bullet wounded Mattingly. At that point, all of the officers opened fire. As a reminder, they did it because one of their own had taken a bullet, and they all knew that they were in a kill or be killed situation. Moreover, the barrage of bullets they fired (32 bullets) was appropriate. The magical single shot that takes out the bad guy in Hollywood movies doesn't exist. Once you start shooting, you must shoot to end the threat completely. Six of the bullets struck Breonna. It's telling that none hit Walker. Had he run away or hidden behind her? Or was she just very unlucky? Cameron doesn't say. Concerning the fatal shots, Cameron debunks another lie. The media claimed that Breonna was in bed, implying a passive figure whom the police massacred. In fact, Taylor was standing at Walker's side, and she knew or should have known that Walker was armed: Sergeant Mattingly identified two individuals standing beside one another at the end of the hall, a male and a female. In his statement, he says that the male was holding a gun, arms extended in a shooting stance. Both Cameron and the grand jury showed real bravery in refusing to indict police officers who did everything by the book, only to find themselves under fire. Although she did not deserve to die, the fact is that Breonna made terrible choices when it came to the men in her life. These choices started a chain reaction that ended with her dying almost instantly from one of the six bullets that hit her. Image: Breonna Taylor memorial in Louisville, Kentucky (cropped) by FloNight. CC BY-SA 4.0. Fancy a chaise lounge from the early 1900s? How about Victorian-era couches? Those will be some of the items available at a large antique sale hosted by KC Estate Sales and Auctions, starting Friday at 5907 Main Street in Niagara Falls. The furniture has belonged to Ernie Morgan and his family. Morgan owns two funeral homes Morse and Son in Niagara Falls and Morgan in Niagara-on-the-Lake. For years, the antiques have been at both funeral homes, and at Morgans parents house about 70 per cent have been stored at the two funeral homes. Morgan said with his mothers recent passing, and his father now living in long-term care, the family was cleaning their house and decided the items are no longer needed. Im working with these two ladies that do this they help seniors either downsize their personal affects so they can move into a smaller facility, or they help families with estate work to get rid of everything in a house, he said. I was going to get rid of the things from my fathers place, and then I got thinking about all the antiques we had in storage at both my funeral homes, but in particular at the Niagara Falls (one). Morgan said his parents collected antiques since the late 1950s, early 1960s. They got me into it when I was a youngster. Now, weve got too much stuff. The sale will start Friday and Saturday, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Depending on how long it takes to sell all the items, the sale will continue Oct. 2 and 3, as well as Oct. 9 and 10. Karen Hiscock, a project manager with The Seniors Moving Companys Niagara franchise, said the sale will feature literally hundreds of items, including solid wood armchairs many originally from the old CN railway stations in Toronto prior to being acquired by Morgan. Most items have wonderful age, character, and history, she said. There are antique couches and love seats, floor lamps, desks, end tables, plant stands, armchairs, and a very old chaise lounge that looks like it is straight out of Hollywood. The Seniors Moving Company was a new start up in Niagara just prior to COVID-19 but has been well established in Winnipeg for the past 15 years. The core of the business is downsizing and helping people get organized, packing, moving, and unpacking clients from one place to another. For this sale, Hiscock is working with Carmen Notarianni, a licensed auctioneer who hosts estate sales that liquidate her clients property to the highest bidder. She has worked in Niagara, chanting her auction cry, for the past five years. Notarianni is also certified to provide appraisals for anyones personal property needs. Liquidating the Morgan familys assets is the first official collaboration for Hiscock and Notarianni and resulted in the start of KC Estate Sales and Auctions. The sale will take place in a currently empty store next door to Morse and Son Funeral Home. Hiscock said those that come are required to wear a mask. We have hand sanitizers and masks for those that forget, but we do ask that everybody bring a mask, she said. We are following the COVID-19 mandate of no more than 10 people in the store at a time, so we may have a little bit of a lineup, depending upon how many people show up at what time. Trump issues executive order to combat ideology that America is irredeemably racist and sexist Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Donald Trump issued an executive order to combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating Tuesday just over two weeks after he directed federal agencies to stop teaching government workers about critical race theory and related concepts like white privilege. Trumps order expands on his initial directive to include not just federal agencies, but any person or organization that receives money from the government through business contracts or grants. A few weeks ago, I BANNED efforts to indoctrinate government employees with divisive and harmful sex and race-based ideologies. Today, I've expanded that ban to people and companies that do business with our Country, the United States Military, Government Contractors, and Grantees. Americans should be taught to take PRIDE in our Great Country, and if you dont, theres nothing in it for you! Trump tweeted Tuesday. The controversial critical race theory, which has been a lightning rod for debate and division in evangelical circles, is an ideological framework that some legal scholars argue interrogates the relationship between race, law, and power. White privilege, a component of CRT, is defined by The Alberta Civil Liberties Research Center as the unquestioned and unearned set of advantages, entitlements, benefits and choices bestowed upon people solely because they are white. Trump argued in the latest executive order that a vision of America as a place grounded in hierarchies based on collective social and political identities rather than in the inherent and equal dignity of every person as an individual is rooted in the pernicious and false belief that America is an irredeemably racist and sexist country." Trump just went after the Smithsonian for pushing Critical Race Theory, calling it child abuse in the truest sense of those words. Two-thirds of the Smithsonians funding comes from the federal government. pic.twitter.com/4XRJ0O2pK5 NowThis (@nowthisnews) September 17, 2020 This destructive ideology is grounded in misrepresentations of our countrys history and its role in the world," Trump wrote. "Although presented as new and revolutionary, they resurrect the discredited notions of the nineteenth centurys apologists for slavery who, like President Lincolns rival Stephen A. Douglas, maintained that our government was made on the white basis by white men, for the benefit of white men. Our Founding documents rejected these racialized views of America, which were soundly defeated on the blood-stained battlefields of the Civil War. Yet they are now being repackaged and sold as cutting-edge insights. They are designed to divide us and to prevent us from uniting as one people in pursuit of one common destiny for our great country. Government contractors who fail to meet the stipulations of the executive order could see their contracts canceled, terminated, or suspended in whole or in part and the contractor may be declared ineligible for further Government contracts, the executive order states. Other sanctions can also be imposed. The executive order does not prevent any agency or contractor from promoting racial, cultural, or ethnic diversity or inclusiveness, but the programs must meet the standards outlined by the document. All federal diversity programs will have to be approved by the Office of Management and Budget as well as the Office of Personnel Management. It shall be the policy of the United States not to promote race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating in the Federal workforce or in the Uniformed Services, and not to allow grant funds to be used for these purposes. In addition, Federal contractors will not be permitted to inculcate such views in their employees, Trump said in the order. Filmmaker, writer, and policy researcher Christopher F. Rufo, who previously noted it was his research conducted over the last several months that inspired President Trumps decision to abolish critical race theory training at the federal agencies, praised the executive order on Tuesday as astonishing. The Presidents executive order is nothing short of astonishing: he has used all of the mechanisms of power to destroy the anti-American ideology of critical race theoryand immediately takes the fight to the bureaucracy, woke corporations, and universities. He is playing to win, Rufo noted on his website. The point on federal contractors is a major escalation: if a private company wants to work with the US government, they can no longer teach critical race theory anywhere in their offices. This could potentially disrupt CRT programs in half of the Fortune 500, he explained. The executive order will also disrupt the flow of money to academias critical race theory programs. The order stops all federal grants that support CRTwith the potential to cripple hundreds of academic projects moving forward. Christian blogger Matt Walsh said the presidents war on critical race theory is maybe the most important thing he has done with his presidency. Next it must be banned from schools, from elementary up to the universities. Leftist race hustlers have been brainwashing our kids into this madness for too long. Enough, he wrote on Twitter. Jemar Tisby, president of The Witness, recently argued on Twitter that critical race theory has been used unfairly by some fundamentalist Christians to demonize racial justice advocates in recent years. We watched almost in slow motion over the last few years as some fundamentalist Christians turned Critical Race Theory into the latest label to libel racial justice advocates. Now were seeing it become a kind of Red Scare in the federal government, he wrote after Trump's first executive order on CRT earlier this month. (From L) Ly Moc Kiu, her husband Ochie Paul Ejike and Chukwuemeka Confidence Onyiriuka are held at a police station in HCMC, September 24, 2020. Photo courtesy of HCMC Police. Anti-narcotics police in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday detained two Nigerian men and one Vietnamese woman for illegally trading methamphetamine for profit of VND70 million ($3,000) a kg. Ochie Paul Ejike, 51, and his 35-year-old Vietnamese partner Ly Moc Kiu, along with fellow Nigerian Chukwuemeka Confidence Onyiriuka were identified as "major figures" in a drug trafficking ring monitored by police for several months prior to the arrests. Earlier, police had found Chukwuemeka often received shipments of clothing from Cambodia at an apartment in Binh Tan District, though without any clothes ever seen being sold. Every week, Chukwuemeka had met Ochie and his partner at various secret locations. After months of monitoring, police identified the three as part of a drug trafficking ring in the city. Last week, Kiu was driving on Quang Trung Street in Go Vap District when she was stopped by police. Officers subsequently found three kilograms of meth hidden in tea packages inside her storage compartment. Phung told investigators she used to sell clothes and that she was married to Ochie. After giving birth to two children, they switched to trading drugs, assisted by various Nigerian compatriots. Each week, Kiu received five to seven kilograms of meth, which she delivered to her partners. She earned VND70 million per kg, investigators said. Police are expanding their investigation. HCMC has been a transit hub for drugs trafficked from the Golden Triangle, top police officers said. From here, the drugs are taken to Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea and even Europe, Australia and Latin America. Vietnam has some of the worlds toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 g of heroin or over 2.5 kg of methamphetamine face death. English French LASSOMPTION, Quebec, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corporation Terranueva (CSE : TEQ) ) (the Corporation or Terranueva), one of the 6 companies in Quebec holding a licence from Health Canada to develop cannabis products for medical and recreational purposes, is pleased to announce that Economic Development Canada (EDC) has granted a loan of $500,000 to the business to support its day-to-day operations. This assistance from EDC comes from the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF), relating to the measures of Canadas Economic Response Plan aimed at responding effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed significant pressure on corporate liquidity. We are therefore very happy to be able to count on this invaluable financial support from EDC via the RRRF, underlines Francisco Perez Junior, COO of Terranueva. Mr. Perez adds, By injecting $500,000 into our working capital, EDC allows us to continue executing our strategic plan, particularly by supporting our research and development activities, by allowing us to continue producing our harvests in our MPU (modular production unit) and the development of innovative products. ABOUT TERRANUEVA Terranueva relies on research and development, innovation and operational efficiency to become a key player in the emerging cannabis industry. It aims to provide the Canadian and international markets with first-rate medicinal and recreational cannabis. To achieve its goal, Terranueva implements a modular production approach, integrating the latest advances and innovations in process automation. Terranueva Pharma Corporation, its wholly owned subsidiary, holds the necessary licences from Health Canada to meet its mission. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not in any way passed upon the merits of the anticipated operation and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) nor its Regulation Services Providers (as that term is defined in its policies) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 2020 has been a tumultuous year in politics. The left has politicized our nations coronavirus response, consented to hundreds of violent riots across the country and mounted an impressive fake news campaign against President Trump. As if all that werent enough, Democrat governors and politicians are using their unconstitutional social distancing regulations to stage assault after assault on the religious liberty of Christians. In times like these, America needs the White House to speak clearly, forcefully and truthfully in defense of the America Trumps fighting to protect. Kayleigh McEnany is the right person for the job. At a time when both Trumps presidency and Americas Christian values are under nearly constant threat by the left, she provides an intelligent, strong and faithful Christian witness in Americas White House. McEnany started her tenure as press secretary on April 7, 2020. Since her debut press briefing on May 1, she has demonstrated time and again just why Trumps pick was the right one. She has leveraged her exceptional education, years of media experience and stalwart Christian faith to push back against the liberal medias false narratives about the Trump presidency and stand up for the Trump agenda. A graduate of Harvard Law, McEnany has a razor-sharp mind, and it shows. While in law school, she was a paid commentator on CNN, going head-to-head with some of the most aggressive and powerful media personalities in the business. She always held her own and championed the cause of conservatism. She was also a conservative columnist writing for Above the Law and The Hill. McEnanys career in service to Americans really began, however, after Trump took office. She served as the national spokesperson for the Republican National Committee and voiced hard-hitting support of President Trumps political priorities throughout years of media attacks on Trumps character and agenda. After years of experience in media, shes earned the right to stand proudly at the podium of the White House press room. But her professional qualifications alone arent what make her stand out. McEnany represents the America that Trumps presidency has always been about protecting, an America of personal virtue, patriotism and Christian faith. The daughter of a roofing contractor in Plant City, Florida, McEnany received an upbringing in the hard-working and entrepreneurial spirit of America. And from her earliest years, she was raised to be a proud and uncompromising Christian. In her role as press secretary, McEnany has never shied away from speaking publicly about her faith. She has said she feels God put me in this place for a purpose and brings prayer, biblical values and the confidence of true faith to her job. Even in the midst of the pandemic, she has found the time to run a weekly virtual Bible study with members of the Trump campaign and the GOP. Her faith has been tested and refined, just like her professional qualifications have been. When she learned that she was a carrier for a genetic mutation that could lead to breast cancer, McEnany did not lose hope. Instead, she prayed, joined her heart to her church community and underwent a difficult double mastectomy. She has relied on her faith throughout the years to face adversity with joy and resilience. That Trump picked McEnany to be the public face of the White House shows just how much Trumps administration values faith. We should never downplay how monumentally important it is that the woman who carries Trumps agenda before the media and the public is a Christian without reservation or compromise. In todays political climate, its become fashionable to denounce Christianity as white supremacist and to mock believers for practicing their faith. McEnany is a visible reminder that Trump opposes this kind of denigration of Americas religious heritage. 2020 isnt over yet, and the media is bound to generate political controversies and confusion during the election season. But with McEnany as press secretary, Im not worried that Trumps authentic message and real American values will get drowned out by all the liberal noise. She was part of a family conspiracy to fool Kris Jenner into thinking she'd climbed into a dumpster while blackout drunk. But the Kardashian family matriarch had her revenge on Kim Kardashian in a teaser for Keeping Up With the Kardashians on Thursday. 'I'm going to rehab!' a straight-faced Kris told a clearly concerned Kim. Payback: Kardashian family matriarch Kris Jenner had her revenge on Kim Kardashian in a teaser for Keeping Up With the Kardashians on Thursday The scene began with Kris and Khloe in a confessional, discussing how they could prank the wife of Kanye West. 'What we could do, if we really want to get her, is call her in Paris and tell her I made a reservation in Palm Springs. Kris then called Kim in Paris - however her second eldest daughter seemed distracted as Kris tried to deliver the news. She then raised her voice, finally getting Kim's attention as she admitted she needed help. Culprit: Kim was part of a family conspiracy to fool Kris Jenner into thinking she'd climbed into a dumpster while blackout drunk Plotting: The scene began with Kris and Khloe in a confessional, discussing how they could prank the wife of Kanye West 'I don't think you need rehab,' replied Kim. Kris then pretended to grow even more insistent, telling her, 'Kim, I blacked out and climbed into a trash bin.' Khloe meanwhile stifled a laugh as her mother spoke. Kim however didn't respond, leading Khloe to whisper, 'She muted it, she's like "I don't know what to do"'. Hatching the scheme: 'What we could do, if we really want to get her, is call her in Paris and tell her I made a reservation in Palm Springs' said Kris Khloe's big sister then appeared to have a crisis of conscience, with Kim texting her, 'I feel bad she's having sleepless nights over this, should we tell her?!?!?!' We then saw Kim and Kourtney in Paris, with Kim admitting to her big sister, 'It's really stressful, I like literally have anxiety.' In a confessional, Kim revealed it wasn't even her prank to begin with, but that 'if they want to keep it going I'm not going to ruin it for them.' Like, seriously: We then saw Kim and Kourtney in Paris, with Kim admitting to her big sister, 'It's really stressful, I like literally have anxiety' Shh: Khloe keeps quiet on the set to maintain the prank Keeping Up With The Kardashians returned on Thursday evening, after the family recently announced that the series would be coming to an end next year. And for the series' season 19 premiere, Khloe Kardashian and brother-in-law Scott Disick took another stab at their infamous 'Kris Jenner Paparazzi prank' in the hopes of finally fooling the Kardashian-Jenner matriarch. In a confessional, Khloe explained that 'months ago,' with the help of Scott and her older sister Kim Kardashian, she dressed up as Kris and posed for a slew of fake paparazzi images. Round two: Khloe Kardashian and brother-in-law Scott Disick took another stab at their infamous 'Kris Jenner Paparazzi prank' in the hopes of finally fooling the Kardashian-Jenner matriarch First time around: In a confessional, Khloe explained that 'months ago,' with the help of Scott and her older sister Kim Kardashian, she dressed up as Kris and posed for a slew of fake paparazzi images But, unfortunately, the 'first set of photos weren't that believable.' 'So tonight is the start of phase two,' said Khloe with a menacing grin, before launching into the elaborate new plan she formed with Kim and Scott. In order to get 'more realistic photos,' Khloe and Kim take Kris and Kris' longtime boyfriend Corey Gamble out to dinner with the intention of getting Kris 'belligerently drunk.' 'Right now, the plan is to get her belligerently drunk so she essentially blacks out and can't really remember what she did tonight,' explained Khloe to the camera, before Kim shot her a look. 'Not like a blackout. We just want her to not remember,' said Kim, attempting to clarify their intentions. But Khloe, set in her ways, corrected Kim and said: 'A blackout.' Waiters approach their table and one of them begins shaking up a martini, which causes Kris to jump in her seat. New plan: In order to get 'more realistic photos,' Khloe and Kim take Kris and Kris' longtime boyfriend Corey Gamble out to dinner with the intention of getting Kris 'belligerently drunk' Poker face: 'Right now, the plan is to get her belligerently drunk so she essentially blacks out and can't really remember what she did tonight,' explained Khloe to the camera, before Kim shot her a look 'Mom, do you want one?' Khloe asked Kris, but the 64-year-old businesswoman immediately dismissed the idea. In order to convince her mom to order a martini, Khloe lies and tells Kris that she, herself, 'has never had a martini' before. 'We should have one. I've never had a martini,' said, Khloe, and, as if he were in sync with the plan, the waiter notifies Kris that the martini is 'on the house' 'Oh, on the house?' asks Kris, before taking the martini from the waiter and indulging in a sip. 'I have the bartender giving Mom her dirty martinis, and I have my water martinis, um, that the bartenders are giving me,' explained Khloe in another side-by-side confessional with Kim You heard me: 'Not like a blackout. We just want her to not remember,' said Kim, attempting to clarify their intentions. But Khloe, set in her ways, corrected Kim and said: 'A blackout' 'And Mom thinks this is my first time ever having a martini, so I have to do the whole... Like, "Oh, this is so bad,"' said Khloe in a mocking tone. 'You're such a good actress,' said Kim, to which Khloe replied: 'Thank you. I'm good at pretending to be drunk.' After swinging back a plethora of mixed drinks, Kris gets undeniably tipsy, which prompts Kim and Khloe to celebrate a job well done. Khloe, proud of their success, took a moment to revel over their fool-proof prank plan. Coming on strong: Waiters approach their table and one of them begins shaking up a martini, which causes Kris to jump in her seat C'mon: 'Mom, do you want one?' Khloe asked Kris, but the 64-year-old businesswoman immediately dismissed the idea Twisted my arm: And Mom thinks this is my first time ever having a martini, so I have to do the whole... Like, "Oh, this is so bad,"' said Khloe in a mocking tone 'And I will be in the Kris Jenner outfit from my toes to my jewelry. It's all gonna match spot-on, and it's gonna look so perfect that she won't know if it was her or the imposter,' she explained. Later, Scott, with a camera in hand, meets Khloe at a near by liquor store. Khloe arrives to the hilarious photoshoot in her Kris Jenner get-up, which she revealed actually belonged to her mom. 'Did you get her rocked, is the question?,' asked Scott, referring to Khloe and Kim feeding Kris drinks the other night at dinner. Khloe replied in the affirmative and noted that her mom was so exhausted from the booze-filled dinner, that 'she threw all of the clothes that she was wearing [all over the floor]' and that [Kris'] assistant handed [the clothes] over to Kim to give to [Khloe].' Success: After swinging back a plethora of mixed drinks, Kris gets undeniably tipsy, which prompts Kim and Khloe to celebrate a job well done Scott begins snapping photos of Khloe - dressed as Kris - looking tipsy, while exiting the passenger's side of her SUV. They then move over to a nearby bush and Khloe dramatically falls into it with a Mastro's bag and a bottle of vodka in hand. Without warning, Khloe, committed to the gag, crawls into the liquor store's dumpster in order for Scott to capture the most mortifying shot. 'You're diving. You're going to throw something out. That's all. You're a little tipsy. More spill, more spill. Hop up in there, Khloe,' said Scott while snapping pics, before noting in his confessional that he felt like 'Spielberg out there, shooting this sh*t.' After capturing enough Kris Jenner content, Khloe went on to reveal the third portion of their prank's master plan. Photoshoot time: Later, Scott, with a camera in hand, meets Khloe at a near by liquor store Ready to go: Khloe arrives to the hilarious photoshoot in her Kris Jenner get-up, which she revealed actually belonged to her mom Acting: Scott begins snapping photos of Khloe - dressed as Kris - looking tipsy, while exiting the passenger's side of her SUV 'We have decided that we're gonna get Christy, our PR representative, to leak the photos. We cannot wait. We think it's more authentic and genuine coming from her. Yeah.' Scott added: 'It's just digging... When we do these pranks, we go... -We go all in.' The day to unveil the hilariously horrific faux photos of Kris Jenner has come and Scott heads out to Khloe's house to witness the big reveal. Once Scott arrives, Khloe picks her cellphone and dials the family's publicist Christy to sort out the sick details. Khloe reveals to Christy that 'Kris is [currently] in the car with Corey and he is fully aware [of the prank].' Committed: Without warning, Khloe, committed to the gag, crawls into the liquor store's dumpster in order for Scott to capture the most mortifying shot Total pro: Scott, in his confessional, said that he felt like 'Spielberg out there, shooting this sh*t' Work it: 'You're diving. You're going to throw something out. That's all. You're a little tipsy. More spill, more spill. Hop up in there, Khloe,' said Scott while snapping pics 'This morning, we figured it was best that we involve Corey in on the prank, because he was with her the night that she got drunk and "Took these photos."' Christy, keeping Scott and Khloe on the line, calls up Kris Jenner and says: 'So, TMZ called yesterday, and they have-- you know, kind of following up from the images last time-- they have images of you from Monday night.' Kris, immediately, shoots a confused look in Corey's direction, before prompting Christy to explain further. 'They're of you going into the Malibu, like, liquor store, and you have a bottle of vodka,' concluded Christy, which caused Kris' mouth to visibly drop. Phase three: 'We have decided that we're gonna get Christy, our PR representative, to leak the photos. We cannot wait. We think it's more authentic and genuine coming from her. Yeah' explained Khloe Time has come: The day to unveil the hilariously horrific faux photos of Kris Jenner has come and Scott heads out to Khloe's house to witness the big reveal Wheels in motion: Khloe reveals to Kris' publicist Christy that 'Kris is [currently] in the car with Corey and he is fully aware [of the prank]' Kris then asks Corey, who is sitting next to her, to help her recall the fuzzy events of 'Monday night.' 'We did s-stop,' said Corey, to which prompted Kris to ask 'where' they stopped. 'In Malibu, on the way home. I got out of the car, and then you was out of the car when I came back,' explained Corey, who was trying his hardest not to break. In her own confessional, Jenner admitted that on Monday night she knew that she 'was really tipsy and [she had] had a lot to drink, but [she] always relies on Corey.' 'I couldn't have any more security. And yet somebody has photos of me... ...Drunk as a skunk at a pit stop that we apparently made, and I'm peeing in a parking lot. I couldn't be more mortified right now. I'm embarrassed, I'm infuriated with Corey. And now what the hell am I gonna do?' Say what? Christy, keeping Scott and Khloe on the line, calls up Kris Jenner and says: 'So, TMZ called yesterday, and they have-- you know, kind of following up from the images last time-- they have images of you from Monday night' Yikes: Kris, immediately, shoots a confused look in Corey's direction, before prompting Christy to explain further Tell me everything: Kris then asks Corey, who is sitting next to her, to help her recall the fuzzy events of 'Monday night' Kris, clearly reeling from learning about the unauthorized photos, heads to Khloe's house, where Scott is still present. 'Scott and I decided that we should get my mom over to my house so we could see her sort of squirm in person,' explained Khloe to the viewers at home. But, as soon as she greets her mother and Corey at the door, Khloe knew that she was 'stressing about the photos.' 'It just turned really bad really quick and we just have to confess and come clean,' said Khloe as Scott nodded in agreement next to her. Khloe, in an attempt to put the prank to rest, confronts Kris about the photos, 'Mom, is this you peeing? Look, you're peeing.' Freaking out: 'I couldn't have any more security. And yet somebody has photos of me... ...Drunk as a skunk at a pit stop that we apparently made, and I'm peeing in a parking lot. I couldn't be more mortified right now. I'm embarrassed, I'm infuriated with Corey. And now what the hell am I gonna do?' said Kris in her confessional So mean: 'Scott and I decided that we should get my mom over to my house so we could see her sort of squirm in person,' explained Khloe to the viewers at home Totally stressing: But, as soon as she greets her mother and Corey at the door, Khloe knew that she was 'stressing about the photos' Kris, mortified that her own daughter has seen the pics, begins to stutter as she wracks her brain for an explanation. All she can come up with is, 'I don't know.' Scott then attempts to break the news to her in a simpler way. 'Could you imagine another scenario?' he began. 'In another world, do you ever think that maybe, just, like, on our spare time, I get a camera and your daughter gets dressed up like you, and we do really weird things and look like Kris Jenner and send them to publicists?' Kris stares at Scott and Khloe in pure confusion as if she is having trouble processing the pair's confession, but she then remarks with a smile: 'Wow. Wow. I honestly don't like you guys anymore.' Coming clean: 'It just turned really bad really quick and we just have to confess and come clean,' said Khloe as Scott nodded in agreement next to her They're not real: ''Could you imagine another scenario?' he began. 'In another world, do you ever think that maybe, just, like, on our spare time, I get a camera and your daughter gets dressed up like you, and we do really weird things and look like Kris Jenner and send them to publicists?' explained Scott to Kris Not happy: Kris stares at Scott and Khloe in pure confusion as if she is having trouble processing the pair's confession, but she then remarks with a smile: 'Wow. Wow. I honestly don't like you guys anymore' 'We're trying to break the news to her that it's not her in the photos. She's not grasping it,' said Khloe in a confessional. 'We got her to really believe them. And that was the dream.' As if orchestrating an elaborate prank were not enough to occupy Khloe's time, simultaneously, the 36-year-old reality star came to the aid of her expectant BFF Malika Haqq, 37. Due to the stress of being a single mom and moving into a new home, Khloe decided to take the reigns on planning Malika's impending baby shower, with the help of Malika's twin sister Khadijah. The pair, who have been lifelong friends, met up at Malika's brand new home. Baby shower: As if orchestrating an elaborate prank were not enough to occupy Khloe's time, simultaneously, the 36-year-old reality star came to the aid of her expectant BFF Malika Haqq, 37 Supportive: 'I want to be there for Malika as much as I can and as best as I can. She has to be setting up a nursery...there are so many new things that Malika is gonna be taking on,' explained Khloe empathetically 'I want to be there for Malika as much as I can and as best as I can. She has to be setting up a nursery...there are so many new things that Malika is gonna be taking on,' explained Khloe empathetically. She then began to ask Malika about how she was going to set up her soon-to-be newborn son's nursery. 'When are you gonna start putting his room together?' Khloe inquired. Malika explained that she wants 'to do it sooner rather than later,' but 'when [she talks] to [her] son's father, he goes, "Oh, we have time for that." That's his answer to everything. [And Malika is] like, "Good to know you're not gonna be any f**king help."' Sooner than later: Malika explained that she wants 'to do it sooner rather than later,' but 'when [she talks] to [her] son's father, he goes, "Oh, we have time for that." That's his answer to everything. [And Malika is] like, "Good to know you're not gonna be any f**king help"' What about the baby daddy? After briefly discussing Malika's desire to paint the baby's room in a black and white color scheme, Khloe felt the need to ask Malika about O.T.'s involvement in preparing for the baby In order to help the devout Keeping Up With Kardashians audience understand the dynamic of her relationship with her baby daddy, provided some dating history in a confessional. 'Me and my son's father [rapper O.T. Genasis] actually dated for, like, two and a half years. But we're just in two different places in our lives and... I decided that it was better for me to not stay in the relationship because it was just getting harder and harder, but we've agreed to co-parent and bring our son into a loving environment, and that's the most important thing.' After briefly discussing Malika's desire to paint the baby's room in a black and white color scheme, Khloe felt the need to ask Malika about O.T.'s involvement in preparing for the baby. Clearly a touchy subject, Malika said that although her and O.T. 'had a good talk yesterday,' they desperately 'need to start talking about how we're going to parent, like, so it isn't something that we're just talking about when the baby gets here.' From her mouth: In order to help the devout Keeping Up With Kardashians audience understand the dynamic of her relationship with her baby daddy, provided some dating history in a confessional Co-parenting: 'Me and my son's father [rapper O.T. Genasis] actually dated for, like, two and a half years. But we're just in two different places in our lives and... I decided that it was better for me to not stay in the relationship because it was just getting harder and harder, but we've agreed to co-parent and bring our son into a loving environment, and that's the most important thing,' Malika explained Feeling alone: Malika went on to express her frustration over her full plate and how she feels like she is doing everything to prepare for the baby, herself 'We actually had a good talk yesterday. I'm like, we do need to start talking about how we're going to parent, like, so it isn't something that we're just talking about when the baby gets here.' She went on to express her frustration over her full plate and how she feels like she is doing everything to prepare for the baby, herself. Khloe, who also happens to be a single mom to two-year-old daughter True, admitted that all of the things Malika is having to deal with, such as 'paying a mortgage' and 'doing all these things on her own' would even be tough for her to handle. 'She's now gonna take care of the baby. All these things-- it's overwhelming.' A few days later, Khloe meets up for lunch with Malika's twin sister Khadijah to discuss the details going into Malika's upcoming baby shower. Planning: A few days later, Khloe meets up for lunch with Malika's twin sister Khadijah to discuss the details going into Malika's upcoming baby shower Asking Malika: Khloe and Khadijah end up calling Malika on the phone because they wanted to run some of the details they had planned by her, especially since 'the baby shower is in a week' 'I think we're gonna give her what she wants, but I think it's also gonna be like, we did this for you,' said Khadijah as the pair dined. 'It's a collaboration,' added Khloe. Khloe and Khadijah end up calling Malika on the phone because they wanted to run some of the details they had planned by her, especially since 'the baby shower is in a week.' While on the phone with Khloe and Khadijah, Malika sounds noticeably stressed, especially after Khloe and Khadijah suggest that she should narrow down her guest list from 50 people to 40. Malika, clearly irked by the suggestion, admitted that she feels as if her baby shower is being hijacked by Khloe and her twin sister. Irked: Malika, clearly irked by the suggestion, admitted that she feels as if her baby shower is being hijacked by Khloe and her twin sister Take two: Once Khloe and Khadijah left the restaurant they were eating at, the pair returned to Khloe's car and redialed Malika 'It's not becoming what Malika wants it to be. It's becoming what everybody else wants it to be,' said the expectant mother, before hanging up the phone on Khloe. Once Khloe and Khadijah left the restaurant they were eating at, the pair returned to Khloe's car and redialed Malika. When Malika picks up the phone, she sounds as if she is crying, which prompts Khloe to ask: 'Are you crying?' 'I'm just really stressed out. It's bad enough. I'm not in the best situation. I'm trying to do the best that I can, and, like, even little (bleep) That I'm supposed to enjoy, like my shower... I know that Malika bursting into tears really has nothing to do with Khadijah or myself. We can imagine that it has something to do with O.T. It's something that's deeper than us. I definitely empathize with her, but I just want her to always feel reassured that I'm there for her.' Wow: Flash forward one week, and It is the day of Malika's baby shower and Khloe is in awe at how all the decor came out Family in attendance: Khloe, who is eager to earn approval from Malika for her party planning, greets guests, like sister Kylie Jenner, Kris Jenner, and Kourtney Kardashian as they arrive Flash forward one week, and It is the day of Malika's baby shower and Khloe is in awe at how all the decor came out. Khloe, who is eager to earn approval from Malika for her party planning, greets guests, like sister Kylie Jenner, Kris Jenner, and Kourtney Kardashian as they arrive. The youngest Kardashian kept looking at the ballroom's entrance to see if Malika had arrived. 'Oh, is she here? I'm getting stressed out. She did say no to quite a few things. She's so crazy,' she said with a laugh to Kris and Kourtney. 'She wanted this all black and white. I was like, "No." And I incorporated bears, which she was not into. God forbid. So I really hope she likes everything that we did for her.' Eager: The youngest Kardashian kept looking at the ballroom's entrance to see if Malika had arrived Stunned: Lady of honor: After much suspense, Malika arrives in a stunning blush toned dress that perfectly encapsulates her baby bump Thankful: 'Oh my god,' she says, while taking in the awe-inspiring decor, food displays, etc. that Khloe worked tirelessly to put together for her. She made her way to Khloe and could not stop thanking her After much suspense, Malika arrives in a stunning blush toned dress that perfectly encapsulates her baby bump. 'Oh my god,' she says, while taking in the awe-inspiring decor, food displays, etc. that Khloe worked tirelessly to put together for her. She made her way to Khloe and could not stop thanking her. 'To see Malika with this beaming smile, she's glowing from the inside out, everybody's praising her. This is all about how beautiful of an experience this is, a moment in time. And this is how she should remember her pregnancy,' said Khloe in her confessional. At her baby shower, Malika, with mic in hand, stood before all of her guest, which included baby daddy O.T. Genasis. Beaming: 'To see Malika with this beaming smile, she's glowing from the inside out, everybody's praising her. This is all about how beautiful of an experience this is, a moment in time. And this is how she should remember her pregnancy,' said Khloe in her confessional In attendance: At her baby shower, Malika, with mic in hand, stood before all of her guest, which included baby daddy O.T. Genasis Emotional: 'The reason why I really wanted to have a shower is because it's you women that have helped me get through this pregnancy, 100%. And I'm incredibly thankful to Odis Flores for my little boy,' she said as she pointed in O.T.'s direction 'The reason why I really wanted to have a shower is because it's you women that have helped me get through this pregnancy, 100%. And I'm incredibly thankful to Odis Flores for my little boy,' she said as she pointed in O.T.'s direction. 'I know that co-parenting is a really long journey, and it's gonna be... Ups, there's gonna be downs. And I love that O.T. Came today, and I know that makes Malika feel really good about everything. Cause all she wants anybody to do is be excited there's a baby, there's an angel coming into the world,' concluded Khloe, before sharing some sweet moments with her pregnant bestie. Amid the pranks and pregnancies, Kourtney Kardashian was busy brainstorming new content to post on her lifestyle website POOSH. Reflecting: 'I know that co-parenting is a really long journey, and it's gonna be... Ups, there's gonna be downs. And I love that O.T. Came today, and I know that makes Malika feel really good about everything,' began Khloe Best friends forever: 'Cause all she wants anybody to do is be excited there's a baby, there's an angel coming into the world,' concluded Khloe, before sharing some sweet moments with her pregnant bestie 'Today, I have a little shoot to get some content for Poosh, and then, we also have a Poosh meeting to develop content. A lot of my energy does go to Poosh,' said the mother of three as she posed in a slinky outfit. She then sat down with her team, which includes her assistant-turned-best friend Stephanie Shepherd, to throw out an idea about exploring 'odd jobs, you know, like asmr.' As Kourtney made her way through different odd job she could think of, someone in the room suggested that 'professional cuddlers' had the strangest profession. 'Maybe we just do an interesting story about cuddling. You know, at Poosh, we like to be, like, very discovery, and we could go, like, see them at their jobs, you know?' said Kourtney. Conjuring up ideas: Amid the pranks and pregnancies, Kourtney Kardashian was busy brainstorming new content to post on her lifestyle website POOSH Always working: 'Today, I have a little shoot to get some content for Poosh, and then, we also have a Poosh meeting to develop content. A lot of my energy does go to Poosh,' said the mother of three as she posed in a slinky outfit She explained in a confessional that she relates to those in 'untraditional' careers because 'what [she] and [her] family do for a job isn't necessarily a traditional job.' Eager to explore the world of professional cuddling, Kourtney and Stephanie show up to a cuddle sanctuary in Los Angeles. 'I do think that this is really fascinating. It does make me a little bit uncomfortable,' said the POOSH founder as the cuddle instructor encouraged everyone in the room to embrace. Kourtney was clearly having a hard time engaging and admitted that she 'didn't really realize it, but [she thinks] that [she can't be] affectionate with just anybody.' As Kourtney made her way through different odd job she could think of, someone in the room suggested that 'professional cuddlers' had the strangest profession Relatable: She explained in a confessional that she relates to those in 'untraditional' careers because 'what [she] and [her] family do for a job isn't necessarily a traditional job' Cuddling: 'Maybe we just do an interesting story about cuddling. You know, at Poosh, we like to be, like, very discovery, and we could go, like, see them at their jobs, you know?' said Kourtney 'No, I swear. Now that I've been here, I never realized it. 'Cause I'm super cuddly, like, with my boyfriend. You know? Or my kids,' she elaborated to Stephanie. 'But, like, did you get cuddled as a kid?' Stephanie asked, to which Kourtney replied: 'I don't know. Maybe not. I don't really remember being, like, cuddly with my mom.' While speaking directly to the professional cuddler, Kourtney said that the experience at the cuddle sanctuary that day 'made [her] realize that [she is] not, like, a cuddly person in general, unless it's [her] boyfriend or [her] kids. Somewhere you feel, like, super safe, probably.' 'And I think it was interesting to get more clarification of what it is. I think it's really fascinating, you know, how much human touch we really need and that most people don't get,' concluded Kourtney, before graciously exiting the cuddle sanctuary with Stephanie by her side. Learning: Eager to explore the world of professional cuddling, Kourtney and Stephanie show up to a cuddle sanctuary in Los Angeles Hesitant: Kourtney was clearly having a hard time engaging and admitted that she 'didn't really realize it, but [she thinks] that [she can't be] affectionate with just anybody' Not natural: 'No, I swear. Now that I've been here, I never realized it. 'Cause I'm super cuddly, like, with my boyfriend. You know? Or my kids,' she elaborated to Stephanie Following their cuddle session, Kourtney and Stephanie met up with Kourtney's younger half-sister Kendall Jenner and a male pal to discuss the strange experience. 'Um, you have no idea what we just did. We went to this cuddling sanctuary,' began Kourtney. But Kendall, already knowing what she was referring to began to laugh and nod. 'You know about it?' asked Kourtney, to which Kendall replied: 'No. My friends did it. So awkward, huh?' Kendall admitted that she is 'not a super cuddly person either' and that it 'took [her] a long time to be cuddly' with [her boyfriend].' Honest answer: While speaking directly to the professional cuddler, Kourtney said that the experience at the cuddle sanctuary that day 'made [her] realize that [she is] not, like, a cuddly person in general, unless it's [her] boyfriend or [her] kids. Somewhere you feel, like, super safe, probably' Interesting experience: 'And I think it was interesting to get more clarification of what it is. I think it's really fascinating, you know, how much human touch we really need and that most people don't get,' concluded Kourtney, before graciously exiting the cuddle sanctuary with Stephanie by her side In an effort to alleviate herself and her family of their aversion to affection, Kourtney arranges for a professional cuddler to set up shop in her backyard. She invited Khloe, Kim, and Kris over to engage in the awkward practice as a family. When Khloe arrives, Kourtney, with an stiff frame, wraps her arms around her sister and holds her close. Khloe was clearly weirded out by the gesture, which encouraged Kourtney to share that she 'just gave Kim a hug the other day. -It was definitely awkward.' 'I am just so curious as to why affection in our family is so awkward and uncomfortable. And so I'm just going to lean in to this uncomfortable-ness, if that's even a word,' said Kourtney in her confessional. Discussion: Following their cuddle session, Kourtney and Stephanie met up with Kourtney's younger half-sister Kendall Jenner and a male pal to discuss the strange experience Familiar: 'Um, you have no idea what we just did. We went to this cuddling sanctuary,' began Kourtney. But Kendall, already knowing what she was referring to began to laugh and nod Same way: Kendall admitted that she is 'not a super cuddly person either' and that it 'took [her] a long time to be cuddly' with [her boyfriend]' Khloe attempted to reassure her sister that not being into physical affection doesn't reflect on who she is as a person. 'No. -No, no, no. But I just thought it was interesting, so I wonder if everyone feels like we're not super cuddly,' Kourtney clarified. On the other hand, Khloe said that she is 'a very affectionate person, and Kourtney and [her] used to be way more touchy-feely. But recently not so much.' Once the family is all together, they all headed into the backyard, where the professional cuddler was waiting in her tent. An idea: In an effort to alleviate herself and her family of their aversion to affection, Kourtney arranges for a professional cuddler to set up shop in her backyard Hug it out: When Khloe arrives, Kourtney, with an stiff frame, wraps her arms around her sister and holds her close Awkward: Khloe was clearly weirded out by the gesture, which encouraged Kourtney to share that she 'just gave Kim a hug the other day. -It was definitely awkward' 'She's in there. This is a professional cuddler,' said Kourtney pointing to the tent, to which Khloe passionately replied: 'What? She's gonna cuddle us? No, I don't hug strangers like that.' 'No, trust me. She'll just guide it. Let's go do this together. I thought it would be a great thing,' reassured Kourtney. They partook in a ton of uncomfortable cuddling exercises, which prompts a lot of laughter, but once they got past the awkward stage, Kourtney said that she thought 'it actually does feel nice to just lay here with each other.' Keeping Up with the Kardashians airs Thursdays at 8pm ET/PT on E! Cuddle time: Once the family is all together, they all headed into the backyard, where the professional cuddler was waiting in her tent In Georgia, where the University of Georgia conducted a poll for The Atlanta Journal-Consitutition, theres a shift among college-educated white voters, particularly in suburbs of Atlanta. But the states white working-class population remains staunchly Republican. Unlike in Iowa, demographic changes are also on Mr. Bidens side. Georgia is growing fast, and its increasingly diverse. Georgia and Iowa might be competitive, but for Mr. Biden, victories there would probably merely be icing on the cake: If he wins them, hes almost certainly already won other battleground states like Florida and Pennsylvania. Thats a genuine possibility. Pennsylvania and Florida are close enough that Mr. Trump remains competitive. But states like Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Iowa are also very competitive. In fact, theyre closer than Florida or Pennsylvania so close that a Biden landslide is just as real a possibility as a Trump victory. If Mr. Biden outperformed todays polls by just two points, he would be declared the winner early on election night and have a good shot at the largest electoral vote landslide since 1988. The leader and co-founder of Tunisias moderate Islamist Ennahda Movement, Rachid Al-Ghannouchi, has come under pressure from prominent members of his party to step down and not obstruct the rotation of power. The move by 100 figures in Ennahda came in the form of a letter addressed to Al-Ghannouchi on 16 September asking him to declare that he would not run as president of the movement for a third term. The timing of the letter, ahead of Ennahdas 11th convention scheduled for the end of the year, seeks to exert pressure on Al-Ghannouchi to respect the movements bylaws that prohibit the election of a president for more than two four-year consecutive terms. Al-Ghannouchi was elected president of Ennahda in 2012 and 2016 and has been at the helm of the movement as its intellectual leader for decades. After the 2011 uprising that overthrew the regime led by former Tunisian president Zine Al-Abidine Bin Ali, the formerly banned Ennahda became a legal Muslim democrats party. Its electoral victories since then have placed it at the forefront of Tunisias nascent experiment with democracy, but they have also affected its popularity in recent years. Tensions within Ennahda have been brewing over its performance as an active political player in changing times. The five-page letter entitled Ennahdas future, between the dangers of extension and opportunities for rotation, was signed by movement heavyweights including from its Shura Council, its highest authority and effective leadership, its executive bureau, and MPs. The letter emphasised the rotation of power in Ennahda, as per chapter 31 of its bylaws, and the election of a new president of the movement at the upcoming 11th convention planned in December. Ennahdas president is required to be fully devoted to his responsibilities as leader and not to occupy other posts. Al-Ghannouchi, 79, is also speaker of the Ennahda-majority Tunisian parliament. The signatories to the letter warned of attempts to amend the movements bylaws in order to allow Al-Ghannouchi to extend his term in office, which could affect its unity and lead to serious divisions. Changing constitutions and laws to empower presidents and leaders to remain in power are acts of authoritarianism and one-man rule, they said. The rotation of power, said the document, was a practical test for both the movements democracy and the leaderships commitment to it. Al-Ghannouchi has not responded publicly to the document, but has reportedly rejected the initiative. Leaders have thick skin, Al-Ghannouchi said in a statement attributed to him. They tolerate shocks and absorb vicissitudes. There was a difference between the rotation of power of heads of state and party leaders, he said, accusing the signatories to the letter of imposing their guardianship on the movement ahead of its convention under the guise of democracy to exclude him from office. Its a storm in a teacup, he said. In recent years, several influential figures in Ennahda have resigned and spoken out publicly against its politics and policies. This has been a normal, if not predictable, development of the movements engagement in politics, say observers. Tensions inside Ennahda have been growing, especially since it resumed normal politics. Its been a decade now, many things have changed, but Al-Ghannouchi is still the ultimate leader, said Youssef Cherif, a Tunis-based political analyst. After almost a decade of post-Revolution Tunisia, Ennahda might be moving towards a post-Al-Ghannouchi era. New leaders are emerging in the party, said Cherif, but Al-Ghannouchi wants the status quo and is not ready to leave. His response is that of a founding father in denial. Al-Ghannouchi, who has a degree in philosophy from Damascus University, founded the Islamic Tendency Movement in 1981 that called for democracy and the end of Tunisias one-party system. He was arrested a few months later and left Tunisia for the UK following his release in 1988, where he remained in exile until the 2011 Revolution. Under his watch, Ennahda had formed several coalitions with the secular parties that have steered Tunisias turbulent political scene away from the failures of other Arab Spring experiences. But Tunisias democratic success has not paid off on aspirations of economic stability among other grievances. In the 2019 elections, Tunisias electorate voted against the countrys traditional parties, including Ennahda, which despite its majority in parliament did not get enough seats to form a government. Al-Ghannouchi sees himself as fundamental to the future of the party: as long as Ennahda wins the elections, he considers that he is on the right track, Cherif told Al-Ahram Weekly. But by rejecting demands to step down, Al-Ghannouchi could trigger a serious fracture in Ennahda, which the documents signatories are sensitive to. Al-Ghannouchis response to the letter does not change anything, said Zobeir Al-Shahoudi, a leading figure in Ennahda. But if he accepts it, he will save us from an internal battle that no one wants, he added. *A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Turkey, Greece 'ready to start' east Med talks Issue over gas has pitted NATO allies against each other (ANSA-AFP) - TRIESTE, 22 SET - Turkey and Greece have agreed to start talks over disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish presidency said Tuesday after diplomatic efforts to defuse a crisis that has raised fears of conflict. The two sides said they were "ready to start exploratory talks" during a three-way videoconference between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council chief Charles Michel on Tuesday, it said in a statement. The issue over gas exploration has pitted the NATO allies against each other, with rival military drills staged in strategic waters between Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete. (ANSA-AFP). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved Bombardier has handed over the first FLEXITY tram to transit authority Goteborgs Sparvagar Gothenburgs 160-kilometre light rail transit system is the largest in Sweden and 40 new FLEXITY trams will replace part of the current fleet BERLIN, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Note to editors: To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8ef32681-a05d-4ce9-9511-4f537f467aaa Global mobility solution provider Bombardier Transportation has handed over the first BOMBARDIER FLEXITY tram to Gothenburgs transit authority Goteborgs Sparvagar in Sweden. The vehicle is the first of the new fleet of 40 trams which will replace a part of the current fleet on the citys 160-kilometre light rail transit system, which is the largest in Sweden. This is a very important milestone in the development of the public transportation system in the city of Gothenburg. We have a very successful cooperation with Bombardier Transportation and Kiepe-Electric and we are looking forward to receiving the remaining trams, said Johan Henriksson, Project Manager at Goteborgs Sparvagar. Handing over the first FLEXITY tram to our customer Goteborgs Sparvagar is a very proud moment for our team. This tram has undergone an extensive testing program equivalent to around 8,000 km of service. It will soon be providing safe and comfortable transportation for the citizens of Gothenburg, said Par Bladin, Consortium Project Manager at Bombardier Transportation. The FLEXITY trams include new features and design enhancements following focus groups with drivers, people with disabilities, maintenance staff and cleaning teams. The low-floor design will provide obstacle free access to all passengers and an electromechanical boarding device will assist passengers in wheelchairs. The functional areas are larger to make movement onboard easier for all passengers, and these larger spaces also make the tram interior easier to clean. Feedback from drivers has resulted in ergonomic improvements to the drivers cab interior. Double glazing on all windows and doors will prevent condensation to safeguard visibility and transparency. The vehicles are equipped with BOMBARDIER FLEXX bogies combined with a propulsion system from Kiepe-Electric to increase energy efficiency and reduce maintenance costs for the operator and ensure a smooth and comfortable ride for passengers. The trams are 33 metres long, travel at a maximum speed of 70 km/h and have space for 220 passengers. The trams are made of recyclable materials and finished with water-soluble paints, making a valuable contribution to the environment. Bombardier and its consortium partner Kiepe-Electric were awarded the contract to supply 40 FLEXITY trams by Goteborgs Sparvagar in April 2016. The trams, also known as M33, are being built at Bombardiers site in Bautzen, Germany. The new M33 fleet will gradually replace vehicles of the M28/29 series. Delivery of all trams is expected to be completed in 2022. The new fleet will make an important contribution to the ongoing development of sustainable public transportation in Gothenburg. FLEXITY trams are renowned across the world for their operational reliability, attractive design and enhanced safety features. More than 5,000 trams and light rail vehicles from Bombardier are successfully in passenger service or on order worldwide. About Bombardier Transportation Bombardier Transportation is a global mobility solution provider leading the way with the rail industrys broadest portfolio. It covers the full spectrum of solutions, ranging from trains to sub-systems and signalling to complete turnkey transport systems, e-mobility technology and data-driven maintenance services. Combining technology and performance with empathy, Bombardier Transportation continuously breaks new ground in sustainable mobility by providing integrated solutions that create substantial benefits for operators, passengers and the environment. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Bombardier Transportation employs around 36,000 people and its products and services operate in over 60 countries. About Bombardier With nearly 60,000 employees across two business segments, Bombardier is a global leader in the transportation industry, creating innovative and game-changing planes and trains. Our products and services provide world-class transportation experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier has production and engineering sites in over 25 countries across the segments of Aviation and Transportation. Bombardier shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, Bombardier posted revenues of $15.8 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier . Notes to editors For news, related material and photos, visit our newsroom at www.rail.bombardier.com/en/newsroom.html. Please subscribe to our RSS Feed to receive press releases or follow Bombardier Transportation on Twitter @BombardierRail. Bombardier, FLEXITY and FLEXX are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. For Information Media relations, Sweden Global media relations Emma Brett press@rail.bombardier.com Bombardier Transportation +44 7717 700597 emma.brett@rail.bombardier.com You can also contact one of our worldwide contacts for specific press inquiries. TDT | Manama Shura Council's first deputy chairman Jamal Mohamed Fakhroo stressed the importance of the strategic relations between Bahrain and the US and highlighted the advanced level of cooperation between the two friendly countries in various fields. This came as he received in his office yesterday US Embassy charge daffaires Margaret Nardi. The deputy chief indicated that the Shura Council highly appreciates US efforts to establish peace in the region, and particularly for brokering the signing of the declaration in support of peace between Bahrain and Israel. Fakhroo stressed the Kingdoms steadfast position in support of the Palestinian cause, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative. He also spoke about the initiatives and precautionary measures taken by Bahrain, under the leadership of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, in its fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For her part, the American charge daffaires praised the exceptional efforts made by the Kingdom in addressing the coronavirus and providing healthcare for all citizens and residents. Senate Report Exposes Dealings Between Bidens Son and Businessmen Connected to Chinese Regime Robert Hunter Biden, son of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, made millions of dollars worth of questionable transactions with Chinese nationals connected to the Chinese regime and military, according to a new congressional report. Hunter Biden began developing associations with Chinese nationals beginning in at least 2009, the year he co-founded the U.S. investment and advisory firm Rosemont Seneca Partners. According to the report, these financial connections accelerated while his father was vice president and continued after he left office. Joe Biden was vice president during the Obama administration, from 2009 to 2017. Hes currently the Democratic Party candidate for the upcoming presidential election in November. The other founders of Rosemont Seneca Partners were Chris Heinz, the stepson of former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, and Devon Archer, one of Hunter Bidens business partners. The report, released on Sept. 23, was authored by two Senate committees: Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Department of Finance. In response, Joe Bidens campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said the Senate report was using taxpayer dollars to launch an attack founded on a long-disproven, hardcore rightwing conspiracy theory. Beijing-Friendly Businessmen Two Chinese nationals became prominent in Hunter Bidens financial network with China: disgraced Chinese oil tycoon Ye Jianming and Asia-based financier Dong Gongwen. According to the report, Dong was Yes business associate and executed transactions for Yes companies. Hunter Biden made millions from his relationship with Ye and received millions from Dongs companies, the report found. Ye and his associates had robust relationships with Chinas military units, some of which were involved in matters in direct opposition to U.S. policy in the region, the Senate report stated. Ye founded CEFC China Energy, an oil conglomerate that made billions of dollars in Russia, eastern Europe, and parts of Africa. It became Chinas largest privately held oil company before it was caught in Beijings crosshairs in 2018. Ye was placed under investigation in February 2018 for suspected economic crimes and subsequently detained. His current whereabouts remain unknown. A state-owned enterprise took control of CEFC in March 2018. In addition to shady business practices, the oil company hired former military cadres and leveraged such connections to advance itself, according to Chinese media exposes. Ye also served as deputy secretary-general of the China Association for International Friendly Contact (CAIFC) from 2003 to 2005. The association is a front group for the Chinese militarys former General Political Department (GPD), a political organ within the Central Military Commissionthe Chinese Communist Party agency that controls the military, according to a 2018 report published by the U.S.China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC). The GPD was replaced by a new agency called the Political Work Department in 2016. According to USCC, CAIFC is responsible for collecting intelligence and conducting propaganda and perception management campaigns. Transactions With Biden The new Senate report identified a transaction of potential criminal financial activity in August 2017, when CEFC Infrastructure Investment (US) LLC, a subsidiary of CEFC China Energy, sent a payment of $100,000 to Hunter Bidens Washington-based law firm Owasco. It is unclear what the money was for. Another incident the Senate identified as potential financial criminal activity took place in September 2017, when Hunter Biden and Dong opened a line of credit at a bank under a business named Hudson West III LLC. The credit was made available to Hunter Biden, James Biden, and James Bidens wife Sara Biden. James Biden is Joe Bidens brother. The Bidens subsequently used the credit cards they opened to purchase $101,291.46 worth of extravagant items, including airline tickets and multiple items at Apple Inc. stores, pharmacies, hotels, and restaurants, the Senate report stated. Millions went from CEFC Infrastructure Investment to Hudson West III and then to Owasco. On Aug. 8, 2017, CEFC Infrastructure Investment wired $5 million to Hudson West IIIs bank account. From Aug. 8, 2017, to Sept. 25, 2018, Hudson West III sent more than $4.79 million in the name of consulting fees to Owasco. Hudson West III was 1 of 8 numbered Hudson West business entities, and the Senate report found that Dong was connected to seven of them. The report didnt elaborate on the connections, and its unclear whether Hunter Biden is connected to the other Hudson West firms. Patrick Ho, a Hong Kong-based businessman who served as secretary-general of a CEFC subsidiary, China Energy Fund Committee, was also Hunter Bidens client at Owasco, according to the Senate report. Ho is also implicated in CEFCs misdeeds. He was charged by U.S. prosecutors of bribing top officials in Chad and Uganda in exchange for business opportunities for CEFC. On March 22, 2018, months before Ho was to go on trial, a $1 million payment was sent from Hudson West III to Owasco for Hos legal representation, the Senate report found. Ho was sentenced to three years in prison in March 2019 on several charges including money laundering and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act, according to a Department of Justice press release. He was freed in June this year, with the judge shortening his incarceration time after he demonstrated good behavior. The Senate committees said the financial ties between Hunter Biden, his family, and the Chinese nationals dont just raise conflicts of interest concerns, they raise criminal financial, counterintelligence, and extortion concerns. The Joe Biden campaign didnt immediately return a request for comment on the transactions with Chinese individuals. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Sept. 24 sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray asking if the agency will investigate certain findings of the report, including Hunter Bidens Chinese transactions involving potential criminal activity. Years ago, when I was working on a documentary on sitcom television pioneer Gertrude Berg, aka Molly Goldberg, I attended a reception at the French ambassadors residence in Washington, DC. I spotted Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by the desserts and decided to make a bold casting move. (Editors note: Molly Goldberg was the matriarch of The Goldbergs, a radio program turned early TV sitcom.) I went up to Justice Ginsburg, whose opinions I so admired, and on a whim asked her if she had listened to The Goldbergs in her youth. She answered in the affirmative, and then I requested if she would be willing to be interviewed for Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg. Without missing a beat, she said enthusiastically yes. We filmed her interview at the Supreme Court, for which she wore a beaded collar that she proudly explained had been given to her by women in South Africa. Turns out that Gertrude Berg, who wrote, produced, and starred in The Goldbergs on radio and television, was clearly a role model for Justice Ginsburg in her youth. Also Read: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice and Feminist Icon, Dies at 87 She explained how in her Flatbush Brooklyn home her whole family listened to the show. When I was growing up there were not many what we today call role models. There were very few women out there doing things because the prevailing view was that if a woman worked, that was a reflection on her husband, that he wasnt able to be the family breadwinner. But there were occasional people who didnt fit that mold and Gertrude Berg, was surely one of them. Justice Ginsburg credits the Molly Goldberg character Berg created as being no shrinking violet. She was an assertive woman, and for girls growing up at my time, Molly Goldberg had that quality. She cared about her children, she wanted them to have opportunities that she didnt have and that was the way of thinking in the Jewish community. Parents wanted their children to have opportunities that they didnt have themselves. Story continues Molly Goldberg (Gertrude Berg) Writer/actress Gertrude Berg playing Molly Golberg circa 1954 (Getty Images) Justice Ginsburg also delighted in telling the story of arguing a case before the Supreme Court where her last name converged with Molly. She recalled as an advocate for the equal rights and responsibilities of men and women I recall vividly my second argument at the court. Justice Marshall, who could be a pretty tough questioner, looked at me and said, Now, Mrs. Goldberg I hesitated. Should I correct him? I said, well, its a compliment in a way, that he picked Mrs. Goldberg as a Jewish woman who was, if I may use the expression, was a mensch. Also Read: Felicity Jones Remembers Ruth Bader Ginsburg as 'Beacon of Light in These Difficult Times' Justice Ginsburg concluded, When Justice Marshall called me Mrs. Goldberg, he probably had in mind that Mrs. Goldberg was the Jewish woman who came into homes all over America, whether Christian or Jewish, everyone knew and loved Molly Goldberg. Her answer to the shoots last question about how she was, like Molly, a role model today, clarified her philosophy in life. Justice Ginsburg observed the similarities between me and Molly Goldberg is a little like a question Im often asked, how are you like Justice Sandra Day OConnor? And my answer is, well in appearance were very different. Shes tall and Im small, Molly Goldberg was large and Im on the petite side, but in our readiness to speak our minds on questions that we think are important, our refusal to be put down by others, our use of every put-down as an occasion not to become angry, not to become resentful, but to say, hes a person who doesnt understand, and I have an opportunity to educate that person. You can do that only by having a sense of humor, by remaining calm, and never reacting in anger. Filming Justice Ginsburg at the Supreme Court was an extra bonus for me since I was a law school graduate. But after I had flunked the bar twice, after being deficient at answering multiple-choice questions. I turned to filmmaking. The night after filming I emailed everyone I knew from law school telling them I had filmed Justice Ginsburg that day and fulfilled a dream of making it to the Supreme Court but just doing it my way. Watch the trailer for Yoo-Hoo Mrs. Golberg, featuring Ruth Bader Ginsburg, below: Read original story Ruth Bader Ginsburgs Role Model Was Molly Goldberg (Guest Blog) At TheWrap (Newser) The CEO of Wells Fargo has apologized for an "insensitive" memo in which he said the bank wasn't meeting diversity goals because of a shortage of skilled Black workers. "The unfortunate reality is that there is a very limited pool of Black talent to recruit from with this specific experience as our industry does not have enough diversity in most senior roles," Charles Scharf said in the June memo, per Bloomberg. On Wednesday, he said it had been an "insensitive comment" reflecting his "own unconscious bias." "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. story continues below "Across the industry, we have not done enough to improve diversity, especially at senior leadership levels. Scharf added, per Reuters. But "there is no question Wells Fargo has to make meaningful progress to increase diverse representation," said the CEO, who has pledged to double the number of Black leaders in five years and has urged managers to consider minority candidates for high-paying jobs and ensure that interview panels are also diverse. After reports on his June remarks this week, Scharf was criticized by Democratic lawmakers including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, reports CNN. "Perhaps its the CEO of Wells Fargo who lacks the talent to recruit Black workers," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. (Read more Wells Fargo stories.) Vietnams steel exports to China surged 19 times to 2.07 million tonnes between January and August on the strength of rising demand in a recovering economy. This was nearly 35 percent of Vietnams total steel exports in the period, and its value rose 15 times to $844.5 million, according to Vietnam Customs. Chinas customs data shows that steel imports in the first eight months rose 11 percent year-on-year to 759.9 million tonnes. The country, the largest steel producer in the world, became a net steel importer in June for the first time since the last global recession in 2009 as demand overshot supply in the rapidly recovering economy, the South China Morning Post reported. The surge in domestic demand for steel has been driven by infrastructure projects and the property market, the report said, citing Chinas commodity price reporting agency. Vietnams steel exports in the first eight months to all markets rose nearly 37 percent year-on-year to 5.96 million tonnes, with increases of 195 percent to Brazil and 143 percent to Germany. New Jersey officials on Thursday reported 10 new coronavirus deaths and 588 new positive tests as the states rate of transmission held steady above the key benchmark of 1 that shows the outbreak here is expanding. This marks the ninth time in the last 10 days New Jersey has announced more than 400 new COVID-19 cases, though new deaths and hospitalizations have been relatively stable in recent weeks. New Jersey, an early coronavirus hotspot, has reported 201,552 COVID-19 cases out of more than 3.42 million tests administered in the nearly seven months since the outbreak here started in early March. Thats the eighth-most cases among U.S. states. The state of 9 million people has reported 16,091 deaths related to the virus 14,300 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. Gov. Phil Murphy announced the latest figures on social media. #COVID19 UPDATE: New Jersey has 588 new positive cases, pushing our cumulative total to 201,552. Were reporting ten new confirmed COVID-19 deaths for a total of 14,300 lives lost. Learn more: https://t.co/JW1q8awGh7 pic.twitter.com/O53zlBdihO Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 24, 2020 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. Still, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White Houses leading infectious disease expert, told Murphy during an interview Thursday that New Jersey is in good shape and can continue to reopen its schools and economy gradually, prudently, and carefully" despite America facing a possible second wave of COVID-19. The thing that makes me very pleased and encouraged about New Jersey is that, notwithstanding that you got hit pretty badly, right now if you continue to carefully open the economy, you can get through the fall and winter, Fauci said. A few weeks after allowing gyms and indoor dining to reopen, Murphy recently said the state has 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 held steady at 1.15 for the second day in a row Thursday, 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. 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. HOSPITALIZATIONS There were 433 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases across New Jerseys 71 hospitals Wednesday night. Thats 26 fewer more than the night before. Wednesdays hospitalizations include 88 patients in critical or intensive care (two fewer than the day before) with 34 on ventilators (three more 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: 12,548 positive tests (114 new), 982 confirmed deaths (65 probable) Middlesex County: 19,260 positive tests (46 new), 1,223 confirmed deaths (202 probable) Bergen County: 22,304 positive tests (29 new), 1,801 confirmed deaths (243 probable) Burlington County: 7,036 positive tests (31 new), 456 confirmed deaths (39 probable) Gloucester County: 4,428 positive tests (37 new), 220 confirmed deaths (7 probable) Passaic County: 18,908 positive tests (30 new), 1,110 confirmed deaths (142 probable) Essex County: 20,927 positive tests (25 new), 1,898 confirmed deaths (230 probable) Monmouth County: 11,682 positive tests (90 new), 775 confirmed deaths (92 probable) Morris County: 7,810 positive tests (19 new), 686 confirmed deaths (145 probable) Somerset County: 5,740 positive tests (19 new), 499 confirmed deaths (74 probable) Union County: 17,543 positive tests (26 new), 1,190 confirmed deaths (166 probable) Camden County: 9,799 positive tests (34 new), 553 confirmed deaths (53 probable) Hudson County: 20,568 positive tests (22 new), 1,354 confirmed deaths (160 probable) Mercer County: 8,609 positive tests (11 new), 598 confirmed deaths (36 probable) Atlantic County: 4,002 positive tests (12 new), 245 confirmed deaths (11 probable) Cumberland County: 3,767 positive tests (9 new), 150 confirmed deaths (8 probable) Salem County: 1,052 positive tests (2 new), 83 confirmed deaths (6 probable) Sussex County: 1,471 positive tests (11 new), 161 confirmed deaths (37 probable) Cape May County: 1,013 positive tests (5 new), 87 confirmed deaths (8 probable) Hunterdon County: 1,302 positive tests (6 new), 71 confirmed deaths (54 probable) Warren County: 1,437 positive tests (1 new), 158 confirmed deaths (13 probable) 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 (26.5%), 18-29 (16.2%), 65-79 (13.3%), 80 and older (9.1%), 5-17 (3.1%), 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 (47.8%), followed by those 65-79 (31.5%), 50-64 (15.8%), 30-49 (4.3%), 18-25 (0.4%), 5-17 (0%), and 0-4 (0.02%). 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 Nearly a half-dozen states were added to the list of places people visiting or returning to New Jersey are asked to quarantine for 14 days because of the pandemic, officials announced Tuesday. There are 35 states and territories considered COVID-19 hotspots. New Jersey, of course, doesnt restrict travel between the states 21 counties based on COVID numbers. But if did, two counties would fit the criteria as of Tuesday and would fall in the same category as states on the travel advisory: Gloucester and Ocean. Both have a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, which is one of the things that triggers whether or not a state is added to the travel advisory, according to NJ Advance Media data. Murphy warned Wednesday New Jerseyans need to remain vigilant against the pandemic so the state doesnt suffer the same fate as people in the United Kingdom, where new rounds of restrictions are being rolled out after an uptick in cases. Look, by the way, at whats happening in the United Kingdom, where cases have been rising and restrictions are now back in place, Murphy said Wednesday. I desperately hope we dont have to do that here.. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday his country has reached a perilous turning point in the pandemic. Johnson reversed course on letting people work from their offices, saying people should now work home if they can. He mandated masks for retail workers, taxi drivers, and staff members at bars and restaurants. Bars and restaurants are also under a mandatory curfew beginning Thursday, ordered closed by 10 p.m. GLOBAL NUMBERS As of Thursday morning, there have been nearly 32 million positive COVID-19 tests across the globe, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. More than 977,300 people have died, while more than 22 million people have recovered. The United States has the most positive tests in the world, at more than 6.93 million, and the most deaths, at more than 201,900. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. To counter the speed breaker" charge levelled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and prevent the Centre from taking all the credit of social schemes, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee made a canny move by agreeing to implement the PM Kisan and Ayushman Bharat schemes on the condition that the funds would be routed through the state government. While the BJP has termed this condition a ploy to encourage cut money" and syndicate" culture, Mamata maintained that PM Modi will take all the credit when the state is bearing 40 per cent of the cost. On several occasions she has also raised the question that why were state governments not consulted before conceptualising such schemes (including PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana) by the Centre. In January 2019, at a public rally in Krishnanagar in Nadia district, Mamata had announced the withdrawal of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and alleged that the Centre is using the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the official communication to take credit for a jointly-funded project. The logo has also been designed to resemble the symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party, she had said. Now when the state election is scheduled to be held in 2021, Mamata says (for the farmers and those eligible for Ayushman Bharat) that despite her willingness, the Centre is blocking these two schemes from being implemented in Bengal. Despite our willingness, the Centre will never route the funds for the schemes through the state government and there lies the catch. Its like killing two birds with one stone. Now the ball is in the BJPs court. Now, they have to decide, who is the speed breaker here, a senior TMC leader said. In a letter (dated September 9, 2020) to union minister of agriculture and farmers welfare Narendra Singh Tomar, Mamata mentioned, It is heard that the Bengal government is not implementing the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme launched by the Centre. In this connection, the state government has already introduced the Krishak Bandhu scheme to provide financial assistance to farmers including sharecroppers. Under this scheme, farmers and sharecroppers receive Rs 5000 from the government. The scheme also envisages death benefit of Rs 2 lakh in case of unfortunate death of any farmer in the age group of 18 to 60. More than 73 lakh farmers are being covered under the Krishak Bandhu scheme in Bengal. Moreover, the state government provides a comprehensive crop insurance facility to the farmers where the entire insurance premium is borne by the state government and is completely free for the farmers. However, we will be happy to provide benefits to the farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, and in that case, the central government may transfer the requisite funds directly to the state government for further disbursement with full responsibility to the beneficiaries through the state government machinery," she had said. Writing a similar letter to union health minister Harsh Vardhan, Banerjee mentioned that she has already implemented a health scheme in Bengal which is known as Swasthya Sathi. However, the Ayushman Bharat scheme may be extended by the Centre with an entire 100 per cent expenditure for the scheme. In such a case, the entire funding for the scheme may be routed through the state government, a section of her letter reads. Many feel that it was Mamatas calculated move to take on the allegation of speed breaker, Didi" while putting the Centre in a fix (over central schemes) with a rider that funding for the schemes may be routed through the state government. Speaking to News18.com, veteran CPI (M) leader Amiya Patra, said, Interestingly, we have noticed that in her letter to the union minister of agriculture and farmers welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, and union health minister Harsh Vardhan, she has mentioned that the Centre may and not the Centre must route the fund through the state government. The letter was drafted carefully so that she can get mileage during political campaigns that it was the Centre which became a speed breaker and not her government. He said, With this letter she freed herself from the allegation of speed breaker and she can tell people that despite differences in ideology she decided to implement the schemes (only for the betterment of the farmers and poor people) but it was the Centre which refused to support the Bengal government. People didnt take her stand on blocking central schemes well and with this letter she has offered a Hobsons choice to the Centre. The ball is now in the Centres court. Both PM Modi and Mamata were eager for publicity/taking credit and there is no doubt that her stand on implementing these two schemes is purely a political one. It may be noted that on April 3, 2019, addressing a public meeting at Siliguri, Modi while hitting out at Mamata, had said, There is a speed breaker in West Bengal and people call her Didi. We are releasing funds for the poor and she is coming in between as a speed breaker. She is blocking our schemes for the betterment of the people because she loves poverty. Her political ideology is based on poverty. If there is no poverty, then there is no politics left for her in Bengal. We tried to implement Ayushman health scheme but Didi blocked it. We tried to implement PM Kisan Samman Yojana but Didi blocked it. Our schemes for farmers were blocked by Didi. This shows that their intention is clear. They dont want to work for the poor. The PM was reacting to Mamata blocking central schemes after she issued a circular on April 12, 2017, for changing the names of central government schemes, including Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which is now known as Mission Nirmal Bangla. Schemes nationally known as Aajeevika (National Rural Livelihood Mission), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Grameen) are now known as Anandadhara (State Rural Livelihood Mission), Banglar Gramin Sadak Yojana and Banglar Griha Prakalpa, respectively in West Bengal. BJP vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar said, West Bengal has denied the benefit of Rs 12,000 per farmer under the central scheme (Pradhan Mantri Kishan Samman Nidhi). More than 70 lakh farmer families have been deprived of Rs 8,400 crore only due to petty political consideration of the ruling party. The state government reportedly barred the farmers benefit only because the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme will not allow cut-money practice of the ruling party. Political experts say that Mamata knows it well that nearly 3.7 crore eligible beneficiaries of PM Kisan and Ayushman Bharat schemes are present in Bengal and she does not want to spoil her political campaign ahead of the 2021 assembly polls with a speed breaker tag. Now she can openly criticise the Centre by saying that she expressed her willingness to implement these two schemes but the Centre is not cooperating. It is a well-thought move because 3.7 crore (approx) beneficiaries are very crucial in terms of vote share, political expert Kapil Thakur said. Swiss authorities have ordered 2,500 students at the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne to quarantine themselves due to a coronavirus outbreak allegedly linked to off-campus partying. All undergraduates at the elite hospitality management school in the region of Vaud, Switzerland, were told to isolate in their rooms, including those based off campus. 'Significant outbreaks of infection have appeared at several levels of training, making impossible a more targeted closure than that involving 2,500 students,' the Vaud regional office said in a statement. 'Until September 28, the students must stay home.' Swiss authorities have ordered 2,500 students at the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne to quarantine themselves due to a coronavirus outbreak (staff pictured in face masks on campus setting up social distancing markers following quarantine rules) The statement said an early investigation indicated that 'one or more parties was at the origin of these many outbreaks'. Local authorities reiterated a call for party-goers to demonstrate a 'responsible attitude' by wearing masks, practicing social distancing, tracing their contacts and being alert to Covid-19 symptoms. Ines Blal, the university's executive dean, said administrators had warned students against holding start-of-term parties, even off-campus and outside the school's authority. She said that a 'disciplinary investigation' was underway. But added that the school had already been bracing for 'worst-case scenarios' in recent months by putting courses online and rolling out distance-learning programs. University spokesman Sherif Mamdouh said that so far 11 students had tested positive for coronavirus in connection with the outbreak but none required hospitalisation. Mamdouh said only 67 of the undergraduates affected by the quarantine live on campus with others living nearby. All undergraduates at the elite hospitality management school (pictured) in the region of Vaud, Switzerland, were told to isolate in their rooms, including those based off campus The quarantine runs only until Monday because Swiss authorities factored in a possible 14-day virus incubation period since this month's start-of-term parties (students pictured walking on campus after introduction of quarantine rules) The university has a total student body of about 3,500, including those pursuing advanced degrees. It is consistently regarded as the best hospitality school in the world and trains students whose goals are to obtain managerial careers in the hotel and hospitality industries. It currently boasts students from 121 countries as students flock from all over the globe to enrol on its courses. Mamdouh said the quarantine runs only until Monday because Swiss authorities factored in a possible 14-day virus incubation period since this month's start-of-term parties. He could not explain why faculty members or graduate students were not included in the quarantine order but said it was a decision made by the cantonal authorities. They were not immediately available for comment. Switzerland is not alone in facing a back-to-school virus surge among students. The World Health Organization, national health authorities and others have cautioned that young people have been a key driver for the continued spread of the coronavirus in several countries in recent weeks. Faculty members or graduate students were not included in the quarantine order but said it was a decision made by the cantonal authorities The University of Glasgow in Scotland said earlier today that over 600 of its students had to self-isolate after 124 reported cases emerged in 'two significant clusters' at separate halls of residence. The university said it believed the outbreak was largely a result of social activity in mid-September during Freshers' Week - when new students arrive and socialize. It said none of its infected students had to receive hospital treatment and stressed that anyone who breaks coronavirus restrictions could be kicked out of student housing or suspended. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC that the outbreak was worrying, saying: 'The more young people get it the more they spread it to old people.' The latest government figures in France also show that 22 per cent of the country's currently active virus clusters emerged at schools and universities. The United States has also seen clusters linked to college students. Denmark's education minister has urged parents and schools to cancel all social events, including camps and birthday parties. World Health Organization spokeswoman Margaret Harris said that while it is 'unfair to just put it on the young people,' it's also unsurprising that teenagers and young adults might assume they don't need to worry about succumbing to the virus. 'Perceptions do indicate that they don't feel they are as at-risk as older groups' Harris said, particularly in the wake of data showing younger people typically have less-severe cases of COVID-19. 'The message they have heard is: ''You are out of jail, go out and play,'' she said. 'We don't want to be the fun police, but we want people to have fun safely.' New Delhi: Hitting out at Pakistan, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday listed three key challenges in front of South Asia at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Foreign Ministers meet. Addressing the informal and virtual SAARC FMs meet, the EAM said that cross-border terrorism, blocking connectivity and obstructing trade are the three challenges. He added these have to be overcome and "only then will we see enduring peace, prosperity and security in our South Asia region". Live TV "Cross-border terrorism, blocking connectivity and obstructing trade are three key challenges that SAARC must overcome. Only then will we see enduring peace, prosperity and security in our South Asia region," he said taking to micro-blogging site Twitter. This meet takes place every year on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) but this year it is taking place virtually due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-border terrorism, blocking connectivity and obstructing trade are three key challenges that SAARC must overcome. Only then will we see enduring peace, prosperity and security in our South Asia region. Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 24, 2020 In the meet, EAM, "Reaffirmed Indias commitment to Neighbourhood First policy" and "towards building a connected, integrated, secure and prosperous South Asia". Special focus was on jointly dealing the COVID-19 crisis with Jaishankar highlighting how New Delhi committed to USD10 million for COVID-19 emergency fund and how it has reached out to several countries of SAARC with essential drugs, COVID-19 protection and testing kits. Addressed the #SAARC Foreign Ministers Informal Meeting today. Reaffirmed Indias commitment to Neighbourhood First policy and towards building a connected, integrated, secure and prosperous South Asia. pic.twitter.com/z0Q9AmRxeP Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 24, 2020 He emphasized how India supported SAARC neighbours amidst COVID-19 and gave examples of Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka. India extended USD 150 million foreign currency swap support to the Maldives, currency swap support of USD 200 million to Bhutan and USD 400 million to Sri Lanka during the course of this year. Amidst the pandemic, health professionals of SAARC met to share information and best practices of the region and SAARC Food Bank mechanism was activated to mitigate the adverse impact of the crisis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a lead in calling SAARC heads of governments virtual meet to deal with the crisis. This was the first such regional meet on COVID crisis anywhere in the world. Bangladesh foreign minister Abdul Momen, Nepali FM Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Afghan FM Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Maldives FM Abdulla Shahid, Bhutan FMTandi Dorji, Sri Lankan FM Dinesh Gunawardene were present in the meet. South Africa: Abusing women will never be SA's heritage: President Ramaphosa The scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) is tainting the countrys rich heritage, said President Cyril Ramaphosa, once again denouncing what he has described as South Africas second pandemic. It is important that generations that come after us must fully grasp the importance of the freedom we have all achieved, President Ramaphosa said in his Heritage Day speech on Thursday. He told the nation that men, women and children of tomorrow must be proud to have inherited a democracy that affirms the worth and dignity of all citizens. So long as this countrys women and children live in fear from violence, we cannot regard ourselves as totally free. "So long as women are being harassed, abused, beaten, raped and murdered, we cannot say we are a civilised society, he stressed. The President condemned GBV that has engulfed the country as reports of women and children dying in the hands of men continue to hog headlines. Abusing women is not our tradition, nor is it our custom. It is not, and will never be our heritage, he lamented. Meanwhile, he said, throughout the history of Africa, women have built and shaped societies, ruled kingdoms and highly respected and valued. We must put an end to this terrible shame that is tainting the image of our country, he added. When you oppress a woman, you oppress a nation. When you beat a woman, you beat a nation. He has called on citizens to do away with practices that discriminate against women even through forms of representation in the media, advertising and in popular culture. The apartheid government denigrated our cultures and tried to make us ashamed of our cultures, our traditions, our languages and our very appearances," he said. It is disheartening to see that in democratic South Africa, there are still crude stereotypes of black women being put on public display. He has encouraged South Africans to continuously check their acts of racism and prejudice. Renaming of towns Meanwhile, he said monuments glorifying the divisive past should be repositioned and relocated. This has generated controversy; with some saying, we are trying to erase our history. However, he believes that building a non-racial society means being sensitive to the lived experiences of all people. We make no apologies for this because our objective is to build a united nation. Any symbol, monument or activity that glorifies racism, that represents our ugly past, has no place in democratic South Africa. He told the nation that the struggle against apartheid was first and foremost aimed at ensuring that all people should reclaim their dignity, black and white. Restoring their dignity is the preoccupation of this administration. He said government was determined to continue to strive to eradicate poverty, inequality and underdevelopment. We will continue to uphold the rights of all our people to practice their cultures, to speak their languages and practice their traditions. Also, government will continue to support every effort to preserve the country's common heritage, as well as those of individual communities. "As much as we celebrate our customs and traditions on this day, let us also appreciate that in practising our cultures freely and openly, and in speaking our native languages, we are reclaiming not just our heritage, but our pride and our dignity as South Africans. Paying tribute The President has paid tribute to the spirited defenders of the countrys heritage who lost their lives this year. Yet as there are those who have passed from this life, we have our Living Human Treasures, our repositories of knowledge, customs and traditions. This Heritage Month is dedicated to Dr Esther Mahlangu, Mama Madosini Latozi Mpahleni and Mama Ouma Katrina Esau. Dr Mahlangus paintings inspired by Ndebele design are on display in more than a dozen countries around the world and her work has won numerous awards. Mama Madosini, the Queen of Pondoland music, is the greatest living musician who can play the indigenous bow instruments. Mama Katrina Esau is a champion of the culture of the San people and is one of the two last remaining speakers of the Nng language. He said Heritage Day is a time to appreciate the many facets of the nations cultures, customs and traditions. It is the time when we put them on display to appreciate and celebrate and share our cultures and traditions with others. He described South Africa as a nation of the maskandi, Malay choral music and sokkie treffers, but also of amapiano. Also, a nation that is taking the world by storm with the #JerusalemaChallenge, as young and old in France, the UK, Jamaica, Angola and even in Palestinian East Jerusalem itself are getting in on the craze. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-09-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. 24.09.2020 LISTEN The Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation has encouraged Duty Bearers, Government Agencies, Civil Society Organizations and Service Providers to make it mandatory for sign language interpreters to be engaged in all their programmes and activities for the benefit of deaf people in Ghana. In a statement issued in commemoration of the 2020 International Day of Sign Language, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Dr. Otiko Afisah Djaba made a strong case for Ghana to recognize sign language just like other spoken languages saying, "Sign language is indeed, the spoken language of the deaf." The statement noted that Ghana has 211,712 persons with hearing and speech impairment, according to the 2010 Housing and Population Census of Ghana. The number is made up of 110,625 deaf and 101,087 persons with speech problems. "It is very important to accord persons with hearing impairment and the sign language interpreters massive acknowledgement, because, according to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), there are approximately 72 million deaf people worldwide". The Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation congratulated Sign Language Interpreters in Ghana and the rest of the World for providing inclusion for the deaf through translating spoken languages into sign language and vice versa. This according to the statement is making communication easy and interesting for Deaf people. "Imagine living in a world Without sign language, the deaf would live in a world of silence". The 2020 International Day of Sign Language is on the theme - "Language Sign, Language for All". ZURICH, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Amcor plc (NYSE: AMCR; ASX: AMC) today announced it has entered into a binding agreement with New Prospect Capital for the sale of its 47.6% equity accounted investment in AMVIG Holdings Limited (AMVIG) for cash consideration of US$124 million. AMVIG is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the transaction, by way of share sale is expected to close in the coming days. For the year ended 30 June 2020, Adjusted EBIT for the Amcor Group included a US$12 million contribution from the investment in AMVIG and cash flow from operations included US$10 million related to the receipt of annual dividends. For further information please contact: Investors: Tracey Whitehead Head of Investor Relations Amcor +61 3 9226 9028 [email protected] Damien Bird Vice President Investor Relations Amcor +61 3 9226 9070 [email protected] Media Europe Ernesto Duran Head of Global Communications Amcor +41 78 698 69 40 [email protected] Media Australia James Strong Citadel-MAGNUS +61 448 881 174 [email protected] Media North America Daniel Yunger KekstCNC +1 212 521 4879 [email protected] About Amcor Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home- and personal-care, and other products. Amcor works with leading companies around the world to protect their products and the people who rely on them, differentiate brands, and improve value chains through a range of flexible and rigid packaging, specialty cartons, closures, and services. The company is focused on making packaging that is increasingly light-weighted, recyclable and reusable, and made using a rising amount of recycled content. Around 47,000 Amcor people generate US$12.5 billion in sales from operations that span about 230 locations in 40-plus countries. NYSE: AMCR; ASX: AMC www.amcor.com I LinkedIn I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube SOURCE Amcor Related Links http://www.amcor.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 By Zeyni Jafarov Trend: An event dedicated to the results of the Regional support to reduce the negative impact of the new type of coronavirus pandemic COVID-19, as well as potential pandemics of other infectious diseases technical assistance project, was held at Azerbaijans Yeni Clinic (New Clinic) medical institution, together with the State Agency of Mandatory Health Insurance, Trend reports with reference to the agency. Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the Agency Nigar Bayramova, Head of the Permanent Representation of the Asian Development Bank in Azerbaijan Nariman Mannapbekov, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan attended the event, the agency said. While opening the event, the deputy chairperson of the board of the agency stressed that there is a need for interaction and cooperation between the countries to take the measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic and until today ADB has participated in financing a number of regional projects which are implemented at the initiative of Azerbaijan. ADBs permanent mission in Azerbaijan allocated technical assistance in the amount of $455,000 within this project. This assistance includes personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, coveralls, face masks, safety glasses and other medical supplies. Bayramova expressed gratitude to the head of ADB's permanent mission in Azerbaijan for technical assistance and support. Mannapbekov added that fruitful cooperation with the authorized structures of the country, including the agencies and Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB), made it possible to divide the process of delivering personal protective equipment to the country into four parts. More urgent and lighter goods were shipped by air, while others by sea. In conclusion, Mannapbekov stressed that ADB will continue to work with the Azerbaijani government and development partners to mobilize the additional resources for Azerbaijans effective response to the pandemic. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @jafarov_zeyni Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic has agreed to sell Mercy Catholic Medical Center in West Philadelphia to the nonprofit Public Health Management Corp., which will lease pieces of it to other health-care entities. Among them is the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which will lease and operate the emergency department and an estimated total of 100 acute-care and behavioral health beds. Read more When the owner of Mercy Philadelphia Hospital announced in February that it would end inpatient care at the West Philadelphia safety-net facility, a group of health-care executives and city leaders was determined to avoid the chaos that accompanied the abrupt closure of Hahnemann University Hospital during the previous summer. We talked through how to make this transition the anti-Hahnemann, Kevin Mahoney, chief executive of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, said of his initial conversation about the fate of Mercy with Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, whose district includes Mercy, at 501 S. 54th St. What that means for Mercy, which opened in 1918 as Misericordia Hospital, was revealed Thursday. In a complicated arrangement, the nonprofit Public Health Management Corp. will acquire the 600,000-square-foot property and offer health and social services there in collaboration with the current owner, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, and Independence Blue Cross, the regions largest insurer. Penn, under a 10-year lease with PHMC, will operate the emergency room, with an estimated 40 to 60 inpatient beds attached to it, and a behavioral health unit with an estimated 40 beds. The site will operate under the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania license. PHMC chief executive Richard Cohen declined to say how much it will pay Trinity for the building. Penn will provide $30 million to support the transaction through a prepaid lease, under a resolution approved Thursday by the universitys trustees. The sale is expected to close in March. Its not trying to keep the bricks and mortar of the hospital open, said Mahoney, who spoke of a future in which an ambulatory safety net is more effective than a traditional hospital safety net. Its trying to make sure the people on 54th Street dont have to drive 20 to 30 blocks to get the care they need, he said during an interview, referring to the 2.3 miles to HUP. The measure of success of this project is whether were able to put in place the social services and primary care practices that are needed to keep those patients out of the emergency room and out of the hospital, Mahoney told members of the University of Pennsylvania boards budget and finance committee. Stuart Fine, who recently retired as a professor at Temple Universitys College of Public Health, commended all the parties involved in the Mercy arrangement. This is exactly what should occur, he said. It benefits the people of West Philadelphia tremendously, ensuring that they will have available to them the truly needed primary and secondary levels of services, and I wish the same sort of thing could have happened with Hahnemann. Mercys emergency department, which underwent a $15 million renovation and expansion in 2018, had 48,000 visits in the year ended June 30, 2019. The hospital is licensed for 157 beds, but during the COVID-19 pandemic it had an average daily census of 40 to 50 patients, said James Woodward, president and CEO of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic. Trinity officials said in February that the hospital lost money for six of the last seven years, and had lost a quarter of its patient volume since 2013. The emergency room, with 36 treatment bays, and its behavioral health services account for 90% of its business now, Woodward said. Late last year, Mercy announced plans to close the hospitals crisis center for mental health emergencies, just a month after it closed a similar facility at the Mercy Fitzgerald Campus in Darby. The hospital voluntarily relinquished its license after its center failed a November inspection, and was cited by the state for overusing restraints. But Trinity Mid-Atlantic, which is part of a large national Catholic chain based in Michigan, plans to continue to provide medical and other services at the West Philadelphia site, and will continue to operate the Mercy Senior Center at 5901 Market St., which will expand to include primary and specialty health-care services, Woodward said. Mercy employs about 800 now, officials said, down from about 900 when Trinity announced the closure in February. Mahoney and others said they hoped to keep all of those people employed at the revamped Mercy campus, at other Penn facilities in Philadelphia, at PHMC, or at Mercy Fitzgerald in Darby. Independence will provide $5 million of support to fight hunger, promote health and wellness programs, and support the senior population, according to outgoing chief executive Daniel J. Hilferty, whose health-care career started in 1982 in community relations at what was then Misericordia Hospital. Hilferty was heavily involved last year when most area health system CEOs tried to find a way to save a segment of the services offered at the much-bigger Hahnemann University Hospital, with an emphasis on the emergency department and mental-health services. Hahnemann, sold by publicly traded Tenet Healthcare Corp. to California investor Joel Freedman for $170 million, was running out of money too quickly to be saved, people involved in those talks have said. Mercy was far different, Hilferty said: It wasnt driven by a publicly traded entity like at Hahnemann. It wasnt driven by an investor who wanted to leave with some type of income from it. Its a group of committed organizations, including Independence, that want to improve the quality of care in areas that traditionally have not had access to that level of care. Its who we need to be as a community. Cohen, of PHMC, said it is too early to say exactly what services his organization will bring to the campus itself and through other service providers. PHMC says it serves 350,000 people annually with a wide array of services, including behavioral health services, emergency assistance, health-care centers, and autism services. This is really true public health. This is the bringing of a wide array of health and social services, behavioral health, jobs, Cohen said, to a community in one place. A police officer is facing a disciplinary investigation after branding George Floyd a 'drug-crazed maniac,' and blasting Diversity's Black Lives Matter-inspired dance routine on Britain's Got Talent. PC Mark Gunn, a serving officer for 10 years at South Wales Police, made the controversial comments while discussing Diversity's dance, which sparked around 24,500 complaints, on a podcast he runs on Spotify, called PC BBQ. Speaking about the moment Diversity referenced the death of Mr Floyd in their dance earlier this month, the serving police officer said: 'It's finished off with somebody dressed as a police officer kneeling on somebody's neck. 'I thought now the other footage had been released and we could see that this drug crazed maniac wasn't as innocent as everyone thought. 'Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he deserved to die but let's move on.' He went on to claim Ashley Banjo flouted lockdown rules, something sources close to dancer have vehemently denied. Police officer and barbecue enthusiast Mark Gunn has apologised for caling George Floyd a 'drug crazed maniac,' on his Spotify podcast Up to five episodes of the podcast, titled PC BBQ, have been deleted, as the officer of 10 years apologised 'to anyone who was offended' Was George Floyd on drugs when he was killed? Medical examiners found George Floyd had fentanyl - a synthetic opiate 50 times stronger than morphine - in his system when he died, as well as methamphetamine. The drugs were not listed as causes of his death - but defence lawyers later argued the fentanyl likely killed him. His family disputed the claims, saying: 'The only overdose that killed George Floyd was an overdose of excessive force and racism by the Minneapolis Police Department.' Floyd, 46, died on May 25 while being arrested by Minneapolis police officers on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill. Officer Derek Chauvin was filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes as he lost consciousness. Floyd was pronounced dead at the scene, and Chauvin was subsequently charged with second-degree murder. The Hennepin County medical examiner's office said Floyd died of 'cardiopulmonary arrest' while being restrained and 'neck compression'. Their autopsy said Floyd had 'other significant conditions' including coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease, plus 'fentanyl intoxication; [and] recent methamphetamine use.' Advertisement Gunn, an officer with South Wales Police for more than 10 years, posts his podcast rants on Spotify under the name PC BBQ because of his love of cooking outdoors. Up to five episodes appear to have been removed from Spotify, with four episodes still available to listen to. In the now-deleted episode, he also criticised the London-based dance troupe who caused a storm with their George Floyd routine in the first BGT semi-final. Father-of-two Gunn said: 'Diversity, they're not angels. Look at Ashley Banjo during lockdown, flagrantly disregarding lockdown rules.' Sources close to Ashley Banjo say he has never broken any lockdown rules. An angry listener reported Gunn for his un-Pc comments broadcast from his three-bedroomed home in Pencoed, Bridgend. South Wales Police confirmed Gunn has been referred to the force's Professional Standards Department. A spokesman said: 'South Wales Police, and our colleagues around the country, stand alongside all those across the globe who are appalled and horrified by the way George Floyd lost his life. 'We are deeply disappointed by the views expressed in this podcast, they do not reflect the views of the force in any way. 'South Wales Police is working hard to become representative of the communities that we police and we are completely committed to understanding and responding to all forms of bias and discrimination. 'We are absolutely determined that everyone should be confident in South Wales Police.' Gunn, who has not been suspended, has now taken the offensive comments off Spotify but his earlier podcasts can still be downloaded. They mention Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion and he also talks about his night shifts sorting out pub violence and working in the police CCTV camera room covering Cardiff city centre. George Floyd died in June after a police officer placed their knee on his neck in Minneapolis, Mr Floyd was filmed repeatedly telling the officer 'I can't breathe' Gunn, who is stationed in Barry, has not been suspended, but South Wales Police say they have referred him to its Professional Standards Department and the Independent Office for Police Conduct for investigation PC Gunn said he will take 'whatever punishment is given,' to him, as an investigation into his comments continues Pc Gunn said: 'I am sorry to anyone who was offended - I'm accountable for what I say and I apologise. 'I'm aware that I've been reported for what I said and I'll take whatever punishment is given to me.' The Police Federation of England and Wales said it 'wouldnt be appropriate to comment,' amid the ongoing investigation. Bahrain Wednesday welcomed the first ever direct flight from Israel, in sign of normalization between of the countries following September 15 official accord signed in Washington. An Israir Airlines Airbus A320 taking off from Tel Avivs Ben-Gurion International Airport and landing at Bahrain International Airport after a nearly three-hour flight, Gulf Business reports citing flight data. Both countries have not confirmed the flight. The move however occurred a day after Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa held a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two leaders, Gulf Business reports, reviewed potential areas of bilateral cooperation and relevant regional and international developments and the Bahraini Crown Prince highlighted the importance of securing regional and international stability and enhancing efforts to support peace in the region. The Gulf country and Israel on September 15 officially established full cooperation. Bahrain become the fourth Arab country to behind, Egypt, Jordan and UAE to normalize ties with Israel. UAE also on August 31 received at Abu Dhabi airport the first-ever direct commercial flight from Israel to the UAE El Al flight 971, in connection with normalization agreement announced on August 13. The 51st Edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) scheduled to be held at Goa from November 20-28, 2020 has been postponed to January 16-24, 2021, in the wake of the rising cases of Novel Coronavirus. The decision has been arrived at after the Minister of Information & Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javadekar discussed the issue with Dr Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister, Goa. It has also been jointly decided to hold IFFI 2020 from January 16-24, 2021 at Goa as per the international film festival guidelines and protocols. The festival will be conducted in a Hybrid format i.e. Virtual as well as Physical format. All COVID-19 related protocols will be strictly enforced as per the festivals convened recently in the international film festival circuit. FilmiBeat was the content partner at the 50th edition of IFFI Goa last year. IIFI 2019 saw the screening of nearly 200 films from 76 countries. Secretary, Information and Broadcasting, Amit Khare, had announced that it would be dedicated to celebrated filmmaker Satyajit Ray as part of his birth centenary celebrations. ALSO READ: IFFI 2019 Winners' List: French Film 'Particles' Wins Golden Peacock BJP leader Kapil Mishra made an appearance before the Special Cell of Delhi Police in Lodhi Colony on Thursday afternoon. After he came out Mishra said that he only came to file a complaint against people who according to him are running a campaign against him in the northeast Delhi riots case. "When the Delhi Police is filing charge sheets, when the rioters are being arrested at this time there is a section which is running a hate campaign against me and trying to save the real conspirators and that is why I came to the Special Cell office to file a complaint so that these people could be investigated," Mishra said. Asked if the police also questioned him regarding his role in the northeast Delhi riots, he said that the police has already questioned him and these details are already in the charge sheets. BJP leader Mishra was questioned in the last week of July by the Delhi Police Special Cell in connection with the northeast Delhi riots, where he claimed that he had gone to the area to "resolve the situation", that he gave "no speech", and that remarks made by him standing next to a DCP were only meant to convey his intention of launching a 'dharna' to counter anti-CAA protesters. These details find a mention in a charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police before Delhi's Karkardooma court last week. In a video tweeted by him on February 23 - a day before riots broke out in northeast Delhi - Mishra can be seen addressing a pro-CAA gathering near the Maujpur traffic signal and standing next to DCP (North East) Ved Prakash Surya. He can be seen saying, "They (protesters) want to create trouble in Delhi. That's why they have closed the roads. That is why they have created a riot-like situation here. We have not pelted stones. The DCP is standing in front of us and on your behalf, I want to tell him that till the US President (Donald Trump) is in India, we are leaving the area peacefully. After that, we won't listen to you (police) if the roads are not vacated by then. We will have to take to the streets." Violence broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24 between CAA supporters and protesters and spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. Morgan Stanley analysts believe that the plans of the Ukrainian government to finance the lion's share of the UAH 208 billion deficit provided for in the draft state budget 2021 in the domestic market through the placement of government bonds are overstated, which, in their opinion, increases the likelihood of unscheduled placements of eurobonds and pushes the country to cooperate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international financial institutions (IFIs). The net issue for the whole year in the amount of UAH 208 billion will require an average monthly net issue of UAH 17 billion, which is much higher than the current level, the bank said in a study issued this week. The analysts said that since the beginning of this year, the net issue of government bonds amounted to only UAH 31 billion, moreover, in July and August it was negative in the amount of UAH 6 billion and UAH 13 billion, respectively. Morgan Stanley also drew attention to the fact that the maturity of the securities sold dropped significantly: since March, there were no bonds with maturity of more than three years, most government bonds were up to a year, which leads to the need to increase their refinancing. According to the report, the share of nonresidents of the domestic government loans market in Ukraine, as well as in similar markets in countries such as Egypt, Ghana or Sri Lanka, continues to decline. Since February, the government bonds portfolio of nonresidents has already decreased 47% in hryvnia, and the share of the total volume from 17.5% to 11.4%. According to Morgan Stanley, difficulties with domestic financing of the deficit, which the government set at a level exceeding the expectations for 6% of GDP, may lead to both a reduction in the deficit and the need to increase its external financing several times from the planned $1.1 billion (UAH 32 billion). At the same time, the analysts consider the current forecast of the Ukrainian government for the placement of eurobonds in 2021 for $3 billion to be high. This situation emphasizes the importance of official external financing for Ukraine, but the current program with the IMF is already with disruption of the schedule even before its first review. Morgan Stanley recalled that this situation is typical for Ukraine: five previous programs with the IMF were financed by only 40%, while the current Stand-By Arrangement of SDR 3.6 billion (about $5 billion) is already financed by 42%. According to the analysts, taking into account the number of current unresolved issues in cooperation with the IMF, obtaining even one tranche of $0.7 billion this year looks hard to achieve. In this regard, the analysts do not rule out another issue of Ukrainian eurobonds this year, if there is such an opportunity in the market. They also maintain neutral guidance on the country's eurobonds, favoring the long end of the curve, and view Value Recovery Instruments (VRIs) as more promising thanks to the first payment in 2021, the possibility of high payments in 2023 after a likely rebound in GDP in 2021 and the potential for further buybacks. Four private hospitals in Lucknow were issued notices on Wednesday for alleged non-adherence to COVID-19 protocols and negligence after the recent deaths of 48 coronavirus patients. District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash has issued show-cause notices to the hospitals under the Epidemic Diseases Act. The four private hospitals include Mayo Hospital in Gomti Nagar, Charak Hospital in Old Lucknow, Chandan Hospital in Gomti Nagar and Apollo Hospital near VIP road. No carelessness will be tolerated in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, Prakash said. The protocol for the non-COVID hospital is that if any patient in serious condition arrives there, then he/she should be put in the holding/trial area and the treatment should begin, an official said. The DM has asked to submit details of the deaths to the Additional District Magistrate Trans Gomti and the Chief Medical Officer. Ten COVID-19 infected people were sent to Charak Hospital and all succumbed to the disease within a few days. Eleven coronavirus patients referred to Chandan Hospital, 17 were sent to Apollo Hospital and 10 patients were sent to Mayo Hospital. All the patients have lost their lives. There must be some confusion as we were not treating COVID-19 patients till September 22. Till date, 13 COVID-19 patients have been admitted at Apollo and none of them have died, said the Spokesperson of Apollo Hospital. Meanwhile, the UP Congress Chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, tweeted saying, This is a scary picture of uncontrollable Corona, of a worse health system. Look at the irony, even a ventilator in the capital is not empty. The CM set up nodal after nodal, continued to hold team-11 meetings but it did not stop the process of misery and deaths. Is it worth the lives of citizens or not, Chief Minister. Patricia Heaton slams critics of Trumps SCOTUS list: They wouldnt recognize God if He bit them on the bum Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Outspoken pro-life actress Patricia Heaton slammed critics of President Donald Trumps yet-to-be-announced Supreme Court nominee, describing them as people who wouldnt recognize God if He bit them on the bum. Heaton, who starred in the sitcoms Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle, took to Twitter on Sunday where she predicted that social media would be filled with an onslaught of arrogant pronouncements based on breathtaking ignorance of religion in general, Christianity specifically and Catholicism in particularly by people who wouldnt recognize God if He bit them on the bum. Friends, be prepared for social media to be filled with an onslaught of arrogant pronouncements based on breathtaking ignorance of religion in general, Christianity specifically and Catholicism in particularly by people who wouldnt recognize God if He bit them on the bum. Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) September 21, 2020 While Heaton did not mention the Supreme Court vacancy in her tweet, her social media post came less than 48 hours after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Many on the left did not react well to the news, with Reza Aslan, who used to have a show CNN where he once ate human brains, threatened to burn the entire f***ing thing down if Trump and the Republicans tried to replace Ginsburg before the 2020 election. Similarly, politics writer Laura Bassett, whose work has been published by The Washington Post and Rolling Stone, threatened: "there will be riots. *more bigger riots." Heaton also retweeted a Twitter post by Meghan McCain commenting about the threats to violence that have materialized after Ginsburgs death. No matter your politics on either side, no matter the issue, threatening violence and civil war makes you a deeply unserious, immature and reckless person, McCain said. Why would I listen to your political argument if this is what youre resorting to? Heatons tweet predicting an onslaught of arrogant pronouncements displaying a breathtaking ignorance of Christianity and Catholicism likely reflects the fact that one of the frontrunners to replace Ginsburg, Amy Coney Barrett, has come under attack for her Catholic faith. During her confirmation hearing to serve on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., expressed concern that Barretts Catholic faith would hamper her ability to do her job as a judge impartially, telling her that the dogma lives loudly within you. When Trump considered Barrett for the seat that became vacant following the retirement of longtime Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018, the criticism of Barretts Catholic faith resurfaced on social media. Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, accused Barrett of belonging to a cult because of her membership in a religious group called People of Praise, where members had previously referred to their leaders as handmaidens. In a later tweet, Painter expressed dismay that 'The 700 Club' and other fringe groups had supported Barrett, warning that a senate vote for her IS a vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. Barrett is not the only judge who has had her faith questioned by liberal politicians and others. In 2018, Trump nominated Brian Buescher, a member of the Knights of Columbus, to serve as a federal judge in Nebraska. His membership in the Catholic organization caught the ire of Democratic Senators, including Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., the 2020 Democratic vice-presidential nominee. Harris, along with Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, questioned Buescher about the extreme positions taken by the Knights of Columbus regarding marriage equality and a womans right to choose. Hirono asked if Buescher was willing to end his membership with the organization to avoid any appearance of bias and worried that he would not be able to deal with reproductive rights and abortion issues fairly and impartially because of his membership in this organization. The concerns about the religious beliefs of Trumps Supreme Court candidates have carried over into 2020. Even before Ginsburgs death on Friday, leftist groups had issued dire warnings about the additions to Trumps list of Supreme Court candidates, which he updated earlier this month. The atheist group Freedom From Religion Foundation described the presidents shortlist of jurists as a nightmare of Christian nationalism. The president met with Barrett on Monday. She is one of several female contenders whose name has been raised as a possible replacement for Ginsburg. Trump is expected to announce his pick on Saturday. Hillary Clinton has called Donald Trump a desperate would-be dictator following the presidents refusal to answer whether he would allow a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election. The comments come after the Mr Trump repeatedly declined to say whether he would peacefully hand over power to Mr Biden if voters choose the Democratic ticket in November. Trumps refusal to commit to the peaceful transfer of power is the behavior of a desperate would-be dictator whod cling to office even if it meant destroying our democracy, the former Democratic presidential candidate posted on Twitter. Its pathetic. But because he is the president, we should take his threat seriously, she warned. During a White House press briefing on Wednesday, Mr Trump refused to answer whether he would hand over office quietly if he lost saying: well, were going to have to see what happens. He then doubled down on his continued criticism of widespread mail-in voting and unfounded claims that it would lead to ballot fraud. Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster, he said. Do you commit to making sure that theres a peaceful transferral of power? the reporter asked again. 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 added, to which the reporter objected, No, I dont know it. Democrats have been warning for months that Mr Trump could contest the election by challenging results in key swing states based on his continued fraud claims. The president has continually pushed back against Democrats attempts to allocate funding to ensure an effective mail-in system and has also been accused of trying to degrade the postal service ahead of the November elections in order to limit mail-in voting, He has said multiple times this week that he plans to challenge the results of the election in court if he loses, on the basis of mail-in fraud, committing to take the results all the way up to the Supreme Court if he loses. At least one top GOP politician, House Republican Conference chairwoman Liz Cheney, has pushed back against the presidents refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. Americas leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath, the Wyoming congresswoman tweeted. Many Oktoberfest events have been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic -- both here in the United States and internationally. But dont worry. Don your best pair of lederhosen and dirndl outfits and take a short drive to Baltimore. The Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore County is hosting its Oktoberfest celebration for its second year. Authentic to historic German festivities, the celebration will be held back-to-back weekends Sept. 25-27 and Oct. 2-4. Hours are noon-10 p.m. Fridays; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays. And yes, admission is free. Located approximately 90 minutes from the Harrisburg area, the Open Gate Brewery, at 5001 Washington Blvd., Halethorpe, Md., is currently open with significant social distancing measures. The brewerys newly-turfed lawn has been transformed into an open-air German beer hall filled with harvest decor, featuring staff in festive attire and offering specialty beer steins. Guests can partake in a special Oktoberfest menu and live music each Saturday from a local oompah band. Attendees have the option of ordering food from the Guinness food truck, table staff or taproom inside the brewery. Specialty food items include Bavarian pretzels with blonde beer cheese, knockwursts, bauernwursts, apple strudel cheesecake bars and other interesting items. Specialty food items include: Bavarian pretzel with blonde beer cheese, knockwurst, bauernwurst, apple strudel cheesecake bars and more at Guinness Oktoberfest in Baltimore. (Courtesy Photo) The brewing team will tap two Oktoberfest-themed beers Festbier and Dunkel Lager. Festvier is a modern take on traditional German festival beer made with malty flavors and noble hops for a clean finish. The 5.5% ABV beer will be available on draft and as a special small-batched can release. Dunkel Lager, a 5% ABV beer, is made with all German malts and hops and will be only available on draft. Guests are required to wear masks to enter the property and always while moving through the space or standing in line for food, beer or the restroom. Masks are not required when seated at tables. To learn more about how to safely plan a visit to the Open Gate Brewery in line with proactive CDC and Maryland Health recommendations, visit the FAQ website page. As always, adults are expected to drink responsibly and plan a safe way to get home -- they can take advantage of the Lyft lane on property. The Open Gate Brewery will not tow cars left overnight. (But the brewery hopes that guests will pick up their vehicles in a timely fashion the following day.) For updates on the Oktoberfest celebration and more from the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, visit the website, or check it out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Read more: Reliance Global Group Inc. has acquired the assets of UIS Agency LLC, a Thiells, N.Y.-based insurance agency serving the commercial transportation industry. Reliance Global Group CEO Ezra Beyman said in a company press release that UIS will compliment Reliances existing holdings, which include auto transport/towing and commercial transportation insurance. This acquisition marks Reliances seventh agency acquisition in less than two years. Beyman said in the release there are others in the pipeline as well. Reliance has a goal of operating as a holding company for several companies in the real estate, insurance brokerage and other sectors, the release said. Its focus is to grow the company by pursuing acquisition opportunities, including both real estate and insurance agencies. The company is controlled by Reliance Global Holdings LLC, a New York-based limited liability company, which is the owner and operator of numerous companies with core interests invested in real estate and insurance brokerage. Source: Reliance Global Group Topics Mergers New York The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church made the remarks during a meeting with the new Ethiopian ambassador to Egypt Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II said on Thursday that the Nile River is a gift from God, like air and the sun, for all people, and that he therefore prays and trusts that the negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will move forward towards a solution that is appropriate for all," Al-Ahram Arabic reported. Tawadros' remarks came during a meeting with the recently appointed Ethiopian ambassador to Egypt, Markos Tekle. The last round of trilateral talks on the dam, which were brokered by the African Union (AU), concluded in August without reaching an integrated draft agreement on the operation and filling of the dam. Egypt's irrigation ministry said on 28 August that Cairo, Khartoum and Addis Ababa had not reached consensus on the legal and technical points of contention on the $4.8 billion hydropower project. On Wednesday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said in his address to the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly that the GERD negotiation period "should not be extended indefinitely, to impose a new status quo." The GERD, built 15 kilometres from the Ethiopian border with Sudan, has been a source of contention between the three countries since construction began in 2011. The first filling of the near-complete dam took place this summer. During Thursday's meeting, Tawadros hailed the strength of the relationship between Egypt and Ethiopia, as well as between the Egyptian and Ethiopian churches, referring to the loving relationship that binds him to the patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Abune Mathias. The pope also stressed the importance of the role the Ethiopian ambassador will play to strengthen relations between the two countries during his term. Tekle submitted a copy of his credentials to Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Ambassador Abu Bakr Hefny on August 27 to officially take up his post. Search Keywords: Short link: In Mykolaiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the ambassadors of the G7 and European Union countries accredited in Ukraine. "Support from your states and the EU is key for Ukraine. Therefore, I want to constantly maintain this dialogue in order to hear you and share my vision of political life and strategy for further transformations in the country," the president's press service quotes Zelensky as saying on Wednesday evening. The President told the meeting participants about the state and prospects for the implementation of key reforms, the situation around anti-corruption bodies, the NBU, and preparations for the local elections. The head of state assured of the invariability of the country's course. "The European choice is invariable for our state. It is it that forms the agenda of political and economic transformations in Ukraine," he said. Regarding the economic prospects of the country, Zelensky said that the authorities are striving to lay the foundation for sustainable dynamic development of Ukraine, job creation, infrastructure modernization, restoration of the industrial and production base, and attraction of investments. "Now the efforts of the government and the Verkhovna Rada are aimed at supporting the economy during the crisis, attracting investments and modernizing those industries in which Ukraine retains potential. We are interested in foreign investments and are working to create comfortable conditions for investors. My priority is systemic improvement of investment climate," Zelensky said. He also said that he stands for the position of maintaining the independence of the National Bank of Ukraine and pays attention to continuation of the banking sector reforming. The president called the independence of anti-corruption bodies equally important. He said that his position - all procedures for the selection of members of tender commissions and competitions for the positions of heads of anti-corruption bodies, in particular such as Special Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) and National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), should be carried out in the manner prescribed by law, transparently and under public control. "As a guarantor of the Constitution, I am ready to protect and ensure the independence and transparency of work of SAPO, NABU, HACC [High Anti-Corruption Court] in every possible way. At the same time, I demand ensuring the right of Ukrainian citizens to see the effective work of these bodies," Zelensky said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.23 By Tamilla Mammadova Trend: Some 41 tons of chilled or fresh fish worth $208,400 were exported from Georgia to Azerbaijan in the first eight months under the 0302 trademark, Trend reports via the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat). During the same period, 1,22.6 tons of frozen fish worth $3.07 million under the 0303 trademark and 19 tons of fish fillets worth $51,000 under the 0304 trademark got exported from Georgia to Azerbaijan. 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 CANBERRA, Australia - A judge on Thursday convicted a man of murdering two women who disappeared while going home from a night out with friends in the Australian west coast city of Perth. Bradley Robert Edwards, 51, was acquitted of murder in a third womans disappearance. The crimes occurred in the 1990s, but he was not arrested until 2016. Sarah Spiers, 18, Jane Rimmer, 23, and Ciara Glennon, 27, vanished without witnesses while making their way home from the citys up-market Claremont nightlife precinct in 1996 and 1997. The bodies of Rimmer and Glennon were found in woodland within weeks of their disappearances. Justice Stephen Hall, who heard the seven-month trial, was not convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Edwards had murdered Spiers, whose body has never been found. The propensity of evidence makes it more likely that the accused was the killer of Ms. Spiers, but it cannot prove it beyond reasonable doubt in the absence of any other evidence as to the identity of her killer, Hall said. But the judge said he was satisfied on the evidence that all three had been abducted and killed over 14 months. Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said he had told Spiers family that investigators would never give up looking for her remains. This is an important day for justice in Western Australia, Dawson told reporters. The Claremont killings struck at the heart of our way of life, stretching back almost a quarter of a century. Under Western Australian law, Edwards could be tried a second time for the same murder if new and compelling evidence came to light, such as a body. Edwards, a former childrens athletics coach and telecommunication technician, shook his head as the verdicts were delivered, while gasps were heard from the public gallery. He will appear for sentencing on Dec. 23. Murder carries a potential maximum sentence of life in prison. Edwards earlier admitted indecently assaulting a woman in her home in 1988 and abducting a woman in Claremont and raping her in a cemetery in 1995. Semen found at that crime scene was matched to Edwards DNA a month before he was arrested. He also matched DNA found under Glennons fingernails, although defence lawyer Paul Yovich had argued the samples had been contaminated in a police laboratory. Rimmers sister Lee Rimmer told reporters outside court that she felt really good about the verdicts. At one point, I thought he was going to be not guilty, she said. But no, we got the result we wanted and now we just have to keep working for the Spiers family and hope someone finds Sarah. The Justice Department filed a statement of interest this week supporting a lawsuit challenging New Mexicos different capacity limits for in-person classes at private and public schools, with private schools facing more stringent reopening restrictions. In a brief filed in the U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, the DOJ said that New Mexicos coronavirus restrictions limiting private schools to operating at 25 percent capacity while allowing public schools to operate at 50 percent capacity violate the Constitutions Equal Protection Clause. The brief also cited the states rules for daycare facilities, which are allowed to operate at 100 percent capacity. Parents have a fundamental right under the United States Constitution, without interference from the government, to select the school for their children of their choice, whether a public school, a parochial school, or a non-religious private school, said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the DOJs Civil Rights Division, adding that New Mexicos coronavirus response infringed that right by adopting one rule for public schools and another for private schools, resulting in private schools remaining closed for in-person instruction, without justification. There is no pandemic exception to the Constitution and New Mexicos differential standards for private and public schools cannot stand, Dreiband said. John Anderson, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, who filed the DOJ brief, added that coronavirus restrictions must be applied and implemented equally and impartially, and that simply did not happen here. There is no good reason to penalize students just because they choose to attend a private school. Douglas Peterson, whose seventh-grade daughter attends Albuquerque Academy, filed the federal lawsuit claiming his familys civil rights were violated earlier this month after the private school concluded it could not open for in-person classes within the 25 percent capacity limit, although it would be able to serve all of its students within a 50 percent capacity limit. Story continues The discrepancy in Governor Michelle Lujan Grishams public health order is because the state considers private schools to operate similarly to retail businesses, Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart said. He also cited a greater ability to provide government oversight of public schools. Theres always been oversight difference between the public and the private schools with the private schools falling more into that bucket similar to some of the other businesses, Stewart said. Public schools in New Mexico are so far only holding in-person classes for elementary school students, a fact cited by Nora Meyers-Sackett, a spokeswoman for the governors office. No seventh-grader in the state is attending in-person classes at a public school, she told NM Political Report. Its difficult to reason how an argument about prejudice withstands that fundamental reality. More from National Review SRINAGAR: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) patrol party was attacked by unknown terrorists in the Chadura area of Jammu and Kashmirs Budgam district on Thursday in which an ASI rank officer was martyred. The martyred ASI has been identified as Nu Badole. He belonged to Nagpur in Maharashtra. He was attacked by the terrorists and his service rifle was also looted by them before they fled from the scene. According to the reports, the attack took place around 7.45 AM in the Badipora area of Chadura in Budgam district during which a CRPF deployment unit was attacked by the terrorists. ''They fired upon the CRPF jawans and an ASI rank officer of the CRPF got critically injured. The terrorists then fled from the scene after snatching his service rifle,'' the Army sources said earlier. A security force official said, motorcycle-borne terrorists fired upon the deployed troops of B/117 Bn CRPF at 0745 Hrs. One ASI of 117 Bn sustained bullet injuries and being evacuated to the hospital. Troops carrying out Search in the area Live TV The injured officer was shifted to 92 Base Army Hospital for treatments where he succumbed to his injuries. Sources in the police said that terrorists managed to snatch the injured officer service rifle and flees from the spot. Security forces have cordoned the area and launched a massive search to nab the terrorists. Its the second terror attack in Budgam district in the last 24 hours. Last night, terrorists attacked and shot dead a block development council chairman in the Khag area of Budgam. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: The saga of emotions at Bokotial the other day was as if the nondescript village were bidding adieu to one of its sons. The Assamese villagers showed sensitivity and hospitality to a stranded Spaniard, Mannuel Arribas Rodriguez. He responded by blending in. So, when he was leaving the village after spending over seven months there, even the kids broke into tears. It was during his bicycle tour of nations that the man from Madrid arrived in Assam in February. Mesmerised by the beauty of Bokotial in Sivasagar district and simplicity of locals, he fell in love with the village. He would have left the state by March-end but was stranded in the Covid-19 lockdown. He had arrived on February 14 and I met him at Gargaon College (in Sivasagar) the next day. He explored the institute on seeing a crowd of people congregating there at a youth festival. I had sent him an invite to visit our village and he showed up the next day, said Biswajit Barbaruah at whose house the foreigner had taken refuge in the lockdown. Rodriguez had first landed in Japan and in due course, he visited South Korea, Laos DPR, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar before entering India through the border town of Moreh in Manipur. He spent two nights at Kaziranga and the river island of Majuli prior to visiting Sivasagar. As he was stranded, the period of his visa was extended by the government. He lived like a local during his stay in the village, said Madhav Das, an Assistant Tourist Information Officer. Rodriguez conversed in broken English but soon, he learnt the basic Assamese words and terms. I considered him as my brother and he too considered us as his own. Being a fitness enthusiast, he would exercise every morning. He helped us in household chores and even learnt to plough paddy fields, Barbaruah said. Wearing traditional Assamese attire, Rodriguez often visited a namghar (Assamese prayer house) in the village. He would greet people the way the Assamese do it, enquire about their well-being and visit their houses. He had blended himself in our village lifestyles. He praised village life, our culture and simplicity. He addressed my parents as maa (mother) deuta (father). As time passed by, he had picked up a lot of Assamese words and sentences, the local said. For ten years, Rodriguez worked as a hotel receptionist in Spain. With whatever little money he could amass, he had embarked on the tour. He left Assam by the Rajdhani Express on Tuesday night and reached New Delhi on Thursday morning. He will catch a flight to Spain on Friday. The parting was really painful. We all cried. We hope to see him soon as he has promised to visit us again, Barbaruah said. By ANI WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump wished a speedy recovery to the two police officers who sustained injuries in Louisville during protests against Kentucky grand jury's decision to indict one of the three police personnel, involved in the death of African-American nurse Breonna Taylor, on first-degree wanton endangerment charges. In a tweet, Trump said he spoke to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and stated that his administration is ready to help. "Praying for the two police officers that were shot tonight in Louisville, Kentucky. The Federal Government stands behind you and is ready to help. Spoke to @GovAndyBeshear and we are prepared to work together, immediately upon request!" he said. Two Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers were shot during protests on Wednesday night. One officer is undergoing surgery and both are in stable condition, LMPD interim chief Robert Schroeder said, CNN reported. According to Schroeder, a suspect is in custody. "I am very concerned about the safety of our officers," he said. "We have had two officers shot tonight and it is very serious. It is a dangerous condition. I think the safety of the officers and community we serve is of utmost importance," he added. The names of the two officers were not revealed. The development comes after one officer, Brett Hankison, was charged with three lesser counts of wanton endangerment in connection to the death of Taylor, who was shot dead in a police raid at her home on March 13. The victim did not have any criminal record, The Hill reported. Several people had expressed their disapproval and frustration over the grand jury's decision, saying more steps should have been taken. Hours after the grand jury's decision, protests broke out in Louisville with clashes taking place between the police and demonstrators. Each count of wanton endangerment could carry up to five years in prison. The two other cops -- Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove -- fired six and 16 shots respectively. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that Taylor was shot six times, though only one of the bullet wounds proved to be fatal. Vehicle barricades were set up by Louisville Police in the Louisville downtown area as well as around Jefferson Square Park, the launching point for several Black Lives Matter protests, according to The Hill. Mayor Greg Fischer announced a 72-hour curfew which began from 9 pm (local time) on Wednesday. Also, the Kentucky National Guard was pressed into service before the restrictions came into place. (ANI) When the novel coronavirus pandemic first struck, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba leapt into action with an emergency COVID-19 relief response. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. When the novel coronavirus pandemic first struck, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba leapt into action with an emergency COVID-19 relief response. "The board quickly agreed to make funds available to local charitable groups on an emergency basis," foundation chief executive officer John Diamond said. "We wanted to help them keep their doors open." Since then, the public foundation which pools gifts from donors and distributes earned income to local non-profits and community groups in the province has given out 48 grants totalling $536,000 to Jewish and non-Jewish non-profit and community groups. In making the emergency relief disbursements, the foundation together with its Womens Endowment Fund suspended its normal protocols of asking groups to fill out and submit applications. "We knew they didnt have resources or time to do that," Diamond said about the first phase of grants in April, totalling $193,800. "Rather than ask them to let us know what they needed, we just wrote cheques." Jewish groups that received funding included local synagogues, Camp Massad, Jewish Child and Family Service, Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, and Jewish Federation of Winnipeg. Non-Jewish groups included Agape Table, Main Street Project, Winnipeg Harvest, and Siloam Mission. "The goal was to get the money out as quickly as possible," Diamond said. Becky Chisick, executive director of the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre, a non-profit organization serving seniors, said the first grant of $6,700 "was huge to us. It helped in so many different ways as (it) helped isolated seniors." At Main Street Project, the grant of $25,500 was "incredibly meaningful and important," said Cindy Titus, who directs communications and fund development. "It helped us expand our services and to keep our staff and clients safe." Gray Academy, a Jewish elementary and high school, said the $12,000 grant helped it pivot to remote learning and prepare for reopening later. "It helped ensure we had the technology needed for remote learning," said CEO Lori Binder. Jim Steep, executive director of Agape Table, said the $25,500 helped it deal with an increased need for food and "skyrocketing costs" as the non-profit needed to use non-reusable paper bags, containers and utensils. "The grant keeps us going," he said. "We are so grateful for that grant. It really helped us with the extra costs." The foundation followed up that first grant with a second in June worth $210,500 for 11 groups, using its normal application procedures. A third phase of grants is planned for fall; the deadline is Wednesday. "We did the Phase 2 grants when organizations had a little more clarity about their needs," said Diamond. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The pandemic was an unprecedented opportunity "to see how we could best serve the community," he said, adding that "going forward, we want to ensure the stability and sustainability of the groups we support." Being able to give the grants was "a great feeling," Diamond said. "Im proud we could be there to help." Drew Unger, the foundations director of communications and marketing, said it is helping. "Groups are getting back on track... But we know the financial hit is still there." Some of those losses arent recoverable for groups which depend on attendance at events or registrations for spring and summer programs, Unger said. "Whatever assistance we can provide will help," he said, adding: "We know the needs will only grow." faith@freepress.mb.ca Farmers squatted on the tracks in on Thursday, beginning a three-day "rail roko" agitation against the farm Bills as the Railways suspended several trains to avoid any untoward incident. Twenty trains have been partially cancelled and five short terminated till September 26 as protesters blocked rail tracks at various places, including Amritsar, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Barnala, Mansa and Nabha. Among the trains that will remain suspended are the Golden Temple Mail (Amritsar-Mumbai Central), Jan Shatabdi Express (Haridwar-Amritsar), New Delhi-Jammu Tawi, Karambhoomi (Amritsar-New Jalpaiguri), Sachkhand Express (Nanded-Amritsar) and Shaheed Express (Amritsar-Jaynagar), officials said. They said the decision has been taken keeping in mind the safety of passengers and protection of railway property from any damage. At present, routine passenger train service remains suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The call for the "rail roko" agitation was given by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and later different farmers' outfits extended their support to it. Activists of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) squatted on rail tracks in Barnala and Sangrur on Thursday morning. Farmers under the banner of the committee sat on rail tracks near Devidaspura village in Amritsar and Basti Tanka Wali in Ferozepur. They raised slogans against the BJP-led Union government and threatened to intensify their protest if the farm Bills were not taken back. These Bills were passed without consulting farmers and these are only in the interest of big corporates, said Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher in Amritsar. If these Bills are in the interest of farmers, then why BJP leaders are trying to give clarifications. It means they are not good for farmers, said Pandher. He said they will continue their struggle against the Bills until they are revoked. It is going to be a long struggle, he added. Pandher asked the Shiromani Akali Dal to clarify its stand on the bills. If they find these Bills as anti-farmer, then why are they still in alliance with the BJP, he asked. The protesters dug up tents in the middle of the rail tracks. They also made arrangements for ration for three days, said farmers. Women, youth and elders also took part in the protest, they said. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh said the Bills were drafted just to benefit big corporates and demanded that they be withdrawn. Farmer leaders said they were getting support from several sections, including government employees and labourers. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee president Satnam Singh Pannu said they have appealed to representatives of political parties, ministers, MPs and MLAs not to take part in the farmers' agitation. They vowed to gherao BJP leaders and socially boycott those who voted in favour of the farm Bills. As many as 31 farmers' outfits have given a call for a complete shutdown of on September 25. Farmers in have expressed apprehension that the Bills would pave a way for dismantling the minimum support price system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates. Parliament has passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill; Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill; and Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill. They await the President's nod to become laws. Meanwhile, railway officials said the Nanded-Amritsar train will end its journey in Old Delhi. Train number 02716 will run from Old Delhi instead of Amritsar on September 25 and 26. The Dhanbad-Ferozepur Cantt train will not go to Ferozepur Cantt and end its journey at Ambala Cantonment. Train number 03308 will run from Ambala Cantt from September 24 to 26 instead of Ferozepur Cantt. The Mumbai Central-Amritsar train arriving on September 24 will be brought to Ludhiana and it will end its journey at Ambala from September 25 to 26. Train number 02904 will run from Ambala from September 24 to 26 instead of Amritsar. Many freight and parcel trains have also been rescheduled. A Railways spokesperson in New Delhi said the agitation will severely impact loading of foodgrain and other essential goods. Officials said the Food Corporation of India is daily loading over 35 rakes of foodgrain from Punjab. They said Punjab also loads 9-10 rakes daily of fertiliser, cement, auto, mixed goods in containers. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Tinaa Datta has denied being a part of hit reality show, Bigg Boss. There were rumors that Tinaa is one of the contestants who have been finalised for the upcoming 14th season of the show. However, Tinaa denied the rumours with a long post on Instagram. Sharing the note, she wrote, My Love Letter To My Favourite Bigg Boss! Ssssh....Romance Kharab Mat Karna. Dear Bigg Boss, Did you know how much you are loved? Let me tell you, I never did. My gosh! Ever since rumours of my imaginary relationship with you started, my phone has been buzzing nonstop. I feel like a girl who has just gotten engaged... my phone is off the hook. Sponsorships for my wardrobe, calls from media, headlines about the two of us and so much curiosity. I am thinking ye khichdi paki hi kaise? My darling this match is not made in heaven, not on earth and not on Indian television so remember I still love you but as an audience member and not as a contestant, she wrote in her note. The show is reportedly coming back from October with host Salman Khan. Stars such as Gia Manek, Neha Sharma, Karan Patel, Ejaz Khan, are all rumoured to be joining the show. Aly Goni, Kavita Kaushik and Onir have denied being part of the show. Also read: Ayushmann Khurrana only Indian actor on Times 100 most influential list, Deepika Padukone praises actor Aly said in an interview with IANS, I am not doing Bigg Boss. The format and concept of Bigg Boss are fantastic, and this season will rock too. I may do it in future, as they say never say never. He is currently busy with his show Zidd, which he called a big opportunity. It also stars Amit Sadh whom I am very fond of. His work on the web platform has been very well received by all, he said. Tinaa rose to fame with her daily soap, Uttaran. Last year, she opened up about being in an abusive relationship. Ive consciously decided to focus on my life. I would love to settle down but I havent met the right person. Im out of an abusive relationship and want to settle down in life but not with someone from the industry, she had said in an interview to Hindustan Times. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON - Zari Hassan assisted her fans in identifying her new flame and it is clear to see he definitely loves her - The new man, an actor and movie producer from Ghana called Frederick Naumah, wrote Zari a lover letter saying she was his dream girl - The new bae claimed his life began when he started talking to Zari, adding he never thought he would find a lover like her - Frederick noted living in different continents or countries meant nothing and he took the huge step to finally open his heart online - Zari replied thanking her babe for being in her life and loving her the way she is supposed to be PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB feed Zari Hassan turned 40 years old on Wednesday, September 23, and no one expected that it was the day everyone would finally get to see her mysterious lover. Well, the mother of five decided it was time she gave her fans some peace of mind, more so because there was no better day to share her happiness and priceless gift with them than on her birthday. READ ALSO: Wahu Kagwi joins her employees as they perform Jerusalema dance challenge in breathtaking video Zari Hassan's new bae Frederick Naumah is not only a gifted actor but also a movie producer among others Photo: fredericknuamah Source: Instagram READ ALSO: Exclusive: Kind police officer who rescued baby dumped in toilet holds heart-warming birthday party for her She posted a screenshot that led hawk-eyed fans to the lucky man's page only to find that he had prepared a love letter for her and left it on his page for everyone to see. Zari's new, or is it old catch, Frederick Nuamah, an actor and movie producer from Ghana, penned a lengthy letter for his girl saying she was his true love and also his dream girl. "Just when I thought of giving up to the fate that true love doesnt exist, you came and showed me the best of it. Thanks for being you for me. You are, and always have been, my dream girl. Even before I spoke to you on Eddies phone, your vision was in my mind just as you are. I spent days upon days thinking about what in the world I could possibly write to you that would make this birthday amazing. I spent hours upon hours trying to figure out what to say," Frederik wrote. READ ALSO: Machachari actor Baha romantically gushes over lover's beauty: "Msupa" READ ALSO: Kisumu woman claims lover reported her to police for 'eating' his KSh 2,000 fare The new babe said his life began the day he started talking to her, adding he never thought he would find a lover like her and that he had found his soul mate. "It's simple, your happiness is my happiness. Your life began on this day. My life began the day we spoke. Im so glad both days happened. Kipenzicharoho. Let me use this letter to validate all my love for you. Before we spoke, I didn't believe it was possible to love someone so deeply and completely but you have given me faith that true love really does exist because I share it with you. Most importantly, I love the way you complete me. You are the soul mate I thought I'd never find. You cheer me up when I'm down and help me find balance when my world is out of control. You make me want to do the same for you," he added. READ ALSO: 7 gorgeous photos of Nyashinski's wife Zia Bett showing her mommy glow Frederick noted living in different continents or countries meant nothing and he took the huge step of opening his heart online by wishing her a lovely birthday on his timeline. Amazing Zari replied to the message thanking her babe for being in her life and loving her the right way. "Thank you babe, glad to have you in my life. Thank you for having my back and loving me how one is supposed to be loved. I appreciate you," Zari wrote. Surely, this love is what has made the proud mama feel young again as she revealed in beautiful posts while marking her big day. The 40-year-old celebrated her day with a special photoshoot showing that she still got it. The beauty shared incredible photos on social media with captions that showed she was happy to reach the fourth floor but was doing so with a spirit of a 30-year-old. READ ALSO: Road Warrior Animal: Legendary WWE superstar Joe Laurinaitis dies aged READ ALSO: Walinzi wa DP Ruto waliohusika katika sarakasi la kumkamata Sudi wachujwa vyeo She said she looked like an 18-year-old, who felt like she was only 14 and acted like an eight-year-old, which was a nice puzzle as the ages added up to 40. Fellow celebrities and fans went on her comment section wishing her the best on her big day and urged her to keep raising the standards like an African Kardashian. PAY ATTENTION: Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme- https://www.patreon.com/tuko 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. Kiki Wa Ng'endo should not carry the blame alone, her family and men failed too - Reactions | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Queensland's pandemic-era election is likely to throw understanding of voter preference flows "out the window" experts say, with minor parties beginning to ramp up their posturing for prime parliamentary position. The predictions come as the Electoral Commission of Queensland revealed on Thursday that more than 316,000 voters had already asked for postal votes since applications opened last week. Voters and volunteers were few and far between at an East Brisbane polling site for the Queensland local government election on March 28. Credit:Danielle Cronin The Queensland Greens announced last week they would place the LNP and One Nation last in every seat, ruling out any power-sharing deal or guarantee of supply as they look to expand their presence on the crossbench. What is tipped to be a three-point contest between the minor party, opposition and Labor in inner-city seats such as Maiwar and McConnel has been most keenly watched in former deputy premier Jackie Trad's electorate of South Brisbane. The government has asked the 10 worst-hit states to enforce targeted public communication campaigns to control the coronavirus pandemic as deaths crossed the 90,000 mark nationally and cases swelled to 5.66 million on Wednesday. These states together account for 76% of all reported covid-19 cases and 83% of the 1,085 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. They were asked to implement targeted public communication campaigns at the grassroot level to encourage covid appropriate behaviour" by residents of the worst-affected districts. The 10 states, which have the highest number of active cases, are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Kerala, Telangana and Delhi. The focus of the targeted communication campaign will be on behaviour change and educating people on how to live with covid 19 in the unlock phase. Within Maharashtra, the districts of Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Sangli and Kolhapur have been identified for intensive covid communication, the Centre said in a statement. View Full Image Graphic: Mint Based on expert interactions, the health ministry has identified key communication pointers covering covid appropriate behaviour like hand hygiene, wearing of mask and safe distancing, de-stigmatization of disease, the dos and donts of home isolation, and warning against self-medication. To facilitate the implementation of the strategy, district administrations have been asked to constitute communication management teams under the supervision of the district collector. Print and electronic media, including FM and community radio, social media, outdoor media and folk media would be used to get the message home. The national positivity rate was 8.52% and the tests per million stood at 48,028 on Wednesday. A total of 83,347 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! The idea of integrating computer networks and the human body is driving research in a number of areas. Recently, two teams of researchers shared their respective projects, which explore how biological cells might become networked and how electronics could become directly integrated with human tissue. Both presentations were part of the American Chemical Society's (ACS) Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting & Expo. The first presentation, conducted by a team at the University of Maryland, is focused on communications networks that mimic electronic networks but are derived from biological cells. The second study, led out of University of Delaware, discusses the idea of interfacing hardware and human tissue. Biological cells compute Researchers at the University of Maryland are exploring the idea that biologically-based communication networks could control cells in the body and ultimately work to diagnose and treat medical conditions. "We want to expand electronic information processing to include biology," said William E. Bentley, principal investigator at the University of Maryland, in a press release. "Our goal is to incorporate biological cells in the computational decision-making process." The group's proposal involves getting electrons to move around in cells, an operation called redox mediating. The cells would generate a current that creates a signal for communicating. Those currents could potentially provide communications as well as run electronics. According to the release: The new technology Bentley's team developed relies on redox mediators, which move electrons around cells. These small molecules carry out cellular activities by accepting or giving up electrons through reduction or oxidation reactions. Because they can also exchange electrons with electrodes, thereby producing a current, redox mediators can bridge the gap between hardware and living tissue. The team describes the idea of cellular feedback that could operate electronics. Potential applications might include a wearable device that could diagnose and treat a bacterial infection, for example, or a capsule that a person could swallow to track blood sugar and make insulin. In ongoing work, the team is developing interfaces that could enable this sort of information exchange to occur. Integration of electronics and tissue The team from University of Delaware focused its presentation on the merger of humans and artificial intelligence through a kind of cyborg technology. The term cyborg, popular in science fiction, is a portmanteau of the words cybernetic and organism and basically describes an organic, biomechatronical (electrical mechanical) fictional beingbut perhaps not fictional for much longer. Researchers are taking steps toward better integrating electronics with the body, according to the ACS release. The idea would be to more seamlessly connect electronics directly to human tissues. That's different from having electronics merely implanted, as happens now with a pacemaker that uses wires to connect to the heart, for example. One problem to overcome is that traditional implanted devices are subject to impedance or resistance. For example, the data that one wants to collect can get blocked because of scarring caused by the process of implanting microelectronic materials like gold and silicon. That scarring interrupts the electrical signals that must flow in order for applications in muscle or brain tissue, for example, to operate properly. That's where this work is focused: a seamless electronic transition from organic-to-electronic-to-mechanical. The cyborg, in other words. "We got the idea for this project because we were trying to interface rigid, inorganic microelectrodes with the brain, but brains are made out of organic, salty, live materials," said David Martin, Ph.D., who led the study, in a statement. "It wasn't working well, so we thought there must be a better way." Coatings for the electronic components are the key to interfacing hardware and human tissue, the researchers believe. They tested organic electronic materials and found one that lowered impedance, thus improving energy and communications efficiency. "We started looking at organic electronic materials like conjugated polymers that were being used in non-biological devices," Martin said. "We found a chemically stable example that was sold commercially as an antistatic coating for electronic displays." The group believes this transition between organic tissue and machine could revolutionize implants. One angle they've been working on is creating polymers with neurotransmitters built onto them. They could be implanted for brain diagnostics. "These biological-synthetic hybrid materials might someday be useful in merging artificial intelligence with the human brain," Martin said. The government revealed and approved two relevant agreements negotiated with the EUs executive body, the European Commission, during its weekly session chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. One of the agreements calls for 30 million euros in funding for the governments efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic and mitigate its socioeconomic consequences. According to a government statement, some of it will be spent on the purchase of new equipment for Armenian hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. This is an exceptional program aimed at supporting anti-crisis measures taken by the government for coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, said Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorian. I want to stress that this is only one of the programs on neutralizing consequences of COVID-19, he said. We are also discussing with our European partners two other programs. We will present final agreements on them to the government. The EU already promised 51 million euros in coronavirus-related aid to Armenia in April. It was not clear if the EU funding announced by the Armenian government will be provided in addition to that sum. The government said that the EU will also allocate another 30 million euros in support of its ongoing judicial reforms and fight against corruption. It said the aid will be spent, among other things, on the forthcoming creation of special anti-corruption courts and new law-enforcement divisions tasked with combating graft. Presenting this program, Justice Minister Rustam Badasian said the EU aid will also be used for tackling corruption among judges. This, he explained, will be done through increasing the capacity of a state anti-corruption body which began recently scrutinizing the declared assets of judges and their relatives. This will lead to the implementation of our plan to have a judicial system free from corruption, added Badasian. A process for exploring the driving forces and implications of different futures, XSP guides participants in assessing how best to prepare for any and all of them. Rather than working toward a single vision, practitioners develop distinct potential futures ("scenarios") and consider how to measure and prepare for each. Through this process, communities can identify the actors, strategies, contingency plans, and partnerships that will help them achieve their goals under varying future conditionsand adapt to changing factors in real time. For example, the City and County of Denver used XSP in the 2017 Denveright project, an update of the successful 2002 integrated transportation and land use plan, to identify common themes like the regional desire for equity and access. The process also helped dissolve departmental silos, resulting in a plan adopted in April 2019. The University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center also employed XSP to inform the development of a management plan for the Upper Gila Watershed in 2014. The project effectively conveyed the wide-ranging possibilities for water supply and demand, development patterns, and other driving forces in the coming decades, and it engaged with a broad cross-section of water users, resulting in ongoing and productive dialogues. "Exploratory Scenario Planning shows how cities and regions don't have to simply react to major events and emerging forces like the pandemic, but we can envision and prepare for unexpected consequences in advance," said Ted Knowlton, deputy director of the Wasatch Front Regional Council, which oversees regional planning in the Salt Lake City area. Because it encompasses possibilities rather than assumptions, XSP enables more robust plans than those produced with traditional methods. The practice can support early stages of a strategic planning process by helping participants clarify the issues, strategies, and contingency plans that need to be more fully developed, and it can also help planners test existing strategies against a range of futures to assess the possible outcomes. How to Use Exploratory Scenario Planning instructs the reader in how to employ XSP at the organizational, local, or regional level. Though the details can vary, the XSP process is usually constructed around a series of discussion-based workshops and facilitated by a core leadership team that engages a larger group of stakeholders. Intended for urban planners, community leaders, and other active decision makers, the manual features a comprehensive review of the XSP process, including step-by-step templates and six detailed case studies that offer lessons learned from previous applications. "As this manual makes clear, exploratory scenario planning is a tool that communities can use now, without special software or training," said Heather Hannon, manager of the Lincoln Institute's Consortium for Scenario Planning. "By brainstorming driving forces and exploring multiple futures, communities can lean into uncertainty and develop plans to deal with it, rather than being paralyzed by it." The manual walks would-be practitioners through designing and managing their own XSP processes, with in-depth case studies examining its applications in contexts as diverse as water management in Colorado's Front Range region to transportation trends in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Other cases include the University of Arizona's Water Resources Research Center's 2014 exercise to help preserve rural agricultural lifestyles in the Upper Gila Watershed; the 2017 Denveright project; and the National Center for Smart Growth's 2018 work to explore how the BaltimoreWashington region can achieve a more sustainable future. Although focused on U.S. applications, the manual also notes the roots of scenario planning in South African, British, and other planning contextsand its lessons readily apply to any urban or regional planning context. As the cases show, XSP's exploration of the root causes of possible futures, good and bad, allows planners to prevent major problems from escalating: For instance, the inclusion of outside stakeholders can lead to greater buy-in for eventual implementation, which further helps build the community's adaptive capacity and resilience. Ultimately, whether integrated into a traditional planning process or used as a separate standalone effort, XSP encourages consideration, collaboration, and consensus to help people and organizations prepare most effectively for whatever lies ahead. "This practical how-to guide with case studies from some of the nation's leading practitioners of exploratory scenarios helps us understand how technology, social inequity, climate change, and other forces may affect future development needs, environmental protection, transportation, and other aspects of our daily lives," said Brett Fusco, manager of long-range planning for the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, which covers the Greater Philadelphia region. Stapleton further offers key recommendations gleaned from practical experience to guide future XSP exercises, as well as assorted sample schedules, templates, and other materials with which planners can build their own processes. He concludes that exploratory scenario planning can play an important role in community and regional planning, noting that, "In a time when climate, economic, and political challenges disrupt natural and social environments and change the quality of life in many communities, planners and community leaders can use XSP to prepare for and adapt to an uncertain future." The guidebook complements the book Scenario Planning for Cities and Regions: Managing and Envisioning Uncertain Futures, by Robert Goodspeed, an in-depth exploration of scenario planning, its purpose and its history, with detailed case studies and practical guidance on scenario planning methods, modeling and simulation tools. To read How to Use Exploratory Scenario Planning (XSP): Navigating an Uncertain Future by Jeremy Stapleton, visit https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/policy-focus-reports/how-use-exploratory-scenario-planning-xsp. To read a four-page Policy Brief, which distills key ideas from the manual, visit https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/policy-briefs/exploratory-scenario-planning. The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy seeks to improve quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. A nonprofit private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Lincoln Institute researches and recommends creative approaches to land as a solution to economic, social, and environmental challenges. Through education, training, publications, and events, we integrate theory and practice to inform public policy decisions worldwide. SOURCE Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Related Links https://www.lincolninst.edu PSD (Social Democratic Party) says Prime Minister Ludovic Orban "must urgently return to the budget the money he transferred to the PNL's electoral piggy-bank to buy mayors," for that money was enough to double the child allowances. "Orban must urgently return to the budget the money he transferred to the PNL's electoral piggy-bank to buy mayors, one by one. That money was enough to double the children's allowances. Today, the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) once again told them that the law on doubling allowances must be observed. But how many times do they need to be told that a law voted by the Parliament and promulgated by the president must be observed?!! The law must be observed," PSD said in a message posted on Facebook on Thursday. The Constitutional Court of Romania rejected, on Thursday, as unfounded, the challenge filed by the Government regarding the Law rejecting GEO no. 123/2020 for the modification of article 3 of Law No. 61/1993 on child allowances, sources from CCR told AGERPRES. On August 19, the Chamber of Deputies rejected, as a decision-making body, Ordinance No. 123/2020, which modified and supplemented article 3 of Law No. 61/1993, in order to gradually increase the child allowance. New Delhi: Actress Rakul Preet Singh has acknowledged the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) summon and will join the ongoing drugs probe on Friday. She had initially denied getting any summons. In her official statement, the actress said, "Not received the alleged summons either at Mumbai or Hyderabad so far". However, Rakul has now accepted the summon and agreed to appear before the central probe agency tomorrow. Deepika Padukone will also be questioned on Friday in Mumbai. The actress was in Goa since a week for work and is expected to land in Mumbai this afternoon. Besides Rakul and Deepika, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor and fashion designer Simone Khambatta were also summoned by the NCB. Simone joined the probe today while Sara and Shraddha have been called on Saturday. According to NCB officials, Simone Khambatta arrived at the NCB office for questioning around 10.15 am, followed by late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's former manager Shruti Modi. The NCB registered a case under the NDPS Act on the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that has been probing the money laundering charges into the June 14 death of Sushant. The probe agency registered the case after a few alleged chats of Sushant's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, Sushant's house manager Samuel Miranda discussing drugs came to the fore. The NCB has, meanwhile, has also questioned Rhea, Showik, Sushant's former talent manager Jaya Saha, Kwan talent management agency CEO Dhruv Chitgopekar, film producer Madhu Mantena Varna among several others. Rhea, Showik, Samuel Miranda and a few drug peddlers have already been arrested. Akshay Kumar is one of the first actors in B-town to kickstart a new film amidst the pandemic. Hes in Scotland shooting for Bell Bottom and is going to wrap up the Scotland schedule soon, and return to Mumbai in October. According to reports in a leading daily, Akshay comes back to Mumbai and doesnt have much time to rest, as he jumps to his next project Prithviraj. The shoot for this ambitious YRF project, which is a historical drama set in the 12th century, was cut short due to the lockdown in March. Moreover, the makers had to dismantle the huge sets in Mumbai, so that it wouldn't be damaged in the monsoon. Now that the film industry is back in motion, Aditya Chopra has decided that the sets be rebuilt. A source informed the daily saying, From October 1, the production design team will begin constructing two sets the palace will be recreated in a ground in Jogeshwari, with another small set-up at Madh island. Considering it's an event film, Adi has instructed his team to ensure that the grandeur of the subject is not lost. The smooth shoot of Bunty Aur Babli 2 has boosted the confidence of the production house, and Adi is sure the team will be able to shoot the big-budget movie despite the restrictions. Looks like Akshay Kumar is all set to go back to his warrior avatar and amaze us with his first ever historical-magnum opus. Joining Akshay Kumar is Manushi Chillar who marks her debut in B-town with Prithviraj. Akshays other film Laxxmi Bomb is all set to hit the OTT platform around Diwali. Amid the border tension, India has tried to reason with China on the disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to ease the standoff but China has taken an adamant stand, according to government sources on Thursday. Violent clashes in Ladakh's Galwan Valley on June 15 led to both the sides losing soldiers. Recently, warning shots were also fired, after a gap of decades. As per the sources, India has conveyed during the talks with People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Maldo, on the Chinese side of the LAC in eastern Ladakh, that disengagement should take place from A to Z area. Live TV During the talks with China, India has conveyed that the withdrawal should take place from Daspang plain to southern area of Pangong Tso and it should not be selective. However, China is not ready to accept that PLA first transgressed into the LAC and has asked the Indian Army to withdraw first from southern Pangong Tso. Earlier, in his first comments since the Moscow pact, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday said that India and China need to adjust to each other's rise which has been the dominating factor in "diplomacy of both countries". Speaking at the world economic forum development impact summit, Jaishankar said that India and China need "to accommodate each other's rise". He stated that both the countries will have "some common interest and many interests which are more individual or nationally centred and that process of how to adjust to each other when both are rising, to my mind is one of the big issues in the diplomacy of both the countries". Calling "border issues" as "one part of that problem," he said, "We are going through a very unprecedented situation, and if one looks at in a longer-term, this is one facet of larger phenomenon" for which both "India and China have to sit down and find a solution". Earlier in September, both Indian and Chinese foreign ministers had first in-person physical meeting amidst the more than the four-month-long tension at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). After the two-hour-long meet, both came out with a five-point joint statement calling for easing the situation at the LAC via dialogue, disengagement and maintaining the distance between the troops of two countries. After the meet, the Corp Commanders of India and China met earlier this week and agreed that build up should be stopped. This was the sixth such meeting and both sides will soon meet for the next round of talks. MEA spokesperson giving an update on the situation on Thursday said, "The two sides have also decided to strengthen the ground communication to avoid any further 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 next meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) is expected to take place soon. MUSKEGON, MI A bombshell allegation that Muskegon staff spent nearly $500,000 on a sesquicentennial celebration without city commission approval will be the subject of a special audit. The assertion by Muskegon City Commissioner Ken Johnson came during a meeting Wednesday, Sept. 23, on unapproved purchases of $195,000 in restaurant gift cards as a coronavirus relief effort. Following sometimes heated discussion complete with allegations of a witch hunt, the commission voted 5-2 to pursue a third-party investigation into fiscal year 2020 expenditures from the citys public improvement fund. That audit will include the purchases of the gift cards in March from 39 restaurants and breweries. The citys legal counsel already determined that it had been unlawful to use the public improvement fund to buy the gift cards. Money has since been shifted into that fund to cover those expenses. The review also will focus on the new allegations that staff spent $750,000, only $250,000 of which was approved by the commission, for a three-day concert series in July 2019 to celebrate the citys 150th anniversary. Related: Coronavirus gift card snafu prompts Facebook video from Muskegon city manager The citys 2020 fiscal year was July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. Some commissioners, who were meeting as the legislative policy committee-of-the-whole, questioned Johnsons motive for bringing up the sesquicentennial expenditures that occurred last year. Commissioner Dan Rinsema-Sybenga encouraged the commission to refrain from discussing this, and questioned what could be achieved by looking at the expenditures from the past. Its just disingenuous to spring this at this point as some sort of ammunition, said Rinsema-Sybenga, saying he didnt know what could be achieved by looking at the expenditures from the past. What youre trying to do is get a close look at this so there can be more gotchas, he told Johnson. Johnson responded that the commission needed to find the extent that (expenditures) went awry and how can you fix what you dont understand is amiss? Rinsema-Sybenga later voted in favor of pursuing the third-party audit. Even before the sesquicentennial expenditures were brought up, Vice Mayor Eric Hood told Johnson that seeking a third-party review of the gift card expenditures appeared to be a witch hunt and that Johnson seemed to have a personal issue with city staff. Mayor Steven Gawron joined Hood in voting against pursuing the special audit. Gawron had pushed for getting an explanation from city staff before hiring an outside firm. Discussion began about a possible third-party review of the gift card purchases by City Manager Frank Peterson. Johnson said he thought the review should be about the public improvement fund and how it was being used. As commissioners questioned the need for a review of that fund, Johnson raised the issue of the Sesquicentennial Celebration. He later explained he didnt initially intend to bring it up, but he felt the commissioners were seeking more concrete reasons for a review of fund expenditures. Johnson said his research showed that the city received more than $300,000 in revenue from the 150th anniversary celebration, but still lost about $430,000 on the event. The celebration, held in July 2019 at Heritage Landing, featured concerts by such performers as Bret Michaels, Kansas and Freddie Jackson. When asked to provide a comment to commissioners about the sesquicentennial expenditures, Peterson told Gawron he wasnt prepared to do so. Commissioners Willie German Jr. and Teresa Emory spoke forcefully in favor of the special audit. Emory especially didnt mince words, saying the commission had already lost the publics trust. This is about us building trust in our residents, our citizens, again, she said. Its not about firing Frank (Peterson), crucifying Frank. Were all in this together. German praised Johnson for raising the issues, saying the reaction from some commissioners doesnt sit well. We owe it to the citizens, German said. We took an oath to uphold the laws of the local government. Its not about friendships or looking into firing Frank or anyone, or pointing the finger at anyone. Peterson explained his side of the gift card controversy on Tuesday, Sept. 22, via a video posted on the citys Facebook page. He said staff felt an urgency to help restaurants that were shut down due to COVID-19, and so developed the hospitality relief project. The idea behind the swift development of the hospitality relief project was born out of a recognition that the hospitality industry helped to build our vibrant downtown over the past seven years and contributed to the resulting spinoff of economic activity throughout the city, Peterson said. We recognized that many of these establishments were new -- less than three to five years old -- and were not in a position to sustain a prolonged closure without a level of assistance. Gift cards ranging from $3,000 to $7,000 were purchased from 39 local businesses, most of them restaurants, in March when the pandemic was beginning to unfold locally. In addition to the review, the commission agreed to establish two work groups, comprised of a couple commissioners each along with staff, to deal with the aftermath of the gift card purchases. One work group will review the citys financial and purchasing policies while the other will explore what the city should do with the gift cards. Also on MLive: Playable sculptures bring music to Muskegon-area parks There wasnt a mean bone in his body, family says of teen who drowned in Lake Michigan Protestors gather in Lansing to oppose mandatory masks for youth athletes during sports A grand jury in Kentucky has indicted a former Louisville police detective, Brett Hankison, on three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree for his actions during the raid of Breonna Taylors apartment. What does that mean? Under Kentucky law, a person commits that crime when he or she wantonly engages in conduct which creates a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to another person, and does so under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life. Other states may use terms like reckless endangerment for an equivalent offense. But the charges against Mr. Hankison are not for killing Ms. Taylor. None of the 10 shots he fired are known to have struck her. Instead, the Kentucky attorney general, Daniel Cameron, who is overseeing the prosecution, said the former detective was charged by the grand jury because the shots he fired had passed through Ms. Taylors apartment walls into a neighboring apartment, endangering three people there. Mr. Hankison is charged with one count for each of the neighboring apartments occupants: a pregnant woman, her husband and their 5-year-old child, who were asleep. They were not hit by the shots. You could consume the right food as an exemplar of your materialism, and exemplar of your moral virtue, as opposed to having the ostentatious Rolex, he added. As he weaved through the produce aisle amid shaggy young professionals wearing design-forward masks, Mr. Lorr recalled seeing fellow yoga students descend on Trader Joes with maniacal glee when he was reporting his 2012 book Hell-Bent: Obsession, Pain, and the Search for Something Like Transcendence in Competitive Yoga, which peeled back the curtain on the sweaty, and at times abusive, Bikram yoga scene. To me, it seemed like a stand-in for the entire cult of food. He credited Joe Coulombe, who founded Trader Joes in the 1960s, for shattering the idea that supermarkets could only thrive on mass-market branded staples. Passing the egg cooler in the store, Mr. Lorr recounted how Mr. Coulombe would buy extra-jumbo eggs that were actually better and cheaper, but most stores wouldnt touch because they were seasonal and sporadically available, and most grocery managers prized predictability above all. It set off the idea of discontinuous products, Mr. Lorr said. To some extent, Trader Joes defined the grocery industry by its choices to march against the grain. One pitfall of being an educated consumer are the never-ending ethical dilemmas: which is more damaging to the environment, farmed or fresh salmon? In his book, however, Mr. Lorr shows that ethical dilemmas exist at every level. (Photo : Sam Mooy/Getty Images) SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 12: Westpac chairman Lindsay Maxsted (right) and new acting CEO Peter King arrive at the Westpac 2019 Annual General Meeting at ICC Sydney on December 12, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. Westpac has come under scrutiny in recent weeks following the launch of an investigation by Australia's financial intelligence agency - AUSTRAC - over a money laundering and child exploitation scandal. AUSTRAC alleges the bank breached anti-money laundering laws 23 million times, including failing to adequately vet thousands of payments potentially linked to child exploitation. Westpac announced that chief executive Brian Hartzer will step down and chairman Lindsay Maxsted will leave the board early as a result of the scandal. Westpac, one of Australia's largest banks, announced on Thursday, September 24, that it has agreed to pay a record 1.3 billion Australian dollar ($920 million) in fine with AUSTRAC, Australia's regulator that fights financial crime. This fine, once approved by an Australian court, would be the largest corporate penalty in the nation's history. The fine is due to Westpac's breach of the anti-money laundering and terrorism financing laws. It could have been larger since AUSTRAC said the transactions reached 23 million law breaches. Each breach has a maximum penalty of around $14.8 million. CEO Peter King said in a statement that he wishes to apologize for the bank's failure. He adds that they are "committed to fixing these issues to ensure that these mistakes do not happen again." It is his "number one priority," King adds. In Sydney, Westpac shares slumped as of Thursday. It was trading down about 1%. Westpac breaches law Westpac self-reported the breaches to AUSTRAC last year. The report disclosed an investigation to shareholders, including a forecast penalty. The Australian watchdog then pursued legal action against Westpac for its failure to report millions of instructions for financial transfers in and out of Australia. The unreported transactions amounted to A$11bn between 2013 and 2019, Austrac said. AUSTRAC said Westpac neglected due diligence. The bank failed to report adequately over 19 million international transactions, including those made to the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries with "known financial indicators relating to potential child exploitation." According to AUSTRAC Chief Executive, Nicole Rose, the failure to pass on information "undermines the integrity of Australia's financial system." She adds that it "hinders Austrac's ability to track down the origins of financial transactions when required to support police investigations." Rose said they would "continue to work collaboratively with Westpac and all businesses we regulate to support them to meet their compliance and reporting obligations to ensure this doesn't happen again in the future." Similarly, King claims that the company has made changes to how it monitors transactions. The company has hired hundreds of people responsible for looking for financial crime and has created an executive position directly responsible for improving how the bank addresses financial crimes. Former CEO Brian Hartzer resigned in November of last year due to the scandals. Westpac pays record-high fine Westpac is the second top Australian bank to pay huge fines for breaking the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. In 2018, a 700 million Australian dollars ($493 million) fine was levied on the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. It was after the said bank admitted failing to observe laws to prevent money laundering and financing of terrorism. Last year, Australia's banking sector was also the subject of a royal commission exposing widespread wrongdoing in the industry. The royal commission is Australia's highest form of a public inquiry. Westpac's case comes amid several investigations happening around the world with top banks for their alleged failures to prevent money laundering. According reports, HSBC, Danske Bank and Rabobank have so far been involved in high-profile scandals. Read only: Leaked FinCEN Files Show Deutsche Bank Responsible for $1.3 Trillion Suspicious Transactions, Current Execs Knew About 2015 $10 Billion Moscow Scandal This is owned by Tech Times Written by CJ Robles 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Myanmar & COVID-19 Thai Health Authorities Keeping a Close Eye on Myanmar Thai security officials arrest illegal Myanmar migrants in Mae Sot district of Tak province earlier this month. / Assawin Pinitwong / Bangkok Post The Thai Department of Disease Control (DDC) is keeping a close watch on Myanmar cities that border Thailand after learning the country on Wednesday reported 592 new cases of COVID-19. The COVID-19 situation in Myanmar is a great concern, so business operators should stop hiring foreign workers, especially Myanmar people, to help prevent a second wave of infections in Thailand, said DDC director-general Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai on Wednesday. Dr. Suwannachai was speaking at a press conference after learning the number of new COVID-19 infections in Myanmar surged on Wednesday, taking the total to 6,743. He said the increasing number of patients infected with COVID-19 in Myanmar was in line with a similar trend in India, which has reached nearly 100,000 new cases each day. The countries share a border, which has prompted public health and security officers to monitor the situation closely. Dr. Suwannachai said COVID-19 infections in Thailands neighboring countries are of concern because they are increasing, especially in Malaysia, where the number of patients climbed to 10,358 on Wednesday. He said the worrying situation had prompted the Myanmar government to lock down Yangon, the former capital. It also shut down schools and garment plants in the city. People have been told to work from home. Rigid health measures have been ordered to control the disease. Various agencies have been working together to prevent people from sneaking into [Thailand] illegally, he said. The network of public health officers and public health officers for the alien workers are scanning the border areas. He warned that tough legal action will be implemented against those found to be involved in human smuggling gangs. Walairat Chaifu, chief of the Epidemiology Division of the DDC, said the department is concerned about the risk of a second wave. There were 169 cases in Mon State sharing the border with Kanchanaburi, 36 cases in Karen State sharing the border with Mae Hong Son, Tak and Kanchanaburi, 23 cases in Shan State sharing the border with Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, and 21 cases in Tanintharyi sharing the border with Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Ranong. You may also like these stories: Myanmars Ayeyarwady Region Prepares Temporary Hospitals to Tackle Rise in COVID-19 Cases Myanmar Reports 69 COVID-19 Deaths in Six Days Suu Kyi Pledges More Than $758m Fund to Myanmars COVID-19 Battle The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey organized a mural painted on West State Street in Trenton. Local and state officials, along with Chamber members and community activists attended a dedication ceremony Wednesday evening after the mural with large yellow letters reading Black Lives Matter was painted on the street throughout the day. LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Six months after Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by police in her Kentucky apartment, a grand jury delivered a long-awaited answer about whether the officers would be punished. The jury on Wednesday did charge one of the officers, Brett Hankison, with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing shots that went into another home with people inside. But jurors didnt indict any of the officers on charges directly related to Taylors death. The jury relied on evidence presented to it by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Cameron said the other two officers were justified in firing their weapons because Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, had fired one shot at them. Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylors 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. Some questions and answers about Camerons findings in the Breonna Taylor case: WHO WAS BREONNA TAYLOR? Taylor was a 26-year-old emergency medical technician who lived with her sister in an apartment in Louisville. She and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, had settled in to watch a movie in her bedroom on the night of March 13 when police came to her door with a narcotics warrant that was one of five issued that night in a wide-ranging sting. Minutes later, Taylor was fatally shot. Her death sparked months of protests in Louisville, and celebrities including LeBron James, Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey have called on authorities to criminally charge the police officers who were involved in the raid. HOW MANY TIMES WAS BREONNA TAYLOR SHOT? Cameron said that Taylor was shot six times on the night of her death, but only one of the gunshots was fatal. Sgt. John Mattingly had entered the home after the door was broken down, and he was shot once in the leg by Walker, Taylors boyfriend. Walker has said he didnt know the police were at the door, and he fired a warning shot, thinking it was an intruder. After Walker fired, Mattingly, Hankison and a third officer, Myles Cosgrove, returned fire, for a total of 32 gunshots fired by police. WHY WAS NO ONE CHARGED WITH SHOOTING BREONNA TAYLOR? Cameron said the fatal bullet was fired by Cosgrove, but added that Cosgrove and Mattingly were justified in the use of force because they were shot at first. Cameron said state law bars us from seeking charges in Breonna Taylors death. Cameron also said there was no conclusive evidence that any of Hankisons 10 gunshots hit Taylor inside her home. But Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing shots that went into another home with people inside. WHY WAS OFFICER BRETT HANKISON GIVEN A $15,000 BOND? Hankison, who was fired from the Louisville department in June, was the only officer charged by the grand jury. The first-degree wanton endangerment charges are Class D, the lowest level felonies in Kentucky, which have a sentencing range of one to five years in prison upon conviction. When Hankison was fired, interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder said that Hankison showed extreme indifference to the value of human life when he fired blindly into Taylors home. WILL THERE BE ANY OTHER CHARGES? Cameron said it is unlikely there will be any further criminal charges coming from his investigation from the night of the shooting. Lawyers for Taylors family had called for a minimum of manslaughter charges. Cameron said his team walked the grand jury through every homicide offence and then the grand jury was the one that made the ultimate decision. Federal officials are continuing to investigate whether the officers committed any civil rights violations, and that probe is also investigating a fourth officer, Joshua Jaynes, who sought the warrant for Taylors home. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer also said Louisville police are conducting a professional standards investigation to look into if any officers involved in the raid that night need further training or discipline. The grant will help the university equip it with computers, software and other equipment. Governors State is also in line for a state grant of $400,000, through the capital funding bill, that would be used to improve heating, ventilation and air conditioning in the building, she said. Rishi Sunak's new help for business and jobs at a glace Furlough scheme will be replaced with a Job Support Scheme (JSS) to 'directly support' wages of staff working at least a third of regular hours. Firms will pay workers for hours they work. For regular hours they cannot work, employer and Treasury will both pay a third of their wages, so they get two-thirds of pay for missed hours. JSS open to firms who have not used furlough. Self Employment Income Support Scheme Grant (SEISS) is extended, with a lump some to cover November to January next year It will be worth 20 per cent of average monthly profits, capped at 1,875. Second grant available for February to April 2021 Bounceback Loan guarantee term extended to 10 years from the current six. Interest-only periods of six months and payment holidays also now available. VAT cut from 20 to 5 per cent for firms in hospitality and tourism sectors is extended to March 2021. Other firms who have deferred VAT bills under New Payment Scheme will be allowed to pay it off in 11 interest-free payments in 2021-22 financial year instead of one full payment in March 2021. 'Time to Pay' self-assessment tax system extended to January 2022. Advertisement Workers will be able to pick up 77 per cent of their wages for doing as little as a third of their regular hours under plans unveiled by Rishi Sunak today. The Chancellor unveiled the Job Support Scheme (JSS) to 'directly support' wages of staff in 'viable' roles for six months from November. It will replace the furlough, or Job Retention Scheme (JRS), which is due to come to an end on October 31. But the new scheme is less generous than furlough, with the Chancellor admitting it was too expensive to continue after October. Under the new system employees' wages receive a maximum subsidy of 22 per cent from the Treasury, depending on how many hours they work. But firms must pick up the additional 55 per cent, compared to 20 per cent under furlough. It has sparked fears that many businesses will simply lay staff off instead of taking it up. Paul Johnson, director of the IFS think tank, said: 'The new job support scheme represents a significant new intervention from government to support jobs through the crisis. 'But it is significantly less generous than the furlough scheme it replaces - though remarkably the Chancellor provided no indication of the likely cost of the scheme. 'He is trying to plot a difficult path between supporting viable jobs while not keeping people in jobs that will not be there once we emerge from the crisis. 'With employers now having to pay at least 55 per cent of the normal wages of their employees it is clear that many jobs will be lost over the coming months.' It will cost the Treasury an estimated 300 million a month for every million workers who take up the scheme - with Government contributions per worker capped at 697.92 per month. By comparison, the furlough scheme has cost the Government 39.3 billion - about 6 billion a month. At a live press conference this afternoon, Mr Sunak said: 'We can't continue to provide the same degree of support as we did at the beginning of this crisis and sustain it at that level. 'It's not affordable and not sustainable for a prolonged period of time.' The Chancellor said the new jobs support scheme was 'more targeted' than furlough, and would help businesses who really need assistance. 'Larger businesses on this scheme will have to demonstrate that their revenues are falling as a result of what is happening to them,' he explained. He added: 'You can use this scheme in conjunction with the jobs retention bonus that we put in place in the summer, and if you look at the combined impact of those, I think it provides a very significant cash incentive for businesses to retain their staff even if that means on reduced hours.' 8 in every 10 covered: Employees will get all their wages for hours they do work, and two-thirds of their wages for hours they have not worked Under the JSS plans, businesses will continue to pay workers for the hours they work. But it will help support workers wages for the hours they cannot work due to lockdown restrictions on working hours or because of a lack of business due to economic decline. For the regular hours that they are missing out on working, the Treasury and the employer will both pay a third of their wages. This means workers will get all their wages for hours they do work, and two-thirds of their wages for hours they have not worked. Source: HM Treasury To be eligible, workers have to have worked at least a third (33 per cent) of their regular hours. In this scenario, a worker would receive 77 per cent of their total wages, with the firm picking up 55 per cent and the Treasury 22 per cent. The percentages change depending on the number of hours worked. This is a large increase from the furlough scheme, under which firms paid in just 20 per cent of wages, with the Government picking up the rest. But the difference is that under this, staff have to at least work some hours - under furlough they did not have to work at all. The Government contribution will be capped at 697.92 a month and it will be paid in arrears - your employer pays you and then claims it back. But the Treasury hopes it will allow businesses to reduce staff hours instead of simply laying them off because they cannot afford to pay them. But experts warned that the scheme still leaves a lot of pressure on businesses and may not be enough to see off a vast wave of redundancies when it replaces furlough on November 1. Rishi's 'pay as you grow' plan to help business survival by easing loan and tax payments Businesses will get more time to pay back emergency loans and tax bills under plans unveiled today by the Chancellor. More than a million companies which took out Bounce Back Loans will be allowed to pay them back over 10 years instead of six under a 'pay as you grow' plan outlined by Rishi Sunak in the Commons. He told MPs that this would almost halve the monthly repayments facing businesses, amid fears that economic damage may last monger than first thought. It brings the Bounce back Loans scheme into line with Germany's Schnellkredit - which allows repayments over a decade but charges higher interest. Firms will also be able to take advantage of interest-only repayments for up to six months and be able to take payment holidays for the same period of time, once they have made six repayments. In addition the Chancellor has extended the availability of Bounce Back Loans, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans, Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loans and the Future Fund until November 30. So far these have paid out more more than a million loans totalling around 58billion. In addition a new payment scheme will give more breathing space for more than 30 billion of deferred VAT payments, allowing companies and VAT-registered sole traders to make 11 interest-free payments in 2021-22 rather than a lump sum at the end of March. The temporary 15 per cent VAT cut for tourism and hospitality that took the rate from 20 per cent to 5 per cent will be extended until the end of March. But not all firms believe it will work. Jon Kay, director of Bury St Edmunds-based Camp Tails Doggy Daycare, said: 'Pay-as-you-grow, interest-only terms, additional payment holidays, it's ultimately putting lipstick on a pig. Debt is debt and for many small businesses struggling to bounce back in a brutal environment it will be the final nail in the coffin. The Chancellor needs to announce protection for employers as much as employees. The latter don't exist without the former, after all.' Advertisement What IS a 'viable job'? Chancellor dodges key question As part of a package of measures, the Chancellor said the new job support scheme was aimed at protecting 'viable' roles rather than all posts which have been kept going as a result of state support under the furlough programme. But he was rather vague on what constituted a viable job. Critics suggests that jobs which may appear impossible at the moment - working in theatres for example, are hopefully only in hibernation until things improve. Picked up on his language at the press conference this afternoon, he declined to say which roles he thinks have now become unviable. 'It's impossible for me to predict given the uncertainty of the exact shape of the labour market,' he said. 'When we started the furlough scheme it surprised everybody, economic commentators alike, the scale of the take-up of that. 'My expectation and hope is that this new scheme will be able to benefit large numbers of people and help protect their jobs through the difficult winter months, especially as demand is depressed in their companies. 'It's not for me to sit here and make pronouncements upon exactly what job is viable or not but what we do need to do is evolve our support now that we're through the acute phase of the crisis.' Helen Barnard, director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said: 'Jobs that have been viable in the past and will be again in the future need specific support to get through the current crisis. 'But the design of this scheme risks undermining its success and leading to more job losses by creating an unnecessary disincentive to employers to make use of it. 'Where jobs are truly not viable, the government must urgently make good on its manifesto promise to establish a Right to Retrain so that whole areas and industries are not cut adrift amid a gathering storm. 'Too many people now find themselves on the brink of being pulled further into poverty during the course of this year people in the lowest paid roles, in areas where there are fewer new opportunities, and sectors where close contact is unavoidable.' And Julian Bird, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, warned of further job losses and redundancies in the performing arts sector. 'The Chancellor's announcements today do little to help the theatre and performing arts sector where the majority of venues and productions remain closed due to Covid,' he said. 'Our previously viable and world-beating sector is facing decimation, as with no income organisations cannot bring their staff back to work. 'Without targeted and vitally needed support for the workforce in this sector, we will see further job losses and redundancies. 'While the extension of the self-employed scheme is welcome, with the amount offered reduced to 20 per cent thousands will face real financial peril.' Who is eligible ? Can I apply if my firm has never furloughed anyone? The new job support scheme will be targeted at small and medium-sized firms, with larger companies of more than 250 employees only eligible if turnover has fallen due to the crisis. All employers with a UK bank account and UK PAYE schemes can claim the grant. Neither the employer nor the employee needs to have previously used the furlough Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to apply for the replacement. There will be no financial assessment test for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). But firms will be prohibited from making workers redundant while on the new programme, and larger listed companies will face restrictions on making dividend payments to shareholders A Treasury spokesman said: 'In order to support viable jobs, for the first three months of the scheme the employee must work at least 33 per cent of their usual hours. 'After three months, the Government will consider whether to increase this minimum hours threshold.' So how will it affect my wages? John is a builder earning 10 and working a 40-hour week. He takes home 400 before tax. Under Rishi Sunak's scheme he would work a minimum of 13 hours a week. For those 13 hours he would be paid 308. Of that, his employer pays 220 and the Treasury 80. The Treasury also gave an example of how it would work: Beth normally works five days a week and earns 350 a week. Her company is suffering reduced sales due to coronavirus. Rather than making Beth redundant, the company puts Beth on the Job Support Scheme, working two days a week (40 per cent of her usual hours). Her employer pays Beth 140 for the two days she works. And for the time she is not working (three days or 60 per cent, worth 210), she will also earn two-thirds, or 140, bringing her total earnings to 280, or 80 per cent of her normal wage. The Government will give a grant worth 70 (a third of hours not worked, equivalent to 20 per cent of her normal wages) to Beth's employer to help them keep her job. The scheme is geared up so that the more people work, the less Treasury has to pay. But that does risk firms deliberately cutting hours in order to obtain more of a grant. What if the company I work for uses the new scheme? Will I have my hours cut? It remains to be seen how the scheme is to be implemented. Many workers who are still off on total furlough would be required to come back to work. Others will already have been back at work. Some will be facing working restrictions under new rules brought in by Boris Johnson this week. It is likely there will have to be discussions between staff and management in the coming weeks. But the onus is on getting businesses open even if in a limited fashion. Mixed reaction Trade union and business leaders have spoken out in support the new scheme - some of it caveated. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'Unions have been pushing hard for continued jobs support for working people. 'We are pleased the Chancellor has listened and done the right thing. This scheme will provide a lifeline for many firms with a viable future beyond the pandemic. 'But there's still unfinished business. Unworked hours under the scheme must not be wasted. 'Ministers must work with business and unions to offer high-quality retraining, so workers are prepared for the future economy.' Others praised the Chancellor's 'bold steps', saying hundreds of thousands of jobs will be saved. Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the CBI, said it was right to target help on jobs with a future. 'These bold steps from the Treasury will save hundreds of thousands of viable jobs this winter,' she said. 'Wage support, tax deferrals and help for the self-employed will reduce the scarring effect of unnecessary job losses as the UK tackles the virus. Further business rates relief should remain on the table. 'The Chancellor has listened to evidence from business and unions, acting decisively. It is this spirit of agility and collaboration that will help make 2021 a year of growth and renewal.' But economists were less bowled over. Clare McNeil, associate director of the left-leaning IPPR think tank said: 'Choosing to continue to support the incomes of workers and businesses through the hugely uncertain next six months is the right decision. However, getting the design of the scheme right will be imperative to avoid layoffs, and the plan has three major flaws.' She warned it may not go far enough in preventing lay-offs because firms will have to pay too much of wages, plus other costs like NI contributions and pensions. The scheme is mitigated by the Job Retention Bonus, which pays out 1,000 for each worker kept on, but it ends in January and is closed to new applications She also said the requirement for at least a third of hours to be worked would badly affect firms unable to trade at all. She added: 'However the scheme is more generous than expected in allowing any SME to be eligible for support, while large businesses have to demonstrate that their turnover has been hit but Coronavirus.' The scheme has echoes of the German Kurzarbeit job subsidy measure, which has been recently extended until the end of 2021. 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. For example, for someone who usually works 37 hours a week but can only now work 17, a company could pay them their full wage for the 17 hours but it could charge the Government to pay a proportion of the remaining 20 hours. According to the Munich-based 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 urged the Government to bring in such a scheme, or a similar French-style system, after the furlough scheme ends in October. More help for the self-employed but many miss out Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that the Government will cover 20 per cent of the earnings of self-employed people after the current scheme, which covers 80 per cent of earnings, runs out. More than a million people will have to fend for themselves after the Chancellor failed to plug holes in his support for the self-employed, a trade body has warned. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that the Government will cover 20 per cent of the earnings of self-employed people after the current scheme, which covers 80 per cent of earnings, runs out. He also promised to defer income tax self-assessment, a measure that will be 'of particular importance' to self employed people. But the help misses out around 1.5 million people who have been given far too little support through the crisis, said Andy Chamberlain, the director of policy at the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE). Only sole traders who filed tax returns in the financial year ending April 2019 were eligible for the previous Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (Seiss), and the Chancellor did not appear to close these gaps on Thursday. 'The support for the self-employed announced today is woefully inadequate. 'Although it is right for the Chancellor to extend Seiss, the support announced today still excludes one in three self-employed people,' Mr Chamberlain said. 'Limited company freelancers and the newly self-employed almost entirely missed out on support in the last lockdown and have faced bleak months of financial devastation. 'Now they face a dark winter ahead unless the government does more for them.' He added that the 20 per cent cap on support is likely to prove insufficient for many. A new crew of personal shoppers are coming to town as demand for online delivery services skyrockets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A new crew of personal shoppers are coming to town as demand for online delivery services "skyrockets" during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting this week, Winnipeggers can place orders customized through multiple stores of choice from fresh groceries and pharmaceuticals to alcohol, flowers and locally butchered meats delivered to their doorstep using the shopping app Inabuggy. But with at least five different retail deliverers in the city, economists suggest its a suddenly crowded space to be entering. "All I know is that were definitely in it for the long haul," Inabuggys CEO Julian Gleizer told the Free Press Wednesday. "COVID-19 was like the flip of a switch," said Gleizer, who founded the app in 2015. "Overnight, we began to see a progressively changed market where we could hire hundreds of personal shoppers across the country simply in order to meet a rising demand." The delivery app has now scaled its operations to more than 50 Canadian regions, including large cities such as Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Calgary delivering from retail giants such as Walmart, Canadian Tire, Rexall and Costco. COVID-19 was like the flip of a switch. Overnight, we began to see a progressively changed market where we could hire hundreds of personal shoppers across the country simply in order to meet a rising demand. Inabuggy CEO Julian Gleizer "It certainly is a new norm," he said. "Were seeing major upticks of our users increasing their average basket sizes and overall its trend shift towards people getting used to the idea of safely getting things delivered, especially when theyre still hesitant to go out." At a flat rate of $19.98 per order (or $9.99 using the apps local convenience rates), service charges for Inabuggy are higher than several other retail deliverers. Instacart, for example, starts at $3.99 for same-day orders over $35. But Gleizer says what makes the app special is its customizable system that allows users to place a single order with items delivered from multiple stores. SUPPLIED At a flat rate of $19.98 per order (or $9.99 using the apps hyperlocal convenience rates), service charges for Inabuggy are higher than several other retail deliverers. "Were also promising to support local businesses more than our competition," he said. "Competition though, of course, is healthy for us and were proud to be in this market." Sylvain Charlebois, Canadas leading food supply chain expert, says it remains to be seen how long the newly-created boom for deliverers will last. "At the end of the day, this is Amazons legacy were seeing because they got the industry to start looking at things differently," he said. "Prior to the pandemic, Canadas culture wasnt really like that we werent the type to get things delivered all the time." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Certainly, thats changed," Charlebois added. "And the result is more startups that are finding a market using peoples demand during this time, when industries are blurring lines to continue staying afloat." To remain successful as a deliverer after this industry growth, "implementation and local partnerships will be key," said Jenifer Bartman, a Winnipeg-based national business consultant. "Im old enough to remember when Eatons delivery trucks were commonplace," she said. "So in a way, these new ideas arent entirely new theyre ideas that were returning to after some time." "But like those services that used to exist, these new ones will need to understand that to remain around for the long haul, its all about understanding the people in cities in which youre operating." Twitter: @temurdur temur.durrani@freepress.mb.ca - Robert and Lucy got married when they were 21 and 20 years of age respectively - Though their marriage was not easy in the beginning, they inspired online users after narrating how they overcame challenges in the union - With more than 11 years together, the Kenyan couple who live in Rwanda, are great business owners and their love is even stronger PAY ATTENTION: Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme We often hear the wise saying that marriage is not a bed of roses and going by the rising divorce numbers in Kenya, this statement could not be any truer. By the end of 2019, Milimani Law Courts civil registry which registers divorces recorded 1,109 separations and in January and February 2020 alone, 244 divorces had already been filed. Robert and his wife Lucy tied the knot in their early 20's. Photo: Ndungu Nyoro. Source: Facebook But for Robert and Lucy, they chose to stick to each other even in moments when divorce seemed like it was the easy way out and their love story left many inspired that indeed, marriage works. How they met Speaking to philanthropist Ndungu Nyoro in his popular segment dubbed #inspirationThursday, Robert admitted he grew up a shy boy and was even convinced, at some point in his life that he was never meant for a relationship and love. "I also had this deep feeling it had to do with my physical appearance, as I was really thin and broke as well. Honestly, it was tough to get a girlfriend," he narrated. The man and woman grew up in Kayole and went to similar schools. Photo: Ndungu Nyoro. Source: Facebook His love for Lucy was not hard to come by given they grew up in the same hood in Kayole but lost contact when his now wife's family relocated to another area. The universe was definitely conspiring for them to be together because they both bumped into each other in 2007 in a matatu and exchanged contacts to keep in touch. By this time, the young Robert was not stable financially to afford expensive dates but would invite the young lady to his place for lunch and dinner. He had also started getting attracted to his beautiful childhood friend who was a small business owner in Ngara by then. Lucy turned down Robert's proposal three times but she eventually accepted. Photo: Ndungu Nyoro. Source: UGC Robert gathered courage and asked Lucy to be his girlfriend and he was instead slapped with a huge no by the lady who wanted to concentrate on building herself first. "I asked her for the second time and she said 'no' and that it couldnt happen. My spirit was dampened and I felt like there was something so wrong with me," he said. Undeterred, Robert tried the third time to ask Lucy to be his hand and your guess is as good as mine, he was met with another rejection. They both started a studio business together and it was during their interactions in the shop that the relentless young man popped the question again and fortunately, the lady accepted to be his girlfriend. They now own various businesses in Kigali Rwanda and their marriage is flourishing. Photo: Ndungu Nyoro. Source: UGC Marriage and challenges Not long after that, that the smitten couple, aged 20, for Lucy and Robert 21, tied the knot in a traditional wedding in 2009. They said though their parents were concerned about their young ages, they still supported them. Their first hurdle in marriage was finances since their studio was not earning them much and secondly, Lucy had a troublesome first pregnancy. After the birth of their child, Robert felt forsaken since Lucy's attention shifted to the baby only and gradually, they started falling apart and they would even go for days without talking to each other. Robert said communication has helped them remain strong in their marriage. Photo: Ndungu Nyoro. Source: UGC Heated arguments One time, when they had an argument, they almost completely gave up on the union but lucky for them, a neighbour intervened and they talked and decided to forgive each other. Now, 11 years together and parents to two adorable boys, the couple are business owners of a consultancy firm in Kigali, Rwanda and other businesses and the best part is that their love has never been so alive as it is. For them, they do not regret marrying young and they said communication and openness have been some of the values that have kept their love strong for more than a decade. "We dont keep secrets, we prefer being open to each other. When it comes to finances and running the business, she does the budgets and planning," he said. Kiki Wa Ng'endo should not carry the blame alone, her family and men failed too - Reactions TUKO TV Source: TUKO.co.ke By any conventional or historical measure, the recent breakthrough between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is a good thing, and the Trump administration deserves its share of praise for it. The refusal of much of the media to take this moment seriously only lends credibility to President Trumps complaints that the media is out to get him. Who does that serve? Just give Trump his due. This happened on his watch. He helped it happen. And if he were any other president, the media would have acknowledged, perhaps still grudgingly, that this is or at least could be a very big deal. More importantly, whatever your view of Trump (readers know Im not a fan), reducing whats happening in the Middle East to a pro-Trump or anti-Trump narrative is myopic. Much like his 2016 presidential run, Trumps 2020 Middle East success is a product of timing. Trump couldnt have won the nomination in 2012 or any of the other years he flirted with running. Similarly, the Abraham Accords couldnt have been achieved four or eight years ago because conditions werent ripe for it. Historically speaking, a lot of credit goes to Barack Obama. In much the same way that Neville Chamberlain and his policy of appeasement were partly responsible for WWII, Obamas disastrous Iran deal led the Arab world to reevaluate its priorities. Shia Iran wants to dominate the Sunni-majority Middle East. Saudi Arabia fears that the Iranians want to be the caretaker of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, both of which are located in Saudi Arabia. Obamas gift to Iran of piles of money and a path to a nuclear weapon was perceived as a betrayal of existential proportions not only by the Saudis and Israelis, but by the smaller Arab states such as the UAE and Bahrain as well. When the U.S. essentially greenlights Iranian hegemony in the region, Israel Irans mortal enemy looks more like a potential ally to Irans regional rivals. But Obama did something positive, too. He didnt stop the U.S. oil industrys technological revolution, which led to America becoming the worlds largest oil producer. Note: I didnt say Obama is responsible for the oil boom, merely that he didnt stop it. Both Obama and Trump have tried to take credit for something that mostly just happened on their watch. It took a long time for the Middle East to lose its stranglehold on the global oil supply and its ability to set prices at will. But once it happened, the politics and economics of the region were bound to change. The clearest sign of that was the rise to power of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He saw the writing on the wall that the Saudis needed to diversify their economy and join the global economy as something more than a fuel depot not just for the survival of Saudi prosperity, but for the survival of the ruling family. In this context, the plight of the Palestinians was bound to become less of a priority. There are plenty of other factors. For instance, whatever you think of the Iraq War, it achieved its primary aim: the removal of Saddam Hussein from power. Iraq is no huge success story today, but Saddams removal cleared an important roadblock to normalization of Israel in the region. And of course theres Israel itself. The tiny nation has shaken off the socialist doldrums to become a technological powerhouse and an innovation hub in the global economy. If you want a post-petrodollar economy, Israel is more useful as a trading partner than as a symbolic foe. Trump, as is his wont, would have the world believe this rapprochement is the singular product of his deal-making genius. Its not. But its an example of a president seizing on a propitious moment to chalk up an important win. And thats good enough. Jonah Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch. Love 0 Funny 11 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Former President John Dramani Mahama is expected to speak today, September 24 on the reported missing names on the electoral roll. A statement signed by the NDCs Campaign Spokesperson, James Agyenim-Boateng indicated that the address will be delivered at the partys headquarters in Accra. The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama will on Thursday speak to the nation from the NDC headquarters in Accra at 1 pm on the integrity challenges of the electoral process and unfolding events that threaten to undermine Ghanas stability and democracy, said the statement. The NDC had alleged that the ongoing voters exhibition exercise has been fraught with electoral irregularities. John Mahama and his running mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang both suspended their regional campaigns over the concerns with the register. The former President said too many issues have characterized the voter registration and exhibition exercises due to the EC's poor management. He has since called on the international community to as a matter of urgency intervene in the electoral processes in Ghana. He said they must take a keen interest in current happenings which he described as chaotic. ---citinewsroom Washington County added to quarantine list for troublesome bug The Maryland Department of Agriculture has added several areas, including Washington County, to its quarantine list regarding the spotted lanternfly. The U.S. economy continued losing jobs at a steady and massive pace last week. Another 870,000 Americans sought new unemployment benefits last week, as the pandemics economic impacts continued to spread pain. More than 230,000 claims were in California, which now has stopped accepting new applications for two weeks while it revamps a struggling benefits system a change that is likely to temporarily skew the states job-loss numbers. Besides regular claims, 630,080 people applied for new pandemic benefits for self-employed people, including 99,824 in California, according to data released Thursday by the Department of Labor. The total number of new U.S. claims since the pandemics start is now 61.9 million. Those still on the unemployment rolls for regular benefits totaled 12.6 million as of Sept. 12, with 2.8 million in California. Including those receiving benefits for the self-employed, veterans and other programs, the U.S. had 26 million people receiving unemployment payments as of Sept. 5. California claims for the week accounted for more than a quarter of the national totals far beyond the states 12% share of the U.S. population, which economists attribute to the states early and prolonged shutdown, as well as its heavy reliance on travel and tourism. The states Employment Development Department has processed 13.6 million claims since the start of the pandemic but still faces a backlog of more than 1 million yet to be processed. The agency has paid out $90.6 billion in benefits since early March. The EDD said its been remitting a weekly $300 supplement under the Federal Lost Wages Assistance program, covering weeks in August. If enough funds remain, the agency could continue the payments for a sixth and final week for the week ended Sept. 5. That program replaced a $600-per-week federal supplement that Congress has not agreed to extend. The update for the week ended Sept. 19 comes a few days after release of a scathing report on the California EDD, which has struggled to handle the deluge of jobless claims, leaving millions desperate to receive their benefits. The situation is unacceptable, said the authors of the report, written over 45 days by a strike team set up by Gov. Gavin Newsom. While the EDD retools its systems, including a new, streamlined process for identity verification, it has stopped taking new unemployment claims for two weeks, from Sept. 20 until Oct. 4. Meanwhile, newly jobless people can submit their contact information online to be notified when the system is working again. That will dramatically skew the U.S. unemployment numbers, since the most-populous state accounts for a disproportionate share of joblessness. Presumably the numbers will decline for the next two weeks, and then shoot up once California resumes claims processing. Neither the state EDD nor the U.S. Department of Labor immediately responded to questions about how theyll handle this anomaly. More Information Correction An earlier version of this story misstated the number of people receiving unemployment benefits under all programs. It was 26 million as of Sept. 5. See More Collapse It should distort the week-to-week comparisons, said Stephen Levy, director of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy, in an email. There will have to be an asterisk for those two weeks, said Irena Asmundson, chief economist for the California Department of Finance. As California seeks to process claims more quickly, subsequent numbers may also be skewed. However, Asmundson noted, monthly reports on unemployment will not be distorted. Thats because they are based on a survey of households and a separate survey of employers, neither of which is affected by the pause in claims processing. On top of its already high numbers, California has 1.6 million pending claims that it will not resolve until late January, according to the report, which said the backlog is now growing by 10,000 claims a day. The report revealed horrifying gaps in service. Only 1 out of every 1,000 calls to the EDDs weekday morning phone lines the only one that can actually resolve claimants issues was getting through. EDD has failed the people it serves in almost every imaginable way, said Assemblymember David Chiu, D-San Francisco, in a statement. His office, like those of many other legislators, had fielded an avalanche of calls from distressed constituents who couldnt get benefits. The size of this backlog is shockingly large. We have been frustrated at EDDs ever-evolving lowball estimates of the backlog. Californians already receiving payments wont see any change, according to Michael Bernick, an attorney with law firm Duane Morris LLP and former head of the states EDD. Those who have accounts and claims can continue to access their accounts during the reset period, Bernick said. Just 30% of the jobs lost between February and April in the Bay Area made a comeback between April and August, according to Levys research. The state and Bay Area recovered a smaller share of the jobs lost by August compared with the nation, the result of a more cautious reopening pace and the more-than-80% decline in business and visitor travel and resulting loss of spending and jobs. The Bay Areas unemployment rate stood at 8.6% as of August, compared with 8.4% nationally. Californias rate was 11.4% Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Despite the huge backlog and the additional cases that will pile up while the online portal is down, Bernick said processing should speed up if the promised changes work as planned. The strike force report said the retooling will ideally reduce the cases that need manual reviews to 10% from the current 40%. The troubles at the EDD concern out-of-work people like dance instructor Carolyn Goto, even if they have managed to obtain the states promised benefits. Goto applied in March for unemployment insurance payments after the Shawl-Anderson Dance Center in Berkeley, where she has taught part time for 18 years, closed temporarily because of the virus. You have this feeling youre dealing with an octopus or a monolith, Goto said, adding that she has had little trouble with receiving benefits but is worried about making a paperwork error and missing out on payments. If you make one mistake or do something incorrectly its really hard to get into the system again, she said, noting her most recent payment has not yet appeared in her account and she is unsure how best to contact the agency. It adds to the uncertainty and anxiety about being unemployed, Goto said. Youre not sure you can reach someone you can talk to, she said, adding that she understands the agency is overwhelmed. To stay in shape and keep busy, Goto still teaches online dance classes, which she does not charge for, and takes other classes like Pilates. She said she believes the school will survive and reopen early next year but isnt sure when that will be. The city of Berkeley and Alameda County still require indoor fitness centers to remain closed. Other parts of the Bay Area have restrictions that vary based on county health conditions and state and local rules; San Francisco, for example, forbids some indoor cardio classes and requires space between students for less strenuous exertion. Its hard for dancers, because dancers need space and they have to move and they breathe hard, Goto said. Chase DiFeliciantonio and Carolyn Said are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com, csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice @csaid by Prabhat Patnaik A striking aspect of the 24 percent decline in Indias GDP in the first quarter of 2020-21 compared to the previous years first quarter is the decline by 10.3 percent in public administration, defense, and other public services. This is a sector where the GDP is estimated not by the output of the sector but by the government expenditure incurred under these heads. The decline in the GDP originating in this sector therefore means a decline in public expenditure. This is surprising for two reasons: first, it shows that government expenditure, instead of being counter-contractionary has been pro-contractionary; second, during the lockdown caused by the pandemic, one would expect government spending on health care to go up, and thereby raise the overall government expenditure, instead of the fall we are actually observing. Prime Minister Modi while feeding a peacock When there is a lockdown, and output contracts, it is incumbent on the government to increase its expenditure. The rise in expenditure reduces the degree of contraction; and it puts purchasing power in the hands of the people so that many of them can maintain their consumption without getting into debt. Even if the government is timid enough not to increase its expenditure, at least it must maintain its expenditure to limit the contraction in GDP; but a fall in government expenditure during the period of a lockdown, which accentuates the overall contraction, is just the opposite of what the government should have done. True, in such a period, there is a fall in government revenue; but to reduce government spending because of this, so that the fiscal deficit does not increase, is the height of folly. It worsens the contraction of the economy and greatly increases the sufferings of the people. This, however, is exactly what the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has done. What is more, the Modi government is persisting with this folly. Some may find this accusation strange since on the very first day of parliament the government has come with a supplementary demand of around $32 billion, which, it may be thought, represents substantial additional expenditure. But this impression is wrong. These supplementary demands are meant to cover the expenditure that the government had already announced earlier to cope with the pandemic, which was over and above the budgetary provisions. This already announced expenditure, we know, was quite trivial, amounting altogether to no more than about 1 percent of GDP . True, these supplementary demands will revive Indias flagship program for rural employment scheme under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 . This program had come to a virtual standstill because of lack of funds, but such revival will only entail what has already been promised, not any further expansion. This 1 percent of GDP being earmarked for relief during the pandemic is about the lowest among all the major economies of the world. In the U.S. even Donald Trump had announced a relief package amounting to 12 percent of GDP; in Germany, it was 5 percent, and in Japan even more. The Modi governments stinginess is astounding, and that too at a time when hunger deaths are being reported from various parts of the country, despite ample food stocks. This stinginess goes against the almost universal agreement among economists in the country, cutting across ideological lines, on the need for larger government spending . In fact, there has rarely been as much agreement among economists as on this issue. True, there was equally broad agreement among them against demonetization , but that was a specific measure, no doubt of amazing thoughtlessness; it did not, however, represent a policy direction. The ideological differences among economists on the current issue relate to two points: what should be the areas where additional expenditure should be undertaken; and how this additional government expenditure should be financed. On the first point, while the left position would be that such expenditure must entail a universal cash transfer to every non-income-tax-paying household, apart from covering investment on infrastructure, including social infrastructure like health care, the orthodox economists would only emphasize investment on physical infrastructure. With regard to the second point, immediately, of course, the additional expenditure has to be financed by a fiscal deficit, in which borrowings from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will have to be the main source. Indeed many economists believe that the central government can and should spend approximately an additional $136 billion over and above what was budgeted earlier this year, and finance it immediately by enlarging the fiscal deficit to about 9 percent of the GDP compared to the 3.5 percent that was targeted in the budget. But, as the economy recovers, measures of additional resource mobilization will have to be undertaken to bring down the fiscal deficit. Here the left position emphasizes wealth taxation, which is virtually non-existent in India, as the means of doing so, while orthodox economists talk of the need to sell public sector assets including land that is in the possession of public enterprises. The difference between these two positions is quite basic and needs to be understood clearly. A fiscal deficit entails borrowing by the government that puts claims upon the government in the hands of the private sector (we are assuming that foreign borrowings do not increase), and since these claims accrue to that segment of society that undertakes savings, a fiscal deficit increases the magnitude of wealth in the hands of the rich. If the fiscal deficit is eliminated by additional resources mobilized through the imposition of a wealth tax, then private wealth remains where it was before the deficit-financed spending occurred. Wealth taxation, in short, does not bring down existing wealth inequalities; it only prevents a further accentuation of such inequalities through a larger fiscal deficit. The left proposal, therefore, amounts to increasing government expenditure without increasing wealth inequalities. By contrast, the orthodox proposal, such as the one put forward by Dr. Raghuram Rajan , the former governor of the RBI, does not eliminate the increase in wealth inequalities caused by a larger fiscal deficit; by transferring physical assetsland or equityit only substitutes in the hands of the rich physical assets (land) or ownership (equity) of public sector banks or of public sector enterprises, instead of claims upon the government. It basically changes the composition of the wealth in the hands of the rich, but does not negate its enhanced magnitude. Notwithstanding these basic differences, however, there would be broad agreement among economists of different hues on the need for larger government expenditure to prevent the economy from getting into a deep and prolonged recession. But the government remains unmoved for reasons that are not obvious. Raghuram Rajan appealed to the bureaucrats in the government to wake up to the seriousness of the situation. But bureaucrats hardly determine policy within the Modi regime; it is the PM and his coterie who determine every policy, including economic policy. If the governments utter indifference to the disaster that awaits the economy is to be explained, if its unconcern about the massive unemployment that faces the people (which some have estimated to entail the loss of an additional 122 million jobs by April-end) is to be understood, then it is to the Modi mindset that we must turn. And here we find a combination of supreme naivete with supreme confidence. The naivete consists of imbibing some absurd propositions from a particularly outdated version of bourgeois economics. His repeatedly calling big capitalists the wealth creators is an example of this. He has been told, and he believes, that these wealth creators will sooner or later undertake adequate investment to get the economy out of the problem it is facing. On this thinking there are no crises except occasional blips; the wealth creators are always there to usher in a new boom if for some reason the economy loses steam. The fact that the Great Depression of the inter-war years lasted almost a decade and might have continued but for the intervention of World War II does not figure in this thinking, which misses completely the dependence of investment on the state of demand. . It is an utterly cynical view, but then, the present dispensation represents the acme of cynicism. The confidence consists in the belief that no matter how impoverished the people are, no matter how extreme the hardships they face, their electoral support can always be won by promoting Hindutva and effecting a communal polarizationIt is an utterly cynical view, but then, the present dispensation represents the acme of cynicism. This article was produced by Globetrotter , a project of the Independent Media Institute. Sikkim CM's son, 9 others at his residence test positive for Covid-19 5,692 new Covid-19 cases and 66 fatalities in Tamil Nadu in a day A health worker in PPE coveralls prepares to collect swab samples for coronavirus testing. According to the Union health ministrys dashboard, India on Thursday registered 86,508 fresh cases and 1,129 deaths due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) disease, which pushed the countrys tally and death toll to 5,732,518 and 91,149 respectively. The active cases have climbed to 966,382 whereas over 4.6 million have recovered so far. This is the sixth consecutive day that single-day recoveries exceeded the cases logged. Maharashtra, which continues to be one of the worst-hit states in India, logged 21,029 Covid-19 cases which pushed the tally to over 1.2 million. The state's death toll is nearing 34,000 while active cases amount to 21.63% of the total cases. An internal projection of the state health department said that the tally of fresh cases is likely to go up further. Click here for complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic In Delhi, nearly 10,20,00 people have recovered and 40 have died under home isolation, data from the directorate general of health (DGHS) services showed. On Wednesday, the 17,834 patients were under home isolation, according to the health bulletin. Meanwhile, the United States-based Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday said that it has entered the third phase of its Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial. A total of 60,000 volunteers across over 200 sites in the US and around the world will be enrolled which will make Johnson and Johnson the tenth maker globally to conduct a Phase 3 trial against Covid-19. Follow live updates here: Credit: CC0 Public Domain A drug that is regularly used to treat chronic pelvic pain in women has been found to be no more effective than a placebo, a new study has found. As a result, researchers recommend against routinely prescribing the drug gabapentin for women with the condition. Chronic pelvic pain affects up to 24 percent of women worldwide to varying degrees. It is estimated that as many as one million in the UK are affected by the condition. In 55 percent of women there is no known cause. If no underlying cause is found, the pain is much more difficult to treat. Gabapentin is used to manage many forms of chronic pain. In two separate surveys, 74 percent of GPs and 92 percent of gynaecologists said that they would consider prescribing the drug for chronic pelvic pain. Researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh, Birmingham, Oxford and Nottingham tested the drug's effectiveness in treating chronic pelvic pain through a randomised clinical trial involving 306 women with the condition and no known underlying cause. As part of the study, 153 women received gabapentin and 153 received placebo for 16 weeks. Neither group nor the prescribing clinicians knew what they were receiving. The women were asked to rate their average pain and worst pain, using a scale from zero to ten, on a weekly basis. The scores were then averaged for the drug and placebo groups. The team found that there was very little difference between the reported pain in both groups. However, the group that received gabapentin reported experiencing more side-effectsincluding dizziness, drowsiness and changes of moodthan the placebo group. The researchers say that gabapentin should no longer be considered in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain where no cause has been identified, and other avenues of treatment should be explored, such as different drugs, physiotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. The research findings have been published in The Lancet. This work was funded through the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programmea Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) partnership. Professor Andrew Horne, lead researcher from the University of Edinburgh's MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, said: "We have been prescribing this drug for many years with little evidence of its effectiveness. As a result of our study, we can confidently conclude that gabapentin is not effective for chronic pelvic pain in women where no cause has been identified. More research is needed to explore if other therapies can help instead." Professor Andy Shennan, Professor of Obstetrics, and Clinical Director NIHR Clinical Research Network South London, said: "This important study was delivered in the UK across 39 sites in the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN). It is vital that large studies like this help answer these important health questions to guide management of these debilitating and common conditions. Another success from the CRN." Explore further Painful intercourse in women improved with fibromyalgia drug Greystar, a global leader in the investment, development and management of rental housing, and Star America Infrastructure Partners (together with its related entities (Star America)), a premier investor and manager of infrastructure assets in North America, announce the acquisition of 476 East Broadway in Eugene, Oregon with plans to develop a $100 million 357-unit student housing project named Union on Broadway. This project marks Greystars first venture with Star America and their first ground up development in Eugene. Construction will commence immediately with a projected completion in August 2022. We are pleased to begin work on this new community at an exciting time for Eugene and the University of Oregon, said Doug Burges, Director, Development, Greystar. This project will provide student housing in a vibrant location with proximity to the University of Oregon, downtown Eugene and the riverfront redevelopment. We look forward to working with our joint venture partner Star America to bring Union on Broadway to life. This project represents Star Americas seventh investment in the growing higher education infrastructure space. We are pleased to initiate a new relationship with best-in-class developer Greystar to meet the growing housing demands of the students at the University of Oregon, said Christophe Petit, President of Star America. Union on Broadway will encompass 12-stories, 357 units with 608 beds and a retail component on the ground floor. Ankrom Moisan Architects and Eugene-based contractor John Hyland Const., Inc. will oversee design and construction respectively. Future residents will benefit from a premium top floor fitness center, collaborative study lounges on each floor, a computer lounge, conference rooms, an activity and game room, a media lounge, subterranean parking and bike parking and outdoor amenity space complete with a spa, terrace, grills and lounge seating. Units will be furnished, and amenities will include an in-unit washer and dryer, private bathrooms, internet and air conditioning. The 1.1-acre site of Union on Broadway is located just five blocks from the University of Oregon on East Broadway, a major thoroughfare and premier area for restaurants and retail creating an ideal location for Oregon students. It is also adjacent to a Whole Foods Market and within a block of Eugenes Downtown Riverfront redevelopment site, which aims to revitalize the riverbank with high-end retail, restaurants, and green space. ### About Greystar Greystar is a leading, fully integrated real estate company offering expertise in investment management, development, and management of rental housing properties globally. Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, Greystar manages and operates over an estimated $200 billion+ of real estate in nearly 200 markets globally including offices throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. Greystar is the largest operator of apartments in the United States, managing approximately 693,000 units/beds, and has a robust institutional investment management platform with approximately $35.5 billion of assets under management, including over $15 billion of assets under development. Greystar was founded by Bob Faith in 1993 with the intent to become a provider of world-class service in the rental residential real estate business. To learn more, visit http://www.greystar.com. About Star America Infrastructure Partners Star America, a subsidiary of Tikehau Capital, a European listed asset management and investment group with 25.7 billion of assets under management (as at 30 June 2020) and shareholder equity of 2.8 billion) (as at 30 June 2020), is an independent U.S. headquartered developer and manager of infrastructure assets in North America. With an investor base that includes large institutional investors such as insurance companies and pension funds, among others, Star America focuses on delivering infrastructure projects primarily across the transportation, social, environmental and telecommunications sectors. As of August 31, 2020 Star America has over $700+ million Assets Under Management and our track record includes investments in 15 infrastructure assets, which have a total project cost valued at greater than $5 billion. Star Americas mission is to become the preferred partner in rebuilding Americas infrastructure. Anger, frustration and sadness over the decision not to charge Kentucky police officers for Breonna Taylors death poured into Americas streets as protesters lashed out at a criminal justice system they say is stacked against Black people. Violence seized the demonstrations in her hometown of Louisville as gunfire rang out and wounded two cops. Police said they would enforce a strict curfew for the next two nights in Louisville. Activists, celebrities and everyday Americans have been calling for charges since Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white policemen after one of them was shot while bursting into her home during a narcotics investigation on March 13. The cops had a no-knock warrant but the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering, said state attorney general Daniel Cameron, a Republican and the states first Black top prosecutor. A grand jury returned three charges of wanton endangerment on Wednesday against fired officer Brett Hankison over shooting into a home next to Taylors with people inside. Demonstrators chanted Taylors name and marched in cities including New York, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Portland. People gathered in Chicagos Millennium Park, chanting demands for justice as drivers on Michigan Avenue honked their horns. Police in Atlanta unleashed chemical agents and made arrests after protesters tried to climb on a SWAT vehicle. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, marchers peacefully blocked highway traffic. In Louisville, one of the wounded cops was treated and released with a leg wound, while the other was shot in the abdomen and doing well after surgery. Larynzo Johnson, 26, was charged with two counts of assault on a policeman and multiple charges of wanton endangerment of police officers. Biden calls for reform, Trump backs cops shot at White House hopeful Joe Biden called for police reforms in response to the grand jurys decision. He said that while a probe continues, we do not need to wait for the final judgment of that investigation to do more to deliver justice for Breonna. US President Donald Trump tweeted that he is praying for the two police officers that were shot in Louisville. His words the demand to discard ballots, the dismissal of a possible transfer were a naked declaration of autocratic intent. Looking at the BBCs website, where a blaring headline said, Trump Wont Commit to Peaceful Transfer of Power, you could see America being covered like a failing state. Trumps words were all the scarier for coming on the same day as Barton Gellmans blockbuster Atlantic article about how Trump could subvert the election. The chairman of Pennsylvanias Republican Party told Gellman, on the record, that hed spoken to the campaign about bypassing a messy vote count and having the Republican-controlled legislature appoint its own slate of electors. A legal adviser to the Trump campaign said, There will be a count on election night, that count will shift over time, and the results when the final count is given will be challenged as being inaccurate, fraudulent pick your word. As terrifying as all this is, its important to remember that Trump and his campaign are trying to undermine the election because right now they appear to be losing it. Trump is down in most swing state polls, tied in Georgia and barely ahead in Texas. His most sycophantic enabler, Lindsey Graham, is neck-and-neck in South Carolina. The president is counting on his new Supreme Court nominee to save his presidency, and she may, if the vote count gets to the Supreme Court. But a rushed confirmation is unlikely to help Trump electorally, because in polls a majority of Americans say the winner of the election should make the appointment. Trump may be behaving like a strongman, but he is weaker than hed like us all to believe. Autocrats who actually have the power to fix elections dont announce their plans to do it; they just pretend to have gotten 99 percent of the vote. Its crucial that Trumps opponents emphasize this, because unlike rage, excessive fear can be demobilizing. Theres a reason TV villains like to say, Resistance is futile. 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. This special species of goat is found in the Himalayan range at high altitudes in Tibet, Ladakh and Nepal. 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. --IANS sq/kr A vehicle that was controlling traffic early Thursday morning in an Interstate 78 West work zone in Lower Macungie Township was struck from behind by a truck in a crash that shut the highway for more than three hours in that direction, authorities say. Traffic was stopped at 1:48 a.m. at Mile Marker 54 when the 2020 Peterbilt TK hit the 2019 Hino attenuator truck, causing it to roll onto its passenger side and strike the center median before stopping in the far left lane, Pennsylvania State Police at Fogelsville report in a news release. The traffic truck, which is of the sort that often have flashing arrows on the back, was not owned or operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, a spokesman said, although it wasnt clear if it was contracted to the state or the company doing the overnight road work. The driver of that truck, who police did not name but said was 25, female and from Upper Macungie Township, was taken by Cetronia Ambulance Corps for treatment of suspected minor injuries at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, police said. The Peterbilt struck a guide rail on the northern edge of the highway after the initial crash before going front first into a ditch, police said. The 67-year-old driver who wasnt named lives in Penn Yan, New York. He was wearing a seatbelt and wasnt hurt, police said. The crash remains under investigation by state police and no citations are noted in the news release. 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. United Airlines has announced plans to start offering COVID-19 tests to certain passengers, becoming the first U.S. airline to do so, CNN reports. The airline on Thursday said that beginning on Oct. 15, passengers traveling from San Francisco International Airport to Hawaii will be able to take either a rapid COVID-19 test at the airport or a test that they can administer at home prior to the trip. At the airport, United will offering Abbott's COVID-19 test that provides results in 15 minutes. For the mail-in test from Color, passengers will be able to return it through mail or a drop box and get the results back in between 24 and 48 hours. According to CBS News, the rapid testing at the airport "takes about 20 minutes from arrival to result and initially will cost $250," while the at-home testing "will be $80 plus shipping and go to a San Francisco lab for processing." This program, United said, will help ensure that these passengers who test negative for COVID-19 will not be subject to Hawaii's 14-day quarantine requirements. As CNN notes, Hawaii says that those who "are tested no earlier than 72 hours before their flight arrives with an FDA-approved nucleic acid amplification test" can avoid the 14-day quarantine. United Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist says the company will "look to quickly expand customer testing to other destinations and U.S. airports later this year." 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 Since its formation, NASA has been watching over and tracking the movement of Asteroids. Currently, the space agency is tracking the course of several hundreds of asteroids that could potentially be hazardous to human life on Earth. NASA has deployed multiple Asteroid watching satellites and also maintains a record of their course with the help of NASA Asteroid watch data on its official website. Recently, the space agency revealed on its NASA JPL website that an asteroid the size of a school bus will be flying very close to earth on September 24. Read on to know more. Read | Two Asteroids, the size of an airplane, to fly by close to Earth on September 23 Asteroid 2020 SW to fly by close to Earth According to a report on NASAs JPL website, Asteroid 2020 SW will fly by close to Earth on Sept 24. At its closest approach, the space rock will be only 0.00019 astronomical units away from Earths surface. In miles, this is 17661.6 miles. While it might seem like a huge distance, but in anatomical terms, this is one of the closest asteroid approaches in recent times. This distance is also well below many of the communications satellites orbiting our planet. The closest approach will occur over the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Read | Asteroid 2020RN1 to fly by close to Earth on September 17, see details here Asteroid 2020 SW is 18 feet long and will be the closest to Earth at 11:13 UTC which is 4:13 am on Thursday, Pacific Time (PT). It has been classified among the Apollo class of Asteroids. The Apollo asteroids are a group of near-Earth asteroids which have been named after the 1862 Apollo asteroid. It was discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s. Read | Ancient asteroid Bennu has baffled scientists yet again; read to know how NASA has revealed that as of 2020 more than 10,000 asteroids have made it to the class of Apollo. It is a relief that NASA has claimed that 2020 SW will not hit Earth and once it's gone, the space rock won't be back in Earth's neighbourhood until 2041. Given that the asteroid is only 18 feet in size, by asteroid standards, it can be considered puny. Read | Asteroid 'bigger than London Bridge' to fly past Earth on Sept 17; all you need to know On its website, NASA has stated that Asteroids of this size hit Earth's atmosphere and burn up once every year or two. There are as many as 100 million of these little asteroids out there. The only real threat posed to life on Earth comes from considerably bigger asteroids. And fortunately, they are easier to spot. Promo Image credit: Shutterstock GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Many Egyptian media outlets have renewed their attacks against the Palestinian Hamas movement after remaining silent for about a year and a half in light of a state of rapprochement witnessed between Egypt and Hamas during that period. The Egyptian media attacks came a few days after the Qatari Al Jazeera channel broadcast an investigative report on Sept. 13, which accused Egypt of helping to tighten the noose on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and preventing the supply of weapons by establishing a buffer security zone along the border with Gaza. The media attacks also coincide with the success of the Qatari mediation behind the truce agreement reached between Hamas and Israel on Aug. 31, while the Egyptian intelligence failed in this regard. Meanwhile, Qatar also vowed to increase and renew the financial grants provided to Gaza for an additional six months and pressure Israel into implementing humanitarian projects in the enclave. This is in addition to Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas political bureau, criticizing on Aug. 21 Egypts support for the normalization deals between Gulf countries and Israel. The Egyptian media has highlighted the tight relationship between Turkey, Qatar and Hamas, and accused the latter of exploiting the Palestinian cause in exchange for Qatari financial grants provided monthly to the Gaza Strip. Another reason behind the media attack against Hamas may be Haniyehs visits to a number of countries, namely Iran, Turkey and Lebanon, while Egypt had authorized back in December 2019 Haniyeh to travel on the condition that he not visit those specific countries. On Sept. 21, Haniyeh concluded his visit to Lebanon which lasted 20 days after meeting officials from official institutions and parties, including Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on Sept. 6. He then flew to Turkey on Sept. 21, where he held talks with the Fatah movement in Istanbul. Al-Monitor tried to contact a number of Hamas officials to get a comment on the Egyptian media attacks against the movement, but they refused to speak to the media, saying they have been instructed by the Hamas leadership not to respond to the Egyptian media attacks to prevent tensions with Egypt. Meanwhile, an Egyptian parliamentarian agreed to speak to Al-Monitor in this regard on the condition of anonymity. He said the state of tension in the relations between Hamas and Egypt has been the same for decades, stressing that the Egyptian leadership and intelligence did not and will not change their position toward Hamas given the latters ideology and affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood. The source added that Hamas and its policies are harming the Palestinian cause, which Egypt is seeking to preserve in light of the ongoing internal Palestinian division. He further said that Hamas has accepted Qatari money in return for stopping its armed attacks against Israel, and it (Hamas) is even protecting the borders with Israel by preventing other armed factions from carrying out any armed operation against Israel. The source noted that even Hamas position toward Egypt has not changed. He said that Hamas allowed Al Jazeera journalists to film the construction works Egyptian armed forces are carrying out along the border with Gaza to protect Egyptian national security and prevent the smuggling of arms and extremists from Gaza into the Sinai Peninsula, with the aim to tarnish Egypts image and accuse it of tightening the noose on Gaza. On another note, the Egyptian media attack came despite the Egyptian intelligence mediation between Hamas and Israel on a new prisoner exchange deal. Yet these talks did not achieve any progress in light of the widening gap between the two sides (Hamas and Israel) and their insistence on their own conditions. As a result, the talks on a prisoner swap deal have been postponed until after the Jewish holidays. Mustafa al-Sawaf, a political analyst and former editor-in-chief of the local Felesteen newspaper close to Hamas, told Al-Monitor, There are goals behind the Egyptian media remaining silent or launching attacks against Hamas. There are Egyptian political and security arms that provide [the media] with information regularly. Sawaf believes the Egyptian media attack came after Egypt failed in the latest truce understandings between Hamas and Israel, while the Qatari mediation was successful. He said Egypt fears Hamas will completely turn to the Qatari-Turkish axis and turn its back to any Egyptian efforts in the Palestinian file. He believes the media attacks will not last long since Hamas is refusing to respond to it and Egypt wants to keep sponsoring the Palestinian file and the relations between Hamas and Israel. Talal Okal, a political analyst and writer for the Palestinian al-Ayyam newspaper, agreed with Sawaf. He told Al-Monitor the media attack is not surprising since relations between Hamas and Egypt are more out of need rather than strategic given the geographical proximity between the two parties. He also said Egypt does not want to give up the Palestinian file for another country like Qatar or Turkey to pick up. Okal believes the Egyptian media attacks aim to pressure Hamas not to join the Qatari-Turkish axis and to push the movement into offering some concessions in the prisoner swap deal for Egypt to mark a point after its latest efforts in the truce file failed. Despite the media tension, it seems the two parties are not heading toward a rupture, as happened after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi assumed power, because both parties need each other in some files, including the security one. Actors Deepika Padukone and Sara Ali Khan, who have been summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in a drug case related to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, on Thursday arrived in Mumbai from Goa. IMAGE: Bollywood actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh arrive at Mumbai International Airport, after the former was summoned by NCB in a Bollywood drugs probe, in Mumbai, Thursday. Photograph: PTI Photo Padukone, who was shooting for director Shakun Batra's next film in Goa, was accompanied by actor-husband Ranveer Singh. The couple arrived at Mumbai airport around 9.15pm. They reportedly boarded a chartered flight from Goa at around 8pm. Khan, who too was in Goa, reached Mumbai with her mother, actor Amrita Singh and brother, Ibrahim Ali Khan around 5pm and headed to their suburban Juhu residence. Khan made her acting debut opposite Rajput in the 2018 film Kedarnath. The NCB, which began the probe after a drugs angle came to light in connection with Rajput's alleged suicide, has now widened its investigation and called film celebrities for questioning. Khan is set to appear before the NCB on September 26 (Saturday), along with Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor. Actor Rakul Preet Singh and Padukone's manager Karishma Prakash are summoned on Friday. Meanwhile, statements of fashion designer Simone Khambatta and Shruti Modi, Rajput's former manager, were recorded by the NCB probe team in connection with the drugs case, the official said. Rajput, 34, was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14. His death has sparked a lot of controversy in the media and the case is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the NCB. His girlfriend, actor Rhea Chakraborty, who has been accused of abetting Rajput's suicide by his family, has been arrested in a drugs case linked to his death. POSTVILLE, Iowa - It wasn't until their colleagues began to disappear that workers at Agri Star Meat and Poultry realized there was a killer in their midst. First came the rumors that rabbis at the kosher plant had been quarantined. Then a man who worked in the poultry department fell ill. They heard whispers about friends of friends who had been stricken with scorching fevers and unbearable chills - characteristic symptoms of the novel coronavirus. Where was the contagion coming from? No one would say. Not Agri Star's wealthy owner, who didn't shut down production lines after cases were confirmed among workers. Not the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which closed a complaint containing multiple allegations against the plant without an inspection. Not Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, whose administration threatened to prosecute officials who released covid data and did not conduct testing at the plant until seven weeks after the first infections. The mystery terrified Magdalena Toj Garcia, a 36-year-old worker in the beef department who worried about bringing the virus home to her three young daughters. It infuriated John Ellingson, a council member in a nearby town desperate to know if his constituents were at risk. But it intrigued Paraic Kenny, a tumor geneticist turned disease detective, who knew that the killer had left behind vital clues. The coronavirus mutates as it moves through its victims. Infectious particles swabbed from a patient's nose carry small but distinctive differences in its genome that can be used, like a molecular bar code, to track where the virus came from and how it had been transmitted. By reading the virus's RNA, Kenny could unveil how cases were connected to one another, exposing the secret spread of the disease. The truth of what happened at Agri Star - and across America - is written in that code. - - - Small, stealthy and skilled at exploiting human vulnerabilities, the novel coronavirus seems tailor-made to wreak havoc on humanity. Its surface spikes fit as neatly as keys into the receptors that unlock our cells. It turns our organs into factories for its own reproduction, putting our molecular machinery to work building its proteins and transcribing its genome. In 24 hours it can fill a human's respiratory tract with a trillion copies of itself. And, with the cunning that comes from millennia of evolution, the virus exploits all of our most human habits. Traveling invisibly on the breath of its victims, it spreads most efficiently wherever we gather to work, to eat, to pray. "It's an amazing evolutionary machine dedicated to making more copies of itself," Kenny said. "And it's sadly very good at doing just that." A native of Ireland who still speaks in a soft brogue, he'd come to the Midwest by way of the Bronx after deciding he wanted to raise his son someplace more like home. For five years he has served as director of the Kabara Cancer Research Institute at the Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wis., practicing what he called "small town science." He sequenced patients' tumor genomes to determine what therapies would work for them and read journal articles to keep up with breakthroughs happening elsewhere. But suddenly, this March, Gundersen's rural health system was facing a disease no doctor had seen before. All nonessential labs, including Kenny's, were shutting down. "We were looking at this, you know, wondering: Is there something we can do with the expertise and equipment that we have?" Kenny said. That's when he turned to an emerging field called genomic epidemiology. The coronavirus is far simpler than a living cell - little more than a protein capsule protecting a packet of genetic material. The nearly 30,000 nucleotide "letters" of that genome convey all the information the virus needs to survive. But every so often, perhaps every two weeks, the virus makes a mistake as it replicates, introducing a mutation to the code. Once a mutation occurs, it will remain in the genome of the virus and all its future offspring - a clue that can reveal how the virus has spread. These single-letter switches rarely change the way the virus behaves. But much the way shared features help a person recognize members of the same family, researchers use the mutations to group samples into virus "sub-strains." Their findings can help decipher which infections are related to one another, exposing links invisible to traditional contact tracers. Kenny wasn't sure what he would find in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. But it would be information - objective evidence in a pandemic rife with obfuscation and uncertainty. He figured he had to try. He converted his suddenly empty lab into a coronavirus sequencing facility. He ordered the chemicals and kits needed to study viral genomes, sought approval from Gundersen's institutional review board to sequence samples taken from patients at the system's hospital and clinics. The first vials of virus arrived in early April, carried by courier in a cooler packed with ice. Sequencing them was a multistep operation that took the better part of 48 hours, but the data was more useful the faster it came in. To keep the process going, Kenny would drive to his darkened laboratory at odd hours of the night, carefully pipetting samples onto sequencing chips while the world around him slept. When he at last had results in hand, Kenny uploaded each genome to a global database, then sorted the sequences into their spots on the coronavirus family tree. This allowed him to identify distinct sub-strains introduced to the region from outbreaks around the world. Two sub-strains, found in La Crosse and Postville, shared a distinctive mutation, marking them as part of the same major lineage. By the time the viruses arrived in the Midwest, they had acquired additional key mutations that Kenny could use to track each sub-strain. Each virus variant acts as a spark; if it lands on poor kindling - say, someone who practices social distancing and is able to quarantine as soon as she realizes she is sick - it will soon die out. Most of the sub-strains Kenny sequenced, including the La Crosse variant, showed up only a few times in his data, suggesting these sparks were quickly extinguished. But the Postville sub-strain - characterized by three distinctive mutations that have not been found in combination anywhere else in the world - appeared over and over again, picking up additional mutations along the way. Kenny found 27 cases, mostly from Postville and the surrounding area. "I thought, 'Wow. This is a crazy, out-of-control situation,' " Kenny said. "The fact that they all . . . clustered together on this tree really indicated there was a single introduction to that region that really took hold and expanded." The scientist began to scour the documents that accompanied his virus samples. Though the tiny vials of virus had no names attached to them, they came with fairly detailed medical records. The patients ranged in age from 7 to 80. Their symptoms spanned from mild coughs and headaches to breathlessness and raging fever. But most compelling was this: The majority of initial patients infected with this sub-strain worked at Agri Star or lived with someone who did. Something had gone terribly wrong in Postville, Kenny realized. Something that provided fuel for a single virus spark to erupt into an inferno. - - - Magdalena Toj Garcia had worked at Agri Star for more than a decade. She went in six days a week to carve up carcasses and clean up spills, arriving before dawn and leaving long after dark. When she learned about the virus in March, she wanted one thing: a mask. "No," a supervisor told her. "We are only going to give them to the sick." "But that is precisely why I need a mask," Toj insisted. "So I will not get sick." The answer was still no. "That is a lie," Agri Star owner Hershey Friedman said when asked about this incident. He said that all workers were required to wear masks in the facility. Agri Star's head of health, safety and human resources, Diane Guerrero, later clarified that in March the plant was following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that only sick people wear masks. The plant switched to universal mask use when the agency recommended it on April 3. Both Friedman and Guerrero said the company undertook extensive efforts to protect its 575 workers. The plant plastered public health notices around the facility, doubled the number of hand sanitizer dispensers and installed barriers between workstations. A cadre of workers called "the Covid Crusaders" cleaned surfaces. Starting in early April, they began taking every employee's temperature and asking them about their health before they entered. If plant employees became infected, Friedman told The Post, it wasn't while at work. "There was zero covid-19 in our facility," he said. Toj, and several of her colleagues who were diagnosed with the coronavirus, told a different story. Agri Star confirmed Postville's first coronavirus cases in mid-March, fracturing the uneasy peace among its diverse residents: the Orthodox Jews who help run the plant, the immigrants from Somalia, Mexico and Central America who make up much of its workforce, the White descendants of the German and Scandinavian farmers who founded the town generations ago. Twelve years earlier, the plant had been the target of one of the largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in history. The town rebounded after Friedman, a Canadian business magnate, bought the plant out of bankruptcy in 2009. But the effects of the raid are still felt in the way people mostly keep to their ethnic enclaves. Conversations about the coronavirus are held in hushed tones - when they are held at all. "The problem was here, but people didn't want to talk about it," said one ranch worker, whose wife - an Agri Star employee - was hospitalized with covid-19 for more than a week. Agri Star acknowledged three early cases connected to the plant in a brief statement in The Yeshiva World, an Orthodox Jewish online news publication. But Toj and her colleagues, many of whom speak little English, didn't read the article. Though Guerrero said the company told supervisors to notify anyone who worked near someone who tested positive, six workers who got sick told The Post that no one from the plant warned them about their potential exposure or asked who else they might have infected. Workers said they were forced to triangulate their risk based on snatches of rumor and snippets of fact. "They're going to get us sick," Toj would often say, "and they don't even know it." The closest health clinic to Postville had so few covid-19 tests that many residents were sent to Gundersen's main hospital in La Crosse, where Kenny worked, more than an hour away. Agri Star should conduct its own testing, Toj told her husband, Rudy Perez. If workers at least knew where the sickness was, they could protect themselves. The company said it asked the state to test its workers on April 20, more than a month after it confirmed the first infections connected to the plant. Before then, plant executives told employees to stay home if they had symptoms, Perez said. That wasn't much of an option for Agri Star's low-wage employees, who, like about a quarter of all U.S. workers, have no paid sick leave. The emergency coronavirus legislation passed this March includes a requirement for paid sick leave, but it does not apply to businesses like Agri Star with more than 500 employees - even when workers are instructed to quarantine. Toj took matters into her own hands, purchasing six face masks for herself and her husband. The couple would bathe as soon as they got home from work and drank mug after mug of hot tea with lemon, which they hoped would ward off disease. On a Friday morning in early April, a plant supervisor instructed Toj, Perez and several others to scrub down the offices, bathrooms and dining area used by the plant's rabbis, who were not coming into work. It wasn't until they finished that their supervisor asked if they had used protective equipment, Toj said. One worker said she had been given a mask that day, but it became so soaked with blood from her work in the slaughterhouse that she had to take it off to breathe. Toj said she had been given no protection at all. The company's policy, Guerrero said, is to hand out gear to employees based on their daily assignment. As long as they describe where they're headed, "everybody is issued the proper equipment," she said. "Whether they choose to wear it or not is a concern." In the days after the cleaning, Toj recalled, "I really started feeling bad, bad, bad." Though Guerrero said the plant required employees to report symptoms, Toj tried to push through her illness, worried that missing a shift could get her fired. But the virus was settling in her cells, fogging her head and flooding her with fatigue. Finally, Toj felt her chest tighten until she couldn't breathe. She rushed outside the plant, gasping for air. "I'm scared," she told her husband. "I am going to the hospital. I need to know if I have it." The diagnoses came for both of them two days later: positive. Toj called a friend who had cleaned the rabbi's rooms alongside her. Her friend had also been diagnosed with the virus; her husband was feverish and presumed positive. At least two other members of the cleaning crew tested positive, Toj said, and all the others showed symptoms. Both women are convinced they contracted the virus at Agri Star. "We didn't go anywhere else - from our house to work, from our house to work," said Toj's friend, who spoke on the condition anonymity out of fear for her job. Toj sent her daughters to live with her mother while she and her husband fought off the virus. For three weeks, they were bedridden. And the bills kept piling up: rent, groceries, $300 for Toj's chest x-ray. She looked over her scant belongings, trying to think of what to sell. She ran through a mental list of friends who might support them and called her boss at Agri Star to ask for financial assistance. Help never came. The company says it has no record of Toj's request. - - - Seventeen miles north of Postville, in the county seat of Waukon, city councilman John Ellingson could barely step out of his house in April without being bombarded with anxious questions. "John, what do you know?" constituents would ask, at the grocery store or passing his table at the S&D Cafe on Main Street. "What's going on?" Like him, they had been tracking the unusually high case counts for their rural area; the county's positivity rate was almost as high as Manhattan's. Yet in a place as spread out as Allamakee, those cases could be next door, or about an hour away. It wasn't enough to know that the virus was in the county, Ellingson said - people needed to know where. But when the Republican councilman asked the state health department for a breakdown of infections in each of the county's 18 townships, the state refused. Officials claimed that would violate medical privacy law, even though many other states stratify case counts by Zip code. The state wouldn't even tell Ellingson how many cases were in his own town. When he persisted, the department stopped returning his calls. The numbers reported at the governor's news conferences "were damn near worthless," Ellingson said. "It was more a political show than it was informative to the citizens." And his constituents? "They were pissed," Ellingson said, "knowing the government had information and they weren't giving it." In seeking what seemed like a simple answer to an obvious question, Ellingson ran into what scientists say is one of the biggest barriers to controlling the pandemic: a dire shortage of facts. There are few national standards for collecting and reporting case counts and hospitalizations. A review of outbreak data led by former CDC director Tom Frieden found that no state discloses even half of what health experts consider "15 essential indicators" for managing the disease. As the government shifted its coronavirus reporting system, numbers have vanished from CDC web pages. News organizations have had to sue for information about racial disparities in deaths. In many Florida counties, officials won't tell parents whether there are coronavirus cases at their children's schools. Iowa is no exception. The state has refused to release its pandemic plan, which guides its response to the coronavirus, saying the document is "confidential." The health department's covid-19 dashboard doesn't list hospitalizations among health care workers or outbreaks in congregate facilities such as homeless shelters and prisons. In July, state auditor Rob Sand said Iowa's system for reporting test results was rife with "illegal and unbusinesslike practices, inefficiencies, and apparently pointless risks." He criticized Iowa's use of medical privacy laws to justify its secrecy, particularly in Postville. "If you live in this town, you're literally making decisions that affect your health," Sand said. "And you have people like the state of Iowa and people like meatpacking companies that are falsely describing what the law allows them to do in order to shield the fact that they simply don't want to share that information." By the time Ellingson launched his quest for data, Iowa officials had already received warnings about Agri Star. Weeks earlier, an anonymous worker had called the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA), reporting that employees had been exposed to rabbis who had tested positive for the virus, one of whom was "deathly ill." A few days later, a lawyer for Iowa Legal Aid told IOSHA that two Agri Star workers said the plant was unsafe. According to the April 3 complaint, released under a public records request from The Post, employees were working closely together and were not given protective equipment. "Several employees are required to come to work ill," the complaint said. "Management is telling workers that covid-19 is a lie and it has been made up by the government." IOSHA never visited the plant to investigate these claims; on-site inspections in Iowa have been curtailed during the pandemic. Instead, the agency asked Agri Star for a written response. "Not everyone understands the value of our operations being open, but we can assure you we have taken precautions to ensure our employees are safe," Guerrero wrote in an April 14 letter. She denied all the allegations in the complaint and offered a long list of the measures she said the company had adopted: handwashing trainings, homemade masks. The complaint was closed. Those early months of the pandemic were a scramble, Guerrero recalled. She'd never handled a health crisis like this - no one had - and the government provided little help. The Department of Labor and the CDC didn't release guidance for meatpacking facilities until April 26. The Iowa health department rarely communicated with her about tracking new cases or tracing their contacts, leaving Guerrero to cobble together a spreadsheet of sick workers on her own. When she walked outside the plant, she said, it seemed as though the rest of the town wasn't taking any precautions at all. "Nobody was really able to guide us on how we should maneuver through this," she said. It wasn't until May 5, more than seven weeks after the first Postville cases were diagnosed and 15 days after Agri Star requested help, that a state testing strike force finally came to the plant. More than 450 workers were tested for current and past infections. Iowa did not make the results of that event public, and Guerrero said the state provided no interpretation when it sent the company its lab report. The state's policy, articulated by Department of Public Health deputy director Sarah Reisetter at a May 27 news conference, is to only disclose outbreaks in workplaces like meatpacking plants if 10% of employees test positive, and then only if specifically asked by a member of the media. (A nursing home is considered to have an outbreak once three people test positive.) The state declined The Post's requests for Agri Star's case data. "We didn't really provide any information about them at all," Polly Carver-Kimm, a former spokeswoman for the Iowa health department, said of towns like Postville. She said secrecy was the state's unwritten rule. The governor's communications director wouldn't let her talk to the press without his approval, Carver-Kimm said. She believes she was retaliated against for doing her job: talking with reporters and releasing vital information about covid-19. After 13 years on the job, Carver-Kimm resigned in July. This month she filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Iowa, saying she was pressured to leave after pushing to make more covid-19 data available to the public. Pat Garrett, communications director for Reynolds, declined to answer a detailed list of questions about the state's response. He instead issued a brief statement, saying, "The state of Iowa worked to get testing to all meat processing facilities in Iowa. We regularly reported outbreaks at meat packing facilities if 10 percent of their workforce tested positive." After more than a month of effort, Ellingson finally got a hold of case numbers broken down by Zip code as of May 12: Postville had 87 of Allamakee's 97 covid-19 infections. Waukon had three. The councilman posted the numbers on Facebook and told constituents he planned to update them every few days. But then he found out the county workers who had shared the data had been told they could be fined, fired, even imprisoned for violating medical privacy laws. Ellingson stopped clamoring for data. The number of cases in Postville has not been released since. - - - Toj and Perez spent three weeks battling the coronavirus. Their oldest daughter also apparently came down with the disease: The 14-year-old lost her sense of taste for several days. Even more frightening was when Toj's mother fell sick. She spent six days in the hospital, breathing oxygen through a tube. She recovered, Toj said, because God was protecting her. This whole time, God was the only one protecting them all. Toj walked back into the plant for the first time in late April and encountered a changed Agri Star. All around the building, posters proclaimed the importance of hand washing. New workstations had been marked out on the floor to help people maintain social distance. Every employee was given a homemade mask. "Now we need masks?" Toj asked, infuriated. "Six feet of distance - for what? Everybody is already infected because there were lots of people who got sick and they didn't even notice." But Kenny did. He kept a vast chart of the region's coronavirus outbreak pinned to a cork board in his office in La Crosse. Tiny colored dots represented cases for which he had a genome. Thin lines connected them according to the mutations they shared. Looking at the Postville cluster - more than two dozen yellow dots linked by three distinctive mutations - it was clear to him what happened. The sub-strain started with a single case. But in the crowded conditions of the meat processing plant, it exploded. "A single viral introduction led to unrestrained spread within the facility," Kenny wrote in a study on the website MedRxiv, where scientists post "preprint" research that has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. His research, he said, showed "the collateral damage resulting from widespread dissemination of this disease from a meat-packing epicenter across a large midwestern region." Multiple lines of evidence put Agri Star at the epicenter of this outbreak, Kenny said. The fact that patients from across Postville's diverse communities were infected with the same sub-strain - despite living, shopping and worshiping in different places - suggests they contracted the illness in the one setting they shared: the plant. Also key was that Kenny found a husband and wife with "clearly genetically distinct" variants of the Postville sub-strain. Usually couples infect each other, so they carry identical versions of the virus. But these two had acquired their infections separately - most likely at the plant, where they both worked. "I think one needs to jump through a lot of mental hoops to avoid the conclusion that the plant itself was a significant nexus for spread," Kenny said. Since Kenny's results have not undergone peer review, The Post asked seven independent researchers to assess his findings. All agreed that Kenny had found evidence of a cluster of closely related cases, though some cautioned that broader and more representative sampling would strengthen his conclusions. They also made a key point: While Kenny had clearly found a chain of genetically linked viruses in people who worked at or were connected to Agri Star, an analysis like his cannot definitively show how the virus got into the plant or exactly how individuals became infected. Those details may never be known. Yet an explosion of genetically linked cases is exactly what scientists would expect from the conditions that workers described, said Bronwyn MacInnis, a virologist at the Broad Institute in Boston. MacInnis, who has worked on genomic epidemiology investigations during outbreaks of Zika, malaria and now the coronavirus, noted that the vast majority of covid-19 cases are thought to be driven by "super-spreader" situations, where large groups gather in enclosed areas. Kenny's data, she said, "show that was the case in this setting." Hoping he could help the government response, Kenny took his results to a coalition of local health departments, including Allamakee County officials. In other countries, genomic epidemiology has helped identify chains of transmission so officials could stop the coronavirus from spreading. But few U.S. health departments have taken full advantage of the cutting-edge tool. As far as Kenny knows, no one from Allamakee County or the state of Iowa ever acted on his genetic evidence. And the virus kept on spreading. Kenny identified the Postville sub-strain in patients from 15 cities across three states. A case was detected by researchers in Ecuador this July. According to Kenny, at least one person infected with the sub-strain has died. Both Agri Star and Iowa knew many plant employees became sick, The Washington Post has found. The strike force testing of 463 workers in May found 12 active cases of covid-19 and at least 106 people with antibodies, which are evidence of past infection. Agri Star received lab results for a further 49 positive antibody tests, which Iowa did not report among the county's case totals. "That's a lot of people who were positive for antibodies," said Gigi Gronvall, an immunologist at Johns Hopkins University who is an expert on serology tests. The figures suggest "they had an outbreak and it went on for some time." It's unclear why the state did not report the full number of positive antibody tests. But at least 20% and as many as 29% of Agri Star workers contracted the coronavirus between mid-March and early May. These numbers, which Guerrero confirmed, clearly exceed the CDC's recommended definition for an outbreak - two or more linked cases of a disease - and likely meet Iowa's 10% threshold. Health experts and worker advocates have criticized Iowa's metric, which was adapted from an older policy for monitoring flu outbreaks in schools. Covid-19 is far more contagious and virulent than the flu, said Jan Flora, a sociology professor at Iowa State University. "To use the same threshold means that the state and the meatpacking plant will always be attempting to close the barn door after the horse has escaped." In denying The Post's request for Agri Star's case numbers, the Iowa Department of Public Health said it only released information about workplaces in cases of "active viral infection." In other words, because the state took so long to test workers, the peak of the outbreak had already passed - so Iowa never had to acknowledge that the outbreak occurred at all. Cases in Allamakee County are creeping back up. With 27 new daily cases per 100,000 residents, Iowa has one of the highest infection rates in the country. It also has some of the nation's loosest coronavirus restrictions. Reynolds has rebuffed a White House task force recommendation to issue a statewide mask mandate. Bars remain open in all but six counties, and public schools are required to hold at least half of their classes in person. Since the state does not report school outbreaks, an Ames couple have taken it upon themselves to track cases in the state's education system; as of Sept. 24 they have found 473 infected students and 246 infected staff. Many people in Postville think the danger is over, because no one in power has said otherwise. Masks are rare on the small town's streets. Toj and Perez have returned to their storefront church, where they shake hands, share hymnals and sing with their faces uncovered. "It's sad," Kenny said. What he'd found in the genome was not just the transmission history of the coronavirus in his region. It was a record of humanity's failures - of mistakes made and warnings missed and information withheld during those early months of the pandemic. In exposing what went wrong, it offered a guide to getting things right. "But we don't learn from our mistakes," Kenny said. "And we certainly don't learn from science." - - - The Washington Post's Alice Crites and Nate Jones in Washington contributed to this report. Milli Legrain provided translations. DENVER, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Theralink Technologies (OTC: OBMP) ("Theralink" or the "Company"), formerly OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a molecular profiling company specializing in patented, biomarker assay services that target multiple areas of oncology, today announced the completion of its previously announced corporate name change to Theralink Technologies, Inc., effective Thursday, September 24, 2020. "We are excited to officially complete our corporate name change to Theralink Technologies following the recent OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals' Asset Purchase of Avant. The new name, Theralink, more accurately reflects our mission to deliver precision medicine solutions that accelerate drug discovery and development for biopharma companies. Further, our solutions are intended to help improve insights for oncologists to better tailor therapy selection for cancer patients," said Mick Ruxin, M.D., President and CEO of Theralink Technologies, Inc. In addition to changing the name of the Corporation to Theralink Technologies, Inc. with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada, the number of shares that the Corporation will have the authority to issue has been increased to 12,000,026,667 shares of which 12,000,000,000 shares will be common stock having a par value of $0.0001 per share (the "Common Stock") and 26,667 shares will be preferred stock having a par value of $0.0001 per share (the "Preferred Stock"). Upon the effectiveness of the increase in authorized, all outstanding Series D-1 and Series D-2 Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company will automatically convert into approximately 5.1 billion shares of Common Stock. About Theralink Technologies, Inc. Theralink Technologies is a proteomics-based, molecular profiling company, located in Golden, Colorado that uniquely specializes in patented, phosphoprotein and protein biomarker assay services that target multiple areas of oncology. Theralink provides precision oncology data through its powerful Theralink Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) assays to assist the biopharmaceutical industry and clinical oncologists in identifying likely responders and non-responders to both FDA-approved and investigational drug treatments. We intend to help improve cancer outcomes for patients, reveal therapeutic options for oncologists, and support biopharmaceutical drug development by using a beyond-genomics approach to molecular profiling that directly measures drug target levels and activity. For more information, please visit www.theralink.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, anything relating or referring to future financial results, patient enrollment and plans for future business development activities, and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties some of which cannot be predicted or quantified based on current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in reports filed by OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of our business and although the company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Consequently, future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward the forward-looking statements contained herein. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release statements made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. SOURCE Theralink Technologies Related Links https://theralink.com Images show China is expanding prisons in Xinjiang China said it was winding down its re-education camps for Uighurs and other minority groups, but researchers found evidence that incarceration is on the rise. An investigation by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute showed that, rather than being released, many detainees were most likely being sent to prisons and perhaps other facilities. The researchers studied satellite images showing new and expanded detention sites. They showed that extrajudicial detainees were now being formally charged and locked up in higher security facilities, including newly built or expanded prisons, Nathan Ruser, a researcher who led the project, wrote in the report released on Thursday. China has denied that the Uighurs have suffered human rights abuses. Findings: By using satellite imagery, the researchers found and examined some 380 suspected detention sites in Xinjiang. At least 61 of them had expanded in area from July 2019 to July of this year, and of those, 14 were still growing. Ignorant about private security until after outbreak Ms Mikakos also admitted that the first time she knew of private security being used to guard the state's hotel quarantine detainees was when outbreaks occurred in mid-May in the Rydges on Swanston hotel, almost two months after the program began. In a testy exchange, Ms Mikakos said it was not until those cases among staff and security guards at the Rydges on Swanston that she turned her mind to the role security guards were playing. Ms Mikakos wrote in a statement that she not believe it was her health departments role to ensure private security guards and other workers in Victorias quarantine hotels were adhering to infection control measures such as wearing personal protective equipment. In hindsight, she said, she would not support the use of private security guards in hotel quarantine. But pressing Ms Mikakos on her level of knowledge, counsel assisting the inquiry Ben Ihle said: "Is it your evidence to this inquiry that until the outbreak at Rydges, you didnt even turn your mind to the question of how people were actually being detained in the hotels?" Loading "Thats correct," Ms Mikakos replied. "The DHHS provided the legal framework, I understood [DHHS] authorised officers were issuing those travellers with detention notices but I had no reason to be turning my mind to the issue of security guards." Mr Ihle continued: "What Im asking you is practically, who was ensuring compliance with ... directions. Did you turn your mind to that question at all before Rydges?" "No I did not ... It wasnt an issue that was brought to my attention," Ms Mikakos admitted. "And indeed it wasnt an issue that you even turned your mind to?" Mr Ihle replied. "Thats correct," Ms Mikakos said. Security guards were responsible for sparking 99 per cent of Victoria's second wave of coronavirus after they caught it while working at the Rydges and Stamford Plaza hotels then took it back into the community. 'No knowledge' of quarantine system set-up The Health Minister also admitted that, even though the Department of Health and Human Services was the lead government agency on the hotels program, she was never consulted on how it was set up and was not involved in or consulted about the initial decisions that were made. "As the Minister for Health ... do you consider you should have been consulted on these things?" Mr Ihle asked. "With the benefit of hindsight, it would have been desirable if I had been," Ms Mikakos replied. Ms Mikakos wrote in her statement to the inquiry that she thought the DHHS's role was to provide health and wellbeing services for returned travellers, and to provide a legal framework for returned travellers to be detained. 'Too many cooks' Ms Mikakos said that by mid-June, she believed there were too many cooks spoiling the broth in the hotels program. She said she believed then that responsibility for the program should be moved solely to the Justice Department, which Premier Daniel Andrews did in July. At that time, Ms Mikakos wrote that she also asked her department's deputy secretary, Melissa Skilbeck, to draft a new plan for the hotels that included Victoria Police, between 50 and 100 Australian Defence Force personnel, Alfred Health and other health services staff, Protective Services Officers officers and Sheriffs. Ms Mikakos said she was not personally involved, however, in Mr Crisp's overturned request for 850 ADF personnel on June 25 and wasn't "sure exactly what request was made". "All I can say is that my department understood very clearly from me that I had a very strong view that we needed to replace the security guard workforce with an alternative workforce, and they were working assiduously to bring that about," she said. Ms Mikakos also told the inquiry she wasn't consulted about the decision to sideline Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton as the state controller in charge of the COVID-19 pandemic. In earlier evidence to the inquiry, the Health Department's deputy secretary and secretary decided to appoint someone other than Professor Sutton, claiming he was too busy in his lead advisory role and being the face of the pandemic. Under the state emergency plan, the state controller in charge of a pandemic response is the Chief Health Officer, and Professor Sutton gave evidence he would have preferred to be in charge. He appeared before the hotel quarantine inquiry last week. Secretary Kym Peake appointed herself state controller in July. Private security not up to the task In her statement to the hotels inquiry, Ms Mikakos said that by mid-June once outbreaks had occurred in two quarantine hotels it had become clear to her that private security guards were not up to the job of overseeing the hotels. By the time we had the Stamford outbreak ... I was, you could say, exasperated and absolutely determined to replace the security guards, she told Mr Ihle. "It was not a workforce that my department had contracted. We didn't have any contractual levers ... it was critical to secure the support of other agencies ... to fix this problem ... This was just a workforce that was too high risk in nature. I apologise if I offend anyone who works in this profession, a workforce that in some instances were not forthcoming about second jobs and other jobs they might have. It made it very hard for them to do the contact tracing." Ms Mikakos wanted various groups including Victoria Police and between 50 and 100 ADF members to take control. However, the Health Minister wrote in her statement to the inquiry that this was rejected by the Victorian government. Ms Mikakos said she only became aware of Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisps request for 850 ADF personnel on June 25, which was cancelled hours later, via the media. Personally, I did not have any concerns about use of the ADF in the HQP, she wrote in her statement. ADF personnel had already been used successfully by the DHHS at testing sites, to train and supervise contact tracers as we were significantly growing the contact tracing team at that time, and in logistics roles at the SCC [State Control Centre]. Police Minister Lisa Neville told the inquiry on Wednesday that she too only found out about Mr Crisp's overturned request for ADF members via the media, which made her "pretty cranky". Loading Ms Mikakos' evidence comes on the same day as an explosive letter from the Health Workers' Union demanding the Premier sack her. The letter claimed that locked-down Victorians are paying the price for her incompetence. Health Workers Union secretary Diana Asmar wrote that Ms Mikakos be ousted for "breathtaking incompetence". A letter in response from the much larger Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation defended Ms Mikakos, saying she was a "hard-working minister who is across her portfolio". Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 08:19 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46d4782 1 Editorial National-Police,pam-swakarsa,New-Order,security-guard,COVID-19,pandemic,#Editorial,democracy,democracy-in-Indonesia Free The formation of the civilian security guard (Pam Swakarsa) in Indonesias tumultuous November 1998 regime change ended in tragedy. The government and the military turned a deaf ear to calls from opposition leaders to dissolve the force, resulting in fatal clashes between Pam Swakarsa and the masses clamoring for democracy. Members of the guard were recruited from mass organizations known for pro-government leanings and, most of the time, practiced thuggery. They were supported and trained by security authorities and deployed to protect the regimes interests on their behalf. Now, after 22 years, the National Police appears to be resurrecting the long-buried force. Through National Police Chief Regulation No.4/2020, signed Aug. 5 but only announced recently, Pam Swakarsa will be called upon again to help the police maintain security and public order. The police have asked the public not to confuse todays Pam Swakarsa with the group that operated during the tumult of the fall of Soeharto. Private security guards (Satpam), members of community watches, including traditional guards such as the pecalang in Bali, and mass organizations concerned about security and public order are permitted join the new Pam Swakarsa. The polices move comes on the heels of the governments desperate push for health protocol enforcement to contain COVID -19 transmission. Since the Jakarta administration reinstated large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) last week, the central government has deployed the military and the police to enforce the protocols. The police have launched an operation that intends to ensure public compliance with the rules by fining offenders or imposing other punitive measures. National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Gatot Eddy Pramono said the police could not rely on their own strength to enforce the protocols. Pam Swakarsa, he said, could help them uphold discipline in places such as traditional markets. In Indonesia, there is one police officer for every 2000 people. In more advanced countries, the ratio can reach 1 to 1,600. Until the National Police close the gap, they will continue to seek the services of civilian groups like Pam Swakarsa. But the deployment of groups acting as proxies for the police for whatever reason invites the abuse of power. Human rights groups fear the groups could be used for purposes that go against the interests of the public, such as silencing voices in protests or advancing political interests. The nation has often witnessed members of mass organizations claiming to be backed by the military or police use force against civilians for financial gain or in the name of religion. As the ghost of the 1998 tragedy still lingers and the police remain reluctant to act against vigilante groups, the reincarnation of Pam Swakarsa may spread fear, not a sense of protection and security. The plan to reestablish the force suggests the polices inability to fulfill their responsibility to protect people and deliver the governments mandate to uphold public discipline, which is key in the fight against COVID-19. It further underscores the governments tendency to securitize the pandemic, which harms democracy. A 60-year-old woman in Madhya Pradeshs Bundelkhand region has allegedly died by suicide, her son told police on Wednesday and added she was distraught as her indebted farmer husband was receiving loan recovery notices from banks despite the Covid-19 pandemic. She allegedly consumed some poisonous substance on September 16 and was admitted to a local hospital. The case came to light when she died on Wednesday. The farmer said they grow vegetables on their farm for a living. He added his five sons worked as labourers in Delhi but they returned home after they could not find work due to the pandemic. Also read: Can govt assure no farmer will commit suicide after passage of farm bills? asks Sanjay Raut One of the womans sons said his father had taken two loans of 25,000 each six years back for their sisters marriage. He has been getting notices from the banks for several months...to repay the loans that caused tremendous stress to him. My mother asked us to arrange money anyhow to repay the loans but we had no jobs here. We do not have even a ration card and no benefit from any other government scheme. We borrow food grains... My mother definitely consumed poison due to the banks notices. Additional police superintendent Sameer Saurabh said the womans son has said she died by suicide as his father was under stress due to the notices. We are conducting an investigation into it and will take action based on it. A 65-year-old farmer in the Bundelkhand region earlier this month allegedly died by suicide after his crop was destroyed due to lack of rains. He was under stress as he was unable to pay his electricity bills and repay bank loans. Victorian Health Minister Wanted the Army in Quarantine Hotels Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has slammed the decision to use security guards in Victorias quarantine hotels, saying she called for the army to replace them following coronavirus outbreaks. Mikakos has told the states hotel quarantine inquiry she didnt know private security guards were being used in the program until an outbreak at the Rydges on Swanston in mid-May. Following a second outbreak at the Stamford Plaza in June, she said she became exasperated and formed a very strong view that we should work to replace the security guard workforce. This was just a workforce that was too high risk in nature, Mikakos told the inquiry on Sept. 24. She said guards failed to tell contact tracers what shifts they had worked or if they had a second job, hampering efforts to slow the virus spread. The states second wave of coronavirus, which resulted in more than 18,000 new infections and 750 deaths, can be traced back to the two outbreaks. In her written statement to the inquiry, Mikakos said the Department of Health and Human Services developed a plan on June 24 to replace the guards with a mixture of Victoria Police, Protective Services Officers, sheriffs, health workers and a small number of Australian Defence Force personnel. The plan was rejected by other parts of the government. Mikakos said she only became aware of a separate request for 850 ADF personnel, made by Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp on June 25, via media reports. Personally, I did not have any concerns about use of the ADF, she wrote in her statement. Crisps request was rescinded on June 26 when the Department of Justice took over the program. Mikakos said she wasnt involved in the establishment of the hotel quarantine program, despite the DHHS being named the lead agency. The inquiry has heard the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions contracted hotels and security companies. The contracts written up by the department placed the responsibility of training guards on the security companies, including in the use of personal protective equipment. Hotels were responsible for cleaning, unless a returned traveller tested positive to COVID-19. Mikakos said the multi-agency response meant there were too many cooks spoiling the broth. It became apparent to me that the DHHS lacked any contractual levers with either the hotels or security contractors and that this was a significant weakness in how the program had been structured, she wrote her statement. But within the DHHS, there were also problems. Mikakos said she didnt know Public Health Commander Finn Romanes had written to DHHS secretary Kym Peake on April 9, warning of a risk to the health and safety of detainees due to governance issues. The letter was backed by Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton and his deputy Annaliese van Diemen. Peake also failed to brief Mikakos on two Safer Care Victoria reports, which identified problems with the hotel quarantine program. Im actually very disappointed that they were not raised with me, Mikakos told the inquiry. She said it was hard to say what couldve happened if they had been brought to her attention earlier. Whilst things were very crystal clear to me by June, what needed to happen, I cant say with any degree of certainty that I would have had that same insight in late March, Mikakos said. It would have been helpful to have had a more intimate involvement in some of those key decision points much earlier. A union has reportedly called for the dismissal of Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, accusing her of breathtaking incompetence. A Health Workers Union letter to Premier Daniel Andrews urging her removal has been made public with Mikakos to appear on Sept. 24 before the inquiry into Victorias hotel quarantine program, which led to the states devastating second wave of coronavirus. Premier Daniel Andrews is the inquirys final witness and will appear on Sept. 25 afternoon. By Benita Kolovos After murdering his entire family over nine hours in their Markham home the day before they would have discovered his lie about graduating from university, Menhaz Zaman told online friends what hed done. Ive just slaughtered my entire family and will most likely spend life in jail if I manage to survive, Zaman told a friend from Minnesota on the messaging app Discord. His friend asked where he was and urged him to turn himself in. Im at home, Zaman wrote. Killed my dad last. The shaking has stopped. The messages sparked desperate international attempts by his friends to alert local authorities, leading York Regional Police to arrive at the Markham home the next day to arrest Zaman. On Thursday afternoon, Zaman, 24, pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of his mother and the first-degree murder of his father, grandmother and sister in a Zoom court appearance in which he appeared by video link from the Central East Correctional Centre. In a soft but clear voice, Zaman admitted he first murdered his mother, Momotaz Begum, 50, in their home on Castlemore Avenue at about 3 p.m. on July 27, 2019. According to an agreed statement of facts, he then plotted to kill the rest of his family. An hour later he killed his grandmother Firoza Begum, 70. He then waited several hours for his younger sister Malesa Zaman, 21, to come home from work at Food Basics. In that time he napped and played video games, according to the agreed facts. At 11 p.m. he killed his sister. Finally, he killed his father, Moniruz Zaman, 59, a Beck taxi driver who arrived home around midnight. The deaths of Malesa who was studying science at university and, according to Toronto Life, dreamed of being a neurosurgeon and her parents and grandmother shocked their friends and the local Bangladeshi community. Moniruz and Momotaz had just marked their 25th wedding anniversary and their son had given a speech celebrating them at the party. According to the agreed statement of facts read by the Crown, Zaman messaged Devonte Nicholson, a friend from Minnesota at 11:54 p.m. through the messaging app Discord and said: Ive just slaughtered my entire family and will most likely spend life in jail if I manage to survive. I hope I made you laugh at one point or another. I hope you remember the good times. I will miss you all. Zaman also sent his friend photos of four people with blood on their necks. A bloody knife was next to one of the people, described by Nicholson as an elderly lady. A police investigation revealed hed been leading a double life, the Crown said. His parents believed he was due to graduate from an engineering program at York University on July 28, 2019. In reality, he had failed out of Seneca Colleges electronics engineering technology program after a year, in 2014-15. He had been pretending to go to classes but was really spending his time at the mall and the gym, and at home gaming. In messages with another friend, Maroon Ayoub, on the day of the killings, Zaman said: I know I am a pathetic coward sub-human. I will be turning myself in. He said hed been planning the murders for three years. Ayoub, who lives in Israel, asked why. Zaman explained he started skipping classes in his first year of university and had to repeat courses. It is here in second semester I started getting depressed and became an atheist and ultimately created this plan. So for three years Ive been telling my parents I go to uni when actually I was just hanging out at the mall four days a week. Zaman said he did this because I dont want my parents to feel the shame of having a son like me. I choose to kill them instead out of cowardice. Due to me being an atheist I believe this is the only life we get. I know it might sound confusing but whats done is done and what has been planned has been concluded. Im sorry if this makes you upset. Please try to remember the good times. On July 28, 2019, Toronto police informed York Regional Police that theyd received information that someone may have slaughtered their entire family. Zamans friend Nicholson from Minnesota had called the Toronto police non-emergency line he believed Zaman lived in Toronto and told them of the messages Zaman sent through Discord. The Toronto police cybercrime unit contacted Discord to track the IP address Zaman was using. They were able to link it to the Castlemore Avenue home in Markham and informed York police. When the police arrived at the home the day after the killing, Zaman peered out from an upstairs window. He came down and opened the front door. He was detained while the house was searched. Police found four bodies in the home Zamans mother and grandmother together in the master bedroom, his sister in the guest bedroom and his father in his sisters room. He had struck each of them on their heads, most likely with a crowbar, and then cut their throats while they were on the ground, according to the agreed statement of facts. Zaman was arrested and charged with four counts of murder. He admitted to police that he killed his family but did not provide a motive or explain how he had done it. Reached on Thursday, Ayoub said the murders are rarely discussed within the Discord chat group where Zaman had been a member. Him getting locked up is what he aimed for after all, and its whats going to happen, Ayoub said in a private Discord message. Lets not forget that according to him, he truly believed that his family dying is better than them meeting his reality, which only existed in his head. His own projections, his own lack of understanding that his reality is not necessarily true, fuelled his ill idea. A sentencing hearing is set for Oct. 26, when victim impact statements will be given. The Crown and defence are expected to provide a joint submission for sentencing. A first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic sentence of life with no chance of parole for 25 years but the parole ineligibility periods can be longer for multiple counts of murder. Zaman is anxious to move on and hopes to be sentenced as soon as possible, his lawyer Adele Monaco said in the hearing. With files from Wendy Gillis Read more about: The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has entered data on the activities of telecommunications operators and providers in a particular locality into the list to be made public in the form of open data. The relevant resolution was adopted at the government meeting. According to the Ministry of Digital Transformation, there are no official sources of information in Ukraine on the activities of telecommunications operators and providers in terms of specific localities. "If reporting continues to be available exclusively to the National Commission for the State Regulation of Communications and Informatization (NCCIR), citizens and businesses will not have access to official information on telecommunications operators and providers that are technically capable of providing them with communications and the Internet," the government said in the explanatory note to the document. The Ministry of Digital Transformation also said that this reporting is necessary for government agencies to plan budget financing for the telecom industry, and its disclosure will result in reduction in the corruption risks of double financing of connection of state and municipal institutions to the Internet, etc. The resolution introduces the information on Internet coverage and subscriber numbers in terms of localities, technology and speed, which is provided by operators and telecommunication providers under periodic reporting of operators and providers (except for those containing their financial performance indicators) and responses to government data requests to the list of open data sets that are subject to disclosure. The National Commission for the State Regulation of Communications and Informatization administer this information now. In addition, the Ministry of Justice will now be responsible for making public the registry of valid, blocked and revoked public key certificates instead of the Ministry of Digital Transformation. New Delhi, Sep 24 : Thousands of people participated in last year's widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in New Delhi's Shaheen Bagh. Three feisty grandmothers also took part in these demonstrations surrounded by young women with prayer beads in one hand and the national flag in the other. One of the Shaheen Bagh grandmothers (Dadi), 82-year-old Bilkis who became the face of the Shaheen Bagh protests in India, has featured among Time Magazine's top 100 most influential personalities in the world. While she is happy about the praises garnered, she also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has now featured four times in the magazine's influential personalities's list. In the latest influential people's list released by Time Magazine, Bilkis has been placed in the 'Icon' category. Bilkis told IANS, "I am very happy that I have been honoured with such respect. Although I did not expect this but who knows whom God gives recognition?" "I have only read the Quran and never went to school. But today I am happy, congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too. He is also my son. I did not give him birth but that does not mater. God bless him with a long life and always give him happiness," Bilkis added. "Our fight first is with corona, the disease must be eliminated from the world only then something can be thought of the world after that," the 82-year-old added. Grandmother Bilkis, who emerged as the face of the NRC-CAA protests, originally hails from Hapur. Her husband died nearly 11 years back. At present, she lives in Shaheen Bagh with her sons, daughter-in-laws and grandchildren. Bilkis' family is also happy that her name has featured alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Time Magazine's 100 'Most Influential People' in the world list. Prime Minister Modi has again been listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the magazine. The list also includes actor Ayushmann Khurrana and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. A massive crack has opened up in the chalk cliffs of West Sussex after torrential rain, with walkers and selfie-snappers warned to stay away. The Coastguard has issued a safety warning after the dangerous cliff crack opened up on Sunday evening at Seaford Head. The gulf in the world famous 500 foot chalk cliffs has been cordoned off and the council has been informed. The dangerous cliff crack opened up on Sunday evening at Seaford Head after heavy rain The Coastguard has issued a safety warning and urged people not to visit the cliffs for 'dramatic photographs', saying 'no selfie is worth risking your life for' A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: One of our biggest problems is tackling the "selfie culture" where people take risks to get a dramatic photograph of themselves on a dangerous cliff edge or during a tidal surge no selfie or photograph is worth risking your life for.' We want people to enjoy themselves on the coast by making sure their visit is one to remember and not one theyd rather forget. Its a well-known fact that the cliffs along the UK coastline are continually eroding, with pieces falling from them that can be just a few small rocks or as large as a car. The chalk cliffs at Sussex are world famous, and many cracks have appeared along the Seaford Head stretch over the past few years The cliffs along the UK coastline are continually eroding, with pieces falling from them that can be just a few small rocks or as large as a car 'Its impossible to predict when the next piece might fall or how big it will be. Periods of intense rainfall followed by dryer warmer weather will often make cliff edges more vulnerable. 'Weve seen a number of cliff collapses around the UK coastline in recent months. 'Its very clear that cliffs are very unstable in places and we really cant stress enough how important it is to keep back from the edge. 'There is no safe place to be.' The gulf in the world famous 500 foot chalk cliffs has been cordoned off and the council has been informed Cracks have been reported along the Sussex coastline for many years. A prominent crack appeared in the cliffs near the Seaford Head Golf Course three years ago. Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Team have investigated the crack and Seaford Council were also informed. Safety barriers have been erected long the coastal path for the public's protection. Walkers are being urged to steer clear of the unstable area. ONAWAY, MICHIGAN -- The first marijuana seeds were planted for his personal use in 2009. Back then, Ben Kolasa didnt know what he was doing. A little more than a decade later, through countless trials and errors, the 33-year-old is opening Sticky Bush Farms, his own recreational marijuana business in Presque Isle Countys Onaway, about 45 minutes from Mackinaw City. He said its an entirely new world. Kolasa didnt initially expect his hobby to evolve into a career. The Marijuana Regulatory Agency, the body that oversees the states medical and recreational marijuana markets, issued Kolasa the first ever recreational marijuana microbusiness license last week, and he hopes to open the doors to his tiny 500-square-foot storefront in an Onaway an industrial park this November. Ben Kolasa, owner of Sticky Bush Farms in Onaway. When I started growing, it was just for me, so I could provide myself with medicine, Kolasa said. Then, I guess it started being decent medicine. People wanted help or just wanted to try it. And then I started helping some other people, epilepsy patients, some cancer patients, an MS (multiple sclerosis) patient. It kept blossoming into more. I just kept going as the road opened up. Not long after Kolasa first started growing, his medical marijuana patient list maxed out at six patients, including himself, and his grow capped at 72 plants. Michigan voters open the doors to further opportunity in November 2018, legalizing marijuana and creating a commercial recreational cannabis market. Kolasa began thinking about how he, with his knowledge, skills and love of cannabis, might fit into the new industry. I really like what I do and it got to the point that either I did this or I was a caregiver forever, he said. The caregiver system is probably going to be there for a while, but I just have this feeling that it might start fading away. It already has. State regulators initially allowed caregivers to sell excess medical marijuana products to licensed businesses, but plan to totally eliminate caregiver product from the licensed markets by October. The recreational marijuana industry has expanded quickly with growers, retail stores, processors, transporters and labs since the market first opened on Dec. 1, 2019, but one approved business type that has been conspicuously absent is the microbusiness. The license is unique in that its a mixture of various license functions. A microbusiness license allows a growing to cultivate up to 150 plants, process the harvest for sale as flower, oils, edibles and other products, and sell them from their own storefront. The distinction is that a microbusiness cant intermingle with other aspects of the recreational market. Kolasa wont be allowed to distribute his products to other businesses or purchase their marijuana to manufacture his own products. A microbusiness is an entirely self-contained model. We want to get bigger, he said. Were going to add on an extract lab, stuff for edibles. We can do everything in house." Hell focus on the sale of consistent, quality, top-shelf craft cannabis. Asked if being the first ever microbusiness in Michigan matters to him, Kolasa said: Nah, man. Its rad as hell, but it wasnt really something I was focused on. I was just trying to get my business up and moving. Its a tedious process that began nearly a year ago when he approached the Onaway City Council for approval to open a marijuana microbusiness in the 800-resident town where Kolasas father owns a popular diner. A new ordinance allowing the business passed in October 2019. Since then, hes been working with the state on site plans and a long list of other requirements. Its not cheap. The application and licensing fees alone were $19,000. Hes invested a couple hundred thousand dollars more. While Kolasa has no doubt he has the ability to operate a successful commercial business, hes passionate about continuing to help medical marijuana users who gave him his start. Tanya Salata, a medical marijuana patient of Ben Kolasa Im extremely proud of Ben. Hes a great person with a big heart, said Tanya Salata, who suffers from epilepsy and became one of Kolasas patients over a year ago. I describe Ben as a guardian angel ... He was just real personal. He came to my house and we sat and went through all my medicine and when I started using marijuana correctly, my seizures started to go away. Salata said Kolasa tinkered with a low-THC, high-CBD cannabis oil that isnt intended to get the user high. Salata plops a couple drops of the oil under her tongue daily and said she soon started seeing results. The marijuana extract seemed to help Salata more than any medication doctors have prescribed her since the seizures began in 2012. At their worst, Salata said she was enduring seizures nearly every couple minutes, usually during sleep. And now, at this time, for the first time ever, Im nine months without a seizure, she said. "My doctor said dont quit what youre doing, because its working. Now Im able to drive again. Its probably the best thing thats happened to me. Salata said Kolasa has his growing skills down to a science. If it works for me, I would hope he would put that product in his shop to sell for others to use, she said. Im happy hes got a business and I will support him 100% -- always. SPRINGFIELD With visitors remaining in their cars to view the Springfields annual spectacle of holiday lights, Bright Nights at Forest Park is already a socially distanced activity. This year, the light show celebrates its 26th season and with some added COVID-19 safety protocols in place officials hope the event, running Nov. 25 to Jan. 3, will be a success. Its going to be safe, sound and healthy, and a huge morale boost not only for Springfield and Western Massachusetts, but for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, said Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. Officials discussed this years Bright Nights season at the Barney Carriage House at Forest Park on Thursday. Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt was joined by the events co-creator, Patrick Sullivan, executive director of Springfields Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management; Helen Caulton-Harris, commissioner for the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services; Mary Kay Wydra, president of the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau; Paul Picknelly, president of Monarch Enterprises and others. Matt said all employees will be required to wear masks and those at the entrances will wear face shields. Portable bathrooms will be available and will be cleaned after every use. The gift shop and Santa station will be closed this year. Santa will be at the gate waving at visitors in their vehicles this year, but we will not be having anyone get out of their cars to greet him, Matt said. We want to keep this as safe as possible. Admission will be $23 per car on weeknights, weekdays and holidays. Discounted tickets will be available at participating Big Y World Class Markets for $16.50. Due to bus capacity limitations set by the state, admission for buses has been reduced to $100 for buses with capacity of more than 30 people. Vehicles with seating from 17 to 30 people will be charged $50. We are encouraging everyone to purchase their tickets online. If there is a senior or someone who doesnt have a smart phone or has difficulty we will accept payment at the gate, but really we want people to get their tickets an advance, Matt said. Not only will advance ticketing make traffic flow more efficient, it will also be used as a means to gather information for contact tracing in the case that someone tests positive for COVID-19. We are taking all of the necessary precautions, so that people can enjoy Bright Nights safely, Matt said. Caulton-Harris said the plans and precautions were the product of many discussions throughout the summer to ensure the event will be safe not only for Springfield residents, but for anyone who enters the city for Bright Nights. She said the announcement is cause for celebration. We believe that health is physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, that is very important to us, Caulton-Harris said. There has not been a lot to celebrate this year. The mayor and I made the difficult decision to cancel the pancake breakfast, the Fourth of July celebration, the Jazz and Roots Festival, the Stone Soul Festival and the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade. We have asked residents not to go door to door and trick or treat this year. We have to make some difficult decisions and we have asked our residents to sacrifice." Bright Nights at Forest Park is a three-mile route featuring more than 675,000 lights and displays like Seuss Land, Everett Barney Mansion, Toy Land, Happy Holidays, Springfield and so many more. Officials calculate it has $15 million economic impact annually. This year the American Bus Association named Bright Nights the best light display in the country. Related content: Of the 18,000 suspects considered by police as the Claremont serial killer, Bradley Edwards was never one of them, Police Commissioner Chris Dawson has revealed. Edwards, 51, was convicted of the murders of Ciara Glennon and Jane Rimmer on Thursday, nearly a quarter of a century after they went missing from Claremont in separate incidents with their bodies found at opposite ends of Perth. WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson speaking to media after the Claremont killer trial verdict. Credit:Hamish Hastie Speaking to media at Police HQ after the verdict, Mr Dawson said more than 18,000 people were nominated as suspects during the course of the investigation but Edwards did not once appear on that list until 2016. Despite the thousands of nominations we actually never had Bradley Edwards nominated by anyone as a suspect, he said. Cross-border terror, blocking connectivity and obstructing trade are the key challenges that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) must overcome to ensure lasting peace and security in the region, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday. Jaishankar made the remarks while addressing an informal virtual meeting of foreign ministers of the eight-member grouping, whose functioning has stalled because of differences between India and Pakistan. The meeting of the foreign ministers is an annual event held on the margins of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York that has been marked by testy exchanges between India and Pakistan in recent years. Also read: India needs to invest in regional disaster relief mechanisms | Opinion Cross-border terrorism, blocking connectivity and obstructing trade are three key challenges that SAARC must overcome, Jaishankar said in a string of tweets highlighting the contents of his speech. Only then will we see enduring peace, prosperity and security in our South Asia region, he added. In his speech, he said: Over the last 35 years, Saarc has made significant progress. But our efforts towards collective collaboration and prosperity have been hampered by acts of terrorism and threats to national security. Such an environment impedes our shared objective of realising the full potential of our collective endeavour. It is, therefore, crucial that we collectively resolve to defeat the scourge of terrorism, including the forces that nurture, support and encourage it. This will generate the much needed trust and confidence to collectively build a stronger and prosperous Saarc. Though he didnt name any country, it was obvious he was referring to Pakistan. India has accused Pakistan of backing cross-border terror, especially in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). After India created an emergency coronavirus disease (Covid-19) fund for Saarc states earlier this year, Pakistan asked for it to be placed under the groupings secretariat. Jaishankar said he had also reaffirmed Indias commitment to its neighbourhood first policy and towards building a connected, integrated, secure and prosperous South Asia. He also highlighted Indias Covid-19-related cooperation efforts, including a commitment of $10 million to the emergency fund for the region, the supply of essential drugs, medical consumables, and protection and test kits to the region, and a video conference of health professionals from the region to share information and best practices on the pandemic. India had also launched a Covid-19 Information Exchange Platform (COINEX) to facilitate exchange of specialised information, helped the development of an innovative website by the Saarc Disaster Management Centre to provide reliable information and updates on the evolving situation, and activated the Saarc Food Bank mechanism to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, he said. And where we brought back our own people from afar, we had space both on the plane and in our hearts for our neighbours, Jaishankar said. He also pointed to Indias support for neighbours, such as the extension of $150 million (m), $200 m and $400 m foreign currency swap support for the Maldives, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, respectively. In his address, Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke of his countrys willingness to host the 19th SAARC Summit and for obstacles created in its way to be removed for SAARC to function as an effective instrument of regional cooperation. The summit was scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November 2016 but was called off after an attack on an Indian Army camp at Uri in Kashmir that was blamed on Pakistan-based terrorists. Since then, Saarc has largely been dormant. Qureshi said Pakistan attaches great importance to Saarc and its charter, which upholds the principle of sovereign equality as the basis for meaningful regional cooperation. He also reiterated the need for a regional approach to stop the spread of Covid-19. In March, the Pakistani representative at a video conference of Saarc leaders on the Covid-19 situation had triggered a controversy by raising the Kashmir issue. That event had been organised at Prime Minister Narendra Modis suggestion. At the time, Indian officials had said Pakistans move was unwarranted and an attempt to politicise a humanitarian issue. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Egypt's Mission to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva held a webinar on Thursday with legal experts and hydrologists to highlight Egyptian efforts to reach a mutually beneficial agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said on Twitter. The Egyptian negotiating delegation also participated in the webinar, Hafez said. Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia concluded their most recent round of talks on the megadam in August, without reaching an integrated draft agreement on the filling and operation of the hydropower project. Addressing the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Wednesday that the Nile "is not restricted to a party and its waters are considered a matter of survival for Egyptians, without infringing our brothers rights." "We've spent almost a decade in painstaking negotiations with our brothers in Sudan and Ethiopia, in an endeavour to reach an agreement regulating the filling and operation of the dam and strike the required balance between achieving the development requirements of the friendly Ethiopian people and safeguarding Egypt's water interests and ensuring its right to life," El-Sisi said, adding that these efforts, however, did not yield the desired results. The president stressed that the GERD negotiation period "should not be extended indefinitely" in order to impose a status quo. Ethiopia began construction on the dam in 2011 and completed the first filling of its reservoir this summer, despite not having reached an agreement with its downstream neighbours. Search Keywords: Short link: India imported more petroleum products, handicrafts, medical and scientific instruments, agrochemicals and other chemicals from China although overall shipments from the neighbour declined 29% from a year earlier to $16.6 billion in the first four months of the financial year. Purchases of bulk drugs and intermediates registered a minor decline. Recent efforts to replace Chinese goods with indigenous products and more diversified sources have resulted in a significant reduction in imports of 45 out of 50 principal commodity groups from China in the April-July period, but purchases in five sectors increased, said the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S). India has taken a series of punitive actions against China amid a military standoff in the Ladakh sector along the Line of Actual Control (LAC); on June 15, a violent brawl in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh left 20 Indian Army personnel dead and caused an unspecified number of Chinese casualties. Citing national security concerns, New Delhi on June 29 banned 59 mostly Chinese mobile applications such as TikTok, UC Browser and WeChat, and added 118 more apps to the list on September 2. India has also restricted the imports of Chinese television sets and prohibited Chinese companies from competing for government contracts. Despite the punitive measures, imports of agrochemicals from China jumped 17.49%, to $377.65 million in April-July compared to $321.43 million in the same period last year. Purchases of other chemicals rose 13.46% to $240.96 million, according to DGCI&S data. Purchases of Chinese petroleum products rose 13.61% to $68.83 million during the period. Indias imports of Chinese handicrafts, excluding carpets, increased by 7.55% to $168.08 million; and medical and scientific instruments by 2.55% to $205.64 million. Although there was a small dip in the import of bulk drugs and intermediates from China, data shows Indias continued dependence on China for this crucial raw material used by the pharmaceutical industry. Imports of bulk drugs and drug intermediaries fell 0.13% to $859.66 million in April-July from $860.85 million in the same period last year. The commerce and industry ministry did not respond to queries on the subject. Two government officials with direct knowledge of the matter said imports from China were on a constant decline, which will be even more prominent in the September numbers. Imports from China have dropped by over $320 million in the first three weeks of the current month to about $1.2 billion, the officials said, requesting anonymity. A significant drop has been recorded in two key categories, with purchases of fertilizer (crude and manufactured) from China falling 70%; and machinery (electrical and non-electrical) declining 30% in first three weeks of September 2020, one of the officials said. Thats the outcome of an Indian effort to scale up domestic manufacturing capacity and diversify the sources of imports of goods and services to reduce reliance on China, the officials said. The government is also conscious about the needs of the domestic consumer and industry. There are certain essential products such as bulk drugs and APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients), which are globally supplied from China. While efforts are there for import substitution, there is no ban on the import of such items from China, the second official said. Measures are being taken to import bulk drugs from alternative sources such as the US, Italy, Singapore and Hong Kong, and to ramp up domestic capacity to reduce dependence on China. In the medium to long-run, the government has decided to set up three bulk drug parks for 3,000 crore and approved a 6,940 crore production-linked incentive (PLI) package for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical drug intermediates and APIs. This is how there is a marginal decline in their imports from China during April-July 2020, the second official said. Over 63% of Indias pharmaceutical imports are APIs and intermediates, and almost 70% of those come from China. Intermediaries and APIs are crucial chemical compounds (raw materials) required to manufacture formulations or medicines. While India is one of the leading exporters of formulations or generic medicines, China has a virtual monopoly in production of intermediaries and APIs. It is time we revive our domestic API industry, which has been deeply affected because of policies such as stricter implementation of pollution control norms, implementation of DPCO [Drug Price Control Order], 2013, lower import duties, and complete collapse of the indigenous fermentation industry, said a report titled Reviving Indias API Industry, prepared by consulting firm PwC. According to the report, the percentage of API imports from China spiked from around 1% in 1991 to about 70% in 2019. Divakar Vijayasarathy, founder and managing partner at consulting firm DVS Advisors LLP, said a 100% boycott of Chinese products or import substitution was not immediately possible in a scenario where the trade deficit is highly skewed in favour of China. The import substitution is a long-drawn process and there are no quick fixes as in the case of apps. The government has realised this and is setting up parks for API domestic manufacturing but the results would be visible only a year or two later... Ban or import restrictions on these products, essential in nature, would only hurt India. Import substitution requires long-term vision and strategy which the government is trying to address but l think there is still a very long way to go, he said. Steve Martin plays George Banks, father of Annie Banks (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), who returns from Europe engaged to marry a man she has known for only a few months. (Steve Shapiro / Touchstone Pictures) Father of the ... groom? Kieran Culkin's little Matty Banks is now grown up and calling a family meeting, and he's doing it in "Father of the Bride Part 3(ish)," a reunion special of sorts that premieres on Netflix Friday and plops the beloved Banks family in the middle of the pandemic. The confab gathers the original cast from the 1991 romantic comedy "Father of the Bride" Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Martin Short, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Kieran Culkin and George Newbern on Friday for a virtual family meeting. The special, which benefits World Central Kitchen, will stream on Netflix, YouTube and Facebook at 3 p.m. Pacific. It promises a few special guests too. "This is an actual mini-movie with a story and everything!" Martin tweeted Thursday. "Finally! So happy to tell you Ive made a new movie FATHER OF THE BRIDE PART 3 (ish)," added Meyers on Instagram. "Ish is because its not as long as a movie but I think youre going to like it!" The Banks family is back for a very special event! Premiering TOMORROW at 3pm PST / 6pm EST on Netflix YouTube and Facebook pic.twitter.com/3GS0nu9eR3 Netflix (@netflix) September 24, 2020 In a teaser released Thursday, the 2020 version of frugal patriarch George (Martin) is running late for the family meeting because he's washing his hands ("One more 'Happy Birthday' to go!" he shouts). A Tuesday teaser gave fans a glimpse at George's email inbox, which featured Annie's (Williams-Paisley) digitized wedding photo album, plenty of meeting reminders from Matty, a "HALOOO!!!" missive from Franck (Short) and an order confirmation email from "Masks-R-Us". The special is written and directed by Nancy Meyers, who cowrote the original film and its 1995 followup. The latter film featured both the erstwhile bride Annie (Williams-Paisley) and the mother of the bride Nina (Keaton) pregnant at the same time as the overly enthusiastic wedding planner Franck announced in the trailer. Story continues The news comes on the same day Deadline reported that Warner Bros. is developing a LatinX reboot of the franchise with Matt Lopez writing the script. The 1991 film, a remake of the 1950s version starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett and Elizabeth Taylor, was eviscerated in its Times review but went on to be a box-office and cult hit. Unification Minister Lee In-young is seen at the government complex in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap The unification ministry said Thursday it has no means to communicate with North Korea over its recent killing of a South Korean fisheries official, as Pyongyang cut off all inter-Korean communication lines earlier this year, an official said Thursday. The defense ministry confirmed earlier that the North shot the 47-year-old official to death and burned his body earlier this week. The ministry also said it sent a message to the North via a communication channel between the U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) and North Korea, but it received no response. Australian rescuers were hoping to save 20 more pilot whales stranded off the coast of the island of Tasmania on Thursday after 70 were successfully returned to the ocean. "We are confident most of those animals have got away, Kris Carlyon, a wildlife biologist with Australia's Marine Conservation Program, told a press conference Thursday. Tasmania's largest mass stranding has seen 470 whales trapped on a sandbank on the island's west coast this week. While the final rescue efforts are underway, crews are also left to remove the carcasses of 380 whales that died. Image: A dead whale lays on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania (Mell Chun / AFP - Getty Images) The bodies will be disposed of at sea, preferably, over the coming days before they bloat and float into the tides, Nic Deka, regional manager for Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service, said. They will present a significant navigation hazard if we dont contain them, Deka said. The pod of an estimated 270 whales stuck on a sandbank was first detected Monday. Another 200 whales were found Wednesday about six miles down the coast. Once beached, the whales only have a matter of days to survive because their organs no longer suspended by water are damaged. The cause of the mass stranding has yet to be determined. The event is not uncommon and strandings twice as large have been recorded in New Zealand, Carlyon has said. But the current stranding has set a new record for Australia, with the country's last record set in 1996 with 320 pilot whales stuck at the town of Dunsborough. There is little we can do to prevent this occurring in the future," Carlyon said earlier this week. Pilot whales have strong social ties and even if only a few members of a pod veer off course, the others often follow. It makes rebeaching a possibility, as the animals rescued try to reconnect with the rest of the pod. But Carlyon said as of Thursday, none of the whales that have been rescued that were tagged in order to be identifiable have returned to the coastline where the carcasses have piled up. Story continues Four whales that are alive but weakened and suffering as a result of the stranding will have to be euthanized, Carlyon said. These are animals that we have given a chance, we tried to release them and they havent done well," he said. "We dont believe trying to release them again is a viable option." The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. CNBC's Jim Cramer advised investors Thursday to consider buying the stock of Nvidia, which earlier this month announced a blockbuster acquisition of chip designer Arm Holdings. Nvidia's stock popped about 5% in the first day of trading after the deal, worth $40 billion, was publicized. But the stock has given back those gains, ending Thursday's session about 4% below that Sept. 14 close, in what has been a tough month for Wall Street overall. The "Mad Money" host said the biggest question right now is not whether the deal makes sense for Nvidia but whether the chipmaker will receive the necessary approvals by regulators around the world. "If Nvidia can close on Arm Holdings, the stock's gonna be unstoppable even after its magnificent multiyear run," Cramer said. "I think [CEO] Jensen Huang can eventually make it happen, but what if I'm wrong? Look, the stock was at $486 before the Arm news, and it's only at $494 now. I like that risk-reward." Cramer has long been a fan of Nvidia back in November, when the stock was trading around $200 per share, he told viewers it should be one of two stocks your children should buy if they wanted to start investing. It's up more than 130% since then. Huang's leadership is one of the reasons it is such a great company, Cramer said, and he added it is going to be extremely valuable as Nvidia seeks to close the Arm Holdings acquisition in the face of antitrust concerns. Nothing compares to having your name just destroyed, your reputation just completely demolished in writing and especially when you know it's not true, Jefferson said in sometimes tearful interviews by Zoom, email, text messages and phone from Singapore. I've struggled over the years to say which was worse, having my hand blown off or going through this. . . . I think going through this was worse. Tea cultivation was introduced to Sri Lanka by the British after coffee cultivation had failed. To get the industry going, plantation owners needed lots of manual labour, and people from India's southern Tamil regions were recruited into an indentured labour system that tied workers to plantations. Palani is one of about 500,000 workers in the Sri Lankan tea industry. Like most of them, she descends from Tamils who were brought to British Ceylon from the Indian mainland in the 1820s. Tea cultivation was introduced to Sri Lanka by the British after coffee cultivation had failed. To get the industry going, plantation owners needed lots of manual labour, and people from India's southern Tamil regions were recruited into an indentured labour system that tied workers to plantations. Although slavery was outlawed in the British Empire, these workers were unpaid and completely at the will of plantation owners. They arrived indebted and had to pay for their own transportation until this rule was changed in 1922. Workers lived in crowded shacks, without sanitation, running water, medical facilities or schools for their children. Working conditions were very harsh, with long hours and heavy quotas. When Sri Lanka became independent in 1948, the tea workers were legally designated as "temporary immigrants" and were denied citizenship. In the 1980s, after more than 200 years living in Sri Lanka, the descendants of Indian Tamil indentured servants were granted Sri Lankan citizenship rights. However, they continue to be among the most marginalized and impoverished people in the country. There are few people advocating for the plantation workers, and their living wage remains below 5 a day. Sri Lanka currently produces around 300 million kilograms of tea annually. It is the fourth-largest tea producer in the world, behind China, India and Kenya. But tea workers remain mired in poverty. Tens of thousands of plantation workers throughout Sri Lanka have united in recent years to demand a minimum wage of 1,000 rupees a day (about 5). The "1000 Movement" is one of the largest mobilizations of Sri Lankan workers. The last agreement between workers and owners was in October 2018. Companies refused the demand for 1,000 rupees daily. A wage increase from 500 to 700 rupees was tentatively agreed to, although the agreement still needs to be signed by the tea companies. However, taking into account attendance and productivity incentives, the old wage was actually 730 rupees, say workers. These incentives were removed under the new 750 rupees agreement, resulting in an actual increase in wages of only 20 rupees (about 10 cents). To earn a daily wage of 700 Sri Lankan rupees (3.50, $4.15), Palani has to collect a minimum of 18 kilograms (40 pounds) of tea leaves. Source: DW.Com (Newser) A Trump administration spokesman who blamed an online outburstin which he advised Americans to buy ammunition to prepare for the aftermath of the November electionon stress and health problems is battling cancer. A spokesman said Michael Caputo had surgery at the National Cancer Institute, Politico reports, and doctors diagnosed "squamous cell carcinoma, a metastatic head and neck cancer which originated in his throat." Caputo is home in western New York, the spokesman said, after starting a 60-day medical leave last week. Caputo, who is assistant secretary of public affairs in the Department of Health and Human Services, urged people to not put off seeking health care, "especially cancer screenings, during the COVID-19 crisis." story continues below Caputo had been in hot water over his tweets almost since President Trump had him appointed to the HHS job in April, per People. His posts included a video in which he said government scientists are guilty of sedition for conspiring against Trump. Caputo later apologized for the video to HHS staff members and announced his leave last week. In addition, HHS staffers accused Caputo, who has no background in science, and his team of trying to change the content of reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Read more Michael Caputo stories.) Thousands of British businesses which rely on transporting and selling imported goods face a potential crisis as Britain's busiest freight port reportedly buckles under the coronavirus pandemic and a host of other problems, This is Money can reveal. Shipping crates have been piling up on the dockside at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk, with containers 'normally shifted within 48 hours taking up to 10 days' to be moved off the port as it struggles to cope during the busiest time of the year, according to an industry body representing haulage firms. The situation, which the port has blamed on staff shortages and a spike in arriving containers, has become so bad that last week Felixstowe banned hauliers from bringing back empty crates for six days. The Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk accounts for 48% of the UK's container trade and is the eighth-busiest container port in Europe It is attempting to ease a backlog which trade body bosses said had led 'to significant haulage problems whereby many containers can neither be collected, nor returned.' The Port of Felixstowe told This is Money this was a temporary move and it has once again begun accepting empty containers. Robert Keen, director general of the British International Freight Association, which represents around 1,500 companies involved in transporting freight, warned the issues at the UK's busiest container port 'have escalated to a level that could be disastrous for our members' businesses'. Import businesses worried A family run business which imports goods from overseas to then, in turn, sell to retailers who fill the shelves with the items they source, is facing a race against time to get the goods in, unload them into its warehouse and transport on. September and October is its busiest time of year, with the goods coming in and quickly turned around, ready to fill the shelves in the run-up to the festive season but it has been left in the dark as to when all of its shipments will arrive after being told of delays. It works with a logistics firm who organises the sea transport of goods via Felixstowe. The company fears that this delay could be severely damaging and extra temporary staff members - hired to help in the rush - are simply waiting around idly to do their job. The bottlenecks have knock-on effects for the thousands of businesses which make their livelihoods from selling imported goods, with the problems at Felixstowe leading to delays for containers to arrive. The port denied containers were usually moved within 48 hours. A spokesperson said: 'Import containers remain on the port for around four to four-and-a-half days in normal circumstances, at the moment that has risen to five days.' It added delays faced by businesses were also due to other factors and not just problems at the port. Some businesses have complained they have been left in the dark as to when their shipments will arrive, while an email from one logistics company seen by This is Money said 'there are no clear signs of the situation easing'. Typically, a logistics firm acts as a middleman between a business importing goods from overseas and the container ships that bring them in. The reality is Felixstowe is more important than Dover to Britain's international trade. British International Freight Association The congestion at the port comes at a crucial time for many import businesses as they look to stock up ahead of the Christmas period, while those which ordered less during the coronavirus lockdown are once again restocking as the economy begins to recover. The Port of Felixstowe is the UK's busiest container port and the eighth-busiest in Europe, with as much as 48 per cent of the UK's container trade coming through it. It handles 4million containers and welcomes 3,000 ships every year. It said in a statement posted on its website last Friday that the number of imported containers had been 30 per cent higher than average over the last fortnight, and apologised 'for any inconvenience caused'. A BIFA spokesperson told This is Money 'a significant proportion of our 1,500 members use the port', and that while bottlenecks at Dover usually receive more headlines, 'the reality is Felixstowe is more important than Dover to Britain's international trade'. This is Money contacted the Department for Transport to ask whether it was aware of the congestion at the port and whether they planned to step in to help. It believes the problems are a commercial matter at the moment, but a spokesman said: 'The Department is aware of the issue and will continue to liaise with the port to monitor the situation and any impact on wider supply chains.' The logistics company email seen by This is Money said the port had 'experienced various challenges for some time', with BIFA saying they initially stemmed from the introduction of a new in-house booking system introduced in 2018. While problems at Dover (below) are often more high profile, the Suffolk port of Felixstowe was described by the UK's freight trade body as 'more important to Britain's international trade' But the coronavirus pandemic has made the backlog worse. BIFA said the port was facing 'serious staffing issues' and that attempts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, for example through social distancing and by closing it a few hours a day to deep clean, were leading to delays. The email from the logistics company added: 'A lot of drivers are not working due to the pandemic, either because of furlough, holiday or quarantine requirements. 'With the added complication of coronavirus-secure working practices, this means something that would normally take two hours to unload now takes almost double the time, causing further issues and delays on planned workloads.' The British International Freight Association said the issues at the port were so bad that containers usually moved within 48 hours were left at the port for as long as 7-10 days Another logistics company, Basildon-based FS Mackenzie Ltd, wrote on its website last week: 'We find ourselves in the difficult position of having to apologise to our customers who have consignments booked with us that are arriving at the Port of Felixstowe. 'The service disruption we are experiencing is completely out of our control and is leading to frustration and additional cost to our customers.' In its statement published last week the Port of Felixstowe, owned since 1994 by Hong Kong-headquartered and British Virgin Islands-incorporated Hutchison Ports, said it was looking to recruit more than 100 new drivers, secure private testing for employees and expand its capacity. It says it has also brought back 300 staff previously furloughed under the coronavirus job retention scheme. It added it would open the port on Sundays to allow hauliers to pick up containers and increase its booking availability to more than 4,300 vehicles a day. The Port of Felixstowe said the number of containers it was seeing had spiked 30% compared to average levels over the last fortnight The company hit the headlines last week when it emerged it had handed a 100,000 a year advisory role to ex-Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, who had previously been widely mocked for handing a 13.8million government ferry contract to a company which owned no ships. BIFA warned there 'was not a simple fix' to end the crisis, saying it would take time to train new employees when the port was already facing its busiest period of the year. The spokesperson said its members 'are keeping their fingers crossed that these measures will address the operational challenges, but are not confident that they will'. This is Money has approached the Port of Felixstowe for comment, but it said it had nothing to add beyond the statement on its website from last week. The Houston Chronicles Live Updates blog documents the latest events in the coronavirus outbreak in the Houston area, the state of Texas and across the U.S. with a focus on health and economic impacts. The Houston Chronicles ongoing coverage is available to subscribers. Subscribe now for full access and to support our work. Total coronavirus cases: 744,496 cases in Texas, including 15,359 deaths. 192,864 in the Houston region, including 3,366 deaths. More than 6.9 million in the U.S., including 201,920 deaths. Click here to see a U.S. map with state-by-state death tolls and the latest coronavirus case counts. More than 31.9 million in the world, with over 977,311 deaths. More than 22 million people have recovered. You can view the worldwide totals here. Resources on COVID-19 and Texas' reopening: Use our interactive page to track the spread of cases through Harris County and the rest of Texas. For a detailed look at our state, check out the Chronicle's Texas Coronavirus Map. To get regular updates on our coverage, sign up for our coronavirus newsletter. Latest updates from today: 4:56 p.m. Is it 5 p.m. yet? If you had planned to crack open a beer at today's end, consider a benevolent beer. Houston breweries have joined nationwide beer collaborations and released charity beers of their own for a wide variety of causes this year, including relief for restaurant workers impacted by the pandemic. For Houston Gives, we round up all the fundraiser beers you should know about. Emma Balter 4:21 p.m. In a sobering new interactive graphic, the Washington Post shows what it would have looked like if all 201,353 coronavirus deaths had happened in your neighborhood. Check it out. 3:45 p.m. Researchers with the city, Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine were able to sniff out a potential second outbreak of COVID-19 at a homeless shelter in downtown Houston earlier this year by looking down its drains instead of in people's noses, health officials said Thursday. Such initiatives attempt to spot outbreaks by sampling water at wastewater plants, which could help officials tailor their testing and prevention efforts to specific neighborhoods. We look into this new development. Dylan McGuinness 3:24 p.m. Want to help those in need during the pandemic and beyond? Here's a comprehensive list of Houston-area organizations that need volunteers. Ana Khan 2:43 p.m. Earlier today, infectious diseases expert Dr. Peter Hotez appeared at the Texas Tribune Festival, held virtually this year. In a conversation with Tribune health care reporter Edgar Walters, Hotez warned Texas could face another spike in COVID-19 cases and said it'll likely be another year until a vaccine is widely available. Watch the full conversation online. 2:20 p.m. The coronavirus pandemic caused a number of Houston nonprofits to cancel their in-person fundraising events, though that hasnt stopped the citys most creative charities from raising the big bucks for locals in need. Here are 10 organizations that have had great success with virtual fundraisers. Amber Elliott 2:02 p.m. The Texas Faculty Association, an organization of about 500 college faculty members from across the state, is calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to order colleges to report weekly numbers of COVID-19 positive cases and related deaths. The association's president, Pat Heintzelman, said shes heard concerns from faculty throughout the pandemic that they feel uninformed and unsure whether students in their classrooms have the virus. Read the full story. Brittany Britto 1:51 p.m. Families with children attending Houston ISD schools have until tomorrow to decide whether they want their kids to attend in-person classes starting in mid-October or remain in online-only classes. Barring any changes in the coming weeks, HISD will be the regions last large district to resume face-to-face instruction for the 2020-21 school year amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Get the latest developments on this deadline and eventual school reopenings. Jacob Carpenter 1:36 p.m. In six months, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston distributed more than 64,000 free meals via the drive-through food pantries the organization set up at the beginning of the pandemic. Volunteers have also given away 6,000 masks and 40 WiFi hot spots. To hear people, with their voices cracking and a week or two later to hear that voice become hopeful, it meant a lot, said director Marcos Virula when we checked in on the club's ongoing work for Houston Gives. Lindsay Peyton 1:07 p.m. It's been a strange year for sports especially if you're the Astros. Between the cheating scandal, a season marred by a pandemic and an offense that seems to disappear out of thin air, there's a lot to talk about right now regarding Houston's pro baseball team. MLB Network's Robert Flores spoke with the Chronicle's David Barron about the Astros and arguably the weirdest season of baseball ever. 12:40 p.m. Is Texas A&M University's COVID positivity rate low? That's what White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Deborah Birx said when she visited the campus Tuesday. But according to data, its rate is actually higher than some other Texas colleges. We look into the facts and ask infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Hotez to weigh in. Here's what you need to know. Brittany Britto 12:23 p.m. For many, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened depression, anxiety and mental illness. Its also expected to exacerbate the nations suicide health crisis. Reporter Joy Sewing, whose childhood friend recently took her own life, speaks with people who have struggled with their mental health about what helped them get through it. Read Sewing's latest column, a personal and poignant reminder that we all need to take better care of ourselves, especially in these difficult times. If you or someone you know is in distress, call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. 11:39 a.m. Houston touts itself as a world class arts city. But with the lights still largely out in the all-important Downtown Theater District, the show is not going on as normal. Leaders of the citys major performing arts companies are looking at a precarious financial situation for the foreseeable future. Theyre more dependent than ever on donors, but can relief campaigns keep Houston's Theater District afloat? Read the full story, a feature in this week's special Houston Gives section. Molly Glentzer 11:21 a.m. Thousands of Texans face disconnection of electricity Oct. 1 after a state-run coronavirus relief program ends. AARP Texas is asking the Public Utility Commission to soften the blow for consumers with several months of unpaid bills. Here are the measures they're proposing. L.M. Sixel 10:40 a.m. About 6,300 students and staff have been infected with COVID-19 since public schools began reopening in late July, according to new state data. The cases represent just a small portion of the total students and staff who returned to their campuses at the start of this academic year. About 0.33 percent of the estimated 1.9 million students and staff who have returned to campus have contracted the virus so far. District-by-district data on COVID infections is scheduled to be released later today. The Chronicle's Austin bureau has the full story. Cayla Harris 10:21 a.m. On Sunday, the Houston Chronicle will publish the first story of a new three-part investigative series, "Exposed," which examines how the government failed to prepare for the pandemic at all levels. It's the result of months of work by more than a dozen Chronicle reporters and editors. Read our editor's letter for a preview of what to expect, including the behind-the-scenes struggle to close the Houston Rodeo. Now Playing: A new Houston Chronicle investigation reveals COVID-19 spread faster and farther than the public was told. Top officials were warned years ago we were unprepared for a pandemic. For months, the death toll was distorted. In the end, COVID-19 exposed a cascade of failures that let the virus spread unchecked, killing thousands of Texans. Video: Laura Duclos 9:46 a.m. It's been a disruptive year for students, to say the least. In Conroe ISD, the student-led organization Teach 2 Learn is now offering all of its fall workshops online, starting today. They're making the best of it. "COVID has provided an unexpected opportunity to essentially expand past what our usual limits with in-person workshops were," said Alex Deng, a senior at The Woodlands College Park High School and president of T2L. The workshops are free and give younger students the opportunity to learn about topics they're passionate about. Read more on how they're adapting to the virtual-learning world. Jamie Swinnerton 9:06 a.m. For 50 years, the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA) has been helping Latino families reach greater heights. The Houston-based nonprofit has faced challenges and weathered storms since the beginning, but none quite like COVID-19. For Houston Gives, the Chronicle checked in with AAMA and its work during the pandemic, from offering weekly food distribution centers to purchasing computers for high school students. Read more about the organization's efforts. Lindsay Peyton 8:37 a.m. A mutated, more contagious coronavirus strain is now virtually the only one infecting people in Houston, according to a new Houston Methodist study that analyzed more than 5,000 samples. Scientists believe it likely contributed to the dramatic spike in COVID cases after Memorial Day. However, there's no evidence that the strain is more deadly. Todd Ackerman 8:15 a.m. Unreliable COVID-19 data in Texas is the result of "decades worth of underfunding." At the height of the outbreak, state health officials were scrambling to overcome data backlogs and inconsistencies that clouded the toll of the virus. Current and former state and local health employees also point to a fragmented public health system and reluctance from agency officials and lawmakers to modernize the state's disease reporting system as major issues. Read the full story. Jeremy Blackman and Cayla Harris 7:27 a.m. The statewide total went from 740,236 to 744,496 Tuesday, an increase of 4,260 cases (0.58% increase), according to Houston Chronicle data analysis. Texas added 139 newly reported deaths from Monday's total, for 15,359 total statewide deaths (0.9% increase). Thursday's new cases were higher than 61 percent of all other days in the pandemic. New deaths were higher than 79 percent of all other days in the pandemic. The state's rolling average for new cases is now at 6668.9. The Houston region count is 192,864, up 878 from yesterday (0.46% increase). Harris County added 544 new cases and is at 139,017 cases total. There have been 3,366 deaths in the Houston region, up 23 from yesterday. The positive test rate is now at 6.41%. The rolling average of viral tests is now at 63,008. Statewide, there were 3,195 patients hospitalized for lab-confirmed COVID-19. There are 57,242 total staffed hospital beds, 12,370 beds available and 1,233 ICU beds available. There are 7,523 ventilators available. Jordan Rubio The daily tally of coronavirus cases detected in recent weeks is still higher than a low of 89 reported on August 22, the lowest daily case toll since April. Egypt reported 121 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total infection tally to 102,375 since the outbreak began in mid-February, the health ministry announced. The ministry also reported 16 new deaths, bringing the total fatalities from the virus to 5,822. The ministry said that 700 patients had been discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 91,843. The daily tally of coronavirus cases detected in recent weeks is still higher than a low of 89 reported on August 22, the lowest daily case toll since April. The government has repeatedly urged caution to avoid a second wave of the pandemic, particularly with the advent of autumn. Search Keywords: Short link: All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Samsungs Galaxy S20 Fan Edition (FE) was already a good buy at $700, considering it had the Galaxy S20s high-end specs minus some RAM and a few other features. However, you can already find it cheaper, even though it just came out yesterday: its now on pre-order for $100 off at Amazon, Best Buy and B&H Photo. Buy Galaxy S20 Fan Edition at Amazon - $600 Buy Galaxy S20 Fan Edition at Best Buy - $600 Buy Galaxy S20 Fan Edition at B&H Photo - $600 To be clear, the S20 FE isnt just a Galaxy S20 in name only. It has Qualcomms flagship Snapdragon 865 processor, an AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, 128GB of upgradeable storage and a 4,500mAh battery, same as the regular $1,000 model. To hit the lower price, Samsung reduced the RAM to 6GB from 12GB, lowered the display resolution to Full HD and swapped out the metal for a polycarbonate body. For folks who just want a powerful phone, thats a pretty fair trade-off to pay $400 less. Other desirable features include a 12-megapixel f/1.8 standard wide camera, a 12-megapixel, f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, an 8-megapixel telephoto camera with a 3x optical zoom (or 30x hybrid Space Zoom), and a 32-megapixel selfie camera. Its also available in multiple colors like cloud red, cloud navy and cloud mint. The Galaxy SE also comes with 5G connectivity, though the models offered on sale dont support Verizons 5G mmWave network. None of the sites said how long this pre-order deal will last, but its no likely it will drop more than that before it starts shipping on October 4th. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. Father of two (?) daughters died in 2014 but fake death certificates stated both mother and father killed in mortars in 2009. by Our Defence Correspondent Many international rights groups representing the international community have not given up the habit of looking at Sri Lanka with suspicion. The most recent example of this kind is the recent statement made by the High Commissioner of the United Nations Human Rights Commission regarding Sri Lanka at the ongoing 45th regular session of the Council. What is the bottom line? It is said that there are three things in the world that cannot be hidden forever, the sun, the moon, and the truth. Many of the accusations are not based on facts but predictions and twaddles. This is because none of these critics, who pretend to be intellectuals and pioneers of human rights, are in the habit of visiting this country to see the truth. They are usually presenting their usual criticisms unilaterally instead of conducting independent and comprehensive studies on the ground realities. Isnt it very indecent and obscene behaviour? As a part of this routine style of certain bodies in the international community, there is also a lot of untruth in the global conversation about human rights violations such as enforced disappearances that allegedly took place during the war on terror. The war was a battle against the cynics who sent innocent children to war with cyanide capsules around their necks instead of sending them to schools. However, there are people who tried to get advantages by misleading many influential parties and nations-states. Can you believe there are people who forge documents claiming that their parents are missing or dead? They seek to achieve their personal goals through these fraudulent documents. The wise sages of ancient times said that a person who always refuses to see the truth is a deceiver. Therefore, it is important to publicize what is happening on the ground. Not to those who see the truth and say that they have not experienced it, but to those who are willing to gain some understanding by seeing the truth. Weve reported an incident related to this great deception plot yesterday. Unfortunately, we have information on another similar incident today. Yogeshwaran Thabendani, a Sri Lankan citizen, has been in France since 2017 and is working hard to obtain French citizenship. In order to obtain her dream citizenship, she must submit to the French authorities the authentic documents required to do so. But she does not have the authentic documents as she is yet another ordinary citizen in Sri Lanka who enjoyed every right granted by the conditions and the international laws & conventions ratified here in Sri Lanka. Therefore, she has decided to deceive the authorities with fake documents. Better option is to get the fake death certificates of parents, she may have thought. Accordingly, she had obtained fake death certificates stating that her parents had died during the war. Lucky her, government officials in Malligeitivu, Pudukuduirippu have also provided the necessary assistance. Thabendani has asked her sister back in her home in North, Ms Deeparani Ravindran to obtain death certificates stated that her parents, Mr Krishnapillai Yogeshwaran and Mrs Yogeshwaran Destrimona, were killed in mortar attacks. Subsequently, Ms Deeparani had submitted a letter to the Grama Niladhari (Village officer) of the area requesting that the relevant death certificates with fake data be issued. That was in 2018. Accordingly, the coroner of the area has issued fake death certificates stating that the parents were killed in mortar attacks in 2009. But the truth is quite different. True, Mr Krishnapillai, the father of Ms Thabendani and Ms Deeparani, is no longer alive, but he died in cancer in November 2014 while treating in Mancholai Hospital at the expenses of the government and the relevant death certificate has been issued respectively. However, confirmed sources told the Sri Lanka Guardian that the mother of the two, Destrimona, is still alive and well in their home town in Northern Sri Lanka. May she be blessed with a long life! Following the revelation of this phenomenal fraud, the authorities have taken steps to nab the persons involved and further investigations are underway. The case is being heard at the Mullaitivu Magistrate Court. What is the bottom line? It is said that there are three things in the world that cannot be hidden forever, the sun, the moon, and the truth. Authenticdeath certificate issued after the death of Mr. Krishnapillai in 2014 *** Fake Certificate 01 POETRY Poetry Roundup for National Poetry Day In testing times, people need words to channel their feelings, uplift and console and they often turn to poetry. ADVERTISEMENT Alexandra Harris makes this point in her introduction to the scintillating new Forward Book Of Poetry (Faber 9.99), out now to mark National Poetry Day on October 1. As chair of the judges of this year's Forward Prizes, she noticed that, during lockdown, 'almost everyone, it seemed, wanted a poem of some sort'. The perennially useful Forward cornucopia is usually more challenging than calming, but none the worse for it, and it remains an indispensable yearly introduction to the best of the new. Lyrical solutions to lockdown blues: BEL MOONEY's poetry roundup for National Poetry Day Click here to resize this module Another must for anthology lovers is The Fire Of Joy (Picador 20), the book Clive James completed just before he died last year. The late, great critic and poet doesn't so much look forward as back; these are old favourites (Byron, Wordsworth, Masefield, Owen) from a lifetime's reading, with personal notes on each one. I found it moving as well as a joy. My favourite living poet, Michael Longley, is now 81, with an imagination fired by thoughts of mortality: 'We gaze on our soul landscapes / More intensely with every year.' His latest collection The Candlelight Master (Cape 10) is full of perfect moments contemplating art, memory, war, nature and family love. Each new volume from this distinguished poet makes me shiver with a sense of the miraculous. Family is also a preoccupation of the prize-winning American novelist Barbara Kingsolver. How To Fly (In Ten Thousand Easy Lessons) (Faber 14.99) is a revelation: the penetrating wisdom of her prose distilled into poem-sequences about taking her elderly Italian mother-in-law on a trip home, accepting imperfection, and our inescapable connections with the dead all the more as we age. The voice is mature, wry and speaks as if she knew what you were thinking all along, but couldn't put into words. ADVERTISEMENT As for new voices, Cannibal (Picador 10.99) is the dazzling debut volume of Safiya Sinclair, born in Montego Bay, Jamaica and living in the U.S. Her poems shimmer with the rich colours and sounds of her homeland, but running through is a sense of escape and of exile. Sinclair has described being brought up by a tough Rastafarian musician father and the poem Autobiography recalls how she 'wore the bruisemark/of my father's hands to school in silence'. Another lists the ways a black child's skin might be whitened by well-meaning adults with anything from talc to baking soda. The tone is laconic which makes this all the more shocking. Another fresh, exciting voice is Rachel Long's. She writes of family, race and sexuality and her debut, My Darling From The Lions (Picador 10.99), was shortlisted by Forward, which brings me full circle. The exhilarating work of these two young women reminds me that though we age like autumn leaves, the greenness is always there, waiting for spring. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 By Zhale Qasimova Trend: Currently, there are discounts on air tickets in the market of tourism services, Azerbaijani expert in the tourism sector Rashad Ganjaliyev told Trend. The reason for the discounts was the new tourist destinations opened recently, Ganjaliyev added. During the critical period of the pandemic, flights were suspended in all directions. Later they gradually resumed, but the prices for air tickets were expensive by 70-80 percent than usual. Fewer tickets were sold to avoid crowding of passengers, the expert said. Moreover, the price increase was connected with fewer flights. However, the current situation shows that prices will fall as far as the flights to new tourist destinations resume, the expert said. Although the difference is not great, ticket prices will drop to their previous level in the future as far as the number of flights increases." Currently, AZAL and Turkish Airlines make special Baku-Istanbul flights. AZAL operates flights only to Antalya and Ankara. From today, Aeroflot will operate flights from Baku to Moscow and back. Supermarkets including Tesco, Aldi and Morrisons have reintroduced a limit on the number of items customers can buy over fears of a repeat of the stockpiling panic seen in stores at the start of the pandemic. Bosses at Morrisons have introduced curbs on toilet roll and hand gel with shortages already being reported in stores up and down the country as Britain braces itself for a second wave of coronavirus. Shelves have been emptied following Boris Johnson's address to the nation on Tuesday night, in which he outlined a new raft of restrictions which could last for up to six months. Tesco supermarkets have started rationing toilet roll, with a notice on the shelf at a store in Ely, Cambridgeshire, today limiting it to just one pack per customer. Shelves had also been emptied of rice, pasta and baked beans at the supermarket. The notice said: 'Due to availability issues toilet roll is currently restricted to one per customer.' Meanwhile an Aldi store appears to have once again set limits on the amount customers can buy, with a notice appearing at a store in Sydenham, South East London, forbidding shoppers from bulk buying essential items. As concerns have grown, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) urged customers to be considerate of others and 'shop as you normally would'. Some of the supermarket giants have insisted they are well stocked and will not need to cap how much of a certain product shoppers can purchase. However, Morrisons is taking steps to avoid the chaotic scenes earlier this year when shoppers stacked trolleys full of precious commodities in case leaving the house became difficult, depriving many others of essentials. MORRISONS: A Leicester supermarket's shelves are pictured empty today as fears grow Britain faces a second national lockdown with the prospect of food shortages TESCO: Sign spotted on shelves in a store in Ely, Cambridgeshire, today telling customers they are limited to buying just one pack of rolls each TESCO: Tesco supermarkets, including this one in Ely, have started rationing toilet roll The graphic above shows the break down of what Britons spent their cash on in the supermarkets when panic buying started back in March A man leaves a Costco store in Manchester with a trolley full of toilet paper on Tuesday What changes are being introduced at supermarkets following PM's latest statement? On Monday, Boris Johnson announced that face masks will be compulsory for shop workers, while fines for not wearing masks will increase to 200. Asda has said it will introduce 1,000 new Covid-19 marshals on the doors of its supermarkets to ensure customers wear masks properly. Morrisons also said it has reinstated wardens to store entrances to ensure rules are enforced. However, most health and safety measures have stayed the same at supermarkets despite the new announcement. Measures at Sainsbury's and Tesco are understood to be broadly unchanged from recent months, with staff ensuring shopper numbers are limited in stores, with people queuing outside in line with distancing rules. Advertisement A spokesman told The Grocer: 'We are introducing a limit on a small number of key products, such as toilet roll and disinfectant. Our stock levels of these products are good, but we want to ensure that they are available for everyone.' Sainsbury's introduced a purchasing cap on certain items this year but told MailOnline today no such restrictions were currently in place. Similarly, a Waitrose spokeswoman said: 'It's not something we are doing at the moment. We are holding good levels in all key product areas and we have also looked at the items people bought early in lockdown and planned ahead.' Meanwhile, Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis told Sky News earlier this week that the grocer has 'very good supplies of food'. He said: '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. And therefore we would just encourage customers to continue to buy as normal.' The UK's largest grocery chains introduced health and safety measures to cope with the pandemic earlier this year as stores remained open due to their essential status, although some restrictions have been relaxed in recent months. The stores were among the main beneficiaries when lockdown restrictions were first introduced, and demand for online shopping surged in March as customers were told to stay at home, with grocers rapidly growing their online operations as a result. The supermarkets have said the expansion has allowed them to cope with higher demand as restrictions tighten again. Shares in online retailer Ocado have jumped over the past week due increasing demand, as industry analysts have reported high booking figures for online shopping slots. Wholesale shop Costco has this week been inundated with customers with stores in Leeds, London and Manchester seeing a surge in visitors. Many stores had to erect barriers to regulate the growing queues, and shoppers were seen leaving with overflowing trollies as they stocked up on supplies. As customers flooded social media with pictures of empty aisles, one shopper declared: 'It's happening again.' More empty spaces inside the Tesco supermarket in Ely, Cambridgeshire where loo rolls have been limited to one pack per customer amid rise in demand over lockdown fears Products have been flying off the shelves at this Sainsbury's store in Taplow, Buckinghamshire How will the impact of tighter restrictions be different to what was seen in March? Restrictions have been tightened in recent days but remain significantly looser than when the pandemic first struck, allowing shopping habits to continue as normal more easily. However, supermarkets are prepared for even stricter restrictions after boosting supply chains in the face of the pandemic. Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the BRC, said retailers will remain a 'safe space', even if further lockdown measures are enforced. 'Supply chains are stronger than ever before and we do not anticipate any issues in the availability of food or other goods under any future lockdown,' he added. Online operations are also in a stronger position to cope with demand surges, with most major grocers more than doubling delivery capacity since March. Advertisement However, Giles Hurley, the CEO of Aldi UK, Britain's fifth-largest supermarket group, emailed customers on Tuesday to reassure them following Mr Johnson's address. 'Our stores remain fully stocked and ask that you continue to shop considerately. There is no need to buy more than you usually would,' he said. Analysts are sceptical that another round of panic buying will materialise and also believe supermarkets are much better prepared for any possible spike in demand. 'We believe that the public has more confidence in its food system,' said Shore Capital analyst Clive Black. Analysts do, however, expect a boon to supermarkets' trading from the new restrictions on Britain's hospitality industry. Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: 'We urge consumers to be considerate of others and shop as they normally would.' He played down the presence of panic-buying and paid tribute to the 'excellent job' of retailers to provide food during the pandemic. Reassuring the public, he added: 'Supply chains are stronger than ever before and we do not anticipate any issues in the availability of food or other goods under any future lockdown.' But supermarkets are bolstering security at their doors and have doubled the number of delivery slots. Meanwhile, 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. Morrisons also said it has reinstated wardens to store entrances to ensure rules are enforced. However, most health and safety measures have stayed the same at supermarkets despite the new announcement. Measures at Sainsbury's and Tesco are understood to be broadly unchanged from recent months, with staff ensuring shopper numbers are limited in stores, with people queuing outside in line with distancing rules. Long snaking queues also formed at Costco in Chingford, north London earlier this week, with specialist barriers set up in a zig zag formation to control the growing crowds Costco wholesale stores across the UK saw a surge in shoppers this week, leading to long queues (pictured: Costco store, Leeds) On Monday, the Prime Minister also introduced a 10pm curfew for bars, pubs and restaurants. The curfew will not affect supermarkets or convenience stores. However, some analysts have suggested the move and another potential decline in commuter numbers after people were told to work from home could boost supermarket demand as eating out habits are impacted by the measures. Clive Black and Darren Shirley at Shore Capital said the new guidance could result in a 'step back' in the recovery of food-to-go specialists, which would prove a 'hammer-blow' to the likes of Greggs and Pret A Manger. They said 'demand for grocery retail is likely to be boosted once again' as more meals are eaten at home. Tesco and Asda have been approached for comment on purchasing limits. A Leader in Active Defense Joins Microsoft Co-Sell NEW YORK and TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Illusive Networks, a leader in active cyber defense, today announced it has achieved Microsoft Co-Sell Ready status. The Microsoft co-sell program is a top-tier Microsoft partner program, and it enables Illusive to work together with Microsoft's sales organization, and other Microsoft partners, to rapidly grow the sale and usage of Illusive Networks and Azure, as well as other Microsoft Azure-based services. Find out more about Illusive's integrations with Microsoft here. Illusive Network's three product modules, Attack Surface Manager (ASM), Attack Detection System (ADS), and Attack Intelligence System (AIS), provide a full prevention, detection and response cycle across key components of the Microsoft stack. ASM provides attack surface risk discovery and remediation, ADS provides deterministic network and endpoint detection, and AIS provides immediate forensics on demand for any type of alert. The integration between Illusive and Microsoft offerings provides a full set of active defense capabilities, including deception and adversary engagement, as outlined in the highly regarded and recently published MITRE ATT&CK framework dubbed Shield. The co-sell program, Microsoft's top-tier partner program, has generated more than $9.5 billion in contracted partner revenue and over 36,000 IP co-sell wins since its launch in 2017. Ofer Israeli, CEO and founder, Illusive Networks, said: "Working with Microsoft to achieve co-sell ready status is a tremendous benefit to our mutual customers worldwide. With our numerous integrations across the Microsoft security portfolio and Azure infrastructure, this advanced level of partnership will allow the Illusive and Microsoft sales teams to work together to further deliver deterministic, active cyber defense designed to protect worldwide customers' Microsoft environments." Achieving Microsoft Co-Sell Ready status further entrenches Illusive as the pre-eminent deception-based threat management solution for businesses that want to further secure the cloud and consolidate their security solutions around Microsoft. About Illusive Networks Illusive stops advanced threats by creating a hostile environment for attackers, depriving them of the means to progress towards critical assets after breaching the perimeter. Hackers are increasingly finding more vulnerabilities within an enterprise's security stack, allowing them to move laterally within the network and conduct reconnaissance and exfiltration. Illusive identifies and removes the vulnerable connections and credentials that enable attackers to move undetected, and then replaces them with deceptive versions that fool attackers into revealing their presence upon engagement. Unlike behavioral or anomaly-based threat detection, Illusive's agentless approach captures deterministic proof of in-progress attacks and provides actionable forensics to empower a quick and effective response. For more information, visit www.illusivenetworks.com, contact us at info@illusivenetworks.com or follow on LinkedIn, @illusivenw on Twitter and Facebook. Media Contact: Corey Eldridge 831-440-2414 corey.eldridge@nadelphelan.com Sofia Quezada assists her daughters Priscilla, left, and Paulette Guerrero with virtual class from their Boyle Heights home. Tech issues on the first day of class drove 9-year-old Priscilla to tears. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) During the second week of distance learning, 6-year-old Ezra Karpf clicked the unmute button on his computer screen so he could ask his teacher a question. It didnt work. Ezras frustration simmered. Then it peaked. Then it exploded. "I can't unmute myself! I can't unmute myself!" he shouted repeatedly until his mother rushed over. The class came to a standstill. The boy moved off-screen, like a frustrated actor storming off the stage weeping before his rapt, digital audience. "My son was sobbing on the floor," said his mother, Courtney Patterson, 44, of Silver Spring, Md. "He didn't want to get back to class. He didn't want the class to see him crying." Crying has been a ritual of school life for time immemorial. First-day jitters. Stage fright during a first play. Run-in with a bully. Best friend leaves for another friend. Tetherball to the face. But never before has the simple act of a child weeping had such a vast and motley audience: Teachers, parents, fellow students and others participating in the often white-knuckle experiment that is remote learning in the age of the novel coronavirus. Technology, which so many children love, has become a town crier blasting out their pain. As the pandemic drags on, Zoom and other platforms used to teach children have provided a stage for emotional breakdowns. Some children manage to move off-screen as the tears flow; others turn their back to the computer screen, tugging at their shirts to dry the welling tears in an often fruitless attempt to hide their feelings. "There's just so much going on for anyone," said Yalda T. Uhls, an assistant adjunct professor of psychology and executive director of the Center for Scholars and Storytellers at UCLA. "But at least adults have gone through other major catastrophes. For [children] that age, moving around, being physical, singing, dancing, all that stuff is really important, and that's been cut out of their lives." Story continues Six-year-old Ezra Karpf shows a drawing to his first-grade Zoom class. When his "unmute" button wouldn't work, he said, he cried because he felt like no one could hear him. (Courtney Patterson) Ezra said he cried because he felt like no one could hear him and because, when he's home, he'd rather be playing with his superhero toys. "I wanted to tell my teacher how long until it was lunchtime," the boy said. "It's a little boring sitting in my little chair. And sitting for a long time. It's not fun." Rattled parents across the U.S. have shared experiences of their children crying on social media. In late August, a photograph of a 5-year-old boy wiping his tears away with his shirt in front of his laptop went viral after his mother posted it online. I just took that picture because I wanted people to see reality, the boy's mother told CNN. And then he came over and we hugged, and I was crying right along with him. In the San Bernardino County town of Crestline, 5-year-old Anthony Stever had an unexpected reaction to the teacher's announcement of a 10-minute break. Like a frustrated office worker who had decided the day had already soured, he shut his laptop. Then he reached for a toy dinosaur and called it a day. Liam, left, and Anthony Stever, ages 3 and 5, work together on a school assignment at home. Anthony is often frustrated or distracted with virtual learning, his mother said. (Jane Marie DeRosa) His mother, Jane Marie DeRosa, 32, tried calling him back. We were trying to be stern with him but not too stern, she said. So he started crying and got all upset. He didnt want to go back. When hes not crying, Anthony is frequently distracted. He fidgets and logs off Zoom. Hell tell his parents: No, its too late, its too late, as a way to avoid joining class. During class, he comes up with excuses like, I need a blankie, or Im thirsty, his mother said. Sometimes, his mother, father or grandmother will have to hold him and comfort him before hes able to return to his lessons. He has company: He's far from the only child in his class who gets distracted, starts eating during class or leaves altogether. Whether the schooling is happening in person or virtually, tantrums and tears happen when children arent having basic physiological and security needs met, said Carolina Valdez, professor of elementary and bilingual education at Cal State Fullerton. Valdez, whose expertise includes trauma-informed pedagogy, added that young children in particular often haven't learned how to communicate their needs. Whether the adults in the room notice or not, children are absorbing news about the chaos or unrest in the world. They often perceive that things are not normal. They may struggle to sleep at night knowing their parents are stressed, or they may lose their appetite because of their own anxiety, Valdez said. Most schools arent teaching emotional literacy, she said. Theyre not teaching kids how to name their feelings, how to be present with their feelings, how to process this in a healthy way. In the not-so-distant past, home was at least a shelter from the outside world into which only family and close friends came, Valdez said. Now, everyone gets a peek into children's refuge whether they like it or not. For the first time, a teacher is also controlling their movement in their own home, Valdez said. Teachers are attempting to police students' movements the way they probably did in their classrooms, she said. Anthony Stever, 5, sits for a Zoom class. When he gave up on class one day, closing the laptop, "we were trying to be stern with him but not too stern," his mother said. (Jane Marie DeRosa) Uhls, the psychology professor, said she recommends parents be honest with their children about their own limits and what's going on in the world. "Adults should really be talking to them about this stuff in an appropriate way for young children," she said, adding that parents can tell their kids: "Yes, this is a strange time, and sometimes Mommy and Daddy get worried, but we're taking care of you and you're going to be safe." It's a strategy that 47-year-old Sofia Quezada tries to use with her youngest daughter. On her first day of remote learning, 9-year-old Priscilla Guerrero woke up extra early in her Boyle Heights home, did her hair and put on a cute outfit with the same excitement she did every other first day of school. But when she tried logging into Zoom, she got an error message. On the first day of L.A. Unified remote learning this fall, Priscilla Guerrero feared she'd "be in big trouble" when her Zoom login wouldn't work, her mother said: "I had to talk her down from her complete panic attack." (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Quezada, who works from home as an administrator for the UCLA School of Medicine, tried helping her restart the program. After a handful of attempts, Priscilla broke down in tears. "She kept telling me, 'Mommy, I'm gonna be late, I'm gonna be in big trouble,'" Quezada said. "I had to talk her down from her complete panic attack." Quezada said she had to quell her daughter's fear of her teachers being upset with her by explaining that everyone is going through a tough time. Around the dining table, Quezada and her husband talk openly about the coronavirus, elections and whatever else may be happening in the world. They try to answer all of their girls questions. Quezada said she tells her daughters: "Whatever is happening in the world right now is scary and it sucks, but we're going to get through this. Yeah, we may get a little behind, but we will catch up. It's not a race." Jennifer Morgan, a kindergarten teacher in a small, private Christian school in an affluent San Diego neighborhood, said that during remote lessons earlier in the year, her students would duck under tables, get distracted or suddenly decide to showcase their pets to the class. These actions didn't disrupt the class too much, she said. All the kids had their own laptops and at least one parent was always around. Unlike in poor neighborhoods, many of the parents were tech-savvy. Because of her small class size, she was able to research teaching tools to help her students understand the current moment. She read them books about mask-wearing and sang songs about the coronavirus and how to manage emotions. Experts say this type of emotional literacy should be taught in classrooms now. But budget cuts make it unlikely that schools will invest in such professional development for teachers. "I think social-emotional learning is becoming more of a priority in the school system, but [current teachers] are not trained in it," Uhls said. "Teachers aren't trained enough in a lot of things in America." Morgan said that although her experience has been better, it's a different story for teachers at public schools. From friends, she hears stories of only a third of students showing up to class. At Morgan's school, her 15-student class is back in session no more remote learning. Plastic sheets divide desks and masks are required while the students move through the room. I think this has highlighted inequity so much, said Morgan, who used to teach at public schools in Los Angeles and Pasadena. Inequity in family situations, in financial situations, in language and technology capabilities. I think, Gosh, if I had done this when I taught at a different school, it would have been so hard. At home, Morgans husband, Glenn, struggles with the balance of teaching his own high school literature classes while keeping an eye on their 9-year-old daughter, Tess, who is on the autism spectrum. While he teaches the group of teenagers, they can see Tess studying in the background. Tess sometimes taps her dad on the shoulder to ask him for help or to keep his voice down. There havent been any tantrums, but she gets distracted, her parents said. They offer incentives to get her to her desk, such as an afternoon at the swimming pool or a treat. Mostly its been like, OK, honey, you have to get on the Zoom for this class, her father said. We have another Zoom? she responds. Ugh, gosh! When the coronavirus pandemic was declared six months ago, international health experts were worried about people in Africa. Many feared the virus would cause great suffering across the continent. This has yet to happen. In fact, experts are now praising the actions African countries have taken to deal with the pandemic. They say those actions have been more effective than those taken by some richer countries, including the United States. John Nkengasong has helped shape Africas 54 countries into an alliance for fighting the pandemic. Nkengasong is director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He once worked at the U.S. Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nkengasong has modeled the African health organization after his former employer. He told The Associated Press it pains him to see the U.S. CDC struggle during the pandemic. Gayle Smith is a former administrator with the U.S. Agency for International Development. She said, Africa is doing a lot of things right the rest of the world isnt. The United States has about 200,000 deaths from COVID-19. The world has about 1 million. The number of COVID-19 deaths in Africa has been slowing in recent weeks. Among the 1.3 billion people living in Africa, there have been just over 34,000 confirmed deaths. Africas 1.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 are far less than earlier estimates. Testing is expected to show more infections. But most cases are asymptomatic -- meaning the person shows no signs of the disease. Health experts say three things are helping to keep death rates down in Africa: a young population, quick action on lockdowns and the viruss relatively late arrival on the continent. Getting the right resources Born in Cameroon, Nkengasong is a virus expert. He says that Africa can fight COVID-19 if given the right resources. Early modeling, Nkengasong said, assumed that a large number of Africans would just die. However, the Africa CDC decided not to act on those assumptions. As Africas top public health official, Nkengasong quickly jumped into the race for medical supplies and now a vaccine for COVID-19. Supplies slowly improved. African countries have done about 13 million tests for the disease. That is enough to cover about one percent of the continents population. Nkengasong noted the ideal is 13 million tests every month. He has been urging African countries to help themselves and not to wait for outside help. The money, he said, is there. Acting on that idea, Africas public and private industries created a way to buy drugs and other supplies online. Governments can buy directly from manufacturers -- things such as rapid testing materials, face masks and machines to help patients breath called ventilators. And some of these products are made in Africa. Caribbean countries are also using this supply chain. Its the only part of the world Im aware of that actually built a supply chain, said Gayle Smith, the former USAID chief. When the pandemic began, just two African countries could test for the coronavirus. Now all can. Nkengasong also saw that some areas in Africa were not getting important information. So, the Africa CDC holds online training on everything from safely handling remains of patients who died from COVID-19 to following the spread of the virus. Nkengasong said Africa needs at least 1.5 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine. This will be enough for about 60 percent of the population. That will cost about $10 billion. The World Health Organization says Africa should receive at least 220 million vaccine doses. While that is welcome, Nkengasong said, it is not enough. For him, the next major issue is shipping doses throughout the continent with the worlds worst infrastructure. Nkengasong noted that less than half of African countries have access to modern healthcare. He plans a major conference next year to press countries to greatly increase health spending before the next pandemic. If we do not, he said, something is terribly wrong with us. Im Jonathan Evans. And Im Anna Matteo. Cara Anna wrote this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _________________________________________________ Words in This Story pandemic - medical noun : an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world lockdown n. the confinement people to their homes or of prisoners to their cells for a temporary period as a security measure resource n. a supply of something (such as money) that someone has and can use when it is needed assume v. to think that something is true or probably true without knowing that it is true supply chain n. the steps of processes involved in the production and delivery of a product dose n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time infrastructure n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly access n. the right or ability to approach, enter, or use BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 24 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Turkmenistan increased imports of apples, pears, and quinces from the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union by 2.7 times From January through July 2020, Trend reports, citing statistics from the Eurasian Economic Commission. In general, apples, pears, and quinces were exported to Turkmenistan from the EAEU countries in the amount of 210 tons for a total of $65,284. Kazakhstan and Russia were the exporters of the above-mentioned fruits to Turkmenistan. Meanwhile, the share of Kazakhstan was $15,407, and the share of Russia was $49,876. According to statistics, in addition to apples, pears, and quinces, during the same period, Russia exported more than 3 tons of grapes to Turkmenistan, totaling $2,256. In addition, Russia was an exporter of dried fruit mixed with nuts or other fruits in the amount of more than 10 tons for the amount of $14,640. As reported, Turkmenistan increased the import of apples, pears, and quinces from the countries of EAEU by 2.6 times in 1H2020. In general, 206 tons of apples, pears, and quinces were exported to Turkmenistan from the EAEU countries for a total amount of $63,629 in 1H2020. Kazakhstan and Russia were the exporters of the above-mentioned fruits to Turkmenistan. Menawhile, the share of Kazakhstan was $15,398, while Russias share was $48,230. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva CLEVELAND, Ohio An Ohio poll of likely voters showed Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden with a slim lead over Republican President Donald Trump, mirroring another released earlier that day. The poll from Quinnipiac University mirrored that of one from Baldwin Wallace University, Ohio Northeastern University and Oakland University that showed a virtual toss-up between the two candidates, who are slated to debate for the first time on Sept. 29 in Cleveland. The Quinnipiac poll, often cited as the gold standard among pollsters, is another sign the state is primed for a competitive election with early voting beginning Oct. 6. The poll was conducted from Sept. 17-21 using random digit dialing and live interviewers and includes landlines and cell phones using a sample size of 1,085 self-identified likely voters with results weighted by population by county, gender, age, education and race. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 3 percentage points. The survey was collected during some upheaval in the election, both in Ohio and nationally. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Sept. 18, setting up a nomination battle for her replacement that mimics the environment from 2016. Trump also held two rallies in the state on Monday, the final day of polling, with stops in Dayton and Toledo. The poll showed likely voters favored Biden at 48% to Trump at 47%. Two percent of voters said they were backing someone else while 4% said they were undecided. Libertarian Party nominee Jo Jorgensen and Green Party nominee Howie Hawkins were not included in the questionnaire. With six weeks to go until Election Day and most minds made up, Ohio could hinge on a sliver of likely voters who signal they may have a change of heart and the four percent who say they are unsure right now who theyll back. At this point, its a toss-up, said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Mary Snow. The results line up well with a Great Lakes Poll also released Thursday morning, which was in the field from Sept. 8-22. That poll also found a toss-up race in Ohio, with Biden at 44.9% to Trump at 44.3%. The Great Lakes Poll had 2.3% of respondents backing Jorgensen or Hawkins and just more than 7% undecided. The Quinnipiac poll showed a greater divide among men and women in whom they support. Fifty-five percent of women said they supported Biden while 40% said they backed Trump. The numbers were essentially flipped for men, who backed Trump by a 54%-40% margin. Of those who chose a candidate, 97% said their mind was made up, including 99% of Biden voters and 96% of Trump voters. Both candidates remain relatively unpopular, though, with net-unfavorable ratings. Forty-nine percent of respondents held an unfavorable view of Biden compared to 45% who viewed him favorably. Trump fared slightly worse, with 51% viewing him unfavorably compared to 45% who viewed him favorably. The gender gap was also readily apparent in the two candidates' favorability ratings. Fifty-eight percent of women viewed Trump unfavorably compared to only 39% who viewed him favorably. More than half of women at 51% viewed Biden favorably compared with 43% who viewed him unfavorably. The numbers essentially flipped for men, with 52% who viewed Trump favorably and 44% unfavorably and only 38% who viewed Biden favorably compared with 56% who viewed him unfavorably. Trumps favorability rating also transferred to his job approval figures, with 51% disapproving of his job as president and 46% approving. The economy was by far the most important issue to voters, with a plurality of 27% of respondents saying it was the most important issue. Law and order came in second at 17%, with the coronavirus and racial inequality following at 14% and 11%, respectively. That may bode well for Trump as 52% of voters said they thought he would do a better job handling the economy, compared to 45% who answered Biden. Of the issues tested, the economy was the only one where Trump performed noticeably better than Biden. Biden was heavily favored as the candidate who would better handle racial inequality, with 53% of respondents saying he would do a better job compared to 41% who chose Trump. Biden also edged out Trump as the candidate respondents said would better handle the coronavirus, with 50% saying he would do a better job at handling the pandemic compared to 45% who said Trump. To date, more than 200,000 Americans have died from the virus, including more than 4,600 Ohioans. More than half of respondents at 52% said they disapproved of the way Trump was handling the response to the pandemic while 45% said they approved. Respondents were split on who they thought would do a better job keeping them and their families safe. Both candidates clocked in at 48%. Trump narrowly edged Biden as the candidate who respondents said would do a better job on the military, with 50% saying Trump and 47% saying Biden. Those results come after revelations from an article in The Atlantic that Trump referred to soldiers as losers and suckers as well as renewed interest in his public feud with now-deceased Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican who was a prisoner of war during Vietnam. Less than half of Ohioans said they planned to vote in person on Election Day at 46%. Thirty-five percent said they planned to vote by mail and 16% said they would vote at an early voting location. The preferred method of voting was split among party affiliation, possibly due to Trumps ongoing attacks on voting by mail. Only 23% of Republicans said they planned to vote by mail compared to 33% of independents and 53% of Democrats. Democrats also planned to vote early in person at a higher rate of 23%, compared with 14% of independents and 13% of Republicans. The Quinnipiac poll is consistent with others that have shown Ohio much more in play than it was in 2016, when Trump won handily by an 8-percentage-point margin over Democratic former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. And while it doesnt remotely solidify Ohio as in Bidens corner, the results, if accurate, bode well for his electoral chances, especially as the map has expanded to states with much smaller victory margins for Trump in 2016 such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Florida and North Carolina. Ohio will at least be front-and-center for the presidential race in the coming week. The first presidential debate between Trump and Biden will take place at 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion. Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic will co-host the debate, which will be moderated by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 16:30:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 24, 2020 shows screens displaying U.S. President Donald Trump speaking during the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) "I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster," said Trump, who has claimed that a wider use of mail-in ballots would lead to massive voter fraud, while U.S. election experts and media have argued there is no evidence of meaningful fraud in vote by mail. "Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful -- there won't be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation," he added. WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he lose this year's presidential race, while suggesting that the election will be challenged in court. "We're going to have to see what happens," Trump said during a press briefing at the White House when asked if he would make sure there is "a peaceful transferal of power" after the election in November. He went after mail-in ballots, which many parts of the country have expanded to allow people to vote safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster," said Trump, who has claimed that a wider use of mail-in ballots would lead to massive voter fraud, while U.S. election experts and media have argued there is no evidence of meaningful fraud in vote by mail. Voters check in to receive their ballots during the in-person early voting for U.S. president in Fairfax, Virginia, the United States, on Sept. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The president went on suggesting he would win the election if there is no expansion of mail-in voting. "Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful -- there won't be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation," he added. Trump is currently trailing 2020 Democratic presidential nominee and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden nationally by 10 points, according to a pair of polls released on Wednesday. Surveys showed tight races in a number of key battleground states, where the two rivals have made frequent campaign stops. During a White House event earlier on Wednesday, Trump said he believes the country's highest court would have to weigh in on the election. "I think this will end up in the Supreme Court," the president said. "And I think it's very important that we have nine justices." Trump is considering candidates to fill the seat vacated by the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last week at age 87 due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer. Five women are on his shortlist. He will announce the Supreme Court nominee on Saturday afternoon and has said he wants a full Senate vote before Election Day, which falls on Nov. 3, a move intended to fire up his supporters. Voters line up to vote during the in-person early voting for U.S. president in Fairfax, Virginia, the United States, on Sept. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Republicans, who have a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, appear to have enough votes to confirm the pick that would cement a 6-3 conservative majority on the nine-justice bench. Only two Republican senators have said they opposed taking up a Supreme Court nominee prior to the election. "I think we should go very quickly. You see the Republicans are very united," Trump said. "I think it's better if you go before the election because I think this -- this scam that the Democrats are pulling -- it's a scam -- this scam will be before the United States Supreme Court. And I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation." In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in a disputed recount of votes in Florida with a 5-4 ruling, effectively handing that year's presidential election to Republican presidential candidate and then governor of Texas George W. Bush, who won 271 electoral votes, one more than a majority. However, Bush lost the popular vote to Democrat Al Gore. Biden campaigned in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday. Trump will also visit the city on Thursday before traveling to Jacksonville, Florida, for a rally. Responding to Trump's remarks on the election on Wednesday, Biden said "Look, he says the most irrational things. I don't know what to say." Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 63F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 39F. Winds light and variable. Last month, Maanayata Dutt and Sanjay Dutt's lives turned upside down when the latter was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Maanayata and Sanjay, who have already crossed many hurdles together in their marriage, were shaken up. But one has to praise their strong determination to battle against one more hurdle with all the positivity and strength. Mahesh Bhatt Is Unable To Hold Sanjay Dutt's Hands In His Toughest Time! Maanayata Dutt, who's currently in Dubai with her actor-husband, shared a picture on her Instagram page and captioned it as, "And how do you survive what you have been given to bear. You keep putting one foot in front of the other and you keep walking....walking together in life #love #grace #positivity #dutts #beautifulllife #thankyougod " Meanwhile, Sanjay Dutt and his family are expected to return to Mumbai from Dubai by the end of September, as he has to undergo the third chemotherapy cycle. Speaking about Dutt's treatment, Dr Jalil Parkar told ETimes, "It is not yet known how many cycles will be required. Chemotherapy is never easy to take and the fight against lung cancer is another battle in his life." So far, Dutt is doing well and is very optimistic about his quick recovery. B-town celebrities also feel the same and are hopeful that Sanjay will defeat cancer as he's a born fighter. On a related note, with respect to work, producers of Sanjay Dutt's upcoming projects are very supportive and want him to recover first. Sanjay was last seen in Sadak 2, which failed to woo the audiences. He will next be seen in Torbaaz, Shamshera, Bhuj: The Pride of India and KGF: Chapter 2. Sanjay Dutt Sails Through The Hardships With His Positivity And Going On Attitude Ukraine has been at the top of the EU agenda since the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and the conflict in Donbas. The EU stood by Ukraine, as its strongest and most reliable partner, in terms of economic integration, support for the reform processes, and defence of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. High Representative of EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said this following an official visit to Kyiv on September 23. The full text of his article was published on the website of the European External Action Service (EEAS). He noted that on September 22 he made his first visit to Ukraine as High Representative. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this visit came much later than intended. The frontline in eastern Ukraine has been calm for almost two months now, the longest period since the war started. Since 2014, the EU has been the strongest partner of Ukraine. Our support will continue but is also linked to the urgent need to enhance the rule of law and develop the fight against corruption, the High Representative said. He recalled that during his visit he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian ministers of defense and of foreign affairs, representatives of civil society, an anti-corruption NGO, the OSCE SMM to Ukraine, and visited the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM). The most touching part of this trip was my visit to the Maidan Memorial dedicated to the Heavenly Hundred who lost their lives, murdered by snipers near Maidan square in February 2014. In the following days, Russia invaded and illegally occupied Crimea. I also paid a visit at the Ministry of Defence memorial and to the Wall of Remembrance, the wall of the monastery where protestors took refuge during the 2013-14 revolution, since converted into a memorial by adding pictures of fallen soldiers. The war in eastern Ukraine has claimed 13 thousand lives and forced 2.4 million people out of their homes. These visits gave me a profound sense of what Ukrainians have gone through, Borrell said. Since the beginning of this fight, the EU stood by Ukraine, as its strongest and most reliable partner, in terms of economic integration, support for the reform processes, and defence of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, concluded in 2014, is the most comprehensive one that the EU has with any another third country. Since then, Ukraine has received from the EU 14 billion, an unprecedented level of support. Since 2007, the European Investment Bank has financed 43 projects in Ukraine for 6.45 billion. And in addition to the already mentioned EUAM, the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) works with Ukraine to harmonise border control and customs procedures with those in EU Member States, the High Representative noted. ish View this post on Instagram leave the country. The group calling themselves Only One SA, accused Nigerians And Zimbabweans of being behind human trafficking in the country and ruining communities with drug. . . They also insisted that they are not being xenophobic but trying to push for South Africans to be prioritized on home soil Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) Dozens of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators have stopped operations after failing to comply with requirements, including paying taxes, Malacanang said Thursday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a media briefing disclosed that only around 20 of the 60 POGOs have complied with the requirements set by the Bureau of International Revenue. "Maraming hindi nagcomply sa requirement na kinakailangan magbayad ng franchise tax ang mga POGOs," Roque said [Translation: Many have not complied with the requirement that POGOs need to pay franchise tax.] Hindi naman po exodus 'yan. Dahil malinaw naman po ang naging polisiya ng DOF (Department of Finance), pay up, otherwise, hindi kayo pwedeng mag-operations dito, he added. [Translation: That can't be considered an exodus. The DOF's policy is clear, pay up, otherwise, you cannot continue your operations here.] Roque said another company went dark after the Chinese government accused it of funding demostrators. READ: POGOs leaving PH must still pay unsettled taxes Palace Latest data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation show that 29 POGOs have authority to resume operations as of September 8. The Bureau of Internal Revenue earlier required POGOs to pay all of their unpaid taxes from April and earlier before they are allowed to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic, on top of practicing minimum health standards. The online gambling business was bombarded with a number of allegations in the past few months. It faced lawmakers' and officials inquiries on tax liabilities which reportedly amounted to over 50-billion as well as other POGO-related crimes including the controversial money laundering scheme, illegal drug trade and sex trafficking. One scenario is PLA withdrawing to original positions from most friction points except Depsang with Indian forces vacating Chushul heights as quid pro quo by Ashok K Mehta After a hiatus of seven weeks, the India-China disengagement and de-escalation process (DDP) resumed on Monday in a revised military-diplomatic format. To recap, in April-May, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) presented India with a fait accompli through multiple intrusions across LAC, annexing 1,000 sq km of territory following intelligence and operational lapses of Himalayan heights. China built up 40,000 troops with matching deployment by India and preliminary conversations on a DDP culminated in the Galwan clash, which led to further mobilisation of troops. The China-dictated DDP disadvantaged Indian forces, locking them in buffer zones and blocking their patrolling in Galwan, Hot Springs-Goghra, Depsang and Pangong Lake areas. An Indian riposte came south and north of Pangong Lake on Kailash ridge centred around Mukhpari through a preemptive operation by the Special Frontier Force, comprising exiled Tibetans, and local action in the Fingers area. This unnerved PLA, which created a friction point near Mukhpari prior to the anodyne five-point Moscow agreement between Chinese and Indian Foreign Ministers. Few days earlier, the two Defence Ministers had conversed at the same platform. Two thresholds unarmed combat resulting in casualties and prophylactic firing on the escalation ladder have been crossed for the first time in 45 years. Speaking in both Houses of Parliament on the situation along the LAC, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh skipped specifying statistics of PLA ingress. In fact, he was less than economical with the truth by suggesting that coordinated intelligence and border troops action thwarted aggression which he referred to as transgression when it was clearly a case of intrusion. In fact, the Ministry of Defence had put out the details of intrusions on its website but mysteriously removed them. Prime Minister Narendra Modis epic statement on June 19 that no Chinese troops intruded or were on Indian soil was the original sin which became the Holy Grail for Beijing. Singh replied rhetorically to Indian troops in lockdown being prevented from patrolling by PLA. What was also missing from his statement was any reference to restoration of status quo ante (RSQA) and Depsang, the deepest and strategically most unbalancing of all intrusions. It was Singh who first spilled the beans on intrusions and later admitted he could not guarantee a favourable outcome from military commanders talks. He was spot on as DDP had virtually collapsed by August 2, the last date of talks. Indias negotiating strategy has serious lacunae. Further, in the statements issued by each side, China has never mentioned RSQA but restoring peace and tranquility in border areas. The word LAC has also never been used. Curiously, the Indian side has also not used RSQA in formal statements but called for full and complete disengagement. Mention of Depsang has become taboo. China has violated all border protocols, especially the 1993 and 1996 agreements, and changed the concept of LAC since it is neither delimited nor delineated. It has made LAC irrelevant, turning it into the line it can occupy and control. Instead, it has promulgated the November 1959 claim line shifting LAC westwards. As the stronger power, it has exploited the undefined LAC for exercising coercive diplomacy. Chinas Global Times has repeatedly said that India must accept the 1959 claim line or else face war. Before the Foreign Ministers Moscow meeting, the PLA attempted to unhinge Indias seizure of Chushul heights, including several nodal points on the 30-km Kailash ridge line dominating PLA Moldo garrison and Spanggur Gap. These dominating heights are on the Indian side of LAC and not a trespass as alleged by China. PLA manufactured a friction point on a plateau roughly 300 m away and 200 m lower, near Mukhpari, one of the highest points on the ridge. It is surprising why the Special Frontier Force (SFF) did not occupy this plateau. During the ongoing talks, Mukhpari has already become the new bone of contention in DDP. Even with the dust not settling on the plateaus of east Ladakh for over five months now, it is possible to decipher more rationally the Chinese motivation for its well-planned military occupation of Indian territory. It is now flatly refusing to disengage and abandon military gains like it did after past intrusions Sumdorong Chu (1986), Depsang (2013), Chumar (2014) and Doklam (2017). India is still relying on China eventually withdrawing and returning to barracks. It seems China was incensed when Indian troops trespassed border at Doklam (disputed between China and Bhutan) and blocked PLA from building a road towards the disputed India-Bhutan-China trijunction in Chumbi Valley. China compared Indian belligerence to if you go to steal chicken, you may lose the rice bowl and took Indian audacity as daring China. The Chinese media had then noted that Beijing was looking for an opportunity to humiliate India. Two other compulsions can be added to the Doklam-dare Home Minister Amit Shahs parliamentary pledge to liberate Aksai Chin and President Xi Jinpings realisation of the China Dream. India must frustrate Xis dream of reviving the mythical India-China border of the Ming dynasty and strive for a fair and mutually acceptable border settlement. This appears to be problematic due to asymmetries in gross national power. China has already imposed costs by forcing the Indian Army to deploy three additional divisions ahead of its high altitude defences in Ladakh along LAC. It seems prepared to press on its claims and deployments in a game of blink. It has mobilised four out of its five Theatre Commands to grapple with inimical fronts in East China Sea, South China Sea, Taiwan and the Xinjiang and Tibet borders facing India. It will be unwise to underestimate the staying power of PLA either its capacity to fight in high mountains or the need for it to employ troops in the ratio of 6:1 to dislodge Indian soldiers occupying heights. But China has no intention of starting a conflict. It is the satisfied power, having already made territorial gains. India has said it will respond to aggression in self-defence, despite Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawats threat of the military option if diplomacy fails. One scenario from the DDP is PLA agreeing to withdraw to original positions from most friction points except Depsang with Indian forces vacating their commanding Chushul heights as quid pro quo. A full RSQA, still unlikely, could result only from a possible third Xi-Modi summit on the sidelines of the G20 at Riyadh in November. Otherwise, the standoff could go the long Sumdorong Chu way of eight winters unless Xi is persuaded to temper his Ladakh dream. (The writer, a retired Major General, was Commander IPKF South, Sri Lanka and founder member of the Defence Planning Staff, currently the Integrated Defence Staff.) Authorities assumed the containers were lost in the historic blast that killed more than 200 people and laid waste to parts of the city. It took several weeks for longtime Lutheran World Relief partner Anera to gain access to the port, locate the containers and check their contents. While other Anera shipping containers were heavily damaged, the three containers of quilts and kits were apparently stored behind a concrete block building that helped spare them from the blast. A fourth container, which was on a ship offshore when the explosion occurred, has since been delivered. The contents of all four containers have been transferred to a warehouse and will be distributed to families displaced by the explosion, as well as to refugees living in Lebanon, principally from Syria and the Palestinian territories. Anera provides humanitarian assistance and sustainable development to advance the well-being of refugees and other vulnerable communities in the Middle East. Its representatives took this video of the remarkably intact boxes of aid. "It's been a roller coaster for all of us, and especially our quilters and kit-makers," said Melanie Gibbons, deputy director for outreach and engagement at Lutheran World Relief. "First, grief over the loss of items so carefully made and prayed over, followed by determination to keep quilting and making kits. Then joy over the news that the items not only survived but are able to be distributed! "It's an incredible blessing to realize that now these items are in exactly the right place at the right time," she said. In addition to distributing the quilts and kits, Lutheran World Relief is also working to address immense shelter needs in the wake of the explosion, helping poorer families to repair and return to their homes. HOW TO HELP Donate online: https://lwr.org/beirut Donate by Phone: +1 (800) 597.5972 Donate by Mail: Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297-1061 Contact John Rivera [email protected] (443) 604-2918 Founded in 1945, Lutheran World Relief collaborates with local partners to grow inclusive and climate resilient rural economies, reduce poverty, and respond to emergencies and humanitarian crises. Lutheran World Relief works in concert with Corus International, an ensemble of faith-based organizations working together in the world's most fragile settings to deliver the holistic, lasting solutions needed to overcome the interconnected challenges of poverty, health care access and climate change. SOURCE Lutheran World Relief Related Links http://www.lwr.org Italy wants its foreign tourists back but not at the expense of damage to its precious cultural heritage. This summer's international headlines about tourists damaging Italy's sites and monuments weren't supposed to be like this. Just a few months ago there was much talk of rebuilding the country's tourist industry, devastated by a 10-week lockdown in the spring and the travel restrictions imposed by the covid-19 pandemic. The relaunch was seen by the more optimistic in the sector as a golden opportunity to break away from the broken model of mass tourism, moving on from the bad old days of unruly visitors jumping in fountains and treating Italy's heritage with complacency or even downright disrespect. There were grand plans of replacing selfie tourism with slow tourism, aimed at the more discerning visitor, who clutched a guide-book rather than a selfie stick. Alfonsina Russo is the director of Parco Colosseo, the archaeological park incorporating the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Domus Aurea, which attracted 7.5 million tourists last year. In a May interview with Wanted in Rome, Russo was frank about a situation that she believes must change for the better, saying she hoped the new tourists would visit out a need for nourishment from the priceless heritage she oversees. In the past it was clear that it was mostly a selfie tourism Russo said tied to tours of less than two hours, interested in the photo shoot sometimes without the awareness and the memory of that shot. Queuing at the Pantheon. Photo credit: Mastrullo / Shutterstock.com. Russo's views were reflected by Eike Schmidt, the director of the Uffizi Gallery, who called for people to drop the bucket list approach in favour of savouring the moment through a slow tourism model. Florence mayor Dario Nardella echoed Schmidt by saying: "We want to use culture to send a message that after this crisis we want to change lifestyle models, the economy and model of tourism of the city." This optimism was enhanced in late June when Italy was chosen by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as the launch pad for the global Restart Tourism drive after the coronavirus lockdowns around the world, with Italy hailed as a "world tourism leader." With lockdown in March, Italy's tourist numbers plummeted overnight, leaving normally crowded Italian cities virtually deserted for months. This was most evident in Venice where up until last year residents complained that the streets and canals were thronged with too many people, before suddenly bemoaning their absence from the spring onwards. The unexpected situation saw Venice scrap its controversial tourist tax which was scheduled to come into effect on 1 July. In recent weeks the much-maligned giant cruise ships decided to steer clear of the city's lagoon, opting for the larger Italian ports of Genoa and Trieste instead. This news was welcomed by activists but protested by Venetian gondoliers and restaurateurs who will miss the revenue. The whole affair has served to put Venice's complicated relationship with tourists and mass tourism back into the spotlight as never before. No sitting at the Spanish Steps. Photo credit: Daniele COSSU / Shutterstock.com. Rome is another city whose bread and butter is the hospitality industry. The capital too has a love-hate relationship with its foreign visitors. In the past the city has been accused of a complacent attitude to tourists, a case of "chewing them up and spitting them out," while Romans are quick to point to incidents of ignorant tourists splashing in historic fountains or, worse, carving their names into the Colosseum. As foreign visitors return to Italy in small numbers 70 per cent less than last August according to the Demoskopika research institute there has been one negative tourist story after another in the media. The narrative tends to be the same. Once a tourist commits a crime against Italian heritage be it accidental or on purpose Italys much-needed visitor suddenly becomes the enemy. These barbarians are the subject of vitriolic posts on social media, facing suggestions of draconian punishments from having their hands chopped off to life imprisonment. Selfies at the Trevi. Photo credit: Alessio Pierdomenico / Shutterstock.com. The first "bad tourist" story this summer was in Venice in early June, the day after European tourists were allowed to re-enter Italy. The incident involved two middle-aged men, reportedly German, who swam down the Grand Canal, laughing off pleas from locals to get out, as their partners filmed their antics. The tourists were later apprehended by police as they walked through the city barefoot, dressed in just their wet swimming costumes. Officers fined the men 450 each and ordered them to put some clothes on. In early August a group of young, and reportedly drunk, British tourists scaled the walls of the Roman Forum by night. The four tourists, aged between 17 and 19, were spotted by security guards who tipped off the carabinieri. The visitors were charged with trespassing and failure to respect a ban on entering the archaeological area, and were fined a total of 1,600 for their escapade. Patrolling the Trevi Fountain. Photo credit: Enrico Tricoli / Shutterstock.com. However all this was relatively harmless for what happened on 31 July at the Antonio Canova Museum in the northern Veneto region. An Austrian tourist, keen to take a selfie, sat down on Canova's plaster model for the Paolina Borghese masterpiece in Galleria Borghese. After sprawling back on its base, the tourist managed to snap off three of the statue's toes in his effort to stand up. Far from alerting museum authorities, the man made sure that nobody saw what he had done before doing a runner. The news was announced by politician and art critic Vittorio Sgarbi, the president of the foundation in charge of the museum in Possagno, Canova's hometown. An outraged Sgarbi called on police to identify the "vandal" and "not let him return to his homeland unpunished" for the "unacceptable" damage caused to the work. For once, Sgarbi's views were shared by the majority, but still no trace of the offending tourist. The tourist who damaged the Canova statue. Within days Italian police managed to track him down, thanks to the Canova museum reservation made by his wife, upon which the 50-year-old man admitted his responsibility, as his case is sent before the public prosecutor's office in Treviso. In mid-August a police investigation began after a tourist climbed onto the roof of a bath house in Italy's archaeological site of Pompeii. The probe was launched after images of the unidentified woman surfaced on the internet, causing a storm of controversy on social media. Police are attempting to establish the identity of the visitor who was photographed while taking selfies on top of the bath house during the Ferragosto holiday. Illegal selfies at Pompeii The outgoing Pompeii manager Massimo Osanna said the woman's "deplorable" and uncivil behaviour was dangerous to both her and the ancient building. If caught, she could face imprisonment from three months to a year, with fines of between 1,000 and 3,000, reports Italian newspaper La Repubblica. Several days after this, two tourists, aged 61 and 44, were caught by Rome police as they used a coin to scrape their names into the staircase at the Trevi Fountain. The couple, from Germany and Slovakia, were reported for damaging a site of historical and cultural interest. They also received a fine of 450 and a temporary ban from returning to the monument. Rome mayor Virginia Raggi commended the police for their work, tweeting: "No tolerance for those who deface or damage the monuments of Rome." The trouble continued right to the end of the summer season. On 20 September a 32-year-old Irish tourist was caught carving his name into the Colosseum where, a few days earlier, a 40-year-old Polish tourist crash-landed his drone inside the ancient amphitheatre despite being reminded beforehand that it was strictly a no-fly zone. As Italy juggles the fine line between restarting its devastated tourism sector with keeping new covid-19 cases to a minimum, it continues to face the thorny question of how to protect its artistic and cultural heritage from 'vandal tourists' and selfie tourism. Perhaps the answer lies somewhere between increased vigilance and somehow ensuring that visitors are better prepared for the splendour precious and fragile that Italy has to offer. By Andy Devane This article is published in the September 2020 online edition of Wanted in Rome magazine. Cover image - photo credit: MarbellaStudio / Shutterstock.com. The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has approved a US$5 million Murabaha Financing Facility in favour of Bank of Maldives to support the Banks private sector businesses, particularly SMEs importing raw materials from the international markets. Bank of Maldives is the first partner institution in the Maldives to work with ITFC as it expands its financing outreach to the private sector through local banks in the country. The financing comes at a critical time as SMEs in the Maldives and other OIC member countries face the social and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which has disrupted global trade and strained financial resources. Bank of Maldives CEO and Managing Director, Tim Sawyer commented While the economy has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bank has continued to take proactive measures to support local businesses. We are delighted to extend this support further with our partnership with ITFC to provide US$5 million in trade financing for our business customers. The facility will help make a positive contribution to the development of the local business sector. Commenting on the Murabaha Financing Facility, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, ITFC CEO, said: We are proud to partner with Bank of Maldives in supporting SME growth and the import of raw materials. A central tenet of the ITFC strategy is to facilitate lines of financing to local partner financial institutions like Bank of Maldives to provide SME access to working capital that is key for the countrys economic growth and their ability to participate in global value chains. As such, it is contributing to the development of intra-OIC trade flows and ultimately leading to socio-economic development in member countries. The financing and grants being rolled out by ITFC, as part of the IsDB Group COVID-19 Response Package, are supporting preparedness for the pandemic through the provision of medical supplies, staple foods and fertilizer for agricultural production to OIC countries including Bangladesh, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, the Maldives and Senegal. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires John Valkos/Tommy Garcia/Bravo Southern Charm is back and with a new season full of drama comes a set of fresh faces. On Oct. 29, season 7 of the hit Bravo reality series will return with veterans Craig Conover, Kathryn Dennis, Austen Kroll, and Shep Rose. Joining them as full-time cast members are newcomers Leva Bonaparte and John Pringle, plus Madison LeCroy, who was a "friend" on season 6. Charleston Grand Dame Patricia Altschul, her son Whitney Sudler-Smith and friend of the group Danni Baird will also be back. As seen in PEOPLE's exclusive look at the trailer, season 7 will cover Kroll and LeCroy's rollercoaster relationship, Dennis' decision to drink again after years of sobriety and her reaction to ex Thomas Ravenel fathering a child with another woman. This all happens against the backdrop of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and national reckoning with racism, which hits home as Bonaparte supports removing a statue of John C. Calhoun, a vice president who supported slavery and Dennis' ancestor. RELATED: Southern Charm Season 7 Trailer Tackles White Privilege, Kathryn's Drinking & Thomas' Baby Read Bonaparte, Pringle and LeCroy's Bravo biographies below: John Valkos/Bravo Leva Bonaparte Leva Bonaparte Admittedly a bit complicated, Bonapartes life is one of culturally-diverse experiences. She is Persian and was born in India, but spent her years growing up in Canada and Bolivia. She began traveling to the Deep South after her familys multi-national business expanded into Charleston 18 years ago. It was there that she met her husband Lamar, a Charleston native with whom she shares a 2-year old son. Aside from being mom and dad, she and Lamar are also business partners dominating the Charleston nightlife and hospitality scene. This season, Bonaparte is on a quest to alter the social landscape of her adopted hometown, advocating for a new south that embraces her familys varied culture and promises a brighter future. After years of mingling with the charmers in the same social circles, she does not shy away from tough conversations with her friends and unapologetically calls them out in the hope of shifting their perspectives. Story continues John Valkos/Bravo John Pringle John Pringle A seventh-generation Charleston native, Pringle attended the University of Georgia, where he became good friends with Shep, and remains an avid Bulldogs fan to this day. After college, he left for NYC to learn the family commodity business firsthand. His life in the city inspired his passion for songwriting, which led to the release of his first LP Strange Points of View. Pringle went on to record two EPs Midnight Mass on the Williamsburg Bridge and Simple Act and toured extensively behind them. Though his music led him down a transient path, he feels his life truly began in Los Angeles with the birth of his first son, Quinn, and younger son, Asher, who arrived 16 months later. Though his marriage to ex-wife Heidi was short-lived, they remain friends who co-parent to the best of their abilities. New opportunities bring Pringle back to Charleston this year, as he looks to return the family business to the place where the Pringles have long-thrived. He still enjoys playing music and hopes to perform live shows now that he is home. RELATED: Naomie Olindo and Chelsea Meissner Leaving Southern Charm Too Ahead of Season 7 John Valkos/Bravo Madison LeCroy Madison LeCroy Born in Greenville, South Carolina, LeCroy has experienced everything that the low country has to offer. She attended the Carolina College of Hair Design at a young age to pursue her passion for hair and makeup artistry. After years spent moving up the ranks, she is now the most sought-after hair and makeup artist in Charleston. She currently owns a thriving downtown salon and has her sights set on expanding the space and giving life to her vision. Though LeCroy values her career and has enjoyed much success in the beauty industry, there is nothing more important to her than being a mother to her 8-year-old son Hudson. When she is not working, she and her son can be found fishing, working on school projects, and watching his favorite movies. He is her biggest fan and her goal in life is to guide him toward becoming a great man. This season, she finds herself at a crossroad in her relationship with Austen, which is only made more complicated by her butting heads with Shep. The new season will also see Pringle get caught up in a debate with the guys about bro-code when he shows interest in LeCroy. Season 7 of Southern Charm premieres Thursday, Oct. 29 at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. The Member of Parliament for Sagnarigu Constituency Hon. Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini has presented six electric corn mills to six beneficiary communities in his constituency. The communities are Sanga, Yilonaayili, Zagyuri, Wurishe, Gbalo and Kpene all in the Sagnarigu Constituency. The donation was as a result of the requests made by the beneficiary communities to aid women who hitherto go to nearby areas to access corn mill services. It will be recalled that in 2015/2016, Hon. Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini presented two modern rice mills and two shea butter extraction equipment to four zones in the constituency. They were Shishegu zone, Sagnarigu zone, Gurugu zone and Wayamba zone respectively. In addition to these milling machines were four FAW-Kia trucks and eight tricycles under the auspices of EDAIF. These and many other livelihood empowerment interventions have been undertaken by Hon. A.B.A Fuseini since 2012. In a similar gesture, the lawmaker in partnership with the Shishegu Community presented a hearse to the community. At a ceremony in Shishegu, Chief Alhaji T.A Mahama former Headmaster of Tamale SHS now Shishegu Bonting-Naa, a subject of Shishe-Naa on behalf of the Chief and people of Shishegu expressed his appreciation for such partnership to help find solutions to their challenges. Chief Bonting-Naa also expressed gratitude to the lawmaker for similar interventions in the Shishegu community in the area of education, electrification, empowerment among others and called on the MP to extend his attention to similar development issues within the area. The good people of Sagnarigu on their part promised to overwhelmingly vote and retain Hon. A.B.A Fuseini as their Member of Parliament and endorse HE John Dramani Mahama as the President come December 7. Nearly 12 per cent of Torontos 23,524 Airbnb listings continued to operate between April and June, even though short-term rental activity was restricted in Ontario due to COVID-19, according to a new report by Fairbnb. The coalition of academics, community groups and housing advocates says it is another example of how Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms circumvent rules and fail to follow regulations in this case even public health advice. A Fairbnb analysis of Airbnb reviews found that 2,800 hosts took in about 6,000 renters in Toronto during the restricted time frame. The vast majority 2,400 received three reviews or less, suggesting they didnt do much business during those months. But another 74 hosts received 10 or more reviews and 23 received 15 or more. Those were likely professional rental hosts, who operate guest accommodation rather than share their own homes something that violates Torontos short-term rental regulations. That suggests that, while most hosts are rule-abiding, a minority the group that makes the most money from and for short-term rental sites is inclined to flout regulations, said Thorben Wieditz of Fairbnb. Toronto prohibits entire homes from being rented on a short-term basis unless they are the principal residence of the property owner. It also limits those rentals to fewer than 180 nights a year. People that havent followed the rules in the past continued not to follow the rules even the health and safety regulations that the province has put in place, he said. A spokesman for Airbnb, who had not seen the report, said he didnt have a sense of how many hosts were operating during the provincially restricted period. But the company did communicate the rules to its hosts and encouraged them to speak to guests in advance of bookings, said Nathan Rotman, Airbnb public policy manager for Canada. Calling Ontarios restrictions fairly broad, he said, There were a number of reasons someone might need temporary lodging at that time, including being a health-care worker or self-isolating or someone who maybe arrived back in the country. Rotman also noted that Airbnb updated its platform so guests could check travel restrictions during the lockdown and it provided accommodation to people travelling for medical treatment through Hope Air and to the Service Employees Union International (SEIU) to house front-line health-care workers. An analysis of the reviews on listings that were most active during the shutdown suggests they werent being used to house front-line workers isolating during the pandemic, Wieditz said. Only nine out of 448 reviews included pandemic-related keywords. One review showed that the rental was in connection to a pandemic-related emergency trip. We have seen a series of visitors, coming through in quick succession leaving reviews about the pretty view, he said. That doesnt correspond to front line workers. The most rentals occurred during the shutdown in two downtown condo neighbourhoods known as Niagara and Waterfront-The Island. The waterfront has been identified as a COVID-19 hot spot. Wieditz said that Fairbnb is calling on the province to renew its ban on short-term rentals in those areas in light of the recent surge of COVID cases. The report titled Addressing Airbnbs IPO Business is being released on Thursday. In advance of Airbnbs plans to go public later this year, it urges potential investors to consider that the rental platforms future revenue will have to come amid an increasingly regulated environment. Fairbnb found that short-term rentals plunged 79.6 per cent in the second quarter of this year compared to last and the number of units that received at least one review plummeted 43 per cent. Nevertheless, by June, the number of Airbnb listings rose by 1.6 per cent. The report comes after Airbnb announced Monday that it has suspended 40 Ontario listings that have violated the platforms ban on party houses. The ban was announced late last year after five people were killed at a shooting at a California rental. These are people who have received warnings about responsible hosting, said Airbnbs Rotman. The suspended listings were the subjects of complaint through Airbnbs neighbourhood phone hotline and web portal and through rental regulators, he said. We dont allow people to post their home as an event venue, so (the suspensions) could even be based on that, said Rotman. He did not specify the length of the suspensions but said complaints are dealt with on an escalating basis. Hosts can rejoin Airbnb if they prove they are committed to establishing clear house rules, quiet hours and communicating with their guests. It they want to shut down party rentals they should take a close look at whats going on in downtown Toronto condo buildings, said Wieditz, who is holding a press conference on Thursday with residents who say their buildings are being used for gatherings in short-term rentals. Rotman said the company is emailing its Airbnb Experiences hosts, who combine accommodation with tours and activities in Ontario and Quebec, with updated restrictions on gathering numbers. This month Toronto began requiring all short-term rental operators to register with the city as part of a licensing and enforcement regime. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani while addressing the 75th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday, September 23 sought assistance in eradicating the roots of the terrorism" blighting the region and urged global leaders to help achieve a "sovereign, united and democratic Afghanistan". Earlier this month the Afghan government led by President Ashraf Ghani entered into peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar. Read: US Special Representative Khalilzad Reaffirms UNSC's Commitment to Peace In Afghanistan Afghanistan needs the UN Charter: Ghani President Ashraf Ghani said, The untold sorrow of our people during the last 40 years serves as a reminder of the relevance of the UN charter and also of its unfulfilled promise for maintaining international peace and security. The Afghan President added that the people of Afghanistan were living through the fifth wave of terrorism wherein the warfare was totally unconventional and therefore making peace more of a challenge. Ghani reiterated the importance of the talks with the Taliban and added, The role of the UN and our international partners and allies will continue to be extremely important as our negotiating team sits across from the Taliban. The primary objective of the talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban was to agree on a cease-fire that would bring an end to the violence and the killing in the war-torn country. Read: US Says Violence Levels In Afghanistan 'too High' Amid Peace Talks Stalemate Khalilzad Reaffirms UNSC's Commitment to Peace In Afghanistan Earlier this week, the United Nations Security Council issued a statement wherein the council reaffirmed its commitment to Afghanistans "sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity & national unity". US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad in a series of tweets on Saturday, September 19 shared the statement and said that the UNSC "supports the path the parties are currently on, which is to find a political settlement that accommodates all Afghans, one the region and international community can endorse in spirit and inaction. The US Special Representative went on to add that the peace talks between the two parties give Afghan leaders a unique opportunity to end the ongoing conflict. The UNSC statement also added that sustainable and long-lasting peace in Afghanistan can only be achieved through comprehensive and inclusive talks. The UN body also hopes that a comprehensive ceasefire agreement will also be reached by both parties. (With ANI inputs; Image Credits - AP) Read: US Special Representative Khalilzad Reaffirms UNSC's Commitment to Peace In Afghanistan Read: Afghanistan Leader Mohammed Haneef Atmar Thanks India For Its Commitment To Afghan Peace TORONTO - Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO - Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (15,817.11, down 325.78 points.) Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ). Down 66 cents, or 2.92 per cent, to $21.94 on 11.4 million shares. Just Energy Group Inc. (TSX:JE). Energy. Down 14 cents, or 28.87 per cent, to 34.5 cents on 10.9 million shares. Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Industrials. Down 1.5 cents, or four per cent, to 36 cents on 8.2 million shares. Kinross Gold Corp. (TSX:K). Materials. Down $1.24, or 10.13 per cent, to $11.00 on 7.8 million shares. Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX:ACB). Health care. Down $2.83, or 29.09 per cent, to $6.90 on 7.5 million shares. Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Energy. Down 23 cents, or 1.36 per cent, to $16.69 on 6.3 million shares. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Companies in the news: Indigo Books and Music Inc. (TSX:IDG). Up five cents or 2.4 per cent to $2.13. Workers at an Indigo Books and Music Inc. location in Mississauga, Ont., have voted in favour of unionization. Employees at the company's Square One Shopping Centre store backed a unionization drive through an online vote earlier this week, said the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Local 1006A, one of Ontarios largest private sector local unions, in a press release. Indigo did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Canadian Press, but the union said it can now start to negotiate a contract with the Toronto-based retailer. It hopes that contract will address the concerns of the location's roughly 40 workers at the bookstore, including wages, job security and sick leave. Nuvei Corp. (TSX:NVEI.U). Up $1.86 or 5.4 per cent to $35.98. Philip Fayer took little time to celebrate after his Montreal payments company Nuvei Corp. closed its $833-million initial public offering, the largest the Toronto Stock Exchange has ever seen in the technology sector. The company he founded 17 years ago when looking for payment options for another business he was involved in raised aggregate gross proceeds of US$805 million US$730 million for Nuvei and US$75 million for shareholder Novacap Management Inc. from offering up more than 30 million subordinate voting shares at US$26 per share last week. Along with the IPO, Nuvei closed a direct private placement of more than 1 million subordinate voting shares, generating an additional US$28.4 million in gross proceeds. Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS). Down 31 cents to $52.59. 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 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. Shopify Inc. (TSX:SHOP). Down $38.61 to $1,229.79. Shopify Inc. says it has fired two "rogue" employees involved in a scheme to illegitimately obtain records connected to some of its merchants. Company spokeswoman Rebecca Feigelsohn confirmed the terminations in an email Tuesday, the day after the Ottawa-based company first revealed data of about 200 of its merchants was improperly accessed. Shopify says it terminated the employees' access to its network, referred the incident to law enforcement and will work with the FBI to investigate further. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2020. President Donald Trump sarcastically wished Prince Harry "a lot of luck" with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after she urged all Americans to vote in the upcoming election. "I'm not a fan of hers, and I would say this, and she probably has heard that, but I wish a lot of luck to Harry he's going to need it," Trump said at a White House news briefing on Wednesday. President Trump wished Prince Harry Watch TODAY All Day! Get the best news, information and inspiration from TODAY, all day long. His comment came after the former Meghan Markle spoke in a video for the TIME 100 about the importance of voting. Meghan, who appeared in the video alongside Harry, did not endorse or make comments about any specific presidential candidate. "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 is an American citizen and will make history as the first British royal family member to publicly exercise their right to vote, according to TIME. Harry, who is a British citizen, noted that he has never voted in the United Kingdom, where royals are expected to remain politically neutral. The Duke of Sussex, who lives in Santa Barbara, California, with Meghan and their 1-year-old son, Archie, urged people to avoid negativity online ahead of the election, while Meghan called for building "communities of compassion." "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 yourself in someone elses shoes," Harry told TIME. "Because when one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially. Its time to not only reflect, but act. As we approach this November, its vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity." Story continues The British royal family distanced themselves from the remarks by the couple. "We would not comment," a Buckingham Palace spokesman told NBC News. "The duke is not a working member of the royal family and any comments he makes are made in a personal capacity." Queen Elizabeth II has previously encouraged people to exercise their right to vote in Britain. Harry and Meghan famously "stepped back" from their duties as senior members of the royal family at the end of March and have since lived in Canada and now California. This is not the first time Trump has taken a swipe at the Duchess of Sussex. Trump called her "nasty" last year after learning that she had labeled him "divisive" in a 2016 appearance on Comedy Centrals The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore." After the couple announced in January that they intended to step back from their royal duties, Trump said on Fox News that it was "sad" and that he has "such respect" for the queen and that he doesn't think "this should be happening to her." BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 By Tamilla Mammadova Trend: Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia met Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov on Sept.24, Trend reports via Georgian media. Relations between the two nations and prospects of cooperation were discussed at the meeting. Conversation touched upon the political, trade, economic, energy, education, arts and culture dimensions of collaboration. The sides discussed the current challenges faced by the region. Significance of strategic partnership existing between the two countries has been underlined. Intensified cooperation of Azerbaijan and Georgia were discussed within various formats. Focus was made on cooperation in trade, economic, transport and energy sectors. It was noted that Azerbaijan is one of the important trade partners of Georgia. Gakharia expressed his gratitude to the Bayramov for the support demonstrated towards sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. Interest of both countries towards a peaceful resolution of conflicts experienced in the region was noted at the meeting. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356 Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 00:02:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MADRID, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa on Thursday warned that the region of Madrid was facing "difficult weeks" as it struggled to control the dramatic increase in the number of coronavirus cases. Monday saw the introduction of stricter measures in the Spanish capital. Meetings can now be attended by a maximum of six people, and restrictions on mobility were imposed on 37 areas in the Madrid Autonomous Community in a bid to control the pandemic. Following a meeting between regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday, during which a commission was set up to study the evolution of the pandemic, further measures are expected to be announced on Friday, such as an extension of the mobility restrictions and the further reduction of the number of clients allowed in bars and restaurants. On Thursday, Illa commented to journalists on the rising number of COVID-19 cases. Currently there are around 10,000 new infections reported each day. "We are seeing sustained increases in the number of infections in our country. We have to continue with the measures," he said, adding that the government was "studying all kinds of action in line with the requests we are receiving from the (17) autonomous communities." "Difficult weeks are ahead for the Community of Madrid and we need to take determined action to control the pandemic in this region," Illa said. It was also confirmed on Thursday that starting Monday, extra security forces, including members of the military, will strengthen the efforts to combat the virus in the capital. Members of Spain's Military Emergency Unit will be involved in helping with testing and disinfecting the worst-hit areas of Madrid, and the police and civil guards will be out in force to help manage quarantine requirements and mobility restrictions. Enditem A member of House Republicans introduced an amendment to the new bill that will benefit more Americans in the country. Rep. Mike Conaway from Texas, the top Republican at the house Agriculture Committee, on Monday delivered a change to a stopgap government funding measure that might offer farm resources and increase toddler nutritional assistance amid the coronavirus pandemic. House Democrats in advance Monday unveiled the details of the continuing resolution (CR) to maintain the authorities' funding thru Dec. 11. and to make sure that there are enough funds while the federal government cannot operate due to election. Negotiators aimed to launch a bipartisan stopgap bill on Friday, but talks collapsed after the parties had been not able to reach a settlement on whether a provision to provide extra payments to farmers impacted by coronavirus pandemic via the Commodity credit score business enterprise (CCC), which is capped at a borrowing limit of $30 billion, will be included. House Democrats in the end opted to omit the provision to provide more funding to CCC on Monday, an action that sparked a sturdy backlash from Republicans in each chamber and leaving just over a week to come back to a settlement and avoid a damaging government shutdown. Conaway's change could trade the invoice to include in the bill to "reimburse the Commodity credit score agency for net found out losses sustained" and expand the growth in nutritional food blessings thru 2021. "This modification is straightforward and easy. It reflects the bipartisan agreement that turned into reached ultimate week and then reneged on by the Democratic management on Friday. My modification replenishes the CCC, the Commodity credit score business enterprise, and gives pandemic funding increases for SNAP," Conaway said for the duration of a House policies Committee mark up following the invoice's launch. "Up till currently, the CCC has been replenished on a bipartisan basis, without controversy. However all over again, Democrat management has upended this lengthy-status practice, and I have no actual concept why. Democrat leaders are mad on the Trump management, due to the fact they have used the CCC bucks to offer an alternate useful resource to farmers or ranchers and dairy producers harm by means of China, and reputedly now the Democrats are mad that the administration in presenting CCC bucks to help farmers or ranchers and dairy producers hurt with the aid of COVID-19." Democrats, however, argue a sweeping Democrat-led relief package deal that handed by the House in May could additionally provide alleviation for farmers which have taken a financial hit because of the pandemic and allege the management is using the investment for political benefit. "What the Trump administration wanted to be delivered to the smooth CR wasn't assist for farmers - it was greater than $20 billion more taxpayer bucks that the Trump administration views as a bottomless, unaccountable political slush fund," one senior Democratic aide stated. Republicans have indicated that the Democrat-led invoice faces an uphill conflict without the CCC language. Congress faces a Sept. 30 closing date to ward off a central authority shut down, and the showdown over the bill comes just weeks ahead of election day. "House Democrats' hard draft of a government funding invoice shamefully leaves out key alleviation and guide that American farmers want. That is no time to add insult to damage and defund assist for farmers and rural the united states," Senate Majority chief Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) tweeted. Check these out! The Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court on Monday struck down offences registered against eight Myanmar Muslims accused of engaging in Tablighi activities. Compelling the applicants to undergo a trial would cause grave injustice, said a bench comprising justices VM Deshpande and Amit Borkar while striking down the FIR registered by the tehsil police station at Nagpur against the group that visited the city in March 2020, just before the imposition of the nationwide lockdown in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The bench was also of the opinion that allowing the prosecution to continue would be nothing but an abuse of the process of the Court, especially because of lack of evidence supporting the charges levelled against the foreigners. The tehsil police had booked them under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 14 (contravention of any provision, order or direction issued under the Act) of the Foreigners Act, Section 3 (disobeying any regulation or order made under the Act) of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1987 and Section 51 (refusing to comply with order issued by the Centre or State government) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Also Read: Maharashtra crosses 20K new cases mark after 2-day drop, Covid-19 case count 1,263,799 All eight Myanmar nationals had moved the court to quash the FIR and the charge sheet filed against them. They were booked under Section 14 on the Foreigners Act primarily on the ground of violating two clauses the Visa Manual, which prohibits foreigners from engaging in preaching religious ideology or making religious speeches in India. The high court, however, found no material to support the accusation. It noted from witness statements that the foreigners only read the Quran and offered namaz at a local mosque. They did not even know Hindi and therefore there was no question of them of engaging any religious discourse or speech. The bench also found no material to support the charges under sections 269 and 270, as the Myanmar Muslims had undergone Covid-19 tests and their results were negative, despite which they were kept in isolation. There is no material on record to prove that applicants had indulged in any act which was likely to spread Covid -19, said the bench. With regard to Section 188 of the IPC, the bench said the police could not have applied the section on their own in the first place. Only the district collector, who issued lockdown orders at the local level or one of his subordinates could have lodged a complaint, that too, with the judicial magistrate concerned. Advertisement President Donald Trump said he couldn't hear the protesters who booed him and first lady Melania Trump when they paid their respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court on Thursday. A crowd yelled 'Honor her wish' and 'Vote him out' as the first couple stood at the top of the steps at Ginsburg's flag-draped coffin, their heads bowed and faces covered by masks. Trump said he could hear a 'sound' but that was all. 'I think it was just a political chant. We could hardly hear it,' he told reporters at the White House after his visit. 'Somebody said there was chanting. They were right next to the media. We could hardly hear too much. We could hear a sound but it wasnt very much. It's rare for President Trump to hear any criticism or booing in his public appearances. His campaign rallies and events are typically filled with cheering supporters who offer constant applause and adoration. The rare protester is quickly escorted out. Thousands of mourners have lined up at the Supreme Court to pay tribute to the late justice, who became a cultural icon and feminist hero. Many of them supported Ginsburg's liberal philosophy, putting them in direct opposition to the president. 'Honor her wish,' was in reference to Ginsburg's dying request that the winner of the November presidential election appoint her successor. But Trump has vowed to move forward in the confirmation process and will name his replacement on Saturday at the White House. He is expected to name a conservative to fill the liberal judge's place on the bench. The first couple arrived for their short visit at the back of the Supreme Court building and walked through it and out its front door to view Ginsburg's coffin. That could have been for security reasons given the heavy crowds and lines of people in front of the court. The Trumps spent 11 minutes at the court before returning to the White House. As the motorcade returned to the White House, there were also chants of 'Breonna Taylor' from some spectators standing on the sidewalk, according to an Associated Press reporter traveling with the president. Protests have sprung up after there was no Kentucky officer charged in the death of Taylor, who was in botched police raid on her apartment. Upon his return to the executive mansion, President Trump was spotted on the colonnade outside of the Oval Office, speaking with his Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, and National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien - all of whom accompanied him to the Supreme Court. The White House called the boos and chants 'appalling' and 'disrespectful.' 'Everybody has a first amendment in this country, but I thought it was appalling and disrespectful thing to do as the president honored Justice Ginsburg, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at her briefing Thursday. She said, however, it was 'certainly to be expected when you're part of the swamp.' I travel with the president all across the country. And everywhere we go, the streets are lined with support like I don't think any other president has had previously,' she added. President Donald Trump said he couldn't hear the protesters who yelled at him and first lady Melania Trump when they paid their respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump pay respects as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Thursday President Trump at the casket of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Tiffany Trump, who graduated from Georgetown Law in May 2020, visited the Supreme Court later in the day after her father's visit to pay her respects Crowds around the Supreme Court booed President Trump and yelled 'vote him out' 'Honor her wish,' the crowd yelled at President Trump in reference to Ruth Bader Ginsburg's dying request that the winner of the November election name her replacement First lady Melania Trump bows her head at Ginsburg's coffin Mourners line up before Ginsburg's casket; thousands have come to the Supreme Court to pay tribute to the late justice National security adviser Robert O'Brien, left, and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, right, pays their respects to Ginsburg Upon his return to the White House, President Trump stood outside the Oval Office, speaking with his Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, and National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien - all of whom accompanied him to the Supreme Court It's rare for President Trump to encounter protesters and boos in his public appearances 'I thought it was appalling and disrespectful thing to do as the president honored Justice Ginsburg, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said of the boos and chants at the Supreme Court Trump has cast doubt on Ginsburg's wish, alleging it was actually written by a Democrat. He accused his political foes - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Nancy Pelosi or House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff - as being behind the justice's last request - an allegation that has no proof nor did Trump offer any. 'I don't know that she said that, or was that written out by Adam Schiff, Schumer and Pelosi,' Trump said during an interview on 'Fox & Friends' on Monday. 'I would be more inclined to the second, it sounds so beautiful. But that sounds like a Schumer deal or maybe a Pelosi or shifty Schiff. So that that came out of the wind. Let's see. I mean, maybe she did and maybe she didn't,' he added. Ginsburg dedicated a message to her granddaughter Clara Spera in her dying days. 'My most fervent wish is that I I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,' she said. Later Thursday, in a separate visit, Tiffany Trump paid her respects to Ginsburg. The president's youngest daughter graduated from Georgetown Law in May 2020. She tweeted her appreciation for Ginsburg after the justice died on Friday, noting she attended a lecture the judge gave at Georgetown in 2017. Thank you, Justice Ginsburg for being a trailblazer for women in the legal field, a pioneer for women and gender equality, and for showing that patriotism hinges not on agreement, but on the unwavering commitment to persevere, to listen, to learn, and to develop together,' Tiffany wrote. While Ginsburg is honored in the court where she made history, the political battle to replace her is taking place across the street in the U.S. Capitol building. Democrats have vowed to do what they can to hold off President Trump's nomination, arguing the winner of the November election should make the selection. They point both to Ginsburg's dying wish and to 2016 - the year Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell held off the confirmation process on then President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, stating he would wait and see which party won the election. But Democrats' odds are slim given Republicans have lined up behind the president and are preparing to move forward with confirmation hearings. They argue the situation is different compared to 2016 since one party controls both the Senate and White House this year. Thursday, meanwhile, marks the second day of public viewing of Ginsburg's remains. Her flag-draped casket arrived at the Supreme Court Wednesday morning, where she was honored with a small memorial ceremony before her coffin was placed atop the front steps for two days of public viewing. Former President Bill Clinton, who appointed Ginsburg to the high court in 1993, visited her 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. 'Ruth is gone and we grieve,' Chief Justice John Roberts said in his eulogy during Wednesday's memorial service. 'Of course, she will live on in what she did to improve the law and the lives of all of us.' Ahead of Ginsburg'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.' Tiffany Trump and an unidentifed woman pay their respects at the Supreme Court First lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump depart the White House on Thursday morning in route to the Supreme Court to pay their respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia pays his respects at the Supreme Court on Thursday A child salutes while mourners to pay respects at the Supreme Court 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. 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 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. President Trump said Wednesday the court needs its full complement of nine justices because they may have to decide the winner of the 2020 presidential contest. Trump repeated his many complaints and concerns about mail-in ballots - at least 80 million Americans are expected to use them instead of waiting in line on Election Day because of the coronavirus - and said the issue will likely end up in the high court. 'I think it's better if you go before the election because I think the scam the Democrats are pulling, this scam will be before the United States Supreme Court,' Trump said at the White House. He said a tie situation of 4-to-4 justices would not ideal although if that should be the scenario then the lower court ruling would stand. 'I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation,' Trump said. 'Just in case it would be more political than it should be I think it's very important to have a 9th judge,' he said. 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 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 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 Originari di Francofonte, sono stati ordinati lei nel 2008, ed e diventata suora di clausura, lui nel 2010 ed e l'attuale guida della comunita parrocchiale della basilica di SantAntonio Abate nella sua citta di nascita Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has said that work from home culture will remain prevalent even after the COVID-19 pandemic ends. Gates said that the WFH has worked well for some people and hoped that it would continue post-pandemic too. "But once this pandemic ends, we will rethink on what percentage of time we spend in offices... 20, 30, 50 per cent. Lots of companies will expect their employees to spend well below 50 per cent of their time in offices and maybe the rest of the companies will go the normal way," Gates said during an online business summit held by The Economic Times. Talking about his own experience, Gates said he it's an eye-opening year for him as he got time to do "much more". The billionaire said he has not travelled throughout the year amid COVID-19 pandemic-led restrictions across the world. Also read: India's role in coronavirus vaccine production critical in combating pandemic: Bill Gates Gates, however, believes the work from a home culture has to improve further in terms of technology to sustain longer. Bill Gates said the work from home also comes with its fair share of challenges. When kids are at home, and homes are congested, it becomes difficult to work productively. He said women handle a lot of things while working from home, which shows the WFH culture also comes with some drawbacks, he opines. How does the future look and when will the pandemic end? Gates believes the world needs to learn lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. "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." He hoped the world would learn a lesson from COVID-19 and be prepared to deal with the future pandemic. "...in the meantime, we have so much work to be done," he said. Also read: COVID-19 pandemic has taken global health progress back by 25 years: Gates Foundation Gates said that China failed to put out data on the COVID-19 virus out initially, which led to waste of time. He said India did some "incredible things" in terms of using digital infrastructure to transfer money to poor people. On the effectiveness of the COVID-19 pandemic infused lockdowns in India, Gates said the country, because of its huge population and wide geography, 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, Piramals, the Tatas etc are stepping up efforts to minimise the damage," he said. With PTI inputs Reaction from the Fauquier Education Association Lauren Brill, president of the Fauquier Education Association, responded to the school board's decision to begin offering a hybrid learning format for students beginning Nov. 9. Below is her take on the decision, made Wednesday night. "The FEA is currently processing the information from last evening's school board decision with the updated hybrid plan changes as well as reviewing the previous hybrid plan outlined earlier this fall. We will be reaching out soon to senior staff and [superintendent] Dr. [David] Jeck, and of course our members to collect feedback and responses to the decision to return Nov. 9 in an updated hybrid model. "We are actively working with many members in response to this decision change and we will continue to do so as long as they continue to bring concerns and questions to us. "While we know there is much to be worked out at this point in regards to details of protocols, policies and curriculum, the FEA is committed to its stance that safety for our members; both mentally and physically, should continue to be the number-one priority and we will continue to advocate for this." WASHINGTON -- The head of the government's main international broadcasting agency flouted a subpoena for congressional testimony Thursday, angering both Democrats and Republicans already alarmed by his management tactics. Michael Pack, chief executive of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America and similar institutions, was issued a subpoena by the House Foreign Affairs Committee last week after he reneged on a promise to appear before the panel citing unspecified "administrative proceedings," according to the panel's chairman, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. Engel said Thursday that Pack "manufactured this conflict to get out of being here today." Spokesmen for the U.S. Agency for Global Media did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Pack has been the subject of intense scrutiny and controversy that commenced before he was confirmed to his position less than four months ago. In his brief tenure, he has ousted the heads of VOA's sister operations Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks and the Open Technology Fund, frozen spending, and refused to renew the visas of foreign journalists - a move he has defended as an effort to root out potential spies. Democrats have been calling for Pack's ouster, pointing to those and other unorthodox management decisions. Pack is the "wrong person for the job, he should resign, and if he doesn't, the president should fire him," Engel said Thursday. Pack's tactics have also upset Republicans. During Thursday's hearing, the ranking Republican on the committee, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, drew attention to the consequences of Pack's decision to freeze spending for the Open Technology Fund in particular. The fund's leaders were reinstated by court order over the summer. "I believe his actions damaged support during the heights of unrest in Hong Kong, and they are continuing to do so today in Belarus," McCaul said, referring to public demonstrations against authoritarian regimes in both places. He also accused Pack of ignoring "the will of Congress" as well as "basic questions" the committee has asked him in other matters. "This committee deserves the respect of a response," McCaul said. "I believe there's some reform that needs to be done . . . but I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bathwater here." Washington: Two Indian snake hunters have been hired by Florida wildlife officials to get rid of Burmese pythons, which are wiping out small mammal populations driving some nearly to extinction in a tropical wetland in the US state. Masi Sadaiyan and Vaidivel Gopal, both in their 50s, from the Irula tribe of Tamil Nadu, are successful python hunters in India, and were brought in, along with two translators, to work with detection dogs earlier this month to track down and capture the giant snakes. In just eight days, they have surprised officials ofFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) by bagging as many as 13 pythons, including a 16-foot-longfemale. A joint endeavour of FWC and University of Florida'sInstitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFS), officials have described it as a "unique project". "Since the Irula have been so successful in their homeland at removing pythons, we are hoping they can teach people in Florida some of these skills," said Kristen Sommers, section leader of the FWC's Wildlife Impact Management Section. "We are working with our partners to improve our ability to find and capture pythons in the wild. These projects are two of several new efforts focused on the removal of these snakes," Sommers said. "In their first eight days on the job, the Irulatribesmen world-renowned snake catchers from India removed13 pythons, including four on their first visit to CrocodileLake National Wildlife Refuge on North Key Largo in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Traditionally, the main occupation of the Irula tribe has been catching snakes," a media release said. Officials said they are currently working with the Irulatribesmen to identify additional programmes to remove more non-native pythons from Florida. The FWC and UF/IFAS have been collaborating with public land managers to identify environmentally sensitive areas that would benefit most from targeted python removal. Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge is one such area because of the federally-endangered Key Largo woodrat and many protected bird species that reside there. UF/IFAS wildlife biologist, Frank Mazzotti, and his team are working with the Irula tribe in South Florida, media release said. On January 17, Irula tribesmen, UF/IFAS, the US Fish andWildlife Service, and US Geological Survey cooperators removed four Burmese pythons from the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The commission says it paid USD 68,888 to hire the Irulamen and their translators and fly them to South Florida from their home in southern India. They'll stay in Florida through February. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Avoid Air Asia or any of the other airlines that fly from KLIA2 as MAS use KLIA and you cannot move between the two without entering Malaysia. However you may have caused problems for yourselves by not having booked a through ticket. Under the current EMCO in Malaysia you are not allowed to enter the country, and this could still be in place next year. You may find that on what is just a ticket to KL airlines will not fly you. A separate ticket out of KL will not make any difference. If you have a through ticket then you can stay in the airside area. If you can change your current ticket to a through ticket with one of Singapore Airlines partner airlines you may be OK. | By Laura Lee When Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council in mid-June, his comments opened the door to a broader discussion about human rights in America. Panelists from the Racial Injustice from a Human Rights Perspective webinar (clockwise from top left): Russell McClain, Neijma Celestine-Donnor, Jackie Smith, Roger Ward, and Peter Danchin. I am asking you to help us Black people in America, Floyd implored the international body less than a month after his brother was killed by police in Minneapolis. The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) added its voice to the global conversation about racial justice during a panel that was part of a virtual Graduate School convocation ceremony Sept. 17 organized by the Center for Global Engagement (CGE). Moderated by Roger J. Ward, EdD, JD, MSL, MPA, interim provost, executive vice president, and dean of the Graduate School, and propelled by panelists from varied backgrounds, Racial Injustice in the US from a Human Rights Perspective added a learning component to the convocation program. Virginia Rowthorn, JD, LLM, assistant vice president for global engagement, said the public event, the first of a three-part Human Rights at Home series, served as a way for CGE to bring the concepts of international human rights into current discussions of racial justice in the United States. The series will discuss why the United States has taken a divergent route on human rights and how embracing the international human rights system could make a critical impact in addressing systemic racism and differential access to education and health care. Panelists included Russell McClain, JD, associate dean for diversity and inclusion, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law; Peter Danchin, JD, director, International and Comparative Law Program, Maryland Carey Law; Neijma Celestine-Donnor MSW, LCSW-C, dean of diversity and inclusion, University of Maryland School of Social Work; and Jackie Smith, PhD, professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh, coordinator of the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance (PHRCA), and steering committee member, US Human Rights Cities Alliance. Smith said her work involves demonstrating how human rights advocacy can advance racial justice. Quoting Malcolm X, Smith explained the difference between civil rights and human rights, Civil rights means you are asking Uncle Sam to treat you right. Human rights are something you were born with. Human rights are the rights that are recognized by all nations of this earth. Smith reminded attendees it wasnt just Malcolm X who took Black America's fight for racial justice to the global stage. Struggles in the United States over racial justice were always looking outside of the United States, she noted, citing the early NAACPs involvement in the 1951 We Charge Genocide United Nations resolution that accused the U.S. government of genocide. PHRCAs mission includes education as well as connecting grassroots networks to the United Nations and its resources. Smith has witnessed the identity change that occurs when organizers begin to connect to a global movement. Its pretty interesting to see how they think about themselves as their identity shifts from being a Black person in the United States, for instance, to part of this very powerful movement that has authority and legitimacy in the United Nations. For Celestine-Donnor, identity plays a key role in the discussion of human rights in the United States. As a self-described non-American Black person in America, Celestine-Donnor says the conversation about civil rights grounded in citizenship excludes issues that affect Black non-Americans. While Black immigrants face similar challenges in terms of race, they have the additional burden of xenophobia. For me, when we use the language of human rights, it feels more inclusive, she noted. Ward, who came to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago to attend college, said he experienced a similar disconnect when he found himself at odds with African American classmates on the issue of racial justice and civil rights. Even though we were talking essentially about the same thing, Im looking at it through a human rights lens, Im having a different understanding, he said. According to McClain, its clear to any outsider looking at Americas long history of slavery, Jim Crow, and police brutality that the United States is suffering from a serious human rights crisis. He suggested American exceptionalism is the reason the United States views itself outside the notion of human rights. I might even go so far as to say the United States is hostile toward any notion of an external foreign standard of conduct, he said, noting calls in recent years for the impeachment of judges who might rely on international law in their decision-making. As an international human rights lawyer who grew up in South Africa during the apartheid years, Danchin offered a clear-eyed perspective on human rights for Black people in America. He outlined the paradox that occurred post-World War II when the United States played a pivotal role in the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights while enforcing Jim Crow back at home. On the one hand, there is a remarkable movement on the international level that occurs after the Second World War, he said. Simultaneously there is this remarkable effort to make sure that none of that architecture, whether normative or institutional, has any effects in the United States itself. He also examined U.S. attempts to thwart a complaint brought to the United Nations charging South Africa with systematic racial discrimination and human rights violations. American officials feared that if the U.N. could launch an investigation in South Africa, it would start investigating the condition of Negroes in Alabama, Danchin said, using the language of the day. The kind of disconnect we had, its not an accident, he said. It was a matter of conscious policy. The Human Rights at Home series continues this fall with the following webinars: Experiences of Black UMB Students, Scholars, and Alumni from a Global and Local Perspective Tuesday, Oct. 13, noon-1 p.m. Register here Conversations on race and human rights with Black UMB students, scholars, and alumni. Health as a Human Right in the United States: What COVID-19 Has Exposed Tuesday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Register here The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the perilous state of access to health care in the United States and the danger that inadequate access poses to every citizen. Are we at a turning point on how we think about health as a human right? Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. 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 Kyle Richards has launched a desperate hunt for a stolen family heirloom after she spotted the ring being worn by a psychic in a photo that was posted on Instagram by actress Diane Keaton. The 51-year-old reality star unraveled the complicated tale in a new episode of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, recalling her shock at seeing the beloved ring, which had belonged to her late mother, on a psychic's finger, three years after it was taken from her Encino home as part of a $1 million heist. Richards lost dozens of sentimental family pieces in the robbery, and while police were investigating the crime, none of them had been found - until July 2019 when the reality star saw her mom Kathleen's ring in an image shared by Oscar-winner Keaton, who happened to capture it while snapping a photo of a psychic she saw in Santa Monica. Treasure hunt: Kyle Richards has recalled her shock at spotting her stolen ring being worn by a Santa Monica psychic in an Instagram image shared by Diane Keaton Confusion: Keaton shared the image in July 2019, having snapped it because she liked the fortune teller's nails, and Richards, 51, was stunned to see her mother's ring in it Unfortunately, the identity of the psychic is not known - nor is it clear how the fortune teller came to own Richards' ring. 'I was looking on Instagram and I saw Diane Keaton - she posted a picture of a psychic's hands on the Third Street Promenade and [she] had my ring on her hand,' Richards explained in a new Real Housewives Secrets Revealed special, according to TooFab. Helping hand: The RHOBH star reached out to Keaton through her husband's real estate agency, however the actress was unable to offer any information about the fortune teller's identity The image in question was posted to Keaton's Instagram account on July 13 last year and shows the unnamed woman's hands which are covered in different gold rings; she is also seen wearing a number of gold and silver bracelets while modeling very long rounded black nails. Richards has not yet confirmed which of the seven rings in the image belonged to her mother. Desperate to try and find the psychic in question, the Bravo-lebrity reached out to Keaton through husband Mauricio Umansky's real estate company, The Agency. 'We reached out to one of our agents at The Agency who happens to represent Diane Keaton, and I said, "You need to find out what the situation is."' The agent in question spoke to Keaton, however she was unable to offer any more information. According to Richards, Keaton explained to the agent that she didn't have any specific details about the fortune teller - revealing that she had only stopped to take the picture of the unnamed woman's hands because she thought her long black nails were 'so interesting'. But while Keaton was unable to offer any specific information about the psychic - other than her location - Richards was determined not to let the lead go to waste, and she quickly enlisted a private investigator to try and track down the fortune teller. Important: The ring in question belonged to Richards' mother, Kathleen, and was one of many heirlooms stolen in the $1 million heist. Richards is seen with her mom and sister Kim in 1983 Crime scene: The ring was stolen from the stunning Encino home that Richards shares with her husband Mauricio Umansky (pictured), which was burglarized while they were in Aspen Family: Richards and Umansky bought the property for $8.2 million just months before the robbery, and the RHOBH star admitted that she was tempted to move after it happened When the private investigator failed to find the woman, Richards took matters into her own hands and teamed up with her RHOBH co-star and close friend Teddi Mellencamp to try and locate her. Their efforts proved fruitless however, with Mellencamp explaining in the RHOBH special: 'We thought we were hot on the trail but then we realized we were just being sent in circles.' At that point, Richards had to give up the search in order to focus on filming for the latest season of the hit Bravo show, however she explained in the new episode that she is determined to resume the hunt and track down her stolen heirloom. 'I want to know if she bought that from someone at a pawn shop, even if I have to buy it back from her, I'm happy to do that,' she said. Richards' reignited search for her mother's stolen ring comes three years after the bauble was first stolen from the reality star's home along with dozens of other valuables and sentimental items worth a staggering $1 million. The mother-of-four and her realtor husband were holidaying in Aspen when thieves broke into her Encino home, which the couple had purchased for $8.2 million just a few months prior. Buddies: After a failed attempt to locate the fortune-teller with a private investigator, Richards teamed up with her RHOBH co-star Teddi Mellencamp (right) to find the fortune teller Sentimental: Richards had planned to give the majority of the heirlooms that were stolen to her four daughters, Farrah, Portia, Alexia, and Sophia Speaking about the devastating robbery in January 2018, Richards revealed that many of the items stolen during the heist were priceless family heirlooms that she had hoped to one day bequeath to her daughters, Farrah, Portia, Alexia, and Sophia, who were in Aspen with their parents when their home was burglarized. The home robbery was so traumatic Richards actually considered moving out of the Encino property, she confessed to Bravo in 2018. 'There was one point after our house was burglarized that I thought, you know, I might have to sell my house - but then I look at my dogs and see how much they love this house and I think, "I could never leave,"' she explained. In her first interview after the robbery, Richards told People that 'everything my mother, who passed away, had ever collected and saved to give to me - that I had always envisioned of passing on to my four daughters - was gone'. She added: 'Even my childrens baby bracelets. Obviously, those are the things that hurt the most, things that I can't replace. They're completely invaluable.' In a different People interview she shared that despite being one of three sisters she inherited 'the majority' of her mother's keepsakes when she passed away in March 2002. As a result, when these valuables were stolen 'there was guilt attached to it. They got taken from me, from my house, on my watch'. A Muslim porter has successfully sued a five-star country hotel for religious harassment after he won a bottle of Cognac in a raffle - but bosses gave him 'cheap' chocolate instead. Managers at the 17th century hotel told Zakaria Kioua that 'giving a Muslim alcohol was like giving nuts to a person with a nut allergy', an employment tribunal heard. Mr Kioua, who does not drink, replied 'religion is not an illness' and accused hotel staff of 'theft' for attempting to fob him off with 'cheap chocolates' rather than the French brandy. The 37-year-old, who had originally trained as a vet in Algeria before moving to the UK, was working as a linen porter at the luxurious 400-a-night Lainston House, near Winchester, Hants. Zakaria Kioua who is teetotal, successfully sued the luxurious 400 a night Lainston House, (pictured) near Winchester, Hants., for religious harassment after he won a bottle of Cognac in a raffle - but bosses gave him 'cheap' chocolate instead At a staff party in January 2017 a raffle took place and although Mr Kioua was not at the event, a ticket he had purchased was drawn and he won a bottle of Cognac. Two members of staff, who were handing out the prizes, realised Mr Kioua did not drink alcohol and 'on the spur of the moment' suggested he be given chocolate instead. The housekeeping manager, Patricia Lee, accepted the swap on his behalf despite knowing that Mr Kioua had been given a bottle of Taittinger champagne as a present in the past. Mr Kioua told the tribunal: 'As a human, I should have been asked. They know I do not have problems receiving alcohol.' When he challenged Ms Lee about the 'cheap box of chocolates' he had been given instead of the expensive liquor, she was apparently 'dismissive'. The employment tribunal, held in Southampton, Hants, heard Mr Kioua then accused Ms Lee of 'theft' for swapping the Cognac. Mr Kioua was disgruntled after managers fobbed him off with cheap chocolates instead of the bottle of Cognac (file image) A grievance meeting was held and manager Gaius Wyncoll claimed the gift had been 'tailored' to Mr Kioua and said it was a 'thoughtful gesture' that had nothing to do with religion. He added: '[If] someone has got a nut allergy or a nut intolerance and they were given a box of chocolates that contains nuts do you not feel it would be appropriate that we then change that prize, you know, on the night?' Mr Kioua rejected that explanation and replied: 'It's different. They don't want that prize to be going to me and they've used my religion to get what they want.' He told Mr Wyncoll that 'a religion or belief is not an illness'. Nonetheless, his grievance was dismissed and he was told the swap had absolutely 'no connection to religious beliefs'. The disgruntled porter launched an appeal, which was again thrown out, although he was offered a replacement bottle of Cognac and told 'no offence was intended'. A short while later, Mr Kioua was forced to go home to look after his sick mother and due to other health issues, he ended up taking a significant amount of time off work. Despite help from the hotel, which offered him substantial support, Mr Kioua resigned in April 2019. An employment tribunal heard managers at the 17th century hotel (pictured) told Zakaria Kioua that 'giving a Muslim alcohol was like giving nuts to a person with a nut allergy' Mr Kioua launched a number of claims against the hotel after his resignation, including victimisation, failure to make reasonable adjustments in respect of disability and constructive unfair dismissal, but all were dismissed. However, the tribunal awarded him 2,294 in respect of injury to feelings for the Cognac incident and determined Mr Kioua's claim of harassment related to religion or belief succeeded. Employment judge Street concluded: 'A nut allergy is an illness, a life-threatening illness. It is not an acceptable point of comparison. It minimises the importance of Mr Kioua's beliefs and practices. 'The point is not that [the swap] was well-intentioned. The point is that it should not have been said, just as the decision should not have been made to change Mr Kioua's prize. 'Both are on the grounds of his religion and neither should have happened; both are offensive and caused him distress.' Hurricane Sally did an estimated $12 million in damage to the Alabama State Port Authority, as well as channel and navigational damage causing ongoing delays for a few vessels. The Port Authority board, which met Thursday, heard reports on the damage. Director and CEO John Driscoll told the board that the preliminary estimate of $12 million was being reviewed for accuracy. It consisted mostly of damage to roofs, warehouse doors and several wharves. He said about half the damaged facilities might be covered by insurance, and it was possible the Port Authority could apply for FEMA funds to help with the rest. Overall, Driscoll said, we were a little bit lucky on our complex because of Sallys last-minute jog to the east. That meant the docks received no storm surge and far less rain than had been forecast. However, the hurricane had other impacts offshore. It had moved and damaged several navigational buoys marking the offshore portion of the Mobile Ship Channel, and caused a portion of the channel in the Gulf of Mexico to fill in. Storm-induced shoaling reduced the allowed draft of ships from 45 feet to 41 feet. Driscoll reported to the board that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began dredging on Friday, Sept. 18, but had to stop because of high seas. The Corps hopes to finish the job soon, he said. In the meantime, one ship with a 45-foot draft was waiting to enter. One coal ship with a 45-foot draft was waiting to leave the Port of Mobile, and a second was being loaded to the same depth. Meanwhile, Driscoll said, the U.S. Coast Guard had moved the displaced buoys back into place on Sept. 18, allowing a traffic jam of 17 ships to begin clearing. But the Coast Guard needs a period of very calm seas to complete repairs to electronic equipment on at least one of the buoys and may not get that until next week. Until then, big ships will only be able to use the channel during daylight hours. Thats a pretty significant thing, Driscoll said, adding that port officials will work with customers to minimize delays. Judith Adams, the Port Authoritys vice president for marketing, said the damage was the most done to the Port Authority by a tropical storm in at least a decade. 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. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. In a major step to address climate change and air pollution, California will require that all new passenger vehicles sold by 2035 meet zero-emissions standards, with the goal of phasing out gasoline-powered vehicles in the state over the next few decades. California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the executive order Wednesday, effectively banning new gas-powered car and SUV sales in the state in 15 years. His order also requires medium- and heavy-duty trucks to meet zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) requirements by 2045. To be clear, the order will not ban ownership of gasoline-powered cars or prevent their sale on the used-car market. In addition, the order requires development of new affordable fueling and charging options for EVs. It also calls for the state to invest in alternatives to private, car-based transportation, including a statewide train network and projects that support bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change, Newsom said. 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. The executive order should have widespread effects on the auto industry. California is a large enough market to influence which vehicles automakers sell across the U.S., and the state is already responsible for 45 percent of the countrys total U.S. ZEV sales. Consumer Reports experts predict that Californias new rule will give consumers more choices and lower prices from a future crop of EVs. In addition, regulations and consumer interest already have pushed more EVs into the marketplace, and automakers may already have enough EV and hydrogen options on the market by 2035 to meet the mandate. Currently, ZEVs make up 8 percent of CAs total new vehicle salesa number that has been growing each year. Story continues According to the governors office, the new passenger car mandate alone will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 35 percent. It would specifically cut by 80 percent oxides of nitrogen emissions, which are linked to cardiac disease, may cause damage to lung tissue in children and adults, and may worsen conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. Last week, the American Lung Associations Road to Clean Air report said California could experience $22 billion in annual public health benefits via widespread transportation electrification. Under current state regulations, California defines a ZEV as a battery-electric vehicle such as a Nissan Leaf or Tesla model, a plug-in hybrid vehicle like a Toyota Prius Prime, or a hydrogen-powered vehicle such as a Toyota Mirai. Although the number of new affordable EVs on the market is currently limited, the governors office says it expects the price of these vehicles to drop dramatically because of new technology and economies of scale. In addition, EVs may save consumers in the long run, says Chris Harto, senior transportation policy analyst at CR and author of an upcoming analysis about the cost of electric vehicle ownership. Our analysis shows that consumers in California can save about $1,000 a year in fuel costs by switching to an electric vehicle today, he says. And California drivers can save money overall because lower fuel and maintenance costs will more than offset the current price premium for electric vehicles. The move is likely to have major ripple effects across the auto industry and for consumers in other states because California is the largest vehicle market in the U.S. In addition, multiple other states follow Californias lead on vehicle emission-reduction efforts, which are led by the California Air Resources Board. The automotive industry sells about 16 million vehicles annually, when there isnt a pandemic, with California accounting for about 2 million of those sales. California sold more than 240,000 ZEVs, plug-ins, and hybrids, according to the California New Car Dealers Association. The executive order will no doubt add momentum to the development of affordable EVs. This announcement immediately followed Teslas declaration Tuesday that it will have a $25,000 EV in three years, and Volkswagens announcement earlier Wednesday that its ID.4 electric crossover will have a price tag that puts it below the average new car, after factoring in federal tax incentives. The development of zero-emissions vehicles has accelerated over the past several years in large part due to Californias leadership, and consumers across the whole country are able to benefit, says Alfred Artis, CRs California transportation policy analyst. California is the first U.S. state to put a date on phasing out the sale of new fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. But it joins 15 countries that have already announced similar proposals, including multiple European Union countries, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Israel, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan. Ultimately, Artis says the executive order sets a goal that will put the state on a path toward cleaner air and more affordable EVs. This broad goal will improve consumer choice and acknowledges the climate realities in the state and the world, he says. EDMONTONAlberta Health says 449 people died from opioid overdoses in the province during the first six months of this year. The numbers, which were released Wednesday in the second-quarter Opioid Response Surveillance Report, show 301 of those deaths happened between April and June 2020. Beginning in March 2020, the number of harms associated with opioid use began to increase significantly, reaching record levels not previously seen, said the report. This sharp rise was in conjunction with a decrease in the utilization of treatment and harm reduction services. Jason Luan, associate minister of Mental Health and Addictions, said in a news release that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased fear and anxiety, isolation and job uncertainty. This has exacerbated the struggles of many Albertans, including those struggling with substance use, he said. Luan said the province is not alone in seeing a rise in deaths, noting British Columbia also reported similar findings and trends during the first few months of the pandemic. Elaine Hyshka, an assistant professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, said she expected to see more deaths in Alberta based on trends in other provinces, but not so many more. To see 301 deaths in a three-month period is staggering, said Hyshka, noting the previous record in the province was 211 deaths in three months. She said COVID-19 is definitely playing a role. Weve heard and seen growing evidence of disruptions in illegal drug supply in terms of border closures and other factors that are leading to more dangerous drugs for sale on the streets, she said. Weve also seen reductions in the number of people seeking care in harm reduction services and treatment clinics. She added, however, that the Alberta government has also shifted away from a co-ordinated public health response to the overdose epidemic. I worry that the impacts that that has had on harm reduction services like supervised consumption sites, on treatment programs is also taking a toll, said Hyshka. These deaths are 100 per cent preventable. The Opposition NDP said the dramatic rise in the number of preventable deaths in 2020 reverses a downward trend from the middle of 2018. These are shocking numbers, Heather Sweet, the critic for mental health and addiction, said in a statement. More Albertans have died from an opioid overdose in the last three months than in the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alberta Health has reported a total of 260 deaths from the novel coronavirus. Sweet said the single most important responsibility of any government is to protect human life, but Albertas United Conservative government is turning away from scientific evidence and medical best practices and returning to a failed War on Drugs approach. Luan said the governments focus on recovery-oriented services seemed to be having a positive impact prior to the pandemic and noted it has since put money into mental health and addiction recovery supports. Read more about: Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was arrested on Thursday for "unlawful assembly" related to a 2019 protest against a government ban on face masks, his lawyer said. Also Read: Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong reveals fear of arrest The 23-year-old pro-democracy figure said on Twitter he was also being held for violating the "draconian anti-mask law", which has since been ruled unconstitutional. DALLAS, September 24, 2020 -- A digital clock that sounds alarms signaling each step of acute stroke care at the hospital is a low cost tool that helped doctors in Germany streamline and accelerate the time-sensitive process, according to new research published today in Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. The success of emergency stroke treatment depends on how fast treatment is delivered. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Target: Stroke quality improvement initiative recommends 60 minutes or less from the time a stroke patient arrives to the hospital to the time of clot-busting treatment. "Time is brain. Minutes are easily lost in acute stroke management, despite standard protocols," said study author Klaus Fassbender, M.D., professor of neurology at Saarland University Medical Center in Homburg, Germany. "The stroke alarm clock is a low-cost intervention and an efficient way to quickly deliver life-saving treatment to acute stroke patients." In the study, a large-display alarm clock was installed in the hospital's computed tomography (CT) room, which is where stroke patients are admitted, neurological examinations are performed and clot-busting medication (such as intravenous alteplase) is administered. The clock is set at the time of admission, and alarms sound when various treatment procedures should have been completed: 1) 15 minutes for the neurological exam; 2) 25 minutes for imaging and laboratory tests; and 3) 30 minutes for the start of intravenous thrombolysis treatment. This study was conducted from February 2016 to November 2017 in the department of neurology of the Saarland University Medical Center in Homburg, Germany, which is a comprehensive stroke center. The two patient groups who were selected for either the alarm clock or regular care were similar regarding demographics and medical characteristics, including final diagnoses, stroke impairment and degree of disability or dependence at hospital arrival. Of the 107 acute stroke patients selected, 51 were treated utilizing the clock to time care, compared to 56 patients who were treated without using the clock as the timer. Researchers found: The time from arrival to neurological examination completion was 7.28 minutes in the stroke clock group, versus 10 minutes in the comparison group. Time from arrival through diagnostic workup, including imaging, was 16.73 minutes in the stroke clock group, versus 26 minutes in the comparison group. Arrival to start of intravenous thrombolysis treatment times were median 18.83 minutes in the stroke clock group, versus 47 minutes in the comparison group. Use of the clock did not remarkably improve arrival to mechanical clot-busting times. Stroke patients' functional abilities were not notably different 90 days after treatment, regardless of whether they received care with or without the clock. "However, this study was not designed to measure results of treatment in the months or years following acute stroke care," noted Fassbender. "A limitation of this study was its size. We need more patients to determine whether accelerated acute stroke management with the clock translates to less death and disability long-term," he said. ### Co-authors are Mathias Fousse, M.D.; Daniel Grun, M.D.; Stefan A. Helwig, M.D.; Silke Walter, M.D.; Adam Bekhit, M.Sc.; Stefan Wagenpfeil, Ph.D.; Martin Lesmeister, M.Sc.; Michael Kettner, M.D.; Safwan Roumia, M.D.; Ruben Muhl-Benninghaus, M.D.; Andreas Simgen, M.D.; Umut Yilmaz, M.D.; Christian Ruckes, M.Sc.; Kai Kronfeld, Ph.D.; Monika Bachhuber, B.A.; Iris Q. Grunwald, M.D.; Thomas Bertsch, M.D.; and Wolfgang Reith, M.D. Author disclosures are listed in the manuscript. The Ministry of Health of the Saarland funded this study. Additional Resources: Available multimedia is on right column of release link: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/stroke-alarm-clock-may-streamline-and-accelerate-time-sensitive-acute-stroke-care?preview=c12cfb88de186c74a319bd2a74d71d17 Statements and conclusions of study authors published in American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations and health insurance providers are available at https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/aha-financial-information. About the American Stroke Association The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke -- the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit stroke.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and 10 other states were unable to fund their recurrent expenditure and their loan repayment schedules due in 2019 with their respective revenues, a report by BudgIT has shown. The report said that of the 13 states, the worst-hit were Oyo, Kogi, Osun and Ekiti states while the other states on this pendulum are Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Cross River, Benue, Taraba and Abia. Details of this revelation are contained in the 2020 edition of BudgITs annual States of States report titled Fiscal Sustainability and Epidemic Preparedness Financing at the State level. This report is BudgITs signature analysis that provides policymakers with robust insights on ways to implement financial and institutional reforms that will improve states fiscal performance and sustainability level. The new report was launched on Thursday at a virtual programme put together by the civic organization. Without a doubt, soaring debt burden, imprudent fiscal planning, and nearly a decade of misplaced expenditure priorities have beaten a clear path to fiscal crisis for many Nigerian states, BudgIT said Thursday. This is veritably evident in our just released 2020 Fiscal Sustainability Index where some states rank higher than others and most are still below the sustainability point. The report showed that Rivers State occupies the number one (1) position on the sustainability index, followed by Anambra, Ogun and Lagos. Among the states that are not fiscally sustainable, Bayelsa, Osun, Ekiti and Plateau occupy the least positions. Furthermore, of the remaining 23 states that can meet recurrent expenditure and loan repayment schedules with their total revenue, the report showed that eight of those states had really low (less than N6 billion) excess revenue that they had to borrow heavily to fund their capital projects. The worst-hit in that category are Zamfara, Ondo and Kwara who had N782.45 million, N788.22 million and N1.48 billion left, respectively. Based on their fiscal analysis, only five states (Rivers, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Kebbi states) prioritised capital expenditure over recurrent obligations while 31 states prioritised recurrent expenditure according to their 2019 financial statements. Recurrent expenditures are not necessarily a bad thing, especially when skewed towards sectors like Health and Education. However, 9 of the states in this category had overhead costs that were larger than their capital expenditures. These states are: Ekiti, Kogi, Kano, Plateau, Kwara, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa and Benue Said Abel Akeni, BudgITs Research Lead. Meanwhile, all 36 states debts surged by 162.87 per cent (N3.34trillion), from N2.05 trillion in 2014 to N5.39 trillion in 2019, with 10 states accounting for approximately half or N1.68 trillion of this increase. Seven of these states are from the South while three are from the North. To achieve fiscal sustainability, states need to grow their IGR as options for borrowing are reduced due to debt ceilings put in place by the Federal Government to prevent states from slipping into a debt crisis. There has to be a shift from the culture of states overdependence on FAAC, says Damilola Ogundipe, BudgITs Communications Lead. BudgIT added that on subnational epidemic preparedness, it is important for states to prioritize health financing especially on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). While COVID19 has garnered major attention in the last few months, it is worthy of note that states are currently battling at least 6 other deadly diseases which already have vaccines or known treatment, it said. In 2019, all 36 states recorded 94,500 cases of the deadly Cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), measles, Lassa fever, yellow fever, monkeypox and cholera combined. It is in the self-interests of state governments to grow their IGR and also invest in appropriate health systems through their budgets and other sustainable methods. BudgITs Principal Lead, Gabriel Okeowo, noted that though some states have seen some improvement in their IGR between 2014 and 2019, there is still a need to put systems in place for aggressive IGR growth within the subnational economies, especially as falling crude oil prices, OPEC production cuts and other COVID-19 induced headwinds are set to impact Federal Allocations over the next two years. This paints a bleak outlook for Nigerian states who depend on FAAC allocation for their survival, even though dwindling revenue will affect all states differently, he noted. The report said three states Bayelsa, Borno and Katsina will be worst hit by dwindling revenue as they relied on Net FAAC for 89.56 per cent, 88.30 per cent and 88.16 per cent of their total revenues, respectively in 2019. Lagos, Ogun and Rivers state will be least affected as they relied on Federal Allocation (Net FAAC) for only 22.82 per cent, 35.31 per cent and 53.02 per cent of their total revenues, respectively. BudgIT is a civic advocacy organisation that uses technology to intersect citizen-engagement with improved governance. President Trump speaks to reporters at the White House on Thursday before leaving for a trip to North Carolina and Florida. (Associated Press) As President Trump, backed by his army of attorneys, has laid groundwork to undermine an election result that does not cast him as victor, Republican lawmakers found themselves in the astonishing position Thursday of having to reassure Americans there would be a peaceful transition of power should he lose. The Republican-controlled Senate went so far as to pass a resolution saying as much. Meanwhile, amid the furor over Trump's latest, most brazen remarks, it became clearer just how the constitutional crisis could play out should the president be defeated and persuade his allies to join him in rejecting the vote tallies. Such a crisis still seems unlikely; Trump's success in such a scenario would hinge on his persuading Republican-controlled legislatures in swing states to embrace his unfounded claims of fraud. Yet voting experts worry, should the election result be close. The anxiety intensified on Wednesday, as Trump declared he would not commit to a peaceful transition if some states continue to send all registered voters mail-in ballots, which is the law in several places. On Thursday, the president doubled down on those comments, even as critics likened them to the words of foreign authoritarians. The campaign has spoken with at least one Republican leader in Pennsylvania about the possibility of citing voting irregularities to reject a Joe Biden win there and have the legislature direct the state's electors to back Trump, according to the Atlantic. Its a strategy Trump could also pursue in other states. Unfortunately, the risk of this kind of thing happening has increased, said Ned Foley, an election law scholar at Ohio State University who has researched how such a scenario could unfold. The Trump campaign denied the strategy is under consideration, yet a senior campaign official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the legal team would explore every option to ensure the president's reelection. Story continues "If we think it's being stolen, we're going to fight like hell," the senior campaign official said Thursday, but they added that Trump is not planning to hold on to power if he loses fairly. "I think that's what the president was saying. But I think November could be a really bad month for this country." The presidents pronouncements are worrying even some in the Pentagon, after he said earlier this year that he planned to deploy a massive show of force by law enforcement on election day, in what he described as national poll-watching effort. No law allows the president to authorize such force for domestic use, but Trumps recent deployment of the National Guard to clear protesters outside the White House has raised concerns about how he would respond to postelection protests. If Biden is certified the winner and Trump refuses to leave office, military commanders would confront a heretofore unimaginable situation, taking orders from a disputed commander in chief even as his foes look to them to help remove him. A contested election that spills into a fight in state legislatures would trigger constitutional chaos, Foley said. At several points between election day and the inauguration, things can break down if any states opt to disregard their results and Congress cant agree on how to count the states' electors. The worst-case scenario is that a deadlock drags into mid-January and that the House and Senate are in dispute about who should occupy the White House as the presidents term expires on Jan. 20 under the Constitution. Foley previously had mapped out that eventuality with the mind-set of a scientist contemplating a giant asteroid crashing into Earth: a remote possibility, but one to prepare for nonetheless. But the election meltdown scenario has grown considerably less remote, he said, as the rapid shift to voting by mail and more by Democrats than Republicans has created outcomes in which a Republican appears to have won on election day but ultimately loses when all the mail-in votes are tallied in the days that follow. There were several such outcomes in 2018, confusing voters accustomed to having a winner declared the night of the election and creating an opening for unfounded charges of impropriety. Trump has broken so many norms and made such incendiary statements, including about not agreeing to a peaceful transition of power, that my alarm bells are going off, said Richard Hasen , author of "Election Meltdown: Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy." It doesnt mean this will happen. But it does mean we are right to worry about it happening. In anticipation, Democratic lawyers working with the Biden campaign are examining the election laws in the battleground states as well as the Constitutions rules for counting the electoral votes. They worry that Trump will hold an election-night lead in a crucial state, declare victory before the bulk of the mail ballots are counted, and send his lawyers to court to try to stop a complete count. It is a move Trump has signaled could come, by his repeatedly declaring mail ballots to be fraudulent. Such legal action could create an opening for Republican state lawmakers in places such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin to declare they will cast their states electoral votes for Trump. Democratic governors in each could stand in the way, bringing to Congress a competing slate of electors for Biden, throwing the process into further dispute. Nothing like this has happened in America since the 1876 contest between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden. Most Republicans appear to have limited appetite to put the country through anything like that again, absent a razor-thin election result and compelling evidence that vote tallies were flawed. Several Republicans in Congress on Thursday made statements vowing a peaceful transition, though they avoided criticizing Trump for his statements. Democrats used the controversy to energize their voters, urging them to turn out in numbers so large that there is no dispute about the victor after election day. A landslide victory for Biden will make it virtually impossible for Trump to deny the results and is our best means for defending democracy," said independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. He said Trump is sowing the seeds of chaos, confusion and conspiracy theories by casting doubt on the integrity of this election and, if he loses, justifying why he should remain in office." Some Republicans speculated that Trump isnt moving to hang on to power at all costs but to save face should he lose. "The idea a president wouldn't leave office after losing is obviously alarming, but I don't think many Republican officials think that's a serious threat, Alex Conant, a Republican strategist, said. "This is more about spinning a loss than trying to maintain power," he said. "But comments like this will not help him win the election. It's motivating to Democrats and a turnoff to suburban swing voters who just don't like the chaos of Trump's presidency. If this election is about Trump refusing to leave office if he loses, Republicans are going to get crushed." Trump's campaign, which has already burned through $1 billion of the $1.3 billion it has raised, has spent heavily roughly $30 million over the last two years on its legal team. It includes in-house lawyers as well as attorneys from law firm Jones Day in Washington and the Los Angeles firm of Charles Harder, which specializes in media defamation suits. Already, the campaign has challenged election plans in a number of states and fought aggressively to curtail voter turnout. It has fought to reduce eligibility to vote by mail, purge voters from the rolls, tighten voter ID requirements, reduce or ban the use of drop boxes, and discard mail-in ballots that have technical flaws or arrive after election day. Times staff writers David S. Cloud, Jennifer Haberkorn and Janet Hook contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. WASHINGTON, D.C. - A significant swath of the Great Lakes electorate plans to vote by mail in November, according to a new poll of Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin voters from Baldwin-Wallace University. Democrats and women in all four states were far more likely to say they planned to vote by mail than Republicans or male voters, the pollsters found. And Republicans were more likely to say theyll vote in person on Election Day. The city of Beaumont is reopening. The state of Texas is reopening more. Across the country, many other businesses and organizations are edging forward too, thinking or hoping that we have turned a corner in this long struggle, that the future will be better than the past. Lets hope the coronavirus cooperates. But its an unpredictable villain, so a good deal of caution is still warranted. The reason for these tentative steps forward is improvement in two key metrics the rate of hospitalizations and percentage of positive tests have declined in recent weeks. Both categories had a clear peak in July and now are at about half those rates, back to roughly where they were in May, before things got crazy. In Texas, and many states, unemployment isnt getting any worse, even if it isnt improving much. For the latest weekly stats, first-time unemployment claims in our state fell to 49,644, a drop of 15,647 from the previous weeks number. Thats the lowest number of claims since March, the beginning of the pandemic, and it came after several consecutive weeks of rising claims. State sales tax receipts for July dropped 4.5% from last years rate, not the number you want to see but not that bad either. Yet all of this is happening at a time when people still get COVID-19 and get quite sick from it. This week the national death toll passed the 200,000 mark, a grim milestone that seemed inconceivable at the start of this crisis. Theres still no telling what that final number might be; some are even predicting that it could exceed 300,000. But from Beaumont to El Paso and beyond, people want to move forward because of the slightly improving good numbers and despite the lingering bad ones. In Beaumont, the City Council voted this week to reopen large facilities like the Julie Rogers, the Jefferson Theatre and the Event Centre on Oct. 1. That was a big battle last month, but Mayor Becky Ames said it was simply time to move forward, and that many medical professionals agreed. She also said the citys action was based in part on Gov. Greg Abbotts recent moves to reopen the Texas economy in 19 of 22 regions where virus numbers have stabilized. Top 10 state economies on the back to normal index 1) Maine - 93% 2) Rhode Island - 90% 3) Vermont - 89% 4) New Hampshire - 89% 5) Idaho - 88% 6) South Dakota - 88% 7) Nebraska - 88% 8) Wisconsin - 86% 9) Montana - 86% 10) Michigan - 86% Texas rate - 72% Louisiana rate - 69% Source: CNN Business See More Collapse Abbott increased restaurant, gym and retail capacity to 75% from 50%, a significant boost for most of these businesses because they are rarely full. In effect, they will be able to handle as many customers as they did in February. Nursing home residents will also be allowed to designate essential caregivers who will be allowed to visit them inside. That was a sore point for many Texans, even though many nursing homes became riddled with the virus and fatalities. Still, Abbott wisely continued the statewide mask policy and did not reopen bars despite considerable pressure to do so. That last one was a hard call but a correct one, though its difficult to reconcile with the reopening of other non-essential facilities like theaters. There are some Texans who want to fully open Texas 100% as if COVID is no longer a threat, Abbott said from his office at the state Capitol, which incidentally has been closed to visitors for months. The fact is COVID does still exist, and most Texans remain susceptible. Predictably, some Democrats criticized Abbott for going too far, and more than a few members of his own party blasted him for not going farther. The State Republican Executive Committee even passed a resolution urging Abbott to immediately rescind all COVID-related mandates, closures, and restrictions and reopen the state completely. As the resolutions title put it, No Exceptions, No Delays. Open Texas NOW. State Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, went so far as to say: Governor, 25 percent tyranny is still tyranny. Thats clearly unreasonable, like the people who refuse to wear masks because they believe the virus threat is overrated or a hoax. But a lot of Americans feel that way, and in independent-minded red states like Texas, the sentiment is even stronger. Somehow, city, county and state leaders have to keep the lid on the lets reopen now crowd for a little longer, hoping that virus numbers dont surge again. Thats always a concern, especially with students returning to school and cooler weather returning, keeping people indoors more, close enough for the virus to jump from Carrier A to Victim B. For better or worse, however, were moving forward cautiously, hopefully. Well all find out soon if we have indeed turned a corner, or started to slide down a slippery slope. TTaschinger@BeaumontEnterprise.com The Sandalwood Drug Connect investigation, where celebrities from Kannada film industry have come under scanner has taken a turn, with two police personnel, including an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) have been suspended for their links with the drug racket and leaking investigation information to those involved in the racket. The CCB ACP M R Mudavi and Head Constable Mallikarjun have been removed from the investigation team and kept under suspension, after it was revealed that they were leaking investigation information to others. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Mr Sandeep Patil said that the two personnel were in contact with some associates of the accused and leaked the information of investigation to them. The two were not in the core team of investigation, but used to get details, he said. Besides, Head Constable Mallikarjun had lent his phone to the prime accused in the case Viren Khanna and others, while they were in CCB custody. This had helped some of his associates to abscond and maintain a low profile, sources in the police department said. The police link with the drug mafia was talked about right from the day the police started issuing notices to film stars and their high profile contacts. Sources in the police department say that another Assistant Commissioner of Police and a Deputy Commissioner of Police were under scanner for their links with Viren Khanna, who was the main 'drug party' organiser in Bengaluru, Goa and Mumbai. Diganth grilled again Meanwhile, the CCB summoned Kannada film actor Diganth again on Wednesday and questioned him for over three hours. However, his star wife Aindrita Ray was not summoned on Wednesday. The CCB sleuths had copies of his WhatsApp chats with some of the drug peddlers and Diganth had admitted to consuming drugs sometime ago and said he had quit. Diganth claimed that he had answered all the questions posed by CCB sleuths and said that he was ready to cooperate with investigation in the future also. However, CCB sleuths said that he would be called again for interrogation and he was let go early as he had pre-scheduled shooting. New Delhi: Actor Akshay Kumar on Friday met Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and is believed to have discussed issues related to ensuring better motivational and financial aid to lakhs of men and women of paramilitary and police forces. Kumar called on Mehrishi at his North Block office in New Delhi and is understood to have raised issues regarding jawans and officers working under the command of the Home Ministry like CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB among others. The actor had recently shared an idea in this regard on social media platforms suggesting a mobile app wherein any citizen of the country could extend financial or other help to a soldier who laid down his life in the line of duty or has been severely injured in an operation. Kumar spent about an hour in the Home Ministry where he was mobbed for a glimpse, handshake and selfie by not only the officials working therein but by many others who had come there from nearby ministries in the corridors. BSF Director General KK Sharma is also understood to have met Kumar in the Ministry. The meeting comes in the backdrop of recent incidents where troops of paramilitary and armed forces took to the social media airing their grievances and allegations ranging from difficulties in getting good food to better working environment. #WATCH: Akshay Kumar met Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi in Delhi to discuss about his idea to help families of martyred soldiers. pic.twitter.com/3dcR3nkeCB a ANI (@ANI_news) January 27, 2017 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. At the United Efforts-2020 strategic command and staff exercise, Ukraine has demonstrated how it is implementing new practices based on NATO standards and principles. Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine Alexander Vinnikov said this at a briefing on the establishment of cooperation with NATO, the Euro-Atlantic integration of the state, as well as the results of military exercises in Kherson region, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. I came here to take part in the United Efforts-2020 strategic exercises. I had the opportunity yesterday to convey congratulations from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Andrii Taran. I noted that it is very important that Ukraine is conducting such major exercises in order to improve compatibility with the Alliance forces. And it is also very important that Ukraine has shown how it is implementing new practices ... which were developed with the help and support of the Alliance and are based on NATO standards and principles," Vinnikov noted. He recalled that the North Atlantic Council had recognised Ukraine as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner. Thanks to this status, Ukraine has joined the "exceptional club of nations" that cooperate and contribute their efforts to support NATO operations, Vinnikov said. As reported, on June 12, the North Atlantic Council recognized Ukraine as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner. This status is part of NATOs Partnership Interoperability Initiative, which aims to maintain and deepen cooperation between Allies and partners that have made significant contributions to NATO-led operations and missions. ish SEOUL, South Korea A South Korean official trying to defect to North Korea was killed by troops in the North who set his body on fire for fear he might be carrying the coronavirus, South Korean officials said on Thursday. President Moon Jae-in of South Korea called the killing a stunning and deeply regrettable act that cannot be tolerated, his aides said. The Souths Defense Ministry called it atrocious and demanded that the North punish those responsible. North Korea has yet to comment on the shooting. If confirmed by the Norths officials, it would be the first time that North Korea has killed a South Korean citizen in its territory since 2008. The episode this week threatened to further derail diplomatic ties between the two countries. It also threatened to undermine South Koreans support for their governments recent efforts to improve relations with the North through humanitarian aid. With all official channels for inter-Korean dialogue cut off since June, the South had few options to force an apology or an explanation from North Korea. New Delhi, Sep 24 : The Indian security establishment has expressed concern over wanted Islamic preacher Zakir Naik broadcasting his banned Peace TV channel through mobile applications. The security agencies have also flagged that Naik's Peace TV stations are available on social media platforms YouTube and Facebook in four languages. The Islamic televangelist is wanted by India's federal anti-terror probe body National Investigation Agency (NIA) for preaching hate. The presence of Naik's television station's mobile applications was flagged during a meeting of the security and intelligence establishments last week. Thereafter, the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to write to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to take appropriate action on the Peace TV mobile applications. Fugitive Naik runs two television stations -- Peace TV and Peace TV Urdu - and they are banned in many countries across the globe for broadcasting hate speech and incitement. It is banned in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Canada and the United Kingdom. A top government source said that NIA had registered a case against Naik in 2016 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. "The organisation run by him - Islamic Research Foundation - has been proscribed as an Unlawful Association," said the government source adding that the NIA investigation has proved that Naik and his associates have been promoting enmity and hatred between different religious groups in India through inflammatory public speeches and lectures on various platforms, and inciting Muslim youth and terrorists in India and abroad to commit unlawful activities and terrorist acts. "These activities of Zakir Naik and his associates are causing disaffection against the Indian State and are prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony among various communities and likely to disturb public peace and tranquillity," the source said. Since its inception in 2006, the channel has been telecast to more than 200 Muslim-populated countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and North America. Peace TV network telecasts 24x7 free-to-air Islamic religious programmes in Urdu, Bengali, English and other languages. The channel aired inflammatory talks in respect to Hindus, Jews and Christians. It is promoted by the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), a Mumbai-based Islamic NGO which was established by Naik in 1991. Naik, 54, fled to Malaysia in 2016, just before the NIA started a probe against the Islamic preacher. India has made a formal request to Malaysia seeking his extradition to face charges for allegedly inciting communal disharmony in hate speeches in India. The NIA had approached Interpol, an international organisation that facilitates worldwide police cooperation, thrice to issue Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Naik but he contested and the requests were rejected. Interpol had cited that there was lack of evidence and proof of wrongdoing by Naik. He was also booked by India's federal financial investigative agency - Enforcement Directorate - in 2016 based on a FIR that was registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Enforcement Directorate alleged a total amount of Rs 193.06 crore has been identified as proceeds of crime. Naik has been booked on charges of laundering criminal money under various sections of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and allegedly creating illegal real estate assets worth crores in India and abroad. Earlier this year, UK's media regulator OfCom slapped a fine of 300,000 pounds on Naik's two television stations, Peace TV and Peace TV Urdu, for broadcasting hate speech and incitement. The UK has also started a probe into the charity he founded that funded the channels. He was barred from the UK in 2010 but continued to operate the channels until 2019. UK's Commission for Countering Extremism (CCE) cited Naik's channel as an example of Islamist extremism. (Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in) Photo: The Canadian Press 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) 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. 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. 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. To the Editor: Re Trump Wont Commit to Peaceful Transfer of Power (news article, Sept. 24): Over the last four years, Donald Trump has redrawn the lines of decency, statesmanship and altruism so that now the page is blank, devoid of moral red lines that shouldnt be crossed. He is pushing us to the brink by deliberately declaring: There wont be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation. Listen to him! Defy him! He is testing Americas response. If there isnt a loud mass response decrying his willful rejection of the Constitution and our legal voting rights, we give him the go-ahead to carry out his plan. This is the time to protest, to yell not on our watch, for newspaper headlines to shriek about the danger, for us to get out in the streets and stop him and his accomplices. This is not the time to politely urge the better angels of Republican senators to show themselves. They tore off their angel wings four years ago. Rage now, or it will be too late! Shelley Binder New York To the Editor: Donald Trump once again refuses to commit to our democratic election process as, for example, he dismisses ballots, strangles the post office and stokes white supremacist violence. He continues to fuel Covid-19 deaths by arguing from his bully pulpit against what scientists and governments worldwide recommend. An electron micrograph of the artificial neuron. The niobium dioxide layer (yellow) endows the device with neuron-like behavior. Credit: Dr. R. Stanley Williams In the September issue of the journal Nature, scientists from Texas A&M University, Hewlett Packard Labs and Stanford University have described a new nanodevice that acts almost identically to a brain cell. Furthermore, they have shown that these synthetic brain cells can be joined together to form intricate networks that can then solve problems in a brain-like manner. "This is the first study where we have been able to emulate a neuron with just a single nanoscale device, which would otherwise need hundreds of transistors," said Dr. R. Stanley Williams, senior author on the study and professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "We have also been able to successfully use networks of our artificial neurons to solve toy versions of a real-world problem that is computationally intense even for the most sophisticated digital technologies." In particular, the researchers have demonstrated proof of concept that their brain-inspired system can identify possible mutations in a virus, which is highly relevant for ensuring the efficacy of vaccines and medications for strains exhibiting genetic diversity. Over the past decades, digital technologies have become smaller and faster largely because of the advancements in transistor technology. However, these critical circuit components are fast approaching their limit of how small they can be built, initiating a global effort to find a new type of technology that can supplement, if not replace, transistors. In addition to this "scaling-down" problem, transistor-based digital technologies have other well-known challenges. For example, they struggle at finding optimal solutions when presented with large sets of data. "Let's take a familiar example of finding the shortest route from your office to your home. If you have to make a single stop, it's a fairly easy problem to solve. But if for some reason you need to make 15 stops in between, you have 43 billion routes to choose from," said Dr. Suhas Kumar, lead author on the study and researcher at Hewlett Packard Labs. "This is now an optimization problem, and current computers are rather inept at solving it." Kumar added that another arduous task for digital machines is pattern recognition, such as identifying a face as the same regardless of viewpoint or recognizing a familiar voice buried within a din of sounds. But tasks that can send digital machines into a computational tizzy are ones at which the brain excels. In fact, brains are not just quick at recognition and optimization problems, but they also consume far less energy than digital systems. Hence, by mimicking how the brain solves these types of tasks, Williams said brain-inspired or neuromorphic systems could potentially overcome some of the computational hurdles faced by current digital technologies. To build the fundamental building block of the brain or a neuron, the researchers assembled a synthetic nanoscale device consisting of layers of different inorganic materials, each with a unique function. However, they said the real magic happens in the thin layer made of the compound niobium dioxide. Networks of artificial neurons connected together can solve toy versions the viral quasispecies reconstruction problem. Credit: Texas A&M University College of Engineering When a small voltage is applied to this region, its temperature begins to increase. But when the temperature reaches a critical value, niobium dioxide undergoes a quick change in personality, turning from an insulator to a conductor. But as it begins to conduct electric currents, its temperature drops and niobium dioxide switches back to being an insulator. These back-and-forth transitions enable the synthetic devices to generate a pulse of electrical current that closely resembles the profile of electrical spikes, or action potentials, produced by biological neurons. Further, by changing the voltage across their synthetic neurons, the researchers reproduced a rich range of neuronal behaviors observed in the brain, such as sustained, burst and chaotic firing of electrical spikes. "Capturing the dynamical behavior of neurons is a key goal for brain-inspired computers," said Kumar. "Altogether, we were able to recreate around 15 types of neuronal firing profiles, all using a single electrical component and at much lower energies compared to transistor-based circuits." To evaluate if their synthetic neurons can solve real-world problems, the researchers first wired 24 such nanoscale devices together in a network inspired by the connections between the brain's cortex and thalamus, a well-known neural pathway involved in pattern recognition. Next, they used this system to solve a toy version of the viral quasispecies reconstruction problem, where mutant variations of a virus are identified without a reference genome. By means of data inputs, the researchers introduced the network to short gene fragments. Then, by programming the strength of connections between the artificial neurons within the network, they established basic rules about joining these genetic fragments. The jigsaw puzzle-like task for the network was to list mutations in the virus' genome based on these short genetic segments. The researchers found that within a few microseconds, their network of artificial neurons settled down in a state that was indicative of the genome for a mutant strain. Williams and Kumar noted this result is proof of principle that their neuromorphic systems can quickly perform tasks in an energy-efficient way. The researchers said the next steps in their research will be to expand the repertoire of the problems that their brain-like networks can solve by incorporating other firing patterns and some hallmark properties of the human brain like learning and memory. They also plan to address hardware challenges for implementing their technology on a commercial scale. "Calculating the national debt or solving some large-scale simulation is not the type of task the human brain is good at and that's why we have digital computers. Alternatively, we can leverage our knowledge of neuronal connections for solving problems that the brain is exceptionally good at," said Williams. "We have demonstrated that depending on the type of problem, there are different and more efficient ways of doing computations other than the conventional methods using digital computers with transistors." Explore further New learning algorithm should significantly expand the possible applications of AI More information: Suhas Kumar et al, Third-order nanocircuit elements for neuromorphic engineering, Nature (2020). Journal information: Nature Suhas Kumar et al, Third-order nanocircuit elements for neuromorphic engineering,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2735-5 Students walk on campus at the University of South Carolina on September 3, 2020 in Columbia, South Carolina. Students walk on campus at the University of South Carolina on September 3, 2020 in Columbia, South Carolina. Credit - Sean RayfordGetty Images A fresh analysis of age-based statistics offers solid evidence that COVID-19 is becoming more widespread among young Americans. According to data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sept. 23, children and adults under 30 accounted for more than a third of all COVID-19 cases reported in the U.S. in July and August. Thats up from around 16% in January through April. The trend is particularly stark among people in their 20s, who made up more than 20% of reported cases in recent months, a higher number than any other age group. Though younger people are less likely to develop severe coronavirus symptoms, this is yet another signal that those of all age groups need to follow guidelines like social distancing and wearing face coverings if we want to tamp down the pandemic. In addition, the data show that the growth rate of new cases among younger people recently accelerated: the monthly case count more than doubled for kids, teens and 20-somethings over the summer. For instance, there were 189,000 cases among 20-year-olds in Augusta nearly 100,000 increase from May. In contrast, the month-by-month case numbers didnt increase dramatically among elderly groups, and actually decreased among those older than 80. The CDCs report affirms that the age demographics of COVID-19, on a national level, continue to skew younger as the pandemic progresses. In August, the most recent month presented in the report, the median age of COVID-19 cases stood at 38. Earlier in the pandemic, the median age was 48, according to previously published data from the agency. The reason for the shifting case loads is likely due to a variety of factors. Outbreaks at colleges and universities may be one. But testing among younger people has expanded as well, particularly as schools and workplaces are requiring COVID-19 tests to contain the virus on their premises. More testing of this group is exposing cases, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, that would otherwise not get tallied. Despite their growing share of cases, younger people still appear less likely to get severely ill from COVID-19, and the vast majority of deaths related to COVID-19 have consistently been adults 65 and older. But to contain a viral pandemic, even those unlikely to get critical symptoms need to follow public health measures to prevent the virus from spreadingespecially to those who are at higher risk, in this case parents, grandparents and other older adults in young peoples lives. The Eiffel Tower was evacuated on Wednesday after French police received a bomb threat. The evacuation of the Paris monument took place at around midday local time (11am BST), but reopened two hours later. A police spokesperson told The Independent that officers were dispatched to the scene to investigate. Several roads around the Eiffel Tower were also closed off to traffic. The tower was evacuated just after midday following instructions from the police, a spokesperson for the Eiffel Tower said. It took around an hour to evacuate everybody. Police are at the scene and we dont have any other information at this stage." Security measures at the landmark were strengthened in 2018 to protect against potential terror attacks. The base of the tower was enclosed with bullet proof glass and additional security checks were introduced for visitors. Between March and June the Eiffel Tower was closed to the public as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. A viral video circulating on different social media platforms, published in September 2020, has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times alongside a claim, showing a fire started by a Chinese "spy" on the West Coast of the United States. The video clip has been shared in an ambiguous context. It was shared on several social media platforms since at least August 2020 in reports concerning US firefighters igniting a restrained fire in an attempt to stop the spread of wildfires. On September 12, 2020, the footage was published on Twitter. The post has been retweeted by several Twitter users for more than 3,400 times and viewed more than 205,500 times after the account named "Emergency (Breaking News)" initially posted it. A Portion of the traditional Chinese-language caption interpreted to English as a spy of the CCP was arrested for starting a fire with the use of a drone. On the 9th, FBI officials disclosed to the public that they have started an investigation after the US Department of Homeland Security's analysis model displayed most of the starting fires of the west coast wildfires unfurl along forest roads. Li Jianjun, a 57-year-old who migrated to the United States about 20 years ago, was searched and a video clip was discovered on a laptop he owned. GPS records of his car revealed that for a number of times in early August, he has gone to the area of the fire. The traditional Chinese text superimposed on the clip stated the West Coast wildfire has spread along the roads and forests, and following an investigation, an immigrant from China and CCP spy was taken into custody for using a drone to start a fire. Read also: Massive Cave-in Kills at Least 50 Gold Miners Working in Unregulated Mines in East Congo CCP is short for the Chinese Communist Party, China's single governing political party. The viral video showed an aircraft discharging fireballs while moving over the forest. On the footage, a map revealing fires along the US West Coast was also viewed, Boom reported. According to a report of the AFP on September 14, the record-breaking wildfires have covered around five million acres on the West Coast, causing tens of thousands of residents to leave their homes. The video has circulated through Facebook, Twitter, and Weibo alongside a similar claim. However, the claim was misleading. On August 22, Google's reverse image search displayed a similar video on a US-based car enthusiast blog. The blog entry was entitled, POV heli-torch camera showing fireballs being discharged by firefighters from a helicopter to prevent larger fires from escalating. It reads in part, saying firefighters were not only setting trees on fire at random, they have a plan to determine which trees to burn, while considering mind factors such as wind direction and how close it is to the larger fire they are trying to put out. Burned line of trees establishes a firebreak that is comparable to a bit of open area in a forest. A subsequent keyword search discovered the actual video clip has been first posted on Facebook and Instagram by a user named Fireman323 on Instagram on August 21, 2020. Related article: Battle Against Climate Change: China Sets Sight on Carbon Neutrality by 2060 @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. PRISTINA, Kosovo - A special international court said Thursday that a former commander of the separatist fighters in Kosovos 1998-1999 war has been arrested as part of a war crimes and crimes against humanity probe stemming from the conflict with Serbia. The Kosovo Specialist Chambers, based in The Hague, said former Kosovo Liberation Army commander Salih Mustafa was arrested based on a warrant, transfer order and confirmed indictment issued by a pre-trial judge. The courts statement did not identify the charges on which he was indicted. The court said Mustafa would be transferred to its detention facilities in The Hague and appear before the pre-trial judge without undue delay. He is the first ethnic Albanian to be arrested on war crimes charges arising from the 1990s conflict. The Kosovo Liberation Army was made up of ethnic Albanian rebels who wanted Kosovos independence from Serbia. Mustafa oversaw fighters in the Llapi area, 35 kilometres (20 miles) north of the capital, Pristina. He later served as intelligence chief of the Kosovo Security Forces, military troops created in 2009 as a transitional unit before becoming a regular army. The Kosovo Specialist Chambers and a companion prosecutors office was established five years ago to look into allegations that KLA members committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Hysni Gucati of the war veterans association said Mustafas family reported he was arrested early Thursday and taken to The Hague. To us, the court and its actions are unacceptable, Gucati said. The association has said it anonymously received thousands of confidential files during the last two months, which contain names of witnesses and also draft charges against former top KLA commanders. It is not clear whether the files were stolen or leaked by someone involved in the investigation. The war veterans said they would make them public, a move which a court spokesman warned would undermine the proper administration of justice. The Specialist Prosecutors Office is investigating how the association came into possession of the documents. Office spokesman Christopher Bennett said authorities were vigorously investigating and prosecuting individuals who commit any such crimes. The prosecutors in The Hague also have indicted Kosovar President Hashim Thaci, former parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli, and others for crimes that include murder, enforced disappearances, persecution and torture. Both men have denied committing any war crimes. The 1998-1999 war for Kosovos 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 Serbian troops. Kosovo, which is dominated by ethnic Albanians, declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move recognized by many Western nations but not Serbia or its allies Russia and China. - Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. Riverside's modest Harada House has been designated as one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in the U.S. by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Japanese immigrants Jukichi and Ken Harada were just looking for a healthier place to raise their family, after their 5-year-old son died from diphtheria in the crowded, dusty boarding house where they lived and took in immigrant farmworkers in 1913. They found it in a modest box-shaped home on Lemon Street in one of Riverside's nicest and whitest downtown neighborhoods. But Jukichi's decision to buy the home in the names of their three American-born children to circumvent California's new Alien Land Law of 1913, which prohibited noncitizens, especially Asians, from owning property created an uproar among their neighbors. It would all lead to a court battle that ultimately upheld the 14th Amendment citizenship rights of American children born to noncitizen parents. Which is why today, this nondescript house in urgent need of repair was named one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in the United States, a coveted designation by the National Trust for Historic Preservation that has only been awarded to 363 places in the country over the last 33 years. Jukichi and Ken Harada with their children and grandchildren in 1928. (Museum of Riverside) The designation will go a long way to helping the Museum of Riverside raise the $6.5 million it needs to restore and preserve the home, as well as the smaller house next door that belonged to the woman who first raised the alarm about a Japanese family moving into the neighborhood, and years later became a grudging friend, said Museum Director Robyn Peterson. But the good news for the museum started last month when the Harada House received a $500,000 grant from the Save America's Treasures grant program, the only project in California to receive any funding from the $12.8 million distributed this year from the Historic Preservation Fund. "We've had this home for 17 years and have only had enough money to keep it from falling down," Peterson said. "Now we can start with the rehabilitation. Being one of the 11 means we'll start getting some attention, nationally, and get on the radar screen of major funders for national historic projects." Story continues That's the main reason the National Trust for Historic Preservation created this list, said the trust's chief preservation officer, Katherine Malone-France. "This list is very much about the power of places to hold their stories and to evoke the people who lived in them while they were doing these extraordinary things," she said. "It's not just about the story and facts of the past, but the story and how it relates to today. We're constantly on the lookout for places that have important stories to tell, and certainly that is the case with Harada House. We've been doing this for 33 years, and I'm happy to say that less than 5% of the sites listed have been lost in that 33 years." As with most families, the Haradas' story is laced with triumph and grief. Their 1918 battle in Riverside County Superior Court was a landmark civil rights case for American-born children of immigrants, but Jukichi Harada, a successful businessman who ran a boarding house and restaurant named after his hero, George Washington, was never able to become an American citizen, despite his repeated efforts, according to a Aug. 18, 1991, article in The Times after Harada House was declared a National Historic Landmark. Harold Harada wrote on the wall in the upstairs bedroom, noting the date and time the family was evacuated to Japanese American incarceration camps during World War II. (Museum of Riverside) During World War II, the family was forced into separate Japanese American incarceration camps. Before they left, their youngest son, Harold, scrawled a simple poignant message on the wall of the upstairs bedroom that is still faintly readable today: "Evacuated on May 23, 1942, SAT. 7 AM." The Harada parents died in one such camp they were both in poor health when the incarceration began and Harold went on to serve in Europe as part of the 442nd Infantry Regiment of American soldiers of Japanese ancestry. Most of the siblings moved to other parts of the country after the war, but Sumi Harada came back to live in her childhood home and provide housing for other displaced people of Japanese ancestry who had to rebuild their lives after the camps closed. Congressman Mark Takano, a native of Riverside, remembers visiting Sumi Harada with his mother, Nancy, who was a family friend. Takano (D-Riverside) said preserving the house helps us better understand the history and legacy of the Alien Land Act, which was strengthened after the Haradas won their court case and wasn't repealed until 1951. "For those who ask if there's such a thing as institutional racism, I think we can point to this era and say, 'Look, Japanese and other Asian immigrants had no pathway to citizenship, and persons ineligible for naturalization were prohibited from buying property, making it impossible for Japanese immigrants to buy land," Takano said in a telephone interview. "So, yes, this is curiously relevant to today, with all the anti-immigrant feeling and questions about who is an American and who is not. That message Harold wrote the day they were evacuated...that's chilling, an amazing primary source of documentation of their internment." Naomi Harada, granddaughter of Jukichi and Ken Harada, called the house "a symbol of how our democracy works and supports our civil rights" in the museum's news release. "We learn from the stories of these symbols," she said. "My hope is that the designation will bring an intense effort and financial support to keep the house from extinction. Just as the structure of the house is fragile, we are aware of democracy's fragility. Maintaining and strengthening the symbols of our democratic processes ... assists in the acknowledgment and perpetuity of our civil rights." The other 10 locations listed on the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places are the the West Berkeley Shellmound and Village Site in Berkeley, a ceremonial ground and sacred burial site to the Ohlone people dating back more than 5,000 years, presently covered by a paved parking lot; Alazan-Apache Courts in San Antonio; the Hall of Waters in Excelsior Springs, Mo.; the National Negro Opera Company House in Pittsburgh; the Ponce Historic Zone in Ponce, Puerto Rico; Rassawek, the historical capital of the Monacan Indian Nation, in Columbia, Va.; Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago; Sun-N-Sand Motor Hotel in Jackson, Miss.; Terrace Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati; and Yates Memorial Hospital in Ketchikan, Alaska. For more information about the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list, visit the National Trust's website, SavingPlaces.org. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Zurich, Switzerland Thu, September 24, 2020 09:11 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46db7e7 2 World switzerland,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,COVID-19-quarantine,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free Switzerland has quarantined the entire undergraduate body of one of its premier hospitality management schools just days after their return from summer recess, regional officials said on Wednesday, following a COVID-19 outbreak linked to one or more parties. All 2,500 undergraduate students at the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne must remain in their housing, including on-campus accommodation, until Sept. 28, authorities for the canton of Vaud said in a statement. That followed a number of major outbreaks among the student body which had made it impossible to trace which students had came into contact with the virus. The festivities Swiss authorities believe to be the origin of the school's outbreak had been held before Vaud, which has recorded more infections than any other Swiss canton, introduced stricter measures on Sept. 17. Those included the closure of night clubs and a ban on private events of more than 100 people, as well as mandatory mask-wearing in public locations indoors. Like many European countries, Switzerland has seen a resurgence of cases since lockdown measures were eased and some international travel resumed over the summer months. Cases since the start of the epidemic recently surpassed 50,000. At roughly 33 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the last week, it remains less affected than a number of nearby countries currently at or nearer their peak. It has taken a regional approach on many precautionary measures, leaving cantonal authorities free to impose them as deemed fit. Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne said it was working with regional medical authorities to support the affected students, who thus far had only reported minor symptoms, and would continue teaching remotely throughout the quarantine period. "Important measures have been put in place on campus to ensure the highest health standards and to limit the spread of the virus as much as possible," it said in an emailed statement. It said disciplinary measures had been taken against the students who had organized the privately held parties. The presentation also outlines plans to return other cohorts of students to classrooms through the end of 2020. In early to mid-November, Arlington intends to return roughly 18,000 English-language learners, career and technical education students, and prekindergarten through third-graders as well as students who have difficulty accessing and sustaining engagement in Distance Learning to classrooms for two days of instruction per week. 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 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden appears via video at a CNN town hall-style campaign event in Scranton, Pa., Sept. 17, 2020. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times) Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden appears via video at a CNN town hall-style campaign event in Scranton, Pa., on Sept. 17, 2020. Credit - Erin SchaffThe New York Times/Redux This article is part of the The DC Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox every weekday. The younger progressives who powered the campaigns of vanquished White House hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren seem to have finally shed their disappointment and are facing the dichotomy ahead: either they help President Donald Trump win a second term, or they embrace the title of a bracingly funny Instagram account and Settle for Biden. In new polling for The Wall Street Journal, NBC News and Quibi, data suggest that Millennial and GenZ voters broadly, all those under 40 are coming around to former Vice President Joe Biden. That wasnt always a given, nor is it an obvious match: Biden would be the oldest American ever to start the job of President, his policies are pragmatic, and his inside-the-Beltway credentials do not exactly evoke the revolutions promised at Sanders and Warren rallies. Still, with fewer than six weeks to go before Election Day and voting already underway, these younger voters seem to have made a decision. Its not that they suddenly love the Democratic candidate. Bidens unfavorable rating among this demographic is holding steady at about 40%. (Trumps is parked at about 60%.) Instead, the share of younger voters who say they have a favorable view of the former Vice President has climbed 10 percentage points between the samples taken during a January-to-August window and another in September, from 28% in the first stretch of this year to 38% now. That leaves Biden essentially with as many haters as fans after indifferent voters recognized their choice. (Trump is underwater by a 2-to-1 margin on this emotional question of favorability.) Story continues The numbers also suggest Biden has ever-so-slightly improved his electoral prospects with young voters from the earlier surveys. He now leads Trump by a 59% to 33% margin. Fueling the gains? Biden has made inroads with men and women, voters of color and whites, and self-described liberals since earlier this year. The one subset where Trump seems to have made gains? Self-described moderates. Taking an even more narrow slice of the electorate, Tufts Universitys analysis of voters under 30 suggests similar antipathy for Biden during his primary. On Super Tuesday back in March, Biden lost voters under 30 in each of the 14 states casting ballots, but he still carried nine states. How? Older voters are reliable voters; younger voters are not. In the primaries, the shocking latent power of these voters went untapped, even when their dynamic duo of Sanders and Warren were still in the race. Biden is going to need to motivate these younger voters to show up and stand with him in November if hes going to have a shot. But that wont necessarily be easy. Voter registration for voters ages 18 to 24 is actually down from 2016 in some traditionally contested states, according to surveys.Ohio voter registration among that cohort is down 17% from 2016, Pennsylvania is down 10%, and Iowa and Nevada are down 2%. On the other side of the ledger, though, Georgias numbers in this cohort are up 28%, Texas is up 13% and Arizona is up 10%. Those numbers cover voters who could vote Republican or Democratic; one-in-three Millennial and GenZ voters in the Journal/ NBC/ Quibi poll support for Trump. But these states all places where both parties have been pushing more young voters to register may just tell us where they see the 2020 fight heading. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the daily D.C. Brief newsletter. Two Amish brothers who admitted to having sex with their 13-year-old sister have avoided jail time after prosecutors raised concerns that they would 'be eaten alive' if they were behind bars. Aaron Schwartz, 22, and 18-year-old Petie Schwartz of Seymour, Missouri, pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree child molestation with a child under the age of 14. The pair and two of their younger brothers, both minors at the time, had had sexual relations with their younger sister last year. The young girl was 12 and 13 years old at the time of the sexual acts, the Webster County Citizen reports. Aaron Schwartz, 22, and 18-year-old Petie Schwartz pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree child molestation with a child under the age of 14. The brothers had received a 10-year sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) on the first count and five years for the second count. But their plea deal - made in agreement with Webster County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Berkstresser - allowed the suspension of the sentences. The deal would allow the pair to be on probation for five years and avoid jail time if they also complete the Missouri Sex Offender Treatment Program (MOSOP) by September 8, 2021. The brothers must also complete 100 hours of community service and write a letter an apology letter to Seymour's Amish community within 30 days. They must also pay $250 to the Law Enforcement Restitution Fund (LERF), per the plea agreement, which provides funding to improve the operation of the sheriff's department and the prosecutor's office. Berkstresser said that he was aware that the brothers' punishment would seem lax given their initial charge of six felony counts of statutory rape and one felony count of incest. The brother's legal team reached an agreement with Webster County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Berkstresser to avoid jail time 'It needs to be noted that in this case, there were four brothers, two of them minors, while the other two legally are adults,' Berkstresser said. 'All of them had sexual relations with their sister. There is no question this occurred.' The prosecutor added that the brothers, along with members of the Amish community, rejected legal counsel but Berkstresser's office helped assign them counsel. 'In the end, this wasn't a case of a parent and child, where a parent in a position of authority sexually abused or exploited their child,' he said. 'This was a situation where four siblings engaged in acts with their sister. I offered a 15-year prison sentence based on this ... it was a different relationship. 'And I made the decision not to send them to the DOC, to suspend the sentences. The prosecutor added that the brothers, along with members of the Amish community, rejected legal counsel but Berkstresser's office helped assign them counsel 'These two young men would've been eaten alive in the state prison system.' Both brothers will be registered sex offenders for life. 'Previously, I've been very harsh on the Amish when they've been charged with crimes of this nature,' he said. 'We had a previous case where a father committed sexual acts with his daughter, and he went to prison. 'In this instance, these two boys are very immature relative to their respective ages. Maturity wise, they are much younger than their age.' The now 13-year-old victim had a baby two weeks ago. Prosecutors shared that one of the brothers is the father of the child. 'One of the brothers is the father of this child,' said Berkstresser. 'But within the Amish community that primarily lives in the Seymour area, (the Amish) don't see the authority we have to do anything to them. This was a tough case to prosecute.' Both adult brothers told authorities that they had had sex with their sister on six occasions. The relations were unearthed in June when the pregnant teen told doctors that she had been having sexual relations with her brothers. President Donald Trump's campaign has canceled $4.5 million in ad buys in key battleground states this week, raising more signs of trouble for his re-election effort, even as Democratic nominee Joe Biden expands his advertising footprint. Faced with a shrinking cash balance, Trump has pulled back on television ads in all but three states where the race is close: Arizona, Florida and Georgia. And his ads have disappeared from must-win states like Ohio and Iowa, where he and Biden are essentially tied. Biden is taking advantage of Trump's retrenchment by widening the map, pouring $16 million more into 13 battleground states and districts as he seeks to create multiple paths to the magic number of 270 electoral votes that would put him in the White House. With 40 days left until the election, the presidential campaign is focused intensely on a dozen battleground states where the race is close. Biden leads in national polls, but the winner needs to prevail in the industrial Midwest as well as new battlegrounds like North Carolina and Arizona to achieve an Electoral College victory. And neither wins without Florida. To make up for its constrained ad budget, the Trump campaign is relying on local news coverage from campaign rallies and visits from key surrogates, according to three campaign officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy. Trump's Las Vegas trip earlier this month was worth the equivalent of more than $5 million in ads, a campaign official said. Ivanka Trump can also dominate local news on her campaign stops, generating coverage that's akin to paid 30-second advertisements, the people said. Trump used a similar strategy four years ago to overcome Hillary Clinton's three-to-one advertising advantage. But in 2020, Trump's rallies are held in smaller venues, getting smaller crowds and less news coverage than four years ago. Outside campaign strategists say Trump's undisciplined message dilutes the effect of his visits. "You may be all over the local news, but when your candidate is saying that covid affects hardly anybody, have you bought a negative ad for Joe Biden, or a negative ad for yourself?" said political strategist Reed Galen, who worked on campaigns for George W. Bush and John McCain and now leads the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump group. Trump is facing an unprecedented cash gap for an incumbent. Biden and the Democratic National Committee ended August with $466 million in the bank compared to $325 million for Trump's re-election effort. Meanwhile, the Biden campaign has spent just two-thirds of the money it's raised, the lowest burn-rate heading into September in the history of the seven presidential campaigns that have opted out of accepting federal matching funds.Trump's campaign has spent 79% of the money it's raised, faster than his 2016 burn rate of 70%. Legal bills, salaries and unusual expenses have contributed to the cash woes. Legal fees of $11.3 million through August are more than four times higher than they were at the same point four years ago, driven in part by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian interference into the 2016 election. It's also gotten itself into smaller legal battles, like a $315,760 bill to a law firm that's suing a small Wisconsin television station that aired an ad by the Democratic super-PAC Priorities USA Action. Trump also spent a lot on ads early on, including more than $10 million on a pair of 30-second Super Bowl spots and more than $40 million airing ads in May in June, with little impact on the polls. In 2016, Trump didn't top $50 million in ad spending until Oct. 11. The campaign has also paid $156,785 for aerial banners, and $477,000 to the company that put on the fireworks display at the Republican convention, the equivalent of a week's worth of ads in Iowa. The Trump campaign is pulling back on ads at the very moment it had hoped to be taking money in. The campaign reserved millions in advertising in September, saying it would be "guided by the election calendar" in focusing on states with early voting. But with early voting already underway in Minnesota, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, Trump has pulled nearly $1 million in ads in those three states this week. The Wife of the governor of Anambra State, and founder of Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFE), Dr. Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano(Osodieme), has stated that the fight against gender-based violence demands the commitment and sacrifice of all persons, from the government to the religious and the community leaders. Mrs. Obiano made the call at the 2020 Mothers' Summit held on 25th September, 2020 at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Lady Ndidi Mezue (Commissioner for Women & Children Affairs) Mrs. Obiano who joined the annual Summit through the Zoom platform, told the gathering that God created all humans equal, thus the necessity to treat one another with dignity, and avoid actions that degrade the woman gender. She described the theme of the Summit: "Sustaining the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence" as very apt and timely. In her words; "I thank all the speakers for their good advise on the issue of gender-based violence. I want our women to take the issue seriously and spread the message in our communities and also report any one who maltreats or molests another. That, I believe is one sure way of eradicating the menace from our society." Mrs. Obiano reminded the women of the need to remain cautious of the coronavirus pandemic and never lose their guard, but continue to observe the Covid-19 Protocols as advised by the government and relevant health care givers. She commended the participating women and the organizers stressing the need to abstain from rumour mongering. The Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Uchenna Okafor, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon Pascal Agbodike, stressed the need for recognition of the pivotal role of women in development of the society. He commended the sacrifice of all mothers and urged them not to relinquish their distinguished status as vehicles of peace and progress in their communities. Lady Ndidi Mezue (Commissioner for Women & Children Affairs) & Rt. Hon. Pascal. Agbodike (Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly) In the same vein, member representing Nnewi at the Anambra State House of Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Gender and Children Affairs, Hon. Nonso Okafor, urged the women to sit up in their running of the home and training of children so as to raise a better society. Rt. Hon Pascal Agbodike (Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly) In his goodwill remarks at the gathering, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Charles Soludo, advocated the strengthening of the law which protects women against battering, with stiff penalties for offenders. He called for campaign against gender-based violence in schools, churches and other public gatherings. Prof. Soludo said he came in Solidarity to represent his wife and recalled that he often rely on women to execute difficult task with excellent results. He thanked Anambra women for being in the vanguard of nation building, stating that without the mothers there is no nation. He likened their role as builders of society to that of teachers. Prof Chukwuma Soludo (Former Governor of Central Bank) Soludo commended Governor Obiano for the good security regime in Anambra, and his wife, Osodieme, for the work of her NGO in setting good example on how to empower women in various ways especially in assisting widows. The Commissioner for Social Welfare, Children and Women Affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue, in her address, noted that sustaining the fight against gender-based violence starts with sensitization, punishment of offenders and sustained economic empowerment so as to help people make independent economic choices. Empowerment Materials for equipment for women cooperatives Earlier in an opening remark, the Anambra State Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof Kate Omenugha, pointed to dangerous practices such as female genital mutilation, rape and domestic violence which have continued to thrive in the society, especially under the watch of parents and guardians, calling for a collective consciousness towards ending the scourge. In keynote presentation, a guest speaker, Dr H.O.N Boash, whose lecture centred on the theme of the event "Sustaining the Fight Against Gender-based Violence", frowned at the poor record of reported cases of the gender-based prevalence because of the social stigma that the society attaches to them. He called for the formation of an advocacy group that would help carry out the campaign at grassroots levels. The high point of the event was a match past by women from twenty-one Local Government Areas. The dignitaries also inspected farm produce and distributed empowerment items like Oil milling machines etc. ALBANY Police videos of a defendant telling an Albany detective about suspects in other crimes, and offering to help police buy two guns, have garnered thousands of views since they were posted on YouTube in June a scenario that prosecutors had warned could occur under the state's new criminal justice reforms that require them to swiftly turn over evidence in criminal cases, including witness statements. State Senate Republican Minority Leader Robert Ortt's office on Wednesday provided links to the videos in a news release in which he blasted Democrats for passing pre-trial discovery reforms that he called "a major public safety fail." "State Senate Democrats failed to heed our warnings that bail reform and discovery reform presented real danger to real people," Ortt said. "Why would anyone want to risk their safety to talk to police or testify if sensitive information like this could be circulated on social media?" Albany County District Attorney David Soares, when he was president of the state district attorneys association, said he had warned lawmakers and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo that some of the changes they were making to pre-trial discovery rules would endanger witnesses and victims. Soares noted that turning over evidence such as the videos in the Albany case must be done within 20 days of a defendant's arraignment, leaving the identities of witnesses and victims exposed for potentially months or longer while a criminal case is pending. There is also limited funding to place witnesses in protective housing, especially for long periods of time, he said. "Now, you force me to turn that information over within 20 days of arraignment and with no trial date," Soares said. "I can't provide that kind of protection. We certainly provide witness protection, but it cannot be at the level necessary to accommodate the (new) discovery schedule." The videos of the man talking to Albany police were turned over to another defendant as part of pre-trial discovery in December, just before the new pre-trial discovery rules took effect. But Albany County prosecutors, judges and district attorneys across the state said by then they had begun implementing the new standards that were about to become law. The man in the video had been charged in October 2019 in connection with a shooting two months earlier that wounded a 23-year-old man on South Pearl Street in Albany. He was later charged in connection with a second shooting incident in the city in April 2020 while out on $50,000 bail. The criminal justice reforms including new speedy trial rules, elimination of cash bail and an expedited discovery process were passed in the state budget last year by the state Legislature and Cuomo. Laurie Shanks, a former prosecutor and a longtime criminal defense attorney, said the pre-trial discovery rules that enable defendants and their attorneys to review evidence early on in a case, and before agreeing to any plea bargain, are critical to a fair justice system. She said New York was the last state in the nation to enact the reforms, and that similar pre-trial discovery rules in other states have not resulted in mass killings and violence. "Prosecutors routinely forced people to make a decision about whether to plead guilty without even having the lab reports," she said. "People are left with the impression that they are in danger because poor people have the same right not to be incarcerated before trial as rich people do and that the defense has a right to the same information that the prosecution does." Shanks, a professor emerita at Albany Law School, said that before the new discovery rules most defendants in New York would plead guilty "so they never know the exculpatory information ... they never have an opportunity to have a fair trial." Under the new measures, prosecutors can seek a protective order to keep the identities of victims, witnesses or informants under seal, but they must show there is proof of an "actual risk" of danger that includes a threat or a defendant's document history of witness intimidation. Prior to this year, videos such as the ones posted online of the defendant's interview with an Albany detective would not have been turned over to a defense attorney until just before a case was scheduled for trial. If the matter ended with a plea agreement, the evidence would never be shared with the defense. Soares said his office and other district attorneys rely on assistance from the New York Prosecutors Training Institute to finance witness protection, although that not-for-profit organization has a limited budget for that purpose. He said his office also will use asset forfeiture funds to provide safe housing for witnesses and victims, but that there is not enough money to cover all of those needs. The defendant in the videos posted on YouTube in June is identified by name on the video, which was captured by a police camera in an interview room at Albany's detective office. It also shows the date of his October 2019 interview with a detective. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Many of those commenting on the video ask for the identity of the young man, even though his name is visible on the video clip. A spokeswoman for the Senate Republicans, when asked about any concerns they have about publicly sharing links to the videos of the man who was acting in the capacity of an informant stated in an email: "This is circulated to reporters, not to the public. The link is for you to verify that this is on YouTube." But in addition to the press release sent to news outlets, the Senate minority office also had included the video links in a version of the news release posted Wednesday on their taxpayer-funded and publicly accessible website. The video links were removed on Thursday, not long after the Times Union asked about the Senate GOP promoting the videos. In March 2018, a month after after New York's Democratic Conference unveiled a series of proposed criminal justice reforms, a poll found New Yorkers overwhelmingly supported the reforms. The poll was sponsored by FWD.us, an organization co-founded in 2013 by Facebook chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg that has sought to influence policy on issues ranging from immigration to criminal justice. Zoe Towns, a senior criminal justice reform director at FWD.us, said at that time that in the Bronx a person charged with a misdemeanor waited an average of 571 days for their case to go to trial. The poll found that 86 percent of those polled believe a trial must take place within four months of an arrest. More than half thought defendants are entitled to a trial within eight weeks; while nine out of 10 of those surveyed supported setting stricter speedy trial requirements, which would reduce the number of people held in jails while cases are pending. In January, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins acknowledged that her conference was aware "tweaks" may be needed for the newly enacted criminal justice reforms but that they would not rush to make adjustments as a result of "a lot of fear-mongering." "We are interested in making the justice system just, and we are paying attention as it continues to see if there are any necessary tweaks," Stewart-Cousins said during a news conference at the Capitol that month. "We don't want to criminalize poverty. We do not want to continue a system that everybody agrees is broken, without making changes." Under the new rules, prosecutors said, they cannot declare they are ready for trial which would stop the six-month speedy trial clock in a felony case until they certify that they have provided all discoverable evidence to the defendant. That would include any lab analysis confirming the authenticity and amount of a narcotic. The new rules also mandate that defendants have the ability, through what is known as pre-trial discovery, to review the evidence against them in a much shorter time frame. Steve Hughes contributed reporting for this story. Airlines have continued to reduce their flights to Ljubljana as a result of the coronavirus pandemic with the Slovenian capital to be served by just six carriers as of next week, which will maintain six scheduled routes. As a result, Ljubljana will offer the fewest scheduled destinations among capital cities in the former Yugoslavia, behind Sarajevo. Currently, only Air France, Air Serbia, easyJet, Lufthansa, Montenegro Airlines and Turkish Airlines fly to the Slovenian capital. Out of the six countries served, only travellers from two are listed on Slovenias green list, deemed epidemiologically safe for entry - Germany and the United Kingdom - two are from the yellow list - France and Serbia - and the remainder are on the red list- Montenegro and Turkey. Each list carries with it a different set of entry requirements. Prior to the pandemic, seventeen carriers had planned to run flights to 22 scheduled destinations from Ljubljana this summer. Wizz Air, which turned its Charleroi - Ljubljana route into a seasonal summer service and was to run the flights until late October, has terminated its operations over a month earlier than planned. Wizz Air now intends on returning to the Slovenian capital on March 30, 2021. Furthermore, after just a few weeks of operations, easyJet is suspending its flights between Berlin and Ljubljana, with the last flight of the year planned for this Sunday. As a result, easyJet will only fly from London to Ljubljana, while its Berlin service will be restored on March 26, 2021. Finally, low cost carrier Transavia, which temporarily suspended operations between Amsterdam and the Slovenian capital on September 13 with plans to resume the service on October 29, has now completely shelved flights between the two cities for the rest of the year. The Air France - KLM subsidiary now intends on restoring operations to the Slovenian capital on January 14, 2021. On the other hand, following a temporary suspension, LOT Polish Airlines and Brussels Airlines are expected to resume flights to Ljubljana from late October, although both carriers are yet to finalise their schedules and changes remain possible. Commenting on its existing operations, Ljubljana Airport said, "There will be no significant improvement in the situation in the near future due to the Covid-19 pandemic - neither in our country nor elsewhere in Europe. Today, it is already evident that operations will increase more significantly only when the epidemiological situation calms down everywhere and when there are no more daily changes in entry conditions imposed by individual countries (for example quarantine). When this will happen remains unpredictable. We all hope that things will start to normalise in the spring and that new (additional) flights will follow. The recommendations include respect for neighbors who decide not to participate, social distancing to the extent possible, mask-wearing and hand sanitizing for those passing out treats, some kind of motion sensing noisemaker to avoid having so many people ringing doorbells and treats in help-yourself packaging such as paper bags with individual treats or goodies clipped clotheslines that even smaller children could reach. Make Way Day on Friday, September 25, is a national public awareness campaign to highlight the issues people with disabilities face getting around their local communities. Hey, this blocks my way! is the message being brought to all members of the community. This year due to Covid-19, Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) are moving the campaign online and having a virtual Make Way Day. Longford County Council is one of the 31 City and County Councils in the country who are supporting the novel virtual event. County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Paul Ross outlined that the Make Way Day campaign highlights the simple things that everyone can do on a daily basis to improve access and movement for people with a disability. Cllr Ross added, The placing of a bin on a pavement may seem like a simple thing but this can cause a serious challenge to someone with a disability. I would ask the people of Longford to consider the needs of others when going about their daily business on the streets of our towns to ensure what they do does not impact on wheelchair users or those with a disability. Paddy Mahon, Chief Executive, Longford County Council said we have all learned of the need to make way and keep our distance as we have had to deal with Covid-19 over the last few months and we have managed to do this very well. Mr Mahon continued, We know that it is possible to keep our walkways clear and as wide as possible. So we have no excuse now for blocking the way now and in the future with cars or vans parked on our footpaths, with wheelie bins or kegs or sandwich boards on footpaths and so on. Let's make every day a Make Way Day from now on. The sentiments expressed by Cllr Ross and Mr Mahon were endorsed by organisers Frank Horne, Longford County Council Access Officer and Siobhan Cronogue, PPN Manager. Both agreed that what many of us take for granted can be the difference in preventing someone with mobility issues from leaving their home or maybe having to risk their lives because they have to go out on to the road to get past a parked car on the footpath. Mr Horne explained, The objective of this years DFI campaign is to build a digital Make Way Day story around the country. Their hope is that this online version of the event will collapse the distance between people, and offer solidarity to people with disabilities who continue to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. I think we are all in agreement with DFI that this will build a sense of community and belonging for everyone involved. Ms Cronogue commented, It's so important that people participate in the virtual Make Way Day and I am delighted for our local event that we have confirmed attendance from Cllr Ross, Mr Mahon, Council Engineer, representatives from the traffic warden section, community gardai and the PPN Disability Network. As staff, our role is to listen to the people who are experiencing issues with access and agree an action plan with all involved. Ms Cronogue said she was looking forward to the meeting which takes place around the country on Friday, September 25 from 11am and she asked everyone in the community to be conscious and respectful of other peoples abilities when it comes to access. Check out www.makewayday.com for more information. People are also being encouraged to take pictures of the obstacles they encounter (parked cars on footpaths, bikes chained to railings, sandwich boards and overhanging branches) and post their pictures to social media. Include #MakeWayDay20, tag @MakeWayDay and @disabilityfed in your post. By Laman Ismayilova Baku Book Center is pleased to announce a new project "OxuMal" aimed at promotion of reading among youth. Within the framework of the project, famous people, representatives of the intelligentsia, media figures will share their literary preferences, talk about books that made a great impression on them and influenced their worldview. In the list of recommendations, you will see works of famous Azerbaijani and foreign writers. We hope that the new project will increase the interest of young people and society in literature and reading, the message said. The first guest of the new project will be People's Writer, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union Anar Rzayev. The project will be aired on Wednesdays. The videos will be available on the center's social networks. The program will be repeated every Friday at 22:00. Baku Book Center was officially opened to visitors on September 1, 2018. The main goal of the Center is to encourage people in reading book as a bearer of cultural, spiritual values and useful knowledge. Here booklovers can also take part in presentations of books, literary and musical evenings, meetings with cultural and art workers, thematic master classes and much more. The Center also organizes events with the participation of international organizations and diplomatic missions. By the decision of the CIS Executive Committee, Baku Book Center has been awarded the diploma "For the great work in development of domestic book distribution and international book exchange in 2018." -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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... An Afghan asylum-seeker helps his father wash the hands of his younger brother at the Kara Tepe emergency site on Lesvos, Greece. UNHCR/Achilleas Zavallis UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling for urgent action to improve conditions and ensure humane solutions for asylum seekers in reception centres in the Aegean islands, including in the new emergency site on Lesvos. In the aftermath of the series of blazes that devastated the Moria Reception and Identification Centre on Lesvos and forced some 12,000 men, women and children on to the streets, the Government of Greece has swiftly mobilized the Hellenic Army and humanitarian partners to establish an emergency facility to shelter those made homeless. Some 9,400 asylum seekers left homeless by the fire are now residing in this government-run site, which was set-up in a matter of days. Several hundred of most vulnerable have been transferred to safe accommodations on the island or relocated to the mainland. All partners involved in the refugee response on Lesvos, including national and local non-governmental organizations have been working around the clock to ensure that all asylum-seekers and refugees received immediate assistance, shelter and core relief items. UNHCR, however, emphasizes the urgent need for adequate solutions for asylum-seekers, who have been living in unacceptable conditions on the Aegean islands for far too long. The events in Moria are a wake-up call of the long-standing need to address the precarious situation for thousands of people in the islands and to accelerate their safe and orderly transfer to more appropriate accommodation on mainland, said UNHCR Representative in Greece, Philippe Leclerc. What is crucial is comprehensive response, going beyond short-term fixes. This means ensuring adequate reception conditions, access to fair and fast asylum procedures, integration opportunities for those granted asylum and swift returns for those not in need of international protection. Unless all elements of the response are adequately and promptly addressed, we will see more Morias emerging. UNHCR welcomes the progress made on ongoing transfers of unaccompanied children from the Aegean islands to the mainland, as well as the commitment of Greek authorities, to transfer, as soon as possible, recognized refugees and asylum-seekers who are already authorized to leave the islands. UNHCR estimates that there are at least 4,000 people on all islands, including almost 2,000 on Lesvos, who are eligible to be transferred to the mainland immediately. Their transfer will be a significant step in decongesting reception facilities on the islands. Asylum processes must resume on Lesvos, with all necessary procedural safeguards, to facilitate the prompt and orderly transfers of others from the island as well. To support decongestion efforts and expedite transfers, reception capacity on the mainland needs to be boosted. UNHCR is appealing to Greek authorities to increase accommodation places on the mainland with the support of the European Commission. UNHCR is also calling on European states to continue their support to Greece through the offering of relocation places for the most vulnerable asylum-seekers and recognized refugees. Equally, policies and measures to facilitate the longer-term integration and self-reliance of recognized refugees in Greece are a priority. In Lesvos, national authorities, with support from UNHCR and other humanitarian actors, are working to improve conditions in the new emergency site, addressing gaps in health, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. With COVID-screening continuing for all entrants to the new site, there are some 250 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 as of 24 September. According to national health authorities, all are placed in quarantine alongside their family members. Sustained and adequate medical care as well as access to sufficient water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are therefore even more critical. To address the onset of cooler weather conditions, UNHCR is planning to provide insulation kits and wooden pallets for the families sheltering in tents as an interim measure. UNHCR stands ready to continue supporting Greece in this complex yet manageable situation. UNHCRs calls follow the release of the European Commissions Pact on Migration and Asylum, which contains a series of legislative proposals on the EUs approach to migration and asylum. UNHCR, along with our sister agency IOM, has called for a truly common and principled approach to European migration and asylum policies. With relatively few new arrivals of refugees and migrants to Europe, the situation is manageable. Now is the time for EU states to move away from a crisis-response and ad hoc approach to a comprehensive, well-managed and predictable one to address mixed movements, both within and beyond the EU. For more information on this topic, please contact: Former Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina told CNBC on Thursday she supports Democratic nominee Joe Biden's candidacy despite their ideological differences. "I don't always agree with Joe Biden's policies, but I do think character counts. I think leadership matters," Fiorina said on "Squawk Alley," a little over a month before Election Day and just days before the first debate between Biden and President Donald Trump With the U.S. experiencing a persistent pandemic, and rebounding from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Fiorina said Biden is better equipped to help the nation recover than Trump. "I think collaboration is now critical, not just collaboration across the aisle, Republican to Democrat for sure, collaboration between city governments wrestling with a whole host of issues, including social injustice and the federal government," Fiorina said. "And I think Trump has demonstrated his unwillingness and incapacity to lead or to collaborate." Biden, the former vice president under Barack Obama, holds a 7 percentage point lead over Trump in an average of national polls compiled by RealClearPolitics. Fiorina, who was chief executive of Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005, was among the crowded field of candidates for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, which was won by Trump.During the 2016 campaign, Trump made sexist comments about Fiorina's appearance. Fiorina also once mounted a bid for U.S. Senate in California as a Republican. She is not the only Republican who has publicly broken from the party and endorsed Biden, who represented Delaware in the Senate for more than three decades before he became vice president. On Tuesday, Cindy McCain, widow of 2008 GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, announced her support for Biden. Another Republican former HP CEO, Meg Whitman, has also endorsed Biden and spoke at the Democratic National Convention. "In business we focus on results, and I think his results do not earn him a second term," Fiorina said of Trump, a New York real estate developer before beginning his political career. Despite high-profile opposition from Fiorina and others, Trump still maintains overwhelming support in the Republican Party. The Trump campaign did not respond to CNBC's request for comment. While he usually had sent his parents, children and siblings in Mexico $600 a month, he managed only $300 for three consecutive months this spring. So this month, Mr. Romero, 42, traveled 240 miles from his home in Jessup, Md., to work in Virginia Beach. We arent going to let down our families who depend on us, Mr. Romero said during a work break with two fellow immigrants, one from Guatemala, the other from El Salvador, who had traveled with him to the area. Last year, workers abroad pumped more than $100 billion into Latin America, a record. The bulk of it originated in the United States, with Mexico being the biggest recipient. Often used to purchase essentials like food and medicine, the money is key to alleviating poverty in those countries. But remittances also enable families to afford schooling, household appliances and better housing. In Guatemala, Latin Americas second-largest recipient of U.S.-generated remittances, buildings erected with the help of immigrants in the United States are ubiquitous in Indigenous villages. To be sure, unemployment among immigrants in the United States has spiked, as it has for the overall population, and the situation has been especially challenging for those who are undocumented because they are not eligible for federal assistance. But immigrants with green cards might have been buoyed by unemployment payments, which enabled them to keep sending money abroad. Some immigrant workers also have been less adversely affected by the pandemic because of the labor they perform. While they are overrepresented in service-sector jobs that have been hardest hit by the downturn, such as hotels and restaurants, foreign-born workers also make up a large share of the work force in industries that have been spared, such as food processing and agriculture. That helps explain why the total value of remittances during the first six months of 2020 actually climbed in some countries, including Mexico, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, by 10 percent, 5 percent and 3 percent, respectively, compared with the same period a year ago. To the Editor, The quote, All politics is local has never meant more than it will on November 3, 2020. I am proudly writing this letter in support of Amy Elik for the 111th District in the Illinois House of Representatives. The attack ads against Amy have been untrue, deliberate, and disgusting. Amy is a Christian, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a businesswoman, and a friend. She, like many of us, is fed up with the dirty Chicago, and inept Springfield, politicians who want to curtail our Constitutional Rights and carelessly spend our hard-earned paychecks. In the time I have known Amy; I have found her to be very smart, thoughtful, compassionate, and willing to listen to all sides of an argument. I firmly believe that with her education and experience in Accounting, Amy will work tirelessly, carefully, and always as a fiduciary representing the 111th District. Contrary to what has been said about her, Amy Elik is 100% pro-life and 100% pro-Second Amendment. Amy is also dedicated to helping our Seniors who cannot - or do not want to - live alone. As someone who also works with Seniors, I can tell you that it is a very important calling and one that we do not take lightly. To accuse Amy of trying to hurt Seniors is absolute fear-mongering, beyond insulting, and just plain absurd. Amy Elik lives the motto, God-Family-Country and I have no doubt that, when elected, she will use her position to represent the values of down-state Illinois, be our voice, and do everything in her power to protect us from politicians who only want to raise our taxes, raise their pay, and throw a blanket over our liberties. Finally, and this is important: Amy Elik has publicly pledged to NOT support Mike Madigan as Speaker of the House for Illinois. I find this brave and refreshing especially since my multiple queries regarding this subject have gone ignored and unanswered by Amys opponent. As a former Godfrey Village Board member, you trusted me with your vote for two terms. Now, I am asking you to trust me with your vote for Amy Elik on November 3rd. Sincerely, Sarah R. Johnes Godfrey Under the agreement, CloudMD will integrate its Juno electronic medical record (EMR) with PrescribeIT's solution infrastructure. Cloud MD is aiming to have the technical work completed in early 2021. Once complete, physicians and nurse practitioners who offer virtual consultations with patients will be able to send prescriptions electronically from their EMR to the patient's pharmacy of choice, and pharmacies will be able to request prescription renewals electronically from the patient's prescriber. "We are excited to partner with Infoway because we believe a national, modern e-prescribing service will engender greater patient trust and confidence in prescriptions," said Essam Hamza, MD, Chief Executive Officer of CloudMD. "The enhanced security offered by PrescribeIT will be beneficial to health providers and patients who use CloudMD's services." CloudMD provides virtual medical care to a combined network of 376 clinics, more than 3,000 licensed practitioners and almost three million patients through its technology components. "We look forward to working with CloudMD to make PrescribeIT more widely available across the country," said Jamie Bruce, Executive Vice President, Infoway. "PrescribeIT makes prescribing safer, more secure, easier and more convenient by eliminating the use of paper and faxed prescriptions, resulting in better health outcomes for Canadians." About CloudMD CloudMD (TSXV: DOC, OTC: DOCRF) is digitizing the delivery of healthcare by providing patients access to all points of their care from their phone, tablet or desktop computer. The Company offers SAAS based health technology solutions to medical clinics across Canada and has developed proprietary technology that delivers quality healthcare through the combination of connected primary care clinics, telemedicine and artificial intelligence (AI). CloudMD currently provides service to a combined ecosystem of 376 clinics, more than 3,000 licensed practitioners and almost three million patient charts across its servers. Visit cloudmd.ca. About Canada Health Infoway Infoway helps to improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Visit www.infoway-inforoute.ca. About PrescribeIT Canada Health Infoway is working with Health Canada, the provinces and territories, and industry stakeholders to develop, operate and maintain the national e-prescribing service known as PrescribeIT. PrescribeIT will serve all Canadians, pharmacies and prescribers and provide safer and more effective medication management by enabling prescribers to transmit a prescription electronically between a prescriber's electronic medical record (EMR) and the pharmacy management system (PMS) of a patient's pharmacy of choice. PrescribeIT will protect Canadians' personal health information from being sold or used for commercial activities. Visit www.PrescribeIT.ca. MEDIA INQUIRIES: Karen Schmidt Director, Corporate/Internal Communications Canada Health Infoway 416.886.4967 Email Us Follow @Infoway Julia Becker Vice President, Investor Relations CloudMD [email protected] INQUIRIES ABOUT PRESCRIBEIT Tania Ensor Senior Director, Marketing, Stakeholder Relations and Reputation Management, PrescribeIT Canada Health Infoway 416.707.6285 Email Us Visit www.PrescribeIT.ca Follow @PrescribeIT_CA SOURCE Canada Health Infoway Related Links www.infoway-inforoute.ca Less than 24 hours after Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, delivered a major address Wednesday that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) gave approval of $1.96 billion for the construction of a rail line to link Kano, Dutse, Katsina and Maradi in Niger Republic. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, via his verified Twitter handle, @GarShehu, on Thursday, publicly contradicted key details from the ministers address. Shehu tweeted: Nigeria isnt building rail line into Niger but, only to the designated Border point. Amaechi, on Wednesday while briefing State House Correspondents at the 16th FEC meeting, told newsmen that the council approved the project. An agreement between Nigeria and Niger in 2015, coordinated by the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation has a plan for Kano-Katsina-Maradi Corridor Master Plan, (K2M) as it is called. Going by this, the two nations would each build a rail track to meet at the border town of Maradi, said Shehu. Nigerian delegates to that meeting comprised officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Boundaries Commission, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Water Resources as well as those of Kano & Katsina states. The objective of the rail is the harnessing of raw materials, mineral resources and agricultural produce. When completed, it will serve domestic industries and play the role of a a viable transportation backbone to the West African subregion, starting with the neighboring Niger Republic for their export and import logistic chain. Maradi is the second largest city in Niger Republic and the administrative centre of Maradi Region and also the seat of the Maradi Department. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 17:03:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SUVA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Fiji received on Thursday the medical supplies from the World Health Organization (WHO). Fiji's Minister for Health Ifereimi Waqainabete reiterated the importance of having adequate, safe and competent personal protective equipment, saying that they are currently stockpiling supplies. He said healthcare workers are the key element of the health system and they need to protect them. The personal protective equipment, which is worth about 700,000 Fijian dollars (about 326,410 U.S. dollars), include 900,000 surgical masks, 30,000 face shields, 2,000 goggles and 4,000 isolation gowns. Meanwhile, Corinne Capuano, director of Pacific Technical Support and WHO Representative, said the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the importance of having a strong health system not only for the health sector but for the social and economic wellbeing of the world as well. According to the WHO data, about 8 to 27 percent of infections occur in healthcare workers around the world and one of the reasons behind it is lack of personal protective equipment. Fiji has reported a total of 32 COVID-19 cases since March 19 this year. Two persons have died and most of them have fully recovered. Currently, Fiji still maintains a nationwide curfew effective from March 30. Enditem Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who has been diagnosed with dengue and COVID-19, is shifted to Max Hospital, Saket, from Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) hospital here on Thursday (September 25). Sisodia was earlier admitted to LNJP hospital after he complained of fever and low oxygen levels. He has also been tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Office of Delhi Deputy CM said. Earlier on September 14, the Deputy Chief Minister had informed about his positive test results for COVID-19, following which he had isolated himself. Sisodia was admitted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital on Wednesday from being under home-isolation after he had contracted the infection. Live TV Earlier in the day, a senior doctor from LNJP Hospital said, "He is still in ICU since yesterday, but his condition is stable. The minister has been put on oxygen support as per requirement, and under constant observation." "The Deputy CM will be administered an RT-PCR test in a couple of days," the doctor said. Asked if the minister has any co-morbidities, the doctor, also a senior official said, "He has hypertension." Notably, the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital is a dedicated COVID-19 facility. The 48-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was admitted to the hospital after he complained of fever and low oxygen levels. Sisodia was unable to attend the one-day Delhi Assembly session on September 14 since he had tested positive for the disease. He is the second Cabinet minister in the Arvind Kejriwal government to contract COVID-19 infection after Health Minister Satyendar Jain. Satyendar Jain was tested positive for COVID-19 in June and he was administered plasma therapy. With 3,834 fresh COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the tally in the national capital rose to over 2.60 lakh while the death toll rose to 5,123. The fresh cases were detected after more than 59,183 tests were conducted the previous day. Thirty-six new fatalities have been recorded, taking the death toll to 5,123, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Delhi health department. The active cases tally on Thursday rose to 31,125 from 30,836 the previous day, it said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 17:10:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WUHAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Clad in leather and wearing a bamboo hat, Xiong Tongsheng is busy harvesting lotus root in a field with his fellow farmers in the city of Honghu, central China's Hubei Province. Lotus root is a popular aquatic vegetable in China. The country has the largest lotus root farming area and highest yield in the world, with the total area covering 400,000 hectares. Hubei's farming area accounts for about one-fifth of the country's total, with an annual production value of around 6 billion yuan (882 million U.S. dollars). Honghu is a major lotus root farming area in Hubei. This year, despite the impact of COVID-19 and flooding that has ravaged the province in recent months, Xiong has been delighted by the rich harvest. "The harvest period for lotus root is relatively long. We can keep harvesting it until April next year," Xiong said, adding that the increasing price of the plant has offset the impact of a yield drop over the past few months. Xiong and his colleagues now spend five to six hours in the fields as demand has been increasing since mid-July, when this year's harvest was first put on the market. Hong Xiaojun, who heads a local cooperative selling lotus root, said the cooperative receives orders for around 20 tonnes of fresh lotus root every day, which is mainly sold to south China's Guangdong Province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as well as to Southeast Asia. "The epidemic and floods have affected about one-eighth of the yield, but with the rising price, our revenue has remained at about the same level as last year," Hong said. The cooperative is now mainly working on export orders and has invested 12 million yuan in a more automated processing workshop. The Hubei government has taken measures to mitigate the impacts that COVID-19 and floods have had on farmers. The local agricultural and rural affairs department has launched a campaign mobilizing government officials to help match online and offline agricultural product demand with businesses within and outside the province. Li Tongbao manages a pepper farm in Hubei and was worried about his business in February, the peak time to plant pepper seedlings, as the province was experiencing the height of the epidemic. The local government guided farmers to stagger working shifts in the fields and coordinated with agricultural material departments to provide delivery services online, which helped ensure agricultural production continued. As the harvest season arrived, Li was happy to see red peppers clustering in the fields. "With a higher average price, they will bring in quite a substantial return," he said. Enditem Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 18:29 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4701dfc 1 City Jakarta-police,abortion,clinics,crackdown Free The Jakarta Police is set to block websites that offer illegal abortion services and products over public health and safety concerns. Jakarta Polices special crimes unit head Sr. Comr. Roma Hutajulu told tempo.co on Thursday that his office had discovered a number of websites containing contact details of several illegal abortion clinics across the capital. In addition to abortion services, such clinics also offer drugs to induce miscarriage, according to him. We have checked [the abortion sites] and will take action, Roma said. He went on to say that the police had also scoured social media platforms to find offers of illicit abortion services. In one case, the LinkedIn profile of a company in North Jakarta offers a variety of abortion pills. The Communications and Information Ministry has yet to provide any statement on the matter. On Wednesday, police arrested ten individuals linked to an abortion clinic in Senen, Central Jakarta, that advertised its services and products on the internet. The clinic has reportedly aborted more than 32,000 fetuses since 2017. It charges Rp 2 million (US$134.47) for the abortion of fetuses under five weeks of age and Rp 4 million for fetuses older than five weeks, according to one of the suspects, the police said. Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said the clinic would typically serve five to six patients per day and had generated over Rp 10 billion in revenue since its founding. (rfa) Pakistani broadcaster Public News has selected a range of Grass Valley solutions to underpin its upgraded production and playout operation as it moves to a new facility in Lahore. The new set-up gives the Urdu language broadcaster future-ready capability, allowing it to manage and operate multiple playout channels across any platform. At the heart of the new playout and newsroom operation lies Grass Valleys iTX integrated playout platform, delivering, said the company, the increased flexibility and scalability Public News needs to meet the rising demand for more content, across more screens. Public News has also deployed the GV STRATUS video production and content management toolset, leveraging integrated social media publishing and an ultra-fast ingest to on-air timeline. Grass Valley partnered with United Broadcast to complete the project. Muhammad Azam, Public News CEO, said: "Our audience wants to receive breaking news updates on any device, at any time, anywhere. Grass Valley demonstrated a deep understanding of the requirements for a successful, future-ready news platform. The new set-up allows us to spin up a channel in a matter of hours and will support the ongoing evolution of our business. Added Greg de Bressac, Grass Valleys vice-president sales, APAC: Todays audiences demand instant access to breaking news on any screen, which means news broadcasters must address a hugely diverse range of digital platforms as well as their traditional linear services. To meet current market demands and adapt to changing consumer habits, newsrooms need tools and technology that empower production teams to deliver new services without increased resourcing. We are very proud that Public News has chosen Grass Valley to support this important milestone in its development. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has found that one of the nine arrested Al-Qaeda cadres had plans to run a radical camp in the guise of Madrasa, which has come under its scanner, in line of the terror module at Simulia Madrasa ran by Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh in Burdwan in West Bengal that had come to light six years ago after the Burdwan blast. NIA sources revealed that Al Mamun Kamal, the accused, told the investigators that he had raised funds for the purpose and even opened a Madrasa privately at his village: Paschim Nawdapara at Domkol in Murshidabad where he wanted to run a camp to radicalize young minds. He alongwith others had also started building a mosque nearby. To raise funds Kamal, facing the NIA's interrogation now, targeted hundreds of migrant workers, who had travelled to Ernakulam in Kerala, with the help of another arrested accused: Murshid Hasan, according to sources. The amount of donation ranged in between Rs 5 and 10. After collecting funds from the migrant workers, Kamal used to send them the subscription bills to Ernakulam and other parts of Kerala, confirmed his neighbour: Shahjahan Mondal. He said, "Kamal is the brain behind the Madrasa. But due to Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown his fund raising spree stopped and the madrasa was closed." Meanwhile a mosque at Jalangi in the district has come under the NIA's scanner after many among the accused were found to have held their meetings there after their prayers, sources revealed. Interrogating the six, the NIA learnt that Murshid from Ernakulam and another accused: Leu Yean Ahmed from Domkal were the coordinators of their meetings on the social media. Every evening, as soon as hes finished his work from home as a software engineer, Ravi Jagannadhan immediately logs onto another Slack channel. Here, in the virtual campaign office for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, tens of thousands of volunteers give each other updates on their progress. While the majority are American citizens, some are foreign nationals. This past Monday, Jagannadhan, who grew up in Toronto, posted: Finished calls for now. 18 calls, 6 Biden (3 have already voted), 2 Trump, rest were hangups. A fellow volunteer instantly replied, Excellent work, Ravi! You are making a difference! Hope to see you back here again soon! When the 28-year-old Canadian moved to California to work in the film industry in 2005, he had no intention to stay for long, let alone volunteer in an election campaign. But the message of hope and change from 2008 presidential candidate Barack Obama inspired him to get involved. He faced no problems as a foreigner on a work visa to walk into the nearest campaign office and start making calls to urge voters to support Obama. He has volunteered for the Democratic Party each presidential election since. U.S. law allows foreign nationals to do most routine volunteer work, including canvassing voters over the phone or door-to-door, but foreigners cannot donate any personal funds to campaigns or take part in decision-making processes. For example, according to the U.S. Federal Election Commission, A foreign national volunteer may attend committee events and campaign strategy meetings, but may not be involved in the management of the committee. While these rules provide a lot of leeway for foreigners to get involved, experts say there has typically been reticence to volunteer in another countrys election. A flood of Canadian volunteers to the phone lines might raise questions of undue foreign influence and ethical concerns. This year could be different. Canadians have always been very interested in American elections, but the Trump presidency has produced a level of agreement in their preference and intensity of concern that we have not seen before, said Paul Quirk, a professor of U.S. politics at the University of British Columbia. I would expect an unprecedented amount of engagement. Jagannadhan, who is now a naturalized American and Canadian dual citizen, said this year he is actively trying to encourage other Canadians to do their part. He expressed discontent over how U.S. President Donald Trump has handled the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans. In Canada the death toll is around 9,000. A president like Trump cannot govern in a world crisis, he said. In the last several weeks, Canadians have been contacting Democrats Abroad Canada, the Democratic Partys official country committee, daily to ask how they could pitch in. Were seeing tremendous interest from people who want to help and engage (compared to) previous years, said Democrats Abroad Canada communications director Dianna English. They know this could be the most important election in our lifetimes, she said. Democrats Abroad Canada limits the kind of volunteering foreign nationals can partake in, however. Canadians cannot do phone canvassing or letter-writing because the organization doesnt share American voters information with foreign nationals. Canadians volunteering with us help out with digital canvassing, to basically use their social networks to make sure that Americans and dual citizens in their communities know how to vote from abroad, English said. Were quite aware of the perception of foreign influence, so we try to be extremely careful and fall on the cautious side in terms of involvement to make sure its all appropriate, she said. The organization doesnt collect data on volunteers backgrounds, but there has been a 33 per cent increase in general membership since 2016. There were over 620,000 Americans living in Canada in 2016, and among this number only 5.3 per cent cast a ballot in the previous U.S. election, according to American federal data. This reflects a huge opportunity for voter growth. For Canadian small business owner Barry Shecter, the stakes couldnt be higher. If he could vote for his choice of an American president this November, he would do so in a heartbeat. Clearly in my mind, the U.S. is heading to an authoritarian government, said Shecter, who put up Democrats Abroad posters around his downtown Toronto neighbourhood. He has also reached out to all of his American friends and acquaintances to remind them to register to vote. I think its still salvageable now, but if Trump wins this election, I dont know if therell even be another election in four years time. As Canadians, we have an obligation to safeguard a functioning democracy in America, he said. Shecter now wants to do more particularly after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Sept. 18, which opened up a political fight in America over her replacement. He plans to contact the Biden campaign directly to ask if he could help with phone canvassing from Toronto. According to a recent Pew Research Survey Canadians dislike of Trump has reached new heights. Among Canadians, only 20 per cent expressed confidence in Trump to do the right thing regarding world affairs, a new low for a president. George W. Bush reached a previous low of 28 per cent confidence among Canadians during the Iraq War in 2007, while Obama inspired Canadian confidence throughout his presidency, trusted by 83 per cent of Canadians when he left office in 2017. But not all Canadians are rooting for the Democrats. Peter Downing, co-founder of the Wexit movement for an independent Alberta, is a strong Trump supporter and even thinks Alberta should consider breaking away from Canada and becoming a U.S. territory. His newly-established Alberta USA Foundation recently paid for a large billboard in Edmonton that features a photo of Trump and poses the question, Should Alberta join the U. S.? In terms of what is good for Alberta, Mr. Biden has opposed the Keystone pipeline, while Mr. Trump supports Keystone XL and overturned Obamas cancellation of the pipeline project. For that reason alone, its definitely in Albertas interest for Mr. Trump to be re-elected, Downing told the Star. I know quite a few dual citizens and Americans in Alberta, and they overwhelmingly support Mr. Trump, Downing said, adding that his friends intend to vote and he sees no need to remind them. Republicans Overseas, a group that conducts outreach to American expatriate voters worldwide, has been promoting voting from abroad on its social media channels. However, John Richardson, who works with the organization in Toronto, doesnt describe an elaborate get-out-the-vote operation from his group in Canada. Republicans are not as well, you know, represented as perhaps Democrats are in Canada, and most of the efforts for Republicans Overseas have actually been more on tax reform for Americans abroad, he told the Star in an interview earlier this month. This means that if a significant number of Canadians are volunteering, most are likely motivated to get Trump out of office. And it raises some ethical questions, experts say. The conversation is not necessarily about whats legal, but what is appropriate, said Stewart Prest, a political science lecturer at Simon Fraser University. We might want to ask ourselves, Should we engage in activities youd be uncomfortable seeing others do in Canada? What if Americans who werent living here were making calls around the country in support of a certain Canadian party? If one group does it, other groups will, too, and this could lead to a decline in trust in the overall system, Prest argued. Berenike Schott, a German doctoral student in sociology at Columbia University in New York, went door to door in the last U.S. presidential election to encourage people to vote, and this year, she is encouraging American friends and colleagues to register and vote. No one has questioned her activities so far. Schott says some issues demand a global response. Some of the biggest issues of our time, like the climate crisis, need to be tackled globally so we need leadership all across the globe by people who are serious about those issues and willing to collaborate to solve them. And our democracy is kept alive not just by voting, but by active civic engagement. As foreign nationals living in the U.S. we cannot vote or donate, but we can be involved in the bigger democratic project by using our rights, such as freedom of expression, to do our part, she said. Prest acknowledged that rise in international concern over U.S. politics could reflect growing frustration over the fact that what happens in America has an outsized impact on the world. Theres an argument there that anyone affected by an elections outcomes should have a say. But that would be a fundamentally different way of imagining how political systems work, he said. The way Jagannadhan sees it, his volunteer work is an intrinsic part of being a Canadian. As Canadians were taught to look out for our neighbours after all, he said. What happens in the U.S., for better or worse, ripples throughout the world and usually hits Canada first. With files from Edward Keenan Joanna Chiu is a Vancouver-based reporter covering both Canada-China relations and current affairs on the West Coast for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @joannachiu Read more about: SRINAGAR: A terrorist killed in an encounter in central Kashmirs Budgam district on Tuesday, had rescued a group of Indian Army soldiers during the devastating floods in Pampore in 2014. It has come to light that the slain terrorist, who was identified as Asif Muzaffar Shah, was hailed for rescuing over a dozen soldiers during the 2014 devastating floods in Pampore. Shah, who was a resident of Sambora Pampore village of South Kashmirs Pulwama district, was killed in the gunfight with security forces in Nawhar village of Charar-e-Sharif town of Budgam district. At least two soldiers were drowned in that incident. According to reports, Asif had joined terrorist ranks last month on August 13. Shah was earlier picked up for questioning by the security agencies in connection with the deadly blast in Pulwama that killed over 40 CRPF troopers. Live TV Shah was detained and released several times before he finally left his home to join the terrorist ranks. He was also once summoned by the National Investigating Agency. While leaving his home, he left a note for his family asking it not to waste time in locating him. It was reported that the local Army unit had offered him monetary assistance and even assured him of inducting in the Army after he saved the lives of a few soldiers, but he declined the offer, saying it was his duty to save the lives of helpless people. The slain terrorist had completed his graduation from Degree College Pulwama and was running a book shop in the Kakapora area of Pulwama. After his post-mortem and other legal formalities, Shah was buried in North Kashmirs Handwara. This platform is the first step in fostering closer corporate-startup relations between Taiwan and the international healthcare community. The corporates have an opportunity to provide a "reverse pitch" for startups to better understand how they could potentially collaborate. The initial phase of the platform will culminate in a virtual meeting with corporates and selected startups as they seek ways to work together. The platform has been well received by many corporate partners in Taiwan, including Acer Healthcare, Asus Cloud, Might Electronics, Advantech, Leosys, Wiltrom, JAG, and the OmniHealth Group. The initial interest is indicative of the eagerness for corporates to engage with startup talent. The platform will continue to engage with numerous corporate players and strengthen the HealthForAll network. The platform focuses on building closer collaboration between Taiwanese corporates and international startup communities to help drive a new era of innovation. Taiwan has long been established as a global powerhouse in ICT and manufacturing and to maintain its competitive advantage there is a collective interest in starting a dialogue with promising startup companies. The global COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for a rapid shift within the healthcare delivery model. The meteoric rise of digital health solutions has seen the disconnect of healthcare assets from healthcare services resulting in an increased focus on artificial intelligence, point-of-care diagnostics, and wearable biometric monitoring technologies. Taiwan is uniquely positioned to drive innovation forward in the digital transformation of healthcare, as the ecosystem is already dominant in many of the industries involved in this shift. Thus, HealthForAll is geared towards providing an opportunity for startup companies to leverage the core competencies of Taiwan to accelerate digital transformation in healthcare. The platform will continue to work closely with preexisting hospital and clinical partners, including Show Chwan Healthcare System, Taipei Medical University, SEQPRO and VCRO in a bid to bridge the gap between clinical expertise and technology application. "Most corporate executives believe healthcare is the trend and innovation is critical for their businesses, yet they feel behind in the corporate's ability to innovate. HealthForAll helps corporates achieve inspiration and corporate growth through healthcare startup engagement," said Arthur Chen, Executive Director, BE Capital. The HealthForAll platform has also received continued support from local Taiwan community partners, including Taiwan Tech Arena, Taiwan Startup Stadium, Startup Island, ITRI BDL, NARLabs ITO Invest Taipei, and the Development Center for Biotechnology. To learn more about HealthForAll, please visit https://www.healthforall.tw/. To apply to the platform, visit https://www.healthforall.tw/online-applications. Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2020, for the first batch of the platform. About BE Capital BE Capital is a startup accelerator and venture builder that focuses exclusively on Healthtech and Medtech. Based in Taipei, Taiwan BE leverages the unique strengths of our ecosystem to position the accelerator as the gateway to Asia for both local and international startups. Considering the complex nature of healthcare, it has traditionally been an innovation adverse industry due to the associated risks of failure. However, BE has set out to remedy this situation with our unparalleled access to hospital facilities, research institutes, investors, healthcare experts, and other industry stakeholders. For more information please visit www.beaccelerator.com SOURCE Taiwan Tech Arena This week marks the official start of fall, but longer nights and colder days can make it harder to spend time outdoors. Luckily, there are several inspiring environmental films that can be streamed at home. 1. Kiss the Ground Streaming On: Netflix Premiere Date: Sept. 22 Between wildfires devastating the U.S. West Coast and storms battering the Gulf, the impacts of the climate crisis can feel overwhelming right now. Kiss the Ground offers an alternative to all of the bad news by focusing on solutions. The film, directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell and narrated by Woody Harrelson, explains how we can heal the Earth through regenerative agriculture, farming practices that draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and into soil as a way to restore soil health, which in turn boosts ecosystems and food supplies. Kiss the Ground shows how feasible it is to make these changes at a grassroots level immediately and make a truly substantive impact with low cost and easy to implement solutions, Executive Producer RJ Jain said in an email. This is why I got involved. 2. Public Trust: The Fight for Americas Public Lands Streaming On: YouTube Premiere Date: Sept. 25 This award-winning documentary tells the stories of Indigenous activists, journalists, whistleblowers and historians working to protect Americas public lands. The film focuses on three political struggles: the shrinking of Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, the mining of Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota and the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to fossil fuel exploration. Public Trust was directed by David Garrett Byars and produced by Jeremy Rubingh. Patagonia Films, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard and actor Robert Redford are executive producers. It will be released on YouTube in time for National Public Lands Day. Our country is fortunate to have millions of acres of public lands, including National Parks, Monuments, Wildlife Refuges and Wilderness set aside for future generations, Redford said. Sadly, these lands that belong to you and me are under unprecedented threats from the greed of big corporations, eager to weaken restrictions in the pursuit of profits. Many of our current politicians are also to blame. Public Trust tells the story of citizens who are fighting back. Its a much-needed wake-up call for all of us who want to preserve our unique and wild cultural heritage. It will be released on YouTube at 2 p.m. EDT Friday in time for National Public Lands Day. Members of the National COVID-19 Burial Team have expressed frustration over the exemption of the team from government's package for frontline health workers. This comes after a member of the COVID-19 burial team contracted the virus. Members of the team have been lamenting the poor treatment they receive despite the risks involved in their work. The Director of Public Health of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Florence Kuukyi in an interview with Citi News said the government must give them the needed attention. We are also at risk. When we are going for the test, we make calls, and we are redirected to other places. That frustrates us. So we are just sitting down here without knowing our next step. At the beginning of this COVID-19 fight, we all thought there will be insurance cover for anyone who contracts the virus and dies in the line of work but here is the case, we don't even know who to go to as if we are doing the work for ourselves which makes our work disheartening. The structures are not working but a lot of attention has been given to our colleagues at the creative side. The same thing should be given to those of us at the preventive side. We are sitting here, if someone dies in the house, they will call us to go and take the body without even knowing the cause of death. We have been collecting dead bodies from the roadside since this COVID-19 fight began putting ourselves in danger but it seems all these things are not seen. So if attention is given to others, we also deserve some attention. Earlier cry for support Some members of the burial team in Accra had earlier disclosed that they are yet to receive any of the promised packages. During the weekly burial activities at the Awudome cemetery, some members of the team appealed to the government to honour its promise. They have paid doctors and nurses in this COVID-19 fight. They have been paid all the allowances they deserve. But those of us doing the burials, look at us; [we've received] nothing. Since March, they have not given us a pesewa, a member of the burial team said. At the time, Florence Kuukyi called for more logistics for the team. She said they were in need of more Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and vehicles to transport bodies for burial. We are asking for vehicles to help during the burial. If anybody can supply us with a vehicle that will convey the people to and fro, we will want that. It threatened to quit its duties if attacks on them by families of persons who die as a result of coronavirus do not cease. ---citinewsroom The role of the firefighter has evolved over the years and crews now are called on more for medic calls than fires. The traditional firehouse has evolved less. So why not develop a firehouse that acts as more than just that, but as a hub for emergency response and recovery?Thats what members of an architecture firm, along with a fire department, have been working on since the onset of the coronavirus in late March.The agile fire station would mitigate the onset of pathogens, like COVID-19, with advanced HVAC systems, decontamination and isolation rooms, as well as address social distancing and serve the community by providing surge capacity for mass vaccinations or other uses. The spaces could be used during other disasters, including natural hazards and civil unrest.We designed a full-blown, ideal fire station that incorporated [FEMA criteria for critical infrastructure] criteria into the design, said Barbara Price, special projects director with the architecture firm McMillan Pazdan Smith. And our big idea is that we want to create an agile fire station where we can flip spaces to resist a threat.The design was aided by the guidance of firefighters, including Dr. Kevin Milan, assistant fire chief at South Metro Fire Rescue in Denver, who has a doctorate in Fire and Emergency ManagementAdministration from Oklahoma State University.Many of the designs can be added on to existing fire stations, and Milan said a brand-new ideal fire station could be done within a year. Many of the existing stations already have the basic elements and could be adapted very quickly, he said.Milan saw his department go through many iterations of mitigating fallout from the virus since the beginning of the pandemic, including having to transport fire units to the hospital for decontamination and having to house some fire personnel in local hotels to limit exposure to others. His department has had 30 firefighters test positive and two hospitalized.The agile or ideal fire station would include a place for decontamination and areas for quarantine, as well as recharge space for personnel to rest for mental health purposes.If we could create a space within the bay where we could flip the HVAC system and create negative pressure, as well as either an air curtain or operable wall to contain those pathogens, they could bring the medic units in and cleanse them there, Price said. And then they can more quickly get back into service.Price said she learned in developing such units for hospitals that it was crucial for doctors and nurses to have places to recharge, and the same is true for firefighters. Weve got evidence from PTSD patients that those kinds of spaces will improve mental health, and we know that mental health and physical health are connected, she said.In designing the ideal firehouse, the architects looked at FEMA guidelines for critical infrastructure that were established after 9/11. We took those elements and distilled those into building systems and building spaces that could respond to and support planning for disaster scenarios, Price said.It is also hoped that following the FEMA critical infrastructure guidelines will enable fire departments to obtain federal grant funding for such improvements.The architecture team also designed atool for fire departments to assess their needs when it comes to mitigating pathogens and other hazards to determine what might be the most useful additions to existing fire stations.Some of the areas in fire stations that could use improvement: Space planning: While it used to be enough to ensure harmful carcinogens did not make it into firehouse living spaces, those protections are no longer enough to stop something like COVID-19. Design considerations for spaces within the firehouse require more acute attention to detailed zoning related to the adjacencies and isolation of various areas where likely cases of infection or contaminants arise, while also keeping in mind best practices for social distancing. Material selection/sanitation: Building material selection now includes the options and use of naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial surfaces and high-touch building components. A cleaning regimen with antimicrobial agents is critical and should be developed as a part of the ongoing operations of the station. HVAC: COVID-19 has highlighted a growing need to better control the ventilation and filtration in all buildings, including fire stations. Changes can be made within HVAC systems to capture smaller particles and clean the air using ultraviolet light or electrostatic filtration. Attention should also be paid to maintaining adequate humidity in the station, as low humidity has been shown to increase the severity of exposure to viruses, including COVID-19. Mental health: Our immune systems are affected negatively by stress. Designing fire stations around COVID-19 should include elements that protect the mental health of firefighters. This includes proper lighting that supports their natural circadian rhythms, as well as spaces that are designed for safe interaction to ease anxieties around exposure. The head of the Canadian Army, Lt-Gen. Wayne Eyre, has publicly conceded that support for far-right extremism is growing in the ranks of Canadas military, declaring, We have a problem with far-right activity across the army. This is a staggering about face. Canadas military-intelligence and political establishments have for years downplayed the presence of supporters of the far-right in the Canadian Armed Forces. Those military personnel exposed as having far-right views and ties have invariably been labeled rare, and bad apples. Internal intelligence documents, obtained by Global News through access to information requests, indicate a cavalier attitude towards the far right. In 2016, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Canadas primary national intelligence agency, claimed that within the broader context of extremism in Canada, the number of right-wing extremists who promote or are willing to engage in politically-motivated violence is extremely small. An internal report authored by Military Police Criminal Intelligence on the presence of far-right and neo-Nazi elements in the Canadian Armed Forces was similarly dismissive, claiming that hate groups do not pose a significant threat. The report said that between 2013 and 2018, 53 members of the armed forces were confirmed to have connections to far-right groups, including the Three Percent, the Soldiers of Odin, Hammerskin Nation, the Proud Boys, La Meute, and Atomwaffen Division. Last week, Eyre announced he would soon issue a special order giving army units explicit direction on how to respond to expressions of support for the far right and racism among military personnel. According to CBC, he also pledged to convene a meeting of some 450 mid-level Army commanders to discuss far-right infiltration of the military. The military top brass change of tack is in response to a series of recent incidents and revelations that have proven impossible to ignore, notwithstanding the best efforts of the corporate media to trivialize them. The most high-profile of these was the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by Army Ranger Corey Hurren, who was quickly revealed to be an advocate of far-right conspiracy theories. On the morning of July 2, Hurren drove his pickup truck through the gates of Rideau Hall, the residence of the governor general, and the temporary residence of Trudeau. A 90 minute standoff between RCMP officers and the heavily-armed Hurren ensued, which ended when the latter was peacefully apprehended. A decorated Army Ranger who had received an army medal as recently as January 2020, Hurren was on duty when he carried out his attempted attack. Yet, as part of the medias general indifference to the affair, no journalist has seen fit to inquire whether he conducted the assault in his army uniform. (See: Canadian Establishment Downplays Attempt to Assassinate Trudeau). Hurren faces 21 weapons charges and one count of threatening the prime minister. His bail hearing has been delayed several times since July. The hearing is currently set for October 16. The attempts to gloss over Hurrens political motivations were undermined by the contents of a letter that he had on his person when he was arrested. With the firearms ban, wrote Hurren, and seeing more of our rights being taken away, on top of bankrupting the country, I could no longer sit back and watch this happen. I hope this is a wakeup call and a turning point. Hurren accused the Trudeau Liberals of establishing a Communist dictatorship. This is a trope of far-right conspiracy theorists, including the likes of the fascistic Alex Jones of InfoWars, whose views Hurren had promoted as far back as the early 2000s on his personal webpage. Social media posts by Hurren on Instagram and the public Facebook account of his small business, GrindHouse Fine, show that he was influenced by conspiracy theories linked to QAnon, a far-right group that advocates violence and mass arrests to protect President Trump from what they allege is a state-organized conspiracy against him. Social media posts also show his strong support for the military, including many shared posts from the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, of whose Swan River Patrol he had been elected second in command. The Canadian Rangers are also in the spotlight because of other personnel with ties to the far right. Two Rangers in the Valemont, B.C. Rangers Patrol Group, Erik Myggland and his ex-wife, Jodi Myggland, were under the scrutiny of military intelligence for at least four years due to their open support of far-right organizations. Erik Myggland has been pictured wearing patches of both the Three Percenters and the Soldiers of Odin. Remarkably, the two were allowed to continue serving in Canadas military unhindered, with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan stating he only learned about their cases when the CBC raised the issue in August after the broadcaster conducted its own investigation. Founded in 2008, the Three Percenters are an outgrowth of the militia movement in the United States. Their ideology combines extreme anti-government hysteria with an almost religious devotion to gun rights. As with the militia movement of the 1990s, they make references to the New World Order conspiracy theory and believe that the world is controlled by a shadowy globalist or socialist clique, a sentiment that overlaps with the far-right contemporary QAnon movement and the ravings of Alex Jones. The Soldiers of Odin were formed as part of the right-wing nationalist backlash against the refugee crisis sparked by the imperialist wars in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. Founded in 2015 in Finland, the movement quickly spread across Europe and to North America. Their ideology is ultranationalist, anti-immigrant, and anti-refugee. The first Canadian chapter of the Soldiers of Odin was founded in 2016. As with the Three Percenters, the Soldiers of Odin have a strong survivalist mentality, coupled with an obsession with protecting national sovereignty. They have been known to conduct patrols in immigrant neighbourhoods with the intention of intimidating and harassing immigrants and minorities. Earlier this month, Eyre announced publicly that Eirk Myggland would be removed from the Rangers within weeks. However, the army chief said that the military would not and could not take specific disciplinary measures against him, because he had engaged in his far-right activities during his own free time. Myggland and Hurren were no doubt attracted to the Rangers by its promotion of bellicose nationalism. On the website of the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, of which both Myggland and Hurren were members, the unit boasts that one of its main tasks is watching for illegal immigrants. The neo-Nazi terrorist organization The Base has also found support within the Canadian Armed Forces. The leader of the movement, Rinaldo Nazzaro, used to work as an FBI analyst and contractor for the Pentagon. The movement aims to recruit weapons specialists from western militaries. Corporal Patrik Mathews, a Canadian Armed Forces reserve combat engineer, went AWOL in August 2019 when an undercover investigative report uncovered his efforts to recruit members of his unit, the 38 Canadian Brigade Group in Winnipeg, to the Base. He fled to the United States, where he was arrested with two other Base members for planning a terrorist attack in Richmond, Virginia, in January. (See: Virginia declares state of emergency barring guns at State Capitol ahead of far-right rally). The FBI discovered videos at Mathews apartment in Delaware, in which he discussed his plans: Derail some fing trains, kill some people and poison some water supplies If you want the white race to survive, youre going to have to do your fing part. This information has been largely ignored by the corporate media and political establishment. The same media outlets that for decades have screamed about the threat of Islamist terrorism, and cited it to justify foreign wars and a massive expansion of the powers and reach of Canadas intelligence agencies, have treated the attempted assassination of Canadas head of government as a non-event. Only a handful of articles, mainly in the CBC and the Winnipeg Free Press and based on their own investigative reporting, have drawn attention to the growing presence of far-right forces within Canadas military. The reasons for this are clear. The exposure of far-right elements within the military cuts across the ruling elites efforts to cast the armed forces as a defender of democracy and protector of human rights abroad. These have been the key justifications used to sell decades of Canadian military aggression around the world in close alliance with US imperialism, from the bombardment of Yugoslavia to the ongoing war in Syria. Additionally, the Trudeau government, backed by the entire political establishment, is in the process of vastly increasing military spending, so as to ensure Canadian imperialism has the hard power, to use the words of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, to be a protagonist in the new era of global strategic competition among the great powers. Current plans call for Canadas defence spending to be hiked by more than 70 percent by 2026 over 2017 levels. But Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan recently indicated that military spending could be raised still higher so as to speed up delivery of new weapons and weapons systems. Ryanair will put unneeded British staff on unpaid leave if the UK government does not provide a "proper" furlough scheme, Group Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said on Thursday, as Britain prepares to change its COVID-19 job supports. "We want to keep our pilots and cabin crew employed and paid and we are going to have to have huge government assistance for that, otherwise I'm afraid they're all going to go on unpaid leave for the winter," O'Leary told Sky News television. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie M360, Times Internets turnkey publishing and monetization platform for publishers, has partnered with Google as a Google Ad Manager partner. M360 will now be able to monetize publisher inventory using the Google Ad Manager platform. Times and Google have a long standing partnership on Google Ad Manager. Made in India, M360 is a complete hosting and monetization platform that has quickly scaled up and now serves 25 Million MAUs outside of the Times Internet group. Apart from Google Ad Manager, M360 also leverages Times Internets homegrown premium ad-network, Colombia Audience Network, to provide leading advertisers and agencies to achieve performance for their marketing objectives at scale across a wide variety of ad formats and audience segments. Speaking on what this partnership means for M360 and Google, Puneet Gupt, COO - Times Internet said, M360 aims to bring technological advancements in digital publishing to the smallest of the publishers allowing them to focus on bringing great content to their readers. We are happy to join hands with Google to provide enhanced monetization capabilities to Indian publishers on the M360 platform. Weve been working very closely with the Google team since the inception of M360 platform 8 months ago and this partnership is a testament of the strong synergy in building a comprehensive publishing platform for publishers who are looking to scale their revenues and engage their users. Our product has become a de facto platform for publishers looking to create, monetize and engage their readership through a seamless ad and content experiences across all platforms said Arjun Satya, Co-founder - M360. We have had a strong partnership with Times across multiple areas, and today were excited to be extending it even further. We hope this initiative will inspire other publishers to build on their digital journey, so that together we can grow the digital publisher ecosystem in India, said Ryu Hirayama, Director and Head of APAC Partnership Solutions, Google. M360s hosting and CMS helps media organizations create a fast loading, non-intrusive ad and content portal which leads to higher CPMs for the same ad inventory. M360 runs over a state-of-the-art personalization engine, giving publishers an edge to engage and retain their audiences. This personalization engine leverages billions of combinations across 60k user attributes to recommend the best possible content and ads, all in real-time. M360 has also launched an integrated push notifications and newsletter management service for publishers to engage with their users effectively. Publishers shifting from their current hosting to M360 platform have seen anywhere from 30% to 160% lift their Page CPM within a few weeks of migrating from traditional hosting solutions. TANZANIA, Tanzania - The United States butted heads with China and Russia at the United Nations on Thursday over responsibility for the pandemic that has interrupted the world, trading allegations about who mishandled and politicized the virus in one of the few real-time exchanges among top officials at this years COVID-distanced U.N. General Assembly meeting. The remarks at the U.N. Security Councils ministerial meeting on the assemblys sidelines came just after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres decried the lack of international co-operation in tackling the still out-of-control coronavirus. The sharp exchanges, at the end of a virtual meeting on Post COVID-19 Global Governance, reflected the deep divisions among the three veto-wielding council members that have escalated since the virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in January. They also crackled with an energy and action that the prerecorded set pieces of leader speeches at the virtual meeting have thus far lacked. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking first, stressed the importance of U.N.-centred multilateralism and alluded to countries including the U.S. opting out of making a COVID-19 vaccine a global public good available to people everywhere. In such a challenging moment, major countries are even more duty-bound to put the future of humankind first, discard Cold War mentality and ideological bias and come together in the spirit of partnership to tide over the difficulties, Wang said. And in a jab at U.S. and European Union sanctions including on Russia, Syria and others, he said: Unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction needs to be opposed in order to safeguard the authority and sanctity of international law. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the pandemic and its common misfortune did not iron out interstate differences, but to the contrary deepened them. In a whole number of countries there is a temptation to look abroad for those who are responsible for their own internal problems, he said. And we see attempts on the part of individual countries to use the current situation in order to move forward their narrow interests of the moment in order to settle the score with the undesirable governments or geopolitical competitors. All that was too much for the United States U.N. ambassador, Kelly Craft, who opened her remarks late in the meeting with a blunt rejoinder. Shame on each of you. I am astonished and disgusted by the content of todays discussion, Craft said. She said some representatives were squandering this opportunity for political purposes. President Trump has made it very clear: We will do whatever is right, even if its unpopular, because, let me tell you what, this is not a popularity contest, Craft said. She quoted Trumps speech Tuesday to the virtual opening of the General Assemblys leaders meeting in which he said that to chart a better future, we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China. The Chinese Communist Partys decision to hide the origins of this virus, minimize its danger, and suppress scientific co-operation (that) transformed a local epidemic into a global pandemic, Craft said, adding that these actions prove that not all member states are equally committed to public health, transparency , and their international obligations. But she ended her remarks saying one lesson from the pandemic is the need for unity, not division, and calling for council members to work together in transparency and in good faith. Chinese U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun asked for the floor at the end of the meeting and delivered a lengthy retort, saying China resolutely opposes and rejects the baseless accusations by the United States. Abusing the platform of the U.N. and its Security Council, the U.S. has been spreading political virus and disinformation, and creating confrontation and division, Zhang said. Zhang said: The U.S. should understand that its failure in handling COVID-19 is totally its fault. Russias U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia expressed regret that Craft used Thursdays meeting to make unfounded accusations against one council member. and quoting Lavrov saying the crisis has shown the need for the interdependence, interconnectedness of all states without exception in all walks of life. Responding to Crafts call for unity, he said, Its hard to disagree with that. But unfortunately, the crux of her statement, its form and its tone, do not correspond to that appeal at all. The United Nations chief said in opening the Security Council meeting that the world failed to co-operate in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Guterres said that if the world responds to even more catastrophic challenges with the same disunity and disarray, I fear the worst. He said the international communitys failure was the result of a lack of global preparedness, co-operation, unity and solidarity. Guterres pointed to the nearly 1 million people around the world that the coronavirus has killed, the more than 30 million who have been infected. He said the global response is more and more fragmented, and as countries go in different directions, the virus goes in every direction. What is needed more, Guterres said, is a co-operation that not only involves nations but includes global and regional organizations, international financial institutions, trade alliances and others including the business community, civil society, cities and regions, academia and young people. Lavrov also praised the World Health Organization for acting professionally and providing effective preventive steps to minimize the pandemics effect. U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of the WHO, accusing the U.N. agency of being under Chinese influence. ___ Edith M. Lederer, chief U.N. correspondent for The Associated Press, has been covering world affairs for nearly a half-century. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EdithLedererAP Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo today unveiled the new habitat for the zoos Amur leopards, the Zalie and Bob Linn Amur Leopard Woodland. The new exhibit, located in the zoos former African lion exhibit, provides an enriching outdoor space for the worlds rarest big cat species. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon joined Friends of the Zoo officials in recognizing Zalie and Bob Linn of Manlius for their generous naming gift to help create the new exhibit. The Friends of the Zoo presented the Linns with a smaller version of the nameplate gracing the exhibit. The exhibit is now home to the zoos breeding pair of Amur leopards, Tria and Rafferty, and their offspring. The pair produced twin cubs within a year of being introduced at the zoo. Their cubs, Milo, a male, and Mina, a female, were born in June 2019 and will be moving to other Association of Zoos & Aquariums institutions as part of the Species Survival Plan to save Amur leopards from extinction. Amur leopards are critically endangered, with fewer than 60 estimated to remain in the wild. Accredited zoos care for an assurance population of about 200 through the Species Survival Plan. The new wooded habitat features a high mesh ceiling, log bridges and tunnels and platforms 20 feet off the ground to encourage this species' natural penchant for climbing, said Zoo Director Ted Fox. The exhibits height gives the cats the best view in Syracuse, he said. Amur leopards also are a cold weather species, so they are perfectly acclimated to Central New York winters and will be able to use the outdoor habitat year-round, Fox said. The Friends of the Zoo raised and allocated over $250,000 for the project, with the Linns contributing a large naming gift. Friends of the Zoo Interim Executive Director Quentin Skip" Lockwood called the Linns the backbone of support for this new exhibit. He also acknowledged other key donors: the Herbert and Eleanor L. Howard Charitable Foundation, Triad Foundation, The Gifford Foundation and Laura and Rick Iorio. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), contributed a training wall, a special section where visitors will be able to see animal care staff working with the leopards up close. Zookeepers have daily training sessions with animals to engage them in participating in their own care and husbandry. County Executive McMahon said the exhibit opening is another significant milestone for our world-class zoo. The fact that we continue to be entrusted with the care of these beautiful animals is a testament to our staff, the commitment of zoo management and our Friends of the Zoo group that supports us so much, McMahon said. This is probably the best public-private partnership we can point to in county government. Zalie and Bob, thank you for your generosity, and to everyone to has put their hard-earned dollars to work to benefit the entire community. Zalie and Bob Linn said they consider the zoo an important part of the fabric of their community. Central New York is our adopted community and weve had a wonderful life here, Zalie said. We wanted to give back to our community and were so glad we were able to do this, because we do love animals. I also hope that with this worldwide pandemic, it will give people time to reflect and preserve what we have had in the past, not only in Central New York but around the world. Prime Minister and his Indian counterpart will hold a virtual summit on September 26 during which the two leaders would discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including defence and security issues, the foreign ministry here has announced. The summit is being held on the initiative of Prime Minister Modi who had a telephonic conversation with the newly-appointed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Rajapaksa on August 6 this year, the ministry said in a statement. "Looking forward to interacting with PM @narendramodi at the virtual summit scheduled for 26th September. We expect to review the multifaceted bilateral relationship between our nations, ranging from politics, economics, defense, tourism, and other areas of mutual interest," Rajapaksa said in a tweet on Wednesday. The interaction is expected to focus on the full gamut of bilateral engagement inter-alia political, economic, finance, development, defence and security spheres, educational, tourism and cultural as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest," the Sri Lankan foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. Relevant subject ministers and senior officials of both countries will associate the leaders at the summit, it said. This is the first virtual summit-level interaction by Prime Minister Rajapaksa with a foreign leader since assuming premiership last month, it added. Responding to Rajapaksa's remarks, Modi tweeted on Thursday: "Thank you, @PresRajapaksa! I too look forward to jointly reviewing our bilateral relationship comprehensively. We must explore ways to further enhance our cooperation in the post-COVID era." The two leaders are expected to deliberate on a host of issues like ways to further deepen anti-terror cooperation, boost overall defence and trade ties as well as implementation of India's development projects in Sri Lanka. The long-pending Tamil issue in Sri Lanka is also likely to figure in the talks. India has been pitching for fulfilling the aspirations of the minority Tamil community in the island nation. "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 Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement in New Delhi. Prime Minister Modi visited Sri Lanka twice during the former regime of Maithripala Sirisena from 2015. Both and his brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa chose India for their first overseas visit after winning the presidential election in November last year. Sri Lanka waits in anticipation of India's action for a debt moratorium and an additional currency swap from India, said the foreign ministry officials in Colombo. (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 Trend Currently, there are discounts on air tickets in the market of tourism services, Azerbaijani expert in the tourism sector Rashad Ganjaliyev told Trend. The reason for the discounts was the new tourist destinations opened recently, Ganjaliyev added. During the critical period of the pandemic, flights were suspended in all directions. Later they gradually resumed, but the prices for air tickets were expensive by 70-80 percent than usual. Fewer tickets were sold to avoid crowding of passengers, the expert said. Moreover, the price increase was connected with fewer flights. However, the current situation shows that prices will fall as far as the flights to new tourist destinations resume, the expert said. Although the difference is not great, ticket prices will drop to their previous level in the future as far as the number of flights increases." Currently, AZAL and Turkish Airlines make special Baku-Istanbul flights. AZAL operates flights only to Antalya and Ankara. From today, Aeroflot will operate flights from Baku to Moscow and back. M att Hancock has denied that there was a conflict of interest in the UK's chief scientific advisor holding shares in a drug company contracted to develop a coronavirus vaccine for the Government. Sir Patrick Vallance, who leads the Government's expert advisory panel on vaccines, reportedly holds shares worth 600,000 in pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) According to reports in The Telegraph, Sir Patrick holds a deferred bonus of 43,111 shares in the British multinational outfit from his time as president of the company. The Health Secretary said any suggestion the scientific adviser was doing anything other than his level best to try and tackle this virus was wrong. When asked on LBC radio when he discovered the news of Sir Patricks personal shareholding, Mr Hancock said: Well, I didnt know about it until I read it in the newspapers. Pushed on whether he thought he should have been informed as Health Secretary, he replied: No, not particularly. I think there are rules around this and it is important he abided by the rules. Health Secretary Matt Hancock insisted Sir Patrick Vallance had done nothing wrong / PA He added: The thing about the vaccine is actually the Oxford vaccine is being developed by AstraZeneca, which is one of GlaxoSmithKlines biggest competitors, so I think if you know Sir Patrick Vallance as I do, any suggestion that he is doing anything other than his level best to try and tackle this virus is wrong. A government spokesperson told the Evening Standard: "Upon his appointment, appropriate steps were taken to manage the GCSA's interests in line with advice provided at the time. The Governments Chief Scientific Advisor has no input into contractual and commercial decisions on vaccine procurement which are taken by Ministers following a robust cross-Government approvals regime. Boris Johnson is shown samples stored in liquid nitrogen by Professor Kate Ewer during a visit to the Jenner Institute in Oxford / PA The UK now has access to six different Covid-19 vaccine candidates in development, with orders placed in July for 60 million doses from GSK and Sanofi Pasteur, subject to final contract. The Government has also reserved up to 100 million doses of a separate vaccine being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Sir Patrick this week said it was possible that small doses of vaccine could be made available before the end of the year. Vaccine Next Year In a Downing Street briefing with Englands chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, he said: We dont yet know they will work, but there is increasing evidence that is pointing in the right direction and it is possible that some vaccine could be available before the end of the year in small amounts for certain groups. He added that it was, however, much more likely that vaccines would become available over the first half of next year. Speaking before further restrictions were announced across the UK, Sir Patrick on Monday warned the country could see 50,000 Covid-19 cases a day by mid-October and a daily death toll of 200 or more a month later unless urgent action was taken. It comes after the Health Secretary told Sky News today that nearly 10,000 people a day are contracting the virus in the UK. Mr Hancock said the 10,000 daily infections were still fewer than the 100,000 per day estimated during the spring peak. The Prime Minister last week visited the Vaccines Manufacturing Innovation Centre construction site near Oxford where the majority of the UKs immunity medicines will be produced once the plant is completed next summer. Additional reporting by PA Media. SAULT STE. MARIE, MI An Ohio contractor has been awarded a $111 million contract to complete phase two of massive, multiyear project to build a new lock at the Soo Locks. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday that Kokosing Alberici LLC of Westerville, Ohio will stabilize the existing approach walls, allowing modern vessels to tie up and wait their turn to pass through the new lock. Construction will begin in spring 2021 and take about two years to complete. The Corps looks forward to beginning construction on the upstream approach walls next spring, and we continue to work hard to maintain the pace and meet all milestones in bringing our nations New Lock at the Soo to fruition, said Detroit District Commander Lt. Col. Scott Katalenich. The projects first phase to deepen the upstream channel began this summer and is expected to be completed by November 2021. Trade West Construction recently began working round the clock to complete phase one, specifically deepening the eastern area of the decommissioned Sabin Locks north channel, so Kokosing Alberici can begin work immediately in that area during the spring 2021 construction season. It is so important that we stay on track as work areas for the three phases do overlap and construction needs to be accomplished in a certain order, said New Lock Project Manager Mollie Mahoney. Awarding the phase two contract right on schedule sets the clock for phase three work to begin on time in 2022. RELATED: Michigan company awarded $7M contract to replace WWII-era valves at Soo Locks The projects third phase is the actual construction of the new lock chamber, work that wont be completed until 2027. Phase three is still in the design process and is expected to be advertised for bid in spring 2021. More than 75 million tons of cargo and 3,000 cargo vessels pass through the Soo Locks annually, however more than 85 percent of commodity tonnage through the locks is restricted by vessel size to the Poe Lock. The new lock project will construct a second Poe-sized lock on the existing decommissioned Davis and Sabin locks site. Owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the lock system raises and lowers vessels approximately 21 feet to overcome the difference in elevation between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andrei Makhovsky (Reuters) Minsk, Belarus Thu, September 24, 2020 10:24 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46e28c0 2 World Belarus,Alexander-Lukashenko,protest Free 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. 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. The ceremony would normally have been publicized as a major state occasion but was instead held without warning following Lukashenko's claim of a landslide victory in the Aug. 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. "His secret inauguration is an attempt to seize power," said Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Lukashenko's main opponent who fled into exile after the election. The United States and the European Union are drawing up sanctions against officials involved in the election and a subsequent crackdown on protesters by the security forces. 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. Thousands of protesters marched through the streets carrying red-and-white opposition flags, as passing cars honked their horns in solidarity. One placard read "if you have 80%, why are you afraid of us?" - alluding to Lukashenko's stated 80% vote share. Protesters formed human chains to block off some streets and caused traffic snarls. Occasional scuffles broke out as demonstrators tried to stop others getting detained. Local media footage showed helmeted riot police pinning protesters to the ground, and marching or carrying them away into detention. Several people were injured after water cannon were fired, the Russian news agency Interfax reported. More than 10 people had been taken into custody, the official Belta news agency said, while the human rights group Spring 96 said it was at least 116. The government typically releases the final figure the following day. Protesters had begun gathering in small groups in the capital earlier in the day, including outside at least three universities, local media footage showed. Some chanted "Sasha, come out, we'll congratulate you!" - referring to the diminutive form of Lukashenko's first name. Rumors had swept Minsk that Lukashenko was preparing for a snap inauguration ceremony when a motorcade swept through the center of the capital. Another 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" 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 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. 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". Authorities reported minimal growth among Oregons largest wildfires Thursday, with only three blazes gaining more than 100 acres. The Slater fire in northern California and Josephine County grew the most over 720 acres. But no other blazes advanced more than 200 acres, according to figures released by the National Interagency Coordination Center. Gov. Kate Brown, meanwhile, expressed optimism Wednesday about the state of Oregons wildfires. Search and rescue teams have been deactivated, she said, and the South Obenchain, Two Four Two and Brattain fires have been contained to a degree that allows them to be returned to the watch of local fire districts. The only remaining conflagration involving the state fire marshal is the Slater fire. Here are updates on Oregons largest wildfires, including how much theyve grown from Wednesday to Thursday: Slater Location: Northern California; Josephine County Size: 150,956 acres Growth: 726 acres Containment: 24% Cause: Under investigation Evacuation resources: Josephine County Latest information: InciWeb The Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve is still closed because of the blaze, officials said Wednesday. The fire remained outside the park boundary as of the latest update. Authorities on Tuesday reduced the evacuation level for the OBrien area from Level 2 (be set) to Level 1 (be ready.) *** Brattain Location: Lake County Size: 50,951 acres Growth: 200 acres Containment: 90% Cause: Human Evacuation resources: InciWeb Latest information: InciWeb Fire behavior is expected to remain minimal Thursday, according to fire officials. Fire officials said people will be able to see a haze from the northwest corner of the blaze, where heavy down and dead fuel is still burning, for a couple more days. *** Lionshead Location: West of Warm Springs Size: 203,566 acres Growth: 146 acres Containment: 15% Cause: Lightning Evacuation resources: Marion County; Warm Springs Police Department Latest information: InciWeb Over an inch of rain fell on some parts of the fire overnight, fire officials said Thursday. The rain will lessen fire behavior, officials said, and should allow crews to make progress on the blaze. *** Thielsen Location: Diamond Lake area Size: 9,971 acres Growth: 55 acres Containment: 30% Cause: Unknown Evacuation resources: Douglas County Latest information: InciWeb Pilot cars are escorting drivers on Oregon 138 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to mitigate risks to workers in the area. Authorities have also reduced the evacuation level for the Diamond Lake area from Level 3 (go) to Level 2. *** Beachie Creek Location: Santiam Canyon east of Salem; southern Clackamas County Size: 192,838 acres Growth: 33 acres Containment: 49% Cause: Unknown Evacuation resources: Marion County Latest information: InciWeb County officials late Wednesday warned residents of risks of falling trees as high winds and rain sweep through the area through Thursday morning. The rain could also cause rockslides. The Marion County Sheriffs Office said it remains unsafe to access Level 3 evacuation zones, including Detroit and Idanha. *** Riverside Location: Near Estacada Size: 138,029 acres Growth: 2 acres Containment: 34% Cause: Human Evacuation resources: Clackamas County Latest information: InciWeb Officials now say that 50 residential structures and 150 additional outbuildings burned in the Clackamas County fires. Some 3,000 people east of Estacada live in areas that remain under a Level 3 evacuation order -- though its unclear how many have actually returned to their homes at this point or how many never left. Fire officials said Thursday that the fire is still smoldering in areas where heavy fuels are sheltered from rainfall. People may be able to see smoke within the fires perimeter, officials said. View all currently active wildfires in the U.S. on The Oregonian/OregonLives interactive wildfire map. Fires that did not grow Wednesday to Thursday Holiday Farm Location: East of the Eugene-Springfield area Size: 173,094 acres Growth: 0 acres Containment: 27% Cause: Unknown Evacuation resources: Lane County; Linn County Latest information: InciWeb Evacuation notices for several areas have been downgraded, Lane County authorities said Thursday. Only Level 1 notices remain. Authorities on Monday publicly identified the person killed by the Holiday Farm fire as David Perry. Perry, a 59-year-old Vida resident, is one of nine people killed by wildfires throughout Oregon this year. *** Archie Creek Location: Northeast of Roseburg Size: 131,598 acres Growth: 0 acres Containment: 55% Cause: Under investigation Evacuation resources: Douglas County Latest information: InciWeb Minimal fire behavior is expected Thursday, according to fire officials. *** S. Obenchain Location: Jackson County Size: 32,671 acres Growth: 0 acres Containment: 85% Cause: Under investigation Evacuation resources: Jackson County Latest information: InciWeb *** Two Four Two Location: Chiloquin area Size: 14,473 acres Growth: 0 acres Containment: 95% Cause: Unknown Evacuation resources: InciWeb Latest information: InciWeb -- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 K. Rambo and Ted Sickinger of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 00:10:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Wang Yi, special representative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, also Chinese state councilor and foreign minister, attends a video meeting of world leaders held by the UN Security Council in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, special representative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, raised five proposals to improve global governance here on Thursday when attending a video meeting of world leaders held by the UN Security Council. Wang, also Chinese state councilor and foreign minister, proposed that the international community should follow the principle of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits, stressing that global affairs should be discussed by all parties, the governance system should be built by all parties, and the results of governance should be shared by every one. He called for joint response to non-traditional security threats and strengthening coordination and cooperation among major powers. Moreover, Wang called on all parties to maintain the international law order, and abide by the basic norms of international relations, including sovereign equality, non-interference into other's internal affairs and settling disputes through peaceful ways. Wang also proposed to strengthen the role of the United Nations, increase the representation and voice of developing countries, improve efficiency and emergency response capabilities, and work to realize the modernization of governance system and governance capabilities. China is willing to work hand in hand with other countries to continuously improve the global governance system and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, he said. Enditem S President, Donald Trump, has launched an attack on Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, insisting he is "not a fan". Meghan and husband Prince Harry stepped down as senior royals at the start of this year in a dramatic decision that rocked Buckingham palace. They have since relocated to Los Angeles where they hope to earn a living from Hollywood. Meghan and Prince Harry have recently been encouraging Americans to vote, seemingly in support of Trump's rival Joe Biden. Harry and Meghan recently shared a video on social media urging people to vote. Prince Harry said: "As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity." Many believe his comments were targeted towards Trump, who has often come under fire for his comments about minority ethnic groups. Meghan, who sat next to him, said: "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.'" But when asked by the DailyMail about the pair's comments, Trump said: "I'm not a fan of hers. "I would say this - and she has probably has heard that I wish a lot of luck to Harry because he's going to need it." 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 Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz has taken aim at Iran during a speech to the UN General Assembly, calling for a comprehensive solution to contain the Islamic republic and stop it from getting weapons of mass destruction. "A comprehensive solution and a firm international position are required," he said in a video statement that was prerecorded and delivered on September 23 during the second day of the UN General Assembly's virtual general debate. "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 in his debut speech to the 193-member UN General Assembly's annual meeting, which this year has gone virtual because of the coronavirus pandemic. He said Iran had 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." The United States quit the pact in 2018 and has since imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran as it pushes Tehran to negotiate a new deal. On September 21 it announced new sanctions against Iran's Defense Ministry and other bodies involved in its nuclear and weapons program, continuing a policy it describes as "maximum pressure" in response to "malign behavior" by Tehran. All the remaining parties to the nuclear deal and 13 of the 15 UN Security Council members say the U.S. claim on sanctions is void, and diplomats say few countries are likely to reimpose the measures. In his speech King Salman also expressed support for U.S. efforts to start talks between Israel and the Palestinians and called for disarming Hizballah in Lebanon. "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. He stopped short of endorsing recent U.S.-brokered agreements between the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Bahrain with Israel. Palestinian leaders have condemned the warming of relations between the U.A.E. and Bahrain with Israel, describing the development as a betrayal of efforts to win Palestinian statehood in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. King Salman also said a deadly blast in Beirut last month occurred because of the "hegemony of Hizballah over the decision-making process in Lebanon by force of arms" and said Hizballah was a terrorist organization that must be disarmed. Iran's UN mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the king's remarks, according to Reuters. Iran's president, Hassan Rohani, spoke to the UN General Assembly on September 22, defiantly rejecting what he said were U.S. efforts to make his country "a bargaining chip in U.S. elections and domestic policy." He said the United States could force "neither negotiations nor war" on Iran. Sunni Muslim-majority Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite-dominated Iran are locked in several proxy wars, including in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling the Tehran-aligned Huthi rebels for more than five years. Iran denies arming groups in the Middle East, including the Huthis, and blames regional tensions on the United States and its Persian Gulf allies. With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP Photo: (Photo : Michele Eddings Linn on Facebook) A miracle boy from Owensboro, Kentucky, defied all odds and asked the hospice nurse that took care of him 17 years ago to take his senior photos. Born with Pfeiffer Syndrome, Braden West's life expectancy is only about 18 months. His condition, which causes abnormalities in a baby's skull, fingers, and toes, makes it difficult for Braden to breathe. His mom, Cheri, said that doctors didn't think he would live at all, and if ever he would, he would be blind and deaf. At one-month-old, the doctors let Braden's parents bring him home, thinking that he would not make it, Cheri told Owensboro Times. His health deteriorated quickly, and he developed pneumonia, barely a week of being home. His condition has gotten so bad that the doctors decided he needs to be taken to hospice care. Baby Braden and Michelle's first meeting It was in hospice care that nurse Michele Eddings Linn met baby Braden. He started to experience respiratory difficulties and discomfort, so the family decided to admit him to hospice care, Michelle explained. Knowing fully well what could eventually happen to the baby boy, Michelle recalled sitting in the car and praying first before going out to admit Braden. Michelle said that she expected that meeting the baby boy for the first time would be an emotional and tearful moment. She was pleasantly surprised, however, to be greeted at the door by Cheri's beautiful smile, saying "I can't wait for you to meet him... you're going to love him." To which Michelle agrees. "Take him or make him better" Michelle said she was not sure at the time if Braden would make it to the morning as she watched him struggle with his respiratory issues throughout the night. She turned to prayer and pleaded that God either take the boy or make him better because it was just too hard for the baby and for his family and everyone else involved in his care. Then a "miracle" happened. Baby Braden slowly began to recover. After undergoing several procedures and a few months later, he was discharged, which is rare in the world of hospice care. Michelle said that Braden was the first patient that she had the pleasure of discharging. And so Braden would grow up defying every odds and living beyond his life expectancy. Miracle boy and hospice nurse reunites Now, seventeen years later, Braden and Michelle will be reunited to celebrate his 18th birthday. Cheri asked her to take Braden's senior photos. Cheri told 13WMAZ that there is no better person to take Braden's high school photos than Michelle - the person that God used to save her son's life. "As I drove there, I just kept thinking 17 years ago, I cried because I thought his time on earth was ending, and now I'm crying because he is graduating high school, and his life is just beginning!!!" Michelle said. Throughout their journey, Cheri had this to say, "It's amazing with faith in God what you can get through." Michelle and Braden: truly an inspiring story of friendship bonded by faith. Read next: Wife Continues Husband's Legacy of Kindness Self-Care: Watch Toddler and Mom Teach the World How It's Done College Student Donates Personally Decorated Crutches to Children in Need Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) A certificate of proclamation will soon be issued to a representative of the controversial Duterte Youth Party-list, an election official disclosed. Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas confirmed during a House budget hearing on Thursday that the poll body is planning to proclaim Ducielle Cardema, the wife of Ronald Cardema, within the week to validate the party-list group's victory in the 2019 elections. "Just two weeks ago, we already [approved] the granting of the Certificate of Proclamation to the partylist of Duterte Youth with the name of Ducielle Cardema as the representative, finally," Abas told the House appropriations panel. "Hopefully, meron nang apat na nakapima diyan (there are already four signatories there by now)." "Hopefully, maka-release kami ng certificate of proclamation within the week," he added. [Translation: Hopefully, we will be able to release the certificate of proclamation within the week.] Abas made the confirmation after Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza threatened to defer Comelec's proposed budget for 2021 unless there is a progress over the issue. "Nababawasan po tayo ng isang member ng House (We have one less member of the House) who could have helped youth in their sector," Daza said. "Every day of delay is every day of being unjust." Election lawyers and youth representatives on Monday filed a letter before the Comelec opposing the proclamation of Ducielle Cardema, noting that Duterte Youth Party-list was not duly-registered before the poll body. The Comelec previously canceled the bid of Ronald Cardema as the party-list representative, for misrepresenting his qualification as a youth sector nominee above 25 years of age. The Party-list System Act states that a nominee of the youth sector must not be more than 30 years old. Ducielle then became the group's first nominee, following Ronald's withdrawal of his nomination. COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Claims against Danske Bank in a lawsuit about one of the world's biggest money laundering investigations have topped $1 billion, according to a Danish law firm. Denmark's biggest lender is under investigation in several countries including the United States over 200 billion euros ($235 billion) in payments made via its small branch in Estonia between 2007 and 2015, many of which the bank has said were suspicious. Danish law firm Klar Advokater said it had filed a final round of complaints against the bank on behalf of 55 pension funds and other investors. U.S. law firms Grant & Eisenhofer and DRRT were behind the action. With the latest filing in the Copenhagen City Court, 331 investors claim 7.1 billion Danish crowns ($1.12 billion) for losses resulting from the alleged money laundering, the firm said. "For years, Danske said nothing publicly about the issue and even misrepresented the extent of its participation in the massive money laundering scheme," DRRT said in a separate statement issued late Monday. The bank is facing a number of other lawsuits from investors, including one filed by consultancy firm Deminor. Danske Bank did not immediately respond to a request for comment on those accusations, but has previously said it would defend itself against investor lawsuits. Since the scandal came to public light in 2018, Danske has strengthened its anti-money laundering efforts and exited the Baltic region. ($1 = 0.8518 euros) ($1 = 6.3369 Danish crowns) (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Tim Barsoe; editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Jason Neely) The Goa Police has lost track of 366 foreigners who were enlarged on bail between 2015 and the first half of 2020, according to data collated by the state home department and submitted in the High Court. The foreigners who have mostly been arrested under sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act have been released on bail often with the condition that they report to the police station regularly or keep the local police station informed about any trips outside the state or country. The absconding foreigners make up 90% of foreign nationals who were enlarged on bail pending trial and have fled the country or otherwise made themselves scarce and not available to face prosecution. A bulk of them are from the North Goa district. The Superintendent of Police (North) has revealed to the court that the police in his jurisdiction lost track of 32 foreign nationals in 2015, 40 in 2016, 65 in 2017, 87 in 2018, 59 in 2019 and 22 up to August 31 this year. The Anti-Narcotics Bureau of the Goa Police said it lost track of 3 undertrials in 2015, five in 2016, eight in 2017, nine in 2019 and eight in 2019. The Superintendent of Police (South) said he lost track of 16 foreigners during the same period while the Crime Branch said they had no track of 20 such foreigners facing trial since 2015. It is evident that in almost 90% of the cases where the foreigners have been enlarged on bail, their present whereabouts are unknown meaning thereby, that in all probabilities such foreigners have fled the country or otherwise not available to face the prosecution, the Bombay High Court at Goa division bench of Justices M S Sonak and M S Jawalkar said. These foreigners are mainly Nigerians but also include Kenyans, Tanzanians, Ghanaians, Israelis and Russians. If the concerned police officials were to realise that the foreigners are not attending the police stations and marking their attendance, the least that was expected was to move the courts for cancellation of bail. Besides, the police officials were required to immediately swing into action and trace such foreigners, before they succeed in fleeing from justice, the High Court said. From the statistics furnished, at least prima facie impression is created that the police agencies have treated this matter absolutely casually. We reiterate that if this continues, then, the administration of criminal justice in this State will be very seriously affected, the judges noted. The High Court was initially hearing an appeal filed by the State against the acquittal of one Pavel Neuhausel, a Czech national who was arrested on charges of murdering his partner Marketa Horka in 2013. After his initial acquittal by the trial court of the murder, Neuhausel was enlarged on bail while the state challenged the acquittal in the High Court. However, during the hearing of the acquittal it came to light that Neuhausel had fled the country. Back in 2013 Neuhausel was found in an unconscious state alongside the railway tracks at Cansa Tivim in North Goa and told the police that he was kidnapped, assaulted and dumped by the railway line. When the police broke into his room at the guest house where he was staying, they found his murdered partner lying in a pool of blood. He was arrested for the murder. We found that the police agencies were not at all serious, either in apprehending the accused or even in fixing any responsibility upon the police officials who were responsible for the accused jumping the bail and fleeing the country, the High Court observed. This is a serious issue affecting the administration of criminal justice. If this continues, then, it will have a very serious effect upon the administration of criminal justice in the State of Goa, the High Court said. No one in the government was willing to come on record about the courts observations. But Goas Advocate General Devidas Pangam said the government will file a reply in response to the Courts orders. Suspected terrorists shot dead an advocate at his residence in Srinagar on Thursday evening, officials said. According to reports, Babar Qadri, an advocate who also appeared in TV debates, was shot by gunmen from close range at his homeat Hawal in downtown Srinagar. Additional police teams have reached the spot. The area has been cordoned off and a search operation has begun to nab the assailants. MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJAlthough the General Election is slated to be conducted primarily by mail and polling places have been reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic, the county announced the polling locations for those who prefer to vote in person. Morris Township residents may vote in person from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the Municipal Building's conference room at 60 Woodland Ave. Morris Plains voters can cast ballots at the Morris Plains Community Center's multi-purpose room at 51 Jim Fear Dr. Accommodations are available at both locations for those with disabilities. The county clerk said all voters are strongly encouraged to vote by mail, and those that vote in person will utilize a provisional (paper) ballot. You can see a list of ballot drop boxes here. On Aug. 29, 2020, Gov. Murphy signed legislation to pivot New Jersey from primarily in-person to mail-in voting. "COVID-19 has caused us to re-evaluate the way we typically hold our elections," said Murphy when he signed the bill. "Even in the face of a pandemic, we are firmly committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive general election." This article originally appeared on the Morris Township-Morris Plains Patch A nephew of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar says he found $18 million of cash hidden inside a wall of one his uncles homes. Nicolas Escobar claimed a vision told him exactly where to look for the money inside the Medellin apartment he now lives in, according to reports. Mr Escobar told Colombian media that it was not the first time he had found cash in his kingpin uncles hideouts, where he stashed it while evading arrest. He also said he had discovered a gold pen, satellite phones, typewriter and an undeveloped roll of film. Every time I sat in the dining room and looked towards the car park, I saw a man entering the place and disappearing, Mr Escobar told Colombian TV station Red+ Noticias. The smell was astonishing. A smell 100 times worse than something that had died. Mr Escobar, who has lived at the apartment for five years, says some of the banknotes are damaged and unusable. And he told how he used to accompany his uncle on trips and was even once kidnapped and tortured by men looking for him. Escobar spent decades fighting the Colombian government to avoid extradition to the US and was eventually killed in a shootout with police in 1993. The narcoterrorist formed his cartel in Medellin in the late 1970s and by the 1908s was smuggling in 80 per cent of cocaine sold in the US. Escobar, nicknamed the King of Cocaine, became one of the worlds richest men as his business pulled in an estimated $420 million a week in revenue. While verifying Escobar's wealth is impossible because of the nature of drug money, estimates run as high as $30 billion. Escobar made the Forbes' list of international billionaires for seven years straight, from 1987 until 1993. In 1989, he was ranked as the seventh-richest man in the world. Escobar, who also went by El Patron, was arrested by authorities in 1991 and held in a self-designed prison called the Cathedral where he could chose inmates and continued to run his operations. Officials estimate the Escobars cartel was behind more than 5,000 killings between 1989 and 1993 alone. The fascination with Escobar saw more than 60 million viewers watch the Netflix series Narcos, which spent three seasons focussing on the drug lord. In the show Escobar was played by Brazilian actor Moura Wagner, who spoke of his relief when he finally stopped playing the role. In a rare event, Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud made a rare address to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. During his speech, the royalty explained his regime's foundational notions. King Salman also detailed his commitment to the Palestinians and accused Iran of being responsible for the instability of Islam. Rare U.N. address According to AP News, the pre-recorded footage of the address reveals that 84-year-old King Salman, who only delivers a few public speeches every year, still holds control over high-level policies despite the massive authority that his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has attained. Salman's delivery makes him the second Saudi king to have given a speech to the world assembly, preceded only by his brother, late King Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who spoke at the U.N. headquarters in New York in 1957. Both speeches of the two sibling royalties that were made 63 years apart noted the sacred role that Islam played in Saudi Arabia and how important it was to the people. Salman said that the people in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia carry the historical responsibility of protecting their Islamic faith from terrorist organizations and extremist groups attempting to undermine it due to their position in the Muslim World. Also Read: Donald Trump Touts Israel Agreement to Gain Support For Reelection Campaign Referencing the historical background of the Muslim belief that God's word was revealed to Prophet Muhammad about 1,400 years ago in the Mecca caves, Salman said that he spoke from the birthplace of Islam where its revelation was founded. The king rules a nation that is considered the Arab world's most significant economic power and is the most prominent oil producer worldwide. While the United States shares a close relationship with Saudi Arabia, several U.S. officials worry about future cooperation due to how unpredictable the kingdom's crown prince is. Reaching out for peace King Salman said that the kingdom's hands reached out to Iran to achieve peace over several decades but have not been successful. The royalty continued to accuse the Iranian government of taking advantage of international efforts to hide its nuclear weapons projects, as reported by The New York Times. The Saudi Arabian king noted their kingdom's experience with Iran has been less than peaceful and that the Middle Eastern nation had continuously been threatening international peace and security. However, the comments contradict those made by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who touted his country as a peace-loving nation that was working towards global cooperation. According to Aljazeera, spokesman Alireza Miryousefi of Iran's U.N. mission denied the baseless accusations of the Saudi king and said they had no proof of the claims. The spokesman said that the reckless statements that King Salman made during his U.N. address only show that certain global powers are attempting to create chaos among regional countries to sell more weapons. Experts believe the statement was a reference to the United States and its recent relations with Middle Eastern nations. King Salman's U.N. speech also marks the first time that observers who had no access to the inner workings of the kingdom saw the royalty's first public statement since coming out of the hospital in late July. Related Article: Saudi Arabia Royal Family Argues Amid Israel's Peace Agreements With Bahrain, United Arab Emirates @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mexicos leftist populist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday that he might reverse the energy reform from 2013 if he cant save state oil firm Pemex with existing laws, Reuters quoted the president as saying at a news conference. Lopez Obrador has repeatedly criticized the energy reform of his predecessor Enrique Pena Nieto, who opened in 2013 Mexicos oil and gas sector to private investment for the first time in seven decades. Lopez Obrador plans to make heavily-indebted state oil firm Pemex the pillar of turnaround for the countrys declining oil production, but the oil price crash earlier this year further deteriorated the finances and the debt of the Mexican oil company. The president seeks a greater role for Pemex in reversing the downward trend in Mexican oil production and is criticizing the energy reform and the foreign oil firms for failing to do so. Earlier this week, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources in the know, that Mexico could delay its planned energy sector reform until next year after Lopez Obrador asked regulators this week to help prop up Pemex. 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. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Kaspi Bank logo in seen at the bank's branch in Almaty By Tatiana Voronova and Abhinav Ramnarayan MOSCOW/LONDON (Reuters) - Kazakh banking and fintech firm Kaspi.kz may revive plans to list in London within weeks, three sources told Reuters, after Yandex's planned purchase of Russian online bank Tinkoff establishes a comparative valuation. Kaspi, which previously aimed to raise between $500 million and $700 million from the London share sale it abandoned last year, declined to comment on Thursday. A source close to the Kazakh firm said Kaspi, which controls the third largest bank in Kazakhstan where it is a leader in payment systems and e-commerce, may want to capitalise on the deal announced this week by Russian technology firm Yandex, which plans to take over online bank Tinkoff for $5.5 billion. This would set a valuation benchmark for digital banks in countries in the former Soviet Union and Kaspi could proceed with its listing once the deal was finalised, the source said. Kaspi will stress that its e-commerce business has been a big winner from the COVID-19 pandemic, a second source said. This month, Kaspi said that its net income rose by 50% year on year in January-June to 115.6 billion tenge ($272 million) on higher revenue and margins. Yandex's offer values Tinkoff at 10.5 times earnings and 2.9 times book value, Refinitiv data shows. A third source said Kaspi, whose popular mobile app has made it a household name in the oil-rich Central Asian nation of 19 million, could press ahead with the listing in the coming weeks. The second source said the listing could be announced in the coming days with the aim to get it done before November's presidential election in the United States. Citigroup and Morgan Stanley are among the banks involved in the deal, the second source said. Morgan Stanley declined to comment and Citigroup did not respond to a request for comment. Commenting on the Yandex-Tinkoff deal, Kaspi said it owed its success to its strategy "which combines everyday payments, e-commerce and digital finance services" in its app. Story continues "This Ecosystem approach is now being replicated by leading internet businesses around the world and it's no surprise to us therefore that Russia's best technology companies are attempting to replicate something similar themselves," Kaspi.kz said. In its listing announcement last year, Kaspi said the selling shareholders would include Baring Vostok funds, Goldman Sachs, Kaspi.kz board chairman Vyacheslav Kim, and its chief executive Mikheil Lomtadze. (Additional reporting by Mariya Gordeyeva and Olzhas Auyezov in Almaty; Editing by Alexander Smith) An Army initiative to create a stronger, fitter fighting force has yielded a dramatic gender gap, raising questions about whether the service might unintentionally compound barriers for women trying to move up the ranks. Recent Army figures show that 54 percent of female soldiers failed the new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), which is being rolled out on a provisional basis, compared with 7 percent of men during the second quarter of 2020. That reflects a significant improvement over last year, when leaked data showed that over 80 percent of a smaller cohort of female test-takers failed the six-event exam. But some women fear they won't be able to pass even with additional training or will continue to score lower than men, potentially affecting their career prospects in an institution already struggling to shed historical gender and racial disparities. The test, which will become the service's official fitness test next month, has prompted a broader debate over whether the service's focus on fitness and strength will elevate physical prowess over other qualities, such as effective and ethical leadership, or make it harder to retain troops with skills needed in an era of high-tech military competition. Army officials say the new age- and gender-blind fitness test, the first of its kind in the U.S. military, was developed to reduce injuries and better prepare soldiers for the demands of fighting, expressing confidence that training will help female troops eventually meet the new standards. Officials also say the test may be modified before results are incorporated into soldiers' evaluations, likely in 2022, when it could begin to affect promotions and future assignments. "Combat is age and gender-neutral," said Maj. Gen. Lonnie Hibbard, commanding general of the Army's Center for Initial Military Training (CIMT), which designed the new test. "And so regardless of your gender or, more importantly, your [military profession], we have to ensure that everybody is prepared for combat." The performance imbalance is rooted primarily in one of the test's six events, the leg tuck, which requires troops to hang from a pullup bar with their arms extended before lifting themselves up using abdominal and arm muscles. Soldiers must pass all six events, which also include carrying kettlebells and dragging sleds across a field, throwing a 10-pound ball backward over their heads, performing hand-release pushups and completing a two-mile run. The Army's previous test required troops to do only sit-ups, pushups and a two-mile run, and was adjusted for age and gender. One female soldier, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of damaging her career, said she attained high scores on the old test. But despite years of exercising to enhance her upper-body strength, including during periods of intense workouts on overseas deployments, she remains unable to do even a single pullup or leg tuck. "I can't even start to flex" upward, she said. The soldier, who had a baby this year, said she worries the increased emphasis on muscular strength will eventually lead her and other females to leave the military earlier than planned. "You're not going to have a lot of females make it to the top," she said. While women now represent about 15 percent of Army personnel, they remain a small minority among the top enlisted and officer ranks, as they do in other services. A recent government watchdog report found that women are likely to leave the military earlier than men and said Pentagon leaders lack adequate plans to integrate women. The ACFT, whose rollout has been complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, is one visible manifestation of the military's push to increase "lethality" across the force, which has become a hallmark at the Pentagon in recent years. Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper, who served as Army secretary until 2019, has championed the test. A physical training or military "PT" enthusiast, Esper has often joined troops for their early-morning fitness sessions when visiting military facilities across the country. "If you can't pass the Army Combat Fitness Test, then there's probably not a spot for you in the Army," he said after plans for it were unveiled in 2018. More importantly, officials say, nearly 20 years of insurgent warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan revealed a mismatch between the Army's previous way of training for and testing physical fitness and the realities of modern combat. That disconnect resulted in frequent injuries, which were costly for individual service members and the military. Army officials say the new test, the product of seven years of work by a team of Army officials and scientists at the CIMT, is designed to simulate aspects of combat, such as dodging enemy fire or dragging a wounded comrade across a field. Those tasks are important not just for soldiers dispatched to the front lines but also for support troops who may also come under attack. The vast majority of soldiers have now taken the test at least once. Under the proposed system, troops would have to pass the test to enter and remain in the Army, but the standards would differ according to military profession. An infantry or artillery soldier, for example, would be required to do more leg tucks than someone working in logistics or aircraft maintenance. Within those three tiers designated by military profession, soldiers receive a higher or lower score based on their performance. That makes it all the more challenging for women who choose to go into jobs categorized as "heavy physical demand," such as combat engineers, a male-dominated field that requires troops to lug heavy gear and navigate obstacles, sometimes under fire. Since 2015, when the Pentagon opened all combat roles to women, female troops have been able to compete for combat positions if they can meet entry standards. In practice, the number of women in previously closed combat jobs remains small. One female officer described taking the test last summer before she became pregnant with her first child. Even then, when she was top shape, the most she could do was one leg tuck - short of the three-tuck standard the Army is expected to require for her profession. "I could do enough to be in the Army but not enough to be an engineer," she said. Another event that could pose a challenge for women, who tend to weigh less than men, is the dead lift, meaning they may be lifting a weight that is heavier relative to their body mass. Troops whose jobs put them in the least demanding of the test's three difficulty categories, including dentists or public affairs specialists, must dead lift a minimum of 140 pounds three times. They receive additional points for lifting more. In response to women's high failure rate to date, the Army is temporarily allowing troops who cannot complete a leg tuck to do a two-minute plank instead. "What we're really trying to figure out is how do you incentivize excellence in improving physical fitness without adversely impacting any demographic negatively within the Army," Hibbard said. Officials say they are analyzing evolving data on female performance and expect the statistics to improve. In two recent basic training classes, 100 percent of the women passed, Hibbard said. Some female troops say they believe that more rigorous standards are overdue, especially for career fields that are the most physically demanding, such as infantry. One female soldier said the previous version was too easy. While she failed the test last fall and still can't do a leg tuck, she has been using a pullup assist machine to train and said she's close. "If you're serious about staying in the military, you've got to work on it," she said. But for those who can't meet the minimum standard or who pass but score significantly lower than men, the test could affect their careers. That could occur most directly for enlisted personnel, whose fitness scores have long counted toward their promotion via a points system. Army officials say it has not been decided whether the new test will be used in the same way for enlisted personnel once it is finalized. For commissioned officers, physical fitness scores aren't formally used by promotion boards. But soldiers say the results can be taken into account informally when officers are being considered for coveted roles, such as place in the 82nd Airborne Division, that are more likely to open career paths leading to the most senior ranks. "They would absolutely want to know if I'm a PT stud and if I can keep up. And if the answer is, 'Well, she passes,' that is not the answer they're looking for," the female officer said. For officers, she said, "it's way more subtle." While the Marines has higher standards for pulls-ups on its gender- and age-adjusted physical fitness test, requiring 26- to 30-year-old women to do a minimum of four, it gives troops the option to do push-ups instead, even though that alternative assigns them a lower score. Since the event was introduced in 2017, 67 percent of female Marines have chosen to do pullups. The Navy and Air Force do not require pullups for female or male troops. "It certainly seems the Army is prioritizing an outdated measure of soldier quality," said Emma Moore, a scholar at the Center for a New American Security who has written about what she calls the service's "cult of fitness." While baseline physical fitness is important, Moore said, the use of such tests as a filter for retention and promotion "leads to repercussions that can arbitrarily hold women back." Female and male soldiers say the Army has been slow to adapt its mandatory group exercise programs and to provide specialized training equipment for the new test. Officials say that gear is now being pushed out to every unit of 10 or more people and that daily workouts are being adjusted. Some soldiers have also questioned the shift to an age-blind test, saying that many troops over 35 have chronic injuries from years of deployments and carrying heavy gear, in addition to the changes that come with age. That may also disproportionately affect women. According to the Army, 20 percent of male soldiers around age 40 are unable to take the old test because of an injury; the same is true for 46 percent of female soldiers. To address concerns of female soldiers who have recently given birth or plan to become pregnant, the Army is working on new fitness regulations for postpartum soldiers. In the meantime, soldiers have 180 days after giving birth to take the test, which some women say has compounded their concerns about the leg tuck, because pregnancy and C-sections strain the abdominal area. Troops can seek a physician-approved exemption allowing them to postpone taking the test after giving birth, like they can for other medical reasons. But if they seek repeated exemptions, they can be pushed out of the Army. 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. Peterborough Police are praising a local Tim Hortons employee and its not just because of the doughnuts. While serving a customer in the drive-thru early Wednesday morning, an employee of a local Tim Hortons detected a $100 bill to be counterfeit, police said. The employee confronted the customer about it and the customer fled from the drive-thru, police said. Police were notified and are investigating. City police said they commend the employee for attention to detail and knowledge of handling bank notes. Information on how to detect counterfeit money is posted on the Bank of Canada website at bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/counterfeit-prevention/ LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The Nicolas Maduro-backed Venezuelan central bank launched a landmark appeal in London on Tuesday over $1 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. 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) - Kokoro said trolls hurt him very much but he thanks God for his wife who has always been his comfort - The actor revealed that his wife is proud of his role as Nyanya Rukia and supports him fully - He urged Kenyans to support thespians instead of killing their vibe PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB Feed Mombasa-based actor and radio personality Kokoro has opened on the challenges he faced as he strived to be where he is today The actor, who also doubles up as a comedian, recently revealed climbing the ladder has not been a walk in the park. READ ALSO: Maza, Aziza actress Pretty Mutave to be buried in Kibwezi on Saturday Comedian Kokoro said his wife has been his number one supporter. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Lupita Nyong'o's sister Zawadi introduces rarely seen grandpa on her 40th Birthday TUKO.co.ke understands Kokoro is the main cast on the popular Nyanya Rukia show in which he plays the role of an old lady named Rukia. His role in the show, he revealed, has gotten him into trouble with some of the Kenyan audience who constantly bashed him for wearing dresses (buibui) and talking like a woman. READ ALSO: Kibicho aongoza mkutano wa Mt Kenya katika mkahawa wa Thika Greens usiku ''It has not been easy but I thank God Allahamdulilahi, I got myself a good wife, who I live with although have not yet paid dowry.'' he said in an interview with Reighnhood Media. According to the actor, it has not been easy dealing with the trolls but thanks his wife who has always been his number one supporter and pillar of strength. He said his wife has been supportive of his role and always calms him down when critics get to his head. ''The good thing is that my wife loves my job and what I do. She always motivates me, it not easy to get a lady who will love a man who pretends to be a woman and wears dresses but I found her. In fact she is the one who washes my buibui costume and dry them well,'' he said. READ ALSO: Thiago Alcantara: Liverpool complete signing of Spanish midfielder on a 4-year deal The actor wrapped up by asking people to stop attacking creatives because that is their office and only source of livelihood which deserves some respect. ''Many people feed their family thanks to my role as Nyanya Rukia, it is sad when people condemn us instead of supporting us. They want us to get banned yet we are just trying to survive.'' he added. Kokoro is among the talented actors in Kenya and has featured in several local and international productions. Apart from TV, Kokoro is also a comedian who has made appearances on Churchill Show. PAY ATTENTION: Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme - https://www.patreon.com/tuko Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. I have infected multiple men with HIV, my entire family hates me -Kiki wa Nge'ndo | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke The Louisville police officer who obtained the 'no-knock' search warrant that led cops to Breonna Taylor's home could be the next to potentially face charges as the police department and FBI launches an investigation into the case. LMPD Detective Joshua Jaynes was identified as the officer who had requested a search warrant to Taylor's apartment hours before her death on March 12, as part of an investigation involving her ex-boyfriend and drug suspect Jamarcus Glover. Cops later carried out the raid in the early hours of March 13, bursting through the door and killing the 26-year-old EMT in a hail of bullets as she stood alongside her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. Meanwhile Glover, who was the intended target of the warrant, had already been taken into custody ten miles away, by the time Taylor was shot dead. LMPD Detective Joshua Jaynes (left) requested a search warrant to Taylor's apartment hours before her death on March 12, in pursuit of her ex-boyfriend and drug suspect Jamarcus Glover (right). Glover was already in custody by the time Louisville officers killed Taylor in a hail of bullets Taylor, 26, was killed alongside her boyfriend Kenneth Walker (right) after cops barged into her apartment while executing a search warrant targeting Glover Jaynes, who was not present during the raid, was placed on administrative reassignment in June after the department launched an investigation into how the controversial 'no-knock' warrant was obtained. Although the officers had been widely reported to have executed the warrant without knocking, it has since been revealed the cops did indeed bang on the door before entering. However, questions still remain as to why cops were allowed to execute the particular warrant at a residence where the subject of the drug investigation did not live. A Jefferson County grand jury on Wednesday announced its decision to indict only one of the three officers involved in the raid on wanton endangerment charges. During a news conference addressing a grand jury's findings in the case, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said the investigation did not include the attainment of the warrant. He confirmed that investigation is currently being carried out by federal law enforcement partners who are looking into potential violations of federal law. Cameron also announced he would soon sign an executive order 'in coming days' to create a task force that will review the process for securing, reviewing and executing search warrants in the state. 'I believe conducting a top to bottom review of the search warrant process is necessary to determine if changes are required and establish best practices,' Cameron told reporters. 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 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 Authorities have not confirmed if Jaynes or any other officers are subjects in the federal probe. DailyMail.com has contacted the LMPD for comment. Cameron said the three officers involved in the March 13 raid, Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly and detectives Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison were not involved in obtaining the search warrant. He said the three 'were called into 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 knocked and announced their presence at the apartment,' Cameron said. The LMPD on Tuesday confirmed Jaynes is one of six officers being investigated for violating department policies in a probe led by the department's Professional Standards Unit. Authorities did not say which potential violations they were investigating. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said he will soon sign an executive order to create a task force that will review the process for securing and executing search warrants in the state According to earlier reports, Jaynes had requested the search warrant in an affidavit saying he was targeting a suspect believed to be in a 'trap house' that was more than 10 miles away from Taylor's house. Only later was it revealed that the drug suspect they were looking for was already in custody by the time Louisville officers killed Taylor. 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 According to a three-page affidavit, Jaynes said Glover had been spotted making 'frequent trips' to Taylor's home and had been receiving suspicious packages there. He claimed a US postal inspector 'verified' that Glover was receiving packages at Taylor's home, but Louisville inspector Tony Gooden said Louisville police did not ask his office to conduct that investigation, but a different agency did. He said the local office concluded no potentially suspicious mail was being sent to Taylor's apartment. Jaynes wrote he believed Glover may have been 'keeping narcotics and/or proceeds from the sale of narcotics' at Taylor's apartment. The warrant was to search for drugs, money, weapons, 'paperwork that may be a record of narcotic sales' and any electronic records as evidence of drug trafficking. In his request, Jaynes said the no-knock warrant was necessary because 'drug traffickers have a history of attempting to destroy evidence, have cameras on the location that compromise Detectives once an approach to the dwelling is made, and have a history of fleeing from law enforcement.' While Taylor's name is mentioned in the affidavit in regards to her address, she is never named as a suspect or accused of being involved in the drug investigation. The controversial 'no-knock' warrant to her home was nonetheless signed on March 12 by Jefferson Circuit Judge Mary Shaw. In the end, nothing illegal was found in Taylor's home. 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 Following the grand jury's decision to indict Hankison on Wednesday, the FBI said it is continuing with its own investigation into the case to determine whether the federal laws were violated during the raid. Hankison was charged by the state with firing his gun into Taylor's home and a neighboring apartment, not over her killing. The other two cops involved, Sgt Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, were identified as the officers who fired shots at Taylor. Cosgrove was believed to have fired the bullet that claimed her life. Neither of the officers were indicted on Wednesday after the investigation found they acted in self-defense after Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker admitted to opening fire first. Britain can no longer put normal life on hold, Rishi Sunak warned yesterday. As he unveiled his latest rescue package to save jobs, the Chancellor called on the nation to learn to live with coronavirus 'without fear'. He added that the country could not carry on ignoring the economic impact of the pandemic. Striking a different tone to the Prime Minister's cautious, health-focused address to the nation on Tuesday, Mr Sunak said the 'wider' costs of Covid had to be taken account of in the coming weeks. He added: 'Our lives can no longer be put on hold. We have so often spoken about this virus in terms of lives lost. But the price our country is paying is wider than that. 'As we think about the next few weeks and months, we need to bear all of those costs in mind.' In his statement to the Commons yesterday, Mr Sunak confirmed the furlough scheme will not be continued past October 31 despite warnings that at least two million jobs could be lost by January. In its place will come a more modest wage subsidy scheme, which could still cost taxpayers an extra 9billion over the next six months. There will also be a package to help businesses. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak holds a copy of his Winter Economy Plan outside No 11 Downing Street before heading for the House of Commons to give MPs details of his Winter Economy Plan Boris Johnson raised eyebrows in the Commons by skipping his Chancellor's flagship statement to pay a visit to police recruits in Northampton. Downing Street strenuously denied suggestions of a rift between the two men. And for his part, Mr Sunak stressed he backed the Prime Minister's latest Covid crackdown. But in his statement yesterday, the Chancellor called for Britain to learn to live with the virus. 'What was true at the beginning of this crisis remains true now,' he said. 'It's on all of us. And we must learn to live with it and live without fear.' Mr Sunak said it was right to 'throw everything we've got' at saving 'viable jobs'. And, with Mr Johnson warning new restrictions are set to last for at least six months, he said it was time to face up to the 'awful' trade-offs and hard choices involving health, education and employment. The Chancellor admitted the economy was now 'likely to undergo a more permanent adjustment', with some jobs disappearing for good. Boris Johnson raised eyebrows in the Commons by skipping his Chancellor's flagship statement to pay a visit to police recruits in Northampton Commuters cross London Bridge on September 24 in London, England. Beginning in November when the current furlough scheme ends, the government will subsidise the pay of employees who are working fewer hours due to lower demand Firms' loan deals extended Small businesses will have more time to pay back Government-backed loans in a 'pay as you grow' scheme, the Chancellor announced yesterday. Companies which have taken a coronavirus 'bounce-back' loan will be given several more years to pay them off, and be able to defer their tax bills. Rishi Sunak said these companies would have the right to pause repayments for up to six months without it affecting their credit rating. 'Right now, businesses need every extra pound to protect jobs, rather than repaying loans and tax deferrals,' he told MPs. Almost 1.3 million companies have borrowed 38 billion through the bounce-back loan scheme since May, giving some a vital lifeline as business dried up. These firms will now be given ten years to pay off the loans of up to 50,000, an increase from the former six-year terms. Advertisement On another day of crisis: Mr Sunak extended the 15 per cent VAT cut for the hospitality and tourism sectors until the end of March; Cheap business loans were extended, with firms told they can now repay over ten years and take payment holidays; The Chancellor hinted at future tax rises, warning he would have to make 'very difficult decisions' in future; Cases of the virus jumped again, with 6,634 recorded in a single day; The cost of the troubled test-and-trace system was revealed to have risen to 12billion; Nicola Sturgeon banned Scottish students from going to the pub following a string of outbreaks in universities. Mr Sunak said there had been 'no harder choice' than the decision to axe the furlough scheme, which has helped prop up 9.5 million jobs. But he said it was 'fundamentally wrong to hold people in jobs that exist only inside the furlough'. He said the Government needed to create 'new opportunities' for people, adding: 'I cannot save every business. I cannot save every job.' The furlough scheme has seen the state pay 80 per cent of people's wages if their jobs had disappeared because of the lockdown. The new Job Support Scheme will provide help for those in 'viable' jobs who work at least a third of their normal hours. Passengers on the Jubilee Line on London's underground on Thursday morning. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation this week regarding new coronavirus restrictions MPs' fears for art sector The arts sector faces a 'grim future' of unprecedented redundancies, despite the new job support scheme, Tory MPs have warned. The sector has been one of the worst hit by the pandemic, with all live performances stopped. Nearly half of all workers in the arts have been furloughed, and many could lose their jobs at the end of the scheme next month. Last night, the chairman of the digital, culture, media and sport select committee, Julian Knight, welcomed the new scheme, but added: 'It still leaves many hundreds of thousands of workers in events, arts and cultural parts of the economy with a grim future. 'The job support scheme may not be able to stop unprecedented redundancies and many organisations from facing extinction.' Advertisement Employers will pay for the hours actually worked, while they and the Treasury will then cover two-thirds of the pay for missed hours. The scheme, which will last for six months, means the state will subsidise no more than 22 per cent of a worker's wages up to a maximum of 697.92 per month. The Treasury declined to put an overall cost on it, but Mr Sunak suggested the bill would be roughly 300million a month for every million workers on the scheme. Officials believe anywhere between two and five million could join the scheme, potentially generating a bill of up to 9billion over its lifetime. By comparison, the furlough scheme has cost around 6billion a month. Critics warned the scheme drawn up with the Confederation of British Industry and Trades Union Congress would not be enough to head off mass unemployment. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said it was 'significantly less generous' and would lead to 'sharply rising unemployment', as jobs which relied on state funding will cease to exist. Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds said the package of measures 'comes too late for many people who have already lost their jobs'. A Treasury spokesman said the criticism 'doesn't reflect the real world', adding: 'For employers the value in the scheme is the flexibility to change working patterns by the week and the value they get from retaining their skilled and experienced workforce.' CBI director-general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn welcomed the 'bold steps', but added: 'Further business rates relief should remain on the table.' Police officers stand watch over the site where two police officers were shot as protesters march in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 23, 2020, after a judge announced the charges brought by a grand jury against Detective Brett Hankison, one of three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in March. Jeff Dean | AFP | Getty Images LOUISVILLE, Ky. Two police officers were shot Wednesday night during downtown protests that erupted after a grand jury's decision not to charge the officer who shot and killed Breonna Taylor. Only one officer was charged with wanton endangerment. About a half-hour before the city's 9 p.m. curfew, two Louisville Metro police officers were shot while responding to a report of a large crowd and gunfire, interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder said at a news conference. They were taken to Louisville University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. One officer was alert and stable, and the other was in surgery and stable, he said. A suspect was in custody, Schroeder said. More from NBC News: Police reform expert to review Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha Florida AG calls for investigation into Bloomberg-backed felon voting rights effort California's Bay Area may require telecommuting, even after the pandemic wanes The shooting happened at First Street and Broadway, an intersection several blocks from the center of protests Jefferson Square Park. The sound of shooting was captured on profanity-laden video of demonstrators amassed in the area of the shooting, but NBC News has not verified that the gunfire was that of the attack. "As they were deploying to investigate what was going on, at First and Broadway shots rang out, and two of our officers were shot," Schroeder said. The FBI's Louisville field office said it had sent a SWAT team to the scene and would assist in the investigation. FBI agents patrol near the site where two police officers were shot in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on September 23, 2020. Jeff Dean | AFP | Getty Images "I am very concerned about the safety of our officers," Schroeder said. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear responded to the attack in a video address posted on Twitter. "We know that the answer to violence is never violence," he said. "And we are thinking about those two officers and their families tonight." President Donald Trump tweeted, "Praying for the two police officers that were shot tonight in Louisville, Kentucky." His election foe, former Vice President Joe Biden, tweeted his own "prayers" and said: "Violence is never & can never be the answer. Those who engage in it must be held accountable." News spread quickly of the grand jury's decision Wednesday, and demonstrators took to the streets of Louisville, protesting Taylor's killing and the limited charges brought against only one of the officers involved. Protesters filled downtown neighborhoods after former police Detective Brett Hankison was indicted on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment connected with the shooting that ended in Taylor's killing. Detective Myles Cosgrove, the officer whose shot killed Taylor, faced no charges. Police, who declared an unlawful assembly hours ahead of the curfew, clashed with demonstrators, pushing and shoving some and placing others in plastic handcuffs. Tense moments played out as demonstrators and officers stood off near Jefferson Square Park. Police surrounded marchers and appeared to block them in. Water bottles were thrown at officers and law enforcement vehicles. A protester attacked a news crew from NBC affiliate WAVE. The crew was able to get away unharmed with the help of a security guard. After dark, small fires appeared downtown, and demonstrators started to clear out of the park. After the curfew went into effect, some demonstrators milled about in the downtown area. Police Sgt. Lamont Washington said at about 11 p.m. that 46 arrests were made during the protest. Beshear's office said in a statement that an undisclosed number of National Guard units were deployed to Louisville to "ensure that everybody can be safe during this period and that critical infrastructure, like our hospitals, are protected." State police and law enforcement in SWAT gear were seen standing near demonstrators. Demonstrators also hit the streets of cities across the country, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Atlanta and St. Paul, Minnesota. They seemed to be largely peaceful, although there were reports that tear gas was used in Milwaukee after demonstrators went on to an interstate and in Atlanta, where several arrests were made. In Denver, police said that officers responded to a "vehicle that drove into a protest" Wednesday night. No injuries are reported in the 9:17 p.m. incident, police said, and one person described as a male was detained. A police spokesman said the person detained was the driver, but how or why the incident occurred is still under investigation. Earlier in the day, Judge Annie O'Connell announced that Hankison would be charged for firing shots that ended up in the apartments next to Taylor's. No charges were announced against Cosgrove or police Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly for their roles in Taylor's death, although the state attorney general said Cosgrove's shot killed Taylor. Their actions were considered justified by the grand jury because Taylor's boyfriend fired at them. No murder or manslaughter charges were handed up against any of the three officers. Fighting back tears, Louisville resident LaShawn Roberts said the grand jury's decision had hurt many people across Louisville and beyond. "We've come so far, but we have so far to go," Roberts said. "It makes me feel like we don't mean s---." Protesters on foot and bikes descended on Jefferson Square Park, which has been dubbed "Breonna's Park" since Taylor's death. A demonstrator holds a sign with the image of Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police Department officers, during a protest against the death George Floyd in Minneapolis, in Denver, Colorado on June 3, 2020. Jason Connolly | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump, upon being told that a special counsel has been appointed to investigate him, slumped back in his chair and groaned, Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. Im f***ed! He lamented: Everyone tells me if you get one of these independent counsels, it ruins your presidency. It takes years and years, and I wont be able to do anything. This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. The account of the Presidents despair and foreboding, from notes taken by Sessions chief of staff, Jody Hunt, appeared in the redacted version of Robert Muellers report. The report did not prove that Trump was involved in a criminal conspiracy in the 2016 presidential election. However, it did reveal extensive contact between Trump, his cohort, and Russia. It also revealed eleven instances of potential obstruction of justice by Trump and his team. In the end, Mueller refused to say whether Trump should face prosecution, maintaining that the decision was up to Congress. This allowed the Trump loyalist and Attorney General, William Barr, to say that the President had been exonerated by the investigation. There were predictions that the Special Counsels subsequent appearances before Congress would be explosive, and that he would be making hugely damaging revelations about Trump. This proved to be wishful thinking by the Presidents many critics. Muellers testimony was a bit of a damp squib. He refused to go beyond the purview of the report. His answers were often monosyllabic. According to NBCs calculations, the Special Counsel declined to respond or deflected in answers no fewer than 198 times over the course of two hearings. Last July, a full year after the testimony before Congress, the former Special Counsel wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post defending its mission against a barrage of attacks by Trump and his supporters. The article was in response to the president commuting the prison sentence of his friend Roger Stone, who had been among a number of Trump associates convicted by the investigation. But it was far too late. Trump had not been f***ed by Muellers report. It was not the end of his presidency. Instead, he and his team, declaring they had been vindicated, went on a counter-offensive. There has been a change in the Justice Department and intelligence services, removing those who helped to investigate Trump, deemed to be insufficiently loyal. Mueller maintained a silence with the media and outsiders during his investigation, but there were reports of divisions among his lawyers about his approach, questions about avenues left unexplored, and apprehension about provoking the White House. The frustrations among some of the lawyers became more pronounced as the 22 months of work neared its end. Now, Andrew Weissmann, one of the Special Counsels most senior prosecutors, has given his version of how opportunities were lost in his book Where Law Ends. Part of the failure was due, he says, to the differences in opinion regarding what approach should be taken between many of the prosecutors, Mueller, and his deputy Aaron Zebley. Repeatedly during our 22 months in operation, we would reach some critical juncture in our investigation, only to have Aaron say that we could not take a particular action because it risked aggravating the President beyond some undefined breaking point, he wrote. The effort to not antagonise the White House led to a failure to subpoena Trumps financial records, even when there was a strong belief among investigators that the President was extremely vulnerable when it came to his various business dealings. As one of them put it at the time: At the end, he could be got on the money, like Al Capone. The decision to soft-peddle also meant that Trump and his family, central characters in this extraordinary drama, were not interviewed. Thus, for example, Donald Trump Jr was not questioned about his meeting in June 2016 at Trump Tower with a group of Russians to offer dirt on Hilary Clinton. Weissmann, a former federal prosecutor from New York, had come across people close to Trump in his previous role pursuing organised crime and the Mafia. The title of his book comes from the words of John Locke, inscribed on the front of the Department of Justice in Washington: Where law ends, tyranny begins. The President and his cronies, Weissmann holds, are lawless. William Barr has betrayed his country. Trump is like an animal, clawing at the world with no concept of right and wrong. One of the most colourful characters in Russiagate was Felix Sater, born Felix Sheferovsky, who was once jailed for stabbing a man in the face with a cocktail glass. He avoided a possible 20-year sentence and a $5 million (3.8 million) fine by becoming a federal informer in another case, that of fraud and extortion by the Mafia which targeted the elderly, some of them Holocaust survivors. Sater was a lifelong friend of Michael Cohen, Trumps former personal lawyer who was convicted and sent to prison in the Mueller investigation, and is now a bitter enemy of the President. Sater was convinced that Vladimir Putin would help Trump get to the White House. Can you believe two guys from Brooklyn are going to elect a president? he said in an email sent to Cohen. Sater insisted that Putin would back the development of a Trump Tower hotel in Moscow and that this would be part of a grand plan. Our boy can become President of the USA and we can engineer it I will get Putin on this programme and we will get Trump elected, he said in another message. Sater, who had an office space in the Trump organization, boasted that he was so close to the Trump family that he was asked by Donald Trump to squire Donald Jr and Ivanka on a trip to Moscow. Sater claims he arranged for Ivanka to sit in Putins chair and, when asked, Ivanka agreed that her trip had included a brief tour of Red Square and the Kremlin. This may have involved sitting at Putins desk, although she could not remember if she had done so. The federal prosecutor who signed the plea-bargain deal with Sater on the racketeering charges all those years ago was Andrew Weissmann. Sater has appeared in court documents relating to the Mueller investigation as Individual 2. Trump appears in another set of papers as Individual 1." These experiences as a federal prosecutor may have shaped Weissmanns views that a tougher approach needed to be taken in Russiagate. He wrote that some of what was emerging in the investigation against Trump reminded him of the case against the Mafia boss John Teflon Don Gotti in the 90s. In a similar vein, FBI Director James Comey compared the Presidents behaviour to mobsters like Sammy the Bull Gravano. But Mueller was always wary of the hard approach, worried that Trump would fire him as Richard Nixon had fired the Watergate prosecutor, Archibald Cox. The spectre of our being shut down exerted a destabilising pull on our decision-making process, Weissmann acknowledged. Weissmann is clear that the investigation was flawed: Had we given it our allhad we used all available tools to uncover the truth, undeterred by the onslaught of the Presidents unique powers to undermine our efforts? I know the hard answer to the simple question: we could have done more. Although Trump appeared to have escaped Mueller, no fewer than 34 people connected to the President were indicted including Paul Manafort, his former campaign manager, by prosecutors led by Weissmann. What emerged in the course of the investigation continues to raise questions about whether the President was the Muscovian candidate for the White House: Russian manipulation, the secrets and lies, the attempts at subterfuge by Trump and his team. The damning information unearthed by Weissmann and his colleagues in the Mueller investigation may well play an important part in the election this November. Getty London could be placed under lockdown if measures which Boris Johnson introduced this week do not prove effective in curbing the rapid rise of coronavirus infections in the capital. Health officials recorded 6,178 new Covid-19 cases across the UK on Wednesday, up by 1,252 on Tuesday's figures. Scientists who advise the government on their coronavirus response have warned that new measures introduced by Boris Johnson this week will not be enough to contain the virus. One London council leader present at a meeting with government health officials this week said: Our epidemic is as developed as the north. Theres a consensus a lockdown [in London] is coming. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. London could soon be placed under lockdown if measures which Boris Johnson introduced this week do not prove effective in curbing the rapid rise of coronavirus infections in the capital. Health officials recorded 6,178 new Covid-19 cases across the UK on Wednesday, up by 1,252 on Tuesday's figures, as the virus continues to spread rapidly in every part of the country. Boris Johnson on Tuesday said all pubs and restaurants would be forced to close at 10pm. But scientists who advise the government on their coronavirus response have warned such measures will not be enough to contain the virus. Kevin Fenton, director of Public Health England, warnedthat the virus was particularly prevalent in London and said the situation there threatened to "escalate." He warned that the outbreak in London appeared to be as serious as that of northeast England, where the outbreak has been most severe within the UK. "We are seeing a rising tide of coronavirus cases in London across a broad range of ages. This is no longer limited to young people in their twenties," he said in a statement. Fenton said that "whilst the number of cases by borough varies, the general trend across the city is one of steadily increasing transmission and if that continues then the situation may escalate." Story continues Separately, Fenton warned in a private briefing with London council leaders this week that there was a "rising tide of coronavirus" in the capital, according to a Times of London report. One council leader present at the meeting said: "Our epidemic is as developed as the north. There's a consensus a lockdown is coming." The council leader said that London was in a precarious situation because testing in the city had "completely collapsed." Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, warned on Wednesday that London was facing "additional measures" to try and contain the spread of the virus. "It is clear that London has unique needs and challenges and additional measures need to be examined which are suitable for the capital," said a spokesman for the mayor. They did not specify what such measures could be. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) group of scientists, which advises the government on its Covid-19 response, did not even model the effect of the 10pm curfew, the Times reported. Professor John Edmunds, who sits on SAGE, said even Scotland, where household mixing has been banned, had probably not introduced strict enough measures to curb the virus. "We have to put stringent measures in place," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday. "We will have let the epidemic double, and double, and double again until we take those measures," Edmunds said. "To slow the epidemic and bring it back down again, somewhere close to where it is now, 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 we haven't learnt from our mistake back then and we're unfortunately about to repeat it." Read the original article on Business Insider The truncated sessions highlight was passage of the controversial farm bills, that triggered farmers agitations across India AAP MP Sanjay Singh and other opposition lawmakers march from Gandhi statue to Ambedkar statue in protest against the recent farm and labour bills, during the Monsoon Session, at Parliament House in New Delhi. PTI photo Parliaments Monsoon Session, held amid the raging Covid-19 pandemic, was adjourned sine die Wednesday, eight days before it was to end, due to the growing coronavirus threat, as minister of state for railways Suresh Angadi, BJP MP from Karnataka, died from the disease minutes after the session ended. Several MPs from both Houses had skipped the session due to the health risk. The truncated sessions highlight was passage of the controversial farm bills, that triggered farmers agitations across India and a political storm as key NDA ally Akali Dal opposed the bills and food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from the Cabinet. Overall, 25 bills were passed by the Lok Sabha and a long discussion was held on the pandemic. Among key bills passed were the Essential Commodities Amendment Bill, Industries Code Bill and the J&K Official Language Bill, besides the demands for grants for 2020-21. Mr Angadi was the third sitting Lok Sabha MP to die of the virus, after YSR Congress MP Tirupati B. Durga Prasad and Congress H. Vasanth Kumar, who died earlier this month. Speaker Om Birla expressed satisfaction that despite the extraordinary circumstances, the sessions productivity was 167 per cent. Birla adjourned the House sine die after passage of the Major Port Authorities Bill. The Prime Minister was present when the House was adjourned. In the Rajya Sabha, before adjourning sine die earlier on Wednesday, Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu urged members in a valedictory speech to ensure that the unseemly behaviour that led to the suspension of eight Opposition MPs was not repeated, saying while it was the Oppositions right to protest, the question was how it should be done. Naidu said the Upper Houses productivity had been 100.47 per cent in the session, with 25 bills passed, but there were some areas of concern for the first time a notice for the deputy chairmans removal had been submitted. A spate of protests marked the sessions last day, as Opposition MPs from both Houses boycotted proceedings and held silent marches within the Parliament complex against the passage of the anti-farmer and anti-labour bills, and some even marched to Vijay Chowk with bundles of paddy in their hands. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. If people want me to: Former Bihar police chief Gupteshwar Pandey hints at joining politics Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey on Thursday hinted at entering politics, saying if people want him to contest elections, then I may enter politics. People are coming to me in large numbers, telling me that if I wish to enter politics then I should contest election from their district. Everyone is very close to me. Itll be a decision by the public. If they want me to, then I may enter politics, Pandey told news agency ANI. Read more MP minister regrets stance against wearing mask, invokes PM Narendra Modi Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra (60) has expressed regret over his statement made in Indore on Wednesday that he doesnt need to wear a face mask. He also acknowledged that his stance was against the sentiments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Read more Covid awareness week to be observed in Odishas Ganjam district from today Amid the surge of Covid-19 cases in Odisha, an official said the Ganjam district administration has decided to abserve a Covid awareness week starting from Thursday in an attempt to make people aware of the importance of social distancing and wearing a mask. Read more New Japan PM Yoshihide Suga calls for repairing ties with South Korea Japans new prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, spoke to South Koreas president for the first time on Thursday, calling for both countries to repair their frayed ties and cooperate to counter any threat from North Korea. Read more IPL 2020: Not buying that nonsense, Kevin Pietersen disagrees with Dhonis justification behind batting at No. 7 Fans and experts talking about MS Dhonis batting after CSK fail to chase down a total is nothing new but what was a bit surprising was the fact that Dhonis captaincy also attracted a fair amount of criticism after CSKs loss to Rajasthan Royals. Read more Indian man creates record for most skips on roller skates in 30 seconds. Watch Every now and then, the Guinness World Records takes to their official Instagram account to share videos of people creating records which usually leave netizens intrigued or amazed or all at the same time. Now theyre back with a video of an unusual, yet absolutely entertaining, record. Read more Maruti and chill: Indias largest car maker rolls out Netflix-like subscription Maruti Suzuki on Thursday announced the start of its subscription plans for the large number of vehicles it offers in the Indian market in a bid to offer the flexibility of driving without the need to actually own the car. Read more Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik welcome their first child together. Here are the details of their roller coaster relationship This is the year of celebrity babies, and Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid just welcomed their little baby girl into the world. The couple welcomed their baby on Wednesday, with Zayn taking to his social media to share a cute photo of his tattooed finger being held by a tiny hand, which he captioned, Our baby girl is here, healthy and beautiful. Read more Watch| Covid-19: Why cases surged during monsoons in Delhi, Mumbai You are not in North Korea; you are not in Turkey; you are not in Russia, Mr. President, and by the way, you are not in Saudi Arabia, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. You are in the United States of America. It is a democracy, so why dont you just try for a moment to honor your oath of office to the Constitution of the United States? Chris Edelson, an American University professor who has studied the expansion of presidential power during national emergencies, said Mr. Trumps comments represented a unique threat to a central pillar of democracy. Its impossible to underscore how absolutely extraordinary this situation is there are really no precedents in our country, he said. This is a president who has threatened to jail his political opponents. Now he is suggesting he would not respect the results of an election. These are serious warning signs. Douglas Brinkley, the presidential historian, said, This may be the most damaging thing he has ever done to American democracy. Over the past four years, establishment Republicans have tried to adjust to Mr. Trumps disruptions, either ignoring his comments or dismissing them as a temporary news-cycle diversion rather than a threat to the democratic process. Republicans appeared on Thursday to be trying to reassure the public about the electoral system while withholding personal criticism of the president, a balancing act that shows their political codependence one that has led G.O.P. lawmakers, with few exceptions, to faithfully execute his wishes. Other Republicans, including Senators Susan Collins and Marco Rubio and Representative Liz Cheney, followed Mr. McConnell on Thursday and issued statements conveying an implicit criticism of the presidents stance. Americas leaders swear an oath to the Constitution, Ms. Cheney wrote on Twitter. We will uphold that oath. Patients who have fallen critically ill after contracting Covid-19 continue to be treated by frontline staff at Portlaoise hospital, according to the HSE's latest update. The HSE Acute Hospital Daily Operations Update confirms that two people remain in the ICU of the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise as of 8 pm on Wednesday, September 23. There were no suspected cases at the hospital when the report, which was published on Thursday morning, was filed with the HSE. The update also shows that while the Laois hospital has 12 spare general beds, it yet again reports having no available critical care beds which are needed to treat seriously ill Covid-19 patients or other very sick patients. The HSE's new winter plan has committed to adding more ICU beds to hospitals. The operations update also confirms that Portlaoise's sister hospitals in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group (DMHG) all continue to treat confirmed cases. There are now six confirmed cases in Tullamore a decrease of one on Monday. One patient is in ICU. The Offaly hospital has no suspect cases. However, there continue to be no spare general care beds and just one ICU bed at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation reported that 20 patients were waiting on trollies for beds on Thursday morning after being diagnosed with illnesses that required hospital care. The DMHG also includes Naas General. Kildare's hospital continues to have two confirmed cases. Seven patient had suspected Covid-19 according to the report. Naas had 22 vacant general beds and one spare critical care bed. The DMHG also includes Tallaght and St James's hospitals in Dublin. Tallaght has six confirmed and eight suspected cases. There were 10 confirmed and 11 suspected in St James's. Both have three available ICU beds each. Both hospitals are treating critically ill Covid-19 patients in ICU. Nationally, the number of patients with Covid-19 in Irish hospitals has risen to 88 - down six on Tuesday Monday. There were 142 suspected cases on Wednesday evening compared with 214 at 8 am that morning. There were 17 confirmed and six suspected cases in critical care units across Ireland. Of these 9 ventilated. There were no deaths in ICU. Washington: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the November 3 presidential election. Were going to have to see what happens, Trump said at a news conference, responding to a question about whether hed commit to a peaceful transfer of power. You know that Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster. Trump has been pressing a months-long campaign against postal voting this November by tweeting and speaking out critically about the practice. More states are encouraging postal voting to keep voters safe amid the coronavirus pandemic. The President, who uses mail-in voting himself, has tried to distinguish between states that automatically send mail ballots to all registered voters and those, like Florida, that send them only to voters who request a mail ballot. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 03:45:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close File photo taken on July 29, 2020 shows the island of Arwad in Tartous province in northwestern Syria. (Photo by Hummam Sheikh Ali/Xinhua) by Hummam Sheikh Ali TARTOUS, Syria, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- During the more than nine-year-long war in Syria, actual battles have engulfed the country except for a small island that has escaped unscathed, protected by the surrounding sea. The people on Arwad Island, which is only 3 km off the coast of the Syrian city of Tartous, have never heard bombings nor run for cover in fear of blind mortar shells. The sea has distanced the island away from the ugly and tough details of the war as its buildings remain intact with no bullet holes. Most importantly, the children there have enjoyed a normal childhood as they did not have to stay indoors. It was safe to play outside. Arwad, which was settled in the early second millennium BC by the Phoenicians, is a tourist attraction where people rely on fishing and tourism as well as boat-making to make a living. The people in Arwad move in and out of the island to the coast of Tartous via boats. They bring vegetables, foods, and all other life necessities via boats. However, life there is not always a bed of roses. Getting on one of the boats, Xinhua reporters headed toward the island looming on the horizon from the coast of Tartous. It took about 15 minutes to the island, which welcomes the arrival through a gate-like gulf area where boats stop and wait to refill again. On the island, people were walking down narrow alleys, some buying vegetables and others waiting for boats to Tartous. Fishermen were also seen on rocks in certain areas on the shore trying to get a big catch to return to the market and sell it. The island streets were bustling even though people do not have cars there. They move on motorcycles and bicycles. Restaurants on the beach were almost empty as no tourists are going there nowadays. It was also notable that while people in other Syrian cities were wearing masks, people on the island have not adopted such a habit. Most of the gift shops are close to the shore selling souvenirs from the island, mainly handmade seashell braces and necklaces. Everything looks as normal as that in any other city, but people's faces were saying something different. Othman Yanak, a handmade gift maker, told Xinhua that even though the island escaped the war, it was affected badly by the tough economic repercussion. He said tourists are no longer thronging the island as they used to do due to the economic hardships, which are largely caused by the war and the Western sanctions, as well as the lack of foreign tourists. The COVID-19 pandemic has made things worse and frightened the tourists away from activities that involve mixing with other people. "When tourists come to Arwad, the sailors get the benefit, as well as restaurants and grocery stores, so when we have no visitors, the entire island gets affected," Yanak said. Khaled Abdul-Al, another shop owner in Arwad, said the fishermen on the island have been affected by the closure of restaurants during the COVID-19 curfew and restrictions and the lack of tourists as a result of the economic difficulties. He said the prices of fish were high due to the high demand in restaurants, adding that now, even fishermen have been affected by the closure of restaurants and the low number of tourists. The officials on the island also acknowledged the tough economic circumstances. Nour al-Deen Salman, an official of the city council, told Xinhua the actual war did not reach the island but the economic hardship did. He said that during the war, the island has not been affected in terms of destruction because it was far from the battlefields but it was affected economically because it is part of Syria. He said the economic hardship is felt by all Syrians and the island is no exception. "The economic hardship is affecting Syria including Arwad Island as we lack tourists on the island and the people are making little money as a result of the coronavirus," he said. Enditem 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 Mr 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 Guineas prime minister James Marape said in a statement he would meet with Mr 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," Mr Marape said. During the election campaign, Mr 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. Mr 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. Recommended Ross Kemp clip resurfaces of moment guerilla soldiers aimed guns at him in Papua New Guinea The mine on Bougainville had one of the world's 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. Reuters The government has been told honour its manifesto promise and back crucial Agriculture Bill amendments following historic votes in the House of Lords. On Tuesday's (22 September) session, peers debated and voted on several amendments that would require food imports to meet the UK's high standards. Amendment 93 on food standards was tabled by Lord Grantchester, which sought a 'requirement for agricultural and food imports to meet domestic standards'. This was voted through, defeating the government by 95 votes. The House of Lords also voted in favour of an amendment tabled by Lord Curry, which would strengthen the role of the Trade and Agriculture Commission. This passed with a 107 vote majority. If the amendment goes on to be approved by MPs in October, the Bill will give the Commission the power to provide parliament with independent advice about the impact every trade deal will have on British food standards. NFU President Minette Batters urged MPs 'not to ignore this strength of feeling' when the Bill returns to the Commons. It is fantastic that the Lords voted for Lord Currys amendment to the Agriculture Bill, which would allow parliament to be provided with independent advice about the impact every trade deal will have on food and farming standards. "We believe the role of the Trade and Agriculture Commission is crucial to providing proper parliamentary oversight of our future trade policy and it is encouraging to see Peers support this view. The House of Lords reflected the strength of feeling on this issue in the country at large. They were right to strengthen the Ag Bill to provide better scrutiny of future trade deals." The Agriculture Bill will return to the House of Commons in October, where MPs will decide whether the amendments will pass into law. But as the Bill returns, the RSPCA warns that a failure by MPs to support it could leave the UK facing a flood of imports such as chlorinated chicken - products made to standards that are illegal in the UK. The charity's chief executive Chris Sherwood said the government must now honour its manifesto promise and back the amendments. The Conservative Party manifesto at the December 2019 general election committed to maintaining British animal welfare and food safety standards. "If it doesnt, MPs must vote with their conscience and reflect the strong feelings of the public," Mr Sherwood said. "Its a choice between protecting the UKs globally-recognised high farm animal welfare standards or allowing in products like chlorinated chicken and hormone beef from abroad. We are pleased that the Lords have voted for a law to stop imports of food produced to lower farm animal welfare standards but now that the Agriculture Bill returns to the Commons, we urge MPs to seriously consider whats at stake here." He said that unless MPs also agreed to enshrine in law what was promised in the Conservative manifesto, a no-deal would mean the UK faces a flood of imported food that is illegal in the UK. "With a no deal looking increasingly likely, and the government desperate to sign trade deals, failure to act now could risk setting back animal welfare for many years ahead. "It would also threaten UK farmers livelihoods as they would be at risk of being undercut by imports produced to much lower welfare methods than are allowed in the UK." T he Prime Minister has acknowledged that these are "tough times" for businesses and workers as he welcomed the Chancellor's new scheme as the best thing for "growth in this country". Rishi Sunak unveiled a package of new measures in the Commons today that will let millions of workers go part time while keeping four-fifths of their earnings. Boris Johnson was repeatedly challenged during Prime Minister's Questions about the prospect of support being withdrawn from firms and workers despite the prospect of the latest restrictions being in place for six months. What we will do is continue to put our arms around the people of this country going through a very tough time and come up with the appropriate creative and imaginative schemes to keep them in work and keep the economy moving, he said. He added: These are indeed tough times and I have no doubt that many businesses, many employees are feeling a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty and we will do our level best to protect them throughout this period. 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. When asked what he would say to those who were about to lose their jobs due to coronavirus cutbacks, the Prime Minister said: The Chancellor is being totally realistic with people about the prospects of the economy. Rishi Sunak unveils Job Support Scheme to prevent redundancy in winter months Things will be tough. What were saying to people who do the right thing who self-isolate when they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace, they will get support theres 500 to support them. But theres also a 10,000 fine potentially if you dont comply and its absolutely vital that we all work together now to get the R down, get the virus back under control and simultaneously allow education and the economy to continue. That is the best thing for jobs and growth in this country. Mr Sunak delivered his plans in the House of Commons, but Mr Johnson was not there to support him as he was visiting police recruits in Northamptonshire. Mr Johnson sits down to talk with police officers during a visit to Northamptonshire Police Headquarters / PA Downing Street denied speculation about a rift between at the top of Government, insisting there was absolutely not a problem between the ministers. Speaking about why he was not sat behind the Chancellor during Thursdays economic statement, Mr Johnson told Sky News: Of course, I fully support the package of measures that weve jointly drawn up. What Im doing (in Northamptonshire) today is setting out the vital corollary of those measures. They wont help unless everybody works together, we all work together, to drive the virus down and the way we can do that is to follow the guidance, the rule of six, stay spaced, make sure you self-isolate if youre contacted by NHS Test and Trace 500 if you do, 10,000 fine if you dont. Boris Johnson during a visit to Northamptonshire Police Headquarters where he met new recruits training in first aid / PA A 200 fine for not wearing a mask in the right place, a 10,000 fine potentially if you organise a gathering of more than 30 these are very considerable fines and it is important that everybody works together to, as I say, drive the virus down now stitch in time saves nine and protect the economy. Under Mr Sunak's six-month plan, employees will be guaranteed a minimum of 77 per cent of their regular earnings, 8 in every 10, and more than 90 per cent in most cases. The Chancellor also gave a boost to the hospitality and tourism sectors by extending a VAT cut until the end of March. And he extended emergency loan schemes for businesses hit by Covid-19. Unions have accused Mr Sunak of using a plaster to cover a gaping wound while jobs have already been lost. Shops reopen during Coronavirus lockdown ease 1 /45 Shops reopen during Coronavirus lockdown ease Primark in Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn A member of staff prepares to open a branch of H&M in Canterbury, Kent, PA Primark in Birmingham PA NikeTown Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Primark in Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Shop staff in face masks give a round of applause to the first customers through the doors at the Fenwick store in Newcastle PA Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn A doorman in a face mask waits to welcome back customers to the Fenwick store in Northumberland Street, Newcastle PA People queue for outside shops in Canterbury, Ken PA People queue for outside shops in Canterbury, Kent PA Primark in Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn A customer dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE) in line to shop at Primark, Birmingham PA Primark in Birmingham PA Primark in Birmingham PA NikeTown Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Selfridges Matt Writtle/Selfridges Selfridges Matt Writtle/Selfridges A Harrod's 'Green Man' welcomes customers back to Harrods store in Knightsbridge, London PA Customers wait outside Harrods store in Knightsbridge, London PA Primark in Birmingham PA Primark in Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Kathryn Stanczyszyn Kathryn Stanczyszyn/BBC People queue ahead of the opening of Primark in Leeds PA Selfridges Matt Writtle/Selfridges A customer dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE) in line to shop at Primark, Birmingham PA A customer carrying bags of shopping leaves Primark in Birmingham PA Primark Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Primark Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Shoppers in line outside John Lewis in Kingston PA Shops and businesses in Chelsea, West London prepare to re-open to customers Daniel Hambury REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union said the furlough scheme should have been extended beyond next month. He claimed the Conservatives have put ideological opposition to state intervention over saving jobs. Any support for jobs and key industries during this unprecedented global pandemic is to be welcomed, he said. However, the Chancellors measures are akin to using a plaster to cover a gaping wound. Our members in the commercial sector, aviation and culture are already being threatened with hundreds of redundancies, as employers seek to capitalise on the economic fallout from Covid-19. The Tories ideological opposition to increased state intervention is hurting the economy and costing people their livelihoods right now. Paddy Lillis, general secretary of the shopworkers union Usdaw, added: We are pleased that the Chancellor has eventually stepped back from the cliff-edge ending of the jobs retention scheme and we will study the details of the new jobs support scheme. However we are very disappointed that he made no mention of the deep difficulties the retail industry faces. Additional reporting by PA Media. - Kwadwo Safo Jnr has offered to be a mentor to the young Junior High School (JHS) graduate who 'invented' a Lamborghini-like car - The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kantanka Automobile is optimistic that the assistance from his outfit will help the young man achieve his dreams - He indicated that Kelvin is a born handmade crafter and the best place for him to nurture his talent is with Kantanka Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kantanka Automobile, Kwadwo Safo Jnr has offered to be a mentor to the young Junior High School (JHS) graduate who 'invented' a Lamborghini-like car himself. According to a report filed by Joynews, Kwadwo Safo stated that he is optimistic that the assistance from his outfit will help the young man achieve his dreams. He said he together with his staff will be more than willing to give any form of support to Kelvin Kruchang. The best place to nurture his talent is with Kantanka - Kwadwo Safo to JHS 'inventor' Source: Myjoyonline.com Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Funny Face meets ex-wife Nana Adwoa at Adonko Next Level launch (video) The boy [Kelvin Kruchang] needs a lot of mentoring and we at Kantanka are willing to teach him, he noted. He indicated that Kelvin is a born handmade crafter and that the best place for him to nurture his talent is with Kantanka. Kwadwo Safo Jnr also stated that Kantanka Automobile would soon embark on a nationwide talent hunt for kids like Kelvin to strengthen Ghanas automobile industry. The Education Ministry has also offered to enroll him in its Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme. READ ALSO: BECE candidate builds Lamborghini-like car; takes it to school on last day (video) YEN.com.gh earlier reported that a young but talented Ghanaian male junior high school student who sat for the 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination, wowed social media users with a car he assembled by himself. In the viral video on social media, the young JHS 3 student was seen starting and revving his creation and getting it ready for his trip to his examination centre. The video showed the creator of the Lamborghini-like car with bird-like doors in his car and about to give his classmates a ride to school to write their last papers in the just-ended national exam. READ ALSO: Lamborghini boy: Details of JHS graduate who built special car pops up online 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 In a world ravaged by COVID-19, transparency, focus, collaboration and customer-centricity should be core operating values for businesses particularly fashion firms. For companies like Athleta and Nisolo, both B Corp-certified and centered around sustainability, the pandemic brought the need for these values into even sharper focus. More from WWD Through the health crisis, We learned how important it is to pay attention to all of our stakeholders shareholders, employees, customers and to respond to them with compassion, said Mary Beth Laughton, president and chief executive officer of Gap Inc.s Athleta division, speaking at WWD Culture Conference: Sustainability and the Human Element. Transparency and being open with employees, explaining decisions, such as why we were closing stores and why we were reopening stores, is important. And we learned the customer has to be at the center of all of our decision-making. It has been a balancing act for most retailers reopening stores, as they have to navigate consumers new concerns about retail spaces and still cater to customers who cant yet be convinced to return to live shopping. Customers were a little bit hesitant to come to stores at the beginning of the pandemic, so our store associates stepped up by welcoming them, making them feel part of the community and connected, while also feeling safe, Laughton said. And to attend to its remote shoppers, Athleta launched a virtual styling service, enabling store associates to provide personal service by phone to customers who avoided stores. In line with its efforts to address the new world of retail, Athleta is finding ways to embrace sustainability. Laughton emphasized sharing ideas and working with other Gap Inc. divisions has created impact at scale, citing sustainable packaging as an all-brand initiative at the company. Online shoppers can have a single cart from Gap, Banana Republic or Old Navy, generating a single order. Its about how we have less orders being generated and less packages being delivered, and how we fold garments in bags so they weigh less. Story continues On the social impact side, which is a critical component in a sustainability story, Laughton said Athletas Pace program has provided life and career skills for more than 16,000 women, which overwhelmingly make up its workforce. We are balancing people, profit and planet at all times, she said. For Patrick Woodyard, founder and ceo of Nisolo, a Nashville-based shoe and accessory company with Peruvian roots and sourcing, fashion still has a lot to do when it comes to social impact. There are over 100 million people on the bottom of the supply chain of the industry, mostly women garment workers between the ages of 19 and 25. Its estimated only 2 percent of them are even earning a living wage covering their most basic needs, he said. If every person in the industry received a living wage, those 100 million and their direct dependents, perhaps 200 or 300 million (in all) get lifted out of poverty. If every brand in the industry at least offset their emissionswed be talking about billions of dollars invested in clean energy and projects that can really put a dent on climate change. Fashion ranks among the top-five polluting industries in the world, making up 10 percent of the worlds carbon footprint, Woodyard noted. I dont think there is another industry in the world that can have a bigger impact on people and the planet than fashion, if we could turn this tide. And it may be starting to turn. In recent years, sustainability has risen to the forefront of fashions conversations, and more brands are embracing efforts to go green. Others, on the other hand, are doing little more than greenwashing. You see massive brands with very poor track records of social and environmental justice launching great new green initiatives with new lines of product that perhaps make up less than 1 percent of their overall of product offering and suddenly people view them as leaders in the sustainability space, Woodyard said. But Nisolos wage report, he said, cuts through the noise, levels the playing field and allows us to know the actual state of brands.This level of transparency engages the consumer, rebuilds that trust and makes sure they very much have to be part of the solution.True transparency helps us understand who is really all in. The state of the industry is only worth changing, only if it completely transforms. At Nisolos factory in Peru and other factories the company works with, Woodyard said: 100 percent of the workers receive a living wage, and 100 percent of the carbon emissions are offset within our supply chain, whether we sell one product made by one person or sell hundreds of thousands made by tens of thousands of people. This year, Nisolo launched an ethical marketplace on its website with 25 brands offering products and information related to home, travel and sustainability, among other areas. The end goal is recognizing that to change the industry, we got to do it all together, Woodyard said. With the impact of COVID-19, More entrepreneurs and new businesses are needed now since they really push the industry towards innovation, he said. Bake your social and environmental impact into your business model, specifically for times like this. 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. 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. 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. Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media Lattins Cove in Danbury will reopen Friday at 50 percent capacity, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced. The state boat launch closed Aug. 26 after a spike in coronavirus cases in Danbury. The state also reduced the capacity at Squantz Cove boat launch in New Fairfield, but that has seen fully reopened. Both launches are on Candlewood Lake. ByteDance has applied for a tech export licence in China as it races to seal a deal with Oracle Corp and Walmart Inc that it hopes will end U.S. government plans to ban its TikTok video-streaming app on security grounds. The Beijing-based firm submitted the application to Beijing's municipal commerce bureau and is awaiting a decision, it said in a statement on its Toutiao online news platform on Thursday, without referring to ongoing talks over its U.S. operations. The application comes about a month after China revised its list of technologies subject to export bans or restriction for the first time in 12 years, in a manner which experts said gave the government a say over any TikTok deal. ByteDance has said its deal with Oracle and Walmart will see the creation of a standalone U.S. company and does not involve any transfer of technology though Oracle will be able to inspect TikTok U.S. source code. It has also said the deal needs approval from both China and the United States. However, the companies have issued conflicting statements over the terms of the agreement they reached with the White House, casting doubt over whether it will hold. ByteDance said it will establish a U.S. subsidiary called TikTok Global of which it will own 80%. Oracle and WalMart, however, said majority ownership of TikTok Global would be in American hands, complying with an Aug. 14 executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump that ByteDance relinquish ownership of TikTok within 90 days. Chinese state media outlets China Daily and the Global Times this week said they see no reason for China to approve the deal that Oracle and Walmart said they have struck with ByteDance, calling it based on "bullying and extortion". TikTok's experience is "a textbook example of the United States' modern-day piracy and tech bullying," Chinese state news agency Xinhua said in an English-language commentary on Thursday, adding that national security concerns that Washington has expressed over TikTok are "nothing but a fig leaf". "It is time that other countries saw through the outrageous farce of the TikTok drama, knew what is really at stake, and joined hands to oppose such blatant robberies and maintain a fair global business environment," it said. Also read: TikTok to create 25,000 new jobs in US amid ownership conflict Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden is leading in the polls in the run up to Novembers US presidential elections, but will he be able to maintain his edge on election day? If the US presidential elections were held today, then judging by the national polls the next US president would be the Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden. Biden has been consistently ahead of his Republican Party rival, incumbent President Donald Trump, by double digits, and the most recent national poll gives Biden a clear edge of 52 per cent of the vote versus 42 per cent for Trump. Even with a margin of error of three per cent, it is still clear that the Democratic candidate is way ahead of his Republican rival. However, the national polls are no longer reliable. In the 2016 presidential elections, the polls predicted that Hillary Clinton would be the winner, but Trump won and became the 45th president of the United States. It is true that Clinton received 2.1 per cent more of the popular vote than Trump, but the US president is elected not by the popular vote but rather by the Electoral College, a unique system that assigns a certain number of electors to each state depending on its size and population. The Electoral College is made up of 538 electors, and the candidate that wins 270 of them is declared the president. So, it is not the national popular vote that counts but which states a candidate wins in order to attain 270 Electoral College votes. In 2016, Trump won three states that traditionally vote for the Democrats, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. Voters in all three states were persuaded by Trumps promise to bring back jobs to America along with companies that had moved their operations to Mexico, China and elsewhere. If Trump wins the same states he won in 2016 on election day on 3 November, he will probably stay in the White House for a second four-year term effective 20 January 2021. But todays situation is different from that in 2016. Take Pennsylvania, for example (20 Electoral College electors), which Trump won in 2016. This state is the birthplace of his Democratic rival Joe Biden, who enjoys a seven per cent lead in it over Trump. The state of Pennsylvania is more likely to vote for one of its own, Joe Biden, even though he has chosen to live in Delaware, a neighbouring state, than it is for Trump. However, with a three per cent margin of error, one might have expected Pennsylvania to vote overwhelmingly for Biden, and not just to give him a seven per cent lead. Michigan, the US auto-industry hub and where the largest Arab-American community in the US lives, was won by only 0.2 per cent of the vote by Trump in 2016, a very thin margin indeed. Michigan, which voted for the Democrats consistently between 1988 until 2016, will likely abandon Trump and vote for the Democratic candidate this year for two reasons. One is the high unemployment rate in the state, the result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the other is its large bloc of Arab-Americans, who disapprove of Trumps policies in the Middle East. While the average American voter rarely cares about foreign policy as a factor in voting for a candidate, Arab-Americans, divided as they are, vote almost entirely on their foreign policy preferences. Trump faces more challenges because of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the racial violence that has erupted in several states, including Wisconsin, the third traditionally Democratic state he won in 2016. Trump, who presents himself as a law-and-order president, has paid lip service to police reform and criticised peaceful protesters, even though some of his own armed supporters have engaged in violence against both peaceful demonstrators and looters. The demonstrators had taken to the streets across the country to protest against the killing of African-American men by white police officers. Trump has also been accused of making false statements, and according to the Washington Posts Fact Checker database he made 20,000 false or misleading statements in the 14 months ending in July. An example of one of his false statements is his repeated declaration that the United States is rounding the corner and the numbers are plunging in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic when in fact the death toll in the US is rising. As of 13 September, the country had lost about 200,000 people to the virus. For his part, Biden has been accused of plagiarism, but nobody is focused on the accusation because it goes back to the 1980s when he allegedly lifted paragraphs from speeches by then British Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock without attribution. He did the same thing with speeches by US politicians Robert Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey. In interviews and town hall meetings organised by media outlets separately for the two men some important differences have been clear. Bidens verbal stumbles have made voters worry about his mental fitness. If he wins in November, former US vice-president Biden will be the oldest ever president of the United States, turning 78 in November. Both Trump, who is 74, and Biden have been attacking each other because of age and ability to run the country. But Biden has difficulty finishing two complete sentences by himself and is never far from a teleprompter. Maybe voters would be more understanding if they knew he was still fighting a stutter he first suffered from when he was a child. Trump, perceived to be an entertainer and a showman, seems unable to control his words because he does not adhere to the text of his speeches. One of his biggest blunders came when he publicly praised white supremacists marching in the city of Charlottesville in Virginia and killing Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old female counter-protester. While Biden is always in need of a teleprompter, his Republican opponent ignores his teleprompter at his own cost. History both stands for and against Trump. Over the past four decades, no US president has failed to win a second term in office apart from one. On the other hand, no president in the history of the United States has ever won a second term while the economy was in decline. Trump had relied on a strong economy until the virus struck in February, causing not only 200,000 deaths but also millions of unemployed. For this reason, he is desperately pushing for an accelerated, even if unlikely, Covid-19 vaccine by 3 November, while hoping to reduce already declining unemployment rates. In contrast, Biden presents himself as a former vice-president who helped former president Barack Obama turn the 2009 economic recession into a boom. His female running mate, senator Kamala Harris, will definitely attract the womans vote, and he enjoys the support of African-Americans. Harris is racially mixed. But this presidential run by Biden is his third, and he has failed twice before. Trump, who has been endorsed by police associations across the country, also counts on the support of two main blocs: white men living in rural areas with no university degree and Christian evangelicals, who for their own religious reasons approve of his unyielding support for Israel. A few weeks before election day, Trump has succeeded in accomplishing normalisation between Israel and two Arab countries, the UAE and Bahrain. He has also persuaded Kosovo, a Muslim-majority country, not only to normalise economic relations with long-time foe Serbia, but also to recognise Israel. For those acts, Trump has been twice nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize that will be awarded in October 2021 long after election day has passed. And while foreign-policy achievements rarely influence how average voters in the US cast their ballots, they will certainly enhance Trumps support among the evangelicals. His running mate, Vice-President Mike Pence, is also one of them. Healthcare and climate change issues play in favour of Biden. But Trump, a vibrant performer, has spread fears among voters that Biden is influenced by a radical left agenda within the Democratic Party that wants open borders. Under Biden America is not safe. If Biden wins China wins, he says. Although foreign policy is taking a back seat in the elections, China is an important economic rival of the US. As election day approaches, Americans also have other concerns to worry about. In California and several other western states, wild fires have been raging for months. And in Florida and several states in the south, hurricanes are threatening life and property. Biden and the Democrats say both the fires and the hurricanes are the result of climate change, and they accuse Trump of being in denial. Indeed, when Trump, who has pulled the US out of the 2015 Paris Climate Accord, was urged recently to listen to the science, he said I dont think science knows, actually. So, Biden is leading in the polls at this moment, but can he maintain his edge on 3 November? In these uncertain times nothing is certain. The only certain outcome is that on 3 November, one of two men will be elected US president: either Joe Biden or Donald Trump. And as 3 November approaches, the race is tightening to perhaps meet the margin of error. For this reason, each side is forming a council of legal experts and teams of lawyers, as many expect the election results to be contested. *The writer is a Washington-based lecturer and journalist. *A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: LOBAMBA The teaching service is saturated. As a result, government needs to look into other career avenues which would be of benefit to the country. This was the view of the Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), Simanga Mamba, when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday. He informed the PAC that they were still allocating permanent positions to people who had started working way back in 2010. Mamba said at the moment, they had waiting lists from graduates from 2015, 2018 and very few from 2019. He said at the moment there were no vacancies for graduates of 2020. The chairman said for instance, there were 2015 Bachelor of Arts in Humanities teachers who were still working at primary school level yet they qualified to be high school teachers. The chairman said room that was particularly available was that of Maths and Physics teachers, but as for the rest, there was no room for them. He said as a result, they had even written to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to ask them to reprioritise or redirect scholarships as the teaching or education sector was now saturated. He said two months ago, as a commission, they met with colleges and other institutions of higher learning to engage them in mapping how they could diversify their courses. In the past it was government that needed teachers, but that has changed now as it is the teachers who need jobs, said Mamba. He further stated that more teachers were now qualified while in the past they used to hire high school leavers. Mamba said he believed that was the reason why there was seemingly some corruption as many people were desperate for jobs. Diplomas He said there were now about 1 000 candidates with primary teachers diplomas (PTDs), who all wanted to be hired. Mamba added that there were about 700 teachers with Bachelor of Arts, who were still at primary school level. He informed the PAC that the TSC operated more as a recruitment agency for the Ministry of Education and Training, which would inform them which qualifications they were looking for and then they would fill the positions. On another note, the PAC suggested that teachers contracts should not be for two years, but at least five, especially for the Maths subjects. The PAC further recommended that an extension of teachers contracts, who were about to retire, should not be done even if it is the final term of the school calendar. Jalandhar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed a rally in poll-bound Punjab, where he launched a scathing attack on Congress, saying the party can do anything for its survival. He said that Congress entered into an alliance with SP in Uttar Pradesh after attacking it for months. Here are the highlights: #Will take our rightful share of Indus water and give it to Punjab #Our fight against corruption would not stop. I want the entire Nation's support in fighting corruption #When Indian Army conducted surgical strikes, the families of Punjab were the happiest #Our Govt is fighting against corruption and have taken strong measures to tackle it. Few are feeling it's heat #We feel proud of our brave soldiers. We implemented the One Rank, One Pension scheme #For Badal Sahab, what matters is the poor, the farmers, the villages #Badal Sahab spent years in public life but never changed parties or compromised on ideals. The only thing that matters for him is Punjab #When he became CM for the first time, Shri Badal was India's youngest CM and since then he has constantly been working for the people #For survival Congress does anything. They allied with Left in WB & in UP after months of attacking SP they are now allying with them #Punjab wants to see Shri Parkash Singh Badal a CM again. He is a leader who always worked for Punjab #In 2012 the Congress was so over confident about winning power. We saw what happened. No one can underestimate the people of Punjab #Congress ka rang kya hai, roop kya hai, raah kya hai...pata hi nahi chal raha hai kuch #No one ever cast aspersions on the youth of Punjab. We always had and continue to have faith of Punjab's youth #Why are some people saying improper things about the youth of Punjab? Is it just for political interests? Such a discourse is not good #Due to selfish interests & lacking the will for proper discussion, some people are trying to humiliate Punjab #This election is about giving renewed strength to Punjab, the land of the brave and the courageous. This is a land of saints and Gurus #PM Modi addresses a rally in Jalandhar The Prime Minister is addressing a rally in Jalandhar. https://t.co/ccj7GJ3sjW pic.twitter.com/Oc3E4RzX9E a narendramodi_in (@narendramodi_in) January 27, 2017 #Want to thank Modiji for giving so much love to Punjab, and a lot more: Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab CMA #Congress' policy is 'divide and rule': Parkash Singh Badal #Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal speaking at a rally in Jalandhar Punjab :PM Narendra Modi arrives in Jalandhar to address a rally. Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal present. pic.twitter.com/IMSZh4cdWx a ANI (@ANI_news) January 27, 2017 PM Modi is leading the election campaign of the Akali-BJP coalition. PM Modi is scheduled to address another rally in Ludhiana on January 29. Punjab will go to polls on February 4 and the counting will take place on March 11. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo commissioning the Bechem Business Resource Centre 24.09.2020 LISTEN President Akufo-Addo has paid a courtesy call on Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, the Omanhene of Bechem Traditional Area. The President was accompanied by sector Ministers including Hon. Allan Kwadwo Keremateng. Commissioning the Bechem Business Resource Centre, President Akufo-Addo thanked the chiefs and the people of Bechem for their warm reception and hinted that he and his government would do all it takes to provide the necessary infrastructures across the length and breadth of the country to help improve the living standards of the people. He assured the chiefs that government would do all it takes to ensure peace prevails before, during and after the 2020 general elections and urged the teaming youth not to also allowed themselves to be used in election violence by politicians but rather consider the massive achievements of the NPP government and vote to return New Patriotic Party to power. His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo giving the keynote address The Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Alan Kwadwo Kyeremateng said the government under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has the vision to provide quality infrastructures to encourage people to undertake businesses to make Ghanas economy develop. According to him, it would help residents to acquire business training to enable them effectively manage their businesses and urged them to put the centre into good use. He further said government's 1D1F policy including others are aimed at providing sustainable jobs to many Ghanaians and urged them to support government implement its policies and programmes. Hon. Kyeremateng also used the occasion to categorize some of the achievements of government. Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Alan Kwadwo Kyeremateng addressing the gathering Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, the Omanhene of Bechem Traditional Area commended the President for honouring some of his campaign pledges made in 2016. He said the Bechem town roads are in a deplorable state. He made a passionate appeal to the president to tar the Bechem Town roads to enhance business activities. Omanhene of Bechem Traditional Council Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II giving his welcome address Daniel Andrews has denied he was reluctant to accept ADF troops to help enforce Victoria's second lockdown after bombshell letters showed Scott Morrison had offered them three times. The prime minister urged Mr Andrews to accept troops in three letters sent on 4, 6 and 11 July as Victoria's second wave of Covid-19 threatened to overwhelm the state. In the third letter, Mr Morrison tried to persuade Mr Andrews to take on 1,000 soldiers, writing: 'I recommend that you again consider further ADF deployment to Melbourne over the coming days.' A total of 1,000 Australian Defence Force troops (pictured) arrived in Melbourne after Mr Andrews announce he agreed to accept them on 14 July Daniel Andrews (pictured on Thursday) has denied he was reluctant to accept ADF troops to help enforce Victoria's second lockdown even though Scott Morrison offered them three times The letters came after the Victorian government had requested 850 troops on 24 June but then retracted the request the next day, citing 'changing operational and resourcing requirements'. The state government chose to use Corrections Victoria staff instead of troops to man hotel quarantine after the virus escaped from the bungled program in late May. A government source told Sky News that Mr Morrison's letters were written in such a way that Victoria could not turn down the help. On 14 July, Mr Andrews announced 1,000 troops would arrive in Victoria over the following three to four weeks after he reached a deal with Mr Morrison. On Thursday Mr Andrews denied that he was unwilling to accept the troops, saying that he was 'very grateful' for the support. Asked by a reporter if he was reluctant to receive the help, he said: 'I don't think you can fairly draw the conclusion. 'I made a request in June and indeed, earlier than that. I made many requests and I'm pleased to say they were answered and that is why we've got... more than 1,000 ADF troops on the ground now doing an amazing job.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged Victorian premier to accept troops in three letters. Pictured are ADF troops and police patrolling Melbourne during the second wave of the virus Bomshell letters reveal Scott Morrison (left at a steel factory last week) urged Daniel Andrews to accept troops three times He added: 'I think it's inaccurate and unfair for you to infer from those letters... any reticence on my part.' Asked if he accepted the prime minister's offer after the first letter, Mr Andrews said: 'I'd need to check. Letters come in, they usually follow requests.' The reporter asked why the prime minister needed to send three letters offering support and the premier replied: 'Again, I think you are drawing conclusions. 'You're free to do that but that freedom doesn't mean that you are right and I'm indicating to you that you are wrong.' In his first letter on 4 July - obtained by Sky News under Freedom of Information laws revealed - Mr Morrison said he was 'concerned' about cases spiking to 108 a day. '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,' the letter said. Mr Morrison added ADF personnel could also help with patrolling affected suburbs already in lockdown. '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,' the letter said. Mr Morrison also expressed concern about the number of cases where travellers had been identified entering NSW, sparking a spike in fresh cases there. Pictured are ADF personnel manning a Princes Highway checkpoint outside Melbourne The prime minister followed up with another letter three days later on 7 July, 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 in the third letter. He added: '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, the day he announced the troops would arrive. Emails shown to an inquiry into Victoria's hotel quarantine program earlier this month revealed the prime minister's office repeatedly offered troops to man the hotels. Victoria's hotel quarantine inquiry was shown shocking photos (pictured) of quarantine guests walking freely to a convenience store from a Melbourne facility On April 8, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Philip Gaetjens emailed his Victorian counterpart Chris Eccles to again offer ADF assistance. Mr Eccles replied: 'Thanks Phil' - but no request for help was made When the coronavirus quarantine policy was announced on 27 March, New South Wales accepted 360 troops and Queensland took 100 but Victoria refused any help, an inquiry heard on Tuesday. On April 8, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Philip Gaetjens emailed his Victorian counterpart Chris Eccles to again offer ADF assistance. Referencing how the ADF helped with security in NSW, Mr Gaetjens wrote: 'I am sure the Commonwealth would be willing to assist Victoria in a similar way if you wanted to reconsider your operating model'. Mr Eccles replied: 'Thanks Phil' - but no request for help was made. Instead, Victoria used private security guards who flouted social distancing rules, caught the virus in late May and helped spark the state's second wave which has killed more than 700 people. It wasn't until June 24 that Victoria's emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp made a request for 850 defence personnel to replace private security. An email from the prime minister's office to the premier's office on that day shows the pair discussed the support. But the request was rescinded a day later after the Department of Justice and Community Safety took over the program. An academic who carried out an investigation into the KWETB is now conducting a review of a new corporate governance programme it has adopted. Dr Richard Thorn was commissioned by the Department of Education and Skills in 2017 to carry out his initial inquiries after issues were found in the KWETBs 2015 accounts by the Comptroller and Auditor General. All the matters refer to the period before the current chief executive Dr Deirdre Keyes took up her position in May 2018. KWETB said this week that it looks forward to Dr Thorn carrying out a review of its new Corporate Governance Programme. A KWETB statement said on Monday: KWETB welcomes the return of Dr Richard Thorn, President Emeritus of Sligo Institute of Technology, to undertake a review of its Corporate Governance Programme. KWETB has been working closely with the Department Education and Skills Officials throughout 2018 and 2019 to implement all the recommendations in Dr Richard Thorns published report. Given that this specific Corporate Governance Programme is now complete, it is timely that Dr Thorn returns to conduct a review. The KWETB appreciates the continued support of the Department in this work. Gardai have already made two arrests in relation to alleged corrupt practices at the KWETB. On September 7, the GNECB arrested a female in their 30s as part of Operation Lakefront. The female was brought to Naas Garda Station where she was detained for questioning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. The female was released the following afternoon and gardai said a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. On August 6, a man in his 50s arrested as part of the same investigation and was questioned at Leixlip Garda Station before being later released without charge. Gardai said a file on the matter will be sent to the DPP. KWETB has always declined to comment on the garda investigation. Meanwhile staff, students and parents were praised at a monthly KWETB board meeting last week for contributing to a successful return to schools under challenging Covid-19 rules. KWETB board chairman Cllr Daragh Fitzpatrick said everybody involved in re-opening classes must be commended for their efforts in these unprecedented times. The Robertstown politician told the September meeting which was held online: Hopefully all schools will stay safe and remain open in the coming weeks. KWETB chief executive Dr Keyes echoed those views and added: The full re-opening of all our schools has been a monumental effort. Tireless Principals and teachers worked tirelessly, endlessly and relentlessly through the entire summer to deliver the roadmap on re-opening. Dr Keyes told the meeting that the next phase of work is to keep schools open, to prepare for any possible Covid-19 cases and to put in place options for blended learning if they are required. KWETBs director of schools Dr Rory OToole said that the organisation had reached many key milestones in recent weeks and that the continuing focus must be on the health and well-being of staff and students. He also said that schools must continue to revise their response plans to Covid-19 protocols on an ongoing basis. Maynooth-based Cllr Peter Hamilton said he was familiar with two local schools who worked incredibly hard over the summer to have Covid-19 protocols in place. He added: Some staff worked 14 hour days. BERLIN: Europes top court issued a ruling Thursday that should ensure Germany can keep in prison a new suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the British toddler who vanished from a Portuguese resort 13 years ago. The Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice decided that German prosecutors were within their rights to try Christian Brueckner for a separate case, the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal, even though he had been extradited from Italy to be tried for another alleged crime. Although he is a suspect in the McCann case, he is currently in prison on a separate conviction and prosecutors have said they do not yet have enough evidence to hold him on the McCann case alone. Brueckners attorneys are appealing the 2019 rape conviction and his seven year sentence, arguing that since he was extradited on a warrant related to drug trafficking he should not have been tried for the rape. Among other things, the European court said Italy had agreed for him to be tried for rape as well as part of the extradition proceedings. The ruling was widely expected after a legal adviser to the court issued an opinion last month recommending the decision. It now is up to Germanys top criminal court to review the decision before it is final, but that is usually a formality. McCann was 3 at the time of her 2007 disappearance from an apartment while her family vacationed in the seaside town of Praia da Luz in Portugals Algarve region. German authorities in June said they had identified the 43-year-old German citizen as a suspect in the case and were investigating him on suspicion of murder. 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 casket containing the remains of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried at the U.S. Supreme Court where she will lie in repose, on Sept. 23 The casket containing the remains of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried at the U.S. Supreme Court where she will lie in repose, on Sept. 23 Credit - Chip SomodevillaGetty Images In the midst of a pandemic and with the fate of the Affordable Care Act pending before the Supreme Court, attention should focus on what Justice Ginsburgs replacement by someone who is likely to be very conservative will mean for health care. Justice Ginsburg was a strong voice and a consistent vote to provide the federal government the power to ensure health insurance for all and especially to protect womens reproductive health. The Supreme Court first assessed the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012), a few months before the 2012 presidential election. One aspect of the ACA that was challenged was the so-called individual mandate, requiring individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a special tax. The requirement was designed to prevent a downward spiral on the health insurance market if only sick people were enrolled (thus raising the costs associated with providing care for the enrolled group) and if healthy people had an incentive to stay uninsured until they needed care. Insurance markets only work when there is a mix of people who do and do not need the benefit at any one time. Over the objections of four conservative justices, the Court upheld the individual mandate in an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, on the grounds that it was a valid exercise of Congress taxing power. But Roberts joined with the other conservatives to make it clear that Congress could not have imposed these regulatory requirements by relying on the parts of the Constitution that have justified most federal regulation over the past eighty years. Justice Ginsburgs opinion challenged this limited view of federal power. The provision of health care is today a concern of national dimension, she wrote, just as the provision of old-age and survivors benefits was in the 1930s. To say now that Congress has no power to create a scheme to increase access to healthcare makes scant sense and is stunningly retrogressive, harkening back to an era before the New Deal in which the Court routinely thwarted Congress efforts to regulate the national economy. Story continues What she highlighted was the rise among todays conservative justices of a view of national power that questions the very legitimacy of most New Deal and Great Society policymaking. She reminded us that In the early 20th century, this Court regularly struck down economic regulation enacted by the peoples representatives in both the States and the Federal Government, including minimum wage laws and anti-child labor laws, and pointed out that the vision of federal power outlined by the five conservatives bore a disquieting resemblance to those long-overruled decisions. Conservative activists and judges have continued their assault on the ACA. After Congressional Republicans repealed the ACAs tax penalty in December 2017 a coalition of Republican state attorneys general went into federal court and argued that the repeal should make the entire ACA unconstitutional because the Court in Sebelius upheld the law only on the basis of Congress taxing power. The laws defenders argue that by repealing only one part of the law Congress intended that the remaining elements still be in force, and that federal courts should not require a complete repeal when Congress only acted to change one piece. In fact, in December 2017, Congress rejected President Trumps request to repeal the entire ACA. This is what is at issue in California v. Texas, which the Supreme Court will take up one week after election day. Justices Thomas and Alito made their view clear in Sebelius about Congresss lack of power to pass the ACA, and it is safe to assume that Justices Gorsuch and Kavanagh share the same hostility to federal power. If, as now appears probable, another conservative justice joins the Court before November, then it is very likely that more than 20 million Americans will lose health coverage immediately during a national health crisis, another 12 million could lose Medicaid coverage, a whopping 133 million Americans with preexisting conditions could be disqualified from buying a health insurance policy or cause them to pay significantly higher premiums, and 165 million Americans would no longer be protected by caps on expensive treatments. If this happens it would be on the basis of a long-ago discredited, but recently revived, theory of limited congressional power, which Justice Ginsburg singled out for criticism. But this is not the only way in which the next justice will impact Americans access to healthcare. In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores (2014) the Courts conservatives, for the first time in American history, held that the religious beliefs of a businesss owner allowed that business to refuse to provide employees with a benefit required by law. The ACA required employers to provide health-insurance coverage that would include coverage for contraceptives for women. The ACA carved out an exemption for religious not-for-profit organizations (such as a Catholic diocese), but not for purely secular businesses. Nevertheless, the majority found that a religious person who owned a business should not be required to provide employee benefits that violated the business owners religious believes. Justice Ginsburgs dissent exposed the extraordinary implications of such an accommodation. Suppose an employers sincerely held religious belief is offended by health coverage of vaccines, or paying the minimum wage, or according women equal pay for substantially similar work? She asks what is to be done about employers with religiously grounded objections to blood transfusions (Jehovahs Witnesses); antidepressants (Scientologists); medications derived from pigs, including anesthesia, intravenous fluids, and pills coated with genatin (certain Muslims, Jews, and Hindus); and vaccinations (Christian Scientists, among others)? In a political system that relies so extensively on employer-based health insurance, the Hobby Lobby case leaves millions of Americans vulnerable to restrictions on health care that their employers do not agree with. The Trump administration has gone even further and said that all employers who have a religious or conscience objection to contraception may refuse to provide such coverage to women employees. In June, in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania, the Court held that this was consistent with the Affordable Care Act. Justice Ginsburg wrote a powerful dissent, that was joined by Justice Sotomayor, stressing the importance of contraceptives for womens health and for their equal participation in the workforce and society. In accommodating claims of religious freedom, she wrote, this Court has taken a balanced approach, one that does not allow the religious beliefs of some to overwhelm the rights and interests of others who do not share those beliefs. She lamented: This Court leaves women workers to fend for themselves, to seek contraceptive coverage from sources other than their employers insurer, and, absent another available source of funding, to pay for contraceptive services out of their own pockets. The Constitutions Free Exercise Clause, all agree, does not call for that imbalanced result. As a woman born in the depression, who saw the ravages of illegal abortion before Roe v. Wade, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a powerful voice on the Court, even in dissent, for health care. It is frightening to think what a justice from the opposite end of the political spectrum will mean for health care, and especially womens health, in the United States. At the United Nations General Assembly, Antonio Guterres warns of the risk of dividing the planet according to the two great economies, which can lead to geostrategic and military divisions. The speeches of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping: the challenge between "two bullies". The United States and China will not participating in an alliance of 156 nations for the creation of an anti-Covid vaccine even for poor countries. New York (AsiaNews) - The world is taking a "very dangerous direction": that of a new Cold War between China and the United States. The warning comes from the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres who two days ago, at the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, warned all countries of possible future tragedies and divisions. This year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the large hall is empty and the speeches of over 100 heads of state, plus other personalities, are taking place via video. Without directly mentioning Beijing and Washington, Guterres said that " 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 added: A technological and economic divide risks inevitably turning into a geostrategic and military divide. We must avoid this at all costs. Two days ago, the video interventions of the two leaders - Donald Trump and Xi Jinping - revealed their profound disagreement on many aspects: from international cooperation, to the management of the pandemic, to global warming. The US president lashed out at China accused of letting Covid-19 spread with its silence and its influence on the World Health Organization and accused Beijing of being the most polluting country, but of doing little to clean up of the planet. For his part, in a speech that various analysts have described as "good cop", Xi Jinping said that his country wants to defend multilateralism; that by 2060 it will reduce carbon emissions; that it will use dialogue and negotiation to "reduce the differences" between nations. Diana Fu, who teaches political science at the University of Toronto, described the spectacle of the two General Assembly speeches as bullies duking it out on the stage of the United Nations. The American bully, personified by Trump, is ostentatiously attacking its rival by stigmatising it as a global virus, she said. The other is attacking its opponent by paying lip service to multilateralism while actually playing by its own rules. An example of how similar China and the United States really are, can be seen from one fact: neither intends to participate in an alliance for the production of an anti-Covid vaccine that can be distributed to the world (and especially to poor countries). Three days ago, the WHO proposed a global scheme for the production of future vaccines, to which 156 nations have joined, but neither the United States nor China have so far joined. Both superpowers prefer to first secure the vaccine for themselves and then distribute it to "friendly countries". President Trump is shaping the Supreme Court into one that represents views on the extreme edge of the legal profession. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) Get ready for the profound changes an even more conservative Supreme Court will make in the law and in American life. President Trumps short list of candidates to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburgs seat his third Supreme Court selection in four years are all judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals: 7th Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett, 11th Circuit Judge Barbara Lagoa and 4th Circuit Judge Allison Jones Rushing. They also all have ties to the Federalist Society, the club of ultraconservatives thats been calling the shots for all of Trumps choices for the federal bench. In this race, Barrett figures to win going away. Lagoa's chief credentials are recommendations from prominent Florida Republicans such as Rick Scott and Matt Gaetz. She is Cuban American and a resident of Florida, an indispensable state for Trump if he is to be reelected. But Ive read about 50 of the 400 opinions she has written in 15 years on the bench, mostly in the state intermediate courts. They are plodding and routine; she doesnt have Supreme Court chops. Rushing is 38 years old, which would make her the youngest justice on the court in more than 200 years. Thats an automatic source of controversy, as is her relatively bumpy ride to her current job, when she had to defend her membership in a conservative Christian organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center has identified as a hate group. Like Barrett, Rushing clerked for a conservative luminary (she for Justice Clarence Thomas, Barrett for Justice Antonin Scalia), but her qualifications dont come close to Barretts. Barretts decisions and law review articles reveal a topnotch legal mind. At age 48, she too would be the courts youngest member but she cant be dismissed as callow, especially given her full career as a tenured Notre Dame law professor. She checks all the ideological boxes for the Federalist Society cabal, and her strong personal commitment to fundamentalist Roman Catholicism thrills religious conservatives. Remember when Sen. Dianne Feinstein tried to question Barrett about how her faith might color her decisions during her confirmation for the court of appeals? The dogma lives loudly within you, blurted Feinstein, providing fodder for the culture wars and burnishing Barrett as a right-wing religious martyr. Story continues For these reasons, Barrett is the distinct favorite to get Trumps nod, and with just two Republicans willing to wait for the outcome of the election, the odds are that her nomination would be jammed through in short order. So what might the country get from Justice Barrett? For starters, a monolithic majority of at least five rock-ribbed conservatives on the high court, and a near hammerlock on every important decision on affirmative action, executive power, environmental protection and climate change, states rights, LGBTQ rights, gun control and, of course, abortion rights, for many, many years to come. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., a moderate conservative who emerged last term as a champion of precedent, a swing vote and possibly the most powerful chief since John Marshall, will become almost an afterthought. And the reliably liberal justices? A permanent dissenting minority. This kind of rebalancing in itself, before any decisions are rendered, will have a huge effect on state legislatures and the courts of appeals. Red states will be ever more emboldened to pass reactionary statutes such as Alabama's attempt last year to make virtually all abortions in the state a felony, subjecting doctors who perform them to up to 99 years in prison knowing that an extreme right-wing Supreme Court has their back. Barrett has announced her personal conviction that life begins at conception. It is very hard to imagine that she believes Roe vs. Wade was correctly decided. She has written, dubiously, that the high courts reasoning essentially permitted abortion on demand. Perhaps more importantly, and less discussed, Barrett, like Justices Samuel Alito and Thomas, has articulated a relatively weak view of stare decisis, or respect for Supreme Court precedent. Roe owes its continued vitality to stare decisis. In her time at Notre Dame, Barrett has made a kind of academic subdiscipline of undermining the doctrine. In four separate articles, she has suggested, among other attacks, that it sometimes violates the due process clause and that it stands in tension with an originalist reading of the Constitution. In confirmation hearings, Barrett would of course advance the now-standard bromides about respect for Roe as a super-duper precedent, but I would expect her to combine with Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh to achieve the far rights holy grail of overruling Roe. And that may just be the beginning of the wrecking-ball jurisprudence. Barrett has to be counted as a likely vote to strike down the Affordable Care Act, which is up for Supreme Court review for the third time in December, and which is another far-right bugaboo. In a 2017 law review article, she trashed Roberts 2012 decision upholding Obamacare as having pushed the statute beyond its plausible meaning. Then theres the 2nd Amendment. In 2019, Barrett voted (in a 7th Circuit dissent) to strike down a law that bars convicted felons from owning guns, saying that the Constitution requires proof that the individual in question is dangerous. And immigration: She dissented from an opinion striking down a Trump immigration policy denying residency to immigrants deemed likely to require government assistance. You can see why the Federalist Society loves Barrett and progressive groups fear her. She would complete a Supreme Court supermajority put in place by a Republican Party that has won the popular vote only once in the last seven presidential elections that represents views on an extreme edge of the legal profession. Barring a miracle, the court Trump is fashioning will be viewed for decades with anxiety and derision by the majority in a society that has traditionally looked to it as the ultimate bulwark against government oppression. That would be a shame for the court, but it will be a catastrophe for Americans whose liberties will be on the chopping block. @HarryLitman 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. BUMPY RIDE: Inside the plan to fix Houston's roads and keep them fixed 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 If the ACA were struck down, its protections for people with preexisting conditions would disappear. Insurers wouldnt have to sell plans to everyone, at nondiscriminatory rates; they could exclude coverage for illnesses they determined to be preexisting; and they could reimpose caps on how much they paid out for essential benefits. (That is, insurers could revert to their pre-Obamacare practices.) Deepika Padukone will join the NCB probe into alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus on Saturday, an official said on Thursday. Earlier, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had summoned Padukone on Friday to record her statement in the drugs case, a fallout of probe into the death of filmstar Sushant Singh Rajput. According to the official, the 34-year-old actress has acknowledged the summons sent by the central agency and will join the investigation on Saturday. Another actor, Rakul Preet Singh, and Padukones manager Karishma Prakash will join the investigation on Friday, he said. Prakashs WhatsApp chats included conversations about drugs with one D and central agency wanted to find out who this person was, NCB sources had said earlier. Meanwhile, statements of fashion designer Simone Khambatta and Shruti Modi, Rajputs former manager, were recorded by the NCB probe team in connection with the drugs case, the official said. Police personnel have been deployed outside the residence of Deepika Padukone, an official said. A team from the Dadar police station has been deployed outside Beaumonde Towers in Prabhadevi, where the 34-year- old actor owns an apartment, as a precautionary measure, the official said. The NCB, which began the probe after a drugs angle came to light in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajputs alleged suicide, has now widened its investigation and asked a clutch of Bollywood celebrities to join the probe". The website provides customers access to tens of thousands products across the industrial and electronic ranges Both platforms are now available in local languages and will accelerate the brands continued growth in Southeast Asia. We see many opportunities to partner with manufacturers in both Vietnam and Indonesia, two countries at the forefront of grounded industrial sectorsin the region. In order to do so, we are building capabilities that will allow us to continue developing meaningful customer relations throughout the region. This move paves the way for RS Components to consistently deliver a positive experience to our customers and cater to their evolving needs, says Sean Fredricks, president, Asia-Pacific at RS Components. Customers with complex industrial requirements can save time searching and negotiating with multiple suppliers and simplify their procurement process by working with the RS Components team specialising in sourcing products not yet published on the websites. The responsive websites provide customers access to over 60,000 products across the industrial and electronics ranges, from leading brands such as RS PRO, Schneider Electric, Phoenix Contact, FLUKE, TE Connectivity, and more. These products are in local stock in Singapore for reliable and consistent delivery dates. Designed with customer needs in mind, the e-commerce sites offer a personalised experience to help customers quickly find products and bundle options relevant to them. Both sites were built through best-in-class web technology, offering simple and intuitive navigation and a seamless purchasing experience. Customers with complex industrial requirements can also save time searching and negotiating with multiple suppliers and simplify their procurement process by working with the RS Components team specialising in sourcing products not yet published on the websites. Moreover, local sales staff provide end-to-end support to customers in Indonesia and Vietnam, with additional support from customer service and technical teams. RS Components is a trading brand of the UK-based Electrocomponents plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. In the last financial year ending on March 31, 2020 Electrocomponents plc reported revenue of 1.95 billion ($2.48 billion). The company has six operating brands: RS Components, Allied Electronics & Automation, RS PRO, OKdo, DesignSpark, and IESA. A New Zealand shearer has discovered a huge fluffy sheep - dubbed Shrek 2 - living next to his station. Rob Faulkner, who works at Wairakaia Station on the North Island, said the wild sheep had avoided shearing for about five years by living in a nearby forestry block. 'Every attempt we made in the past to muster the animal failed. Over time sheep like it become a bit feral and get very cunning,' Mr Faulkner told The Gisborne Herald. A New Zealand farmer discovered a massive sheep named Shrek 2 (pictured) that had been living in a forest block next to his station and avoided being shorn for five years Shrek 2 was named after another New Zealand ram named Shrek (pictured) who was discovered with a record breaking 27kg fleece in 2004 and gained international fame Shrek 2 was named after a Merino that gained international fame in 2004 after he was found on New Zealand's South Island with a fleece around 27kgs. Mr Faulkner said he was in awe when he first discovered the enormous sheep. 'A few weeks ago it got into the back paddock and I realised just what a magnificent sheep it was,' he explained. The shearer said he was unsure of the sheep's weight or gender but would find out at the Poverty Bay A&P Spring Show. 'We are working on a 'guess the weight of the fleece' competition, and at some time on the Friday afternoon of the show, Shrek 2 will be shorn,' he said. The original Shrek was discovered in Tarras, a tiny farming community, and evaded the annual shearing round-ups for seven years. Shrek's owner John Perriam described him as 'an elderly statesman'. Shrek (pictured) avoided shearing for seven years by hiding in caves around his farm Shrek was toured around the country for charity events in the back of a van by musterer Danny Devine (left) and owner John Perriam (right) Mr Perriam said Shrek was able to survive the winters and avoid detection by moving about a series of sheltered caves and by munching on small native shrubs. 'It's bizarre that we missed him seven years in a row,' he said. 'But from his point of view, it was the perfect environment.' Shrek was one of about 17,000 sheep on the the 27,000-acre farm. After Shrek became a star, Mr Perriam gave him his own barn and showroom. Shrek even had a personal carer to look after him when he became sick, before being put to sleep at the age of 17 in 2011. A ram dubbed Shrek II was also discovered in regional New South Wales in 2018. He was located near the Warrumbungle National Park, 550 kilometres northwest of Sydney, with a massive fleece weighing in at 30kg. 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." Marking the first coordinated move by France, Germany and the United Kingdom against Iran's move to detain dual citizens and it's dealing with the political prisoners, the E3 countries have summoned their respective Iranian ambassadors. According to the letter seen by The Guardian that was sent to Irans ambassador to the UK Hamid Baeidinejad, the British Foreign Office summoned the diplomat to meet with the senior officials while also calling the arbitrary detentions policy an attempt to undermine the nations global standing. Meanwhile, the Iranian ambassadors in France and Germany are also being summoned in this week. This came in the backdrop of escalating concerns surrounding the Iranian security forces ramping up its pressure tactics on the detained dual nationals. The move comes as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British dual national who was detained back in 2016, is reported to have been slapped with a second set of charges with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards officers even visited her parents home this week where she is living under house arrest. Read - Chinese, Russian, Belarus, Iran, And Pakistan Take Part In Exercises Read - Report: Iran's Guard Flew Surveillance Drone Over USS Nimitz Outcry over the execution of Navid Afkari Putting Irans security policies further under radar, there was also an outcry within the Islamic Republic over the execution of Navid Afkari. The Iranian wrestler was charged with the alleged killing of a security guard during the protests in 2018 and his execution triggered fresh demonstrations from the members of the Iranian civil society warning that Afkaris death would not be successful in intimidating them. Meanwhile, France is also seeking the release of renowned French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkah who was arrested in 2018 and is reported to have been transferred to Ministry of Intelligence detention centre from the Elvin prison. The UK's letter to the Iranian ambassador is reported to have highlighted the concerns of the British government about the serious violations of human rights in the Islamic Republic. The document reportedly also expressed its worries with the Iranian government continuing persecution of human rights activists in the country along with alleged harassment of media and cultural organisations. Read - Iran Makes 'George Floyd' Analogy For Itself As Rouhani Takes On US 'bullying' At UNGA Read - US Slams Merkel-led German Govt For Failing To Combat Terrorism From Iran Image: AP The pastor of a Louisiana megachurch charged with violating emergency coronavirus orders while holding in-person religious services for hundreds of parishioners caused a stir by refusing to wear a mask to court this week. Tony Spell, the pastor at Life Tabernacle Church who has gained notoriety for live-streaming his in-person services while rebuking the states mask mandates, arrived for his court appearance on Tuesday without any face covering, a requirement to enter the courthouse. He has been charged with six counts of violating state orders limiting in-person gatherings to a maximum of 10 people, reportedly hosting over 1,200 people for in-person services on Palm Sunday, as cases of the novel coronavirus were soaring across the country and throughout Louisiana. Mr Spell, who has admitted himself to violating the governors orders at least 33 times in a recorded video message to his supporters and parishioners, was forced to wait outside of the courthouse as his attorney represented him during the scheduled appearance. The pastor was not required to be present for the meeting, and yet he waited outside flanked by a crowd of supporters, the majority of whom did not appear to be wearing any face coverings in photos and videos posted to social media. Outside of the courthouse, The Advocate reported that Mr Spell was making the case for his decision not to wear a mask. This is about religious and civil liberties, he said, according to the news outlet. What is at stake? We lose our right to assemble. Mr Spell faces fines or a possible jail sentence over the six charges he faces. A judge set his next hearing for 25 January, 2021. He has held numerous in-person services with reports indicating hundreds of parishioners in attendance. In an early-August video he posted to YouTube first reported by Washington Post, Mr Spell appeared to suggest his fight against the states coronavirus measures was one rooted in his religious beliefs. We are Gods anointed, Mr Spell said. We are standing up for our religious and civil liberties and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will never stop doing that. In Louisiana, at least 5,400 people have died due to complications resulting from Covid-19. An estimated 162,000 cases have been reported throughout the state since the pandemic began earlier this year. Mr Spell has continually faced run-ins with the law since the start of the viral outbreak. The pastor drove his Church bus towards a protestor demonstrating against his in-person services in April, writing in a text to the newspaper: I approached a man who verbally assaulted my wife and little girls. Hes a crotch-grabbing, middle-finger using against my church ladies. He was charged with aggravated assault. The merch features "previously archived & new designs, artwork from album packaging or a re-imagination of existing art honoring each full length studio album & more!" The website states that a lot of the items are limited, and "when they're gone, they're gone" - although more items will be continually added to the collection. Along with dropping merch, Foo Fighters were set to celebrate their anniversary with the U.S. Van tour, where they were supposed to stop at the same cities as they did on their first tour in 1995. But surprise surprise, covid f**ked that up. Check out the merch here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 17:49:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Thursday detained at least six Iraqi nationals over their suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) terror group in the northwestern province of Duzce, local media reported. In line with an investigation conducted by the Public Prosecutor's Office in Duzce, police teams launched simultaneous operations in the early hours of the day to capture the suspects, according to the state-run Anadolu agency. It said the suspects were alleged bomb experts and senior members of the IS. Turkey has recently intensified operations against the IS members across the country and captured nearly 40 people since the beginning of September. On Wednesday, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Turkey so far prevented a total of 152 "terrorist attacks" this year thanks to the hard works of security forces. The IS was blamed for a spate of deadly attacks in Turkey since 2015, killing more than 300 people. Enditem The way lawyers for Kyle Rittenhouse tell it, he wasnt just a scared teenager acting in self-defense when he shot to death two Kenosha, Wisconsin, protesters. He was a courageous defender of liberty, a patriot exercising his right to bear arms amid rioting in the streets. A 17-year-old citizen is being sacrificed by politicians, but its not Kyle Rittenhouse they are after. Their end game is to strip away the constitutional right of all citizens to defend our communities, says the voice-over at the end of a video released this week by a group tied to Rittenhouses legal team. "Kyle Rittenhouse will go down in American history alongside that brave unknown patriot ... who fired The Shot Heard Round the World,'' lead attorney John Pierce wrote this month in a tweet he later deleted. A Second American Revolution against Tyranny has begun. But such dramatic rhetoric that has helped raise nearly $2 million for Rittenhouses defense may not work with a jury considering charges that could put the teen in prison for life. Legal experts say there could be big risks in turning a fairly straightforward self-defense case into a fight for freedom that mirrors the law-and-order reelection theme President Donald Trump has struck amid a wave of protests over racial injustice. Theyre playing to his most negative characteristics and stereotypes, what his critics want to perceive him as a crazy militia member out to cause harm and start a revolution, said Robert Barnes, a prominent Los Angeles defense attorney. Rittenhouses high-profile defense and fund-raising teams, led by Los Angeles-based Pierce and Atlanta attorney Lin Wood, respectively, refused to speak to The Associated Press about their strategy ahead of the teens next court appearance Friday, a hearing in Illinois on whether to return him to Wisconsin. But in a TV appearance and a blizzard of social media posts, they doubled down on the hero theme, describing Kenosha as a war zone and the young shooter as an American patriot and a shining symbol of the American fighting spirit. This is the sacred ground in Kenosha where a 17-year old child became a Minuteman and said Not on My Watch, Pierce tweeted above a photo of the city where rioters burned and looted just days before. Eric Creizman, a former partner at Pierces firm, said the heated language in the tweets is not surprising because of his former boss' tendency toward hyperbole, though he wonders if it will backfire. The question really should focus on whether this guy is guilty of what theyre charging him with, he said, instead of making it into a political issue. One politically charged tactic critics have attacked as a longshot is Pierces promise to fight a charge of underage firearm possession, a misdemeanor, by arguing U.S. law allows for an unorganized militia. Rittenhouse wielded a semi-automatic rifle. Some experts have even questioned whether the teenagers team of four attorneys will hold back from making a plea bargain out of fear of disrupting the patriotic narrative and disappointing donors. There is a temptation to shape court arguments to keep the money flowing while the battle is ongoing, said Richard Cayo, a Milwaukee attorney who helps other lawyers in ethics cases. It puts lawyers at risk of trying to serve two masters. Both Pierce and Wood have ties to Trumps orbit and his brand of GOP politics, though its not clear if that played any role in their involvement in Rittenhouses case and how it is being handled. For his part, Trump has made statements appearing to support Rittenhouses claim of self-defense, saying the young man probably would have been killed. Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani hired Pierces firm late last year when he was reportedly under investigation for possibly breaking lobbying laws for his work in Ukraine for the president, as did Carter Page and George Papadopoulos, former Trump advisers caught up in the Russia investigation. Wood, a defamation lawyer who represented falsely accused security guard Richard Jewell in the 1996 Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta, is also a lawyer for Sean Hannity, the Fox News host with close ties to Trump. And Wood made headlines recently representing Nicholas Sandmann, the Kentucky teen in the Make America Great Again hat, in his lawsuits against news organizations over their coverage of his faceoff with an American Indian protester in Washington last year. Both attorneys moved quickly after Rittenhouse was arrested in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois, two days after the Aug. 25 shootings that came amid raucous protests in Kenosha over the police shooting that paralyzed a Black man, Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse, who is white, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the killing of two white protesters and attempted intentional homicide in the wounding of a third. Pierce flew to Illinois to meet Rittenhouse and his family that same day, according to his tweets, which included appeals for donations to the #FightBack Foundation that was started with Wood a few weeks earlier to fund lawsuits aimed at the lies of the radical left. In Pierces telling on a Fox News appearance and an 11-minute #FightBack Foundation documentary, the real Rittenhouse is not the wild-eyed vigilante critics have painted him. He is instead portrayed as a model citizen who had just gotten off his shift as lifeguard and was cleaning graffiti from a vandalized high school before he received word from a business owner seeking help to protect what was left of his property after rioters had burned two of his other buildings. According to prosecutors, Rittenhouse shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, after the protester threw a plastic bag at the teenager, missing him. But to Pierce, the situation was far more dire. Rosenbaum was the head of a mob that had become enraged at the sight of Rittenhouse trying to put out a fire set by arsonists and decided to chase after him, relentlessly hunting him as prey. Rittenhouse, in Pierces telling, fired only after Rosenbaum began to assault him from behind and attempted to take his rifle away. I just killed somebody, Rittenhouse says into his cellphone, according to the complaint filed by prosecutors, as he starts running and several people give chase. Beat him up! one person in the crowd says. Another yells, Get him! Get that dude! What happened next, as Pierce put it in a statement, were a series of clear signs captured on cellphone video that Rittenhouse was in possible mortal danger. A man strikes Rittenhouse as he runs down the street from a mob. Rittenhouse falls to the ground and another protester kicks him. Back on his feet and a bit farther down the street, he is struck by a skateboard. He shoots, killing the man with the skateboard, Anthony Huber, 26, and wounding a third person holding a handgun, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said he wouldnt be surprised if the patriotic language that has wooed online donors were eventually be abandoned for the most obvious defense, that Rittenhouse was a confused kid who got in over his head. Still, Turley said, those who give the most tend to gravitate to the extremes of the political spectrum. There is danger that social media campaigns can alter your narrative, he said. ___ Condon reported from New York. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd is quoting at Rs 175.95, down 0.79% on the day as on 13:29 IST on the NSE. The stock tumbled 38.35% in last one year as compared to a 4.32% slide in NIFTY and a 2.68% fall in the Nifty Energy index. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd dropped for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 175.95, down 0.79% on the day as on 13:29 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 1.67% on the day, quoting at 10945.8. The Sensex is at 37038.12, down 1.67%.Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd has lost around 16.71% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 7.56% in last one month and is currently quoting at 14956.6, down 1.24% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 38.02 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 71.58 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark September futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 175.95, down 1.12% on the day. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd tumbled 38.35% in last one year as compared to a 4.32% slide in NIFTY and a 2.68% fall in the Nifty Energy index. The PE of the stock is 4.84 based on TTM earnings ending June 20. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The criminal law is not designed to address every human tragedy. That is the lesson of the tragic death of Breonna Taylor. It was also the theme repeatedly struck by Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron on Wednesday, in announcing the indictment of one of the three officers involved in the raid that lead to her death. The charge will not satisfy the mob. Neither the peaceful protesters nor the radical rioters, who have taken to the streets since shortly after Ms. Taylor was killed on March 13, are interested in the facts of the case. They could not care less how the law applies to the evidence a Lexington grand jury pored over this week. Their interest is only to set in stone a distorted narrative: Police officers on the hunt for a young black man, callously gunned down an innocent young black woman after supposedly crashing into an apartment without warning. In light of that, the indictment will just fuel the mobs outrage. The two officers who actually shot Ms. Taylor a total of six times were not charged. The indictment, instead, lodges three counts of wanton endangerment not homicide against Brett Hankison, then a detective (since fired), whose wild firing put neighbors in harms way but did not kill the young woman. Police will be relieved that no charges were brought against Sergeant Jon Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, whose shots in the dark chaos struck Ms. Taylor only after the officers were fired upon by her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker who himself may have been justified, in the confusion, in shooting at what he says he believed was an intruder. The cops were doing their job in executing a lawful search warrant at a location that was quite justifiably tied to a notorious criminal Ms. Taylors former boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover. In similar cases around the country over the last several years, prosecutors have prioritized the mob over the evidence. To his great credit, Attorney General Cameron did not. As an African-American law enforcement official who has dealt extensively with the Taylor family, the strain of the case on him and his office was obvious at his press conference, and he spoke eloquently about that. No one can quarrel with the grand jurys conclusion that Hankison deserved to be charged because of his life-threatening recklessness. In another case, since he did not actually injure anyone, the state might have been content with firing Hankison. But the enormity of Ms. Taylors death made such leniency impossible to rationalize. Story continues So the attorney general filed charges . . . but there is rioting anyway. Much of what weve been told about the case turns out not to be true another Hands Up, Dont Shoot urban legend of police brutality. Most prominently, Attorney General Cameron explained that the police did not execute a no knock warrant before entering Ms. Taylors apartment. They knocked and announced themselves as police before forcing entry shortly after midnight. How they came to be at Ms. Taylors home, with a search warrant based on probable cause that evidence of narcotics crimes would be found, is the part of the story the social-justice warriors would have us omit. It needs telling. When she was killed, Breonna Taylor was 26, a hospital emergency-room technician who hoped to become a nurse. But over the years, she had gotten involved with Glover, a 30-year-old twice-convicted drug dealer. Though she was never a targeted suspect, the New York Times reports that Ms. Taylor was entangled in the frequent police investigations of Glover. Taylor remained romantically involved with him though he had spent years in prison. In fact, after they first became a couple in 2016, Taylor agreed to rent a car for Glover and, for her trouble, ended up interviewed in a murder investigation. A man was found shot to death behind the steering wheel of that car, and drugs were found in it. Glover was connected to the decedent through an associate but was not charged in the case. In the years that followed, Glover was repeatedly arrested on drug charges, and Taylor arranged bail for him and one of his confederates on at least two occasions. Weeks before the fateful March 2020 raid, when Glover was in custody after yet another arrest, they were recorded exchanging intimacies on the phone. After that, police surveillance established that Glover continued to make regular trips to Taylors apartment, and Taylor herself was seen outside a house investigators say was part of the drug trafficking operations. Glover and his coconspirators were said to be operating a series of trap houses for stashing illegal drugs crack, marijuana, and prescription pills they were unauthorized to peddle. At the time of Glovers arrest in late 2019, police observed narcotics pick-ups, had informant information describing crack sales, and executed search warrants that yielded crack, eight guns, and a surveillance system commonly used by drug distribution organizations to defeat police detection. After Glover was released on bail, surveillance placed his car at Ms. Taylors home, ten miles away, on six occasions over the next couple of months. Taylors car was seen in the vicinity of a trap house associated with Glover several times, and the Times reports she was photographed in front of that location in mid-February. Police also had evidence that Glover used Taylors address to receive parcels sent by mail. He was seen leaving her apartment carrying a package in mid-January. As of late February just two weeks before the warrant was executed Glover was listing her apartment as his home address according to various databases. On the night police executed the warrant at Ms. Taylors apartment, they searched other locations associated with Glovers drug operation. The Times recounts that police found a table covered in drugs packaged for sale, including a plastic sachet containing cocaine and fentanyl. Moreover, the paper adds: In a series of calls hours after her death, as Mr. Glover tried to make bail, he told another woman that he had left about $14,000 with Ms. Taylor. Bre been having all my money, he claimed. The same afternoon, he also told an associate he had left money at Ms. Taylors home. The lawyer for the Taylor family says no drugs or cash were found in Taylors apartment that night. A county prosecutor counters that the shootings curtailed the search. If that is true, it is irregular: The fact that a civilian was killed and a police officer wounded would argue for doing an even more thorough search than usual, not calling it off. In any event, the Taylor family maintains that Breonnas romantic relationship with Glover was then over, and she was deeply involved with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. They had met years earlier, when they were college students. He used to work at a Coca-Cola warehouse, and she had seen him on and off over the years, including while she was involved with Glover. On March 13, after working, she met Walker for dinner, and they returned to her apartment, where they watched television and she went to sleep after midnight. At about 12:40 a.m., the police, led by Mattingly and Cosgrove, knocked on the door and announced themselves as police. Taylor and Walker were startled out of their sleep. Walker, a licensed owner of a nine-millimeter Glock, says he did not know it was the police at the door and speculated that it might be Glover breaking in. For their part, the police expected that Ms. Taylor would be alone they had not seen Walker enter the dwelling with her. It was dark and there was a long hallway between the bedroom and the front door. There was screaming. Walker fired as Mattingly came through the door, striking him in the leg and severely wounding him. Mattingly and Cosgrove returned fire into the hallway in the general direction of where they believed the shooter was. When the smoke cleared, Walker was unharmed but Taylor had been struck six times. FBI ballistics experts eventually determined that Cosgrove fired the fatal shot. Meantime, Hankison, who was in the parking lot outside the apartment, began firing when the commotion he could not have seen began. He sprayed the patio and a window with ten bullets irresponsibly, to be sure, but fortunately without harming anyone. Hankison, who had a spotty disciplinary record in almost 20 years as a cop, was terminated when police officials judged that his conduct during the raid shocked the conscience. And now he has been charged, which seems appropriate. What the mob wants, though, is murder charges against the two cops who shot Ms. Taylor. There is no conceivable legal justification for that. The police were properly executing a lawful warrant. There appears to have been more than adequate probable cause for the search in light of Glovers ties to the apartment. Even if there were any doubt about that, the warrant had been duly authorized and therefore police were entitled to rely on it. And they were fired upon before reasonably responding with lethal force. What happened to Breonna Taylor was a calamity. That is why the city of Louisville just paid $12 million dollars to settle the wrongful death lawsuit her family filed, rather than trying to fight it. Obviously, the money cannot bring her back to life, and will never be adequate compensation for her loved ones loss. But that could also have been said for the politicized filing of unprovable homicide charges. The legal system can only do the best it can; it cannot fully compensate for tragic loss, and its criminal processes are not equipped to address catastrophes that are not crimes. The state of Kentucky was right not to opt for mob justice. Unfortunately, the mob has a different conception of justice, and it is ripping the country apart. More from National Review Prime Minister Ludovic Orban on Thursday said in Focsani that the child allowance will be doubled in five steps, as decided by the Government. "The National Liberal Party (PNL) will double the allowance, as decided, in five steps, with the last steps scheduled for July 1 2022. For now, all that we have is an announcement made by the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) and we are waiting for the explanatory, depending on which we will decide what to do next. In our opinion, increasing allowances is a priority (...), but we must do it while considering the economic reality, and the available resources, so that this won't be a deceitful increase that we will not be able to sustain and that will generate disadvantageous economic consequences," PM Orban told a press conference.The PM added that a doubling of the allowances at this point will lead to an increase in the budget deficit by more than a half percentage point."The doubling of the child allowance implies a budgetary effort of approximately 7 billion lei per year, which means a significant increase in the deficit of 0.6 per cent," said Ludovic Orban.CCR on Thursday announced that it unanimously rejected the constitutional challenge filed by the Romanian Government and found the Law on the rejection of GEO No. 123.2020 on the modification of article 3 of the Law No. 61/1993 regarding the child allowance to be constitutional.On August 19, the Deputies Chamber, in its capacity as decision-making forum, rejected Ordinance No. 123.2020 that modified and supplements article 3 of the Law No. 61/1993 regarding the child allowance. Will Pritzker, Lightfoot vote by mail or in person? Two of the states top-ranking Democrats have been talking up mail-in voting amid the pandemic but they havent said a lot about how theyll cast their ballots this election cycle. Two messages to the governors office werent returned, but the governor did say during an unrelated news conference today that he used to love voting in person on Election Day, eventually took advantage of early voting as that option expanded and in the last two years, Ive been so busy Ive been voting by mail." BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 By Tamilla Mammadova Trend: Georgia imported from Azerbaijan 489.5 tons of tea worth $3 million from January through August this year, Trend reports via the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat). Compared to the same period last year, Georgia increased the supply of tea from Azerbaijan by 6.4 tons. During the reporting period, Azerbaijan also imported tea from Georgia. The import volume amounted to 167.5 tons and cost $1.2 million. 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 00:35:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's candidate for the top post of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Thursday vowed to defend the multilateral trading system. Amina Mohamed, who is currently the cabinet secretary for sports, told a virtual meeting that a multilateral trading system is about all WTO member states contributing to its success. "We want a WTO that is universal and that we have member countries which are both small and big. For global trade to be dynamic we need all the markets open," Mohamed said. In 2015, Mohamed chaired the tenth WTO ministerial conference that took place in Kenya and is vying for the position of WTO director-general. Mohamed noted that the WTO has the toolkits to get countries to talk, engage, build bridges and consensus around issues as well as the capacity to conduct research required to see everyone is brought around the table so that their issues are dealt with. She said that the global community needs to ensure that every country feels part of the multilateral trading system. "Everyone is a stakeholder of the system and there are no weak or strong stakeholders," she revealed. Mohamed noted that developing countries are keen on using the multilateral trading system to create jobs, modernize infrastructure as well as grow their economies. "I, therefore, want to see a multilateral trading system that not only survives but thrives," she said. Enditem Firefighters respond to the CZU Lightning Complex fire in Boulder Creek last month. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Reeling from the worst fire season in California's history, 3 in 4 state voters say wildfires pose a greater threat today than ever before, yet they are divided sharply along party lines about what role climate change plays in the infernos, according to a new poll. The widespread belief that California's wildfire threat is greater now than in years past was held by 74% of surveyed voters, and included majorities ofcoastal and inland voters, regardless of region, age, sex and political ideology, according to a poll performed by UC Berkeleys Institute of Governmental Studies. Its a belief you dont have to argue with people about, its really out there, said Mark DiCamillo, a veteran pollster and institute director. Deep fissures exist, however, and many of them are attributable to partisan politics, DiCamillo said. About 83% of Democrats consider wildfires to be a "much more" serious threat today than in the past, while only 59% of Republicans share that same belief, the poll found. Among those with no party preference or another party designation, it was 72% and 70%, respectively. Asked if climate change was a major, minor or nonexistent factor in contributing to a greater number of California wildfires, roughly two-thirds of those polled said they considered it a major factor. That view appeared to be dictated largely by political affiliation however: 90% of Democrats said it was a major factor compared to 19% of Republicans. About 70% of voters without a party preference said climate change was a major factor. Of those polled, 46% of Republicans and 61% of those who described themselves as "very conservative" said climate change was not a factor in recent fires, even as scientists say climate change has exacerbated the fires due to increasing temperatures and drying of vegetation. Only 2% of Democrats, 1% of people who described themselves as "very liberal" and 9% of people without a party preference said climate change was not a factor. Story continues While its heartening that a majority of Californians, including Republicans, see the threat of wildfires has changed with time, the denial of climate change among conservatives indicates there is still a ways to go, said Kristina Dahl, a senior climate scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists. The fossil fuel industry denied climate change and its role in it for years and those doubts have been given a huge platform by President Trump and other GOP lawmakers in recent years, she said. "Those seeds of doubt were planted very deliberately and a long time ago," Dahl said. "That's something that pervades the public's thinking on climate change and also provides convenient talking points to relevant authority figures who feel the same way." During a recent visit to California, Trump was pressed by California's natural resources secretary, Wade Crowfoot, to acknowledge the role climate change played in recent fires. "Itll start getting cooler. You just watch, Trump responded. I wish science agreed with you, Crawfoot said. I dont think science knows, actually, Trump said. While it's remarkable that such a large slice of California believes the threat of wildfires is worse than in the past, DiCamillo said, it's also notable that there's alignment in what government can or can't do to help. About 54% of those polled said they were not confident their local, state and federal governments would be able to protect them from wildfires, while only 10% said they were confident they could. In a unified show of skepticism, only 10% of Democrats, 12% of Republicans and 9% of voters with no party preference said they were confident that these governments could protect their local area from wildfire threats, the survey found. The most skeptical, by political ideology, were very conservative voters (63%) followed by somewhat conservative voters (59%) and very liberal voters (58%), who all told pollsters they had no confidence in the government's ability to help. The results are likely a reflection of a number of truths, Dahl said. California's forests have been undermanaged for generations, and it will take longer than 10 years to improve them. Also, the concept of wildfire mitigation is complicated. Voters' thoughts on how likely their individual communities may suffer serious damage from wildfires in the next decade, meanwhile, were divided nearly evenly among those who thought it was extremely or very likely (31%), somewhat likely (30%) and not very likely (25%). Overall, more than a third of voters thought it was highly likely that residents in their local community would suffer serious damage from a wildfire in the next decade, including 8% of respondents who said saying they've already suffered such damage . But diving into the numbers, the attitudes grew more pessimistic moving away from city centers and into rural settings that are most vulnerable to fire. About 44% of Orange County residents, 38% of L.A. County residents and 33% of Central Valley residents believe it's not likely their area will experience fire damage in the next 10 years. But 39% of rural Northern California voters, 35% San Diego and other Southern California voters and 34% of Bay Area voters believe it's extremely or very likely that they will. About 28% of L.A. County voters believe it's extremely or very likely wildfires will damage homes in the area in the next decade, 38% said it's unlikely and 6% said they already have. Nearly a quarter, 23%, of Northern Californians told pollsters their community had already experienced wildfire damage, and 85% of voters in that region said that wildfires posed a minor or major threat to their family living situation. About 66% of that constituency also said that climate change was a major contributor to the wildfire threat. Overall, while three-quarters of Californians believe the threat of wildfires is increasing, fewer of them thought it was a threat to their community personally. Dahl said that was not a surprise, and she'd like to see how Californians feel in a quiet fire year, should we get another one. "It echoes the phenomenon we see nationally ... many more people feel global warming will affect someone else [rather] than it will affect them personally," Dahl said. "Whether this is human nature, wishful thinking that we'll be excepted from the tragedy of climate change or whether people believe they have a greater deal of resilience, there can be a lot of complex factors into a response to that question." As of Thursday, some 8,000 wildfires have burned at least 3.6 million acres and killed 26 people in California this year while destroying more than 6,600 buildings. The Berkeley IGS poll, supervised by DiCamillo, was administered online in English and Spanish from Sept. 9-15 among 7,198 registered California voters. The margin of error for the full sample is estimated at roughly 2 percentage points. Further details on the poll questions and data can be found at the Berkeley IGS website. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Ahead of MP bypolls, Congress-BJP war on farm loan waivers intensifies India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Bhopal, Sep 24: Amid the ongoing clash over the farm bills, a political war of words has broken out between the BJP and the Congress ahead of the crucial by polls for 28 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh. It can be seen the Congress claiming that the state government has finally accepted that the previous Kamal Nath government had fulfilled its promise to waive-off farmers' loans and therefore, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan should apologise for spreading alleged falsehoods, a charge rejected in toto by the BJP, which accused the Congress of misleading the people on the issue using half-truths. Fit India Movement: PM Modi to interact with Kohli, Milind Soman among others According to reports, Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders have cited state agriculture minister Kamal Patel's written reply in the assembly, given to Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh, to claim that loans worth more than Rs 11,000 crore owed by more than 2.6 million farmers were waived off in 2019. The state was ruled by a Congress government led by Kamal Nath in 2019. Farmers' loan waiver has remained one of the major poll issues and a point of conflict between the BJP and the Congress since the last assembly elections. BJP has accused the previous government (Congress) in the state of betraying farmers by not fulfilling its poll promise to waive off loans up to Rs 2 lakh per head within 10 days of assuming power. Saudi Arabia bans flights to and from India due to surge in COVID-19 cases Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News The political temperatures on the issue soared further following a tweet by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, which said, "Congress: Jo kaha so kiya, BJP: Sirf jhoothe waade", meaning 'Congress kept its word while BJP has made only false promises'. The Caucasus 2020 exercises, described by Moscow as strategic, began on Monday in southern Russia and the Black and Caspian Seas, reportedly involving 80,000 Russian soldiers. They were joined by around 1,000 military personnel from Armenia, Belarus, China, Myanmar and Pakistan. The weeklong drills are also featuring joint military operations simulated at the Alagyaz firing range in central Armenia by Armenian army units and Russian troops stationed in the South Caucasus state. They deployed about 300 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery systems as well as dozens of warplanes, helicopters and drones during a live-fire session on Thursday. The Alagyaz war games are led by Lieutenant-General Tigran Parvanian, the commander of a joint Russian-Armenian military force. Under their scenario cited by Parvanian, the participating troops launched a counteroffensive against an imaginary enemy that invaded Armenia. Armenia hosts up to 5,000 Russia soldiers as part of its military alliance with Russia. Successive Armenian governments have regarded the Russian military presence as a crucial deterrent against Turkeys possible military intervention in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The likelihood of such intervention appears to have increased after deadly hostilities that broke out on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in July. Turkey blamed Armenia for the escalation and pledged to boost Turkish military aid to Azerbaijan. In an apparently related development, Turkish and Azerbaijani troops held last month joint two-week exercises in various parts of Azerbaijan. The Armenian government responded by accusing Ankara of undercutting international efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict and posing a serious security threat to Armenia. Armen Grigorian, the secretary of Armenias Security Council, said on August 2 that Yerevan counts on Moscows support in its efforts to counter that threat. Armenias and Russias defense ministers met in Moscow later in August. The two countries top army generals held talks in the Russian capital two weeks later. Despite the global pandemic, Revera and its corporate partners continue to step up for their chosen charity partner, Habitat for Humanity Canada Revera employees support Habitat for Humanity by raising funds and by volunteering for Habitat Build Days, like this Revera crew in Calgary in September 2019. Revera employees support Habitat for Humanity by raising funds and by volunteering for Habitat Build Days, like this Revera crew in Calgary in September 2019. Mississauga, Ontario, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As Canadians continue to navigate through the new normal of life in a pandemic, Revera is determined to continue to support its chosen charity partner, Habitat for Humanity Canada, along with its social cause of choice combatting ageism, through the intergenerational Revera and Reel Youth Age is More film project. Before the pandemic was declared, Revera had secured several corporate sponsorships for the 2020 Revera Giving program, which aims to help families across Canada achieve affordable homeownership. Like Habitat, Revera believes that everyone should have a decent and affordable place to call home. However, because of the pandemic, Revera was forced to postpone both of its annual gala fundraising events until 2021. Despite this, Revera has continued to work closely with each of its corporate sponsors, whose ongoing generosity and support resulted in the retention of sponsorships approaching $100,000! Revera would like to thank each of those sponsors, including Acclaim Ability Management, Achieva Health, Chaitons LLP, Foley & Lardner LLP, Hexarem, Interface, Manulife, Medline Canada, Mercer, Naylor Building Partnerships, New-Can Group, Reuters Benefits, Russell Hendrix and Toppits. We are truly grateful to each of the sponsors who have chosen to support Habitat for Humanity Canada, says Thomas Wellner, President and CEO of Revera. This year has been difficult for businesses and the charity sector has been particularly hard hit. We are grateful that our sponsors share our desire to support Habitat for Humanity and the Canadian families they are able to help. This pandemic has been a challenging time for many charities. It is wonderful to have partners like Revera and their corporate sponsors continue to support Habitat for Humanity Canada, says Julia Deans, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. Since 2018, we have developed a strong partnership with Revera, and their efforts this year have truly demonstrated their commitment to our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Although many traditional fundraising programs have been halted due to the COVID-19 physical distancing restrictions, Revera is continuing to come up with new and innovative ways to raise funds by combining different programs to maximize their impact. On October 1, Revera will hold its first-ever virtual Age Is More film gala, in partnership with Reel Youth and in support of Habitat for Humanity Canada. The event will premiere nine new short films developed through The Revera and Reel Youth Age is More Film Project on Reveras Facebook page. Revera typically hosts four Reel Youth gala premieres each year in retirement residences. This year, we held two galas before the pandemic was declared. The upcoming virtual gala is a national initiative featuring residents from three Revera retirement residences in Ontario and Alberta in films produced by youth from British Columbia to New Brunswick. People viewing the gala online will have a chance to support Habitat for Humanity Canada through Reveras online donation page. Revera and Habitat for Humanity Canada Revera has been a partner to Habitat for Humanity Canada since 2018 and in that time more than one million dollars has been raised and donated to communities across Canada. These funds equate to more than four million dollars in social benefits and have been raised through corporate sponsorships, fundraising in Revera homes and residences, more than 40 Revera-sponsored Habitat Build Days and donations to ReStore. For more information visit Revera Giving. About Revera Revera is a leading Canadian owned and headquartered, owner, investor, developer and operator in the senior living sector. Through its portfolio of partnerships, Revera owns or operates more than 500 properties across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom serving more than 55,000 seniors. The company offers seniors apartments, independent living, assisted living, memory care, and long term care. With approximately 50,000 employees dedicated to providing exceptional care and service, Revera is helping seniors live life to the fullest. Through Age is More, Revera is committed to challenging ageism, the companys social cause of choice. Find out more at ReveraLiving.com, Facebook.com/ReveraInc or on Twitter @Revera_Inc. Story continues Attachments CONTACT: Larry Roberts Revera Inc. 289-997-5721 Larry.Roberts@reveraliving.com Donald Trump wished Prince Harry A lot of luck with wife Meghan Markle as he launched a bizarre attack on the couple. Mr Trump said in a live news conference that he was not a fan of Ms Markle, who has publicly supported his rival for the White House, Joe Biden. Im not a fan of hers. I wish a lot of luck to Harry, he's going to need it," said the president when asked about Ms Markle. Mr Trumps comments after the couple urged Americans to reject hate speech and to vote in the upcoming election. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the comments during a live video from their California home as part of the Time 100 list of influential people It was their first joint TV appearance since they stopped working as members of the Royal Family back in March. "As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity," the duke said as he sat next to Meghan. And he warned Americans to be wary about what they consumed online. "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 else's shoes," he said. "Because when one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially. "It's time to not only reflect, but act." Ms Markle, who will be able to vote on 3 November unlike her husband also spoke in the video. "We're just six weeks out from Election Day and today is National Voter Registration Day,' said Ms Markle. "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. Buckingham Palace later refused to comment on the couples statement. 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, a spokesman said. KYODO NEWS - Sep 24, 2020 - 15:14 | All, Japan, Coronavirus All Nippon Airways Co. and Japan Airlines Co. said Thursday they will soon resume some of the flights to China that they suspended after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The moves come as Chinese authorities eased restrictions on flights, the two carriers said. The virus was initially detected in China late last year before spreading worldwide. Currently, the two Japanese carriers have been only allowed to serve one route each for trips to and from mainland China. ANA operates between Narita near Tokyo and Shanghai, and JAL between Narita and Dalian. In resuming operations, ANA will add Qingdao and Guangzhou to its destinations starting next Wednesday while JAL will add Guangzhou from Oct. 2, they said. They are expecting strong demand for business trips as Japanese carmakers and many other firms operate in China. Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers. A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you. 1. Verification and registrar choice After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files. In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days. BrandBucket has vetted and supports the following registrars: GoDaddy Namesilo Uniregistry NameCheap Google Domains Network Solutions Name.com Dynadot Amazon Route 53 123 Reg Gandi 2. We request the name from the seller. Once we know where you would like the domain transferred, BrandBucket will request the domain from the seller. All of our sellers are very responsive, making for a quick process. 3. Transfer the name into your account As soon as we receive the name from the seller, we start the transfer into your account and guide you through the whole process. 4. Verify with the buyer that the transfer is complete Once we confirm that you have received the name, we consider the escrow process to be complete. Only then do we release payment to the domain seller. Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more A growing list of companies shares a common problem with Apple Stores. Technology may be the only solution as workers wait to return to their corporate workplace as the pandemic resurgence materializes. Apple Stores recently tried to reopen but had to shut down again amid continuing COVID-19 infections. It only took a few weeks for Apple to close its retail stores after reopening to the public, sending its employees back to work from home. Many companies are likely to follow suit as coronavirus cases continue to spread. For those business that got it right reopening their workplaces the first time around, they should be in pretty good shape for round two. But others that struggled to get a handle on operations will likely find themselves again in chaos especially where IT is concerned for the transplanted work-from-home employees. Unsolved challenges exist in either scenario. No one formula is an ideal approach for companies going back-and-forth between in-person and remote work. The lessons learned from the first transition suggest companies with the right tools and strategies in place will be significantly better off. Most organizations will face common challenges with staff working in the same space again: How do they use elevators in office buildings? How do they cater in the cafeteria? Do employees still have access to the break room with common appliances and a shared space? How do employees organize meetings in conference rooms that are meant for a specific number of attendees? These are the basic questions confronting business managers as they race to reopen their workspaces to large crowds of workers, observed Mounir Hahad, head of Juniper Threat Labs at Juniper Networks. One of the serious challenges involves not only the health of employees but the health of company electronics. Those issues persist whether employees work from home or return to the office. Unfortunately, during these times when many organizations have been forced to shift to a more distributed business model, hybrid work practices are causing organizational challenges related to rising cybersecurity risk, defenses being tested, and weaknesses being exposed, Hahad told TechNewsWorld. Business continuity may lighten up or override previous security requirements to address system overload, which leaves vulnerabilities open. Companies must find a way to ensure cybersecurity remains a top priority and keep their guard up. It is especially important that organizations emphasize employee education around cybersecurity, he urged. Addressing Risks Some advanced WiFi access points do have the ability to precisely monitor users locations throughout their workday as they move around the buildings and record the data for future use. This is of tremendous help to the security and safety team who can identify hot spots where employees tend to congregate, or to trace back the proximity of an infected employee to other employees or visitors, noted Hahad. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Additionally, hybrid work environments can identify new opportunities for organizations to reassess their business continuity plans and network security processes. As early experiences suggest, transparency, flexibility and iteration are key in return-to-workplace plans amid possibly several rounds of back-and-forth restarts, depending on COVID-19 infection rates. Businesses must continue to address the ways employees connect to the network and how to deploy technology to enable and protect those connections, regardless of work environment, Hahad said. Common Challenges Navigating the remote-to-office scenario that companies face to regather their workforces is stressful for both the displaced workers and their company managers. Coworkers will spend an inordinate amount of time reconnecting early on, which will likely have a large impact on productivity at first, suggested Chris Triolo, vice president of customer success at Respond Software. Employees may struggle with productivity as they adapt back to the office environment. The return of the commute may affect employees happiness temporarily and likely will result in fewer hours worked per day, he told TechNewsWorld. Two other primary issues surface in the WFH-to-office return flip flops. One is the Security Operations Center (SOC); the other is the deployment of corporate communications assets. While some industries are suited for remote work, there are several industries for whom this working style presents many problems, Triolo noted. For instance, cybersecurity operations is not an industry that should operate remotely long-term. Home offices tend to be on unsafe networks that lack all the security controls and technology that the corporate office maintains. Another consideration is what to do with corporate assets, such as laptops and phones that were distributed. Are companies expected to collect them all upon return? A good deal of logistical work comes to mind with this scenario. While everyone does appreciate a change now and then, we risk employees focus, happiness, and productivity by see-sawing back and forth between in-person and remote work. While some companies have run a hybrid model all along, most employees who are new to the work-from-home and/or the hybrid structure may really struggle with it, Triolo explained. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Lessons Learned The first transition from office to WFH taught company managers some surprising lessons. Many companies learned for the first time that it is possible to have a remote workforce. In addition, the productivity question was resolved: employees ended up just as productive and in some cases more productive than when they worked in the office full time. We also began to recognize that remote employees can reduce the costs of running our business, for example, with the leasing of office building space, decreased spending on utilities, and day-to-day overhead costs, Triolo noted. But businesses also learned that we had a lot of work to do to get our employees the tools they need to work from home safely. These include laptops, corporate VPNs, and other collaborative tools such as Zoom, Slack, and Microsoft Teams or Google Meet. There was an initial scramble to put the technology and policies in place, but now that weve done it, we can move from the office-to-home work lifestyle again much more easily, he said. The lessons businesses learned include a need for planning and major adjustment when it comes to making the switch between working at the business premises and remotely, according to Melissa Cadwallader, HR leader at ZenBusiness. Businesses were initially required to make provisions for continued communication with socially distanced employees. There has also been a need to focus on the health and safety of those workers expected to return after the months of isolation. The wearing of face masks and arrangement of worker shielding has become the new workplace norm, given continuing concerns over the pandemic, she told TechNewsWorld. The Journey Back Transitioning back to the office will present companies with a need for the change and adoption of policies for the protection and engagement of employees going back and forth between in-person and remote work. There will also be a challenge when it comes to maintaining business as normal, Cadwallader offered. Employees have to adapt to different working practices. There may well be a decrease in productivity and engagement given the continued uncertainty over working arrangements, she said. The remote-to-office scenario poses serious challenges for companies from a health standpoint. It is opening more doors for COVID-19 contraction, warned Craig Williams, CIO at Ciena. If employees coming into work have been quarantined, making them come into the office raises the question we seem to forget in the equation how did they get to work? If the answer is by public transportation such as a train or bus, then the risks of exposure are further expanded, Williams told TechNewsWorld. Then there is the liability issue that companies face in reopening corporate workspaces, warned Williams. Even if all the employees drove to work with their own cars so their exposure rates are low, without the right socially-distanced office setups like plexiglass shields between cubicles companies are facing immense liabilities by opening back up too soon and putting not only employees but their families at risk as well, he explained. The first transition has clearly outlined why it is too soon to open back office spaces without taking all the right precautions, and it has also shown that perhaps even with all the seemingly right precautions, the virus can still run rampant. Many employees are hesitant about going back to the office right now so companies must use this as an opportunity to listen and follow their lead, he suggested. Growing Opposition Remote workers made to rush back to the office too soon may actually choose to quit instead. According to a survey by Azurite Consulting that tallied the views of 3,500 people, one-in-four office workers would quit if asked to return too soon. That includes 26 percent of employees and 21 percent of managers. Key findings from that survey include: 54 percent of high-risk employees want to continue working remotely. 70 percent of Americans see taking public transportation to work as unsafe. To foster a safe return, office workers want face masks and investment in better hygiene before they return. A majority (56 percent) want mandatory face masks, while 42 percent want sanitizers or disinfectants at their desks, and 36 percent want reduced office capacity at any given time. 15 percent want daily temperature checks, and 16 percent want weekly COVID-19 testing. The Azurite survey also revealed: 54 percent of companies in major downtown centers have intent to downsize their footprint, and 55 percent plan at least some relocation of employees. 11 percent of urban dwellers contemplate a suburban move and 25 percent a rural move. Meanwhile, 28 percent of suburban dwellers contemplate a rural move. We are reaching a point where companies are looking to get people back in their office spaces, but clearly we cant resume pre-pandemic practices. Leaders now have to manage the influx of people arriving to high-rise office buildings in densely populated cities like Chicago and New York. Workers need to access the building, go up elevators and get to the office as safely as possible, Matt Fairhurst, CEO and cofounder, Skedulo a deskless worker productivity software company told TechNewsWorld. Some spaces have made new rules limiting the number of people in an elevator or have enacted social distancing. Companies are taking it upon themselves to phase people back into the office. This involves limiting the capacity of employees allowed on a given day. But how can we more effectively manage this?, he questioned to illustrate the issues involved with return workers to corporate offices. Potential Answers Skedulo could have a solution to easing and managing the transition back to the office. The company is exploring the idea of applying high capacity-based scheduling technology, Fairhurst announced. That software automatically and intelligently helps organize large quantities of people using appointments to enter the office. Think about scheduling workers arrival times, limiting the number of people in elevators, and taking into account the total number in an office, especially for large companies with one central office. This can be overwhelming to manage, he said. If too many individuals arrive at once, people could congregate in the lobby, possibly breaking social distancing rules and increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19. Using capacity-based scheduling, an employee could check if a low volume window is available to work in the office, book his/her arrival time, check-in via a contactless QR code at the front desk, and ride up the elevator. All of that would follow appropriate social distancing measures with the knowledge you will not be turned away at the front door. The technology can automate appointments and triage if there is a backup somewhere, meaning if a cluster of people arrives at once, it can intelligently reschedule the rest of the day, helping reduce potential exposure, said Fairhurst. Turkish prosecutors have begun to investigate allegations that a pair of Kurdish farmers were brutally beaten and thrown out of a military helicopter in the southeastern province of Van on Sept. 11 in a case that has recalled the horrors inflicted on locals at the height of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) insurgency in the 1990s. Images of the bloodied faces of Osman Siban, 50, and Servet Turgut, 55, circulating online have provoked an uproar in the Kurdish community, with lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) demanding that a parliamentary commission be set up to investigate the affair. Turgut is in critical condition in a hospital in Van. My father is in a coma. He has brain trauma, 11 broken ribs, a punctured lung and doctors say his chances of survival are poor, said Turguts only son, Huseyin in a telephone interview with Al-Monitor. We demand justice but the state wants to bury the truth, to cover it up, he said. Siban, who was discharged from a military hospital this week, is suffering from dizzy spells and memory loss. He is absolutely terrified. Hes lost his sense of time and place. When he speaks its childlike blubbering, said Hamit Kocak, one of three lawyers who lodged charges of deliberate manslaughter, torture and dereliction of duties against the alleged perpetrators on behalf of the mens families. Siban is recovering from his injuries in the coastal city of Mersin, where he spends his winters, and was not available for comment. The government denies the allegations and is investigating the men separately for aiding and abetting a terrorist organization. The catchall label has been leveled against thousands of Kurdish politicians, activists, journalists and others who continue to be prosecuted and jailed, often on flimsy evidence since a two-and-a-half-year cease-fire between the PKK and the state collapsed in July 2015. The incident in Van occurred following a military operation against PKK targets near Surik, a hamlet in the township of Catak, where both men eked out a living farming their land. Three Turkish soldiers and three PKK militants died in the clash. Eyewitnesses in Surik said that same day, a military helicopter landed near their hamlet at 2 p.m. A group of soldiers emerged and ordered villagers to gather in the main square. They made them get down on their knees and show their identification. They singled out two of the villagers and started to beat them, shouting, We are in pain, who are we to take it out on if not you? We are going to burn your village down. According to testimony relayed to Al-Monitor by Kocak, the soldiers came back in the late afternoon, dragging Turgut by the neck from the nearby field where he had been making bales of hay. They asked for Siban, who was in his home drinking tea. The pair were bundled into a helicopter and flown away. When villagers tried to follow, the soldiers pointed guns at them and threatened to kill them. Kocak believes the pair was likely singled out because local informants had snitched on them. Lets assume they are guilty and they are not these are poor farmers trying to make ends meet. Is this the treatment they deserve? Getting beaten to death? fumed Servets brother Naif in a telephone interview with Al-Monitor. Local officials presented a markedly different version of events. The Van governors office asserted in a statement that Turgut was seen near the scene of the clashes displaying suspicious activities and had fallen off a cliff while trying to flee security forces. Siban was also spotted in the area. Despite resisting capture, he was detained in keeping with regulations and had been put on a military helicopter with Turgut and the corpse of a PKK fighter. They were flown to the Van gendarmeries provincial command. Siban and Turgut were then transferred to the state hospital in Van, where the latter is being treated. The statement did not clarify why Siban required hospitalization. Kocak said that a delirious Siban recalls being repeatedly beaten by 10 to 20 men. When asked if he was thrown out of a helicopter, he says he was, but then minutes later he says he wasnt, Kocak noted. With Turgut in a coma, it's impossible to corroborate either version. A medical report dated Sept. 17 issued by the state-run hospital where the men were treated asserts, however, that Siban was admitted after falling from a height. The report, which was seen by Al-Monitor, goes on to say that the emergency medical technician who brought him in had indicated that Siban had fallen from a helicopter. Mustafa Yeneroglu, a deputy for the newly created centrist DEVA Party led by former Economy Minister Ali Babacan, has filed a separate parliamentary motion asking Defense Minister Hulusi Akar to respond to the allegations. "The horrific claim that two of our citizens were tortured and thrown out of a helicopter must be investigated in an effective manner," he tweeted. Whether they were thrown out of a helicopter or not, its clear that these men were savagely assaulted during their detention and one of them may very well die because of it, said Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, an HDP lawmaker and member of the parliaments human rights commission. Yet, the message from the government is, We will do whatever it takes to preserve the unity of the Turkish state, to combat terrorism. Nobody can stop us, we are above the law. The 1990s concept is back with a vengeance, Gergerlioglu told Al-Monitor in a telephone interview. The difference now, though, he added, is that since the [failed 2016] coup, state impunity extends to everyone, not only the Kurds. The 90s were a brutal time. Security forces torched and forcibly evacuated at least 2,500 villages as part of a scorched-earth campaign that displaced well over a million people, including the Turguts and the Sibans, who moved to Mersin when their village was razed in 1988. Rogue elements carried out extrajudicial killings, kidnapped dissidents and subjected Kurds to numerous other abuses in a failed effort to quell the PKKs 36-year insurgency. Throwing people out of helicopters was one of them, according to a 2005 report by Human Rights Watch. Siban and Turguts ordeal has reopened old wounds for Newroz Xebat Yildirim, a Stocholm-based Kurdish psychologist. Yildirim described how in 1993, his cousin Mejdel dangled by a rope tied to his ankle from a military helicopter as soldiers grilled him over his supposed support for the guerrillas. Yildirim, who had been 14 at the time, was in their native village near the township of Nusaybin, where the nightmare unfolded. Unsatisfied, they took his pregnant wife to the creek and stripped her naked and made her sit in it while they forced Mejdel to watch, Yildirim told Al-Monitor, his voice breaking during a telephone interview. Then they shot at his hand and pulled at it until it literally came off and could not be stitched back to his arm. The foot by which he was swung from the helicopter was so mangled you could see the bone. Mejdels wife lost the baby. Yildirim says he is still waiting for the Turkish state to issue an apology. During the early days of AKP rule, when the government embarked on radical reforms aimed at winning Turkey full membership in the European Union and Erdogan initiated direct peace talks with the PKK, an apology might have been within reach. But Erdogans alliance with right-wing ultra-nationalists struck in the aftermath of the coup has reversed all of that, said Ozturk Turkdogan, the president of Turkeys Human Rights Association. The veteran rights campaigner expressed deep skepticism over the outcome of the prosecutors inquiry into the alleged abuses against Siban and Turgut. Turkdogan told Al-Monitor that their story fits a broader pattern of anti-PKK operations in rural areas. When the military loses their own in clashes, they typically go to the closest village, declare it a no-go security zone and abuse locals. In normal circumstances, he explained, prosecutors go to the scene of the alleged abuse and file a report. But in a no-go zone, its the security forces who took part in the operation who do the reporting," Turkdogan added. More often than not the file gets shut down and even when not, justice is rarely served. A man is thought to be seriously injured after being shot near a primary school in south London. The 27-year-old is being treated for life-threatening or life-changing injuries following a shooting in Bermondsey, according to police. Officers were called to Alexis Street near St James Primary School on Wednesday afternoon over reports of gunshots. They found a 27-year-old with a gunshot wound at the scene. No arrests have been made, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday evening. The victim was taken to hospital and his injuries were being treated as life-threatening/changing, the force said on Wednesday. No one else was injured in the incident, according to the Met. Police were called to Alexis Street just before 3.30pm on 23 September over reports of gunshots. The scene remained cordoned off in the evening. Police said enquiries into events were ongoing. After more than seven months of enforced absence from Toronto stages, some of the citys most acclaimed dance artists are poised to return to live performance as Canadian Stage launches an ambitious, weather-permitting series at the outdoor High Park Amphitheatre. Starting on Saturday and running for three consecutive weekends, Dance in High Park offers compact family-friendly programs that span the gamut of contemporary dance. The dance community has been hit so hard by the pandemic, says Canadian Stage artistic director Brendan Healy. We want to celebrate Toronto dance artists and highlight their diverse range of talents. With public health directives constantly shifting it was not until August that Healy and his team decided it would be possible to stage a live dance series where, pre-pandemic, for 38 summer seasons, the company had presented its popular Shakespeare in the Park. As many as 1,000 people attended one of those performances but given current capacity restrictions attendance for Dance in High Park events is limited to 100. Putting together a series within such a short time frame proved quite a challenge, as Seika Boye and Timea Wharton-Suri, co-curators of the first event, Solo in High Park, explain. We were very aware of the dancers needs, like getting back in shape, says Boye, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto. As we thought about the program we realized people need something joyful, something that connects audiences and performers, says Wharton-Suri. We wanted technically accomplished artists, diverse in styles, forms and generations. Boye and Wharton-Suri say that once they had a concept for the show it was not difficult to identify suitable artists: tap master Travis Knights, flamenco dancer Carmen Romero, versatile urban dance exponent Raoul Wilke, and contemporary choreographer Alyssa Martin/Rock Bottom Movement (featuring dancer Sam Grist). All the performers in various ways encourage a call-and-response connection with their audiences. Says Boye: This was important for us as we welcome audiences back to live performance. Subsequent weekends feature a special edition of Torontos annual outdoor Dusk Dances except this time in full daylight and four shows by Dora Award-winning Red Sky Performance, a company with a strong association with Canadian Stage. Like so many regular summer events Dusk Dances Toronto appearance in Withrow Park had to be cancelled. Its so exciting what Canadian Stage is doing, says Sylvie Bouchard, Dusk Dances director and curator. It feels amazing to be doing a live event and for the first time on the west side of town. Unlike a traditional Dusk Dances, the performance will stick to the confines of the amphitheatres wooden stage no walk in the park and there will be just four items, including a duet, to keep the show to less than an hour. Bouchard says Dusk Dances fans can also look forward to the festivals first virtual event on October 17. Dance in High Park is a pay-what-you-can series but in order to conform with contact-tracing protocols it does require a reservation. Meanwhile, the organizers of the 2020 edition of Torontos annual Fall For Dance North (FFDN), forced to abandon the festivals popular multi-venue series of live indoor shows, are set to launch their first fully virtual celebration of dance with a richly layered online smorgasbord of performances, workshops, podcasts, augmented reality social dance and more. All events are free donations are encouraged, of course except for a livestreamed performance from Harbourfront Centres Fleck Dance Theatre on October 3. Ilter Ibrahimof, FFDNs co-founder and artistic director, says his team grasped the seriousness of the pandemic early on and made the decision to pivot to a fully virtual festival by the first week of April. We had been thinking about adding digital programming for quite some time, says Ibrahimof, but with live performance as our primary focus it got left on the back burner. The pandemic put it quickly on the front burner. Almost every performing arts organization has been trying to find ways to maintain a presence through online programming but often with a sense that its a consolation for the absence of live performance. Ibrahimof says FFDNs goal, once the decision was made to offer a virtual festival, was to go all in and maximize the potential for audience engagement. Even the website was redesigned to give it what Ibrahimof calls a Netflix feel. Dance performances remain a central feature of FFDN but not as a compilation of archival recordings. The emphasis is on innovation and immediacy. So, for example, FFDN is partnering with Torontos Citadel + Compagnie to co-present Night Shift, a series of six performances, from street dance to Indian classical dance, livestreamed under the direction of Oscar-nominated Barbara Willis Sweete from the companys Parliament Street theatre. We are so excited to be presenting this extraordinary lineup of dance and venturing into this new livestream format, says C+C artistic director, Laurence Lemieux. The sole ticketed event, FFDNs 2020 Signature program, features a mix of six in-the-moment livestreamed and pre-recorded performances. The program is ordered carefully so while the online audience is watching pre-recorded material the Harbourfront crew can thoroughly clean and disinfect before the next live performance. The live components include National Ballet artists Sonia Rodriguez, Piotr Stanczyk and Spencer Hack in Poema Iberico, a new work by Vanesa Garcia-Ribala Montoya; South African-born Mafa Makhubalo in his own gumboot dance, Dialogue with DNA, referencing a style that emerged as a form of communication among oppressed South African gold mine workers who were forbidden to speak; and Red Sky Performance in a new, FFDN-commissioned work called Flow by Dora Award-winning choreographer Jera Wolfe. Josh Beamish and Rena Narumi filmed the formers Proximity in Amsterdam. The other two pre-recorded segments come from Alberta with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks in choreographer Kimberley Coopers Terra and tap artist Lisa La Touche in her own new work, Fools Gold which she performs with Danny Nielsen and Laura Donaldson. For La Touche this opportunity has deep personal significance. After leaving Calgary in 2008 to pursue a Broadway career in New York she returned home with a couple of suitcases and her two-year-old son as Manhattan became a ghost town. I was scared out of my mind. It was chaotic, says La Touche. Its saved my sanity to have this outlet to create. Dance in High Park, 26 Sep. 11 Oct. www.canadianstage.com; Fall For Dance North, 29 Sep. 18 Oct. www.ffdnorth.com The Louisiana Department of Health reported 581 more coronavirus cases and 16 more deaths in its daily noon update Thursday. The number of hospitalizations decreased by 17, and the number of patients in need of ventilators decreased by two. There were 17,525 additional test results reported Thursday. Here are a few key statewide statistics as of Thursday: Total cases: 163,222 Total deaths: 5,241 Currently hospitalized: 575 Currently on ventilators: 92 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: Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Orleans: 78 Jefferson: 46 Caddo: 43 Ouachita: 41 East Baton Rouge: 35 Bossier: 31 St. Tammany: 28 Lafayette: 20 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. Iraq expects OPEC+ will allow it to increase its oil exports beginning next year, Reuters reported today, citing the Iraqi state new agency INA, which was quoting the countrys oil minister without any further details. Iraqs oil ministry has denied the claim. Earlier this month, there was another report from INA that said Iraq was seeking an exemption from the OPEC production cuts. Oil minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar denied the report soon after. Iraq has struggled to reduce its production to the quota allocated it by OPEC+ to rebalance oil markets. Indeed, for two of the five months since the start of the cuts, it has overproduced considerably. This prompted OPEC leader Saudi Arabia to take a sterner stance: the Kingdom threatened Iraq and fellow laggard Nigeria with another open-tap offensive if they did not fall in line. According to the latest production information, Iraq did. In August, OPECs number-two pumped less than its quota as it compensated for the overproduction in the previous three months. According to OPECs latest Monthly Oil Market Report, Iraqs August production was down by 100,000 bpd on July, to 3.652 million bpd, based on data from secondary sources. However, oil revenues are vital for the struggling Iraqi economy, which still has a long way to go before it recovers from the war against Islamic State. This has made Iraq reluctant to join the latest production-cutting drive. So, even if the country is officially towing the party line, it could certainly use a breather. Unfortunately, it is unlikely to get one, especially now that Libya is resuming production at several fields, eyeing a production boost of more than 160,000 bpd by the end of this month. In fact, amid the deteriorating outlook on oil demand, OPEC+ might consider keeping production cuts at the current level of 7.7 million bpd, instead of relaxing these by another 2 million bpd from January next year. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Red Cross is preparing for a possible deadly second wave of coronavirus infections in the southern part of Yemen. The first wave of the outbreak, which seemed to reached its height in late spring and early summer, saw a serious spike in deaths in the southern city. Then, many health facilities shut their doors due to lack of staff and supplies. Those that remained open had to turn many of the severely sick away. On Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced the opening of a new field hospital in Aden to specifically treat coronavirus patients. Aid workers say they fear that the virus continues to spread largely unchecked in the war-torn country, and want to be better prepared should infections spike again. "In the eventuality that such a situation would manifest in the city of Aden and in southern Yemen, we would be in a good place, and in a better place, a better place compared to the onset of the first wave," said Abdi Ismail Isse, head of the Yemen mission at the International Committee for the Red Cross. In the south, an already wrecked health system seems to have completely shut down. Officially, Yemen has had some 2,030 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus. However, with a death toll of more than 587, it has the highest ratio of deaths to cases in the world. It's believed that the vast majority of the country's cases have gone undiagnosed and untreated, and health workers have said only those who are near death are usually brought to hospitals. The ICRC and other aid groups are also calling on countries to give generously to Yemen as many of the population seems to be slipping closer towards famine and destitution. The calls for more funds come amid the United Nation's annual general assembly, held virtually this year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Isse said that ICRC is preparing to try to meet increasing needs of Yemeni citizens, as the humanitarian situation has deteriorated due to the coronavirus and a number of other factors. But he says they'll need help in making that happen from donors. Yemen's ongoing civil war erupted in 2014 and pits the internationally recognized government in the south, backed by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, against the Houthi rebels, who control the north. Last year, infighting broke out in southern Yemen between government forces and separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates, threatening the anti-Houthi camp. Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been arrested by Hong Kong police. Wong, the most high-profile member of the territory's pro-democracy movement, was a key figure in the protests over Beijing's rising influence that consumed the global financial hub for more than 15 months. The Chinese Communist Party's crackdown in June introduced sweeping new national security laws on the former British colony, punishing dissent or threats to the Chinese state with sentences of up to life in prison. Pro-democracy activist and Demosisto Party founder Joshua Wong. Credit:Bloomberg A tweet sent from Wong's account on Thursday afternoon said he has been detained. "Joshua is arrested when reporting to Central Police Station at about 1pm today," it said. Hornby enjoyed a lockdown boost, as housebound families turned to hobbies to entertain themselves. The firm, famous for its model trains, said sales between April and August had been higher than the previous year and exceeded its expectations. As the company held its annual shareholder meeting yesterday, Hornby, which also owns brands including Airfix and Scalextric, confirmed its operations are 'nearly back to normal' following lockdown. The few: Demand for models during lockdown was so high that Hornby ran out of Airfix Spitfires (pictured) though they are now back in stock Chief executive Lyndon Davies said: 'We've seen sales increase across all brands and in all markets. In lockdown we could see more things like Airfix selling. Everyone stuck at home was twiddling their thumbs.' Hornby even ran out of Airfix Spitfires though they are now back in stock. Davies said adults had sought comfort in toys of their childhood. He said: 'Parents and grandparents know names like Airfix and Hornby, so that's what they've turned to.' His eldest daughter is a nurse, inspiring him to sell 'Captain Tom' locomotives and give the proceeds to the NHS. It raised 140,000. The Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), in partnership with Dubai South, on September 21 announced the launch of Dubai Global Connect (DGC), a one-million-sq-m B2B wholesale market in Dubai which will bring together buyers and sellers to safely and easily trade great goods from all over the world, all year round in one central location. The initial focus will be on three sectors which have been identified as being large enough in size, growing, and relevant to the region: Furniture & Living, Food, and Fashion. DGC, the "City of Trade", is already under construction, with a purpose-built visitor centre opening in Q4 of 2020. The market is expected to be delivered in phases, with the first phase comprising 400,000 sq m of dedicated trade facilities including on-site storage, boutique offices, an innovation hub, and a Smart Service Centre to house third party service providers, it added. DGC said it has entered into a strategic alliance with US-based Market Center Management Company (MCMC) for the development and management of DGC's state-of-the-art permanent showroom environment which will be open year-round to qualified retail buyers and designers, manufacturers, and industry professionals, and can be fitted out by sellers according to their own style and budget. The showrooms will be closed to the public. ICD Managing Director Mohammed I Al Shaibani said: "As part of our mandate to enhance Dubai's position as a global, competitive economy, ICD has embarked on the creation of DGC with the vision to build a unique trade infrastructure that enhances efficiencies in global trade flows through Dubai." "We are excited to have MCMC on board to support our teams in realizing this vision, as well as in the development and management of the market," he noted. MCMC has a legacy of sole, private ownership of the Dallas Market Center operating in the US for 65+ years, as well as multinational experience involving both ownership and management of wholesale markeplaces including Brussels International Trade Mart and ShanghaiMart as well as consultation experience on additional projects in Colombia, Vietnam, and Portugal. Cindy Morris, the chief executive of MCMC, said: "We are pleased to be a part of this truly unique opportunity for Dubai to address industry pain points and create an important global destination for wholesale trade." "This multi-year agreement aims to foster team collaboration between our companies and ultimately help create a center of commerce for buyers and sellers from around the world," stated Morris. DGC is unique as it focuses on a global audience in addition to regional audiences to create a truly origin-neutral marketplace to trade goods from all around the world. Traditionally, wholesale markets have focused on promoting domestic agendas by bringing together sellers of local products with international buyers or by presenting international products to regional buyer groups, he noted. "DGC has been a long time in the making but is even more relevant and needed in today's changed global trade environment. Establishing a controlled, permanent marketplace environment is perfectly timed as event producers and their attendees cope with reduced travel budgets and the need for smaller, more controlled gatherings," remarked Douraid Zaghouani, COO of ICD and Chairman of Dubai Global Connect. "DGC enables traders to meet halfway by offering producers and manufacturers a window to the world in a central, easy to reach location, and by providing buyers with a safe buying environment and place of reference that is open all year round," he stated. Located at the crossroads of Dubai's logistics corridor, at Dubai South next to Al Maktoum International Airport with a direct connection to the Jebel Ali Port, DGC's physical infrastructure will be supported by best-in-class services and optimal business solutions at the Logistics District, including a digital wholesale trading platform which will connect wholesale sellers and buyers online and facilitate hassle-free trade through DGC.-TradeArabia News Service Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:40:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Awatef Al-Salman (C), an adviser of Human Building Team for Social Development at the International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO), presents an award to a participant at the opening ceremony of a campaign to support people with disabilities amid COVID-19 outbreak, in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Sept. 24, 2020. TO GO WITH "Feature: Kuwait launches campaign to support people with disabilities amid COVID-19 outbreak" (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) Sydney, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Netherlands outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Netherlands-Data-Center-Market-Investment-Analysis-and-Growth-Opportunities-2020-2025 Fiber connectivity, availability of renewable energy, free cooling, and district heating have made the Netherlands a favorable location for data center development. The cloud spending in the Netherlands increased by 10%, generating a revenue of $2.5 billion in 2019. The Netherlands ranks first in connectivity according to the EUs Digital Economy and Society Index. Amsterdam (AMS-IX) is among the largest internet exchange points in the world, with over 800 networks connected through AMS-IX. Amsterdam hosts over 60% of the data center market in Netherland. Analysts at Arizton expect that the data center market in Netherland will witness multiple new entrants involved in the procurement of land parcels for data center development over the course of the next five years. Equinix, Interxion, DataCenter.com, Alticom, Bytesnet, and Google are some of the prominent investors in the Netherlands data center market. What is the Impact of the Current COVID-19 Pandemic on the Netherland Market? In the Netherlands, the impact of COVID-19 is moderate. Non-essential construction projects have been brought to a halt to avoid the spread of the virus. Construction work continues in the Netherlands by following guidelines imposed by the government towards construction sectors. However, COVID-19 will have a higher impact on upcoming projects scheduled to open in Q4 2020 & 2021. What are the Key Factors Attracting Investment in the Netherlands? The Netherlands contributed to 18% of the overall investment in Europe, followed by Germany. Owing to BREXIT, Netherlands investment will grow as enterprises migrate their applications from the UK to Netherland. The data center market in Netherland is likely to witness an increase in land cost and power pricing by 2025. Colocation providers in the Netherlands added around 200 MW of power capacity between 2017 and 2020. The acquisition of Interxion by Digital Realty in 2020 is likely to strengthen the growth of retail and wholesale colocation investments into the data center market in Netherlands. What Business Intelligence does this Report Provide? The report provides Netherland 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 COVID-19 on the data center market in the Netherlands is included in the report. Furthermore, the report also includes a detailed analysis of the colocation industry, and retail & wholesale colocation pricing in Netherland. A detailed study of the existing market landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about the Netherlands data center market size during 2020-2025, is included in this exclusive report. The report further categorizes the data center market in Netherland 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 Netherlands. Key Developments In 2019, the Netherlands was the largest SaaS service market in Europe, with a penetration rate of over 85%. Local cloud service providers contribute significantly toward the growth of the IaaS and SaaS market. The entry for global SaaS service providers in the country will boost the colocation services market. 80% of facilities in the Netherlands are powered through green energy, according to the Dutch Data Center Association. The growth in artificial intelligence, IoT, and 5G will generate the demand for edge data centers in the country. The facility operators are adopting hybrid cooling systems that provide free cooling solutions for facilities. Increase in the construction of hyperscale data centers will boost revenue for sub-contractors in the country. The use of automation and artificial intelligence is likely to increase among facility operators to improve operational efficiency. Data center operators use more than 500 KW capacity UPS systems with N+1 or 2N configuration. Key Companies Mentioned in this Report Include IT Infrastructure Providers Arista, Atos, Broadcom, Cisco, Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei, IBM, Lenovo, NetApp, Mitac, Wiwynn Construction Service Providers - Dornan, Winthrop, Deerns, BNTHMCRWL, Arup, Red, Kirby Engineering and Construction, Mercury, Hurley Palmer Flatt, Linesight, ROyla Haskonining DHV, Mace Support Infrastructure Providers ABB, Eaton, Rittal, Schneider Electric, STULZ, Vertiv, Kinolt, Caterpillar, Legrand, Climaveneta, MTU Onsite Energy, Riello UPS, Cummins, Socomec, Kohler SDMO Data Center Investors - Equinix, Iron Mountain, Microsoft, Alticom, Bytesnet, Digital Realty, Google, NTT Global Data Centers, Interxion, WorldStream, NEP, DATACENTER.COM, CyrusOne, data place Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Netherlands-Data-Center-Market-Investment-Analysis-and-Growth-Opportunities-2020-2025 Daily Caller Publisher Threatens to Sue Louisville Police for Charging Reporters The Daily Callers publisher on Thursday threatened to sue the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) after police arrested and charged two of the media outlets reporters. The Louisville police arrested two of our employees Wednesday night. We have informed the police that these are reporters who were peacefully doing their job, but they are still refusing to release them, Neil Patel wrote in a social media statement. They will not even let us speak with them. Given the fact that our reporters have been repeatedly harassed, punched, and even shot at during past protests, we fear for their safety in lockup with people who may want to do them harm. Patel said the reporters were free to report on protests and demonstrations, citing the Constitution. LMPD is going to find out all about this in the form of a lawsuit unless things start changing fast, he added. Daily Caller Editor in Chief Geoffrey Ingersoll identified the reporters as Shelby Talcott and Jorge Ventura. The pair have been among the journalists traveling around the country, documenting unrest thats taken place in various cities since late May. The last tweet from Talcott, posted around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, showed police officers arresting people. Ventura posted a tweet showing him and others in handcuffs. According to the Daily Caller, the curfew in place in Louisville did not apply to reporters. Sgt. Lamont Washington, an LMPD spokesman, told The Epoch Times via email that the reporters chose not to comply with orders to disperse during violent demonstrations in Louisville overnight. Police gave several orders to disperse as they attempted to clear Jefferson Square Park. Many of the media covering the event, moved to a corner to continue to film at direction of police, he said. The two media members you are referring chose not to and were still among the crowd of people who were detained and arrested for curfew violations and unlawful assembly. The curfew exemption ceased to exist when the group the reporters were in was deemed an unlawful assembly, police said. Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder told reporters on Thursday that police declared an unlawful assembly around the park just after the curfew started. 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. R ishi Sunak has defended his Eat Out To Help Out scheme from suggestions it could have contributed to the increase in the spread of coronavirus. The Chancellor said on Thursday it would be simplistic to connect any one thing to the rise in cases, which has prompted new restrictions aimed at preventing a second national lockdown. More than 100 million cut price meals were eaten across the UK under the programme to boost the economy by encouraging consumers to dine out after months of being told to stay indoors. But some scientists have questioned whether it could have contributed to the surge in the viruss spread as the public are again told to work from home if they can. Mr Sunak did not directly answer whether the Governments scientific advisers had modelled what the impact of his scheme could be on the spread of the disease. But he told a Downing Street press conference that the UK was following similar paths to other European nations. So I think its probably simplistic to look at any one thing. Whats happening here is similar to whats happening in many other countries, he said. There are lots of things going on at the same time towards the last few weeks and as we get into a season for respiratory illnesses so theres going to be lots of different factors at play as to why the virus is acting in the way it is. But more broadly I dont think its the wrong thing for the Government or indeed people to want to try and get their lives back to normal. Professor Calum Semple, a member of the scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage), this week suggested it may have made a small contribution to the viruss resurgence. PA One expert said the scheme was 'not particularly helpful as far as the virus control goes' (PA) Asked about the scheme, he told Sky News: I think it was bordering on experimental. I dont think it was particularly helpful as far as the virus control goes. But he said he suspected that eating out in most cases, in most restaurants had a marginal effect on containing the virus and pubs were a larger concern. Toby Phillips, a public policy researcher at Oxford University, found a loose correlation between the scheme and new cases in August but said it was impossible to know if it was the cause. Again, this isnt to say that the scheme caused those cases. But it certainly didnt discourage those people from going out, he wrote in an article for The Conversation website. The scheme saw the Treasury pay a 50% discount of up to 10 on meals and soft drinks between Mondays and Wednesdays in August, prompting a jump in bookings. Less than a month after the schemes close, Boris Johnson began preparing England for an unquestionably difficult winter. On Tuesday the Prime Minister said the virus was again spreading exponentially as he imposed curfews on pubs and restaurants and ordered the wider use of face masks. He also warned that tougher restrictions could be imposed if the latest measures fail to quell the spread of the disease. You might notice something different here. As we continue our evolution, our data and market news is now available through the Fastmarkets platform and a trial of this website is no longer available. Our new delivery solution allows you to access the prices and news that matters most to you in a way that delivers value, quality and a unique, fully customizable view for you. We are working hard to develop an experience that allows you to test drive building your view of our data and news on the new platform. In the meantime, learn more about us through any of the options below. Dianne Feinstein speaking to Amy Cohen Barrett in 2017 at her hearing for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. ((CSpan)) A video of Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein grilling the frontrunner to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the US Supreme Court, has resurfaced after president Donald Trump vowed to replace the late justice. Following Ms Ginsburgs death on Friday evening, Mr Trump said he would fill her now vacant seat on the Supreme Court without delay, despite the presidential election taking place in just a few weeks' time. A place on the court is a lifetime position and if a justice is appointed by Mr Trump, it would likely give the court a Conservative super majority that could stand for decades. Mr Trump said on Sunday that he has an obligation to appoint a replacement for Ms Ginsburg, and US Circuit Court judge Amy Coney Barrett is rumoured to be the frontrunner for the position. The 48-year-old devout catholic was considered by the president to replace retired justice Anthony M Kennedy in 2018, when Brett Kavanaugh was chosen instead. At the time, Mr Trump said he was saving the former law professor for Ms Ginsburgs seat. A 2017 clip from Ms Barretts nomination hearing for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, where Ms Feinstein raised concerns over her devout catholic beliefs, has resurfaced on social media following Ms Ginsburgs death and the rumours about her nomination. "The dogma lives loudly within you." -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein to Amy Coney Barrett, Sept. 6, 2017, nomination hearing for Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. pic.twitter.com/WpaWa8F809 Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) September 21, 2020 At the hearing, Ms Feinstein told the 48-year-old: 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 when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have thought for, for years in this country. Story continues In response to the California senators remarks, Ms Barrett claimed that she would be able to keep her professional and religious beliefs separate, according to the Indianapolis Star. She added that she would follow all Supreme Court precedent without fail and would never impose my own personal convictions upon the law. During her confirmation hearing, she also claimed that she would regard Roe vs Wade, which ruled the US constitution protects a womans choice to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction, as a binding precedent. However, despite this claim, she has previously argued that US judges should not be forced to uphold the Roe vs Wade ruling, according to The Washington Post. In her position on the Circuit Court of Appeals, Ms Barrett also called for the re-hearing of a case that denied vice president Mike Pences abortion law, which would have prevented abortions if the fetus was disabled. Additionally, in 2012, the mother to seven children told a class at the University of Notre Dame that it is always good to remember that a legal career is but a means to an endand that end is building the Kingdom of God. The decision on the timeline of the justice nomination is causing controversy, with many Democratic officials arguing that it should wait until after the results of 3 Novembers election are confirmed. On Friday evening, Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, said that the nomination should wait until after the election, following his tribute to Ms Ginsburg. He said: There is no doubt, let me be clear, that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider. Read more Biden warns confirming Supreme Court justice before election would cause irreversible damage and promises to nominate a Black woman if he wins In September 2020, netizens circulated articles that claimed that Roger Stone, a Republican strategist and convicted felon who worked for U.S President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential election campaign, had said the president should declare martial law if he loses the 2020 election. Martial law in the U.S On September 11, 2020, left-wing website Media Matters reported that Roger Stone is making baseless accusations of widespread voter fraud in 2020 presidential election and is urging Donald Trump to consider several draconian measures to stay in power. Some of the measures suggested include having federal authorities seize ballots in Nevada, having FBI agents and Republican state officials physically block voting under the pretext of preventing voter fraud, using martial law or the Insurrection Act to carry out widespread arrests and nationalizing state police forces. HuffPost published an article that states Roger Stone is calling for President Trump to declare martial law to seize power if he loses. Also Read:Five Women Eyed by Trump to Take Ruth Bader Ginsburg Seat in the Supreme Court On September 13, Business Insider reported that in an interview with Alex Jones' far-right conspiracy-theory site, Infowars, Stone echoed claims pushed by Trump that the Democratic Party would rig the election. Stone encouraged Trump to consider declaring martial law if he loses reelection or invokes the Insurrection Act. By using those powers, he can order the arrest of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, the Clintons and anybody else who can be proven to be involved in "illegal activity." The truth Both news sites quoted Stone accurately. On September 10, 2020, Stone appeared as a guest on Jone's show where they presented a convoluted conspiracy theory of a left-wing attempt to steal the upcoming presidential election. The two did not provide any evidence on their claim. According to Stone and Jones, the 2020 election plot involved Democratic officials, former U.S President Bill Clinton, the Democratic party and former U.S Sen. Hillary Clinton, as well as tech CEOs Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook. Stone speculated that former U.S Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, and even the staff of The Daily Beast news website, could be parties to the conspiracy. Neither of them presented concrete evidence to support their claims. Stone said Trump could and should order the arrest of anyone suspected of orchestrating election fraud under the auspices of martial law and the Insurrection Act. According to Stone, the occurrence of election fraud will be made clear by the event of a Trump defeat. Later in the interview, Stone said that force would be met with force, adding that "that's the way this is going to have to work." Therefore, a Trump defeat means that it is a "proof" of widespread election fraud. Stone did say that President Trump, if he loses, could and should, under the auspices of martial law and the Insurrection Act, arrest and charge prominent figures with election fraud. The news articles that published what Stone said quoted him accurately. Currently, President Trump is working on his reelection campaign, and his opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, is getting ready for their upcoming presidential debate this September 29. Related Article:Fact Check: Will There Be an Executive Order Barring Biden From Becoming President? @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In the popular imagination, Vikings were fearsome blonde-haired warriors from Scandinavia who used longboats to carry out raids across Europe in a brief but bloody reign of terror. But the reality is much more complex, according to an analysis of the genomes of 442 ancient humans from archaeological sites in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Greenland, Estonia, Ukraine, Poland and other Eastern European countries. The word Viking comes from the Scandinavian term vikingr meaning pirate. The Viking Age generally refers to the period from 800 CE, a few years after the earliest recorded raid, until the 1050s, a few years before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The Vikings changed the political and genetic course of Europe and beyond: Cnut the Great became the King of England, Leif Eriksson is believed to have been the first European to reach North America 500 years before Christopher Columbus and Olaf Tryggvason is credited with taking Christianity to Norway. Many expeditions involved raiding monasteries and cities along the coastal settlements of Europe but the goal of trading goods like fur, tusks and seal fat were often the more pragmatic aim. We didnt know genetically what they actually looked like until now, said lead author Professor Eske Willerslev, a researcher at the University of Cambridge and director of the University of Copenhagens Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre. We found genetic differences between different Viking populations within Scandinavia which shows Viking groups in the region were far more isolated than previously believed. Our research even debunks the modern image of Vikings with blonde hair as many had brown hair and were influenced by genetic influx from the outside of Scandinavia. Professor Willerslev and colleagues sequenced the whole genomes of 442 mostly Viking Age men, women, children and babies. The researchers analyzed DNA from the remains from a boat burial in Estonia and discovered four Viking brothers died the same day. They also revealed that male skeletons from a Viking burial site in Orkney, Scotland, were not actually genetically Vikings despite being buried with swords and other Viking memorabilia. There wasnt a word for Scandinavia during the Viking Age that came later. But the study shows that the Vikings from what is now Norway traveled to Ireland, Scotland, Iceland and Greenland. The Vikings from what is now Denmark traveled to England. And Vikings from what is now Sweden went to the Baltic countries on their all male raiding parties. We carried out the largest ever DNA analysis of Viking remains to explore how they fit into the genetic picture of ancient Europeans before the Viking Age, said first author Dr. Ashot Margaryan, a researcher in the Section for Evolutionary Genomics in the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen. The results were startling and some answer long-standing historical questions and confirm previous assumptions that lacked evidence. We determined that a Viking raiding party expedition included close family members as we discovered four brothers in one boat burial in Estonia who died the same day. The rest of the occupants of the boat were genetically similar suggesting that they all likely came from a small town or village somewhere in Sweden. The scientists also found genetically Pictish people became Vikings without genetically mixing with Scandinavians. The Picts were Celtic-speaking people who lived in what is today eastern and northern Scotland during the Late British Iron Age and Early Medieval periods. Scandinavian diasporas established trade and settlement stretching from the American continent to the Asian steppe, said Professor Sren Sindbk, an archaeologist at Moesgaard Museum. They exported ideas, technologies, language, beliefs and practices and developed new socio-political structures. Importantly our results show that Viking identity was not limited to people with Scandinavian genetic ancestry. The genetic legacy of the Viking Age lives on today with 6% of people of the UK population predicted to have Viking DNA in their genes compared to 10% in Sweden. The results change the perception of who a Viking actually was. The history books will need to be updated, Professor Willerslev concluded. The findings were published in the journal Nature. _____ A. Margaryan et al. 2020. Population genomics of the Viking world. Nature 585, 390-396; doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2688-8 DCOP Boakye-Yiadom is asking all police officers to paused all sexual activities with their partners as a way to boost their energy and stay stronger for the upcoming general elections. Addressing a group of police officers after a route march organised by the police service on Monday, 21 September 2020, DCOP Boakye-Yiadom said: Control yourself. We all need the energy to work during the election. I, therefore, advise all of you to eat well, reduce your sexual rounds for you to get the energy to work well before, during and after 2020 elections. The route march was aimed at assuring the public of the polices readiness ahead of the elections. The police marched through some principal streets of Accra. The Director-General in charge of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Kwaku Boadu-Peprah, also warned police personnel against engaging in partisan political activities ahead of the elections. As a policeman, you are not supposed to involve yourself in any political activity. You can only do that when you enter the polling booth, there you can exercise your power. When it is time for the election, we are just going out there to discharge our duty and at the end of it whoever comes to power it is none of our business, we support the government of the day, he emphasised. Jeff Wagner, senior vice president of MidMichigan Health System, never thought he would be engaging in direct negotiations with China for hospital supplies but in coronavirus times and in order to protect the staff, it had to be done. And throughout the pandemic, especially in the early months, he said the health system relied heavily on Dow as well as other local businesses to help get them much needed supplies. Wagner said it was local businesses, including Dow, Three Rivers Corp., the Savant Group and DuPont, that retooled their operations to get them what they needed to keep their employees and patients safe. The hospital early on was in need of hand sanitizer and protective face wear. It is not uncommon for most businesses, including MidMichigan Health, to keep inventories low to keep costs down or to keep products from expiring, he said. That, along with a sudden worldwide demand for personal protective equipment known as PPEs, added to the urgency of keeping the supply closets filled for the health system's medical centers in Midland, Gladwin, Alpena, Clare, Gratiot and West Branch. "Getting supplies from normal distribution channels was very difficult," Wagner said. "Our demand went up significantly because of our wanting to protect our staff so even when you have very few COVID patients, you still have a lot of people wearing a lot more PPE to keep (coronavirus) from spreading. So our demand went up significantly and our supply was staying at a constant level that was pre-COVID, which made it very difficult." Everybody wants some Months before Michigan saw its first confirmed case in mid-March, Wagner said the demand for PPE, which include gloves for skin protection, gowns for full body protection and masks and face shields for respiration protection, was high. He said as early as January, it was difficult to get extra supplies from U.S. distributors who could only promise their customers their typical monthly shipments. PPE, most of which are manufactured overseas, were being sought worldwide, hoarded and hard to come by. "A significant amount of supplies we get are not manufactured in the U.S.," Wagner said. "That is very unfortunate for this country. We rely on China, Mexico and a lot of areas outside the U.S. to provide virtually all of the supplies we get. A couple of months before we saw the first case in the U.S., we knew we were in for a bit of a ride and then when it exploded with infection rates in all the hot spots we knew at that point we were definitely on that ride." Realizing Midland's Dow had a lot of travelers, some internationally, led hospital officials to believe early on there might be a significant run of infection in Midland. "So we started preparing for that, working with our distributors, working with folks in China," Wagner said. "That is not our norm. We deal with distributors. We dont work with anyone outside that. The challenge was so great we were working with dealers over in China with the help of some friends at Dow." He said the hospital made direct purchases from China in order to stock supplies. "That was very new to us and I really wish we could have relied on our U.S. folks, but there just arent the manufacturers here to do that," Wagner said. "We were reaching out to whoever we could." A gray market Wagner calls it a gray market, and said it is not illegal. "What we had to do is work with brokers we dont normally deal with and we paid much higher prices for products and in some cases were required to prepay things with people we normally didnt deal with," he said. "Everything from our standpoint worked out, but it was a little bit nerve-racking in that situation. Getting supplies from normal distribution channels was very difficult." He said simple ear-loop masks, which normally cost 5 cents each, were selling for over $1 on the gray market, but MidMichigan Health secured them for 50 cents each, 10 times the usual cost. An N95 mask, which usually went for 50 cents, costs between $2.50 and $8 each. He said pricing of the normal supply deliveries from U.S. distributors remains at pre-pandemic prices, and said the hospital's expenses have gone up because of overseas purchases. He said the hospital continues to buy on the gray market. Current shortages are nitrile gloves, which are used on a high volume basis in almost every department, bouffant caps used in the operating room and shoe covers. "We're struggling right now with large nitrile gloves," Wagner said "There is no manufacturer in the U.S. that makes nitrile gloves. This is a challenge across the country and world. A shortage of this nature is concerning. We may have to use gloves we don't normally use just to get protection on people's hands." Wagner said specific PPE shortages come in waves. N95 masks were in demand at the start of the pandemic, he said, and the hospital continues to disinfect non-damaged N95 masks inside a trailer that uses a UV light system. Once disinfected, the mask is given back to its user. How local companies helped At the start of the pandemic, when the mask shortage hit immediately, some medical center personnel started using powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR). The respirators are worn over the head like a helmet and potentially contaminated air is filtered and clean air is returned in front of the wearer's face and sent back into the room. The hospital already had some of these systems but they were used rarely, Wagner said, saved for unusual cases, such as for a tuberculosis exposure or a contamination emergency. Wagner said Dow, in a partnership with Volkswagen and Whirlpool, started producing PAPRs. "They created a paper system so fast from start concept design to manufacture to into our hospital so quickly it was amazing and that helped us tremendously. Their ability to create this device was amazing. They donated a couple of hundred to us to get us started. It was a huge impact to us and a lot of people in this area." He said PAPR devices also are important because not everyone can wear an N95 mask. "All of our faces are different sizes," he said. "There are some people who maybe their face is too small, too narrow and a mask doesnt work well for them and they use these devices instead." Dow supplied the hospital with hand sanitizer, which is more readily available now, Wagner said. "Dow got us through the critical stage," he said. The Savant Group and DuPont also helped with sanitizer. Three Rivers Corp. helped with face shields and the UV trailer. Wagner lauded community members who sewed hundreds of cloth masks, which were given back to people who arrived accompanying patients or were inpatient support persons. "We would offer up a mask to them so they were able to fend this off in their own community. That was happening all over our health system in each of the communities. It was just an outpouring of support that was tremendous." Good news, looking to future Wagner firmly believes it is the availability of PPE and health care workers' knowledge of practicing safe measures that have kept the infection rate low among staff at the hospital. "They understand this is not normal and we were keeping people safe," he said. "I think that's the most important thing at end of the day. Our infection rate on the employee side at MidMichigan is very, very low. Our employee health folks track when there's a positive employee to identify if it's community acquired or a work event. I don't know all the details on that, but I think very few, if any, were acquired during a work situation because they do have all the PPE available to them." He also wants the public to know the hospital will continue to be able to supply its staff and protect its patients. "We have resources that we reach out to on a regular basis to keep the flow going," Wagner said. "Fortunately (coronavirus caseloads) didn't get anything near like the Detroit area did, and we were able to hold our own with supplies trickling in as they would, and we got supplies from a variety of places to keep things going. Now we have plenty of gowns, of regular masks, face shields." He said the pandemic has taught him to keep the supply closets more stocked. "Our country, our globe was not prepared for something like this," he said. "We need to keep larger stockpile of at least the things we know if we're in a pandemic we're going to need. It's going to take a while to build that. We're still coming from a position of being down. Everybody's still trying to catch up to normal. We need this COVID stuff to settle, get the vaccine and then allow us to get back to a normal supply and then manufacturing to catch up and get ahead so we can all have a little bit of additional supply to be ready. Who knows what the next storm is going to bring." Kirby Wilson and Lawrence Mower, Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg, Fla. (TNS) Tallahassee Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on Wednesday asked state and federal law enforcement officials to investigate potential violations of election law over billionaire Michael Bloombergs decision to help pay Florida felons' fines, fees and restitution to be eligible to vote. In a letter dated Wednesday, Moody wrote that she instructed statewide prosecutor Nick Cox to work with law enforcement and any statewide grand jury that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis may want to call on the matter. DeSantis initially asked Moody to review the matter, the attorney general wrote. The referral sets up what could be a dramatic legal fight over a crucial issue in Florida, a key swing state in the upcoming presidential election. In 2018, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that reversed a decades-old policy barring ex-felons from being able to vote in the state without first seeking official clemency. The measure could have allowed some 1.4 million Floridians to return to the voter rolls. During the 2019 legislative session, Republicans in the Florida Legislature passed a measure that diluted the effect of the voter-approved amendment. The law which has been subject to numerous court fights since required felons who had served their sentences to pay back any outstanding court or restitution fees before they could earn the right to vote. The measure was roundly criticized by voting rights activists, who likened it to an unconstitutional poll tax. Bloombergs fundraising effort seeks to pay those fees for potentially thousands of ex-felons, a move that could make them eligible to vote in the 2020 elections. But on Wednesday, Republicans threw cold water on Bloombergs plans. In an early morning interview on the Fox Business network, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, a vocal ally of President Donald Trump, hinted that Bloombergs fundraising efforts could be subject to a criminal investigation. This isnt an exercise in democracy, this is cherry-picking votes, offering something of value for them, Gaetz said, noting he spoke with Moody on Tuesday night. I believe the Florida Attorney General has jurisdiction. Gaetz said Bloomberg may have violated a portion of Florida election law that reads: No person shall directly or indirectly give or promise anything of value to another intending thereby to buy that persons or anothers vote. Hours after that interview aired, Moody referred the matter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. She said her office reviewed the recent allegations about Bloombergs donations at the request of DeSantis, a close ally of Gaetz and Trump. After preliminarily reviewing the limited public information and law, it appears further investigation is warranted, Moody wrote in a letter to Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen and FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson. Bloomberg, a former Democratic presidential candidate, has helped raise more than $20 million to help felons who have completed their prison sentences pay off fines, fees and restitution so they can vote. He has also pledged $100 million to help Joe Biden win Florida. Canada is desperately in need of a little optimism right now and Justin Trudeau, the self-branded sunny ways guy, should be just the prime minister for troubled times. But politics is always a dance between hope and fear doubly so in a pandemic. So Canadians were treated to two speeches from Trudeau and his government on Wednesday, ranging from optimism to pessimism as COVID-19 remains dangerously on the march through this country. The speech from the throne, with its promise of brighter days not exactly sunny ways was clearly drafted as the more hopeful declaration from Trudeaus government. But the prime ministers televised address to the nation was about the very real fears rippling through the country right now. There was nothing very sunny in it at all, really. Were on the brink of a fall that could be much worse than the spring, Trudeau said. I know this isnt the news that any of us wanted to hear. Basically, Trudeau was giving us a double-barrelled dose of hope and fear on Wednesday, which are operating on different timelines. In the short term, and theres no sugar-coating it, is fear fear of the pandemic causing even more illness, death and economic mayhem. The sunny-ways prime minister of 2015 finds himself warning of dark days ahead in 2020 and 2021. In the longer term, likely as far away as next summer, exists some kind of hope, or so the federal government needs us to believe as fall is upon us. The announcement of the wage subsidy stretching out to next summer, for instance, is optimism and pessimism all rolled into one. The good news is that help is there for ravaged businesses and household finances. The bad news is that were going to need it until next summer those far-off sunny days. Its almost impossible to imagine how Canadians would have reacted back in the second week of March if their political leaders announced that the pandemic would last a year. And lets face it, thats what Trudeau was announcing to the nation on Wednesday night. Hope back in the early days of the pandemic was measured in days 14 days of isolation then in weeks, then in months. Trudeau, well recall, waited until the Easter long weekend in April to give Canadians the hard news that life might not be back to normal until a vaccine was found. Wednesday nights TV address was harder news, and it also revolved around holidays. Its all too likely we wont be gathering for Thanksgiving, but we still have a shot at Christmas, Trudeau said one of the most vivid, if disturbing lines in his TV address. Much was made of Trudeau taking advantage of two major speeches in one day to claim the limelight for himself and his party. But by the time both speeches were over, the need for separation of the two messages was more or less clear. Their purposes, not to mention their intended audiences, were different. This government needs people to believe that some hope still exists for getting past this crisis over the long haul hence the long-winded, nearly hour-long speech from the throne. More practically, the throne speech was a complicated bid to read the politics of the debate over the pandemic and keep the Liberal government from falling. At the time of writing this column, it still wasnt clear whether that would work. But the prime minister obviously felt the need to personally tell Canadians that COVID-19 was as scary now as it was back in March maybe more so. One speech, in short, was aimed at the institutions, and one was aimed at individuals. Which speech will have more impact? Its often said that fear is a more powerful force than hope in politics. Certainly the government has made clear what is more powerful in its calculations right now. Fear is the urgent, short-term issue; hope is farther away. Fear is for Thanksgiving; hope is for Christmas. We are a few weeks away from the fifth anniversary of Trudeaus election win in 2015, when he promised he was going to be the prime minister of sunny ways. That disposition had dissipated somewhat after five bruising years in power and last years election that knocked him from majority to minority. But Trudeaus double-barrelled speeches to Canadians have underlined just how much the pandemic can do to optimism at least for the short term. 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 Read more about: BlakeDavidTaylor/iStockBy JULIA JACOBO, ABC News (LOUISVILLE, Ky.) -- Federal charges in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor are still possible even though a Kentucky grand jury indicted only one Louisville officer and no murder charges were issued in connection with the case. The FBI is still investigating "all aspects," a spokesperson for the law enforcement agency told ABC News in a statement. "As we have indicated," the FBI said, "our investigation is focusing on all aspects of Breonna Taylor's death. Once our investigation is concluded, we will provide the collected facts to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to determine if federal criminal charges are warranted." Former Louisville Police officer Brett Hankison was indicted Wednesday on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for allegedly endangering Taylor's neighbors when he fired into the apartment complex. The charge carries a definition of extreme indifference to human life. Hankison faces a potential 15-year prison sentence -- five years for each charge -- and bond was set at $15,000. He has not yet entered a plea. People across the country expressed outrage over the lack of a murder charge in Taylor's death. A partial deployment of the Kentucky National Guard to Louisville was authorized, Maj. Stephen Martin, a spokesman for the Kentucky National Guard, told ABC News. Taylor, 26, died March 13 after three undercover officers, Myles Cosgrove, Brett Hankison and Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, executed a no-knock warrant at the apartment where Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker were living in Louisville. The officers initially were placed on administrative reassignment pending the results of an investigation. Hankison was later fired for violating police department procedure when he fired 10 rounds into Taylor's apartment while executing the warrant, according to his termination letter, which had been shared with local reporters. He is appealing his termination. The charges against him stem from the errant bullets that 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. Cosgrove fired 16 times into Taylor's apartment and Mattingly fired six shots after they were fired on by Walker, but the investigation concluded that they were justified in their use of force, Cameron said. Taylor's family reached a $12 million settlement with the City of Louisville on the wrongful death lawsuit Taylor's mother filed in April. Walker allegedly opened fire after the home was entered by the officers who shot and killed Taylor. Walker announced earlier this month that he's suing the city of Louisville, its police department and others, for immunity against his actions that night under Kentucky's "stand your ground" law. An attorney for Hankison did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. ABC News' Luke Barr, Bill Hutchinson and Stephanie Wash contributed to this report. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. After having consistently topped the COVID-19 infection and deaths rates since the beginning of the pandemic, with the latest count having crossed the grim milestone of the global record of 200,000 deaths, the looming question remains: What makes the Trump administrations tepid response to COVID-19 the weakest in the world? The simple reason is that Americans are not told by the Trump administration to own the responsibility of taming the virus by doing some basic sacrifices and not asking the same banal question again and again: Whats in for me? Unless evidence-backed, basic medical safety protocols proven to arrest the virus spread, like wearing a face mask and social distancing, are enforced nationally, we may not see any gains until a full rollout of the coronavirus vaccine. And the biggest question remains about the timeline of the highly anticipated vaccine: When will this happen and, until then, what outcome do we await for this escalating infection and death rate? Atul Karnik, Woodside, N.Y. A dying democracy I am getting worried about the state of our democracy, and I teach about it every day to high school students. The Republicans should state plainly that if they are in control of the Senate, no Democratic nominee for the Supreme Court will get a hearing. Then we will know for certain that our democratic experiment has failed. The Senate is one of the least representative parts of our government. The state of Wyoming has fewer residents than our medium-sized city of San Francisco, yet Wyoming has the same number of senators as California. James Madison knew this was undemocratic, but it was another compromise, along with the Electoral College, to appease the slave states (and the small states). These compromises came to create this country, but they also came at a terrible cost. Democracy is dying right in front of us. Adam Michels, San Francisco Controversial process There are two answers to the question posed by Chronicle journalist Joe Garofolis article Will flip-flop on Supreme Court matter to voters? (Sept. 23). Yes, if youre a Democrat or Independent voter who is appalled by the GOPs ruthless tactics to control judicial appointments, suppress voter turnout and kowtow to its white evangelical base. No, if youre a Republican who thinks that ending the right to abortion while protecting the right to have guns are top priorities, and defends a president who has told over 20,000 lies while in office. Id agree with Garofolis assessment that, no matter when the next Supreme Court justice is confirmed, all of the controversy surrounding the process will further diminish our nations respect for its highest court. Dylan Seager, San Francisco Hypocritic Oath Regarding Livid with Feinstein (Letters, Sept. 23): Regrettably, Sen. Dianne Feinstein is merely being realistic about lacking the ability to force Republicans not to replace the esteemed Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court. Nor does she have the power to make them bow to her pressure, as the letter writer suggests. Having apparently taken the Hypocritic Oath, Republicans hold the power to act now. Their current power, unfortunately, is a fact (not an alternative fact). Even if it does not help the Supreme Court now, however, our votes for Democrats in both the Congressional and executive branches of government will at least be a step toward restoring decency and accountability in our government. It is little comfort that just as former President Barack Obama undoubtedly thought the next president following him would be a Democrat to fill a Supreme Court seat, Republicans now believe it is likely that the next president will be a Democrat. Jacquelyn Gentry, Foster City Sounds like blackmail The Republicans do have a staunch majority in the Senate, so it is hard to see what purely political pressure Sen. Dianne Feinstein could exert. The suggested use of leverage and information sounds more like blackmail. Isnt that sort of thing a favored tactic of a certain president? Sherry Gulmon, Palo Alto An entitled attitude The demands of the Archbishop of San Francisco regarding the limitations of parishioners for indoor services, really raised some questions for me. Does he care about the health and safety of his flock, or has months of empty collections baskets triggered his reckless comments? All over this country, we have seen what happens when you fill a church with worshipers: People get sick and die, many of them members of the clergy. The fiasco at the Saints Peter and Paul Church nuptials is a good example; the 10 attendees stricken could possibly have infected others. The Archbishop needs to set aside his entitled attitude and follow the law. He was given a flock to care for, now he should do it! Leanna Mattea, Rohnert Park Dont build in fire zone Regarding Crises, from disasters to housing, highlight need for shared solutions (Front Page, Sept. 21): In his commentary, John King finds it convenient to blame the California Environmental Quality Act for an array of ills, including fire hazard. Our groups litigation against CalFires Vegetation Treatment Program (VTP) does not seek to curtail prescribed burns in conifer forests, but rather to prevent over-treatment in California shrublands, which have suffered an excess of fire. Such over-treatment only leads to replacement with flammable weeds. Indeed, CalFire has itself admitted that its VTP is ineffective during the wind-driven fires in Southern California that do all the damage. Instead, we support more strategic vegetation treatments that do work. The start of a true common sense approach would be to stop expanding new housing into the fire zone. Dan Silver, Los Angeles Refuse an appointment Regarding Health care law hangs in the balance (Front Page, Sept. 22): Any jurist nominated to the Supreme Court should refuse to accept the appointment because of the circumstances under which the nomination was made. If the nomination is accepted, the Senate should reject the nomination because their testimony cannot be trusted, given the presumption that the nomination is based on partisan politics, not judicial integrity. While it is the prerogative of the president to nominate federal judges, confirmation of any justice this close to the election will undermine the rule of law that every judge has taken an oath to protect. Anthony Somkin, Berkeley Worship outdoors Reopening churches is irresponsible. If Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone truly cared about parishioners spiritual and physical health, he could gather more audiences outside. The Son of God did just that. Stop hiding behind personal preferences rather than safety for all. Remember these parishioners mingle with others in society and we all need to be safe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged the chief ministers of seven states, which are contributing maximum number of Covid-19 cases, to reassess if local lockdowns are effective. The chief ministers of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab attended the meeting. About 60 districts in these seven states are a cause of worry, the PM said. The PM also emphasised that micro-containment zones might be the way out of the situation. What are local lockdowns? Though India is now in the fourth phase of unlocking, local lockdowns are going on at several places. Local lockdowns are restrictions for one or two days when all economic activities, exempting the essential one, are shut. West Bengal, for example, imposed such local lockdowns in August during Unlock 3. In September, the states mostly discontinued with local lockdowns as economic activities have started to pick momentum. section 144, which bars the gathering of four and more people, are in place in some cities, including Mumbai, Noida etc. Chattisgarh has recently imposed lockdowns in 10 districts. What are micro-containment zones? Micro-containment zones are specific areas where a number of Covid-19 cases have been reported in the recent times. Identifying these areas which might be as small as a building and isolating them instead of a bigger area will not stop economic activities as well. In its Unlock 4 guideline, the ministry of home affairs specifically mentioned that states would not be able to impose local restrictions without consulting the Centre. NASAs IMERG estimated on Sept. 24 at 3:30 a.m. EDT (0730 UTC), that Beta was generating as much as 10 to 15 mm (0.40 to 0.60 inches) of rain per hour over Alabama. Lighter rainfall rates were occurring over Mississippi and Tennessee at the time of the image. Rainfall throughout most of the storm was estimated as falling at a rate between 0.2 and 1 mm (0.007 to 0.4 inches) per hour. The rainfall data was overlaid on infrared imagery from NOAAs GOES-16 satellite. Credit: NASA/NOAA/NRL Using a NASA satellite rainfall product that incorporates data from satellites and observations, NASA estimated Post-tropical Cyclone Beta's rainfall rates as it moved over Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. Beta continues a steady northeast track into Mississippi, bringing heavy rainfall across Mississippi into the Tennessee Valley. Beta's status on Sept. 24 NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center (WPC) in College Park, Md. noted that at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Beta was located near latitude 31.9 degrees north and longitude 91.0 degrees west. The post-tropical cyclone is moving toward the northeast near 12 mph (19 kph). Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph (45 kph) with higher gusts. Estimating Beta's rainfall rates from space NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM or IMERG, which is a NASA satellite rainfall product, estimated on Sept. 24 at 3:30 a.m. EDT (0730 UTC), Beta was generating as much as 10 to 15 mm (0.40 to 0.60 inches) of rain per hour over Alabama. Lighter rainfall rates were occurring over Mississippi and Tennessee at the time of the image. Rainfall throughout most of the storm was estimated as falling at a rate between 0.2 and 1 mm (0.007 to 0.4 inches) per hour. At the U.S. Naval Laboratory in Washington, D.C., the IMERG rainfall data was overlaid on infrared imagery from NOAA's GOES-16 satellite to provide a full extent of the storm. Watches and warnings On Sept. 24, Flash Flood Watches were in effect from southwestern Mississippi to parts of northern Alabama, and southern Middle Tennessee. NOAA's WPC said, "Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected through early Friday from central to northern Mississippi, across the Middle Tennessee Valley and into the Southern Appalachians. Isolated flash and urban flooding is possible, as well as isolated minor river flooding on smaller rivers. An isolated tornado or two are possible this afternoon across Southern Alabama." Beta's forecast Beta is expected to continue moving in a northeasterly direction for the next day and a half. Some weakening is forecast for the next 36 hour before weakening into a frontal system. What does IMERG do? This near-real time rainfall estimate comes from the NASA's IMERG, which combines observations from a fleet of satellites, in near-real time, to provide near-global estimates of precipitation every 30 minutes. By combining NASA precipitation estimates with other data sources, we can gain a greater understanding of major storms that affect our planet. What the IMERG does is "morph" high-quality satellite observations along the direction of the steering winds to deliver information about rain at times and places where such satellite overflights did not occur. Information morphing is particularly important over the majority of the world's surface that lacks ground-radar coverage. Basically, IMERG fills in the blanks between weather observation stations. Explore further NASA tracking Beta's heavy rainfall into lower Mississippi Valley Coronavirus: What you need to read The latest According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, booster shots in U.S. have strongly protected against severe disease from omicron variant. The CDC also says unvaccinated seniors are nearly 50 times more likely to be hospitalized than their boosted peers. Follow live updates for more. State of the pandemic Omicron variant | Cases and deaths in the U.S. | Empty grocery shelves | What does endemic mean? How to stay safe At-home tests | Symptoms | Booster shots | Masks Follow all of our coverage and sign up for our free newsletter PARSIPPANY, NJAlthough the General Election is slated to be conducted primarily by mail and polling places have been reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic, the county announced the polling locations for those who prefer to vote in person. Parsippany residents may vote in person from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, but where they vote is determined by their district. Residents who live in districts 1-20 and 37 and 39 will vote at Brooklawn Middle School at 250 Beachwood Rd. Residents of districts 21-36 and district 38 will vote at Central Middle School's gym, located at 1620 Route 46 West. Accommodations are available for those with disabilities. The county clerk said all voters are strongly encouraged to vote by mail, and those that vote in person will utilize a provisional (paper) ballot. You can see a list of ballot drop boxes, including one location in Parsippany, here. On Aug. 29, 2020, Gov. Murphy signed legislation to pivot New Jersey from primarily in-person to mail-in voting. "COVID-19 has caused us to re-evaluate the way we typically hold our elections," said Murphy when he signed the bill. "Even in the face of a pandemic, we are firmly committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive general election." This article originally appeared on the Parsippany Patch A man in Palm Beach, Florida, has filed a lawsuit against McDonald's after, according to the complaint, he broke his tooth on a bone while biting into a Chicken McNugget. Alexei Stolfat, 39, is seeking a recall of McNuggets "to avoid massive consumer injuries" and $1.1 million, in part, to cover the expenses for his dental injury, per his lawsuit. The document, which was filed in federal court on Sept. 14 and obtained by TODAY, also spells how out the incident allegedly took place. On May 25, Stolfat and his wife ordered McDonald's delivery via Uber Eats. When he started eating, he allegedly felt something hard on the right side of his mouth, followed by "unbearable jaw pain." He then allegedly pulled a bone, about .8 inches long, out of his mouth. For the next few days, according to the court document, he felt a toothache and a headache. The chicken nugget that allegedly broke Stolfat's tooth. (Courtesy Alexei Stolfat) On May 29, Stolfat went to a dentist, who allegedly discovered two "microcracks" in his tooth. The documents said that Stolfat does not have dental insurance and could not cover the expenses, and he told TODAY Food that it would take at least six months for him to have his tooth replaced. "Im not looking to be famous in this case or something like that," Stolfat, who is from Estonia, told TODAY. "I want to help other people, to protect them and tell them to be very careful with McNuggets." Stolfat allegedly found a .8-inch bone in a Chicken McNugget. (Courtesy Alexei Stolfat) In his complaint, he stressed that McNuggets should not contain any bones, as the McDonald's website says they are made from "White Boneless Chicken." McDonald's responded to the alleged incident in a statement provided to TODAY: "Providing safe, high quality food is always our top priority, and both our restaurants and our suppliers follow rigorous quality control standards. We take these claims seriously and are looking into this complaint." Stolfat also said that he plans to donate most of the amount that he's seeking to charity, after he pays for his dental expenses and keeps some for mental and emotional distress. McDonald's has been sued frequently in the past by customers with complaints about its products, with varying degrees of severity. A 79-year-old woman suffered third-degree burns when she spilled McDonald's coffee in her lap in 1994. In 2000, a Tennessee woman sued for $100,000, claiming her face was permanently scarred after a hot pickle from a hamburger fell onto her chin. In 2003, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit alleging food from McDonald's is responsible for making people obese. And in 2018, two McDonald's customers from Florida unsuccessfully sued the fast-food giant after they said they had to pay for cheese they didn't want on their Quarter Pounders. EDITOR'S NOTE (Sept. 24, 2020, 5:09 p.m. EST): This article has been updated with a statement from McDonald's. Kovalska Industrial and Construction Group intends to invest $ 70 million in the construction of five business centers in the Unit.City innovation park, CEO of the group Serhiy Pylypenko has said at a press briefing. "The Kovalska team will undertake the construction of a cluster, which, in particular, will include five business campuses with a total area of 70,000 square meters. Investments in the development of the innovation park from the group will exceed $70 million. The project is expected to be completed in four years," a press release from the company says. Pylypenko noted, joining the project as a 100% campus investor will allow the company to gain a foothold in the status of a professional commercial real estate developer. All properties are expected to be certified according to the Leed Silver green standard. To develop the projects, Kovalska involved the Polish architectural bureau APA Wojcoechowski and the international engineering company TEBIN. "Thanks to its financial, technical resources and its construction capabilities, Kovalska fully takes control of this project - from the concept to the completion of construction and management," Pylypenko said, stressing that the company is a 100% investor in the project. According to the founder of UFuture holding, Vasyl Khmelnytsky, who is quoted by the press service, the Unit.City project has been implemented only by 7%. Attracting powerful strategic partners to the development of this project will provide an opportunity to bring it to the global level in 2023. Terrifying footage shows an enormous huntsman spider charging towards a man as he sits on the toilet. Western Australian man Riley Watts filmed the moment he jumps in fear as the spider runs towards him. He posted the footage to his TikTok and Instagram with the caption: 'Going to the toilet in 'Straya'. 'The sun is shining, the birds are chirping... and the spiders are making me wanna burn the house down,' he wrote. Terrifying footage shows an enormous huntsman spider charging towards a man as he sits on the toilet Western Australian man Riley Watts filmed the moment he jumps in fear as the spider runs towards him The video shows the spider on the wall opposite Mr Watts before jumping onto the floor towards him and running up another wall. 'F**k, f**k, f**k, I'm trying to s**t, man! Jesus f**king christ,' Mr Watts can be heard screaming in the video. The video has quickly gained thousands of views and hundreds of comments from people equally in disgust. 'It's at that point wiping becomes irrelevant,' one user wrote. 'Omg no it makes noise when it walks!' another commented. Mr Watts posted the video just days after sharing horrific footage of another enormous spider eating a whole gecko. The giant huntsman can be seen casually chomping on the reptile while sitting on the outside wall of Mr Watts' house. TikTok users commented on the spider's size and confidence, and told the man filming to 'burn the house down'. The shocking discovery, uploaded onto TikTok earlier this month, shows the spider chomping on a gecko at what looks to be the back veranda of a Western Australian house (pictured) 'Coulda gone my entire life without seeing this,' one commented. 'I saw a spider eat a bird when I lived on the Gold Coast,' another wrote. Others said large, hairy spiders were the reason why they 'would never visit Australia.' 'This is how the fires started in Australia,' one said. 'It's time to move,' another commented. 'Where in Australia is this? Just so I know not to move there.' Spider expert Dr Lizzie Lowe, from Macquarie University's Department of Biological Sciences, told Daily Mail Australia the spider in the video was a grey huntsman. She said the sight was not unusual but a surprise as lizards were harder for arachnids to digest. She said the sight was not unusual but a surprise as lizards were harder for a 'helping house guest' to digest. Pictured: The huntsman spider eating a lizard at a Western Australia home 'They usually love eating cockroaches because when you think of it cockroaches are mush inside and they're easy for them to digest, whereas lizards are more complex with bones and harder to get,' Dr Lowe said. She added the spider probably caught the lizard due to its poor eye sight. 'A fun fact about huntsmans is they have terrible vision and can only see light, dark and movement,' Dr Lowe said. 'That's why it probably caught the lizard. It would've caught it without realising. 'They don't have a web to catch prey on - they see movement and run at it, do a quick little bite and inject venom. 'The prey then slows down and it sits there and digests it.' A South Korean government worker was shot dead and then set on fire after crossing a maritime border into North Korea. Communist troops killed the man who may have attempted to defect and set his body on fire in a suspected coronavirus quarantine measure, after they found him on a floating object in waters near the rivals disputed sea boundary. The South Korean fisheries official disappeared from a government ship that was checking on potential unauthorized fishing in an area south of the boundary on Monday, a day before he was found in North Korean waters. North Korea sent officials wearing gas masks aboard a boat near the man to learn why he was there on Tuesday afternoon. Later in the day, a North Korean navy boat came and opened fire at him, South Korea's Defense Ministry said. Sailors from the boat, putting on gas masks and protective suits, poured gasoline on his body and set it aflame, the Defense Ministry said, citing intelligence gathered by surveillance equipment and other assets. The ministry said that it wasn't clear what caused his death and whether he died after being shot. A government ship sails past the South Korean Navy's floating base as the sun rises near Yeonpyeong island, South Korea in a file photo. A South Korean fisheries official died after apparently trying to defect to the North from a ship near the boundary line The official jumped from a fisheries vessel near Yeonpyeong Island before crossing the maritime border between North and South Korea (pictured in white). He was picked up near Deungsan Cape (left) where he was questioned, then shot and burned, by North Korea The exact reason the 47-year-old official was shot is not known but North Korean troops may have been acting under anti-coronavirus orders, South Korea's military said. It was also unclear how he ended up in the North. But a defense official said the man might have tried to defect to North Korea. The official, requesting anonymity citing department rules, said the official was wearing a life jacket on a small floating object and that the military had obtained information that he wanted to go to North Korea. Citing intelligence sources, the military said the unidentified man appeared to have been questioned at sea north of the Northern Limit Line before he was executed on an 'order from a superior authority'. Troops in gas masks then doused the body in oil and set it on fire. North Korea has steadfastly claimed there hasn't been a single coronavirus virus case on its territory, a claim widely disputed by many foreign experts. Observers say a pandemic could cause devastating consequences in North Korea because of its broken public health care system and a chronic shortage of medical supplies. South Korea and US soldiers stand guard at the DMZ, with North Korea in the background, earlier this month. North Korea claims to have had no cases of coronavirus South Korea sent a message to North Korea via a communication channel at the U.S.-led U.N. Command in South Korea on Wednesday to ask about the missing official. But North Korea hasn't responded, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. 'Our military strongly condemns such an atrocity, and strongly demands North Korea provide explanations and punish those who are responsible,' General Ahn Young-ho, who is in charge of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a briefing. The U.S. military commander in South Korea said this month that North Korean troops had been given 'shoot-to-kill orders' to prevent the coronavirus entering the country. In July, a man who had defected to South Korea three years ago triggered a coronavirus scare when he crossed back over the heavily monitored border into North Korea. His arrival prompted North Korean officials to lock down a border city and quarantine thousands of people over fears he may have had the coronavirus, though the World Health Organization later said his test results were inconclusive. Last week, South Korean police arrested a defector who they said had tried to return to North Korea by breaking into a military training site in South Korea's border town of Cheorwon. In Pandemic, OC Faces Perhaps Its Greatest Economic Challenge The COVID-19 pandemic may be Orange Countys greatest economic challenge, but the county is well-positioned to rebound, according to the 20202021 Orange County Community Indicators report released by the Orange County Business Council on Sept. 22. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended nearly every aspect of public and private life, ravaging lives and livelihoods, causing economic devastation, stated the report, which has been released annually for the past 20 years to track the California countys long-term health and prosperity. Fortunately, Orange Countys demonstrated economic resilience, combined with its broad range of competitive advantages and industry clusters, suggests the region is well-positioned to weather these disruptions, the report said. Before the pandemic, Anaheim, Irvine, and Santa Ana offered the biggest job opportunities to Orange County residents. These three major job centers have been heavily affected by the pandemic, especially Anaheim, which is the center of the countys tourist industry. Their ability to withstand and bounce back will play a major role in the countys overall recovery, the report stated. The unemployment rate in Orange County increased from 2.9 percent in January to 13.8 percent in April, before dropping slightly to 12.3 percent in July. Only 80,877 job postings were created in July, compared to 140,585 during the same month last yeara reduction of nearly 60,000 jobs. The countys hospitality and tourism industry, which employs more than 220,000 workers, was the hardest hit by the pandemic. A record 50.2 million travelers visited Orange County in 2019, spending $13 billion. The 2020 numbers are expected to be a fraction of that amount. The countys largest employer, Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, has been shut down for months, affecting more than 32,000 workers. Many popular events were also canceled, including the Orange County Fair, which draws nearly 1.3 million visitors each year, and the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing, which attracted 375,000 people to Huntington Beach in 2018. The number of passengers traveling through John Wayne Airport has also significantly declined, falling 97 percent between January and April. Though numbers have begun to rebound, a reduced number of passengers is expected for at least the rest of the year. Despite the impact of these larger employers, 95 percent of all Orange County jobs come from small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Many of these small businessesincluding restaurants, wineries, retail shops, hair salons, nail salons, and gymswere only allowed to reopen on Sept. 8, with reduced capacity, as the county moved from the purple to the red tier of the states monitoring system. While recovery may take time, Orange Countys strong economy, robust healthcare infrastructure, and strong education system will all serve as valuable drivers in the process of recovery and resilience, according to the report. Meanwhile, a number of employers in Orange County have developed new, innovative ways to thrive during the pandemic. Blinking Owl Distillery in Santa Ana and Huntington Beachs Surf City Still Works both switched from distilling alcohol to making hand sanitizer. Two biomedical startup companies in Irvine, Nanommune Inc. and Velox Biosystems Inc., are now providing COVID-19 testing. And Masimo Corp. in Irvine created the Masimo SafetyNet, which allows doctors at hundreds of hospitals to remotely monitor the vital signs of patients at home with COVID-19. In addition, the telehealth and telecommuting industries may even get a boost, as working from home and providing medical care from a distance is becoming more and more popular. About 66 percent of the total COVID-19 cases in Orange County have affected the working-age population, from 25 to 64 years old, but only about a quarter of the total deaths have come from this group. The National Theatre has announced a new podcast series, That Black Theatre Podcast. The 12-week series is to be hosted by Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded PhD student Nadine Deller, who will be exploring the ins and outs of the Black Plays Archive to highlight elements of Black British theatre as well as political and social events of the 21st century that came to influence what was put on stage. Practitioners such as Una Marson, Errol John, Mustapha Matura and Alfred Fagon will all be examined in the series for their seismic contributions to the performing arts community. Lynette Goddard will debate the barriers faced by Black women playwrights, while Valerie Mason-John and Jackie Kay will put the under-representation of black queer and lesbian experiences on stage under the microscope. There will an episode dedicated to playwright Winsome Pinnock, conversations about debbie tucker green and Roy Williams, as well as discussions with creatives such as Mojisola Adebayo and Ola Ince. Deller said, "This podcast started as a way to share what I have learnt about black British theatre with as many people as I could. I never learned about black theatre in school, so this podcast is a celebration of black British theatre and the stories I have found in the archive. Through a mix of history, interviews, and casual discussion, I hope to show that black theatre is for everyone." The series will commence on 28 September. The National Theatre is set to reopen its doors next month with a socially distanced production of Death of England: Delroy, penned by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend: Uzbekistan proposes to establish a Regional Center for the Development of Transport and Communications under the auspices of the United Nations, Trend reports with reference to the speech of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The General Assembly for the first time in the history of the United Nations was held in an online video conferencing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, Uzbekistan focused all efforts and resources to containing this dangerous disease and, most importantly, saving the peoples lives. The President noted that social protection and health systems are being cardinally strengthened to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic. Targeted support is provided to the population, sectors of the economy, and businesses. Shavkat Mirziyoyev also mentioned that as a result of large-scale measures on political, social, and economic modernization of society, a new Uzbekistan is being formed. For the first time, Uzbekistan has publicly declared its determination to reduce poverty. We are achieving this through the development of entrepreneurship and job creation; improving the investment climate and business environment; building modern infrastructure and providing targeted social assistance to the population through training people to new professions, the President said. Over the past four years, Uzbekistans bilateral trade with neighboring states has grown almost five-fold. Today, the Central Asian states face an important strategic task to ensure the deep integration of Uzbekistan into the global economic, transport, and transit corridors. In this regard, Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed to establish a Regional Center for the Development of Transport and Communications under the auspices of the United Nations. The President also 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. We fully support the peace talks among the Afghan political forces launched this year in the city of Doha in September. We express the hope that these talks will serve for bringing in peace and stability in Afghanistan, said Mirziyoyev. In order to broadly involve Afghanistan in the process of economic integration in the region, Uzbekistan has started the implementation of major infrastructure projects such as the Surkhan-Puli Khumri power line and construction of a railway from Mazar-i-Sharif to the seaports of the Indian Ocean. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 2020 / Golden Lake Exploration Inc. (CSE:GLM)(OTC:GOLXF) ("GLM" or the "Company")is pleased to report assay results from the first six of ten drill holes from the Company's keystone Jewel Ridge gold ... Golden Lake Exploration Inc. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 2020 / Golden Lake Exploration Inc. (CSE:GLM)(OTC:GOLXF) ("GLM" or the "Company") is pleased to report assay results from the first six of ten drill holes from the Company's keystone Jewel Ridge gold property located near the town of Eureka, Nevada, with a highlighted intercept in hole JR-20-06 at the Eureka Tunnel Zone, averaging 2.80 grams gold per tonne ("g/t Au") and 5.9 grams silver per tonne ("g/t Ag") over an interval of 22.86 meters from surface. The lower portion of this intersection returned 4.38 g/t Au and 9.7 g/t Ag over 10.67 meters from a depth of 12.19 meters. Assay results from the remaining four holes are expected shortly. Eureka Tunnel Oxide Zone Drill Results The Eureka Tunnel (aka South Eureka Tunnel) mine is located in the northwest quartile of the Jewel Ridge property, with the "Oxide Zone" (aka "Viking Zone") located east and north-east of the main portal. The Eureka Tunnel Oxide Zone comprises both Carlin-type and CRD-type ("Carbonate Replacement Deposits") oxide mineralization. This target has not been drilled since the late 1980s due to tenure complications that were resolved with the purchase of 12 patented claims in 2012. A total of seven (7) Reverse-Circulation ("RC") drill holes were completed, comprising 1,048.57 meters, with assays received for three vertical holes. Drill hole JR-20-06 is the northern-most hole, drilled near the boundary on the patented claims, and is also the shallowest hole (91.44 meters). Recovery problems were encountered from 37 to 61 meters, such that the depth potential has not been adequately tested. Additional drill sites are proposed east and north-east of JR-20-06 on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) claims, and an application to Federal and State agencies is in progress related to a Phase 2 drill program planned this fall by the Company. Story continues Hole JR-20-06 was successful in confirming the historic "above-average oxide grade" of the near-surface Eureka Tunnel Oxide Zone. Hamburg Mine Zone The Hamburg Mine Zone is located in the south-central portion of the Jewel Ridge property and represents both Carlin-type and CRD type oxide gold mineralization hosted in the Hamburg Dolomite at or near the contact with Dunderberg Shale. Three (3) angled RC holes were completed in the recent program comprising 548.64 meters. Significantly, holes JR-20-02 and JR-20-03 both intersected wide intervals of anomalous gold values (defined as +0.10 g/t Au). Hole JR-20-02 intersected 0.436 g/t Au over 57.91 meters from a depth of 123.44 meters, and hole JR-20-03 returned 0.161 g/t Au over 106.7 meters from 73.2 meters. This intercept represents the deepest intersection from 152.4 to 169.2 meters which supports the Company's belief that the Jewel Ridge property is under explored at depth. The data from the recent drilling will be added to the 3D model to refine additional drill targets. Figure 1. Map of the Jewel Ridge property Mike England, CEO of Golden Lake, stated: "Hole JR-20-06 is an excellent start to unlocking the untapped potential of the Jewel Ridge project. This hole identifies the potential for the Eureka Zone to host premium-grade oxide gold mineralization. With hole JR-20-06 representing the northern-most drill hole in our maiden drill program, we welcome the results of the final four drill holes and look forward to a Phase 2 program this fall. We have identified more than a dozen exploration targets on the Jewel Ridge property. Our recent drill program consisted of initial drilling on only two areas." Drilling Quality Assurance and Quality Control Statement Procedures have been implemented to assure QA/QC of drill hole assaying being done at an ISO accredited assay laboratory. Samples are taken every 1.52 meters (5-foot intervals), with all intervals of drill holes being assayed. Samples have been securely shipped and received by ALS Labs in Elko, Nevada, with chain-of-custody documentation through delivery. Mineralized commercial reference standards and coarse blank standards are inserted every 20th sample in sequence. All results will be analyzed for consistency. Assays for the last four holes are pending and will be reported when available. Intervals in this release are drilled intervals. True widths could not be determined at this early stage of target evaluation. About the Jewel Ridge Property The Jewel Ridge property is located on the south end of Nevada's prolific Battle Mountain - Eureka trend, along strike and contiguous to Barrick Gold's Archimedes/Ruby Hill gold mine to the north and Timberline Resources' advanced-stage Lookout Mountain project to the south. The property comprises 96 unpatented lode mining claims and 30 patented claims covering approximately 728 hectares (1,800 acres). The Jewel Ridge property contains several historic small gold mines. The Company's focus is on Carlin-style disseminated gold deposits, the primary focus in the area since the late 1970s. Nevada Carlin-type gold deposits (CTGD) have a combined endowment of more than 250 million ounces, which are concentrated (85 per cent) in only four trends or camps of deposits: Carlin, Cortez (Battle Mountain-Eureka), Getchell and Jerritt Canyon. The Company cautions that results on adjacent and/or nearby projects are not necessarily indicative of results on the Company's property. About Golden Lake Exploration Inc. Golden Lake Exploration is a junior public mining exploration company engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to acquire, explore and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to aggressively advance its exploration program on the Jewel Ridge property. Qualified Person Golden Lake Exploration's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John E. Hiner, Licensed Geologist and Registered Member of SME (society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration), who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Mike England" ______________________________ Mike England, CEO & DIRECTOR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Telephone: 1-604-683-3995 Toll Free: 1-888-945-4770 Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward -looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM). SOURCE: Golden Lake Exploration Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/607694/Maiden-Jewel-Ridge-Drill-Program-Returns-280-gt-Au-over-229-Meters-Including-438-gt-Au-over-122-Meters-from-Eureka-Tunnel-Zone A Colorado man is accused of shooting and killing a neighbors grandmother because he was upset over children playing near his yard. Jason Arroyo, 33, was arrested and charged with first degree murder and attempted murder on Sept. 6 in Denver, according to CBS Denver. Witnesses told police that Arroyo shot a 55-year-old woman after a confrontation about the two children playing. Neighbors told police Arroyo became upset at the children and threw water on them before getting in a verbal altercation with his neighbor, according to the affidavit. They said Arroyo went back inside and got a pistol, firing around six shots outside. Patricia Cruz, 55, died after being in the hospital for 11 days, The Denver Channel reported. Chris Lucero, Cruzs son, and his daughter Priscilla were also shot, according to the station. Why did he do it? Cruzs husband Richard Casias said during an interview with Denver7. She changed my world. She was everything to me. She was my angel. If I could take a bullet for her, I would have. Lucero said Cruz confronted Arroyo after he threw water on the kids. Thats when my mom came out and said, not today! Youre not going to do this with my grandkids, Lucero said, according to The Denver Channel. Officers say they found two victims lying down on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the affidavit. Police said they detained Arroyo after finding him hiding in a nearby garage. Perdue Farms, through its Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, has funded a $100,000 grant to purchase a new refrigerated van and state-of-the-art standup forklift. The new assets have been deployed since mid-March, helping the food bank distribute more than 180,000 nutritionally balanced food boxes to many of its 800-plus partner agencies across a 24-county service region. The van has been used to collect donated food from grocery stores and other food donors that might otherwise be thrown away. The standup forklift, which features Bluetooth wireless, allows the operator to weigh product right on the spot versus traveling throughout the warehouse and it is easier to maneuver in tight spaces. "Second Harvest is extremely grateful to Perdue for their support in feeding our neighbors throughout the year and especially during this uncertain time as the need has greatly increased due to unemployment rates being extremely high, children still missing school meals and many seniors are still quarantined," said Kay Carter, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. The Perdue gifts align with the company's "Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors" hunger relief initiative focused on providing access to nutritious protein for people struggling with hunger and making meaningful progress toward ending hunger. In January, the Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, announced a $1 million donation to support 10 of its Feeding America-affiliated food bank partners in celebration of the company's Centennial. "At Perdue, we believe no one in a country as rich in resources like ours should have to go hungry," said Jim Perdue, Chairman of Perdue Farms. "As a food company, we value the opportunity to help address the challenges of food insecurity that so many people face every day. We are proud of our partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank and the opportunity to help them meet the needs of our neighbors during such an uncertain time." "As part of the company's 100th year, the Foundation decided to invest in fighting hunger and highlight our company's desire to address food insecurity across the country. We are honored to expand our partnership with the food bank and help them purchase resources to help fulfill their mission," notes Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation. About Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina As part of Feeding America, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina serves 24 counties in North and South Carolina. In FY2018-2019, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina distributed over 60 million pounds of food and household items to over 800 hunger feeding agencies including emergency pantries, soup kitchens, senior programs, shelters and low-income daycares. Follow the Food Bank on: Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; LinkedIn; YouTube. About the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture. About Perdue Farms We're a fourth-generation, family owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services. The premium protein portfolio within our Perdue Foods business, including our flagship PERDUE brand, Niman Ranch, Panorama Grass Fed Beef, and Coleman Natural, as well as our pet brands, Spot Farms and Full Moon, is available through retail, foodservice, and our new direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com. Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company. Now in our company's centennial year, our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. We never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever chicken, turkey, pork, beef and lamb, and in USDA-certified organic chicken and beef. Learn more at corporate.perduefarms.com. SOURCE Perdue Farms Related Links https://www.perdue.com 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 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A pair of political science researchers at the University of California, has found that showing people a symbol of inequality can push them to demand that rich people be taxed more. In their paper published in the journal Nature, Melissa Sands and Daniel de Kadt outline an experiment they conducted with poor people living in South Africa and an expensive car. Colin Tredoux and John Dixon with the University of Cape Town and the Open University, respectively, have published a News & Views piece in the same journal issue outlining the work by the team in South Africa and issues with their findings. Prior research has shown that financial inequality can have a detrimental impact on people who live on the lower end of the economic spectrum, including a shorter lifespan and a lower quality of life. Prior research has also looked into the psychological impact of living as a poor person in a society where there is abundance, such as the U.S. In this new effort, the researchers wanted to better understand the factors that motivate people living in poverty to demand changes that might improve their lot. To learn more, they devised an experiment to gage whether poor people are more likely to demand change (in the form of voting to increase taxes on the rich) if they were reminded of the income disparity that exists around them. The experiment consisted of parking an expensive car on different streets in Sowetoa very poor town in South Africaand then asking people who passed by to sign a petition. One of the petitions asked whether the government should increase taxes on the rich, while the other petition asked if nuclear power plants should be shut down in the country. In some scenarios, the expensive car was present nearby; in others it was not. The researchers found that the presence of the car had an immediate impact: 9% fewer people agreed to stop and sign either petition. They also found that 11% more people were willing to sign the petition advocating increasing taxes on the rich when the expensive car was present. Explore further Field study suggests wealthy less willing to tax rich when poor people are around More information: Melissa L. Sands et al. Local exposure to inequality raises support of people of low wealth for taxing the wealthy, Nature (2020). Journal information: Nature Melissa L. Sands et al. Local exposure to inequality raises support of people of low wealth for taxing the wealthy,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2763-1 2020 Science X Network Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next four days. Investors can purchase shares before the 29th of September in order to be eligible for this dividend, which will be paid on the 14th of October. Illinois Tool Works's next dividend payment will be US$1.14 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$4.56 to shareholders. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that Illinois Tool Works has a trailing yield of 2.4% on the current share price of $190.84. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! So we need to check whether the dividend payments are covered, and if earnings are growing. Check out our latest analysis for Illinois Tool Works Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned in profit, then the dividend could be unsustainable. Illinois Tool Works paid out more than half (63%) of its earnings last year, which is a regular payout ratio for most companies. A useful secondary check can be to evaluate whether Illinois Tool Works generated enough free cash flow to afford its dividend. Thankfully its dividend payments took up just 49% of the free cash flow it generated, which is a comfortable payout ratio. It's positive to see that Illinois Tool Works's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Companies with consistently growing earnings per share generally make the best dividend stocks, as they usually find it easier to grow dividends per share. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. With that in mind, we're encouraged by the steady growth at Illinois Tool Works, with earnings per share up 7.8% on average over the last five years. While earnings have been growing at a credible rate, the company is paying out a majority of its earnings to shareholders. If management lifts the payout ratio further, we'd take this as a tacit signal that the company's growth prospects are slowing. Story continues The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. Illinois Tool Works has delivered 14% dividend growth per year on average over the past 10 years. It's encouraging to see the company lifting dividends while earnings are growing, suggesting at least some corporate interest in rewarding shareholders. Final Takeaway Is Illinois Tool Works an attractive dividend stock, or better left on the shelf? While earnings per share growth has been modest, Illinois Tool Works's dividend payouts are around an average level; without a sharp change in earnings we feel that the dividend is likely somewhat sustainable. Pleasingly the company paid out a conservatively low percentage of its free cash flow. Overall, it's not a bad combination, but we feel that there are likely more attractive dividend prospects out there. With that in mind, a critical part of thorough stock research is being aware of any risks that stock currently faces. To help with this, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Illinois Tool Works that you should be aware of before investing in their shares. If you're in the market for dividend stocks, we recommend checking our list of top dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. 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. Flash 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. Ah, the stages of the pandemic. We had Tiger King, we had banana bread, we had staycations, and now we have, "Sure, TikTokers will flatten the curve." As coronavirus cases rise, there has been a crackdown on socialising, with the number of household visitors allowed drastically reduced and, in Dublin, the closure of pubs and restaurants that don't offer outdoor seating, while the so-called wet pubs (surely there has to be a less stomach-churning name?) in the capital remain closed. And while there is the major issue of hundreds of people, middle-aged and beyond, marching through the city centre claiming that being told to wear a mask while in Lidl is against their rights as a citizen, a close eye is being kept on the pesky youths. Concerned about the admittedly frustrating videos of house parties emptying out like clown cars, Taoiseach Micheal Martin wants young people abiding by the rules to tell their mates to cop on and stay inside, and is now looking at outsourcing the tough love to influencers. Speaking to Pat Kenny, he said: "The mechanisms and the platforms, maybe using more influencers to communicate at the level young people are at in terms of the various platforms that they access... I think is key." Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond suggested that influencers could get 20,000 for telling the youths to wear a mask via a TikTok set to Blinding Lights, with Minister for Higher and Further Education Simon Harris saying the Budget will be there to pay them. The mere mention of the word "influencers" is a magnet for mockery. It was the same with reality stars - and one of them is now president of the United States, so I'm not going to argue the legitimacy of social media in this day and age. But, in fairness to An Taoiseach, the idea that influencers could be used to pass on a message is not that ridiculous. Many of the naysayers forget that your average 18-year-old isn't religiously listening to Morning Ireland or reading the quality papers front to back. That's not to say they're disengaged; they're more engaged than most, but they're getting their news from social media and from TikTok - an app that is shaping political discussion as much as it is viral dance routines. On TikTok, teenagers give make-up tutorials while explaining why private prisons should be abolished; viral challenges are hijacked by people debunking conspiracy theories and hoaxes. So getting somebody with social media clout to deliver a message about public health to the masses is just as feasible as getting them to promote whitening toothpaste. TikTok in particular would target the exact demographic An Taoiseach is failing to. While 27pc of users are aged 13-17, 42pc are in the 18-24 category - the people who are apparently oblivious to the notion that there's a pandemic on and they're a lethal enemy to their granny. Ireland wouldn't be the first to try this tactic out - the UK's cabinet office paid Love Island stars to promote the government's test and trace programme - but there have been plenty of people complaining that if influencers, whether on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube, are to help out the Government, they shouldn't be paid, that they should do it out of the kindness of their own hearts. I get it, we all need to be pitching in, but this is their job - whether you think it's a job or not - and if you wouldn't do the Government's leg work for free, neither should they. This is an advertisement, and they deserve to be paid for their platform. There has also been concern over whether influencers are responsible enough to convey the message - and, absolutely, the chosen messengers should be vetted, like any brand chosen to promote a message would be. The Government really doesn't need to cough up 20,000 to an Instagram star to tell her followers, "Stay at home, lads!" only to see her off in Ibiza, hanging out of her mates and getting a picture with Wayne Lineker, a week later. But if everyone is vetted, and an influencer uses their platform and, well, influence to urge their vast trusting audience to be a bit safer, how can that hurt? My concern is that the buck will be passed to the influencers, and to the young people who "just wouldn't listen". We got their favourite make-up artist to tell them to social distance, it's not our fault they didn't pay attention! There's no denying that there needs to be a reduction in house parties. But under-18s are also back in school, in classrooms with other children with other families and other vulnerable grandparents and on public transport getting there and back. Gen Z and young millennials make up much of the retail and service workforce that has been forced to mix with the public for months, with less stability and sick leave, and they are the ones in overstuffed flat-shares that make social distancing an impossibility, sharing kitchens and bathrooms with people they often barely know, because the renting system is broken. Most young people are being responsible - it's their circumstances that are making things difficult. Every little helps, and getting the Goat House to tell teens to wash their hands over a Jason Derulo song is all well and good. But don't expect a TikToker with a million followers to make the problem go away. 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 An Atlanta cop revealed his law enforcement career abruptly ended after he quit the force in protest of gentrification arrests After he learned the Atlanta Police Department was working with local building developers to arrest and evict Black residents to aid in gentrification, a white police officer resigned. Read More: Protesters accuse Louisville mayor of gentrification during housing project ribbon-cutting ceremony Published by Mother Jones, in its editorial project created to share the stories of people who quit, the three-year police officer told his story. Identified as 49-year-old Tom Gissler, the former officer detailed how he was instructed to heavily police an apartment complex in the citys Old Fourth Ward section where most residents are Black. On my beat, they started telling me, We really want you to start policing this section of Boulevard and Ponce de Leon Avenue basically the Bedford Pines Apartments, Gissler, who started in April 2017 and left the force in July of this year, wrote in the essay. He continued sharing how his superiors informed him to tow cars, run background checks, and take people into custody. We think there are dope boys in there. We think theres a lot of illegal activity happening and we want to really focus there. So were gonna put up signs that say you cant park on the street. I want you to go and write tickets on every single car thats on the street and I want you to get those cars out of there; if they dont move, tow em. I want you to start running checks on everybody standing on the street; if they have got warrants, I want you to lock em up, Gissler said he was told. Gissler spoke to residents after receiving the explicit directive. As a resident of the area himself, he hoped to gain insight into community issues. Homeowners informed the former officer that the owners of the complex allegedly wanted to tear down the residence in alignment with gentrification trends in the city. The complex owners were unable to price out residents by raising rents so getting their tenants arrested was plan B. Story continues Bedford PIne apartments, Atlanta (Apartments.com) A homeowner in the area was very frank with me. He said the guys who own Bedford Pines got their tax bill last year, and their taxes were assessed based on all the gentrification thats happening in the area. And so they wanted to move everybody out of these apartments and knock em down and rebuild these nice expensive apartments and the government said no. And so then they said, Well, thats ok, well just increase the rent. They tried to increase the rent and the Section 8 guys came back out and said, No, you cant do that either, he wrote in the Mother Jones essay. Gissler says he was told the only way to evict a person is if they were convicted of a felony, so the buildings owners allegedly enlisted the police for support in their displacement efforts. Gissler claimed upon learning this information, he went to his higher-ups who confirmed the plot. I go to my supervisors: Is this what the case is? And they looked at me like, what are you, stupid? Of course, why else would we be doing this? he remembered. Gissler, who had already made clear he would not lock people up for minor drug stuff, said the experience opened his eyes to realizing law enforcement as a shitty Mafia system. Im not even a political activist. But something about that smacks of institutional racism, right? I mean, there wasnt a white person in this whole complex. Most of the renters were single Black girls who are just trying to, you know, make their way in the world he wrote. There was something about that that made me think now, when I clock into work, Im not doing any good. Im actually doing harm. According to the Mother Jones report, he relocated shortly after quitting after he alleged retaliation followed his leave departure from the APD. Claims of child abuse and animal abuse were made against him, in what Gissler said was an attempt to get him to stay. A police officer wearing a body cam is seen during a demonstration on May 31, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images) In a statement provided to theGrio, the Atlanta Police Department said the area near Bedford Pine apartments was targeted strictly for its escalating crime. The 600 block of Parkway (near the apartment complex) has been an area well known for the sale of narcotics and other crime to include several shootings over the past year. Officers have been able to identify a lot of the vehicles parked in the roadway in front of the complex as a base of operation for the drug sales and other incidents. To combat this, APD in conjunction with the City of Atlanta designated the area a no parking zone. Multiple No Parking signs were put into place well in advance of any enforcement, with the date and time the new rules went into effect on each sign. Read More: Lawyers allege Breonna Taylors house was targeted because of gentrification plan The statement continued Only after this, were any parking tickets issued or any vehicles impounded. Additionally, we did partner with private security at the location to issue criminal trespass orders to non-residents that were suspected to be involved in the aforementioned crime. No orders to stop citizens and perform background checks for anyone standing on the sidewalks were given. According to Curbed Atlanta, in 2017, the first phase of an affordable 80-unit senior housing development, City Lights, was built down the street from the Bedford Pine apartments which are still advertising on Apartmentfinder.com. Apartments listed as nearby start at $1,000 and up. A second development next to City Lights, Station 464, a 96-unit affordable income building for families, is under construction. The post Ex-Atlanta cop on quitting over gentrification: It was a Mafia system appeared first on TheGrio. Molecular analysis of COVID-19's powerful second wave in Houston from May 12 to July 7 shows a mutated virus strain linked to higher transmission and infection rates than the coronavirus strains that caused Houston's first wave. Gene sequencing results from 5,085 COVID-positive patients tested at Houston Methodist since early March show a virus capable of adapting, surviving and thriving making it more important than ever for physician scientists to understand its evolution as they work to discover effective vaccines and therapies. In the second major gene sequencing study conducted by James M. Musser, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine at Houston Methodist, and his team of infectious disease pathologists, they found that the two waves affected different types of patients. The study, preprinted under the title "Molecular architecture of early dissemination and massive second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a major metropolitan area," provides the first molecular characterization of SARS-CoV-2 strains causing two distinct COVID-19 disease waves, a problem now occurring extensively in many European countries. Houston's second wave hit significantly younger patients who had fewer underlying conditions and were more likely to be Hispanic/Latino living in lower income neighborhoods. In addition, virtually all COVID-19 strains studied during the second wave displayed a Gly614 amino acid replacement in spike protein the part of the virus that mediates invasion into human cells, gives the coronavirus its telltale crown-like appearance and is the major focus of vaccine efforts worldwide. While this mutation has been linked with increased transmission and infectivity, as well as a higher virus load in the nasopharynx, which connects the nasal cavity with the throat, the mutation did not increase disease severity, researchers said. The findings reinforce researchers' concerns of the virus gaining momentum through naturally occurring mutations capable of producing mutant viruses that can escape vaccines dubbed 'escapians' or mutants that can resist drugs and other therapies. This extensive virus genome data gathered from Houston's earliest cases to date, coupled with the growing database we are building at Houston Methodist, will help us identify the origins of new infection spikes and waves. This information can be an especially helpful community resource as schools and colleges re-open and public health constraints are further relaxed." James M. Musser, M. D, Ph.D, Study Corresponding Author, Chair, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Given the urgency of finding effective treatments for COVID-19, the preliminary report is posted to the preprint server medRxiv, and a manuscript is under peer-review at a prominent scientific journal. This preprint is not the final version of the article. Wesley Long, M.D., Ph.D., a first author of the study, said it's critical for people throughout the region, state and nation continue to keep preventive practices in place. "To avoid that third wave and keep cases low, we have to keep wearing masks and social distancing and testing and staying home if we're sick," Long said. "The virus is still out there and still circulating." The more scientists can understand about this pandemic and put it in context with what they understand about other coronaviruses, Long adds, the more able they may be to discover treatments or vaccines that might protect us from not just COVID-19, but also future pandemics. Lukashenko's secret inauguration on Wednesday triggered fresh condemnation in the West and new mass demonstrations in Belarus that have erupted frequently since the disputed August 9 elections The European Union refuses to recognise Alexander Lukashenko as Belarus president after his inauguration that lacked "democratic legitimacy" and Brussels is reviewing its relations with Minsk, the EU's diplomatic chief said Thursday. Lukashenko's secret inauguration on Wednesday triggered fresh condemnation in the West and new mass demonstrations in Belarus that have erupted frequently since the disputed August 9 elections. The elections were neither free nor fair and "the European Union does not recognise their falsified results," EU high representative Josep Borrell said in a statement. "On this basis, the so-called 'inauguration'" and the new mandate Lukashenko claims "lack any democratic legitimacy," Borrell said. "This 'inauguration' directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus," the former Spanish foreign minister said. The EU stands for the right of Belarusians to be "represented by those they freely choose through new inclusive, transparent and credible elections," he said. The EU again threw its full support behind the peaceful Belarus protests and their calls for new elections "despite the brutal repression of the Belarusian authorities," he said. The EU renews its calls on the authorities in Minsk to "immediately refrain from any further repression and violence directed against the Belarusian people and immediately and unconditionally release all those detained, including political prisoners," said Borrell. "The EU remains convinced that an inclusive national dialogue and responding positively to the demands of the Belarusian people for new democratic elections are the only way forward in finding a way out of the serious political crisis in Belarus that respects the wishes of the Belarusian people. The statement also said Brussels was "reviewing its relations with Belarus." The EU is preparing sanctions against around 40 people deemed responsible for the repression and also looking at punishing Lukashenko himself, diplomatic sources say. But the unanimity of the 27 EU countries is required, and Cyprus links its agreement to the adoption of steps to force Turkey to stop exploring for gas in the waters of its economic zone. Two countries, Sweden and Finland, refuse to sanction Lukashenko to allow for mediation by OSCE that will be chaired by Stockholm, the sources add. The issue will be debated during an EU summit on 1-2 October in Brussels. Search Keywords: Short link: 24/09/2020 Kazakhstan needs to reform its tax system to reduce its dependence on resource-related revenues and to strengthen its economic resilience beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new OECD report. The Tax Policy Review of Kazakhstan provides an in-depth and comparative assessment of Kazakhstan's tax system, and identifies a number of recommendations for tax reform. The publication, which is part of the OECD Tax Policy Reviews series, focused on the examination of personal income tax, social security contributions, value-added tax and corporate income tax. The analysis presented in this report was prepared before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis that resulted from it. The report notes that Kazakhstan had begun to show signs of economic recovery prior to the COVID-19 crisis as a result of the government's previous tax reforms. However, further reform is needed to strengthen the resilience of Kazakhstan's economy. The report highlights the need to raise tax revenues to meet the government's revenue and expenditure goals and to reduce the non-oil deficit. Kazakhstan currently relies heavily on revenues from the natural resource sector to balance its budget, however, the financing needs of the country could be met by gradually increasing some non-resource taxes that have considerable potential for generating additional revenues. For instance, Kazakhstan could consider a gradual transition to a progressive personal income tax system to raise revenues and address inequality over the medium-term. This reform requires measures to strengthen the functioning of the tax administration, including the introduction of an end-of-the-year tax declaration. The report also finds scope to reform the taxation of personal capital income. In addition, Kazakhstan could improve the design and administration of the VAT and raise additional revenues with a modest increase in the VAT rate. The report also calls for the broadening of the corporate tax base, in particular by better targeting corporate tax incentives and by reducing and improving the design of the simplified tax regimes for SMEs. "These reforms should help Kazakhstan address some of its most pressing economic and social challenges, including reducing the non-oil deficit and supporting its economic diversification", said Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration. "The aim is to support the development of a modern, fair and sustainable tax system, which are aligned with Kazakhstan's priorities". Further information on OECD Tax Policy Reviews Media queries should be directed to Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration (tel. +33 6 26 30 49 23), or David Bradbury, Head of Tax Policy and Statistics Division (+33 1 45 24 15 97). Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath has promised that next months budget will not be a slash and burn affair, with him primed to stimulate the economy to the tune of billions of Euro. At the Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting, Mr McGrath moved to reassure his colleagues that, despite the country being in the teeth of a severe recession, austerity is not the approach he will be taking. Mr McGrath in his presentation said the budget is being prepared against a backdrop of uncertainty with Ireland facing a perfect storm in terms of Covid-19 and Brexit. In his contribution, Taoiseach Micheal Martin spoke at length as to the ongoing economic impact of Covid-19 while committing to delivering a continuity in welfare supports for the people. He was deeply critical of Sinn Feins cynical, opportunistic and negative attacks on the Government. Jackie Cahill TD raised the lack of support for the Taoiseach in the Dail during what he called was the Sinn Fein onslaught earlier on Wednesday. Read More Tanaiste wants all-party committee to examine issue of assisted suicide He pointed out that the Taoiseach was on his own except for two government TDs and that Sinn Fein TDs were getting plenty of speaking time from the Ceann Comhairle. Longford TD Joe Flaherty told the meeting that the timing of the announcement on the appointment of special advisors for junior ministers was wrong and questioned the need for them. Senator Malcolm Byrne, in a light-hearted moment, asked the Taoiseach if he had taken Sligo TD Marc MacSharrys advice last Friday night when he came out on his own to deliver his address on TV. "Micheal was irritated so Malcolm quickly added it was a joke," said a source. TDs Cormac Devlin and John McGuinness raised the issue of the pandemic unemployment payment, with both men calling for the top 350 a week rate to be reinstated. While Mr Martin made no direct remarks in that direction, several sources have said they understand some movement on that rate on budget day is likely. The Taoiseach also raised the concern about the threat of a no-deal trade Brexit and the impact that would have on the economy. He described the threat of a no-deal Brexit as serious. JPFO presents the important video record of the conference content, which can be watched on this dedicated page. "It was the biggest gathering of gun rights activists in the world," said Alan Gottlieb, founder and executive vice president of the Second Amendment Foundation, in the aftermath of the 35th annual Gun Rights Policy Conference, held entirely online for the first time in history. The event was viewed by well over 300,000 gun rights activists across the country on multiple platforms, and more than 4,100 people pre-registered for the event, which shatters all previous records, Gottlieb reported. He said it would be impossible to get an exact count of all the people who watched because several groups held "Watch Parties" attended by many people watching the program on large screens. There were about 120 speakers covering topics from state legislative affairs to the growing interest in firearms ownership by women. Several attorneys specializing in Second Amendment cases weighed in with reports on what has been happening, and what may be on the horizon. Several journalists, radio talk hosts and bloggers offered suggestions on how grassroots activists could cultivate better relations with the media, and there were discussions about invasive gun control and gun rights internationally. GRPC 202 Videos - ..... Industry City was the latest clash of competing visions for the city, following the collapsed Amazon deal in Queens last year. The Brooklyn project was intensely divisive. As my colleague Emma G. Fitzsimmons reported, community activists in Sunset Park voiced concerns from the onset that rezoning would spur more gentrification and displacement in the surrounding neighborhoods. But others argued that the rezoning would ultimately be helpful to a city in the grip of an economic crisis. The chief executive of Industry City, Andrew Kimball, told Ms. Fitzsimmons, If a project like this cant succeed, it concerns me very much about the future of New York City. [Read more about how the Industry City project in Brooklyn was defeated by progressives.] Heres what you need to know. Journalists covering protests in the United States should be permitted to do their jobs without fear of attack or arrest, the United Nations human rights office said on Friday. A mounting crackdown on reporters by authorities has been seen in recent weeks as the Trump administration has deployed federal agents to several cities where demonstrators are calling for racial justice. And now, UN human rights spokesperson Liz Throssell has spoken out to protect the press. [The protests] must be able to continue without those participating in them and also the people reporting on them, the journalists, risking arbitrary arrest or detention, being subject to unnecessary disproportionate or discriminatory use of force or suffering other violations of their rights, she said at a news conference in Geneva. Her comments come after weeks of US authorities attacking and arresting the journalists who are covering the historic racial protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd. On 1 July, Andrew Buncombe, chief US correspondent with The Independent, was arrested in Seattle while covering the police clearance of the Capitol Hill Organised Protest (CHOP). He was charged with failure to disperse despite repeatedly identifying himself as a journalist. He was held for at least eight hours before being released. In response, The Independent launched a campaign to protect journalists called Journalism Is Not a Crime. Announcing the initiative, The Independent said in an editorial: What we see today is how often the human rights of many, reporters included, seem to be casually disregarded by American police forces that are granted extraordinary immunities from prosecution. A certain institutional ethos has developed that the police are above the law, and have so little to fear from press scrutiny that they can lock journalists up with impunity. It is not healthy for a police officer to treat justice and the tradition of habeas corpus as dispensable, mere inconveniences to clearing the streets. George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Show all 30 1 /30 George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Police spray mace at protestors to break up a gathering near the Minneapolis Police third precinct after a white police officer was caught on a bystander's video pressing his knee into the neck of African-American man George Floyd, who later died at a hospital, in Minneapolis Reuters George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A protester holds a sign with an image of George Floyd AP George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Protesters demonstrate against the death of George Floyd AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A protester throws a piece of wood on a fire in the street just north of the 3rd Police Precinct Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets People in other US cities also protested the murder, like Los Angeles AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets AP George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Reuters George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A police officer lobs a canister to break up crowds Reuters George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A protester is treated after inhaling tear gas Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Two police officers stand on the roof of the Third Police Precinct during a face off with a group of protesters Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Protesters outside a Minneapolis police precinct two days after George Floyd died EPA George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Protesters run from tear gas Reuters George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets AP George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Demonstrators gather to protest in Los Angeles AP George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Police remove barricades set by protesters AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A fire burns inside of an Auto Zone store near the Third Police Precinct Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Flowers, signs and balloons are left near a makeshift memorial to George Floyd near the spot where he died AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A policeman faces a protester holding a placard in downtown Los Angeles AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A couple poses with a sign in Los Angeles AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 27: A man is tended to after sustaining an injury from a projectile shot by police outside the 3rd Police Precinct building on May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Four Minneapolis police officers have been fired after a video taken by a bystander was posted on social media showing Floyd's neck being pinned to the ground by an officer as he repeatedly said, "I cant breathe". Floyd was later pronounced dead while in police custody after being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Stephen Maturen Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A protester reacts after inhaling tear gas Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Getty Images George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Protesters use shopping carts as a barricade Getty Images George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Protesters clash with the police as they demonstrate against the death of George Floyd AFP via Getty Images More than 70 journalists in the US have been arrested during Black Lives Matter demonstrations, while dozens of others have been injured by rubber bullets, pepper spray and tear gas. The US Press Freedom Tracker has collected more than 500 reports of journalists being targeted during unrest in the wake of George Floyds killing by police in late May. Karen Pierce, the UK ambassador to the US, told The Independent on Friday that America has a very strong track record on media freedom, and naturally we look to that to continue. I have taken up [Andrew Buncombes] case and that of other British journalists with the State Department and the White House, she said in response to a question from The Independent about the rise of attacks on journalists in the US. Ms Throssell, from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, raised concerns over reports that people were being detained by unidentified federal officers in Portland, Oregon. That is a worry, because it may place those detained outside the protection of the law, and may give rise to arbitrary detention and other human rights violations, she said. The Trump administrations decision to send federal agents to Portland and a number of other US cities has sparked controversy in recent days. The president announced plans this week to send agents to Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico, as he increasingly touts law and order as the central theme of his 2020 re-election campaign. Agents from the US Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Protective Service were deployed to Portland ostensibly to protect federal buildings. But video and witness testimony has emerged in recent days showing them detaining people without cause far from federal property, and using violence against peaceful protesters. On Thursday, a judge in Portland barred federal law enforcement officers from arresting or using physical force against journalists and legal observers attending the protests if they were not committing any crimes. When wrongdoing is under way, officials have great incentive to blindfold the eyes of the fourth estate, federal judge Michael H Simon said in his ruling. The free press is the guardian of the public interest, and the judiciary is the guardian of the press. Portlands mayor has described the use of federal agents to quell protests as a direct threat to democracy. Two federal watchdogs launched investigations this week into the use of force by federal law enforcement agents in Portland and Washington DC during the protests. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain New research from the UK, being presented at this week's ESCMID Conference on Coronavirus Disease (ECCVID, online from 23-25 September) shows that the diagnosis of several common conditions including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular (circulatory) disease, diabetes, and mental health conditions approximately halved during the country's COVID-19 lockdown. The study is to be published in The Lancet Public Health ahead of a special conference session featuring The Lancet journals. The study, by Richard Williams of the University of Manchester and The National Institute for Health Research Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, Manchester, UK, used data from Salford, a metropolitan area of Greater Manchester (UK) with a population of approximately 250000 people. The authors used routinely collected primary care data that was recorded in the Salford Integrated Record system between Jan 1, 2010, and May 31, 2020. They extracted data on symptoms and observations, diagnoses, prescriptions, operations and procedures, laboratory tests, and other diagnostic procedures. They then used computer modelling with data of monthly counts of first diagnoses of common conditions (common mental health problems, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer), and corresponding first prescriptions of medications indicative of these conditions. These models were used to predict the expected numbers of first diagnoses and first prescriptions between March 1 and May 31, 2020, which were then compared with the observed numbers for the same time period. Between March 1 and May 31, 2020, 1073 first diagnoses of common mental health problems were reported compared with 2147 expected cases based on preceding years, representing a 50% reduction. There were 598 cases of circulatory disease observed, compared with 1054 expected, a 43% reduction, and for type 2 diabetes, 141 cases were diagnosed compared with an expected 276 casesa 49% reduction. The number of first prescriptions of associated medications was also lower than expected for the same time period. The gap between observed and expected cancer diagnoses (194 expected / 163 observed, difference 31 cases, a 16% reduction) during this time period was not statistically significant, but the authors suggest this could be due to a delay in cancer diagnosis data being recorded in primary care after diagnosis in hospital. The authors say: "The lower reduction in cancer diagnoses observed compared with the other diseases assessed could be partially explained by this time lag. This hypothesis is supported by the data for May, during which we observed a 44% reduction in cancer diagnoses38 observed versus 68 expectedwhich was statistically significant." The authors say: "Most of the conditions included in our study develop over many years, so it is unlikely that people's behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a lower incidence of these diseases...the reduced number of new diagnoses observed when compared with the expected numbers obtained from our models are most likely to represent a large number of true disease cases that have gone undetected, undiagnosed, and untreated." They suggest that, when people begin to engage more with health services again, through less widespread fear of contracting COVID-19 in a health-care facility or because their symptoms have become intolerable, presentation rates for the four groups of conditions assessed in this study could increase sharply. They say: "Should such a scenario occur, health-care services will need to manage this excess demand. The delay in diagnoses is also likely to have implications for the severity of these conditions when patients present. Prioritisation of people with these conditions over people with more minor illnesses will be important in primary care otherwise the backlog could plausibly overwhelm primary and secondary health-care services." They also sound a warning about future health emergencies, including potential second waves of COVID-19. They conclude: "Should a public health emergency on the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic occur in the future, or if subsequent surges in COVID-19 cases arise, national communication strategies must be carefully considered to ensure that large numbers of patients with urgent health needs do not disengage with health services." They note some limitations to their study, including that Salford is the 18th most deprived of 317 areas in England, and thus these results might not be generalisable to other parts of the country. Between March 1 and May 31, 2020, Salford had the fourth highest age-standardised all-cause mortality rate in England and Wales and the third highest age-standardised COVID-19 mortality rate outside of London. Due to higher deprivation, a higher proportion of the population in Salford might be unable to consult with a GP via video link than the general population of the UK. But the authors add: "However, it seems reasonable to assume that the patterns observed in Salford would be similar to those in other parts of the UK, particularly in areas with similar populations. The high COVID-19 mortality rate in Salford should not affect the generalisability of our results, since we are reporting the consequences of the public health system response and the public response to the crisis rather than the consequences of COVID-19 itself." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Richard Williams et al. Diagnosis of physical and mental health conditions in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study, The Lancet Public Health (2020). Journal information: The Lancet Public Health , The Lancet Richard Williams et al. Diagnosis of physical and mental health conditions in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30201-2 Provided by European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases This week, I dropped by Castlecomer Craft Yard to sit in the morning sun and listen to some fascinating stories from the talented Dominika Stoppa. Dominikas path has changed incredibly. A clever academic, in Poland she qualified with top class honours in her Bachelors degree of National Security. She could have become a secret agent, but she cant confirm or deny this! However her passion for art and design from both the practical and the therapeutic perspective would not let go of its hold on her. Dominika loves helping others to visually express their story, either in business or their private lives. She is also top of her class in this discipline and has just been awarded the Power Within Champion at the Network Ireland Kilkenny for Businesswoman of The Year Awards 2020. Dominika, who is originally from Gdynia, in Poland, calls Ireland her home now and has being living here for eight years. She lives near Castlecomer with her children Ian (5), Anna (4) and her partner Gerard. She says work is her hobby and is blessed to have her workshop on their doorstep in the beautiful surrounds of the Castlecomer Craft Yard. In September 2019, she opened her first studio in the Yard. Within a few months, she moved to larger premises, where she created a unique venue designed to host events Studio Eleven Creativity and Well-being Centre. On top of this she was awarded Businesswoman of The Year Award in 2019 for Emerging New Business, as a Kilkenny Regional Winner and National Finalist under Network Ireland. In 2020, she published her first colouring book The Botanical Affirmations Colouring Book. If that wasnt enough, she started portrait commissions during lockdown and opened a second location Dominika Stoppa Gallery & Studio in the Craft Yard. Here is a glimpse into Dominikas world Dominika, what do you love most about Kilkenny? Kilkenny reminds me of my home place Gdynia in Poland. I love both cities for being creative and cultural hubs. Strangely, I never felt like I belonged anywhere until I first visited Kilkenny a few years ago. Castlecomer Craft Yard, in particular, feels like home. Painting and craft making runs in the family through several generations. However, you tried to fight it for years - strange for someone who had such a talent. Thats true. My childhood was quite difficult; I moved out of my family home just after turning 18 and became independent at this young age. I felt like being a full-time artist wasnt a safe enough career, I didnt want to be a starving artist. I had many interests outside of art. After graduating art school I was craving structure and I ended up with a Bachelors degree in National Security. Even though I was a top student and Ive seriously considered diplomacy, it didnt feel like my path. I moved to Ireland just after graduation. Ive been always searching for a suitable career, but for years nothing seemed to fit. It was after experiencing big struggles in my personal life that I started to connect the dots. I never thought Id end up being an artist and educator, it came organically. Im very happy with where I am at the moment. Sometimes when Im in my gallery and studio in Castlecomer I need to pinch myself, its been some journey. What makes Castlecomer Craft Yard so unique? When I moved to the Craft Yard in September 2019, I saw a potential creative hub, but the place seemed very quiet. I started Facebook and Instagram account Castlecomer Craft Yard a few months ago, and Im delighted to say that we have now full studio occupancy and a real community of artists and craft makers. The energy is amazing. Were supporting and inspiring each other - theres no better place to be! This pandemic has taught us to focus on our loved ones. Did that inspire you to get back into portrait art during lockdown? Yes. Back in Poland, after graduating art school, I was known for portraits but once I moved to Ireland in 2012, I got a nine-to-five job in Dublin and there was no room for anything else. Im delighted to be working on portraits again. My style evolved over the years, these days I love a large scale and contemporary monochromatic watercolours. Its a very mindful technique as there is no room for an error; you cant cover up imperfections and often less is more. I love focussing on eyes and a smile because those are the features that our eyes would naturally focus on when we see someone for the first time. What about the other elements of your business - did you have to cancel your well-being and therapy workshops? Surely we need them now more than ever? Truthfully, its a very challenging time to organise workshops for individuals. Luckily, Im busy working with organisations right now. I will facilitate my signature workshop Creative Mandala with several groups of women in Kilkenny and Carlow in the upcoming weeks. Im also developing a new creative workshop for Kilkenny Leader Partnership that will contribute to an Eastern European voice to the development of the Integration Strategy. You are working with AMBER Kilkenny Womens Refuge on project to help women. Why is this so important to you? I have been there myself. Over three years ago I decided to become a single mother with two very small children and start a new chapter. At the time, my art practise and developing the Creative Mandala method helped me massively to move on and heal. Teaching the method gives me great fulfilment and a sense of a purpose. How does art help women experiencing difficulties? Art is a relaxing activity, it helps you to stay mindful and in the moment which is crucial when your life seems to be falling apart, you need to give your mind a break from dealing with challenges. Art allows you to try new things and experiment on a very basic level. I often find that it is a trigger to leave your comfort zone in different areas of life. Why such use of symbols in your Creative Mandala art programme? I loved studying the history of art. Symbols were always a powerful way to tell stories on a deeper level. Quite often when we are experiencing challenges in life we might not be comfortable with words, using symbols and art is a great way of almost secretly expressing our hopes and struggles. Its therapeutic to let it out, acknowledge and embrace our stories, even the most painful ones. You are up for an award for the Business Woman of the Year Award in the category Power Within Champion, and rightly so with all the work you do for women. Congratulations! The award is designed to recognise survivals and those who, despite all sorts of challenges and restrictions this year, move forward and support others. Its been a great honour to receive the award. Its a bizarre time to run a business, flexibility and resilience are more important than ever before. Focusing on things I can control helped me massively. I believe that we co-create our reality. A wise man once said: Make the best use of whats in your power and take the rest as it happens. Dominika is kindly donating a portrait to Amber Womens Refuge at the end of this month. The portrait will be of a scene from the movie The Notebook and will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Refuge. Check out her website for details dominikastoppa.com Toronto police have made one arrest and are searching for two more suspects in relation to a Sept. 4 home invasion in the St. Clair Avenue West and Avenue Road area. According to police, a woman and man broke into an apartment and when the victim tried to call 911, the woman began screaming, punching and scratching the victim. The man then stole the victims cellphone, pointed a gun at the victims head and hit him with it, said police. Const. David Hopkinson said he could not disclose any details about the victim, including where on the body the person was hit. The man dragged the woman from the residence and they fled with another man who was waiting in a getaway vehicle, said Hopkinson. Police said the same woman arrived at the victims workplace on Friday, Sept. 18, began yelling and swearing, and spat on the victim. Police said she then left the building and the victim called police. Officers arrested and charged Istina Ayo, 22, of Toronto with one count of breaking and entering, robbery with an offensive weapon and two counts of assault. Hopkinson said two other suspects face similar charges. Ayo appeared for a bail hearing on Sept. 19 at Old City Hall court. Police 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 Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: mvega@thestar.ca English French TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a release issued under the same headline earlier today by Sunwing Vacations Inc., please note that the last sentence of the first paragraph should open with "As Sunwing resumes operations over the coming months" instead of "As Sunwing resumes operations starting November 6". The corrected release follows: Sunwing is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Medcan, a global healthcare leader providing medical expertise, consultation and health inspiration. Medcan will advise on the companys Safe with Sunwing program related to COVID-19 throughout the entire vacation, in addition to providing ongoing support for customer and employee health and safety. As Sunwing resumes operations over the coming months, the tour operator will rely on information and expertise from the medical communitys most trusted advisors to help promote a safe and healthy return to travel for Canadians. As Canadians return to responsible travel over the months ahead, we are committed to earning their trust so that they can vacation safely and with peace of mind, said Samantha Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer of Sunwing Travel Group. By partnering with Medcan, we are reinforcing our promise to customers that their entire vacation experience can be enjoyed with a top-to-bottom commitment to safety, from check-in to the flight, transfers, hotel stay and the journey home. Dr. Peter Nord, Chief Medical Officer at Medcan, will now act as Sunwings Chief Medical Advisor, providing guidance and support on all aspects of the Safe with Sunwing program. He will be supported in this capacity by Medcans Medical Advisory Services Team (MAST), a group of physicians with expertise in a broad range of disciplines, including occupational health and safety. Were pleased to be partnering with Sunwing, sharing our comprehensive medical expertise and helping Canadians get back to travelling safely, said Dr. Nord. With so much uncertainty, were keen to offer reassurance and advice to ease any concerns Canadians may have by providing a science-based approach to health and safety. The Safe with Sunwing commitment, supported by Medcan, ensures the health and safety of customers from the moment they check in to their airport transfers, throughout their resort stay and their flight home. As a Canadian-owned and operated business, Sunwing is the only travel company that owns its airline and transfer buses and operates over 30 hotels throughout the tropics ensuring that the highest quality of Canadian health and safety standards are in place throughout the entire vacation experience. To learn more about Safe with Sunwing, please visit the companys website. About Sunwing The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from over 33 airports across Canada to more than 45 popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid. For all media enquiries, please contact: Jacqueline Grossman Vice President of Marketing & Corporate Communications Sunwing Travel Group 1-800-387-5602 | media@sunwing.ca About Medcan Medcan is a global healthcare leader providing medical expertise, consultation and health inspiration to achieve its mission of helping people Live Well for Life. Based on the pillars of evidence-based care, exceptional client service, and the latest in technology, Medcans team of over 90 physicians and specialists support employee healthcare across the continuum of health, including with its Safe at Work program helping organizations navigate the pandemic. https://www.facebook.com/SunwingVacations https://twitter.com/SunwingVacay https://www.instagram.com/sunwingvacations https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzjZ-lcuaqBQH7Sq0u3ru7A A moose hunter has been killed by a grizzly bear in Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. It's the first-known grizzly attack death in the nation's largest national park. Park officials said in a statement that the hunter was killed Sunday, attacked while the hunter and a friend were near the Chisana River drainage. A moose hunter has been killed by a grizzly bear in Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Park pictured above The two were on a 10-day moose hunt. The hunter's identity has not been released pending an investigation. A message left with the park seeking more information Wednesday wasn't immediately returned. It's the first-known grizzly attack death in the nation's largest national park. Above, stock image of a grizzly bear Officials said the incident is the first deadly encounter with a grizzly bear since the park was established 40 years ago. The closet community to the park is Copper Center, which is about 200 miles northeast of Anchorage. The park is 13.2 million acres which the park's webpage says is the size of Switzerland, Yellowstone National Park and Yosemite National Park combined. The normalization agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed on Sept. 15 in Washington have already made an impact on the Palestinians regional and Arab relations, reflected in the Palestinians repositioning with Beirut, Istanbul, Doha and Tehran and their distancing from Cairo and Riyadh. On Sept. 21, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas phoned his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and thanked him for his support of the Palestinians. The two have shared several calls in the past few weeks, discussing political developments and US pressure on the region to normalize ties with Israel and ways to face such pressure. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Erdogan Aug. 22 in Istanbul and discussed the latest developments. Jibril Rajoub, secretary of Fatahs Central Committee, arrived in Turkey on Sept. 21 to meet with Haniyeh and his deputy Saleh al-Arouri and discuss ways to end the internal Palestinian division. Erdogan himself accused Israel of violating international law during his speech at the 75th United Nations General Assembly meeting on Sept. 22. He said, The occupation of Palestine is a bleeding wound, adding, Israel is constantly increasing its audacity in the holy sites in Jerusalem. A senior Palestinian official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, It is no longer a secret that we are facing harsh conditions from the traditional Arab axis linked to the US, in exchange for their political cover and their financial support for us, the least of which is agreeing to normalization with Israel, and this is what we cannot do. This is why we have recently increased our contacts with influential players in the region such as Turkey and Qatar, even though they are affiliated with Hamas. Meanwhile, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani called for compelling Israel to lift the blockade from Gaza in his own speech before the UN General Assembly. On Sept. 18, Abbas special representative Nabil Shaath announced that Doha was ready to help the PA with its financial crisis, after Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh visited Qatar on Sept. 8. In addition to the video meeting between Palestinian faction leaders in Beirut and Ramallah on Sept. 3, Abbas, Haniyeh and former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal have spoken several times in the past few weeks. Previous contacts between them had been limited to a yearly basis at best. While ties warmed between the Palestinians and Turkey and Qatar, their relationship with Saudi Arabia and Egypt seemed to deteriorate. Abbas has not held any talks with officials of those two countries since the announcement of the Israel-UAE agreement on Aug. 13, and no Palestinian official has visited them. The PA summoned its ambassador to the UAE, Issam Masalha, on Aug. 23 and its ambassador to Bahrain, Khaled Aref, on Sept. 19 in protest of the normalization agreement. Bassem Naim, a former health minister in the Gaza government who now works in Hamas' international relations office, told Al-Monitor, Hamas follows a consistent policy in its foreign relations. It has not and will not agree to be part of the axes of conflict in the region, and us reaching out to different countries reflects our keenness to seize any opportunity that appears to serve the Palestinian cause. The movement is well aware of the weight of the different countries and their role in helping the Palestinians. This is not about replacing Egypt with Turkey or Qatar, because we realize the importance of the Egyptian role in the region in general and the Palestinian file in particular. Haniyeh had warned in his speech at the Palestinian factions meeting held in Ramallah and Beirut on Sept. 3 that the US Mideast peace plan "aims to build a regional alliance that allows Israel to penetrate the Arab region. In a videoconference on Sept. 13, Mahmoud al-Zahar, a member of Hamas political bureau, called for the formation of an international coalition against the Israeli-US alliance. And in a Sept. 12 press statement, former Minister of Endowments in the Hamas government Ismail Radwan also called for establishing an Arab and Islamic alliance to confront the Zionist-US alliance in the region. Iran has taken strict stances against Gulf normalization with Israel. Hamas representative in Tehran Khaled al-Qaddumi told Al-Monitor, Hamas relationship with different countries depends on those countries [support] for the Palestinian cause, and the movement does not ally itself with one bloc at the expense of another. Rather, it mobilizes its friends and allies to play their role by supporting the Palestinian cause. Whichever country stands beside it as Iran and Turkey do, raises its political standing in the region, and whoever stands in the hostile ranks will be shamed. Qaddumi added, Hamas believes that normalization with Israel will perpetuate its occupation of Palestine. The UAE and Bahrains talk about privileges they obtained from normalization is meaningless, including economic returns, as the trade balance between the UAE and Iran amounts to $13 billion, compared to a few billion with Israel. On Sept. 22, Hamas foreign relations chief Mousa Abu Marzouk noted in a statement to Al Jazeera that the movement's ties with Iran have been normal for a long time, since before the current crises in the region, and the relationship is similar to those with any other country that supports Palestinian rights. Abu Marzouk had previously said on Sept. 7, Turkey has very strong relations with Abbas, Fatah and Hamas, and it now has something to offer in the reconciliation file. Wissam Afifa, director of Al-Aqsa TV in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, The PA is embarking on a new political action to contain this series of normalization moves, especially after losing the shoulder that it had been relying on politically and financially, because it is clear that it has been abandoned and is even being pressured, especially by Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Afifa added, Some PA leaders could see this as Cairo and Riyadh burning the boats. In this case, the PA is taking a major risk by stopping contacts with the Egyptians and increasing them with Turkey and Qatar, and it may have to pay the price for this action later. Despite the Palestinian anger over the recent normalization steps, Hamas may turn out to be the winner as its allies did not budge on their positions against Israel, especially Iran, Qatar and Turkey. Meanwhile, the PA has lost its traditional alliances and Abbas is left alone and isolated. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Yonhap South Korea's internet censorship body on Thursday decided to block public access to a controversial doxing website that discloses personal information of alleged sex offenders and pedophiles over concerns of false accusations. The "Digital Prison" website was created earlier this year after public anger mounted over high-profile sex abuse cases that were not properly dealt with under the current judiciary system. The site came under intense scrutiny after a 20-year-old South Korean university student, whose personal details were made public on the site, was found dead in an apparent suicide earlier this month. "While freedom of expression needs to be fully protected, acts that undermine the legal system should not be allowed," a subcommittee under the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) said in a statement. "Publishing personal information on Digital Prison could lead to double punishment or falsely accused victims." A trio of California lawmakers plans to introduce a bill to ban the controversial fossil fuel drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in an effort to expand the states fight against climate change. State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said hes working with two other legislators on the matter after Gov. Gavin Newsom embraced a plan this week to phase out new fracking. The details are not yet sorted out, but Wiener told The Chronicle he would like to introduce the bill as soon as lawmakers reconvene in December. Ideally, hed like the state to move even faster than the target set by Newsom, who said Wednesday that California should stop issuing new fracking permits by 2024. Wiener wants to ban the practice altogether, as a handful of other states, including New York and Maryland, have done. The sooner the better. Were in a climate emergency, Wiener said. Were approaching the point of no return, and were either serious about saving the planet or were not. We need to move aggressively away from fossil fuels and phase them out entirely. The proposal which Wiener is working on with Assemblyman Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, and Assemblywoman Monique Limon, D-Santa Barbara will focus only on fracking, and would not affect conventional drilling. Fracking, which involves injecting fluid at high pressure into the ground to loosen natural gas or oil deposits, has long been scrutinized by environmentalists for polluting local water sources and emitting greenhouse gases such as methane, which is far more potent than carbon dioxide, though it does not stay in the atmosphere as long. Newsom backed an eventual fracking permit ban in an executive order Wednesday that also pledged to phase out the sale of new gas-powered cars in California over the next 15 years. In the order, Newsom said the state must focus on the impacts of oil extraction and stop authorizing new fracking operations within four years. But the governor said he lacked the authority to take that step himself and instead called on the state Legislature to act. Its not clear if lawmakers have the political support necessary to pass such a measure. Attempts to put a moratorium on fracking have failed in years past, as did a recent bill that would have established buffer space between homes and oil wells. Any bill restricting oil production is a hard bill, Wiener said. This is a hard issue in the Legislature, and I cant predict whats going to happen. What I do know is we have an obligation to our children and our grandchildren to preserve this planet for them. Despite Californias well-established liberal bona fides and aggressive policies about climate change, the petroleum industry remains a powerful force in the state, particularly in Kern County. Dismantling our oil and natural gas industry right now means betting everything on alternative energy resources that we dont have in place and a supporting infrastructure thats far from being at the scale we need, Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president of the Western States Petroleum Association, said in a statement Wednesday. Senate Republican leader Shannon Grove of Bakersfield has already come out forcefully against the governors latest climate change plans, decrying his extremist policies and urging him to keep his focus on wildfire prevention through better forest management instead. Trade unions representing oil industry jobs, such as refinery workers, have also fought recent measures that would have clamped down on fossil fuel production. They are an influential presence at the state Capitol, where organized labor is a key political ally of the Democratic majority. Limon said she and her colleagues will take the coming months to find an approach that would ensure a just transition away from fracking for consumers and workers a necessity to secure the votes of lawmakers who represent communities where there is significant oil production. Perhaps this is a wonderful environmental goal, but if those other elements arent considered, thats going to be hard for them to support, she said. If we are going to move into a world where we see less fossil fuel production, what does that look like? A 2015 state study found that fracking accounted for about 20% of oil and gas production in California. New well stimulation permits immediately dropped after the state began regulating fracking more strictly in 2016, according to Kyle Ferrar, the western program coordinator for the FracTracker Alliance, an anti-fracking group. But permit numbers climbed steadily in recent years until last summer, when the state temporarily stopped issuing new permits while it conducted an audit of its approval process. The moratorium ended in April, and fracking permits were 2% of those issued in the first half of 2020. If we dont stop this potential fracking boom, then thats going to have a detrimental impact on our climate in the long term, Rivas said. He noted that the effects are worse for poor communities of color that are closest to oil fields and refineries: This is an environmental justice issue. If you look at where these productive wells are, there is a disparity in who it impacts. Advocates of tougher climate change policies have criticized Newsom for not doing more to crack down on fracking and other forms of fossil fuel extraction sooner, pointing out that permits have actually increased on his watch. He continued to face some of that criticism after his executive order Wednesday. Alexandra Nagy, California director of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, said in a statement that the order represented infuriatingly more of the same from Newsom: Lofty words and predictions, but no meaningful action. She said the governor must immediately stop permitting new fossil fuel drilling and fracking and implement the buffer zone that lawmakers failed to create. Only this would constitute the type of bold action required to protect Californians and our planet, Nagy said. J.D. Morris and Alexei Koseff are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com, alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris, @akoseff President Xi Jinping talks during a videoconference from Beijing with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday as the international organization celebrates its 75th anniversary. [Photo/Xinhua] Unilateralism and hegemony will lose backing of the people, he tells Guterres China never seeks ideological confrontations or decoupling with other countries, nor does it pursue hegemony, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday in a videoconference with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He pointed out that "what we care about the most is to help the 1.4 billion Chinese people lead a better life and make greater contributions to mankind". However, he added, China also will not tolerate harm to its national sovereignty, national dignity or development, and the country will take a firm stance to safeguard its legitimate interests and safeguard the justice of the world. All countries should go beyond the limitations of nationality, ethnicity, culture and ideology and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, he said. The outbreak of COVID-19 has amplified problems in the global governance system, and all countries should make efforts to improve the system rather than try to destroy it to create another one, Xi said. There is only one system in the world, that is, the international system with the UN at the core, and the set of UN Charter-based norms on international relations is the only set in the world, he said. Noting that COVID-19 is still spreading around the globe, Xi said China would like to share its experience with all countries without any reservation, and will continue to offer support and help to countries that are in need. China firmly supports the UN system, especially the World Health Organization, to play the leading role in strengthening global cooperation and joint prevention, Xi said. Xi reaffirmed his commitment that after the development of a vaccine is completed and it is put into use, China will make it a public good and contribute to its accessibility and affordability in developing countries. The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to the emergence of many new problems, but the fundamental problems are in regard to peace and development issues, Xi said, adding that unilateralism and hegemony will lose the support of the people. All countries should make efforts to minimize the pandemic's impact on the economy and people's lives, mobilize the resources and strength of the whole world, help all nations take practical measures in cutting debt and increasing aid, assist developing countries with development and narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. Guterres said that facing the challenges of COVID-19 and climate change, all countries should uphold multilateralism, strengthen international cooperation and build a stronger UN. He thanked China for the country's firm support for multilateralism and the UN. The UN will fulfill its duty better with China's support, he said, adding that China has played an important role in maintaining global peace and promoting common development. Guterres said he greatly appreciated the measures and proposals announced by Xi at the UN General Assembly to promote multilateralism, deal with climate change and promote sustainable development. The UN supports China in jointly building the Green Silk Road and supports China in deepening cooperation with Africa and developing nations, he said. The UN hopes to enhance cooperation with China and expects China to play a leading role, he said, adding that China has the capacity to achieve its development and make greater contributions to the world. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as Xi's special envoy, will attend on Thursday a UN Security Council conference on safeguarding international peace and security and global governance in the post-COVID-19 era. Wang will attend the meeting via video link, according to the Foreign Ministry. Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State in Hamilton County Schools has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2020 by U. S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. Collegiate High was selected as one of the nations Exemplary High Performing Schools. Collegiate was one of seven schools in Tennessee to earn 2020 National Blue Ribbon status.The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.Now in its 38th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed almost 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools, with some schools winning multiple awards. Schools are eligible for nomination after five years.I am so proud for our students and faculty because they made this honor possible, said Dr. Sonja Rich, principal of Hamilton County Collegiate High. A special thank you to Hamilton County Schools leadership, Chattanooga State Community College, our students, parents, and teachers who push for excellence every day.The Education Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, student subgroup scores and graduation rates: Exemplary High Performing Schools These are among their states highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools These are among their states highest performing in closing achievement gaps between a schools student groups and all students.Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The U.S. Education Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony will be held virtually Nov. 12 and 13. While we regret not having the opportunity to celebrate in person, given the current situation regarding COVID-19, we will celebrate all 317 public and 50 non-public school honorees in the ways that we are able, and they will each receive their plaques and flags via mail. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 12:12:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in's approval rating fell 2.2 percentage points from a week earlier to 44.2 percent this week, a weekly poll showed Thursday. According to the Realmeter survey, the negative assessment on Moon's conduct of state affairs rose 1.6 percentage points to 51.7 percent. Support for Moon's ruling Democratic Party shed 0.6 percentage points over the week to 34.6 percent this week. The main conservative opposition People Power Party garnered 28.2 percent of approval score this week, down 1.1 percentage points from the previous week. The minor center-right People's Party won 6.4 percent of support, trailed by the minor center-left Open Democratic Party with 5.9 percent and the minor progressive Justice Party with 5.3 percent each. The results were based on a survey of 1,507 voters conducted from Monday to Wednesday. It had plus and minus 2.5 percentage points in margin of error with a 95-percent confidence level. Enditem Ernest L. Greer, co-president of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, will speak at the Wiley W. Manuel Bar Associations (WMBA) Legal Fusion 2020: Black Lives Matter event taking place September 24. WMBA, an association of attorneys within the African Diaspora in Sacramento County, California, will host the virtual event as a celebration of Black excellence and a discussion about what Black Lives Matter means in America today. Greer will join an esteemed group of speakers to discuss issues such as: police use of force, COVID-19, diversity, equity and inclusion in law and enterprise, and fostering positive mental health in the Black community. Specifically, he will discuss diversity, equity and inclusion in law, and in business enterprise organizations, as well as some of his personal experiences as a diverse lawyer. In addition, through Greenberg Traurig Sacramento office Of Counsel, Deepi K. Millers involvement, the firm is also providing a sponsorship for a diverse law student in conjunction with the event. As co-president, Greer is one of few African American executives at an Am Law 20 firm. In his role, he has boldly led the effort to create opportunities for diversity at the top. Greer is integrally involved with Greenberg Traurigs Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative, which focuses on nurturing diversity and creating an environment where differences are embraced. He serves as part of the critical force behind many of the firms strategic partnerships that benefit minority attorneys and business professionals. Greer is a highly accomplished business litigation attorney and in addition to his leadership roles in the firm, he has maintained an active legal practice trying cases across the country. He has wide-ranging trial experience representing clients in multimillion-dollar actions in complex commercial litigation. Personally, Greer is passionate about his community and holds several board positions which he uses as a platform to promote diversity, especially at the leadership level, to some of the most influential leaders in the business community. His work and community involvement have been widely recognized. A few of his most recent honors include: JAMES Magazine, recognition as among "Georgia's Most Influential Politically-Connected Attorneys," 2019; Atlanta magazine, on the Atlanta 500 The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Atlanta list, 2019; induction into the Gate City Foundation Hall of Fame, 2018; The Atlantan, Philanthropist of the Year, 2018; and Atlanta Business Chronicle Diversity and Inclusion Awards "Corporate Diversity Champion," 2018. 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 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. A middle-aged man from Ilembo in Katavi Region, western Tanzania killed himself early this week after his wife allegedly deserted him while he was ailing. Edward Chakala committed suicide by hanging, his family claims. In a note that Chakala left behind, he said his wife, Pendo Elia, contributed to his suicidal ideation. The deceaseds sister, Janeth Chakala, told Global Publishers that her brother decided to end his own life after his wife fled her matrimonial home. My brother was seriously ill for months. His wife lost hope in him, and, consequently, fled her marriage. According to the wife, my brother was not in a position to look after her and their children, Janeth said. Most times, my brother would beg his spouse to return home, but she would refuse. The deceaseds mother, Sether Mbogo, said Pendo ran away from home when Chakala was receiving treatment in hospital. The deceaseds wife, however, claims she was given the go-ahead to leave her matrimonial home by her in-laws. In June this year, my in-laws called and asked me to go look after my ailing husband, which I did. One week into my stay, they told me to return to my parents home as they would be taking my spouse to hospital, said Pendo. She says it is unfortunate her partner died while she was away. The deceased, who, in a suicide letter, blamed his wife for his death, was taken to a Katavi region hospital morgue. He is survived by a spouse and four children (three daughters and a son). Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Maharashtra Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday said he has tested positive for coronavirus, and urged all those who came in contact with him to get themselves tested. IMAGE: Maharashtra Urban Development and PWD Minister Eknath Shinde. Photograph: @mieknathshinde/Twitter Shinde attended the state cabinet meeting earlier this week. He is the 13th state minister to be infected by the disease. 'I conducted my COVID-19 test yesterday and have tested positive. Health is fine thanks to the blessings of you all. Requesting all who came in my contact over the past some days to take proper care and get themselves tested,' the minister tweeted. Earlier, state ministers Jitendra Awhad (housing), Ashok Chavan (PWD), Dhananjay Munde (social justice), Sunil Kedar (animal husbandry), Balasaheb Patil (cooperation), Aslam Shaikh (textile), Nitin Raut (energy), Hasan Mushrif (rural development), Varsha Gaikwad (school education) had contracted COVID-19. Abdul Sattar (Minister of State-rural development), Sanjay Bansode (MoS-environment) and Vishwajit Kadam (MoS- cooperation) had also tested positive for COVID-19 in the recent past. New Delhi: India on Thursday slammed Pakistan for raking up the Kashmir matter saying it's "typical of Pakistan" to use multilateral platforms--SAARC and CICA, "to raise bilateral and contentious issues". The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said this is "inconsistent with the principles and charter of such organizations and their meetings" but "what else can be expected of a country that indulges in cross-border terrorism as a part of its state policy". Two meetings of foreign ministers of SAARC and Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures (CICA) were held and at both the meetings Pakistan Foreign Minister raised the Kashmir issue. While at CICA it was direct mentioning, at SAARC it was by diplomatic usage of words by recalling UNSC resolutions. Live TV At SAARC External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar without mentioning Pakistan's name listed out the challenges faced by the region. He listed cross border, obstructionism for connectivity and trade as main challenges for SAARC, in all of which Islamabad has a major role to play. On CICA, MEA in its right of reply said, "Pakistan has misused another forum by continuing its spurious narrative about India" and "the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been and will remain an integral part of India. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on Indias internal affairs". Interestingly, Pakistan also raked Kashmir at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and got a strong rebuttal by India. Vimarsh Aryan, India's First Secretary at the United Nations in Geneva speaking at the council said, "In these extraordinary times of pandemic when everyone is putting on a mask for the safety and protection of fellow human beings, Pakistan, unfortunately, is using another kind of pernicious mask to masquerade as a champion of human rights that it itself violates egregiously by torturing and persecuting minorities." Jamie Gandy, prosecutors said, would then apply for rapid-refund loans, load the money on the NetSpend cards and then both Jamie Gandy and James Gandy would use those cards to spend money for their benefit. James Gandy used that money to buy a deluxe trampoline party for his family in Greensboro and bought an overnight stay at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro. Federal prosecutors said in court papers that the owner of Liberty Tax Services became suspicious of how often James Gandy came up to Lexington to visit his sister and also noticed that Jamie Gandy's lifestyle had changed. "He saw that she was wearing expensive clothes and had bought a new car," federal prosecutors said in court papers. Jamie Gandy claimed the new lifestyle was because her brother's business was successful and her husband was making a good salary working for her brother. But then the owner started getting complaints from customers that they had not received their refund money. Other customers wondered why their tax returns were prepared in Lexington when they lived in Dunn. The corporate office told the owner that there were indications of fraud and that the Liberty Tax Office was using NetSpend cards at an "unusually high rate." Actor Poonam Pandey has broken her silence after filing a police complaint against her husband, film producer Sam Bombay. Poonam, who married Sam two weeks ago in a private ceremony, was on her honeymoon in Goa when she filed a complaint of assault against Sam. Talking about the incident, Poonam told Times of India, Sam and I had an argument, which escalated, and he began hitting me. He choked me and I thought I was going to die. He punched me in my face, pulled me by my hair, and banged my head against the corner of the bed. He knelt on my body, pinned me down and assaulted me. Somehow, I managed to break free and bolted out of the room. The hotel staff called the cops, who took him away. I filed a complaint against him. Poonam said that her relationship with Sam had always been violent but she hoped that getting married would change things. She said Sam would get very possessive about her and lose his temper. She has made the decision not to go back to him. I have been in hospitals on several occasions through the course of our courtship. I put up with the abusive relationship because I believed that we loved each other. I always painted a rosy picture projecting us as a perfect couple. His anger stemmed from his possessiveness and insecurity. We got married hoping that things would get better. Unfortunately, it didnt turn out to be a wise decision. I am the perfect example of love is blind. Poonam on Tuesday filed an FIR against her husband Sam Bombay at South Goas Canacona police station. He was arrested for allegedly molesting, threatening and assaulting her. As per the latest update, a Goa court granted conditional bail to film producer Sam Bombay. Judicial magistrate first class Shanoor Audi granted bail to Sam on Tuesday evening on the surety of Rs 20,000. We might set out a table or two, said Polk. Right before we got shut down in July, most of the time it was pretty quiet, but on that last night, there were enough people already that we couldnt let any more in, because we were already at our capacity. Kabul, Sep 24 (UNI) Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has cautioned against taking 'synthetic steps' against terrorism and stressed the need for addressing its root cause. Addressing the 75th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday night, he said Afghanistan is currently up against the 5th wave of global terrorism in which terrorists are closely linked with global criminal networks which makes ensuring peace even more challenging. "We are living, dying inside the 5th wave of global terrorism in which global terrorist networks are closely linked with global criminal networks, making warfare totally unconventional and peace-building even more of a challenge, violence and warfare have also evolved--an evolution we Afghans have witnessed and suffered in real time," he said. He cautioned against 'synthetic steps' to combat terrorism and stressed the need for addressing its root cause 'We must get to the root of the terrorism blighting our region and address it as the global phenomenon and threat that it is." Mr Ghani made a forceful call for a ceasefire in the country calling it an 'urgent priority.' 'The Afghan people have a clear and urgent priority: a ceasefire. An urgent end to the violence will more than anything else give us a chance to progress". President Ghani pointed out his government's and Afghan society's initiatives towards peace including reaching out to the Taliban for talks. "We have demonstrated the commitment, compassion and courage to take hard decisions to start direct peace talks with the Taliban." Pointing out that the UN's role "is absolutely critical" throughout the peace process and for shared values, he thanked the United Nations for their support so far throughout this arduous process. 'We thank the UN for their call for a global ceasefire." UNI XC RKM RB As farmers in Punjab began their three-day rail roko agitation to protest against the three farm bills, freight movement is likely to be hit largely. Punjab loaded 990 rakes in August and 816 till September 23. The Food Corporation of India is loading over 35 rakes of food grains daily from Punjab, the movement of which is likely to be stalled. Railway authorities said 14 pairs of special trains will remain suspended from September 24 till 26. The decision has been taken keeping in mind the safety of passengers and protection of railway property from any damage, officials said. Among the trains which will remain suspended are Golden Temple Mail (Amritsar-Mumbai Central), Jan Shatabdi Express (Haridwar-Amritsar), New Delhi-Jammu Tawi, Karambhoomi (Amritsar-New Jalpaiguri), Sachkhand Express (Nanded-Amritsar) and Shaheed Express (Amritsar-Jaynagar), officials said. According to the schedule, the Amritsar-Haridwar train will be cancelled from September 25 to 26 and the New Delhi-Jammu Tawi Express from September 24 to 26. The Hazur Saheb Nanded-Amritsar train will not go to Amritsar and end its journey in Old Delhi. Train number 02716 will run from Old Delhi instead of Amritsar on September 25 and 26. The Dhanbad-Ferozepur Cantt train will not go to Ferozepur Cantt and end its journey at Ambala Cantt. Train number 03308 will run from Ambala Cantt from September 24 to 26 instead of Ferozepur Cantt. Farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee have decided to squat on rail tracks near Devidaspur village in Amritsar and Basti Tanka wala in Ferozepur. The Rajya Sabha has passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, 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, in the monsoon session which concluded on September 23. (With agency inputs) Find all of the most important pandemic education news on Educating N.J., a special resource guide created for parents, students and educators. Nine New Jersey public schools have been awarded the national Blue Ribbon designation, one of the highest honors in education. The schools were recognized Thursday by the U.S. Department of Education for high student achievement. The award is based on student growth, statewide assessment performance, graduation rates and student group performance. Schools are honored for either high overall performance or making the most progress toward closing achievement gaps. New Jersey public schools are widely considered among the best in the nation, and these nine schools are exemplars of that level of excellence," said Kevin Dehmer, New Jerseys interim education commissioner. "All of the school administrators, educators, parents, students and others involved with each of these school communities ought to be proud of their accomplishments. Keep up with the latest in N.J. schools coverage. Sign up your email here: This years 367 National Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The New Jersey public schools receiving the 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools designation are: Lillian M. Steen Elementary School, Bogota Henry B. Milnes Elementary School, Fair Lawn Gould School, North Caldwell County Prep High School, Hudson County Schools of Technology Old Turnpike School, Tewksbury Township Clark Mills School, Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Riverview Elementary School, Denville Island Heights Elementary School, Island Heights School No. 5, Linden Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here. Adventures inspired by a toy pirate ship that crossed the Atlantic are continuing with the launch of another Playmobil boat near to where the last one disappeared. Brothers Ollie, 11, and Harry Ferguson, eight, from Aberdeenshire, made headlines when their toy ship travelled more than 3,700 miles to reach the Caribbean after it was launched around 100 miles off the coast of Mauritania in West Africa in 2017. The toy ship, called Adventure, was fitted with a tracker to pinpoint its location and has not been heard of since it was last recorded around 30 miles off Barbados in May 2019. However, a family in Trinidad with three young boys who had heard about the ships journey were inspired to continue the adventure by launching another boat. The Ferguson brothers launched their Playmobil ship Adventure into the sea off Aberdeenshire in 2017 (Family handout/PA) They contacted the Ferguson family, who sent them a spare Playmobil ship they had and chatted with them over video calls to explain how to modify the boat and make it fit to face the open sea. MacNeill Ferguson, father of the two boys, said: We set up video conferencing during lockdown and Ollie and Harry shared their engineering experience from the first boat with the Lewis family. We sent a second Playmobil ship (the same model) out to the Lewis family who then rebuilt Adventure2 in exactly the same way that we had our first version. Keith Lewis, father of Jax, seven, Kai, 10, and Fynn, three, works offshore and launched Adventure2 from the offshore support vessel Normand Installer around 74 miles north of Georgetown, Guyana, late on Wednesday. It is fitted with a tracker donated by the Caribbean Oceanography Aquaculture and Subsea Technology Foundation of which Mr Lewis is a co-founder and director. The boat also carries a message asking anyone who finds it to take a photo, contact the families and launch the vessel back into the sea. Mr Ferguson said his sons are excited the adventure is starting again. He told the PA news agency: Following the original boat was just such a big deal for such a long time and then it just disappeared and they didnt understand why and it felt a little bit flat and they were a bit deflated because we never found the boat. Story continues The longer it has gone, the less likely it is that we are going to find it. The Playmobil ship is expected to float around the Caribbean (Keith Lewis/PA) So they are really pleased someone is doing it with the other boat. It is expected that currents will carry Adventure2 towards Trinidad and then on into the Caribbean Sea and she may then be caught up by the Gulf Stream and could possibly float back across the Atlantic towards the UK. The boats journey can be tracked at https://track-adventure.squarespace.com The Ferguson brothers Playmobil pirate ship has been recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as Most Travelled Toy Ship. The siblings first launched the ship, called Adventure, from Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, in May 2017 and it sailed to Denmark, then on to Sweden and Norway where it was found by nature officials. The toy was then transported more than 3,000 miles south to the Atlantic by Christian Radich, a Norwegian full-rigged ship, which offered to help it on its journey. The Ferguson brothers feature in a book titled Ollie And Harrys Marvellous Adventures, which aims to inspire other children to have adventures. More information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/tdajp/ An 18-year-old man has been arrested for the Leaside shooting that killed 20-year-old Maaz Jogiyat in June, Toronto police said. On the night of June 9, Jogiyat was shot while sitting in a parked car near a skate park at Leonard Linton Park in the area of Leslie St. and Eglinton Ave. E., the news statement read. Investigators said a group of people were sitting inside a parked vehicle when the suspect approached the vehicle and started shooting at them. Jogiyat was rushed to a trauma centre, but later died of his injuries. Another 20-year-old man suffered non-life threatening injuries. Maviya Tahir is being charged with first degree murder. He is scheduled to appear in court, by video, on Sept. 24. Cheyenne Bholla is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: cbholla@thestar.ca Sushant Singh Rajput Death Anniversary: A Timeline of the of events that have transpired so far If public wants I may enter politics: Ex-Bihar DGP Pandey India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Sep 24: Gupteshwar Pandey, the ex-Bihar DGP was among those who publicly came front over the case of death of the actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Pandey's words were visibly against Shiv Sena, the party which got country's flake over the case. On the criticism of him joining politics the ex-DGP on Thursday told it's not acceptable to some. Not joined any party as of now says former Bihar DGP "It'll obviously happen as I've no godfather. I don't have a political background. We used to do farming & rear cattle. I've come from there. It's not acceptable to some". "People are coming to me in large numbers, telling me that if I wish to enter politics then I should contest election from their district. Everyone is very close to me. It'll be a decision by public. If they want me to, then I may enter politics". Earlier 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". Reports say that Pandey is likely to contest the forthcoming Bihar elections from Buxar. He was reportedly assured a ticket by the BJP. Bihar DGP Pandey takes VRS, likely to contest from Buxar Meanwhile after the announcment , Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut lashed out at the BJP for allegedly using the DGP to fulfil its political agenda against Maharashtra in Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News The additional charge of Bihar DGP has been given to DGP, Home Guards, S K Singhal. 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. 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. During the first eight months of this year, nearly 8,000 Tunisians crossed the Mediterranean to Italy, six times as many as last year, according to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, and Tunisians are now by far the largest nationality arriving in Italy. An average of two migrant boats left the coastal town of Zarzis every evening during the summer bound for the Italian island of Lampedusa, local fishermen said. When Houston Walgreens cashier Rita Burns offered her last $20 to pay for a customer's purchase, it was a sacrifice from the heart that reverberated out from her Stella Link store into her community. It was also something of gamble. The money was literally the last $20 in Burns' bank accountenough to cover Rina Liou's items. The two had never met before. "Rina came into the store, and she forgot a wallet," Burns said. "I just said, 'I'll go ahead and pay.' I found the items were on sale. That was a good day!" 'UNCONDITIONAL LOVE': Community gives back to support Houston-area ice cream shop hard-hit by pandemic The act moved Liou, a local Houston realtor who found herself on a tight schedule that day. "When I went into Walgreens, I was in such a time constraint," Liou said. "When I didn't have a wallet, I was trying to figure out a way to pay. I really felt like it was a dead end. When she told me she would pay for me, it was like a bright light that shined upon me. I thought, 'You could actually help me, that would be so amazing.'" Liou accepted the Burns' generosity and returned quickly to pay her back. But Liou wanted to do so much more after that experience. So she decided to give shout to Burns on Nextdoor, and that turned into much more as neighbors inspired by Burns' act organized a fundraiser for the lady they call "Miss Rita." "I wanted to let the whole world know what Rita did for me," Liou said. "It was a true act of kindness. When a stranger who [barely has] $20 dollars in her account is willing to take a financial bet and give over all she had to a complete stranger. This was just amazing. Mind-boggling." Beloved by her customers as a "rock," this act of giving back is something Burns does whenever she has an opportunity, according to the neighbors on Nextdoor. Burns has served as a cashier for Walgreens for 38 years. "I try to treat people the way I want to be treated," Burns said. "I'm just so glad I had enough in my account to help her out. I just did it from the heart. I wanted her to have this. You've got to have faith that it'll work out." The response to the Nextdoor post and all the contributions for Burns has been overwhelming. As of this writing, over $10,000 has been raised for Miss Rita. "When she gives a smile to customers, starts a friendship with a customer, or make them feel better during the day, that's really the most important thing for Rita," Liou said. Burns credits her aunt for teaching her about living in the moment and giving of your heart. "Today, I'm just gonna give my whole heart today at whatever I do. Just give it away," Burns said. Could a fast test at the airport for the coronavirus get travelers around 14-day quarantine requirements such as New Jersey and New Yorks? A test by United Airlines in a state with a similar quarantine requirement could provide the answer. United Airlines became the first U.S. airline to launch a COVID-19 pilot testing program for travelers in Hawaii, which has a 14-day quarantine requirement, similar to New Jerseys. Travelers from 35 states are asked to voluntarily quarantine after arriving in New Jersey. States land on the list if they have a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average. The test program comes as the airline industry is reeling from travel downturns because of COVID-19 concerns, despite assurances of precautions and stepped up cleaning protocols. Testing starts on October 15 and United customers traveling from San Francisco International Airport to Hawaii have the option to take a rapid COVID-19 test at the airport or do a self-collected, mail-in test prior to their trip. The rapid Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test administered by GoHealth Urgent Care and their partner Dignity Health provides results in approximately 15 minutes and will be available to United customers on the same day as their flight departing from SFO. "Due to San Francisco Internationals flight volume to Hawaii and gateway to many international destinations, its the ideal airport to begin COVID-19 customer testing, said Robert Einhorn, a United spokesman. Customer testing will be critical to reopen travel from the U.S. to many international destinations, while increasing domestic travel. Customers also have the option to take a mail-in test, administered by Color. Travelers have to start the testing process at least 10 days prior to their trip and provide their sample within 72 hours of their trip. Travelers receive test results by text and/or email within 24-48 hours. United worked closely with Hawaii officials to ensure that visitors and Hawaiian residents returning home, who test negative by taking either test would not be subjected to the states current 14-day quarantine requirement, airline officials said. Will a similar testing program come to Newark Liberty International Airport, which is a United hub? As we better understand customer testing needs and preferences, our primary goal is to expand our testing program to our hub airports as soon as possible, Einhorn said. We dont have a timeframe for the expansion to EWR or the other hubs just yet, but it is certainly top of mind. The testing program comes as airline travel plummeted and is struggling to recover due to the pandemic. Passenger volume was 86% lower than pandemic levels in July at the Port Authority of New York and New Jerseys metro area airports, after setting record in 2019. Airlines havent seen the rebound that highway ground travels has, despite vigorous campaigns to convince travelers that aircraft and airports have undergone rigorous cleaning and sanitizing procedures. Last week, United announced it will apply Zoono Microbe Shield, an EPA registered antimicrobial coating to its entire mainline and express aircraft fleet before the end of the year. The microbe shield forms a long-lasting bond with surfaces to inhibit the growth of microbes. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Luis Suarez bid farewell to Barcelona on Thursday after sealing a move to Atletico Madrid. The Uruguayan striker spent six years at the Camp Nou and, when asked if he had any regrets, his response brought a smile to his face. To me? Or... [points to Josep Maria Bartomeu who is sitting right next to him and laughs]," Suarez responded. "I believe that I cannot regret anything myself. "I have played with knocks, injuries... but like self-criticism, the errors committed when we were knocked out of the Champions League... it happened to us once, twice, three times..." The Grand Palladium resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, was a swank respite in March for Leigh Anne Belcher and her daughter until they got a call to stop by the front desk about a billing question. Their travel agency, swamped with coronavirus cancellations, had abruptly closed its doors and disconnected its phone lines and refused to pay the hotel for the room even though Belcher had paid the agency in full for the trip. On the spot, Belcher had to come up with thousands of dollars to pay the upscale hotel, which threatened to call authorities and advised the front-gate attendants to make sure no one escaped without paying. When she and her daughter tried to head home to Lexington, Kentucky, they had to shell out more money; their flight had been canceled, and the airline wouldnt allow them to change it since it, too, was booked by Floridas BookIt.com. The coronavirus has exposed a secret underbelly of the travel business. Many travel agencies operate Ponzi-style schemes in which one traveler's deposit pays for a previous traveler's tickets and accommodations, and so on. Everything ran smoothly as long as bookings continued to roll in. The pandemic blurred the muddy line between business ethics and fraud and has led to not just fried nerves but official complaints and legal action. Through public records requests, USA TODAY obtained consumer complaints related to COVID-19 filed with attorneys generals and other agencies in 20 states. Those documents include more than 5,300 travelers, from New Jersey to Texas and Washington state, who struggled to secure refunds for trips interrupted by the coronavirus among the most common complaints lodged. More than 24,000 more have complained to the Federal Trade Commission about travel-related scams, reporting more than $43.5 million in losses far above any other category of coronavirus-related fraud complaints on file with the FTC. Some complaints accuse agencies of exaggerating their own costs, not actively seeking refunds from providers such as airlines and hotels or even receiving refunds that they did not pass on. BookIt and two educational tour companies NAWAS and EF Tours were among the most frequent targets of consumer ire. Story continues How could it happen that I paid for a vacation and the travel agent just decided not to pay the hotel? How was this my problem? Belcher said. I think I went through all the stages of grief in about an hour. It wasnt until we were wheels-up in Santo Domingo that I felt like I could take a breath. And then, the anger set in. Belcher channeled some of that anger into managing a Facebook group, Scammed by BookIt, for people seeking refunds from the company, which has grown to nearly 3,000 members. While the companys website and phone lines are still dead, the group shares tips on how to get credit card companies to cover the charges. More on refunds: I snagged an airline refund amid the pandemic; here's how to get one if you're eligible Representatives from BookIt did not respond to requests for comment. In a written statement provided to a Florida television station in July, the company's interim chief financial officer, Ryan Tennyson, said the company had refunded 70% of its customers. Deposit shell game part of modern travel Travel agents, either online or traditional, often bundle together flights, accommodations and transportation and make money either through commissions or bulk discounts or both. Customer deposits are supposed to be passed on to vendors, hotels and tour operators to hold the reservations. Increasingly, travel experts say companies have lengthened the time between receiving and releasing those funds. The practice can be buried in the fine-print terms of deposit agreements. State laws offer little recourse. Scott Keyes, who runs the website Scotts Cheap Flights, said online travel agencies make their money by making commissions of 20 or 30 percent for those activities and car rentals. They save money by having less customer service, which can be a problem if youre caught in limbo like this. If a catastrophic event happens like a worldwide pandemic, Keyes said, theyre really up a creek. Experts noted that the practice of stockpiling customer deposits, then holding onto them if things go wrong, is the business model for various kinds of travel companies and most airlines. This month, online booking site Expedia was sued by travelers whose class-action lawsuit blames the company for not more aggressively pursuing refunds. After consumer backlash, airline executives followed federal policy and began issuing cash refunds instead of only offering vouchers for travel. Discount brokers that operate as middlemen, which lack the financial backing of major companies, play a particularly precarious role. Some, such as educational tour companies, pay upfront fees for group reservations and say they struggle to get the money back themselves. Charlottesville, Virginia-based WorldStrides, which offered educational travel and group tours, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July. The student travel company said it was negotiating with lenders to reduce more than $750 million in debt. These agencies were operating on the edge of solvency, said John Breyault of the National Consumer League, a nonprofit advocacy group. Suddenly when everything went to hell, everyone goes back to these middlemen, and they dont have the money to cover refunds. Many flights were canceled as the coronavirus raced around the world. Jeff Gayduk, publisher of Leisure Group Travel magazine, said middlemen and tour companies alike are always at the mercy of the end suppliers the airlines, hotels and so on when it comes to issuing refunds. The industry was roaring and had a 10-year run where demand exceeded supply, and people got greedy, Gayduk said. Now suddenly a crowbar has been stuck in the flywheel, and everyone is wrongly holding onto customer deposits. Gayduk said a travel industry colleague had packaged Kentucky Derby experiences before officials reversed course and barred fans from the race Sept. 5. That tour operator cant get back the $300,000 his company spent on ticket deposits, Gayduk said, leaving him to face angry customers who want their money. Help us report on coronavirus scams Are you a government contract officer? A vendor? A purchasing agent in the private sector? Do you know about a scam tied to coronavirus we should know about? Email us at covidscams@usatoday.com. Email Us Cruise companies have a slightly different business model, typically selling trips up to 18 months in advance, with perks such as drink packages and free Internet for those plunking down early deposits. Final payments usually are due 90 to 120 days in advance of sail dates. That cash flow helps keep earlier cruises afloat financially. In the pandemic, maritime attorney Jim Walker, said the companies continue to sell cruises to finance refunds of other recently canceled cruises despite scant evidence most will sail in the near-term. Carnival is essentially running a quasi-Ponzi scheme, Walker said. It is collecting money for new cruises, which will probably not take place, to be used to eventually refund fares which Carnival owes to its customers for the past several months. Carnival spokesman Roger Frizzell called that accusation a ridiculous assertion that could not be further from the truth. In a filing with the Securities Exchange Commission, Carnival executives said about 45% of its customers opted for cruise credits instead of cash refunds. At the end of August, the company reported it held more than $2.4 billion in customer deposits. We have an extremely loyal customer base, Frizzell said, who is anxiously ready to cruise again with our brands, when ready. Cruise refunds elusive: Some cruise customers waited months for refunds Scuttled faith-based trips cause grief Once every 10 years, the villagers of Oberammergau, Germany, perform a Passion play depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Its part of a centuries-old pact with God to protect the town from the bubonic plague. In 2020, a different pandemic forced the production to be postponed and thousands of religious travelers from Wisconsin to Florida were out thousands of dollars. NAWAS, the tour company partnering with their churches, would not release all of their money. Many customers were particularly upset because trusted leaders at their churches and schools had recruited them for the trips. Theyre supposed to be a Christian organization, said one man who has taken nearly a dozen trips with NAWAS over the years. Thats anything but Christian to do that to these people. Most of these people have scraped together their money for years for these tours. The first Oberammergau Passion play was performed in 1634, and productions can run more than five hours. More than 400 consumers complained about NAWAS to the attorney general in Connecticut, where the Christian tour operator is based. The company works through churches to recruit customers for pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Europe and to see the Oberammergau Passion play. When COVID-19 forced the play to pause until 2022, these travelers many elderly and on fixed incomes wanted refunds. They were stunned when the company initially refused. USA TODAY interviewed several of those who filed formal complaints, who agreed to speak only if they could remain anonymous because they settled with the company and signed nondisclosure agreements. Customers told USA TODAY they had spent up to $10,000 on their canceled trips and NAWAS sought to withhold $1,150 per person or to keep their deposits as credits for travel through 2022. Some senior citizens said they were not even sure they would live that long. NAWAS justified keeping their money through a technicality, they said, maintaining that they had violated the original terms of their contracts by canceling the trip themselves. Customers argued that canceled flights and worldwide shutdowns made it impossible to go on vacation as planned, even if they had been willing to forgo the performance. They said we canceled the trip, said Mary Manning of Rockaway, New Jersey. My argument was the whole world was shut down. In relatively good health at 69, Manning opted to roll all of the money over for a future trip to see the Passion play, but she said she would prefer a full refund of her $4,000 in deposits. Jeff Ment, an attorney who represents NAWAS, said unlike cruises or airlines, the tour operator could not provide full refunds because companies further down the supply chain already had been paid. NAWAS, he said, did not have the cash on hand. He cited government red tape in Germany and Italy that made it more difficult to recover refunds from overseas suppliers. Ment said NAWAS ended up giving customers refunds they usually werent entitled to. All told, the company rescheduled, rebooked or partially refunded about 16,000 customers, Ment said. There are no winners in this; NAWAS is not a winner for losing its entire year, he said. NAWAS did the best it could under extremely difficult circumstances. Although it costs tour companies money to coordinate and reserve trips, that didnt justify the amount of funds NAWAS wanted to withhold, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong told USA TODAY. People were not getting their money back, and we were very concerned they were not being treated well, Tong said. We are talking about a lot of seniors and people on fixed incomes, and this is a big expense for them. The company reached an agreement with the attorney general to refund all but $500 per person, an amount negotiated based on an analysis of consumer deposits and business costs. There was one catch: Consumers had to contact NAWAS before Aug. 20 to obtain a refund. Some, who told USA TODAY they were unaware of the settlements, missed the deadline. After reporters questioned the state and company about the situation, they received their refunds. Five-figure student trips only partially refunded EF Educational Tours has partnered with school districts across the nation to organize group tours. When the virus took hold, the company attempted to deny full refunds to parents until attorneys general got involved. Lona Lamar and her partner had planned to head to Spain in June as chaperones for her sons class trip. She spent more than $12,000 on the trip, booked through her sons high school in Missouri. At first, the company offered a voucher for future travel, Lamar said, which she thought made little sense for a school trip. The company then agreed to refund some of her deposit but wanted to keep about $1,000 per traveler $3,000 in all in her case. Lamar filed a complaint with the attorney general in Missouri in April. Because the tour company was based out of Cambridge, the Massachusetts attorney general negotiated a settlement in May that secured more than $1.4 million in partial refunds for nearly 4,200 consumers in the state. EF Tours agreed to roll out those policies for all customers, including Lamar. The company kept $565 per person. That leaves Lamars trio still out more than $1,500 for a trip they never took. I thought it was very predatorial of the company, considering it was a pandemic, she said. From a parents standpoint, you put your trust in them. Its just really disappointing. Company spokesman Adam Bickelman said policies evolved as the extent of the pandemic became clearer. He pointed to global staff overhead and supplier costs to explain why the company could not offer full cash refunds. Bickelman noted that the customer disputes mostly related to EF Educational Tours. The domestic division, EF Explore America, offered different cash refund options because those programs cost less than the overseas excursions. The majority of 2020 tour groups opted to accept vouchers for travel redeemable for another trip through Sept. 30, 2022, Bickelman said. The health and safety of our travelers and staff have been our top priority for more than 55 years, he said. Our singular focus during this time has been to provide our customers with the best and most flexible rebooking and refund options. By the time Carol Petrini reached out to EF Tours in late March to explore her options, trips around the world were being canceled, countries were banning visitors and cruise ships were getting stuck at sea. She had been paying for her tour to France through an installment plan, then up to $3,000 in all. The company wanted to withhold $1,000 for the cancellation, Petrini said. After the settlement with the attorney general in Massachusetts, she got all but about $500 back. She questions the companys justification for keeping any of her money. The company just kept saying over and over that they had already expended money on these trips, Petrini said, but there was no evidence that there were reservations for the airlines or hotels or anything. Investigations, lawsuits and charges pending BookIt was attractive to blue-collar travelers who could slowly fund their dream vacations through a pay delay system. Their angst and anger is palpable on the Facebook group started by Leigh Anne Belcher and in official consumer complaints. I feel so stupid even booking with them. I dont care about my trip getting canceled. I just want my money back, one member of the Facebook group wrote about his monthslong battle with his bank, USAA, to refund his canceled $3,000 trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica. From what I understand, the BookIt business model was to not pay the resorts or airlines until the last moment of the actual trip beginning, even though I paid in full nearly four months in advance, a Wisconsin customer complained to the states attorney general. American Airlines says I should be talking with the travel agency I booked with, not American, Douglas Callies wrote to Wisconsins attorney general about his canceled trip to Cancun, Mexico. (BookIt) never used the money for the stated purpose, but merely pocketed it to (their) personal advantage. Andrea Koos, a spokeswoman for American Airlines, confirmed that the company issued refunds to BookIt.com but halted them once it received a notice from a travel billing clearing house that the agency had shut down. Floridas attorney general says more than 800 people lodged complaints about BookIt, which is based in Panama City Beach. The U.S. Attorney's Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation and police department, which fielded hundreds of complaints from consumers and vendors, collect cases in an online portal to potentially pursue fraud charges. Im not in the travel business, but I just assume when I pay for my vacation, its paid for when I make my purchase, Panama City police Lt. J.R. Talamantez said. Were trying to wrap our head around this business concept and whether it falls into fraud. Its a sad and unfortunate situation. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey filed a civil suit against BookIt in June, alleging unfair and deceptive business practices. BookIt has not responded to the complaint. Wisconsins Mikayla Schmidt and her fiance Jordan Stiefel should have been on their honeymoon in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, this month, all planned through BookIt. They were paying for the $4,100 trip in installments, and their last payment was due in March. Their first clue came when they noticed the last payment had not been debited from their bank account. We had it on a pay delay schedule and we went to check, and the website said everything was canceled, Schmidt said. Schmidt and her fiance joined Belchers Facebook group and filed complaints with state agencies. They disputed the earlier payments with their bank but are short about $900, Schmidt said. When the couple got married, they instead honeymooned in California. 'Tip of the iceberg': Airbnb, VRBO guests fight for refunds after coronavirus cancellations Documents provided by customers to USA TODAY show BookIt contacted partner hotels in March to say it wouldnt make payments for guests, even as some of them arrived. It warned customers then that theyd probably end up paying twice and told them to fight it out with their credit card companies. The resort may be asking to collect the money for your stay directly from you at this time, despite that you have paid in full directly with us, a letter from BookIt.com reads. To get reimbursement, you need to work with your bank directly. A front page of the website instructs customers to contact credit agencies for refunds. Belcher said she developed a guide for disputing charges directly with credit agencies, but members of the Facebook group who booked with debit cards or funds through their credit unions have had more trouble. In a statement to WMBB-TV in Panama City Beach, Tennyson the BookIt executive said the company continues to operate and its 35 remaining staff members, down from 300, were working to refund customers. Federal records show the company took a $1 million to $2 million Payroll Protection Program loan through the Small Business Administration, claiming to have saved 168 jobs. Tennyson's statement said BookIt hopes to resume its activities as a full service travel agency once some semblance of order returns to the international travel industry. Contributing: Mary Claire Molloy and Taylor Killough Nick Penzenstadler and Josh Salman are reporters on the USA TODAY investigations team. Nick can be reached npenz@usatoday.com or @npenzenstadler, or on Signal at (720) 507-5273. Josh can be reached at jsalman@gatehousemedia.com or @joshsalman, or (941) 361-4967. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus travel refund battles expose deposit shell game Barack Obama says ousting Donald Trump is about whether or not our democracy endures (Reuters) 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." Your vote has never mattered more than it does right now. Today is National Voter Registration Day. Go to https://t.co/XdZz4dh82T to register and make a plan to vote. And make sure everybody you know does, too. pic.twitter.com/ItarX1d4zw Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 22, 2020 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!" WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2020 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. The COVID-19 pandemic has seemingly affected everything about life, including elections to the governing boards of local municipal utility districts. Normally an obscure distraction for most residents during the May elections each year, due to the pandemic, candidates for four local MUDs will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. Jim Stinson, general manager of Woodlands Water, said he cannot recall any MUD elections that took place in November in his more than two decade career at the entity formerly called the Woodlands Joint Powers Agency. The staff of Woodlands Water administers the MUD elections each year, accepting candidn ate applications and coordinating with county and state elections offficials. Related: Woodlands election candidate kicked off ballot; second candidate quits Township board race The MUD elections are typically in May with other elections such as school boards and city councils, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the governors proclamation delaying elections until November, this is a unique election cycle for local elections, he stressed. This is a unique situation. The MUD directors will be on the same ballot as all the other elected officials. Municipal utility districts are, Stinson said, one of the most important elections in the state each year, calling the type of governmental body MUDs are the core of American Democracy. These are the only four contested elections. If there are there are the same number of (candidates) for the same number of seats, that is declared uncontested and those candidates (win). In (May) there was only one uncontested election, in MUD 6, and Debra Sargeant was seated there in May, Stinson said. My description of a MUD director (role) is that it is really democracy at its most basic level. The people you are electing truly are your neighbors. They live in your neighborhood. You have direct access to those individuals, the meetings are right here in the neighborhoods. Most of our directors think this is the most basic form of democracy in the entire state of Texas. You are really serving your neighbors. When voters receive mail-in ballots or visit their polling locations this year, Stinson said that candidates for the boards of Montgomery County MUDs 7, 46, 47 and 60. Those four districts had contested races that normally would have been voted on in May, but were postponed due to the state cancellation of the election. MUD directors served only one four-year term. Each MUD board has five members. In MUD 7, three candidates seek two seats: Rhenalea Beck, an incumbent; Stephanie Zertuche, also an incumbent; and challenger Don Sarich. In MUD 46, voters will see three candidates names on the official ballot however one of the trio has announced to officials with Woodlands Water that he has quit the race. Because of a filing requirement to have a name removed from the ballot, Michael Hoberman will be on the ballot, but he has quit the race, Stinson confirmed. He has indicated he is not running. He did not complete the paperwork to remove his name, so his name will appear on the ballot, Stinson said. It is a state requirement (how to withdraw)..it is not just a phone call or a letter, you need to submit an official signed and notarized affidavit. The other two candidates for MUD 46 board are George Newman, an incumbent; and Dedra Ecklund. Voters will choose two candidates in the MUD 46 race. In MUD 47, four candidates compete for three seats. Paul Brown, an incumbent; Laura Norton, an incumbent; challenger Mark Unland; and challenger Cynthia Ullman will be on the ballot for voters. In MUD 60, four candidates had filed for two seats, however one candidate Forest Ralph has officially withdrawn so only three names will appear on the ballot. The three candidates on the ballot in MUD 60 are: Albert Tomchesson, an incumbent; Mike Wise, also an incumbent; and challenger Betty M. Daugherty. The election is Nov. 3, with early voting beginning Oct. 13, and continuing through Oct. 30, with three distinct sessions this year with varying days and times of being open for voters. jeff.forward@chron.com I was surprised. I had no idea that Cuban medical personnel had served in the United States, which hassince the Cuban Revolution of 1959tried to overthrow the government of Cuba. by Vijay Prashad In 2004, Dr. Jose Armando Arronte Villamarin was posted to head a Cuban medical brigade in Namibia. Cuban medical personnel first came to southwest Africa in 1975 alongside Cuban soldiers; the soldiers had arrived there to assist the South West African Peoples Organization (SWAPO) in the fight for the liberation of Namibia from the apartheid South African military. Dr. Arronte Villamarin, a friendly man with a glint in his eye, tells me how much he has enjoyed his work, not only during his time in Namibia, which lasted till 2007, but alsostrikinglyin the United States of America. Cuban healers I was surprised. I had no idea that Cuban medical personnel had served in the United States, which hassince the Cuban Revolution of 1959tried to overthrow the government of Cuba. In 2005, Dr. Arronte Villamarin was in Havana for the annual meeting of the chiefs of Cubas medical brigades. That was when Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans, destroying the city and putting the entire southern half of Louisiana and other parts of the Gulf Coast in serious peril. Cuba offered to send its medical teams to assist their neighbors to the north. But U.S. President George W. Bush refused. Cubas Fidel Castro encouraged the formation of the Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade. Dr. Arronte Villamarins medical team in Namibia became part of this new brigade. If Bush said not to come to the United States, then how did Dr. Arronte Villamarin find himself there? In 2017, due to the initiative of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus, members of the Henry Reeve brigadeincluding Dr. Arronte Villamarincame to Chicago to study and treat high rates of infant mortality. The infant mortality rate among African American mothers in the United States in 2018 was 11.7 per 1,000 live births, while it was 6 per 1,000 for white mothers; in Cuba, the infant mortality rate in 2019 was 5.1 per 1,000 live births. Dr. Arronte Villamarin tells me he was shocked by what he saw. He and his colleagues tried to do the very best that they could, but they were only in Chicago for five months. It was just not enough time to make a difference. Almost Totally Isolated The United States government has continued attacking Cuban medical internationalism right up to the current pandemic, making wild allegations against the program that disparage the medical workers. Paul Hare, a former British ambassador to Cuba who teaches in the United States, told Reuters recently that the U.S. is almost totally isolated when it comes to its Cuban policy. Each year since 1992, the UN General Assembly votes to end the U.S.-imposed embargo on the island. In 2019, 187 countries said the embargo must end, while the U.S. stood with two of its closest allies (Brazil and Israel); Ambassador Hares phrasealmost totally isolatedis an understatement. Dr. Daymarelis Ortega Rodriguez, the chief of the Henry Reeve brigade in Barbados, told me that her work in the brigade gives her immense pride. I enlisted to be part of this brigade by my own will, she said, not as a slave or exploited person. I am a fighter for life, for peace, and for human welfare. Dr. Ortega Rodriguez, whose face lights up with a smile as she talks, is responding to one of the most bizarre accusations: that the Cuban government treats its doctors like slaves. In June 2019, for instance, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio called Cuban medical internationalism modern-day slavery. Rubio, along with Senators Ted Cruz and Rick Scott, introduced the Cut Profits to the Cuban Regime Act of 2020, which would target countries that take assistance from the Cuban doctors. The Health Minister of Barbados, Jeffrey Bostic, responded sharply: Barbados is a sovereign country and we make decisions in the interest of the country just like other countries large and small. We have engaged the nurses from Cuba and we are not going to buckle under the pressure of any other nation. Commitments to Health Dr. Ortega Rodriguez is sitting on a couch in Barbados, alongside Nurse Yandy Perez, who is part of her brigade. They are sharing a phone, telling me about what they are doing in Barbados and what they had done beforehand. Both Dr. Ortega Rodriguez and Nurse Perez are in the midst of the fight against COVID-19. Nurse Perez had been in Vietnam, while Dr. Ortega Rodriguez had spent time in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and in Antigua. Nurse Perez says that he has not worked in Vietnam and in Barbados for any personal gain. Why do you spend years outside Cuba? I asked them. We do it out of conviction, said Nurse Perez, out of solidarity. We do it from the heart. Dr. Jany Cabrera Paumier has been a physician since 2012 and an internist since 2016. She is talking to me from Belize, where she is on her first medical internationalist mission. Dr. Cabrera Paumier has a four-year-old daughter, who lives in Santiago de Cuba; her voice breaks as she says that it will be her daughters birthday in a few days. I decided that I wanted to be part of this brigade and its honorable work for the world, Dr. Cabrera Paumier told me. Believe me, my choice could not make me prouder to be Cuban. This year, the Henry Reeve brigade celebrates 15 years of work, although Cuban medical internationalism goes back to 1960. I have interacted with doctors like Dr. Arronte Villamarin and Dr. Cabrera Paumier over the years and have been overwhelmed by their commitment to health and love, to human possibility. But it is important to remember that they are also human beings, people with lives that are folded into their internationalism. Dr. Cabrera Paumiers daughter is proud of her mother. So is Dr. Ortega Rodriguezs son, who plays the trombone in the Havana theater. So are Dr. Arronte Villamarins children, a son who is a dental surgeon and a daughter who is in medical school; they follow in their fathers footsteps. It is not easy to be away from their families, but each of these medical workers thinks that it is worthwhile. I came to Belize to help people to do the best for their own country, Dr. Cabrera Paumier told me. On September 26, these Cuban doctors join Danny Glover and Vijay Prashad to talk about the campaign for the Cuban doctors to win the Nobel Peace Prize. This article was produced by Globetrotter , a project of the Independent Media Institute. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. Breonna Taylor, 26, was shot and killed by police in her Louisville, Kentucky apartment earlier this year after officers attempted to execute a warrant in a failed drug raid. Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison (Courtesy Shelby County Detention Center via Getty Images) Today, one of the officers involved in that raid was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree -- but those charges were not for endangering Taylor's life. Rather, they were handed down in response to the detective's shooting into an adjacent apartment. That detective, Brett Hankison, was fired in June. Two other officers at that raid will face no charges, including the officer who the FBI identified as having fired the shots that killed Taylor. In Los Angeles, social justice activists are protesting the grand jury's decision. Our newsroom's local news and culture show Take Two reached out to Jody Armour, a professor of law at the University of Southern California. Take Two host A Martinez asked Armour to explain the legal issues in play -- many of the same issues under scrutiny in Los Angeles as civil rights advocates question why police officers are almost never charged in shootings. A Martinez: What does the charge of wanton endangerment actually mean? Jody Armour: It means you're not guilty or accused of causing any forbidden result, causing a death. You're just accused of generating excessive risks. You were wanton in your disregard of the risk of death or serious bodily injury that you were generating, but we're not saying that those risks resulted in any death. Otherwise, we'd be charging you for that forbidden result, that death. So this is a felony, but it is a low-grade felony. Maximum five years. Oftentimes, people get probation for this, and you get an opportunity to walk out of the court. So this is completely different than, say, negligent homicide. It's very different than negligent homicide because there, you have a result. You have a death, and then you have a negligent causing of that death. This would be more like driving up Figueroa at 85 miles an hour during lunch time. That'd be wanton endangerment. A lot of people are not happy with just these charges. And people in general, as history has shown us, do not want to charge police officers. So is it possible that a lesser charge in this case was sought because there's a greater chance for a conviction? A sign memorializing Breonna Taylor is photographed on streets is closed in downtown Louisville, Kentucky on September 23, ahead of anticpated protests. (Jeff Dean/AFP via Getty Images) Yeah, the reality is -- and this is a bitter truth to confront, here -- that if a trial jury was looking at these facts, and the law as it now stands told them that as long as the officers reasonably believed they faced imminent death or threat of imminent death, they can return fire. When the boyfriend shot one of their partners in the leg, they could say, Well, there was a shot. We shot back. We acted reasonably at that moment, given that instant. Now, if you back up though and say, Well, what did you do to stage that moment? Did you negligently create that moment? Was it foreseeable when you kicked in a door in the middle of the night without announcing yourself that somebody inside could think that an intruder was threatening them and shoot to prevent the intruder from harming them? If that was foreseeable, and now you're using that foreseeable act by that shooter to justify your shooting back, well, maybe something's wrong with the initial decision to kick in the door with a no-knock in the first place, especially when we're talking about drug offenses. I think the real tragedy that Breonna Taylor's case points out is not the racism just within the encounter, but that we will have no-knock raids, forced entry raids to enforce drug laws. That's the deeply racist part of this, I think, and what we shouldn't lose sight of. NOTE: The officers had been issued a "no-knock" warrant, but in announcing the charges, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said "evidence shows that officers both knocked and announced their presence at the apartment." He cited the officers' statements and one additional witness. Cameron said there is no video or body camera footage of the officers executing the search warrant. Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired first as the officers entered the apartment. He has said he never heard a knock or the police announce themselves. The Louisville City Council banned no-knock warrants after Taylor was killed. I'm wondering if maybe releasing the evidence or some of the evidence for public review could help explain things better ... or help ease how people are feeling right now. It always helps. The transparency always helps ... so more transparency is better. But at the end of the day, I think what you're really going to be looking at is a policy decision. We made a policy decision that forced entry raids for drug offenses are OK in the middle of the night. This could have been five or six years ago for a bag of pot for a joint, right? And so hopefully this shines a light on that policy decision that we have to address. The thing is, though, Breonna Taylor is dead. Yet there is no charge that takes into account the fact that the actions of police wound up killing her. So, what does that make her death in this case? Just collateral damage? That's it. It makes it the price that many of us in society are willing to pay for a failed drug war. You should think that people on both sides of the aisle would be in agreement on this one proposition: The state shouldn't be able to kick in your door of your home in the middle of the night and shoot you in bed without legal consequence, over drugs -- over a failed drug war. In spite of, I think, the room for both the left and right sides of the aisle seeing agreement on this kind of case, I think you're still going to see a partisan split on this issue. So even though an officer was indicted in the bigger picture, can this be called almost a non-indictment? Yeah, it's a sop that is being thrown to protesters in a way, saying we're going to pick out one officer, not even one who's accused of causing her death, and give him a charge that's low-level; even if he's found guilty of it, he's looking at probation, probably. And it will pacify you. And I don't think it will have the desired effect. Officer [Myles] Cosgrove was not the one that was charged, but it's been determined that he fired the shot that killed Breonna Taylor. I'm just thinking about Taylor's family, because they've got to be feeling pretty empty right now with seemingly no closure in sight on her death. Down the road, could charges be filed against him? Probably not. You know, the vindication they're going to find from the criminal justice system is just not there. And in many cases of violent death, you don't really find vindication in the criminal justice system. That's why people are moving toward restorative justice models and the like. They did get a [$12 million] civil judgment against the offending police, and there's some minor satisfaction in that, but it is not going to come close to fully vindicating Breonna's life, of course. We need still, at this moment, to find other ways to vindicate victims' lives than just being punitive as possible toward their victimizers. At this moment, when we're trying to decarcerate, make deep cuts in mass incarceration, most of the people in jails are disproportionately Black, and they're there for violent offenses. So we have to change the moral framework and this may challenge us, in a case like this. I know there are a lot of people that are not happy about these charges, but can we step back at all and see that change has happened or is happening? Because a few years ago, this officer might not have faced any charges. Yeah, you know, the marches in the streets, the protests matter. They moved the needle. They've raised awareness. Now, the question is how much can be done with that awareness. We saw that while they were in the streets -- the streets of L.A. were roiling with them -- the legislature in California promised a suite of big criminal justice reforms. When they were no longer in the streets, they just kind of let most of those reforms die without being addressed. So it looks like the lawmakers' feet have to be held to the fire by a lot of constant protesting. But that protesting does definitely move the needle. Greek philosopher Aristotle is credited with saying, 'The law is reason, free from passion.' Considering everything that's happened in the last few months, does this spirit of that statement still hold up? Sadly, no. And I'm a law professor. I teach students to respect the rule of law, and I believe in the rule of law in many ways. But I also recognize there are limits on that belief. And when we see that sometimes the law provides vehicles for ordinary stereotypes and prejudices to come through the jury box and decide cases, we really see that maybe justice is not colorblind. Maybe the rule of law is a little more challenged and fragile than we think. (Note: This interview has been edited for clarity.) Leo Duran and Darby Maloney, who work on our newsroom's local news and culture show Take Two produced this segment for the radio. LAist producer Jessica P. Ogilvie edited the transcript. WE LOVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS The United States has now surpassed the horrific milestone of 200,000 official deaths from the coronavirus, more than the total number of Americans who were killed in World War I, Korea and Vietnam combined. The actual toll, measured by excess deaths over the average in previous years, has surpassed a quarter of a million. Worldwide, the number killed, based on reported figures, will surpass one million before the end of the month. In the face of this horrifying toll on human life, US President Donald Trump declared on Monday that the virus affects virtually nobody. At a campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio he stated, It [the coronavirus] affects elderly people, elderly people with heart problems and other problems. If they have other problems. Thats what it really affects. Thats it. Below the age of 18, like, nobody. They have a strong immune system, who knows? You look. ... Take your hat off to the young, because they have a hell of an immune system. But it affects virtually nobody. It's an amazing thing. Trump concluded his statement with the demand that schools be reopened, Open your schools. Everybody, open your schools. As a factual matter, Trumps claim that the pandemic affects only elderly people is blatantly false. As he himself acknowledged in March, in one of the recordings released by Bob Woodward earlier this month, Now its turning out its not just old people affected by the virus. Twenty percent of those who have been killed in the US, or more than 40,000 people, were under the age of 65. The longterm impact and adverse health consequences for those who contract the virus and live remain unknown. Moreover, with the death toll expected to rise as high as 400,000 by the end of the year, the pandemic will affect virtually everyone, in the form of the death or serious illness of a family member, friend, teacher or coworker. Even for Trump, from whom one expects almost anything, there is something chilling in the indifference with which he speaks about the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. However, to view this in individual terms, an expression of the particular sociopathic personality of the present occupant of the White House, would miss the essential significance. Trump is speaking not just for himself but for a class. The willingness to accept mass casualties, particularly among the elderly, has an underlying socio-economic foundation. In his evocative Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844, Marx, writing at the very dawn of industrial capitalism, explained that the attitude of the capitalist to the life of the worker is entirely conditioned by his or her ability to produce profit, that is, to work. As soon as he is removed from this process of labor and surplus value production, Marx wrote, the worker Has no work, hence no wages, and since he has no existence as a human being but only as a worker, he can go and bury himself, starve to death, etc. In relation to capitalist economy, the workers needs are but the one needto maintain him whilst he is working and insofar as may be necessary to prevent the race of laborers from [dying] out. (From Antithesis of Capital and Labor: Landed Property and Capital) This theoretical insight acquires, more than 175 years later, an astonishing reality. The worker who is no longer able to work is, from the standpoint of the ruling class, less than useless. Not only is he or she not producing profit, but the resources devoted to health care for the elderly are a drain on what could otherwise be spent propping up the markets or financing the war machine. These considerations have animated the response of the ruling class to the pandemic. The implications of the attitude toward the massive loss of life are chilling. It was, after all, the Nazis who initiated the practice of medical euthanasia, justified with the concept of life unworthy of life (lebensunwertes Leben)that is, segments of the population that had no right to live and whose killing was a positive good. To be blunt, from the standpoint of the ruling class, the disproportionate impact of the virus on the elderly and infirm has always been seen as a benefit. Before the pandemic emerged, countless reports from ruling class thinktanks noted the growing costs of health care due to rising life expectancy and the fact that workers are living years and often decades after they retire. They warned about the impact on government finances and military spending. Governments throughout the world have displayed a criminal level of indifference toward the fate of the elderly from the coronavirus. Last month, the New York Times published an expose of the response of Belgium, which has one of the highest per capita death rates for any country, finding that hospitals actually turned away the elderly, even though hospitals never filled to capacity. Nearly 6,000 nursing home residents have died in the country. In Sweden, which pioneered the strategy of herd immunity, supposedly to focus on protecting the elderly, the victims have nevertheless been concentrated in nursing homes, particularly in Stockholm. The countrys minister of health and social affairs, Lena Hallengren, was forced to concede by the end of April, We failed to protect our elderly. Thats really serious and a failure for society as a whole. In the UK, where cases are expected to rise to 50,000 per day as a product of the herd immunity policies implemented by the Johnson government, the Queens Nursing Institute documented the horrific toll on nursing homes in the months of April and May. A report in the Independent in August noted that nursing homes were put under constant pressure to accept patients with coronavirus while being regularly refused treatment from hospitals and [general practitioners] for residents who became ill at the height of the Covid crisis. In the United States, while Trump is spearheading the murderous policy of herd immunity, it has the support of the entire political establishment, from the Democrats and the New York Times (whose columnist Thomas Friedman introduced the phrase, The cure cant be worse than the disease), to Jacobin magazine, affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, which aligned itself with Trumps policy in an article published over the weekend. The corollary to the policy of herd immunity is the imperative to normalize death on a massive scale. In March, the World Socialist Web Site defined the response of the ruling class to the pandemic as one of malign neglectthat is, the deliberate decision to minimize the governments response to the virus in order to allow for its widespread transmission. Over the past six months, this policy has developed into something even more sinister, what might be termed social euthanasia. The pandemic may be biological in origin, but the response by governments is driven by social interests and political imperatives. The initial downplaying of the danger, the utilization of the pandemic to organize a massive transfer of wealth to the rich, the drive to return workers to the factories, the reopening of schools and the whole policy of herd immunity all are the product not simply of Trump but of the capitalist system. Workers are beginning to fight back. Rank-and-file safety committees of teachers, autoworkers and other sections of the working class are being formed in the United States and internationally. A mood of anger and rebellion has animated mass demonstrations against police violence. The broad mass of the population is moving to the left. What the ruling class is doing has not gone unnoticed. It comes down to this: The working class is fighting for life, and the ruling class stands for death. To the ruling class policy of social euthanasia, the working class must and will respond with socialist revolution. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The first Michigan person to be diagnosed with eastern equine encephalitis in 2020 is about to be released from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Jeff Westcott, 58, of Barry County, is expected to leave the hospital Friday, Sept. 25. Westcott began having intense headaches in late August, followed by difficulty speaking. He went into the hospital and, according to a Mary Free Bed spokesperson, was in a coma at one point. He was transferred to Mary Free Bed on Sept. 12 for rehabilitation. Westcotts wife, in a statement released through the hospital, said her husband has a ways to go to reach full recovery. But she said his stamina has improved greatly since he first came to the hospital. More from MLive State confirms first human case of mosquito-borne EEE First potential human case of mosquito-borne EEE detected in Michigan Sberbanks offerings include SmartMarket platform, on the lines of Apples AppStore and Google Play; virtual assistant Salute; TV streaming device SberBox; and SberPortal, Russias first multimedia smart display device that will go on sale in late 2020, and SberPrime subscriptions for films, TV series and songs in addition to grocery delivery service, like Amazon. (Wikimedia Commons - Sberbank Europe AG) New Delhi/ Moscow: Russias biggest bank Sberbank on Thursday announced a major makeover to transform itself into a technology giant with the launch of a host of products and services in the digital space which will be first rolled out in its home market and taken abroad later, including to India. However, the expansion would depend on the success of the new offerings in Russia and on regulatory and other compliance requirements in foreign countries. The new offerings announced by Sberbank include SmartMarket platform, which will be available for external partners for creating apps on the lines of Apples AppStore and Google Play; virtual assistant Salute; TV streaming device SberBox; and SberPortal, Russias first multimedia smart display device that will go on sale in late 2020. It also launched SberPrime that will offer subscriptions for films, TV series and songs in addition to grocery delivery service. Similar services are offered in various countries by global tech giant Amazon. The 179-year-old bank, which commands a market valuation of USD 67 billion and is majority-owned by the Russian government, is present in 17 other countries, including in India through branches, subsidiary banks and representative offices. It has nearly 30 lakh customers outside Russia and its stated business goal is to make Sberbank one of the best finance and technology companies in the world. Its customer base in Russia is almost 10 crore. Sbers financial services for individuals will now be united under the SberBank brand, while it will work with small businesses and self-employed under the SberBusiness brand. Professional solutions for corporations and the public sector have been united under the SberPro brand, while the SberInvestments brand would include all retail investment products. The main brand of the group would change to Sber which it said reflects a whole universe of services for human life and businesses, which helps us accomplish our mission. Only yesterday Sber was just a bank, while today we are becoming an assistant helping people deal with their vital tasks, every day. And that is why our widely known motto Sber. Always there for you! is relevant more than ever, it said announcing the new brand. Underlining the need for the transformation, Sberbank said, To stay close and useful, we need to do more than just respond to peoples current needs. We want to go where new needs arise. So that something that is not obvious today could become a daily habit tomorrow. And that is why we are entering new industries. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. In the Jewish tradition, burials usually take place within 24 hours of death. But Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Sept. 18, was lying in state nearly a week later Thursday at the Supreme Court where she served as justice for 27 years, and Friday at the U.S. Capitol. Even though it generally goes against Jewish tradition, the fact that Americans will have a chance to pause in front and say thank you to her shows the depth of her legacy, said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. While politicians heatedly debate over replacing Ginsburg on the court, others are reflecting on how she advocated for womens rights and how she tried to reach just decisions as a jurist, all informed by her Jewish upbringing. The Torah, the Jewish holy scripture, stresses the pursuit of justice where the outcome and the means to it are just, Cooper said, and those beliefs were part of Ginsburgs Jewish spiritual DNA. She lived and upheld the highest standards for a public servant, he said, for a judge, for an American, and we can say here also, with pride, for someone who is Jewish. Ginsburg, born in 1933, spoke publicly about her religious foundations growing up during the Holocaust and before bat mitzvahs coming-of-age ceremonies for girls comparable to bar mitzvahs for boys were commonplace. A formative moment came at age 17 when her mother died and women could not be part of the minyan, the quorum of 10 Jewish adults for the prayer service for the dead. Ginsburg went to Harvard Law School in 1956, a time when there were few women at the institution and Jews faced discrimination. She later transferred to Columbia and graduated at the top of her class. During a 2017 Rosh Hashana visit to a historic synagogue in Washington, Ginsburg told worshippers she believed being Jewish helped her empathize with other minority groups. She noted that she and other Jewish justices who have served on the court have held some similar views, something she linked to their shared heritage. The Jewish religion is an ethical religion. That is, we are taught to do right, to love mercy, do justice, not because theres gonna be any reward in heaven or punishment in hell, Ginsburg told the audience. We live righteously because thats how people should live and not anticipating any award in the hereafter. During the visit she also recounted what she called the Great Yom Kippur controversy of 1995, when then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist scheduled arguments on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Ginsburg and Justice Stephen Breyer pointed out that doing so forced Jewish lawyers to decide between their court appearances and their religion, and Rehnquist cancelled the arguments. While visiting Israel in 2018 to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Genesis Prize Foundation, a prominent Jewish organization, Ginsburg said she was driven by the Jewish values of pursuing justice and the concept of tikkun olam, or repairing the world. I am a judge, born, raised and proud of being a Jew. The demand for justice, for peace, for enlightenment runs through the entirety of Jewish history and Jewish tradition, she said at the award ceremony. I hope, in all the years I have the good fortune to continue serving on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States, I will have the strength and courage to remain steadfast in the service of that demand. Ginsburg understood what it meant for people to be excluded and othered and fought against that, said Sheila Katz, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women. It is because of Justice Ginsburg that today women have the equal protection of the law and that ideas that seemed radical are common sense because of her, Katz said. I believe that her Jewish identity played a critical role in her values and in the way she went about being a judge. ... She has said that. But Ginsburgs focus extended beyond Jewish women, Katz noted: She operated on the bench to make things better for everyone, and thats what her legacy is. Farhana Khera, executive director of the civil rights organization Muslim Advocates, said in a statement that Ginsburg was a tireless defender of our nations promise of freedom, justice and equality for all truly all. So much of what I do as a civil rights advocate, an attorney, a woman, a Muslim and as an American is possible because of what she accomplished. Speaking at Ginsburgs memorial service Wednesday, Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt, of the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C., said, the Torah is relentless in reminding and instructing and commanding that we never forget those who live in the shadows. She said that concept is written into the U.S. Constitution and Ginsburg insisted the document deliver on that promise. Ginsburg, Hotzblatt said, carried out that work in every chapter of her life. Rabbi Sam Levine of the East Midwood Jewish Center in Brooklyn, New York, Ginsburgs childhood congregation, said there is a clear link between Jewish teachings and how Ginsburg lived. There really is a direct correlation between what we teach, what we think about, what we study as a community and the life that she lived, he said. Justice, compassion, fairness .... these are things that we talk about literally on a weekly basis in our synagogue, he said. She lived those values and she brought the force of her convictions to bear on the entire nation, and I just dont think that can be underestimated and understated. __ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content. 21 Large-scale Floods in China; Explosion News Removed; Chinese Regime Tightens Economy Control Heavy rainfall continues in parts of China, and on September 22 water levels on the Songhua River in Harbin rose to its warning level. New flood alerts were issued by the Ministry of Water Resources, which warned of coming floods on the Jinsha River in Yunnan, Yuanjiang River, Duliu River in Guizhou, Hongshui River and Youjiang River in Guangxi. It also noted that some small and medium sized rivers in China are expected to have a super-alarm level of floods. Meanwhile, in Suzhou, a major city in Jiangsu Province of East China, a large explosion was caused by a suspected natural gas leak. A notice about the explosion was deleted from Chinese internet soon after it was published. A local gas company issued the statement in the early morning of September 23, and said the explosion was caused by a pipe leak. It also stated the incident was still under investigation. As we recently reported, its now been exposed that the Chinese Communist Party has built a database that includes profiles of people outside China, including in the United States, Australia, and Canada. The profiles allegedly include politicians, businessmen, academics, and others that Chinese authorities may be interested in targeting. This verifies an exclusive story published in The Epoch Times back in 2016, which exposed a database China had built on Americans. To learn more about this we speak with Casey Fleming, CEO of BlackOps Partners Corp, an intelligence and security strategy firm. 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 As part of an ongoing federal corruption investigation ranging from Chicago City Hall to the Illinois Capitol in Springfield, ComEd in July admitted in a deferred prosecution agreement with U.S. Attorney John Lauschs office that it offered jobs, contracts and payments to Madigan allies in the hopes of winning support for favorable legislation. The utility agreed to pay a $200 million fine and cooperate in the probe. The latest development in Trump's battle to limit the political influence of illegal aliens occurred on Sept 10, in a federal court in New York. The judges declared illegal his memorandum directing the Census Bureau to provide him with information necessary to exclude illegals from being counted for the purpose of re-allocating congressional seats after the 2020 Census. If the opinion stands, then states such as California and New York, which encourage illegal immigration and sabotage federal enforcement efforts, will be rewarded with additional representatives at the expense of other parts of the nation. Whether the opinion will stand is up for grabs. It was immediately appealed to the Supreme Court by the administration, with a request for expedited proceedings to settle the matter before the end of this year. For the Court to fail to address the matter would be unthinkable. However, it could rule that the plaintiff states did not have standing to sue, which would let the administration go forward, subject to litigation over the result in 2021. The basic issues revolve around complicated questions of constitutional interpretetion, and have been addressed in prior AT articles: Roll Tide: Alabama versus the Census Trump and Barr counter-punch on the Census and illegal aliens Illegal aliens and the Census: Trump drops the other shoe The New York opinion avoids discussing these constitutional issues. It focuses on the terms of the Census statutes and then relies on obscure legislative statements and later administrative pronouncements for the proposition (true) that illegal aliens were included in the enumeration in past censuses. As a result, it decrees: "The merits of the parties' dispute are not particularly close or complicated" (p.6). This view that the merits are simple is astonishing. To get to its result, the court had to ignore three principles basic to prudent jurisprudence: First, if the terms of a statute are cribbed from the Constitution, one cannot ignore 150 years of constitutional history in interpreting the statute. Second, casual decades-old comments by legislators or administrators talking about a question that was not important at the moment cannot bind responsible officials later in time who are trying to deal with a problem that has become acute. Third, a principle of statutory interpretation is the Rule of Absurdity: if the literal language of a law leads to an absurd result, a judge can adopt an interpretation that avoids it. Within the legal academy, a dispute exists over whether a judge is permitted to wiggle out of the plain requirements of the text, but that is not a problem in the Census case. Here, the words of the law (and the underlying Constitution) do not compel absurdity; it is the judges who, by ignoring the constitutional history, are insisting on it. The absurdity is obvious. Under the New York opinion, a 10-million-man Canadian army that occupied Montana, with intent to remain, would be entitled to 13 seats in the U.S. Congress. (Roughly, a state gets a seat for every 750,000 inhabitants.) In the alternative, Montana could invite 10 million Canadians to ignore U.S. immigration law and move in and then claim an extra 13 seats. Other states could then retaliate with their own open borders policies ("I'll see your 10 million Canadians and raise you 5 million Venezuelans"). The Montana example seems less ridiculous if one replaces "Montana" with "California." No one knows how many aliens are in the U.S. illegally, but a common estimate is about 10.5 million, with 3 million of them in California (worth four seats) and 1.6 million in Texas (two seats). But it could be many more. The common estimate is based on surveys, and an alternative approach based on demographic modeling put the number as between 16.5 million and 29.5 million, with a point estimate of 22 million. For good measure, the New York court enjoined the secretary of commerce from providing the president with any information he could use to determine the numbers and distribution of illegal aliens and has not, so far, stayed the implementation of this order. The Census deadlines are tight, so if the injunction remains in effect through the end of the year, it will be impossible to change the enumeration. The administration has also asked the Supreme Court to issue a stay, and, clearly, the injunction should not be allowed to stand. Beyond that, the best result might well be a SCOTUS decision that the matter is not yet ripe for decision and that the administration should proceed, with judicial review occurring next year, when the matter is finalized. Many states and groups have a stake here, and slam-bang litigation under tight deadlines is not a good idea. If the Court does get to the merits, either now or later I agree with the New York judges that the merits are not close, but on the other side. Of course illegal aliens should not be counted in allocating congressional seats, or in allocating state legislative seats. Most all citizens would agree, as noted by legal guru Manhattan Contrarian in discussing Trump's directive: Cue the usual outrage on the left. ... I suspect your reaction might be something different, like: What? Are you telling me that up until now they have been counting illegal aliens in the census for purposes of apportioning representation in Congress? How can that possibly be right? Do illegal aliens get representation in Congress even though they not only cannot vote, but also are not even here legally and are subject to deportation at any time? It is time to apply the Rule of Absurdity. If an outcome is too crazy to contemplate seriously, then don't. In the words of Justice Robert Jackson: Statements by the United States and European Union crossed a Rubicon of sorts on September 23 by explicitly rejecting Alyaksandr Lukashenka's makeshift "inauguration" for a new term as the president of Belarus. "The United States cannot consider Alyaksandr Lukashenka the legitimately elected leader of Belarus," a State Department spokesperson said. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said the August 9 election and "the new mandate claimed by [Lukashenka] lack any democratic legitimacy." Both called for new, "free and fair" Belarusian elections -- in the U.S. case following a "national dialogue" and the EU under the "supervision" of a European rights- and democracy-promotion body. They appeared to lend support to the warning weeks earlier from exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya. She had told representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) that "countries and parties that make deals with Mr. Lukashenka do so at their own risk." Such outsiders, Tsikhanouskaya warned, should not expect a subsequent, democratically elected government to uphold agreements "made against [Belarusians'] will by an illegitimate regime." But what practical effect are those U.S. and EU declarations likely to have on mutual relations? Changing Trajectory? The dialogue between Washington and Minsk before last month's disputed election was arguably more robust than it had been in decades. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip to Belarus in early February was the most senior U.S. visit in two decades and came with relations fraying between Lukashenka and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Much of the public focus was on Belarusian "sovereignty," energy supplies, and the stated U.S. desire to "normalize" ties without alienating Moscow. But a Trump administration official noted it was "an era of great power competition and an opportunity to compete for influence." "We want to be here," Pompeo said in Minsk. Then, amid the crackdown that followed the August 9 election, U.S. officials urged Lukashenka to end the violence and seek a peaceful solution to the crisis. Weeks later came the U.S. State Department's nonrecognition of Lukashenka's claim to the presidency. A U.S. Case History President Woodrow Wilson famously backed away from a previous U.S. administration's recognition of Mexican President Victoriano Huerta early in the last century, which was resolved when Huerta fled his homeland for Spain. In more recent history, the United States has frequently avoided taking the lead on questions of recognizing competing claims to government. Experts cite the example of Honduras in 2008, when Washington waited for an Organization of American States assessment before agreeing that President Manuel Zelaya was the victim of an illegitimate military coup. Two years later, in Central Asia, Washington stayed on the fence until Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev fled into exile, stopping briefly in Russia before settling in Belarus. But a very recent example -- Washington's relationship toward Venezuela and de facto President Nicolas Maduro -- might be more instructive. The United States and more than 50 other countries have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's rightful president since early 2019. That's when Guaido, as president of the country's democratically elected National Assembly, tried to form a transition government to serve until internationally observed elections could be held to replace Maduro's dubious reelection victory a half-year earlier. Washington shut its embassy in Caracas at the same time. U.S. officials have since ratcheted up sanctions and visa restrictions that have contributed to economic chaos in Venezuela. But the U.S. side has kept hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of humanitarian and development assistance, including for some of the millions of Venezuelans who fled to nearby countries and for Venezuelans still in the country. It continues to insist on the need for free and fair Venezuelan elections. The EU And Its 'Eastern Partner' The EU's Borrell said in announcing the nonrecognition of Lukashenka's claim to reelection that Brussels was "using all the tools that we have at our disposal" to change official behavior in Minsk. Foremost among those tools is the decade-old Eastern Partnership, a joint initiative begun in 2009 to promote diplomatic and economic cooperation which includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. But that forum is already widely criticized for its perceived failure to define key aspects like "security" and shared "values" -- such as democracy or human rights -- and for a top-down approach that risks excluding elements outside of formal power structures. The EU statement did not lay out specific measures stemming from its nonrecognition. Instead, it said only that "in light of the current situation, the EU is reviewing its relations with Belarus." "When the EU says it wants to review its cooperation, it means they are looking where to cut some support programs or initiatives that they had before in agreement with the government," Giuseppe Fama, the International Crisis Group's head of EU affairs, told RFE/RL. But EU spending on programs and initiatives in Belarus was already paltry, even in comparison to that in other countries in the so-called "Eastern Neighborhood." "Beyond the formality of recognition of the government, the reality of the [EU's] relations with the state of Belarus will not be enormously impacted because they were already quite low, to be frank," Fama said. He also noted that the EU delegation in Minsk has not been recalled. But the approach could pave the way to achieving progress on the ultimate goal of a more democratic vote, Fama suggested. "So they've stopped saying, 'These elections are not good,'" Fama said. "And now it's important they start over from rebuilding an environment that can be conducive to free, fair, participative, democratic, and legitimate elections in Belarus." Sidestepping Cyprus Any EU path for Belarus must presumably pass through a summit of EU leaders that is supposed to take place in Brussels on October 1-2. Much of the discussion until this week had been over whether EU officials could agree on a list of Belarusian individuals to sanction over the current crackdown. That debate was reportedly hung up on Cypriot pressure to link the Belarusian question to getting firmer EU support in Nicosia's dispute over energy rights in the eastern Mediterranean. "While all this may seem on the surface to be an important statement of policy by the EU and the United States, it in fact also shows a rather more interesting direction in the practice of international politics," says James Ker-Lindsay, a visiting professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He suggested it might be a way for the EU "to advance an ethical foreign policy," for instance. "This is a very good way to show disapproval of an administration," Ker-Lindsay said. "But there may also be a practical explanation. It may also have to do with the decision of Cyprus to block sanctions against Lukashenka and others. This then becomes a way for the EU to express its disapproval when more punitive measures are off the table." Into The Arms Of Russia? The Belarusian standoff has so far been what Fama described as a fairly "localized crisis." But there are clearly concerns that more decisive actions by the West could drive Lukashenka into the arms of neighboring Russia. "Until this crisis, Lukashenka was timidly reaching out to European countries, not so much to the European Union but to European states, to try also to balance the presence of Russia and the relevance of its relations with Russia to make himself a little bit less dependent on Moscow," Fama said. "However, with this crisis, the situation has had an acceleration in the other direction." But he said the EU announcement explicitly left room for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to play a crucial role. And Russia, which initially remained wary of greater entanglement with Lukashenka but has since offered a massive loan package to support him, is a member of the OSCE. "There is a need also to return to a form of dialogue that can allow things to be put in place into a progressive path that can lead to elections, hopefully monitored by the OSCE and its Office for [Democratic Institutions and] Human Rights, with also a cooperative, consensual presence of Russia, rather than a standoff where Russia would be the last man standing." Tanaiste Leo Varadkar is restricting his movements after coming into close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19. "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," Mr Varadkar said yesterday in a statement. "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." Mr Varadkar addressed his parliamentary party meeting by teleconference last evening. It is understood his situation does not relate to his recent trade mission to Berlin. It comes after it was revealed yesterday that Finance Minis- ter Paschal Donohoe is restricting his movements after he learned one of his Eurogroup colleagues tested positive for Covid-19. French finance minister Bruno Le Maire tested positive for the virus last Friday, seven days after attending a Eurogroup meeting in Berlin with Mr Donohoe. The meeting, on September 11, was Mr Donohoe's first as president of the Eurogroup. He had been restricting his movements since returning from Germany as the country was not Ireland's green list at the time of his visit. Symptoms However, since learning of Mr Le Maire's positive test, he has been asked to continue restricting his movements until tomorrow. 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 counterpart's positive test. All tests have come back negative. He has attended all meetings for the past two weeks through video conferencing calls. In a statement, Mr Le Maire said he had tested positive for coronavirus despite displaying no symptoms. He said he will remain in isolation and continue his work for seven days. There were concerns last week that Health Minister Stephen Donnelly had been infected with the coronavirus after he became unwell. The Dail was temporarily closed as a precaution and all Cabinet ministers were asked to restrict their movements. Mr Donnelly subsequently tested negative for the virus and ministers were allowed to resume their work. He has continued to restrict his movements since falling ill. Mr Donnelly addressed a Cabinet meeting and Fianna Fail parliamentary meeting via video from his home this week. Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney is also restricting his movements after he returned from a trip to Brussels to discuss the ongoing Brexit negotiations. Protests and strikes continue to erupt across the United States by educators opposed to the homicidal push to return students to classrooms, which has resulted in at least 24,358 new COVID-19 infections tied to K-12 school reopenings. Since the end of July, when schools began to reopen en masse across the country, at least 30 educators have died from COVID-19. This week, educators in South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, and Wisconsin have responded to the unfolding crisis with sickouts, in some cases compelling entire school districts to suspend in-person instruction. Kenosha teachers protesting late last month. (Source: Kenosha Education Association) South Carolina In South Carolina, the Facebook group SC for Ed organized a statewide sickout strike on Wednesday to protest unsafe conditions and low pay. While the total number of teachers that participated has not been reported, hundreds of teachers planned to take part in the protest. One teacher commented in the Facebook group, I hate it when people say were abandoning our students. Were fighting FOR our students! Were fighting to keep top talented teachers in SC instead of losing them to GA & NC where theyre better paid and treated! Like their counterparts across the country and internationally, teachers in South Carolina are overwhelmingly hostile to the unsafe reopening of schools. A survey of more than 4,000 teachers and school staff across the state found that 71 percent disapproved or strongly disapproved of the states handling of the pandemic and the reopening of schools. An astounding 27 percent are considering leaving their jobs over concerns about health and safety. Adding insult to injury, the annual pay increase that teachers receive has been frozen until January. Already, at least 622 cases of coronavirus among students and staff have been tied to the reopening of K-12 schools in the state. On September 7, just three days after being diagnosed with the virus, third grade teacher Demetria Demi Bannister, only 28 years old, died of COVID-19 complications. According to the Associated Press, there were 293 new cases per 100,000 people in South Carolina over the past two weeks, putting the state in the top 10 for new cases per capita. There are over 141,000 reported cases in the state and 3,243 deaths. On Wednesday, the reported seven-day average positivity rate was 11.1, indicating a high degree of community transmission. Florida On Monday, when campuses reopened in the School District of Palm Beach County, 944 teachers stayed home. On Tuesday, 894, or nearly 1 in 13, continued to stay home, using sick days or personal time. Already, 64 teachers have resigned in the district, 82 have taken leaves of absence and 278 have been approved to work remotely. Struggling to find substitutes, who share the same health and safety concerns as teachers, schools are reportedly asking teachers to supervise multiple classrooms at once or sending other employees to monitor the students. In many cases, students are directed to wait in unsupervised classrooms, or overflow rooms, until their next period begins. The school district also faces an ongoing class action lawsuit. The plaintiffs include six school district employees and the husband of a teacher. The lawsuit seeks an emergency injunction to temporarily stop the school district from forcing teachers and staff to return to the buildings until independent health officials say it is safe to do so. The experience of the FEA lawsuit in Leon County serves as a warning against placing any confidence in the judicial system to decide the fate of thousands of educators and students. Florida has 682,370 confirmed cases and 13,618 deaths, and the positivity rate has surpassed 5.0 percent over the past two weeks, reaching 5.88 percent. School districts have also reported being told to stop releasing data about cases in schools. However, the available data demonstrates the consequences of the reopening. As the WSWS previously reported, According to new state data, more than 12,000 Florida children 17 and under have been infected with COVID-19 since schools first began opening their doors. The pediatric cases since August 10 represent a 20 percent increase, and pediatric hospitalizations also jumped almost 20 percent over the same period. Louisiana On Wednesday, hundreds of teachers in Livingston Parish, Louisiana called in sick to protest the districts handling of reopening schools while the pandemic rages out of control, as well as the lack of communication and support from the school board, inadequate pay and a rise in teachers health insurance costs. The local union, the Livingston Federation of Teachers, affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), called for the day of action. Rather than working to connect the erupting struggles of educators across the state, let alone across the country, the union sought to contain the teachers anger through an isolated, one-day local action. In St. Landry Parish, teachers are threatening to strike if the school district refuses to reverse its plan to subcontract teachers for virtual learning through a service called Edgenuity. Earlier this month, teachers in Pointe Coupee Parish participated in a nearly weeklong sickout to protest a delay in the $6,000 raise they were set to receive due to a voter-approved property tax increase. In August, the Pointe Coupee Parish school board decided to postpone the full raise until 2021, instead giving a $3,000 raise for this year. In response to the strike, the boards president Tom Nelson promised that they would revisit the issue at the meeting later this month and expected the full raise would be approved. Teachers stopped their strike temporarily but warned that they would resume should the board fail to keep its word. Louisiana has recorded a total of 162,214 cases and 5,218 deaths. Livingston Parish has recorded 3,726 cases and 74 deaths and is adjacent to East Baton Rouge Parish, which has the second highest case count in the state, with 14,983 cases and 439 deaths. At least 256 cases have been confirmed at K-12 schools across the state since reopening. Wisconsin Hundreds of teachers began a sickout Monday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, forcing the school district to close seven schools and switch to virtual learning for the entire week. The Kenosha Unified School District has already confirmed seven cases of COVID-19 among students and three among staff. Wisconsin has already lost one K-12 teacher to the virus, Heidi Hussli, 47, who taught German in Bay Port. The sickout in Kenosha was organized independently of the union, the Kenosha Education Association (KEA). Union President Tanya Kitts-Lewinski spoke at a school board meeting Tuesday and barely acknowledged the sickout, mentioning instead a surge in teacher absences. Despite speaking against in-person instruction, unsafe working conditions, and the inaction of the school board, she and the union have refused to endorse or support the teachers. New York New York City, the largest school district in the country, is facing a disastrous scenario as it prepares to reopen. The city is scrambling to hire between 6,000 and 7,000 extra teachers before middle and high schools open on October 1. On Monday, 90,000 prekindergarten and special education students returned to school. Last week, over 60 teachers were diagnosed with COVID-19 after they reported to school buildings to prepare for the opening of school. This followed an announcement last Thursday by Mayor Bill de Blasio that face-to-face instruction would be delayed by one week for the majority of the districts students. The delay was announced after a meeting with United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew and other union representatives, who are conspiring with de Blasio to reopen schools, in order to set a precedent for Democrat-led cities across the US to reopen. A delay of seven days will in no way curtail the spread of the virus among students, teachers and staff. Rather, the decision was a calculated maneuver by the Democratic mayor and the UFT, who are scuttling to prevent an explosion of independent action by educators that threatens to break free from their constraints. As opposition grows among educators and the broader working class against the back-to-school and back-to-work campaigns, driven by the financial concerns of the ruling class, the efforts to conceal the extent and severity of the pandemic become ever more conspicuous. Just days after releasing guidelines stating that the coronavirus is primarily transmitted through airborne particles, which can linger in the air for hours and travel more than six feet, the CDC suddenly removed this information from its website. Teachers and other school workers must take matters into their own hands. The actions in Kenosha, Palm Beach, Livingston Parish and South Carolina show that educators have the power to halt the reopening of schools, but in order to succeed these efforts must become organized on a national and international scale and linked up with the struggles of the entire working class. The Democrats, Republicans and the unions have all worked together to carry out the back-to-school campaign in one form or another. The imperative facing educators is to build a network of independent rank-and-file safety committees in every city and state to unify educators, parents, students and the broader working class. The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee has 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 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. President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, said the controversial Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA) will enhance the fight against corruption. Mr Buhari said this at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) 2020 Virtual Leaders Summit on Thursday. The bill assented by President Buhari on August 7 has generated furore amongst Nigerians. The critics, majorly clergymen, condemned certain provisions of the law that empowers the government to appoint administrators for churches and non-governmental organisations under certain conditions. Popular Christian clerics and prominent civic groups in Nigeria, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), have kicked against the new law. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) under the leadership of Samson Ayokunle also called on the President to suspend its implementation. Nexus with war on graft Meanwhile, at the summit which is part of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA75) in New York, United States, President Buhari explained that the law will enhance transparency and corporate accountability in the fight against corruption. Participants at the virtual event include Heads of State and Government from Argentina, Canada, France, Georgia and Germany. According to a statement signed Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Buhari said his government has been committed to the anti-corruption war. Since the inception of our Administration in 2015, the Government has been committed to changing international and domestic perceptions regarding Nigerias commitment to fight corruption and foster good governance. We focused on the task of dealing head-on with this destructive monster, which led to us joining the Open Government Partnership and making reform commitments such as to establish a public central register of beneficial owners of corporate entities. He said the government has made significant progress in implementing tougher anti-corruption measures, including the new Companies and Allied Matters Act. The Act provides a legal framework for the implementation of Beneficial Ownership Information Disclosure in Nigeria. Being an OGP member-country has helped Nigeria learn from other countries tackling similar challenges, and to build a coalition to support these reforms across the private sector and civil society. It has also aided our journey towards building citizens trust in government, he said. Pandemic Mr Buhari told the summit that governments cannot solve all the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic alone, placing emphasis on open governance and working with citizens. We face a significant contraction in the global economy in 2020; the world is facing the unprecedented twin challenges of managing the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. In these times, citizens worldwide are seeking more information, engagement, and support from their governments, he said. He, however, pledged that his administration would continue to use its OGP membership to ensure that open government approaches strengthen the pandemic management, adding that the Nigerian government will sustain consultations and engagements with citizens through Civil Society Organisations and the Organised Private Sector on COVID-19 response and recovery plan. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said that he stressed the importance of cooperation with Seoul, during a telephonic conversation with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, to counter any threat from Pyongyang. Suga told a press conference that the leaders talked about several issues including the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and strained bilateral ties. I told President Moon that we cannot leave our current very difficult relations where they are now, Suga said after the telephone call. Japan-South Korea relations have deteriorated sharply over war-time history, especially on the issue of Korean labourers who were forced to work in Japanese during colonial rule. Suga said that he would continue to firmly seek appropriate action from South Korea. The two leaders talked for the first time after Sugas inauguration as Japans new Prime Minister. Read: Japan To COVID Test All Tokyo Olympic Athletes, But Might Not Require Quarantine Read: Japan's Defense Ministry May Request Another Record Budget Of 5.4 Trillion Yen Talks with UN chief The Japanese PM also held a telephonic conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on September 24 and exchanged their views on ways to address COVID-19. According to Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Suga asked for understanding and cooperation towards the early resolution of the North Korean abductions issue. The ministry said in a statement that the UN chief extended his full support and also emphasised the importance of promoting denuclearisation. According to the ministry, both sides agreed that they would cooperate in a wide range of areas, including peacebuilding, development and climate change. Secretary-General Guterres reiterated his appreciation to the international contributions made by Japan to address COVID-19. Moreover, they agreed to collaborate towards increasing the number of Japanese senior staff members working in the UN, the statement read. Meanwhile, Japan, India, Australia and the United States are reportedly planning to hold a meeting of their foreign ministers in Tokyo in early October. It will be the first cabinet-level meeting in Japan since March after the coronavirus outbreak. Japanese foreign affairs chief Toshimitsu Motegi, US State Secretary Mike Pompeo, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, and Australian foreign minister Marise Payne will hold QUAD security dialogue. Read: Japanese Prime Minister Suga Discusses 'free And Open' Indo-Pacific Vision With Trump Read: Japan, US, India, Australia Plan To Hold QUAD Security Dialogue In October: Report (Image: AP) SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ICD, treasury's trusted independent portal provider of money market funds and other short-term investments, has hired technology veteran Tonya Bukacek as Chief Information Officer. Bukacek's addition to the senior management team follows ICD's 77% growth in average daily balance of client assets on ICD Portal in the first half of 2020, ending June 30. Tonya Bukacek Joins ICD as Chief Information Officer "Treasury has met with unprecedented challenges this year, shifting teams to an effective work-from-home environment, securing liquidity and looking for opportunities to gain yield while mitigating risk," says ICD Chief Executive Officer Tory Hazard. "Tonya will help us securely deliver effective solutions in all market environments and will be integral to our success as ICD enters its next stage of growth." Bukacek is leading ICD's technical operations team and support, both for customer-facing ICD production systems and for internal ICD infrastructure and technologies. She brings deep and broad experience, spanning more than two decades. Most recently, she served as the CIO/VP of Technology, Contracts, Security and Facilities for the largest Catholic University outreach organization in the world. "ICD is an organization made up of an extraordinary group of people who have built an amazing technology platform, and this is evident in the caliber of clients we serve. I'm excited to be a part of ICD and look forward to building on the technology and service we offer to exceed client expectations," says Bukacek. ICD recently reinforced its founding commitment to clients with a new visual identity rolled out across a new logo, website and portal design based on its singular focus on treasury, which differentiates it from banks and fintech providers that offer portals as part of their offerings. Through ICD Portal, treasury departments can research, access, trade and report on short-term investments, all in one place, without the pressures of competing business interests of their portal provider. For more information about ICD, visit www.icdportal.com or contact [email protected]. About ICD ICD is treasury's trusted, independent portal provider of money market funds and other short-term investments. We provide intuitive technology and unbiased access to over 300 investment products through ICD Portal, a model in the industry for trading, reporting and analysis. Through our Global Trade Desk, located in London, Boston and San Francisco, we offer follow-the-sun support and expert service. ICD Media Contact Zoe Sochor +1 646.581.3277 [email protected] SOURCE ICD Related Links http://www.icdportal.com The latest addition to EasyTech is designed to help both teachers and students navigate online learning this year, ensuring they are able to reap all of the benefits that online tools can provide, said Keith Oelrich, CEO at Learning.com. To prepare students for success in a remote learning environment, Learning.com is adding remote learning lessons to its EasyTech content library. Based on real-life applications and digital tools, lessons in Essential Skills for Remote Learning guide students through technical concepts in a fun, game-based environment. The latest addition to EasyTech is designed to help both teachers and students navigate online learning this year, ensuring they are able to reap all of the benefits that online tools can provide, said Keith Oelrich, CEO at Learning.com. A majority of teachers strongly agree that digital learning tools are a valuable part of todays classroom its critical that they are set up for success and able to support students in a variety of environments. EasyTechs Essential Skills for Remote Learning are as follows: Remote Learning Essentials: Teach students how to communicate virtually and troubleshoot their tech issues independently. Word Processing: Develop students proficiency using word processing programs and tools for online document creation, design, editing, collaboration and problem-solving. Internet Usage and Online Communications: Teach students how to use the internet to gather information, foster collaborative learning experiences and create and share digital media. Computer Fundamentals: Students learn to harness technology as a tool to create, problem-solve and collaborate with others. Keyboarding: Teach students foundational keyboarding skills. Online Safety & Digital Citizenship: Students learn the importance of modeling safe, ethical and legal behavior online and recognize the rights and responsibilities that come along with living in a digital world. Using Learning.com during remote learning has made a huge impact on my teaching, said Elizabeth Fecher, Technology Teacher at Mt. Airy School. Students are able to do self-paced lessons that take them step-by-step through learning. It also offers instant feedback when questions are answered and is graded instantly. Grades can even be set up to transfer from Schoology to PowerSchool without teachers having to enter them. The remote learning lessons expand EasyTechs comprehensive online library of content covering essential technology skills for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Learning.coms EasyTech offering includes self-paced lessons, application exercises, quizzes, discussions and pre- and post- assessments to prepare students for todays online classrooms and the digital world. To learn more, please visit https://info.learning.com/remote-learning-with-easytech About Learning.com Learning.coms K-12 curriculum solution, EasyTech, helps students develop computer science, digital literacy, and problem-solving skills. By enabling schools to integrate technology more meaningfully, and cultivate digital readiness, EasyTech plays a critical role in equipping all students to learn, live, and work in the 21st Century. The comprehensive curriculum, delivered through the Learning.com platform, features scaffolded, student-led digital lessons, as well as district and school-wide reporting to measure the programs efficacy and optimize implementation. Founded in 1999, Learning.com currently partners with one in six U.S. school districts and serves more than 4 million students each year. The company has earned more than 30 industry awards, including ISTE 2017 Best of Show; 2017 Award of Excellence from Tech & Learning Magazine; The Oregonians Top Workplace for 2016, 2017, and 2018; and the Healthiest Employers of Oregon for 2019. SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of - South Korea said Thursday that North Korean troops fatally shot a South Korean government official who may have attempted to defect and set his body on fire after finding him on a floating object near the countries disputed sea boundary. South Korean officials condemned what they called North Koreas atrocious act and urged it to apologize and punish those responsible. North Korea is unlikely to accept the South Korean demand, and ties between the rivals already strained amid a deadlock in broader nuclear diplomacy will probably suffer a further setback, observers say. According to Seoul, the man disappeared from a government ship that was checking on possible unauthorized fishing in an area south of the boundary on Monday, a day before he was found in North Korean waters. North Korea sent officials wearing gas masks aboard a boat near the man to learn why he was there on Tuesday afternoon. Later in the day, a North Korean navy boat came and opened fire at him, South Koreas Defence Ministry said. Sailors from the boat clad in gas masks and protective suits poured gasoline on his body and set it aflame, the Defence Ministry said, citing intelligence gathered by surveillance equipment and other assets. Its unclear how he ended up in North Korea. But a defence official said the man might have tried to defect to the North, citing acquired information. He refused to elaborate. The official, requesting anonymity citing department rules, said the South Korean official was wearing a life jacket and was on a small floating object when he was found in North Korean waters. He said North Korea may have decided to kill him in line with its stringent anti-coronavirus rules that involve shooting anyone illegally crossing the border. Gen. Robert Abrams, the commander of U.S. troops in South Korea, said last month that North Korea had put special forces along its border with China to keep smugglers out and that they had shoot-to-kill orders in place aimed at preventing the virus from entering the country. North Korea has steadfastly said there hasnt been a single virus case in its territory, a claim widely disputed by foreign experts. Observers say a pandemic could cause devastating consequences in North Korea because of its broken public health care system and a chronic shortage of medical supplies. South Korea sent a message to North Korea on Wednesday to ask about the missing official, but hasnt received a response, according to the South Korean Defence Ministry. Senior military officer Ahn Young Ho told reporters Thursday that South Korea strongly condemned North Koreas atrocious act and urged it to punish those responsible. Top presidential official Suh Choo-suk said in a separate news conference that North Korea must apologize for its act against humanity, reveal the full details of the case and take steps to prevent similar incidents. For whatever reason, North Korea cannot justify its soldiers fatally shooting our citizen and damaging his body, though he was unarmed and had no intention of resistance, Suh said. President Moon Jae-in called the incident shocking, intolerable and very regrettable. He ordered the military to strengthen its readiness. Little is known about the late 49-year-old South Korean, except that he was among 18 officials aboard the government boat belonging to the Oceans and Fisheries Ministry. When his colleagues searched for him after his disappearance, they only found his shoes left on the ships stern. Days of searching involving aircraft and vessels were unsuccessful, according to the Defence Ministry. The oceans ministry said Thursday it has no evidence indicating the late official tried to defect or accidently fell from the ship. It said the official didnt tell his colleagues about any plan to defect and left most of his belongings like clothes and daily necessities on the ship. Several bloody naval skirmishes and two deadly attacks blamed on North Korea have occurred in recent years at the countries poorly marked western sea boundary. The government ship was near South Koreas Yeonpyeong Island, which was hit by North Korean artillery in 2010, killing four people. The incident is expected to worsen already frosty ties between the Koreas, whose exchanges and co-operation programs have virtually been halted. In June, North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office to protest South Korean civilians sending leaflets against the North across the border. Some experts said the government explanation that the official might have attempted to defect lacked evidence. They said the government may want to prevent strong anti-North Korean sentiment to keep alive chances for talks between the nations. A public servant defecting to North Korea? I think it sounds a bit strange as he has stable job security, said Choi Kang, vice-president of Seouls Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Why did North Korea shoot a man defecting to the North voluntarily? I can also say the burning of his body was an attempt to conceal evidence. Moons liberal government has faced criticism by conservatives that it sympathizes too much with North Korea and failed to respond strongly enough to the Norths past provocations, such as the destruction of the liaison office and crude insults against the South. In 2008, North Korean soldiers fatally shot a visiting South Korean tourist who wandered into a restricted area at the Norths scenic Diamond Mountain resort. South Koreas then conservative government responded by suspending tours to the resort. The opposition conservative People Power Party urged Moons government to take stern action. The reason for the governments existence is protecting its people and their property, it said in a statement. Defections of South Koreans to North Korea are highly unusual. More than 30,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea in the past 20 years for political and economic reasons. In July, however, a North Korean defector slipped back into North Korea, prompting the North to impose a lockdown of a border city and declare a state of emergency over virus concerns. Mary L. Trump interview on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow MSNBC President Donald Trump and two of his siblings were sued on Thursday by their niece Mary, who accused them of fraud for allegedly swindling her out of millions of dollars to which she was entitled after the death of her father. In addition to the president, the other defendants are retired federal appeals court Judge Maryanne Trump Barry and the executor of the estate of Robert Trump, who died last month. "For Donald J. Trump, his sister Maryanne, and their late brother Robert, fraud was not just the family business it was a way of life," Mary Trump's lawsuit said. "All told, they fleeced her of tens of millions of dollars or more." The lawsuit filed in New York state Supreme Court in Manhattan comes on the heels of the publication of Mary Trump's best-selling, tell-all book that was scathingly critical of the president. And it comes less than six weeks before the Nov. 3 election, in which the president is facing a challenge from Democratic nominee Joe Biden. This past summer, a lawsuit filed under Robert Trump's name failed to prevent the publication of Mary Trump's book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man." That suit claimed that Mary Trump violated a nondisclosure agreement she signed to settle a similar legal allegation about being denied assets due her. Donald Trump with sister Maryanne Trump Barry and brother Robert Trump attend the Trump Taj Mahal opening April 1990 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Sonia Moskowitz | Getty Images Mary Trump's new suit claims that her aunt and uncles committed to watching over her financial interests when their brother and her father, Fred Trump Jr., died in 1981. Mary was 16 at the time. "Upon his death, Mary inherited valuable minority interests in the family business," the suit said. But instead of protecting her interests, the suit said, the defendants "lied." "They designed and carried out a complex scheme to siphon funds away from her interests, conceal their grift, and deceive her about the true value of what she had inherited," the suit claims. The alleged schemes included charging "exorbitant management fees, consulting fees, and salaries" from companies that were part of Mary's financial holdings. "Defendants perpetrated three fraudulent schemes against Mary," the suit says. Bullets Over Louisville Commentary I was about to write about why Michael Bloomberg could have seen fit to spend millions paying the fines of Florida felons so they can vote, thus courting a possible indictment of his own for bribery (short form: terminal envy of fellow billionaire Trump augmented by fear POTUS might turn off the China spigot that so enriches the former NYC mayor), when it was announced yet another cop was shot, this time in Louisville. I had been watching the violence and destruction in that cityabout 2 1/2 hours drive from where I am sittingout of the corner of my eye on my office TV. There went my plans for next years Kentucky Derby, I thought selfishly, then felt sick to my stomach. How much more of this could any of us take? How many more police need be shot? I thought back to my days as a 1960s anti-war protestor, being caught up in the crowds yelling Off the pig! The joke then was what we would do if someone broke into our apartments with no cops available. Call a hippie! was the supposedly jocular response. In truth, in those days few of us thought badly of the police (with the exception, of course, of the extremist Kathy Boudin/Weather Underground-types who killed them). It was all kind of a game to us, stupid, juvenile and pointless as it was, not to mention politically reactionary. The police were and are the working class, not the privileged college kids then attacking them. Today, things are very different and multiple times worse, making the 60s indeed seem like childs play. As I type this, yet another cop is reported as being shot in Louisville, making two, the same number as were shot just the other day in Los Angeles, with no one apprehended. All this after it was made clear that in the Breonna Taylor case, the one all the Louisville madness is supposed to be about, the police didnt break in on her apartment with a no-knock entry. They knocked. They were looking for her ex-boyfriend, a drug dealer, when her current boyfriend opened fire first. And yet a cop, who was defending an already wounded buddy, got indicted. Everything that went down was a tragic accident with no racial animus. Basta. The time has come to say clearly what many of us have muttered for a long time: BLM the Marxist-led Black Lives Matter is the modern version of the KKK. The skin colors may be different but the murderous instincts and racist loathing are the same. The veneer of social justice is less than paper thin. No justice, no peace, is the hollowest slogan imaginable. Its all about acting out like a bunch of crazies in a Hieronymus Bosch painting, except now theyre drugged out on fentanyl, meth, or whatever. Evil is on the march in this country. The question is, who is putting the rioters, looters, and destroyers up to their mayhem? Who, for example, rented the U-Haul from which, video shows, all sorts of ad hoc weaponry was disgorged to the supposedly peaceful protestors before the Taylor decision came down? And who paid that person and so on? It should all be tracked down now. I dont know if something is rotten in the state of Denmark, but it sure is in the United States, and for the good of all of us, wed better find out why and who. Someone or someones have promulgated and are utilizing the big lie of systemic racism to upend and ultimately destroy our country. Who is it? A lot of theories and names are out there. Not long ago, I thought much of this was paranoid. Im not in the slightest by nature a conspiracy theorist. I still believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. No longer, Im afraid to say, about our current situation. In the words of Nancy Pelosi or is it Chuck Schumer, Nothing is off the table. A man named Darren J. Beattie has some interesting theories about the relationship between what is happening and the Color Revolutions of Eastern Europe. He believes the Orange Revolution in Ukraine formed a prototype through which some deep state State Department people moved to destroy Trump via a combination of street violence and power plays like the recent impeachment. I cant vouch for it, but someones ox is apparently being gored. Beattie isbig surprisealready being accused of being a white supremacist. The same thing will probably happen to me, if it hasnt already, just for mentioning him and other issues, even more for likening BLM to the KKK. But so it goes in todays America. You pays your money and you takes your choice. Or, as I used to sing during my civil rights movement days, Which side are you on? I think and hope most Americans are on the side of the police. Theyre our boys, after all. Roger L. Simon is an award-winning author, Oscar-nominated screenwriter and co-founder of PJMedia. He is now a columnist for The Epoch Times. Find him on Twitter and Parler @rogerlsimon. Buy his books on Amazon. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. 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. 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. Article Image: Cyndi Monaghan / Getty My Dear Shepherds, Nick sat near me at a coffee shop patio and we struck up a conversation. He was a Vietnam vet who had suffered lifelong effects of Agent Orange. Despite being raised Catholic he told me hed lost his faith for awhile in the war. I listened. He told me hed sought counseling after retirement because he was so unsettled by it. I listened. When I told him Id recently retired from pastoring, he asked me if Id lost my faith when I retired. I was surprised by the question. Oh no, I said, I love Jesus. The ministry wasnt a professional duty. I love Jesus. I wonder if anyone else had really listened to him or if hed met anyone before who really loved Jesus. When I walked away a phrase about Jesus came to my mind, He went around doing good. I get to do that, I thought. All Christians can, but pastors especially. Peter gave that summary of Jesus ministry when he met with Cornelius and his household. He began: You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (Acts 10:36, 38) Jesus good deeds, at least those recorded in the Gospels, were almost always miraculous. Ours dont seem to be. They seem so ordinary that Im reluctant to put them in the Christlike category. But looks can be deceiving. What makes our good deeds Christlike is not their miracle magnitude but the Spirits anointing upon us, the power of God at work through us, and the presence of God with us. We bring our few loaves and fish and Jesus does the rest. Remember: Jesus is in production; were in distribution. Im sure youve seen God spin the flax of some small deed to gold. The last time I visited Gwen she was so frail. It was hard for her to breathe or walk and she was sad because she had to move. After we talked a while I knelt by her side, took her hand, and prayed. When I finished she whispered plaintively, Is there a limit to Gods grace? An old hymn came to mind so I sang it, He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater; And out of his infinite riches in Jesus, he giveth and giveth and giveth again. When I finished, she rifled through some papers in the back of her Bible and, without a word, pulled out her handwritten copy of those very lyrics. In that gilded moment we both wept. Sy was a sadsack kind of guy. Id met him at a gas station where I got coffee on Sunday mornings. Hed come right out and tell me, Im a lost sheep. I saw him fairly often. He even came to church a couple of times and then I lost track of him. Several months later I couldnt get him off my mind so I called him. He was nearly speechless. How did you know to call me today, he asked. It was a desperate day for him. The Lord kept bugging me to call you, I said. An ordinary call in a golden moment. Proverbs 15:23 says, A person finds joy in giving an apt replyand how good is a timely word! Gods most common miracle is the divine coincidence. We bring some good deed wrapped in plain brown paper and when they unwrap it, its gold! Thats the alchemy of God. Be ye glad! Lee Eclov recently retired after 40 years of local pastoral ministry and now focuses on ministry among pastors. He writes a weekly devotional for preachers on Preaching Today. All of these in-flight connectivity plans are valid for a period of one day and they offer various services such as outgoing calls, SMS and net browsing capabilities to the users based on the flight and the destination. Reliance Jio recently rolled out new postpaid plans in India. Now, the company has rolled out in-flight connectivity plans for its postpaid users in India. For this, the company has partnered with a total of 22 airlines, which includes the likes of Emirates, Eithad Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Virgin Atlantic among others. All of these in-flight connectivity plans are valid for a period of one day and they offer various services such as outgoing calls, SMS and net browsing capabilities to the users based on the flight and the destination. Additionally, incoming calls are not allowed and incoming SMSs are free. The company also cautions that the data speed may vary with the airline ALSO READ: Reliance Jio launches JioPostpaid Plus service: Here are all the details As far as the specific plans are concerned, the 499 plan offers 250MB of data along with 100 mins outgoing voice calls and 100 SMSs to the users. The 699 plan, on the other hand, offers 500MB of data along with 100 mins outgoing voice calls and 100 SMSs. Similarly, the 999 plan offers 1GB data along with 100 mins outgoing voice calls and 100 SMSs. As far as the postpaid plans are concerned, Reliance Jio offers a total of five postpaid plans worth 399, 599, 799, 999 and 1,499. These plans offer data benefits ranging between 150GB and 300GB. These plans also offer a bunch of other benefits. You can check all the details here. "Instacart has become part of the household rhythm for people across North America looking to have the groceries and goods they need delivered same-day from the retailers they know and love. For many people, the essentials they need go beyond fresh food and pantry staples and, over the last few years, we've seen an increase in customer demand for personal care, wellness and beauty products," said Chris Rogers, Vice President of Retail at Instacart. "Today, we're excited to welcome Sephora to Instacart, delivering more selection to customers looking for a seamless, same-day shopping experience from their favorite beauty retailer. We're proud to bring Sephora's unrivaled product choice - from emerging brands to trusted favorites - their leading rewards program and inspiring shopping experience to the Instacart marketplace. Now, for the first time ever, customers across North America can get their makeup, skincare, wellness products and more delivered from the Sephora store to their door in as fast as an hour." "We're thrilled to partner with Instacart and continue to provide an innovative and seamless shopping experience for our clients," said Carolyn Bojanowski, SVP and GM of eCommerce for Sephora. "We're always looking for unique, yet practical ways to meet our clients at every touchpoint; and now more than ever, we know they seek ease and convenience. With our Instacart partnership, we can offer a new same-day delivery service option to our existing clients, and also introduce some of the benefits of being a Sephora client to Instacart's marketplace." As part of this partnership, Instacart has developed new product functionality that brings the uniqueness of the Sephora store experience to life on the Instacart marketplace. The new consumer shopping design makes it easier for Sephora Beauty Insiders and new customers alike to seamlessly browse and shop from Sephora's more than 300 carefully curated brands and thousands of unique products, and quickly find their perfect color through a new, one-click shade selector. Additionally, Sephora and Instacart are bringing the perks of Sephora's beloved Beauty Insider loyalty program to the Instacart marketplace. Now, all Beauty Insider members can earn points on every Sephora purchase they make via Instacart. Beauty Insider members in the U.S. and Canada will also have access to Sephora's legendary Savings Events on Instacart, giving customers access to the great deals they've come to know and love from Sephora, coupled with delivery in as fast as an hour. Customers can begin shopping from Sephora on Instacart by visiting www.instacart.com/sephora in the U.S. or www.instacart.ca/sephora-canada in Canada; or by downloading the Instacart app on their mobile device. Customers then enter their zip code, select Sephora's storefront and can begin adding beauty and wellness products to their Instacart cart. For all orders, an Instacart personal shopper will pick and deliver the order within the customer's designated time frame whether they choose to receive it same-day or schedule their delivery days in advance. About Sephora Americas Since its debut in North America over 20 years ago, Sephora has been a leader in prestige omni-retail with the purpose of creating an inviting beauty shopping experience and inspiring fearlessness in our community. With the goal of delivering unbiased shopping support and a personalized experience, Sephora invites clients to touch and try 25,000 products from 400 carefully curated brands, enjoy services at the Beauty Studio and engage with expertly trained beauty advisors in more than 500 stores across the Americas, as well as over 600 locations inside JCPenney. Clients can also experience Sephora online and through our mobile app, access the free-to-join Beauty Insider program and digital community, which together enhance the experience of Sephora's passionate clients. Sephora has been an industry-leading champion of diversity, inclusivity, and empowerment, guided by our longstanding company values. In 2019, Sephora announced a new tagline and manifesto, "We Belong to Something Beautiful," to reinforce its dedication to fostering belonging amongst all clients and employees and to publicly strive for a more inclusive vision for retail in the Americas. Sephora continues to give back to our communities and advance inclusion in our industry through our Sephora Stands social impact programs. For more information, visit: https://www.sephora.com/about-us and @Sephora on social media. For media inquiries, please visit our Sephora newsroom or email [email protected] . About Instacart Instacart is the North American leader in grocery delivery and one of the fastest-growing companies in ecommerce. Instacart shoppers offer same-day delivery and pickup services to bring fresh groceries and everyday essentials to busy people and families across the U.S. and Canada. Instacart has partnered with more than 400 beloved national, regional and local retailers to deliver from more than 30,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in North America. Instacart's delivery service is available to more than 85% of U.S. households and 70% of Canadian households. The company's cutting-edge enterprise technology also powers the ecommerce platforms of some of the world's biggest retail players, supporting their white-label websites, applications and delivery solutions. Instacart offers an Instacart Express membership for unlimited free delivery on orders over $35. For more information, visit www.instacart.com . For anyone interested in becoming an Instacart shopper, visit https://shoppers.instacart.com/ . SOURCE Instacart Related Links http://www.instacart.com Most of us grew up reading comics, and our love for them hasn't wavered, even as adults. So whenever we get to watch movies/shows that are adaptations of the comics we grew up with, we get all the more excited. Even though Hollywood has been doing a fabulous job in terms of that, we have reasons to believe that India too has strong potential in that arena. Keeping that in mind, we have listed out 8 powerful Indian comic book superheroes who deserve their own movies/shows. 1. Nagraj Raj Comics Inspired by the mythological Ichchhadhari Nag (shapeshifting snakes) and historical Vishmanushya (venomous human), Nagraj stories have been created with a rich blend of mythology, fantasy, magic, and science fiction. Raj Comics The comics also have an extremely twisted and interesting plotline. Last year, there were talks of Ranveer Singh playing Nagraj in a movie. 2. The Sadhu Graphic India The Sadhu is a story about James Jensen, a soldier in the British army, who watches his family being brutally murdered by the corrupt superior officer that he opposes. A broken man, James flees into the forest and seeks refuge with the Indian mystics known as sadhus. Years later, now trained in their supernatural arts, Jensen must decide whether to use his newfound powers for inner peace as they are intended, or for revenge against the people who murdered his family. Graphic India Perfect plot for an intense movie, don't you think? 3. Bhokal Raj Comics Bhokal is a dark fantasy series, replete with blood and gore. Bhokal acquires super-human physical attributes, apart from receiving the mystical Sword and Shield of his master. The Sword is capable of cutting through most of the then-known materials and elements, making it one of the greatest weapons of its time. It can also be used to emit 'Jwala-Shakti', a mystical fire from its edge, which is known to burn away almost anything in a matter of seconds. Raj Comics With special effects having improved over the years, it won't be too much to expect a Witcher style show out of this, we're hoping. 4. Avatarex Graphic India In yet another exciting offering by Graphic India, the epic world of living myth collides with the mundane realities and cultural upheavals of contemporary India. An all-powerful super-being awakens to fight the Last War of the Age - only to discover he's been sent too early for the End Days and must somehow learn to exist in a world that's too small and too frail to survive his presence. Graphic India Quite edgy and 'meta', eh? We don't mind. 5. Parmanu Raj Comics One of the most loved creations of Raj Comics, Parmanu wasn't a superhero with inbuilt or inherited superpowers. His powers were all because of his suit, that allowed him to shrink into a minuscule size (just like Marvel's Ant Man), and also let him do superhuman feats by atomic manipulation. Raj Comics He also has a pretty tragic origin story, just like DC's Batman. We stan an action drama! 6. Inspector Steel Raj Comics Inspector Amar's brain was placed into a mechanical body; making him a cyborg, after he lost major organs and body parts in an accident. He has x-ray vision, a fully automatic bullet and rocket firing Megagun, scanners and many digital equipment such as a lie detector, fax etc. Normal bullets and bombs can not harm him. Being a heavily armored cyborg, he can run at superhuman speed and he uses his own stunning bike which is made up of an automatic built-up system. Raj Comics The aesthetic sort of reminds us of The Terminator but we're all in for a show. 7. Super Commando Dhruva Raj Comics Dhruva was probably the closest thing to reality in a world of comic book superheroes, a character that children could relate to, a character that children could try to emulate. The creator wanted Dhruva to become a role model for the kids. He wanted to show the kids that one can be tough as well as well mannered at the same time. Raj Comics Not the most exciting superhero, we get it. However, the fact that his only supernatural power seems to be the ability to communicate with most animals and birds which he learned in his childhood, while growing up in Jupiter circus, playing with circus's pet animals, brings in a blockbuster angle to the story. 8. Chakra - The Invincible Graphic India The fact that this character was co-created by Stan Lee is enough to claim that it will make for a great movie/show. Also, the story is based in Mumbai. Graphic India Chakra is the story of Raju Rai, a young Indian boy living in Mumbai. Raju's mentor, the scientist Dr. Singh, develops a technological suit that weaponizes all the Chakras in the body. Raju uses its powers to be a superhero and vows to use the suit to protect and serve Mumbai as he battles super-villains. We'd watch all of the above, for sure! What other characters would you add to this list? A major fire broke out at the Hazira Gas processing plant of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation plant in Surat. No causalities have been reported so far by the district administration. The cause of the blaze has not yet been ascertained. Here we take a look at the accidents and other pipeline blasts in the 0il and natural gas sector in India. (Image: Network18 Graphics) School students made headlines last September when they skipped class and took to the streets by the thousands to demand action on climate change. Principals and politicians were divided over their protests, but what followed were some of the largest demonstrations in Australia's history. But, like most things this year, the School Strike for Climate movement has been caught on its heels and forced to adapt. Veronica Hester, Imogen Kuah and Natasha Abhayawickrama are leading student climate actions on Friday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer On Friday students will host their first in-person demonstrations since the pandemic struck, but they'll look different wherever you are. More than 500 individual events are planned, ranging from a live-streamed Q&A and Instagram concert in Melbourne, to socially distanced protests in Sydney as well as Wollongong, Newcastle, Taree, Tamworth and Gosford.Images of student artworks and letters will be shared on social media, and calls made to the Prime Minister's office. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases for September 24 in Uzbekistan increased to 53,667, Trend reports with reference to the statistics of the Uzbek Ministry of Health. To date, 49,832 patients have fully recovered in the country, while 445 have died. At the moment, 3,390 patients are treated in medical institutions in Uzbekistan in accordance with the standards. According to the Ministry of Health, all new cases were identified among those who were in contact with patients. In particular, 101 cases were revealed in Tashkent, 35 - in the Kashkadarya region, 19 - in the Surkhandarya region, 13 - in the Bukhara region, 13 - in the Jizzakh region, 12 - in Samarkand region, 12 - in the Syrdarya region, seven cases in the Fergana region, five cases in Navoi region, and three cases were revealed in Karakalpakstan. 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 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 Related Links lc.org/ Diem Trong Thach from the northern province of Bac Ninh would be a regular person were it not for the fact that five of the seven members of his family, including Thach and his four children, were Agent Orange (AO) victims. MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Diem Trong Thach (right) has set a good example for other Agent Orange / dioxin victims by overcoming hardship and pain to move forward. Photo dangcongsan.vn Not that this defines him, as hes well-known in the provincial capital of Bac Ninh Citys Vo Cuong Ward as a strong-minded individual with an extraordinary intellect and energy. The war veteran and his family own a small business -- a motorbike garage also used as a mechanical workshop for turning two-wheelers into three-wheelers for those with disabilities. The workshop provides a stable source of income not only to Thach and his family but also his dozens of employees, many of whom are also facing difficult circumstances. Thach has proved that the persistent pain and hardship that come with suffering from the deadly defoliant chemical that US military forces sprayed in Vietnam can never defeat him. In 1972, Vietnam had entered into the fiercest time of its resistance war against the Americans. Like many other young people, Thach joined the army, working as an engineer with Division 338 at the famous battlefield of Khe Sanh in the central province of Quang Tri. After the country was liberated in 1975, he was more fortunate than many, returning home and reuniting with his family. A year later, in 1976, he was married and he and his wife went on to have four sons. But the war was not done with him, as all four were born with side effects from the toxic chemical. They all suffered from muscular atrophy and paralysis by the age of five. The couple were shocked and then saddened and concerned. At the time, it seemed the children were suffering from some unknown but cruel disease. Their dream of a happy, large family suffered too. His wife, Nguyen Thi Y, said that every time she saw one of her children stumble and be unable to get up, all she could do was pick him up, hug him, and cry. With the hope of finding a cure, they borrowed money from relatives and took the boys to a number of hospitals in different places but a cure could not be found. They kept their hopes up, though, until they took them to the Hanoi Paediatric Hospital in the capital and the Ba Vi Orthopaedic Centre on the outskirts of the city, where doctors concluded the children were all suffering from the effects of AO/dioxin passed down from their father and there was no known cure. It was shattering news. Thach and his wife cried tears of sadness for long periods of time, not knowing if they could survive. They finally decided to suppress their pain and accept the reality. Though walking remains difficult for all four, mentally they are fine, which is of major consolation to their parents. Although Thach's health is also not good and his wifes is even worse, having fought off a bout of cancer, they have never been pessimistic, instead doing whatever was needed to support their boys. First, they tried to work harder and longer in the fields, growing rice and vegetables for sale at the local market. But we always wondered, Thach remembered, if we were to fall ill, who would take care of our children? As they grew up, the four boys came to understand that their parents were poor and so never complained or made demands, instead learning to do what they could to help ease the burden. The kids dreamt of having a computer, but it was simply impossible, Thach said. Fortunately, though, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs gave us one, which was a dream come true for the boys. Now they can learn what they can about the outside world. His wish, however, was always to find a way to help his children become mobile and able to travel around, so he decided to embark upon creating a special vehicle. He gave a lot of thought to what he could do with motorbikes -- the most popular means of transport around the country but not easy for the disabled to drive. I decided to convert an old two-wheeler into three-wheeled motorbike after studying the mechanics and the frame, Thach said. He tested his first creation carefully and cautiously. Though able-bodied, he noted issues a disabled driver was likely to encounter as he drove long distances, even as far as the mountainous province of Lang Son. After nearly a year of experimentation, Thach decided his three-wheeler was as safe as could be and was easy for people with a disability to get around on. SHARED EFFORT: One of Thachs sons, who is also an AO victim, helps him convert two-wheelers into three-wheelers. Photo giadinh.net.vn His children posted information online about how he converted two-wheelers into three-wheelers and received a lot of positive feedback. Enquiries about buying one were such that he felt encouraged to open a workshop for him and his family to create three-wheeled motorbikes for the disabled. The early days were tough, but each and every incarnation was better than the one before and there was a steady flow of customers. From his simple, initial purpose of doing something useful, Thach and his children have now not only helped so many others in a similar situation but also made their own lives better. And so much more. This has given us a great deal of happiness, Thach said. The mobility a three-wheeled bike provides gives the disabled some much-needed confidence and hope of a better life, he realised. More and more customers, from the north to the south of Vietnam, have ordered one of his bikes. Hes converted more than 200 since 2007, and also makes electric three-wheelers. As the goal is to help those in need, Thach sells his bikes at the most reasonable price possible. We only want to earn about VND1 million (US$45) in profit on each bike, he explained. Every month we sell four or five. In 2018, with support from Bac Ninh provincial authorities and a number of donors, Thachs family built a house. Their joy doubled soon after, when their fourth son was married and a healthy baby boy was born after the couple underwent artificial insemination. As for the future, the family need more investment to expand the workshop and make more three-wheelers for their growing list of customers. This makes our lives so happy and rewarding, and its a viable livelihood, according to Thach. Looking back, there was a time we all felt hopeless and could only curse our fate instead of looking to the future, he said. Now, as grandparents, we see that to be alive means continuing to have aspirations. The pain I feel is no longer so painful. TURNING POINT: A three-wheeler makes life so much easier for people with disabilities. Photo giadinh.net.vn A strong will and energy - with help from the community - helps alleviates the pain AO victims suffer, Thach believes. According to Nguyen Van Nhan, chairman of the Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims in Bac Ninh, Thach and his family are active members of the organisation. They are not only a good example for AO victims in the province but also help promote emulation activities we organise, he said. They have triumphed over the pain of AO, and improved their lives. Speaking at a recent international workshop in Hanoi to evaluate the impact of AO/dioxin in Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said the State, the Government, and the people all hoped that the victims of war, especially AO/dioxin victims, would receive sufficient support. Vietnam has done a great deal to assist victims while calling upon the international community, countries, organisations, and individuals at home and abroad to help overcome the consequences of the toxic chemicals sprayed by the US military forces during the war, he added. The US military forces sprayed about 80 million litres of toxic chemicals, mainly AO/dioxin, over the south of Vietnam from 1961-1971. Nearly 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to the chemicals and about 3 million people and their descendants suffer from health problems as a consequence of that exposure. VNS Joint efforts made for the sake of Vietnamese AO victims Merle Ratner, Coordinator of the US-based Vietnam Agent Orange (AO) Relief and Responsibility Campaign, highlighted certain achievements in the fight for the sake of Vietnamese AO victims during an interview with the VNA. CCP Media Refuses to Run Op-ed by U.S. Ambassador Taiwan Requests to Participate in UN Assembly Amid Pandemic Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan has requested to attend the U.N. General Assembly this year. This bears extra weight to world leaders: Taiwan is one of the few nations successfully dealing with the current health crisis, while the Chinese regime has been criticized by many countries for covering up information in the early stages of the pandemic. Under political pressure from China, the international organization is likely to exclude Taiwan again from attending the General Assembly, which will be held from Sept. 15 to 30 in New York, United States. The Chinese regime considers Taiwan part of its territory, despite the fact that the island operates as a de-facto state, with its own democratically-elected government, military, and currency. Beijing has continually pressured international organizations, such as the United Nations, to accept Chinas sovereignty claims. Beijing Pushes 92 Australian-Based Media Outlets to Tell Chinas Story Well Beijing has cultivated relationships with overseas Chinese-language media via major global conferences headlined by Communist Party leaders. Experts say it is part of CCPs broader united front work. The revelations come after four Chinese nationals and journalists were denied re-entry into Australia following allegations they engaged in espionage or foreign interference. Since 2013, 92 Chinese-language media outlets from Australia have taken part in the Global Chinese Language Media Forum. The conference is backed by major Chinese Communist Party (CCP) organs, including the Information Office of the State Council, Beijings internet censorship arm; China News Service, the second-largest state-run media in the country; and the Overseas Chinese Affairs Officewhich has been accused of influence activities. The Persecution of Falun Gong Is Included in Performance Appraisal The CCP has stepped up its efforts to persecute Falun Gong while facing pandemic, floods, economic downturn, food crises, and a total stalemate in international relations. Some CCPs internal documents that have been exposed a few days ago show that the persecution of Falun Gong has been integrated into CCPs various political activities, from the assessment of the leadership team, anti-pornography, safety construction, and village revitalization. Even in the strategies of pandemic prevention and control, there are contents related to suppressing Falun Gong. According to a confidential document issued by the Organization Department of the Fuyang Municipal Party Committee of Anhui Province, the degree of suppressing Falun Gong has been included as the assessment indicators and scoring standards to assess the leadership and the party building of the municipalities and provincial cities in Anhui Province. Mainland human rights lawyers Xie Yanyi and Xie Yang pointed out in an open letter to the European Union: Today, the biggest human rights issue is in China, and Chinas biggest human rights issue is the issue of Falun Gong. They said, with Falun Gong treated in injustice, the country is in danger! CCP Media Refuses to Run Op-Ed by U.S. Ambassador On September 9, U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo issued a statement criticizing the Peoples Daily, the main propaganda newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, for refusing to run an op-ed by the U.S. Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad, exposing the CCPs fear of free speech. This article by Branstad calls on China and the United States to build a more positive bilateral relationship through uncensored discussions and unrestricted interaction. The article mentioned that the CCP has urged us to focus on areas of cooperation while setting aside our differences, and for years, the United States had agreed to that approach in the expectation that, over time, we would address our concerns as well. But the Chinese leadership has exploited this approach. Often it has insisted we sweep differences under the table as a prerequisite for engagement. Sometimes it made promises to address our concerns yet failed to follow up. At the same time, American companies, journalists, diplomats and even civil society have all suffered unequal access in China. U.S. current affairs commentator Lan Shu said: The U.S. ambassador [Branstad] did not have any excessive requests. He just asked for reciprocity. The American media should be treated the same way in China as how Chinese media are treated in the U.S. This is the reciprocity. His request is very simple. The CCP has been unwilling to reciprocate. It finds out various reasons, scolds the United States, and talks about all kinds of issues of the U.S. In fact, the United States is a free world. Good case on merits, but not on medical grounds: SC while rejecting Sudha Bharadwajs bail plea India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 24: The Supreme Court has observed that the Bhima Koregaon accused Sudha Bharadwaj has good grounds tot seek bail on merits of her case. The court however declined to entertain her bail plea filed on medical grounds. A Bench headed by Justice U U Lalit said that the court was not inclined to grant bail to her on medical grounds. The court suggested that she move a plea for bail plea on the merits of the case. "We are not with you on medical grounds. You have a good case on merits. Why are you not filing for bail on merits," the Bench also comprising Justice Ajay Rastogi said. Bhima Koregaon: Accused formed Committee for Defence and Release of G N Saibaba Bharadwaj's counsel Vrinda Grover agreed to withdraw the bail plea on medical grounds and said that they will try for bail on merits of the case. Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News She was arrested by the Maharashtra police in 2018 for allegedly inciting violence during the celebration of the anniversary of the battle at Bhima Koregaon. You have a good case on merits the SC said while taking exception to the certain submissions made by Bharadwaj before the Bombay High Court regarding the medical submitted by the jail authorities on August 21 which did not mention her condition of ischemic heart disease. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 24, 2020, 15:40 [IST] Supporters thronged the steps of the court Sept. 21 for an impromptu vigil honoring the late Justice Supporters thronged the steps of the court Sept. 21 for an impromptu vigil honoring the late Justice Credit - Lenin NollySOPA Images/Shutterstock There are many theories about why Donald Trump won the presidency, but Mitch McConnell gets some of the credit. In February 2016, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died, paving the way for then-President Obama to replace him with a jurist who would pull the court left. Trump had not yet wrapped up the GOP nomination, and many conservatives were skeptical of the former Democrat. McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, refused to hold hearings on Obamas court nominee, arguing the winner of the election should fill the seat. Democrats deplored the obstruction and predicted voters wouldnt tolerate it. But the judicial opening was a profound motivator for conservativesespecially after Trump, in a novel move, issued a list of conservative jurists from which he said his nominees would be selected. In exit polls, 1 in 5 2016 voters said the Supreme Court was their top issue, and 56% of those supported Trump. Four years later, the death of liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg has given Trump and McConnell an opportunity to pad the courts conservative majority. But the political consequences are less obviousand the procedural shoe is on the other foot. Though Ginsburg reportedly expressed a dying wish that she not be replaced until a new President takes office, McConnell waited just over an hour after her death became public to announce that the Senate would vote on Trumps nominee. All but two GOP Senators quickly fell into line, their past objections to election-year appointments suddenly forgotten. Trump plans to name his pick on Sept. 26, less than six weeks before Election Day, with voting already under way. The last-minute court fight ratchets up the drama and stakes of this fractious election year. Democrats and Republicans alike believe the court could again be a decisive issue in the presidential race. But the implications go far beyond who wins in November. If Republicans succeed in confirming Trumps nominee, six of the courts nine votes will be in conservative hands. In the coming months alone, the new Justice could be a deciding vote on pending cases to strike down the Affordable Care Act and allow faith-based charities to deny services to same-sex couples, as well as a flurry of emergency election-related cases. In the coming years, cases on abortion, affirmative action, immigration, voting rights and other key issues are likely to reach the courts docket. Story continues One legacy of the battle over Ginsburgs seat may be the blow it inflicts on the institution. Theres certainly enough blame to go around over the past two decades on this issue, as both Democrats and Republicans have sought to manipulate court appointments to their advantage, says former Republican Senator Jeff Flake, a Trump critic. But Republicans jamming a last-minute Supreme Court nomination through the Senate would escalate it even further. And if we get to a point where theres court packing or anything else, then that is real, long-term damage. A President elected with a minority of the vote, backed by Senators representing a minority of the public, using procedural hijinks to cement a judiciary that will shape American life: to many, the prospect amounts to a subversion of democracy and a clear sign that the structures of government are badly broken. Some Democrats, including prominent elected officials, say that if their party wins the White House and Congress, they should make big changes: eliminating the Senate filibuster; adding Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico as states; and expanding the size of the Supreme Court, adding two or more additional Justices to compensate for the ones stolen from their partyignoring the squawks of the GOP just as Republicans ran roughshod over them. In the meantime, Democrats are girding for the nightmare scenario, in which the unelected court installed through minoritarian means is called upon to resolve a disputed 2020 electionand hands a second term to a President who never once won the popular vote. In the hours after Ginsburgs death, the steps of the Supreme Court became an impromptu memorial. Flowers and candles mingled with handmade signs as anguished liberals paid tribute to their heroine. Sadness mixed with a sense of panic. Its like the emergency light, right? says Lauren Acker, a 29-year-old D.C. resident. Anybody who believes that what were currently working with is not a functioning system of government, it is now, as it always has been, our responsibility to yell louder, fight harder and educate everyone we can. Within days, the online Democratic donor platform ActBlue reported processing $200 million in donations, shattering records. Democratic strategists predicted the court fight would energize their voters, underscoring the stakes for partisans who are not as enthusiastic about Democratic nominee Joe Biden as hardcore Republicans are about Trump. Our game plan remains the same. And our game plan is: we take nothing for granted, Tom Perez, chair of the Democratic National Committee, tells TIME. Instead of signing on to divisive ideas like court packing, Biden cast the fight in terms of health care, which Democrats see as a winning issue. A week after Election Day, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case brought by a group of Republican attorneys general, and backed by the Department of Justice, that could result in the elimination of the Affordable Care Act. In the middle of the worst global health crisis in living memory, Donald Trump is at the Supreme Court trying to strip health coverage away from tens of millions of families and to strip away the peace of mind from more than 100 million people with pre-existing conditions, Biden said. The political valence of the court has shifted since 2016, making it as muchor moreof a galvanizing force on the left as it has long been on the right. A recent CNN poll found 47% of Biden supporters considered the Supreme Court extremely important, compared with 32% of Trump supporters. In 2018, the bitter fight over the nomination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh on the eve of the midterm elections may have helped power Democrats to the House majority. This year, the court vacancy may shape the race for the Senate, where Republican control is at risk. Senator Susan Collins of Maine already faced her constituents ire for her crucial vote to confirm Kavanaugh, which tarnished her brand as an independent-minded Republican. Within a day of Ginsburgs passing, Collins said she did not believe the Senate should vote on a replacement prior to the election. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a frequent Trump critic who is not up for re-election this year, joined Collins in opposing a pre-election confirmation vote. But other GOP Senators calculated they had more to lose by disappointing their own partisans than they might gain by sticking to the precedent set in 2016. Senators Cory Gardner of Colorado, Martha McSally of Arizona, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, each facing a tough re-election fight, all quickly supported McConnells gambit, waving away charges of hypocrisy. (I want you to use my words against me, Graham said in 2016. If theres a Republican President and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said, Lets let the next President, whoever it might be, make that nomination. The clip is now airing in TV ads.) The Senators sought instead to use the nomination to rally Republican voters behind them. At Trumps rallies, a new chant emerged: Fill that seat! Republicans predict the court battle will shift attention from Trumps mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic toll. This helps Trump, and it helps Republican Senate candidates, GOP donor Dan Eberhart argues. We are not running solely on the COVID response and the economy anymorethis resets the race. A White House official predicts the fight will heighten the volatile atmosphere in a country already contending with a pandemic, a recession, racial justice protests and natural disasters. You think what a full-on war Kavanaugh was, the official says. Its going to be like that times 1,000. Trump is trailing in the polls and has few legislative accomplishments to his name other than his 2017 tax cut. Key promisesa border wall, a health care plan, an infrastructure billremain unfulfilled. Seeing this, McConnell began telling confidants that he was in the personnel business; the massive number of judicial appointments hes pushed through the Senate have become the accomplishment he touts. Trump may lose the presidency, McConnell may lose the Senatebut the judiciary they shaped will outlast them both. That, in the end, may be the only electoral calculation that matters. With reporting by Alejandro de la Garza and Anna Purna Kambhampaty /New York; and Alana Abramson, Brian Bennett, Tessa Berenson, Mariah Espada and Lissandra Villa/Washington This appears in the October 5, 2020 issue of TIME. Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong speaks to the media as he arrives at the High Court to lodge a judicial review over his disqualification from the 2019 district council elections, in Hong Kong on Aug. 7, 2020. (Joyce Zhou/Reuters) Hong Kong Democracy Activist Joshua Wong Arrested for Unlawful Assembly Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was arrested on Sept. 24 for allegedly participating in an unauthorized assembly in October 2019 linked to the governments anti-mask law, his attorney said. Wong is accused of participating in an unlawful assembly on October 5 last year, when hundreds marched to oppose an anti-mask ban the government rolled out, his lawyer, Jonathan Man, told AFP, noting that he was arrested while at a police station for another case for which he is currently on trial. According to a post from the 23-year-olds official Twitter account, he was also arrested for violating Hong Kongs draconian anti-mask law, which took effect on Oct. 5 and has since been ruled unconstitutional. #BREAKING Joshua is arrested when reporting to Central Police Station at about 1pm today. The arrest is related to participating in an unauthorized assembly on 5Oct last year. He is told to have violated the draconian anti-mask law as well. Joshua Wong (@joshuawongcf) September 24, 2020 Joshua is arrested when reporting to Central Police Station at about 1 p.m. today, the post read. The arrest is related to participating in an unauthorized assembly on 5 Oct last year. He is told to have violated the draconian anti-mask law as well. Veteran social activist Koo Sze-yiu, 71, also was arrested for joining the unlawful assembly on Oct. 5 against the mask ban, AFPs Xinqi Su reported. Police confirmed the arrests, saying they were accused of knowingly taking part in an unauthorized assembly, while noting Wongs violation of the citys anti-mask law, the South China Morning Post reported. The two men are scheduled for an appearance at Eastern District Magistrates Court on Sept. 30, police said. Wongs latest arrest adds to several unlawful assembly charges or suspected offenses he and other activists are facing related to last years pro-democracy protests, which prompted Beijing to impose a sweeping national security law on June 30. The activists arrest comes just weeks after Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, a strident critic of the Chinese communist regime, was arrested under the Chinese regimes new national security law on allegations of collusion with foreign forces or external elements. Wong had been a frequent visitor to Washington, where he has appealed to the U.S. Congress to support Hong Kongs democracy movement and counter Beijings tightening grip over the global financial hub. His visits have drawn the wrath of Beijing, which says he is a black hand of foreign forces. Wong disbanded his pro-democracy group Demosisto in June, just hours after Chinas parliament passed the national security law for Hong Kong, bypassing the citys local legislature. Joshua Wong has done nothing wrong and must be released without charge. This is naked political persecution. And the world sees it for what it is. #StandwithHK https://t.co/meC9WYG6ei Luke de Pulford (@lukedepulford) September 24, 2020 News of Wongs arrest has been met with sweeping criticism. The arrest of #JoshuaWong, one of the leading figures of the #HongKong democracy movement, is yet another example of Chinas attack on democracy and human rights through political persecution. #StandWithHongKong, the World Uyghur Congress wrote on Twitter. British lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith described Wongs arrest as naked political persecution. Only Kafka and authoritarians will be proud as @joshuawongcf is arrestedfor violating laws that themselves violate #China #Hongkong intl #humanrights standards, Human Rights Watch China Director Sophie Richardson wrote on Twitter. Reuters contributed to this report. As the four Arunachal boys who strayed into China said, 'It's hard to say which is which'. (Map: Google) The five boys who strayed across the border in Arunachal Pradesh on September 4 highlighted the dilemma that the top Indian and Chinese Army commanders must have faced during Mondays mammoth meeting. The boys, who were found by Peoples Liberation Army personnel, were close to the extreme northeastern end of the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China. The meeting of Chinese and Indian commanders at Moldo was on the Chinese side of the LACs north-western end. This is where, as Jawaharlal Nehru famously told Parliament before the 1962 border war, not a single blade of grass grows. In contrast, the Northeast is lush with vegetation and bristles with game. Moreover, as one of the lost boys put it: We are hunters, we move around a lot. Yet, despite their experience and expertise, they got lost and could not be found for several days. The borders are not demarcated well, they said. We cant say which side is which. It must be even more difficult to do so among the barren rocks and snow-clad heights of Ladakh where there are often no marked borders at all, as narrated in Kyle J. Gardners forthcoming book The Frontier Complex: Geopolitics and the Making of the India-China Border, 1846-1962. This is where India accuses the Chinese PLA of encroaching on Indian territory in early May. New Delhi and Beijing have been at loggerheads over charges and counter-charges for the past five months, re-enacting the tensions between Washington and Beijing that resulted in the recent menacing Chinese video of an aerial attack on what looks like a fortified American military position in Guam. A September 6 meeting in Moscow of Indias external affairs minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Chinas foreign minister, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of a gathering of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation went on for more than two hours. But it did not break the stalemate. India is in the dual position of being both the aggrieved party and the one which enjoys a slight tactical advantage. It is pressing China to agree to a three-step process of disengagement, de-escalation and de-induction. The basis of the demand is that India now occupies tactical heights on the south bank of the Pangong Tso-Chushul river system. This is the area that Raja Gulab Singhs general, Zorawar Singh, invaded in 1834. The Chinese, with their much vaunted sense of history, should not forget that the Dogra forces of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir soundly defeated the Qing emperors Sino-Tibetan army during the Sino-Sikh War of 1841-42. Ladakhs king, Tshespal Namgyal, was dethroned and exiled and Ladakh incorporated into the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Chinas PLA may be trying to regain through backdoor means what the Chinese lost fair and square in a war 178 years ago. However, it must be admitted that the proposed Johnson-Ardagh line (for Tibets northern boundary with Chinese Turkestan) and the abortive MacartneyMacDonald Line (to delineate Aksai Chin) were even more inconclusive than the McMahon Line which those Arunachal Pradesh boys so unwittingly transgressed. One wonders whether either side at the Moldo talks in a fresh bid to ease the months-long standoff remembered Rajiv Gandhis warning about these mythic lines. Indias sixth Prime Minister, who paid an epochal five-day visit to Beijing in December 1988 to meet Deng Xiaoping, reminded everyone that the disputed Sino-Indian border was a thick pencil line on a small-scale map, blurring all physical features. Identifying the border in the ground cant be easy since according to Gardner, the British left large stretches of it without delineation or demarcation. Indians are indignant about the Chinese intrusion into our sacred motherland only because they have been told about them by their political and military leaders. No one has any direct knowledge of those inaccessible heights. Similarly, when the Chinese complain similarly of Indian encroachments, they are only echoing the PLA and what the Global Times prints. Again, there is no independent corroboration. The Indian delegation for Mondays sixth round of military talks was headed by Lt. Gen. Harinder Singh, the commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps. Opposite him was the South Xinjian military district chief, Maj. Gen. Liu Lin. The inclusion in the Indian team of an external affairs ministry joint secretary, Naveen Srivastava, made it the first simultaneous military-diplomatic meeting between the two sides. This was the first meeting between the two corps commanders since their 10-hour August 2 deliberations at Moldo. Indian and Chinese troops have clashed at least twice since August 2, accusing each other of firing warning shots in the air in violation of a long-standing agreement against using firearms within 2 km of the LAC. It is futile now to reflect that a positive response to Zhou Enlais suggestion of swapping Aksai Chin for Arunachal Pradesh, which the Chinese call South Tibet, would have avoided much anguish. But one lost opportunity does not invalidate the underlying give-and-take principle that is so necessary for good neighbourliness. In fact, Russia resolved its territorial disputes with China only by relinquishing its claim to several hundred islands on the Argun, Amur, and Ussuri rivers and approximately 50 per cent of Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island. Now, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, Nepal, Bhutan, Singapore and even protege North Korea can solve their problems with China on a give-and-take basis without emulating Pakistan, which bought Chinas irreplaceable, all-weather friendship with a slice of Indias Jammu and Kashmir that it had occupied. The protracted campaign which the Chinese call wei qi is hardly best suited for the onset of winter. Its not in anyones interest to be lost in the uncharted mountains like those five Arunachal Pradesh boys. The investment will empower insurance companies, banks, and other financial institutions to build and optimize digital journeys with an AI-powered no-code platform Tel Aviv, Israel September 24, 2020 EasySend, the no-code AI-powered platform transforming manual processes into digital journeys, today announced it has raised $16 million in funding following the completion of an $11 million Series A round led by Hanaco with participation from Intel Capital. The investment follows a previously undisclosed $5 million seed round from existing investors Vertex Ventures and Menora Insurance and will enable the company to double its current staff across its offices, optimize its product development and expand its customer base in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Regulated industries such as insurance, banking, and other financial services still rely heavily on manual, paper-based forms for sales processes and customer interactions including claims, policy issuance, customer onboarding, document submission, and remote servicing. EasySends no-code platform converts those processes into digital journeys that can be built, analyzed, and optimized by non-technical staff without any coding via a simple drag and drop interface. This frees up IT teams from day-to-day maintenance issues and empowers employees across the enterprise to deliver new digital products in as little as a few days with a focus on an outstanding digital customer service experience. The company raised its Series A round amidst the recent coronavirus outbreak, a turbulent time during which it has become clear to enterprises that business as usual is no longer sustainable in terms of customer experience. Now more than ever, financial services and insurance companies are searching for ways to digitize their operations rapidly and effectively to meet the growing demand for digitization from their customers. The world is changing. COVID-19 forced traditional enterprises to embrace digital transformation and digital culture at a pace and scale never seen before, said Tal Daskal, EasySend CEO and co-founder. Our no-code platform is uniquely positioned to make this digital transition easier for enterprises from a wide range of industries especially insurance and financial services enabling them to create new digital products efficiently and effectively while boosting and creating digital opportunities which not only save on development and maintenance costs, but also drive revenue growth. Hanaco is firmly invested in building a digital future. By bridging the gap between manual processes and digitization, EasySend is making this not only possible, but also easy, affordable, and practical, said Hanaco founding partner Alon Lifshitz. Intel Capital chose to invest in EasySend because of its intelligent and impactful approach to accelerating digital transformation to improve customer experiences, said Nick Washburn, senior managing director, Intel Capital. EasySends no-code platform utilizes AI to digitize thousands of forms quickly and easily, reducing development time from months to days, and transforming customer journeys that have been paper-based, inefficient and frustrating. In todays world, this is more critical than ever before. The last few months have demonstrated the need to go digital, adds Yanai Oron, general partner at Vertex Ventures, who invested in the companys seed round. And as a result, the demand EasySend was experiencing for its solution became even higher. EasySend works with leading financial institutions in the U.S.A., Israel, and Europe, including top insurance companies such as Petplan and R+V. In addition, EasySend announced two new appointments to its board of directors, Alon Lifshitz, founding partner, Hanaco, and Roi Bar-Kat, investment director, Intel Capital. About EasySend EasySend is leading the charge for a digital future by empowering insurance carriers, banks, and financial services to transform manual, paper-based processes into powerful digital experiences on any device. EasySend empowers enterprises to deliver new digital products faster and improve the customer experience at a fraction of the cost with their innovative no-code development platform. By harnessing AI and machine learning, EasySend enables real-time insights into customer interactions, allowing processes to be optimized quickly and easily. The company was founded in 2016 and has offices in the U.S., Germany, and headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, visit https://www.easysend.io/. About Hanaco Hanaco Venture Capital backs early-stage technology companies with bold, visionary, and passionate Israeli entrepreneurs aiming for significant markets with disruptive technologies including Moovit, Digital Ocean, Yotpo and more. The firm was founded by Alon Lifshitz, Lior Prosor, and Pasha Romanovski. It has offices in Tel Aviv and New York City. Learn more here. About Intel Capital Intel Capital invests in innovative startups targeting artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, datacenter, and cloud, 5G, next-generation compute and a wide range of other disruptive technologies. Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested US$12.9 billion in more than 1,582 companies worldwide, and 692 portfolio companies have gone public or participated in a merger. Intel Capital curates thousands of business development introductions each year between its portfolio companies and the Global 2000. For more information on what makes Intel Capital one of the worlds most powerful venture capital firms, visit www.intelcapital.com or follow @Intelcapital. About Vertex Ventures Israel Vertex Ventures is a leading global venture capital group supporting entrepreneurs to transform their innovative ideas into world-class businesses. With cumulative committed capital in excess of $2.5 billion, Vertex Ventures invests in early-stage IT and healthcare opportunities in Silicon Valley, China, India, Israel, and Southeast Asia. Vertex Ventures Israel is one of the pillars of the Vertex global network of funds, focusing on early stage opportunities in the Information Technology sector in Israel. Learn more here. Press Contact: Justine Rosin justine@headline.media US:+1 917 724 2176 Topics Carriers Trends InsurTech USA Funding Data Driven A former contractor who was charged earlier this month with recording young girls in bathroom stalls at a Camden County school was now facing charges for doing the same thing at a Cape May County high school several years ago, authorities allege. An investigation revealed that Gregory Mahley, 51, of West Deptford, performed HVAC work at the Cape May County Technical High School and recorded multiple people in a bathroom on October 15, 2013, March 20, 2014, and April 22, 2014, according to a joint statement from the Cape May County Prosecutors Office and Middle Township Police. Mahley, who worked for eight years for Multi-Temp Mechanical, Inc., in Westville, was arrested and charged Wednesday with 10 counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child for manufacturing child pornography and 10 counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child for possessing the child pornography, the office said. All the victims who were recorded are now adults and have been identified, and contacted by authorities, police said. The discovery of Mahleys alleged crimes in Cape May County came after he was arrested on Sept. 9 for recording girls in the stalls at Glen Landing Middle School, in Camden County, officials said. Authorities said he installed mirrors onto the back of bathroom stall doors that allowed him to secretly record girls using the restroom through an air conditioning vent. Once the mirrors were discovered, school officials found Mahley inside the utility closet where he recorded the videos, the Camden County Prosecutors Office said in a release earlier this month. During the investigation, multiple devices were seized from his home and his work vehicle. While performing a search of a tablet he owned, detectives located videos of six minor female students and one adult and charged him with seven counts of second degree and third degree endangering the welfare of a child and eight counts of invasion of privacy charges, authorities said. Following his arrest, police said they were investigating other buildings he might have worked in which ultimately led to him being charged in Cape May County. Mahley will remain at the Camden County Correctional Center pending future court proceedings, authorities said. Prosecutors in Cape May County and Camden County said the investigation remained ongoing and anyone with information was asked to contact either Camden prosecutors Detective Briana Hagan at 609-508-3333, Gloucester Township Police Detective Brian Farrell at 856-228-4500, the Middle Township Police Department at 609-465-8700, or the Cape May County Prosecutors Office Special Victims Unit at 609-465-1135. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. A Mobile County jury Wednesday found a man guilty in the 2016 murder of a woman killed on her way to work. Iseral Bernard Hall as convicted of the Oct. 18, 2016 killing of DeLauna Anderson Powell. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with Ms. Andersons devoted family, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Wright said in a statement. We are happy that after four years, justice has finally been served for this truly innocent victim. I would also like to thank Assistant District Attorney Jessica Catlin, the Mobile Police Department and the entire MCDA team for their work on seeing that Israel Hall was held accountable for his actions. Powell was found dead in her car early in the morning of Oct. 18, 2016. The single mother had been on her way to a shipyard job when she became the victim of an apparently random crime. Police reported that officers were called to the area of Broad Street and the Interstate 10 Service Road at 5:00 a.m. for a report of a single vehicle wreck. Powell came an intersection at Duvall Street and I-10, when she as wounded by multiple shots through her car. Mortally injured, she drove a short distance along the service road, made it up the on-ramp onto I-10 and crashed. Initially, police thought they were responding to a simple single-vehicle wreck. Afterward, evidence of close-range shooting indicated a robbery attempt. Powell died at the hospital. Police arrested Hall, 20, and Antonio Lang, 22, in December 2016, acting on tips. Hall was charged with murder; Lang, who investigators believe was the shooter, is charged with capital murder and has not yet been tried. AARP Polls Reveal Top Concerns for Voters 50 and Older More than half of voters 50-years and older in crucial battleground states are worried about contracting the novel coronavirus. At the same time, African Americans are particularly opposed to how President Donald Trump has handled the pandemic, according to extensive polling commissioned by AARP. In Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Benenson Strategy Group and GS Strategy Group surveyed 1,200 to 1,600 likely voters from Aug. 30 to Sept. 8 by landline and cellphone. ADVERTISEMENT The margin of error for each was between plus or minus 2.5 percent and 2.8 percent. In Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, and Montana, the bipartisan polling firms of Fabrizio Ward and Hart Research did telephone interviews by landline and cellphone of likely voters from Aug. 30 to Sept. 5. The firms surveyed 800 likely voters, oversampling voters 50-plus in each state. The error margin varied among the states, but each was less than plus or minus 4 percent. AARP launched the poll on Tuesday, Sept. 15, one week before National Voter Education Day which falls on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Officials said AARPs robust Protect Voters 50+ campaign is designed to reach these voters in each state to make sure they know how to cast a safe and secure ballot. Even though 90 percent of older Americans believe that the country has become too divided, AARPs battleground state polls show that the support of voters age 65-plus is very much up for grabs. ADVERTISEMENT For the polling, voters were asked where they stand on a range of concerns from the coronavirus to the U.S. Postal Service and cuts to Social Security, to the debate over racial justice and law-and-order priorities. The most significant concern expressed by voters about the virus was from Florida and Michigan, where 58 percent of respondents said they were worried about contracting the coronavirus. Fifty-five percent of voters in Pennsylvania and North Carolina noted that they were concerned about catching the illness, and 54 percent of those in Arizona and 53 percent of individuals in Wisconsin voiced the same worry. More than 80 percent of voters in all six states declared that they would more likely vote for a candidate who increased protections for nursing home residents during the pandemic. The poll also revealed that African Americans are standing firmly behind Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden over President Donald Trump, whom many Black voters said they oppose how the Republican president has managed the coronavirus pandemic. Many African Americans expressed that they were more likely to have known someone who died from the virus. Black respondents relayed concerns that they would catch the virus and related severe reservations about a potential vaccine. A majority said theyd still refuse to accept a vaccine shot even if offered free of charge. With the continued debate over voter protections, those in Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, and Montana are divided between those who believe votes that are cast in person at a polling place and those that are mailed will all be counted accurately, according to the poll. For example, while 51 percent of voters in Georgia believe the count of votes cast in person will be more accurate, 48 percent of voters in Colorado and Montana say mail and in-person ballots will be counted accurately. Voters also have varying views on whether the expansion of mail voting will lead to voter fraud. For example, in Georgia, 61 percent of voters 50-plus believe more mail voting will mean more fraud, while voters in Maine are evenly split 50 percent to 50 percent on that question. Black Americans expressed concern about the U.S. Postal Service and that the reduction of funding would prevent election ballots from being counted. While African Americans were also troubled by the prospects of in-person voting and wary of early voting, they were less bothered by potential voter fraud, according to the poll. By overwhelming margins, older voters in 11 states (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin) with competitive races for president and the U.S. Senate declared that they are more likely to vote for candidates who promise to protect Social Security benefits and strengthen Medicare. With President Trump declaring a platform of law and order, voters in five key states Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maine and Montana were asked whether they were more likely to vote for a candidate focused on maintaining law and order and preventing looting and rioting in Americas cities, or a nominee who is focused on increasing racial justice and reducing police violence against unarmed African Americans. In four of the five states, more than 50 percent were more concerned with maintaining law in order. In Maine, 46 percent would support a candidate focused on law and order, while 44 percent prefer a candidate focused on racial justice. In the six battleground states of Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, the presidential race is tight among voters 50 and older. Biden holds leads in Arizona (49 percent to 48 percent), Pennsylvania (50 percent to 46 percent), and Wisconsin (50 percent to 46 percent). While Trump has the edge in Florida (50 percent to 47 percent), the two are in a dead heat in North Carolina, tied at 48 percent. Biden does enjoy a commanding lead in Michigan by a margin of 54 percent to 40 percent. In all those states, the presidential race is within the surveys margins of error. Now more than ever, there are critical issues on the line in this election and AARP is working hard to make sure everyones voice is heard, stated Shani Hosten, AARPs vice president of Multicultural Leadership. Our campaign is providing trusted information to African American voters through our communications channels, including our website, publications, media outreach and advertising to ensure the African American Community knows their voting options and where candidates stand on the issues we care about. _________________________ (sidebar) ____________________________ Battleground states highlights from AARP Polls Arizona: The poll also shows that 90 percent of older Arizonans are more likely to vote for candidates who support protecting Social Security from benefit cuts and that 88 percent are more likely to favor candidates who support strengthening Medicare. 72 percent of 50-plus Arizona voters are worried there will be cuts to Social Security to pay for new spending and the budget crisis. 72 percent of 50-plus Arizona voters are worried there will be cuts to Social Security to pay for new spending and the budget crisis. 88 percent say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices. 82 percent will support candidates who favor increasing protections on nursing home residents during the coronavirus pandemic. 82 percent also favor elected officials who will support making available quality, affordable long-term care options, including for home care and nursing homes. Florida: Candidates who support protecting Social Security from benefit cuts, strengthening Medicare and allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices are more likely to attract the support of 88 percent of Florida voters age 50 and older, the poll finds. 75 percent of 50-plus Florida voters are worried there will be cuts to Social Security to pay for new spending and the budget crisis. 48 percent are worried they wont be able to afford the health care that they or they family need. 58 percent are worried about getting the coronavirus. 82 percent will support candidates who favor increasing protections on nursing home residents during the coronavirus pandemic. 83 percent also favor elected officials who will support making available quality, affordable long-term care options, including for home care and nursing homes. Michigan: The poll also shows that 87 percent of older Michiganders are more likely to vote for candidates who support protecting Social Security from benefit cuts, and 87 percent are more likely to favor candidates who support allowing Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower prescription drug prices. 76 percent of 50-plus Michigan voters are worried there will be cuts to Social Security to pay for new spending and the budget crisis. 86 percent said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports strengthening Medicare. 81 percent will support candidates who favor increasing protections on nursing home residents during the coronavirus pandemic. 83 percent also favor elected officials who will support making available quality, affordable long-term care options, including for home care and nursing homes. North Carolina: More than half (55 percent) of North Carolina voters age 50 and older are worried about getting the coronavirus, and almost half (46 percent) are concerned they wont be able to afford the health care that they or their family need, according to a new AARP poll that finds older voters could decide the 2020 elections. 76 percent of 50-plus North Carolina voters are worried there will be cuts to Social Security to pay for new spending and the budget crisis. 86 percent say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices on prescription medicines. 81 percent will support candidates who favor increasing protections on nursing home residents during the coronavirus pandemic. 83 percent also favor elected officials who will support making available quality, affordable long-term care options, including for home care and nursing homes. Pennsylvania: The poll also shows that 90 percent of older Pennsylvanians are more likely to vote for candidates who support allowing Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower prescription drug prices, and 88 percent are more likely to support nominees who promise to protect Social Security from benefit cuts. 75 percent of 50-plus Pennsylvania voters are worried there will be cuts to Social Security to pay for new spending and the budget crisis. 88 percent say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports strengthening Medicare. 82 percent will support candidates who favor increasing protections on nursing home residents during the coronavirus pandemic. 82 percent also favor elected officials who will support making available quality, affordable long-term care options, including for home care and nursing homes. Wisconsin: The poll also shows that 89 percent of older Wisconsin voters are more likely to vote for candidates who support allowing Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower prescription drug prices, and 88 percent are more likely to support nominees who favor strengthening Medicare. The nurse entered the mans hospital room, only to have the naked patient attack and try to sexually assault her, Pa. police say. It happened this week at Millcreek Community Hospital near Erie, Pa., where the patient, Neal Holl, 35, has now been criminally charged in the alleged attack, according to GoErie and ErieNewsNow. The nurse entered Holls hospital room around 9 A.M. Sunday, and Holl emerged from his bathroom naked, pulled her further into the room, shut the door and began attacking her, according to the Millcreek Police complaint. Details from GoErie: Another hospital employee heard the nurses screams and stopped the attack. The employee told police he heard Holl say that he intended to rape the nurse and had planned it beforehand, according to information in the complaint. District Judge Susan Strohmeyer arraigned Holl Wednesday morning on a felony count of attempted rape and on misdemeanor counts of attempted indecent assault, unlawful restraint, simple assault and indecent exposure. At last report, Holl, who is homeless, was lodged in Erie County Prison, unable to post $150,000 bond. BREAKING NOW: Pa. cop went on $5,500 tire-slashing tirade after being denied booze at restaurant: state police Man in Burger King uniform found shot dead on Pa. sidewalk Pa. boy, 1, fatally ODs on fentanyl; couple charged with homicide: It breaks my heart We are all excited about getting to serve one worthy nonprofit with our time and talents in ways that can make a real difference to their future. Legal marketing and technology agency Content Pilot announces the launch of CP Brand Aid, a pro bono initiative to provide a complimentary branding project to one worthy nonprofit in North Texas. Content Pilot will accept applications from eligible 501(c)3 charitable organizations through November 4, 2020. The selected recipient will receive a complete brand makeover at no charge, including a positioning strategy session. This session will help the nonprofits Board of Directors and key staff members define the differentiating features of the organization and develop a strong core message to communicate more effectively with their audiences. The recipient will also receive a logo and identity design makeover, redesign of the organizations website, and a complete set of guidelines for applying the new brand standards to all materials and communications. The goal of the CP Brand Aid initiative is to further the mission of an underfunded organization that heroically serves North Texas. The brand makeover will boost the reputation and reach of the selected charity and provide a much-needed strategy and brand lift. Content Pilot is known for world-class positioning and branding work for professional services firms, as well as several charitable organizations. At Content Pilot, our employees have a shared passion for giving back to our North Texas communities in important ways. CP Brand Aid is a perfect expression of our Core Values, said Deborah McMurray, founder and CEO of the company. We are all excited about getting to serve one worthy nonprofit with our time and talents in ways that can make a real difference to their future. The recipient will be chosen from organizations with a mission and purpose related to the visual and performing arts, children and families, early childhood and K-12 education, animal welfare, health, social welfare, human rights, or conservation and the environment. The qualifications to apply are purposely broad to include as many deserving charities as possible. Details on requirements and the application to apply are on the Content Pilot website at https://www.contentpilot.com/brand-aid/. Content Pilot LLC is an industry-leading provider of marketing, design, content and technology products and services. Founded in 2006, the company is based in Dallas with 23 employees who collectively have more than 100 years of legal marketing experience. Content Pilot has achieved proven success by providing award-winning websites, proposal automation systems and experience management solutions to many AmLaw 200 firms and other top law firms throughout the United States and across the globe. The company also provides strategy, design, branding, public relations, and content marketing services. Learn more at http://www.contentpilot.com. SOURCE: Content Pilot LLC Follow Content Pilot on LinkedIn Like Content Pilot on Facebook Follow Content Pilot on Twitter The shocking final hours of five men's lives have been laid bare in an inquest after they took a synthetic drug they believed was similar to MDMA. The men, aged between 17 and 32 who were not known to one another, all died in separate tragic incidents across 2016 and 2017. One man threw himself off a 10th floor balcony, Victoria Police Leading Senior Constable Duncan McKenzie told the Coroners Court of Victoria on Wednesday. A second man was restrained by concerned friends for 20 minutes before he stopped breathing, with another unable to recall his name in the hours before his passing. The 25C-NBOMe drug (pictured), a hallucinogenic with similarities to the mind altering party drug LSD A paper tab of 25C-NBOMe, which is known to have a similar effect to the popular party drug LSD A fourth man fatally hit his head against a piece of furniture when having a seizure, with the fifth man dying due to a combination of brain damage and organ failure a few hours after he was taken to hospital. Dimitri Gerostamoulos, the chief toxicologist from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, told the court the substance the men all consumed was a deadly combination of two synthetic drugs: 25C-NBOMe, a hallucinogenic with similarities to LSD, and 4-Fluoroamphetamine, a stimulant similar to meth. 'When taken together, the deadly substances can destroy the bodys ability to flush them out,' he said. 'They also tend to stay longer in a person's system and further to that, can lead to cardiac arrest and brain damage.' The purpose of the inquest is to find out what is widely known about the synthetic drug, from a local perspective as well as globally. The inquest will also delve into ways to prevent a similar party drug resulting in more deaths, coroner Paresa Spanos said. The inquest, which began on Wednesday, is at the Coroners Court of Victoria (stock image) Fujifilm to Seek Approval for Anti-Influenza Drug to Treat COVID-19 Patients After Positive Phase 3 Trial Results By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 24 Sep 2020 Illustration Fujifilm Toyama Chemicals (Tokyo, Japan) flu drug Favilavir, which is currently being promoted with the label, Avigan, has met the primary endpoint in Phase 3 clinical trial for patients with novel coronavirus infections, and the company now plans to seek approval for its use as treatment for COVID-19. Approved for manufacture and sale in Japan as an influenza antiviral drug, Avigan, selectively inhibits RNA polymerase necessary for influenza virus replication. Due to this mechanism of action, it is expected that Avigan may have an antiviral effect on the new coronavirus, as they are RNA viruses of the same type as influenza viruses. Fujifilm Toyama Chemical began a Phase 3 clinical trial of Avigan in Japan in March 2020, for COVID-19 patients with non-severe pneumonia. The company conducted randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind comparative study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Avigan. The median value of primary endpoints, using 156 individuals as analysis targets, were 11.9 days for the Avigan group and 14.7 days for the placebo group. Fujifilm Toyama Chemical confirmed, with a statistically significant difference (p value = 0.0136), that the administration of Avigan to COVID-19 patients with non-serious pneumonia demonstrates shorter time to resolution. The adjusted hazard ratio showed 1.593 (95% confidence interval of 1.024 2.479). No new safety concerns were noted in this trial. The company will conduct a detailed analysis of the data obtained in this trial, and will work to file Application for Partial Changes to include the additional indication in as early as October. The Japanese government has already stockpiled Avigan in preparation for the outbreak of the novel influenza. To meet the requests of the Japanese government to increase stockpiles of Avigan, and by other countries to supply the drug, the Fujifilm Group has been working to increase production of Avigan in collaboration with strategic partners. The Fujifilm Group will work to deliver the treatment drug to COVID-19 patients as soon as possible, and contribute to ending the spread of COVID-19. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) World-class destination Boracay is expected to reopen its doors to more tourists in October, but visitors will have to go through strict health checks, officials said. On Wednesday, officials said tourists from areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) will be allowed to enter the island beginning October 1 subject to health protocols, including a negative polymerase chain reaction test result two to three days before travel. The island resort is now open only to tourists from Western Visayas. The local government of Malay town, which has jurisdiction over the island, said it is still awaiting formal approval from the COVID-19 inter-agency task force, but Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat expressed confidence that her colleagues will support the proposal. Ahead of Boracays expected reopening to visitors from GCQ areas, CNN Philippines spoke to tourism officials to learn more about the islands protocols against the virus: Negative PCR test result 48 to 72 hours before travel A negative COVID-19 test result is one of the main requirements for travelers heading to the island. This will have to be done two to three days before travel time. Addressing concerns on accuracy of results, Puyat urged tourists to stay at home after getting their swab tests to minimize risk and exposure to the virus. Stay home after swabbing so that we can be assured that before you leave for Boracay, that you stay negative, Puyat said in an interview with The Source. Pre-arranged accommodations It is also required for guests to book accommodations ahead of their trip. According to the Tourism department, there are now over 200 hotels and resorts with over 4,000 rooms that can accommodate tourists. Guests will go through body temperature checks, and should fill up health declaration forms upon check-in. Establishments are also required to have santizing mats. Tourism spokesperson Undersecretary Benito Bengzon said resorts are also expected to implement guest capacity in rooms. All establishments and hotels will also have a COVID-19 hotline for coordination with health officials. Are there age restrictions? We are proposing no age restrictions because Filipinos travel as a family. As long as they are negative with the RT-PCR, of course no symptoms, follow minimum health standards we ask that no age restrictions to go also to Boracay, Puyat said. Which airport will accommodate visitors? Only the Caticlan airport will be open. Puyat said the airport will have an isolation facility, which will cater to symptomatic visitors. Do I need to undergo quarantine upon arrival? Tourists who exhibit virus symptoms will be brought to a nearby isolation facility and will again be tested for COVID-19. If the test yields a negative result, then the one can proceed to the island. Otherwise, he or she will need to leave the area. Puyat said officials are in discussions with airlines and hotels on rebooking or refunding, should a guest fail to complete the trip. Visitors are also expected to observe other minimum health protocols, including physical distancing and hand-washing. Do we need to wear masks while strolling on the beach? Yes. Kailangan naka-face mask (we need to wear a face mask). Just to be sure, Puyat said. Aside from wearing of face mask, visitors are also expected to observe other minimum health protocols, including physical distancing and hand-washing. Will foreigners be allowed to visit the island? Foreign nationals will be allowed to visit the island as long as they are in the country. Is there a maximum length of stay in the island? No cap at all. Actually, were really encouraging long-staying guests. Because you can just be there, you have strong internet, and you work from anywhere, Puyat said. Is drinking allowed in the island? Puyat, citing quarantine guidelines from the Trade department, said guests will be allowed to purchase two glasses or bottles of alcoholic drinks. But with just 40 days until Election Day, Biden also appears to be holding onto his leads in a series of crucial battleground states, albeit narrowly in some. While the polling gap might favor Biden, it's the Electoral College, not the popular vote, that will decide the race. Trump won in 2016 despite Democrat Hillary Clinton's more than 2.8 million edge in the popular vote. The debate, set for Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, will be held in Ohio a state that Trump won handily in 2016 but which has grown fiercely competitive in 2020 . Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden holds a durable lead over President Donald Trump in national polling averages ahead of their first debate , where the contenders are set to discuss the Supreme Court, the economy and the coronavirus pandemic . Averages of polls from Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Arizona give Biden a 3.8-point spread over Trump, according to RCP's swing-state tracker. The closest races in that tracker are North Carolina and Florida, both of which Trump won against Clinton. Biden holds just a 0.5-point average lead in North Carolina and a 1.3-point lead in Florida. The Sunshine State in particular, with its 29 electoral votes, has become a major focus for both campaigns. Trump, who recently became a permanent resident of Florida, and Biden paid visits earlier this month, and both have made overtures to the high proportion of Latino voters there. The competition appeared to ramp up further following a handful of polls showing Trump leading Biden among Latinos in Florida. Trump's surprise move last week to announce $13 billion in disaster aid for Puerto Rico was viewed as an apparent play for Florida voters. Florida Republicans, meanwhile, are reportedly pushing Trump to select Barbara Lagoa as his next Supreme Court nominee, believing that the Cuban-American federal judge could boost the president's chances in the state. Some individual state polls do show Trump gaining since August. A Monmouth University poll of registered voters in Iowa, for instance, found Trump rising to a 50%-44% lead over Biden, though a separate model of likely voters from the same pollster put the race at a narrower 49%-46% spread for Trump. The poll of 402 registered voters in Iowa was conducted by phone between Friday and Tuesday. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. One political analyst who isn't changing the prediction he made in early August is historian Allan Lichtman, who has correctly called every presidential race since 1984. "I absolutely stand by my prediction" that Trump will lose in 2020, Lichtman said in a phone interview with CNBC last week. Lichtman's method eschews the polls in favor of an analysis of 13 different categories, such as the state of the economy and the president's policy record, dubbed the "Keys to the White House." "The keys, they're like a rock. They do not easily change, because they have the fundamentals, not the day-to-day of the campaign," Lichtman said. "Trump isn't going to suddenly morph into a different person." Despite Lichtman's prediction and the steady gap between Trump and Biden in the polling averages, there are more than enough reasons not to jump to conclusions about what the outcome will be -- or when it will even be known. Lingering fears about the spread of Covid-19, which has killed more than 200,000 people in the U.S., have spurred some state leaders to expand access to mail-in voting, by lowering the bar for requesting an absentee ballot or by simply sending ballots out to registered voters statewide. The changes have led to concerns that Election Day itself will be fraught with confusion as large swaths of ballots may not be counted until days after Nov. 3. Trump, who himself votes by absentee ballot, has railed against those mail-in voting plans, claiming without evidence that they will inevitably lead to widespread fraud. Far more Democrats than Republicans say they plan to vote by mail in the 2020 election, recent polls have shown. On Wednesday, Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power when asked by a reporter at the White House if he would make such a pledge, "win, lose or draw." "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. He added: "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." Trump has tied his doubts about voting integrity into his push to quickly fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday. "I think this will end up in the Supreme Court and I think it's very important that we have nine justices," Trump said Wednesday. At the same time, U.S. officials have warned that foreign actors are working to influence the outcome of the election. Last month, counterintelligence chief William Evanina said Russia is trying to "undermine" Biden's candidacy, while China and Iran oppose Trump's reelection. FBI director Christopher Wray told Congress last week that Russia has been "very active" in its efforts to "denigrate" Biden. Foreign election interference, along with voter suppression efforts, are the two things that "keep me up at night," Lichtman told CNBC. A hospital trust yesterday became the first in Britain to be prosecuted and fined for failing to be 'transparent' about a death. University Hospitals Plymouth Trust did not act 'with candour or openness' towards an elderly patient's family. Elsie Woodfield, 91, died at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital after going in for an endoscopy. University Hospitals Plymouth Trust has been prosecuted and fined for failing to be 'transparent' about the death of Elsie Woodfield, 91, who died at Derriford Hospital (pictured) after going in for an endoscopy The Care Quality Commission said the trust failed to tell her family that the death may have been caused by a mistake during the operation. Her daughter Anna Davidson received a letter apologising some time later, but she felt it lacked 'remorse', Plymouth Magistrates' Court heard. Yesterday the trust gave a new apology after admitting it breached its duty of candour under the Health and Social Care Act. The duty was imposed in 2015 after hundreds of patients were abused and neglected in the Mid Staffordshire Hospital scandal. The CQC has issued fines and warnings for similar breaches in the past but this was the first time it had taken a trust to court. The court was told that Mrs Woodfield's endoscopy was abandoned after five minutes when she suffered a perforated oesophagus. She later collapsed and died on a hospital ward. The Care Quality Commission said the trust failed to tell her family that the death may have been caused by a mistake during the operation. (Stock image) Her family were never told exactly what had happened as an internal incident report deemed it not to be a serious incident. When her daughter complained, a statement from the trust 'failed to provide an account of all the facts'. The court heard she has found it 'impossible to grieve' with so many unanswered questions. The trust accepted that it failed to communicate with the patient's family openly and transparently. District Judge Joanna Matson said she was bound by maximum penalty guidelines that were not enough to cover the distress caused by the breach and ordered the trust to pay all the legal costs in the case 10,845 on top of a 1,600 fine and 120 victim surcharge. A mask ATM in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) Sydney Tran Ba Linh, a researcher from the University of Bath and Robyn Klingler-Vidra, a Senior Lecturer in Political Economy from King's College London have posted on website theconversation.com a number of articles highlighting the creativity and community spirit of Vietnamese people amidst COVID-19 pandemic. Implementing a joint research that has been underway for a year, the two researchers visited various localities and interviewed locals directly and virtually to explore creative models to increase productivity and benefit the society in Vietnam. In their latest article, they showed their special impression at initiatives and contributions of normal people as well as entrepreneurs with strong sense of social responsibility in supporting disadvantaged people and the groups that are hardest hit by COVID-19 pandemic since February this year. Some innovations have been aimed at preventing further infections, they noted, citing the example of Da Nang-based tech startup BusMap, which has worked with the authorities to create an infection map to help locals avoid hotspots and to find the nearest medical facility. Meanwhile, newly designed robots have been given the job of disinfecting hospitals and public spaces, with different models developed by a military hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, students at a private university in Hanoi and students at a public university in HCM City. In the early days of the outbreak, the Ghen Co Vy, or Washing Hand Song, composed by local musicians in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, went viral around the world for its quirky message and dedicated choreography. Since then, ordinary people have written their own COVID-19 songs. While the above interventions were mainly dedicated to prevention and control, another group of innovators has focused on alleviating the negative social impact of COVID-19. A famous baker in Saigon by the name of Kao Sieu Luc has used dragon fruit to make bread, sharing his recipe with the country. His intent is to help dragon fruit farmers who cannot export their crops due to Vietnams strict travel restrictions. The recipe has been taken up not only by ordinary people but also by other businesses, resulting in the creation of KFC dragon fruit burger. During the second wave, Kao is making dragon fruit mooncakes as the annual autumn festival draws close. In Hanoi, doctor Khuat Thi Hai Oanh has set up a charity called An Egg A Day to provide food, masks and essential goods for the homeless and extremely poor families throughout northern Vietnam. The charity also helps people in need to find work and accommodation, and it subsidises their rent. Businessman Hoang Tuan Anh in HCM City has built a mask ATM for his community during the second wave. The machine dispenses free, individually wrapped masks, with a remote operator to ensure fair distribution and to remind recipients to wash their hands before touching the dispenser. During the first wave, Hoang set up the first rice ATM in front of his office. The ATM provides free 1.5kg of rice and was reported to have dispensed 5 tonnes of rice in its first two days. Hoangs rice and mask dispensers have been replicated by entrepreneurs and charities across the country, added the authors. Concluding the article, the authors stated that they had been struck by the range and speed of innovations, and awestruck by the people and companies who are working for the greater good. Johan Giesecke, Sweden's former chief epidemiologist and a member of the WHO's strategic and technical advisory group for infectious hazards, made the recommendation at the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee yesterday morning. Dr Giesecke has now backtracked on the recommendation following the meeting, saying he was "not an Irishman", was not prescribing anything for Ireland," and did not know if herd immunity was possible. Appearing before the Oireachtas committee yesterday, Dr Giesecke said the Government should allow a controlled spread of the virus among younger people and concentrate on protecting the old and frail, with frequent tests of staff and residents in care homes. Several medical experts appeared before the committee, which was examining options for eliminating community transmission of Covid-19. Dr Giesecke told the committee that Sweden's soft lockdown worked because the country trusted its people. He added that people are not stupid and will respond if told how to protect themselves. Run rampant Advertisement However, Dr Giesecke later appeared on Drivetime on RTE Radio One, where he said Sweden could get better at controlling the spread of the virus. He said everyone in his country was holding their breath right now as they had seen an increase in cases over the past week. Dr Giesecke said he was not recommending letting the virus run rampant in the population but rather that the focus should be on protecting the old ones and doing everything to protect people from getting very ill or dying. We still dont know if herd immunity is possible or not. Its never been the Swedish policy to go there. The doctor also clarified he had not recommended that Ireland adopt a policy of herd immunity: We still dont know if herd immunity is possible or not. Its never been the Swedish policy to go there. Im not prescribing anything for Ireland. you have to make your own decisions, thats not just up to me. Im just saying the way that it is in my country, he said. Dr Giesecke said he appeared at the Oireachtas committee to report back on Swedens experiences rather than say that other countries should adopt a similar policy. Im not an Irishman, I cant prescribe to you or your Government what you should be doing, he said. Following Dr Giesecke's initial comments at the Oireachtas committee, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he did 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. "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. Hospital Hand Hygiene Market Research Report by Product (Hand Disinfectant, Hand Scrubs, Hand Wash, Lotions & Moisturizers, and Sanitizer), by Distribution (Dealers & Distribution, Direct Procurement, Drug Stores/Pharmacies, Retail Store, and Wholesale Distributors/Stockists) - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 New York, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Hospital Hand Hygiene Market Research Report by Product, by Distribution - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05973341/?utm_source=GNW The Global Hospital Hand Hygiene Market is expected to grow from USD 8,851.53 Million in 2019 to USD 16,915.58 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.39%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Hospital Hand Hygiene to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Product, the Hospital Hand Hygiene Market studied across Hand Disinfectant, Hand Scrubs, Hand Wash, Lotions & Moisturizers, Sanitizer, and Wipes. Based on Distribution, the Hospital Hand Hygiene Market studied across Dealers & Distribution, Direct Procurement, Drug Stores/Pharmacies, Retail Store, and Wholesale Distributors/Stockists. Based on Geography, the Hospital Hand Hygiene 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 Hospital Hand Hygiene Market including 3M Company, BODE Chemie GmbH, Cascade HealthCare Products, Cleenol Group Ltd, Deb Group, EcoHydra Technologies Limited, Ecolab Inc., GOJO Industries Inc., Henkel AG, Himalaya Drug Company, Hindustan Unilever Limited, ITC Limited, Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Kutol, Medline Industries, Inc., Pristine Care Products Pvt. Ltd, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc., Vectair Systems Ltd., Whiteley Corporation, and Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting Ltd.. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Hospital Hand Hygiene 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 Hospital Hand Hygiene Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Hospital Hand Hygiene Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Hospital Hand Hygiene Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Hospital Hand Hygiene Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Hospital Hand Hygiene Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Hospital Hand Hygiene Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05973341/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Published on 2020/09/23 | Source New stills added for the upcoming Korean animated movie "Miniforce: Hamburger Monster's Attack" (2020) Advertisement Directed by Lee Yeong-joon Synopsis Bolt, who was accidentally photographed eating hamburgers at Mr.J Burger, the best restaurant in Blue City, was selected as an advertising model for Mr.J Burger. Thanks to the video that received huge views on social media. Bolt who became a superstar overnight, quarrels with his friends on a busy schedule and eventually leaves Miniforce. In the meantime, Breaker J and an army of hamburger monsters appear to create a world that only eats hamburgers, endangering the peaceful Blue City, and the helpless Miniforce without their leader, Bolt. The mighty hamburger monster army that ruled the world! The newly upgraded Miniforce counterattack begins! Release date in Korea : 2020/09/30 Public health officials and community advocates in Oakland will launch a mass coronavirus testing initiative in Oaklands Fruitvale district Saturday as the predominantly low-income, Latino neighborhood struggles with a disproportionately high number of infections. The testing initiative which organizers postponed for two weeks due to poor air quality from recent wildfires is spearheaded by UCSF and a coalition of Oakland organizations, including the Unity Council and La Clinica. Organizers said they hope to administer the free tests to up to 4,000 adults and children through Sunday and will also administer antibody tests to track previous coronavirus infections. The goal is to identify and support people who are unknowingly infected with the virus and gather data that may help reduce the spread of infections among Latinos in Fruitvale. The initiative is particularly critical in this community, which accounts for a significant number of Oaklands roughly 8,300 coronavirus cases. The citys 94601 Zip code which includes the Fruitvale district has a case rate of 4,003.7 per 100,000 people, according to data from the Alameda County Public Health Department. Thats roughly twice Oaklands case rate of 1,970.3. Alameda County has a case rate of 1,270.6, data show. As soon as shelter-in-place started, we started seeing the impact it was having on the community immediately, said Chris Iglesias, CEO of the Unity Council, a nonprofit that serves low-income families in Fruitvale. There was an immediate need for food, an immediate need for financial resources. And then we started seeing people testing positive not just our clients but our staff. Iglesias said the testing initiative will mirror a mass UCSF antibody testing of nearly 4,000 people in San Franciscos Mission District, which showed a high number of previous infections among low-income Latinos who continued going to work while most people sheltered in place. It also found that Latinos were more likely to continue going to work despite the shelter-in-place order, which increased their infection rates. Organizers expect to see similar results in Fruitvale, where Latinos are not only contracting the virus at higher rates, but struggling with the economic fallout of the pandemic. Many families are experiencing food insecurity and significant drops in income and are unable to quarantine if they contract the virus because they live in crowded homes, said Jane Garcia, CEO of La Clinica. Weve had to convert to telehealth (appointments) from the onset of the virus and were finding that theyre having trouble paying their phone bills, Garcia said. Its really compromising our abilities to access our folks that way. An estimated 66,000 people live in the Fruitvale district, according to data from the Unity Council. Roughly 43% of residents are Latino. An estimated 32% of Fruitvale households earn less than $35,000 per year, data show. Low-income Latinos who work essential jobs and live in crowded housing to afford skyrocketing rents remain among the most vulnerable to COVID-19 a pattern that has persisted across the U.S. throughout the pandemic. Yet testing sites are often hard to find in low-income neighborhoods a problem that has also plagued Fruitvale, organizers said. We know that the Fruitvale is one of the most impacted areas in Alameda County, said Dr. Alicia Fernandez, professor of medicine and director of the UCSF Latinx Center of Excellence, who is helping to lead the testing initiative. We know that more testing is needed. But the antibody test will also help us know how much COVID-19 has already been there. Testing will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in La Clinicas parking lot at 35th Avenue and East 12th Street. Residents are expected to get their test results within four days of the event, according to organizers. Results for antibody tests will be available within two weeks. Organizers said they plan to follow up with people who test positive for the virus to connect them to resources and ensure they isolate from friends and family. Residents who get tested will also be asked to participate in two UCSF research studies focused on workplace risk factors during the pandemic. Researchers will examine whether residents employers require face masks and follow social-distancing requirements, among other factors. We know from the Mission study and other studies that exposure in the workplace is one of the chief ways that some people become infected, Fernandez said. We want to learn more about specific practices that may be associated with less risk to workers. Tatiana Sanchez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: Tatiana.Sanchez@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez Brandon Hjella took his 2015 Tundra pickup truck into Red McCombs Toyota for a wheel alignment and other maintenance two summers ago. Hjella said he discovered after the work was completed that his Springfield Armory XD-S .45-caliber handgun was missing from the trucks center console. He suspected a dealership mechanic stole it. The San Antonio dealership, however, determined that none of its employees took the gun. Unhappy with the dealerships response, Hjella proceeded to let the world know his take on what happened. Hjella registered the domain name redmccombs-toyota.com and paid Google to promote the site so anyone conducting an internet search for the dealership would be directed there. Visitors would have seen: RED MCCOMBS TOYOTA ARE THIEVES AND RED MCCOMBS STOLE FROM MY VEHICLE in white letters on a black background. Hjella also allegedly posted negative reviews of the dealership on Facebook and loaded a video to YouTube to support his theory that a mechanic stole the gun. He also advised people not to patronize the dealership. Not surprisingly, Hjellas actions didnt go over well with Red McCombs Toyota. Within about two weeks of Hjellas visit to the dealership, it sued him for defamation and business disparagement in state District Court in San Antonio. It asked for unspecified money damages. Court document On ExpressNews.com: Billionaire McCombs sues ex-execs, severs longtime ties Hjella responded with a counterclaim, accusing the dealership of deceptive trade practices. He also sought financial damages of an undisclosed amount. Red McCombs Toyota abruptly dropped the litigation in February, but the feud rages on. Hjella has appealed the casess dismissal, along with various orders directing him to pay Red McCombs Toyota nearly $95,000 in damages, attorneys fees and court costs, plus interest. Earlier this month, Hjella filed a new lawsuit against the dealership, repeating many of the same allegations raised in his counterclaim. He also wants the court to declare that the dealerships lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cant be refiled. Attorneys for both sides would say little about the bad blood between the parties. As you know, they filed suit against him initially, Adam Poncio, Hejllas lawyer, said in an email. We filed this (new) suit while the rulings in the earlier case are on appeal so as not to lose out on his claims. Theres a confidentiality provision in (an) agreement, said David Ortega, the dealerships attorney. I dont want to jeopardize the rulings and orders of the courts to this point, so I would prefer to not say anything further. Weaponization of the internet Hjella, 34, a San Antonio resident, has an extensive background in cybersecurity, his LinkedIn page shows. Hes currently employed by a Santa Clara cybersecurity firm called Awake Security, but worked at a network security company called FireEye at the time of the 2018 incident at the dealership. He was an integral architect in the development of the Air Forces first cyber weapon system, according to his LinkedIn page. He also holds Top Secret clearance with the Department of Defense, a designation Red McCombs Toyota highlighted in its complaint. Hjella holds himself out to the general public as someone with military training in the weaponization of the internet, the business alleged in an amended complaint filed about a month after the incident. Red McComb Toyota, part of a dealership network owned by San Antonio billionaire B.J. Red McCombs, alleged Hjella violated federal law by using a work computer to conduct a cyber bullying campaign against the dealership. It also accused him of conducting a cyber attack on the business, but there have been no other allegations that Hjella sought to hack into its computer system. The dealership said it accepted Hjellas Tundra for service on the condition that it was not responsible for any loss or damage to vehicle or articles left in vehicle in case of fire, theft, accident or any other cases beyond our control. He also agreed to pay attorney fees and court costs in the event of legal action, the suit said. On ExpressNews.com: Judge: San Antonio billionaire Red McCombs firm must pay foes legal fees Hjellas attempts, through cyber bullying and cyber warfare, to attribute responsibility to (the dealership) for the loss of his unsecured handgun, is a blatant violation of the conditions under which (it) accepted the vehicle for repair, its lawsuit added. Hjella bought the pistol at a Bass Pro Shops, which currently sells the gun for about $550. According to the most recent version of Hjellas counterclaim, he immediately reported his firearm was missing to Frank Driffle, the parts and service director. Hjella also notified the San Antonio Police Department, which didnt respond to requests for a copy of the police report. Hjellas truck has an interior camera, which he reviewed when he got home from the dealership. Hjella could hear the technician rummaging through the center console and heard the handgun being removed from its holster, his complaint stated. He sent a copy of the video to Driffle and the police. The police asked Red McCombs Toyota to provide the dealerships surveillance video for an investigation, but the dealership refused, Hjella alleged in his complaint. Hjella uploaded his video to YouTube, and alleged the dealership and its employees are thieves. He also posted numerous reviews on the businesss Facebook page, making statements such as Dont take your car to get serviced at @RedMacToyota! They will steal from your vehicle. Details @http://redmccombs-toyota.com. He provided a link to the YouTube video, an October court filing alleged. He also registered the domain name redmacthieves.com. Hjellas deposition Hjella didnt deny much of what the dealership alleged about his internet and social media postings during a Jan. 4, 2019, deposition, excerpts of which were included in the court filing. At one point, a dealership attorney asked him whether the content he posted, if believed, would cost Red McCombs Toyota business goodwill and reputation. It could happen, yes, Hjella answered. You expected it to happen, didnt you? the attorney then asked. I expected people to realize what it was, and maybe people realize they need to not put their gun in their car or they need to not have stuff or maybe they will decide they wont go there, Hjella said. On ExpressNews.com: Pierced by arrows , bullets, San Antonio McCombs Indian statue gets refesh During the same deposition, Hjella acknowledged the gun had a round in the chamber when he left in the console while at the dealership. His truck has a lock box designed to hold firearms. And you think thats reasonable conduct? the dealership attorney asked. I think I have the right to do what whatever I want with it, Hjella replied. On Aug. 22, 2018, a day after the dealership sued, it obtained a temporary restraining order barring Hjella from making any statements related to his theft allegations, including on the web and on social media. A judge also ordered him to remove the comments already posted. The parties later entered into an agreement that required Hjella to abide by the TRO. In June 2019, however, the dealership accused Hjella of violating the agreement when he sent an email, titled Why I will never buy another Toyota, to Toyota Motor Sales USA. Red McCombs is suing me for defamation because of negative reviews I put online, he allegedly wrote the carmakers sales, marketing and distribution arm in North America. I tried to be civil with them at the beginning and when they would not cooperate so [sic] I went online and talked about my incident that happened with them. Then they tried to bully me into shutting up with a TRO. Sanctions A judge ordered Hjella to pay $500 in sanctions. In October, Hjella sought a judgment in his favor on all of the dealerships claims without a trial. In its response opposing the request, Red McCombs Toyota said it lost no less than $357,000 in gross profit as a result of Hjellas false and defamatory statements. A judge on Feb. 3 granted Hjellas request relating to the allegation that he violated federal law by using a work computer to make his postings. The judge, however, denied the request on the dealerships other claims, including defamation and business disparagement. On Feb. 6, another judge ordered the depositions of Brittney Depaul, the dealerships ecommerce and marketing director, and another person by Feb. 10. SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox However, the following day, Red McCombs Toyota dropped its lawsuit without prejudice, meaning it could later refile the claims. It offered no explanation. Google Earth / In his new lawsuit, filed Sept. 15, Hjella alleges the dealership dropped its suit rather than provide discovery, which is when the parties exchange legal information and evidence. The dealership kept one part of the case alive, however. It dropped the suit subject to an entry of judgment on its claims for attorney fees and on its breach of contract claims relating to Hjellas counterclaims. In April, a judge granted the business a partial summary judgment and awarded it almost $42,000 in damages and interest. Hjella also would be on the hook for the dealerships legal fees if he appealed and lost. Hjella gave notice of an appeal on that ruling and others, including on the dismissal of the dealerships lawsuit, in July. The case is pending before the 4th Court of Appeals in San Antonio. 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 In this article ULVR-GB LONDON Unilever is using a combination of advanced satellite imagery and geolocation data to help it understand exactly where some of its raw materials come from for its products, which range from Ben & Jerry's ice cream to Axe deodorant. It has historically been hard for the firm and other multinationals to trace the exact origins of those ingredients down to the individual farm or field, according to Marc Engel, the company's chief supply chain officer. "When you traditionally look at these supply chains, they're very long and they're very un-transparent You are at the end of it, when you consume your cup of tea or you wash your hair with Dove or you eat a Ben & Jerry's, you're at the end of that chain. And then at the beginning of the chain is usually a farmer, or a company that uses the land. And then there's a whole host of parties in between," Engel told CNBC by phone. Palm oil, an ingredient in grocery products from biscuits to shampoo, has become a hot topic, because of the risk of deforestation where trees are cleared to make way for more lucrative oil palm plantations. Unilever has stated that it will "achieve a deforestation-free supply chain by 2023." In 2018, Unilever published details of its palm oil suppliers, refineries and mills, and, like other manufacturers, had relied on verification by third parties to certify sustainable sourcing for it and other commodities like cocoa to confirm where crops are grown. "But, as a company, I still don't know where it exactly came from," Engel told CNBC. Unilever's Dove bath foam in a Beijing supermarket. Zhang Peng | LightRocket | Getty Images It's relatively straightforward to see via satellite imagery where deforestation has occurred, but harder to identify whether Unilever's suppliers have sourced crops from those areas, which may be made up of several smallholdings. Unilever has now turned to tech to get a more accurate picture. It is working with software company Orbital Insight to help it see a crop's journey from the field to a processing plant, known as the "first mile" of the supply chain, in a pilot that uses anonymized geolocation data from mobile phone signals to monitor where raw materials are grown and transported to. "We were able to use the (anonymized) cell phone data to actually track the (farm) trucks from parking lot to parking lot and count the number of trucks going to each parking lot and give (Unilever) a map of what their supply chain actually looked like, all the way back to the (oil palm) concessions," explained James Crawford, CEO and founder of Orbital Insight, in a phone call with CNBC. That data is then combined with high-resolution satellite imagery and if those pictures suggest the land has been deforested to make way for oil palm plantations, Unilever can then alert its suppliers not to source from those farms. Orbital Insight has trained algorithms to understand the difference between deforestation and areas where trees may be cut down as part of a managed forest. The technology is currently being used to monitor soya bean plantations in Brazil and palm oil production in Sumatra and is at an early stage, Engel stated, and he emphasized that the company does not want to become the "commodity police." Unilever wants other companies to take part given that the cost of monitoring thousands of supply chains via advanced satellite images around the world would be prohibitive. "If, let's say, the top 10 or 15 fast-moving consumer goods companies with similar (supply) chains would join (us), we can all use the same photographic material, we can all use the same phone signals, but for different parts of our supply chain, then the cost becomes much more bearable We want it to be a collaborative tool," Engel stated. Communicating the origins of a product to consumers is something brands are also keen on, according to Jessi Baker, CEO and founder of Provenance, a tech platform that gathers supply chain data into one place, including information on fair pay, carbon footprint or animal welfare, which can then be shared with consumers and employees. Food company Napolina has worked with tech platform Provenance to provide consumers with information on products' origins. Napolina | Provenance 1000 Dumbest Things Donald Trump Has Said And Done The book is a reminder for Americans as they prepare to vote in November. I hope the readers find something in this book that makes them angry, makes them despise Trump even more, and makes them go out to vote against him in the November 2020 polls. Trump must not return to the Presidency 1000 Dumbest Things Donald Trump Has Said And Done (ISBN: 978-1440428944), a book authored by Terry Silverman, is now available for sale on Amazon.com. 1000 Dumbest Things Donald Trump Has Said And Done is a collection of 1,000 of the most horrible, insensitive, senseless, polarizing and wicked things Donald Trump has done and said over the years before and during his presidency. This book hopes to remind you of Trumps lackluster executive orders, his brazen racism, his islamophobia, disregard for the environment, sexism, egoism, and hatred for low-income Americans. 1000 Dumbest Things Donald Trump Has Said And Done is available for purchase at: https://www.amazon.com/1000-Dumbest-Things-Donald-Trump/dp/B08FSGDHYS/ In this easy-to-read book, the author, Terry Silverman, lists Donald Trumps very serious blunders like his rollbacks on DACA and ObamaCare and the less serious (yet, equally repulsive) stuff like him like him defending his penis size. The book is a reminder for Americans as they prepare to vote in November. I hope the readers find something in this book that makes them angry, makes them despise Trump even more, and makes them go out to vote against him in the November 2020 polls. Trump must not return to the Presidency, Terry Silverman says. The book, '1,000 Dumbest Things Donald Trump Has Said And Done is now available for sale exclusively on Amazon.com here: https://www.amazon.com/1000-Dumbest-Things-Donald-Trump/dp/B08FSGDHYS/ . The proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Joe Biden Campaign. The book, '1,000 Dumbest Things Donald Trump Has Said And Done' is not endorsed by the Joe Biden campaign. Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - September 24, 2020) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed US Nuclear Corp. (OTC Pink: UCLE) ("the Company"), a radiation and chemical detection holding company specializing in the development, manufacturing, and sales of radiation and chemical detection instrumentation. CEO of the Company, Bob Goldstein, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly. Jolly began the interview by asking about the Company's partner, Grapheton, and its development of neural stimulation technology. "Grapheton is the only company in the world that makes biocompatible electrodes, and also biocompatible smart chips that can be implanted under the skin or in the scalp," explained Goldstein. "Grapheton is also the only company that is constantly measuring the changing chemistry in the brain," he continued. "With the brain-computer interface, the idea is that it will be doing two-way discussions with the brain to assist and augment with its many functions." Goldstein then shared that the Company currently owns 49.5% of Grapheton, and is eager to continue working with them on the development of their neural stimulation technology, which can be used to treat pain and depression. "It's just so exciting," said Goldstein. Jolly then asked about the differences between Elon Musk's Neuralink technology and Grapheton's brain-computer interface. "They're both startup companies, they're both in the same space of neuroscience and brain communication, but Neuralink is focused on the big idea of directly linking the brain to computers and the internet," explained Goldstein. "Grapheton is much more practical and near-term," said Goldstein. He then shared that Grapheton's technology can be used to combat a wide range of conditions, including many serious problems: addiction, pain, depression. Diseases: Parkinsons, Alzheimers. And organ control including: heart, kidney, pancreas and bladder malfunction. The conversation then turned to the future of neural stimulation technology. "If we want to live long, healthy, happy lives, we're just gonna have to learn how to talk to the brain and learn how the brain works, and how to assist and augment it when there's a problem," said Goldstein, before elaborating on the potential this technology represents for the medical industry. Jolly asked about the impact Grapheton could have on the Company across the next two to three quarters. Goldstein explained that Grapheton is currently in the process of raising $2 million to fund their current projects, and may begin to produce revenue in the near future. "Investors want to be doing something good," said Goldstein. "They want to feel that they're helping the world move forward and this is where it's at. This is the last frontier in the health world," closed Goldstein. To hear Bob Goldstein's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7690320-us-nuclear-corp-discusses-the-future-of-neural-stimulation-technology-with-the-stock-day-podcast Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/ About US Nuclear Corp. US Nuclear Corp is a radiation and chemical detection holding company specializing in the development and manufacturing and sales of radiation and chemical detection instrumentation. Through three operating divisions (Technical Associates (TA), Overhoff Technology (OTC), and Electronic Control Concepts (ECC), US Nuclear Corp. harbors more than 100 years of combined experience in supplying top of the line instrumentation to any industry utilizing radionuclides. This includes nuclear power plants, national laboratories, government agencies, homeland security, military, universities and schools, research companies, hospitals, medical and dental centers, energy companies, weapons facilities, first responders, local governments, and manufacturing plants. Safe Harbor Act This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Investors may find additional information regarding US Nuclear Corp. at the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov, or the company's website at www.usnuclearcorp.com CONTACT: US Nuclear Corp. (UCLE) Robert I. Goldstein, President, CEO, and Chairman (818) 883 7043 Email: info@usnuclearcorp.com About The "Stock Day" Podcast Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona. SOURCE: Stock Day Media (602) 821-1102 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64556 Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: No deberian prescribir deudas que aun se encuentran en proceso de discusion por parte de la SUNAT. Estoy seguro de que el @TC_Peru actuara buscando lo que corresponde y respetaremos su decision. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) - A lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to provide tax incentive to doctors rendering pro bono or free medical services to indigent patients. While there is a wide gap to quality healthcare access among the poor and marginalized, some physicians have taken it upon themselves to volunteer to render free health services to people who cannot afford to seek medical attention, said House Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte. House Bill 7631 aims to deduct tax credit from the gross income of pro bono doctors. For this purpose, the Department of Health and the Philippine Medical Association shall evaluate the pro bono services rendered by the physicians considering the number of hours and nature of treatment involved, according to the bill. Villafuerte said the proposed measure will encourage physicians to put more hours and services for such purpose. Last month, when Apple had removed Fortnite from App Store, there were rumors that Epic Games is going to form a coalition against the Cupertino-based tech giant to fight its app commission and App Store policies. Well, the rumors were true. Epic Games along with Spotify, Tile, and ten other companies has formed a new organization called the Coalition for App Fairness with an effort to fight against the app commission that Apple charges to developers and a few policies of App Store. The Coalition of App Fairness is based out of Washington DC and Brussels, and calls itself as an independent non-profit organization founded by industry-leading companies to advocate for freedom of choice and fair competition across the app ecosystem. The ten other companies in the organization are Basecamp, BLIX, Blockchain, Deezer, EPC, Matchgroup, News Media Europe, Prepear, ProtonMail, and SkyDemon, all of which have had some kind of clash with Apple regarding app commission and App Store policies. According to the organization, EVERY DAY, APPLE TAXES CONSUMERS & CRUSHES INNOVATION. The Coalition for App Fairness claims to lead legal and regulatory changes against three key issues anti-competitive policies, 30 percent app tax, and no consumer freedom. The organization has listed ten changes that they would like app distribution platforms to follow. Here they are. No developer should be required to use an app store exclusively, or to use ancillary services of the app store owner, including payment systems, or to accept other supplementary obligations in order to have access to the app store. No developer should be blocked from the platform or discriminated against based on a developers business model, how it delivers content and services, or whether it competes in any way with the app store owner. Every developer should have timely access to the same interoperability interfaces and technical information as the app store owner makes available to its own developers. Every developer should always have access to app stores as long as its app meets fair, objective and non-discriminatory standards for security, privacy, quality, content, and digital safety. A developers data should not be used to compete with the developer. Every developer should always have the right to communicate directly with its users through its app for legitimate business purposes. No app store owner or its platform should engage in self-preferencing its own apps or services, or interfere with users choice of preferences or defaults. No developer should be required to pay unfair, unreasonable or discriminatory fees or revenue shares, nor be required to sell within its app anything it doesnt wish to sell, as a condition to gain access to the app store. No app store owner should prohibit third parties from offering competing app stores on the app store owners platform, or discourage developers or consumers from using them. All app stores will be transparent about their rules and policies and opportunities for promotion and marketing, apply these consistently and objectively, provide notice of changes, and make available a quick, simple and fair process to resolve disputes. The Coalition of App Fairness is trying to lure other developers to join the fight against Apples app commission and App Store policies saying that together we will fight back against the monopolist control of the app ecosystem by Apple. [Source: Coalition for App Fairness The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the alleged involvement of several Border Security Force (BSF) and Customs officials in the ongoing probe into cattle smuggling along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal, officials familiar with the probe said. The case was registered in 2018 after a BSF commandant, who served in Bengal, was booked in Kerala. The probe has revealed a nexus between government officers and cattle traders. It is alleged that cattle seized by the BSF were auctioned within 24 hours with the help of some Customs officers so that cattle traders could buy these at very low price and legally sell them again. The CBI is probing allegations that for every cow seized and sold through this nexus, BSF officials used to get 2,000 and Customs officials used to get 500, according to the CBI FIR that HT has seen. In addition, Customs officials used to allegedly get 10 per cent of the auction price as bribe. CBI officers suspect that a large quantity of money was sent to other states through hawala operators. On Wednesday, CBI conducted raids in 15 cities and towns in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh and a BSF officers residence at Salt Lake in the eastern fringe of Kolkata was sealed. Satish Kumar, the officer named in the FIR, used to be a commandant in the South Bengal Frontier of the BSF and is now posted in a neighbouring state. His home in Gaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, was also raided, a senior BSF official of the South Bengal Frontier said on condition of anonymity. A CBI officer said on condition of anonymity that according to the agencys FIR more than 20,000 cows were seized by the BSF when Kumar was posted as commandant of the 36th Battalion from May 2016 to May 2017. However, neither was any smuggler arrested nor the vehicles used for ferrying the cattle seized, the FIR says. The CBI is probing the alleged involvement of several BSF and Customs officials in the illegal trade involving crores of rupees. The agency is also probing if the cattle smugglers operating in West Bengal have links with terror groups in Bangladesh, especially the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). According to the FIR, there was a nexus between some BSF and Customs officers and three cow traders; Muhammad Enamul Sheikh, Anarul Sheikh and Muhammad Gulam Mustafa. The seizure lists of such seized cattle were prepared arbitrarily categorizing the breed and size of the seized animals with an intention to reduce the upset (minimum) price of the cattle during auctions. These cattle were then auctioned immediately (within 24 hours of seizure) with the help of the nearest Customs station in Jangipur, Murshidabad, says the FIR. Since the cattle were shown mostly small in size and of common breed in the seizure memo of BSF, the auction value of such cattle were reduced which were then procured at a considerably lower price by the traders due to their unholy nexus also with officials of the Customs department, the CBI FIR reads. CBI officials said raids were conducted at several places in and around Kolkata and also in Murshidabad and North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday and Thursday. In 2017, the CBI had booked J D Mathew, a former commandant of the BSF 83rd Battalion posted in Murshidabad, for possessing assets disproportionate to income. He was charged again by the agency in 2018. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON If you build it, they will come. That statement, an often misquoted line from the film Field of Dreams, has been applied to economic development meaning once something is built, support will follow. This has been true for the Jamestown area. After a new water system was built in the Jamestown-Rio Vista Water and Sewer District, interest in developing land which previously had no access to water suddenly took off. The Loves Travel Stop under construction is likely only the beginning of commercial investment in the area. Proof of this can be seen in a zone change request the county... 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 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nina A. Loasana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 14:34 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46f3425 1 National Central-Kalimantan,West-Kalimantan,flood,state-of-emergency Free Massive flooding has inundated dozens of districts in Central Kalimantan and West Kalimantan over the last 15 days, causing the two provincial administrations to declare a state of emergency. Adi Cahyono, head of the Central Kalimantan Indonesia volunteer society of humanitarian organization Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT), said that floods had affected 4,509 families in nine districts in Seruyan regency, Central Kalimantan. "Based on data from the Central Kalimantan Disaster Mitigation Agency [BPBD], 16,459 people were affected [by the flood]. At least 4,000 houses were damaged in nine districts, namely Seruyan Tengah, Batu Ampar, Antang Kalang, Marikit, Mentaya Hulu, Seruyan Hulu, Suling Tambun, Manjul and Danau Seluluk," Adi told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. He said that as the distance between districts was quite far, with floodwater hitting the districts at different times, some areas started to experience flooding in the past few days after floodwater had already receded in other districts. According to Adi, the highest water level was recorded on the eighth day of the floods, reaching up to 3.5 meters. He said that based on locals' and the regent's accounts, flooding in Seruyan regency was the worst it had been in the last 15 years. As reported by kompas.id, besides Seruyan regency, flooding also affected dozens of other districts in six regencies: Katingan, Lamandau, East Kotawaringin, West Kotawaringin, Kapuas and Murung Raya. Read also: Floods hit Jakarta after heavy rainfall in capital, upstream areas Adi said that despite the organization's efforts to deliver supplies such as staple food, diapers, and hygiene kits to victims, the flood had cut off road access to some villages, leaving residents without access to aid. Reports from TVOne on Tuesday stated that hundreds of residents affected by the flood in Katingan regency, Central Kalimantan, had not received sufficient aid in the past two weeks. Many residents opted to stay in their homes despite struggling to get access to clean water and food. Several residents contracted water-borne diseases such as diarrhea and skin diseases. Acting head of the Central Kalimantan Disaster and Fire Mitigation Agency, Darliansjah, said his agency was trying to deliver aid to affected areas as fast as possible, using helicopters to transport supplies to areas that could not be accessed through land. "We had also deployed health workers to emergency shelters to handle common diseases during flooding," he said on Sunday as reported by kompas.id. Elsewhere, flooding also struck 15 villages in two districts in Ketapang regency, West Kalimantan. Read also: Two killed, hundreds displaced in Sukabumi flash flood, more rain to come "Water levels varied from 50 centimeters to 2.5 meters," the National Disaster Mitigation Agencys (BNPB) Data Information and Disaster Communication Center head, Raditya Jati, said in a statement. Raditya stated that there were 20 districts in Ketapang regency with a combined population of 270,530 people that were at risk of flooding. "We urge residents to stay alert as the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency [BMKG] has warned of heavy rainstorms in West Kalimantan. We advise those who had to evacuate their homes to always adhere to health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19," he said. Both the West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan administrations declared a 14-day state of emergency in response to the flooding, which would last until Sept. 26 and 27 respectively. Heavy downpours also caused flooding in several other regions in Indonesia, including Jakarta and parts of West Java. China's Skyrizon, Ukraine's DCH Group reapply to AMCU to have stake purchase in Motor Sich approved 18:40, 24.09.20 2278 Chinese investors' concern is related to the financial losses they suffered by injecting US$1 billion, as well as the "deplorable" state of Motor Sich performance. A third Niagara school, this time a St. Catharines elementary school, has a confirmed case of COVID-19 this school year. The District School Board of Niagara reported Wednesday night that there is a case at William H. Merritt Public School on Linwell Road. The board did not disclose if it was a staff person or a student. In a news release, the board said anyone students or staff that had been in contact with the infected person has been sent home for 14 days. The release does not indicate if this means any classes at the school are being closed. It is the second DSBN school to report COVID-19 cases. On Monday, Niagaras public health department declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Eastdale Secondary School in Welland after a second case was discovered and five classes were closed. Both cases are staff people, according to a provincial government database that tracks novel coronavirus cases in schools. Last Thursday, Mary Ward Catholic School in Niagara Falls reported a single case, resulting in the closure of a class. The government reports it was a staff person who contracted the virus. In the news release Wednesday, the DSBN says the custodians have completed a thorough cleaning of the entire school. Members of the William Hamilton Merritt school community will continue preventative COVID-19 practices such as physical distancing, handwashing, and daily health screening. The public health department will be at the school Thursday for an assessment. Although the health department provided recommendations to the school board about COVID-19 prevention, it is up to the board and the individual schools to set policy and enact safety measures. Prior to the start of the school year, the health department did not have an opportunity to inspect all of Niagaras schools. Dr. Mustafa Hirji, Niagaras acting medical officer of health, has said as cases emerge, the health department is taking the opportunity to review the schools and recommend improvements. This is a developing story. More to come. Giorghiana Hosu has resigned as chief-prosecutor of the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism, the Ministry of Justice informed on Thursday evening. AGERPRES . The U.S. Air Force officially has its own tattoo parlor. Airmen at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, can now get new ink at a shop on base. The studio, known as "American Tattoo Society," opened earlier this month, according to the official Nellis Facebook page. Read Next: Camp Lejeune Marines Warned to Stop Running in the Dark After 4 Coyote Attacks "Team Nellis is now home to the first tattoo studio on an Air Force or Army installation," the post states. "We are always leading from the front and finding new ways to improve the quality of life for our Airmen." Airmen can visit the studio seven days a week, from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the post. Nellis Air Force Base is now home to the first tattoo studio on an Air Force or Army installation. (U.S. Air Force/Facebook) In 2017, the service stopped limiting the size of airmen's tattoos, a significant shift that opened the door to popular sleeve tattoos on arms and legs. The Air Force previously had a "25 percent rule," banning tattoos from covering more than a quarter of an exposed body part. In addition to arms and legs, tattoos are allowed on the chest and back, as well as one finger. However, tattoos, brandings and body markings are still prohibited on the head, neck, face, tongue, lips and scalp, per the regulation. The service is even preparing to open a second tattoo shop at the base, spokesman Lt. Col. Bryon McGarry said Thursday. That shop, "Nellis Ink," will host independent artists from the Las Vegas area who "will provide unique talents at a reduced price to Nellis personnel," he said in a statement. "The establishment of a tattoo parlor on Nellis AFB is tied directly to Airmen morale." McGarry said the effort was spearheaded by the 99th Force Support Squadron. The unit "recognized the opportunity to offer tattoo services to Airmen at a lower cost and in a safe environment," he said. "In addition, by providing tattoo services on base we can ensure our artists follow the [Air Force] tattoo guidance when providing service for active, Guard and Reserve Airmen." "People enjoy expressing themselves through tattoos, and Nellis Airmen are no different," he added. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Related: Air Force Orders Better Lactation Spaces for Nursing Moms In small tin sheds in a town outside Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, wooden looms are deftly operated by a group of men and women -- some of the country's last traditional weavers -- as huge garment factories churn out cheaper alternatives. The nation's centuries-old traditional weaving was once highly sought after, with nobility from Asia and Europe wearing the fine muslin clothing. But over the past two decades, Bangladesh has become one of the world's largest ready-made garment exporters, with 4,000 factories making clothes for the likes of retail giants Primark and H&M. Left in its wake are traditional weavers such as 55-year-old Mohammad Abu Taher, who is the last of his family to take up the once celebrated vocation. "My great-great-grandfather was a weaver and all my ancestors were into weaving," Taher told AFP as he sat in a tin shed with several other artisans in Ruhitpur, a town 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Dhaka. Taher's two sons have left Ruhitpur for the capital to seek work, unwilling to pick up the dying art-form. Three centuries ago, Ruhitpur was one of the region's biggest hubs for manufacturing lungis -- traditional sarongs worn by men. There were 4,000 handlooms in Ruhitpur and nearby villages, employing 12,000 weavers. A handwoven lungi from Ruhitpur was a "prized asset", said local trader Chowdhury Abdur Rahman, recalling stories of his father and uncles buying the cloth for their weddings. "It was a big part of Bengal's heritage," historian Hameeda Hossain said of the historical region now known as Bangladesh and West Bengal state in India. "Unfortunately, it can't compete with power looms." Now, just three dozen weavers -- with an average age of 50 -- remain in Ruhitpur, serving a small group of customers still willing to shell out for the softer, handmade lungis. "Our lungi is expensive. Still, some people haven't deserted us because of the softness of handmade clothing," 45-year-old Ruhitpur weaver Mohammad Rafiq told AFP. But he admits his profession is dying out. Employment in the town has shifted to almost a dozen factories manufacturing plastic, textiles and jute that have more than 10,000 people on the payroll. "They (factories) have set up electric-powered weaving industries worth hundreds of millions of dollars," he said. "They can make lungis and saris very cheaply. We can't compete with them in terms of price." BOSTON, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Creatio (formerly bpm'online), a global software company providing a leading low-code platform for process management and CRM, today announced the agenda and speakers for its unique worldwide 24-hour livestream conference Accelerate Global. The event will be held on October 28th, 2020 and gather visionaries, analysts, experts, and leaders from different industries to unleash the power of creating a low-code company. The Accelerate Global's agenda features over 200 sessions for IT, digital and business leaders, as well as business analysts, citizen developers and professional developers on the Creatio platform everyone interested in mastering their skills and deepening knowledge about business transformation, winning tech strategies, and low-code development. The sessions are split between five tracks which are: Accelerate, Industry in Focus, Creating a Low-Code Company, Development on the Creatio Platform, and Doing Business with Creatio, to help attendees easily find content that matches their expertise and expectations best. Accelerate Global is a track for business and digital leaders with plenty of insights to help turn their business challenges into opportunities and look at the future of enterprise software in a different way. is a track for business and digital leaders with plenty of insights to help turn their business challenges into opportunities and look at the future of enterprise software in a different way. Industry in Focus is an industry-specific solutions track tailored to provide insights on winning strategies and practical cases for automating front and middle-office processes in various verticals. is an industry-specific solutions track tailored to provide insights on winning strategies and practical cases for automating front and middle-office processes in various verticals. Creating a Low-Code Company is a track for IT and digital leaders, citizen developers, and users of the Creatio platform, packed with practical knowledge about leveraging Creatio's low-code platform for process management and CRM to fit their company's specific needs. is a track for IT and digital leaders, citizen developers, and users of the Creatio platform, packed with practical knowledge about leveraging Creatio's low-code platform for process management and CRM to fit their company's specific needs. Developing on the Creatio Platform is a track for professional developers and technical leaders on how to accelerate transformation with the #1 low-code platform for front-office and operational processes. is a track for professional developers and technical leaders on how to accelerate transformation with the #1 low-code platform for front-office and operational processes. Doing Business with Creatio is a partner-only track featuring open discussions with Creatio leadership and product teams, as well as updates on Creatio vision, strategy and roadmap. The event speakers list includes visionaries, industry analysts and experts, Creatio leadership, customers and partners, to provide insights to help organizations worldwide turn their business challenges into opportunities. It's far from exhaustive an extended version can be found on the event webpage. The future of enterprise software is low-code. Creatio invites registrants to embark on the unparalleled experience of a 24-hour virtual event filled with insights, trends, real-world cases and practical workshops on business transformation. Join the event in your time zone and language and learn how to create a low-code company! About Creatio Creatio (formerly bpm'online) is a global software company providing a leading low-code platform for process management and CRM. The company has been highly recognized as a market leader by key industry analysts. Its intelligent products accelerate sales, marketing, service and operations for mid-size and large enterprises. Together with hundreds of partners Creatio operates in 110 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit www.creatio.com Media contact: Vera Mayuk [email protected] 617-765-7997 SOURCE Creatio Related Links http://www.creatio.com Mumbai, Sep 24 : The Maharashtra Congress on Thursday demanded to know why the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is not probing Bharatiya Janata Party-Bollywood-Sandalwood and other sympathisers or actress Kangana Ranaut who has openly admitted to taking drugs. In a statement, State Congress General Secretary and Spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that the NCB arrested some people as soon as Bollywood's drug connections came to the fore in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. "The NCB made a huge ado over a 59 gms cannabis case, but at the same time a BJP activist Chandrakant Chauhan was arrested in Karnataka with 1.20 tonnes of cannabis and the NCB ignored the case," Sawant said. In Karnataka, the BJP's star campaigner and actress Ragini Dwivedi was nabbed in the Sandalwood-drugs racket case and a case has been lodged against 12 persons. The Congress leader pointed out that among those arrested is Aditya Alva, who is the brother-in-law of Gujarat BJP's star campaigner and actor Vivek Oberoi. "Vivek Oberoi is the co-producer of the Modi biopic with Ssandip Singh who had made 53 calls to an unknown person in the BJP office and someone had helped him (Singh) in a case in Mauritius. All these things are linked with each other and should be investigated," Sawant added. With so much activity in Bollywood, he said it is strange why the NCB is not probing the BJP-Bollywood-Sandalwood-Goa drugs nexus that is related to the case. "The NCB DG is a favourite of (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) Rakesh Asthana. Is it now a 'NaMo Controlled Bureau'? Why is the BJP angle missing and why is it so kind to Kangana Ranaut," Sawant demanded. He said the Maharashtra government has already informed the CBI about all this but it is surprising that till date this angle has not been investigated at all. He added that the NCB will "not be allowed to ignore the BJP's drug connections in Bollywood, Karnataka and Goa", who are the partners of Gaurav Arya, why Kangana's name is missing despite her admission that she was taking drugs. "When the NCB is calling for a probe based on WhatsApp chats, Kangana's video of her drug confession is available as evidence, she came and stayed for a few days last week. Isn't she a part of Bollywood," said Sawant wondering about the reasons why the NCB is so benign to the actress. PHOENIX, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisor Group, the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, today announced that its Women Forward initiative was awarded the Corporate Social Responsibility & Diversity Award for Broker-Dealers with 1,000 financial professionals or more at this year's WealthManagement.com Industry Awards. Women Forward is an initiative created by Advisor Group executives and home-office staff in collaboration with financial professionals that is focused on supporting the career growth of women across all of Advisor Group's firms and throughout the financial services industry. Women Forward offers actionable programs to drive professional success for female professionals, through an annual conference; a thriving, high-impact one-on-one female mentorship program; the W Pulse podcast, featuring innovative content developed by women professionals for women professionals; and exclusive networking opportunities. Susan Theder, Chief Marketing Officer of Advisor Group, said, "It is truly an honor to have our efforts to support women recognized by WealthManagement,com. Our Women Forward program provides support and a sense of community to our female financial professionals and enables us to inspire women to achieve their greatest vision of success." Now in its sixth year, the WealthManagement.com Industry Awards ceremony was held for the first time as a virtual event in 2020. Awarded on Sept. 10, the "Wealthies" recognize companies and individuals that have shown themselves to be leaders in the wealth management space when it comes to supporting the success of financial advisors. The finalists and winners were selected based on quantitative and qualitative measures by a panel of 15 judges that included many top leaders in the wealth management industry. Jamie Price, CEO and President of Advisor Group, concluded, "On behalf of the entire Advisor Group network, we congratulate the financial professionals and home-office staff who have built Women Forward into the tremendous success it is today. We are dedicated to promoting the professional growth of women in our industry, both because it supports our mission as a company, and more importantly, because it is the right thing to do. We're grateful to all of our financial professionals for their constant support of Advisor Group and our firm's values, and we're proud to be in their corner." About Advisor Group Advisor Group, Inc. is the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, serving approximately 11,100 financial professionals and overseeing over $450 billion in client assets. The firm is mission-driven to support the strategic role that advisors can play in the lives of their clients. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial professionals and is committed to being in their corner every step of the way. For more information visit https://www.advisorgroup.com. Securities and investment advisory services are offered through Advisor Group, Inc. subsidiaries, FSC Securities Corporation, KMS Financial Services, Inc., Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities services are offered through Investacorp, Inc., Securities America, Inc., and Securities Service Network, broker-dealers and members of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, Investacorp Advisory Services, Inc., Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., SSN Advisory, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisor Group, Inc. is a holding company. Advisor Group, Inc. is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Advisor Group, Inc. 20 E. Thomas Rd., Ste. 2000, Phoenix, AZ, 85012. 866.481.0379 Media Inquiries Joseph Kuo / Chris Clemens Haven Tower Group 424 317 4851 or 424 317 4854 [email protected] or [email protected] SOURCE Advisor Group Related Links http://www.advisorgroup.com Grunt Style, the military-themed clothing company based in San Antonio, is denying claims by its founder and former CEO that the company set him adrift without compensation or medical coverage. Earlier this week, Daniel Alarik, who started Grunt Style in 2009, raised more than $62,000 in less than 12 hours on Gofundme a crowdfunding website after posting that the company left him unable to cover medical costs for his family. In response, hundreds of people angrily responded on Grunt Styles social media platforms, blasting the retailer for firing Alarik. Some called for a boycott. On Wendesday, the brand which does most of its business online and through wholesale channels released a statement with a timeline countering Alariks claims in his Gofundme post. He said the company fired him without explanation. On ExpressNews.com: Founder of San Antonios Grunt Style, military-themed clothing brand, says he was ousted In their statement, company officials said Alarik was actively pursuing other projects unrelated to Grunt Style from February to August. Additionally, Daniels participation and attitude towards many in the company deteriorated, creating a hostile environment for our team members. Alarik did not respond to a request for comment. The officials said they notified him in August that they were terminating his employment contract on Aug. 31, and that on that day Daniel emailed a 59-page manifesto to the entire company, undermining the leadership team. Alarik, whose wife is undergoing cancer treatment, also claimed that the company left him uninsured. Grunt Style released an email to Alarik that said the company is willing to pay for your health insurance for an indefinite period of time i.e. until our discussions conclude one way or the other. While the majority of donations Alarik received via Gofundme rang in at $100 or less, he did receive several high-dollar amounts, including $20,000 from Shawn Wylde, an entrepreneur with stakes in several clothing companies, and $10,000 from an anonymous donor. Alarik wrote that an outside partner came into the business unexpectedly in 2019 and forced his removal and loss of control over the company. For their part, Grunt Style officials said the company was in a financial crisis when it made a deal with investors in June 2019 that allowed the company to continue operations. Daniel stepped down as CEO but still remained as a lead executive of the company, the statement said. Daniel assumed the role of Chairman of the Board where he continued to have a voice in the companys overall direction. During a company podcast Tuesday, Chief Strategy Officer Tim Jensen said, During the CEO search, Daniel Alarik was very involved in it, and actually interviewed Glenn Silbert and was part of the hiring process. Silbert became CEO in February after stints at various apparel companies, including Under Armour. More than 1,500 people commented on the companys original response to Alariks claims posted on Facebook Monday. The company later took that post down citing privacy concerns. While not wanting to disparage Daniel or his family, we cannot allow any more half-truths to be told, the company said. As well, these tactics put the livelihoods of nearly 300 employees and their families in jeopardy. This behavior and threat of boycott that has ensued has put strategic relationships intended to benefit many thousands of Veterans at risk. An official with the company said that its too early to tell if the social media fallout has hurt sales. The company has a retail store in its headquarters on the 900 block of Broadway and is expected to announce plans to expand in the San Antonio area later this year. Recently, the company has partnered with Burn Pits 360, a group fighting for legislation to ensure veterans exposed to toxins from burn pits overseas get proper care. The company official said the Alarik situation has distracted from efforts to help the community the company is aligned with. 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 PUB landlords in Henley have criticised the Government for making them close early in a bid to halt a second wave of coronavirus. They say Henley is being treated like a university town and should be exempt because it does not attract crowds of late-night drinkers. New rules announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday came into force yesterday (Thursday) and mean that pubs, bars and restaurants have to close at 10pm and are restricted to table service only. Tom Davies, chief executive of Henley pub company Brakspear, said the new regulations should not apply nationwide. He said: Its a blunt instrument to put everyone in the same boat. Weve made sure that our businesses are covid safe environments. It would appear that younger people are bending the rules and it seems to be in university towns where the problems are but I dont blame them. Theyve come to university and want to spend time with their friends. However the rules affect everyone and the lovely people of Henley shouldnt be affected. Brakspear own 24 pubs in and around Henley and Mr Davies said: We have to deal with it and we have to be positive and we will carry on. The businesses in Henley should be commended as they are following the rules and they are safe. Its going to be a long hard winter but hopefully by spring, things will be better. Dan Wilson, who helps his wife Helen Blundell run the Bird in Hand in Sonning Common, said: The big problem is universities opening and students from all over the country travelling from hot spots. That should be the main concern for the Government. They should take the view that Henley has rural pubs and we wont make a difference but pubs in big cities will. I dont think its fair that we are under the same regulations. Im incredibly sceptical. Mr Wilson even suggested that a second lockdown may be more effective to bring the number of cases down instead of creating random regulations. Nick Willson, who owns the Flowing Pub Spring Pub in Playhatch, said: The Government is trying to put rules in place for everyone but there should be exceptions. We are all being tarnished with the same brush when weve got a lot more space than big cities and we comply with the rules anyway. We are suffering when there arent any local problems. Mr Willson, who runs the Henley Road pub with his wife Hazel Lucas, said the table service rules would make life difficult as the pubs bar is upstairs. He said: Its an odd shaped pub. Someone will have to go downstairs to take the order and the payment, take the order upstairs and then go back downstairs to see if anyone else needs serving. Then someone will need to come upstairs to get the drinks and take it back down. Its going to cost us in staffing and no one is making a lot of money at the moment anyway so its going to be hard to employ extra staff for this table service. There is also going to be a lot more contact when our first duty is the safety of our staff. People have said we are the most covid-safe pub in the area but now all the stuff weve done and our hard work has been rendered useless. Well sort out something that works for everyone we will never up. Neil Ainsworth, landlord of the Argyll in Henley market place, was more concerned about the future of the business. He said: The issue is that we still have to pay full rent when we arent earning as much as we used to. We are probably going to go bankrupt. Weve already been doing this for six months - how much longer is it going to go on for? We do not have an endless pit of money. These regulations are going to have a catastrophic effect on the hospitality industry and people are going to lose their livelihoods. Joe Ball, general manager of The Bull on Bell Street, said: The 10pm curfew will certainly affect us on weekends. It will just be a case of seeing if peoples drinking times change or if we lose our late-night profits. We already do table service and we have got an app from when we first re-opened. We try to promote the app as much as possible. The Bird in Hand in Greys Road in Henley already closes at 10pm. Graham Steward, who runs the pub with his wife Celia, said: It makes sense. I think that some young people are trying to beat the system and it has caught up with them so hopefully this will help them realise and become more sensible. In a last-minute move that could stave off an election, the federal government has tweaked its replacement for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to pay recipients $500 a week instead of $400. The announcement on Thursday came a day after NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh signalled his partys support for the Liberal minority governments throne speech which is potentially crucial for avoiding an election was contingent on this kind of a move. Singh called the funding boost a major victory for people, but has yet to commit his party to voting in support of the throne speech. Without that support, the minority Liberal government could fall. While the bill that boosts the benefit increase also includes a paid sick-leave plan, Singh said he still has reservations around access that he wouldnt detail while negotiations about the legislation were ongoing. However, he said, Things look really positive. CERB provides $500 per week to those who lost their jobs during the pandemic, but is set to expire this week. The increase to the proposed Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) would make it equivalent to what CERB now pays. The CRB plan was included in an economic recovery bill that was tabled in Parliament on Thursday. If the legislation passes, Canadians who qualify could receive $500 a week for up to 26 weeks between Sept. 27 and Sept. 25, 2021. The bill also includes: A Canada Recovery Sickness benefit, which would provide $500 a week for two weeks to workers who fall ill or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19; A Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, which would provide $500 a week per household for up to 26 weeks when someone must take a leave from work to care for a family member. Combined, these three new benefits would create a safe bridge to help Canadians span the gap between the complete lockdown of last spring and a safe and gradual reopening of the economy this fall and winter, Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough told a news conference on Thursday. Labour Minister Filomena Tassi said the bill would also amend the labour code, allowing people to leave work for up to two weeks if theyve contracted COVID-19, been exposed to it or had to go into self-isolation. These are temporary measures to help Canadians overcome the challenges that they are facing because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tassi said. We want to ensure that Canadians know that their job is protected if they stay at home to keep themselves and other Canadians safe. When the CRB plan was first announced last month, the government said it would provide $400 a week to people who didnt qualify for Employment Insurance when the CERB ended. It also said EI would be modified to allow more people to access it. As of Sept. 27, workers who become eligible for EI will receive a minimum benefit of $500 per week. Those who arent eligible could apply for one of the three new benefits unveiled Thursday. The legislation would also allow the government to have its emergency spending powers extended until December. Asked if political considerations led to the CRB increase, Qualtrough said the government had always intended to be flexible in how much money it would provide under the program. We landed here because this is where the country is now in terms of the support workers need, she said. Wednesdays throne speech was criticized by the Bloc Quebecois, which wants increased funding for provinces, and the federal Conservatives, who said it ignored the plight of oil and gas workers. Premiers Doug Ford and Jason Kenney were also disappointed to see no commitment had been made by the Liberals to boost health-care funding for provinces. Conservative MP Peter Kent called Thursdays legislation unacceptable, and questioned the governments motives for unveiling the changes days after locking out MPs and shutting down Parliament to block investigations into their ethical scandals. Now they are trying to ram through their legislation to distract from a throne speech that left millions of Canadians behind, Kent said in a written statement. Read more about: After many years as a homemaker, and working as an activist for civil rights and education causes, Mrs. Williams became an independent nursing home consultant in 1974 and a few years later ran an infirmary for the elderly in Rochester. It was an era of massive nursing home expansion, thanks to the creation of Medicare in 1965, and many properties were corporate-owned. A Colorado lawmaker has proposed federal legislation to accelerate the cleanup of abandoned oil and gas wells nationwide in an effort to address both the environmental and public health consequences of unplugged wells. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat from Colorado, announced two bills that he says will create jobs, strengthen bonding requirements and increase the publics role in managing federal lands. Both bills could have ramifications for Wyoming due to the states abundance of public land and widespread oil and gas activity. Investing in orphan well clean up would create good-paying jobs while helping reduce pollution, restore habitat, and protect our climate, Bennet said in a statement. Together, these bills restore the role of local leaders to have a greater voice in lease sales, hold all companies operating on public lands to the same high standards that responsible operators follow, and ensure that local governments and taxpayers arent burdened with the cost of cleanup. Orphan wells are idle oil and gas wells left unplugged with no responsible owner. The first act would amend the Mineral Leasing Act to increase the minimum amount of bonding, or financial assurance, oil and gas operators must pay in case the state must take charge of cleanup down the road. The statewide bonding requirement would be set at $200,000. On a national level, the Government Accountability Office found a vast majority of bonds (84%) covering wells on federal and tribal land were insufficient to cover the full cost of reclamation, or cleanup. Hundreds of thousands of wells remain unplugged nationwide. The financial shortfall on reclamation funds has become only more of a problem during the shale era as firms use hydraulic fracturing. Operators often drill deeper, creating long horizontal links. This technique can make reclamation work more expensive. If an abandoned well is not attended to, a wellbore could deteriorate and potentially leach oil, gas or fluids into nearby water supplies. Wells left unplugged can spew out about 0.13 metric tons of methane on an annual basis. The legislation deals with both ends of the huge and burgeoning public liabilities left by the collapsing financial bubble in Americas oil industry, Bob LeResche, a Wyoming landowner, said in support of the bills. LeResche also serves on the board of the Powder River Basin Resource Council. It provides funds to plug and clean up the thousands of wells left behind by failed and bankrupt drillers, he added. Most importantly, it requires that future drillers provide stronger financial assurances up front, so unfunded orphan wells dont recur in the future. The act would also provide the Interior Department with billions of dollars over the next decade to manage a widespread cleanup program. Whats more, the legislation would require the agency to establish a comprehensive database to track onshore leases and wells. Under the proposed bill, the Treasury Department would provide the Interior Department with $500 million during the first two years of the cleanup program. Then, from 2022 to 2029, the program would be provided $250 million. The funding would come from oil and gas royalty revenue, according to the proposed bill. A report published in July by Resources for the Future and Columbia Universitys Center on Global Energy Policy concluded a federal economic stimulus program focused on plugging 500,000 abandoned and orphaned wells across the country could generate upward of 120,000 jobs for unemployed oil and gas workers. Cleaning up old oil and gas wells at this scale is an expensive job and requires a significant labor force, the report explained. By accelerating the reclamation of orphaned wells, the country could generate hundreds of thousands of additional jobs for unemployed workers. The second act proposed by Bennet this week, called the PEOPLE Act, would also amend the Mineral Leasing Act to increase public participation when it comes to federal land management. It would give affected residents and groups more notice before oil and gas lease sales, which typically occur on a quarterly basis, and extend the public comment period, among several other changes. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, is still in the process of reviewing the proposed bills, but looks forward to learning more about them as they move through the Energy Committee process, according to a spokeswoman. Local lawmakers and industry groups have often preferred local control when it comes to energy rules and environmental protections. In Wyoming, the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission oversees well remediation efforts under an orphan well program. In June, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming urged the states Oil and Gas Conservation Commission during a committee meeting to consider accelerating the orphan well program in response to the dramatic downturn in oil. With so many rigs laid down a significant acceleration of plugging and reclaiming wells would not only keep people in the industry employed now but also reduce a long-term liability paid for entirely by the oil and natural gas industry, not Wyoming taxpayers, PAW President Pete Obermueller said during testimony to lawmakers. In response to Bennets proposed legislation, the Petroleum Association emphasized the need to maintain local oversight and control of Wyomings orphan well program. Wyomings orphaned well remediation program is best in class, and costs taxpayers nothing, unlike the Bennet legislation, Ryan McConnaughey, a spokesman for the Petroleum Association, told the Star-Tribune. Following PAWs call to increase resources directed to orphan wells, were happy to see that the remediation rate has increased. In short, Wyoming has this issue well in hand. Given the recent rise in anti-oil and gas sentiments in Colorado, we should be very cautious of a Colorado Senator looking north and claiming hes here to help. Blanket and idle well bonds exist here in case a company goes bankrupt or walks away from a project. Currently, an individual well bond is set at $10 per foot of wellbore and an operator blanket bond is set at $100,000. The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission holds nearly $225 million in total bonds. The state is working to clean up nearly 2,421 identified orphan wells, according to the commissions database. The commission finished remediating 91 wells in August, bringing the total number of wells removed from the orphan well list this year to 523, according to supervisor reports provided by the agency. Follow the latest on Wyomings energy industry at @camillereports Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Raba dam was supposed to be a source of blessing to farming communities that sprawl around it. The water collected in the dam was meant to irrigate the farms, supplying crops with needed nutrients to thrive. The dam is also supposed to be a source of potable water to the inhabitants of the largely arid communities. But in an unfortunate twist of fate, the dam is now a source of misery and in fact, a tragedy to the inhabitants of the villages that straddle it. The dam is now filled with dirt and the water in it emits a foul smell. Years of relentless erosion of the earth around its edges also threatens to wash away its concrete wall. Instead of collecting the needed water to irrigate the farmlands of the residents of the villages around it, it is now the main cause of flooding, washing away crops just before harvest. Lamentation We have been living here, struggling for survival in this village, and we have not been seeing support from people, even, from the local government council in the main town, said Mahadi Sagir, an inhabitant of nearby Danaunai, a farming community. Residents of the communities around the dam told PREMIUM TIMES that after the persistent loss of their harvest due to the repeated flooding of the area during the rainy season, farmers are beginning to relocate. The community leader of Danaunai also says the abandoned dam poses an existential risk to the inhabitant of the area. They said in 2019, one person drowned in the flood that swept away several farmlands and houses in a section of the village. It was very painful to every member of this village last year when we lost a boy as a result of the unusual flood, so sad we lost him, no compensation was gotten from anybody. The only compensation that we are looking forward to seeing is that the government should come and revisit the project, said Aliyu Nura, representative of farmers association of Danaunai. The head of the community, Abubakar Raba, said he has reached out to the local government for help but no assistance has been received. I have written many letters to the caretaker (leaders) of Dusti local government, and they kept promising to work on those letters. The dam is mainly for irrigation farming because of the nature of our land here, its abandonment has led to a lot of destruction, he said. Project abandoned after senators death Located in Dusti Local Government Area in Katsina North Senatorial District, the disrepair of the dam is even more bewildering if one considers that in 2017 and 2018, N90 million (N40 million in 2017 and N50 million in 2018) was budgeted for its rehabilitation by the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA). Although millions of naira was released, SRRBDA declined to reveal the actual amount eventually released for the rehabilitation of the dam. The rehabilitation, alongside some school projects, was nominated by the former senator representing the senatorial district, Mustapha Bukar, as his constituency project. Mr Bukar, however, died in April 2018. Local officials and inhabitants of the area around the dam said work in the dam was discontinued after the senators death. Since 2018, after the death of our senator, the dam project has been abandoned, says Anas Abubakar, a youth leader in Danaunai village. Similarly, the caretaker chairman of Dusti Local Government Area, Hassan Gambo, said the death of the lawmaker was the reason the dam and other federal projects in the area have been abandoned. Since 2018 that we lost our senator, most of the federal government constituency projects have not been fully executed, but I will beseech the present senator as regards your inquiry to make a review on this particular project. I am not aware The incumbent senator of the district, Baba Kaita, however, said he was not aware of any rehabilitation of a dam in Dusti. He, however, said part of his obligations was to crown the efforts of his predecessor. I cant give an answer to a question that I dont understand, I am just hearing this for the first time since I assumed office. But I am not so sure if there is an ongoing project in that location you mentioned, and if your claims are correct, I am telling you now that I am not aware of it. I am assuring you that I will start my investigative approach on the project that you are talking about, he said. SRRBDA mum When reached for comment, SRRBDAs project manager for the dam, Abdullah DanMagaji said there was a lot to reveal about the project but declined to speak further. He said he does not have the permission of his superiors to speak about the project. Try to listen to me please, we dont just attend to journalists until we have directives to do that, and I will call the project officer to look into the kind of details that you are seeking for, he said. Contractor speaks Ahmed Daura an aide to late Mr Bukar, told this reporter that the contractor in charge of the rehabilitation of the dam is known as Akuna Matata Construction Company. He also directed this reporter to Johnson Akinfolu, an official of the company. Advertisements When approached for comments, Mr Akinfolu explained that his company embarked on the project early in 2017 and left there at the beginning of 2018. But after a short while, we had no option than to terminate the contract because SRRBDA did not provide the funds needed for his company to complete the work, he added. But when asked to state the amount his company received from SRRBDA, he asked the reporter to ask the supervising agency. Maybe I will have to go back to our files to check the total amount released for the two phases we completed, but I must be sincere with you, the key problem is funding. Sokoto Rima will provide you with every other thing you need to know, he said. HOUSTON, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As students began virtual learning in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, VOYCE Inc. worked with Spring Branch Independent School District to deploy on-demand language interpreter services to help teachers and staff communicate more effectively with non-English-speaking students and families. VOYCE worked with Spring Branch ISD on a limited pilot project earlier this year using VOYCE interpreter services to connect families with teachers, social service providers and administrators. Spring Branch ISD began distance learning in March after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered schools, universities and many businesses temporarily closed to slow the spread of COVID-19. VOYCE's on-demand language voice and video interpretation services connect users with interpreters remotely, eliminating the need for in-person interpretation. VOYCE's team of interpreters speak more than 220 languages and dialects including American Sign Language and are available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. The app is available for smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers. "Family engagement plays a key role in academic success and this tool fills a huge gap. We have so many families that do not speak English. By helping better connect teachers with families, and removing the language barrier, we will be able to improve the educational experience while keeping parents engaged in their children's academic progress,'' said Jennifer Blaine, superintendent of Spring Branch ISD. "In the remote learning environment we saw with COVID-19 in the spring, making these connections with parents in their own language was vital in helping students be successful. We know this will continue to be important with our new school year now underway.'' VOYCE CEO Andrew Royce said: "Our nation's educators are facing numerous challenges with remote learning during this global COVID-19 pandemic, but language barriers should not be one of them. As schools face a new reality and look at in-person and distance learning programs, our technology gives teachers, administrators and other key personnel easy access to real-time interpreters through video or voice to provide the power to engage with parents and families." With more than 45 campuses, Spring Branch ISD educates a diverse student population of about 35,000 students in the Houston area. In a pilot with Thornwood Elementary School covering April through the end of June, district staff used the VOYCE app for 28 requests for interpreter services spanning about 183 minutes to enable parent-teacher conferences and other communications. Interpreters were used for conversations in a variety of languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese. Linda Buchman, SBISD community relations officer, said: "Parents really appreciated it when teachers were calling with an interpreter available so they could discuss their children's progress in their own language. Our families speak over 70 different languages. It was extremely helpful to have this tool to check in with parents and communicate information about their child's academics and other services.'' VOYCE works with a variety of industries to break down language barriers and create connections through on-demand translators, including education, health care facilities and hospitals. About VOYCE Inc. VOYCE Inc. is a technology company deeply committed to helping people in need facing language barriers, enabling them to easily and quickly communicate and get help. Our professional and qualified interpreters provide interpretation in 220+ languages and dialects, including American Sign Language. SOURCE VOYCE Inc. Protests flared in Louisvilleand elsewhere around the countryWednesday evening after a Kentucky grand jury failed to indict the three officers for the death of 26-year-old emergency medical technician Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed in her own apartment by police in March . In Louisville, two police officers were shotand sustained non-life-threatening injurieswhile responding to shots fired around 8:30 p.m. in a large crowd. A suspect in the shooting has been arrested but the alleged shooters identity has not been released. Advertisement In response to the grand jury announcement and the unrest that followed, President Donald Trump tweeted: Praying for the two police officers that were shot tonight in Louisville, Kentucky. The Federal Government stands behind you and is ready to help. Spoke to @GovAndyBeshear and we are prepared to work together, immediately upon request! When asked by a reporter whether he thought justice was done by the lack of indictment and whether he had a message for the Black community, the president of the Untied States of America had this to say: Well, my message is that I love the Black community and Ive done more for the Black community than any other president, and I say with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln, and I mean that, with opportunity zones, and with criminal justice reform, with prison reform, with what weve done for historically Black universities, colleges, schools, what weve done. Abraham Lincoln, lets give him the nod, but beyond that, nobodys done more. I love the Black community. Later, just after midnight, Trump tweeted: LAW & ORDER! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Large protests were held in Louisville as 500 members of the National Guard were called in to to assist in response. Dozens of arrests were made in the night of protests. Elsewhere, large protests were held in other major cities, including: New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland. Thousands Across NYC Protest Outcome Of Breonna Taylor Case https://t.co/nm9tCWSbtw CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) September 24, 2020 Advertisement Hundreds marching through downtown Los Angeles to protest #BreonnaTaylor grand jury decision https://t.co/9xdcCppS2P ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) September 24, 2020 Breonna Taylor Atlanta protest: Hundreds take the streets downtownhttps://t.co/XA2QNnvTmK Russ Spencer (@russfox5) September 24, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Portland, demonstrators clashed with police who declared protests unlawful assembly before making arrests. In Buffalo, a pickup truck barreled through a protest appearing to target protesters. 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 Midland County recorded six new confirmed coronavirus cases Thursday, according to the afternoon state report, bringing the pandemic total to 491 cases, 99 probable cases and 11 deaths. There were two new deaths recorded Thursday in Bay County, within the five-county region, which also includes Midland, Gladwin, Isabella and Saginaw counties, that the Daily News has been chronicling since the start of the pandemic. Midland County recorded 46 cases, confirmed and probable, during the week of Sept. 18-24, according to the Midland County health department, which releases statistics every Thursday. Of the 46 cases,16 were in the 20-29 age group and 13 in the 0-19 age group. In a school outbreak, Northwood University University in Midland lists 11 active cases, four pending tests and 60 recoveries as of Thursday morning. Also on Thursday, Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael Sharrow said a new positive case was reported this week in an MPS secondary school, and that student had about 18 to 20 close contacts, which Sharrow defined as people who were within six feet of that student for at least a 15-minute period. Sharrow was speaking about reporting positive cases, among other things, at a Midland Public Schools parent information committee meeting. Sharrow said the two previous positive cases he reported in his weekly newsletter were people who had tested positive before school started, so they hadn't yet been at school since school started. Thursday, Sept. 24 daily numbers Bay County: Seven cases and two deaths were added; pandemic total stands at 897 cases, 95 probable, 50 deaths. Gladwin County: One case was added; pandemic total stands at 83 cases, nine probable, two deaths. Isabella County: Five cases were added; pandemic total stands at 616 cases, 74 probable, 13 deaths. Saginaw County: Eight cases were added; pandemic total stands at 2,700 cases, 202 probable, 135 deaths and four probable deaths. The state on Thursday added 982 new cases and eight deaths; five of them from vital records reviews. Overall, Michigan is at 119,597 cases and 6,700 deaths. Testing The state report shows as of Sept. 24, Midland County has performed 12,623 diagnostic tests and 1,365 serology (antibodies) tests, totaling 13,988 tests. Gladwin County is listed as having administered 5,008 diagnostic tests and 220 serology (antibodies) tests, totaling 5,308 tests. Midland Countys seven-day rolling positivity rate on Sept. 21 was listed at 3.8%, and categorized as an A risk (on a scale of low, then A-E, the highest risk). Gladwin County was listed at 0.7% and low risk. The Saginaw region, which includes 12 counties. including Midland, Gladwin, Bay and Saginaw counties, was listed at 2.5% and low risk and Michigan at 3.2%, an A risk. Nursing Homes Brittany Manor in Midland is listed in the state report as having four cumulative cases and one death among residents as of Sept. 23, and five cumulative cases and no deaths among staff. Midland Kings Daughters is reporting one cumulative case among staff and Medilodge of Midland is reporting three cumulative cases among staff. The other reporting facility, Stratford Pines, is reporting no cases. Gladwin Pines Nursing Home is listed as having two cumulative confirmed cases and no deaths among residents as of Sept. 23, and one confirmed case and no deaths among staff. Gladwin Nursing & Rehabilitation Community, the other long-term health facility reporting to the state, is reporting one cumulative confirmed case among residents and three cumulative cases among staff. Recovered The Midland County health department in its weekly numbers show a pandemic total of 444 recoveries 37 in the last week and 41 hospitalizations four in the last week. The state lists the total recovered at 90,216 cases, as of Sept. 18, which represents COVID-19 confirmed individuals with an onset date on or prior to Aug. 19, according to the state website, mich.gov. Midland County Health Department data People younger than 40 make up 58.8% of total Midland County cases, confirmed and probable, as of Sept. 17. Of Midland Countys 590 confirmed and probable cases, 21.5% cases are in 0-19 age range; 24.7% in 20-29 age range; 12.6% in 30-39 age range; 11.8% in 40-49 age range; 12.9% in 50-59 age range; 8.3% in 60-69 age range; 5.5% in 70-79 age range, and 2.7% in 80+ age range, as of Sept. 24. Of Midlands 11 deaths, five have been female and six male. One was between the ages of 50-59; four were between ages of 70-79, and six were 80 years and older. As of Sept. 24, 81.7% of cases have fallen within the 48640 and 48642 (mostly Midland) zip codes. Next highest were 48657 (Sanford) with 7.3% of cases and 48618 (Coleman) with 6.4% of cases. Cases by race, as of Sept. 24: 87.1% were listed as caucasian; 3.1% as Black; 2.4% as Asian; 1.0% listed as two or more races; 0.9% as other and 5.4% were unknown. MidMichigan Health statistics Patient census: As of Sept. 24, MidMichigan Health is listed as have a 60.3% bed occupancy across its medical centers in Midland, Gladwin, Alpena, Clare, Gratiot and West Branch. In addition, as of Sept. 24, the health system is listed as having 10 COVID-19 patients, including two COVID-19 patients in the ICU. The 10 patients include both patients who have tested positive and patients who are suspected. PPE days on hand as of Sept. 24: The health system reported 0-6 days for N95 masks; 0-6 days for surgical masks; 7-14 days for surgical gowns; 15-21days for shields and 0-6 days for gloves. Recommendations for public Socially distance at least 6 feet from non-household members. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty. Wear face coverings in public. Stay home when sick. Covering coughs and sneezes. Throw used tissues in the trash right after use. Routinely clean frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning wipe or spray. Where to get help If you think you've been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider for medical advice. If he/she isn't available, call MidMichigan Urgent Care in Midland at 989-633-1350 or MidMichigan Medical Center's Emergency Department in Midland at 989-839-3100. MidMichigan Health has a COVID-19 informational hotline with a reminder of CDC guidelines and recommendations. The hotline can be reached toll-free at 800-445-7356 or 989-794-7600. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also has a hotline number for Michigan residents for questions about COVID-19. The number is 1-888-535-6136 and is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also e-mail COVID19@michigan.gov. E-mails will be answered seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you are feeling anxious, stressed, depressed and feel you need to talk to someone, reach out to Community Mental Health for Central Michigan by calling 800-317-0708. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend: Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Kazakhstan are three key players that laid the foundation for the creation of a Turkic-speaking alliance, Kazakh political scientist, director of the Risk Assessment Group, Dosym Satpayev told Trend, commenting on the role of the activities of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the creation of the Turkic Council. Satpayev recalled that back in the 90s after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the very idea of a Turkic-speaking single cultural-political field arose, Kazakhstan actively supported this idea. As a result, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan became key players that laid the foundation for the creation of a Turkic-speaking alliance. Later, Kyrgyzstan joined the alliance. Recently, Uzbekistan also joined the Turkic-speaking union, which is also an important event, since Uzbekistan is a fairly large state in Central Asia. The absence of such a key player in many directions in the Turkic-speaking union was nonsense, said Satpayev. With a new President Shavkat Mirzeyev, Uzbekistan decided to actively engage in the Turkic-speaking field, which is also a merit of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, which for many years not only actively supported but also created institutions and held regular summits. All this led to the fact that Uzbekistan considered that the idea of joining a Turkic-speaking union has great prospects and that connection to the Turkic-speaking sphere has a significant advantage, including for Uzbekistan. Speaking about the Turkic-speaking world, firstly, this is a very important element for self-identification of our countries, just as for Turkic-speaking people, and secondly, it is the possibility of close economic interactions,, said the interlocutor. Satpayev also noted that the emergence of the Turkic-speaking alliance is an attempt to protect the sovereignty of culture, sovereignty in the field of language, information field, as well as political and economic sovereignty. He also noted that, as practice shows, without integration, without cooperation, no country in the world will be able to feel confident or count on any prospects in terms of economic development. For Kazakhstan to have alternative routes to access markets, including to the west, Azerbaijan is seen as a transit for transport and logistics. This is one of many reasons why Kazakhstan is interested in close cooperation with Azerbaijan, said Satpayev. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @romakayeva Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 02:06:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sentiment among business executives in Germany improved once again as the ifo business climate index rose to 93.4 points in September, up from 92.5 points in August, the Munich-based ifo Institute said on Thursday. German managers continued to assess their current situation as more positive than in the previous month and expected a further recovery of their business, according to the index based on the economic sentiment of around 9,000 German company executives. After the index plunged to a historic low in April amid the COVID-19 crisis, it was the fifth monthly increase in a row. "The German economy is stabilizing despite rising infection numbers," said Clemens Fuest, president of the ifo Institute. In the German manufacturing sector, the index recorded a "noticeable increase," according to ifo. Industrial companies of the electrical and electronics industries in "particular are optimistic," that their business situation would continue to improve in the near future. The business climate in trade also "brightened significantly." According to ifo, German retailers were "considerably more satisfied" with the ongoing business situation and expected to see a further upturn in the coming months. The index for Germany's construction sector climbed to its highest level since March, according to the ifo. However, the outlook in the construction industry remained pessimistic. In the service sector, the index fell due to "less optimistic expectations," according to ifo. German companies in the service sector only assessed their current business situation as "marginally better," than in the previous month. Enditem LONDON European stocks closed lower Thursday as investors' hopes for an economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic faltered amid a second wave of cases. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed down by 1% provisionally, with most sectors and all major bourses trading in negative territory. Retail shares led the selling action, declining 2.2%. Coronavirus developments continue to weigh on sentiment as cases surge in Europe. The number of daily reported coronavirus cases in the U.K. has jumped by a quarter in the past day, according to the BBC. The U.K. reported 6,178 cases, up by 1,252 since Tuesday, as the country grapples with a surge this month. Meanwhile, two German government ministers, Heiko Maas and Peter Altmaier, are now in quarantine after close contacts received positive coronavirus tests. U.K. Finance Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday announced a new emergency package of measures to contain unemployment, replacing the country's furlough scheme which is due to expire next month. On Wall Street, stocks alternated between gains and losses on Thursday. U.S. unemployment claims totaled 870,000 for the week ending Sept. 19, higher than a Dow Jones estimate of 850,000. Continuing claims which include those who have received unemployment benefits for at least two straight weeks declined slightly but were still higher than forecast. ASM International, the worlds largest and foremost professional technical society for materials science, is pleased to launch a customizable, easy-to-search, online database to assist a multitude of technical professionals in solving some of the most complex materials problems faced in their industry. The ASM Materials Platform for Data Science (MPDS) is the worlds largest and most comprehensive repository of inorganic materials data comprised of phase diagrams, crystal structures, and a broad range of properties physical, mechanical, electrical, optical, magnetic, to name a few. This massive data archive contains more than 1 million experimental and calculated data properties that allow users to dive deep into highly technical materials information that are now easily accessible in one place. In addition, utilizing concise searching technology, MPDS offers effective progressive data discovery of the massive data repository. To demonstrate how this new database can be applied to real-world problems, ASM will host an ASM Webinar Series focused on Success Stories. In it, users will discuss how the MPDS data has led to solving their complex materials challenges. In the first webinar, scheduled for Monday, Sept. 28, 1-2 p.m. Eastern Time, the Success Story will focus on an engineer tasked with tackling a steam turbine application issue in the power generation industry. The problem: a valve was stuck because of high-temperature oxidation, and the engineer was responsible for finding a remedial solution to return the valve to normal operating conditions. The webinar will explain the complicated technical challenges in solving this, and how the ASM database proved to be an invaluable resource in finding a solution in a timely manner. The webinar will show how the ASM database can be more effective than other search-engine methods of research. Registration for the webinar is here. The data contained in MPDS includes the lifelong work of Linus Pauling and the expanded effort of the Pauling File project, headed by Dr. Villars. The Pauling File project creates the core of the MPDS database, covering literature from all over the world from 1900 to the present. Dr. Blokhin is the developer of the graphic user interface (GUI) of MPDS and the curator of the Application Programming Interface (API). MPDS is continually growing and being updated because of the ongoing work of the Pauling File project and is exclusively available as an annual renewable subscription format through the ASM Digital Library. The graphic-user-interface of MPDS allows users to concisely find the information they are seeking in a way that no other materials data repository has to date. The MPDS application programming interface (API) can be used to create custom datasets in machine-readable formats, suitable for automated processing, machine learning and simulation applications. API access to MPDS provides unprecedented flexibility and power for researchers. To subscribe to the database or learn more about access to ASM Materials Platform for Data Science or the API access, please contact Nate Bulcroft at nate.bulcorft@asminternational.org or 440.523.8209. About ASM International ASM International is the worlds largest and foremost professional technical society serving the information needs of scientists, engineers, and technicians who develop, test, select, and apply advanced materials, including metals, composites, polymers, and ceramics. As the worlds largest and most established materials information society, ASM engages and connects members to a global network of peers and provides access to trusted materials information through reference content and data, education courses, international events, and applied research. To learn more about ASM International, visit asminternational.org or call 440.338.5151 to speak with an ASM International representative. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The green list of countries people can travel to without quarantining is not dependable, according to the CEO of the Irish Travel Agents Association. CEO Pat Dawson said the list - which was updated today to include just four countries - provides no security due to its ever-changing nature. You wont go on holidays if theres something hanging over you that could change, and you could have to leave a country in 24 hours, he said. Back on September 15, Government agreed to update the list on a weekly basis. It will continue to do so until mid-October, after which Ireland will join the EU traffic-light system. As it stands though, many travel agents are still struggling. Managing Director of Fahy Travel, Maura Fahy, said that business has ground to a halt. Read More We havent sold a holiday since the green list came out, she said. She explained how the list came out with a 14 day expiration date, and after 10 days it was obvious that a number of countries would be taken off of it. So unless somebody is travelling within 14 days in and out we just really cant take risk, she said. I assume that [the list] is for people travelling on short notice - its certainly not for holiday plans. Des Manning, owner of Manning Travel in Kilkenny, echoed a similar sentiment, and explained how it has made them more cautious. A few weeks ago, they had received several inquiries about Greece - a country that was taken off the list last week. We took the decision here not to take the bookings because we kind of felt that it could all change very quickly, he said. Sign up for our free travel newsletter! Like what you're reading? Subscribe to 'Travel Insider', our free travel newsletter written by award-winning Travel Editor, Pol O Conghaile. Both Mr Manning and Ms Fahy said that much of the day-to-day work they perform now has to do with cancellations and getting refunds from suppliers. For now, not much is set to change. Any solutions that they [the government] come up with have to be ones they [customers] can rely on months in advance or else its not going to stimulate any activity, Mr Manning said. Mr Dawson added that things are unlikely to be different until rapid testing is brought in and the 14-day self-quarantine is removed. The recovery time of the country is being delayed by the lack of investment in testing, and thats for sure, he said. As it stands, only seven countries are on the green list: Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. However, some of these countries have their own rules and require people travelling from Ireland to self-quarantine or present negative Covid-19 test results. From Monday, the list will be further reduced to just four countries: Cyprus, Finland, Latvia and Liechtenstein. Trialling of the scheme which involves sniffer dogs detecting coronavirus on passengers began today at Helsinki airport. The experiment follows research by the University of Helsinkis veterinary faculty which suggested that dogs can detect Covid-19 with almost 100 per cent certainty. The trial involves 16 dogs with four being deployed per shift, all from WiseNose, a small non-profit detection agency in Finland. Finnish airport operator Finavia said, We are among the pioneers. As far as we know no other airport has attempted to use canine scent detection on such a large scale against Covid-19. They added, This might be an additional step forward on the way to beating Covid-19. In the trial, there is no direct contact between dogs and passengers and those detected with the virus will receive an additional conventional check so as to be completely certain. One dog, an eight year old greyhound mix called Kossi, has been trained to identify the scent in just seven minutes. Finaviva said that while PCR swab tests need around 1.8 million molecules to identify the virus, dogs only need 10 to 100 molecules. The operation in airports will involve passengers swabbing their skin with a wipe and dropping into a cup. The sample will then be checked by a dog in a separate booth. The operators say the trial will run this way so as to protect both the anonymity of the passengers and the dog handlers. During the pandemic, Finland has reported 9,195 cases of Covid-19 and 341 deaths, according to John Hopkins University data. Meanwhile in the UK, a similar scheme has been running which is led by The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) alongside Durham University and the charity Medical Detection Dogs. Six bio-detection sniffer dogs are being trained in Milton Keynes using samples of socks and t-shirts from volunteers who have tested positive or negative for the virus. Among those who have volunteered are 3,500 NHS staff nationwide. Claire Guest, head of Medical Detection Dogs who are responsible for training the dogs said: "We are very proud that a dog's nose could be part of a solution to find a fast, non-invasive way of diagnosing Covid-19 and make a tangible difference to any future pandemics." The LSHTM have said that trained dogs could be deployed in UK airports within the next six months with the potential of screening up to 250 people an hour. Leading figures in the study have even said some animals could be trialled as early as Christmas. Professor James Logan, project lead in the study, said this trial could revolutionise how we diagnose the virus. He added, Rapid screening of high numbers of people, even if asymptomatic, will help return our lives back to some sort of normality. Previous research has found trained sniffer dogs can accurately detect parkinsons disease, forms of cancer and malaria. Another expert in the study, Professor Steve Lindsay, said if successful, this research could be very important to help prevent a second wave of the epidemic. Julian Assange 'binge-watched' footage of a war criminal killing himself in court after losing his case, a witness has said. Dr Sondra Crosby told the court about Assange's mental health during his time holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy. The Boston University professor appeared from the US via video-link to describe the findings from her multiple visits. Julian Assange (pictured) 'binge-watched' footage of a war criminal killing himself in court after losing his case, according to Dr Sondra Crosby She said: 'When I saw him in February 2018 he first described his thoughts of suicide to me and spent quite a lot of time talking to me about how he'd been thinking about this very deliberately. Dr Crosby said Assange, 49, described to her in detail how he had 'binge-watched the suicide of Slobodan Praljak, the Bosnian man who was convicted of war crimes'. Praljak had killed himself on television and Assange spoke of 'how he had taken cyanide in the court and died'. She said that 'Mr Assange seemed very obsessed with this' and even 'stopped in freeze-frame and analysed the man's face' as he was killing himself. The witness earlier said that 'the purpose of the initial visit was as a result of an invitation of an American doctor'. The doctor had 'organised an academic evaluation of the effects of living in the Ecuadorian Embassy for at that time around five and a half years'. She said that when she 'initially saw Mr Assange in the embassy in October 2017 he certainly described to me symptoms of depression, PTSD'. Dr Crosby said Assange described to her in detail how he had 'binge-watched the suicide of Slobodan Praljak, (pictured) the Bosnian man who was convicted of war crimes' Doctor Crosby added: 'Although he was certainly functioning and was capable of conversation and not in a horrible state. 'Over time as I visited him again I observed his mental state was declining. 'He was describing more and more symptoms of depression, sleep disturbance, low mood, inability to concentrate, nightmares and just quite a lot more of psychological distress. 'He talks as if he was essentially dead. He was tearful and pleading for help. 'The suicide trigger would be extradition to the US where he felt his life would be intolerable.' James Lewis for the US, said: 'It was his own decision to put himself in the embassy.' Dr Crosby replied that for Assange the decision was akin to 'being chased by someone who wanted to harm him with an axe locking himself in a room and not coming out.' She said when she visited Assange in prison she was 'very alarmed of his risk of systemic infection and death'. She added: 'I could not convince Mr Assange to leave the embassy. I wrote to the UN high commissioner for human rights. 'An independent UN expert found he was suffering from psychological trauma and was in poor health which was the same conclusion I came to.' Julian Assange is fighting extradition back to the US in a hearing being held at the Old Bailey Assange is fighting extradition to the US, where he faces an 18-count indictment alleging a plot to hack computers and conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information. Giving evidence for the US Government on Thursday, Dr Nigel Blackwood rebutted defence experts on the extent of Assange's condition, saying his suicide risk was 'manageable'. He told the Old Bailey: 'Mr Assange has proved himself to be a very resilient and very resourceful man and he has underplayed that.' Dr Blackwood told the court it was important to consider Assanges day-to-day functioning beyond what he says about his symptoms. Assange got involved with painting, reading, exercise, and interacted well with others, he said. The life and death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had, and may have, a profound effect on the State of Idaho. Her trailblazing work as a womens rights advocate had its roots in the Gem State. Were it not for her efforts in the landmark case of Reed v. Reed, women may have less control over their own finances, not to mention their lives in general. However, Ginsburgs absence may have an even bigger effect on hundreds of thousands of Idahoans and millions of Americans who are relying on healthcare access now more than ever. This is neither hyperbole nor hysteria. The fact is, your healthcare is in jeopardy. The Reed case started out as a probate fight of all things. Not exactly where you would expect to find an historic womens rights decision. As the caption would indicate, the Reeds were husband and wife who were separated at the time. Upon the death of their son, they fought over who should be executor of his estate. Under Idaho law, when there was a conflict like this between husband and wife, the husband was preferred. The law actually said, males must be preferred to females. Mind you, this is not some ancient case from Idaho Territory days, it was the law in the early 1970s. The wife, Sally Reed, wasnt having it. She hired Boise attorney Allen Derr and took it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The person who wrote the brief for Mrs. Reed: a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Needless to say, she won the case and sex discrimination in America has been on the decline ever since. Reed v. Reed was so historic, it was included in a permanent display at the Idaho State Capitol chronicling our states history (located on the Garden Level). A monument marks the location of Sally Reeds old home in Boise. As impactful as that decision continues to be, a more immediate threat looms over our state and country due to Justice Ginsburgs passing. Nothing less than the health and well-being of our families and communities is at stake. That is not a philosophical statement, but a literal one. Our healthcare is in the Supreme Courts cross-hairs and Justice Ginsburg wont be around to help save it. I wrote several weeks ago about California v. Texas. This is the case being brought by nearly two dozen states (led by Texas) and the Federal government to abolish the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Oral arguments before the Supreme Court are scheduled for November 10th with a decision expected sometime in 2021. In my column, I opined there was little to worry about. At least four justices, including Ginsburg, would assuredly rule against the challenge with four others likely siding with Texas. Chief Justice John Roberts, who I believe has a firm eye on his legacy, would provide the tie-breaker that keeps the ACA in place. That all changed with Justice Ginsburgs death. The Right-Wing Party is poised to hammer through a new justice prior to oral arguments. Should the Senate confirm an anti-healthcare justice, the lives of hundreds of thousands of Idahoans could be upended with the stroke of a pen. Consider the following: Protections for pre-existing conditionsgone. Keeping your kids on your insurance plan until theyre 26gone. Protections against lifetime caps on insurance benefitsgone. Idaho exchange plansgone. Oh, and Medicaid Expansiongone. As for those who have private insurance, who knows? Because the ACA is such a big part of Americas healthcare landscape, its impossible to predict what effect its sudden repeal would have on private insurance rates. If you think all of these things can be fixed by executive order, think again. There is a HUGE difference between legislation passed by Congress and the whim of a single president. Congress can pass laws that have binding effect on how healthcare is managed in our country. The effect of an executive order on these issues is uncertain at best and null at worst. Say what you will philosophically about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Whether you agreed with her or not, women face far less discrimination in this state and country because of her work. Furthermore, she would have voted to protect your healthcare and the healthcare of hundreds of thousands of Idahoans. Her work made our state and country stronger. But her passing could have a devastating impact on Idaho families everywhere. Jeremy J. Gugino is a Democratic communications volunteer. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Express News Service TIRUPATI: A 17-year-old girl, who was safeguarding agriculture fields from wild animals along with her father, was killed in an attack by a wild tusker in Kuppam Mandal of Chittoor district, late last night. The village borders neighbouring Tamil Nadu state and wild tuskers stray into villages from the forest area of the neighbouring State, forest officials said. The deceased, Sonia, along with her father Murugan slept in their agriculture fields in Parthichenu village under Kuppam Mandal. They raised groundnut crop and were keeping a vigil on wild animals that stray into their agriculture fields and damage crops. Chittoor Divisional Forest officer Sankar said a lone wild tusker might had entered the village from Tamil Nadu forest area and attacked on the father and his daughter. The village is just 500 metres away from Tamil Nadu forests, said Sankar. The father-daughter duo woke up to the sounds of the tusker damaging the crop and reportedly tried to protect the crop by driving away from the elephant into the forest. The wild tusker attacked on the duo killing Sonia on the spot and leaving Murugan seriously injured. Locals shifted the seriously injured Murugan to a local government hospital for treatment. County Proclaims Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. Day On a motion by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to proclaim September 22 as Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. Day. September 22, 2020, will mark the 92nd Birthday of a statesman who, since the 1950s, continues to be actively involved in training countless men and women on nonviolent resistance to achieve social justice. He has taught at the University of California, Los Angeles, California State University, Northridge, and countless other educational institutionsand even in retirement continues to travel across the country to teach nonviolence. When Reverend Lawson talks about those whose lives and livelihoods were in the balance, we are hearing the son of a movement, said Supervisor Ridley-Thomas. This is a well-deserved recognition honoring a leader who has dedicated so much to a nation and county through advancement of civil rights and non-violence. ADVERTISEMENT Rev. Lawson is a civil rights and human rights icon whose moral leadership, integrity, courage and imagination demonstrate the best of our collective values and responsibilities of our democracy, said Governor Gavin Newsom. Through his life we can learn how a great vision and a nation began to confront and nonviolently challenge institutional racism. Todays honor is well-deserved and will be an important reminder of our obligation to protest injustice in all forms everywhere so that as Californians we are united together in our work to make a reality the California Dream for All. From a young age, Reverend Lawson sought to improve the lives and conditions of African Americans in his community. While a freshman at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, he studied sociology. In 1951, because of his refusal to serve in the US military when drafted, he was convicted of draft evasion and served 13 months of a three-year sentence. After his release, he traveled to India to study Mahatma Gandhis method of nonviolence to achieve social and political change. He returned to the United States in 1955, entering the Graduate School of Theology at Oberlin College in Ohio. One of his Oberlin professors introduced him to Martin Luther King Jr. who had also embraced Gandhis principles of nonviolent resistance. Reverend Lawson was so moved by the ongoing social justice movement, that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. encouraged him to move to the South and teach nonviolent resistance to the men and women fighting for equal rights. In 1958, he relocated to Tennessee where he began his teachings about nonviolent resistance practices. He was influential in the founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the principal channel of student commitment in the United States to the Civil Rights Movement. Reverend Lawson attended Vanderbilt from 1958 to 1960 when he was expelled for civil rights arrests, but received his Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Boston University that same year. In 1961, he participated and assisted in the coordination of the Freedom Rides, as well as the Meredith March in 1966. He was also one of the key organizers of the Memphis sanitation workers strike, which would become the last event where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would ever share one of his most inspirational and heart-moving speeches. It was in this last speech in 1968, Ive Been to the Mountaintop, that Dr. King spoke of Reverend Lawson by saying, Hes been going to jail for struggling; hes been kicked out of Vanderbilt University for this struggling; but hes still going on, fighting for the rights of his people. Reverend Lawson has dedicated his life to fighting for social justice for those communities often overlooked and marginalized. In 1974, Reverend Lawson relocated from the South to Los Angeles to become a pastor at the historic Holman Methodist Church where he would serve until his retirement in 1999. During his tenure, he served as President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which traces its founding to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Reverend Lawson has been a beacon of hope during some of our darkest times. His service as a leading theoretician and tactician of nonviolence within the Civil Rights Movement, has nurtured the next generation of civil rights leaders. A leader in the labor movement supporting reproductive and gay rights when it wasnt popular, Reverend Lawson is always ahead of our time, said Senator Maria Elena Durazo. His commitment to social justice is long-lasting, unwavering, and timeless. His experiences and his words have been used by generations as the foundation and framework in the fight for equality and social justice. ADVERTISEMENT Rev. Lawson has changed the course of U.S. history through his teachings on nonviolent theory and practice, and in training generations of emerging leaders who have advanced economic and racial justice, said UCLA Labor Center Director Kent Wong. Even in retirement, he continues to travel across the country to participate in protests and give lectures, inspiring thousands of people to take action and become involved in social justice and civil rights. This is a beloved man who once knew the uncertainty and agony of staring down the evil of segregation and all that it wrought and responded not with hate nor with rage, said Supervisor Ridley-Thomas. He has responded with courage, love, respect, and humanity for the possibility of us all, one of a kind, as members of humankind through non-violence. Sixty years is a lifetime for some, but Rev. Lawsons legacy of nonviolence will resonate for an eternity. 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 VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Aritzia Inc. (TSX: ATZ) will release its second quarter fiscal 2021 financial results after market close on October 14, 2020. A conference call to discuss the earnings results will follow. Conference Call Details Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 Time: 1:30pm PT / 4:30pm ET To participate in the conference call, please use the following dial-in information: 1-800-319-4610 ( North America toll-free) toll-free) 1-416-915-3239 ( Toronto and overseas long-distance) The call is also accessible via webcast at http://investors.aritzia.com/events-and-presentations/. A recording will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call. To access the replay, please dial 1-855-669-9658 and the replay access code 5252. An archive of the webcast will be accessible on Aritzia's website. About Aritzia Aritzia is an innovative design house and fashion boutique. We conceive, create, develop and retail fashion brands with a depth of design and quality that provides compelling value. Each of our exclusive brands has its own vision and distinct aesthetic point of view. As a group, they are united by an unwavering commitment to superior fabrics, meticulous construction and relevant, effortless design. Founded by Brian Hill in 1984, Aritzia now has more than 95 locations in select cities across North America, including Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. We pride ourselves on creating immersive, human and highly personal shopping destinations, both in our boutiques and on aritzia.com with a focus on delivering truly world-class, memorable customer experiences. SOURCE Aritzia Inc. Related Links http://www.aritzia.com The Thu Thien New Urban Area in HCMC's District 2 is seen from above, 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. HCMC, Vietnams largest city, has set a target of becoming an economic and financial hub in Asia by 2045 with GDP per capita increasing to $40,000. HCMC Party Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan said at a Thursday meeting a modern and industrialized HCMC would achieve high-income status with GDP per capita income reaching $12,570 by 2030, nearly twice higher than last years figure of $6,862. The city also strives to become the economic, financial, scientific and technological center of Southeast Asia by 2030. During the 2021-2025 period, the city would make every efforts to turn itself into a smart city by 2025, Nhan said. The city has been struggling with severe traffic congestion for decades, with its administration responding by investing heavily in metro routes, which have however kept hitting delays. HCMC aims to remain the leading growth driver of the southern key economic region. Nhan also acknowledged that in the next five to ten years in the country and the world would have undergo changes that could affect the citys development plans. As the nation's commercial hub and biggest moneymaker, the city's gross regional domestic product growth reached 7.86 percent last year while the countrys GDP expanded by 7.02 percent. Last year, the city also contributed to 22.27 percent to national GDP growth, according to official statistics. Last year, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his hope Vietnam would become a high-income country by 2045. Vietnam could soon climb onto the upper-middle income classification with Gross National Income (GNI) per capita at $3,996-$12,375, Phuc said. This group includes China, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand. The GDP per capita for Vietnamese was $2,740 last year, according to official statistics. The idea of turning HCMC into a financial center for Vietnam and ASEAN has been on the Politburo's table since 2002, but not much progress has been made. The government has recently agreed with the city's plan to turn its three eastern Districts 2, 9 and Thu Duc into an "innovative urban area" that can contribute 30 percent of the citys economic growth, or 4-5 percent of the nations. FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. An old man ranting into the night. Thats how it looked out on the windswept patch of tarmac at the Fayetteville Regional Airport on Saturday night, the venue for President Trumps latest rally. I had left the press pen behind the TV camera risers you know, the spot Trump points to during the fake news! Fake news! portion of his stump speech to stretch my legs and warm my bones. The temperatures at the airport had sunk into the 50s and Id forgotten to bring a coat. I kept my distance from the throngs of mostly maskless Trump supporters. Suddenly, my Tar Heel blue three-ply mask felt less like protection and more like a bulls-eye. I drifted away from the rallys main stage while the president complained about the media not covering his Nobel Prize nomination (You love your president, and your president gets honored because Im being not honored, you are being honored). I found a spot to myself in the empty space between the stage and the food trucks and merch tables, and when I looked back at the spectacle from that distance the massive American flags hung from construction cranes, the lights and the bleachers full of supporters, the sound of Trumps voice echoing into the night what struck me was how small the whole thing felt; the staleness of it all. There is just over one month to the 2020 election. Trump and Joe Biden are mathematically tied here in North Carolina, a state that could play a decisive role in picking the next president and deciding the fate of American democracy. I went to Trumps rally in Fayetteville to see with my own eyes what the presidents reelection bid looks and sounds like. The ground truth, as it were, of the Trump 2020 roving reelection revival show. Trump is who he is: there is no second act, no reboot, no special register for these unprecedented and turbulent times. His rally in Fayetteville was like so many other Trump rallies Ive attended in the last five and a half years, if you count his 2016 run. The slow descent of his plane onto the runway. (In 2015 and 2016, it was his Trump-branded jet; now its Air Force One.) The weirdly campy and fossilized-in-the-1980s choice of entrance music. (Body, body wanna feel my body / Body, baby, such a thrill, my body. Uhh) The TelePrompter jokes and crowd chants and free associative speeches it was like 2016 had never ended. Story continues They say power reveals. Four years as the commander-in-chief has revealed to us that Donald Trump is, well, exactly who we thought he was. He doesnt try to hide it. His speech on Saturday was a classic of the genre, the purest expression of id and ego. The transcript of his remarks runs some 37 pages and nearly 18,000 words. Its practically a novella, albeit a novella that makes Finnegans Wake look like See Spot Run! The poor White House pool reporter on duty Saturday night, Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post, did a valiant job of attempting to capture the stream-of-conscious nature of Trumps Fayetteville remarks: Trump is wrapping up here in Fayetteville after a long rally, and your pool is being moved back to AF1. Among the topics: His relationship with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and NATOs Stoltenberg, the journalist Bob Woodward, his Nobel Peace Prize nominations and them not being covered on TV, Lester Holts ratings, Hunter Biden and his foreign entanglements, forest management, Fox News hosts that he likes, the virtue of Mark Meadows, OANN, Bidens tendency to stay in Delaware, Middle East wars, the embassy in Jerusalem and the type of stone that built it, Space Force, polls in South Carolina, Maine and other states, U.S. ventilator production, whether or not the fake news media accurately reports his mood when he wakes up in the morning, New York real estate, leakers, expensive aircraft carriers with electric catapults that are overpriced, elevators that are operated by magnets that dont work, the price of Air Force One, Rush Limbaugh and his radio show and Medal of Honor and far more. Maybe Ill sign an executive order, you cant have him as your president, Trump joked of Biden. People are going to vote for him because they feel sorry for him. Like any Trump rally, there was the occasional pinch of news, white supremacy, or mild autocracy sprinkled into the rambling monologue. The night before, in Bemidji, Minnesota, it happened when Trump offered what appeared to be an off-the-cuff shout-out for eugenics. In Fayetteville, it came when he said of Election Night 2020: Now were counting on the federal court system to make it so that we can actually have an evening where we know who wins. Not where the votes are going to be counted a week later or two weeks later. Still, what matters to the president is clearly not what he says but the venue he has to say it in. Its a Saturday night. We have all night, he said at one point, and as the rally slogged on, I had a vision of the president of the United States speaking for hours and hours, past midnight, into the next day, never stopping. I could tell you so much its crazy, he told the crowd almost two hours into the speech, by which point people had already begun to head for the exits. What do they get out of this, the presidents supporters? Why suffer the long security lines, the crappy weather, and now Covid-19? (Though judging by the paucity of masks in the crowd, I gathered the virus wasnt much of a concern.) Why spend your Saturday night in a parking lot for planes listening to Trump when you could be sitting at home watching? As I walked around the site of the rally before Trump arrived, chatting with people (masked and from a distance) and taking in the scene, I realized that these rallies are as much a meet-up for members of the tribe as they are overtly political events. Here, everyone knows your name and theyre always glad you came and oh, hey, is that Kayleigh McEnany? Lets go get a selfie. Standing in line for one of the food trucks, I listened to two Trump supporters commiserate and swap stories about defending the president to various members of their families. He comes at me talking about collusion or Russia, and each time I just hit em with facts, one (unmasked) man said about a Trump-loathing relative. He never has an answer. Never. The other guy in line (partially masked) said he and his wife disagreed about Trump despite his best efforts to win her over to the MAGA cause. This is what I tell people: Trump is like a kid with a hammer who swings at anything that looks like a nail, he explained. Sometimes he hits the nail. Sometimes he doesnt. But at least hes out there swinging. Liberal Twitter loves to point out the various ways in which Trump regards his supporters with contempt. He held massive arena rallies attended by tens of thousands even after he knew the virus was deadly stuff transmitted through the air. He sold himself in 2016 as the last, best hope for the working class the forgotten Everyman and then once elected signed into law corporate tax cuts while falsely promising to the people of Lordstown, Ohio, that he would save their General Motors plant and the well-paying union jobs that went with it. Even Trumps oft-repeated line that I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldnt lose voters can be read as either an indictment of the integrity or intelligence of his supporters. But Trumps supporters, some of them at least, also see him for who he is. A child with a hammer, as the man in line at the Fayetteville rally said. Or as an older gentleman I met last year in Burlington, North Carolina, put it, All these politicians are crooks. They go into office and they fill their pockets with money and they turn into crooks. Trump was a crook too, but he was a crook before he got into office, and so, in a perverse way, he was incorruptible. Hed already made all his money, the man told me. He wasnt going to stuff his pockets with money. Democrats dont stand a chance persuading someone like that to come over to their side. The question Im left with is this: What happens to these people when Trump, in four months or four-plus years, departs the political scene? Where do the Saturday-night faithful go next? Ive seen enough of Donald Trump to know he has never wanted to build a movement even though the conditions are ripe; he wants fans, ratings, crowds, chants, adulation. What might happen if someone comes along and builds that movement? More from Rolling Stone See where your favorite artists and songs rank on the Rolling Stone Charts. Sign up for Rolling Stones Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Then head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, David Sterling speaking at Stormont Castle in Belfast where he said that it may have been impossible to hold the North West 200 motorbike race because of uncertainty over officials powers, following a landmark High Court decision in Northern Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) Stormonts leaders have failed to identify a candidate to succeed the retired head of Northern Irelands Civil Service. David Sterling left his post on August 31 having announced his intention to retire last December. The recruitment process was undertaken and First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill interviewed several candidates on Wednesday. Expand Close David Sterling announced his intention to retire in December (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp David Sterling announced his intention to retire in December (Niall Carson/PA) They did not identify an agreed candidate. A spokesperson for The Executive Office said: The First Minister and deputy First Minister have not made an appointment following the recent competition for the head of the civil service. Next steps are currently being considered. During Stormonts powersharing impasse, Mr Sterling was effectively in charge of running public services in Northern Ireland. He described those three years as the most challenging and difficult in the history of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. SDLP MLA Colin McGrath, who is chairman of Mrs Foster and Ms ONeills Assembly scrutiny committee, expressed concern. Expand Close The SDLPs Nicola Mallon and Colin McGrath before speaking to the media at Stormont Castle, Belfast, as talks aimed at restoring powersharing in Northern Ireland continue. PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The SDLPs Nicola Mallon and Colin McGrath before speaking to the media at Stormont Castle, Belfast, as talks aimed at restoring powersharing in Northern Ireland continue. He said it was inconceivable that the ministers had been unable to identify Mr Sterlings replacement in 10 months. It is incredible, given the extended notice period, that were now left in a situation where the joint First Ministers have been unable to appoint a replacement and the office of our most senior civil servant is vacant, he said. This speaks to total dysfunctionality. Were in the middle of a global health pandemic, our economy is under severe pressure and were facing the chaos of Brexit, this is a moment when we need government to operate efficiently and effectively. It is a serious concern that we will not have a head of the civil service to implement Executive decisions quickly. The First Ministers need to explain what the interim arrangements will be, what the process for identifying a suitable replacement is and when we can expect an appointment for this important position. The Executive Office Committee will want information about this situation quickly. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer (D) are both calling on the state attorney general's office to make evidence from the Breonna Taylor case public. Taylor, 26, was shot and killed in March when police entered her Louisville apartment on a no-knock warrant. Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said he believed the officers were intruders and fired at them; as gunfire was exchanged between Walker and all three officers, Taylor was shot by officers multiple times. The officers were there as part of a narcotics investigation involving Taylor's ex-boyfriend; no drugs were found in the apartment. On Wednesday afternoon, a Kentucky grand jury announced the indictment of one of the officers, former detective Brett Hankison, on felony charges of wanton endangerment, after shooting into the apartment next door to Taylor's. Attorney General Daniel Cameron said the other two officers involved in the shooting, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, were justified in their use of force. Cameron said he will not release the full grand jury report or provide details about the gender and racial makeup of the grand jury, saying it was to protect them. During a press conference, Beshear said Cameron "talked about information, facts, evidence that neither I nor the general public have seen. I believe that the public deserves this information." Beshear suggested posting evidence, like ballistics reports, online, and said it would not impact the charges in the indictment. "Everyone can and should be informed," Beshear said. "And those that are currently feeling frustration, feeling hurt they deserve to know more." He also thinks Cameron should should answer the "legitimate question" about the racial and demographic makeup of the grand jury. "I don't think it will give out anybody's identity or compromise who they are," Beshear said. "And provided that it is sufficiently diverse, it may give people just another piece of information that they can process." Fischer told reporters he knows "there are people in our community who feel that these charges fall short of achieving justice," and said if evidence is made public, it will help people see the reasoning behind the grand jury's decision. The Department of Justice is still investigating the shooting, and Fischer said the case is "far from over." 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 TEHRAN, Iran, Sep.24 Trend: Iran could import electricity from neighboring countries during its consumption peak and export it when the consumption is low in winter, said the head of energy commission in Iran's Chamber of Commerce. "Trading electricity is a good approach to the supply of energy, so Iran could import electricity in summer and export it in winter. One of the main countries in this regard is Russia that has a power network with a high production capacity that could be connected to Iran via Azerbaijan," said Hamidreza Salehi, Trend reports citing ILNA "The route via Azerbaijan is closer to Iran and the government plans to synchronize the power network via this route," he said. "The primary negotiations have been done and after synchronizing Iran and Iraq power network, the country could have good power security and control frequencies without damaging the networks," he noted. "Iran's power consumption differences with neighboring countries is 25,000 megawatt if the following volume is traded it could lead to $20 billion in revenues, " he said. "Iran's power consumption would reduce in winter to 35,000 megawatts while the consumption during summer peak is 60,000 megawatt, we need cooperation with neighboring countries to import electricity during peak," he added. "The country could also export electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan by importing electricity from Turkmenistan. Iran could also export electricity to western countries of Gulf of Oman," he said. "Some of the power transmission lines in Iraq are currently weak and need development, while there are joint power projects with Oman and the UAE that was being studied that has stopped and could resume," he added. The Houston region's COVID-19 case count continues its creep toward 200,000, with 878 added Wednesday, according to the Houston Chronicle. Throughout the Houston region, cases are now at 192,864. Deaths in the region also increased by 23, bringing the total to 3,366 people who have died from the virus. COVID SENSORS: Montgomery County will install thermal sensing cameras to track COVID-19 cases In Harris County alone, cases increased by 544 to 139,017. The Houston region's positivity rate remains nearly unchanged at 6.41 percent. Across Texas, cases increased by 4,269 to 744,496, while deaths increased by 139 to 15,359 on Wednesday. In other headlines, authorities are urging Texans to get their flu shot ahead of the flu season, according to the Texas Tribune's Aria Jones. Experts told Jones that hospitalizations from the flu could inundate the healthcare system. Jones spoke with John Carlo, who works in the Texas Medical Association's COVID-19 task force. If we have a bad flu season and fill up our emergency rooms, our ICU beds and our hospital beds with flu [patients], were not going to able to defend ourselves against the onslaught of the coronavirus, Carlo said. NOTE: The numbers included in this report represent a one-day change in data from Tuesday, Sept. 22 through Wednesday, Sept. 23. It is still unclear how many of the state's new cases can be attributed to jail inmates from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The Houston Chronicle's analysis of COVID-19 case data now includes probable and pending cases. This change is based on interviews with multiple public health officials and epidemiologists, as well as in line with CDC guidelines on reporting. DSHS is now using death certificate data for its counts of COVID deaths, leading some Texas counties to have dramatically higher counts than others and some counties to have higher numbers than state figures. WASHINGTON - Since Joe Biden ran away with the Democratic presidential nomination in March, leading progressives have accepted him sometimes grudgingly as their partys leader. But, in the final weeks of the campaign, the Supreme Court vacancy is threatening to inflame old divides. Some activists on the left are pressing Biden to endorse expanding the number of high court justices should he win the White House and Democrats take control of the Senate. But Biden, who ran a relatively centrist primary campaign, hasnt embraced those calls, worried they may intensify the nations partisan split. Theres little indication that large swaths of progressives will abandon Biden or back third-party candidates, moves that wounded Democrat Hillary Clintons 2016 bid. But activists insist they will keep pressure on Biden to pursue dramatic reforms to the Supreme Court if Republicans move forward with a plan to quickly approve President Donald Trumps pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The majority of Berniecrats will most likely vote for Vice-President Joe Biden, said Nina Turner, a former Ohio state senator and top adviser to progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns. That doesnt mean that they are not going to raise hell all the way. Biden should make it clear that he will fight back by expanding the court if he wins, said Turner, who is founding a firm to advance progressive causes, Amare Public Affairs. The Constitution doesnt mandate the number of Supreme Court justices, which has changed over time. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt promoted legislation to pack the court by expanding its number of justices, an effort that stalled once the justices began to rule in his favour on policies tied to the New Deal. Since then, the makeup of the court hasnt been a prominent issue in national politics. That began to change after Justice Brett Kavanaughs contentious 2018 nomination fight. Calls to add justices grew much louder this week in response to the GOPs rush to fill Ginsburgs seat before the election, which would leave the court with six conservatives and three liberals. The politics of this are moving very, very fast, said Aaron Belkin, director of Take Back the Court, which advocates for increasing the number of justices. And under a Biden administration, when the court has the administration handcuffed on Day One, I think the politics are going to be changing even more quickly. That puts Biden in a tough spot. As someone who spent 36 years in the Senate, he built a career revering Washingtons institutions. During the 2020 primary, he pointedly declined to join rivals such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren or California Sen. Kamala Harris, who is now his running mate, in being open to court expansion. During his first extended comments Sunday about Ginsburgs death, Biden appealed to the few remaining moderate Senate Republicans to buck their partys leadership, rather than to progressives looking for him to support a larger court. Since then, Biden has largely sought to avoid the issue as hes campaigned in battleground states, preferring instead to focus on Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic and high unemployment. He ducked a question about changes to the court during an interview with a Wisconsin television station, saying a response would shift all the focus. Biden has also said Democrats should concentrate on making it clear for voters why the GOP push to quickly fill Ginsburgs seat is a gigantic mistake and abuse of power. Some progressives said Ginsburgs death laid bare why theyre backing Biden. Voting for Joe Biden is not about whether you agree with him. Its a vote to let our democracy live another day, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Instagram last week. The New York congresswoman spent months expressing skepticism toward Biden but also was co-leader of a task force on climate change that top Biden supporters and advisers formed with their counterparts from Sanders unsuccessful presidential campaign to try to better reach consensus on top issues. Those groups made policy recommendations that helped shape the Democratic Party platform, which was adopted at its national convention last month and was meant to avoid the ideological clashes that Clinton endured four years ago. Sanders, who opposes Supreme Court expansion, and Warren, who has suggested shed be willing to support it, have similarly used Ginsburgs death as a rallying cry for Biden. Democracy as we know it is in danger, Warren said at a virtual event with Virginia leaders, calling Republican court efforts the last gasp of a desperate party that is overrepresented in the hall of power. During a speech Thursday, Sanders warned that Trump is openly suggesting that hell brand as illegitimate any election he loses. He cited the danger that this country faces from a president who is a pathological liar, who has strong authoritarian tendencies, who neither understands nor respects our Constitution and who is prepared to undermine American democracy in order to stay in power. The voting results may be disputed and trigger a legal fight, Sanders said, noting that Trump is attempting to push through a Supreme Court justice who may very well cast a vote in a case that will determine the outcome of this election. Rather than mentioning expanding the Supreme Court, Sanders said the way to counter that is to have the largest voter turnout in U.S. history. This is not just an election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Sanders said. This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy and democracy must win. Just getting Biden elected might not be enough for everyone, though. Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, called the coming Senate nomination fight Bidens chance to offer a first big show of force as leader of the Democratic Party. He can quickly unify Democrats in saying no confirmation until after inauguration, Green said. And promising to expand the court if Republicans do an end run around democracy. ___ Mumphrey reported from Phoenix. ___ APs Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early, by mail or absentee from each state: https://interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/ In a major trouble for US presidential candidate Joe Biden, Senate Republicans on Wednesday (September 23) released a report detailing the business dealings that Biden's son Hunter Biden pursued with foreign nationals when Biden was serving as vice president of the US. The 87-page interim report mentioned that Hunter Biden and Devon Archer engaged in numerous financial transactions with Chinese nationals who had strong connections with the Chinese government. These Chinese nationals included Ye Jianming, founder of CEFC China Energy Co. Ltd (CEFC) and chairman of the board for its subsidiary, the China Energy Fund Committee (CE Fund). They also included Gongwen Dong, who was Ye Jianming's associate and reportedly took care of the execution of transactions for Ye's companies. "Ye's connections to the Communist government are extensive and, as explained below, he has been previous affiliations with the People's Liberation Army. Based on the information received by the Committees, Ye was also financially connected to Vic President Biden's brother, James Biden. Thus, there exists a vast web of corporate connections and financial transactions between and among the Biden family and Chinese nationals," said the report. The report claimed that Hunter Biden and his family were involved in a vast financial network that connected them to foreign nationals and foreign governments across the world. Hunter Biden and Archer were also engaged in financial dealings with the corrupt oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky during their time working for Burisma. It is claimed that the firms owned by Hunter Biden adn Archer made huge amount of money from that association while Joe Biden was vice president during President Barack Obama's regime. "Rosemont Seneca Thornton, an investment firm co-founded by Hunter Biden, received $3.5 million in a wire transfer from Elena Baturina, who allegedly received illegal construction contracts from her husband, the former mayor of Moscow. Moreover, Archer's apparent receipt of money for a car from Kenges Rakishev of Kazakhstan while Vice President Biden was in Kyiv is especially concerning in light of the timing. And finally, Biden and Archer's work with Chinese nationals connected to the Communist regime illustrate the deep financial connections that accelerated while his father was vice president and continued after he left office," said the report. According to report, Hunter Biden and Archer started their business dealings in China in 2009, with the creation of Rosemont Seneca Partners with Heinz, Secretary of State John Kerry's stepson. Then, the duo formed BHR with Bohai Capital after few yers and received their business license approval in (lima shortly after Biden visited China with his father, Vice President Biden. The report noted that Hunter Biden's connections and financial associations got stronger after he associated himself with Ye Jianming, who had deep connections with the communist regime and PLA. Hunter Biden reportedly made millions from the relationship. Hunter Biden and his family also associated with other Chinese nationals such as Gongwen Dong. In one case, Hunter, James and Sara Biden went on a $100,000 global spending spree after Gongwen Dong and Hunter Biden opened a joint account. Hunter Biden also received millions of dollars over a period of years from Gongwen's firms. According to records acquired by the Committees, several of these transactions involved potential criminal financial activity. A 27-year-old has died after he was allegedly stabbed in the torso in the Surfers Paradise party district, prompting a senior policeman to rebuke young men who carry hunting knives and "honestly think it's Grand Theft Auto". Raymond Harris of Beenleigh was allegedly stabbed in the torso with a hunting knife about 9pm on Wednesday in the middle of Cavill Avenue and died shortly after in Gold Coast University Hospital. Raymond Harris, 27, has been named as the victim of the Surfers Paradise stabbing on Wednesday night. Credit:Facebook Two men were arrested nearby within 30 minutes and investigators were trying to track down two more people who they believed were involved. Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith called on social-media influencers to "use their power for good" to change the mindset of young men who carry knives in public. SEATTLE, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- REI Co-op announced today it will complete a 14-year commitment to be carbon neutral in its operations in 2020 and launched an ambitious new climate platform that will see the co-op more than halve its carbon footprint over the next decade even as the company anticipates future growth in size and revenue. "The climate crisis is the greatest threat to the future of life outdoors and to REI's business. The science is clear about what we, as a society, need to do to change that future. The world must halve its greenhouse gasses emissions by 2030, so that's where REI and the broader outdoor community must lead," said REI Co-op President and CEO Eric Artz. "Going forward, we're embedding the impact of doing business, and the cost, into our business model." For more than 80 years, REI has focused its impact work at the intersection of people and planet. The co-op has actively worked to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions since 2006, when then-CEO Sally Jewell declared that REI would be climate neutral in its operations by 2020. The co-op was one of the first retailers to measure and report its greenhouse gas emissions, and over the years has prioritized projects like green building certifications, generated its own energy through solar arrays, launched industry-wide sustainability standards for all products sold, and invested more than $100 million into stewarding outdoor spaces that support recreation but also can provide critical carbon sequestration. Today's announcement is a springboard to the next stage of that work. Beginning with 2020's emissions, the co-op is formally joining Climate Neutral and will hold itself financially accountable for each unit of carbon it emits in its own operations expected to be a quarter million tons of carbon in 2020. Going forward, running a healthy business will require the co-op to continue to shrink its footprint. As a retailer, the co-op's broader footprint does not just encompass its own brands and operations, but also the emissions embedded in products from more than 1,000 brands it sells. REI will work with this diverse group of brands, mostly small businesses, to create shared solutions. As the co-op works to shrink that footprint as much as possible, it will invest in and advocate for solutions that will help the co-op and the planet accelerate progress. That means investing in projects that actively pull carbon out of the atmosphere, like planting more trees in cities and suburbs, reforestation and active forest management; and advocating for nationwide policies that reduce future emissions, like cleaner transportation infrastructure and clean energy solutions. As a cooperative, REI is built around the power of coming together for a common goal. As it has frequently done in the past, the co-op will transparently share progress, and open-source what it learns along the way. As the co-op works to reduce its footprint, it will continue to pursue recycled and lower impact materials in its manufacturing, efficiencies in its supply chain, the elimination of excess packaging for itself and its brand partners and opportunities to invest in renewable energy projects. It will have to reexamine every aspect of its business and will invest in natural climate solutions to offset the carbon it's not yet able to draw down. REI has also committed to planting 1 million trees by 2030 as part of the global 1 Trillion Trees initiative, which aims to conserve, restore and grow 1 trillion trees around the world over the next decade. And the co-op has published a new advocacy platform outlining its climate policy priorities for 2021 and beyond. The co-op's approach is rooted in science, and is aligned to the latest guidance from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which states global emissions must be reduced by 55% by 2030 to avoid the worst effects of climate change. "I still believe that as people, as brands, and as a member-owned co-op, we can, and must, collectively make a difference in the long-term health of the planet," wrote Artz. "We must act now, for the generations that follow." Links: About the REI Co-op REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation's largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of more than 19 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 167 locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia. If you can't visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the free REI shopping app. REI isn't just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI's active adventure travel company, a global leader that runs more than 250 itineraries across all continents. In every community where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access toand stewardthe outdoor places that inspire us all. SOURCE REI Co-op Related Links http://www.rei.com SEATTLE, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Immunexpress, Inc., a molecular diagnostic company focused on improving outcomes for suspected sepsis patients, announced today new data in collaboration with researchers at the University College of London. The publication in BMC Medicine describes the identification and validation of a new blood transcriptomic signature, SeptiCyte TRIAGE, for detection of the host response to bacterial infection,.1 SeptiCyte TRIAGE was discovered by computational machine learning on public datasets, followed by validation in a prospective observational cohort of Emergency Department (ED) patients. Combining SeptiCyte TRIAGE with a previously identified signature for the host response to viral infection, SeptiCyte VIRUS2, enables discrimination between bacterial and viral infections in Emergency Department patients. "The combination of SeptiCyte TRIAGE and SeptiCyte VIRUS could potentially be used as the first screening test in the Emergency Department for patients presenting with fever in the absence of microbiology test results," said Rolland D. Carlson, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Immunexpress. "This research demonstrates the utility of Immunexpress' biomarker discovery capabilities, our strong developmental pipeline, and the continued advancement of our existing technology." Discovery and validation of SeptiCyte VIRUS has been previously described in an earlier publication.2 SeptiCyte TRIAGE was discovered and validated specifically to rule out bacterial infection in ED patients, and to be used in combination with SeptiCyte VIRUS. The article demonstrates SeptiCyte TRIAGE signature validation in independent case-control data from over 1500 samples, and in combination with SeptiCyte VIRUS using pooled data from a further 1088 samples. An observational validation study tested the performance of these signatures on whole blood from prospectively collected ED patients with fever. The combination of SeptiCyte TRIAGE with SeptiCyte VIRUS discriminated bacterial and viral infections in febrile ED patients with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.95, compared to 0.79 for peripheral blood leukocyte counts (WCC) and 0.73 for C-reactive protein (CRP). SeptiCyte TRIAGE and SeptiCyte VIRUS testing on a prospectively collected ED cohort of 332 patients showed that 69% had bacterial infections (of which 45% were microbiologically proven), and 30% had viral infections (of which 16.5% had laboratory confirmation). "We have demonstrated that a newly identified blood transcriptomic signature, SeptiCyte TRIAGE, can be used in combination with SeptiCyte VIRUS, without prior knowledge of a patients infection status, to differentiate bacterial and viral infections," said Mahdad Noursadeghi, Ph.D., of the University College London. "This combination of molecular signatures offers a potentially transformative approach to guide early antibiotic prescribing decisions, direct targeted microbiological testing and to support infection control practice in patients with suspected bacterial and viral infections." About Immunexpress Immunexpress is a molecular diagnostic company, founded in Australia and based out of Seattle, Washington, U.S., committed to improving outcomes for patients suspected of sepsis. Immunexpress' SeptiCyte technology can assess a patient's dysregulated immune response by quantifying and analyzing gene expression from whole blood, providing actionable results in about an hour to guide the physician in optimizing patient management decisions. SeptiCyte RAPID is a lab test for sepsis that combines SeptiCyte technology with the Biocartis' Idylla platform*, empowering clinicians to swiftly differentiate infection positive (sepsis) from infection negative systemic inflammation in patients suspected of sepsis; diagnosing bacterial sepsis, viral sepsis, or fungal infections. This powerful combination of technologies enhances certainty for early sepsis diagnosis, to improve clinical outcomes and lower healthcare costs. In March 2020, Immunexpress received CE Marking of SeptiCyte RAPID and announced a long-term commercialization partnership with Biocartis in Europe. For more information, visit http://www.immunexpress.com/. Follow Immunexpress on Twitter and LinkedIn. *Immunexpress is licensed to use the Idylla trademark from Biocartis NV. Media Contacts: Maggie Beller Russo Partners, LLC (646) 942-5631 [email protected] 1 Sampson, D., Yager, T.D., Fox, B. et al. Blood transcriptomic discrimination of bacterial and viral infections in the emergency department: a multi-cohort observational validation study. BMC Med 18, 185 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01653-3 2 Sampson, D.L., Fox, B.A., Yager, T.D. et al. A Four-Biomarker Blood Signature Discriminates Systemic Inflammation Due to Viral Infection Versus Other Etiologies. Sci Rep 7, 2914 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02325-8 SOURCE Immunexpress, Inc. Related Links http://www.immunexpress.com (L): Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Sept. 1, 2020. (Nicholas Kamm-Pool/Getty Images); (R): Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks to reporters at her weekly press conference at the Capitol in Washington, on Aug. 22, 2020. (Gabriella Demczuk/Getty Images) Mnuchin, Pelosi Agree to Restart Stimulus Talks: Lets Pass Something Quickly Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that both he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have agreed to continue negotiations over COVID-19 relief to break a stalemate. Ive probably spoken to Speaker Pelosi 15 or 20 times in the last few days on the [continuing resolution], Mnuchin told the Senate Banking Committee, referring to the resolution that will extend funding the government until December. He said that he and Pelosi have agreed to continue to have discussions about the CARES Act, referring to the stimulus bill that was passed in March that includedamong other thingsdirect payments, expanded unemployment benefits, and small business loans. If the Democrats are willing to sit down, Im willing to sit down anytime for bipartisan legislation, lets pass something quickly, Mnuchin added. The House speaker, in her weekly news conference, said she expects negotiations with the Trump administration to continue shortly. Well be hopefully soon to the table with them, Pelosi said, adding that Democratic leaders will soon introduce their proposal to outline their priorities. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds her weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Aug. 13, 2020. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Talks between the White House, Pelosi, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) collapsed in early August. Republicans did not agree with several Democratic proposals such as the HEROES Act, which included more than $900 billion in federal funding to state and local governments, stipulating that there are too many non-pandemic related measures included. The two sides have remained more than $1 trillion apart in the negotiations. Pelosi has repeatedly said that Democrats will not pass a measure worth less than $2.2 trillion, which Mnuchin and other White House officials have rejected. On Thursday, Pelosi said that because the joblessness rate is still relatively high, the problem has grown since August, saying that Democrats will be seeking more money for additional programs. Some of the needs in terms of the coronavirus are increasing so were going to even need more money, or else were going to have to cut some more things down further to stay [at $2.2 trillion], she added. But Im eager to hear what [the White House negotiators] have to say when they come. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), speaking on the House floor Thursday, said that he is very hopeful that we will have either an agreement or a bill that we can pass. And earlier this week, Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell both said that to further U.S. economic recovery, more stimulus is needed. Mnuchin, in particular, singled out direct stimulus checks. Both the House and Senate are slated to be in session next week, although meetings on the stimulus deal have not been announced. Pale melanomas have a genetic link to albinism, Queensland researchers have found, giving them clues as to how to catch them early before treatment is no longer an option. Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects about one in 10,000 people, which results in the body producing little or none of the brown skin pigment melanin. Researchers have confirmed "pale" melanomas are genetically linked to albinism. Pictured is Chad Perris, a Canberra athlete with albinism. Credit:Jamila Toderas Australia has the highest rate of the aggressive skin cancer melanoma in the world, with more than 14,000 cases diagnosed every year. Of those, up to 10 per cent can be what clinicians call amelanotic or hypopigmented, which means they are not the dark colour usually associated with melanomas. Trumps tenuous hold on some of the largest red states in the country has presented Biden with unexpected political opportunities and stirred debate among Democrats about how aggressively to contest states far outside the traditional presidential battleground. Biden has made efforts so far in a few states that voted emphatically for Trump four years ago, including Georgia and Iowa, but he has resisted pressure to compete for Texas, a huge and complicated state that Democrats believe is unlikely to furnish the decisive 270th Electoral College vote. (TNS) 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 wouldallow 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 percent 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 percent who said they would vote no and 25 percent 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 percent 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."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 percent 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 percent of Democrats opposing Proposition 22 compared with 53 percent 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 percent of voters are against exempting app-based companies from having to treat their workers as employees. In Orange County, 46 percent of likely voters support the measure.Younger voters were more inclined to oppose Proposition 22, while older voters were more likely to show support. bidadoo Inc. It is another step forward in our efforts to deliver a great experience for all of our stakeholders. bidadoo, the largest and most trusted construction, fleet and industrial equipment auction and remarketing service on eBay, is expanding its sales team and vertical capabilities as the industry rapidly shifts away from brick-and-mortar, traditional auction sites to online auctions and remarketing services. bidadoo is excited to announce key appointments, adding extensive experience to bidadoos strategic vertical markets, including Energy, Oil and Gas, and Rental. Key in driving customer success with bidadoo are Stan Bedingfield, Josh Howard, and Sebastian Cuevas. All recently joined bidadoo and have played a significant role in bidadoos team and market growth this year. Out of Birmingham, Alabama, Bedingfield is a new bidadoo Area Manager for the Southeast. With over 30 years of industrial sales experience, Bedingfield brings a wealth of industry knowledge to bidadoo in the Energy, Oil & Gas and Mining sectors. Prior to joining bidadoo, Bedingfield was the business development manager for Aux Energy - focusing on sales and rental of power generation solutions as well as gas turbine equipment. Also, Bedingfield has held several positions within the Home Depot organization including Pro Sales, Tool Rental and Store Operations Manager. Says Bedingfield, I was drawn to bidadoo because of the exciting and fast-paced world of auction sales and the far more efficient online format. I also enjoy providing solutions to clients, and bidadoo brings a wide range of remarketing solutions to our customers. Stan truly cares about his company and works hard to show customers that they are a top priority. Says Brian Waldner, President, ORS No deal is too large or difficult for him to focus on and develop. Based in Atlanta, Howard is a new Area Manager, bringing over 15 years of experience in the equipment industry to bidadoo. Howard is expanding opportunities for bidadoo in the Rental, Construction, and Industrial segments. Prior to joining bidadoo, Howard managed many large rental and industrial accounts for Skyjack in the Southeast. Howard also worked in the rental industry with RSC Equipment Rental for several years in escalating positions of responsibility. Says Howard, In a business world still in the process of adapting to a new reality, bidadoo is in a unique position to offer valuable online remarketing options to customers. As traditional auctions services struggle with new norms, bidadoo is already in a position to lead the way! Cuevas is the Area Manager serving the Energy, Oil and Gas and other markets in central and east Texas. An energy industry veteran, Cuevas brings a wealth of experience - including Genco Energy Services, where he held the position of Key Account Manager; along with Red Diamond Oil Field Services, where he led as a District Manager. Says Cuevas, During the hiring process, I did in-depth research on bidadoo. Coming from the oil industry, I needed to make sure I could put my name behind this company. It was a resounding yes - due to the impeccable track record and the amazing culture at bidadoo. We are proud to have these industry professionals on our team. They have the market knowledge, customer focus and integrity that is the basis for how we approach the market. Says Mark Hanson, bidadoo, Vice President of Sales. Expanding bidadoos industry expertise is a key part of our strategy to deliver a great experience for all of our customers and partners. Driven by the efforts of Bedingfield, Howard, and Cuevas, and team, bidadoos growth continues to rise, while providing the highest net returns for its customers. To learn more about how bidadoo can help with your equipment remarketing requirements, please contact us at info@bidadoo.com / 1-877-bidadoo. About bidadoo bidadoo is the largest and most trusted online auction and remarketing service on the worlds largest auction marketplace, eBay. bidadoo provides professional remarketing service for construction, transportation, agriculture, financial services, and other capital asset markets. bidadoo is a global online remarketing company with Auction Service Centers across North America and bidders and buyers from around the world. bidadoo works with many of the largest equipment owners in the world including Sunstate Equipment, United Rentals, JCB, John Deere, H&E Equipment, Herc Rentals, Genie/Terex, Case, Takeuchi, Komatsu, The Boeing Company, City of Seattle and many municipalities and government agencies. With eBays 183 million registered users globally, bidadoo provides equipment sellers immediate access to the worlds largest online bidder and buyer base through our long term partnership with eBay. Check out our weekly online auctions at http://www.bidadoo.com. Looking back at the years he has spent in Sudan, Bak does not remember seeing anything like the recent floods that have wreaked havoc across the country. The floods came at night. The water was flowing into my shelter and I could not sleep,says the 80-year-old South Sudanese refugee, who lives fifty meters from the Blue Nile, in Khartoums Sharg Al Neel locality. He was stranded for days as the area was covered in water. The water kept flowing for seven days until it went down. I could not move because I did not want to leave my belongings, he adds with a sigh. His belongings include a rusty bedstead, a few pots and metal plates and some personal items. His shelter, made of wooden poles with pieces of cloth and metal sheets for a door, hardly protects him from the elements. The floods came at night. The water was flowing into my shelter and I could not sleep. I lost all my clothes and a sack of wheat in the floods, he adds. Before UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, arranged for a distribution of relief items in the area, Baks greatest wish was to receive some plastic sheeting and two galabias loose-fitting traditional clothes. Heavy rains caused flash floods and rivers like the Nile, reached a level of over 17 metres, bursting its banks and leaving thousands including refugees like Bak,internally displaced people and locals homeless and in desperate need of humanitarian support. South Sudanese refugee, Bak, 80, sits in his shelter that was damaged by massive flooding in Sharq Al-Nile, Sudan. UNHCR/Roland Schonbauer The UN estimates that at least 800,000 people have been affected with over 100 people killed. Extensive assessments by UNHCR have revealed that some 125,000 refugees and internally displaced people are among those affected. The most affected states are West, South and North Kordofan, Sennar, Darfur, East Sudan and Khartoum. Vulnerable refugees and locals alike have been hardest hit by the extreme weather. Many houses, critical water points and latrines across the country have been destroyed or damaged. Even in areas far away from rivers such as Al Droshab, an area in Khartoum with many unfinished concrete buildings, garbage dumps and humble shelters, thousands were impacted by the torrential rains and strong winds. South Sudanese refugee Christina was among some 2,000 people affected by the rains in Al Droshab. Her humble shelter could barely protect her family from the elements. We were sleeping when the rains came. Our house started leaking everywhere, she says, recalling the moment when she took her nine children aged between 16 months and 14 years to gather under a stretch of plastic. We covered ourselves, but the sheet was leaking too, adds Christina who was among those who received plastic sheeting, sleeping mats, blankets and jerry cans earlier this week. Countrywide, UNHCR, together with partners including Save the Children and Sudanese non-profit, Addition to Disaster Assistance and Development(ADD), distributed non-food items to some 170,000 refugees, IDPs and locals. I am glad the relief items can alleviate the suffering of some of the most vulnerable people, says Ahmed Ali, UNHCRs Assistant Protection Officer, who is coordinating the distribution in the vast Khartoum area. I want to rebuild my house, improve my quality of life and send my children to school. He stresses the need for more humanitarian assistance, adding that the needs are huge and the support is short-term. He further explains that funding is limited. As of mid-September, UNHCR had received just 38 per cent of the US $274.9 million needed for its operations in Sudan. According to a recent UNHCR report titled, Consequences of Underfunding in 2020, the South Sudan situation suffers from an even lower funding level of 33 per cent. Despite the devastating impact that the floods have had on Christinas life, she is not prepared to give up. I want to rebuild my house, improve my quality of life and send my children to school, she says. RENO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 2020 / Scandium International Mining Corp. (TSX:SCY) ("Scandium International" or the "Company") has filed a provisional patent application with the US Patent Office seeking patent rights on various applications of scandium in lithium ion batteries. The patent application covers a number of scandium enhancements, including doping potential for both anodes and cathodes, and for solid electrolytes. HIGHLIGHTS: US Patent Application filed for use of scandium in lithium ion battery applications. Scandium doping applications are explained for anodes, cathodes and electrolytes. Scandium offers conductivity advantages as a dopant, over other options, and Scandium in other aluminum components offers numerous property improvements, including conductivity, strength and corrosion resistance. DISCUSSION: Rechargeable lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are a staple of everyday life. The search for improved performance through design and materials advances is intense today. Considerable effort is being expended in developing next-generation materials for LIBs that will make batteries safer, lighter, more durable, faster to charge, more powerful, and more cost-effective. A sampling of some of the more public efforts are as follows: Minimizing or removing cobalt from cathode materials, based on cost, supply and geographic sourcing issues. Improving the durability of liquid electrolytes with dopants, or substitution with safer and higher performing liquid or solid electrolyte systems. Designing for higher voltage potential by utilizing different anode or cathode materials. Determining combinations of metals that can better withstand harsh internal conditions. Scandium, along with other specialty metals, has a clear role to play in each of these areas. One particularly promising area for scandium contributions is in a lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNMO) battery. The cathode in this design substitutes manganese for cobalt, and supports a higher nickel content as well. The substitution then delivers higher working potentials (voltage), higher energy densities, and faster charge/discharge rates, all of which offer the promise of improved battery performance. Delivering on that promise requires a number of improvements, including employing a dopant for stabilization of the manganese in the LNMO cathode, potential stabilization of lithium titanate (LTO) anode materials as well, and use of dopants to improve the conductivity of both these anode and cathode materials. Conventional liquid electrolytes may see improved function and longevity with the improved cathode and anode conductivity. Scandium represents a suitable and effective dopant in each of these applications. Solid electrolytes represent another potential break-through improvement in LIBs. They will handle higher voltages, higher temperatures, greater power densities, are potentially easier to package, and are considered safer in use. Scandium represents a suitable and effective dopant in these applications, analogous to the use of scandium to stabilize solid zirconia electrolytes in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. Lithium ion batteries employ aluminum in a number of areas, specifically in cathode structure, current connectors, and in general battery structure. Aluminum-scandium alloys represent an enhanced aluminum alloy option, based on their combination of conductivity and strength. The intent of this SCY patent filing is to advise the battery industry that scandium is a prospective dopant choice for enhanced performance of LIBs, both under existing design parameters and in particular for next-gen LNMO batteries. We want to ensure that battery research and design groups consider scandium additions, amongst their various materials choices, as they race to build a better lithium ion battery. The Company's operating intent remains focused on producing a scandium product, and advises that it considers the lithium ion battery markets to be a viable application for use. George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented: "The quest to improve LIB battery performance is a global research priority today. Doping-element solutions are one primary focus of this research, seeking to realize the best results from various multi-metal combinations. We believe scandium offers real potential for contribution in this area, with an ability to bring improvement to both new and existing battery configurations. Scandium can deliver improvements either by acting as a stabilizing agent with other elements, or delivering strength to aluminum components, while in both cases maintaining or improving conductivity." ABOUT SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP. The Company is focused on developing its Nyngan Scandium Project, located in NSW, Australia, into the world's first scandium-only producing mine. The Company filed a NI 43-101 technical report in May 2016, titled "Feasibility Study - Nyngan Scandium Project" . The project has received all key approvals, including a development consent and a mining lease, necessary to proceed with project construction. The company is also currently soliciting copper industry interest in using ion-exchange technology to extract unrecovered critical metals from existing mine process streams. This program represents a fast-track concept to make battery-grade nickel and cobalt products, scandium master-alloy product, and other critical metals, from North American sources. Willem Duyvesteyn, MSc, AIME, CIM, a Director and CTO of the Company, is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release on behalf of the Company. For inquiries to Scandium International Mining Corp, please contact: Edward Dickinson (CFO) Tel: (775) 233-7328 George Putnam (CEO) Tel: (925) 208-1775 Email: info@scandiummining.com This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company and its business. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to statements regarding any future development of the project. The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation: risks related to uncertainty in the demand for scandium, the possibility that results of test work will not fulfill expectations, or not realize the perceived market utilization and potential of scandium sources that may be developed for sale by the Company. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Company's management at the time they are made, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances, should change. SOURCE: Scandium International Mining Corp View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607512/Scandium-International-Files-Patent-Application-for-Use-of-Scandium-in-Lithium-Ion-Batteries Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. A man has been stabbed to death in a targeted attack in a western Sydney nature reserve. Police say they were called to a reserve on Russell Street in Emu Plains about 8am on Thursday after reports a man had been stabbed. The man aged in his 20s died at the scene, and a crashed vehicle was found nearby. A man has been stabbed to death in a western Sydney nature reserve. Source: Nine News Nine News reports the incident was the result of a road rage attack. Nepean Police Area Command Crime Manager Jason Pietruszka later said police believe the man had been dead for a number of hours before he was found and that the attack was targeted. "The male was seen to be suffering various injuries consistent with a stab wound," he said. A person known to the man alerted officers, Detective Pietruszk said, adding that two men known to the victim are helping police with their inquiries. Police are now appealing for anyone with information or with dashcam footage from the area between 4am and 5am to come forward. with AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Reuters) Hong Kong Thu, September 24, 2020 15:30 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46f4c55 2 News Hong-Kong,Disney,Disneyland,Disneyland-Hong-Kong,theme-park Free Walt Disney Co will lose its option to buy a plot of land next to its Hong Kong theme park that was to allow for future expansion after the city's government said on Wednesday it would not extend the option due to current economic conditions. The announcement comes as the Chinese-ruled hub tries to bolster its flagging economy and badly hit tourism sector, which was impacted heavily by anti-government protests last year and more recently, the coronavirus. Hong Kong's Disneyland resort is owned by a joint venture, Hong Kong International Theme Parks Ltd (HKITP), of which the local government owns 53 percent and Walt Disney Co holds the rest. It has been closed for months this year. The government said it was prudent to focus on the development and expansion of the existing resort in the coming few years rather than a geographic expansion, according to a statement on its website. "HKITP's strategic direction is to focus on the ongoing multi-expansion plan featuring a series of new attractions that will continue to position Hong Kong Disneyland as a premier tourism destination in the region," a spokesman for the city's Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said. The option to buy the land, which is nearby the city's international airport, was agreed 20 years ago and expires on Thursday. Read also: Hong Kong Disneyland closes over China virus fears A Walt Disney Company representative said that the company would continue investing but was "extremely disappointed with the Hong Kong governments decision not to extend the phase 2 land expansion option." The land earmarked for Disney has been unused for years and activists had advocated that public housing be built on it. As the city experienced a renewed rise in coronavirus infections, authorities set up a temporary quarantine centre. Disney said on Tuesday it would open its Hong Kong park on Sept. 25 to a reduced number of visitors and limited days, with enhanced health measures. It had closed again in mid-July for a second time. The Asian financial hub has relaxed its coronavirus restrictions, including reopening theme parks, after the testing of nearly two million people in a program organized by the Chinese government found 42 cases. Gatherings remain capped at 4 people and all guests inside the park must wear masks. Within days of former premier Nawaz Sharifs hard-hitting speech challenging the armys interference in Pakistans politics, a grand opposition alliance created to unseat the Imran Khan government appears to be crumbling. Not surprisingly, this comes with a little nudge from the military. While the government was unable to counter most allegations levelled by Sharif, it was the army that sprang into action with leaks and statements that created rifts in not only the opposition alliance but in Sharifs own PML-N party, pitting his brother Shahbaz Sharif on a collision course with his daughter and political heir Maryam Nawaz. The first statement after the speech came the next day from army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa, who told a select group of parliamentarians the military didnt have a role in politics. He said the military didnt play any part in recently passed Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-related legislation, working of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and political proposals for Gilgit Baltistan (GB). Insisting that the political leadership was responsible for these matters, Bajwa conceded broad-based consultation was necessary on GB because of its strategic importance. While this debate was gathering momentum, it was leaked that key opposition leaders had met Bajwa and ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed days ahead of the all-party conference. Railways minister Sheikh Rasheed, seen to be close to the military, disclosed this and taunted the opposition for criticising the army and meeting with it at the same time. This leak embarrassed most of those who attended. Shahbaz Sharif confirmed the meeting while Bilawal clarified they attended a briefing on national security, a matter that is usually kept secret. In a hurriedly called press meet, Bilawal justified the meeting because PM Imran Khan had failed to engage with the opposition on national security issues during his tenure, such as worsening ties with India following the Pulwama attack. He said GB was discussed at the meeting. Soon after, Maryam Nawaz criticised her allies and took a potshot at her uncle and party president Shahbaz Sharif for meeting the military. She told the media on Wednesday, They (opposition leaders) were called [to the GHQ] on the issue of Gilgit-Baltistan. This is a political issue that should be settled by the peoples representatives... These issues should be decided in Parliament, not in the GHQ. Railways minister Rasheed then disclosed that the PML-N leadership had held not one but two meetings with the military leadership in the past two months. But Maryams statement appeared to have upset the military, with the head of its media wing, Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, disclosing that senior PML-N leader Mohammad Zubair held two meetings with Gen Bajwa in recent weeks to discuss the issue of Nawaz Sharif and his daughter. Iftikhar said both meetings were requested by Zubair, who talked about Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz. He added, The army chief made it clear to [Zubair] that whatever their legal issues are, they will be solved in Pakistans courts, while political issues will be solved in parliament. While the army seems to have won the latest round, it is clear the issue of military interference in politics will continue to be debated. It has also shaken the Khan government, which is being accused of coming to power through a rigged election. Analyst Kamran Yousaf said the days of the government may soon be over and another set-up cobbled with consensus could take charge. But others disagree. Most analysts say Nawaz Sharifs speech stirred a hornets nest, and his contention that the army is a state above a state will echo in the corridors of power. Top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Robert Menendez said today that the proposed US sale of F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) undermines Israels military superiority in the Middle East. His comments came just two days after Israels top defense official visited Washington to discuss the matter. Menendez, of New Jersey, questioned US Secretary of Political Affairs David Hale extensively on the reported sale at a Senate hearing on Wednesday. "It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that if Israels the only country in the Middle East that has F-35s, then selling it to someone else no longer produces that qualitative military edge, said Menendez. The Donald Trump administration is reportedly working on the sale of F-35 aircraft to the UAE. The UAE and Israel signed an agreement to normalize relations this month. However, Israeli officials are concerned that the Gulf country obtaining the sophisticated military planes would undermine Israels military superiority in the Middle East. The United States has a legal commitment to preserve the Jewish states qualitative military edge in the region. US officials are working to reassure Israel that they remain committed to the military edge. Congress has the authority to review US arms sales to foreign countries. When asked about an update on the planned sale, Hale said that the United States is still early on in the process. We are not at a point now where we have something to bring to the Senate, but we understand fully our obligations to notify Congress, said Hale during the hearing. Hale did not precisely confirm that the administration is considering selling F-35s to the Emirates. Were having consultations about their security needs and what would it take in order to improve their security, he said when asked by Menendez about F-35s specifically. Hale said he is not aware of a formal request by the UAE for the planes but he would keep the Senate updated on the issue. Israel is the only country in the Middle East with F-35s. I dont see how anybody could reasonably assert that a sale of F35 aircraft will in fact not reduce Israels qualitative military edge based on the simple fact that Israel is the only country throughout the Middle East that has that aircraft, said the senator. When asked about how the government will deal with US law pertaining to Israels qualitative military edge, Hale said the State Department and Pentagon have a process in place to ensure this. He also spoke of the importance of what US allies in the Gulf need in terms of military hardware. We have a large group of people at the Pentagon and the State Department who evaluate based on technical criteria and assessments of security and what it is that the Israelis have and what it is that the partners need, said Hale, adding they have a consultative process with Israel on the subject. Israels Minister of Defense Benny Gantz visited Washington on Tuesday. His talks with US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper focused on US sanctions on Iran and Israels military advantage in light of the possible F-35 sale. An Israeli defense official told Al-Monitor the F-35 proposal serves to ease concerns Gulf states have about their ability to defend themselves against Iran. By Express News Service Minister of Education Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal released Pralek Prakashans new release Parinda Girmitiya Mazdooro Ki Admya Sahas Gatha early this week. Written by Dr Yogesh Dube, Parinda. is a poignant tale about over four-and-a-half million indentured laborers who were sent from India to Mauritius in the 18th century. It is inspired by the story of one such Indian youth who eventually makes Mauritius his new motherland. Indians began migrating to Mauritius and Suriname in 1820s to work on the sugar plantations. In 1834, after slavery was abolished by the British Parliament, a vessel named Sarah brought the first batch of 39 indentured labourers from south India to Port Louis depot in Mauritius, marking the beginning of more. Talking about the research work that went into writing the book, Dr Dube said, I visited Mauritius in the official capacity in 2018, as a delegate with then Foreign Minister Late Sushma Swaraj Ji to attend the Vishwa Hindi Sammelan. Knowing the stories of Indians settled there inspired me to write this book. Mauritius President Prithviraj Singh Rupan also expressed his views. I have no doubt that Parinda. will enrich the literature and cultural bonds between India and Mauritius and further strengthen the rich traditional and historical relationship between our two countries. Bafta has announced a raft of changes to its film awards including expanding the nominations for director, actor and actress from five to six in response to a lack of diversity at this years ceremony. There will also be changes to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts voting, membership and campaigning processes, while the outstanding British film category will be expanded from six to 10 nominations to increase the focus on British work. The nominations for the 2020 film awards featured no non-white actors in the four main acting categories, and an absence of female directors, and Bafta subsequently announced it would conduct a careful and detailed review of its voting system. Expand Close Joaquin Phoenix won the best actor Bafta for Joker (Ian West/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joaquin Phoenix won the best actor Bafta for Joker (Ian West/PA) That review has led to 120 changes to address the lack of diversity, including an expansion of membership to target 1,000 new members from under-represented groups; a membership survey that will be a requirement to vote for the awards to allow Bafta to set targets to address areas of under-representation; and a new long-listing round of voting in all categories to achieve greater diversity in nominations. All voters, chapters and juries will be required to watch all long-listed films before voting for the nominees. Bafta chairman Krish Majumdar told the PA news agency it had been an incredibly humbling, chastening, at times really difficult process to hear hard truths about Bafta, about the processes, but also about the industry during the seven-month review process. He said: You look at the discrimination that is rife throughout the industry and society. When we started the process, the pandemic and also the huge wave of global anti-racist protests hadnt started but obviously during the course of this process the world changed, the whole world changed, especially at how we look at race and inequality in society. It was magnified, those fault lines. So Im really proud to say that Bafta has really stood up and responded to that. We started off as looking at the film awards but very quickly we realised everything was inter-connected. Video of the Day Expand Close Bafta awards (Anthony Devlin/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bafta awards (Anthony Devlin/PA) If we give an award to someone, we give that performance or film or piece of content value, so if we ignore people from sections of society, whether that be people of colour, whether that be females, whether that be disabled filmmakers, that means we dont value them and we realised there was something fundamentally that needed to change to remove those barriers to diversity. Its so complex, there are so many different issues and that is why we have attacked so many different things, its not one thing, they are all inter-connected. He added: People were talking about the prejudice of racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination that they faced, some people have had to leave the industry and a lot of that isnt to do with Bafta, that is to do with working in film and television and games, and that was particularly distressing. There were several calls in which I broke down and wept, everyone on Zoom was crying because it was so distressing and its really driven us on to change. The review was led by a specially formed steering group, which spoke to more than 400 people, including members, senior industry figures, guilds, industry bodies, currently under-represented groups, press and prominent figures within all aspects of the filmmaking community in the UK, US and internationally. The changes were welcomed by gender equality organisation Times Up. Dame Heather Rabbatts, chair of Times Up UK, said: This is a bold plan and one we at Times Up welcome and support. As we all know this is the start of the journey. Now these recommendations need to be enacted and implemented to ensure that the cultural and creative ambitions we all want to see are realised. Changes to the television awards will also be announced next month, and separate games and childrens awards reviews are being conducted later this year. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the Chinese consulate in New York City is a center for espionage, in comments to the New York Post on Thursday. Pompeos remarks came after the Justice Department charged an NYPD officer on Monday with spying for China. The officer, Baimadajie Angwang, is accused of arranging invitations for Chinese officials to NYPD events, in order to gain access to senior ranks of the NYPD. Angwang is an ethnic Tibetan who also gathered information for China on Tibetans in the city. The Justice Department alleged that Angwang was in contact with at least two consulate officials. Pompeo said there would likely be additional arrests of agents connected with the consulate. Officials in the consulate are engaged in activities where theyre crossing the line from normal diplomacy to the kinds of things that would be more akin to what spies are doing, Pompeo told the Post. In addition to the New York consulate, Pompeo warned that Chinas spying efforts may extend to its United Nations personnel. Remember, not only do we have Chinese consulates here, but theres a UN facility, too, Pompeo said. So if were talking about New York, we not only have the Chinese Consulate in New York that is the bilateral consulate they also have a large contingent of Chinese diplomats here for United Nations work. China has attempted to influence state and local politics in the U.S. through its consular missions, across various locations. National Review has reported that the wife of the Chinese Consulate-General in Chicago sent emails to Wisconsins State Senate President Roger Roth in February, asking Roth to consider adopting a resolution expressing solidarity with the Chinese people in fighting the coronavirus. The U.S. ordered the closure of Chinas consulate in Houston on July 22, citing unspecified massive illegal spying and influence operations emanating in part from the consulate. Nearby residents called the fire department after consulate workers began burning piles of documents in the courtyard of the complex. More from National Review By Associated Press TOKYO: Hermit Kingdom? Not quite. To pay close attention to North Korean diplomacy is to notice the many ways it upends the stereotype of the isolated, nuclear-armed wildcard of Northeast Asia. Yes, the country's propaganda services are prone to rhetoric meant to convey a sense of towering fury, mostly for domestic consumption. But before the coronavirus outbreak sealed its borders, North Korea's state media reported on a steady stream of select foreign diplomats, academics, journalists and delegations trooping up to the capital, Pyongyang. Along with scattered embassies throughout the world, the North also has a permanent mission at the United Nations in New York, where one of its diplomats will dutifully, if virtually, join other world leaders speaking at the annual UN General Assembly. The United Nations makes a point of welcoming all nations, regardless of political persuasion. But in many ways, there's a love-hate relationship between the North and the UN. And it raises a lingering question: What, exactly, does North Korea get out of membership in the United Nations? On the one hand, the world body, with its jumble of nations big and small, rich and poor, powerful and weak gives North Korea, which is formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK, a rare and highly visible platform from which to respond to the criticism it faces. Most of that comes from what it considers the world's leading bully the United States and its allies. But the United Nations also generates a fair share of that criticism. It puts the North's diplomats regularly on the defensive as they battle a stream of official reports, investigations and motions that point out the North's abysmal human rights record, its decades-long, coffers-draining pursuit of nuclear-tipped long-range missiles and other charges of infamy. One important thing the North gets from the UN: a direct point of contact with the 192 other member nations, including a host of countries that would be loath to send their diplomats to pay homage in Pyongyang the US pre-eminent among them. The two nations don't have formal diplomatic ties, and Washington relies on Sweden as its consular proxy in Pyongyang. This means the North's UN mission in New York is something of a substitute for an official embassy in Washington. When one side needs quick contact with the other, they often use the so-called New York channel at the UN. A good example of the importance of the New York channel came as the two sides were working out details of the three extraordinary summits between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in 2018 and 2019. With the United Nations, North Korea gets an excellent venue to work bilateral conversations with every country in the world without having to deploy diplomats in member capitals (at great expense), or have them travel to Pyongyang, said John Bolton, who has served as both the US ambassador to the UN under George W Bush and as National Security Adviser under Donald Trump. "The criticisms of North Korea will come anyway, and having a UN mission gives the DPRK proximity to media markets and universities in order to respond," he said in an email. He added: "The opportunities for DPRK intelligence gathering go without saying." The usefulness of the UN for the North is perhaps most obvious during times of high tension. In 2017, for instance, when animosity and back-and-forth threats between Trump and Kim had many fearing the possibility of war, North Korean officials used the media at the UN to repeatedly respond to Trump, holding several press conferences and reaching out directly to reporters with statements. It's true that quite a lot of what comes out of the UN is not to the North's liking, and its diplomats have stormed out of gatherings critical of the country's human rights, considered among the world's worst. But then they've also used the body to amplify their side of things. Part of the North's approach to diplomacy is the result of its turbulent history, and the outsized role the US and the UN play in it. North Korea was born when the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonialism at the end of World War II, only to be forcibly divided into a Soviet-backed north and US-supported south. Three years later, North Korea and South Korea became nations. Two years after that, in 1950, North Korea sneak-attacked the South to start the bloody three-year Korean War. That drew in China on the North's side and the US and a host of other nations fighting under the UN flag on the South's. That war has never technically ended, and the line between the North and South is the most heavily armed border in the world. These days, aside from the North's operations at the UN, there's little reason to expect the kind of diplomacy that came in 2018, with Kim Jong Un meeting with leaders from the US, Russia, China, Vietnam and South Korea. Kim is facing domestic crises on several fronts: a crumbling economy battered by unrelenting sanctions; a ragged infrastructure that's been pummeled by a string of typhoons; and the COVID pandemic, which has caused North Korea to seal its borders even with China, its economic lifeline. Still, the UN speech at the General Assembly next week will be an opportunity for the North to take to the world stage and express its own vision of nationhood the storyline of a proud, beset people who have been forced to embrace nuclear weapons to survive against unrelenting hostility from the US, South Korea and their allies. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said Thursday that any action by Pakistan to alter the status of the military occupied so-called Gilgit-Baltistan" has no legal basis and is completely void. Pakistan had earlier in the day announced that legislative elections would be held in the region on November 15. A statement issued by Pakistan President Arif Alvi said he was pleased to announce general elections to the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Legislative Assembly would be held on November 15. Responding to reports, Srivastava said Indias position has always been clear and consistent. The entire territories of the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been and are an integral part of India and would remain so. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on Indias internal matters," he reiterated. India has previously maintained the Government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it. The polls in Gilgit-Baltistan were to be held on August 18, but the Election Commission on July 11 postponed them due to the coronavirus pandemic. The MEA also hit out at the country on Thursday for raising Kashmir issues at a virtual meeting of multilateral grouping CICA. In a sharp reaction, the Ministry of External Affairs said Pakistan has misused another forum by continuing its spurious narrative" about India. It said Pakistan is the global epicentre" of terrorism and continues to be the source of terrorist activities in India. We advise Pakistan to cease its sponsorship and overt and covert support to terrorism against India. This will enable the two countries to engage and address issues bilaterally rather than distract this important forum from its agenda," the MEA said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 22:21:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian wildlife authorities on Thursday warned livestock keepers against grazing their animals in the Ruaha National Park, one of the largest protected areas in the country and the east African region. Pius Mzimbe, a conservation commissioner of the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) for southern regions, told journalists that grazing in the national park will lead to heavy penalties. "Grazing livestock in the national park is not advisable because cattle could infect wildlife animals with diseases such as anthrax," said the official. Mzimbe added that fishing activities in rivers in the Ruaha National Park covering 20,226 square kilometers was also not allowed. Ruaha National Park was formerly known for its large elephant population reaching 34,000 in 2009 before the population declined to only 15,836, and down to 4,759 in 2015 because of poaching. Enditem Mt. Sumbing, an arc volcano in Central Java, in 2016. The uplift of volcanic rock in the entire Southeast Asian island arc, starting 15 million years ago, triggered global cooling and eventually ice sheets that covered much of North America and Northern Europe 18,000 years ago, according to UC Berkeley scientists and their colleagues. Credit: UC Berkeley photo by Yuem Park The Greenland ice sheet owes its existence to the growth of an arc of islands in Southeast Asiastretching from Sumatra to New Guineaover the last 15 million years, a new study claims. According to an analysis by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara and a research institute in Toulouse, France, as the Australian continent pushed these volcanic islands out of the ocean, the rocks were exposed to rain mixed with carbon dioxide, which is acidic. Minerals within the rocks dissolved and washed with the carbon into the ocean, consuming enough carbon dioxide to cool the planet and allow for large ice sheets to form over North America and Northern Europe. "You have the continental crust of Australia bulldozing into these volcanic islands, giving you really high mountains just south of the equator," said Nicholas Swanson-Hysell, associate professor of earth and planetary science at UC Berkeley and senior author of the study. "So, you have this big increase of land area that is quite steep, in a region where it's warm and wet and a lot of rock types that have the ability to naturally sequester carbon." Starting about 15 million years ago, this tropical mountain-building drew down carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, decreasing the strength of the greenhouse effect and cooling the planet. By about 3 million years ago, Earth's temperature was cool enough to allow snow and ice to remain through the summer and grow into huge ice sheets over the Northern Hemisphere, like that covering Greenland today. Once Northern Hemisphere ice sheets grew, other climate dynamics led to a cycle of glacial maxima and minima every 40,000 to 100,000 years. At the most recent glacial maximum, about 15,000 years ago, massive ice sheets covered most of Canada, the northern portions of the U.S., as well as Scandinavia and much of the British Isles. "If it wasn't for the carbon sequestration that's happening in the Southeast Asian islands, we wouldn't have ended up with the climate that includes a Greenland ice sheet and these glacial and interglacial cycles," Swanson-Hysell said. "We wouldn't have crossed this atmospheric CO 2 threshold to initiate Northern Hemisphere ice sheets." The periodic growth and decline of the northern ice sheetsthe cycle of glacial maxima and minimais likely postponed, due to human emissions that have increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. "A process that took millions of years we have reversed in 100 years," Swanson-Hysell said. "Over the next tens to hundreds of thousands of years, geological processes in places like Southeast Asia will once again decrease CO 2 levels in the atmospherea pace that is frustratingly slow when humanity is facing the impact of current global warming." UC Berkeley doctoral student Yuem Park, Swanson-Hysell and their colleagues, including Francis Macdonald of UC Santa Barbara and Yves Godderis of Geosciences Environnement Toulouse, will publish their findings this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. How the shorelines and areas of islands in the Southeast Asian island arc, from Sumatra on the left to New Guinea on the right, increased over the past 15 million years as they emerged from the ocean. A significant increase in area over the past 5 million years is coincident with cooling and the onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation. A new analysis indicates that the rise of these tropical mountains led to a decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide that drove this cooling. Credit: Nicholas Swanson-Hysell Weathering of rock sequesters carbon Geologists have long speculated about the processes that periodically warm and cool the planet, occasionally covering the entire globe with ice and turning it into a so-called snowball Earth. Once scientists realized that, over the course of millions of years, tectonic processes move land masses around the planet like massive jigsaw puzzle pieces, they sought a connection between continental movementsand collisionsand ice ages. Cycles of Earth's orbit are responsible for the 40,000- or 100,000-year fluctuations in temperature that overlay the long-term warming and cooling. The rise of the Himalayas in Asia in the mid-latitudes over the past 50 million years has been a prime candidate for cooling and the start of a glacial climate after an extended geologic interval without ice sheets. A few years ago, however, Swanson-Hysell and Macdonald saw a correlation between mountain-building in tropical areas and the onset of time intervals with ice ages over the past 500 million years. In 2017, they proposed that a major ice age 445 million years ago was triggered by mountain- building in the tropics, and they followed that in 2019 with a more complete correlation of the last four time intervals of glacial climate and collisions between continents and tropical island arcs. They argue that the combination of increased exposure of rock with minerals that can sequester carbon and a plenitude of warm tropical rain is particularly effective in pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The process involves chemical dissolution of the rocks that consume carbon dioxide, which is then locked in carbonate minerals that form limestone rock in the ocean. The calcium within seashells that you find on the beach may have come out of a tropical mountain on the other side of the world, Swanson-Hysell said. "We built up a new database of these types of mountain-building events and then reconstructed the latitude at which they happened," Swanson-Hysell said. "Then we saw, hey, there is a lot of cooling when there is a lot of this type of mountain being built in the tropics, which is the Southeast Asian setting. The Southeast Asian islands are the best analog for processes that we also see further in the past." For the current paper, Park, Swanson-Hysell and Macdonald teamed up with Godderis to model more precisely what carbon dioxide levels would be with changes in the size of the Southeast Asian islands. The researchers first recreated the sizes of the islands as they grew over the last 15 million years, focusing primarily on the largest: Java, Sumatra, the Philippines, Sulawesi and New Guinea. They calculated that the area of the islands increased from 0.3 million square kilometers 15 million years ago to 2 million square kilometers today. UC Santa Barbara graduate student Eliel Anttila, who was an undergraduate student in earth and planetary science at UC Berkeley and is a co-author of the paper, contributed to this aspect of the research. Left: The Southeast Asian islands with their ancient smaller area (red), as reconstructed by the scientific team. They have grown to their present size over the past 15 million years. Right: The extent of ice sheets over North America during the last glacial maximum 18,000 years ago. Large ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere first developed 2.7 million years ago. Credit: Nicholas Swanson-Hysell, UC Berkeley They then used Godderis' GEOCLIM computer model to estimate how the growth of these islands altered carbon levels in the atmosphere. Together with UC Berkeley postdoctoral scholar Pierre Maffre, who recently obtained his Ph.D. in Godderis' lab, they updated the model to account for the variable effect of different rock types. The model is linked with a climate model in order to relate CO 2 levels to global temperatures and precipitation. They found that the increase of land area along the southeast edge of the Pacific corresponded with global cooling, as reconstructed from oxygen isotope compositions in ocean sediments. The carbon dioxide levels inferred from the model also match some measurement-based estimates, though Swanson-Hysell admits that estimating CO 2 levels more than a million years ago is difficult and uncertain. Based on their model, chemical weathering in the Southeast Asian islands alone diminished CO 2 levels from more than 500 parts per million (ppm) 15 million years ago to approximately 400 ppm 5 million years ago and, finally, to pre-industrial levels of 280 ppm. Fossil fuel-burning has now raised the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 411 ppmlevels that haven't been seen on Earth for millions of years. While the threshold for Arctic glaciation is estimated to be about 280 ppm of carbon dioxide, the threshold for ice sheet formation at the South Pole is much higher: about 750 ppm. That's why the Antarctic ice sheets began forming much earlier, about 34 million years ago, than those in the Arctic. While the researchers' model doesn't allow them to isolate the climatic effects of the rise of the Himalayas, their Southeast Asian island scenario alone can account for the appearance of Northern Hemisphere ice sheets. They did explore the effect of volcanic events occurring around the same time, including massive lava flows, or flood basalts, such as those in Ethiopia and North America (Columbian traps). Though the weathering of such rocks has been proposed as an ice age trigger, the model shows that this activity played a minor role, compared to the rise of the Southeast Asian islands. "These results highlight that the Earth's climate state is particularly sensitive to changes in tropical geography," the authors conclude. Swanson-Hysell credits the campus's France-Berkeley Fund for providing resources for an initial collaboration with Godderis that led to a large collaborative grant from the National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Frontier Research in Earth Science program to further pursue the research resulting in this paper. The French-American team plans to model other past ice ages, including the one in the Ordovician period 445 million years ago that, in 2017, Swanson-Hysell and Macdonald proposed was triggered by a collision similar to that occurring today in the Southeast Asian islands. That collision took place during the first phase of Appalachian mountain-building, when the present-day eastern U.S. was located in the tropics. More information: Yuem Park el al., "Emergence of the Southeast Asian islands as a driver for Neogene cooling," PNAS (2020). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Yuem Park el al., "Emergence of the Southeast Asian islands as a driver for Neogene cooling,"(2020). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2011033117 Sweetwater County residents wanting to vote from the comfort of their own home can request an absentee ballot from the county. Wyomings citizens can begin to cast their ballots in the general election. In these unprecedented times, it is crucial that every Wyoming voter has the opportunity to safely exercise their right to vote either by absentee or in-person as outlined in Wyoming law, Secretary of State Edward Buchanan said in a press release. Sweetwater County Clerk Cindy Lane said the ballots were made available to residents Friday, with the county sending more than 4,200 ballo... A slightly leaner $247.5 million budget for the 2021 fiscal year, approved unanimously this week by the VIA Metropolitan Transit board, is not as draconian as once feared and might forecast its scope of spending for the next three to four years, agency CEO Jeff Arndt said. The funding expected for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 is just $1.9 million less than the current budget, and reflects the COVID-related decreases in ridership and city sales tax revenue, which partially funds the countywide bus service. There is still huge uncertainty, Arndt said. But Im hoping the uncertainty weve had over the last six months is far worse than what we have moving forward. The new budget includes no fare increases and no active staff reductions. It changes some service levels to match customer demand and social distancing protocols, and adds new mobility-on-demand service in the Northwest zone and Sandy Oaks area. Among the highlights are 139 new VIAtrans buses, which serve the elderly and those with disabilities. They will be replacing the current fleet, Arndt said. About $4.9 million was saved in the current budget by maintaining bus service at what VIA calls an essential level mainly with reduced frequency and the elimination of some routes. Arndt said about 80 percent of the budget will go toward services, including buying new buses, fuel and maintenance. In addition to the operating budget, the VIA board unanimously approved an $84.9 million capital spending budget and a five-year $173.7 million capital spending plan for various construction projects, including a $33 million paratransit facility that will serve as the headquarters for VIAtrans. In 2017, VIA purchased the former Graham Central Station nightclub at 4902 Fredericksburg Road for $8.1 million to serve as the new VIAtrans facility. The site is 11 acres, with a 100,000-square-foot building and another about 10,000 square feet. Since about March, VIA has lost nearly half its riders due to job cuts throughout the city and riders concerns about contagion, though masks and social distancing are required and physical contact with drivers is avoided. Bus fees were waived in March, then reinstated June 1. VIAs much-publicized plan for more frequent buses on dedicated lanes, known as VIA Reimagined, is not in the budget. It had to be shelved when the pandemic made a push for a 1/8-cent share of the city sales tax impractical, and the transit agency then tangled with city leaders who decided the tax was needed for economic recovery instead. The tax for years has funded aquiifer protection and linear parks, and voters will decide a pair of proposals Nov. 3 that would switch it to the citys recovery purposes, then to VIA in 2026. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio City Council approves 10-year funding plan for Edwards Aquifer protection program VIA Reimagineds renamed successor, Keep SA Moving, has some of its short term goals funded next year, along with a $1.2 million line item for marketing and educating the public about what it is, and will require voter approval for other components, an agency spokeswoman said. The Keep SA Moving website is long on the language of goals connecting people to jobs, equity, implement service innovations but the nuts and bolts, including what the transportation world calls bus rapid transit or advanced rapid transit, can be found under a tab labeled resources. It identifies goals for the next one to four years, including keeping VIAtrans at current levels, and long-term priorities over five to 10 years. The showpiece is a fleet of innovative, usually longer buses, that will travel in dedicated lanes on some of the citys most crowded roads. The goal is to have them arrive so frequently about every seven to 10 minutes that riders wont need schedules. Queen Letizia of Spain looked effortlessly chic today as she stepped out for a meeting in Madrid. The royal, 48, oozed sophistication as she sported a recycled Boss suit, featuring a double breasted pink blazer and matching tailored cigarette trousers. Mother-of-two Letizia is honorary president of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) and attended a meeting in Madrid for World Cancer Research Day. The former journalist is known for her thrifty fashion sense and love for re-wearing pieces, having already stepped out in the stylish suit twice this year. Queen Letizia of Spain cut an elegant figure today as she stepped out for a meeting in Madrid The royal, 48, oozed sophistication as she sported a Boss suit, featuring a double breasted pink blazer and matching tailored cigarette trousers She teamed her look with a pair of stylish leather heels while opting for a white leather shoulder bag, matching her white satin blouse. Her brunette tresses were loose around her shoulders and Letizia opted for a light makeup look, with a hint of matching pink eye-shadow. The mother-of-two, who is married to King Felipe of Spain, wore a blue medical mask and was seen re-reading her notes ahead of the meeting. Queen Letizia met with Spain's Minister of Science and Innovation, Pedro Duque alongside the President of AECC, Ramon Reyes. The royal met with Spain's Minister of Science and Innovation, (right) Pedro Duque alongside the President of AECC, Ramon Reyes (far right) The monarch is honorary president of the Spanish Association Against Cancer and posed for a photo with Duque and Reyes The meeting attended by the monarch was for the AECC which helps fund cancer research projects to foster better diagnosis and treatment The AECC involves patients, families, volunteers and professionals, who work together to prevent, inform, be with people, and fund cancer research projects to foster better diagnosis and treatment. At Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, it offers companionship and support to cancer patients and provides peer volunteers, particularly for women diagnosed with breast cancer. The Association is partnered with the UK-based Cancer Research UK, which is the global leader in cancer charities devoted to the research side of the disease. World Cancer Research day is partnered with the European Association For Cancer Research, and aims to accomplish the scientific advances that will lead to defeating cancer. The mother-of-two, who is married to King Felipe of Spain, wore a blue medical mask and was seen re-reading her notes ahead of the meeting The former journalist is known for her thrifty fashion sense and love for re-wearing pieces, having already stepped out in the stylish suit twice this year Her brunette tresses were loose around her shoulders and Letizia opted for a light make-up look, with a hint of matching pink eye-shadow Queen Letizia was seen waving to onlookers as she stood besides Ramon Reyes ahead of the meeting Queen Letizia last wore the stylish suit in March this year as she met with workers from the APRAMP charity which protects sex workers in Spain. The goal of the Association for the Prevention, Reintegration and Care of Prostituted Women (APRAMP) is for victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking to recover their freedom and dignity and autonomy to begin a life outside of sex work. She once again teamed her elegant look with matching shoes and a stylish white satin blouse. The royal also donned the suit a month earlier, as she attended the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards event in Valencia. She teamed her look with a pair of stylish leather heels while opting for a white leather shoulder bag, matching her white satin blouse Queen Letizia seemed in high spirits as she chatted on her way to the meeting in Madrid today Queen Letizia, pictured with Pedro Duque today, last wore the stylish suit in March this year as she met with workers from the APRAMP charity which protects sex workers in Spain Queen Letizia sat with the Minister of Science and Innovation, Duque during the meeting today The Association is partnered with the UK-based Cancer Research UK, which is the global leader in cancer charities devoted to the research side of the disease Credit: Shutterstock At the first sign of lockdown due to COVID-19 in Australia and across the globe, there were concerns domestic and family violence would increase in prevalence and intensity. It was also feared that, at the same time, conditions would prevent women from coming forward. We have now gathered data showing these fears were well founded. But what of the specific situation of temporary visa holders? Our study of 100 cases during the first Victorian lockdown has illuminated the urgent need to remove barriers to support for temporary visa holders. It has also highlighted the need for changes to Commonwealth law and policy, so perpetrators are no longer able to use migration status as a means to control and abuse women. This propensity is captured in the quote from one of the women in our study, Aruna, whose partner threatened to send her back to her country of birth if she called 000 for help. Previous research has demonstrated that for women without permanent residency or citizenship, the experience of domestic and family violence is compounded by immigration threats and their exclusion from many of the supports available to victims. These can include income, housing, medical and legal services. The pandemic has intensified the impact of exclusion, while also highlighting the persistent use of migration status as a threat. In our latest report released today, 70% of perpetrators of violence against the women were Australian citizens or permanent residents. Threats to have women "deported by immigration" were noted in 55% of cases. Threats to withdraw sponsorship (for women holding temporary partner visas) were made in 60% of cases. Women said their greatest fear was being killed or harmed by the perpetrator (70%). But they also feared being forced to leave the country, including leaving Australian-born children with their Australian father (31%). The fear of returning home is potent for some women. One of those surveyed, Tasneem, said she feared the perpetrator would follow her. A note from her file reads: "[Tasneem] is also extremely concerned that her abusive partner will force her to return to [country of origin] where he will hurt and/or kill her. Tasneem has separated from him, but they remain legally married and she is dependent on him for her visa. She is not entitled to Centrelink payments and has no source of income. She has no friends or family in Australia and the perpetrator refuses [] to allow her to contact her family back home." Tasneem's case highlights the critical absence of support for women in this situation, including the impact of their exclusion from JobSeeker and JobKeeper. In our study, 70% of women who had paid employment lost their jobs due to COVID-19. Lack of money is clearly linked to a lack of options in escaping family violence. Seeking security in these circumstances can mean remaining with an abusive partner to ensure children are fed and have beds to sleep in. This is also in part a consequence of the limited availability of safe housing options. Recent Australian research on women experiencing domestic and family violence during COVID-19 has shown the shortage in safe housing options has been acute. In our study, housing was a key issue for two-thirds of the women. The specific housing issues varied: for some women who lived alone, the accommodation was unsafe because the perpetrator had previously lived there, knew the address and had a key. In other cases, women were couch-surfing with their children, relying on friends who were also under financial and other pressures due to COVID-19. Some women stayed with their abusive partners because they had nowhere else to go. When we spoke with case managers, we were told some clients had been offered the airfare home be other services because there were no available resources in Australia to help them. What we have observed in our research is not particular to the pandemic. It is a manifestation of our society's continued failure to address the support needs of female temporary visa holders who experience domestic and family violence. This is not simply about money, though providing immediate access to ongoing income, housing and other support is critical. What we really need to do is reshape the conversation: put perpetrators using migration processes as threats in view and offer better support to those who are suffering. No woman (or child) should have to compromise their personal safety because of a lack of access to support. Women have been described as the "shock absorbers" of the pandemic. As we emerge from this health crisis, we need a bold vision that achieves better outcomes for women, particularly those made vulnerable by their migration status domestic and family violence. Explore further As domestic violence spikes, many victims and their children have nowhere to live This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The BBC has denied allegations that it teed Sir Keir Starmer up with a prime-time slot to take a shot at Boris Johnson following the PM's address to the nation. The public broadcaster said it was following standard 'editorial guidelines' by giving the Leader of the Opposition a 'right of reply' last night following Mr Johnson's speech the night before. But Tory MPs have accused the BBC of 'going out of their way to provoke the Government' after Sir Keir branded Mr Johnson a 'failure' in a withering rebuke of his administration. A BBC spokesman told MailOnline: '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. 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 '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.' 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 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. But 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.' 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? '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. 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 '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. 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.' TDT | Manama The Neuroscience Association of Bahrain Medical Society (BMS) held the 11th Gulf Neurology Conference virtually. It took place under the patronage of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) president Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. The conference reviewed the latest therapeutic developments for the most common neurological diseases of concern to patients in Bahrain, including stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, involuntary nerve movements, and myasthenia gravis and peripheral nerves. One of the conference workshops focused on brain strokes, especially after Bahrain started an application to treat strokes by dissolving them or by the catheter. A big part of the conference was devoted to addressing epilepsy, where International League Against Epilepsy president Sam Wiebe gave a talk on the topic. The conference included 52 lectures in which 40 lecturers were represented by a group of doctors, specialists, and consultants in neurology from Bahrain, the region, and the world. The number of views was 2,700 in Bahrain, and nearly 4,200 internationally. A century-old maritime law could protect Carnival Cruise Line from having to pay out large sums to families of passengers killed by COVID-19, and the money that relatives could receive may amount to little more than burial costs. The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA), a century-old federal law, was originally a sword of protection and support for the widows and dependents of seamen who died while working on ships in foreign waters. But it eventually became a shield behind which the cruise industry has been allowed to hide; avoiding financial accountability for the wrongful deaths of passengers who do not have dependents or income. On Monday, US District Judge Dale Fischer sided with Carnival in the case of Wilson Maa, whose family tried to argue that the DOHSA did not apply to Maa's death because he died shortly after returning to shore and not while at sea, according to Bloomberg Law. Maa, 71, died in April after traveling around South America on the Coral Princess cruise ship. On Monday, US District Judge Dale Fischer sided with Carnival in the case of Wilson Maa, whose family argued that the Death on the High Seas Act did not apply to Maa because he died shortly after returning to shore and not while at sea aboard the Coral Princess (pictured) Maa, 71, died in April after traveling around South America on the Coral Princess cruise ship. Passengers on the Coral Princess are seen wearing protective masks while the ship docked in Miami on April 4 According to court documents, Carnival, which owns Princess Cruises, had argued that where Maa (left) died was irrelevant because the alleged negligence occurred 'on the high seas beyond 3 nautical miles from the shore of the United States' His family said he contracted the virus while at sea and died at a Miami hospital after waiting four hours to be transferred off the ship. According to court documents, Carnival, which owns Princess Cruises, had argued that where Maa died was irrelevant because the alleged negligence occurred 'on the high seas beyond 3 nautical miles from the shore of the United States'. In the ruling, the judge wrote: 'It is clear from the face of the complaint that Mr. Maa contracted COVID-19 on the "high seas."' If the ruling is followed by others, the DOHSA could prove to be a safety net for the cruise line, according to Bloomberg. And because the law limits payouts for survivors, one maritime lawyer said in the case of retirees, who make up a large percentage of cruisers, the recovery may amount to a little more than burial costs. Charles Naylor, a lawyer who specializes in maritime injury and death, explained to Bloomberg: 'Basically, the question to the widow is, "What did it cost you to lose your husband?" If it didn't cost you anything, we don't owe you a nickel.' Meanwhile, cruise lines have announced that they will test all passengers and crew for COVID-19 prior to boarding as part of their plan for resuming sailing in the Americas. The Cruise Lines International Association, a trade group that represents 95 per cent of global ocean-going cruise capacity, said Monday that its members will also require passengers and crew to wear masks while onboard whenever physical distancing can't be maintained. No date has been set for the resumption of cruising in the US, the Caribbean and Mexico. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a no-sail order for US waters through September 30. The association's safety plan will now go to the CDC, which will consider it as the agency decides whether to lift the no-sail order. The order has been extended twice since March. If the ruling is followed by others, the DOHSA could prove to be a safety net for the cruise line (Carnival Panorama pictured) The cruise association has issued a voluntary suspension of cruises through October 31. In a conference call Monday, Arnold Donald, the president and CEO of Carnival, said once the CDC lifts its order, it will probably take cruise lines at least a month to prepare their ships and train crew before they can sail. The safety plan requires testing of passengers and crew, but doesn't specify the types of coronavirus tests that companies must use, CLIA Chairman Adam Goldstein said. Passengers and crew must test negative to board. The plan permits limited shore excursions and requires passengers to wear masks and stay apart from other people during those excursions. Passengers who dont comply won't be allowed to reboard. The plan also requires ships to increase the amount of fresh air in their ventilation systems and use advanced filtration methods where feasible. Cruise company executives said the limited resumption of cruising in Europe and elsewhere over the last few weeks has convinced them that cruising can be done safely. Costa Cruises, which is owned by Carnival, has two cruises to Italy this month. The ships aren't at full capacity and only Italian passengers are on board. In August, a passenger on board the Paul Gauguin, a ship owned by Tahiti-based Paul Gauguin Cruises, tested positive for COVID-19 despite a health screening prior to boarding, CLIA said. The passenger and a family member were removed from the ship and placed in isolation on land. No other passengers were affected, CLIA said. The safety agreement is an unusual one in the fiercely competitive industry, which has been seriously shaken by the coronavirus. 'We all share the same goal, and we're going to get there through collaboration, not competition,' said Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean Cruise's chairman and CEO. Hundreds of people fell ill aboard crowded cruises earlier this year before the CDC's no-sail order went into effect. Fourteen passengers died after an outbreak aboard Carnival's Diamond Princess, which was quarantined off the coast of Japan in February. Since then, the industry has furloughed thousands of workers and obtained billions in bank loans to stay afloat. CLIA says the US cruise industry supports more than 400,000 jobs and generates $53billion annually. M att Hancock has said nearly 10,000 people a day are contracting coronavirus in the UK as he urged people to download the newly-released NHS tracing app. He said the 10,000 daily infections were still fewer than the 100,000 per day estimated during the spring peak. It comes after infections rose by 6,178 overnight, marking the highest daily rise in Covid-19 cases since May 1. The Health Secretary told Sky News: The massive testing capability weve got helps to find where the virus is so, if you think about it, yesterday we had a figure that there is over 6,000 people who have tested positive in the previous 24 hours. And that is comparable to the highest levels in the peak in terms of the number of people who were tested positive but back then we estimate through surveys that over 100,000 people a day were catching the disease, but we only found around 6,000 of them and they tested positive. Now we estimate that it is under 10,000 people a day getting the disease thats too high but it is still much lower than in the peak and through the mass testing we have and the quarter-of-a-million capacity, we found yesterday over 6,000 of them. That then allows us to do the contact tracing for everyone who has tested positive and find who theyve been in contact with. Loading.... In addition, today with the app, if you download the app you will also have that added protection for you and your loved ones. Mr Hancock made the comments as he welcomed the launch of the NHS contract tracing app in England and Wales. The rollout follows months of delay and questions about its effectiveness in the face of mixed results from other countries which have already deployed such apps. The Health Secretary said: "We're launching today for the first time the coronavirus app in England and Wales. 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 does the core job of ensuring that when you have been in close contact with somebody who has tested positive, then you will be notified. "It also allows you to click in to a QR code and find out what the rules are in your local area." Mr Hancock explained that people could be asked multiple times to self-isolate by the new NHS tracing app although he confirmed it would not be a legal requirement. Speaking to Times Radio, he said: If the app tells you to self-isolate, then you should self-isolate. But if an NHS Test and Trace contact tracer tells you, then you must by law. Matt Hancock urged people to download the contact tracing app / REUTERS Asked whether that was complicated to understand, he said: Not really, it is really straightforward. Pushed on whether people could be told to self-isolate more than once by the app, Mr Hancock said: If you didnt have symptoms first time round then youre just as susceptible to getting infected, so unfortunately yes, you have to. The MP for West Suffolk denied a report in The Times that issues with Bluetooth, the technology used by the app, around its ability to be interfered with by nearby objects meant one in three people told to self-isolate will have been given a false positive. No, nobody who gets an alert saying they should self-isolate will have not been in close contact with someone else who has the app, the Cabinet minister said. Attorney General Nessel Opposes Federal Effort to Weaken Protections for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals in Shelters Attorney General Nessel Opposes Federal Effort to Weaken Protections for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals in Shelters September 23, 2020 LANSING Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in opposing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments (HUD) new proposed rule that would weaken protections for transgender and gender nonconforming individuals in HUD-funded shelters. The proposed rule seeks to rescind and replace HUDs 2016 Equal Access Rule, which created a uniform national nondiscrimination standard for admissions and placement of transgender and gender nonconforming people in federally-funded single-sex temporary and emergency shelters, and other facilities not covered by the Fair Housing Act (FHA). In the comments submitted Tuesday, the coalition argues that HUD should withdraw the proposed rule because it will inflict substantial and needless harm upon transgender and gender nonconforming individuals. Safety is paramount for anyone who seeks temporary or emergency housing. The goal for these safe havens should be to protect all who need to stay there. To roll back the protections already in place for this vulnerable population is reckless and continues to show this administrations blatant disregard for certain groups of people, said Nessel. If this proposed rule is finalized, HUD would further jeopardize the safety of individuals who already experience high rates of violence, harassment and discrimination in shelters. It is incumbent upon my colleagues and I to oppose this move. The coalition asserts that temporary and emergency shelters often provide the best access point for individuals seeking safe housing and access to social service supports, a need made even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis. Research has shown that admissions and placement of individuals in single-sex facilities is most safely done in accordance with an individuals gender identity. The proposed rule would permit shelters to establish policies and procedures regarding admissions and placement of transgender and gender nonconforming people in single-sex temporary, emergency shelters and other buildings and facilities not covered by the FHA based on a shelter providers perception of an individuals biological sex. The proposed rule will result in the exclusion of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals from shelters, and will expose countless individuals to unnecessary risk. The 2016 Equal Access Rule defined gender identity as the gender with which a person identifies, regardless of sex assigned to that person at birth and regardless of the persons perceived gender identity, and therefore requires placement and accommodation decisions be made based on an individuals gender identity. This uniform standard successfully protects and provides accommodations for transgender and gender nonconforming people without imposing burdens upon the religious liberties, privacy or safety of other shelter residents. The 2016 Equal Access Rule also requires that shelter providers arrange for privacy accommodations, where necessary, to enhance safety and privacy for all residents. The coalition argues that the reasons HUD cites to justify the proposed rule do not support rescinding the life-saving provisions of the 2016 Equal Access Rule, which were grounded in substantial research, evidence and demonstrated community need. Additionally, the attorneys general state that the proposed rule: Offers no justification for ignoring evidence that supported HUDs 2016 change to the definition of gender identity. Offers no justification for replacing a standard for admissions and placement that respected individuals self-identity and maximized the safety of all residents. Fails to address the impact of its proposed changes on the safety of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals. Ignores the overwhelming evidence showing that housing transgender women in womens shelters has proven to be an effective and safe option for individuals facing homelessness. Is impractical and cannot be implemented in a nondiscriminatory manner. Attorney General Nessel joins the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Iowa, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin in sending this comment letter. A copy of the comment letter is available here. ### Ryan Jarvi 517-599-2746 Attorney General A ransomware attack against one of the worlds largest providers of education administration software has renewed concerns about data loss at schools and school districts. When thieves hacked Blackbaud, they acquired the personal and financial data of students, former students, staff, and supporters at ten schools. The company also waited months to disclose the attack; General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies must report a significant breach to data authorities within 72 hours of learning of an incident or face potential fines. This attack is a reminder of how website security must be a day-one discussion for schools and school districts, said Ron Zayas, co-founder of 360Civic. 360Civics Honor Roll program provides an advanced, easy-to-launch website to any school or school district, at no cost for the first year. While Honor Roll also employs a software-as-a-service model (SaaS), it is not as vulnerable to the same type of attack as Blackbaud. By hacking Blackbaud the thieves were able to gain access to data from multiple schools. At Honor Roll, we keep every school segregated in our systems from every other client. An attempt to breach one would never impact any other school or district, Zayas said. To take every precaution against a successful breach, 360Civic also employs an experienced CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) to oversee protection of client data. Additionally, the company offers secure website models that can be hosted on premises or on a highly secure infrastructure. For more information on 360Civic, visit http://www.360Civic.com and find 360Civic on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. ________________________________________ About 360Civic 360Civic is a California marketing and website agency located in Orange County, California. The company specializes in advanced, customized websites and marketing programs for the public sector. 360Civic is a branch of 360 BC Group, Inc., a minority owned marketing corporation that holds top market position in California. For more information, visit http://www.360civic.com. I was just kind of documenting my crazy idea that I had at 4 in the morning, she said, referring to her efforts as an example of quarantine DIY. In the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Dio said she was hesitant to go to the dentist for a noncritical procedure. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Former New York Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas was sentenced Wednesday for his role in a hit-and-run car accident in Chico, Calif. on June 16. The New York Post reports Rosas received three years of probation and a 30-day suspended jail sentence as part of a pre-trial agreement. He will not have to serve any time behind bars for the accident. Alcohol impairment was believed to be a factor in the collision. Rosas pled no contest to reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and driving without a valid license as a result of a June accident when witnesses claimed he drove through a red traffic signal at 90-100 miles per hour and slammed into another vehicle in an intersection. A bloodied Rosas was later found walking about a mile from the scene, according to the police. Sign up for Giants Extra: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text directly with reporters The Post also reports the 25-year-old Rosas was ordered to pay fines and court fees, and he must avoid alcohol when driving. Rosas can find himself serving jail time if he violates his the terms of his probation. The Giants released Rosas before training camp began in July. Before his arrest, the Giants signed Rosas, 25, to a $3.2 million tender to keep him as a restricted free agent. Rosas made the Pro Bowl in 2018 but struggled in 2019, missing five field-goal attempts and four extra-point attempts. (NJ Advance Medias Matt Lombardo contributed to this report.) Get Giants text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text directly with beat writers. Plus, exclusive news and analysis. Sign up now for a free trial. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. How far off is AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZSE:AFT) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for AFT Pharmaceuticals The calculation We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, 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 (NZ$, Millions) NZ$4.50m NZ$17.7m NZ$27.1m NZ$34.6m NZ$41.7m NZ$47.9m NZ$53.3m NZ$57.9m NZ$61.8m NZ$65.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 27.82% Est @ 20.25% Est @ 14.96% Est @ 11.25% Est @ 8.66% Est @ 6.84% Est @ 5.57% Present Value (NZ$, Millions) Discounted @ 7.4% NZ$4.2 NZ$15.3 NZ$21.9 NZ$26.0 NZ$29.1 NZ$31.2 NZ$32.3 NZ$32.7 NZ$32.5 NZ$31.9 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = NZ$257m 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 2.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.4%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030 (1 + g) (r g) = NZ$65m (1 + 2.6%) (7.4% 2.6%) = NZ$1.4b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= NZ$1.4b ( 1 + 7.4%)10= NZ$682m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is NZ$939m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of NZ$5.0, the company appears quite undervalued at a 44% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf Important assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at AFT Pharmaceuticals 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 7.4%, 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: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For AFT Pharmaceuticals, we've put together three fundamental aspects you should explore: Risks: Take risks, for example - AFT Pharmaceuticals has 3 warning signs (and 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) we think you should know about. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for AFT's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every New Zealander 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. CAIRO Egyptian lawyers say the country's security forces have made a series of arrests in response to Sept. 20-21 demonstrations seeking political and economic reforms. The protests took place in response to a call from Spain-based Egyptian contractor Mohamed Ali, who has been a thorn in the government's side. The turnout for the demonstrations was limited amid a growing governmental crackdown. Various neighborhoods in Cairo witnessed demonstrations; there also were protests in other governorates, most of which are rural. People who witnessed the demonstrations told Al-Monitor that there were calls for the departure of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi; one witness said, "The security forces dealt with them brutally as they rigorously fired tear gas canisters to disperse the protests." Human rights lawyer Hala Abu Duma told Al-Monitor she "expects more arrests in the areas that saw protests." She said, "Until this morning, the security forces are still coming with detainees for investigation." Abu Duma told Al-Monitor that she was present for Supreme State Security Prosecution interrogations of dozens of detainees on Sept. 20 and 21, and said all were from poor popular areas or rural villages outside Cairo but were transferred to Cairo following their arrest. Abu Duma said there were dozens of detainees. One cannot say the exact number of detainees, but many human rights lawyers, including myself, were there last night with many detainees arrested during the demonstrations until the early morning hours of Sept. 22, she said. Ali, who opposes Sisi's regime, had reiterated his call for Sept. 20 demonstrations; the date marks the anniversary of protests that broke out in 2019, when thousands of demonstrators were arrested and imprisoned on charges of belonging to terrorist groups. A report published by the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms said the number of demonstrators detained in September 2019 following the protests that erupted in a number of governorates over the course of five days was estimated at more than 4,400. More than 1,439 of them are still detained. Human rights lawyer and former presidential candidate Khaled Ali called on human rights lawyers to provide legal support to those detained in the past few days. He also published on his Facebook page a list of 25 detainees he was present with at the interrogations. Khaled Ali told Al-Monitor over the phone, The prosecution interrogated many of the demonstrators who were detained and decided to keep them in detention for 15 days as a precaution, pending accusations of rallying, demonstrating, joining a terrorist group, spreading fake news and harming Egyptian national security. He added, There are many human rights lawyers at the [prosecution] headquarters awaiting the arrival of new detainees from different governorates. Security forces deployed in vital areas across the country ahead of the Sept. 20-21 demonstrations and closed all cafes in the vicinity of the capital, Cairo, and surrounded main squares. The forces arrested citizens and searched them and their phones in violation of the law and the constitution, observers said. A human rights lawyer told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the security forces have embarked on a new pattern of arrests by deploying security personnel among demonstrators to photograph them and subsequently arrest them at their homes. The human rights lawyer added, I attended the interrogation with four people, all of whom were arrested at their houses, which were stormed by security forces. It is as if the message the security forces wanted to convey is that any demonstrator will be arrested and imprisoned even if not during the demonstration itself. Muhammad Ayoub, 45, the owner of a restaurant in the Basateen area in Cairo, which witnessed continuous demonstrations, told Al-Monitor that the security forces have been arresting citizens randomly, and that one of his workers was arrested while passing by in the street. The worker, he said, "was only released after I contacted the responsible field officer and assured him that he works for us and that he was only in the area for the sake of work not for the sake of demonstrating. Ahmed Aboul Fotouh, a human rights lawyer in Alexandria governorate, located about 220 kilometers (135 miles) north of Cairo, told Al-Monitor that the security forces have rearrested some citizens who were arrested last year in the Sept. 20, 2019, demonstrations. Aboul Fotouh added, I was surprised by the multiple calls I received from the families of detainees whom I worked with last year. They all said that their relatives place of detention is yet to be revealed. He said he advised the families of those arrested to submit complaints to the Egyptian Public Prosecutor and to the National Council for Human Rights regarding their relatives being subjected to enforced disappearance. Vote-by-mail ballots in U.S. Postal Service sorting trays at the King County Elections headquarters in Renton, Wash., on Aug. 5, 2020. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo) GOP Report Warns of Election Chaos, Possible Constitutional Crisis Two senior Republicans in Congress are warning that widespread problems with mail-in voting coupled with Democrats efforts to change state election laws and procedures at the last minute for partisan advantage could be setting the stage for an unprecedented constitutional crisis in the upcoming Nov. 3 presidential election. The report, titled How Democrats are attempting to sow uncertainty, inaccuracy, and delay in the 2020 election, was published on Sept. 23 and was prepared at the request of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the senior Republican member on the Judiciary Committee, and Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the senior Republican on the Oversight Committee. The report warns that eleventh-hour changes to state election laws and procedures, many of which were made through the courts, have disrupted long-established procedures for in-person voting. Marc Elias of the high-powered Democratic law firm Perkins Coie, who has a long history of successfully challenging electoral integrity programs in court, is litigating election law cases in at least a dozen states. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is also part of the effort to change the laws through the courts. Some Democrat-run states have belatedly changed election administration procedures and moved to all-mail ballotingmeaning that as many as 44 million total ballots will be mass-mailed to registered voters with no assurance the ballots reach the right person, the report states. This expansive and late shift to all-mail voting will create conditions ripe for election crime, errors, inaccuracy, and delay. All-mail balloting, which shouldnt be confused with absentee balloting on a limited scale, raises serious questions about election integrity, the report states. To begin, states have notoriously inaccurate voter registration listsone estimate suggests that voter registration rates exceed 100 percent of the eligible populations in 378 counties across the United States. The Commission on Federal Election Reform determined in 2005 that voting by mail remain[s] the largest source of potential voter fraud, the report states, adding that in October 2012, The New York Times reported that votes cast by mail are less likely to be counted, more likely to be compromised and more likely to be contested than those cast in a voting booth. The same month, The Washington Post reported that it may still be possible to steal an American election, if you know the right way to go about it. The rapidly implemented package of changes to voting rules gives many states no room for error as they administer their first election with huge numbers of mail-in votes, the report states. In the approaching election, nine statesCalifornia, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia will carry out all-mail elections. This will be Californias first try at an all-mail vote, the report states. But even states with a track record in all-mail election have encountered difficulties. In the 2012 and 2018 elections, the state of Oregon could not account for 871,000 ballots sent outor one out of every eight ballots that the state mailed out. Nationally, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission determined that 28.3 million mailed ballots disappeared in the four federal elections held between 2012 and 2018. Many mail-in ballots are likely to be sent out based on inaccurate and outdated voter registration rolls, the report states. In 2012, Pew determined that almost 24 million voter registrations were no longer valid or significantly inaccurate. Although laws require that voter rolls be cleaned up from time to time, local officials have had to contend with Democrats and activists complaining that doing so constitutes voter suppression and deliberate disenfranchisement. According to The Washington Post, at least 84 percent of American voters will be able to cast ballots by mail this election. Currently, more than 198 million Americans who are eligible to vote will be able to vote by mail. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia already allowed anyone to vote absentee. But many of these places are making the process easier, the newspaper reported. Activists have been working for a long time to change election laws, J. Christian Adams, president and general counsel of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, told The Epoch Times. The left has been building up to this for years. They have poured hundreds of millions [of dollars] into developing the infrastructure and talent. 2020 is their payoff. The Epoch Times reached out to the Democratic National Committee for comment but didnt receive a reply as of press time. India on Thursday strongly opposed any move by the Pakistan government to make Gilgit-Baltistan that countrys fifth province, saying such an action would have no legal basis whatsoever since the region has been militarily occupied. Pakistans minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan affairs, Ali Amin Gandapur, recently spoke about official plans to make the region, a part of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir, a full-fledged province with constitutional rights such as representation in both houses of parliament. The move comes ahead of the holding of local elections in Gilgit-Baltistan in November, and it reportedly has the backing of the powerful military establishment. Prime Minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is backing the move to boost its chances of faring better in the upcoming elections. External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the government has seen statements by the Pakistani leadership and media reports about the proposed changes in Gilgit-Baltistan. Any action by Pakistan to alter the status of the militarily occupied so-called Gilgit-Baltistan has no legal basis whatsoever and is totally void ab-initio, he said. Our position has always been clear and consistent. The entire territories of the union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have been and are an integral part of India, and would remain so, he said, adding that Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on Indias internal matters. The Pakistan governments move comes two years after powers of the Islamabad-controlled council for Gilgit-Baltistan were transferred to a local assembly. In 2009, the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order renamed the Northern Areas as Gilgit-Baltistan and the region was given province-like status but without representation in parliament. The Gilgit-Baltistan issue also figured in recent secret meetings between Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed and top political leaders such as Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of the Pakistan Peoples Party, who raised questions about the holding of free and fair elections in the region. The proposed changes in the strategic Gilgit-Baltistan region have also been spurred by the Pakistani militarys concerns related to Indias scrapping of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir last year. However, senior PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the daughter of former premier Nawaz Sharif, has said that issues such as Gilgit-Baltistan should be decided in Parliament and not at the military headquarters. In reply to another question, Srivastava said the ministry had summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat and lodged a strong protest through a note verbale, or unsigned diplomatic correspondence, about the recent kidnapping of a woman from the Sikh minority. The kidnapping led to anger and worries among the Sikh community, and they conveyed this to the Indian side...There are some reports that the woman has been freed, he said. This is not the first incident of its kind, there were others in the past. We have told the Pakistan government to take all possible steps to ensure the security of the minorities, he said. Replying to another query on Pakistan denying visa to diplomat Jayant Khobragade, who was proposed by India as the next acting head of the Indian mission in Islamabad, Srivastava said the Pakistani side had some reservations but didnt give details. This is an administrative issue and we are handling it, he said. Khobragades name was proposed to the Pakistani side in June, days before New Delhi asked Islamabad to reduce the strength of its high commission by 50%. The move triggered a reciprocal decision by the Pakistani side. On Sunday, Pakistan contended Khobragade was too senior for the post and sought to link bilateral ties to the resolution of the Kashmir issue. Army Lt. Gen. Ahn Young-ho of the Joint Chiefs of Staff holds a press conference at the defense ministry in Seoul, Thursday, over an incident of North Korea shooting a missing South Korean official and burning his body earlier this week. / Yonhap Seoul strongly condemns Pyongyang over 'inhumane' act By Kang Seung-woo The government has strongly protested North Korea's execution-like shooting of a missing South Korean official and the burning of his body. With strong criticism toward Pyongyang coming from not only the opposition parties but also from the ruling bloc, the incident is likely to worsen already stalled inter-Korea ties, according to North Korea watchers The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday that the 47-year-old official from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries went missing while on duty aboard an inspection vessel in waters off the western border island of Yeonpyeong, Monday. The JCS presumes he jumped into the sea to defect to the North and drifted into North Korean waters, considering he left his shoes on the boat, was wearing a life jacket and was clinging to an unidentified floating item when a North Korean vessel found him at around 3:30 p.m., Tuesday. It suspects the man expressed his intention to defect to North Korea to the crewmembers of the boat who questioned him from a distance while leaving him in the water. About six hours later, North Korean sailors shot him, and poured oil over the body to set it on fire, according to the JSC, which said the act was carried out following "orders from a superior officer." "North Korea found the man in its waters and committed an act of brutality by shooting him and burning his body, according to our military's thorough analysis of diverse intelligence material," the defense ministry said in a statement. In response, the South Korean government issued a strong condemnation. "President Moon expressed deep regret over the North's killing of the South Korean official, saying it was intolerable for any reason," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok said. "He added that the North should give a responsible explanation and take appropriate measures over the incident." Moon also ordered the military to maintain a tighter security posture to protect the people's lives and safety, the spokesman added. Earlier in the day, the presidential office also demanded that the North take full responsibility to explain the incident, punish those held accountable, apologize for the inhumane act, and take measures to prevent any recurrence. "North Korea shot a South Korean citizen, who was unarmed and had no intention to resist, to death and burned his body, and this cannot be justified by any reasoning," Suh Choo-suk, deputy head of the National Security Council, said after a meeting presided over by National Security Adviser Suh Hoon. "This is an act against international rules and humanitarianism, and the South Korean government strongly condemns it." New Delhi, Sep 24 : The wife of freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma, who was recently arrested under the Officials Secrets Act in an espionage case, has written a letter to the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, claiming that the interrogation of her husband is illegal and that police has destroyed some material evidence and fabricated others. On September 14, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police had arrested the 61-year-old journalist, allegedly found working for Chinese intelligence. During a search of his house in New Delhi's Pitampura, one laptop, some confidential documents related to the Indian Defence and incriminating papers were seized. Sharma was sent to police custody after his arrest, which was further extended till September 28 by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Singh Rajawat on Monday. Besides him, Chinese woman Qing Shi and Nepalese citizen Sher Singh were also sent to special cell's custody. In a letter, Dr. Pratima Vyas wrote, "On the day of the arrest of my husband, police forced me to sign on a document, which both of us were not allowed to read. The police got signatures of our neighbour Mr. Joel Demello, on the seizure memo on the night of 14.9.2020, but yet again Mr. Demello was asked to sign some documents on 18.9.2020 at the office of Special Cell. It appears that the police have destroyed some material evidence and at the same time fabricated some evidence." Dr. Vyas, in the letter dated September 23, brought to the notice of the Joint Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Special Cell that accused Rajeev Sharma's request for a lawyer to remain present during his interrogation was not allowed. "He was forced to sign and write as per the police dictation." She added, "Police have not provided this facility of the presence of the lawyer with an objective of destruction of evidence and fabrication of evidence. In this situation, the interrogation of my husband has become illegal as he has been deprived of his right to have the presence of the lawyer of his choice." Sharma's wife further contended that even after ten days of arrest, the lawyers have neither received the copy of the first information report (FIR) nor the remand applications. "We have still not received any copy of the FIR, although that is the right of the accused as per Hon'ble Supreme Court of India vide its order dated 7.9.2016." She requested the special cell to direct the investigating officer to provide a copy of the FIR, copy of application of police remand dated September 14 and 21, "which police is legally bound to supply to the counsel of the accused as per the Delhi High Court Rules and D.K. Basu case." Rajeev Sharma has also moved a bail plea in the court, which will come up for hearing on September 28. The application, moved by advocate Adish C. Aggarwal on Sharma's behalf, put forth that he is being framed in a false case and has not committed any offence. Besides him, Chinese woman Qing Shi and her Nepalese partner Sher Singh alias Raj Bohra were also arrested. They were found supplying the arrested scribe with huge amounts of money routed through hawala channels for conveying sensitive information to the Chinese Intelligence, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Special Cell Sanjeev Yadav had said. An input was received from an intelligence agency that Rajeev Sharma, a resident of St. Xavier Apartment, Pitampura, New Delhi, had links with a foreign intelligence officer and has been receiving funds from his handler through illegal means and Western Union money transfer for conveying sensitive information about national security and foreign relations. A case under section 3 (possession of any sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information, which relates to munitions of war communicates), 4 (Communications with foreign agents) and 5 (Wrongful communication) of the Official Secrets Act was registered on September 13. Thereafter, Rajeev Sharma was arrested on September 14 and a warrant was obtained for searching his residential premises by the Delhi Police. "On interrogation, Rajeev Sharma disclosed his involvement in the procurement of secret and sensitive information and conveying the same to his Chinese handlers Michael and George, based in Kunming, China, through different digital channels. He further disclosed that he was about to send these recovered secret documents to his handlers," Sanjeev Yadav said. Police said that in the past also, Sharma had sent several documents in the form of reports to his handlers and got a handsome amount of money from them. (Aakanksha Khajuria can be contacted at aakanksha.k@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text CLEVELAND, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday refused to question President Trumps move to name a nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court. I certainly support the president, DeWine said, adding that Trump has nominated some fine, fine people for the federal and appellate benches. He said that Trump did the same on the Supreme Court, where the president nominated Justice Neil Gorsuch in 2017 and Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. DeWine took issue with the political donnybrooks that have erupted over whether Trump and Republicans in the U.S. Senate should move quickly to push for Ginsburgs successor or wait until after the election. Democrats have blasted Republicans, who four years ago blocked President Obamas appointed replacement, Judge Merrick Garland, from succeeding Justice Antonin Scalia, who had died in February 2016. Democrats want the winner of the November election to nominate a justice. DeWine, a member of the U.S. Senate from 1995 to 2007 who also served on the Judiciary Committee, weighed in along party lines. For the people who are critical of the president or the Senate Republicans or Mitch McConnell, look, both parties have switched positions, he said. Lets be candid about it. Its not just the Republicans who have seemingly switched their positions. The Democrats have switched their positions. Thats the way it is. DeWine said that as a member of the Judiciary Committee, he would wait until after the hearings to announce whether he would support a nominee. He stressed that Trump has a constitutional right to submit nominees to the Senate, and the Senate has the right to vote on them. David Pepper, the chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, scoffed and noted that DeWine has followed the talking points of the Republican Party. He has never stood up to Trump, Pepper said of DeWine, a co-chairman of the presidents re-election campaign in Ohio. To try to say both sides did this is absurd. During the press conferences, mention Trumps name, and [DeWine] gets visibly uncomfortable. He is nothing but obedient. President Trump prepares to unveil his vacuous healthcare plan on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C. (Associated Press) After promising for weeks to produce an executive order protecting Americans with preexisting medical conditions from losing their health coverage, President Trump on Thursday delivered ... nothing. The executive order unveiled at an event in Charlotte, N.C., does absolutely nothing to safeguard healthcare for those Americans. Trump introduced it with a passel of absurd disinformation and lies. He said he was signing "the first ever executive order to affirm it is the official policy of the United States Government to protect patients with preexisting conditions. So we're making that official." Preexisting conditions are much safe with us than they are with [the Democrats]. Trump lies about healthcare policy in Charlotte, N.C. The disinformation here is that an executive order stating the U.S. government's position is even necessary. We know it's the official position of the government to protect Americans with preexisting conditions. That's because solid protections for those patients are a linchpin of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits insurers from refusing to cover them, or excluding their conditions from coverage, or surcharging them because of their medical histories. The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, during the Obama administration. Trump is trying to overturn the law through a half-baked lawsuit brought by Texas and other red states a lawsuit he supports. We pointed out this week that protections for patients with medical conditions have been consistently threatened since 2010 by congressional Republicans and since 2017 by Trump. His executive order has no meat on its bones, no mechanism for enforcement, or even any statement of what those patients would be protected from refusal of coverage? Higher costs? It's an insult to Americans' intelligence. "Our opponents, the Democrats, like to constantly talk about it," Trump said, "and yet preexisting conditions are much safe with us than they are with them." Story continues This is flatly, demonstrably, untrue. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the Texas case Nov. 10. Asked during a press briefing on the executive order earlier Thursday how the administration, practically speaking, would safeguard protections for patients with medical conditions if the court overturns the law, Health and Human Services Alex Azar had virtually nothing to say. "We will work with Congress or otherwise to ensure that theyre protected, he stated. That's it. What becomes clearer with every day is that the theme song of Trump's approach to healthcare is the anthem recorded in 1969 by Peggy Lee: "Is that all there is?" This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The App Store has been in the news for all the wrong reasons in recent months. This is despite the App Stores popularity and usage soaring among iPhone users, with the store posting its best-ever quarter recently. App developers are clearly not happy with Apple and they have become increasingly vocal about the 30 percent commission that the company takes for App Store transactions. Apple has been charging developers a flat 30 percent commission on App Store transactions right from the store was first launched. For subscription services, Apple takes a 30 percent cut in the first year which is then reduced to 15 percent in the second year. Apple has also been in the news for forcing companies to include IAPs in their apps. The company did this with Basecamps Hey email app and wants Airbnb to do the same thing. Apple argues that it is just implementing the App Store rules fairly but it comes across as being greedy in many cases. App Store rules state that Apple will not take any commission for any physical service or product sold via iOS apps, but it is eligible for a 30 percent commission for digital services. This is actually in line with other mobile app stores including the Google Play Store, though Apple is regularly criticized because of its more stringent rules and not allowing iPhone users to sideload apps from other app stores. This would have allowed developers to bypass the commission they are otherwise required to pay Apple. Even Amazon takes a commission from sellers in exchange for providing them access with their platform and other tools. While the 30 percent commission was fine back in the day when the App Store was new, in recent years, developers feel that Apple is ripping then off. Major companies and developers like Spotify, Epic Games, and Telegram have all filed an antitrust complaint against Apple in the EU which has already led to a formal investigation against Apple for its App Store policies. At one point in time, Apple was even considering charging 40 percent commission from App Store sales, though it ultimately settled on 30 percent. In my opinion, both Apple and app developers are correct to a certain extent. Apple should rightfully get a commission for App Store sales as without the store, apps created by developers will never reach billions of people all over the world. Running the App Store requires a lot of effort that Apple has invested in over the year. The company even released a study last month to justify the commission it charges. Apple is also right in asking apps like Airbnb and Hey to implement IAP support in their apps as other smaller developers are also subjected to the same rules so creating exceptions for such big corporations would be unfair to them. However, I also feel that Apple is not doing enough for app developers. The company is raking in billions of dollars every quarter via App Store fees and yet, developers are not getting proper replies and feedback on app rejections from the App Store editorial team. Surely Apple can afford to spend a few more millions every month on the App Store to help improve the experience for app developers. What do you think about Apple charging a 30 percent commission on App Store sales? Do you think this is fair on Apples part? Or is the company being too greedy? VICTOR James Gene Shockley of Victor died peacefully at home on Sept. 14, 2020. Jimmy Gene was born in 1944 at Luke Field Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona, to Gene and Helen Shockley. Jim was predeceased by his parents and grandparents. Jim is survived by his spouse, Marilee Shockley, and his brothers, Mark (Sherry) Shockley, and Steve (Nancy) Shockley of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and other relatives. Jim was born a traveling man, moving with his parents from Montana to Texas, and California to Virginia. Jim graduated from Jeb Stuart High School in 1962. He attended the University of Oklahoma for one semester. He then transferred to the University of Montana, since Darby, the home of his paternal grandparents Clyde and Margaret Shockley, was always considered home. In 1963 Jim enlisted in the USMC and was a radioman with 3rd Recon. He continued his traveling ways, ordered to exotic duty stations such as Okinawa, the Philippines, and Vietnam. On July 12, 1965, he was severely wounded in Vietnam by enemy machine gun fire. His friend sergeant major Freddie Murray rescued him from the ambush site, saving Jims life. Upon completion of his enlistment, Jim returned to the University of Montana and obtained a BA in History. While at the university, he met his bride, Marilee, who became his wife of 51 years. In 1969, Jim went to Officers Candidate School and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the USMC. While in the Marines, he returned to the University of Montana to attend law school. He obtained his Jurist Doctor degree in 1976, and then practiced as a trial lawyer in the Marine Corps for 12 years. Jim retired from the Marine Corps in February 1988, after achieving the rank of Major. He took the next year off, driving all over the United States to visit friends and relatives, as well as floating the entire length of the Yukon River by himself. In 1989, Jim and Marilee moved to Victor opening their Law and CPA firms, with the support of their longtime friend John Hickman who was their secretary. Jim had a solo practice, including public defending, real estate law, estates, and other services. In 1999, Jim became a Montana Legislator and served for six years in the House and eight years in the Senate. Jim specialized in legal services and penitentiaries. Jim was a bit of a maverick, often voting his conscience. Jim was helpful to both sides of the aisle. Jim was proud of his service to the State of Montana. Jim was involved in almost everything including several Marine Corps Veterans Organizations, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Masonic Lodge #43, the Lions Club, and the Republican Party. Jims achievements are too long to list, but included receiving the Purple Heart, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Pat Williams Intellectual Freedom Award, and the Distinguished Services Award from the State of Montana Supreme Court. Jim was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and fisherman, especially duck hunting with his Chesapeake Chesty, and backpacking with his mules IRS, Patty, and Guido. He had many adventures and tales to tell with his friends Art and Mike, exploring the Montana wilderness. A memorial service is being planned for June 2021 to allow family and friends to attend in person. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army or any Veterans organization. And, may you have fair winds and a following sea. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at our website: brothersmortuary.com. By PTI CHANDIGARHNEW DELHI: Farmers squatted on the tracks in Punjab on Thursday, beginning a three-day "rail roko" agitation against the farm Bills as the Railways suspended several trains to avoid any untoward incident. Twenty trains have been partially cancelled and five short terminated till September 26 as protesters blocked rail tracks at various places, including Amritsar, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Barnala, Mansa and Nabha. Among the trains that will remain suspended are the Golden Temple Mail (Amritsar-Mumbai Central), Jan Shatabdi Express (Haridwar-Amritsar), New Delhi-Jammu Tawi, Karambhoomi (Amritsar-New Jalpaiguri), Sachkhand Express (Nanded-Amritsar) and Shaheed Express (Amritsar-Jaynagar), officials said. They said the decision has been taken keeping in mind the safety of passengers and protection of railway property from any damage. At present, routine passenger train service remains suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The call for the "rail roko" agitation was given by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and later different farmers' outfits extended their support to it. Activists of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) squatted on rail tracks in Barnala and Sangrur on Thursday morning. Farmers under the banner of the committee sat on rail tracks near Devidaspura village in Amritsar and Basti Tanka Wali in Ferozepur. They raised slogans against the BJP-led Union government and threatened to intensify their protest if the farm Bills were not taken back. "These Bills were passed without consulting farmers and these are only in the interest of big corporates," said Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher in Amritsar. "If these Bills are in the interest of farmers, then why BJP leaders are trying to give clarifications. It means they are not good for farmers," said Pandher. He said they will continue their struggle against the Bills until they are revoked. ALSO READ | Rail roko agitation to severely affect movement of essential items, foodgrains: Railways "It is going to be a long struggle," he added. Pandher asked the Shiromani Akali Dal to clarify its stand on the bills. "If they find these Bills as anti-farmer, then why are they still in alliance with the BJP," he asked. The protesters dug up tents in the middle of the rail tracks. They also made arrangements for ration for three days, said farmers. Women, youth and elders also took part in the protest, they said. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh said the Bills were drafted just to "benefit" big corporates and demanded that they be "withdrawn". Farmer leaders said they were getting support from several sections, including government employees and labourers. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee president Satnam Singh Pannu said they have appealed to representatives of political parties, ministers, MPs and MLAs not to take part in the farmers' agitation. They vowed to gherao BJP leaders and socially boycott those who voted in favour of the farm Bills. As many as 31 farmers' outfits have given a call for a complete shutdown of Punjab on September 25. Farmers in Punjab have expressed apprehension that the Bills would pave a way for dismantling the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporates. Parliament has passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill; Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill; and Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill. They await the President's nod to become laws. Meanwhile, railway officials said the Nanded-Amritsar train will end its journey in Old Delhi. Train number 02716 will run from Old Delhi instead of Amritsar on September 25 and 26. The Dhanbad-Ferozepur Cantt train will not go to Ferozepur Cantt and end its journey at Ambala Cantonment. Train number 03308 will run from Ambala Cantt from September 24 to 26 instead of Ferozepur Cantt. The Mumbai Central-Amritsar train arriving on September 24 will be brought to Ludhiana and it will end its journey at Ambala from September 25 to 26. Train number 02904 will run from Ambala from September 24 to 26 instead of Amritsar. Many freight and parcel trains have also been rescheduled. A Railways spokesperson in New Delhi said the agitation will severely impact loading of foodgrain and other essential goods. Officials said the Food Corporation of India is daily loading over 35 rakes of foodgrain from Punjab. They said Punjab also loads 9-10 rakes daily of fertiliser, cement, auto, mixed goods in containers. The decision by Vancouver-based tech giant Hootsuite to abruptly pull out of a contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency following internal and public backlash should put corporate leaders on notice be vigilant about who you do business with, experts say. Theres no question that corporate social and environmental responsibility issues are increasingly getting more attention not only by business leaders, but company stakeholders, including employees, said Christie Stephenson, executive director of the Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics at UBC. And its clear, companies are needing to consider not only their own operations but the actions of partners and suppliers. With more attention to these issues, the stakes have been raised. Tom Keiser, CEO of Hootsuite, acknowledged Thursday that the social media management companys partnership with ICE had led to a divided company, prompting the decision to sever ties. The previous evening, a woman named Sam Anderson who identifies herself as a senior training specialist at Hootsuite, posted a Twitter thread saying many people at the company were upset. Been debating talking about this publicly because I dont want to get fired, but it seems like the cats already out of the bag so whatever: yesterday Hootsuite signed a three-year deal with ICE, the tweet began. Over 100 employees have been extremely vocal in their opposition to this deal since it first came to light in June and it went through anyway. Anderson, who declined interview requests Thursday, went on to say that ICEs repeated human rights violations were at odds with Hootsuites publicly stated values. Her post was retweeted thousands of times. In recent years, ICE, which falls under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has come under fire from critics who say the tactics it uses to detain and deport migrants undermine civil liberties. It has drawn outrage for its role in separating migrant children from their families. It has also been criticized for using inland checkpoints and roving patrols to apprehend people. Late Wednesday night, Hootsuite spokesperson Melanie Gaboriault told Business in Vancouver Hootsuite is not entering into a deal with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But a website that tracks U.S. government spending showed that the Department of Homeland Security had awarded a contract worth $508,832 to IT solutions provider FCN Inc., of Rockville, Md., for Hootsuite licences. The contract, said to have begun Sept. 18, was set for one year with an option to renew for two additional years. On Thursday, Keiser, the CEO, confirmed the company had, in fact, signed a contract with ICE after forming an internal committee and considering all points of view. Then the company reversed course after further discussions. Over the last 24 hours there has been a broad emotional and passionate reaction from our people and this has spurred additional dialog. We have heard the lived experiences from our people and the hurt they are feeling, he said. The decision has created a divided company, and this is not the kind of company I came to lead. I and the rest of the management team share the concerns our people have expressed. As a result, we have decided to not proceed with the deal with ICE. The company did not respond to followup questions from the Star, including why it had originally released a statement implying it had not entered into a deal with ICE. In a statement Friday, an ICE spokesperson confirmed the agency had recently awarded a contract to a third-party vendor for access to Hootsuites products to help manage the agencys social media accounts. At this time, ICE has not received formal notification from the contract awardee that the company is unable to meet the contract requirements. But if true, its disappointing that they would not support our workforce that is committed to protecting the homeland; taking gang members, drug traffickers and rapists off the streets; and protecting children from trafficking and exploitation. FCN, the third-party vendor, has not responded to requests for comment. This is not the first time a tech company has received backlash for partnering with ICE. Last year, employees of Microsoft-owned GitHub expressed anger over that companys decision to renew a contract with ICE. Employees at Amazon have similarly gone public with calls for the e-commerce giant to stop working with third-party companies that do business with ICE. I cant speak for what (caused) the executive leadership team of Hootsuite to change their mind, but Im so glad the social media, the digital platform, paved the way for it, said Lakshmi Baskaran, vice-president of engineering at SEDNA Systems. Regardless of what led to that, Im glad that the employees had a voice and that the voice was heeded and listened to and resulted in a positive outcome. Baskaran said social justice issues resonate with tech professionals as many have encountered gender and race inequality as theyve climbed the ranks in the industry. Based on history, based on what weve seen in other movements like Black Lives Matter and MeToo, we can say that organizations will be more cautious and mindful of having social responsibility as their primary agenda when they sign for partnerships. Read more about: Belize authorities hold two for facilitating illegal plane Orange Walk, Belize Two people have been detained regarding the Monday morning landing of a plane along the Mexico-Belize border. Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams reported that after the seizure of the Gulfstream G2 jet, two people were detained, both of whom are accused of having facilitated the landing of the aircraft near a farm in the Santa Martha area of Orange Walk. According to the official, the owner of the farm and another man who is said to be the Mennonite owner of an excavator, have been arrested. They were taken into police custody after the owner of the excavator pushed the downed aircraft onto the private property of the farm owner. Williams said that after an operation by Belize authorities, they managed to arrest the two men in the vicinity of the clandestine track. The plane was detected by Mexican military during the early morning hours Monday, which forced the plane to land in Belize territory. The plane was believed to have been transporting drugs. It was found Monday on the Santa Martha highway in the Orange Walk district, near the border with Mexico. By the time personnel located the aircraft, its cargo and those on board had vanished. NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Foley Group, Inc. and Convergence Partners, Inc., announced today the completion of the merger of their companies to offer the electrical industry a unified resource for virtually all their products, services, and design needs. The merged business will operate under the Convergence Partners brand. "Convergence now represents over 210+ manufacturers including Hubbell Lighting, Lutron, and Legrand," Convergence president, Peter Kurtz said. "The availability of Lighting, Electrical Materials, Audio Visual automation, Shades and Furnishings from one resource is unprecedented within the market niche in this territory," said Kurtz. "Helping customers solve problems more effectively and efficiently is a top priority," said executive vice president, Scott Denney, "and our combined number of account managers and product experts will help ensure streamlined interactions for architects, electrical engineers, lighting designers, electrical contractors, distributors, and end users as well," he continued. Mark Denney, vice president projects and quotations stated, "Our industry partners will realize the convenience of accessing high-quality, technologically-advanced products, and appreciate the specialized proven expertise that ensures customers at all levels are well-equipped to readily implement the best possible solutions so the goals of everyone involved come to fruition." About Foley Group, Inc. Founded in 1961, Foley Group, Inc. is a manufacturer's representative agency with an emphasis on lighting sales within the electrical industry, primarily serving the new construction market, lighting retrofits, and energy saving upgrades. The company is widely recognized as the leader throughout Kansas and Western Missouri. Foley Group's headquarters is in Kansas City, Kansas, with a regional office in Wichita, Kansas. About Convergence Partners, Inc. Incorporated in 2014, Convergence represents quality manufacturers, and provide service solutions within four focused divisions. We have a family-first culture and operate with a humble reputation built on ethical business practices that foster long-term relationships. Based in North Kansas City, Missouri, the territory Convergence covers is Western Missouri and all of Kansas, with a regional office in Springfield, Missouri. In addition, the Audio-Visual channel spans a four-state territory including Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. Company Website: https://ConvergeRep.com/ *LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0924s2p-convergence-300dpi.jpg This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com SOURCE Convergence Partners, Inc. Related Links https://ConvergeRep.com NEW HAVEN Michael Lawlor, an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven with a decades-long career in the field, has been nominated to serve on the New Haven Board of Police Commissioners. Lawlor began his professional life as a deputy sheriff in a New Haven courthouse it was a summer part-time job for him, he said. He then returned to New Haven after going to law school, working as a prosecutor, and was elected to the state legislature as a Democrat to represent East Haven in 1987. He served in the state House for 24 years, including 16 as the head of the Judiciary Committee, then went on to serve as the undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning in the administration of then-Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. Lawlor helped to institute changes that lowered the states prison population, among other reforms. Lawlor also has worked as a professor at the University of New Haven since 1995, counting both New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes and Yale Police Chief Ronnell Higgins among his former students. Now, after Mayor Justin Elicker submitted his name to the Board of Alders, Lawlor hopes to help guide the New Haven Police Department forward. Criminal justice has fascinated him for years, he said; its all the more important in an era of heightened scrutiny for police and deeper consideration of the tenets of justice in the United States. If there was ever a time to be involve in policing, or criminal justice, this is that time, said Lawlor. I think its really important. You just need to watch the news. Lawlor said he saw the position as somewhat akin to being a legislator. Part of the job is to be a conduit for the concerns of the community, so that they are considered by the chief and the department, and part of it is to cast votes on issues up for decisions, including the hiring and firing of officers. Lawlor said he was interested in the development of crisis response teams in New Haven, which are expected to feature medical professionals and social workers and be sent to some emergency calls in lieu of police. Officers are not well-trained or equipped to deal with some of the demands placed on them, he said; theyre given guns and tasers, but expected to do social work. Figuring out how to deploy personnel with specialized skills, he said, is going to be the hallmark of policing at the local level in the years to come. Lawlor said that he would strive to restore trust and legitimacy in the police in an effort to deter crime. Officials, both in New Haven and across the country, he said, were grappling with residents losing confidence in the criminal justice system. If people do not believe that the criminal justice system is legitimate, and produces appropriate outcomes, they are more likely to engage in crime, Lawlor said. A bad experience with a police officer undermines that sense of legitimacy and colors a persons understanding of the profession. Tracey Mears, his potential colleague on the Board of Police Commissioners, has written extensively about the importance of police legitimacy, he noted. Lawlor said a saying from Arnold Markle, the former states attorney for New Haven, imparted as he taught police officers about the importance of following the law during searches, had reverberated with him for decades. The best thing in the world is a good cop, said Lawlor, quoting Markle. The worst thing in a world is a bad cop. Lawlors nomination for the board is now up for formal consideration by the Board of Alders. If approved, his term would run through Feb. 1, 2023. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com Protected structure: One of the statues that was removed from outside the Shelbourne Hotel with gold-tinted ankle bracelets, which were misinterpreted to be shackles. The quartet are worth 200,000 to 300,000 Four statues that were removed from the Shelbourne Hotel after they were mistakenly identified as slaves, will be reinstated by the hotel, it has emerged. The statues depict four women holding aloft torches and had been a part of the building since 1867. Read More The statues were removed from their plinths in July by hotel management in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, when concerns were raised that two of the four statues may depict Nubian slaves. Kyle Leyden, an art historian, told RTE's Morning Ireland that the idea of the statues being slaves never sat well with him so he did his own research on the Mathurin Moreau sculptures. A simple online search brought me to the foundrys online catalogue from which the sculptures were ordered in 1867. In no way are they ever referred to as slaves. Their ethnicity is referred to as Egyptian and Sub-Saharan African, and in the Irish Builder catalogue of March 1867 it refers to them as Egyptian maids. Nowhere other than Elizabeth Cohens 1951 book does anybody refer to these statues as slaves and I think there was a degree of circular reinforcement with this, believes Leyden. The pieces were sculpted in 1867 in the Val d'Osne Foundry in Paris. Leyden surmises that the statues were chosen by the building owner due to mania around all things Egyptian at the time, which stems from Napoleans interest in the ancient civilisation. The removal of the statues resulted in Dublin City Council issuing a warning letter to the hotel over the summer. In the warning, the Council formally advised the hotel that complaints had been made against it and that it was under investigation for breach of the law governing protected structures. Under the Planning and Development Act, no change can be made to a protected structure that would affect its character without prior planning approval. The Shelbourne Hotel is located on St Stephens Green and is owned by American real estate firm Kennedy Wilson and operated by the Marriott Group. It is believed the statues will be reinstated in the coming weeks and will be accompanied by a plaque to explain their origin and history. Actor Sanjay Dutts wife, Maanayata, has shared a new picture of the two of them, with words of empowerment as Sanjay battles cancer. The couple is currently in Dubai, with their twins -- Shahraan and Iqra. On Instagram, Maanayata shared a picture, which she captioned, And how do you survive what you have been given to bear. You keep putting one foot in front of the other and you keep walking....walking together in life. She added a couple of heart emojis, and hashtags such as love, and thank you god. The picture shows Maanyatat wearing a summery yellow dress, standing beside her husband, who is wearing a grey T-shirt and cargo pants. The post has been liked nearly 50000 times in an hour. Sanjay was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer last month. Sanju will complete his preliminary treatment in Mumbai. We will formulate further plans of travel depending on how and when the Covid situation eases. As of now, Sanju is in the best hands of our esteemed doctors at Kokilaben hospital, Maanayata had said in a statement. Without specifying the nature of his disease, she had said their family was shaken up but determined to fight tooth and nail. In early August, the actor was admitted to hospital after complaining of chest pain. He said in a short statement a little while later that he would be taking a break from work to focus on his treatment. Also read: Torbaaz producer Rahul Mittra shares health update on Sanjay Dutt: Results of certain tests have yet to come The actor has several projects in the pipeline. After appearing in Sadak 2 recently, he will be seen in Disney+ Hotstars Bhuj: The Pride of India, in Netlfixs Torbaaz, and in YRFs Shamshera. Torbaaz producer Rahul Mittra in a recent interview to The Times of India said that the actor is a fighter and will come out of this too as a winner. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail "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 on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. Khartoum, Sep 24 (IANS) Sudan's Sovereign Council said the talks between Sudan and the United States, hosted by the United Arab Emirates, were "serious and frank." "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. --IANS rt/ We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Twitter Thursday that he plans to active about 300 Ohio National Guard members for the first presidential debate in Cleveland next Tuesday. Why it matters: The National Guard will assist Cleveland police officers to "ensure a safe and secure environment" for debate attendees, DeWine wrote. The move follows months of protests and unrest across the United States. New Data Suggests Very Low Risk of CCP Virus Infection in K-12 Schools Despite concerns of major CCP virus outbreaks in reopened K-12 school buildings, a new Brown University study suggests a very low risk of transmission among teachers and students who return to in-person instruction. Researchers at Brown University on Wednesday released their first set of data from the National COVID-19 School Response Data Dashboard, the universitys online platform that allows K-12 schools nationwide to anonymously submit their confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases. The data was collected during a two-week period starting Aug. 31, from some 570 schools across 47 states, with more than 300 schools offering at least some in-person classes. As of Sept. 24, the data shows a 0.23 percent confirmed or suspected rate among students, while only 0.51 percent of school staff had confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases. Solely confirmed cases were even lower at 0.075 percent for students and 0.15 percent for teachers. According to the Washington Post, Brown University researchers said the numbers could mean that reopening K-12 schools may not be as risky as school administrators expected. A school faculty member passes out food to family of a student in Oakland, Calif., on March 19, 2020. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Emily Oster, an economics professor at Brown University who helped create the dashboard, told the Post that while the data suggests that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus certainly has a much lower rate of spread in K-12 schools when compared to surrounding areas, schools should still take a cautious approach and implement safety strategies when they reopen. I dont think that these numbers say all places should open schools with no restrictions or anything that comes close to that, Oster warned. Ultimately, school districts are going to have different attitudes toward risk. The findings came after Science Magazine published a new analysis indicating that children and adolescents are at a much lower risk of contracting the CCP virus than any other age group, although the reason for the lower burden of the disease in children is not yet clear. The research also highlighted the indirect, but very real, harms that school closures could do to childrens physical and psychological health, including a potential reemergence of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles due to disruptions to immunization programs. In the event of seemingly inevitable future waves of COVID-19, there is likely to be further pressures to close schools, the researchers wrote. There is now an evidence based on which to make decisions, and school closure should be undertaken with trepidation given the indirect harms that they incur. Pandemic mitigation measures that affect childrens wellbeing should only happen if evidence exists that they help, because there is plenty of evidence that they do harm. As part of the Chinese military modernization that began in the 1990s, China adopted an old European custom of civilian administrative and technical specialists who were part of the military, wore uniforms and had rank and pay equivalent to senior NCOs and officers all the way up to senior generals. These were called Beamten (officials) and the system was established so the number of Beamten could be greatly expanded in wartime to provide needed specialists in areas like medicine, meteorology (weather prediction), logistics (procuring food, clothing and equipment), legal, education, research, construction, finance, maintenance and repair of heavy equipment and so on. The rank insignia on beamte uniforms are similar to but distinct from what officers and senior NCOs wore. Bematen do not have military rank or authority, although junior troops often cannot tell the different and saluted beamte they encountered. Beamte only have authority in their specialty often supervise (not command) large numbers of non-uniformed civilians and coordinated activities with managers and executives of civilian firms providing goods and services to the military. During World War II over 100,000 Beamten worked for the German military and towards the end of the war many of them, especially those who were retired officers of NCOs, were converted to officers because of the shortage of officers in the last year of the war. The current Chinese military has two million personnel plus about 30,000 Beamte which the Chinese call contract civilians or civilian cadres (supervisors). There are many more non-uniformed civilian employees that the contract civilians supervise. Many of these work for provincial recruiting and administrative organizations that handle conscription and volunteers for the military. Like the Germans, the Chinese Beamte are considered officer level officials who wear uniforms with special insignia, are paid at rates similar to officers and provide a force of experienced Beamte that can be rapidly expanded in wartime. The Chinese beamte work on three to five year employment contracts. The American system is different and the Department of Defense has 750,000 civilian government employees. Most of these are never expected to serve with the troops although some do and the civil service (GS) ranks are used to determine what level accommodations these civilians receive if working with the military overseas or a combat zone. These civilians are usually given field (combat uniforms) with no rank insignia. So are other civilians attached to the military in a combat zone, like journalists. But this is much less militarized than the beamte system developed by many European armies during the 19th century. The system continues in some countries into the present although most now use the less formal American system for civilian employees of the military. China found the German World War II system more useful for their needs, especially since the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) occupies a special position in the Chinese military similar to the German Nazi Party during World War II. Like the Germans the Chinese favor military veterans for Beamte jobs but only if the vets have the necessary technical or educational skills as well. People who have had contact with the Xinfadi Wholesale Market or someone who has, line up for a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 at a testing center in Beijing, China, on June 17, 2020. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) Netizens Suspect China Reports All New Coronavirus Cases as Imported News Analysis China has not punished a single official for concealing or underreporting the CCP virus when it first broke out in December last year. However, in the past four months, when there was a resurgence of the virus, local officials were fired. The deputy head of Fengtai District was fired when Beijing had a new outbreak linked to Xinfadi market in June, and a grassroots official in Wuhan lost his job when six new cases emerged in a residential complex in May. Officials in all provinces and cities only reported imported cases. That is, all the new cases in their daily reports are classified as imported from foreign countries. 99 percent of Chinese cities claim to have maintained a record of zero new domestic cases for months. For instance, a recent report from Shaanxi Province reads as follows: On Sept. 20, there were zero new domestic cases of novel coronavirus. There were three imported cases: two with symptoms and one asymptomatic. The two patients with symptoms flew in from Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sept. 15 and Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Sept. 16, respectively. The asymptomatic patient flew in from Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Sept. 20. Patient Tests Positive After Spending 28 Days in China A new imported case reported by Nanjing city, Jiangsu Province on Sept. 10 appeared to be suspect. A 19-year-old man, surnamed Zhou, came back to Jianye District of Nanjing from the United States on Aug. 11 and went through a 14 day quarantine. He tested negative two times during the 14 days and went home on Aug. 25. As Jiangsu Province set a strict guideline to track overseas returnees, he took a third test on Sept. 1 (21 days after arrival), and the result was again negative. But seven days later, his fourth test on Sept. 8 (28 days after arrival) came out positive, and was confirmed by a fifth test on Sept. 9. There are two explanations for these test results. First, Zhous case demonstrates that Chinas test kits have an extremely high error rate. Second, he contracted the virus in Nanjing between Sept. 1 and Sept. 8, from an unknown domestic virus carrier, as a result of community spread. The citys authorities chose to report him as an imported case, without providing any explanation for why he tested negative in the first 21 days. If they attribute the anomaly to the low accuracy rate of the test kits, its like saying that there could be many other returnees out there who are virus carriers but have tested negative, which would cause people to panic. The authorities also quarantined more than 7,000 people who allegedly had contact with Zhou. Some Chinese netizens calculate that based on the authorities claim, Zhou contacted 500 people every day from Aug. 25 to Sept. 8 after he was released from quarantine. Netizens suspect that the authorities have quarantined a large number of people unrelated to Zhou, those who were in contact with other cases that werent publicly reported, because if any of them test positive, the authorities can blame all of the cases on the United States. A Similar Imported Case in Deyang City Similarly, Sichuan Province reported an imported case on Sept. 19. The patient tested negative five times in the first 20 days, but tested positive on the 27th day. This patient, a 48-year-old male, flew into Shenzhen, Guangdong Province from Russia on Aug. 22, and went through a 20-day quarantine until Sept. 12. His five test results were all negative from Aug. 26 to Sept 11. On Sept. 12, he flew from Shenzhen to his home city via a domestic flight, and carpooled to get home. He was tested by the local epidemic control team on Sept. 18, four weeks after arriving in China, and the result was positive. He was identified as an asymptomatic virus carrier who imported the virus from Russia. He may have been infected on his flight from Shenzhen to Deyang, or during the carpool trip home. As in the Nanjing case, the authorities did not provide any explanation as to why his initial tests were negative. The Catastrophic Consequences of Scapegoating Many Chinese netizens expressed worries that the dishonesty of the Chinese officials would sooner or later lead to a catastrophic outbreak. If officials hide all the domestic cases and only report imported cases, on the days when there are no imported cases, they wont have any reason to place the close contacts of domestic cases under quarantine or medical observation. Therefore, such people are freely mingling and pose a danger to everyone they come in contact with, they said. Moreover, locals will let down their guard because the citys pandemic reports say there are no domestic cases. How is it possible that there are zero domestic cases when the same virus is spreading like wildfire in foreign countries? a netizen who is a Ph.D. student at Peking University asked. The recent outbreak in Ruili city in southwestern Yunnan Province might be a case in point. Ruili is a small city bordering Burma, with a population of approximately 300,000, and its main industries are foreign trade and tourism. It is well-known for its jewelry wholesale market, as a large number of residents engage in selling and processing jade imported from Burma. Chinese authorities locked down Ruili on Sept. 14, after the city reported two new cases of the CCP virus. Local officials claimed that there had been no domestic cases of CCP virus infections for months and the two cases confirmed on Sept. 13 were imported from Burma, as the patients had returned to Ruili by illegally crossing the Burma-Yunnan border. Yunnan News reported that Deputy Governor Ruan Chengfa inspected Ruilis makeshift hospital, known in China as a fangcang hospital, on Sept. 14. Fangcang hospitals are used to isolate patients exhibiting only mild symptoms; they are not set up for treatment. Based on photos of the hospital provided by Yunnan News, it can house hundreds of patients. Netizens believe that placing a city under lockdown seems to be a drastic measure if there are only two confirmed cases. In addition, the fact that a fangcang hospital was completed the day after authorities identified new cases suggests that authorities are hiding the true situationjust as they did in early January in Wuhan. By Sept. 19, the city proudly announced that it tested all 280,000 residents, and all were negative. However, the Yunnan governor declared on the same day that the entire Yunnan Province is now in a wartime state, even though no additional new domestic cases have been reported in the province to date. These confusing messages led to heated discussions on the internet. Some warned others that the governors use of wartime state is telling everyone the outbreak is very serious; while others, who plan to vacation in Yunnan in October, are reluctant to give up their travel plans. For Korean drama lovers, there's no stopping the addiction to all things related to K-drama. So for today, we will give you the lowdown of the top 10 highest-rated Korean drama series of all time (as of 2020). If you're a newbie in the Korean drama world, think of this list to recommend what to watch first. So, without further ado, here are the top 10 highest-rated K-dramas of all time! Check the list below and see if your favorite made it to the top ten! Note: This list is based on every show's average nationwide TV ratings, according to Nielsen Korea. It is subject to change if a new drama will have higher ratings in the future. Hotel del Luna (2019) with a rating score of 8.9% The unique hotel in downtown Seoul named Hotel Del Luna, has been operating for a long, long time already, and it's not just an ordinary hotel since it is a resting place for no ordinary people but lost souls. The hotel's owner, Jang Man Wol, is doomed to run the establishment for eternity that serves as her punishment for a sin she committed in the past. And the only way that she'll be free is if she finds someone who did a wrong deed that's far worse than hers. Network: tvN 100 Days My Prince (2018) with a rating score of 9.0% In an ambush by assassins, Crown Prince Lee Yul got shot with an arrow on his chest while escaping and accidentally knocks his head, becoming unconscious the reason why he suffers amnesia. The crown prince ends up being adopted by a commoner man with his daughter, an intelligent but unmarried woman named Hong Shim. To save Hong Shim from being punished by a law that he established as a prince, he married her, not knowing his real identity. Network: tvN Hospital Playlist (2020) with a rating score of 9.9% Five medical physicians who have been long time friends experience the ups and downs of their job in Yulje Medical Center while doing what they love other than being a doctor which is forming a music band. Network: tvN Itaewon Class (2020) with a rating score of 11.8% The dropout and ex-con Park Saeroyi, and his inexperienced group of employees, strive hard to make their humble restaurant into the most sought after pub in Itaewon. In the process of achieving their goals, they were forced to go into battle with the cold-blooded CEO of Jangga Co., who is also the same person who started the war that landed Saeroyi in jail in the first place. Network: JTBC Crash Landing on You (2019) with a rating score of 12.2% The story is about the South Korean heiress whose destiny collided with the North Korean military officer when she accidentally crash lands in North Korea after a paragliding accident. Network: tvN Reply 1988 (2015) with a rating score of 12.4% The five close childhood friends who live together in the same neighborhood called Ssangmundong, try help and depend on each other while they're in the stage of their roller coaster teen years. Network: tvN Sky Castle (2018) with a rating score of 12.5% 'Sky Castle' will feature the desires of the upper-class parents in Korea. The story will center on four housewives living in a high end residential area of Sky Castle. These merciless women will not let anyone get in their way into getting their children enrolled in Seoul National University. Network: JTBC Goblin (2016) with a rating score of 12.9% Goblin is a fantasy drama that centers the story on the 939-year-old Goblin and the girl who is destined to end his cursed immortal life. They will fall in love with each other. Network: tvN Mr. Sunshine (2018) with a rating score of 13.0% "Mr. Sunshine" is the story about a boy who was born into slavery in Joseon but was able to escape to the United States. After several years, grows up to become an American military officer who returns to his home country and finds himself falling in love with the daughter of an elite family. Network: tvN The World of the Married (2020) with a rating score of 16.9% The World of the Married is a story about a prestigious doctor with a seemingly perfect life experienced the most tragic event in her life, the infidelity of her husband. This drama will feature failed relationships, infidelity, and betrayal; everything married couples strongly want to avoid. The World of the Married hit the highest TV ratings after its final episode rated at 28.37%, Network: JTBC 18+ FOR.kg search news service (news aggregator, media aggregator) Read first Agreement on the use of the FOR.kg search site When using materials from the FOR.kg - reference to the source is required For all questions please contact customer support By Steve Holland JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump campaigned in the battleground states of North Carolina and Florida on Thursday, saying the country's economic prosperity was riding on the outcome of his Nov. 3 showdown with Democrat Joe Biden. "If you want to save America, you must get out and vote," he told thousands of cheering supporters, most not wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic, at the outdoor airport rally in front of Air Force One in Jacksonville, Florida. Trump criticized Biden as too far left for Americans and warned that the Democrat's efforts to battle the coronavirus would endanger the economy. Trump has been criticized for failing to lay out a national strategy to combat the pandemic, which has killed more than 200,000 people in the United States, the most deaths of any country from the virus. He has pushed for rapid deployment of a vaccine once one is ready, and for a broad reopening of the economy after a lockdown in the spring that resulted in heavy job losses. "Biden's plan will crush Florida," Trump said. "My plan will crush the virus." Earlier, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Trump looked to shore up his healthcare credentials by signing two executive orders that lawyers said would carry little weight, including one aiming to ensure Americans with pre-existing conditions retain coverage - even as his own administration seeks to end the Affordable Care Act that protects the same right. Trump lags behind Biden in national opinion polls on the question of who would better handle healthcare, and the protections for people with pre-existing conditions are one of the most popular measures in the law, known as Obamacare. In June, the Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate the law, which added millions to the healthcare safety net. Florida and North Carolina are vital to Trump's prospects of re-election to a second term, and new Reuters/Ipsos polls show the races in the two states to be a dead heat. Story continues Trump made no mention at either campaign stop of the furor in Washington over his refusal on Wednesday to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and some other Republicans distanced themselves from the president's remarks. Biden took the day off the campaign trail on Thursday to prepare for next week's first presidential debate. Trump derided him for "low energy." BATTLEGROUND FLORIDA Florida, which Trump won by just over a percentage point in 2016, has become a heavy focus of both campaigns, and Biden visited last week to try to shore up support among Hispanic voters. Trump countered by announcing $13 billion in disaster aid for Puerto Rico, and made a play on Wednesday for the state's Republican-leaning conservative Cuban-American voters by slapping new restrictions on trade with Cuba, banning U.S. citizens from bringing home rum or cigars from the Communist-run island and from staying at Cuban government-owned hotels. Some Florida Republicans have pushed for Trump to choose Barbara Lagoa, a Cuban-American judge on the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, as his new Supreme Court nominee, believing the move would bolster his prospects in the state. Trump drew a huge roar and chants of "Fill the seat" when he said he would announce his new Supreme Court nominee on Saturday to succeed liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose death last week touched off what is expected to be a furious partisan confirmation battle in the U.S. Senate. Trump met with the leading candidate, Amy Coney Barrett, a judge on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, earlier this week at the White House. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by John Whitesides; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney) Bachelor fans have been speculating for weeks about which contestant Locky Gilbert will choose during Thursday's grand finale. And while Channel 10 has made sure the outcome remains a safely guarded secret, viewers have developed some very compelling theories. From 'pulling a Honey Badger' to unconfirmed rumours he was dumped by the winner - here are the top Bachelor predictions you need to know. Revealed: Every theory, rumour and prediction about The Bachelor finale you need to know - as Irena Srbinovska (left) and Bella Varelis (right) battle it out for Locky Gilbert's heart Locky picks a winner and they're still happily together The most widely accepted theory is that Locky follows in the footsteps of Matty Johnson, Sam Wood and Tim Robards by picking one winner and staying in a relationship with her. This is what Locky and Channel 10 have insisted will happen during this year's finale. On Monday, Locky shut down rumours he was no longer dating his winner, telling TV Week he was '110,000 per cent in love' with his chosen contestant. Traditional: The most widely accepted theory is that Locky follows in the footsteps of Matty J, Sam Wood and Tim Robards by picking one winner and staying in a relationship with her 'Excited is an understatement,' Locky said of finally being able to reveal his girlfriend. 'I cannot wait. I am beyond excited to be able to finally say it out loud... who I have chosen to spend the rest of my life with.' Channel 10 also confirmed to Daily Mail Australia last Friday that Locky and the winner were 'still in a relationship and very happy'. Locky picks Irena but they have since broken up Another possible outcome is that Locky picks bookies' favourite Irena as the winner, before splitting up with her some time later. This theory began circulating last Thursday when Irena 'liked' an Instagram comment from a reality TV fan who said she was 'too good' for the former Survivor star. Hit it and quit it? Another possible outcome is that Locky picks Irena as the winner during the finale, before splitting up with her some time later 'You're too good for him tho!!!' the fan wrote alongside two rose emojis. Irena was among the seven users who liked the comment. While it's not conclusive evidence, the social media activity suggests that Irena and Locky may have quietly split after filming the finale in July. Of course, there are other possible interpretations. What does it mean? Last Thursday, the 31-year-old nurse 'liked' an Instagram comment from a reality TV fan who said she was 'too good' for the former Australian Survivor star Irena's 'like' could be a telling clue that she doesn't win the show at all - despite Sportsbet and TAB tipping her for first place. Alternatively, Irena may have liked the comment by accident, which is quite easy to do when scrolling through Instagram quickly. Locky picks no one One compelling theory is that Locky refuses to choose either women and walks away from the show alone. Will he pull a Honey Badger? One compelling theory is that Locky refuses to choose either women and walks away from the show alone Trailers have hinted that this year's Bachelor's finale will be 'an ending you won't believe', suggesting that fans will be blindsided. The show's executive producer, Hilary Inness, actually hinted at a Honey Badger-style ending in an interview with Media Week last month. 'Locky, by his own admission, falls in love with more than one girl,' Ms Inness said. Dropping hints: The show's executive producer, Hilary Inness, hinted at a Honey Badger-style ending in an interview last month. Pictured: 2018 Bachelor Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins Couldn't make his mind up: For those who didn't watch the 2018 season of The Bachelor, rugby union player Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins infamously chose no one during his finale 'Famously the Honey Badger couldn't choose someone, and now we have a Bachelor who has fallen in love with more than one girl, which is a first for us.' For those who didn't watch the 2018 season of The Bachelor, rugby union player Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins infamously chose no one during his finale. Locky picks both (for the camera) and then dumps one On Wednesday, gossip website The Wash alleged that Locky filmed two different 'winner's endings': one with Bella and the other with Irena. According to the publication, the reason for filming alternative endings was to prevent loose-lipped crew members from leaking spoilers to the press. If true, it would have been an extremely awkward task for Locky, who would have had to tell one of the women he was in love with her on camera, only to break it to her afterwards he'd actually chosen someone else. 'Producers wanted to change it up this year': On Wednesday, gossip website The Wash alleged that Locky filmed two different 'winner's endings': one with Bella and the other with Irena Awkward! If true, it would have been an extremely awkward task for Locky, who would have had to tell one of the women he was in love with her on camera, only to break it to her afterwards he'd actually chosen someone else 'Producers wanted to really change it up this year and confuse viewers and keep the suspense. It also made sure no one on set would leak the ending,' a source claimed. However, a Channel 10 spokesperson denied this was the case. Locky picks Bella but she rejects him, then he begs Irena to take him back Meanwhile, Daily Mail Australia has heard whispers that Locky is rejected by his winner, then begs his heartbroken runner-up for another chance. Switch? Rumours are swirling that Locky dumps Irena and chooses Bella (pictured) in the finale - but Bella turns him down because she can't handle the fact he is also in love with Irena If the rumours are to be believed, Locky actually dumps Irena and chooses Bella in the finale - but Bella turns him down because she can't handle the fact he is also in love with Irena. He then makes a sudden about-turn and begs the 31-year-old nurse to take him back, and she tentatively agrees to begin a relationship with him. These rumours are still unconfirmed, however, and the actual outcome of The Bachelor remains a closely guarded industry secret. The Bachelor finale airs Thursday at 7:30pm on Channel 10 Researchers have found a unique group of microorganisms on the surface of manuka leaves, which could help explain wide variation in the antibacterial properties of manuka honey. The microbiomea complex community of bacteriawas surprisingly specific and consistent for manuka leaves, even across distant geographical locations, suggesting that these bacteria may play important roles in how manuka responds to stress and different environmental conditions, the University of Waikato research has found. University of Waikato PhD student Anya Noble is lead author on the study. I became intrigued by the microorganisms living on manuka leaves while undertaking my Masters research, says Anya. Studies on other plants have shown that leaf surface bacteria can influence the way plants function and grow in their environment. However, this had not been explored for manuka, a plant with unique properties that scientists have not been able to explain completely, despite decades of research. Uncovering the effect of these microorganisms on manuka will be the focus of investigation in my PhD. Further research expanding on these findings could help develop strategies to maximise the production of high-grade manuka honey. This would involve identifying specific microorganisms on the manuka leaf surface that influence the production of antibacterial compounds. The university has a tradition of undertaking ground-breaking research on manuka, which is a taonga (treasured) species indigenous to New Zealand, and the distinct attributes of its honey. In 1981 Professor Peter Molan first discovered manuka honeys unique non-peroxide antimicrobial properties, which helped turn it into a highly valuable health product. Anyas study is not the only manuka investigation currently underway at the university. Associate Professor Michael Clearwater and Waikato University PhD student Stevie Noe are studying the growth, flowering, and nectar production of manuka in response to environmental factors like soil fertility. Dr Megan Grainger is researching the elemental profile of honey and the effect of metals on honeybees. Text: A letter written from the prison at a time when the media predicted imminent arrest of CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechuri, which was later denied by the Delhi Police, has caused considerable consternation -- as it accuses the Kerala government under the Left-democratic dispensation of being as vindictive towards activists as the BJP rulers at the Centre.Also written amidst many other activists, including former student leader Umar Khalid, being arrested and detained by the Delhi police, foisting on them charges under the controversial Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the letter, by the prisoner, Roopesh, says not only he is being charged under UAPA but the the pandemic situation is being used by the Kerala administration against him.I am an under-trial prisoner, currently lodged at the Central Prison Viyyur, Thrissur, Kerala for alleged Maoist activity. I was arrested near Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu, along with my wife and 3 others by Andhra Pradesh Special Intelligence Bureau (APSIB) on May 4, 2015.Subsequently remanded to judicial custody, I have been undergoing detention under judicial custody for more than 5 years. I have been implicated in 26 UAPA cases by Kerala police. In the meantime, I was legally classified as a political prisoner by a Sessions Court after recognising that the nature of the offences charged against me are completely political.The purpose of writing this letter from a caged prison cell (this is the high security anda cells in Kerala prisons) is to render my heartful salute for conducting an all India campaign against the draconian UAPA and for the release of political prisoners who languish in various Indian prisons, particularly after the outbreak of a Covid-19 pandemic.Being a political prisoner and having been incarcerated for the past 5 years without trial, this campaign certainly instils immense confidence to traverse this most difficult period in my life.It is an undisputed fact among the democratic forces that UAPA is one of the most draconian laws in Indian criminal jurisprudence. Historically UAPA is the extension of Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes act (popularly known as Rowlatt Act). It was camouflaged during the post 1947 period under various names such as UAPA 1964, TADA, POTA etc.The intention of the colonialists was to criminalise the idea of patriotism and repress any kind of dissent against colonial exploitation and oppression. That the people of India had come out and fought back against the draconian oppressive criminal laws is history. The epic Jallianwalla Bagh and its aftermath were historic instances of fierce resistance by the Indian masses against the notorious Rowlatt Act.Again the democratic forces of India fought against TADA and POTA, which forced the ruling classes to repeal these oppressive acts, though the large number of previous cases were left untouched.The purpose of the most draconian UAPA, after the amendments in 2004, 2008 and 2019, is the same: Criminalize oppositional ideas and get licence for unleashing state terror against any kind of dissent. The word 'disaffection' (against India) is often being used to brand any legitimate protest to be an 'unlawful activity' or 'terrorist act' under UAPA.Indeed it has resulted in incarceration of large number of adivasis, peasants, communists, students, minorities, nationalists and now eminent human right activists in various prisons in India. The recent 2019 amendment in UAPA, further axed the fundamental rights envisaged in the constitution of India. It gives power to police for classifying an individual as a terrorist even without the necessity of a court to find it so!In such a dismal situation the CPM Central Committees campaign against UAPA and for release of political prisoners is commendable. Certainly it gives enormous amount of confidence, and of course gives optimism, to the political prisoners who are languishing in various prisons. Once again a big salute for such timely political intervention in the defence of the existing constitutional rights.Forgive me for chronicling here the rampant use of the UAPA in Kerala, the only state ruled by a Left government and where CPM's PB member Pinarayi Vijayan heads both the chief ministers post and the home portfolio. I am narrating my own experience.As I mentioned earlier I have been implicated in 26 UAPA cases by the erstwhile UDF government. Initially, I was implicated under relatively less punishable UAPA offences such section 10 and 13. But after LDF came to power, all these UAPA sections were altered and modified into most punishable Sections 20, 38 and 39 of UAPA.Being an erstwhile parliamentarian and a relentless campaigner against UAPA, you clearly know that Section 45 of UAPA, incorporated through the 2008 amendment when you were a member of Rajya Sabha, warrants a valid sanction from a statutory authority for check and balance of unbridled power of the police and for avoiding frivolous and vexatious prosecutions against political activists.It is meant to ensure procedural safeguard against arbitrariness of the police. It enforces strict compliance of procedures stipulated in Section 45 of UA(P)A on the investigating agency. It is a fact that any attempt to weaken Section 45 of the UAPA will make that act more ruthless and ferocious. And that would be against the letter and spirit of the parliamentary debate during the introduction of Section 45 in UAPA, in which you too participated actively. HONOLULU, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Alii Animal Hospital & Resort (www.AliiAnimal.com), Honolulu's first pet resort and full-service animal hospital, is celebrating its one-year anniversary amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The state-of-the-art facility has been instrumental in servicing pets and pet parents with innovative and whole pet healthcare. Founded in 2019 by Dr. Joanna Cook and Matt Malta, Alii Animal Hospital & Resort is a first-of-its-kind animal hospital and resort with in-house pharmacy, x-rays, doggie daycare, and spacious pet suites for overnight boarding. A few first-year milestones include 1,265 dogs and cats cared for and 1,093 happy pet families. Dr. Joanna Cook, Medical Director and Owner, and Matt Malta, Resort Director and Owner, Alii Animal Hospital & Resort As an essential business and in response to the unique climate of COVID-19, Alii Animal adapted to government policies, following CDC guidelines to keep their team and clients safe. To ensure every pet was able to get the medical care they needed, Alii Animal offered discounted emergency care, urgent care, and pet exams. Alii Animal will continue to support the local community through various measures established during the pandemic, including maintaining their $31 pet exam. Dr. Joanna Cook, veterinarian-owner and Punahou graduate, understood the need to adapt during the pandemic to continue to provide Honolulu's pets with the best veterinary care possible. "We wanted our pet parents to be able to get their pets treatment without hesitation," said Dr. Cook. Born and raised in Kailua, Matt Malta, owner and resort director, is proud to provide relief for other essential workers and those balancing working from home. "Our doggie daycare gives pet parents peace of mind knowing their pets are well-cared for when they are working long hours or just need to quiet time while working from home," said Malta. Alii Animal offers a different promotion each month. Follow Alii Animal on Instagram, Facebook, and at AliiAnimal.com to stay up to date on current promotions and specials. Book your pet's appointment or stay with Alii Animal Hospital & Resort at AliiAnimal.com or by calling (808) 234-3441. Alii Animal Hospital & Resort is a full-service animal hospital providing unparalleled veterinary care to dogs and cats of Oahu, helping them to live their best lives. Alii Animal's resort offers dogs superior boarding, daycare, and grooming experiences, all under the watchful eye of veterinarians and medically trained staff. If you'd like to schedule an interview with Dr. Joanna Cook and Matt Malta, please contact Melinda Mullis at [email protected] or 808-284-2011. SOURCE Alii Animal Hospital & Resort Related Links http://www.aliianimal.com Black Americans wont reach true economic justice until our nations K-12 leaders fully confront and make amends for the public education systems racist history. This process of reconciliation and reparations is essential for understanding contemporary K-12 racial disparities, rebuilding trust, and restructuring an institution that still causes the subordination and undereducation of Black students. In the years after the Civil War, formerly enslaved Black Americans saw the ability to read and write as a necessary steppingstone to wealth and respect. Their vast and forceful political demands for taxpayer-funded schools directly led to the establishment of the Souths public K-12 system, what historians have called the crown of Reconstruction. But in the century following, politicians all across the nation set up a constellation of policies and classroom practices that denied Black children access to an adequate educationpart of the Jim Crow eras drive to exploit the labor of Black workers, block them from the ballot box, and maintain white political power. Mobs of white citizens often burned down Black communities schools while government officials stood by and watched. Local officials systematically charged Black property owners exorbitant taxes for schools their children were not allowed to attend. And, in the years following the Brown v. Board of Education decision, states en masse fired Black teachers without cause as part of an effort to prevent white teachers at integrated schools from losing their jobs. Since 1968, the number of Black students graduating from high school has climbed more than 40 percent, and the Black middle class, as a result, has more than doubled in size. But academic outcomes for Black students in recent years have stagnated and, in some states, worsened. To better understand what a reconciliation and reparations program should and should not look like, I traveled to Prince Edward County, Va., in February, where the gap between good intentions and actual change is stark. Almost 20 years ago, this southern Virginia farming community of 23,000 people began to make amends for the way it blocked its Black children from enrolling in its entire school district between 1959 and 1964a devastating act from which Black residents had yet to economically recover. Books were written, tearful apologies were made, a statue was erected, and a museum was built. In a historic move, $2 million was set aside by the state to help the victims of those acts receive an education that was stolen from them. That fund stands today as one of only four state-backed reparations programs in the nation aimed at Black Americans. Virginia has a long history of outlawing the education of Black children. At one point, in an attempt to suppress slave rebellions, it legally subjected Black people caught assembling to learn to read and write to 20 lashes with a whip. Their teachers were fined $100 and jailed. Throughout, Black Prince Edward residents, who make up more than a third of the county, pushed back, in clandestine schools, at school board meetings, at the state legislature, and through the courts. In 1951, the Black students led the fight. The all-Black Morton High School in Farmvillebuilt several years after the all-white high schoolhad become an overcrowded fire hazard. The school board, in response, placed on its campus tar-paper, coal-heated shacks to manage the overflow of students. Sixteen-year-old Barbara Rose Johns staged a 400-student strike, and then filed a lawsuit, which later became one of the five cases that led to the Brown v. Board decision. In 1959, county and state lawmakers, enraged that the federal government had forced them to allow Black students to attend the all-white schools, defunded the entire public school system, instead directing Black and white taxpayers money through vouchers for white students to attend a private academy. I wouldn't call it reparations since nothing was really repaired." The public schools stayed shuttered for five years while the case wound its way through the courts. More than 2,300 Black children during that time went without a formal education, and the illiteracy rate jumped from 3 percent to 23 percent. One of the first public apologies came in 1990 from the towns family-owned newspaper, The Farmville Herald, acknowledging its role in ramping up local hostility against the Black students and organizing white voters around the idea that integrated schools would result in Black men impregnating white women to create a mongrel nation. It took another 13 years before the state legislature passed a resolution expressing profound regret for the way it withheld more than $359,000 meant for Black students to attend school. Today, thats the equivalent of $11 million. In 2008, the countys board of supervisors formally expressed sorrow for closing their schools and placed a light of reconciliation inside the local courthouse bell tower. The legislature then put aside the $2 million in the scholarship fundan arbitrary amount, of which a philanthropist paid halfto help the victims of the states actions pursue a high school diploma or college degree in the state of Virginia. But by then, most of those eligible were close to retirement and had left the state. Of the thousands of people eligible for the scholarship, only 88 people have benefited since its creation. Today, half the fund remains, the program has just five participants, and the state is faced with the question of what to do with the $1 million thats left. Black residents want the state to give the money to the victims descendants, but some conservative and mostly white legislators feel the descendants were not directly injured by the states actions and therefore dont qualify for reparations, a sentiment with which the states attorney general disagrees. With the county today awash in apologies and with half the reparations money now spent, have the Black residents forgiven the government? Was the wealth gap between Black and white residents closed? Have Black students academic outcomes improved? The four scholarship recipients I spoke to said they appreciate the apologies and the scholarships but say that all came too late. Rita Odom Moseley, at the age of 12, was sent hundreds of miles away to live with a family friend to attend school when Prince Edwards schools were shut down. It was years before she saw her parents again. She used the scholarship money to successfully pursue both a bachelors and masters degree at the age of 60. That resulted in her getting a slight pay bump a few years before she retired as a high school secretary, but, she said, she and her children are still poor. I wouldnt call it reparations since nothing was really repaired, said Moseley, now 73. Catherine Hines was 6 years old when the school district shut down. She was too young to be sent to live with distant relatives and lived too far out of town to travel daily to the makeshift schools Black churches in Farmville set up in their basements. So, for three years, she worked on her fathers farm, picking worms off tobacco leaves, feeding the cows and chickens and, whatever else we could do at our age. A few years ago, after years of working as a nurse in a psychiatric ward, she took courses at the local community college to get another nursing license, but never finished. She retired earlier this year. I spent my whole life fighting for myself, struggling through, taking classes, paying for them as I went and working, and now they say they have this scholarship for us, she said. People will never know how (the schools shutting down) affected me personally. I always had to catch up. I had to teach myself how to read, how to write. Even though I became a nurse, it wasnt easy for me. We were the lost generation. While government officials in Virginia have apologized and provided what has proved to be a meager and ineffective form of reparations, they did very little to fix the existing racial disparities within the school district, now more than 55 percent Black. The Prince Edward County government refuses to raise its property taxes, so the district relies heavily on the state, which doesnt spend enough overall on public schools, according to the states own conclusion. The school district underperforms in a number of areas, such as its English and math scores. The private academy, built for white students during the years when the district was closed, is still in existence, though without the largess of the countys taxpayers. And its enrollment is still almost entirely white. The countys overall illiteracy rate today sits at 16 percent, four points higher than the statewide average. Verna Williams, the dean of the University of Cincinnatis law school, concluded in a 2006 study that Prince Edwards reconciliation and reparations efforts amount to a cramped vision of both the state harm and possible remedies. Here you have Virginia, of all stateslets be real, the heart of the Confederacysaying, This is wrong, and we want to address it. Its noteworthy, she said during a recent interview. But it fell short. Im not surprised they didnt want to call it reparations. A more holistic, politically bold, and sweeping reparations effort, she said, could include job training and scholarships for the victims descendants. And it would have to involve providing much more funding for its Black students to receive an adequate education. The state has to say, Were going to aim our resources toward you because we see you as part of our future, she said. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the devastating government actions that targeted Black Americans in Prince Edward County were replicated in school districts across the country. And amid K-12 leaders inability to acknowledge that history, Black families today are still suffering from many of those policies. The K-12 systems governance model leaves Black families disproportionately disenfranchised and voiceless . States stagnant district and school zoning boundaries keep Black-student poverty concentrated. Americas teaching force remains overwhelmingly white. And the property-tax-based school funding models marriage to historically racist housing policies results in Black homeowners being overtaxed and majority-Black schools underfunded . Most unsettling, more than 4 in 10 teachers said in a 2019 nationally representative Education Week survey that genetics are at least a slight factor explaining why white students have better educational outcomes than Black students. Thats the sort of pseudoscience politicians used in the 20th century to justify denying Black communities access to quality teachers and schools. The reconciliation work in Prince Edward County shows that, to help victims cope with their trauma, its important that K-12 leaders make a sober, public assessment of their institutions historic role in devaluing Black childrens minds. But the states lackluster reparations effort also shows that unless states and districts properly make amends with victims and effectively repair the harm done, trust between Black families and school leaders will remain fractured, and disparities between Black and white students will persist. In 1869, during the height of Reconstruction, Virginia lawmakers ratified a state constitution that promised to provide a free, high quality education to all children of school age. Virginia, like so many other states, must now work to make sure politicians cant so easily violate their own constitutional promises and instead assure Black children, in their lifetime, an opportunity to build wealth and respect. China, which has been stonewalling India's entry into the UN Security Council, on Thursday said there were "vast differences" on reforms to expand the top organ of the world body and expressed its willingness to work for a "package solution" that can accommodate interests and concerns of all sides. The G4 grouping comprising India, Japan, Germany and Brazil on Wednesday expressed their concern over lack of any "meaningful" forward movement on long-pending reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and demanded "urgency" on the issue. The foreign ministers of the G4 countries, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, held a virtual meeting coinciding with the 75th session of the UN General Assembly during which they held extensive discussion on the need for urgent reform of the "Unanimous call for text based negotiations in a fixed time frame. Reformed Multilateralism guides India's approach to the United Nations," Jaishankar tweeted on Wednesday after the meeting. Responding to the G4 ministers call for text-based negotiations with a fixed time to carry out reforms for the UN Security Council, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing here that: "We believe the reform of the Security Council is an important issue which concerns the long-term development and all the immediate interests of its members. "At present, vast differences persist among various sides, and a wide consensus on the reform plan is yet to be reached. will continue working with other members to find a package solution through dialogue and consultation, which will accommodate the interests and concerns of all sides," he said. The UN Security Council, as the core of the international mechanism for collective security, should be reformed to better fulfill its mandate under the UN Charter, Wang said. "We believe the reform should increase the representation and say of developing countries, so that more small- and medium-sized countries can have the opportunity to participate in the decision making. A joint G4 press statement on Wednesday said the ministers highlighted the urgency of reforming the UN and updating its main decision-making bodies, in order to better reflect contemporary realities. "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," the statement released by the external affairs ministry said. 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. 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 - the US, the UK, France and Russia - for a permanent seat for India at the Council. China, part of the permanent five (P5) of the with veto power, has been stonewalling India's efforts to become a member of the UN's powerful body for years, pointing to lack of consensus even though the other four members have supported New Delhi's membership. (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.) Icons for the smartphone apps TikTok and WeChat are seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, on Aug. 7, 2020. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo) Bipartisan Senate Bill Will Require Digital App Companies to be Transparent about Country of Origin Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) unveiled legislation on Wednesday that would require digital app companies to list their country of origin. The American Privacy Protection (APP) Act will require that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ensure that all companies that release applications reveal the country of origin and where data collected by the smartphone app is stored. Apps backed by our adversaries, including TikTok and WeChat, pose huge security risks to Americans data and security, Scott said. American consumers should know where the apps they download are created, and where the data being collected is stored, he added. Im proud to join Senator Cortez Masto today to introduce the APP Act and make sure Americans have the information available to protect themselves from this risk. Cortez Masto in a written statement said that the bill was crafted at a time of heightened security concerns about apps made by countries that have not been transparent with the United States, naming China and Russia as examples. As smartphones play a bigger role in Nevadans everyday lives, consumers are increasingly sharing their personal data with unknown app developers sometimes with companies in Russia, China or elsewhere, that might share Nevadans personal data with those governments, Cortez Masto said. The senators bill comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to require U.S. app providers to stop offering China-based apps TikTok and WeChat. Trump in September approved a partnership deal in principle that would allow TikTok to operate in the United States after signing an order for Chinas ByteDance to divest the video app. I have given the deal my blessing, Trump told reporters at the White House on Sept. 20 before departing for a campaign rally in North Carolina. I approved the deal in concept. In August, Trump signed an executive order requiring that TikTok be bought by a U.S. company within 45 days or be banned from the United States. In 2019 Scott teamed up with Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) to introduce a resolution encouraging Americans to buy made-in-America products to support the American economy, and help strengthen the U.S. supply chain. Scott has been vocal about the Chinese Communist Partys malicious intent toward the United States and the security risks attached to doing business with the economic giant. The senator has gone so far as to say that the United States should stop all business ties with the country. In February Scott wrote in an August press statement, Stop buying anything made in China. De-list Chinese companies from stock exchanges. Re-shore the supply chain and support American jobs. Indicate products place of origin for online shoppers. Refuse to publish Chinese propaganda in newspapers. Reevaluate relationships with Chinese researchers at universities and hospitals. Cancel travel plans to China. Cut ties with Confucius Institutes at universities. Eva Fu contributed to this article. The coronavirus pandemic has narrowed a long-standing divide between most Republicans and Democrats on a wide range of proposals to support the U.S. economy, from raising the minimum wage to making child care more affordable, challenging the conventional belief that Americans are divided heading into the 2020 election. A Public Agenda/USA TODAY/Ipsos survey reveals that Americans across the political spectrum support many measures to create good jobs and boost opportunity. The poll of Democrats, Republicans and independents is part of the three organizations Hidden Common Ground project, which seeks to explore areas of agreement on major issues. Most Americans, regardless of party affiliation, support proposals to raise the minimum wage; make child care more affordable; and provide anti-discrimination policies that would help their communities build a strong economy that gives everyone the chance to succeed. Agreement on juicing the economy: Democratic, Republican voters actually agree on issues. What's in the way? Politics Wage hikes: Minimum wage hikes in three states, 21 localities to aid low-paid workers slammed by COVID-19 Though most Americans say they think the economy is rigged to benefit the rich and powerful, most also say it is OK for the rich to get richer as long as everyone has a chance to succeed. The survey of more than 1,000 adults was conducted from Aug. 28-31. Theres a lot of other research that talks about how divisive America is right now, but when you get down to the policy dimensions, theres actually a lot of unanimity, says Chris Jackson, vice president at Ipsos. The divide were seeing between Republicans and Democrats isnt really a division about where Americans want the county to go. Its much more about an us vs. them mentality," Jackson says. "But in the policy domain, most people are actually on the same page. 'Theres a lot of other research that talks about how divisive America is right now, but when you get down to the policy dimensions, theres actually a lot of unanimity,' says Chris Jackson, vice president at Ipsos. Minimum wage For years, the Republican-majority Senate has refused to consider any hike in the federal minimum wage, including a bill passed by the Democratic-dominated House last year that would more than double the amount from $7.25 to $15 an hour. More Americans favor the proposal, suggesting there could be space for negotiation on how much to increase the minimum. The federal minimum wage hasn't changed since 2009. Story continues Most Americans (72%) support raising the minimum wage, including most Republicans (62%), Democrats (87%) and independents (69%). Thats up from 66% of Americans who supported raising the minimum wage in February before the pandemic shuttered the economy in March. Lisa Toner, a registered Republican, is one of those Americans who supports raising the minimum wage. She works as a certified home health care aid in North Tonawanda, New York, outside Buffalo, making $16.50 an hour. She favors a system where low-skilled workers would start at minimum wage, setting a floor from there to boost wages for those with more experience. People who are older and have more experience should have their starting pay above the minimum wage. It makes me upset that someone flipping burgers is making almost as much as me, says Toner, 49, who is still on the fence on whether to vote for President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the U.S. presidential election in November. Linda Lee, a retiree in Manistee, Michigan, worked in law enforcement for a quarter of a century in Indiana, making $25 an hour. In the late 1990s, she and her husband moved to Michigan after he retired from more than 30 years of work at a General Motors factory. She took a job as an auditor at a casino for the next 15 years, making $13 per hour before retiring in 2012. If people are working, they need to have a livable wage, says Lee, 69, an independent who remains undecided on whether to vote red or blue in the election. I came from an area in Indiana that had big corporations. People had jobs, they made good money and had decent health care and retirement, Lee says. When we moved to Michigan, that was like living in a dream world to these people. Many are working two or three jobs just to get by. Rebecca Beebe drops her 5-year-old son, Truman, off at child care at University Avenue Discovery Center in Madison, Wis., on Aug. 13. Affordable child care The push to reopen the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic has left millions of working parents in a bind as they struggle to return to work without someone to care for their children, who attend school from home. Three-quarters of Americans (77%) support making affordable, high-quality child care available to all families, including most Republicans (71%), Democrats (86%) and independents (75%). Kevin Moses, a Democrat, wants affordable child care and supports a hike in the minimum wage. Moses, who lives in Columbia, Tennessee, has been on disability for 15 years. He worked in a steel factory for nearly two decades, making $13.75 an hour. It takes two parents to make a sufficient living for a family these days," says Moses, 52. "With the pay scale being what it is, you cant do it alone. There has to be someone to care for the children, but it has to be affordable. Toner and Lee agree there should be affordable child care. Protesters fill College Avenue during the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement's "Justice For Black Lives Rally" in downtown Athens, Ga., on June 6. Racial inequality Voters express partisan differences on issues such as whether racial discrimination in their community makes it more difficult for people of color to succeed. About 43% of Americans somewhat or strongly agree that racial discrimination makes success more difficult, and 47% somewhat or strongly disagree. Ten percent dont know. Most Americans (68%), including Moses, say strong anti-discrimination policies would make a difference to their community economically. Blacks really endure unnecessary hardship when it comes to getting decent jobs in the South, says Moses, who plans to vote for Biden. Stereotyping and profiling usually limit opportunities to get better positions. Toner, an African American, says she's witnessed "subtle racism" in her community and somewhat agrees with anti-discrimination policies. Lee says she's torn on whether racial discrimination has made it harder for people of color to succeed in her community. She still agrees that anti-discrimination policies would help her local economy. Most Democrats (60%) agree that racial discrimination makes it more difficult for people of color to succeed, compared with 28% of Republicans and 30% of independents. Most Republicans (61%) and more than half of independents (54%) say that having strong anti-discrimination policies that ensure everyone is treated fairly would help their community thrive economically. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Election 2020: Republicans, Democrats less divided on worker support At one point, Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, upbraided Dr. Fauci for favoring an economic lockdown Dr. Fauci insisted he had said no such thing and suggested, without evidence, that spread of the virus had slowed in New York because they have enough immunity to actually stop it. Dr. Fauci shot back that the senator was wrong. This happens with Senator Rand all the time, he said, mistakenly using Mr. Pauls first name. About 22 percent of New Yorkers are immune to the virus, Dr. Fauci said, adding sharply, If you believe 22 percent is herd immunity, I believe youre alone in that. But Democrats played their own part in questioning government science. Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, pressed Dr. Redfield on why his agency took down guidance acknowledging for the first time that the coronavirus was spread mainly by air, which the C.D.C. said had been posted in error on its website. Dr. Redfield conceded that some information in the guidance was accurate, but said the document was only a first draft that had not adequately vetted by agency scientists. Mr. Kaine insinuated, without evidence, that political pressure was at work. When you put up a document at the C.D.C. that you have just testified is accurate, and then its changed to suggest that the risk is more minimal by someone for some reason, it contributes to the massive confusion that is so troubling, he said, adding, And that leads to, Gosh, well is the vaccine going to be safe? Polls show a troubling drop in the number of Americans who would be willing to take a coronavirus vaccine. A survey published last week by the Pew Research Center found that 51 percent of Americans would either probably or definitely take a vaccine, down from 72 percent in May. Each of the officials who testified Wednesday acknowledged that public faith in his agency had been shaken. Every one of the decisions we have reached has been made by career F.D.A. scientists based on science and data, not politics, Dr. Hahn told the panel, adding, F.D.A. will not permit any pressure from anyone to change that. I will fight for science. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 15:24:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday called for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to find an optimal solution to the issue on South Korean victims who were forced into heavy labor by the Imperial Japan during World War II, according to the presidential Blue House. Moon had phone talks with Suga, who took office last week, for 20 minutes from 11:00 a.m. local time, exchanging opinions on ways to develop Seoul-Tokyo relations and situations on the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean president told the Japanese prime minister that it is true that there are different positions between the two countries over the wartime forced labor issue, but Moon expressed hope to jointly find an optimal solution that both governments and all parties involved can accept. Moon asked Suga to speed up communication efforts to resolve pending issues between Seoul and Tokyo, including the forced labor issue, with a fresh attitude of mind on the occasion of Suga's inauguration as Japanese prime minister. In response, Suga agreed to encourage dialogue efforts to resolve pending issues, according to the Blue House. Trade dispute between South Korea and Japan was launched after the South Korean top court's ruling in 2018 that ordered some of Japanese companies to pay reparations to the South Korean victims who were duped or coerced into harsh labor without pay during the Pacific War. In an apparent protest against the ruling, Japan tightened control over its export to South Korea of three materials in July last year. The materials are vital to producing memory chips and display panels, the mainstay of South Korean export. In the following month, the two sides removed each other from their respective whitelists of trusted trading partners that are given preferential export procedure. Moon said South Korea and Japan are the closest neighbors sharing basic value and strategic interests, and partners to cooperate for peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world. Suga said he hopes to establish bilateral relations in a forward-looking manner together with Moon despite various difficulties such as the historical issues. South Koreans believe that former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had never expressed apology and repentance over the Imperial Japan's wartime atrocities, including the forced labor and the sexual slavery of Korean women. The Japan-funded foundation in Seoul for the South Korean victims, who were forced into sexual enslavement for Japan's military brothels before and during World War II, was officially dissolved in July last year. The victims denounced the foundation for Abe's failure to sincerely apologize and take legal responsibility for the wartime brutalities. Meanwhile, Moon and Suga shared the need for cooperation between the two countries to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. The two leaders agreed to more closely cooperate in the Korean Peninsula peace process. Enditem EgyptAir bought 12 Airbus A220-300 planes in a deal with Canadian manufacturer Bombardier in September 2019, to be delivered through 2020 EgyptAir received the 11th Airbus A220-300, arriving from Su-GFF factory in Canada's Quebec City, a statement by the airliner read on Wednesday. The new A220-300 is configured in a two-class cabin with 140-seats including 15 premium economy and 125 economy class seats, offering every passenger a greater level of comfort and space. It delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency and widebody passenger comfort in a single-aisle aircraft. EgyptAir had purchased 12 Airbus A220-300 planes in a deal with Canadian manufacturer Bombardier in September 2019, to be delivered through 2020. The new models are part of a major strategy to upgrade the carriers fleet. Search Keywords: Short link: Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 18:17:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming (2nd R) hands medical supplies donation over to Namibia's Governor of Khomas Region Laura McLeod-Katjirua (2nd L) in Windhoek, Namibia, Sept. 24, 2020. Handing over the donation, Zhang said China to date has donated 30 ventilators, 30 oxygen generators, 26,000 COVID-19 test kits, and 40,000 personal protective equipment (PPEs) to Namibia, among others. (Photo by Charmaine Ngatjiheue/Xinhua) WINDHOEK, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Donations of medical supplies from China to Namibia against the COVID-19 pandemic are now roughly worth 50 million Namibian dollars (2.9 million U.S. dollars), Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming said. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Zhang made another donation of 50,000 masks to the Khomas region in central Namibia. Handing over the donation, Zhang said China to date has donated 30 ventilators, 30 oxygen generators, 26,000 COVID-19 test kits, and 40,000 personal protective equipment (PPEs) to Namibia, among others. "I am very honored to be here on behalf of the Chinese government to give this donation to the people of Namibia. The government of Namibia has successfully implemented the lockdown since reporting the first case in March and subsequently lifted it," he said. The ambassador also expressed his appreciation to the government of Namibia which has been able to deal with the pandemic. The accumulative confirmed cases in the country are a little over 10,000. He said China has successfully contained the virus with the confidence people can defeat this virus. "China has now cut off all internal transmissions and is the first major global economy that has restored its normalcy. We are the first major economy that has reached economic growth," he said. Zhang added that the donation may not be much but it represents the friendship between China and Namibia. "I hope these supplies reach the people that need them the most," he said. Enditem A fifth of people in the UK may refuse to be vaccinated against coronavirus when a jab is available, a major study warned. Researchers found a 'concerning level of misinformation around vaccines' which could significantly affect uptake once a Covid-19 vaccine is approved. In the largest survey of its kind, 22 per cent of people said they were unlikely to be vaccinated with 10 per cent strongly opposed to it. Just half (49 per cent) of the 17,500 people asked by University College London researchers said they 'very likely' to be immunised, while three-quarters (78 per cent) said they considered it 'likely'. Researchers found a 'concerning level of misinformation around vaccines' which could significantly affect uptake once a Covid-19 vaccine is approved Concerns over vaccine safety, mistrust of pharmaceutical companies and a preference for natural immunity were some of the factors behind the low uptake, which authors stressed 'lack any basis in fact.' The findings add to growing concerns over social media being overwhelmed by 'anti-vaxxer' myths and scare stories. Almost one in three (30 per cent) had substantial beliefs that vaccines can cause unknown future problems, while one in seven (15 per cent) said they believed to varying degrees that vaccines do not work. Dr Daisy Fancourt, from UCL's Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, said: 'Our study highlights a concerning level of misinformation around vaccines, which could significantly affect uptake once a Covid-19 vaccine is approved. 'Whilst the majority of people have said they are likely to get a Covid-19 vaccine once one is available, a worrying amount of respondents have said that not only will they not get the vaccine, but that they don't believe vaccines work or worry about potential side-effects, concerns that lack any basis in fact.' Britain will 'host world's first Covid-19 vaccine challenge trial' 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. Advertisement A public health campaign that promotes the importance of getting vaccinated will be critical to protect society, she added. In the same week the record flu programme got underway, the same survey revealed 64 per cent reported that they would be likely to get a flu jab this winter, while 21 per cent said it was unlikely. Older adults were nearly three times as likely to report strong intentions to get a flu vaccine with 73 per cent of over-60s very likely compared to 25 per cent of 18-29 year olds. Experts said this was in line with usual patterns for flu, with this year's programme expanded to include 30 million people in a bid to stop the NHS from becoming overwhelmed this winter. Notably, older adults felt they were more likely to get the flu vaccine (73 per cent) than a Covid-19 vaccine (58 per cent). More than a third (38 per cent) of respondents reported believing to varying degrees that natural immunity is better than immunity from vaccines. Over half - 53 per cent -said they believe vaccines can cause unforeseen effects, while a quarter reported believing that vaccines are used for commercial profiteering. A further 4 per cent said they strongly believe that vaccine programmes are a con from pharmaceutical companies, and public authorities promote vaccination for financial gain. The Covid-19 Social Study is the UK's largest study into how adults are feeling during lockdown, with over 70,000 people questioned each week. Cheryl Lloyd, of the Nuffield Foundation which funds the study, said it was vital leaders had the confidence of the public. She said: 'These findings reveal valuable insights into public concerns about vaccinations and highlight the importance of building public trust in the safety and efficacy of a Covid-19 vaccine, particularly at a time when there is a significant lack of confidence in the Government response to the pandemic. 'Given people's reasons for distrust of vaccines, transparency about the scientific evidence and the role of commercial providers is likely to be a key factor in gaining public trust, as is involving the public in the decision-making process.' Alan Jope, CEO, Unilever. Photo: Unilever Alan Jope, CEO of Unilever (ULVR.L), has been crowned the number one advocate executive for women at work in 2020. The 2020 HERoes Advocates list celebrates 50 senior leaders who are advocates for women in business and dedicated to creating a more diverse and inclusive business environment. These executives work within at least three levels of the chief executive at large companies, or are the leaders of smaller organisations. Jope has been CEO since 2019 and has immediately enacted on making sure Unilever is a beacon for diversity and inclusion, and a leader in progressive work practices. He chairs a Global Diversity Board (GDB) providing leadership and direction on setting stretching, transparent, and measurable targets which has already led to the company achieving a 50/50 gender balance among non-executives and the groups total management population of 14,000. But he hasnt stopped there. He has been key on working with INSEAD on a senior women leadership programme, implementing a suite of progressive policies such as flexible working and 16 weeks maternity globally, regardless of tenure as well as partnering with organisations like Equileap, HeForShe, Unstereotype Alliance, and Harvard to further drive greater gender equity and equality. Thats not to mention launching major initiatives like Shakti a programme in India and South America that helps women in rural areas become micro-entrepreneurs, selling Unilever products to local villages. These women are given training in accounting, sales and IT, and equipped with smartphones to help them run their business efficiently. Allyship is essential to gaining greater equity for women at work and those from marginalised communities. So what can allies and would-be advocates learn from Jope? Yahoo Finance caught up with him to share what real allyship means to him and what it could look like for others. Q: What does an ally/advocate mean to you? What does that look like? Story continues A: Being an ally starts with being aware and understanding the unconscious biases that all of us grow up with. Its about listening to others to get a better understanding of the barriers and discrimination they face. It means looking around the table to ensure that all voices are represented, and decisions arent made for any of those communities, but instead with them. But mostly its about using my privilege to take action to create true equity. Q: Why is it more important than ever that executive allies step up? A: Empowering women and girls is the single greatest unlock for social and economic development. Unconscious bias, harmful norms and stereotypes hold women back. It is well quoted that McKinsey estimated that achieving gender equality in the labour force by 2025 would increase global GDP by an estimated $28tn (22tn). But gender parity is hundreds of years away HUNDREDS OF YEARS. Thats not OK. We need continued leadership from governments, civil society, citizens, and especially from businesses to bring about a more inclusive world. Businesses have a responsibility to adopt progressive policies like paid maternity and paternity leave, ensure safe workplaces for women, challenge harmful stereotypes, create equal opportunities, and implement equal pay. On top of that, we have a wonderful opportunity to create inclusive business models in our extended value chains. To accelerate the creation of more allies, all of Unilevers top 500 leaders will go through our inclusive leaders training programme by the end of 2020. Alan Jope, CEO Unilever. Photo: Unilever Q: What have been some of your most proud moments in helping women at work? A: An approach we take at Unilever is to first look at getting our own house in order by creating a culture of inclusion, tackling bias and building a gender-balanced workforce. So, achieving gender balance across our 14,000 managers a year earlier than our target was a proud moment for me. But championing the gender agenda goes beyond the four walls of our office. After getting our own house in order, the second step is to focus on our extended value chain, supporting women through initiatives like Shakti, a programme for micro entrepreneurs. And thirdly, we use our scale and reach to drive wider social change through our brands, with programmes like the Dove Self-Esteem Project, which has reached over 60 million young people with self-esteem workshops. Its an honour to be leading a company with a team so passionate about making a real difference, both within our business and beyond. Not only about creating equal opportunities for women, but also for other under-represented groups like people with disabilities, LGBTQI+, and addressing racial equity. Q: How do you approach intersectionality it's been clear that women of colour have it infinitely harder at work what steps do you take to address that? A: We do believe in looking through an intersectional lens to dismantle discrimination based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and so on. The approach we take is to listen. Listen to lived experiences. Listen with awareness of what our own biases are and how these create barriers or micro-aggressions. Never stop listening. We can then take the right steps whether that be through training, targets, or policies. Its our responsibility to understand and eliminate discriminatory practices in our company and in those that partner with us. We do: Collect data to understand how any gender pay gap presents itself at Unilever, and our goal is to ensure equitable pay. Continue our focus on gender balance across the whole organisation. While we achieved our global management target a year in advance, we are still intervening in functions, countries and regions where gender balance is a continuing gap. Will deploy anti-racism training to all employees to increase understanding, literacy and empathy of racial and ethnic diversity. Weve learned that well-meaning people need the tools and competencies to be change agents. Q: Even though you are an incredible advocate, what would you say has been the bigger learning point over the last few weeks? A: This year has been a slap in the face to remind us how far society still has to go to really address gender and racial inequality and how much we really have to do to challenge harmful norms and stereotypes. In particular, the racial justice protests in the US and around the world have put the spotlight on what else we can do to create a more inclusive workplace, more inclusive brands, and a more inclusive society. We are well aware that our work is not done in challenging adverse norms like caring responsibilities that have often and unfairly landed disproportionately on the shoulders of women. Q: As a leader, how do you see change manifests itself in the workplace? A: Usually, I see a spark somewhere that ignites a fire, that causes us to wake up and make a bold commitment. We see more and more leaders willing to admit that we dont have all the answers and that our job is about asking more questions, identifying the problems and engaging a broader spectrum of people in crafting solutions against big ambitions. Q: How do you make sure that all your reports are helping drive that change in the company and making sure the company is as inclusive as possible? A: Were putting in place capabilities in our markets to collect data disaggregated by race, class, gender, sexuality and ability. Measurement is controversial and can be difficult. But it does create accountability. I wont be able to hide from my gender appointment track record, but we need the data. To be as inclusive as possible, we need both a data strategy as well as a culture strategy. Hard and soft working together. After this years House vote, the legislation went to the Senate where it continued to enjoy bipartisan support until Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) blocked a scheduled vote. Supporters of the museum effort in the Senate, including New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez and Texas Republican John Cornyn, then added it to the spending bill. Latinos have contributed significantly to the success of the United States while overcoming systemic discrimination and our stories have largely been erased from U.S. history. Now, our stories will have a new home with a Latino museum on the National Mall, says Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Menendez calls inclusion of the museum in the spending bill a validation of Latinos struggles and impact on this country. We have overcome tremendous obstacles and unbelievable hurdles to get to this historic moment. But as Ive said before, Latinos are used to overcoming obstacles, Menendez says. Passage of the National Museum of the American Latino is the culmination of decades of hard work, advocacy, successes and setbacks in the movement to recognize Latino contributions to Americas history, economy and culture. As a first-generation Cuban American, I know what its like to feel invisible in a nation where Latinos are seldom celebrated, Menendez says. I am enormously proud of my role in getting this legislation over the finish line and cannot wait until the day when I can take my granddaughters to visit the National Museum of the American Latino in our nations capital. The coronavirus pandemic was part of the argument to give the museum the green light, Vargas says. Latinos represent a disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases and a disproportionate number of essential workers that are keeping our food supply going, that are mending our wounds and taking care of our sick. At the same time that we have the social justice upheaval thats going on in the country, the Latino community is impacted by all that, he says. The Latino museum is not a side issue. It is interlinked with everything thats going on. The Latino community has had a major role in every aspect of our society. Most of the Latino history has gone unreported and unrecognized in our textbooks and not displayed in our museums, Vargas says. Latinos political diversity part of appeal One point that supporters considered key to making this bill more viable than previous versions is a requirement for a diversity of political viewpoints. From the text of the bill: In carrying out its duties, the Board of Trustees shall ensure that the exhibits and programs of the museum reflect the diversity of the political viewpoints held by Latinos of the United States on the events and issues relating to the history of Latinos in the United States. The law also requires the museums board of trustees to be politically and geographically diverse. Never in its history has the Smithsonian been required to ensure that there was a representation of the variety of points of view in a particular community. That has been a bone of contention among conservatives with other museums, Vargas says. Itll help from a political partisan standpoint, but it would also help out the museum. But even with this approval, the reality of a Latino museum is still years away. Discussions around a national museum for African Americans, which opened as the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016, began in 1915 with Civil War veterans, and plans for a museum honoring Native Americans the National Museum of the American Indian opened in 2004 also date that far back, including the Heye Foundations museum in New York City founded in 1916 that became part of the Smithsonian in 1989. Proponents of a national museum commemorating Asian Americans, the countrys fastest-growing racial group, also have introduced a bill, but that effort has been stalled for more than a year. Metro Mania (CNN Philippines, September 24) The Philippine Army said it still trusts its social media center chief amid reports of his involvement in fake Facebook accounts sharing misinformation about government critics. The military branch, nevertheless, assured that it will still investigate the matter further. The Army expressed "alarm" on Thursday after a United States-based think tank, The Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab, linked Capt. Alex Cabales, who handles the Philippine Army's social media training, to the accounts taken down by Facebook for "coordinated inauthentic behavior." "We are alarmed and that we are concerned especially one of our officers was named-- and an officer that we hold in high esteem," said Army spokesman Col. Demt Zagala. "We are confident he did not do anything wrong but we will be looking into it." The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also said Cabales did not violate any of its policies on online behavior. Althought it remains unclear to AFP what Cabales' violations were, along with some pages he manages that were also suspended, AFP spokesperson Edgard Arevalo assured that these alleged errors were committed through Cabales' personal profile, not the AFP's official accounts. He maintained that the AFP's official social media accounts are still intact even after Facebook removed over 100 related accounts and pages, including some from Instagram. "The AFP will never subscribe to fakery," Arevalo stressed. "We do not allow fake accounts." CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent David Santos contributed to this report. LONDON, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Trust Payments and Guestline, a leading property management, guest engagement and distribution software provider to the hospitality industry, have teamed up to launch GuestPay, a new payment solution for hoteliers. Through the strategic partnership, Guestline can offer an innovative specialist single seamless payment solution to hoteliers for all their payment needs including merchant acquiring, point of sale and payment platform services. Offered to almost 3,000 hoteliers in 25 countries, GuestPay is highly specialised and targeted toward the hospitality industry. It will address the specific challenges faced in hospitality including those faced by major hotel groups and chains. Trust Payments delivers a unified payments solution to enable global pay-in, pay-out and customer journey technologies, linking merchant acquiring, ecommerce and point of sale devices. This unique proposition reduces fraud, chargebacks, manual processes and cost, whilst consolidates reporting in a transparent interface. Another major benefit is in securing revenue for hoteliers by enabling guests to settle their invoice or deposit payments before check in. Daniel Holden, Group CEO of Trust Payments commented: "For over 13 years, Trust Payments have empowered ecommerce payments for Guestline, and we are proud to support the next step in the journey. Launching Guestpay will revolutionise the customer experience in the hospitality industry: an end-to-end solution embedded into Guestlline's systems. This will help hotels provide even better engagement with their guests. Launching in the UK and Germany initially, the solutions will roll out to other European countries in 2021." Andrew McGregor, CEO of Guestline commented: "By working with Trust Payments, we are able to offer a simpler and more secure payment system for hoteliers that's integrated with the Guestline PMS. Payments are tracked and recorded in the PMS delivering a seamless, more secure and efficient experience. GuestPay will help our customers optimise sales and enhance the customer journey and by working with a large community of hoteliers, Guestline has been able to offer more competitive rates on the hotelier's behalf." For more information, hoteliers can attend the 'Guest Payments Simplified' webinar on 1st October 2020 by registering here. About Trust Payments Group Trust Payments is a global unified payments group for global pay-in, pay-out and customer journey technologies. Our mission is to help businesses to optimise their sales and customer experience through facilitating speedy and seamless payments. Our single sign-on technology platform can process payments with over 50 global acquiring banks, including our own EU-licenced institution, acquiring.com. Our community benefits from our 20+ years of payments experience and unrivalled customer focus. Our trusted and robust technology solutions deliver 1.6 bn transactions annually for 7,000 active clients across eCommerce, mobile and Point of Sale (POS) and in 14 like-for-like settlement currencies. We also operate in the US with money transmission services and gaming vendor licences in key regulated markets. Visit us at www.trustpayments.com and www.acquiring.com. About Guestline Established over 28 years ago, Guestline provides innovative property management, guest engagement and distribution software to the hospitality industry. Founded on cloud technology, Guestline's revenue generating solutions enable independents of all sizes and small hotel groups to achieve maximum occupancy at the most profitable rate. With offices in the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Ireland and Thailand, Guestline's property management software is currently growing revenues in businesses in 25 countries across five continents. The range of solutions include Guestline PMS, CRS, C&B, Channel Manager, EPoS, IBE and GuestPay. Additionally, Guestline's PMS can be integrated with nearly 200 third-party solutions via an API. www.guestline.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280947/Guestline.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280999/TRUST_Payments_Logo.jpg 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. Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut to file a reply to actor Kangana Ranauts petition against the demolition of a part of her bungalow here, and said it will start final hearing from Friday. The hearing can not be delayed because the bungalow should not be left in the present partially demolished state during monsoon as some mishap might happen, the judges said. A bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and R I Chagla also directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) H-ward officer Bhagyawant Late to file his reply to the plea. Late had signed the demolition notice served to Ranaut on September 7. On Tuesday, Ranauts lawyer senior counsel Birendra Saraf had submitted a DVD of a speech in which Raut allegedly made a comment threatening the actor. Following it, the HC permitted Ranaut to make both Raut and Late parties to the case. On Thursday, Rauts counsel Pradeep Thorat asked for more time to file reply, saying the Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member was in New Delhi. BMCs senior counsel Anil Sakhre also sought more time for filing reply on Lates behalf. Justice Kathawalla said the bench will begin hearing the petitioner (Ranaut) on Friday and Raut could file his reply anytime before his lawyers start their arguments. The bench, however, directed the BMC to file the reply on Lates behalf by Monday. Since 40 per cent of the Petitioners Bungalow is already demolished on 9th September, 2020 and the Bungalow continues to stand in partially demolished condition, it is likely that some mishap may be caused due to the heavy rainfall in Mumbai. It is therefore necessary to hear the matter at the earliest, the bench said, scheduling the hearing at 3 pm on Friday. Ranaut, in her plea filed in the HC on September 9, sought that the demolition carried out by the BMC at her Pali Hill bungalow be declared illegal. She rushed to the court after demolition began earlier that day. The HC then stayed the BMCs action. She subsequently amended her plea to demand Rs two crore as damages from the civic body and its officials. In her plea, Ranaut alleged that the BMC had demolished the bungalow out of personal vendetta, since she had made some comments critical of the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government. The BMC in its affidavit denied the allegation. The civic body said Ranaut had carried out illegal structural changes and repairs at the bungalow, and the officers were merely following the law. The civic body also urged the high court to dismiss Ranauts plea and impose a cost on her. Former New York City mayor and 2020 presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg during the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington on Jan. 22, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Florida AG Defends Investigation Into Bloomberg Paying Felons Fines Floridas attorney general on Sept. 23 asked state and federal law enforcement to investigate possible election law violations after billionaire Michael Bloomberg, a former Democratic presidential candidate, helped raise more than $16 million for Florida felons to pay debts so they can vote in the upcoming election. On Sept. 24, state Attorney General Ashley Moody told Fox News that a memo from Bloomberg about the initiative raised concerns. When you look at the memo and what was alleged, when you hear words like we need to get this done, investing money to target a particular group of voters that may be predisposed to vote a certain way, that raises concerns that you are directly influencing or even indirectly giving money to persuade votes to go a certain way, Moody, who is a Republican, told the network. That doesnt matter what party it is that triggers Florida law. Under Florida law, you cannot directly or indirectly give anything of value to persuade or entice a vote. The memo that was obtained 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. President Donald Trump told the Brian Kilmeade Show on Sept. 24 that what Bloomberg has done is totally illegal. Earlier this week, Moody announced she sent letters to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI, saying the move should be investigated. I have instructed the Statewide Prosecutor to work with law enforcement and any Statewide Grand Jury that the Governor may call, Moody, a Republican, said in a statement. Today, I sent a letter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation into potential violations of election laws. In her letter, Moody said Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis asked her to look into the effort. After preliminary reviewing of the limited public information and law, it appears further investigation is warranted, Moody wrote in a letter to law enforcement, citing news reports about Bloombergs efforts. A 2018 state constitutional amendment allows for felons who have finished their sentences to regain their right to vote. But they first have to pay any outstanding fines, fees, or restitution. Murderers and sex offenders didnt regain the right to vote. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fla., on July 13, 2020. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) State CFO Jimmy Patronis on Sept. 23 also called for an inquiry into Bloombergs effort and asked the Federal Election Commission to investigate whether the former New York City mayor is breaking the law by giving direct cash for voters. 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, Bloomberg said in a statement on Sept. 22 after his efforts were announced. Bloomberg spokesman Jason Schechter told news outlets that Moodys letter is a transparent political ploy [and] is just the latest example of Republicans attempting to keep Floridians disenfranchised. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) first raised the possibility of an investigation into the matter, telling Fox News that it could be a form of bribery. Its not every felon. Its just those which they have specifically identified as the Biden voters, Gaetz said on Fox News. Thats offering a bribe, an inducement, for someone to behave a certain way in voting. BAMBERG, Germany, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Computop, a leading global payment processor, and Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), which specialises in cashless payments in Central and Eastern Europe, have announced that their cooperation is to be enhanced further to propagate the expansion of omnichannel payments. This will enable merchants connected to the Computop Paygate payment platform to gain access to local acquiring connections in thirteen CEE countries and in Austria. With the well-known Danish window manufacturer, VELUX, among the first customers to take advantage of the new arrangement, Computop and RBI are enabling merchants and service providers to expand their businesses into Eastern European countries. They are being supported with a versatile payment platform and central credit card acceptance through RBI's regional network. This applies to both traditional retailers and e-commerce merchants and to any company that sells goods using an omnichannel strategy. With the support and billing of credit cards being handled by RBI's headquarters in Vienna, merchants can now take advantage of opportunities to sell to customers in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. "The partnership with Raiffeisen Bank International occupies a special position in our portfolio of over 60 acquirer connections," explains Computop CEO Stephan Kuck. "It enables us to facilitate local acquiring in a region which offers great potential. The position of trust of a major Austrian bank, many years of experience and good knowledge of local markets are three essential assets for our customers to become more involved in Eastern Europe." Andrii Stepanenko, RBI board member for retail banking, emphasises: "For us the partnership with Computop is an ideal combination which strengthens our core competence in the Eastern European market with customers of the leading payment service provider in German e-commerce. Together we can promote the networking of channels towards genuine omnichannel business in this region too." About Computop The Payment People As one of the very first payment service providers, Computop offers its customers around the world local and innovative omnichannel solutions for payment processing and fraud prevention. The Computop Paygate payment platform enables seamless integrated payment processes for e-commerce, at POS and on mobile devices. With this internally developed software, retailers and service providers have the flexibility and freedom to choose from over 350 payment methods enabling them to specifically tailor their payment options per country. Technologies such as biometric authentication and self-learning algorithms improve security and convenience for retailers and consumers alike. Computop, a global player with its head office in Germany and locations in China, England and the USA, has been servicing large international companies in the service, retail, mobility, gaming and travel industries for more than 20 years. These companies include global brands such as Bigpoint, C&A, Fossil, the entire Otto Group, Sixt and Swarovski. Computop also provides it payment system to banks and financial service providers as a white-label solution. Through its customer network and collaboration with the global marketplace Rakuten, Computop processes commercial payment transactions for more than 16,000 retailers annually, with a combined value of USD 34 billion. With its individual and secure solutions, Computop makes a major contribution to the future of international payment processing. www.computop.com About Raiffeisen Bank International RBI considers Austria, where it is a leading corporate and investment bank, and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as its home market. 13 markets in the region are covered by subsidiary banks. In addition, the RBI Group comprises numerous other financial service providers, including in leasing, asset management and M&A. To support its business activities, RBI maintains representative offices and service branches at selected locations in Asia and Western Europe. In the acquiring business, Raiffeisen Bank International handles more than 1 billion transactions annually, serving more than 60,000 merchants, and an additional 6,500+ specialising in e-commerce. It holds licences for both Mastercard and VISA payments. www.rbinternational.com SOURCE Computop Kazakhstan has barred three air carriers from operating for violating a UN Security Council embargo covering the supply of arms to Libya, the Central Asian country's government said Wednesday. The announcement comes as Kazakhstan's close ally Russia continues to strenuously deny supplying mercenaries to support attacks on the UN-recognised Government of National Accord. A statement on the website of the Kazakh industry ministry said that it had stripped the locally held licenses of Azee Air, Sigma Airlines and Jenis Air. The statement said that the UN Security Council had informed Kazakhstan via a letter that the trio were violating the embargo in February of this year. Flights by the three air carriers to Libya "were carried out from third countries", the ministry said, noting that it was not Kazakhstan's responsibility to monitor the airlines' activities outside of Kazakhstan. UN officials have long warned that deliveries of foreign-made weapons to Libya are undermining peace efforts. Libya has endured almost a decade of violent chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed veteran leader Moamer Kadhafi. The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on three companies -- one of them Turkish -- for breaching the UN arms embargo on Libya, drawing an angry reaction from Ankara. Turkey and Qatar have backed the GNA, while the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia support its strongman rival Khalifa Haftar, who is also suspected of receiving French backing. UN experts warned in a report this month that violations of the Security Council embargo are "extensive, blatant and with complete disregard for the sanctions". Nigerias Defence Headquarters said a high profile Boko Haram Commander has surrendered, along with his four wives to Nigerian troops. The capitulation happened during clearance operations in the terrorists enclaves in Borno, between Sept. 17 and Sept. 23. The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this while giving weekly update on the operation of Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja. Enenche said the unidentified commander surrendered as a result of sustained offensive by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole through air and ground operations on terrorists enclaves at different locations in Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa. According to him, the operations also led to the arrest of one Boko Haram fighter at Kamuya in Biu Local Government Area of (LGA) of Borno, while nine other criminals were arrested in Wukari LGA of Taraba. Caches of arms and ammunition as well as equipment and motorcycles were also recovered. Meanwhile, troops repelled BHT/ISWAP attacks on civilians and own troops at Wajiroko in Damboa LGA of Borno on Sept. 17 and Sept. 20. The troops neutralised several of the terrorists and recovered arms and ammunition, he said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Air India Express has opened bookings for flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bahrain under the sixth phase of Vande Bharat Mission. Flyers can book tickets on the airlines official website, call centre, city office or authorised travel agents. Ahead of this, Air India had announced that it will be flying additional flights to Singapore under the Vande Bharat Mission. This will be in addition to the flights that were already announced by the national carrier at the onset of the sixth phase of repatriation operations. #FlyWithIX: Bookings are now open for India SingaporeIndiaKuala LumpurIndiaBahrainBook tickets on our website or through Call Centre/City Office/authorized travel agents@MoCA_GoI @HardeepSPuri @IndiainSingapor pic.twitter.com/rtWucQ9bXc Air India Express (@FlyWithIX) September 23, 2020 Aviation regulator DGCA had extended the suspension of scheduled international flights to and from the country till September 30 as the government announces Unlock 4.0. The competent authority has further extended the suspension on the scheduled international commercial passenger services to/ from India up to 2359 hours IST of 30th September," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement. However, this restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA," the statement further read. This means that the government will continue operating flights under the travel bubbles that the Government has established with countries like US, Germany, Dubai, UK, Canada and France among other countries. More of these bilateral air bubbles will be announced soon. Also Watch: To allow gradual movement of passenger traffic during the Covid-19 situation, transport bubble agreements have been signed with USA, France, and Germany. Recently, transport bubble agreement has also been signed with Kuwait to uplift stranded passenger both to/from India. More similar arrangements are likely to fructify and ease passenger movements from different countries, a statement issued by DGCA earlier mentioned. India is currently operating cargo flights, domestic flights, international flights under Vande Bharat Mission and international flights under air bubble pacts to facilitate travellers movement. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will be the final person to take the stand at the states hotel quarantine inquiry on Friday after Health Minister Jenny Mikakos became the third minister this week to deny responsibility for key elements of the botched program. Ms Mikakos told the inquiry on Thursday that she had not been involved in the hotel programs set-up and did not seek updates on it until two months later, after the first coronavirus outbreaks, even though her Health Department was the lead agency. Health Minister Jenny Mikakos at the hotel quarantine inquiry. She said she was never briefed on the operational plan for hotel quarantine and did not ask for one, and she admitted she did not know that private security guards were working in the hotels until some had contracted COVID-19 in late May, setting in motion Victorias second wave of infections. Ms Mikakos took the stand under political pressure after the release of a scathing Health Workers Union letter which accused her of breathtaking incompetence. The letter forced another key union, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation to come out publicly to back her, as did Mr Andrews, who said he had confidence in all my ministers. Kolkata, Sep 24 : Bringing much-awaited relief to scores of people, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced the guidelines for the upcoming Durga Puja in the state to be celebrated from October 22-26. Banerjee met senior officials of the state government, the police and puja committee organisers from across the state at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here. Keeping in mind the Covid-19 pandemic situation, Banerjee showered doles to puja organisers, saying the state government would give Rs 50,000 to each puja committee along with other free facilities this year. More than 2,500 Durga Pujas are organised only in the Kolkata Police area, excluding those organised in the housing complexes. "We have decided to give Rs 50,000 to each puja committee along with other facilities like free fire-safety arrangement at every pandal (marquee). This year, the puja committees will not have to pay any tax to the local bodies like municipal corporation and panchayat bodies for organising Durga Puja. Also, 50 per cent of the total electricity charges will be waived," the Chief Minister told the gathering. Urging all the residents of the state to comply with the Covid-19 safety guidelines during the festival, Banerjee said that this year the celebrations would be different and people will have to be really cautious about physical distancing, though they would be allowed to go pandal-hopping throughout the night. "We need to be really careful while celebrating the festival. I request all the organisers to make their pandals as much open as possible with separate entry and exit points. Ideally, three sides should be open to allow enough cross-ventilation. Masks and sanitisers are compulsory in the pandals," Banerjee said, as she urged all the organisers to make the inaugural ceremonies less glamorous. The Chief Minister mentioned that the puja guidelines were framed after taking into account the suggestions made by the state's global expert committee. "We must ensure that there is no spike in the number of Covid cases after the festive season. I know there will be problems. We have already lost many lives, though the discharge rate in our state is now 87 per cent. "Volunteers will have to give sanitisers to all the devotees when they visit the pandals. They will also have to give masks to those not wearing them," she said, adding that public announcements at big puja pandals are must this year. There will be restrictions on 'anjali', playing with vermilion ('sindoor khela') and distribution of 'prasad'. "The puja committees will have to organise these rituals by involving more volunteers and by maintaining physical distancing. They can also demarcate positions for pandal-hoppers to stand in a queue while entering the pandal, so that there is sufficient gap between two devotees," Banerjee said, as she asked the organisers not to hold any cultural programme this year. She said that permission to organise Durga Puja would be given online. The Chief Minister also announced one-time aid of Rs 2,000 for 81,000 hawkers so that they can buy new clothes for their families. "I have also decided to increase the monthly salary of Asha workers, green police and all civic volunteers by Rs 1,000 from October," Banerjee said. Latest updates on Navratri Festival 2020 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. When it comes to stopping cyber attackers, most information security teams primarily concern themselves with north-south traffic. This traffic moves between an internal network and the broader internet, and it is where most security tools, including firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention tools, tend to focus their efforts. This line of thinking is understandable -- to stop external threats from wreaking havoc on the system, it makes sense to stop them at the network perimeter. Unfortunately, this approach leaves networks vulnerable if an attacker evades those perimeter protections. Defenses designed to detect north-south traffic are valuable, but they cannot identify lateral movement within the network -- generally referred to as east-west traffic. This type of traffic moves from one internal host or network segment to another, and it is how attackers travel within a network, conduct reconnaissance, obtain credentials and escalate and advance their attacks. The FBIs recent warning of a rise in ransomware attacks focusing on both public- and private-sector targets makes effective threat detection for east-west traffic more critical than ever. Governments remain vulnerable to ransomware and other attacks Ransomware has long been a concern, but last year saw a marked rise in attacks targeting local governments. New Orleans had to declare a state of emergency following a cyberattack. Baltimore was, in the words of the New York Times, held hostage by cybercriminals. More than 20 different towns in Texas were among the victims of one attack. All told, at least 163 ransomware attacks targeted local and county governments in 2019 alone, and the trend shows no signs of stopping: La Salle County, Ill., Tillamook County, Ore., and the city of Durham, N.C., have been among the latest victims of significant attacks. One reason these attacks can be so challenging to prevent is that they so often leverage social engineering as an attack vector. Many ransomware attacks begin as phishing or business email compromise schemes, attempting to trick users into granting bad actors access to the network. These attackers bypass firewalls and other tools designed to detect threats in north-south traffic by instead exploiting human error for easy entry. Once intruders are inside the network, north-south protections are moot. Without reliable east-west detection, attackers can freely move laterally throughout the network with little fear of being discovered. Modern technology provides east-west solutions There are multiple security tools capable of providing some degree of protection for lateral traffic, though each has its advantages and disadvantages. Security information and event management tools, for example, monitor endpoint logs for potentially suspicious behavior. Unfortunately, while SIEMs log valuable data, they log a lot of data. For large enterprises, in particular, sorting through this glut of information to identify useful data can be a tall order, rendering SIEMs ineffective as a standalone solution. Even an internal firewall or dedicated monitoring network using tap and span ports or proxies to aggregate and monitor traffic can be challenging to scale, often causing network performance issues as internal bandwidth becomes strained. Fortunately, there are other solutions organizations can explore. Implementing network traffic analysis can -- as its name implies -- enable organizations to collect and analyze network traffic to look for signs of threats. It is an exceedingly useful (and thorough) technology for internal threat detection and analysis. However, it tends to be inefficient, as data storage and analysis can pose problems at scale, and visibility issues persist. Internal intrusion detection and prevention systems are also popular tools for monitoring activities across the system and network. They can examine east-west traffic for potential intruders, but this detection is signature-based, which can result in missed threats. IDPSs are very good at identifying the threats they should detect, though without sufficient sensors, they also have potential visibility issues. Another solution is cyber deception and denial technology, which is becoming more widely adopted for detecting lateral movement within a network. Unlike many of the previous tools mentioned here, deception does not rely on network traffic capture or known signatures. Instead, it bases its alerts on the detection of confirmed unauthorized activity during attacker discovery, lateral movement and privilege escalation. Deception seeks to trick attackers, luring them away from valuable data and assets with a wide range of decoys designed to look like real assets. If attackers engage with those decoys, they reveal their presence, and the deception environment can isolate them. Because deception detects based on actual engagement with attackers, it results in fewer false alarms. Denial technology is an innovation based on hiding real production objects from the sight of attackers, denying their access, and returning fake information that diverts the attacker into decoys. The primary drawback to deception technology is the misperception that the technology is little more than a honeypot. The reality is that todays tools are far more effective and advanced than what honeypots offered, which were designed more for research than scalable detection. The right tools for the right job In cybersecurity, no single tool is a be all, end all solution. When it comes to detecting and derailing threats, there are many options for defenders to choose from, and identifying the right security tools can mean the difference between successfully defending against an attack or suffering a breach. As attackers increasingly look to move laterally through government networks, looking for ever-more-valuable assets to steal or encrypt, the ability to detect east-west movement will become more critical as well. Tools like internal firewalls, deception technology and network traffic analysis can all play a role in helping public and private institutions achieve the security they need to protect themselves from these threats. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each will help infosec leaders deploy the right tools for the right job. Press Release September 24, 2020 Hontiveros pressures NBI, DOH to criminally charge hospitals that violate Anti-Hospital deposit law LGUs must actively monitor for violators, senator urges "It is unjust to ask a dying person to cough up money before even attempting to save his or her life." This was the remark of Senator Risa Hontiveros, author of the Strengthened Anti-Hospital Deposit Law, as she pressured the Department of Health, local government units (LGU) and law enforcement agencies to actively monitor and enforce sanctions through their regulatory powers on hospitals that violate the law by demanding cash deposits from emergency patients before providing treatment. "Bakit natin itinataboy ang mga pasyenteng nasa hukay na ang isang paa? Dapat maparusahan ang lumalabag sa batas. Hindi makatarungang may mga pasyenteng namamatay dahil sa kawalan ng pera lalo na sa gitna ng isang health crisis," she said. Earlier in the pandemic, Hontiveros warned hospitals that non-compliance to the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law will result in hefty fines and even imprisonment. Under the law, hospitals that will demand any form of advance payment as a prerequisite to life-saving treatment will face imprisonment of up to 6 years, and a fine of P1,000,000. This can also lead to the revocation of their licenses to operate. Likewise, errant hospital employees will face imprisonment of up to two years and 4 months, and a fine of up to 300,000. The senator welcomed the criminal charges filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against two hospitals that refused to admit a pregnant woman without initial deposit in April, leading to her death. "I hope the NBI, with the assistance of DOH and LGUs, will continue to file criminal charges against similar violators. Hospitals must not get away with these unjust refusals that literally kill our fellow Filipinos," she said. Hontiveros urged the LGUs to mobilize their Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) to "own up to this life-saving responsibility, especially that they have consistently received assistance from the government in all health emergencies, including COVID-19." "The DOH and LGUs must be vigilant in monitoring hospitals. Kaysa hintayin pa nating ang mga tao ang magsumbong, dapat may mga handang opisyales na laging nagbabantay sa kanila," she said. "Two people, a mother and her child, died that day, as countless others have because of this selfish practice. Dapat siguraduhin natin na wala nang magbubuwis ng buhay. Buhay ng mga Pilipino ang dapat unahin kaysa sa kita," she concluded. 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. 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. (Philadelphia, PA) - Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. Memory loss and difficulty thinking worsen progressively, with some patients eventually becoming delusional, disoriented, and vulnerable to mood swings and depression. Finding ways to slow or reverse this progression, or even prevent symptoms from developing in the first place, are major goals in Alzheimer's research. Now, thanks to a new $3.8 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, researchers at the Alzheimer's Center at Temple (ACT) will have an unprecedented opportunity to explore cardiovascular risk factors in Alzheimer's disease. The grant is the first major collaborative award for the Alzheimer's Center at Temple, which is poised to become a national leader in dementia research. "We are very excited to have the opportunity, through funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, to investigate the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the development of Alzheimer's pathology," said Domenico Pratico, MD, Scott Richards North Star Foundation Chair for Alzheimer's Research, Professor in the Departments of Pharmacology and Microbiology, and Director of ACT at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM). "Vascular health appears to have an important role in Alzheimer's disease, but basic understanding of its impact has only begun to emerge." Dr. Pratico and Silvia Fossati, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Associate Director of the Alzheimer's Center at Temple, will co-lead the basic research components of the project, which entail studies in cell and animal models. Dr. Fossati and William Zirker, MD, Chief of Geriatric Medicine at Crozer-Keystone Health, along with clinical outreach lead Laura N. Gitlin, PhD, FGSA, FAAN, Applied Research Sociologist and Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel University, will explore clinical aspects of cardiovascular health and dementia in human patients. Jason Chein, PhD, Professor of Psychology at Temple University and Director of Temple's Imaging Center (TUBRIC), and Ingrid Olson, PhD, Professor of Psychology at Temple University, will carry out magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in patients. "By bringing basic research from preclinical studies together with clinical investigation, we can gain significant insight into how neurovascular dysfunction correlates with cognitive outcome in Alzheimer's disease," Dr. Pratico said. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation in the brain of harmful proteins, particularly amyloid plaques and tau tangles. The existence of damage to blood vessels in the brain, along with the presence of harmful protein deposits in Alzheimer's patients has raised new questions about relationships between cardiovascular health and cognitive health. A key question is whether vascular damage comes before or after the development of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain. Dr. Pratico and Dr. Fossati hope to answer this question by implementing a comprehensive approach that combines cell and animal models of Alzheimer's disease, as well as patient-oriented clinical research. These studies are expected to shed light on the effects of vascular function on neuroinflammation, the ability of neurons to communicate, and neurovascular integrity, and on the effects of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, on cognitive impairment. The researchers also plan to test a treatment in animals that could someday be used to protect against neurovascular damage and help prevent Alzheimer's disease in humans. In the clinical component of the project, the researchers will evaluate the effects of cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension and elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood, in individuals with normal cognitive function and in subjects with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Changes in MRI measures and blood biomarkers associated with vascular abnormalities in the brain will be examined in relation to cognitive outcome, which could yield new information about how cardiovascular risk factors contribute to progressive memory decline. With this insight, the researchers hope to identify readily available and effective preventative strategies for Alzheimer's disease that center on maintaining cardiovascular health. A fourth part of the project, co-led by Dr. Pratico and Patricia A. Joseph, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Human Services and Dean of Faculty at Lincoln University, is focused on training and education, with internship opportunities provided at Temple for minority undergraduate students from Lincoln who plan to pursue careers in Alzheimer's research and medicine. "We are very pleased to be able to contribute to the advancement of education for future researchers and clinicians in the field of dementia medicine," Dr. Pratico added. ### About Temple Health Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a $2.2 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. The Health System consists of Temple University Hospital (TUH); TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Jeanes Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center and Affiliates, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices; and Temple Faculty Practice Plan, Inc., TUHS's physician practice plan comprised of more than 500 full-time and part-time academic physicians in 20 clinical departments. TUHS is affiliated with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and by the Katz School of Medicine. TUHS neither provides nor controls the provision of health care. All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with TUHS member organizations. Each TUHS member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents. It is the policy of Temple University Health System that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment. A series of spectacular images have captured a beautiful blanket of mauve and purple shades of heather in full bloom across the Pentland Hills in Scotland. Edinburgh resident Shirin Ghosh, 40, was on a walk in the remote countryside when she managed to snap images of rows of the purple shrub all laid out in a glorious sequence, along with some shots of its bright-purple hue reflection off the scenic lake in the Pentland Hills. Every year I try to go see them and smell them, Ghosh told Caters News Agency. Its peaceful to walk around these heathers on the top of the hills. Heather is distributed extensively across northern and western Europe and Asia but has been closely associated with Scotland. The evergreen shrub, which grows to a height of 20 to 50 centimeters, predominates areas of great swathes of Scottish Highland landscapes in the north and west. The most common form of heather grown in Scotland is called Ling, which is scientifically known as Calluna vulgaris. A characteristic feature of the heather is that it is believed to be fast-growing and is known to enjoy wet soil. The fragrant species tends to bloom twice a year in Scotland, once during early summer and the other time during late summer. The best time to enjoy the beauty of these flowers is at its peak during the month of August. For Ghosh, a scientist by profession who loves the shades of purple on the hillsides, she enjoys taking pictures and preserving them as precious memories, as she doesnt get to witness the flowers throughout the year. Ghosh, who is mesmerized by these purple shrubs, highly recommends that people should make a trip to witness the beauty they display. She said, You can hike on the hills, you can still get plenty of heathers on the sides of the hills which is pleasing to eyes. However, apart from its lovely looks, the heather is an important food source for sheep and deers that graze the tips of the plants especially when snow covers low-growing vegetation. Additionally, over the years, the Scots have found many ways to practically use these versatile plants. According to Scottish at Heart, a blog run by a mother-daughter duo that shares insider tips, information, and experiences, heather played an important role while constructing houses in Scotlands islands, as it was used in walls, thatched roofs, and more. Meanwhile, heather stems are used in making various household products such as brooms, rakes, and ropes. The legendary plant also has a long history of medicinal use and was used by the ancient Scots for various ailments due to its antimicrobial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, and diuretic properties. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc Charlotte "Peaches" Smith, owner of the Dreadlocks Salon in Oakland, Calif., works on a customer's dreadlocks. California was the first state to ban workplace and school discrimination against Black people for wearing hairstyles such as braids, twists, and locs. Read more Only days after the U.S. House passed legislation to provide federal protection from hair discrimination in schools and employment, a group of Pennsylvania lawmakers held a virtual news conference Thursday to promote their own bills. Known as the CROWN Act, the House bill, passed Monday, would ensure that people cannot be discriminated against for choosing to wear their hair in such styles as Afros, braids, locs, twists, or knots. The acronym stands for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. The legislation still has to be approved by the Senate. The Pennsylvania bills, introduced in the state House in July and earlier this month in the Senate, would amend the Human Relations Act and clarify the term race to include traits such as hair texture and protective hairstyles. So far, seven states have passed similar CROWN laws, and State Reps. Joanna McClinton and Summer Lee and State Sen. Vincent Hughes vowed to make Pennsylvania the eighth. The officials cited cases including that of Chastity Jones, an Alabama woman who had a job offer as a customer service representative rescinded when she refused to cut her dreadlocks in 2010, and Andrew Johnson, a high school wrestler in New Jersey who was told he could not compete unless his dreadlocks were cut on the spot in December 2018. This is just another way Black and brown people are being victimized for embracing their ethnic roots and going against what society has deemed normal, McClinton, the House Democratic caucus chair, said. McClinton, who represents part of Philadelphia and Delaware County, said that for years, Black people have had to consider the consequences of wearing their hair in natural styles, which have been deemed as unprofessional by some employers. She and others said Black people should not be forced to undergo drastic changes by using either heat and straightening combs or chemical-based permanents. Both methods damage the hair and scalp. READ MORE: Wrestler Andrew Johnson forced to cut dreadlocks to avoid losing N.J. high school match For too long, hair discrimination has been the acceptable form of discrimination as we moved from Jim Crow to the civil rights movement," said Lee (D., Allegheny). You cant fire me because Im a Black woman, or gay or a trans person, but there are subtle ways, and hair discrimination is one of them.... We cant afford to leave any more loopholes for systemic discrimination. READ MORE: Philadelphia councilmember introduces bill to ban discrimination based on natural hairstyles Adjoa B. Asamoah, ABA Consulting founder and CEO, who has spearheaded the fight to get CROWN Act laws passed across the country, joined the news conference. There is a longstanding history and practice of racial discrimination based on hair in the United States. said Asamoah, a Temple University graduate. In March, Philadelphia City Councilmember Cherelle L. Parker introduced a bill to make it illegal to discriminate against African Americans who wear their hair in natural styles. KYODO NEWS - Sep 24, 2020 - 22:54 | All, World, Japan An international conference in Lithuania was held Thursday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of "Visas for Life," issued by Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara to help Jews escape from Nazi persecution during World War II. The event, which was also held with livestreaming, was attended by diplomats including the Dutch and Lithuanian foreign ministers, who praised the bravery of Sugihara (1900-1986), while Japan's foreign minister was among those who sent video messages. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linus Linkevicius praised the actions of Sugihara, saying he is a "model to follow" for diplomats today. Sugihara -- who is often dubbed as "Japan's Schindler," after Oskar Schindler, the German who provided Jews with a safe haven -- provided transit visas for more than 2,000 Jewish refugees in 1940, while serving as an acting consul in Kaunas despite violating orders from his superiors. "Sugihara's humanitarian decision reminds us that there are important values shared among us over time and across borders," Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said in a video message shown at the conference. Hajime Furuta, governor of Sugihara's home prefecture of Gifu in central Japan, joined the conference via online, and said he believes that learning from Sugihara's resolve and sharing it can lead the world to a better future. Related coverage: Bread sold to mark 80th anniv. of visas that helped Jews flee Nazis Kin of Jewish refugee who fled Nazis thank Japan over visa issuance Document shows role of another Japan envoy in helping Jews flee Nazis Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts for the full episode. You could make the argument that, as the Senate gets to work confirming whomever the president picks to join the Supreme Court, the politician with the most at stake here is Lindsey Graham. The senator from South Carolina is chairman of the Judiciary Committee, responsible for organizing hearings for the nominee. Since 2016, hes argued multiple times that President Donald Trump shouldnt be able to fill a vacant SCOTUS seat in the last year of his first termbut now, hes made an about-face. This has provided the grist for national political ads as Graham runs for reelection in a surprisingly tight race against Jaime Harrison, former chair of the states Democratic Party. Trumps new SCOTUS nominee, and Grahams role in the process, is obviously bound to affect this race. But its hard to tell how, considering how deep-red South Carolina is. To figure out how this situation is playing with Grahams constituents, I spoke with Meg Kinnard, who reports from South Carolina for the Associated Press, on Thursdays episode of What Next. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mary Harris: If I asked you a week ago about Lindsey Grahams chances for reelection, I wonder what your answer wouldve been then, and whether the past week or so would have changed your answer at all. Meg Kinnard: Weve seen this race tightening, but I would still say that this is Lindsey Grahams race to lose. I think it does depend on how certain voters, who might have considered themselves somewhat undecided, see this Judiciary Committee process playing out, and whether they feel like the end result is something that they could support both for the White House and in their Senate seat. In the past, Supreme Court hearings have been good for Lindsey Graham. Back when Brett Kavanaugh went through this process, it became a platform for Graham to show off his conservative bona fides and shame the Dems. It played well back home too. It was especially important because, for years, Graham had been known as the kind of politician who was happy to reach across the aisle and compromise. Advertisement Advertisement For a lot of people who maybe were just becoming aware of him during that debate, that was a very impassioned moment for Graham. It propelled him into the spotlight and won him a lot of conservative plaudits from a lot of critics who had previously seen him as too conciliatory. Kavanaugh was different because we did see Graham just take the mike and let Democrats have it for what he saw as a process that was unfair and was very divisive and was potentially harmful to this judge. That moment also did a lot in terms of advancing Grahams relationship with Trump, whos certainly popular in South Carolina. Advertisement I wonder how you saw that effect with voters in your state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those voters who were and have continued to be strong supporters of Trump, they liked what they saw. They liked seeing their elected senator up there aligned with the president. They saw it as him standing up for a conservative who was being done wrong by the Democrats. As for Democrats, self-described independents, or those who are unaffiliated, they saw that scene as more of the flip-flopping Lindsey Graham who was already seen as too willing to go with the tide, too willing to see an opportunity and jump on it because he saw it as the winning one. Enter Jaime Harrison. When you heard he was running for the seat, were you surprised? I was not surprised. Harrison has been a very visible figure here in South Carolina. He was the chairman of the Democratic Party here during the 2016 presidential cycle, which obviously saw a very active primary process on both sides of the aisle. Hes also an associate chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and he ran for chairman of the committee after he left his role here at the state party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So hes a party guy. He is a longtime party guy. But yes, hes very well known in South Carolina Democratic circles as well as national circles. He was at many events with all the candidates who were pursuing the partys nomination. I even ran into him at some Republican debates because he and the then-chairman of the state Republican Party, Matt Moore, were very good friends and continue to be. So I dont think his candidacy surprised people who have been closely following South Carolina politics because of his local visibility and his ability to bring in some of that national-level support that in a state that isnt going to be able to fundraise tens of millions of dollars for a Democrat. He could use his relationships to bring that money in, to give his campaign the kind of visibility that he saw as necessary to go up against someone like Graham. Advertisement Advertisement Can we talk a little bit about why he even thought this race was worthwhile? Because South Carolina is a reliably Republican state. I asked Harrison at the beginning, Why are you doing this? His answer was, We see Graham as somebody who needs to be replaced, and there should be a Democrat representing South Carolina. We dont like some of his policies. Because of my longtime relationships in Democratic circles. Ive got what it would take. Advertisement Given all that, what do I make of the polls that have been showing a really tight race between Graham and Harrison? Polls are good for candidates like Harrison because they help him in raising money, which is something hes continued to do. One of the surveys that came out recently from Quinnipiac showed the race completely tied up; in the two days after that survey came out, Harrisons campaign raised $2 million. I remember when Harrison brought in $1.5 million for a quarter. I mean, that merited its own coverage back then. And now were talking about more than that in just 48 hours. Advertisement There is a lot of money in this raceabout $30 million on both sides. But airtime in South Carolina is not that expensive. And it seems like the biggest thing that campaign spending is accomplishing is raising more money for the campaigns to spend. What you have seen from both of these campaigns is a high level of visibility in terms of national advertising. A lot of cable buys for both candidates as well as by the third-party groups who are involved in the race, even though not everybody who watches those channels can vote in this race. Advertisement Advertisement What does that do for you if youre running? It probably makes voters feel really jazzed up about races in different places. But in addition to that, it buys a lot of digital space. The digital ads for this cycle and for the several preceding it have become more and more important because they can be everywhere and they can take on a lot of different formats. And those can be microtargeted to voters in certain areas, like, We need to make sure we shore up our support in the conservative upstate part of South Carolina, so lets target a lot of our digital ads there. Thats what the campaigns are doing that does cost money. And with all this money, they can certainly do a lot of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This race makes me wonder whether theres another goal, which is to make Lindsey Graham sweat, spend a ton of money, and make it rain for the Democrats more generally. And I wonder if thats an end goal in and of itself. I think national-level Democrats have put money and attention into this race to perhaps put down a marker: Lets try to get more footholds throughout the Deep South. Even if it doesnt necessarily happen this time, itll perhaps set the groundwork for it to happen the next time. Theres a piece I wrote a couple weeks ago that kind of hits on some of the overall Democratic voting picture here in South Carolina: Democrats here feel energy for the first time in a long time. Some of that comes off the almost-two-year Democratic presidential primary process that we had here: It garnered a lot of attention for this state and also just jazzed up Democrats. Advertisement South Carolina was one of the earlier voting states, so it was really important. Absolutely. First primary in the South, in a place where Black voters comprise the majority of the Democratic voting electorate here. There was a lot of energy among Black Democrats particularly, but also just the party. They got a lot of attention. They had a lot of events. And I think, coming off that process, Democrats, Harrison included, feel like theyve got some oomph heading into the general election for the presidential race and also for the down-ballots like the Senate race. Even if it doesnt translate into any wins, candidates and strategists alike tell me that they see it as moving in a positive direction, that its showing a good sign in terms of elections to come, for the next Senate seat that becomes available or in a future presidential election. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. PHOENIX The FBI now is offering up to a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for a double homicide on the Navajo Nation six months ago. The bodies of 39-year-old Matthew Reagan and his 29-year-old brother Philip Reagan were found on March 21 in Sawmill, Arizona. FBI officials said the two men were traveling from Ohio to California and were passing through Sawmill at the time of their deaths. They said it appears the brothers car became stuck and they may have been walking for help when they were killed. Authorities ruled both deaths a homicide. FBI officials in Phoenix said Wednesday that their investigation is ongoing and no further information will be released about the brothers cause of death. The new World Robotics 2020 Industrial Robots report presented by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) shows a record of about 293,000 industrial robots operating in factories of the United States an increase of 7%. Sales of new robots remain on a high level with 33,300 units shipped in 2019. This is 17% less compared to 2018, but still the second highest sales volume ever recorded. "The United States are by far the biggest robot market in the Americas," says Milton Guerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics. "The annual number of robots sold is highly influenced by the automotive industry, which is the most important customer. In 2019, the US car market was again the second largest car market in the world, following China, with the second largest production volume of cars and light vehicles." The North American countries United States, Canada, and Mexico represent the second largest operational stock of industrial robots in the world after China. Following the US with 293,000 units in 2019, Mexico's operational stock comes second with about 40,000 units, which is a plus of 11% and Canada ranking third with about 29,000 units plus 2%. Most of the robots in the USA are imported from Japan, Korea, and Europe. Although there are not many North American robot manufacturers, there are numerous important robot system integrators. Outlook Globally, COVID-19 has a strong impact on 2020 but also offers a chance for modernization and digitalization of production on the way to recovery. In the long run, the benefits of increasing robot installations remain the same: Rapid production and delivery of customized products at competitive prices are the main incentives. Automation enables manufacturers to keep production in developed economies or reshore it without sacrificing cost efficiency. The range of industrial robots continues to expand from traditional caged robots capable of handling all payloads quickly and precisely to new collaborative robots that work safely alongside humans, fully integrated into workbenches. Please find the FULL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE for download here: https://tinyurl.com/y2de4dga Video for download at: https://youtu.be/Fsn_w_gmHyk IFR on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-federation-of-robotics/ About IFR www.ifr.org View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005032/en/ Contacts: IFR Press contact Carsten Heer phone +49 (0) 40 822 44 284 E-Mail: press@ifr.org Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. Posted on September 21, 2020 We are collaborating with FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, in an effort to identify misinformation and to ensure news consumers get the facts. This story first appeared on FactCheck.org. In remarks following the death of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden made several false and exaggerated claims while arguing that the Senate should wait until after the Nov. 3 election to let the next president choose her Supreme Court replacement. Biden falsely claimed that theres no court session between now and the end of this election. The next Supreme Court session begins Oct. 5, nearly a full month before Election Day. Biden said, I think the fastest justice ever confirmed was 47 days. Thats false; since 1975, the shortest time from formal nomination to confirmation was 19 days. Biden exaggerated when he said that 30% to 40% of Americans will have voted by Oct. 1. His campaign later told us he meant by Nov. 1 two days before Election Day. He also wrongly claimed the Trump campaign asked him to release a list of potential Supreme Court picks only after Ginsburgs passing. President Donald Trump and his campaign had called on Biden to produce such a list prior to her death. Biden made those claims on Sept. 18, shortly after the public learned of Ginsburgs passing, and on Sept. 20, during a speech at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Next Supreme Court Term In arguing that voters should be given a chance to have their voice heard in who serves on the court, Biden suggested in his Sept. 20 remarks that naming someone to replace Ginsburg could wait until after the election because theres no court session between now and the end of this election. Thats wrong; the next Supreme Court session begins Oct. 5, nearly one month before Election Day on Nov. 3. The justices are already scheduled to hear oral arguments in several cases between those two dates. Fastest Supreme Court Confirmations In remarks two days earlier, Biden similarly argued the Senate should hold off on confirming a new justice until after voters choose the next president. Biden, Sept: 18: Let me be clear that the voters should pick the president, and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider. This was the position the Republican Senate took in 2016 when there were almost 10 months to go before the election. Thats the position the United States Senate must take today. And the election is only 46 days off. I think the fastest justice ever confirmed was 47 days, and the average is closer to 70 days. But Bidens claim about the fastest confirmation was also wrong. According to a September 2018 Congressional Research Service report, since 1975, three Supreme Court nominees were confirmed in fewer than 47 days from the time their names were formally sent to the Senate for consideration. The late Associate Justice John Paul Stevens was confirmed in 19 days in 1975; former Associate Justice Sandra Day OConnor was confirmed in 33 days in 1981, and Ginsburg was confirmed in 42 days in 1993. At the time of its report, the CRS did note that of the 15 Supreme Court nominees since 1975 who had received a final floor vote, the average number of days from nomination to final Senate vote is 69.6 days (or approximately 2.3 months), while the median is 69.0 days. The CRS list did not include Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was confirmed in October 2018. Kavanaughs confirmation vote came 88 days after he was formally nominated by Trump on July 10. Trump has said he plans to announce a nominee to replace Ginsburg on Sept. 25 or Sept. 26. Biden Misspeaks on Early Voters Biden exaggerated in his Sept. 20 remarks when he argued the Senate should wait because 30% to 40% of Americans will have voted by Oct. 1. Biden, Sept. 20: Now, having lost Justice Ginsburg less than seven weeks before the election this year, after Americans have already begun to cast their vote. Its estimated that up to 40% of Americans will have voted by Oct. 1, but at least 30%. Tens of millions. The Biden campaign said the former vice president was referring to the estimated percentage of Americans who vote early admitting that Biden misspoke when he said Oct. 1. He meant Nov. 1. That is a more plausible date. In 2016, more than 41% of all ballots were cast before Election Day, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Michael McDonald, a University of Florida professor who tracks early voting statistics, said its unlikely that 30% to 40% of Americans would have voted by Oct. 1. As of Sept. 21, at least 165,000 voters have cast their ballots, according to McDonald, although he notes that the data are incomplete because some states do not publicly report early voting statistics. By Oct. 2, 2016, at least 74,836 had voted early. I would be surprised if we have 30-40% of all votes cast by October 1, McDonald told us in an email. We do seem to be running ahead of past elections, but in past elections, early voting peaks as we approach Election Day. Furthermore, some states will not have started sending mail ballots to voters by October 1. Oct. 1 is 33 days from the Nov. 3 election. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, some states begin early voting as early as 45 days out, but the average starting time is 22 days. Some of the biggest states such as California, New York, Texas, Ohio and Massachusetts dont start voting early until after Oct. 1, according to the NCSL. Even if Biden meant Nov. 1, thats just two days before the Nov. 3 election. List of Potential Nominees Also in his Sept. 20 speech, Biden falsely claimed the Trump campaign began requesting that Biden release a list of people he might nominate to the Supreme Court after Ginsburg died. We cant keep rewriting history, scrambling norms, ignoring our cherished system of checks and balances, Biden said. That includes this whole business of releasing a list of potential nominees that I would put forward. Theyre now saying, after Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away, they said, Biden should release his list. Its no wonder the Trump campaign asked that I release the list only after she passed away. Its a game for them. Its a play to up emotions and anger. Trump and his campaign had asked Biden to release a list before Sept. 18. On Sept. 9, the Trump campaign released a list of 20 more people Trump said he would consider nominating to the court if any vacancies occurred in the coming months or in a second term. Trump released a similar list of 21 names during the 2016 presidential campaign. In a press release announcing Trumps latest list, his 2020 campaign manager, Bill Stepien, said: Voters deserve transparency and a clear view of what direction candidates for president would take our federal courts. We now forcefully demand that Joe Biden do the same. Trump himself had called on Biden to release his list even earlier. In an Aug. 24 speech at the Republican National Convention, Trump said: And remember this, Im saying that Im demanding actually, a list. Let Biden put up a list of the judges hes going to appoint. And when Trumps new list was released earlier this month, he again called on Biden to do the same. Should there be another vacancy on the Supreme Court during my presidency, my nominee will come from the names I have shared with the American public, including the original list and these 20 additions, Trump said in Sept. 9 remarks from the White House. Joe Biden has refused to release his list, perhaps because he knows the names are so extremely far left that they could never withstand public scrutiny or receive acceptance. He must release a list of justices for people to properly make a decision as to how they will vote. It is very important that he do so." Before being named cardinal by Francis in 2018, Becciu had spent years as a No. 2 official in the Secretariat of State. There, according to reports in the Financial Times and Catholic News Agency, he helped oversee the $200 million investment that is now under scrutiny. The money for the investment came in part from a purse of charitable donations from Catholics around the world. New Delhi: The Election Commission has given a go ahead to the next episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mann ki baat programme to be aired on Sunday. The government had approached the Commission seeking clearance for the regular radio programme as Model Code of Conduct is in force in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur which are going for assembly polls between February 4 and March 8. The Commission has now cleared the programme, sources said.The government had been approaching the Commission for clearance of the radio programme from the poll panel during assembly elections. This time, the focus of Mann ki baat will be the Class X and XII Board examinations. The exam will commence from March 9, a day after the last vote is cast in the assembly polls. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Policies of first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, anti-Sikh riots, Ayodhya dispute, empowerment of women and minority rights are some of the topics that have been excluded from the Class 12 syllabus of the Assam state board to lessen the academic load of students due to the pandemic, an official said on Thursday. IMAGE: A visitor stands next to a portrait of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru inside the Nehru memorial museum and library in New Delhi. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters The chapters were dropped by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) for the 2020-21 session, as part of the 30 per cent reduction of the syllabus, keeping in mind the loss of academic schedule that the students had to face because of the pandemic. "The main objective is to reduce the exam stress of the students of the session 2020-21, due to this pandemic situation and to prevent learning gaps. This syllabi is only the reduced portion for the preparation of upcoming final exams of HS 1st and 2nd year to be held in 2021," AHSCE secretary Manoranjan Kakati said in a note attached to the syllabus which was uploaded on the council's website recently. In Political Science, Nehru's approach to nation-building and his foreign policy, political succession after Nehru, politics of 'Garibi Hatao' (slogan of Indira Gandhi's 1971 election campaign) and the first three general elections have been removed. The reduced syllabus also excluded the implementation of Mandal Commission report, Punjab crisis and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, Ayodhya dispute, Gujarat riots and the suspension of five-year plans. India and the Cold War, dominance and challenge to the US in economy and ideology, rise of China as an economic power in post-Mao Zedong era, conflicts and efforts for peace in south Asia, politics of disarmament, consequences of globalisation and anti-globalisation movements were also dropped. The salient features of the National Policy of Education 1986 and sections on empowerment of women were deleted from the syllabus of Education paper for the Class 12 examination, to be held in 2021. 'After getting the approval of the Academic Committee of AHSEC, teachers from Arts, Science and Commerce institutions of Assam, including Barak Valley, are requested to submit their expertise knowledge where to curtail the courses,' Kakati said in his note. Selective experts of all the subjects from various reputed institutions are invited physically to finalise the reduced syllabus at the AHSEC office, the note said. In Sociology, the experts have deleted chapters on the struggle for equality of women, minority rights and nation building, panchayati raj and challenges of social transformation, globalisation and social change, land reforms and tribal movements. The History syllabus will not have lessons on the Mughal court, Jesuits at the Mughal court, peasants, zamindars and the state, difference and conflict and reconstructing histories of religious traditions. In the 'Swadesh Adhyayan' subject, which was introduced in 2018, changes in religious and linguistic demography, population explosion of Assam and the foreigners' issue have been left out. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 15:48:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korean stocks ended nearly 2.6 percent lower Thursday as foreign and institutional investors sold shares due to Wall Street losses overnight. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dived 60.54 points, or 2.59 percent, to settle at 2,272.70. Trading volume stood at 705.9 million shares worth 12.3 trillion won (10.5 billion U.S. dollars). It was the lowest close in over seven weeks since Aug. 3 as foreigners and financial institutions offloaded shares on the U.S. stocks rout overnight. The KOSPI took off a weak start and extended earlier losses throughout the session. Retail investors were net buyers, limiting the index's further decline. Market sentiment weakened in the local stock market amid growing uncertainties such as the COVID-19 resurgence in Europe that may lead to shutdowns and the U.S. political uncertainty ahead of the presidential election in November. Most large-cap shares lost ground. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics declined 1.4 percent, and the most-used search engine Naver slipped 0.8 percent. Leading chemical firm LG Chem retreated 3.0 percent, and the top carmaker Hyundai Motor diminished 4.5 percent. Biopharmaceutical giant Celltrion and Samsung BioLogics, the biopharmaceutical unit of Samsung Group, went 6.0 percent and 4.5 percent lower each. Memory chip giant SK Hynix gained 0.8 percent. The small-cap KOSDAQ dipped 36.50 points, or 4.33 percent, to close at 806.95. The local currency finished at 1,172.7 won versus the greenback, down 8.3 won from the previous close. The South Korean currency sharply depreciated on strong demand for safe currencies. Bond prices ended higher. Yields on the liquid three-year treasury notes fell 2.6 basis points to 0.857 percent, and the return on the 10-year government bonds lost 1.0 basis point to 1.437 percent. Enditem Venous leg ulcers are common and distressing, affecting around 1 in 300 adults in the UK. They are open, often painful, sores on the leg that take months to heal and can develop after a minor injury. People with enlarged veins known as varicose veins are at high risk of developing venous leg ulcers, as they have persistently high pressure in the veins leading to skin damage. In a clinical trial, led by researchers at Imperial College London and clinicians at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, 450 patients with venous leg ulcers were treated with early surgical interventions. This resulted in faster healing and a reduced risk of the condition coming back compared with current methods of treating patients with compression stockings and delayed surgical interventions. The researchers behind the study, published in JAMA Surgery, suggest that current guidelines on treating leg ulcers should be revised to include early assessment of varicose veins and surgical treatment of leg ulcers to deliver clinical benefits and cost savings for the NHS. They suggest that this early treatment intervention could save the NHS an estimated 100 million per year. Venous leg ulcers cause enormous physical and mental distress to patients as well as having a financial impact on the NHS. Our study is the first to show that early surgical treatment of leg ulcers leads to faster healing and the reduced risk of the ulcer coming back compared to current methods. The NHS spends around 2 per cent of its budget on managing lower limb wounds and there is an urgent need to find more effective treatments. We believe that the current guidelines should be changed so that patients with leg ulcers are treated with surgery at an earlier stage. This approach will lead to better outcomes and improve patients' quality of life." Professor Alun Davies, Lead author of the study, Professor of Vascular Surgery at Imperial College London and a Consultant Surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust The main treatment for leg ulcers is compression bandages or stockings, to improve the vein function in the legs. There are also surgical treatments such as endovenous ablation - a 'keyhole' treatment to close varicose veins. The treatment, under local or general anaesthetic, involves a small fibre passed through a catheter and positioned at the top of the varicose vein. The fibre delivers bursts of energy that heat up the vein and seal it closed. However, under current guidelines this treatment is not usually offered until the ulcer has been present for many months, if at all. Furthermore, if the underlying cause of the ulcer is not treated there's a high risk of the ulcer coming back after treatment. The researchers wanted to see whether performing endovenous ablation to treat varicose veins at an earlier stage can lead to faster healing and reduce the risk of venous leg ulcers returning, requiring further treatment. Researchers recruited 450 patients with venous leg ulcers from October 2013 to September 2016. All patients had leg ulcers of less than six months old and were treated at 20 hospitals in the UK, including Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust hospitals. Two hundred and twenty four patients were randomly assigned to receive endovenous ablation within two weeks of randomization followed by wearing compression stockings. The rest of the patients were given compression stockings but the endovenous ablation treatment was delayed by six months or until the ulcer was healed. The researchers then followed up over a period of five years to compare how quickly they healed and the rate of leg ulcer recurrence after treatment. Of the 426 participants whose leg ulcer had healed, 121 participants experienced at least one recurrence during follow-up. In the early-intervention group, 56 patients experienced recurrence during follow-up. In comparison, 65 participants in the delayed intervention group experience recurrence during follow-up. The rate of recurrent ulcers was 60 per cent higher in the deferred intervention group (0.16 per year of follow-up compared to 0.1 per year in the early-intervention group). They also found that healing was shorter in the early intervention compared to the deferred intervention group. The team compared the cost of early surgical intervention with delayed intervention over three years and found that early intervention was, on average, the less costly strategy over three years. Mumbai, Sep 24 : The alleged chat of Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone with her then manager Karishma Prakash in October 2017 was the main reason behind the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to summon her in a drugs-related case that emerged out during the probe of actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case. A top NCB source told IANS that the agency got suspicious after it came to the fore in one of the alleged chats of Jaya Saha, the talent manager of Sushant was discussing drugs with the late actor's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. Saha has been questioned by the NCB on several occasions in last few days. The NCB initiated a probe into the drugs case on the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after it retreived several of the chat records. Sushant was found dead at Mont Blanc Apartment, Bandra, on June 14. The NCB source said that Saha was among the many questioned after WhatsApp messages retrieved from the phone of Rhea revealed conversations on procuring drugs. In two of the chat transcripts accessed by IANS, two persons have a conversation about procuring hash. According to the NCB source, the alleged chats took between Deepika and Karishma. The chat, which is on a group, is from October 28, 2017, around 8.50 p.m. In the alleged chat, Deepika enquires with Karishma "K... maal you have?" To which, Karishma responds saying, "I have but at home... I am in Bandra." Karishma also sends another message saying, "I can ask Amit if you want." To which, Deepika replies, "Yes!!! Plleeeseeeeee." Karishma then again responds to Deepika's message, saying, "Amit has he is carrying it." Deepika then again allegedly enquires, "Hash na. Not weed." Karishma then allegedly responds to Deepika saying, "Yes hash." Karishma then again asks Deepika, "What time are you coming to koko?" Deepika responds to Karishma, "11.30/12 ish? Till what time is Shal there?" Karishma responds to Deepika's message saying, "I think she said 11.30 because she needs to be at the other place by 12." Meanwhile, another alleged chat is believed to be between Shraddha and Saha. In the chat, Saha and Shraddha can be seen discussing CBD oil. Saha in here chat to Shraddha says, "Call me once you are down. Will come down and get you :)" She then again sends another message to Shraddha saying, "Hello I am sending CBD oil with Jinal today :)." To which, Shraddha replied, "Hey! Thank you." Shraddha is sent smileys by Saha. Shraddha again writes to Saha and says, "Listen. I still want to meet SLB." Besides Deepika and Shraddha, the NCB has also summoned actresses Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh. Earlier in the day, Deepika and Sara left from Goa for Mumbai to appear before the NCB for questioning. The NCB also questioned fashion designer Simone Khambatta and Sushant's former manager Shruti Modi. The NCB is the third agency to probe the death of Sushant besides the CBI and the ED. (Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in) Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Youth climate strikers under the banner of Fridays for Future Thursday called for a Global Day of Climate Action on 25 September Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath came in for praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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 coronavirus fatalities, it said. Advertisement Yogi AdityanathThe statement said Modi singled out Uttar Pradesh for doing the most tests which is 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 coronavirus 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. Advertisement Narendra ModiIn his address, Adityanath apprised him of the coronavirus 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. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A US study from the city of Detroit, presented at this week's ESCMID Conference on Coronavirus Disease (ECCMID, online 23-25 September) shows that the initial SARS-CoV-2 viral load in nasopharyngeal samples has been decreasing as the pandemic progressed. The authors also observed that the decline in viral load was associated with a decrease in death rate. The study is by Dr. Said El Zein, Wayne State University/ Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, U.S., and colleagues. The dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 viral load (VL) on a population level remain poorly characterised. In this study, the authors present data describing the downward trend in the initial SARS-CoV-2 VL in nasopharyngeal swab samples of hospitalised patients in Detroit, Michigan during the period of April 4- June 5, 2020. They conducted a retrospective study that included all hospitalised patients who had initial nasopharyngeal swab samples analysed at the Detroit Medical Center, that returned positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR testing between April 4 and June 5, 2020. To estimate the viral load, the authors used the so-called cycle threshold (Ct) value provided by the test for each samplea higher Ct indicates a lower viral load. Based on their studies, the authors designated high, intermediate, and low VL samples to have a Ct value of 25 or under, 26-36, and 37 or over, respectively. During the first week of the study (week of April 4, 2020), 49% of the initial VL samples were in the intermediate group, compared to 25.5% each in the low and high VL categories respectively. Thereafter, there was a progressive decline in the percentage of samples in the high and intermediate VL categories with a concomitant rise in the percentage of samples in the low VL category. By week five of the study, 70% of the positive samples had an initial low VL. This trend in initial VL coincided with a decrease in the percent of deaths (see figure 1 in abstract). Almost half of the patients in the high VL group died (45%) compared to 32% and 14 % of the intermediate and low VL categories respectively (Figure 2). The authors concldue: : "During the April-June 2020 period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the initial SARS-CoV-2 load steadily declined among hospitalised patients with a corresponding decrease in the percent of deaths over time.Though confounding variables have not been evaluated, this suggests an association between initial viral load and mortality." Dr. El Zein adds: "Exact reasons for a decrease in initial viral load over time are unclear. A downward trend in the initial VL may reflect a reduction in the severity of the pandemic and trends in the viral load values over time may represent a marker to assess the progress of the pandemic. Rapid implementation of social distancing measures, lockdown and widespread use of facemasks may have contributed to a decrease in the exposure to the virus." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Provided by European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Reasons to be cheerful have been few and far between for British businesses these past six months. In the 26 weeks since Boris Johnson ushered in lockdown with a solemn address to the nation, economic news has been almost relentlessly grim. An uncontrolled virus has meant uncertainty, job cuts and with new restrictions introduced this week little sign of an end in sight. But in amongst the gloom, some companies are thriving, reinventing themselves and growing. Changes to our habits are, it increasingly seems, here to stay: how we shop, exercise and work; where we choose to live, where we go, and the mode of transport we use to get there. While this upheaval has undoubtedly hurt a lot of businesses and livelihoods, it has presented opportunities too, not least for those companies able to help us live our more socially distanced lives. How we work It will shock precisely no one that we spent a lot more time on the internet when shops, schools and workplaces shut down in March. But what is striking is that even as restrictions have eased, we havent really cut back. We saw a major spike in internet usage over lockdown, says Tristia Harrison, chief executive of TalkTalk. Perhaps more surprisingly, demand has continued to rise even after lockdown ended. TalkTalk customers internet usage rose 40 per cent between August last year and August this year, perhaps partly because fewer people jetted off on holidays abroad. For Harrison, the jump in internet usage shows that office workers have adapted remarkably quickly to working from home. With the government doing a U-turn this week on its advice to go back to the office, that may be just as well. Its helping us become more productive, almost as if we are now getting five days work done in four, says Harrison. Broadband companies report that lots of firms have invested in installing dedicated business-grade lines in workers homes, suggesting this is no short-term fad. How we shop In normal times, around a third of the meals consumed in the UK are prepared outside our homes, at restaurants, school canteens and food-to-go shops such as Greggs and Pret a Manger. With millions more meals being made at home, restaurants have suffered while supermarkets have enjoyed bumper sales. Many of us have been making fewer trips but stocking up more. Others have felt safer staying local, giving a boost to convenience stores. PayPoint, which provides digital services for 20,000 local stores and newsagents, has recorded big jumps in sales for a host of products. Household goods sales almost tripled in March and remained more than a third higher than normal in July. Grocery sales at local shops were up 47 per cent, sales of alcohol doubled, confectionery rose 22 per cent and sales of frozen foods quadrupled. Convenience stores have largely remained open through the crises, and in fact many have been a central support point for their local communities, said PayPoint boss Nick Wiles. What were now focused on is helping stores to sustain that growth and take full advantage of the large number of new and existing customers that are visiting their stores. With pubs closed for three months and many people still reluctant to return to them, online wine merchants have also seen revenues rise. Philippa Strub, managing director of Laithwaites Wine, toasted an 80 per cent rise in sales at the peak of lockdown as people stocked up to make all that staying in seem a little more bearable. The company also enjoyed a big increase in people giving wine as gifts as well. While that has eased off a little in recent weeks, sales remain buoyant, and Laithwaites is adding extra capacity in preparation for a busy Christmas season. Big tech poses a big problem Undoubtedly the biggest beneficiaries of social distancing have been the big technology firms, with the share prices of the likes of Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and videoconferencing company Zoom all rocketing. The fortune of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, already the richest person in the world before the pandemic, has reached a staggering $200bn (157bn). Numbers like these have further highlighted the all-or-nothing nature of many technology platforms, which leads to one or two companies dominating a given sector. While Amazon is hiring thousands of staff, it will not make up for anything like the number of people losing their jobs in traditional retail. WH Smith, Debenhams, John Lewis, Pizza Express and dozens of other high street stalwarts have made redundancies since 23 March. Despite levels of government support that no one would have thought plausible at the start of the year, many more companies are expected to follow suit. John Lewis scrapped its bonus, closed stores and made hundreds of staff redundant - it is not alone (Reuters) Online, delivery-focused businesses with no physical retail presence employ far fewer people to sell the same amount of stuff. They also pay less tax. That raises important policy questions as the country tries to rebuild after the pandemic, says Robert Palmer, director of Tax Justice UK. He wants government to consider a windfall profits tax on companies that have thrived in recent months. This is not about punishing success but sharing the burden as equitably as possible. In the longer term, he is calling on the government to rebalance the tax system by increasing corporation tax above its current level, which is low by international standards. There are also growing calls for a crackdown on corporate tax avoidance, which global tech firms have shown themselves to be particularly adept at. Polling shows increasing taxes on multinationals would be really popular with voters, including Conservative voters, says Palmer. I think there's a feeling in the business community too that it is important for firms to pay back and contribute. MANZINI Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini has called for the centralisation of all government ICT services. The PM was speaking during a tour of the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) structures located at Phocweni and Nokwane yesterday. RSTP is a government entity aimed at promoting science, technology and innovation in the Kingdom of Eswatini. During the tour, the PM emphasised the need for government information, communication and technology services (ICT) to be under a centralised system, where ministries could have access to advanced technological infrastructure and information sharing systems. Crucial This, he said, was the crucial role to be played by the RSTP, which was important in setting Eswatini on a path towards harnessing technology to advance innovation and create wealth. According to the premier, the establishment of the RSTP was as a result of His Majesty King Mswati IIIs visionary leadership and it was now in governments hands to ensure that the economies of scales would significantly reduce the cost of governments ICT operations, with greater levels of functionality, stability and security. As we forge ahead as a country with our work of advancing technology, it is important to assess if we are still on the right track to realising a return on investment, creating opportunities for emaSwati to thrive through science and technology and allow businesses to grow and remain relevant in an ever changing world, through the efficient use of technology, he said. The premier added that it was a no brainer that government needed to invest in technology and urged the management of the RSTP to package their ideas and submit them as proposals to the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology (ICT). While making his remarks, the premier said hundreds of millions of Emalangeni had been invested in establishing the RSTP, with the sole intention of getting the country on the path of harnessing technology to advance innovation and by creating wealth among emaSwati. On the other hand, the premier said such a facility could not be sustained without investing in skills enhancement and capacity building for emaSwati to fully embrace and efficiently utilise technology. While emphasising on the need for emaSwati to regain their faith in government, the PM said the advent of the fourth industrial revolution meant countries and people who did not adapt to new technologies, and restructure to enhance their technological skills to accommodate new innovations would be left behind. As we forge forward as a country with our work of advancing technology, it is important to look back and assess if we are still on the right track to not only realising a return on investment but, most importantly, to creating opportunities for emaSwati to thrive through science and technology, he said. Relevant This, he said, would allow businesses to grow and remain relevant in an ever changing world, through the efficient use of technology. The tour began at the under construction Biotechnology Park located at Nokwane. This state of the art division of the RSTP will house a Biotechnology Research Centre, Incubation Facility, Service Centre and Biotech Incubator. Cabinet ministers were impressed during the tour of the Biotechnology Park, with the main component being the Service Centre almost 80 per cent complete. Recently filmmaker Anurag Kashyap was accused of sexual harassment by actress Payal Ghosh. In a video, where she claimed that Kashyap had forced himself on her, she also mentioned actress Huma Qureshi, Richa Chadha and Mahie Gill. While Richa Chadha sent Payal a legal notice, Huma broke her silence on social media, saying she was pained to be dragged into this mess." Now, her brother and actor Saqub Saleem addressed the issue. Talking to Bollywood Hungama, he said, Does it feel bad when someone says wrong things about your sister? 100%. My sister is my life, my pride. If someone said anything about her, it will feel very bad. He further added that he feels powerless because anyone can say anything about another person. He added, But what can I do? As a brother I am saying, what can I do? Who should I fight? What should I say? Now I have told myself I just dont want to be a part of this outside world. Twitter and all are irrelevant. If can keep my sister, my parents happy in real life, I am happy. In her statement, Huma had written, Anurag and I last worked together in 2012-13 and he is a dear friend and an extremely talented director. In my personal experience and to my knowledge he has neither misbehaved with me or anyone else. However, anyone who claims to be abused must report it to the authorities, the police and the judiciary." I chose not to comment till now because I dont believe in social media fights and media trials. I feel really angry at being dragged into this mess. I feel angry not just for myself but also every woman whose years of hard work and struggle gets reduced to such baseless conjecture and allegations in their workplace. Please lets refrain from this narrative." It is the joint responsibility of women and men both to protect the sanctity of #MeToo. This is my final response. Please do not make any more statements in the matter," she concluded the statement. Huma worked with Anurag in Gangs of Wasseypur 1 and 2. Huma is currently in Europe, shooting for Bell Bottom. The film also stars Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta and Vaani Kapoor. Saqib will be next seen in Kabir Khans 83. The film also stars Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Ammy Virk, Harrdy Sandhu and Pankaj Tripathi in pivotal roles. Jacksonville Police VANDALISM A resident of the 1100 block of West Walnut Street told police at 5:55 p.m. Tuesday that a fence in the yard was damaged during the past two weeks. THEFTS, BURGLARIES A woman told police a man took her phone and money, hit her and then took off after a domestic dispute at 6:09 p.m. Tuesday at Illinois Avenue and East Walnut Street. Greene County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Zachary M. Richey, 19, of Eldred was booked into Greene County Jail at 12:49 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Jeffrey A. Knox, 52, of Kane was booked into Greene County Jail at 12:03 a.m. Tuesday on an aggravated assault charge. Kevin T. Richey, 61, of Eldred was booked into Greene County Jail at 3:26 p.m. Friday on charges of driving under the influence and improper lane use. Daniel N. Hughes, 61, of Carrollton was booked into Greene County Jail at 4:41 p.m. Sept. 11 on a charge of possession of a weapon by a felon. Robert L. Talkington, 23, of Winchester was booked into Greene County Jail at 4:05 a.m. Sept. 9 on a charge of driving while license is revoked or suspended and on a Pike County warrant accusing him of possession of a weapon by a felon. Katie Jo Baumgartner, 39, of Carrollton was booked into Greene County Jail at 7:59 p.m. Sept. 6 on a charge of possession of cannabis. Scott A. Plackett, 30, of Carrollton was booked into Greene County Jail at 7:15 p.m. Sept. 6 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and on a Calhoun County warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court. Tanner L. Schofield, 22, of Carrollton was booked into Greene County Jail at 8:36 p.m. Sept. 4 on a Greene County warrant accusing him of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. Carrollton Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Cory D. Ruyle, 30, of Peoria, Arizona, was booked into Greene County Jail at 10:18 p.m. Monday on charges of driving under the influence and driving while license is revoked or suspended. Casey D. Presley, 33, of Eldred was booked into Greene County Jail at 9:38 a.m. Sept. 15 on a retail theft charge. Kyle N. Kraushaar, 39, of Carrollton was booked into Greene County Jail at 1:29 a.m. Sept. 10 on charges of driving under the influence and improper lane use. Christopher D. Pollard, 21, of Carrollton was booked into Greene County Jail at 12:30 a.m. Sept. 8 on charges of operating an uninsured motor vehicle and having no valid drivers license. Greenfield Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Katrina S. Wallace, 21, of Jacksonville was booked into Greene County Jail at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday on charges of armed violence, manufacture or delivery of LSD/analog, possession of LSD/analog, possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated fleeing or eluding an officer. Savaria P. Whitaker, 18, of Jacksonville was booked into Greene County Jail at 10:36 p.m. Tuesday on charges of manufacture or delivery of LSD/analog and possession of LSD/analog. Jarod G. Pinkerton, 26, of Greenfield was booked into Greene County Jail at 9:26 p.m. Sept. 7 on a domestic battery charge. Roodhouse Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Darren M. Booth, 34, of Roodhouse was booked into Greene County Jail at 7:55 p.m. Monday on a theft charge. Marci D. Garner, 46, of Jacksonville was booked into Greene County Jail at 8:40 p.m. Sunday on a battery charge. Terry P. Gibson, 30, of Roodhouse was booked into Greene County Jail at 12:35 p.m. Friday on charges of burglary and retail theft. Thomas E. Neff, 29, of White Hall was booked into Greene County Jail at 2:52 a.m. Sept. 11 on charges of criminal damage to property and reckless conduct. Sara R. Gresham, 29, of Roodhouse was booked into Greene County Jail at 10:25 a.m. Sept. 10 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. Lloyd L. Vinyard, 28, of Roodhouse was booked into Greene County Jail at 9:07 p.m. Sept. 5 on a disorderly conduct charge. State police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Tina N. Gregory, 46, of Meredosia was booked into Greene County Jail at 6:38 p.m. Sept. 11 on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding, possession of cannabis in a motor vehicle and having no registration plate on a vehicle. White Hall Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Sean A. Groves, 24, of White Hall was booked into Greene County Jail at 1:12 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of driving while license is revoked or suspended. Ryan L. Jackson, 52, of White Hall was booked into Greene County Jail at 10:07 a.m. Sept. 14 on a disorderly conduct charge. Scott County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Brandi L. Kaptena, 32, of Alsey was booked into the Greene County Jail at 3:24 a.m. Sept. 14 on a charge of possession of cannabis in a motor vehicle. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer With confusion looming over voting amid the coronavirus pandemic, several states have announced their plans to make it easier to vote in the upcoming general and local elections on Nov. 3.The revamped voting process includes ballots sent via mail and accessible drop box locations for those who wish to avoid in-person voting, as well as early voting centers to ease expected delays.Capital News Service has assembled the following guide on voter registration, voting by mail, and early and Election Day voting in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia.There are lots of ways to vote in Maryland. Let's break down the steps for each.First, you must be registered to vote. Contact your local or state Board of Elections to confirm your address. You may register online or by mail. The deadline is Oct. 13. For more information:If you do not want to go to a polling place in person on or before Election Day, the first step is to request a ballot.The Board of Elections is urging Marylanders to vote through mail-in ballotsformerly known as absentee ballotsdue to the coronavirus pandemic. Maryland's mail-in process is two steps: A ballot request form; and then the ballot.Maryland voters should have received, by mid-September, mail-in voting applications in the mail sent to their home addresses. Return this application to the Board of Elections to have a ballot sent to you. Here is a video explaining the process:Voters who did not receive a mail-in voting application in the mail can request one on the Maryland Board of Elections website:Mail-in voting applications, whether sent online or through the mail, must be returned by Oct. 20.Once your application for a mail-in ballot has been processed, you may pick up a ballot at some local boards of elections; you may print your ballot from an email link sent to you; or it can be mailed or faxed to you.Ballots can be sent via the U.S. Postal Service, hand delivered to a local board of elections or polling place, or put in official drop boxes. Ballots may be marked online, but may not be emailed, faxed or cast online.Voters who choose to mail-in their votes through the Postal Service must have them postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by 10 a.m. Nov. 13, in order to be counted. Ballots must be filled out in black ink and the envelope (but not the ballot) should be signed.The Board of Elections is installing around 280 boxes in public places around the state. Here is a list of locations:The deadline to drop ballots in one of these boxes is 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.Maryland residents may vote in person at early voting locations or, on Election Day, at polling places.Early voting will run from Monday, Oct. 26, to Monday, Nov. 2. Voters must vote in their home county. There are at least 89 early-voting centers across the state:On Election Day, there will be more than 300 voting centers statewide, and these can be found here:Centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. COVID-19 precautions and signs will be implemented at these centers to ensure the safety of voters.The District will send ballots to every registered voter via mail for the Nov. 3 general election. Residents may drop off the ballots at any of the 50 drop box locations at any time before 8 p.m. on Election Day.In-person voting is also available in the District starting Oct. 27 at 8:30 a.m. The Board of Elections has set up 32 early vote centers, along with nearly 100 day-of vote centers that will open at 7 a.m.The complete list of drop box locations, early vote centers and Election Day vote centers can be found here.Residents may register to vote via email or mail by filling out this voter registration application. All applications must be emailed by or, if by mail, received by the Board of Elections no later than Oct. 21. Same-day registration is available as well during early voting and on Election Day with acceptable forms of proof of residence. You can also check your registration status here.For more information, see the Board's voter registration guide.To help lessen the burden on voters during the pandemic, early access voting began Sept. 18 and ends on Oct. 31 at local elections offices. Voters must have an acceptable form of identification, which includes a drivers license or passport.Virginia citizens may also vote via mail-in or absentee ballots by filling out this voter registration application. Local registrars made these ballots available to the public starting Sept. 18 and the deadline to request a ballot is 5 p.m. on Oct. 23. You may also fill out your mail-in ballot at home and return it in-person.If you are unable to make certain voting deadlines, emergency absentee ballots can be requested from your local elections office until 2 p.m. on Nov. 2.Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation on Sept. 4 to allow cities and counties to deploy ballot drop boxes. Virginia residents should consult their city or county elections offices for locations.For more voting information, see Virginia's Department of Elections, frequently asked questions page. WIN-Initiative/Getty Images Three Santa Rosa men were arrested after vast illegal cannabis grows were discovered in two state parks, the Sonoma Index-Tribune reported. More than 5,000 cannabis plants were removed from two sites in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, near Calistoga, and one in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in Kenwood, according to Jeremy Stinson, assistant chief of law enforcement for California State Parks. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) recently announced the details of the Future Work is Digital (FWD) initiative. The FWD, launched in cooperation with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), will offer online training to 100,000 youths on future skills and jobs to reinforce Egypts position on the global ICT map and place it among the top countries exporting digital services. It is also after creating a wide range of job opportunities for youth by preparing them to take on master freelance digital jobs. In a press release issued by MCIT, the 18-month FWD initiative will teach students web development, data analytics and digital marketing. It will also enable them to access Udacitys online learning classroom. Moreover, youths will have access to hands-on training, expert-reviewed projects, online support webinars, professional industry mentors and a peer-to-peer interactive community. According to the press release, the educational initiative offers four scalable tracks in each field. Learners will be able to access and register for the scholarship through the ITIDA website to help them navigate the tracks and choose the appropriate course according to their skill level. Applicants who want to join the initiative must be Egyptian, with independent professions and between the age of 18 to 35. They must have good knowledge or practical experience in their field of specialisation to meet the specific technical requirements of the path they join. The initiative is part of a broader government plan to improve the skills young people need in the job market. The government is ready to provide training for youth, via different initiatives... [that] are a form of creating job opportunities for youth, Egypts President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said late last week while inaugurating the Egyptian Japanese University for Science and Technology at Borg Al-Arab in Alexandria. He said that rehabilitation initiatives for youth cost the government some LE10 billion. According to Ahmed Zayed, a university professor and board member of the National Academy for Training (NAT), the government has already started several initiatives including the FWD, adding the freelance market is expected to grow rapidly due to Covid-19. The coronavirus is forcing different organisations and governments to adopt the concept of digital services. Therefore, the demand for remote work opportunities will skyrocket, Zayed told Al-Ahram Weekly. According to Zayed, the government is currently exerting tremendous effort to prepare a base of talented youth well qualified for the job market and for leading positions. Young people represent about 60 per cent of the total population of Egypt, and the country depends on them for modern development plans, Zayed pointed out, adding that in 2014 then prime minister Ibrahim Mehleb issued a ministerial decree authorising ministers to choose youths among their assistants. Also, the governors reshuffle in 2019 witnessed the appointment of 60 per cent new governors and their deputies. Two youths were appointed as governors and 23 as deputy governors. *A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A recent survey conducted by China Youth Daily found that 41.3 percent of respondents have chosen to stay at home over the upcoming National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. "I have been busy with my work and I want to take advantage of this holiday to relax," said Zhao Jiajia, from north China's Hebei Province. "The risk of imported cases still exists," said Zhao, adding that she is preparing to have a child in the near future and needs to prevent risks. The survey revealed that 26 percent of respondents will travel, and 20.8 percent will visit family and friends in their hometowns. Zhang Wencheng, an employee of a food enterprise in Shanghai, said he and his girlfriend had bought round-trip flights to Urumqi in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region a few months ago, when they weren't sure if they would be able to travel or not. They now intend to make the trip. The survey covered 2,016 respondents, all Sina Weibo users. China is set to welcome eight days of national holiday this year as the Mid-Autumn Festival will coincide with the country's National Day. Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (19) JERUSALEM (AP) An Israeli court on Monday approved the extradition of a former teacher wanted in Australia on charges of child sex abuse, potentially paving the way for her to stand trial after a six-year legal battle. Malka Leifer, a former educator who is accused of sexually abusing several former students, has been fighting extradition from Israel since 2014. Leifer maintains her innocence and the battle surrounding her extradition has strained relations between Israel and Australia. Earlier this month, Israel's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Leifer's attorney over a Jerusalem court's ruling that she was mentally fit to stand trial, saying it was putting an end to the saga that has been drawn out for many years. On Monday, the Jerusalem District Court ruled that Leifer could be extradited to Australia to stand trial for 74 charges of child sex abuse. The formal extradition now requires an order by Israel's justice minister. Leifers attorneys said they would appeal an extradition order to Israels Supreme Court, saying it would be a "political decision." For those who think that this chapter is now closed, Im sorry, the process will still last quite a few months more, said Nick Kaufman, one of Leifers defense lawyers. Critics, including Leifers alleged victims, have accused Israeli authorities of dragging out the case for far too long. State prosecutor Avital Ribner Oron said Leifer had made every effort to avoid and delay the extradition proceedings but that today the court put an end to those efforts and declared her extraditable to Australia. The ruling was an important decision for the rule of law, for international cooperation, and most importantly, to the victims of Malka Leifers crimes, Oron said. Earlier this year an Israeli psychiatric panel determined Leifer had lied about suffering a mental condition that made her unfit to stand trial. As a result of the findings, Israel's Justice Ministry said it would move to expedite her extradition. Story continues Three sisters Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper have accused Leifer of abusing them while they were students at a Melbourne ultra-Orthodox school. There are said to be other victims. Meyer, Sapper and Erlich welcomed the news together in Melbourne. We cant stop smiling, Meyer told Nine Network television news, flanked by her sisters. Theres just so many emotions flooding through us now -- like, relief, excitement -- we cant believe we finally got here, Meyer added. The Associated Press does not usually identify alleged victims of sexual abuse, but the sisters have spoken publicly about their allegations against Leifer. Australian parliament member Josh Burns similarly praised the court ruling. Justice has taken far too long. But finally, justice has won the day, Burn said. And while we await further appeals, we call on the Israeli judicial system to deal with them as quickly as possible and for the justice minister to give the extradition the final sign off without any further delays. As accusations surfaced in 2008, Israeli-born Leifer left the school and returned to Israel, where she has lived since. Manny Waks, the head of Kol vOz, a Jewish group that combats child sex abuse and that has been representing the three sisters, said Monday's ruling marked a great day for justice. "It is a day which at times seemed like it would never arrive, but we are thrilled that it is finally here, Waks said. It has taken 71 court hearings to get to this point. It has been Israels shame. ___ Associated Press writer Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report. A man who had been kidnapped managed to force his captor at gunpoint to take him to the hospital, Colorado police said. Darlene Isberg was arrested Sunday and charged with being an accessory to first-degree assault and kidnapping, according to Colorado Springs police. Earlier that day, police said, they responded to a report about someone screaming, Give me the gun or Im going to put a bullet in your head! A bloody male was forced into a car being driven by Isberg, and an armed male suspect followed them in a second car, police said. About 15 minutes later, Penrose Main hospital reported a man with a bloody face and head, and armed with a weapon was walking into the emergency room lobby with a female at gunpoint, according to police. Police said the man was detained and his weapon was taken away. Investigators learned he was a kidnapping victim and managed to get a gun and force Isberg to take him to the hospital. The suspect in the second car hasnt been found, but police said they have possibly identified him. Officers from all four divisions were involved and did an outstanding job working together to determine the two calls were linked. The security officer at Penrose was commended for his ability to successfully handle an armed gunman (the actual victim) without discharging his weapon, police said. The ATO have released an unnerving recording of a sophisticated tax scam targeting vulnerable Australians. The chilling audio features a computer generated voice aimed at insecure Aussies so scammers can prey on their hard earned cash. 'Your account has been marked delinquent on account of tax avoidance,' the robo call recording says. 'As our letters sent to your registered address have also returned unsigned, and undelivered, resulting into a petition note to be filed against your name, including a warrant for your arrest'. Australian Communications and Media Authority Member Fiona Cameron issued a public warning to beware of questionable activity amid their private affairs. The ATO have warned the Australian public about several sophisticated scams going around at tax time (stock image) 'It is tax time, and unfortunately scammers are about,' she told Today. 'This scam is pretty disgraceful.' Ms Cameron said as many as 100 people could fall victim to the heartless fraudsters. 'Your life savings can go or alternatively your identity can be stolen,' she said. 'And once your identity is stolen, then the scammer can go on and scam someone else in your name which is an appalling cycle of abuse.' Scams are large-scale operations, with detectives forced to use complex software to find out where the calls come from. Ms Cameron said Australians are more vulnerable to fraudulent activity due to being at home and connected during the coronavirus pandemic. Australian Communications and Media Authority Member Fiona Cameron (pictured) said the public must beware of odd activity with their affairs She said scammers often release threats like these during tax time, as fraudsters try to con people based on their needs. 'Often in relation to the ATO-type scams they pressure you,' Ms Cameron said. 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 Overseas wire transfers; iTunes or Google Play cards; Cardless cash transfers; Cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. Source: ATO Advertisement 'They say that they are going to arrest you and say that they will go to Federal Court if you don't pay and independent interest will compound.' Ms Cameron said Australians must be cautious with their data online. 'If you are not sure hang up. These people are out to get your money or your identity,' she said. 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. 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.' The British government estimates less than 10,000 people a day are contracting Covid-19, health minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday, less than during the pandemics peak, even as numbers testing positive have risen to similar levels. (At the peak), we estimate through surveys that over 100,000 people a day were catching disease, but we only found around 6,000 of them, and they tested positive. Now we estimate that its under 10,000 people a day getting the disease. Thats too high, but its still much lower than in the peak, he told Sky News on Thursday. Britain reported 6,178 new daily cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday. Hancock also said the proportion of people getting a so-called false positive test result is below 1%. As authorities in suburban Milwaukee gamed out the complex preparations to allow children back into classrooms amid the coronavirus pandemic, they didn't plan for one scenario: parents deliberately sending infected kids to school. Yet that's exactly what's happened multiple times in Washington and Ozaukee counties, health officials said this week. "Something that happened and continued to happen which I never in my wildest dreams imagined it would happen, is people sent their known positive kids to school," Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department officer Kirsten Johnson told WISN. As health officials investigate cases in more than two dozens schools in the counties, some are demanding harsh repercussions for any parent caught sending a child to class after they test positive. "When you have parents lying to contact tracers, refusing to get kids tested, that's just beyond the pale," said Washington County Board member Don Kriefall, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. "That becomes very problematic for the health department to manage this whole situation. The hammer may have to be dropped." Wisconsin, which has recorded more than 1,200 Covid-19 deaths, isn't the only place struggling to cope with parents who purposely evade the safety systems set up to prevent school outbreaks of a virus that has now killed at least 201,000 Americans. In Massachusetts last week, a student attended the first day of high school despite a positive test, sending dozens of classmates into quarantine. A similar situation in Oklahoma forced 17 students into quarantine. In Washington and Ozaukee counties, which sit just north of Milwaukee, a patchwork of school districts have adopted a range of back-to-school plans, but many have offered students the option of going to school in-person five days a week. Health officials already know of at least three cases where students have tested positive and showed up to class anyway, Ms Johnson told the Journal Sentinel. One Covid-positive student felt so sick after coming to school that they went to the school nurse. In several other cases, Ms Johnson said, parents have lied to contract tracers about test results and about whom their child had contact with. Other parents have also refused to test children, even when they are obviously ill. "The biggest challenge for us that we're experiencing right now is people are just being dishonest," Ms Johnson told the Journal Sentinel. "They don't want their children to be quarantined from school. They don't want to have to miss work. In doing that, they're jeopardising the ability to have school in person and other people's health." Health officials are now urging schools in Washington and Ozaukee counties to use attendance software to keep track of students who test positive for the virus, and to ensure they don't show up for class when they're supposed to be at home in quarantine. The counties also plans to hire more contract tracers and will consider ordering schools to close if cases rise. As of Tuesday, the two counties were investigating cases at 25 different schools. While early evidence suggests that schools have not become hotspots for coronavirus transmission so far, health officials said they will have no choice to but to take drastic action if sick kids keep coming to school. "We're not going to be able to keep our schools open," Mr Kriefall told WISN. "It's going to, I mean, just a few parents that are irresponsible are going to affect the entire school district." The Washington Post The largest and most extensive database of China's brutal 're-education camps' has been mapped by a team of Australian researchers. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute identified over 380 sites in the restive north-western province of Xinjiang which are being used to detain hundreds of thousands of Western China's Uyghur population. Among the most disturbing aspects of the vast prison network is that factories are located alongside the camps, suggesting detainees are being used as forced labour. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute identified over 380 sites in Xinjiang which are being used to detain hundreds of thousands of Western China's Uyghur population An aerial view of a 're-education camp' is pictured in the region of Xinjiang in Western China China's brutal 're-education camps' are being used to repress the ethnic minority (Detainees in a Xinjiang camp are pictured) 'Available evidence suggests that many extrajudicial detainees in Xinjiang's vast re-education network are now being formally charged and locked up in higher security facilities, including newly built or expanded prisons, or sent to walled factory compounds for forced labour assignments,' ASPI states in its Xinjiang Data Project. ASPI also uncovered that the Chinese government had facilitated the mass transfer of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities from the vast far west region to factories across the country. 'Uyghurs are working in factories that are in the supply chains of at least 83 well-known global brands in the technology, clothing and automotive sectors, including Apple, BMW, Gap, Huawei, Nike, Samsung, Sony and Volkswagen,' the report said. Researchers reconstructed 3D models of what the facilities look like and categorised them from the lowest level security at tier one, to the highest level at tier four. To do this researchers used satellite imagery analysis, construction tender records, and first hand reports by activists and journalists who had been on the ground. 'Visually they all look very similar with a distinct architecture: high walls, multiple layers of perimeter barriers, watchtowers, dozens of cell blocks, no apparent outside exercise yards for detainees, single bridge entry for guards to the perimeter wall,' the report said. This email obtained by ASPI appears to show the Chinese government brokering a deal for forced labor Pictured: A 3D model of a tier-one camp near Kashgar city, Kashgar Prefecture Pictured: A 3D model of a tier-two camp Konaxahar County, Kashgar Prefecture Pictured: A 3D model of a Tier three Centre Wensu County, Aksu Prefecture A crackdown on the authoritarian regime's Muslim population significantly expanded since 2017, following a series of terror attacks in the Special Administrative Region. China's communist Party first denied the existence of re-education camps being used to repress the ethnic minority and stamp out their religious view. But in the face of growing evidence that Uyghurs are being subjected to mass surveillance, arbitrary detention, forced indoctrination, unfair trials and torture, the Chinese government has been forced to admit their existence. In fact, in an article by the Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece The Global Times on Wednesday, they argue 'The West' should learn from China's governance methods. The comments come one day after it was revealed Xinjiang birth rate fell by 120,000, or one third, amid reports of forced sterilised inside the detention camps. Beijing has tried to fend off allegations of a slow-moving genocide by claiming the decline is a result 'the comprehensive implementation of the family planning policy'. China is forcing Uighur workers to mass produce face masks as part of the country's Muslim 're-education' programme during the coronavirus pandemic, report says. The file picture taken on June 18 shows workers at a garment factory in Aketao county of the Uighur region Xinjiang At the UN General Assembly last year 23 nation's including Australian condemned China its abhorrent 'human rights violations and abuses'. 'The Chinese government should urgently... (refrain) from the arbitrary detention of Uyghur and members of other Muslim communities,' the statement said. During a trip to the Washington in July for AUSMIN talks, Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne also expressed concerns. 'We have continued to receive evidence of arbitrary detention; on surveillance of individuals; of attacks on their reproductive rights; forced labour and they are very concerning,' she said. ASPI found that at 14 new detention facilities still under construction in the troubled region. The Xinjiang database follows recent reports that indicate the Chinese government has also been cracking down on other regions including Hong Kong, Tibet and Inner Mongolia, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a shocking sign of disrespect, Pakistan's Information Minister for Punjab, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan was seen seated with a tall gun stationed alongside the flag of Pakistan. Fayyazul Hassan Chohan who was criticizing former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke in detail about the latter's corruption charges saying "This kind of corruption, we saw in 2000 with Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif Sahab and others deciding a line of action then..." While the Minister continued to share his two-bits, in the background a massive gun was seen resting next to the national flag. Meanwhile, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan information minister Punjab, gives his views on Nawaz Sharif's politics with a gun in the background, next to the national flag. pic.twitter.com/95iBkvlugV Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) September 21, 2020 Read: Imran Khan Cluelessly Welcomes Students Back A Day Before Pak Schools Open; Covers Tracks Read: Pakistan FM Qureshi Accused Of Slapping PM Imran Khan's Principal Secy In Fresh Shambles Netizens react Seems like the minister is highly inspired by Laden Venugopal (@venu_mystic) September 21, 2020 Instead of a mask he is using a gun to fight the Corona Virus. Siddhartha Das (@sidharthone) September 21, 2020 Shameful. Gun next to a flag? indrajit (@indrajitpakrasi) September 21, 2020 This is the stated foreign policy of pakistan !!! S Dutt (@sunilduna) September 21, 2020 Is he a minister or a terrorist??? vivek singh (@nluvivek) September 21, 2020 Nawaz Sharif embarrasses Imran Khan Meanwhile, in a major embarrassment for the Imran Khan-led government on Sunday, 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. Sharif indicated that the military ran a "parallel government" which was more powerful than the democratically elected government. He described this phenomenon as a "state above the state". Read: Imran Khan Govt Under Fire After Police Attacks Opposition Leader Maryam Nawaz's Car Read: Ex Pak PM Nawaz Sharif Launches No-holds-barred Attack On Military, Exposes Sham Democracy NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) streamed its first virtual American Image Awards gala yesterday bringing the event to new heights with a global lineup of honorees including Alibaba Group, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Brandon Maxwell, Bravo/Project Runway, and Kenneth Cole, who surprised the "audience" with his presenter, Governor Cuomo. The event, which benefited the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Foundation, was emceed by CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin and host, designer and author Jeffrey Banks. The 2020 American Image Awards honorees, who accepted their awards virtually on the first-ever virtual gala, September 23, 2020 AAFA President and CEO Steve Lamar in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. to deliver heartfelt remarks at the 2020 American Image Awards The gala began with a "virtual red carpet" and cameo appearances from actor and former American Image Awards host Alan Cumming, as well as footwear designers and past honorees Ruthie Davis and Rebecca Minkoff, among others. A special tribute was given to the late Isabel Toledo who, along with her husband Ruben Toledo, created the American Image Awards statuette. Alan Cumming sent well wishes to viewers and reminisced fondly of his participation as host two years ago. The program highlighted the apparel and footwear industry's grit, determination, and impact during the past six months, showcased by the manufacturing pivot to produce large volumes of personal protective equipment in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Steve Lamar, president and CEO of AAFA, said, "The American Image Awards is about celebrating the future of the fashion industry and highlighting the exceptional work of those that are leading the way. No one could have predicted the impact COVID-19 would have on our world or our communities - but this industry is proving its resilience in its determination to save lives and livelihoods as we spring forward to a better future." Emcee Brooke Baldwin encouraged the industry; "You have proven time and again that fashion can be a catalyst for social activism and political change we must all be resilient right now." Designer of the Year, Brandon Maxwell, who has been very proactive in the COVID-19 crisis, saluted fellow designers, "I really want to thank every single designer in New York City who has gotten up every day during the last six months with hope in their heart and determination, and gone and made work that has made us all feel great this [award] is truly for every single one of you I am very proud to be your peer!" "Fashion is, and always has been, the story of impossible dreams made real. Of bold visions pursued unwaveringly. So yes, I believe that a bright future is possible. It can be built, and we can build it together. But it won't be easy," said Patrice Louvet, president & CEO of Ralph Lauren Corporation, accepting the 2020 American Image Awards Company of the Year honor. Colin Browne, AAFA chairman and COO of Under Armour, Inc. highlighted the role of AAFA in the current environment, saying, "More than ever, the significant changes taking place across our industry necessitate a trusted partner in the fight for solutions to our shared challenges. The AAFA is at the heart of where business, fashion, and policy intersect." Kenneth Cole, American Image Awards Person of the Year, spoke with deep emotion, "I thank the AAFA for this award. It's at moments like this I'm reminded that fashion is what we do it's not who we are. Fashion can be a powerful means to a more meaningful end; it is a way to represent ourselves every day to the world, and it's also encourages and celebrates the acceptable social and ethical standards by which we do it." Cole received a special introduction by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo who applauded the industry: "The fashion industry has always been a progressive force ... heart, soul, community, industry, that is what the fashion industry showed this year We all came together to fight this virus and for all this pain, the unity was beautiful," the Governor said. "We thank AAFA. Because of their support, we are able to devote these funds towards important causes and initiatives, such as fashion scholarships, sustainability, diversity, equity, and inclusivity efforts, domestic manufacturing programs, and professional development," said Steven Kolb, CEO, CFDA. Images from the AAFA American Image Awards are available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/77brelb3p83weu8/AACuvBQ3koLstGZ55rehvYSxa?dl=0 Photo Caption: American Apparel & Footwear Association's 2020 Annual American Image Awards Social Media: #AmericanImageAwards @ApparelandFootwear (Instagram) @ApparelFootwear (Twitter) About the American Apparel & Footwear Association: The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is the national trade association representing apparel, footwear and other sewn products companies, and their suppliers, which compete in the global market. Representing more than 1,000 world famous name brands, we are the trusted public policy and political voice of the apparel and footwear industry, its management and shareholders, its nearly four million U.S. workers, and its contribution of more than $400 billion in annual U.S. retail sales. AAFA provides exclusive expertise in trade, brand protection, and supply chain & manufacturing to help our members navigate the complex regulatory environment and lower costs. Members gain unparalleled access to information and exclusive insights on regulation and policy, and premier opportunities for networking and collaboration. Media contact: Karen Bromley The Bromley Group [email protected] 646-522-0864 SOURCE American Apparel & Footwear Association By Eli Walsh Bay City News Foundation A handful of Bay Area jurisdictions received more than $100 million in combined state funding over the last week to purchase motel and hotel rooms and turn them into permanent supportive hubs for homeless residents. The state of California issued grants to Santa Clara County and the cities of San Francisco, San Jose, Mountain View and Oakland to purchase hundreds of units, many of which have been leased as temporary shelter for homeless residents during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The awards total $118.5 million, part of Project Homekey, in which the state will issue $600 million in grants to local jurisdictions across California to purchase hotels, motels, vacant apartment complexes and other buildings and turn them into supportive housing hubs. "We have a moral and ethical obligation to address this issue head-on," Gov. Gavin Newsom said in announcing the second tranche of grants on Tuesday. "We need to see better results at the local level and the regional level and we need to make sure your tax dollars are going for their intended purposes and that's to produce real, permanent results," he said. Santa Clara County will receive $29.2 million to convert an Extended Stay America hotel in Milpitas into a 132-unit apartment complex for formerly homeless residents, according to the county. The complex will be the first development in Milpitas used solely for permanent housing with supportive services for homeless residents. "No one entity can solve homelessness alone," said Consuelo Hernandez, director of the county's Office of Supportive Housing. "It truly takes a strong, united effort, and this is a perfect example of that." San Francisco received $44.8 million to purchase and redevelop the Granada Hotel into 232 housing units, while the city of San Jose received $14.5 million to do the same with a 76-unit property. "I proposed the Granada Hotel as a potential city acquisition site so we could preserve 232 units and keep existing tenants in their homes, and I hope the hard work of the past year to flesh out the details will pay off with this fortuitous Homekey grant opportunity," San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin said. Oakland received $20 million to acquire a 63-unit dormitory at the California College of the Arts in Rockridge, as well as 100 units across 20 locations within the city. Mountain View received the smallest award among the Bay Area grant recipients, roughly $10 million, to deploy around 30 interim housing structures on a one-acre site in the 2500 block of Leghorn Street. "We are hoping to be able to assist more than 300 residents with occupancy before the end of the year," Mountain View Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga said of the structures. Several of the projects that cities and counties will purchase through Homekey have been operating as temporary shelters for several months through the state's Project Roomkey, a federally backed initiative to procure thousands of unused hotel and motel rooms for the state's homeless residents during the pandemic. The state received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Project Roomkey in early April. The state's agreement with FEMA stipulates that the agency will reimburse up to 75 percent of state and local government expenses required to acquire the unused rooms and provide meal, custodial and security services. Contra Costa County was one of the first local governments in the Bay Area to get a Homekey grant, receiving $21.5 million last week to convert a 174-room motel in Pittsburg into a supportive housing hub. The state must disperse $550 million of the $600 million pool of grant funding by Dec. 30, Newsom said, because it came as a direct allocation from the federal government. The remaining $50 million, which will come from the state's general fund, must be exhausted by June 30, 2022. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. PARIS (Reuters) - France's foreign ministry on Tuesday warned Lebanon's political forces that the country risked collapse if they did not form a government without delay. "At this decisive moment in Lebanese history, Lebanese political forces are faced with a choice between recovery and collapse of the country. It is a heavy responsibility towards the Lebanese," Foreign ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll told reporters in a daily briefing. France is pressing Lebanese politicians to form a new government in a "reasonable timeframe" to lift the nation out of a deep crisis but has not fixed a new deadline after the last one in mid-September was missed, two French diplomatic sources said. Lebanon's Christian president, Michel Aoun, told fractious political leaders on Monday the country was heading "to hell" if a new cabinet was not formed swiftly to dig the nation out of its worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. "France regrets that Lebanese officials have not yet managed to keep the commitments made on September 1," Von der Muhll said. "We call on them to reach an agreement without delay on the formation by (Prime Minister) Moustapha Adib of a government of mission, which will then have to implement the necessary reforms." (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Sandra Maler) Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (27) Vantagepoint A.I. makes significant donations to Shriners Hospitals for Children and to The Children's Cancer Center. WESLEY CHAPEL, FL / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 2020 / 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. "We're 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 Children's 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 can't 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 Bentley's name," said Mendelsohn, "and we donated equally to our friends at The Children's Cancer Center." See Bentley's reaction to the news and the team's 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 www.vantagepointsoftware.com/demo Media Contact: Lisa Moretti lisam@vantagepointsoftware.com SOURCE: VantagePoint Software View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607652/Vantagepoint-AI-Software-Doubles-Down-on-Giving Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 22:11:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- Participants of the biennial panel on the right to development were unanimous in their appeal for "heightened solidarity and renewed multilateralism" to help developing countries overcome the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. -- Participants of the panel noted that developing countries are faced with obstacles to the right to development that predated the pandemic, most of which stemmed from the international order imposed by hegemonic powers. -- Apart from its consistent support to the full realization of the human right to development and its vigorous defense of multilateralism and international cooperation, China has been assisting other countries in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic and contributing to the fulfillment of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. GENEVA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- As protectionism and unilateral coercive measures pursued by some major global players sabotage the world's efforts to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, China has stepped up its support for the United Nations (UN), placing the right to development at the center of international cooperation. During the ongoing 45th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which takes place between Sept. 14 and Oct. 6, participants called for strengthening international cooperation and solidarity in the fight against COVID-19 at a biennial panel on the right to development. Nevertheless, as the development goals of the most vulnerable developing countries stagger under the economic burden caused by the new coronavirus, there is a lack of consensuses among countries on how to put an end to the disturbing trend. PUSH FOR DEVELOPMENT Although the world will mark the 35th anniversary of the Declaration on the Human Right to Development next year, work for its implementation remains insufficient, partly due to the protective and unilateral coercive measures adopted by some major countries. To propel the realization of the right to development, China has submitted two resolutions that were adopted by the UNHRC. The latest resolution entitled "The Contribution of Development to the Enjoyment of All Human Rights" encouraged all countries to promote a sustainable and people-centered development. The other resolution, jointly proposed by China and the Non-Aligned Movement and adopted at the 42nd session of the UNHRC, emphasizes an "urgent need to make the right to development a reality for everyone." As the COVID-19 crisis has made the fulfillment of the right to development fall behind its schedule, Chen Xu, China's permanent representative to the UN Office at Geneva, voiced concerns that many developing and least developed countries affected by COVID-19 and unilateral coercive measures are facing severe challenges in fulfilling international human rights obligations. "We call upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide technical assistance upon the request of the states concerned and oppose unilateral coercive measures," Chen said at the 45th session of the UNHRC, urging the international community to uphold multilateralism, strengthen unity and jointly address global challenges. China has been working with members of the Group of 20 to implement the Debt Service Suspension Initiative for the poorest countries and called on international financial institutions and private creditors to take concrete actions in that regard, according to a position paper issued by China on the 75th anniversary of the UN. ASSISTANCE NEEDED Participants of the biennial panel on the right to development were unanimous in their appeal for "heightened solidarity and renewed multilateralism" to help developing countries overcome the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A screenshot taken on Sept. 24, 2020 shows Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, speaks at the 45th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Du Yang) According to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, the pandemic, coupled with the climate emergency, is the gravest global threat in generations, which has shaken "to its very core" the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Bachelet said the situation demands bold policies and financial and technical support for countries and communities in need, including through urgent debt relief. At the moment, between 70 and 100 million people are being plunged into extreme poverty, warned Isabelle Durant, deputy secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development. Developing countries will suffer from a funding gap of between 2 and 3 trillion U.S. dollars in the following two years, Durant said, adding the situation is further aggravated by the expected decline in official development assistance, foreign direct investments and remittances from migrant workers and diasporas. Members of the Non-Aligned Movement also warned of the negative impact of the pandemic on developing countries, which created difficulties for the realization of the right to development. "Equitable access, distribution, and affordability of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for COVID-19 are important priorities for developing countries and least developed countries," noted Vaqif Sadiqov, permanent representative of Azerbaijan to the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG). The world needs new economic models that are sustainable, people-centered and inclusive, said Maria Mercedes Rossi, main representative of the Associazione Comunita Papa Giovanni XXIII to the UNOG. "Urgent action was needed now, including debt cancelation, ending unilateral coercive measures, countering tax havens and corruptions," she said. APPEAL FOR MULTILATERALISM Participants of the panel noted that developing countries are faced with obstacles to the right to development that predated the pandemic, most of which stemmed from the international order imposed by hegemonic powers. Unilateralism and protectionism of certain countries that have been eroding mutual trust and coordination among countries for long exploded amid the pandemic. A screenshot taken on Sept. 24, 2020 shows Carlos Correa, executive director of the South Centre, an intergovernmental organization of developing countries, speaks at the 45th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Du Yang) The crisis significantly hampered the realization of the right to development, said Carlos Correa, executive director of the South Centre, an intergovernmental organization of developing countries. Correa cautioned against dangerous actions aimed at weakening the World Health Organization, a return to isolationist policies such as "vaccine nationalism," as well as unilateral coercive actions. "Persistence of unilateral coercive actions is manifestly contrary to international law and ethically unacceptable, particularly at a time of greater desolation and suffering of the populations of the affected countries," he said. Developed countries should honor their development assistance commitments, not attach political requirements, and safeguard multilateralism and the multilateral trading system, a Chinese representative said at the biennial panel on human rights on Sept. 17. Amid a once-in-a-century transformation brought on by the pandemic, "certain countries and political forces keep playing the blame game, clamoring for 'decoupling' and pulling out of international organizations and agreements," reads China's position paper on the 75th anniversary of the UN. "What they are doing is sabotaging international cooperation, stoking confrontation between ideologies and social systems and putting the world in serious jeopardy," it reads. PRECONDITION FOR ALL HUMAN RIGHTS Apart from its consistent support to the full realization of the human right to development and its vigorous defense of multilateralism and international cooperation, China has been assisting other countries in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic and contributing to the fulfillment of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. While advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda at home, China is working with other countries to put development front and center in the global macro policy framework and seek greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the 2030 Agenda, according to its position paper. The paper highlights the right to a happy life as the most important of all, and reiterates China's commitment to promoting and protecting human rights through greater development. At the UNHRC panel, China called on all countries to follow the UN Declaration on the Right to Development as a guide, insist on putting people at the center, uphold the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and inclusive development, and strive to implement the 2030 Agenda to promote the realization of the right to development. People around the world have been witnessing for a long time how harmful protectionism and unilateral coercion measures are for the future of developing and least developed countries, while the pandemic has accentuated the importance of another vital human right -- the right to health. However, the vital factor behind the realization of all human rights is development. Just as Chen has said, without it, "there are no human rights to talk about." All countries should adhere to multilateralism and international cooperation, take clearly-targeted and coordinated actions to effectively combat the pandemic, promote sustainable and inclusive economic recovery and growth, and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, a Chinese representative said during this year's UNHRC session. (Video reporters: Du Yang, Shi Zhongyu, Nie Xiaoyang; Video editor: Luo Hui) RAANANA, Israel, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DriveNets , the networking software company, today announced that it has successfully completed performance testing of its Network Cloud, a Distributed Disaggregated Chassis (DDC) networking solution with a capacity of 192Tbps. The installation at a tier one European service provider is a proof of concept for the carrier grade level support of unicast and multicast routing protocols. "Our disaggregated implementation of the traditional router was purpose built to provide greater scale, more cost effectively, with-telco grade routing performance. It enables us to introduce new network capabilities required by our customers with a fast and reliable process," said Ido Susan, CEO & Co-founder, DriveNets. "We are happy that our customer's subscribers will enjoy an excellent live-TV experience" DriveNets Network Cloud testing programs have been running in multiple tier-1 service providers internationally for a year. With the DriveNets distributed architecture more easily installed remotely than traditional routers, some of these tests have evolved into live deployments. DriveNets Network Cloud offers a growing list of routing and forwarding capabilities such as BGP, ISIS, OSPF, ECMP, Segment Routing, as well as multicast functions such as PIM and MoFRR. Customers share that the test results are superior to any alternative chassis-based solutions both in terms of scale (192Tbps) and in terms of convergence (sub 1ms) times of the protocols. Like with any lab tests, these results may vary depending on customer configuration. DriveNets Network Cloud architecture has consistently demonstrated very low convergence time, vastly lower than 50ms which is the expected carrier grade benchmark in the industry. "These strong performance results as validated by a tier one service provider put to rest any remaining doubts about the scalability of a distributed Network Operating System (NOS) on a white box cluster. DriveNets Network Cloud has proven it can meet and even exceed the performance levels of proprietary hardware chassis routers," said Roy Chua, analyst at AvidThink. "This new cloud architecture comes with added benefit of agility and flexibility and the opportunity for an open ecosystem." Routing protocols performance at scale poses a long-term major challenge to Service Providers and Multicast is probably the most painful one of them by impacting the user experience for live TV viewers. Slow convergence interrupts transmission, while deeper buffering delays viewing and degrades the quality of a live TV feed. DriveNets Network Cloud is revolutionizing Service Providers and Cloud Hyperscalers networks by disaggregating the network infrastructure from core to edge, in the same way Hyperscalers disaggregated the Cloud infrastructure. It's the only solution on the market that supports the Distributed Disaggregated Chassis (DDC) model, an AT&T contribution to the OCP and the only disaggregated router to scale from a single-box router of 4Tb/s, to a cluster of white boxes operated as a single router of 768 Tb/s (7680 ports of 100G or 1920 ports of 400G). DriveNets' unique economic model allows Service Providers and Hyperscalers to buy networking white boxes directly from their manufacturers at cost+ and buy DriveNets' networking software license separately, rather than on a per port/box basis. This new model allows Service Providers and Hyperscalers to scale much faster, increase profitability, improve operational efficiency and avoid vendor-lock. About DriveNets DriveNets is a fast-growing IP networking software company, introducing a radical new way to build networks for service and cloud providers, enabling higher capacity, performance, and service scale at a much lower cost. Founded by Ido Susan and Hillel Kobrinsky, two successful telco entrepreneurs, DriveNets Network Cloud is the leading open distributed disaggregated routing solution based on cloud-native software and standard white boxes, that disaggregates the network from core to edge, building the high-scale network infrastructures of the future. Media Contact Judith Arkush Silicon Valley Communications [email protected] +972 52-351-7698 SOURCE DriveNets Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday reshuffled his cabinet by inducting five ministers and dropping six. The newly inducted ministers include BJP MLAs S Rajen (Lamsang),Vungzagin Valte(Thanlon),Th Satyabarta (Yaiskul) and two ex-MLAs O Lukhoi (Wangoi) and Okram Henry (Wangkhei). Lukhoi and Henry were Congress MLAs who had resigned and joined BJP. The swearing in ceremony of the five ministers in the three-year-old BJP government was held at around 5 pm at the banquet hall of Raj Bhavan in Imphal as per existing Standard Operating Procedure in light of the Covid-9 pandemic. The oath of office was administered by the Governor Dr Najma Heptulla. Chief minister N Biren Singh, BJP national Vice-president Baijayant Panda, BJP North East general secretary Ajay Jamwal, Deputy Speaker K Robindro, MLA H Dingo,ex-MLA P Brojen were present during the swearing-in ceremony. It is a routine matter as desired by national leaders to focus on development activities, the CM said on the induction of new ministers. Earlier in the day, Governor Heptulla had accepted the CMs proposal on dropping three cabinet ministers. The proposal from the CM came a day after he returned with BJPs senior national Vice President Panda from New Delhi in a chartered flight on Tuesday. The three ministers are V Hangkhalian (Agriculture and Animal Husbandry), Nemcha Kipgen (Social Welfare and Cooperation) and Th Radheshyam (Education, Labour and Employment). Later, three more ministers L Jayantakumar (Health & Family welfare),K Shyam(Consumers Affairs Food & Public Distribution) and N Kayisii( Tribal Affairs & Fisheries) were also dropped from the ministry. While Jayantakumar and Kayisii are from the National Peoples Party (NPP), Shyam belongs to Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) The BJPs Manipur unit president S Tikendra Singh who is still in the national capital after meeting partys national president JP Nadda for the upcoming bye-elections, said the reshuffle was part of the partys policy. The BJP came to power in Manipur in March 2017 with support of four MLAs each from NPP and NPF besides one MLA each from TMC, Lok Janshakti Party and an Independent in the 60- member House. The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Thursday, gave an insight into steps he is taking to appoint a new Emir of Zazzau to replace Shehu Idris, who died on Sunday. Mr Idris is expected to be replaced by a prince from any of the four ruling houses of Katsinawa, Barebari, Mallawa and Sullubawa. Mr El-Rufai, who has the duty of deciding who occupies the throne said he is consulting a book on the emirate to help him in making a decision. Keen race Four princes are said to be on the forefront in the race. They are Yariman Zazzau, Muni Jaafaru; Iyan Zazzau, Bashir Aminu; Magajin Garin Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli and Turakin Zazzau, Aminu Idris. In a Facebook post Thursday evening, Mr Elrufai posted a picture of a seminal work on the old Hausa kingdom of Zazzau which he said he is consulting while awaiting the submission of the Zazzau kingmakers. The book is Government in Zazzau, a sociological exploration of the old emirate and was written by a former colonial officer. KADUNA UPDATE: While awaiting the recommendations of the Zazzau Emirate kingmakers, I am re-reading Prof MG Smiths authoritative epic on the selection of Zazzau Emirs from 1800 to 1950 to guide me in taking a decision. Government in Zazzau was published in 1960. The kingmakers recommend but ultimate responsibility to choose rests on my humble. I must be knowledgeable about the process as the aspirants and kingmakers, the governor wrote on his verified Facebook page. Candidates profiles Iya Bashir Aminu He was born in the palace when his father, Muhammadu Aminu, was the Emir of Zazzau. He was turbaned Danmadamin Zazzau by late Emir Idris. When Iyan Zazzau Saidu died, Mr Idris promoted Mr Aminu to the important title of Iya, a position once held by the latters father before becoming the emir. A trained accountant and accomplished businessman, he is a fellow of the Institute of Financial Accountants (UK) and a Fellow of the Certified National Accountants of Nigeria (CNA). Until the reforms two years ago to resize the Kaduna traditional institutions, leading to repelling of some districts, Mr Aminu was the district head of Sabon Gari, a position he was first appointed to in 1979. He sits on the boards of many companies as chairman or director. Mr Aminu is from the Kastinawa ruling house, like the two previous emirs. Munir Jaafaru The son of 16th Fulani emir of Zazzau, Mallam Jaafaru, Munir Jaafaru is a lawyer with vast experience in the private and public sector. Born on March 25, 1956, he bagged a degree in Law from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1979 and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1980. He was retained as a lecturer at the university (1981 1983) and obtained his second degree in Law during the same period in 1983. Mr Jaafaru held various positions in Kaduna State and at the national level. He was Secretary/Legal Adviser of the Kaduna Cooperative Bank Limited (1983-1987); Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Commissioner for Information, Home Affairs and Culture; Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, among other ministries he held. At the national level, Mr Jaafaru was appointed Secretary of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (1990-1992). He held the position of Director-General of the National Maritime Authority (NMA), the precursor of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) between 1992 and 1996. The Yeriman Zazzau has held many private sector positions traversing consulting, law, banking and insurance. The prince hails from the Bare-bari ruling clan. Advertisements Ahmed Bamalli Mr Bamalli is the immediate past Nigerian ambassador to Thailand with concurrent accreditation to Myanmar. He was born on June 8, 1966. He studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and obtained a masters degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the same institution. He has diplomas from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, the University of York and Oxford University. In 2011 he was at the Harvard University for a short course in governance. A holder of the traditional title of Magajin Garin Zazzau, a position once held by his late father, Mr Bamalli is an experienced administrator and banker He joined the defunct FSB International Bank in 1998 rising to the position of Regional Manager before moving to Abuja Metropolitan Management Authority in 2006. He switched to the defunct Nigerian Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTEL) a year later as head of Human Resources. He then moved to the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc where he was Executive Director, Corporate Services and acting Managing Director at a point. After the change of government in Kaduna State in 2015, the new administration appointed him commissioner in the states independent electoral commission. In 2017, Mr Bamalli was nominated as ambassador at the instance of Mr El-Rufai. Aminu Idris He is the eldest surviving son of the late Emir of Zazzau, Shehu Idris. Holder of the traditional title of Turakin Zazzau, he is the youngest of the contenders. He was born in 1976 and was named after his fathers predecessor, Emir Aminu. He attended Federal Government College Kaduna and obtained a degree in Economics from the University of Abuja. He also has a masters degree from the University of Westminster in the UK. The younger Idris currently works with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as a senior staff at the Crude Oil Marketing Division of the corporation. He is married to Karimatu, one of the daughters of Iyan Zazzau Bashir Aminu, also a contender. In a shocking incident from Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, as many as 52 teachers of a private school have complained to the police alleging that the management of the school has been secretly filming them inside the toilets and blackmailing them into working without salaries for months, a report in TOI said. Representative Images The teachers, in their complaint, stated that the secretary of the schools management committee threatened them with their objectionable photographs and videos whenever they asked for the payment of their pending salaries, the report added. FIR registered Police registered an FIR on Wednesday against the secretary of the management committee and his son for alleged sexual harassment. They were booked under IPC sections 354 (a) (sexual harassment), 354 (c) (voyeurism) and 504 (intentional insult) of the Indian Penal Code. The son was later arrested on Wednesday evening. AFP/Representative Image However, the secretary has trashed the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him. Secretary denies allegations levelled There is no CCTV inside the womens toilet. But they have been installed in the gents toilets. This was done against the backdrop of recent cases of murder inside some schools, a report by The Times of India quoted the secretary as saying. The secretary, meanwhile, admitted that for the past few months, the school has failed to pay salaries to the teachers attributing it to the ongoing pandemic situation. This even as the school drew flak for issuing a diktat ordering students to get CM Yogi Adityanath-like haircut back in 2017. Advertisement A riot was declared in Portland over night with cops pelted with Molotov cocktails as thousands took to the streets across America after a decision not to indict any police officers over the death of Breonna Taylor. Protesters took to the streets of Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Oakland, and other major cities to vent their anger over the decision not to prosecute any officers for murder in the fatal March shooting of the 26-year-old EMT from Louisville. In New York City, demonstrators packed into a plaza while one protester took a megaphone and threatened 'an eye for an eye'. A crowd of hundreds was chanting 'Say her name, Breonna Taylor,' and then started marching in the street in downtown Brooklyn, past onlookers and honking cars. They were accompanied by musicians, setting a steady drum beat. One of the protesters hurled a homemade firebomb or Molotov cocktail towards police officers outside of the precinct in Portland on Wednesday night Williamsburg Bridge, New York City: Black Lives Matter supporters march across the Williamsburg Bridge during a protest late on Wednesday against the decision not to bring murder charges against the officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor Brooklyn, New York: Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday night to protest the decision by a Kentucky grand jury not to indict any of the three police officers for murder in the fatal March shooting of Breonna Taylor New York City: A protester waves a Black Lives Matter flag as hundreds of other demonstrators look on in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening Manhattan Bridge, New York: Protesters marched across all inbound and outbound lanes on both the upper and lower roadways of the Manhattan Bridge on Wednesday Manhattan, New York: A woman raises her first in the air as she takes part in a march in New York City on Wednesday Brooklyn, New York: A woman holds a megaphone as she addresses other demonstrators outside Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday Brooklyn, New York: Protesters outside the Barclays Center were asked to lie down on the pavement for 8 minutes and 46 seconds - the same amount of time that a Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd before he died on May 25 Police in Portland, Oregon declared a riot late on Wednesday after protesters damaged a police building in unrest that followed the grand jury decision. 'To those who have gathered outside of Central Precinct on Southwest 2nd Avenue. This gathering has been declared a riot,' the police force said in a tweet. The crowd was told to vacate or face tear gas, other crowd control agents or arrest. One of the protesters hurled a homemade firebomb or Molotov cocktail towards police officers outside of the precinct, a video shared by Portland police on Twitter showed. Upper windows appeared to be damaged and part of an awning outside the building was on fire, according to a photograph shared by the police, which said the building had suffered 'substantial damage'. Upper windows appeared to be damaged and part of an awning outside the building was on fire, according to a photograph shared by the police, which said the building had suffered 'substantial damage' A video shared on Twitter appeared to show protesters hurling a Motolov cocktails towards police officers in Portland The grand jury indicted one Louisville officer in connection to the March 13 killing, but for shooting into a home next to Taylor's that had people in it. No charges were brought against the two officers who fired their weapon at Taylor, in her home. Prosecutors said they were justified in using force to protect themselves after they were shot at. Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home on a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. Manhattan Bridge, New York: Black Lives Matter protesters make their way across the Manhattan Bridge and into Manhattan from Brooklyn on Wednesday Manhattan Bridge, New York: The protesters hopped over the dividing lines on the bridge and marched across all inbound and outbound lanes toward Manhattan Manhattan Bridge, New York: People approach NYPD officers as they take part in a protest on the Manhattan side of the Manhattan Bridge on Wednesday Manhattan Bridge, New York: Several motorists honked horns in solidarity with the protesters as they marched across the Manhattan Bridge on Wednesday Brooklyn, New York: There was a light police presence at Barclays Center (above) and during the course of the march across the Manhattan Bridge on Wednesday The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside. Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn on Wednesday night. There did not appear to be any unrest, though one person with a megaphone made threats of violence. 'Forget 'turn the other cheek,' we're way past that, it's 'eye for an eye' now,' the man on the megaphone said. His comments were reported by journalist Nick Pinto on his Twitter feed. Los Angeles, California: Actor and activist Kendrick Sampson speaks during a demonstration held to demand justice for the death of Breonna Taylor after the results of a grand jury indictment of former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison Los Angeles, California: T-shirts for sale in downtown Los Angeles during a demonstration held to demand justice for the death of Breonna Taylor after the results of a grand jury indictment of former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison Los Angeles, California: A protester holds up a sign during a demonstration held to demand justice for the death of Breonna Taylor after the results of a grand jury indictment of former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison in Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California: Protesters gather in downtown Los Angeles during a demonstration held to demand justice for the death of Breonna Taylor Los Angeles, California: A protester holds up a sign during a demonstration held to demand justice for the death of Breonna Taylor after the results of a grand jury indictment of former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison in Los Angeles Los Angeles, California: Protesters march in downtown Los Angeles during a demonstration held to demand justice for the death of Breonna Taylor after the results of a grand jury indictment of former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison in Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California: Protesters march in downtown Los Angeles during a demonstration held to demand justice for the death of Breonna Taylor Los Angeles, California: Protesters march with an effigy of Breonna Taylor during a demonstration held to demand justice for the death of Breonna Taylor after the results of a grand jury indictment of former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison in Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California: A protester rests in an intersection in downtown Los Angeles during a demonstration held to demand justice for the death of Breonna Taylor Los Angeles, California: Protesters gather in downtown Los Angeles during a demonstration held to demand justice for the death of Breonna Taylor Los Angeles, California: Protesters march past graffiti of Breonna Taylor in downtown Los Angeles during a demonstration held to demand justice for the death of Breonna Taylor 'All of this anger, and they still have billions of our dollars,' another speaker told the crowd at Barclays, referring to the police. 'They're using our money, taxpayer money, to brutalize us. To murder us!' Another speaker asked demonstrators to lie down on the pavement in front of the arena for 8 minutes and 46 seconds - the amount of time that Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, pressed his knee against the neck of George Floyd on May 25. Floyd died in police custody. 'Today, you're Eric Garner,' the speaker said. Brooklyn, New York: Protesters hold signs denouncing capitalism during demonstrations near the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday Chinatown, New York: NYPD officers keep an eye on demonstrators as they protest in the Chinatown section of Manhattan on Wednesday Barclays Center, New York: As of late Wednesday, there did not appear to be many arrests or confrontations between police and protesters Brooklyn, New York: Protesters lie down on the pavement in front of Barclays Center in Brooklyn during a demonstration against the decision not to indict police officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor Brooklyn, New York: A protester in Brooklyn wears a mask denouncing President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday 'Today you're George Floyd. Today a pig has his knee on your neck, and that means you're dead.' Another speaker said: 'You ain't feel this f****** s***, you ain't f****** human.' 'That's real talk.' Video images from social media showed the peaceful crowd listening to speakers in what was a subdued atmosphere. Shortly afterward, the large crowd began marching toward Manhattan Bridge. An estimated 2,000 people made their way north on Flatbush Avenue. The protesters chanted 'Black Lives Matter' and were encouraged by motorists honking their horns. They occupied all inbound and outbound lanes of the Manhattan Bridge while walking across both the upper and lower roadways into Manhattan. Holding signs, thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Chinatown. Many of them chanted 'No justice, no peace.' Massive marches were also seen in the East Village and SoHo. In Buffalo, New York, a protester was injured after being struck by a pickup truck at a protest in Niagara Square. Police say the victim's injuries were not considered life threatening. All indications as of late Wednesday evening are that the New York Police Department has taken a hands-off approach and allowed the protesters to march unimpeded in what have so far been peaceful demonstrations. In Louisville, 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. Brooklyn, New York: Demonstrators in Brooklyn raise their fists during a protest outside of Barclays Center on Wednesday Brooklyn, New York: After a rally in front of Barclays Center, the demonstrators marched north on Flatbush Avenue and crossed the Manhattan Bridge into Manhattan Brooklyn, New York: A protester holds a sign that reads 'Breonna Taylor' while lying down on the pavement near Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday Brooklyn, New York: There were hundreds of protesters at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, though the crowd kept growing as the evening went on Manhattan, New York: A man carrying an American flag walks next to demonstrators in Manhattan on Wednesday Demonstrators hold signs in honor of Breonna Taylor as they march across the Williamsburg Bridge on Wednesday A large crowd of thousands of demonstrators march in New York City during a protest on Wednesday evening Protesters marched through Chinatown, SoHo, and the East Village in Manhattan late on Wednesday 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 Taylor's with people inside. The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in connection with the raid at Taylor's home on March 13. Authorities in Atlanta deployed tear gas after they said protesters tried to climb on top of a SWAT vehicle during a demonstration A protestor is arrested in Washington DC on Wednesday night after clasing with police Protesters can be seen clashing with police in Washington D.C. Demonstrators hold up images of Breonna Taylor as they rally in front of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, DC, on Wednesday The crowd of demonstrators was seen marching near the White House on Wednesday evening Demonstrators stage a rally in front of the Justice Department in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. Some held megaphones as well as pictures of Breonna Taylor Protesters hold aloft pictures of Taylor while marching along Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC, on Wednesday A demonstrator raises his fist in anger and chants slogans while marching alongside other protesters in Washington, DC, on Wednesday Protesters chant slogans through megaphones and hold up photos of Breonna Taylor during a march in Washington, DC, on Wednesday Protesters hold up pictures of Breonna Taylor and signs that read 'Black Lives Matter' during a demonstration in Washington, DC, on Wednesday Local reports estimate that some 200 people peacefully demonstrated in the nation's capital on Wednesday Washington, DC: 'She did not die in vain,' protesters chanted. 'Her murder is going to be spoken on today and every day, until we get justice.' Washington, DC: Protesters link arms and hold images of Breonna Taylor as they march along Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC, on Wednesday Washington, DC, has seen some of the nation's largest protests since the May 25 death of George Floyd Washington, DC: Protesters chant through a megaphone while leading the procession through the streets of the capital on Wednesday Washington, DC: Demonstrators are seen above marching with the Washington Monument in the background on Wednesday Ben Crump, a lawyer for Taylor's 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 that's 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 and more police arrived after the officer was shot. Demonstrators also marched in cities like Chicago, Washington, DC, Atlanta and Philadelphia. A person holds a sign in remembrance of Breonna Taylor in Oakland, California, on Wednesday People take to the streets of Oakland to protest the decision not to indict any of the three officers directly for the fatal shooting of Taylor Oakland, California: Protesters hold signs which read 'Abolish the police' and 'Stop killing black people' in Oakland, California, on Wednesday Dallas, Texas: An organization known as the Next Generation Action Network is seen above leading a protest and march in Dallas on Wednesday Dallas, Texas: Shena Lee of Dallas displays photos of Breonna Taylor during a Next Generation Action Network protest outside of Dallas Police Headquarters Dallas, Texas: An estimated 200 people marched through downtown Dallas on Wednesday after gathering at City Hall Police say they have deployed chemical agents on Atlanta protesters demonstrating against the grand jury's decision not to indict officers for the fatal shooting of Taylor. Georgia State Patrol Spokesperson Franka Young has told The Associated Press the chemical agents were fired after 'some unruly protesters' attempted to climb on top of a SWAT vehicle that was stationed in the city. 'They were given orders to get off of the vehicle and when they ignored the orders, the SWAT team was forced to utilize less lethal gas to deter them,' Young said. Some protesters were also arrested after refusing orders to disperse from roads and to walk on sidewalks, Young said. It is not clear how many people were arrested. Young said many protesters had followed police orders. Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Chicago and various neighborhoods around the city to protest the lack of charges directly connected to Taylor's shooting death. About 300 people gathered in Palmer Square Park on Chicago's northwest side before setting off on a march Wednesday evening, chanting Taylor's name. Chicago, Illinois: Protesters in Chicago demonstrate against the decision by the grand jury as they march down Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park Chicago, Illinois: Protesters in Chicago march down Michigan Avenue holding signs which read 'Stop the war on Black America!' Chicago, Illinois: Chicagoans hold signs which read 'Justice for Breonna' and 'Say her name' during a protest on Wednesday Chicago, Illinois: Authorities put the Illinois National Guard on standby, but all protests in Chicago on Wednesday remained peaceful Chicago, Illinois: Officials in Chicago pleaded with the public to protest peacefully on Wednesday. People are seen above marching in Chicago Chicago, Illinois: A group of about 50 people block the intersection of 79th and Racine during protests in Chicago on Wednesday Chicago, Illinois: The image above shows protesters marching north on Indiana Avenue in Chicago on Wednesday The march was monitored by police officers on bicycles. Other demonstrators gathered in downtown's Millennium Park chanting demands for justice as passing motorists on Michigan Avenue honked their horns. Activist priest the Reverend Michael Pfleger told protesters gathered in the middle of an intersection that they should peacefully let those who represent the status quo know of their unhappiness with the Taylor decision. 'We're here tonight because we do care,' Pfleger said. 'And we're here because we want to say, 'We object and we don't accept it. Somebody has to be held accountable'.' Protesters also gathered outside the Chicago Police Department headquarters. In Seattle, several arrests were made after protesters threw fireworks at the East Precinct on Capitol Hill, 'nearly striking officers in the process,' according to police. The SPD also said protesters had been throwing glass bottles at officers. The protesters were charged with obstruction, assaulting an officer, and property damage. Two separate protests were held in the city, one at Westlake Center where a candlelight vigil was held at 7pm, and the other at Cal Anderson Park. In Denver, Colorado, a car drove through a crowd near the intersection of East Colfax Avenue and Broadway, hitting one person. Denver Police said they detained the driver and no one was seriously injured. Breonna Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home on a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron, however, said the investigation showed the officers 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. Denver, Colorado: Large crowds gathered in Denver to protest the decision in the Breonna Taylor case on Wednesday Denver, Colorado: Sheree Barbour holds her fist in the air as people protest the grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case in Denver on Wednesday Denver, Colorado: Protesters in Denver hold signs that read 'I pray for peace but I'm ready for war!!' and 'Stop the war on Black America' Denver, Colorado: A large crowd of demonstrators initially gathered outside the State Capitol in Denver on Wednesday Denver, Colorado: Protesters in Denver hold up signs that read 'Breonna Taylor deserves better' and 'A badge is not a license to kill' Denver, Colorado: The crowd in Denver gathered on Wednesday evening to chant slogans in support of Black Lives Matter Denver, Colorado: Demonstrators in Denver raise their fists and take a knee to remember Breonna Taylor on Wednesday evening Denver, Colorado: Protesters in Denver kneel during a Black Lives Matter demonstration to protest the decision in the Breonna Taylor case Denver, Colorado: Protesters in Denver hold up signs which read 'My skin is not probable cause' and 'So much bulls*** so little poster' Denver, Colorado: A man wears a smiley face shield as people protest the grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case in Denver on Wednesday Denver, Colorado: People march through downtown Denver chanting slogans and denouncing racial injustice on Wednesday Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylor's case became a major touchstone for nationwide protests that have drawn attention to entrenched racism and demanded police reform. Taylor's 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. 'It's 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.' Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said he authorized a limited deployment of the National Guard. Police and protesters are facing off in Louisville after a Kentucky grand jury cleared three officers of charges for the shooting death of Breonna Taylor (pictured) Beshear 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 state's first black attorney general, said the officers acted in self-defense after Taylor's boyfriend fired at them. He added that Hankison and the two other officers who entered Taylor's 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 Taylor's death.' Cameron said an FBI crime lab determined that Cosgrove fired the bullet that killed Taylor. Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Louisville, Kentucky: Police survey an area where two officers were shot in Louisville on Wednesday night amid protest sparked by a a Kentucky grand jury's decision to clear three officers of charges for the shooting death of Breonna Taylor Louisville, Kentucky: The Louisville Metro Police Department confirmed a shooting at Brooks Street and Broadway at about 8.30pm Wednesday and said the officers were rushed to an area hospital The map above shows the site where two police officers were shot in Louisville on Wednesday night Louisville, Kentucky: Police escort a man out of the area after an officer was shot on Wednesday night Louisville, Kentucky: Bystander video showed a group of people walking down a street when gunfire erupted several hundred yards away where police cars were parked with their lights flashing. At least 14 shots rang out at the person holding the camera started running away from the source Louisville, Kentucky: A protester stands next to a burning pile of trash as tensions boiled over in Louisville's downtown area on Wednesday night Louisville, Kentucky: A crowd is seen marching through an underpass after the 9pm curfew went into effect in Louisville Louisville, Kentucky: Police officers move past Louisville City Hall as a curfew is implemented at 9pm to disperse protesters Louisville, Kentucky: Nightfall gave way to even more violence in the city as fires broke out on the streets Louisville, Kentucky: An armored vehicle is seen near the site of protests in downtown Louisville on Wednesday night Louisville, Kentucky: Armed National Guard members are seen armed and waiting in a vehicle after they were deployed by the governor Louisville, Kentucky: A man removes a cooler box with water after protesters set fire in front of the Louis D Brandeis Hall of Justice Louisville, Kentucky: A fire burns near a food station set up to keep protesters nourished during demonstrations on Wednesday night Walker told police he heard knocking but didn't 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 Trump's list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy. At a news conference, Trump read a statement from Cameron saying 'justice is not often easy.' Fired Louisville detective Brett Hankison (above in his mugshot) was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in connection to the police raid on the night of March 13 He praised both Cameron's handling of the case and the governor calling up of the National Guard. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden told reporters that he didn't have enough information on the decision to comment fully but warned protesters to stay peaceful. 'Do not sully her memory or her mother's by engaging in any violence,' he said. Kamala Harris, Biden's running mate and a former prosecutor, also told reporters she hadn't fully read the decision. 'But there's no question that Breonna Taylor and her family deserved justice yesterday, today and tomorrow, so I'll review it,' she said. 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 Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12million and enact police reforms. William Cauley was arrested following a police appeal. (South Yorkshire Police) South Yorkshire Police have arrested and charged a man over the sexual assault of a four-year-old girl that took place four years ago. William Cauley, of Leeds, had gone missing following the assault and officers sent out an appeal to locate the 30-year-old this week. The force later posted on Facebook that Cauley had been arrested and was in police custody. A spokesperson confirmed to Yahoo News UK that Cauley has now been charged with two counts of sexual assault of a girl under 13. He appeared before Doncaster Magistrates Court this morning and was remanded in custody to appear at Sheffield Crown Court next month. Cauley was being sought over the assault, that took place in Doncaster in September 2016. Read more: Concerns over government's silence around 'long COVID' health problems Officers said that they believed Cauley had been using a number of different names while he was being hunted by officers, including William McNeilly and Billy Cauley. He had recently been living in Leeds but also had connections to South Yorkshire, Humberside, London, Hertfordshire, Northern Ireland and the Thames Valley area. A man speaks at a site where a demonstrator was killed on August 26, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Brandon Bell/Getty Images A federal lawsuit alleges Facebook was negligent when it failed to remove an event page encouraging armed vigilantes to attend protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The 39-page complaint notes that the page was full of threats of violence. "I fully plan to kill looters and rioters tonight," one person wrote. "Use hollow bullets," posted another. "[T]hey expand on contact." The lawsuit, filed on behalf of four plaintiffs, including the partner of a man killed at the protests, argues that Facebook essentially enabled right-wing violence. Other named defendants include Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenage vigilante charged with homicide in connection with the shooting of three people. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. A new lawsuit filed by the life partner of a man shot to death during civil unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, alleges that Facebook enabled paramilitary attacks against those demonstrating against police brutality and that continued negligence by the company could exacerbate post-election violence. The federal lawsuit, filed Tuesday and first reported on by the Wisconsin State Journal, also names Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old vigilante charged with homicide in connection with the shooting of three people, as a defendant. Two other individuals associated with right-wing paramilitary organizations, the Kenosha Guard and the Boogaloo Bois, are also named. An attorney for Rittenhouse did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of four plaintiffs including the partner of the deceased Anthony Huber, charges that Facebook was negligent when it failed to take down an event page posted by the Kenosha Guard calling for people to "take up arms" against "evil thugs" in Kenosha. The 39-page complaint notes that the page was full of threats of violence. "I fully plan to kill looters and rioters tonight," one person wrote. "Use hollow bullets," posted another. "[T]hey expand on contact." Story continues The page was left up despite Facebook receiving a litany of complaints from concerned users. "We removed the shooter's Facebook and Instagram accounts and took action against organizations and content related to Kenosha," a Facebook spokesperson told Business Insider. "We have found no evidence that suggests the shooter followed the Kenosha Guard Page or that he was invited to the Event Page they organized." Rittenhouse's mother drove him across state lines to Kenosha, where the lawsuit alleges he operated "under the tactical supervision" of a right-wing extremist member of the Boogaloo Bois; several of the movement's adherents have been arrested for planning violence against Black Lives Matter protests. "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 for what he called an 'operational mistake,'" the lawsuit notes. "[T]his 'mistake' empowered right-wing militias to inflict extreme violence and deprive Plaintiffs and protesters of their rights." The lawsuit alleges that the social network could exacerbate social unrest in November, noting US President Donald Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he lose the upcoming election. "This refusal to peacefully leave the White House could easily result in the tools and platform that Facebook continues to provide these armed groups being used to broadcast, promote, and prepare another Call to Arms, but this time in our nation's capital," the complaint asserts. Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has been sworn in for a sixth term following an unexpected inauguration ceremony amid mass protests over his reelection last month. Roads in Minsk were sealed off as Lukashenka's escort cortege sped through the city to the September 23 ceremony. A Winnipeg teen convicted in a fatal stabbing case that hinged on the teen victims dying declaration has been handed the maximum youth sentence of seven years custody, and community supervision. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipeg teen convicted in a fatal stabbing case that hinged on the teen victims "dying declaration" has been handed the maximum youth sentence of seven years custody, and community supervision. "The seriousness of the offence and the degree of responsibility makes the maximum length of sentence the only appropriate one," provincial court Judge Julie Frederickson said at a sentencing hearing Tuesday in Winnipeg. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, neither the offender, who was 13 at the time of the September 2018 killing, nor the 17-year-old victim can be identified by name. The now-15-year-old male was convicted of second-degree murder after a trial in January. Frederickson agreed to a defence recommendation the boy be allowed to serve a specialized rehabilitative sentence reserved for youth convicted of serious violent offences and who suffer from a mental or psychological disorder or disturbance. Under the Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision program, youth offenders are provided access to one-on-one counselling, occupational therapy, tutoring, and other specialized services. According to a forensic psychiatric report provided to court, the boy said the killing arose from a dispute over drug territory and gang associations. Court heard at trial the boy chased and stabbed the victim, following an altercation at the McPhillips Street underpass, south of McPhillips Station Casino. Responding police officers testified the victim identified the accused as his attacker before paramedics arrived. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The victim was taken to Health Sciences Centre. He was pronounced dead 2 1/2 hours later. Court heard the 15-year-old boys upbringing was marred by many of the same disadvantages and experiences common to many Indigenous offenders, including substance abuse, Child and Family Services involvement, and a family history connected to residential schools. According to the forensic report, "until he came into custody, he didnt realize he had a chance to live a pro-social lifestyle," Frederickson said. "So entrenched was a criminal lifestyle that family members had him carrying out criminal activities when he was just a child. It was all he knew." Since coming into custody, the once "manipulative" and "bullying" teen has participated in rehabilitative programming, shown a willingness to learn, and expressed a desire to leave the gang life behind, Frederickson said. dean.pritchard@freepress.com Administering neuropsychology evaluations to children online in the comfort of their own homes is feasible and delivers results comparable to tests traditionally performed in a clinic, a new study led by UT Southwestern researchers and Children's Health indicates. The finding, published online this month in the Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, could help expand access to specialists and reduce barriers to care, particularly as the popularity of telemedicine grows during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with a variety of neurological disorders require periodic neuropsychological evaluations to track their cognition, academic skills, memory, attention, and other variables. Typically, these tests are done in clinics, often by specialists in these disorders. However, explains Lana Harder, Ph.D., ABPP, associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at UTSW, many patients travel hundreds of miles to access specialists for their care - a major expense and inconvenience that can also cause fatigue and potentially influence the results. Harder also leads the neuropsychology service and is the neuropsychology training director at Children's Health. Research on adults has shown that these evaluations can be done effectively, with the examiner and patient in different rooms. However, those tests were conducted in controlled clinic or laboratory settings rather than patients' homes, where distractions and technological glitches could confound results. Plus, none of the earlier studies involved children, a population that has its own unique challenges. To evaluate whether teleneuropsychology evaluations could be effectively performed with children at home, Harder, along with Benjamin Greenberg, M.D., professor of neurology and pediatrics at UTSW and co-director with Harder of the Pediatric CONQUER Program at Children's, and their colleagues recruited 58 patients primarily from the Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Program at Children's Medical Center Dallas. This clinic treats patients with neurological autoimmune disorders that target myelin, an insulating layer on nerve cells that is critical to their function. The disorders include transverse myelitis, multiple sclerosis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, optic neuritis, and neuromyelitis optica. The patients ranged in age from 6 to 20 and traveled up to 2,033 miles for visits to the clinic. Each child received the same 90-minute neuropsychology battery twice - once at home and once at the clinic - spaced apart by about 16 days. Half the group received the home test first; the other half got the clinic test first. For the home test, children received a packet of testing materials prior to their test date and, if they did not have a computer or tablet at home, borrowed a tablet from the researchers' office in advance. For both tests, parents or other caregivers left the room, allowing the patient and researcher to interact one on one. The home-based environment had unique challenges compared with the clinic, Greenberg explains: Any distraction, from a barking dog to a doorbell, or technological glitches, such as a poor internet connection, could invalidate the results. While distractions and technology problems occurred intermittently during remote sessions, these were typically fleeting and generally did not interfere with testing sessions. When the researchers compared the results obtained from the home- and clinic-based tests, no significant differences were found. But it's not enough to show that the home-based testing is comparable to the clinic, Harder notes - patients and their caregivers must also be willing and interested in remote testing to make it feasible. To that end, the researchers gave each patient and their caregivers a survey to assess their level of satisfaction with the videoconference-based test. The vast majority (94 percent of caregivers and 90 percent of participants) responded that they were satisfied with home-based testing. If given a choice between remote or in-person, most indicated no preference. Teleneuropsychology testing still needs to be evaluated over a broader age range and array of conditions and measures before it becomes a staple in the field, Harder says. But having this as an option could eventually help children avoid having to travel far distances to access specialists or avoid exposure from in-person visits - a boon during the era of COVID-19, she adds. "This model could allow these young and often medically fragile children to stay put but still receive the care that they need," Harder says. ### Other researchers who contributed to this study include Joy Neumann, Morgan McCreary, and C. Munro Cullum, all of UTSW; Ana Hernandez of Children's Medical Center; and Cole Hague, of Boston Children's Hospital. This work was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Children's Trust. Greenberg is a Distinguished Teaching Professor and a Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders. Cullum holds the Pam Blumenthal Distinguished Professorship in Clinical Psychology. About UT Southwestern Medical Center UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution's faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 23 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 16 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 2,500 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in about 80 specialties to more than 105,000 hospitalized patients, nearly 370,000 emergency room cases, and oversee approximately 3 million outpatient visits a year. OAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS) will host an audio webcast of its third quarter earnings results conference call on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Steve Oakland, Chief Executive Officer and President, and Bill Kelley, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will discuss the results for the third quarter and the outlook for the balance of 2020. An earnings release will be issued before the market opens on the same date, and the accompanying slides will be posted to the "Investors" section of the website at approximately 8:15 a.m. ET. The webcast will be accessible by visiting http://www.treehousefoods.com and by clicking on "Investors", "Events & Presentations". In order to listen to the webcast, users will need to have installed either Real Player or Windows Media Player software, which can be detected and downloaded by visiting the site. A webcast replay will be available for 180 days following the event within the "Investors", "Events & Presentations", "Archived Events & Presentations" section of the Company's website. ABOUT TREEHOUSE FOODS TreeHouse Foods, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of private label packaged foods and beverages in North America. We have 36 production facilities across North America and two in Italy, and our vision is to be the undisputed solutions leader for custom brands for our customers. Our extensive product portfolio includes snacking, beverages and meal preparation products, available in shelf stable, refrigerated, frozen and fresh formats. We have a comprehensive offering of packaging formats and flavor profiles, and we also offer clean label, organic and preservative-free ingredients across almost our entire portfolio. Our purpose is to make high quality food and beverages affordable to all. Additional information, including TreeHouse's most recent statements on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, may be found at TreeHouse's website, http://www.treehousefoods.com. RELATED LINKS http://www.treehousefoods.com SOURCE TreeHouse Foods, Inc. Related Links http://www.treehousefoods.com Native American groups fighting to block a housing development on the West Berkeley Ohlone shellmound won a victory Thursday when the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the site as one of the 11 most endangered historic places in the United States. The new historic designation comes after a three-year battle over the asphalt lot, which for decades served as a parking area for Spengers Fish Grotto, the waterfront seafood joint that shut down in 2018 after 128 years in business. Property owner the Frank Spenger Co. is teaming with Ruegg & Ellsworth to develop 260 housing units on the site, 50% of which would be affordable. Tribal members regard the shellmound as one of the most important and earliest known Ohlone settlements on the shores of San Francisco Bay, with a village dating back 5,700 years. The site served as a burial and ceremonial ground, as well as a lookout with the repository of shells, ritual objects and artifacts forming a massive mound at the center of a string of fishing villages. For city officials the Fourth Street conflict pits badly needed affordable housing against a desire to redress historic wrongs against the native tribes that lived along the bay for thousands of years. The Spengers project, with 130 affordable units, would be a significant addition to the citys affordable housing inventory. Between 2012 and 2019 Berkeley completed 1,300 units of housing, but just 90 were below market rate. There are another 1,047 under construction, of which 81 are affordable. In a statement, Katherine Malone-France, chief preservation officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, called the shellmound a cautionary tale that teaches the pain a people can experience when they are confronted with the loss of connection to their history, and in particular, their sacred sites. Halting the further destruction and desecration of the Shellmound and acknowledging this site as a sacred resource of the Ohlone people demonstrates that preservation can be a powerful force for reconciliation and justice, Malone-France said. While the designation doesnt have any legal teeth, it has proven to be effective in drawing attention to vulnerable sites. Over the last 31 years the National Trust For Historic Preservation has included more than 300 sites on its most endangered lists. Of those, less than 5% have been lost, according to Brian Turner of the National Trusts local office. In the case of the shellmound, there is a very clear threat, he said. We are hoping this national recognition will validate what this local group has been doing to save the site and the attention will help the developer come to their senses. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle 2020 The latest twist comes as the future of the property is tied up in court. The property owner had hoped to speed up approvals under SB35, a state law that allows for streamlining transit-oriented projects with elevated levels of affordable housing. But last October a judge rejected the streamlining application, agreeing with the City of Berkeley that it didnt qualify because it would require the demolition of a historic structure, which is not allowed under SB35. The property owner has appealed that ruling, arguing that a shellmound underneath pavement doesnt qualify as a structure. A decision on the appeal is expected in June. Advocates would like the site preserved as a place to honor the past and serve ceremonial purposes and returned to a more natural state. Ohlone leader Corrina Gould, spokesperson for the Confederated Villages of Lisja, said the designation is really important because we have been trying to save this site for many years. Gould would like to daylight Strawberry Creek, an underground stream that runs through the property, as well as to build an Ohlone education, theater and cultural center on the property. 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. We would like it to remain an open space where we can talk about our history and our culture and continue to pray and have connection to our Ohlone ancestors, she said. So often the Ohlone are talked about in the past tense, when the truth is we still live right here in our territory and have an unbroken tie to this land going back thousands of years. Many Bay Area residents think we dont exist any more. Jennifer Hernandez, an attorney for the property owner and developer, said her client declined to comment on the historic designation. While the city of Berkeley landmarked the site as part of a broader historic district 20 years ago, the property owner commissioned an archaeological study that found the shellmound was not located on the 1900 Fourth St. property but to the west, northwest and northeast of the parking lot. The citys landmarked shellmound district includes a three-block area from University Avenue to Hearst Street, and Interstate 80 over to Fourth Street. Berkeley Vice Mayor Sophie Hahn said the designation really validates the city of Berkeleys position and my position that this is an extremely important historic and cultural resource that should be protected. She said that she hopes the property owner will be willing to sell the property to the city or to a nonprofit, which would allow advocates to go after public and private money. I hope it will inspire the people who own this property to work with us to find a way for them to realize some of the value they see in the property, but also protect the historic and cultural significance, which we feel has an even greater value, she said. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen We're sorry, but we're unable to locate the page you requested. The page may have been removed, renamed, or deleted. You can try searching for the topic using the search button in the right hand corner above. The chief minister said the government was 'keeping its fingers crossed', hoping that the virus cases will 'gradually' come down due to the steps taken by the AAP dispensation Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the second wave of coronavirus pandemic has hit its peak in the national capital with experts hinting that the cases of infection will decline in the coming days. He said the government was "keeping its fingers crossed" and hoped that the COVID-19 cases will "gradually" come down due to the steps taken by the AAP dispensation. Delhi has been witnessing a surge in the number of coronavirus cases in the last few days. "All the experts believe that the second wave (of coronavirus), which had come in Delhi, appears to have hit its peak. Now, the cases will come down in the coming days," Kejriwal told reporters. The COVID-19 cases in the city were by and large under control between 1 July and 17 August and on an average, 1,100-1,200 new cases were being reported everyday, he said. "From 17 August, the cases rose slightly from around 1,100 to 1,500 and as a responsible government, we did not take any risk and immediately scaled up testing from around 20,000 to 60,000 tests per day. "The best way to defeat coronavirus is to conduct aggressive testing to identify and isolate positive cases," the chief minister said. "The coronavirus cases have increased in Delhi because testing was massively scaled up. The daily cases were around 4,500 on 16 September which have now started coming down and currently, there are around 3,700 cases (daily)," he said. According to the chief minister, if the testing would have scaled down to the previous level of 20,000 tests (daily), the cases would also have come down to around 1,500 per day in the city. Kejriwal hoped that the government steps, including increasing containment zones from 550 in mid-August to around 2,000 now, will gradually bring down the number of COVID-19 positive cases in the coming days. On Wednesday, Delhi recorded 3,714 fresh COVID-19 cases as the infection tally in the city mounted to over 2.56 lakh, while the death toll rose to 5,087. More than 60,000 COVID-19 tests were done in the city on Tuesday, according to the bulletin issued by the Delhi health department on Wednesday. The total number of active cases, as on Wednesday, stood at 30,836, it said. New Delhi, Sep 24 : Publisher HarperCollins on Thursday welcomed the lifting of the injunction on the book "Gunning For The Godman", terming it a "victory for free speech". The book is now available on all e-retail platforms and in physical stories. Lifting the injunction against "Gunning for the Godman: The True Story Behind Asaram Bapu's Conviction" on Tuesday, Justice Najmi Waziri of the Delhi High Court noted in his pronouncement that "where there is a fair discussion which is based on established facts and is ex-facie not malicious, there can be no bar to such discussion". The High Court also made observations against the filing of the case on the eve of the book launch which deprived the publisher an opportunity to present the facts before the trial court. On September 4, a lower court here had restrained HarperCollins India from the publication and sale of the book without hearing either the publisher, or the authors, Ajay Lamba (IPS) and Sanjeev Mathur. The order was passed on the eve of the scheduled book launch on September 5. "This book is an honest account of the evil that men do in the name of religion. The injunction was an attempt to suppress the truth. We fought for our right to publish. In the end, truth prevails," HarperCollins Publisher Diya Kar said. The book, soon to become a motion picture, is a no-holds-barred, first-hand account of investigation and eventual conviction of the controversial godman Asaram Bapu, by senior IPS officer Ajay Lamba, then DCP Jodhpur (West) and the special crack team he put together for this case. Reading like a true-crime thriller, the book covers the various twists and turns in the plot, before the accused was apprehended. Asaram Bapu, aka Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani, is now serving a life imprisonment in the Central Jail, Jodhpur, after being convicted for the rape of a minor and also has murder charges against him. Disgraced former Ipswich mayor Paul John Pisasale has pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, 27 counts of fraud and a host of other charges. Pisasale pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on Thursday at Ipswich District Court. Paul Pisasale leaving the Brisbane Roma Street Courts in June, 2017. Credit:Tammy Law Reporting of his plea to several other crimes, related to his years in office as Ipswich mayor, were suppressed in a separate case until the conclusion of the 69-year-old's separate sexual assault case. After Pisasale pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on Thursday, the suppression order was lifted, enabling reporting of his other charges. Turkish-backed groups in Tel Tamr have engaged in armed clashes, leaving fighter on both sides dead and injured reports North Press. On Tuesday, fierce clashes took place between two Turkish-backed armed opposition groups in the countryside of the town of Tel Tamr, north of Hassakeh, northeastern Syria. The clashes took place following a dispute between the Sultan Murad and Ahrar al-Sharqiya groups in the villages of Laylan and Arbain, west of Tel Tamr, leaving casualties, local sources told North Press. Members of Ahrar al-Sharqiya demanded members of the other group change their positions, but their request was rejected, the source said. The dispute developed into an armed clash that resulted in at least three deaths and several injuries in both groups, who were taken to Ras al-Ayn hospitals, according to the source. The source added that the clashes did not stop until the intervention of the Turkish army. A local source from the village of Laylan told North Press that repeated clashes between the armed groups have left a state of fear and panic among the residents in the area. Many residents are thinking of moving to other areas, outside the control of these groups in northeastern Syria, due to insecurity and a lack of job opportunities. The city of Ras al-Ayn is witnessing repeated clashes between armed opposition groups, which leads to deaths and injuries among civilians and material damage to property. 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. What would you trade for bottomless mojitos, gun barrel views; world-class caviar? Some of the worlds better resorts are enough to inspire even the most well-adjusted citizens to consider selling their kidneys. However, typically these thoughts pass, and you head back to the grindstone, settling for Club Med and Economy (and sheets with no thread count). Speaking of regrets, one Maldives resort has recently launched a package that may prompt you to reconsider your life choices and which is part of a broader industry pivot, as lusted after destinations adapt to an increasingly mobile global workforce. Offering those with brimming bank accounts the chance to flee their home offices and work from one of the worlds most idyllic island paradises, The Nautilus Maldives has announced an offer too good to refuse, at an eyewatering price. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Nautilus Maldives (@thenautilusisland) on Aug 2, 2020 at 4:37am PDT The package includes, among many other things, a desk with an ocean view, a personal assistant, non-stop refreshments and a complimentary laundry service. The Nautilus Maldives reopened on September the 1st and its Workation Package gives you the chance to work remotely from the Baa atoll UNESCO biosphere reserve for up to 21 days. Work remotely from paradise your private Nautilus Beach Houses with our exclusive workation package; have the ultimate zoom call background from our castaway sandbank that will be your office for a day, have a private PA on hand 24/7 and continue your corporate errands whilst your children engage in a bespoke educational programme by Young Wonderers, the hotel websites blurb reads. Available from seven nights or longer if you decide you simply cant leave your new paradise office! A seven-night stay for two at one of its 26 beach and ocean houses costs US $23,250 (AU $32,869), while a two-week or three week stay will set you back US$37,850 (AU $53,510) or US $52,000 (AU $73,515) respectively. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Nautilus Maldives (@thenautilusisland) on Aug 29, 2020 at 6:14am PDT As well as soaking up the incredible seclusion of the private island, guests will enjoy daily yoga, fitness and meditation sessions and private sunset dolphin cruises (on board one of Nautilus luxury yachts). As CNN reports, those who book the package also have the option to work on a secluded sandbank with their own personal desk and a shaded sun canopy for a few hours a day a scene thats bound to create a stir on any work video call. Sound tempting? It gets better: according to CNN, Nautilus says it will handle immigration and other processes on guests behalf while they relax in a private lounge at the airport. Who needs something like this in their lives right now? https://t.co/LjMgj0GlE1 Daniel Milligan (@danielrmilligan) September 17, 2020 The Maldives is currently open to all tourists provided they have proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departing from their original destination, CNN has also reported. This latest package also raises questions around the future of luxury travel (and remote work). The Maldives is far from the first destination to launch tasty offers to digital nomads this year, with Sardinia, Japan, Bermuda, Georgia and Estonia all danging hooks in recent months, and travellers responses on Twitter suggesting plenty of interest. So is there a new remote work policy coming for our office? Roy Berman (@Mutantfroginc) July 25, 2020 It must be said that The Nautilus Maldives is the most lavish of the lot. All that remains for rich home workers is to check they are allowed to leave (and re-enter) their home countries and make a booking. The escape awaits. Read Next Ten Massachusetts families took their self-isolation activities to a new level. WHDH reported that 10 Brookline-area households together completed a 40,000-piece puzzle of classic Disney movies. Each of the 10 families picked up a bag of 4,000 puzzle pieces that they individually completed before the whole puzzle was put together, according to WHDH. The households received certificate for their efforts. Eureka! Puzzles & Games, a store located on Beacon Street in Brookline, came up with the idea to create the massive project by bringing together people in the area who may feel separated by the coronavirus pandemic, the news outlet reported. One of the things we wanted to see was how we could make a difference, what can we do to help people stay together even though they are apart, David Leschinsky, the owner of Eureka, told WHDH. Employees at the business brought all the completed puzzle sections together at Eurekas store, but the final product was put on display at the Beacon Street Art Gallery in Brookline, where it currently remains. Leschinsky told WHDH that the project was about more than just a puzzle. Make people smile, make people happy, give people some joy, he said, according to the news outlet. We were really grateful for the response." Related Content: BAY CITY, MI Already required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, a Roscommon man has pleaded guilty to a federal life offense for trying to solicit who he thought was an underage girl for sex. Joseph D. Grad, 45, on Sept. 9 appeared before U.S. District Judge Patricia T. Morris in the federal courthouse in downtown Bay City and pleaded guilty to one count of attempted enticement of a minor. The charge is punishable by up to life in prison; however, Grads sentencing guidelines range from 10.2 to 24.4 years. The conviction mandates five years of supervised release following a term of imprisonment. In an affidavit, a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security wrote that he was contacted in May by police in Roscommon County regarding Grad. An officer with the Richfield Township Department of Public Safety was using a Facebook account to pose as a 15-year-old girl when, on April 20, the account received two unexpected and private messages from Grads Facebook account, the affidavit states. Grad and the undercover officer messaged back and forth, with transcripts of their conversations contained in court files. The exchanges show Grads account almost immediately began sending messages of a sexual nature. Grad repeatedly asked the teen for lewd photos of herself and sent her numerous photos of himself, his dog and his penis, the plea agreement states. He went on to tell her he wanted to meet up with her and gave explicit descriptions of sex acts he wanted her to perform on him. Grad claimed he was 35 years old and made good income from a stable job, while, in reality, he was 45 years old on Social Security benefits, the plea agreement states. Grad emphasized on several occasions how they would not be caught. The undercover officer posing as the teen asked Grad to meet her in a Roscommon Park the afternoon of May 23. Grad agreed, detailing sex acts he was hoping to engage in. The officer asked Grad to bring protection and Mountain Dew. The afternoon of May 23, a team of law enforcement officers set up around the park in question while another team watched Grad leave his apartment, records show. An undercover officer was in the park, wearing a disguise to appear as a teenage girl, court records state. As Grad approached the undercover officer, other police arrested him. In his possession were a bottle of Mountain Dew and two Trojan condoms, the plea agreement states. On being interviewed by investigators, Grad admitted to initiating contact with the supposed minor, asking for lewd photos, and sending photos of himself. Investigators later searched through Grads Facebook account and found the same conversation the undercover officer had engaged in with it. Third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim younger than 16 is a 15-year felony under Michigan statute. In a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Grad said he had made a mistake. He claimed he eventually figured out (the girl) was an undercover officer, but despite that, he still showed up for the meeting, the plea agreement states. In exchange for Grads plea, the prosecution is agreeing to dismiss a count of attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor. Grad in 1998 was convicted in Roscommon County Circuit Court of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim younger than 16. The following year, a judge sentenced him to three to 15 years in prison. The Michigan Department of Corrections discharged Grad in May 2013. The conviction requires Grad to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. In 2015, he was convicted of failing to register as such and was sentenced to 20 months to four years in prison. The MDOC discharged him in October 2018. Grad is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington on Dec. 17. Read more: Saginaw man gets probation for shooting brother in head Mom files lawsuit claiming Bay City man killed son in drunken driving crash First hybrid police vehicle joins fleet at Bay County Sheriffs Office ANN ARBOR, MI The University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security is seeking the publics help to find a missing 71-year-old man. Richard Allen Clark, Sr. walked away shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 from the emergency room at Michigan Medicine, 1500 E Medical Center Drive. Clark, a Novi resident, was previously diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the department at 734-763-1131 or email University of Michigan police Detectives West or Mathews at mjmath@umich.edu or nfrsdlaw@umich.edu. Read more: Man arraigned in shooting death of 11-year-old stepson during youth hunt Drowning victim remembered as jokester, loving family man Preliminary exam delayed for alleged accomplices in Flint murder case involving mask dispute VHA Community Partnership Challenge Community Partnership Spotlight: Hampton VA partnership offers diverse resources across the social determinants of health to local Veterans This is the fifth in a series of articles about how various VA and VHA offices, initiatives, and programs support social determinants of healththe theme of the 2020 VHA Community Partnership Challenge. This article features a 2020 submission from the Hampton VA Medical Center in Hampton, Virginia about how a partnership with a nearby non-profit organization offers a wide assortment of resources to local Veterans. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides comprehensive health services to Americas Veterans, and VHA knows on its own it cant provide every service to every Veteran. Partnerships between VHA and nongovernmental organizations result in more options and increased resources for Veterans. The VHA Community Partnership Challenge (CPC) is an annual contest that recognizes local and national partnerships serving Veterans. By spreading the word about successful partnerships and encouraging their replication across VHA, the CPC is inspiring more VHA staff members to form partnerships of their own, further expanding the delivery of services. The theme of the 2020 VHA CPC is the social determinants of health (SDOH). SDOH are conditions in the environments in which people live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Examples of SDOH are access to transportation, food security, and employment. Winners from the 2020 CPC were recently announced, but VHA is highlighting other outstanding partnership submissions from across the country. Hampton VA Medical Center partnership positively impacts health and quality of life for local Veterans The partnership between the Hampton VA Medical Center (HAMVAMC) and the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic Veterans Network (CVN) offers a variety of programs that are critical in addressing gaps in the allowable care that can be provided to local Veterans by HAMVAMC. This partnership provides a wide array of services across many SDOH for Veterans that help improve access to education, employment, food security, housing, spiritual support, transportation, and child or family support: Education and Employment : Veterans have access to job training, financial counseling, skill building, employment assistance programing, and Microsoft Office training. : Veterans have access to job training, financial counseling, skill building, employment assistance programing, and Microsoft Office training. Food Security : An on-site food pantry, which is stocked by several community organizations, provides nutritious meals to Veterans and their families. : An on-site food pantry, which is stocked by several community organizations, provides nutritious meals to Veterans and their families. Housing : Veterans gain access to streamlined list of community partners who are specifically designed to address housing issues and often achieve same-day results. : Veterans gain access to streamlined list of community partners who are specifically designed to address housing issues and often achieve same-day results. Spiritual support : Holistic healing support via aromatherapy, yoga, meditation, and art therapy is offered to Veterans. : Holistic healing support via aromatherapy, yoga, meditation, and art therapy is offered to Veterans. Transportation : Veterans can acquire free rideshare service transportation through a Lyft Business account. : Veterans can acquire free rideshare service transportation through a Lyft Business account. Child and Family Support: Free on-site childcare services are offered to Veterans and their families during health care appointments. After the partnership between HAMVAMC and CVN was formed in summer 2018, more than 500 Veterans were served in the first fiscal year. At the time of submission in early FY20, 68 Veterans were referred to CVN services by HAMVAMC, and Veteran referrals to HAMVAMC by CVN resulted in more than 1,000 health care encounters. I am extremely proud of the partnership that has been forged with the Cohen Clinic as it represents innovative and creatives ways to support our Veterans and their families in the communities where they live, work, and play, said Susan Lawver, suicide prevention program coordinator at HAMVAMC. As we enhance our engagement with our service partners, better and more comprehensive treatment planning occurs that addresses the social determinants of health that many of our Veterans face. There is no better representation of the public health model that has been shown to more effectively support veterans who are at increased risk of negative outcomes, including increased risk for suicidal thinking and behaviors. This partnership illustrates clearly that we are all in the mission of saving lives and providing word class service together. CVN is a national nonprofit organization consisting of 14 operating clinics and is dedicated to providing low to no-cost behavioral health care to post-9/11 Veterans and their families and to active duty military families. There are currently more than 1,000 employees within the CVN and many more within the local operating sponsor organizations. The partnership between HAMVAMC and CVN is a great example of how VHA partnerships can help improve access to a wide range of SDOH, said Dr. Tracy Weistreich, nurse executive for VHAs Office of Community Engagement (OCE). Replicating this partnerships in other communities across the country to assist Veterans is possible given the extensive presence of VA medical centers and the reach of CVN. OCE hosts the CPC each year to highlight outstanding community-level partnerships, and to encourage others to create similar partnerships to benefit Veterans. OCEs mission is to serve as a trusted resource and a catalyst for the growth of effective partnerships at the national, state, and community level and as a facilitator and access point for public and private entities interested in partnering with VHA to benefit Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. For more information on OCEs work or to contact OCE for partnership opportunities, please visit: https://www.va.gov/healthpartnerships/. External Link Disclaimer: This page contains links that will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites. Posted September 10, 2020 Police stand at an intersection after an officer was shot, in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 23, 2020. (John Minchillo/AP Photo) Suspect Identified in Shooting of 2 Louisville Officers Amid Unrest One suspect is in custody after two Louisville Metro police officers were shot on the night of Sept. 23 following an announcement related to the death of Breonna Taylor. Authorities identified the suspect as 26-year-old Larynzo Johnson. He was charged with wanton endangerment and assault of a police officer, according to WLKY. The shooting occurred after 8:30 p.m., when officers were told about a crowd gathering at South Brook and East College streets. Police chief Rob Schroeder said officers were deployed after reports of shots fired, and when they arrived, gunfire erupted and two officers were injured. Im very concerned about the safety of our officers tonight. Obviously, weve had two officers shot tonight. That is a very serious and a very dangerous condition. I think the safety of our officers and of the community we serve is of the uppermost importance, Schroeder said. Schroeder told the outlet that one of the officers is in stable condition while the other was undergoing surgery in a nearby hospital. The names of the officers werent released. The shooting drew widespread condemnation from elected officials, including President Donald Trump. Police stand at an intersection after an officer was shot, in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 23, 2020. (John Minchillo/AP Photo) Praying for the two police officers that were shot tonight in Louisville, Kentucky. The Federal Government stands behind you and is ready to help. Spoke to @GovAndyBeshear and we are prepared to work together, immediately upon request! he wrote on Twitter. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, released a statement calling on demonstrators to go home. Im asking everybody, please go home, go home tonight, he said. There will be many times over the coming days where there will be an opportunity to be heard, and so many people are listening right now. Additionally, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said protesters should return home. If you want to protest, please return during the daylight to peaceably protest. Violence does not get us one step closer to a fair, just, and equitable Louisville, he said in a statement. Our hearts go out tonight to the two officers who were shot. Democrat presidential nominee former Vice President Joe Biden denounced the violence in a Sept. 23 tweet. Even amidst the profound grief & anger todays decision generated, violence is never & can never be the answer, he said. Those who engage in it must be held accountable. Jill & I are keeping the officers shot tonight in Louisville in our prayers. We wish them both a swift & full recovery. The FBI, meanwhile, said its investigating, and assisting local police. The Louisville Police Department confirmed that 127 people were arrested Sept. 23. The unrest came after Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced that a former Louisville officer, Brett Hankison, was charged with wanton endangerment after he allegedly fired shots into Taylors neighbors apartment. Taylor was killed on March 13 when Louisville police officers executed a search warrant on her apartment. They knocked and announced themselves and, when nobody answered, broke inside. They were met in the hallway by Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who had his gun drawn, according to Cameron. Walker shot one of the officers in the leg, upon which the officers returned fire, killing Taylor. Hankison was not the officer who hit Taylor. Taylors death was cited as one of the most common reasons for protests against police in cities across the country, together with the death of George Floyd during his arrests in Minneapolis in May. Since then, thousands of protests have erupted, hundreds turning violent. Typically, the protests stay peaceful during the day but turn violent at night. The shooting of the two officers comes about two weeks after two Los Angeles Sheriffs Department deputies were shot in an ambush attack. A suspect in the case is still at large. Petr Svab contributed to this report. Vi, which recently rebranded from the erstwhile Vodafone-Idea, has launched new tariff plans for its prepaid customers. The new plans follow the companys recent branding after the Vodafone-Idea conglomerate had previously unified from Vodafone India and Idea Cellular. Under its new regime, new prepaid plans have been announced with reduced benefits. For example, Vi now offers Zee5 subscription with only four of the unlimited recharge plans, instead of all of them. Here, we take a look at how Vi prepaid plans look after the tweaks. Vis unlimited plans offer bundled talktime, data and extra benefits such as Zomato and Mobile Premier League (MPL) discounts. Four unlimited plans also include free year-long Zee5 subscriptions, while one add-on plan offers a Zee5 subscription as well. Vi is also offering extra data and other offers, if customers recharge from their website and mobile apps. Under add-ons, users can add data, SMS and caller tunes to their existing plans. Value packs, on the other hand, are simple talktime recharge plans that include combos. Here are all the prepaid recharge plans offered by Vi at the moment. Unlimited Plans Vi unlimited plans start from Rs. 19, and go all the way up to Rs. 2,595. The plans are: Rs. 19 - Unlimited talktime, 200MB data, with 2 days validity. Rs. 129 - Unlimited talktime, 2GB data, with 24 days validity Rs. 149 - Unlimited talktime, 3GB data, with 28 days validity Rs. 199 - Unlimited talktime, 1GB data per day, with 24 days validity Rs. 218 - Unlimited talktime, 6GB data, with 28 days validity Rs. 219 - Unlimited talktime, 1GB data per day, with 28 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 248 - Unlimited talktime, 8GB data, with 28 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 249 - Unlimited talktime, 1.5GB data per day, with 28 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 269 - Unlimited talktime, 4GB data, with 56 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 299 - Unlimited talktime, 4GB data per day, with 28 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 379 - Unlimited talktime, 6GB data, with 84 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 398 - Unlimited talktime, 3GB data per day, with 2 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 399 - Unlimited talktime, 1.5GB data per day, with 56 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 405 - Unlimited talktime, 90GB data, with 28 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers, and Zee5 subscription. Rs. 449 - Unlimited talktime, 4GB data per day, with 56 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 499 - Unlimited talktime, 1.5GB data per day, with 70 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 555 - Unlimited talktime, 1.5GB data per day, with 77 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 558 - Unlimited talktime, 3GB data per, with 56 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs 595 - Unlimited talktime, 2GB data per day, with 56 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers, and Zee5 subscription. Rs. 599 - Unlimited talktime, 1.5GB data per day, with 84 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 699 - Unlimited talktime, 4GB data per day, with 84 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 795 - Unlimited talktime, 2GB data per day, with 84 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers, and Zee5 subscription. Rs. 819 - Unlimited talktime, 2GB data per day, with 84 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 1,499 - Unlimited talktime, 24GB data, with 365 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 2,399 - Unlimited talktime, 1.5GB data per day, with 365 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers. Rs. 2,595 - Unlimited talktime, 2GB data per day, with 365 days validity. Comes with Zomato and MPL offers,and Zee5 subscription. Data Add-ons Data add-on plans start with Rs. 16, and go all the way up to Rs. 355. One add-on plan also offers Zee5 subscription. Rs. 16 - 1GB Data, valid for 24 hours Rs. 48 - 3GB Data, valid for 28 days Rs. 98 - 12GB Data, valid for 28 days Rs. 251 - 50GB Data, valid for 28 days Rs. 351 - 100GB Data, valid for 56 days Rs. 355 - 50GB Data, valid for 28 days. Also offers Zee5 subscription. SMS Add-ons Vi is offering only three SMS plans. They are: Rs. 12 - 120 SMS, valid for 10 days Rs. 26 - 250 SMS, valid for 28 days Rs. 36 - 350 SMS, valid for 28 days Caller tune Add-ons Vi only has two caller tune add-ons: Rs. 47 - Keeps callertune for 28 days Rs. 78 - Keeps it for for 89 days Combo Value packs: Combo value packs offer customers limited data and talktime. Here are the combo packs Vi offers: Rs. 39 - Rs. 30 talktime, 100 MB data, valid for 14 days Rs. 49 - Rs. 38 talktime, 300 MB data, valid for 28 days Rs. 79 - Rs. 64 talktime, 400 MB data, valid for 28 days Rs. 95 - Rs. 74 talktime, 200 MB data, valid for 56 days Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - A delegation of the General Secretariat of the East African Community (EAC) is in Burundi as part of a mission to inform and support the work of the National Commission for Truth and Reconciliation (TRC), the public radio reported here Thursday Extreme weather changes, sea-level rise, and climate change threaten the destruction of cultural landmarks and heritage sites in Africa. Scientific Report According to scientists in a report published in Azania, intervention should save such heritage sites. Archaeologists from Sudan attempted to stop the Nile River's floodwater from destroying the al-Bajrawiya UN World Heritage Site. Although it is normal for the river to flood each year, the people in the area noticed that the water had spread much farther this time. The authors of the Azania report have identified several sites that they consider under threat. READ: Thai National Park Returns Trash of Campers by Mail Old Town, Lamu, Kenya According to UNESCO, Lamu's Old Town is Swahili's most preserved and oldest East African settlement. Many East African coastal villages and towns have already been abandoned, but in Lamu, human habitation has continued for seven centuries. According to the UN, the area is now also an important center for Swahili and Islamic cultural studies. Unfortunately, Lamu is severely affected by the retreat of the shoreline. According to Clarke, this is partly due to sea-level rise and the development of the large Lamu port, which destroys mangrove forests preventing the area from being flooded. READ ALSO: Malama ai Hawai'i: 40% of O'ahu Beaches Could Disappear by 2050 Suakin, Northeast Sudan Suakin used to have a vital Red Seaport, which the Egyptian pharaohs three millennia ago used for exploration and trade. Afterward, Suakin was used by Muslims to go to Mecca. The port was also an essential part of the Red Sea slave trade, and the Ottoman Empire also took control of it. It finally lost prominence when Port Sudan in the north was constructed in the early 1900s. It is now mostly in ruins, although it still has fine mosques and houses. University of East Anglia professor Joanne Clarke is researching the speed of loss due to sea-level rise and coastal erosion. She says that if intervention is not done, what remains now will eventually be lost. Comoros Island The volcanic archipelago of Comoros off East Africa has several sites that are well preserved through the centuries, including a palace and a medina. According to Clarke, it is severely threatened by the rise in sea levels. The study says that medium to high carbon emissions worldwide will inundate African coasts by the year 2100. This threat looms over Guinea, Nigeria, Gambia, Togo, Congo, Benin, Tunisia, Comoros, and Tanzania. Ghana's Castles and Forts Ghana's coast has many fortified trade posts constructed from 1482 to 1786, stretching 310 miles or 500 kilometers. They were built and occupied by various traders at various times, including Portugal, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Germany, the UK, and Holland. It was also crucial in the trade of gold and the slave trade. These forts are now highly threatened by storm surges and sea-level rise. According to Clarke, architecture like Keta's Fort Prinzenstein is eroding. Djenne Mud Houses, Mali The approximately 2,000 iconic mud houses of Mali are in Djenne, inhabited since the year 250 BC as a market town and a link to the gold trade in the Sahara. It was also a center of West African Islamic propagation in the 1400s and 1500s. Climate change has caused a decrease in sound quality mud, and crop failures forced the people to use cheaper soil, drastically affecting the town's appearance. READ: Tipping Points of the Current Climate Crisis Namibia's Twyfelfontein Rock Art Due to climate change, Twyfelfontein rock art made by hunter-gatherers two millennia ago may be lost due to increased humidity and bacterial and fungal proliferation on the rocks. Disappearing Cultural Heritage Clarke wants to shed light on cultural treasures that are barely known to the world, fearing they will disappear without being recognized. She says that our natural heritage protects our cultural heritage, and destroying the former will also expose the latter. And while some countries can protect their cultural heritage from climate change, such as Egypt, others like Somaliland need help to defend theirs, like their ancient cave drawings. These archaeological treasures, cultural landmarks, and heritage sites in Africa can disappear from extreme weather changes, sea-level rise, and climate change. READ NEXT: Facebook Claims It's Stopping Climate Change Misinformation; Scientists and Environmentalists Unconvinced Check out more news and information on Climate Change on Nature World News. Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg arrives on stage for the Democratic presidential primary debate at the Charleston Gaillard Center in Charleston, S.C., on Feb. 25, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Florida AG Requests FBI Probe Into Bloombergs $16 Million Felon Voter Donation Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on Wednesday requested an investigation into $16 million in donations to felon prisoners made by billionaire Michael Bloomberg. In a letter to the special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Tampa and the commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Moody said that a preliminary review of public information by her office suggests that a further inquiry is required. Bloomberg donated $16 million to a group that is paying off felon prisoners debts so that they can legally vote in the election on Nov. 3. After preliminarily reviewing this limited public information and law, it appears further investigation is warranted, Moody wrote. Accordingly, I request that your agencies further investigate the matter and take appropriate steps as merited. The letter cites a statement from the Florida Department of State Division of Elections that says even otherwise innocuous offering of an incentive simply to vote could run afoul of the law depending on the circumstances. The former Democratic presidential candidate has helped raise more than $20 million so that felons who completed their prison sentences can vote in the upcoming presidential election. Bloomberg also has pledged $100 million to help Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden win Florida. 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, Bloomberg said in a written statement. 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 for President Donald Trumps 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 their 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 $5 million before Bloomberg made calls to raise almost $17 million more, according to Bloomberg staffers. The money is targeted for felons who registered to vote while the law was in question and who owe $1,500 or less. That accounts for about 31,100 people, the staffers said. In a state that decided the 2000 presidential election by 537 votes, these votes could be critical in a year when polls show Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden in a dead heat. Organizers for the group say they arent targeting people registered with a particular political party. The group said that other donors include John Legend, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, Ben & Jerrys, Levi Strauss & Co., the Miami Dolphins, the Orlando Magic, the Miami Heat, and Stephen Spielberg. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The report, "Where we stand on climate disclosures and why we need them", applied NLP techniques to analyze 277 documents for climate risk disclosures from 182 companies between July 2019 and July 2020. The tool could enable investors to gauge the quality of companies' climate disclosures in a scalable fashion. The report calls for tighter links between climate risk exposures and financial performance and adoption of more forward-looking information in truthful, transparent, and communicable disclosures, with the help of scalable technology tools to automatically assess disclosure quality. Overview Despite companies increasing adoption of climate disclosure frameworks such as the international Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), there is wide variation in the adoption of specific recommendations. The report found: 1. Japanese companies have the highest incidence of discussions of climate risks in their sustainability reports, followed closely by European and US companies. Chinese companies lag significantly behind their global peers. Among the four major equity indices examined, including the CSI 300, S&P 500, EURO STOXX 50, and Nikkei 225, Japanese companies lead in terms of incidence of climate risk discussions. Fifty-two percent of companies in the Nikkei 225, which represents 68% of market capitalization, discuss climate risks in their company reports. Forty percent of EURO STOXX 50 companies, representing 44% of market capitalization, and 33% of S&P 500 companies, representing 53% of market capitalization, do so. Chinese companies in the CSI 300 index significantly lag behind. Only 3% of companies, representing 13% of market capitalization, currently discuss climate risks in their sustainability reports. Source: Analysis of Bloomberg data 2. Among US and Chinese companies that disclose climate risks, the report identified six distinct themes: "Energy usage", "Governance", "Human rights and employee health and safety", "Climate-related risk management", "Emissions", and "Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting and materiality". The textual analysis focused on a S&P 500 and CSI 300 companies because they are the most representative indices of the US and China , the world's two largest economies, which constitute 52 percent of the global equity market. , the world's two largest economies, which constitute 52 percent of the global equity market. "Emissions" is the best covered theme (21.4%) , while "GRI reporting and materiality" received the least coverage (10.1%). , while "GRI reporting and materiality" received the least coverage (10.1%). A mapping of the six themes across TCFD's four recommendations pillars, "Governance", "Strategy", "Risk management", and "Metrics and targets", found that none of the six themes identified fits exactly into the "Strategy" pillar. This suggests that companies under-disclose on "Strategy" related to climate change. "Metrics and targets" is the best covered pillar. 3. Despite international frameworks such as the TCFD, which recommends linking climate risk exposures and financial performance, financial impact metrics are not well disclosed by companies. Purely climate-related metrics have higher disclosure rates. Among companies that provide climate disclosures, more than 90% report on metrics related to carbon emissions and energy usage . The rates are similar across most sectors: within every sector, more than 90 percent disclose carbon emission and energy use . Transportation is an exception. . The rates are similar across most sectors: within every sector, . Transportation is an exception. Disclosure of water usage is less common, with an average rate of 58% of companies in each sector including coverage. is less common, with an average rate of 58% of companies in each sector including coverage. Land use is considerably underreported , with only 6% of companies disclosing it, possibly because it is only relevant for certain sectors. , with only 6% of companies disclosing it, possibly because it is only relevant for certain sectors. Financial impact metrics are not well disclosed by companies. This is especially true for impact on capital and financing , with disclosure from only 16% of companies. , with disclosure from only 16% of companies. An analysis by sector found that insurance companies are more articulate in quantitative disclosures on "asset & liabilities" impacts, together with the Infrastructure and Transportation sectors. The latter are also better than other sectors in covering the "revenue and expenditures" dimension. 4. The report calls for Chinese companies to catch up with their global peers by taking the step to disclose in the first place. For all companies, there is still gap between current state of disclosures and requirements from guidelines such as the TCFD. Companies should establish tighter links between climate risk disclosures and financial performance. Companies can conduct analyses on key forthcoming policies related to the transition to a low-carbon economy, for example carbon pricing and changes in energy mix, to project costs and opportunities in terms of cost of capital, valuations, and market share. Ping An is working on asset-repricing models for portfolios that price in climate risks, based on portfolio companies' specific revenue streams and the potential impact of physical and transition policy risks. Companies can conduct analyses on key forthcoming policies related to the transition to a low-carbon economy, for example carbon pricing and changes in energy mix, to project costs and opportunities in terms of cost of capital, valuations, and market share. is working on asset-repricing models for portfolios that price in climate risks, based on portfolio companies' specific revenue streams and the potential impact of physical and transition policy risks. Companies should move from backward-looking to forward-looking information when disclosing climate risks. Backward-looking data, such as carbon footprints, have limited relevance for company valuations, as the latter are based on future financial prospects. In addition to current emission data, companies should use forward-looking projections, such as future production curves, and disclose investments and/or strategies that companies are currently adopting to address climate risks going forward. The emergence of climate-related tail risk metrics, such as climate Value-at-Risk, which gauges the potential for asset-price corrections due to climate change, is promising and supports market participants' efforts to screen for resilience in the face of downside risks brought about by climate change. Backward-looking data, such as carbon footprints, have limited relevance for company valuations, as the latter are based on future financial prospects. In addition to current emission data, companies should use forward-looking projections, such as future production curves, and disclose investments and/or strategies that companies are currently adopting to address climate risks going forward. The emergence of climate-related tail risk metrics, such as climate Value-at-Risk, which gauges the potential for asset-price corrections due to climate change, is promising and supports market participants' efforts to screen for resilience in the face of downside risks brought about by climate change. Business needs to move to truthful, transparent, and communicable disclosures with scalable tools for automatic detection of disclosure quality. The lack of unified standards, clear definitions, well-accepted methodologies, and stricter enforcement on disclosures may have made it easy for companies to misrepresent their environmental sustainability. Regulators and professional standards bodies must lead companies to move to more trustworthy and transparent disclosures. Analytics tools showcased in this report can be used to assess the comprehensiveness of companies' climate disclosures and detect potential "greenwashing" or misrepresentation. Application of these tools across particular sectors could inform the creation of standardized indicators of climate risk disclosure that would enable ranking of climate risk disclosure performance in a scalable fashion. The report is part of a broader joint project on "Climate Risk and Financial Innovation" between Ping An Digital Economic Research Center and Imperial College London. The collaboration aims to leverage cutting-edge academic research and industry expertise to develop robust methodologies for assessing the impact of climate risks on investment assets. These methodologies will be deployed to inform the development of innovative financial products such as disclosure transparency index, new insurance contracts and financial instruments related to climate risk valuation, and the provision of advisory services to the industry. 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 www.pingan.cn. About Ping An Digital Economic Research Center Ping An Digital Economic Research Center utilizes more than 50 TB high frequency data points, more than 30 years of historical data and more than 1.5 billion data points to drive research on the "AI + Macro Forecast" and provide insights and methods towards precise macroeconomic trends. About OneConnect OneConnect is a leading technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions in China. The Company's platform provides cloud-native technology solutions that integrate extensive financial services industry expertise with market-leading technology. The Company's solutions provide technology applications and technology-enabled business services to financial institutions. Together they enable the Company's customers' digital transformations, which help them increase revenue, manage risks, improve efficiency, enhance service quality and reduce costs. Our technology-as-a-service platform strategically covers multiple verticals in the financial services industry, including banking, insurance and asset management, across the full scope of their businesses from sales and marketing and risk management to customer services, as well as technology infrastructure such as data management, program development, and cloud services. SOURCE Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. Related Links www.pingan.cn At least 28 people have died, including nine children, after a gas tanker exploded and burst into flames on a highway in Nigeria. Bisi Kazeem, a spokesman for road safety agency the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), said the accident took place opposite a petrol station along Zariagi-Lokoja highway in the African state of Kogi on Wednesday. According to local reports, the tanker lost control and rammed into five cars, three tricycles and two motorcycles on the busy highway. It then fell on one of the five cars carrying a family, crushing them, before bursting into flames. The family did not survive the incident. In a statement on Twitter, the Federal Road Safety Corps said Mr Kazeem commiserated with the victims of the inferno and promised to put preventative measures in place. It said: The Federal Road Safety Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, received with shock the early morning crash of a tanker leading to inferno in which lives and properties were lost at Felele, a suburb of Lokoja, today [23 September]. Local reports added the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, said he was shocked and sad over the fatal tanker explosion. A statement issued by his chief press secretary to the governor, Onogwu Mohammed, said: Governor Bello is very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives, many vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire, while expressing his deepest condolences to the family of those affected by the ugly occurrence. Road traffic incidents in Nigeria are said to be common due to the poor maintenance of the roads and low safety standards. In 2018, a crash involving a tanker and two other vehicles on the Zariagi-Lokoja highway resulted in three deaths and five people injured, after the accident saw the tanker burst into flames. Additional reporting by Reuters This past June we gave our opinion on why the Intel-Apple split is a disaster for Intel. That post focused primarily on the desktop arguing that the computing power of Apple desktop systems will soon be so much greater than those based on Intel that PCs will lose share. We didnt mention that Windows machine makers will need to adopt ARM architectures as well to stay competitive but that will happen. This leads us to the data center which we touched on when we wrote about Nuvia and their initial funding in November of last year. What Apple and others have shown possible is the power per watt of computing of the ARM design is superior to Intel-based on reduced instruction sets versus more complex instruction sets. Classic disruption theory says the more inexpensive, mass-produced product will often evolve to the point where it takes out the more specialized high-end competitor. The hard disk market is the classic case where RAID technology allowed smaller, lower-capacity, cheaper disks to take out the more specialized large disk competitors. Nuvia just raised $240 million dollars and this shift is the reason They believe and obviously, their investors agree that the data center will be a winner-take-all area thanks to the history of the market and our shared experience of looking at the search market, e-commerce and others where a single vendor dominates. What Nuvia has done is take the people with chip design experience at Apple, Google and others and have them apply similar principles of maximizing power per watt in the data center. Two trends make the company unstoppable if no other serious competitor emerges. Lets leave NVIDIA out of the discussion for this post. Hyperscale data center growth is astronomical and they have serious heat dissipation and power constraints. The former is often the bigger issue. According to Nuvia, the maximum power a CPU can be allocated is between 1W-4.5W in such a center. They believe the NUVIA Phoenix CPU core has the potential to reset the bar for the market. As they make their case, they show what Apple has done see the grey line to the left. The performance Cupertino achieves at 4W is similar to what an Intel Core i7 does at 16W. Their specialized chip will have twice the performance of its competitors based on modeling techniques they employ. They are being a bit coy right now about the details but that makes sense because they likely dont want to be wrong about the end-result of what their chip will be able to accomplish when it is released in 2022. The server chip market is obviously huge around $10 billion today and greater than $15 billion by 2025. If there is one winner or even a major player, this is a tremendous return on investment for the investors. Of course, we know with so much at stake, Intel itself is going to ensure they dont lose their lead, doing everything they can. The company has had some stumbles lately but decades of success tell us we shouldnt count them out. In addition, there are a lot of talented ARM chip designers out there who could start a competitor and existing companies with ARM chip designers in-house who are paying close attention to what is happening here. The good news is that the industry is working towards maximizing the power per watt of a hyperscale data center. This in turn means the data center becomes more efficient. In this case using todays numbers of the performance of current CPUs compared to Nuvias projections, a hyperscale data center will be able to increase its total compute power by 8x without increasing its heat generation. This is a huge jump for the industry if their estimates are accurate. See the ONLY networking, UCaaS, SD-WAN and Tech companies that matter at the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW. This Event has been called the BEST SHOW in 5 YEARS and the Best TECHNOLOGY EVENT of 2020. 2020 participants included: Amazon, Cisco, Google, IBM, ClearlyIP, Avaya, Vonage, 88, Comcast Business, BlueJeans, CoreDial, Dell, Edify, Epygi, FreeSWITCH, Fuze, Grandstream, Granite, Intrado, Frontier Business, Fujitsu, Jenne, West, Konftel, Intelisys, Martello, NetSapiens, OOMA, Oracle, OpenVox, Peerless Network, Phone Sentry, Phone.com, Poly, QuestBlue, RingByName, Sangoma, SingTel, SkySwitch, Spracht, Spectrum, Sprint, Tallac, Tech Data, Telarus, TCG, Teledynamics, Teli, Telinta, Telispire, Telstra, TransNexus, Unified Office, Vital PBX, VoIP Supply, Voxbone, VoIP.MS, Windstream, XCALY, XORCOM, Yealink, Yubox, and ZYCOO. Full List. Join 8K others with $25B+ in IT buying power who plan 2021 budgets! Including 3,500+ resellers! A unique experience with a collocated Future of Work Expo, SD-WAN Expo, and MSP Expo New Dates! June 22-25, 2021, Miami, FL. Register now. Some forms of blindness and visual impairment can be cured with a corneal transplant surgery using donated eye tissue. However, federal regulations in the United States and Canada severely restrict the ability of sexually active gay and bisexual men from donating their eye tissue. Corneal donation in the United States is limited by a decades-old policy that bans men from becoming donors if they have had sex with another man in the past five years. Canada similarly bans corneal donations from men who had sex with another man during the previous 12 months. These restrictions disqualified as many as 3,217 corneal donations from gay and bisexual men in 2018, despite a worldwide need for corneas for vision-restoring surgery and a lack of scientific evidence of harm caused by corneas from these men, according to a new study published in the September 24 issue of the journal JAMA Ophthalmology. With millions of people across the world in need of corneal transplants, these discarded corneas from gay and bisexual men could be used to address the shortage and safely restore vision to thousands of patients with corneal blindness or visual impairment." Michael A. Puente, MD, lead author, assistant professor of ophthalmology, University of Colorado School of Medicine The study is the first of its kind to review how these policies have restricted corneal donations and prevented patients from receiving sight-restoring care. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's prohibition on corneal donation by men who have sex with men was instituted in May 1994, out of concern that HIV rates were disproportionately high in that demographic. At the time, HIV tests were unreliable up to six months after viral exposure. Since then, however, HIV testing has become faster and increasingly reliable, identifying infection within four to eight days of exposure. All corneal donors in the United States are required to undergo three separate HIV tests. Despite these advances, the FDA continues to require gay and bisexual corneal donors to be abstinent for five years, even if all three HIV tests are negative. "With modern virologic testing and a better understanding of the low risk of HIV transmission through corneal transplants, this five-year deferral policy for gay men is not supported by current science," Puente said. "We ask federal regulators to reconsider these outdated policies which are depriving patients of the possibility of sight restoration." The United States and Canada are outliers when it comes to restricting corneal donations from gay and bisexual men, the article says. Many countries, including Spain, Italy, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, allow gay and bisexual men to donate their eye tissue just as easily as heterosexual donors. Other countries have deferral periods far shorter than five years. For example, the United Kingdom allows corneal donation by gay and bisexual men after only three months of abstinence, while the Netherlands and France only require gay and bisexual corneal donors to be abstinent for four months. The article in JAMA Ophthalmology also reports that the risk of HIV transmission via corneal transplantation is low, further indicating that the restrictions should be reconsidered. There has never been a reported case of HIV transmission through corneal transplant surgery. In 10 reported cases of corneal transplants from the 1980s and 1990s using tissue from donors who were found to be HIV-positive after surgery, none of the corneal recipients contracted the virus. Meanwhile, all 12 patients who received solid organ transplants, such as hearts, lungs, and kidneys, from those same donors did contract HIV, indicating that the corneas did not carry enough virus, if any, for transmission. These cases date from a time when HIV tests were unreliable, but now all corneal donors in the United States and Canada are required to undergo three separate highly reliable modern HIV tests. The cornea's avascularity likely prevents it from being a major reservoir of the virus, the JAMA Ophthalmology article says. To calculate the number of corneal donations lost in one year due to the federal restrictions on corneal donation by gay and bisexual men, Puente and his co-authors surveyed all 65 eye banks in the United States and Canada to investigate how many potential corneal donors were disqualified in 2018 due to these federal restrictions. The survey data was gathered from May 2019 to February 2020. Fifty-four of the 65 eye banks responded to the inquiries. Of those responding, 24 were able to provide a specific number of donation referrals that were rejected specifically due to the federal restrictions on gay and bisexual corneal donors. Using the reported data, Puente and his colleagues calculated an estimated number of potential corneal donations that were discarded in 2018 due solely to the donors' sexual orientation. They estimate it was between 1,558 and 3,217 eyes. The need for donated corneas is substantial. An estimated 12.7 million people around the world need a corneal transplant, with only one cornea available for every 70 corneal transplants needed. Despite improvements in the reliability and efficiency of HIV tests, restrictive federal policies for cornea donations have not changed, even as limits on blood donation have been relaxed. Prior to 2015, gay men in the United States were subject to a lifetime ban on blood donation. In 2015, an FDA review concluded that a lifetime ban was no longer scientifically justified and subsequently recommended that gay blood donors must be abstinent for one year. In April 2020, the FDA announced that blood donors should be deferred for only three months in cases when a man had sexual contact with another man. In cases of solid-organ donation, there is no deferral period at all. Meanwhile, gay corneal donors are still required to be abstinent for five years. "If it's safe for gay men to donate their blood after three months of abstinence, I can think of no scientific reason to continue to require gay men to be abstinent for five years to donate their eyes," Puente said. "This policy can be changed without increasing the risk of HIV transmission, and I would urge authorities to act as soon as possible to help patients who are waiting for sight-restoring surgery." The number of crop stubble burning cases in Punjab has been increasing over the past five days, especially in Amritsar district, satellite images released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) have shown. Nasa also warned that with plumes of smoke being seen over Delhi, the citys air quality may also deteriorate in the coming weeks. Delhi government data shows that last year stubble burning accounted for 44% of the citys air pollution. Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said that Punjab produces 20 million tonnes of crop stubble out of which 9 million tonnes were burnt last year. In Haryana, 1.23 million tonnes of the 7 million tonnes stubble were burnt by farmers. The Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (Epca) had on Tuesday written to the chief secretaries of Punjab and Haryana, asking the states to control cases of stubble burning. In his letter to the two states, Epca chief Bhure Lal said it was imperative that early action be taken to control these fires ahead of the winters to control the annual pollution spike in Delhi. Data provided by Pawan Gupta, a research scientist at the Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR), Universities Space Research Association, shows that early instances of stubble burning started appearing on satellite images from September 12 this year, and the number of incidents is consistently increasing. The worst affected district was Amritsar in Punjab. Other districts where red dots, which indicate fires, are being observed are Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and parts of Firozpur. Also read: No option but to burn stubble, say farmers as doctors worry about Covid Data shows that between September 20 and September 24, 60-100 farm fires were reported daily from Amritsar. From September 22, the satellite images spotted caught plumes of smoke over the national capital. Satellite images show smoke over north India since September 22. This hazy cover over northern India is most likely because stubble burning activity has started, said Gupta, who is also leading a community forum of environment experts and government representatives to understand the impact of these fires on the local environment and look for solutions to control crop residue burning. Scientists at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that currently north-westerly winds are blowing across Delhi, which means that the smoke from Punjab and Haryana will directly be carried to the city, deteriorating the air quality here. The only respite is that for the next two days the wind speeds will improve to 20-25kmph. But after that, the wind speed will reduce again and if the stubble burning activity continues to grow, the pollution levels will also see a spike in the coming weeks, said Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMDs regional weather forecasting centre. A senior official of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) said stubble burning cases are under control and the monitoring teams are keeping a close watch on violators. Also read: First stubble fires start to show up on Nasa map We are monitoring the stubble burning activity through our remote sensing system. There is awareness among farmers but our teams have started visiting villages to stop stubble burning, said the PPCB official, on the condition of anonymity. On Thursday, Delhis average air quality index (AQI), according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), was 104, in the moderate zone. On Wednesday, the citys air was satisfactory with an AQI value of 76. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indigenous Australians will create a new Aboriginal flag if the government doesn't buy the copyright for the current one, a former Olympian has warned. Nova Peris, the first indigenous Australian to win an Olympic gold medal, said the Federal Government should be purchasing the flag's copyright as 'a matter of national emergency'. While most flags are not subject to copyright, the Aboriginal flag is unique because its creator Howard Thomas designed the flag in 1971 and won a High Court battle in 1997 to receive payment for its use. Ms Peris warned a senate inquiry that if the copyright wasn't bought, then Indigenous Australians would design and create a new one. Nova Peris, the first indigenous Australian to win an Olympic gold medal, said the federal government should be purchasing the flag's copyright as 'a matter of national emergency' (Pictured at the world premiere of the Adam Goodes documentary) Cathy Freeman walks a lap of honour, carrying the Australian and Aboriginal Flags, after winning Gold in the Womens 400m Final in 2002 'I do believe the community will turn its back on the existing design and move to create a new symbol that represents the freedom, identity and survival of us Aboriginal peoples,' she wrote to the inquiry, Sydney Morning Herald reported. Since Mr Thomas won his case, Ms Peris said there has been a significant 'decrease in the visibility and availability' of products with the Aboriginal flag. 'It has also meant that for the first time since the early 1970s, that Aboriginal people are electing to not use the flag, starting conversations about designing a new flag.' Mr Thomas enlisted three companies to control copyright licenses, including WAM clothing in 2018. This means WAM Clothing collects fees from its use, and then passes a portion of the money back to Mr Thomas. It also means the flag cannot be used on clothing or in any media without the consent of WAM. Ben Wooster (left) and Semele Moore (right) with Aboriginal Flag designer Harold Thomas (centre) after their company WAM Clothing was given a copyright license in 2018 Mr Thomas (pictured) won a High Court battle in 1997 to become the flag's sole copyright owner, before passing the copyright licenses for different products on to other companies Ms Peris (pictured) said the taxpayer should not be forking out to buy the copyright from Mr Thomas WAM director Semele Moore said the copyright agreement was not stopping people from using the Aboriginal flag for personal use. Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt said the government will respect all parties involved in the acquisition of the design. 'I commit to doing everything I can to bring about a resolution that respects not only the artist of the flag, but a resolution that respects the rights, enterprise and opportunity of all Australians,' he previously said. An online petition calling for the government to step in and buy the copyright has so gained more than 144,000 signatures. The mother of Julian Assange's children has revealed how the couple was able to secretly conceive their two sons while he was hiding out at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. South African-born lawyer Stella Moris is currently raising her two young boys, Gabriel, three, and Max, one, alone in the UK while their Wikileaks founder father continues to fight his extradition to the US. The 49-year-old Australian is wanted on an 18-count indictment alleging a plot to hack computers and conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information. Assange had been holed up at the Ecuadorian embassy in the UK since 2012 where he met Moris and began a relationship with her in 2015. He was believed to be under constant surveillance however, Moris said the two managed to have intimate moments over the years while keeping their relationship under wraps. 'We found ways to be private,' Morris said in an interview with CBS News on Thursday. Scroll down for video Stela Moris, who began dating Assange in 2015, revealed how the pair managed to keep their relationship - and her pregnancy - under wraps while he was hiding out at the Ecuadorian embassy in London Moris, who is engaged to Assange, told CBS News the couple shared private moments in a 'camping tent' in his room, away from the CCTV cameras 'We had a tent in his room that we put fairy lights in you know, like a camping tent,' she said, adding that the shelter kept them out of view from CCTV cameras. The 37-year-old first met Assange almost a decade ago after she helped work on a legal bid to halt his extraditions. Shortly after those private encounters at the embassy, Moris became pregnant with their first child in 2016, and again in 2019. In an earlier interview with 60 Minutes, she revealed she was able to hide both her pregnancies from authorities and the media by layering clothes over her baby bump. 'I just piled on layers [of clothes] and complained about getting fat to hide it,' Moris said. Due to the Assange's arrest, the two boys have rarely seen their father since their birth, however Moris maintains he was 'the man I wanted to start a family with.' 'I was 33 and we decided, you know, let's live our lives,' she told the news station. 'I try to give [the kids] as normal a feeling of a family as I can,' she said, adding that the boys speak to their father every day. The 37-year-old South African-born lawyer is now raising their two sons, Gabriel, three, and Max, one, alone as their father fights extradition to the US 'I tell them that Julian is a hero. And I want them to just see our love and their father's affection to the extent that we can.' The couple became engaged in 2017 and their relationship was finally made public earlier this year by the Mail on Sunday after Morris told the paper Assange had secretly fathered two sons during his stay at the embassy. She said she chose reveal their long-term relationship because she fears Assange's life is at risk if he remains in Belmarsh Prison, where one inmate has already died of Covid-19. Assange faces espionage charges over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. intelligence documents. He was also wanted in Sweden after being accused of rape in 2010. Assange always denied the sex allegations, which have since been dropped. The Wikileaks founder were granted political asylum by Ecuador in 2012 until April 2019 when he was dragged out and taken to prison. Pictured: The Ecuadorian embassy in London Assange was granted political asylum by Ecuador in 2012 until April 2019 when he was dragged out and taken to prison. Moris said she plans to marry Assange outside Belmarsh Prison in London's outskirts by Christmas this year. Moris is aware there is a chance the children will never be reunited with their father again. She told the Sydney Morning Herald she would love to move to Australia as long as the government can protect her family. 'I'll live wherever he is safe and that's why I want Australia to tell us that he will be safe there,' she said. 24.09.2020 LISTEN The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced the country will officially reopen borders for tourism on October 1. South Africas reopening news will include both inbound and outbound tourism, allowing nationals to travel abroad and tourists to enter once again. We will gradually and cautiously ease restrictions on international travel allowing travel into and out of South Africa for business, leisure and other travel with effect from the 1st of October 2020, President Ramaphosa South Africa first shut their borders on March 27th and has been one of the hardest hit countries by Covid-19, recording the 8th highest amount of total cases in the world. However, the nation has recently flattened their curve after strict country-wide lockdowns and is now reporting their lowest new case numbers since May. Since South Africa sees around 17 million tourists per year, reopening borders for both inbound and outbound tourism has been a major priority. We are ready to open our doors again to the world and invite travellers to enjoy our mountains, our beaches, our vibrant cities, and our wildlife game parks in safety and confidence. said Ramaphosa. Heres everything we know about the borders reopening in South Africa, which countries will be able to visit, entry requirements for tourism, and other key information. Note: As this news is still breaking, we will make updates to this article as more details become available. Countries that can visit South Africa as of October 1 To be released soon. The president did mention he is ready to open the doors for tourism, but that travel might be restricted from countries with high infection rates, which will be determined by the latest epidemiological data. Once the list of countries permitted to enter South Africa is released, we will post it here. Airports Reopening October 1 Johannesburg's OR Tambo Cape Town International Durbans King Shaka Entry Requirements for South Africa PCR Testing Yes. All passengers will be required to present the negative result of a PCR test, taken no longer than 72 hours prior to departure. Quarantines No. If the passenger fulfills the PCR testing requirement, there is not mandatory quarantine. However, if a passenger does not bring the negative PCR result, they will be required to quarantine for 14 days. Contact Tracing Yes. President Ramaphosa declared that all travellers will be asked to download the governments contact tracing alert app for the duration of their stay in South Africa. Health Screening Upon Arrival Yes. All passengers, regardless if they brought their negative PCR test, will still undergo a health screening, which will include symptom checks and temperature screenings. Any symptomatic passenger will be subject to additional testing and/or quarantine. Although the nations airports will open and both inbound and outbound tourism will be permitted, there will still be some restrictions in place to help minimize spread. Face masks will still be required in all public spaces A 12:00am (midnight) curfew will be in effect Most gathering will be allowed at 50% of a venues capacity (250 px max indoor, 500 px max outdoor) Alcohol sales for personal consumption will be permitted Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Beaches will be open Wildlife game parks and other environmental tourist attractions will be open Hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-based businesses will be open, however they might have capacity limits, restricted hours, and/or social distancing in effect. Now that South Africans will be permitted to travel outside the country, eager nationals might have a hard time finding countries allowing them to visit. Despite the low new-case data, South Africa has not been added to most green lists around the world, chiefly within the EU. Additional credit: traveloffpath Andy Murray will begin his French Open against former champion and No 16 seed Stan Wawrinka in a mouth-watering first-round tie. While Rafael Nadal, who is seeking a record-extending 13th French Open title, was handed a relatively tough path to this year's final at Roland Garros when the draw was made on Thursday. The Spaniard will take on Bulgaria's Egor Gerasimov in the first round and faces a potential last-eight clash with U.S. Open runner-up Alexander Zverev, who has never made it past the quarter-finals at the claycourt Grand Slam. Nadal then faces a possible semi-final clash against last year's runner-up and U.S Open winner Dominic Thiem. Top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia will face Swede Mikael Ymer in the first round. Stanislas Wawrinka is congratulated by Andy Murray in 2017 (AFP) Serena Williams, hoping to win a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title, will start her campaign against fellow American Kristie Ahn.The sixth seed, who was drawn in the same half as top seed Simona Halep, faces a potential fourth-round clash with U.S. Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka.World number one and 2019 champion Ashleigh Barty has pulled out of the tournament citing the coronavirus pandemic and a troubled preparation.British number one Dan Evans, the 32nd seed, was also given a tough draw as he bids for a first victory at Roland Garros against former top-10 player Kei Nishikori, who is working his way back from injury. Cameron Norrie will face a qualifier - potentially Broady. The tournament was rescheduled from May 24-June 7 to Sept. 27-Oct. 11 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Reuters contributed to this report Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez will complete a sensational move to Atletico Madrid after they agreed a fee with Barcelona. Barca announced that they had agreed a deal which would see the Catalan club receive 5.5million (6m). Suarez joined Barca in 2014 and helped the club win four LaLiga titles, four Copa del Reys and the Champions League in 2015. Atletico Madrid confirmed that they have agreed a deal to sign Luis Suarez for 5.5million Atletico confirmed via their official website that Suarez will join them subject to him passing a medical and his contract being formalised. Barcelona, meanwhile, thanked Suarez for his significant contribution to the club. A statement on their official website read: 'FC Barcelona would like to publicly express their gratitude to Luis Suarez for his commitment and dedication and wishes him all the best for the future.' Suarez won an array of trophies during his time at Barcelona, including the Champions League The 33-year-old will have a farewell press conference at the Nou Camp on Thursday afternoon. During his time at Barcelona Suarez scored 198 goals in 283 appearances. However, he was informed by recently-appointed manager Ronald Koeman that he isn't part of his plans. Suarez has scored eight goals in 18 appearances against Atletico during his career, so Diego Simeone's side will certainly be pleased that he is now playing for them. Suarez boasts a return of eight goals in 18 appearances against Atletico during his career The prospect of Suarez playing with Diego Costa at times is also intriguing, while the talented Joao Felix will also benefit from Suarez's guidance. The Uruguayan will be determined to prove to Koeman that he made a mistake in letting him leave. With Suarez departing, Antoine Griezmann, who endured a difficult first season at Barcelona, should receive more opportunities to play as a central striker. Chinas foreign minister, Wang Yi, recently declared that aggression and expansionism have never been in the Chinese nations genes." It is almost astonishing that he managed to say it with a straight face. Aggression and expansionism obviously are not genetic traits, but they have defined President Xi Jinpings tenure. Xi is attempting to implement a modern version of the tributary system that Chinese emperors used to establish authority over vassal states: submit to the emperor, and reap the benefits of peace and trade with the empire. For Xi, the covid pandemicwhich has preoccupied the worlds governments for monthsseemed like an ideal opportunity to make quick progress on his agenda. So, in April and May, he directed the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) to launch furtive incursions into the icy borderlands of Indias Ladakh region, where it proceeded to establish heavily fortified encampments. It wasnt nearly as clever a plan as Xi probably thought. Far from entrenching Chinas regional preeminence, it has intensified the pushback by Indo-Pacific powers, which have deepened their security cooperation. This includes Chinas most powerful competitor, the United States, thereby escalating a bilateral strategic confrontation that has technological, economic, diplomatic and military dimensions. The spectre of international isolation and supply disruptions now looms over China. But Xis real miscalculation on the Himalayan border was vis-a-vis India, which has now abandoned its appeasement policy toward China. Not surprisingly, China remains committed to the PLAs incursions, which it continues to portray as defensive: late last month, Xi told senior officials to solidify border defenses" and ensure frontier security" in the Himalayan region. India, however, is ready to fight. In June, after the PLA ambushed and killed Indian soldiers patrolling Ladakhs Galwan Valley, a hand-to-hand confrontation led to the deaths of numerous Chinese troopsthe first PLA troops killed in action outside United Nations peacekeeping operations in over four decades. Xi was so embarrassed by this outcome that, whereas India honoured its 20 fallen as martyrs, China refuses to admit the precise death toll. The truth is that without the element of surprise, China is not equipped to dominate India in a military confrontation. And India is making sure that it will not be caught off guard again. It has now matched Chinese military deployments along the Himalayan frontier and activated its entire logistics network to transport the supplies needed to sustain the troops and equipment through the coming harsh winter. In another blow to China, Indian special forces recently occupied strategic mountain positions overlooking key Chinese deployments on the southern side of Pangong Lake. Unlike the PLA, which prefers to encroach on undefended border areas, Indian forces carried out their operation right under Chinas nose. If that were not humiliating enough for China, India eagerly noted that the Special Frontier Force (SFF) that spearheaded the operation comprises Tibetan refugees. The Tibetan soldier who was killed by a landmine in the operation was honoured with a well-attended military funeral. Indias message was clear: Chinas claims to Tibet, which separated India and China until Mao Zedongs regime annexed it in 1951, are not nearly as strong as it pretends they are. Tibetans view China as a brutally repressive occupying power, and those eager to fight flocked to the SFF, established after Maos 1962 war with India. Heres the rub: Chinas claims to Indias Himalayan borderlands are based on their alleged historical links to Tibet. If China is merely occupying Tibet, how can it claim sovereignty over those borderlands? In any case, Xis latest effort to gain control of territories has proved far more difficult to complete than it was to launch. As Chinas actions in the South China Sea demonstrate, Xi prefers asymmetrical or hybrid warfare, which combines conventional and irregular tactics with psychological and media manipulation, disinformation, and coercive diplomacy. But while Xi managed to change the South China Seas geopolitical map without firing a shot, it seems clear that this will not work on Chinas Himalayan border. China might have the worlds largest active-duty military force, but Indias is also massive. More importantly, Indias battle-hardened forces have experience in low-intensity conflicts at high altitudes; the PLA has had no combat experience since its disastrous 1979 invasion of Vietnam. A war in the Himalayas would probably end in a stalemate. Xi seems to be hoping that he can simply wear India down. At a time when the Indian economy has registered its worst-ever contraction, Xi has forced India to divert an increasing share of resources to national defense. Xi could use Americas preoccupation with its coming presidential election to carry out a quick, localized strike against India without seeking to start a war. But it seems less likely that India will wilt under Chinese pressure than that Xi will leave behind a legacy of costly blunders. With his Himalayan misadventure, he has provoked a powerful adversary and boxed himself into a corner. 2020/Project Syndicate Brahma Chellaney is professor of strategic studies at the New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research and fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Laurent Semanza led the commune of Bicumbi, east of Kigali, for more than twenty years before being relieved of this position in 1993. Although he was no longer head of the commune when the Tutsi genocide began in April 1994, he remained an influential figure in the region, as witnesses at his trial affirmed. On May 20, 2005, the appeals chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) sentenced him to 35 years in prison after convicting him of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed in 1994 in Bicumbi commune. On July 26, 2018 Semanza, from his prison cell in Mali, petitioned the president of the UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) to examine the possibility of his early release. Semanza said he would have served two-thirds of his sentence by March 26, 2019. He invoked the general practice before UN courts that a convicted person is eligible for early release after serving two-thirds of his sentence. On August 1, 2018, the then president of the MICT, US judge Theodor Meron, criticized by Kigali for granting early releases, invited the Rwandan government to submit its opinion. Kigalis opinion Kigali argued in its submission that the gravity of the crimes for which the former mayor was convicted and his lack of repentance meant his request should be rejected. There followed a long waiting period during which the convicted man was transferred to Benin, while Judge Meron was replaced at the head of the MICT by his Maltese colleague Carmel Agius. Upon taking office, Agius visited Rwanda, saying that the Mechanism would now favour a consultative approach with the Rwandan government, and announcing a review of the Practice Direction on the Procedure for the Determination of Applications for Pardon, Commutation of Sentence or Early Release. The revised text was published in May 2020. It provides that the head of the Mechanism may decide to seek or accept third-party advice and that the granting of early release may be subject to conditions. Rwanda and some Security Council member countries had called for this. Mechanism prosecutor Serge Brammertz had also argued that some of those released glorify the genocide, while Kigali accused them of preaching genocide denial. It was therefore the revised directive that guided Judge Agiuss September 17 decision, in which he clearly stated that he had taken note of the Rwandan governments opposition to Semanzas early release. I do not consider it appropriate to exercise my discretion to grant early release to Semanza at this stage, he said. The high gravity of his crimes militates against releasing him early. Further, Semanza has failed to demonstrate that he has been sufficiently rehabilitated. Finally, there is no evidence that demonstrates the existence of sufficiently compelling humanitarian grounds. It is a judicious decision by the court and we welcome it, was the laconic reaction of Rwandan Justice Minister Johnston Busingye. Jean-Pierre Dusingizemungu, president of genocide survivors organisation Ibuka, says this decision marks a turning point. We currently have good relations with President Carmel Agius, a man of integrity, justice and willingness to correct the mistakes of the past. This explains the position of the Mechanism in relation to Semanzas case. The rejection by the Mechanism is another important sign that the change in its leadership is going in the right direction. It comes on top of the arrest of Felicien Kabuga and the determination to pursue other fugitives still on the run. So we have reason to hope that we will soon have other welcome surprises. Unequal treatment? Barbora Hola is co-director of the Centre for International Criminal Justice and co-president of the European Criminology Group on Atrocity Crimes and Transitional Justice. She thinks that while changes brought by Judge Agius are understandable, this decision leaves an impression of unfairness compared with previous decisions. In contrast to the previous early releases it seems that the President actually started to interpret some of the factors, such as the level of rehabilitation, much more rigorously and stringently, she says. On the one hand, I think it is a welcome development that more thought and energy is put into this. On the other, it seems a bit unfair given that many before Semanza were released early without fulfilling these requirements. Recommended reading Early release of ICTR convicts: the practice beyond the outrage Semanzas lawyer Peter Robinson is perturbed. I was very disappointed in this decision, he says. If anyone should be released after two-thirds of his sentence, it is Semanza. He was a low ranking figure, had excellent behaviour for 24 years in prison, kept a low profile, and has no intention of returning to Rwanda. I was also frustrated that it took President Agius more than two years to decide on our motion for early release. The decision was issued 18 months after Semanza had served two-thirds of his sentence. Same trend for ICTY convicts But he does not think theres discrimination against ICTR convicts compared with the ICTY: Because Judge Agius has recently made similar decisions in cases from the former Yugoslavia, I dont believe that his decision is based on any discrimination against ICTR convicts. Instead, I see his decision in the context of his fervent defence of ICTY and ICTR judgments, which leaves no room for someone to claim to have been wrongfully convicted, labels any disagreement with those judgments as genocide denial, and considers any support for the convicted persons as the glorification of war criminals. Had Semanza admitted his guilt, I think his motion would have been granted. But he cannot do that because he knows that he was not at the places where he was convicted of leading attacks and was wrongfully convicted at the ICTR. Robinson says his next step will be to try to bring new facts that will allow for a review of Semanzas judgment and wait for a new MICT president who has a more humanitarian view of early release. Bagosora and Ngeze requests Judge Agius has early release requests on his desk from other ICTR convicts who have served two-thirds of their sentence, including Colonel Theoneste Bagosora and journalist Hassan Ngeze. The Rwandan government has already requested that these requests be rejected. After a legal battle that lasted several years, Bagosora was finally sentenced to 35 years in jail, escaping the life sentence imposed on him at first instance. Although the appeal judges upheld his conviction for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, in the end they found him responsible only by omission, i.e. failing to prevent the crimes committed by the military and failing to punish the perpetrators. He is waiting for Judge Agiuss decision. Ngeze, former owner and editor the Kangura newspaper, seeks to support his request with expressions of repentance addressed to the Mechanism and the world. In January he wrote that he had disassociated himself from any ideology of an ethnic nature. In this letter, Ngeze, sentenced to 32 years in prison, declared before the Mechanism and before Humanity that former Hutu dignitaries who were arrested and tried by the ICTR or who have not been troubled to date by justice are animated by the ethnic ideology that led to the destruction of the country and the genocide of the Tutsis in 1994. He regrets having taken too long to discover all this and not having been able to detach himself earlier from the hands of these politicians who manipulated everyone before, during and after the genocide perpetrated against Rwandans of Tutsi ethnicity. It will be up to Judge Agius to determine if this repentance is sincere. Afton Battle, a native Texan with degrees in voice from the University of Houston and Westminster Choir College, previously worked in development and consulting for the Joffrey Ballet, New York Theatre Workshop, Red Clay Dance Company, the National Black Theatre, and the African American Policy Forum. [She] is also one of the founders of the recently announced Black Theatre Coalition, [which] has a mission to increase employment opportunities for black theater professionals and eliminate systemic racism in American theater. Battles commitment to diversity informs her plans for FWO. Fort Worth Star-Telegram (ANSA) - TUNIS, SEPTEMBER 24 - A new report by Amnesty International titled "Between Life and Death" said refugees and migrants in Libya "are trapped in a cycle of serious human rights violations and abuses including prolonged arbitrary detention and other unlawful deprivation of liberty, torture and other ill treatment, unlawful killings, rape and other sexual violence, forced labour and exploitation at the hands of state and non-state actors in a climate of near-total impunity". The report was released following the announcement by the European Commission of the "New Pact on Migration and Asylum". "These are not all new revelations. For years, refugees and migrants, Libyan human rights defenders and activists, journalists, UN bodies, and humanitarian and human rights organizations have been sounding the alarm on the horrific conditions refugees and migrants are forced to endure in Libya," the report said. Amnesty International said its previous research "consistently showed the shocking range of human rights violations and abuses committed against refugees and migrants in Libya over the past decade". It said the report also details more recently emerged patterns of abuse, including the transfer of people disembarked in Libya to unofficial places of detention and their subsequent enforced disappearance, as well as the summary deportation of thousands of refugees and migrants from Libya's eastern region. "A country torn to pieces by years of war has become an even more hostile environment for refugees and migrants in search of a better life," said Amnesty International Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa Diana Eltahawy. "Instead of being protected, they are met with chilling violence and are now even unjustly accused, for deeply racist and xenophobic reasons, of having spread the Covid-19 pandemic," Eltahawy said. "Despite all this, even this year the European Union and its member states are bringing forward policies that are stranding tens of thousands of men, women and children in a vicious circle of cruelty, showing a cynical disrespect for their lives and their dignity," she said. The 58-page report precisely analyses the entire Libyan question and concludes with a series of recommendations for Libyan authorities, the groups that de facto control the territory, for the Government of National Accord, and for the European Union and its member states. "To break the cycle of abuse, the EU and its member states must reconsider their co-operation with Libya on migration, making any further support conditional on immediate action to stop horrific abuses against refugees and migrants," Amnesty said.(ANSAmed). (ANSA). BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 24 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Russia exported 550 heads of sheep and goats to Turkmenistan from January through July of 2020, which is 19.3 percent more than the export of small cattle for the same period last year, Trend reports, citing statistics from the Eurasian Economic Commission. According to statistics, the amount of the above-mentioned export of sheep and goats from January through July of 2020 was $46,000. In addition to sheep and goats, Russia also exported 35 head of cattle to Turkmenistan, totaling $49,980. Russia exported 720 units of birds to Turkmenistan from January through July of 2020, for a total of $15,694. Almost one 1,5 tons of dried, salted, and smoked fish were exported from the EAEU countries to Turkmenistan, totaling $14,161. The exporters were Belarus and Russia. The share of Belarus in the above mentioned amount of fish exports was $1,656, and the share of Russia- $12,506. From fish products, Russia also exported 660 kilograms of shellfish to Turkmenistan from January through July of 2020, which exceeds the export figure for the same period last year, totaling $8,250, which is 33,1 percent more than from January through July of 2019. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva A student in quarantine at Abertay University's Abertay House - Callum Moffat/Daily Record Students have been banned from visiting their family homes and will be ordered to stay away from pubs, after a surge in coronavirus cases in Scottish halls of residence left more than 1,000 teenagers in self-isolation. Nicola Sturgeon was accused of a shocking lack of foresight for failing to do more to prevent a rapidly escalating crisis, with a series of major Covid-19 outbreaks emerging in university accommodation since students arrived earlier this month. In a draconian set of new rules agreed between universities and backed by SNP ministers on Thursday night, all students will be ordered to avoid all socialising outside of their households including visiting pubs, bars or restaurants this weekend. It means students will face significantly harsher rules than any other group in society. It now seems that the only way students are allowed to go to the pub is if theyre in for a shift. Retweeting this because the message remains the same: we owe our young people so much better than this. https://t.co/ESQNJFk6pQ (@JennyLConstable) September 24, 2020 It was also agreed that students will face tough disciplinary action, including being kicked out of university, if they break coronavirus rules. They will be forced to download the Scottish Governments contact tracing app, despite ministers previously insisting doing so would be strictly voluntary. Around 600 people in University of Glasgow accommodation, and a further 500 at Abertay University in Dundee, have been forced to self-isolate following outbreaks in halls of residence. on Thursday, NHS Lothian said 120 cases of coronavirus have been identified in an outbreak at Edinburgh Napier University. Meanwhile, students have been banned from going home to their families, meaning those in university accommodation face being confined to their prison-like halls over Christmas. Story continues Students in quarantine at Parker House - Abertay University - Callum Moffat/Daily Record Due to the Scottish Governments ban on people from more than one household meeting up in homes, teenagers were warned that they would be breaking the law if they go to their parents home at weekends or holidays, with the rule to potentially remain in place for up to six months. Jason Leitch, the Scottish Governments national clinical director, was forced into an embarrassing u-turn after he initially said that students could visit their parents only to later admit that was not the case. On Thursday, Ms Sturgeon issued a social media plea to students to follow the new rules. She said the order not to visit pubs applied only to this weekend, although sources within Universities Scotland said the rule would be kept under review and could yet be extended. However, there was an immediate backlash to the decrees, with students describing them as discriminatory, unfair and claiming young people were being treated as scapegoats. 1/ To all students - Im so sorry COVID is making this special time of your lives so tough. But it wont be forever and the more we get the virus back under control now, the sooner youll get a bit of normality back. So, please do whats being asked of you Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) September 24, 2020 Monica Lennon, Scottish Labours health spokeswoman, said students were being treated like criminals and urged ministers to come up with a better plan. Many students work in hospitality, so telling them to keep away from pubs, coffee shops and restaurants is impractical, she said. Ministers must urgently come to Parliament and take responsibility for the mess thats been created. Matt Crilly, NUS Scotland President, said the measures were "deeply concerning" and showed "a complete disregard for students mental health and wellbeing". He added: The announcement by Universities Scotland and endorsed by the Scottish Government unfairly blames students for the spread of coronavirus and takes the unjustified step of applying different rules to students over and above the rest of the adult population." The spike rise in cases linked to university accommodation has been a major reason for Scotland recording the highest number of daily cases since the start of the pandemic this week. On Wednesday, 486 cases were confirmed, a record high, followed by 465 on Thursday, the second-highest daily total. scottish students BANNED from going to pubs and restaurants so much for not making one side of the population bare the pressure of the tougher restrictions nicola wiki kowalczyk (@wikikowalczyk) September 24, 2020 At Holyrood, the First Minister came under attack for a lack of preparation for the return of students. Devi Sridhar, a University of Edinburgh public health expert and a key advisor to Ms Sturgeon, said in July that all students should be tested for the virus on arrival and again five days later, if universities were to reopen safely. However, her plan was not adopted. SAGE, the UK Governments advisory group has also issued warnings about the risk of the virus spreading at universities. Ms Lennon added: The Scottish Government has displayed a shocking lack of foresight and now many students feel alone, with no family or friends to support them. Cases have also been confirmed at University of Aberdeen and St Andrews halls, with the spread often blamed on illegal freshers week parties. The mother of one student who had tested positive at the University of Glagows Murano Street student village, which has capacity for 1,100 students, told the BBC: Youve got kids stuck in what are essentially cells, I think the architect of Murano was actually famed for prison design. Theyre not great rooms. I think its really not helpful for mental health. Matt Hancock, the UK health secretary, admitted it was possible that students in England could be warned to stay in halls over Christmas. Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, said his administration would certainly contemplate forcing students there to stay at university over the holidays. Richard Lochhead, the SNP universities minister, described the new rules as a welcome package of additional actions. A further 40 people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the death toll since the start of the outbreak to a total of 41,902. Officials said the recorded fatalities were those who had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19. It came as the Government recorded a further 6,634 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus, taking the overall number of cases confirmed to 416,363. It is the highest daily total since the outbreak began. Earlier, individual NHS bodies from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland recorded a total of 33 new coronavirus-related deaths in hospitals, including an 18-year-old. Thirty of the deaths were in hospitals in England. Two more people died in Scotland, one died in Wales and Northern Ireland recorded no further deaths. The people who died in England were aged between 18 and 101. All had known underlying health conditions except two, aged 53 and 82. The dates of the deaths were between September 17 and September 23. Seven other deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result. 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 Two more Covid-19 deaths were recorded in Scotland, while 465 people tested positive for the virus over the past day in the country. This is the second highest daily total since the pandemic began. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said 25,960 people have now tested positive overall and 2,510 have died after being confirmed to have Covid-19. There were a further 348 cases of Covid-19 in Wales in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 21,896, Public Health Wales said. Scottish ambulance workers / PA The latest death in the country brings the total fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,606. Northern Ireland saw 189 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the last 24-hour reporting period, the Department of Health said. There were no further deaths recorded by the department, with the country's toll remaining at 577. The news comes after Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a new part-time Jobs Support Scheme and other measures designed to prop up the economy until a coronavirus vaccine is ready. Rishi Sunak unveils Job Support Scheme to prevent redundancy in winter months Mr Sunak announced a multi-billion pound package of help to replace the costly furlough scheme, allowing millions to go part time while keeping around four-fifths or more of their earnings. But the battered hospitality sector said it was not enough to save restaurant and pub jobs and the Chancellor himself admitted that we cant save every job. Myanmar & COVID-19 Staff Test COVID-19 Positive at Hotel in Myanmars Second-Biggest City Hotel Mandalay. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy Yangon Twenty-three female staff members at a Mandalay hotel have tested positive for coronavirus this week, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. The employees are from Hotel Mandalay in Maha Aung Myay Township, said township lawmaker U Thaung Tun in the regional parliament. Five staff tested positive on Sunday and 18 more tested positive on Wednesday and 115 other staff are placed in isolation at the hotel, the lawmaker told The Irrawaddy. Rumors spread on social media that the hotel was operating illegal massage services and the infected staff are masseurs. The lawmaker dismissed the rumors and said the staff work in the reception, laundry and were housekeepers. Most of those infected are under 30. Hayma Marlar Taung ward administrator U Min Din said: I dont know if they are masseurs. I can confirm they were infected. The hotel has between 150 and 200 staff. Around 20 to 25 are yet to test for the virus. Of 24 townships in Mandalay, Maha Aung Myay is a COVID-19 hotspot with 37 patients, according to the townships general administration department. Hotel Mandalay was one of the few hotels that were allowed to resume operations after all hotels were ordered to close during the first wave of COVID-19 after March. On Wednesday, 192 COVID-19 patients were reported in Mandalay Region with one death, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: Myanmars Ayeyarwady Region Prepares Temporary Hospitals to Tackle Rise in COVID-19 Cases Thai Health Authorities Keeping a Close Eye on Myanmar Myanmar Overtakes Malaysias COVID-19 Death Toll CARACAS, Venezuela - The sun had risen over the Caribbean Sea when Frank Gonzalez spotted "the stain" - an oil slick on the water that stretched for miles. "The sea looked like butter, because of the thickness of the water," said Gonzalez, a fisherman who saw the spill this month while working off the coast of Venezuela's Falcon state. "It was painful to see." Venezuela's once powerful oil industry is literally falling apart, with years of mismanagement, corruption, falling prices and a U.S. embargo imposed last year bringing aging infrastructure to the brink of collapse. As the government scrambles to repair and restart its fuel-processing capacity, analysts are warning that ruptured pipelines, rusting tankers and rickety refineries are contributing to a mounting ecological disaster in this failing socialist state. Oil workers say the gushing crude soiling the coast of Falcon state this month came from a cracked underwater pipeline linked to attempts to restart fuel production at the aging Cardon refinery. Not far from the oil slick, fisherman say, is a jetting geyser of natural gas from a second broken pipeline. "The gas leak looks like a boiling pot about to explode," Gonzalez said. The leaks are the latest in a spate of oil industry troubles that have alarmed environmentalists here. They include a recent oil spill that has jeopardized corals and rare marine life off sensitive Morrocoy National Park, and a rusting vessel in the Gulf of Paria that observers call a ticking ecological time bomb. Analysts see a growing risk of more and larger spills in a country that has already suffered years of damage from broken wells and abandoned oil fields. "Our fear is that as they try to fix and restart these refineries and oil centers, we're only going to see more of this," said Cristina Burelli, international liaison for SOSOrinoco, a nonprofit focused on environmental damage in Venezuela. "More underground oil pipelines are blowing up. The whole system is corroded and falling apart." A rash of gold mining - much of it illegal - has contributed to a surge of pollutants in the Venezuelan interior, endangering the important ecosystem at Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. And illicit logging has jeopardized rainforest. But in this OPEC nation that sits on world's largest proven oil reserves, the biggest driver of environmental damage is the crumbling energy sector. Particularly in recent years, a lack of spare parts, a brain drain of technicians and widespread corruption have crippled oil production and fuel refineries, making environmental accidents more common. Between 2010 and 2016, the state oil giant PDVSA was responsible for more than 46,000 spills of crude and other pollutants, according to the Caracas-based human rights group Provea. In the Connecticut-sized Lake Maracaibo, thousands of wells now stand broken and useless, with raw crude and natural gas bubbling visibly to the surface. In 2016, the last year data was available, state engineers estimated that tens of thousands of gallons of oil were seeping into the lake each month. The U.S. embargo on Venezuelan oil has deepened the industry's woes. The country lacks the capacity to process much of its sludgy product. When it sent crude to the United States, it got back refined gasoline. The end of that system has worsened severe fuel shortages. The need to store extra crude that Venezuela cannot sell under the embargo, as well as the government's attempts to revamp and restart old refineries to increase domestic fuel production, appear to be driving the recent spills, analysts and oil workers say. The country's diplomatic isolation has exacerbated the problem. The United States and more than 50 other countries consider President Nicolas Maduro a usurper; they recognize National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the country's rightful leader. Unlike Mauritius, which recently called for international aid after a Japanese tanker spilled more than 1,000 tons of oil off its pristine coast, the Venezuelan government has few friends to turn to - and so has largely downplayed the spills. "It breaks my heart," said Julia Alvarez, a marine biologist here. "This is an ecological crime." Analysts began monitoring the first of the recent spills in August. Eduardo Klein, director of the Remote Sensors Laboratory in the department of environmental studies at Simon Bolivar University, used satellite images to document a massive oil slick washing up on the beaches of Morrocoy National Park, a sensitive ecosystem of corals, sponges and sea turtles on the Caribbean coast. The images, he said, suggested the spill originated at refinery in Carabobo state. "It can be seen without a doubt that there is a very large stain in front of El Palito refinery," he said. "There is no way this stain had any other origin." Klein estimated the spill at 26,000 barrels of oil over 135 square miles, the largest in the area in at least 20 years. According to local news reports, El Palito refinery suffered a failure at the end of July, when workers tried to reactivate it in an effort to refine fuel. Ivan Feites, an oil union board member, said the facility's compressor pumps, turbines and pipes remain severely damaged. "That's what causes spills every time they try to restart the refinery," Feites said. "The refinery doesn't work and can't produce fuel. It's like a piece of cardboard that easily breaks." The Venezuelan government has not acknowledged the origin of the spill, but said in a statement last month that Morrocoy's animal and plant life had not been damaged. The National Assembly has opened an investigation; opposition officials have suggested that the refinery's waste pit might have overflowed due to heavy rains and a lack of maintenance. The Venezuelan government did not respond to a request for comment. On the other side of the country, analysts and oil workers are growing increasingly concerned about the FSO Nabarima, a rusting vessel laden with 1.3 million barrels of crude that is taking on water in the Gulf of Paria. They fear the floating storage and offloading unit is at risk of sinking and creating a major environmental disaster in the Caribbean Sea. Eudis Girot, head of the anti-government Unitary Federation of Petroleum Workers of Venezuela, posted photos on social media showing what he described as the ship's already flooded engine room. In a video posted to social media, he begged Maduro to intervene. "Take a helicopter," he said. "Go out there. Do your own inspection." PDVSA confirmed the most recent oil spill, near its Cardon refinery. The oil giant said this month that the leak occurred in an underwater pipeline and cleanup was underway. Gonzalez, who grew up fishing with his uncle on the coast of Falcon, said he and other fisherman worry the spill will ruin their livelihoods. Environmentalists, meanwhile, say it could affect populations of dolphins, crocodiles, seabirds and green turtles. "We have never seen a spill like this," said Gonzalez. "For years, no one has come to do maintenance on the refineries. Now it turns out that they are polluting everything with oil, and nobody seems to care." - - - Faiola reported from Miami. PM Modi's call to use Made in India products seems to have gone on deaf ears. PTI photo Despite the drop in demand post lockdown and the general resentment towards Chinese products after Ladakh incursion, China increased its share in imports into India. Imports from the dragon country came down only by 29 per cent between April and August this year compared to 48 per cent decline in overall imports. During the lockdown months of April and May and even during the initial months of unlock, imports in general and especially those from China faced several issues. During these months, the shipments of many items got stuck at the ports, consumption was curbed and logistics remained unresolved. Further, Chinese incursion in Ladakh evoked strong resentment among Indian consumers and calls to ban Chinese imports had become loud. Small and medium traders under Swadeshi Jagran Manch and the Confederation of All India Traders had given open calls to boycott Chinese products. This was followed by increased scrutiny of Chinese products at ports and consequent delays. The government also wanted to cut Chinese imports wherever possible and promote indigenous production. Certain curbs in the form increased import duties were also brought in for select items. Despite all these, Chinas share in Indias total imports has gone up to 19 per cent between April and July FY21, up from 14 per cent in the year-ago period. Imports from China came down only by 29 per cent to $16600 million in April-July 2020 from $23452 million in the same period last year. During the same period total imports into the country was down 48 per cent. Among the top 50 commodity groups, import of agro chemicals increased from $321 million to $377 million, medical and scientific instruments grew from $200 million to $205 million, other miscellaneous chemicals from $212 million to $240 million, handicrafts from $156 million to $168 million and petroleum products from $60 million to $68 million. Between April and August, imports were down by 27 per cent, while exports to China were up 27 per cent. Iron and steel, copper and articles, ores, slag and ash and plastics and articles are some of the items which have seen significant growth in the export basket to China. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Mayor Bill de Blasio and the citys Census Chief paid a visit to Clifton Thursday to encourage Staten Islanders to fill out the 2020 Census ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline. De Blasio joined a group of city Census workers going door-to-door in the North Shore neighborhood, and was a surprise guest for residents responding to their knocks. The visit comes as New York Citys Census self-response stood at 60% this week, six points below the 66% national average self-response rate. On Monday, de Blasio said the citys Census team would focus its outreach efforts encouraging New Yorkers to fill out the Census in eight neighborhoods across the city including the North Shore of Staten Island. Census Chief Julie Menin said Thursday that Staten Island held one of the highest Census response rates in the city. Staten Island is number one right now in terms of self-response rate, so the borough is doing very well, comparatively to the other boroughs. Also, if you think about it, we want to make sure in these remaining six days that every single person on Staten Island who hasnt filled out the Census does, Menin told the Advance. Its $7,000 per household and certainly in the tough economic situation that the citys in post-COVID to leave any money on the table, let alone 7,000 per household, which equates to billions of dollars, if people dont fill it out is unconscionable, she continued. So thats why were here today, we want to make sure that people understand six days to go were in a sprint to the finish line. Money the city receives from the federal government through the Census helps to fund everything from public schools to public housing and transportation projects. Boris Johnsons government is to unveil new legal protection proposals for the UKs intelligence and law enforcement agents who commit crimes while working undercover. According to ministers, the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS) Bill to be introduced to parliament today will enable operatives to tackle terrorism and serious crime with an express legal basis. Limits on the types of crimes that can be committed by agents, however, are not expected to be published on the face of the Bill. The Home Office insisted activities will remain subject to a set of safeguards which they are bound by, including compliance" with the Human Rights Act. The department pointed to an attempted terrorist attack by a UK-based Isis supporter on Downing Street and the former prime minister Theresa May in 2018 as an instance where public authorities have been authorised CHIS to participate in criminal activity. Last year, Naaimur Zakariyah Rahman was sentenced to a minimum term of 30 years for the planned atrocity, after unwittingly disclosing the details of his plot to intelligence officers. However, human rights organisation Reprieve and other bodies have raised alarm over the proposed legislation, calling on the government to introduce an explicit prohibition on the authorisation of crimes such as torture, murder and sexual violence. Reprieves director Maya Foa said: Our intelligence agencies do a vital job in keeping the country safe, but there must be common sense limits to their agents activities, and we hope MPs will ensure these limits are written into the legislation. Privacy International director and legal office Ilia Siatitsa added: The public has a right to know what type of criminal acts MI5s policy authorises in the UK. Thats why were fighting them in court. The new Bill does not alleviate these concerns. Our democracy and our most fundamental rights are at risk if the government permits MI5 to commit crimes with impunity. The Home Office argues the legislation will provide public bodies, which have long authorised officers to participate in criminal activity to gain the trust of those under investigation, with a sound legal footing after a court battle over the issue. Public authorities that will be authorised to use the powers under the proposed Bill include the UKs intelligence community agencies, police, the Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Home Office itself for immigration and border functions. Ahead of the new legislation being introduced to Parliament on Thursday, the security minister James Brokenshire, said: We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the men and women who put themselves in often dangerous situations in order to protect our national security and keep the public safe. In the course of this vital work, it may be necessary for agents to participate in criminal activity in order to gain the trust of those under investigation. This is a critical capability and is subject to robust, independent oversight. It is important that those with a responsibility to protect the public can continue this work, knowing that they are on a sound legal footing. Ken McCallum, the director general of MI5, added: Throughout MI5s history, human agents have played a critical role in helping protect the UK from terrorist threats and hostile activity by states. Since March 2017, MI5 and Counter Terrorism Police have together thwarted 27 terror attacks. Without the contribution of human agents, be in no doubt, many of these attacks would not have been prevented. In some situations, it is both necessary and proportionate to authorise agents to be involved in some managed level of criminal activity, in order to win or maintain the trust of those intent on harming the UK and gain the critical information needed to save lives. Labours shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: National security is the top priority for Labour and that means ensuring our security services are able to keep us safe, whilst operating within robust safeguards. We will look closely at these proposals in that spirit. Donald Trump made a swift exit from his Wednesday night press conference claiming he had 'to leave for an emergency call', as reporters demanded answers over the lack of charges brought against cops in the killing of Breonna Taylor. 'I have to leave for an emergency phone call... I'll be back. I will see you tomorrow,' the president said abruptly. Trump refused to divulge what the emergency was, simply repeating that it was a 'big call' when pressed over who the call was with. 'I have a big call. A really big call,' he responded. Donald Trump made a swift exit from his Wednesday night press conference claiming he had 'to leave for an emergency call', as reporters demanded answers over the lack of charges brought against cops in the killing of Breonna Taylor However, sources cast doubt on the authenticity of the emergency, claiming he made it up and just wanted to get to two campaign tele-events. 'Although Trump told us he was ending his remarks at the press briefing because "I have to leave for an emergency phone call," he doesn't have an emergency, I'm told,' reported Bloomberg News' Sr. White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs on Twitter. 'He's got politicking to do. He's speaking on two tele-events tonight.' When asked at today's briefing what emergency call the president took, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said: Im not going to get into a readout of the president's calls, but he regularly takes very important phone calls. Trump's swift exit also came as he faced multiple questions during the news conference about the decision not to charge cops with murder for shooting dead unarmed black EMT Taylor in her home back in March. As he walked out of the room, ABC News reporter Rachel Scott tried to ask another question about the Kentucky grand jury's decision, but was ignored by Trump. 'Mr. President, one more question about Breonna Taylor,' she shouted. 'People are protesting in the streets - what is your message to them? 'People feel like we are on this carousel where another black life is being taken.' However, sources cast doubt on the authenticity of the emergency, claiming he made it up and just wanted to get to two tele-events 'I have to leave for an emergency phone call... I'll be back. I will see you tomorrow,' the president said abruptly. Trump refused to divulge what the emergency was, simply repeating that it was a 'big call' when pressed over who the call was with Trump didn't acknowledge the question and walked out of the room, as White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany quickly approached the podium, introducing White House coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas and Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow. McEnany told the reporters to 'be respectful and show a little bit of decorum here.' The president faced several questions about the Taylor decision during the press conference, which came hours after a grand jury decided not to bring murder charges against the three officers involved in the black EMT's death. Taylor, 26, was killed on March 13 when Sgt Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison burst down the door to her home in Louisville, Kentucky, while executing a botched late-night raid and shot her six times. The search warrant for the EMT's home related to a drugs investigation over her ex-boyfriend who was not present at the property and who had been arrested at a different address earlier that night. More than six months on from her killing, a grand jury returned a decision Wednesday on possible charges against the three cops, choosing to indict just one of the officers - Hankison - on the lesser charges of wanton endangerment. 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. No charges were brought against him in relation to the death of Taylor and Mattingly and Cosgrove face no charges over the incident. Protests erupted in Kentucky and around America as soon as the charges were revealed as many - including Taylor's family - voiced outrage over the cops not facing murder charges. Trump's swift exit also came as he faced multiple questions during the news conference about the decision not to charge cops with murder for shooting dead unarmed black EMT Breonna Taylor (pictured) in her home back in March. As he walked out of the room, a reporter tried to ask another question about the Kentucky grand jury's decision, but was ignored by Trump Fired Louisville detective Brett Hankison (left) was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in connection to the police raid that killed Taylor (right) on 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 Much of the questions directed at Trump in Wednesday's press conference related to the decision, and the president see-sawed between saying he didn't 'know enough about it' and praising his own record in having 'done more for the black community than any other president'. '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 of the verdict. He then praised Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's 'fantastic' handling of the case, calling Cameron 'really brilliant' and a 'star'. Cameron is one of 20 names on Donald Trumps list to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left open by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Trump, who has repeatedly railed against Black Lives Matter protesters, went on to claim he 'loves the black community' and has done more than any other president for the community. '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. '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.' His departure also came after he briefly answered a question about the development of a coronavirus vaccine, in the week that the US death toll soared past the grim 200,000 people milestone. 'He handed the podium to White House coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas who described the speed that a vaccine was being developed by the Trump administration as 'unprecedented' and insisted the pace would not compromise on the safety. Trump added that it will have 'great results'. iStock/ChiccoDodiFCBy EMILY SHAPIRO and IVAN PEREIRA, ABC News (LOUISVILLE, Ky.) -- Two Louisville police officers shot during Wednesday night's protests are doing well and will survive their injuries, announced interim police chief Robert Schroeder, who also said that more than 100 people were arrested during the demonstrations that followed the grand jury's decision in the Breonna Taylor case. Maj. Aubrey Gregory, who is the commander of Louisville police department's special operations division, was shot while leading the protest response on the ground, Schroeder said. Gregory has since been treated and released from a hospital for a gunshot wound to the hip, Schroeder said. The other officer who was shot is Robinson Desroches, who was struck in the abdomen. He underwent surgery and is in stable condition and expected to recover, the interim chief said. One suspect was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree assault and 14 counts of wanton endangerment directed against police officers, Schroeder said. President Donald Trump, who earlier Wednesday said he was not familiar enough with the case to comment, tweeted Wednesday night that he was praying for the officers. "The Federal Government stands behind you and is ready to help. Spoke to @GovAndyBeshear and we are prepared to work together, immediately upon request!" he wrote. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden tweeted, "Even amidst the profound grief & anger today's decision generated, violence is never & can never be the answer. Those who engage in it must be held accountable. Jill & I are keeping the officers shot tonight in Louisville in our prayers. We wish them both a swift & full recovery." The shooting followed hours of protests throughout Louisville, which erupted after a Kentucky grand jury on Wednesday indicted one officer on charges of endangering Taylor's neighbors during the police shooting that resulted in her death. After the sole indictment was announced, some wept, some chanted and some marched. Many chanted Taylor's name and "Black Lives Matter," as a line of officers stood shoulder-to-shoulder, blocking them from parts of the city. Schroeder said during Wednesday night's protests there were several instances of unlawful behavior -- including looting, damage to businesses, damage to a public works vehicle and the moving of barricades -- during which police intervened. Demonstrators and police in riot gear squared off after some protesters allegedly knocked over patio furniture at a business, according to Louisville ABC affiliate WHAS. Officers allegedly used pepper balls to disperse the crowd. Louisville police made 127 arrests Wednesday night, Schroeder said. Maj. Stephen Martin, a spokesman for the Kentucky National Guard, told ABC News that Gov. Andy Beshear authorized the deployment of a portion of the Kentucky National Guard to Louisville. The governor later activated 500 guardsmen. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced a 72-hour curfew starting at 9 p.m. The police officers were shot Wednesday just before the 9 p.m. curfew went into effect. On Wednesday, former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison was indicted on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for allegedly endangering Taylor's neighbors when he fired into the apartment complex. The neighboring apartment had three people inside, thus the three charges against Hankison, said Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. The other officers involved in Taylor's death were not charged. Taylor family attorney Ben Crump tweeted Wednesday, "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!" he wrote. Taylor's sister, Ju'Niyah Palmer, posted to Instagram, "Sister I am so sorry." In an Instagram story, Palmer said Taylor, who had previously worked as an EMT for the city, was "failed by a system" she "worked hard for." Protests spread across the country Wednesday night, from New York City to to Portland to Seattle to Chicago to Atlanta to Washington, D.C., in remembrance of the 26-year-old Taylor. Taylor was shot dead by police while in her Louisville home on March 13. Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were asleep when three Louisville Metro Police Department officers, including Hankison, tried to execute a "no-knock" search warrant. The officers were investigating a suspected drug operation linked to Taylor's ex-boyfriend. No drugs were found in the apartment. Walker contends he asked the officers to identify themselves as they tried to break open the door, but got no response, which prompted him to open fire with his licensed gun. Mattingly was shot in the leg, according to Cameron. The attorney general said Hankison fired no shots that struck Taylor. He added Detective Myles Cosgrove and Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly were "justified" when they opened fire 22 times during the incident since they were returning fire. Hankison was fired and the other officers involved were placed on administrative duty. People also turned to social media Wednesday to voice their frustration and anger. Chanelle Helm, an organizer of Black Lives Matter Louisville, said, "We shouldn't be too surprised at what's happening." "What is frustrating is that white supremacy, this government and its elected officials continue to deny us healing and any taste of what real justice looks like. Justice in this country is nonexistent," Helm said in a statement. "This country hasn't changed. This country hasn't come to the realization that fascism was its only goal. We move every day for capitalism and not for humanity. Instead of bringing in paths for healing, we keep bringing in more law enforcement, more military and more representations of the systems we desperately need to dismantle." The ACLU of Kentucky called this "the latest miscarriage of justice in our nation's long history of denying that Black lives matter." "We join the Taylor family and the community in protesting and mourning the Commonwealth's choice to deny justice for Breonna," the ACLU said in a statement. "Breonna Taylor was killed when plainclothes officers used a no-knock warrant to enter her home in the middle of the night. They did not even perform life-saving measures as she took her last breaths after they shot her five times. Throughout this tragic series of events, including today, the police and prosecutors continuously have failed Breonna Taylor, her family, and Black Kentuckians. "This outcome shows us that true police accountability does not exist in Kentucky," the ACLU said. "The results of this investigation reflect insufficient standards for police use of force, government-sanctioned violence and terror in communities of color, and a need to completely rebuild our justice system." Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, tweeted, "Breonna Taylor deserves justice. This was not justice. 1 of the 3 officers was indicted for wanton endangerment. No one was charged for her murder." "We must take this anger to the polls, and vote this November like we've never voted before," he said. "Black Lives Matter." Cameron said federal prosecutors are looking into potential civil rights charges. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. The Appeal Court in Abuja on Tuesday began hearing an appeal by the police and Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) against the award of N100 million damages to a journalist they were convicted of brutalising. The journalist, Desmond Utomwen, was manhandled by police officers at an Abuja branch of the GTB over seven years ago. He dragged his assailants to court and was awarded damages, but the defendants appealed the judgment. The appellate court on Tuesday, however, noted that the appellants brief of arguments were not served on the police, the inspector-general of police and other police officers joined in the suit. For this, the three-member panel of the court led by Justice Stephen Adah adjourned the hearing to November 5, saying the respondents should be served before the adjourned date. Background Mr Utomwen, a former staff of The NEWS magazine, in December 2009, had gone to cover a protest by some Nigerians over allegations that officials of the GTBank were involved in fraudulent withdrawals of large amounts via the banks Automated Teller Machines (ATM). But police officers attached to the bank, situated at Area 3, Garki, Abuja, and bank officials descended on the reporter and beat him thoroughly. The officers then seized the unconscious reporter, his identity card, N2,000, camera, and digital recorder and detained him at the Garki Police Station for several hours while denying him access to medical treatment. The reporter sought redress in court after the bank and the police rebuffed several appeals by Mr Utomwen and his employers for the matter to be investigated, PREMIUM TIMES reported at the time. In a hearing presided over by Justice Peter Kekemeke, Mr Utomwen was in October, 2012, awarded the sum of N100 million as damages by a Federal High Court in Apo, Abuja, for assault and violation of fundamental human rights against the plaintiff. However, the defendants, which included GTBank, the police and six others, appealed the judgement, but the case was not heard until Tuesday. The hearing was nonetheless adjourned to November 5. Mr Utomwens attorney, Ugochukwu Ezekiel, after the adjournment said he would continue to defend journalists assaulted in the line of duty pro bono. The assault on the journalist had been condemned by the Committee for Protection of Journalists (CPJ). New Delhi, Sep 24 : The Department of Expenditure, under the Finance Ministry, has granted five states permission to raise additional financial resources of Rs 9,913 crore through open market borrowings. The states are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Karnataka and Tripura. "This permission has been accorded after these states successfully met the reform condition of implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System," an official statement said. The additional borrowing grants permitted for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, and Tripura are Rs 2,525 crore, Rs 2,508 crore, Rs 4,509 crore, Rs 223 crore and Rs 148 crore, respectively. In view of the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic, the Central government had, in May, allowed an additional borrowing limit of up to 2 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) to the states for the year 2020-21. This made an amount up to Rs 4,27,302 crore available to the states. One per cent of this is subject to implementation of four specific State level reforms, where weightage of each reform is 0.25 percent of GSDP -- implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System, ease of doing business reform, urban local body/ utility reforms and power sector reforms. The remaining additional borrowing limit of one per cent was to be released in two instalments of 0.50 per cent each, first immediately to all the states as untied, and the second on undertaking at least three out of the four mentioned reforms. The Centre has already granted permission to states to raise the first 0.50 per cent as open market borrowings in June. This made an additional amount of Rs 1,06,830 crore available to the states. The new guide bans the use of 'foreigner' and 'fare dodger' - REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo State employees in Berlin have been told to watch their language after being given a new diversity-sensitive language guide. The new guidelines put in place by the city government offers guidance on phrases that should and shouldn't be used. For example, it says the term asylum seeker is misleading, as there is a fundamental right to asylum. They instead recommend the term should be replaced with persons requiring protection. Foreigners should be replaced with residents without German citizenship. People who have a migrant background should be referred to as people with an international history. The 44-page guide is part of a national diversity programme that aims to train Berlins state employees to communicate with the people in this city, regardless of their gender, ethnic origin or skin color, age, disability, religion, worldview or sexual identity. It will not be enforced by penalties, but is instead a set of recommendations. The guide was put together by the State Office for Equal Treatment Against Discrimination, which is run by Justice Senator Dirk Behrendt, from the Green Party. Berlins centre-left city government is a coalition of the Greens with the Social Democrats and Left Party. Berlin is home to people from many different backgrounds and in very different situations, Mr Behrendt said in a press statement. Berliners should understand the administration as their own and therefore the administration should also be open to this diversity. If the diversity of Berlin is reflected in the administration, then that is a benefit for the entire city." In addition the booklet states that if someone changes their gender, officials should no longer call that a gender change but a gender alignment. Schwarz fahren, which literally translates as riding black and is a widely used German term for fare-dodging on public transport, also shouldn't be used. Opinions are steered by language, the authors said as an explanation for the guide, adding that it is necessary to reflect on your own language and to question it critically. Not everyone has been impressed, however. Gunnar Schupelius, a commentator on the local daily newspaper BZ, said a clique of politicians are trying to influence people to believe what they think is right. They want to ensure people behave in accordance with their political ideology, he wrote. As fall- and winter-season apparel moves in, Consumers could see the deepest second-half discounts in history. BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a new whitepaper from retail data provider, PreciseTarget, retailers are sitting on a glut of $230 billion in apparel and footwear inventory because of shuttered stores and job losses brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. This will force brands to offer an unprecedented level of deep discounting for the remainder of 2020 and could create an opportunity for smart brands to acquire a new base of loyal customers. PreciseTargets whitepaper explains that deep-discount pricing alone is likely to attract low lifetime value shoppers who tend to lack brand loyalty. But if retailers use discounting to attract the right customers, they create opportunities to amortize the investment in discounting over the lifetime of a relationship of a high-value customer. In other words, sellers should think of discounting as a cost of acquisition for strategic customers, rather than a diminution in product margin. Merchants can target the right customer -- someone who has an established taste for the products found in a retailers assortment -- to increase the probability of repeat sales in the future. In addition to discounts and promotional pricing to move inventory quickly and make room for the new seasons wares, retailers need to develop sophisticated targeting strategies. As such, PreciseTarget recommends brands use three types of targeting campaigns that incorporate consumer taste: Brand over-indexers: While consumers are becoming less brand loyal, a subset of the customer universe over-index for brands. They are brand loyalists brand fans. Product taste propensities: This approach targets people whose tastes match the attributes of apparel products and attract consumers who like products within specific price classes. On-sale buyers: Many people only buy products that are on sale. Retailers must use two combined data sets of on-sale merchandise and those who score highly for products on sale. These data sets are ideal for second-half year promotions. Its an immense logistical challenge to retrieve merchandise that is scattered throughout a geographically dispersed store network, particularly if the in-store staff has been furloughed, according to PreciseTarget CEO Rob McGovern. Brick-and-mortar retailers with a weak e-commerce infrastructure really face an uphill battle. A single online order could request a pair of jeans thats in the Orlando store with a blouse in San Diego, and a belt in Boston? The fulfillment burden is significant. Even liquidating aggregator chains such as T.J. Maxx and Burlington will be affected as products that land in those stores will have already followed a declining margin curve at original retailers, he said. McGovern added, Think about the situation in terms of a stadium filled with people, all trying to exit through one door. The most effective way to efficiently move this inventory, even at deep discounts, is to use data to drive DTC sales during this period of disruption to physical retail outlets. The whitepaper can be downloaded from the PreciseTarget website About PreciseTarget Founded in 2016 by Rob McGovern, the celebrated entrepreneur who founded CareerBuilder, PreciseTarget is committed to helping retailers use consumer taste to acquire new customers, enrich existing customer relationships, and re-activate former customers. Learn more at www.precisetarget.com . Local artist Born in Seattle in 1917, Josephine Crumrine was raised by her artist mother in various Alaskan locales including Southeast Alaska. After studying art down south, she returned to Alaska. In the 1940s the Alaska Steamship Company commissioned Josephine to create portraits of famous Alaskan sled dogs which were used as menu covers in their dining rooms. This one is "Rye," who was given to the Army at Chilkoot Barracks in Haines by adventurer Mary Joyce after a 1,000 mile sled trip from Taku Lodge to Fairbanks for the 1936 Ice Carnival. Josephine championed humane treatment of an... The U.S. Senate voted 70-27 Wednesdayto confirm John C. Hinderaker to serve as a federal judge in Tucson. Hinderaker was nominated by President Trump in December 2019. The Senate Judiciary Committee reported his nomination to the Senate floor on March 5. He fills a judgeship vacant since March 2019, when U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins assumed senior status. Hinderaker has served on the Pima County Superior Court bench since 2018, when he was appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey. Previously he was a partner in Tucson for Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP. He received his juris doctor, magna cum laude and Order of the Coif, from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in 1996. +25 Photos: Jurors acquit Tucson border aid volunteer Scott Warren on harboring charges Border aid worker Scott Warren was found not guilty on harboring charges by a jury after two and a half hours of deliberation, on Nov. 20, 2019. President Trump and Joseph R. Biden Jr. remain locked in a tight race in Georgia, according to a Monmouth University poll released Wednesday morning. The poll found that Mr. Trump had the support of 47 percent of registered voters to Mr. Bidens 46 percent, a difference well within the polls margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. The poll results echo numbers released Tuesday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which showed the two in a 47-47 tie. The poll numbers reveal how Democrats have made inroads in the fast-growing and increasingly diverse state, which Mr. Trump won by five points in 2016. Georgias two Senate races also remain close, but the poll found that the Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, has gained support, turning the special election in the seat formerly held by Johnny Isakson into a three-way contest. Congratulations Emma Alberici. After her August departure from the ABC, and fresh from recharging the batteries in Byron Bay, the former chief economics correspondent announced on Thursday she had a new strategy and communications gig with insurance online comparison platform Compare the Market. Emma Alberici has landed a new gig, and, as promised, it's not on TV. Credit:ABC But the job is off to a less than stellar start, with Alberici roundly criticising The Australian Financial Review as "vipers" for their take on her career pivot. To be fair, interest is high. Certainly, Abigail Koch, Compare the Market general manager public relations, said it had been "smashed" by requests for interviews and for comment about the appointment. Alberici vowed she would never front a TV show again after exiting the ABC. By Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other top Republicans on Thursday repudiated President Donald Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, assuring American voters the lawmakers would accept the outcome of November's election. Trump declined on Wednesday to embrace a peaceful transfer in response to a reporter's question and said he expected his election battle with Democrat Joe Biden to be settled by the Supreme Court. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said he did not know that an "honest" election could be held on Nov. 3 "with this whole situation, unsolicited ballots." The Republican president's rhetoric on Wednesday, which largely referred to voting by mail, set off a fury that prompted several Republicans in Congress to distance themselves from Trump. Despite four years of incendiary statements by Trump, members of his own party have been loath to criticize him, as many feared political retribution. "The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792," McConnell wrote in a morning tweet. Like other Republicans, McConnell did not directly criticize Trump. By midday, with the controversy raging, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told a news briefing: "The president will accept the results of a free and fair election." But for months, Trump has cast November's election as being rigged and repeatedly attacked Democrats for promoting widespread use of mail-in ballots for voters who do not want to risk contracting the deadly COVID-19 virus by casting their ballots at potentially crowded polling centers. In an interview on Fox News Radio, Trump called mail-in ballots "a horror show," despite studies showing no significant problems with that method of voting over the years. Story continues Michael Waldman, president of New York University's Brennan Center for Justice, said voting arrangements were steadily advancing. In an interview with Reuters Television, he added: "The system is not broken. States are actually improving their voting rules day by day." Democrats accused Trump of threatening American democracy and further politicizing his upcoming choice to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by suggesting the yet-to-be named nominee would have a role in the election's outcome. Some of McConnell's fellow Republicans joined the effort to quell election fears, including Senators Marco Rubio and Mitt Romney and House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, who told reporters: "It will be a smooth transition regardless of the outcome." Trump, who trails Biden in national opinion polls, has long sought to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election, asserting without evidence that mail-in voting would be rife with fraud. "President Trump, you are not a dictator and America will not permit you to be one," said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, calling him "the gravest threat" to U.S. democracy. Senator Bernie Sanders, who lost to Biden in the Democratic Party's presidential nominating race, called for an independent commission to oversee the upcoming election. Democratic House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi cautioned against panicking over the remarks of a president who she said admires autocratic leaders. At a news conference, she urged Americans to cast their ballots and admonished Trump: "You are not in North Korea, you are not in Turkey, you are not in Russia." COURT CHALLENGES If November's election is close, Trump could contest the results in federal courts in hopes of being awarded enough Electoral College votes to retain the White House, according to political analysts. Only one U.S. presidential election, the 2000 contest between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore, has had its outcome determined by the Supreme Court. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally who will play a significant role in whether Trump's upcoming Supreme Court nominee will be confirmed, said there could be litigation over the presidential election. "The (Supreme) Court will decide and if the Republicans lose, we will accept that result," Graham told Fox News. "But we need a full court." If Trump nominates a conservative to serve on the Supreme Court, as expected, and the Republican-controlled Senate confirms the nominee, it will have six justices considered to be conservative and three viewed as liberals. (Reporting by Susan Heavey, Doina Chiacu, Jeff Mason and Susan Cornwell in Washington and Dan Fastenberg in New York; Writing by David Morgan and Richard Cowan; Editing by Mary Colleen Jenkins, Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney) When we're researching a company, it's sometimes hard to find the warning signs, but there are some financial metrics that can help spot trouble early. A business that's potentially in decline often shows two trends, a return on capital employed (ROCE) that's declining, and a base of capital employed that's also declining. Ultimately this means that the company is earning less per dollar invested and on top of that, it's shrinking its base of capital employed. So after glancing at the trends within PZ Cussons (LON:PZC), we weren't too hopeful. 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. To calculate this metric for PZ Cussons, this is the formula: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.11 = UK81m (UK887m - UK183m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to May 2020). Thus, PZ Cussons has an ROCE of 11%. In absolute terms, that's a pretty normal return, and it's somewhat close to the Household Products industry average of 12%. Check out our latest analysis for PZ Cussons roce In the above chart we have measured PZ Cussons' prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. What Does the ROCE Trend For PZ Cussons Tell Us? In terms of PZ Cussons' historical ROCE movements, the trend doesn't inspire confidence. About five years ago, returns on capital were 18%, however they're now substantially lower than that as we saw above. On top of that, it's worth noting that the amount of capital employed within the business has remained relatively steady. Since returns are falling and the business has the same amount of assets employed, this can suggest it's a mature business that hasn't had much growth in the last five years. So because these trends aren't typically conducive to creating a multi-bagger, we wouldn't hold our breath on PZ Cussons becoming one if things continue as they have. 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. Investors haven't taken kindly to these developments, since the stock has declined 18% from where it was five years ago. Unless these trends revert to a more positive trajectory, we would look elsewhere. If you want to continue researching PZ Cussons, you might be interested to know about the 3 warning signs that our analysis has discovered. For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity. 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. (Newser) Rescuers in Alabama say Rosetta Kimbrough is lucky to be alivethough the Mobile resident probably wasn't feeling particularly lucky last Wednesday when Hurricane Sally sent a tree through her roofa tree that was home to a nest of bees. Kimbrough found herself pinned to the bed as a swarm of angry bees filled the room sometime after 4am. "I was stung at least 15 to 20 times by bees, she tells Fox. Also, there were bugs in the tree, and they were getting in my ears, and I was trying to swat em and kill them with my hands. Her husband called 911 and rescue workers arrived within minutes to lift the debris off Kimbrough while trying to avoid being stung by the bees. story continues below Kimbrough was treated for bee stings and a mild concussion. Fire-Rescue Capt. Dana Tanz says that if a fallen roof joist had landed a couple of inches another way, she would have been crushed or impaled, KMOV reports. "The wild part about it was there were three instances, within three hours, much like Miss Kimbrough, department spokesman Steven Millhouse says. Three women, in their beds, just trying to ride out the storm. Trees come down on their homes. Roof, joists, ceilingall of it collapses on top of these women in their beds, and theyre all trapped. He says none of the victims were seriously injured. (Read more hurricane stories.) Kioxia Corporation, a world leader in memory solutions, announced today it was awarded the 2020 Imperial Invention Prize from the National Commendation for Invention for the companys Invention of high Density 3D Flash Memory Device and Manufacturing Method Thereof (patent no. 5016832), which greatly increases memory capacity and decreases manufacturing costs. The prize was organized by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation and demonstrates the importance of flash memory for data storage in applications ranging from smart phones to data centers. The National Commendation for Invention awards recognize outstanding inventions, ideas or designs that have achieved or are expected to achieve substantial results due to their excellence. The Imperial Invention Prize is the programs highest-ranking award. Awardees (Kioxia employee unless otherwise indicated) Imperial Invention Prize: Masaru Kito, Group Manager, Advanced Memory Development Center Hideaki Aochi, Senior Expert, Institute of Memory Technology Research and Development Ryota Katsumata, Assistant to General Manager, Advanced Memory Development Center Masaru Kido, Chief Specialist, Memory Development Strategy Division Hiroyasu Tanaka, Chief Specialist, Advanced Memory Development Center Akihiro Nitayama (former Toshiba Corporation) Implementation Achievement Award: Nobuo Hayasaka, President and CEO Kioxias three-dimensional flash memory technology has also been recognized with the 2019 Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministers Prize in Local Commendation for Invention of Chubu, and received the 2021 IEEE Andrew S. Grove Award for pioneering and sustained contributions to high-density, three-dimensional flash memory. Conventional two-dimensional flash memory technology arranges cells in a two-dimensional structure where the memory cell, the minimum unit for storing data, is placed in a planar direction. Miniaturizing memory cells increases the memory capacity per unit area, which enables greater capacity as well as lower production costs. However, miniaturization is approaching its physical limits. Kioxias award-winning three-dimensional flash memory technology is a breakthrough approach that greatly simplified the fabrication process for stacking memory cells vertically to realize high-density 3D flash memory. Whereas conventional stacking required repeated deposition and patterning processes for memory cell array fabrication, this technology first stacks the materials for the memory cells and then makes each cell simultaneously using a one-time patterning process, thereby significantly reducing the processing steps. High-capacity, high-performance three-dimensional flash memory is now the markets leading technology. After commercializing 48-layer BiCS FLASH, three-dimensional flash memory in 2015, Kioxia has gone on to mass-produce 64-layer and 96-layer extra-high-density versions. About Kioxia Group Kioxia is a world leader in memory solutions, dedicated to the development, production and sale of flash memory and solid state drives (SSDs). In April 2017, its predecessor Toshiba Memory was spun off from Toshiba Corporation, the company that invented NAND flash memory in 1987. The company pioneers cutting-edge memory solutions and services that enrich people's lives and expand society's horizons. Kioxia's innovative 3D flash memory technology, BiCS FLASH, is shaping the future of storage in high-density applications, including advanced smartphones, PCs, SSDs, automotive and data centers. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005328/en/ El presidente del Consejo de Ministros, @WalterMartosR, participa de la ceremonia central por el Dia de las Fuerzas Armadas encabezada por el presidente @MartinVizcarraC, junto al titular del @MindefPeru, en la Plaza a la Bandera. pic.twitter.com/HAO4trVNmL By Azernews 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. Lagos, September 24, 2020 The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan has reiterated that Ecobank remains the gateway financial institution for African regional trade. Akinwuntan who was speaking at the Ecobank Digital Series virtual Africa Trade Conference 2020 titled: Facilitating Regional Trade in the emerging AfCFTA Era maintained that Ecobank, the pan African bank was set up to be the leader in intra-Africa trade, adding that leveraging on its knowledge, footprint and digital payment platforms, the bank is set to lead the financial services support for the new Africa Continental Free Trade Area. According to him, while intra Africa trade provides opportunity for the growth of our economy in Africa, Ecobank is the go to bank for Africa regional trade. He stressed that the Ecobank Regional Trade conference was designed to primarily explore the massive trade opportunity before us in Africa, particularly after the pandemic. Ecobank decided to set the agenda for Africa to take its place in global trade. The opportunity is massive: withmarket size of 1.2 billion, estimated GDP of $2.5 billion, Africa free trade area is the largest since the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO); more than 65 member states across the African union, population to reach 2.5 billion by 2050. lso speaking, Segun Awolowo, Executive Director/ Chief Executive, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), said with a market of 1.2 billion people and combined GDP of $3 trillion, there is huge potential for Nigeria to increase its export to Africa. According to him, most exports had been informal exports but with platforms, like Ecobank, it is going to be official and add real value to the economy. He said in 2018, the export value of Nigeria to Africa totaled around $6.99 billion but its export to the rest of the world totaled $45.92 billion. However, Nigeria export is majorly crude oil and natural gas which constitute 91%. Speaking on International trade, the pan African perspective, Tei Konzi, Commissioner, Trade, customs and free movement, ECOWAS, represented by Kolawale Sofola, Acting Director, Trade ECOWAS said 85 % of our products go outside the continent and this must be changed. We can bring these trade back to Africa and increase activity in the continent in agriculture, mining amongst others. We are yet to conclude our tariffs, but at the moment, ECOWAS trade more with outside countries than it does with African countries and this is why we are bent on making sure the AfCFTA succeeds. He noted that the AfCFTA is a comprehensive trade agreement that seeks to create a single market for goods and services and free movement of persons through the progressive liberation of the market for goods and services and also contribute to the movement of capital to facilitate investment. He said it is meant to be the foundation of continental customs union at a later stage. The Ecobank Nigeria Africa Trade Conference 2020 which is part of the Ecobank Digital Series is to showcase Ecobanks unique intra-Africa trade solutions that enable settlements of international transactions and mitigation of payment risk while providing regional solutions to exporters. Ecobank trade products and solutions are designed around two broad areas; trade finance and trade services. Trade Finance enables customers benefit from adequate and well mitigated credit facilitation in the area of Import finance, export finance, bill discounting, trade loans, distributor finance, payables and receivables finance, structured trade and commodity finance amongst others while trade services, offer our customers the advantage of speedy turn around and error free processing of their import letter of credits, import collections, avalised bills, Customs bonds, export collections as well as their local purchase orders and payment invoices, via our electronic trade platforms OMNI e-Trade and OMNI eFSC (electronic financial supply chain. Da Nang released its last COVID-19 patient from the hospital on Wednesday after he had been treated for more than a month, the Ministry of Health said. The patient, numbered 936, was declared free of the novel coronavirus at Hoa Vang Field Hospital in Hoa Vang District. He had suffered underlying conditions like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and renal failure. He had tested negative for the pathogen for three times, with no symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing, following 39 days of treatment at the hospital, according to the health ministry. The male patient will have to self-isolate at home for two more weeks, pursuant to regulations, after his hospital discharge. This is the last patient to have exited the hospital in Da Nang, an outbreak epicenter. A total of 551 local infections have been confirmed in Vietnam since July 25, when a new wave of cases hit the country after it had gone 99 days without any community transmission, with most traced back to Da Nang. The Southeast Asian country has reported 1,069 patients, including 691 domestic cases, so far. Nine hundred and ninety-one patients have recovered from the disease while 35 have died, most having had pre-existing health problems. Vietnam has documented zero community-based infections for three straight weeks. It has resumed commercial flights to certain foreign destinations, including Thailand, mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. Vietnam began denying entry to foreign nationals on March 22 but the government allows foreign experts, skilled workers, investors, and diplomats to enter the country on a case-by-case basis. The nation had suspended international flights since March 25 to slow the spread of COVID-19. Since then, charter flights to the country have only been arranged to bring in experts, skilled workers, and diplomats, and to repatriate Vietnamese citizens stranded in other nations and territories due to the pandemic. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! In reply to attorney John OLearys letter of 9/10 defending his brother Jeremiahs opinion, which had been criticized by Mr. Carey, he, Mr. John OLeary, asserts that we all have a right under the Constitution to our own opinion. He adds that opinion writers should support their claims with facts, substance and research. I agree. Too many opinion writers go off on rants and rhetoric. Facts are just a hindrance to those who do not want to hear them. Surprisingly, Mr. John OLeary belied his beliefs in his last sentence of his letter to the Advance. With tongue in cheek, he said that Trump may like his brother, Jeremiah, since he did not die serving his country in Nam. Mr. O' Leary snidely intimates the false allegations that Trump supposedly made against dead American soldiers buried in France, calling them suckers and losers. Mr. John OLeary offers no evidence, facts or data to what he intimates. What arrant nonsense! Not a shred of evidence is offered to support those scurrilous claims except anonymous sources. Conversely, aides, staff and advisors, including adviser John Bolton (a Trump critic) avow that Trump made no disparaging remarks against our dead heroic soldiers. Thats eyewitness proof, not unsupported, anonymous sources. (Joseph Valente is a South Beach resident.) ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 5x5 Technologies Inc. (5x5) a leading provider of 3D spatial computing and data analysis of drone collected data announced today it closed the first tranche of its $6 million round of Series B funding with Safar Partners Fund. The new equity funding will accelerate the expansion of 5x5's Avrio Compute and Reality CAD data analysis platforms which ingest drone collected data and using photogrammetry to reconstruct precise, high fidelity 3D digital twins. The precision is achieved using the Company's proprietary volumetric georeferencing tools. To date in 2020, 5x5 reconstructed over a 1300 digital twins for customers including tower owners, carriers and engineering companies in US and is currently expanding into Europe and the Middle East. "The digital twins of our towers that 5x5 creates are precise, high resolution models that allow us to make faster, more accurate business decisions for our carrier customers," said Robert McCoy, Unmanned Aerial Systems Program Manager, Crown Castle. This funding combined with a Jump Start Award from Amazon Web Services (AWS) will also allow the Company to accelerate the development of its 3D spatial computing technology integrating machine leaning and artificial intelligence for equipment identification, change detection and automation of other mission critical analytics. "We are excited to join 5x5 on its journey to reimagine inspection of physical assets in the field. 5x5's market potential is so large because it includes all wireless towers, infrastructure assets like bridges and buildings, and utilities infrastructure. Its business model is promising," said Arunas Chesonis, Managing Partner of Safar Partners Fund. "We have been impressed by 5x5 Technologies and the progress the company has achieved even during these trying pandemic times. We are excited to lead 5x5's Series B and join the Board of Directors to support the team through the next stage of the company's evolution." "Our proven data collection standard operator procedures (SOPs) combined with our proprietary workflows and our Avrio Platform make utilizing drones at large scale for asset management a reality," said 5x5's CEO Anne Zink. "Delivering actionable insights within a 3D environment provides unparalleled levels of information on each asset giving engineers the tools to they need to optimize each asset's value to the business. Our partnership with AWS and Safar Partners will allow us to accelerate delivering even greater insights to our customers. About 5x5 Technologies: Founded in 2016, 5x5 Technologies is the nation's leading Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) data analytics company, providing solutions to deliver precise and actionable analysis of aerial data for infrastructure clients. The company works with clients to develop their UAS powered asset inspection strategy, recommends the best UAS platform to meet the mission requirements and delivers an accurate, easy-to-use SaaS application to help clients quickly analyze the data. For more information, visit http://5x5tech.com. About Safar Partners: Safar Partners is a Boston-based venture fund that focuses primarily on both early and late stage technology companies that have been spun out of MIT, Harvard, and the University of Rochester. Safar has already invested in 23 companies from the cleantech/advanced materials, life sciences, and AI/Robotics sectors (www.safar.partners)." Other company names and product / service names listed in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of each company. For more information, please contact: Holly Clifford Corral | PRESS PR + Marketing Phone: 404-668-7733 Email: [email protected] SOURCE 5x5 Technologies Inc. Related Links http://5x5tech.com We need to make sure our donors and organizations have to disclose where money comes from, particularly around super PACs (political action committees). And we cant let corporations and multimillionaires and billionaires use their dollars to secretly influence our elections, she said. By Trend The resources of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) cannot be used in territorial conflicts, Kazakh political scientist, Director of the Risk Assessment Group, Dosym Satpayev, told Trend. Satpayev made the speech commenting on Armenia's appeal to the CSTO for help. He noted that the CSTO charter clearly states that this organization cannot be used for any political or military games. Efforts of this organization cannot be used only because some of its members want it. This organization can show support to its members only in the course of external aggression, and when it comes to territorial conflicts, this is not a prerogative of the CSTO, because all these issues must be resolved through diplomacy, Satpayev said. Kazakhstan has always been an active supporter of a peaceful settlement of the situation on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the political scientist noted. Kazakhstan actively supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, considering it a priority. Everyone knows that maintaining any separatist sentiments is a dangerous game, and it is clear that Kazakhstan will never support any separate movement, any separatist slogans, Satpayev said. Stressing that the problem of separatism for Kazakhstan is a very important one, Satpayev emphasized that Kazakhstan in this regard will always defend the territorial integrity of other states. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Sir Harold Evans Sir Harold Evans, the British-American newspaper editor and publisher, died at the age of 92 in New York on September 23, 2020. Credit - Alamy The long life of Sir Harold EvansHarry to those of us lucky enough to be among his friendswas an epic of decency, courage and moral determination. Inexhaustible until the years finally caught up with him, he has left us one last precious gift. At a time when the press is fighting back defensively against the caricatures of populist rantingthat print and news media are just the echo chamber of the liberal eliteEvanss own career is a supreme reminder of the indispensability of fearless journalism to a democracy grounded in truth. Its enemies like to brush aside the broadsheet press as so much impotent bloviation. But Evans showed time and again that the hard work of uncompromising investigative reporting could defeat cowardly cover-ups, corruption and conspiracies of lies. He wrote and he edited with a fistful of facts. The fortitude and integrity that marked everything he did was hard-earned. His family was working-class industrial Lancashire. His father was a railway worker who slogged his way from cleaner to Dark-Ink Train Driver: the aristocracy of the line. His mother turned the front of her house into a grocery store. Harry breathed in the polluted smog every day and, at three years old, wasnt expected to survive a bout of pneumonia. On vacation at the north Wales seaside town of Rhyl, stretched out despondently on the sand, survivors of Dunkirk, now in civvies, spoke bitterly to his father of their useless weapons and the whole demoralising fiasco of their evacuation from beaches strafed at will by the Luftwaffe. Back at the bed and breakfast guest house, the headline of a tabloid nonetheless shouted BLOODY MARVELLOUS implying those same soldiers couldnt wait to get back to war. Right away young Evans understood the betrayal of empty cheerleading. The editor of the postwar mass circulation Daily Express prescribed that papers mission as making everyone feel its a sunny day. Evans knew better; that the truth could hurt which was another reason why it had to be told. Story continues Evans in London, September 1968. Harold ClementsDaily Express/Getty Images Evans had the respect of those who worked for him because he came up through the ranks in what was still the hot-metal age of print. At 16 he left school to join the local Ashburton-under-Lyne Reporter where he learned the trade as a pound-a week cub reporter, weddings, funerals and 30-word film reviews. An insatiable reader, he kept a copy of Thucydidess Peloponnesian Wars with him for its insights about war, power and freedom which it shed on his own time as well as antiquity. When he did his military service with the Royal Air Force he was known as educated Evans and made good on that with a degree from Durham University in social studiesthe only programme which didnt demand Latin for admission. At the Manchester Evening News he worked as sub-editor, getting the feel for composition, the all-important relationship of image to text, headline to storyand that educated instinct remained one of his greatest hands-on strengths. The investigative crusading for which he rightly became famous during his years at the The Sunday Times started long before when he became editor of the Northern Echo, based in Darlington, one of the industrial towns of north-east England that was already losing its shipyards and heavy industry. As always Evans identified with ordinary people trudging their way up sooty streets and getting a little comfort in the pubs because this was the kind of world he had come from himself. So it fell to him to discover that the rank smell fouling the streets was the result of noxious industrial pollutants; that with pap smears then unknown, women were dying needlessly from undetected cervical cancer, and that his newspaper could do something about all that. When he got resistance from men in suits, he pushed harder, dug deeper, produced the facts and lives changed. It was a fierce new approach but Evans felt he was following in the footsteps of one of his predecessors, as editor of the Echo, the great muckraking journalist W.T Stead. This was what good journalism should do. It was also during his time on The Northern Echo in the early 60s that Evans first became aware of children born limbless as a result of their mothers taking the drug thalidomide (sold as a sleeping pill or tranquillizer) during pregnancy. Shockingly, the Minister of Health at the time, Enoch Powell, refused to open an inquiry, forbade the affected families from giving their case to the press and avoided seeing any of the children in person. The only recourse leftlaunching a civil suit for negligencealso meant testimony was sealed, and that any further publicity might result in prosecutions for contempt. Undaunted Evans published unforgettable photos of the children. In a moving passage in his beautifully written autobiography My Paper Chase he describes how the process of airing the tragedy made him engage whole-heartedly with the children and their families rather than simply seeing them as copy. As editor of what his predecessor Denis Hamilton called the Rolls Royce of paper, the Sunday Times he took up the cause of the thalidomide children again in the late 60s and early 1970s, refusing to be cowed by threats of contempt of court. The paper committed to publishing a photo of every one of the affected children week after week and exposed the lies offered by Distillers and the original German manufacturers who argued that at the time, there had been no knowledge that a drug could penetrate the placental shield to the fetus. The unrelenting campaign bore deep into the credibility and stock value of the company and in the end a trust fund ten times the amount originally offered, was established for the families. The European Court of Human Rights upheld Evanss contention that in cases of such public interest the letter of the law was not necessarily the same as justice. Evans, editor of The Sunday Times from 1967 to 1981, pictured in London in 1978. Ian BerryMagnum Photos Evans could do all this because the owner of The Sunday Times, the Canadian press baron Roy Thomson, though himself holding views well to the right of Evans, was a stickler for editorial independence, not just in the content of the news but the management of the paper. So Evans made the Insight group of reporters into true team investigative journalism: four reporters and a researcher, all working on the different facets of a story, pooling and shaping it for hard factual detail and eloquent exposition. A part time researcher for the colour magazine, I myself got to sit at the feet of some of the great Insighters: Bruce Page, Ron Hall and Philip Knightley, among others. But every time I sat at a desk in the building in Grays Inn Road as a very junior squatter there was the sense that the mission of the paper, the backbone of its integrity and the sharpness of its pages owed everything to Harry Evanss resolute editorial leadership. It was an inspiring place to be and for a precious time, journalism could be forcefully unapologetic about the dignity of its vocation. Evans was editor of The Sunday Times for 14 years, but editor of the daily Times for little over a year. The difference was the new owner: Rupert Murdoch. Evans had failed in organising a management-led buyout and had then accepted Murdochs ownership on condition of promises made to respect editorial independence. He later recalled that all five of the promises made, not just to him but to Parliament, had been broken within a year. It took little time for Harry to realise that Murdoch was determined to turn The Times into a voice for Margaret Thatchers brand of hardline conservatism. The unsustainable relationship ended with Evanss firing. What followed was a living retort to Scott Fitzgeralds claim in The Great Gatsby that there are no second acts in American lives. Harry never stopped being gratefully amazed that America had given him just that second life to match a great love and a second marriage with Tina Brown. His passion for Americaits optimism, ingenuity and energyhad begun much earlier in 1956 when a Harkness Fellowship brought him to the University of Chicago. Being Harry he used the opportunity to dive deep into the countryindustrial Gary Indiana, the Navajo in New Mexico ravaged by illness and poverty, Paris, Illinois where men in earmuffs stamped their feet on the cold ground. He also got an early taste of what it was like to work for a self-deified newspaper tycoon, Colonel Robert McCormick of the Chicago Tribune. Evans and Tina Brown attend a party at The New York Public Library on September 27, 1993 in New York City. Ron Galella CollectionGetty Images So when jobs came their wayediting U.S. News and World Report, Conde Nast Traveller for Harry, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker for Tinaneither of them were interested in imposing British journalism on American publications. They plugged themselves into the electricity of American writing and publishing; shared respective instincts and skills about composition, photo-design, and married them to the job in hand. Their home in Sutton Place became somewhere not for mwah-mwah greetings and canape nibbling but instead a little hothouse of ideas. When Harry became President and editor-in-chief of Random House he would preside over the introduction of a newly published book and its author, get cracking on a probing conversation and stir up provoking questions from the crowd. His own fine books on The American Century and on its inventive genius, They Made America, testified to an unquenchable belief in the resilience of American culture and politics; its deep well of self- renewal. Which doesnt mean that he was complacent in the face of the brutal injustices and inequalities besetting contemporary American life. Much of what he saw in his last years distressed and enraged the old lion. Public cowardice in the face of the perversion of the truth; indifference to evidence; the corruption of integrity, would still draw from him moments of belligerent contempt and fury. Harry Evans did not want all he had worked for, in and out of the papers, to be set at naught. But in the end I think he knew, because so many of us are his grateful disciples, that none of his great battles will have been fought in vain. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 18:10:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SANAA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least eight Yemeni soldiers were killed in missile attack by Houthi rebels on a government military camp in Yemen's northern province of Saada, local government military sources told Xinhua on Thursday. The missile attack on Wednesday evening on the 1st Brigade also wounded 28 other soldiers, the sources said on condition of anonymity. The Houthi rebels have made no comment on the attack. Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of several northern provinces, including much of Saada, and forced the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. Enditem 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.) Talk about killing the mood. KJ Apa revealed how he and co-star Camila Mendes are filming their make out scenes on Riverdale during the coronavirus pandemic. Obviously, they can't stay six feet apart while kissing onscreen as Archie and Veronica. So he posted a video on Wednesday, Sept. 23, to show how they gargle with mouth wash for more than 30 seconds before every single take. They linked arms as if drinking to a toast, handed their empty paper cups to crew members wearing blue gloves and then spat it out into plastic bags. It's not as glamorous as it sounds. Apa wrote, "our new normal is washing our mouths before every take of a make-out scene..." Hey, safety is their priority! Varchie is nothing if not hygienic. Mendes reposted the video on her story with the champagne cheers emoji as if to say, "Bottoms up!" Of course, IRL, Apa is dating model Clara Berry, while Mendes is coupled up with photographer Grayson Vaughan after splitting from co-star Charles Melton in December. Love Lives of Riverdale Stars Riverdale has returned to film season five in Vancouver, B.C. once pre-production kicked off on Aug. 17. The team had two and a half episodes left from season four to shoot as well. Betty actress Lili Reinhart explained how they quarantined for two weeks before filming in Canada, and teased to Jimmy Fallon what's ahead for season five. KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Riverdale "We're actually doing a, I believe, seven-year time jump in the future," Reinhart said. "We're not gonna be teenagers anymore. I'm psyched about it...I think it will be nice to play an adult." She told Nylon magazine that she felt a bit like a "prisoner" returning to work during the pandemic. The 23-year-old said, "That doesn't feel good. You can't go home for Thanksgiving, can't visit your family. No one can come visit you unless they quarantine for two weeks. It just feels f--ked." New episodes of Riverdale are expected to drop in January 2021. KYODO NEWS - Sep 24, 2020 - 21:31 | All, Japan, World Japan's Defense Ministry on Thursday disclosed three sea-based alternatives for a plan scrapped in June to deploy the costly land-based, U.S.-developed Aegis Ashore missile interception system, which was aimed at protecting the country from the North Korean missile threat. The alternatives, presented at a meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, are the introduction of destroyers equipped with an interception system, utilization of ships that belong to the private sector, and an offshore structure similar to those used to drill for oil. "We plan to deploy (the interception system) on a mobile platform in the ocean, and we would like to look into the specifics with the United States and the suppliers in a prompt manner," Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi told the meeting. The government has been seeking alternatives since its decision to scrap the plan to deploy the Aegis Ashore system in Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, and Yamaguchi Prefecture in the west, due to technical problems and ballooning costs. The ministry aims to narrow down the options by the end of the year. It had also considered introducing an interception system that would detect an incoming missile with high-grade radar on land and shoot it down with missiles launched from a sea-based platform. However, the ministry told the LDP that it had abandoned the option due to rising costs and technical problems. Related coverage: Japan to come up with missile defense plan by year-end: PM Abe Japan tells U.S. of plan to build ships solely for missile defense FOCUS: Japan policy on strike capability could raise tensions in East Asia LONDON, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest innovations in blockchain for the health technology space will be on display at the upcoming CoinGeek Live Conference (September 30 October 2), with two sessions that showcase vanguard companies developing solutions with the Bitcoin SV blockchain. EHR Data: The First Healthcare Data Platform Using the Bitcoin SV Blockchain (October 1, 10:00-10:30am EST) EHR Data, a Texas-based business launched by the founders of pharmacy technology company PDX, Inc., will present on its progress in developing the world's first global electronic health record. Built using the Bitcoin SV blockchain, the EHR Data platform will enable individuals to securely own and control their personal medical information, while also providing health care providers and researchers better real-time access to data. The platform can facilitate a host of use cases designed to produce better health outcomes, while ushering in a new era of privacy and personal power for patients. EHR Data is pursuing use cases to help combat the opioid addiction crisis, and support response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers: Ron Austring Chief Scientist & Consultant, EHR Data Cheryl D. Jorgenson - Chief Clinical Officer, EHR Data Joseph Eckstein - Director of Product Design, EHR Data Clean Data: Clinical Research Integrity and Data Hygiene Using Bitcoin SV (October 1, 10:30-11:00am) Veridat is a new venture that has developed a platform to use the Bitcoin SV blockchain to record clinical research data, in order to assure the integrity and hygiene of such data. It is partnering with JuvaTech, a behavioural neuroscience technology company that supports researchers who conduct behavioural testing of therapeutic compounds. The companies will discuss their blockchain-powered platform and its benefits for the clinical research field. Speakers: Dr. Robert Huber - Founder & CEO, JuvaTech | Neuroscientist, Bowling Green State University Phillip Runyan - Director, Veridat Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen, who will host CoinGeek Live, commented on today's release, saying: "Better data means better health care and medical research. The number of potential use cases for blockchain technology within the health sector is immense, and we're excited to offer an insight into these possibilities at CoinGeek Live. Already, we are seeing businesses leverage the greater data capacity, low transaction fees and publicly verifiable nature of the Bitcoin SV blockchain to develop new platforms that improve access to, and accuracy of, patient and research data. This will lead to real-world positive health outcomes and we're just witnessing the start. With the unbounded scaling and robust technical infrastructure provided by Bitcoin SV, I expect to see many more healthcare companies follow the lead of EHR Data, JuvaTech and Veridat, the pioneering ventures presenting at CoinGeek Live and innovating with the Bitcoin SV blockchain." Join us September 30 October 2, 2020 for CoinGeek Live a virtual blockchain conference broadcasting live from studios in New York and London. It's free to attend, but places are limited and you must be registered. Visit coingeekconference.com for more information. CoinGeek Live is sponsored by The Bayesian Group, Bitcoin Association, Cozen O'Connor P.C., EHR Data, NBdomain, nChain, TAAL and Omniscape. SOURCE CoinGeek Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global lightweight materials market size is anticipated to reach USD 237.1 billion by 2026, according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. The report Lightweight Materials Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Metal Alloys, Composites, Polymers); By Application (Aerospace, Automotive, Construction, Energy, Aviation); By Region: Market Size and Segment Forecast, 2019 2026 provides contemporary market insights and taps future growth trends. In 2018, the automotive segment dominated the global lightweight materials industry in terms of revenue. In 2018, Asia-Pacific accounted for the majority share in the global Lightweight Materials market. The expanding global automotive industry, along with increasing modernization of vehicles majorly drives the market growth. Increasing use in windmills owing to their improved performance, increased reliability, and higher durability boosts the demand for lightweight materials. Get Sample Copy @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/lightweight-materials-market/request-for-sample The adoption of lightweight materials has increased significantly owing to increasing demand from aviation industry, and greater use of lightweight materials in manufacturing of aircraft modules. Other factors driving the growth of this market include growing penetration of electric vehicles, technological advancements, and significant investments in R&D. New emerging markets, and stringent government regulations regarding vehicle efficiency and safety would provide growth opportunities for the market in the coming years. Magnesium is a major lightweight material used in this market. Magnesium offers the lowest density of all structural metals with the ability to reduce component weight up to 70 percent. Magnesium is used as castings for powertrains or sub-assembly closures. Carbon fiber composites have the potential to reduce vehicle weight by up to 70 percent. They offer high stiffness, strength, and weight savings. Get Discount Offer : https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/lightweight-materials-market/request-for-discount-pricing In 2018, Asia-Pacific accounted for the highest share in the global market. Established automotive industry, technological advancements, and high investment in R&D are factors expected to drive the market growth in the region. The introduction of stringent government regulations for vehicular and road safety accelerates the adoption of lightweight materials in the region. The economic growth in countries such as China and India, lead to rising living standards and increasing disposable income, supporting the growth of the automotive industry. The increasing demand from construction and aerospace sectors further accelerate the growth of the lightweight materials industry. Expansion of global players into these countries to tap market potential boosts the market growth. The well-known companies profiled in the l report include Evonik Industries, Toray Industries Inc., Aleris International, PPG Industries, Inc., Thyssenkrupp AG, ArcelorMittal SA, Hexcel Corporation, Titanium Metals Corporation, Formosa Plastics Group, and Bayer AG among others. These companies are consistently launching new products to enhance their offerings in the market. With the advancement of technologies, companies are innovating and introducing new customized products in the lightweight materials industry to cater the growing needs of the customers. Leading companies are also acquiring other companies, and enhancing their product offerings to improve their market reach. Acquisitions enable key players to increase their market potential in terms of geographic expansion and expansion of customer base. Buy Now : https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/checkouts/6001 Imphal, Sep 24 : Amidst reports of a cabinet reshuffle, Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla on Thursday accepted Chief Minister N. Biren Singh's proposal to drop three cabinet ministers, officials said. Officials from Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister's secretariat said that the CM on Wednesday recommended to the governor to drop Agriculture, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister V. Hangkhalian, Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister Nemcha Kipgen and Education, Labour and Employment Minister Th. Radheshyam Singh. No reason was given for this move. "I have accepted the dropping of the ministers from the Council of Ministers as proposed," the Governor said in a letter to the Chief Minister on Thursday. The Chief Minister had gone to New Delhi with BJP state president S. Tikendra Singh on September 21 and met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other central leaders. On the speculation over a cabinet reshuffle, Singh told the media: "We would go by the decision of the central leadership. Everything would be known in due course of time." Before and after the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Manipur government headed by Singh won the trust vote 28-16 in the Assembly on August 10 following hectic parleys, a series of political developments took place in the northeastern state. The BJP-led government had plunged into a serious crisis on June 17 after the four-member National People's Party (NPP), the lone Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA, and an Independent MLA withdrew support while three BJP MLAs quit the party and joined the Congress. The nine-day-long political drama ended with the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national President J.P. Nadda, Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP national President Conrad K. Sangma and Assam Minister and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma. In the 2017 Assembly elections, the Congress had emerged as the single largest party securing 28 seats, but the BJP, which bagged 21 seats, stitched together a coalition government with the support of four NPP MLAs, four Naga People's Front members, the lone TMC MLA and an Independent member. Mike Sutter /San Antonio Express-News While some celebrate Taco Tuesday, San Antonio is preparing for a whole week to honor one of its favorite dishes. The first-ever San Antonio Taco Week is launching on Saturday and will bring together a list of local restaurants that's as long and varied as the menu at your neighborhood taqueria. The showcase of restaurants is in partnership with Corona Extra and will provide much-needed support to local businesses during the pandemic via the San Antonio Restaurant Association. Sydney's inner and eastern suburbs have experienced some of the biggest job losses in NSW while three regional areas have defied trends and recorded increases since the start of the pandemic, amid warnings these geographic disparities could continue for years. Payroll jobs - workers who are paid employees - have fallen by nearly 9 per cent in Sydney's inner city between March 14, the week Australia recorded its 100th case of COVID-19, and September 5, new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has shown. Sydney's eastern suburbs, Botany, Rockdale, Auburn and Canterbury also recorded falls of between 7 and 8 per cent. Lord Howe Island and the Lower Murray regions recorded the biggest job losses in the state, with falls of 27.7 per cent and 10.4 per cent respectively. At the same time, three NSW regional areas recorded increases in payroll jobs, with a 2.3 per cent rise in Broken Hill and 1.2 per cent growth in Mudgee and Narrabri. Sydney University associate professor in work and organisational studies Angela Knox said people relocating to regional and suburban areas while working from home have boosted economies outside city centres, and that this shift could impact jobs for the next two or three years. "Professionals are making the decision to move to more regional areas because they can work remotely and they're not going to move back immediately, the types of shifts we're seeing could take years to reverse," she said. "And it's not over yet, the longer this continues, the more likely it is we're going to see a shift in these trajectories." Associate Professor Knox said large proportions of staff have reported wanting to continue working remotely after the pandemic and a new ABS survey of 1280 business has found about 30 per cent of employers also expect remote work to continue. University of Sydney professor of macroeconomics James Morley said regional differences in COVID-19 cases, related behaviour and the impacts of tourism could also be driving bigger job losses in some parts of the state. Read the full story here. Scrutiny of the largest tech companies has reached a new intensity. The Department of Justice is expected to file an antitrust case against Google as soon as next week, focused on the companys dominance in internet search. In July, Congress grilled the chief executives of Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook about their practices in a high-profile antitrust hearing. And in Europe, regulators have opened a formal antitrust investigation into Apples App Store tactics and are preparing to bring antitrust charges against Amazon for abusing its dominance in internet commerce. For years, smaller rivals were loath to speak up against the mammoth companies for fear of retaliation. But the growing backlash has emboldened them to take action. Spotify and others have become more vocal. And on Monday, Epic and Apple are set to meet in a virtual courtroom in the Northern District of California to present their cases for whether Fortnite should stay on the App Store, before a trial over the antitrust complaint next year. At the heart of the new alliances effort is opposition to Apples and Googles tight grip on their app stores and the fortunes of the apps in them. The two companies control virtually all of the worlds smartphones through their software and the distribution of apps via their stores. Both also charge a 30 percent fee for payments made inside apps in their systems. App makers have increasingly taken issue with the payment rules, arguing that a 30 percent fee is a tax that hobbles their ability to compete. In some cases, they have said, they are competing with Apples and Googles own apps and their unfair advantages. Beijing: Chinas skewed sex ratio, where men have outnumbered women by millions in the last three decades, could create serious social problems in the worlds most populous country, a top official warned on Friday. The gender ratio, which was 113.5 men to every 100 women in 2015, one of the highest in the world, is forecast to drop below 112 by 2020 and 107 by 2030, the National Population Development Outline released by the Chinese central cabinet said. The normal range of sex ration is between 103 and 107. Chinas sex ratio has been skewed by a traditional preference for boys. Population experts have estimated that the imbalance over the past 30 years has resulted in between 24 million to 34 million more men than women. Wang Peian, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, has warned that the gender imbalance could result in serious social problems, state-run China Daily reported. A national guideline released this month said the authorities will continue to intensify the fight against foetus gender identification and sex-selective abortions. Wednesdays outline estimated that China will see its population peak at 1.45 billion around 2030. To better monitor demographic changes, China plans to establish a population forecast system based on censuses and sample surveys that will produce regular reports, the outline said. It also said governments will continue to monitor the effect of the universal second-child policy as well as closely follow changes in the fertility rate to decide on possible adjustment to the family planning policy. China abandoned the decades-old one child policy last year and permitted parents to have a second child. Yuan Xin, a professor of population studies at Nankai University in Tianjin, said the second-child policy will contribute to a lower sex ratio at birth because it will result in a higher fertility rate, but added, The family planning policy should be further relaxed so the ratio can be reduced to a balanced level. He agreed with predictions that the second-child policy will result in a peak in births in the next few years, but he warned the effect may decline gradually due to the reduced number of women of childbearing age. About 90 million women became eligible to have another child when the second-child policy was introduced early last year. However, half were aged 40 or older, meaning they are less likely to give birth again, Yuan said. Adjustment to the policies should be based on consistent monitoring of the population. A scientific evaluation should be made, the professor added. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. President Trump on Wednesday announced a series of new sanctions against Cuba that prohibit Americans from importing Cuban cigars and rum and staying in hotels funded by the Cuban government. The new restrictions follow a series of measures announced by the Trump administration in 2019 that aimed to curtail travel to Cuba from the United States, including a ban on cruise ships, private yachts, fishing vessels and group educational and cultural trips. The Treasury Department said on Wednesday that United States citizens will also be restricted from attending or organizing conferences in Cuba and participating in public performances, clinics, workshops, competitions and exhibitions on the island. 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, Mr. Trump said at a White House event honoring Bay of Pigs veterans. Were also further restricting the importation of Cuban alcohol and Cuban tobacco. Police investigating the disappearance of Colorado mom Suzanne Morphew demanded security footage from businesses in the area close to the hotel used by her husband on the day she vanished, DailyMail.com can disclose. Investigators asked every business near the Holiday Inn Express in Broomfield, Colorado, to turn over video shot between Thursday May 7 and Sunday May 10 the day Suzanne was reported missing by neighbor Jeanne Ritter, 70. Suzannes husband Barry, 52, was checked into the hotel on the day she vanished and had traveled there for a landscaping job nearby. DailyMail.com previously revealed that he left his room stinking of chlorine and littered with wet towels and discarded mail. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, colleague Jeff Puckett, 47, told how he had been taken aback by the strong chemical smell when he took the room over after being ordered to the area for work by Barry. The hotel has confirmed that they do not use chlorine to clean guest rooms and that the hotel pool was closed at the time of Morphews visit. Police investigating the disappearance of Colorado mom Suzanne Morphew demanded security footage from businesses in the area close to the hotel used by her husband Barry on the day she vanished, DailyMail.com can disclose. The Colorado mother-of-two disappeared on Mother's Day, May 10 Barry, 52, was checked into the Holiday Inn Express in Broomfield, Colorado, on the day she vanished and had traveled there for a landscaping job nearby. DailyMail.com previously revealed that he left his room stinking of chlorine and littered with wet towels and discarded mail. Investigators asked every business near the hotel to turn over video Puckett also told how he and co-worker Morgan Gentile had been left without tools to complete the job they had been told was urgent despite Barry claiming in an interview with a local news channel that it had been planned long before. In an interview last week, Gentile, who has now relocated to South Dakota, confirmed the room stank of chlorine and added: 'I'm scared of Barry. I don't want to see him again, ever again.' The new revelations come from a worker at one of the Broomfield businesses who told of the police sweep in a Facebook post last month. It was made shortly after DailyMail.coms exclusive interview with Puckett and read: Now I know why the CBI agent was at a business I happen to work at, asking for all our camera footage from Thursday before Mothers Day all the way through to Mothers Day. The worker, whose identity is known to DailyMail.com, added: They got all of the camera footage from all of the businesses off that stretch off of the 36 [freeway] in Broomfield. Now it all makes sense. Police have also taken security footage from the Holiday Inn Express itself, according to a manager at the property who spoke to DailyMail.com in August. Suzanne, a 49-year-old mother-of-two, has now been missing for more than four months, despite intensive police searches and hundreds of tips. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, colleague Jeff Puckett, 47, (pictured) told how he had been taken aback by the strong chemical smell when he took the room over after being ordered to the area for work by Barry The new revelations come from a worker at one of the Broomfield businesses who told of the police sweep in a Facebook post last month. It was made shortly after DailyMail.coms exclusive interview with Puckett and read: Now I know why the CBI agent was at a business I happen to work at, asking for all our camera footage from Thursday before Mothers Day all the way through to Mothers Day' (pictured) Last month, Barry (pictured grilling out in July) claimed to have given 30 hours of interviews to police and accused them of botching the initial investigation. A day later, Suzannes brother Andy Moorman, 58, accused him of refusing to take a polygraph test and said he doesnt feel that Barry is fully cooperating with the investigation Her disappearance was reported after her daughters Mallory and Macy were unable to get hold of her on Mothers Day. The initial search spanned the area around her $1.5m home in Maysville, close to Salida, Colorado, and her abandoned bike was found on a nearby bridge on the same day. Two days later, a personal item thought to be her bike helmet was found, while police divers were photographed searching a local dam by DailyMail.com. Barry offered a $100,000 reward for her safe return and filmed an emotional video pleading for her to come home. But less than three days after Suzanne vanished, attention turned to the family property with CBI investigators seen carrying evidence bags into the house in photos taken by DailyMail.com. A work site close to the Arkansas River in Salida was also searched, with investigators saying Barry had been working there in the week preceding Suzannes disappearance. Gentile said she was with him at the work site on May 9 but was dismissed early and left at 11am despite having been expecting to be there all day. Suzanne, a 49-year-old mother-of-two, has now been missing for more than four months, despite intensive police searches and hundreds of tips The initial search spanned the area around her $1.5m home (pictured) in Maysville, close to Salida, Colorado, and her abandoned bike was found on a nearby bridge on the same day Speaking to Fox 21, she said: He was acting really weird about the beach area. I was like: "Barry what's up?" He seemed stressed. He definitely seemed weird on Saturday. 'He said that he had to go make the wife happy do some hiking or biking. And I found out, like, later that day that he was in town all day.' Last month, Barry claimed to have given 30 hours of interviews to police and accused them of botching the initial investigation. A day later, Suzannes brother Andy Moorman, 58, accused him of refusing to take a polygraph test and said he doesnt feel that Barry is fully cooperating with the investigation Moorman also revealed he had been told that the family home smelled strongly of chemicals when investigators searched it. Barry has since spoken to Fox 21 and strongly denied any wrongdoing, while also claiming Puckett and Gentile are drug addicts and saying the FBI lie when asked about the chemical smell in his home. He added: 'I am innocent. 100 percent innocent. The social media and the news media has made it seem like I'm a bad guy.' The police investigation into Suzannes disappearance remains open, while Moorman is fundraising for a fresh search of the area around her home later this month. He has said he plans to take a team of volunteers to conduct an inch-by-inch search of the area in which she vanished Bloosurf, a leading provider of home and business internet services in the Mid-Atlantic region, is proud to be named a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) Priority Access Licenses (PAL) auction winner. Dubbed Auction 105, the PAL auction included 70 megahertz in the 3550-3650 MHz band and offered the greatest number of spectrum licenses ever in a single FCC auction. Bidding activity was fierce, especially in localities outside of major metro areas, which shows that smaller bidding licensing actually brings more money to the U.S. Treasury, said Vincent Sabathier, CEO of Bloosurf. More diverse bidders will help American broadband consumers get the services they demand and need. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital divide has created an increasing urgency to connect and support remote work and online education. With this auction win, Bloosurf can continue its mission to expand and provide wireless broadband internet service to unserved and underserved residents and businesses in rural areas. Learn more about Bloosurf at bloosurf.com. About Bloosurf Bloosurf designs, deploys, and operates hybrid networks (optic fiber and wireless) for itself or others and provides IP services to residential and business customers in the Mid-Atlantic region. Bloosurf partners with local, State and the federal government to provide Very High Speed Internet Access to remote and underserved communities. Bloosurf is headquartered in Salisbury, Maryland and celebrated ten years in business in February 2020. Sen. Hawley: Conservatives have opportunity to secure 'pro-Constitution' majority on SCOTUS Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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. Noa Goldman godmann@grinnell.edu Professor Matthew Kluber, chair of the art studio department, and 14 Grinnell College students have been navigating the transition of art studio courses to a virtual format. Kluber is teaching the only Introduction to the Studio course, ART-111, offered during Fall 1. Until mid-July, Kluber was getting ready to teach his Fall 1 ART-111 in person. His plan was to spread a group of six or seven masked students throughout the studio and to use outdoor spaces when feasible. Needless to say, this plan was scratched, and Kluber began transforming his in-person curriculum to an online one. Since last March when Grinnell College went online, Kluber has been in his studio almost every day. Located in a warehouse space 10 minutes from his home in Cedar Rapids, the studio space has three-dimensional printers running nonstop working on an ongoing installation, a projector he uses to superimpose digital imagery over his paintings and wood sculptures he has been collaborating on with one of his Cedar Rapids carpenter friends. His bright, colorful paintings of horizontal lines, resembling crashing computer screens, hang on the high walls. In the last months, when he hasnt been dealing with the remaining derecho clean-up which initially left him without electricity or Wi-Fi for eight days he has been working in his studio. He told The S&B that discipline is the secret to his art: Thats really what its been like for well over 30 years now, that day in, day out discipline of getting into the studio and making work. When discussing his goals for online studio art learning with his colleagues, Kluber worried that students would lose their artistic discipline with the loss of a physical studio space. The students in this terms Introduction to the Studio course are doing their work on kitchen counters, dining room tables, beds and dorm desks. They only have three hours of instruction and discussion over WebEx each week. With this new class schedule and new environment, the responsibility falls on the student to find time to work on their art and remain disciplined. Kluber said that he appreciates how flexible and understanding students have been. Kaya Matsuura 23, an intended art history and anthropology major who is currently living on campus, said that while it has been difficult staying focused and getting work done without the structure of a normal class or the resources included in a studio, she has still really appreciated being pushed to make art. (Editors note: Kaya Matsuura is a staff photographer for The S&B) Thats really what its been like for well over 30 years now, that day in, day out discipline of getting into the studio and making work. Matthew Kluber Katie Buhman 21, an art history and French double major, told The S&B that she is also really enjoying the course, especially how focused it is on the fundamentals of artistic composition. Before taking the course, she had never thought of herself as an artist and was nervous that upon entering the WebEx she would be asked, Can you draw a teacup? The projects in Klubers Introduction to the Studio course are focused on teaching students the fundamentals of artistic composition, such as line, shape and color. Kluber said these projects tend towards the abstract as he wants students to focus on the formal elements of composition before becoming preoccupied with representation. One of the courses first projects, both when in-person or online, is a variety of collages, making abstract black and white patterns out of construction paper and learning how to use only line and form to create engaging compositions. For this assignment, Buhman made a collage where black construction paper rectangles appear to be weaving through one another. This pattern is inspired by Buhmans recent knitting projects. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Buhman has knitted two mental health scarves. Halvor Bratland 23 is using his coding skills to create art. After a few pencil sketches of a blob-like pattern, Bratland decided to make a program that turns connected circles into intricate, interacting blobs. While Bratland is an intended math major, he has been coding since middle school. He has created a music tuning program for a music theory course, as well as a program to create music to go along with a video he made for Dance Ensemble. Professor Kluber said he enjoys having students in his Introductory to the Studio course that come from other disciplines and do not necessarily plan on being studio art majors. He said they make the course interesting for him: They are bringing completely different skills, and they dont come in with any assumptions. While Kluber had to cut some projects he usually teaches in ART-111 due to the shorter time frame, he said that students will still be able to learn all of the skills they would if the course was in person. However, many upper level art studio courses will be more affected by the transition to online learning. For example, ART-236, Klubers print media course, usually requires a printing press and special ink. Students will no longer have access to either of those. He has decided to generate a special topics course to replace ART-236 this spring that will explore the printing process that can be done by students at home, such as block printing. The transition online has not come without its challenges. There have been a couple days when the internet at Professor Klubers studio has cut out for a moment, interrupting meetings with a student or class time. And some of the materials needed for planned projects have been on backorder, requiring some reworking of the class schedule. According to Kluber, a second-year student from China, faced with the logistics of getting supplies through customs, as well as the difficult reality of different time zones when taking a synchronous virtual class, decided to delay taking ART-111 until they could take it in person. Many students were hesitant to take their first studio art course online. Two of this terms ART-111 students, Bratland and Masaki Nawa 23, upon receiving their course schedules emailed their advisors to ask if they thought it was the right time to be exploring a tactile medium. Bratland and Nawa, however, have really enjoyed taking Klubers class and told The S&B that taking ART-111 made their workload during such a chaotic term more manageable. Nawa said he is really enjoying taking ART-111 alongside his statistics class, as you use a very different part of the brain. In Klubers course you really need to be creative, and there is no real answer for the projects he has assigned, compared to the definite problem sets of Nawas statistics class. Kluber wants his virtual ART-111 to give Grinnell students a creative escape from the difficulties many are facing: I kind of love the moments meeting with students again. We have an opportunity for a number of hours each week to think about something else. I love talking about art and the process and having students think about line and color. Its a great way to step out of all. South Africa: President calls for women to get greater access to financial tools President Cyril Ramaphosa has thrown his weight behind the empowering of women in Africa by giving them enabling tools to build themselves a financially secure and independent future. President Ramaphosa was speaking during a high-level virtual panel, G7 Partnership for African Women's Financial Inclusion on Wednesday. The panel also featured philanthropist Melinda Gates, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maires representative Nicolas de Riviere. We must enable women to take advantage of the technological advances to start their own businesses, to trade and to seek employment, President Ramaphosa said. President Ramaphosa recognises the COVID-19 pandemics dramatic impact on the economy and strongly believes that its effect will be hardest felt by the women. He noted that many of these women, who are the bedrock of society, work and operate in the informal sector. President Ramaphosa is therefore advocating for women to have greater access to affordable financial services, working capital, credit lines, insurance, and digital tools such as mobile banking platforms. Governments must invest in the financial education of women and girls in support of greater financial and economic inclusion. He announced that South Africa has set aside the US$500 000 (R 8 508 700) towards the African Women Impact Fund which seeks to empower financial leaders. Also, the President, who is also the current chair of the African Union (AU), has pronounced that 40% of all public procurement in South Africa should be reserved for women-owned businesses. President Ramaphosa has since called on AU member states to develop similar policy guidelines. We believe that a digitally enabled economy with a strong emphasises on gender equality has the potential to be transformative, fair, sustainable and competitive, he added. Meanwhile, he said the continent continues to develop its information and communications technology infrastructure. Unless women are brought into the mainstream of the economy, they will forever continue to bear the brunt of exclusive, marginalisation and be vulnerable to abuse and exploitations, he stressed. The nation that empowers its women is a strong nation, but also a sustainable nation, President Ramaphosa added. Women hardest-hit by pandemics The co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said the pandemic has led to the greatest global economic crisis since the Great Depression and it is "squarely landing on the shoulder of women". Early estimates suggest that women are nearly twice as likely to lose their job as men and low-income women in low-income countries are at the greatest risk, Gates said. These are the garment workers, the food sellers, who have closed their shops because very few people are gathering in outdoor markets. Since the outbreak, 37 million people are estimated to have fallen back to extreme poverty, she revealed. I worry that those 37 million will stay there even after the pandemic is over especially women. However, Gates told the panel that she was hopeful and that the worst-case scenario could be averted if leaders prioritise women in their response. One way of doing this, she said, is to deliver emergency cash transfers to citizens and directly to women. The cash has to get into womens pocket and it too often it doesnt. It ends in the pockets of their husband or other male family members or nowhere at all. Gates is urging governments to redesign the financial systems that focus on digitalised payments to deliver the money directly into accounts owned and controlled by women. Presently, Gates said the world is witnessing the fastest, furthest reaching transfers of cash payments from governments to the people in history. Will women benefit equally, none of us knows that yet but I hope that if we do our jobs right, they will and it set a precedence for all the years to come, she told delegates. As part of this agenda, the G7 Partnership for Womens Digital Financial Inclusion in Africa has committed to supporting African governments, central banks, and financial institutions in their efforts to build more inclusive, sustainable, and responsible digital financial systems, ensuring that 400 million African adults are financially included of which 60% are women. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-09-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. New Delhi, Sep 25 : At least two persons, including a minor boy, were killed and four others grievously injured as a cluster bus lost control on a flyover and rammed into a crowd in northeast Delhi's Nand Nagri on Thursday night, police said. The injured were rushed to the hospital where their condition is said to be serious. After the accident, which happened near the Nand Nagri depot, enraged public gathered at the spot and vandalised the bus and tried to set it on fire but were dispersed by the Delhi Police. "We received a call at around 9.40 p.m. that a cluster bus lost control and rammed into some people at the flyover. Immediately, teams were dispatched to the spot. Two persons, including a 12-year-old boy and a 22-year-old man, succumbed to their injuries, and at least four are hospitalised," DCP, Northeast, Ved Prakash Surya said. According to some eyewitnesses, the bus lost control and hit many vehicles, including a truck, before hitting the crowd in front of the depot, and killing two people on the spot. "The driver of the cluster bus has been apprehended and legal procedure is underway," the DCP said. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko delivers a speech during his inauguration ceremony at the Palace of the Independence in Minsk, Belarus on Sept. 23, 2020. (Andrei Stasevich, BelTA/Pool Photo via AP) Belaruss Lukashenko Sworn In at Secretive Ceremony KYIV, UkraineLeader Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus was sworn in to his sixth term in office at an inaugural ceremony that wasnt announced in advance, amid weeks of protests against the authoritarian leaders reelection, which the opposition says was rigged. One opposition leader called the secretive Sept. 23 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 leader. 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 the 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 leader 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 countrywe 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 percent of the vote; his strongest opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, got 10 percent. Tsikhanouskaya, whos 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 legitimately. 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 declined 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 more than 7,000 were detained. The Viasna human rights group said several protesters were detained near the palace on the morning of Sept. 23, 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. Demonstrators blocked roads, chanting Shame! and Go away! They were met with a heavy response from police, who used water cannons and truncheons in some areas to disperse them. Dozens were detained, and many were injured in the clashes. Protests also took place in the cities of Brest, Vitebsk, Grondo, and others. 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 percent 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 the leader. 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! By Yuras Karmanau Veravas, Inc. an early-stage biotechnology company, has announced the development of its VeraTest SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Assay, based on their patent-pending VeraPrep technology and a proprietary novel antibody fragment with high specificity to the SARS-Cov-2 spike protein. The 10-minute assay is easily performed with a saliva sample, sample diluent and a single VeraPrep-based assay reagent. Intended for use by CLIA laboratories as well as at mobile CLIA laboratories, over 500 results can be reported per hour with a commercially-available 96-well plate imager, and over 2,000 results per hour can be reported with automation, facilitating rapid, large-scale and location-based SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing. In early studies, the assay technology has been shown to specifically detect SARS-CoV-2 in PCR confirmed positive oral saline rinse samples with similar sensitivity as PCR. The novel alpaca-derived, single-domain antibody binds with high affinity and specificity to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, making it an ideal molecule for a rapid antigen test. To date, the assay has been able to correctly read PCR confirmed positive saliva samples as positive with Ct values as high as 37, and correctly read PCR negative saliva samples as negative. Higher PCR Ct values indicate a smaller amount of viral material in a given sample, signaling a more sensitive test. Antibody fragment co-developer, Dr. Gerald McInerney, Associate Professor of Virology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, and Co-founder of Vicunab AB, stated, A rapid test is required to address the global COVID-19 testing crisis and help societies safely emerge from lockdowns. We are happy our antibody is an important component of the VeraTest rapid antigen assay. Veravas has agreed to an exclusive global license from Vicunab for use of the antibody in diagnostics and its assay. Veravas is very pleased to announce the development of a novel rapid antigen test for the detection of SARS CoV-2 infection from saliva samples in 10 minutes stated Carroll E. Streetman, Jr, CEO of Veravas, Inc. This fast, easy to sample, inexpensive, and highly specific and sensitive antigen test will assist healthcare providers and laboratories to quickly and reliably determine whether a patient is actively infected with the COVID-19 virus. Most importantly, this test will rapidly assess if it is safe for people to return to work, return to school, travel and go about their daily lives. Plans are to commercialize this novel antigen test in Q4-2020 following FDA review and Emergency Use Authorization. The performance of the assay is currently being evaluated by Access Genetics, LLC dba OralDNA Labs in Eden Prairie, MN, and at a US-based, Academic Center of Excellence, using the BioTek Cytation 5 Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader. Veravas reports current capacity to manufacture 30 million tests per month, with plans to scale to over 100 million tests per month by January 2021. The company also plans to supply its own fast, small plate imager, delivering a turnkey full solution for single-click results at the rate of over 1,000 tests per hour, per unit. About Vicunab AB Vicunab has been incorporated by Leo Hanke, Benjamin Murrell, and Gerald McInerney, developers of a unique alpaca-derived, single-domain antibody fragment that was shown to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 by blocking receptor interaction. Vicunab is based in Stockholm, Sweden. About Veravas, Inc. Veravas, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on transforming the practice of laboratory medicine with technology that delivers superior test results, providing confidence to clinicians and patients that diagnostic tests when performed are accurate. Veravas nanobead technology, VeraPrep, can identify, remove, and measure select substances from patient samples to reduce the effects of complex interferences and detect low abundance biomarkers. In response to the global health priority for COVID-19 countermeasures, Veravas is utilizing its VeraPrep technology to develop novel COVID-19 testing solutions and continues to rapidly drive the commercialization of its proprietary sample preparation products and diagnostic tests. To learn more about the companys technologies and clinical applications, visit http://www.veravas.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/veravas/ # # # PRESS CONTACT Available for interview Carroll E. Streetman, Jr. Chief Executive Officer Veravas, Inc. carroll@veravas.com President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky says that Ukraine is ready to initiate the creation in Kyiv of the headquarters of an international office to counter disinformation and propaganda. "Ukraine, as one of the countries that has been actively opposing propaganda and information attacks since 2014, is ready to initiate the creation in Kyiv of the headquarters of an international office to counter disinformation and propaganda," he said in his video speech at the plenary session of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. Zelensky pointed to the danger of information threats to the modern world, when "disinformation and fake news can affect world markets, stock exchanges and even the electoral process." Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 23:57:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KIEV, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The State Symphony Orchestra of the Transcarpathian Region held an online symphony concert on Wednesday to celebrate the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The concert was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine with the support of the city council of Uzhgorod, the administrative center of the Transcarpathian region. Honored Artist of Ukraine Victoria Svalyavchik-Tsanko conducted the concert, with the audience enjoying Chinese and Ukrainian traditional and modern pieces. "Music knows no boundaries and this concert is not only an important cultural exchange that confirms the friendship between China and Ukraine, but also a bridge for cultural ties that connects people's hearts," Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Fan Xianrong said. Before the concert, Mayor of Uzhgorod Bohdan Andriyiv congratulated the Chinese people on the upcoming anniversary of the founding of the PRC. "In 71 years, China has achieved incredible and powerful results in social, economic, technical, and cultural development thanks to the Chinese people's conscientious and selfless work. Today, China is a leader in the global economy and is also an example for many developing countries," he said, adding that the country hopes to enhance its friendship with China and have more mutually beneficial cooperation. Enditem Partnership grants available for U.P., northern Lower Peninsula sites to build out statewide EV charging network Partnership grants available for U.P., northern Lower Peninsula sites to build out statewide EV charging network Based on manufacturer plans, the transportation sector is on the cusp of a historic change. Will drivers make the leap from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric power? Or will they hold back, concerned about the perceived lack to infrastructure that would allow a driver to recharge vehicle batteries on a long-distance trip? It's called "range anxiety," and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is hoping to relieve some of that concern. EGLE's Energy Services has awarded a first round of grants that will support projects by 24 recipients to install 76 plug-in direct current fast chargers (DCFC) at 36 sites across the state. There are still some gaps, however, in the effort to build out a statewide network under EGLE's Charge Up Michigan program. There is a specific need for partners in the Upper Peninsula and the northwest and northeast portions of the Lower Peninsula for grants that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A statewide EV fast charging network in Michigan will boost driver confidence that chargers will be available and operational in a well-lit, safe environment, improve air quality, reduce vehicle emissions, and protect public health and the environment. "This is a significant step toward an electrified transportation future that will keep Michigan in the forefront of cutting-edge mobility and writes another chapter in the state's storied history of innovation in the transportation industry," said EGLE Director Liesl Clark. Energy Services previously worked with experts at Michigan State University to map optimal locations for charging stations throughout the Lower and Upper Peninsulas along well-traveled routes to allow EV drivers a network of access points that will make it more convenient for drivers to reach their destinations. Charging stations have been installed and are operational as of late September 2020 in Ann Arbor, Big Rapids, Cadillac, Gaylord, Marshall and Saugatuck. Others are expected to be online by the end of 2020 in communities including Alma, Clare, Dundee, East Lansing, Elk Rapids, Flint, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Grayling, Holt, Ionia, Kawkawlin, Muskegon, Norway, Troy and Whitmore Lake. The grants come from the Volkswagen diesel emissions settlement funds allocated to Michigan. Under the Charge Up Michigan program, EGLE contributes a third of the cost up to $70,000 to install a DC fast charging station, including site preparation, equipment installation, networking fees and signage. The host site will also pay a third and the local utility pays the other third of the cost. Applications must be submitted online. For further information, contact the Environmental Assistance Center at 800-662-9278 or check the Office of Climate and Energy webpage. Like this content? Follow us on Twitter at @MichiganEGLE or on Youtube.com/MichiganEGLE Take a short survey and let us know what you think about MI Environment. The Samsung Galaxy Watch3 announced last month and the Galaxy Watch Active2 unveiled last August both have the hardware to take electrocardiogram (ECG) readings, but the feature wasn't enabled on either of the smartwatches out of the box as it needed regulatory approval. Samsung activated ECG on the Galaxy Watch Active2 in South Korea last month, and now it's the turn for both smartwatches in the US to get ECG support. The heart rhythm will be recorded using the ECG Monitor app, and you'll need to install the Samsung Health Monitor app on the paired smartphone, which should be a Galaxy smartphone running Android 7 or above. Galaxy Watch3 To record the heart rhythm, open the Samsung Health Monitor app, rest your arm on a flat surface, and place your finger on the watch's top button. The recorded ECG will be classified as either Sinus Rhythm or Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). Once the reading is complete, you can record relevant symptoms like dizziness or fatigue and send a PDF report of your ECG recording to your healthcare provider using the Samsung Health Monitor app. In addition to ECG, the Galaxy Watch3 and Galaxy Watch Active2 can record VO2 Max, which was enabled on the Watch3 last month and on the Watch Active2 a couple of weeks ago. Source The Confederate Soldiers and Sailors monument, erected in Philadelphia National Cemetery in 1912, to honor the soldiers who fought for the South and who were buried here after their deaths at Philadelphia-area Civil War hospitals. Read more Confederate monuments and statues are coming down across America, scores of them gone in just the last few months. But not in Philadelphia, where a memorial to Southern war dead has stood for more than a century in the National Cemetery in West Oak Lane. Its dedication in 1912 on the 42nd anniversary of the passing of Gen. Robert E. Lee aimed to obscure the pro-slavery cause of the Confederacy, and to recast the fight of the Southerners who lay nearby as true to the ideals of the Founding Fathers. The thick granite block stands 9 feet, 6 inches tall, and bears the names of 184 Southern soldiers and sailors on three plaques. The fourth proclaims, Erected by the United States. The troops, all prisoners of war who died at local military hospitals, lie within a rectangular green field whose corners are marked by four squat, square stones inscribed with a C. So far, no one has publicly suggested removing the monument, and many people dont even know its there, not far from the graves of 350 African American soldiers from the Union U.S. Colored Troops, who died to free those enslaved by the South. Whether its the only Confederate monument in the city is uncertain. Aside from those in Gettysburg National Military Park untouchable under National Park Service policy only four other markers are known in the state, all in Fulton County. Theres dispute over whether they honor Confederates or merely note their presence after the burning of Chambersburg in 1864, the last time Southern troops camped on Pennsylvania soil. The dedication of the Philadelphia monument on Oct. 12, 1912, drew a thousand people, who heard Southern orator John Shepard Beard praise the righteousness of the cause for which the Confederates gave their lives. We are under sacred obligation to rescue their fame from the persistent stigma and unjust aspersion of rebellion and treason, he said, expressing his gratitude that the heroes of the American Anglo-Saxon race, of two opposing armies, could be honored in one cemetery. The crowd sang Dixie and The Star-Spangled Banner. A bugler played Taps. How the monument came to be is a tale of persistent lobbying, changing politics, and tenacious efforts to reshape the national memory. At the time, the United Daughters of the Confederacy sponsored dozens of monuments promoting the glory of the Lost Cause, not only in the South but as far north as New York and Boston, and staged elaborate dedication ceremonies as Blue-and-Gray reunions. Now, the memorials presence takes on new meaning amid the Black Lives Matter protests. It raises the question of whether cemetery monuments differ from those on courthouse lawns. And whether a city that in June took down a statue of former Mayor Frank Rizzo and covered another of Christopher Columbus will overlook a memorial to those who fought to overthrow the United States. I dont think the Rizzo statue or the Confederate monument even for prisoners of war are any different," said Megan Malachi, an educator and organizer with Philly for REAL Justice, which helped lead massive demonstrations against racism this summer. They represent the same white supremacy. READ MORE: For local Native Americans, a reckoning over hurtful images goes way beyond one South Philadelphia statue The United Daughters of the Confederacy in Richmond did not respond to requests for comment on the Philadelphia memorial. On its website, the group denounces white supremacy while asserting, Confederate memorial statues and monuments are part of our shared American history and should remain in place. The Kenney administration plans to review all city-owned landmarks to be sure they align with city values, said spokesperson Mike Dunn. The Confederate memorial in the National Cemetery, which is maintained by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, could fall under that evaluation if monuments away from city property are considered, Dunn said. It has to go, said historian Hasan Kwame Jeffries, who studies the Civil Rights Movement at Ohio State University. The fact that its in a cemetery to me doesnt make that much of a difference. Since George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police on May 25, at least 93 Confederate statues and symbols have been taken down, or in the case of roads, parks or schools, renamed, according to national tracking by the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama. Those are among 146 monuments removed since 2015, after a white supremacist murdered nine worshipers at an African American church in Charleston, S.C. The center counts symbols that both celebrate the Confederacy and are located on public land, but not those in graveyards, battlefields, or on private property. BeenVerified, a New York public-information firm, cites higher numbers based on wider criteria, saying 143 monuments have come down since Floyds death. It estimates that 1,652 remain, nearly all in the South. President Trump opposes the removal of our beautiful Confederate statues, tweeting, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson whos next, Washington, Jefferson? So foolish! Several Southern states passed protective legislation, while other monuments have been removed by government action or toppled by demonstrators. Thats the great irony of monuments and memorials, said Caroline Janney, a history professor at the University of Virginia, where she directs the John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History. The people who put them up intend for them to stand without any need for explanation. But society changes around them, and those monuments no longer hold the meaning they once did. A 2016 Landscape Journal study examined 15 Northern graveyards with Confederate monuments, concluding they were emblematic of the white Souths need for a narrative to support white supremacy and of the Norths abandonment of racial justice as it sought reconciliation. The patina of age does not obscure their intent, wrote authors Ned Crankshaw, Joseph E. Brent, and Maria Campbell Brent. Gary Casteel, commander of the Gettysburg camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and whose ancestors fought on both sides, rejects the idea that the Philadelphia memorial or other Confederate monuments perpetuate white supremacy. Hogwash, he said. If you cant accept the past, then you must have a hard time accepting America. READ MORE: A school once named after a Confederate general now honors a former NBC10 anchors trailblazing parents Philadelphia National Cemetery, at Haines Street and Limekiln Pike, contains more than 12,000 veterans from the Civil War and later conflicts, along with spouses and children. Its a quiet space in a busy neighborhood, its rolling lawns surrounded by rowhouses. Like other early national cemeteries, it developed from the Civil War a conflict that fundamentally changed how Americans thought about death, and helped drive a national desire to properly bury the deceased. In the early 19th century, people embraced the ideal of a good death, explained Sarah Beetham, chair of Liberal Arts at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where she studies the destruction of Civil War monuments. They envisioned their loved one, fading but lucid, offering a peaceful goodbye to family members and quietly ascending to heaven. The war ended that reverie. Too often, men died physically shattered, in agony, and alone. Thousands could not be identified, and some simply no longer existed artillery fire could reduce foot soldiers to pink mist. To Americans, Beetham said, the idea of locating, identifying and reclaiming the dead, of resting them in individual graves, became enormously important. That included placing memorials. The context of putting something in a cemetery is a little different from putting it in the town square [where it would] obviously speak about power, and white supremacy, and reserving the government for white people, Beetham said. Something thats soberly marking their graves isnt something I necessarily would take issue with. Nor does Andy Waskie, a retired Temple University professor and perhaps the citys most esteemed Civil War historian. I have strong feelings for veterans, being one myself, he said, and despite the evil cause they died serving, they fought bravely in that lost cause and now rest, acknowledged as U.S. veterans, in eternal peace in a National Cemetery. Waskies ancestors fought for the Union one wounded at Antietam, another at Petersburg but he notes that veterans on both sides long ago abandoned their animosity. "Who are we now over 150 years later to seek the removal of ancient monuments dedicated not to the horrible causes of the Rebellion, but rather to honor the humble veterans who served willingly and in some cases unwillingly to what they believed then to be a just cause? Waskie said. Union troops who died in Philadelphia-area hospitals were interred in soldiers' lots in 10 cemeteries. Those locations, while physically apart, were established in 1862 as Philadelphia National Cemetery. By 1881, Army Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs, son of a prominent Philadelphia obstetrician, was worried that new streets through local burial grounds would disturb Union graves. He recommended a single national cemetery. Four years later, the military acquired 13.3 acres to reestablish Philadelphia National Cemetery in one place. Union remains were reinterred. Confederate dead were moved there in the 1880s from three Philadelphia cemeteries Glenwood City, Odd Fellows, and Mount Moriah and from Rural Cemetery in Chester. They were reburied in a single section, without headstones or a memorial. That rankled the Philadelphia chapter of the UDC, which approached the cemetery superintendent in 1887 about donating a monument. Impetus for recognition was growing, encouraged even by the White House. When President William McKinley traveled to Atlanta in 1898, seeking support for the peace treaty that ended the Spanish-American War, he turned his address into a gesture of reconciliation: The federal government, he announced, would begin to tend Confederate graves as a "tribute to American valor. By May 1900, the local UDC had raised $95.05, equal to about $3,000 today, to erect a tall obelisk. But a protest went up from Union veterans at Germantown-based Ellis Post No. 6, Grand Army of the Republic. Memorial Day is our day, and we do not want any desecration of it by Confederates, they wrote, nor do we think that a National Cemetery in a loyal City of the North should be disgraced by a monument to would-be destroyers of our Union. The UDC instead installed a modest, ground-level tablet to memorialize what it said were 224 unknown Confederate dead. That would not end the efforts to commemorate Southern troops in Philadelphia, especially as the UDC grew into a well-connected lobbyist and the war became more often depicted as a fraternal, if deadly, dispute. In 1906, Congress authorized headstones for those who died in Northern military hospitals and prisons, and established the Commission for Marking Graves of Confederate Dead. In Philadelphia, the commission could not determine how the UDC arrived at its count of 224 unknowns. It remains a mystery. The commission found, though, that while specific graves could not be matched with individual soldiers, the names of the Confederate troops in the cemetery were known. The big memorial was completed in 1911, and the UDC sponsored the dedication the next year. Not all Union veterans were opposed. Some showed up that day to fire a 30-gun salute. Im OK with marking the dead, said Ohio States Jeffries. Its another thing to have a giant memorial to say, Here we honor . If up to him, Jeffries said, he would replace the memorial with a story board explaining why the stone was erected, and how, as America reevaluated its values a century later, it was taken down. No Black person in Philadelphia is going to be lifted out of poverty if you remove it or Rizzo or Christopher Columbus, he said. The removal of a statue is modest, but its meaningful. Because were saying as a society, These are no longer the principles we uphold. 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." I am OK with the fact they do not like the drawing. Not everyone likes the same type of art, but I would like to have my drawing back, since it means more to me than to them. Is it a problem if I ask for my drawing back? OTTAWAPrime 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 isnt satisfied that the testing systems submitted for approval yield accurate enough results. In Wednesdays 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. And yet they are. In Kitchener Wednesday, people began lining up at a drive-thru testing site at 2:30 a.m. five hours before it opened. By 7:30 a.m. the Grand River Hospital site was at capacity and by 9:15 it had closed entirely because impatient people were getting aggressive with staff. In Ottawa, people reported on social media that they were arriving at one testing site before 5 a.m. to find dozens of people in line ahead of them. All the citys main testing sites have reached capacity by mid-morning now for more than a week. People lining up to be tested is a problem, said Raywat Deonandan, an epidemiologist at the University of Ottawa. Deonandan said he understands why governments are reluctant to wave through tests that arent delivering the highest quality of results, but he said there are ways to use them without risking safety. They can be surveillance tools, he said. This is what I call the failure of imagination on the part of people that are OKing this. He said the lower-quality tests tend to deliver more false positives than false negatives, which means people with COVID-19 wouldnt be getting missed. Rather the tests can help quickly ferret out people with possible COVID-19, who can then be sent for clinical diagnosis using the more accurate molecular test to confirm it. He likened it to cancer-screening methods such as mammograms, which can spot possible reasons for concern. Patients are then sent for further tests to confirm or rule out cancer. The only test now approved in Canada to diagnose an active infection of the virus that causes COVID-19 needs to be completed in a lab, to look for the viruss genetic material. It takes hours to do, plus travel time for samples collected to be shipped to a lab, and more time for the results to be relayed back to public health authorities. Health Canada has received applications for 14 different tests that can be done quickly, right at the place where the sample is taken, using faster technology that can produce results in just minutes. Carleton University epidemiologist Patrick Saunders-Hastings said rapid tests can be a game changer because even if they are a step down in performance, we have reached the point where the gold-standard test cant keep up and even a lower-quality test is better than nothing. The value judgment comes down to whether that reduction in performance offsets the capacity we have to test more people and reduce the barriers to testing for a lot of people, he said. Health Canada spokesman Eric Morrissette said Wednesday the department has made it an absolute priority to review the applications for alternative COVID-19 tests. Canada is doing more tests than it has before. The Public Health Agency of Canada reports each day the average number of tests completed each a day, over the previous seven-day period. Between Aug. 25 and Sept. 21, that number was around 47,000. On Tuesday and Wednesday it jumped to more than 70,000. Toronto Liberal MP Julie Dzerowicz said in the House of Commons Wednesday that the government knows people want rapid tests and is doing everything it can to get them underway. We have heard loud and clear, not only from the opposition, but from Canadians, that everybody is looking for rapid tests to be approved, she said. Read more about: : DJTacumenJBJB(2) (GWBush vs. AGore). Bernie Sanders rips Trump over comments about election integrity Sen. Bernie Sanders tore into President Donald Trump on Thursday, delivering an indictment of the president's recent comments that doubted the integrity of the ... POLITICO 2 hours ago Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney respond to Trump's peaceful transfer of power remarks Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, called President Trump's answer to a question about the peaceful transfer of power regarding the 2020 election "unthinkable and ... Fox News 5 hours ago Trump's comments send a signal to his supporters about how to react if Biden prevails President Donald Trump's refusal on Wednesday to guarantee a peaceful transfer of power if he loses to Joe Biden in November is leading America towards a ... CNN 2 hours ago An October surprise is coming. Trump is making sure of that No, Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death was not the October surprise of this presidential election cycle. It's true that the late justice's passing, removing a liberal vote ... The Independent 2 hours ago Opinion The president vs. democracy: By refusing to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, Trump threatens the very foundation of the American republic The president, convinced his reelection was doomed as the country teetered on the edge, with Americans violently split amid racial animosity and charges that ... New York Daily News 6 hours ago Opinion= "Adding a new Debt Capital Markets Group reflects BGL's commitment to continually build upon our existing platform and provide new product offerings for our clients," said BGL's Executive Committee. "We are dedicated to helping our clients achieve their short- and long-term goals, and our new in-house debt capabilities will allow us to do that on a more comprehensive level. Jason, Olivier, and Collin bring an exciting and valuable skill set to our firm." "BGL has a reputation for strong sector focus, creative solutions, and a client-centered approach to transactions," said Sutherland. "We are impressed with their bankers' commitment to understanding their respective industries, listening to their clients' objectives, and delivering the best solution. We look forward to unlocking even more opportunities for BGL's clients in the future, particularly given the expanding breadth of solutions available in today's private debt markets." Added Lopez, "BGL's culture is built around client service and delivering value, not just in the final result but throughout the transaction process. We admire their approach and are excited to be on board." Sutherland and Lopez, both formerly Directors in William Blair & Company's Leveraged Finance Group, each have 15 years of experience in banking and debt capital markets. They both received bachelor's degrees from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sutherland's experience also includes various roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, while Lopez was a Vice President at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and JP Morgan. Prior to joining Blair, Supple was an Associate at NXT Capital and Kaufman Hall, and earned a B.S. in finance from DePaul University. BGL's new Debt Capital Markets Group marks the fourth new practice the firm has added in just over a year; since May of 2019, BGL has also established new practices in Transportation & Logistics, Automotive & Aftermarket, and Engineered Equipment. About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, capital markets, financial restructurings, valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and Philadelphia, and real estate offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, and San Antonio. The firm is also a founding member of Global M&A Partners, enabling BGL to service clients in more than 30 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, Inc., an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.bglco.com. SOURCE Brown Gibbons Lang & Company Related Links https://www.bglco.com We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Science in Society Journalism Awards, sponsored by the National Association of Science Writers: Winners in each category receive a cash prize of $2,000, to be awarded virtually on Monday, October 19 during the opening plenary of ScienceWriters2020. NASW established the Science in Society awards to provide recognition -- without subsidy from any professional or commercial interest -- for investigative or interpretive reporting about the sciences and their impact on society. The awards are intended to encourage critical, probing work that would not receive an award from an interest group. Beginning with the first award in 1972, NASW has highlighted innovative reporting that goes well beyond the research findings and considers the associated ethical problems and social effects. The awards are especially prestigious because they are judged by accomplished peers. This year, NASW is awarding prizes in five categories: Books, Science Reporting, Science Features, Longform Narratives, and Series. "Bottle of Lies: The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom" published by Ecco/HarperCollins in May 2019, is the result of a sweeping, decade-long, investigation by Katherine Eban into the deceptive practices of generic drug manufacturers. The judges called the book an "unlikely page turner," that draws on thousands of pages of confidential FDA documents and whistleblower accounts of rampant international fraud. They praised Eban's skillful narrative focus, thanks to which the book reads "with the swiftness of a thriller." The judges say: "You'll never peer into your medicine cabinet the same away again after reading Bottle of Lies." "Cigarette Butts Are Everywhere. Is Banning Filters a Viable Solution?", published by Audubon on March 7, 2019, traces the environmental impact of these ubiquitous bits of trash that are loaded with toxic chemicals. It also floats the radical possibility of banning filters outright, and supports it with expert voices that speak to both environmental and public health concerns. The judges call the story "a zippy and enlightening read" and reference its kicker quote to highlight that "once you read Robin Kazmier's article you won't be able to "unsee" the butts all around you." "The Confession: A psychologist has shown how police questioning can get innocent people to condemn themselves," published, by Science magazine on June 14, 2019, starkly brings to life the science of false confessions - and with it, raises huge red flags about routine police procedures and how they can override and corrupt solid exculpatory evidence. "At a time when the behavior of police across America is under scrutiny, The Confession is an incredibly important piece of work," the judges write. "The story explores science that calls much of our justice system into question and forces us to confront the evidence that contradicts some basic ideas about how humans work and who we trust." In "The Final Five Percent," published by Longreads in October, 2019, Tim Requarth chronicles the catastrophic motorcycle accident that befalls his brother and the debilitating changes to his brother's personality that emerge as he recovers most of his brain function in the weeks after the accident. The essay interweaves an intimate portrayal of the complexities of his brother's life both before and after the accident, and of their sibling relationship, with what's known about neuroscience of recklessness. "The Final Five Percent gripped us from its first paragraphs," write the judges. "This piece tackles the serious health mysteries around brain injury and explores the human consequences of that science in a way that is clear, nuanced and emotionally devastating." "Polluter's Paradise," a 14-part series published between October 30, 2019 and December 27, 2019 by the Times-Picayune and the Advocate in conjunction with ProPublica, is an exhaustive look at how emissions improve, only to worsen again, in "Cancer Alley," the industrialized stretch of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The judges write: "The series tackles the complicated topic of air pollution with clarity, laying out how industry, abetted by a willing government, its politicians and a 'captured' regulatory system, have abetted the ongoing poisoning of a citizenry [of] often poorer, Black communities. Excellent graphics, meanwhile, render complicated concepts such as air toxicity levels easy to grasp. A special shout-out for Mark Schleifstein, one of the winners: He and colleagues did their first investigation of pollution in Cancer Alley nearly three decades ago, and they are still at it, vigorously." In addition, NASW would like to recognize entries that were finalists in the competition: Finalist in the Book category Choked: Life and Breath in the Age of Air Pollution, by Beth Gardiner, published by University of Chicago Press A Death in the Rainforest: How Language and a Way of Life Came to an End in Papua New Guinea, by Don Kulick, published by Algonquin Books Finalists in the Science Reporting category "For some patients, monitoring symptoms can extend their lives," by Stephen Ornes, published by The Washington Post "Harm to Table: Turning an Invasive Crab into a Delicacy," by Laura Poppick, published by Scientific American Finalists in the Science Features category "Our Skulls Are Out-Evolving Us," by Katherine Reynolds Lewis, published in OneZero "A Louisiana spillway helps flood-proof New Orleans. It's killing Mississippi's local seafood industry," by Boyce Upholt, published in The Counter Finalists in the Longform Narratives category "The Ebola Wars," by Amy Maxmen, published in Nature "Victoria Gray's Journey and the CRISPR Revolution," by Rob Stein, published by National Public Radio Finalists in the Series category "Pushing Plastic" (#1, #2, #3), by Tik Root and Jamie Smith Hopkins, Center for Public Integrity, and Patrick Winn, PRI's The World "WOTUS in the West," by Ariel Wittenberg, published by E&E News The final judging committee consisted of Maggie Koerth (FiveThirtyEight), Emma Marris (freelance) and Christopher Solomon (freelance). The Science in Society awards committee was co-chaired by Alla Katsnelson (freelance) and Jyoti Madhusoodanan (freelance). ### In addition to the final committee, NASW thanks the volunteers who served on the preliminary committees: Eric Bender (freelance), Poornima Apte (freelance), Alison Bass (freelance), Jenner Berry (freelance), Genevieve Bookwalter (Chicago Tribune), Brendan Borrell (freelance), Viviane Callier (freelance), Cathy Cardno (Civil Engineering magazine), Matt Davenport (Michigan State University), Rachel Fairbank (freelance), Chris Gorski (Inside Science News Service), Earle Holland (freelance), Maya Kapoor (High Country News), Katherine Kornei (freelance), Antonia Malchik (freelance), Adam Mann (freelance), Marilynne Marchione (The Associated Press), Shady Grove Oliver (the Arctic Sounder), Jeffrey Perkel (Nature), Lonnie Shekhtman (NASA), Lina Tran (NASA) 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 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 science writers and editors, and science-writing educators and students. For questions or more information visit http://www.nasw.org or write director@nasw.org. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal A first-of-its kind expo in Silver City is designed to help mine employees left unemployed following the COVID-19 pandemic. Western New Mexico University and Chino Mine parent company Freeport-McMoRan are co-hosting the communitys first drive-through training expo from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday. The organizations are inviting mine employees and contractors to WNMUS Silver City campus, where advisors will provide services and give personal consultations, according to a news release from WNMU. The university is waiving application fees for all expo attendees and expediting the admission application process during the event the release said. Western New Mexico University is proud to be a community partner in this event and honored to be equipping the people of southwest New Mexico with the skills and confidence to build stronger futures, said James Ortiz, director of community and workforce development at WNMU, in a prepared statement. Western New Mexicos mining industry has been hit hard by the economic downturn. Chino Mine, which employed around 1,100 people at the start of the pandemic, suspended operations in April after an outbreak of the novel coronavirus affected about a dozen workers, according to the Silver City Daily Press. In August, Freeport-McMoRan announced that it would be extending furloughs for around 825 workers through the end of 2020, and is expecting to eliminate around 40% of its workforce at Chino Mine. The expo will help guide community members through the process of applying for Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act assistance and Trade Adjustment Assistance tuition funding while exploring their expanded training and higher education options, the release said. Those interested in joining the additional WNMU Police Academy cohort by enrolling in the pre-academy session this October will be able to apply on-site too. University staff members will provide one-on-one career services, share leadership development resources and provide academic advice, according to the release. Trade Adjustment Assistance and Workforce Connection representatives will also be on hand to counsel attendees. Masks are required at the event, and social distancing policies will be observed. For more information, visit www.wnmu.edu/freeport-fair. Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal is considering centralising conversion of agricultural land into other purposes from the state secretariat Nabanna, instead of district or block levels. The state cabinet during its meeting today discussed that the control over conversion of agriculture land into other purposes should remain in the hands of the governments top level to avoid interference of land mafias, manipulation in conversion process or any other controversy, state Agriculture Minister Purnendu Bose said. The issue of land use conversion figured in Friday's cabinet meeting, which came on the heels of the clash in Bhangor area in the southern fringes of the city where two villagers died while protesting the construction of a Power Grid sub-station. The matter is still at the discussion stage and no final decision has been taken. If conversion of land has to be centralised from the state secretariat, the existing Land Act needs to be amended and thus, an Amendment Bill has to be moved in the state Assembly, Bose said. The entire process is a long drawn one and nothing has been finalised about how the Amendment Bill should be brought or which sections of the existing Land Act be changed for the purpose, he said. Villagers on Friday withdrew their blockades in Bhangor, where tension prevailed following disruption of law-and-order situation by some miscreants from outside with the provocation of some opposition political parties, Bose said. Our party supremo Mamata Banerjee has never acquired any land forcibly and not a single inch of land will be acquired forcibly in future by her government, the minister said. The people of Bhangor have realised their mistakes and have now come forward to become a part of the development process initiated by the Mamata Banerjee government, leaving aside all disruptive methods. It is a good sign, Bose added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. KBC Bank Ireland has been hit with an 18.3m fine, the biggest available to regulators, over its part in the tracker mortgage scandal. The Central Bank of Ireland reprimanded and fined KBC Bank Ireland 18.3m in respect of serious failings, including overcharging that led to the loss of 66 properties including family homes. In a damning reprimand that Central Bank said more than half the properties lost happened after the tracker mortgage probe was already underway because the bank failed to implement a stop the harm procedure that should have identified cases where over charging might be an issue pending the full outcome. The total number of customers affected was 3,741. KBC has admitted in full to 12 regulatory breaches. The fine is less than the 21m Permanent TSB was fined over its tracker failures, but bigger relative to the size of the bank. The behaviour uncovered is understood to be the worst at any bank in relation to the scandal. Last year KBC Group CEO Johan Thijs urged the Central Bank to move on from 'annoying' tracker mortgage probe, though he later apologised for his language. On Thursday the CEO of KBC Bank Ireland Peter Roebben offered a sincere apology to impacted tracker mortgage customers. Undeniably this had serious consequences for all impacted customers, but particularly for those who lost their homes and properties, he said. The Central Bank found that in 2008 KBC deliberately looked to move customers off low cost trackers that were good for borrowers but bad for the bank. The move to permanently convert certain customers from their low-cost tracker rates included some who were already in financial distress. KBC failed to adequately warn the customers of the consequences. The Central Bank said the fine reflected the gravity with which the Central Bank views KBCs failures. It said the impact of KBCs failings on its customers was devastating. As well as the charging scandal itself, the regulator blasted KBCs subsequent engagement and co-operation with the Central Banks Tracker Mortgage Examination. It was deeply unsatisfactory and caused avoidable and sustained harm to impacted customers. While the scandal dated back to 2008 the bank was unwilling to acknowledge its failings until December 2017 or to take immediate action to apply the protections of the tracker probe, the Central Bank said. The Central Bank found the appropriate fine was 26,162,857, reduced by 30pc as a so called settlement discount essentially a plea bargain where fines are reduced if the findings are accepted and a costly public inquiry process is avoided. The impact of KBCs 2008 strategy meant certain customers, some of whom were already in financial distress, were required to make higher monthly mortgage repayments over the remaining term of their mortgages. This in turn increased the profit margin KBC made on these mortgages, the regulator said. It said the bank also failed to adequately warn customers entering interest only or fixed rate periods that they would be unable to return to their tracker rates. Some of the most damaging language in the Central Banks public statement related to KBCs efforts to address the scandal after it was uncovered, and after the regulator launched its probe in 2015. KBC failed to adhere to the guidelines set out by the Central Bank to ensure that all impacted customers were identified, redressed and compensated, until repeated interventions by the regulator. Even when the tracker examination was up and running KBC failed to take adequate steps to prevent customers from suffering further harm. This included failing to stop charging higher, incorrect rates of interest and failing to halt legal activity and loss of ownership of customers properties. Of the 66 properties referenced above that were lost as a result of KBCs tracker mortgage failures, 39 of these could have been avoided had KBC implemented the Stop the Harm Principles immediately and as required. The firms approach to, and implementation of, these protections was grossly inadequate, the Central Bank found. The bank also provided incorrect information to the Financial Regulator, including in 2009 claiming customers who sought interest only arrangements did not lose their tracker, which was incorrect. In total there were 12 separate regulatory breaches. The impact of KBCs actions on their customers was devastating and avoidable. By overcharging customers over extended periods, KBC forced people into arrears, including certain customers whom KBC knew were already facing financial difficulties, the Central Banks Director of Enforcement and Anti-Money Laundering, Seana Cunningham, said. G7 Ambassadors to Ukraine look forward to continue work with Zelensky, his team in support of reforms The ambassadors of the G7 countries to Ukraine look forward to continuing to work with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team to support reforms in Ukraine. "The G7 Ambassadors thank President Zelensky for a constructive discussion in Mykolaiv. We look forward to continuing to work with him and his team in support of reforms that strengthen our countries' bonds and improve Ukraine's investment climate," the ambassadors said on the official Twitter page on Thursday. With everything that is going on in the world today and the increasing difficulty of going to church, here is why the internet is saving the day! Avoid having to walk next to your churchs corny signboard message on the street Avoid being quizzed about your plans for marriage and children when you bring a new partner to church Avoid sermon topics that are challenging, call for repentance or encourage you to give Avoid the dilemma of choosing where or where not to sit Avoid the embarrassment of being caught reading the lyrics for a well-known song Avoid the judgement about giving or not giving to the church Be part of a megachurch in your home as your new personal satellite campus Choose your own denomination like choose your own adventure Choose your own praise experience with your personal Spotify playlist Choose your worship leader and preacher tailored to a conviction level for your comfort levels Dont worry about being the only one to raise your hands Dont worry about the guy that still isnt converted after all these years sitting next to you Dont worry about crying children or youth ministry, as it is all about me Dont worry about an unpaid sound guy struggling to get the mics working when you have the comfort of surround sound at home Dont worry about your Pastor not being woke enough, knowing the sermons streamed on social media, they will definitely be politically correct to make sure the stream does not face unexpected technical difficulties Feel like youre being Bible bashed? Just spam the angry react emoji until the preacher moves on Forget about the no eating in church rule, feel free to have brunch, lunch, or afternoon tea during church Hack Bible study by having a video background of yourself listening attentively and scratching your head playing on loop Listen to the sermon at the gym to get a spiritual workout My homebrew beats church coffee hands down Never be called upon by the preacher to come on stage as part of a live sermon illustration or be forced to share a testimony with the congregation Never be stuck behind a chatty group blocking the doors of the chapel Never get caught ogling the hot worship leader Never risk the embarrassment of singing off-key Never worry about the church Wi-Fi not working or being caught browsing something other than YouVersion during the service No angry stares or trying to hide that your phone isnt on silent No gelling your hair or putting on makeup while driving to church No judgement for falling asleep in church, you havent missed it as long as you can re-watch the live stream later No more struggling to decide how quickly to leave after the final benediction or weighing up whether it is worth the effort to have a conversation with someone during morning tea after the service No more struggling to find a pen and paper to take notes, just copy and a section of the live captioning and paste it onto your Twitter feed with #blessed #livingmybestlife No more worrying about a Sunday best outfit, just put on a Snapchat filter if you really have to turn on your webcam No need to be gracious to families with prams or persons with disabilities for spots in the church carpark No need to get out of bed (and no one to criticise you for being low order) No need to hurriedly photograph the PowerPoint slide of a good sermon point before it changes, just pause the video to take a screenshot for Facebook and tag the preacher to show that youve got Godly connections No need to introduce yourself or talk to the newcomer No need to look for a new Homebase for your Christian life when you are already at home No risk of getting chewed gum on your hand when you accidentally touch the underside of the pew No shame on being drunk on spirits, not just for Communion No stress about being late to church and suddenly realising that its a female guest preacher when you first get to scroll through the live comments of excited for Pastor Joel Osteens blessing on us today Do non-Christian friends want to hang out instead of church? Not a problem, just click on Add to Watchlist on YouTube Preachers can have better feedback from how many likes they get Promote your favourite political ideology with a custom Zoom background and profile picture during Bible study Remove the awkwardness of bringing a new partner to church when you two are already ready after last nights Netflix and chill Show off your house or greenscreen skills if you really have to turn on your video during Bible study Skip having to shake hands, hug or saying hello and save time on not having to volunteer for ministry Skip the boring parts of the church service such as the opening prayer, Bible reading, and jump straight to the sermons application and the benediction Skip the mission teams sharing and testimonial because you can just double-tap on their Instagram photos later Watch and be part of as many churches as you like but never have to commit to any Watch Netflix and church at the same time, thank God for dual apps on the screen Zoom into Bible study and skip the difficult questions from the Bible study leader by mouthing your mic isnt working This list is mostly satirical if you havent figured that out already. But in all seriousness, despite the situation that we are facing, the importance of fellowshipping with one another centred on Christ cannot be understated. Hebrews chapter 3 verse 13 reminds us to encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. WASHINGTON Republicans appear to be planning a Supreme Court confirmation schedule that would place a final vote on the nominee under two weeks before the Nov. 3 election possibly just a matter of days before. With limited options, Democrats are strategizing on how to delay that timeline as much as possible. "I think the most important thing that all us do is speak out about how unfair this process is," U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said. President Donald J. Trump is poised to make his judicial nomination on Friday or Saturday to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Sept. 18. He has said he plans to nominate a woman. Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit is believed to be his leading choice, and one who would make for a quick confirmation because she's already known to senators from her role on the federal bench. A confirmation schedule shared privately by Republicans suggested starting confirmation hearings the week of Oct. 12 and holding the Senate Judiciary Committee's vote the following week. A vote by the full Senate would follow. The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Wednesday of the confirmation process, My hope is well be able to do it in a fashion that we can not deviate from the norms too much. Usually several weeks are left between a Supreme Court nomination and the start of confirmation to leave time for official background checks, senators' study of the nominees record and other preparations. Judiciary member Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., blasted the accelerated timing considered by Graham. "If you think logically about the timetable here and the hearing occurs on Oct. 12, which is about the soonest that it could be done because they at least have to do a 'show' FBI investigation they have to have the appearance of following the requisite steps the vote in committee probably would be the last week of October and then the vote on the floor, literally days before the election, Blumenthal said. It is mind-boggling what they are doing in making a mockery of Supreme Court confirmations. Another member, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said confirmation hearings and the vote need to occur before Election Day. "It is so important that we confirm the Supreme Court nominees so that there's a full Supreme Court on the bench to resolve any election challenge," Cruz said Thursday. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said Republicans "are so eager to rush this nomination" because "this is the only way for Republicans to achieve their radical, right-wing agenda that the public will abhor." Democrats are warning their voters that Trump wants to use this appointment to overturn the Affordable Care Act, a law that will face the scrutiny of the Supreme Court in a hearing on Nov. 10, one week after the election. They decry a conservative 6-3 court as one that will overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, among other issues. In 2016, Trump campaigned on appointing judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade; as president, he has supported efforts to repeal the ACA. On Thursday, Trump went to the Supreme Court to see Ginsburg lie in repose outside the court, an American flag covering her coffin. Thousands went to the court Wednesday and Thursday to pay their respects. She will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, the first woman and the first Jewish person to do so. Ginsburg will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday. Ginsburg served on the Supreme Court for 27 years. After multiple bouts of cancer, she died at age 87. The head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told a Senate committee on Wednesday that 90% of Americans are still at risk of contracting the virus. "The preliminary results in the first round [of a very large, ongoing CDC study] show that a majority of our nation, more than 90% of the population, remains susceptible," Dr. Robert Redfield testified. "A majority of Americans are still susceptible to this virus." Redfield added that some states are seeing infection rates of 15% to 20% while others are seeing a less than 1% infection rate, CBS News reported. At the same time, Redfield reiterated that the majority of Americans may not be able to get a coronavirus vaccine until next year this after President Donald Trump said last week that Redfield had "made a mistake" in stating that earlier this month, CBS News reported. "We will have the 700 million doses based on projection by late March, early April," Redfield told the committee. At the same committee hearing, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said there would likely only be 50 million doses by December, so "it is not going to be a large proportion of the population" that receives the vaccine by the end of the year. Fauci said the first to get the vaccine would "likely will be health care providers and likely will be those who are vulnerable with preexisting conditions." Dr. Stephen Hahn, head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, repeatedly said in his opening statement to the committee that the efficacy of a vaccine would be determined only by FDA scientists. "I will fight for science. I will fight for the integrity of the agency," Hahn said. Just this week, the agency proposed guidelines that would strengthen the vetting process of any new coronavirus vaccine. Later on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said the White House may or may not approve those new FDA guidelines, claiming they may have been politically motivated, The New York Times reported. New study shows coronavirus mutating rapidly Also on Wednesday, a new study of more than 5,000 genetic sequences of the coronavirus reveals the virus's continual accumulation of mutations, one of which may have made it more contagious, the Washington Post reported. But researchers did not find that these mutations have made the virus deadlier. Every mutation is a roll of the dice, and with transmission so widespread in the United States that the virus has had plenty of opportunities to change, potentially with troublesome consequences, study author James Musser, of Houston Methodist Hospital, told the Post. "We have given this virus a lot of chances," Musser said. "There is a huge population size out there right now." The research was posted on the preprint server MedRxiv and has not been peer-reviewed. Earlier this month, a larger batch of sequences was published by scientists in the United Kingdom. Those scientists also concluded that a mutation that changes the structure of the "spike protein" on the surface of the virus may be driving the outsized spread of that particular strain. David Morens, a top virologist at the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the finding "may have implications for our ability to control it." "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," Morens explained. Not only that, the virus may be able dampen the durability of any vaccine, Morens added. "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." One-shot vaccine moves to larger trials In news that might help make vaccinating all Americans against COVID-19 more easy to accomplish, the first coronavirus vaccine that only requires a single shot has entered the final stages of testing in the United States, the Post reported. The international trial will eventually recruit up to 60,000 participants. The vaccine, made by Johnson & Johnson, is the fourth to enter the large, Phase 3 trials that determine effectiveness and safety, the Post reported. Paul Stoffels, the company's chief scientific officer, predicted on Tuesday there may be enough data to have results by the end of the year and the company plans to manufacture 1 billion doses next year. Three other vaccine candidates have a head start, with U.S. trials that began earlier this summer, but the vaccine being developed by Johnson & Johnson could be easier to administer and distribute if it's proven safe and effective, the Post reported. The company is initially testing a single dose, while the other vaccines require a second shot three to four weeks after the first one, the newspaper said. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine can also be stored in liquid form at refrigerator temperatures for three months, whereas two of the three other vaccines must be frozen or kept at ultra-cold temperatures for long-term storage, the Post reported. "A single-shot vaccine, if it's 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 Johnson & Johnson to develop the vaccine. "It is a really good thing that we have this diversity of platforms because this is a critical crisis in terms of our global circumstance," said Dr. Francis Collins, director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. "Now, here in the U.S. with 200,000 deaths, we want to do everything we can without sacrificing safety or efficacy." Cases keep mounting By Thursday, the U.S. coronavirus case count passed 6.9 million as the death toll reached 201,000, according to a Times tally. According to the same tally, the top five states in coronavirus cases as of Thursday were: California with over 798,000; Texas with more than 753,000; Florida with more than 690,000; New York with over 456,000; and Georgia with over 292,700. Curbing the spread of the coronavirus in the rest of the world remains challenging. By Thursday, India's coronavirus case count had passed 5.6 million, just over one month after hitting the 3 million mark, the Times reported. More than 91,000 coronavirus patients have died in India, but when measured as a proportion of the population, the country has had far fewer deaths than many others. Doctors say this reflects India's younger and leaner population. Still, the country's public health system is severely strained, and some sick patients cannot find hospital beds, the newspaper said. Only the United States has more coronavirus cases. Meanwhile, Brazil posted nearly 4.6 million cases and more than 138,000 deaths as of Thursday, the Times tally showed. Cases are also spiking in Russia: The country's coronavirus case count has passed 1.1 million, the Times reported. As of Thursday, the death toll in Russia was over 19,867. Worldwide, the number of reported infections passed 31.9 million on Thursday, with over 977,000 deaths, according to the Hopkins tally. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. The Indian stock market slumped on Thursday, the last of day of the futures & options (F&O) contracts for September series amid weak global cues. The benchmark S&P BSE tumbled 1,115 points, or 3 per cent to settle at 36,554. Barring HUL (up 0.36 per cent), 29 constituents of the index declined. IndusInd Bank (down 7 per cent) ended as the biggest loser on the index. NSE's Nifty settled at 10,806, down 326 points or 2.93 per cent. India VIX zoomed over 12 per cent to 23.57 levels. In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index dropped 2.14 per cent to 13,933 levels while the S&P BSE SmallCap index slipped 2.28 per cent to 14,168 levels. On the sectoral front, all the indices on the NSE ended in the red. Nifty IT and Nifty Metal slipped over 4 per cent each while Nifty Bank fell nearly 3.5 per cent to 20,457 levels. Global markets Asian shares fell on Thursday following a slump on Wall Street overnight, as a series of warnings from US Federal Reserve officials underscored investor worries over the resilience of the economic recovery. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan tumbled 1.35 per cent in the morning session on broad losses across the region. In commodities, oil prices dropped weighed down by concerns that US economic recovery is slowing as the outbreak lingers, while a renewed wave of Covid-19 cases in Europe have led to reimposed travel restrictions in several countries. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a slew of restrictions for England in the wake of a fresh spike in the number of Covid-19 infections. These new measures may last for six months, if there is no improvement in the pandemic situation, Boris Johnson told UK Parliament on September 22. Investors fear that more such restrictions could be put in place across major global economies as the cases continue to rise. Meanwhile, India on Wednesday recorded 89,688 cases, taking its total caseload to 5,730,184. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level virtual meeting with chief ministers and health ministers of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab on Wednesday and asked states to reassess if lockdowns of one or two days are effective in containing Covid-19. The soldier, Chen, was punished by the army for buying an unauthorised phone He was found sharing 'military secrets' with family and friends, the officials said The man also revealed his service identity with his gaming buddies online The army held an assembly to warn other soldiers about Chen's 'wrongdoings' A Chinese soldier has been expelled from the army after he was found sharing military secrets with his family, friends and even gaming buddies online with his smartphone. The soldier, known by his surname Chen, was discharged on Tuesday from Chinas Eastern Theatre Command, a major division of the Peoples Liberation Army that oversees operations in the Taiwan Strait, the East China Sea and Western Pacific. ADVERTISEMENT Chen was caught discussing military secrets and sharing army-related photos with his family and friends via messengers, the authorities said on Tuesday. He also revealed his identity as a serviceman while playing online games on his phone. A Chinese soldier has been expelled from the army after he was found sharing military secrets with his family, friends and even gaming buddies online with his smartphone Chinese soldiers are seen having their mobile phones inspected after Chen was caught 'leaking military secrets', according to an article published by Eastern Theatre Command The soldier, known by his surname Chen, was discharged on Tuesday from Chinas Eastern Theatre Command. He is pictured having his badges removed following his expulsion Click here to resize this module The incident was revealed by the Chinese military body this week in an article published on its official account on Chinese social media platform WeChat. The alleged military secrets leaked by Chen remain disclosed. Chen had purchased a second-hand mobile phone online without permission, the report said. He was said to have discussed military secrets and shared photos from the barracks with his family members and friends on multiple occasions via the unauthorised device. The soldier also revealed army-related information and his service identity with strangers while playing mobile games online, according to the article. The incident was revealed by the Chinese military body this week in an article published on its official account on Chinese social media platform WeChat. Chen is seen in a separate photo sitting in a room while burying his face in his hands, seemingly regretting his actions The theatre command held a warning assembly (pictured) following Chens expulsion Chen was said to have discussed military secrets and shared photos from the barracks with his family members and friends on multiple occasions via the unauthorised device. The picture shows the Chinese soldier writing a formal confession as part of his punishment The theatre command held a warning assembly following Chens expulsion. He is pictured having his badges removed while being criticised in front of other soldiers. Chen is seen in a separate photo sitting in a room while burying his face in his hands, seemingly regretting his actions. Another one shows him writing a confession as part of his punishment. Zhang Peng, an instructor of the army, said in the assembly that leaking military secrets brings great harm to the armed forces and individual soldiers. Chief officials [in the army] must reinforce the sense of responsibility, concentrate on the armys various tasks, never have one second of negligence and relaxation, he was quoted saying in the article. The file photo shows Chinese soldiers attending a ceremony to commemorate the 89th anniversary of the 'September 18 incident', which marked Japan's full-scale invasion of China and the beginning of the 14 years of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression at the September 18th History Museum on September 18 in Shenyang, Liaoning It comes as the Eastern Theatre Command has been conducting recent military drills near the sensitive Taiwan Strait area, fuelling tensions between Beijing and the self-ruled island. ADVERTISEMENT China's People's Liberation Army also flew 18 warplanes over the mid-line of the Strait on Friday, followed by another 19 on Saturday, while US envoy Keith Krach was visiting Taiwan. China claims democratically-run Taiwan as its own territory, to be taken by force if needed, a threat the island has lived with since 1949, when defeated Kuomintang, or Nationalist, forces fled there after their defeat by the Communists in the Chinese civil war. China has been angered by stepped-up US support for Taiwan, including two visits in as many months by top officials, one in August by Health Secretary Alex Azar and the other last week by Keith Krach, the undersecretary for economic affairs. In addition, the United States is planning major new arms sales to Taiwan. China views all these steps as effectively being US support for Taiwan independence, with the eventual establishment of a Republic of Taiwan, a red line for Beijing. Most of countries did not recognize Lukashenko as Belarus' president. Only President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has congratulated Alexander Lukashenko on his inauguration as President of the Republic of Belarus. This was reported by Turkmenistan's state agency, Turkmenistan Today, on Wednesday evening. Read alsoLukashenko reportedly sworn in as Belarus president local media "In his address, the President of Turkmenistan wished peace, further progress and prosperity to the people of Belarus," it said. The date of the inauguration ceremony was not officially announced and the ambassadors of other countries to Belarus were not invited. Lukashenko said that "according to the laws of Belarus, we should not inform Western countries and anyone else beforehand." "This is our country's own business. And there is only one criticism either [they see] a secret or a sacrament there. You know, about two thousand people, along with the military, were invited to the inauguration event. And it is almost impossible to keep it secret," he said on Thursday, September 24. Most of the countries did not recognize the legitimacy of Alexander Lukashenko's new term of presidency. Among them there are 27 countries of the European Union, Great Britain, the United States, Canada, as well as Ukraine. Prior to the inauguration ceremony, the leaders of the Russian Federation, Turkey, Venezuela, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as unrecognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia congratulated Lukashenko on the so-called "victory." There was no official congratulation from the leader of China on the inauguration, but there was a statement by spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry Wang Wenbin, who expressed support for Lukashenko. "China respects the choice made by the people of Belarus, the presidential election is an internal affair of the country," Russia's news agency, RIA Novosti, quotes him as saying. Russian President Vladimir Putin's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, in turn, said that the Russian leader had not congratulated Lukashenko on the inauguration as there was no need, Russia's TASS agency said. "The [Russian] President congratulated President Lukashenko on his victory in the elections both by telephone and then in person during a recent working visit by the President of Belarus to Sochi," the spokesman for the Kremlin said. According to him, there is "no obligatory" protocol for congratulations on the inauguration, because "the congratulations have already been offered." More news reports on the subject: Here are some startling figures. Of the roughly 7.8 billion people in the world, slightly over 2.5 billion of them were Facebook subscribers as of March 2020. More than 80% of these subscribers live in the countries comprising North, Central and South America. In countries such as Bhutan, Myanmar and Malaysia, the Facebook participation rate is close to 100% while in Indonesia and Nigeria, it is around 80%. That the world has become addicted to social media is an understatement but, as with any addiction, this is not necessarily a good thing even though it cuts across age, gender, race, education, and community lines. This cancerous growth of social media is turning out to be a huge threat to societies in general, and democratic ones, in particular. Such a conclusion warrants careful explanation and adequate justification. Over the decades, addiction has typically centred around tangible goods narcotics (heroin, cocaine, opium, and cannabis), tobacco, alcohol, fossil fuels and, specific to the United States, firearms. A variety of approaches have been taken by governmental and private organisations to combat addictions since they lead to loss of life, loss of productivity, violence, family strife, impact on the environment, etc. In the case of drug addiction, the primary focus is on controlling the producers and distributors of narcotics and, secondarily, the users. The same goes for addiction to fossil fuel. As for controlling tobacco and alcohol addiction, the focus is on the users but not the producers. The addiction to firearms, unique to the US, is a problem that is hardly ever addressed, either at the gun manufacturer level or the gun owner level, despite the mass shootings that occur at regular intervals across the country, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. A detailed analysis of these different approaches reveals a disturbing pattern in selective enforcement. Much of the heroin and cocaine destined for North America and Europe comes from the developing and under-developed world. For example, the Mexico-based Sinaloa cartel and the (now defunct) Colombia-based Medellin cartel, long considered to be the two most powerful drug trafficking organisations in the world, and the poppy-growing warlords of Afghanistan have been targeted for elimination by law enforcement agencies such as the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA, which is responsible for coordinating and pursuing US drug investigations both domestic and abroad, has officials attached to US embassies in over 60 countries, especially in Central and South America, South and Southeast Asia. However, when it comes to tackling user addiction, at least in the US, the emphasis of the War on Drugs programme has been on mass incarcerations of African-American and Hispanic users rather than white users, even though the latter comprise a larger proportion of users overall. Even though tobacco (including second-hand smoke) is universally regarded as one of the major public health hazards, few countries have prohibited the growing of tobacco. In 2004, Bhutan became the first country to completely outlaw the cultivation, harvesting, production, and sale of tobacco products. In the US, even though leading tobacco companies such as R J Reynolds and Philip Morris suffered huge financial losses from court cases pertaining to smoking-related cancer deaths, they are still very much in business and have since moved much of their manufacturing operations to Eastern Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia. They have also actively engaged in preventing the adoption of smoke-free environment legislation across the globe. While alternative energy sources such as solar and wind have reduced the demand for fossil fuels somewhat, nevertheless Big Oil has succeeded in reversing some of the clean air and pollution control legislation to further open up large areas of wilderness and the ocean floors for oil exploration. Also, Big Oil is now pressuring the US government to lean on Kenya to allow the dumping of plastic waste on their shores. Plastics are usually derived from petrochemicals. Since 2012, social media platforms have been used to promote disinformation and hate speech during elections in many democracies across the globe, including the European Union, Mexico, United States, Britain, Brazil, and India. Last October, Facebook admitted that snooping software supplied by an Israeli company was used to spy on Indian journalists, activists and senior government officials who were using WhatsApp just prior to the May 2019 elections. As reported in the New York Times, when Canada announced new transparency laws last March requiring social media platforms to keep a registry of all political or partisan ads they publish, rather than comply, Google simply opted not to run any election advertising in the country. In the same NYT article, it was noted that Facebook had carried out a secretive global lobbying operation targeting hundreds of legislators and regulators in an attempt to garner influence across the world, and threatening to withhold investments from countries unless they supported or passed Facebook-friendly laws. With the backing of the US government, no doubt. In an interview given back in 1988, Milton Friedman, the guru of free market economics, stated that a democratic society, once established, destroys a free economy and that an authoritarian government that protected free markets was preferable to a democratic one that redesigned them. The same sentiment was recently echoed by Stephen Moore, a senior economic adviser to President Trump. Trump, of course, is addicted to Twitter and is the worlds most powerful misuser of social media for political and financial gain. Social media is one addiction for which there doesnt seem to be a cure. With friends like Facebook, who needs enemies? (The writer is a computer scientist based in the US) Michigan lawmakers signed off on a $62.75 billion state budget deal Wednesday afternoon, avoiding the severe cuts many worried might be necessary at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to a boost from federal funding. Two bills representing the states education and general operating budgets were made public Wednesday passed along wide bipartisan margins in both the state House and Senate just hours later. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer indicated shed sign them in a Wednesday evening statement. When we started the budget process in early February, nobody had an idea of how challenging the coming months would be, no knowledge of the devasting impacts that COVID-19 would have, including the impact to our state budget, Whitmer said in the statement. But Michigan is strong, and by working collaboratively with our partners in the Legislature we now have a budget I will soon be signing, a budget that funds shared priorities that will move Michigan forward. Under the deal, 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. Related: Michigan lawmakers poised to approve $62.8B state budget with slight increase in K-12 spending Unlike previous budget cycles, negotiations were conducted almost completely behind closed doors, and lawmakers skipped the typical process of offering up separate House and Senate budget proposals. Instead, legislative leaders and the Whitmer administration reached an agreement on the framework in advance and only released the details publicly on the same day the plan passed both chambers. The process itself was nearly a complete 180 from how last years budget cycle played out. In 2019, the Whitmer administration and Republican legislative leaders publicly argued over how best to spend state tax dollars for months, culminating in a standoff that dragged into December. Ive been through many budget processes in my time here in the Senate, and this was by far the most collaborative process Ive been part of, said Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr., D-East Lansing. This budget is an amazing achievement in the sense that I dont think anyone three months ago would have thought that we could have gotten here. The COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in budget negotiations after economic experts initially predicted declines in sales and income tax revenue could blow a multibillion-dollar hole in next years budget, which begins Oct. 1. Ultimately, better-than-expected sales tax revenues and the initial wave of federal aid from the CARES Act meant the states budget situation was in relatively decent shape, although lawmakers acknowledged itd be a different story without help from the federal government. I want to point out very solemnly how much of this is because of borrowed federal money, Rep. Aaron Miller, R-Sturgis, who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee for K-12 education. Were not here because of ourselves, were not here because we got lucky. In all, the plan trimmed about $250 million from the budget, including savings from a planned closure of the Detroit Reentry Center run by the Michigan Department of Corrections. That closure earned the plan one of the few dissenting votes in the Michigan House from Rep. Tenisha Yancey, D-Harper Woods, who said she was disappointed in Whitmer and the legislature for not considering the potential issues closing the facility would cause the community. The city of Detroit has supported this governor...this is not the first time that she has not returned the favor, she said. 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, includes funding for special education spending, at-risk students and mental health funding, as well as money for teacher hazard pay and incentives for first-year teachers to stay in Michigan. Funding for universities and community colleges will remain at the same levels as the previous fiscal year under the deal. In the general operating budget, the Whitmer administration and legislature agreed to fund the governors Michigan Reconnect proposal at $30 million to offer adults financial assistance to attend community college, $28.7 million for the Going Pro initiative to help businesses recruit students, $12.6 million for the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program assisting pregnant women and $15 million for the states Pure Michigan campaign. The budget also includes $14.3 million for funding expanded access to broadband internet around the state. Read more on MLive: Michigan lawmakers poised to approve $62.8B state budget with slight increase in K-12 spending Bills expanding criminal record expungement in Michigan pass state Senate $15 million for Pure Michigan included in budget plan Advertisement New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has unveiled a memorial plaque to the 51 worshippers killed in last year's Christchurch mosque terror attacks. Ms Ardern donned a headscarf and took part in a sombre ceremony at Al Noor mosque on Thursday morning as she visited Christchurch for the first time since the sentencing of Australian terrorist Brenton Tarrant last month. Imam Gamal Fouda led proceedings, saying the day left 'a scar on our hearts' but promoted New Zealand as 'the mother of peace in the world'. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wore a hijab (pictured) to a Christchurch terror attack memorial on Thursday Ms Ardern (pictured) unveiled a memorial plaque to the 51 worshippers killed in last year's Christchurch mosque shootings Ms Ardern attended a sombre ceremony at Al Noor mosque (pictured) with members of the muslim community Al Noor mosque shooting survivor Taj Mohammed Kamran (pictured left) took a selfie with the prime minister Mr Fouda made two requests of Ms Ardern - asking for a national day of commemoration and hate speech laws which specifically included religion - saying 'the blood of those people shouldn't be forgotten'. Ms Ardern said if re-elected, Labour would amend current laws to broaden the group of people to whom it is a crime to discriminate against. 'We do have ... provisions that deal with hate speech, discrimination, around people's different identities but religion hasn't been included in that. My view is that does need to change,' Ms Ardern said. New Zealanders will begin to vote from October 3, when polling places open a fortnight in advance of election day on October 17. Ms Ardern said she hoped to make this law change sooner but Labour 'hadn't been able to deliver that last term', a veiled suggestion she was blocked by coalition partners New Zealand First. 'I just think in a modern New Zealand everyone would agree no one should be discriminated against for their religion and so it makes sense that we add this to the suite of other things we say it is just not okay to discriminate people over,' she said. Ms Ardern unveiled the plaque (pictured) to honour those who died after Australian terrorist Brenton Tarrant opened fire at Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch on Friday March 15, 2019 Ms Ardern (pictured left) unveiled the plaque alongside the Imam of the Al Noor mosque Gamal Fouda (right) Ms Ardern addressed the mourners gathered at the Al Noor mosque (pictured) for the sombre ceremony Members of the muslim community greeted Ms Ardern (pictured) and she spoke with mourners before the ceremony Ms Ardern also embraced members of the muslim community (pictured) and received a bouquet of flowers The Prime Minister (pictured right) appeared stern as she walked alongside Imam Gamal Fouda (left) to unveil the plaque Hate speech laws are covered by NZ's Human Rights Act, but that only references race, colour, ethnic or national origins. Australia's anti-vilification laws vary state by state, but include other characteristics such as gender identity, sexual orientation or HIV status. On the subject of a national commemorative day, the Labour leader said she wanted to consult further with the community. Plans to stage a major commemorative event in 2020 were scuttled by the arrival of COVID-19. Ms Ardern (right) greeted the the Imam of the Al Noor mosque Gamal Fouda (left) with an elbow bump Tarrant was sentenced to life in prison over the double mass shooting in Christchurch (memorial plaque pictured) Ms Ardern (pictured with Imam Gamal Fouda) promised to to amend New Zealand's discrimination laws if a Labour government was re-elected in October Ms Ardern has also promised to consult with victims of the attacks over whether Tarrant should be extradited to serve his lifelong jail term in Australia (Ms Ardern pictured arriving at the Al Noor mosque) Ms Ardern has also promised to consult with victims of the attacks over whether the Grafton-raised terrorist should be extradited to serve his term in Australia, but won't do this during the election campaign. Ms Ardern said she was 'pleased to see some old friends' at the mosque. 'I've seen people's recovery which has taken some time,' she said. 'And to see for instance, some who have previously struggled with walking who are walking, some who talked about the pain having lessened physically. That shows the time that has passed but I don't think anything's quite going to heal what happened there.' Last month, Tarrant became the first man in modern NZ legal history to be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Polling stations will open in New Zealand from October 3 (Ms Ardern pictured receiving gifts from the muslim community) Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 00:28:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the leading group for promoting the integrated development of Yangtze River Delta, presides over a plenary meeting of the leading group in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng has urged efforts to make continued breakthroughs in advancing the integration of the Yangtze River Delta. Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting on promoting the integration of the delta. Covering an area of 358,000 square km, the Yangtze River Delta is one of the most populated and urbanized city clusters in China, contributing a quarter of the country's gross domestic product. Han said that the Yangtze River Delta region should give full play to the advantages of having a solid economic base, great market size, complete industrial and supply chains, and a high level of opening-up, and take the lead in forming the new development pattern in which domestic and foreign markets boost each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay. Efforts should be made to expand high-level opening-up, support Shanghai's Pudong in acting as a forerunner in actively exploring and acquiring experience, and promote the high-quality development of pilot free trade zones, he said. The vice premier called on the region to make increased efforts to tackle hard-nut problems in science and technology and achieve breakthroughs in key fields such as integrated circuits, biomedicine and artificial intelligence. Work related to a model area in the Yangtze River Delta on ecologically friendly development should be accelerated, he said. The region should rule out using the real-estate market as a short-term measure to stimulate the economy, and further improve its emergency-response system for major emergencies, such as public health issues, Han said. Enditem Study of God in the brain points to a common thread among people of faith, neuroscientist says Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In an interview with The Christian Post, neuroscientist Adam Green, senior investigator in a new Georgetown University study that found the strength of an individuals faith in God is likely linked to the brain, explained how the new data point to a common thread among people of all faiths. Green and his neuroscientist colleagues conducted the study "Implicit pattern learning predicts individual differences in belief in God in the United States and Afghanistan" published this month in the journal Nature Communications. They found that an individuals ability to unconsciously predict complex patterns, through an ability known as implicit pattern learning, had a strong correlation with the strength of their belief in a god who creates patterns of events in the universe. The study, which involved a predominantly Christian group of 199 participants from Washington, D.C., and a group of 149 Muslim participants in Kabul, Afghanistan, is the first of its kind to explore religious belief through implicit pattern learning. To measure the implicit pattern learning ability of participants in the study, researchers used a well-established cognitive test in which they had to watch a sequence of dots appear and disappear quickly on a computer screen. They pressed a button for each of the moving dots but some participants in the study the ones who registered the strongest implicit learning ability began to subconsciously learn the patterns hidden in the sequence. They pressed the button for dots before they appeared. Even the best implicit learners in the study did not know that the dots formed patterns, which demonstrated that the learning had happened at an unconscious level. Green, who is an associate professor in Georgetown University's department of psychology, explained what this could mean for those who believe. CP: What kinds of reactions have you been getting to the study so far? Green: Its been interesting. I think as a researcher, the motivation is to understand things and I think the wider world wants to fit whatever you find into a narrative and it isnt necessarily the case that the actual data supports a particular narrative one way or another. I think people have a lot of interest in sort of what the study means in terms of whatever their preconceived notions are about belief. And thats a complicated issue. It means different things to different people. I think some people have taken it as heres an indication that somehow religious people are seeing something that nonreligious people arent but sort of indicating something deeper. And other people are taking it as well. This is really just people overgeneralizing from the ways their brains interpret visual information. Really I think the point is, the data are just the data. You could be a believer or nonbeliever and these data shouldnt sway you to be one or another or justify one position or another. Its about understanding how people come to belief, not whether what they believe is real. CP: Your study reminds me of the God gene hypothesis (which proposes that human spirituality is influenced by heredity and that a specific gene, called vesicular monoamine transporter 2, predisposes humans towards spiritual or mystic experiences). Do the results from your study point towards a God gene? Green: Well, I think both genetics and belief would be undersold to think that either could be boiled down to those kind of monolithic terms. I think belief means so many different things to so many different people. Its such a rich, complex thing and so are genetics. Thirty thousand different genes interacting in so many different ways, no interesting thing that humans do comes from any one gene. Thats not how it works. I do think what were finding is that there are hardwired differences between people that influence the way that their brains process visual information and the ways that brains process visual information seems to have some influence on how likely they are to tend toward narratives that emphasize interventionist gods. And so I guess in that sense there is something innate that is biasing people toward or away from belief but it certainly wouldnt break down to just one gene. CP: The study involved participants from the U.S. and Afghanistan. Was there any consideration to include participants from places like Sweden where you dont have a lot of religious people? Green: If you look deep into the study, we actually did an online sample with Europeans and that was one of the reasons why. We werent able to collect all the same data because it was online rather than in person. Some of the tasks dont work with the online presentation. We were interested in a broad a sample as possible. CP: How would you explain why some countries are more religious than others? Green: There is always a temptation to say research found this phenomenon, in this case its the relationship of implicit learning to belief, and to try to take that and say how can we explain everything with this one phenomenon. What we are finding, and what science almost always finds is just a small piece of the puzzle. And I think the genetics here are actually a great analogy because lets say you find a gene that has some influence on height. Well it turns out, and people have studied this actually, you might find some people in Sweden who tend to be quite tall. You might find slightly more people in Sweden carrying that gene, but it turns out that theres actually tens of thousands of genes that influence height and so any one gene is just a tiny part of the story. It turns out that proper nutrition influences height and many other things can influence things as complex as belief. I think to say that it may be plausible based on what we found that a slightly higher percentage of people in more heavily believing places would show greater implicit learning, that is probably a fair interpretation. But there is so much more to the story. This is just one small piece. CP: America has always been pretty religious but we have been seeing the rise of religious nones (people with no religious affiliation). Why do you think this is happening? Green: Unless youre attributing that to some sort of demographic changes where you accept different people, within the same gene pool essentially, you wouldnt expect to see changes over time at a population level in implicit learning. Im sure there are many other reasons that people have come up with as to why there are cultural shifts in these things. CP: What do you see as the next step for the research you are doing now? Green: We have a new grant funded [study]. Most of my research is at the neural level looking at the brain. And so were going to be doing neural imaging to try to get a clear understanding of how it is that brains represent God, which is a fascinating question, and whether the representation of God in the brain differs by whether people are stronger believers or groups who are self-described nonbelievers, groups that are self-described moderate believers and groups that are self-described strong believers, and looking at whether basically everybody is representing the same thing but believing in it to a different extent or actually representing different things. CP: What was the sample of believers in Washington, D.C., like? Did you look at different types of Christians by denomination like Pentecostals and Catholics? Green: Really good question. I have to say my background is not in the cognition or neuroscience of belief. Its been a fascinating journey and Ive learnt so much about the richness of it. We didnt look at those kinds of characteristics as differentiating variables in this study but in our new study we are focusing more on that. Its one of the things thats related to how do people represent God? What is the experience? And were finding lots of different experiences and then what we have to sort of look at the best way to comparing across them and seeing what are meaningful differences and how can we explain those in terms of the way that the brain is representing God. To do that, because I dont have that expertise, were working with people who are very experienced religion researchers. Kathy Johnson and Adam Cohen at Arizona State University are a big part of the new study along with some other folks who have a fair bit of experience in that area. Ill focus more on the neuroscience side, which is more my training. But its a great opportunity to get to learn from people who know about such a fascinating topic, which really is the fun of being an academic in the first place. You want to stay in school. You want to keep learning. CP: What triggered your interest in this study? Green: What we are interested in is how belief arises in the brain and how God is represented in the brain. Those are things that are of interest to me and to my lab because we are in general very interested in how connections are made in the brain. And so we study those on reasoning based connections, we study those in terms of creativity, we study those in terms of social connections. But there is this idea of connection to something that you cant see or you cant interact with directly and so in some ways its one of the most elusive connections that there is. And so trying to understand how that happens, how that arises and how that operates in the brain, thats where our interest is focused. It isnt a search for God. CP: Any final thoughts about what this research could do for people of faith? Green: The thing that I would say is at least from my perspective, is that its very encouraging when people who are believers across different faiths who sometimes consider themselves different from each other, and in some cases opposed to each other, can identify something shared that makes them human in the same way. And to me thats what this research hopefully can say to believers. What I think it isnt and I hope people take it as this, as I said, a number of people on both sides of these divides, is justification for sort of the veracity of belief or the falsity of belief. Thats not what the data show. Thats not the question we asked and its not the answer we got. Attorneys: Dijon Kizzee Fatally Shot by Deputies While Lying on Ground Again blasting the sheriffs departments contention that a 29-year-old man was fatally shot while pointing a gun at deputies in Westmont, attorneys for the mans family said today an independent autopsy shows he was shot repeatedly while writhing on the ground in pain. Dijon Kizzee was shot Aug. 31 by two sheriffs deputies. Sheriff Alex Villanueva last week released a series of videos capturing various portions of the confrontation between Kizzee and the two deputies, including footage of the shooting itself. The sheriffs department contends Kizzee had dropped a gun during the initial confrontation with deputies, then picked it up and raised it toward deputies, prompting them to open fire, hitting him 19 times. ADVERTISEMENT Deputies initially tried to stop Kizzee while he was riding a bicycle, claiming he was riding on the wrong side of the street and weaving through traffic, sheriffs officials said. When deputies caught up to him, a physical struggle ensued, during which Kizzee allegedly punched one deputy in the face and dropped a handgun he was carrying, concealed in some clothing. At a news conference Tuesday in Ladera Heights, attorneys for Kizzees family, including national civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, denounced the sheriffs version of events, insisting that Kizzee was shot with his hands in the air, then was shot repeatedly while he was on the ground. He tried to surrender to them. He put his hands in the air, Crump said. He put his hands in the air, dropped the bag, and they continued to shoot him, even though he posed no threat. Attorney Carl Douglas said the independent autopsy conducted for the family determined that Kizzee was shot 15 times, seven times with his profile of the back pointing toward deputies. Some of those shots are elongated because Mr. Kizzee was on the ground when those grazing wounds were inflicted, Douglas said. ADVERTISEMENT He did not die instantly, Douglas added. He was writhing on the ground in pain when officers opened up on him. You can tell by the audio of the shooting that there were three or four shots and then a pause, and 15 additional shots followed after that. Witnesses confirmed that there was no effort at de-escalation. Ask Villanueva about that. Witnesses confirmed there were no warnings every given. Ask Villanueva about that. This sideshow that he put forward last week was simply an effort to save his embattled skin. Douglas said Dr. John Hiserodt, who performed the independent autopsy, determined Kizzee died from bleeding to death after blood filled his lungs after being shot. Crump compared Kizzees shooting to those of other Black men by police across the country. Look at these videos, he said. Just look at them, and you will see that these Black men are just trying to get away from the police. While America is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, we in Black America are dealing with the 1619 pandemic, he said. That represents the year when the first enslaved Africans were brought to America, and from that year to this one, for 401 years, we have been dealing with systematic racism and oppression that has us bear witness to them killing us outside the courtroom and inside the courtroom, on stuff as benign as riding a bicycle while Black. Ive come here today to proclaim to you all in Los Angeles, California, that you all are not immune to the 1619 pandemic, and exhibit one is the execution of Dijon Kizzee. Sheriffs Homicide Bureau Capt. Kent Wegener said last week Kizzee was carrying a loaded handgun when he was stopped by the deputies. And although he dropped it during the initial confrontation and physical altercation, Kizzee picked it up from the ground and pointed it toward the deputies, prompting the shooting, Wegener said. At one point, Kizzees pistol drops to the ground, he bends over, reaches, picks up the gun and is shot while he stands with the gun in hand, Wegener said. Wegener said one of the deputies did not recognize the object as a gun until it came up and he saw the barrel pointing at him. One of the videos released by the department shows the initial struggle, in which Kizzee can be seen swinging his arms at the deputies. A 9mm semiautomatic handgun, loaded with 15 rounds, was recovered at the scene, according to Wegener, who said the gun was reported stolen during a Las Vegas residential burglary in February 2017. The department also recovered footage on Kizzees phone that shows him with the same gun days before he was killed, according to the captain. Kizzee was prohibited from owning a firearm due to an active restraining order and his criminal record, sheriffs officials said. Wegener said the gun was wrapped inside a piece of clothing that Kizzee held as he initially ran from deputies, who located him on 109th Place, west of Budlong Avenue, where the shooting occurred. Wegener said the deputies fired a total of 19 shots and Kizzee was struck in the chest, both arms, once in the back and suffered a grazing wound to the head. The autopsy report has not been finalized, pending toxicology reports, although he died from multiple gunshot wounds, the captain said. The shooting of Kizzee has prompted a series of protests outside the South Los Angeles Sheriffs Station, leading to three dozen arrests following clashes between demonstrators and deputies that turned violent. The full European Commission must decide collectively on whether to appeal the Apple tax ruling in July that tore up the 13billionn back-taxes bill demanded in 2016 by Brussels. The decision whether or not to appeal is expected to be announced early on Friday, but neither the Irish Government nor Apple - the two other parties to the case - had been informed how Brussels plans to proceed by late on Thursday evening. The deadline to appeal expires at midnight on Friday. The 2016 ruling was challenged successfully by Apple and the Irish Government to the EUs General Court of the European Union (GCEU), but the Commission can still take its case to the superior Court of Justice of the EU. Read More A spokeswoman for the European Competition Commission said on Thursday that decision had not yet been taken, and that any course of action would require approval by the full so-called college of commissioners led by Ursula von der Leyen, not just Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Brussels has had since July 15th to consider an appeal against the decision by the General Court that quashed the Commissions order that Ireland collect 13bn in alleged back taxes dating back decades from Apple. An appeal to the Courts of Justice of the European Union can only be on a point, or points, of law not on the facts of the original case. The General Courts ruling in July appears to leave limited scope for such a challenge. It dismissed what it described as the Commissions erroneous assessments of normal taxation under the Irish tax law applicable... [and] erroneous assessments of the activities within the Apple Group. Because its grasp of the facts was erroneous, the Commission couldnt show any illegal state aid or favouritism to Apple over other companies, the Court said. If an appeal does go ahead it could take two years but if that process is not in train by September 25th, the NTMA will move to dissolve the escrow account where the Apple funds are held. The total in the accounts where the back taxes plus interest are held stands at 14.3bn. The Irish Government will begin a process to return funds to Apple immediately if the Commission does not appeal. The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) will manage the transfer which may take some time to complete. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment If you dont stay closed, we will close you. Comments like these are commonplace, especially in liberal states like mine (California). Like most American churches, we closed our doors when President Trump first issued the order early in 2020. We were very willing to submit to the governing authorities and protect our community that is, until the political motivation of the lockdown became obvious. A clear agenda is at work, one with scores of inconsistencies. As just one example, a story of a man dying of alcoholism caught national attention because the cause of death was recorded as COVID-19. And one day government officials tell us to wear masks; the next, such as in this video, they tell us not to. Journalist Sharyl Attkisson, a former CBS News reporter, has exposed many other inconsistencies. Prisoners are being released while law-abiding citizens are arrested. Numbers are being altered, and hospitals are benefitting from COVID cases. Riots and protests are encouraged while church attendance is banned. We can no longer hide behind excuses like Staying closed is loving our neighbor. No, staying closed now is loving laziness. Recently there was quite a bit of interest over the CDCs statement that only 6% of people actually died of the coronavirus alone, putting the nationwide death rate around 0.003%. But many liberal organizations rushed to explain it away. This, too, clearly points to an agenda. Dr. Fauci, when speaking at Georgetown University in 2017, warned of a surprise outbreak during the Trump administration. Was this just a good guess? Many say that the World Health Organization, the CDC, Bill Gates, and Dr. Fauci are all connected, each having vested interests in the current pandemic (as does a certain political party). And does no one find it odd that hydroxychloroquine has been safely used as a treatment option since the 1950s, but now it's under scrutiny? Suddenly a drug that has been in constant use worldwide for more than 70 years needs more testing to determine if it is safe? How many more years do the experts need to study it? Hydroxychloroquine is in the way of vaccine production. Too many things are not lining up. There are numerous other stories as well, such as doctors being told to write COVID-19 as the cause of death even if it was not. The San Diego Tribune ran a story quoting Supervisor Jim Desmond as saying, Weve unfortunately had six pure, solely coronavirus deaths six out of 3.3 million people. Im not minimizing even one death, but there is a greater chance of dying just walking down the street than from COVID-19 in most parts of the US. What about the increased suicide rate, the alarming divorce rate, the surge in alcohol and drug addiction, and the fear that we are instilling into our children? Should we not take these into consideration as well? At What Point Does the Church Take a Stance At what point does the church take a stand? Thank God for people like John MacArthur, Rob McCoy, Jack Hibbs, Ken Graves, and others who are fanning the flames of boldness. I believe that if some churches dont open soon, they wont open at all, especially once flu season arrives and those who have the flu will then be suspected as having COVID. The agenda is crystal clear to those who are looking through the right lens a biblical lens. But what about submitting to authorities? In America, the Constitution which our elected representatives are to defend and administer is our governing document. The context of submitting to authorities in 1 Peter and Romans 13 is that the government would punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right, as well as uphold the Constitution (in Americas case). Many of our politicians and government officials are actually doing the complete opposite and defying the Constitution in many ways. Additionally, it makes it very hard to submit to governing authorities when they do things such as legalizing pedophilia here in California. What would God say about that? Are people suggesting that God wants us to submit to that type of authority? I have a hard time seeing how we are supposed to capitulate to reckless oversight under the banner of submitting to governing authorities when those authorities are in clear violation of our governing document as well as God's Word. They are trying to silence the voice of truth. In Acts 5:29 we find that we must submit to the highest Authority: "We must obey God rather than man! In short, the virus is real, but the numbers are not. We have reached the point where we must lovingly but resolutely confront the fake narratives. If not us, who? If not now, when? Irrational reactions, inconsistent policies, and a severe overreach of authority are devastating our nation, our families, and the next generation. We must remove the veil of deception and confront the new lie that if you are for freedom then you are selfish. Let the ridiculous irony of that concept sink in for a moment is it selfish for slaves to desire freedom? I do believe that some elected officials and medical personnel are trying to do what they believe is best from their vantage point, but many others are pushing their agenda to see what the American people will allow. It may sound reasonable, even wise to those who are panicked about COVID-19, to take these extreme measures, but stop for a moment and ask yourself, Why are we shutting down the economy for this when we have not done so for other, arguably far more deadly, pandemics? As a matter of fact, since the 1600s America has experienced health-related epidemics such as typhoid, scarlet, and yellow fevers every 15 years or so, but we have never taken such extreme measures, nor has our media and elements of our government purposely fostered such a level of panic. Want something a bit more recent? Do you remember when, under President Obama, we closed businesses and enforced mask mandates and sought to destroy our economy to combat the swine flu. No? That is because we didnt do any of those things, despite 60 million cases in the US (compared to 6.8 million COVID cases). Why? Because its not worth destroying America from within (unless there is an agenda at play a global agenda). Many believe that this is an orchestrated attempt to destroy our economy, disrupt the November elections, initiate a global reset, and ultimately, silence the churches. Peaceful protests are infiltrated by hate groups paid by individuals with deep pockets to create confusion and chaos while governments concern themselves with policing church parking lots and making sure believers are not allowed to sing. This is beyond ridiculous! Folks, how much more do you need to see before you wake up and take a stance? In the Bible, I dont read positive things about cowardliness, but I do read a great deal about boldness. Its actually a by-product of being filled with the Spirit. Yes, we must be loving and gentle, but we also must be wise as serpents and bold as lions when it comes to holding the line. God commands us to expose the unfruitful works of darkness with the truth (Ephesians 5:11). Truth is the only thing that stabilizes. Silent Shepherds Speak Volumes I recently saw a survey on Facebook that asked, Do you feel that most church leaders speak up about the real issues facing us today? The overwhelming response was a very loud and clear no! Pastors, people are looking to us to lead the way, but many of you are exchanging truth for tolerance, boldness for balance, and conviction for cowardliness. Many dont want to offend for fear they might lose their audience. Pastors and Christian leaders alike, we must take responsibility for the spiritual health of our nation and make no mistake, whether we accept that responsibility or not, God Himself will hold us accountable. The pulpit inevitably sets the tone of the religious climate of the nation. A fearful church simply reflects fearful pastors. The silent pulpit is not Gods pulpit. We must bend when needed but never capitulate. The Bible calls pastors watchmen who cry out and sound the alarm to awaken a sleeping church, not sing her lullabies. The prophet Isaiah, who doesnt mince words about lazy watchmen, says they are blind and ignorant and that they are all dumb dogs who cannot bark (raise their voices to warn). They sleep and lie down, loving to slumber (see Isaiah 56:9). At first glance, you may think this wording is too strong, but I can assure you that it is probably not strong enough. Backing away from speaking the truth in love is a serious offense against God. Silence about sin is rebelling against the call of God. If your sermons do not anger the world and challenge the lukewarm from time to time, you should seriously question your calling. Few Spirit-filled preachers are left, and when one rises, he is quickly dismissed as too political and labeled narrow-minded, legalistic, and extreme. The so-called evangelical church in our land is on the verge of having the Lord remove our lampstand because pastors are missing this incredible opportunity to take a bold stance (see Rev. 2:5). Silent shepherds are speaking volumes. Read more here. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts on Wednesday launched an interactive digital map that tracks alleged cases of police violence and misconduct across the state. The newly released map currently shows at least 115 reported cases of police brutality in 34 Massachusetts cities and towns over the last 10 years. It also reports dozens of examples of documented misconduct, the ACLU of Massachusetts said in a statement. The online tool is a key part of the organizations Police Violence Happens Here campaign, which aims to highlight reported cases of misconduct at the hands of law enforcement in the state and underscore the need for police reform, according to the statement. The ACLU launched the campaign Wednesday at an event where supporters of the organizations efforts demonstrated in communities that have seen cases of police violence in recent years, including Boston, Worcester, Springfield and others, the ACLU said. One such community on the map was Framingham, where 68-year-old Eurie Stamps was killed by a police officer nine years ago. He was lying on the ground in compliance with officers' commands, unarmed and in his own home when he was fatally shot. A tweet from the ACLU of Massachusetts on Wednesday showed a person holding up a sign in Framingham that read, #policeviolencehappenshere." In Cambridge, where Stamps grew up, multiple demonstrators were holding up signs with the same message as well as a banner dedicated to the 68-year-old man. Contrary to the claims by police unions and other opponents of meaningful reform, Massachusetts is not immune to harmful or racially-disparate policing, said Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. Police violence and misconduct happen here, in every corner of the state. From Boston to Springfield to Pittsfield, people experience policing differently depending on who they are and to what community they belong. The map was developed by the ACLU of Massachusetts' Data for Justice Project and aims to serve as a resource for the press, activists and the public. The tool draws from media reports to mark reported incidents of brutality and misconduct. However, the organization noted, many incidents of police wrongdoing are never reported, so the public will be able to offer comments and suggestions to the ACLU to further populate the map with cases of violence and misconduct. What appears on this map likely just scratches the surface of the problem, the organization said. Amid nationwide calls for racial justice and an end to police brutality that erupted after the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black who died at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer in May, both branches of the Massachusetts State Legislature put forward police reform proposals. Efforts to shore up a final piece of legislation have been ongoing since late July, when a six-member conference committee was tasked with finalizing the compromise policing reform and accountability bill. Among the reforms the ACLU is calling for are an end to immunity for officers who violate the law and harm civilians, the creation of an independent police licensing system, a ban on law enforcements use of face surveillance technology, a prohibition on the most violent police tactics and investing in over-policed communities. Bay Staters deserve equal justice and demand meaningful police reform. Massachusetts lawmakers must act now to address past violence and prevent future harms," Rose said. Meanwhile, across the state, supporters of police reform stand out at locations symbolic of incidents of police violence. Cambridge, MA pic.twitter.com/2uLU7PKsFp ACLU Massachusetts (@ACLU_Mass) September 23, 2020 Related Content: Sen. Rand Paul to Send Report on Hunter Biden to DOJ for Possible Criminal Probe Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he plans to send the joint Senate report on Hunter Biden to the Department of Justice so lawyers there can review it for potential criminal activity. I think riding on Air Force Two and doing business is illegal, I think that is against the law and probably a felony. I think its illegal to take money from a Russian politicians wife, $3.5 million, was it reported accurately? Paul said during an appearance on Fox Newss The Story on Wednesday. I think the only way to determine the actual legality of this is to have it referred to the Department of Justice, so Im gonna send the report over. I dont know if the whole committee will vote for it but Im sending the report tomorrow, to the Department of Justice, and were asking for a criminal referral. Paul is a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Oversight Committee. The committee and the Senate Finance Committee jointly investigated the actions of Hunter Biden, 50, during the time Bidens father, Joe Biden, was vice president and heading U.S. efforts to reform Ukraine. Biden is now the Democratic presidential nominee. The interim report released Wednesday by the committees showed Hunter Biden engaged 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. Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign speech in Manitowoc, Wis., on Sept. 21, 2020. (Mark Makela/Reuters) Requests for comment sent to a lawyer who represented Hunter Biden during his Arkansas paternity case and the Biden campaign werent immediately returned. Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates described the investigation as subsidizing 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. [Ron] Johnson himself being corrupt and that the senator has now explicitly stated he is attempting to exploit to bail out Donald Trumps reelection campaign. Johnson chairs the Government Oversight Committee. Johnson has said the investigation into the Bidens and the counter-intelligence probe known as Crossfire Hurricane would certainly help Donald Trump win reelection and certainly be pretty good, I would say, evidence about not voting for Vice President Biden. Paul said on Fox that government lawyers would be the ones deciding whether to pursue charges against Hunter Biden. We want to see if theres a criminal investigation thats justified. Heres this evidence. Look at it. Youre the lawyers for the government, you decide if you have enough to prosecute, he said. But I think we should refer this for a criminal investigation. Amid the ongoing surge in the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths, several organizations and institutions across the globe are conducting research to develop a vaccine or to find out a disease that might combat Covid-19. Since the last eight months, over 47,000 scientific papers have appeared in medical journals that talk about ways of dealing with the disease. The information obtained from these papers has helped in forecasting the outcome of Covid-19 and developing effective measures to control it. According to news agency Reuters, a study was conducted that analysed the Covid-19 crisis in Brazil- which is the third worst-hit nation after the United States and India. The country has registered over 4.6 million cases so far. The deaths are nearing 140,000 while the active and recovered cases stand at 178,743 and 923,699 respectively, according to Worldometer figures. The study which was exclusively shared with Reuters found a link between the spread of Covid-19 and past outbreaks of mosquito-borne viral disease dengue, which further suggested that exposure to dengue might be able to provide immunity against the virus to some extent. The study, which has not been published yet, was led by Miguel Nicolelis who is a professor at Duke University. It compared the geographic distribution of Covid-19 cases with the spread of dengue in 2019 and 2020. Click here for complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic The study was being published ahead of peer review on the MedRxiv preprint server and will be submitted to a scientific journal. Nicolelis discovered that the places which had lower Covid-19 infection rates and a slower case growth had suffered intense outbreaks of dengue in 2019 or 2020. This striking finding raises the intriguing possibility of an immunological cross-reactivity between dengues Flavivirus serotypes and SARS-CoV-2, the study said, referring to dengue virus antibodies and the novel coronavirus. While speaking to Reuters, Nicolelis pointed out previous studies that showed those with dengue antibodies in their blood could test falsely positive for Covid-19 even if they were never infected. This indicates that there is an immunological interaction between two viruses that nobody could have expected, because the two viruses are from completely different families, Nicolelis said, adding that further studies are needed to prove the connection. The study highlighted an important co-relation between lower incidences, mortality and growth rate of the virus in Brazil, where levels of antibodies to dengue were higher. Also read| Covid-19 vaccine: When will US get its first vaccine? The team led by Nicolelis also found a similar relation between dengue and Covid-19 in several parts of Latin America, Asia and islands in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. Nicolelis added that his team came across the dengue discovery by accident, during a study focused on how Covid-19 had spread through Brazil, in which they discovered that highways played a major role in the distribution of cases across the country. After identifying certain case-free spots on the map, the team went in search of possible explanations and a breakthrough came when the spread of dengue was compared with that of Covid-19. (With Reuters inputs) Family and supporters of Breonna Taylor said Wednesday that a Kentucky grand jury's lack of homicide charges against the police offers who fatally shot Taylor is "outrageous and offensive to Breonna's memory." Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family, signaled that he expected harsher charges against the Louisville officers who fired shots into the young medical worker's apartment, on March 13. Instead, amid mounting pressure for a decision in the case, a Kentucky grand jury indicted former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree, but neither he nor the other two officers involved in the fatal encounter were charged in Taylor's death. "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," Crump said in a statement following the announcement. "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." The civil rights attorney called the decision another example of how white officers aren't held accountable for what he referred to as "the genocide of persons of color." PHOTO: Police stand guard as people react after a decision in the criminal case against police officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor, Sept. 23, 2020, who was shot dead by police in her apartment, in Louisville, Ky. (Bryan Woolston/Reuters) "Her killing was criminal on so many levels: An illegal warrant obtained by perjury. Breaking into a home without announcing, despite instructions to execute a warrant that required it. More than 30 gunshots fired, many of which were aimed at Breonna while she was on the ground," the attorney said. "Many others fired blindly into every room of her home. A documented and clear cover-up, and the death of an unarmed Black woman who posed no threat and who was living her best life. Yet here we are, without justice for Breonna, her family and the Black community." Louisville police officers, executing no-knock search warrant, used a battering ram to forcefully enter the 26-year-old's apartment. Story continues MORE: Breonna Taylor shooting case: Hankinson indicted on wanton endangerment of neighbors 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. As a result, Crump said, "The rallying cries that have been echoing throughout the nation have been once again ignored by a justice system that claims to serve the people. But when a justice system only acts in the best interest of the most privileged and whitest among us, it has failed." PHOTO: Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, speaks during a protest on Sept. 18, 2020, while waiting for the findings of the grand jury in the case of Breonna Taylor, shot dead in her apartment by police, in Louisville, Ky. (Bryan Woolston/Reuters, FILE) "For the sake of Breonna Taylor, for the sake of justice, and for the sake of all Americans, law enforcement agencies and their representatives throughout the country need to take a long, hard look in the mirror," he added. "Is this who you are? Is this the example you want to set for the rest of the world and for future generations?" The attorney said he hoped that, through the FBI's ongoing investigation, "we will finally finally get the justice for Breonna that the Grand Jury refused her today." PHOTO: From left, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Det. Myles Cosgrove and Det. Brett Hankison are seen here. (Louisville Metro Police Department) Louisville Metro Police Department officers Myles Cosgrove, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Hankison executed a no-knock entry warrant on March 13 based on allegations that Taylor had been accepting USPS packages for an ex-boyfriend whom police were investigating as an alleged drug trafficker, according to the warrant. Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were awoken around midnight when they heard a commotion at their front door. Walker fired his licensed handgun in self-defense, saying he thought his home was being broken into, according to police. MORE: Why the wanton endangerment charge in Breonna Taylor's case is about her neighbors and not her The plainclothes officers returned gunfire, firing several shots and fatally hitting Taylor, police said. "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." MORE: Breonna Taylor case: Public outraged after 1 officer indicted for endangering neighbors "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," the attorney general added. "There's no doubt that this is a gut-wrenching emotional case and the pain that many people are feeling is understandable." PHOTO: Breonna Taylor, 26, was shot and killed by Louisville, Kentucky, police officers after they allegedly executed a search warrant of the wrong home. (Breonna Taylor Family) "We was failed as a family today," Taylor's sister, Ju'Niyah Palmer, wrote in an Instagram post after the announcement. "My sister, you were failed today by a system you worked hard for and I am so sorry. I love you so so so so so much." She also shared images and videos from family celebrations showing her slain sister smiling and laughing. MORE: Kentucky AG explains why Breonna Taylor case decision is taking so long Taylor's family members have become outspoken protesters against police brutality, and Tamika Palmer, Taylor's mother, said the long and intense fight for justice had hindered the grieving process. "I haven't had time to sit and grieve," she told ABC News in June. "I'm still trying to figure out why my daughter was killed. I'm still trying to figure out, why did it have to come to her being murdered. Why did Breonna have to die?" Breonna Taylor's family says lack of homicide charges against officers is 'outrageous and offensive' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com RESTON, Va., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Plus3 IT Systems, LLC (Plus3 IT) is proud to be ranked 7th on The Washington Technology Fast 50 list for 2020! This list showcases 50 of the fastest growing GovCon companies in the Federal market. Plus3 IT's rank is based on maintaining high growth across four consecutive years, combined with data on company leadership, contracts, major customers, and lines of business. Plus3 IT is honored to be recognized as a rising star in the market. Plus3 IT's placement on the list was announced in a Washington Technology article published on September 22, 2020. For the full ranking of this year's honorees, visit https://washingtontechnology.com/blogs/editors-notebook/2020/09/~/link.aspx?_id=1515463D9D9B492D920A049383CD7815&_z=z . "Plus3 IT is pleased to be recognized by Washington Technology. This award reflects continued success growing our contract portfolio and supporting new customers." said Plus3 IT Director, Corporate Growth and Communication, Emma Webster. Plus3 IT is a privately owned small business, headquartered in Reston, VA. As an expert-level cloud services firm, Plus3 IT supports mission requirements through the delivery of DevSecOps, cloud adoption, cloud security, cloud native application development, and cloud enabled data analytics. Plus3 IT has proven and documented success supporting the Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), and Federal customers in all things related to cloud. Follow Plus3 IT Systems news on LinkedIn , Facebook , and @Plus3IT on Twitter. For general inquiries: [email protected] SOURCE Plus3 IT Systems Related Links http://www.plus3it.com Former Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn leaves after testifying to a German parliamentary committee on the carmaker's emissions scandal, in Berlin, on Jan. 19, 2017. (Hannibal Hanschke/REUTERS) German Court Opens Criminal Proceedings Against Former Volkswagen CEO FRANKFURTA court in Braunschweig, Germany, said on Thursday it had opened proceedings against former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn, examining whether he is guilty of market manipulation as part of the carmakers emissions scandal. Winterkorn and other Volkswagen executives face charges for their role in allowing diesel cars with excessive pollution levels to hit the road, and for allegedly failing to inform investors adequately about the extent of the emissions fraud. The carmaker has paid out more than 30 billion euros ($35 billion) in fines and penalties for cheating emissions tests, which was uncovered by U.S. authorities in September 2015. The court is examining whether Volkswagen had a duty to inform investors earlier about the size of potential fines. Volkswagen has said the level of the fines was not foreseeable. On Thursday, a spokesman for the carmaker reiterated the company had fulfilled all disclosure requirements related to the diesel scandal. Felix Doerr, a lawyer for Winterkorn, said his client rejects the allegations that he failed in his duty to inform markets in a timely fashion. By Edward Taylor Beta has drenched Houston with nearly 15 inches of rain, causing major flooding in the city. While the rain has stopped Wednesday morning, authorities are still urging residents to be mindful of wet and flooded roadways. MORE: What to know about floodwater safety PHOTO: Some roads remain flooded in Surfside Beach, Texas, after tropical depression Beta made landfall overnight, Sept. 22, 2020. (Godofredo A. Vasquez/Houston Chronicle via AP) PHOTO: Some roads remain flooded in Surfside Beach, Texas, after tropical depression Beta made landfall overnight, Sept. 22, 2020. (Godofredo A. Vasquez/Houston Chronicle via AP) The flooding rain is now moving east. A flash flood watch has been issued from eastern Texas, through most of Louisiana, and into Mississippi. PHOTO: This morning, a Flash Flood Watch has been issued from eastern Texas around Beaumont to most of southern Louisiana, including Lake Charles and Alexandria. (ABC News) The heaviest rain on Wednesday afternoon will be in Louisiana as Beta remnants move into the state. Flash flooding will be possible from Alexandria to New Orleans. By Thursday morning, the heaviest rain and flooding threat moves into Mississippi where rainfall rates could be up to 1 to 2 inches per hour. MORE: Why slow-moving storms are especially dangerous Heavy rain will move into Birmingham, Alabama, later Thursday morning and into the afternoon. Six inches of rain is possible in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. By Friday morning, Beta's heavy rain will reach northern Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Flash flooding is possible. PHOTO: Over the next 48 hours, locally, close to a half a foot of rain is possible in spots in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. (ABC News) Beta drenches Houston, flash flood watch issued in Louisiana, Mississippi originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Advertisement Heartbreaking images have shown the aftermath of Australia's worst-ever mass stranding of pilot whales. Now rescuers are in a race against time to try and save the remaining 25 of the 470 whales originally stranded as the chances of them surviving becomes increasingly slim. The crew of around 60 conservationists and volunteers are having to make the heartbreaking decision about whether to euthanise the animals in most distress. So far the crew of around 60 conservationists and volunteers have managed to save around 70 of the whales that got into trouble in a shallow regional outlet at Macquarie Harbour off Tasmania's coast on Monday. 'We're retrieved 70 whales or thereabouts off the sandbar and released them out to sea,' state Parks and Wildlife manager Nic Deka said on Thursday morning. Wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon said four would have to be euthanised for welfare reasons. 'These are animals that we've given a chance. We've tried to release them, they haven't done well,' he said. Scroll down for video The body of a dead pilot whale is seen at Macquarie Harbour on Thursday in Strahan, western Tasmania after the worst mass stranding recorded in Australia Whales have been washing up along the coastline after the mass stranding which is one of the biggest on record after the mammals ran aground Rescuers attempted to save the stranded whales - pictured beached along the coastline. An estimated 380 are confirmed dead after the large group came aground near the coast A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania is pictured as hundreds of pilot whales die in the mass stranding A hooded person on the shore looks out at the hundreds of stranded whales on Thursday. Tasmania's largest previous mass stranding involved 294 long-finned pilot whales at Stanley in 1935 Stranded whales are pictured dotted along the shore line near the remote west coast town of Strahan in Tasmania Rescue workers make a survey from a boat as they check on the large group of animals which navigated into the shallow sea off the coast A pilot whale which has washed up is seen during the mass stranding on the Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania's west coast Rescue teams lifted out the few surviving whales from the shallow sea, using a harness to carry the animal which had become stuck A map shows the location where the two groups of whales were stranded this week as rescuers desperately try to save the survivors "It is emotional," said rescuer Sam Thalmann. "We have people semi-submerged in the water, up to their waist or their chests." "There are animals swimming around, they are vocalising. We can see the bonds and the pairings within them." Crews are now faced with the grim task of collecting carcasses, which are likely to be disposed of at sea if conditions allow. 'As the whales start to decompose, they will bloat and float and with wind and tide, they'll drift,' Mr Deka said. 'They could cause a significant navigation hazard if we don't contain them.' The mass stranding is the biggest in Tasmania and likely the largest on record in Australia. It surpasses a 1996 beaching of 320 pilot whales at Dunsborough in Western Australia. Previously, Tasmania's largest mass stranding involved 294 long-finned pilot whales at Stanley in 1935. One large group was initially discovered stranded near the harbour's head on Monday, with rescuers on Wednesday spotting 200 dead whales a few kilometres away. It is thought the two groups were part of the same pod and ventured close to shore to hunt. 'Pilot whales are incredibly social and maintain strong social bonds with each other and have been known to be found in groups up to 1000,' marine scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta said. A whale is pictured struggling in Macquarie Harbour on Wednesday. A team of around 60 rescuers - including local fishermen and volunteers - were being forced to 'triage' the whales 'The ability for them to stick together and follow the leader is something we see often with these animals, which is why it is so heartbreaking.' Mr Carlyon, a government marine biologist, said a team of around 60 rescuers - including local fishermen and volunteers - were being forced to 'triage' the whales, working to free those who are in the best condition and easiest to reach first. Workers have used 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. The body of a dead pilot whale is seen at Macquarie Harbour on Thursday. The stranding surpasses a 1996 beaching of 320 pilot whales at Dunsborough in Western Australia 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 Rescue teams prepare to head out on the water at Macquarie Harbour on Thursday to help save whales stranded at the regional inlet 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 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 said it was unclear what caused the latest stranding, but Mr Carlyon has suggested the pod may have gone off track after feeding close to the shoreline or by following one or two whales that strayed. 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. 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 the group could have become disoriented after feeding near the sandbar, or else followed members of the pod who strayed off-course Rescue workers in thermal wetsuits to prevent hypothermia work to try and free a pilot whale stranded on a shallow sandbar near Macquaire Harbour Workers used 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 'It seems to be a notorious whale trap... you do tend to get these mass stranding events there,' she said. 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. 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 '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. James Tucker, from the Marine Science Centre at Southern Cross University in New South Wales, said it will be a 'huge operation' disposing of 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. Avoid Wildfire-Related Sicknesses: Check Air Quality to Protect Your Health This years wildfire season has already been out of the ordinary. About 3.3 million acres have burned across vast tracts of California, Oregon and Washington. The areas surrounding those places have also been affected by dangerous levels of smoke over the last few weeks. Although the skies in the Bay Area are no longer orange and the air quality has improved, wildfire season is not over. Therefore, officials are advising people living close to wildfires to learn more about how air quality affects their health. Anytime we have any major wildfires, we often see some very high levels of air pollution, said Dr. Jo Kay Ghosh, the Health Effects Officer at South Coast Air Quality Management District, the regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality for large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. ADVERTISEMENT She spoke to California Black Media about how unhealthy air quality affects our health. Most of us have been experiencing burning eyes, or a scratchy throat, a headache, or coughing, she said. But for some people, these high levels of particle air pollution can cause more serious health problems such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks and heart attack. Some Black communities in California are already exposed to higher levels of air pollution. A number of studies have found that that dangerous amounts of contaminants continue to poison the air in African-American and lower-income areas even as they decrease in higher-income and predominantly White areas. Several studies have also found that wildfires are growing contributors to fine-particle pollution across the West Coast. Though the long-term health effects of exposure to fine-particle pollution and smog are well-established, there has been little research on the long-term effects of wildfire smoke, according to environmental experts. We know that some communities that are living near a lot of sources of air pollution like freeways or areas where theres a lot of industrial activity, we know that these communities are often disproportionately impacted by these types of health conditions. So whenever we have this kind of poor air quality during wildfires, we definitely recommend to take precaution because these high levels of pollution can cause some serious health problems, Ghosh said. ADVERTISEMENT The U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) measures the amount of air pollution on a scale from 0 to 500. It increases as air quality gets worse, with an AQI value over 300 representing hazardous air quality. When the AQI reaches between 101 and 150, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects, and at 151 or higher, members of the general public may experience health effects, with the risk getting higher as the AQI increases. Ghosh recommends that community members check their air quality frequently, as conditions can change quickly. South Coast Air Quality Management District has an air quality app available on their website in both English and Spanish. When we have wildfire conditions, your air quality can change hour to hour and sometimes even within a few minutes, because the wind conditions really affect which direction the smoke is going. Some areas might see moderate air quality, and maybe in the next hour, it might go all the way up to unhealthy. So definitely check what the conditions are in your area at that time. Ghosh says there are a few preventive measures all Californians affected by poor quality of air or who live near wildfires can take, too, to manage their health. If youre seeing that your air quality in your area is unhealthy, try to stay indoors if your doors and windows shut. If you have an air conditioner, air purifier you can run that to help filter out particles that may have gotten indoors. But you know those units can be pretty expensive. So actually, there are some instructions available to create a temporary air purifier. If you can get a box fan and a disposable air filter, you can create a temporary air filter that you can use it in a bedroom. The South Coast AQMD app is available at aqmd.gov/mobileapp NEW YORK: Sir Harold Evans, the charismatic publisher, author and muckraker who was a bold-faced name for decades for exposing wrongdoing in 1960s London to publishing such 1990s best-sellers as Primary Colors," has died, his wife said Thursday. He was 92. His wife, fellow author-publisher Tina Brown, said he died Wednesday in New York of congestive heart failure. A vision of British erudition and sass, Evans was a high-profile go-getter, starting in the 1960s as an editor of the Northern Echo and the Sunday Times of London and continuing into the 1990s as president of Random House. Married since 1981 to Brown, their union was a paradigm of media clout and A-list access. A defender of literature and print journalism well into the digital age, jEvans was one of the all-time newspaper editors, startling British society with revelations of espionage, corporate wrongdoing and government scandal. In the U.S., he published such attention-getters as the mysterious political novel Primary Colors and memoirs by such unlikely authors as Manuel Noriega and Marlon Brando. He was knighted by his native Britain in 2004 for his contributions to journalism. 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 Through the intense, all-consuming, spiritual love that Bajaj's Heer and Ranjha share, she is reminding us of the inherent nature of romantic love, and raising questions about contemporary attitudes toward it. Author Manjul Bajaj believes there are two distinct routes a writer can take when addressing pressing issues of the world through fiction. The first is tackling the problem headlong and laying it bare, having immediate impact. But to my mind, it also lacks in perspective as the writer and reader are too close to the problem, too opinionated still, too in the hold of current debates around it, she tells Firstpost. The other route, which she prefers, is an indirect and introspective one. First, you create a distance from the subject you want to tackle and then you find your way into the heart of your concern. Since hatred and polarisation are on the rise today, rather than speaking about them directly, this route means instead focusing on love, the challenges it faces, and its failures. In Search of Heer takes the second route, she says about her JCB Prize longlisted novel, a retelling of the Heer-Ranjha legend. It doesnt decry hatred. Instead, it goes out looking for love, kindness, equality, tolerance. If it is these we want in our world, we should be able to imagine them, recognise them in action, she adds. Through the intense, all-consuming, spiritual love that her Heer and Ranjha share, Bajaj is not just imagining love but reminding us of the inherent nature of romantic love, and raising questions about contemporary attitudes toward it. I wished to explore societys discomfort with romantic love and the sexual attraction that is an integral part of it. Either we seek to repress, ostracise, or kill lovers or we tend to trivialise love, treat it as a youthful folly, a lapse into the illogical. We dont give love the serious respect and engagement it deserves as a cornerstone of civilisation, she says. The patriarchal society we live in violently regulates romantic love, a moral policing that prescribes narrow caste, class, religious, and gender boundaries to it, and punishes transgressors brutally. But on the other hand, from Heer-Ranjha to Romeo and Juliet and Laila-Majnu, tragic love stories also have an enduring, widespread appeal, allowing, in Bajajs opinion, for a collective catharsis. Through such stories, society weeps its heart out for the dead lovers. It mourns the sons and daughters that it has sacrificed at the altar of dictating social order, or protecting economic dominion and power hierarchies, maintaining ranks. Besides love, another important phenomenon Bajaj highlights is the environment, and humanitys assumption of superiority over all other species. Global warming, biodiversity and species loss, degradation of air and water quality are the critical issues of our times. I wished to examine these within the framework of my story. There are several ways the novel brings attention to the natural world. It places the lovers in a rich, blossoming, idyllic forest, often using nature metaphors to express their love and longing. It also uses multiple narrative voices; besides humans, readers experience the perspective of a crow, pigeon, goat, and a camel. By giving them a voice, not only is Bajaj underscoring the uniqueness and perspective of different species with which we cohabit the planet, shes also using their eyes to critique human behaviour. The animal narrators in my story helped me point out the many contradictions and double standards of humans, in an engaging, lively manner. Another dominant theme of In Search of Heer is the inherently flawed structure of society. I wanted to dwell on the parallels between gender and class inequalities in human society and our treatment of the environment. It all draws from the same unbridled instinct to possess and to dominate, to put material concerns over all other measures of values, says Bajaj, something she comments on through the couple's love. And through Heer in particular, Bajaj drives home the gender inequities inherent in society. As women we are conditioned to make little of ourselves, our talents and our desires, to demand less, dream less, shine less brightly, she says. By poising Heer as a brave, honest warrior princess, Bajaj highlights how even her independence and freedom are brutally snatched away when forced into an arranged marriage. Still, her spirit reigns. She refuses to be conditioned by societys notions of what a woman can and cannot, should or should not, do. At every juncture of her life Heer asks to grow, to occupy space, to live life fully and without fear. While Bajajs Ranjha, more than once, sets out to look for Heer, its also her own search for these qualities that Bajaj is highlighting through the title In Search of Heer. This Heer aspect of our female nature is what I went out in search of. Through addressing the pressing issues of society, challenging accepted codes of morality, and giving her characters speech modern inflections, Bajajs retelling is contemporising the story to suit modern sensibilities. Shes allowing readers to reclaim the Heer-Ranjha story and make it their own, and offering her audience a way to engage with the timeless core of the tale. Bajaj strongly believes that each new generation should have such relatable retellings of folklore since they mostly work around basic and raw emotions, like lover, hate, anger, vanity, cunning, and gullibility. The characters and conflicts of folk art are largely archetypal. They represent aspects of our being which require revisiting, rethinking, and re-evaluating. Our folk traditions, transmitted as they are orally through poetry, drama, and music, and aided with colour, and ritual, are enchanting, multisensory experiences embedded in our collective memories. They are steeped in memories, meaning, and motifs which grow and gather resonance over time and across successive generations. Also, they offer the distilled wisdom of the women and men whove lived, loved, and grappled with being human before us, whose yesterdays are the bedrock of our today. When choosing from a plethora of possible stories to retell, the decision to focus on the Heer-Ranjha story stemmed from a personal yearning for and connection with the land. Both her parents had grown up in West Punjab and moved to India during Partition, later settling down in Lucknow, where Bajaj and her siblings grew up. Yet there was a thread of nostalgia, of deep yearning for a lost homeland that ran through the stories of my grandmother, my older aunts, uncles, and my parents. At larger family gatherings like weddings, the music, laughter, and stories would flow into long, starlit nights in the verandas and courtyards of our Lucknow homes and we children too were infected with a germ of that longing within our being. And we got a tantalising glimpse of the culture and language we had lost, even as we gained another. So retelling the Heer-Ranjha story was, among other things, an exciting opportunity to travel to the land of my forefathers. Recreating this world through her writing meant undertaking an immersive research process. While the key sources she worked with were Damodar Gulatis and Waris Shahs versions, Bajaj also watched some film adaptations, and read broadly about the time period and location of the story. She consulted District Gazetteers and websites like apnaorg.com, which is hosted by the Academy of Punjab in North America. It enabled me to listen to the songs of Baba Farid, Bulleh Shah, and Shah Hussain, recreate that time of history in my mind, and inhabit it for myself. Even as her retelling finds acknowledgement on the JCB Prize for Literature longlist, Bajaj has begun work on other books for readers to look forward to. One is a collection of short stories based in the Kumaon hills and the other a novel inspired by the Therigatha. The JCB Prize for Literature shortlist will be announced on 25 September. *** Read an excerpt from Manjul Bajajs In Search of Heer, reproduced here with permission from Westland Publications. Father, I have committed myself to Ranjha. In the instant I heard his music, I felt my whole being melt and realign itself. I am not the Heer I used to be. Yesterday, I would have bowed to your wishes. Today it is no longer possible for me. My soul has taken a new vow of allegiance. In all but name, Ranjha is husband to me. If you turn him away, Heer will follow him. Heer! expostulated Mir Chuchak. What madness is this, my daughter? You cannot marry for music. Father, the music he creates is a better measure of a man than the size of the mansion he inhabits. Hear my Ranjha play the flute once, I beg of you, said Heer. Mir Chuchak looked from her to me and then back at her again. I saw a flicker of worry cross his face. Perhaps he was admitting to himself that there wasnt a Khera born who could match his daughters beauty like this boy she had brought before him. Huzoor, I said, seizing the moment, I know I do not have land or wealth to give your daughter, but she does not lack for those. If for no other reason then, please listen to my music so that you may understand why Heer is ready to leave all your riches and follow me. I was convinced that if I could play for him once, there would be only one way his decision would go. In our favour. My music had never failed me in all my life. Yet. Please, Father, begged Heer. Give him an audience. Very well, he said. You had better be good. Leaning my back against the trunk of the ancient neem tree, I took out my flute and caressed its grain gently. In the temporal world, ours is known as the land of the five rivers, but it is equally the land of the five saints, the five realised souls who watch over its mountains, rivers, fields, meadows and animals. The Panj Pir, or the Five Masters, as they are called, hold the pulse of our people and our land between their fingertips. First, there is Baba Farid Shakarganj of Pakpattan, the patron saint of the Syals. Then there is my beloved Khwaja Khizr, the ruler of the waters, the evergreen presence. There is Sayyid Jalal Bukhari, the brave, who transformed Genghis Khans fire of wrath into a rosebush and later married his daughter. There is Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalander, the red-robed keeper of the Sindh. And then there is Bahuddin Zakariya of Multan, whose seven sons took the word of the Sufis to all corners of Hindustan. I did not know if my music had in it the power to get the five saints to intercede on my behalf with Mir Chuchak. However, I was in love and determined to try. The energy of a hundred rutting bulls coursed through my limbs. A giddiness to match that of a thousand whirling dervishes on a full moon night was upon me. My love for Heer was making me determined to play on till her father relented and agreed to accept me as his son-in-law. Mir Chuchak and Heer were now seated on the stone bench in the garden, facing the neem tree I was leaning against. Up on the tree, a crow focused a gaze full of loving kindness on me. I picked up the flute and let my torrent of longing for Heer pour out of me. It emerged as a young, swift, heedless mountain brook, tripping, falling and gushing down towards the ocean of love. As I played on, the nature of love made itself known to me. Our individual love stories are but the waves rising from and falling back into the vast, infinite sea of love from which the universe was created. The outburst of clouds as rain, the tumult of springs and the restlessness of rivers finally all belong to the ocean. We are all one water rain, river, cloud, tears, blood and sea. All love bears the Creators signature. Heer was the name I now knew God by. I could not put another name in its place. In my minds eye I saw her walking towards me wearing the red, gold-trimmed veil of a bride, her hands and feet patterned with fresh, dark green henna, her wrists and ankles heavy with ivory bangles. In brief: Were you one of the lucky people who managed to grab an Xbox Series X/S pre-order this week? If you did miss out, dont worry: Microsoft says youll still have a chance to buy one of its consoles on launch day. Pre-orders for the Xbox Series X and Series S werent quite the shambolic fiasco that we saw with the PlayStation 5 and RTX 3080, but some sites did crumble under the pressure of people frantically trying to secure one of Microsofts machinesthey sold out even faster than Sonys consoles. In a tweet from the official Xbox account, the company said it was humbled by the record-breaking demand for Xbox Series X and S. It added that anyone who failed to secure a pre-order should sign up with retailers for updates and expect more consoles to be available on November 10. We are humbled by the record-breaking demand for Xbox Series X and S. Huge thanks to everyone for the excitement. ? If you weren't successful today be sure to sign up with retailers for updates, and expect more consoles to be available on November 10. ? Xbox (@Xbox) September 22, 2020 The announcement will be welcomed by people desperate for an Xbox Series X/S on launch day, though it could mean a lengthy wait in line outside a store in the middle of a pandemic. Still, thats unlikely to stop a lot of fans. Its also good news for those who bought an Xbox One X by mistake. Microsofts current-gen machine rocketed up 747 percent on Amazons Movers & Shakers chart this week as confused/tired/less tech-savvy consumers andhopefullybots mixed up the words Series and One. Salsify, Inc., a Boston, MA-based commerce experience platform for brands to win on the digital shelf, closed a $155m Series E round of financing. The round was led by Warburg Pincus. The company intends to use the funds 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. Led by Jason Purcell, co-founder and CEO, Salsify provides the CommerceXM platform, which combines 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. The worlds biggest brands including Mars, LOreal, Coca-Cola, Bosch, and GSK use it. FinSMEs 23/09/2020 Coronavirus briefing update today The Chief Minister will hold a coronavirus briefing this 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. Nagpur, Sep 24 : In a significant verdict, the Bombay High Court's Nagpur Bench has ruled that a group of Myanmarese nationals who attended the Tablighi Jamaat Markaz in Delhi in March were not responsible for the spread of Covid-19 nor indulged in propagating their religion. This is the second major verdict of Bombay High Court on the issue of the Jamaatis and the allegation of spreading coronavirus against them. Quashing the FIRs lodged by Nagpur police against the Tablighis - Hla Shwe, Ohn Myint, Khin Maung Than, Daw Thaung, Shar Huhar Med, Khin May Than, Myint Thein and Chaw Sulwin, a division bench of Justice V. M. Deshpande and Justice A.B. Borkar said: "There is no material produced by the prosecution to prove that the applicants were engaged in Tabligh's work and they were involved in preaching religious ideology or making speeches at religious places." The court also ruled that since they had undergone Covid-19 tests which were negative, "there was no question of spreading infection", nor was there any material evidence in the charge sheet to substantiate this, as contended by the police. "The investigating authorities acted without jurisdiction in registering the FIR" against the applicants and "the investigation conducted by the police was also without jurisdiction", the bench said, as it quashed the FIRs against the Myanmarese nationals. In their plea, the Myanmarese said that they landed in Kolkata on March 2, left for New Delhi, and after attending the Markaz there, reached Nagpur on March 6 for their further activities and lived in the Gittikhadan area of the second capital of Maharashtra till March 21. In view of the 'Janata Curfew' on March 22, they were shifted to a Markaz in Mominpura, and 10 days later sent to institutional quarantine where their Covid-19 tests were negative. During the quarantine period, on April 5, they were placed under arrest under provisions of the Foreigners Act, the Disaster Management Act, and the Epidemic Diseases Act, being charged with violating visa rules by "propagating and preaching" their religion, spreading Covid-19 and not complying with the orders of a public servant, among other things. Advocate J. H. Aloni, appearing for the Myanmarese nationals, contended that the police were monitoring all their activities and they did not violate any laws as alleged by the prosecution, led by Additional Public Prosecutor V. A. Thakare. The court also held that compelling the Myanmarese to undergo trial for the offences listed by the police would cause "grave injustice", and hence quashed the FIR lodged against them. This is the second major verdict of Bombay High Court after the previous judgement of the Aurangabad Bench delivered by Justice T.V Nalawade and Justice M.G. Sewlikar on August 21 quashing FIRs against 29 foreigners and 6 Indians who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi. Quashing FIRs against the 35 applicants, the court observed there was a possibility that those who were present in the congregation were possibly being made "scapegoats" and slammed the media propaganda to blame them for the Covid-19 spread. "It can be said that due to the action taken, a fear was created in the minds of those Muslims. There is a smell of malice to take action against these foreigners and other Muslims for their alleged activities," Justice Nalawade and Justice Sewlikar said in their hard-hitting ruling. "There was virtually a persecution of these foreigners. A political government tries to find the scapegoats... and circumstances show that there is a probability that these foreigners were chosen to be made the scapegoats," the court said. Making strong observations, the court said that there was "big propaganda in the print and electronic media against these foreigners and attempts were made to paint a picture that these foreigners were responsible for the spread of coronavirus in India". "The propaganda against the so-called religious activity was unwarranted as records and submissions proved that it had been going on for over 50 years," said Justice Nalawade and Justice Sewlikar. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) CHICAGO, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lotsa Helping Hands and Papa, two companies dedicated to providing seniors and patients living at home with support and caregiving assistance, are ensuring that these individuals continue to have the support they need amidst the pandemic's impact on the ability of working caregivers to stay at home. Family On Demand A recent study from CMS shows that 1/3 of employees have left a position to care for a loved one, as recently highlighted by the New York Times and Washington Post. "The level of effort it takes to care for a loved one with a medical condition or who is aging is tremendous. Caregivers go to heroic lengths, and the support of family, friends, and community that Lotsa facilitates is essential," says Matt McCabe, Managing Director of Lotsa Helping Hands. "But even that cannot cover all the needs. Compassionate third-party help is essential, and we are thrilled about this partnership with Papa to support caregivers, patients, and seniors holistically." Lotsa Helping Hands is a web and mobile application that allows caregivers to easily coordinate caregiving tasks and communication with those providing support for their loved one. When supplemental support is needed, caregivers can now lean on Papa's network to provide reliable, compassionate service. Papa's program is fueled by students referred to as Papa Pals. They provide companionship, light house chores, transportation, and technology assistance. Through this partnership, the "Pals" are performing a number of tasks to support the needs of caregivers on the Lotsa Helping Hands platform. Tasks include ordering groceries and refilling prescriptions, cooking meals, helping members with non-essential and medical appointment transportation, and providing companionship as an extension of the Lotsa Helping Hands caregiving community. During these uncertain times, Papa and Lotsa Helping Hands are uniting to ensure that seniors and patients continue to receive the caregiving support they need, even as COVID is pulling caregivers out of the home. Seniors and patients are particularly vulnerable to the impact of COVID from a health perspective but meeting social and emotional needs is equally important and a vital factor in physical health as well. About Papa Papa Family On-Demand is a Miami startup that provides assistance and companionship to older adults and families throughout Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, California, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Kansas. Papa launched their service in January of 2018. For more information, visit https://www.joinpapa.com/lotsahelpinghands Twitter: https://twitter.com/join_papa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joinpapa/ About Lotsa Helping Hands Lotsa Helping Hands is dedicated to helping family, friends and communities support individuals in need of assistance. Patients often have difficulty asking for help, whether through embarrassment or simple inability. Caregivers are overwhelmed and the traditional methods of organizing via phone calls, email or text is onerous. Volunteers--friends, family, and community groups--want to help but often do not know what is needed. Lotsa addresses this need through a tech-enabled care calendar that allows caregivers to easily coordinate caregiving responsibilities such as transportation, meal preparation, visitation, medication compliance, and home maintenance across family, friends, and healthcare professionals. For more information, visit https://lotsahelpinghands.com Contact: Matt McCabe [email protected] SOURCE Lotsa Helping Hands Related Links https://lotsahelpinghands.com PLEASANTVILLE City officials said Wednesday they will not host community-wide trick-or-treating events for Halloween this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the city of Pleasantville will not sponsor or direct any events which encourage interpersonal contact or close proximity among the general public, according to a news release from police Chief Sean Riggin, citing a consultation with city officials, the Office of Emergency Management and health experts. We invite our community to engage in activities which allow our kids to have fun, while practicing social distance and safe practices. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidance Monday for the fall and winter holiday seasons amid the ongoing new coronavirus pandemic, cautioning residents to abide by state and local health and safety laws. While celebrating virtually or with members of the same household pose a low risk for spread, in-person gatherings pose varying levels of risk, according to the CDC. Trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treating, crowded costume parties and indoor haunted houses are all higher risk activities to be avoided. Earlier this month, an email went out to a large listserv at my university offering faculty, staff, and students $720 in Covid-19 benefits to get through these hard times. To claim the money, all you had to do was click on the form linked in the message and fill out all the requested information, including your full name, address, date of birth, social security number, drivers license number (as well as its date of issue and expiration date), bank account number, and bank routing number. The final sentence of the email warned: If you do not submit all the information requested, your application will not be processed. Advertisement You know where this is going: It was a phishing email, sent out to try to capture personal information from unwitting recipients, by scammers who were presumably banking on the hope that people would see the promise of money and immediately click through. (I didnt submit my information, but then I live with a pretty high level of paranoia about whether most of my email is actually coming from people trying to steal my identity.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was the same rationale behind a phishing email that went out this week to employees at the Tribune Publishing Co. announcing bonuses of up to $10,000 to thank them for their ongoing commitment to excellence. Except that those emails werent sent by scammersthey were sent by the Tribune Publishing Co. itself, as part of a phishing training and test, to see whether recipients would click on the enclosed link to find out how large their bonus was. Those who did click on the link were immediately directed to a site that informed them they had failed the test. The imaginary bonuses had just been used as bait. Advertisement Advertisement Predictably, this particular cybersecurity awareness raising exercise, dangling the promise of a fake bonus only to teach a fairly generic lesson about email security, generated a fair bit of backlash among the email recipients, as the Washington Post reported. Many of the people who received the emails pointed out that they came on the heels of several cost-cutting measures at the company and took advantage of how susceptible employees were to any sign of good financial news. A Tribune Publishing spokesman told the Post: In retrospect, the topic of the email was misleading and insensitive, and the company apologizes for its use. Advertisement I have a great deal of sympathy for the employees who felt that their hopes were raised just to make a point about cybersecurity. Framing phishing exercises with the premise of a large raise, particularly at a financially precarious moment, is a manipulative and, yes, slightly cruel tactic. Advertisement At the same time, though, scammers are manipulative and crueland do not hesitate to take advantage of moments like these when many people are especially susceptible to financial pressures and promises. Arguably, one of the best ways to prepare people not to respond to a message offering me $720 from my employer is through tests like the one levied by Tribune Publishing that emulate a skillful spammers tactics as closely as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Recently published work by researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology emphasizes that test phishing emails can yield very different click-through (or failure) rates depending on how well they are masked. In particular, the researchers highlight that people are much less likely to be able to identify a phishing message when its premise aligns with a users work context, as the Tribune Publishing Companys message did. Tricking as many employees as possible into clicking on a fake phishing email may not be the goal of every employerindeed, many might rather find low failure rates during such exercises. But crafting trickier fake phishing messages could help raise awareness for recipients who would be able to identify more obvious phishing emails but are still be susceptible to emails tailored to their job and employer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That assumes, however, that exercises like the one run by Tribune Publishing actually help prevent people from clicking on future phishing emails. Theres been quite a bit of research looking at a variety of different phishing training techniques, from email-based tests like the Tribunes and instructional videos to games that teach you what to look for in suspicious messages. Many of these studies suggest that such tactics have some impact on peoples ability to identify phishing messages, though their effectiveness appears to wear off over time. For instance, a recent study conducted by researchers in Germany and published this summer in Symposium on Usable Privacy and Security attempted to estimate how long the effects of these trainings actually last. The researchers studied 409 employees at a German office and found that video-based trainings and interactive exercises had the longest-lasting influence on participants. But even those effects only lasted about six months after they were conducted, suggesting that for these initiatives to be effective they must be repeated at regular intervalsnews that the Tribune Publishing employees are unlikely to relish. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Some of the biggest and most deadly COVID-19 outbreaks in the U.S. stemmed from the meatpacking industry. But Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) was reluctant to call for accountability, including when it came to a Colorado-based plant Gardner received donations from, Business Insider reports. Early in the pandemic, meatpacking factories' close quarters became home to massive COVID-19 outbreaks throughout the country. An outbreak at the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colorado led to at least 291 confirmed cases and six deaths the biggest localized outbreak in the state. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) explicitly called for an investigation at the facility, as did a JBS employee union, which called out Gardner for failing to provide promised coronavirus tests for workers. But Gardner wouldn't discuss the situation with Business Insider, and similarly avoided questions about JBS in a local radio interview. Throughout his Senate career, Gardner has been one of the top recipients of donations from JBS; He has received $24,000 from the company over the years. This election cycle, he received the second most money from JBS of any senator, as well as the second largest contribution total from the meatpacking industry as a whole. Gardner is considered one of the most vulnerable senators this fall as he faces former Gov. John Hickenlooper (D). More stories from theweek.com America is the Holy Roman Empire of the 21st century Why Democrats probably won't boycott Supreme Court confirmation hearings Democrats need to bring retirement back to politics Mumbai, Sep 24 : The Narcotics Control Bureau has summoned Dharma Productions director and executive producer Kshitij Raviprasad for joining the investigations into the drugs cases linked to film personalities being probed by the agency, officials said here on Thursday. Raviprasad is expected to visit the NCB offices on Friday for questioning into one of the drug-related cases pertaining to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. An NCB official confirmed that there has been no raid at the office or home of Raviprasad, as reported in some sections of the media. Dharma Productions is owned by prominent Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar. Bow Wow has confirmed he welcomed a son with Olivia Sky. Nodding to the 33-year-old rapper's stage name, the little one - whom Bow calls 'Prince Bow,' according to TMZ - could be seen holding a knitted bone and laying on pillows, which featured a variety of different canine breeds, in images shared by Sky. She continued the over-the-top doggy references and pooch puns, by calling their little one her 'dawg for life' on her Instagram Story, which she posted last week. Birth announcement: After months of speculation Bow Wow's was the alleged father of Olivia Sky's baby, the model confirmed her newborn son's paternity with a dog-themed photo shoot Meanwhile, Bow Wow (born Shad Gregory Moss) opted to share more traditional photos of his mini-me, who could be seen wrapped up in a grey and white blanket on Thursday. The performer, who shared the photos across social media, added a prince emoji and blue heart to the adorable shot of his sleeping infant. In the picture, the child, whose name has not been revealed, can be seen with his eyes shut in a white and black shirt with rhinos on it. Over-the-top: Nodding to the 33-year-old rapper's stage name, the pair's little one could be seen holding a knitted bone and laying on pillows, which featured a variety of different canine breeds (seen in 2018) He captioned the image: 'Man you gone take all the girls.' The newborn already shares a striking resemblance to his dad, who is also the father to his nine-year-old daughter, Shai Moss, with ex Joie Chavis. Rumors that Bow Wow and Sky were expecting a child together were first sparked after she answered questions from fans on Instagram about her pregnancy. Peaceful: Unlike Olivia, Bow Wow (born Shad Gregory Moss) opted to share more traditional photos of his mini-me, who could be seen wrapped up in a grey and white blanket After saying she would not reveal the father to save herself 'a lot of' headaches on an Instagram Story in July, she later confirmed the child was Bow Wow's, when asked directly. Last Tuesday, Bow Wow rapped about the situation in a track, called Dealing With My Own Demons. He begins by addressing his eldest child, who he says is 'asking about her brother.' Bow Wow raps: 'I don't know what to say / That's gonna be one of them talks we have face to face / I'm looking in his eyes, I'm trying to see me in 'em / I'm peeping on the swag and see the resemblance / Seen the boy three times, why would I lie? / Baby mom brings him through so we can spend some time / And if he's mine, I'm stepping up / Kobe set that example, you know I send my blessings up / I told you dealing with me was going to be hard to do (facts).' The Army announced today that it will deploy an armored brigade to Europe this fall as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team from Fort Hood, Texas will replace the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division in support of NATO efforts to deter Russian aggression in the region, according to a Fort Hood news release. "It is a great privilege to aid in the preservation of peace by showcasing our Army's ability to project lethality across the globe," Col. Michael Schoenfeldt, commander of the 1st ABCT, said in the release. Read Next: Military Leaders Reveal Plans to Make Promotion Packages Totally Anonymous "The Ironhorse Brigade is lethal, tough, and ready. We do not take lightly our responsibility to instill confidence in the American people and our allies; nor the opportunity to instill fear in our adversaries." The 1st ABCT will deploy with 3,700 soldiers, 440 tracked vehicles -- including 80 M1 Abrams tanks, 130 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and 18 155mm M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers -- as well as 830 wheeled vehicles and 600 trailers, according to the release. "This brigade is well-trained and ready for any mission that our nation requires," Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, said in a statement. "They have safely overcome the challenges to prepare during this COVID environment, built their capability, and are ready to support our allies and partners in Europe." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Related: Bradley Fighting Vehicles Sent to Protect US Troops in Syria Three Egyptian policemen and four prisoners were killed on Wednesday as the police foiled a jailbreak attempt at a prison in Cairo, state-run Al-Ahram news website reported, citing a security source, Trend reports citing Xinhua. The four convicts who were killed in the confrontation were sentenced to death and awaiting execution at Tora prison, where they tried to escape, according to the report. The case is under further investigation. Local media said that three of the four convicts were facing terror charges for joining an extremist group. French prosecutors have opened an inquiry into banking giant BNP Paribas over claims of complicity in crimes against humanity, genocide and torture in Sudan, sources said Thursday. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), which had filed a complaint against the French bank, announced on Twitter that an investigation had been opened, information confirmed to French news agency AFP by a judicial source. A year ago almost to the day, nine Sudanese victims backed by rights groups including the FIDH filed a criminal complaint against BNP Paribas for allegedly facilitating crimes committed in Sudan between 2002 and 2008, particularly in the war-torn western region of Darfur. It was considered the regime's "de facto central bank" at the time despite international sanctions, the FIDH said. The judicial source said the investigation was opened on 26 August into "complicity in crimes against humanity, genocide and acts of torture and barbarism." The FIDH said last year that the complaint "marks the first attempt to hold the French bank criminally responsible for alleged complicity in international crimes committed in Sudan, and Darfur in particular." Sudanese authorities and leaders from the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), a coalition of rebel groups, agreed to a historic peace agreement on 31 August in Juba aimed at ending nearly two decades of conflict. The United Nations estimates 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced since 2003. In 2014, BNP Paribas pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiring to violate American sanctions against the governments of Sudan, Iran and Cuba, and agreed to a fine of $8.9 billion. It was found guilty of going "to elaborate lengths to conceal prohibited transactions, cover its tracks, and deceive US authorities," according to the US Department of Justice. Illegal payments "were made on behalf of sanctioned entities in Sudan, which was subject to US embargo based on the Sudanese government's role in facilitating terrorism and committing human rights abuses," it said. Story continues The FIDH said Sudanese victims did not receive any compensation from that settlement. "Behind the gravest crimes and human rights violations there is always money," the federation's honorary president Patrick Baudouin said last year. "By granting the Sudanese regime access to international money markets, BNP allowed the government to function, pay its staff, military and security forces, make purchases abroad, all while Sudan was a pariah on the international scene for planning and committing crimes in Darfur," he added. A criminal complaint has also been lodged against BNP for alleged complicity in the 1994 genocide of Rwanda's Tutsi minority. (with AFP) Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty urged the Government to work with lenders to ensure payment breaks were extended beyond September 30 (Niall Carson/PA) Tens of thousands of homeowners face mortgage default within days if banks do not extend pandemic payment breaks, the Dail has been warned. Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty said tens of thousands of businesses would be in a similarly perilous position if they were faced with having to resume loan payments next month. Mr Doherty urged the Government to work with the main retail banks and other lenders to ensure payment breaks offered since March were extended beyond September 30. The European Banking Authority has set September 30 as the deadline for applications to avail of a payment break for loans or mortgages. Mr Doherty said if banks announced extended payment breaks before that date it would mean customers would not be in default and their credit rating would not be hit. Our banks and non-bank lenders must extend payment breaks before then or many of these borrowers will fall into default, said the Donegal TD. We are quickly running out of time. Expand Close Eamon Ryan said banks should not be clamping down on customers in financial difficulties (Brian Lawless/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Eamon Ryan said banks should not be clamping down on customers in financial difficulties (Brian Lawless/PA) He added: We are in a unique situation. Tens of thousands of homeowners will fall into default in the coming days. Tens of thousands of businesses have people who cannot go back to work and who have loans in respect of which the banks will start asking for full payment. Mr Doherty said the Government was leaving it too late to act. The Government should do the right thing and not leave it until the last minute, he said. I cannot understand why it has come down to the wire. We need to protect these borrowers, homeowners, businesses and entrepreneurs. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, responding on behalf of the Government during Leaders questions, acknowledged the difficulties many homeowners and business owners were facing as a consequence of the health emergency. Mr Ryan said European regulations would allow banks to offer loan payment breaks on a case-by-case basis after September 30. He urged customers to contact banks to discuss their options. Minister Ryan said there was also an onus on the lenders to act in the public interest and treat customers fairly. Banks cannot act in a way that is completely contrary to good public policy and the public interest, he said. They have to consider the wider issue and deal with customers fairly. He noted that Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe would be meeting with the banks next Monday. I am sure he will remind them that, as I have said, this is not a time to clamp down on customers but a particularly severe period of financial difficulties which we must get through, he said. WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Howard University has joined forces with the National Education Equity Lab (Ed Equity Lab) to inspire and inform New York City youth who will participate in a Howard University credit-bearing course on criminal justice. The course will be offered to 100 eleventh and twelfth graders in five NYC Title 1 underserved high schools, which begins this week. Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick praised the effort as necessary during this moment in history. "Howard University is proud to collaborate with other colleges and universities committed to advance educational and racial justice for the countless talented students in historically underserved high schools throughout our nation," said President Frederick. "There's never been a more important moment for colleges and universities to boldly step up to advance opportunity equity than now." The first Howard course is "Introduction to Criminal Justice," taught by the popular Professor Bahiyyah Muhammad, Ph.D., whose courses are known on campus as the "The Dr. Muhammad Experience." The announcement of the course offering was met with high demand, prompting a waitlist in New York City, and in other school districts. "As a Title 1 High School graduate, I am ecstatic about this opportunity to New York City students in 11 different High Schools for more than 100 students across all the boroughs of NYC," said Muhammad. "Being born in Far Rockaway, Queens, this takes on even greater significance. I'm so grateful that Howard University, College of Arts and Sciences has made this opportunity available to me and for so many students who are beyond deserving of this opportunity. Experiential learning is at the heart of all my courses and I am eager to engage with students who I am sure will apply to Howard University at the end to this journey." Traditionally, Howard students in this undergraduate course visit local prisons to see first-hand the workings of the criminal justice system. This year, Muhammad will bring this experience online by creating virtual visits and discussions. High School students, many of whom have never heard of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), will be introduced to the unique elements of HBCUs through Muhammad, and past and present Howard students of the course. College of Arts and Sciences Dean Rubin Patterson, Ph.D. said he's excited to bring Howard's innovative courses in criminal justice and environmental justice to these deserving students. Next semester, another 100 Title 1 students in the Ed Equity Lab program will enroll in an environmental justice course taught by another member of the Howard faculty. "I am delighted that Howard University has this opportunity to partner with the National Education Equity Lab to provide a rigorous and riveting educational experience for Title 1 high school students across the country," said Dean Patterson. "After learning more from Ms. Cornfeld in our first meeting about Ed Equity Lab's objectives for the overly talented students in underserved communities, I immediately thought that Howard University courses on Criminal Justice and Environmental Justice would serve students well. These courses will be memorable for students due to the compelling content, dynamic professors, and the fact that these courses will be the first of their college experience." Howard is one of several Universities participating in the pilot program. Participating institutions include: Cornell University, Howard University, Yale University, the University of Connecticut, Arizona State University, and Harvard University, which provided the successful inaugural pilot course last fall. Each institution has committed to offer at least one online college credit-bearing course to high-striving students of color and low income students in their teacher-led high school classrooms (virtual or in-school) for the 2020-2021 school year. To replicate the college experience, and for grading integrity, teaching assistants from the colleges will handle grading and hold virtual office hours and discussions. Former U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, a National Education Equity Lab advisory board member, and current Managing Partner at Emerson Collective, said, "This is game changing for the kids who need this most." "When President Frederick and the Howard team heard about this opportunity, they dove right in," says Leslie Cornfeld, chief executive officer and founder of the National Education Equity Lab. "Education leaders across the country have been particularly thrilled about Howard's participation, and about the opportunity to inform high-striving students of color and others around the nation about the unique opportunities Historically Black Colleges and Universities offer. Teachers from underserved high schools around the country have told us that their students don't know enough about the opportunities offered at HBCUs; when we speak to students, that knowledge gap is confirmed. This opportunity will help change that." About The National Education Equity Lab: The National Education Equity Lab is a nonprofit working with the Common App, Carnegie Corporation of New York, a Consortium of colleges and universities, and others to advance economic and social mobility opportunities for historically underserved students at scale. In collaboration with under-resourced high schools nationwide, the National Education Equity Lab delivers and supports online, college credit-bearing courses from top colleges and universities into teacher-led high school classrooms, at no cost to students. Students can earn widely-transferable college credits -- providing the opportunity to advance and demonstrate college readiness and to make college more affordable and accessible. Because impact requires more than great content, the National Education Equity Lab offers a package of additional supports, including one-on-one college mentors, college-mindset videos and messages, and personal technology and hotspots so that access is not a barrier to participation. To learn more, visit EdEquityLab.org. A national education equity pilot begins this week in 60+ underserved high schools throughout the nation, in 14 cities, with nearly 1,000 high school students enrolled and ready to begin. CONTACT: Alonda Thomas, [email protected] SOURCE Howard University Related Links http://www.howard.edu The national capital has recorded 20.9 millimetres (mm) of rainfall so far in September. This is the driest September for Delhi in 16 years, as per the data from India Meteorological Department (IMD). According to IMD scientists, no more rainfall is expected in September, as the monsoon is set to withdraw from Delhi by the end of this month. Delhi recorded three days of rainfall on September 5, 6 and 8. No more rainfall is expected in September. This is mainly because the monsoon trough, which is an area of low pressure, has largely remained in the hilly regions in September. There was no low-pressure system or any disturbance to have induced rainfall, said Kuldeep Srivastava, head of regional weather forecasting centre, IMD. Also Read: Intense rainfall to continue over sub-Himalayan WB, Bihar and UP: IMD The national capitals average rainfall for September is around 129.8 mm. Safdarjung Observatory, which is taken as a representative for the national capitals weather, recorded only three days of rainfall in September, measuring 20.9 mm. Earlier, the lowest September rainfall was recorded in 2004 when Delhi had received 3 mm of rainfall. In 2015, the city had recorded 22 mm of rainfall in the same month. While last years corresponding figure was 74 mm. Similarly, it was 58 mm, 158 mm and 237 mm of rainfall in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively, as per the IMD data. Prior to 2004, Delhi had recorded 1.6 mm of rainfall in September, Srivastava added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By PTI NEW DELHI: Bilkis, who became the face of a women-led anti-citizenship law protest at Shaheen Bagh here, on Thursday said she was happy to have been recognised by the TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of 2020, but would have been happier had her demand been met. The 82-year-old, along with her two friends Asma Khatoon (90) and Sarwari (75), was at the protest site every day, braving a chilly winter last December, the coldest in over a century. The trio were hailed as "Dadis of Shaheen Bagh" on social media. "When we told her that she has been declared as one of the most influential people in the world, she just said 'okay'," her son Manzoor Ahmad told PTI on the phone. She is not as excited as the family is, Ahmad, who works as a translator, said. "I am thankful to the almighty. I would have been much happier had our demand been fulfilled. had the government listened to us and given us what we wanted (withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act)," Bilkis said in a trembling voice. "It is sad we had to call it (protest) off because of the disease (COVID-19). I was there till the end," she said. Ahmad said his mother had taken ill in December last year, but she continued going to the protest site. ALSO READ | Shaheen Bagh's 82-year-old 'dadi' Bilkis makes it to TIME Magazine's list of 100 influential people "It was so cold and she was running a fever, despite that she went there to support other women," he said. Ahmad said all women in his family participated in the protest. "We are a joint family. So, the women took turns to participate in the dharna," he said. The Shaheen Bagh protest demanding the government to withdraw the law went on for over a hundred days. It ended in March this year in view of the COVID-19 outbreak and a subsequent lockdown announced by the government to contain the spread of the disease. Also on the TIME magazine's list from India are Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bollywood actor Ayushman Khurrana. Like many other festivals that have moved forward despite the pandemics restrictions on theaters, the 33rd annual Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival will offer virtual films, along with a few drive-in events. Shane Engstrom, the festivals director, says the shift means they can screen more full-length features, documentaries and short films than ever. From dramas to comedy, theres a wide range, including a rom-com that manages to mix dating tips with a ghost story, while also offering a hearty dose of LGBTQ history. Engstrom shared more via email. Q: More than 100 movies will be screened when the Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival runs Oct. 2-10. Thats a lot! Can you share more about some subjects that will be explored? A: Our goal is always to present as diverse a program as possible, so there are films available that appeal to a wide range of tastes. In this turbulent year, we wanted to use the festival as a tool to bring as many different perspectives to the table as possible, allowing the audience to appreciate the diversity of our community. We are featuring films from 25 different countries, creating programs that highlight our LGBTQ youth and elders, queer people of color, international perspectives, religion, history, comedies, tragedies, and stories of love. Theres truly something for everyone. Q: Is there one film in particular youre especially excited/happy to be offering, or one that really touched your heart? A: Cicada is a personal favorite and will be announced as the winner of this years Jury Award for Best Feature Film. The authenticity of the acting is incredible in this searingly honest, semi-autobiographical portrait that reveals the struggles of millennial dating and relationships, while at the same time uncovering buried childhood trauma. This film was co-directed by Matthew Fifer as his feature film debut, that he also happened to write, produce, edit and star in. He clearly has a bright future in the film industry. Q: This years festival offers a new program called Connecticut Connections, which includes shorts involving filmmakers, actors or locations associated with Connecticut. Whats one of the highlights? A: One of the festival committee favorites, A Spirit in Flight, is a short doc featuring Eric Jurado-Diaz from East Hartford. He starts the film off with, If I dont go to heaven when I die, at least I went halfway there, referring to his bucket-list jump from an airplane at Skydive Danielson. This encapsulates his brave spirit and humor as he tells the story of his life and family, including his struggle with ALS. Other films, like Dream House, used many filming locations in the Hartford area, like the Chez Est gay bar and the Hartford 21 building downtown. But some of the films have a connection to the Nutmeg State through their actors and writers who grew up here, or attended or taught in Connecticut schools. Its a very eclectic, entertaining and educational mix of short films. Q: How long did it take to put this festival together? What was involved? A: Normally it takes about 10 months, but this year the planning stretched into 14 months, which we really needed in order to prepare for the unique challenges of 2020s festival, including the integration of a new virtual festival platform and drive-in screenings! Our committee of 15 to 20 volunteers watched a record number of submissions over 650 films. While daunting, this wealth of submissions allowed us to nearly double the number of films selected, a total of 119. The majority of these films are included in our record 12 all-short film programs up from the usual three or four, which are always a big hit with our audience. We were able to increase the number of shorts programs to include new themes, like Connecticut Connections, queer people of color, bisexual, drag/cross-dressing and short documentaries. Q: People love to laugh. Can you share something about one of the funnier offerings? A: You can surmise just from the title Ellie & Abbie (& Ellies Dead Aunt) that this film is going to be fun. This fresh, lesbian teen rom-com delves into the dating life of a girl who happens to be able to chat with the ghost of her queer activist aunt, who is happy to share dating tips and hearty doses of LGBTQ history for good measure. This Australian film is featured on closing night (Oct. 10) and is available online at OutFilmCT.org. Q: Is there something you wanted to share that I didnt ask you about? A: Like many other organizations fundamentally challenged by the pandemic, our festival committee had to adapt very quickly, watching hundreds of films and submitting evaluations online, with the last seven months spent in weekly Zoom calls. Committee members had to step up to tackle many new challenges; I think it has brought us closer together as an organization. Were lucky to have such a dedicated group of volunteers. I also want to thank all of our sponsors and advertisers for continuing to show their commitment to diversity and our community by supporting our organization in these difficult times. The full schedule, including three events at Manchesters Parkade Cinema Drive-In, and tickets, are available via www.OutFilmCT.org. Tickets will be good for each virtual program at the stated start time and will be available for viewing up to at least 72 hours later. lkoonz@newstimes.com; Twitter: @LindaTKoonz COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Thursday that he has tapped a Copley police officer to head a new state agency aimed at recruiting more women and minorities into law enforcement. Sarah Shendy, a 12-year veteran of the Copley police force and a trainer in the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, will lead the newly formed Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment, DeWine announced at a Thursday news conference. Shendy, a Muslim woman whose family came to the U.S. from Egypt when she was 6 years old, said during Thursdays news conference that her journey to becoming a police officer wasnt the easiest." But she said that being a police officer is an absolute passion." Everyday Im truly thankful to be in uniform, Shendy said. DeWine announced the formation of the office in June following clashes between police and protesters in Columbus and Cleveland in response to the death of George Floyd, a black Minneapolis resident killed by a police officer on May 25. His unveiling of Shendy as the director comes one day after violent protests broke out in Louisville following a grand jurys decision not to file murder charges against the officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor. Shendy said the agency will work with the more than 1,000 local police departments strewn across the state to advertise job openings to attract candidates from broad backgrounds. She also wants to create programs and videos to educate the public on an average police officers day. Eighty percent of the day is responding to calls and acting as mediators and peacekeepers, Shendy said. Shendy said she hopes to create a mentoring program to help support recruits as they make their way through the police academy training. Shendy said that many recruits, particularly women and minorities, express concern over facing backlash from their communities for their decision to join the police force. Once you decide to become a police officer, its a life altering decision," she said. And one we want to support. Shendy graduated from Kent State University and attended the universitys police academy. She worked as a corrections officer in Cuyahoga County and in Portage County until she got a job with Copley police in 2008. She began teaching at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in 2016. Shendy also threw out a ceremonial first pitch at Progressive Field on Sept. 27, 2019 as part of the Cleveland Indians' Hometown Heroes night honoring first responders. Our very own Sarah Shendy threw out a ceremonial first pitch at a recent Cleveland @Indians game. Sarah, an @opota law enforcement training officer, received the honor as part of the teams Hometown Heroes night. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/diveF83mZE Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (@OhioAG) September 27, 2019 Read more stories Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine planning extra funding for mental health services Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Trump potentially refusing to peacefully transfer power: That is not going to happen Ohio reports weekly increase of 394 coronavirus cases in K-12 schools Pune, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global smart glass market size is projected to reach USD 15,788.0 million by the end of 2027. The increasing investments in the research and development of low cost and efficient products will bode well for market growth. The increasing integration of these glasses in the aerospace industry will have a positive impact on market growth. According to a report published by Fortune Business Insights, titled Smart Glass Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Technology (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Glass, Suspended Particle Device Glass, Electrochromic Glass, Photochromic Glass, and Thermochromic Glass), Application (Architectural, Automotive & Transportation, Consumer Electronics, Power Generation, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027, the market was worth USD 4,651.3 million in 2019 and will exhibit a CAGR of 17.2% during the forecast period, 2020-2027. Smart glass is widely used across several industry verticals as a medium of display and other interfaces. The product works on the mechanism of light or voltage transmission wherein it changes its appearance whenever the aforementioned factors are passed or applied through it. The massive investments in the research and development of smart glass are consequential to the increasing applications of the product across diverse industries. The rising adoption and subsequently rising demand for smart homes and the integration of technologically advanced devices will create several growth opportunities for the market in the coming years. Due to the massive potential held by smart glass across the world, there are several companies operating across the world. Ultimately, the fierce market competition results in even more innovations and this will have a positive impact on the growth of the overall market in the coming years. Get Sample PDF Brochure with Impact of COVID19: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/covid19-impact/smart-glass-market-102569 The decrease in Product Demand during the Covid-19 Pandemic will have a Negative Impact on SMEs The recent coronavirus outbreak has had a drastic impact on several industries across the world. With shutdowns in manufacturing units and production houses, the coronavirus outbreak has hampered the economic conditions of most businesses that come under the small and medium enterprise (SME) bracket. The decreasing in demand for these glasses in industrial sectors will have a negative impact on the smart glass market. Having said that, the constant demand for smart homes and the increasing integration of these glasses in smart homes will provide a platform for growth in an otherwise stagnant market. Company Mergers and Acquisitions are an Increasing Trend Among Major Companies Across the World The report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the overall market in recent years. Accounting to the massive potential held by smart glass across the world, there have been several company mergers and acquisitions in recent times. Due to healthy market competition, large scale companies are looking to acquire start-ups as well as SMEs. In 2020, Smartglass International announced that has forged a partnership with V-stream. The latter is an Ireland-based company and focuses on tech-innovations. Through this collaboration, the companies will look to implement the multi-panel floor-to-ceiling privacy smart glass, specifically for Dell offices in Ireland. Given the massive demand for these glasses in Europe, this collaboration will influence other companies in this sector. The report highlights a few other company mergers of recent times and discusses their impact on the global smart glass market. Inquire Before Buying This Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/smart-glass-market-102569 Europe Holds the Highest Market Share; Increasing Product Use in Architectural Design will Emerge in Favor of Market Growth The report analyses the ongoing market trends across five major regions, including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Among all regions, the market in Europe is projected to emerge dominant in the coming years. The rising demand and adoption of these glasses in architectural designs and interiors will have a huge impact on the growth of the regional market. Moreover, the efforts put in to integrate smart glasses in renovations and retrofitting of old infrastructures will also contribute to the growth of the regional market. As of 2019, the market in Europe was worth USD 1,994.7 million and this value is projected to rise at a considerable pace in the coming years. List of the Leading Companies Profiled in the Global Smart Glass Market are: Saint-Gobain (France) View, Inc. (U.S.) GENTEX Corporation (U.S.) Polytronix, Inc. (U.S.) Smartglass International Limited (Ireland) Glass Apps (U.S.) Scienstry, Inc. (U.S.) AGC Inc. (Japan) Research Frontiers (U.S.) Essex Safety Glass (UK) Gauzy Ltd and Entities (Israel) BSG Glass (Thailand) Asahi India Glass Ltd. (India) Schott AG (Germany) Central Glass Co., Ltd. (Japan) Pleotint LLC (U.S.) SPD Control Systems Corporation (U.S.) Other key players Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report With TOC: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/smart-glass-market-102569 Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Key Emerging Trends For Major Countries Key Developments: Mergers, Acquisition, Partnership, etc. Latest Technological Advancement Insights on Regulatory Scenario Porters Five Forces Analysis Qualitative Insights on Impact of COVID-19 on Global Smart Glass Supply Chain Analysis & Challenges Steps taken by Government / Companies to Overcome this Impact Potential Challenges and Opportunities due to COVID-19 Outbreak Global Smart Glass Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Technology (Value) Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) Glass Suspended Particle Device (SPD) Glass Electrochromic (EC) Glass Photochromic Glass Thermochromic Glass By Application (Value) Architectural Automotive & Transportation Consumer Electronics Power Generation Others By Region (Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific Rest of World TOC Continued! Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/smart-glass-market-102569 Have a Look at Related Research Insights: Flat Glass Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Float, Sheet, and Rolled), By Product Type (Coated, Extra Clear, Laminated, Toughened, and Others), By Application (Architecture, Automotive, Solar Panels, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Flat Glass Coatings Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Resin Type (Epoxy, Polyurethane, Acrylic, Others), By Technology (Solvent-based, Nanocoatings), By Application (Mirror Coatings, Solar Power, Architectural, Automotive Application, Decorative, Others.) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data. At Fortune Business Insights, we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We, therefore, offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Fortune Business Insights LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs Read Press Release: Mr. Smith Taweelerdniti, CEO of Let's Plant Meat shared his startup story in a 10-minute pitch at Banyan Tree Hotel Bangkok and live streamed to viewers across the globe. From idea to commercialization in just 12 months, Let's Plant Meat is now selling in more than 150 supermarkets across Thailand and is poised to export to neighboring countries like Indonesia and Singapore. "Our traction is good, consumers loved our plant-based burger's taste. We have also partnered with Thailand's famous street food franchise "Khiang by Tummour" to offer Kaprow Plant-Meat to all 70 branches in Thailand. We are working hard to be Thailand' number 1 plant-based meat brand," commented Mr. Taweelerdniti. "We congratulate both teams at DAIZ and Let's Plant Meat for earning the Plant Protein Awards of this Future Food Asia edition. Both companies are paving the way to exciting protein options "made-in-Asia" with a focus on Asian consumers and cuisines. The two winners prove that Asia, a long-time protein importer, will take a central role in scaling the plant-based meat revolution," commented Dominique Kull, Head of Technology at Buhler and Alex Ward, Head of Regional Innovation at Givaudan. Let's Plant Meat is a Thailand plant-based meat startup that focuses on research, manufacture and build adoption of plant-based meat from Southeast Asia to the world. www.letsplantmeat.co & www.facebook.com/letsplantmeat. Future Food Asia 2020 is a 5-day long conference that centered on food innovations in Asia. The conference offers multi-format networking events, 11 startup pitching, and plant-protein masterclass by Buhler and Givaudan. This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Let's Plant Meat A County Derry charity group have been harnessing community spirit to provide practical aid to oppressed and disadvantaged areas around the world. Dungiven-based Let's Change Tomorrow were formed in 2017 after a group of community volunteers got together to do something about the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Chairperson Anne McCloskey said the group's aim is always to get support to the places that need it as quickly as possible. At that time the news was full of pictures of refugees in Yemen and it was shocking. Everybody was talking about it, she told the County Derry Post. A couple of us got together and approached different people in the town here to form a wee group to see if we could do something. The main aim was to try and get aid there as quickly as possible. We wanted to be completely voluntary, so anything we could raise would go directly to where it would be needed. We try to promote Christian values in anything we do, and where possible, rather than going through big organisations that we would try and use local people, who are volunteering. We discovered a man in Ballymena, who was going out to the camps and helping refugees, so we contacted him and held a collection in Dungiven, at St Canice's Hall. The group were overwhelmed by the support they received on that maiden campaign and the natural tragedy of the events saw people rallying from neighbouring areas to help. The town was great, they came out in force and we had support from surrounding areas like Park, Glenullin and Slaughtneil, said Anne. People were donating basic supplies; nappies, food, clothes. We got 2,000 in cash, so four of us went to Smyth's Toy Store and spent it on toys, because we were told the children in the camps had no toys. I remember one thing that stuck with me. A child had been given a doll and didn't know what to do with it they'd never had a toy. We got all the stuff into vans and went in convoy to Ballymena, where it was all put in a big container. It was very emotional that day, the whole committee were there to help out. Since then, the group have sent aid to dozens of areas throughout the world, organising collections and fundraising events with strong community engagement and goodwill. Let's Change Tomorrow committee members pictured in 2018. Tapping into ongoing work by local volunteers, they have supported projects in Guatemala, Syria, the Bahamas, Myanmar, Indonesia and Lebanon, as well as contributing closer to home. Over the past three years, we've raised over 30,000 which has been sent to different places around the world, said Anne. All these people have been able to send us back pictures, or let us know what was happening, more or less straight away, which was great. You knew exactly how the money was being used. During lockdown, we'd heard that the Foyle Hospice was struggling, so we used around 1,000 that we had in our account to make a donation to them. Over the last few months, Let's Change Tomorrow have turned their attention to the Greek island of Lesbos, where a fire at Moria refugee camp has left over 12,000 people without shelter or sanitation. The group sent over 4,000 to help the situation at the camp in July, and this week have renewed their efforts by holding a collection for essential items in Dungiven on Saturday. The focus for the collection has been on childcare items, toiletries and sanitary towels, borne out of the emotive images that have emerged from coverage of the fire. There was a wee girl of seven saying she had nothing to eat or drink in three days. A woman with a newborn baby that she hadn't been able to feed for three days either, said Anne. We thought we needed to do something about that. We couldn't do any fundraising, so we just had to ask people for the money and hope that they gave it, and they came forward with 4,000. It's very emotional when you finish these campaigns and you get the feedback about how the money has been spent and see the impact. Donations can still be made to the Moria appeal by contacting any member of Let's Change Tomorrow or visiting their Facebook page for more details. Once weve taken back control of our borders, theres absolutely nothing to stop us putting one up around Kent, and now Michael Gove has now announced that thats exactly what hes going to do. What better way to show the world that we are an independent nation, once again, than by putting up borders right across the middle of our newly, fully re-sovereigned country? The admission slipped out during Mr Goves latest statement to the House of Commons on preparations for the end of the transition period. He did his best to conceal it behind his now stock collection of what can only be described as, well, utter bollocks. We would learn, yet again, that we are ready to leave the European Union with an Australian-style deal, which is, to be clear, no deal at all. An Australian-style deal equally accurately describes the deal through which Kidderminster Harriers FC last week signed Lionel Messi, in that it didnt happen. It doesnt exist. An Australian-style deal is a no-deal Brexit, and as we now know, no Whitstable or Gravesend either. We would hear how the money we will no longer send to the EU can be invested in our priorities. Which is, nominally true, in the sense that once youve been made redundant you are then free to invest your train fare in other priorities, like scratchcards, or indeed pandemic-resistant Brexit analogies. It was only in reply to a question from a backbench MP wanting to know quite what was going on with the rumoured 7,000-long lorry queues, and the 29 new lorry parks in Kent, that Mr Gove announced not just the new Kent Access Permit but also that it would be enforced by police along the border. From 1 January 2021, lorry drivers wont be able to enter the county of Kent without a permit, and if they try to sneak in, well, the police will be there to turn them back. So thats one new Brexit border in the Irish Sea, and another in the middle of the Dartford tunnel. Still, there are exciting opportunities ahead ( Michael Gove), and the Kent border wall presents much to get excited about (no news yet on whether Sussex is gonna pay for it). We look forward to seeing Nigel Farage, out with his little camera crew, patrolling the M20, sending illegal Kent-based immigrants back where they came from, which in this case is likely to be Sidcup. There was, sadly, no news on how many of the promised 50,000 new customs agents have been recruited and trained as part of what the government has called its expansion into the customs sector. Gove did, however, repeat that now we have left the EU we will be free to invest in increasing our productivity, possibly even to somewhere around the levels of France, Germany or any of the more than a dozen EU countries who currently outperform us without having had to leave the EU to do it. Whether hiring the equivalent of the entire population of Canterbury to fill in customs forms will do it, we can only wait and see. It is, after all, only 100 days until the end of the year, and the end of the transition period, when Britain leaves the single market, the customs union and is free to do its own thing, even if that thing is policing its own county borders. The transition period began, by the way, on 31 January, which just so happened to also be the day of the countrys first confirmed case of Covid-19. And who can honestly say that anything thats happened since could possibly give them any doubt about whether the government will absolutely definitely be ready for everything? Come late October, South Philadelphians will (finally) have easy access to Dock Streets pizza, in all its blistered and bubbly glory. Thats when Dock Street South will fire up a new pizza oven for the first time. The Washington Avenue outpost of the 35-year-old brewery marked its one-year anniversary in August, right around the time Dock Street matriarch and founder Rosemarie Certo gave the go-ahead to pursue the pizza route. The wood-fired oven purchased on eBay and driven from Ohio to Philly by operations manager Sasha Certo-Ware is currently being installed in Dock Street Souths lounge, which showcases the brewerys industrial vaulted ceilings and stainless-steel tanks. Previously the space was used for community meetings, baby showers, and even a dogs 21st birthday party. Its the only place that we would have had space for a pizza oven, said marketing director Renata Certo-Ware, so I guess that was one good thing that came out of coronavirus. When the conversion is complete, the room will be open to the public, with tables and a new live-edge bar that has prime views of the oven. Were going to definitely have some familiar suspects on the menu, said Sasha, citing some crowd favorites from Dock Street Wests menu: the fig jam, the egg-and-spinach-topped a la cocca, and the flammen (creme fraiche, gruyere, caramelized onions, applewood-smoked bacon). But expect some new pies and alternative offerings from chef Cam Waters, a Forest & Main alum who joined the Dock Street South team two months ago. Hes since added a jerk chicken cheesesteak and homemade banana pudding to the menu. Hell also be collaborating with 10-year Dock Street West veteran chef PJ Freeman on the forthcoming pizza list. (Everything will pair nicely with Dock Streets beers, including its new Italian pilsner, Futuro, which debuts this week.) Long-anticipated by the Point Breeze neighborhood, Dock Street South initially opened with an Italian menu inspired by a family trip to Rosemaries native Sicily: We arrived from the flight totally jet-lagged and we were starving, Renata remembers. It was 9 p.m., and we had this roadside rotisserie chicken filled with olives and lemons. And we just sat on the rooftop, sitting on our suitcases, picking it apart with our hands. It was the best meal ever. Besides rotisserie chickens seasoned with herbs and lemon, zaatar, and Moroccan spices, there were chickpeas with roasted red peppers, harissa-roasted potatoes, and cold side salads. Alas, South Philly despite loving the new space clamored for pizza with their beer. The neighborhood definitely spoke and made it clear what they want, Renata said. And at the end of the day its like, OK, we do make great pizza and everyone knows it. So well do it here, too. DETROIT, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Research announces the launch of a master dataset (excel dashboard) for the entire Prepreg family in the composites industry. Prepreg is one of the most common forms of composite materials in which the reinforcement material is pre-impregnated with either thermoplastic or thermoset resin system in a predefined ratio. It enables consistent resin/matrix ratio in the finished product; thus, delivering uniform mechanical and physical properties throughout the final part. The resin system in prepregs is partially cured for ease of handling and to prevent complete polymerization, it is stored in a cool place. This is the B- stage product and needs to be heated in an autoclave or oven during the fabrication to achieve full polymerization. With the advent of the growing demand for composites, the usage of prepregs is growing and is finding a place in a multitude of applications. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the prepreg market is anticipated to mimic the aerospace industry's course, its biggest demand-generator, marking a huge decline in 2020. Nevertheless, considering the aerospace industry's recovery paths during previous downturns combined with several interviews conducted across the supply chain, Stratview Research believes that the market is expected to rebound over the next five years with a healthy CAGR to reach a value of US$ 5.7 billion in 2026. Stratview Research has immense experience in composites market research. After receiving tremendous response on the reports on Out-of-Autoclave Prepreg Market, Thermoplastic Prepreg Market, and Aerospace Prepreg Market, the company has come up with a master database which will cover data for the entire prepreg market segments including trend and forecast (2015-2026) covering North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World, along with global market shares of major companies. Following topics will be covered in the dataset: Prepreg Market Thermoset Prepreg Market Thermoplastic Prepreg Market UD Tape Market High-Temperature Prepreg Market BMI Prepreg Market Carbon Fiber Prepreg Market Glass Fiber Prepreg Market Aerospace Prepreg Market Out-of-Autoclave (OOA) Prepreg Non-Woven Prepreg It is the most exhaustive dataset to have ever come up in the prepreg family (across industries) from any company. Clients will have multiple options to access this, such as one-time purchase, annual subscription with quarterly updates and selectively choosing a set of topics from the family. Detailed market reports on each topic are also available. It is completely flexible and can be customized as per the needs of the buyer. Stratview Research has several high value market reports in the advanced materials industry. Please refer to the following link to browse through our reports: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market-reports/Advanced-Materials.html About Stratview Research Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas. We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy, and Voice of Customer studies. Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making. Stratview Research has launched 'Composights', an online portal which offers free thought leadership reports, whitepapers, market report synopsis and much more for Composites and allied industries, worth US$ 20,000 every year. Click here to sign up (No costs involved): https://www.stratviewresearch.com/composights/sign-in For enquiries, please contact: Stratview Research E-mail: sales@stratviewresearch.com Direct: +1-313-307-4176 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660595/Stratview_Research_Logo.jpg Sri Lanka: Government will implement sustainable development policy for fisheries sector - Min. Douglas Devananda September 24,2020 | Source: Nation LK The government intends to formulate a fisheries policy in the near future, said Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda. He said this in parliament yesterday in response to a question raised by MP Charles Nirmalanathan during the questions for oral answers round. Minister Devananda noted that the matter would be discussed with the relevant stakeholders and formulate the fisheries policy and have it presented to parliament. He said this policy would address many of the issues faced by the fisheries sector and the government intends to provide sustainable solutions to them. He said that around 45,000 persons are engaged in the fishing industry from the Northern Province including Mannar, Killinochchi, Mulaithivu and Jaffna Districts and it sustains the livelihood of around 200,000 families. The Minister said that due to the encroachment of Indian fishing vessels into Sri Lankan territorial waters, the local fishermen have been greatly affected and they are facing a situation where they find it difficult to engage in their fishing activities. However, he assured that the government would take measures to implement a proper mechanism to prevent the Indian fishing vessels from illegally entering Sri Lankan waters. A 22-year-old Taylor man has pleaded guilty to threatening harm to a Black woman, obstructing her free exercise of religious beliefs. The U.S. Justice Department announced Wednesday that Ronald Wyatt pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to intentionally threatening physical harm to the female victim, identified as T.P. As part of his plea agreement, Wyatt admitted that he targeted T.P., who is African-American, because of her race. At the plea hearing, Wyatt admitted that, on July 23, 2019, he used Facebook to send T.P. a written message that threatened: See you at church on Wednesday night with my AK to put you and your [expletive] family down [expletive]. T.P. regularly attends a church located in Taylor. According to the Justice Department, Wyatt admitted that by sending the threatening message, he acted intentionally to obstruct T.P.s free exercise of her religious beliefs. Wyatt further admitted that he threatened T.P. because she is African-American, and that he intended for T.P. to understand his message as a threat. No American should face threats towards their life or the lives of their loved ones based on their race or religion said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. These actions are reprehensible. The Justice Department takes these matters very seriously and works to ensure that those who perpetrate these actions see justice under the law. The defendants actions in this case are truly reprehensible, said U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan. Although the First Amendment protects free speech, it doesnt give anyone the right to obstruct the free exercise of religious beliefs by threatening violence or bodily harm. Prosecuting those who violate the civil rights of Michigan citizens is some of the most important work we do. This plea today is the first step towards justice for this innocent victim. Mr. Wyatt used threats of violence to terrorize an innocent woman and as a result hindered the victims ability to freely practice her religion, said Special Agent in Charge Steven M. DAntuono, of the FBIs Detroit Field Office. Hate crimes like this one have profound effects not only on the victims, but also on their families and communities, making them feel vulnerable and unsafe. No arrest or conviction can undo the harm, but will hopefully provide a measure of justice for the victim, her family and her community. Pursuant to the plea agreement, sentencing will take place in one year. He faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison. This case was investigated by the FBIs Detroit Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Carlson, of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, and trial attorney Risa Berkower, of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of London-listed company director and manager changes announced on Thursday and not separately reported by Alliance News: Carr's Group PLC - Carlisle, England-based agriculture machinery distributor and engineering firm - Names Hugh Pelham as new chief executive officer, succeeding Tim Davies. Pelham to join Carr's as CEO designate on January 4 and will succeed Davies on January 12 at conclusion of annual general meeting. "He is currently Global President at Minova, part of ASX-listed Orica, which is a manufacturer and supplier of chemical and mechanical earth control products, adhesives and support equipment. Minova has revenues of AUD600 million, generated from 40 countries globally," Carr's said. Renold PLC - Manchester-based supplier of industrial chains and related power transmission products - Notes Jim Haughey, named finance director back in May, will join from October 1. "Jim has extensive experience of listed companies with multinational and manufacturing operations, at FKI PLC, Bridon International Ltd, Cosalt PLC, Bodycote PLC and Mpac Group PLC and joins Renold from his latest appointment at Drive Devilbliss Healthcare Ltd," Renold said. Evgen Pharma PLC - Liverpool-headquartered clinical-stage drug development company - Names Huw Jones as CEO, taking over in "early October". "Jones has over 30 years' experience of leadership roles in public and private R&D-based companies within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector, with a particular focus on pre-clinical and clinical drug development, dilutive and non-dilutive financing and business development. He is chair of Chronos Therapeutics Ltd, Non-Executive Director of Rexgenero Ltd and Strategic Advisor to Gen2 Neuroscience Ltd," Evgen said. Scancell Holdings PLC - cancer treatment firm - Names Susan Davies as non-executive director with immediate effect, with current Non-Executive Alan Lewis stepping down due to ill health. Secure Trust Bank PLC - UK retail and commercial bank - Says Chief Financial Officer Rachel Lawrence, who took over on September 7, was appointed as executive director on Wednesday. Eleco PLC - London-based construction software developer - Chair John Ketteley steps down with immediate effect. Deputy Serena Lang agrees to act as chair. Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Hunter named as interim CEO. Boku Inc - US-based mobile payments solution provider - Adds Charlotta Ginman to board as non-executive with immediate effect. Has held senior roles with UBS Group AG and Deutsche Bank AG. By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Portland police will work to keep the far-right group Proud Boys, planning an End Domestic Terrorism rally in Delta Park on Saturday, separate from counter-protesters holding a simultaneous demonstration in Peninsula Park, Portlands police chief and his deputy chief said Thursday. Our primary goal is to keep these groups out of contact with one another, completely, Deputy Chief Chris Davis said. Thats really the safest way to get through this. Police have cancelled officers' days off and plan to have a large uniformed officer presence while also working to regulate traffic. Police have the lawful authority to control traffic to maintain public safety, yet Davis acknowledged that blocking off large traffic arteries would require more resources. The city of Portlands Parks and Recreation Bureau denied a permit to the Proud Boys to hold their gathering at the North Portland park, finding that its large crowd estimate violated the governors emergency restrictions barring groups of more than 50 people from gathering to avoid the spread of the coronavirus amid the pandemic. Enrique Tarrio, international chair of the Proud Boys, said his group didnt expect to receive the permit but is continuing with its plans to demonstrate at Delta Park. Counter-protesters plan to rally more than three miles away at Peninsula Park at the same time. Police are still making last-minute arrangements in an effort to bolster the law enforcement presence in the city Saturday. Oregons Gov. Kate Brown will hold a news conference Friday morning, and is expected to lend Oregon State Police support to Portland police crowd control efforts, despite the state agencys initial reservations. So far, Oregon State Police, Multnomah County Sheriffs Office, Milwaukie and Lake Oswego police departments have agreed to provide some type of assistance, and the Police Bureau is looking for more help. Our goal is to be able to keep folks apart, Lovell said, acknowledging that small factions of the larger groups may break off. Were trying to posture ourselves so we can respond to those areas," the police chief said. "At the end of the day, we cant be everywhereMy hope is theyll stay in the areas theyre talking about. While the chiefs said federal officers wont be involved in assisting police on Saturday, they acknowledged that a Portland police incident commander asked for their help Wednesday night when a Molotov cocktail, or improvised explosive, was thrown at officers, causing a fire in the street outside Central Precinct. It got so violent out here, and Federal Protective Service called and asked if we needed their help, and our incident commander decided that we did, Davis said. We do not anticipate asking for their assistance on Saturday. That was more of an emergency need in the moment. Portlands City Council had barred Portland police from communicating with federal officers on crowd control measures during protests, yet adopted a carve-out clause in mid-August that allowed Portland police to communicate and coordinate with state U.S. Marshals Service employees and locally assigned agents with the Federal Protective Service. At the start of a Police Bureau press conference Thursday, the Bureau played a video that captured the throwing of an explosive device Wednesday night at officers outside Central Precinct, which immediately ignited a fire on Southwest Second Avenue and sent officers running away from the flames. One officers boot caught on fire, according to police and prosecutors. This type of violence accomplishes nothing, does nothing to advance the goals of the community, Lovell said. "Its troubling to see that after 100 plus days this kind of violence is continuing in our city. Three people were accused of either attempting to set a fire or causing damage to the downtown precinct Wednesday night. Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said he was thankful that no Portland police or firefighters were injured. There is no justification for a person to ever throw an incendiary device, to set fire to buildings or to engage in other violent and destructive behavior, Schmidt said in a statement. We have already seen too much violence, harm and even death during past demonstrations. For those who are thinking about traveling to Oregon to engage in criminal conduct our message is clear: Stay away. For people who attend the events: Leave your weapons behind. Dont give someone who wants to promote violence a platform by engaging with them. While police said their preference would be that participants from either group not carry guns on Saturday, the state has an open carry law that allows for the carrying of a concealed weapon with a permit. Yet police will be working to enforce a city firearms regulation that makes it illegal to carry a loaded firearm if the person with the gun doesnt have an Oregon concealed handgun permit, the deputy chief said. Permits from outside the state arent sufficient, Davis said. Multnomah County Sheriffs Office and the Oregon State Police earlier in the week expressed reluctance to send their officers to assist in crowd control Saturday, citing Portland Mayor Ted Wheelers Sept. 10 ban on Portland police use of tear gas to disperse crowds. Proud Boys are planning a rally at noon at Delta Park. Counter protests are planning a demonstration at Peninsula Park at the same time. Oregon State Police Supt. Travis Hampton wrote to Portland police on Tuesday that the agency, busy responding to wildfires in the state, had serious reservations about helping with crowd control since the city police agencys use of tear gas is barred. The state police would 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 earlier in the week. " We will also make available, if you request, specialized vehicles and armor to aid in officer rescue and the transport of personnel." The governor is expected to announce additional state police assistance on Friday. Multnomah County sheriffs will provide patrol support and help cover dispatched calls from East Precinct, to free up Portland police officers to do crowd control, according to Chris Liedle, a sheriffs spokesman. The sheriffs office also will provide a mobile booking team of several deputies and transport vehicles to help transport and book people if arrests are made, he said. We remain fluid, and our plans are subject to change as we get a better idea of the expected number of people attending events, event locations and event activities," Liedle said. Moments before Lovell began addressing the media, the Proud Boys released a statement Thursday. Tarrio suggested that Portlands mayor and City Council need a mental health evaluation for having stripped law enforcement of their authority to maintain law and order. If domestic terrorist groups confront the peaceful protest, Proud Boys will defend themselves in a legal and lawful manner. Several participants will be solely dedicated to gathering as much footage of these anarchists and turning it over to law enforcement for their swift arrest, Tarrio said in the statement, noting that police have declined to provide resources for their gathering. In the Proud Boys' permit application that was denied, the group said it planned to use a trailer as a stage, with an American flag as a backdrop at Delta Park. Counter-protesters are planning 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. PopMob has circulated a flyer on social media that says, Calling All Everyday Antifascists: Join Us At Bloom - No Proud Boys in the Rose City. Also Saturday, a Black-led group called J.U.I.C.E. PDX, standing for Justice, Unity, Integrity, Community, Equality, is planning to gather at the Vanport Historical Marker at 11:30 a.m. Speakers will talk at noon and a car caravan is anticipated to follow at 1 p.m. Officer Daryl Turner, president of the Portland Police Association, on Thursday continued to criticize the mayors ban on police use of CS gas, a type of tear gas, calling it the one essential tool thats been most effective for police in dispersing violent rioters when lives are in danger. The bureaus use of tear gas has drawn multiple lawsuits against the city and a court-ordered preliminary injunction that had barred police from using tear gas except when lives or public safety are in danger. The mayors order on Sept. 10 banned its use as a crowd control tactic. The men and women of the Portland Police Bureau will do everything in their power to keep the peace in our City. If any of our community members or officers are hurt or killed, we will hold our elected officials responsible," Turner said in a statement. "Reckless public policy has real consequences. Youve had your chance to lead. Youve failed to do so. I pray that our City is spared from further violence this weekend. Cassie Miller, senior research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center, issued a statement in response to the Proud Boys' planned rally in Portland: As alarming as the rally will be for the people of Portland, this is also an opportunity for local law enforcement agencies to look out for public safety. The police department must be proactive in managing the situation with adequate capacity to handle the crowds and prevent violence, particularly between Proud Boys and counter-protesters, Miller said. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Subscribe to Facebook page Canon India today announced that Replika Press Pvt. Ltd., has installed the VarioPrint i300, a B3 sheet-fed inkjet color digital printer. With this installation, Replika Press becomes the first company in India to acquire the solution that is at the forefront of inkjet technology investment in the book printing market. Replika Press Pvt. Ltd., with three generation in the trade, is one of Indias most reputed and leading print service providers specializing in book printing, high-end commercial print production, digital printing and in packaging. Replika have always been one of the early adopters of technology and has an impressive array of digital printing solutions. Now, with the addition of the VarioPrint i300 Replika has strongly shown its commitment to bringing to their customers the benefits of digital & inkjet in one unique printing solution. Speaking on the installation, Mr. Kazutada Kobayashi, President & CEO, Canon India Pvt. Ltd. said, Innovation and customer delight remains integral to every offering we bring forth at Canon. Staying true to this commitment, we have been addressing diverse market expectations of the professional printing industry through our product portfolio. As one of the frontrunners in the print industry, we consider it our responsibility to introduce innovative and futuristic offerings, further promoting the growth of the professional printing segment in India. With the first installation of our latest marvel VarioPrint i300 in the country, we aim to further strengthen our foothold in the print industry and achieve new milestones. We are proud to be instrumental in empowering publishers with innovations that will help their productivity goals and be future-ready in these unprecedented times as well. Speaking on the addition, Mr. Bhuvnesh Seth, Managing Director, Replika Press Pvt. Ltd. said, We have always invested in future ready technologies and solutions, and for us & our customers the future is digital inkjet. The VarioPrint i300 brings to us the ability to enhance our book publishing offerings and also enables us to explore new markets outside of that industry. The solution is well-equipped to meet the advancing prerequisites of publishers, empowering higher & faster production volumes on majority of offset stock as well as uncoated media without compromising on quality. We have always trusted Canon as our technology partner to bring such cutting edge solutions for our customers and our association with Canon India for almost a decade is a testimony to our faith. The book publishing segment has witnessed a slew of challenges with regards to the evolving market demands. Combining new inkjet innovation and high-speed sheet-fed color, Canon has introduced VarioPrint i300 to meet the evolving demands of the publishing industry. Expressing his views Mr. Puneet Datta, Senior Director, Canon India said, Replika Press has been one of our trusted partners in the country, having multiple digital printing solutions installed. We are proud to state that Replika depends 100% on Canon for all their digital printing requirements. We are pleased to continue our association with them and play a critical role in their vision for supporting the publishing industry. As pioneers of inkjet technology, we have fostered the growth of the publishing industry, by offering innovative solutions across the globe. Bolstering our footprint in India, our first installation of VarioPrint i300 is a testament of our commitment to delighting our customers and is extremely strategic to us for our growth in publishing segment. He further adds, The VarioPrint i300 series has by now become the benchmark within this category for the whole industry with more than 250 installs globally and users are so impressed with the technology that more than 20% of the customer base has invested in an additional device. Customers can get a good return on investment by shifting more of their offset volumes to sheet-fed inkjet printing solutions, benefiting from reduced wastage and shorter time to produce & ship. The VarioPrint i300 series is helping customers change the economics of digital print production by transforming blank sheets into growth of revenues & profits. Canon VarioPrint i300 is a highly productive inkjet engine which is capable of printing full color B3 Size sheets with superior near offset quality on both uncoated and offset coated papers. With the VarioPrint i300 series, one can increase productivity by printing more than 4Mn to 6 Mn A4 images in a month and witness unparalleled uptime of more than 90%. Its unique aqueous based inks produce sharp and vivid print quality which surpasses any other inkjet system in this space. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr Anthony Fauci, pushed back against Senator Rand Paul's views on the coronavirus pandemic. During a Wednesday hearing, the top infectious disease expert told the politician that he misinterpreted the facts about the virus and had done so before many times. Heated arguments The hearing was preceded by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and had Paul question Fauci if the medical expert had any changes to his coronavirus mitigation recommendations. The Republican senator also made several claims about herd immunity and other international efforts against the COVID-19 virus. However, Fauci refused to comment on the questions during the hearing. According to USA Today, the infectious disease expert responded by saying he would explain about the matters in detail at a later time. Fauci also noted it was wrong to compare the United States with Sweden as there are a lot of factors that make the two countries different. The Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker said that the United States currently has a fatality of 2.9 percent. Sweden, on the other hand, has about 6.6 percent. Several conservatives who previously criticized the virus mitigation efforts that included national lockdown hailed the Nordic country's responses despite the higher death rates due to the pandemic. The NIAID director said that the recommendations he and his colleagues have given were based on the available data at the time. Fauci noted that they would make revisions to the guidelines as new information is recorded. During the Wednesday hearing, the infectious disease expert said he did not regret any of the recommendations they made during the initial stages of the pandemic. Fauci added that they believed the best way to stop the explosion of infections was to virtually shut down the nation and prevent people from gathering in large crowds or going outside too frequently. Also Read: Trump Shows Support on Proposed $1.5 Trillion Economic Relief Bill Including Another Round of Stimulus Checks Coronavirus misunderstandings Senator Paul has spent a lot of time trying to discredit Fauci, and the questions during the hearing were the latest incident. The NIAID director criticized the politician for his view of herd immunity in New York, as reported by CNN. The medical experts noted that about 60 to 80 percent of a population is required to be vaccinated or have developed antibodies for herd immunity to be considered achieved. According to NBC Washington, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr Robert Redfield, warned earlier in the hearing that over 90 percent of the country's population was still vulnerable to the coronavirus pandemic. Fauci pushed back against Senator Paul and stated the politician was not listening to the CDC director. The medical expert also criticized the Kentucky official that if he believes 22 percent was herd immunity, he was alone in that belief. The NIAID director said that New York was able to achieve one percent or less test positivity because they began to follow the recommendations given by health experts. Fauci noted the city initially made mistakes and suffered high death rates because of them. The two officials had previously argued in May when Senator Paul expressed his disbelief that Fauci was worthy of his top infectious disease expert title. Related Article: CDC Director Takes Back Statement Saying Masks are Better Than Vaccine After Trump Calls Him Out @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Australia's 1.45million JobSeeker recipients are having their unemployment benefits slashed by $300 from tomorrow as a new assets test begins. The coronavirus supplement is being diluted from $550 a fortnight to $250 from September 25. This will see JobSeeker payments fall from $1,115.70 to $815.70, following a temporary doubling of unemployment benefits for six months. Those who go on the dole from Friday will also face a new liquid assets test waiting period if they have more than $5,500 in the bank. Australia's 1.45million JobSeeker recipients are having their unemployment benefits slashed by $300 from tomorrow The revived rules will affect Australia's 1.45million people on JobSeeker, who are either jobless or are receiving sickness or bereavement benefits. Another 234,690 Youth Allowance recipients, students and apprentices also facing longer waiting periods for welfare. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg hinted JobSeeker could be permanently raised from its base rate of $565.70 a fortnight in the October 6 budget Treasurer Josh Frydenberg hinted JobSeeker could be permanently raised from its base rate of $565.70 a fortnight in the October 6 budget. The coronavirus supplement to the dole ends on December 31. 'We will reassess the situation closer to the end of the year,' Mr Frydenberg said. Mr Frydenberg, the Liberal Party's deputy leader, said his boss Prime Minister Scott Morrison was in favour of providing welfare to those in need with Australia now in recession for the first time in 29 years. 'The Prime Minister has signalled very clearly we are leaning in to providing additional support for those who need it into next year,' the treasurer said. Labor's social services spokeswoman Linda Burney said an economic downturn was the wrong time to cut JobSeeker payments. 'Now that money is going to be reduced dramatically at the end of this week,' she said. Those on the dole from Friday will also face a new liquid assets test waiting period if they have more than $5,500 in the bank. Pictured is a near deserted city street in Melbourne 'It will mean people will go without food. It will mean people will not be able to look after their children and get them to school as they'd like to. New assets test to get JobSeeker benefits Singles with no dependent children and less than $5,500 in the bank won't have to wait for the dole The waiting period is one week for bank balances of $5,500 to $5,999 That increase to a fortnight for $6,000 to $6,499 in the bank The waiting period is increased by one week - up to 13 weeks - for every $500 increment in the bank Criteria for couples and parents also applies to get JobSeeker or Youth Allowance The liquid assets test was suspended in March during the start of the COVID-19 shutdowns but is being revived on September 25 Advertisement 'And quite often, the decision is between medication and eating.' Under the new liquid assets test, a waiting period of between one and 13 weeks is being reintroduced. Single, unemployed Australians with less than $5,500 and no children won't have to wait for welfare if they lose their job. Those with more than that amount in the bank will have to wait for a week. If they have more than $6,000 in the bank, the waiting period is a fortnight. This waiting period is lengthened by a week, up to 13 weeks, for every $500 increment of savings in the bank. That means Australians with $11,500 or more in the bank would have to wait until Christmas to receive the dole. The federal government had suspended the liquid assets test in March, during the early stages of the COVID-19 shutdowns of non-essential businesses. From September 28, JobKeeper wage subsidies are also being scaled back from a flat rate of $1,500 a fortnight to $1,200 for those working 20 hours or more. This will see two million workers lose out as JobKeeper 2.0 covers 1.4million employees instead of 3.5million. During the three months to August, 421,800 jobs were created, although much of that was a rise in the number of jobless people declaring themselves to be self-employed. Jobs rose in 17 of the 19 sectors listed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday. Employment fell, however, in the electricity, gas, water and waste services category (down 14,200) and construction (down 11,200). CommSec senior economist Ryan Felsman said the coronavirus lockdowns were disproportionately affecting women and those in insecure jobs. 'The downturn has taken a huge toll on younger and older Aussies, females, casual and part-time workers, in particular,' he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 17:57 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46feaee 1 National KPK,Firli-Bahuri,ethical-violation,ICW,MAKI Free Antigraft watchdogs have questioned a light punishment given to Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Firli Bahuri by the commissions supervisory board over an ethics violation. After multiple hearings over the past weeks, the boards panel on Wednesday declared Firli guilty of ethics violation for displaying a hedonistic lifestyle. The case was opened following a public report that the chief used a private helicopter for a personal trip in June. However, the panel only handed down a light sentence in the form of a written reprimand for Firlis first ethics violation. In a quick response, Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said Firli deserved a harsher punishment for the violation, namely removal from his current position as the KPK chief. ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana argued that the 2019 KPK Law mandates leaders of the antigraft commission to never commit acts of disgrace, in addition to being competent, honest, having high integrity and a good reputation. Read also: My salary is enough to rent a helicopter: KPK chair Firli Bahuri denies violating ethics The supervisory board's decision on Firli has made it more difficult for the KPK to improve its reputation, which is already deteriorating. The light sanctions can set a precedent for other employees or leaders in cases of similar violations, Kurnia said in a statement on Thursday. In addition, Indonesian Anti-Corruption Community (MAKI) coordinator Boyamin Saiman, who reported the helicopter ride to the supervisory board, expressed his disappointment as he previously suggested to the panel that Firli should be demoted to deputy chief if he was found guilty of ethics violation. Im a little disappointed, but even the written reprimand should be a heavy enough [punishment] for Firli, Boyamin said Thursday. With the warning, please end all controversy and work seriously, make the maximum effort for corruption eradication. In Thursdays press conference, chairperson Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean said the supervisory council would not develop the helicopter ride case. He added that no allegations of gratuity were proven amid reports that Firli received discounts for the ride, in addition to the helicopter taxi company being linked to a graft suspect. A cyber cafe owner, Adeyemi Agboola, has been arrested for being in possession of 11 fake recruitment forms of the Oyo State Security Network also known as Amotekun Corps. He was arrested in Oyo town on Wednesday, Premium Times learnt. Mr Agboola, who owns a cyber cafe along Durbar Stadium Road in Oyo town, was caught on Wednesday with the fake recruitment forms. He was reportedly selling the fake forms to applicants at the rate of N500 per copy. He also promised to assist the prospective candidates to get the job. Mr Agboola, when arrested, claimed that he only utilised the opportunity to extort the victims. The Amotekun Commandant, Olayanju Olayinka confirmed the arrest of the suspect on Thursday. Mr Olayinka said the culprit would face the law for his action. He urged members of the public to be wary of individuals that would always want to take advantage of others in the society because the victims were uneducated. He said, It is very unfortunate that people can still take advantage of others on recruitment exercise just because the victims are unlettered, we shall dig more to know the number of victims that have fallen for the antics of this man. We have handed him over to the appropriate prosecuting security agency, he shall serve as a deterrent to others that might want to thread this bad way, the State government has been working non-stop to alleviate poverty and sundry social issues affecting our people, but we will not allow the common people be cheated by those who think they are cunning. The arrest of Mr Agboola is coming a few days after the arrest of a man impersonating as an Amotekun officer in Ibadan. Kareem Taiwo, who claimed to be an officer of Amotekun Corps was arrested in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, a few days ago. Premium Times gathered that Mr Taiwo made efforts to defraud people by claiming to be the recruitment officer for the security outfit. It was gathered that Taiwo had pasted a notice at the Adamasingba Stadium, venue of the states recruitment screening centre with his name and phone numbers, that those interested in joining the Amotekun Corps should contact him. The Chairperson of Amotekun Corps, Kunle Toogun, confirmed the arrest of the suspect. He said the general public should be wary of fraudsters in their quest to become members of the corps. Mr Toogun also used the occasion to inform journalists that screening of applicants into the corps would continue as the exercise had just covered only the Ibadan city axis. He said, those that missed their screening have been called to join others for their fresh screening, this will easily pave way for equal participation, although we have encountered so many challenges since we started, some came with forged certificates and documents, you have seen the one that just happened, but we are unrelenting. The screening will continue with the less(er) cities, the Oke-Ogun zones one and two, Ido, Ibarapa among others. We want to make the exercise as open and less cumbersome to applicants as possible. The governor has demanded for openness and that is exactly that we are giving. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has set aside the order rejecting the insolvency plea filed against Andhra Pradesh-based Coastal Oil Gas Infrastructure on the grounds of delay in filing. A three-member bench has now directed the Hyderabad bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to admit the plea filed by the financial creditors -- Bank of India and Central Bank of India -- and decide it "expeditiously" within one month. The held that the had "wrongly considered" the date of default as March 16, 2015 for computation of limitation period to file an application before it and rejected the insolvency plea filed by the financial creditors. On October 30, 2019, the had dismissed the plea filed by the financial creditors on the grounds of delay after observing that it was filed on September 25, 2018, which was more than three years of default occurred on March 16, 2015. "We set aside the impugned order dated October 30, 2019, passed by NCLT, Hyderabad. "We are further remanding back the matter to the adjudicating authority to admit the application under section 7 after issuing notice and examining all other aspects under section 7 of I&B Code," said the As per the Limitation Act, which is also applicable on the (IBC) cases, if a default has occurred over three years prior to the date of filing of the application, then such application are barred under article 137 of the Act. The NCLAT's direction came over a petition filed by Bank of India and Central Bank of India, challenging the NCLT order. The appellate tribunal observed that first loan agreement between the lenders and the debtor was entered on August 1, 2011 and after the corporate debtor failed to repay the dues in accordance with the agreed terms, a second agreement was entered between the consortium of lenders after debt restructuring. After the company failed to comply with the terms of the second amendment agreement, a default notice was issued on December 7, 2017, and filed a plea to initiate insolvency before NCLT on September 19, 2018. According to the NCLAT, after entering into the second agreement on March 15, 2015, the earlier agreement shall be subsumed with it and all the prior defaults shall become irrelevant. The date of default shall be decided as per the second agreement. "Therefore, we are of the opinion that the adjudication authority (NCLT) has wrongly considered the date of default to be March 16, 2015 for computation of limitation period to file an application before it," it said. The appellate tribunal suggested that the default would occur from December 22, 2017, on the expiry of 15 days from the date of default notice which was served upon the company for recalling the loans. "We are of the view that the application filed by the corporate debtor under Section 7 was required to be admitted by the adjudicating authority, but the adjudicating authority failed to consider the matter in proper perspective. The NCLAT further said that the limitation is a mixed question of law and facts therefore, unless it becomes apparent from the reading of the company petition that the same is barred by limitation, the petition should not be rejected by "selectively considering the documents" on record. The consortium members had sanctioned term loan limit of Rs 641.85 crore to Vishakhapatnam-based Coastal Oil Gas Infrastructure to construct, operate and maintain 12 crude oil tank facilities and other project facilities and services and a refinery at Poochimedu in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu. Coastal Oil and Gas Infrastructure is a Special Purpose Vehicle incorporated by Abir Infrastructure and Nagarjuna Group developing liquid bulk storage terminal facility for Nagarjuna Oil Corporation, for its 5.94 million metric tonne per annum (MMTPA) oil refinery. Nagarjuna Oil Corporation Ltd (NOCL) is also facing liquidation after the financial creditors could not find a suitable resolution plan for the company. Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd has shown interest to take over the assets of the NOCL. (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 first killing of a Southern citizen by North Korean forces in a decade comes at a time when Pyongyang is at high alert over the coronavirus pandemic and inter-Korean relations are at a standstill North Korean soldiers shot dead a suspected South Korean defector at sea and burned his body as a coronavirus precaution after he was interrogated in the water over several hours, Seoul military officials said Thursday. It is the first killing of a Southern citizen by North Korean forces for a decade and comes with Pyongyang at high alert over the pandemic and inter-Korean relations at a standstill. The fisheries official disappeared from a patrol vessel near the western border island of Yeonpyeong on Monday, a South Korean military official told AFP. More than 24 hours later, North Korean forces located him in their waters and questioned him from a patrol boat, he said, with his interrogator wearing protective equipment. He was killed around six hours after being found, according to the official. "He was shot dead in the water," he said. "North Korean soldiers poured oil over his body and burnt it in the water."We assess it was carried out under the North's anti-coronavirus measure," he added. According to the defence ministry, the people who burnt the body wore gas masks and protective clothing. There was no immediate comment from Pyongyang on the incident and it was not possible to independently verify the South Korean military's account. Pyongyang has closed its borders and declared an emergency to try to protect itself against the virus which first emerged in neighbouring China. The man was wearing a lifejacket and his shoes had been found on board the South Korean boat, the official said indicators suggesting he entered the water voluntarily. "We have obtained intelligence that he had expressed his intention to defect while being questioned," he added.He declined to go into detail about the source of the information. But the South Korean military is known to intercept radio communications by the North's forces. The killing took place after an "order from superior authority", Yonhap news agency cited South Korean officials as saying. Seoul's defence ministry condemned the shooting as an "outrageous act"."We sternly warn North Korea that all responsibilities for this incident lie with it," it said in a statement. South Korean media reports said the man was in his forties with two children, but had recently divorced and had financial problems. 'Shoot to kill' The isolated North whose crumbling health system would struggle to cope with a major virus outbreak has not confirmed a single case of the disease that has swept the world. Pyongyang closed its border with China in January to try to prevent contamination, and in July state media said it had raised its state of emergency to the maximum level. That same month, North Korean officials put the border city of Kaesong under lockdown after a defector who had fled to the South three years ago sneaked back over the heavily fortified border, amid fears that he may have carried the coronavirus. US Forces Korea commander Robert Abrams said earlier this month that North Korean authorities had issued shoot-to-kill orders to prevent the coronavirus entering the country from China, creating a "buffer zone" at the border. This week's incident is the first time in 10 years that North Korean forces have killed a Southerner. In November 2010, Pyongyang's military bombarded Yeonpyeong island close to where this week's incident took place killing two civilians and two marines. It came months after a torpedo fired from a North Korean submarine sank South Korea's Cheonan warship, killing 46 seamen, although Pyongyang denies responsibility. In 2008, a North Korean soldier gunned down a female South Korean tourist who walked into a forbidden area at the North's Mount Kumgang resort, prompting Seoul to suspend the money-spinning visits. The new Chromecast with Google TV was leaked this morning, and with that leak was a slew of images that shows off the packaging, the device, and everything else that comes with it. Prior to Googles upcoming event, where the Chromecast with Google TV is expected to make its official debut, this seems to be as close as anyone is going to get to seeing it. The Chromecast with Google TV was initially discovered earlier this year. Leaked promotional images showed off the device in at least three colors. One of which is the Snow (white) color that popped up in todays leaks. Advertisement That being said the design of the device was already known. These are however the first real life images of it (spotted by 9To5Google) that have surfaced. The Chromecast with Google TV still looks pretty small This was probably expected but the device still looks pretty small. The oval shape sounded like it could be a significantly bigger than the Chromecast Ultra, but that doesnt appear to be the case. It does look bigger, but not by much. Advertisement Its nearly the same size as the remote that comes with it in the box. And of course it still has the same HDMI plug with a flat band that the current Chromecast has. This is also magnetic so it can be attached to the back of the actual dongle. Google is suspected to charge about $50 for this device. Which puts it a little below what the Chromecast Ultra costs. And if the price is accurate itll be a decent value. Though it probably doesnt support 4K. The remote has dedicated buttons for YouTube, Netflix, and Google Assistant Google is making it pretty easy to get to a few different useful features. Notably, YouTube, Netflix, and Google Assistant. Advertisement The remote that comes with the Chromecast in the box has a dedicated button for each of those. Allowing you to either launch one of the video streaming service with a single press, or interact with Google Assistant on the fly. There are also buttons for home, back, volume adjustment, muting, input method, and power. In the box you also get the power adapter for the dongle, a USB-C to USB-A cable, and 2 AAA batteries for the remote. So instead of being something you can recharge, it acts more like a normal TV remote would. You simply swap out the batteries once new ones are needed. Meaning you have one less thing to charge. What a bizarre topic ...so much off topic but I suppose that shows the need for people to discuss matters other than Covid ...and some of the comments are outrageous ...but then that is 'free speech' for you My two pennies worth .... The from The Times yesterday """Chinese pressure is fuelling a drive to remove the Queen as head of state in Barbados, a Tory MP has claimed. Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said yesterday that Beijing had actively sought to undermine Londons historical status as a key partner with Caribbean nations. He declined to go into detail regarding the alleged tactics, but told The Times: China has been using infrastructure investment and debt diplomacy as a means of control for a while and its coming closer to home for us""" Yes. the UK is involved with China and Chinese companies but recently we do seem to be waking up to the facts and trying to restrict their influence ...and I doubt they would try to influence the status of our Head of State ...or would they ...???? Nasty Women in Indiana have finally found each other, said Kubiak, cofounder of Nasty Women of Porter County. The rapid popularity of our group here in Porter County reflects the need for diversity in representation in our local and state politics. We all win when theres a place for our voices to be heard. We become a deeper, more connected, and richer community when we can all be involved. COLUMBUS, Ohio Although his popularity has slipped some from previous sky-high levels, a strong majority of Ohio voters continue to support Gov. Mike DeWines approach to the coronavirus and trust him more on the issue than they do President Donald Trump, according to a new poll. Overall, about 72% of likely Ohio voters said they approve of DeWines handling of the virus, compared to 26% who disapprove, according to the new poll, released Thursday by Baldwin Wallace University. Thats a high approval number by any standard, but lower than the 85% the university found in a previous poll in April. Seventy-eight percent of Ohioans approve of the states mandatory mask order, and nearly 68% said they thought DeWine was doing a better job handling the coronavirus pandemic than Trump. Seventy-eight percent said they trusted DeWine to provide accurate information about COVID-19, compared to about 47% who said they trusted Trump to provide accurate information. Support among Democratic voters contributed to DeWines stronger numbers for example, 85% of Democrats said they trusted DeWine to provide accurate information, while only 12% said the same for Trump. However, DeWine, a Republican, has found himself in the unusual position of having currents of unusually strong disapproval among members of his own party. This data is supported by the recent real-life trend of DeWine getting booed by Trump supporters at the Republican presidents re-election campaign events. A handful of conservative Southwest Ohio Republican state lawmakers also recently initiated impeachment proceedings against him, although they have no realistic chance of succeeding. Seventy percent of Republicans and 67% of independents say they approve of the job DeWines doing with COVID-19. But 12% of Republicans say they strongly disapprove of DeWines handling of COVID-19 as do 11% of independents. Only 6% of Democrats said they strongly disapprove. Thirty-five percent of Republicans say they disapprove of the states order to wear face masks in public, compared to nearly 90% of Democrats who approve. And among Ohio Republicans, 24% responded not much or not at all when asked whether they trust that their governor is providing accurate information on COVID-19. That compares to 22% of independents, and nearly 13% of Democrats. Its not surprising to see more opposition to him coming from within his own ranks, because thats a group thats ideologically most resistant to anything thats infringing on individualism and civil liberties, opposed to Democrats who have greater trust in public officials and their expertise to handle a public health crisis," said Tom Sutton, a Baldwin Wallace political scientist. DeWine still continues to enjoy support among most Ohio Republicans, despite taking a heavier hand than some other GOP governors, he said. Sutton said he thinks part of this is that DeWine has been very careful to not directly criticize Trump, who at a campaign event on Monday called DeWine a good friend. Asked about a possible COVID-19 vaccine, 25% said they would get one as soon as possible, 56% said they would consider one, but wait to see what happens, while 18% said they would never get one. The poll suggests support for face masks has become broadly politicized. For example, 65% of Ohio Republicans said they supported their states mask mandate, compared to 56% of Republicans in Michigan, which is led by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and 52% of Republicans in Wisconsin, which is led by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. However, nearly 65% of Republicans approved of the mandate in Pennsylvania, led by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. The Baldwin Wallace poll was conducted from Sept. 8 to Sept. 22 among 1,011 Ohioans who said they were likely to vote, in partnership with Oakland University in Michigan and Ohio Northern University. It was conducted online, using quotas to select participants whose age and gender makeup matched Ohios. It then was weighted by race and education level in an attempt to match the states population. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.3%. Cleveland.com this week will publish a series of stories digging deeper into the findings of this poll. Find those stories, as well as stories from previous BW polls, at this link. See full poll results and polling details (pdf) The Specialized Prosecutor's Office in Kosovo has made its first arrest, detaining the former head of the intelligence service of the Kosovo Security Force, Salih Mustafa, on the basis of an arrest warrant and a confirmed indictment issued by a pretrial judge of the Specialized Chambers of Kosovo. The Kosovo Specialist Chambers, based in The Hague, said in a statement on September 24 that Mustafa would be transferred to its detention facilities in The Hague and "appear before the pretrial judge without undue delay." He is the first ethnic Albanian to be arrested on war crimes charges arising from the 1990s conflict. "Salih Mustafa was arrested today in Kosovo by the Specialist Prosecutor's Office, pursuant to an arrest warrant, transfer order, and confirmed indictment issued by a pretrial judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers," a statement from the Specialized Prosecutor's Office said. The Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) for war crimes is mandated to look into allegations that members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1998-99 war to gain independence from Serbia. It operates under Kosovar law but is based in the Netherlands to shield witnesses from intimidation. Under the law on the KSC and Specialist Prosecutor's Office (SPO), police within the SPO have the "authority and responsibility" to exercise the same powers given to Kosovo police. The law also provides that a person against whom an indictment has been confirmed shall, pursuant to an order or an arrest warrant of the KSC, be taken into custody, the statement said. 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. In its most high-profile move so far, the SPO announced on June 24 that President Hashim Thaci and other prominent Kosovars were the subject of an indictment on suspicion of serious crimes, including "nearly 100 murders," enforced disappearances, and torture. Thaci, who was a top UCK commander during the war, has said all of his actions were focused on the defense of Kosovo. A pretrial judge at the SPO has yet to decide whether to put Thaci and the others on trial or throw out the case. Thaci has told Kosovars that if he is tried, he will immediately resign and face the accusations. Kolkata, W.B., March 25, 2021Back 2 Basics is a book of epiphany. It tells us everything that we already know but ignore to acknowledge in our daily lives. We are all aware that life is a never-ending struggle but we are still bogged down when we are faced with difficulties. This book reminds us of the importance of fighting for something we love and not give up when things dont NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pernod Ricard USA announced today that it will close its offices and adjust schedules for manufacturing facilities on Election Day to allow all employees time off to vote. Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard North America Ann Mukherjee is calling for other industry leaders to do the same, and leverage their influence to encourage all Americans to get out and vote this November. "Voting isn't just a right, it is a responsibility," said Mukherjee. "As leaders of one of America's most vibrant and beloved industries, we have an opportunity to give our employees the time and space they need to make voting a priority or contribute to their community by volunteering at the polls, even as they juggle the demands of work, parenting and daily life in the midst of a pandemic. We can also use our power and reach to encourage all voters to follow through on their intention to cast their ballot this November. By doing so, we can deliver a resounding message that the spirits industry understands the importance of voting in creating a more engaged society." This week, Absolut, Pernod Ricard's flagship premium vodka brand, is launching a non-partisan, integrated campaign that delivers an impactful and unexpected message "Vote First, Drink Second." Absolut's first TV commercial in three years will debut on Tuesday, September 29th before the first presidential debate, encouraging Americans to vote first and save the Absolut for after they cast their ballots. "In the past four decades, about half of eligible voters didn't participate in the Presidential elections,"1 said Pamela Forbus, Chief Marketing Officer of Pernod Ricard USA. "We'd never tell anyone who to vote for, but if we can inspire Americans to get out and vote and if they wish to, responsibly enjoy an Absolut cocktail after their ballot has been cast we will advance our goal of creating a better blended society." Absolut's creative campaign, which includes the aforementioned TV commercial, out-of-home and digital and social advertising, delivers a series of direct messages to consumers about making voting a priority "Vote First, Drink Second," "Your Vote Can Shake or Stir the Election," "Save Your Drink for After the Vote," and "Drinking Can Wait. Your Vote Can't." As Election Day approaches, Absolut will be launching a series of instigations in key markets to further encourage all Americans to get out and vote. "It may seem unusual for a spirits brand to so boldly say 'drink second' or 'save the drink for after the vote.' After all, we're in the business of selling vodka," said Regan Clarke, Vice President, Millennial Connector Brands at Pernod Ricard USA. "But Absolut has a long history of engaging in the most relevant social and cultural issues of the day, with the purpose of propagating and championing inclusivity. Our deep commitment to that purpose is evident when we are willing to encourage Americans to prioritize voting above all things even our own product." This campaign is the second in a series from Absolut tackling the many aspects of responsibility and how it intersects with the most important, culturally relevant issues of the day. "On Valentine's Day this year, Absolut shocked the spirits world by being the first brand to engage in a conversation about how perpetrators of sexual assault use alcohol as a both a tool and an excuse to commit their crimes," said Tad Greenough, Global Creative Director at Absolut. "While many were surprised by our willingness to tackle the issue head-on, the sentiment was overwhelmingly positive. We're confident people will react similarly to our call to make voting a priority and to save the drink for after they've exercised their right to vote." Absolut will be addressing more issues of 'responsibility' in the future, while always encouraging consumers to drink responsibly. For more information on Absolut's "Drink Responsibly. #VoteResponsibly" campaign, visit: https://www.absolut.com/us/voteresponsibly/. ABOUT PERNOD RICARD USA Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA., the world's second-largest spirits and wine company. Pernod Ricard employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide, is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI) and is part of the CAC 40 index. Pernod Ricard USA is headquartered in New York, New York, and has more than 800 employees across the country. The company's leading spirits include such prestigious brands as Absolut Vodka, Avion Tequila, Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Kahlua Liqueur, Malibu, Martell Cognac, Olmeca Altos Tequila , Beefeater Gin, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, Monkey 47 Gin, Plymouth Gin, Seagram's Extra Dry Gin, Malfy Gin, Hiram Walker Liqueurs, Midleton Irish Whiskey, Powers Irish Whiskey, Redbreast Irish Whiskey, Aberlour Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Lillet; Smithworks Vodka, Jefferson's Bourbon, Smooth Ambler Whiskey, Rabbit Hole Whiskey, Pernod and Ricard; such superior wines as Jacob's Creek, Kenwood Vineyards, Campo Viejo and Brancott Estate; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouet Champagne, G.H. Mumm Champagne and Mumm Napa sparkling wines. As "creators of conviviality," we are committed to sustainable and responsible business practices in service of our customers, consumers, employees and the planet. Our products bring people together and serve a valuable role in society. We encourage responsible consumption of our products and fight alcohol misuse in society by evolving our business and our marketing, taking action on harmful drinking and engaging with our stakeholders for real change. As a founding member of the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org), we are proud to be a part of the campaigns that have worked to produce a 29% reduction in underage drinking over the past 10 years. 1 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/02/19/knight-nonvoter-study-decoding-2020-election-wild-card-115796 SOURCE Pernod Ricard USA At this point we can confirm that a small number of military ballots were discarded. . . . Of the nine ballots that were discarded and then recovered, 7 were cast for presidential candidate Donald Trump. Two of the discarded ballots had been resealed inside their appropriate envelopes by Luzerne elections staff prior to recovery by the FBI and the contents of those 2 ballots are unknown. Sydney, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Hong Kong outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Hong-Kong-Data-Center-Market-Investment-Analysis-and-Growth-Opportunities-2020-2025 Continuous interest shown by hyperscale cloud and internet service providers will increase the demand for wholesale colocation in the data center market in Hong Kong. A stable economy and high capacity fiber connectivity to rest of the world, and the increasing local demand for digitalization of business and consumer environment is driving growth in the Hong Kong data center market. Hong Kong currently hosts around 60 data center facilities. Tseung Kwan O Industrial estate is the major location for colocation data center development, with Sunevision involved in development on two data center facilities, with first phase expected to operational by 2020. Hong Kong is majorly likely to witness an increase in data center investments. The region is also witnessing the deployment of 5G technology, which is likely to increase the count of connected devices in the country. Hybrid cloud services are gaining traction as enterprises use private and public cloud services to improve information sharing and increase data management efficiency. What is the Impact of the Current COVID-19 Pandemic in the Hong Kong Market? COVID-19 had a moderate impact on the Hong Kong data center market growth. In terms of infrastructure, the market is likely to witness supply chain issues, as many vendors are dependent on mainland China. The projects that were scheduled to open 2020, might get affected to a considerable extent. Furthermore, the pandemic is likely to slow down in the delivery of construction projects. The spread of the virus will have higher impact on upcoming projects scheduled to be opened in Q3 2020 and Q4 2020. What are Key Factors Attracting Investments in Hong Kong? Equinix, Global Switch, CITIC Telecom International Holdings, AirTrunk Operating, and China Unicom are some of the prominent investors in the market. Over 75% of business enterprises in Hong Kong are adopting cloud services. Private cloud companies & services are expected to witness growth of over 20% during the forecast period. In 2019, 24% of large businesses in the country have implemented big data technology. Financial service providers are using big data and AI technology to predict risks in investment, manage portfolios, and detect fraud. Amazon Web Services is expected to colocate the space in the region, similar to other providers operating in the region. The region will witness increase in wholesale colocation by cloud service providers that are offering services in Hong Kong and China. These providers are also the major contributors to the revenue. What Business Intelligence does this Report Provide? The report provides Hong Kong data center investments in terms of area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) in major cities in the country. An in-depth analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 on the Hong Kong data center market is included in the report. Furthermore, the report also includes a detailed analysis of the colocation industry in Hong Kong, and retail & wholesale colocation pricing in Hong Kong. A detailed study of the existing market landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about the Hong Kong data center market size during 2020-2025, is included in this exclusive report. The report further categorizes the Hong Kong data center market into multiple segments and sub-segments with sizing and forecast. The report also profiles prominent investors, construction contractors, and infrastructure vendors in the Hong Kong data center market. Key Developments Blade type servers are the most popular in the data center market in Hong Kong. The usage of lithium-ion batteries is expected to significantly increase during the forecast period as their price will continue to decline during the forecast period. The adoption of DRUPS systems is low than stand-alone diesel generators in the Hong Kong region. The adoption of 42U, 45U, 47U, and 48U rack units will increase among data center investors in the country. The data center market in Hong Kong is likely to have more brownfield deployments due to space shortage in the country. Infrastructure level monitoring is likely to increase compared to end-to-end facility management. Key Companies Mentioned in this Report Include IT Infrastructure Providers Inspur, NEC Corporation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco, NetApp, Huawei, Fujitsu, Hitachi, IBM, Lenovo Construction Service Providers - Obayashi Corporation, Kajima Corporation, Marcai Design, Shinryo, Keihanshin Building, Hibiya Engineering, Meiho Facility Works, NTT Facilities, Fuji Furukawa Engineering & Construction, ISG Support Infrastructure Providers ABB, Caterpillar, Cummins, Eaton, Legrand, Schneider Electric, Vertiv, Hitec-Power Protection, Rittal, MTU Onsite Energy, Mitsubishi Electric, Kohler, Fuji Electric Data Center Investors - Equinix, MC Digital Realty, Equinix, GIC, NTT Communications, Colt DCS, AT TOKYO Corporation, Internet Initiative Hong Kong, NEC Corporation Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Hong-Kong-Data-Center-Market-Investment-Analysis-and-Growth-Opportunities-2020-2025 NICOSIA, CYPRUS / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 200 / Atalaya Mining Plc (AIM:ATYM)(TSX:AYM) is pleased to announce that it has started the permitting process to develop a 50MW solar plant at its Proyecto Riotinto (the "Solar Project"). The full ... Atalaya Mining PLC NICOSIA, CYPRUS / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 200 / Atalaya Mining Plc (AIM:ATYM)(TSX:AYM) is pleased to announce that it has started the permitting process to develop a 50MW solar plant at its Proyecto Riotinto (the "Solar Project"). The full capacity of the Solar Project will be used for self-consumption. Proyecto Riotinto is located in an area with a natural abundance of sunlight which is conducive to solar power generation. Technical studies carried out by a third party during the past months have indicated that, in addition to making a significant contribution to reduce carbon emissions, the Solar Project is economically viable and could potentially contribute to reducing Proyecto Riotinto's operating costs. The decision to pursue the Solar Project is in line with Atalaya's ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and to continue to have a positive impact on the people, environment and society surrounding the mine. During the permitting period, the Company will evaluate the various financing options that are being proposed by industry players in Spain. Subject to completing the permitting process and securing financing, construction is targeted to commence by mid-2021. Alberto Lavandeira, CEO, commented: "We are pleased to be committing to this solar initiative which will be one of the largest projects of renewable self-consumption in the industry. This is only a first step in achieving our long-term sustainability goals, but one that will have a positive and near term impact on Proyecto Riotinto." Contacts: Newgate Communications Elisabeth Cowell / Adam Lloyd / Tom Carnegie + 44 20 3757 6880 4C Communications Carina Corbett +44 20 3170 7973 Canaccord Genuity (NOMAD and Joint Broker) Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor / James Asensio +44 20 7523 8000 BMO Capital Markets (Joint Broker) Tom Rider / Michael Rechsteiner / Neil Elliot +44 20 7236 1010 Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker) Ross Allister / David McKeown +44 20 7418 8900 About Atalaya Mining Plc Story continues Atalaya is an AIM and TSX-listed mining and development group which produces copper concentrates and silver by-product at its wholly owned Proyecto Riotinto site in southwest Spain. In addition, the Group has a phased, earn-in agreement for up to 80% ownership of Proyecto Touro, a brownfield copper project in the northwest of Spain. For further information, visit www.atalayamining.com This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Atalaya Mining PLC View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/607576/Atalaya-Mining-PLC-Announces-Development-of-Solar-Plant-at-Proyecto-Riotinto Highlights TikTok has requested a US judge to stop US President Trump's order to ban the app. An app-store ban of TikTok, delayed once by the government, is set to go into effect on Sunday. Chinese messaging app WeChat dodged restrictions that would make it impossible to use the app in the US. TikTok has requested a US judge to block US President Donald Trump's decision to ban the app from the US on September 27. The short-form video making app suggested that its forced deal with Oracle and Walmart remains unsettled. An app-store ban of TikTok delayed once by the government, is set to go into effect on Sunday. A more comprehensive ban is slated for November, a week after presidential elections in the US. Earlier this week, Trump blessed TikTok's deal with Oracle and Walmart where the companies would take a 20 per cent stake in the US entity called TikTok Global. However, Trump clarified that ByteDance will have no hold over TikTok whatsoever and that he could retract his approval if Oracle does not "have total control". TikTok said a ban on its service would do irreparable damage to the company. TikTok said that it was adding more than 400,000 new users a day before July 1, when rumors of a potential ban began to circulate, and. that its growth will be hampered if users are cut off from the service. TikTok also said that the executive orders signed by President Trump were unlawful under the national security act which he cited as the ban violates TikTok's First Amendment speech rights and Fifth Amendment due-process rights; and that there's no authority for the restrictions because they are not based on a national emergency. The Chinese media has criticised the TikTok deal calling it "dirty and unfair and based on bullying and extortion." TikTok requested a preliminary injunction before the Sunday deadline. The company said it had made extraordinary efforts to try to satisfy the government's ever-shifting demands and purported national security concerns. Chinese-owned messaging app WeChat was also slated for restrictions that would make it impossible to use the app on Sunday. However, over the weekend, a federal judge in California approved a request from a group of US WeChat users to delay those restrictions. She said the government's actions would affect users' First Amendment rights. The YWCA of Sweetwater County is pleased to announce the grant award of $25,000 from the Wyoming Community Foundations local Rock Springs Board. We truly appreciate the Foundation and all of their hard work to build a better Wyoming. These funds will be used towards our Tuition Assistance program that helps our families afford quality childcare, Kayla Mannikko, development director for the organization said. YWCA is a nonprofit organization serving Sweetwater County with services that include quality childcare and preschool; domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and suppo... For months, complaints from tech companies against Apples and Googles power have grown louder. Spotify, the music streaming app, criticised Apple for the rules it imposed in the App Store. A founder of the software company Basecamp attacked Apples highway robbery rates on apps. And last month, Epic Games, maker of the popular game Fortnite, sued Apple and Google, claiming they violated antitrust rules. Now these app makers are uniting in an unusual show of opposition against Apple and Google and the power they have over their app stores. On Thursday, ... 2500 civil servants delisted from the payroll of Cross River state by governor Ayade have been protesting at the government house in Calabar for days now. They have not been paid for varying periods of time between 10 to 18 months. Verification exercises have been stalled severally because of administrative shenanigans. Some of these delisted civil servants earn between 30k - 100k. I need to add that some of these delisted civil servants include, science teachers across secondary schools in Cross River as well as Magistrates who are supposed to be dispensing justice in the courts, among others. Note that the state is led by two professors. The only State to be so blessed. These workers have now taken to the streets. For three straight days, they have remained adamant in protest. The governor is ignoring them and would rather arrange a courtesy call by those politicians who call themselves Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, to come and hail him for running a welfarist government on a day when workers were standing under the sun asking for their due wages. Rather than pay these ones who still manage to go to work, the governor still amassed more idle hands with the announcement of more appointees on Tuesday and Wednesday. They are in their thousands and this is not an exaggeration. Governor Ayade prides himself in having the highest appointees in the country. He continues to pile the payroll with thousands of political idle jobbers in the name of appointees, a duplicitous appointment racket that has seen briefcase appointees who do not go to work, have no office to resume, no table, no job description, and no contribution whatsoever to our State continue to get their pay, while those with definable roles in the civil service are stranded in the sun. The governor should reduce the number of these idle jobbers and reinstate the protesting workers and pay them their dues immediately. If not, the protesting workers should not relent. It's a new height in Cross River state. If Margaret Ekpo, the famous activist who led several protests in Nigeria is from our state, then we have not always been docile in Cross Cross River as we are told. Let them stay on with their placards. If they are tired, let them go home and refuel, take a new date and return. Let them cooperate with the forthcoming nationwide protests and join forces with like groups to enlarge their agitation until their dues are paid. Thank you and God bless Cross River. Bismah Malik By Express News Service BENGALURU: Despite a substantial decline in profits the leading IT service providers witnessed in the quarter gone by ( April- June FY 21), the sector is headed for a strong comeback even as the overseas markets still remain challenged by the Covid pandemic. Industry experts expect tier 1 and mid-tier IT service companies to post a marginal growth in the range of 3-5% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ), although the revenues as well as profits will nowhere be close to what was seen last year. The wave of lay-offs triggered by the pandemic in the industry is also likely to stabilise in the next few months, as financials improve. Companies like Infosys, HCL Tech have already provided their revenue guidance for the quarter ended September FY21 and are hopeful of increased revenue growth as well as net profits on the back of strong deal pipeline and demand for digital services. The acceleration of digital transformation of enterprises catalysed by the Covid pandemic along with cost-cutting measures have brought back the demand for IT services, especially in the cloud, automation, artificial intelligence and remote working domains. IT bellwethers, TCS, Infosys and Wipro, have been bagging large deals from overseas markets like the UK, US, Middle East and South Africa to help businesses undergo digital transformation, as warranted in the pandemic situation. Even mid-tier companies like L&T Infotech, Mindtree, Happiest Minds etc have reported a strong deal pipeline, even as the client base has not seen a substantial increase. Bengaluru-headquartered Infosys had earlier announced a multi-year contract with a Brazilian firm, Vanguard reported at around $1.5 billion. The company announced that its deal size for the first quarter of FY21 stood at $1.74 billion. Although the pandemic has led to a disruption in the IT industry and the deal size has been affected, the company still has a robust deal pipeline, Infosys CEO Salil Parekh said. IT industry will return stronger than expected There is a huge client traction in areas like automation, cloud services, cybersecurity, workplace transformation etc, added Infosys CEO Salil Parekh during an earnings call.Interestingly, the valuations of smaller firms have also dropped significantly in a recessionary economic environment, leading to mergers and acquisitions in the sector. The cash-rich leading IT companies are eyeing opportunities to acquire smaller firms in the overseas markets in niche verticals for efficient client service. The IT industry will come back stronger than expected and some of the companies like Infosys, HCL Tech and even mid-cap firms may perform better than estimates. Even though verticals like Banking Finance, Insurance, Retail and Hospitality will remain affected, digital revenues will be a key to the IT industry alongside health, life sciences and education sectors. Smaller and medium cap firms may also do reasonably well because of their ability to clinch deals with lesser price valuations in the digital arena, Pareekh Jain, an industry analysts based in Bengaluru, told The New Indian Express. resurgence Wipros Q1 net reported a flat growth of 0.1 % year on year at Rs 2,390 crore The companys consolidated revenue stood at Rs 14,913 cr, a rise of 1.3 % Infosys posted a net profit of Rs 4,233 cr in Q1 HCL Tech reported a 32% increase in the net profit for Q1 Transactions in Post Offices are estimated to be down by 25% heightening serious viability challenges facing the Network. Postmasters today warned that coronavirus is having a very serious negative impact on transactions in Post Offices, and by extension cash spending in local economies. The Irish Postmasters Union today called for people to be offered the choice to collect social welfare payments either weekly or every two weeks. A comparison of transactions for the month of August comparing 2020 with 2019 by Postmasters estimated that Post Office business was down by 25%. As a public safety measure welfare payments were reduced to every two weeks during COVID-19 lockdown and some payments were re-instated to weekly in August. IPU General Secretary Ned OHara said the challenges facing village and town economies, and their Post Offices, will need a new response from Government. There are two connected happenings that Postmasters are reporting. Firstly, Post Offices are much quieter due to coronavirus. Second is the effect this has on other businesses. On weeks where little welfare is paid out, activity in the surrounding businesses can be ghostly. Government needs to recognise and connect these two factors. The local Post Office is about much more than the Post Office itself. The IPUs concern was amplified by Chambers Ireland, which represents local businesses across the country. Chief Executive Ian Talbot said: Chambers Irelands surveys have shown that SMEs, which support 63% of jobs, are the businesses most affected by the Covid-19 crisis. A recent survey found that SMEs saw their revenue collapse by 53% during the initial pandemic period. Less frequent payment of welfare at Post Offices is a contributory factor to this and a balance needs to be achieved which protects public safety, but also supports SMEs and jobs. The IPU said people should be offered the choice of weekly or bi-weekly for all payments, as this would support local economies, help some people to better manage their finances and support business at Post Offices. Local businesses need more than ever the stimulus which collection of welfare and local spending provide. And Postmasters need it too. People have been acting responsibly in Post Offices and the IPU would like to thank customers for this, Mr OHara said. Chambers Ireland said it would also support such a move: An option for public of weekly collection, together with continued safety measures in Post Offices and across all local businesses, makes sense for SMEs. Grant Thornton Post Office Report due next week IPU President and Tramore Postmaster Sean Martin added that stark findings will be published in an independent report on the Post Office Network, commissioned from Grant Thornton, due to be launched next Wednesday (September 30th). Grant Thornton has carried out a comprehensive market review and financial analysis of the Post Office Network,. It will be decision time for Government. No further review, working group, or analysis will be necessary. It will be time to act. Independent research carried out by RED C in February found that: 91% said their Post Office provided a valuable service to the local community 86% support the Government providing financial support to keep their Post Office open 86% want more State services available at their Post Office. There are 891 Postmaster and 45 An Post operated Post Offices in the country. Latrice Royale from RuPauls Drag Race recently revealed that the 2020 election will be the first time she is able to cast a vote in more than two decades. Latrice Royale | Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Royale joined others who were voting for the first time for various reasons in a video for Grindr. One of the individuals in the video was too young to vote during the last presidential election. Another person just became an American citizen. One individual simply thought the last election was a lock and didnt vote. For Royale, whose real name is Timothy Wilcots, the reason this will be a first time voting is that Wilcots is an ex-felon. Wilcots was incarcerated for illegal substances and violating parole, according to USA Today. Wilcots was released from prison in 2007 but because of Florida laws, voting privileges were never restored until now. Latrice Royale cant wait to vote Because in the state of Florida, as a convicted felon, your voters rights are stripped away from you, Royale explains in the video, My First Time Voting. Up until recently, with the passing of Amendment 4, I wasnt allowed to vote. My rights have been restored and Im now a proud registered voter. RELATED: RuPauls Drag Race Season 13, Reportedly, Finished Production 1 Video Hints at Future Episodes of the Series Not being able to vote in over two decades felt horrible, Royale says. You feel less than a person, youre less than human. You dont have a voice. The people who need the most help are the ones who dont have the voices. I feel like people take voting for granted all the time. Like, Eh, Im not into politics.' Well if you are into having a wonderful, fulfilling, beautiful, bountiful life, then you need to get involved in the people who are leading you, Royale adds. And leading this country. We need change so fast. And like four years ago we needed it. And here we are and I feel like our country is suffering and we are so torn and so split. We need someone in the office who is going to lead and unite us once again. Wear something fashionable to the polls, honey If you have a voice and you can vote, and youre not planning to vote, youre part of the problem, Royale says. And Im just saying it to be real. Like I couldnt imagine having a voice and choosing not to use it. Get to the polls, Royale urges voters. And make it fashionable. Put on your hot pants, your booty shorts. Whatever you need to do. November third! Get up, looking sickening and grind the vote! RELATED: How Did Sharon Needles from RuPauls Drag Race Predict the Season 11 Winner? Royale shared with USA Today why it is important to be open about being an ex-felon. I try to keep it light and fun. But there are important issues that we need to discuss. Around the world, around the globe, I speak to my experience, Royale says. I share the details of what went down. From my demise to my success. And teach people that they can overcome obstacles. My audiences around the world know my life. Bhiwandi (Maharashtra): The death toll in the Bhiwandi building collapse, which took place here on Monday, has risen to 40, the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) informed on Wednesday. A total of 25 people have been rescued so far, the NRDF added. The three-storey building collapsed around 3:40 am on Monday in the Patel compound area in the Thane district. Soon after the incident, the NDRF, fire brigade, and police teams had reached the spot and carried out rescue operations. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have condoled the loss of lives in the incident. Newly released emails have revealed the anger and alarm among the UKs top scientists over the governments exploration of herd immunity when dealing with initial outbreak of coronavirus earlier this year. Boris Johnsons chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance even had to ask for help in trying to calm down leading academics after he expressed his apparent support for the controversial idea in public. The government has insisted herd immunity the moment a high enough proportion of a population achieves immunity from a disease was never official government policy or strategy. Yet emails obtained by the BBC following a Freedom of Information request show Sir Patrick and chief medical officer Chris Whitty had discussed the concept. In an email to Sir Mark Walport his predecessor as chief scientific advisor Sir Patrick suggested his remarks to the media on the subject had been taken out of context, and the message in response to criticisms should be that herd immunity is not the strategy. In a separate email in March, Sir Patrick asked a government colleague: Anything you can do to calm our academic friends down over herd immunity would be greatly appreciated. However, on 13 March, Sir Patrick had talked about herd immunity as an aim during an interview with BBC. Our aim is to try and reduce the peak also, because the vast majority of people get a mild illness, to build up some kind of herd immunity so more people are immune to this disease and we reduce the transmission. On the same day he spoke on Sky News about his hope the virus could be controlled long enough to allow enough of us who are going to get mild illness to become immune to this. When asked what proportion of the British population would need to get the virus for herd immunity to work, Sir Patrick said probably around 60 per cent. Chris Whitty (l) and Sir Patrick Vallance (r) leave Downing Street (EPA) In one internal email from April, Prof Whitty revealed his frustration when discussing a media report which suggested No 10 and their advisors were absolutely focused on herd immunity. The chief medical officer complained he did not think immunity was a sensible aim of policy and he had only talked about the concept because he had been answering questions put to me by ministers. In a separate email to the president of the Faculty of Public Health, Prof Whitty insisted: The government had never pursued a herd immunity strategy. Speaking on Sky News on Wednesday, Professor Devi Sridhar, scientific advisor to Scotlands first minister Nicola Sturgeon, said herd immunity was simply not a useful concept in dealing with a pandemic like the coronavirus. I would say the majority of scientists are aligned that maximum suppression of this virus is the optimal strategy, said the chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh. Theres a small group of very vocal scientists who are advocating what you could call herd immunity, Prof Sridhar added. 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. Pound Sterling holds tentative recovery on governments job support scheme, elevated UK and global risk maintains cautious stance - The Pound to Euro exchange rate is +0.13% higher @ 1.09213 - The Pound to US Dollar exchange rate is +0.26% higher @ $1.27471 Chancellor Sunak announced a new job support scheme, but failed to over-deliver compared to expectations. There was a muted reaction in currency markets with the pound Sterling slightly higher on the day, but slightly below earlier highs as traders continuing to monitor global risk trends. 1/ The Job Support Scheme will directly support the wages of people in work, giving businesses who face depressed winter demand the option of keeping employees in a job on shorter hours rather than making them redundant. pic.twitter.com/Gj4HRyvdUq Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) September 24, 2020 UK government introduces new job support scheme Chancellor Sunak commented we are in a fundamentally different position from March. The coronavirus will be part of our lives for at least another 6 months and plans need to adapt and evolve. He noted that there are threats to the economic recovery and the priority now will be for nurturing the economy by protecting jobs through the difficult winter period. In this context, companies will face reduced demand over the next few months. Sunak added that there was a need to create new opportunities which provide genuine certainty. The furlough scheme will be wound-up at the end of October and there will be a new Job Support Scheme to start in November and run for six months. There will be direct wage subsidy support for employees, enabling them to work reduced hours. Employees must work at least a third of their hours with top-ups from employers and the government. An employee working 33% of their normal hours would receive 77% of their former gross income. Image: UK Jobs Plan The support will be targeted at small and medium-term businesses with large companies only eligible if turnover has declined during the pandemic. The new grant will be to a maximum of 697 per month. Self-employed grant will continue on the same terms for job support scheme. BBC political editor Kuenssberg commented; In normal times this would be seen as a very generous scheme to top up people's wages, but compared to the brute strength of the furlough it is far less generous. There was some positive reaction from business and CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn commented; These bold steps from the Treasury will save hundreds of thousands of viable jobs this Winter. Samuel Tombs, Chief U.K. Economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics expressed reservations that it would be cheaper to employ fewer full-time employees rather than more part time ones; Will the Job Support Scheme really persuade firms to keep workers on? Business cash flow also protected As well as the job support scheme, there will be further support for corporate cash flows. Business loans can be repaid over a longer term, easing short-term payments and there will be extended government guarantees on business support loans. All loan schemes will also be extended until the end of this year Deferred corporate VAT bills due in March can be extended into smaller amounts over the following 11 months. Individual tax payments can also be extended. The lower 5% VAT rate in the tourism and hospitality sector will be extended from the end of this year until March 31st 2021. Sterling had edged stronger into the statement and encountered a quick round of profit taking. The Sterling-to-dollar rate drifted to 1.2730 from earlier highs above 1.2780 before recovering again to 1.2770 with the Euro-to-pound rate at 0.9120 from 0.9115 lows. Image: GBP/USD exchange rate chart ING noted that the scheme should help head-off some of the redundancies; However, inevitably this leaves some concerns about what will happen in sectors still effectively closed (e.g. events), where labour demand may insufficient for firms to justify bringing staff back on a part-time basis, and where the jobs will eventually be viable again once restrictions ease. It also expects October GDP to decline. Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK noted; With BoE governor Andrew Bailey also due to speak again later today, it could well be another choppy day for the pound, with the concern about negative rates still fresh in the markets memory. Markets will also monitor EU/UK trade developments. Reactions to Sunak's measures today: Deeply worried today's statement does not rise to scale of jobs crisis: nothing for sectors that cannot effectively open, e.g. events, weddings and nightclubs, part time wage subsidy which may be inadequate for many firms, and not enough action on job creation. Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) September 24, 2020 The first 20 grant recipients, picked by Ford in consultation with the national donors, are geographically and racially diverse. They include the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Mich.; the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit; the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage; the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Apollo Theater in New York; the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico in San Juan; and the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience in Seattle. The $1 million to $6 million grants are unrestricted, so the recipients can use them on whatever they choose. Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - September 24, 2020) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Searchlight Resources Inc. (OTC Pink: CNYCF) ("the Company"), a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on Saskatchewan, Canada, which ranked as the top location for mining investment in Canada by the Fraser Institute. Vice President of Corporate Development, Alf Stewart, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly. Jolly began the interview by asking about the Company's background and current projects. "Searchlight is a mineral exploration company with a very experienced board. In fact, we have four board members and their experience in the mining business totals 150 years," said Stewart, adding that the Company's CEO, Stephen Wallace, is a geologist with experience in two gold discoveries. "Searchlight has a portfolio of projects ranging from past-producing gold properties to potential discovery targets, all with the focus on accessible areas of Saskatchewan." "What is Searchlight Resources all about?" asked Jolly. "Within Canada, Saskatchewan is rated number one by the mining industry," said Stewart. "It's a mining friendly jurisdiction and it's a target rich environment, which is vastly underexplored," he added. "So, our CEO, Stephen Wallace, decided to make a study of finding good mining properties in Saskatchewan," explained Stewart. "We have seven properties in Saskatchewan in our portfolio right now." Jolly then asked about the location and benefits of Saskatchewan. "Saskatchewan is a Western Canadian province. It's immediately north of the border between North Dakota and Montana," said Stewart. "It's an important province," he added. He then shared that Saskatchewan is the number one producer of potash in the world and is the second largest producer of uranium. "It also produces gold, silver, copper, and salt." The conversation then turned to the increasing demand of mining for battery metals in Saskatchewan. "It's an area that has the potential for battery metals, such as nickel, cobalt, copper, rare earth, and other elements as well," explained Stewart. "Our best properties are probably nickel and copper," said Stewart, before elaborating on the province's potential for resources in the electric vehicle and green energy industries. "What are Searchlight's exposures to battery metals?" asked Jolly. "We have a number of exposures," said Stewart. He then explained that the future of battery metals is changing, as cobalt is difficult to source and the potential for nickel as its replacement is becoming more viable. Stewart then elaborated on Elon Musk's development of nickel batteries. "Although there is a lot of nickel in the world, the kind of nickel Elon Musk needs for his batteries is a highly refined nickel called class one nickel," said Stewart. "That comes from hard rock sources, such as the Canadian Shield in Saskatchewan." To close the interview, Stewart shared that the Company is currently substantially undervalued, despite its potential in the exploration industry. "Our market valuation is only $5 million CAD total and that's a very low entry price for speculator investors." To hear Alf Stewart's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7690314-searchlight-resources-inc-discusses-the-exploration-potential-of-saskatchewan-with-the-stock-day Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/ About Searchlight Resources Inc. Searchlight Resources Inc. (TSXV: SCLT) (OTC Pink: CYNCF) is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on Saskatchewan, Canada, which ranked as the top location for mining investment in Canada by the Fraser Institute. Searchlight holds a significant land position within the mineral rich Flin Flon - Snow Lake Greenstone Belt. The Company is currently advancing its Bootleg Lake Project located in Saskatchewan less than 10 km from Flin Flon, Manitoba, hosting four past producing high-grade gold mines and its English Bay high grade gold project located 10 km from LaRonge, Saskatchewan. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Stephen Wallace" Stephen Wallace, President, CEO and Director SEARCHLIGHT RESOURCES INC. For further information, visit the Company's website at www.searchlightresources.com or contact: Searchlight Resources Inc. Alf Stewart, VP Corporate Development (604) 331-9326 info@searchlightresources.com Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. 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. About The "Stock Day" Podcast Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona. SOURCE: Stock Day Media (602) 821-1102 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64554 Some farmers at Bankpama in the Wa West District said the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively impacted their farming activities. They said due to the COVID-19 restrictions, they were unable to engage in any financial activity that could generate income for them to invest in their farming business. Madam Faustina Yipaala, a farmer at Bankpama, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that women usually burn charcoal, sell and reinvest the proceeds into their farms. However, they were unable to burn the charcoal and sell this year due to the COVID-19 restrictions and market closures, adversely affecting their income. This time because of COVID-19, we were not able to go out to work, because of that we dont have the money to farm, she said. Madam Yipaala commended the government for introducing the Planting for Food and Jobs programme to enable farmers to access subsidized farm inputs such as fertilizer and improved seeds. She, however, said some farmers could not access the fertilizers for their farms and urged the stakeholders involved in the distribution of the PFJ fertilizers to block the loopholes to prevent smuggling of the inputs. Mr James Awula, the Assembly Member for Bankpama Electoral Area, told the GNA that they were unable to farm much as compared to previous years due to the impact of COVID-19. He also cited irregular rainfall pattern, bad road network and lack of timely access to tractor services as some of the factors that affected their farming activities. The farmers called on the government to intervene and provide the needed support to help reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their livelihoods. Source: The Ghanaian Times Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Six days ago, the Rev. Gerry Bivins stood before a crowd of more than 100 people in an Alabaster park, bemoaning the death of a young Alabama State University student who was found murdered after missing for nearly a week. On Wednesday night, Bivins and many of those very same people who just last week joined together to grieve the loss of Adam Belle Dowdell were back in the same park but this time to mourn the weekend shooting death of 27-year-old Rakeem Rock Shields, a father of two young sons. Though the two homicides arent in any way linked, both victims knew each other, and both families are part of the tight-knight Shelby County communities of Alabaster, Montevallo and Calera. Though Dowdell was killed in Montgomery, both the Shields and Dowdell families live in Alabaster. "These two situations have really destroyed the hearts of this community,'' said Bivins of Bethesda Apostolic Worship Center in Montevallo, who also owns Bivins Barber Style Shop and is a longtime close friend of both families. It has shaken us. It has really shaken us to lose two young Black men no more than a week apart. It has rocked us. Shields was killed early Sunday while at a party on Old Highway 31 near 10th Avenue S.E. According to court records made public Wednesday, four suspects arrived at party about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, exited a vehicle and opened fire on the crowd. When police and medics arrived, they found Shields a young mother, Yakeisha Addy, both suffering from gunshot wounds to the head. Shields was pronounced dead on the scene and Addy was taken to the hospital where she remains in critical condition. Kajuan Robert Nelson Cassidy, 24, Christian Dayne Thrift, 29, Vontarious Dameko Brown, 25, and Anfernee Jordan Brown, also 25, are currently charged with attempted murder in the wounding of Addy. Though no one has yet been charged in Shields death, Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney said no more arrests are expect but more charges are expected to be filed. Authorities have not released a motive. He is Alabasters first homicide in nearly four years. A GoFundMe has been launched to help the Shields family. Donations can be made here. At Wednesday nights vigil at Buck Creek Park, several people spoke about Shields, with one of his relatives talking about how Shields had shielded others when the barrage of gunfire erupted at the party and described him as a protector by nature. Shield was a graduate of Thompson High School who leaves behind two sons ages 4 and 3. "He loved his family as well as his friends,'' said his mother, Tasha Shields. Thats what Ill remember, the love that he had and the love that he showed. The slain Shields was affectionately known by most as Rock, a nickname his mother gave him when he was just a child. "He was just a rock always,'' she said. Growing up, he was real hard. He would try anything and do anything, and he wasnt scared of anything. Shields worked at MacLean Power Systems, and many of his co-workers were at the vigil. Several Alabaster police officers also were among the attendees. There were multiple prayers for not only Shields, but for Addy who Bivins said is fighting for her life, and for the Dowdell family as they prepare for Adam Dowdells funeral this Saturday. They also released red and black balloons in Shields memory. "Words cant express the way I feel right now,'' his mother said. Im speechless but Im here. He is in a better place. Bivins said Shields had a good heart and he had watched Shields transform in recent years. "The change Ive seen him make in the last couple of years was some grown men-type changes,'' he said. He overcame some challenges. "He was working, taking care of his kids, and just doing what you would normally ask of a young Black man to do,'' Bivins said. If youre not going to go off to the military or college, get you a job and do what youre supposed to do. Work and work hard. You can get whatever you want by working hard. Bivins said he is fed up with the gun violence. "As a community weve got to recognize that Black lives matter. That statement needs to be shown amongst African Americans,'' he said. We read about things that are happening other places but for the second week, we have lost one of our African American sons. "Our community has got to wake up and recognize our Black men are being killed by our own hands,'' he said. My prayer is that God will change our hearts. Everybody loses when violence takes place. "The thing that bothers me the most on the Black on Black crime, is he basically died for nothing,'' Bivins said. "Alabasters heart has been broken back to back, but God will see us through this.'' New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday he is withdrawing from a virtual summit of world cities scheduled to be hosted by Saudi Arabia because of human rights concerns. The Urban 20 summit is scheduled to run from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 ahead of the Group of 20 summit of the worlds most powerful industrialized nations. Human rights activists had urged de Blasio and several other city leaders to boycott the meeting, pointing out that Oct. 2 is the anniversary of the killing of Washington Post columnist and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi. The global COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how crucial it is for cities across the world to work together while standing up for whats right. We cannot lead the world without speaking out against injustices, de Blasio said in a statement. We must stand united for combating climate change, advancing peace and protecting human rights. I urge my colleagues in other global cities to join me in withdrawing from this years U20 summit and demanding progress. Western intelligence agencies have said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bears ultimate responsibility for Khashoggis killing and that the operation that led to his death could not have happened without the princes knowledge. The 35-year-old prince has denied any knowledge and condemned the killing. A Saudi court announced prison sentences for eight men in the killing earlier this month. The first U20 summit was held in 2018. It takes place in the country that is hosting the annual G20 summit. An email seeking comment was sent to the U20 organizers. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:10:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, Sept.24 (Xinhua) -- British Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Thursday unveiled a new package of aid for businesses and workers, saying that COVID-19 will mean permanent changes to the British industry. Sunak announced a new "Job Support Scheme" that will encourage employers to keep workers working on shorter hours, rather than making them redundant. The new plan came after politicians and business leaders raised concern for what comes next after the furlough scheme expires at the end of October. Under the new plan, for six months starting from Nov. 1, employees will need to work a minimum of 33 percent of their usual hours. For every hour not worked the employer and the government will each pay one third of the employee's usual pay and employees using the scheme will receive at least 77 percent of their pay. All Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) will be eligible while large businesses will be required to demonstrate that their business has been adversely affected by COVID-19, Sunak said in a statement to the House of Commons. He also reaffirmed help for the hospitality and tourism sectors through a continuation of the reduction in value-added tax (VAT), levied on the sale of goods and services in Britain, pledging to support more than one million businesses to relieve pressure on their finances and cash flow through an extension to the application period for four government-backed loans schemes. His latest proposals came as he shelved the autumn budget to better focus on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. It was thought Britain would be facing a temporary period of disruption in March. "But it was now clear, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the scientific advisers have said, the virus will be a fact of life for at least the next six months," he said. "The economy will need a more permanent adjustment, and so the plan will evolve too," he said. The new plan was announced amid fears of a second lockdown in Britain to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic against a backdrop of rising coronavirus cases in the country. Countries, including Britain, China, Russia and the United States, are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines. But the battered hospitality sector said it was not enough to save restaurant and pub jobs, and the chancellor himself admitted that "we can't save every job." Anneliese Dodds, shadow chancellor for the main opposition Labour Party, criticised the government for its slow response to the economy. "It is a relief the government have U-turned now but we must be open and honest, that delay in introducing this new scheme will have impact on business confidence," Dodds told MPs. Enditem Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has described the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari government to build railways... Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has described the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari government to build railways from Kano to Niger Republic with borrowed Chinese money as fraudulent and against Nigerias security interests. HURIWA also threatened to sue President Muhammadu Buhari in order to stop the multibillion Naira project. A Statement by HURIWA, signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko on Thursday strongly condemned the approval of about $1.96 billion contract of the proposed project. The human rights group described the planned project as a misplaced priority and a grave threat to national security, insisting that it is fraudulent to borrow from China and build for Niger Republic and then tax Nigerians to pay back. The Federal Government had yesterday approved a $1,959,744,723.71 contract for a rail line that would link Nigeria to Niger Republic. The railways will connect at least seven cities in Nigeria and one city in Niger Republic and is expected to start from Kano and pass through Dambatta, Kazaure, Daura, Mashi, Katsina, Jibia and terminate in Maradi, Niger Republic. HURIWA said that the project is another proof of misplacement of priority by the Buhari regime. However, the rights group described the project as a ticking time bomb and a grave threat to National security, adding that when completed, it will ease the influx of illegal aliens into Nigeria. We are worried that this project when completed will be express entry for killer herdsmen and terrorists from Niger. We see it also as a plot to flood Nigeria with illegal aliens for purposes of undermining the 2023 polls, the group said. Therefore, we condemn this venture as wasteful because of the danger of being used to import weapons that will set Nigeria ablaze. Whereas there are no such rail lines linking Lagos to Enugu and Port Harcourt or Maiduguri to Enugu, President Buhari is investing almost $2bn to build railways for terrorists and bandits to flood into Nigeria and destabilize the country. Is this government just for the North? NEWS: FG refutes claims of arrest of Nigerians in Switzerland In any event, the bottom line is that security everywhere in Nigeria, particularly across the north, appears to be rapidly deteriorating, resulting to popular discontent. Hence, this rail project is ill-timed and a wasteful effort. Beyond the security aspect, Let us even look at it from the point of view of the economy. What is the economic benefit of this project to Nigeria? The Nigerian economy, as it is today, is not in a state to contain this kind of wasteful spending. Generally, illegal immigration in Nigeria is a serious problem and the border has become quite porous. According to authorities, people from Niger are the biggest group of illegal immigrants, and the problems with illegal influx migrants are seen in the dangers faced by the host or receiving country, which are social, economic, political and security. A rapid influx of illegal immigrants has led to crisis of identification and an increase in the crime rates in Nigeria. It is alleged that among the illegal migrants, there are militants, who enter the nation to carry out terrorist activities. Terrorism has become a global trend, and it is thought that the current government of Muhammadu Buhari would seek out practical ways to strengthen our porous borders, instead, it is creating easy and accessible means of illegal arms trafficking and immigrants. Russian Billionaire Who Wired $3.5M to Hunter Biden Got Contract From New Orleans Museum A German company owned by the Russian billionaire who wired Hunter Biden $3.5 million received a contract to build part of the World War II Museum in New Orleans, according to a fact sheet on the museums website. Elena Baturina, the widow of former Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, bought German structural membrane manufacturer Hightex in early 2015, according to Russian-language news reports. In April 2017, she announced that Hightex will build part of the Canopy of Peace for the World War II Museum, according to several Russian-language media outlets. Three years earlier, on Feb. 14, 2014, Baturina sent $3.5 million to Rosemont Seneca Thornton LLC, a company co-founded by Hunter Biden, son of then-Vice President Joe Biden, according to a report released by Senate Republicans on Sept. 23. The wire was accompanied by a note stating Consultancy Agreement DD12.02.2014. The Canopy of Peace project at the WWII museum has been plagued by delays largely due to issues stemming from a different contractor, according to The New Orleans Advocate. As of August, half of the material from Hightex had yet to be shipped to the project, which was at that point eight months behind schedule. The museum told The Epoch Times in an email that it expects the rest of the material to be onsite by the end of October. The museum had no knowledge of any relationship between the Bidens, Devon Archer, and Hightex, and in no way, shape, or form were they a factor in the hiring decision, the museum said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times. Hightex was one of the companies that bid for the project, and the museum hired them because they had the best-qualified proposal for the job. Our vetting of Hightex was relegated to the companys services and ability to complete the job. Joe Biden hosted a fundraiser at the museum during the early stages of his presidential campaign in August 2019. While theres no evidence of a link between Baturinas wire and the contract awarded to the museum, questions about both transactions may emerge because the Senate Republicans discovered Baturinas payments after they were flagged due to her reported criminal activity. Baturina didnt immediately respond to a request for comment sent to the email of a think tank she founded. A year after sending $3.5 million to Bidens company between May 6 and Dec. 8, 2015, Baturina wired more than $241,000 to the company. The money was then forwarded to BAK USA LLC, a Buffalo-based tablet manufacturer that would eventually go bankrupt claiming it was $39 million in debt. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had praised BAK USA when it received a contract from Microsoft in early 2016. Before BAK USA went bankrupt, New York state handed the firm a tax abatement allowing it to operate tax-free for 10 years. The firm has since re-incorporated and appears to be in the same line of business. Three months after the last wire to BAK USA via Hunter Bidens firm, Baturina announced that she had purchased $10 million in real estate near the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, according to a press release. She intended to convert the zoning of the assets to accommodate for residential units, a process which requires a lengthy approval process. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) led the effort behind the report released on Sept. 23. The Baturina transactions are a small part of a larger report that also documented links between Hunter Biden and foreign nationals from Ukraine and China. Hunter Biden accepted a well-paid position on the board of a Ukrainian gas giant while his father served as the Obama administrations point man on Ukraine. The report found that senior officials raised red flags about Hunter Bidens role, which the administration repeatedly ignored. The charges stem from the a 2018 DCFS investigation of a large bruise on AJs hip, one of several reported incidents of possible child abuse. When a doctor asked the boy about it, AJ said, Maybe Mommy didnt mean to hurt me, and Maybe someone hit me with a belt, records show. Four months later, after being reported missing, the boy was found dead and buried in a remote area. By Oliver Griffin BOGOTA (Reuters) - As Rappi has grown in Latin America, particularly in its home country of Colombia, so too has a shadow market for the all-purpose delivery firm's worker profiles. Rappi, a play on "rapido" the Spanish word for fast, has gained some 150,000 active contractors known as "Rappitenderos" and $1 billion in backing from Japan's SoftBank <9434.T> since it was founded by three entrepreneurs in 2015. But in a country where urban unemployment jumped to nearly 25% in July, up from just over 13% in March following coronavirus restrictions, and more than a quarter of the population lives in poverty, work as a Rappitendero is highly sought after. Against this backdrop a black market where fake profiles are sold for as much as $160 apiece has emerged, including on social media platforms such as Facebook. Rappi told Reuters it "strongly condemned" any black market in its worker accounts. Facebook referred to its terms of use, which state that job posts must not promote illegal activity. SoftBank <9984.T> declined to comment. Rappi also said in a statement that it has a dedicated fraud team monitoring illicit activities and is building a tool alongside police to verify worker accounts in real time. Reuters spoke to more than a dozen Rappitenderos in Colombia, where some 50,000 work, who said there was a roaring black market trade in profiles. Four said they had bought one of these accounts themselves. "I had to buy an account. I'm the head of my household. I have my son, I have a wife," said one, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions. All the Rappitenderos, many of whom are Venezuelan migrants, said the black market was fueled by cancellations of their profiles by Rappi, with people now paying to be able to work. Under Rappi's terms and conditions, messenger accounts can be blocked for violence against retailers, customers and other Rappitenderos, incorrect conduct when using the app and failing to maintain a high standard of service, among other reasons. Story continues Gabriel Carvallo, a Venezuelan migrant who is a mechanic by trade said that one day he had been working on Rappi deliveries without problems, but when he tried to log on the next day, he found his account had been frozen. "I received the same message as everyone else 'your account is blocked for (breaking) terms and conditions' - they don't write, or warn you, or send you an email," he said. Rappitenderos in Bogota recently called a one-day strike to protest against such blockages and a points system which determines who can work in areas of high demand. The Bogota-based company denied that any accounts had been blocked without justification, adding it had canceled 5,600 accounts in Colombia since March, of which 1,060 were due to "false identity issues", a spokeswoman confirmed. It was not immediately clear who would investigate the trade in Colombia, where a spokesperson for Bogota police said fake accounts were a matter for regulators. The Superintendency of Industry and Commerce, which last year found Rappi failed to comply with orders to improve responses to complaints, advised contacting the police. Sales of Rappi accounts are not confined to Colombia. In Mexico, three people close to the matter told Reuters the practice was common. Accounts for sale for rivals Uber Eats and iFood also appeared on social media in Colombia and Brazil. Brazil-based iFood said in an email response to Reuters that passing accounts to third parties violated its terms and conditions. Uber Eats said in a statement it is constantly strengthening its systems to avoid account sharing or renting. YOURS FOR $160 While signing up officially to Rappi is free, Rappitenderos told Reuters that secondary accounts are typically offered by opaque contacts on Facebook groups, WhatsApp accounts and even by people in the street for $65 to $160 each. Sometimes people who are not working as Rappitenderos are paid to set up profiles before passing them on, two of the workers said. One person purporting to sell Rappi profiles, contacted by Reuters via WhatsApp, boasted in an automated reply of selling more than 300 profiles over three years. A person responding to messages to a second WhatsApp account said their clients had no problem working via the Rappi application once an account had been purchased. Reuters could not verify if the accounts were connected or how many accounts they had sold. As well as offers to sell Rappi accounts, dozens of Facebook posts across multiple group pages advertise services for users, such as changing registered modes of transport from bikes to motorcycles or cars. One woman who said she had worked for a year selling upgrades and other services to those with black-market accounts, described the secrecy involved. "You're never close to, or know the person, who makes changes in-app," she said. "I don't know how that's handled. No one knows if it's someone in the office, or someone hacking. Many of us aren't interested in who does it - that's irrelevant." (Reporting by Oliver Griffin in Bogota; Additional reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City: Editing by Christian Plumb, Julia Symmes Cobb and Alexander Smith) On Wednesday, one Laredoan recorded a major victory over the novel coronavirus. A local nurse emerged from the hospital after close to six months hospitalized as she could finally go home. Margarita Sagaral, who is in her 50s, worked at Laredo Medical Center right up to the point when she became infected with the virus in early April -- the month after cases started to emerge in Laredo. And after being one of those early positives while fighting it on the front lines, Sagaral finally was able to put the virus behind her. We are celebrating the discharge of Mrs. Margie Sagaral after being hospitalized for about six months, said Dolores Ruiz, who is a clinical liaison at Laredo Rehabilitation Hospital. According to Ruiz, Sagaral became infected with the virus as she was attending COVID-19 patients. However, none of her other close family were infected with the virus after they were tested. One of the individuals who knows all too well what she went through is her husband, Tito, who said that his wifes release from the hospital was something he did not see coming since she was hospitalized originally on April 5. I cannot express the excitement I have to have my wife back home, Tito Saragal said. It has been an amazing part of our life as it has been a long journey. I did not expect this to ever happen. She was discharged from this hospital this morning after more than five months. She was intubated for 71 days. She was in the ICU at LMC for 81 days. Once she showed some signs of recovery a month later after the initial infection, she was then transferred to the rehabilitation center where she was provided with more care so she could regain the strength to live a normal life. She was then transferred to the Laredo Rehab Center to continue regaining strength and endurance so she could go back home, Ruiz said. During the process, she was able to come off the ventilator and start eating again and start walking again. For Tito Sagaral, he is still in disbelief that his wife is back home after she was given very little chance of pulling through. He was even allowed special permission to see her closely during her time in the ICU because she was already considered to be in her last moments of life part of the citys imminent death protocol. Ruiz states that the immediate family was allowed to see her while she was in the ICU as doctors did not believe she was likely to survive. Nevertheless, thanks to Saragals fight combined with the efforts of all the frontline workers, she was able to make it out of the hospital. I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to all the nurses, doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapist, speech therapists, CNAs and all others that helped my wife in the treatment at the hospital, and all of those who gave their prayers and support to her people such as her coworkers, LMC staff and the managerial team at the Laredo Rehabilitation Center, Tito Saragal said. According to Ruiz, Saragal was only allowed to enter to see his wife once it was determined that she did not have the infection anymore and that her husband was not infected with the virus. But she was still extremely delicate, and once she began showing signs of recovery and doctors were confident she could recover fully and was not infected anymore, they decided to transfer her to the rehab center. At the center, since patient visits continue to be restricted due to safety precautions, Tito could not visit Margarita face to face but rather had to see her through a window-style visit that started in June. He also spoke to her through FaceTime and other forms of technology as social distancing guidelines continue to be mandated. Although she started to get better and could do some things by herself, the fact that she could not walk and also had trouble doing simple necessary daily tasks by herself extended her time at the rehabilitation center until she could fully recover. Today was actually the very first time that she could touch her husband and say her proper hellos to them, Ruiz said. It is due to this that Ruiz states that the Saragal family is extremely happy that Margarita has finally been able to move on from the hospital and gets to go back home. She feels great, Ruiz said. She is very happy to be able to talk and express her wishes, and just be able to communicate as she was not able to communicate as she had a ventilator that was breathing for her. So for her to be able to communicate and have all her memory and feel better, she is beyond blessed. Still, Ruiz said that she will most likely go home to rest and continue recovering while her return to work to the frontlines also seems distant or not likely to happen. Her family has discussed her possible retirement from the nursing profession due to the struggles she has had to overcome and the health-related problems she may experience for the remainder of her life. Tito Saragal said a doctor told them that some of these short- and long-term effects could include difficulty breathing, anxiousness, unpredictable heart problems and other small conditions. Due to these, Margarita remains very tired from her condition. Nevertheless, Ruiz states that Margaritas story is one of hope that helps show how people should not give up, even if they become infected and are severely ill. This virus can be beaten, and her patient is a clear example of this continued fight against the novel coronavirus. You dont have any idea what your body can accomplish unless it is death, Ruiz said. The health professionals can help and see what your condition is, but from what I saw about Margarita is that she had divine intervention certainly on her side, where her fate really carried her through her recovery. So never give up on your fate and your own strength. In a message to those who have potentially downplayed the virus impact around the nation, Tito Saragal hopes that people are safe and protect themselves from becoming infected from this invisible enemy. We must take seriously this virus because you cannot see it. You dont know where, you dont know how you might get infected, he said. Maybe in one lifetime you experience something like this, but hopefully I never experience this again as it is very hard. I just want all the people to be careful and to wear their masks and wash their hands whenever they can when they are outside. jorge.vela@lmtonline.com TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American Injectables Inc., a sterile injectables manufacturing company located near Tampa Bay, FL, secured a commitment for $10 million of Series A financing from New Rhein Healthcare Investors. The company will use the funds to scale its production and launch several parenteral products in order to work toward alleviating current drug shortages in the US and address the high unmet need for sterile injectables. The company's strategy is also responsive to the US Government's August 6, 2020 executive order supporting US-based manufacture of essential medicines. American Injectables' newly constructed facility includes state-of-the-art equipment and an integrated third-party analytical lab. It has a currently installed manufacturing capacity of 16 million units with expansion capability up to 50 million units. New Rhein Managing Partners Subhanu Saxena and Greg Parekh will join the company's Board of Directors. "Based on frequent drug shortages, there continues to be an important unmet need for high quality injectables in the US market. American Injectables is well-positioned to be a strong US-based partner to address these needs," said Mr. Saxena. Mr. Saxena previously oversaw a large sterile injectable manufacturing organization while Managing Director and Global CEO of Cipla, with no FDA warning letters or critical findings under his tenure. Shilpa Pharma Inc.'s current CEO Adam Levitt will also join the Board. Mr. Levitt is an industry veteran, previously serving as Sr. VP-Global Commercial Operations of Teva, among other prior leadership roles at global and domestic pharmaceutical companies. He brings deep commercial knowledge and understanding of the US injectables market to American Injectables. Vern Allen, previously President and founder of Actavent Pharmaceuticals, has been named CEO of American Injectables. Mr. Allen has spent three decades establishing and scaling healthcare companies in the respiratory, cardiology, and oncology spaces. "American Injectables is committed to serve our healthcare system partners with therapeutics that increase safety and compliance with a "patient first" focus," said Mr. Allen. "This financing will help us provide essential medicines to patients in need." Due to the recent global health crisis caused by COVID-19, American Injectables will focus initially on manufacturing generic parenteral products and other essential medicines to meet demand during this period of heightened drug shortages. COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of domestic supply chains and American Injectables intends to be a leader in the effort to bring high-quality, cost-effective, sterile injectable manufacturing capabilities back to the US. Bourne Partners, a healthcare focused investment bank, served as the exclusive financial advisor to American Injectables in this transaction. About American Injectables American Injectables is a US-based sterile injectable manufacturer of parenteral drugs with a world-class facility focused on ready-to-use pre-filled syringes and vials. The company's product line includes small molecule 505b2 and 505j syringe and vial products, and it serves as an outsourced contract manufacturing partner for strategic pharmaceutical companies. About New Rhein Healthcare Investors New Rhein is a venture capital/early growth stage fund manager whose investment strategy focuses on proven molecules used in new ways, such as new delivery forms and potential new uses and indications. In this way, New Rhein limits science-based risk and concentrates on development and execution. Prior investments have included medicines for Alzheimer's disease, ophthalmic disorders, respiratory disease, and molecular oncology diagnostics. New Rhein's partners, associates, and advisors are knowledgeable former industry executives with solid track records of operational, investment, and transactional experience. New Rhein combines significant deal-making expertise with deep operating experience, allowing it to tailor the right deal for the right situation and work with its portfolio companies to achieve maximum value for their products. For more information, see www.newrhein.com. Contacts Travis Allen, Business Development, American Injectables Inc. [email protected] SOURCE New Rhein Healthcare Investors LLC Related Links https://newrhein.com Showcasing the winners of the 2020 IDC Value of Design Awards TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) held its first ever virtual awards presentation on Sept. 23, 2020. The event, which was hosted by IDC Past President, Jason Kasper and IDC CEO Trevor Kruse, was broadcast simultaneously from Toronto, Ont. and Winnipeg, Man. The awards were held in lieu of the of IDC's annual design symposium, which was cancelled this year due to the global pandemic. Despite the obstacles, the Canadian interior design community came together again to celebrate design and innovation. "The show must go on!" says Kruse. "We are delighted to have an opportunity to honour our members and celebrate the value of Canadian interior design." This year, 12 Canadian design firms from coast to coast were honoured at IDC's virtual Value of Design Awards (VODA) celebration. These awards, which launched in 2018, shine a spotlight on Canadian interior designers by providing a forum to showcase the benefits of design thinking: an empathetic, inventive, and iterative process focused on the human experience within interior spaces. The 2020 Value of Design Awards were presented to the following winners who continue to push the boundaries of interior design. These designers have shown and implemented an empathetic, inventive, and iterative process, focusing on the human experience within their projects, creating sustainable and functional designs for the present and future. Value of Design Award Excellence Innovation in Residential Single-Family Design: 'ShadowBox' by Johnson Chou Inc., Toronto, Ont. Innovation in Workplace Design: 'BFR Accountants' by Folio Design Inc., Laval, Que. Innovation in Workplace Design: 'COWI North America' by Square One Interior Design, North Vancouver, B.C. Innovation in Workplace Design: 'Flight Centre Flagship Toronto' by Figure3, Toronto, Ont. Innovation in Workplace Design: 'Hullmark Head Office at 474 Wellington Street West' by Quadrangle, Toronto, Ont. Innovation in Workplace Design: 'OPG Workplace Transformation' by Figure3, Toronto, Ont. Innovation in Workplace Design: 'The Smart City Sandbox' by IBI Group Architects (Canada) Inc., Toronto, Ont. Innovation in Workplace Design: 'Workplace Innovation Challenge' by IBI Group Architects (Canada) Inc., Toronto, Ont. Value of Design Award Merit Innovation in Design Thinking: 'Imperfect Fresh Eats' by Syllable Inc., Toronto, Ont. Innovation in Design Thinking: 'OPG Workplace Transformation' by Figure3, Toronto, Ont. Innovation in Hospitality Design: 'Hotel Belmont Food & Beverage Portion' by Kado Design, Vancouver, B.C. Innovation in Institutional/Educational/Civic Design: 'Odeyto Indigenous Centre' by Gow Hastings Design, Toronto, Ont. Innovation in Retail Design: 'Inscape Showroom' by Figure3, Toronto, Ont. Innovation in Workplace Design: 'Mitecvsat-Alga Micro Ondes' by Folio Design Inc., Kirkland, Que. Innovation in Workplace Design: 'Peoples Group Workplace Design' by DIALOG, Vancouver, B.C. Innovation in Workplace Design: 'Spear Street Capital - Willingdon Business Park Building 6' by SSDG Interiors Inc., Burnaby, B.C. Innovation in Workplace Design: 'Volaris' by Bartlett & Associates, Toronto, Ont. Founded in 1972, Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) is the national advocacy association for the interior design profession, representing more than 5,000 members which include interior designers and related professions at all levels of experience and areas of practice such as retail, commercial, health care, institutional and residential design as well as manufacturers and suppliers who provide products and services for interior design projects and firms. SOURCE Interior Designers of Canada For further information: MEDIA CONTACT: Vesna Plazacic, [email protected], 416-649-4429 Related Links idcanada.org 3 For Iron Man 2, Mickey Rourke Went To Russia For A Few Weeks To Learn About Being In Prison Mickey Rourke's character in Iron Man 2, Ivan Vanko, spent 20 years in prison. So, naturally, Mickey Rourke decided he should do some research, and he flew off to Moscow for a few weeks to do just that, without even telling the director, Jon Favreau. It's not clear if Favreau would have disapproved or if Rourke just didn't care, but either way, Rourke clearly thought it was super important to talk to actual Russian guards and convicts for this movie. Continue Reading Below Advertisement He visited Moscow's Butyrka prison where, he says, the guards were super friendly and took their time chatting with him. He tried on an 18th-century torture device designed to keep the victim awake (he was the first person to do that in 35 years, apparently), tried a cell bed, and checked out the prison's kitchen. He apparently loved the kitchen and said he'd love to work in a prison bakery if he ever did time since the smell of bread reminded him of childhood. (Rourke's mother was a Soviet gulag.)Rourke also talked to an ex-con that had been released after 12 years, learning a lot about Russian prison tattoos and their secret meanings. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Apparently, Rourke dove headfirst into Russian prison culture and tried to incorporate "the whole Russian philosophy" into his character. When he got back home, he took Russian lessons for 15 hours a week, for three months. It'd take him three weeks to learn two lines as, according to him, it's just "very hard to wrap an English tongue around" the language. Sadly, barely any of that hard work showed up in the final film. Government on Thursday permitted airlines to decide baggage limitations for domestic passenger flights. When domestic passenger flights resumed on May 25 after a gap of two months due to the coronavirus pandemic, the aviation ministry had stated that only one check-in baggage and one hand baggage per passenger must be allowed. At that time, the ministry had allowed one check-in bag of up to 20 kg per passenger. Prior to flights' suspension, Air India used to allow check-in bag of up to 20 kg and private airlines up to 15 kg. In an order dated September 23, 2020, the ministry said the "baggage limitation would be as per airlines' policies". "The matter with regard to check-in baggage has been reviewed based on the feedback/inputs received from the concerned stakeholders," the ministry noted. With domestic aviation picking up, the government has allowed airlines to return to their own baggage policy. Most airlines are likely to return to their original 15 kg weight limit and allowing one bag without extra charge and pay for subsequent checked-in baggage. With the implementation of new policy, air passengers might have to pay extra for check-in bags weighing more than 15 kg. Currently, airlines are permitted to operate not more than 60 per cent of their pre-COVID domestic flights. Also read: COVID-19 will stretch recovery in Indian banking system to 2023, says S&P Also read: RBI comes up with 'technology vision' for urban co-operative banks to tackle cyber threats The HSEs Winter Plan will simply not work without extra nursing and midwifery staffing, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation warned this Thursday. The union welcomed additional funding and planned bed capacity increases, but cautioned that any extra capacity requires extra staffing. The HSEs Winter Plan contains a variety of targets, but does not set out how many extra staff will be hired to achieve them. The INMO has been seeking a funded nursing and midwifery workforce plan from the HSE since January and has referred the lack of engagement on the matter to the Workplace Relations Commission. The union points to an already-strained workforce, which has worsened due to staff on sick leave or in self isolation due to Covid-19 infections. The Ireland East group, for example, currently has 400 nursing vacancies unfilled over its 12 hospitals. Without a plan for extra staffing, the Winter Plan will simply not work. Extra hospital beds are much needed, but they are meaningless and dangerous if not properly staffed and resourced," said INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha. For months now, we have sought a funded workforce plan from the HSE, setting out how many nurses and midwives they intend to hire in the health service. We are still awaiting any engagement something we have referred to the WRC as a dispute. This Winter Plan brings welcome investment, but absolutely zero clarity on how we will recruit and retain the staff to provide care. The HSE says it will take a zero-tolerance approach to overcrowding, yet trolley figures continue to grow," Ms Ni Sheaghdha added. INMO president Martina Harkin-Kelly said its members will be "scratching their heads" over the lack of staffing detail in the Winter Plan. "How can we set a target for extra beds without saying how many extra staff will be hired," she questioned. Before the election, political parties committed to specific numbers of extra nurses and midwives. Nurses and midwives are seeing their numbers depleted due to Covid infection, self-isolation and childcare, yet there are no clear staffing commitments in todays plan. 600 million HSE Winter Plan The 600 million Winter Plan will be used to support the roll-out of winter specific measures including: Additional community healthcare networks and community specialist teams (older persons and chronic disease) Additional intermediate care beds Additional access to diagnostics for GPs Additional acute bed capacity Additional home support packages Additional private bed capacity. "This winter is expected to be particularly challenging due to the global Covid-19 pandemic," said Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly. "The Governments determination to meet this challenge is demonstrated by our decision to invest an additional 600 million in health services this winter. Our healthcare workers have worked tirelessly throughout this pandemic, and this investment will support them as they care for their patients, both those that have Covid-19 and those that have other health needs. "We are in unprecedented times and the large amount of funding allocated by the Government this year reflects that. I am glad to see the HSE commitment to reducing the number of patients on hospital trolleys as well as an increase in the number of beds. "But, as we know, healthcare is not just about care in hospital settings. This Winter Plan aims to enable patients to be seen more easily in the community setting when possible. Some 138 million of the Winter Plan funding is being invested in home care and home supports this winter, with an additional 4.7 million extra home care hours. Minister Donnelly welcomed the additional supports in the Winter Plan for people at greater risk including older people, those who are homeless and those with chronic illnesses. The roll-out of community specialist teams to support older people and those with chronic disease is hugely positive. These teams will help them to stay at home or, if they need hospital care, to get home more quickly afterwards. "The plan also gives GPs better access to diagnostics, which will have a positive impact by reducing waiting times for patients and reducing demand in our emergency departments," Minister Donnelly added. 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 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. 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. Insomnia symptoms improved by a similar amount between patients with and without symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress." Dr Alexander Sweetman, lead researcher from Flinders University's sleep research clinic, the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health 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. This is the incredible moment two ten-inch male bullfrogs are caught battling for females in a rare spectacle that only happens once a year. Photographer, Temujin Johnson, 25, from Cape Town, South Africa, was 50-kilometres north of Polokwane, when he captured the dominant bullfrog grab the other male by the neck and pull it off its feet. In another image, the same male was spotted biting down on his competitor's leg as the weaker frog tried to make a run towards the safety of the edge of the pool. Photographer Temujin Johnson, 25, from Cape Town, South Africa, was able to capture the moment two ten-inch male bullfrogs battled for females The male bullfrogs are caught battling each other in the water 50-kilometres north of Polokwane, South Africa One bullfrog is sent flying in the air after being grabbed by the other male by the neck Mr Johnson said: 'This spectacle only happens once a year if the rains are heavy enough. Pools of at least sixty to one-hundred millimetres of water must form in order to draw the bullfrogs out. 'The dominant males began fighting to establish control over the centre of the pool. African bullfrogs have two protrusions on their lower jaw that act as teeth which enables them to grab and toss their competitors. 'Once the centre was established, the males began their calls - a short deep rumble which lasted for a few seconds. 'This attracted the females who tried to swim to the centre of the pool under the surface to reach the dominant males. Sometimes, the younger males - who lurk around the edges of the pool - reach the females first and attach themselves to their backs. 'If this happens, the females don't lay eggs. Shortly after, the dominant males join the stack until the female is released.' African bullfrogs are one of the largest species of frog and males can weigh over four-pounds. After mating, female bullfrogs can lay up to 4,000 eggs whilst males have been known to eat their offspring. The dominant male gras the other male by the neck and tries to push it below the surface of the water The bullfrog pulls his opponent off his feet and send him flying through the air as the bair battle it out Mr Johnson said: 'This spectacle only happens once a year if the rains are heavy enough' During the dry season, African bullfrogs will hibernate by creating a cocoon out of their mucus. When the rain softens the cocoon, they will know it's time to emerge. The hibernation period can last up to two years. 'So much happened over a very short period of time so I was continually focussed on getting the best shots,' Mr Johnson said. 'The fighting only lasts for a couple of days a year. I was situated a few feet away at the side of the pool as we didn't want to disturb the frogs too much. 'After a few hours, they were completely comfortable with our presence so we were able to enter the pool to get a lower and better perspective. 'Once the rains have ended, the frogs move off and become solitary once again.' Sudan's Sovereign Council said the talks between 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 from the list of states sponsoring terrorism and other restrictions imposed by the United States on Sudanese citizens," the council said in a statement on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. "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 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. --IANS rt/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukraine, Slovakia share common vision of risks posed by Nord Stream 2 Zelensky 21:00, 24.09.20 787 The president noted that such projects carry serious future risks for the EU and its unity. The counsel for actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik told the Bombay high court Thursday the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), that is probing a drugs case related to the death of film star Sushant Singh Rajput, had no jurisdiction to initiate the inquiry. Their counsel Satish Maneshinde told the HC that the drugs case, in which Rhea and Showik are accused and currently in jail, should have been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing Rajput's death, by the NCB. The HC did not pass any order on the bail pleas of the Chakrabortys and suggested the NCB file a reply by Monday (September 28). Rhea and Showik have been booked by the NCB under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, including stringent sections pertaining to procurement of drugs, and financing of illicit trafficking of contrabands. The siblings, currently in judicial custody, approached the HC earlier this week challenging the orders of a special NDPS court in the city that had rejected their bail pleas. Maneshinde told a single bench presided over by Justice Sarang Kotwal that the Supreme Court, while hearing the pleas seeking a CBI probe into the alleged suicide of Rajput, had ruled that all cases related to the death would be investigated by the CBI. "The CBI, that is already investigating the death case, is also empowered to probe cases under the NDPS Act," Maneshinde maintained. "Therefore, the NCB should have transferred the probe to the CBI after the offences under the NDPS Act were registered," he said. The lawyer contended both Rhea and Showik should not have been booked under the stringent section 27A of the NDPS Act. The section pertains to financing illicit traffic of drugs and provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years on conviction. However, Rhea, Showik, and almost all other persons arrested in the case have maintained in their bail pleas that the NCB has seized only 59 grams of drugs, which cannot be termed as of commercial quantity, and therefore, they shouldn't have been booked under 27A. Rhea, 28, has said in her bail plea that she had occasionally paid for some small quantities of drugs that had been consumed only by Rajput, her boyfriend. And such payment can not be termed as financing illicit trafficking of drugs, the actress has said. Justice Kotwal directed Maneshinde and the NCB's counsel, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, to elaborate on the next hearing date, the law on invoking section 27A in the present case and whether or not an embargo on granting of bail can be applicable to those booked under it. The judge tagged the present matters with the bail pleas filed by Rajput's aides Dipesh Sawant and Samuel Miranda, and alleged drug dealer Abdul Parihar, all co-accused in the NCB's case. These pleas will be heard together on September 29. Justice Kotwal also suggested that the NCB file an affidavit replying to the bail pleas filed byRhea and Showik by Monday. Rajput, 34, was found hanging in his home in suburban Bandra on June 14. In January, a divided federal appeals court panel knocked down a climate change lawsuit that 21 youths brought against the U.S. government, saying it was beyond the power of a federal court judge to order a remedial plan. The three-member panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the youths' high-profile case must instead be made to the nations politicians or voters. On Wednesday, four members of Congress joined with four of the youth plaintiffs in a video conference to introduce a Childrens Fundamental Rights and Climate Recovery Resolution. The resolution theyre lobbying for wont lead to any changes in law but will give congressional support to the underlying principles of the lawsuit. If passed, lawmakers will recognize that the current climate crisis disproportionately affects the health, economic opportunity and fundamental rights of children. It also demands that the United States develop a national, science-based climate recovery plan with emissions reduction targets. Isaac Vergun, 18, of Beaverton and Avery McRae, 15, of Eugene share their accounts of having to stay inside earlier this month because of the hazardous air conditions in Oregon due to wildfire smoke. Isaac Vergun, 18, of Beaverton, and Avery McRae, 15, of Eugene, were among the youths who shared their personal accounts of having to remain indoors because of the hazardous wildfire smoke that shrouded their communities earlier this month. Vergun, a first-year student at Howard University, said he was at track practice at his former high school in Beaverton about two weeks ago when he first noticed the smoke. I could see the smoke clouds rolling in. I prayed it would pass us, he said. As soon as I got home, the smoke started landing in south Beaverton. He said he suffers from asthma and had to stay inside for the better part of 10 consecutive days. McRae said she had to wear an N95 mask just to go outside. The sky got dark, and it glowed yellow and orange, and it felt apocalyptic, McRae said. Climate change is literally in my backyard. Our lives are at stake. My ability to breathe clean air is at stake. Oregons U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, one of the co-sponsors of the resolution, told how he drove 600 miles in the state recently, visiting refugee center after refugee center of Oregon residents displaced due to the wildfires, and he never left the smoke. This is gases were putting into the atmosphere that are heating up our planet and getting worse and worse and worse, he said. He thanked the youth and said he was excited to see Oregon at the forefront of the movement. U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Illinois, another co-sponsor of the resolution, said she was inspired by the youths' activism and found it incredible that many have been involved since their lawsuit was first filed five years ago. She said lawmakers need to follow the childrens lead. We have an obligation to protect everyone from the disaster thats brewing right now," Schakowsky said. " We can see it. We can smell it. We can feel it on the West Coast and in the hurricanes on the East Coast. Fellow co-sponsor U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, agreed, saying, We absolutely cannot wait. These children cannot wait. If we cant breathe clean air and drink clean water, and were scared of our homes burning, we dont have those rights. In March, the 21 young plaintiffs who sued the U.S. government in the climate lawsuit filed a petition asking the full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review and revive the case. They argued that the full appeals court should review the January dismissal, citing the "unparalleled gravity of the case,'' and they contend the divided panel ruling undermines the role of the judiciary. Their petition asks the full court to allow the facts and expert testimony to be presented at a trial. The federal appellate court hasnt issued a ruling yet on their petition. Attorney Andrea Rodgers, who represents the plaintiffs, said Wednesday that the resolution before Congress supports the legal principles underpinning the case and could help support the pending litigation. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Subscribe to Facebook page Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf apologized for a remark he made in June about the talent pool of senior Black banking executives. Read more Wells Fargos chief executive apologized Wednesday for blaming the lack of Black employees at the bank on a limited talent pool. "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 said, according to a June company memo, Reuters reported Tuesday. The memo and similar statements by Scharf during a meeting exasperated some Black employees, according to the news service. Scharf's comments were pilloried online. Perhaps its the CEO of Wells Fargo who lacks the talent to recruit Black workers, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) said in a tweet. Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said, "I know many highly talented Black lawyers who would have advised you against making such a statement." Wells Fargo is the biggest retail bank in the Philadelphia area. On Wednesday, Scharf apologized in a memo to the company for making an insensitive comment reflecting my own unconscious bias, he said. "There are many talented diverse individuals working at Wells Fargo and throughout the financial services industry and I never meant to imply otherwise," Scharf wrote. "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." About 4% of Wells Fargo's senior workforce was Black in 2018, compared with 8% in 2015. U.S. business leaders have long blamed a shortage of minority applicants for the lack of diversity among their employees, an explanation that recruitment managers and diversity experts call insufficient. The Wells Fargo controversy comes as protests of police brutality and racism have swept across the country, drawing pledges from corporate America to fight racial inequality. It also comes as Wells Fargo, one of the country's largest banks, continues to struggle to repair its image after consumer abuse scandals, including admitting that it had opened millions of fake accounts customers did not want. During the protests, Wells Fargo said a committee of senior executives was meeting daily to develop recommendations for addressing societal inequalities facing black employees and customers. "As a white man, as much as I can try to understand what others are feeling, I know that I cannot really appreciate and understand what people of color experience and the impacts of discriminatory behavior others must live with," Scharf told employees at the time. Wall Street, known for an insular culture that has historically been hostile to women and people of color, has for years promised to boost the diversity of its workforce and leadership ranks. But the industry has struggled to make progress. Between 2007 and 2015, the number of Black people in first-, mid- and senior-level management positions fell from 6.5% to 6.3%, according to a Government Accountability Office report. Wells Fargo has settled several discrimination cases in recent years. In 2012, the company agreed to pay more than $175 million to settle allegations from the Justice Department that it steered Black and Latino borrowers into expensive loans and charged them excessive fees. As part of the settlement, Wells Fargo did not admit wrongdoing, saying it treated all of its customers fairly but wanted to avoid protracted litigation. Last month, the bank, which has more than 260,000 employees, settled a case directly related to its hiring practices. Wells Fargo agreed to pay $7.8 million to settle allegations by the Labor Department that it discriminated against more than 34,000 Black and more than 300 female applicants. Wells Fargo did not admit liability as part of the settlement but was required to allow federal officials to proactively monitor some of its business operations and compliance measures. STAMFORD A 72-year-old city man was struck and killed by a driver Thursday morning, according to police. The accident happened around 5:50 a.m. Thursday in the northbound lane of Newfield Avenue, said police Sgt. Jeffrey Booth, of the departments Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad. The pedestrian was identified by police as Erwin Reich. Booth said investigators believe Reich was walking adjacent to the northbound lane of Newfield Avenue when he was hit by a vehicle headed north. Reich was taken by medics to Stamford Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The woman who hit the man identified by police as a 62-year-old Stamford resident stopped and called 911, and she is cooperating with the investigation, Booth said. The woman claimed that she did not see the man until she hit him, he said. The accident is under investigation and the information gathered will be turned over to the Stamford States Attorneys Office, which will decide whether criminal charges will be filed, Booth said. We dont know if the car went off the roadway or the (pedestrian) was in the road when he was hit, Booth said, pointing out that it was early in the investigation. A stretch of Newfield Avenue was closed Thursday morning in the area of Gray Farms Road as police investigated the accident scene. The mans death marks the first fatal pedestrian accident of the year in Stamford. Last year, the first fatal pedestrian accident in the city occurred on Nov. 13, 2019, when Nancy Flores, 60, a Target employee, was struck and killed as she was crossing Washington Boulevard at Tresser Boulevard, according to police. Four months later, Courtney Sabia, 24, the driver of the vehicle that struck Flores, was charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, police said. Sabia has pleaded not guilty, and the case is pending at the Stamford courthouse, according to court documents. Anyone with information on Thursdays crash is asked to call 203-977-4712. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com CHICAGO, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Fiberglass Market by Glass Type(E-Glass, ECR-Glass, H-Glass, S-Glass, AR-Glass), Resin Type, Product Type(Glass Wool, Direct & Assembled Roving, Yarn, Chopped Strand), Application(Composites, Insulation) and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Fiberglass Market is projected to grow from USD 11.5 billion in 2020 to USD 14.3 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2020 to 2025. Factors such as extensive use of fiberglass in the construction & infrastructure industry and the increased use of fiberglass composites in the automotive industry are driving the growth of Fiberglass Market. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=6124844 Browse in-depth TOC on "Fiberglass Market" 493 - Tables 33 - Figures 344 Pages View detailed Table of Content here - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/fiberglass-market-6124844.html The glass wool fiberglass segment is projected to lead the Fiberglass Market in terms of both value and volume during the forecast period. Based on product type, the glass wool fiberglass segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the Fiberglass Market in 2020. The glass wool segment is projected to lead the market in terms of both value and volume during the forecast period. However, towards the end of the period of 220-2025, the direct and assembled roving is projected to lead the global Fiberglass Market. The rising demand for direct and assembled roving from the construction, infrastructure, and wind energy sectors is expected to drive this segment during the forecast period. The growth of glass wool segment can be attributed to the high thermal insulation properties and the increased usage of glass wool in the construction & infrastructure end-use industry. The composites application segment is projected to lead the Fiberglass Market in terms of both value and volume during the forecast period. Based on application, the composites application segment is projected to lead the Fiberglass Market during the forecast period in terms of both, value, and volume. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the demand from wind turbine blade manufacturers. Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=6124844 The Fiberglass Market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR in terms of both, value, and volume during the forecast period. The Fiberglass Market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR in terms of both, value and volume from 2020 to 2025. China, India, and Japan are key countries contributing to the increased demand for fiberglass in this region. Factors such as increasing construction and industrial activities in the Asia Pacific region have increased the demand for fiberglass in this region. The growth of the automotive industry is driving the Fiberglass Market in this region. China Jushi Co., Ltd. (China), Owens Corning (US), Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd. (Japan), Taishan Fiberglass Inc. (CTG) (China), Chongqing Polycomp International Corp. (CPIC), (China), Johns Manville Corp. (US), Binani 3B-the Fibreglass Company (Belgium), Taiwan Glass Ind. Corp. (Taiwan), PFG Fiber Glass (Kunshan) Co. Ltd. (China), Asahi Fiberglass Co. Ltd., (Japan), Knauf Insulation (Belgium), Saint-Gobain Vetrotex (US), CertainTeed Corporation (US), Saint-Gobain ADFORS (US), and AGY Holding Corp. (US), are the key players in Fiberglass Market. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=6124844 Browse Adjacent Markets: Fibers and Composites Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Report: GFRP Composites Market by End-Use Industry (Transportation, Electrical & Electronics), Resin Type (Epoxy, Polyester, Vinyl Ester), Manufacturing Process (Compression & Injection Molding, RTM/VARTM, Layup,) and Region - Global Forecast to 2022 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/glass-fiber-reinforced-plastic-composites-market-142751329.html Glass & Specialty Synthetic Fiber Market by Fiber Type (Glass, Carbon, Aramid, UHMWPE, PPS), Application (Composite, Non-Composite), End-Use Industry, and Region (North America, Europe, APAC,MEA, Latin America) - Global Forecast to 2024 Https://Www.Marketsandmarkets.Com/Market-Reports/Specialty-Synthetic-Glass-Fiber-Market-39906130.Html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, and strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Roads Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: 1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/fiberglass.asp Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/fiberglass-market.asp SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Within days of former prime minister Nawaz Sharifs hard-hitting speech challenging the army leaderships interference in Pakistans politics, the grand opposition alliance created to unseat the Imran Khan government seems to be crumbling. Not surprisingly, this comes with a little nudge from the military. While the government was unable to counter much of the allegations levelled by Nawaz Sharif, it was the army that sprung into action with a series of media leaks and statements which created rifts in not only the political alliance but in Sharifs own party PML-N, pitting his brother Shahbaz Sharif, who is also party president, on a collision course with his daughter Maryam Nawaz, who is party vice president and Nawazs political heir. The first statement after the former premiers speech to a meeting of the alliance came the very next day from the army chief, Gen Qamar Bajwa, himself. Meeting selected parliamentarians, Bajwa said Pakistani military did not have role in matters related to politics. He added that the military did not play any part in the recently passed FATF-linked legislations, the workings of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the political proposals for Gilgit Baltistan (GB). The government had rammed through a bunch of bills linked to compliance with Financial Action Task Force, the global watchdog on money laundering and terror funding, in a joint sitting of parliament after several of them were defeated by the Senate. Insisting that political leadership was responsible for all these matters, Bajwa conceded that GB had strategic importance and therefore broad-based consultation was necessary. The government is moving ahead with holding elections and declaring province status for GB, both opposed by India which considers it a region within Jammu and Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan. While this debate was gathering momentum, it was leaked to the media two days ago that key opposition party leaders had met with Gen Bajwa, and the head of the ISI Lt General Faiz, days ahead of the All Parties Conference of the fledgling alliance. Railways minister Shaikh Rasheed, who is seen to be close to the military, made this disclosure as he taunted the opposition for criticising the army on the one hand and meeting with it on the other. It emerged that the meeting was attended by Shahbaz Sharif, along with his party colleagues Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal on behalf of the PML-N while the PPP was represented by party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and senator Sherry Rehman. The leak embarrassed most of those who attended. Shahbaz Sharif confirmed the meeting and said nothing more. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari clarified that they had attended a briefing on national security and such briefings are usually kept secret. In a hurriedly called press conference, he justified the meeting with the military as Prime Minister Imran Khan had failed to engage with the opposition on national security issues that have arisen during his tenure, such as worsening of relations with India following the Pulwama attack. He also said that the issue of Gilgit Baltistan was discussed at the meeting. Soon after, PML-L leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif took this opportunity to criticise her allies and take a pot shot at her uncle and party president Shahbaz Sharif. She told the media on Wednesday: They (opposition leaders) were called (to the GHQ, the military headquarters) on the issue of Gilgit Baltistan. This is a political issue that should be settled by the peoples representatives.... These issues should be decided in the parliament, not in the GHQ. Asked if the PML-N leaders who went to see the army had Nawaz Sharifs blessings, she denied having any knowledge of that. However, she said the political leadership should not be called nor should it go to discuss such issues. Reacting to Maryam statement, railways minister Sheikh Rasheed further disclosed that the PML-N leadership held not one, but two meetings in the last two months with the military leadership. In the meantime, Maryams statement seems to have hit its target and the military retaliated within hours. In response to her claim that Nawaz Sharif had not been part of the meeting with the army, the head of the Pakistan Armys media wing disclosed that senior PML-N leader Mohammad Zubair held two meetings with Gen Bajwa in recent weeks about the former prime minister and his daughter. Babar Iftikhar told a news channel on Wednesday night that both meetings were requested by Zubair, a former Sindh governor. In both meetings he (Zubair) talked about Mian Nawaz Sharif sahib and Maryam Nawaz sahiba, Iftikhar said, adding The army chief made it clear to him (Zubair) that whatever their (Nawaz and Maryams) legal issues are, will be solved in Pakistans courts, while the political issues will be solved in the parliament. The armys line appears to be that they dont interfere in the countrys politics and that all politicians come to them for help, including Nawaz Sharif. When asked about it, Zubair said he had had personal ties with Gen Bajwa for more than 40 years. Theres nothing unusual about the meeting, he told an interviewer, adding he never approached the army chief when the PML-N was facing difficulties. As a friend, I thought I should brief him (Bajwa) on the state of economy of Pakistan and issues of governance. But I told him in clear words that I had not come to seek relief for anyone in my party, neither had I come on the request of anyone neither Nawaz nor anyone else. While the army seems to have won the latest round, what is clear is that the issue of military interference in the countrys political landscape will continue to be debated. It has also shaken the government of Imran Khan, who is being accused of coming to power on the back of a rigged election. Analyst Kamran Yousaf said that the days of the Imran Khan government may soon be over, and that a government cobbled with consensus could be taking charge. But others strongly disagree. At the same time, most analysts say that Nawaz Sharifs speech to the APC via video link from London, where he is undergoing medical treatment, seems to have stirred a hornets nest. His contention that the army is now a state above a state will echo in corridors of power for a long time to come. By Azernews 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. Prominent Labor senator Kimberley Kitching has blasted Beijing for retaliating against Australia's push for an independent coronavirus inquiry and accused United Nations agencies of being anti-Israel, warning it is not doing enough to stand up to growing authoritarianism around the world. The Victorian senator told a United Nations roundtable meeting on Thursday morning the deterioration in China's relations with the West, including with Australia, is entirely the result of President Xi Jinping's "neo-Stalinist domestic policies and his belligerent and hegemonic behaviour in the international arena, particularly in our immediate region". Senator Kitching, who chairs federal Parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, has also called for a new informal association of countries in the Indo-Pacific region to include Taiwan - a move that would likely unsettle the Chinese government. Senator Kimberley Kitching said the deterioration of relations with Beijing is the fault of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The comments are a shift from some in Labor who have sought to blame the Morrison government for the deterioration in relations with Beijing including the Chinese government's decision to impose for than $1 billion in trade strikes on Australia. Absentee Ballots In Vermont A street sign announces availability of absent ballots for the Vermont primary voting outside of the Town Hall on Aug. 10, 2020 in Charlotte, Vermont. Most states do not have accessible absentee ballot systems. Credit - Robert NickelsbergGetty Images Ricky Scott has voted in his home state of North Carolina for roughly 40 years. As a blind Black man, he is used to navigating various obstacles to cast a ballot, even with his states accessible electronic voting machines. But this year he is facing an unprecedented situation: the coronavirus pandemic means that voting in person could put his healthand potentially his lifeat risk. Im concerned about being exposed, says Scott, who is 59 years-old and at a high risk for complications related to COVID-19. I need to mitigate the possibility of contracting this thing, he adds. But Scott also knows his options are limited. While millions of other Americans have turned to absentee voting or voting by mail, it does not work for everyone. Both methods typically require that voters fill out a paper ballotsomething a blind person cant do independently. Scott says he and other disability advocates have raised this issue with elections officials in the past but made little progress. Now, faced with a pandemic, hes turning to the courts. In July, Scott, along with several other blind voters and local disability groups, filed a lawsuit against North Carolinas state board of elections to demand an accessible way to independently and privately vote in Novembers election. Anytime where you are deprived of an independent and a secret ballot, you feel like less than a full citizen, Scott says. Our state makes you feel like a second class citizen, and they dont value those of us with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act, which turned 30 this year, was supposed to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities and guarantee them access to all areas of public life. And while the Help America Vote Act requires every polling place in the country to have at least one accessible voting machine for federal elections, most states do not have similarly accessible absentee ballot systems. That means for voters like Scott, they are stuck with a difficult choice: give up their right to vote privately and independently, risk exposure to COVID-19 by voting in personor dont vote at all. Story continues In North Carolina alone, there are roughly 162,000 registered voters with vision disabilities, according to an estimate from Disability Rights North Carolina, one of the groups suing the state. Thats enough to make a difference in a battleground state where President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are neck and neck in the polls. In 2016, Trump won the state with fewer than 175,000 votes. And its not just blind voters who are affected by the reliance on paper ballots. While people with different disabilities have varying needs, those with mobility impairments, tremors, cognitive disabilities or learning disabilities may also be unable to mark a paper ballot by themselves. More than 6 million people with a visual impairment were eligible to vote across the country in 2016, and one sixth of the total electorate had some form of disability, according to data from researchers at Rutgers University. Americans with disabilities have not traditionally favored one party over the other. In 2016, roughly 50% leaned Democratic, according to Pew Research Center, while 42% leaned Republican. But this bipartisanship has not precluded increasingly vocal advocacy, particularly around issues related to health care as Republicans attempted to repeal the Affordable Care Act and the Trump Administration cut Medicaid and other benefits. Voter turnout among Americans with disabilities, which has historically been lower than those without disabilities, surged by 8.5 percentage points in 2018, and advocacy groups have been aiming to repeat that success this year. So as Americans with disabilities, many of whom have been hit hard by COVID-19, have sought to cast their votes without putting their health at risk, lawsuits like the one in North Carolina popped up around the country. Some cases have already been successful. As a result of court orders or agreements sparked by lawsuits, Pennsylvania, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Virginia have all added accessible absentee ballot options for people with disabilities. Blind voters and advocacy groups are still suing in Texas, and lawsuits addressing other accessibility concerns have been filed in other states, too. The blind voters lawsuits against Texas and North Carolina both note that their states already allow members of the military and other Americans living overseas to receive and return ballots electronically, and ask why the same would not be afforded to them. In Texas, the Secretary of State sought to dismiss the lawsuit outright and in North Carolina, the State Board of Elections argued that allowing disabled voters to receive and return ballots electronically would present security concerns. North Carolina also said that even if the state changed its rules, it would be difficult to transition to electronic absentee ballots before November. Setting up an electronic absentee system for disabled voters would place an enormous, if not insurmountable, strain on the States administration of the 2020 general electionan election already under strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic and already in progress, the State Board of Elections wrote in response to the lawsuit. The security concerns are real. Some states like North Carolina provide an online portal where military and overseas voters can cast their ballots, while others allow these voters to fax or email their ballots directly to elections officials. But these Americans living abroad typically have to give up their right to a private vote, and elections administrators, cybersecurity experts and lawmakers have all cautioned that any system of voting connected to the Internet is not entirely secure. Still, lawyers and disability rights advocates say that if officials are comfortable making that compromise for military and overseas voters, the same could be done for those with disabilities. If youre allowing one group of people to do it this way, then why is it an insurmountable security concern for voters with disabilities to do it that way? says Holly Stiles, a lawyer at Disability Rights North Carolina who is representing the voters in the lawsuit. Thats where you get into that discrimination and unequal treatment. Disability rights advocates also note that this is not a new issue. The National Federation of the Blind sent letters to states with inaccessible systems last September. Maryland developed its own online tool several years ago to allow voters with disabilities to mark their absentee ballots on their computers, and other states including Oregon, Wisconsin, and West Virginia have other electronic absentee ballot solutions. Were talking about a lot of things in response to COVID-19 that should have been done well before COVID-19, says Michelle Bishop, the voting rights specialist at the National Disability Rights Network. These are things that we could have been prepared for, if we had been making things fully accessible and complying with the law all along. Now were at a point where, because we collectively did not bother to do that were really opening up people with disabilities to an inordinate amount of risk. The North Carolina State Board of Elections declined TIMEs request to comment on ongoing litigation. A district judge in the state heard the case on Sept. 23 and could issue an order soon. In the meantime, blind and disabled voters are trying to plan for multiple scenarios that could play out as the election draws closer. Kendall Gibbs, 22, who is blind and uses a guide dog, says this will be the second time shes voted in a general election. But shes worried about exposing herself to COVID-19. As a person with a visual impairment, it puts me at more risk, because I do have a tendency to touch things more than your average person, she says. Its also harder for her to maintain social distance since she cant see where other people are standing, and Gibbs is worried about not knowing what her dog is exposed to when she goes outside. If North Carolina, where any voter can request an absentee ballot without an excuse, switched to an electronic absentee system this cycle, she could potentially use a screen reader to fill out a ballot on her computer and vote safely from home. But if the situation stays as is, she says she would consider risking her health to vote on an accessible machine in person. Its very dehumanizing to have to rely on someone to assist you in your basic American citizen rights, Gibbs says. For Scott, the decision about how hell vote is still up in the air. Hes thought about going in person during North Carolinas early voting period if the lawsuit fails, or he might give up his privacy and ask his daughter, who he trusts and who has been taking safety precautions during the pandemic, to fill out a paper absentee ballot for him. But thats not an option for everyone, Scott says. He says hes frustrated that hes been trying to restrict his activities to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, and now his state is asking him to do the opposite to vote. Were not asking for special treatment. Were merely asking for treatment that is accorded to every other citizen in our state, and utilizing a system that is already in place, Scott says. We want North Carolina to do that which is right: to follow the law and to bring us into full citizenship status like everybody else. In 2019, Luxembourg motorists received 50,143 fines for driving infractions committed in France, compared to 63,017 in 2018. The number of fines fell by more than 20% over the span of a year. While it is not certain whether Luxembourg-registered motorists exercised more caution on French roads last year, one reason for the reduction in infractions could be attributed to the "gilets jaunes", aka the yellow vest movement, which gripped France at the start of 2019. Many speed cameras were damaged as a result of the protests, and police patrols were reorganised to deal with the movement. As such, it is feasible that a number of infractions were simply missed as a result. At any rate, 12,874 fewer fines were distributed to Luxembourg motorists in 2019, out of 2.5 million tickets issued to foreign-registered cars by French authorities. The 2019 French offence report, which was published this week, stated the payment rate in Luxembourg is around 80%. It also revealed that a speed camera on the A31 motorway is still in the top 10 of the most profitable speed cameras in France. The fixed speed camera, located in Meurthe-et-Moselle, between Metz and Toul, comes in eighth position in the classification, catching a total of 94,045 violations. Press Release September 24, 2020 GORDON SUPPORTS DUTERTE'S STATEMENTS BEFORE THE UN ASSEMBLY Senator Richard J. Gordon yesterday expressed his agreement and support for the statements made by President Rodrigo Duterte in his first speech before the United Nations General Assembly. Gordon said the President's speech was very comprehensive, projecting Philippine policies and concerns ranging from the West Pacific Sea claims, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic to the plight of migrants and migrant workers. "I strongly support his statement on the South China issue, strongly affirming the constitutional provisions on having an independent foreign policy and adherence to the generally accepted principles of international law. The statements made by both Pres. Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping bode well for peace, stability and progress not only in our region, but worldwide," he said. Duterte on Wednesday invoked the country's arbitral victory in 2016 against China's massive claims in the South China Sea, adding that the Philippines rejected any attempt to undermine the July 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. For his part, Xi told the UN that Beijing has "no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot one with any country," adding that they will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. Gordon also lauded Duterte's call for universal access to technologies and procedures in the fight against COVID-19. "The president was right in saying that COVID-19 is the biggest test the world and the UN have faced since World War II because it knows no border, no nationality and no race. Hence, there should be a worldwide coordinated effort to fight it," he said. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has warned that there is likely to be an even more devastating second wave of coronavirus in Adamawa and other states in the country due to the non-compliance to COVID-19 health guidelines. A technical adviser in the implementation of NCDCs action plan in Adamawa State, Fahad Mohammed, who dropped the hint during the sensitisation of officials of the Nigerian police, civil defence, immigration and correctional services, and road safety personnel in Yola, said that the NCDC was driven to ensure more persons are tested so that the spread of this deadly disease can be addressed and tamed. Mr Mohammed explained that the biggest concern was that people are not taking tests, because some of them do not believe that the pandemic is real and that is why we have a low number of positive cases. Where you observe low numbers, it means tests are not being undertaken and if you are doing a lot of tests and getting negative results, then you ask who are the people being tested? What is the criteria? he noted. The NCDC official, who expressed serious concern with the low testing for COVID-19 in the state, revealed that there are about seven LGs in Adamawa where testing has never taken place. You cant say there is no such disease in the areas There is serious concern, (though we dont pray and God forbid) that there is likely to be even more devastating second wave of coronavirus in Adamawa and other states due to the non-compliance to COVID-19 health guidelines and people declining tests, he warns. Disturbed by this trend, Mr Mohammed stated that NCDC is set to open testing centres in each of the 21 local governments of Adamawa State in its drive to ensure more persons are tested. So the new move will allow us to know the true story of infections in the state. In the next one two or three months, we shall finish the target test of one per cent of the population of the state. We will open test centres in all the local governments of Adamawa State. These test centres will allow residents to get tested seamlessly and obtain results in two to three days. We want to test at least one per cent of the population of the state after which we will plot the graphs and we shall tell the people whether we are flattening the curve or not. NCDC has deployed its staff to all the states to support states response to the COVID-19. We want to know the status of these states. We want to know the challenges. We had a meeting with security operatives including police, road safety and soldiers so as to tell them our positions. We want them to help us in enforcing some of the measures the states will bring in the near future. We tell them to enforce compliance with the usage of face masks, observing social distancing at events and preventing large gatherings. We have educated them on that so that they can escalate the message to their respective institutions. We want to enhance testing in such a way a person can get himself COVID-19 tested the way he could obtain a malaria test. We want to take it to all the hospitals, he said. He noted that the reason behind NCDCs enhanced testing arises from concerns that the country is approaching the harmattan season, coupled with the fact that some states will in no distant time face flooding, which naturally comes with its own challenges such as cholera, diarrhoea and others. We shall continue to sensitise the populace that COVID-19 is real and there is no cure yet. In his goodwill message, Banu Phatek, UNICEF chief of the field, Bauchi office, noted that the most important reason why the sensitisation is organized is to tell the people that COVID-19 is real and still causing havoc on lives and economies of countries across the globe. To this end, Mr Phatek urged the people to continue to embrace the minimum preventive protocols and urged all participants to take down the message to their various organizations. Responding, Adamawa State commissioner of health, Abdullahi Isa, commended UNICEF and other sponsors for the sensitisation workshop, noting that it will go a long way in convincing people to take the right actions. The commissioner represented by the director of disease control in the ministry, Bolki Dilli, said that informed the governments decision to sensitise the security personnel as well as other stakeholders. While urging residents to continue to observe the non-pharmaceutical measures put in place by NCDC to guard against the spread of the disease including wearing of face masks, observing social distancing, and avoidance of large gatherings, he explained that the state government is working to ensure that at least three more testing centres are opened across the three senatorial zones. We will go to all nooks and crannies to sensitise people. Currently, we have only one testing centre provided by NCDC. We are working to provide one in each zone that is, one in Mubi, one in Numan, one in specialist hospital Yola, and probably one in Ganye, he said. Advertisements A California man was sentenced to just under a year in prison after he pleaded guilty to causing a crash on Interstate 78 that killed a New Jersey couple on the way to their wedding in 2018. Jaspreet Singh Chahal, 26, of Fresno, will spend between 11 and a half months to 23 months, just under two years, in county jail, followed by two years of probation, the Berks County District Attorneys Office announced Wednesday night. Chahals conviction came from guilty pleas to two counts each of homicide by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person and traffic violations. The crash killed Joseph Kearney and Kathryn Schurtz, who were on their way to Pittsburgh for their wedding. According to the DAs office, Chahal was driving a tractor trailer on Interstate 78 westbound in Windsor Township on Nov. 14, 2018. The affidavit filed against Chahal states that traffic stopped because they were approaching a work zone, and a police car was stationed in the area to warn people. There was no evidence that Chahal attempted to slow or stop before crashing. The DAs office said Chahal was talking on his handheld cell phone, not paying attention to the road and hit a line of stopped vehicles. The first car Chahal hit was the New Jersey couple, who died at the scene, the DAs office said. Passengers in other vehicles were injured in the crash as well. The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that President Akufo-Addo has constructed a total of 2,729 classrooms with capacity to accommodate 109,160 pupils and has commenced the construction of seven (7) brand new modern Senior High Schools across the country. The NDC Presidential Candidate John Dramani Mahama has consistently challenged President Akufo-Addo to show to Ghanaians a single Senior High School constructed during his tenure despite the huge borrowing. But addressing the media at Akyem Abomosu in the Atiwa West Municipality in a series dubbed the Youth Must Knoworganized by the youth wing of the NPP in Eastern Region, the party explained In less than 4 years, President Akufo-Addo has built 2,729 Classrooms that can accommodate an extra 109,160 pupils whereas Mr. Mahama in 4 years built 840 Classrooms that accommodated just about 33,600. The Government of President Akufo-Addo has commenced the construction of 7 brand new Senior High Schools that meet global standards in his first term. The schools have Administration blocks, Classroom blocks, Dormitory Blocks, Dining Halls, Assembly Halls, Laboratories, Libraries, Creative Arts/ Science Blocks, Staff Accommodation, Recreational Facilities, Roads and External works, and Service and Maintenance Shed among others. This magnificent, state of the art buildings you have seen here in Abomosu, in the Atiwa West District in the Eastern Region is one of the 7 ultra-modern New SHSs being built by the Competent Government of President Akufo-Addo. The people of Atiwa are grateful to President Akufo-Addo and Hon Kwasi Amoako-Attah, their affable MP for this significant investment. The rest of the projects and additional two (2) existing schools being upgraded to model schools are ongoing in Kwadaso, Dabaa, Akrodie, Koase in Wenchi, Diaso in Central Region, Weija in Ga South, Kpasenkpe in West Mamprusi District and Awaso in Tarkwa Nsuaem. Fellow Youth, the government is also constructing 21 sophisticated Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Centers of Excellence across the country. One of the ultra-modern TVET centers is situated in Anyinam in the Atiwa East District in the Eastern region. The NDC in their 8 years stay in power cannot boast of even one of these. Jerry Osei Opoku, the Eastern Regional Youth Organizer of the NPP said, it is a palpable falsehood that Mahamas administration completed 45 E-Blocks before exiting power on 7th January, 2017. According to him, official figures emanating from a thorough infrastructure audit done by GETFUND, the Mahama led Government completed only 29 E-Blocks. For emphasis, out of the 200 E-Blocks the deceitful NDC party promised to build as captured in their 2012 Manifesto, they could complete only 29 which translate to 14.5%. This is a total failure. Secondly, the boldness with which the NDC refers to the E-Blocks as New SHSs and engages in self-flattery is very laughable. Acknowledging the E-Blocks (some 24 classrooms, a library and few offices) as New SHSs and asking to be patted on the back is simply a glorification of mediocrity. Now the Youth, we are not oblivious of the facilities that qualify a school to be acknowledged as a New SHS. A standard SHS must have the following facilities: Administration block, Classroom blocks, Dormitory Blocks, Dining Hall, Assembly Hall, Laboratories, Library, Creative Arts/ Science Block, Staff Accommodation, Recreational Facilities, Roads and External works, Service and Maintenance Shed among other, as you can find on this premises. From the foregoing, it is clearly awkward for the Corrupt NDC party to suggest that the mere construction of a Classroom Block with one or two other ancillary facilities means they have built a new SHS. He said, If building just a classroom block is all it takes to establish a new SHS, then-President Akufo-Addo could count not less than 500 New SHSs in less than 4 years. This is because the government has put up over thousand (1,000) infrastructure, comprising classroom blocks, dormitory blocks, libraries, laboratories etc. in existing SHSs across the country. If these infrastructural projects were to be isolated and converted into New SHSs by merely giving them new names as the logic of the NDC suggests, this government would have, as I said, constructed over 500 new SHSs. Jerry Osei Opoku said analysis on the number of space (Classrooms) created by NPP (in less than 4yrs) and NDC (in 4yrs) to increase enrollment in SHS. President Akufo-Addo (in less than 4years) has constructed: 3unit blocks X 23 = 69 Classrooms 6unit blocks X 149 = 894 Classrooms 8unit block X 1 = 8 Classrooms 12unit blocks X 137 = 1,644 Classrooms 18unit blocks X 8 = 90 Classrooms 24unit blocks X 1 = 24 Classrooms Total = 2,729 Classrooms Mr. Mahama in 4 years (2013-2016) built: 24unit blocks X 29 E-Blocks = 696 Classrooms Assuming that the average capacity of the classrooms is 40 pupils: NPP 2,729 Classrooms X 40pupils =109,160 pupils NDC 696 Classrooms X 40pupils = 27, 840 pupils Free TVET The NPP said in the hastiness by the NDC to hoodwink Ghanaians with promises they have promised to make TVET free. Our simple response to them are:TVET is already free and over 65,000 learners have benefited from it. Free TVET is a component of the Free Secondary School Policy which has been running since 2017. --starrfm Air Vanuatu B737-800 cargo and repatriation flight to and from Brisbane Airport on September 21 at the Port Vila Airport. Photo: Airports Vanuatu DANBURY The spread of the coronavirus in the city is not as severe as it was about a month ago, but has not declined as much as health officials would like. What were seeing in the community right now is still what we consider to be a concerning transmission rate of COVID, Kathy ODowd, the school districts health and nursing services coordinator, said at Wednesdays school board meeting. The city saw nine new cases Wednesday, 23 on Tuesday, six on Monday and 11 on Sunday. The week of Aug. 16 had 135 cases. Free COVID testing and flu vaccinations will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Rogers Park Middle School. Im not happy with where they are right now, Mayor Mark Boughton said. We need to see a drop. Were not seeing a drop. I would argue weve plateaued a little bit, but were not where we need to be. The ongoing news cases include those among children, which means it is still not safe for students to return to the classrooms, health officials said. However, officials hope schools could start on the hybrid model in mid-to-late October. Were prepared, ODowd said. Its just a matter of community numbers trending down and were not seeing that yet. Superintendent Sal Pascarella said the district could look into phasing into the hybrid model, perhaps having kindergarten through third-graders return initially. I dont think you can have one-size fits all here, he said. Administrators will meet Friday with local medical professionals to dive deeper into the numbers and discuss how they will affect school reopening. Our numbers have stabilized since Aug. 21, said Kara Prunty, acting director of health. Weve trended down a little bit, but we have not seen a consistent trend down. The citys positivity rate has stayed between 5 to 6 percent in recent weeks, she said. Thats a concerning level for us, she said. The goal is to be at 1 percent or below, Boughton said. The citys seven-day rolling average is 14 new cases per a population of 100,000, Prunty said. That is what the state considers to be a moderate infection level that could allow districts to operate on a hybrid model. But the district has wanted to be more cautious because of its high enrollment and overcrowded buildings, ODowd said. Some elementary-school children and a significant number of youth at the secondary level are testing positive, she said. For that reason, at this time were still very concerned about being able to open with a hybrid model, ODowd said. Those who are getting sick are a mix of people with and without symptoms, Prunty said. Hospitalizations crept up statewide on Tuesday and Wednesday, but are down locally, she said. Meanwhile, the state will open Friday the Lattins Cove boat launch on Candlewood Lake at 50 percent capacity after closing it at the end of August. Boughton said residents have COVID fatigue. Contact tracing has shown spread from small parties and family gatherings, including on Labor Day weekend. Were seeing that there were large gatherings, ODowd said. People are not wearing masks. Theyre not social distancing. Health officials emphasized that residents should wear masks, wash hands and avoid large groups. People have been hearing this message over and over again, Prunty said. Its background noise at this point. I urge you to take it seriously, so we can get our numbers down and have the ability to open safely. A highly sensitive COVID-19 test, developed by researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), relies on magnetic nanoparticles to extract viral RNA. More than 5 million NTNU COVID-19 tests have already been supplied to the Norwegian health authorities. Now India and Denmark will benefit from the technology. "Testing and infection tracking are absolutely essential to maintaining control of the infection situation. The fact that NTNU has developed a new test method for detecting the coronavirus means that more people can be tested and that patients can get answers faster. It is very positive that this technology can now also be useful internationally," says Bent Hie, Norway's Minister of Health and Care Services. "We have been contacted by health ministries and private companies from countries in Asia, Africa, North and South America and Europe," said Tonje Steigedal, from NTNU Technology Transfer, who is part of the NTNU test team and responsible for the commercialization of the technology. "We are delighted to announce that DTU and APS LABS are the first outside of Norway to benefit from the NTNU technology." Helene Larsen, Head of Development at DTU's Centre for Diagnostics, said she had just received her first shipments of test kits and was looking forward to getting the testing up and running. She said DTU is doing tests for a number of Danish hospitals and hopes to increase the lab's capacity to do as many as 10000 tests a day. "What we like about the NTNU system is that it can be used with our open robot system," she said, which means that robot systems can be used with reagents from different vendors, including NTNU's. Another big advantage is that the kits are readily available, she said. "The market is still very competitive out there, and the fact that it is possible to get a kit component so readily is sensational." Dr. Paritosh Shekhar, director of APS LABS, said his organization had evaluated the NTNU test kits and "found them extraordinary." "The performance was at par with top leading brands," he said. "Quality was the factor for why we chose NTNU. Another reason was to support a research university rather than a commercial company. We strongly feel this association will be complementary for both of us." In late March, huge international demand for the reagents used for COVID-19 testing meant that Norway, like other countries, was having a hard time getting enough tests to track the disease among its population. In response, Magnar Bjras, a medical researcher from NTNU's Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, offered colleagues from St. Olavs Hospital help with a made-in-Norway COVID-19 test. The offer of help was accepted and Bjras and his network got to work. By mid-April, the NTNU/St. Olavs Hospital team had developed a highly sensitive test. Validation results showed that the NTNU test was at least as good as conventional tests. It was then approved for use by Norwegian health authorities. Bjarne Foss, Pro-Rector for Research at NTNU, says Norwegian society has high expectations for NTNU as Norway's largest university. "We are a multi-disciplinary university with a strong profile in science and technology," he said. "Multi-disciplinary solutions provide the answer to many societal challenges, and the NTNU COVID-19 test is a perfect example of the strength of this approach. Two strong research groups at NTNU's faculties for Medicine and Health Sciences and Natural Sciences, respectively, developed this test method together, which by construction depends on a multi-disciplinary approach." "At NTNU we are proud of this contribution to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to encourage our researchers to pursue research across disciplines both within NTNU and in cooperation with research groups at other institutions," Foss said. One key aspect of the NTNU test is a specific combination of polar solvents, buffers, salts and other chemicals that do not damage the viral RNA molecule itself. The solution contains substances that crack the virus open so that its genetic material can be extracted. NTNU has also developed iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles that strongly bind RNA. Once the magnetic nanoparticles are coated with the viral RNA, they can be removed from the solution using a magnet. PCR technology can then identify the genetic code from the RNA and compare it to the coronavirus. The newly developed manufacturing process has proved to be very upscalable, which has enabled the NTNU labs to produce these high-quality and high-performance magnetic nanoparticles in very high volumes. Three laboratories at the Department of Chemical Engineering are currently manufacturing the magnetic nanoparticles, while another laboratory at the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine is making the solvents and buffers. The process allows the production of up to 1.2 million test kits per week. "The key behind our success has been the cooperation across departments and with NTNU Technology Transfer and the hospital," Bjras said. He said increases in production capacity will allow the groups to produce up to 5 million test kits a week. At the same time, the test kits are subject to rigorous quality control and validation before shipping to customers. The magnetic nanobeads and buffers, and then the entire test kits are verified against a known COVID-19 positive patient sample. The process was developed by the teams around Bjras and Sulalit Bandyopadhyay, a postdoc at the university's Department of Chemical Engineering, along with Anuvansh Sharma from the university's Department of Materials Science and Technology and their colleagues. In the process of gearing up to produce tests for Norway, the researchers improved the efficiency of the production system to the point where the lab is able to make more than enough tests for use in Norway. Bandyopadhyay, who had previously been studying how a version of the particle can be used to study river water chemistry, has been eager to help ease the test shortages that continue to plague other countries. "The need out there is very great, and we have the kits that can help with the shortage," he said. "Our mission is to provide the NTNU COVID-19 test to health care services across the globe," Steigedal and her NTNU Technology Transfer colleague Eivind Andersen said. NTNU Technology Transfer has filed patent applications on the methods and products related to the NTNU COVID-19 test. The motivation is to secure control of the intellectual rights and provide access to the new test in an ethical and justifiable manner. At the same time, the university hopes to expand the number of countries to which the test will be exported. "We need to find the right partners in each region/country. In some cases that could be national health authorities, or it could be hospitals or other health care services, Steigedal said. "It could also be life-science companies that have a relevant position in the value chain for test equipment for virus detection." ### American democracy is getting warped because the Republican Party believes its path to power lies not in getting a majority of the votes but through other means. In 2018, thanks to redistricting, Republicans in Wisconsin, having won about 45 percent of the vote, ended up with almost 65 percent of the seats in the state assembly. They have become used to this kind of situation on the national stage. Since 1992, the Republican presidential candidate has won the popular vote only once in 2004, in the wake of the countrys worst terrorist attack and with a wartime rally around the flag sentiment. Nevertheless, Republicans have held the White House for almost half of those 28 years. Donald Trump (L), gestures as he stands next to his sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, during a break in proceedings of the Aberdeenshire Council inquiry into his plans for a golf resort, Aberdeen, in northeast Scotland, on June 10, 2008. (David Moir/Reuters) Mary Trump Sues Relatives, Including President, Over Fraud Allegations President Donald Trumps niece sued the president and several other family members on Thursday, alleging fraud. Mary Trump alleges Trump and his siblings bilked her of financial earnings and properties she stood to gain through inheritance. Following the death of her father, Trumps brother, in 1981, both Mary and her brother, Fred Trump III, gained minority interests in the Trump property empire. The minors had no knowledge or understanding of the assets, which were controlled by Trump, his sister Maryanne Trump Barry, and his surviving brother, Robert Trump, who died this year, according to the lawsuit. Irwin Durben, appointed to act as Marys trustee, was also allegedly part of the scheme. By the 1990s, Defendants were maneuvering to take control of Fred Srs empire as the Trumps father, Marys grandfather, approached his nineties, the suit states. Gripped with Alzheimers dementia, Fred Sr. was increasingly prone to bouts of confusion and memory loss and progressively less able to participate in the management of the Trump family business, it continued. His decline presented Defendants with an opportunity to position themselves to profit from his impending death. And while at first they competed with one anotherwith palace intrigue reminiscent of the HBO series Successionultimately Defendants worked together to consolidate their power and advance their own interests at the expense of everyone else, including Mary. This combination photo shows the cover art for Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man, left, and a portrait of author Mary Trump. (Simon & Schuster, left, and Peter Serling/Simon Schuster via AP) Three fraudulent schemes were carried out against Mary, her lawyers wrote: defendants siphoned value from Marys interests to entities they controlled, hiding what was happening through bunk business transactions, they depressed the value of Marys interests, and forced Mary to the negotiating table by threatening to bankrupt Marys interests. Mary Trump is seeking in excess of $500,000 in compensation, as well as attorneys fees and punitive damages. An attorney for the president, who is being sued in his personal capacity, did not respond to a request for comment. The only fraud committed there was Mary Trump recording one of her relatives and shes really discredited herself, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters at the White House in Washington on Thursday. Mary Trump recently published a book about her dealings with her family. Over 1 million copies have been sold, according to publisher Simon & Schuster. Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has disclosed that the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike went through humiliation and attacks during his re-election campaign, yet he never gave up but continued to support them until he won the election. He expressed his appreciation for his support before, during and after the Edo governorship election. Obaseki disclosed this on Wednesday during his visit to Rivers State government House to thank Wike for standing by him all through the period of the election. According to him, as the chair of the National campaign council, he applied himself diligently to task. Indeed, he is a true brother, he added. He particularly thanked the people for Edo State and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for their inputs during whole processing leading to his re-election. He said, 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 in the September 19 poll was made possible by God and God used the people as an instrument to actualise my second term ambition. After I was pushed out of my former party, this house was the first place I sought solace. You took me in as a brother, out of the storm, changed my clothes, and gave me food to eat. It was in this house, the Campaign Council met to work out the key strategies that led us to victory. You mobilised people across the country. You moved to Benin, went through the humiliation and attacks. You supported us and we won. It will be a sin against God if we do not come to say thank you. Even if the victory we are celebrating is from God. He has used people like you to make it happen. Edo will be better with his re-election as his administration will concentrate on delivering development to Edo people. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that experts believe the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is at its peak in the national capital and its intensity will lessen in the coming days. From July 1 to August 17, cases were in control. We noticed that cases increased and it reached 4,500 new COVID-19 cases on September 17 and now coming down. So experts believe that the second wave of coronavirus which had hit Delhi is now on peak and its intensity will be less in the coming days," Kejriwal said. The state government was able to control the rise in the reported number of infection cases with help from the central government, NGOs and residents, he said while thanking them for their efforts in containing the situation. The best way to defeat coronavirus is to conduct aggressive testing to identify and isolate positive cases," he said. The coronavirus cases have increased in Delhi because testing was massively scaled up. The daily cases were around 4,500 on September 16 which have now started coming down and currently, there are around 3,700 cases (daily). As a responsible government, we had increased testing from 20,000 to 60,000 daily." Kejriwal said if the testing would have been scaled down to the previous level of 20,000 tests (daily), the cases would also have come down to around 1,500 per day in the city. He hoped that government steps, including increasing containment zones from 550 in mid-August to around 2,000 now, will gradually bring down the number of COVID-19 positive cases in the coming days. On Wednesday, Delhi recorded 3,714 fresh COVID-19 cases as the infection tally in the city mounted to over 2.56 lakh, while the death toll rose to 5,087. More than 60,000 COVID-19 tests were done in the city on Tuesday, according to the bulletin issued by the Delhi health department on Wednesday. The total number of active cases, as on Wednesday, stood at 30,836, it said. . Kejriwal also said high-level virtual meetings on the Covid-19 situation chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped contain and management of the crisis. A Delhi court has granted bail to Dubai-based Somesh Prasad who is accused of extorting crores of rupees from a Hyderabad businessman Sana Sathish Babu claiming that he could shield him in the CBI probe against millionaire meat exporter Moin Qureshi. The extortion case was at the heart of the CBI vs CBI drama that played out in 2018 and led to the exit of then CBI chief Alok Verma and his deputy, Rakesh Asthana. The case was initially registered as a bribery FIR against Asthana who had been overseeing the probe against Moin Qureshi in which Sana Sathish Babu was also being probed. Asthanas name was cleared by the CBI earlier this year and heads the Border Security Force and the Narcotics Control Bureau. According to the CBI, Babu had reached out to Somesh Prasad who made him believe that he had spoken to Asthana and his team would spare Babu if he paid Rs 5 crore. ...due to the registration of the present FIR, there was huge bickering in the higher echelons of the CBI i.e. amongst the top officers and due to which the IO as well as the said Special Director (Asthana) had to endure agony for a long time, Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal said in his detailed order granting bail to Somesh Prasad and associate Sunil Mittal. Prasad and Mittal were granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each and two sureties of like amount. In his order granting bail to the two, the court noted that the CBI, which was opposing bail, had not arrested the two accused who faced serious allegations according to the charge-sheet filed against them. The stand of the CBI/Investigating agency is most ambivalent with regard to the matter in hand, on the one hand, they did not arrest the accused persons at any point of time when they appeared before them during the investigations and on the other hand they are opposing their bail applications to tooth and nail. The said stand can be described by way of English idiom Run with Hare and Hunt with the Hounds i.e to be good on terms with both the sides the court said. The court noted that the accused have been substantially cooperating in the investigation. The FIR against former special director Rakesh Asthana, filed on a complaint by Sana, had stated that Manoj Prasad, a Dubai-based businessman told Satish Babu Sana about his good connections in CBI and that his brother Somesh Prasad would help save him in the Moin Qureshi case, being investigated by a special investigation team (SIT) led by Asthana since 2017. Sana claimed that when he met Somesh Prasad in Dubai, he was told that Asthana would surely save him in this case. Somesh Prasad claimed that he had been managing the CBI officers investments in Dubai and London for many years. At an earlier hearing in August, the judge had frowned at the lack of forward movement in the February 2017 case registered against millionaire meat exporter Moin Qureshi. In this FIR, the CBI had alleged that Moin Qureshi, apart from his day job of a meat exporter, also worked as a middleman for certain public servants and was helped by AP Singh who retired as CBI chief in 2012. On February 11, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had exonerated its former special director Rakesh Asthana and deputy superintendent of police Devender Kumar in the 2018 bribery case registered by then agency chief Alok Verma. The agency had concluded there was no evidence whatsoever to suggest that Asthana had ever demanded or been paid any bribe to save Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana, the complainant in the case, in its probe against controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The leader was put forward by a group of Russian writers led by Sergey Komkov, according to Russian news agency TASS. They submitted the application in Oslo on September 10, putting him alongside Donald Trump in the list of potential candidates for the prestigious award. A presidential spokesman said Putin, who was also nominated in 2013, was not put forward by the Kremlin. The favourite to win this year's Peace Prize is the World Health Organisation, with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Greta Thunberg also fancied. Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a group of Russian writers Donald Trump was nominated by Christian Tybring-Gjedde, an ultra-conservative member of the Norwegian Parliament Nominations can be submitted by anyone who meets the Nobel Committee's criteria, which includes lawmakers anywhere in the world, professors and academic groups. Trump was nominated by Christian Tybring-Gjedde, an ultra-conservative member of the Norwegian Parliament, who praised Trump for brokering a deal between the UAE and Israel. Reality star Gemma Collins was put forward by two YouTube pranksters, who have started up The Romford Research Institute For Peace to make themselves qualify to have the power to nominate. Greta Thunberg is hotly tipped for the prestigious award for her work in raising awareness of the climate crisis Reality star Gemma Collins was put forward by two YouTube pranksters, who have started up The Romford Research Institute For Peace to make themselves qualify to have the power to nominate It comes as it was also revealed on Thursday that winners of the Nobel prizes will receive an extra 1 million Swedish krona ($110,000) this year. The head of the foundation which oversees the awards said the prize money will increase to 10 million crowns this year ($1.1 million), daily Dagens Industri reported. Lars Heikensten said: 'The decision has been made due to the fact that our costs and capital are in a stable relation in a completely different way than previously.' Dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel left around 31 million crowns - about 1.8 billion crowns in today's money according to the Foundation - to fund the prizes, which have been awarded since 1901. The prize amount has varied over time, starting at 150,000 crowns and reaching 1 million crowns in 1981. The value rose sharply in the 1980s and 1990s, jumping to 9 million crowns in 2000 and 10 million a year later. Winners of the Nobel prizes will receive an extra 1 million Swedish krona (86,000) for claiming the prestigious award (pictured) Dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel left around 31 million crowns - about 1.8 billion crowns in today's money according to the Foundation - to fund the prizes How do you win a Nobel Peace Prize? Nominations for a Nobel Peace Prize are relatively easy to acquire; an actual prize is more elusive. Anyone elected to a national parliament, congress or assembly anywhere in the world, any cabinet minister anywhere in the world, professors of history, theology and religion, former prize winners and members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee are just some of the people who can all nominate whoever they like. But the five-strong Nobel committee hold the real power. They do not confirm who has actually been nominated - the list is kept secret for 50 years - then whittle down the hundreds of nominations to a shortlist which they review more thoroughly, then decide a winner. The five members all serve six-year terms and are supposed to reflect the balance of the membership of the Norwegian parliament. Tybring-Gjedde's party is too small to get a seat; two members are former politicians from the left-leaning Labour Party, and one from the center-right Center Party. Their deliberations are secret and the winner - decided by a majority vote - is announced next October. Advertisement But the global credit crunch of 2008-9 hit the Foundation's investments and Heikensten, a former central bank chief, was brought in to get its finances in order. The prize money was cut to 8 million crowns in 2012 only to rise again to 9 million in 2017. Heikensten will step down at the end of this year to be replaced by former Norwegian foreign minister Vidar Helgesen. He said the Foundation would continue to raise the amount of the prize money 'from time to time'. Medals made before 1980 were struck in 23-carat gold, and later in 18-carat green gold plated with a 24-carat gold coating. Five awards are handed out to laureates every year, in peace, literature, chemistry, physics and medicine. An additional award for economics was also set up in 1968 as a Nobel Memorial prize, but as it was not one of the categories established by Alfred Nobel in his will, it does not officially count as a Nobel Prize. This year, Donald Trump has been nominated for the prize in the wake of diplomatic breakthroughs between Israel and Gulf Arab countries. The US President was nominated for a second time for his work in securing a deal between Kosovo and Serbia, two former Balkan war foes. Swedish parliament member Magnus Jacobsson tweeted that he nominated the governments of the United States, Serbia and Kosovo 'for their joint work for peace and economic development, through the cooperation agreement signed in the White House. Trade and communications are important building blocks for peace.' Serbian President Aleksander Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti signed an economic normalization deal at the White House last week that also calls for Belgrade to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and for mutual recognition by Israel and Kosovo. Trump has been nominated twice for a Nobel Peace Prize - for his work in securing a deal between Kosovo and Serbia, and for diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East (Newser) Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump was among many people outraged Wednesday after only one of the officers involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor was indicted. Crump, who represents the Black woman's family, slammed the grand jury's decision and noted that the charges of wanton endangerment against former Louisville officer Brett Hankison were not directly related to Taylor's death, Fox News reports. "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 tweeted. "In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder!" Taylor was killed when officers with a "no-knock" warrant broke down her door. After her boyfriend, who said he thought officers were intruders, fired at police, the officers responded with 32 shots. More: AG gets emotional. The AP reports that Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron appeared to be holding back tears at a press conference Wednesday as he explained why officers hadn't faced charges directly related to the shooting: "I understand that as a Black man, how painful this is ... which is why it was so incredibly important to make sure that we did everything we possibly could to uncover every fact," he said. Cameron, a Republican elected last year, was on Trump's short list for Supreme Court justice. story continues below Governor wants to see evidence . Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear didn't directly criticize the grand jury's decision Wednesday, but he urged Cameron to release all the evidence, WLKY reports. "Everyone can and should be informed and those that are currently feeling frustration, feeling hurt, they deserve to know more," the Democrat said. "I trust Kentuckians. They deserve to see the facts for themselves." . Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear didn't directly criticize the grand jury's decision Wednesday, but he urged Cameron to release all the evidence, WLKY reports. "Everyone can and should be informed and those that are currently feeling frustration, feeling hurt, they deserve to know more," the Democrat said. "I trust Kentuckians. They deserve to see the facts for themselves." Officer's lawyer says "system worked." A lawyer for one of the two officers involved in the incident but not charged said the decision showed the "system worked," the Washington Post reports. "The death of Breonna Taylor is a tragedy. But these officers did not act in a reckless or unprofessional manner, said Kent Wicker, an attorney for Officer Jonathan Mattingly. "They did their duty, performed their roles as law enforcement officers and, above all, did not break the law." Cameron said investigators determined that Taylor was hit by shots fired by Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove, with Cosgrove firing the fatal shot. A lawyer for one of the two officers involved in the incident but not charged said the decision showed the "system worked," the Washington Post reports. "The death of Breonna Taylor is a tragedy. But these officers did not act in a reckless or unprofessional manner, said Kent Wicker, an attorney for Officer Jonathan Mattingly. "They did their duty, performed their roles as law enforcement officers and, above all, did not break the law." Cameron said investigators determined that Taylor was hit by shots fired by Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove, with Cosgrove firing the fatal shot. FBI is still investigating . The FBI, which opened its investigation of the March 13 shooting in May, says it is still gathering evidence. "FBI Louisville continues its federal investigation into all aspects of the death of Breonna Taylor," spokesman Tim Beam tells the Louisville Courier-Journal. "This work will continue beyond the state charges announced today." . The FBI, which opened its investigation of the March 13 shooting in May, says it is still gathering evidence. "FBI Louisville continues its federal investigation into all aspects of the death of Breonna Taylor," spokesman Tim Beam tells the Louisville Courier-Journal. "This work will continue beyond the state charges announced today." "Not enough," NBA players say. NBA players, who have been calling for justice for Taylor amid support for the wider Black Lives Matter movement, say the indictment isn't enough. "We feel like we've taken a step back, that we havent made the progress we were seeking," Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green tells the AP. "Our voices aren't being heard loud enough. But we're not going to stop. We're going to continue. We're going to continue fighting, we're going to continue to push, we're going to continue to use our voices." (After the grand jury's decision was announced, riot police made arrests in Louisville .) Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:43:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PRETORIA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday called on South Africans of different races, colors, and tribes to coexist peacefully in their diversity. Ramaphosa said this while addressing the Heritage Day Celebrations. He called for the protection of indigenous languages and cultures. "The greatest thing about heritage is its dynamism. Heritage is a source of identity and cohesion for our nation. It makes us who we are. Heritage shapes and moulds us, and gives us a sense of belonging. Let us also appreciate that in practicing our cultures freely and openly, and in speaking our native languages, we are reclaiming not just our heritage, but our pride and our dignity as South Africans," he said. Ramaphosa stated that the country is eager to preserve the indigenous knowledge of traditional medicines which could be an answer to COVID-19. "In as much as we join the international community in the search for diagnostics, therapeutics and a vaccine, we are also looking at the real and important contribution indigenous knowledge systems, particularly traditional medicine, can play in improving the health outcomes of our people," he said. The Chinese community in South Africa joined the heritage day by exhibiting their culture, songs, and dances. The chairperson of the Chinese Community in Gauteng province, Erwin Pon called for the preservation and respect of culture. "There is a Chinese saying which says when you drink water remember its source. We should not forget our culture, who we are, and where we come from," he said. The Heritage Day is celebrated every year on September 24 to show the country's rich culture, diversity, and unity. This year the street march jamboree of different races and tribes was suspended because of COVID-19. Enditem Retired Bundamba MP and Labor Party stalwart Jo-Ann Miller says her family's guinea pigs were strangled and gas bottles set on fire after she raised complaints against disgraced former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale. Ms Miller, who quit her seat in February, has also claimed the party "turned a blind eye" to the man known as "Mr Ipswich", whose new guilty pleas relating to a sexual assault case and his years in office were made public on Thursday. "It wasn't safe for me, not even here at my house," the former police minister told Nine of the retribution faced for her anti-corruption campaigning. "My daughter's guinea pigs were strangled. One time someone set fire to the gas bottles at my home." Pisasale, donning a bathrobe and pyjama pants, resigned from his role at a June 2017 press conference after 13 years in the council which culminated in an 80 per cent share of the mayoral votes in 2016. The Islamic State have struck a blow to the Syrian Arab Army, inflicting a number of injuries, before disappearing into the desert region reports Al-Masdar. The Islamic State (ISIS) carried out a large attack against the Syrian Armed Forces near the Raqqa-Homs administrative border this week. According to reports from the front, a group of ISIS terrorists ambushed the Syrian army and National Defense Forces near the historical ruins of al-Rusafa, resulting in heavy casualties in the ranks of the latter. The reports said the Syrian Arab Army quickly moved in reinforcements to the area after the ISIS attack. ISIS continues to wreak havoc against the Syrian Arab Army in the vast desert region that stretches across the governorates of Raqqa, Homs, Deir ez-Zor, and Suweida. These attacks by the Islamic State have prompted the Syrian military to increase their presence in the Badiya al-Sham region of Syria, which is where the terrorist group mostly carries out their attacks. Since the Islamic State lost its de-facto capitals in northern and eastern Syria, the terrorist group has resorted to ambushes inside the countrys desert region, where they can quickly disappear after carrying out attacks. 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. Noted comedian in the Kannada film industry Rockline Sudhakar died of a cardiac arrest on Thursday during the shooting of a film, sources said. His end came in a private hospital, according to former president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce(KFCC) Sa Ra Govindu. Another office-bearer of the KFCC said the 65-year-old Sudhakar was shooting for Sugarless at Bannerghatta in Bengaluru. He had gone to the makeup room where he suddenly collapsed. He was taken to the hospital where he died," the office-bearer told PTI. Sudhakar tested positive for COVID-19 a month ago andwas hospitalised. He resumed his work after he tested negative. Sudhakar had acted in over 200 movies including Vaastu Prakara, Ayyo Rama, Topiwala and Mukunda Murari. OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Wi-LAN Inc. ("WiLAN"), a Quarterhill Inc. ("Quarterhill") company (TSX: QTRH) (OTCQX: QTRHF), today announced that WiLAN's wholly-owned subsidiary, Commercial Copy Innovations Inc., has entered into a license agreement with Konica Minolta, Inc. The license covers various printer-related technologies. The consideration payable to WiLAN and all other terms of the license agreement are confidential. About WiLAN WiLAN, a Quarterhill company, is one of the most successful patent monetization companies in the world and partners with its customers to unlock the value of intellectual property through various patent monetization models. WiLAN operates in a variety of markets including automotive, digital television, Internet, medical, semiconductor and wireless communication technologies. For more information: www.wilan.com . About Quarterhill Quarterhill is focused on the disciplined acquisition, management and growth of companies in dedicated technology areas including, vertical market software and solutions, intelligent industrial systems and innovation and licensing. Quarterhill's emphasis is on seeking out acquisition opportunities at reasonable valuations that provide a foundation for recurring revenues, predictable cash flows and margins, profitable growth, intimate customer relationships and dedicated management teams. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under the symbol QTRH and on the OTCQX under the symbol QTRHF. For more information: www.quarterhill.com. All trademarks and brands mentioned in this release are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE Wi-LAN Inc. Related Links www.quarterhill.com Residents of Counties Mayo and Donegal were the most law-abiding in Ireland last year and least likely to be sent to prison. Figures from the Irish Prison Service show that 7,170 people were committed to jail in 2019 with sharp variations in imprisonment rates according to the county they came from. Residents of some areas of the country were up to six times more likely to end up in prison than in others, according to an analysis of official figures. The highest rate of imprisonment occurred among those living in Limerick with 219 people jailed for every 100,000 of population. Next highest was Longford with a rate of 203, followed by Dublin with 185 residents imprisoned per 100,000 of its more than 1.34 million population. The national average was just over 132 with only six counties Limerick, Longford, Dublin, Louth, Carlow, and Laois exceeding that. Of other major urban areas, Cork was just below average at 123 while the rate in Galway was 94. At the other end of the scale, the rate of imprisonment was incredibly low in County Mayo where just 37 people were sent to jail for every 100,000 living there. There was a jump then to Co Donegal, where the rate was 51 per 100,000. Next lowest were Kerry (77), Kilkenny (77), and Roscommon (78). Among female prisoners, the difference from top to bottom was even sharper with a woman from Limerick with the highest rate twelve times more likely to be jailed than a woman with an address in Leitrim. In fact, last year only a single female with an address in Leitrim was sent to jail. The rates of imprisonment among men were more evenly spread with Longford, Limerick, and Dublin having the three highest rates. Overall, of the 7,170 people committed to jail last year, nearly 88% - or 6,276 of them were male with only 894 women imprisoned. The majority gave an address in the Republic, with 505 declared as no fixed abode and another 249 not stated. Thirty one people with residence in Northern Ireland were also jailed. The numbers sent to prison last year rose significantly from 2018, when the total was 6,490, but seem likely to fall back this year to Covid-19. Of those jailed, the largest number or 39% - were in the age bracket of 25 to 35, with 21% aged between 18 to 24. A total of 279 people aged 55 or over were also imprisoned. Nearly three in four of those committed gave their nationality as Irish, with a further 12.2% from the EU and 1.84% from the U.K. Of those sent to jail, 36 were convicted of homicide offences and a further 187 of sex crimes. According to the latest figures from the Irish Prison Service, there are currently just under 3,700 people in jail with a further 233 on temporary release. The number of inmates being given temporary release has risen during the Covid-19 pandemic as prison management try to keep bed capacity operating at around 85%. A Nigerian, Felix Osilama Okpoh, who is wanted by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for his alleged involvement in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded over 70 different businesses in the United States, has turned himself in to Nigerias anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Mr Okpoh, 31, who allegedly conspired with five others to defraud their American victims of over $6million, was led to the Lagos office of the EFCC by his father, retired Colonel Garuba Okpoh and his mother Justina Okpoh. A spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspect surrendered on September 18 and that investigations into his case had since commenced. Mr Uwujaren quoted Mr Okpoh as saying, during interrogation, that he decided to surrender himself to the Commission out of respect for his parents and his resolve to be morally upright. The FBI accused the suspect of allegedly providing hundreds of bank accounts to Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh and other co-conspirators, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode, and Nnamdi Orson Benson, that were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers. Bank accounts that Mr Okpoh allegedly provided to Mr Uzuh allegedly received fraudulent wire transfers from victim businesses totalling over $1million On August 21, 2019, Mr Okpoh was indicted in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. On August 22, 2019, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest. On June 16, 2020, United States Attorney Joe Kelly and Kristi K. Johnson, Special Agent in Charge of the Omaha field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced the unsealing of indictments charging the six Nigerians for their involvement in the fraud schemes. The schemes included individual victims and victim businesses both in Nebraska and other states, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement announcing the indictment. BECs are sophisticated cybercrimes involving electronic transfer payments or automated clearinghouse transfers. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates President Donald Trumps call for getting rid of ballots so there will be no transfer of power to former Vice President Joe Biden should he lose the election could end up backfiring on him by motivating Democratic turnout and alienating key voting blocs in must-win states, election experts and insiders say. Trump has, on numerous occasions, railed against the possibility of letting Americans vote by mail without going through the often complicated process of requesting an absentee ballot. He frequently claims without evidence that voting by mail is rife with fraud, often by citing anecdotal evidence to suggest that the push for more mail-in voting which is meant to mitigate the risk of voters contracting Covid-19 is a Democratic plot to commit election fraud. Asked whether hed commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he lose the election this week, Trump declined to do so and instead began renewing his baseless complaints about voting by mail. Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster. We want to have get rid of the ballots and youll have a very trans- well have a very peaceful there won't be a transfer, frankly; there'll be a continuation. The ballots are out of control, he said while addressing reporters in the White House briefing room. Surprisingly enough, this kind of talk could end up giving his opponents a boost heading into the election. Rachel Bitecofer, a political scientist whose voter turnout modeling gained significant attention in the wake of 2018s blue wave election, said Trumps attacks on voting by mail including his handpicked Postmaster Generals push to slow down mail service in key swing states has already caused Democratic grassroots groups to begin to pivot to early in-person voting, and predicted this latest attack will only accelerate that trend. You know, we're already seeing conversations happen due to the sabotage of the post office in the grassroots groups and within the more engaged part of the electorate, she said. I think there's going to be a greater intensity now, of people pushing voters away from vote-by-mail. And Trumps latest foray into authoritarian language could be even more costly when it comes to his chances of winning a second term. In must-win states like Arizona, Florida, and Texas, Trumps re-election campaign has put significant effort into engaging with Latin American voters, and has seen that effort rewarded with strong poll numbers especially among Florida-based Latinos. But veterans of Florida politics and Latino political outreach say Trump very well may have undone all that effort, and given those voters who were on the fence between him and Biden a reason to cast their lot with the Democrat in 40 days. This is one of those statements that, for voters who are still open to both candidates, could really be a difference maker, said ex-Florida Republican Representative Carlos Curbelo. Curbelo, the Miami-born son of Cuban exiles, opined that Trumps vow to get rid of the ballots would not play well with Latin American voters whose families fled places where leaders did exactly that. This is something that could push a lot of these centrist or center-right, younger Hispanic voters away from the President because they are familiar with the history of the type of regimes out there that their parents and grandparents fled, and they take very seriously the issue of having free and fair elections, he said. The people who will decide the election are still movable a few weeks out, and it's those kinds of voters that could say: Wait, hold on a minute, this is a bridge too far I may not be thrilled about Joe Biden, but we need to have free and fair elections in this country, he continued, before adding that people who either fled authoritarian regimes or are the children and grandchildren of those people are very sensitive to hints of authoritarianism because many of them including him had relatives imprisoned arbitrarily. The absence of the rule of law of what we call in Latin America the democratic order is very scary, very ugly, and it's the reason why so many people found a happy home here in the United States, he said. So for the President to raise this possibility at this juncture is very risky. The bad news for Trump does not end there. Mike Madrid, a California-based Republican political consultant and co-founder of The Lincoln Project who specializes in outreach to Latino voters, said the Presidents rejection of a peaceful transfer of power has given his group an opening to reverse all the Trump campaigns gains with Latino voters with what he described as some really harsh pushback. They [the Trump campaign] are running against socialism, but the real threat here is a dictator, he said. Madrid explained that exploiting Latino voters particularly Cuban Americans concerns over socialism has always worked because many of the extant authoritarian regimes in Latin America stemmed from left-wing governments. But that [socialism] doesnt mean being a caudillo, or a strongman, he said. Thats what theyre concerned about theyre not concerned about the ideology, theyre concerned about dictatorship, theyre worried about government control and intrusion, and its ability to do things like remove elections not just take your property, but take your right to vote away. Trumps push against mail-in voting and frequent baseless claims of voter fraud will also hurt him in Arizona and possibly even Texas, Madrid predicted. Mexican Americans are going to respond to the idea that ballots will be tossed because it's an inherently believable idea and message with Republicans, and with Donald Trump specifically, he said, recalling how Orange County, California Republicans obsession with ballot security really catalyzed the collapse of the Republican Party in California. When you hear Republicans saying this, especially a Republican like Donald Trump, who has been for years saying things that the community responds negatively to, it's a very believable argument, Madrid said. He's been claiming voter fraud in California since the day he got elected. Mexican Americans, they all know who hes talking about when he says illegal aliens are voting. "All this work is intended to promote Peru also as a stable democracy, one with a high capacity to face the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in an increasingly complex regional and global scenario," he said. The Cabinet member remarked that Peru's strength lies in being an attractive market with natural resources that are in high demand in the five continents. "In addition, it has an 'open to the world' policy that made trade and the attraction of foreign investment fundamental pillars for national development," he explained. According to the minister, the macroeconomic strength of Peru in recent decades has allowed it to better cope with the pandemic and its impact. "Although the gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to fall sharply this year, the economic reactivation promoted by the Peruvian Government will spur the economic growth rate to about 10% in 2021," he pointed out. In that sense, Lopez indicated that the Peruvian economy has generated positive expectations for next year, thanks to the timely and effective introduction of an economic stimulus package worth around 17% of GDP. "Likewise, our market has remained stable with a country risk score of 169 basis points, the lowest in Latin America and three times lower than the average in the region," Lopez affirmed. (END) VLA/JJN/RMB/MVB News Vietnam Over 18,500 foreign workers hope to return to Viet Nam Mangaluru, Sep 24 : : The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police of Mangaluru on Thursday reportedly summoned famous Kannada TV anchor, Anushri for her alleged association with choreographer Kishore Aman Shetty. Shetty was arrested last week for alleged possession of MDMA tablets and LSD strips. Although Anushri had consistently denied having received any summons, sources in Mangaluru police strongly contested this claim. Mangaluru, a coastal town 351 kms from state capital Bengaluru, is not only a popular tourist destination but also an education and IT hub. The senior police officer asserted that a team of police officers had already left Mangaluru for Bengaluru to hand over the summons personally to Anushri. Mangaluru police who have dug deep into the alleged drug case involving, famous choreographer, Kishore Shetty, has already made some progress by arresting his associate Aska originally hailing from Nagaland but now based in Dakshin Kannada, and his close aide, Tarun two days ago. The police claimed that Aska, an employee of a spa in the city, who allegedly partied with Shetty, was arrested later. Based on their inputs, the Mangaluru police have reportedly summoned Anushri. The police added that Tarun was arrested after a drug test which proved positive, they said. While a notice was issued to Anushree via WhatsApp, a police team has already left for Bengaluru to hand over the notice in person, the sources said. Shetty and his aide Aqeel Nausheel were arrested on September 19 on charges of drug consumption and peddling. Beth Jones of Sinking Spring encourages drivers on Route 422 to stop for free yard signs for President Dona;d Trump's reelection campaign on Saturday, Sept. 12. Read more In 2016, rural counties upended the Democrats' strategy to win Pennsylvania. That November, Democratic voters in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh couldnt overcome bipartisan enthusiasm for Donald Trump in the states postindustrial regions. Eastern Pennsylvanias Berks County exemplified the pivotal role that rural voters played in Trumps victory. Berks' impact in 2016 was significant and overlooked, says Christopher Borick, director of Muhlenberg Colleges Institute of Public Opinion. As Borick notes, Trumps results in Berks outperformed nearby Northampton County, an Obama-to-Trump county considered a bellwether in electoral politics. In the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country tucked between suburban Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, and the anthracite coal region Berks illustrates an important political trend in Pennsylvania: Democratic underperformance in urban centers and Republican overperformance in rural areas. Four years ago, Berks handily went to Trump by 10 points, even though Reading its county seat and Pennsylvanias fifth-largest city is overwhelmingly Democratic in registration. This November, Berks urban-rural divide could prove crucial in the battle between Trump and Joe Biden. READ MORE: How Trump and Biden look in a county thats a microcosm of Pennsylvania There is a sense among analysts and people within the Democratic Party that their strength is in cities, Jonathan Rodden, a political science professor at Stanford, told me. They kind of forget about rural areas, and that seems wrong especially given that turnout is so much higher in rural areas. This is evident in Berks, where only one Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 has won since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Berks political dynamics with Democratic voters in Reading outnumbered by rural GOP voters featured prominently in Roddens 2019 book, Why Cities Lose, which explored the Lefts electoral disadvantages. In 2016, for example, Hillary Clinton won approximately 80% of the vote in Latino-majority Reading, but she earned less than 25% of the vote in Berks more rural areas. Readings population today is only 88,000, writes Rodden, while the population of Berks County has grown to over 411,000, so that Reading now accounts for only 21 percent of its population. Berks rural base ensures a Republican advantage. In the early 20th century, Reading was a booming industrial city, where working-class Germans inhabited turreted rowhouses and attended ornate Protestant churches. Even then, though, this traditional group presented a paradox. In 1901, Pennsylvanias Socialist Party formed in Reading and soon thrived among German voters, thanks to vigorous recruitment efforts. By 1929, Reading had Americas only socialist-controlled city council. Yet, that same year, Cornelius Weygandt, a University of Pennsylvania professor, described the Pennsylvania Dutch as the most conservative people in America. This conservatism outlasted Readings socialist phase, the New Deal era, and the citys eventual industrial decline. The political culture was best captured by Berks native John Updike in his quartet of Rabbit novels, which cataloged middle-class life in the county between 1959 and 1989. In Rabbit Redux, set in the late 1960s, the protagonist Harry Rabbit Angstrom describes his stubborn affection for the American Flag and President Nixon; Rabbits father, a union member, lauds Medicare and Lyndon Johnson. Decades later, the Rabbit prototype socially conservative, economically moderate is alive and well in Berks rural townships and middle-class suburbs. Indeed, the Rabbit voter makes up Trumps base in Berks, where Republicans have significantly narrowed Democrats' voter-registration advantage since Obamas countywide victory in 2008. On a recent drive along Berks scenic Route 183, off I-78, I noted prevalent Trump signs along the landscape of historic churches, hilly cemeteries, farmers markets, and middle-class neighborhoods. Meantime, outside Wyomissing a prosperous suburb, where Trump essentially split the vote in 2016 office-lease signs dot the surroundings of emptying, Nineties-era corporate parks. These signs reflect the moment: a pandemic-era economy, with remote workers navigating an uncertain future. Nearly a decade ago, Reading was known as Americas poorest city. Last year, it elected its first Latino mayor, who ran on economic growth. COVID-19 complicates such goals, of course. In November, the city will doubtless favor Biden, but Trump still holds the countywide advantage. Reading continues to reflect a national trend: As you get closer to the city center, turnout gets lower, as Rodden puts it. Trump should enjoy an encore victory in Berks County, where rural and even suburban residents are mobilized to vote against the present cultural tumult, urban violence, and the Democratic Partys leftward turn. Theyre motivated, moreover, to vote Republican after Democratic Gov. Tom Wolfs devastating COVID-19 mandates, which a federal judge ruled unconstitutional this month. This November, Berks Rabbit voters German descendants of New Deal Democrats and even socialists could put Joe Biden at a statewide disadvantage. Charles F. McElwee is a writer based in Hershey. He edits RealClears Public Affairs page on Pennsylvania. @CFMcElwee. A version of this piece originally appeared in City Journal. Fallen former detective Glen McNamara claims fellow ex-officer Roger Rogerson confessed, in a conversation months before the May 2014 murder of drug dealer Jamie Gao, to having committed multiple murders, causing him such terror after Gao was shot that he helped Rogerson dispose of the body. McNamara's lawyer Gabriel Wendler told the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal his client's evidence about the conversation could have influenced the jury's decision, but it was ruled inadmissable during the 2016 trial, in which both men were found guilty of murdering Gao in a joint enterprise. Glen McNamara (left) and Roger Rogerson are appealing against their murder convictions and life sentences. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer, Daniel Munoz Both McNamara and Rogerson are appealing against their convictions and subsequent life sentences for the murder of Gao, who was shot twice in an orchestrated drug rip-off inside a storage unit in Padstow, in Sydney's south-west, before the two former policemen dumped his body at sea. During the trial, it was McNamara's case that he went along to a meeting arranged between Rogerson and Gao, not realising it was a drug deal. McNamara claimed Gao produced a knife, and said that he was hiding under a table when he heard the gunshots. Hal Whiteheads path to becoming a marine biologist wasnt cut and dry. He completed an undergraduate degree in pure mathematics at Cambridge University but decided that a career as a mathematician wasnt for him. He was more inspired by his childhood trips to visit family in Maine, where sailing was a way of life. So, the young Dr. Whitehead interned as a yacht designer for a short time, but that wasnt really what he had in mind for a career either. The early days Barclay: You were born in Derby, England a pretty landlocked place. So, Im curious how you ended up here on the ocean. Whitehead: Although I was born in Britain, my mother was American. Every two years wed come over to Maine where my grandmother lived in a house on an island and my grandfather was a yacht designer and sailor. That was the best time of my childhood. When I went to Maine, there were boats everywhere people involved in boats, sailing boats, designing boats, racing boats. That was a really important time for me as a kid and I think it led to where I am now. Barclay: Despite that, you went to Cambridge to study mathematics. How did you make that decision? Whitehead: I was moderately good at mathematics. It was fun, I enjoyed it. But when I graduated, I didnt want to be a mathematician. I thought I might become a yacht designer. There were three parts of yacht designing: draftsmanship, the mathematical side, and salesmanship. I was OK at the second one, but I was hopeless at the draftsmanship and salesmanship, so I wasnt sure that was for me either. The deal that led to a career path Whitehead: After I graduated, I came to North America which I loved and hitchhiked across Canada and then worked as a labourer in New England. Eventually I bought a little boat and decided to sail up the coast to Newfoundland. I really wanted to go to NL, but the cost of the navigational charts this was way before electronics were $5 each and you needed 20 or 30 of them to go around NL. That was a little more than my budget could stand. I was introduced to a scientist at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO) who was studying whales in NL. At that time, the charts were actually made at BIO, and so the scientist said OK, well make a deal Hal Ill get you the charts and you can sail around NL and keep track of the whales you see. He drew a field guide to the whales of Newfoundland on the back of one of the charts, and I thought that it was just a fantastic deal. Thats kind of how I got into it! Discovering whale culture Barclay: How did you make that first connection between the sounds that whales make and their behaviour? Whitehead: Sometimes its pretty obvious. When theyre socializing at the surface, you hear a certain clicking pattern. When theyre deep, you hear their regular sonar clicks [because theyre foraging for food] In 2001, I was writing a book on sperm whales and made what I think was my biggest discovery purely accidentally. Suddenly I noticed that clans of whales in the Galapagos Islands all had either one repertoire of clicking patterns or another. Social units in Clan One used a rather boring clicking pattern, and social units in Clan Two used a pattern which ended in a click that is sort of similar to the way Canadians say eh? We looked further and noticed clan-specific behaviours too We wondered what was going on, so we took samples of the whales skin from the water around them and had molecular biologists study their genetics. There was no difference in the genes that code for behaviour in the two clans, but there were differences in the mitochondrial genes that go through the mothers The implication here is that these differences in behaviour between the clans are being learned. So, thats what culture is its what you learn from others and then pass on. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI If not for a coronavirus outbreak among just-arrived migrant farm workers and a few college students, Muskegon Countys new virus cases in the past week would be quite low. As it is, the Muskegon County health director said shes very pleased with the countys COVID-19 case numbers, which grew by 32 in the past week. We look really good compared to other counties, said Kathy Moore, director of Public Health Muskegon County. Of the 32, 12 were among migrant farm workers who were tested when they arrived in town to work at a farm on Bailey Road on the eastern end of the county, Moore said. Some had mild symptoms and all are being isolated at the farm, with the health department taking up management of the cases on Monday, Sept. 21, she said. Related: Michigan migrant farmers caught in coronavirus catch-22 as case counts spike There also have been some college and university students who tested positive and returned home cases that Muskegon County counts because it is managing them, Moore said. A total of 10 students from the county have tested positive for COVID-19 over the past two weeks, though some of them are staying at school, she said. In both instances the students and the agricultural workers the infections occurred outside of the county, she said. Total cases in the county stood at 1,416 as of Thursday, Sept. 24. There have been 68 deaths, a number that hasnt changed in more than two weeks -- since Sept. 9, health department statistics show. The state counts 69 deaths, but Moore said one of those should be attributed to unrelated brain surgery. A total of 58,778 tests have been administered, making the positive test rate 2.4 percent. The farmworkers who tested positive ranged in age from their 20s to their 60s and originally are from Mexico, though they may have been working in the U.S. prior to arriving in Muskegon County, Moore said. Related: Majority of Oceana County coronavirus cases linked to outbreaks at 5 farms, factories While COVID isolation housing for migrant farm workers has been established at Camp Pendalouan in Muskegon County, this group of workers could be accommodated on the farm, Moore said. Pendalouan -- a YMCA-run camp primarily for young people during summer months -- has housed some infected workers from other counties, she said. While Moore had initial concerns about a rise in COVID-19 cases coinciding with the opening of K-12 schools, those so far have been for naught. I am amazed because I really was anticipating a few more issues with K-12, Moore said. COVID-19 cases by age are 142 among those under age 20, up six over the last eight days (since Sept. 16); 249 among those in their 20s, up 10; 206 among those in their 30s, up eight; 197 among those in their 40s, up 12; 233 among those in their 50s, up three; 178 among those in their 60s, up four; 107 among those in their 70s, up two and 104 among those age 80 and older, up one. Not included in the countys numbers are inmate cases at the Muskegon Correctional Facility, which total 997, or 77 percent of the total inmate population, according to statistics on the Michigan Department of Corrections website. Three inmates from that facility have died, the most recent on Sept. 17, according to the MDOC. The 27 staff cases at the prison are included in the countys numbers. Meanwhile, Brooks Correctional Facility, located across South Sheridan Drive from the Muskegon Correctional Facility, has had no inmate cases and four cases among staff, according to the MDOC. Its the difference in safety and precautionary measures, Moore said. The Ottawa County Health Department reported 3,354 cases as of Thursday, an increase of 225 over the past week. A third of those cases, 1,004, are in the Allendale zip code, where Grand Valley State Universitys main campus in located. Deaths in Ottawa County attributed to COVID-19 have remained at 66 since Sept. 17. In Oceana County, there were 489 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, Sept. 23, up 10 from a week earlier, according to Health Department District No. 10. Deaths remained at six, a number that has been unchanged for several weeks. Free COVID-19 saliva tests are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and noon to 7 p.m. Thurdays at Christ Temple Church, 412 E. Sherman Blvd. in Muskegon Heights. Free walk-up and drive-thru testing also is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at Mercy Health Lakes Village, 6401 Prairie St. off of Harvey Street in Norton Shores. Those needing a test are asked to arrange it through their primary health care provider. 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/. Also on MLive: Grant Public Schools closed after employees test positive for coronavirus Drive-thru voting in Muskegon a possibility with $433K elections grant Bus routes change, Saturday service ends in Muskegon soon Qatari news network, Al Jazeera, will soon resume operating in Algeria 20 years after authorities shut down the office of the Doha-media. Algerian authorities reportedly early this week validated a license application from the media. They however rebuffed the renewal of Dubai-based Al Arabiyas license meaning the Saudi media is expected to pull out from the North African country. Algeria officially refused to renew Al Arabiyas license over UAE-Israel August groundbreaking normalization deal. Algiers and Doha condemned the agreement deemed a stab in the back of Palestinians. Algeria under the leadership of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, friendly with the UAE, closed Al Jazeera office in 2000. The return of Al Jazeera however critics say has been forced on Algiers by Ankara, Qatars main global ally since 2017 after Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut off their diplomatic relations with Doha and imposed a sea/land/air blockade. Turkey reportedly is in possession of secret information on the Algerian army which wields a sway on the regime of Abdelmadjid Tebboune, after mining intelligence from retired chief warrant officer and the secretary of late army Chief of Staff Gaid Salah, Guermit Bounouira during his exile in Turkey from March to July. Bounouira had been extradited to Algeria and charged with high treason for handing over secret documents to and information to foreign agents. Written by: Jaber Ali on September 11, 2020. on September 14, 2020. Were living in a post-fact time, but that doesnt mean there are no facts. Here are some. The United States has the largest population of captive human beings on earth, around 2.4 million, and an outsized percentage of them are Black. Since the 1980s, prison life sentences have quadrupled; the minimum age for imprisonment has dropped; the use of solitary confinement, sometimes referred to as no-touch torture, has grown. The result is the prison-industrial complex we know, a punitive universe walled off from the larger world. What takes place behind those walls? Deprivation and cruelty, but also the production of art, as we learn from Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration, a stirring 44-artist show at the reopened MoMA PS1. A beta version of the show appeared in 2018 at the Aperture Foundation in Manhattan, organized by Nicole R. Fleetwood, a professor of American studies and art history at Rutgers University. Dr. Fleetwood is also guest curator of the MoMA PS 1 exhibition and author of a lucid new book that provides the shows title and defines what she calls carceral aesthetics, an art shaped by radically constricted space, an untethered institutional time and material scarcity. The logo of the Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. is seen outside its headquarters in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, April 17, 2012. . (Reuters/Tyrone Siu) Huawei Cuts $100 Million of Investment Following Australian Governments 5G Ban Huawei has cut $100 million of proposed research and development, as well as 1,000 jobs, in response to being banned from developing Australias 5G network in 2018 over national security concerns. Jeremy Mitchell, Huawei Australias chief corporate affairs officer, said the company had cut a swathe of initiatives earmarked for statesNew South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia. Mitchell told the Australian Financial Review on Sept. 22 that the company had reduced its high-tech workforce from 1,200 to under 200 and would continue to downsize. From a revenue point of view, we have gone from annual revenues of above $750 millionthat could easily have gone to $1 billion with 5Gto a situation wherein the next few years revenues will be below $200 million, he added. Advertising for Huawei Experience Store Opening in Sydneys Hurstville on Sept. 24, 2020. (Epoch Times) Australia was the first nation in the world to ban Huawei and ZTE in 2018 from involvement in its 5G network. The carrier was deemed a high-risk vendor under government guidelines for setting up 5G. Then-Acting Home Affairs Minister Scott Morrison (now-Prime Minister) released a statement (pdf) saying the incumbent 4G network allowed separation between core and edge networks. This means companies using the network for functions such as connecting handsets, laptops, and tablets, could be distanced from more sensitive core functions including access control and data routing. 5G however blurs the lines between these networks. Morrison stated that companies likely to be subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government could not adequately safeguard 5G from interference. Backlash and Decoupling From Chinese Tech Chinese tech firms have been under a cloud of scrutiny for years, due in part to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) 2017 National Intelligence Law which mandates that China-based companies must share data with the regime. The law, in effect, would open up a loophole or backend for tech firms to siphon information or valuable data back to Beijing. The decision to ban Huawei received backlash from the CCP resulting in threats to reporters based at the Chinese bureau of Australias public broadcaster, the ABC. Mitchell says since then, Huawei has closed its $60 million Operations and Business Support Centre in Melbourne; a $30 million National Training and Innovation Centre in Sydney; and shuttered plans for a global R&D centre in Western Australia for 5G mining applications. It also pulled its sponsorship of Canberra-based rugby league team the Canberra Raiders at the end of August citing a negative business environment. Rugby League match between the Canberra Raiders and the New Zealand Warriors at GIO Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. ( Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) He blamed recent scrutiny of Chinese tech firms in the United States as having a negative flow-on effect in Australia. U.S. President Donald Trumps administration has recently forced the part-sale of the U.Sarm of TikTok to Oracle and Walmart over similar fears regarding the National Intelligence Law. The move comes as nations with shared values begin partnering on trade and other areas, meanwhile isolating Beijing. The United States, India, Australia, and Japan are currently working towards formal quadrilateral security ties that will form the foundation of an arc of democracy surrounding China. Trust is now a rising new valuable commodity in economic relationships and supply chains. So, trust is about whether your partner is reliable, and not just from a business partner sense, but also from the jurisdiction they are operating in, Michael Shoebridge of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute previously told The Epoch Times. Huaweis Decisions Are Its Own Matt Warren, professor of cybersecurity at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology says Huaweis decisions to downsize investment in the country are its own, and not the governments. Huawei was performing well in the country up until 2018, and had thriving retail and wholesale arms. A man wearing a face mask following the COVID-19 outbreak walks past a Huawei booth at the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China, Sept. 4, 2020. (REUTERS/Tingshu Wang) In 2018, Huawei Australias revenue increased 18 percent to $735 million and generated a $29.3 million profit. If Huawei refocused their business model in Australia around commercial activities, they would have continued to make a profit, he told The Epoch Times. However, Warren qualified this by saying despite the cost-effectiveness of Huawei services, which were often 20 to 30 percent cheaper than competitors, security concerns around 5G were founded and would ultimately prevail. This is less generous by some way than the main furlough scheme, and a natural change as social restrictions are less severe, said Carl Emmerson, the deputy director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Mr. Sunaks statement on Thursday was even more downbeat than his last major speech in the House of Commons, in early July, when he said Britain was entering the second phase of its economic response to the virus and the government announced a meal discount program for the summer, which proved to be exceedingly popular. I know people are anxious, and afraid, and exhausted, at the prospect of further restrictions on our economic and social freedoms, Mr. Sunak said. He added that the resurgence of the virus, and the measures we need to take in response, pose a threat to this fragile economic recovery. Late on Wednesday, the Treasury said it would scrap the introduction of a budget in November, which would have offered a long-term plan for the economic recovery. Instead it announced the short-term measures, which also included cuts to the value-added tax, a kind of sales tax, for the hospitality and tourism industries, and extensions to government-backed loan programs to businesses and grants for the self-employed. They come just days after the prime minister, Boris Johnson, gave a national TV address in which he set new social restrictions, on top of local lockdowns, that he warned could last for months. The Treasury had been under increasing pressure to announce a successor to the furlough scheme after the prime minister said the country had reached a perilous turning point earlier this week, and opposition lawmakers had pointed to the fact that both Germany and France had already extended their furlough programs. About a month ago, Germanys governing coalition said employees placed on furlough or working reduced hours would be able to receive partial reimbursement for lost income until the end of 2021, beyond the programs normal one-year limit. Under the Kurzarbeit plan, the government pays 60 percent of the wages for the hours not worked, with that percentage increasing to 80 percent if hours are reduced for more than seven months. The "three-stage" structure of a lucrative cash-for-visa scam has been revealed in a corruption inquiry into former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire, including the envelopes and coat pockets full of cash that kept it running. The Independent Commission Against Corruption heard evidence from two Wagga Wagga businessmen who accepted cash kickbacks of $30,000 to falsely employ Chinese nationals for three months in order to secure visas. Both men say they were introduced to the scheme by Mr Maguire. Former Liberal Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire. Credit:Janie Barrett For each visa applicant the business operators would receive $1000 up front, $14,000 when the employment began and another $15,000 when the visa was issued. The ICAC is investigating whether Mr Maguire misused his time in office to his own financial benefit, including through the cash for visas scheme, which has been linked to the business he silently directed, G8wayinternational Pty Ltd. State health officials confirmed another 455 coronavirus cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases across Massachusetts to at least 126,863. Officials also announced 15 more COVID-related deaths, for a total now of 9,150. Thursdays case increase is based on 18,556 new molecular tests. There are 375 Massachusetts residents currently hospitalized with COVID-19, including 75 patients in intensive care. Over the last seven days, there have been an average of 402 cases per day in Massachusetts, which is a 40% increase from the average two weeks earlier, according to a New York Times analysis. Cases are on the rise in more than a dozen states, mot noticeably in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Iowa and Utah, among others. On Thursday, officials at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston said that a cluster of five patients and five staff members there have tested positive for COVID-19. The cluster was detected by infection control at Braunwald Tower units 16A and 14 CD, hospital officials said. Marlborough and Holliston were the two Massachusetts communities upgraded on the states COVID risk assessment map to high risk, according to data released Wednesday. There are now 15 communities at high risk for COVID transmission. Those 15 communities include: Chelsea, Everett, Framingham, Holliston, Lawrence, Lynn, Marlborough, Nantucket, New Bedford, Revere, Saugus, Tyngsborough, Winthrop, Worcester and Wrentham. Wednesdays map looks at case data from Sept. 9 through Sept. 19. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on Wednesday said the city of Boston is very close to moving into the red category on the statewide map, noting that the city has seen an uptick in hospitalizations recently. 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. 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. Boston plans to keep the seating limited to six people per table. These are the number of coronavirus cases in each county as of Thursday: Barnstable County: 1,728 Berkshire County: 705 Bristol County: 9,895 Dukes County: 63 Essex County: 19,422 Franklin County: 405 Hampden County: 8,098 Hampshire County: 1,211 Middlesex County: 27,014 Nantucket County: 88 Norfolk County: 10,142 Plymouth County: 9,592 Suffolk County: 23,988 Worcester County: 14,218 Unknown location: 294 Related Content: Anger that a Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor sparked passionate but peaceful protests in Pennsylvania Wednesday night. Hundreds took to the streets in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, as KDKA-TV and 6ABC report: In Pittsburgh, demonstrators gathered at Freedom Corner around 7 p.m. to hear from speakers before moving toward downtown Pittsburgh. The group stopped near Duquesne University, then outside the Allegheny County Courthouse, listening to speakers at both locations, KDKA writes. The demonstrators began dispersing around 11 p.m. The protest was peaceful, KDKA reports. The scene in Pittsburgh: NOW: Protesters are marching down Centre Avenue in Pittsburgh following a Kentucky grand jurys decision in the case of Breonna Taylor. pic.twitter.com/oaymRXscmv Shelby Cassesse (@ShelbyCassesse) September 24, 2020 In Philadelphia, Mayor Jim Kenney urged residents to remain peaceful and they responded. I know that many Philadelphians are feeling disappointed, frustrated, and even outraged, following todays announcement by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Kenney was quoted by 6ABC as saying after the grand jury announcement. 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. We are not aware of any specific threats of violence or looting, but we are sharing guidance to help businesses be prepared in case the situation escalates. Protesters gathered at Philadelphias City Hall, demonstrated peacefully Wednesday night, then dispersed. The scene in Philly: Looks like protest is over for the night. Philly cops boarding Septa buses to leave City Hall. @NBCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/dnu6gGamWk Aaron Baskerville (@ABaskerville10) September 24, 2020 Demonstrators also marched through the streets of New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. But in Louisville, the center of the anger, demonstrations were marked by violence and property damage, including the reported shooting of two Louisville police officers. The scene in Louisville: Small fires were set in Louisville, KY Wednesday night during protests after a grand jury indicted one of three officers in the Breonna Taylor case, but there were no charges directly related to Taylor's death. Police confirm two officers were shot during the protests. pic.twitter.com/VP1n340qlA KDKA (@KDKA) September 24, 2020 Background on the Taylor case from 6ABC: A grand jury brought no charges for killing Taylor, who was shot multiple times by police who burst into her home while serving a warrant. During the incident, Taylors boyfriend shot and wounded a police officer. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said the officers' shots that killed Taylor were fired in self-defense. The only charges brought by the grand jury were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into Taylors neighbors' homes during the raid on the night of March 13, KDKA reports. Various farmer organisations have given a call for a nationwide protest (Bharat bandh) on Friday. These groups are protesting the passage of farm bills in Parliament. As many as 31 farmer groups, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), and 19 political parties have extended support to the strike. These parties include Congress, Trinamool Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, and Telangana Rashtra Samithi. Here are the 10 points about the protest: * The leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in Punjab will stage a three-hour chakka jam to protest against the contentious bills. The road blockage will begin from 11 am. The railways has suspended several trains and partially cancelled 20 till September 26 in view of the strike and the rail roko agitation called in Punjab. The rail roko agitation began on Thursday and will continue for three days. * In Haryana as well, several organizations have extended their support to the nationwide strike. * In Delhi, the police are on high alert and will maintain high security at all border points amid the demonstrations. It will also seal its border with Haryana to prevent any untoward incident. * In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party workers will support the strike in the state. In Congress-ruled Rajasthan, demonstrations are expected. Also read: Farm bills are welcome, but farmers need a rights-based protection law | Analysis * The Congress had called the bills anti-farmer and on Thursday said it will challenge the black laws in court. It has termed them unconstitutional and against the countrys federal structure. * The SAD has also described the bills as anti-farmer, and wants the government to withdraw them. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had even met President Ram Nath Kovind requesting him to not give assent to these bills. * The three farm bill legislations - Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 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 Parliament earlier this week. * The legislations have received staunch criticism from various farmers bodies and Opposition parties. The agitating farmers fear that these reforms will lead to end of the Mandi system and are only in the interest of big corporates. * The government has maintained that these bills are in favour of farmers and will revolutionise the agriculture sector. The government also maintains that systems of the minimum selling price (MSP) and government procurement will continue unhindered and the passage of the bills do not affect them in any manner. * The Opposition parties accuse the government of pushing through the bills in Rajya Sabha while ignoring calls by many members for a division of votes. In what was described as a long running saga Meath Co Council, brought proceedings against the couple over a decade ago claiming the property was an unauthorised development. In 2010 the High Court found in the Councils favour and ordered that the house be demolished. A two-year stay was placed on the demolition order. The Murrays appealed that decision to the Supreme Court, which in 2017 upheld the lower court's decision. However, in fresh proceedings launched last year, the Council claimed the Murrays failed to comply with the order to demolish their home. It brought a motion before the High Court seeking their attachment and possible committal to prison for their alleged contempt of court. The couple had rejected the Councils claims and denied they were in wilful contempt of the court. Advertisement They argued the contempt proceedings should be struck out on grounds including delay and due to the change in the Murrays personal circumstances and their lack of resources. The motion came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan on Thursday who was told that following discussions between the sides the parties had reached an agreement. The Murrays, the judge heard, will remain at the 588sq metre house at Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, Navan, Co Meath for another two years. They are to vacate the property by September 24th 2020, and demolition works will take place following the familys departure. Sworn undertakings As part of the agreement the couple gave sworn undertakings to the court that they would leave thier home by the agreed date. Mr Justice Meenan welcomed the settlement, and gave both parties liberty to apply to the court should the need arise. The courts had previously heard that before building their house, the Murrays applied for permission for a 283.sq metre dormer bungalow for them and their three children on part of that land. That was refused. They did not appeal the Councils decision, which they claimed was an error. They proceeded to build a house nearly double that size without planning permission. They applied for retention permission for the property, which was not successful. This resulted in Meath Co Council bringing enforcement proceedings which resulted in a 2010 High Court ruling in the local authority's favour, which was up held on appeal to the Supreme Court A stay was placed on the Supreme Courts order to demolish the property, which expired in May 2018. 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. A Rome man has been charged with multiple hate crimes for defacing a U-Haul truck with a swastika and racial slurs, and deflating its tires, police said. Donald W. Decarolis, 40, was arrested today. The vandalism, found on the truck at a home on First Street in the city of Rome, was reported on Sept. 5, police said. The victim reported finding a swastika and the N-word scrawled on the truck, police said. Investigators also found that one of the tires had been slashed. After an investigation, police charged Decarolis with first-degree aggravated harassment, a felony with a hate crime designation, along with two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief, charged as both a hate crime and without the designation. Decarolis was also charged with making graffiti and fourth-degree criminal tampering. He was arraigned in Rome town court today and released. The Rome Sentinel reported Decarolis was the neighbor of the victim. The Rome police chief and mayor in a news release called Decarolis' actions a heinous hate crime." They added the city would did not tolerate such activity, and would prosecute such crimes to the full extent of the law. US president Donald Trump departing Pittsburgh on Tuesday (AFP via Getty Images) Donald Trump abruptly cut short a press conference on Wednesday to "leave for an emergency phone call". When pressed, Mr Trump said it was a "big call" without offering any further detail. White House reporters, however, later claimed it was for two TV appearances later in the evening. He made scant reference to the Breonna Taylor unrest in Louisville, instead praising the Kentucky attorney general and saying deployment of the National Guard was a "positive" thing. The president claimed he had not yet made a decision on a Supreme Court nominee, despite saying he has no meetings scheduled with one of the top contenders, Barbara Lagoa, and that the person is "highly qualified, totally brilliant, top of the line, academic student, the highest credentials". "All of them have that," he quickly qualified. He will visit the Supreme Court on Thursday where the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg is lying in state, paying tribute despite ignoring the late justices final wish of not nominating her successor until the election has been decided, even doubting the provenance of the request. Mr Trump will need a friendly Scotus if he follows through on his suggestion that there won't be a peaceful transfer of power at the end of his term, if only they got "rid of the ballots", then he would win and there would be a continuation of power. Speaking in Pennsylvania earlier, Trump also defended overseeing the worlds highest coronavirus death toll, saying 200,000 Americans amounted to "doing it right" because the mortality rate could potentially have been far higher. Following a story on Wednesday claiming Dr Deborah Birx was unhappy with her diminished role on the White House coronavirus taskforce, the person she was reported to be replaced with said there is no bad blood between them. Dr Scott Atlas said the CNN report was totally false, "really super journalism" that Dr Birx later denied. Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load New Delhi: Chinese New Year or in another word the Lunar New Year is being celebrated across the globe. This year the new year begins on Saturday 28,2017. You may be thinking why does it fall at this time of the year so when a new moon is seen the lunar new year begins. Gregorian" calendar which is traditionally used in the UK is different from this one as it totally depends on the moon.Every year the Chinese New Year is celebrated on different dates, but it will fall sometime between 21 January and 20 February. According to the reports in 2018, the new year will start on 16 February. What is Chinese New Year? # Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival. # It is one of the most important occasions in the Chinese calendar. # In Chinese tradition, each year is named after one of twelve animals, which feature in the Chinese zodiac. # 2016 was the year of the monkey, while 2017 will be the year ofA rooster. # The next time it will be the year of the rooster is 2029, as this is in 12 years' time. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Police in Vietnam said they found about 320,000 recycled used condoms that were being repackaged as new, local media reported on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. Market inspectors in the Binh Duong province raided a factory near Ho Chi Minh City, where they discovered used condoms being repackaged to be sold at the market. An inspector said the factory's 34-year-old owner, a woman, confessed they purchased the condoms from someone else, the state-owned Tuoi Tre newspaper reported, according to the AP. In this image from a video report by VTV, allegedly used condoms are being are being packed for sale in Binh Duong province, Vietnam on September 10, 2020. / Credit: AP After buying the condoms from a man, they were washed and reshaped, then packed in plastic bags, according to the newspaper. Video taken by Vietnam's state broadcaster VTV and obtained by the Reuters news agency shows sacks filled with condoms. It also shows tools apparently used to wash and reshape the condoms in the factory. VTV said it was unclear how many used condoms were already resold, according to Reuters. A health official quoted by Tuoi Tre newspaper said the condoms were an extreme health risk to users, the AP reported. Police release body camera video of an officer shooting teen with autism Louisville police prepare city for an upcoming decision in Breonna Taylor case United Kingdom imposes new restrictions as COVID-19 cases spike TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pcysys has announced that the Romanian manufacturing company, BILKA, has chosen PenTera, the Automated Penetration Testing platform, to continuously validate its cyber security controls. The platform's implementation was entrusted to Romanian IT&C company, Mida Soft Business. "As soon as we saw PenTera in action, its value of continuous network visibility was clear to our entire security team," says Razvan Stan, IT&C Manager at BILKA. "We're proud to be a technology and innovation-led company. We incorporate automation in many aspects of production, and cyber security is no different. PenTera provides us with comprehensive visibility and testing that enable us to keep our guard up at all times while increasing the team's productivity." The PenTera agentless platform utilizes the latest hacking techniques to ethically penetrate the network and prioritize remediation efforts towards breachable security vulnerabilities. Aligned with the industry standard of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, PenTera allows organizations to prove and improve their cyber posture by performing penetration tests on-demand. The platform covers the scope of vulnerability assessment, security controls, credential strength validation, network equipment testing, and privileged access audits, eliminating the need to maintain separate tools and increasing team productivity. "We at Pcysys believe that continuous testing and challenging an organization's security stack is the only way to stay ahead of attackers in today's everchanging threat landscape," says Noam Segev, Regional Sales Director of Eastern Europe at Pcysys. "I'm glad we were able expand our business in Romania and onboard BILKA as our first partnership in the region to provide ongoing validation of cyber security to their network." "We at Mida Soft Business are geared towards success, and treat each project with utmost professionalism. We provide our customers with cutting edge solutions, which is why we partnered with Pcysys earlier this year," says Ciprian Baranga, Executive Director at Mida Soft Business. "Our partnership with BILKA, alongside the many demonstrations we've led with Romanian enterprises, reaffirms our decision to introduce PenTera into our cyber portfolio in these ever-changing times, especially with the remote-work reality considerably increasing the attack space." About Bilka Founded in 2007, BILKA is the top manufacturer of roofing systems in Romania, driving record sales year over year. The company's production and storage facilities span over 140,000 sq.m., making it the largest roof systems factory in Eastern Europe. The production lines are fully automated, relying on the latest technologies available worldwide. BILKA owes its success to its ability to create continuous and homogeneous high-quality products and services alongside the symbiotic work between its staff and automated systems. About Pcysys Pcysys delivers PenTera, the agentless, automated penetration-testing platform, that assesses and reduces corporate cybersecurity risk. The platform is run remotely on the Cloud or on-site to identify, analyze and focus remediation efforts on breachable vulnerabilities. Hundreds of security professionals and service providers around the world use PenTera to perform continuous machine-based penetration tests that improve their immunity against cyber attacks across their organization networks. Contact: Aviv Cohen, Pcysys CMO | aviv@pcysys.com About Mida Soft Business Founded in 2003, Mida Soft Business is a 100% Romanian company. Over 17 years, Mida Soft Business has diversified its portfolio of services and business lines, offering complete solutions focused on technology: hardware infrastructure, software development (ERP, CRM, Telemedicine software, ERP for Health), printing and service, cybersecurity and specialized consulting in each of these areas of expertise. Contact: Ciprian Baranga, Executive Director Mida Soft Business | www.midasoft.ro | office@midasoft.ro Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/832279/Pcysys_Logo.jpg A Special NDPS Court on Thursday allowed the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to question Showik Chakraborty and Dipesh Sawant at the Taloja Central Jail in Raigad where they are lodged, officials said here on Thursday. The NCB wanted to question them for certain aspects pertaining to the drug-related probe into the late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs case. The duo is currently in judicial custody till October 6 and their bail application is expected to come up for hearing in the Bombay High Court shortly. Showik is the brother of Sushants ex-girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, who is also in judicial custody in Byculla Jail, while Sawant is the househelp of the late actor, who was found dead at his Bandra home on June 14. Meanwhile, Fashion designer Simone Khambatta was questioned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for over four hours on Thursday in the drugs angle related to Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death case. Khambattas name cropped up after her alleged drug chats came to the fore. Sushants former manager Shruti Modi was also being interrogated in a drug related case during the day, officials said. Bollywood actor Rakul Preet Singh, who was also summoned for questioning on the day, skipped the NCB summons, officials said. Earlier in the day, an NCB official said that Rakuls summons were issued on Wednesday and on Thursday morning she acknowledged them and updated her latest address also. The NCB also summoned actresses Deepika Padukone, Shradhha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan for questioning in a drugs related case. The NCB is the third federal agency to probe the death of Sushant besides the CBI and the ED. Panic gripped residents of Lagos and Ogun border communities this afternoon following an explosion and massive fire. The explosion, which was heard as far as Harmony Estate and Obawole, Ogba, Iju in Lagos as well as Akute Ogun State, was said to have occurred around 3:30pm around Balogun Bus Stop in Ishaga. It was gathered the loud bang, which many residents reported across social media platforms was as a result of a gas tanker about to enter a newly built plant in a residential neighbourhood. A lawyer, Fisayo Eluyare, who was among those who raised the alarm, said the explosion nearly brought down his house. He wrote: Gas explosion nearly brought my house down! The explosion didnt even happen very close to my house but it shook the whole house and almost shattered my windows. The light from the explosion came very close to my building. Thank you God o. Other residents appealed for emergency responders to be alerted as the fire, they claimed, was already entering nearby homes. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates We serve Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley and Ventura Counties Los Angeles Area Eminent Pavers Helping Relieve Stress During COVID-19 Start improving your energy with paving to create tranquil conditions. LA based Eminent Pavers explain how. Start improving your energy with paving to create tranquil conditions. LA based Eminent Pavers explain how. Pavers We serve Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley and Ventura Counties We serve Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley and Ventura Counties eminentpavers-service-location Counties Los Angeles San Fernando Valley Ventura County Counties Los Angeles San Fernando Valley Ventura County Ventura,CA, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Installing high-quality pavers has many advantages for Los Angeles-area homeowners, including a high return on investment when it comes to increasing the curb appeal of your home. Regardless of the location or kind of pavers you want to install, finding a trustworthy, experienced, highly-rated Southern California contractor for the job is tricky. Here, we provide a few tips to help guide your search. Read our full step-by-step guide here. 1. Defining Your Project. Before you go on to search for or select a paving company for your project, its best to know what you need in advance to streamline your search to contractors that provide the services you need. Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself: Do you already know exactly what pattern, finish, and type of paving stones you want to be laid, or do you need a design consultation to guide your project goals? How flexible is your budget? What timeframe do you have in mind? Is it a standalone paving project, or is it part of a larger refurbishment, redecoration, or landscaping effort? 2. Researching Contractors First, gather recommendations from friends or colleagues. There are a huge number of Southern California pavers, and the best way to narrow it down is by gathering the opinions of people that you trust. Next, take the list of recommendations youve gathered and conduct an online search for the following information: What services do they provide? Examples of their work on their website or in reviews. What materials do they use? Client reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook, and more. Licenses and board certifications, which you can cross-check with the Contractors State License Board of California. Story continues Finally, call each contractor for a free approximate estimate on your project. This will tell you not only if theyre in the ballpark of your budget, but give you some hints about how their customer service will be throughout the course of your project, including their responsiveness to questions. And remember: if an estimate sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 3. Potential Hires and Narrowing Down Your List Ideally, you should have a shortlist of contractors that you are excited to work with. At this stage in the process, you should expect to schedule in-person estimate meetings with representatives from the contracting company. During this meeting, assess the quality of the customer service and how knowledgeable and experienced the representative seems to be, as well as making sure that the quote can be broken down into specific price points. Some companies may email you with a quote in follow-up to the meeting, and this is acceptable too. Ultimately, the final choice comes down to your project goals, your budget and schedule constraints, and how compatible you are with the culture of the company. These steps should give you some insight into this information. In summary, to get the most out of your project, be sure to go with a highly-recommended, experienced, trustworthy Los Angeles paving contractor with a proven track record of high-quality work and appropriate certifications. For more information about pavers and paving projects, click here. Eminent Pavers on Hotfrog Eminent Pavers on iGlobal https://www.yelp.com/biz/eminent-construction-encino-7 PH: (888) 330-8818 Attachments SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco awarded $3.5 million in grants to 97 nonprofits through its 2020 AHEAD Program. The grants, delivered by FHLBank San Francisco member financial institutions to nonprofits in Arizona, California, and Nevada, are aimed at providing both immediate and long-term pandemic relief and boosting economic development in lower-income communities. AHEAD is an annual economic development grant program. In response to the COVID-19 crisis and its economic shocks, FHLBank San Francisco added $2 million to its planned $1.5 million 2020 AHEAD funding allocation to enable members to support targeted pandemic-related initiatives and the help local nonprofits struggling to adapt to increased costs, loss of staff, and postponed fundraising campaigns tied to the pandemic. In this uniquely challenging and uncertain time, we are pleased that our members are partnering with us and with local organizations that bring special expertise to serving their communities, said Stephen Traynor, Acting President and CEO of FHLBank San Francisco. These grants will help meet urgent essential needs and also support the longer journey to recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Members partner with nonprofits to use AHEAD grants to advance a variety of economic development initiatives, especially jobs-related programs targeted to underserved populations. With additional dollars and expanded eligible uses, this years $3.5 million AHEAD Program will also provide crucial funding for nonprofits in Arizona, California, and Nevada newly in need of working capital, infrastructure, or increased capacity to meet the unexpected challenges of the COVID-19 crisis. FHLBank San Francisco awarded $1.6 million in grants to 45 projects that will boost economic development activity and create greater opportunity in underserved and low-income communities. An additional $1.9 million in funding will be used by 52 nonprofits that are providing immediate and long-term pandemic relief, including food, rental assistance, homeless services, health services, and other support services to individuals, families, and communities most affected by the pandemic. Nonprofits provide crucial services and essential resources, including food, shelter, and financial assistance, to people in need, said Marietta Nunez, Senior Vice President and Community Investment Officer at FHLBank San Francisco. The pandemic has swelled the number of individuals and families in need. We are pleased that our members have responded so swiftly by securing additional funding for these vital organizations through our AHEAD Program. This year, the Bank reviewed 362 applications before selecting 97 AHEAD grant winners. The grants will be delivered through 65 participating Bank members, including 20 that submitted winning applications for the first time. Individual grant amounts range from $20,000 to $37,500. Among this years 97 grant recipients are: African American Community Service Agency: A $37,500 grant through member Meriwest Credit Union will support agency operations and their ability to provide needs-based services to ethnically diverse low-income children, families, and seniors in San Jose and greater Santa Clara County. Chicanos Por La Causa: A $37,500 grant through member Western Alliance Bank will support expansion of its YouthBuild program and targeted outreach for the program to individuals receiving services at a Las Vegas homeless resource center. Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission: A $37,500 through member City National Bank will be used to buy a refrigerated truck that will enable the organization to increase essential food deliveries to multiple homeless shelter the Mission operates, which are rapidly increasing capacity to meet new demand for beds as a result of the pandemic. Mission Economic Development Agency: A $37,500 grant through member Frist Republic Bank will support a pilot program aimed at helping Latinx and immigrant entrepreneurs shift to an online business model. Placer Food Bank: A $37,500 grant through member Central Valley Community Bank will be used to purchase a cold storage unit to increase capacity at their distribution hub to meet growing demand for hunger relief as a result of the pandemic. White Mountain Apache Housing Authority: A $37,500 grant through member Clearinghouse CDFI will be used to support veterans living on the reservation by providing regular transportation to medical appointments and to VA offices where they can apply for benefits. Since 2004, the Bank has awarded over $18 million in AHEAD Program grants to support over 600 nonprofit projects and programs in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada strengthen communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutionscommercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutionspromote homeownership, expand access to quality housing, and boost economic development. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant, equitable, and resilient. Contact: Mary Long, 415-616-2556, longm@fhlbsf.com As the temperate weather of fall summons us outside into the cool, crisp air, Staten Islanders are once again privy to all types of festivals and events. And while the outdoor gatherings certainly look different than they did last year with mandatory social distancing measures and masks the purpose is the same: Bringing people together for down home food and fun and a celebration of community spirit. Dancers wore traditional masks and garb at El Grito de Independencia (The Cry of Independence) celebration hosted by El Centro del Inmigrante Sept. 16 in Port Richmond. (Courtesy/El Centro del Inmigrante)Staten Island Advance Earlier this month, El Centro del Inmigrante brought Port Richmond together in a joyous festival celebrating Mexican Independence Day. More than 150 revelers watched dancers, listened to customary music, enjoyed traditional food, and even received vital information about the Census and how to stay safe in this pandemic. And everyone went home with full bellies, as well as packets with masks and vital COVID-19 prevention information. The El Centro Test and Trace staffers know the need persists for this kind of outreach. And in the two weeks leading up to the festival, El Centro was a COVID-19 testing site, where 339 individuals learned whether or not they had the virus. What a better way to remind people to get tested and take care of themselves, than a festival to celebrate culture? More upcoming festivals are also set to bring communities together: SI Counts Coalition is putting on Come Out and Get Counted fun- and food-filled outdoor events before the Census deadline at the end of September: Monday, Sept. 28, a Mac NCheese festival will take place at Bay Street and Victory Boulevard, Tompkinsville, from 3 to 7 p.m. Mac N' Cheese is set for Monday, Sept. 28 at Bay Street and Victory Boulevard in Tompkinsville. (Courtesy/El Centro del Inmigrante)Staten Island Advance Tuesday, Sept. 29, Taco Tuesday will be held at Tappen Park, Stapleton, from 3 to 7 p.m. Taco Tuesday with giveaways and more is set for Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 3 to 7 p.m. in Tappen Park, Stapleton. (Courtesy/El Centro Del Inmigrante)Staten Island Advance Wednesday, Sept. 30 Waffle Wednesday will unfolds at Sobel Court, Clifton, from 3 to 7 p.m. Waffle Wednesday is set for Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Sobel Court in Clifton. ( (Courtesy/El Centro del Inmigrante)Staten Island Advance Light the Shore the annual, waterfront vigil to memorialize Superstorm Sandy, Thursday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. at Midland Avenue and Father Capodanno Boulevard. Light the Shore is set for Wednesday, Oct. 29 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to memorialize the victims of Superstorm Sandy and the lives lost to COVID-19. (Courtesy/Deborah Young)Staten Island Advance Candles will be lit and prayers said to commemorate the victims of the storm that wreaked havoc on our community eight years ago. Speakers, including clergy and elected officials this year, will also memorialize the Staten Islanders lost to COVID-19. Oct. 29 marks the eighth anniversary of Superstorm Sandys landfall. Interfaith clergy and elected officials will offer prayers and words of comfort to the families who lost loved ones to Sandy as well as to COVID-19. Those who attend the candlelight vigil at Midland Avenue and Father Capodanno Boulevard are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing. To honor the life of founding The Staten Island Long Term Recovery Organization (SILTRO) board member Thomas Cunsolo, who recently died, the Thomas Cunsolo Service Award will be presented to three Staten Islanders who have made major contributions to helping the Staten Island community recover from COVID-19. Have any more events to share? Send them to benanti@siadvance.com The puppies are everywhere. I see them every day as I take my six-year-old German shepherd, Jet, out for his daily walk along the tree-lined sidewalks near downtown Salt Lake City. Little labs, shepherds, border collies, and more, all happily snuffling and wagging along the sidewalk as they trot along with their new families. Shelters and breeders alike have been understandably swamped this year, with people trying to bring meaning and joy to our time in quarantine. Each pandemic puppy we see is absolutely adorableand also poised to become a huge problem for the people who adopted them to be little rays of sunshine during the interminable pandemic. Advertisement I think that people anticipate a special kind of interspecies companionship with dogs, says Julie Hecht, a PhD candidate in animal behavior at the City University of New York. Theyre not wrong: our dogs are closely attuned to us, from how we feel to what we do, and having a furry friend whos always happy to see youor, maybe more accurately during the early days of COVID, stay glued to your side can certainly make stressful situations easier. But now that some communities are experimenting with going back to school or work, veterinarians and behavioral specialists are starting to see emerging problems among our pups. And if youve had trouble navigating all the changes with recent life, imagine how hard that is for your dog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem is that the pandemic puppies are too bonded with us. Puppies are the focus of the family, says veterinarian Laura McLain of Holladay Veterinary Hospital in Utah. That goes double during the pandemic. During life before, a growing puppy would have to get used to people coming and going during the day, or even having the house to themselves for a bit. And while we could rely on dog walkers, daycare, and training schools to entertain and socialize our dogs in the Before Times, suddenly we became our dogs whole world. Early life socialization is about helping young animals join the world win which theyre going to live, Hecht says. The pandemic puppies have been unknowingly conditioned for a world in which theyre always with us. Advertisement Advertisement Constant companionship doesnt necessarily make life less stressful for dogs, though. If all they know is us, much of the world may seem alarmingespecially during trips to the vet. Pandemic puppies adopted in April and May are getting old enough to be spayed and neutered. But during the post-op care, McLain and her colleagues noticed something strange. Many of the puppies react with fear and aggression when the doctors go to put the infamous cone of shame on the dogs after surgery, the pups flailing, biting, and otherwise reacting violently with a frequency never seen before. Its difficult to tell for sure without being able to talk to the dogs themselves, but, McLain says, it may be a symptom of that lack of socialization. The fear is probably made all the worse by the fact that we still need to social distance at the vets office, and the fact that everyone is wearing masksa challenge for animals that are attuned to our faces and expressions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our dogs also arent used to being left alone. As we ease out of life in lockdown, theyre being left to hang out without us for stretches of time, perhaps for the first time in their lives. Pandemic aside, changes to daily routines can affect dogs negatively, Hecht says, especially when we dont realize that our dogs need some help and patience navigating the changes. New absences can be a trigger for separation anxiety. Thats true for older pups, too, even if the dogs arent totally alone. I recently planned an overnight trip to Arches National Park, where there are no dogs allowed. On the morning I left, I didnt even get to the highway before I started getting messages from my girlfriend. Jet, typically independent enough, had started acting strange, jumping on the bed and woofing right in my girlfriends face, trotting out to search the apartment for me as soon as she let him out of the bedroom. I hadnt thought about the fact that Id barely been out of his sight or nose since March. Morning family walks had become the daily routine. It didnt matter that I said Ill be back soon and pet his ears before I left. To me, I was just taking a little breakhed obviously have lots of fun with his other mom. To him, I had abruptly changed a pattern Id inadvertently set over the course of months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dogs can make such good, intuitive companions that its easy to forget that, in fact, theyre dogs. They dont experience or understand the world the way we do. Certainly not all puppies will develop behavior problems or become aggressive, but the dramatic shifts in our lives mean we have to be sensitive to how our companions react, too. Like our own social skills, theirs might be weird and frayed right now. Dealing with separation anxiety, especially, requires patience, trying techniques like leaving and returning at two minute intervals, then five, then twenty, and so on until our dog understands that we will come back and the sky wont fall. If only we could be taught such calm right now. I fervently believe that military officers should not be involved in presidential politics, even when retired, said Boyd, who is the only former POW to have reached four-star rank, and served as deputy commander of the U.S. European Command. But this year is different. Donald Trumps assault on the rule of law that makes a democracy possible has been so egregious Ive decided to speak out. . . . We need to vote for Joe Biden this year. Im going to vote for him. I hope you do, too. CCTV As many as 52 teachers of a private school in UP's Meerut have filed a complaint accusing the schools management commitee secretary for blackmailing them after secretly filming them inside the toilet of the school. The teachers, in their complaint, stated that the secretary of the schools management committee blackmailed them with their objectionable photographs and videos whenever they asked for the payment of their salaries which were pending for months. Based on the complaint, police, on Wednesday, registered an FIR against the secretary and his son under sections 504 (intentional insult), 354 (a) (sexual harassment) and 354 (c) (voyeurism) of the Indian Penal Code. Meanwhile, the secretary has denied the charges of sexual harassment levelled against him. There is no CCTV inside the womens toilet. But they have been installed in the gents toilets. This was done against the backdrop of recent cases of murder inside some schools', said the secretary to a source. The secretary, however, admitted that for the past few months, the school has failed to pay salaries to the teachers due to the ongoing pandemic situation. A case has been registered and the investigation is being carried out. "A team of officials from the forensic department has been roped in to provide assistance to the police in the investigation," Sadar Bazar Police Station SHO Vijay Gupta said. Austria's domestic intelligence service is investigating a rapper whose music was allegedly used as the backdrop to a deadly anti-Semitic attack in Germany last year, a spokesperson said Thursday. The musician, known only under pseudonyms, has been calling on members of neo-Nazi online forums and chat groups to carry out terrorist attacks for several years, and has posted versions of popular songs with his own racist, extremist and anti-Semitic lyrics, according to an investigation by Austrian daily Der Standard and Germany's public broadcaster ARD. "We are investigating this case," a spokesperson for the interior ministry told AFP on Thursday. The spokesperson added that the investigation was being conducted by the BVT, Austria's domestic intelligence agency, and had been underway for "several months". The man, whose real identity remains unknown, calls himself "Mr. Bond" and "anon24431009." He turned the Bloodhound Gang's "The Roof Is On Fire" into "The Mosque Is On Fire," and used the Scorpions' "Wind of Change" to glorify Adolf Hitler in "Wind of Adolf". Der Standard and ARD report that his music was used as the soundtrack to a live-streamed attack last year in which a man shot dead two people after a failed attempt to storm a synagogue in the eastern German city of Halle. The 28-year-old went on trial for the killings in July and admitted in court that he had planned the attack, adding that he had picked the music as a "commentary on the act." A female passerby and a young man at a kebab restaurant died in the attack, one of the worst acts of anti-Semitic violence in post-war German history. Though the Viennese musician's posts at first showed excitement that his music had accompanied the attack, he later expressed disappointment over the attacker's failure to enter the synagogue, branding him a "massive failure". The Viennese rapper is not known to have committed acts of violence or terrorism himself, but propagating Nazi ideology is a criminal offence in Austria and offenders can face long jail terms. The Ministry of Interior last year recorded 797 incidents of right-wing extremism. In US-based online forums, the Viennese man likened the Christchurch shooter who killed 51 people in mosques in 2019 to a saint and translated his racist, anti-Semitic and extremist manifesto into German. "We, too have to get ready to attack very soon," he posted online, according to Der Standard and ARD. The civil aviation ministry has entered into air bubbles with 14 countries where Indians can fly. Talks are on with several other countries to facilitate two-way international travel. But there are some countries where Indians are not allowed to fly at this moment, implying that no air bubble can be set up with these countries as of now. What are air bubbles? Air bubbles are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger service at a time when regular international flights across the world are suspended. International flights were suspended in March as all countries imposed lockdown to combat the spread of Covid-19. Repatriation flights resumed in May, but these flights are different from air bubble flights as repatriation flights cant carry passengers both ways. Also Read | International flights: Who are eligible to fly to these 13 countries? Where Indians cant fly to and why As the countries are opening international travel gradually, the governments are in the process of identifying high-risk and safe countries. The European Union didnt identify India as a safe country. However, India has air bubble with Germany and France. South Africa: From October 1, South Africa will resume international travels. It is likely that the government will not allow Indians to travel to the country. Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia has barred all flights to and from India in its effort to check the Covid-19 situation there. Hong Kong: This month, Hong Kong placed a bar on Air India flights blaming Indian travellers for an uptick in the number of Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong. This bar will be lifted soon. And there are other airlines operating to Hong Kong. 14 destinations where Indians can fly to Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Maldives, Nigeria, Qatar, the UAE, the UK, the US are the 14 countries where Indians can fly. The number of people infected with COVID-19 is rising rapidly in Germany. Only five of the countrys nearly 300 administrative districts currently report no new infections. Since the unrestricted opening of all schools as well as the wider economy, infections among adolescents and young adults have risen sharply. On Saturday, there were almost 2,300 new infections, the highest figure since April, and on Tuesday, another 1,821 were registered. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), at least 9,396 people have died of SARS-CoV-2 since March. The Bavarian cities of Munich and Wurzburg are heavily affected, exceeding the critical seven-day level of 50 infected persons per 100,000 inhabitants. The same applies to the cities of Remscheid and Hamm in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germanys most populous state. Other large cities such as Gelsenkirchen and Cologne as well as the Berlin district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg are approaching this level. Berlin as a whole is severely affected and, with a seven-day incidence of 22.8, ranks first in Germany, ahead of Bavaria (20.2) and NRW (15.8). In Bad Konigshofen (Lower Franconia), all schools and day-care centres were closed on Tuesday. The number of infections there had risen rapidly after a wedding celebration. At the celebration itself, 17 of 78 guests were infected, which in turn could have infected 400 contact persons. On Tuesday morning, 12 more positive results (from 270 tests) from the contact persons were already available. Since the unrestricted opening of businesses, and above all of schools and day-care centres, the number of infections among young people between the ages of 14 and 35 has risen in particular. In Bavaria, one in two newly infected people falls into this age group. A recent study from Boston has shown that coronavirus is also highly dangerous for this group. The study, which was reported in the Suddeutsche Zeitung, analysed the course of the disease in 3,222 young adults who were admitted to a hospital in the US with COVID-19. It was carried out by doctors and scientists at the large teaching hospital that belongs to Harvard University. The study showed that 21 percent of the 3,222 in-patients had to be transferred to intensive care, 10 percent needed artificial respiration and 2.7 percent died. Some of those affected had certain pre-existing conditions, such as obesity or high blood pressure, but this was by no means true of all of them. Worldwide, the number of coronavirus deaths is approaching 1 million, and many more millions of people will face health problems in the long run, perhaps for the rest of their lives, because of COVID-19. In the US, 200,000 people have now died, and in Europe, the numbers are rising again at an alarming rate. There is a record increase in Spain and France, as well as in the Czech Republic and throughout Eastern Europe. According to the WHO, which also lists Russia as one of 53 European countries, 5 million SARS CoV-2 cases have been registered in Europe so far. 228,000 COVID-19 patients have died. According to the WHO, 40,000-50,000 new infections are detected in Europe every day, which is quite comparable to the US, where last week there were on average 45,000 new infections daily. Nevertheless, all governments around the world mercilessly insist on keeping schools open in the interest of the economy. This is also driving the pandemic in Germany. The danger of an exponential spread is currently increasing once more, as can be seen from the reproduction figures. Since the beginning of September, the R-value has been constantly above 1, with an upward trend. This was most recently the case in June, over several weeks, when outbreaks became more frequent among contract workers in slaughterhouses and agriculture. At Tonnies, more than 2,000 slaughterhouse workers were infected with COVID-19. Forty of them had to be hospitalised with severe symptoms, and some have not recovered to this day. At schools, on the other hand, it was loudly announced at the time, that such outbreaks, or super spreading events as at Tonnies, could never happen. Children were allegedly the brake blocks of the pandemic, as the Saxony Education Minister Christian Piwarz (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) claimed in July. Nobody dares to recall this today. The unrestricted opening of schools is proving to be the driving force behind the pandemic. Due to outbreaks at schools, more than 20,000 pupils and several thousand teachers are currently in quarantine in the three federal states of Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse alone. In North Rhine-Westphalia, 7,000 pupils and 580 teachers are in quarantine, according to the NRW Ministry of Education. Of these, 238 pupils and 46 teachers have tested positive. In Bavaria, 8,800 students and 771 teachers have to stay at home. By Sunday, 383 children and young people and 48 teachers were reported infected. And in Hesse, the Ministry of Education in Wiesbaden reported that over 4,700 pupils and 480 teachers were in quarantine at the end of last week. Due to an outbreak of COVID 19, one grammar school in Saarland is also currently closed. The Geschwister Scholl Gymnasium in Lebach, Saarlouis district, is another example of the fact that the infection is spreading rapidly within schools. As the website news4teachers reports, two teachers and one pupil tested positive there at the beginning of September. As a result, at least 18 coronavirus infections have been detected at the school so far. Now, 900 students, teachers and staff and their families have to remain in quarantine until September 25. Major COVID-19 outbreaks have also occurred within a school in Giessen and Rostock and before that in Hamburg-Winterhude. In Giessen in Hesse, the Liebig School is affected with 14 infections; the outbreak has also spread to a neighbouring daycare centre. Before this, 33 pupils and three school employees in Hamburg had already been infected with COVID-19, but the school was not closed. In Rostock (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), the Hundertwasser Comprehensive School was completely closed on September 17, and 800 pupils and 80 teachers were sent into quarantine. Following the positive test of a sick teacher, the virus was initially detected in nine pupils and three other teachers. Further series of tests are still ongoing. Rostocks school minister, Left Party politician Steffen Bockhahn, threatened to fine anyone who his security service did not find at home during the quarantine. He recommended that parents should leave their children alone in their room, pass in food and otherwise limit contact to the bare essentials. ... To be clear: The children concerned will not leave the flat. The minister from the Left Party is a telling example of the harsh tone with which the education politicians of all parties are now ordering around the affected children and their parents. Just a few weeks ago, these same politicians had announced with deep conviction that it was safe to open schools, that they could not be hotspots, and that children very rarely fell ill from the coronavirus. Even now, when the outbreaks in schools refute this, politicians continue to claim that, since the number of deaths has not (yet) risen sharply again, there is no cause for concern. Above all, there must be no new lockdown. This was also the statement of the latest Schools Conference, to which Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), Federal Education Minister Anja Karliczek (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader Saskia Esken invited the Education Ministers of the federal states. All of us in the country cannot want our children to have to stay at home for weeks on end again, said Karliczek, the headmistress of the school, in an attempt to whitewash this policy. The conference promised headmasters and teachers 1 billion for the digital upgrade of schools. However, the grand coalition of the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats has been promising this for weeks. In August, a 500 million programme for the purchase of on-loan equipment for needy pupils was already announced. Now a further 500 million is to be added to equip teachers with service laptops and schools with IT administrators. This is at most a drop in the ocean. With such promises, politicians are mainly trying to divert attention away from their own responsibility for the disaster that is about to hit schools. While they have digitally equipped the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) with billions from the coronavirus pot, they idly allowed the summer holidays to pass by. Pupils and teachers had to return unprepared at the start of school to the same deteriorating schools that had been neglected before the pandemic. Although it would have been very possible to do so, schools were not equipped for safe operation. The necessary purchase of air exchange units, CO2 meters and filter systems in the classrooms was described as too expensive (NRW Education Minister Yvonne Gebauer). Topics such as establishing small, fixed learning groups, the expansion of classrooms, distance rules and wearing masks in the classroom fell by the wayside, just like blanket testing. We will have problems with the unrestricted opening of schools, as it has taken place in the meantime. This is the assessment of the Charite virologist Christian Drosten, who has finally made a clear statement against the unprotected school reopenings. In an interview with the Tagesspiegel, Drosten addressed the many existing options, such as renting halls or marquees to provide wider distances between pupils and staff, or the questions of whether occupational safety allows constant draughts, and what fans would cost. Much time was wasted, he bitterly noted. May, June, July, Augustyou could have had four months. His colleague, Isabella Eckerle, a virologist and head of the Centre for Viral Diseases at the University of Geneva, went even further when she told the Tagesspiegel on September 21 that it was only a matter of time before the numbers in hospitals start to rise. Coronavirus was still dangerous, warned Eckerle: The virus has not changed. Most of us havent had it yet and are not immune. In contrast to all the establishment parties and the media, since the end of the summer holidays, the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) has been calling on teachers, pupils and workers in all sectors to set up independent action committees to prepare a general strike against the reopening of schools and the policies of the ruling class. In its statement, the SGP said, the hundreds of billions of euros that have gone to the banks and corporations and are being spent on armaments and war must be used for education, health care and providing full pay. Teachers, parents, and students have already started to put this into practice. By an overwhelming majority, the people of Florida restored the voting rights of most felons in a 2018 ballot referendum, which allowed 775,000 people who had served their sentences to regain the franchise for the first time in decades. Just as quickly, the states Republican Legislature and Republican governor conditioned the right on the payment of all fees, fines and restitution related to that felons sentence. Their fear, of course, is that these felons would vote for the other party which, given the GOPs attitude toward civil rights, is a safe bet. So billionaire Mike Bloomberg stepped in last week, raising $16 million to pay off the fines for 32,000 of those voters 80 percent of whom are indigent. This should be celebrated, because only someone of Bloombergs wealth can offset what is essentially a poll tax, imbued in the Jim Crow tradition of Florida history and flaunted by current governor Ron DeSantis. Of course, Bloombergs munificence has Republicans freaking out, claiming he is illegally buying votes, and the states Attorney General vows to investigate. No matter how it turns out, let the record show that only one side was trying to protect democracy by upholding the will of the people, restoring the franchise to those who paid their debt, and by launching a preemptive strike at voter suppression. Democracy is a conditional concept in Florida, the state that elected the largest perpetrator of Medicare fraud in U.S. history, Sen. Rick Scott, three times to high office. For eight years, Scott had the power of clemency as governor, and in that time, he restored voting rights to three times as many white men as Black men, a Palm Beach Post study found. Florida was clearly sick of this racist practice, and voted as such. Fortunately, Bloomberg has the wallet to back it up. How does the Supreme Being feel about Medicare fraud? https://t.co/EkhB7T4dJw Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) September 25, 2020 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. A FUTHER six confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Limerick. In its daily update, the Department of Health says 324 additional confirmed cases have been reported across the country. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 3 people with Covid-19 have died in Ireland. It was confirmed this Thursday evening that the Cabinet has decided to move Donegal to level three restrictions. Nphet is said to be worried about the ongoing rise in cases of Covid-19 in the county, with 30 recorded yesterday and 42 recorded this Thursday. The move means that Donegal joins Dublin in being upgraded in the Government's five-level framework. As part of the restrictions pubs and restaurants close to indoor dining. People in Donegal also face restrictions on their household visitors, gathering sizes and sporting events. Meanwhile, of the cases notified in Ireland today; 167 cases are in Dublin, 42 in Donegal, 34 in Cork, 13 in Monahan, 12 in Kildare, 8 in Cavan, 6 in Limerick, 6 in Meath, 6 in Roscommon and 5 in Wicklow, with the remaining 25 cases in 11 counties . 169 are men / 155 are women 64% are under 45 years of age 52% are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case 81 cases have been identified as community transmission There has now been a total of 1,797 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland and a total of 33,994 confirmed cases of the disease in Ireland. Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: Public health doctors are coming across more cases arising from people who are close contacts of confirmed cases and are not restricting the movements. Remember that Covod-19 is highly contagious and you can be infectious without symptoms. 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. Please avail of a test when it is offered. Last week 1 in 10 close contacts who had a test were found to be positive many of them had no symptoms. Here is a list of resources for people who have been displaced by wildfires in our area and people who want to donate money, goods or services to help: American Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency support for fire evacuees: Linn County Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road E., Albany. Anyone impacted by the wildfires and in need of support can go directly to the closest location or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Livestock can be housed at the Benton County Fairgrounds, 110 SW 53rd St. in Corvallis, and will continue to be supported while their owners make arrangements to return home. At this time, there is no set date for closing down the livestock sheltering function at the fairgrounds. For more information visit www.co.benton.or.us/wildfireresponse. Apply for federal disaster assistance: State and federal officials are encouraging Oregon residents affected by the wildfires and straight-line winds to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency as soon as possible. FEMA's Individual Assistance program for survivors has been made available in Linn, Marion and other counties. Assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Register at 800-621-3362, disasterassistance.gov or the FEMA app. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to homeowners, renters and businesses. Information: 800-659-2955 or www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Public assistance for emergency work and repair of replacement of disaster-damaged facilities has been made available to counties including Benton, Linn and Marion. All areas are eligible to apply for Hazard Mitigation assistance. Visit FEMA.gov for more information. Benton County Wildfire Response: Visit https://bentoncountywildfireresponse.recovers.org/ for resources for wildfire victims and for those who wish to help them. Crisis counseling: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call the Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to speak to a trained crisis counselor. Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool: Producers and landowners can use the online Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, answering five questions to identify U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that will help meet disaster recovery needs. Customers can also download a copy of the new "Disaster at a Glance" brochure. For more information on all USDA disaster assistance programs, visit farmers.gov/recover, or contact your local USDA Service Center, which can be found at farmers.gov/service-center-locator. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, please contact your crop insurance agent. Disaster Unemployment Assistance: The Oregon Employment Department has announced the availability of DUA for individuals who became unemployed, had their work hours substantially reduced or are unemployed self-employed individuals as a direct result of the wildfires and straight-winds that took place since Sept. 7. Individuals also must not qualify for regular state unemployment insurance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, other extension programs or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits. DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning Sept. 13. Benefits will be available till March 20, as long as the individual's unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster. The application must be filed by Oct. 23. Application forms are available at www.oregon.gov/employ/disaster, certain evacuation sites and WorkSource Centers. Further information is available at 503-570-5000. Displaced animal database: Thousands of Oregonians, their livestock and their other animals are displaced following the devastating wildfires. Many shelters, private groups and citizens are now housing these animals, some of which do not have known owners. While some of these groups are advertising lost animals on their websites or social media, it can be difficult for the public to know where to look. The Oregon Department of Agriculture has created an online database and website to help. The ODA Animal Tracker, https://oda.direct/AnimalTrack, is meant to assist Oregonians looking for animals displaced during the wildfires. This tracker is not intended to replace existing systems already in place at county animal shelters. In order to make the database work, animal shelters, private citizens and groups caring for animals without known owners can email ODA with information and photos. That information will be added to the database and continuously updated. Therefore, owners are asked to visit often if they dont see their animals listed. If you are caring for animals without a known owner, you can have the animals listed by emailing ODA at animaltrack@oda.state.or.us. The email must include the following information: shelter name and location; shelter phone number; shelter email address; location where animal was found (as much detail as known); species; color; sex; and picture(s) of animals. Livestock photos should show left side, right side, face/head and identifying marks such as brands, scars or ear tags. Pet photos should show the left side, right, face/head and back. If the shelter, citizen or group does not have the means to collect and email this information, call ODAs Brand Inspection program at 503-986-4685 to request help. It is important to remember that it against the law to keep found livestock. If assistance is needed to verify ownership of livestock, call ODA to request the assistance of the local brand inspector (503-986-4685). County shelter links can also be found on the ODA Animal Tracker for owners to search. County shelters will be responsible for ensuring ownership of animals discharged from their shelter. Displaced worker virtual sessions on unemployment insurance, health insurance, human services and other community resources: The Beachie Creek/Santiam Fire has affected many employed by Freres Lumber. These sessions are designed for Freres Lumber workers, but any local workers affected by the fire are welcome to attend. Rapid Response teams are available across the state to provide virtual information sessions when a temporary layoff has occurred. Our goal is to help workers temporarily laid off to navigate unemployment insurance, health care options, and community services while waiting to go back to work. Displaced Worker Virtual Session One on unemployment insurance, health insurance and community resources, 1 p.m. Monday, +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782, webinar ID 869 0195 7184; https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86901957184; or simply enter the webinar ID on the Zoom App. Displaced Worker Virtual Session Two on unemployment insurance, health insurance and community resources, 1 p.m. Wednesday, +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799, webinar ID 879 3724 7691; https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87937247691; or enter the webinar ID on the Zoom app. Donate or volunteer to help evacuees: Visit https://oregonrecovers.communityos.org. Donations for victims: One way way to support fire-stricken communities is to provide financial donations to relief organizations actively responding to these disasters. For verified disaster relief organizations, refer to Oregon Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster at www.orvoad.org. Donations for victims: Those interested in helping those who have been displaced and severely impacted by the recent fires can contribute to the Linn County Wildland Fire Victims Fund. Contributions will be used for hotel vouchers and medical needs. Checks can be mailed to the fund in care of the Linn County Fair and Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road E., Albany, OR 97322, or in care of the Linn County Treasurer, PO Box 100, Albany, OR 97321. Checks also can be dropped off at the expo center. Checks must include the words "Linn County." Emotional support resources: The Oregon Behavioral Health Support Line is a free and confidential resource for all Oregonians who are looking for emotional support. Call 1-800-923-HELP (4357). You do not need to be in a mental health crisis to call this line. If you need or want help beyond what the line can provide, you will be connected to those services. This can include community-based services such as housing, food assistance or clinical services. Certified interpreters are also available for those who speak a language other than English. Through this number, you can also connect with Lines for Life (linesforlife.org), a suicide prevention organization with specific resources for youth, military personnel and their families, and those affected by substance abuse problems. Enroll in health coverage: Oregonians affected by the wildfires can use the federal emergency declaration by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to take advantage of an exceptional circumstances special enrollment period. Applications are being accepted at 800-318-2596 and healthcare.gov. The enrollment period could expire as early as Nov. 15. Find and reunite loved ones: Oregon Emergency Management urges the public to update information on their status with the American Red Cross. Let loved ones know you are safe at the American Red Cross Safe and Well Website. State emergency managers encourage people affected by the fires, whether or not they have evacuated, to register on the site. It is a helpful tool that can bring relief to people looking for loved ones during these fires, and help inform search efforts. Visit https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php. Food and water for wildfire victims: To donate food, water and other items, reach out to your local food pantry to see if they are able to receive donations. Find food pantries at https://foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org/. Food replacement benefits: The Oregon Department of Human Services is processing replacement benefit requests for individuals who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and who suffered loss of food due to the wildfires. SNAP recipients who lost or disposed of food that was unsafe to eat can request SNAP replacement benefits. Current SNAP recipients should contact their local ODHS office as soon as possible to find out if they are eligible. Replacement benefits are available to existing SNAP recipients who lost food due to a power outage or home damage. The deadline to request replacement benefits has been extended to Oct. 7. Information: oregon.gov/dhs/offices/pages/index.aspx. GoFundMe fundraisers for wildfire victims: More than 60 verified fundraisers have been started for Oregon residents affected by the fires. All of them have been added to GoFundMe's centralized hub: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/oregon-fires. Health and social services: Call 211 or visit 211info.org to connect with health and social service organizations. These include child care resources, utility assistance, food resources, housing and shelter information and more. Health Care Heroes Relief Fund: This fund supports Oregon hospital workers who are or become victims of the wildfires. All donations to the fund will be tax-deductible as allowed under law. To donate, visit www.orhealthfund.org. Immediate foreclosure relief: The Department of Housing and Urban Developments automatic 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration-insured home mortgages commenced for the Oregon counties covered under the presidential declaration on the date of the declaration. For assistance, call your loan servicer or FHAs Resource Center at 1-800-CALL FHA (1-800-225-5342). Information about donating, volunteering, packing and emergency response agency websites: Visit wildfire.oregon.gov. Locate manufactured home ownership documents: The Oregon Building Codes Division's online system can provide manufactured home owners with information including the record of ownership, if the documents were destroyed in the wildfires. The Oregon Manufactured Home Ownership Document system is available at https://aca-oregon.accela.com/or_mhods. The system allows people to search for their documents and, once they find them, print or email them. If customers need an existing ownership document mailed to them but are displaced from their home, they can call 800-442-7456 or email mhods.bed@oregon.gov and the division can send it to any address the customer wants. The MHOD system also has forms, application forms and other resources. People can access the records without logging in. Meals for evacuees: Its On Us Corvallis is partnering with local restaurants, farmers and other producers to provide meals to displaced Oregon residents. Several local restaurant owners are showing community support to neighbors displaced by the fires. IOU is dedicated to reimbursing expenses to whatever extent possible, in an effort to help recoup some lost revenue from yet another economic blow. IOU is asking for donations to support the businesses and producers that participate in donating these meals to evacuees. Donations can be made at https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/itsonuscorvallis. To stay up to date on meal distributions, follow Its On Us Corvallis on social media. Oregon Health Plan members: If you have health insurance under OHP and had to leave home quickly due to wildfires, leaving behind important medical equipment or prescriptions, there is a way to get those items replaced. If you have any trouble replacing things like medical equipment, supplies or prescriptions, your coordinated care organization can help. You can find your CCO contact information at http://ow.ly/jprH50BoEAi. If youre an OHP member with an open card, call Member Services at 800-273-0557. Shelter for wildfire victims: The American Red Cross has temporary shelters available throughout Western Oregon. For a list of shelters, go to websitehttps://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.html. Technical and financial assistance for farmers, livestock producers and private forest landowners: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers, livestock producers, and private forest landowners recover from the impact of the recent wildfires. As agricultural producers move into recovery mode and assess damages, they should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure and livestock losses and damages. The USDA encourages farmers and livestock producers to contact the Farm Service Agency county office at the local USDA Service Center to learn which documents should be provided to help the local office expedite assistance, such as farm records, receipts and pictures of damages or losses. Depending on the operation, the FSA offers a number of disaster assistance programs to help offset eligible losses, including the Livestock Indemnity Program; Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program; Emergency Conservation Program; Emergency Forest Restoration Program; Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program; Tree Assistance Program; and Livestock Forage Disaster Program. Additionally, producers in counties with a primary or contiguous disaster designation may be eligible for low-interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses. The USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service also offers programs to help in the recovery process. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program can be used to provide resource protection for areas burned by catastrophic fires. Benefits include preventing soil erosion, minimizing the spread of noxious and invasive plants, revegetating burned areas, removing excess dead vegetation, protecting water quality and restoring livestock infrastructure necessary for grazing management. Producers with Federal crop insurance coverage should contact their crop insurance agent for assistance. Producers should report crop damage to their agent within 72 hours of damage discovery and follow up in writing within 15 days. Tweet chat to answer wildfire survivors' questions about disaster assistance: Oregon wildfire survivors who use Twitter will have an opportunity to get answers to their questions about disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Association, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Untied Way and Oregon's Department of Consumer and Business Services. The #OregonRising tweet chat is set for noon to 1 p.m. Friday. The handles of participating Twitter accounts are @OregonOEM, @UnitedWayPDX, @FEMARegion10, @RedCrossCasc, @SBA_PortlandOR and @OregonDCBS. U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance for farmers: Oregon agricultural and forestry operations have been significantly impacted by the wildfires, and the USDA has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers, livestock producers and private forest landowners recover. As agricultural producers move into recovery mode and assess damages, they should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure and livestock losses and damages. Wildfire response resource information: https://states.aarp.org/oregon/oregon-resources-for-wildfire-response. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Associated Press CAIRO: An announcement last month that Egypt's top prosecutor would investigate an alleged 2014 gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at a luxury Cairo hotel marked a rare moment of triumph for human rights activists. Those hopes were quickly dispelled after authorities detained possible witnesses and some of their acquaintances, who could face separate charges under the country's vague morality laws. A media campaign has targeted both potential witnesses and the alleged perpetrators. "It's frightening and terrifying," said Azza Soliman, an attorney who runs the Centre for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance. She worries the government is making an example of those who came forward with information about the alleged rape and that this will discourage other victims and witnesses from speaking out. Activists say the sharp turn in the case highlights how a patriarchal legal system often blames victims of sexual violence and shames others who fall outside traditional mores, including the country's hounded LGBT community. The case has also captivated many in Egypt as it exposed free-wheeling practices of alcohol- and drug-fueled partying among a small subsection of the country's very wealthy youth. In conservative Egypt, authorities present themselves as guardians of traditional values. Sexual harassment on the street remains common and women who defy conservative notions of proper behavior are widely seen as inviting or even deserving sexual abuse. In the suspected gang rape case, potential witnesses and acquaintances have faced forced virginity tests and anal examinations by authorities as private, explicit videos purportedly from their phones have circulated via private messenger apps and were described in local media. The detention of witnesses has sent shivers down the collective spine of those hoping for justice in the rape case. Most activists and lawyers following the witnesses' case insisted on speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. The government maintains it has a responsibility to investigate all criminality in the case, including the possible violation of morality laws, which include vague terms such as debauchery. The prosecutor's office also hinted it might bring charges of drug use. The alleged gang rape involves a group of young men from wealthy and powerful families. They allegedly drugged the teen at a party at a five-star Cairo hotel, then took turns raping her. They wrote their initials on her body and circulated a video of the act, according the victim's account and a judicial official investigating the case. Six years later, accounts of the assault surfaced amid a renewed #MeToo campaign on social media that swept Egypt this summer, encouraging more women to speak out against sexual misconduct. On Aug. 26, almost a month after accounts of the 2014 alleged gang rape emerged on social media, Egypt's public prosecutor announced it had identified nine suspects, but that seven had already fled the country. Two others were arrested in Egypt. Five of the seven fugitives escaped to Lebanon, where three were later arrested and two remained at large. Lawyers involved in the case have said little. Mohammed Hamouda, a lawyer hired by the National Council for Women to represent the victim, said in televised comments that his client was 17 years old at the time of the rape. He said the assault resulted in pregnancy. He declined comment when reached by the AP. Tarik Gamil Said, a lawyer identified as representing some of the suspects, did not return multiple calls seeking comment. Authorities have not identified other lawyers involved in the case. Days after the first suspect was apprehended, at least four possible witnesses and acquaintances of the victim were also detained as part of the investigation. Soon after, graphic videos and photos circulated on private messaging apps showing sex acts between same-sex partners and nude photos, purportedly taken from the phones of witnesses and suspects. On August 31, a pro-government media site ran a salacious report about "group sex parties" organised to promote gay and lesbian sex at the same hotel. The report and subsequent media stories shocked and captivated conservative Egyptian society. It is unclear how the images were leaked, but many blame the police. The prosecutor's office said it had seized phones from those detained to examine whether they contained evidence for the investigation. Both suspects and witnesses could now face charges under the country's morality laws, along with the main case, the alleged gang rape. "Probing the rape crime does not mean turning a blind eye to other possible crimes," said one Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to reporters. Two male witnesses were subjected to anal examination and one woman to a virginity test, according to Human Rights Watch and a lawyer following the case. Egyptians have in the past claimed that invasive procedures are necessary for investigations. The World Health Organization has decried such examinations and activists say the practice itself amounts to sexual abuse. 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 The Texas Faculty Association called on Gov. Greg Abbott Tuesday to order colleges to report weekly numbers of COVID-19 positive cases and related deaths. Pat Heintzelman, the association president and an instructor at Lamar University in Beaumont, said the group wants Abbott to use his emergency powers to require all public and private colleges to report their cases and provide faculty with information needed to keep themselves and their families safe. The association is an organization of about 500 college faculty members from across the state. Now Playing: A new Houston Chronicle investigation reveals COVID-19 spread faster and farther than the public was told. Top officials were warned years ago we were unprepared for a pandemic. For months, the death toll was distorted. In the end, COVID-19 exposed a cascade of failures that let the virus spread unchecked, killing thousands of Texans. Video: Laura Duclos The governor can work through either his appointees on the Higher Education Coordinating Board or his appointees on separate university governing boards to accomplish this goal, Heintzelman said in a written statement. He obviously wants university campuses to be open while the coronavirus pandemic remains dangerous. So, the least he can do is see to it that university administrators provide public information about COVID-19 infections in a timely manner. Abbotts office did not respond to requests from the Houston Chronicle. Heintzelman said the request this week from the faculty association stems from the many concerns shes heard from faculty throughout the pandemic. Many feel uninformed and unsure whether students in their classrooms have the virus. They dont know whos got it, Heintzelman said. (Faculty members) are risking their health every day, working on campuses, and they are entitled to this information, Heintzelman said. Heintzelman added that some schools have refused to release this information to faculty who have requested their respective colleges number of positive cases. Heintzelman did not say which colleges have refused to provide numbers, but added that some college and university faculty members have gone as far as submitting public information requests to get the data. In some cases, Heintzelman said professors and instructors are learning from students, rather than their college administration, about who has tested positive in their classrooms, but did not point fingers at any college in particular. How difficult does that make your job when you dont know? Youre assuming the worse, and the rules are so all over the map. The faculty are worried that they are not being kept up to date, she said. Many Texas college officials have said they conduct their own contact tracing per CDC guidelines, which should alert exposed individuals or those who come to close contact with positive cases. While some Texas colleges host their own dashboards with COVID-19 cases posted on their websites, Heintzelman said many faculty are still unsure of whether the numbers are accurate or updated. Some universities are not reporting or putting (their cases) on the website and that leads the teachers to wonder how many and where the cases are, Heintzelman said. You need to be informed how a student who is in your class is affected, and a teacher should inform all students so they know whether to quarantine or get tested. Faculty have been particularly concerned with how schools are enforcing face coverings or masks, she said, adding that on some campuses, students wear masks improperly or below their nose, which can defeat the purpose. She also called for more testing. We need to not let up. This disease is not behind us, she said. The first time we drop our guard, its going to get us. And if someone tests positive, Heintzelman said, we need to know immediately. brittany.britto@chron.com Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (28) BOSTON, SAN FRANCISCO, and PARIS, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Servier, an independent international pharmaceutical company, has awarded the 2020 Servier Golden Ticket at MBC BioLabs to Telo Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focusing on working on solutions to treat TERT promoter (TERTp) mutant cancers. The award will help Telo Therapeutics advance the company's effort in developing two preclinical programs targeting the TERTp mutated pathway in oncology. Telo Therapeutics is developing targeted therapies for oncology based on a unique approach to reversing the cancer's ability to proliferate without limit. By inhibiting the reactivation of telomerase, an enzyme that controls lifespan in normal cells and is co-opted by tumor cells, Telo's therapies have potential for treating a very large patient population across many tumor types. All cancer cells undergo a process called cellular immortalization, and over 90% of human cancers achieve this by reactivating the telomerase enzymatic complex. TERT promoter (TERTp) mutations are the 3rd most common mutation in human cancer and drive telomerase reactivation in over 50 cancer types. Telo Therapeutics is moving rapidly to identify and develop novel targeted therapies for treating multiple TERTp mutant cancers with high unmet medical need. Telo Therapeutics is led by a dynamic team, with whom Servier BioInnovation has had the opportunity to interact for several years. Their work, addressing a high unmet medical need for a small targeted population in Oncology, is the kind of innovation Servier has the vocation to support. "We are very pleased to award this year's Golden Ticket to Telo Therapeutics, and we look forward to seeing the team accelerate their efforts to develop therapies and innovative modalities for patients with tumors carrying the TERTp mutation, who have very limited treatment options currently." said Christian Schubert, Global Head of External Innovation and Director of Servier BioInnovation. This coveted prize from Servier, part of its sponsorship of MBC BioLabs, supports a startup research program that aligns with Servier's ambitious efforts to deliver meaningful improvements in patient care today and into the future. The Golden Ticket award underwrites the cost of one lab bench for one scientist to reside in MBC BioLab's open lab for one year, allowing a startup company to focus its early efforts on moving the science forward. "We see potential synergies between Telo's data driven approach of the TERT pathway and Servier's drug discovery platforms, especially since Oncology is one of our major focus," said Olivier Nosjean, Scientific Director of Research at Servier. Indeed, Telo Therapeutics' bring together a strong knowledge of the biology of TERTp mutant cells, and backing of years of world-class research in academia. They rely on a multi-modal approach, developing two preclinical programs, which is an interesting strategy to address their target pathway. "We couldn't be more excited for Telo," said Doug Crawford, General Manager at MBC BioLabs. "The Servier Golden Ticket will enable Telo to advance their truly novel approach to developing much needed therapies for glioblastoma. Servier's support of MBC BioLabs and entrepreneurs like Rob Bell is an integral part of driving the entire innovation ecosystem forward, ultimately delivering new options for patient care." "We are thrilled to have been chosen for this year's Servier Golden Ticket award. The resources provided through this program, and the growing relationship with Servier will help accelerate our mission to bring a therapy to clinic for Glioblastoma and other TERTp mutant cancer patients," said Rob Bell, CEO of Telo Therapeutics. Governed by a non-profit foundation, Servier is free to make investments that put patients and science first. Oncology treatment and care are the company's immediate focus in the U.S., although plans for expansion to other therapeutic areas and patient communities are under way. Servier's innovation efforts are bolstered by Servier BioInnovation, a joint initiative between Servier Group R&D and Global Business Development. The initiative is focused on identifying new, early-stage R&D opportunities and expediting business development and licensing activities in the U.S. About Servier U.S. Servier Pharmaceuticals LLC is a commercial-stage pharmaceuticals company with a passion for innovation and improving the lives of patients, their families and caregivers. In the United States, Servier Pharmaceuticals is committed to building a robust portfolio, starting with oncology, with future growth driven by innovation in other areas of unmet medical need, leveraging Servier's global portfolio and seeking acquisitions, licensing deals and partnerships. Servier Pharmaceuticals believes co-creation is fundamental to driving innovation and is actively building alliances that bring solutions to patients' lives and can accelerate access to therapies. We are building relationships with academia, venture capitalists, biotech and pharmaceutical peers and advocates with the aim of entering into mutually beneficial and complementary partnerships where each organization's skill sets are recognized and leveraged for the benefit of patients. With our commercial expertise, global reach, scientific expertise and commitment to clinical excellence, Servier Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to bringing the promise of tomorrow to the patients that we serve. Learn more at www.servier.us. About Servier Group Servier is an international pharmaceutical company governed by a non-profit foundation, with its headquarters in France (Suresnes). With a strong international presence in 149 countries and a total revenue of 4.6 billion euros in 2019, Servier employs 22,000 people worldwide. Entirely independent, the Group invests on average 25% of its total revenue (excluding generics) every year in research and development and uses all its profits for its development. Corporate growth is driven by Servier's constant search for innovation in five areas of excellence: cardiovascular, immune-inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and diabetes, as well as by its activities in high-quality generic drugs. Servier also offers eHealth solutions beyond drug development. More information: www.servier.com. About MBC BioLabs MBC BioLabs is dedicated to helping life-science startups succeed. By renting space as small as a single bench and providing these entrepreneurial scientists with access to millions of dollars of equipment, we allow companies to be fast, focused, and frugal. We now have two sites: one in the Dogpatch neighborhood in San Francisco and a new campus in San Carlos. Each site has a complete molecular biology core facility that allows companies to do experiments on day one, not year one. We have partnerships with leading pharmaceutical and life-science companies as well as a built-in venture capital firm, Mission Bay Capital. These partnerships provide our entrepreneurs with valuable insights about where to focus their efforts and accelerates the innovation pipeline. Our labs have truly enabled awesome: since our opening in 2013 we have helped launch and grow 173 companies. These companies have brought 53 programs to the clinic, produced 13 approved diagnostics, and raised over $4.5 billion! For more information, visit www.MBCBioLabs.com. Media Contacts Servier Pharmaceuticals Megan Talon 857-895-4334 [email protected] Servier Group Sonia Marques +33 (0)1 55 72 40 21 / + 33 (0) 7 84 28 76 13 Jean-Clement Vergeau +33 (0)1 55 46 16 / +33 6 79 56 75 96 [email protected] MBC BioLabs Linda Eng 415-347-8287 [email protected] SOURCE Servier Pharmaceuticals Related Links https://www.servier.us/ LAS VEGAS, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Clark County will have improved access to educational opportunities with United Education Institute (UEI) opening a new campus location in Las Vegas at the Boulevard Mall (3450 S. Maryland Pkwy) this fall. UEI is an accredited institution that offers a range of vocational and trade programs to help students get started in a new career in as little as 10 months. The new campus is approximately 35,000 square-feet and includes classrooms, training labs, computer labs and a student resource center. The first cohort of students will start in Las Vegas on October 26. "UEI has been providing access to post-secondary education for over 35 years in California, and we look forward to being a contributing member of the Las Vegas community, helping students achieve their education and career goals, and providing employers with the essential workers they need to meet today's challenges," said Jim York, IEC Vice President of Leadership and Campus President at UEI Las Vegas. "The campus is conveniently located and we offer both day and evening classes." Initial programs being offered at the new Las Vegas campus include Automotive Technician, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Insurance Coding, Dental Assistant and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technician. "UEI focuses on small class sizes, so our students will not only feel like a part of a team with a common goal, but they will also receive the one-on-one training and attention they need and deserve as a student," said Kristie Chiles, Director of Admissions for the Las Vegas campus. "In our own way, we are contributing to the rebirth of Las Vegas." "UEI is creating some 60 new jobs in Las Vegas that include campus administration staff, support staff and instructor positions," York said. "We have a number of open positions to fill." "The people in Las Vegas are very special to us - and deserve to be supported by a campus team that has an absolute passion for helping others," York added. "The environment we provide at UEI is positive, supportive and caring something that all of us need in today's environment. We work hard to ensure that our staff and students feel welcome and at home with us!" "I am very excited to join the UEI team here in Las Vegas," said Senior Admissions Representative Rhayne Thomas. "It makes me very proud to be part of the economic revitalization that our new campus will bring to the area. UEI is breathing new life into the Boulevard Mall by retro-fitting a large retail space into a beautiful campus where students will thrive." "While the pandemic is certainly impacting the economy and employment in greater Las Vegas, our programs are in the fields where there is ongoing demand," said CEO and President Fardad Fateri, Ph.D. "Low-cost, short-term programs like those we will offer will be vital for people who have faced unemployment during the pandemic in jobs that may not come back." Like all other UEI locations throughout California, the UEI Las Vegas campus will welcome new students with modified operations that include comprehensive COVID-19 prevention protocols. "The health, safety, and well-being of our students and colleagues is the top priority," Dr. Fateri said. "At the onset of the pandemic we deployed a distance education platform that has worked well to keep students on their path to graduation. Students are doing most of their coursework online, with limited time on campus in small groups, which are focused on the hands-on tasks in labs." "UEI is training essential workers, particularly in our health care programs, and students are seeing the types of precautionary protocols that they can expect when entering the workforce after they graduate," Dr. Fateri added. Modified operations at UEI Las Vegas will include COVID-19 protocols such as limited time on campus for students and focusing that time on essential learning tasks, wearing masks, temperature checks upon entry, social distancing, hand sanitation stations throughout campus, a staggered schedule limiting the number of students on campus at one time, and protective personal equipment (PPE) for medical and dental assistant labs. Labs and classrooms will be cleaned and sanitized after each class. "UEI is a viable option for students who are not able to put their lives on hold for years while they attend college," York said. "In as few as 10 months, you can learn the skills you need to start a career. We offer hands-on training from instructors who have a wealth of experience in the industries they teach. Some programs include an externship with local employers, and UEI offers career services and job placement resources. If you are an employer looking to hire skilled workers, we invite you to talk with us about your needs." About United Education Institute Founded in 1982, United Education Institute (UEI) is an employee-owned institution that is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). UEI provides students with post-secondary career education programs in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, skilled trades, business, and criminal justice. Each of the hands-on training programs offered are designed to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and training they need to be successful in their futures. Programs are tailored to meet the needs of students and focus on smaller classes to ensure each student can learn and get the attention they need. Students can train for entry-level careers and start building their future in as few as 10 months at campus locations throughout Arizona, California, Georgia, and Nevada starting this fall. For more information visit www.uei.edu. To see a list of current openings visit the UEI career site bepartofagreatteam.com. Media Contact: Joe Cockrell [email protected] 949.812.7749 SOURCE United Education Institute Related Links http://www.uei.edu A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's Sunday speech on the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lasted 22 minutes, from the moment he removed a black mask to the moment he walked away from a National Constitution Center lectern. In conservative media, much of the coverage focused on a verbal blunder that took four seconds. "It's estimated that 200 million people have died, probably by the time I finish this talk," Biden said, referring to victims of the novel coronavirus. The Democratic nominee corrected himself minutes later - he'd said "million" when he meant "thousand." But for The Daily Mail, the story was that Biden "made ANOTHER gaffe." For The Washington Examiner, it was that Biden said "60 percent of the U.S. population is dead." In Fox News's prime-time programming the next day, Marc Siegel, a physician who has not treated Biden, baselessly speculated that Biden had endured years of "silent strokes" and might be taking "speed" or "Adderall" before the moments when he's coherent. "Imagine if President Trump said that!" Siegel said, referring to Biden's one-word stumble. "Imagine how the wolves would be all over him if he made anything like that mistake!" President Donald Trump actually had made stumbles like that - repeatedly misstating the date of the 1918 flu outbreak, mangling the pronunciation of "Yosemite." But in the final days before the first Trump-Biden debate, as the Democrat eschews public events for private practice sessions, the president and his allies continue to portray Biden, infamous for making gaffes for much of his career, as too old and incompetent to function. The attacks, from the campaign, conservative news outlets and Trump supporters on social media, are based in falsehoods, and many of them have been not just pointed out as wrong by fact-checkers but removed by social media companies. Trump has even asserted, falsely, that Biden might skip the debates, rather than show up and be humiliated by the president. The GOP's rapid-response teams clip the worst moments from Biden's appearances - analogies that go nowhere, frustrated mutterings of "anyway!" instead of finished sentences. And when the candidates meet in Cleveland, that could matter. The tradition of raising expectations for a president's opponent has been blown away with the churn of "basement Biden" content. "For a number of different reasons, I don't think Joe Biden ever should have run for president," Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., 65, told a radio interviewer in his state last week, ahead of the release of his report on the financial entanglements of Hunter Biden, which failed to show that they influenced the then-vice president's behavior. "Just take a look at the compilation videos of the obvious age deterioration. It's sad." The strategy has not reversed Trump's deficit in polls. It has not gotten the sort of sustained pushback organized by other Democratic presidential campaigns - Barack Obama's "fight the smears" micro-site, the Correct the Record PAC formed to help Hillary Clinton. The campaign has responded to rumors, typically, by sharing media fact checks or to accusations of Biden's decline by joking about Trump's interview with, ironically, Siegel, when the president talked at length and in detail about his own cognitive test, which had showed that he was not in any stage of dementia. More subtly, the campaign has run ads that feature Biden himself talking at length, coherently, including one that consisted entirely of the candidate's well-received DNC acceptance speech. But Biden does stumble over words, and the conversation about his acuity has shaped coverage of his campaign. In the candidate's interviews with local news networks - he has not done one with English-language national media since August, after the Democratic National Convention - reporters who get just a half-dozen questions tend to throw one in about his sharpness. On Wednesday, Raleigh's WRAL had less than six minutes with Biden, and spent part of that time on the "fitness" question. "The president clearly has attacked you, calling you weak, saying you're unfit for the job,"said reporter Cullen Browder. "For those voters who buy into that, who may question whether you're physically, mentally fit, how do you respond to them?" "Watch me," said Biden, before listing some of the president's more famous gaffes, his typical response to the question. "I'm not the guy who said that the attack that took down the twin towers was on 7/11." The former vice president, who turns 78 weeks after the Nov. 3 election, was always vulnerable to such questions. Polls during the Democratic primary found voters more nervous about the electability of a candidate in his 70s than the electability of a female candidate. Polling on the candidates' mental fitness - rarely, if ever, asked about in previous elections - found good and bad news for Biden. Fox News, the only outlet that's asked several rounds of questions about "the mental soundness to serve effectively as president," found this month and this summer that Biden actually fared better than Trump, who is 74. Democrats worry about Trump's fitness for office but tend to focus more on stability than acuity. In this month's poll, voters judged the Democrat "sound" enough for the presidency by a six-point margin, while viewing Trump as unsound by a four-point margin. But from July to September, among registered voters, the proportion who thought Trump was mentally sound had risen by a net four points; the proportion who thought Biden was sound had declined by a net four points. (Like most pollsters, Fox tightened its screen from "registered" to "likely" voters after Labor Day.) That came after millions of dollars in Trump ads that portray Biden as "diminished" and "weak," perpetually showing him on-screen either kneeling or looking confused. And Biden's fitness has been part of the conservative media conversation, one that assumes the mainstream media covers up for Democrats, refusing to ask them hard questions or show their blunders. A year ago, even some of Biden's opponents in the primary questioned whether he'd lost a step; when Biden secured the nomination, the friendly fire ceased. The Trump campaign and an army of the president's fans have created super-cuts of bad Biden moments. Some have been genuinely confusing; some, like Biden not realizing his wife and sister had switched places on a stage behind him, were easily explained. It has also built a conveyor belt of fakery, with the Trump campaign even getting flagged for sharing bogus videos that purport to show Biden falling asleep mid-interview or saying the president is right about him. It played out again this week, with the Biden campaign largely sitting back and watching. On Sept. 15, Noticias Telemundo published a video interview between Biden and Jose Diaz-Balart, with the host's questions mixed in with voter questions delivered on a small screen. Biden began to answer the first question, about deportations during the Obama-Biden administration, before a technical error took the voter off-screen. "I lost the lady," Biden said. Five days later, a conservative video editor shared the clip, but cut out the question, asking Diaz-Balart whether Biden "was reading his responses"- even though just a few more seconds of footage revealed that he was not, and the idea that a reporter would sit back as Biden read prepared answers relied on a false, paranoid view of how media works. The deceptive edit got hundreds of thousands of views, and more when Eric Trump, the president's son and an active campaign surrogate, shared it with the assertion that Biden was caught reading answers from a teleprompter. The video was debunked, but Trump's campaign has spent weeks insisting, without evidence, that Biden reads prepared answers to prepared questions. In June, Biden was accused of dodging news conferences, emphasizing the objective truth that Trump takes more questions than his opponent. When Biden did take questions, a Fox News reporter asked about his "cognitive decline." But when the Democrat did not stumble, Trump accused him of reading "the answers from a teleprompter" and being given the questions in advance. Since then, Trump's campaign occasionally has warned that Biden has more experience on a debate stage than Trump, that he was seen as the winner in his 2008 and 2012 debates, and that he was underrated going into the final debate of the primaries, a one-on-one showdown with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in which he made no mistakes. That message has been drowned out by the campaign's mockery of Biden, led by the president, and emphasized by its rapid-response team. In the past few weeks, the Trump campaign spent more than $100,000 on a Facebook ad insisting that Biden was using a teleprompter in an April interview with CBS late-night host James Corden, even though Corden himself had debunked the idea. (Biden, lifting a picture frame, revealed a remote camera setup that showed Corden's lines.) "Can't handle an interview?" the Trump ad read. "Can't handle presidency." Had the campaign not done this, it would have been resisting its candidate, and the tenor of pro-Trump media. Derision of Biden is a mainstay of Fox News programming; earlier this month, the network invited a former White House stenographer, Mike McCormick, to share his theory that Biden was a "shell" of his old self and "doesn't have his heart or his gut anymore." (McCormick's self-published book about Biden, released shortly before the end of the Democratic primary, asserts that "Biden will never be the leader of the Democratic Party or the president of the United States.") The president, meanwhile, has asserted that Biden cannot answer questions without being given the answers, that he does not know where he is and that he is injected with drugs to look alive for interviews. None of that was surprising, as Trump suggested in 2016 that Clinton's energy on the debate stage may have also been the result of chemical enhancement. What's new is the primacy of attacks on his opponent's mental fitness. All of it has lowered the stakes for Biden and made the debate a higher-reward, lower-risk opportunity for the Democrat than it otherwise might have been. As Biden proved in 2019, when he made memorable mistakes in the first, crowded primary debates, an actual onstage screw-up does damage, no matter how it's spun. If Trump's campaign never questioned Biden's sharpness, and if he stumbled onstage, the stumble could still define his performance. Lowering expectations actually adds more risks. Ahead of the sole 1980 debate between President Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, the Democrat had successfully raised doubts about Reagan's age and fitness. They were wiped out in less than two hours, with Reagan's polling finding the percentage of voters who considered him a "strong leader" jumping from 42% to 61% by Election Day. In 2000, Democrats who'd derided George W. Bush's intelligence were hurt when the Republican did not embarrass himself, and the campaign succeeded in portraying Vice President Al Gore as a dismissive snob. "This reminds me of 2000, only the parties are reversed," said Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., an early Biden endorser. "The [Bush] campaign did an excellent job of lowering expectations. For some reason, Gore's campaign didn't. I welcome Trump's campaign lowering expectations for Joe in the debate. I will take it." HNTB's Bobby Lewis "Not only does he bring the deep experience of leadership within a public transportation agency, but Bobby is an innovative problem solver and has repeatedly demonstrated over his career the ability to find creative solutions to difficult problems, -- Jim Ray, HNTB corporate president Bobby Lewis, PE, joined HNTB Corporation as vice president, national practice consultant, in the firms new national Advisory practice. Based in HNTBs Raleigh office, he will serve clients nationwide as an infrastructure strategic consulting executive, focusing on work with state departments of transportation. With more than 25 years of infrastructure experience, Lewis most recently was chief operating officer at the North Carolina Department of Transportation where he was responsible for overall operations and strategy for the department, managing an 80,000-mile highway network and an annual budget of $5.8 billion. As part of his leadership role, Lewis led the formation of the NCDOTs Strategic Initiatives Office to accelerate project delivery, improve overall efficiency and streamline project delivery for all aspects of the department. I have worked with Bobby Lewis for years and am pleased to welcome him to HNTBs Advisory team. Not only does he bring the deep experience of leadership within a public transportation agency, but Bobby is an innovative problem solver and has repeatedly demonstrated over his career the ability to find creative solutions to difficult problems, said Jim Ray, HNTB corporate president and Advisory practice leader. At NCDOT, he led the effort to secure legislative authority for BUILD NC, the states largest transportation revenue bond authorization totaling $3 billion, and drove a number of initiatives to streamline the DOTs operations and project development processes. He was previously chief of staff to the secretary, served as a district and division engineer within the DOT, and he is a registered professional engineer. Lewis also previously worked in the private sector where he was responsible for North Carolina offices of a national engineering firm. In the delivery of major projects at NCDOT, Lewis reduced project development timelines from 10 years to three years and doubled the state transportation improvement program expenditures from $1.6 billion annually to $3.0 billion annually. He accelerated delivery of critical projects across the state including: first widening of I-95 from I-40 to I-295; improving U.S. 70 to interstate standards including acceleration of Havelock Bypass; and last section of I-440 widening in Raleigh. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from North Carolina State University. He served on the Transportation Policy Forum and the Committee on Funding and Finance for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. HNTBs new Advisory practice provides a holistic, strategic perspective to help clients develop and deliver their most complex programs. As the lead commercial advisor on large, complex projects and programs, the firm works directly with clients executive-level management to provide strategic and commercial advice, drawing on legal, technical, management and policy expertise. The practice brings in-depth knowledge of innovative delivery models along with substantial transactional experience and understanding of public and private sector perspectives to drive innovation and facilitate informed decision-making across disciplines. About HNTB HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure firm serving public and private owners and contractors. With 106 years of service in the United States, HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and addresses clients most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, and program and construction management. For more information, visit http://www.hntb.com, or follow HNTB on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. President Trump refused to commit Wednesday to a peaceful transfer of power should he lose the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden. At a press conference held in the White House press briefing room, Trump was asked directly about the transfer of power. Mr. President, real quickly, win, lose or draw in this election, will you commit here today for a peaceful transferral of power after the election? asked reporter Brian Karem. And there has been rioting in Louisville, there has been rioting in many cities across this country, red and... your so-called red and blue states will you commit to making sure that there is a peaceful transferral of power after the election? Well, 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, Trump responded. I understand that, but people are rioting, Karem continued. Do you commit to making a peaceful transferral of power Get rid of the ballots and youll have a very peaceful there wont 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. President Trump speaks during a press conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on September 23, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) Trumps remarks drew a quick rebuke from Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, the only Republican in the Senate to vote for Trumps removal from office during the impeachment trial earlier this year. Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable. Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) September 24, 2020 Earlier in the day, Trump said that the Senate should confirm his forthcoming Supreme Court nominee because he believed the results of the election would be decided by the court. Story continues I think this will end up in the Supreme Court, Trump said. And I think its very important we have nine justices. Trump, who has spent weeks railing against mail-in voting, said the court would be needed to rule on the validity of the election. But I think its better if you go before the election because I think this this scam that the Democrats are pulling its a scam, the scam will be before the United States Supreme Court, Trump said. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: (Natural News) Billionaire George Soros is behind a vast coalition of left-wing advocacy groups gearing up to launch a massive resistance movement if Democrat Joe Biden is anything but the clear winner on Election Day, an investigative report by Breitbart has found. (Article by Doug Mainwaring republished from LifeSiteNews.com) Combined, the coalition of grassroots groups spread throughout all 50 states acting in conjunction with their political allies could create mayhem which would dwarf this summers violent, destructive urban protests. And it appears that coalition leaders will be determined to find some pretext envisioning President Trump contesting the election results, refusing to concede after losing, or claiming victory before all the votes are counted to ignite sprawling country-wide protests, civil unrest, and economic gridlock if their preferred candidate is not elected. Theres going to be litigation, mass mobilization, policy options by governors, state attorneys general, members of Congress, promised Vanita Gupta, the president of the D.C.-based Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a beneficiary of financial support from George Soros. People will be inspired and motivated to protect their country, said Rahna Epting, executive director of Soros-funded MoveOn.org, to The Nation. Will we be successful? Were going to fight like hell to make sure we are. The more Trump turns up the temperature, [the more] he is angering the public. Theyre tired of the chaos, tired of his mismanagement, said Epting, attempting to foment distrust for the president. We have to do everything we can to make sure it is a landslide victory, to make it less likely he can fight it. Breitbarts Joshua Klein has done yeomans work connecting the dots in an article titled Soros-Backed Coalition Preparing for Post-Election Day Chaos Were Going to Fight Like Hell. Under the guise of seeking to prevent a constitutional crisis, a massive network of well funded left-wing activists and progressive groups are training, organizing, and planning to mobilize millions of Americans should President Trump contest the election results, refuse to concede, or claim an early victory, wrote Klein. Calling itself Protect the Results and proclaiming that we cannot ignore the threat that Trump poses to our democracy and a peaceful transition of power, the coalition is a joint project of Indivisible and Stand Up America, two left-wing groups founded in response to President Trumps 2016 election and whose goals are to organize and resist Trumps dangerous agenda and to defeat Trump and his enablers, explained Klein. Both groups are part of a larger umbrella network, the Soros-funded Democracy Alliance (DA), which boasts of having funneled as much as $80 million per year to promote progressive ideas and which claims its constituency to be people of color, LGBTQ individuals, women, and millennials, who will drive progressive social change. We play a leading role in fostering the infrastructure necessary to advance a progressive agenda for America, declares the D.A. website. We invest in every aspect of progressive power-building from policy making to organizing grassroots communities to winning state and national issues and electoral campaigns. Stand Up America alone claims over 2 million members committed to resisting Trumps agenda who have engaged in protecting the Mueller Investigation and fought hard to block the confirmations of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Indivisibles current homepage headline blares, Join us to save the Supreme Court; We cannot let Donald Trump destroy Ruth Bader Ginsbergs [sic] legacy by replacing her with a justice from his shortlist of conservative extremists. The combined coalition, now totaling more than 90 organizations, is a whos who of the most pro-abortion, pro-LGBT, pro-far-leftist causes, including abortion industry giant Planned Parenthood, Vote Pro Choice, Womens March, Move On, National LGBTQ Task Force, Common Cause, and Faithful America. Key players supported by D.A. are #Resist, the ACLU, Media Matters, and Organizing for Action. The last group was created in early 2013 to keep President Obamas supporters engaged after the election. Much of the rhetoric generated by the leaders of these disparate groups is unfounded if not unhinged, painting an ominous scenario of the incumbent losing the White House, creating a constitutional crisis by refusing to leave, and pushing the American republic to the breaking point. Indivisible points to its demonstrated ability to mobilize huge numbers of people to protest family separation early in the Trump presidency and to activate the networks that marched in the streets calling for impeachment in 2019, pointed out Sasha Abramsky in The Nation earlier this month. Those actions along with the Womens Marches, mobilizations around the climate crisis, and of course, recent outpourings of support for racial justice have shown that people power can shape events even in the Trump era. Our resistance is key in protecting the outcome of this election, said Arisha Michelle Hatch, executive director of Color of Change PAC. We will mobilize to safeguard Black people from the chaos and pain that will inevitably ensue should Trump choose to disregard reality in November. The only guardrail keeping Trump from driving our democracy over the cliff into an ocean of fascism is we the people on Election Day, said Nelini Stamp, director of strategy and partnerships at the Working Families Party. If Trump continues to apply tactics aimed at intimidating voters and disrupting our election, we will need massive grassroots resistance to protect our democracy, asserted K. Sabeel Rahman, president of Demos Action. In the face of a consequential and crucial general election it will take all of us to ensure that our democracy isnt hijacked. When Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are elected it will be because people looked at the last four years of divisiveness, including unconscionable attempts to divide us based on race, and soundly rejected that rhetoric, said SEIU International president Mary Kay Henry. Soros-backed attorneys general making it easier for criminals to terrorize your family Left-wing megadonors like George Soros have been busy installing radical district attorneys across America. Watch. Left-wing megadonors like George Soros have been busy installing radical district attorneys across America. Watch. pic.twitter.com/uquGFcecZM Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) September 22, 2020 Prosecutors the people whose job it is to keep you safe are instead making it easier for criminals to terrorize your family, proclaimed Tucker Carlson. Thats not an accident, said Carlson. Left-wing megadonors like George Soros realized its easier to install radical DAs than it is to convince the public to let their own cities burn. Soros has worked hard to elect district attorneys who will nullify laws against rioting and violence by failing to enforce them. Entities backed by Soros have spent more than $13 million in district attorney races in a total of 17 states, said the Fox News host. Over the past few years, this unfolded in Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Texas, [and] Virginia. In 2017, Soros spent roughly $1.7 million getting a single man elected, Larry Krasner, in Philadelphia. Hes the district attorney, and as expected, Krasner presided over a dramatic rise in crime, he added. Soros-backed left-wing district attorneys will be unlikely to enforce the law against Soros-backed protests in November, which could turn more violent and destructive than those the nation has already witnessed in places like Portland; Seattle; Minneapolis; Kenosha; and Washington, D.C. Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com 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. DECATUR Nancy Buckles and Lindsay Tipsword were filled with disbelief after learning no charges were being brought against the Louisville police officers who fatally shot Breonna Taylor and were looking for an outlet to honor the young womans life. After Buckles came across a post about a candlelight vigil in Central Park in Decatur, she knew where they needed to be. With little time to spare, Tipsword arrived at Buckles house with some of the materials needed to make posters they would take with them to the impromptu event. It became a family affair, with Buckles two children jumping in to help. You have to do something, Tipsword said. You have to put action behind your words and speak out. Its really easy to sit behind a computer and sit in your walls and share a post. But thats not what we need. Tipswords comments echoed those who spoke during the vigil, each calling for more people to get involved and change a system that is stacked against the Black community. Cameron Williams, co-chairman of the Central Illinois Democratic Socialists of America, organized Wednesdays event after it was announced earlier in the day that two officers who fired their weapons at Taylor were justified in using force to protect themselves. Instead, the only charges brought by the grand jury were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into Taylors neighbors homes. Taylor was shot multiple times by officers who burst into her home on March 13 during a narcotics investigation. For those police officers to bust inside that house and shoot her six times when she was just trying to sleep so she could go back to work the next day and save more lives is appalling, its sick, it should never have happened. She saved all lives because they all mattered, Williams said, referring to Taylor's work as an emergency medical technician. But when those police busted into that house and shot her six times, they said to the world that Black lives dont matter. Williams said the reason behind Wednesday nights gathering was to bring attention to a national event, the impact of which is being felt and needs to be dealt with locally. Were out here to talk about her and all the lives that continue to get lost to law enforcement, Williams said. We have to do something. We have to make a change, because if we dont do something, it will continue happening. More Breonna Taylors will continue to die and we cant let that happen anymore. To bring about that change, Williams and others who spoke at the event called for people to get more involved by voting and running for office. They also called for the creation of a citizens review board to review with oversight of the Decatur Police Department and enhancing social programs to serve those with mental issues that are being impacted by the hostile world they live in. "I'm almost numb, man. I'm at a loss for words," said speaker Jacob Jenkins on the stairs leading from North Water Street to the park. My feelings are raw and almost emotionless, because it took them six months to do absolutely nothing. It took them six months to say these cop arent going to be arrested for murder or anything else. Referring to a post on Facebook, Jenkins said the wall next door got more justice than Taylor. The system is not broken, said Jenkins, who has organized several justice walks in Decatur to address race issues in the community. It is working exactly the way it was designed hundreds of years ago. Elijah England, a Millikin University student from Decatur who is planning a run for Decatur City Council, called for an end to qualified immunity. Three months from now, when you have forgotten Breonna Taylors name, and there is another no-knock warrant and someone else is murdered, whether they are guilty or not, the police were never intended to act as judge, jury and executioner, England said. We have to reevaluate how we police people, England said, and invest in social programs and in counselors that can advise the police on when and how to act. How many times are we going to have these vigils? he asked. Screaming no justice, no peace and marching is one thing, but you have to work the city council members. You have to work with the states attorneys. You have to make them hear you. England ended his speech with a call to action. So when you leave tonight, remember Breonna Taylors name, but also look toward the future and what you as a human being can do to help us. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 34 Angry 0 The Spanish government will next week begin considering requests for clemency filed on behalf of Catalan separatist politicians and activists serving prison terms for their role in the the unilateral breakaway attempt of October 2017. According to sources in the Justice Ministry, the first request was filed in January by a Barcelona lawyer named Francesc Jufresa, who petitioned the government to pardon nine individuals convicted to between nine and 13 years in prison after being found guilty of sedition by Spains Supreme Court. News of the upcoming review was unexpectedly delivered on Wednesday by Spanish Justice Minister Juan Carlos Campo in response to a question asked by Laura Borras, the spokesperson in the Congress of Deputies for the separatist party Together for Catalonia (JuntsxCat), which holds eight seats in Spains lower house of parliament. Together for Catalonia deputy Laura Borras with Catalan premier Quim Torra. Marta Perez (EFE) The announcement, which Borras described as a surprise bombshell, was received coolly by Catalonias independence movement, whose leaders noted that government pardons are considered on an individual basis and that in any case, these would not lead to any meaningful progress on the political front. Our position on the [Spanish] states siren calls is that they are not the solution to the political conflict, said Albert Batet, the leader of JuntsxCat in the Catalan parliament. The news comes as the Supreme Court is expected to hand down a decision confirming whether Catalonias regional premier Quim Torra will be removed from office for violating electoral legislation in March 2019. The Justice Ministry warned that the review process for government pardons usually takes more than six months. The same sources explained that the first request was being considered now, nine months after being filed, due to delays caused by a backlog of requests during the time that Spain had an acting government. Spain was under a caretaker administration for 254 days following the inconclusive election of April 2019, which led to a repeat election in November. Vox will take legal action if the government decides to pardon the separatist prisoners convicted for the coup of October 1, 2017 Parties on the right of the political spectrum reacted angrily to the justice ministers unexpected disclosure. Both the Popular Party (PP) and the far-right Vox have warned that if the government pardons the imprisoned leaders of the secessionist movement, they will mount legal challenges. Both parties said the move is linked to the fact that the minority government of Pedro Sanchez, of the Socialist Party (PSOE), is currently in talks to secure congressional support for a new budget, and may seek backing from Catalan separatist lawmakers in Spanish Congress. Sources within the PP leadership said that the pardons are part of the price that Sanchez is paying for his investiture and for the budget, alluding to the fact that Sanchez was voted back into the prime ministers office following the November election partly thanks to the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), a separatist group that agreed to abstain at the second round in exchange for opening talks between the central and Catalan governments regarding the situation in Catalonia. These sources added that the Justice Ministrys push to review the crimes of sedition and rebellion in Spains criminal code will also work in favor of those convicted for 1-O [October 1, 2017, the date of the unauthorized independence referendum]. Meanwhile, Voxs secretary general in Congress, Macarena Olona, warned that her party will take all necessary legal action if the government decides to pardon the separatist prisoners convicted for the coup of October 1, 2017. A long process Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo noted that the Justice Ministry is constitutionally obligated to process any official requests for pardons. Such requests must first undergo review by the court that handed down the conviction, in this case the Supreme Court, but its views are not binding. Pardons are granted by the king at the suggestion of the justice minister following a debate by the Cabinet. Other clemency requests have been filed this year on behalf of two convicted leaders of the breakaway attempt. In late August, the ministry received a petition from three former speakers of Catalan parliament asking the central government to pardon Carme Forcadell, who was the Catalan parliament speaker at the time of the failed attempt to break away from Spain. Forcadell was sentenced to eleven-and-a-half years for sedition. And in June, the Catalan branch of labor union UGT requested clemency for Dolors Bassa, who was the Catalan chief of labor and social affairs in 2017, and is now serving a twelve-year prison term. The other separatist leaders convicted for their involvement in the breakaway attempt are: Oriol Junqueras, the leader of the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) party; ex-Catalan government ministers Josep Rull, Joaquim Forn, Raul Romeva and Jordi Turull; and Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, the leaders of the civil society groups Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and Omnium Cultural. English version by Susana Urra. BANGKOK - Thailands government lodged complaints with police Thursday against Facebook and Twitter, alleging they failed to comply with court orders to block content judged illegal under Thai law. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2020, file photo, Thai Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Buddhipongse Punnakanta gestures during a press conference discussing the government's decision to request Facebook to block an account in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailands government lodged complaints with police Thursday, Sept. 24, against Facebook and Twitter, alleging they failed to comply with court orders to block content judged illegal under Thai law.(AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe, File) BANGKOK - Thailands government lodged complaints with police Thursday against Facebook and Twitter, alleging they failed to comply with court orders to block content judged illegal under Thai law. Minister of Digital Economy and Society Buddhipongse Punnakanta said at a news conference that it was the first time his ministry has taken such action against the social media companies under Thailands Computer Crime Act. It has prosecuted website and account owners and users in the past. The ministry filed the complaints at the police Technology Crime Suppression Division, where Buddhipongse said the companies had failed to meet 15-day deadlines issued by the courts to block hundreds of accounts. He said the targeted sites were banned because they contained illegal content related to online gambling, pornography, drugs or the monarchy, a highly sensitive subject. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The ministry also filed complaints against parties using five accounts to disseminate material considered offensive during a large anti-government rally this past weekend. Buddhipongse said Facebook had blocked access in Thailand to 215 of the 661 accounts his ministry had requested. Twitter had blocked four of 69 accounts, he said. Police Col. Siriwat Deepor, deputy chief of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, said the two companies could face fines of not more than 200,000 baht ($6,325) and an additional daily fine of 5,000 baht ($158) for each day the accounts remain unblocked. Kate Hayes, a spokeswoman for Facebooks Asia-Pacific operations, said the company did not have any comment for now on the Thai action. A spokesman for Twitter could not be reached. In August, the Ministry of of Digital Economy and Society successfully pressured Facebook to block a popular page about the monarchy. "We are protecting our sovereignty, which may not mean protecting physical borders in the traditional sense but rather ... protecting our cyber sovereignty," Buddhipongse said at the time. He declared that such attacks "happen fast and are constantly damaging Thais." The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 election, Bayo Adelabu, has said he is happy that he didnt emerge victorious in the last poll. He disclosed this during a media parley and lunch with journalists in Ibadan, Oyo capital, on Thursday to mark his 50th birthday. The former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria noted that losing the election has afforded him the opportunity to know more about how progressives in the state operate. I have become wiser politically, closer to party leaders and grassroots politics. I can now relate well with the party faithfuls. I will be a better governor in 2023 than 2019. I will now be active politically. My interest in contesting is existing and will never die. Im so confident and optimistic we shall dislodge PDP in unity by 2023. With the recent meeting, no party can stand the way of APC, come 2023. Mr Adelabu also condemned the current administration of Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said the current administration lacks foresight. It is evident that I will remove Makinde. He lacks ideas. Everything this administration promised the people of the state is still on their wish list 16 months after coming on board. With the calibre of people that have returned to APC, no party can stand the way of our party, he said. No state needs a governor before salary is paid. When salary is paid through statutory allocations and it goes straight to the Accountant General, they take it to the bank and they pay. Why must that be the major achievement of any governor? And when you embark too much on populist programmes, which, in most cases, are not always giving the state sustainable development, it is more about immediate consumption. Populist programmes are short-lived. Within a short period, people will know that this man doesnt really have so much to offer in terms of sustainable infrastructural development. When contacted, Taiwo Adisa, the spokesperson to Governor Makinde could not be reached at the time of filing this report. He did not respond to calls and text messages seeking his reactions. September 24, 2020: It is day 122 of the current confrontation with China in the Indian northwest (Ladakh) along the shore of Pangong Lake. India and China recently agreed to halt their operations on the border. Both sides declared victory but China was the actual winner because now a thousand square kilometers of additional Indian territory along Panglong Lake is under Chinese control. In China the state-controlled mass media treats the Ladakh situation as a minor matter in which Chinese security forces decisively dealt with another case of Indian border misbehavior. The unrestricted Indian media considers Ladakh a major event. This disparity in news coverage is a side effect of the Chinese SSSN (Shove, Stop, Stands Fast) tactics. This Chinese approach has once again prevailed, as it has so many times in the recent past. China expressed no interest in retreating but was willing to negotiate. With the cold weather arriving India was in no position to refuse. China believes they will prevail by repeating their SSSN in other disputed areas and push Indian forces out of all the contested territory along their common border. SSSN is slow and it would take decades to grab all the Indian territory claimed by China. As long as China maintains a stronger military than India and can keep more troops near the disputed border areas, India will not feel confident to defend forcefully, risking a large-scale battle on the border. While both nations have about the same population, the Chinese economy is nearly five times the size of Indias. This economic disparity is of great concern to India. For decades India practiced a form of democratic socialism that allowed free enterprise but under a heavy layer of regulations. There was also competition from state owned firms that were badly managed but subsidized by the government. These policies crippled Indian economic growth for decades. This was made obvious when neighboring China, which had practiced a stricter form of socialism in which no private enterprise was allowed, changed their economic policies in the 1980s. The Chinese legalized free enterprise, and with fewer restrictions than in India. The Chinese model put great emphasis on economic growth and within a decade was delivering 10 percent or more GDP growth each year. Indian sought to emulate China in the 1990s. That paid off, with GDP nearly doubling in the last decade from $1.7 trillion to the current $2.9 trillion. This made India the fifth largest economy, recently surpassing Britain and France. The rest of the top five are the U.S., China, Germany and Japan. Chinese GDP growth is slowing although in the last decade it more than doubled from $6.1 trillion to $14 trillion. But for once the annual Indian GDP growth has been faster than in China, where GDP growth rates have been declining over the last five years. Three decades of spectacular economic growth resulted in the Chinese GDP becoming over fourteen times larger than it was in 1989. In that same period the U.S. GDP doubled. After World War II India had a larger GDP than China and never felt the same urgency as China to modernize and expand the economy. Actions have consequences and, in this case, it means China can push India around on their mutual border. China believes that India's corrupt and inefficient educational system and higher levels of government corruption will prevent India from ever catching up with China economically, or militarily. Another reason for this Chinese sense of superiority is that India is still haunted by the last battle with Chinese forces back in 1962. In a month of fighting (starting on 20 October) India lost 7,000 troops (57 percent prisoners, the rest dead or missing) compared to 722 Chinese dead. China declared a ceasefire that India accepted. China actually advanced in two areas, a thousand kilometers apart and ended up taking 43,000 square kilometers of Indian territory. The source of the 1962 war and current border disputes are a century old and heated up again when China resumed control over Tibet in the 1950s. From the end of the Chinese empire in 1912 until 1949, Tibet had been independent. But when the communists took over China in 1949, they sought to reassert control over their "lost province" of Tibet. This began slowly, but once all of Tibet was under Chinese control in 1959, China had a border with India and there was immediately a disagreement about exactly where the border should be. Thats because, in 1914, the newly independent Tibet government worked out the McMahon line border with the British, who controlled India. China considers this border agreement illegal and wants 90,000 square kilometers back. India refused, especially since this would mean losing much of the state of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India and some bits elsewhere there and all along the new northern border. India, as a democracy with a free press, has a public discussion of Chinese tactics and possible Indian responses. China also tries to take advantage of the Indian media freedom by buying favorable coverage in the Indian press. This is done via bribes, offers of investments or loans, and economic concessions within China. Military strategy in China, since ancient times, has placed emphasis on having a powerful military but using it mainly as a threat and giving enemies an incentive to accept bribes and allow China to get what they want. Yet India has rarely been seen as an enemy of China. There is nothing valuable on their mutual border which for thousands of years has been along high mountains and thinly populated lowland jungles. Neither India nor China had any incentive to raise large armies to threaten each other. Because of this background, the border disputes of the last 60 years are seen by Indians as inexplicable and by Chinese as overdue restitution for centuries of humiliations inflicted by Western invaders. India, ever since it emerged from centuries of British colonial rule in 1947, insisted that India and China shared a background of oppression by the West. China sees India as trying to perpetuate Western crimes against China. To most Chinese Indians look and sound like Westerners therefore India must be an enemy of China. India has come to accept that the Chinese are obsessed with making India pay for real or imagined wrongs inflicted by Western imperialists and see nothing wrong with using ancient Chinese imperialist methods to get their way. Suddenly British imperialism is not the worst thing that could ever happen to India. China is seeking to provide something much worse and much closer. The latest phase of this ongoing campaign began earlier this year when China revived its border war with India over Pangong Lake, which is largely in Tibet and connected to Chinese claims on Kashmir territory. This is the longest lake in Asia and part of the 134-kilometer long lake extends 45 kilometers into the Indian Ladakh region. China is using its usual SSSN tactics to slowly move the border into territory long occupied by India. The portion of the lake shore in dispute has no native population. The only people who visit the area are soldiers from India or China. Indian efforts to get China to negotiate a more permanent settlement of border disputes are not working. This is again demonstrated as India fails to get negotiations going that will settle the Pangong Lake dispute once and for all. The Chinese will issue vague press releases but they will not negotiate a final settlement. Even when they negotiate a deal the Chinese tend to see these permanent agreements are temporary ceasefires. Kashmir The latest Pakistani Islamic terror offensive in Indian Kashmir has left 177 terrorists dead so far this year, 12 percent (22) of them Pakistani. All the Pakistanis and some of the local lads were trained in Pakistani training camps just across the border in the third of Kashmir occupied by Pakistan since 1948. Back then the newly created nations (India and Pakistan) disagreed over who should get Kashmir. By the terms of the agreement that created the two new nations, Kashmir belonged to India. In the first of many pointless disputes with India, Pakistan attacked, seeking to grab all of Kashmir. The Indians responded and halted the Pakistani advance and did not escalate the war further by trying to push the Pakistanis out of the third of Kashmir they had taken. For over 70 years Pakistan has been fighting to take all of Kashmir. Conventional warfare did not work for Pakistan because the Indian forces were larger and often better armed. Worse, Pakistan had to do the attacking and have lost three such wars since 1948. Desperate for a solution, in the 1980s Pakistani generals came up with the concept of a secret Islamic terrorism campaign against Indian forces in Kashmir. This came at a time when western Pakistan served as a base area for Afghan holy warriors fighting the infidel (non-Moslem) Russians in Afghanistan. Actually, a lot of the Russian troops were Moslem, but they were still invaders and Pakistan offered refuge for millions of Afghans fleeing the violence. Saudi Arabia provided billions of dollars to support the refugees and arm those willing to fight. Among the refugees were over 200,000 armed men willing to make regular trips into Afghanistan to attack the Russians. In all of 2019 157 Islamic terrorists were killed in Kashmir, 20 percent of them Pakistani. In 2018 a record (for the last decade) 257 Islamic terrorists died. The Islamic terrorists are largely teenagers and men in their 20s, protesting Indian rule and unemployment caused by two decades of Islamic terrorism with attacks on Indian security forces as well as Kashmiris who oppose the Pakistani violence. The violence often shut down schools. Students who wanted to keep up with their studies have gone to schools in non-Moslem areas in southern Kashmir. The violence isn't all just about anger at the unemployment and constant presence of security forces. There is also a civil war going on among Kashmiri Moslems, with a minority wanting an independent Kashmir, but most wanting to remain a part of India and get the local economy going again. The kids often just want to raise hell. For all of India in 2020 285 rebels or Islamic terrorists have died so far, along with 64 civilians and 89 soldiers and police. In Kashmir there are two fighting seasons. Most of the year the weather is warm enough for the Islamic terrorists to establish base camps out in the forests. But during the three or four months of freezing weather the Islamic terrorists spend more time in populated areas in order to survive. The changes the nature of the fighting because more civilians are around when the gun battles break out. So far this year the security forces carried out 72 missions against known or suspected Islamic terrorist camps. During the rest of 2020s the Islamic terrorists will come to areas the police and soldiers live in and regularly patrol. For all of 2019 621 died throughout India because of terrorist and rebel violence. Most of these deaths were due to communist rebels in eastern India and tribal rebels in the northeast. This year the Pakistani Islamic terrorists will be back in the lead, as they were until the last decade, when the Pakistani effort faltered. Adopting Islamic terrorism against India as a state policy in the 1980s and trying to keep it secret continues to damage all aspects of Pakistani life. Allowing the military to achieve a dominant position in the country entrenched corruption and hampered reform efforts. India and Pakistan started out on relatively equal footing when they were created in the late 1940s. It was downhill for Pakistan after that. Part of Pakistan (Bangladesh) seceded in the 1970s, and has been improving its condition since then, and is now in better shape than Pakistan. A minority of the casualties in Kashmir are from the regular Pakistani use of artillery, mortars and machine-guns firing into Indian territory. The Indians return fire and Pakistan uses that as proof that India started it. Enough independent observers have witnessed what really happens and worldwide Pakistan is generally regarded as the aggressor. Despite that, and growing pressure (and penalties) on Pakistan to stop supporting international terrorism, the violence continues. This Pakistani firepower is often just a distraction so a group of Islamic terrorists can cross the border into India. This year there have been 6-10 such attempts a month, about half of them successful. The failed efforts usually result in several of the infiltrators dead or wounded and those still able fleeing back into Pakistan. In the last three years there have been an average 3-4 border crossing efforts a week, about half of them successful. September 20, 2020: In Pakistan a revitalized Pakistani Taliban have become more active this month, with Taliban violence on the Pakistani side of the border a daily occurrence. The greater activity is the result of a July merger of six smaller Pakistani Islamic terrorist groups into the Pakistani Taliban. Before that these smaller outfits had sometimes clashed with the Pakistani Taliban and rarely cooperated in joint operations against the government forces. That has changed and Pakistani troops stationed in the northwestern tribal territories are suffering more casualties and stress because of it. September 15, 2020: Pakistan sees itself as the main beneficiary of the ongoing Afghan peace talks between the Pakistan-controlled Taliban, the United States and the elected Afghan government. The stated objective of the Taliban is to replace the current government with a Taliban controlled religious dictatorship. That means there will be no peace and any Pakistanis with knowledge of what has gone on in Afghanistan since the 1970s can see how this will end. Worst case is all foreign troops leaving and foreign aid is withdrawn because of the corruption. In that situation Afghanistan returns to its traditional (over the last few thousand years) condition. That means the country/region we call Afghanistan gets picked apart by more powerful neighboring states. Traditionally this has meant Persians and Indians. Now it is Iranians and Pakistanis, who are basically Indian Moslems who demanded their own Moslem state when India was created in 1947. Pakistan is broke and economically dependent on China. The Chinese dont want their numerous investments in Pakistan attacked by Islamic terrorists, tribal separatists or anyone else. Pakistan justifies (to China) the expense of meddling in Afghanistan because it is necessary to control the Pushtun minority in Pakistan. There are twice as many Pushtun in Pakistan as in Afghanistan but Pakistan has a much larger non-Tribal (Punjabi and Sindi) population so the Pushtuns are only 15 percent of all Pakistanis. The Baluchi tribes account for another four percent. That makes about 19 percent of Pakistanis tribal and not particularly happy with the Chinese presence or the brutal treatment of tribal people in Pakistan. Extending that brutal control to Afghanistan wont improve anything in Pakistan. Iran, which historically controlled, when it was profitable to do so, much of western Afghanistan did so at the same times the northern Indians controlled eastern Afghanistan and Kabul. This foreign occupation was expensive because the tribes were constantly fighting the foreigners and each other. When the once lucrative Silk Road trade route between China and the Middle East/Europe fell out of use because of cheaper travel via faster, safer and heavily armed European ships Afghanistan went back to being a region without a unifying government. That changed in the 18th century when the various tribes agreed to declare a kingdom of Afghanistan mainly to keep the foreigners out. A Pushtun king in Kabul justified his job by negotiating with foreigners and providing a neutral space for quarreling tribes to send leaders to try and negotiate an end to a mutually destructive tribal feud. Taliban leaders say they want to unite Afghanistan as a caliphate (Islamic religious dictatorship). That fact that caliphates have never worked well or maintained any unity for long is seen as irrelevant. It is Gods Will that Afghanistan become a caliphate. Its one of those non-negotiable things that kaffirs (non-Moslems) simply cannot comprehend. Neither Pakistan nor Iran see any profit in annexing adjacent portions of Afghanistan. While Pakistan, or at least the Pakistani military, is content to tax Afghan drug operations that need access to Pakistan, the Iranians, like most civilians in the region, see the opium and heroin coming out if Afghanistan as something evil that much be fought. That means the Afghan/Iran border has long been a combat zone between Iranian security forces and armed Afghan drug smugglers. Americans want to be done with the military and economic costs of having troops in Afghanistan. The problem with that attitude is that Americans can leave Afghanistan but Afghanistan wont leave America. The heroin production will continue and major Islamic terrorist groups will have a sanctuary from which to plan attacks on the Wests, especially the United States. September 11, 2020: In Pakistan another journalist (Bilal Farooqi) has been arrested for criticizing the military. Most Pakistani media outlets have been intimidated (or simply shut down) by the military and the main venue for news criticizing the media is via Internet social media. The military monitors this and goes after anyone in Pakistan who is considered disrespectful of the military. September 10, 2020: India and China announced that they had reached an agreement on a ceasefire on their border near Panglong Lake. The main motivation for this deal is the weather. Six months of freezing temperatures, lots of snow and the lake freezing over are underway. Both sides are maintaining troops in the disputed area and it requires a major effort just to keep those troops fed and warm up there. September 8, 2020: In northern India (Tibet border) Chinese troops once more advanced on Indian troops near Panglong Lake. This time there was no fistfight because Indian forces opened fire with a lot of assault rifles and machine-guns. The bullets went over the heads of the Chinese troops, who returned a similar barrage. The Chinese backed off. Lately both sides have concentrated on cold-weather shelters for the troops and stockpiling food, fuel and other supplies. August 29, 2020: In northern India (Tibet border) both Chinese and Indian troops fired into the air. This was done while the troops were far apart but near the shore of Panglong Lake. Two days later there as a similar incident of gunfire by both sides. August 28, 2020: In northwest India (Kashmir) troops patrolling the border fence discovered an entrance to a tunnel from Pakistan. The tunnel was about eight meters (25 feet) beneath the surface and was apparently used to smuggle Pakistani based Islamic terrorists and weapons into India. Similar tunnels had been discovered in 2012 and 2014 because they were poorly constructed and either left depressions in the ground, which alert border fence patrols noticed or, in another case a tunnel under construction collapsed because of heavy rains. Captured Islamic terrorists also revealed the existence of the tunnel project. Since 2014 India has not detected any more tunnel building activity and has been using new tunnel detection equipment to aid with that. India may seek the latest tunnel detection tech from Israel, which already supplies India with many border security devices. In addition to the tunnels India has also detected Pakistan using UAVs to deliver small quantities of weapons and other supplies to Islamic terrorists operating on the Indian side of the border. August 23, 2020: Ahmad Noorani, a Pakistani journalist on a six-month fellowship in the United States, published a report on corruption in one Pakistani military family. The report was detailed and very embarrassing for retired lieutenant general Asim Bajwa, who is now back on the payroll as a senior government advisor. Bajwa condemned the report but could not contradict it. The report listed names, back accounts, assets and dates of transactions. It made it clear that corruption was involved turning a middle-class officer into a senior army commander whose family fortune had mysteriously grown to over $100 million. Bajwa is typical of many Pakistan officers and if Noorani had been in Pakistan while preparing this report for publication, the report would not have been published because Noorani would be in prison, missing or dead. August 22, 2020: Pakistan announced that it had ordered that the 2015 sanctions against the Afghan Taliban be enforced. A similar order was issued a year ago. Pakistan has never enforced these sanctions and makes these announcements as part of an effort avoid financial sanction for supporting Islamic terrorism. For decades Pakistan has been lying about its support for Islamic terrorism and those lies are catching up with them. In February the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) told Pakistan that it made enough progress in reducing support for Islamic terrorism since October 2019 to avoid being blacklisted. But Pakistan was not safe because the FATF monitoring continued. Back in October 2019 Pakistan had achieved only four of the 27 tasks the FATF set to get Pakistan out of trouble. Pakistan should have gone onto the blacklist for that but pressure from China got Pakistan another last chance. Since 2019 Pakistan has raised the number of goals achieved to 14. All 27 reform goals must be met by the next FATF review in July 2020. Since 2016 it appeared that Pakistan was not making enough effort to block Pakistan-based terrorist groups from using the international banking system to finance their violence. Pakistan keeps making just enough progress to keep themselves off the FATF black list. Pakistan had been on the gray list from 2012 to 2015 and that was bad for businesses that import or export or need to get foreign loans or sell bonds. After 2015 Pakistan was still on the FATF list but not designated as dangerous. Being on the gray portion of the list makes it more expensive to do business and is very bad for the reputation of Pakistan and Pakistanis. The situation is worse this time because decades of corruption and government mismanagement have left Pakistan unable to raise enough money for its government budget. This threatens the Pakistani military, which has always taken a disproportionate portion of the budget and does not want to reduce its spending. Being on the FATF blacklist would be a financial and economic crisis for Pakistan. Since China is the major foreign investor in Pakistan, and Pakistan is the largest customer for Chinese weapons, China has much at stake here. There is only so much China can do to keep Pakistan off the black list. China played a major role in keeping Pakistan off the gray list in early 2018 but the odds were against Pakistan staying off the list because it has long been an open secret that Pakistani support for its own pet Islamic terrorists included making it easier for Islamic terrorists in general to do business in Pakistan. The United States has been gathering evidence to justify putting Pakistan back on the FATF gray list (along with Ethiopia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu and Tunisia). FATF meets every three months to consider new evidence to get nations on, or off, the list. The U.S. now considers Pakistan a problem in the war against terrorism and not a reliable partner. India and Afghanistan share that view as do a growing number of UN members. August 17, 2020: Its been three years now that nearly a million Rohingya refugees have been an involuntary presence in Bangladesh. While the refugees were welcomed when they arrived in large numbers during 2017, after about a year the presence of nearly a million displaced Rohingya in an already crowded country became a problem. Most of the Rohingya refugees are in an area called Coxs Bazaar and their presence tripled the local population. At first the locals were eager to help fellow Moslems, for a few months at least. But that expected short visit has gone on for three years and there is no end in sight. The appearance of the covid19 virus has made the situation worse because the refugee villages are more crowded and disorganized than the nearby Bangladeshi towns and villages. A teenager has been found guilty of raping his cousin, then 13, during a family barbecue after she fell asleep next to him on a couch as they watched a movie. The victim reported the assault to police two years later, when she realised in a year 10 legal studies class the seriousness of what happened to her. A judge-only trial this week heard the then-14-year-old and the girl were watching Die Hard at a relative's home on the Gold Coast during a night-time barbecue. The then 14-year-old and then 13-year-old were watching Die Hard at a relative's home on the Gold Coast during a barbecue (stock image) The girl then woke up to find her cousin's hand down her pants and his fingers inside her vagina. She pushed him off of her and then he picked her up and dragged her into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. 'I don't know what you're doing but I want to get out,' the girl remembered telling her cousin. She managed to escape to the pool area to join her adult relatives, including her mother who told the court her daughter became 'very quiet'. The victim kept close to her mother's side for the rest of the trip and stayed as far away from her cousin as possible, according to court documents. The girl's mother told the court she had seen the pair asleep on the couch covered in a blanket. A few weeks before the girl went to police, she told a school counsellor what had happened to her, who informed her mother. Court documents reveal the teenager had also told her sister and a friend what had happened to her. The trial was held in front of Judge Paul Smith, who said he believed the victim's version of events beyond reasonable doubt. The defendant pleaded not guilty. The trial was held in front of Judge Paul Smith at Southport Children's Court (pictured) He found the accused guilty of rape. Judge Smith said he found the teenager showed a 'sexual interest' in his cousin, who said she was scared to come forward in case no one believed her. He said even though the accused said 'I'm sorry I guess' later that night, it couldn't be determined it was an admission of guilt or if it was even said, and if it was said that it was in relation to this offence. The victim testified that her 'entire life had been affected' by the attack. She told the court she suffered from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety as a result. The defence claimed that those conditions, as well as flashbacks, migraines, blackouts and disclosures to her sister and friend, could be a 'neurological disorder', but Judge Smith found there was no supporting medical evidence. The teenager will be sentenced on Wednesday. After self-isolation due to contact with COVID-19 patient, pupils not required to take test, submit certificates to school - Education Ministry The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine states that after self-isolation due to contact with a COVID-19 patient, pupils are not required to take a test and submit documents to the school about their health status. "Pupils, their parents and other legal representatives are not obliged to provide documentary evidence of the state of health of pupils to institutions of general secondary education in order to continue their studies after self-isolation," the press service of the Ministry of Education said. It is noted that after the expiration of the period of 14 days of self-isolation for this category of students, there is no mandatory laboratory tests, including the method of polymerase chain reaction and enzyme immunoassay. Accordingly, the legislation of Ukraine does not determine the obligation of pupils, their parents and other legal representatives to submit to the institutions of general secondary education any documentary evidence (certificates, conclusions) about the state of health of students in order to continue their education after completing self-isolation. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) There will be no follow-through to President Rodrigo Dutertes widely praised affirmation of the countrys arbitral victory against Beijing over the South China Sea. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque even refuses to call Dutertes latest statements on the sea row as strong, saying the President merely reiterated existing government policies before the 193-member United Nations General Assembly. Its a restatement of what has been the Philippine policy on China na hindi natin pwedeng balewalain ang panalo natin sa (that we cannot neglect our win at the) Hague, Roque said in an online media briefing on Thursday, a day after Duterte appeared at the UNGA for the first time in his four-year presidency. In his speech, Duterte said the arbitral ruling which recognized the Philippines sovereign rights to areas within its exclusive economic zone that China contests is now part of international law and cannot be diluted, diminished, or abandoned. Several officials and foreign policy experts have commended Duterte for asserting the country's rights over the West Philippine Sea, with former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario saying the next step is for the administration to put in reality the invocation of the arbitral award and to get the support of more countries so the ruling will be raised more emphatically in next year's UNGA. READ: Duterte lauded for sea row stance, urged to turn PH arbitral victory into reality The 2016 landmark decision of an international tribunal in The Hague also invalidated Beijings sweeping claim to almost the entire South China Sea. It ruled that China violated Philippine rights to some areas by interfering in fishing and petroleum exploration and building artificial islands there. China rejects the ruling, while the Duterte administration agreed to disagree to pursue cooperation with the East Asian giant. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, President Duterte finally heeded experts calls to raise the arbitral ruling at the UNGA. But this does not mean the decision has been taken off the shelf in terms of its dealings with China. The President has been consistent. We will move on matters that we could move forward on, including trade and investments, and we will for the time being, set this aside because I dont think the resolution of the territorial dispute is forthcoming in our lifetime, Roque said. "So hayaan muna po natin yan, basta nandyan ang desisyon diyan. Malinaw kung ano ang nakasaad sa international law." The Palace believes Dutertes speech at the UNGA will not affect the countrys close ties with China. Wala naman pong magbabago doon sa ating mga polisiya lalong lalo na doon sa ating bilateral relations with China (There will be no changes to our policy most especially with our bilateral relations with China, Roque said. For instance, the Philippines will still not follow the US' call to quit doing business with blacklisted Chinese firms involved in illegal activities in the South China Sea. As for Dutertes remark that the Philippines rejects attempts to undermine the countrys arbitration win, Roque explained it only means theres nothing China can do to overturn the ruling. Ang tinutukoy po diyan ng ating Presidente, kahit anong physical military occupation nila sa mga isla na ang sabi naman ng tribunal ay kabahagi ng ating EEZ, will never ripen into a valid legal title, he said. [Translation: What the President meant was, whatever physical military occupation in islands that the tribunal said are part of our EEZ will never ripen into a valid legal title.] Roque also maintained that the Philippines stands to lose if the issue is put to a vote at the next UNGA. This has been the stance of the Duterte administration despite the latest move of major European powers to back the country's arbitration win. READ: PH stands pat on setting aside arbitration win as other nations reject Beijings South China Sea claim S ick children will be turned away from A&E at two major London hospitals throughout the winter to enable them to focus on treating adults with covid. The paediatric A&E at the Royal Free, in Hampstead, will close at the end of the month. The childrens casualty unit at University College London Hospital, in Bloomsbury, will remain closed, having initially shut to under 18s in March. It is not known when they will reopen but the closures are said to be temporary. The Royal Free and UCLH have been designated as surge sites for the feared second wave of covid patients. Sick children and young people will be redirected several miles away to the Whittington, in Archway, or North Middlesex, in Edmonton both of which will have their units expanded. Barnet hospital will also accept children. If a child arrives at the Royal Free or UCLH they will be assessed by specialist nursing teams but will not be admitted to a ward. They may be redirected to other services or, if an emergency admission is required, will be taken by ambulance to another hospital. If a child is unconscious or not breathing, they will be resuscitated and stabilised before being transferred. London Ambulance Service will know in advance not to take children to either hospital. Coronavirus in numbers: UK coronavirus cases at 409,729 Caroline Clarke, chief executive of the Royal Free London NHS trust, told its board that the changes were clinically led. She said: Its all about keeping that service safe and going through the winter. The changes, which have attracted controversy, have been instigated after a review found that staffing levels are a challenge to being able to maintain safe and resilient services for children and young people and recommended running paediatric services in fewer hospitals across north London. During the first peak, the Royal Frees childrens department remained open but the paediatric A&E at Barnet was closed. The Royal Free is also aiming to double adult intensive care capacity, with as much of the hospital kept covid free as possible. There is also the intention to keep Chase Farm hospital, in Enfield, which does not have an A&E, covid secure to enable non-covid treatments to continue. Kate Slemeck, chief executive of the Royal Free, said the aim was for it to increase from 48 intensive care beds to 60-65 but we could surge well beyond that with additional capacity. An uptick in ICU admissions is expected by late November, she said. The Royal Frees children and young people's inpatient beds will also close. UCLH specialist inpatient and day-case services, including cancer haemato-oncology and complex adolescents, will remain open. Great Ormond Street Hospital will provide more room for urgent elective inpatient and some but not all day surgery. Australia's savings rate is at a record high. Image: Getty Australias household savings rate has hit a historic high as fewer purchasing opportunities combine with recession anxiety for some and an unexpected windfall for others, presenting a knotty question for the Federal Government ahead of the October budget. New IBISWorld research shows the household savings rate as a share of gross disposable income jumped from 2.7 per cent in 2019-20 to 7.9 per cent currently, with mortgage deferrals and rent relief driving this jump in savings, senior analyst Matthew Reeves said. Similarly, the $50 billion JobKeeper and JobSeeker schemes saw many Australians income actually increase, with real household disposable income growing at its fastest rate since 2010-11. At the same time, recreation and culture spending has slumped 15.7 per cent, along with health spending which slid 20.2 per cent. However, while the JobKeeper, JobSeeker and rent and mortgage schemes are new, as is the Covid-19 recession, consumer spending had been struggling even before the pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated an already weak trend in spending, which had been slowing for some time. Household consumption rose only 0.1 per cent in the September quarter of 2019, which up until that point was the worst performing quarter since the height of the GFC, Reeves said. Speaking at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit, former prime minister Kevin Rudd said this weak spending and high savings is what gives many economists and politicians greatest cause for concern. One of the problems of going into recession is that its not just an objective fact, Rudd said. One of the reasons I was so determined to avoid going into recession during the Global Financial Crisis was its impact on consumer confidence and the nations psychology more broadly. Why is a high savings rate a mixed blessing? Story continues Mousina believes the average household has seen a $5,000 boost. Image: Getty AMP senior economist Diana Mousina calculates the average household income has seen a $5,000 boost thanks to support like early access to super, mortgage deferrals and free childcare. While poor consumer confidence and spending can pose an issue, Mousina said there isnt anything necessarily wrong with having a high savings rate. While there may be some risk aversion in the short term consumption, in the longer term its good to smooth out weakness in income which could potentially come, which I think is a big risk still in Australia because the labour market will remain weak for some time, Mousina told Yahoo Finance. The JobSeeker and JobKeeper tiers have been lowered, so you need to see some smoothing in consumption. She added that while high savings rates normally indicate a relative reduction in spending, the 2020 recession is different in that the savings rate is partially due to the stimulus boosts. Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Guy Debelle described the rising incomes during the recession as quite a remarkable and highly unusual outcome, noting that normally in recessions, household income falls. The fact that household income rose in the quarter does not mean that the stimulus was overdone. Absent the stimulus, the decline in GDP and employment would have been significantly larger and there would have been much greater financial hardship, Debelle said. That households saved a large amount of this income support means that their balance sheets are in a considerably better place than would normally be the case in a recession. They are better placed to support the recovery as it unfolds. The transfer from the strong balance sheet of the government to bolster the balance sheet of the household sector is an entirely appropriate and timely policy response. The question going forward is how spending will change once restrictions are lifted. Mousina said tracking consumer confidence can be tricky, noting that since the pandemic struck, it has already returned to pre-Covid levels. The problem is, consumer confidence was already weak due to years of stagnating wage growth. The other thing is, consumer confidence doesnt really give you the best forward-looking guide to retail spending. In confidence surveys, we dont tend to be that optimistic. IBISWorld predicts it will take at least three years for the household savings rate to fall, with consumers likely to spend cautiously, as they did following the Global financial Crisis. Household spending is expected to recover, provided that no significant new waves of infections are reported across the country. As the local economy continues to open up, especially in Victoria, the savings rate is likely to drop from the highs seen in the June quarter, the researchers said. Consumer spending patterns will be driven by the lasting effects of the virus, which are expected to remain until a successful vaccine is produced. Make your money work with Yahoo Finances daily newsletter. Sign up here and stay on top of the latest money, news and tech news. Follow Yahoo Finance Australia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Representative Image If Mumbais COVID-19 story is told in all fairness, it would speak of a classic turnaround in how Mumbaikars thought the virus would travel and how it actually did. COVID-19 was expected to hit the citys slums and informal settlements the hardest considering their ultra-high density of population, unavailability of space for physical distancing, and lack of steady water supply for frequent hand washing. As cases rose in the informal settlements of Worli-Koliwada and Dharavi through April-May, these areas were described in uncomplimentary phrases ticking time bombs or fertile ground for rapid spread of the virus. The inference was unmistakable: Mumbais high density slums and settlements were responsible for the citys spiralling case load, and worse lay ahead. A study done by a reputed international group within six weeks from the first case in March quickly demonstrated that most containment zones areas with large number of cases, fully sealed to inhibit all movement in or out of them were within slums or nearby. Slums and informal settlements house around 42 percent of Mumbais nearly 18 million residents. Yet, six months after the virus brought Indias commercial capital to an unprecedented halt, as the total cases crossed 170,000 this week, its apparent that coronavirus does not respect classier demography or geography. On September 22, there were 617 active containment zones across Mumbais slums and informal settlements; in contrast, as many as 10,065 buildings including gated communities and high rises had been sealed. Residents in the latter believed they had safely wrapped themselves in their bubbles while the dirty unwashed millions were more susceptible; that bubble has burst. There is an undeniable class divide one thats hardly articulated in popular discourse, also difficult to map because Mumbais municipal corporation does not provide detailed spatial data within an affected area. However, two data points illustrate it. One, the month from August 15 saw an 86 percent increase in the number of sealed buildings nearly corresponding with the 85 percent rise in positive cases; containment zones in slums and informal settlements saw a miniscule 0.3 percent rise. This challenged the early idea of slum containment zones as proxy for COVID-19 cases. It was a false positive. Testing was concentrated in slum pockets where the virus was chased down and patients forcibly quarantined in institutions; gated apartment complexes and high rises did not see similar aggressive chase of the virus or suspected patients. Two, of Mumbais 24 municipal wards tagged alphabetically, the ones with high slum populations do not feature in the lists of top five wards with maximum cases or doubling rate of cases measured in days. For example, M-East ward where a staggering 73 percent of residents live in slums near landfills and open sewage was shamed as a Covid-19 hotspot in early April; its caseload on September 21 was only half that of R-Central, the ward with maximum cases in the city. M-East performed better on yet another metric. Cases here took 73 days to double twice that of the worst ward H-West, comprising upscale Bandra and Khar, where cases double in only 38 days. Mumbais average is 60 days. Then, L ward with nearly 54 percent population in slums has a doubling rate of 81 days, and G-North with 33 percent in slums clocked 85 days. One of the toniest areas with a fair share of glamorous names and a few slums is Andheri West or K-West ward where more than 770 buildings and apartment complexes are sealed. Health workers point to anecdotal evidence to show that many bubble wrapped people lived and moved around with false security because they followed the mandated precautions and unconsciously lowered their guard. Then, theres wilful disregard of protocols, notably wearing masks. Municipal corporation teams patrolling the iconic Marine Drive caught 45 defaulters on September 19. The A ward comprising Marine Drive, Colaba and Cuffe Parade yielded the civic body Rs 86,400 in penalties in only five days from people not wearing masks. Despite the unavailability of granular data within a ward, the available metrics tell their own story about the class divide. The virus that international travellers brought into the city, through the aviation sector that the poor or migrants have little to do with, and was feared to spread rapidly because the latter could not afford preventive steps, has come to settle in gated apartment complexes and high rises. To be sure, the worst isnt behind in the slums and informal settlements, but they aren't the only problem in Mumbais battle against COVID-19. Pirron said Thursday that the current boards decision to hire him as CEO has nothing to do with anything in the past. I am totally excited about where we are right now, he said. I have some big shoes to fill. The prior executive team has done a fabulous job of building our current capabilities and new capabilities and service offerings, he said. The board wants to be able to scale that, build the pie, and tie that closely to our mission and model, and that is why we are making the change. Pirron described the business as healthy. He said the business has been impacted by the pandemic but is still able to do consulting virtually on a national scale. We have won some business contracts and are excited about going into the new year, he said. I am bullish and positive about where things are going. The new board members include several people who lead or have experience with B corporations or social enterprise ventures that aim to achieve social goals besides making a profit. In addition to Pirron, Perlman and Cousins, the operating company board members are Adam Haller, a senior manager at Black Knight Inc. and founder of Sensible Investments LLC, a consulting firm focused on housing finance; and Heather Mason, founder of the events planning firm Caspian. Serving on the board of Impact Makers holding company is Elissa Miller-Out, the founder of investment fund Chloe Capital, which focuses on women-led tech companies; and Mike Hannigan, a founder of Give Something Back, a California-based office supply company that gives its profits to charity. Seafood Expo Asia Reconnect Until we meet again, face to face, we are pleased to bring a new business opportunity for seafood suppliers from around the world to reconnect with seafood buyers located in Asia, without leaving their office. Seafood Expo Asia, produced by Diversified Communications, announced the launch of Seafood Expo Asia Reconnect, a digital solution to connect seafood buyers throughout Asia with suppliers from around the world. Seafood Expo Asia Reconnect will be hosted online on November 17-19, 2020. In these unprecedented times, we understand that the need for the industry to stay connected and conduct business is more important than ever, said Liz Plizga, Group Vice-President, Diversified Communications. Until we meet again, face to face, we are pleased to bring a new business opportunity for seafood suppliers from around the world to reconnect with seafood buyers located in Asia, without leaving their office. Seafood Expo Asia Reconnect is a comprehensive online event that brings industry suppliers and buyers together to connect, meet and accomplish business while staying up to date with trends and topics relevant to the Asian seafood market. Seafood Expo Asia Reconnect Business Matchmaking Using meeting and community interaction technology, Seafood Expo Asia Reconnect offers an online business matchmaking and meeting scheduling program designed to facilitate the trading, sourcing and networking needs of the seafood industry in Asia. Through this platform, seafood companies will be matched and connected to high-volume Asian buyers, including importers, retailers, foodservice and distributors, who are looking for seafood products as they prepare for the upcoming year. Seafood Expo Asia Reconnect Conference Program The three-day online matchmaking program will be complemented by a conference program covering educational sessions on the most current topics and trends in the Asian seafood market. Live and pre-recorded sessions will be available for free to all suppliers and buyers taking part in Seafood Expo Asia Reconnect. We have successfully organized business matchmaking meetings over the years at Seafood Expo Asia in Hong Kong, added Plizga. At a time of travel restrictions, we are excited to bring this technology and our know-how in facilitating meetings between suppliers and buyers through a new platform. For more information on Seafood Expo Asia Reconnect business matchmaking and conference program, visit: http://www.seafoodexpo.com/asia/reconnect/ About Seafood Expo Asia Seafood Expo Asia is a trade event where buyers and suppliers of seafood from around the world come together to network and conduct business in the lucrative Asian market. The event is produced by Diversified Communications and takes place annually in Asia. SeafoodSource is the expositions official media covering industry news year-round. http://www.seafoodexpo.com/asia. About Diversified Communications Diversified Communications is a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities and digital and print publications. As producers of these market-leading products Diversified Communications connects, educates and strengthens business communities in over 15 industries including: food and beverage, healthcare, natural and organic, business management and technology. The companys global seafood portfolio of expositions and media includes Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia and SeafoodSource.com. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA with divisions and offices around the world, Diversified Communications remains a privately held, third generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit: http://www.divcom.com. Media Contact: Iris Kwan, Event Director Diversified Communications Tel: +852 39580590 Mobile: +852 98212393 Email: ikwan@divcom.com Christine Pedersen, Marketing Director Diversified Communications Tel: +1 207-842-5488 Email: cpedersen@divcom.com Distinguished Mr. President, Excellencies, Esteemed Delegates, I congratulate Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly on his election to this honourable function and wish to express Poland`s full support for his mission. I would also like to thank Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande for his active presidency over the works of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly. Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, This year`s 75th Session of the UN General Assembly is an extraordinary one and it will surely go down in history as such. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed not only the course of the event, but has also forced us to embark upon a completely new reflection exercise as well as look for solutions to the problems which the world has not grappled with for years on such a huge scale. International situation is increasingly complicated whereas the palette of challenges and threats we face is constantly growing. May be of interest to you Speech by the President on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the UN Upon completion of its two-year-long mandate in the Security Council last year, Poland continues to be engaged in its areas of priority, also within the framework of its three-year-long term in the Human Rights Council, which commenced this January. Respect for international law, multilateral cooperation of states, international humanitarian law, protection of human rights and taking care of the natural environment are among themes of pivotal importance to Poland. I wish that the adopted anniversary declaration, marking 75 years of the United Nations Organization, not only confirmed the obligations assumed by the founding fathers. I wish that the said declaration was an expression of the longevity of ideas forming the basis of our cooperation and a testimony of the political will to implement them. I wish it was a declaration of "global solidarity". Ladies and Gentlemen, Esteemed Delegates, During my first term as Head of State, Poland intensified its presence within the United Nations system. We held a two-year-long mandate in the Security Council, we hosted climate conference COP24 in 2018 whereas our soldiers returned to the UN-peace keeping force in Lebanon, as part of UNIFIL. It was my personal decision that Poland should support in deeds, not just with words the efforts of the international community in the areas of key importance in the contemporary times. UN has immense achievements in securing peace, containing conflicts, and stabilizing situation in many regions of the world. And we must not let it be squandered. Striving for more effectiveness, reform of the structures and utilizing experiences, including the adjustment of failed solutions, must not serve as a tool for undermining the value of the Organization as a whole. Also, the approach to its individual agendas requires prudence and deep reflection. We share a number of reservations and declare our readiness for a constructive discussion and active engagement while defending the achievements of the UN, which are undeniable and constitute a common political legacy of humanity. Construction through destruction of things that already exist is not only costly, but very risky at the same time. It creates the danger of shaking up the foundations of the strenuously developed rules and values and supplanting traditions as well as historical experiences. Esteemed Delegates, The theme of this year`s session is looking for common and uniting answers to today`s global challenges. Whenever we talk about community building in Poland and discuss common and selfless action in the name of a higher purpose, then there is always one word which springs to mind: SOLIDARITY. This August in Poland we proudly celebrated a splendid anniversary: 40 years since the establishment of "Solidarity" a grand social movement which led to the fall of the Iron Curtain and brought liberty, sovereignty and independence to Poland, Polish People as well as to other States and Nations in Central and Eastern Europe, and as a result to the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the demise of the "evil empire" that is the Soviet Union. By the same token, the period of the Cold War came to an end. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the world today would look quite different if it was not for "Solidarity". Therefore, today, 40 years since the establishment of "Solidarity" in Poland and 75 years since setting-up of the United Nations Organization, I wish to urge all Heads of State and Government and all Esteemed Delegates to co-create the idea of "GLOBAL SOLIDARITY. This very idea should be the lodestar in our daily mission. I firmly believe that just like the "Solidarity" movement in Poland changed the course of history, also the "GLOBAL SOLIDARITY might become the idea which will help to overcome contemporary crises in the world. Three of these are, as far as I`m concerned, especially tangible and acute. The first one is the socio-economic crisis, which results from a phenomenon we were unable to predict and for which we could not comprehensively prepare ourselves, i.e. the coronavirus pandemic. We all have been taken by surprise by how things developed over the last six months. Each and every state has had to face up to completely novel challenges. These have generated not only health-related consequences but more broadly also social and economic ones. The fight with the pandemic demands more intensive cooperation and precisely SOLIDARITY. The second one is either the newly emerging or the re-emerging crisis of the quality of relations between states. Unfortunately, it is increasingly the case that the relations turn into a confrontation, rivalry and even imperial domination. The fact that we have managed to avoid another global armed conflict in the last 75 years should doubtlessly be deemed as one of the success stories of the international community. Simultaneously however, one can hardly say that those were the years of global security and global peace. The world was and still is shaken up by various kinds of aggression from terrorist attacks to numerous regional conflicts, many of which have turned over time into the so called frozen conflicts and are incredibly difficult to solve. The policy of strength and aggression is by no means happening exclusively in the peripheries. It is also applied in the region of the world in which my country, Poland is located in our closest neighbourhood. The third crisis results from lack of relevant tools for efficient transformation of economies allowing them to maintain a permanent and stable level of economic growth while taking care of the quality of the natural environment. That definitely is one of the most fundamental challenges facing humanity today and in the nearest future. I believe these crises will remain unsolved unless we focus on the idea of "SOLIDARITY. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the fight against inter alia the impact of the coronavirus pandemic does not result in deeper economic divisions among states and societies; that it does not assume the form of a ruthless economic rivalry and result in the wealthier ones getting richer at the cost of the poorer. By the same token however, that fight must not lead to constraining the sphere of our liberty whereas access to medical solutions must not depend on the size of the wallet. Ladies and Gentlemen, I urge you to act together. In the name of SOLIDARITY Poland deployed, at the height of the pandemic, a number of military medical missions, among others to Italy and the United States, in order to help, acquire and share the knowledge on how to fight the pandemic and better respond to potential future crises. Counteracting the economic dimension of the pandemic was one of the themes of a letter which I sent to European leaders in late April this year. In the letter I requested that, in the course of their economic recovery efforts, our governments care, more resolutely than before, not merely about robust GDP growth, but also about sustainable development of the countries in other aspects, including fair and efficient distribution of funds among those in need. Moreover, I urged European leaders to give together a new impulse to stimulate production in Europe, which would undoubtedly shorten supply chains, among other things. If we want to be, once again, a great innovative "production workshop" we must act together. From the perspective of our economic subjectivity this is of strategic importance. Ladies and Gentlemen, In terms of the crisis in the quality of relations among states, I wish to stress that one of Poland`s unchanging priorities is the question of respect for international law. There cannot and there will not be a lasting peace in the world unless law is abided by. Our attachment to this value is mirrored by the slogan "peace through law", which we promoted inter alia during our two-year-long term as an elected member state of the Security Council. In our actions undertaken in the UN forum we are consistent in highlighting the fundamental role of international law in preserving the global security architecture. It is indispensable to ensure cooperation among states in a situation when the fundamental norms of international law are violated, for instance in case of the aggression of the Russian Federation on Georgia or Ukraine. Another concerning phenomenon refers to the violation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons, which was repeatedly the case in recent years. Poland did not and does not accept the fact that chemical weapons are still in use. On top of that, and that is even more concerning: the infringement of the Convention in 2018 coincided with the violation of the fundamental principle of international law: sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is upon our shoulders: those of the UN, the Security Council and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons that the responsibility rests to communicate to the world our strong opposition in this matter. It is only through the enforcement of the fundamental principles and norms of international law enshrined among others in the Declaration on Principles of International Law adopted by the General Assembly half a century ago, will we succeed in building lasting peace and a safe world of equal states and free nations with no spheres of influence. Leaving cases of violation of international law, including interference in sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, unanswered by the international community will every time act as an encouragement to repeat such negative behaviour. Infringement of the norms of international law must result in consequences whereas those responsible must be held accountable. Poland keeps underlining, in an incessant and consistent manner, the importance and the unique role of two other sub-areas of international law: human rights and international humanitarian law. International humanitarian law and human rights are among greatest achievements of the international community in its striving to limit suffering and ensure respect for the rights of the civilian population in armed conflicts. The dissemination of the role of international humanitarian law is high on the agenda of the priorities of Polish foreign policy in recent years. Therefore, I have appealed to the international community, through the UN Human Rights Council in which Poland currently holds a three-year-long mandate, to pay attention to the violation of human rights in Belarus. I am glad that the Council has held a meeting dedicated to this issue. In the name of SOLIDARITY we should all speak with one voice and demand that fundamental human rights be respected both in Belarus and in other places across the globe. Repressions of political opponents, mass detentions of peaceful protesters or violence and torture being applied against them cannot be tolerated in any state. Belarusians, just like any other free nation, have the right to shape their political future in a sovereign way, without external interference, without domination of other capitals, with the right to freely participate in international cooperation in line with their national interests. The third on the list of crises in today`s world is inadequate balancing of the environmental changes while staying on the path of economic development. We firmly believe it is necessary to create a more resilient, inclusive and environment-friendly economy. As a three-time host of the UN climate conferences: COP14 in Poznan in 2008, COP19 in Warsaw in 2013 and COP24 in Katowice in 2018, Poland is committed to fight with environmental changes. At the same time, we argue that on the path leading to the attainment of the agreed goals we have to make sure that our actions are safe for the citizens, economies and states. We need a climate-friendly transition, which will be fair and balanced and take domestic conditions of every state into account. We have already launched a transition aimed at ensuring a just green and low-emission economy. We know however that in this effort it is impossible to be successful on your own. It requires responsible cooperation of us all. Ladies and Gentlemen, Esteemed Delegates, In view of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, fragile and too frequently violated international law and the need to transform our economies, we should be led by more than just the principle of common responsibility. These days it is also important to act in accordance with the ideals of SOLIDARITY. Poland invites all UN members to act in solidarity while countering the crises which are currently affecting us. As life has shown, we as international community, have to face up to frequently unprecedented challenges also the ones we do not expect. I believe that through common responsibility and SOLIDARITY we are going to find an effective response to them. [Topic of the debate: The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism confronting COVID-19 through effective multilateral action] New York, September 23, 2020 The Congress party is all set to launch its nearly two-month-long mass development against the BJP govt for passing the agricultural bills during the monsoon meeting of Parliament.The Congress will stage a nationwide demonstration from today to demand withdrawal of the agricultural bill.The decision was taken at a gathering of individuals from the assistant board, the overall secretaries and the state in-charges, said previous Union Minister AK Antony in a public interview.This movement will conclude on November 14. The party will take the signatures of 2 crore farmers (against the bills) and hand them over to the President, he added.The party has a target of collecting these signatures by November 14, Nehru Jayanti. Senior party leader Ahmad Patel said the government has demolished the democratic system. The agricultural bills are neither in the interest of the state government, nor the central government, or the farmers, he said. We raised our voice against this in Parliament. We will now take to the streets. The movement has been planned on the instructions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. We will go to the village level and get farmers signatures, he added. The Congress party has proclaimed these bills as anti-farmers and three Rajya Sabha MPs of the Congress have likewise been suspended for the current meeting for causing ciaos in Rajya Sabha when the Agriculture Bill was passed.Congress association general secretary incharge KC Venugopal said ,The PM is misdirecting the nation by blaming the resistance for misleading them. Eight members namely,Rajeev Satav, Syed Nasir Hussain and Ripun Bora of the Congress, Derek OBrien and Dola Sen of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Sanjay Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were also suspended for the remainder of the monsoon session for creating ruckus in the Rajya Sabha (RS). ALSO READ: Union Minister Suresh Angadi passes away due to coronavirus; President,PM express grief On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi , on 2nd Oct and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Congress will remark Kisan-Mazdoor Bachao Divas.On October 10, state-level conferences will be held and from October 2 to October 31.On November 14, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Indias first PM Jawaharlal Nehru, a memorandum along with signatures of two crore farmers will be submitted to President Kovind. ALSO READ: Looking forward: PM Modi to Sri Lankan counterpart ahead of bilateral summit on Saturday Experts identify five key factors for strategies to ease lockdown restrictions - knowledge of infection levels, community engagement, public health capacity, health system capacity, and border control measures. Analysing the successes and failures of nine high-income countries and regions across these five domains, the authors find an absence of clear and consistent strategies for exiting restrictions and identify key cross-country lessons that can still be learnt. Experience with past pandemics in Asia Pacific meant they were more prepared than European countries, where policies of economic austerity have weakened health system in the years leading up to the current crisis. An ambition to achieve a 'Zero COVID' strategy (eliminating domestic transmission), like in New Zealand, should be considered by other governments, suggest the authors. Authors of a review of policies, based on the experiences of nine high-income countries and regions' easing of lockdown measures, published in The Lancet journal, are urging governments to consider five key factors in lockdown exit strategies. The report analyses nine countries and regions' strategies for easing COVID-19 restrictions from a first wave of infections: five in the Asia Pacific (Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea) and four in Europe (Germany, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom). After instituting full or partial lockdowns, many governments face the challenge of reopening society while balancing health, social, and economic considerations. Meanwhile, WHO has warned that a premature lifting of lockdowns could spark a resurgence of infections and cause worse damage to the economy than caused by lockdowns. [1] Lead author, Dr Helena Legido-Quigley, National University of Singapore and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, says, "COVID-19 is a serious disease that will be with us for a long time. There is increasing realisation that easing of lockdown is not about returning to a pre-pandemic normal, and governments have to find strategies that will prevent rapid growth of infections in ways that are sustainable and acceptable to the public over many months." [2] Dr Legido-Quigley adds, "Our review of international experiences identifies lessons governments can learn from each other's successes and failures. We are not advising that the exact same measures should be replicated in different countries, but it is not too late for governments to consider novel policy solutions developed by other countries and adapt them to fit their own context." [2] Co-author on the paper, Professor Martin McKee, London School Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK says, "As some countries around the world begin to see a resurgence in cases and retighten restrictions, it is imperative that countries learn the lessons that we've laid out for the future. There are no simple solutions but great benefits from learning from the experiences of others." [2] The authors identify key learnings from these countries experiences which have implications for lockdown exit strategies worldwide: A clear plan with a transparent decision-making process is essential, ideally explicitly stating the levels or phases of easing restrictions, the criteria for moving to the next level or phase, and the containment measures that each level or phase entails. Governments should have robust systems in place to closely monitor the infection situation before easing measures. The authors point out that the R value is important, but caution that this requires high quality data in real time (like in Hong Kong) to be accurate and needs to be interpreted using epidemiological knowledge. For example, a small localised outbreak can drive a country's R value up but does not require a national lockdown to be controlled. For communities to reopen safely, control measures to reduce transmission will be needed for some time, including face masks and social distancing. New Zealand's social bubbles provide a successful example of sustainable measures, as they allow for social interaction while reducing transmission. For control measures to work, governments must educate and engage with the public, building trust, and selecting appropriate measures that the public are willing to comply with. The public should be directly involved in the process of producing measures appropriate for the local context. Each country must have an effective find, test, trace, isolate, and support system in place before easing lockdown restrictions. Spain and the UK have struggled to achieve this. Drive-through and walk-through screening in South Korea encourage proactive testing of potential case contacts and offers an effective model for expanding case finding. Furthermore, any test, trace, isolate, and support system needs to be supported by sustained investment in public health capacity and health system capacity including facilities, supplies, and workforce. Finally, there is a strong argument for adopting a so-called zero-COVID strategy, like in New Zealand, which aims to eliminate domestic transmission, particularly considering emerging evidence on the effects of long COVID (which occurs in people who have survived COVID-19 but continue to have symptoms for longer than expected). Another co-author on the paper, Professor Yik-Ying Teo, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, says, "In reviewing international experiences, we were concerned about the large divergence in government preparedness. There is an urgent need to understand the contextual differences that have led to such contrasting results, and to identify common principles that governments can follow to protect their people and economy." [2] The authors identify five key areas to consider when easing lockdowns - knowledge of infection levels, community engagement, public health capacity, health system capacity, and border control measures. They point out that responses so far have varied significantly across countries. In particular, the methods and success of contact tracing and isolation have varied significantly across countries. Many Asian countries, except Japan, promptly did extensive testing, tracing, and isolating of all cases (ie, not just severe cases) from the start of the outbreak, strengthened by innovative surveillance technology, whereas these processes have been considerably delayed in most of Europe, except Germany (where existing resources were redeployed quickly). Furthermore, confirmed cases are mostly isolated at institutions in Asia rather than at home, such as in Europe. Wearing of face coverings to protect others was, at least initially, adopted to a much greater extent in Asia than in Europe. This is partially to do with greater cultural acceptance. For example, in Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea, the habit of wearing face coverings was already widespread before the pandemic. Experience with previous epidemics like SARS and MERS meant that many Asian countries had robust healthcare and public health infrastructure already in place. There has historically been a high level of public acceptance of strict rules in times of crisis, with the majority accepting a trade-off between their personal rights and public health. In Europe, public health systems in Spain and the UK have struggled with the consequences of a decade of austerity. ### NOTES TO EDITORS This study was funded by National University Health System and Singapore Population Health Improvement Centre. It was conducted by researchers from National University of Singapore, University of Maribor, Slovenia, University of Edinburgh, UK, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, King's College London, UK, World Health Organization Regional Office for South-East Asia, India, Seoul National University, South Korea, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain, Centro de Investigaca?o em Saude de Manhica, Mozambique, LSHTM, UK, Robert Koch Institute, Germany, The Helen Clark Foundation, New Zealand. The labels have been added to this press release as part of a project run by the Academy of Medical Sciences seeking to improve the communication of evidence. For more information, please see: http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/AMS-press-release-labelling-system-GUIDANCE.pdf if you have any questions or feedback, please contact The Lancet press office pressoffice@lancet.com [1] https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/03/who-says-countries-that-rush-to-lift-coronavirus-containment-risk-more-severe-and-prolonged-damage-to-economy.html [2] Quote direct from author and cannot be found in the text of the Article. Peer-reviewed / Review and Opinion / People In July-August 2020, about 200,000 foreign tourists visited Ukraine. However, after the borders were closed as part of the quarantine measures, the flow of travelers has decreased by about four times. Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development Maryana Oleskiv said this at a meeting with representatives of the travel industry in Odesa, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. In the summer months, especially in July-August, the State Agency for Tourism Development recorded an increase in the number of foreign tourists in Ukraine. According to the State Border Guard Service, about 200,000 tourists came to us in these months. However, we are now observing a downturn trend. Over three weeks of September, according to the State Border Guard Service, the flow of tourists decreased by about four times," Oleskiv noted. According to her, the State Tourism Agency will strengthen cooperation with the State Border Guard Service in order to regularly receive statistical data on how many foreign tourists have visited Ukraine. The Agency will publish these figures on its Facebook page. Oleskiv added that the Ukrainian travel industry had lost USD 1 billion as a result of quarantine measures related to COVID-19. ish Next Insurance secured another $250 million in financing designed to fuel continued national expansion of its digital small business insurance offerings. CapitalG, Alphabet/Googles independent growth fund, led the Series D round. But existing investor Munich Re Group also participated in the new capital raise, as did FinTLV, a global InsurTech venture capitalist. As part of the new funding round, CapitalG Partner Sumiran Das will join the Next Insurance board of directors. We believe that there is an opportunity to use technology to transform the small business insurance experience in the U.S. and build a national insurance leader, Das said in prepared remarks. Next Insurance has the right team and capabilities to capitalize on this vision and is well on its way to doing so. To date, Next Insurance has raised $631 million, including a $250 million financing round from Munich Re in October 2019. The technology-oriented carrier has now raised more venture capital money than Lemonade did before it went public. That startup, which sells home, renters and pet insurance, raised just under $500 million before a July 2 IPO pulled in $308 million. An IPO for Next in the coming months is likely, based on recent actions and financings by some of its peers. InsurTech Hippo, a seller of homeowners insurance, said in July that it would explore an IPO in 2021 after raising $150 million in new financing. Root, an InsurTech that sells auto and renters insurance, last raised $350 million in September 2019 and is rumored to be readying an IPO for later this year or in early 2021, according to a recent Reuters report. Next Insurance, with its focus on small business coverage, offers general liability, professional liability, commercial liability and now workers compensation. New products are planned in 2021 for small businesses in areas including accounting, construction, fitness, retail and more, the company said. With Next Insurance, insureds can access USA-based licensed insurance advisers, tools and services like 24/7 access to certificates of insurance from a mobile device or computer and in-house claims filings where a decision is typically made within 48 hours. In its venture financing announcement, the company noted it now has more than 100,000 customers, and its coverage is available to 1,300 types of businesses in 50 states. The company started 2020 with approximately 220 employees and has since increased its headcount to over 330 as of today. Continued hiring will bring that headcount up to 550 by the end of 2021, Next Insurance said. Source: Next Insurance Topics Tech Clumio announced increased demand for its all cloud enterprise data protection service in 2020, with an eight-time increase in the number of its platform customers protecting more than one data source across private cloud, public cloud and SaaS compared to seven months ago. Clumio has tripled its employee headcount, hiring more than 50 percent of its total company roster during the pandemic. The company has expanded from protecting one to four data sources, including AWS EC2, EBS and RDS, VMware Cloud on AWS and Microsoft 365 the first service of its kind on a single platform. Enterprises choose Clumio for its innovative air-gap backup service for public cloud and SaaS. Clumio, unlike any legacy product, frees companies from the burden of managing data protection. Clumio continues to advance company, product and industry innovation throughout 2020 by solving the cost, complexity and compliance problems that are inhibiting enterprises from getting to the cloud faster. Clumio has responded to rapidly increasing customer demand for all-encompassing data protection with an easy-to-onboard service that safeguards against ransomware and data loss. The company has redefined the enterprise backup experience with the industrys first born in the cloud data protection offering for long-term retention and compliance of AWS native services. Clumio scales on demand, has predictable pricing including a free tier for operational recovery and is simple to manage. Remote work and a major uptick in SaaS and cloud use has escalated potential ransomware threats. Now, more than ever, our customers are realizing the value of a cloud-native data protection platform a platform that arms them to fight todays data protection challenges, said Poojan Kumar, CEO and co-founder, Clumio. Other industry players cant deliver Clumios built natively in the public cloud, always-on, always-covered data protection. The fact that Snowflake Computing CRO Chris Degnan joined Clumios board combined with support from Snowflake investor Mike Speiser of Sutter Hill Ventures further validates our mission; we, like Snowflake, are tapping the scale, elasticity and economics of the public cloud to disrupt and redefine our market. Clumio, committed to removing cloud barriers so enterprises can achieve their cloud-related technology goals, continues to deepen its partnership with Amazon. The companys enterprise backup as a service is built on native AWS services, meaning customers can take full advantage of the flexibility, scalability and economics AWS provides without needing to rely on incomplete snapshot managers or build a solution on their own. Clumios data protection for Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service) workloads is the first data protection service for long-term retention of AWS native services. Clumio protects EC2, EBS and RDS for operational recovery, data recovery, and long-term retention, dramatically reducing companies costs and security risks as they accelerate to the cloud. The company has just achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Outposts Ready designation, which differentiates Clumio as an AWS Partner Network (APN) member with a product fully tested on AWS Outposts. Clumio has also distinguished itself as an AWS Partner Network member by earning AWS Storage Competency status, validating the companys deep domain expertise in core storage categories including backup and recovery. We vetted several options and Clumio came out on top as the only solution that could reduce our costs and remove the complexity of managing and protecting data in the cloud. Now we can focus our resources on more strategic initiatives, said Dennis Yang, CIO at Motion Picture Association. Clumios ability to innovate and deliver is unmatched. We have always taken the necessary precautions to reduce our risk of ransomware attacks across multiple sites, but that often came with a high cost, said Chris Blazejewicz, manager of IT at Lakeside Process Controls. When I was introduced to Clumio, I saw the value right away. Now we protect Microsoft 365 and VMware with a single service and have a secure air-gap for our backups to protect us from bad actors. Clumio continues to evolve SaaS backup for the all cloud enterprise with a seamless public cloud backup service that enables companies to get to the cloud faster. The company delivers a unified backup solution that protects public cloud, private cloud and SaaS with a single service for VMware, VMware Cloud on AWS, Amazon EC2, Amazon EBS, Amazon RDS and Microsoft 365. This single service provides companies with always-on security, fast, intuitive restores and effortless compliance along with air-gap data protection that enables recovery from data loss and ransomware. In fact, Clumio is the only air-gapped service for protecting public cloud applications outside of customer accounts. The Clumio platform is built in the cloud and for the cloud, providing the agility and scale of the public cloud with a simple, intuitive as a service offering. The continually updated platform consolidates operational recovery, backup and compliance requirements all with predictable costs and proactive support. Clumio has marked the following corporate, customer and product-related milestones so far during 2020: Corporate Increased employee headcount by 70 percent, to 179 total employees. Hired more than 50 percent of employee headcount during the pandemic. Launched the Clumio Research and Development Center in Bengaluru, with plans to tap into local tech talent to double the company workforce in India by the end of 2020. Launched operations in Canada, meaning Canadian companies for the first time have access to a simplified and cost-effective enterprise backup service that provides scale, flexible economics and inherent elasticity, while protecting the data within the borders of Canada. Customers Featured new customers include Cole Scott & Kissane (law), Rush Memorial Hospital, Infogix (data governance and management), Lakeside Process Controls, InTown Suites (hospitality), Frogslayer (cloud IT consultancy), and Point Loma Nazarene University. Selected by and continuing to gain traction with customers who commend Clumios easy UI and set it and forget it simplicity, as well as proactive customer support that includes automated, continuous, 24/7 real-time monitoring. Product Phuket officials ready for Vegetarian Festival PHUKET: Officials have been assigned to organise traffic police and medical teams to prepare for the upcoming Phuket Vegetarian Festival, to be held Oct 17-25. cultureCOVID-19health By The Phuket News Thursday 24 September 2020, 12:09PM Street processions will be held, but Mah Song spirit mediums are to travel in vehicles and crowd control will be enforced. Photo: PR Dept / file Street processions are still permitted this year, but some of the main ceremonies have been banned, it was explained at a meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday (Sept 23). Phuket Vice Governor Wongsakorn Nunchukan explained that the Phuket government will coordinate with shrine administrators in order to carry on the annual festival in line with the new normal protocols. This meeting aims to assign officers for taking care of their responsibilities during the festival, such as traffic and safety management by police and emergency services preparing medical staff, he said. As part of the new normal measures in order to prevent any spread of COVID-19, ceremony attendees must wear face masks at all times and wash their hands with sanitiser as often as possible. Administrators at participating shrines must ensure that all attendees are checked for elevated body temperatures entering festival and shrine areas, and ensure that people can register as entering the areas through the Thai Chana web platform They must also control any congestion of crowds and the cleanliness in their areas, it was explained yesterday. Komart Pankeard, Chief of the Phuket office of the Ministry of Culture, explained that street processions can be held like they are every year, but all people taking part in the processions must wear face masks all the time. However, the Mah Song spirit mediums will not have to wear face masks, he noted. Although not reconfirmed yesterday, Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Dr Chalermpong Sukontapol, who sits on the Phuket Communicable Disease Committee, told Chinese shrine administrators in July that the Mah Song spirit mediums are not permitted to walk the streets this year. Instead, they may travel in vehicles as part of the procession. Also banned this year will be many of the ceremonial ablutions of faith and flesh including fire-walking, bladed-ladder climbing, hot oil bathing and nail-bridge crossing, Dr Chalermpong added. As every doctor has known since the time of Hippocrates, the primary rule every physician must obey is simple: First, do no harm. The best surgeons I encountered during my career as an NHS consultant were those who knew when to stand back and not to operate. They had the humility to understand when their surgical skills would not save a life, or usefully prolong one for the benefit of the patient. I despair as I watch this Government, following a flawed scientific narrative, turn the challenge of a nasty coronavirus into a national tragedy and economic disaster. Shamefully, it is doing so while the medical profession, cowed into bureaucratic obedience, offers endorsement through silence instead of constructive criticism. A photograph of a boy, one, and his 88-year-old grandmother greeting each other through the glass during the coronavirus pandemic Because the NHS behaved foolishly in the early days of the pandemic, admitting too many people and then forcing hospitals to discharge elderly patients into care homes, we have lost more people than our European neighbours, with some 42,000 deaths. The Great Plague of 1665-1666 wiped out almost a quarter of Londons population in 18 months. In living memory, the Hong Kong flu epidemic of 1968 cost some 80,000 lives in Britain, yet there were no demands then for a national or global shutdown. Government policy has mutated from protect the NHS to the very different aim of driving down cases in all age groups until an effective vaccine emerges in the spring, along with flowers and butterflies. Britain's Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty (left) and Britain's Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance, both wearing face coverings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leave from 11 Downing Street in central London on September 21 But the Government has taken action to destroy businesses without any proper cost/benefit analysis of their draconian measures. Some people may find it too gruesome to ponder, but the Government and private companies routinely place a value on a human life. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) puts a figure of between 20,000 and 30,000 on what is known as a quality-adjusted life year, or QALY. Any time an expensive new cancer, or cystic fibrosis, or heart disease drug is considered for use, it must first satisfy NICEs rigorous, coldly-objective modelling of whether it is effective and offers value for money. In other words, is the cure worth the cost of the treatment? If Boris Johnson were applying this same logic to his anti-Covid measures, data would be published to assess the projected savings in lives against the huge economic costs of pushing parts of the economy into hibernation and the huge loss in QALYs caused by the action taken. The Government has failed to provide this analysis, either because they havent bothered to commission it, or because the results are just too embarrassing. The truth is that in their hearts, ministers probably already know that the cure is worse than the disease. Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Northamptonshire Police Headquarters in Northampton on Thursday I am of course not suggesting that the elderly should be left to their fate because they only have a few years to live. But surely they must exercise their own judgment about what makes life worth living and whether to shield themselves from a virus that can be lethal to them but is very light on the young. Contrary to what Mr Johnson seemed to be suggesting during his television address this week, we are not all equally at risk of Covid. Indeed, the virus discriminates viciously against the ill, the elderly and the obese. But I have never understood the bizarre moral equation that tries to justify shutting down swathes of NHS capacity and stops treating people who are ill today in order to protect people who might fall ill tomorrow from Covid. It is the medicine of the madhouse, and Im afraid that it has been the hallmark of the Governments handling of this pandemic almost from the beginning. It will take many years for the NHS to make good on the non-Covid ill-health legacy caused by the actions taken. Covid-19 has proved to be a disaster for this country but, increasingly, it is becoming a scandal. How can the Twin Horsemen of the Coronapocalypse, Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty, go in front of cameras to introduce measures condemning thousands of British businesses to oblivion without taking a single question from journalists to justify their actions? Chris Whittys background is in public health, a wide discipline, yet the only thing he has talked about in public for seven months is one disease. What about the wider context of the nations public health, the spike in suicides, the depressions exacerbated by solitude, the missed appointments. Commuters disembark a London Underground train. Chris Whittys background is in public health, a wide discipline, yet the only thing he has talked about in public for seven months is one disease Our hospitals are operating at a fraction of their capacities. Oncologists warn of an extra 30,000 deaths from cancers currently going undiagnosed. Stroke and heart attack victims are going untreated, diabetics are not being properly monitored, all to slow the advance of a virus that is currently killing fewer than 40 of the 1,600 people who die every day in the UK. The worst thing about Mr Johnsons latest pronouncement was his refusal to accept that the science is by no means settled. He is following a cabal of committee men and women in the grip of groupthink. I challenge the Prime Minister to organise a televised public debate so that those scientists and doctors who have no faith in his strategy can challenge his in-house experts. Diversity is how we approach truth. We need to know who is advising whom, and what is the expected cost of shutting down the economy against the lives that hypothetically might be saved by the measures introduced this week. At the moment the dissident voices are silenced, and all but squeezed off the BBC. This is a perversion of the way science progresses, through debate and dispute and the free exchange of evidence. Most urgently of all, his experts must explain what happens in the spring if, as I expect, the vaccine does not miraculously bring salvation. Then the Prime Minister will have to accept that the cure he has adopted really is worse than the disease. Even more shockingly, he will learn the hard way that Pandoras Box is open and the only cure for this virus is to learn to live with it. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL September 24, 2020 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include AT&T T, Philip Morris International PM, Square SQ, Zoom Video Communications ZM and Vale VALE. Here are highlights from Wednesdays Analyst Blog: Top Analyst Reports for AT&T, Philip Morris and Square 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, Philip Morris International and Square. 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. Story continues (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. 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 the 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 and 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 >> Join us on Facbook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Click to get this free report ATT Inc. (T) : Free Stock Analysis Report Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) : Free Stock Analysis Report VALE S.A. (VALE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Square, Inc. (SQ) : Free Stock Analysis Report Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (ZM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The Department of Justice proposed legislation to curb liability protections for tech platforms and moved a step closer toward an antitrust lawsuit against Google Wednesday. The big picture: As President Trump faces re-election, lawmakers and regulators are hurriedly wrapping up investigations and circling Big Tech with regulatory threats. Driving the news: The Justice Department's Wednesday proposal would curb protections for online platforms that host third-party content provided by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act that have been in place for nearly a quarter century. The DOJ also briefed a group of state attorneys general on the status of its long-awaited case against Google for monopolistic behavior, sources familiar with the situation told Axios. What's happening: Attorney General William Barr promised he'd send a Section 230 proposal to Congress and said he wanted to see a Google suit filed by the end of September. He appears to have achieved the first goal and moved toward the second. Yes, but: Although efforts to change Section 230 have garnered bipartisan support, Congress is preoccupied with the election, the pandemic, and a Supreme Court vacancy. Any Google suit will likely take years to play out. These projects' fate will almost certainly be determined in the next administration. How it works: In an unusual move, the DOJ released the text of its own proposed legislation to revamp the Section 230 rules. The proposal would remove legal immunity when platforms facilitate criminal activity or fail to report unlawful conduct, or when platforms don't follow their own content moderation principles "consistently." The proposal would also allow civil suits to be brought against platforms relating to content that promotes online child exploitation and terrorism. Industry groups quickly raised alarms. Amid a pandemic and an election, undermining the tools social media companies use to respond to problematic content like disinformation is more dangerous than ever," said Matt Schruers, president of the Computer and Communications Industry Association, a trade group that represents major tech companies like Google and Facebook. "The U.S. government should be enabling efforts to address nefarious content and behavior, not hamstringing them in misguided pursuit of political gain. Details: Wednesday afternoon, at a White House gathering for Republican state attorneys, President Trump said his administration was weighing further "concrete legal steps" against platforms it believes censor conservatives. Trump said companies "rig" their terms of service to "mislead or defraud," and urged the AGs to investigate social media companies in their states. "I'm learning what role we can play as state AGs" to support Trump's executive order on social media and the DOJ's proposed Section 230 policy change, South Carolina attorney general Alan Wilson told Axios after the meeting. "We're not all treated fairly in the new virtual town square." "We discussed with the President our commitment to combatting platforms that are unlawfully censoring speech or stifling the voices of individuals based on personal political ideology, which only grows more important as we get closer to Election Day," said Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry. What's next: The DOJ Section 230 proposal will join a host of other bills circulating in Congress to regulate tech platforms. Barr has reportedly pushed for the delivery of a Google suit by the end of September, which is fast approaching, while prosecutors have sought additional time to strengthen the case. . 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 Court allows NCB to question Showik Chakraborty in jail India pti-Madhuri Adnal Mumbai, Sep 24: A court here on Thursday allowed the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to record the statements of Showik Chakraborty and Deepesh Sawant inside jail in the drugs case related to actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death. The two, alongwith prime accused Rhea Chakraborty and others, are currently in judicial custody. Showik, who is Rhea's brother, and Sawant who worked as a cook at Rajput's house, are lodged in Taloja prison in neighbouring Navi Mumbai. Sushant Singh Rajput case: Maha Congress raises questions over central agencies probe The NCB, in its plea before the special court for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, said mobile phone data showed Showik's deep involvement in the case. It also showed he was in touch with various high-profile personalities, and theseaspects needed further probe, the agency said. It also wanted to question Sawant afresh, it said. Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News Special judge G B Gurao granted permission for an NCB team to visit Taloja prison and record their statements in the presence of jail officials. President Trump during a news conference at the White House on Sept. 23. (Associated Press) To the editor: "The ballots are a disaster," President Trump said. He added: "We'll want to have get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very we'll have a very peaceful there won't be a transfer, frankly. There'll be a continuation." ("Trump refuses to commit to a peaceful transfer of power," Sept. 23) He's normalizing his plan to have the popular vote nullified by sympathetic state legislatures, just as the Atlantic has reported. This sedition is probably already operational: The two Republicans on North Carolina's state board of elections abruptly quit this week, claiming changes were made to election procedures without their consent. It's part of a culminating whole. The first pebbles in this avalanche nationalist rhetoric and innuendo in 2016 have built and increased until now, when large boulders tumble in plain sight. Trump hasn't shot anyone on Fifth Avenue, but he's doing something much worse. We are watching our system of checks and balances being used against the very democracy they are supposed to protect. Lest you think the judiciary will save the election, let me remind you of something else Trump said on Wednesday, calmly, and with confidence: "This will end up in the Supreme Court." My blood runs cold. Carole Cooper, Manhattan Beach .. To the editor: As a lifelong reader of the Los Angeles Times, I was more than disappointed to see that the print edition article on Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power was buried on Page A6. With the election just weeks away, the terrifying news that Trump has no plans of honoring the election results should be a front-page, above-the-fold banner. His remarks should serve as a tsunami siren alerting the nation to the critical danger this president poses to democracy. Has The Times (and our country, for that matter) been so numbed by all the other daily news that it cannot find front-page space for this most troubling threat yet from Trump? Or does The Times just not view the president's position as a danger to America? Story continues Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) called the scenario threatened by Trump "unthinkable." Well, Sen. Romney, think again. I can assure you that the president is thinking about it very much. I fear for my beloved country. Wendy Skolfield, Topanga .. To the editor: Bill Maher is looking more and more prescient. During the Democratic primary, the comedian and political commentator asked candidates what their plan was if they won and Trump refused to leave. Some had a clever joke ready, some did not. None had a plan. Trump's public refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power is so much a part of his constant stream of outrageous statements and tweets that it rates only a Page A6 story in The Times. We have become inured to his comments, and we do so at our own peril. The statement is a direct assault on the democratic process that makes us who we are as a nation. It should be addressed immediately. Nov. 3 may well be too late. Bart Braverman, Indio .. To the editor: It does not matter whether Trump commits to a peaceful transfer of power. This country is not a banana republic. Whether he leaves the White House or not is not his decision to make and this reader would very much appreciate it if the stenographers of the press corps would acknowledge that fact. Linda Whitener, Charlotte, N.C. By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) - Three women, two of them from Africa, advanced to the second round of selection to become the next director-general of the World Trade Organization as the field was cut from eight to five, the Geneva-based body said on Friday. The WTO is looking for a new director-general to replace Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down a year earlier than expected at the end of August. The 25-year-old trade body has never had a leader who is female or from Africa. The five to go through to the next round are Kenyan minister Amina Mohamed, former Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, Saudi Arabia's Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri and British ex-minister Liam Fox. This confirms Reuters' reporting on Thursday that Mexico's Jesus Seade, Egypt's Hamid Mamdouh and Moldovan Tudor Ulianovschi were eliminated. Azevedo's successor will face a considerable challenge with rising global tensions and protectionism during a COVID-induced slowdown, most obviously between Beijing and President Donald Trump's U.S. administration, and pressure to drive reform. Round two, in which the WTO's 164 members will give their preferences from Sept 24 to Oct 6, will whittle the candidates down to two. The WTO has said it wants to select the winner by early November. Trade experts and former WTO officials say that the U.S. presidential election, on Nov. 3. could extend the process, even if that goes against the WTO's prescribed deadline. However, the WTO said the process had gone well so far and that all members had taken part. "The objective is to have this process completed within 2 months - it began on 7 September so on or about 7 November, so we are on track for this. The process has gone smoothly," WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell told reporters. (Reporting by Emma Farge and Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) All members are strongly urged to assess and mitigate the risks of entering into relevant contracts. The International Group of Protection and Indemnity Clubs (IG P&I) has refused to provide insurance coverage to vessels involved in the Nord Stream 2 or TurkSteam construction projects. The relevant IG Circular was published by the Shipowners' Club on September 21. Strong recommendation Read alsoEuropean Parliament demands halt to Nord Stream 2 project over Navalny's poisoningThe Group says that the agreement to insure the vessels would jeopardize the Club for violating the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act (PEESA). "All Members are therefore strongly urged to assess and mitigate the risks of entering into contracts on the Nord Stream 2 or TurkSteam construction projects and exercise the fullest possible due diligence to avoid exposure to sanctions or enforcement actions," reads the IG Circular. "There shall be no cover for any vessels involved in activities that are either unlawful and/or put the Club at risk of breaching sanctions. In view of the direct sanctions threat posed to insurers by CAATSA and PEESA, there will be no Club cover for any activity involving or related to the Nord Stream 2 or TurkSteam construction projects," the document reads. Sanctions against Nord Stream 2: Background Ninh Binh tightens control over wild animal protection The northern province of Ninh Binhs Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued a document to ask for stricter control over wild animal protection, particularly bird species. According to the department, recently, many traps have been reported at rice fields near forests or areas in the districts of Kim Son, Nho Quan and Hoa Lu to catch wild birds who migrate there. The wild birds sold at a restaurant in Ninh Binh. Lots of restaurants in the province are still selling wild bird meat. To help local biodiversity preservation, the department has called on authorities of districts to destroy the traps and take communications activities to raise the public awareness of wild animal protection, including birds. Local business facilities need to sign in a commitment that they will not trade, store and advertise wild animal products. Stringent punishments will be imposed for any individual and organisation violating wild animal protection regulations. Under the departments document, state employees in Ninh Binh Province are banned from using wild animal-related products. Ninh Binh is among localities in Vietnam where wild bird species are being quite strictly protected. The province is home to famous wild bird sanctuaries Cuc Phuong National Park, Thung Nham and Van Long areas. The collision occurred between the front of the semitrailer and the left center to the rear of the fire engine as both vehicles entered the intersection at the same time, a release said. CLEVELAND, Ohio One person died early Thursday after a crash caused a highway sign to fall on a pickup truck, officials said. Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Ray Santiago said the crash happened about 8:30 a.m. in the westbound lanes of Interstate 480 at the State Road exit. A 2015 Western Star dump truck with the bed raised struck the highway sign that rises above three lanes of traffic, Santiago said. That sign tumbled down and crushed a gray 2019 Ford F-150 in one of the middle lanes of the highway, according to Santiago and ODOTs live-streaming cameras. Santiago said one person in the pick-up truck is dead. Santiago said it is unknown if the dump truck driver suffered any injuries. The crash is still under investigation, Santiago said. Three of four westbound lanes are closed and Santiago urged drivers to use an alternate route. More: Tractor-trailer driver sentenced to jail for crash that killed couple heading to their wedding Nearly 20 drug arrests made this month at Lancaster public park: police South Dakota attorney general finds mans body a day after crash, says he though hed hit a deer The Power of Libations Last week I got a text from my cousin with one provocative question, is BLM doing witchcraft?. I must admit that I was both astonished and confused by his inquiry. A little bit later, I read the article by a White brother in the faith, Michael Brown, a contributor to the Christian Post. A week later, I saw the commentary by Pat Roberston and knew as a third generation African-American pastor from the South that I could not remain silent. So, my dear Angelenos/Americans and especially those of you who follow in the ways of Christ, I say to you as a Pastor and an activist, the same thing I told my cousin, in my experience BLM does not practice witchcraft but deep African spirituality and pastoral care for those who are forced to take the bitter blow of racism and police sanctioned violence. We must be careful not to be misguided by those who may mean well but do not comprehend the experience of Black spirituality in America. Sadly, the dominant White evangelical form of Christianity demonizes things which is not understood or agreed with as demonic, devilish, savage, sinful or witchcraft. This is done not because the Bible says so, but because it is a projection of defending a way of life that often excludes minorities who choose not to assimilate. The witchcraft myth is a long-standing narrative used by White Christians as a form of anti-Blackness against African people and their descendants for a spirituality they do not understand. One must recall that the Salem Witch trials started when a White puritan slave master accused his slave of practicing witchcraft. An assertion that was never proven, used to kill hundreds of women and then was later revealed after Tituba (the slave accused) was released that it was literally fabricated and imposed by the wrath of beatings. We must not succumb to this lie, a lie with basis is not grounded in scripture but in the demonization anything that is other. To put it plainly, there has always been at least two expressions of Black Church experience in America. One that was influenced and shaped by the doctrine of Manifest Destiny and imposed by those who kept our ancestors in the chains of slavery and the other what W.E.B. DuBois called the religion and spirituality of the Negro classified by the frenzy (The Spirit), the music and the preacher. The ritual of pouring libations is an ancient practice passed down through the generations to each of us and shows up in every Black church. Why? ADVERTISEMENT 1) We are a spiritual people. If you have ever been to a revival then you have felt what we call the Spirit. The Bible tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but of powers and principalities. Furthermore, it tells us that we are in this world but not of this world, that heaven is real and angels and demons exist. Spiritual beings exist. Understanding the world(s) in which we exist is not witchcraft but is Biblical. In the African American experience understanding this context is pivotal to our spirituality in order to not only survive but thrive. The pouring of libations is one manifestation of acknowledgement of this very fact. It is exactly the same as communion, the pouring out of liquid to connect us to our spiritual ancestor Jesus the Christ and literally consuming his blood to tap into his power. 2) Jesus mentioned ancestors all the time and actually talked with them. If you are a Christian, then you consider yourself as a believer of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is acknowledging your ancestral lineage and Jesus referred to his often. In fact, when Jesus goes up on a mountain with three of his beloved disciples he prays and communes with the ancestors of Moses, Elijah and Abraham. We call it the Mount of Transfiguration but for Jesus the actual experience was one of tapping into the Spirit, the power of God through prayer, and gaining insight and strength for the journey ahead. Jesus didnt call it the Mount of Transfiguration, western ideology and Eurocentric theology due to the urge to classify what is not readily understood but experienced, labeled Jesus experience as such. Libations in the BLM context, from my experience, acts as a similar healing balm for families, Black families in particular, who loved ones blood still cries out from Earth due to the heinous evil of police sanctioned violence. When families and community call out the names of loved ones that have been robbed and stolen from us, we summon power from their energy, their life force to continue this journey. Scripture says we have such a great cloud of witnesses (ancestors) so let run this race with faith and courage, press on to see what the end will be. 3) Libations are pastoral care and calling it witchcraft is nothing more than whistleblowing to discourage a movement that may actually revive the soul of this nation. Calling libations witchcraft is a direct assault on the spirituality of Black women and people who are claiming their agency. We have seen this playbook before throughout history when powerful women arose the calls of witchcraft and ungodliness magnified to benign and prosecute social movements. Let us be maladjusted to false doctrines that will rather burn, enslave, tar, and demonize spiritual religious practices that do not assimilate to their way of following Christ. King urged our White sisters and brothers to not stand idly by while the evil and vile spirit of racism delivers the soul of our nation to destruction/hell and the same truth remains today. Lets call libations and the spiritual African ritual of acknowledging our ancestors, the cloud of witness and the lives we carry what it is- pastoral care. Pastoral care in the most basic sense is holding space, journeying with another and seeking wisdom and guidance through study and prayer. If you ever attend a BLM protest then you have seen the power of grieving mothers, fathers and families calling the name of their slain loved one. You have seen the tears which at times move mothers and fathers to call out their child/loved ones name followed by a wail out to Jesus that sends shivers down your spine. The moment of libations is a moment of ancestral wisdom that unapologetically says we see you, we hear you and yes, your Black life mattered to us even if it did not matter to the world. As a Pastor, I see this as a sacred experience and holy work that gets to the heart of our faith and proclaims like Hagar that God is truly El-Roi, the God who sees us. To put it another way, libations declares in African spirituality and Christianity that God is still the God of the oppressed and leaves us ways and practices to remind us that we are never alone and that the evil and demonic spirit of racism must be expelled from our land. Simply put, it calls me and too many other pastors to the prophetic ministry of calling out systems of oppression and summoning the streams of justice. In closing, I urge those of you who are misguided in your understanding or influenced by such dangerous rhetoric to follow the advice of Paul the evangelist to not get caught up in quarreling and condemnation that you fall into the temptation of being an ally to demonization and division. God has always shown up throughout history to exact Gods justice and righteousness for those who are all too often forced to live with their back against the wall of oppression. Black Lives Matter is a sacred movement and the power of libations is that it might just spark the Spirit of the living God to renew our nation. As a Black person, I have been forced for far too long to observe the Holy Days of manifest destiny that revere the ancestors known as founding fathers and presidents. Now is the time for us as Black people of the diaspora to fan the flames of our ancestors (2 Tim 1:6) and prophetically call forth their names and gifts to renew and revive the soul of America. Scripture requires us to do so in these times of crisis. As Paul was poured out as a libation in 2 Timothy 4:6, because he knew much like me the African wisdom that I am because we are, let us as a nation pour the libation of freedom, justice and righteousness passed on to me and us through my ancestors, great grandfathers and big mamas to call once again our nation to move into the power of love and remove the mask we can no longer hide behind. UPDATED: One person has sustained minor injuries following a crash in Mount Maunganui. Police were called to a four car nose-to-tail on Hewletts Road, near the Totara Street interesction, just after 11am. "The crash was briefly blocking the road," says a police spokesperson. "One person is reported to have minor injuries. "Area should be clear now as some cars were towed." EARLIER: Traffic delays are being reported in the Mount Maunganui area. A caller to the 0800 SUNLIVE news hotline says there appears four vehicles have been involved in a crash on the corner of Hewletts Road and Totara Street. "The intersection appears to be blocked. I'm not sure if there are any injuries or not." Another caller has reported traffic delays on Hewletts Road. Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible or expect delays in their travels. SunLive has contacted police for more information and will provide an update when we can. At the scene? Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz A day after Republic Media Network informed that 6 top male Bollywood actors have called their lawyers, fearful of action being taken against them over NCB's massive crackdown on the drug nexus in Bollywood, sources have told that several stars are doing all they can to plan an escape route. Sources have informed that other talent management agencies have hit the panic button after KWAN came under NCB scanner. 'Two big names seeking help from ex-top cop' Republic Media Network has learned that a top celebrity manager has dialled an ex-police commissioner of Mumbai and sought help in shielding two big names in Bollywood- an actor & a filmmaker. This agency represents an actor who was seen in the alleged drug party video of 2019. The agency is seeking help to save the actor from the central anti-drug agency, sources added. Meanwhile, the NCB is interrogating talent manager Jaya Saha, who has emerged as a 'kingpin', sources confirmed to Republic, after sensational revelations have come to light regarding her activities and high-profile WhatsApp groups she operated that involved copious conversations about drugs. She may be arrested by the NCB. The NCB probing the alleged Bollywood-drug nexus might summon actress Deepika Padukone if needed, while it again questioned actor Sushant Singh Rajput's talent manager Jaya Saha on Tuesday. The NCB might also summon actors Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan. The central anti-drugs agency has already summoned Karishma Prakash and KWAN talent management agency's CEO Dhruv Chitgopekar, but the former could not appear before the agency on Tuesday due to ill-health. During the NCB's investigation into the drugs angle in Rajput's death case, a wider drugs nexus in Bollywood surfaced. 2017 drug chat accessed: 'D', 'K' & Jaya Saha involved Republic Media Network had earlier accessed the WhatsApp chats of an actor 'D' (who was later confirmed as being Deepika Padukone) and 'K' who were both part of the WhatsApp group with Jaya Saha and would apparently use it to coordinate drugs. READ | NCB gets huge Shraddha Kapoor-CBD oil confession from Jaya Saha after Deepika-'Maal' chats The chats accessed are from October 2017 and show 'D' asking for "maal" from 'K' who replies that she has it, but at home. Further 'K' said that she can ask 'Amit' if she wants it, as "he is carrying". 'D' also then clarifies that she needs "Hash" and not "weed" as the two discuss logistics. Following that, another set of conversations came to the fore where Jaya Saha is discussing providing drugs to another pair of actors, 'S' and 'N', of which 'S' has turned out to be Shraddha Kapoor, as per sources. READ | Sushant Death Probe LIVE Updates: Filmmaker Madhu Mantena joins NCB probe There are at least two angles running in tandem in terms of the NCB's investigation into the link between Bollywood and drugs - regarding the Sushant Singh Rajput-Rhea Chakraborty and associated angle and regarding Manjinder Singh Sirsa's complaint about a 2019 Bollywood party video that had emerged earlier in which a lot of Bollywood stars were present. READ | Sushant's friend Yuvraj's stunning KWAN claim: "forced drugs, boycott for non-cooperation" The NCB has so far arrested more than 12 people, including Rajput's girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty, in connection with the probe into the drugs angle in the case of the actor's death. The special court on Tuesday extended Rhea's judicial custody till October 6. READ | Sona Mohapatra calls out Taapsee's defense of Anurag Kashyap, supports Payal Ghosh's right 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. For months, complaints from tech companies against Apple's and Google's power have grown louder. Spotify, the music streaming app, criticised Apple for the rules it imposed in the App Store. A founder of the software company Basecamp attacked Apple's "highway robbery rates" on apps. And last month, Epic Games, maker of the popular game Fortnite, sued Apple and Google, claiming they violated antitrust rules. Complaints about the market power of Apple and Google have been getting louder in recent times. Credit:AP Now these app makers are uniting in an unusual show of opposition against Apple and Google and the power they have over their app stores. On Thursday, the smaller companies said they had formed the Coalition for App Fairness, a nonprofit group that plans to push for changes in the app stores and "protect the app economy." The 13 initial members include Spotify, Basecamp, Epic and Match Group, which has apps like Tinder and Hinge. "They've collectively decided, 'We're not alone in this, and maybe what we should do is advocate on behalf of everybody,'" said Sarah Maxwell, a spokeswoman for the group. She added that the new nonprofit would be "a voice for many." For people who care about animals, its been a really difficult few weeks. We know perhaps better than most, how devastating it is to be someone who cares about animals, and who has to put up with seeing the distressing images year after year after year. And we cant stress enough how much we long for the day that those images wont exist the day animals are valued for who they are, not what their bodies produce. The day that live animal export is finally ended for good. It is our unwavering belief that this day will come. And while we wish it could be tomorrow, we know we have a lot more to do yet. Because we have our work cut out for us. We are taking on a wealthy and powerful industry that has the steadfast support of the political party that currently governs Australia. Despite years of outrage from the Australian people, and more recently global outrage that spanned 157 countries, it can feel disheartening to know that this trade continues (trust us, we get it). But its important to realise that a system that has been built on an acceptance of animal suffering on decades of lawlessness and cruelty is one that is not going to be gone overnight. It is one that needs to be dismantled, piece by piece. And were aiming to do just that. Yes, live animal export continues for now. But were making it harder than ever. Heres how were being the thorn in the side of the live export industry. We achieved a ban on Northern Summer Shipments, meaning sheep cant be exported during the three most dangerous months of the year sparing 1 million animals from live export annually . on Northern Summer Shipments, meaning sheep cant be exported during the three most dangerous months of the year . The majority of Germanys counties (like states) have banned live export on animal welfare grounds, after our investigations through our global arm, Animals International, revealed the treatment of German animals exported from Europe. live export on animal welfare grounds, after our investigations through our global arm, Animals International, revealed the treatment of German animals exported from Europe. For the first time ever, we exposed damning and extensive evidence during routine sheep voyages to the Middle East. This vision was broadcast globally with major news stories appearing across the world. during routine sheep voyages to the Middle East. This vision was broadcast globally with major news stories appearing across the world. This unforgettable vision led to a few other firsts: For the first time ever, the majority of Australian MPs stated their opposition to the trade, a political tipping point ; The Australian Labor Party committed to phasing out live sheep exports stating there is no future in live sheep trade . This is the first time we have had a live export policy from a major party; and, The Australian Senate passed a bill to end live export . A growing number of farmers in Austria are now turning their backs on live export as a result of evidence from Animals Internationals investigations. as a result of evidence from Animals Internationals investigations. New laws to end or reduce live export are currently before the Romanian and Israeli governments. are currently before the Romanian and Israeli governments. We took the Department of Agriculture to the Federal Court and won with the ruling made that the Department had no right to issue an export permit to notorious live export company, Emanuel Exports. to notorious live export company, Emanuel Exports. Major exporter, Emanuel Exports had their license to export cancelled after decades of animals suffering on their ships. after decades of animals suffering on their ships. Live exporters tried to start up business from Namibia, but we worked with the local SPCA to support a rapid-fire media and education campaign resulting in the export company backing out, sparing 70,000 live sheep, 50,000 goats and 5,000 cattle from cruel export . . 5 million fewer sheep are being exported from Australia annually since our first investigations exposing the reality of this trade in 2003. And our work to spare animals from one of the worlds most ruthless industries extends to animals across the globe. We have conducted major investigations in sixteen countries and used the evidence to build cases towards ending live export in France, Slovakia, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, Belgium, Sweden, Colombia, Italy, Ukraine, Israel, South Africa, Uruguay, Brazil, Romania and the Czech Republic. Dozens of media stories throughout these countries have helped to grow the awareness and the public momentum that is needed to ultimately end this global trade in misery. The global demand for meat that sees animals being treated like nothing more than cargo is going to need a global solution, and thats why its so important that we support and work with our international colleagues in Austria (VGT, Four Paws), Chile (ProAnimal Chile), Czech Republic (CIWF, Spolecnost pro zvirata), Uruguay (Animales sin Hogar and The Save Movement), New Zealand (SAFE), Denmark (Dyrenes Beskyttelse), Finland (SEY), Brazil (Forum Animal), France (CIWF), Germany (Animal Welfare Foundation Tierschutzbund ZErich, Deutscher Tierschutzbund), Italy (CIWF, LAV), Colombia (Councillor Andrea Padilla), Netherlands (Eyes on Animals, CIWF), Portugal (PATAV, Animal Save Movement), Romania (Animal Angels), Sweden (Djurens Ratt), Israel (Israel Against live Shipments and Animals Now), South Africa (NSPCA), Europe (Eurogroup for Animals) and the United Kingdom (CIWF). "A longtime champion of sustainability, Leslie has spent her career at Koppers fulfilling our company's shared purpose of ' Protecting What Matters and Preserving The Future ,'" said Koppers President and CEO Leroy Ball. "She has played an integral role in transforming the company's environmental, health and safety practices while also working to create a more inclusive and community minded culture all of which will have a lasting impact. We are fortunate to have Leslie as part of the Koppers team and congratulate her on this well-earned recognition." "I am honored and humbled to receive the STEP Ahead Award alongside a group of incredibly accomplished women from around the country," said Ms. Hyde. "My hope is that this recognition helps our next generation of female leaders see manufacturing as an industry that values excellence, innovation and a willingness to create positive change in our world." "The women being honored demonstrate what modern manufacturing careers are all about: making an impact in their communities with meaningful careers that offer significant opportunities for growth," said Manufacturing Institute Executive Director Carolyn Lee. Since joining Koppers in 1999, Ms. Hyde has held a series of roles of increasing responsibility leading to her current post as the company's first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer. Throughout her tenure, Leslie has developed compliance and management systems instrumental in advancing the company's environmental, health and safety practices, culminating in achieving certifications for the ISO14001 standard and the Responsible Care Management System. She is also responsible for publishing the company's first Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) compliant Sustainability Report and developing a global enterprise risk management system. Moreover, she introduced several community initiatives, including Community Advisory Panels at manufacturing locations and an employee volunteer program. Leslie is a founding member of Koppers first employee resource group, LINKwomen, and is known for reaching beyond team boundaries to support and promote others within the organization. The STEP Women's Initiative is the nation's marquee program to close the gender gap in manufacturing. STEP works to foster a 21st-century manufacturing workforce by empowering and inspiring women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research and leadership, as well as by motivating alumnae to mentor the next generation. The biggest challenge facing manufacturers continues to be the growing workforce crisisthe shortage of skilled talent to fill open positions. Manufacturers can close the skills gap by 50% simply by bringing 10% more women into the industry. STEP Ahead builds networks for women to have support in their industry and to elevate the role models that can motivate and mentor the next generation. About Koppers Koppers, with corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals and carbon compounds. Our products and services are used in a variety of niche applications in a diverse range of end markets, including the railroad, specialty chemical, utility, residential lumber, agriculture, aluminum, steel, rubber, and construction industries. Including our joint ventures, we serve our customers through a comprehensive global manufacturing and distribution network, with facilities located in North America, South America, Australasia, China and Europe. The stock of Koppers Holdings Inc. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "KOP." For more information, visit us at: www.koppers.com. About The Manufacturing Institute The Manufacturing Institute grows and supports the manufacturing industry's skilled workers for the advancement of modern manufacturing. The Manufacturing Institute's diverse initiatives support all American workers, including women, veterans and students, through skills training programs, community building and the advancement of their career in manufacturing. As the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, The Manufacturing Institute is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with resources necessary to solve the industry's toughest challenges. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org. For Information: Jessica Franklin, Manager, Corporate Communications, Brand and Giving 412 227 2025 [email protected] SOURCE Koppers Related Links http://www.koppers.com By Akbar Mammadov Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has said that his country unequivocally supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. The minister made the remark at a briefing after a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on September 24. Zalkaliani also said that Azerbaijan's support for Georgia's position at the UN General Assembly is extremely important, noting that Georgia highly appreciates this support. In the meantime, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov said during the meeting with his Georgian counterpart that the two countries face similar security threats and there is a similar approach to combating these threats, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's press service reported. Bayramov also said that unresolved conflicts pose a serious threat to security in region. It was stressed during the meeting that respecting the norms and principles of international law must be respected, in particular strictly following the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders is necessary. Furthermore, Bayramov briefed his Georgian counterpart on the latest military provocations committed by the Armenian armed forces on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border. The importance of resolving the conflict on the basis of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders was stressed. Infrastructure projects Touching upon the cooperation on energy and transport infrastructure, the sides also stressed that prospects for the full commissioning and expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Supsa oil pipelines, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, along with the two countries, contributes to the socio-economic development of the wide region. In addition, it was noted that there is great potential to further develop relations in the economic and trade sector and the importance of the full use of this potential. At the meeting, the ministers also said that a high level of coordination and cooperation between the two countries was maintained during the pandemic and unimpeded flow of traffic was ensured. Furthermore, the sides discussed cooperation in many areas on the bilateral agenda, including political, economic, trade, energy, transport, tourism, humanitarian and other fields. It should be noted that during his one-day visit to Georgia, Bayramov will meet with President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Georgie Gakharia, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava, Deputy Speaker Kakhaber Kuchava and parliamentary delegation. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Beta is being blamed for a sewage spill at the city of Pearlands Barry Rose wastewater treatment plant, and residents are being cautioned to avoid contact with nearby Clear Creek as a safety precaution. This is the third spill incident at the facility, which is near Pearland Parkway, in 16 months. In a press release, the city reported that the most recent incident, which occurred between 8 p.m. Monday and 4 a.m. the next morning, caused an estimated 180,000 gallons of wastewater to spill onto the facility grounds, affecting the area south of the plant at Clear Creek. On HoustonChronicle.com: At least 11 structures in Houston damaged by Beta flooding, Turner says The spill was attributed to excess flow caused by rain from the storm, according to the release. According to the citys statement, the facility had recorded 10 inches of rain over 24 hours, and the spill of domestic wastewater which consisted of approximately 5 percent of daily intake went into a drainage ditch connected to Clear Creek. Clean-up measures are in place to remove any contaminants, which are expected to dissipate as the creek recedes; and a bypass pump is being used to lessen the impact, according to the release. The city is telling residents to avoid all contact, including recreational use, with the channel downstream of the facility until the creek recedes, and that if people come in contact with any water or soil affected by the spill, to bathe and wash their clothes immediately. The incident was reported to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), which by regulation requires that cities report wastewater overflows to local officials and news media when a spill exceeds 100,000 gallons. LIVE FLOOD MAP: Track flooding, street closures and more with our interactive flood map This is the third incident in the last 16 months to occur at the Barry Rose Water plant. The first, which occurred on May 8 2019, was blamed on two days of flooding, which caused failure of underground pumps that pass sewage into the treatment facility and resulted in more than 650,000 gallons of wastewater overflow. The second incident occurred March 8 when a filter that removes debris from incoming wastewater failed, resulting in an overflow of 150,000 gallons of wastewater. Within weeks of that incident, the city announced plans for a project to upgrade the sewage treatment facility, which is adjacent to Clear Creek. Residents with questions or concerns may contact the citys public works department at 281-652-1900. yorozco@hcnonline.com The Kentucky attorney general kept calling her Miss. Miss Taylor. Miss Breonna Taylor. He gave her that honorific, that scrap of dignity six months after she was killed. READ MORE: Police officers not charged for killing Breonna Taylor; 1 ex-officer indicted on endangerment charges Tuesday afternoon, Daniel Cameron (R., Ky.) was standing before the news cameras, and therefore the country, to explain the grand jurys decision in her death. Speaking precisely, calmly, and with a measured cadence from behind a lectern adorned with the golden mark of the commonwealth, the prosecutor wore a suit with a neatly folded white pocket square, along with a dark face mask which he removed as he began to speak. This Black man was accompanied by white colleagues who wore face masks, too. It was a tableau of professional propriety, civic responsibility, and racial bliss. Cameron used the genteel title Miss as a matter of formality, but also as a kind of armor. The nicety would serve as evidence of his respectfulness of Taylor, and of his regard for the criminal justice system. The title would also give feeble cover to the systems indifference to the value of this 26-year-old Black womans life. The word would teeter atop a mountain of historical disregard that continues to grow. Cameron had been tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding Taylors death after three police officers converged on her apartment one early morning in March. Several witnesses say the officers did not announce themselves, although, during his remarks, Cameron said he had a single civilian witness who heard them do so. Taylors boyfriend fired a shot in self-defense. The officers released a barrage of bullets one of which proved fatal to Taylor. READ MORE: Protesters march through Philadelphia in the wake of the grand jury ruling in Breonna Taylors death Neither she nor her boyfriend was the object of the officers pursuit. She did not have a weapon. She had done nothing wrong. She was simply at home. And she was murdered by police. Cameron called her death a tragedy. Thats the least of it. He explained to the country that the three officers who were under investigation would not be prosecuted for her death. One of them, former Louisville Detective Brett Hankison, who fired blindly and wildly through her door, would face charges for the wanton endangerment of the lives of three other people people who lived in a neighboring apartment. No one would be held to account for Taylors death. Taylor was murdered, and the system shrugged. But at least Cameron called her Miss. There was little distinctive about Camerons news conference, but an awful lot that was familiar, most notably the realization that a family, a community, and a country have once again been asked to sit with the horror of what happened. Bureaucrats love to describe how many collective years of experience were at their disposal to wrestle with some devastating event. In this case, Cameron said among the prosecutors and investigators on his team, there were more than 200, which perhaps should suggest that all those years of expertise working in a flawed criminal justice system simply reflect a dispiriting momentum rather than something about which to brag. For communities who have not been treated equally under the law, its not a reason to trust his judgment but to be leery of it. Nonetheless, Cameron showered his colleagues with public praise not for going above and beyond like Hollywoods versions of righteous prosecutors, but for essentially doing their jobs. The team is here with me today. I want to personally and publicly thank them for their tireless work, he said. These men and women are true public servants who for months have shown up every day with a desire for one thing, and that is to seek the truth. What truth did they uncover in all their searching? What did they heroically reveal? The criminal justice system decided that the police officers were justified in their use of force, justified in the return of deadly fire, justified in protecting themselves. Taylors killing was justified. But, of course, none of that is true. Those determinations are not gospel. They are twisted beliefs, biased understandings, preexisting cultural conditions, falsehoods. And they have long been clear and visible. Cameron spoke at length about the case, his voice always mellifluous. He rarely stumbled for words. He might not have been practiced, but he was unruffled. At times his words even carried a sense of resigned melancholy. Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief, he said. But surely the law is meant to be just. Robin Givhan is senior critic-at-large writing about politics, race, and the arts for the Washington Post. @RobinGivhan Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The 'Global Sodium Hexametaphosphate (CAS 10124-56-8) Market Outlook 2019-2024' offers detailed coverage of sodium hexametaphosphate industry and presents main market trends. The market research gives historical and forecast market size, demand, end-use details, price trends, and company shares of the leading sodium hexametaphosphate producers to provide exhaustive coverage of the market for sodium hexametaphosphate. The report segments the market and forecasts its size, by volume and value, on the basis of application, by products, and by geography. Request For Report sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3770 The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from key industry participants. The global sodium hexametaphosphate market has been segmented into five major regions, namely, North America (U.S., Canada, and others), Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and others), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, and others), South America (Brazil, Argentina, and others), and Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and others). Furthermore, the report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key vendors operating in this market. Key Regions - North America - Europe - Asia Pacific - Middle East & Africa - South America Key Vendors - Aditya Birla Chemicals (India) Limited - Innophos Holdings, Inc. - Yichang Kaixiang Chemical Co., Ltd. - Shifang Sundia Chemical Industry Limited Company - Jiangyin Chengxing Industrial Group Co., Ltd. - Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd. - request free sample to get a complete list of companies Key Questions Answered in This Report - Analysis of the sodium hexametaphosphate market including revenues, future growth, market outlook - Historical data and forecast - Regional analysis including growth estimates - Analyzes the end user markets including growth estimates. - Profiles on sodium hexametaphosphate vendors including products, sales/revenues, SWOT, and market position, recent developments. - Market structure, market drivers and restraints. More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/3770 Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 20:07:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- World leaders continued to defend multilateralism in their pre-recorded speeches on the second day of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly high-level week. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto called for efforts to reverse the trend of waning multilateralism, and encouraged states to have good faith in international affairs. "Precisely when the demand for global solutions is rising, our ability to provide them is weakening," he said Wednesday. "Multilateralism suffers from inward-looking nationalism and great-power competition alike. The institutions that we have built together over decades are under growing pressure. International agreements, norms and principles are increasingly challenged and interpreted in ways which weaken both their potential and their legitimacy," he noted. Ultimately, if respect for the commonly agreed rules disappears, there will be not much left of a rules-based order, he warned. "We need to reverse this trend. More than ever, we need effective multilateral cooperation. More than ever, we need the UN. It is not only the common responsibility of all of us -- the member states -- to make it stronger. It should be obvious that it is our common interests, too," said Niinisto. Marking its 75th anniversary this year, the UN Charter remains a remarkable blueprint for the future. But the promise comes with an important condition: states must engage in good faith, he said, adding that only fulfilled obligations lead to rights and benefits. Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi called for renewed commitment to multilateralism to tackle global challenges. Multilateral cooperation remains the best approach to addressing challenges and mitigating the suffering of people who are the main reason for the creation of the UN, he said. "Multilateralism within the UN 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," said Nyusi. 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, said the Mozambican president. "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," he added. Sefik Dzaferovic, chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, made his point by citing his own country's experiences. It is an indisputable fact that during the past few years, a very strong crisis of multilateralism has been present on the scene, said Dzaferovic in his pre-recorded speech. International organizations in general, including the UN, have become an object of strong challenge and even dispute, he said. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the largest problems of today can no longer be solved by individual countries or a couple of countries. These difficulties can only be solved through transnational, multilateral response, based on dialogue and cooperation of as many states as possible, Dzaferovic said. A historic agreement for an economic recovery package of the European Union (EU) worth over 2 trillion euros (2.34 trillion U.S. dollars) has shown the strength of European unity and can serve as an example to all other parts of the world, he said. The EU assistance package for Bosnia and Herzegovina to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic has strengthened the country's commitment to European integration, he said. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said the COVID-19 pandemic defines today's challenges -- challenges that can only be overcome if everyone succeeds. Kenya's firm belief in multilateralism is aligned with its shared global values grounded in human dignity, equity, social justice, human rights and good governance, he said. The COVID-19 pandemic should give fresh impetus to collective efforts to strengthen international cooperation. Luis Abinader, president of the Dominican Republic, said the world is in a better shape than it was in 1945 due in large part to the efforts of the UN. Multilateralism is more essential now than ever as COVID-19 and climate change crises could usher in a range of other conflicts. A collaborative spirit and more equitable system must prevail when it comes to stopping the pandemic, extending treatment and vaccination, and recovering from the pandemic, he said. Enditem Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) Select banks will resume fees for interbank fund transfers starting October, ending months of waived charges during the COVID-19 pandemic. In separate advisories, BDO Unibank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and GCash said they will restore fees charged for sending money to a deposit account under a different bank, which is done through online and mobile platforms. There are two ways to transfer funds to other banks: InstaPay, which allows real-time crediting of money transfers worth 50,000 or lower; and via PESONet or the Philippine EFT System and Operations Network, which assured same-day credit of fund transfers of bigger amounts. The following charges for each InstaPay or PESONet transaction will take effect by October 1, 2020, according to a list from the Philippine Payments Management Inc. or PPMI and separate bank advisories: - BDO: 25 (InstaPay) - BPI: 50 In an advisory on its website, e-wallet GCash said it will begin charging 15 for "send to bank" transactions by November 1, a month later than scheduled. PayMaya and MUFG Bank will also waive fees until end-October, according to the central bank. Most banks waived interbank fees starting mid-March as the country went under lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bank branches have since reopened nationwide but at shorter business hours, which also meant an earlier cut-off time for processing same-day PESONet transfers. RELATED: BSP requires banks, financial firms to offer 60-day grace period for loan payments Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier waived the transaction fees collected by the central bank from banks for processing such transactions, as he hopes to encourage these financial firms to temporarily stop charging depositors during the lockdown period. Digital transactions are encouraged to limit human contact and possible coronavirus transmissions. Meanwhile, here are other banks which will keep transfer charges waived, according to a list published on the BSP and PPMI websites and latest available bank announcements. Until December 31, 2020: - AllBank - Asia United Bank - Bank of Commerce - Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank - Citibank (for individual clients, corporate accounts will be charged by Oct. 1) - CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corporation - DCPay (for retail clients) - Development Bank of the Philippines - EastWest Bank - Equicom Savings Bank - HSBC Savings Bank - Land Bank of the Philippines - Maybank Philippines (for retail clients) - Metrobank - Philippine Bank of Communications: 1 via online portal - Philippine Business Bank - Philippine National Bank - Philippine Savings Bank - Philippine Veterans Bank - Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. - Robinsons Bank Corp. - Rural Bank of Guinobatan - Security Bank Corporation - Standard Chartered Bank - Sterling Bank of Asia - The Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation - fees for corporate accounts reduced to 50 - Union Bank of the Philippines - United Coconut Planters Bank Until further notice: - Bank of China - Bank of Florida - BPI Direct BanKo - China Bank - China Bank Savings - CIMB Bank Philippines - ING Bank N.V. Manila Branch - JP Morgan Chase Bank - Philippine Trust Company Antonio Moncupa, vice president of Bankers Association of the Philippines and CEO of EastWest Bank, told CNN Philippines that this is one of the ways which banks have come up with to help alleviate the difficulties experienced by Filipinos during this pandemic. Moncupa clarified, however, that the waived fees only apply to InstaPay and PESONet transfers and do not cover other areas, including credit card fees and interest. He said banks still have to pay depositors and recover costs of their other expenses, as he explained that not all fees can be dropped amid the crisis. "Kasi ang pagbabangko, this is the heart that pumps the blood to the economy," he said. "Dito nanggagaling yung death capital na tinatawag natin para mapondohan natin 'yung mga negosyo na magki-create ng employment, which is also [why it is] important that we protect it." [Translation: Banks are the heart that pumps the blood to the economy. These are the sources of the so-called debt capital that fund our businesses and create employment, which is also why it is important that we protect it.] This list will be regularly updated, please stay tuned. Agence France-Presse The United Nations and Britain said Wednesday they would co-host a global climate summit on December 12, the fifth anniversary of the landmark Paris Agreement. The announcement came days after Chinese President Xi Jinping told the UN that the world's largest greenhouse gas polluter would peak emissions in 2030 and attempt to go carbon neutral by 2060, a move hailed by environmentalists. "We have champions and solutions all around us, in every city, corporation and country," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. "But the climate emergency is fully upon us, and we have no time to waste. The answer to our existential crisis is swift, decisive, scaled up action and solidarity among nations." Guterres and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson were to address the issue at a climate roundtable meeting on Thursday. Johnson, who will speak via video link, was expected to say: "As the world continues to deal with coronavirus we must look ahead to how we will rebuild, and how we can seize the opportunity to build back better. "The UK will lead by example, keeping the environment on the global agenda and serving as a launchpad for a global green industrial revolution," he was to say, according to a government statement. The world remains off-track to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, which scientists say is crucial to prevent runaway warming that would leave vast swathes of the planet inhospitable to life. Guterres and Johnson will convene "global leaders... to rally much greater climate action and ambition," the statement said. National governments will be invited to present more ambitious and high-quality climate plans at the summit, which would involve government leaders, as well as the private sector and civil society. According to the UN, the 12 December summit is intended to increase momentum ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to be held in Glasgow in November 2021. Recent data shows greenhouse gas concentrations reaching record levels, worsening extreme events including unprecedented wildfires, hurricanes, droughts and floods. NASAs Aqua satellite provided a visible image of Extratropical Storm Dolphin in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean at 11:35 p.m. EDT on Sept. 23 (0335 UTC on Sept. 24). Image Courtesy: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). NASA's Aqua satellite caught a visible image of Dolphin after it passed east central Japan on Sept. 24, where it became an extratropical storm in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. At 11 p.m. EDT on Sept. 23 (0300 UTC on Sept. 24) the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) noted, "Animated multispectral satellite imagery shows the ragged low level circulation has become quasi-stationary and fully exposed as the rapidly decaying central convection sheared 140 plus nautical miles to the east-northeast. Analysis indicates that tropical cyclone Dolphin now fully embedded in the baroclinic zone and has become extra-tropical." Strong vertical wind shear from the west-southwest was battering Dolphin and pushing the bulk of clouds to the east-northeast. Wind shear occurs when winds outside of a tropical cyclone blow against it and adversely affect its circulation by displacing clouds and precipitation and weakening the system. Dolphin on Sept. 24 At 11 p.m. EDT on Sept. 23 (0300 UTC on Sept. 24) the center of Dolphin was located near latitude 33.1 degrees north and longitude 141.8 degrees east. That is about 175 nautical miles southeast of Yokosuka, Japan. Dolphin was barely moving to the south at 1 knot and had maximum sustained winds near 30 knots (35 mph/55 kph). NASA's Aqua satellite view The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Dolphin at 11:35 p.m. EDT on Sept. 23 (0335 UTC on Sept. 24). The image showed the storm appeared more elongated. That is an indication that the storm was weakening and it had become extratropical. What is an extra-tropical storm? Often, a tropical cyclone will transform into an extra-tropical cyclone as it recurves toward the poles (north or south, depending on the hemisphere the storm is located in). An extra-tropical cyclone is a storm system that primarily gets its energy from the horizontal temperature contrasts that exist in the atmosphere. Tropical cyclones have their strongest winds near the earth's surface, while extra-tropical cyclones have their strongest winds near the tropopauseabout eight miles (12 km) up. Also, tropical cyclones, in contrast, typically have little to no temperature differences across the storm at the surface and their winds are derived from the release of energy due to cloud/rain formation from the warm moist air of the tropics. Dolphin's final forecast Forecasters at the JTWC noted, "The remnant storm-force cold-core low [pressure area] will drift slowly poleward [north] and deeper into the cold polar air mass. There is also a distinct possibility that the cyclone will remain quasi-stationary and dissipate." Explore further NASA finds Tropical Storm Dolphin going swimmingly -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:- This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. Delhi commuter stats: Only 2.3 per cent of those who entered Delhi by bus or train between September 4 and 14 tested positive for Covid-19. The data is part of an affidavit sent to the Delhi High Court by the Delhi government. A total of 15 testing teams have been deployed across three railway stations and four Inter State Bus Terminals (ISBT). The affidavit was sent to the court a week after it directed the Kejriwal government to arrange for testing at ISBTs and railway stations. 23,351 people were tested across these places in the period under review. The affidavit also states that 79 ... The proposed plans for 58 million dollar homes on Mitchell Island in The Woodlands has drawn more opposition and anger from residents this week, many of whom have contacted local village association and homeowner association meetings about the plans to voice their disapproval. Related: Proposed development changes on Mitchell Island irks Woodlands residents On Wednesday night, more than a half-dozen local residents some heavily involved in village or HOA boards called into The Woodlands Township Board of Directors meetings to decry the plans by Howard Hughes Corp. for the 16-acre island in Lake Woodlands. During public comments on the request to re-plat the island, residents said issues ranging from an American bald eagle family possibly using the island and deforestation to flooding and traffic congestion are reasons the plans should not go forward. Because the item was not on the meeting agenda for discussion, township directors could not respond to comments. However, at the conclusion of the nearly two-hour meeting, the directors indicated that an agenda item specifically dealing with the Mitchell Island plans would be heard and discussed at a meeting in October. The changes to the islands plat map requested by the Howard Hughes Corp. at the Houston Planning Commission have yet to be voted on. Concerns and issues Edmund W. Champman, the president of the Grogans Mill Village Association, as well as Tami Houston, a leader in the East Shore HOA where the island is located north of The Woodlands Parkway, both called into Wednesdays meeting to express their concern and opposition to the re-plating of the land from 19 homes approved in 2012 to a desired 58 plots and homes. We can all agree that a re-plat of 19 custom homes to high-density townhomes is by any measure, an extreme reach, Chapman said in his call. There is a well established family of bald eaglesthese eagles hunt and roost (on Mitchell Island) daily. Chapman noted that the bald eagle family, which resides as of fall 2019 in a nest near Whole Foods and the Woodlands United Methodist Church in Hughes Landing, are protected by a special permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which also protects, he claimed, as much as 70 feet of shoreline in their habitat area. Aside from the eagle concerns, Chapman also said the island has partially flooded in past high-water storm events and would have an adverse environmental impact. The DSC should not approve the development companys plans, Chapman added, referring to the Development Standards Committee, which is required to vote on changes to an initial land use designation document. Or, (the development company) should withdraw the application or at the very lease, crack their pencils and draft something acceptable. Houston, who cited a letter opposition to the plans signed by more than 180 East Shore residents, said she and other homeowners in the area are, gravely concerned and added that new paths, sidewalks or development would negatively impact the eagle family that allegedly utilizes the island for hunting and relaxation. Infrastructure in place Heath Melton, executive vice president of residential master planned communities in Houston for the Howard Hughes Corp., said the re-plat hearing requested by the company is planned for October or later as officials gather more feedback from residents. The public hearing did occur and a possible vote is expected in October before the issue moves to Montgomery County for possible approval and then the township Development Standards Committee. (The island) does have infrastructure as far as roadways and wet and dry utilities. Ive never said there were 19 mega mansions. They were originally contemplated as 19 large, I guess, larger acreage lots, Melton said. Now, the re-envisioned land plan does include three different plans that comprises 58 different lots. The west side and north side of the island is currently contemplated for the larger lots. The eastern side of the island is smaller property similar to what you see on the other side of the water in East Shore. Melton also said all utility infrastructure, water, gas and electrical service, is in place on the island as are several streets. The community will be gated and private, he noted, and if plans are approved, construction should begin within a 12-18 month period after approval is received. Melton said on Sept. 16 that he was unaware of complaints by residents of the area that have circulated in the community, and added he and others will work diligently to both acquire feedback and respond to it. Various proposals The history of East Shore, started back in 2005 and 2006. It has been in existence for some time, 15 or so years. The actual island itself has had many proposed versions of land use over the years and from a land planning standpoint, (that) is normal, he said. (The re-plat plan) is to align with the market and what were seeing in market demand in regard to home sites consumers want. In regard to the possibility of bald eagles being on the island in any manner, Melton said neither he nor other Howard Hughes officials are aware of an official nest on the island or seen proof the island is used in any manner by the bald eagles from nearby Hughes Landing. He stressed the company already complies with any regulations at the state or federal level regarding the eagles which live in Hughes Landing. Related: Family of bald eagles thriving in The Woodlands Nothing that the residents brought forward to my attention as it relates to environmental issues (is of concern). As with all plans, we thoroughly vet those, especially as it relates to the environment. If anyone knows the history of our company, we are very good stewards of the environment and take all of that into consideration into our process, Melton said of the bald eagles issue. We follow every outline that is set down by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Department of Wildlife that relates to any endangered species. Anything we do today or going forward is in full compliances (with those laws). Design plans Details of the plan changes sought on the island were revealed in documents submitted to the city of Houston Planning Commission, which hosted a public hearing on the re-plat request on Sept. 17. The old plans for 19 homes on the island have been voided in the new proposal that would see 58 homes of varying lot sizes and building structure type placed on the 16-acre island that is connected to the rest of the East Shore neighborhood by a bridge that was completed in 2013. The community if it is constructed would be gated and private. According to one planning map submitted, at the far northern tip of the island, where The Woodlands Waterway canal empties into the Lake Woodlands, 10 homes are planned with the second largest lots available 75 feet wide by 140 feet. Of these 10 planned abodes, only seven face the water with only five of the 10 lots having a direct access to the shore of the lake. On the eastern shore of the island, facing existing East Shore homes, there are plans for a total of 33 townhomes with patios on lots sized 34 feet wide by 84 feet. These homes may be similar in design and style to ones already under construction in the far southeast corner of the East Shore footprint, a few hundred yards from the intersection of Grogans Mill Road and The Woodlands Parkway. It is not known whether or not boat docks will be possible in this portion of the island. Related: Howard Hughes Eastshore opens model homes The final segment of the plans with the largest homes that face the lake on the western shore of the island shows 15 homes on 85 feet wide by 140 feet lots, with options for possible boat docks on the shore. All 15 of those planned homes would have shore access. Melton said the homes planned for the island are not much larger or are of identical size as those across the water from the island in the existing East Shore community. He also said Howard Hughes officials will be joining more meetings with concerned residents and other stakeholders in the coming weeks to respond to questions and issues that are raised. When you want to change that plat is a re-plat processall of this areas is in the city of Houston ETJ, it goes before the Planning Commission and then the City Council, Melton explained. we did get the opportunity to engage with residents and get their thoughts and concerns. I dont have any direct responses to traffic concerns. East Shore is a popular area, and we are developing two areas there at this time, both of which have been popular. I would venture to say any development we do on the island would also be popular. jeff.forward@chron.com Press Release 24 September 2020 Online travel agencies should be able to better predict their customers' decision making and meet their needs, suggest Dr Sangwon Park of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and his co-researchers in a ground-breaking study published recently. Through identifying a simple typology of decision-making styles, the researchers offer unprecedented insights into precisely how and why Internet users decide which travel products to buy. As the online share of travel revenue increases in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, their findings have far-reaching implications not only for online hotel marketing but also for the global tourism economy. Advertisements According to the researchers, the Internet has revolutionised the way we travel. With the rise of e-commerce and the near-ubiquity of mobile handsets, it is now possible to compare a variety of travel options at the touch of a button, and to book a whole holiday in a matter of hours or even minutes. Yet the benefits for travellers go beyond mere convenience: the Internet is leveling the playing field in terms of access to information. "The advent of online travel agencies (OTAs)", write the researchers, "has contributed substantially to reducing information asymmetry between consumers and service providers by offering not only useful and up-to-date information but also price transparency". It is no surprise, then, that OTAs have recorded phenomenal growth in the last decade - and this trend shows no sign of slowing. The researchers note that the value of the global online travel market is expected to reach an astonishing US$1,091 billion by 2022, with the greatest growth predicted in the Asia-Pacific region. As disposable income increases worldwide and more people in emerging markets gain access to high-speed Internet connectivity, OTAs are likely to eclipse their offline counterparts. However, the researchers warn that this growth creates challenges as well as opportunities for travellers and OTAs. As travel options proliferate online, consumers may experience information overload, and OTAs may struggle to differentiate themselves in an increasingly saturated market. How consumers make their travel purchases online - such as the flights or hotels they book - has thus become a hot topic of research in recent years. As the researchers note, understanding travellers' decision-making behaviours is critical "not only for academics but also for practitioners". Purchasing travel products, explain the researchers, is a high-risk activity, "a complex process that requires an extensive decision-making strategy due to high cost and involvement". Generally, the researchers suggest, a traveller first forms an "awareness set", which contains all of the products - such as hotels - that they know about or have experienced. Next, they funnel down this vast range of travel options to "products that they are considering for purchase". In the final stage, they make a decision. Yet this process is far from simple, the researchers suggest, as "consumers do not always take homogenous sequential steps to reach their final decisions". Many factors may affect people's online booking behaviour. A convenient, easy to navigate OTA website offering swift price comparison enables travellers to book a hotel in just a few clicks. But the OTA must also provide the right kinds of information, combining the advantages of text and pictures. Last but not least, note the researchers, people booking hotels online are likely to be influenced by their individual characteristics, "such as demographics, product knowledge, online experiences, personality and shopping orientations". Clearly, given the contribution made by tourism to economies worldwide, it is crucial to help OTAs determine precisely how these factors influence consumers when booking holidays online. This may help them to tailor their marketing strategies to better match travellers with hotels, yielding greater customer satisfaction. Yet research in this area has some surprising gaps. Although online hotel decision-making behaviour is a "dynamic process that encompasses various strategies", write the researchers, most studies have taken a static approach. To make matters worse, studies have generally focused on whether consumers are likely to purchase travel products, not whether they actually do. The researchers thus set out "to understand the entire online booking process by analysing actual behavioural data". To do this, they needed to use multiple methods: screen capture software, which allowed them to observe the entire process of online hotel decision making "in action", and surveys, to collect the participants' cognitive responses. They distributed flyers on the campuses of two universities in London and the southeast of England, inviting students and staff to participate. They first asked the 44 respondents to complete a survey on their personal characteristics, Internet usage and past experience of travel. Next, the researchers report, "each respondent was asked to plan an imaginary week-long holiday during the winter to visit Paris". A wealth of options was available. The accommodation within the participants' budget ranged from low-end to luxury hotels, and they were instructed to plan their holidays using Booking.com, one of the world's largest and most user-friendly OTAs. Paris was chosen as a destination because it offers a huge variety of hotels, meeting the needs of diverse travellers. This, write the researchers, made the city "an ideal test ground to address the purposes of this research". The next step was to meticulously analyse the videos of the participants' online decision making - down to their mouse clicks and cursor movements. The results were striking. The researchers identified three distinct patterns of decision making when booking online hotels. "Arbitrary" decision makers chose their hotels directly from the vast array of options available to them. "Standard" decision makers created a "wish list" of hotels before making their final decision. "Comprehensive" decision makers "appeared to use a more sophisticated process of decision-making". Not surprisingly, arbitrary decision making took the least time. Compared with the other two groups, travellers in this group were younger, earned less and were more likely to be male. Their main concern when choosing a hotel was price. This was also true of the standard decision makers. At first, they were swayed by hotel location, but when making the final decision, they focused on room rates. However, things were rather different for the comprehensive decision makers. They were "more likely to deliberate the types of services on offer", write the researchers, "whereas the other types of decision makers were largely concerned with room prices". This typology, explain the researchers, suggests that "the way a traveller behaves online reflects different traveller characteristics", and that different factors - such as hotel price or location - matter more than others at different points in the online booking process. This knowledge will undoubtedly help OTAs to customise their marketing strategies to meet the needs of different categories of traveller. For example, argue the researchers, "streamlined online interfaces could be made to suit the fast-paced decision making of arbitrary decision makers". Comprehensive decision makers would benefit more from tools such as wish lists or comparison features. As the researchers note, their novel typology will help OTAs to stand out from their competitors by "understanding travellers' heterogeneous information needs" and creating tailor-made approaches to meet them. But OTAs are not the only beneficiaries of this timely research. Travellers will have better and more targeted information at their fingertips, enabling them to pick the perfect hotel with minimal fuss, and hoteliers will have more satisfied customers. As the volume of online bookings continues to grow, and tourism makes an increasingly critical contribution to economic development in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, this can only spell good news for societies worldwide. Sangwon Park, Yizhen Yin and Byung-Gak Son (2019). Understanding of Online Hotel Booking Process: A Multiple Method Approach. Journal of Vacation Marketing, Vol. 25, Issue 3, pp. 334-348. - 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 Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in 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. 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. READ ALSO: Shatta Wale's girl flaunts beautiful curvy body in new hot photos 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. READ ALSO: Two lesbians reportedly marry in Ghana; wedding videos drop 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 READ ALSO: Lil Win confirms his love for Sandra Ababio in new video 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. READ ALSO: Kelvyn Boy sighted jamming to Stonebwoys Putuu song 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. Young female student cautions fellow students not jubilate after completing J.S.S | #Yencomgh Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! Source: YEN.com.gh DANVERS, Massachusetts, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cell Signaling Technology, Inc. (CST), a discovery technology company and leading provider of antibodies, kits, and services, was named by the Boston Business Journal (BBJ) for the 5th year in a row, as a 2020 top corporate charitable contributor in Massachusetts, at the Annual Corporate Citizenship Awards on September 10th in Boston. CST ranked 71st in Massachusetts among top charitable companies, with a total contribution of $470,000 to MA local charities. The 2020 BBJ awards recognized the top 107 companies that contributed more than $100,000 to Massachusetts's organizations in 2019. For more than 20 years, researchers in pharma, biotech, and academia have trusted CST for its proven biological and technical expertise and our success is directly linked to the global communities where we live and work. "As scientists and citizens, we cannot ignore the important connections we have with each other, our local communities, and the planet as a whole," said John Letcher, Cell Signaling Technology, Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources. "We are flattered to be recognized by the Boston Business Journal for our contributions within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." CST charitable initiatives are part of a broader Corporate Social Responsibility focus that includes commitments to Our Planet, Science Education, Our Employees, Surrounding Communities, and the Arts. At CST we believe in the power of science to help us meet some of the big challenges ahead. Science is our passion, and our mission is to help researchers find answers to critical questions about disease that have the potential to raise the quality of life for everyone. Learn more about Cell Signaling Technology and corporate giving at cellsignal.com/csr About CST Cell Signaling Technology (CST) is a private, family-owned company, founded by scientists and dedicated to providing high quality research tools to the biomedical research community. Our employees operate worldwide from our U.S. headquarters in Massachusetts, and our offices in the Netherlands, China, and Japan. Cell Signaling Technology and CST are trademarks of Cell Signaling Technology, Inc. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1277084/Cell_Signaling_BBJ_Charitable_Contributor.jpg But conditions are looking grim for hedge funds; according to data from Hedge Fund Research (HFR), the industry lost an average of 3.5% in annual returns in the first six months of 2020. The average hedge fund would not be a good investment, Zurich Insurance chief investment officer Urban Angehrn told Reuters. He added that a US$120 million fall in hedge fund gains from last year was a contributing factor in the companys first-half profits decline. Although there may be exceptions, Angehrn said that in aggregate, hedge funds dont do a very good job in creating extra performance. Hedge fund investment underperformance can hurt European insurers like Zurich the most, since Solvency II regulations require them to set aside more capital for risky investments. But European insurers are not the only ones feeling the heat. AIG revealed in its earnings report that its general insurance business in the first quarter took a hit from a US$588 million drop in net investment income primarily due to hedge funds. These disappointing results may be hurting insurer investment interest in hedge funds too. Citing data from Preqin, Reuters reported that European insurers median hedge fund holdings have been falling. In September, the figure was at 1.5% from 2% four years before. By comparison, global insurer allocations increased from 1.2% in 2016 to 1.5% in 2018. However, that figure dropped to 1% in 2019, and has remained there to September 2020. A State Street survey in June found that less than a fifth of global insurers plan to add hedge fund allocations in the event of persistent volatility over the next quarter or half-year. Over 100 anganwadi workers protested against the state government near the child development project office in Shimlapuri on Thursday over pre-primary classes coming up in government schools and enrolling students between the age of three to six years, which has reduced the number of students at anganwadi centres. The workers said the state government has hired teachers for pre-primary students in government schools, which will adversely affect enrolments at the centres. The workers protested for one hour and burnt an effigy of the state government. Then, they submitted a memorandum to the district programme officer. Subhash Rani, general secretary of Punjab Anganwadi Mulazam Union, said, We want that the state government ask the education department to not enrol students of pre-primary classes and send them to anganwadi centres. The centres are involving students in various activities and providing cooked food to them. During the pandemic also, the workers and helpers worked as Covid warriors and delivered food to the childrens home. If the government hires teachers for pre-primary students, then who will enrol their children in anganwadi centers. The state government has given its nod to this decision in a recent cabinet meeting which is not in favour of anganwadi workers and helpers. To protest this decision, anganwadi workers will gherao the residence of Punjab social security, women and child development minister Aruna Chaudhary on October 2. Dana Hollar Schwartz did not intend to start a design brand dedicated to innovating traditional Jewish ceremonial objects. The Canadian New Yorker, who works full-time in PR, is all too familiar with the struggles of running a small business. "If anything, I know too much about how hard it is to have brands," she says. A fruitless search for a great-looking mezuzaha small object mounted to the doorways of Jewish homes containing verses from the Torahand several conversations with friends whod had similarly disappointing experiences shopping for Judaica that matched their love of contemporary design (editors note: SAME) led her to reconsider: When I had this idea, I felt so strongly that it needed to exist and was kind of like, Im going to take one for the team. I'm going to do it myself. Anyone who has struggled to shop for mezuzahs, menorahs, or any other object under the Judaica umbrella has likely experienced a sea of so-so designs, with a few recent exceptions. The launch of Via Maris earlier this month, two years after the idea was hatched, ushers in a collective sigh of relief. The collection, designed in partnership with product designer Jamie Wolfond, whos best known around these parts for founding Good Thing, succeeds not only in making beautiful objects for a contemporary home, but also in solving some very real problems that come with them. Weve seen brands redesign everything from the toothbrush to bedding to even toilet paper in recent years claiming to disrupt their vertical. Schwartz and Wolfond, however, set out to make inherently useful items, and tackled several design challenges that many of us familiar with Jewish customs might relate to. We just got to focus on what product design is about, Schwartz said. The mezuzah, for example, can be installed with concealed screws or a command strip, versus unattractive standard screws that typically interrupt a mezuzah's design. The Block Chanukiah doubles as a storage vessel for candles or anything else you might desire, so you dont have to stash it away beyond the eight nights a year of its use. Story continues Image courtesy of Via Maris Image courtesy of Via Maris Perhaps the most exciting innovation for someone who grew up dreading the household chore of scraping stubborn candle wax off ornately decorated candleholders during the holidays every year: Next month Via Maris launches what Schwartz calls low-drip, low-smoke candles. In Jewish tradition its custom to never blow candles out, so the team developed another design hack to reduce the burn time of the candles. Image courtesy of Via Maris Image courtesy of Via Maris Another notable feature of the designs is that they eschew symbolism and traditional motifs. We wanted it to feel really fresh and contemporary in terms of how people could choose to interact with those objects, she said. And she's not stopping here. The second collection, coming this winter, will cover the next frontier on the Jewish calendar, and another realm of Judaica that could certainly use an update: the Passover tablescape. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest Iran has unveiled a new naval base in the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with American forces in the region. Senior Revolutionary Guards commanders opened the new base on Wednesday, saying it would help them project 'dominance' over the strategically important strait. It comes after clashes between Iran and the US around the choke-point through which a fifth of the world's daily oil supplies pass, which saw tankers attacked and a Navy drone shot out of the sky. Iran has opened a new naval base in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz (pictured), saying it will help project 'dominance' in the region It comes amid tensions between the US and Iran in the region, and after the IRGC claimed to have successfully flown a drone over the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in the Strait (pictured) It also comes after the IRGC claimed to have flown a drone over the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier as it passed through the strait last week. The semi-official Tasnim news agency published images of the Nimitz, saying they were taken by Iranian-made drones, in an apparent boast at Iran's ability to get close to one of the US warships. The US Navys Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, which oversees patrols across Mideast waters, declined to comment the Iranian report on Wednesday. The 'Martyr Seyed Majid Rahbar' base lies in the southern province of Hormozgan, near the entrance to the strait, Iran said. 'This base has been built with the purpose of total dominance over the entry and exit of extraterritorial aircraft and naval vessels' at the entrance to the Gulf, Guards commander Major General Hossein Salami said on Wednesday. 'This location is one of the country's most strategic defensive points,' he added, quoted by state TV's website. The Strait sees a fifth of the world's oil pass through it each day, and was the site of clashes between Iran and western powers last year (pictured, British-flagged Stena Impero oil tanker which was stopped in the Strait by Iranian forces, then held hostage) The Guards' navy, which operates separately from the Iranian armed forces, 'now has a very powerful naval base' six years in the making, Salami said. His remarks come days after a US aircraft carrier passed the waterway to enter the Gulf, amid Washington threats to enforce United Nations sanctions on Iran - a move other world powers have dismissed as legally void. The Guards on Wednesday released on their official Sepah News website drone-captured photos reportedly showing the USS Nimitz. In June last year, Iran shot down a US Global Hawk drone over the strait after it allegedly violated the Islamic Republic's airspace, a claim the US has denied. The enemies have twice come to the brink of direct confrontation since then. Washington has blamed Tehran for last year's mysterious attacks against oil tankers in the nearby Gulf of Oman as well as an attack on Saudi oil facilities, with Iran denying all charges. Michael R. Caputo, the East Aurora political consultant at the center of controversy over the Trump administration's Covid-19 messaging, has been diagnosed with cancer. Assemblyman David J. DiPietro, R-East Aurora, acting as Caputo's spokesman, said Thursday that the Health and Human Services spokesman on leave from his assistant secretary post has "squamous cell carcinoma, a metastatic head and neck cancer which originated in his throat." "He is now home in Western New York, resting in the loving arms of his family, under the watchful eye of Jesus Christ," DiPietro said in a written statement. Caputo, who was diagnosed after surgery last week for a lump on his neck at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., has yet to determine where further treatment will take place, he said Thursday. A veteran of Carl P. Paladino's 2010 run for governor as well as President Trump's 2016 campaign, Caputo ignited a firestorm in recent days after accusing government scientists of "sedition." He told The Buffalo News last week that he has endured significant pain in recent months after discovering a "walnut sized" bump on his neck that he labeled a "swollen lymph node." Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 17:43:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Federal Court judge has found that Australia's Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge acted criminally when he left an Afghan man in immigration detention after he was granted a visa. Federal Court Justice Geoffrey Flick declared that Alan Tudge had "intentionally and without lawful authority been responsible for depriving a person of his liberty," according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Wednesday. He said Tudge's "conduct exposes him to both civil and potentially criminal sanctions, not limited to a proceeding for contempt." "The minister has acted unlawfully," Flick said. Flick's scathing comments related to the case of an Afghan man known only as PDWL who arrived in Australia in 2012 and applied for a protection visa in 2016, citing concerns that he could be targeted by the Taliban over links to the Afghan National Army, according to the ABC report. His application was rejected in December 2019 on the basis that he had previously been convicted of assault. However, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) overturned the decision on March 11, 2020, and ordered the man be granted a visa. Tudge immediately appealed the decision in the Federal Court, leaving PDWL in detention in western Australia for another five days. And the court ruled that he remained in detention "because the minister did not like the Tribunal's decision." Flick in his judgment found that the AAT had made an "error of law" in granting PDWL a visa but said that it should be granted on account of Tudge's poor treatment of the man. "The minister cannot place himself above the law," he said. "In the absence of explanation, the minister has engaged in conduct which can only be described as criminal." In response, a spokesperson for Tudge said the minister "strongly rejects any suggestion of improper conduct." Enditem A new report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights has documented the killing of over 3,000 civilians by the International Coalition in their fight against ISIS. The International Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State (ISIS), led by the US, has killed 3,039 civilians since it started intervening in Syria six years ago. In a report published on Wednesday, coinciding with the sixth anniversary of the intervention of the International Coalition in Syria, the Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that the coalitions forces have killed 3,039 civilians, including 924 children and 656 women. According to the report, the largest percentage of victims was during the third and fourth years of the intervention, adding that since the end of 2016 the attacks by the coalition became more random, and resulted in 79 percent of the total victims [since 2016]. The network added in its report that the coalition forces committed at least 172 massacres and carried out at least 181 attacks on populated area, including 25 schools, 16 medical facilities, and four markets, and used incendiary munitions in five attacks. Military operations in the governorates of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hassakeh have led to the displacement of at least 550,000 civilians. The report blamed the coalition and held Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) responsible for the displacement, in addition to ISIS, which used civilians as human shields. The report pointed out that the International Coalition carried out, alongside the SDF, raids and arrests in northeastern Syria, especially in the governorates of Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and the southern countryside of Hassakeh, under the pretext of pursuing ISIS cells. Some of the operations used helicopters and airdropping. According to the report, cases have been recorded of civilians who not affiliated with ISIS being detained. Some of the civilians had special needs and were arrested based on security reports by the SDF, indicating that at least 122 persons, including four children, were arrested, 56 of whom were arrested after the announcement of the defeat of ISIS. The International Coalition declared, in March 2019, the military defeat of ISIS and a complete victory in Syria after it took control of the town of Baghouz, east of Deir ez-Zor, ISIS last pocket in the region, and after massive massacres of civilians were committed, including killing women and children, using warplanes, and internationally banned weapons. 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. Workers not eligible for EI will be able to access income support through new Recovery Benefits GATINEAU, QC, Sept. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - While many Canadians have seen their jobs come back and have returned to work since the start of the pandemic, the Government of Canada recognizes that there remain other workers in sectors that have been particularly hit hard who continue to need support. That is why, today, the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, and the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced the introduction of Bill C-2, to create three new temporary Recovery Benefits to support Canadians who are unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19. These new Benefits are being proposed as part of the Government of Canada's plan to support Canadians as we work to build back a stronger, more resilient economy. Since the introduction of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) in the early days of the pandemic, at a time when we asked Canadians to stay home, close to 9 million Canadians have received the Benefit to help to pay their bills and support their families. Subject to this legislation receiving Royal Assent, the new Benefits would provide income support to Canadians while promoting economic recovery by introducing measures that encourage people to safely return to work. Specifically, the legislation includes: A Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) of $500 per week for up to 26 weeks, to workers who are self-employed or are not eligible for EI and who still require income support. This Benefit would support Canadians who have not returned to work due to COVID-19 or whose income has dropped by at least 50%. These workers must be available and looking for work, and must accept work where it is reasonable to do so; per week for up to 26 weeks, to workers who are self-employed or are not eligible for EI and who still require income support. This Benefit would support Canadians who have not returned to work due to COVID-19 or whose income has dropped by at least 50%. These workers must be available and looking for work, and must accept work where it is reasonable to do so; A Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) of $500 per week for up to two weeks, for workers who are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19. This Benefit supports our commitment to ensure all Canadian workers have access to paid sick leave; and, per week for up to two weeks, for workers who are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19. This Benefit supports our commitment to ensure all Canadian workers have access to paid sick leave; and, A Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) of $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household, for eligible Canadians unable to work because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19 or because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine. More detailed eligibility criteria can be found online. Canadians will be able to apply for the CRB, CRSB, and CRCB through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for one year up until September 25, 2021. As announced on August 20, temporary measures to help Canadians access EI benefits more easily are effective September 27, 2020, for one year. These changes will also establish a minimum weekly benefit payment of $500 for all EI recipients, at the same level as the CRB. Bill C-2 also includes proposed amendments to the Canada Labour Code to ensure that federally regulated employees have access to job-protected leave to ensure they can avail themselves of these Benefits. In addition, as part of Bill C-2, the Government of Canada announced its intention to amend and extend the application of the Public Health Event of National Concern Payments Act (PHENCPA) to December 31, 2020. Enacted in March at the beginning of the pandemic, PHENCPA enables the Government to access the funds required for a significant part of the COVID-19 response measures that make up Canada's Economic Response Plan. Under this proposed approach, the Government is seeking Parliamentary approval for access to funding, subject to prescribed limits until the end of 2020, for measures that will protect the health and safety of Canadians and support individuals businesses. This spending authority can only be used for specific measures approved in advance by Parliament as part of Bill C-2. This legislation is necessary to ensure that Canadians and the businesses where they work continue to receive the support they need. The current legislation expires on September 30, 2020. To help build a stronger workforce, the Government of Canada will also invest an additional $1.5 billion in the Workforce Development Agreements with provinces and territories to offer Canadians the skills training and employment supports they need. This support will respond to the increased number of Canadians looking to re-enter the workforce, and targets workers and employers in sectors hardest-hit by COVID-19, as well as groups particularly disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic. This is in addition to the $3.4 billion already being provided to provinces and territories under the Labour Market Development Agreements and Workforce Development Agreements in 2020-2021. Quote "Canadians have shown tremendous strength in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and we know that it is still here with us. Our Government remains committed to supporting Canadians. These measures will make sure Canadians continue to have the income supports they need and that we continue to provide sufficient resources for the fight against COVID-19." Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland "Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Government provided Canadians with the support they need to continue to make ends meet while staying safe. We are continuing to support Canadians through the next phase of the recovery with these new Benefits. Together, these Recovery Benefits fill gaps in the way Canadians qualify for income support, ensuring access to all Canadians who are unable to work due to COVID-19 so that no one is left behind. If you cannot work, and still don't qualify for the simplified EI, there is support available to you, tailored to your specific needs." Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough "The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is proud to continue supporting Canadians through fiscal measures that will help see us through the coming months of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is vital that Canadians have access to income support that reflects the impacts the pandemic has on their employment. With CRA' s proven success in delivering Canada Emergency Response Benefit and Canada Emergency Student Benefit payments to millions of Canadians when they needed it most, I am confident in our ability to continue to administer these important recovery benefits." Minister of National Revenue, Diane Lebouthillier Quick Facts Service Canada and the CRA would work collaboratively on integrity measures for the new Recovery Benefits. and the CRA would work collaboratively on integrity measures for the new Recovery Benefits. Since March 2020 , the Government of Canada has received almost 9 million unique CERB applications. It is anticipated that about 2.8 million clients will transition to EI regular benefits following the transition from CERB. , the Government of has received almost 9 million unique CERB applications. It is anticipated that about 2.8 million clients will transition to EI regular benefits following the transition from CERB. PHENCPA provides the funding for a number of programs and measures in Canada's Economic Response Plan, including: Economic Response Plan, including: Support for COVID-19 Medical Research and Vaccine Development; The purchase of personal protective equipment to help essential workers and protect vulnerable Canadians, like seniors, and; Support for indigenous communities, address homelessness and support other vulnerable groups. Training offered through the Workforce Development Agreements program reaches the broadest scope of Canadians, including gig workers and the self-employed. This one-time investment of $1.5 billion through the Workforce Development Agreements, with provinces and territories, will help Canadians quickly get training and acquire new skills to adjust to our changing labour market. Related Product Backgrounder: Supporting Canadians Through the Next Phase of the Economy Re-opening: Increased Access to EI and Recovery Benefits Associated Links Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Government of Canada announces plan to help support Canadians through the next phase of the recovery Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) Labour Market Development Agreements program Follow us on Twitter SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada For further information: For media enquiries, please contact: Marielle Hossack, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, 819-956-3239, [email protected]; Media Relations Office: Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected] Related Links www.hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 04:51:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ANKARA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is primarily in favor of dialogue on every platform to discuss fair sharing of natural resources in the region, Turkish National Security Council said on Thursday. The council held a meeting following Turkey and Greece recently agreed to resume exploratory talks on the Eastern Mediterranean to defuse the tensions that flared up over the exploration activities by a Turkish vessel in the area. Turkey will not make concessions in the protection of its rights and interests on the land, sea and air, the council said in a written statement issued after the meeting. Tensions rose between Turkey and Greece over energy explorations in the Eastern Mediterranean waters in recent weeks. Greece considers Turkey's natural gas exploration in the region a violation of international law. The Turkish government, on the other hand, believes the waters belong to the Turkish continental shelf. In August, Turkey dispatched Oruc Reis, a seismic survey vessel, and two auxiliary navy vessels to the disputed region near the Greek island of Meis, also known as Kastellorizo, where Greece claims lies within its continental shelf. On Sept. 13, Greece welcomed the return to Antalya of the Turkish vessel, while expressing the willingness to enter dialogue with Ankara to de-escalate the recent tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Enditem Children with physical and mental special needs in Laois are being left waiting again for their long promised new school building, even though it is almost finished. Work on the new St Francis Special School building site on the Borris road in Portlaoise ground to a halt last March as with all other sites when Covid-19 restrictions hit. However, work has not resumed and the site lies silent. The Leinster Express understands that the construction firm MEIC Ltd is focusing on work at another school which formed part of the same contract, the Educate Together National School in Maynooth, Kildare. MEIC Ltd was awarded a 12.3 million contract for both schools by the Department of Education in 2018, under the Rapid Build Schools Programme 2017-2019. Portlaoise Parish Priest Monsignor John Byrne offered the parish owned site to the department for them to build the school. He urges a return to work. We are very anxious that there has been no building activity now for close to six months. It is very concerning. Trying to operate the school according to the new norm of Covid-19 when prefabricated inferior buildings are involved is very difficult in comparison to a new building, he said. There is just six weeks worth of work left to do at the St Francis school, according to the chairman of the school board Fr Paddy Byrne. He is optimistic that children will be able to move soon, but also said they are happy where they are in the old school. There is no huge delay, we are six weeks away from conclusion. There is an issue between the department and the contractor, to do with a school in Maynooth. My understanding is that the work will commence very very soon. Unfortunately stories of buildings delayed happen to many projects. Everything is going well, the school is fully Covid compliant and everyone is very happy. I am conscious that this state funded school is being given to us. We are confident that over the next weeks (work will resume). We are in constant communication with the department and of course they are aware of the medical needs of the children. There is an extra burden around Covid as there is in every school, social distancing is always an issue for children with special needs but we have a significant proportion of special needs assistants, he said. Michael Gorman was chair of the St Francis School Parents Council New Building Sub-Committee. It disbanded after work began on the new school. We are back to seeing people with intellectual and physical disabilities facing into another winter in the old school. Years ago we had a meeting there with local politicians and they experienced first hand the problems, with the cold, the poor wiring and no spaces for quiet time, he said. The parish run St Francis Special School has almost 100 pupils aged from 5 to 19, in a cramped under-insulated prefab building on the Timahoe Road. Parents had long campaigned for a new building, for the health and safety of their children. The new spacious 12-classroom special needs school was initially to be ready by August 2019 but was delayed even before Covid hit. The Department of Education gave the following statement. The building project to provide a new special school for St. Francis Portlaoise is under construction. Construction ceased during the closure of sites due to public health measures due to Covid-19. Engagement is ongoing in relation to construction recommencing on site. MEIC Ltd declined to comment. Below: The unfinished school on the Borris Road. Amazon Prime Video and IMDb TV, Amazons free streaming service, have unveiled their New York Comic Con lineup which includes virtual panels for Truth Seekers, Utopia, Alex Rider, The Boys, and Invincible. Everything will be streamed on Thursday, Oct. 8 starring at 2:15pm EST on NYCCs official YouTube channel. Truth Seekers, Oct. 8, 2:15PM EST EP and series star Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz), co-stars Samson Kayo (Timewasters), Emma DArcy (Hanna), Susan Wokoma (Year of the Rabbit), and Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) discuss the making of the eight-episode supernatural horror comedy series about a team of part-time paranormal investigators, who team up to uncover and film ghost sightings across the UK, sharing their adventures on an online channel for all to see. Discussion and Q&A moderated by IGNs Terri Schwartz. Utopia, Oct. 8 at 3:05 p.m. EST From Gone Girl scribe Gillian Flynn, a twisted, eight-episode thriller about a group of young comic fans who discover the conspiracy in a graphic novel is real, and embark on a high-stakes adventure to save humanity from the end of the world. Flynn will be joined by series stars John Cusack (High Fidelity), Rainn Wilson (The Office), Sasha Lane (American Honey), Ashleigh LaThrop (Fifty Shades Freed), Dan Byrd (Cougar Town), Desmin Borges (Youre The Worst), and Cory Michael Smith (Gotham) for a Q&A moderated by Varietys Danielle Turchiano. Alex Rider, Oct. 8, 3:55PM EST Author and EP Anthony Horowitz (Foyles War) and series star Otto Farrant (Salmon Fishing in Yemen) preview this coming of age spy-thriller series, based on the best-selling, global phenomenon book franchise, prior to its Nov. 13 premiere on IMDb TV. The series follows a London based teenager named Alex Rider, who has unknowingly been trained since childhood for the dangerous world of espionage, and now finds himself reluctantly working undercover to investigate his uncles death in a remote boarding school called Point Blanc. Story continues The Boys, Oct. 8, 4:15PM EST Join The Boys cast and showrunner as they answer fans burning questions and tease whats to come in advance of the shocking finale of the critically-acclaimed second season about a bunch of vigilantes who square off against corrupt, popular, government imbedded superheroes, the Supes. Season 2 finds The Boys on the run from the law, hunted by the Supes, and trying to regroup and fight back against Vought. Invincible, Oct. 8 4:50PM EST Creator and executive producer Robert Kirkman teases what fans can anticipate from this upcoming adult animated series, based on his iconic comic book by the same name, which revolves around 17-year old Mark Grayson, whos just like every other guy his age except his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, Omni-Man. More from Deadline Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Young creative Clinton Nyarkoh is a 22-year-old entrepreneur and the CEO of iSupreme, the fastest growing integrated marketing agency in Ghana. Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in He started iSupreme as an events and media organization during his college days at the University of Ghana. The company has since grown into serving brands with brand and marketing strategy, digital, advertising, and experiential marketing and currently employs over 8 people. Clinton Nyarkoh. Source: Instagram/cmofficial Source: Instagram READ ALSO: TV star AJ Poundz welcomes baby girl as she drops beautiful bump photo For a small firm, iSupreme has an impeccable clientele having worked with multinational brands and organizations like Simbisa Brands Ghana (owners of Pizza Inn, Chicken Inn & Galitos), JA Ghana, and the American fashion brand DMarsh Couture among other Ghanaian startups and emerging brands. Clinton is on a mission to grow the next generation of relevant brands which he does through iSupreme by building solutions, initiatives, and providing services that help small brands grow. Find out more about iSupreme, their services, clients and works at www.isupremegh.com or on their social media platforms @isupremegh Clinton has a vibrant team that helps him pull off all these great branding ideas. READ ALSO: Meet Dr Ayisha Baffoe-Ashun: KNUSTs first-ever female holder of PhD in Architecture Meanwhile, Ghana's current graduate of the moment, 57-year-old Madam Elizabeth Yamoah, has opened up about her future ambitions and has stated that she wants to become a nurse. While speaking in a radio interview with award-winning radio personality, Abeiku Santana, Madam Elizabeth Yamoah revealed that she had high hopes of seeing her ambitions through. While speaking on her ambitions, she revealed that even though she is currently a farmer and trader, she has nursing on her checklist and would want to see herself in the healthcare delivery field sooner than later. In a related development, multiple award-winning radio presenter, Abeiku Aggrey Santana, put the intelligence of 57-year-old BECE graduate, Madam Elizabeth Yamoah to the test in a live radio interview. In the video sighted by YEN.com.gh on Instagram, Abeiku Santana who was interviewing Madam Yamoah on his show asked her to read a "Myself" essay she had written. READ ALSO: Side chick pushes man's wife into pool after they were caught chilling at hotel (video) The Okay FM radio show host then went on to ask her some brain-teasing arithmetic questions which saw her fumbling a bit but she managed to answer. 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 The Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Thursday told the chiefs and people of Banda and Bongase in the Bono Region to patriotically vote on merit in the forthcoming December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections. He challenged the people to compare the eight years administration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with the three and half years of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's government to enable them to make an informed decision when they go to the polls. Vice President Alhaji Dr. Bawumia made the call when he addressed a durbar organised by the chiefs and people of Bongase in his honour as part of his two-day working visit to the Bono Region. The Vice President said the government was on course regarding the processes of national reconstruction and it required additional four years to make the livelihoods of the citizenry even better through more pragmatic, stable, and solidified socio-economic achievements. Vice President Alhaji Dr. Bawumia noted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had nothing new to offer to transform the lives of Ghanaians and told the people that the rehabilitation of the Bui-Menji road alone justified why they must vote for the NPP. He said the government had within three and half years employed more than one million Ghanaians in the public sector. In addition to that, the Vice President said 90,000 nurses and 90,000 teachers had also been employed while life was now better for the 100,000 graduates engaged under the Nation Builders Corps (NaBCo) programme Vice President Alhaji Dr. Bawumia said the previous NDC government nearly collapsed the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the National Ambulance Service, and other key sectors of the national economy, saying it would be economically disastrous if Ghanaians voted back the NDC to political power. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched the 'Fit India Age Appropriate Fitness Protocols' during an online Fit India Dialogue, to celebrate the first anniversary of the Fit India Movement. The fitness protocols have been prepared with the help of fitness enthusiasts for three age categories, from 5-18 years, 18-65 years, and 65 plus age category Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli, Paralympics gold medalist javelin thrower, Devendra Jhajharia, woman footballer from Jammu and Kashmir, Afshan Ashiq, actor and fitness promoter Milind Soman, nutrition and exercise science expert, Rujuta Diwekar, Yoga guru Swami Shivadhayanam Saraswati, and National Organising Secretary, Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal, Mukul Kanitkar also participated in the event being held through video conferencing. "We have forgotten what is normal in exercise. We are capable of taking regular and strenuous exercise," Soman told the Prime Minister, who said that he was a big fan of the actor's mother's fitness at the advanced age. The Prime Minister inquired about their fitness routines, nutrition, challenges, and also the need for keeping fit in today's day and age. The attendees shared their experience with fitness, the need to stay fit, and how different approaches and slight changes in the routine can change anyone's life for the better. "Healthy body is necessary for healthy mind. Fitness has to be our priority. There has to be gap between two meals, so that it allows the body to process what we eat," Kohli told the Prime Minister. The Indian cricket team captain also said that deciding the priority was of utmost importance to get best results in anyone's fitness endeavours. The Fit India Dialogue is yet another effort to involve citizens of the country to draw out a plan to make India a Fit Nation. The Fit India Movement envisioned by PM Modi and launched by him on August 29, 2019, has seen the collective participation of more than 3.5 crore Indians in various events, with more than 2.5 crore participants in the Fit India Freedom Run that was launched on August 15, 2019, with a digital footprint of 30 crore people. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Despite sharp declines in total travel since the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans have been taking significantly more long-distance road trips than in previous years. COVID-19 took hold during the warmer months and peak travel periods for many Americans, contributing to a more than 30 percent decline in total travel since 2019, according to recently released government data. However, while social distancing measures and remote work have led to a decrease in short-distance trips and a massive 70 percent decline in air travel, the number of miles logged on long-distance road trips has risen dramatically above last years numbers. On average, during the first two weeks of August last year, about 2.5 million people passed through U.S. airports per day. This year, that number was about 700,000. On the other hand, in the first two weeks of August this year, Americans recorded nearly 12 million long-distance (100-500 mile) road trips per day compared to 8.6 million in 2019a 37.6 percent increase. Such a shift in travel behavior may serve as an example of the new normal when it comes to how Americans will travel to more distant destinations. At the state level, residents from the Mountain West and Southeast have recorded the greatest increases in long-distance road trips compared to 2019. Specifically, travelers from the states of Colorado, North Carolina, and South Carolina have logged the largest increase in long-distance road trips. Conversely, travelers from the Northeast, where initial rates of COVID-19 cases were the highest, have shown the largest declines in long-distance road trips. To identify the metropolitan areas that have reported the greatest increases in long-distance road trips, researchers at seoClarity analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, calculating the percentage change in the number of 100-500-mile road trips between the first two weeks of August 2020 and the first two weeks of August 2019. The researchers also calculated the average daily number of long-distance trips taken during both time periods, as well as the percentage change in all travel. For this report, only metropolitan areas with populations of 100,000 or more residents were included. To improve relevance, metros were classified into three cohorts: large (1,000,000 or more), midsize (350,000999,999), and small (less than 350,000). As with state-level trends, the largest increases in long-distance road trips have occurred in the Southeastern and Mountain West regions of the U.S., with metros in states such as North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Colorado, and New Mexico leading the way. More frequent long-distance travel by metro residents of Mountain West states may be attributed to lower COVID-19 infection rates in these states. In the case of Southeastern states, where infection rates are higher, residents may feel more inclined to travel due to less restrictive social distancing policies and stay-at-home orders. Here are the metropolitan areas whose residents have been taking the most long-distance road trips compared to 2019. Large metros that have been taking the most road trips Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 20. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 62.6% 62.6% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 234,597 234,597 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 144,255 144,255 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -29.3% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 19. Nashville-DavidsonMurfreesboroFranklin, TN Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 63.8% 63.8% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 63,874 63,874 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 39,001 39,001 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -27.5% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 18. St. Louis, MO-IL Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 64.5% 64.5% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 97,061 97,061 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 59,004 59,004 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -25.8% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 17. Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 64.8% 64.8% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 53,940 53,940 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 32,728 32,728 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -29.8% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 16. Richmond, VA Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 65.8% 65.8% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 62,520 62,520 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 37,713 37,713 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -33.0% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 15. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 67.1% 67.1% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 152,041 152,041 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 90,964 90,964 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -39.7% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 14. Kansas City, MO-KS Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 71.5% 71.5% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 98,526 98,526 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 57,460 57,460 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -29.3% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 13. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 73.0% 73.0% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 89,116 89,116 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 51,519 51,519 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -50.0% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 12. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 74.6% 74.6% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 134,975 134,975 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 77,311 77,311 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -28.1% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 11. Birmingham-Hoover, AL Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 74.9% 74.9% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 37,953 37,953 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 21,699 21,699 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -25.7% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 10. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 84.3% 84.3% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 151,343 151,343 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 82,131 82,131 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -31.7% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 9. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 86.1% 86.1% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 73,900 73,900 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 39,704 39,704 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -50.3% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 8. New Orleans-Metairie, LA Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 91.1% 91.1% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 35,047 35,047 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 18,339 18,339 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -36.9% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 7. Tucson, AZ Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 93.9% 93.9% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 34,467 34,467 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 17,775 17,775 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -43.3% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 6. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 101.9% 101.9% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 79,018 79,018 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 39,139 39,139 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -29.0% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 5. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 112.2% 112.2% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 61,573 61,573 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 29,019 29,019 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -33.9% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 4. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 116.8% 116.8% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 118,564 118,564 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 54,693 54,693 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -29.4% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 3. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 124.0% 124.0% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 107,520 107,520 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 48,006 48,006 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -33.5% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 2. Memphis, TN-MS-AR Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 129.8% 129.8% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 75,287 75,287 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 32,760 32,760 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -35.0% Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo 1. Raleigh-Cary, NC Percentage change in long-distance road trips from 2019: 164.6% 164.6% Average daily long-distance road trips 2020: 56,460 56,460 Average daily long-distance road trips 2019: 21,341 21,341 Percentage change in all travel from 2019: -53.5% Methodology & detailed findings The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics report: Trips by Distance. Trips are defined as any movement outside of the home that includes a stay at another location of at least 10 minutes. Trip data include all modes of transportation; however, data from the National Household Travel Survey indicate that approximately 95 percent of trips between 100 and 500 miles are made in personal vehicles. As such, looking only at trips between 100 and 500 miles serves as a reliable indicator of road trips. To determine which locations have been taking the most road trips this year, researchers at seoClarity looked at the percentage change in total 100-500-mile trips (also known as long-distance road trips), comparing the first two weeks of August 2020 to the first two weeks of August 2019. Locations were ordered by the resulting statistic. Only metropolitan areas with at least 100,000 residents were included in the analysis. To improve relevance, metros were grouped into the following cohorts based on population size: Large (1,000,000 or more) Midsize (350,000-999,999) Small (less than 350,000) Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:09:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday told United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that Japan will continue to cooperate with the UN and the international community to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In a 20-minute teleconference, Guterres said he appreciated Japan's commitment and resolve as part of the international community's efforts in fighting the global pandemic, foreign ministry officials here said. Earlier in the week, Guterres appealed for global solidarity to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. During the talks Thursday, the pair also committed to continuing cooperation in a number of areas, spanning climate change and peace building activities. The teleconference marked the first talks between Suga and Guterres since Suga took over from Shinzo Abe as prime minister. Guterres congratulated Suga on becoming Japan's prime minister, foreign ministry officials said. Suga, for his part, while thanking Guterres, reportedly told the UN chief that Japan continues to place a great deal of importance on multilateralism. Enditem (CNN) -- Dust off the bulldozers -- Wikipedia is going under construction. For the first time in 10 years, one of the internet's most-widely used resource websites will be getting a substantial new look. "While Wikipedia's content has grown rapidly, our interface has not kept pace," wrote Olga Vasileva, a project manager at the Wikimedia Foundation, in a blog post announcing the changes. "The design of desktop Wikipedia [has]... not seen any substantive changes for the past 10 years, leaving certain elements of the site's navigation feeling clunky and overwhelming," Vasileva said. Since launching in 2001, the online encyclopedia has published more than 50 million articles and is available in nearly 300 languages. The entries are created, edited and updated by volunteers, and the website is hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization. The site states that its "main purpose is to create, learn, and curate content," and with that in mind pledges to simplify navigation, aiming "to create a more welcoming experience for all who come to our projects." Among the changes users can expect are: A reconfigured logo Improved search functionality A collapsible sidebar and simplified language toggling The site describes its redesign as a multi-year project focusing on the desktop interface, with an overarching goal of creating "an experience that feels similar to our long-time users, yet straightforward and intuitive for new folks." Inviting feedback from users, Wikipedia acknowledged that the process of revamping one of the internet's most relied-upon legacy websites will be long and complex, and warned users should expect "bugs, adjustments, and iterations." Though Wikipedia boasts a desire to create a new site that is modern enough to cater to new users, the page will try to stay mostly true to its origin story, by evolving "in a way such that the final product indisputably looks and feels like a Wikimedia project," Vasileva wrote. Early changes have been rolled out via early adopter projects, including French, Hebrew, and Portuguese versions of the product, with the site hoping the improvements will appear as defaults on all Wikipedia pages in 2021. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Wikipedia due to get its first substantial website redesign in a decade" The government said it has no data available on how many startups and small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were shut down during the lockdown. It also said that it has no records of startups' contribution to GDP. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha said, "No data on contribution to GDP by startups is maintained by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)". Goyal added the DPIIT has not maintained any data regarding the number of startups that have shut operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and startups that are still operating. Pratap Chandra Sarangi MoS Ministry of MSME, when asked how many enterprises have shut down their operation during the lockdown, informed that the government has no data on the number of MSMEs that were impacted due to the lockdown. However, Goyal presented data pertaining to job creation by startups in the country. As per the DPIIT data, the number of jobs in startups has been increased to 1,54,558 in 2019 from 49,648 in 2017. A total of 4,22,986 jobs were reported by 34,267 startups as of September 6, 2020. States like Maharashtra (80,714 jobs), Karnataka (71,533 jobs), Delhi (49,497 jobs), Uttar Pradesh (33,803 jobs), and Haryana (29,770 jobs) were on top in job creation. Last week, Goyal informed Rajya Sabha that there was a 126 per cent jump in the number of jobs created by DPIIT-recognised startups from April 2019. As of December 2019, according to Goyal, 2,85,890 jobs were reported by 23,657 startups. Also read: What are the business responsibilities of Mukesh Ambani's children? Also read: Work from home culture to continue post COVID-19 but technology has to improve: Bill Gates "The general contracting license will certainly help us with our shared savings model," Says Gabriel Andreson , President and Co-Founder Inovis Energy, Inc. "This will allow any company, regardless of budget, to be able to implement cost-saving energy-efficiency measures with Inovis. These projects are paid for by the savings, and once paid off, the customer will realize 100% of the savings, avoiding any up-front costs and in most cases realizing savings from the first day of the install." Inovis Energy's business expansion continues in response to a national increase in energy efficiency initiatives. There is also a need during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve facilities' aging systems in preparation of full reopening. The expansion into North Carolina was a strategic decision, due to the state's growing trend towards these initiatives. Through this new location, Inovis Energy will prioritize: Offering their shared savings model, to allow businesses to reduce their operating expense from day one without tapping into capital expense by paying for the project through the realized savings. Continuing to implement proven energy efficiency solutions that lower energy usage for businesses across many sectors. Increasing the availability of energy conservation initiatives for North Carolina based commercial and industrial organizations. based commercial and industrial organizations. Growing the company's overall presence and strengthening existing strategic partnerships throughout the region "I'm thrilled to be further supporting our Southeastern Division for Inovis Energy as another milestone in our company's growth strategy," said Dalton Ling , Vice-President and Co-Founder Inovis Energy, Inc. "We are particularly eager to tap the Carolina's active energy conservation initiatives and extend the effectiveness of the region's commitment to energy efficiency. The award of the general contracting license allows us to better help companies realize greater energy and financial savings, taking part of a wider range of programs." This move will also strengthen Inovis Energy's existing Trade Ally status for Duke Energy as they continue their collaboration identifying potential customers, designing energy efficiency projects with a maximum incentive, and providing customers with ongoing support. By having a full understanding of existing rebate programs, Inovis Energy can offer their clients attractive projects with a high ROI. Because of their existing relationship, Inovis can help Duke Energy's customers to identify maximum potential rebate opportunities. Facilities looking to take advantage of Inovis Energy's shared savings model should contact them immediately to schedule a no-cost energy assessment. Ideal projects include updating existing lighting to LED and energy efficient HVAC upgrades. About Inovis Energy, Inc. Inovis Energy is a full-service design/build energy efficiency firm with a mission to provide exceptional turn-key solutions to our expanding customer base. Our focus is on implementing cost effective sustainability solutions in an innovative way, based on each of our customers' specific goals. With over 30 years' experience in the industry, we are extremely well versed in lighting, mechanical, and renewable energy technologies, as well as incentive programs across the U.S. This comprehensive knowledge allows us to provide our customers with the highest value possible. Press Contact: Mark McClelland 617-544-3200 ext. 704 https://www.inovisenergy.com SOURCE Inovis Energy, Inc. Related Links https://www.inovisenergy.com Self Isolation and Testing Requirements for Travellers from Relevant Areas Civil Contingencies Emergency Regulations make it a requirement for any person entering Gibraltar, who has been in a Relevant Area in the 14-day period preceding entry, to report to Borders and Coastguard Agency or Gibraltar Port Agency if arriving by vessel. Travellers who declare having been to a Relevant Area will be required to adhere to the following conditions: - Self-Isolate for five days. If you are staying in a hotel, you must remain in your room and not use any of the public areas. - Do not use public transportation with the exception of a Gibraltar Taxi booked via the Gibraltar Taxi Association Tel: 20070027 / email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. You are required to inform them that you have arrived from a Relevant Area. Call 111 (or 20072266 and asked to be transferred to 111) as soon as you reach the address where you will be isolating. - If you develop symptoms or feel unwell call 111 immediately even if you have been swabbed. - You must be swabbed on Day 1 and again on Day 5. - If you are not registered with the Gibraltar Health Authority you can email any of the clinics below to arrange a private swab. You must consent to the clinic advising 111 of your result. Maritime Medical Services Ltd Tel: 00350 54075070 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. College Clinic Tel: 00350 2007777 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Specialist Medical Clinic Tel: 00350 20049999 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. We Care - Tel: 00350 20041448 - Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Exempt countries All EU countries, United Kingdom, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of man, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and China. Stays under 5 days Those who are travelling to Gibraltar for less than 5 Days will also be subject to a test on Day 1. There will also be a requirement to conduct a second test between Day 3 to 5. You must stay at your accommodation until the second test is carried. If the second result is negative, the self-isolation conditions will be lifted. If you are staying in a hotel, you must remain in your room and not use any of the public areas. The stakes are higher than ever for businesses when it comes to cyber risk, especially with the added complexity of COVID-19 thrown into the mix. Yet, even before the global pandemic struck, companies had been taking more action than ever before to shore up their cyber defenses. The Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report 2020 surveyed 5,569 professionals from the U.S., UK, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Ireland who are responsible for their companys cyber security, between Dec. 24, 2019, and Feb. 3, 2020 and found that U.S. businesses increased their average cyber-security spending within their IT budgets by 61% to $2.4 million. However, its not all good news as the report also found that greater financial damage is being caused by fewer attacks, showing that new cyber battle tactics are emerging. Cyber Criminals Getting Smarter It appears U.S. businesses are building stronger cyber defenses, as only 41% of firms reported an incident or breach in this years report, down from 53% the year prior. The report, which scored firms on strategy, resourcing, technology and process, found that the number of cyber experts among U.S. firms more than doubled to 24%, while the cyber novice category saw a commensurate decline, from 73% to 58%. COVID-19 has without a doubt exacerbated existing security issues with people working from home on a global scale, creating a significant opportunity for cyber criminals. Meghan Hannes, Hiscox US However, despite firms tougher cyber defenses, cyber criminals have gotten smarter. Theyve elevated their own strategies, wreaking greater devastation in fewer, more sophisticated attacks. Cyber losses among U.S. businesses rose four-fold, from a median of $10,000 per firm to $57,000. While firms are bolstering their cyber defenses by taking proactive measures to mitigate future risks, nearly half of respondents (48%) said they believe their businesses remain at risk for a cyber event, confirming that despite their level of cyber preparedness, no business is immune. Proactive and Reactive Measures As more and more businesses realize the potential severity of a cyber incident, were seeing a change in the amount of combative action being taken. While 39% of U.S. organizations reported they did not take action after a security incident last year, this figure fell dramatically to 3% in this years report, showing a vast improvement in businesses attitudes towards cyber readiness. Strategies companies deployed included regularly evaluating and discussing security and privacy, increasing spending on employee training and cultural changes and creating additional security and audit requirements. This change in attitude is not a moment too soon 15% of businesses reported bad publicity had an impact on their brand or reputation as a result of a cyber incident or breach compared to just 3% in last years report. Businesses also experienced greater difficulty in attracting new customers following an incident or breach, with 17% reporting challenges compared to 3% saying the same the year prior. These changes show that cyber security is increasingly a must have element of business plans, rather than a nice to have. The Impact of COVID-19 While the research for the report was conducted prior to the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 has without a doubt exacerbated existing security issues with people working from home on a global scale, creating a significant opportunity for cyber criminals. They are exploiting employees ignorance of cyber security best practices and the reduced level of protection many users have at home. Employees working from home or in new remote locations may use less secure passwords or be more likely to reply to a phishing email than they would when they were in the office, granting hackers easier access to their information. COVID-19 has created new, lucrative opportunities for cyber criminals, and businesses must evolve their cyber strategies to remain shielded. While businesses may not be in a position to increase spending now with COVID-19, the report shows that more businesses are taking cyber risks seriously and businesses cannot afford to lose momentum on incorporating these changes. A 3-Step Approach to Protect Your Business Implementing a three-step approach to become and continue to be cyber ready is critical to a businesss ultimate success. Prevent attacks on your business with adequate security measures and education. Training staff on how to protect the information your business stores and uses effectively to create a human firewall that guards your system from intrusion. This should be your first line of defense against hackers. Detect an attack quickly by maintaining a comprehensive security protocol and response plan. Teaching staff how to spot a phishing email, requiring two-factor authentication and utilizing strong passwords can go a long way towards keeping your sensitive information safe. Mitigate the financial impact of an attack with a stand-alone cyber insurance policy or a cyber endorsement on your commercial policy. Cyber insurance can cover the costs associated with recovering data and notifying impacted parties. Businesses have been pushed into an unforgiving new world in 2020. Cyber criminals wont concede or offer any form of relief, further underscoring the importance of integrating cyber into a businesss risk management strategy. The contents of this article do not offer legal, business or insurance advice related to the needs of any specific individual business. Topics Cyber USA Training Development Students in the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) system are engaging in a virtual protest today in opposition to the districts back-to-school plan. Students are organizing a virtual sick out, where students do not log in to online learning for the entire day, to call attention to their demands. A document circulating online among studentsWhat can I do to fight for DPSCD students?explains the motivations behind the action: The district has not held up the standards they proposed when they first began planning our online school year When students express dissatisfaction with the way the pandemic has been handled so far they are met with popular talking points of the administration, not the empathy or motivation for change we expect from a district claiming to fight for us. Students are particularly concerned about the requirement that they be in front of their screens for up to eight hours straight under the current online learning plan. The students are also demanding funding for extensive programming to support student mental health, removing the requirement to use cameras during online classes, and to provide extensive training to students and teachers in the proper use of a select number of apps and online programs. The protest is just one indication of the growing anger among students and teachers at the reckless and underfunded reopening policies of schools across the country. One student from Cass Tech High School, Hafiza, told the WSWS that she was protesting because the school district has failed students at every turn. In an open letter posted to her online learning platform, Hafiza noted the various attempts to browbeat students and teachers back to the classroom. She explained that DPSCD tried to convince students to return to schools by claiming that this virus would not affect our age group. She also exposed Superintendent Nikolai Vittis claims that during summer school sessions the classrooms were being cleaned regularly and that the ventilation system had been fixed. Hafiza wrote that the school staff reported that they were forced to clean themselves because no one came to clean for them. The staff then exposed how the district lied about reconstructing the ventilation systems, to which the board has not responded. The DPSCD opened officially on Sept. 8, following a partially open summer school session. The reopening plans, which included a hybrid combination of both in-person and on-line classes, was sanctioned through an agreement between the Detroit Federation of Teachers and school Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. In signing the deal, the DFT ignored the 90 percent vote by teachers to carry out a safety strike against herding students and educators back into dangerous classrooms and the polls of parents that showed 80 percent wanted online instruction only. There have already been nearly 3,000 deaths from the coronavirus in Wayne County, which includes Detroit. Makenna, a sophomore at the School at Marygrove, part of the DPSCD, told the WSWS about the reality of virtual learning: Everyone is overwhelmed at the amount of time the students and teachers are required to be in front of a screen. It is taking a toll on students mental health. She continued, Its clear that the district is mostly image-motivated and monetarily-motivated and not concerned primarily about the well-being of students and teachers. Makenna explained that some days her teachers cannot participate in an online class because they are so overwhelmed at home trying to take care of their own kids at the same time. Teachers are definitely our allies in this fight, Makenna explained. We are facing the same issues. Speaking to the broader issues involved, Makenna said she felt the current situation facing students is rooted in the way public education is handled more broadly. Our schools are already so underfunded and decrepit. And all the decisions about public education are made not from a student well-being perspective but from a data perspective. She concluded, We are just numbers on a spreadsheet. No one is concerned about the stress that comes along with tests, they only care that we get As. Many of the students who spoke to the WSWS said they felt online learning was being deliberately sabotaged by the school district in order to lay the basis for reopening the schools again for in-person learning in a few weeks. While the protest has been driven by students, it has also been endorsed by the Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM) and Black Lives Matter In All Capacities (BLMIAC), who are seeking to frame the issue of the school reopenings as an entirely racial question in line with the politics of the Democratic Party. A press released put out by these groups states that the aim must be to stop the draining and unequal online schools targeted at Black students. In fact, what is involved is not an attack on Black students, but on workers and working-class students of all races. Throughout the country, and indeed internationally, the ruling class is attempting to force the reopening of schools as part of an overall policy of driving workers back to work. Governments throughout the world have adopted a policy of herd immunitythat is, letting the virus spread without restraint, no matter how many hundreds of thousands or even millions of people die. The Socialist Equality Party and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality are fighting to unify the entire working class of all races against the homicidal policies of the ruling elite. To organize this struggle, teachers in Detroit have formed the Detroit Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, as part of a network of committees to link up the struggles of students and teachers in Detroit with a broader struggle of the working class across the country. The statement announcing the official formation of the committee explains: We, the Detroit Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, are opposed to laying down the lives of educators, students and parents for profit or participating in a poorly designed, underfunded, deadly experiment that puts our community at unnecessary risk. We urge Detroit public school students and educators who want to broaden their struggle to defend public education, and to save lives, to join the Detroit rank-and-file committee today and get involved in our youth and student movement, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality. It is with great excitement and pride that Hanover Shoe Farms announces the addition of three-year-old pacing colt phenom Tall Dark Stranger to its stallion roster for the 2021 breeding season. With a record of 1:49.1 at age two and a current record of 1:47.1 at age three and $1,741,645 earned thus far, Tall Dark Stranger has a remarkable slate of 16 wins and one second-place finish from 18 career starts. Tall Dark Stranger is owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Marvin and Lynn Katz, Caviart Farms and Howard and Marlene Taylor, and is trained by Nancy Takter and driven by Yannick Gingras. Tall Dark Stranger is the only horse in history to win the Metro Pace and Breeders Crown as a two-year-old and return to racing as a three-year-old and win both the Meadowlands Pace and North America Cup. Tall Dark Stranger also won the International Stallion Stakes at two en route to being voted Two-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year in both the United States and Canada. This year at three, in addition to the Meadowlands Pace and North American Cup, he has also captured the Cane Pace and the Kentucky Sire Stakes final. Tall Dark Stranger is scheduled to start next at the Red Mile and then go on to the Breeders Crown at Harrah's Hoosier Park. Seemingly destined for greatness from his birth, Tall Dark Stranger was a $330,000 purchase from the 2018 Lexington Selected Sale. He was considered by many to be the premier pacing colt offered at that venue that year. A stunning individual by the legendary stallion Bettors Delight, Tall Dark Stranger hails from one of harness racings most prolific families. He is out of world champion and Dan Patch and OBrien Award winning Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of theYear Precocious Beauty p,2,1:50.1 ($838,004), she a sister to successful pacing stallion Sportswriter and out of a sister to Swinging Beauty P,1:49.4 ($893,268) and the grandam of Downbytheseaside P,2,1:49, 3.1:48.3f ($2,179,558), whose eagerly-awaited first crop of yearlings will sell this fall. Russell and I are thrilled and honoured to have been given the chance to add such an illustrious pacing stallion to our roster. We believe he is the most accomplished pacer to enter the stallion ranks since Captaintreacherous," said Hanover Shoe Farms Executive Vice President Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky. "This will be our first partnership with Crawford Farms, Caviart Farms and Howard Taylor, which is exciting, and the third stallion we stand that Marvin Katz owns part of, Captaintreacherous and Bar Hopping being the two others. It is a pleasure to work with Marvin. He has vast knowledge of the breeding business and a terrific band of broodmares to support his stallions. . Trainer Nancy Takter calls Tall Dark Stranger One of the best pacers we have seen. A champion at two and three. Hes done things that no horse has ever done. Hes a pleasure to train and knows that his job is to win. Driver Yannick Gingras says that Tall Dark Stranger is the best pacing colt he has ever driven. He has all the tools needed for greatness. Speed, gait, and looks, but above all his desire to win races is truly unbelievable to me. Hes a champion in every sense of the word. Tall Dark Stranger will stand in Pennsylvania. His service fee and details concerning the syndication will be forthcoming. (Hanover Shoe Farms) 'We aim to reach a two-state solution and the suspension by Israel of a planned annexation of the West Bank should be final,' French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said the quadripartite meeting with the foreign ministers of Jordan, France and Germany which took place in Jordan on Thursday aimed to converge viewpoints on the peace process and means to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The meeting in Amman targeted reaching a comprehensive and fair solution for the Palestinian cause and achieving the two-state solution, Shoukry said at a joint press conference with his French and Jordanian counterparts following the meeting. We are working on finding new frameworks that attract the participation of [conflict] parties towards greater interaction to push the peace process and reach a formula to end the conflict, he said. Shoukry added there is ongoing communication with the Palestinian Authority to bolster efforts aimed at establishing a Palestinian state on the basis of international accords. He said the meeting was important because it focused on finding suitable means to push peace and open channels of communication between parties to the conflict. Egypts foreign minister stated that the peace accords Israel signed with the UAE and Bahrain are an important development that shall lead to greater interactions and support to reach comprehensive peace in the region on the basis of international legitimacy. Egypt has welcomed the recent peace agreements between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain as steps towards bringing peace to the Middle East. Cairo supports a two-state solution, with East Jerusalem the capital of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders and according to UN Security Council resolutions. Egypt has repeatedly expressed its rejection of Israels plan to annex the West Bank and called for the revival of the peace process. Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi said there is no comprehensive peace without a two-state solution, adding that the ball was now in Israels court to choose between peace and maintaining the status quo. We are all worried about the stalemate in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and we have to continue our efforts. This meeting is the eighth of its kind, and we are working through it to launch serious talks to reach fair peace, he said. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that both Palestine and Israel are keen on finding a solution to the conflict, yet not at the expense of either. He also praised the recent peace agreements between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel, saying they will help bring stability to the region. We aim to reach a two-state solution and the suspension by Israel of a planned annexation of the West Bank should be final, he said. Germanys Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who cancelled his trip to Jordan due to a coronavirus quarantine, said via videocoference that peace agreements between the UAE and Bahrain and Israel demonstrated that peace in the region is possible. Search Keywords: Short link: Nato soldiers stand with US flag as a Chinook helicopter takes off after a security handover ceremony at a military academy outside Kabul (Reuters) After a Republican super PAC in Texas posted a photo of Senate candidate MJ Hegar featuring her tattoos and calling her a radical, Hegar had a quick response on Twitter: the tattoos covered shrapnel wounds she received as an Air Force helicopter pilot in Afghanistan. "A pro-Cornyn Super PAC is using a photo of my tattoos to make me seem radical. That's pretty funny to me, Hegar tweeted on Thursday, referring to her opponent in the race, longtime GOP Senator John Cornyn. You think I'm ashamed of them? They cover my shrapnel wounds from when my helicopter was shot down. They're a mark of my service to our country. I'm damn proud of them. A pro-Cornyn Super PAC is using a photo of my tattoos to make me seem "radical." That's pretty funny to me. You think I'm ashamed of them? They cover my shrapnel wounds from when my helicopter was shot down. They're a mark of my service to our country. I'm damn proud of them. pic.twitter.com/HrqX68ZzKa MJ Hegar (@mjhegar) September 24, 2020 The PAC, Texans for a Conservative Majority, is not directly affiliated with Senator Cornyns campaign. Cornyns office did not respond to requests for comment. Hegar was awarded a Purple Heart after the Taliban shot down the medevac helicopter she was co-piloting, and she helped defend her fellow servicemembers despite injuries to her arm and leg. In Texas, foreign policy and national security is a kitchen-table issue because everyone has someone [they know] in uniform, she told the Texas Tribune earlier this year. Recent polling shows Hegar, who supports progressive policies like universal health care, trailing Cornyn by nearly 8 percent. Texas is increasingly being seen as a competitive state where Democrats have a chance to win in national races. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global biodegradable plastic market was valued at $1.2 billion in 2018, and is projected to reach $6.0 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 21.3% from 2019 to 2026. Biodegradable plastic is a plant based plastic with no hazardous effects on the environment. It composed of petrochemical, renewable material, and micro-organisms. The idea of biodegradable plastic reveals little or no degradation of plastic material over the period, causing least hazards to environment. Hence, plastic that is defined as biodegradable is made of molecule that can break down naturally by the action of micro-organisms. Some of the major known types of the biodegradable plastic includes, Poly(lactic Acid (PLA), Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), Polybutylene Succinate (PBS), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and Starch Blends. The global biodegradable plastic market is in introductory phase of industry life cycle and is expected to explore new growth opportunities during the coming years. Some of the basic factors driving the demand for biodegradable plastic include governmental initiatives to eliminate single use plastic and strict regulatory outlook against the use of conventional plastic products. Industry trends are shifting toward bio based products to reduce dependence on conventional plastics. Biobased and biodegradable plastic is least toxic and causes no adverse effects environments. Hence, its demand is on the rise at significant pace. Request For Report sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/13336 Moreover, most of manufacturers from each industry vertical are shifting toward use of biobased plastic due to pressure from regulatory bodies. Packaging textile, and agriculture industries are being some of them. Such factors are largely impacting the growth of the global biodegradable market. On the other hand, the growth of the market is restrained by high cost of biodegradable plastic over its conventional counterparts. Growth opportunities in this market are promising which is projected to come from concept like corporate social responsibility and decreased dependence on synthetic resources. The global biodegradable plastic market is segmented on the basis of type, application, and region. Based on type, the market is bifurcated into includes (Poly(lactic Acid) (PLA), Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate (PBAT), Polybutylene Succinate (PBS), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), Starch Blends, and others. On the basis of application, the global biodegradable plastic market is categorized into packaging, agriculture, textile, consumer durable and others. Based on region, it is studied across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Some of the major manufacturers studied and profiled in the global biodegradable plastic market are BASF SE, DowDuPont Inc, Novamont S.p.A., Plantic, Natureworks, Corbion N.V., Biome Technologies plc, Eastman Chemical Company, and Danimer Scientific. KEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERS Porters five forces analysis helps analyze the potential of buyers & suppliers and the competitive scenario of the industry for strategy building It outlines the current trends and future scenario of the market from 2019 to 2026 to understand the prevailing opportunities and potential investment pockets Major countries in the region have been mapped according to their individual revenue contribution to the regional market The key drivers, restraints, and opportunities and their detailed impact analysis are elucidated in the study The profiles of key players along with their key strategic developments are enlisted in the report KEY MARKET SEGMENTS By Type PLA PBAT PBS PHA Starch Blends Others By Application Packaging Agriculture Consumer Durable Textile Others By Region North America o U.S. o Canada o Mexico Europe o Germany o France o Spain o Italy o UK o Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific o China o Japan o India o South Korea o Australia o Rest of Asia-Pacific LAMEA o Brazil o South Africa o Saudi Arabia o UAE o Rest of LAMEA More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/13336 I make my living in oil and gas and am the fourth generation to do so. Im a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the war in Afghanistan. My favorite part of the world is rural Texas, and Im fortunate to have been raised there. Most importantly, Im a follower of Jesus Christ who taught us the incredible power of love. I love my wife and family, I love my fellow Americans, and I love this country. I supported Republicans in past elections. I am casting my vote for Joe Biden because of, not in spite of, my beliefs and experiences as a veteran, a Christian, a conservative and a native rural Texan. In many ways, the president sits atop what sociologist Robert Bellah called our American civil religion, and sets the moral tone of the country. Here is just one example of why Joe Biden is a good and honest man and Donald Trump is not. When Biden was vice president, I was a pilot in the presidents helicopter squadron. Vice President Biden went home to Delaware on most weekends, and when he did, he took the train. He knew those of us who served the White House would get to spend more time with our families if he left town on the ground. He knew his actions would impact others and acted with empathy. By contrast, President Trump seems incapable of empathy. For instance, when military service members leave the White House, tradition calls for a visit to the Oval Office with their family to take a picture with the president. Previous presidents have stood next to the family in front of the Resolute Desk. Trump does not. He sits behind the desk and has the family stand on either side of him. Further, President Trump has limited these opportunities in comparison to his predecessors. The military is nothing but a stage prop to him. Trump weighs every action in terms of how it benefits him. He stokes fear about election fraud but does nothing to shore up the integrity of the election process. Trump tears down others to advance his own cause. No American hero, no ally and no sacred tradition is safe from Trumps scorn if it stands in the way of his TV ratings or ego. This is anathema to our national spirit. I disagree with many of Bidens policies, but Im ready to advocate for my positions after hes elected. Biden should recognize, for example, the important role hydrocarbons and nuclear power must play in Americas future energy landscape, and not villainize these industries. He must resist the notion that there is a federal solution to every issue and avoid taxing the creativity out of our private sector. The good news is Biden is not beholden to a radical base like the Trump campaign wants you to believe. Hes already disowned a fracking ban. The most important thing, in my view, is ridding our great country of the most divisive, ill-informed, and inflammatory president of my lifetime and replacing him with someone who can bridge the gap to a brighter future. Biden respects the norms of the republic and has a well-calibrated moral compass. Hell listen to those who disagree on policy issues because, like me and other followers of Jesus, he can see value in every human whether they agree with him or not. There is a reason so many Republicans from across the nation are endorsing Biden. Its not because we all suddenly shifted left. Its because we need someone to hold the reins steady so a new generation of leadership can take charge. Trump has done more to damage the future of conservative thought in America than any Democrat could ever do. The road to rebuilding credibility in the Republican party starts when we the people, and our elected leaders, reject the morally bankrupt ideology that Trump represents. Biden is the steady hand we need today so we can get to the tomorrow we all hope for. Pitcock, a native of Graham, Texas, and US Marine Corps veteran, works in the energy industry in Houston and is a lifelong Republican voter. A South Korean official who went missing from a fisheries patrol boat earlier this week was shot dead by North Korean troops who later burned his body, South Korea's military said on Thursday. The military did not explain how the official ended up in North Korean waters, but Yonhap news agency cited unnamed intelligence sources in Seoul who said he had been attempting to defect to the North. "Our military strongly condemns such an atrocity, and strongly demands North Korea provide explanations and punish those who are responsible," General Ahn Young-ho, who is in charge of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a briefing. The official was reported missing from a South Korean fisheries patrol boat on Monday when it was about 10 kilometres (6 miles) south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), a disputed demarcation of military control that acts as the de facto maritime boundary between North and South Korea. The exact reason the 47-year-old official was shot is still unknown, but North Korean troops may have been acting under anti-coronavirus orders, Yonhap quoted multiple sources as saying. The U.S. military commander in South Korea said earlier this month that North Korean troops had been given "shoot-to-kill orders" to prevent the coronavirus entering the country. In July, a man who had defected to South Korea three years ago triggered a coronavirus scare when he crossed back over the heavily monitored border into North Korea, which has claimed to have zero cases of the disease. His arrival prompted North Korean officials to lock down a border city and quarantine thousands of people over fears he may have had coronavirus, though the World Health Organization later said his test results were inconclusive. Last week, South Korean police arrested a defector who they said had tried to return to North Korea by breaking into a military training site in South Korea's border town of Cheorwon. (REUTERS) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Estelle Shirbon (Reuters) London, United Kingdom Thu, September 24, 2020 14:04 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46f08bc 2 Entertainment Bristol,Britain,slavery,concert-hall,statue Free A concert hall in the English city of Bristol that was named after 17th century slave trader Edward Colston has renamed itself the Bristol Beacon saying the long-debated change was aimed at making everyone feel welcome. The concert hall was one of several places in Bristol named after Colston, who donated money he had made investing in the transatlantic slave trade to charitable causes in the city - a legacy that had caused disquiet and division for years. The temperature of the debate was abruptly raised in June, when protesters inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement tore down a statue of Colston and threw it into Bristol harbor. The government called the toppling a criminal act and critics accused the protesters of seeking to erase history. Supporters countered that the city had been debating Colston for years but getting nowhere, while the slave trader's name and image were an insult to many of the city's residents. The process at the concert hall, which decided in 2017 to change its name and conducted in-depth consultations with a large number of people across the city, was less chaotic, although it was also acrimonious at times. "It's been quite a rough ride. Not everyone agreed with the decision to change," said Louise Mitchell, chief executive of the trust which runs the venue, at a live-streamed launch event for the new name on Wednesday. "We were accused of seeking to erase and censor history. We were told that we were wrong to use the morals of today to judge the actions of the past. It's an issue that continues to provoke strong views on every side. "The truth is the organization and the city can't continue to be held back by this historic association. The name has meant that the building is a place where some have felt unwelcome, or that they did not belong, be they artists or audiences, and very simply, if we can't be for everyone, something has to change." As Colston Hall, the venue hosted world-famous musicians like the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, but a growing number of Bristolians refused to go there because of the name. The band Massive Attack, who hail from the city, had boycotted the venue. Mitchell said the new name aimed to celebrate the "unity and joy of live music". Experts say that when Black celebrities speak openly about attending therapy, they see a surge in calls from new patients who were inspired to seek help. The hip-hop artist Jay-Z talked about therapy in a 2017 interview with The New York Times. In 2018, the radio host known as Charlamagne Tha God published a memoir, Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me, in which he talked about the importance of therapy. I think its important for men especially to hear other men talk about it, because men deal with that extra masculinity stigma, said Tasnim Sulaiman, a Philadelphia-area therapist and founder of BlackMenHeal.org, which provides free therapy to Black men. You know theres a man sitting on his couch who sees that and thinks, If he says his life has been changed, maybe that could work for me. The group is recruiting Black therapists around the country, particularly New York City, where it has a long waiting list, but it has been a challenge to find therapists of color. According to a 2018 report from the American Psychological Associations Center for Workforce Studies, only 4 percent of therapists are Black. So far, BlackMenHeal.org has offered more than 600 therapy sessions to about 100 men. About 60 percent have continued with therapy after the free program ended, Ms. Sulaiman said. We ask our men to do what Cord did, to go out into their communities to talk to their peers, their cousins, sons, brothers and share their experience, she said. Cord just helped to create a safe space for men to step into a healing journey. Mr. Jefferson, 38, said he briefly started therapy in his 20s to deal with anger issues, but didnt return to therapy until 2013, when his mother was given a diagnosis of cancer. A few years ago he started seeing his current therapist, who was referred to him by a friend. He said he believes his work in therapy has helped his career, which is why it was fitting to thank his therapist when he received the Emmy. The work of a TV writer is so much about thinking about characters and character motivation, things that go unsaid, and decisions that people make and why they make those decisions, Mr. Jefferson said. Sitting with someone every week and dissecting my own decisions and the connective tissue with something that happened in my childhood sort of like sifting through details of my life that helps so much when I think about characters and story. The introspection helps me out when I sit down to write. In addition to therapy, Mr. Jefferson said he has tried meditation, but has not been able to practice it consistently. He said he prefers to watch the feed from a web camera showing the jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time. The news that the U.S. Department of Justice has identified Portland, Seattle and New York City as cities that permit violence and property destruction without counteracting crime may have prompted Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, along with Seattle and New York mayors, to call the designation thoroughly political and unconstitutional. But for late night host James Corden and former Portlander Ian Karmel, it was cause for comedy. On the episode of The Late Late Show that aired late Monday (technically, early Tuesday), Corden joked about Portland being included in a list of cities that are supposedly permitting anarchy, violence and destruction." Turning to his co-head writer, Ian Karmel, who grew up in Beaverton, Corden asked, Does Portland seem like an anarchist jurisdiction to you?" Id love to sugarcoat it for you, Karmel replied. But its insanity up there. Corden went on, Thats just not true, Ive been to Portland, those brunch lines and farmers markets in Portland, theyre bedlam. Youre lucky if you make it out of there with an NPR totebag full of heirloom tomatoes. Karmel joined in questioning the anarchist jurisdiction description of the Rose City. "Its the sweetest place on Earth, " he said. Every store in Portland is either a brewery named after someones rescue dog, or a pet store that also sells beer. As Oregonlive has reported, President Donald Trump has repeatedly made exaggerated claims about the levels of property damage and serious violence taking place in Portland and elsewhere to bolster his claims that cities led by Democrats have descended into chaos. He presents that vision to voters as a reason they should reelect him. More of our coverage: Beavertons Ian Karmel on his new sports-comedy show, Game On!, and doing a remote version of The Late Late Show Subscribe to our What to Watch newsletter. Email: -- Kristi Turnquist kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist Michel Fourniret, 78, (pictured) has already admitted kidnapping, raping and murdering nine girls over a 14-year period from 1987 France's most notorious living serial killer may have killed up to 12 more victims after forensics experts pinpointed unidentified DNA on a mattress in his possession. Michel Fourniret, known as the Beast of the Ardennes, was jailed for life without the possibility of parole in May 2008 after admitting the kidnap, rape and murder of seven young women over a 14-year period from 1987. In 2018, the 78-year-old also confessed to the murder of Joanna Parrish, a Leeds University language student, who was killed in Burgundy countryside in eastern France in 1990. He was also charged with the murder of two other women. But now French authorities are to re-open 30 cold cases that may be linked to the self-confessed serial killer after unidentified DNA was found on a mattress alongside traces of two of his known victims. In August forensic experts discovered partial DNA traces of two girls Fourniret had killed - nine-year-old Estelle Mouzin and 18-year-old Celine Saison - on a mattress belonging to Fourniret's sister. And after further investigation found traces of up to 12 other individuals which can now be examined with recent advances in testing. Le Parisien reported the discovery prompted French police to review 70 cases involving potential victims that were listed shortly after Fourniret's arrest before deciding to re-open 30. Lawyers, acting on behalf of victims' families, have lodged seven individual requests for investigating magistrates to examine the new evidence. Lawyer Corinne Herrmann said: 'We want the DNA of all victims and disappeared girls that we represent to be compared with those found on the mattress and with all evidence under seal seized at Michel Fourniret's home. 'It is inconceivable that Fourniret didn't kill other victims.' Michel Fourniret, known as the Beast of the Ardennes, was jailed for life without the possibility of parole in May 2008 after admitting the kidnap, rape and murder of seven young women over a 14-year period from 1987 including Estelle Mouzin (left) and Joanna Parrish (right) Fourniret's first murder dates back to 1987 with his most recent was in 2003. His first victim was 17-year-old Isabelle Laville who disappeared in Auxerre in 1987 as she made her way home from school. Her skeletal remains were found at the bottom of a well outside the city in July 2006. Fabienne Leroy, 20, disappeared in woods in Mourmelon-Le-Grand in north-east France before her horribly mutilated body was found. Student Jean-Marie Desramault, 22, disappeared from a railway station in 1989. Her body was found in the grounds of a house belonging to Fourniret - as was that of 12-year-old Belgian Elisabeth Brichet. Fourniret's other victims included Natacha Danais, a 13-year-old French girl, sexually assaulted after being stabbed to death in 1990; Farida Hellegouarch, the 30-year-old girlfriend of a bank-robber who once shared a cell with Fourniret, and 18-year-old Celine Saison. Fourniret has since been charged with killing three other women including that of Joanna Parrish and Marie-Ange Domece. Fourniret told examining magistrates in Paris in February 2018 that he ended the lives of the two women. Marie-Ange Domece, a teenager who suffered with mental illness, disappeared in 1988 aged 19 but her body has never been found. Joanna Parrish, 21, from Gloucester, was raped and murdered in Auxerre in 1990, while working as an English teacher during her gap year. Her naked body was found in the River Yonne in Auxerre the day after she was reported missing in May 1990. Dider Seban, the Parrish family lawyer based in the French capital, confirmed that the development meant 'the culmination of a long fight lasting 28 years'. Fourniret also admitted to being involved in the disappearance of nine-year-old Estelle Mouzin who vanished on the way home from school in Guermantes, 18 miles east of Paris, in 2003. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- November 13, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the Evacuation of the Crimea during the Russian Civil War. The White Russian army evacuated the Crimean Peninsula, their last stronghold on the Southern Front, bringing an end to fighting there. Nearly 150,000 refugees fled on 126 ships, traveling to camps in Turkey and Greece before dispersing around the world. One Hundred Years of Exile (Cover Image) Tania Romanov, Author of "One Hundred Years of Exile" Tania Romanov's family was part of that historic evacuation, making a harrowing escape on the last boat to depart Evpatoria. Romanov describes her family's ordealas well as what led up to it, and what ensuedin her gripping new memoir, One Hundred Years of Exile: A Romanov's Search for Her Father's Russia (Travelers' Tales, 2020). Marina Romanov, grandniece of Tsar Nicholas II, called the book, "A vividly intense and personal saga," remarking that, "It stirred such powerful emotions." A third-generation refugee on both sides of her family, One Hundred Years of Exile chronicles Romanov's moving journey through 100 years of history to find peace with her fatherultimately braving the current political unrest in the Crimea to undertake a highly personal pilgrimage to the very spot where her family fled. Tania's story proves inseparable from Russia's, featuring Cossacks who fled revolution, a family who survived Stalin, and a family of royal exiles, culminating in a meeting between princess and peasant. "A gripping family account, historically rigorous and ultimately moving that couples cinematic drama with both tragedy and triumph." Kirkus Reviews About the Author Tania Romanov Amochaev is the author of Mother Tongue: A Saga of Three Generations of Balkan Women and Never a Stranger, a collection of travel essays. Born in the former Yugoslavia, she fled and spent her childhood in a refugee camp in Trieste, Italy, before immigrating to the United States. A graduate of San Francisco public schools, she went on to serve as CEO of three technology companies. Details One Hundred Years of Exile is published by Travelers' Tales and distributed by Publishers Group West, a division of Ingram. Media contact: Matthew Benson Solificatio [email protected] 415-429-5657 SOURCE Tania Romanov Related Links http://www.taniaamochaev.com The Union Cabinet on Thursday condoled the demise of Minister of State for Railways Suresh C Angadi, who passed away on Wednesday because of Covid-19. The Cabinet also observed silence for two minutes to honour the memory of Angadi, who breathed his last at AIIMS in New Delhi. The Cabinet also passed a resolution expressing profound sorrow. Also Read: MoS railways Suresh Angadi dies of Covid-19 In his passing away, the nation has lost an eminent leader, an educationist, a distinguished parliamentarian and an able administrator, the resolution read. Born on June 1, 1955 at KK Koppa village in Belagavi district of Karnataka, Angadi graduated from SSS Samiti College and obtained a degree in law from Raja Lakhamgouda Law College. A member of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he became vice-president of the partys Belagavi district unit in 1996. He was nominated as president of the Belagavi district unit in 2001 and continued to hold that post until he was nominated as Partys candidate for the Belagavi Lok Sabha Constituency in 2004. He won by a large margin and became a member of the 14th Lok Sabha. He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha from Belagavi in 2009, 2014 and 2019. Also Read: Suresh Angadi: A giant killer who never lost an election He served as member, Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution; Human Resources Development and Defence as well as Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Finance. He also served as member of the Joint Committee on Pension, Salaries and Allowances for Members of Parliament, the Advisory Committee on Central Direct Taxes, the House Committee and the Committee on Petitions. In May, 2019, Angadi became Minister of State for Railways, the resolution read. He was involved in many social and cultural activities with special interest in Industry, Agriculture and Education of the poor. He was also Chairman, Suresh Angadi Education Foundation, Belgaum since 2009. He was fond of reading and travelling. The Cabinet extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of the Government and the entire nation, the resolution read. For the Tories, young people dont exist, until they need someone to blame. Dont kill your gran, health secretary Matt Hancock begged young people earlier this month, despite elderly people with Covid being sent back from hospitals into care homes. Then theres Boris Johnson warning young people against complacency, urging freshers not to spread coronavirus in the bedroom, before promising to crack down on parties. Now after a month of sending people out to pubs and restaurants (which new findings suggest contributed to a spike in infections), the government is again trying to blame young people for rising cases and a second wave. I work in a pub and I have seen drunk idiocy from young people, the middle-aged and baby boomers alike. Breakdowns in social distancing in pubs cannot be limited to one age group. It is also telling that young people are being chastised for having parties. The last decade saw an austerity programme that decimated youth services and forced the closure of 750 youth centres, meanwhile, wages stagnated. There is very little public space set aside for young people and many cannot afford to socialise safely in places like pubs, bars and restaurants. Parties during a pandemic are obviously not the best idea, but it is not surprising that private gatherings are how young people are meeting. The prime minister insisted that the reopening of universities in time for the new academic year was critical, but he had nothing to say about the students forced into paying the exorbitant rent on student housing despite their courses being online. He is silent on an issue that affects the material conditions of young people, but finds the time to scapegoat freshers in advance of a second wave. Any spikes in the number of cases in university towns are down to the government failing to maintain an effective test and trace system. The blame should not be laid at the feet of anxious 18-year-olds in an unfamiliar setting. The government consistently neglects the young. For example, the calamitous failure of the exam grade algorithm that left thousands of A-level students devastated was visible well before results day, but ministers pressured Ofqual to stick with the system before an eventual U-turn on the system. And in London, free travel for under-18s was cut as part of a government bailout deal for Transport for London, which saw passenger numbers plummet during lockdown. TFL relies very heavily on fares compared to similar cities like Paris and New York because of a deal Boris Johnson cut with the treasury when he was mayor. This unsustainable funding model was instigated by Johnson, not, as Conservative mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has suggested, because Sadiq Khan mismanaged the finances. This pattern recurs time and again. The lack of rent relief and the consistency with which the government acts in lockstep with the interests of landlords disproportionately targets young, working class people. So too does the new 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants, which without any attempt at compensating workers, just amounts to a cut in hours for the hospitality sectors overwhelmingly young employees. The Tories can get away with this because young people are not part of the Conservatives electoral base. Equally we are useful fodder in a political war in which the right tries to polarise the values of the electorate around social or cultural issues to shore up their base, without needing to concede on popular, progressive economic policies. Older voters are already falling for this blame narrative hook, line and sinker. A YouGov poll shows that 67 per cent of Britons hold young people responsible to some degree for the increase in cases, this rises to 77 per cent among the over 65s. Once again Britains elites are getting away with blaming young people for their own miserable failures. Oliver Haynes is a bartender and freelance journalist. HOLYOKE A hearing on a proposed marijuana cultivation and manufacturing establishment will continue next month after a paperwork mix-up delayed discussions Tuesday. New York-based Buudda Brothers has requested a special permit to operate a recreational marijuana cultivation and manufacturing establishment at 90 Sargeant St. The City Councils Ordinance Committee continued a public hearing to Oct. 6 at 6:15 p.m. The committee met virtually Tuesday, as City Hall remains shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic. Chair Rebecca Lisi said the Planning and Economic Development Department did not receive updated plans from Buudda Brothers before Tuesdays hearing. John Toro, a manager with Buudda Brothers, said the required documents were submitted Sept. 18, meeting the deadline. The company said the bulk of its plan had not changed, but some wording was updated in the traffic and environmental impact statements. Toro said he was under the impression the documents first go to the city clerks office and then to interested parties. Lisi said the City Council is not in the position to conduct technical reviews of plans, which typically falls under the Planning Departments purview. I dont think were in the position to move forward without the approval of the planning review, she said. Ward 5 Councilor Linda Vacon said, I think its unfortunate that the communication did not get fully circulated. Ward 6 Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos said he felt bad that a company willing to invest in Holyoke was not offered guidance on navigating the citys bureaucracy. He suggested creating a checklist for future applicants. Ward 2 Councilor Terence Murphy said he toured the Sargeant Street location with the owners last week. He expected minimal traffic along the corridor, mostly due to work shift changes. Buudda Brothers plan to renovate three floors of the building. Murphy recommended adding parking spaces on nearby Front Street, which would not affect traffic flow and alleviate congestion on Sargeant Street. Murphy called for continuing the hearing and finalizing Buudda Brothers' application before the City Councils Oct. 6 regular session. I know these gentlemen are working hard to get things moving, he said. In May 2020, the City Council approved a special permit for Buudda Brothers to open a retail store at 604 Main St. A separate permit seeks to expand the operation into 606 Main St. for cultivating marijuana. The company had combined the 90 Sargeant St. plan into its last application. Related Content: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak has announced that the UK government and firms have agreed to top up workers' wages covering up to two-thirds of their hours for the next six months. Labelled the 'Jobs Support Scheme', the initiative will help combat the potential job losses anticipated when the current furlough scheme ends on October 31. Sunak has also unveiled a "winter economy plan" after the government introduced new restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19. There are currently three million workers12% of the UK's workforceon partial or full furlough leave, according to the Office for National Statistics, and employees will have to work for at least a third of their normal hours for businesses to take advantage of the scheme, which begins on November 1. Speaking to the House of Commons today, Sunak said that the UK "must endure and live with the uncertainty of the moment' and "lean our new limits", while also stating "lives can no longer be put on hold." He added: "To do that, I am announcing today the new Jobs Support Scheme. The government will directly support the wages of people in work, giving businesses who face depressed demand the option of keeping employees in a job on shorter hours rather than making them redundant." The Chancellor's plans are part of a multi-billion pound package of support, which includes a new wage subsidy "modelled on the German scheme". Businesses that have already borrowed money through the government's loan scheme will also be given more time to repay the money, with the 20% to 5% VAT cut for hospitality and tourism companies extended until March, which was due to expire on January 12 next year. Mariah Carey is opening up about her troubled relationship with her family. In an interview on Apple TV+s The Oprah Conversation, the hitmaker discussed her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, and a lot of the conversation centered around her personal relationships with her immediate family her mom, Patricia, and ex- siblings, brother Morgan and sister Alison. (Her dad, Alfred, died in 2002.) I would never have spoken a word about anybody in my life and I tried to be very fair but people have drawn first blood with me historically, said 50-year-old Carey, whose siblings have been selling stories about her to tabloids for decades. I know you understand this: When there are people that are in any way connected to you as a person that has achieved any success, you are a target. Youre vulnerable. She continued, But I wouldnt have gone here if things hadnt been done to me. If I hadnt been dragged by certain people and treated as an ATM machine with a wig on. All it is is like: Let me get some money and let me get some money no matter what. From Careys side of things, she didnt fit into her family from the get-go. Shes biracial, something that deeply impacted her life, with a white mother and Black father, and felt resentment from her older siblings with whom she has a significant age gap over having lighter skin and hair. She said her early life was defined by trauma and violence. Her parents split when she was 3. She described her brother as extremely violent and her sister whose woes have been documented as troubled and traumatized, adding, And I tried to be thoughtful about that [description] although I dont know that the same courtesy has been extended to me from anybody that caused certain traumatic events in my life. Winfrey read a passage from Careys book in which Mimi claimed Alison gave her cocaine, inflicted her with third-degree burns and tried to sell her out to a pimp. Story continues (Screenshot: The Oprah Conversation) We dont even know each other, Carey told Winfrey of her siblings. We didnt grow up together, as her brother is 10 years older, her sister eight years older. By the time I got into the world, they had already been damaged and Carey literally felt like an outsider amongst my own family. And when she became famous, she felt they viewed her as a get rich quick scheme. As for Careys mom, whom she has a relationship, that is complicated too. As a child, she felt neglected by Patricia, whom she described in the book as Beauty and the Beast in one person. She always felt dirty as a child and said her mother left her with people who were not safe. And her mother was not safe for me either emotionally. Carey said that from the beginning, she always felt there was a huge role reversal in her relationship with her mother who she calls Patricia, not mom saying she would always take care of her. She said shes always been the matriarch for everyone, even as the youngest child in the family, which was a lot of pressure, but it also caused a lot of resentment and envy. She felt her family always had the mentality of, What can we get from her? And she also felt that she had so many people living off her. She said she never felt safe and was in fight mode constantly. Mariah Carey says Moroccan and Monroe give her the "unconditional love" she's always sought. (Photo: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Sugar Factory American Brasserie) Carey also made rare comments about her forced hospitalization in July 2001 amid an emotional crisis. She hadnt slept in six days and felt extreme career pressure, so she sought refuge at her mothers Long Island home, which Carey had purchased. Carey had an emotional breakdown while washing dishes, her mother called 911 and police had her taken away. Rather than say: Were OK. Im here and taking care of my daughter. Shes tired. Someone called the cops by mistake. It was: Oh no, because you defied me, this is what is going to happen, she said of her mothers motivation. She still has a vivid memory of being in the backseat of the police car after being removed from her moms house. Carey said, I have never spoken about it, but I just think its important to say that, in that moment, that seemed like a better alternative then where I was in that moment with her and my ex-brother. Carey felt they capitalized on her mental health woes, instead of being genuinely concerned about her being overworked, viewing it as another scheme in which they could profit. And she maintains that she didnt actually need to be hospitalized, saying, if they had given me even two days to rest, she would have rebounded. Carey describes her relationship with her mom today as a work in progress. She now knows what to expect from her, saying, I cant go to an ice cream stand looking for hot dogs. I have to know: Here is what you get from this person. Carey also spoke about first husband Tommy Mottola, then the head of her record company, with whom her relationship has been well documented. She met him at 18 and they had a 20-year age gap. She said she fell for him because he totally believed in me, but felt forced into getting married. Once they did, she lived an extremely oppressive existence being secluded, with armed security, in their Bedford, N.Y., home (which she infamously dubbed Sing Sing, like the nearby prison). In the book, she wrote that she was held captive in that relationship. Retelling her version of their time together, which Mottola touched on in his own memoir, Carey said I was as kind as possible and if anything, I dont think I went in like some people would have. She added that her recollection of their time together is the truth... There were witnesses to this. And all these years later, I forgive him. In a statement to Page Six, Mottola said, I am deeply gratified to have played that role in Mariahs well-deserved and remarkable success, and continue to wish her and her family only the very best. With Winfrey, Carey also spoke about her second failed marriage to Nick Cannon. She said they had a fun relationship and as co-parents to their 9-year-old twins, Roe and Roc, they laugh a lot together. There is no animosity. As for those kids, they help to heal me every day from the pain of childhood, during which she also experienced racism, telling a story about a group of girls calling her the n word. She said her twins have provided her with the unconditional love shes always wanted. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Research News IDEA Center receives another 5-year cycle of national funding The recently opened Hampton Inn Buffalo-Amherst hotel across from the North Campus is one example of how UB's IDEA Center has worked with the business sector on inclusive design. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki By DAVID J. HILL Were really pushing universal design to the next level by supporting its commercialization and widespread implementation, and building the business case for it. A quarter of a century. Thats how long a UB center that specializes in advancing universal design has been continuously funded. The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access, or IDEA Center, was just awarded another five-year, $4.6 million grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research for the centers Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Physical Access and Transportation (RERC). The RERC is in partnership with the University Health Network in Toronto and the University of Michigan, among other stakeholders. Over the past two-plus decades now, the IDEA Center which is housed within the School of Architecture and Planning has worked to advance the field of universal design. The center is a globally recognized leader in the field. The centers work has included developments to improve access to public transportation for people with disabilities, as well as a first-of-its-kind program, called isUD, that grants certification to buildings that prioritize inclusivity within their design and operations. The funding comes at an exciting time for the centers work, as the RERC will now be led by Jordana Maisel, director of research for the IDEA Center. In addition to new leadership on the project, there are new UB faculty members and community partners involved, as well as new research methodologies being employed. Were really pushing universal design to the next level by supporting its commercialization and widespread implementation, and building the business case for it, Maisel says. This new round of funding marks the fifth cycle of five-year funding for the RERC, a project that touches a broad scope of domains, including museums, hospitals and office buildings, streetscapes, transportation systems and housing. The new cycle will support the centers ongoing work, while paving the way for new projects and partnerships: NASA has announced in a $28-million plan (U.S.) that in 2024 a woman and man will land on the moon for the first time since the last Apollo lunar mission in 1972. The move is in line with its mandate to establish sustainable space exploration by the end of this decade, the agency said Monday, laying out its plan in a 74-page opus. All it needs is $3.2 billion more to build a landing system there, BBC News reported. With bipartisan support from Congress, our 21st century push to the moon is well within Americas reach, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement. 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. Before we get to Mars, though, NASA plans to start relatively small. And it needs a few more billion dollars. A series of test flight missions will be conducted this fall, and as soon as 2021, NASA plans to send robotic missions to the moon via commercial delivery services, landing dozens of new science investigations and technology demonstrations to the Moon twice per year beginning in 2021. The mission is called Artemis, and its divided into stages 1, 2 and 3. Phase 1 will culminate in moon stays of as long as seven days, NASA said. Among other tasks, theyll seek resources that will enable them to conduct ever deeper explorations. Throughout the Artemis program, robots and humans will search for, and potentially extract, resources such as water that can be converted into other usable resources, including oxygen and fuel, NASA said. By fine-tuning precision landing technologies as well as developing new mobility capabilities, astronauts will travel farther distances and explore new regions of the moon. The longer-term hope is to use a moon base as a jumping-off point for the next giant leap sending astronauts to Mars, NASA said. Washington As the Trump administration moves toward antitrust action against search giant Google, it's campaigning to enlist support from sympathetic state attorneys general across the country. And President Donald Trump pushed his campaign against Big Tech on Wednesday, touting curbs on legal protections for social media platforms he denounces as biased against conservative views. "In recent years, a small group of technology platforms have tightened their grip over commerce and communications in America," Trump declared at a White House event with Attorney General William Barr and Republican attorneys general from several states. "They've used this power to engage in unscrupulous business practices while simultaneously waging war on free enterprise and free expression." The anticipated lawsuit against Google by the Justice Department could be the government's biggest legal offensive to protect competition since the ground-breaking case against Microsoft almost 20 years ago. Lawmakers and consumer advocates accuse Google of abusing its dominance in online search and advertising to stifle competition and boost its profits. For over a year, the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have pursued sweeping antitrust investigations of big tech companies, looking at whether Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple have hurt competition, stifled innovation or otherwise harmed consumers. And a bipartisan coalition of 50 U.S. states and territories, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, announced a year ago on the steps of the Supreme Court that they were investigating Google's business practices. They cited "potential monopolistic behavior." Now with some 40 days to the presidential election, the Justice Department appears to be approaching legal action against Google and soliciting the support of state attorneys general on an issue of rare bipartisan agreement, while Trump appeals to his political base by amplifying a longstanding grievance of conservatives against Silicon Valley. Along with the antitrust drive, the Justice Department has asked Congress to roll back long-held legal protections for online platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter, putting down a legislative marker in Trump's drive against the social media giants. The proposed changes would strip some of the bedrock protections that have generally shielded the companies from legal responsibility for what people post on their platforms. Trump signed an executive order earlier this year challenging the protections from lawsuits under a 1996 telecommunications law that have served as the foundation for unfettered speech on the internet. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The White House said Wednesday the legislative proposal would protect the open internet and prevent hidden manipulation by social media. In addition, Barr said, the government will provide individuals the ability to pursue legal claims against online platforms for "bad-faith censorship." Social media platforms can abuse consumers' trust "by deciding which voices they are going to amplify and which they are going to throttle, and by improperly tracking, collecting user data and even facilitating criminal activity," Barr said. Separately, the Justice Department's antitrust officials are expected to discuss their planned action on Google in Washington meetings and a conference call with the state attorneys general on Thursday. "Big Tech has a powerful influence on commerce and our daily lives, warranting significant scrutiny," Washington state attorney general Bob Ferguson said in a statement on Tuesday. "Any effort to abuse that influence for competitive gain calls for vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws." Support from the states would bolster the Justice Department's case against Google. It's a tricky political calculus for states, however. If a Biden administration takes over next year, the status of the lawsuit against Google would be unclear. A state signing on to the federal case also could limit the tools, such as state consumer laws, that it might want to use to pursue its own action and the political benefit locally of taking up a cause for consumers. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tri Indah Oktavianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 15:07 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46f4192 1 National #ReformasiDikorupsi,reform-corrupted,civil-movements,rally,protest,demonstration,demonstrasi,ICW,Gadjah-Mada-University,#GejayanCalling,#GejayanMemanggil,Lokataru-Foundation Free On Sept. 23, Indonesia marked one year of #ReformasiDikorupsi (reform corrupted), a hashtag that accompanied last years nationwide street rallies against controversial bills. Looking at the present day, however, observers say that civil movements in the country in general need to be resilient in voicing issues. Civil movements have failed to form resilience. They tried to bring down the [political] tension by holding an Ikut Mendesak Tapi Santuy [Protesting but Chill] event, but in the end they lost the moment. The movement gradually ended as a mere press release, the Lokataru legal and human rights foundations program manager, Mirza Fahmi, said during an online discussion hosted by Indonesia Corruption Watch on Wednesday. Thousands of students took part in nationwide rallies last year to protest problematic bills in front of the House of Representatives complex in Jakarta from Sept. 24 to 30, making it the largest student movement since that of 1998, which brought down then-president Soeharto. Students delivered seven demands last year, among them the rejection of some controversial bills including the revised KPK Law and Mining Law, resolution of human rights abuse cases and withdrawal of the Indonesian Military (TNI) from restive Papua. According to Mirza, last years #ReformasiDikorupsi student protest was successful in gathering the largest mass movement in Indonesia. However, he also deemed the movement a failure, considering that none of the protesters demands were met. Read also: '#ReformasiDikorupsi': Creative, digital campaigns amplify student protests against controversial bills So, the cost for reform corrupted is five deaths, and now violence against civil society even becomes more apparent, Mirza continued. Constitutional law expert from the Jakarta-based Jentera School of Law, Bivitri Susanti, said social movements in Indonesia were polarized and disintegrated one another. Civil movements can have different purposes, but they should consolidate the same major purpose. For example changing the governance system and so forth, Bivitri said. In addition, she said the public was easily satisfied with the result of 1998 political reform. We are glad that we are granted with free elections with many political parties joining in. But that's just so wrong, she added. We never criticize the political party system, for example, so those political figures we have hailed as heroes of reform are now becoming obstacles to democracy. She referred to how policy makers passed a controversial revision of the 2009 Coal and Mineral Mining Law in June, ignoring the outcry from civil groups who lambasted the regulation over concerns of its impact on the environment and society. She also lambasted political elites who played a big role in passing the controversial revision to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law in October last year. Read also: '#ReformCorrupted' This has been the result of our wrong choice, she added. Syahdan Husein, a Gadjah Mada University student who participated in last years #GejayanMemanggil (Gejayan is calling) rally in Yogyakarta as part of #ReformasiDikorupsi, argued that civil movements in Indonesia were still unstructured. For example, in the form of collective funding last year, Jakarta activists raised hundreds of millions in cash, but they never distributed it to the civil movements in other regions, he said, implicating that the social movement is also still Jakarta-centric. Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi passed away on Wednesday. Earlier this month he was admitted to AIIMS in Delhi after he contracted coronavirus disease. Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi, who was being treated for coronavirus, passed away at AIIMS Delhi on Wednesday.Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi is no more. He died at AIIMS Delhi today. He was COVID positive, a senior official of AIIMS said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and said Suresh Angadi was an exceptional worker who made the party strong in Karnataka.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 said in a tweet.Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also expressed his condolences.Deeply saddened to hear about the untimely demise of Suresh Angadi, MoS Railways who succumbed to COVID. Heartfelt condolences to his family. I pray to Almighty that his soul rests in peace.Angadi had tested positive for COVID-19 on September 11 and was undergoing treatment. The national flag will be flown half-mast on Thursday in all government offices in Delhi due to demise of Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi.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, the MHA said in a tweet. Suresh Angadi, who was being treated for coronavirus, passed away at AIIMS Delhi on Wednesday. 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 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 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 ALSO READ: Only 60 districts in 7 states are a cause of worry says, PM Modi at Covid-19 review meet President Ram Nath Kovind and several other leaders expressed their condolences over Suresh Angadis demise. Shocked to know the passing away of Suresh Angadi, Union Minister of State of Railways. An amiable leader Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka. 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.Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed his condolences and said Suresh Angadi will 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, Suresh Angadiji. 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 said in a tweet.Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said he was deeply pained to know about the untimely demise of Suresh Angadi ji.The Speaker said that the late leader will be remembered for his selfless service to the people and the nation.Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Union Minister Piyush Goyal went to the residence of Suresh Angadi to pay their tributes. It is unfortunate that one of our senior leaders Angadiji passed away today. Throughout his life, he worked for the welfare of people. I pray to the almighty to give strength to his family so that they can overcome this grief, Nadda told reporters.Goyal said Suresh Angadiji was an absolutely wonderful human being.It is a deep personal loss for me. He was elder to me, he always guided and supported me. Under his leadership, Indian railways was taking many new dimensions, Goyal said.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also expressed his condolences.Angadi had tested positive for COVID-19 on September 11 and was undergoing treatment. ALSO READ: Looking forward to jointly reviewing our bilateral relations: PM Modi to Mahinda Rajapaksa The importance of arresting Bengal origin naxal, Kishan da who had Rs 1 crore bounty on his head Cops up ante as big movement of naxals seen from Chhattisgarh to Telangana India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 24: The Telangana police have upped the ante against the naxalites after several of them have been spotted entering the state on several occasions. The naxalites from Chhattisgarh have been told by their leadership to enter Telangana and East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. In the past 30 days, 8 naxalites have been gunned down by the police along the forest borders with Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. On Wednesday, three naxalites, including two women were shot dead in an exchange of fire with the police at the Chennapuram forest area under the Charla police station in Telangana. The police recovered an 8mm rifle, one pistol and explosives. Set to wreck havoc, 3 naxals gunned in the nick of time at Telangana Earlier, during another exchange of fire at Palwancha reserve forest, naxalites managed to escape. The police had recovered an SBBL rifle, a kit bag and a solar plate meant for charging electronic equipment. Superintendent of Police, Sunil Dutt said that the police got credible information about the movement of naxalites in the forests along the Chhattisgarh border. They were planning to wreak havoc in Telangana between September 21 and 27. He said that the combing operations would continue. On September 7, two naxalites are shot down in Vaddipeta-Pusuguppa forest area of Charla block. On September 19, in Asifabad, two naxalites were gunned down by the Telangana police during an exchange of fire. There have been several incidents of naxal movement reported in Telangana in the past few months. The police say that they have been attempting to re-group and plan attacks against the state. The combing operations in the wake of these developments have been ramped up in Adilabad, Asifabad, Mancherial, Mulugu, Bhdradri Kothagudem and Bhulapally. In June, the National Investigation Agency had arrested one person from Hyderabad, who had played a key role in supporting and further the activities of the naxalites. Nalamasa Krishna, who was arrested is the Vice President of the Telangana Praja Front. Investigations revealed that Krishna regularly visited the top leaders of the CPI (Maoists) in the Chhattisgarh forests and passed on their directions to Madilleti. He was also instrumental in directing the frontal organisations like the TPF, TVV and others to take up various agitations and activities as per the ideology of the CPI (Maoists). Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News Under the garb of agitations for the welfare of the people, he misused the democratic set up for their ulterior motive of strengthening of the CPI (Maoist), which is a banned organisation, the NIA had said. I have a preexisting condition myself because I got my leg blown off in Iraq, Gade said, accusing Warner of unfairly reprising arguments the senator made against his 2014 opponent, Republican Ed Gillespie. Theres nobody who cares more about people with preexisting conditions in this country than I do. And the fact that hes putting out these ridiculous mailers . . . thats not who I am. Its a lie. Option3Ventures Logo Option3Ventures (O3V), a leading cybersecurity investment specialist firm, announced the launch of its O3V Cyber Special Situations portfolio with the addition of three new portfolio companies over the past few months. The portfolio is being launched at a time when COVID-19 has presented a perfect storm in cybersecurity, and our society is more dependent than ever on a secure cyber ecosystem. Astute investors identify that this is also a huge opportunity, one that surmounts economic cycles and individual company performance. Manish Thakur, Managing Partner of Option3Ventures said: All three companies in our Special Situations portfolio play to our larger investment strategy of focusing on those frontiers of cybersecurity where existing solutions cannot meet todays challenges. All three investments were also made after COVID-19 disrupted the markets. Despite the uncertainty of the times, investors intuitively understand that this new age of remote-work and play make us even more vulnerable to cyber threats." The companies in the portfolio have built unique patented solutions to address cybersecurity problems facing enterprises and government. The first, Veracity Industrial Networks (https://veracity.io/) provides Industrial Software Defined Network (SDN)-based technology for operational networks used in automotive, manufacturing and process automation. The second, Onclave Networks (https://onclave.net), provides a Zero Trust Platform for securing Industrial Internet-of-Things including 5G wireless. The third, Dark Cubed, (https://darkcubed.com) takes a bottom up approach to solving cybersecurity challenges by delivering enterprise grade results quickly and inexpensively to small and medium size companies. All these companies will use the proceeds to enhance their sales and marketing activities. Option3Ventures partners will join all three boards of directors. This portfolio comes at an interesting time in our nations history. COVID-19 has changed the way we live, raising the importance of communications, its reliability and security, said Alan Wade, a member of O3Vs Technology Board and former Chief Information Officer of the CIA. The companies in this portfolio have the ability to make a meaningful contribution providing a more secure future. Dick Fuld, Senior Strategic Advisor to O3V, and former CEO of Lehman Brothers, added, Cybersecurity represents a challenge to society, and an opportunity for investors. I believe this portfolio addresses some of those challenges, allowing investors to participate in the growth of the industry. The launch of the portfolio comes ahead of the launch of Option3Ventures first dedicated fund, which will begin making investments in 2021. For more information. About Option3Ventures Option3Ventures is a leading cybersecurity investment specialist made up of professionals drawn from both the national security community and the investment industry. It focuses on those companies at the very frontiers the of the cybersecurity sector, offering solutions to problems that existing technologies cannot address. Over the past five years, O3V has built a track record of venture investing in a select group of categories leaders and is now raising its first dedicated cyber venture capital fund, Option 3 Cyber Investments. O3V is based in New York and the Washington DC area, and its Board of Advisors range from former Chief Information Officers at such organizations as the Central Intelligence Agency and Department of Defense to the former CIO of Merrill Lynch and former CEO of Lehman Brothers. Prosecutors for an international tribunal investigating war crimes committed during Kosovos 1990s independence war have arrested their first suspect, the prosecutors office said Thursday. Salih Mustafa, a former senior commander in the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), is being transferred to a detention centre at the court based in The Hague called the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. Mustafa was arrested Thursday in Kosovo and will appear before a judge at the KSC without undue delay, the prosecutors office said in a statement. The exact charges against Mustafa are not yet known and only need to be made public when the accused first appears in court, a spokesman for the prosecutors office, Christopher Bennett, told AFP. The arrest comes months after the court indicted Kosovo President Hashim Thaci for his alleged role in nearly 100 murders during the 1998-89 conflict while he led the KLA. Thaci was questioned but not formally arrested. Mustafa, currently a civil staff officer in the defence ministry, was a KLA member known to have operated in north Kosovo. Afterwards he led the intelligence service in the Kosovo Security Force, a lightly armed emergency force that emerged from the demilitarised KLA. The conflict, which cost some 13,000 lives, pitted ethnic Albanian KLA guerrillas seeking independence for the southern Serbian province of Kosovo against Serbias forces. The Serbs withdrew after an 11-week NATO bombing campaign but tensions remain to this day, with the the US and most of the West recognising Kosovo, while Belgrade and its allies Russia and China do not. The EU-backed tribunal was established in 2015 to investigate alleged war crimes by the KLA. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday inspected ongoing works on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Treatment Centre being developed at Pantang in the Greater Accra Region. Sponsored by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) as a corporate social responsibility project, the centre is expected to be converted into an Infectious Disease Centre post COVID-19. While commending the ECG and the Ministry of Health for coming together to execute the project, he said the gap in the countrys health infrastructure became apparent when the pandemic was first recorded earlier this year. As a result, President Akufo-Addo said the government introduced the Agenda 111 which includes the construction of seven new regional hospitals and a number of district hospitals and other health facilities. The purpose of the Agenda 111 is to beef up the countrys health infrastructure to improve access to healthcare and ensure that the country is adequately prepared to deal with any pandemic or infectious disease in the future, he said. We need to help ourselves; nobody will come and help us, he said and expressed optimism that the COVID-19 Treatment Centre, when completed, would be a good addition to the countrys health infrastructure. President Akufo-Addo appealed to medical practitioners and other staff who would be working at the centre to take good care of the facilities there. The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said the facility is being developed from a building which was originally meant for the Ghana Health Service but abandoned after the Kufuor Administration left office in 2009. He thanked the ECG for supporting the government to redevelop the facility. Source: The Ghanaian Times Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco sued 28 alleged drug dealers who frequent a downtown neighborhood where broad daylight drug dealing and drug use is common in an effort to clean up the area that has seen the citys largest number of overdose deaths, authorities announced Thursday. San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said the lawsuits if approved in California Superior Court, would prevent the alleged dealers from entering a 50-block area in the Tenderloin and part of the neighboring South of Market neighborhood. Those who violate the court order would face arrest on misdemeanor charges, a $6,000 fine and the seizure of drugs and money. These lawsuits wont solve the problems themselves but they are a step worth taking, Herrera said. The move comes after a 70% spike in overdose deaths in 2019, when 441 people died, more than half of them from fentanyl overdoses. The Tenderloin neighborhood, which contains City Hall and several federal buildings, has a large homeless population and is just minutes from tourist-heavy Union Square. The neighborhood has long been a public safety problem with people shooting up or snorting powder on the sidewalks at all times of the day. It has lots of single-occupancy hotels but is also home to many low-income families and has the highest concentration of children with about 2,260 children living in the Tenderloin. You see people who are pushing strollers, mothers who have to go out onto the streets and go around the drug dealing, and the drug-using, Breed said. San Francisco has become the place to go to sell drugs, it is known widely, and that has got to stop. Herrera said more needs to be done, including more drug treatment options, expanded mental health help, and a concerted focus on major narcotics suppliers. But these injunctions will give law enforcement one more tool to help keep Tenderloin residents safe," he said. Of the 28 alleged drug dealers, 27 live outside of San Francisco and come to the Tenderloin from Oakland, Hayward, San Jose, Suisun City and elsewhere, The injunctions target drug dealers who continuously pray on the Tenderloin and who have multiple arrests for sales or possession for sale of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl, Herrera said. Herreras effort follows a yearlong crackdown in the neighborhood by federal officials who in August 2019 announced the arrest of 32 people, mostly Honduran nationals tied to two international drug cartels that poured heroin and cocaine into the community. Chris Nielsen, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in San Francisco, said an investigation launched in late 2017 uncovered two independent operations stretching from Mexico to Seattle in which mostly Honduran nationals living on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay Area commuted daily to the Tenderloin to sell drugs. He said the commuter drug dealers acted like independent contractors, selling drugs in exchange for housing. 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 Visitors peer through the windows of City Hall in Westminster, Calif., on Sept. 3, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Westminster School Board Declines to Investigate Trustees Alleged Fraud A proposal by the Westminster School Board of Trustees to send a request to the Orange County district attorney to investigate one of its members failed when the member herself voted against the motion. The board held a special meeting on Sept. 18 to discuss allegations against its own president, Frances Nguyen, who has been accused of violating residency requirements when running for a seat in the upcoming election. The proposal failed to proceed on a 22 vote, with Nguyen getting the chance to vote no herself. Board trustee Jamison Power voted in favor of sending the letter to the DA, and said he believes that Nguyen did in fact commit the alleged infraction. The residents and voters of Westminster School District have a right to be represented by someone who actually lives here and is vested in the community, Power told The Epoch Times via email. Public voter registration documents show that Ms. Nguyen re-registered to vote at multiple different addresses within the span of a few days leading up to the candidate filing deadline. The owner of one of these houses is quoted saying that, despite the fact that she registered to vote at his address, she never lived there. This is extremely troubling conduct that I believe needs to be investigated. Nguyen did not respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times by press time. When the Westminster School District changed its electoral process from at-large to by-precinct elections in 2018, Nguyens physical address was originally in the districts Area 1, making it the seat Nguyen would qualify for in the election. Yet Nguyen changed her address twice after the citys recreation commissioner, David Johnson, decided to run in Area 1, and Power, the current Area 4 trustee, opted not to apply for reelection. Nguyen changed her address on June 26 to a location just outside the limits of Area 4. She changed it again on Aug. 4 to a location inside Area 4. The second change was made three days before the filing deadline. The accusations against Nguyen allege that the trustee decided to change her address to Area 4 after she developed an opponent in her Area 1 election, and lied about her real address to be able to run in Area 4 where she would be uncontested. Power, the current Area 4 trustee, claimed that because Nguyen first moved outside the limits of the Westminster School District and then later into Area 4 in order to qualify to run in the election, she thereby vacated her Area 1 seat and should have to step down. The Westminster School District Board Bylaws state that a vacancy can occur when a board member ceases to be an inhabitant of the state or resident of the district. The regulations follow California state codes. The Sept. 18 vote negated a proposal to send a letter to the DA that would formally request the agency to look into the claims that Nguyen potentially violated the law and vacated her current seat on the board when she filed new addresses. The issue with Nguyens residential status comes only a month after another Westminster School Board trustee resigned when faced with similar charges. Xavier Nguyen, who represented the districts Area 2, resigned on Aug. 13 after being charged with perjury and filing fraudulent nomination papers in 2018. The charges were also related to using a false address. It is not normal to have residency questions raised about multiple board members in such a short time span, and weas a boardhave an obligation to act, Power said. I was disappointed that Ms. Nguyen has refused to speak publicly on this matter except through her lawyer, and then blocked any effort to get to the bottom of the allegations. In just the last eight years, three members of the Westminster School Board have been accused of residency fraud. Two of those trustees resigned and one was charged with felony residency/voter fraud. I do think this is an issue that must be addressed, as it is clear there is a pattern and a problem. Board trustee Jeremy Khalaf also voted in favor of sending a letter to the DA regarding the matter, but declined to discuss the investigation, the details of the vote, or other ongoing issues in Westminster when asked for comment. Trustee Khahn Nguyen joined Nguyen in voting against the proposal, which needed majority approval to proceed. UPDATE: After publication, Frances Nguyen contacted The Epoch Times via email. In her response, she said she was disappointed by Powers comments and allegations, adding that her attorney, Mark Rosen, had written a letter to each board member in which he had clarified the situation thoroughly. My job right now as a president of Westminster School Board is to protect our teachers, staff and students, while preparing for the opening of the schools. We are going through the pandemic; therefore, we need to focus on their health and safety, Nguyen said. We need to focus our resources on the students, not wasting tax payers money on these allegations. There are feel-good movies that worth watching over and over, there are movies that you just never get tired of and movies that are part of the tradition to watch almost every year. But not all movies can be watched more than once, as there are those that are too devastating that you can't relieve the pain of the storyline again. Here are some of the movies that are too upsetting to watch the second time. Requiem For A Dream (2000) Inspired by Hubert Selby's novel, Darren Aronofsky's "Requiem for a Dream" shows the horrors of substance abuse in all of its forms with such breathtaking force that audiences were forced to think long and hard about during that first cup of coffee in the morning. From heroin, pot, prescription pills to caffeine, the movie shows you the effects of addiction and gripping mental illness. This is one of the most effective, non-hysterical anti-drug movies ever made. Also Read: Celebrities Who Are Banned From 'The Ellen Show' Safe (1995) "Safe" is a bit of a horror movie, in which the monster is the world. Directed by Todd Haynes, the movie follows a rich, empty housewife into the depths of environmental illness. It will make you think if everything was all in her head or if she is just sensitive to low levels of toxic chemicals that most people don't notice. The movie does not offer a clear answer to these questions, but it follows the character, played by Julianne Moore, through very uncomfortable anxieties and unpeggable illnesses. Boys Don't Cry (1999) The graphic rape scene in "Boys Don't Cry" is tough to watch that you can't sit straight and you will find yourself squirming. Based on the real-life tragedy of transgender 21-year-old Brandon Teena, played by Hilary Swank, the movie is relentless in its portrayal of bigotry in small-town Nebraska. From the sickening violence, the lack of empathy after Teena's rape, exposing him as biological female and misgendering him to the antagonism of the sheriff who grills Teena after the rape. The fact that the movie is based on true events only magnifies the impact. Grave Of The Fireflies (1988) "Grave Of The Fireflies" is an animated Japanese film that is visually beautiful but emotionally draining. The movie shows the horrors of war and the dangers of human pride. The movie shows the story of two Japanese siblings orphaned during the firebombing of their village during World War II. It draws out the suffering of the character Seita and his younger sister Setsuko as they struggle and eventually fail to survive in a war-torn town. Leaving Las Vegas (1996) "Leaving Las Vegas" was written and directed by Stormy Monday's Mike Figgis starring Nicolas Cage who played the role of a failed screenwriter who was set out to drink himself to death. The movie is polished and is made for Hollywood, but it still has the quality of aggressively delving into how miserable human beings can get. Elisabeth Shue's character delivered one of the most heart-wrenching performances as she played a prostitute in Vegas who was gang-raped, shamed, mocked and evicted. "Leaving Las Vegas" has earned an Oscar of its somber director and the stellar performances of the leads who were able to turn the movie into something miserable yet sadly poetic. Related Article: Top 5 of the Best Comedy Shows of All Time @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Natural News) When it comes to relationships, people can learn a thing or two from millennials. They are choosing to get married much later and for good reason, experts say. The median age for marriage is 30 for millennial men and 28 for millennial women. In the 1980s, men got married at 24 and women at 22. This trend of later marriage has become the subject of backlash from critics, who say that millennials are destroying marriage in pursuit of their personal goals. But biological anthropologist Helen Fisher begs to differ. Their version of courtship, slow love, is actually a sign that millennials value marriage more than people have in past decades. Theres a scientific basis to it, added Fisher. Feelings of attachment are forged in the brain; the longer you are with a person, the stronger neural connections become in areas linked to love. Fisher, a senior research fellow at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, asserted that this a recipe for a stronger marriage. Millennial slow love can forge stronger connections In an interview with the New York Times, Anne Kat Alexander spoke about her generations link to hookup culture. Like Fisher, she believes that marrying at a later age indicates millennials are putting more thought into marriage. Hooking up with someone doesnt mean that millennials now dont value marriage, said Alexander. Meanwhile, Fisher thinks that the generations sexual liberalism has aligned with the brains primordial circuits tied to slow love. In a study, published in the Journal of Neurophysiology, Fisher and her colleagues examined the brain activity of lovers as they look at pictures of each other. Those who had fallen in love in the last eight months displayed greater neural activity in the regions linked to energy, motivation, focus and craving. Meanwhile, those who had been in love between eight to 17 months demonstrated greater neural activity in the areas linked to feelings of attachment. These findings demonstrate that long-term bonds appear to be neurological distinct from relationships that developed recently. Because feelings of attachment emerge with time, slow love is natural, said Fisher. In fact, she posited that diving head-first into a new relationship before feelings of attachment develop may put ones long-term happiness at greater risk. Research also showed that people who dated for at least three years before marriage are 39 percent less likely to get divorced than those who rushed into marriage. And millennial couples spend an average of six and a half years together before tying the knot. With slow love, maybe by the time people walk down the aisle, they know who theyve got, and they think they can keep who theyve got, said Fisher. It appears their strategy is working. Recent research found that the divorce rate has fallen by 24 percent since its peak in 1981. Meanwhile, only 16 for every 1,000 married women got divorced in 2017, according to the National Center for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University. (Related: Millennial women are opting out of babies, raising pets instead of children.) Fisher argued that young people are not less interested in commitment. Instead, theyre more attuned to what it takes to make a relationship last. One major consideration for millennials is money. They are one of the generations that saw through the 2008 financial crisis; many of them saw businesses collapse and their parents struggle with debt and divorce. Years later, they are taking a more practical approach to marriage: asking about a dates credit score, eloping or moving to a more affordable city. For Fisher, todays singles set a good example for younger generations. Brain.news has more on the neuroscience of love. Sources include: MindBodyGreen.com NYTimes.com Pritzker and supporters contend that 97% of Illinois taxpayers, those making less than $250,000, would pay at least the same or less than they currently pay under a law approved if the amendment is ratified. The proposed amendment, which tops the Nov. 3 ballot, would raise about $1.2 billion if adopted for the last half of the states budget year starting in January and more than $3 billion on an annual basis. Varanasi's Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh will be the first woman fighter pilot in the Rafale squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF). She is currently undergoing conversion training and will soon be inducted into the Golden Arrows squadron in Ambala. Flight Lieutenant Singh's entry into the Rafale squadron comes at an important juncture since the French fighters are in a fast-paced mode to get them completely ready in operational terms. After her schooling in Varanasi, she joined Banaras Hindu University, where she was a part of the 7 UP Air Squadron in the National Cadet Corps (NCC). Singh was commissioned into the IAF in 2017 as part of the second batch of women fighter pilots. Flight Lieutenant Singh will transition from flying the highly demanding MiG-21 Bisons to the new-age multirole Rafale. She comes from a border base in Rajasthan where she has flown with one of the country's famous pilots- Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who is known for shooting down a Pakistani Air Force fighter jet on February 27, 2019 near the LoC before getting shot himself and taken captive. At present, the IAF has 10 women fighter pilots and 18 women navigators. Total strength of serving female officers in the Indian Air Force is 1,875. Flight Lieutenants Avni Chaturvedi, Mohana Singh and Bhawana Kanth were the first women to be commissioned as flying officers into the IAF fighter stream after basic training in 2016. Also read: Indian Air Force's Golden Arrows squadron with Rafales to have first woman pilot soon Also read: Rafale induction in IAF a stern message to those eyeing India's sovereignty: Rajnath Singh The Railways on Thursday said the rail roko agitation in Punjab over farm bills will severely impact loading of foodgrains and other essential goods as well as movement of passengers travelling on special trains, mostly on an urgent basis. Farmers in Punjab on Thursday began their three-day rail roko agitation to protest against the three farm bills while the Ferozepur Railway division suspended the operation of special trains due to the stir 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 voice vote in Rajya Sabha on Sunday. They await the Presidents nod to become laws. Officials here said that Punjab loaded 990 rakes of FCI foodgrains in August this year and 816 rakes till September 23. Thus, FCI is loading more than 35 rakes of food grains daily from Punjab. They said Punjab also loads 9-10 rakes daily of fertilizer, cement, auto, mixed goods in containers. The state also receives around 20 rakes daily of coal, food grain, farm products, machinery petroleum products, imported fertilizer etc. Punjab Rail Agitation will severely impact loading of foodgrains and other essential goods. It will hurt ordinary citizens and fast recovering Rail Freight and economy," a railway spokesperson said. Special passenger trains running from the railways Ferozepur division have been cancelled fully or partially from September 24 to 26 in view of the farmer outfits three-day rail roko protest against the Centres agriculture bills. Many freight and parcel trains have also been rescheduled. According to the schedule, the Amritsar-Haridwar train will be cancelled from September 25 to 26 and the New Delhi-Jammu Tawi Express from September 24 to 26. The Hazur Saheb Nanded-Amritsar train will not go to Amritsar and end its journey in Old Delhi. Train number 02716 will run from Old Delhi instead of Amritsar on September 25 and 26. The Dhanbad-Ferozepur Cantt train will not go to Ferozepur Cantt and end its journey at Ambala Cantt. Train number 03308 will run from Ambala Cantt from September 24 to 26 instead of Ferozepur Cantt. The Mumbai Central-Amritsar train arriving on September 24 will be brought to Ludhiana and it will end its journey at Ambala from September 25 to 26. Train number 02904 will run from Ambala from September 24 to 26 instead of Amritsar. As many as 20 trains have been partially cancelled while five have been short terminated. 'MSP will continue, have declared for Kharif and Rabi crops': Tomar Massive chaos was witnessed in RS during passage of Bills Opposition has urged President Kovind not to give assent to bills Ambala: Police use water cannons to disperse supporters of Lok Insaaf Party (Punjab) during a protest over the passage of recent farm bills and electricity amendment bill, at Punjab-Haryana border in Ambala district, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. (PTI Photo)(PTI23-09-2020_000236B) Farmers across Punjab on Thursday launched their three-day rail roko agitation in the state, against the Centre's contentious agricultural bills. This agitation is in addition to a state-wide 'bandh' that has been called by various organisations on September 25. Also on the day, the opposition Congress launched its nearly two-month-long 'mass movement' against the Centre for passing these 'anti-farmer' and 'anti-poor' bills. Two of the three 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 last week in Parliament. The bills now await the President's nod to become laws even as the opposition has urged him not to give his assent to the bills. Follow all live updates here: TORRINGTON Members of the City Council have approved the establishment of an official Veterans Advisory Committee. The move was needed because the city has had a volunteer Veterans Service Office for many years, but not one that conforms to Connecticut General Statutes. The statute, CGS 27-135, states that the advisory committee serves as a veterans service contact, and that any city or town may, by ordinance, establish one. Any city or town that has not established its own local veterans advisory committee and does not otherwise provide funding for a veterans service officer shall designate a city or town employee to serve as a veterans service contact person, according to the law. The advisory committee will be responsible for local duties, including acting as a coordinating agency for veterans and their families, coordinating public and private activities, including reemployment, education, rehabilitation and adjustment to peacetime living, according to the City Council. The committee can also help veterans and dependents of veterans secure services and benefits, with the help of any national, state, local and private agencies. Mayor Elinor Carbone explained the reason for setting up the official committee. Torrington has never established a Veterans Advisory Committee, and .... Has not designated a city employee to serve as a veterans service contact person, Carbone said in a statement. For decades, Len Dube and Bud Atwood have provided the requisite statutory responsibilities relative to local veterans services and benefits. The services provided by Len and Bud were all generated out of the Veterans Service Office at the Field House at Fuessenich Park, she said. This office is manned by volunteers, there is no city oversight and no municipal authority over the function ... so the VSO ... funding comes from the Soldiers, Sailors Marines Fund and donations, Carbone said. Most of the services provided out of the VSO are regional in nature - serving most of veterans in Litchfield County, Carbone said. After Bud Atwood passed away in October 2019, the Veterans Service Office was in a state of flux and confusion as to who was in charge. Carbone met with more than a dozen of the veterans who volunteer for the VSO and they all agreed that they are in need of guidance on governance and leadership, she said. They felt a committee of nine would be effective, Carbone said. They asked that the committee membership consist of two-thirds Torrington residents and one-third from other towns in the county. It is my recommendation that the council consider adopting an ordinance to fulfill the obligations of CGS 27-135 and establish a board that can also function as oversight of the VSO. The committees nine members will be appointed by Carbone, with two-year terms for three regular members, three-year terms for the next three members, and four-year terms for the last three members. The committee will have a chairman, vice-chairman and a secretary, for one-year appointments. The committee members are all volunteer . The citys Veteran Service Office has overseen annual ceremonies including Veterans Day, Pearl Harbor Day, Gulf War Remembrance Day and other military recognitions. Its members have also assisted with parade planning on Memorial Day, and July 4 ceremonies. CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America honored McGuireWoods with its Law Firm Diversity & Inclusion Award in recognition of the firm's collaboration and leadership advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. In selecting McGuireWoods for the award, Bank of America evaluated the firm's internal culture for recruiting, retaining, mentoring and promoting lawyers of color, women and LGBTQ+ lawyers, and veterans. It also considered the firm's external efforts to advance diversity and inclusion, including significant initiatives in which McGuireWoods and Bank of America worked together. "We value our partnership with Bank of America and the opportunity to collaborate on innovative initiatives to advance diversity and inclusion," said McGuireWoods Chairman Jonathan Harmon. "D&I are priorities for Bank of America and McGuireWoods and we are honored to receive this recognition." In February, McGuireWoods and Bank of America organized a program called "Partnering for Progress in Diversity & Inclusion," which drew more than 200 attorneys from law firms, corporations and government to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, D.C. Introduced by Bank of America global general counsel David Leitch, Harmon led a wide-ranging discussion with distinguished lawyers on the challenges and opportunities facing companies and law firms and their shared need to make meaningful progress building and nurturing diverse and inclusive teams. Joining Harmon were panelists Amy B. Littman, Bank of America's deputy general counsel and managing director; Robert J. Grey Jr., president of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity; Wade J. Henderson, former president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; and Mark W. Johnson, chief legal, governance officer and corporate secretary of Kimball International. Each shared stories of peers and mentors who paved the way for their advancement, explained how in-house and outside counsel can work together on diversity and inclusion, and discussed how to accelerate progress. In August, McGuireWoods and Bank of America co-hosted a two-part CLE webcast that included Harmon's one-on-one discussion with Professor Ibram X. Kendi, the bestselling author of "How to Be an Antiracist," and a panel moderated by partner Robert Muckenfuss, chair of the firm's Complex Commercial Litigation Department. Joining Kendi on the panel were McGuireWoods partners Ava Lias-Booker, chair of the firm's Diversity & Inclusion Committee, and Tanya Greene as well as Bank of America deputy general counsel Jack Sena and associate general counsel and senior vice president Justin Goggins. They discussed the role lawyers play identifying racist policies and finding a path toward racial equity; how individuals can dismantle policies that promote inequality and be agents of change; recruiting and retaining diverse lawyers; and the importance of pro bono service and civic engagement. The webcast drew more than 1,100 attendees, including McGuireWoods and Bank of America lawyers. "We are grateful to David Leitch and his team at Bank of America for their leadership and support in this important effort," said Muckenfuss, who helps manage McGuireWoods' relationship with Bank of America. "We look forward to continuing our work with Bank of America to promote diversity and inclusion in our workplaces and communities." McGuireWoods LLP is a leading international law firm with 1,100 lawyers in 21 offices worldwide. It continuously ranks among the top firms in Financial Times' prestigious North America Innovative Lawyers report. The firm has been recognized 14 times on BTI Consulting's Client Service A-Team elite firms singled out for client service excellence based on unprompted feedback from clients in major companies. Its full-service public affairs arm, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC, offers infrastructure and economic development, strategic communications and grassroots advocacy, and government relations solutions. For more information, visit www.mcguirewoods.com. SOURCE McGuireWoods LLP By PTI COLOMBO: The owners of the Greek-owned oil tanker that caught fire off Sri Lanka's eastern coast have agreed to settle the claim of USD 1.8 million, officials said on Thursday. They agreed to pay the amount a week after Sri Lanka's Attorney General Dappula de Livera staked a claim of USD 1.8 million for the costs incurred on dousing the fire on board the Panama-registered tanker MT New Diamond on September 3. New Diamond, a vessel under charter by the Indian Oil Corporation, was carrying 270,000 metric tonnes of crude oil from Mina Al Ahmadi port in Kuwait to the Indian port of Paradip when a boiler explosion in its engine room caused a fire off the coast of Sangamankanda in Ampara district. A Filipino crew member died and another was injured in the incident. The Sri Lanka Navy with the help of Indian counterparts and coast guard doused the fire after great effort. The New Diamond's owners have told the Attorney General of their willingness to meet the interim claim. The Attorney General had ordered the police to record a statement from the captain of the ship. The Colombo chief magistrate court later ordered the captain of the oil tanker to appear before the court on September 28. He was to be charged for committing offences under the Marine Pollution Environmental Protection Act. The ship is currently in the seas 70 nautical miles east of Batticaloa in the east and 129 kilometers away from the Batticaloa coast. Two Sri Lankan Naval ships, one Indian Naval ship and three Indian coast guard vessels are currently deployed in the operations near the oil tanker. Some five ships of Indian coast guard and one Indian Navy ship engaged in fire-fighting, the Sri Lanka Navy said early this month. The tanker had 23 crew members - 18 Filipinos and five Greeks. Twenty-two of the 23-member crew had been safely rescued off the tanker. A senior health official extended Victorias curfew based on information gleaned from two confidential daily reports alongside consultations with other health officials, legal advice and her own specialist training in infectious disease, court documents reveal. Further affidavits filed at the request of Supreme Court judge Tim Ginnane on Thursday showed the volume of information and sources that Associate Professor Michelle Giles consulted before making the decision to extend the curfew as Victoria's Deputy Public Health Commander. 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 documents came the same day that Justice Ginnane had rejected a bid by lawyers defending the Andrews government to withhold legal documents that discussed whether extending the curfew was a violation of Victorias Human Rights Charter. Despite claiming it has started to break down its re-education system, investigative findings have revealed that China has over 380 operating detention centers in its Xinjiang region. The release of these numbers has poor timing for Disney, who recently caught intense criticism for filming its latest live-action film, Mulan, near several of these camps and prisons. The Australian Strategy Policy Institute (ASPI), a non-partisan think tank, recently observed how over 14 of these camps are currently under construction thanks to recent satellite imagery. The organization has been documenting the goings-on of these camps for quite some time, noting the speed of the creation of these camps as far back as 2018. The raw data from that time period takes note of a variety of factors surrounding each camp, including unique characteristics and whether or not the media has covered the camps existence. The camps located in Xianjing hold Uyghursa Muslim minority that has long suffered human rights abuses by the Chinese governmentas well as other ethnic minorities under the guise of training them in various studies. The Chinese government instead forces upon them psychological indoctrination programs, puts them into inhumane labor positions, and is also said to torture them. What happens when no sanctions on #China for putting #Uighurs in concentration camps. What happens when major corporations like #Disney work in #Xinjiang & thank those responsible for camps in credits of #Mulan. Lots of blood on lots of hands for this.https://t.co/Ik32SENr2d Matthew VanDyke (@Matt_VanDyke) September 24, 2020 In factories far away from home, [Uyghurs] typically live in segregated dormitories, undergo organized Mandarin and ideological training outside working hours, are subject to constant surveillance, and are forbidden from participating in religious observances, says another ASPI study. Numerous sources, including government documents, show that transferred workers are assigned minders and have limited freedom of movement. ASPI has also cited major companies that operate factories where the Chinese government has placed forced Uyghur laborers. This list includes but certainly isnt limited to Apple, BMW, Gap, Nike and Sony. Now Disney is able to join their ranks, as the international media brand thanked the Chinese governmentspecifically government groups linked to these detention campsin the credits of Mulan. Foreign governments, businesses, and civil society groups should identify opportunities to increase pressure on the Chinese government to end the use of Uyghur forced labour and extrajudicial system, says ASPI. Consumers and consumer advocacy groups should demand companies that manufacture in China conduct human rights due diligence on their supply chains in order to ensure that they uphold basic human rights and are not complicit in any coercive labor schemes. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nextdoor is launching a new national campaign and collaborating with National PTA to tap into neighborhoods to raise funds for schools and families as an unpredictable school year gets underway. From distance learning and food insecurities to technology access, school communities are facing unprecedented challenges. Through this collaboration, PTAs for the first time can instantly reach verified neighbors through Nextdoor to gain support for their mission and raise funds for students and schools in needsomething they need now more than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With Nextdoor's new Sell for Good feature, neighbors can support their local schools by simply buying and selling household items on Nextdoor's For Sale & Free and donating the proceeds to their local PTAs. "COVID-19 has presented significant challenges for so many students, families and schools, and PTAs across the country are working hard to help navigate these," said Leslie Boggs, president of National PTA. "We appreciate Nextdoor's new way of supporting local PTAs and their communities' challenges." Nextdoor and PTA are kicking off the collaboration and first-of-its kind campaign in Austin and Chicago. In Austin, neighbors can clean out their closets in support of the Austin Council of PTAs , and all proceeds donated via Sell for Good will go toward the Austin Fun + Learning project . In Chicago, proceeds will support grants awarded to Title I schools that are most in need. "If there were ever a moment to connect with our neighborhoods on a deeper level, that time is now," said Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar. "We're thrilled to team up with National PTA to provide a timely solution as neighbors unite to help provide educational resources for students in need this school year." PTAs interested in learning more can visit nextdoor.com/nonprofit . Sell for Good is free to use and available for all Nextdoor members in the United States at nextdoor.com/good or by visiting the For Sale & Free section in your Nextdoor app. About Nextdoor, Inc. Nextdoor is where neighbors come together for trusted connections and the exchange of helpful information, goods and services. We believe by bringing neighbors together, we can cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can rely on. Building connections in the real world is a universal human need. That truth, and the reality that neighborhoods are among the most important communities in our lives, have been guiding principles for Nextdoor since the beginning. Today, neighbors rely on Nextdoor to tap into 265,000 neighborhoods around the world, including the United States (1 in 4 U.S. households), the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Australia and Canada, with many more to come. We recognize that thriving communities are more than just residents. They're also made up of the local businesses, nonprofits and public agencies that keep our neighborhoods strong and connected. With more than 50 million local business recommendations from neighbors to date on Nextdoor, it's easier than ever to take advantage of the possibilities nearby. Nextdoor is a privately-held company based in San Francisco with backing from prominent investors including Benchmark, Shasta Ventures, Greylock Partners, Kleiner Perkins, Riverwood Capital, Bond, Axel Springer, Comcast Ventures and others. For additional information and images: nextdoor.com/newsroom. SOURCE Nextdoor, Inc. Ynvisible Interactive Inc. (the "Company" or "Ynvisible") (TSX-V: YNV, FSE: 1XNA, OTCQB: YNVYF) is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Agiler Oy, a Finnish high tech company, to prototype a trailblazing smart label technology to verify that the surfaces in public spaces, such as mass transit vehicles, have been successfully sterilized with modern ultraviolet C (UVC) sterilization technology. The sensor label will demonstrate cost-effective, scalable printed and flexible electronics and displays produced by Ynvisible. The work is funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 financial instrument, under the Smartees 2 project. There is a substantial market and public interest in developing sterilization technologies for public spaces that are chemical-free and less hazardous for the environment. According to a new report by Reports and Data, the global Disinfectant Products market is forecasted to reach USD 30.11 Billion by 2027. UVC technology is among the most interesting of the technologies poised to challenge the use of chemical based disinfectants. Several companies are investing in automated sterilization technologies to guarantee safe and sterile surfaces. The solutions showcased by Agiler and Ynvisible will help reassure commuters, parents, and individuals that surfaces in public spaces and transport are sanitized and safe. "With the COVID-19 pandemic, you have seen some crazy things like vehicles spraying or fuming chemical sterilization agents in public spaces, even outdoors, partly only to make people feel safe. When Agiler approached us with their idea, we felt that there was a natural match with our visual indicator technology together with the design and manufacturing services we provide," said Samuli Stromberg, Head of Business Development Smart Labels at Ynvisible. "It is great to partner up with such an innovative company with something that addresses some of the great challenges of our time." "We hope that through the successful implementation of this project, the technologies that both companies have been working on for years can serve the greater good. It is our great privilege to work together with Ynvisible to create a solution with such a huge global impact. The innovative electrochromic display in the smart sensor label allows the public to see that their living and working spaces are safe. The wireless communication allows the labels to interact with other smart technologies such as sterilization robots. We are also inviting interested partners and customers to collaborate with us," said Jarkko Miettinen, Co-Founder and CEO of Agiler. The duration of the Smartees2 funded demonstrator project is a of maximum nine (9) months. By then the companies expect to have demonstrated a first of its kind solution that can be taken into mass-production. Products are introduced to the market in various formats as labels or integrated, flexible, functional elements on several different surfaces or products. Agiler expects to provide this solution first in the healthcare and retail markets and is open for discussions with interested parties for partnership. Ynvisible sees readily scalable, visible indicators of surface health as a natural product application of the Ynvisible display technology and printed electronics capability, along with further expansion into point of care health and security applications. About Agiler Oy Agiler is a pioneering company of innovative and intelligent asset tracking solutions based on wireless identification technologies. With over 20 years of in-house experience in IoT and sensors, Agiler delivers unique products and services together with our global partner network. The company's mission is to provide safety and sustainability solutions by creating digital identities for objects around us and to give them the ability to communicate wirelessly.Additional information on Agiler Studios is available at agiler.net About Ynvisible Interactive Inc. Ynvisible aims to be a leading company in the emerging printed and flexible electronics sector. Given the cost and power-consumption advantages over conventional electronics, printed electronics are a key enabler of mass adoption of the Internet of Things ("IoT") and smart objects. Ynvisible has the experience, know-how and intellectual property in electrochromic materials, inks, and systems. Ynvisible's interactive printed graphics solutions solve the need for ultra-low power, mass deployable, easy-to-use electronic displays and indicators for everyday smart objects, IoT devices, and ambient intelligence (intelligent surfaces). Ynvisible offers a mix of services, materials and technology to brand owners developing smart objects and IoT products. Additional information on Ynvisible is available at www.ynvisible.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Jani-Mikael Kuusisto", CEO, Ynvisible Interactive Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "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 Ynvisible Interactive Inc. 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 forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Ynvisible Interactive Inc. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Ynvisible Interactive Inc. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005312/en/ Contacts: Agiler Oy Jarkko Miettinen, CEO +358 50 3430463 jm@agiler.net Ynvisible Interactive Inc. Investor Relations +1 778-683-4324 ir@ynvisible.com Prime Minister on Thursday condoled the death of noted atomic scientist Sekhar Basu, and said he played a key role in establishing India as a lead country in nuclear science and engineering. Basu, a veteran atomic scientist and former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, succumbed to COVID-19 early on Thursday at a private hospital in Kolkata. He breathed his last just three days after turning 68. In his condolence message, the prime minister said, "I join the atomic energy fraternity in grieving the passing away of Dr. Sekhar Basu, a renowned nuclear scientist who played a key role in establishing India as a lead country in nuclear science and engineering. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. (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 professors of the Iranian Association of Persian Language and Literature have lambasted Iran's Ministry of Education (MoE) for employing Twelver-Shi'ite seminary scholars to teach Persian in schools across Iran. Based on MoE's new guidelines, the second and third grade seminaries' graduates are officially qualified to teach Persian in Iranian high schools, meaning the MoE has recognized the second and third grade seminaries' graduates as qualified as the universities' BA and MA graduates. In a statement published on its website, the association has called on the MoE to revoke the decision immediately. The decision moves to destroy the methodical and specialized teaching of Persian language in the country's schools, the statement says, and leaves not a glimmer of hope for the numerous oppressed university graduates of the Iranian language. To become a Persian literature teacher in Iranian high schools, a Master graduate of Persian literature must pass 200 related courses and write a dissertation. At the same time, holders of seminary degrees receive their equivalent credits solely based on religious education. This is the second year that the Twelver-Shi'ite clerics can also compete in public employment tests and apply for a high school teaching job. Cooperation between the MoE and Shi'ite seminaries has significantly increased since the passage of the national "Document on Fundamental Transformation of Education." With Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's blessing, the country's Supreme Cultural Council endorsed the document during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency. Khamenei hopes the so-called national document can replace the UNESCO 2030 Education Agenda. "The UNESCO 2030 Education Agenda and the like are not issues that the Islamic Republic of Iran could surrender and submit to," Khamenei said in his address to a group of teachers, education specialists and university students on the occasion of the National Teachers' Day in May 2017. "This is the Islamic Republic of Iran, and in this country, Islam and the Quran are the base. It is not a place for infiltration of the flawed, devastating, and corrupt Western lifestyle," Khamenei said. A month later, in a session chaired by President Hassan Rouhani, the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution announced that any educational document other than the country's homegrown initiatives would be declared null and void. The national "Document on Fundamental Transformation of Education" outlines seven direct and 93 indirect tactics for expanding cooperation between the Twelver-Shi'ite seminaries and educational departments in Iran, a member of Seminary-Education Cooperation Headquarters said last month. Protests extended into a second night in Louisville on Thursday, with demonstrators expressing outrage and anguish over Breonna Taylors killing in March and the prosecutors handling of the case. For months, Ms. Taylors family had pleaded for justice, pushing for criminal charges against the officers. The tensions spilled onto the street on Wednesday after a grand jury charged one former officer with wanton endangerment for firing recklessly but did not charge the two officers who shot Ms. Taylor. Two police officers were shot during protests that followed the announcement of the grand jurys findings. Anger over Ms. Taylors death has spread far from Louisville, with protests drawing crowds in cities across the nation. Some rallies on Wednesday night, like those in Portland, Maine, and Memphis, were small but vocal, while protests in Seattle and Portland, Ore., were effectively declared riots after demonstrators set fires and threw explosives at the police. L egendary Fleet Street figure Sir Harold Evans has died in New York aged 92, prompting a string of plaudits for his work. The former editor of The Sunday Times and editor-at-large for the Reuters news agency died of congestive heart failure, his wife Tina Brown said. Born into a working-class family in Manchester in 1928, Sir Harold began his career as a journalist at a weekly newspaper in Ashton-under-Lyne aged 16. He later rose through the newspaper industry with roles including assistant editor of the Manchester Evening News and, after a stint in the US, as editor of The Northern Echo in Darlington, where he forged his reputation and led campaigns resulting in a national screening programme for cervical cancer and a pardon for a man wrongly hanged for murder. Sir Harold Evans - In pictures 1 /12 Sir Harold Evans - In pictures Sir Harold Evans, editor of The Sunday Times, London, UK, 25th September 1968 Getty Images Sir Harold Evans, Editor of the London Sunday Times, 1975 Getty Images Sir Harold Evans at Buckingham Palace in London Friday June 25, 2004, with his wife, Tina Brown, and their children George, 18 and Isabel, 13, after he was knighted by the Prince of Wales for service to journalism. The son of a railway worker, Sir Harold rose through the ranks to become editor of the Northern Echo and was in charge of the Sunday Times PA Fleet Street legend Sir Harold Evans in 2015 PA 18th January 1967: (Left to right): William Rees-Mogg, editor of 'The Times'; Harold Evans, editor of 'The Sunday Times' and Denis Hamilton, editor-in-chief of 'The Times' and 'The Sunday Times', after being recently appointed by 'The Times' new owner, Lord Thomson Getty Images Sir Harold Evans, Editor of the Sunday Times, speaking to the Executive Committee at the Overseas Press Club of American about the future of the newspaper, January 11th 1978 Getty Images Fleet Street legend Sir Harold Evans in 1982 PA Sir Harold Evans (2007) AFP via Getty Images Sir Harold Evans and Tina Brown attend the after party for "They Made America" at the Broadhurst Theatre on October 7, 2004 in New York City Getty Images From 1967 to 1981 he was editor of the Sunday Times and then went on to edit The Times, although his tenure there finished in 1982 after policy disagreements with its new owner Rupert Murdoc As editor of the Sunday Times in the 1970s, he founded the Insight team of investigative journalists who brought in scoops including uncovering the Kim Philby spy scandal. During his leadership the newspaper also risked criminal prosecution under the Official Secrets Act to publish the diaries of former Labour housing minister Richard Crossman, and its coverage of Bloody Sunday still reverberates today. But his most famous campaign was on behalf of the victims of Thalidomide, the drug which left hundreds of children with severe birth defects after it was given to their mothers during pregnancy. Sir Harold fought a legal battle with the drug companies for years, eventually leading to victory in the European Court of Human Rights which he described as one of the most memorable days of my life and compensation for the victims families. Sir Harold Evans with his family after being knighted at Buckingham Palace in 2004 / PA In 1984 he left Britain for America with his second wife Tina Brown and the couple went on to dominate the media scene in New York, where Ms Brown edited Vanity Fair, the New Yorker and Talk magazine. Sir Harold was the founding editor of the Conde-Nast Traveler Magazine and was appointed president of the publishing giant Random House in 1990, where he acquired books including the autobiographies of General Colin Powell and Marlon Brando, and the political satire Primary Colors. His own writing was also successful, including the best-seller The American Century, and in 1999 he became an American citizen meaning his knighthood came in the Diplomatic List for services to journalism. He had two children with Ms Brown, and three from a previous marriage which ended in 1978. Sir Harold described journalism as his basic passion and was a firm advocate for accurate, truthful reporting. Sir Harold's most famous campaign was on behalf of the victims of Thalidomide / PA He was given a knighthood for services to journalism in 2004 and received a lifetime achievement award at the British Press Awards for what the judges described as a lifetime of honest reporting which has made him an icon of his trade. Journalism is not easy. Its the first rough draft. he said. I dont think you need to wait around until you have the definitive thing. You record whats there; dont delude yourself that this is the ultimate historical view. Attempting to get at truth means rejecting stereotypes and cliches. He was also conscious of the power of journalism and the media, saying: The camera cannot lie, but it can be an accessory to untruth. Propaganda is persuading people to make up their minds while withholding some of the facts from them. Tributes have meanwhile been paid by other journalists to the inspiring former Sunday Times editor. Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan described Sir Harold as a witty, charming, fiercely intelligent man and said the thalidomide scandal had epitomised his crusading, campaigning, fearless style. He wrote on Twitter: RIP Sir Harry Evans, 92. One of the all-time great newspaper editors. His stunning Thalidomide investigation when he ran the Sunday Times epitomised his crusading, campaigning, fearless style. A wonderful journalist & a witty, charming, fiercely intelligent man. Very sad news. Kevin Maguire, associate editor of the Daily Mirror, tweeted: RIP Harold Evans, inspiring former editor of the Northern Echo and Sunday Times. Embodied the best of journalism incl at the ST exposing the thalidomide scandal. Stephen J Adler, editor in chief of American news agency Reuters, said: I am so grateful Harry Evans became my mentor and friend. All of us at Reuters are blessed to have worked with him and learned from him these past 10 years. His example will continue to guide us. Pre-Professional and Dual Programs Pre-Professional Programs Western Illinois University offers nine pre-professional programs designed to prepare students for professional study at other universities at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Each pre-professional program consists of a series of WIU courses which students are advised to take to gain the knowledge and skills required for professional study in a specific field. An academic advisor is assigned to each of the pre-professional programs. Students should consult with the advisor for information on the entrance requirements of professional schools, recommended WIU courses for professional preparation, and degree completion requirements and options. Pre-Engineering Students who wish to transfer to a college of Engineering after two years of preprofessional study should complete the program below, which is designed to meet the requirements from the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana/ Champaign (UIUC). Any student planning to attend an Engineering school other than UIUC should inform his or her advisor of this fact, so that changes in the program can be suggested. Those who start this curriculum and subsequently decide to remain at WIU usually transfer to related programs without loss of credit. Students interested in this program should contact the Pre-Engineering advisor in the Department of Physics. Freshman Year Fall Semester ENG 180; ET 105; MATH 133*; PHYS 211** Spring Semester CS 225; MATH 134; PHYS 212; Elective * Engineering students planning to attend the University of Illinois should keep in mind that any course below the level of MATH 133 will not count toward the Engineering degree. However, several pre-calculus courses are available for students unable to take four years of college preparatory Mathematics in high school. ** PHYS 211 has MATH 133 or the equivalent as a corequisite. Sophomore Year Fall Semester CHEM 201; MATH 231, 311; PHYS 213 Spring Semester CHEM 202; ENG 280; MATH 333; PHYS 214; PHYS 310 Students may select electives in the Social Sciences and Humanities from a list of transferable electives which can be obtained from a Pre-Engineering advisor; a partial list appears below. Transfer credit for foreign languages courses at the University of Illinois will be approved only after a review of the students high school foreign languages background. All transfer students entering the college of Engineering are required to have completed two college/university semesters of a foreign language or three years of a foreign language in high school. Technical courses are available at WIU which may also be taken as electives. For example, civil engineers may take a course in surveying or Geology. Mathematical Statistics is recommended for some other fields of Engineering. Humanities AAS 281, 282, 283 ARTH 180, 282, 283, 394, 395 ENG 195, 200, 201, 202, 205, 228, 238, 290, 300, 301 Foreign Languages: FR/GER/SPAN 121, 122, 223, 224, 325, 326 (Review of high school preparation required by University of Illinois.) HIST 105, 106, 115, 116, 300 MUS 190, 195, 393, 397 Philosophy: all courses except PHIL 140 and 340 Religious Studies: all courses THEA 110, 390, 391 Social Sciences AAS 100, 145, 251, 290, 300 ANTH 110, 111 ECON 231, 232; Note: ECON 231 is a required course in some Engineering curricula. GEOG 100, 110 POLS 122, 284 PSY 100, 250, 251 SOC 100, 200, 250 Pre-Engineering students should maintain at least a 3.00 (A=4.00) grade point average. Isolated D grades are accepted under certain conditions and may count toward graduation. Pre-Forestry Students who wish to pursue studies in Pre-Forestry should contact the academic advisor in the School of Agriculture. This two-year curriculum is designed to prepare students to enter a School of Professional Forestry with advanced standing. The following is presented as a general outline which will be modified to meet the demands of the school to which the student expects to transfer. First Year AGRI 120; FOR 200; BOT 200; ZOOL 200; CHEM 201, 202; ENG 180; HORT 180 Kinesiology Mathematics (2 semesters) Second Year COMM 241; ECON 231; FOR 208; ENG 280 Humanities (2 semesters) Social Science (2 semesters) Physics (2 semesters) Pre-Health Program (Medicine, Optometry, Dentistry, Physical/Occupational Therapy) Western Illinois University provides excellent instruction to prepare students for a health related professional degree in Medicine, Optometry, Dentistry, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. Most students at Western who wish to pursue a professional degree in a health-related field major in Biological Sciences, but other majors may be appropriate, as well. See information about Westerns Medical Sciences option offered by the Department of Biological Sciences. The Medical Sciences option requires a minimum 2.75 grade point average in the major. Pre-Law Law schools do not require any particular undergraduate major. Students are encouraged to pursue a course of study in line with their intellectual interests. They are cautioned against narrow specialization directed too pointedly toward later professional training and practice. Many of the goals of legal education are also goals of a broad liberal education. It is advisable for students to select intellectually challenging courses which promote the development of skills of comprehension and communication (written and verbal), which enhance creative thinking, and which foster a critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law addresses. Admission to law school is highly competitive. The two major criteria for admission are the undergraduate grade point average and the score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The LSAT is a standardized examination given multiple times each year. Students intending to apply to law school should plan to take this test no later than December of their senior year. Pre-Law Advising All students, whatever their major, may request a Pre-Law advisor to supplement their major advising and assist them in their preparation for law school. Students considering law school are urged to seek Pre-Law advice as early as possible in their undergraduate career. Dr. Lorette S. Oden, Centennial Honors College, and Jill Joline Myers, Juris Doctorate, School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, are available for advising students interested in a legal career. Pre-Law Major Options Some degree programs at Western Illinois University include a Pre-Law option. Pre-Law options allow students to prepare for success in law school within their major area of study. Brief descriptions of Westerns Pre-Law options are provided below. The B.A. in History Pre-Law Option , offered by the Department of History, emphasizes the origins and evolution of American legal traditionsin enlightenment thought, in the foundations of British and American constitutionalism, and in the evolution of American legal history. Students History courses will also help them develop the analytical and problem-solving skills, critical reading ability, writing skills, oral communication and listening skills, and general research skills that they will need in law school and when practicing law. View more information about the History Pre-Law Option. The B.A. in Political Science Pre-Law Option , offered by the Department of Political Science, provides students the opportunity to explore law-related topics by studying constitutional law directly. In addition, it emphasizes courses related to law making and interpreting institutions, including the courts, Congress, and state legislatures. This option helps students understand the role of law in society while providing a basis for them to gauge their interest in law school. By analyzing cases, as well as presenting and critiquing arguments, students will develop reading, writing, and presentation skills that foster success in a legal career. View more information about the Political Science Pre-Law Option. Pre-Law Minors The interdisciplinary Minor in Law and Society helps prepare students for careers in law and related fields, such as the administration of justice. Its interdisciplinary nature provides a solid background in the history and philosophy of law, as well as its current relevance for resolving social, political, and moral questions. In addition to helping students understand legal concepts and the role of law in contemporary society, the minor helps build skills in critical thinking and communication. View more information about the Minor in Law and Society. The Minor in Legal Studies , offered by the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, complements all majors and helps students prepare for law school, paralegal programs, or careers in court related services. The courses selected for the minor offer legal theory and applied knowledge. The minor will assist students in articulating the various processes by which different types of cases proceed within the American legal system, in understanding and analyzing legal conflicts through reading and discussing the practical and theoretical bases of case law, and in communicating effectively through classroom presentations and demonstrations of courtroom activities. View more information about the Minor in Legal Studies. The Pre-Law Honors Minor is a unique interdisciplinary minor for students who are enrolled in the Centennial Honors College and who plan careers in law. The curriculum for this minor is designed to provide students with skills and knowledge important as a foundation for the study of law. Emphasis is given to the development of effective written and oral communication, analytical and critical reasoning, and an understanding of institutions, social processes, and human values important to legal studies. Students from all majors are eligible for this honors option, and upon completion of the requirements will graduate as Honors Scholars. View more information about the Pre-Law Honors Minor. Pre-MBA The Pre-MBA minor is designed specifically for students majoring in areas outside the Bachelor of Business who are considering graduate level study in business. Through a set of core business courses, this minor provides students with the fundamentals of business administration and gives them a solid preparation for many entry level positions in business. The minor facilitates the undergraduates transition to the MBA at Western Illinois University. The Pre-MBA curriculum has been created to include accelerated courses for the principles of Accounting and Economics. These are complemented by courses in Finance, Information Systems, Management, Marketing, and Statistics. A majority of these courses are at upperdivision; this allows students to begin this minor late in their undergraduate programs and complete the requirements without delaying their graduation. Completion of the Pre-MBA minor does not guarantee admission to an MBA program. Students seeking an MBA at WIU are required to complete the GMAT examination. Admission to the MBA program is based on a combination of undergraduate GPA and GMAT score. The MBA program also requires a minimum grade of C and a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the Pre-MBA core courses. The Pre-MBA minor is not available to students seeking the Bachelor of Business degree. For more information about the Pre-MBA minor, contact an advisor in the Business Advising Center in Stipes Hall 133 or (309) 298-1619 in Macomb or (309) 762-9481 at the WIUQuad Cities Riverfront Campus. Minor in Pre-MBA: 2127 s.h. ACCT 307 (or ACCT 201 and 202): 36 s.h. ECON 408 (or ECON 231 and 232): 36 s.h. FIN 331: 3 s.h. IS 340: 3 s.h. MGT 349: 3 s.h. MKTG 327: 3 s.h. STAT 171: 3 s.h. Pre-Veterinary Medicine The WIU School of Agriculture offers a pre-professional program designed to meet the requirements for admission to a School of Veterinary Medicine. Students who wish to pursue studies in Pre-Veterinary Medicine should contact the academic advisor in the School of Agriculture. Due to intense competition for admission to Schools of Veterinary Medicine, most students complete a four-year bachelors degree program prior to admission. Those students considering a career in Veterinary Medicine should have a good foundation in Biological Sciences and Chemistry, including Biochemistry, as the minimum knowledge base for success in the curriculum. In addition, a course or courses concerning livestock production and animal ethology are highly desirable for all students. Those seeking a career in Veterinary Medicine related to Agriculture should consider additional background in nutrition, livestock management, and the economics of production by working toward a degree in Agriculture prior to admission to veterinary school. Students may also pursue other major fields of study. The 60-hour Pre-Veterinary requirement and the suggested WIU courses for admission to the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois are outlined below. Admission requirements for other schools of Veterinary Medicine are different but can be met with advisor consultation. Required BIOL 330; BOT 200; CHEM 201, 202, 330, 421; ENG 180 and 280 or COMM 241; MICR 200; PHYS 114, 115 or 124, 125; ZOOL 200 Humanities or Social Science (12 s.h.) Junior/Senior level approved Agriculture and science electives (12 s.h.) Recommended, But Not Required AGRI 376; ANSC 112, 314, 322, 424; BIOL 340; ZOOL 430 Mathematicscalculus, trigonometry, and statistics Dual Programs Western Illinois University has made arrangements with professional schools at other universities so that students can complete requirements for a bachelors degree in the College of Arts and Sciences while working toward a professional degree or certificate. This is done in cases where credits can be transferred from the professional school in work closely related to that offered in the college. Typically, students complete three years of work at WIU and transfer one year of work from the professional school in satisfaction of WIU degree requirements. Dual Program in Arts and Sciences and Clinical Laboratory Science This dual program is four years in length and leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science. The first three years of the program are spent at WIU, followed by 12 months at an approved School of Medical Technology. The clinical year program requires a 2.75 grade point average. After completion of the four-year program, graduates take an examination for registration given by the Board of Registry of Medical Technology of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. Upon successful completion of the total program, a student receives the Bachelor of Science degree at Western and the MT (ASCP) certificate from the Registry of Medical Technologists. Students enrolling in this program will be advised by the Department of Biological Sciences. The curriculum is given below. First Year BIOL 170; BOT 200; CHEM 201, 202; ENG 180; MATH 128, 129 or 133 or equivalent (see advisor); ZOOL 200 Social Science elective (FYE) Humanities elective Human Well-Being elective (UNIV 100) Second Year CHEM 330 or 331 and 421 (or 332); ENG 280; F L 121, 122 or equivalent (see advisor); MICR 200, 434 Social Science elective Social Science elective Third Year COMM 241; PHYS (see advisor) 125, 125 or 114, 115; STAT 171; ZOOL 430 2 ElectivesBIOL 330 or 340; MICR 400 or 463 or 464 or 460 Humanities elective Multicultural Studies elective Fourth Year Taken at an approved School of Medical Technology (approximately 32 s.h.) Clinical Biochemistry Clinical Chemistry Clinical Hematology Clinical Microbiology (bacteriology, parasitology, mycology) Clinical Serology and Immunology Blood Bank Dual Program in Arts and Sciences and Engineering Western Illinois University has an agreement with the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois, whereby students may obtain the bachelors degree from the College of Arts and Sciences at WIU and a degree from the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. In general, students spend three years at WIU and two to two and one-half at the University of Illinois or the University of Iowa. The student becomes eligible for both degrees when the entire program is completed. Students who wish to participate in the Arts and Sciences and Engineering dual program should contact an academic advisor in the Department of Physics. Students who enter the program must complete the Pre-Engineering programs described in the Pre-Professional Programs section and the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Arts and Sciences. Since the granting of the two degrees depends on specified course requirements and not the amount of time on each campus, care in planning a program of courses is essential for students to complete the dual program in five academic years. For students interested in pursuing the dual degree option in Physics along with a bachelors in Engineering, the Engineering Physics curriculum is recommended. Similar dual-degree programs are available with other Engineering Schools, including the Binary Program with Case Western Reserve University. Please consult your advisor to ensure successful completion of degree requirements. Students who begin their Pre-Engineering program at a community college and wish to benefit from the WIU dual program must earn a minimum of 30 s.h. at WIU and satisfy all the requirements for the WIU Bachelor of Science degree, except those requirements dealing with majors and minors. Dual Program in Arts and Sciences and Law Exceptionally well-qualified students majoring in English, History, or Political Science at Western Illinois University are eligible to pursue an accelerated admission program at John Marshall Law School (JMLS) in Chicago following the completion of their junior year of undergraduate study at Western. Students must have earned at least 90 WIU semester hours, with the additional 30 hours required for a WIU B.A. in the three stipulated majors (120 semester hours total) completed during two full semesters at JMLS. Program participants will receive a baccalaureate degree from WIU following successful completion of the first year of law school at JMLS, and the law degree (J.D.) from JMLS after successfully completing the required law school curriculum, allowing for the fulfillment of requirements for both degrees in a shorter period. Students interested in this opportunity must work with the academic advisor in their major to ensure successful compliance with all program requirements. Note: Participants are required to meet the WIU graduation requirement of completion of a minor. Dual Program in General Studies and Chiropractic Western Illinois University has an agreement with Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa, whereby students can earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer and a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree from Western. The dual degree program requires admission into WIUs Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree program and 90 semester hours of credit in approved prerequisite courses prior to enrolling at Palmer. A minimum of 30 semester hours of academic credit from Palmer may be transferred back to WIU to complete the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree. Life under lockdown in Wrexham documented in new exhibition at towns museum This article is old - Published: Thursday, Sep 24th, 2020 Wrexham Museums forecourt is the venue for a new photographic exhibition about peoples lives under lockdown in Wrexham. The outdoors display of a series of images by local photographers, Craig Colville and Carwyn Rhys Jones, captures some of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the nationwide restrictions on the local community in the first few months of the crisis. Professional photographer, Craig Colville, had been working with Wrexham Museum on Wrexham 2020, a photographic project recording life in the county borough inspired by the great photojournalists Philip Jones-Griffiths, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Dorothea Lange. However the Prime Ministers announcement that the UK would be entering a lockdown in March response to the Covid-19 pandemic meant that Wrexham 2020 has proved to be no ordinary year. Craig said: Documenting how Covid has impacted on life in Wrexham has been a challenging but a very rewarding experience. From photographing staff at Wrexham Maelor donning layers of PPE on the hottest day of the year to the enthusiastic work of the volunteers at PPE HWB,I hoped to document how everyday life has changed dramatically over the past few months. Photography is an often overlooked tool to document, inform and story tell and can be used to hold people to account. I hope that my work does all of the above. Im really looking forward to seeing some of the images from the project on display outdoors at the museum as I think outdoor displays are a great way to showcase photographic work to an audience. Early on during the lockdown, Wrexham Museum, became aware that local photographer Carwyn Rhys Jones was also trying to record the impact of the pandemic on Wrexham. Staff at the museum invited him to join the project and so provide a wider record of the lockdown. Carwyn said I started taking photographs during the lockdown as I felt that it needed to be documented as it would be a part of our history. I was sitting in the house and felt that the world had suddenly stopped and I felt that I needed to explore what was going on in Wrexham on my daily walks. From photographing the empty streets of Wrexham the project developed to documenting the local people of Wrexham. The project developed from strength to strength to what we have today. I was trying to achieve a visual diary of what was going on and how people were feeling about this pandemic from their positives and negative experiences. I agreed to be involved in this project as I felt it went hand in hand in what I was trying to do which was documenting history. I also always wanted my photographs to be part of an archive that would be kept for future generations to learn about this particular time of history. Councillor Hugh Jones added We would like to thank Craig and Carwyn for their participation in this project and for providing a visual record of how the pandemic has impacted on life in Wrexham County Borough. Each picture tells a story and what stories they are. Although the museum has been open again since August 3, we decided to display the photographs on the forecourt to make the display accessible to the maximum number of people and because people feel more confident outdoors. The display opened this week and will be on show until March 21, 2021. An online version will be available from November 23, 2020. For more information, telephone 01978 297460 or email museum@wrexham.gov.uk. 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. In its delayed 2020 budget, to be handed down on October 6, the Liberal-National Coalition government plans to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to bring forward the greatest ever handout of income tax cuts to the wealthy elite. The scale of the bonanza being offered to the rich is evidently causing anxiety in some ruling circles over the potential for the tax package to fuel social unrest. About 40 university professors and former political, central bank and public service chiefsbilled as prominent Australiansare backing an advertising campaign, to begin airing on television this week, opposing the early introduction of the tax cuts, which were originally legislated to be fully implemented in 2024. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg have said tax cuts are a top priority for the budget, supposedly to try to stimulate the economy amid the worst crash and mass unemployment since the 1930s Great Depression. Frydenberg has declared that the package will kickstart spending by putting more money into peoples pockets. The proposed package will certainly put more money in some pockets. It will further boost the fortunes of the top 5 percent of income recipients. According to tables attached to the original plan for 2024, the tax handouts will give a dual-income household on $400,000 an annual tax cut of $23,280, while a single person on $30,000 will receive just $255, or $5 a week. This will be inevitably at the expense of the living conditions and social services of the vast majority of the population, especially the poorest members of the working class. Millions of low-paid workers, students and welfare recipients will get nothing. Instead, their JobKeeper wage subsidies and JobSeeker unemployment benefits are being reduced to sub-poverty levels, starting from September 28. The bonanza for the rich is on top of the more than $400 billion in tax concessions, subsidies and cheap credit already allocated to employers by the federal, state and territory governments since Marchmany times more than the bailouts that followed the 200809 global financial crisis. The tax cuts also follow a $144 billion, three-stage, tax cut package passed by parliament in 2018, taking the total cost of the tax handouts to more than $300 billion over 10 years. The prominent Australians include Bernie Fraser, former governor of the Reserve Bank, Stephen Grenville, ex-deputy governor of the Reserve Bank, Michael Keating, former secretary to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Cassandra Goldie, CEO of the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS). The list features a tripartite line-up from the political establishmentJohn Hewson, former Liberal Party opposition leader, Emeritus Professor Carmen Lawrence, former Labor Party state premier and federal minister, and Cheryl Kernot, former Labor MP and leader of the Australian Democrats. Their primary stated concern is that the tax cuts will not boost the economy. In the campaign media release published by the Australia Institute, a corporate and trade union-backed progressive think tank, Ben Oquist, the institutes executive director, said: Cutting taxes for already wealthy Australians will undermine the long-term strength of our public services, like healthcare and education, while doing very little to stimulate economic growth. In so far as the people on the list oppose giving tax cuts to the wealthy, and not those on low incomes, it is mainly because people living in poverty are much more likely to have to spend the money, thus boosting profits. ACOSS CEO Goldie said: Most low and middle income earners get nothing. Yet its only low income-earners that will spend most of any government stimulus. Likewise, Keating told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: These tax cuts are incredibly biased in favour of high income earners. Because theyre so biased in favour of high income earners, the proceeds are very likely to be heavily saved. Some of the quotes, however, were intertwined with nervousness about the likely political fallout from the glaring inequality of the package. Significantly, Hewson, who lost the 1993 federal election to Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating after proposing a sweeping pro-corporate Fightback blueprint of tax cuts and de-regulation, said: The LNP [Liberal National Party] naively hope tax cuts are good politics, but they wont be as they increase inequality and fail to ensure job security and increasing wages with our economy still struggling to exit recession. The slogan of the advertising campaign is: Those demanding tax cuts today will be demanding service cuts tomorrow. There is no doubt that the package will mean further severe reductions to already deteriorating social programs, including public healthcare, education and housing. The 202021 budget deficit is expected to blow out to nearly $200 billion, just a year after the government falsely boasted, and assured the financial markets, that it would produce a surplus in 201920. Workers queuing outside a Centrelink office in Sydney earlier this year (Credit: WSWS) Nothing in the Australia Institutes campaign, however, opposes social inequality itself, which has been deepening for decades. Nor does it point to the underlying thrust of the tax package. The income tax system will be transformed into a virtual flat tax regime, with a 30 percent rate applying from $45,000 to $200,000. This is a major step toward eliminating what remains of the progressive tax principle that resulted from generations of struggles by working people. No doubt adding to the unease in sections of the ruling class is the fact that the Labor Party opposition, led by Anthony Albanese, more and more openly agrees with rewarding the rich. From the standpoint of those backing the Australia Institute campaign, this increases the danger of working class people turning further against Labor and toward socialism. Labor voted for the tax package last year, while feigning to have reservations about the final part of the plan, due in 2024, which will result in individuals receiving income of over $200,000 a year paying far less tax. Now, Labor has said it will consider any proposals to bring forward the tax cuts. After Labors vote plunged to a new low of 33 percent in last years election, overwhelmingly in working class areas, handing Morrisons hated and faction-torn Coalition an unexpected victory, Albanese declared that his party would be first and foremost in the business of creating wealth. Labors backing for tax cuts for the wealthy is no anomaly. In fact, Labor governments began the decades-long rewarding of the financial elite at the expense of the working class. The Hawke and Keating Labor governments of 1983 to 1996 slashed the top income tax rate from 60 percent to 49 percent, and the company tax rate from 49 to 33 percent. This is a global process. Capitalist governments around the world have been competing to satisfy the financial markets and attract investment by slashing high-income and corporate taxes, while spending billions on their militaries and dismantling essential social programs, such as public health care, education and housing. The worldwide crash triggered by the pandemic has now taken this transfer of wealth to the rich to a whole new level. In Australia, more than three million workers, or over 20 percent of the workforce, are unemployed or underemployed, and employers are decimating wages and conditions. But the top CEO salaries are soaring and by June the wealthiest 20 billionaires had enjoyed a 32 percent surge in their collected wealth to $189 billion. The world awaits a vaccine for the Covid-19 infection with a hope that the old normal will be reality once again and the new normal which has less semblance to normalcy becomes a thing of the past. The vaccine being developed by Johnson & Johnson has entered phase-3 clinical trials in the United States on Wednesday. J&J is now the fourth company to reach this stage after AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna. While scientists are literally racing against the time, there is no end to quacks and hacks being passed on as coronavirus cures. Before we go on to blame the quacks of making mockery of the situation, we take a moment to recall US president Donald Trumps remedy to inject disinfectants as a cure for the infection. Religious leaders did not stay back from throwing bizarre statements with some of them saying that the pandemic is a punishment from the gods for same-sex marriages. Paapads, kadhas, ice-creams, concoctions of herbs and plants are being touted as cures for the virus infection. The latest in the list is steam. Pune reportedly has steam bars which are being pitched as coronavirus cure. That reminds us of the oxygen bar that started serving in Delhi last year after pollution levels soared after Diwali. Latest business in #India: The Steam bar, It is inhalers, which treats or prevents #COVID19 in Pune: pic.twitter.com/uvAqu8uD3J Parthiban Shanmugam (@hollywoodcurry) September 23, 2020 However, experts have rebuffed such claims and termed it useless. Lets not turn fear into business. This is completely useless," said Dr Faheen Younus, a US-based doctor who has been actively countering misconceptions around the coornavirus infection on social media. Lets not turn fear into business.This is completely useless. https://t.co/0VpUO1HJse Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) September 23, 2020 Here is a list of bizarre hacks that came up in the pandemic. Save the list as it may bring a smile on your face in the post-pandemic world: -Trumps Disinfectant Cure: In April, during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House, POTUS said, So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous - whether its ultraviolet or just very powerful light and I think you said that hasnt been checked but youre going to test it," Trump said, And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning? This caused intense backlash from the medical fraternity with one of the disinfectant companies even warning people to not try this. -BJP MPs Bhabhiji Papad: BJP MP and Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, and Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal pitched for a particular brand of papad as a cure for the infection. The minister claimed that the ingredients of Bhabhiji papad aids in the formation of coronavirus antibodies."Under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, a papad manufacturer has come up with this product that will aid the formation of antibodies to fight the coronavirus, the minister said in a video, This papad will prove useful in the fight against coronavirus, he had said. Later, Meghwal himself was detected to be Covid-19 positive. -Bleach as Miracle Cure: That looks like Donald Trump talking. But reports suggest that industrial levels of bleach were being sold online, and touted as a Covid-19 cure. Sold on online retailer Amazon, the chlorine dioxide solutions are being marketed under the brand name CD Kit and NatriChlor. Third-party sellers signal the bleach as a water treatment and include legal disclaimers that the liquid is not marketed for internal use. -Mudpack Dung and Conch Shell: Rajasthan BJP MP Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria earlier hit the headlines when he said that a mud pack and blowing a shankh" (conch shell) could help fight the coronavirus infection. Jaunapuria, a lawmaker from Tonk-Sawai Madhopur constituency, said that sitting in mud and blowing conch shell boosted immunity and helped the body to fight Covid-19 infection. However, he was later detected of covid-19. MP Ministers Cow dung Cure: Madhya Pradesh minister Imarti Devi who believes that she is immune to the infection owing to the fact that she is born in gobar (cow dung) and mitti (mud). I am born in mud and cow dung. Corona cannot come to me," Imarti Devi, Minister of Women and Force Development of the state, said angrily while talking to the media amid rumours that she had tested positive for the virus infection earlier this month. Pointing towards her mask, which was hanging by her chin, the minister even said that she was wearing it forcefully. -Rum and Fried Egg: A Congress Councillor in Karnataka came up with a novel remedy to keep Covid-19 at bay by recommending rum and two half-fried eggs. Congress leader Ravichandra Gatti, who belongs to Ullal city in Mangaluru, said, Add a teaspoonful of ground pepper in 90 ml rum and stir it well with your finger and drink it. Eat two half-fried omelettes to ensure that the coronavirus vanishes." Gatti had also said that he tried many medicines to tackle the virus and after everything failed, hes of the opinion that only rum and eggs will work. The suspect accused of shooting two Louisville, Ky. police officers during protests Wednesday night has been identified by the Louisville Metro Police Department. Larynzo Johnson, 26, was arrested Wednesday and has been charged with assault of a police officer and wanton endangerment. He will be arraigned on Friday. Johnson intentionally used a handgun to fire multiple bullets at officers who were at the scene of protests downtown that erupted in response to the state attorney generals decision to charge only one of the police officers who fatally shot Breonna Taylor. Police said witnesses observed Johnson firing at officers before fleeing the scene, and video of the incident obtained by law enforcement showed him shooting a handgun in the direction of police. Johnson was also in possession of a handgun when he was arrested, the complaint filed in Jefferson County said. Two Louisville police officers were shot and sustained serious injuries. One of the officers was in surgery Wednesday night. Earlier on Wednesday, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Camerons office announced first-degree wanton endangerment charges against one of the officers who shot into the house where Taylor, a black 26-year-old emergency medical worker, was killed on March 13. The officer was not charged with murder, and the other two officers involved in the fatal shooting were not charged. 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 officers who shot her were not charged. The warrant was issued because police suspected that a man connected to a drug ring was receiving packages containing drugs at Taylors apartment, but no drugs were found in the raid. Protesters set fires, caused property damage and failed to disperse after being warned, according to the complaint. Demonstrators also looted several businesses and climbed on top of city vehicles, police said. Nearly 100 protesters were arrested during the protests. Story continues Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer declared a state of emergency on Tuesday due to the potential for civil unrest as the city braced for the grand jury decision on charges against the officers. The mayor also implemented a three-day countywide 9p.m. curfew. Protests also broke out Wednesday night in Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. More from National Review Former president Barack Obama has issued a call for Americans to get in touch with their thoughts on the upcoming election, telling them: "Send me a text". "All right, let's try something new," Mr Obama, 59, said in a message posted on his social media accounts on Wednesday. "If youre in the United States, send me a text at 773-365-9687 I want to hear how you're doing, what's on your mind, and how you're planning on voting this year," he added. "I'll be in touch from time to time to share what's on my mind, too." Unfortunately for fans of Mr Obama, the mobile phone number is unlikely to be his personal contact number; it corresponds with the dialing code of his adopted hometown of Chicago. It is understood that Mr Obama has remained living in Washington D.C after leaving the White House in early 2017. The text initiative is the latest effort by Mr Obama to help with the election campaign of his former running mate and ex-vice president Joe Biden. Mr Obama has been actively trying to mobilise the vote for his long-time ally ahead of the November poll. Just over a month out from November's election, Mr Biden, 77, still commands a strong lead over president. But that lead has narrowed in recent weeks, particularly in key battleground states. Earlier this week, Mr Obama released a video on Twitter urging his followers to vote for Mr Biden to ensure America's democracy endures. He 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," Mr Obama said in the video. "And the folks in power are hoping that you stay at home." Increasing procurement of ammunition armed forces owing to the changing nature of warfare, the militarization of police forces, the increasing incidence of drug trafficking, and terrorist activities, and the modernization of armed forces. New York, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Ammunition Market by Application, Caliber, Product, Component, Guidance, Lethality, Region - Global Forecast to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p04759534/?utm_source=GNW The global ammunition market size is projected to grow from USD 20.8 billion in 2020 to USD 24.9 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 3.6% from 2020 to 2025. Factors such as the changing nature of warfare, the militarization of police forces, the increasing incidence of drug trafficking, and terrorist activities, and the modernization of armed forces are driving factors assisting the growth of the ammunition market. The ammunition market includes major players Lockheed Martin (US), General Dynamics Corporation (US), BAE Systems (UK), Elbit Systems (Israel), CBC Global Ammunition (Brazil), and Nammo AS (France), among others.These players have spread their business across various countries includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. COVID-19 has affected the ammunition market growth to some extent, and this varies from country to country.Industry experts believe that the pandemic has not affected the demand for ammunition in defense applications. However, due to continuous lockdown and social distancing measures, there has been a decrease in the need for ammunition in civil and commercial applications. Small: The fastest-growing segment of the ammunition market, by the caliber Based on caliber, the ammunition market has been segmented into small, medium, large, and others.The small caliber segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this segment can be attributed to increased use of small caliber ammunition by military and homeland security personnel, owing to less lethality of this ammunition. Aerial Bombs: The fastest-growing segment of the ammunition market, by product The aerial bombs segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR.In recent years, an increasing focus has been observed to upgrade air force inventory across the globe due to multiple reasons such as geopolitical tensions and air force applications. For instance, the US has ongoing F-35 fighter aircraft programs. Whereas the Indian air force is looking for multi-role aircraft to strengthen their armed forces, and hence new aircraft procurements will lead to an increased demand for related ammunition in the coming years. Defense: The fastest-growing segment of the ammunition market, by application The defense segment of the ammunition market has been classified into military and homeland security. The growth of the defense segment of the ammunition market can be attributed to the increased spending of countries on military modernization programs, as well as the rise in terrorist activities and civil disturbances in several parts of the world. North America: The largest contributing region in the ammunition market. The ammunition market in the North American region has been studied for the US and Canada.Major factors that are expected to drive the growth of the market in the region include rising instances of terrorism, which have led to increased use of ammunition by armed forces and a growing number of drug cartels in Central America. North American countries are awarding a number of contracts to major players of the ammunition market for the delivery of ammunition, thus driving the growth of the ammunition market in the region.For instance, In July 2020, Northrop Grumman Corporation secured a contract from the US Army to deliver the next-generation airburst cartridge for the 30mm XM813 Bushmaster Chain Gun. The Bushmaster Chain Gun will be installed on the Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV). Also, the company has secured a contract worth USD 93 million from the US Army for the manufacture of multipurpose munition technology for destroying targets such as lightly armored and infantry fighting vehicles. The break-up of the profile of primary participants in the ammunition market: By Company Type: Tier 1 20%, Tier 2 55%, and Tier 3 25% By Designation: C Level 50%, Director Level 25%, and Others 25% By Region: North America 60%, Europe 20%, Asia Pacific 10%, South America 5%, and Middle East & Africa 5% Major companies profiled in the report include Northrop Grumman Corporation (US), General Dynamics Corporation (US), CBC Global Ammunition (Brazil), Olin Corporation (US), Ruag Ammotec (Switzerland), BAE Systems (UK), Thales Group (France), Rheinmetall AG (Germany), Nexter KNDS group (France), Elbit Systems (Israel), Nammo AS (Norway), and ST Engineering (Singapore) among others. (28 Companies) Research Coverage: This research report categorizes the ammunition market basis of applications (defense, civil & commercial), caliber (small, medium, large, others), product(bullets, aerial bombs, grenades, artillery shells, mortars), component(fuzes & primers, propellants, bases, projectiles and warheads, others), guidance(guided, non-guided), lethality(lethal, less-lethal) in these segments have been mapped across major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Latin America, and Africa.The scope of the report covers detailed information regarding the major factors, such as drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities, influencing the growth of the ammunition market. A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their business overviews; solutions and services; key strategies; new product launches; mergers; and partnerships, agreements, associated with the ammunition market. Reasons to buy this report: The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall ammunition market and the subsegments.This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to position their businesses better and to plan suitable go-to-market strategies. The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provides them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. The report provides insights on the following pointers: Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on ammunition offered by the top players in the market Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product launches in the ammunition market Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets the report analyzes the ammunition market across varied regions Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the ammunition market Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of leading players in the ammunition market Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04759534/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 15:20:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Sept.24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 209 Mongolian nationals returned home from Europe on a chartered flight on Thursday, according to the Mongolian State Emergency Commission (SEC). The chartered flight from Frankfurt to Ulan Bator landed at the Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport early Thursday, the SEC said in a statement. The passengers consisted of pregnant women, elders, children, sick people and those with financial or other problems, the SEC said, adding that they will be isolated at designated facilities for 21 days. Following its suspension of international commercial flights during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mongolia has brought home over 23,000 nationals from different parts of the world via chartered flights, trains and buses, according to the commission. As of Thursday, Mongolia has reported a total of 313 COVID-19 cases, all of which were imported. No local transmissions or deaths have been reported in the country so far. Enditem As a health-care executive, Frank Ingari knows more than most people about what nurses do. His Conshohocken-based company, Tandigm Health, supports independent medical practices throughout the Philadelphia area. That includes a lot of nurses. In the early times of COVID-19, the CEO was moved by the dedication of those frontline workers and was also aghast that so many of them were working without protective gear while they tended to sick people. Those images we saw in the first few weeks nurses without PPE, taking the risks they were taking and, frankly, continuing to save other people, risking not only themselves, but the stress of having kids at home, Ingari said, "it just broke my heart. I never really had this experience before, but I felt I just had to write something down, express it. So Ingari 70, turned to the medium closest to his heart: music. Ingari was a musician long before he joined the corporate world. So he wrote and recorded a song dedicated to nurses. Its called My Hero Is A Nurse" and it begins like this: Handing you a brand new baby Or fighting this killer curse She puts you first Racked by fever Laid up with broken bones She will leave her home So you are not alone... I mostly wrote it so the nurses I knew would hear it, Ingari said. The song is meant not just to praise nurses all of them, not just the female ones in the lyrics but to help them: Ingari has posted it on PlayItForward.com, the nonprofit that raises money for causes through original music. In just two months, My Hero Is A Nurse has received over $19,000 in donations for the American Nurses Foundation Coronavirus Response Fund, which provides direct economic support and mental health services to nurses. READ MORE: This longtime Philly homeless advocate finally gets a home to call her own The amount of money the song has raised is a drop in the bucket compared to the great needs out there, Ingari said. Still, hes hoping it will help remind listeners of the sacrifices nurses make and the risks they take to help others. Its one persons little thing, said Ingari of his song and its noble mission. Its the least I could do. And about the song: If youre expecting a yearning, lovely ballad, guess again. Think funk. I was a full-time touring pro with an R&B band way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, in the 70s, Ingari said. I didnt come to corporate life until I was 30 years old. I made my living playing music. Back in the height of the disco era, Ingari was a guitarist for Lavarez, an in-demand band that played gigs in Los Angeles clubs six nights a week. It was awesome," he said, adding that the band toured internationally. His heroes back then were artists like Earth, Wind and Fire; the Average White Band; Marvin Gaye; and Donny Hathaway. Alas, even with the bands success, Ingari didnt see himself having the career of his idols. Its like a kid playing ball in college and realizing youre never going to be in the NFL, he said. So I turned my attention to the business world. After about 20 years in the field of technology, he was recruited into health care, which became his new passion. (Although he still rocks out with his current band, Tempting Fate, at local bars and parties near his Rhode Island home.) Recording My Hero Is A Nurse was a labor of love, COVID-19-style. A socially distanced production, Ingari recorded the song in his home studio. The other artists friends who donated their talents did their parts in their own spaces: lead vocalist Aaron Halford, backing vocalist Nicole Jones, and drummer James Murphy. Ingari handled bass, guitar, and keys. READ MORE: These San Francisco drag queens deliver home-cooked dinners for Meals on Heels service We sent files to each other over the internet, he said. His friend Carl Nappa, a Grammy-nominated engineer and producer, put it all together. Ingaris regard for nurses, developed through 20 years in health care, comes through loud and clear in his song. I am just a guy wondering why That I may live She may die And that is why My hero, my hero Is a nurse I got an appreciation of what nurses do how important they area and how they symbolize so much of what is inspiring about the health-care industry, he said. Its a tradition of service, a kind of profound humility. Nurses dont seek the spotlight, but they carry a lot of the load. We dont value service the way that we should in our country, Ingari said. Its just a sign of what needs to change in society. When [the pandemic] happened, we somehow thought it was OK to not have masks and gowns and gloves for people. We let the public health infrastructure erode. If any good comes from the pandemic, he said, it might be this: The country got a better appreciation of what it means to be on the frontline. His song is a call to give those stalwart front-liners the backing they deserve. When I wrote this thing, the pandemic was still in the early bloom, Ingari said. Now were going into flu season. This isnt behind us. These nurses are still doing what this song is about. They need our support." Somewhere in Manhattan, Scott Stringer is smiling. Thats because the New York City comptroller and 2021 mayoral candidate is perhaps best positioned to benefit from New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnsons announcement that he wouldnt be running for mayor after all. Just as I was open about the fact that I was considering a run for Mayor, I now want to be open about the fact that I have made the difficult decision not to run, Johnson said in a statement emailed to reporters on Thursday morning. The Stringer camp was undoubtedly ecstatic about the news, which now narrows the top tier of Democratic mayoral candidates to just Stringer and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. And Johnsons departure rids Stringer of his chief rival, who had a similar demographic and political profile. Both are white, male political insiders from the West Side of Manhattan who would run on progressive politics and a history of governmental competence. Johnsons decision makes it better for Scott, said Patrick Jenkins, a veteran political consultant based on Queens. It takes another West Side guy whos a progressive off the chess board for him. The introduction of ranked choice voting to city elections in 2021 could dull the impact of Johnsons exit somewhat, since candidates wont need to be as concerned about running in lanes. But it wont change the fact that many supporters and donors who were ready to back Johnson when he jumped in the race might now instead line up behind Stringer. Stringer was publicly humble on Thursday, tweeting that Johnson was a formidable candidate and a true public servant. But theres little doubt that Stringers campaign launch this month played a role in Johnsons announcement. Stringer came out of the gate with endorsements from a racially diverse array of male and female elected officials an important signal to voters who may be skeptical of supporting yet another straight, white male for mayor. Johnson may have taken notice, said Jake Dilemani, a political strategist with Mercury. I think he looked at this field and doesnt see a path forward, Dilemani said. Stringer is owning the progressive lane, but can also appeal to the more moderate faction of the Democratic electorate. Thats thanks in part to Stringers long history in government and his reluctance to fully embrace democratic socialism, despite aligning himself with members of the Democratic Socialists of Americas New York City branch and its causes. A number of political organizations and elected officials with close ties to both Stringer and were reluctant to take a side in the mayors race. With Johnson dropping out, more Stringer endorsements are likely to start rolling in. Before Johnson officially announced he would drop out, a consultant working for a City Council member told City & State that if Corey drops out, (the member) is going to call Scott. Johnsons decision was a major development, if somewhat expected. For months, the political world had been buzzing that Johnson, who was seen as a top-tier candidate, would not follow through on a bid for mayor. His enthusiasm for campaigning seemed to be flagging, and he had slowed fundraising, before halting it entirely during the coronavirus pandemic. And after two and a half years of relative peace in City Hall, a contentious city budget battle enraged both those who wanted to drastically cut funding for the New York City Police Department and those who feared such cuts would hurt the same New Yorkers they aimed to help. That budget fight led to leftists protesting outside Johnsons home as well as his boyfriends home, calling for more drastic action against the NYPD. The New York City DSA had previously planned another protest outside Johnsons apartment for Thursday afternoon. To those reasons, Johnson added another: he was struggling with depression. I believe its important to be open about this as well, Johnson wrote. The Corey Johnson of today is on a very different political trajectory than the Corey Johnson of December 2018, when his friendliness, political acumen and ability to win over skeptics led City & State to ask, Is Corey Johnson already mayor? Such is electoral politics, and to be clear, Johnson is not retiring. He is staying as speaker, a position where hes term-limited at the end of 2021. And speculation among the political class continues regarding whether Johnson will seek another office instead, such as Manhattan borough president. Campaign spokesperson Jen Fermino did not respond when asked whether Johnson plans to run for a different office. Whether Johnson himself will endorse Stringer remains an open question. Johnson still has a lot of political power in the city, and his endorsement will be one of the most sought after in the race along with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who was also a top-tier mayoral candidate before he announced in January that he would not run. Jenkins speculated that Johnson may support Wiley instead, but cautioned that the field is far from set. I still think its early, he said. The presidential race is going to factor into this, and people are going to make decisions based off that. Adams once said only partially in jest that he would out-white Scott Stringer for white New Yorkers votes, even though Adams himself is Black. Adams will also try to capitalize off Johnsons departure from the race, though his path to doing so isnt as clear. Like Stringer, Adams publicly praised Johnson on Twitter and thanked him for his openness regarding his mental health. With Adams courting a more moderate electorate than Stringer, it seems less likely that Johnson supporters would shift their money and support to the Brooklyn borough president. Other candidates expected to run in the June 2021 Democratic primary include Maya Wiley, former Counsel to Mayor Bill de Blasio; Shaun Donovan, former budget director to President Barack Obama and former top housing official in New York; Dianne Morales, a former nonprofit CEO; Loree Sutton, former city veterans affairs commissioner; and Kathryn Garcia, the former city sanitation commissioner. Any of them could become formidable candidates, but lack the money and campaign infrastructure of Stringer and Adams. Yet one consultant told City & State that Thursdays development could allow Adams to frame it as a two-person race for mayor. The narrative is now going to be that theres two top candidates. And then the also-rans. Johnson, the consultant said, was a good candidate for a positive time, known for dancing and telling jokes. But when the coronavirus pandemic hit, bringing a massive budget crunch, it all just fell apart. SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina: With harsh weather fast approaching, the number of migrants and refugees who are sleeping rough in Bosnia keeps rising because of the persistent refusal by authorities at different levels of government in the country to coordinate their work and embrace rational solutions, a U.N. migration official said Thursday. Peter Van der Auweraert, the Western Balkans coordinator and Bosnia representative of the International Organization for Migration, told The Associated Press that instead of helping the U.N. agency to expand accommodation for migrants, some local authorities in the country are now even restricting access to housing that is already available. Of around 8,500 migrants stuck in Bosnia, 2,500 are forced to sleep outside in squats, forests, streets (and) abandoned buildings, mostly in the northwestern Krajina region, which shares a highly porous 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) border with European Union member Croatia. What is the sad part of this is that this is absolutely unnecessary in the sense that we have financial resources, provided mostly by the European Union, to provide (for) and take care of all those people, Van der Auweraert told the AP in an interview. I have a center (in Krajina) for 1,500 people. Local authorities only allow me to have 500. I could get 1,000 people tomorrow from the street, inside this center, but I am not allowed to do so, he added. Bosnian authorities werent immediately available for comment. In 2017, Bosnia became a bottleneck for thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Asia and North Africa seeking better lives in Europe when other nations closed off their borders. The EU has so far provided Bosnia with 60 million euros ($70 million) in emergency funding, most notably for seven migrant centers, including six in Krajina, which can house more than 7,000 people. For its part, Bosnia has repeatedly promised, and failed, to identify additional suitable public properties for temporary accommodation of migrants. Instead, decrying an alleged failure by other parts of the country to share the load of the lingering crisis, Krajina authorities recently begun emptying some of the existing reception centers there. They pushed people on the move out of urban areas and abandoned them in forests to fend for themselves. In response, police forces of adjacent regions started blocking migrants from walking back to their areas. The sight of thousands of homeless people, with no access to medical care or sometimes even food, increases a sense of insecurity among the local population and has apparently led to a proliferation of vigilante groups that are threatening the migrants with violence. Van der Auweraert said Bosnia had a few weeks to come together to decide in a rational manner to deal with the migration situation at hand. If we do not do that, we will have a humanitarian crisis in a months time we will have people sleeping in the snow, including this time families and children," he said. Forced to stay in a makeshift camp set up by some 300 migrants and refugees in a forest not far from the northwestern town of Velika Kladusa, where they had been dropped off and abandoned by local police, Amin Hasan Han, a migrant from Bangladesh, echoed those concerns. Winter is coming, people are living under tents, Han said, adding: Also, we are starving people cannot get food. 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 value of non-oil trade in goods between the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia amounted to AED493.8 billion ($134.4 billion) over the past 10 years, a media report said. Last year saw AED55.3 billion of total trade exchanges, a growth of 83.9 percent over 2010 when the total trade volume between the two sides stood at AED30.05 billion, reported state news agency Wam, citing figures released by Abu Dhabi Customs. The value of Abu Dhabis non-oil exports to Saudi Arabia jumped to AED196.17 billion over the decade, while re-exports stood at AED180.09 billion, and imports to AED117.50 billion. Last year, the emirate's exports to Saudi Arabia grew 156.7 pct to AED25.76 billion from AED10.03 billion in 2010. Re-exports increased as well 67.9 percent to AED17.35 billion during the same reference period, with the Kingdom remaining the emirate's top trading partner over the decade. Speaking to the Emirates News Agency, Rashid bin Lahij Al Mansouri, Director General of General Administration for Customs in Abu Dhabi, said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a key strategic partner of the UAE thanks to the common views and robust cooperation ties maintained by the leadership of the two nations and their continual exchange of expertise and transfer of knowledge, which, he said, has reflected in streamlining traffic between their ports. Federal land ownership isnt a topic that leaps off the page in a news article, but Public Trust, a documentary that shows viewers the scenic beauty of those lands, doesnt have the same problem. The film, directed by David Garrett Byars (Robert Redford is among the executive producers), follows individuals in different parts of the country who have fought to prevent the sale or lease of public lands to private industries like oil, gas and mining. Even without the threats those interests pose to the environment and to local economies, the film argues for the democratic importance of conservation. Marking the first-ever fatality from such an incident, a grizzly bear mauled a hunter at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska, Sunday. Based on the information from the National Park Service (NPS), the hunter was part of a team amid a moose hunting trip which was supposed to last for 10 days when the bear attacked them in the national park. Authorities and park officials have not yet disclosed the identities of the hunter who died and his party. There have also been no further details about the incident that have been released. At the moment, there is still an on-going investigation about the incident as reported by CNN on MSN. However, it has not been clear if the bear responsible for the death of the hunter has been captured or if there are efforts to look for the bear. Located in south-central of Alaska, the vast and preserve, 13.2-million-acre is the largest United States, National Park. The area is occupying a combined six area of the Yellowstone or also known as the Yellowstone, Yosemite and the land size of the country Switzerland based on the data of the NPS. The park also elevates stretching from the sea level all the way up to the height of 18,008 feet at its peak of Mount St. Elias which is one of the tallest among North American Mountains. Read also: Cave Sealed Off for 5 Million Years Contains 33 Blind Creatures, Surviving Without Oxygen According to the statement released by the NPS with regards to the incident, when traveling in the backcountry of the area, visitors are encouraged to be Bear aware and take extra precautions while exploring the preserve such as carrying bear spray and the usage of Bear resistant Food containers to ensure safety all throughout the traveling period. All three species of bear which is native to the North American region can be found in Alaska making the state so unique when it comes to this animal. Based on the information of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Brown bears can be found in coastal areas of the state, while the related Grizzly bear subspecies inhabits and can be witnessed in the interior part of the state and the Arctic regions, People reported. On the other hand, Polar bears are living on a different side of the state, inhabiting at the northernmost Arctic coastal regions of the state while the smallest of three, the Black bear is most widely distributed and can be spotted both at the forest area and coastal part of the state. On the information given by the NPS, most bears tend to avoid humans and related fatal incidents are considered very rare. According to a study which was published in 2019, between the years of 2000 up to 2017, there are only 10 incidents that led to a fatality that can be linked to the bears in Alaska. Lastly, the NPS shared and reminded the public who will be visiting or living in the area that a bear will leave people alone if they will only maintain and give enough or sufficient space for the animal. Related article: Male Octopus Gives Birth to 1000 Babies, Surprising Zookeepers in Skidaway Aquarium @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Authorities are looking for a man who robbed a bank in downtown Metuchen shortly before closing time on Tuesday. The bandit entered Chase at the corner of Route 27 and Main Street about 4:40 p.m. and demanded money, Metuchen police said in a statement. After a teller handed him an unknown amount of cash, the man ran south on Main Street toward the train station. Police described the robber as 6-foot with a thin build. He wore dark colored clothing, a black hat and a white mask over his face. Police couldnt be immediately reached Thursday for additional information. Anyone with information is asked to call Metuchen police Det. Joseph Keane at 732-632-8501 or Capt. Scott Crocco of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732-745-4150. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Victoria's coronavirus lockdown has contributed to the highest rates of family violence in the state's history. Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent, speaking about the release of the state's latest annual crime statistics on Thursday, said the stay-at-home restrictions had contributed to the increase, which included notable rises in first-time victims and perpetrators of family violence. The data showed reports of abuse in the home rose 6.7 per cent, with more than 88,000 family violence offences reported to police, fulfilling the predictions of family violence from services such as Safe Steps, which warned in April it was expecting an "unprecedented spike" in incidents due to the state's lockdown measures. Mr Nugent said the figures included an increase in incidents where children were involved, both as perpetrators and victims. Anecdotally, what we have seen is less estranged partner violence what we have seen more of is first-time reporting, he said. WHEELING, W.Va., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fitzsimmons Law Firm, a personal injury and litigation firm based in Wheeling, West Virginia, has announced that the Fitzsimmons Foundation, has pledged a gift of $1.25 million to the West Virginia University College of Law to be used to establish what will be known as the Fitzsimmons Center for Litigation and Advocacy. The gift will also be used to rename the College's event venue to "Fitzsimmons Hall." The donation was made to the WVU Foundation, a nonprofit organization responsible for private donations granted to the university. The purpose of the new Fitzsimmons Center will be to provide law students an enhanced curriculum that offers training opportunities to develop their litigation and advocacy skills. A formal concentration in "Litigation and Advocacy Skills" at the College of Law is also in development. Clayton Fitzsimmons, an owner and managing member of the Fitzsimmons Law Firm, said: "We are so proud of West Virginia University and the College of Law and everything they mean to our great State. We are pleased to know that our gift will be used to further the great tradition of litigators, advocates, and trial lawyers in West Virginia for many generations to come." "We are also confident that the Center will further WVU's College of Law's standing as a national leader in legal education and serve to promote the practice of law in West Virginia and beyond," remarked Rocky Fitzsimmons, another owner and managing member of the firm. Jessica Haught, a professor and interim associate dean for Administration at the College, has been selected to serve as the director of the Fitzsimmons Center for Litigation and Advocacy. She and her colleagues will work together to develop the new curriculum. WVU President Gordon Gee commended the Gift, saying: "To educate our future leaders and fulfill our mission to serve the public good, West Virginia University depends on partners like the Fitzsimmons family. Their vision and the generosity of their gift to the College of Law will help improve our justice system and make our communitiesand the worlda better place." More information about the Fitzsimmons Center for Litigation & Advocacy will be released as the project develops. In the meantime, visit the West Virginia University College of Law website at www.law.wvu.edu and find the Fitzsimmons Law Firm, PLLC online at www.fitzsimmonsfirm.com. SOURCE Fitzsimmons Law Firm, PLLC Related Links http://www.fitzsimmonsfirm.com KITCHENER Hayan Yassin, a Kitchener man who abducted and raped two university students in Waterloo 10 years ago, still has cognitive distortions about women and a lack of insight into his crimes, according to Correctional Service of Canada. The allegations are included in a Parole Board of Canada ruling, obtained by The Record on Wednesday, that says a psychological assessment last year found Yassin posed a high risk of committing another sexual crime. Yassin, now 34, was freed from prison last week on statutory release and will live in Kitchener under strict conditions aimed at reducing the chance of him committing more crimes. His release prompted Waterloo Regional Police to issue a public alert, saying he poses a high risk to reoffend or breach his release terms. Corrections staff say Yassin has ongoing cognitive distortions about women and a lack of insight into his actions, the parole board said. After the second attack, Yassin believed the victim would be his girlfriend. He helped her get dressed and held her hand. In 2017 Yassin downplayed the crimes. Your version as to the details of the offences continued to differ from the official version as you attempted to place yourself in a positive light, the board said. A psychological assessment in August 2019 concluded Yassin posed a high risk of committing another sexual crime, the parole board said. But his score on the Statistical Information of Recidivism in April 2019 suggests four of five offenders with a similar score will not commit an indictable offence within three years of release, according to the board. The board made it clear it did not make the decision to release Yassin. Statutory release is a release by law and is not a decision made by the Parole Board of Canada, the board said in an email. The board set the conditions for Yassins release. Most offenders must be released after serving two-thirds of their sentence. If Yassin breaks any release conditions, he can be sent back to prison. Thats what happened in 2018. He was freed on statutory release but was brought back to prison four months later after he used a dating website and inappropriate photos were found on his phone, the parole board said. It was later learned he had gone multiple times to restaurants and coffee shops in the university district in Waterloo the same area where his crimes in 2010 took place. Earlier this year, one of the victims said she has an ongoing fear of your release to the community for themselves and other women, the parole board said. Yassin is under many conditions. He must follow a curfew except for work, stay away from the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier campuses and surrounding area, live in a place approved by Correctional Service Canada, not access sexually explicit material, report any relationships with women and not use online dating websites. He also must abstain from alcohol and drugs. Yassin had been drinking before the first attack. Substance abuse has been a problem for you and there is a relationship between your substance abuse and criminal offending behaviour, the parole board said. Any return to substance abuse will signify a return to your crime cycle, elevate your risk, and increase your likelihood of reoffending. Yassin also must follow a treatment plan for sexual violence and substance abuse. Waterloo Regional Police said they are working with corrections staff to monitor Yassins release terms, including through electronic monitoring, but are seeking community assistance to help reduce the risk. If anyone sees him breaking a release term, please do not approach but call 911, police said. The parole board summarized Yassins crimes in its ruling. In October 2010 and November 2010 you sexually assaulted two female victims unknown to you, holding them against their will, the board said. You slapped, punched and pulled their hair and forced digital, vaginal and anal intercourse and threatened to kill the first victim to silence her after she was physically assaulted. Yassin was convicted in 2011 of kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault causing bodily harm and sexual assault with a weapon and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was put on the sex offender registry for 20 years. He was born in Iraq and spent several years in a refugee camp before coming here with his family in his late teens. He became a Canadian citizen. The parole board previously said Yassin feels lonely and has talked about moving back to Iraq to find a wife where no one knows his history. The featured dashes during Running Aces' Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 23) program were a pair of $11,500 races for juvenile trotters. The colts and geldings division was won by the heavily-favoured Rush To The Bank (Nick Roland, $2.20), who was never in doubt while posting a two-length, gate-to-wire score over Oh Danny Boy and Ice Titan in 2:02.1. The victory made it five in a row for the clear leader in the division, who is also the likely favourite for the Minnesota Day of Champions program, which will take place on October 3. Rush To The Bank is a gelded son of Banker Volo, is owned by Jeralene Roland and Vickie Rush, and is trained by Dan Roland. Rush To The Bank, pictured victorious at Running Aces on September 23, 2020. Rush To The Bank, pictured victorious at Running Aces on September 23, 2020. The filly division was won by Coatofmanycolors ($27.40), who rallied from well back to get up for a one-length tally in 2:02.1. The victory was a maiden breaker for Coatofmanycolors, who was making just her second-ever start. Its So Fluffy was home second and The Royal Queen checked in third. Coatofmanycolors is by Tymal Templar and is owned and trained by driver Jenni King. Justlikehim (Jacob Cutting, $14.80) trotted to a new career mark of 1:54 in the $8,500 Open Handicap Trot. He converted a pocket trip into a three-quarter-length tally over Magic MVP and Pridecrest. Justlikehim is a five-year-old gelding by My MVP and is owned by Orlando Nevarez and trained by Edwin Quevedo. The 1:54 mile was just one-fifth of a second off of the track record. Driver Steve Wiseman led the program with two winners and trainer Kathie Plested-Wiseman registered two winners, as well. The Pick-5 Jackpot now stands at $14,916.02 for Saturday (Sept. 26). Live racing will continue at Running Aces through October 4, with action four days a week at 1:00 p.m. (CDT). (Running Aces) The day has been finally confirmed! Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan has announced Bigg Boss Tamil 4's launch date with a new promo of the reality show. The 2020 edition of the show will go on air from October 4 from 6 pm, which is when the contestant names will also be revealed. In the newly released promo, Kamal talks about the traits of the contestants, as he says "A serious-faced person might have a heart of a child. The one who was considered reserved might turn into a person taking complete control. We will see how it goes when we go inside the house." Well, the usual episodes of the show will be telecast on Vijay Television from Monday to Friday at 9.30 pm displaying the daily activities and tasks of the contestants. Kamal Haasan will join the contestants during the weekend episodes- Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm, wherein he will be seen hosting the show with his candid chit-chats and serious take on the issues inside the house. According to reports, 14 contestants will enter the house with 3 as wild-card entries. Let us tell you that reportedly, the makers have chosen some well-known faces from the film industry and also a few controversial contestants for the show, which is yet to be made official by the team. Though the official list of contestants is not yet out, there are several names doing the rounds on social media, including Poonam Bajwa, Shivani Narayanan, Anu Mohan, Suriya Devi, Gopinath, Sanam Shetty, Ramya Pandian, Pugal, Kiran Rathod, Vidyulekha Raman, Shivangi, Manimegalai, Amritha and Athulya Ravi. Reportedly, the contestants of Bigg Boss Tamil 4 are currently undergoing the quarantine period of 15 days after being tested negative for COVID-19. A team of expert doctors will be monitoring the contestants with daily body checkups once they are inside the house. Bigg Boss Tamil 4 Contestants: From Poonam Bajwa To Suriya Devi, Here's The Probable List! Bigg Boss Tamil 4: Kamal Haasan Wins The Internet With His Graceful Moves In The New Prom The Traton Group, Volkswagen AGs heavy-truck business, has taken a minority stake in TuSimple as part of an agreement between the two companies to develop self-driving trucks. Neither company disclosed the financial terms of the partnership or the percentage of the minority stake. Traton did make a direct capital investment into TuSimple, according to one unnamed source familiar with the deal. It's unclear if it also included in-kind contributions. Traton's investment is not part of TuSimple's recent effort to raise $250 million in a Series E round. Traton Group does have an option to participate in the round. The two companies outlined Wednesday plans to launch a development program that will use Traton's Scania trucks equipped with TuSimple's automated vehicle technology. The companies said testing will begin with a route between Sodertalje and Jonkoping in Sweden. The trucking manufacturer ultimately wants to test driverless truck fleets on roads throughout Sweden, Germany and other countries. The companies didn't provide details on the scope of the program or timelines, beyond plans to "work closely" to develop Level 4 autonomous systems for trucks of the Traton brands. Specifically, Traton said the aim is for these trucks to have Level 4 capabilities, which they define as being able to "achieve full automation without human intervention under defined driving conditions and applied in all markets." Traton said this could serve as a means of counteracting the increasing lack of drivers in the medium term. The first cases of deployment could be conducted outside of the specially demarcated areas, particularly for highly frequented hub-to-hub routes, Traton said in its announcement. The partnership will expand TuSimple's autonomous vehicle operations beyond the U.S. and China to Europe. The startup, which is backed by Sina, Nvidia, UPS and Tier 1 supplier Mando Corporation, operates a fleet of 40 self-driving trucks in the U.S. that are used for testing and to carry freight between Arizona and Texas. The company, which launched in 2015, has operations in China, San Diego and Tucson, Arizona. Story continues The partnership also tightens the connection between Traton, TuSimple and Navistar. In July, TuSimple announced plans to develop and begin producing autonomous semi trucks by 2024 in partnership with Navistar. The plan is to move away from retrofitting the Navistar International commercial trucks that TuSimple currently uses and instead develop semi trucks specifically designed for autonomous operations. The strategic partnership included Navistar taking an undisclosed stake in startup TuSimple. Meanwhile, Traton holds a 16.6% stake in Navistar, which it acquired by buying $256 million worth of shares in September 2016. The two companies could end up getting closer. In January, Traton made an unsolicited bid to buy the remaining Navistar stock that it doesn't own, for $35 share. Traton upped its offer this month to $43 a share, or about $3.9 billion, Bloomberg reported earlier this month. Americans willing to travel abroad have limited options. Their passport, which once unlocked access to most of the world, is now hindering them from moving freely as countries watch coronavirus cases rise in the United States. But one of America's most popular travel destinations remains open and available: Mexico. While the State Department recommends people "reconsider" travel to Mexico because of the coronavirus, and nonessential travel across land borders is still restricted, discounted flights have been tempting Americans throughout the pandemic. According to data from the travel booking company CheapCaribbean.com, Mexico now makes up 70% of the company's bookings, up 20% from the pre-covid-19 era. SkyScanner data has shown Cancun as one of the most-searched destinations for fall travel. But do Mexicans want Americans to visit during the pandemic? We spoke with people who work in hospitality and tourism there to find out what they want Americans to know before booking a trip. - - - Washington Post photo by Kevin Sieff - What locals say Before the pandemic, Andrea Villela says a major selling point for her mezcal business, La Fiera Mezcal, was the intimacy of the tasting sessions at her home in Mexico City. Now those personal touches, like home-cooked meals and lingering conversations, can feel like a risk. She's now limiting tastings to groups of four, taking their temperature when they arrive, providing Lysol wipes and wearing a mask as she hosts the experience. Although she relies on travelers for her business, she says, it's still too early for Americans to be visiting. "I know I can get the virus not only from tourists - I can get the virus here in the city," Villela says. "I don't feel like I have more chance to get the virus by hosting a group of people than from going to downtown in peak rush hour, even with my protection." Her advice to travelers who still decide to come to Mexico is to avoid small towns, where Villela says there is a lot of coronavirus misinformation and a lack of resources. "They don't have hospitals, and people are getting really, really sick," she says. David Alvarado, a Mexican American producer and creative consultant living in Mexico City, says he's 100% against Americans visiting Mexico at this time and regularly tells friends not to plan trips yet. "I run into Americans always here on vacation who are not wearing masks, who don't take the locals and their health into consideration," he says. "I don't even think they're aware of the lack of resources available to Mexico right now in the middle of this pandemic." It's a double-edged sword: Alvarado recognizes that tourism is an economic lifeline and that there's no government support for those not working, but he's also wary of what a second wave could do to the country. "There are not a lot of government funds going into testing and providing resources. If you get someone sick, you directly impact their economic livelihood," he says. "[Americans are] coming here no matter what, so just be mindful of how vulnerable a lot of people are here." Mexico City chef Maycoll Calderon says he has burned through his personal savings to pay his bar and restaurant employees's salaries throughout the pandemic. Per the city's coronavirus restrictions, he can only allow up to 30% occupancy in his establishments, so to help make up for lost revenue, he started a handmade-pasta delivery service and also teaches online cooking classes. Calderon doesn't discourage visitors to Mexico because he feels the country is handling its coronavirus outbreak better than the United States. "The economy in Mexico depends on tourism, not only in hotels but restaurants and everything else," Calderon says. "To tell the truth I recommend everybody come to Mexico because everywhere you go, hotels, restaurants, even sites that you want to visit, everybody is conscious to protect themselves. Everybody tests your temperature, gives you [hand sanitizer]. Everybody is trying to do their best to make the situation not spread even more." - What tour guides say Bill Esparza, the James Beard award-winning author of the book "L.A. Mexicano" and co-founder of the food-tour company Club Tengo Hambre, says visitors are welcome in his eyes but should know they're coming at their own risk. Having traveled throughout Mexico during the pandemic, Esparza found that coronavirus precautions varied from state to state. Some Mexican communities were entirely closed to outsiders, some had strict curfews, and others seemed to not have any restrictions. He says overall, people are just figuring out how to make it through the crisis, including his tour guides. "People are anxious to work, and, of course, they're taking their own precautions," he says. "We're here to safely take people around, and the vendors want customers. They want to sell tacos, and restaurants want to sell food. Mexico does have protocols and safety requirements for these places, and they're doing their best." Not all tour operations are back up and running. Intrepid Travel, which does small-group adventure travel, is still monitoring data and assessing the pandemic regularly to determine when it can relaunch its Mexico tours. The company is developing new covid-19 protocols and figuring out how to handle logistics (such as buses and group lodging and PPE distribution) in a pandemic. It's hoping that if cases continue to drop, they can host a few tours in late November or December. In the meantime, Intrepid's guides have had to figure out other sources of income while tours remain on hold. Carlos Cardona, Intrepid's general manager of operations in Central America and Mexico, says some guides have started selling jewelry, one went back to his family's farm to sell honey, and others are using their English skills at call centers. Cardona doesn't discourage travelers from visiting Mexico now, but he recommends Americans consult their physicians first to determine if they're healthy enough to take the risk of traveling, as well as consult the State Department recommendations. - What tourism boards say Rocio Lancaster, the tourism undersecretary for the state of Jalisco, says that while they're aware they must be concerned for the safety of tourism employees, there are also many families that depend on tourism for their economic survival. "What we can do is just make sure we have the right measures and protect the tourists and the locals," Lancaster says, noting that Jalisco was granted a Safe Travels Stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) for its coronavirus prevention procedures. "We just want to be conscious of the situation we're living, but I would say that we are eager to welcome people from the U.S." Lancaster also recommends that visitors read the covid-19 Q&A before their trip. Michelle Fridman, the tourism secretary of the state of Yucatan, says the region took strict actions at the beginning of the pandemic, shutting down nearly every aspect of tourism for six months. Fridman says more than 1,200 tourism companies and guides have qualified for the region's new biosecurity risk prevention certification to promote covid-safe practices. Fridman wants Americans to feel welcome to come to Mexico, as long as they're willing to follow the new restrictions in place. "We want to do this responsibly and have a sustainable reopening for everyone," she says. "I cannot say we're out of covid - of course every country in the world has or is exposed to covid - but we are a safe destination and want to keep it that way." - What hotels say To salvage what business they could during the pandemic, many hotels throughout Mexico moved quickly to welcome visitors as safely as possible. Giorgio Brignone, the director of Careyes Mexico, says both domestic and American guests have been slowly returning to the luxury property in the state of Jalisco since it reopened with reduced capacity and new safety protocols in June. "Americans are more than welcome," Brignone says. "[Locals] realize America is a very important market for Mexico." At the reopened Viceroy Los Cabos, guests can book a sanitized Tesla driven by masked drivers for rides to and from the airport. Masks are required on the property, and the hotel has installed glass partitions at lobby desks and placed stickers around that remind people to social distance. The hotel's regional managing director, Peter Bowling, hopes Americans will return this fall and winter to relax and make up for their lost vacation time this year. "But still, we've got to be very much aware that the virus is increasing in certain parts of the world, and we take it very seriously," Bowling says, adding that visitors should show respect to locals by following coronavirus safety precautions. Link said in its announcement of the appointment last month that Bhatias background included being CEO of Wesfarmers Insurance in Australia, where he was responsible for leading the business through a significant transformation journey. However, the Australian Financial Review pointed out that the role never existed as the company never had a CEO for Australia. In fact, its report states that in June 2011, he was appointed chief executive officer of the Australian underwriting operations and was one of three divisional heads reporting to then Wesfarmers Insurance CEO Rob Scott. His role with the firm lasted just four months he resigned in October of the same year. When asked about the issue, the Link Group board told the Australian Financial Review that it considered Vivek Bhatias previous employment and responsibilities before making the appointment. At Wesfarmers, Vivek had responsibility for all of the Australian general insurance businesses, including Lumley, WFI, and Affinity & Direct (which includes Coles Insurance). The AFR columnist described this as an excruciating stance and went on to question Bhatias designation as a chartered financial analyst, noting that he was not recognised by the CFA Institute but rather from the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India, which, the report says, advises its alumni to refer to themselves as CFA (ICFAI) to help distinguish themselves from the CFA Institutes charterholders. WASHINGTON - Republicans are shifting their campaign focus toward the looming Supreme Court fight over replacing the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in hopes that it will inject a last-minute boost into President Donald Trump's reelection bid and the battle for the Senate majority. But some in Trump's orbit are questioning that strategy, privately fretting that the move to quickly confirm a conservative replacement for the liberal icon will backfire and energize the left in key battlegrounds states. And behind the scenes, some Senate GOP advisers also acknowledge that this could spell bad news for at least two GOP incumbents - Susan Collins in Maine and Cory Gardner in Colorado - fighting for their political lives in Democratic-leaning states, even as they predict it could bolster other vulnerable senators. The fears underscore the gamble Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., are taking, as they try to refocus the electorate from the president's ham-handed coronavirus response and toward issues that typically rally their party: Partisan Supreme Court battles recently boosted the GOP, helping Trump to victory and saving McConnell's majority in 2016, then expanding that majority in 2018. Among some of the president's advisers, jitters stem from a recent internal Republican poll discussed among officials in the White House and the Trump campaign this week that contained an alarming range of signs about the vacancy, according to people who reviewed it. The poll - conducted over the weekend among about 1,500 likely voters in 17 swing states, including Arizona, Wisconsin, Florida, North Carolina and Pennsylvania - showed that 51% of voters said they trust Biden more than Trump to handle the vacancy, while only 43% said they trusted Trump. The document also showed that only 28% of the voters said they would be more likely to vote for Trump if a replacement is confirmed, while 38% said they would be less likely. And 52% said the Senate should hold hearings after the election, while 41% said it should hold hearings before the election. At the same time, Democrats argue that the renewed interest has bolstered their own fundraising, pointing to the more than $200 million that ActBlue, the party's online fundraising platform for small-dollar donations, has raised since Ginsburg's death Friday. They also say the battle will sharpen their focus on health care, with the Supreme Court set to hear oral arguments in mid-November on the Trump administration's case to strike down the Affordable Care Act, including its popular protections for people with preexisting conditions. "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. "They're 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 that's going to take away their health care." Trump told advisers in conversations over the weekend that the Supreme Court fight was a boost for his presidential campaign and that he wanted to name a nominee before the election. His aides and allies say the Supreme Court is a fight worth having because it shows Republicans the promise of the Trump presidency, even if they disagree with his rhetoric and tactics; takes the focus off the coronavirus pandemic that has killed 200,000 Americans; and shows the president working. "I think it's better if you go before the election," Trump told reporters Wednesday at the White House." "I think it'd be fairly quick," he said of confirmation. Some Republicans fear injecting abortion politics into the election with the choice of judge Amy Coney Barrett - a potential vote to overturn Roe v. Wade - which could be damaging for the president and Republican senators. Indeed, the GOP polling scrutinized by the White House showed that a majority of swing-state voters wanted a justice who supports abortion rights. But there were other promising signs for the party, with one campaign adviser noting that low-dollar online fundraising was near record highs this weekend after the Ginsburg death. Campaign advisers also say they expect the Supreme Court pick could drive up turnout among evangelical and Catholic supporters, and the president has told advisers that he believes that Democrats will overreach in the fight - giving him a target to mock. The advisers spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations. "Trump needs to fire up conservatives for the election. That's the goal," said Mike Davis, a Republican consultant who helped lead the Senate confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. "That is a big deal for conservatives and will motivate them." Josh Holmes, a longtime McConnell adviser, downplayed any polling indicating the nomination could hurt Trump and the GOP. The numbers, he said, would improve once the nominee is named and hearings begin. "There is nothing that polling will tell me now," he said. "When you have a live human being sitting in front of you, who is quite obviously a qualified judge, that's a harder argument to make. The worm turns a little bit with independents." Overall, Senate GOP members have predicted that the court fight will reinforce their firewall and potentially help some vulnerable Republicans they had written off, even if it hurts others. "As a matter of politics, I think recent history has clearly shown that these sorts of fights bring Republicans together, and I anticipate that will happen in 2020, just as it did in 2016 and 2018," said Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Young won in 2016 after Republicans refused to consider President Barack Obama's last Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, when they declared no justice should be confirmed eight months before the election. Before the Ginsburg news broke, Republicans were less optimistic about holding Senate seats in Arizona and Colorado, where Sens. Martha McSally and Gardner, respectively, face tough fights. They had also begun to worry increasingly about Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who has consistently polled behind his Democratic challenger, Cal Cunningham. Republicans now expect that Collins is more likely to join Gardner as the most endangered, due to the bluish tinge of her state. Republicans expect McSally and Tillis to get a boost, though Democrats cast doubt on those predictions. The change of fortunes in Maine is particularly stark. For weeks, Republicans in Washington and Maine fought against Democratic proclamations that Collins - after overcoming Democratic presidential victories in the Pine Tree State in two of her four Senate wins - was finally caught in a political vise of Trump's making. But Ginsburg's death served as a jolt that further heightened the partisan dynamic in a state where Biden has a comfortable lead in polling, according to Democratic and GOP strategists. The issue, some Republicans fear, will remind liberal voters of Collins's pivotal vote to confirm Kavanaugh, which has cost her some support. Additionally, her refusal to back a Trump nominee before the election could repel the GOP base she needs to turn out, though Collins strategists say that hasn't yet happened. At the same time, some Republicans who initially wrote off McSally now think she has a fighting chance. It was no accident that she tweeted within minutes of the news of Ginsburg's death that "this U.S. Senate should vote on President Trump's next nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court." Those close to McSally's campaign said she has received an increase in online donations since taking her public position, though they wouldn't specify how much. And her allies note that the court fight will help her swing a key GOP-leaning constituency that has started to abandon Trump: conservative members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Maricopa County. Democratic strategists scoffed at the notion that the courts fight would help McSally, who has been steadily trailing former astronaut Mark Kelly. Democrats note that after she lost her Senate race in 2018, McSally's team put out a memo blaming the Kavanaugh court fight for her downfall. For the GOP, the more they can turn the battleground into a red-versus-blue dynamic, the better. Traditionally, partisan matters such as the tilt of the Supreme Court have turned out GOP voters, contributing to Trump's surprise victory in 2016 as well as the elections of several sitting senators. "It catapulted my race - I think Josh had the same - up to two, three points," said Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., who saw his race and that of fellow 2018 winner Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., move from a near tie to a comfortable six-point win after the Kavanaugh confirmation clash. "And I don't think you could have anything more comparable than what occurred back then, and it's only been two years." That's exactly what Republicans hope will happen with Tillis in North Carolina, who is already using the matter to play to his base. During a debate Monday night, Tillis sought to tie his opponent to Biden, who has declined to release a list of names of judges he would support, while touting his own support for a Trump nominee. Democrats, however, argue that most of the fundamentals of these Senate races haven't changed. Most voters, they say, will cast their ballots based on their feelings about Trump's handling of the pandemic. And with voting having already started in many states, it's unclear if there's even enough time for the court issue to sink into the psyche, they say. Additionally, the issue has inspired many voters to open up their wallets, they argue. Case in point: A joint-fundraising account overseen by Crooked Media, a liberal outfit founded by Obama White House alumni, raised $18.5 million in less than 72 hours after Ginsburg's death - all for 13 Democratic candidates in key battleground states benefiting from the "Get Mitch Fund," which uses the ActBlue portal to steer its donations. Democrats also expect the court fight to boost their candidates in races against members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who will oversee the confirmation process - particularly Sen. Lindsey Graham, the panel chairman. In South Carolina, where Graham is facing an unexpectedly strong challenge, Democrat Jaime Harrison had already raised more than $21 million in the first half of the year, a fundraising pace that has since taken off by leaps and bounds. In Iowa, Theresa Greenfield is using a similar playbook. The Democrat taking on Sen. Joni Ernst has already made the Trump administration's lawsuit to outlaw Obamacare a centerpiece of her campaign. And with Ernst on the Judiciary Committee, it's another chance to highlight the vulnerable GOP incumbent's move to try to strike down the health-care law. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Z Natural Foods announced today the release of their new Meal Replacement shake, Optimum 30 Complete Nutrition Blend. Optimum 30 contains extra rich cacao giving it a delicious dark chocolate flavor and features 30 organic superfoods, including the best pea, pumpkin, and brown rice plant-based protein sources, healthy fats including coconut milk, and superfruits including acai, and goji berries. Z Natural Foods announces new Plant-Based, Organic Meal Replacement Shake Optimum 30 Chocolate Meal Replacement, High in Protein, 30 Superfoods and Powerful Medicinal Mushrooms Optimum 30 also contains ashwagandha, turmeric and ginger root, shiitake, lion's mane, and cordyceps mushrooms, super greens including chlorella, moringa, and spirulina, all together in one potent tasty mix. This one of a kind blend of superfood powders is loaded with antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and healthy phytochemicals. Optimum 30 provides a wide variety of nutrition in one convenient meal replacement. "The nutrition in a Standard American meal doesn't even come close to the quality proteins, healthy MCT fats, high fiber, superfoods, and mushrooms in this blend, reports Jonathan Parker, Director of Nutritional Sciences for Z Natural Foods. This is the best and healthiest meal you could possibly eat in a day. It's a super meal and is a quick and convenient way to get a potent does of valuable nutrition." Organic Optimum 30 is certified organic and vegan and mixes easily in water, juice, or smoothies. It has no after taste, like many vegetarian meal replacements. It is also soy-free, gluten-free, and does not contain any added preservatives or sugar. "Each serving provides far more nutrition than virtually any other vegan meal replacement, supplement, or superfood," says Jonathan. Organic Optimum 30 Complete Nutrition Blend powder (Dark chocolate) is $59.99 for 15 super healthy meals ($3.99 per meal) and comes in an air-locked, freezer-tight, resealable, stand up foil pouch and can be safely stored for 2 years. For more information about Organic Optimum 30 Complete Nutrition Blend, you are invited to visit www.ZNaturalFoods.com . About Z Natural Foods Z Natural Foods is a leading provider of high quality, organic superfoods and concentrated fruit powders. With over 400 specialty products, Z Natural Foods provides a wide range of natural foods to the biggest wholesalers and retailers in the industry. Offering services such as bulk purchasing, blending, packaging, wholesale delivery and retail, Z Natural Foods provides a unique niche to the food industry. For more information about Z Natural Foods, visit www.ZNaturalFoods.com or call 888-963-6637. Media Contact: Sam Hirschberg 855-873-4320 [email protected] SOURCE Z Natural Foods Related Links http://www.ZNaturalFoods.com EL PASO, Texas - A team of researchers from multiple institutions led by Philip Lavretsky, Ph.D., assistant professor in The University of Texas at El Paso's Department of Biological Sciences, was awarded nearly $1 million in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance ongoing research to understand the adaptive impacts of hybridization between wild and domesticated animal populations. Lavretsky is the principal investigator for the research project titled "Genomic and Morphological Consequences of Landscape-Level Hybridization between Wild and Domesticated Congeners." The project is a collaboration of researchers from UTEP, the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), Mississippi State University, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian's National Zoo laboratories, the Forbes Biological Station in Illinois, and the California Waterfowl Association. For this study, researchers will use the mallard duck as the non-model organism. The mallard is well known and is considered an extremely important game species sought by hunters in Eurasia and North America. It is also the source for almost all domestic breeds of ducks that are important for agricultural reasons in those areas. "The results from our research will shed light into the consequences of interbreeding between wild individuals and their domesticated versions," Lavretsky said. "In short, many traits that are great in a domestic setting are simply non-adaptive in the wild. Through the proposed work, we will be answering the question 'What are the genetic and adaptive consequences from such events?' Not only are the results important to understand the impact from the interbreeding between wild and domestic creatures, but also will help better guide the conservation of the wild population." The researchers will look at the full genomes of wild, domestic, and their hybrid individuals in today's populations and use state-of-the-art ancient DNA techniques on museum species of mallard ducks sampled throughout the last century to pinpoint the approximate time that a genetic shift began to occur. Additionally, co-PI Michael Schummer, Ph.D., of SUNY College ESF, and senior personnel Brian Davis, Ph.D., of Mississippi State University will lead efforts to look at feeding efficiency between domestic and wild populations by feeding wild and domestic mallards various natural foods. The project will culminate with Smithsonian-based collaborators using a 3D scanner to document the size and shape of modern mallards' bills compared with historic specimens. Together, the team seeks to gain a comprehensive insight into the impacts of interbreeding between domestic and wild individuals on the adaptive landscape of populations attempting to survive in the wild. Lavretsky will be processing hundreds of samples in his Population and Evolutionary Genetics Lab at UTEP for full genome sequencing. While funding supports overall materials and logistics of the project, paid research opportunities will be available to several UTEP undergraduate students, a doctoral student and a postdoctoral fellow. Thus, the research not only will further understanding of the genetics from such interactions, but provide critical research experiences to UTEP students. Student researchers also will have the chance to work with live birds being held at the Forbes Biological Station in Illinois and Mississippi State University and spend a summer in Washington, D.C., working at the Smithsonian. "I am very excited to start the work, as this is not only going to shed light into important genomic and adaptive processes, but will translate nicely to direct conservation strategies," Lavretsky said. The University of Texas at El Paso is one of the largest and most successful Hispanic-serving institutions in the country, with a student body that is over 80% Hispanic. It enrolls nearly 25,000 students in 166 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in 10 colleges and schools. With more than $100 million in total annual research expenditures, UTEP is ranked in the top 5% of research institutions nationally and fifth in Texas for federal research expenditures at public universities. ### Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said in concluding remarks that the Houses productivity was 100.47 percent, while written replies were given to a total of 1,567 unstarred questions The Parliaments Monsoon Session concluded on Wednesday, eight days ahead of schedule, with 25 Bills being passed in 10 sittings even as the Opposition protested and boycotted Rajya Sabha proceedings over proposed farm legislations and suspension of MPs. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said in concluding remarks that the Houses productivity was 100.47 percent, while written replies were given to a total of 1,567 unstarred questions. Members raised issues of urgent public importance through 92 Zero Hours and 66 Special Mentions. Amid an Opposition boycott, 15 Bills were passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday and Wednesday. Among the eight Bills passed on Wednesday alone were three contentious labour codes: The Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions Code, 2020, The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 and The Code On Social Security, 2020. Under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, the government has allowed a single license for staffing firms to hire workers on contract across different locations instead of multiple licences needed earlier. It has increased the threshold limit of contractor employees from 20 to 50 under OSH Code while opening up hiring of contract workers in all areas will ease the compliance for employers. The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 has raised the threshold on number employees needed in an organisation for retrenchment and closure of establishments without government approval to 300 from 100, significantly improving the ease of firing for employers. The Code on Social Security, 2020 intends to provide for universal social security to all workers, including the unorganised and the gig and platform workers. These together account for over 90 percent of Indias total workforce. However, it was after the passage of The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 on Sunday that the Rajya Sabha plummeted into chaos, with the Opposition Benches registering their strong protest. Following Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singhs refusal of requests seeking division of votes on the Bills and that they be referred to a Select Committee, members intensified their protests, trooping into the Well of the House, throwing the rule book at the Chair, tearing official papers and attempting to damage the mics. While the Opposition members moved a no-confidence motion against Singh, eight MPs were suspended on Monday for unruly behaviour. Congress and other Opposition parties claimed the Bills will deal a death knell to farming. The government assured that the Minimum Support Price system will not be done away with and the proposed legislations are not against agricultural mandis. Under the provisions, farmers will not be charged any cess or levy for sale of their produce under this Act, also allowing them to trade their goods to a private player directly. Additionally, a national framework on farming agreements will empower farmers to engage with the market at a mutually agreed remunerative price framework in a fair and transparent manner. Two days later, in a House sans Opposition, the Essential Commodities Bill, 2020 was also passed. It aims to remove cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes as essential goods and boost investment in the agricultural sector and will create more storage capacities to reduce the post-harvest loss of crops. On the same day, the Upper House passed the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which declares five newly established Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) as institutes of national importance. The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020 amends the banking regulation act to bring cooperative banks under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and assumes importance in the backdrop of the PMC scam. The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020 amends 48 sections of the Companies Act, 2013 with focus on decriminalisation and increasing the ease of living. The National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020 aims to establish Gujarat Forensic Sciences University and Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences, New Delhi under one name called the National Forensic Sciences University in Gujarat. The Rashtriya Raksha University Bill, 2020 seeks to upgrade Raksha Shakti University in Gujarat with its changed name and as an institute of national importance. The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020 includes extension of deadlines for filing returns and for linking PAN and Aadhaar, tax benefits on donation made to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES FUND) among other provisions. On Wednesday, The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 was passed, which seeks to make it mandatory for office bearers of NGOs to provide their Aadhaar numbers at the time of registration, enable the Centre to allow an NGO or association to surrender its FCRA certificate, among other provisions. Other proposed legislations that were passed are The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020 and Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020. Other important Bills that were passed include the The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020, that mandates a default on repayments from 25 March would not be considered for initiating insolvency proceedings for at least six months. The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 ensures protection for healthcare workers. Other Bills pertaining to the medical field were The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020, The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and The Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Two bills effecting a 30 percent reduction in the salaries of ministers and members of Parliament till March 2021 were also passed. The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020, passed on 15 September sought to transmute the three aviation regulatory bodies, including Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), into statutory bodies. The Appropriation (No.3) Bill and The Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2020 were returned without any discussion on the last day of the Session. New York, Sep 24 : At least 51.6 million people globally have been affected by floods, droughts or storms and also the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) said in a report. Beside the IFRC, the Red Crescent Societies and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre also contributed to the report released on Wednesday. "Covid-19 is directly affecting and increasing the needs of persons affected by climate-related disasters," said the report, which demonstrated the huge scale of combined impacts of climate-related disasters and the pandemic. The analysis, which quantifies the overlapping vulnerability of communities, showed that out of 132 identified unique extreme weather events that have occurred so far in 2020, 92 have overlapped with the pandemic. The largest impact disasters of this type have occurred in India and Bangladesh with almost 40 million people across the two countries have been affected by both the pandemic and floods or storms. The analysis also indicated that at least a further 2.3 million people have been affected by major wildfires and an estimated 437.1 million others in vulnerable groups have been exposed to extreme heat, all while contending with the direct health impacts of Covid-19 or measures implemented to curb its spread. "The climate crisis has not stopped for Covid-19, and millions of people have suffered from the two crises colliding," IFRC President Francesco Rocca said. "We have had absolutely no choice but to address both crises simultaneously." "Covid-19 has exposed our vulnerabilities like never before and, as our preliminary analysis shows, compounded suffering for millions of people affected by climate-related disasters," said Julie Arrighi, climate advisor with the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) Dozens of foreign lawmakers have supported a resolution filed before the United States Congress seeking to withdraw funding granted to Philippine security forces amid allegations of human rights abuses. Rep. Susan Wild from Pennsylvania authored and filed the Philippine Human Rights Act on September 17. It was backed and co-sponsored by 24 other democrat lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. House Resolution 8313 seeks to "suspend the provision of security assistance to the Philippines until the Government of the Philippines has made certain reforms to the military and police forces, and for other purposes." In a copy of Wild's speech posted on Thursday, the legislator criticized President Rodrigo Duterte and the controversial anti-terrorism law. She cited some its questionable provisions, such as allowing the police and military to arrest and detain a suspected terrorist without a warrant nor charges for 24 days. "Today, across the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte's brutal regime is using the pretext of a so-called anti-terrorism law to ramp up efforts targeting labor organizers, workers, and political opponents," she said in an address to House members. She said this led her to file the resolution. "In response to these abuses, I introduced the Philippine Human Rights Act, which would block US funding for police or military assistance to the Philippines, outlining a series of basic criteria, which would have to be met in order to resume such funding," Wild said. The copy of the resolution has yet to be posted by the US Congress. But according to a US-based labor group mentioned by Wild during her speech, the following criteria must be met by the Philippines: 1. Investigate and prosecute members of the military and police forces who are found to have violated human rights 2. Withdraw the military from domestic policy 3. Establish protection for the rights of trade unionists, journalists, human right defenders, indigenous persons, small-farmers, LGBTI activists, and critics of the government 4. Take steps to guarantee a judicial system that is capable of investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to justice members of the police and military who have committed human rights abuses 5. Fully comply with any and all audits or investigations regarding the improper use of security aid The foreign lawmaker said US aid should not be used to train and provide equipment to police and troops who abuse their power. "Let us make clear that the United States will not participate in the repression. Let us stand with the people of the Philippines," she said. The resolution will be referred to committees which will debate the bill before possibly sending it on to the whole chamber. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque quipped that it was a "wild" proposition in reference to the lawmaker's name but maintained confidence in the country's relationship with the US. He shrugged the resolution off as a mere opinion which will not likely pass the US Congress. "Hayaan na po natin iyan [Let's leave it alone]. Iyan po ay personal opinion ni [That is the personal opinion of] Congresswoman Wild, which is a very wild idea," he told the Malacanang press. The Armed Forces on the other hand, called the proposal "unfair." Spokesperson Edgard Arevalo stressed that the AFP does not have any human rights abuses in its record but always welcomed victims to come forward with complaints to allow due process. Senators who authored the anti-terrorism law being challenged by at least 35 petitions filed before the Supreme Court said US will also have something to lose if the resolution is adopted and approved. "The said bill will not only be our loss but theirs as well, considering that a major part of the security assistance being extended to the Philippines is used to combat terrorism, which knows no borders," Senator Panfilo Lacson said. Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III said if the bill is passed, the Visiting Forces Agreement, the decades-old military pact between the US and Philippines, will be rendered ineffective. "We should reconsider the VFA if they pass that. It's actually a big IF. If they pass a bill suspending security aid to us, then what will the VFA stand for?" Sotto said. The Philippines sent a notice that it was terminating the VFA after the US canceled the visa of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, but the abrogation is temporarily suspended. The Union ministry of health and family welfares tele-consultation platform, eSanjeevani, has completed 3 lakh out patient department (OPD) consultations within the past six months since its launch. The ministry started a patient-to-doctor tele-consultation facility in India to manage patient rush during the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak when healthcare services were partially running. This has helped in containing the spread of Covid-19 by ensuring physical distancing, and has simultaneously enabled provisions for non-Covid essential healthcare. The number of high tele-consultations is a testimony of its popularity among the citizens, said the health ministry in a statement. The total number of states and union territories using eSanjeevani has gone up to 26. Around 4,600 doctors have been trained in using the platform efficiently, and on an average at least 6,000 consultations per day are recorded in its national network. With 1,29,801 digital interactions, Tamil Nadu has held the largest number of tele-consultations so far. The state had been a pioneer in the field, registering 32,035 OPD consultations by August 9, and 56,346 consultations by the 19th of the same month. Tamil Nadu had also registered nearly one lakh consultations (97,204) by September 8. The platform had provided essential healthcare to the state, one of the worst affected by Covid-19, at a critical time when conventional medicine was perceived to be risky owing to the nature of the infectious disease. Tami Nadu is followed by Uttar Pradesh (96,151 consultations), Kerala (32,921 consultations) and Uttarakhand (10,391 consultations). These four States account for almost 90% (2,69,264) of the total tele-consultations. The aspect that makes eSanjeevani telemedicine platform special is that the operations and management of the platform has been organised in a very methodological manner. A close and an efficient connection is maintained between the states and the implementing agency (C-DAC Mohali). This enables quick feedback from the users which helps the implementing team to make quick optimisations. Accordingly, eSanjeevani is not only consistently increasing with respect to its efficiency and productivity but it is also getting enriched with newer functionalities and features as required by the users in the states, read the health ministry statement. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A cat in China appears to have mastered its selfie skills as its owner discovered dozens of pictures on her tablet - taken by the feline photographer while it was left home alone. The Chinese woman found the photos accidentally taken by her seven-month-old cat, nicknamed Er Niu, after she noticed a clump of white fur on her iPad when she got home. Er Niu is seen licking its paws and even using the cameras flashlight as footage shows the pet owner scrolling through the collection of selfies perfectly capturing the animals adorable expression. A cat in China appears to have mastered its selfie skills as its owner discovered dozens of pictures on her tablet - taken by the feline photographer while it was left home alone The Chinese woman found the photos accidentally taken by her seven-month-old cat, nicknamed Er Niu, after she noticed a clump of white fur on her iPad when she got home Tens of thousands of social media users were amused by the funny cat selfies after the pet owner shared the video on Chinese TikTok-like Douyin on Wednesday. The Chinese woman, an international student studying in Australia, is the owner of two rescue cats, the seven-month-old Er Niu and a one-year-old Xiao Ai, according to her Douyin page. As she returned home on Tuesday, the pet owner spotted a clump of white fur on her tablet and decided to check through the photo album. She then stumbled across dozens of photos accidentally taken by Er Niu while the feline was playing with her iPad by itself. Tens of thousands of social media users were amused by funny cat selfies after the Chinese pet owner shared the video on Chinese TikTok-like Douyin on Wednesday The Chinese woman, an international student studying in Australia, is the owner of two rescue cats, the seven-month-old Er Niu and a one-year-old Xiao Ai, according to her Douyin page Hilarious photos show the white cat staring down at the screen, licking its paws and even using the cameras flashlight while getting the perfect shot. Tens of thousands of web users were amused by the feline photographer and its adorable selfies. One commenter wrote: This is so cute! Er Niu is too smart. He has now learnt how to take selfies. Another one said: Who is he trying to send the photos to? A third netizen replied: Hahaha, it reminds of my kids trying to sneak a selfie with my phone. Investors have lost a whopping Rs 11,31,815.5 crore in six days of market declines, with concerns over economic recovery sapping risk appetite. IMAGE: The Bombay Stock Exchange. Photograph: Mitesh Bhuvad / PTI Photo. Falling for the sixth straight session, the BSE Sensex plunged 1,114.82 points or 2.96 per cent to close at 36,553.60 on Thursday, tracking a heavy selloff in global markets. The market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies stood at Rs 1,48,76,217.22 crore, down by Rs 11,31,815.5 crore in six sessions. Since September 16, the 30-share BSE benchmark index has fallen by 2,749.25 points. In Thursday's trade, barring Hindustan Unilever, all Sensex constituents ended in the red. IndusInd Bank emerged as the biggest laggard, falling 7.10 per cent, followed by Bajaj Finance, M&M, Tech Mahindra, TCS and Tata Steel. "The looming uncertainty over stimulus package in the US combined with issue of rising COVID cases worldwide have raised concerns over economic recovery," said Ajit Mishra, VP -- Research, Religare Broking Ltd. In the broader market, the BSE smallcap and midcap indices skidded up to 2.28 per cent. At the BSE, a total of 2,025 companies declined, while 625 advanced and 162 remained unchanged. All sectoral indices closed the day with losses, with BSE IT index dropping 4.45 per cent, followed by teck, auto, metal, realty, basic materials, bankex and finance. "The uncertainty regarding economic recovery, unabated rise in virus infections, and today being derivatives expiry day, all contributed to the negativity," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services. Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director -- Choice Broking, said fears over fresh lockdown restrictions in Europe amid rising infections and uncertainty over US stimulus package dented investor sentiment. Friday Slept in late today so no pre breakfast swim. Dimitri on restaurant/bar duty is definitely trying to feed me up. No matter what I ask for at breakfast he always gives me more. Its not as if I look like I need feeding up. Dimitri is a dude. An ex sales manager who was asked to take a 50% pay cut due to covid told his boss to take a long walk off a short coronavirus pier is now working in hospitality. Today we drove to Filerimos Monastery where the parentals visited approx 20 years ago. Google maps proved invaluable as the map with the hire car is woefully inadequate. From what I can tell the only covid restriction on Filerimos is that you now cannot enter the large cross which I am told has stairs inside. And the ticket booth has hand sanitiser. Many peacocks in the grounds, none displaying. I did wonder if they had their wings/tails clipped to prevent them flying away. Then moved on to Rhodes Acropolis. Parked up and the 3 columns are covered in scaffolding. V disappointing at first. Initially couldnt see how to get to the amphitheatre and stadium (no signs) and the parental patience was wearing thin but thankfully google maps satellite view came into its own just in time. Between us weve been to Rhodes around 10 times but have never been to Rhodes Acropolis, amphitheatre etc. Now need to research if the stadium was for running races or chariot races. Suspect we may have inadvertently gone in the back way, and may have accidentally avoided an entry fee. En route home, drove past the Rodos Palace in ixia where we all stayed on our first trip to Rhodes in around 1986 when I was 10. On return to Pefkos, all 3 of us walked to blue waves kantina and I think the owners are impressed that each time I turn up, I bring another person. I just hope they arent expecting me to be part of a group of 4 tomorrow. If so I may have to start accosting people on the street to come with us. Dad enjoyed it v much, so much so he didnt do much of his crossword and simply sat there enjoying the view. Dinner tonight at Artemis at parents request- a favourite from previous visits. Its clearly had a refurb. Service was good, food was excellent (but slightly more pricy than lambis/ anixis) and food presentation is clearly important. Its just a shame that they have messed with the consistency of tzatziki to get it through a piping bag. Other than that, very nice, if more pricy than our other meals (clearly someone has to pay for all the grey paint and new tiles!) Then moved onto Zigzag bar for a couple of drinks. Friendly staff, nice outdoor terrace, decent (yet not too loud) music and sport on big screens for Dad. Only downside was the cocktail blender was so loud it sounded like a 747 taking off. Yes, I know I havent been on one in around 13 years but Im sure it wasnt dissimilar to that blender. Now sat on balcony- interestingly I can hear something that sounds like fireworks over Lardos way for the second time in around 1/2 hour. I wonder if theres a celebration of some sorts... Its not the first time he has sowed doubts about the voting process. But his increased questioning before any result is setting off alarms ahead of an Election Day like no other. Even without signs of illegality, results could be delayed because of the pandemic, leaving the nation exposed to groups or foreign countries seeking to provoke discord. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids Community College received two federal grants totaling $3.6 million to strengthen support services for low-income and first-generation students, officials say. The colleges TRIO/Student Support Services Program is getting the funds from the U.S. Department of Education for support services for 595 students, including academic and transfer advising, tutoring, mentoring and financial aid guidance. The first grant will provide $2,306,785 over five years for 475 low-income, first generation students, according to GRCC. The second grant will launch a new science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program. The grant will provide $1,309,440 over five years for 120 STEM students. We want every GRCC student to be successful, and TRIO is an important example of the support we provide, GRCC President Bill Pink said in Sept. 21 press release. When you are part of the GRCC family, you are surrounded by people who are with you every step of the way. We deeply appreciate the U.S. Education Department providing resources to assist us, and its investment in GRCC students. The federal TRIO Programs are outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, according to DOE. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs. TRIO also includes a training program for directors and staff of TRIO projects. GRCC officials say TRIO students will have access to priority enrollment, allowing them to complete course requirements while working around work and family obligations. They will also be encouraged to learn new skills through undergraduate research with four-year university partners or participation in student or community organizations. Lesley Bos started at GRCC as a part-time student before taking two years off when her third child was born. When she returned, she took advantage of the TRIO program, according to a press release. Theres lots of different tools, Bos said in a recent My GRCC Story podcast. We get counselors assigned to us throughout our whole entire time at school so they already know all the information -- where youre at, what youre doing, what classes. Theres also conferences we can attend, and we have different leadership workshops. Through the program, Bos was one of 19 students nationwide selected for a study abroad trip to the Netherlands sponsored by the Council for Opportunity and Education. She won two scholarships, one from the U.S. State Department, that covered the cost of the program. This year, Bos graduated from GRCC and plans to start at Aquinas College this fall. More on MLive: Grand Rapids leaders ahead of rally following Breonna Taylor ruling: We see you, we hear you Kalamazoo pastor not reappointed to police accountability board $15 million for Pure Michigan included in budget plan OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Floods have killed at least 13 people and injured 19 others in Burkina Faso following days of heavy rains across the country, including the capital, the government said on Wednesday. Torrential rains have been recorded in the Sahel regions of West and Central Africa in the past week including in Niger, Senegal and Cameroon, leading to devastating floods that have killed dozens and displaced thousands of people. Burkina Faso's finance ministry will allocate 5 billion CFA francs ($9.06 million) to help the flood victims, said government representative Abdoul Karim Sango. "This rainfall has caused a lot of damage in our country," he told Reuters. Many people had lost their homes, Sango said, without giving further details. The government has instructed the minister of Territorial Administration to house the disaster victims in public buildings, he said. The floods swept away a makeshift bridge in the southwest of the country, cutting off the village of Marabagasso from the city of Bobo Dioulasso, 70 km (44 miles) away, said resident Siaka Ouattara. "The footbridge is completely destroyed by the rains," Ouattara said by telephone. "If we have a sick person to evacuate, it would be really serious." It was not immediately clear how the floods would impact the country's fight against militant groups with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State, but a security source said the rainy season inevitably has an impact on operations. Hundreds of civilians have been killed and almost a million displaced by the conflict, which is also affecting neighbours Niger and Mali. (Reporting by Thiam Ndiaga; writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will join L'ATTITUDE for an exclusive address and interview with MSNBC Senior Business Correspondent, Stephanie Ruhle, simulcast on MSNBC and on the hub.LATTITUDE.net platform, where you can also find the full slate of sessions happening at L'ATTITUDE 2020. A woman speaks during a protest on Wednesday in Louisville, Ky., after a grand jury indicted only one officer in connection with the Breonna Taylor case, but not for her killing. Read more LOUISVILLE, Ky. In the wake of the decision not to prosecute Kentucky police officers for killing Breonna Taylor, authorities and activists alike wrestled Thursday with the question of what comes next amid continued demands for justice in the Black womans death. The question obviously is: What do we do with this pain? Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said during a news conference. There is no one answer, no easy answer to that question. Fischer pleaded for calm a day after peaceful protests in Louisville turned violent, and a gunman shot and wounded two police officers. Activists, who were back out chanting Taylors name and marching for a second night as police in riot gear blocked roads, vowed to press on after a grand jury Wednesday didnt bring homicide charges against the officers who burst into her apartment during a drug investigation in March. Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers after Taylors boyfriend fired at them, authorities said. He said he didnt know who was coming in and opened fire in self-defense. Police entered on a warrant connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said the investigation showed officers acted in self-defense; one was wounded. A single officer was charged with wanton endangerment for firing into neighboring apartments. The only possibility for criminal charges against the officers for the killing itself seems to rest with the U.S. Justice Department. The FBI is still investigating whether Taylors civil rights were violated. But the burden of proof for such cases is very high, with prosecutors having to prove officers knew they were acting illegally and made a willful decision to cause someones death. Returning Thursday to the park in downtown Louisville that has been the hub for protesters, Reginique Jones said shell keep pressing for increased police accountability and for a statewide ban on no knock warrants the kind issued in the Taylor case, though Cameron said the investigation showed police did announce themselves before entering. I believe that we are going to get past this, Jones said. We can still get some justice. Taylors family planned to weigh in at a news conference scheduled for Friday in the park thats become known as Injustice Square. Demonstrators kept gathering there Thursday, while others marched through downtown, where police in riot gear turned out in force as the nighttime curfew passed and crowds blocked some roads. Officers blocked the exits of a church where protesters had gathered and have detained some people, including one man they tackled and put in a spit hood. Kenyatta Hicks said hes encouraged by increasingly diverse crowds that have turned out to protest. Nobody should give up, Hicks said. Activists, celebrities and everyday Americans have called for charges against police since Taylors death. Along with George Floyd, a Black man killed by police in Minneapolis, Taylors name became a rallying cry during nationwide protests this summer that called out entrenched racism and demanded police reform. The grand jurys decision set off a new wave of protests nationwide, with people marching in cities like Philadelphia and Rochester, New York, on Thursday, a night after violence marred some demonstrations in cities like Seattle and Portland, Oregon. Louisvilles mayor has instituted a curfew through the weekend, and Gov. Andy Beshear called up the National Guard for limited missions. Protesters streamed through the streets, where stopped cars honked and one man leaned out a sunroof, his fist in the air and shouted, Black lives matter. Earlier, it got heated between some protesters and a group of 12 to 15 armed white people wearing military-style uniforms, but it didnt turn physical. Peaceful protests a night earlier gave way to fires set in garbage cans, damage to several vehicles and thefts at stores. Then, two officers were shot. Larynzo D. Johnson, 26, was charged, and an arrest citation said police had video of him opening fire. Court records did not list a lawyer for Johnson, who was scheduled to be in court Friday. The two officers were doing well and will survive their injuries, interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder said. Maj. Aubrey Gregory was shot in the hip and has been released from the hospital. Officer Robinson Desroches was shot in the abdomen and underwent surgery. Taylors case has 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. Since Taylors killing, Louisville has taken some steps to address protesters' concerns. The officer who was eventually charged has been fired, and three others were put on desk duty. Officials have banned no-knock warrants and hired its first Black woman as the new permanent police chief. Last week, the city agreed to more police reforms as part of a settlement that included a $12 million payment to Taylors family. But many have expressed frustration that more has not been done. A grand jury returned three charges of wanton endangerment against Officer Brett Hankison that each carries a sentence of up to five years. The other officers involved werent charged. Hankisons attorney, David Leightty, did not return calls requesting comment. He previously said Hankisons firing in June was a cowardly political act. Trump told reporters Thursday that the case was a sad thing. I give my regards to the family of Breonna. I also think its so sad whats happening with everything about that case, including law enforcement, he said. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, called for policing reform. In the Louisville square where protesters have repeatedly gathered, Rose Henderson has been looking after the flowers, signs and letters placed at a memorial there for Taylor and hopes officials wont try to remove them. Were going to stay out here and hold this place, Henderson said. ___ Associated Press writers Claire Galofaro, Bruce Schreiner and John Minchillo in Louisville, Kentucky, Kevin Freking and Michael Balsamo in Washington, Aaron Morrison in New York, and Haleluya Hadero in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, contributed. Hudsbeth Blackburn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Covid-19 has given rise to frightening situations. A friend who lives in the US had a harrowing time figuring out how to even reach her parents. Both the parents got infected with covid-19 and had to be hospitalized separately. Being the only child and having no family members in the city where her parents lived, she was at her wits end on how to manage things. There were many concerns: apart from her parents health, she had to take care of the house and other matters. With both parents in hospital, she also found it difficult to access the medical records that the doctors had been asking for as she had no idea where they were kept. Such situations, wherein parents and children live in different cities and there is lack of family support, are getting more common now. Thats why, as people age, they should simplify their financial lives and put a thought to some key things. Here are some of them. Downsize real estate investments As you grow older, it becomes that much more difficult to manage multiple properties. It is not just about collecting rent but managing issues with the properties is an arduous task. Most people would scoff at my suggestion of downsizing real estate investments, but those living off rental income should realize that rental yield in India is at 2%, according to various estimates. Even a fixed deposit will give higher returns. Streamline investments Investors tend to acquire new investments each year rather than reinvesting into existing ones. This leads to investors accumulating a diverse set of products with small amounts invested in each of them. I routinely find senior citizens having a portfolio of 20-30 stocks, seven to eight mutual funds, multiple insurance policies, fixed deposits spread across three-four banks and regular return schemes like post office MIS, PM Vaya Vandana Yojana and maybe pension payouts. So many investments are difficult to track and may not add to the overall portfolio returns and it is best to reduce the number of investments to a more manageable number. Give access to family Not all investment holdings are given electronically and seldom do individuals keep a detailed list of their portfolio holdings. During emergencies, family members have no idea about the individuals finances, and this is further compounded by the fact that men do not like to share information about family finances even with their spouse. I came across a case wherein the mother had passed away two years back and the father passed away from covid-19 recently. The family connected with me to know how to find out about the fathers investments. They also found unbanked cheques, dated two years back, pertaining to dividends from shares and also had no idea where the bank locker keys were kept. It is a long haul for the family to get access to the assets, all because the father did not share any information with the children. While you may not want to give access to financial documents or passwords, you should prepare a list of all investments with some basic details, which can be given to the family, if needed. Plan Where youll live after retirement No longer are old-age homes or assisted living, as they are called, looked at with disdain. With the changing times, there are senior living communities of very good standard available, which provide excellent living and medical facilities. If you are planning to move to such a facility, you may need to exit from existing property or financial investments. Certainly, you should have a plan in place to be able to do this smoothly. Look at Estate Planning Make life easy for your heirs. To do that, have an estate plan in place. Earlier generations lived a difficult life but ensured they left as many assets as possible for their children. Life is too short not to be enjoyed and the current generation is not emotionally attached to real estate. Make the most of your money but write a will to pass on your wealth and possessions to whom you want it to go to. Before a battle, planning is everything, Once the fighting has begun, it becomes worthless. Mrin Agarwal is a financial educator, founder director of Finsafe India Pvt. Ltd and co-founder of Womantra Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images Earlier this month, luxury event company Non Plus Ultra came under fire for conducting an unauthorized sweep of a homeless encampment ahead of a TechCrunch conference in San Francisco. The sweep on Market Street displaced eight people who also lost personal belongings, the San Francisco Public Press reported. Now, Peter Glikshtern, a principal at Non Plus Ultra who admits to organizing the sweep, has denied any wrongdoing in an interview with 48 Hills. I absolutely did not do anything wrong, Glikshtern said, speaking on his own behalf, rather than that of Non Plus Ultra's. The building manager across the street called 911 on us three times, I had to lay on the ground and be searched, but the police never took me into custodywhich is weird if someone is actually doing something wrong. Raima Sen, daughter of actress Moon Moon Sen and granddaughter of actress Suchitra Sen, shared her opinion on the ongoing nepotism debate. She, like many others, pointed to the fact that while it is easy getting access to the industry for star kids, it does not ensure success. "Had things been that easier, then I would've been the top actress, too," said Raima, in an interview with Hindustan Times. She admitted that she got her first break because of her mother. "But, that was it. I didn't get like 100 film offers immediately after that. I had to struggle, and I'm still trying hard. In between, I went to Kolkata and worked in Bengali films. Bollywood does appreciate regional films and actors, they do recognise me for Chokher Bali (2002) and The Japanese Wife (2010), but that isn't the criteria to get Bollywood films. You constantly need to prove yourself," she continued. Raima further said that if one has talent, they will find a way. "There are many star kids who couldn't make it. You're no one if your film doesn't work. Star kids who've survived are much better performers than many others, they deserve credit." "So, you get recognised in smaller roles, too. You can cry nepotism and all, but only if you have it in you, you get it. There's no two ways about it. Yes, it's difficult to make it in Bollywood but it isn't easy in any profession. You can't think I'll become number one without having to do anything. If you want to be a part of Bollywood, you've to deal with pros and cons," she added. Talking about work, Raima is currently exploring the web space and shooting for two web series. She was last seen in a Bengali film titled Dwitiyo Purush. Her last appearance in a Hindi film was in the thriller Vodka Diaries, which also starred Kay Kay Menon, Mandira Bedi, Sharib Hashmi and others. ALSO READ: Vikram Bhatt: If A Father Could Make His Son A Star, Then Karan Deol's Film Wouldn't Have Flopped ALSO READ: Pankaj Tripathi On Star Kids Receiving Hate On Social Media: We Need To Have Empathy And Kindness live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More In a seemingly cool - if definitely calculated - move, Havells-backed Lloyd, widely known for its air-conditioners, has now entered the refrigerator category. Venturing into the Rs 24,000-crore refrigerators business would help the brand expand its revenue base, Lloyd CEO Shashi Arora said. Lloyd consumer durables brand currently derives about 65-70 percent of its revenue from air-conditioners. In FY20, the company had a revenue of Rs 1,950.27 crore. Lloyd is likely to face stiff competition from brands like Samsung, LG, Voltas, Whirlpool, Haier, Godrej and Electrolux that operate in the refrigerator space. Samsung is the largest company in this segment with close to 34 percent market share. Arora said the refrigerators will be manufactured locally and will target customers in rural, semi-urban and urban areas. We are targeting both segments, through our direct-cool (DC) and frost-free (FF) refrigerators. We are well in time with our offerings for the festive season, he added. DC refrigerators are single-door with manual defrosting. FF refrigerators have double doors and dont require manual defrosting. The product pricing will range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 84,990 for refrigerator capacities ranging from 190 litres to 587 litres. Apart from air conditioners, Lloyd is present in the television and washing machine categories in the white goods space. Why is diversification crucial for Lloyd? In India, 1.3 million units of refrigerators are sold every year. Arora said that considering that this segment only has 30 percent penetration in a 1.3 billion population, there is immense opportunity to grow. As opposed to the refrigerator market that is worth Rs 24,000 crore, the air-conditioner segment for which Lloyd is known, is merely Rs 15,000 crore. This means that Lloyd as a brand has an opportunity to expand into a much bigger category. The key focus for Havells, which acquired Lloyd Consumer in February 2017, is to expand the revenue categories for Lloyd. And the refrigerator segment entry is a step in that direction. In Q2FY20, Lloyd Consumer saw a 30 percent dip in revenue to Rs 180 crore. During the analyst call held post these results, Anil Rai Gupta, chairman and managing director, Havells, had said that the long-term prospects for Lloyd Consumer "seem fine". He also assuaged investor concerns by stating that the company will enter newer product categories like refrigerators. The segment profits for Lloyd Consumer have been volatile. In Q2FY20, the Lloyd consumer brand had a loss (before tax) of Rs 4.16 crore. It then posted profit before tax (PBT) of Rs 23.57 crore in Q3FY20 and Rs 44.37 PBT in Q4. For the full year (FY20), Lloyd had posted a PBT of Rs 168.71 crore compared to Rs 317.57 crore in the year-ago period. Analysts had then estimated that the key for a turnaround for the Lloyd brand would be to ensure that the company expands its product categories. Now, amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, Lloyd brand saw a 53 percent year-on-year dip in its revenue to Rs 306.18 crore in Q1FY21. The PBT also fell 21.8 percent to Rs 6.41 crore with the COVID-19 lockdown impacting business. However, as lockdown restrictions eased, all of the company's manufacturing plants have resumed operations. In fact, during the Q1 results call with analysts, Gupta had said that things have turned around for the Lloyd brand. He also added that the dependence on imports has ended since January 2020, and hence Lloyd is "growing faster than the market". Havells has a manufacturing facility for the Lloyd brand in Rajasthan. According to a report by Edelweiss Research, Lloyd is the fourth largest AC maker in India with 11 percent market share as per FY19 data. Here, Voltas is the top brand followed by LG and Blue Star. Will refrigerators be the second-biggest category for Lloyd? While CEO Shashi Arora did not disclose the target market share for refrigerators, he said that even a nominal single-digit market share will help the brand gain good revenues from this segment. Refrigerators are a 12-month product. It is not just used during summers but also has good sales potential during the festive season. For weddings too, single-door refrigerators are a preferred gifting category. Plus, we are seeing a pent-up demand which will work for us in terms of sales, he added. Ever since lockdown restrictions have been eased, appliances like washing machines, refrigerators and dishwashers are seeing a spike in sales, according to electronics dealers. A bulk of our revenue comes from ACs and we want to change that. When a customer walks in to buy a Lloyd product, we want to be able to offer a full suite of appliances. With refrigerators, our product suite is complete, Arora said. Lloyd has been working for two years to enter this category. The brand will rely on multiple distribution channels including dealers, regional retail stores, pan-India electronics chains and e-commerce platforms, he added. Havells had said in FY20 that the company would take five years to get a 50-50 AC and non-AC revenue mix for the Lloyd brand . The refrigerator segment entry could be a crucial step to get to that path. King Philippe of Belgium (L) and Janssen Pharmaceutica chief scientific officer Paul Stoffels (C) talk to a scientist at work in the laboratory during a royal visit to the headquarters of Janssen Pharmaceutica in Beerse, Belgium, on June 17, 2020. (Dirk Waem/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images) Johnson & Johnson Announces Start of Phase 3 Trials for CCP Virus Vaccine Company is pursuing a single-dose vaccine, unlike competitors U.S. company Johnson & Johnson on Sept. 23 announced it has reached phase three clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, becoming the fourth manufacturer to reach this phase in clinical trials amid a pandemic. The company joins Moderna, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca to start late-stage trials for a vaccine for COVID-19 disease, caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus from Wuhan, in Chinas central Hubei Province. The phase three trial marks the final step before drug manufacturers can seek emergency-use authorization to widely distribute their vaccines. There is no authorized vaccine for COVID-19 yet. Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is pursuing a single-shot vaccine in its latest trial. Its three rival manufacturers are currently testing vaccines that would require two shots, separated by several weeks. President Donald Trump said at a press conference on Sept. 23 that J&J is far ahead of schedule, as the company had initially expected to only reach phase one trials by September. We encourage Americans to enroll in the vaccine trial. Its not only interesting; itll be a terrific thing for our country. We encourage everybody to enroll, as many people as we can, Trump said. The J&J vaccine is being developed by the companys Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies. Paul Stoffels, J&Js chief scientific officer, said the company has a goal to deliver a vaccine for emergency use authorization in early 2021. The company logo for Johnson & Johnson at the New York Stock Exchange on Sept. 17, 2019. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) He told reporters at a joint news conference that J&J expects results by late 2020 or early 2021, and that if all goes well, the company plans to manufacture as many as 1 billion doses in 2021 and more after that. He said in the conference, attended by officials from the National Institutes of Health and the Trump administration, that the single-dose version would be very important for emergency use and that J&J will later test a booster dose that the company hopes could produce even greater immunity to the virus. The company is set to enroll some 60,000 volunteer participants across three continentsthe largest trial compared to the other three manufacturers that have reached phase three. The trial will include those both with and without comorbidities 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, J&J said in an announcement. The participants will include significant representation from those that are over age 60. Countries and clinical trial sites which have a high incidence of COVID-19 and the ability to achieve a rapid initiation will be activated, it said. Stoffels said it will take about six weeks to two months to have enough participants in the vaccine trial. J&Js trial would be considered a success if it proves to be 60 percent effective, with a study protocol that could have an efficacy answer after 154 people became infected with the virus. 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 the vaccine candidate, told Reuters. In August, J&J had signed an agreement with the British government on a global phase three clinical trial to study a two-dose version of its vaccine, which will run in parallel with the single-dose trial. At a U.S. Senate committee hearing on the CCP virus pandemic on Sept. 23, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, commented on the general likelihood of having an authorization for a CCP virus vaccine soon. We feel cautiously optimistic that we will be able to have a safe and effective vaccine, although there is never a guarantee of that, he said. Dr. Scott Atlas, a COVID-19 adviser to the federal government, told reporters on Sept. 23 that an effective vaccine could be possible soon thanks to support from the federal governments Operation Warp Speedan initiative to quickly develop vaccines and therapeutics to combat the CCP virus. The operation involves officials from the departments of Health and Human Services and Defense. A typical vaccine takes roughly four years or so, and now were going to have a vaccine, highly likely, in far less than 1 year, but without cutting any safety corners because the president has done things concomitant to the development of the vaccinethat is, the manufacturing and the logistics, Atlas said. Everything is being done at the same time, and thats never been done before. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Some of the vehicles seized by Gardai as part of Operation Bagana. PIC: Criminal Assets Bureau Gardai have seized over 2 million worth of vehicles in an operation targeting an international crime group suspected of laundering money through a Tipperary car dealership. This morning a series of raids were carried out in conjunction with UK police at properties linked to the gang suspected of involvement in cyber-crime. Several garda agencies including the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and members of the heavily armed Emergency Response Unit (ERU) were involved in the operations in Clare and Tipperary. In total more than 80 cars worth over 2 million were seized along with 21,000 in cash. A further 200,000 was also restrained in financial accounts linked to the organised crime gang. The searches, under Operation Bagana, were carried out alongside an investigation being undertaken by police officers from the Economic Crime Bureau attached to West Midlands Police. In total four residential properties as well as two business premises in Clare and Tipperary have been searched this morning, with a search at the Tipperary business outlet still ongoing. The international gang are suspected of involvement in mandate fraud and laundering their ill-gotten gains through the business in Ireland. The scam is carried out by someone claiming to represent an organisation that a person regularly pays through membership fees or subscriptions, and makes a request that a bank transfer mandate is changed. A Garda spokesman said : This mornings search operation involved CAB, the Emergency Response Unit, the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit, the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Garda Technical Bureau and were assisted by the Revenue Customs Dog Unit. Chief Bureau Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins said: "Todays search operation is an example of the ongoing cooperation between the Criminal Assets Bureau, An Garda Siochana and UK Police Forces in the investigation of International Organised Criminal Groups. Our activities are in furtherance of the CAB mission to deny and deprive. Hours after Wrays testimony, federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania issued a statement that they had found nine discarded military mail-in ballots as part of an investigation into a small number of such votes. Seven of the nine ballots were marked for Trump, and the other two remained sealed, so the markings on those ballots were unknown, Justice Department officials said after initially declaring that all nine ballots had been cast for the president. By PTI NEW DELHI: The ruling BJP on Thursday termed the opposition's politics "directionless" as it took a dig at its rivals for complaining to President Ram Nath Kovind over the passage of some key bills while "abdicating" the right to speak in Parliament. Senior party leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar took a swipe at the opposition parties, saying they boycotted Parliament when "revolutionary" labour bills were being debated and did not follow the Chair's direction to return to their seats for division of votes in Rajya Sabha during the passage of two farm bills. "They (opposition) shamed Rajya Sabha," the Information and Broadcasting minister told reporters about the ruckus in the House on Sunday following which eight opposition members were suspended. "The opposition's politics has become directionless. They had the right to sit in Parliament and express their views but they instead abdicated it and staged a walkout. They began protests and dharna outside and are now meeting the President," he said. There are nearly 300 days for these things, Javadekar said, adding that Parliament meets for 70-80 days so that its members could express their views there. The opposition boycotted Parliament and is now complaining everywhere, he said. The opposition parties have been up in arms against the passage of farm bills, and their delegation on Wednesday urged President Kovind not to give his assent to the same. They also called the passage of the bills "unconstitutional". Javadekar said farmers have received a "boon" in the form of these proposed laws and asserted that the opposition's allegations about the minimum support price (MSP) and agriculture 'mandis' have been proved "wrong". The government has just hiked MSPs of rabi crops and will now procure them, he said. The new labour laws will give "salary, social and health" rights to farmers and ensure equal wages for women for the first time since independence, the minister said, adding that the opposition is now complaining after not taking part in the debate on the same. "This is wrong," he added. Brittany Maynard and her husband, Dan Diaz, were thrust into the limelight in October 2014 after the 29-year-old publicly announced her intentions to use Oregons Death with Dignity law. At the time, California, where she and her husband resided, did not have a medical aid in dying bill that would allow patients with terminal illnesses to take a drug that would end their suffering. Ms Maynard was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer just a little over a year after she married Mr Diaz and she was given a prognosis of just six months. A People Magazine article released in October gave Ms Maynard a voice to explain her decision to utilise medical aid in dying at the end of her battle with brain cancer. The online story announcing her death became the biggest story in Time Inc publication history at the time, garnering more than 16.1m unique visitors online, according to Advertising Age. There's a reason that her story did have the effect that it did, Mr Diaz told The Independent. She's a 29-year-old intelligent, well-spoken, beautiful individual who's dying Brittany, she was very relatable. It's that saying, Be the change that you want to see. She spoke up so that legislators would recognize laws needed to change so that it's not just four states, as it was back then, that has this option, he added. She did not set out to be the face of this movement. That's the label that the media gave her. Her hope was simply to get legislators motivated." The couple established residency in Oregon and found two physicians to sign off on her taking a fatal dose of barbiturates all while she battled a likely stage 4 glioblastoma the same brain cancer that later killed Senator John McCain. It was decided by Ms Maynard that she would take the medication on 1 November, after she first was prescribed it in May of that same year, if her symptoms, which included grand mal seizures, grew to be too severe. There is always that hope, because that is also intrinsic in all of us, that maybe there is a cure. Not a cure in her case, but some treatment that can extend her life, Mr Diaz said. Then that hope quickly changes to now we're just hoping that she isn't suffering too much, you know, day in and day out. Having the medication allowed Ms Maynard to focus on living her life instead of being concerned for how the dying process could go as the symptoms from her brain tumour grew worse, her husband said. Ms Maynard died on 1 November with the assistance of a prescription drug. On her death certificate, it lists the cause of death as her glioblastoma. The underlying disease is what's listed because it was a brain tumor that was ending her life, Mr Diaz said. Now, nearly six years later, Mr Diaz has continued his wifes advocacy work to help other states pass medical aid in dying laws so other people dont have to establish residency in another state to access the right. When Brittany died, there were only four states that afforded a terminally ill individual this option, he said. Five other states plus the District of Columbia have since passed their own medical aid in dying laws. Terminally ill residents in California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington can access the end-of-life option. Legacy honoured It's how I honour Brittany's legacy. It's how I keep my promise to her and make a difference for the rest of us, Mr Diaz added. California was one state to pass its own medical aid in dying bill, entitled the End of Life Option Act, in 2015 following the death of Ms Maynard. The act was mirrored after Oregons Death with Dignity Act, which was the first of its kind in the United States. When [former California Governor Jerry Brown] signed it and then when it finally became available for me, there was just that feeling of pride in Brittany, Mr Diaz said, who has since moved back to he and Ms Maynards home in Alamo, California. Then the second emotion it was a sense of relief for terminally ill individuals like Brittany, that they don't have to go through what we went through, he continued. They don't have to find a new medical team in another state and rent a house on Craigslist and pack up half your house into a U-Haul. Literally that's why we left. Just to make sure she didn't have to suffer horrifically as the brain tumor continued down its trajectory. No one should have to do that, Mr Diaz added. He found his wife was able to take back a little bit of control from her cancer by having access to the drug. But the prescription did not rush her to take the medication, he added. Brittany was not going to let that brain tumor dictate how her final few days on this green Earth would play out, he said. Mr Diaz now works as an independent contractor with Compassion & Choices, a nonprofit organization dedicated to end-of-life options for the American public. In his role, Mr Diaz travels the US to speak to legislators about medical aid in dying bills in their own state and the benefits it could have for constituents, all while sharing Ms Maynards story. When he first spoke with The Independent in February, Mr Diaz was travelling to states to speak directly to legislators about their own medical aid in dying bills. Due to coronavirus, he now spends a majority of his time discussing medical aid in dying with legislators through email, phone calls, and video meetings. Multiple states, including New York and Massachusetts, currently have bills going through the legislature that would give terminally ill residents end-of-life options similar to California and other states. But the pandemic has forced legislatures to adjourn for the session. New York lawmakers indicated to The Independent it would be unlikely for the bill to be voted on the floor this year. In Massachusetts, the states bill could be voted on and sources have indicated it would likely succeed, but getting it to a vote this year amid the pandemic remained up in the air. This legislation, the passage of this legislation, doesn't result in more people dying. It results in fewer people suffering, Mr Diaz said, who has spoken with legislators in both New York and Massachusetts. Opponents of medical aid in dying often cite religious reasons or concerns the passage of a medical aid in dying bill could lead to abuse. Proponents argue the bills include safeguards to protect terminally ill patients from being abused or coerced into taking the medication. These safeguards include the requirement for two physicians to sign off on the prescription and for the patient to administer the drug themselves. Another argument opponents make is the possibility patients take the medication too early, closing any chance a person might have to recover or spend more time with their loved ones. But in Ms Maynards case, though she was prescribed the medication in May, she waited until November to take the drug. The goal is always to live as long as you possibly can, right? The goal is there's the hope that you don't have to take that medication. The only thing an individual is doing when they pursue having this option, Mr Diaz said. And I emphasize that word option. I can't say that word enough, because you know, it's an option." A medical issue Nationwide 74 per cent of Americans support end-of-life options for terminally ill patients, according to a Gallup poll published in May. This isn't, this isn't a political or religious issue. It's a medical issue, Mr Diaz said. So if a person is religious then and they're opposed, they would simply never apply for this. And it's totally appropriate, but Brittany refused to suffer because of somebody else's faith. Ms Maynards death was covered nationwide, igniting a conversation about medical aid in dying and the end-of-life options offered in each state. Although the intention was not to become the face for the movement, Ms Maynard let the media into her world during her final weeks in an effort to help legislators understand why they should consider passing similar laws in their own states. Now her husband carries her legacy with no firm idea for when his advocacy work for medical aid in dying could end. Brittany's story really isn't about death and dying in a sense. Death, one can say, is unremarkable because it's going to happen to each of us, Mr Diaz said. Brittanys story is really about life and living because it's what she did with the time that she had left, what she determined, what she decided she was going to do with her life, he added. She battled the chaos of that brain tumor. That's what makes her story so remarkable. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vietnamese Commercial Counsellor in Malaysia Pham Quoc Anh said trade between the two countries slumped by 15% annually in the first eight months of this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Via the MoU, the Office hopes to help VMBIZ improve its capacity and expand ties with Vietnamese and Malaysian business associations and entrepreneurs, he said. VMBIZ Chairman Ngo Sy Tuyen wished that the Office would provide VMBIZ with information about demand for exports-imports of the two nations firms. VMBIZ pledges to help the Office carry out trade promotion activities, seek partners, and develop markets. Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Le Quy Quynh, for his part, suggested that both sides should soon establish specialised units to coordinate common activities, including bringing Vietnamese goods to Malaysia and sharing experience with Malaysian associations and businesses. Following the signing ceremony, a number of Vietnamese and Malaysian firms also met together to seek cooperation opportunities. Nine months ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government laid out an ambitious agenda. In that December 2019 throne speech, it promised bold measures to combat climate change, provide a national pharmacare program and to rework Ottawas relationship with Indigenous Canadians. As it turned out, the Liberal government didnt deliver on any of these promises. In part, it was sandbagged by the COVID-19 pandemic. But in part, it had taken on more than any government could reasonably be expected to handle. Which is why it is surprising that the Liberals latest agenda, laid out in this weeks throne speech, is even more ambitious. If the 2019 throne speech was difficult to implement, this one promises to be even more so. The government hasnt narrowed its priorities. It has merely added more. It has promised to spend an unspecified amount of money on a national child care and early learning program. It has vowed to radically revamp the Employment Insurance system so that it covers contract and so-called gig economy workers. It has pledged to use any mechanism it can, including the Criminal Code, to create a more robust system of long-term care that is governed by national standards. As well, it has promised to extend at least two of the temporary emergency measures devised to deal with the pandemic including one that offers wage subsidies to employers. And almost as an afterthought, it has promised to create a million jobs, in part through an as yet unspecified retraining scheme. All this is regardless of cost. This is not the time for austerity, the throne speech read. Dont get me wrong. I favour national child care, pharmacare and a federal role in long-term care. I also think a redo of Employment Insurance is long overdue. But politically, it will be exceedingly difficult for the minority Liberal government to deliver all of these measures however useful before the next election. Indeed, the failure to assign priorities to these reforms may lead, in the end, to none of them being implemented. That is often the downside of the scattershot approach. With support from the New Democrats, the Liberals could probably get their expanded agenda through Parliament. But it would be trickier to get it past provincial and territorial premiers. The provinces are always uneasy when Ottawa acts in their areas of jurisdiction, such as health and child care. On Wednesday, Quebec Premier Francois Legault reminded us of that by immediately denouncing the throne speech as an example of federal meddling. Dont expect the premiers to give national pharmacare, national child care and national long-term care an easy ride. Any one of them is almost certain to trigger a jurisdictional battle. All of this calls into question the rationale for this weeks throne speech. The government billed it as a reset made necessary by the pandemic. But it wasnt. Rather, it was a rehash of the Liberals December 2019 throne speech, with a sprinkling of new promises thrown in. The opposition Conservatives argue that this weeks throne speech was designed to divert attention from the WE Charity affair a conflict of interest scandal that has served to embarrass Trudeau. Thats possible. Conversely, the reason for staging such an ambitious agenda may be that the Liberals arent really serious about all of their pledges. That might explain why they find it so easy to make such sweeping promises. Perhaps this is just positioning for the next election. Perhaps they dont expect to find themselves in a situation where they ever have to deliver. This article is part of the On Tech newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it weekdays. Why are government lawyers in Washington, Texas and beyond thinking about suing Google for being an illegal monopoly? Let me try to untangle what will be a confusing but potentially important legal moment. Whats the government suing over exactly? Uhhh well see. Google is so sprawling that the focus of possibly multiple antitrust lawsuits from the federal government and one or more groups of states is up in the air. What COULD be the problem? One longstanding issue is Googles evolution from a website that pointed people to the best links online to one thats swallowing the web. An example: Until a few years ago, if you had searched for a hotel in Niagara Falls, a local burger restaurant or Tom Cruises height, Google probably showed you links to Expedia, Yelp or a People magazine article. Days after the Trump-Pence campaign released an endorsement letter signed by 235 retired military officers, a coalition of nearly 500 current and former national security leaders has released its own letter endorsing challenger Joe Biden for president. The open letter, published Thursday morning by National Security Leaders for Biden, contains 489 names, including 22 retired four-star generals and admirals; five former defense secretaries; and other notable leaders including former secretary of state Madeleine Albright and former NASA administrator Charles Bolden, among others. Read Next: 2 Navy Super Hornets Catch Fire, Make Emergency Landings Within Weeks Addressed to "Our Fellow Citizens," the letter describes its signers as including Republicans, Democrats and Independents united by a common fear for the future of the country. "The next president will inherit a nation -- and a world -- in turmoil," the letter states. "The current President has demonstrated he is not equal to the enormous responsibilities of his office; he cannot rise to meet challenges large or small. Thanks to his disdainful attitude and his failures, our allies no longer trust or respect us, and our enemies no longer fear us." It cites the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recession, malign Russian influence and threats from a nuclear North Korea as challenges the U.S. president will face over the next four years, adding that Biden, who previously served as vice president, was capable of taking them on. Other notable names on the lengthy list include Michele Flournoy, a former under secretary of defense widely believed to be Biden's pick for defense secretary and former national security advisor and U.N. ambassador Susan Rice. The former defense secretaries signing on included Ash Carter, William Cohen, Chuck Hagel, Leon Panetta and William Perry. "Many of us have briefed Joe Biden on matters of national security, and we know he demands a thorough understanding of any issue before making a decision -- as any American president should," the signers wrote. "... Joe Biden believes in personal responsibility. Over his long career, he has learned hard lessons and grown as a leader who can take positive action to unite and heal our country. It is unthinkable that he would ever utter the phrase 'I don't take responsibility at all.'" Steve Abbot, who retired from the Navy as a four-star admiral in 2000 and later served as deputy homeland security advisor under President George W. Bush, told Military.com he saw the current moment in U.S. history as extraordinary and galvanizing. "It is indeed a group that includes ... people that haven't had any identification with any political effort, but believe that these are fraught times in the nation's history and that they needed to come together to deal with the crisis that is at hand," he said. "So this is not a one-party effort. It's cross-partisan." While it has become an ubiquitous part of the election season for retired general and flag officers to stump for a candidate, there are many who believe former brass should avoid taking sides. On Wednesday, Army Lt. Col. M. L. Cavanaugh published an op ed in the L.A. Times denouncing these public endorsements, saying they serve to "embezzle" the trust Americans place in a nonpartisan military. Abbot said he believed he retained a civic duty to be involved in the political life of the nation, adding that he didn't consider the argument that retired military personnel should abstain a valid one. He added that President Donald Trump, in statements like his most recent charge that top Pentagon leaders only wanted to fight wars to keep defense contractors happy, was further dividing the nation and damaging the military. "President Trump has been using the military using this institution, which is, you know, hugely important to the nation, as an instrument to further his own personal interests," he said. "In other words, he is indeed a threat to proper civilian-military relations." Abbot said his personal call to action came around Easter of this year, borne out of dismay at Trump's handling of the pandemic and his belief that the president was contributing to the crisis instead of mitigating it. But, as a former naval aviator who flew with the late John McCain, Abbot said it had become clear years previous that he could not support Trump. McCain, who was held and tortured as a prisoner of war for more than five years in Vietnam, served in the U.S. Senate for 31 years. Trump created controversy in 2015 by saying McCain wasn't a war hero. "I like people who weren't captured," he said at the time. The comments have received renewed attention in the wake of a story in The Atlantic reporting Trump called Americans who died in war "losers" and "suckers." The White House has disputed this report. "This president said back in previous cycles that John McCain was not a hero, he was a loser," Abbot said. "And I knew when he said that, that he was not on my wavelength. Because John McCain, in my view, is a national hero." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Related: Dozens of Retired Generals, Admirals Sign Letter Backing Trump for Reelection Srinagar, Sep 24 : Suspected terrorists shot dead an advocate at his residence in Srinagar on Thursday evening, officials said. According to reports, Babar Qadri, an advocate who also appeared in TV debates, was shot by gunmen from close range at his residence at Hawal in downtown Srinagar. Additional police teams have reached the spot. The area has been cordoned off and a search operation has begun to nab the assailants. Even as the city begins to reopen parks and playgrounds, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is not counting some patients who test positive for the novel coronavirus or starting an investigation to trace their contacts. If a person has no symptoms of COVID-19 but tests positive for the virus in an antigen test, Metro Health does not count the result as a case or start a public health investigation to track down people they may have exposed, city officials confirmed. The gap raised alarms among members of a Metro Health contact tracing work group concerned the practice could downplay the prevalence of the disease in the community and contribute to further spread of the virus. Those worries were dismissed by Metro Healths director as a whole lot of ado about nothing. Positive results from antigen tests are highly accurate. Most antigen tests correctly identify the virus more than 99 percent of the time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And theyre rapid; the tests can identify infections within minutes by detecting proteins from the virus in secretions from the nose and throat. Even people without symptoms can transmit the virus. Experts say about 40 percent of infected people have no symptoms. Yet, Metro Health instructed case investigators this week to classify people with positive antigen test results but who dont have symptoms as not a case. DO NOT assume antigen positive individuals are asymptomatic, the instructions read (emphasis by Metro Health). If person is determined to be asymptomatic from a phone call: Kindly inform person that they are not considered a case by the city of San Antonio. Investigators are then instructed to close the case without starting a public health investigation. The reason, said Assistant City Manager and Metro Health Director Colleen Bridger, is that the Food and Drug Administration has authorized the use of antigen tests only in people who have symptoms of COVID-19. Right now, theyre saying that there isnt enough evidence for them to approve the antigen test for people who do not have symptoms, Bridger said. Outside of group settings such as nursing homes, the number of asymptomatic cases in Bexar County has been exceedingly low less than 1,000 people, Bridger said. She noted that by contrast, Metro Health has reported and traced 9,786 antigen positive patients with symptoms. Bexar County has had a total of 53,794 cases since the pandemic began earlier this year. FDA spokesman Jim McKinney said the agency authorizes tests to be used only in ways for which a companys data demonstrates the test is accurate. He said the FDA has authorized the use of antigen tests only for patients who are within five days of the onset of symptoms. But the reason these limitations are here, McKinney added, is the risk of potentially missing cases not the risk of falsely detecting positive cases. Antigen tests are not as sensitive as PCR tests, so a negative result from an antigen test does not rule out an infection. Negative results from an antigen test may need to be confirmed with a PCR test, which looks for pieces of the virus in the nose or throat. A positive antigen test, however, means the person likely has an active COVID-19 infection. For that reason, anyone who tested positive in an antigen test should be counted and traced as if they tested positive in a PCR test, said Dr. Joseph Petrosino, chairman of the Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Metro Healths policy is a general practice by most health departments, by what Ive understood, Petrosino said. You can understand where the health department is coming from. However, these (antigen) tests are typically associated with a high accuracy in terms of positive sensitivity. Unlike some other cities in Texas, Metro Health does include antigen positive patients with symptoms in its total COVID-19 case count, classifying them as probable. The FDA limitations prevent the city from including antigen positive patients without symptoms even as probable, Bridger said. Petrosino said health departments do have the autonomy to account for such cases. I understand the letter of the law and all that kind of stuff, and who knows what the political pressures are depending on where you are, but at the very least you could account for them in a separate category, Petrosino said. Counting is important enough because your disease prevalence in the community is what dictates public policy on reopenings. If theyre not even following up on positive antigen cases, then whats the point? Both Petrosino and McKinney noted that the FDA allows health care providers to use tests off-label for people without symptoms, even if (the tests) are not specifically authorized for this indication, according to recent FDA guidance. On Wednesday, Chris Van Deusen, spokesman for the Texas Department of State Health Services, said the science and recommendations about COVID-19 are rapidly evolving. People who test positive with an FDA-authorized antigen test should be treated as likely having a COVID-19 infection and followed up on per the local health departments practices, Van Deusen said. Back in July, city officials defended their counting of antigen positive patients with symptoms by stressing the accuracy of positive results from the test. Antigen tests are FDA-approved, and positive tests are highly accurate, Bridger said then in a statement. Dr. Junda Woo, Metro Healths chief medical officer, echoed this at a televised briefing o the pandemic. These are people who really do have COVID, Woo said. Mayor Ron Nirenberg concurred at the time. Those people have COVID, and they should be counted, the mayor said. This week, members of a Metro Health contact tracing work group emailed city officials to ask why the city is not counting and tracing everyone who tests positive by an antigen test. One member, Courtney Denton, noted that the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists updated its classification last month so that there is no scenario in which a positive antigen respiratory specimen is not counted as a probable case. Denton added, Bexar County and City of San Antonio should determine if the report to the public will use the most recent version of CSTE case definitions or provide an undercount that excludes asymptomatic antigen cases. Robert Huesca, another member of the group who works as a case investigator, made a motion to recommend to Bridger that case investigators complete full (Texas Health Trace) interviews with asymptomatic cases. Cherise Rohr-Allegrini, an epidemiologist who is a member of the work group, forwarded to officials a recent Texas Department of State Health Services document that said: A positive antigen test means that the person being tested has an active COVID-19 infection. If positive, the health department will interview the antigen-positive person about symptoms and if they were around someone who had COVID-19. Contact tracing will be performed. In the email to city officials, Rohr-Allegrini wrote, Community members and private physicians have been asking questions about why they or their patients are being told not to isolate or that theyre not a case when all state and federal guidance says otherwise. I have already gotten calls from the media asking to explain the science behind antigen testing and why it wouldnt be valid. As requested by city leadership I am not speaking to the media at all, instead referring them to (Metro Health) or DSHS for questions. On Tuesday, Bridger dismissed the concerns of the work group. This just feels like a whole lot of ado about nothing right now, she said. I think that they do not have the full understanding of the situation, which is not surprising given they dont currently work in a health department. bchasnoff@express-news.net President Trump speaks at a news conference at the White House on Wednesday as Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany listens. (Associated Press) President Trump refused Wednesday to commit to giving up power should he lose the November race, adding to concerns that a contested election could lead to a constitutional crisis and a unique challenge to the nation's democracy. Trailing the Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, in national and swing-state polls six weeks before election day, Trump again presented invented claims of voter fraud as a pretext for his campaign's all but certain legal challenges and, for the first time, his possible refusal to vacate the Oval Office should he lose. When a reporter noted the already combustible American landscape and asked Trump whether he would "commit here today for a peaceful transfer of all power after the election," the president declined to do so. "We're going to have to see what happens," he said. "You know that Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster." "We want to get rid of the ballots and youll have a very peaceful there wont be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation," he added, suggesting that he would only view an election that he wins as legitimate. Biden offered sarcasm but did not evince deep concern when he was asked about Trump's statement. "What country are we in?" he said in Wilmington, Del., after a day of campaigning. "Look, he says the most irrational things. I don't know what to say." Andrew Bates, a campaign spokesman, cited Biden's statement on July 19. "The American people will decide this election," he said at the time. "And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House." Trump's declaration that "there won't be a transfer" alarmed election experts, even those inured to his penchant for falsehoods and controversy. "In case anyone is unclear on the concept, in the United States of America, we do not 'get rid of' ballots. We count them," said Ellen L. Weintraub, a commissioner on the Federal Elections Commission. "Counting the ballots all the ballots is the way we determine who leads our country after our elections. The only way." Story continues Republicans were largely silent. But Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), the party's 2012 presidential nominee and a sometime critic of Trump, condemned his refusal to commit to leaving office if he were to lose. "Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus," Romney tweeted. "Any suggestion that a president might not respect this constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable." The president's warnings of lawsuits and de-legitimizing of the voting process have added uncertainty to a country already convulsed by a pandemic, recession, racial strife and climate disasters. "Theres an economic angle here, too," Justin Wolfers, an economist at the University of Michigan, tweeted. "The legitimacy and stability of democratic institutions and the rule of law are critical to investment and to our long-run economic health." The president's comments came hours after he suggested that he would push forward with filling a vacancy on the Supreme Court because it might be called upon to resolve a disputed election. Trump plans to nominate a conservative justice on Saturday to succeed liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday. The Republican-led Senate is expected to hold confirmation hearings in mid-October, and may hold a floor vote before election day. If confirmed, Trump's pick would ensure a 6-3 conservative majority on the court, including three justices nominated by Trump. "I think this will end up in the Supreme Court," Trump said. "And I think its very important that we have nine justices." David Weekley Homes was honored to once again be named to three Best Workplaces Lists in 2020 by Great Place to Work, the global authority on workplace culture. Rankings on these annual lists are based on the evaluation of company policies and culture, in addition to survey results from employees about how they rate their workplace. The home builder was recognized on FORTUNEs Best Workplaces for Women and Best Workplaces for Millennials lists, taking the 28th and 26th spots, respectively, among 75 companies. The builder also earned a place at number 17 on Great Place to Works Best Workplaces in Texas list highlighting the top 50 companies in the state. Earlier in the year, Weekley ranked number 23 on FORTUNEs 100 Best Companies to Work For list. Its an honor to be recognized as a top company not only in Texas, but nationwide for working women and millennials, said Robert Hefner, vice president of Human Resources at David Weekley Homes. We value the contributions and innovative ideas that our team members provide to our company and our customers each day. To determine the Best Workplaces lists, Great Place to Work analyzed confidential survey feedback from more than 4.7 million U.S. employees that included more than 60 survey questions describing the extent to which their organization creates a Great Place to Work For All for each particular group. Eighty-five percent of the ranking is based on employee feedback about their experiences by measuring the extent to which their organization creates a Great Place to Work For All. Each company also completes a culture brief with details about the companys programs and practices. For the 2020 Best Workplaces in Texas, Great Place to Work looked at anonymous survey feedback from nearly 55,000 employees in Texas. For more information about David Weekley Homes, visit http://www.DavidWeekleyHomes.com. About David Weekley Homes David Weekley Homes, founded in 1976, is headquartered in Houston and operates in 20 cities across the United States. David Weekley Homes was the first builder in the United States to be awarded the Triple Crown of American Home Building, an honor which includes Americas Best Builder, National Housing Quality Award and National Builder of the Year. Weekley has also appeared 14 times on FORTUNE magazines 100 Best Companies to Work For list. Since inception, David Weekley Homes has closed more than 100,000 homes. For more information about David Weekley Homes, visit the companys website at http://www.davidweekleyhomes.com. Dont get us wrong. We absolutely love what Ferrari did with the styling as far as the Roma is concerned. However, while acknowledging the Roma s sleek lines, Frank Stephenson also argues that from his standpoint, it could have been even better. The Roma might be one of the best-looking grand tourers on the market, but its not a perfect 10 LISTEN 01:46 The Best Ferrari Roma Design Breakdown Youll Ever See Those familiar with Frank Stephensons YouTube channel (a must-subscribe, by the way) know that the former McLaren, BMW, Mini, Maserati, Lancia, and Ferrari designer is very capable of explaining in simple terms why a particular car looks in a particular way. Back in his days at Ferrari, Mr. Stephenson penned down the FXX and the F430. As you know, the latter was pretty much an evolution of the 360 Modena. A slimmer one, too, as according to Car and Driver, Stephenson believed the 360 was always a little flabby and it needed to go to the gym. What were trying to say is that if theres anyone who knows a thing or two about how Ferrari carries out its design protocols, then Frank Stephenson is your guy. Coming back to the Roma, Mr. Stephenson starts his video by saying he likes the design overall and right after that, he clarifies why the Roma doesnt look like an Aston Martin as some have pointed out, including Chris Harris. From then on youre in for a delightful watch session as the designer delves into the finer things that make the design of the Ferrari Roma stand out like it does. At the same time, he also offers a piece of his mind when it comes to what he would have done differently. Unidentified terrorists shot dead a lawyer in Srinagar on Thursday, police said, the second political or social activist to be killed within a 24-hour period. IMAGE: Advocate Babar Qadri, who used to appear on TV debates and write opinion pages for local newspapers, was not liked by the separatist circles. Photograph: Kind courtesy @BabarTruth/Twitter The ultras fired upon advocate Babar Qadri at his Hawal residence around 6.25 pm from close range before fleeing the spot, a police official said. Qadri, in his early 40s, was rushed to the SKIMS hospital, where doctors declared him 'dead on arrival', according to the official. The advocate, who used to appear on TV debates and write opinion pages for local newspapers, was not liked by the separatist circles. Three days ago, he had tweeted a screenshot, urging the police in Jammu to register a first information report against a Facebook user for spreading 'wrong campaign' against him. 'I urge the state police administration to register FIR against this Shah Nazir who has spread wrong campaign that I work for agencies. 'This untrue statement can lead to threat to my life,' Qadri had written in his last tweet. Qadri's killing comes a day after Bhupinder Singh, a member of the block development council in Khag area of Budgam district, was shot dead by terrorists at his ancestral Dalwash village on Wednesday night. The National Conference, People's Democratic Party and the People's Conference condemned the killing. 'The assassination of Babar Qadri this evening is tragic & I unequivocally condemn it,' NC vice president Omar Abdullah tweeted. 'The sense of tragedy is all the more because he warned of the threat. Sadly his warning was his last tweet.' In a statement, the party demanded that the killers of the young advocate be brought to book and 'justice delivered in the murder case immediately'. 'JKNC unequivocally condemns the dastardly killing of young activist Adv Babar Qadri,' it said. 'The party expresses heartfelt condolences with the bereaved family.' In a tweet, the PDP 'vehemently' condemned Qadri's killing, saying 'mournings are a constant feature in every Kashmiris life'. People's Conference leader Sajad Lone said Qadri was yet another victim of conflict. 'One more Kashmiri falls to bullets,' he tweeted. 'My thoughts with the family.' By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday announced that all those who have non-agricultural property would be issued maroon-coloured pattadar passbooks. The measure will help in elimination of land disputes in future, besides providing total security to the properties held by middle class and poorer sections of society under the new Revenue Act that has been brought forth recently. The Chief Minister, during a review meeting held at Pragati Bhavan on the implementation of new Revenue Act and on making entries of non-agriculture property in Dharani portal, appealed to the people to have the details of their houses, plots, flats, farm houses in villages, municipalities and corporations entered in the Dharani portal without paying any fee. He made it clear that, going forward, even if an inch of land has to be transferred from one person to another and registered, it has to be done only through Dharani portal. He cautioned the people that if they do not have the details of their properties uploaded on Dharani portal, they may face difficulty in future in transferring them to their children. He said that the lands on which the poor had built houses would be regularised without any further delay. This would provide security for their land besides helping them raise loans from the banks. The regularisation of these parcels of lands has nothing to do with the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS), he clarified. Rao also said that as far as houses and other properties in villages and municipalities are concerned, they would get Non- Agriculture Land Assessment (NALA) done free of cost. He made an appeal to the people to cooperate with peoples representatives, including sarpanches, MPTCs, mayors and municipal chairpersons when the lands are moved out of agriculture category. He asked the officials of Panchayat Raj and Municipal Administration departments to take responsibility of uploading the details of the properties into the portal. Details of all houses have to be uploaded and taxes have to be collected properly. Agriculture and non-agriculture property registration will resume only after Dharani portal is in place, even it meant delay, he said. Henceforth, the Chief Minister said, all orders and circulars will be issued both in English and Telugu. He asked Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to attend to the work immediately as it would help the people access information without difficulty. A Gloucester County man died after he was struck by a vehicle Thursday morning in Cumberland County. A Hyundai Santa Fe was traveling east on Route 49 in Maurice River Township around 5:40 a.m. when the vehicle hit a pedestrian who was in the roadway, according to a New Jersey State Police spokesman. The pedestrian was identified as John Fynes, 74, of Sewell. The crash remains under investigation and no charges have been filed. No additional information was released Thursday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. LONDON - Britains treasury chief on Thursday announced a new income support program for workers hurt by the coronavirus pandemic as the government races to prevent widespread layoffs when earlier employer subsidies end next month. Chancellor Rishi Sunak, in a speech to lawmakers, unveiled his plan to subsidize the wages of workers whose hours are cut due to the pandemic as part of a wider package of measures to help businesses and bolster the economy. The plan comes in response to pressure from businesses and labour unions to step in with more direct support for people in precarious work situations. The new economic plan would replace a furloughed worker program which is due to expire next month. Under that program, the government pays 80% of the wages of workers who are placed on leave. The primary goal of our economic policy remains unchanged - to support peoples jobs - but the way we achieve that must evolve, Sunak said, adding that the government wants to support viable jobs, not preserve those that are no longer needed. To underscore that his proposals have wide support, Sunak appeared outside his office before delivering his speech, holding a copy of the plan and flanked by representatives of the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress. The announcement comes as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the U.K., blunting the countrys economic recovery from a nationwide lockdown imposed in March. The government reported 6,178 new confirmed cases Wednesday, a 25% increase from the previous day and the U.K.s highest daily total since May 1. To control the spike in COVID-19 infections, the British government on Tuesday introduced new restrictions, including a 10 p.m. curfew for bars and restaurants that goes into effect Thursday. Sunak said he was worried the furlough program allowed employers to preserve some jobs that would no longer be needed as the economy adapts to a post-pandemic world. While this was appropriate to shield the economy from the shock of the lockdown, the government now wants to move the economy in a different direction. To ensure that the government is supporting the retention of viable jobs, employers who participate in the wage support program will be required to assign workers at least one-third of their previous hours. The government will then pay two-thirds of the remainder, meaning employees will receive about 80% of their pre-pandemic wages. The government will directly support the wages of people in work, giving businesses who face depressed demand the option of keeping employees in a job on shorter hours rather than making them redundant, Sunak said. The government will offer similar support for the self-employed. In addition to the wage support program, Sunak said the government will help businesses by extending loan repayment deadlines and loan guarantees provided earlier this year. These included 38 billion pounds ($43.8 billion) of loans to 1 million small businesses that will now be eligible to pay as you grow. Businesses who are struggling can now choose to make interest-only payments and anyone in real trouble can apply to suspend repayments all together for up to six months, he said. Sunak also said that he will extend until March 31 the temporary reduction of the valued-added tax rate for hospitality and tourism industries, which have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. The cut to 5% from 20% had been scheduled to end in January. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on Ukraine's foreign partners to participate in creating an international platform to protect the rights of Crimean residents and de-occupy the peninsula, which is temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. "Taking this opportunity, I would like to invite our friends to participate in the creation of the international 'Crimean Platform' with the aim of joint actions to protect the rights of Crimeans and de-occupy the peninsula," he said in his video speech at the plenary session of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. Zelensky also called for support for the updated resolution "the human rights situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine," which will be submitted to the General Assembly by the end of 2020. "Most importantly, the issues of Crimea and Donbas should not become familiar elements of the international scenery, where only reports, thematic meetings and protocol statements for the anniversary of the occupation will be considered a sufficient form of international reaction. On the contrary, while the wound in the center of Europe is bleeding, the whole world will feel pain. The only recipe for effective treatment is only the de-occupation of Crimea and Donbas," he said. By Joshua Franklin (Reuters) - Playboy Enterprises is nearing a deal to go public through a merger with Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp, which would value the owner of Playboy magazine at around $425 million (334.1 million), including debt, people familiar with the matter said. A tie-up with Mountain Crest would result in Playboy's return to the stock market, nine years after it went private in a $207 million deal led by its late founder Hugh Hefner and private equity firm Rizvi Traverse Management. Mountain Crest, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), could ... Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on May 18, 2020. (Lynda M. Gonzalez/Pool/Getty Images) Texas Governor Proposes Harsher Penalties for Rioters Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday unveiled a slate of legislative proposals that would up penalties for being involved in or helping financially aid riots, including an automatic jail sentence of at least six months for those who strike law enforcement officers. Today, we are announcing more legislative proposals to do even more to protect our law enforcement officers as well as do more to keep our community safe, Abbott, a Republican, said at a press conference. While the Constitution guarantees the right to peacefully assembly, it does not provide the right to riot, the governor said. Texas will always defend the First Amendment right to peacefully protest but Texas is not going to tolerate violence, vandalism, or rioting, he added. The proposals would make causing injury or destroying property in a riot, blocking hospital entrances or exits, or using fireworks during protests or riots, a felony offense with mandatory jail time. Striking a law enforcement officer during a riot would land the offender a mandatory jail sentence of at least six months. People convicted of using lasers against officers would face mandatory jail time. And aiding or abetting riots with either funds or organizational assistance would bring mandatory jail time. That proposal would also give the state attorney general the power to pursue civil penalties against both people and groups. Abbott pointed to rioting that took place in Dallas in May and June and the recent blocking of a hospital entrance in Los Angeles after two sheriffs deputies were shot in an unprovoked shooting. The mandatory jail time would prevent people committing crimes from being released and going to commit more, according to officials. Criminals charged with these offenses must remain in jail, at least until their first court appearance, Abbott said. This will prevent the mockery of the revolving door rest that we saw in Dallas during the riots that occurred earlier this year, and will ensure that these dangerous rioters will not be immediately released back onto the streets to engage in further riots without first having to go before a court. Demonstrators march near a Dallas police car during a protest against police brutality and racism in Dallas, Texas, on June 6, 2020. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images) The governor announced the proposals with law enforcement and political leaders, including Michael Amato, president of the Dallas Police Association, and Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, a Republican. What governor Abbotts laying out today brings honor and dignity and respect to the cause. When someone peacefully and respectfully and passionately is protesting, they should not have that belief destroyed by people who have ill intent, by people who want to throw a brick at a law enforcement officer whos trying to keep order for that protesters voice to be heard, Bonnen told reporters. Amato said he wasnt sure when public servants became public enemies. There are bad police officers but the vast majority are risking their lives for their communities, he added. Do we have to change our profession? Are there things that we need to fix? Absolutely. But they need to be done in constructive ways, he said. If were going to take money from police departments, we should not be taking money because somebody is yelling and screaming, telling us we should. If were going to fix problems, lets fix the problems of homelessness. Lets fix the problems of drug addiction. Lets fix the problems of alcoholism, mental health care. These are the problems that officers are having to deal with that we are not trained to do, not adequately enough. Fix those problems. And if youre going to use money, use money directly for those causes. A police officer stands between Police Appreciation rally attendees and counter-protesters at the City Hall in Houston, Texas, on June 18, 2020. (Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images) Republicans hold both the state Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the governors office in Texas. Abbott last month proposed freezing property taxes to cities that vote to defund the police, or cut funding to police departments. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, unveiled a slate of similar proposals on Monday, including a bill that would withhold state funds from cities that defund the police. DeSantis also unveiled legislation that would up the penalties for those who target law enforcement or participate in violent demonstrations. Our right to peacefully assemble is one of our most cherished as Americans, but throughout the country weve seen that right being taken advantage of by professional agitators, bent on sowing disorder and causing mayhem in our cities, the governor said in a statement. I will not allow this kind of violence to occur here in Florida. The legislation announced today will not only combat rioting and looting, but also protect the men and women in law enforcement that wake up every day to keep us safe. I look forward to working with the Florida Legislature next session to sign this proposal into law. Florida is a trifecta state; Republicans hold the governors office and majorities in both state legislative chambers. While Texas Democrats didnt appear to react to Abbotts proposals, Florida Democrats spoke out against their governors plans. The governor is attaching himself to Donald Trumps propaganda and manufacturing a non-existent law and order crisis in Florida, said Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson. Its political fearmongering to bolster a presidents re-election bid. Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan has received grant support for $5,878 grant from the Midland Area Community Foundation. Due to the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on the nonprofit community, the foundation adjusted a recent grant cycle to support the operational needs of organizations. The grant funds were awarded from the MACF Community Investment fund and the COVID-19 Relief fund. The COVID-19 Relief fund is a partnership between MACF and the United Way of Midland County. Funds will support Girl Scouts Heart of Michigans financial assistance program, which make scholarships for Girl Scout membership dues, program and camp registration, and program books and uniforms available to Midland girls whose families are facing financial challenges resulting from COVID-19. Families finding themselves in this situation are apt to exclude the cost of a Girl Scout membership from their budget in an effort to meet basic needs. For girls, this means a loss of access to the support and safety of a girls only environment, and a loss of the validation girls receive for their ambitions to lead and succeed. It also means the loss of the chance to build the skills and competencies that build academic, professional and life success outcomes that complement MACFs focus area of Developing Our Talent. Were so very grateful to the Midland Area Community Foundation, stated Jan Barker, Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan CEO. Thanks to their support, girls can continue to experience all the benefits of Girl Scouting while relieving a demand on the already-strapped family budget. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan looks forward to a Girl Scout year that brings girls together (whether virtually or safely in-person) to connect with each other, learn from each other and from caring adults, and to take action to make Midland County communities more vibrant and welcoming than ever. Processed by Victoria Ritter, vritter@mdn.net After a Republican super PAC in Texas posted a photo of Senate candidate MJ Hegar featuring her tattoos and calling her a radical, Hegar had a quick response on Twitter: the tattoos covered shrapnel wounds she received as an Air Force helicopter pilot in Afghanistan. "A pro-Cornyn Super PAC is using a photo of my tattoos to make me seem radical. That's pretty funny to me, Hegar tweeted on Thursday, referring to her opponent in the race, longtime GOP Senator John Cornyn. You think I'm ashamed of them? They cover my shrapnel wounds from when my helicopter was shot down. They're a mark of my service to our country. I'm damn proud of them. The PAC, Texans for a Conservative Majority, is not directly affiliated with Senator Cornyns campaign. Cornyns office did not respond to requests for comment. Hegar was awarded a Purple Heart after the Taliban shot down the medevac helicopter she was co-piloting, and she helped defend her fellow servicemembers despite injuries to her arm and leg. In Texas, foreign policy and national security is a kitchen-table issue because everyone has someone [they know] in uniform, she told the Texas Tribune earlier this year. Recent polling shows Hegar, who supports progressive policies like universal health care, trailing Cornyn by nearly 8 percent. Texas is increasingly being seen as a competitive state where Democrats have a chance to win in national races. London, Sep 24 : Google-owned YouTube on Thursday said it would expand its fact-checking feature to Europe in a bid to fight misinformation related to polls and the pandemic. According to a CNBC report, the fact-checking feature, already launched in the US, Brazil and India, will rely on third-party publishers like the BBC and Full Fact teams in the UK and Correctiv and BR24 in Germany. YouTube will begin showing users in the UK and Germany fact-checking panels on some video searches. The panels appear on searches for topics where fact-checkers have published relevant articles on the subject. The move comes at a time when online platforms have seen a surge in misinformation related to Covid-19. The expansion of fact-checking was "one of the many steps we are taking to raise up authoritative sources, to provide relevant and authoritative context, and to continue to reduce the spread of harmful misinformation," Ben McOwen Wilson, managing director for YouTube UK, was quoted as saying. The company earlier said: "Over the past several years, we've seen more and more people coming to YouTube for news and information. The outbreak of Covid-19 and its spread around the world has reaffirmed how important it is for viewers to get accurate information during fast-moving events". According to Neal Mohan, YouTube's chief product officer, when users are searching on YouTube around a specific claim, we want to give an opportunity for those fact checks to show up right then and there, when our users are looking for information - especially around fast-moving, quickly changing topics like Covid-19. George Poikayil By Express News Service KASARAGOD: Kasaragod's health care sector is making progress that was never seen before because of the special attention given by the LDF government, said health minister KK Shailaja. After inaugurating a dialysis center at the Mangalpady Taluk Hospital on Tuesday, she said Kasaragod's health sector was not strong when the LDF took the reins of the government in May 2016. Since then, the government gave special attention to the district. She made a series of claims on how the government brought in unprecedented changes to the health care sector of Kasaragod. TNIE decided to fact-check her claims. Minister: After the LDF came to power, the number of doctors in the District Hospital and the General Hospital has doubled. You can go through the figures. Reality: The District Hospital had 34 doctors in May 2016, when the LDF government came to power. On September 23, 2017, eight more posts were created, taking the total number of doctors to 42. In General Hospital, the LDF government created 12 new posts, taking the total number of doctors to 49. Therefore, the doctor's strength has not been doubled or increased by 100% as claimed by the minister but saw an increase of 23% in the District and 32% in the General Hospital. Of the 49 posts in the General Hospital, six are vacant, and five are filled with ad hoc doctors. In its surgery department, there is only one doctor though there are three posts. Departments such as Radiology, Respiratory Medicine, Forensic Surgery and Dermatology have only one post each. Health officials said major hospitals should have nine doctors -- three sets of three doctors each -- in each of the major departments to function round the clock. The District Hospital has only three doctors each in General Medicine, General Surgery, Gynaecology, and Paediatrics. Because of the inadequate number of doctors, both the top hospitals of the district do not attend to trauma care patients. Minister: Reported vacancies were filled and new posts created where necessary. Reality: New posts were created but neither are they adequate nor are all the created posts filled. Community health centers are upgraded to taluk hospitals only on paper, with barely any adequate appointments being made. No surgery or a minor procedure is done in any of the five taluk hospitals in the district. They do not admit any childbirth cases either. The taluk hospital in Trikaripur does not even have a casualty medical officer or a gynecologist. Minister: Attempts are being made to develop the Kasaragod Medical College to provide Super Specialty service to people Reality: The foundation stone for the medical college was laid in November 2013 at Ukkinadka in Badiadka. In the seventh year, it is still a work in progress. In April, the Academic Block was converted to a COVID Hospital but it does not have an ICU or adequate doctors and critical patients are referred to Kannur Government Medical College in Pariyaram. The construction work of the Hospital Block of Kasaragod Medical College was restarted only last week. Minister: As the primary step, 293 posts were created for the Kasaragod Medical College and the appointments to the posts have started. It will be completed soon. Usually, only a few posts are created and the number is gradually being increased. Kasaragod was given special consideration. The medical college has to complete many processes before the central authority gives its permission. Reality: The government created 293 posts with the rider that only half of them should be filled now as the medical college is not yet ready. Recently, 22 of the 24 senior residents (specialist doctors) appointed to the 200-bed COVID Hospital there were allowed to work from Kozhikode. The hospital has only one general medicine physician and very few clinical doctors. Minister: Rs 2,000 crore is being invested in the health care sector via Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) in the state. The Master plan of the medical college is before KIIFB. Reality: The investments are in developing the infrastructure. Kasaragod is facing a serious shortage of human resources. Minister: When the government decided to upgrade community health centers (CHC) to taluk hospitals, the priority was given to Mangalpady. Earlier, this hospital did not even have the standard of a CHC. Now it is being gradually developed as a taluk hospital. Forty-two posts, including nine doctors, were created in Mangalpady. Normally, so many posts are not given to an upgraded hospital. The lab is being modernized. We are intending a holistic development of the taluk hospital. Reality: When the CHC was upgraded to a taluk hospital two years ago, the government created five new posts of doctors and one post of the superintendent. Now, the hospital has eight doctors. Of the eight doctors, at least three are ad hoc postings. There is no change in the remaining 36 posts which existed when it was a CHC. They are eight staff nurses, three nursing assistants, five cleaning staff, one pharmacist, two lab technicians, and two office staff. Though there are two posts of lab technicians, only one is a regular appointee. The Hospital Management Committee (HMC) appointed two lab technicians and the National Health Mission provided two, taking the total number of lab technicians to five. Similarly, three more pharmacists were appointed on an ad hoc basis to cater to the rush of patients. The office has only two staff when the need is seven staff. The minister's 42 posts included 12 field posts such as five junior health inspectors, five public health nurses, one health inspector and one driver. These posts also existed when the hospital was a CHC. As a taluk hospital, it does not offer any speciality care. The hospital does not have a labour room or an operation theatre. On September 8, the government appointed three doctors -- two junior consultants and one casualty medical officer -- to the hospital. Two days later, the government rescinded the order and reappointed them in other districts. Mixed trends in export from Pakistan continued in 2MFY20 24 September 2020 According to Pakistan's Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) cement export data for July-August 2020 (2MFY20-21) showed a mix of trends. Pakistan's cement industry earned US$44.51m of export revenue by exporting 1.376Mt of cement and clinker in the 2MFY20-21, compared to US$42.14m from 1.064Mt of exports in July-August 2019. Therefore, shipping represents a 5.6 per cent jump in dollar terms and a growth of 29.35 per cent in quantity MoM. In local currency terms, the export value increased by 11.4 per cent to PKR7.44bn (US$44.51m) from PKR6.68bn during this export period. However, the cost per tonne fell from US$39.60/t in 2MFY2019 to US$32.33/t in 2MFY20. In August 2020 alone, revenue decreased to US$21.58m on the export of 635,145 from US$22.92m with cement exports of 741,391t in July 2020. This represents a contraction of 5.9 per cent and 14.3 per cent both in terms of value and quantity, respectively. However, when compared with data of August 2019 (US$16.74m from 421,078t), a more positive trend was observed. The value of exports increased by 28.9 per cent and 50.8 per cent in terms of quantity YoY. Export to Afghanistan was nominal whereas export to India remains suspended during the export period. As reported earlier, companies in the north performed better domestically as public sector spending was concentrated in the region throughout the year, but the north lost out on exports due to the retraction of the Indian market as well as the general slowdown from Afghanistan and other neighbouring markets. At the same time, the south continues to dispatch to overseas markets. All commodities exports Pakistan's total exports (all commodities) fell by 4.3 per cent during July-August 2020 to US$3.584bn against US$3.744bn in July-August 2019, the PBS data revealed. The Manufactures Group, excluding textile, saw a negative growth of 7.4 per cent during the first two months. Published under 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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". Advertisement "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." Advertisement 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. Advertisement The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall adapted quickly to a new digital way of working during lockdown, aides have revealed. Charles, 71, and Camilla, 73, embraced changes from the onset of the coronavirus pandemic restrictions, Clive Alderton, the prince's principal private secretary, told. The royal couple have been using smartphones propped on books, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Camilla has even been converted to using social networking app House Party. The couple's experience of keeping in contact digitally with their families was said to have prepared them well for the switch to online work - however the pair are still keen to get out and about as much as they can as restrictions loosen. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall adapted quickly to a new digital way of working during lockdown, aides have revealed. Pictured, the Prince of Wales appearing in a video encouraging the nation to brew up for Macmillan's coffee morning Charles, 71, and Camilla, 73, embraced changes from the onset of the coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Pictured, Camilla on the phone at Birkhall in Aberdeenshire 'As the world went into lockdown, Their Royal Highnesses adapted literally overnight to a new digital first way of working,' Alderton said. 'For a family that is used to having to be "seen to be believed", this was a new challenge. 'But the films they made using little more than a smartphone propped up on a pile of books, reached millions covering topics ranging from isolation, domestic violence, to book lists to keep the mind active.' As Clarence House's annual review briefing was held virtually for the first time, a senior royal source told how Camilla was converted to using the social networking app House Party. WHAT IS HOUSE PARTY? Houseparty is a social networking service that enables group video chatting through mobile and desktop apps in groups of up to eight people. Users receive a notification when friends are online and available to group video chat. The app swept the country during the coronavirus lockdown, with users making the most of the programmes gaming and quiz features. But the video call app hit headlines after rumours that it had been hacked, and users private information was at risk. It's creators said it had been targeted by a 'commercial smear campaign' and even offered a $1million reward for anyone who had information on the rumours. Privacy specialists Farrer & Co, the firm used by the Queen, said hackers and criminals can exploit flaws in Houseparty's systems to access highly sensitive data. Associate Thomas Rudkin said people should consider using safer encrypted platforms such as Facetime and WhatsApp - though all have risks. He said: 'With video conferencing apps, there are also always concerns about how hackers and criminals might exploit them. 'While Houseparty has extensive restrictions on who can join chats, risks may arise due to people making contacts on Facebook and then being asked to connect with them on Houseparty. 'Houseparty (like many US tech platforms) has extensive data collection rights in its privacy policy, to include "information submitted via the services".' Advertisement 'They were able, literally overnight from the moment the Prime Minister announced that national lockdown, to flick into doing everything online by Zoom, with Teams, the Duchess discovered House Party,' Alderton said. But it was stressed that the Prince, the Duchess and the rest of the royal family would try to get out and about to meet people as much as restrictions allowed. 'This is a family that loves being out there, that loves meeting people, that is energised by being out there and meeting people but we're finding that they're also pretty energised by meeting people virtually,' the source went on. The royal family, pictured on International Nurses Day, adapted to an unprecedented change in royal duties during lockdown, with public appearances swapped for online video calls 'So we'll keep them connected in every way we can, we are still hoping to get them out and about as much as we can. We will use every bit of the flexibility that the various home nations' administrations allow.' Clarence House said a couple of short foreign visits were being planned and would go ahead if permitted. Charles contracted a mild form of coronavirus in March and had to isolate in Birkhall in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and among the many video messages he delivered was one offering his own reflections on his experience. It was stressed that the Prince, the Duchess, pictured in Cornwall in July, and the rest of the royal family would try to get out and about to meet people as much as restrictions allowed In the video, Charles sent his wishes to those battling the virus, touching on his own recovery back in April. 'Having experienced this dreadful coronavirus myself, my heart goes out to all those currently battling the disease, those caring for them - either at home or in your first-class healthcare system - and those who have so tragically lost their loved ones,' he said. The royal thanked essential workers, including those in aged care, hospitals, transport and supermarkets for 'doing a remarkable utterly vital job in such difficult and challenging circumstances'. The royal family adapted to an unprecedented change in royal duties during lockdown, with public appearances swapped for online video calls. Prince Charles (pictured) sent his wishes to those battling the virus, touching on his own recovery back in April The Queen delivered two rare televised addresses to the nation, and also took part in her own first official video conference call as part of her public duties, speaking to carers with the Princess Royal. Most recently, Charles filmed video encouraging Britons to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support's coffee morning this Friday. The Prince of Wales celebrated the 30th anniversary of the fundraising event that allows people to 'raise a cuppa' to those battling cancer and said it represented the 'very best of British community spirit'. Charles, who is Macmillan's patron, advocated the charity's annual fundraising drive, saying: 'It truly represents the very best of British community spirit - and, in current times, we are learning just how powerful communities can be, especially in a crisis.' Microsoft recently released a patch (CVE-2020-1472) to fix a software issue in the Microsoft Windows Netlogon Remote Protocol (MS-NRPC). As noted on a Secura blog, an unauthenticated attacker with network access to a domain controller could exploit this vulnerability, dubbed Zerologon, to compromise all Active Directory (AD) identity services. An attacker does not need credentials to gain privileges on the network, only access to the domain. Install this update on your domain controllers as soon as possible if you have not done so already. The Netlogon Remote Protocol is a remote procedure call (RPC) interface available on Windows domain controllers. Its used to facilitate users logging into servers using the NTLM protocol. As Secura notes in its whitepaper, By simply sending a number of Netlogon messages in which various fields are filled with zeroes, an attacker can change the computer password of the domain controller that is stored in the AD. This can then be used to obtain domain admin credentials and then restore the original DC password. This attack has a huge impact: it basically allows any attacker on the local network (such as a malicious insider or someone who simply plugged in a device to an on-premise network port) to completely compromise the Windows domain. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warns that exploit code for this vulnerability has been released to the web, and Microsoft reports that it has already observed attacks where those public exploits have been used. While Microsoft has patched CVE-2020-1472, you need to perform additional steps to be fully protected especially when interacting with non-Microsoft platforms. If you have installed the August 11 (or later) security updates to your domain controllers, thats all you need to do for now, but theres more to be done. If you install the patch on Windows devices, you are protected if you have a network that includes only supported Windows devices. Non-Microsoft devices that may not support this setting will expose your domain for attacks, and thats why Microsoft will enforce secure RPC usage for accounts on non-Windows devices in February 2021. As Microsoft notes in its documentation, phase two starts with the February 9, 2021 updates where enforcement mode will be enabled on all Windows domain controllers, regardless of the registry or Group Policy settings. Domain controllers will deny vulnerable connections from all non-compliant devices unless they are added to the "Domain controller: Allow vulnerable Netlogon secure channel connections" group policy. August Netlogon patch details The current phase one release from this August enforces secure RPC usage for: Machine accounts on Windows-based devices Trust accounts All Windows and non-Windows DCs It also includes a new group policy to allow device accounts that use vulnerable Netlogon secure channel connections. Even when DCs are running in enforcement mode or after the enforcement phase starts, allowed devices will not be refused connection. A new FullSecureChannelProtection registry key enables DC enforcement mode for all machine accounts. It also adds new events for accounts that are denied or would be denied in the DC enforcement mode (and will continue in the Enforcement phase). The specific event IDs are explained later. The patches make changes to the Netlogon protocol to protect Windows devices by default, logs events for non-compliant device discovery and adds the ability to enable protection for all domain-joined devices with explicit exceptions. After patching, review domain controller event logs Once youve installed the August 2020 (or later) updates, review the event logs in the domain controller for the following events in the system event log: Log event IDs 5827 and 5828 if connections are denied Log event IDs 5830 and 5831 if connections are allowed by "Domain controller: Allow vulnerable Netlogon secure channel connections" group policy Log event ID 5829 whenever a vulnerable Netlogon secure channel connection is allowed. These events should be addressed before the DC enforcement mode is configured or before the enforcement phase starts on February 9, 2021. You can use a script to review your event logs for impact. Export the event logs into .evtx format. After installing updates to your domain controllers, review the event logs for Netlogon events that point to devices or connections that are not connecting securely. Review the logs to prepare for when the update enters enforcement mode. Prepare now for the February Netlogon patch Its recommended to not wait for this enforcement, but to test and determine if you will be further impacted by this change in Netlogon protocol by making changes in the group policy of your domain controller now rather than later. The setting regarding encrypting and signing secure channel data (always) will be enabled and enforced in February 2021. This setting is not currently enabled. Susan Bradley Group policy to enable "Domain Member: digitally encrypt or sign secure channel data (always)" Alternatively, you can enable the FullSecureChannelProtection registry key to enable DC enforcement mode for all machine accounts. (The enforcement phase will update DCs to DC enforcement mode.) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netlogon\Parameters\FullSecureChannelProtection REG_DWORD Setting the value to "1" enables enforcement mode. Setting the value to "0" means domain controllers will allow vulnerable Netlogon secure channel connections from non-Windows devices. This option will be deprecated in the enforcement phase release. The August update adds a group policy to your patched domain controllers to allow for exceptions to the policy of secure RPC communication. Should you have any non-compliant systems that fail to communicate after the enforcement occurs in February, you can whitelist these transmissions and either accept the risk or work with your vendors to upgrade and fix the issue. Take the time between now and February to determine the impact to your organization. Add these exceptions to this new group policy, "Domain controller: Allow vulnerable Netlogon secure channel connections". Add them to the domain controllers organizational unit (OU). The group policy should list the security descriptors of those accounts that need to have exclusions made. Susan Bradley New policy to allow exclusions This policy is supported on at least Windows Server 2008 R2. You can determine the security descriptor by entering the command sc sdset . If you merely patch now and do not take the next step of enforcement, all proof-of-concept exploits will not work on patched machines. The remaining risk arises from third-party devices for which secure MS-NRPC is not enforced. An attacker could still reset the computer password of these devices as stored in AD, which would deny service by effectively disconnecting those devices from the domain. This might also allow man-in-the-middle attacks similar to CVE-2019-1424, where an attacker could get local admin access to these particular devices. What should you do immediately? Install the August updates on your domain controllers. Then look in your event logs for signs that you have legacy systems that will cause issues in February. Start the investigation now so you wont be blindsided by the impact of Februarys mandatory enforcement. Bonomi's "Skid Series" wafer ball valve packages are available with standard full-port ball and optional V-ball assemblies. Skid Series valves come in pneumatic and electric actuated packages and in deadman spring return handle assemblies. Plant engineers and skid system manufacturers are constantly searching for ways to make their systems more compact, lighter, more efficient and more economical. Our direct mount ASME/ANSI Class 150 wafer ball valves and valve packages meets these needs and more. Our new 723/724 "Skid Series" valve body uses less steel which means a lower cost per valve than other wafers on the market. The valve's low torque design allows for the use of smaller, more compact and efficient actuators. This saves space within the system while reducing materials, such as pipe supports, and labor costs. They are available in stainless or carbon steel. The standard full-port ball provides the most efficient media flow, far superior to butterfly valves. There is almost no pressure loss as the interior dimensions of the valve are equal to the interior dimensions of the pipe with no obstructions. The 723/724 "Skid Series" is also available in 30-60, 60 and 90 V-port configurations. Skid Series" valves come in pneumatic and electric actuated packages and in deadman spring return handle assemblies. Bonomis Valbia-brand actuators are made at the companys own manufacturing facilities in Italy. Bonomi is the worlds only manufacturer of ball valves, electric actuators and pneumatic actuators. Bonomi actuators and valves are made to work together, giving buyers better performance and single-source accountability when choosing automated valve packages For more information on Bonomi Skid Series wafer ball valves or other Bonomi products, contact Bonomi North America at (704) 412-9031 or visit http://www.bonominorthamerica.com. About Bonomi Bonomi North America has served the U.S. and Canada since 2003 and is part of the Bonomi Group of Brescia, Italy. Bonomi Group brands include Rubinetterie Bresciane Bonomi (RB) brass ball valves and check valves; Valpres carbon and stainless-steel ball valves; Valbia pneumatic and electric industrial actuators, and Frabo fittings for plumbing and industrial systems. Bonomi North America maintains an extensive distribution network for these products from its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C. BRONXVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TokenWorks , the company driving advanced driver's license scanning and age verification solutions, today introduced the newest product in its line of ID scanners: AgeVisor Contactless , the easiest and safest way to scan IDs following the COVID-19 pandemic. Combining AgeVisor age verification and CRM software with a new case set-up & orientation designed to keep merchants from making physical contact with customer's ID, AgeVisor Contactless allows merchants to quickly & accurately verify age while implementing social distancing and contactless configuration options. Configurations for social distancing, contactless, and traditional set-up. Scanning Colorado digital ID with AgeVisor Contactless Additionally, AgeVisor Contactless is able to scan & read mobile driver's licenses, as tested with Colorado's myColorado Digital ID. Key features include: Social Distance ID Scanning: Separate the scanner from the touch-screen 6 ft. apart to easily practice social distancing. Separate the scanner from the touch-screen 6 ft. apart to easily practice social distancing. Contactless ID Scanning: Enables customers to never come in contact with merchants by scanning their own IDs. Enables customers to never come in contact with merchants by scanning their own IDs. Scans multiple ID documents: Including driver's licenses, passports, mobile/digital driver's licenses ( Colorado's myColorado Digital ID). Including driver's licenses, passports, mobile/digital driver's licenses ( myColorado Digital ID). Keep track easily: Tracks data such as visitor counts, maximum occupancy tracking, and contact tracing information to provide to authorities. "Our customers who depend on in person commerce are demanding methods of increasing staff and customer safety during the COVID-9 pandemic. We have responded to this need by quickly innovating our most popular desktop age verification solution, the AgeVisor Touch, by adding physical contact safety features to our hardware set-up," said Charles Cagliostro, President, Tokenworks, Inc. "This allows for less contact with physical documents such as drivers licenses and passports while still providing the confidence of consumer age verification that allows businesses to remain compliant with age restriction regulations and laws." TokenWorks has created several unique hardware set-ups for the AgeVisor Contactless for customers to deploy. This variety of set-ups allows for businesses of any kind to implement contactless ID scanner solutions based on how they prefer to operate. The set-up can also be reverted to a traditional merchant-handled age verification when social distancing and contact rules become less urgent in the future. In the meantime, the ability to use the AgenVisor Contactless to provide retail operators with data such as visitor counts, accurate maximum occupancy tracking, and if necessary, contact tracing information to provide to authorities. In addition to recording driver's license data, AgeVisor Contactless can also capture the photo of any scanned driver's license, passport, or digital driver's license. The state-of-the-art AgeVisor Contactless was designed to also solve a variety of non-COVID related retail business operations needs across a number of industries who depend on accurate customer identification. TokenWorks took the opportunity of building key new features onto the proven AgeVisor platform, such as audible warnings, 7" capacitive touch-screen, fast operation, anti-passback alerts, customer tagging (VIP/Banned), free software updates, and support. To learn more about AgeVisor Contactless , including pricing, please visit https://www.idscanner.com/product/agevisor-contactless-id-scanner/ About TokenWorks TokenWorks, Inc manufactures and empowers advanced Driver License Scanning and Age Verification solutions, matching best-in-class hardware and custom-developed software elements to create solutions that help businesses gain confidence and accuracy in their ID Scanning practices. In business since 1998, TokenWorks serves thousands of customers across the US and Canada. For more information, please visit https://www.idscanner.com/ . Logo - https://www.idscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/idscanner_tokenworks_wordmark-scaled.jpg CONTACT: Charles Cagliostro, President, TokenWorks at 914-704-3100 or [email protected]. SOURCE TokenWorks, Inc. Related Links http://www.idscanner.com Premier Doug Ford is cracking down on who can get a COVID-19 test as a rising number of infections leaves long lines at assessment centres and longer waits for lab results. The priority is now on people with symptoms, anyone whos had close contact with a confirmed case, and those contacted by their public health department or notified by the COVID Alert smartphone app, associate chief medical officer Dr. Barbara Yaffe said Thursday as the province reported 409 new infections and one more death. Your average person out there who is not exposed to a case, is not part of an outbreak, has no symptoms should not be going for tests. Theres no value, Yaffe said. Back in the spring, this was our approach, added Ontario Health chief executive Matthew Anderson. Were going back to that model. The new guidance does not apply to children who need a test to go back to school, people who need a test to visit family members in long-term care, or residents and staff in long-term care and other congregate living settings. Ford said the province needs to be nimble in response to changing conditions. We have to focus on people that need a test, he said, distinguishing them from people that want a test just for getting a test, because they feel a little more comfortable. But an epidemiologist at Wilfrid Laurier University said the new strategy risks missing people carrying the virus without symptoms, including young adults who constitute the majority of those testing positive in recent weeks and often dont show signs of infection. It could result in missing a whole load of cases slipping through the cracks, said Todd Coleman, who previously worked as a public health official in Middlesex-London, where there has been an outbreak among Western University students this month. The policy reversal was prompted by a surge in cases and global supply chain challenges in buying more lab equipment to process tests, with the province hoping to be able to increase lab capacity to handle 50,000 daily by early October, and eventually 100,000. Nonpriority people need to stay out of testing lines to make sure hospitals and public health officials can get quicker results for patients in intensive care and people who may have been infected in outbreaks on the job or elsewhere, said Dr. Vanessa Allen, chief of medical microbiology at Public Health Ontario Laboratories. A very big part of this is an appeal to the public, said Anderson, noting assessment centres will not be asked to police those in line to ensure they qualify for a test. When people come forward, we are asking all of the public to respect that this is what we need to do to protect the most vulnerable, she said. For the last few months, Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott have urged anyone who wanted a test to get one. But with the return to school and a spike in cases, lines have become so long that some of the 151 assessment centres have had to turn people away. About 60 pharmacies are slated to begin providing tests by appointment for asymptomatic people on Friday. Yaffe said Ontarians seeking tests so they can visit loved ones in nursing homes and similar settings can go to either an assessment centre or a pharmacy. The abrupt move to ration testing shows the government is mired in chaos, said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. I wouldnt blame people at all if theyre completely confused, she added. The testing restrictions come as the government has been pilloried for days over the lack of a detailed plan to tackle a second wave of COVID-19. It is set to unveil a blueprint to prepare for another onslaught of the virus, including measures aimed at specific trouble spots to avoid another lockdown. We are taking a targeted approach, Yaffe confirmed Thursday. Details in a draft document leaked to CBC News outline $2.2 billion in spending, and follow remarks from Elliott that the province is considering additional restrictive measures, which she and the premier have repeatedly refused to reveal. Fords office has a COVID-19 infection in A junior staff member in Fords office has tested positive for COVID-19, but the premier tweeted he had no close contact or prolonged exposure to the person and will monitor himself for symptoms. Any staff members who had close contact with the infected person are self-isolating, the premiers office said. The new approach differs from the regional strategy in the spring and summer that was based on recommendations from the 34 local public heath units and affected entire regions, such as Toronto and Peel, which have been COVID-19 hot spots. Toronto has 151 new cases, Peel has 46 and Ottawa has 82 in Ministry of Health figures released Thursday. The draft obtained by the CBC, which senior government officials confirmed to the Star on Thursday is an early version of the plan that is not complete. If there is a resurgence of COVID-19, either locally or province-wide, targeted action may be taken to adjust or tighten public health measures, the document says, according to CBC. Options include temporary closures of specific businesses or organizations and other restrictions. The Ontario Hospital Association released a statement Thursday from 38 physicians and health experts in infectious diseases that called on Ford to impose restrictions on non-essential businesses and activities where the illness can spread more easily, such as through indoor service at restaurants and bars, night clubs, gyms and places of worship. Now is not the time for hesitancy, said the letter, which was signed by Dr. Allison McGeer of Sinai Health and Dr. Irfan Dhalla, a vice-president and internist at St. Michaels Hospital, among others. Ford stressed that he wants to avoid shutting down the economy as long as we possibly can, but added that if there were to be a huge spike in COVID-19 cases, everythings on the table. The governments leaked blueprint says there will be $90 million available to boost the wages of personal support workers, which Ford has repeatedly promised because they are overworked and underpaid. Despite the leak, the entire plan was not released Thursday because the Tories are dribbling out pillars of it in order to maximize publicity for the efforts. On Tuesday, Ford touted the flu shot and on Wednesday he promoted efforts to have pharmacies conduct COVID-19 testing. Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: Gabriela Saucedo was 22 years old when she arrived in the United States from Mexico in pursuit of the American Dream. Through years of hard work and perseverance, she managed to build a successful life in Arizona. Now, at 56, she believes President Donald Trump is the best candidate to keep that dream alive. Saucedo is among a coalition of Republican Latinos in the battleground state of Arizona who believe having Trump for a second term would guarantee that their concerns and conservative social values - centered around the economy and faith - are protected and maintained. "I want to have the opportunity to continue with my American Dream; that is why I came to this country as an immigrant," said Saucedo, who became a an American citizen in 1991 and is running for a position on the Pima County Board of Supervisors. The Latino support for Trump could be deemed counterintuitive considering that he rose to power on an anti-immigration platform and inflammatory rhetoric. In the 2015 speech that launched his presidential campaign, Trump called Mexican immigrants "rapists" and drug dealers. In the years since his election, images of immigrant children in overcrowded detention centers dominated the news. The coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately affected and killed people in the Latino community. Yet many of his Latino supporters in the Copper State, mostly of Mexican descent, point to Trump's business-oriented policies such as lowering taxes and lifting regulations as more consequential actions that, they say, have benefited wages and employment levels in their communities. This, along with religious conservatism - particularly antiabortion stances - are the reasons they want to see him reelected. The rationale illuminates the different ways Latinos, predicted to become the largest group of non-White voters, are impelled to cast their vote based on factors that vary from state to state and reflect local dynamics. Although a majority of the group has traditionally supported Democrats, a growing proportion of Latino voters now finds more common ground with Republican principles, challenging the notion of a monolithic voting bloc. "It infuriates me that the government puts me in a box and calls me a Latino or a Hispanic or minority female," Saucedo said. "It doesn't work for me, because I am no different than other Americans in terms of the things that interest me: to be able to put food on my table, to have a job." "Most Latinos here, we are all in the same boat, especially the ones coming from Mexico like me," Saucedo said. "We are luchadores, entrepreneurs, we fight for what we want. We just want to be left alone, and the government to let markets flow." The pragmatic logic behind the vote is simple, according to Reymundo Torres, a Mexican American Trump supporter and president of the Arizona Latino Republican Association. Latino entrepreneurs have much to gain from a "free, robust economy," he said, governed by lower taxes and fiscal responsibility. Higher taxes, generally viewed as a liberal policy, would hurt more than 3.3 million Hispanic-owned businesses in Arizona, he said. Some residents such as Torres live in border states heavily dependent on trade with Mexico. They see the signing of the free trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada, negotiated under Trump, as beneficial for the local economy and crucial for the post-coronavirus recovery of jobs and wages. But it's more than just economic issues driving some Latinos to Trump. Rudolfo Pena, a 68-year-old registered Democrat and self-employed construction worker from Phoenix, said he witnessed the party's gradual shift further to the left as he grew older. It was the party's stance on abortion that first made him question his own political views. It was Trump's "willingness to fight back" against the political establishment, the media and the Democratic leadership, he said, that won him over. He will vote for Trump again Nov. 3. "It was what we were waiting for, literally for decades," Pena said. Republican Latinos who spoke to The Washington Post said the excessive bureaucracy of liberal policies gets in the way of the Latino entrepreneurial spirit. "I just don't want to have to jump through so many hoops and endless paperwork to be able to make a living while Democrats willingly prefer to help those who don't follow the rules," Pena said. Although Latinos remain a key constituency for the Democratic Party, their vote has fluctuated over the years. In 2004, George W. Bush secured a significant 44% of the Latino vote. Then the pendulum swung back in Democrats' favor in 2012, when Barack Obama took 71%. But the enthusiasm for Democrats has wavered since: Hillary Clinton won 66% in 2016, compared with Trump's 28%, according to network exit polls in 2016. In the run-up to the 2020 election, a Fox News poll published in the past week showed more Latino support for Trump than four years ago, with 57% supporting Biden and 41% supporting Trump. Strategists and advocacy groups say the recent shift away from Democrats correlates with low levels of outreach in Latino and Hispanic communities from both parties. "For a long time Democrats have taken Latinos for granted, and Republicans have ignored them," said Clarissa Martinez, vice president of UnidosUS, a Latino advocacy group. Martinez said the limited effort in both parties to court Latino voters is surprising considering the high level of Latino turnout in past elections. "The word that best describes the outreach to Latinos is 'anemic,' " she said. "That is why many of them remain unconvinced." But with a record 32 million eligible Latino and Hispanic voters, both campaigns are ramping up efforts to boost turnout and rally voters. At a "Latinos for Trump" roundtable in Phoenix in the past week, Trump said "Hispanic Americans embody the American Dream" and reiterated his administration's "unwavering devotion" to the community. "You uplift our communities and promote our shared values of faith, family, community, hard work and patriotism," Trump told a cheering crowd. In Arizona, where Latinos make up about 24% of eligible voters, the political pendulum seems to be swinging to the left. Recent local and national polls show Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and Senate candidate Mark Kelly leading in tight races, raising Democrats' hopes to flip the state and ultimately determine the election in November. A Washington Post-ABC News poll released Wednesday shows Biden with the support of 49% of registered voters in Arizona vs. 47% for Trump, a difference that is within the poll's margin of sampling error. The same survey found Biden winning among Latinos, but lagging when compared with the votes Clinton received from the demographic four years ago. The growth of the Latino population, an influx of more Democrats from California, and mobilization can also explain the political shift, experts say. "The state is changing, and it is manifesting in various ways," said Rodney Hero, a professor of political science at Arizona State University. He said wages and the economy remain top priorities among Latinos in Arizona. Also high on the list: health care, amid a pandemic which has disproportionately affected minorities and has left millions without jobs. But residents such as Saucedo feel the Democratic Party has done little more than paid lip service to Latino voters for years. "Democrats tell Latinos that they are their best choice," Saucedo said. "But when it comes to needing their help, they do not help you. All they want is your vote, all they want is you as a victim." Many Latinos have been outraged by Trump's clampdown on illegal immigration, his legal battles against DACA and the massive deportation of central American immigrants. But for some Latino hard-liners in Arizona, including Saucedo, those issues are an afterthought. Instead, they are focused on Trump's "law and order" message. "I am a responsible adult; I came here legally without breaking any rules. The opportunities are there," Saucedo said. "There is no excuse for anyone to take advantage of the system." Steven T. Mnuchin, Secretary, Department of the Treasury during the Senate's Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing examining the quarterly CARES Act report to Congress, in Washington, DC, U.S., September 24, 2020. One of the main draws of the Paycheck Protection Program was the ability to have loans forgiven if the money was used as the law permitted with 60% of the capital going to payroll and 40% to other allowable expenses. But as forgiveness opened up last month, some banks and small businesses are reporting difficulty navigating the process, and advocates are pushing for simplicity for already struggling companies. According to the Consumer Bankers Association, banks estimate that as many as 80% of forgiveness applications that have been submitted by small businesses are requiring additional follow-ups to reconcile errors or find missing information. The EZ form, which allows businesses that meet certain qualifications to apply via a simplified process, is not as easy as advertised, CEO Richard Hunt says. "Many of these are not simple issues to resolve, requiring an average of four to five communications between the small business and the bank to remedy the issue. The SBA EZ form is, simply, not easy for the overwhelming majority of small business owners and still requires the completion of some complicated calculations," Hunt said in a statement. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office found questions remain about the forgiveness process, pointing out that the Small Business Administration issued rules and guidance on a "rolling basis." The report added that "applying for loan forgiveness is more time consuming than applying for the PPP loan itself." The CBA, along with the International Franchise Association, requested of the Treasury Department and the SBA that all rules and guidance in the next wave of PPP enhancements be finalized before going into effect. The SBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. More than 100 trade groups have asked Congress to pass legislation streamlining the forgiveness process for loans of under $150,000, which make up the vast majority of loans made under the PPP. When asked about potential legislative tweaks to the forgiveness process at a Senate Banking Committee Hearing on Thursday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers there is bipartisan support to go beyond the EZ form that was created for businesses, but added that businesses shouldn't wait for legislation to move ahead with applying. "We believe we need additional legislation to simplify beyond what we've done. We want to maintain fraud protection," Mnuchin said. He added that he would encourage borrowers that received loans of under $150,000 to "move quickly and ... not wait for legislation. But if we could get legislation that would be great." Data from the National Federation of Independent Business released last month found borrowers were waiting for lenders to start accepting loan forgiveness applications, and the group's report said "many small business owners still find the EZ form complicated and confusing." The group found that 43% of members surveyed planned to use the EZ form and 62% were not sure which forgiveness form they should use. And some are finding that even though they want to apply for forgiveness, they are not immediately able to. Paul Hoodless, owner of Rose Dry Cleaners in San Antonio, Texas, said he is eager to see if loans are forgiven below the $150,000 threshold, adding that his bank wasn't ready to accept his forgiveness application late last month. "We filled out all our paperwork immediately and went to turn it in for the forgiveness, but they weren't accepting the forgiveness papers, as there seems to be anticipation that there will be ongoing changes in process," he said. "Potentially, since ours is considered small, it is likely to get in a category under $150,000 for total forgiveness." Karen Kerrigan, president of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, said both banks and businesses are waiting for more clarity and potential changes to the process. "Small business owners are keeping an eye out for additional changes to PPP and perhaps more guidance, including forgiveness simplification, and many have been advised to wait it out a bit longer this of course has created some anxiety," Kerrigan said. "Banks are waiting for clarity, certainty and reassurance as well. Why expend significant resources on setting up a forgiveness system when there may be a legislative or rule change that enable a less bureaucratic and costly forgiveness system?" Having complained for years about hedge funds high fees and lackluster performance, insurance firms may be preparing to cut allocations to the sector after its poor performance during recent market upheaval left many of them nursing losses. That would be a problem for hedge funds, as insurance companies are huge investors, managing around $20 trillion of assets globally. It would also be a challenge for insurers, which have been hoping hedge funds would deliver market-beating returns to help them meet billions of dollars in pandemic-related payouts. One of the primary objectives of hedge funds is to preserve clients capital during market downturns. But the industry mostly failed to do that in the first six months of 2020, losing an average of 3.5%, according to Hedge Fund Research (HFR). An index fund tracking the S&P500 would have lost 3% in the same period. For European insurers, the underperformance is a double blow, as they incur extra capital charges to hold investments classed as risky. The average hedge fund would not be a good investment, said Urban Angehrn, chief investment officer at Zurich Insurance , which says a $120 million fall in hedge fund gains versus last year contributed to a drop in first-half profits. Angehrn said there were exceptions but in aggregate, unfortunately, (hedge funds) dont do a very good job in creating extra performance. While Zurich earned a better-than-average 2.9% from its hedge funds between January and June, that was down from 9% in the same period a year earlier. It has around 1% of its $207 billion asset portfolio in hedge funds and Chief Financial Officer George Quinn told Reuters last month it did not plan a significant shift in allocations. Overall, though, European insurers median hedge fund holdings have been falling, hitting 1.5% in September from 2% four years before, data from Preqin shows. Less than a fifth of global insurers plan to add to hedge fund allocations in the event of persistent volatility over the next three to six months, a State Street survey showed in June, while Goldman Sachs Asset Managements July survey found that even before the pandemic, insurance firms were cutting hedge fund investments. I dont anticipate COVID leading to increased allocations to hedge funds, said Gareth Haslip, global head of insurance strategy and analytics at JPMorgan Asset Management. DAMAGE Most major insurers do not provide detail of their hedge fund exposure in earnings reports, but Dutch group Aegon told Reuters it had cut allocations to riskier assets by more than 20% as underperformance of hedge funds inflicted losses of $50 million in the first half of 2020. Given the current environment, we decided to somewhat de-risk our investment portfolio and have lowered our exposure to hedge funds and private equity to $1.482 million per June 30, from $1.830 million per December 31, 2019, a spokesman said. U.S. insurer AIG said earnings in its general insurance business suffered in the first quarter from a $588 million drop in net investment income, mainly due to hedge funds. AIG declined to comment on its allocations. Bucking the trend, reinsurer Swiss Res hedge fund investments edged up to $355 million at June 30 from $352 million at the end of 2019. A spokesman declined to comment on future investment plans. European insurers hedge fund allocations have room to fall as they are above global averages. Its also costlier to hold hedge funds after Solvency II regulations introduced in 2016 required insurers to set aside more capital against riskier investments. Those regulations have partly driven recent falls in hedge fund allocations, according to Andries Hoekema, global insurance sector head at HSBC Global Asset Management, but he noted holdings were down also in Asia, which hadnt tightened rules. In Asia, we have some evidence of insurers replacing hedge fund exposure with private equity, Hoekema said. This was driven partly by the more attractive returns of private equity and partly by the disappointing diversification properties of some hedge fund strategies in recent years, he added. ($1 = 0.8545 euros) (Reporting by Maiya Keidan and Carolyn Cohn in London, additional reporting by Toby Sterling in Amsterdam; editing by Sujata Rao and Mark Potter) Topics Carriers Europe The coronavirus may have mutated to spread faster, more research suggests. Experts examined more than 5,000 genomes from viruses recovered in the earliest phase of the pandemic in Houston. These were compared to samples taken from a recent wave of infections. The study, which was not scrutinised by fellow scientists before publication, found that 99 per cent of all strains in the second wave had a mutation, known as D614G. For comparison, it was only found in 70 per cent of samples taken during the city's first outbreak, suggesting it has pushed out competitive strains. Studies have shown the mutation boosts the number of 'spikes' on the crown-shaped virus. The spikes are what allow the virus to bind to and attack cells, increasing the ability of the mutated virus to infect cells. Academics at Houston Methodist Hospital - who carried out the first-of-its-kind study - said patients infected with the variant strain had significantly higher amounts of the virus when they were first diagnosed. But they found little evidence mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 have made it deadlier, noting that severity of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, was more strongly linked to patients' underlying medical conditions and genetics. They also said some regions of the spike protein - the primary target of coronavirus vaccines now in development - showed several mutations, possibly indicating that the virus is changing in order to evade the body's immune response. Previous studies have shown the coronavirus is mutating and evolving as it adapts to its human hosts. Scientific theory suggests viruses may become weaker over time in a bid to survive - if they kill or cripple all their human hosts they will run out of road. Scientists around the world noted as early as May that the D614G strain had become dominant in most counties with high coronavirus case numbers, including the US. Houston Methodist Hospital researchers found that more than 99% of people in the Texas city who caught coronavirus in the second wave had a variation of the virus with a mutation known as D614G that codes for more spike proteins, making the virus more infectious Texas is now in its second wave of coronavirus, and some 30,000 new cases are being reported a day How one amino acid led to a major mutation The study by the Royal Society's SET-C (Science in Emergencies Tasking COVID-19) task force also studied the one major mutation SARS-CoV-2 underwent. It is located on the S-protein which sticks out from the surface of the virus. This spike latches on to the ACE2 receptor of human cells, tricks it into opening the cell, and allows the pathogen to infect a person. At one specific location residue 614 on the S1 terminus the original form of the coronavirus had the amino acid aspartate, labelled with a D. However, a random mutation saw this amino acid replaced with a glycine, labelled with a G. The so-called D614G mutation was seen in barely any samples taken in February. However, by March, more than a quarter (26 per cent) of isolated SARS-CoV-2 strains contained the mutation. By May this figure had reached 70 per cent. The D614G mutation is the most dominant one seen globally. This mutation appears to help more virus infect a person and for more efficient infection of cells. The D614G virus is also almost always accompanied with three other minor mutations. The role of these changes remains unknown. Advertisement It swiftly rose to the top of the viral food chain in New York City, Italy and the UK, while the West Coast of the US was primarily battling a strain thought to be 10 times less infectious than D614G. But New York City is no longer the pandemic epicenter it was in the spring. Instead, sunbelt states like Texas, Arizona and Florida became the hardest-hit in the nation in the late spring and summer. Texas is still reporting nearly 3,000 new infections a day, as of Wednesday, and more than 100 daily fatalities. Public health experts believe the state is now its second wave of coronavirus, and Harris County - where the sprawling metropolitan of Houston is located - continues to be the hardest hit. And the new study, posted to the online pre-publication repository, MedRxiv.org, provides a clue as to why. The D614G strain of coronavirus is characterized by portions of the viral genome that code for modifications to the spike protein. The 'G' portion, in particular, was found in 99 percent of samples tested by the Houston Methodist scientists. 'Strains with a Gly614 amino acid replacement in the spike protein, a polymorphism that has been linked to increased transmission and in vitro cell infectivity, increased significantly over time and caused virtually all COVID-19 cases in the massive second disease wave, the study authors wrote. They added the patients who had this variation of the virus had much higher viral loads in their noses when they tested positive for COVID-19. Higher viral loads increase the odds that someone's coughs or sneezes will spread the virus. And in the lab, neutralizing antibodies that might stop other strains of coronavirus from infecting human cells had less effect on the D614G variant. New Delhi, Sep 24 : A 29-year-old woman was strangled by her husband after she confronted him over his alleged extra marital affair in Delhi's Paharganj. The woman was found in an unconscious state on Thursday morning with ligature marks on her neck. When she was rushed to the hospital she was declared brought dead. Suspicion fell on the husband as the children of the deceased were with their grandparents and the husband was missing post midnight. A photo of the deceased's husband was taken from their house and the police began to trace the suspect. The accused Sunny, an e-rickshaw driver, tried to flee in his vehicle. The police team started stopping e-rickshaw drivers in the vicinity and tried to identify the suspect through his photograph. Meanwhile, a policeman saw a person who turned around his e-rickshaw and tried to escape from the spot where the team was checking the vehicles but the police team apprehended the suspect. "During interrogation, the suspect confessed to having strangulated his wife with her chunni after having a heated altercation over the issue of his extra marital relation," said Sanjay Bhatia, DCP Central Delhi. Blue Pearl Software Inc., today announces that it has appointed EDA luminary and venture capitalist Jim Hogan to spearhead its Advisory Board. The board provides strategic advice to the Blue Pearl management team. Hogan has more than four decades of experience in the semiconductor industry, including senior executive positions at EDA, semiconductor intellectual property, semiconductor equipment and fabrication companies. We are continuously looking at how our solutions and technology can provide additional value to our ever-increasing customer base, said Ellis Smith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Blue Pearl Software. Having Jim head up our advisory board, with his extensive background and industry contacts, is instrumental to our future as we continue to evolve in this new virtual work environment. He is already bringing his industry expertise to bear. Blue Pearls Visual Verification Suite is used for pre-silicon verification of FPGAs and SoCs by the US Department of Defense and leading aerospace, defense, government and medical equipment companies throughout the world for safety critical designs. Said Hogan. I believe there is ample opportunity for the technology, and I am pleased to be asked to help shape Blue Pearls future. About Blue Pearl Software Blue Pearl Software, Inc. is a leading provider of DO-254 compatible design automation software for ASIC, FPGA and IP RTL verification. Our customers are RTL managers and developers in military, aerospace, semiconductor, medical, communications and safety critical design companies. The Visual Verification Suite speeds block and project level verification with advanced integrated RTL structural and formal linting, constraint generation and clock domain crossing analysis. Our usability is unmatched in the industry and can help your design team accelerate development and produce high reliability designs. The Visual Verification Suite is designed, tested and supported in the United States of America. To learn more about Blue Pearl visit http://www.bluepearlsoftware.com CAIRO - Amnesty International said Thursday that thousands of Europe-bound migrants who were intercepted and returned to Libyan shores this year were forcefully disappeared after being taken out of unofficial detention centres run by militias allied with the U.N.-supported government in the capital, Tripoli. In its latest report, the group also said that rival authorities in eastern Libya forcibly expelled several thousand migrants without due process or the opportunity to challenge their deportation. Libya, which descended into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, has emerged as a major transit point for African and Arab migrants fleeing war and poverty to Europe. Most migrants make the perilous journey in ill-equipped and unsafe rubber boats. In recent years, the European Union has partnered with Libyas coast guard and other Libyan forces to stop the flow of migrants and thousands have been intercepted at sea and returned to Libya. Officials in Libyas east and west did not respond to repeated phone calls seeking comment. Amnesty said about 8,500 migrants, including women and children, were intercepted and brought back to Libya between Jan. 1 and Sep. 14. Since 2016, an estimated 60,000 men, women and children have been captured at sea and taken to Libya where they disembarked, it said. The EU and its member states continue to implement policies trapping tens of thousands of men, women and children in a vicious cycle of abuse, showing a callous disregard for peoples lives and dignity, said Diana Eltahawy, Amnestys deputy regional director. Thousands have been subjected to enforced disappearances in 2020, after being taken to unofficial detention centres in western Libya, including to the so-called Tobacco Factory in Tripoli, run by a government-allied militia, Amnesty said. There, the migrants and refuges face a constant risk of being abducted by militias, armed groups and traffickers. They are trapped in a vicious cycle of cruelty with little to no hope of finding safe and legal pathways out, the report said. Some are tortured or raped until their families pay ransoms to secure their release. Others die in custody as a result of violence, torture, starvation or medical neglect. Eltahawy urged the EU to completely reconsider its co-operation with Libyan authorities and make any further support conditional on immediate action to stop horrific abuses against refugees and migrants. In 2020, eastern Libya authorities forcibly expelled over 5,000 refugees and migrants, citing their alleged carrying of contagious diseases among reasons cited for the deportations. Amnesty cited an incident, without saying when it happened, in which eastern Libyan forces blocked a bus from entering the southeastern city of Kufra unless three Chadian nationals got off. They were ordered to take a COVID-19 test and left in the desert outside the city, while other passengers, all of them Libyans, were allowed to enter without further checks or testing. Read more about: "Our culture is one of giving back to the community, so we are honored to have the opportunity to help keep our children and families safe and healthy as the new school year gets underway," said Jennifer O'Neil, Embrace Home Loans' director of communications. "By doing our part, we hope to have an impact on stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus so that our students can focus on learning and spending time with their friends." "On behalf of the Portsmouth School Department, I would like to thank Embrace Home Loans for their generous PPE donation," said Dr. Thomas Kenworthy, Portsmouth, Rhode Island superintendent of schools. "These supplies are much needed as we get ready to safely welcome students and staff back to the new school year." In addition to the masks that were delivered to Aquidneck Island schools, many of Embrace Home Loans' retail branches donated masks in their local communities. In total, retail branches donated over 15,000+ masks to non-profits and organizations all along the East Coast. "Our company does so much in the community, but since the pandemic, we haven't been able to do as much physically," said Nicole Hawkins, retail support manager. "However, our team remains committed to finding ways to help others whenever we can, and these mask donations are a prime example." Embrace has continued to grow and add staff during the pandemic. The company has transitioned many of its employees to work from home and supports them with online communities that focus on employee well-being and virtual teambuilding. Employees who needed to care for someone with the coronavirus are provided relief days as well. Named one of the Best Mortgage Companies to Work For by National Mortgage News and Best Companies Group, Embrace offers competitive compensation and benefits, a balanced work-life focus and a culture that fosters job satisfaction and success. Embrace also received the first-place award for the Top Mortgage Companies in Customer Satisfaction in the Large Division from SocialSurvey , which released data on customer satisfaction among nearly 200 mortgage companies nationwide. To learn more about career opportunities at Embrace Home Loans, visit Embrace Careers. About Embrace Home Loans Founded in 1983, Embrace Home Loans is a prominent mortgage lender that provides borrowers and financial institutions with an exceptional mortgage experience. Licensed in 48 states and the District of Columbia, Embrace has been recognized seven times as one of the Best Medium-sized Companies to Work for in America by Fortune and five times as one of the Fastest Growing Companies in America by Inc. The company has also been recognized twelve times as one of the Best Places to Work in Rhode Island, as the Most Community Involved Company in Rhode Island, and with the Leadership Excellence Award by Providence Business News. The company is based in Middletown, Rhode Island. For more information, please visit www.embracehomeloans.com . PRESS CONTACTS: Henry Drennan Strategic Vantage Marketing and Public Relations (615) 497-8358 [email protected] Mary McGarity Strategic Vantage Marketing and Public Relations (203) 260-5476 [email protected] SOURCE Embrace Home Loans Related Links http://www.embracehomeloans.com While Julian Assange is fighting his legal battle against U.S. extradition, his fiancee, Stella Moris, is making sure the couple's young children know who their father is despite the WikiLeaks founder being in hiding or jail since before they were born. Stella Moris has two sons, Gabriel and Max, with Assange. / Credit: CBS News "I try to give them as normal a feeling of a family as I can," Moris told CBS News' Elizabeth Palmer. "And they speak to him every day." Assange is in a London courtroom Thursday morning, after more than 160 current and former world leaders and lawmakers sent a letter to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, asking him not to be sent to the U.S. Assange is facing U.S. espionage charges, including conspiracy to hack a Pentagon computer, and using WikiLeaks to publish thousands of classified documents. He argues the release was in the public interest. "There's no way Julian will face a fair trial in the U.S.," Moris said. The South African lawyer met Assange a decade ago when she joined his legal team. She visited him regularly, the two soon became lovers, and even managed to keep their relationship secret while he was holed up inside Ecuador's embassy in London for seven years. Assange and one of his sons / Credit: CBS News "We found ways to be private. We had a tent in his room, that we put, you know, fairy lights in you know, like a camping tent," Moris recalled. Assange soon fathered two children with Moris, Gabriel and Max, who have rarely seen their father. Moris still stands by her decision, calling Assange "the man I wanted to start a family with." "I was 33 and we decided, you know, let's live our lives," she said. Going public with their relationship now, when Assange could be looking at decades of U.S. prison time, is a calculated emotional appeal to the British court. Moris said the court "has to deal with the reality" of Assange's young family living in the U.K. Assange, revered and reviled throughout the world, even has a checkered history with former colleagues who call him a liar and an egomaniac. He also denies allegations that he colluded with Russian meddling in the 2016 elections. Story continues But Moris has one clear message to their children. "I tell them that Julian is a hero," she said. "And I want them to just see our love and their father's affection to the extent that we can." Police release body camera video of an officer shooting teen with autism Louisville police prepare city for an upcoming decision in Breonna Taylor case United Kingdom imposes new restrictions as COVID-19 cases spike Denvers tech industry contributes an estimated $32.1 billion to the citys economy. It has the ninth largest share of IT jobs among cities in the US. DesignRush, a B2B marketplace connecting brands with agencies, identified the companies in the booming Denver market that help brands design websites that engage users cost effectively. The top Denver web design companies are: 1. Revenue River revenueriver.co Expertise: Website Design, Digital Marketing, SEO and more 2. Bonfire Effect bonfireeffect.com Expertise: Website Design, Website Development, Digital Marketing and more 3. PopOff Marketing popoffmarketing.com Expertise: Website Design, Website Development, Digital Marketing and more 4. Campfire Digital campfiredigital.com Expertise: Website Design, Website Development, SEO and more 5. Intellectyx intellectyx.com Expertise: Website Design, Mobile App Development, Software Development and more 6. Mountaintop Web Design mountaintopwebdesign.com Expertise: Website Design, Website Development, UX Design and more 7. Usman Group usmangroup.com Expertise: Website Design, Market Research, Inbound Marketing and more 8. Lighthouse Web Design, Inc lighthousewd.com Expertise: Website Design, SEO, Digital Marketing and more 9. FlowState Marketing flowstatemarketing.com Expertise: Market Research, Website Design, Creative Services and more 10. The Brandsmen thebrandsmen.com Expertise: Website Design, SEO, Digital Marketing and more 11. Akveo akveo.com Expertise: Website Development, Mobile App Development, Website Design and more 12. Volare Systems volaresystems.com Expertise: Mobile App Development, Website Development, Website Design and more 13. The Xcite Group thexcitegroup.com Expertise: Digital Marketing, Website Development, SEO 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 20:07:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KABUL, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least six civilians were confirmed dead and 12 others injured in Afghanistan on Thursday as fighting escalated in the militancy-battered country, officials said. In the latest attack, the Taliban militants fired a mortar shell that struck a house in Khan Abad district of the northern Kunduz province at noon Thursday, killing three civilians on the spot and wounding six others, senior district official Qudratullah Safi told Xinhua. The official blamed the Taliban for the deadly attack, saying the militants intentionally targeted civilians to terrorize the locals. Similarly, another blast that hit a car in Kunduz city, the capital of the restive Kunduz province, at lunchtime wounded three civilians, including a prosecutor, provincial government spokesman Esmatullah Muradi confirmed. Three more civilians were killed and three others injured in the Taliban fighters' ambush in Darayim district of the northern Badakhshan province Thursday morning. All the victims are members of same family, provincial police spokesman Sanaullah Rohani said. The Taliban outfit has yet to claim responsibility for the attacks. Civilians in Afghanistan often bear the brunt of war in the country. According to Sayed Mohammad Sami, the head of Afghan human rights commission in the northern Balkh province, 31 civilians have been killed and 102 others, including 12 women and 25 children, injured due to fighting between the government forces and Taliban in the northern region of the country over the past two months. A report of the watchdog released in July asserted that on average 16 civilians had been killed or wounded every day in the war-battered Afghanistan. The report which documented civilian casualties in the first half of the year stated that 1,213 civilians had been killed and 1,744 others wounded from January to June 2020. Fighting in Afghanistan has escalated since the start of intra-Afghan talks in Doha on Sept. 12. Hundreds of fighters from both sides as well as civilians have been killed since the start of the talks in the Qatari capital, according to Afghans. The Afghan government negotiating team and Taliban delegation begun peace talks in Doha 12 days ago to find a political solution to the country's crisis, but no tangible progress has been reported so far. Enditem TikTok has requested an injunction from a federal judge in order to delay Trumps ban. As reported by Business Insider, TikTok have challenged the legality and constitutionality of the executive order. TikToks ban will take effect on September 27 which many thought could be avoided after TikTok partnered with Oracle. However, the partnership did not live up to Trumps demands which now include total U.S. control over TikTok. Now TikTok has changed tactics and has tried to challenge the ban outright. Instead of working around it through partial acquisitions, the company has looked to try and legally challenge the ban alongside the companys lawsuit. Advertisement TikTok requests federal injunction to delay ban By requesting this federal injunction TikTok has essentially found a way to try and buy themselves more time. The company has already filed a lawsuit attempting to tackle the ban outright. If this injunction is successful it will delay Trumps ban until further notice. This will most likely be until the decision is made over the lawsuit so gives TikTok that breathing space. TikTok has asked for an expedited hearing on its motion so as to beat the September 27 deadline. The company has requested a decision from the Trump and the Commerce Department by Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET. Advertisement This would then give US District Court time to hold a hearing and make a decision before the deadline on Sunday, September 27. As the ban currently stands, on September 27 downloads of TikTok will no longer be allowed. Then on November 12 the app will become completely banned to all in the U.S. unless something changes. The first stage of the ban originally had an earlier start date but Trump gave his blessing to a deal meant to keep TikTok in the U.S. However, when that deal did not meet his requirements the clock began ticking again. Advertisement TikToks legal challenge to the executive order Earlier in the month, TikToks lawyers filed a lawsuit challenging Trumps executive order. It claims that the ban is unconstitutional, citing violations of First Amendment rights and due process. Now it looks like TikTok is unable to reach an acquisition agreement that satisfies both Trump and hte Chinese government it has changed its tactics. A legal challenge to the executive order is a long show, however, at least this federal injunction may delay the ban for some time and allow them to assess other options. However, it does look like time is slowly running out for TikTok. Even if the ban gets delayed, the prospect of it not coming into force at some stage does look quite unlikely now. This story could just as easily be a project for the senior English classes I teach at San Rafael High School. Actually, it probably will, a work of speculative nonfiction, both plan and prophecy: In 2030, how might teachers educate students about whats happened in the United States over the past year? Students should always study how the past informs the present and future. This can mean a week of September dedicated to the enduring consequences of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, or investigating a decade-long decline in the health of a local waterway, noting which species will disappear if conditions persist. But it can also mean thinking about what happened on Zoom last week. The classroom mirrors the features of a changing world, a microcosm of tragedy and hope. Its also a place where those features can be dissected. Assuming we have not been replaced by AI facilitators, teachers in 2030 will look back at this as-yet-unfinished year of public health calamities, institutional failures, political turmoil, protest and heightened climate change worries, and find themes to address, skills to teach and lessons that must not be forgotten. For this exercise, I reached out to three educators a Stanford education professor, an Oakland High School public health teacher and a San Pablo elementary school teacher and asked them to imagine their approach to teaching about this year a decade down the road. The teachers considered their experiences, values and subject-matter expertise. They took into account how students might think and learn differently by the year 2030 and how 2020s prominent patterns might continue. The college kids of 2030 are fifth-graders now. My daughters kindergarten cohort will be a year into high school. What will they know, need and value? And what will their classrooms reflect back? Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Antero Garcia Stanford University In the smoothing over of time, we will turn this into a victory story, says Antero Garcia, an assistant professor at Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Education. The 20th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, Garcia notes. He asks if the event is taught in schools. It is, of course, but certainly smoothed over: in many classrooms, a nostalgic portrait of national solidarity with little focus on the jingoism and anti-Muslim fervor that distressed many Americans. Will we erase the problematic details of this moment too? asks Garcia, who grew up in San Diego and attended UCLA for every year of his education after high school. We still have to heal and grieve. Unlike 9/11, 2020 is a messy collision of complex challenges, some acute but ongoing, like the coronavirus pandemic, and some chronic, like racism. Grieving is harder when the injury hasnt stopped. According to Garcia, a historical parallel might be the election of Barack Obama. Students now, young children in 2008, might compare the optimism surrounding Obamas victory with the policies (and backlash) that followed. Now theres a bunch of history to go back through, says Garcia. What did it lead to? Teachers of literature can combat the simplification of history, says Garcia. Wise voices often echo far down the historical highway, like Susan Sontag, writing two weeks after September 11, 2001, warning against drivel and reality-concealing rhetoric. Teaching in 2030, Garcia might first prioritize students finding stories and telling them themselves instead of focusing on a central text, some wise voice writing now. For excavating the past and building empathy, theres a need for collective stories, Garcia says, referencing Foxfire, a 54-year-old living museum to Appalachian heritage originally created as a high school project in Georgia. Mosaic narratives, he adds, capture what a single text cant. As a high school teacher in South Central Los Angeles in the early part of the decade, Garcia had students document the 20th anniversary of the 1992 Los Angeles uprisings on an evening walk through streets they already knew, interviewing people they encountered and asking what they remembered. They made coded maps to reflect gathered stories, although 2030s teenagers might use a platform they already know, like TikTok, or one yet to be developed. Garcia also anchored their work in literature addressing the same event: Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, Anna Deveare Smiths collection of monologues based on interviews. Garcia imagines a similar 2030 project dedicated to the current devastating wildfire season. Maybe some people say they remember not being able to go outside, but then someones like, Remember when the sky was orange that one day? And then that becomes part of it. The result? A hyperlocal, polyphonic version of what many journalists will no doubt spend the next decade doing. Many teachers will address inequity in 2030, but Garcia thinks that school itself can change. Parents and educators see dramatic disparities in students access to technology and home environments. Draconian homework policies and rules about dress and snacks during Zoom meetings tend to target students from low-income families, more often people of color, reinforcing a long-standing problem in education. Atrocities functioning perfectly in school are perpetuated online, Garcia says. The forces are the same, and the liberation mission hasnt changed. He references an April 2020 Arundhati Roy piece in which The God of Small Things author writes of embracing a chance to rethink the doomsday machine we have built for ourselves. If teachers can now see more clearly the extent to which school has always been unjust in its structures and unimaginative in its goal of readying students for work, he suggests, they can shift the mission, modeling a healthier society they hope students will continue to build. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Nicole Tran Dover Elementary Whats really important in 10 years is that these students can use their online platforms for equity and justice, says Nicole Tran, a 15-year veteran lower-grade teacher at Dover Elementary in San Pablo. Tran says this year has birthed Generation Zoom, a cohort of elementary-age students with unprecedented access to and comfort with technology. (As the parent of a kid who now navigates a tablet with irritatingly casual ease, I agree.) The distance learning model will survive the pandemic in some form, says Tran, who uses apps like Seesaw to manage digital portfolios of student work and ClassDojo to simulate a classroom community. Tran sees this experience as an opportunity to rewrite the narrative about the dangers of kids being overexposed to technology. Students are learning for their families. Theyre able to educate their parents about technology, says Tran, who teaches mostly Latinx students and grew up in San Rafaels Canal neighborhood. I want to be positive and look back (from 2030) and see that Generation Zoom was set up to save America. The older ones are on the front lines of protests, challenging their families and learning to live sustainably. Tran believes that her much younger students have to prepare for the ugliness of the real world in a developmentally appropriate way, with a nurturing spirit, a celebration of difference. Tran relies on literature to articulate this message, and while the book list in 2030 will have new entries, she suggests Todd Parrs Its Okay to be Different, Bell Hooks Skin Again and Jacqueline Woodsons The Day You Begin as starting points. On the day I interviewed Tran, my daughter was reading the latter over Zoom with her kindergarten class. A girl spends a summer caring for her little sister at home while classmates travel; yet through books and imaginative play, she transcends circumstances beyond her control. In 2020, it resonates with grown-ups as well as their children. Zoom makes inclusivity even more important for Tran. A screen projects students homes, revealing a wide spectrum of chaos and care. Maybe this moment helps educators see patterns of inequity in a way that were once easier to miss. And maybe, as Garcia also suggests, teachers realize they dont wish to return to what was once normal: a school structure in which students may be essentially punished for poverty or their lack of homework support. Tran thinks this may lead to more teachers examining how their own biases affect their practice instead of always reaching for a trendy teaching strategy. In The Day You Begin, the protagonist, potentially an outsider among her peers, works up the nerve to share herself. Tran notes that her students will socialize on a digital platform at every stage of their lives. The struggle that normally unfolds in a classroom now happens in Zoom breakout rooms, where kids can easily distract themselves or detach. Having a conversation is and will be content to teach. 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 does it mean to be a good buddy? asks Tran. It means not thinking just about what you want to say, looking a partner in the eye and thinking about their perspective. Likewise, while second-graders dont doomscroll through Twitter, they will soon meet a noisy media environment rife with disinformation. Tran thinks kids now and in the future need to know how to evaluate sources and discern opinion or unverifiable assertions from pure fact. They need the desire and patience to seek truth. Since springs school closure, Tran has had more time than ever to read and process this year as its happening. She wants her students to learn to do the same. Its important to cultivate their minds now and drive them to want to explore further, Tran explains. She emphasizes the value of inquiry-based learning that starts with questions and accepts complicated answers, especially for marginalized student groups that have, in Trans mind, been systematically characterized as less capable and less motivated. These are not new issues, she says. But we have new questions about them. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Jessica Oya Oakland High School When Jessica Oya imagines teaching 10 years from now, she sees students examining how racism is embedded in institutions from health care to environmental regulation. Oya, a public health teacher at Oakland High School who holds a masters degree in public health from Columbia University in New York, believes teens have already grown more aware of this dynamic. Young people are committed to making lives more equitable, she says. At the high school, Oya fosters this understanding with a curriculum made from scratch. You cant talk about public health without talking about these factors at play, she says. Why do certain groups live in certain places and what are the public health effects? Oya cites high rates of asthma in West Oakland, where factories and highways create pockets of heavy pollution and, despite gentrification, the population remains 50% Black. She notes the 2020 McClymonds High School shutdown after cancer-causing chemicals were discovered in groundwater beneath the campus. The coronavirus has also disproportionately torn through low-income communities of color where many essential workers cannot work from home and high housing costs mean people often live in crowded apartments. Oyas public health class of the future responds to students lives and taps into history like the generation-shaping experiences of the HIV pandemic and 9/11. Her high school students in 2020 werent yet born when the towers fell, but they have come of age in their shadow. As a way to understand the current crisis, Oyas students started this year by talking about physician John Snow, who linked Londons 19th century cholera epidemic to contaminated water. What is epidemiology? How can talking to people piece together a puzzle of a diseases spread? Back then, we didnt talk about germs in the way we talk about them now, says Oya, who also teaches a class in community health education theory at San Francisco State. In 10 years, we might have a different perspective on COVID-19 to teach students. Like Tran, Oya expects that 2030s student researchers must be savvy about sources. For laughs and an important lesson, she teaches students about the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus: a made-up creature whose plight is the subject of an outdated-looking but information-rich website. Most students fall for the hoax. Teenagers have long been lampooned for eroding written communication skills, but Oya sees a small silver lining in the shift to distance learning. With students unable to swing by a teachers classroom, clear email communication becomes more essential. According to Oya, students are writing better emails, a soft tech skill that will be valued in 2030, too. Theyre finding the ability to express what they need, says Oya. Many are also embracing advocacy as an ethos, learning the power of voice, as Oya puts it. Students in 2030 may not remember the pandemic or the protests, but theyll be shaped by them all the same. For inspiration, teachers may want to have them study an important historical group: their teenage predecessors. Andrew Simmons is a teacher and freelance writer in the Bay Area. Email: culture@sfchronicle.com Support: Joe Biden will hope to benefit from Cindy McCains backing in the crucial swing state of Arizona. Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP Cindy McCain has endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president in a rebuke of President Donald Trump by the widow of the Republican Party's 2008 nominee. Mr Trump has had a fraught relationship with John McCain's family since he disparaged the Arizona senator during the 2016 campaign. But until now, the family has stopped short of endorsing Mr Trump's rivals. Cindy McCain cited the decades-long friendship between her family and Mr Biden's 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," she said. "Not only to love someone who has served, but he understands what it means to send a child into combat. We've been great friends for many years." Mr Trump reacted harshly to the endorsement, disparaging both Mr Biden and John McCain. "I hardly know Cindy McCain." Mr Trump tweeted. "Joe Biden was John McCain's lapdog. So many BAD decisions on Endless Wars & the VA, which I brought from a horror show to HIGH APPROVAL. Never a fan of John. Cindy can have Sleepy Joe!" Ms McCain's backing could help Mr Biden appeal to Republicans disaffected with the president and give the former Democratic vice-president a boost in Arizona, a crucial swing state that Mr McCain represented in Congress for 35 years. He remains a revered figure since his 2018 death from complications of a brain tumour, particularly with the independent voters Mr Biden is courting. "I decided to take a stand, and hopefully other people will see the same thing. Other women particularly," she 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." Ms McCain said she hasn't voted for a Democrat since she was 18. She remains a registered Republican and has no plans to change, she said. Mr Biden told donors that Ms McCain's endorsement was coming because of recent reports that Mr Trump's spoke disrespectfully about Americans who have died while in the military: "He talks about how my son and John and others who are heroes, who served their country. You know, he said they're 'losers, suckers'." Mr Trump has denied making the remarks which were first reported in The Atlantic. During the 2016 campaign, Mr Trump said of Mr McCain, "He's not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured." Mr McCain later angered Mr Trump with a dramatic thumbs-down vote against repealing Barack Obama's health care law. Mr Trump wasn't invited to John McCain's funeral. The Only Way Is Essex star Saffron Lempriere has revealed that she 'no longer talks' with Gemma Collins and described how the pair have gone their 'separate ways'. Saffron, 28, described how she and the Diva Forever star Gemma, 39, 'were like sisters' but would not discuss the 'reasons' why they parted ways on Thursday. The TV star explained how lockdown 'made her realise' who her 'true friends' were and said she had 'wasted a lot of energy and time on things that I shouldn't have.' Open: The Only Way Is Essex star Saffron Lempriere, 28, has revealed that she 'no longer talks' with Gemma Collins, 39, and have gone their 'separate ways' (pictured in 2018) Speaking to host and co-star Bobby Norris, 34, and Stephen Leng on the Access All Areas show for FUBAR Radio, she said: 'Me and Gemma no longer talk. I wish her all the best and that's it really.' She continued: 'Me and Gemma were good friends for a long time. 'I worked with her in the clothing and we were good friends. We were like sisters really and we rowed like sisters as well as loved like sisters.' Parted ways: Saffron described how she and the Diva Forever star Gemma, 39, 'were like sisters' before the fall out (pictured in 2019) The TV star appeared in Gemma Collins: Diva Espana and the pair remained friends with Saffron joining the cast of TOWIE in 2018. Speaking about why the pair ended their friendship, she said: 'There are reasons but I'm not willing to discuss them. 'We've gone our own separate ways. She's successful, I wish her all the happiness, best and that's it.' Close: Saffron, who regularly features alongside Bobby Norris, 34, (pictured) on the ITVBe reality show, spoke about the importance of 'true friends' in lockdown Saffron, who regularly features alongside Bobby on the ITVBe reality show, spoke about the importance of 'true friends' in lockdown. She said: 'I really realised who my true friends were in that time. People that you could just pick up the phone to and I realised that I'd wasted a lot of energy and time on things that I shouldn't have. 'Because at the end of the day, you've got to be happy with yourself.' In April Saffron and Bobby headed to local hospitals in Essex to hand out goods to frontline workers in collaboration with online retailer ISAWITFIRST. The pair also started 'a virtual hub' on Instagram named Isolation With The Nation in April where they shared daily live videos to connect people during lockdown. Speaking about her mental health, Saffron said: 'I'm an empath. I'm a giver, so I'm always thinking about somebody else. 'When it come to me, I was like, s*** this is real. And I've suffered in the past with my mental health. 'I've suffered with anxiety and not as much depression but I think I was going down that route so I've gone through that.' 'Separate ways': The TV star appeared in Gemma Collins: Diva Espana and the pair remained friends with Saffron joining the cast of TOWIE in 2018 She continued: 'I've been to therapists and things like that and you talk about yourself so much, but still I don't think I ever was sitting with myself. There's a massive difference.' And Saffron admitted she has 'grown' from lockdown despite feeling 'negative' at the time. The TV star also revealed that she has 'found her feet' on TOWIE through 'solid friendships' and described how it is her 'best series yet'. Saffron, who was with someone from 15 for ten years before entering a new relationship, revealed how viewers may see a different side to her now she is 'newly single' . 'The viewers have not really known much about me until now so I've been able to sort of run with that and share a bit about my personal life,' she said. 'I've just been sort of finding happiness alone because lockdown really highlighted a lot for me. 'I got the time to self-reflect, a lot of time to sit with my own thoughts which I haven't done for a long time, and just being on my own, which sounds mad but it was daunting. I didn't know what alone was.' MailOnline has contacted Gemma's representatives for comment. 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. Your browser does not support the audio element. Police in the northern Vietnamese province of Vinh Phuc said on Monday that they had detained a 17-year-old adolescent on suspicion of blackmailing a 12-year-old girl for sex. Nguyen Anh Tuan, 17, hails from Tam Duong District in Vinh Phuc. In July 2020, he targeted and got acquainted with a 12-year-old girl, identified as V.T.T., a native of the same district via Facebook. After a couple of hours of online chat, Tuan asked T. to send him photos of her naked, which she did. The victim was then invited to his house for sex, but she refused. Rejected, Tuan threatened to distribute the girls nude photos to her schoolmates if she did not come around to have sex with him. After successfully blackmailing the girl into sexual intercourse, Tuan went on to demand that she buy him a new phone or he would leak her photos online. Fearing for her privacy, T. borrowed money from her friends to meet his demand. After getting the phone, Tuan continued to coerce T. into giving him VND3 million (US$130) in cash. At a dead end with no more money to fulfill the request, T. confessed everything to her family members, who then contacted police. On August 11, Tuan was detained by police officers as he arrived at a venue where T. had set him up to pick up the money. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 By Zeyni Jafarov Trend: The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) held a foreign exchange auction with the participation of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), during which Azerbaijani banks bought $70.7 million, Trend reports citing CBA. According to CBA, the banks demand at the auction amounted to $70.7 million and was fully met. As a result of the auction, the weighted average rate of the manat to the US dollar amounted to 1.7 AZN / USD. In accordance with SOFAZs data, from January through August 2020, SOFAZ sold the foreign currency in the amount of $5.4 billion at currency auctions, which is by 25 percent more 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. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @jafarov_zeyni In the aftermath of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police, Joe Biden should have gotten to Kenosha, Wis., much faster. (Associated Press) Weve all heard the analysis: If only Black voters had turned out in the same numbers to vote for Hillary Clinton that they did for Barack Obama, we wouldnt have Donald Trump today. The razor-thin margins for Trump in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania would have turned into razor-thin margins for Clinton, and that would have been it. So, yes, Black voters were certainly important in 2016, and theyre going to be crucially important this year, too. But will they turn out? This is far from certain. One thing we do know, however, is that Democrats shouldnt assume anti-Trump sentiment among Black voters is enough, in and of itself. One tip-off was surveys of Black nonvoters conducted a couple of years after the 2016 election in a couple of cities in the swing states. By then, Trumps support of white nationalists, his unwillingness to condemn police violence, his sledgehammer attacks on health, public education and housing programs were all well known. And those were all issues of particular importance to Black voters. Yet, many of the Black nonvoters still voiced no regret for having stayed home on election day. Trumps negatives just arent enough to move them. They need something affirmative. What did move them was what Obama had to say to Black voters in 2008 and 2012. They didnt stampede to the polls for him solely because he was making history as the first African American president. They passionately believed there would be a tangible payoff for them in an Obama White House. On the campaign trail, he promised to push for jobs, raise the minimum wage, improve education, reform banks and other financial institutions to address the foreclosure crisis, repeal tax cuts for the rich and address, finally, American healthcare. Black voters believed Obama would bring real change to their lives, and they responded. If Joe Biden wants to win back 2016s sidelined Black voters, he needs to go into poor, underserved communities with something tangible in hand. He cant simply be selling fear of the big, bad, racist currently in the White House. He has to tell inner-city Black voters what they will gain by casting their vote for him, and he needs to tell them that to their faces. Thats the only way to ignite the needed passion and fire. Story continues Biden had a golden opportunity to make his case to Black voters in the immediate aftermath of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. Wisconsin is again very much in play in the presidential race, and Biden should have traveled there immediately to be a voice of support and a calming presence. In addition to meeting with Blakes family, he could have toured the surrounding neighborhood, talked to residents about police reform and economic justice issues and laid out what he will do to push these things if elected. Instead, Trump beat him to Kenosha, playing to his very different base with a law-and-order pitch. By the time Biden got to Kenosha a couple of days after Trump, the moment of urgency and maximum impact had passed. Yes, he met with the Blake family and talked about these issues. But it felt like an afterthought. Biden needs to establish a real presence in marginalized Black communities to stir any kind of passion among the many voters who feel the election process doesnt mean a darn thing to them. Biden also needs to fully and firmly address his past record on race something the Trump campaign and its surrogates are sure to raise repeatedly during the campaign. He opposed busing. He made nice with hardcore segregation senators during his days in the Senate. He trashed Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. He strongly supported the Clinton crime bill in 1994. For some black voters, his apologies wont ever be enough. But he needs to keep working hard to remove the odor of these past racial sins. Several polls have found that voter enthusiasm among younger Black voters could be particularly problematic for Biden. Since, as a group, they also strongly oppose Trump, Biden needs to give young black voters a reason to cast their ballots. Trump will play hard on the old theme that the Democrats supposedly engage in "plantation politics" with Black voters. That is, they purportedly take Black votes for granted while offering little to nothing in return. He knows hes unlikely to win many Black votes himself, but hell try to sow just enough doubt and disaffection to depress turnout among some skeptical Black voters, a strategy he used effectively in 2016. Biden's challenge is clear. Whats less clear is whether hell be able to meet it. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a political analyst and author of Whats Right and Wrong With the Electoral College. He is a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on Radio One and host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KPFK-FM in Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said 30 persons were injured in the explosion which occurred at Iju Ishaga on Thursday while houses and vehicles were also destroyed in the explosion. Giving update on the incident, Femi Oke-Osayintolu, the Director-General of LASEMA said the explosion was caused by a tanker conveying gas. It was confirmed that a 30 ton LPG Tanker being operated by Mana Gas Ltd was involved in an explosion which destroyed several vehicles, X and Y Event Center and a Plank Market in the above mentioned axis. The responders discovered that a compromised seal device by the truck driver had led to gradual leakages which then ignited when the tyres burst, he said. Nosa Okunbor, the spokesperson of the agency, also said the fire was totally extinguished around 6:27 p.m. There has been no death recorded in the incident. The agency revealed that the 30 wounded persons consist of 20 adult males and 10 adult females. A total number of 15 vehicles and 23 buildings were also affected, which includes an event centre, a church, residential and commercial buildings, the official added. Mr Nosa said, dampening exercise is ongoing at the scene. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 17:07:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KATHMANDU, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) --- Nine people died in a landslide at Tamadi area of Waling municipality in Nepal's western Syangja district on Thursday morning, a senior police officer said. "All nine people who died in the incident are the members of a single family as landslides triggered by incessant rainfalls buried the house," Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati at the District Police Office told Xinhua over the telephone. "A 17-year-old girl of the family however could escape the disaster." He said all the dead bodies have been recovered from the debris of buried house. According to Bogati, the incident happened at around 5.30 a.m. local time when the family members were sleeping in the early morning. The landslide occurred due to the weak geological structure of the land above the house, said Bogati. According to him, families of the other four to five houses close to damaged house have been relocated at safe place following the incident. Nepal has been witnessing massive rainfalls for the last two days, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology with major rainfalls heavily concentrated in western Nepal. Bikram Shrestha Zoowa, information officer at the department, told Xinhua on Thursday that rainfalls are expected to stop in the western region on Friday and be over in eastern region on Sunday evening. "Unusually, the monsoon is still active in Nepal this year which should have gone by now," Zoowa said. Enditem Australian authorities are set to euthanise several surviving long-finned pilot whales after almost 400 died in one of the worlds largest ever mass strandings of the mammals. Almost 500 of the whales, which is a large species of oceanic dolphin, were discovered on Monday and Wednesday beached on the shore and sand bars along the remote west coast of the island state near the town of Strahan. By late Thursday rescuers had managed to free almost 90 of the whales. The majority of those had reached the safety of deeper water, but at least four too exhausted to swim to safety were likely to be euthanised and others could return to the area when the tide turns, officials warned. The task of removing around 380 of the dead whales which together weigh hundreds of tons, will begin on Friday and is likely to take days, Marine Conservation Program wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon told AP. Methods under consideration include towing the carcasses or loading them onto barges to take them out to sea to be dumped somewhere where they will not drift ashore or create navigational hazards. Dr Carlyon said the rescue crews were working 12-hour days. "Everyone's tired, feeling the fatigue, long days," he said. "The emotional toll can be significant." Speaking to Reuters, Nic Deka, the incident controller for the state government's Parks and Wildlife Service said the outlook for any of the whales remaining in the area was not good. He said: Beyond the next 24 hours, any remaining animals that are alive will be less viable. Speaking about the disposal of the carcasses, he added: Our preference is for disposal at sea, we're still taking expert advice as to exactly where the drop off point may be," noting the decomposing whales could pose an environmental health risk. Mike Double, a zoologist who leads the Australian Marine Mammal Centre, told Reuters why the decision had been made to euthanise those whales which are still alive, but remain stranded. He said: For large whales very sadly, it could take weeks for them to die, and they get blistered in the sun, so you would be thinking about an ethical and humane thing to do. Rescuers working to save the whales stranded on a beach on the rugged west coast of Tasmania (BRODIE WEEDING/THE ADVOCATE/AFP) While very large species of whales can be euthanised via a lethal dose of potassium chloride to the heart or even explosives, whales like the long-finned pilots are usually shot with a firearm. The stranding, the biggest on record in modern Australia and one of the largest in the world, has drawn attention to a natural phenomenon that remains largely a mystery to scientists. A rescue team of more than 60 government scientists and volunteers had dashed to the remote location, braving freezing cold waters in order to carry out the arduous refloating process. As many as four or five people per whale were needed to attach slings to the animals and guide them as they were pulled to deeper water by boats. Why the whales ran aground is a mystery. Theories include that the pod followed sick whales or made a navigational error. Mainland Australia's largest mass stranding had previously been 320 pilot whales near the Western Australia state town of Dunsborough in 1996. Tasmania's previous largest stranding involved 294 whales on the northwest coast in 1935. Additional reporting by agencies Unidentified gunmen shot dead Kashmiri lawyer Babar Qadri in Hawal area of Srinagar on Thursday. Qadri was rushed to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) hospital in Srinagar where doctors declared him dead on arrival, news agency PTI reported. Qadri was recently suspended from the bar association. He sought his suspension to be revoked after the bar association president was released from his detention, which was in place since the abrogation of Article 370 in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the bar association did not agree to his demand. Qadri was frequently seen on television, participating in debates. He never hesitated to take on prominent people of Kashmir. Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah condemned Qadris murder. The assassination of Babar Qadri this evening is tragic & I unequivocally condemn it. The sense of tragedy is all the more because he warned of the threat. Sadly his warning was his last tweet, Abdullah wrote on Twitter. Just hours before his death, the lawyer, during a Facebook live, had said that he had been receiving intimidating messages. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON How do naxals procure sophisticated weapons: It was the LTTE which aided them Naxals from Telangana were in the process of making grenade launchers, IEDs: NIA Set to wreck havoc, 3 naxals gunned in the nick of time at Telangana India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 25: Three naxalites, including two women were shot dead in an exchange of fire with the police at the Chennapuram forest area under the Charla police station in Telangana. The police have recovered an 8mm rifle, one pistol and explosives. Earlier, during another exchange of fire at Palwancha reserve forest, naxalites managed to escape. The police had recovered an SBBL rifle, a kit bag and a solar plate meant for charging electronic equipment. Superintendent of Police, Sunil Dutt said that the police got credible information about the movement of naxalites in the forests along the Chhattisgarh border. They were planning to wreak havoc in Telangana between September 21 and 27. He said that the combing operations would continue. 3 naxals arrested, arms seized On September 7, two naxalites are shot down in Vaddipeta-Pusuguppa forest area of Charla block. On September 19, in Asifabad, two naxalites were gunned down by the Telangana police during an exchange of fire. There have been several incidents of naxal movement reported in Telangana in the past few months. The police say that they have been attempting to re-group and plan attacks against the state. Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News The combing operations in the wake of these developments have been ramped up in Adilabad, Asifabad, Mancherial, Mulugu, Bhdradri Kothagudem and Bhulapally. The Global Wellness Summit has teamed with pioneering wellness community Serenbe to offer 2020 delegates the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in a unique wellness community experience. To have the chance to literally share the Serenbe experience and business model with Summit delegatesincluding insight into how we overcame obstacles over the years and guidance on what we believe the successful components of a winning wellness community are..." The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the foremost gathering of international leaders in the multi-trillion-dollar global wellness economy, has teamed with pioneering wellness community Serenbe to offer 2020 delegates the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in a unique wellness community experience. Situated among acres of forests and meadows on the edge of Atlantawith miles of trails connecting homes and restaurants with arts and businessesaward-winning Serenbe sets the standard for wellness communities. The two-day experience kicks off November 11, after the 14th annual Summit, which takes place at The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida, from November 811, 2020. The theme of the 2020 Summit, Resetting the World with Wellness, is a global call to action to recognize that more comprehensive and inclusive wellness concepts could remake the world post-pandemic, said Susie Ellis, chair and CEO of the Global Wellness Summit. We believe that communities centered on wellness will play a huge part in resetting our world, and Serenbe represents the gold-standarda wellness community that has delivered on its original vision, but that has also continued to innovate and thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. This behind-the-scenes visit will give Summit delegates invaluable access and insight into what makes Serenbe such a success story, said Ellis. Real estate experts increasingly agree that wellness real estate is emerging as one of the big economic winners during the pandemic and that homes designed for human health will be a core driver of the global real estate market going forward. The two-day immersion is designed to give Summit delegates an opportunity to learn and experience what makes this unique wellness community both a commercial and personal success story for its founders. To have the chance to literally share the Serenbe experience and business model with Summit delegatesincluding insight into how we overcame obstacles over the years and guidance on what we believe the successful components of a winning wellness community areis something Im very much looking forward to, said Steve Nygren, founder of Serenbe along with his wife, Marie Lupo Nygren. Wellness Real Estate Gains Momentum In 2018, GWI researchers forecasted that the wellness real estate and communities market would be the fastest-growing wellness segment over the next few years: expanding from a $134 billion market in 2017 to $198 billion by 2022 (or 8% annually)**. Those numbers may be surpassed given the COVID-19 crisis, which has rapidly accelerated peoples desire to bring far more wellness into their homes and to live in intentionally wellness-focused communities. GWIs Build Well to Live Well research reported that there were roughly 750 global wellness real estate/communities projects built or in the development pipeline in 2018; GWI researchers expect that number to grow significantly. Coldwell Bankers The Report: 2020, on current high-end real estate trends, analyzes how wellness is the new it amenity, and "Builder magazine" recently noted that wellness real estate has moved from elective to essentialdue to COVID-19. Experts also point out that the pandemic will help move this market to increasingly innovative, super-sophisticated new developments that tackle a holistic concept of wellnessboth on the human health and environmental front. Serenbe Post-Summit Retreat Summit delegates will attend a special reception at the Serenbe founders home and get a behind-the-scenes tour of Serenbes four hamlets, which all feature complementary commercial centers focused on the elements of a well-lived life: arts for inspiration, agriculture for nourishment, health for wellbeing, and education for awareness. Delegates will stay at The Inn at Serenbe, set on a 36-acre farm, and, in addition to getting a private look behind the curtain, will also experience life as a Serenbe resident, choosing from an extensive list of classes and activities and dining on delicious, healthy cuisine made with fresh ingredients from their 25-acre organic farm. To learn more about the Post-Summit Wellness Real Estate & Communities immersion at Serenbe, click here. To learn more about the Summit or to register, click here. About the Global Wellness Summit: The Global Wellness Summit is an invitation-only international gathering that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $4.5 trillion global wellness economy. Held in a different location each year, Summits have taken place in the US, Switzerland, Turkey, Bali, India, Morocco, Mexico, Austria, Italy and Singapore. The 14th annual Summit will take place at The Breakers Palm Beach, FL, from November 811, 2020. The 2021 GWS will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 1518. About Serenbe: Founded by the Nygren family in 2004, Serenbe is a biophilic community connected to nature on the edge of Atlanta. The community of 750 residents and growing is set among acres of preserved forests and meadows with miles of nature trails that connect homes and restaurants with arts and businesses. Focused on wellbeing, Serenbe is a neighborhood with fresh food, over 300 days of arts and cultural programming, multiple independent shops, an artist residency program, a 27-room Inn, four restaurants and a working organic farm. The best reason to live here is the life here. serenbe.com ** https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what-is-wellness/what-is-wellness-lifestyle-real-estate-communities/ ** Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 00:51:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2020 shows the debris of Afghan Air Force (AAF) MD-530 helicopter at the site of crash in Kaparak locality of Pul-e-Khumri city, capital of Baghlan province, Afghanistan. Two Afghan Air Force pilots were killed after a military helicopter crashed in the country's northern restive Baghlan province on Thursday, Defense Ministry confirmed. (Photo by Sahel/Xinhua) KABUL, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Two Afghan Air Force pilots were killed after a military helicopter crashed in the country's northern restive Baghlan province on Thursday, Defense Ministry confirmed. "The Afghan Air Force (AAF) MD-530 helicopter crashed in Kaparak locality of Pul-e-Khumri city, capital of Baghlan roughly at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The site of crash was secured by army personnel," the ministry said in a statement. "Two AAF pilots lost their lives and no one was hurt on the ground," the statement noted. The crash was caused by a technical failure, the statement said, adding that the ministry will conduct an investigation into the incident. In July this year, five Afghan National Army personnel were wounded after an Afghan army's Black Hawk helicopter crashed in southern Helmand province. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 18:41:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China is not only a tireless advocate of multilateralism, but also a leading contributor to global governance, an Argentine international relations expert has said. "China has a clear policy of supporting multilateralism, as evidenced by its support for institutions such as the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization and the World Health Organization," Carla Oliva, coordinator of the China and Argentina study group at the National University of Rosario, told Xinhua. "Beijing assumes the responsibilities of its current international status. That means it recognizes its global role and is committed to providing the solutions that role implies," she said. Speaking of Chinese President Xi Jinping's video address on Tuesday to the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Oliva said it highlighted the importance of pursuing open and inclusive development, and of building an open world economy. China recognizes the UN's key role in addressing issues such as terrorism, climate change and peacekeeping, said the expert. "The scope of China's commitment to the UN and, consequently, to multilateralism" is clear from its implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, its role as the second largest contributor to the UN budget, and its provision of more than 40,000 peacekeepers over the past three decades to peacekeeping missions, said Oliva. In pursuit of "development for mutual benefit," China has presented concrete schemes to the international community, she said. "China presented alternative global governance proposals. The Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are ... rules-based initiatives promoted by China," said the expert. The initiatives have aroused the interest of countries in all regions and become true global mechanisms that continually receive requests for membership, said Oliva. The proposals for good governance in international relations revolve around Xi's vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, she said. "China maintains we are facing an opportunity to move towards a new, more inclusive, safe and stable (world) order, in which different peoples, beliefs and cultures must unite to build that community together," said Oliva. China's global cooperation in combating the COVID-19 pandemic is an example of its willingness to assume its responsibilities. It is also a sign of its commitment "to providing and guaranteeing global public goods, such as the Chinese vaccine against the disease, once it passes the research process and clinical trials." Enditem A man has been attacked by a crocodile while snorkelling in North Queensland. The 33-year-old was savaged by the crocodile while swimming off Anchor Bay at Lizard Island off the Great Barrier Reef at about 4pm on Wednesday. The man was treated by Royal Flying Doctors Service for head and neck injuries at the scene and was flown to Cairns Hospital in the evening. A spokesperson from Cairns Hospital told Daily Mail Australia the man is in a stable condition. A man has been attacked by a crocodile while snorkelling off Lizard Island (pictured) in North Queensland Officers from the Department of Environment and Science will head to the island to investigate the attack. Wildlife officers will attempt to locate and remove the crocodile. The man involved is believed to be a staff member working at the luxury Lizard Island Resort. The villa is not open due to COVID-19 restrictions and won't reopen to tourists until December. Resort operators have offered wildlife officers the use of two of their vessels to assist with search efforts for the animal. Lizard Island is off the coast of Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef The man was bitten over the head and neck when he was snorkelling in about 5 metres of water, about 50 metres offshore. Windswell Reef and Rainforest owner Brett Wright has spent two years running tours around Lizard Island. He said people are aware there are crocodiles around the area but it was surprising to hear of an attack. 'There is a lot of water sports activity around that area and I'm surprised it has happened, but they are around,' he told the Cairns Post. 'If a croc was going to come out at Anchor Bay it would probably be the first point of contact between a crocodile and a snorkeler. 'My philosophy is the more remote places you have guests the more vigilant you have to be.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 22:49:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Britain's envoy for the United Nations (UN) climate conference COP26 has said China's promise to be carbon neutral by 2060 could help the world avoid a climate catastrophe, local media reported on Thursday. "It's a really important thing that China has made this commitment as there's no way that the world would be able to meet Paris goals of keeping temperature rise to no more than 2C (degrees Celsius) -- and as close to 1.5C (degrees Celsius) -- if China hadn't made this sort of commitment," John Murton, Britain's envoy for COP26, told Sky News. The UN climate talks COP26, originally scheduled to take place in Glasgow, Scotland in November this year, was postponed until next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Murton said China's pledge is a positive thing for the COP26 conference, as it could persuade other nations to make similar targets. The pledge tells other big emitters that these sorts of reductions are possible, he was quoted as saying. China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Tuesday. Xi made the remarks during the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video link. "China will scale up its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions by adopting more vigorous policies and measures," he said, calling on the international community to take decisive steps to honor the Paris agreement on climate change. Enditem Chennai: DMK President M K Stalin lashed out at Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami for the AIADMKs support to the controversial farmers bills in Parliament while Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar accused Stalin of raring to start a political fight over the issue on Wednesday. Speaking to the media after attending a Covid-19 related event in Chennai, Udhayakumar said the Chief Minister had clarified that the bills would not be detrimental to the interest of farmers and charged Stalin with launching a false propaganda. Stalin in a lengthy statement said Palaniswami had no moral right to call himself a farmer as a farmer would not support an anti-farmer legislation, adding that the bill that the AIADMK had supported did not even mention minimum support price, something for which farmers in the country had been fighting for. Reacting to Palaniswamis remarks that Stalin did not know anything about agriculture, he said that to express an opinion on a bill, one need not be a farmer. Basic knowledge on farming and concern for farmers would do, he said, adding that Palaniswami lacked them. Raising a series of questions to the Chief Minister, Stalin asked if the AIADMK MP, S R Balasubramanian, who spoke against the Bills in Rajya Sabha did not know anything about farming. Or, did the thousands of farmers who walked to lay siege to Fort St George or the lakhs of farmers protesting in north India or the NDA Minister who resigned her post on the issue not know anything about farming,? Stalin asked. He also mentioned about the leaders of 18 opposition political parties urging the President not to give sanction to the Bills and the articles published in traditional newspapers like The Hindu and Deccan Chronicle against the Bills and asked the Chief Minister if they too did not know anything about farming. The adverse effects of the Bills had been listed out in the advertisement put out by the DMKs farmer workers union, he said. Alleging corruption in various farmers schemes like kudi mamarathu (the traditional way of keeping water bodies clean), desilting of canals for providing water to farmlands and Prime Ministers Kisan Scheme, Stalin said a farmer would not indulge in corruption in a scheme to benefit farmers. Students in Scotland have been banned from going to the pub as locked-down freshers issued cries for help from isolation in their rooms. Institutions said they will make it 'absolutely clear' for those studying that parties will not be tolerated. They went as far to say that pupils will not be allow to interact with anyone who does not live in their halls or house. The move was announced after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was accused by opposition parties of a 'basic failure' to foresee problems on campuses. It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested students could be stuck at universities over the Christmas break. Meanwhile some pupils are using post-it notes to spell out cries of help from their accommodation after a major Covid-19 outbreak at Glasgow University. Positive Covid tests have also been recorded on campuses in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Dundee and Aberdeen. Students living in IQ Parker House Students accommodation in Dundee were asked to self isolate due to an outbreak. They entertained themselves by posting messages on the windows Some of the notes at the Dundee accommodation were humorous while others were encouraging, with this student writing a message that read: 'We're all in this together' Glasgow University is the latest to see an outbreak of Covid-19 among students The self-isolating students tried to remain lighthearted, with some posting mesages pleading people in the outside world to 'help', and 'honk' to say hello This student gave a thumbs up through the window after also writing messages from his room Universities Scotland said the stricter restrictions were a 'necessary step at this crucial moment of managing the virus in the student population, to protect students and the wider community'. The new rules say institutions will 'make absolutely clear to students that there must be no parties, and no socialising outside their households'. They add: 'This weekend, the first of the new tighter Scottish government guidance, we will require students to avoid all socialising outside of their households and outside of their accommodation. 'We will ask them not to go to bars or other hospitality venues.' What universities have locked down students due to Covid-19 outbreaks? Glasgow University Abertay University in Dundee St Andrew University Aberdeen University Liverpool University Manchester Metropolitan University Leeds University Advertisement Earlier today students put up post-it notes in their windows, with one writing 'Send drink' and another lamenting the fact they could not smoke while in isolation. At least 600 have had to confine themselves to their student accommodation after 124 students caught the virus at the Glasgow university. Meanwhile Mr Hancock said he does not want students to have to stay at their institutions over the Christmas break. He said: 'I don't want to have a situation like that, and I very much hope we can avoid it,' he said. Asked if it was under consideration, he said: 'I've learned not to rule things out. And one of the challenges we have is making sure that people are as safe as possible and that includes not spreading between the generations, but this is not our goal.' Earlier this week it was revealed 500 students were self-isolating at Abertay University in Dundee after one confirmed case, while 80 students and seven staff were confirmed to have coronavirus at the University of Liverpool. There have also been 'a number' of confirmed cases at Aberdeen University. The outbreaks across Scotland have prompted a strong warning against house parties. During yesterday's coronavirus briefing national clinical director, Jason Leitch, said: 'We need you not to have house parties, I could not be more clear.' Nicola Sturgeon said the 'significant outbreak at the University of Glasgow' had impacted on the daily Covid-19 infection figure for the NHS Greater Glasgow area. A total of 224 cases were recorded across the health board area in the past day, she said. Prof Leitch said he had spoken to student leaders about the latest restrictions on Tuesday through the National Union of Students. Nicola Sturgeon confirmed yesterday the 'significant outbreak' in Glasgow had impacted the city's daily Covid-19 infection figure Glasgow University students queue at a pop up test centre at the Murano Street Student Village He said: 'We discussed what more they could do and what more messaging they could help us with. 'There are now a number of outbreaks in our higher and further education institutions around the country, with significant numbers of positive cases. 'We need every student across Scotland to help us stop the spread of the virus.' Addressing students directly, he reiterated the Government's public health advice on coronavirus and urged people to download the Protect Scotland app. It is 'vital' those asked to self-isolate do so for a full 14 days, he said, remaining in accommodation and not going out for any reason. Those self-isolating must try to avoid close contact with others in shared accommodation, he said. Confirming the rules on household meetings also apply to student accommodation, he added: 'Parties are not allowed. I'm sorry and I hope they come back soon.' All 500 students at Parker House halls in Dundee are self-isolating after one of their peers contracted coronavirus The University of Glasgow confirmed on social media it is dealing with a coronavirus outbreak at two student residences - Cairncross House and Murano student village. Those who are self-isolating are being provided with food and other supplies, the university said. An incident management team meeting is taking place on Wednesday afternoon. A spokesman for the University of Glasgow said: 'We are aware of two significant clusters of positive cases of Covid-19 in our Murano Street and Cairncross residences, which we believe were largely due to social activity around September 12-14, the start of freshers' week. At least 80 students at Liverpool University have contracted coronavirus, along with seven staff 'We are working closely with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's public health team to manage these. '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.' In the summer of 2015, the New York branch of British bank Barclays flagged as suspicious a transfer of $1 million to former Moscow Deputy Mayor Iosif Ordzhonikidze for "consulting services." The transfer originated with a company called BEM Global Corp., which is controlled by prominent real-estate developer Roman Fuks. One of the main projects realized by Fuks and his brother, Pavel Fuks, was the Moscow-City skyscraper complex, a project that Ordzhonikidze oversaw for the Moscow mayor's office before he left office in 2007. In 2019, an international arrest warrant was issued for the Fuks brothers, who are wanted in Russia and in Kazakhstan for allegedly embezzling millions of dollars from the Moscow-City project. The Barclays suspicious-activity report (SAR) was filed to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), an agency of the U.S. Treasury Department that combats money laundering and the financing of terrorism. It was one of more than 2,000 such reports dating from 2011-17 that were leaked in 2017. Coordinated by the media outlet BuzzFeed and the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), more than 400 journalists from over 80 countries worked through the documents and began publishing their findings on September 21. Although the 2,000 leaked reports constitute just 0.02 percent of all the SARs filed during this period, they document the suspicious transfer of more than $2 trillion. The FinCEN leak was smaller than the 2016 Panama Papers leak, which revealed much about the use of shell companies by major business and political figures around the world. "In this case, the amount of information is smaller, but nonetheless it is a very significant amount that merits further work," said Russian journalist Roman Shleinov, who participated in the project and was one of the authors of the initial report on the Russian connections among the leaked SARs for the Important Stories website. The documents cast further light into the concealed depths of the government of Russia and and influential nongovernment entities under longtime President Vladimir Putin, whose rule some analysts have described as an authoritarian kleptocracy. The ruling elite under Putin "has managed to integrate quite nicely into the West," British journalist Catherine Belton, author of the recent book Putin's People: How The KGB Took Back Russia And Then Took On The West, told RFE/RL earlier this month. "It is estimated that some $800 billion of Russian money is in offshore accounts, more than the amount held in Russian accounts. And despite all Putins statements and efforts, that figure is only growing." A SARs report is not an accusation of illegal activity, Shleinov and other journalists working with the FinCEN leak emphasize. In the case of the transfer to Ordzhonikidze, Shleinov stressed that the SAR does not prove there was a bribe. "We are only talking about what we can prove," he told RFE/RL. "We see the fact that strange payments were made. The American correspondent bank flagged them. That means these transactions must be explained somehow, since they raise major questions. Why did Roman Fuks, a man who is now under criminal indictment, a developer, suddenly transfer a million dollars to the [former] deputy mayor for 'consulting'?" Putin's Cellist One of the starring Russian figures in the Panama Papers leak was cellist and longtime Putin intimate Sergei Rodulgin. Although Rodulgin has long maintained that he is not involved in business, the Panama Papers tied him to several shell companies in various global tax havens that saw cash flows worth billions of dollars. Analysts at the time speculated that Rodulgin, who is the godfather of Putin's elder daughter, may have been controlling money destined for Putin himself, allegations that the musician and the Kremlin have denied. The FinCEN leak included one SAR flagging an October 2010 transfer of $830,000 to Sandalwood Continental, a shell company that the Panama Papers revealed to be controlled by Roldugin. The payment came from a Cyprus-based firm called Dulston Ventures, a firm connected to Russian billionaire Aleksei Mordashov's consortium, Severgroup. The consortium has refused to comment on the SAR. Rodulgin was linked to other businesses controlled by Mordashov by the Panama Papers. Rodulgin-connected firms received $30 million for "consulting services" from Mordashovs firms, as well as a $6 million loan that was subsequently forgiven. "The sum that was mentioned in the American bank's report is not so big -- less than $1 million," Shleinov explained. "But there are some interesting nuances. For instance, the report mentions some sort of loan agreement. Why would a major Russian businessman suddenly seek a loan from a little-known office connected with a cellist who has said his whole life that he is not involved in business? I honestly have a hard time explaining this." Yeltsin Connection According to the FinCEN documents, Valentin Yumashev -- who is listed as an unpaid adviser to Putin and who is married to Tatyana Dyachenko, daughter of the late former President Boris Yeltsin -- received $6 million from a firm called Epion Holdings Limited, registered in the British Virgin Islands. Epion is owned by billionaire Alisher Usmanov. The transfers were made under a "services" agreement between 2006 and 2008. Yumashev was Yeltsin's chief of staff and, according to many reports, played a key role in having Putin named Yeltsin's successor in exchange for protection for Yeltsin and his inner circle. In his role as "unpaid Kremlin adviser," Yumashev is believed to be a powerful lobbyist with access at the highest levels of the Russian government. In a 2011 interview with Moskovsky komsomolets, Yumashev insisted he was not particularly wealthy. "If I had made millions, there would have to be some evidence of it," he said. "But neither Tanya nor I have any airplanes or villas in France or England." Yumashev, Usmanov, and the Kremlin refused requests from Important Stories to comment on the documents. Yumashev "has insisted in interviews that he and his family do not have any significant financial resources," Shleinov told RFE/RL. "Yes, he is an adviser to many business people but he insists in interviews that he is not wealthy. But now we see a rather significant payment of $6 million to Yumashev from Usmanov. It would be interesting to understand why this money was paid. But so far no one is commenting on it -- not Yumashev, not Usmanov's firms." 'Huge Sea Of Information' Shleinov said that perhaps the main lesson of the FinCEN leak relates to FinCEN itself, which seems to be largely ineffective because of the large volume of information it receives. "My personal feeling after working with the Treasury Department files is that it receives an enormous quantity of reports, a simply colossal amount," Shleinov said. "I got the impression that the Treasury Department bureaucrats in this agency are simply drowning in a huge sea of information and, unfortunately, can't always investigate suspicious matters." "The machine is working, but I wouldn't say very effectively," he concluded. "Maybe someday they will adopt some stricter regulations or take some measures to be stricter regarding these bank transfers. But I don't think even that will really limit the mechanisms for moving money that are used by, among others, our officials and our business people. Written by Robert Coalson based on reporting by Mark Krutov of RFE/RL's Russian Service 24.09.2020 LISTEN A large number of traders in the Okaikwei North Municipality are fuming with rage over what they described as needless intimidation, brutalities and destruction of their goods by some armed military-police allegedly deployed by the Municipal Chief Executive, Nii Boye Laryea. The aggrieved traders from both the Okaikwei North and Central Constituencies claimed they had been under intense pressure from the MCE and the security personnel to vacate their shops without any provocation. They insisted that the behaviour or the MCE and the Municipal Assembly had come as a surprise to them since they had not been served with any verbal or written notification for any evacuation exercise. In a statement issued by the Concerned Citizens of Okaikwei North led by Mr. Akwasi Yeboah alleged that the joint military-police team was going about assaulting the traders and destroying their goods mercilessly. The security personnel who according to the traders were working under the orders of the MCE, had also canned several women and seized their tables and goods. The goods were either destroyed or packed in pickup vehicles and sent away by the military-police team. We the good people of Okaikwei North and Central constituencies will not sit idle for the MCE to treat us as if we are under a military rule in these two constituencies. The brutality and force he is using will eventually force us to take the law into our own hands and go after him. The traders are backing their claims with videos and photographs already going viral on social media as proof of the operations of the military-police team. The Concerned Citizens alleged that the MCE, Nii Boye Laryea had refused to withdraw the armed security personnel in spite of their constant appeal for the past weeks. According to the traders, most of them were out of business for several months due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus and had just resumed work a few weeks or months ago. They therefore found it very absurd for the MCE to try to perpetually keep them out of business. They are appealing to the Members of Parliament (MPs) for Okaikwei North and Central Hon Fuseini Issah and Hon Patrick Boamah to intervene for them. The group is also threatening to embark of a massive demonstration against the MCE and the Government if their appeal through the MPs also fails. When contacted via his cell phone, the Okaikwei North Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Nii Boye Laryea said the Municipality was too big enough for him to notice or have an idea of any such operation by a team of military-police. He claimed that he does not know anything about any deployment of security personnel to drive away traders in any part of the Municipality unless of course, this reporter is able to mention the exact spot within the Municipality the operation was taking place. Nii Boye Laryea who was apparently not ready to engage further with this reporter said he was busy working and did not have the time to waste. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. I remember the bleakest days of the coronavirus pandemic here in New York. It was back in April, and we were the deadly epicenter of the outbreak. There were thousands of new cases and hospitalizations each day. Hundreds of deaths. The city became a ghost town of vacant streets, shuttered businesses and empty trains and buses. It was a dystopian movie come to life. I remember many people thinking the same thing at the time: If only we had a vaccine for COVID-19, something akin to a flu shot. If only we could make this all go away and make sure it never happens again. And now were moving ever closer to that. Companies and government agencies all around the world are racing to come up with a vaccine. Dozens of vaccines are in safety trials. We could have a vaccine ready for wide distribution by early in 2021. You would think that that would be universally greeted as good news. But its not that simple. A Pew Research poll earlier this month found that just 51 percent of Americans said that they would definitely get the coronavirus vaccine when its available. In polling in late April and May, 72 percent of Americans told Pew that they would get the vaccine. The recent survey revealed concerns that the vaccine will be released before its proven to be absolutely safe, and that the approval process will move too quickly. Concern was expressed about potential side effects, and about the overall effectiveness of any vaccine. Separate from those findings, we know that there are people who are against any vaccines at all. Or who bristle at being told that they and their children must get vaccines. Its a matter of privacy and civil liberties for them. Others still have religious objections to vaccines. Its going to be a fight because you can already easily imagine New York City mandating that all children attending public schools receive a COVID vaccination. There will be resistance. Some parents could just pull their kids out of the public schools. The city already plans to randomly test 10 to 20 percent of students and staff at each school every month, beginning in October. This on top of the daily self-screening that kids are already required to perform and present proof of before being allowed to enter the school building. Theres has already been pushback from parents who dont want their kids randomly tested at school, outside the presence of parents or guardians. Kids who wont be tested will be moved to remote learning. Which is such mess in the city that parents may as well home-school their children instead. And the mandatory testing might not end there. Theres a bill in the U.S. Senate that would require the Transportation Security Administration to perform temperature checks on those boarding airplanes. Your workplace might require you to undergo a health screening before entering the office. If any of us actually have offices in the future, that is. You might be required to prove youre healthy before being allowed to ride mass transit. Or to enter a courthouse or the public library. All in the name of public safety and caring for our fellow Americans. And all this is likely to become even more complicated during the upcoming flu season, which is right around the corner. Its going to be a flu season like no other that any of us have seen. Its easy to imagine some cities and states keeping COVID protocols in place, including the wearing of masks, until next spring. Which, yes, is going to cause even more controversy, especially if lockdowns and business restrictions are put in place again. Leaving COVID-19 behind isnt going to be as easy as we once thought. Laurel Creagers best friend is a featherlight creature who perches on her shoulder, clings to her hair, demands a daily dose of mealworms ... and occasionally poops down her back. Meet Frank, a female sparrow that was rescued this spring by Creager and raised with tender loving care. The wee bird, which was perhaps a day old -- and looked like a hairless little Pterodactyl-- when Creager encountered it, has grown up, filled out and become an important part of her life in Alabama. My home revolves around Frank now," Creager says. I think shes become part of our family. When were cooking dinner or doing homework, shes with us. Its really become second nature to us. Creagers relationship with Frank and her experiences with rescuing wild birds are featured in a video released today by The Dodo, a company that focuses on animal-related stories and videos. Many of The Dodos clips are extremely popular on social media, earning thousands or even millions of likes and shares from viewers. We want our readers to fall in love with animals, have fun and be entertained while theyre doing it, and feel empowered to help animals in need, The Dodos Facebook page says. Creagers tale certainly seems to check all of those boxes, and will join videos in the Dodo Heroes series, about animals in need and the humans who give them hope. Baby bird's favorite place to hide is in Mom's hair Posted by The Dodo on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 Creager, 37, whose Instagram handle is @motherofthewild, says shes pleased to be featured by The Dodo, even if she doesnt consider herself a hero. And she isnt a certified wildlife rehabilitator, although Creager says thats her goal after taking care of Frank and several other hatchlings. For now, shes simply an animal lover with a kind heart, and a longtime rescuer whos unwilling to see any creature suffer. I never thought I would love something so small that I knew nothing about, Creager says in an interview with AL.com. Before Frank, I couldnt tell you what a sparrow was. And I never cared. Creager -- who lives in Birmingham with her husband, Mike Creager, and their two children, Vera and Dread -- first laid eyes on Frank in mid-April. In the past, shed reserved her nurturing skills for earthbound critters, including dogs, rabbits, hermit crabs, guinea pigs and rats. Frank was something else entirely: an almost embryonic creature that was sightless, helpless and tiny enough to fit in the palm of Creagers hand. My neighbors close friend almost ran over Frank with a lawnmower, Creager says. They lived far away from the Alabama Wildlife Center at Oak Mountain. My neighbor reached out and said, Youve helped other animals in the past. Ever had a bird?' I for sure thought there was no way she would live. She was too young. I think that was where my mothering instincts kicked in. I spent every 15 minutes feeding her for the first few days. We constantly used a heating pad. ... I had no idea it was a sparrow; I just knew it was an insectivore. I Googled and read everything I could find." "Every day, it was hard, Creager says. When youve never done something before, and dont even know what a thing is ... But we stayed constant with heat and food. I cant kill things, so Mike, whos a vegetarian, had to chop the heads off worms for Frank. As Frank began to thrive, Creagers knowledge and confidence grew, slowly at first, then steadily. She admits to making mistakes -- identifying Frank as male or female was a challenge, for example -- and Creager says Frank imprinted on her because she held the baby bird to her chest for warmth and comfort, right from the start. Although Creager didnt realize it initially, this means Frank cannot be released into the wild. Through imprinting, Frank has bonded with her for life, has no fear of people and always will identify with humans instead of other sparrows. In short, the bird thinks of Creager as its mom. I just knew that if you had a newborn baby, you hold them to your chest, Creager says. So thats what I did. We did try to release her and it backfired. Nevertheless, Creager and her family are committed to caring for Frank, doing whatever it takes to provide the sparrow with the best life possible indoors. Shes a full member of the family, Creager says. Just like another child. I know it sounds weird, but thats how I feel. Daily life at the Creager house has changed considerably since Frank arrived. The pantry is well stocked with millet and a ton of bird foods. Bird cages line the basement. Many cleaning products are verboten, because theyre hazardous to birds. Scented candles? Also a no-no. Frank, whos become a little house mascot, spends about half of her time in a cage, Creager says. Otherwise, the bird is roaming indoors. When new people come in, she is super curious, Creager says. She gets so excited. She wants to stand on their shoulder and head. Frank has developed some fairly strict routines, and the Creager family abides by them. Frank is very intense about her sleep, Creager says. She has a little house she goes in, and about 8 oclock at night, she looks at me and its like mother and child. Shes saying, Cover my cage. She chirps in the morning to let me know she wants me to uncover it. Frank also likes to sit on Creagers shoulder -- the left side is her favorite -- when other birds receive her time and attention. To date, Creagers rescues have included a cardinal, a wren, a towhee and a mockingbird. Shes currently tending two parakeets with tons of personality that are battling health problems. Birds rescued by Laurel Creager have included, from left, Carlos, a cardinal; Wrennie, a wren; Poe, a mockingbird; and Frank, a sparrow. All four have enjoyed a morning snack of mealworms.(Courtesy of Laurel Creager) Creager, who dreams of opening a wildlife center some day; husband Mike, technical director at the Alabama and Lyric theaters; daughter Vera, 9; and son Dread, 6; all have different relationships with the birds in her care, especially Frank. Vera isnt entranced with the resident sparrow -- and the feeling seems mutual, Creager says -- but the men in the family have become fast friends with Frank. Mike, hes a big guy, Creager says. He looks like such a burly man, but hes the biggest bird fan ever. Frank has changed my sons life 100 percent. Dread has autism and he does whats called Frank time. Shes on a blanket, taking a dust bath, a dry bath, in his lap. He really caters to her. Raising baby birds is not for the squeamish, Creager says, and she offers proof. I wake up every morning with worms and what look like maggots all over my hands, Creager says. Im so used to holding waxworms and mealworms. You become really knowledgeable in what the best-looking maggot is. Bird droppings are to be expected in the house, Creager says, and the family washing machine usually gets a workout. One question people ask me, no matter where I go, the thing I get hit up with is the poop," Creager says. 'Does she poop in your hair?' Of course. When I get ready to walk out of the house, Vera goes, Mom, Dad, youve got poop on your back." On the plus side, Creager has increased her avian education significantly -- by reading books, searching the internet, joining groups on social media and conferring with wildlife rescuers around the globe. (Some of her bird-minded friends hold Zoom calls known as show your flock" parties.) Ive joined every group in the entire world for sparrows and towhees, Creager says. I signed on to try to volunteer with the Audubon group, but its hard right now with COVID. ... I think birds are so brilliant, and theres so much we dont understand about them. Theyre the unsung heroes of wildlife. The more I learn about birds, the more I am impressed. Creager says she doesnt seek out baby birds to rescue, but increasingly, people bring them to her. They dont know me, and I dont know them, but theyll drive by my house and hand me a box with a dying bird inside, she says. Or Mike will go out and grab them while Im preparing food. We had a towhee come in not too long ago. Im learning so much about babies that are hatching now. On Instagram, nearly 43,000 followers think of Creager as @motherofthewild, but shes also become known as the Bird Lady. In Birmingham, that nickname is starting to stick, as well. (Creager says, with a laugh, that she assumes people actually are calling her the Crazy Bird Lady.) Creager says shes not sure how her rescue efforts came to The Dodos attention, but her Instagram posts are the likely culprit. Shes received attention before for her vivid images and captions, most notably in 2015 when Instagram chose one of her photos -- a close-up of Creager breastfeeding her son -- to announce its celebration of World Breastfeeding Week. Creagers Instagram handle originally was a reference to her relationship with Vera, who engaged in some creative shenanigans when she was younger. Now, however, the idea of being Mother of the Wild has an extra dimension for Creager as a wildlife rescuer. I think, in the end, there could not have been a more authentic name for how I feel being a mother, whether its a baby bird or a child, she says. Its the same to me. China has barred entry to two "anti-China" Australian scholars, the Global Times newspaper said on Thursday, citing unnamed sources, amid heightened tension between Beijing and Canberra. The paper, published by the ruling Chinese Communist Party`s official People`s Daily newspaper, identified the two as Clive Hamilton and Alex Joske. It added that the decision came after Australia revoked the visas of two Chinese scholars over "alleged infiltration" in early September. Ties have become strained over issues from trade disputes to Australia`s call for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus that first emerged in China late last year and accusations of Chinese meddling in domestic affairs. "This ban is quite unexpected, although I have been on Beijing`s enemy list for some years," Hamilton said in an email to Reuters. He added that the ban against him and Joske was "retaliation" for the Australian government`s actions against Chinese scholars and that he had already decided "two or three years ago" it would be too dangerous to travel to China. "Only when Beijing decides to stop interfering in Australian politics and attempting to bully the Australian government will relations improve. I hope that happens soon," he said. In a 2018 book, Hamilton, a professor of public ethics at Charles Sturt University in the Australian capital, accused China`s Communist Party of a campaign to exert influence in Australia`s domestic politics. Joske is an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, which the Global Times called "infamous for churning out anti-China propaganda and fabricating anti-China issues." He said in a statement on Twitter that the ban is the "latest in a series of attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to punish those who shine a light on its activities" and that he had also judged the risk of travelling to China to be "too high." "I have not held or applied for a Chinese visa for years," Joske said. The indigenes of Ejigbo on Wednesday lauded the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for prioritising their security and welfare since assumption of office. The indigenes also applauded the state government for being prompt and proactive in its intervention to rescue the people of the ancient town who were confirmed to have contracted the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic. The indigenes of Ejigbo stated these during a courtesy visit to the governor by the leadership of Ejigbo Eagles Club, at the Government House, Osogbo. The delegation, led by the President of the club, Mr. Tayo Adebowale, comprises Deputy Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Ademola Oke; Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Chris Bode; Prof. Solomon Akinboye; Prince Femi Oyewole; Mr Olayinka Akinwumi; Mr Olujinmi Tella and Mr. Kunle Ajibade. Speaking on behalf of the members of the club and the entire indigenes of the town, the President of the club, Mr. Adebowale, lauded Governor Oyetola for taking the bull by the horns in ensuring the general welfare and wellbeing of the citizenry. Adebowale who expressed gratitude to the governor on the myriad of supports given to the people of the town in the last one and half years, said the people of Ejigbo will forever be grateful to the government for its determination to develop the town. He added: We are here to thank you for the good works that you and your government have been doing to reposition the State and ensure the general welfare and wellbeing of the citizens. We have come here today to express our profound gratitude to you for redeeming our image and for rescuing our people who tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after their return from Ivory Coast. As indigenes of Ejigbo, this is a great thing to us. By this gesture, your government rescued us from negative impact which the occurrence would have brought to our people if not being proactively handled, curtailed and managed. We thank you also for the support given to ensure the prompt rehabilitation and reconstruction of Ejigbo-Ede road and the recently approved construction of Ejigbo township roads as well as the revitalisation of Ejigbo General Hospital that has been moribund over the years. We are equally aware of your prompt intervention to keep the branch of the State university located in Ejigbo running among other things. These to us are significant because it will go a long way to complement the wellbeing of our people and, by extension, contribute in no measure to the socio-economic development of our land. As citizens and members of Ejigbo Eagles Club, we are ready to give your administration the utmost support throughout your tenure. In his remarks, the Governor of the state of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, thanked the leadership of the Club for complementing governments efforts to make life meaningful for the citizens. He said the administration took the challenge of 127 Ivory Coast returnees as part of efforts to rescue the State and the nation from the unforeseen calamity such might bring if not properly curtailed. Oyetola who said the administration had invested hugely in every sector, particularly health, infrastructure and education, noted that the decision to take up the case of 127 Ivory coast returnees was to save the country from the exponential spread of the deadly virus. He said: We prioritise the health of our people because we believe once that is done, prosperity is guaranteed. To us, health is given the best place; that is why we were able to manage the pandemic. We have equally given priority to infrastructure. That is why we have been doing all within the resources available to develop the infrastructure. We have made it a point of duty to ensure infrastructure renewal all over the State. Those in attendance were: Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi; Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Charles Akinola; Head of Service, Dr. Olowogboyega Oyebade; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Adebayo Adeleke; Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mrs Abiodun Ige; Asiwaju of Ejigboland, Atilade Adebowale BERLIN After a series of scandals involving far-right extremists in the German military, the government on Thursday dismissed the head of its military counterintelligence service, the body tasked with monitoring extremism inside the armed forces. Christof Gramm, who has led the agency since 2015, will take early retirement next month, according to a statement by the defense ministry. A successor has yet to be named. It is the latest sign that after years of neglect, political leaders are moving to confront an issue that has become too dangerous to ignore. During Mr. Gramms five years at the helm of the service, the number of cases of far-right extremists inside the military, some hoarding weapons and explosives, has multiplied alarmingly. Because there was sufficient evidence Thomas was the shooter, the court found sufficient evidence that Thomas used a firearm and "the jury was free to infer malice aforethought from Thomas's use of a dangerous weapon." In regards to premeditation, the court found that because the weapon used with a semiautomatic pistol, and that Roberts was shot three times, it required the shooter to pull the trigger and release it with each shot, so the jury could determine Thomas pondered or thought about his conduct before each pull of the trigger. The court also ruled the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence and declined to remand to provide Thomas another chance at a fair cross-section claim, affirming the decision. Martha J. Lucey served as the state appellate defender and Ashley Stewart served as the assistant appellate defender, while Attorney General Thomas J. Miller and Assistant Attorney General Sharon K. Hall served for the appellee. In a release from Assistant County Attorney Amy DeVine, Roberts was described as "an outstanding member of the community who lost his life, merely because he was trying to be the peacekeeper during a disturbance at a social club. "In many cases, people choose to not get involved or cooperate with law enforcement because of social pressures of the stigma of being labeled a 'snitch.' That very well could have happened in this case but people chose to cooperate and provide information because they knew Jason and knew the kind of man he was. They knew that Jason would do the right thing for them, and it drove them to do the right thing for Jason." Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 3 Area animal shelters showered with funds in memory of Betty White The online fundraiser challenged fans of actress Betty White to donate to a local animal rescue or shelter in honor of her Jan. 17 birthday. MANITOWOC, Wis. Democratic voters in this working-class town on the shores of Lake Michigan just got a double jolt of motivation to cast their ballots for Joe Biden: a visit from their party's nominee, and a vacancy on the Supreme Court that President Donald Trump is vowing to fill before the election. Those dual factors could help Biden earn enough votes in this small industrial city, 40 miles south of Green Bay, to make up the huge deficit that Hillary Clinton ran up in the county in the 2016 election and swing Wisconsin blue again. Conversations with 20 voters here this week painted a picture of an area that appears ready to retire Trump after one term and hand Biden the reins of the country because they feel he's listening, will handle the pandemic better, and they're angry about the hurry the GOP is in to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last week. "For Trump to push this through, it's absolutely crazy to me. They should wait until we know who the next president is going to be," said Claudette Quint, 58, who works in the shipping department at a local hydraulic components maker. Quint didn't vote for either Clinton or Trump in 2016 she said she was "disgusted with the both of them" but voted twice each for Barack Obama and George W. Bush. Image: Manitowoc, Wisconsin resident (Adam Edelman / NBC News) But this time, "because of all the lies, because of the Supreme Court, because of how hes handled the virus," she's backing Trump's rival. Peggy Turnbull, 66, a retired college librarian, said she can't understand "the incredible hypocrisy by the Republicans." Her criticism refers to Senate Republicans decision in 2016 to not give Merrick Garland, Obama's choice for the high court vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, a confirmation hearing because they said it was an election year. This year, with another election just weeks away, Trump and Senate Republicans are moving forward to fill the latest vacancy anyway. Story continues "I find that so disturbing," Turnbull, a Democrat, said. And even though Biden, when he spoke in Manitowoc on Monday, didn't address the vacancy, Turnbull said she was thrilled that the Democratic nominee came to her hometown to woo voters something Clinton didn't do in 2016. "I was delighted he came here. Delighted. I'd like to see the Democrats really fight to take back Wisconsin," she said. Image: Manitowoc, Wisconsin residents (Adam Edelman / NBC News) Growing excitement for Biden fueled by his visit, his second to this key battleground state this month, together with growing anger over the Supreme Court an issue that has historically tended to motivate Republicans to vote far more than it has Democrats seem to be working to Biden's advantage. And in Wisconsin which Trump won by fewer than 23,000 votes in 2016, marking the first time that the state went red in 32 years every advantage, big or small, is going to matter. That's especially true in a place like Manitowoc, which has seen its support for Democratic presidential candidates steadily dwindle over the past three elections. In 2008, Obama won Manitowoc County by a comfortable 8 percentage points. In 2012, Obama lost it to Mitt Romney by 2.8 percentage points. But by 2016 with the GOP nominee pounding a trade message that painted Democrats' support of free trade deals as destroying industrial towns like Manitowoc and with Clinton never setting foot in the state during the general election Trump won the county by more than 21 percentage points. Experts have attributed swings like that in states such as Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania to Democrats not effectively reaching blue-collar voters. And strategists have told NBC News that, given Trump's narrow win four years ago, Biden doesn't have to win places like Manitowoc County he just needs to narrow the gap. It's clear Biden is looking to do just that. "I know many of you believe you weren't being seen or heard. I get it," he said Monday at the Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry. "It has to change." "I promise you this," he continued, "you will be seen, heard and respected by me." That message lit a smile up on the face of Ann Goethals, a resident of nearby Reedsville, who has voted Democratic in presidential races for decades and was crushed the party appeared to take the state for granted in the last race. "The fact that he came to Manitowoc is awesome," she said. Chuck Snoeyenbos, 63, didn't vote in 2016 because he "couldn't see either candidate as president." But with a Supreme Court seat on the line and his frustration with Trump mounting "I don't want a madman in office for four more years," he said. Snoeyenbos, who described himself as an independent, said he's voting for Biden this year. He said he wants Democrats to do everything they can to counter GOP efforts to fill the vacancy in case the election outcome ends up being decided by the Supreme Court, as it was in 2000. "This matters a lot. I wish they'd push back harder," he said. "My worry is that Trump will fill the spot on court to have a better chance at fighting the election results. Bob Turnbull, on the other hand, said he was resigned to the fact that Republicans would push through Trump's nominee. But that's only made him more enthusiastic for Biden. "There is a great deal of helplessness. On the pandemic, on the Supreme Court," Turnbull, a Democrat, said. "I don't think we really can find a way to prevent the Republicans from filling that seat, so our vote that is the only thing that can really turn this around and end this feeling of helplessness." When I was a junior fashion editor, the notion of 'sustainable style' was a bit of an oxymoron. There were just a couple of hardcore labels, of the frayed hemp variety (shudder). How times have changed! Designer brands, High-Street stores, online retailers all are making bigger and bolder attempts to turn green. Which means that, at last, you can buy sustainably from your favourite brands. Thrillingly, glamorous Rixo is making its first foray into eco chic with Rixo Recycle, a capsule of ten pieces. It includes a beautiful dress (fourth from left) made from off-cuts at a female-owned factory in India. RIXO: Asymmetric dress, 265, rixo.co.uk; sandals, 35, dune london.com MONSOON: Blue cardigan, 49; and PU skirt, 60, monsoon.co.uk; white courts, 30, asos.com Hobbs and Whistles are also going green Hobbs with the Hobbs Sustain collection, and Whistles with its Sustainable Edit. Both are committed to shortening supply chains and producing less waste. But Baukjen goes one step further with its autumn/winter collection, which includes a chunky jumper and leather trousers (second from right), by using its highest-ever percentage of eco-friendly fabrics. They include Newlife, a yarn made from plastic bottles. THE FOLD: Jacket, 295; and trousers, 195, thefoldlondon.com; loafers, 195, russell andbromley.co.uk BAUKJEN: Brown jumper, 129; and leather trousers, 349, baukjen.com; loafers, 195, russelland bromley.co.uk THE WHITE COMPANY Coat, 279; cashmere jumper, 159; and dress, 119, thewhitecompany.com; loafers, 195, russellandbromley.co.uk Biodegradable raffia hats off to Monsoon, too, which has launched a sustainable collection, S.E.W, and aims to be using 90 per cent sustainable fabrics by 2023. The White Company, meanwhile, is the first British brand to sign up to The Good Cashmere Standard, which aims to improve the lives of goats and farmers. This luxe dress and rollneck use 'kind cashmere'. One of my favourite recent discoveries, Asceno, produces everything ethically I adore its linen blazer and trousers (third from right). And as for those brands that have been quietly doing the green thing for ages? Well, their clothes are now chic enough to compete with anything on the High Street. Take People Tree, whose V&A collab has some real gems. Bring on the hemp I'll wear it with pride now. ASCENO: Blue blazer, 425; and trousers, 295, asceno.com; trainers, 42, dunelondon.com HOBBS Blazer, 159.20; jumper, 60; and skirt, 88, hobbs.com; flats, 215, russell andbromley.co.uk Islamabad, Sep 24 : After 90 years of safekeeping, a Pakistani Sufi organisation has transferred 110-year old copies of rare manuscripts of the Guru Granth Sahib to a gurdwara in Sialkot, the media reported on Thursday. According to the Mitr Sanjh Punjab organisation's head Iftikhar Warraich Kalravi, the two manuscripts had long been in the safekeeping of Pir Syed Munir Naqshbandi, a revered Sufi elder from Kalra Dewan Singhwala in Gujrat district, reports The Express Tribune. Known to be an advocate for interfaith harmony, Naqshbandi had offered asylum at his residence to a few Sikh families trying to escape ethnic violence before partition. "Apart from sheltering the family, he had also salvaged some of their religious scriptures and kept them from being desecrated. Among them were the two manuscripts of Guru Granth Sahib. When the Sufi elder passed away in 1950, he had left the scriptures in the safekeeping of his children and since then they have remained with the family," Kakravi told The Express Tribune. Kalravi said that Naqshbandi had always campaigned for Muslim-Sikh brotherhood and also for interfaith harmony in general. "He was known for his kindness and this what led to the revered Sikh manuscripts coming into his possession. After over 90 years of safekeeping within the Pir's family, we have now decided that the manuscripts should now be rightfully transferred to the Gurdwara Baba Di Beri. "This is a great example of Muslim-Sikh friendship and will help further strengthen our relationships," he told the newspaper. After being left in dismal state for over 70 years, the Sialkot gurdwara was restored in 2015 following which it once again started welcoming Sikh pilgrims and devotees. The Congress will launch from Thursday its nearly two-month-long mass movement against the government for passing anti-farmer and anti-poor bills during the monsoon session of Parliament. The party will also collect two crore signatures from protesting farmers against the proposed laws. 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 the Houses of Parliament during the monsoon session and await Presidential assent. The Rajya Sabha (RS) witnessed ruckus during the passage of two of the three bills on Sunday following which eight members Rajeev Satav, Syed Nasir Hussain and Ripun Bora of the Congress, Derek OBrien and Dola Sen of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Sanjay Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were suspended for the remainder of the monsoon session. Also Read: 28 trains cancelled as Punjab farmers begin three-day rail roko agitation The session ended on Wednesday, which was eight days ahead of the October 1 schedule, amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. The decision by the Congress to hit the streets was taken at a meeting of general secretaries and in-charge of states at the party headquarters in Delhi on Monday. The six-member special committee formed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to help her in organisational and operational matters chaired the meeting in her absence. AK Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ambika Soni, KC Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik and Randeep Singh Surjewala are members of the special committee. Accompanied by her son and Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi had left for the United States on September 12 for a routine health check-up. Both of them returned home on Tuesday morning. The nationwide agitation will continue till the government repeals the black laws, Antony had said after the meeting. Also Read: Those opposing agriculture bills are enemies of farmers: Shivraj Singh Chouhan By announcing nearly two months of protest calendar, the main opposition party is seeking to regain some of the political space it has lost over the years by targeting the 146-million farmers going by their operational land holdings, according to the agriculture census of 2015-16. The Congress is also seeing the issue as a 2015 moment when Sonia Gandhi had played a key role in bringing 14 opposition parties together against the proposed land acquisition bill that had forced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government to withdraw the controversial ordinance and shelve the idea of bringing a new legislation to replace the 2013 Act. It is going to be a peoples movement, a mass movement against this government, Patel had said. Venugopal, who is the Congresss general secretary in-charge of organisation, said the party would have a series of programmes across the country in support of farmers. Apart from a chain of press conferences across the country starting from Thursday, Venugopal said senior leaders from states would walk to respective Raj Bhavans on September 28 and submit a memorandum on the farms bills to Governors to be handed over to President Ram Nath Kovind. Also Read: Productive but divisive monsoon session ends On October 2, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Congress will observe Kisan-Mazdoor Bachao Divas (Save Farmers and Farm Labourers Day). There will be protests and demonstrations in every district across the country demanding immediate withdrawal of the farm bills. On October 10, state-level conferences will be held and from October 2 to October 31, the party will collect signatures from two crore farmers from across the country. On November 14, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Indias first PM Jawaharlal Nehru, a memorandum along with signatures of two crore farmers will be submitted to President Kovind. First this government did notebandi, then with GST brought vyaparbandi, then with lockdown did deshbandi and is now planning khetbandi, Surjewala had said. Surjewala will address a press conference in Patna on Thursday. Bihar is slated to go to polls by end-November. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-Congress combine is expected to step up its attacks on the ruling Janata Dal (United)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition by raising the farmers issue. While the JD(U) and the BJP will try to counter that by highlighting the unruly behaviour of some of the opposition members as an insult to RS deputy chairman Harivansh, who hails from the state, and an attack on Bihars pride. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ukraine does not yield to blackmailing of Russia in the Trilateral Contact Group to settle the situation in Donbas, but is looking for a balance for TCG meetings in Minsk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during an official visit to Slovakia. "Ukraine does not yield to blackmailing. And everyone sees this today: both Europe and, by the way, Russia. But we are really finding a balance today for the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk. Balance in a prudent policy and in dialogue in the TCG meeting mode, and in dialogue with the Russian Federation, the subject of the Minsk process, which, as I said, it is true - it is fragile, unstable. But we are doing everything to ensure that this dialogue goes on, for the result. We all know the result of these meetings of Minsk or Normandy: a difficult ceasefire, a difficult regime of silence, but it exists," Zelensky said at a joint press conference with Slovak President Zuzana Caputova in Bratislava on Thursday. He said that "if there were no targeted provocations, we would have saved lives of all people who died due to combat losses," recalling that on September 6, one person died and one was injured. "Therefore, we will never be able to find the way without dialogue, and we will not get out of this difficult situation, from this corner," Zelensky said. Joe Bidens lead over Donald Trump has shrunk from 10 points two weeks ago to 5 points today, according to a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll. Yet most voters oppose the GOPs pre-election push to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Biden supporters seem more energized than Trump supporters by the issue. The survey, which was conducted from Sept. 21 to Sept. 23, found that after leading Trump 49 percent to 39 percent among registered voters earlier this month, Biden now leads 45 percent to 40 percent. The shift was within the polls margin of error (4.1 percent), yet there are signs Biden has lost some support among white voters and voters over 65 even as Trump has failed to grow his base much beyond the 40 percent mark. National polling averages show Biden ahead by about 7 percentage points. At the same time, the battle to replace Ginsburg threatens to scramble the presidential contest and here, a majority of voters agree with Biden that after voters pick the [next] president, the next president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider. According to the poll, a full 53 percent of registered voters say that whoever wins the 2020 election should nominate the next Supreme Court justice; just 40 percent say the current president should pick Ginsburgs successor. Voters also say by the same 13-point margin that the Senate elected in November (51 percent) should vote to confirm the next justice not the current Senate (38 percent). Overall, registered voters trust Biden (49 percent) more than Trump (42 percent) to nominate the next Supreme Court justice. The precedent created in 2016 when Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to consider Barack Obamas final Supreme Court pick in an election year looms large in voters minds; by a 14-point margin (47 percent to 33 percent) they say Republican senators are being hypocritical when they agree to hold hearings and vote on Trumps nominee so close to an election. Story continues In theory, this could hurt Republicans on Election Day. The GOP currently controls 53 Senate seats, and at least 10 of those are seen as vulnerable. Asked which party they would like to control the Senate in 2021, a majority of registered voters say Democrats (54 percent) rather than Republicans (46 percent). The electoral politics of the coming Supreme Court fight are tricky to decipher at this early stage, and it may be that few voters flip because of it. While a larger number of voters say they are more likely to vote Democratic (36 percent) than Republican (29 percent) as a result of Ginsburgs death and the push to fill her seat, the vast majority in each category are already supporting Biden or Trump, respectively. Flowers and notes are left outside the Supreme Court to mourn the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. (Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Only 3 percent of Biden voters say the Supreme Court skirmish makes them more likely to vote Republican; just 2 percent of Trump voters say it makes them more likely to vote Democratic. Likewise, a mere 2 percent of Biden voters say theyd be more likely to vote for their senator if he or she votes to confirm Trumps nominee; the same percentage of Trump voters say theyd be less likely to vote for their senator in that scenario. In other words, whatever small number of Supreme Court swing voters there are, theyre liable to cancel each other out. Yet contrary to the conventional wisdom that court fights motivate Republicans more than Democrats, its Biden supporters who seem more energized than Trump supporters at least at this early stage. In fact, 86 percent of those who intend to vote for Biden say appointments to the Supreme Court are either the most important factor" (40 percent) or an important factor (46 percent) in their presidential vote 7 points higher than the corresponding number among those who intend to vote for Trump (37 percent most important, 42 percent important). Beyond energizing the Democratic base, there are other risks ahead for Trump and the GOP. If the president nominates a pro-life justice who is also inclined to rule against the Affordable Care Act as is widely expected voters may balk. Just 29 percent of registered voters think that Roe v. Wade should be overturned; 54 percent do not. The same number (29 percent) think the court, which is hearing an ACA case on Nov. 10, should invalidate President Barack Obamas signature health care law; 50 percent do not. Abortion has long been seen as a wedge issue for both parties, but in this case, the danger may be greater for Trump. Just 51 percent of his voters actually want to overturn Roe v. Wade; a full 29 percent do not. Among Biden voters, opinion is much less divided, with 77 percent saying they want Roe to remain the law of the land and a mere 9 percent saying the opposite. President Trump departs a news conference on Wednesday. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Its possible, however, that Democrats could overplay their hand. Voters show either tepid support or opposition for measures some Democrats are vowing to take as retaliation for Republicans filling the vacancy before the election. Only 32 percent support increasing the number of justices to the Supreme Court (39 percent oppose, 29 percent are unsure). Just 37 percent support abolishing the filibuster so that 40 senators cannot block legislation (23 percent oppose, 39 percent are unsure). And voters are divided 35 percent to 35 percent on whether it is a good or bad idea to expand the court so that five justices are affiliated with the Republicans, five are affiliated with the Democrats, and five are apolitical and chosen by the other 10 justices. The only such measure that commands anything approaching majority support (50 percent) is admitting Puerto Rico as a state. Admitting Washington, D.C., is less popular (42 percent). Asked directly which of these measures Democrats would be justified in doing if they win the election but Republicans confirm Trumps nominee anyway, more voters said none of the above (41 percent) than any of the individual proposals, which all garnered 35 percent support or less. Even support for admitting Puerto Rico as a state fell to 35 percent in this retaliatory scenario. The problem with remaking the Supreme Court is that even though 67 percent of voters say it has become too politicized, a majority of them (57 percent) approve of the way its handling its job, with only modest differences by party. Just 24 percent disapprove. An even larger majority (70 percent) have either some (50 percent) or a lot (20 percent) of confidence in the institution. The corresponding number for Congress? Just 37 percent. __________________ The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,284 U.S. registered voters interviewed online from Sept. 21 to 23. This sample was weighted according to gender, age, race and education based on the American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, as well as 2016 presidential vote, registration status, geographic region and news interest. Respondents were selected from YouGovs opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S registered voters. The margin of error is approximately 4.1 percent. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Seven persons who robbed a Supreme Court judge and a banker of their vehicles, a laptop and other personal effects at gun point, have been sentenced to a total jail term of 175 years by an Accra Circuit Court. Nene Kwadwo Tetteh, aka Chairman Obed, who was not present while judgement was to being pronounced, has been sentenced to 25 years in absentia. Welbeck Oppong, an accomplice, who escaped from lawful custody and still at large, was also sentenced 25 years in absentia. The rest, who witnessed the trial, namely: Nana Kwabena Ackah, Isaac Agyemang aka Batman, Kweku Boaning, Frederick Kwasi Boateng aka Boat and Kofi Debrah were jailed 25 years each by the court after a full trial. This was after the court presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh, a High Court Judge sitting with additional responsibility as a Circuit Court judge, found them guilty at the end of the trial. They were variously charged with conspiracy to commit crime to wit robbery, three counts of robbery and having possession of stolen property. Meanwhile Delali Alomatu, an accomplice, who pleaded guilty before the commencement of the trial in 2016, was serving 24 years jail term. Prosecuting, Inspector Samuel Ahiabor narrated that the complainants in the case were Supreme Court Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkonu, who was then a Court of Appeal Judge and Mr Anthony Kodua Bediako, a banker. Inspector Ahiabor said the accused persons were self-styled businessmen. Prosecution said on December 8, 2016 at about 8:30 pm, the first complainant, Justice Torkonu was on board her official vehicle, Toyota Fortuner with registration number GM 6852-13 and was returning from a night church service. Upon reaching her residence at Baatsonaa-Spintex area, she was attacked by a gang of armed robbers numbering more than six who attacked and robbed her of her vehicle, a laptop valued at GH1,300 and one iPhone valued at GH600 cash of GH900, US$50 and three Bibles. The robbers bolted after the incident. The robbers not satisfied, further drove Justice Torkonu's vehicle to the house of Mr Bediako (2nd complainant) at Anyaa, where they further attacked him at gun point and robbed him of his Hyundai Santafe vehicle with registration number GR 714-16, cash of GH350 and a Huawei mobile phone and bolted. Prosecution said on July 16, 2017, Tetteh and Ackah who were in the company of his criminal syndicate namely; Kofi Newton, Nana Osei, Robert Tackie, all at large and removed the original number plates of the two vehicles to wit; Toyota Fortuner and Hyundai Santafe attempted to sell both vehicles. Prosecution said the would-be buyer alerted police because they had previously defrauded him of cash in the sum of GH25,000 under the pretext of selling another vehicle to him but bolted with the vehicle after collecting his money. The Prosecutor said the police managed to arrest three of Tetteh's accomplices namely; Robert Tackie, Kofi Newton of the premises of Tesano Ecobank, but Tetteh managed to escape. Prosecution said July 14, 2017, intelligence led to the arrest of Tetteh as the leader of the robbery incident. Tetteh however escaped from custody. He was however picked up this year (2020) by the Police. Further investigations into the case disclosed that Tetteh and Ackah together with his accomplices now at large, sponsored criminals by providing them with weapons and ammunitions to embark on robbery expeditions within Accra and Tema municipalities. Prosecution said when the accused persons were successful, they brought all the booty namely vehicle, TV Sets, and various sums of money to Tetteh to share. Thereafter, Tetteh and Ackah also re-spray the vehicles and sell them. On November 28, 2017, Prosecution said intelligence received at the Regional Police Command Accra to the effect that the accomplices of Tetteh and Ackah are hiding at Kade in the Eastern Region. According to prosecution, a team of detectives were dispatched to Kade where they managed to arrest Alormatu and Kweku Boaning. During interrogation, they admitted the offence and mentioned Agyemang who had also been arrested in a similar robbery case by the Sakumono Police as their accomplice who led them to the house of the Supreme Court Judge and thereafter handed over the Toyota Fortuna vehicle to Tetteh as he sponsored their robbery activities and Tetteh further gave them cash, the sum of GHS 4,000.00 as part payment. They further mentioned Yaw Sofeh and Kwamena Oppong now at large as their accomplices. Prosecution said on February 7, 2018 intelligence led to the arrest of Welbeck Oppong at Apedwa in the Eastern Region. Prosecution said Fredrick Kwasi Boateng, a.k.a. Boat, was also picked up by the Police at Akwatia in the Eastern Region. Kofi Debrah was also nabbed at Kasoa as those being part of the robbery syndicates. After investigation the accused persons were charged with the offences. 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 An Australian UFC fighter has taken a drastic step to stay fit during Victoria's coronavirus lockdown. Jake Matthews, 26, enlisted in the Army and is now a fully-fledged Private after completing five weeks of basic training at the Kapooka Army Recruit Training Centre near Wagga Wagga in New South Wales. He is set to take on his childhood hero, UFC legend Diego Sanchez, this weekend on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi in the biggest match of his career. Jake Matthews (pictured left) is now a fully-fledged Private Australian Army after completing five weeks of basic training at the Kapooka Army Recruit Training Centre The UFC star who competes in the welterweight division is pictured dancing with his partner The welterweight told Sporting News the 16-hour days of non-stop training, with no phone or contact with the outside world, was just what he needed ahead of Sunday's massive fight. 'Getting screamed at at 5:45 in the morning to get out of bed. Everything you think typical of army life is. Make your bed, brush your teeth, shave, then first class by 6:30 in the morning,' he said. 'Then it's theory, weapons, combat stuff, a few PTs here and there. From six in the morning till 10 at night they own ya, then you lay in bed and sleep.' But with 20 professional mixed martial arts bouts already under his belt and the years of brutal training that goes along with it, Matthews said he's used to the regimental and physical side of combat. Matthews is pictured getting his hands wrapped before a match in Auckland, in March Matthews (pictured left) delivers a vicious knee to his Norwegian opponent Emil Meek in Auckland on February 23 With 20 professional mixed martial arts bouts already under his belt and the years of brutal training that goes along with it, Matthews said he's used to the regimental and physical side of combat The Celtic Kid is coming off a five wins from his past six matches and says it will be difficult to juggle life in the military as well as his fighting career. But the committed family man, who just had a daughter last year, is determined to make it work. 'When my daughter was born something just clicked and I decided to go and enlist,' he told 7News. 'I think it's a bit of a protective instinct that came over me.' 'It's something I've always wanted to do... I'll be looking for any deployments I can get.' Upon his return from Fight Island, the Brazilian Jujitsu Black belt will go into self isolation for two weeks and then head back to base for another week of 'more advanced' weapons training. The Celtic Kid is coming off a five wins from his past six matches and says it will be difficult to juggle life in the military as well as his fighting career But the committed family man, who just had a daughter last year, is determined to make it work 'When my daughter was born something just clicked and I decided to go and enlist,' Matthews said Metropolitan Melbourne remains under Stage Four lockdown after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews issued the state's second round of stay-at-home orders back in July. The COVID-19 crisis meant Matthews' training base on the northern outskirts of Melbourne in Epping - the XLR8 Training Centre - would be forced to close. He had signed up to the Royal Australian Infantry in January. When the gym shut and he had now place left to train he decided to complete his basic training. The preliminary card of UFC 253 will begin at 10am on Sunday. The event will be headlined by Nigerian-born New Zealander Israel Adesanya, whose taking on Brazil's Paulo Costa for the world middleweight title. When the gym shut and he had now place left to train he decided to complete his basic training (Matthews is pictured with his partner) The Indian Government will support seven water management projects in the Mekong Delta provinces of Ben Tre, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, and Tien Giang with non-refundable aid of $350,000. Illustrative image. Photo: VNA At a ceremony in the Deltas Can Tho City on September 23, representatives from the Indian Consulate General in HCM City and the localities signed seven memoranda of understanding for the projects, each worth 50,000 USD. They are part of 26 quick-impact projects funded by India in 22 Vietnamese cities and provinces, 13 of which have been completed while 12 others will be launched during the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Speaking at the event, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Verma said the traditional relationship between the two nations is a successful model in terms of institutional support and capacity improvement in various fields over the past years. Deputy head of the Foreign Ministrys General Economic Department Pham Thi Anh said the activity is a symbol of the enduring friendship among member states of the Mekong - Ganga Cooperation (MGC) as well as between Vietnam and India. The Mekong Delta has been facing drought and saltwater intrusion at record levels. Rainfall this year is 30-40 percent lower than previous averages and is forecast to remain low in the future. The MGC is an initiative by six countries: India and the five ASEAN countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Launched in 2000, it is one of the longest-standing sub-regional cooperation mechanisms in the Mekong Delta, with the goal of enhancing solidarity and friendship among nations and promoting trade and economic development to contribute to improving peoples lives in the Mekong and Ganga River basins. VNA Mekong Delta needs VND5 trillion investment for freshwater supply projects To ensure rural residents have access to fresh water in the 2021-2025 period, localities in the Mekong Delta will require an investment of VND5 trillion. Parliamentarians from Tamil Nadu and other parts of the country have written to the President Ram Nath Kovind seeking his immediate intervention in ensuring that the committee announced by the Minister for Culture to study the origin and evolution of Indian culture is disbanded. They pointed out that the 16-member group formed to study this subject did not itself reflect a pluralistic society and ignored various sections of the countrys population. There are no South Indians, Northeast Indians, minorities, Dalits or women. Almost all the members of the said committee belong to certain specific social groups which are in top of the Caste hierarchy of Indian society read the letter that was endorsed by 32 Members of parliaments, which predominantly featured opposition MPs from Tamil Nadu. They reasoned that India with its great legacy of pluralism, requires inputs from diverse cultures of the nation. It was emphasized that the the committee did not feature any experts in South Indian languages, including Tamil, which has been recognized as a classical language by even the Central Government. Raising questions about the intentions, composition of the committee, the letter asked, Isnt India below Vindhya hill ? Is there no civilization other than the Vedic Civilization ? Is there no ancient language here than Sanskrit ? The letter also expressed fear that the committee in question, would negate the positive, immense contributions of scholars like John Marshall, Sunithkumar Chatterjee, Iravatham Mahadevan, Tony Joseph and R. Balakrishnan. We feel this committee with this composition may not have scientific outlook and may lead to distortion of history and defeat the very purpose if its stated objective it added. Live TV On Wednesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Paaniswami had written to Prime Minster Narendra Modi, requesting him to personally intervene and ensure that experts from Tamil Nadu are included in the same committee. The Chief Ministers letter expressed surprise on how the Ministry of Culture, which is responsible for this initiative happened to ignore experts from the Southern state. Touching upon the Prime Ministers Mamallapuram visit, it was pointed out that the committee had no representative from any of the Southern states, especially from Tamil Nadu, which has a glorious past and is home to the Dravidian civilization, which is a living and thriving culture in the South of India. PHEV These days are particularly good for Peugeot and its parent group. PSA is on the verge of combining with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to create Stellantis, the fourth largest automotive OEM by volume, and to make sure it all happens smoothly it is even repurchasing shares from Chinas Dongfeng Motor Group (DFG).The French are also on the brink of celebrating 210 years since the creation of the family business that led to the birth of the Peugeot car brand. With an eye on the past and another one on the future, the French carmaker is carefully plotting its return to the U.S. market.And creating more performance-oriented models to set itself apart in a crowd will certainly help.Case in point, we have been introduced to the new Peugeot Sport Engineered unit with help from their brand-new high-performance version of the 508 series. It will become Peugeots most powerful road car ever at 360 hp / 520 Nm (384 lb. ft.) and combines all-wheel drive technology with sporty looks and a plug-in hybrid powertrain The design has been teased before with help from the Concept 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered , and the official take is a remarkably close match. It will be offered with just three body shades - Selenium Grey, Nera Black, and Pearl White, possibly to perfectly compliment the Kryptonite touches or the 20-inch alloy wheels.Future owners will find a sporty but restrained atmosphere inside the cockpit, with Peugeot building the 508 PSE as a top-level offering that has all the perks and technologies currently on offer.Of course, the Peugeot i-Cockpit is on duty, while luxury touches include the Mistral Nappa Leather / Alcantara leather mix, as well as the dual Tramontane Grey and Kryptonite stitching.The most important part of the new release is the Lion Kings heart - aka thepowertrain that includes a turbo 1.6-liter gas engine and two electric motors. We have seen this setup before on PSA models, but on this occasion, it has been massaged to the new power level in order to sprint to 100 kph (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds and then continue onto a maximum speed of 155 mph (250 kph, electronically capped). By Trend The Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov has left to Georgia for an official visit, Trend reports on Sept.24 referring to the ministry. During the visit, the minister will hold a number of meetings with high-level officials of Georgia. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Shower gel made by British beauty company The Body Shop seen on a store shelf. The Body Shop LONDON Plastic pollution is a massive problem: more than a billion tons of plastic waste will end up in oceans or in landfill by 2040. The beauty industry is one of many contributors to plastic waste, but it's a complex issue that doesn't have a simple solution. One option is to treat plastic trash as a raw material, explains Mark Davis, who runs the Community Fair Trade program at beauty company The Body Shop. The program is an ethical sourcing initiative that was founded in 1987 and now makes up around 25% of the company's ingredients budget, where the company procures ingredients like shea butter from Ghana and items such as paper gift boxes from Nepal. The program has now started to source waste plastic from Bangalore, India, to use in its packaging. Waste-pickers in some developing countries make a living by trading trash in an informal industry that can be dangerous and dirty. The Body Shop is working with sourcing company Plastics For Change to help it procure plastic, while providing better conditions for workers. "We need the best quality bottles, we need them at the right time in the right place. And this is just like how we work with (ingredients like) shea, this is how we work with Brazil nut, this is how we work with mango," Davis told CNBC by phone. "Effectively, if you transpose Bangalore city to the rainforest, it's exactly the same method. You've got a group of people and you need them to be organized. You need them to know what good quality looks like, and if they bring you better quality, you can pay them more money for the better quality," he added. A worker sorts bottles as part of an initiative organized by Plastics For Change in Mangalore, India. Plastics For Change Sourcing plastic like this is an initiative that has taken a while to come to fruition: it took five years to build the supply chain and get to the point where the raw material met The Body Shop's needs, before it could be turned into plastic granules and made into packaging. "(Waste pickers) needed to have lots of support around business training. So how do you then build a scaled-up business? How do you manage the cash flow through it? They had to have support around environmental and social certifications (and make sure) they had decent working conditions," Davis said. Customers' changing preferences While sourcing initiatives like this are a positive option for businesses, raw materials suppliers ideally need to broaden their customer base to avoid becoming dependent on one buyer, as demand for ingredients can vary. "Ultimately, cosmetics is a fashion business. Customers might want to buy (for example) mango body butter this year, but next year it may not be the thing they wish to buy. Generally, our customers are quite stable in (their preference for) those 'hero' ingredients but there's definitely a volatility," Davis explained. Demand for plastic may vary less than for ingredients, but The Body Shop guaranteed it would buy a certain amount of plastic in its first year. In 2020, it will buy 500 tonnes (551 tons) via Plastics For Change and by 2021, that figure will reach 600 tonnes. The Community Fair Trade program has sourced cocoa beans from Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana since 1996 and has since introduced suppliers there to other customers. "From being their biggest customer, we are less than 1% of their business today. It was one of the earliest conversations actually held within The Body Shop, which is how can we make this an incubator process rather than something that will always make people work with us forever," Davis stated. The Body Shop has put Plastics For Change in touch with competitors and also Ikea, Davis said. "They are already cutting deals with them on how they can use (all) kinds of plastics." Longer-term planning Deciding how to tackle sourcing, and sustainability more broadly, is a complex issue that beauty companies of all sizes are undertaking, according to chemist Barbara Oliso, founder of The Green Chemist Consultancy. Her business helps beauty brands navigate issues such as formulations, packaging and certification and she advises clients to think about the full lifecycle of the product. "Where do your raw materials come from, how are they produced? Then you have middle of life, where you (look at) how much energy is used to produce them, how much water is used. And then there is end of life with issues around aquatic toxicity (for example) and that is a big issue for SPF (sun protection) products," she told CNBC by phone. She advises setting goals over a period of time. "For this year, we are going to look at our water consumption and CO2 emissions. But maybe longer term, we're going to focus on end of life (of the product) and we're going to phase out silicones. I think you need to have a long-term plan," she stated. Beauty company The Body Shop launched its Community Fair Trade program in 1987. The Body Shop Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks to members of the media in Washington, on March 13, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Pelosi Not Considering Another Trump Impeachment, Says Its Not Worth the Trouble House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she is not considering pursuing impeachment charges against President Donald Trump as a way to delay confirming his nominee for the Supreme Court. I dont think hes worth the trouble at this point, she told reporters Thursday. Exactly one year ago on Sept. 24, 2019, Pelosi announced impeachment charges against Trump, leading to a monthslong inquiry in the House before the Senate voted to acquit him on several charges in February 2020. During an interview on ABC Newss This Week program earlier this week, Pelosi was asked if she and House Democrats would attempt to impeach Trump or Attorney General William Barr to delay confirming a Trump nominee. She demurred. We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that Im not about to discuss right now. But the fact is we have a big challenge in our country, Pelosi said. This president has threatened to not even accept the results of the election. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), one of the faces of the socialist wing of the Democratic Party, said she wants to see impeachment proceedings against Attorney General William Barr. I think Barr should have been impeached a long time ago, and hes absolutely unfit for office. Now, whether that leads to impeachment proceedings or not, I think its a question between the House Judiciary Committee and the state of their investigation as well as the speakers judgment, she told the Washington Examiner. I dont think [Trump] filling [a Supreme Court seat] is an impeachable offense, but I do think hes committed plenty of other impeachable offenses. This prompted House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to announce that he would pursue an attempt to oust Pelosi. The president is supposed to move forward, and they will. The Senate is supposed to take the action, and they willits their constitutional right and they are following through, he told reporters in Washington. 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 have her no longer, or the question of her being speaker. She may think she has a quiver. We do, too. But some Democrats in Congress said it would be a poor choice to impeach Trump to delay the Supreme Court nomination. Foolish idea, Kaine said Monday on MSNBC Live when asked whether he supports impeaching Trump or Barr in an effort to delay the nomination process. I cant see virtually any Senate Democrats agreeing with it, he added. After Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death on Sept. 18, Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel (R-Ky.) said they would move to vote on his nomination the vacant seat. It prompted Democrats to cry foul, saying they should wait until the November election is over. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Rome: Italian President Sergio Mattarella has rebuked Boris Johnson's claims that, unlike Italy, the UK is a freedom-loving country where it is hard to enforce anti-virus measures, as it emerged that the British Prime Minister's fiancee is holidaying on the shores of Lake Como. "We Italians also love freedom, but we also care about seriousness," Matarella said. Italy's President Sergio Mattarella. Credit:AP The Johnson's comments made in the House of Commons were poorly received by the Italian press, which said he appeared to imply that because of Italy's Fascist past and Germany's Nazi history, Italians and Germans were more used to kowtowing to authority. La Repubblica, a national daily, accused Johnson of "conceit" and said he had suggested that health measures "work better for peoples of an inferior temperament - Italians, for example". The PM had displayed "an Anglo-Saxon superiority complex", it said. Close Rishi Sunak announces the Job Support Scheme Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a new Job Support Scheme to replace the furlough system which will see the government directly support the wages of people working at least a third of their normal hours. Mr Sunaks statement followed intense pressure from business leaders, MPs and unions to announce measures to protect millions of jobs in sectors hit by new coronavirus restrictions. It came as Downing Street denied any rift between Boris Johnson and Mr Sunak after the prime minister chose not to attend the statement. CLEVELAND, Ohio Elections officials considered placing five drop boxes across Cuyahoga County this summer for absentee ballots but scrapped the plan after Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose mandated one box per county, according to testimony Wednesday in U.S. District Court. Inajo Davis Chappell, a member of the countys elections board, told Judge Dan Polster that she fears LaRoses decision will limit residents' access, many of whom do not want to vote in person because of the coronavirus pandemic or by mail because of delays at the post office. She said about 850,000 residents cast ballots in the county. To me, it makes no sense to have just one drop box for all these voters, Chappell said, adding that the issues affecting the election are unprecedented. She testified that election officials discussed placing two drop boxes in Cleveland and one each in suburbs in the eastern, southern and western parts of the county. Attorney Subodh Chandra, representing voting-rights groups, asked Chappell what would happen if the county received the go-ahead to add the boxes. We would pick up from where we were in July and get busy, she said, adding that the bipartisan board would first have to vote on it. Chappell was the first to testify in a daylong hearing that ended after 9:30 p.m. Testimony will continue Thursday, and it is unclear when Polster will make a decision. Attorneys for voting-rights groups, including the League of Women Voters and the NAACP of Ohio, argued with lawyers for LaRoses office over whether the directive is constitutional. The order calls for a drop box at each board of elections. The voting organizations sought an injunction to allow for multiple drop boxes in each county across the state. LaRoses attorneys and President Trumps campaign have claimed the directive would help residents not hurt them, as it offers an option other than voting in person or by mail. They also stressed that making a significant change so close to a presidential election would cause confusion and mistrust. However, Polster made it clear that he wanted to listen to LaRose, who did not appear for the virtual hearing. He could be here, Polster told attorneys. We could all ask him questions. The hearing began with the judge discussing last weeks decision in Franklin County Common Pleas Court over drop boxes. Franklin County Judge Richard Frye ruled LaRoses directive was arbitrary and unreasonable in a lawsuit brought by the Ohio Democratic Party. LaRoses office has appealed the ruling to a state appellate court. Soon after the ruling, the Ohio Republican Party blasted Frye, a Democrat, for what it said was a partisan decision. Polster, who also is a registered Democrat, criticized the GOP. An attack on one judge is an attack on all judges, he said, adding that it undermined the integrity of the judicial process. Chappells testimony dispelled a critical issue that Trumps campaign brought up: election fraud and ballot harvesting. In documents, Trumps campaign cited a woman who brought about 100 ballots to the drop box at the Cuyahoga County board before the primary. Chappell said the woman was confused, believing that non-immediate family members could deliver ballots. She said the votes were valid, and the boards staff corrected the woman. She never faced criminal charges. Chappell testified that Cuyahoga County was the first in the state to have a drop box at its board of elections, starting in 2012, and the county studied ways to expand that. She said elections officials had talked with libraries to place drop boxes there. Those boxes would have been permanent fixtures, as opposed to the boards more recent attempt to set up staffed, ballot drop-off sites at libraries across the county. LaRose also prevented that measure, citing the pending lawsuits. Caleb Faux, a member of the Hamilton County Board of Elections, testified that his colleagues brought up placing additional drop boxes before LaRoses directive. Board minutes show he brought up the idea of putting four more drop boxes in the county during the summer. The push stalled when his colleagues refused to go forward, citing LaRoses directive. One of those colleagues, Charles Gerhardt, told Polster that he is not concerned there is just one drop box in Hamilton County. He said voters have options, as they can send their ballots through the mail or vote early at the board of elections. He said adding drop boxes would be a major problem to the boards workers. I cant even imagine what it can do to our staff during a presidential election, he told Bridget Coontz, an attorney with the Ohio Attorney Generals office who represents LaRose. But attorneys for the voting groups said many residents would face hindrances to voting if just one drop box remains in each county. Daniel Chatman, a faculty member at the University of California at Berkeley and a researcher at the Institute of Transportation Studies, testified that poor residents in Ohio who rely on public transportation could face travel times of more than 90 minutes roundtrip to cast a ballot. Jennifer Miller, the executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, said voters across the state are confused and worried that their votes will not be counted because of delays in the mail service. We have multiple counties that would like [the drop boxes], she said. My phone lines are filled with complaints about the mail service. Celebrating its 10th year, the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP) held its online version of the Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS) for the first time. Themed as Moving forward to an electrified mobility in the new normal, the three-day virtual conference is the continuation of the organizations latest thrust towards boosting and addressing concerns brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. Starting today till Saturday (September 26), stakeholders will discuss the challenges and opportunities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic on both the supply and demand side of the EV market. EVAP president Edmund Araga expressed his gratitude for the continued support of major automotive companies, the government and national stakeholders that help them with their cause. This event is made possible through the support of our key partners Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation and Nissan Philippines Inc. as well as PMFTC Unsmoke, Department of Transportation, United Nations Development Programme, Department of Energy, and eSakay. eVAP is also celebrating a decade of partnership with Manila Electric Company (Meralco) since the staging of the first Philippine EV Summit inside the Meralco compound in 2010, Araga noted. nissan leaf This year is very special because we have the most number of government leaders joining our event. No less than Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi and Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade will address our participants. Energy Committee Chairperson Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian will be delivering the Keynote Message. Leaders of EV Associations from Europe and United States will be joining their Asian counterparts from China, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in the conversation on promoting electric vehicles in the new normal, he added. This years line-up of online sessions will tackle the following: 2020 Long-Term Electric Vehicle Outlook, Developing Public Charging Infrastructure in Response to the New Normal, Challenges to EV Charging in Southeast Asia, Recovery, Reopening and Role of EVs under the New Normal, Policy Measures to See More EVs on the Ground Post Pandemic, Promotion of Low Carbon Urban Transport in the Philippines and Policy Dialogue with LTO: Revisiting EV Guidelines. Story continues The virtual meet provides an avenue for policymakers, regulators, academe, consultants, transport companies, utilities and end users to share experiences and research that revolve around EVs and their supporting infrastructure. outlander Phev Araga also said that it also provides an online platform to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the area of electrified mobility. Among those that were presented in the program were the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, recently announced for the mass market, as well as the Nissan LEAF that has yet to be revealed. Meanwhile, Meralco Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Raymond Ravelo noted the countrys dependence on fossil fuels. As we recover safely from Covid-19 and gradually reopen our businesses along the way, the pandemic is shedding light on questions and concerns about road infrastructure, urban transport, and mobility in general. Our collective over-dependence on fossil fuels has been a major challenge to carving out more public policy space for transportation options and ultimately to improving and cleaning up our urban air. But now, as we have all been forced to change our behaviors so radically, we have a distinctive opportunity to adopt new behaviors as we slowly get back to what will hopefully be a better normal, he said. Instead of writing off this year and postponing the summit due to the pandemic, we decided to push forward and continue the conversation on electrified mobility with industry stakeholders, policy makers, regulators, the academe, and consumers so we can collectively shape our better normal, Ravelo added. Photo/s from Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines, Nissan in the Philippines, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation Also read: 'Green Light' for PH EV Summit 2019 Nissan to bring LEAF to annual EV meet this week EVAP Recommends Reorganization of Manila e-Trikes in Support of Mayor Isko Moreno NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD : Indian gas transporter GAIL (India) Ltd has cut supplies by about 40% to customers, mainly power and fertiliser companies, after a pipeline rupture led to a fire in an Oil and Natural Gas Corp plant, a company source said. GAIL supplies about 60 million standard cubic meters of gas through its northwestern pipeline grid to customers in the states of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Goa. "We have cut gas supplies by 40% to our customers. We have notified some customers and are in the process of sending notices to others," a GAIL employee said. The person, however, said gas supplies could improve from Friday as ONGC is in process of fixing the pipeline. Earlier today morning, a fire broke out at ONGC's Hazira gas processing plant in Gujarat and has since been extinguished, ONGC said, adding that it is working to resume normal operations. There were no casualties, ONGC said. ONGC has shut its Hazira plant, which produces liquefied petroleum gas and other products such as naphtha. India's biggest utility NTPC Ltd has shut its two gas-based power plants in Gujarat, while fertiliser maker KRIBHCO has reduced capacity use, people at the two companies said. "Our capacity utilisation fell to 50% in the morning due to gas supply disruption," a person at the KRIBHCO said. Jadish Prasad Verma, general manger for production at KRIBHCO's Hazira plant, said his company is trying to arrange gas from other local suppliers after an output cut. NTPC has shut its 656 megawatt gas-based power plant at Kawas near Hazira and a 657 megawatt Jhanor-Gandhar plant due to gas supply disruption, a person at the company said. Gas supplies to customers have temporarily closed due to safety reasons, an ONGC spokesman said. "There could be some impact on our production... We are investing the cause of fire, and extent of damage." NTPC and GAIL did not respond to Reuters emails seeking comments. Surat Collector and District Magistrate Dhaval Patel, a senior city official, told Reuters the fire was caused by a rupture in a pipeline at the gas terminal. ONGC's plant is in Surat, a city in Gujarat. "The area was cordoned off, depressurised and cooled as part of firefighting measures," Patel said. "Other plants in the vicinity are operating as usual. I am told that the ONGC plant will also become partially operational in two to three hours," he said. Surat Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani said the fire was in the 36-inch Uran-Mumbai gas pipeline. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! LifeStyle The best Lifestyle shows are right here, from Australia and around the world. Catch up with the experts on home design and interiors, food and cooking, the property market, and get fresh ideas with the savviest of renovators. Whether you need inspiration for cooking up a storm, to refresh a tired room, or tips to sell your property, Foxtel Lifestyle will always something new for you to watch. Enjoy your favourite experts like Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker, or Shaynna Blaze and Jamie Oliver live or On Demand. Wickenburg, ARIZONA - September 23, 2020 The Wickenburg Art Club (WAC) is proud to announce that the 2020 Holiday Market will be held at the Wickenburg Community Center located at 160 N. Valentine Street in Wickenburg on Saturday, November 7, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosted by WAC, this event will be one of the premier holiday shopping events in Wickenburg. This years Holiday Market will offer with People have been lining up in droves for COVID-19 tests across Ontario. One Ottawa testing site reached full capacity right as it opened its doors at 9 a.m. last Friday. The demand was so high at one drive-through site in Kitchener that it had to shut down on Wednesday. Cars had lined up starting at 3 a.m. The volume is just too high, a hospitals spokesperson recently told the Waterloo Region Record. Cases in Ontario have been rising over the past month, hitting 478 new cases on Tuesday the highest in four months and 409 on Thursday. The province hit a testing record on Sunday, with a little more than 40,000 tests completed in a single day. And its now asking people without symptoms to stop going to testing centres. Heres whats driving the increased testing demand, whats being done to reduce wait times, and some factors you should consider: Why the long lines? Some testing centres began experiencing long lines around the same time as people were returning to their workplaces and kids started going back to school. Were seeing longer lines because theres a surge, the numbers are going up, said Dr. Anna Banerji from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. For a lot of reasons, I think we should be looking more at a symptoms-based approach, she said in a recent interview. With flu season coming up, perhaps kids with cold or flu-like symptoms should stay home instead of relying on a negative test to rule them out for COVID-19, she said. The test itself isnt perfect, she added. The goal is really to try to reduce the amount of COVID spread, Banerji said. And to have kids and families waiting numerous hours in line, it may not make a lot of sense. This approach may pose a problem for some families, particularly those where parents work outside the home. Many schools require children with even one symptom to stay home and isolate for 14 days or provide a negative COVID-19 test and return only when the child has been symptom free for at least 24 hours. That policy is driving families to flock to testing centres, as reported by Nicholas Keung this week. Testing centres in Toronto have seen lines grow for different reasons and at varying rates. Toronto Western is conducting around 350 tests daily as of Sept. 17. That daily rate has been consistent for the past five to six weeks, UHN spokesperson Jordana Goldman said. As of Sept. 24, William Osler Health System was testing 2,000 people on average daily at all three of their sites, spokesperson Donna Harris said. Humber River Hospital has gone from 180-200 tests a day to nearly 400, with wait times between 1.5 and two hours on average and 2.5 to three hours at some points. The testing site at Mount Sinai Hospital had an average wait time of up to three hours, as of Sept. 18. People have recently come for a test for several reasons, including back to school, visits to loved ones in long-term care homes, or exposure to someone with COVID-19, said spokesperson Aliya Darvesh. Anecdotally, more people are coming in for tests who are returning to work, younger individuals working in retail or restaurants, people that have received alerts through the new COVID Alert app and people who are visiting the elderly, immunocompromised or new babies, said Jennifer Stranges, a spokesperson for the testing sites at St. Josephs Health Centre and St. Michaels Hospital, in a Sept. 18 email. Ontario Health recently said the number of people lining up for tests can change from one day to the next, and depends on the time of day. Whats being done to shorten wait times? The province is trying to ramp up testing capacity as well as target its testing. To that end, the provincial government announced up to 60 pharmacies in Ontario will start offering COVID-19 tests by appointment starting Friday. The province already has 150 assessment centres, and Premier Doug Ford noted Wednesday that the goal is to do 50,000 tests a day. Saliva testing will be rolled out this week at Mount Sinai, Womens College, and Toronto Western. This less-invasive approach is supposed to roll out at other testing sites in the coming weeks. People without symptoms are now being asked to stay away from testing centres. Your average person out there who is not exposed to a case, is not part of an outbreak, has no symptoms, should not be going for tests. Theres no value, Dr. Barbara Yaffe said. Ontarios new guidelines, released Thursday, say testing centres are now for the following people: Those showing symptoms of COVID-19; Anyone exposed to a confirmed case (including those notified by the COVID Alert app); Anyone working or living in a place with an outbreak; Anyone eligible for targeted testing directed by public health officials. For those without symptoms and eligible for targeted testing, starting Friday, they can get tested at certain pharmacies. Can I book appointments online? It depends on the place. Toronto Western now has an online booking system for their testing site, which showed all spots full till Saturday evening. Womens College Hospital has an online pre-registration system that it encourages people to use. The system showed capacity for pre-registration had been reached by mid-afternoon Thursday. Trillium Health Partners, with sites in Mississauga and Brampton, advises booking a scheduled appointment online in order to reduce your wait. The online system takes requests at 8 a.m. with a maximum of 250 registrations per day. St. Michaels and St Josephs in Toronto are both walk-in centres but St. Michaels allows appointment bookings for children aged 14 and under. Michael Garron in Torontos east end says online as of Sept. 24 that asymptomatic people can schedule appointments but symptomatic testing is walk-in only. How are individual testing centres doing? Several sites have expanded capacity and hours. One Peel region testing centre has already increased its capacity and hours, while four pop-up test centres are planned for this week, Ontario Health said. Three Toronto testing centres have also increased their capacity and hours, with three pop-ups coming this week, while in Ottawa, four testing centres have done the same and three pop-up centres were planned for Sept. 18 onward, the agency said. There is a constant re-assessing and targeting of testing where its needed, the Sept. 18 statement said. Some places are looking to recruit more staff and extend their hours. North York General Hospital has increased its staffing. As of Sept. 18, wait times at its sites ranged from two to four hours, depending on the time of day. Were being as responsive as we can be, said Womens College Hospital president and CEO Heather McPherson in a recent interview. The Womens College site increased daily capacity from 300 to 350 tests a day to 600. It is the worst thing for us to know that people are waiting, she said. William Osler Health System recently opened a cold and flu clinic, open seven days a week and designed to test and care for people with moderate flu-like symptoms who must see a doctor, with extended hours starting Oct. 1. St. Michaels has seen wait times of up to two hours last week, while St. Josephs had a wait time of 2.5 hours, according to a spokesperson. Both sites are looking to hire more staff and ramp up hourly testing capacity. Lines at Michael Garron Hospital have grown recently, but were shorter on Thursday and Friday of last week, with most people out the door within two hours, according to spokesperson Andrea Nameth. The east Toronto testing site has added more staff and opened an additional, temporary site until Oct. 3. Trillium Health Partners runs three sites in Mississauga and a temporary site each in Brampton and Mississauga, with additional staffing, said spokesperson Lyndsay Carter. The temporary sites are for people with no symptoms who need a test for travel or work or school. The wait times have been significant at all sites, she said. But the range has gone down. The week ending Sept. 18 saw wait times between three and eight hours. As of Wednesday, that wait time was reduced to two to five hours. What are the best times to go? It depends on the location. Toronto Western has seen a long wait on all days recently. We are seeing the longest waits before the centre opens at noon and getting longer again after 5 p.m., said spokesperson Jordana Goldman as of Sept. 17. The two testing sites at Scarborough Health Network have been seeing a steady increase in arrivals, said spokesperson Leigh Duncan. The flow is steady throughout the day, she said in an email on Sept. 18. But early morning is generally the best time for a visit. Wait times can be longer than 30 minutes, varying day by day, Duncan said. Both St. Michaels Hospital and St. Josephs Health Centre report seeing an increase in people as well. Are there drive-in testing centres? Yes, theres a list of them on the government of Ontario website. Toronto seems to have one drive-through testing centre in Etobicoke, while Brampton has two. The drive-through sites serve people with mild or no symptoms who dont need to see a doctor, according to William Osler Health System spokesperson Donna Harris. Another drive-through test centre, on Coventry Road in Ottawa, requires an appointment, is open seven days a week, and doesnt accept walk-ins. One hospital also recently posted about the arrival of a mobile pop-up testing site on Heron Road, to boost testing capacity. How can I tell in advance whether a testing centre has a long wait? You cant, in most cases, although some places post an update online. Torontos Womens College Hospital surveys wait times throughout the day and posts the latest update on Twitter. William Osler Health System will do the same if its seeing longer wait times. If the testing site has pre-registration online, they encourage you to use it. WCH and Scarborough Health Network both noted that registering online before coming to the test centre is one way to reduce waiting time. Were looking at scheduled appointments, but right now I would say, pre-register online and then come in, McPherson said. Anything people should keep in mind if theyre in a long line at a testing centre? The new guidelines released Thursday say only people who meet the criteria should be in line. Matthew Anderson, chief executive of Ontario Health, said in a briefing that testing centres are not going to police people in line though. When people come forward, we are asking all of the public to respect that this is what we need to do to protect the most vulnerable, he said. Ask yourself why youre getting a test, McPherson said in an interview before the new guidelines were announced. There are people in line with symptoms, who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, she explained. And there are some people that are doing it as an anticipatory I want to see some friends and I want to be sure and they need to be sure before we interact, McPherson said. She says the first group of people are the ones theyd rather prioritize. If youre well and you havent been exposed and you really just want to know for social reasons, you might want to rethink that, or think about it for another time, or not engage in a social event, she said. With files by Rob Ferguson and Robert Benzie The overall site began operation in 1986 and consists of about 309 acres, nearly 100 of which serve as buffers. The operation is certified by the N.C. Wildlife Federation as a Wildlife and Industry Together site. The quarry offers tours with an educational focus on Earth and environmental science to area schools and organizations. It works with STEM West partners on programs to explore enhanced learning opportunities, such as developing a learning center on the site. It also support the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and will support educational programs at the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics. For its segment of the Catawba River Trail, Vulcan would continue its commitment to education by placing several exhibits along the route for users to learn about how rocks and minerals are used in society. "We are excited about this opportunity to partner with the Catawba River Trail stakeholders by offering part of our buffer land along the river for the trail segment," Hallett said. Potential challenges CNBC.com's MacKenzie Sigalos brings you the day's top business news headlines. On today's show, CNBC.com's Leslie Josephs lays out the stakes for the airline industry, which will run out of federal bailout funds at the end of the month. Plus, CNBC.com's Annie Palmer breaks down Amazon's disavowal of Echelon's 'Prime Bike.' Southwest Airlines CEO 'hopeful' on more government aid but hesitant to cut capacity without it 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. Amazon says it didn't build the 'Prime bike' and tells Echelon to stop selling it Amazon is distancing itself from the $500 "EX-Prime" bike launched by exercise equipment maker Echelon Fitness, after the product was incorrectly marketed as a collaboration between the two companies. Echelon on Tuesday announced the so-called Prime bike, calling it "Amazon's first-ever connected fitness product" that was "developed in collaboration with Amazon." The move was widely heralded as Amazon's first foray into the smart bike market and caused shares of exercise bike maker Peloton to fall as much as 6% on Tuesday. Mark Cuban: Every household in America should receive a $1,000 stimulus check every 2 weeks for the next 2 months YouTube, Zoom Take Down San Francisco State University Event Featuring Palestinian Terrorist YouTube and Zoom intervened on Wednesday to stop a virtual event held by San Francisco State University (SFSU) featuring Leila Khaled, a prominent Palestinian terrorist and plane hijacker. The event, titled Whose Narratives? Gender, Justice, & Resistance: A conversation with Leila Khaled, was scheduled to take place via Zoom. Khaled, 76, is a veteran member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a designated terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of State. She is most notorious for her participation in the hijacking of a passenger jet en route from Rome to Tel Aviv in 1969. The Leila Khaled mural on the Apartheid Wall at Bethlehem in central West Bank on June 16, 2013. (Ian Walton/Getty Images) A number of pro-Israel and Jewish civil rights advocacy groups, notably the Lawfare Project, decried the SFSU event for promoting terrorism. In a letter sent earlier this week to the U.S. Department of Justice, Lawfare Project called for an investigation into Zoom, claiming that by hosting Khaled on its streaming service, the company was violating the U.S. criminal code by providing material support or resources to a known terrorist. Zoom promptly disabled the link which participants used to register the event, saying in a statement that providing a virtual platform for someone like Khaled would violate the companys own policy. In light of the speakers reported affiliation or membership in a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization, and SFSUs inability to confirm otherwise, we determined the meeting is in violation of Zooms Terms of Service and told SFSU they may not use Zoom for this particular event, said the spokesperson for Zoom. The event was then moved to YouTube. According to Jewish Weekly, the YouTube live-streaming abruptly ended 23 minutes in when an old video was being played, in which Khaled called her people to take back their land by any means possible, including weapons. The live-stream, which had some 900 viewers when it was shut down, is now replaced with a message that reads, This video has been removed for violating YouTubes Terms of Service. YouTube did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The event was hosted by Rabab Abdulhadi, the founder and director of the SFSUs Department of Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies. Over her teaching career, Abdulhadi has built a reputation as an outspoken anti-Israel activist, particularly known for controversial remarks such as equating Jewish students who support Israel to white supremacists. In 2014, Abdulhadi reportedly met with Khaled during a SFSU-sponsored trip to Jordan and the West Bank. Other guest speakers of the event include Ronnie Kasrils, a high ranking South African Communist Party official and frequent critic of Israel; Sekou Odinga, a member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army who served 30 years in prison for attempted murder in a Queens shootout with six police officers; and Laura Whitehorn, a communist radical who set off a timed bomb at the U.S. Capitol in 1983. We worked hard to prevent this outcome and have been actively engaging with Zoom, wrote SFSU president Lynn Mahoney in an open letter. Based on the information we have been able to gather to date, the University does not believe that the class panel discussion violates Zooms terms of service or the law. Earlier this month, SFSU defended its decision to invite controversial speakers to give talks, citing freedom of expression and academic freedom. Higher education and the college experience are an opportunity to hear divergent ideas, viewpoints, and accounts of life experiences, SFSU spokesperson Kent Bravo said in a statement. A university is a marketplace of ideas and San Francisco State University supports the rights of all individuals to express their viewpoints and other speech protected by law, even when those viewpoints may be controversial. New Delhi: Pakistan's proposal to host the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit failed yet again due to the lack of consensus. The plans to hold the summit in Islamabad was on the agenda of the SAARC foreign ministers virtual meet on Thursday. According to sources, "Most countries felt it is not an opportune time for the event considering the COVID-19 pandemic..and most member countries were preoccupied with it." The summit was scheduled to happen in 2016 in Islamabad but India along with most SAARC countries boycotted it due to the Uri terror attack perpetrated by Pakistan-based terrorists. The SAARC FMs meet is an annual gathering which has been taking place since 1997 on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Due to the COVID-19, the meet happened virtually for the first time in 2020. In Thursday's meeting, Secretary-General of SAARC gave a report on the status of regional cooperation since the last informal meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers took place in New York on September 26, 2019. In 2019, Pakistan had claimed that consensus has been achieved for the summit but no other country made a public pronouncement on it. 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, Trend reports citing Xinhua. "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. Boris Johnson this week announced a set of new restrictions to try to stop the spread of coronavirus. (Getty) A leading scientist who sits on the governments own Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) committee has compared Boris Johnsons coronavirus response to a lorry speeding down a hill. John Edmunds, a professor of epidemiology, launched a scathing attack on the government's COVID strategy in England, saying he feared ministers would wait for it to get bad before taking tougher action. Speaking on Sky News, Edmunds now believes politicians are too timid to enforce stricter measures on the population. Edmunds laid out an analogy of how he views the current approach to battling the increasing speed of the virus, following a rise in in positive cases. Professor John Edmunds is a member of the government's Sage committee. (Reuters) Hit the brakes hard The professor said: If you can imagine were in a kind of lorry at the top of a hill. The engines gone but we do have brakes. And the lorrys just at walking pace and its starting to pick up speed. What you can do is hit the brakes hard now and bring it back down to less than walking pace, almost to a stop. And then ease off and keep the brakes on to some extent. That should keep the lorrys speed down at a low level. Or you leave it and allow the lorry to gather speed and gather speed and gather speed and then the same little touch of the brakes will only reduce the lorrys speed from 40 down to 35 instead of down to walking speed. To get it back down to walking speed, youre going to have to put the brakes on very hard for very long to bring it all the way down. Edmunds said that the government did not put the brakes on fast enough in March. He added: We allowed the epidemic to gather speed and gather speed and then we put the brakes on and then to bring the epidemic down we had to put the brakes on for a very long time very hard. That had a terrible effect on the economy. If they acted quicker now then I think it would not just limit the epidemic but also limit the impact on the economy as well. Circuit breaker Edmunds comments come after Scotland enforced stricter policies than those in England including banning households from visiting each other. Story continues Some areas of the north of England including much of the North West, North East and the West Midlands face tighter restrictions on households mixing. The professor said he was now in favour of a similar strict approach that should be in place for months as the current rules will not turn the epidemic around. He went on: The measures in Scotland are a little bit more stringent, but even those I suspect wont be sufficient to turn it around. I would do what has been termed a circuit breaker. I would do that now. People walking past a social distancing information sign painted on the pavement on the high street in Dundee in Scotland. (Getty) I would put a mini lockdown for two weeks that would bring the cases right down to a much lower level. And return ourselves to the levels of incidence in the middle of the summer. And then I would put in the sort of restrictions they have in Scotland and I would keep those in place throughout the UK for many months. People have said six months I think we will need restrictions in place for that length of time. And they may need to be more severe than just that. A man passes signs telling travellers they must wear face mask unless they are exempt. (Getty) Politicians are timid When asked whether politicians and scientists and health experts appear to be divided on what course of action to take Edmunds added: Politicians are timid. Theyre going to wait for it to get bad before they take the necessary action and I think thats a great shame. Edmunds is the latest health expert to criticise the prime ministers new raft of measures to deal with growing cases in England. Members of a family watch as Boris Johnson addresses the nation about the latest updates on the coronavirus restrictions. (Getty) Several top scientists said the new rules would not be enough to stop the pandemic spreading by Christmas, while measures like the 10pm curfew would likely have little or no impact. Government figures released on Wednesday showed that the number of daily COVID cases had risen by a quarter. There were 6,178 coronavirus cases in the UK in the previous 24 hours, up 1,252 since Tuesday, while there were 37 deaths. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter Fewer than one percent of students and teachers have tested positive since US classes began this fall, new data reveals. Early data from Brown University's tracking of hundreds of schools across the US suggests that infection risks are relatively low in classrooms, despite public health officials' and parents' anxieties that that in-person learning could trigger outbreaks. President Trump has not shared those fears, bluntly demanding at an Ohio campaign rally: 'Open your schools, everybody, open your schools.' Only 0.23 percent of students - including kids attending class in-person as well as virtually - have caught coronavirus, and 0.51 percent of teachers have been infected, Brown's data dashboard shows. It comes after a study published in Science found that the theory that children could be important spreaders of coronavirus - as they are of flu - 'is likely wrong.' Yet colleges across the nation have had to shutter almost as soon as they opened due to immediate outbreaks of coronavirus young adult students. Parents, educators and public health officials nervously sent children back to school this fall in most parts of the US. But so far, Brown University shows that infection rates for kids and adults in schools fall below one percent (file) Only 0.22% of students are suspected or confirmed to have contracted coronavirus since school started, early Brown University data shows. Just 0.075% of those cases are confirmed The role of children in the spread of coronavirus has been a closely watched question, but one that no one was willing to test in the earliest days of the pandemic, when so little was known about the virus. Schools in most states closed early last spring. Spring break became the beginning of quarantine. At first, children were getting coronavirus at such low rate, scientists wondered if they might be immune. Now, we know that kids can and do get COVID-19, but most have only mild symptoms. Yet over the summer, a rare but terrifying pattern of pediatric complications arose and was given a name: multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C. The Kawasaki-like syndrome left hundreds of kids hospitalized, in critical condition. So far, the condition has killed 19 American children. As families and educators watched the number of kids affected by MIS-C grow and began to plan fo the new school year, anxiety over whether to send kids back to classrooms was high. Hanging in the balance was whether the developmental, educational and psychological benefits of in-person learning outweighed the risks that children would contract and spread coronavirus. Infection rates are somewhat higher among staff members, with about 0.55% suspected or confirmed to have COVD-19. Just 0.14% of teachers and employees at schools have tested positive for coronavirus President Trump was clear that he felt it was crucial to reopening the US economy that children go back to school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) guidance sided with Trump, urging schools to open to protect children's wellbeing, but cautioning how they did so was dependent on the status of their coronavirus outbreaks, while offering no clarity on what that threshold should be. As of this week, at least some schools in all 50 states. The only US territories where schools are only still closed to in-person learning in Puerto Rico and, ironically, Washington, DC (though DC reportedly has plans to restart in-person learning again). Yesterday's data is the first batch released by Brown University but, so far, the statistics are promising. Brown has been tracking infection rates at 550 US schools since August 31. At least 300 of those schools have had a portion or all of their classes in person. Data has only been reported on 347 students, but just 0.22 percent of them either have confirmed or suspected coronavirus infections. So far, 154 children are suspected to have coronavirus. Only 0.075 percent of students on which Brown has data have been confirmed to have COVD-19, for a total of 79 definitive diagnoses. About half of a percent of staff and faculty have suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus. So far 45 school staff members have been confirmed to have COVD019. Another 91 are suspected to have coronavirus. That means that about 0.14 percent of staff members of contracted the virus. La presidenta ejecutiva de #EsSalud, @FioreMolinelli, superviso la campana de tamizaje y vacunacion de adultos mayores, #EsSaludTeCuida, en el "Centro Integral del Adulto Mayor" de #SanMiguel.#SeguimosEnGuardia pic.twitter.com/LUa9uNa4NY Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Thursday urged his Gujarat counterpart Vijay Rupani to take steps for reopening a Tamil school in Ahmedabad that was shut and assured him that Tamil Nadu government would bear the expenditure of running the institution. Palaniswami said he was distressed to learn that a Tamil medium school in the Gujarat capital catering mainly to migrant labourers has been closed suddenly, citing low attendance. These Tamil children were now left without any choice to continue their education. Requesting Rupanis intervention, he urged him topass suitable orders for the continuance of the Tamil medium school. Tamil Nadu government is willing to undertake the entire expenditure for the continuance of this Tamil medium school at Ahmedabad, the CM assured. Tamil is an ancient language and Tamils living in Gujarat continued to contribute towards the development of the state, he noted. I hope the government of Gujarat will protect the rights to education of Tamil linguistic minorities. I would appreciate early action in this regard, he added. Four weeks after the death of Chadwick Boseman, Disney unveiled its powerful new mural memorializing the late Marvel star in Disneyland's Downtown Disney District. The tribute, which was created by concept artist Nikkolas Smith, showcases a young fan and Boseman exchanging the Wakanda salute, which involves crossing your arms in the shape of an X over your chest. As a young child in a Black Panther face mask looks up at the icon, the adoring fan can be seen sporting a blue hospital gown. Legacy: Four weeks after the death of Chadwick Boseman, Disney unveiled its powerful new mural memorializing the late Marvel star at Anaheims Downtown Disney (seen in 2018) The touching portrait nods to his frequent trips visiting sick children in hospitals, as he privately fought a four-year-long battle with colon cancer. 'As a former Disney Imagineer, I had the honor of working on a major childrens hospital initiative and Avengers Campus as my final two assignments. Seeing Chadwicks heart for people in-person, and later discovering his courageous battle with cancer, I was inspired to create this tribute to honor his life and legacy,' Smith wrote in the mural's inscription. He concluded: 'To us, he was and will always be TChalla. Long Live The King.' In memory: The tribute, which was created by concept artist Nikkolas Smith, showcases a young fan and Boseman exchanging the Wakanda salute, which involves crossing your arms in the shape of an X over your chest Touching meaning: As an adoring fan looks up at the icon under a Black Panther face mask, he can be seen sporting a blue hospital gown Additionally, the former Disney Imagineer shares a slideshow of images of himself in front of his work on Instagram, including one holding an infant and another doing the Wakanda Forever salute. While describing making the mural, Smith noted working on his 'King Chad tribute' was a particularly 'special' experience for him. 'It is a full circle moment for me: my final two projects as a Disney Imagineer last summer were working on the Childrens Hospital project and the Avengers Campus,' he explained. A legend: The touching portrait nods to his frequent trips visiting sick children in hospitals, as he privately fought a four-year-long battle with colon cancer Thoughtful: The former Disney Imagineer shares a slideshow of images of himself in front of his work on Instagram, including one holding an infant and another doing the Wakanda Forever salute He continued: 'To millions of kids, T'Challa was a legend larger than life, and there was no one more worthy to fill those shoes than Chadwick Boseman.' 'I'm so thankful to be able to honor Chadwick's life and purpose in this way,' the muralist wrote. In a group shot, he could be next to wife and their infant in Anaheim, California. Front and center: In a group shot, he could be seen posing with his wife and their newborn child After Chadwick's death last month, his family said in a heartbreaking statement: 'It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman. 'Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV. 'A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much.' 'To millions of kids, T'Challa was a legend larger than life, and there was no one more worthy to fill those shoes than Chadwick Boseman,' the artist noted in his Instagram caption The family revealed several of Boseman's recent films, including Marshall, Da 5 Bloods, and August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, were filmed 'during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. 'It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther. The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.' The actor is survived by his wife Taylor Simone Ledward and a parent, and had no children. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on American state governments to reject appeals from China for closer ties and asked them to cooperate more with Taiwan. Warning about Beijing's attempts to sidestep road blocks erected by Washington on the federal level, Pompeo told state lawmakers in Madison, Wisconsin, that overtures from Chinese diplomats, Chinese nationals or "Americans working with [Chinese Communist Party]-linked interests" were often part of a plot to further "Beijing's form of authoritarianism". Chinese President Xi Jinping "knows that the federal government is pushing back against the CCP's malign influence. He sees that here in the US, and increasingly around the world", Pompeo said. "General Secretary Xi thinks you're the weak link." Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. The warning comes just weeks after Pompeo's department ordered Chinese diplomats in the US to seek permission before meeting with local government officials or visiting university campuses, a move that he said was made to match restrictions that American diplomats face in China. The top US diplomat cited entreaties this year by an official from China's Chicago consulate to Wisconsin Senate President Roger Roth for his chamber to pass a resolution praising Beijing's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic as an example of attempts to co-opt state-level officials. He called these efforts "a much more sinister vision of engagement" compared with initiatives by other countries to burnish their image overseas, such as France's Alliance Francais language and culture schools. US accusations that China deliberately delayed warning the world about the novel coronavirus have further strained a relationship already damaged by a trade war that US President Donald Trump started more than two years ago. Trump made China's alleged culpability for the pandemic, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans, a key theme of his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, further inflaming tensions. Story continues Pompeo also cited the case of a New York City police officer charged with acting as an agent for China as an example of Beijing's covert efforts to undermine US interests. The federal indictment of Baimadajie Angwang - a naturalised US citizen who is accused of spying on fellow ethnic Tibetans in New York - was unsealed on Monday. The secretary of state called on the Wisconsin lawmakers to adopt a number of measures to check Beijing's influence, including "laws to codify closer cooperation with federal agencies in [intellectual property] protection, investment screening and counter-infiltration operations". Mike Pompeo speaks to socially distanced lawmakers and guests at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday. Photo: AFP alt=Mike Pompeo speaks to socially distanced lawmakers and guests at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday. Photo: AFP After welcoming local representatives of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of Chicago to his speech, Pompeo also asked the lawmakers to "ignore CCP threats, and encourage mayors and businesspeople to engage with a free and democratic Taiwan". The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office is Taiwan's de facto embassy in the US. Washington does not have official diplomatic relations with the self-ruled island. Pompeo also suggested that funds managed by the Wisconsin Retirement System for state and local government employees be divested of holdings in two of China's largest telecom companies. "As of its last report the Wisconsin Retirement System was invested in China Mobile and China Telecom," he said. "Both are state-owned giants and they're an integral part of the Chinese Orwellian surveillance system. Do you want your teachers, firefighters, your policeman invested in those kinds of activities?" China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 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. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says China's New York consulate is a major spy hub after a New York City police officer was charged this week with spying for the Chinese government. Pompeo told the New York Post on Thursday that the Trump administration was keeping tabs on Chinese diplomats in the United States and there could potentially be more arrests. 'They're engaged in activities where they're crossing the line from normal diplomacy to the kinds of things that would be more akin to what spies are doing,' Pompeo said. 'Remember, not only do we have Chinese consulates here, but there's a UN facility, too. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says China's New York consulate is a major spy hub after a New York City police officer was charged this week with spying for the Chinese government 'So if we're talking about New York, we not only have the Chinese Consulate in New York - that is the bilateral consulate - they also have a large contingent of Chinese diplomats here for United Nations work.' His comments came just days after NYPD officer Baimadajie Angwang, a naturalized US citizen from Tibet, was charged with being an 'intelligence asset' for the Chinese government. His comments came just days after NYPD officer Baimadajie Angwang, a naturalized US citizen from Tibet, was charged with being an 'intelligence asset' for the Chinese government Angwang allegedly agreed to spy on US supporters of the Tibetan independence movement since 2018 as an agent for China in its effort to suppress the movement, according to a criminal complaint filed in Brooklyn federal court on Monday. It says he secretly worked for unnamed handlers from the Chinese Consulate in New York. China has said the allegations are a 'pure fabrication'. When asked if there were any other cases like the one involving Angwang, Pompeo told the Post: 'Absolutely'. 'As you've seen, not just the case with the NYPD officer this past week, we've seen multiple cases being prosecuted by the Department of Justice and we're confident that they will continue to pursue this and I would expect that there will be more to follow,' he said. There was no allegation that Angwang compromised national security or New York Police Department operations. Pompeo said that the Trump administration was keep tabs on Chinese diplomats in the United States and there could potentially be more arrests. The Chinese consulate in New York is pictured above Angwang raised suspicions of his alleged illegal activity while at a party attended by Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in February 2019 According to a criminal complaint, Angwang (pictured) was secretly supervised by handlers from the Chinese consulate in New York since at least 2014 Still, he was considered 'the definition of an insider threat,' William Sweeney, head of the FBI's New York office, said. Court papers say Angwang's job as a spy for China was to 'locate potential intelligence sources' and 'identify potential threats to the (People's Republic of China) 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. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin 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. Angwang 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. Angwang raised suspicions of his alleged illegal activity while at a party attended by Rep Alexandria 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!' It is not clear what sparked the suspicion. Writing in the Daily Mail, royal biographer Robert Hardman said: Prince Harry clumsily urging Americans to use their vote while his wife makes it abundantly clear which way they should cast it. If this is upholding the values of Her Majesty, we should not be too surprised if, come next spring, Her Majesty decides she does not wish to have them upheld any more. Mr. Cuomo said that he was alarmed when, on Wednesday, Mr. Trump suggested that the White House might reject new F.D.A. guidelines that would toughen the process for approving a coronavirus vaccine. Mr. Trump said the F.D.A. plan sounded like a political move, a comment that yet again threatened to undermine government officials who have been working to boost public faith in a promised vaccine. Mr. Cuomos stated concerns echoed comments made by Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic nominee for president, who last week pushed the issue of a potential vaccine into the center of the 2020 race. Mr. Biden accused Mr. Trump of exerting political pressure on the vaccine process and trying to speed up the approval of a vaccine to help him win re-election. To vet a vaccine, Mr. Cuomo said that he would assemble a panel of scientists, doctors and public health experts who would review its safety and effectiveness, after the federal government approves it. He did not provide specific details about the panels actions. The governor wants the group, led by the state Department of Health, to advise him, so I can look at the camera and I can say to New Yorkers that its safe to take. Mr. Cuomo also said that he would create a second panel to determine how to implement and distribute the vaccine, including who to prioritize in the vaccination process. The governor seemed wary of the logistics involved in administering a two-shot vaccine, saying such a treatment would require 40 million doses to fully inoculate the states population, which is nearly 20 million. Its going to be a monumental undertaking, he said. Mr. Cuomo said that he believed in the good-faith actions of the F.D.A. and its commissioner, Dr. Stephen M. Hahn, framing Mr. Trumps push for a vaccine as an election-year ploy to win votes. I dont think Dr. Hahn is running for anything, Mr. Cuomo said, adding, President Trump is engaged in the political process and has an Election Day. Mango's official Korean website / Screen-captured from Mango website By Kim Jae-heun Spanish clothing design and manufacturing company Mango is seeking to make a new start here with a local venture firm by adopting new strategies of localization and digitalization. Mango has local retail partners around the world and they are mostly large companies. In Korea, Li&Fung and Samsung C&T import and sell the Spanish brand's apparel. However, after Samsung C&T's Fashion Group started its own fast fashion brand "8 seconds" in 2012, Mango has been operating a store here directly from its headquarters in Barcelona. In August 2018, the firm selected a local venture company Mango Retail Korea to exclusively import and sell its products here, which was unprecedented in the industry. CEO of Mango Retail Korea Kim Nak-kyun said he met with Mango Vice Chairman Daniel Lopez coincidently when he was traveling overseas. Mango's online sales in the last three years have been growing annually by 20 percent on average after Kim began managing the brand's retailing here. The biggest difference is that Kim sends local staff to Spain to select items that will sell well in Korea. Before the Mango headquarters there picked clothing and accessories that they wanted to sell abroad. Fashion merchandisers from Mango Retail Korea visit Mango's showroom in Barcelona four times every year and consistently reorder stock online based on local inventory levels. Mango's advantage in global retailing lies in its up-to-date fashion trend awareness and fast delivery system but its consistency of brand style is most highly praised. The Spanish brand is also seeking to expand its business here with a line of menswear and a children's collection. For men's clothing, Mango Retail Korea will import simple and more basic style clothes that are designed to last. This is a reflection of local customers' taste for classic items with quality. Mango is already well known in the country and has a loyal customer base so it sees no need to spend big on marketing. There are currently three Mango stores; Yeouido and Gangnam in Seoul; and Goyang in Gyeonggi Province. Their sales soared by 12 percent in one year after Kim started to get involved in their business management. Mango is planning to open more branches in the capital area and Busan shortly. "Mango sells good quality products for a good price which made it a brand with many loyal customers. We will keep with our previous price policy on clothing while we improve the convenience for customers and provide them with a better quality of service," Kim said. Kurz alluded to previous efforts by the European Commission to introduce mandatory quotas for refugees for all EU members, which were rejected by many eastern and central European countries. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz warned Tuesday against any attempt to force EU countries to take in asylum-seekers as the European Commission prepared to unveil a new strategy for handling migration to the bloc. Speaking to AFP in an exclusive interview, Kurz alluded to previous efforts by the European Commission to introduce mandatory quotas for refugees for all EU members, which were rejected by many eastern and central European countries. "We find that the distribution in Europe (of asylum seekers) has failed and many states reject this. It won't work like this," he said. On Wednesday, Brussels will launch its latest proposal for EU asylum policy. Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson wants the 27 member states to share the burden of handling asylum claims from migrants who arrive mostly on the bloc's southern shores in Greece, Italy and Spain. She has again raised the idea of mandatory sharing. Kurz said he welcomed that the European Commission was addressing the topic of asylum and migration. "We can only solve this topic all together... Better protection of the (EU's) outer borders, a joined fight against smugglers, but also joined aid where it is needed (in countries where refugees come from), that is the path that is needed," the 34-year-old conservative leader said. Austria and other smaller countries, such as Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia, have all spoken out in the past against any mandatory asylum-seeker distribution. Kurz became the world's youngest chancellor when his conservative People's Party formed a coalition government with the far-right Freedom Party in 2017. The coalition fell apart in 2019 after a corruption scandal engulfed the far-right leader, leading to fresh elections, where Kurz's party again gathered the most votes. Kurz then formed a new coalition with the Greens, govering the small Alpine country of nearly nine million people since January. bg-jza/adp Norwegian university supplying COVID-19 test kits to India, Denmark A highly sensitive COVID-19 test, developed by researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), relies on magnetic nanoparticles to extract viral RNA. More than 5 million NTNU COVID-19 tests have already been supplied to the Norwegian health authorities. Now India and Denmark will benefit from the technology. "Testing and infection tracking are absolutely essential to maintaining control of the infection situation. The fact that NTNU has developed a new test method for detecting the coronavirus means that more people can be tested and that patients can get answers faster. It is very positive that this technology can now also be useful internationally," says Bent Hie, Norway's Minister of Health and Care Services. "We have been contacted by health ministries and private companies from countries in Asia, Africa, North and South America and Europe," said Tonje Steigedal, from NTNU Technology Transfer, who is part of the NTNU test team and responsible for the commercialization of the technology. "We are delighted to announce that DTU and APS LABS are the first outside of Norway to benefit from the NTNU technology." Helene Larsen, Head of Development at DTU's Centre for Diagnostics, said she had just received her first shipments of test kits and was looking forward to getting the testing up and running. She said DTU is doing tests for a number of Danish hospitals and hopes to increase the lab's capacity to do as many as 10000 tests a day. "What we like about the NTNU system is that it can be used with our open robot system," she said, which means that robot systems can be used with reagents from different vendors, including NTNU's. Another big advantage is that the kits are readily available, she said. "The market is still very competitive out there, and the fact that it is possible to get a kit component so readily is sensational." Dr. Paritosh Shekhar, director of APS LABS, said his organization had evaluated the NTNU test kits and "found them extraordinary." "The performance was at par with top leading brands," he said. "Quality was the factor for why we chose NTNU. Another reason was to support a research university rather than a commercial company. We strongly feel this association will be complementary for both of us." In late March, huge international demand for the reagents used for COVID-19 testing meant that Norway, like other countries, was having a hard time getting enough tests to track the disease among its population. In response, Magnar Bjras, a medical researcher from NTNU's Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, offered colleagues from St. Olavs Hospital help with a made-in-Norway COVID-19 test. The offer of help was accepted and Bjras and his network got to work. By mid-April, the NTNU/St. Olavs Hospital team had developed a highly sensitive test. Validation results showed that the NTNU test was at least as good as conventional tests. It was then approved for use by Norwegian health authorities. Bjarne Foss, Pro-Rector for Research at NTNU, says Norwegian society has high expectations for NTNU as Norway's largest university. "We are a multi-disciplinary university with a strong profile in science and technology," he said. "Multi-disciplinary solutions provide the answer to many societal challenges, and the NTNU COVID-19 test is a perfect example of the strength of this approach. Two strong research groups at NTNU's faculties for Medicine and Health Sciences and Natural Sciences, respectively, developed this test method together, which by construction depends on a multi-disciplinary approach." "At NTNU we are proud of this contribution to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to encourage our researchers to pursue research across disciplines both within NTNU and in cooperation with research groups at other institutions," Foss said. One key aspect of the NTNU test is a specific combination of polar solvents, buffers, salts and other chemicals that do not damage the viral RNA molecule itself. The solution contains substances that crack the virus open so that its genetic material can be extracted. NTNU has also developed iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles that strongly bind RNA. Once the magnetic nanoparticles are coated with the viral RNA, they can be removed from the solution using a magnet. PCR technology can then identify the genetic code from the RNA and compare it to the coronavirus. The newly developed manufacturing process has proved to be very upscalable, which has enabled the NTNU labs to produce these high-quality and high-performance magnetic nanoparticles in very high volumes. Three laboratories at the Department of Chemical Engineering are currently manufacturing the magnetic nanoparticles, while another laboratory at the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine is making the solvents and buffers. The process allows the production of up to 1.2 million test kits per week. "The key behind our success has been the cooperation across departments and with NTNU Technology Transfer and the hospital," Bjras said. He said increases in production capacity will allow the groups to produce up to 5 million test kits a week. At the same time, the test kits are subject to rigorous quality control and validation before shipping to customers. The magnetic nanobeads and buffers, and then the entire test kits are verified against a known COVID-19 positive patient sample. The process was developed by the teams around Bjras and Sulalit Bandyopadhyay, a postdoc at the university's Department of Chemical Engineering, along with Anuvansh Sharma from the university's Department of Materials Science and Technology and their colleagues. In the process of gearing up to produce tests for Norway, the researchers improved the efficiency of the production system to the point where the lab is able to make more than enough tests for use in Norway. Bandyopadhyay, who had previously been studying how a version of the particle can be used to study river water chemistry, has been eager to help ease the test shortages that continue to plague other countries. "The need out there is very great, and we have the kits that can help with the shortage," he said. "Our mission is to provide the NTNU COVID-19 test to health care services across the globe," Steigedal and her NTNU Technology Transfer colleague Eivind Andersen said. NTNU Technology Transfer has filed patent applications on the methods and products related to the NTNU COVID-19 test. The motivation is to secure control of the intellectual rights and provide access to the new test in an ethical and justifiable manner. At the same time, the university hopes to expand the number of countries to which the test will be exported. "We need to find the right partners in each region/country. In some cases that could be national health authorities, or it could be hospitals or other health care services, Steigedal said. "It could also be life-science companies that have a relevant position in the value chain for test equipment for virus detection." ### This story has been published on: 2020-09-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Final Adopt-A-Highway cleanup of year starts Saturday Dan Weingarten, MDOT Office of Communications, 906-250-4809 Transportation Fast facts: - The final Adopt-A-Highway of the year is Sept. 26-Oct. 4. - Adopt-A-Highway volunteers collect more than 60,000 bags of litter annually. - In accordance with Gov. Whitmer's recent executive order, MDOT requires all Adopt-A-Highway volunteers to wear a mask outdoors when they are unable to consistently maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household. - Sections of highway are still available to adopt. Go to www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway for more information. September 21, 2020 -- Volunteers will soon be scouring the roadsides looking for trash during the year's final Adopt-A-Highway pickup. Thousands of volunteers in the popular Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) program will be picking up litter along highway roadsides from Saturday, Sept. 26, through Sunday, Oct. 4. In accordance with Gov. Whitmer's recent executive order, MDOT requires all Adopt-A-Highway volunteers to wear a mask outdoors when they are unable to consistently maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household. There are normally three scheduled Adopt-A-Highway pickups each year: one each in the spring, summer and fall. A spring pickup period was canceled this year due to coronavirus concerns. Every year, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers regularly collect more than 60,000 bags of trash. The popular program began in 1990 and has grown to involve more than 2,750 groups cleaning 6,300 miles of highway. Motorists should be on the lookout beginning Saturday for volunteers wearing high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash. Getting involved in the program is easy. Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must number at least three people. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years; there is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway volunteer groups are recognized with signs bearing a group's name posted along stretches of adopted highway. Sections of highway are still available for adoption. Interested groups should check the MDOT Adopt-A-Highway website at www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway for more information and the name of their county's coordinator, who can specify available roadsides. This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 292 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year, and our current goal, strengthening the comments section. Jerri-Lynn here. In the age of COVID-19, there are nonetheless perennial foreign policy issues that remain to preoccupy policymakers. And I for one need to be reminded of them, least I surrender completely to COVID craziness; I assume the same holds true for Naked Capitalism readers. I know from prior academic work I conducted decades ago on the Nixon administrations trade policy, that Europes willingness particularly what at that time was West Germany to tie themselves to Russian oil supplies was a major U.S. concern. So VP Mike Pompeos obsessions are by no means new or particularly contemporary, and are neither tied to the current New Cold War madness or Russiagate centred on Trump. I have yet to trace Pompeos fossil fuel connections, but the broader Trump administration has certainly served U.S. fossil fuel interests (as readers with memories recall was also the case with its predecessors. I think its almost a necessary condition to be a U.S. president.) This time, what is now unified Germany will be the major receiver of Russian gas supplies that would flow through the new pipeline. The US is petrified that Germany may go rogue on this issue as it has long been willing to use Russian energy supplies. You only need to troll through archives to see that even during a period when many Germans had personal experience of Russian policies. And this time, as the post explains, Germany has even offered to appease the US by offering to build two liquefied natural gas import terminals worth $1.2 billion if the U.S. ceases opposing the pipeline. So far Pompeo and the U.S. have yet to back down and the COVID-19 related cratering of oil demand and world energy prices means it unlikely that the current U.S. policy stance will change any time soon. By Charles Kennedy, who writes for OilPrice and has covered this and many other issues. Originally published at OilPrice The United States is building a coalition aimed at preventing the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will substantially increase the flow of Russian gas into Europe, the U.S. Secretary of State told German daily Bild in an interview. From the US point of view, Nord Stream 2 endangers Europe because it makes it dependent on Russian gas and endangers Ukraine which in my opinion worries many Germans, Pompeo said. We hope Nord Stream 2 will not be completed and we are working on a coalition to prevent this from happening. We hope that the German government will also come to this assessment, be it because of what happened to Mr. Navalny or because of the security implications that dependence on Russian gas brings. The interview comes days after another report in German media said the German government had tried to appease Washington about Nord Stream by offering to build two liquefied natural gas import terminals worth $1.2 billion if the U.S. stopped opposing the pipeline. Germany will be the receiver of most of the gas that will flow through the expanded Nord Stream pipeline amid an expected surge in demand for natural gas as it closes coal and nuclear power plants. The U.S., however, is against it, claiming it will only increase Russias influence in the energy supply of the EU, which would be unwise. Of course, there are also the U.S. gas interests as a major LNG exporter. The alleged poisoning of Putin critic Alexey Navalny recently raised the temperature of the issue, with critics of the Nord Stream project calling for the German government to punish Moscow by withdrawing its support for the infrastructure. On the other hand, a group of local primer minister from eastern German regions declared their support for Nord Stream 2, saying in a joint document that it was important for the energy future of both Germany and Europe and its completion would be right and justified. London: Superstar Akshay Kumar on Thursday took out time from his busy outdoor schedule in the UK, to seek blessings at a Gurudwara in the country. Sharing a glimpse of his visit, Akshay wrote: "Had a rather blessed morning... spent ten minutes in this Gurudwara today and counted my blessings. I feel a sense of calm I haven't in months," he wrote, tagging his post with #GratitudeIsTheBestAttitude and #IkOnkar. Akshay Kumar also posted a picture of him praying at the Gurudwara, with his head covered with a white cloth. Had a rather blessed morning...spent ten minutes in this Gurudwara today and counted my blessings. I feel a sense of calm I havent in months. #GratitudeIsTheBestAttitude #IkOnkar pic.twitter.com/FQG5J5BS2J Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) September 24, 2020 The actor is currently shooting for his upcoming film "Bellbottom" in the UK. He is accompanied by his wife, Twinkle Khanna, and their children there. "Bellbottom" is directed by Ranjit M. Tewari and the film also features Vaani Kapoor, Huma S. Qureshi and Lara Dutta Bhupathi. To avoid possible collision with an unknown piece of space debris, the International Space Station (ISS) on September 22 conducted a 150-second re-boost. Russian and US flight controllers worked together during a two-and-a-half-minute operation to adjust the station's orbit and move further away, avoiding a collision. Twitter/@tmrwastronomy During the avoidance manoeuver, the three American 'Expedition 63' crew members were directed to move to the Russian segment of the station to be closer to their Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft in case of an evacuation and as a precautionary measure. Also Read: Mission Shakti Is Progress, But ASAT Leads To Dangerous Space Debris Flying At 30,000 Kmph The debris was estimated to come within 1.39 kilometres of the station with a time of closest approach of 6:21 p.m. EDT. The avoidance manoeuver raised the station's orbit out of the predicted path of the debris. According to Astronomer Jonathan McDowell, the debris belonged to the 2018 Japanese rocket H-2A F40 that broke up into 77 pieces in 2019. The station boosted its orbit out of the way of an unknown piece of space debris today after a docked resupply ship fired its engines at 5:19pm ET. The Exp 63 crew has resumed normal activities. More... https://t.co/LWOgLdshbQ pic.twitter.com/xoYwCyQDsS Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) September 22, 2020 The ISS usually orbits roughly 260 miles (420 kilometres) above the Earth, at a speed of about 17,000 miles per hour. At such a velocity, even a small object could seriously damage a solar panel or other facet of the station. Also Read: Watch The Perseid Meteor Shower Tonight, Where Space Debris Lights Up Earth's Atmosphere This type of manoeuver is necessary on a regular basis. NASA said 25 such manoeuvers had occurred between 1999 and 2018. The debris object that ISS avoided is now available on SpaceTrack as 2018-084CQ, 46477, from the breakup of Japan's H-2A F40 rocket stage. At 2221:07 UTC it passed within a few km of ISS at a relative velocity of 14 6 km/s, 422 km over the Pitcairn Is in the S Pacific pic.twitter.com/2T3yFQoFMT Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) September 22, 2020 "Once the avoidance maneuver was completed, the crew reopened hatches between the U.S. and Russian segments and resumed their regular activities," NASA said. "Maneuver Burn complete. The astronauts are coming out of safe haven," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said after the avoidance manoeuver was complete. The space debris is getting worse, and the International Space Station has reportedly been manoeuvered three times in 2020 to avoid debris. Jim also urged the US Congress to provide the US Department of Commerce with the $15 million funds requested by President Donald Trump for the Office of Space Commerce. Also Read: Space Debris Left By India's Mission Shakti Continues To Threaten The ISS After 4 Months NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has selected MetTel as a communications services provider for government agencies across the state. The award, Statewide contract ITT72, is designed to provide state government organizations with network communication services category 1: cellular. Being selected by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is part of MetTel's strategy to serve regional governments as a comprehensive communications provider with fully managed services. MetTel can now provide wireless communication services to the state for up to five years, including potential renewals. "We're honored to be selected by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide wireless services," said Marshall Aronow, MetTel CEO. "Similar to our work with federal agencies across the U.S., we look forward to serving local and regional agencies in Massachusetts by providing award-winning technology and services to help transform state government." MetTel has a strong and growing government practice. MetTel has announced IT communications projects with city and federal agencies, including the City of Phoenix, State of New York, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S Navy, Social Security Administration, General Services Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA). Mobility is MetTel's fastest-growing business with millions of endpoint devices under management across the commercial and public sectors, including at the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA). MetTel's experience meeting Federal requirements both within and beyond the $50 billion Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) contract awarded in 2017 by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) reinforced its credentials. About MetTel MetTel is a leader in communications and digital transformation (DX) solutions for enterprise customers. By converging all communications over a proprietary network, MetTel gives enterprises one, unified view and control point for all their communications and advanced network services. MetTel's comprehensive portfolio of customer solutions can boost enterprise productivity, reduces costs and simplifies operations. Combining customized and managed communication solutions with a powerful platform of cloud-based software, the company's MetTel Portal enables customers to manage their inventory, usage, spend and repairs from one simple, user-friendly interface. For more information visit www.mettel.net, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, or call us directly at 877.963.8663. MetTel. Connect Smarter. Media Contact: Mike Azzi [email protected] 347.420.0957 SOURCE MetTel Related Links http://www.mettel.net Dear Mr. Dennis, I shall go straight to the point: No one in the so-called leaderships, of the Liberian community in the Gomoa Buduburam Camp Liberia refugee settlement area, the local offices of the Ghana Refugee Board, and the Gomoa East District Assembly's local offices in Gomoa Budumburam, can prevent me, from achieving the goal I have set for myself. Never. Full stop. My goal, in seeking to work with Amy Peake's Loving Humanity NGO, and the Bushira Makuyi Foundation, is simply to find a creative way, to empower the poorest of the poor females, in Camp Liberia's base-of-the-pyramid demographic, to become financially-secure, and independent women, who can take care of themselves, and their offspring, as well, without being dependent on either their husbands', or their boyfriends' with whom they cohabit, through creative-thinking. Simple. Case closed. I find the idea that there are people in Camp Liberia, apparently questioning my motivation, somehow, for that simple goal, deeply offensive. Fools. That is why I have decided to ignore what on the ground, in Camp Liberia (according to bush-telegraph sources), is akin to a reign-of-terror, by petty-local-officialdom, which is said to be part of the callous local Mafia, which has allegedly siphoned off trillions of old Ghana cedis, of UNHCR cash, over the decades, meant for the welfare of hapless refugees. Disgraceful. Clearly, what that means, in effect, is that the exploitation that has gone on, more or less began from day one, right from the moment when those poor fellow Africans (forced to flee their homeland, Liberia, and other sister nations that were also torn apart by brutal civil wars, such as Sierra Leone, incidentally), arrived on our shores. The question to ponder over is: If none of the Liberian refugees have still apparently never received any post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) counselling, since they arrived in Ghana, and subsequently, over the decades-long-time-frame that they have been here, why don't those vampire-leaders not rather focus on such vital refugee-welfare issues, if they actually cared about the well-being of those they supposedly lead? Scandalous. Monstrous. Unspeakable . Unpardonable. Massa, get this straight: Kofi Thompson is not a con-man seeking to use Camp Liberia's poor and over-exploited refugee-community, to somehow enrich himself, wai. How absurd. And, any of you, who has the temerity, to think that you can use that egregious-falsehood, and short-sighted daft-thinking-strategy, to label me as some crook-with-a-hidden-agenda, out to cook up a stealth-scheme to dupe poor people in Camp Liberia, is a fool and blackguard. Period. Mr. Dennis, Kofi Thompson is not a crook, wai. Neither does he fear the wicked-and-callous-crooks, amongst the so-called community-leaderships, some of whom allegedly daily conspire to use their positions, as leaders, for personal-gain, at the expense of Camp Liberia's traumatised poor. What gall you leeches have. For your information, according to bush-telegraph sources, there are said to be indications that some too-clever-by-half people, in Camp Liberia, are apparently suspicious about the motivation for what I am trying to do, for the poorest females in Camp Liberia, in particular, and Gomoa Buduburam, generally. Imagine that. Ebeiiii. In light of that, I humbly suggest that you find time to read as many of my published articles, as you can find and digest. I will not meet with you, until you have done so. Ever. Sorry. The reason for that determined-insistence, of mine, is that that will enable you to clearly understand my motivation, as a Pan-Africanist, and patriotic Ghanaian citizen-journalist (and plain-speaking-blogger), who is on the side of the ordinary people of Africa - as opposed to engaging in mercenary-toadying, serving the thieves-in-high-places, amongst the continent's vampire ruling-elites, as so many media professionals across Africa, often are, before you too insult me, by doubting my motives. What impudence. Haaba. Finally, if you are still in doubt, then please take my advice: report your daft-suspicions about me, to the national security minister, Hon. Bryan Acheampong, for swift action to be taken to arrest and jail me for investigations to be carried out, to ascertain your worst fears, wai. What infernal cheek. Hmmm eyeasem, oooo... Thanks - and peace and blessings to all of you who make up the sodden-so-called-leadership, of Camp Liberia's refugee community. You have finally met your match, oooo, Massa. You have trodden on grounds where even angels fear to tread. Yoooooo... Kind regards, Kofi. WhatsApp:+233576564600. Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh has created history by becoming the first woman pilot to join Rafale's 'Golden Arrows' Squadron in Ambala. Shivangi belongs to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Shivangi's mother has expressed happiness over the development and said that her daughter always wanted to become a fighter aircraft pilot. Flt Lt Shivangi was commissioned into the IAF in 2017 as part of the second batch of women fighter pilots and she is currently undergoing conversion training. Flt Lt Shivangi is currently deployed at Rajastha Air Base. After completing her schooling in Varanasi, Flt Lt Shivangi joined the prestigious Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where she was part of the 7 UP Air Squadron in the National Cadet Corps. In 2016, she joined the Air Force Academy for training. Flt Lt Shivangi was also the part of the 7 UP Air Squadron in the National Cadet Corps at BHU. She was an NCC cadet from BHU from 2013 to 2015 and did her BSc from Sunbeam in Bhagwanpur. In 2013, Shivangi had represented the Uttar Pradesh team in the Republic Day Parade in Delhi. Live TV On December 16, 2017, Shivangi got the title of fighter pilot at Air Force Academy in Hyderabad. Flt Lt Shivangi is currently a fighter pilot of MiG-21. Talking to Zee News, Flt Lt Shivangi's father Kumareshwar Singh said that he is proud of the achievments of his daughter. Flt Lt Shivangi's mother Seema Singh is a housewife and brother Mayank studies in Class 12 in Varanasi. Burleson County reports 337 cases, an increase of nine since Tuesday. Of those, 43 are active. Six have died. Grimes County is reporting 1,079 cases, according to the DSHS, an increase of four. At least 492 of those cases are connected to the TDCJ. There have been 31 who have died in Grimes County, at least 21 of whom are connected to the TDCJ. There are 87 active cases, state health officials said. According to the DSHS, Leon County has two additional cases, bringing the total there to 235. Officials said 38 of those are active. Six people have died. Madison County continues to report 717 cases, the DSHS said. At least 539 of those are connected to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. There are 22 active cases, while six have died. The DSHS reported 485 cases in Milam County on Wednesday, an increase of two. Five have died in the county. State officials said there are 13 active cases. In Robertson County, there are 301 cases an increase of five with 49 that are active. DSHS officials said four have died. The entrance of new anchor shareholders into rights offers would put the cat among the pigeons. These deals provide rich pickings for short sellers and its been painful for ordinary investors to watch. The desperate companies are soft targets. Rumors start, the firm confirms it may sell new shares, negative momentum builds. An in-principle underwriting agreement with banks follows, final terms undecided. The stock stays under pressure until the equity issue is priced at rock bottom. Hedge funds cover their shorts with the bargain stock and exit. It all seems unnecessarily destabilizing for the company. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Brussels, Belgium Thu, September 24, 2020 15:30 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46f4db5 2 World EU,Belgium,Alexander-Lukashenko Free The European Union refuses to recognize Alexander Lukashenko as Belarus president after his inauguration that lacked "democratic legitimacy" and Brussels is reviewing its relations with Minsk, the EU's diplomatic chief said Thursday. Lukashenko's secret inauguration on Wednesday triggered fresh condemnation in the West and new mass demonstrations in Belarus that have erupted frequently since the disputed August 9 elections. The elections were neither free nor fair and "the European Union does not recognize their falsified results," EU high representative Josep Borrell said in a statement. "On this basis, the so-called inauguration" and the new mandate Lukashenko claims "lack any democratic legitimacy," Borrell said. "This inauguration directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus," the former Spanish foreign minister said. The EU stands for the right of Belarusians to be "represented by those they freely choose through new inclusive, transparent and credible elections," he said. The EU again threw its full support behind the peaceful Belarus protests and their calls for new elections "despite the brutal repression of the Belarusian authorities," he said. The EU renews its calls on the authorities in Minsk to "immediately refrain from any further repression and violence directed against the Belarusian people and immediately and unconditionally release all those detained, including political prisoners," said Borrell. "The EU remains convinced that an inclusive national dialogue and responding positively to the demands of the Belarusian people for new democratic elections are the only way forward in finding a way out of the serious political crisis in Belarus that respects the wishes of the Belarusian people. The statement also said Brussels was "reviewing its relations with Belarus." The EU is preparing sanctions against around 40 people deemed responsible for the repression and also looking at punishing Lukashenko himself, diplomatic sources say. But the unanimity of the 27 EU countries is required, and Cyprus links its agreement to the adoption of steps to force Turkey to stop exploring for gas in the waters of its economic zone. Two countries, Sweden and Finland, refuse to sanction Lukashenko to allow for mediation by OSCE that will be chaired by Stockholm, the sources add. The issue will be debated during an EU summit on 1-2 October in Brussels. A Pakistani man has surprised everyone with his unique and unconventional choice of wedding gift for his wife. Sohaib Ahmed from Pakistans Rawalpindi decided to move beyond the conventions of gifting jewelry, cars and other things. Hence, he decided to gift her a piece of land. On the MOON. Ahmed has reportedly bought one-acre lunar land in the region called Sea of Vapour for his wife as a wedding gift. The land was bought at a cost of $45 from the International Lunar Lands Registry. Ahmed said he wanted to do something different and hence bought a piece of lunar land after he heard that the late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput had bought a piece of moon in 2018. Rajput reportedly bought the land in a region called Mare Muscoviense, or the Sea of Muscovy. Several celebrities including Tom Cruise and Shah Rukh Khan reportedly own land on the moon. In a video that has been shared on social media platforms, the couple is seen telling a reporter from a local news channel how their friends had a hard time believing that they actually bought the land. He also shows the papers he received. Sohaibs wife Mediha told a local news channel that now one of her friends also wants her fiance to gift her a plot of land on the moon for their wedding. Pakistani man buys land on moon for his wife as a wedding gift pic.twitter.com/qdsZSYu0Tj Hoor Ul Jannat (@HoorUlJannat5) September 18, 2020 The couple received the documents at their home via US Postal Service. This is not the first time people have shown documents and claimed to have bought a piece of the moon. Rajeev V Bagdi, an Indian, had earlier claimed that he had also allegedly purchased a plot on the Moon for $140 from the New York-based Lunar Society International in 2003. But lets do a bit of fact-checking. Can land on the moon be actually bought? If yes, can anyone purchase it? In July, a resident of Bodh Gaya, Neeraj Kumar had also done a similar thing and bought an acre of land on the moon. He, however said the process was difficult and tiresome and Kumar had contacted the US society Luna Society International for the same back in October 2019. But a look at the Outer Space Treaty immediately negates any such claims made by people or institutions as one cant actually buy property on the moon, according to the treaty. Buying land on the moon is illegal as per the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and it has been signed by 109 nations, including India. As per the Treaty, outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means." So, the question arises, how are these people from earth buying pieces of land?! The catch is a loophole in the Treaty which has been used to counter the rules in the treaty. The language in the Treaty is specific to national ownership and as a result there has been no no legal consensus on whether or not the prohibition extends to private companies or individuals. Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria Harvard Business School today (Sept. 23) released an action plan for racial equality but shied away from setting any concrete targets that could be used to measure progress on putting more Black protagonists in case studies, hiring and promoting more underrepresented minorities as faculty, or increasing the percentage of Black students in its MBA program. Targets can get mired in controversyfrom whether they are legally permissible or sufficiently bold or implausibly unrealistic, wrote Dean Nitin Nohria in an email to the HBS community. In the end, we know that what truly matters is what we accomplish. Our actions and outcomes will speak louder than our plans and goals. We need to hold ourselves accountable, and our results, which we will report regularly and transparently, will be the ultimate measure of our progress. The statement comes nearly four months after Nohria publicly apologized for failing to mount a more successful fight against racism and for not serving the schools black community members better. He issued his rare apology on June 7 as protests swept through the U.S. and foreign capitals since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. WHY ARE HAVING THE SAME CONVERSATION AGAIN? Four days later, at a virtual town hall meeting, Nohria directly heard from some deeply disappointed participants in the session. Several alums pointedly asked, Why are we having the same conversation again? and Where is your action plan? Critics have noted that the number of Black students in Harvards MBA program has largely remained stuck in the fifties for three decades even as Harvard University has made major strides toward Black enrollment. Some 14.3% of Harvard Universitys undergraduate class of 2023 are African Americans. Yet, at the business school, Black enrollment is not much more than a third of that number, just above 5% for the next graduating class of 2021 (see Harvard Business School Case Study: Why Progress Stalled For African-Americans). Story continues Since the Harvard Business Schools founding in 1908, only four African-American professors have been awarded tenure by the school. Not one of the 14 new assistant and associate professors recruited to Harvard Business School in 2019 was Black. For many years, only two of the 300 case studies taught in the required MBA curriculum feature African-American protagonists. Though in 2019-2020, the school says it has kicked up the total to a dozen cases. And only one of the 28 members of the schools senior leadership team is Black, a Chief Information Officer recruited only two years ago from UCLA. None of the 13 faculty senior leaders are African-American. ACTION PLAN UNLIKELY TO SATISFY THE SCHOOLS CRITICS Steven Rogers, an HBS alumnus and a senior lecturer at the school from 2012 to 2019, is among Nohrias toughest critics. He has accused both the dean and the school of systemic anti-Black practices that have prevented faculty and students from making any real progress at the school. In a commentary published by Poets&Quants in July, Rogers proposed 12 steps that HBS could take to make more immediate progress, including a mandate to require at least one case study with a Black protagonist in each of the 10 first-year courses. He could not be reached for comment Todays statement is unlikely to satisfy him or other critics who were looking for more specific details. Nohria not only failed to establish any targeted goals with his plan; he also did not provide any accounting of the schools current metrics on racial equality. Instead, he cited seven largely vague actions to promote racial equity on our campus. Make clear where we stand and where we aim to go. Establish the enduring structures required for the journey ahead. Attract additional Black talent to all parts of the HBS community. Develop and disseminate research and course material on advancing racial equity in business. Equip our students to become leaders for racial equity. Engage with the broader business community to promote racial equity Hold ourselves accountable to meaningful, measurable progress. Those guidelines are the result of an HBS task force formed in July and led by Senior Associate Deans Jan Rivkin and Jan Hammond as well as CIO Ron Chandler. The three convened a group of 22 other faculty, staff, students and alumni to identify the workstreams that include short-, medium-and long-term actions. Nohria said an additional 47 persons volunteered to provide their best thinking. HBS WILL HIRE A CHIEF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION OFFICER The lack of specific targets stands in contrast to Nohrias earlier approach with women. Back in 2014, he publicly pledged to more than double the percentage of women who are protagonists in Harvard case studies over the next five years to 20%, from what was then 9%. In 2019-2020, the number of cases featuring women protagonists totalled 57 or 23%. Many give the dean kudos for his gender initiative, even suggesting that the focus on it is at least partly responsible for the schools lack of progress on racial equity. Nohria seemed to anticipate some criticism over his new statement. We know some of the questions you may still ask include: Why will this time be different? Why havent you established targets?,' he wrote. What feels different now is the intensity and eagerness we encounter across our entire community to tackle this issue and be agents of change. Dean Nohria agreed to the hiring of a Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer and the formation of a DEI Board of Advisors made up of alumni and outside experts to guide and support the schools efforts. Nohria, who will step down as dean at the end of this year, has committed $25 million to the schools racial equality plan over the next ten years. ON THE TOPICS OF RACISM AND RACIAL EQUITY, HBS LACKS EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE Nohria said that the group repeatedly heard that they needed to approach their work with humility. On the topics of racism and racial equity, Harvard Business School and the large majority of our community lack experience and expertise, he added. Like much of the non-Black community, we are still learning what it means to be Black in America. So even as we advance our mission of educating others, we must continue to listen, learn, and engage. Relatedly, although the context of racism against Blacks in the United States is unique, we came to appreciate that the lessons we learn through this work will apply broadly and be essential to business leaders worldwide. Regrettably, racism and discrimination know no boundaries and are pervasive around the globe. We became convinced of another simple yet profound observation. The work we do to promote racial equity will not only benefit Black members of our community. It will also make Harvard Business School a better institution for every member of our community. HBS DEAN NITIN NOHRIAS FULL LETTER What follows is Dean Norhias complete letter: Dear members of the Harvard Business School community, I am writing today to share with you Harvard Business Schools Action Plan for Racial Equity, the result of an intensive effort that engaged faculty, staff, students, and alumni in deep reflection, often difficult discussions, and thoughtful planning. The horrifying murder of George Floyd, and an all too long history of similar injustices, has spurred our collective awakening to the grave and continuing systemic racism in the United States that creates unacceptable, even dire inequities for our Black community members. This moment has made urgently clear that the School must redouble its commitment to combat racismand anti-Black racism in particularto create meaningful and enduring change that will enable every member of our community to thrive. Our Action Plan for Racial Equity reflects our highest aspirations for the School and the role it can play in business and society. Background In July, we announced the formation of a Task Force charged with focusing on four broad areas: advancing anti-racism education and research, supporting the Black community at HBS, engaging the broader business community, and changing our culture and organization. Ron Chandler (Chief Information Officer), Jan Hammond (Senior Associate Dean for Community and Culture), and Jan Rivkin (Senior Associate Dean and Chair, MBA Program) agreed to serve as co-chairs of this Task Force, and the group that formed25 faculty, staff, students, and alumniquickly identified seven workstreams. The goal? Bold but achievable recommendations in each workstream, including actions the School could take in the short, medium, and long term. In addition to the Task Force members, another 47 individuals volunteered their time and dedicated their best thinking to this work, addressing questions such as: How can we enhance the Schools culture? How can we significantly and consistently increase the number of cases with Black protagonists? Our process yielded a few key observations. First, many individuals at the School have strived to make progress toward racial equity over the years. In 2018, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Schools African-American Student Union (AASU). Its founding members were committed to addressing both the challenges they experienced as a racial minority in the classroom and the broader socioeconomic issues the Black community faced nationwide. Their activism led to important curricular changes and a new consortium with nine other business schools focused on increasing student diversity. Since that time, the leaders of AASU and the HBS African American Alumni Association have played a vital role in advancing racial equity at the School, including urging us to act now. Another example with long roots at the School that thrives today is the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP). Since its founding nearly four decades ago, the program has engaged thousands of graduating and rising college seniors, including many Black and underrepresented minority students, interested in exploring business as a career. Many SVMP participants have gone on to earn MBA degrees, including at HBS. More recently, weve forged partnerships with organizations like Year Up (founded by Gerald Chertavian, MBA 1992), bringing young adults from diverse backgrounds to campus through internships that often transition to permanent employment. These efforts offer insights into what works and whyemphasizing, for instance, the importance of proactively creating opportunities for diverse talent to engage with the School, and developing partnerships when we lack the resources or knowledge to make progress on our own. Second, we repeatedly heard that we needed to approach our work with humility. On the topics of racism and racial equity, Harvard Business School and the large majority of our community lack experience and expertise. Like much of the non-Black community, we are still learning what it means to be Black in America. So even as we advance our mission of educating others, we must continue to listen, learn, and engage. Relatedly, although the context of racism against Blacks in the United States is unique, we came to appreciate that the lessons we learn through this work will apply broadly and be essential to business leaders worldwide. Regrettably, racism and discrimination know no boundaries and are pervasive around the globe. We became convinced of another simple yet profound observation. The work we do to promote racial equity will not only benefit Black members of our community. It will also make Harvard Business School a better institution for every member of our community. The Action Plan The Dean, Senior Associate Deans, and senior staff of Harvard Business Schoolalong with the entire community of HBS faculty, staff, students, and alumniare resolved to take the following actions to promote racial equity on our campus and in the world. Make clear where we stand and where we aim to go. Establish the enduring structures required for the journey ahead. Attract additional Black talent to all parts of the HBS community. Develop and disseminate research and course material on advancing racial equity in business. Equip our students to become leaders for racial equity. Engage with the broader business community to promote racial equity. Hold ourselves accountable to meaningful, measurable progress. Please click here to read the Action Plan in full. Next Steps We have identified faculty and staff leaders to take responsibility for each element of our action plan. They will move expeditiously to develop goals, targets, and timelines. Other critical next steps include hiring a Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, and creating the enabling infrastructureincluding forming an Initiative focused on racial equity and a DEI Board of Advisors comprising alumni and outside expertsto guide and support this work. Until then, the Task Force co-chairs will partner with a small advisory council to ensure we realize progress on this plan. We know some of the questions you may still ask include: Why will this time be different? Why havent you established targets? What feels different now is the intensity and eagerness we encounter across our entire community to tackle this issue and be agents of change. Additionally, we see tremendous value in creating a proven infrastructure to support our effortessentially embedding it in all the Schools processes and practices while bringing greater intentionality and strategic coherence to the initiative we will launch and the work we will do. Moreover, we are determined to begin the cultural changes necessary to enable everyone to feel welcome, thrive, and advance our mission. Targets can get mired in controversyfrom whether they are legally permissible or sufficiently bold or implausibly unrealistic. In the end, we know that what truly matters is what we accomplish. Our actions and outcomes will speak louder than our plans and goals. We need to hold ourselves accountable, and our results, which we will report regularly and transparently, will be the ultimate measure of our progress. I want to thank Ron Chandler, Jan Hammond, and Jan Rivkin, who took on this difficult work with their characteristic focus, skill, and commitment; Dilan Gomih (MBA 2019), our extraordinary project manager; the Task Force members; everyone who led and joined the workstreams; and the many members of our community who offered input on our action plan. While it provides a clear roadmap for the work ahead, we view it as a living document that will continue to evolve as new ideas emerge and circumstances change. Now we must get to work, with an immediate sense of urgency and the sustained, long-term resolve to advance racial equity. To be true to our mission, we must enlist the full spectrum of human talent and educate leaders who will make a difference by making the most out of the differences that enrich us individually and societies globally. With humility and resolve, Nitin Nohria DONT MISS: Former Harvard B-School Prof Slams Dean For Schools Systematic Anti-Black Practices or Harvard Business School Case Study: Why Progress Stalled For African-Americans The post HBS Racial Equality Plan: Vague Promises, No Targets appeared first on Poets&Quants. Language for a petition to recall Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was approved by the Board of State Canvassers during its virtual meeting Thursday afternoon, Sept. 24. The petition was submitted by Albion resident Chad Baase, 39, who disapproved of postcards sent out from Bensons office to Michigan voters encouraging them to apply online for an absentee ballot to vote from home during the November 2020 election. Absentee voting is expected to be more common as many Michiganders avoid the polls during the coronavirus pandemic. With the boards approval, the recall effort must now collect more than 1 million signatures over the next 180 days to trigger a recall election. The signatures must be collected within a 60-day window. On Thursday, the bipartisan Board of State Canvassers also voted down petition language to recall Attorney General Dana Nessel for her efforts to ramp enforcement of COVID-19 related restrictions at long-term care facilities. That petition, also submitted by Baase, was unanimously disapproved by the board over issues with the clear and factual nature of its language. Near the end of the meeting, board member Julie Matuzak voiced her frustrations over the number of current recall petitions against state leaders. She counted nine recall petitions against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and one each against Benson and Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. There have also been multiple attempts to recall Nessel. While I totally support the peoples right to petition and recall, at some point this becomes sort of absurd and an incredible waste of taxpayer dollars, Matuzak said. In order to trigger a recall for an elected state official in Michigan, an individual or group must have their petition language approved by the four-member board. The members must vote on whether the petitions language is both factual and clear for voters. Baase knows the process well, having made several attempts to recall Whitmer, Nessel and Benson, as well as Albions mayor and mayor pro tem in 2017. His petition language to recall Gov. Whitmer was approved in June, but he didnt return messages from MLive on Thursday seeking an update on that endeavor. Related: Petition language to recall Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer approved by state board Baases official reason for recalling Benson is, for announcing on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020 that she, Jocelyn Benson, will be sending Michigan voters postcards encouraging them to apply online to vote from home in the November Presidential Election." Jeffrey Aarnoff, an attorney for the secretary of state, first argued that Benson did not encourage voters to do anything, calling it a paraphrasing of press reporting. But board members confirmed that the wording in the petition language came directly from an Aug. 13 press release from Bensons office. Then Aarnoff argued the words in a press release from Bensons office are not the same as the secretary herself offering such encouragement. A press release is not a factual version of the action an officer takes, he said. Board members disagreed. They found the language to be both factual and clear, and voted 4-0 in favor of allowing the petition. Related: 2.1 million voters have requested absentee ballots, says Michigan Secretary of State Baase previously told MLive he didnt intend to further pursue recalling the attorney general after his last petition was denied by the board for a lack of clarity in its language. He said hed instead keep laser focus on the effort to recall Gov. Whitmer. His first attempt to recall Nessel was in response to the attorney general stating in a May 4 letter that the executive orders restricting non-essential businesses from staying open during the public health crisis were valid and enforceable. On Thursday, his petition came with a new reason -- "For announcing plans on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, to ramp enforcement of Covid-19 related restrictions at long-term care facilities. Board members said the petition as written was too confusing because it wasnt clear who was responsible for enforcement and which restrictions were being referenced. They voted against the language, 4-0. Baase is an entrepreneur who paints and maintains water towers. In February, he was paroled from prison, where he was serving two years and six months to 20 years for a 2014 conviction of making a false report or threat of terrorism. He previously told MLive he was intoxicated when he sent a series of threatening Facebook messages related to a custody case and said he has since learned to use the proper legal protocols to get things done. Throughout the first seven months of the coronavirus pandemic, Michigans health officials have reported 118,615 known cases and 6,692 known deaths associated with COVID-19. 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: More bottle return machines will reopen soon in Michigan Michigan House approves bills establishing COVID-19 lawsuit standards Coronavirus case levels remain at an elevated plateau, says Michigan epidemiologist Petitioners say it has 500K signatures collected to strip Whitmer of emergency powers RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Yemens embattled and exiled president on Thursday urged his governments rival, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, to stop impeding the flow of urgently needed humanitarian aid following a warning from the U.N. humanitarian chief last week that the spectre of famine has returned to the conflict-torn country. President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadis plea came in a prerecorded speech to the U.N. General Assemblys ministerial meeting being held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It aired more than a week after Human Rights Watch warned that all sides in Yemens conflict were interfering with the arrival of food, health care supplies, water and sanitation support. U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock told the U.N. Security Council last week that famine in Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country, was averted two years ago because donors swiftly met 90% of the U.N.s funding requirements. But the U.N.s latest figures show that the current $3.4 billion appeal is less than 38 per cent funded, including new funding from Saudi Arabia of more than $200 million. Lowcock had singled out Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait on Sept. 15 for giving nothing to the appeal, leaving 9 million Yemenis to cope with deepening cuts to aid programs including food, water and health care. He said aid agencies continue to face challenges, including insecurity and bureaucratic impediments, in delivering food, medicine and other essential items in southern Yemen, but the challenges are less severe than in the Houthi-controlled north, where authorities have closed the airport in the capital, Sanaa, to U.N. and humanitarian flights. The Houthis said this was due to fuel shortages, Lowcock said, but that does not justify closing the airport, which is critical for delivering aid. In his speech, the Yemeni president also asked the Houthis to allow a U.N. team immediate access to an abandoned oil tanker that risks causing massive environmental damage to the Red Sea. Lowcock said last week that a new U.N. proposal to assess and carry out initial repairs on the Safer oil tanker was being discussed with the Houthis. We hope the new proposal will be quickly approved so the work can start, he said. Hadi spoke from Saudi Arabia, where he has been living during the more than five-year war that has ravaged Yemen, on the western tip of the Arabian Peninsula. He represents the internationally recognized government of Yemen that was pushed out of Sanaa in late 2014 by the Houthis. A Saudi-led coalition backing Hadi has been at war in Yemen ever since, producing a humanitarian disaster. Millions have been displaced, pushed into poverty and live on the brink of famine. We are trying to save our country and establish a just and lasting peace, Hadi said, blaming Iran for meddling in his nation. The objective is to stop the bloodletting in Yemen, he said. Human Rights Watch said in its report that international donors slashed their funding in June, partly because of the systemic interference in relief operations by the Houthis, Hadis government and southern separatists. More than 17,500 civilians have been killed and injured since 2015, and a quarter of all civilians killed in air raids are women and children, according to the Yemen Data Project. Thousands of the countrys civilian deaths are blamed on Saudi coalition airstrikes, which are backed by the United States. Last year, President Donald Trump vetoed a resolution passed by Congress to end U.S. military assistance in Saudi Arabias war in Yemen. Multiple attempts by the U.N. to broker a peace deal have failed to end the conflict. Also, separatists in the south, backed by the United Arab Emirates, have long demanded succession from Houthi strongholds in the north. Read more about: What moves you? Shaped by a combination of virus-based confinement, radical shifts in travel patterns, leaps in innovations, and the profound awareness of the impact the sector has on climate change, this question has never been more relevant. Fortunately, innovative manufacturers, both heritage and startups, are rising to the challenge and attempting to answer the question in novel ways, using lightweight materials and new propulsion systems, as well as a rethinking of the whole notion of mobility. We pored over the offerings across existing and impending categories and culled this list of the coolest, most interesting, most inventive, and sometimes most fantastical iterations of transport. Our personal jetpacks arent here yet, and may never be, but major change is creeping in and will continue to shape individual and group travel in the decade to come. MOTORCYCLES Photo: Courtesy of Ducati/Mirza Hasanefendic Ducati V4 Superleggera: Ducati is the Lamborghini of motorcycles. Quite literally. The Italian supercar brand owns the Italian supercycle brand. This $100,000 bike is its pinnacle product, with more power than a VW GTI contained in a lightweight carbon fiber package thats nearly one tenth the weight. Only 500 will be available worldwide. Photo: Courtesy of the Indian Motorcycle Indian FTR 1200S: Americas first motorcycle company was founded in 1901, and after some tumultuous times, and varied ownerships, it roared back onto the market this century under the aegis of power-sports manufacturer Polaris. This handsome, retro-inspired $15,499 bike is sporty and compact, with a masterful stance that yields nimble handling. Photo: Courtesy of Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson LiveWire: Harley-Davidson motorcycles are known as much for their grand cruiser size as they are for their nearly patented potato-potato-potato exhaust note. This battery-powered $29,700 bike undoes both of these familiar tropes, with sleek chrome-free styling, and silent electrically propelled operation for its 146-mile range. Photo: Courtesy of Damon Damon HyperSport: Vancouver-based Damon Motorcycles won a Best in Innovation award at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show, with this battery-powered $24,995 sport bike. Available with 200 miles of range, two power-adjustable seating positions, and front- and rear-camera-enabled driver safety systems, it presages our techy electric future. Story continues AVIATION Photo: Courtesy of Zunum Zunum Hybrid: Backed by Boeing and JetBlue, this startup will build hybrid gasoline-electric planes that can be adapted to full battery power as science and storage capacities increase. With just 27 seats, and limited range, theyll take advantage of smaller, local airports for flights of under 700 miles, offering decreased emissions and total travel time. Photo: Courtesy of ICON Icon A5: This lightweight $395,000 plane trades on uniqueness. The propeller is behind the cockpit, providing a panoramic view. The wings fold so you can tow or store it easily. It runs on premium car gas, so you can fuel up anywhere. And it can take off and land on water, providing endless runway options. You can even drive it on a lake, like a boat. Photo: Courtesy of Beta Beta Technologies Alia: The future of aviation is Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL). Essentially giant drones, these battery-powered, multi-rotor craft will be able to depart from and touch down nearly anywhere, ferrying cargo and passengers up to 250 miles. Beta had one of two VTOLs that made the cut for a recent Air Forceendorsed test program. 184857129 Photo: Courtesy of Aerion Aerion AS2: Time is money for business travelers, so cutting two hours from a New YorkLondon flight is enough to justify the $120 million cost of this 10-passenger supersonic jet, which flies at 1.4 times the speed of sound. The interior is next level, and it will run on biofuels, and will be built in a carbon-neutral Florida factory, for green cred. AUTOMOTIVE 2021 Bronco Interior Photo: Courtesy of Bronco Ford Bronco: After a 25-year hiatus, Fords iconic SUV returns in 2021. Built, like the original, to compete with Jeeps Wrangler, this retro-inspired off-roader comes in two- and four-door models, each with relevant go-anywhere goodies, as well as a body that allows removal of the roof and doors. Starting under $30,000, we think its a surefire hit. Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse, V223, 2020 Photo: Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz S Class: The S has been the standard bearer in the full-size luxury sedan segment for decades, and this all-new, 10th generation model continues the tradition with new levels of interior and exterior design refinement, cosseting appointments, up-to-the-minute tech advancements, and a killer stereo. Expect a $100,000 starting price in 2021. Photo: Courtesy of Ferrari Ferrari Roma: The mid-20th-century La Dolce Vita momentwhen Italian design and film conquered the worldis reimagined for our early 21st century with this manifestly gorgeous $225,000 2+2 grand tourer. Powered by a 611 hp turbocharged V8, it will rip from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds on its way to a 199 mph top speed, and look good doing it. Photo: Courtesy of Lucid Lucid Air: The buzzworthy electric car startup takes on Teslas dominant Model S with this handsome luxury sedan. Featuring more power (1,080 hp), more range (517 miles), more passenger and cargo space, more free charging (three years), and superior interior materials than Elons sedan, the $139,000 Air Grand Touring almost becomes a bargain. OTHER Photo: Courtesy of Bowlus Bowlus Road Chief: Hawley Bowlus built the worlds first Streamline Moderne riveted aluminum trailers back in the mid-thirtiespre-Airstream. This revival of his name and designs results in a $225,000, battery-powered mobile dream lined in high-quality fabric, birch plywood, polished metal, and skylightslike a Swedish summer house on wheels. Photo: Courtesy of Triton Triton Subs: Triton is a pioneer in the category of personal submersiblesprivate submarines for yachts, film crews, or researchers. Subs seat from two to seven people and can dive from 300 to 11,000 meters underwater. The prices for their 10 models run from seven to eight figures. Deep-pocketed clients can custom-design their own specialty sub. Photo: Courtesy of SilentYacht SilentYacht Silent 80: This $6.5 million ship removes the environmental degradation endemic in yachting with a solar-charged, battery-powered experience. This radical power train also eliminates the noise, fumes, waste, and maintenance of petrol-powered vessels, though it has an onboard gas generator to charge the batteries on cloudy days. Photo: Courtesy of InMotion InMotion V11 Electric Unicycle: Electric unicycles are odd. Self-balancing one-wheel vehicles meant for short commutes to work, through campus, or to public transit hubs, they reek of hubris and broken bones. But this $1,999 model has a built-in shock absorber, brake lights, and kickstand, and can go 75 miles on a charge at speeds of up to 31 mph. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest The incident is said to have took place at a TK Maxx store in Crewe. (Reach) Police have appealed for information after a woman claimed a group of four people attempted to snatch her baby sister from a pram during a shopping trip. The woman was inside TK Maxx in Crewe when a group of four people three women and one man apparently started following her and her siblings around the store. At one point one of them allegedly lunged for the one-year-old before they left the scene. A photo was later shared on social media of the alleged suspects with a plea for parents to take care in Crewe as the woman explained how they tried to chore slang for steal her sister. Cheshire Police have appealed for any information of the alleged incident. (Getty) Another woman then came forward to say the same group had left her feeling uneasy after they followed her around Aldi and stared at her newborn baby. The second victim shared details of her ordeal which happened on the same day. She wrote: "I was in Aldi earlier with my 17-week-old baby and they were acting so weirdly, leaning into his pram staring at him and watching my every move. Read more: Driver texting at the wheel loses arm in shocking crash that flipped vehicle "They were following me around the store and I left in the end because of them. "I honestly think if he didnt have the rain cover over him for COVID reasons, they would have fully reached in and tried to take him too. A spokesperson for Cheshire Police told Yahoo News UK: Officers are aware of a post circulating on social media regarding an alleged incident in the Crewe area. The incident has not been reported to us and we would encourage anyone with any information to report this to Cheshire Police via 101. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo News UK Aligarh (UP): Aligarh Muslim University students have demanded a reinvestigation into the December 15 campus violence during an anti-CAA protest and a review of the cases filed against some of them in a week after that, saying they were booked on "flippant grounds". Violent protests had broken out against the Citizenship Amendment Act on the campus in which over 70 people, including students, AMU security staff and police personnel were injured. The university had to announce an extended winter break following the clashes. The clashes started after agitation by Jamia Millia Islamia students in Delhi against the amended citizenship law turned violent and police used batons and tear gas to disperse them. A number of AMU students were charged with rioting and causing damage to public property. On Wednesday, a group of student leaders, accompanied by university officials, met the Additional Director General of Police Ajay Anand in Agra to demand a review of the cases. Live TV The student leaders said in a statement a number of "innocent students" were booked on "flippant grounds" like their two-wheelers were parked inside the campus on the night of the violence. They said in a memorandum to the ADG that almost all the students booked "have no criminal record" and pursuing cases on the basis of "wild charges" would damage their careers. "We demand reinvestigation of the incident that took place on December 15 in which a large number of students were injured and some students are facing false allegations. Charges should be framed after reinvestigation," the memorandum said. A spokesman of the student leaders said they had fully cooperated with the authorities in restoring normalcy and reopening the university in February after they were "given an assurance by the authorities that all false cases would be withdrawn and action would be taken against those policemen who had indulged in violence inside hostels leading to serious injuries to at least half a dozen students". He said the ADG "assured the students" that he would visit Aligarh next week, hold a meeting with AMU authorities and students and take steps to address their concerns. When contacted AMU spokesman Omar Peerzada confirmed that some top university officials led by Registrar Abdul Hamid accompanied the delegation and met the ADG. He said the discussions were "fruitful". News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. A n asteroid "the size of a small school bus" is set to hurtle past Earth on Thursday, Nasa has said. The space rock, called 2020 SW, will fly past at a distance of 13,000 miles away closer than the Moon and the television and weather satellites in our planet's orbit. It is thought to be between five and ten metres wide. Scientists in a Nasa-funded facility in Arizona only discovered the asteroid last Friday, but have ruled out a collision with the Earth's surface. File photo of an asteroid near Earth / Dreamstime The space agency said in a statement: "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." The asteroid will not be visible to the naked eye as it passes us by, but people with 12-inch telescopes may be able to catch a glimpse. After 2020 SW passes the Earth on Thursday, it will continue on a trajectory around the Sun, Nasa said. The asteroid will only pass by the Earth again in 2041, when it will be much further away. There are thought to be more than 100 million small asteroids / PA Paul Chodas, a director at NASA's Jet Propulsions Laboratory, said: "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. "In fact, asteroids of this size impact our atmosphere at an average rate of about once every year or two." There are thought to be more than 100 million small asteroids like 2020 SW, but because of their size scientists find them hard to spot until they are relatively close. An asteroid flew by Earth at the shortest distance ever recorded on August 20 this year but Nasa admitted they did not see it until it had already gone past. WASHINGTON - FBI Director Christopher Wray told senators Thursday that the United States has not experienced large-scale voter fraud by mail or other means, and said it would be a "major challenge" for a foreign country to attempt such a thing, despite repeated claims made by President Donald Trump in the run-up to November's election. "Americans must have confidence in our voting system and our election infrastructure," Wray told the Senate Homeland Security Committee. "We are not going to tolerate foreign interference in our elections." Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., pressed Wray about claims made by Trump and his supporters that foreign interests could interfere with the election by sending in bogus mail-in ballots. Wray responded by echoing the past assurances from U.S. intelligence officials that they've seen no sign of such activity so far in this election cycle. "We have not seen historically any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it's by mail or otherwise" Wray said, though he added fraud has been detected "at the local level from time to time." The FBI director, seemingly aware that his comments about election interference last week angered the president, said he was "in no way minimizing" any threat to ballots. Changing the outcome of a federal election "would be a major challenge for an adversary," he said, adding that the FBI "would investigate seriously" if it saw indications of such an effort. Hours after Wray's testimony, federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania issued a statement that they had found nine discarded military mail-in ballots as part of an investigation into a small number of such votes. Seven of the nine ballots were marked for Trump, and the other two remained sealed, so the markings on those ballots were unknown, Justice Department officials said after initially declaring that all nine ballots had been cast for the president. The president's campaign quickly seized on the statement, tweeting that "Democrats are trying to steal the election." Trump has argued that mail-in voting is highly suspect, saying ballots requested by individual voters are secure but that ballot applications sent out based on voter rolls are not. On Thursday he urged people in Florida, an important battleground state, to "make sure to request" a mail-in ballot and submit it. Thursday's hearing about threats to the country ranged over topics from the upcoming election, including civil unrest over police misconduct and the hacking of U.S. companies. Republican senators asked Wray what more could be done to stem the violent flare-ups at some protests that have occurred throughout the country since the spring. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., the committee chairman and a staunch ally of the president, said "the rioting, the anarchy" is the "current greatest threat to our democracy." Ken Cuccinelli, the Department of Homeland Security's acting No. 2 official as head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, also testified at the hearing, and accused Democrats of inciting rioting. "So much of the political leadership in the country has encouraged this violence," Cuccinelli said, singling out House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat. "We see this rife across large swaths of our political arena." Wray, who Trump criticized last week for not being tougher in his comments about antifa activists, tried again to stake out the FBI's position on the anti-fascist collective. "Let me try to be as clear as I can about that: antifa is a real thing, it is not a fiction. We have seen organized tactical activity at the local regional level," Wray said. The FBI is finding "a lot of the activity is organized at what I would call more of a tactical level than a strategic level, and organized more locally," he said, adding "that in no way, in no way, diminishes how serious and dangerous it is. We don't view how nationally organized something is as a proxy for how dangerous it is." But he cautioned that some of the people who may be involved in violence have "a mishmash" or "salad bar" of ideologies, and as a result many of them don't have easily defined motives beyond an attraction to violence. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., argued that the Black Lives Matter movement is supporting those creating havoc at protests, and suggested that violent individuals may be flying around the country to do so. "We need to find out who's financing them," said Paul, who along with his wife was pursued by angry protesters weeks ago in Washington and had to be protected by District of Columbia police. "They're saying their goal is to terrorize public officials, their goal is terror." Wray, who testified last week at a similar hearing before a House committee, indicated then that racially motivated extremism composes the largest share of the FBI's domestic terrorism cases, and that white supremacist ideology appears to drive most of those cases. The FBI director has tried with limited success to keep the bureau out of the intensifying partisan fights as the election nears. At last week's hearing, he told lawmakers that Russia hopes to "denigrate" Trump's opponent, former vice president Joe Biden, through social media. The president expressed displeasure with the director's answers, saying they were not only soft on antifa, but that Wray neglected to mention China would like to see Biden elected. Asked whether he would consider removing Wray over his testimony, the president responded, "We're looking at a lot of different things." "I did not like his answers," Trump said last week. "I'm not sure he liked them either. I'm sure he probably would agree with me." Wray again warned Americans to be on guard against disinformation aimed at manipulating their opinions leading up to Election Day, and to use common sense and good judgment when evaluating what they see online. "I would encourage people to be critical thinkers, and to get their news from a variety of sources and make up their own mind and be a skeptical, discerning electorate - which is what I think is the best defense against malign foreign influence," Wray said. QUEENSBURY A person who was in Queensbury High School earlier this week has tested positive for COVID-19, Warren County officials said Thursday. The exact days and times the person was in school were not disclosed, but district officials said the person was not there Wednesday and described their case as asymptomatic. State and local health authorities additionally determined that any risk of transmission would have been low, the district said, since the person followed safety protocols at all times in accordance with the districts safety plan. At this time, the district remains open for in-person instruction, Superintendent Kyle Gannon wrote in a letter to families Wednesday. The district was notified of the case Wednesday, he said. Only one person was ordered to quarantine as a result of the case, he said. County Health Services announced the case Thursday, and said an investigation was conducted by their staff, as well as school district administration and the state Department of Health. A joint determination was made not to quarantine students who were in the presence of the infected person based on precautions taken within the school by students and staff, the county said. The source of the persons infection remains under investigation. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The district previously had two members of its elementary school test positive for coronavirus. Those cases, confirmed Sept. 10, were members of the same household and risk to others would have been similarly low due to safety precautions that were taken, officials said. As is being seen around the country, the return to school has been accompanied by a spike in COVID-19 cases locally, the county warned in a COVID-19 update issued Thursday. Until Wednesday, Warren County has not had 20 or more active COVID-19 infections among residents since May 28-29. The county was monitoring 22 active cases of coronavirus Thursday, one of whom was in the hospital. The county was monitoring just six cases at the start of the month. County Health Services Director Ginelle Jones urged anyone who feels any symptom of illness to stay home until they consult with a medical provider about a COVID-19 test. Lukashenko's "inauguration" does not mean his recognition as the President of Belarus, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated. "Ukraine has never interfered in the internal affairs of Belarus in any way and will always support the Belarusian people. Given the course of the election campaign in Belarus and subsequent events, today's inauguration of Lukashenko does not mean his recognition as a legitimate president of Belarus," Kuleba posted on Twitter. On September 23, pro-government Belarusian media reported that Alexander Lukashenko had taken office as President of Belarus. As reported, protests are going on in Belarus against the rigging of the August 9 presidential election. According to official data, Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994, won 80.1% of the vote, while opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya garnered 10.1%. After that, Tikhanovskaya was forced to leave for Vilnius. Belarusian security forces continue to use violence against demonstrators and detain protesters. According to the opposition, more than 10,000 people have been detained and several people have died since the beginning of the demonstrations. The European Union has not recognized the results of the presidential election in Belarus and has decided to impose personal targeted sanctions on Belarusian officials involved in violence and electoral fraud. ol Credit - Showtime The Comey Rule is not supposed to be funny. The real events it dramatizes, which span James Comeys fraught tenure as FBI Director, are certainly no joke. And yet, at times, the two-part Showtime series had me laughing so uncontrollably I had to press pause. In one such scene, set during the run-up to the 2016 Presidential election, two Russian operatives rendezvous at the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall to discuss their social-media propaganda campaign. Today I beta-tested an article on Twitter claiming Hillary had AIDS, Victor Podobnyy tells Igor Sporyshev. 300,000 likes. 300,000! On Facebook alone we could reach 100 mil He pauses to let a cute American family pass, their two daughters apparently giddy from a day of patriotic tourism. We could reach 100 million voters, maybe more. Its like listening to Boris Badenov read aloud from a Wikipedia entry on Russian election meddling. Like all the characters in the docudrama, an adaptation of Comeys book A Higher Loyalty that will air on Sept. 27 and 28, Podobnyy and Sporyshev are real people. But you wouldnt know it from the way the script caricatures them. This isnt just a problem for Comeys cartoon villains; every character speaks in the voice of the Mueller report and embodies exactly one personality trait in this morality play starring everyman Jim Comey (played by a muted Jeff Daniels). Sally Yates (a lively but underutilized Holly Hunter) stands for integrity. Rod Rosenstein (Scoot McNairy from Halt and Catch Fire) is a cautionary tale of professional jealousy. In trying to demystify complex eventsevents that influenced Donald Trumps election and impeachmentwriter Billy Ray (Richard Jewell) errs toward oversimplification. The good news is, the miniseries isnt even TVs best effort this week to explain what happened four years ago in advance of Election Day 2020. Story continues In 'Agents of Chaos,' the view from Moscow HBO Airing on two consecutive nights beginning Sept. 23, HBOs Agents of Chaos resists the temptation to turn American politics, surreal as they can be, into mustache-twirling melodrama. The series from documentary institution Alex Gibney (Going Clear, The Inventor) dissects the much-debated but still poorly understood topic of Russian election meddling in all its intricacyand when the filmmaker hits a wall with easily available information, he investigates. Crucially, he doesnt hide his confusion. Narration has gone a bit out of style for documentaries; blame Michael Moore. But Gibney (who shares directing credits on the second episode with Javier Alberto Botero) uses it to great effect, talking viewers through his own search for clarity and making his process transparent enough to preempt some of the accusations of media bias that are inevitable in the current political climate. Chaos navigates through half a decade of sound and fury, avoiding the hysterical, counterproductive monologues of cable news to calmly pick apart frequently conflated aspects of the story that turn out to be fairly distinct. It makes sure we understand, for instance, that theres a difference between the state-sponsored Russian hackers operating under the auspices of military intelligence and the Russian trolls hired to churn out fake news, partisan memes and other propaganda for the Internet Research Agency (IRA), which is technically a private firm. In a lively yet methodical exploration of the latter organization, Gibney digs into the agencys origins during the Ukraine conflict of 2013; its funder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, an oligarch and crony of Vladimir Putin; the multi-step process it arrived at to give its fabrications the appearance of legitimacy; and the unfortunate discovery that social media is so optimized to reinforce confirmation bias that the agency could get away with promoting contradictory falsehoods to users on opposite sides of a political issue. Gibney gets access to some of the biggest names surrounding the Russia story in the U.S., from Mueller investigation lead prosecutor Andrew Weissmann and former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe to Celeste Wallander, the former Senior Director for Russia/Eurasia on the National Security Council, who goes so far as to assert her belief that Putin personally ordered the Hillary Clinton hack. He gets key Trump associates to go on the recordnot just guys like Carter Page, who may never learn to stop talking to reporters despite how poorly he comes off every time, but also Felix Sater, the Russian-born mobster turned FBI informant who has been cited as the link between the Trump Organization and organized crime. When it comes to real estate in Russia, Sater explains, If you try to work legitimately, you will fail. Gibney also makes a point of including Russia-based voices and election-interference skeptics. (Russian State News Agency Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan fits both descriptions.) In the IRA segment, we meet the first journalist to report on the so-called troll factory and a Russian blogger who advised its staff, among others. 'Agents of Chaos' quotes an email from Felix Sater HBO Other deep dives include WikiLeaks, the Republican-primary origins of the sensational Steele dossier and an account of how false equivalency drove the news medias obsessive coverage of the Clinton emails. Gibney gets granular on the meaning of words that are often repeated but rarely defined to anyones satisfaction, like collusion and hacking (which seems simple enough until youre faced with all the degrees of difference between merely breaching the security of a voting system and full-on tampering with votes). He even probes why Page, Paul Manafort and so many other seemingly dim bulbs always seem to wind up at the center of sophisticated espionage plots (in short, because foreign operatives see them coming an ocean away). Instead of leaving the viewer to put together the pieces of so many interlocking, still-developing stories, like so many front-page newspaper articles and episodes of The Rachel Maddow Show, Chaos takes advantage of its role as a less-rushed, second draft of history by adding synthesis. In a final segment, Outrage Machines, Gibney raises the vital question of why such a supposedly strong democracy turned out to be so vulnerable to amateur propagandists in the first place. If the axis of Russian intelligence, trolls and WikiLeaks created a three-ring circus, he suggests, then a politically polarized U.S. provided the tent. You can read Russias intervention in our elections in 2016 as them against us, On Tyranny author Timothy Snyder tells Gibney. But you can also look at Russia and say, Aha, thats where we might be going. When we look at Russias intervention, maybe it worked because were a little bit more like them than we think we are. In order to grasp the magnitude of our Russia problem, we must understand that its bigger than any one personeven when that person is the President of the United States. That can be difficult when American politics is so preoccupied with the participants as characters and partisans. Comey doubles down on that unfortunate tendency, inserting a bitter Rosenstein as the storys unnecessary narrator and slavering over distracting tabloid items that Chaos barely touches on, like the Steele dossiers salacious but unsubstantiated pee tape claims. Ray, the screenwriter, doesnt seem interested in reaching viewers who dont already hate the Trump Administration. He reduces the wonderful Irish actor Brendan Gleeson to delivering a one-note, sketch-comedy impression of Donald Trump as a toddler id, always on the verge of a tantrum. (A heavy-hearted Barack Obama is, meanwhile, portrayed by Kingsley Ben-Adira charming actor whos approximately 20 years younger than Obama actually was in 2016.) Comeys infamous one-on-one dinner with the President might as well be an endless bad date. Jeff Daniels and Brendan Gleeson in 'The Comey Rule' Showtime As a result, the Showtime series feels like an extended recap of what happened on the last episode of America Fights to Maintain Its Sovereignty, designed to rev up Democrats for November rather than to deepen any viewers understanding of the Trump-Russia connection. (You could argue that, as a drama, Comeys chief purpose is to entertain rather than inform. But by that metric, its dull think-piece monologues, expository dialogue and long scenes of people in suits arguing in boardrooms are even less successful.) Although, in addition to A Higher Loyalty, this telling apparently draws on interviews with insiders who are not the former FBI Director, a climactic scene in which the freshly fired leader delivers a farewell speech worthy of Dead Poets Society drives home its de facto message: hey, Jim Comey turned out to be a pretty stand-up guy after all! If The Comey Rule reinforces existing cults of personality and adds fuel to the partisan fire, then Agents of Chaos dispels enough smoke to give viewers a clearer picture than most will have seen before of what our country is facing. It isnt always artful. The reenactments can be silly. But as a work of investigative and explanatory journalism built to penetrate the same left-vs.-right media bubbles it laments, Gibneys documentary is a revelation. As we await an election that will, in large part, be a referendum on 2016, the question that remains is whether it has arrived in time to make a difference. Dassault Aviation is the manufacturer of Rafale jets and MBDA provided missiles Meteor, MICA and SCALP for the fighter jet CAG report on management of defence offsets said on Wednesday that French company Dassault Aviation and European missile maker MBDA has not transferred technology to DRDO which they had initially proposed in the 59,000 crore deal for 36 Rafale jets. Dassault Aviation is the manufacturer of Rafale jets and MBDA provided missiles Meteor, MICA and SCALP for the fighter jet. CAG in its report submitted in Parliament said that 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. For instance 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 DRDO, said CAG report. It said that 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. India and France in 2016 had signed an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) which has a 50 per cent offset clause to be executed by the French partners. However a controversy arose when Dassault Aviation chose Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Defence as their offset partner which had no experience in the defence sector. In 2005, India adopted the offset policy for defence capital purchases. This meant that for all capital purchases above Rs 300 crore made through imports, the foreign vendor was required to invest at least 30 per cent of the value of the purchase, in India. This investment was to be made in the Indian defence and aerospace sector. Various avenues were available to the vendor to discharge these offset obligations. This included foreign direct investment, offering of free Transfer of Technology to Indian firms, and purchase of eligible products manufactured by Indian firms (exports) among others. For the discharge of these offsets the foreign vendor had to select an Indian firm as a partner (Indian Offsets Partner or IOPs). CAG report said that from 2005 till March 2018, 46 offset contracts had been signed with foreign vendors, valuing Rs 66427 crore. Under these contracts, by December 2018, Rs 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 Rs. 11,396 crore, which was only 59 per cent of the commitment, it said. 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. An Post stopped delivering letters to an address in Tullamore because of an attack on a postal worker by a dog. The local District Court heard that a German shepherd owned by Stephen Keegan, 50, at 22 Cloncollig, Tullamore left a postwoman terrified. Sergeant James O'Sullivan told Judge Catherine Staines that gardai received a report of an attack on October 11, 2019. The An Post employee was left terrified and as a result no post was delivered to the cul de sac where the incident occurred for several weeks. Sergeant O'Sullivan said Mr Keegan had since got rid of the dog. Donal Farrelly, solicitor for Mr Keegan, who entered a guilty plea, said another dog was coming in and bringing his client's dog out. The defendant had got the dog because he had five children but after the incident, he had given the animal away and he was being well looked after elsewhere. In relation to Mr Keegan's failure to appear in court on a previous occasion, Mr Farrelly said he missed that court date because he had not been receiving his post. Judge Staines asked if any compensation would be forthcoming from the accused and Mr Farrelly said his client was in very poor circumstances but could pay compensation if he was given time. Judge Staines then suggested that Mr Keegan write a letter of apology to the postal worker and hand it into court. Mr Farrelly said his client was prepared to do that and added that the postwoman was back delivering the post and the accused and herself were on good terms. Later, when the letter was written and handed in, Judge Staines said Mr Keegan had dealt with the matter appropriately, by getting rid of the dog and apologising. She imposed the probation act. AMURU Police in northern Uganda on Wednesday intercepted three South Sudanese nationals with a pistol destined for Uganda. The group, which also included a Ugandan, was intercepted on at Palabel along Gulu-Nimule high way. They were driving in a vehicle, Reg No UBG 877S Toyota wish white in colour moving towards Gulu. According to Aswa regional police spokesman Jimmy Patrick Okema, on searching their vehicle, they discovered pistol with 15 rounds of live ammunition. Upon interrogation the occupants couldnt give proper account of themselves and the pistol, they were arrested and detained at Atiak police station, Okema said. Those arrested are Lemi Chris aged 36 years a resident of Ndejje Kanyanya, Wakiso District, a driver, Kiir Angello 34 years, a South Sudane from Juba, Bol Ngor 29 years, a South Sudanese businessman from Juba, Safi Adam 33 years, a driver, a resident of Bweyale, Kiryandongo District. Suspects are in police custody on charges of being in possession of illegal firearm. The motor vehicle and pistol exhibited as inquiries continue, Okema said. Related Chennai: Blaming anti-national, anti-social and extremist elements for infiltrating the pro-jallikattu protests and the subsequent violence here, the Tamil Nadu government today said the evil forces that had attempted to divert the peaceful agitation would be identified and tried before law. Some even raised separate Tamil Nadu demands and there is photographic proof of some holding pictures of Osama Bin Laden with accompanying Boycott Republic Day slogans, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said, adding that many objectionable remarks were also made. Anti-national, anti-social and extremist elements had infiltrated the protests held by students, youth and public for the conduct of jallikattu. These persons diverted the peaceful movement, did not allow the protesters to disperse, attacked policemen and endangered public life and property by indulging in violence, he said. Panneerselvam said such persons had made the students unable to rejoice the legal steps taken for the conduct of jallikattu, for which they (the protesters) had made a contribution. Read | Tamil Nadu CM Panneerselvam blames anti-social elements for infiltrating pro-jallikattu protests However, despite provocations like being pelted with stones and attacked by mobs, the police maintained restraint, used minimum force and never resorted to firing or lathicharge, the chief minister said. I wish to point out that the police used minimum force and protected public life and property, he added. Panneerselvam gave a detailed statement in the Assembly, after Opposition Leader MK Stalin sought the chief ministers response to the lathicharge and how the protests turned violent. He said police had received information that some of the protesters wanted to prolong the stir till Republic Day, adding that they wanted to show black flags and create problems on January 26, besides creating disruptions. The chief minister, who said the jallikattu ban was implemented in 2011 during the days of the UPA, in which the DMK was a constituent, also recalled the sustained efforts of his predecessor, late J Jayalalithaa, and himself for the conduct of the bull-taming sport in the state. He also explained in detail the circumstances leading to the state government issuing an ordinance last week, following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which the latter promised the Centres support to the states legal endeavours on the issue. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. MIDDLETOWN Milk is one of the most requested items at food banks, but the least available. To help address this need, and support pantries feeding families across the state of Connecticut, the Connecticut Milk Promotion Board launched the Connecticut Dairy Farmer to Food Pantry Cooler Grant Program in coordination with New England Dairy, according to a press release. During this initiative, dairy farmers nominated food pantries who they suggested receive coolers to keep milk and dairy products cold and safe during distribution to individuals and families in need, according to the news release. The grant provided 21 food pantries across the state, including the Salvation Army one in Middletown, with refrigerated coolers and funds to initially stock the coolers with dairy products for their communities. Each cooler can hold 64 gallons of milk. The press release said that, in three months, COVID-19 drove unemployment rates higher than at any point during the two years of the Great Recession, according to PewResearch.org. In 2020, more than 54 million Americans may face hunger due to impacts of the coronavirus, an increase from 37 million pre-pandemic, according to Feeding America. The Connecticut Food Bank reported in June that in its six-county service area, the food insecurity rate had increased by 44 percent from 277,000 people to nearly 400,000 people. Salvation Army food pantries in Danbury and Meriden also each received one of the coolers. It is always great to have partners that are willing to fight the hunger alongside us, Capt. Jose Hernandez, of the Salvation Army in Middletown, said in a prepared statement. We are very grateful. Lisa Murkowski clarified (or perhaps changed) her position on the pending Supreme Court nomination yesterday by saying that she cant take a position on the nomination until she knows who the nominee is: If Democrats were counting on Lisa Murkowski to vote against President Trumps next nominee to the Supreme Court, they should think again. Sen. Murkowski said Tuesday she could not rule out that she would vote to confirm a Trump nominee if the Judiciary Committee approves one before the November election. 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 do not support this process moving forward, she said. Now, having said that, this process is moving forward with or without me. It may be that Murkowski is bowing to political pressure or simply to the inevitable, with a vote on Trumps nominee seemingly assured. In fact, there isnt any inconsistency between saying a) that she didnt think the nomination should proceed before the election, and she would vote against proceeding if able to do so, and b) at the same time, if the nomination does go forward prior to the election, she will vote for or against the nominee based on that individuals merits. But Murkowski had seemed to go beyond that last week, when she said, And so I would not vote to confirm a Supreme Court nominee. PAUL ADDS: Its possible that Sen. Murkowski wants to use whatever leverage she has to discourage President Trump from nominating someone who is almost certain to vote in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade. However, as things stand now, with Mitt Romney on board the confirmation express, Murkowski would seem to have little or no leverage. One possibility is that Murkowski will abstain from voting, rather than voting no. Abstaining would enable her to express her unhappiness with the process without voting against a well qualified nominee. If all else goes according to plan, this would limit the no tally to 48 (assuming Sen. Collins votes no). The yes vote should easily reach 49. Saudi Arabia's King Salman made a rare address to the UN 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 Islam's holiest sites and his assertion that Iran is responsible for much of the region's 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 UN headquarters in New York. And like his brother's speech 63 years prior, King Salman noted the sacred role of Islam in 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 organisations and extremist groups to pervert it, Salman said. He emphasised 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. has long been a close US 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 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 favour of Israel. The king made no mention of recent deals struck by neighbouring United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to formalise 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 localising 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, 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 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 markets. (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.) Since the YMCA of Greater Houston could not take tour groups across the South this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is sharing about the civil rights movement and equity through Virtual Freedom Tour 2020. In years past, the YMCA has led trips for students to sites like 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama where a bombing in September 1963 killed four Black children, and the Edmond Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where demonstrators were met in March 1965 by heavy opposition from police in what became known as Bloody Sunday. This year, the YMCA created three virtual Zoom workshops where attendees can reevaluate what they know about the civil rights movement, racism and equity. People of all ages are welcome. Tops in Katy ISD: Seven Lakes High School ranks top in Katy ISD Steve Ives, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston, traveled to Alabama on a youth freedom tour in summer 2019 and said the experience had a big effect on him. So we had this deep, historical and also impactful, influential, emotional experience together, and I walked away from that just incredibly inspired by what were doing for young people in the city of Houston, Ives said. He said revisiting that time in U.S. history was powerful for the tours adults that included Houston Texans players, the YMCA board chair and other adult volunteers. Prior to COVID-19, the YMCA had been planning for an adult freedom tour similar to the youth tours, but the YMCA adapted to produce the virtual events. During the first Zoom tour on Tuesday, Sept. 22, roughly 140 YMCA members, volunteers and staff members and community members visited places of civil rights importance in Houston like Freedmens Town, where freed slaves settled after the Civil War, and looked at how Jim Crow laws affected people in the area. It made me feel even better about where I have landed personally and professionally in a city with an extraordinary and remarkable history of doing things differently than other cities in a pretty amazing way, Ives said. Alzheimers care: World Alzheimers Day: Caregiving franchisee discusses dementia care He explained that the YMCA has a long history of promoting diversity, such as offering resources for people in Japanese internment camps during World War II or providing shelter to young men in cities during the Industrial Revolution, all along, having this belief and this mindset of inclusion, that the Y, you know, regardless of its roots, has always been committed to being open for all. To continue to serve and be relevant in increasingly diverse communities, Ives said all YMCAs must look at issues that are going on with refugees, immigrants and new Americans. He said internal efforts on understanding inclusion and external partnerships in the community make sense in Houston and make the organization more relevant. Theres just a bigger spotlight and I think, more opportunity for people to go deeper in their understanding and their appreciation of what it means to create space in our communities for all people to grow and thrive, Ives explained. Giving hope: National Recovery Month: The Salvation Army offers men recovery Virtual Freedom Tour 2020 is being sponsored by Reliant and the Houston Texans. The tour launches the opening of the Equity Innovation Center at the Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA. The new space will provide opportunities for community members to learn and connect around eliminating institutional racism. But Ives said the real focus is activities like the Virtual Freedom Tour that allow people to learn and talk with one another to gain better understanding and that shine light on people in the Houston area that are doing work to promote diversity and inclusion. I think its important for us to continue to learn from the past and historical experiences people have had, and the good hard work that folks have done to move the needle on equity, Ives explained. Born in the 1960s, he said the freedom tours have reminded him how the civil rights movement all took place during his lifetime and how much progress has been made, but how far it still has to go. He said in a busy, forward-moving world, people can forget to look back. I think remembering where we came from, theres going to be incredibly informative to what we create for our community and society for ourselves going forward, Ives said. The Wednesday, Sept. 24, tour leads attendees through Alabama to get into some good trouble, as John Lewis, the late U.S. representative and civil rights activist, once said. Long history: Creech Elementary a second home for Katy family with six children Starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, attendees will close out the tour with a discussion on unlearning systematic racism. To register, click here. For more information about the YMCA of Greater Houston, visit www.ymcahouston.org. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com The life story of the late Oliver Sacks, the neurologist and author who revived the medical case history with such bestsellers as "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" and "Awakenings" - the latter inspiring an Oscar-nominated film by the same name - is told in the moving documentary "Oliver Sacks: His Own Life." True to its title, the film uses Sacks himself to tell most of the tale, from his somewhat wild youth to his coming out as gay in 2015, mere months before his death. Standard-issue talking-head interviews are interspersed with voice-over by Sacks reading from his 2015 memoir "On the Move," shortly before his death. That title is also telling: Sacks was a restless intellect, passionately curious not just about the quirks of the mind - his brother Michael was schizophrenic - but about the power of storytelling. "His Own Life" is a compassionate, endlessly fascinating testament to that, as well as to the assertion, by one of Sacks's friends, that the man's placid acceptance of mortality offered a "master class in dying." Unrated. Available at afisilver.afi.com and virtualavalon.org. Contains strong language and discussion of sexuality and drug use. 116 minutes. - Michael O'Sullivan - - - It's taken five years for "We Are Many" to get to American audiences, but somehow the timing seems right. Amir Amirani's stirring documentary revisits the events of Feb. 15, 2003, when nearly 300 million people around the globe took to the streets to protest the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Beginning on Sept. 11, 2001, "We Are Many" reviews the spurious case that George W. Bush and British prime minister Tony Blair made for going to war, tracing a steadily building drumbeat created by official lies, a supine press and a cynical marketing campaign. When the global protests burst forth, it was a moment of power and clarity. Of course, it didn't make a difference, as observers as wide-ranging as retired Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, author John le Carre and actor Mark Rylance correctly note. But "We Are Many" argues persuasively that the public engagement of 2003 had a direct effect on the Arab Spring several years later. What's more, the lesson - that marches are good for the soul but that it takes sustained action and organization to effect real change - couldn't be more germane at a time when American citizens are grappling with a combination of impotent rage and hopeless despair. Unrated. Available at virtualavalon.org. Contains brief obscenity and disturbing wartime images. 110 minutes. - Ann Hornaday - - - ALSO STREAMING Lena Olin plays the wife of a famous painter with dementia (Bruce Dern) in "The Artist's Wife." As he prepares for his final show and his behavior deteriorates, his wife - once a promising painter herself - struggles with the question of staying on the sidelines and supporting her spouse or stepping into the spotlight herself. R. Available at afisilver.afi.com, virtualavalon.org and themiracletheatre.com. Contains strong language, some graphic nudity and brief sexuality. 95 minutes. - - - Whatever happened to Judd Nelson? You'll find the Brat Pack veteran playing a small role as a teacher in "Iceland Is Best," an English-language drama about an Icelandic teenager (Kristin Audur Sophusdottir) from a remote fishing village who dreams of moving to California to write poetry. Unrated. Available on various streaming platforms. 90 minutes. - - - Woody Harrelson narrates "Kiss the Ground," a documentary about regenerative agriculture, an alternative approach to farming that proponents say has the potential to balance the climate, replenish the water supply and feed the world. TV-G. Available on Netflix. 84 minutes. - - - Set in a dystopian future in which Earth's ozone layer has been so badly damaged that it is unsafe for most people to venture outdoors in daylight, the sci-fi thriller "LX 2048" stars James D'Arcy as a contrarian who continues to go to work in a physical office, refusing to take the state-mandated antidepressants prescribed for his fellow citizens' near-universal mood disorders. Anna Brewster, Delroy Lindo and Gina McKee also star. Unrated. Available on various streaming platforms. 103 minutes. - - - Inspired by real-life stories that Bangladeshi filmmaker Rubaiyat Hossain encountered as a women's rights activist, "Made in Bangladesh" tells the story of a clothing factory worker who tries to form a union after a co-worker dies in a fire. "There are times when the lessons feel like needless hand-holding for viewers," according to the New York Times. And yet, as the worker's attempt to unionize begins to look increasingly futile, the film acquires a "quiet power." Unrated. Available at afisilver.afi.com. In Bengali with subtitles. 95 minutes. - - - Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Keira Knightley and Jessie Buckley star in "Misbehaviour," which tells the true story of a group of women who plotted to disrupt the Miss World beauty pageant of 1970 - the year that Jennifer Hosten (played by Mbatha-Raw) became the first Black woman to win. Variety calls the comedy a "straightforward, spirited message movie" and "effervescent and eager to please, even when handling tricky intersectional politics of gender, race and class." Unrated. Available on various streaming platforms. 106 minutes. - - - The documentary "Myth of a Colorblind France" explores whether the country that has long been a haven for Black people fleeing racism in the United States really is the enlightened refuge it has seemed to be. (The title hints at the position of the filmmaker, Alan Govenar.) Unrated. Available at afisilver.afi.com and cinemaartstheatre.com. 86 minutes. - - - Laura Gabbert's food documentary "Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles" looks at a collaboration between the Metropolitan Museum of Art and chef Yotam Ottolenghi to tell of the rise and fall of Versailles through pastry. The film, according to the female-focused film website In Their Own League, shows a "different and more artistic side of the food world in a deeply personal and connective way. For everything that should come off as too artsy and pretentious, (Gabbert) keeps it engaging, personable, and adds a sense of heart that will be touching for any and all foodies." Unrated. Available on various streaming platforms. 75 minutes. - - - The documentary "Public Trust" looks at conflicts over three parcels of public land and water: Bears Ears National Monument in Utah; Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota; and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Outside calls the film a "call to action." Unrated. Available on YouTube. 98 minutes. - - - "Resisterhood" is a documentary examining the continuing repercussions of the 2016 U.S. presidential election from a women's perspective. Unrated. Available on Amazon Prime Video. 96 minutes. - - - Kenyan political activist Boniface "Softie" Mwangi runs for office in what Variety calls the "smart, attention-seizing" documentary "Softie." Unrated. Available at afisilver.afi.com. In English and Kiswahili/Kikuyu with subtitles. 96 minutes. A boy of 11 who was wrongly suspected of being a future terrorist after writing a letter to David Cameron and talking about beheadings in the TV show Game of Thrones has won a High Court battle against the Metropolitan Police to have his personal data deleted. The boy - known only as II - was reported to government-led anti-radicalistation scheme Prevent in 2015 after a tutor raised 'misinformed' concerns in that he was 'obsessed' with killing the prime minister. Prevent officers concluded 'there were no radicalisation/counter-terrorism concerns' and the tutor's fears 'appeared to be a misunderstanding' before closing the case in June 2016. But in April 2019, the Met decided to retain the boy's personal information on 10 separate databases, some of which can be accessed by Home Office officials and several local authorities as well as counter-terrorism officers, until at least 2022. Now a High Court judge has ruled there is 'no policing purpose' for keeping the boy's data on file. A court has ruled that the Metropolitain Police must delete the data of a boy, now 16, who was wrongly accused of terrorism offences in 2015 (pictured: Scotland Yard, the force's HQ) Prevent officers spoke to the boy's mother who said her son had recently written a letter he wanted to send to Mr Cameron which 'spoke of peace and unity throughout the world'. The boy - known only as II - was 11 when a tutor raised concerns in December 2015 that he was allegedly 'obsessed' with killing the then prime minister David Cameron (pictured above) She also said she 'did not let him watch Game Of Thrones so he wouldn't know anything about the violence in the show', and told police it was 'frightening and saddening to me that you are potentially viewing II as a possible terrorist in the future'. The boy - who is from east London and is now 16 - took legal action against the Met, claiming the retention of his personal data was a breach of his right to privacy and a breach of the Data Protection Act. In a witness statement, his mother said that II is 'a bright young man, with plans to apply to a top university in the UK and to train to become a medical doctor'. She added: 'He is afraid that at some point in the future the untrue data may affect any potential police record searches and could give rise to further monitoring of him, and jeopardise his future prospects.' The Met said the retention of II's personal data would have a 'minimal impact' on him, and there was 'no way' it would be shared with 'any educational institution or any prospective employer'. But II's lawyers pointed out there had been 'no guarantee that the data will not be disclosed to third parties'. Teenagers as young as 13 'are starting to talk about committing terror attacks' says Met chief Teenagers as young as 13 are starting to talk about committing terror attacks, the UK's head of counter-terrorism policing has warned. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu was telling MPs about the terror threat the country faces particularly describing a 'dramatic' rise in the number of right-wing cases. Speaking to the Commons Home Affairs Committee on Wednesday, he said: 'What I am seeing, particularly in the right-wing terrorism space and this is anecdotal so it is not academic but is an increase in lots of young people being attracted to this. 'We are seeing people as young as 13 starting to talk about committing terrorist attacks.' They have a mixed ideology and for 38 per cent of referrals to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme an ideology cannot be determined, he said, adding: 'They are just interested in violence.' He said social media has been a strong influence, particularly during the coronavirus lockdown when there was 'no other form of distraction or protective factor', like school, work or other friends and relatives being present. Advertisement In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Mrs Justice Steyn found that 'no policing purpose for continuing to hold the claimant's personal data has been demonstrated' and that its retention breached II's right to privacy and the Data Protection Act. The judge said the Met had 'underestimated the impact of the interference with the claimant's privacy rights entailed in retaining data about his alleged views and statements when he was 11 years old'. She added: 'Retention alone means that the data can be accessed by (Metropolitan Police Service) officers, counter-terrorism officers nationally, local authorities and Home Office colleagues, across 10 databases.' Mrs Justice Steyn also said there was 'no guarantee that the claimant's personal data will not be disclosed to third parties', which she said 'engenders fear in a 16-year-old boy that he may be tagged - wrongly - as a supporter of terrorism'. In a statement after the ruling, II's mother said: 'A dark cloud had loomed over my family for the past five years. 'My son had grossly misinformed allegations cast against him that could have had the potential to destroy his future. 'To constantly live, not knowing whether false information about your child, accessible by public bodies, would be shared, hampering his chance to live freely in a country you have always known to be home, is beyond heart-breaking. 'For us, this cloud passed, because we knew where and who to seek advice from. We were guided by a brilliant legal team - but what about those who don't know?' II's solicitor Bharine Kalsi, of Deighton Pierce Glynn, said: 'The court today has found that there was 'no policing purpose' for the retention of data concerning II - data which alludes to radicalisation, but which our client has always maintained is untrue. 'Today's judgment means this data will no longer cast a worrying shadow over II's bright future, particularly as there is no guarantee that it would not be shared with other organisations and institutions. 'It is now time for the authorities to look at their exercise of power under the Prevent strategy, which continues to unjustly target innocent individuals, in particular children from the Muslim community.' French farmer and winemaker Dominique Herque, left, and his farmer-novelist wife Shin Yi-hyun check grapevines in their vineyard in Chungju City, North Chungcheong Province, on Sep. 17. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul French farmer, his Korean wife use European-style organic farming to make pure, natural wines By Kang Hyun-kyung Chungju, North Chungcheong Province Last Thursday was another fulfilling yet busy day for French-born farmer and winemaker Dominique Herque and his Korean wife Shin Yi-hyun. In the hot, humid weather, the farmer couple began their day in their newly created vineyard in Chungju's rustic area of Suanbo-myeon, about a 30-minute drive from their home in the city. Nestling snugly at the foot of a hill, the vineyard is their nature lab. They have experimented with European-style organic farming called biodynamic agriculture to produce "100 percent, additive-free" natural wine. The grapes will be harvested from next year and used for their wine project. "By natural wine, I mean there's no sugar or other artificial additives in it," Shin says. "Just grape juice, without anything else, that's the only ingredient we use to make natural wine." The couple pays as much attention to cultivating the soil as they do to the grapes. Herque cuts the grass and weeds in the vineyard, which stretches over 6,611 square meters of land in the rural area surrounded by low mountains. Near him, Shin picks cucumber, zucchini and basil for cooking. Checking carefully the vineyard, Herque finds a long, slender earthworm. Grabbing it, he beams and says it's a good sign for their vineyard. "Having earthworms means there's a lot of activity going on underneath the soil," he says through Shin, who translated his French into Korean. The couple purchased the vineyard from a local farmer last year, three years after they settled in Chungju in October 2016 to run a winery using locally produced fruit. Before Chungju, they lived in Paris with their child for over a decade. After touring several candidate cities in Korea in search of a location for their winery, they were attracted to Chungju because it is home to premium apple and has good soil and weather conditions for farming grapes. Being a farmer creating pure, natural wine with locally produced fruit has long been a dream for Herque. He quit his job as a computer programmer nearly two decades after he entered the sector and went to a Paris-based agriculture college to learn wine-making when he was 45 years old. Since 2016, after settling in Chungju, the couple has made apple cider with fruit they harvested from a rented orchard about the same size of their vineyard at a brewery in Pottery Village, in the city's northern area of Umjeong-myeon. They also bought organic grapes from a friend who has a vineyard in Gimcheon City and made sparkling rose wine and white wine. Herque checks apple cider at his brewery in Chungju City. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul While brewing apple cider and making wine for sale online, the couple realized they needed their own vineyard to truly live up to their commitment to produce pure, natural wine. "The landlord of the apple orchard we rented is a farmer," says Shin. "Just like other local farmers here, he used traditional agricultural methods for a long time to grow apples. So the soil and other conditions were not good enough for us to produce the apples that we wanted. So we concluded we needed our own farm to cultivate the soil and fruit as we wish." After buying the vineyard in Suanbo-myeon, Herque and Shin planted five grape varieties, including Campbell Early, Riesling and MBA. Each vine is held tight by a wooden guard marked with a tiny piece of fabric tied around the top. The colored fabric indicates which grape variety is planted there. Creating the vineyard required a lot of work. "Dominique was born to be a farmer," Shin says. "The other day, I asked if he regretted his decision to come to Korea and settle down in Chungju to start a winery. I asked this because I was a bit tired of operating the winery here because the work is endless. "A winery requires farmers to work all day long, from early morning till evening, but the financial compensation rarely reflects our long hours of work. My husband said he had no regrets and he even feels happy when he prunes grapevines during the winter." Shin, also a novelist, met her husband in Paris in the late 1990s. After releasing her first novel, she headed to Paris for a language course. The former French major said honing her language skills was just an excuse, noting she just wanted to explore France for a year or so. She then met Herque at a mutual friend's housewarming party. After marrying, they had a child and remained in Paris until they returned to South Korea to start the winery business. "Dominque wanted to operate a winery in France," Shin says. "But I was tired of living in Europe Thankfully, he agreed to move to South Korea. He just wanted to be a farmer and the location of his farm was a secondary issue for him." The biodynamic farming the couple adopted for their vineyard keeps them busy. The organic farming technique was introduced by German philosopher Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) in 1924. Under the scheme, farmers choose to plant, cultivate or harvest various crops based on the phases of the moon and the zodiacal constellations the moon is passing through. "We follow the sowing and planting calendar that is updated every year," Shin says. "The idea behind biodynamic agriculture is that we grow grapes while cultivating the soil. Unlike other local farmers who are mostly interested in harvesting better and more fruit, our agriculture method allows us to work on soil fertility too, as the fruit and soil are interrelated." Their vineyard reminds Shin of Alsace, a rustic French region in the French-German border area well-known for white wine. Herque was born and raised in the area and worked briefly as a winemaker there after he quit his job as a computer programmer. "Suanbo-myeon, which houses our vineyard, is similar to Alsace," Shin says. "Alsace is a region surrounded by the Vosges Mountains and like in this area, the vineyards are located on the slopes of a range of low mountains and exposed to the sun. Also like here, in Alsace there is a small village at the base of the mountain. The only striking difference between the two places is that Alsace has a lot more vineyards." Herque poses with grape he harvested from his vineyard on Sep. 17. He and his wife will make natural wine with grapes they will harvest from their vineyard next year. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul In South Korea, wineries are an emerging agribusiness for young farmers. The culture of wine production in Korea has a relatively short history. But in the past five decades there has been a big shift in the industry from the dominance of corporate-made wine to wines produced by small farmers. In South Korea, wine production began in the 1970s as a state-sponsored project directed by then-President Park Chung-hee. Inspired by the Riesling wine he tasted during a state visit to Germany, Park proposed homegrown wine production as part of a national strategy to increase farmers' income by making the most of abandoned land. Farmers were encouraged to grow crops on fertile land and create vineyards in territories that were not suitable for crops. Back then, the homegrown fermented alcoholic beverage makgeolli, also known as drunken rice which was made using rice, was popular among farmers. Park reportedly didn't like the idea of "wasting" rice to make alcoholic beverages. Under his direction, vineyards were created in the rural North Gyeongsang Province on land unfit for rice production. Noble Wine produced by Haitai in 1974 was the first Korean wine. Three years later, Majuang was released. It was the result of Oriental Brewery's years of work to produce homegrown wine. It sent local experts to German wineries for training. Majuang, a combined Korean word meaning "sit together and enjoy," became a hit. But the local wine label faced brutal competition in the 1990s with the increase in imported wines. Majuang managed to survive as it was used during Sunday Mass at Catholic churches. With the end of the corporate winemaking era, local wineries began to emerge in the 2000s with the influx of educated young people entering the agriculture sector in search of business opportunities. Currently, there are nearly 150 wineries nationwide and some 700 wine varieties are on sale. Homegrown wines are popular among people in their 20s and 30s who seek trendy new beverages. The rapid growth in local production over the past two decades is a remarkable change from the 1990s when European and Latin American varieties dominated the wine market. Herque and his wife Shin at the brewery / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul European Union flags outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on Oct. 14, 2018. (Francois Lenoir/Reuters) Lukashenko Inauguration Lacks Legitimacy, EU Says The European Union says Aleksandr Lukashenkos sixth inauguration as the leader of Belarus lacks democratic legitimacy and only deepens the nations political crisis. The bloc also said its reviewing its relations with Belarus. EUs Foreign Minister Josep Borrell issued a statement on Sept. 24, reiterating that the EU doesnt recognize the falsified results of the neither free nor fair Belarusian presidential elections. Therefore, the so-called inauguration' on Sept. 23, which took place without notice, and the new mandate claimed by Lukashenko, lack any democratic legitimacy, the statement reads. Alexander Lukashenko takes the oath of office as Belarusian leader during a swearing-in ceremony in Minsk, Belarus, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Andrei Stasevich/BelTA/Handout via Reuters) This inauguration directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus, Borrell said. Since the Aug. 9 elections, which domestic opponents and Western countries consider to have been rigged, tens of thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets, calling for Lukashenko to resign from the position hes held for 26 years. Many protesters were arrested and brutalized by the police. Police use truncheons on protesters during a protest of the disputed presidential election in Minsk, Belarus, on Aug. 10, 2020. (Sergei Grits/AP Photo) Belarusian security forces on Sept. 23 used truncheons and water cannons to disperse crowds as thousands protested against the unannounced inauguration, leaving dozens injured. The countrys Interior Ministry on Sept. 24 said that 364 people were detained the previous night, including 252 in Minsk. The vast majority of them remain in custody, awaiting a court hearing. Riot police detain a protester during an opposition rally to protest the presidential inauguration in Minsk, Belarus, on Sept. 23, 2020. (TUT.by via AP Photo) Borrell said the EU is impressed and moved by the courage of the Belarusian people, who continue to demonstrate peacefully for democracy and for their fundamental rights despite the brutal repression of the Belarusian authorities. Borrell urged the Belarusian authorities to stop any further repression and violence, immediately and unconditionally release detained protesters and political prisoners, and start an inclusive national dialogue to resolve the countrys serious political crisis. European Union Vice President Josep Borrell speaks during a press conference following an EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on July 13, 2020. (Francois Lenoir/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) The bloc will fully support the right of Belarusian citizens to elect their president through new free and fair elections under the supervision of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Borrell said. The EU, a large financial donor to Belarus, also said it was reviewing its relations with the country, meaning the bloc would seek to cut off direct funding to Lukashenkos government, channeling it to aid groups and hospitals instead. Before the election, the EU had committed to spend 135 million euros ($157 million) on projects in Belarus and has also pledged 53 million euros ($62 million) for the fight against the CCP virus pandemic. Presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya holds a press conference the day after Belaruss presidential election in Minsk on Aug. 10, 2020. (Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images) Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Sept. 21 discussed with EU foreign ministers in Brussels how to bypass the state administration to support doctors and hospitals. I asked Europe not to support financially the regime. All the money Mr. Lukashenko can get now will not go to support the Belarusian people but will go for those repressions, she told reporters, referring to the pro-democracy crackdown. Protesters with old Belarusian national flags march during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, on Sept. 20, 2020. (TUT.by/AP Photo) Sanctions On Sept. 21, EU foreign ministers failed to impose sanctions on Belarus officials suspected of election fraud or of playing a part in a brutal security crackdown on the post-election protests, despite appeals from Lukashenkos main opponent to take courageous action against the regime. Cyprus continues to block the sanctions move, which requires EU member states unanimous vote, until similar measures are slapped on Turkey for its disputed energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. EU leaders will try to break the deadlock when they meet in Brussels on Oct. 1. In an email statement to The Associated Press, Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said Lukashenko does not belong in a presidential palace. He belongs on the EU sanctions list. The secrecy surrounding his inauguration ceremony just illustrates that he has not been sworn in based on free and fair elections, but on election fraud and violence, Kofod said. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko takes the oath of office during his inauguration ceremony at the Independence Palace in Minsk, Belarus, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Sergei Sheleg/Pool/AP) Lukashenko on Sept. 24 argued that the inauguration wasnt prepared in secret and bristled at Western criticism. You know, about 2,000 people, together with the military, were invited to the inauguration. It is practically impossible to keep it secret, he was quoted by the state news agency Belta as saying. We didnt ask anyone to recognize or not recognize our election, the legitimacy of the newly elected president the important thing is that its in accordance with the Constitution, Lukashenko said. UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Sept. 24 that Britain would prepare targeted sanctions against those responsible for human rights abuses in Belarus. People with old Belarusian national flags gather during an opposition rally to protest the presidential inauguration in Minsk, Belarus, on Sept. 23, 2020. (TUT.by via AP Photo) Despite the crackdown, rallies continued on Sept. 24, with hundreds in Minsk forming human chains of solidarity in parts of the city and obstructing road traffic by driving slowly or stopping altogether, honking in protest. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Deep Yellow Limited (ASX:DYL) Deep Yellow Limited (DYL.AX) Drilling Success Continues at Tumas 3 Perth, Australia, Sep 24, 2020 - (ABN Newswire) - Deep Yellow Limited (ASX:DYL) (HAM:JMI) (OTCMKTS:DYLLF) is pleased to advise the completion of the first phase of the current RC drilling program at the Tumas 3 deposit, located on EPL3496 (Figure 1*). The project is held by Deep Yellow through its wholly owned subsidiary Reptile Uranium Namibia (Pty) Ltd (RUN). HIGHLIGHTS - Completion of the first phase of the Tumas 3 RC drilling program, with 38 holes drilled. - 92% of the 38 holes completed have returned grades greater than 100ppm eU3O8 over 1m from surface, substantiating previous positive results at Tumas 3. - Hole T3I284 returned 7m at 5,820ppm U3O8 (0.58%), the highest recorded grade intersected on this deposit. - Best intersections include: o T3I282: 5m at 413ppm eU3O8 from 8m o T3I284: 1m at 599ppm eU3O8 from surface 1m at 212ppm eU3O8 from 8m 7m at 5,820ppm eU3O8 from 14m o T3I289 5m at 335ppm eU3O8 from 8m o T3I299 7m at 332ppm eU3O8 from 6m o T3I334 6m at 358ppm eU3O8 from 7m - Current drill program at Tumas 3 Central has successfully generated the required 1,000kg of material for future metallurgical testing. - Drilling continues with 52 holes remaining. The program as previously announced, commenced on 7 September and as of the 21 September, 38 holes for 824m have been completed. The first phase of the program was focused on the Tumas 3 deposit, to allow completion of the reserve estimation work and provide further geological information for process optimisation for the ongoing Tumas Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), which is due to be completed in the December quarter. Drilling at Tumas 3 continues to deliver successful results, with 92% of the recently completed 38-holes returning uranium mineralisation greater than 100ppm eU3O8 over 1m, with 79% showing uranium mineralisation of greater than 200ppm eU3O8 over 1m. The equivalent uranium values are based on down-hole radiometric gamma logging carried out by a fully calibrated Aus-Log gamma logging system. Importantly, the latest set of results confirm previous drilling success at Tumas 3. These positive results are reflected in Figure 2*, which outlines GT (grade x thickness) in colour code, comparing previous drilling results against most recent results. The GT of these infill holes combine strongly with those generated from the previous drilling and provide the Company with a high-level of confidence regarding the robust nature of the Tumas 3 mineralisation. Table 1 in Appendix 1* lists all intersections greater than 100ppm eU3O8 over 1m. Table 2 outlined in Appendix 1 highlights the exciting potential of Tumas 3, showing greater than 200ppm cut off intersections, with grades ranging from 212ppm to 599ppm eU3O8 at an average thickness of 2m. It is important to note (and excluded from range given) the spectacular intersection in hole T3I284, which returned 7m at 5,820ppm U3O8 (0.58%), the highest-grade intersection recorded on this deposit to date. Table 3 in appendix 1* shows all drill hole details. The Tumas 3 uranium mineralisation is of the calcrete-type, located within an extensive, mainly east-west trending, palaeochannel system. Uranium mineralisation occurs in association with calcium carbonate precipitations (calcrete) in sediment filled palaeovalleys. The mineralisation at Tumas 3 occurs as a discrete mineralised deposit, occurring separately from the other uranium deposits within this fertile palaeochannel system, namely Tumas 1 (which also includes Tumas 1 East) and 2 and Tubas Red Sands/Calcrete deposits (see Figure 1*). The palaeochannels occurring west of Tumas 3, Tubas Red Sands and Calcrete deposits have only been sparsely drilled along widely spaced regional lines, with large sections remaining completely untested. With only 60% of the known regional Tumas palaeochannel system drilled, significant upside potential remains to further increase the resource base that is associated with this highly prospective target, with 50km of channels remaining to be tested. The key purpose of the drilling work completed to date was to collect 1000kg of mineralised material to be utilised for further metallurgical testing. This has been achieved and the metallurgical samples are expected to be shipped by sea container to Perth in October. The drilling program at Tumas 3 continues with an additional 52 RC holes planned in support of resource and reserve estimation work, which is currently in progress. Cube Consulting Pty Ltd has been appointed to carry out pit optimisation and reserve estimations for the Tumas PFS. *To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/9C1IL894 Story continues About Deep Yellow Limited: Deep Yellow Limited (ASX:DYL) (OTCMKTS:DYLLF) (Namibian Stock Exchange:DYL) is a specialist differentiated uranium company implementing a new contrarian strategy to grow shareholder wealth. This strategy is founded upon growing the existing uranium resources across the Company's uranium projects in Namibia and the pursuit of accretive, counter-cyclical acquisitions to build a global, geographically diverse asset portfolio. The Company's cornerstone suite of projects in Namibia is situated within a top-ranked African mining destination in a jurisdiction that has a long, well regarded history of safely and effectively developing and regulating its considerable uranium mining industry. Contact: John Borshoff Managing Director/CEO T: +61-8-9286-6999 Email: john.borshoff@deepyellow.com.au www.deepyellow.com.au Source: Deep Yellow Limited Copyright (C) 2020 ABN Newswire. All rights reserved. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 18:18:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LAGOS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government has approved a sum of 1.96 billion U.S. dollars to construct a new rail line to link Nigeria to the Niger Republic. The decision was announced on Wednesday after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and attended by cabinet ministers in Abuja, the country's capital. Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi told media after the FEC meeting the 248-kilometer rail line is expected to run from the northern states of Kano and Katsina in Nigeria and link the city of Maradi in Niger, the neighboring West African nation. It is projected that when completed, the rail line would assist the supply of crude oil from Niger to the refinery being built in the border town between both countries, local daily the Nation reported on Thursday. Enditem Gov. Charlie Baker, with Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley, strongly condemns the idea that a president would reject the peaceful transfer of power. The governor was reacting to President Trump's insinuations that he may not accept an election loss. Baker: Trump's Transfer of Power Answer 'Appalling and Outrageous' BOSTON Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday called President Trump's comments on the possibility of peaceful transfer of power in January "appalling and outrageous." Baker was given a chance at the end of his regular press availability to comment on Trump's Wednesday response to a question about what he would do if he loses the November election. Baker pulled no punches in reacting to the comments from the commander in chief and leader of Baker's own Republican Party. "That peaceful transfer of power is what the people of this country rely on when they go to vote," Baker said. "It is appalling and outrageous that anyone would suggest for a minute that if they lose an election, they're not going to leave. Period." On Wednesday, Trump, who as far back as 2016 refused to commit to the idea of accepting electoral outcomes not in his favor, was asked about the idea of a peaceful transfer of power in January. "We're going to have to see what happens," Trump said. "You know that I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster." Trump was referencing his oft-stated claim that the expanded mail-in balloting many states have instituted in the COVID-19 pandemic somehow are less legitimate than the traditional ballot box. Baker minced no words about his feelings on that subject as well. "I voted mail-in in the [September] primary," Baker said. "It was, what I would describe here in Massachusetts pretty similar to the way mail-in balloting works in most states, which is, it's basically absentee balloting on steroids. Part of the reason we put that that program in place in Massachusetts was because we weren't really sure where COVID was going to be for the primary or the general election, and we wanted to make sure people who were concerned about going to polling places had an option. "And it worked just fine, the same way it worked across the rest of the country." Baker went on to point out that in 1860, when the country was on the verge of Civil War, the members of the Electoral College "did their job" and made the votes that allowed Abraham Lincoln to become the 16th president. On Wednesday, Michael Beschloss, a noted presidential historian and Williams College alumnus, also invoked Lincoln, tweeting out the following: "In a private memorandum, Abraham Lincoln wrote on August 23, 1864 [while the Civil War raged], ' [I]t seems exceedingly probable that this Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to cooperate with the President-elect, as to save the Union.' " Lincoln, of course, was re-elected that November, delivered perhaps his greatest oration in his March 4 Second Inaugural Address, and successfully prosecuted the end of the war. His victory also came with the first instances of absentee voting as Union soldiers cast ballots from wherever they were located. Baker was asked what he could do as a governor to help ensure that a peaceful transfer of power takes place in Washington, D.C., should Trump's re-election bid fall short. "One way or another, the people are going to speak in November up and down the ticket for all those races that are out there," Baker said. "Those of us who serve in public life will do everything we can to make sure that the people's will is followed through and executed on. "Because that is fundamentally why there is a United States of America in the first place." Impact Investing nonprofit is contributing to an equitable recovery through a $40M fund to help students land good jobs. Social Finance's Career Impact Bond is a new financing model that provides career-based education for unemployed or underemployed workers. Pictured: General Assembly's accelerated tech program. Photo courtesy of General Assembly. Social Finance's Career Impact Bond is a new financing model that provides career-based education for unemployed or underemployed workers. Pictured: General Assembly's accelerated tech program. Photo courtesy of General Assembly. The UP Fund is currently training students through its first two Career Impact Bond investments: General Assemblys accelerated tech education program (pictured) and Acuitus IT education program, which has an emphasis on serving veterans. Photo courtesy of General Assembly. The UP Fund is currently training students through its first two Career Impact Bond investments: General Assemblys accelerated tech education program (pictured) and Acuitus IT education program, which has an emphasis on serving veterans. Photo courtesy of General Assembly. Boston, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, national nonprofit Social Finance announced the UP Fund, with anchor investments from Blue Meridian Partners, Schmidt Futures, Blue Haven Initiative, The Shapiro Foundation, and Donor Advised Fund accounts at Fidelity Charitable and Vanguard Charitable to finance worker upskilling and help students get jobs in growing sectors like information technology (IT), health care, and green jobs. The UP Fund , Social Finances first investment fund, is structured to support 8-12 Career Impact Bonds to serve thousands of students and ultimately transform financing for education and job training. The Career Impact Bond (CIB) is a new financing model that provides career-based education for unemployed or underemployed workers through student-first income share agreements. The UP Fund is currently training students through its first two CIB investments: General Assemblys accelerated tech education program and Acuitus IT education program, which has an emphasis on serving veterans. The Career Impact Bond: a tool for equitable economic recovery By increasing access to high-quality training programs for workers who may otherwise be left behind, the CIB can help Americans reskill and upskill in the wake of COVID-19. The CIB is tailored to students who face barriers to education and employment, such as criminal justice involvement, credit history, or low levels of educational attainment or professional experience barriers that disproportionately affect people of color. In the General Assembly CIB, 38% of learners are Black, more than six times the programs traditional student population. Story continues The CIB was created prior to the pandemic, but the need for this impact-first model is more critical today as the labor market shifts and millions of workers are displaced. While many jobs are disappearing, there is a sustained demand for recession-resilient occupations in growing fields like IT, nursing, and skilled trades. General Assembly and Acuitus transitioned to online curriculum delivery during the pandemic and students are landing well-paying jobs, even in the current economic climate. The Career Impact Bond rocket-boosted me into a software engineering career, Branden LaCour, recent graduate from the General Assembly software engineering immersive, said. I was initially denied from the program due to my credit history. But I re-applied as part of the Career Impact Bond, and once I completed the program, I got a job as a software engineer at HGS Digital and nearly doubled my salary. Video: Watch Branden LaCour and project partners discuss the Career Impact Bond >> How the Career Impact Bond works The Career Impact Bond puts the worker at the center of the future of work, Tracy Palandjian, CEO and Co-Founder of Social Finance, said. Typically, to pursue economic mobility, students either pay tuition up front or take out loans to enter training programs that may not necessarily translate to career success. The Career Impact Bond reallocates that risk away from students to impact investors and training providers. Students enrolled as part of a CIB do not bear the upfront risk of paying for training. If students dont land a job above a predetermined income threshold, they dont pay. The CIB is focused on student success, underpinned by a Student Bill of Rights , and features student-friendly repayment terms. Impact investments through the UP Fund provide impact capital to training providers to cover upfront training costs and deliver wraparound support services, including benefits enrollment assistance and emergency aid funding. The CIB links a portion of training provider revenue to student success, incentivizing providers to prepare students for viable careers. Investors and Partners Current UP Fund supporters include Blue Meridian Partners, Schmidt Futures, Blue Haven Initiative, The Shapiro Foundation, and individual donors through Donor Advised Funds. Certain CIBs include additional investor and philanthropic support. After providing initial grant support to develop the General Assembly CIB, Prudential Financial is now a co-investor in the project alongside the UP Fund. The UP Fund is powered by data, through partnerships that provide real-time analytics and employer intelligence, to match individuals with in-demand careers. Each new CIB starts with labor market data to identify the types of jobs that are open in a particular geography. The UP Funds first close was in December 2019, and a second close is anticipated for later this fall. Social Finance raises the capital and manages the UP Fund, as well as the individual Career Impact Bond projects, identifying and vetting training providers, structuring partnerships, and managing for impact throughout the 10-year life of the fund. The nonprofit brought the Social Impact Bond, originally conceived in the U.K., to the U.S. in 2011 and launched the first-ever Career Impact Bond in 2019. Disclaimer: The UP Fund offers partnership interests only to eligible investors and admission to the UP Fund as a limited partner is not open to the general public. Partnership interests in the UP Fund will be offered solely to U.S. persons who are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501(a) of Regulation D as described in the funds Confidential Private Offering Memorandum and related documents. ### About Social Finance Social Finance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing capital to drive social progress. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and that we can catalyze those opportunities through a set of innovative financing strategies called Pay for Success. To date, Social Finance has mobilized nearly $150 million of capital to address a wide range of social issues in areas such as criminal justice, education, health, and workforce development. www.socialfinance.org Attachments CONTACT: Carrie Benjamin Social Finance (617) 939-9900 x 55 cbenjamin@socialfinance.org This article has been updated to include a letter Hunterdon Central Regional High School District School Superintendent Jeffrey Moore sent to parents on Aug. 12, 2020. A photo of two young people mocking the death of George Floyd has roiled Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Raritan Township, after it began circulating on social media. The photo shows a boy wearing a Make America Great Again cap and a police badge kneeling on the neck of another boy wearing an ape mask. District School Superintendent Jeffrey Moore confirmed local police are investigating racist social media posts that have circulated in recent weeks, though did not say if this specific photo was part of that investigation. "My house was here," says Seraphine. "It has been destroyed." She has returned to Dhera, a village ravaged in April in an alleged revenge operation by government troops. Dhera lies in Ituri province, part of the vast, long-suffering east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the army is battling more than a hundred armed groups, from ragtag fighters to organised militias. The fighting has many dark and brutal aspects. They include the behaviour of the armed forces, whose troops -- which include former militia fighters -- are often accused of violations of human rights in UN reports. About two-thirds of the family homes in Dhera were burned or in ruins, an AFP journalist saw during a visit to the area with a patrol of UN peacekeepers in mid-September. The village is near a road heading towards the border with Uganda. It lies in territory suspected to have become both a stronghold and rear base for the dreaded Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO). This bland name masks the nature of a politicised military sect that purports to defend settled Lendu farming folk against other communities, including Hema herders who are also long established in Ituri. A Lendu herself, Seraphine is a collateral victim of army operations against CODECO members. 'Mysticism and fetishism' - In the constellation of armed groups and militia forces that constantly destabilise eastern DRC, CODECO has a special place. When it was founded in Ituri in 1978, the movement was an initiative to encourage agriculture in a region that is also rich in gold reserves. Dhera residents returned to see their destroyed homes. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP) "More discreetly, however, CODECO has engaged in mysticism and fetishism," states a report from Pax, a Dutch non-governmental organisation working to promote peace around the world. An AFP trip into this remote region confirmed CODECO has two faces -- one decidedly military and the other steeped in mysticism and animism. In the village of Masumbuko, Ngadjole Ngabu, known as "the Sacrificer", presented himself as a spiritual leader in a dominant branch of CODECO -- and as wielding the power to order or prohibit attacks by fighters under his command. In a break between a procession by child choristers and readings from the scriptures, Ngabu said he sought to defend people like Seraphine, whom he called "victims of police and military harassment (...) in the total indifference of the authorities". 'Treated like traitors' "If one of us is killed, the state finds that normal," he said, citing the case of a Lendu priest, Father Florent, who was found dead in murky circumstances in June 2017. Back in Dhera, Seraphine and her neighbours say they would prefer to do without CODECO's protection, since it exposes them to reprisals by the army. A CODECO militiaman. The group has been blamed for hundreds of murders in Ituri. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP) The armed forces attacked the village in April after the deaths of two soldiers, according to testimony by security authorities and Lendu public officials. Inhabitants fled to the neighbouring village of Gudjo, which was raided two months later by troops seeking "attackers". Thirteen civilians were killed, including the village chief and his son. "I was taken for an attacker," another inhabitant of Dhera told AFP. "My brother and I were tied up by the Congolese army." "All Lendu are being treated as attackers," said a man of 35, whose house had also been burned down. "They treat us as traitors and opponents, we who work with the government forces," a local administrative official protested. The International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank in July said it was difficult to estimate how much support CODECO had from within the Lendu community. It said that Lendu leaders did not support attackers and that they also condemned their assaults. One thousand killed According to UN figures, some 1,000 people have been slain since a resumption of violence in December 2017 in Ituri, which had already seen conflict among community militias between 1999 and 2003 when war swept the region. CODECO is behind most of the bloodshed today, in the eyes of the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO and Congolese authorities. Map locating region of Ituri, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. By Romain ALLIMANT (AFP) The majority of victims are civilians from the Hema and Alur communities, accused by the militia of confiscating Lendu land, a perennial source of strife. CODECO's influence over Lendu militia forces is believed to have weakened after the army killed one of its chief figures, Justin Ngudjolo, in March. With their spiritual leader, CODECO members then went to Masumbuko to meet a delegation of onetime local warlords from the first years of the century. The latter were sent as peace envoys by President Felix Tshisekedi. Several sources agree that the rate of massacres has decreased since this initiative. Amidst protests over farm bills, BSP president Mayawati on Thursday said it would have been better if the Centre had taken the decision on bringing the legislation after consulting farmers. The former UP chief minister recalled that during her regime, the BSP government in Uttar Pradesh used to take decisions relating to agriculture by calling a panchayat of farmers and consulting them properly. In a tweet in Hindi, Mayawati said, It would have been better had the Central government also taken farmers into confidence before taking the decision on farm bills. Opposition parties and farmers in some states have been protesting the farm bills passed by Parliament recently. - Mayawati (@Mayawati) September 24, 2020 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 and await presidential assent. DES MOINES Democrat Theresa Greenfield said Wednesday she wants more federal help for Iowans battling the COVID-19 pandemic, including direct payments to individuals and businesses, extended jobless benefits for idled workers and aid to biofuel companies and state and local governments facing revenue declines. Greenfield, who is challenging first-term Republican Sen. Joni Ernst in the Nov. 3 general election, also said she puts taking steps to end political corruption in Washington ahead of calls to alter the Senates filibuster rule or to add more members to the U.S. Supreme Court in the wake of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death. During an hourlong forum with a Des Moines business group, Greenfield was asked if she would support a move to expand the nine-person court. I dont know that thats what we need to be doing by any means, she said. ... I wouldnt say that I have formed an opinion on that, but that certainly is not a high priority for me, and its not something that Iowans are talking about at this point in time. After the forum, Greenfields spokesman Sam Newton issued a statement saying Greenfield. instead of adding more justices to the Supreme Court, believes the best way to make our democracy more representative for all Iowans is to end political corruption by banning corporate PACS, banning dark money and banning members of Congress from becoming lobbyists. The Ernst campaign charged that Greenfields statement at the forum is a reversal of her position in May when she opposed an expansion of the Supreme Court. In the Senate, you are forced to make yes-or-no decisions, so its remarkable that Theresa Greenfield is refusing to give voters a straight answer regarding liberals plan to pack the Supreme Court with radical judges, Ernst spokesman Brendan Conley said. Greenfields caving is proof that, if elected, shell stand with liberal special interests bankrolling her campaign, not Iowans. Health care, pandemic During the forum, Greenfield said she would boost health care options by making major prescription drug reforms. She said she supports strengthening and enhancing the Affordable Care Act by building in a public option but does not support Medicare for all. She also opposes privatizing the Social Security system. I believe were still in crisis, Greenfield said of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans and almost 1,300 Iowans. She called for a robust federal stimulus package that would include a second round of direct payments to individuals and families, extended jobless benefits, more help for struggling businesses, direct aid to the biofuels industry, money to keep the U.S. Postal Service operating and a major infrastructure package. The list is long, but we cant be shy about investing in one another and investing in our economy, she told the Greater Des Moines Partnership forum. What Ive learned (on the campaign trail) is above all Iowans want the divisiveness to end. They just want it to end, they want Washington to work like a hometown. she said. Im focused on that. If elected, Greenfield said she would work within her party and across the aisle with Republicans to get things done. Nguyen Minh Hau wants to do more than study, he wants to give back to his community. Nguyen Minh Hau (right) in an activity of the V.Gen Station project. Photo tuoitre.vn "I'm determined that besides studying, I spend most of my time participating in community activities," he said about the annual project V.Gen Station that he helps run. Hau, 21, from the southern province of Kien Giang, came first in the entrance exam for the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities three years ago with a score of 28.8/30. When Hau studied at Huynh Man Dat High School in Kien Giang, he joined many community activities related to environmental protection and events at historic sites. When Hau entered university, he spent time attending a course lasting several weeks abroad, called scholarship for Young Southeast Asian leaders. The scholarship was founded by former US President Barack Obama in 2013. "We wanted to design a programme where Vietnamese young people can understand themselves, social issues and commit to creating positive changes for the community. We also want to help young people have a place to share their emotions and build social skills," Hau said. Though this is his final year of university, Hau still works hard to call for sponsors and promote the programme. He has invited university lecturers since March to speak so the programme can run this August. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Hau worried he would have to forget about the programme but he was fortunate enough to receive support from others. "Unforeseen risks like COVID-19 are an opportunity for us to find ways to optimise solutions. For example, we regrettably have to limit trainees from affected areas and carefully conduct measures to prevent the pandemic," said Hau. "I want my youth to be beautiful and meaningful. And these two things often come from donations and giving, especially when there are still many miserable lives around us. I am especially interested in the disadvantages of rural children. It may be a bit contradictory, but thanks to such external activities, my living capital and learning results are greatly improved. They help me feel more confident, which I think is very important in a life that is so challenging," said Hau. In 2016, Hau joined a charity programme which delivered gift on Christmas for poor children in Rach Gia City, and he still remembers the image of a little boy on the night. "When asked what gift he wanted, he told me that he wanted a book. Before that I thought he would say sweets or toys and it was surprising that what he wanted was so simple," Hau said. That was also the driving force for Hau to call for book donations and bring them to the poor. Talking about Hau, Professor Christine Buzinde, manager at Scholarship for Young Southeast Asian leaders, was full of praise. "Minh Hau is one of the youngest faces in the scholarship programme that I know. And I believe this young person will bring many positive values to the community," she said. "The things I do are small, but I always find happiness in what I do or have, even if it's something very small or failures. It tells me that I need to improve and I will come back better, Hau said. VNS Man brings dreams to ethnic minorities KLiem couldnt sleep when he heard his poor family would be getting a new house. Malaysia may have a third prime minister in just seven months as veteran politician Anwar Ibrahim anxiously awaits an audience with the country's king to form government. Anwar, who has sought the country's top political job for more than 20 years, claimed on Wednesday to have secured the support of a strong majority of MPs, including defectors from the Perikatan Nasional (National Alliance) government. Anwar Ibrahim is the founder and president of the People's Justice Party. Credit:Bloomberg But he declined to name which MPs were prepared to switch support to his Pakatan Harapan coalition, which ruled the country until late February under former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. It currently controls 91 seats. A majority in the lower house of Parliament is 112 MPs and the current government of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who was a senior member of the previous government alongside Anwar and Mahathir, holds 113 seats. Chennai, Sep 24 : The Madras High Court on Thursday issued an interim stay on the privilege notice issued to the legislators of the DMK party. The legislators had earlier filed a writ petition against the notice. When the state assembly was in session in 2017, Stalin and 20 other DMK lawmakers brought 'gutkha' (a tobacco product) packets to stress that the banned product was available in the markets freely. A breach of privilege issue was raised against the DMK lawmakers and a notice was issued to them. The DMK lawmakers filed a case in the High Court against the notice. On August 25 this year, while setting aside the privilege notice that was issued, the Madras High Court said the Privilege Committee can issue another notice if it still considers the act of DMK lawmakers a breach of privilege. Subsequently, another privilege notice was issued to the DMK lawmakers in September against which the court has now issued an interim stay. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Courtesy Data Gumbo Blockchain-based tech startup Data Gumbo scored $4 million in a Series B funding round, drawing a second infusion of capital from a pair of oil-and-gas giants as well as a Houston-based venture firm, the company said Thursday. The funding was lead by newcomer L37, which also has headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area, and included Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures and Equinor Ventures. The latter two had been involved in Data Gumbos $6 million Series A round in 2019. The Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Thursday began a two-day working visit to the Bono Region. As part of the visit, Dr Bawumia is expected to address a durbar of chiefs and people of Bongase in the Banda and Nsawkaw in the Tain constituencies respectively. He would cut the sod for the reconstruction of a 29-kilometre Sinohydro road project at Berlin Top in the Sunyani West Constituency. Dr Bawumia would also engage the chiefs and people of Nkrankwanta in the Dormaa West and Wamfie in Dormaa East constituencies and cut the sod for the rehabilitation of a 10-kilometre Sinohydro road project in the Berekum Municipality. He is also expected to interact with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) executives in the region. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The 2nd wave of COVID-19/20 becoming an irreversible part of our reality, the global downstream sector has started to assess the damage done so far and the potential detriment that is still up there for refiners that are struggling to remain profitable. According to IEA estimates, it will take at least 2 years until the refining sector recovers fully from the ramifications of the current demand loss. With refinery utilization rates expected to drop to an annual average of 72% this year and 77% in 2021, the lowest since 1983, it should come as no surprise that some downstream firms are considering closing down altogether. New Zealand might not be a refining giant when compared to Asian downstream powerhouses, yet a potential closure would most probably leave a significant impact across Asia and Oceania. The closure of Marsden Point would not be a novelty for the Asia Pacific Region. Shell has already announced the definitive closure of the 110kbpd Tabangao Refinery in the Philippines after 60 years of continuous operation. Shell would still have another plant operating in the East Asian country, still the sudden COVID-induced closure (the refinery stopped refining in May and was halted for good thereafter) goes on to demonstrate the overall decreased profitability of refining in the region. Asia seems to be confronting its Europe moment when excessive refining capacity engenders the closure of the least profitable assets. Tabangao would be gradually converted into a fuel import terminal, paving a way forward for other refineries, too. Rumours have been circulating that some Australian and Japanese refineries are also considering their options. Where does all this leave New Zealand? Since May-June 2020 the 135kbpd Marsden Point Refinery was reported to consider transforming the plant into a storage terminal that would serve as a distribution hub for imported products. The decision is far from being finalized as many shareholders have not had their say on the refinerys future. The main shareholders did indicate their strategic intentions though, tilting heavily towards the closure option. The largest shareholder ExxonMobil (owns 17.2%) continues to assess the closuress implications for its business, the second-largest Z Energy (15.36%) has publicly and unequivocally advocated for the transformation of Marsden Point whilst the third-largest shareholder BP voiced its support for the refinerys strategic review of operations. Whilst New Zealand political scene has been replete with deliberations on the timeliness and social consequences (some 1100 jobs lost) of a potential Marsden Point closure, the refinery itself was compelled to minimize its output and operational exposure vis-a-vis the coronavirus pandemics. In COVID-19 times New Zealand has cut down massively on its refining in general, with demand waning as early as March/April the worst came in July 2020 which has seen no crude imports whatsoever, for the first time in this millennium. In fact, the last time when New Zealand bought no crude on a monthly basis was in August 1986. It has to be pointed out that were Marsden Point to be decommissioned, the infrastructure connecting the refinery to the North Islands main consumption hubs remain intact, such as the 104-mile Refinery-Auckland Pipeline (RAP). Related: U.S. Oil Exports Continue To Decline Graph 1. New Zealands Crude Imports in 2017-2020 (000 barrels per day). Source: Thomson Reuters. Although New Zealand also imports products as the Marsden Point Refinery is not producing enough to cover the nations needs (40% of its gasoline and some 30% of its Diesel are imported from elsewhere), shutting down the nations only oil-refining asset might render it politically and economically vulnerable. Hence, there are also other alternative way that might apply to the refinerys future the companys top management flaunted the idea of simply improving the firms refining economics and altering its current business model, without any damage done or constraints stipulated to its assets. Yet judging by todays utterances, the stakeholders would rather scrap it whilst it still generates some money, so as not to invest in unnecessary equipment upgrades that would never be requited financially. New Zealands upstream segment would not suffer that much from closing down the nations sole refinery. Producing some 140kbpd of crude oil and condensate, with the Pohokura and Maari fields providing almost half of the total output, New Zealands light and sweet grades have traditionally been exported to Australia. Were New Zealand to quit the downstream industry altogether, the main sufferers in terms of lost market outlets would be Middle Eastern producers the Emirati Murban has been the all-time favorite, with at least one Aframax cargo arrival per month (see Graph 1). Such preference stems from the fact that since its inception Marsden Point was configured to refine medium sour crudes and not the light domestic types. If the fate of Australia is anything to go by, the future for New Zealand refining is dire. Australia has had 4 out of its initial 8 refineries closed in the past 11 years and doubts remain over the long-term viability of Caltex Australias 109kbpd Lytton Refinery. The decommissioned refineries in Adelaide and Sydney, Brisbane and potentially Marsden Point have a similar historical course. At first low margins have disbalanced their financial stature and then giant East Asian refineries have simply steamrolled them thanks to a combination of implicit government subsidies and other sweeteners. In 2019 Marsden Point was still profitable, despite generating a mere $4.2 million of annual net profit, however this years numbers are going to be lamentable. The market knows this - dropping to $0.6 per share, Refining NZs stock shares have lost two-thirds of their value when compared to January 2020. By Viktor Katona for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: United Airlines announced on Thursday it will start offering COVID testing for customers next month. The program will first only be offered for those traveling on United from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Hawaii, which will begin starting Oct. 15, the airline said in a statement. It will offer rapid testing at the airport or a self-collected, mail-in test ahead of the trip. Dignity Health will be providing the tests at the airport. The results arrive in approximately 15 minutes, which is how they are able to offer them at the airport, the company said. The mail-in test option will be done by the company, Color, and tests should be done at least 10 days prior to the trip and within 72 hours of returning home. The airline also announced it hopes to start expanding this program beyond these two locations later this year. Our new COVID testing program is another way we are helping customers meet their destinations' entry requirements, safely and conveniently, said Toby Enqvist, chief customer officer at United. Well look to quickly expand customer testing to other destinations and U.S. airports later this year to complement our state-of-the-art cleaning and safety measures that include a mandatory mask policy, antimicrobial and electrostatic spraying and our hospital-grade HEPA air filtration systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied a flight out of Logan International Airport in Boston to suggest that the virus can be contracted on a plane. And it recently identified nearly 11,000 passengers on airlines who were potentially exposed to the coronavirus during flights, the Washington Post reported. In the guidance for the public, the CDC still says that viruses do not spread easily on planes because of the way the air is filtered but that staying home is the best way to protect yourself and other people from the virus. Related Content: The number of new active COVID-19 cases in publicly funded schools across Ontario has jumped by another 17.2 per cent from the previous day for a total of 210. In the latest data released Thursday morning, the province updated the totals of school-related cases with 24 more students infected for a total of 101, three more staff members for a total of 40, and four more individuals who werent identified for a total of 69. In total, there are 178 schools with an active case, which the province notes is 3.69 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. 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-19 cases in the community. There is a lag between the daily provincial data at 10:30 a.m. 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. 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. Irelyne Lavery is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: ilavery@thestar.ca Queensland's long-running border war has descended into personal insults and extraordinary allegations of deceit as the state and federal governments tussle over whether soldiers should man checkpoints along the New South Wales border. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton chastised Queensland's Deputy Premier Steven Miles, calling him a "school child" who "makes a fool of himself" on a daily basis. The fight over whether the ADF should still guard Queensland border checkpoints has escalated. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen/Justin McManus. Mr Miles had accused the federal government of using soldiers as "bargaining chips" and called Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg a liar. The federal government plans to pull troops from the borders on September 30 and redeploy them to monitor people in hotel quarantine, as well as to help coordinate testing sites and contact tracing. LOUISVILLE, Kentucky Two police officers were shot and wounded late on Wednesday in Louisville, Kentucky, during protests ignited by a grand jury decision that civil rights activists decried as a miscarriage of justice in the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor. The grand jury ruled that two white policemen will not be prosecuted in connection with the death of Taylor, a Black medical worker shot in her own apartment, because their use of force during an ill-fated raid on her home was justified, but a third officer was charged with endangering her neighbors. Daylong street protests erupted in violence after dark when two police officers on duty in the midst of the demonstrations were shot and wounded, Robert Schroeder, interim chief of the Louisvile Metropolitan Police Department, told reporters. He said one suspect had been arrested, and that the two officers were in stable condition, one undergoing surgery, with injuries he described as non-life-threatening. He declined to give any further details. Louisville Metro Police Department interim police chief Robert Schroeder speaks to media as he confirms two officers have been shot, after protesters clashed with police after a grand jury considering the March killing of Breonna Taylor, a Black medical worker, in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, voted to indict one of three white police officers for wanton endangerment, in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. September 23, 2020. Photo: Reuters Announcing the grand jurys conclusions hours earlier, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that two white policemen who fired into Black medial worker Taylors apartment on March 13 will not be prosecuted for her death because their use of force during the raid was justified. A third officer was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment, a relatively low-level felony, stemming from bullets he fired astray into an adjacednt apartment of Taylors neighbors, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron said. Benjamin Crump, a prominent civil rights lawyer representing the Taylor family, denounced the outcome of the grand jury probe, saying it was outrageous that none of the three officers involved in the raid was criminally charged with causing Taylors death. Protestors walk away from police with their hands up after 2 police officers were shot during a protest with police after a grand jury considering the March killing of Breonna Taylor, a Black medical worker, in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, voted to indict one of three white police officers for wanton endangerment, in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. September 23, 2020. Photo: Reuters Protesters immediately took to the streets chanting, No lives matter until Black lives matter, marching for hours through Kentuckys largest city, amid sporadic clashes with police in riot gear. The demonstrations wore on past nightfall in defiance of a 9 p.m. 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. A Reuters journalist on the scene heard the gunfire erupt from the crowd moments after police had fired pepper spray and flash-bang rounds at protesters. Louisville Police secure the area after 2 police officers were shot during a protest where protesters clashed with police after a grand jury considering the March killing of Breonna Taylor, a Black medical worker, in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, voted to indict one of three white police officers for wanton endangerment, in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. September 23, 2020. Photo: Reuters The Louisville Courier-Journal and other local media reported that two officers was wounded, and the FBI said it was responding shooting of at least one officer. Earlier in the day about a dozen people were arrested in one confrontation between hundreds of demonstrators and a group of law enforcement officers in the Highlands neighborhood just outside downtown Louisville. In the Highlands neighborhood at the edge of downtown, a number of protesters threw water bottles at police, who responded by firing pepper balls into the crowd. Scuffles ensued, and some windows of area businesses were broken. Protesters carry a sign as they walk by a fire in front of the Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice after a grand jury voted to indict one of three white police officers for wanton endangerment in the death of Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead by police in her apartment, in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. September 23, 2020. Photo: Reuters Rallies of varying sizes protesting the outcome of the Louisville grand jury investigation also were held in several other cities, including New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Chicago. Taylor, 26, was killed in front of her armed boyfriend shortly past midnight after three officers forced their way into her home with a search warrant. Former Detective Brett Hankison was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree, an offense that ranks at the lowest level of felony crime in Kentucky and carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison. A burning trash can is seen as protesters clash with police after a grand jury considering the March killing of Breonna Taylor, a Black medical worker, in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, voted to indict one of three white police officers for wanton endangerment, in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. September 23, 2020. Photo: Reuters Cameron said those three counts stem from the fact that some of the rounds Hankison fired - 10 in all - traveled through Taylors apartment into an adjacent unit where a man, a pregnant woman and a child were at home. Cameron, however, said there was no conclusive evidence that any of Hankisons bullets struck Taylor. 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 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, Cameron, a Black Republican, said at a news conference. I dont think people should be unduly alarmed, Kalejs told MLive.com. Its always distressing to see dead animals, and we certainly dont want any animal to suffer. There does seem to be some (precedent) for this type of thing, and hopefully it wont last too much longer. Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Netflix(LOS ANGELES) -- Mark Wahlberg is giving back to schools. The actor's wellness company Performance Inspired has partnered with Accelerate360's lifestyle brand LifeToGo to donate 1.3 million disposable masks to schools across the country. "As you know this has been a year of change and stress for everybody but today I want to thank our essential workers. You guys have kept us healthy, safe and supplied us with all the necessities. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart," Wahlberg shares in a video announcing the donation. Cities that have received mask donations include Chicago, Portland, Oregon, Boise, Idaho and Quincy in Wahlberg's native state of Massachusetts. Other recipients include San Antonio, Texas, Grand Rapids, Michigan and Rochester, New York. "We appreciate everything you do to educate our youth," Accelerate Chief Business Officer Trey Holder says in regards to educators. "Please stay safe and healthy." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 By Fidan Babayeva - Trend: The Baku Stock Exchange (BSE) held a meeting on the issuance of bonds of AzerGold CJSC to the organized capital markets, Trend reports referring to the Ministry of Economy. The meeting was attended by Acting Chairman of the Board of the Baku Stock Exchange (BSE) Eldar Abdullayev, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AzerGold CJSC Rovshan Najaf, Deputy Chairman of the Board of AzerGold CJSC Khayyam Farzaliyev, Chairman of the Board of PASHA Bank OJSC Taleh Kazimov, Director of PASHA Kapital Investment Company CJSC Jeyhun Hajiyev and Director General of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) Ali Ahmadov. Azerbaijans Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and Chairman of the Board of AzerGold CJSC Zakir Ibrahimov also took part in the event. Chairman of AzerGold CJSC Zakir Ibrahimov noted that the initiative to issue bonds being implemented by the CJSC is aimed at contributing to the development of the country's economy, creating profitable and reliable investment opportunities for citizens. He noted that this emission is a favorable opportunity for citizens to have a share in the development of the national economy and the mining industry. On September 24, 2020, the Baku Stock Exchange (BSE) held an auction on placement of the first tranche of interest-bearing, unsecured, book-entry bonds of AzerGold CJSC in the amount of $10 million. The auction will last one day, and the results will be announced on September 24. The securities will be placed through a competitive auction. We are talking about 100,000 bonds with a par value of $100 each. The bonds, which will be redeemed within three years, have an annual yield of four percent. The underwriter of the process is the PASHA Capital Investment Company. Persons interested in participating in the auction can contact all investment companies that are members of the exchange. --- Follow the author on Twitter: Fidan_Babaeva Paid paternity leave in France will be doubled from 14 to 28 days starting next summer, and fathers will be required to take at least a week off work after their babies are born, President Emmanuel Macron announced this week, offering one of the more generous plans in Europe. When a baby arrives in the world, there is no reason it should be just the mother who takes care of it, Mr. Macron said on Wednesday as he announced the plan, arguing that parents should have more equality in sharing the responsibility from the first day. The announcement caps a year of debate in France about the first 1,000 days of a childs life. In September, the neuropsychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik suggested in a report commissioned by Mr. Macrons government that fathers should be able to take up to nine weeks paid leave. Mr. Cyrulnik welcomed the extension announced by Mr. Macron, even though it is less ambitious than the reports suggestion. Its a start. Things move gradually they are not done abruptly, Mr. Cyrulnik said on France Inter radio. The presence of the father is much more important than we thought, much earlier than we believed. The widow of Rep. Elijah Cummings has denounced president Donald Trump's 'erratic and autocratic style of leadership' in a new op-ed where she rips his moves to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In a new op-ed, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings channels her husband, who used his powerful perch as chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to probe Trump's Washington, D.C. hotel and interview former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen. She tears into the president and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for seeking to fill Ginsburg's seat with just weeks before Election Day, despite the 'dying wish' Ginsburg dictated to her granddaughter days before her death. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings (r), channels her late husband Rep. Elijah Cummings in an op-ed that blasts President Trump for going against the 'dying wish' of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 'The disrespect and blatant hypocrisy displayed by Trump and McConnell perfectly encapsulates the political perversion we've seen over nearly four years,' she wrote, in an article published by CNN. She then blasts the president for 'autocratic style,' in an article drafted before Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power. 'My late husband, Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, who passed away in October of 2019, was not only concerned about the Republican Party's irreverence, he was deeply disturbed by Trump's erratic and autocratic style of leadership,' she writes. 'So much so that, by the end of his life, he had determined that Trump was not simply unfit for the position of president, but that he was also an imminent danger to the American people and our system of government. Elijah, quite simply, viewed the 2020 election as the battle for the future of our democracy.' Cummings clashed with President Trump and probed his business dealings and official actions The disrespect and blatant hypocrisy displayed by Trump and McConnell perfectly encapsulates the political perversion we've seen over nearly four years,' she writes in an article published by CNN She skewers President Trump in her op-ed She adds: 'Trump's toxic combination of political inexperience, mendacity and cunning have brought heartache, anxiety and loss to far too many Americans. That he has been protected by Republicans who have engaged in a pattern of asymmetrical political warfare designed to ensure their partisan advantage at the expense of our constitution and democratic institutions is devastating.' She lost the race to succeed her late husband in a special election earlier this year following Cummings' death. Former Rep. Kweisi Mfume now holds the seat, in a Baltimore district Trump once attacked as 'rat-infested.' The D.C.-based consultant has a forthcoming book, 'RAGEISM,' and wrote the final chapter of her husband's book, 'We're Better Than This.' Say hello to smallcase Gateway which allows even non-brokerage platforms to offer stocks, ETFs & smallcases to their base in a native, non-intrusive & compliant manner. Sounds complicated? It is not, in fact, complex workflows getting abstracted and exposed through simple to integrate APIs is a major trend that has impacted all the major industries like payments, location tracking, etc. and is now impacting financial services as well. So, how exactly is all this done? The answer is APIFication. Application Programming Interface (API)-Fication allows an organization to interact and share information with other firms seamlessly through APIs. It helps in reducing costs, increase business agility, and by doing all this you can get to keep your customers happy. smallcase is building the digital infrastructure that helps simplify investing. It started with building a portfolio investment experience on top brokerage platforms followed by the Publisher platform for advisors which helped them scale their research by leveraging technology to build automated solutions. smallcase Gateway, the latest addition to this infrastructure stack, allows websites or apps to enable stock, ETF, or smallcases transactions natively on their platform through the top brokers in India in a secure manner. The list of partner brokers with smallcase Gateway is wide so it covers most of the top brokers operating in India. Clients with brokerage accounts with Zerodha, HDFC Securities, 5paisa, AxisDirect, IIFL Securities, Edelweiss, AliceBlue, and Trustline, can now seamlessly buy or sell stocks, ETFs, or smallcases through smallcase Gateway. smallcase Gateway is easy-to-integrate and has cross-platform support. The complexity of custom workflows across different brokers is abstracted and a simple set of APIs are exposed to partner platforms (called as Gateway Partners). Gateway has cross-platform support with native Android, iOS, JS, and Cordova SDKs. Investors also get a uniform transaction experience while transacting through Gateway as the interface is standardized across all brokers. Through an embeddable widget, a transactable stock or smallcase can be added on any platform with just 2 lines of code. This works very similar to how a YouTube Video or tweet gets embedded in an article. smallcase Gateway on Moneycontrol: Moneycontrol users can now transact in stocks and ETFs directly on the Moneycontrol app & website through the smallcase Gateway. The user can transact from the widget that is embedded in stock pages, watchlist, or the stock widget in the article. Transactions can be triggered by clicking on the Trade CTA. Well, security is a top priority when it comes to smallcase Gateway. The transactions are absolutely secure. It happens in a secure and compliant manner on the broker's platform and shares are credited directly into the user's linked Demat account. The transaction flow is simple and easy to understand. The users need to log in with their broking account, post-login an order window will open where they can select the order type (buy/sell). Enter the number of shares and confirm the order. Once the order is placed users see the transaction status inside the gateway and also once they are redirected back to the Moneycontrol platform. The good part is that there is post-transaction tracking. Post-transaction, users also get an option to add the transaction details to their Moneycontrol portfolio where they can track their transactions. Interesting use-cases/integrations: Lets understand the process by examining various use cases of the smallcase Gateway. SBI Mutual Fund, Nippon India, and Mirae Asset Mutual Fund have integrated the smallcase Gateway to power ETF transactions on their websites. Nippon India is leveraging the Gateway to further its mission to drive ETF adoption amongst retail investors. Investors can now invest in Nippon ETFs directly from the Nippon platform through their brokerage accounts BHARAT Bond can also be bought directly on the Bharatbond platform through the smallcase Gateway. Wealth management platforms such as Kuvera which is building a multi-asset platform where users will soon be able to transact in stocks and ETFs along with other asset classes. Advisory platforms such as Algosmith is also a new addition to the platform. Algosmith is an intelligent portfolio advisory platform launched by William ONeil India (WON). They recommend portfolios to investors based on their proprietary algorithms. These portfolios are created as smallcases; Gateway is powering the entire portfolio profile including the past performance, key ratios and rationale. Investors can transact & track their smallcases directly on the Algosmith platform through the smallcase Gateway here. New Demat a/c opening through smallcase Gateway: Users who don't have a Demat account can also open a Demat account through smallcase Gateway digitally. Happy Investing! Durham University has taken back its offer of a place to a prospective student following an investigation into 'utterly abhorrent' comments made in a freshers' social media group. The prestigious university was shaken by claims new students were planning a competition for 'posh lads' to have sex with the poorest girl on campus. Group chats, believed to be for freshers who will be inducted from September 28, were exposed in Facebook group 'Overheard at Durham Uni' earlier this month. One student had his place withdrawn while two other prospective male students 'were not found to have fallen short' of the university's values, reported The Times. One of the chats, believed to have around 60 members, discussed rape and whether or not members would 'snitch' on each other by sharing their messages. A chat from the 'Durham Boys Making All The Noise' group also exposed plans for 'posh lads' to compete to sleep with the 'poorest' girl at the university. Durham University was shaken by claims that new students planned a competition for 'posh lads' to have sex with the poorest girl on campus (pictured: the Gatehouse) Horrified students drew university authorities' attention to the leaked messages, demanding they 'condemn this behaviour with action'. Durham University launched an investigation and vowed to kick out the offending students, saying the 'unacceptable' chat 'violated the values and behaviours that we uphold as a university community'. Jeremy Cook, the pro-vice chancellor for colleges and student experience, said others who were investigated were pretending to be students to fraudulently sell tickets to non-existent freshers' events. He added: 'If other comments of an abhorrent nature are found to be genuine and attributable we will take further action to ensure that those individuals have no place at Durham University.' A chat from the 'Durham Boys Making All The Noise' group also exposes plans for 'posh lads' to compete to sleep with the 'poorest' girl at the university Group chats, believed to be for freshers who will be inducted from September 28, were exposed in Facebook group 'Overheard at Durham Uni' earlier this month The group chat includes messages such as 'First rule about boys club You don't talk about boys club' - followed by 'Who tf leaks a lads chat fr' and 'I'm not a snitch so I'm not about to rat you out from the other group convo'. Another message states: 'But keep out of it like, everything we say should be taken with a pinch of salt, that's what epitomises a lad or boy.' The chat refers to '10 lads who got fined and excluded from uni For making sexist jokes'. A responding post states: 'Time to go all Gestapo on this chat then ey'. Sexism and rape is also discussed in the group chat, with one member writing: 'Yh n aren't Durham dead on it w sexism n all that since that lad from durham was accused of rape a few years ago'. A second member replies: 'It's called being a whore'. A third adds: 'Can't get enough since girls don't put out'. In one discussion, a person wrote: 'So many people get accused of rape. I'm always worried about it after.' Another said: 'I know maybe 15 girls who say they've been raped and not one taken to court. Or a police report. 'And women will always believe women mostly.' One member told The Tab Durham that he believed the chat was a 'freshers' chat for lads that was probably set up by freshers' ticket companies'. 'The purpose of the chat wasn't to objectify women or any of that,' he claimed. 'Most of the chat was just lads getting to know each other with those ridiculous exceptions'. The group chat includes messages such as 'First rule about boys club You don't talk about boys club' - followed by 'Who tf leaks a lads chat fr' and 'I'm not a snitch so I'm not about to rat you out from the other group convo' Durham University launched an investigation and vowed to kick out the offending students, saying the 'unacceptable' chat 'violated the values and behaviours that we uphold as a university community' But disgusted students decided to shame the 'Durham Boys Making All The Noise' members after obtaining screenshots of the message thread. An accompanying post read: 'As you can see their language is absolutely vile. Have also been talking about spiking girls drinks in freshers. 'This is just awful behaviour and as a mother it scares me to death that boys who are only 18 are capable of being so disgusting towards women. 'It's well known that Durham has a bad rate of sexual assault let's make sure we're all tackling that and call those out when needed. Also lads competing to f*** the poorest fresher. 'Absolutely breaks my heart that this type of stuff exists!!!!' One student, who asked to remain anonymous, said they were 'outraged' by the content, adding: 'It's made girls say that they're now scared to come to Durham Uni'. Others told the university to take action, claiming: 'I hope you're aware that there's a freshers 'lads' group chat with loads of boys discussing ways to use date rape drugs on girls, discussing them like objects and making plans to 's**g the poorest girl'. Rugby international, 20, becomes the fourth Durham University student in three years to walk free despite sex assault claims after he gives woman a 'heartfelt apology' at start of his trial An international rugby player has become the fourth Durham University student in three years to walk free from a court after being accused of a sex attack on a fellow undergraduate. Christopher Twigg, 20, who has played for the Thailand team, was charged with sexual assault after he allegedly touched a female student following a rugby social night. But prosecutors dropped the case after Twigg agreed to apologise to his victim, without admitting any guilt. It follows a series of cases involving students at the university, two of whom had cases dropped. Advertisement 'Disgusting. Show us how much you condemn this behaviour with your actions. Show us how much you care about the safety of your students. Will you allow them on campus with their quite clear intent?' At the time Mr Cook told MailOnline: 'The university has been made aware of some utterly abhorrent comments on social media that we understand may have been posted by Durham students. 'Durham University utterly condemns the content and behaviour demonstrated in these social media posts. This is entirely unacceptable and violates the values and behaviours that we uphold as a university community. 'We instigated an immediate investigation by our student disciplinary team as soon as we were made aware of these social media posts. 'If these posts are found to be genuine and attributable, we will take action to ensure that those involved will have no place at Durham University.' The university also told The Tab Durham: 'Our students are regularly reminded to display positive and collegial conduct, an exercise responsibility and respect for others, particularly through their social media interactions.' It comes after an international rugby player became the fourth Durham student in three years to walk free from a court after being accused of a sex attack. Christopher Twigg, 20, who has played for Thailand, was charged with sexual assault after he allegedly touched a female student following a rugby social night. But prosecutors dropped the case in January last year after Twigg agreed to apologise to his victim, without admitting any guilt. Christopher Twigg, 20, was charged with sexual assault after he allegedly touched a female student following a rugby social night. But prosecutors dropped the case in January last year after Twigg agreed to apologise to his victim, without admitting any guilt A Durham University student and rugby international was cleared of three sex attacks on a female undergraduate after giving her a 'heartfelt apology' instead of going to trial It follows a series of cases involving students at the university, two of whom had cases dropped and was cleared. In January 2016, Louis Richardson, the former secretary of the university's Union Society, was accused of raping a woman when she was 'crazy drunk'. But he was cleared by a jury after less than three hours of deliberations and later told of the '15 months of absolute hell' he had been put through by the case. In July that year, undergraduate George Worrall was facing three counts of rape, but just weeks before he was due to stand trial, the CPS decided not to proceed. In that case, the CPS said that, following a review of the case, the prospect of a conviction appeared 'very unlikely' due to 'inconsistencies of the victim's account'. The next year, student Alastair Cooke saw the rape case against him dropped. Jurors could not agree on a verdict in his trial and prosecutors decided not seek a retrial. Mr Cooke, a third-year geology and geophysics student, was weeks away from an expected first class degree when he was arrested in 2015 on suspicion of raping a 23-year-old student in her home when she drunk. File / Hearst Connecticut Media GREENWICH A New Jersey man was charged this week with a felony in connection with allegedly sending sexually explicit videos and pictures to a 15-year-old youth from Greenwich, police said. Sean Rathfon, 23, of Morningside Avenue, North Haledon, was extradited Wednesday from New Jersey to Greenwich and charged with risk of injury to a minor. CHICAGO, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ActiveCampaign, the leader in Customer Experience Automation (CXA), announced today the launch of native integrations with payment processing leaders Stripe and PayPal. These new integrations add to ActiveCampaign's ever-expanding App Ecosystem with over 300+ apps and integrations, empowering customers in the ecommerce, retail and technology verticals to create more meaningful customer experiences by making their payment processing more powerful and personalized. Businesses can now seamlessly connect their Stripe or PayPal accounts to ActiveCampaign through native integrations, and use payer data to orchestrate unique customer experiences based on real-time billing events and transactions. Customers can now trigger automations when an order is created, when a payment fails, or when a charge is successful or failed or set automated and personalized follow ups to engage customer post-purchase. Other companies offering payment platform integrations require manual processes and coding with webhooks and API keys. ActiveCampaign allows companies of all sizes to use payment events in automations through a simple drag-and-drop interface. Oleg Maslovskiy, founder of CG Academy, a Prague-based company focused on teaching CGI education courses and workshops for architecture students and designers, uses Stripe to manage the processing and billing of his courses. "I can now more seamlessly follow up with students post-registration, since all my contact and payments data are in one place. The ActiveCampaign integration with Stripe enables me to capture and act on payment events instantly from one, single platform." With over 70% of ActiveCampaign customers using integrations from the App Ecosystem, the Stripe and PayPal integrations further enable customers to customize tech stacks that make the most sense for their business. "Our App Ecosystem empowers businesses to make use of data from all their preferred applications as they engage with their customers. Because they can house all this data within the ActiveCampaign platform, they gain a centralized view of each customer, making the creation of personalized customer experiences turnkey and efficient," says Shay Howe, VP of Platform Strategy. Boilerplate About ActiveCampaign ActiveCampaign's category-defining Customer Experience Automation Platform helps over 100,000 businesses in 170 countries meaningfully engage with their customers. The platform gives businesses of all sizes access to hundreds of pre-built automations that combine email marketing, marketing automation, CRM, and machine learning for powerful segmentation and personalization across social, email, messaging, chat, and text. Over 70% of ActiveCampaign's customers use its 300+ integrations including Shopify, Square, Facebook, Eventbrite, Wordpress and Salesforce. ActiveCampaign scores higher in customer satisfaction than any other solution in Marketing Automation on G2.com and is the 2020 Top Rated Email Marketing Software on TrustRadius. Pricing starts at just $9/month. Start a free trial at ActiveCampaign.com. About Stripe Stripe is a global technology company that builds economic infrastructure for the internet. Millions of businesses of every sizefrom new startups to public companiesuse the company's software to accept payments and manage their businesses online. Over the long term, Stripe aims to increase the GDP of the internet. For more information, visit: https://stripe.com/ 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 consumers and merchants in more than 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit paypal.com. Media Contact: Sam Miller 630.200.6958 [email protected] SOURCE ActiveCampaign Related Links http://www.activecampaign.com We publish information about wines grown from certified organic or Biodynamic vineyards that are generally made with sulfites (which are usually added in small amounts to preserve the wine). That includes these certification types: ORGANIC WINE CERTIFICATIONS Made with Organic Grapes Vineyards: certified organic Vinification : less than 100 ppm of sulfites (i.e. a normal range) Winery: certified organic facility Labeling : front or back label Ingredients: Organic Grapes Vineyards : certified organic Vinification: up to 350 ppm of sulfites (same as for any non organic wine) Labeling: back label only BIODYNAMIC CERTIFICATIONS Biodynamic Wine Vineyards : certified biodynamic Yeasts : native Vinification : less than 100 ppm of sulfites; no additives of any kind Winery: certified biodynamic facility Labeling: front or back label; Demeter logo may appear Made with Biodynamic Grapes Vineyards : certified biodynamic Yeasts : native or organic Vinification: less than 100 ppm of sulfites; limited number of additives permitted Winery: certified biodynamic facility Labeling: front or back Note : unlike organically grown wines, for which there is a category called "Ingredients: Organic Grapes," wines sourced from biodynamic grapes may not make any biodynamic claim on the bottle label. Bottle labeling is reserved for Demeter certified wines only. SULFITES IN CONTEXT According to U.C. Davis, t he average among all wines in the U.S. (as well as globally) is 80 ppm. WHAT THE USDA CALLS ORGANIC WINES Unlike any other nation, the U.S. oddly imposes a no sulfite restriction on wines in order for them to be called Organic Wine. These wines are also called NSA or NAS wines (which stands for "No Sulfites Added" or "No Added Sulfites.") From the above description, one can see that there are in fact three types of organically grown wines: 1. Organic Wine (less than 15% of all organically grown wine) 2. Made with Organic Grapes 3. Ingredients: Organic Grapes The vast majority of wines from organic grapes are labeled Made with Organic Grapes, Ingredients: Organic Grapes or are blended with nonorganic grapes and unlabeled. Fine winemakers do not generally make wine without sulfites and a number of large wine retailers like BevMo do not sell wine in the category of "USDA Organic Wine." With rare exceptions, this blog does not cover what the USDA calls "Organic Wine." We are hopeful that the USDA will revise the categorization of organically grown wines and make NSA or NAS wines a category of their own. This would put the U.S. in accord with the rest of the world, where "Organic Wine" means a wine from certified grapes made within limits on sulfites (generally under 100-150 ppm). Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Civil Liberties Alliance, a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group, today filed a petition for rehearing en banc in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the case of Michelle Cochran v. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. NCLAs client, Michelle Cochran, is contesting last months 2-1 panel decision that erroneously dismissed her case based on a purported lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. Ms. Cochran wants to challenge the unconstitutional protections from removal by the President enjoyed by Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Instead, the panel decision would deny her the immediate opportunity to have her constitutional claim heard by a real Article III federal judge. The ALJ would not be able to rule on her constitutional claim, so it makes no sense to deny her access to a judge competent to decide the validity of her claims. Forcing her to go through a second unconstitutional SEC hearing before she can raise her constitutional objections is illogical. Ms. Cochran argues that these ALJs enjoy multiple layers of protection from removal by the President of the United States. Currently, ALJs can only be removed for cause, and the only people who can remove them are SEC Commissioners and the Merit Systems Protection Boardpeople whom the President can only remove for cause. Such double insulation of powerful bureaucrats from presidential control violates the Constitution. NCLA seeks full court review on behalf of Ms. Cochran because the panel decision conflicts with a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Free Enterprise Fund v. PCAOB, which held that federal officers may only enjoy one layer of for-cause removal protection. Two layers of protection (or double insulation) unduly interferes with the Presidents Article II constitutional duty to ensure that officers are doing their jobs. The PCAOB case also held unanimously that federal district courts have jurisdiction to hear removal-based constitutional challenges. The panel majority also misapplies a recent Fifth Circuit panel decision in the case of Bank of Louisiana v. FDIC. That case was decided under an entirely different statute (that explicitly stripped jurisdiction), and the judges there neither considered nor ruled on any statute or issue that bears on the law to be applied in this case. First charged by the SEC in 2016, Ms. Cochran has already endured one full trial before an unconstitutional ALJ. In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Lucia v. SEC that the ALJ who presided over Ms. Cochrans first proceeding over four years ago was unconstitutionally appointed in violation of Article II, vacating all proceedings she had gone through in 2016-17. Now, eight years after the events she was charged for, the SEC insists on retrying her before a still unconstitutional ALJ. If left to stand, the panels flawed decision will condemn single mother Michelle Cochran and other Americans like her to another cycle of futile administrative proceedings that violate the Constitution and due process rights. Read full case summary here. Watch case video here. NCLA released the following statement: Michelle Cochran should not have to go through a second unconstitutional hearing before she is allowed to challenge whether the ALJwho can impose life-ruining penalties and industry bars on heris constitutional. This deeply flawed panel majority decision admits that Ms. Cochran might prevail someday on her claims, perhaps at the Supreme Court. NCLA is confident that a consensus of circuit judges will agree with Judge Catharina Hayness dissent that forcing Ms. Cochran through a second administrative trial that could later be vacated by a court makes no senseand deprives her of due process of law and her civil liberties. Peggy Little, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA ABOUT NCLA NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights. ### TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / Statement by Brian Kingston, President & CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association: "The members of the CVMA welcome the government's continued commitment to helping people and businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our members have been an important partner in Canada's response to the health crisis through the manufacturing of critical personal protection equipment. We were pleased the Speech recognized the extraordinary efforts of Canadian manufacturers in the fight against COVID-19." "We remain committed to continued partnership on the economic recovery and achieving Canada's climate objectives. This can best be achieved through programs to accelerate the adoption of a full range of newer vehicles, including zero emission vehicles, that provide increased fuel efficiency and safety. With the right supports, the Canadian auto sector can help to drive the economic recovery from the pandemic." For further information, please contact: Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association Office: 416.364.9333 About the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (CVMA) The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association is the industry association that has represented Canada's leading manufacturers of light and heavy duty motor vehicles for more than 90 years. Its membership includes FCA Canada Inc.; Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited and General Motors of Canada Company. Collectively its members operate 4 vehicle assembly plants as well as engine and components plants, and have over 1,300 dealerships. 136,000 jobs are directly tied to vehicle assembly in Canada. Direct and indirect jobs associated with vehicle manufacturing are estimated at over 792,000 across Canada. Please visit www.cvma.ca . SOURCE: Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607559/CVMA-Statement-on-the-Speech-from-the-Throne 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 New Delhi: Actress Deepika Padukone, who has been summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the ongoing drug probe, will arrive in Mumbai later today from Goa. She was in Goa since a week to shoot for an upcoming project. Deepika will land in Mumbai from a chartered plane in the afternoon, after which she has a few meetings lined-up with her lawyers. The actress has to join the NCB probe on Friday. Deepika's name emerged in the drug-related chats on Monday. Her 2017 chats with manager Karishma Prakash had surfaced in which the actress allegedly asked for 'maal, hash'. Karishma was summoned by the NCB after the WhatsApp chats surfaced. However, citing ill-health, she skipped the probe. It has been learnt that she is with Deepika in Goa and will join the probe with her on Friday. Meanwhile, actress Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh and designer Simone Khambatta have also been summoned by the NCB. Simone appeared before the agency today while Rakul said that she has "not received the alleged summons". Sara and Shraddha will be questioned on Saturday. Several Bollywood names have popped up in connection with the drugs angle in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. His actress girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty has already been arrested by the NCB. Mississippi First Place in the State Category 2020 Future Ready Awards This year's Future Ready Awards are presented to jurisdictions whose initiatives are paving the way toward new public-sector innovations in an uncertain world. Mississippi MISSI Chatbot In addition to winning an overall Government Experience award, Mississippi is also a Future Ready winner for its MISSI chatbot. The first state to deploy a statewide website chatbot, Mississippi continues to enhance the chatbot and expand its services to multiple state and local government agencies. It currently supports 400 kinds of interactions. MISSI is integrated into the ms.gov design, serving users immediately upon every site visit, no matter the device. The new experience of this popular support service has led to over 75,000 chat interactions with citizens. Here is an example of how it works: Individuals searching for unclaimed property can simply let MISSI perform the search and return information about any outstanding and unclaimed funds directly in the chat interface. Additional future implementations will include completing driver's license exam appointments directly within MISSI. The use of MISSI after COVID jumped way up, said Michele Blocker, interim executive director of the state Department of Information Technology Services. "People went on ms.gov to get pandemic information and as she answers, she always ends by saying, 'Is there anything else I can help with, such as renew a drivers license?' Then it occurs to them that there are other things they could get help with." El Pasos EPStrong On Aug. 3, 2019, the tragic shooting at a local Walmart that took many lives devastated the El Paso, Texas, community. The city government quickly set up its epstrong.org website to provide information to the community, the press and local partners. In early March 2020 when the pandemic struck, city leaders realized they could use the same webpage for current updates with COVID-19-related information. The GIS team partnered with the Health Department, local hospitals, El Paso County, and many other jurisdictions to develop a local dashboard with daily COVID-19 data for the entire El Paso Metroplex. Orange County, Fla., Property Appraisers Projects The Orange County, Fla., Property Appraiser's office (OCPA) kicked off the new decade by deploying an array of new citizen-centric applications, including a field appraiser survey tool (F.A.S.T.) and a website chatbot that use artificial intelligence to serve constituents digitally. OCPA also developed a mobile app, a robust social media presence to communicate directly with taxpayers and an interactive website. F.A.S.T., OCPA's new customer service survey tool, employs Microsoft Cognitive Services, Azure Cloud deployment, and Twilio API for SMS-based workflow and communication. It offers field appraisers a convenient way to collect feedback on staff conducting field appraisals. This feedback is analyzed using emotional intelligence technology, flagging keywords or terms that it deems as highly positive or negative. The Ask Rick chatbot has engaged in 9,100 conversations since late 2019. It uses AI-based conversational analysis to engage with constituents and alert trained staff when a complex request is beyond the scope of its capability. These new technologies are allowing OCPA to better assist and communicate with constituents across multiple platforms. Cabarrus County, N.C. First Place in the County Category San Diego, Calif. First Place in the City Category COVID-19 has proved to be a good barometer of state and local governments ability to engage with and inform citizens, and never has providing online services been more important. That makes this years Government Experience Awards, an annual program from the Center for Digital Government,* even more significant than usual. The award program is designed to recognize the achievements and overall best practices of government agencies that have gone to the Web and beyond to radically improve the experience of government and push the boundaries of how services are delivered.Winners this year deploy an array of channels with associated application programming interfaces (APIs) that provide deep data integration with operations to ensure they are providing up-to-date information. With broader channel toolboxes for the development of consistent citizen experience across all agencies, these governments continued to serve citizens well even though they were forced to close their physical doors.Over the past several years, Mississippi has developed an impressive array of citizen communication channels ranging from chatbots and push notifications to mobile applications that allow for online license renewals. Taking advantage of APIs ensures that the state is providing citizens up-to-date and relevant information, and that has proven valuable during the pandemic. These channels have been developed with a deliberate strategy and close partnerships with state agencies, said Michele Blocker , interim executive director of the state Department of Information Technology Services.A perfect example is the states digital Hunting/Fishing Mobile Application, which allows users to purchase and store all available licenses on their mobile device, eliminating the need to carry hard copies. Users can opt in for an auto-renewal process upon purchasing a new license, and their eligible licenses will automatically and securely renew before their set annual expiration date.We work closely with agencies such as the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Blocker said. We wanted to make sure people have the ability to purchase licenses on their mobile phone without even having to be at a computer. We paid close attention to which features are used the most and then focused on creating applications and interfaces around those.Central to the states strategy was developing a simplified Web presence with a mobile-first strategy. The state's user experience team uses a universal design approach considering the needs of users first and foremost from the beginning of the design process.Mississippi is a very rural state, and while many citizens may not have Internet access, most do have a smartphone, Blocker explained. Anytime we look at application interfaces, we are making sure there is a mobile app, because we get the most usage and help the most citizens by having that app they can use on a smart device. We have an electronics oversight committee (EOC) that looks at all our e-gov work that we put into ms.gov. It has elected officials and executives from the larger regulatory bodies. That group gives very good input on what we need to focus on. Looking at it from a mobile perspective is always top of mind.Mississippi launches an average of 20 new services per year ranging from small content-only websites to complex, comprehensive applications. The EOC governance structure makes it accountable for delivering results that benefit citizens and the entire state government operation.The ability to send push notifications has proven valuable during the pandemic, Blocker said. We have an app called Mississippi Ready. If you sign up for it, you get a push notification with the updated numbers of cases and deaths. If you click that notification it will take you to the website for more information. The states myMS app encourages users to set and receive reminders and alerts for services important to them. In 2020, myMS was rebuilt from the ground up with a focus on speed and is now 40 percent faster.Mississippi has been a leader in terms of embedding emerging technologies into its Web presence. The website has enabled digital voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home, and it was the first state to deploy a statewide chatbot (see sidebar).Although the state has been eager to embrace new ways to engage citizens, Blocker said the website design team wants to make sure they are continuing to combine simplicity with responsiveness. We really like the fact that the website now is simple and concise. Our focus is on making sure that the front page has what citizens are most interested in. I havent looked today, but I would guess that Hurricane Sally has popped up on the front page. We want to be flexible and make changes based on what citizens are searching for to make it the most user-friendly website. When citizens find what they are looking for, they are going to come back.Researching details on properties in Cabarrus County, N.C., just northeast of Charlotte, has gotten much easier since county officials started making the data available in a format that matches how people actually search for it.We have a GIS mapping application, but the source data for that can lie in other systems, so when you pull up a property, we like to have a link so you can pull the deed and tax information in. It becomes a portal to all the information connected to that location, said Debbie Brannan, area county manager of innovation. People talk about being bounced from department to department when they go into a government for different services. We try to make sure all the services are pulled together in one spot, and try to anticipate their needs and what they are looking for associated with a property.That is just one example of the type of service that has gotten more intuitive to use. Third-party integrations through the use of APIs have allowed the county to enhance the Web services it offers the public, added Todd Shanley , the countys chief information officer.Rather than developing their own software or having to write custom interfaces, the county has shifted to commercial software platforms that it can build on and plug into other services and widgets via API. SeamlessDocs is integrated into the county website for questions and comments to be routed to the appropriate department for response. A widget called Userway.org is integrated into the website to increase accessibility.We use a product called BiTek for our tax system, Shanley said, and we needed a good way to do payments. We brought in a company called PayIt. Rather than having them go off and write an integration, our team facilitated that API and wrote a good bit of it with those vendors to make sure that process was seamless to our end users. That has been a big shift for us.Cabarrus County has a strong team and governance process focused on improving citizen engagement. Two years ago, Brannan moved from the CIO position into her innovation role, while Shanley took the CIO post. Together they work with the public information officer and communications and outreach department to prioritize changes and step up awareness of digital services available.I have been focusing on a cultural change to try to get everybody in the county, not just the IT department, involved in improving processes to ensure we are delivering services to the customers, Brannan said. The pandemic shined a light on that. People are looking for services, and we havent missed a beat. We use Accela software for our planning and zoning. We already had citizens access permits and inspections online and the numbers have actually increased over the previous year, even though our building is closed and people cant come in.The pandemic also has increased the use of video for virtual services. For example, the county building inspectors are using Microsoft Teams to do video inspections in the field. That is a game changer, not just during the pandemic, but longer term from a resource allocation standpoint, Shanley said.Brannan agreed that the wider use and acceptance of video meetings by the public during the pandemic may be the disruption needed to spur the use of video for county government services long term. One of her pet projects is to make that increased video usage permanent. I feel like the resistance sometimes comes from our internal customers," Brannan said. "They think external customers might not have the capability or know-how, but now our external customers have been using video to visit with their grandkids. As the technology is accepted in the public arena, it is easier for us to use those to deliver government services.Shanley said the flexibility in Web design and communication channels has served the county well during the pandemic. The key for us is that processes were already in place on our website and we just added the COVID topic information. So many services were present. Some may have been underutilized, but being able to leverage them allowed us to react to the needs of citizens very quickly.A major website redesign for the city of San Diego in 2016 started with a huge community engagement effort. We learned that the majority of people who come to our site have an action in mind: pay a bill or report a pothole, said Ron Vazquez, Web services manager. So we made sure all the action-oriented services are among the first things you see, such as our Get It Done feature, which spotlights the most common action items on SanDiego.gov.A three-pronged approach of responsive design, customer-centric theme and get it done mentality works well for the city. Vazquez said the city also has an analytics-driven continuous improvement mindset, based on the realization that what people are looking for always changes and website design trends change. We are always looking for ways to improve the site not so much that we are looking to add new technologies to our site, but improving on things we already have," he explained. "One example is our search function. We realized that there are other innovations out there like chatbots, but we figured that if our search didnt work properly, then what use would a chatbot be? We are always focused on what we have and how we can improve it.A strong Web design effort can actually start to break down silos between agencies and bolster a service-oriented mentality. Before the redesign, Vazquez said, each department had its own logo. It didnt look like one government entity. Yet citizens consider us one entity. We created a common One San Diego theme that all departments follow and a pattern library with all our design elements. They are also breaking down silos by creating a service-oriented structure. If you want pool hours, you go to "City of San Diego/pools." You dont have to know that Parks and Recreation is the department in charge of pools. By going down that path," he added, we are aligning ourselves with how the rest of the world thinks, which is not by departments.Some of these changes are in response to citizen feedback. When citizens submit non-emergency problems to the city for resolution, the cases are automatically forwarded to the responsible department, and since the cases are visible to the public, the city is held accountable for resolution times.Within departments, there is plenty of digital innovation taking place. Before the pandemic, a lot of the services the Developmental Services Department provided required in-person visits, Vazquez said. Now they have a fully online application process for all new projects. Requiring all new projects be processed online is an integral part of DigitalDSD, an initiative to modernize all workplace systems and cost-effectively leverage technology to increase productivity and improve service delivery to customers.They have doubled the number of permits you can apply for online, he said, and they are booking meetings through Microsoft Teams to meet with city planners and engineers entirely online now.Government Technology's A threat, a car chase and a ditched handgun led police officers to arrest two men on Friday, the Syracuse Police Department said. Someone reported a complaint in the area of 1600 Bellevue Ave. just before 10 a.m. Friday, Sgt. Matthew Malinowski said in a news release. Investigators learned 25-year-old Rayshawn Stackhouse had pointed a handgun at a woman during a dispute, police said. Stackhouse had fled the scene before police arrived, Malinowski said. When Syracuse officers Joseph Taylor and Patricia Sargeant responded to the area, they saw Stackhouse driving and attempted to pull him over, police said. Stackhouse continued to refuse to pull over and led police on a brief pursuit, police said. Police said Stackhouse threw a firearm out the window during the chase. The officers were eventually were able to stop and arrest him. They did not immediately find the discarded weapon in the area they believed it was thrown, police said. After further investigation, police determined that another man, 25-year-old Rahsean White, had retrieved the gun and hid it, Malinowski said. Officers located the gun in the area and seized the loaded, .40-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun, police said. Stackhouse was charged with felony second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, misdemeanor second-degree menacing, unlawfully fleeing a police officer and other traffic tickets. White was charged with tampering with physical evidence, a felony. Lillian White was approaching year two of her teaching career at Great Hearts Western Hills charter school in San Antonio, but her time was cut short. A week before students were set to return to class, White was fired for her refusal to stop wearing homemade masks that displayed phrases like "Black Lives Matter" and "Silence is Violence," according to KENS 5's Zack Briggs and Adam Pyle. It was really stressful because I have a financial obligation to help support my family. Its also kind of heartbreaking that this is the kind of this is the reason that I lost my job," she said. White told KENS 5 she started attending weekly in-person training sessions at work back in July, and at first, no one besides teachers inquiring about masks for themselves said anything about her facial coverings. On Friday, that changed. BLM CONTROVERSY: Texas teacher reinstated after BLM, LGBTQ virtual posters controversy Wed like you to stop wearing these masks anymore, parents will be coming around more and we dont discuss the current political climate, White told Briggs and Pyle, citing a text message she received from her school's assistant principal. White continued to wear the masks. In an emailed statement to KENS, Great Hearts Texas superintendent Daniel Scoggin said the district's policy requires facial coverings with no external messages. "Great Hearts was founded and exists today to serve the innate dignity and worth of every human being," the statement read, in part, as reported by Briggs and Pyles. "We stand with the Black community and all who are suffering. Great Hearts is committed to an America where racism, violence, and injustice do not happen, because such acts find no home in the hearts of a great people. Despite losing her job, White remains committed to the cause surrounding Black Lives Matter and is "still trying to get [the school] to enact some kind of anti-racism action plan." This story originally appeared in the October 2020 issue of Allure. Learn how to subscribe here. 17.4. That's roughly how many square miles are occupied by the town of Grasse in southeastern France. But for hundreds of years, going back to the 17th century, that tiny area was where many perfumers or les nez (noses), as they call themselves were born. The art form was passed from father to son, meaning most noses were descendants of other noses. To say the industry lacked diversity would be a gross understatement. Change has come slowly really, really slowly. "Fifteen years ago a 'diverse' perfumer meant a white man from Paris," says Arielle Weinberg, the founder of Arielle Shoshana, a fragrance boutique located outside of Washington, D.C. (She recently reached out to perfume schools to establish scholarships for Black students, but says they were not responsive and hopes that speaking with Allure will help change things.) In other words: It took four centuries for the industry to embrace a perfumer who was born a train ride away from Grasse. Today, perfumers are more likely to come from other parts of the world, like South America and Asia, and there's been a marked increase in the number of female perfumers. However, Black perfumers and Black-owned fragrance brands are incredibly few and far between. In fact, when we reached out to the world's leading fragrance houses for this story, one of them with thousands of employees across the globe didn't have a single Black perfumer on staff. "The traditions of perfumery are so tightly bound to Old World ideas of what a perfumer is that sometimes this breeds unconscious bias," says Gwen Gonzalez, a junior perfumer at Givaudan, who is one of few Black perfumers at major fragrance houses. "People who look like me are hardly ever a part of that world," Gonzalez adds. Christina Christie, a senior perfumer at International Flavors & Fragrances, has met only two other perfumers who are Black women during her decades-long career. Story continues The disparity becomes even more confounding when you compare the demographics of fragrance consumers with that of perfumers. Approximately 14 percent of the United States population identifies as Black, yet 22.37 percent of women's fragrance sales in 2017 about $152 million were attributed to Black consumers, according to Nielsen data. "Black fragrance consumers exist, and we definitely outnumber the Black creators behind the brands," says Kimberly Waters, who was an avid perfume collector before opening MUSE, the first and so far only niche fragrance retailer in New York City's Harlem. "What's been missing is the ability [for a diverse range of consumers] to really relate to a brand or creator," says Gonzalez. Meaningful change will require support from all corners of the industry, including fragrance buyers, distributors, and manufacturers. The first step is acknowledging the current disparity. "We have not done enough to promote diversity and inclusion," says Linda G. Levy, president of the Fragrance Foundation, a nonprofit created to support its industry members and educate consumers. As of this writing, the organization had formed an initiative dedicated to inclusion, with goals for mentorship, diversifying the pool of perfumers recognized at the Fragrance Foundation Awards (an annual ceremony recognizing top talent), and working with educational institutions, like the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, to make students aware of career opportunities in the fragrance industry. For Waters, that last item is key to fostering a new and diverse generation of talent. "If those opportunities are shown early on, young people will know there are careers in fragrance they can pursue," she says. And once that happens, Christie sees a future in which perfumery is taught with an eye toward what's next and not what once was: "I think the history of fragrance is causing us to stay in the past instead of looking toward the future," she says. Now it's time to create a new history." Here are some of the perfumers leading the way. Gwen Gonzalez, junior perfumer, Givaudan With a father in the military, Gonzalez spent time in Indiana, Oklahoma, and Georgia while growing up. But it was the years her family spent in Europe, and her love for the fragrances her mother bought there, that were the most formative. "One of my earliest memories is sneaking into my mom's collection and accidentally spilling one of the perfumes all over the bed; I was only two or three years old," says Gonzalez. "My mom found me rolling around in the sheets in a state of euphoria." A diversion from the college premed track she was on brought Gonzalez to Givaudan, the fragrance manufacturer behind scents from brands like Tom Ford and Carolina Herrera. Gonzalez started as a lab technician, combining raw materials to produce particular smells as instructed by perfumers. "I realized very quickly that perfumery was the perfect marriage between science and my love for fragrance," she says. Years later, she's risen through the ranks and had extensive training (provided by Givaudan) to become one of the few perfumers of color at a major fragrance house. But ultimately, "perfumery is an art that's only enriched by the culture and the ideas of the perfumer," says Gonzalez. "If you're only telling one story again and again, you're missing out on a consumer who could see themselves in a particular fragrance." Maya Njie, founder, Maya Njie Perfumes Njie whipped up candles as a kid in Sweden. "I always took pride in how my room smelled," she says. She moved to London as a teenager, working in fashion retail before obtaining a degree in surface design and photography. Yet, "I never felt like my creative work was completed until I could put a scent with it. I realized I used my nose more than the average person," says Njie. A family photo album from the '70s inspired the first scents for her line, Maya Njie Perfumes. "The pictures were taken [in Sweden] before I was born, so the [resulting fragrances] are a mixture of what I imagine the smells of those moments might have been, mixed with my own experience and West Gambian heritage." An eau de parfum called Vanilj, for example, combines cardamom, a spice often used in Swedish baking, with vanilla, musk, and cedarwood. For Njie, making young people aware of careers in fragrance and offering opportunities to them is a crucial step toward inclusivity. She never knew "perfumer" could be a career until people at her day job asked where they could buy the homemade scent she was wearing. "It felt so far away and removed from my life [growing up]," she says. Kimberly Walker, founder, Kimberly New York Originally from Jamaica, Walker moved with her family to New York City and then Florida when she was a young child. A lifelong love of fragrance sparked a 10-year career working at cosmetics counters in major department stores. It was the lack of diversity she saw among perfumers at leading fragrance brands that inspired her to start her own line. But "it was so far-fetched for me to travel to France to learn to make perfume," she says. So she taught herself basic chemistry and fragrance composition through YouTube, books, and "a lot of trial and error mixing raw materials at home," she says. I feel like not being constrained by all the rules helps you be a better artist. I'm happy I learned backwards." Playing by her own rules resulted in Walkers best-selling fragrance, Artsy, an out-of-the-box mix of African violet, sandalwood, red candied apple, and marshmallow. Chris Collins, founder, World of Chris Collins Collins, a brand ambassador for Polo Ralph Lauren for more than two decades, could have sat back and relaxed in his role as a face for the fashion house. Instead, the former model treated it like a crash course at the University of Ralph Lauren. "I soaked up everything I could," says Collins. "I used a lot of what I learned from [Ralph], both directly and indirectly, and put it into my own brand." That brand is World of Chris Collins, which was picked up by Bergdorf Goodman shortly after its 2018 launch. Collins considers himself a storyteller who uses scent instead of words to convey ideas, and works with perfumers to realize his visions. His first collection was inspired by the Harlem Renaissance, a nod to the rich history of his current neighborhood: A rum accord in his fragrance Harlem Nights was inspired by 1920s nightlife there, and the plum, cognac, and chili notes in Danse Sauvage evoke Josephine Baker's fiery spirit. "My stories come from my unique perspective," says Collins. "The more diversity we have, the more stories we get to hear." Christina Christie, senior perfumer, International Flavors & Fragrances Christie's career in fragrance began with meeting a job recruiter she found in the classifieds, who presented her with three entry-level options. One was as an executive assistant answering phones and scheduling meetings at the prestige fragrance division of Unilever Cosmetics International. The product development team often called upon colleagues to smell new scents and give their opinions, and it wasn't long before they noticed Christie had an unusually well-attuned nose (a natural ability, she supposes). "I was asked to be part of their team and thats when it all began," Christie says. "I knew then what I wanted to do with the rest of my life." After a stint at Coty in a similar role, Christie accepted a job at Takasago, a fragrance producer, eager for the formal perfumery training that came with it. But her current role at International Flavors & Fragrances, a manufacturer that creates both perfume and scents for consumer goods, was always her ultimate goal. "One of my proudest moments was when I won my first million-dollar project," she says. "And now my goals are a lot higher." Read more about ways to support Black creators: Now, see Skai Jackson's 10-minute makeup routine: Don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and Twitter. Originally Appeared on Allure MOUNT PLEASANT, MI The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribes new art exhibition addressing missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) is having its virtual grand opening this week. Entitled Boontak! (Stop it!): Stolen Daughters of Turtle Island, the community-curated exhibit is to have its online opening at noon on Friday, Sept. 25, at the tribes Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways, 6650 E. Broadway Road in Mount Pleasant. The virtual grand opening will be presented on www.sagchip.org. The exhibition seeks to raise awareness about the atrocities of the MMIWG crisis impacting Tribal communities across Turtle Island, the tribe stated in a press release. Turtle Island is a term for Earth or North America in many Native American and Indigenous tribes. The exhibit features 94 portraits of North American Indian women and girls, including one of U. S. Representative Deb Haaland, D-New Mexico, who volunteered to represent those who are missing and/or deceased. Saginaw Chippewa photographer Marcella Hadden and her granddaughter Christina Benz took the photographs over the course of three months in 2019. The exhibition also features the following original artworks: Luverne Adamson, Highway of Tears, acrylic painting Shirley Brauker, Gone, ledger drawing Dr. Suzanne Cross, MMIWG beaded medallion, shawl and skirt Jenny Davis, Birth of Deer Woman, graphic art Joe Fisher, She Dreamt, MMIWG sculpture Glenna Jenkins, MMIWG beaded medallion Nickole Keith, Nnoshe, My Maternal Aunt, painting Joey Kennedy, No More MMIW, earrings Nayana LaFond, Stacey and Shiloh, two acrylic paintings Diane Leksche, Kaleidoscope Facets: Standing Tall Breeze, stained glass art mandala Aryl Ruffino, two photographic canvasses Roger High, Sarah Hughes and Ellie Van Horn, MMIWG quilt Angela Peters and Ellie Mitchell , MMIWG jingle dress Allyssa Shawboose, Niintam Na? (Am I next?), animation MMIWG is affecting every Indigenous community, the tribe continued. Therefore, in 2019 the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigans community formed the MMIWG Committee to acknowledge and address this epidemic of violence. The exhibit, both somber and hopeful, seeks to express the pain of the epidemic, draw attention to MMIWG cold cases, reduce future disappearances and deaths, and offer a point of healing. This exhibit illuminates the devastating impact of these losses within Indigenous communities. The Saginaw Chippewas MMIWG Committee believes this crisis is a larger human rights issue which we must all work to confront. The MMIWG exhibit is one way of calling attention to the injustices of Indigenous women and girls across Turtle Island, said Marcella Hadden, co-curator and photographer. Until change in reporting and the seriousness is given to this matter, all Native women continue to be at risk. The MMIWG movement was catalyzed by Indigenous women protesting man camps, which are temporary housing units built by extractive industries, such as fossil fuels, typically for non-Indigenous, non-local workers in rural areas bordering on or near Indian reservations. Man camps often span the colonial borders of the United States and Canada. Nearby Indigenous communities or border towns experience increased incidences of violence, robberies, sexual assault, and human trafficking, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe states. The enthusiasm and love that has been shown toward the Boontak! (Stop it!): Stolen Daughters of Turtle Island exhibit has been inspiring, said co-curator William Johnson. Recently, I fielded a call from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe from the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. They support our efforts and look forward to the exhibit going virtual. The Boontak! (Stop it!): Stolen Daughters of Turtle Island exhibition will be on display at the Ziibiwing Center from Sept. 25 through to May 5. During the exhibitions course, complementary virtual MMIWG events will be offered by Central Michigan University, Mid Michigan Community College and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan. For more information about the exhibition and events, contact the Ziibiwing Center at 989-775-4750, on Facebook, or visit www.sagchip.org/ziibiwing. The center is temporarily closed to the public due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Read more: Vandals target Michigan historic site where Native American children were forced to assimilate into white culture Saginaw Valley State says anti-LGBTQ preacher sparked student protest on campus Mom files lawsuit claiming Bay City man killed son in drunken driving crash Alliance councillor Sorcha Eastwood has said she was shocked after receiving an anonymous rape threat when she stood for election for the first time in 2017. Her revelation comes after a survey carried out by the Belfast Telegraph which found more than a quarter of female MLAs have been sexually harassed during their political life. Read More Former Irish president Mary McAleese has also spoken out about how "revolting sexism" was "part and parcel" of her political career. Expand Close Mary McAleese / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mary McAleese Dr McAleese, who was born in Belfast and served two terms as president of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. told BBC News NI's The View that she has experienced "cat calling, nasty language and being sneered at because she is a woman". She said it led her to "develop a skin" that allowed her to "call it it out for what it is - violent and revolting". "Sexism is designed to make you shrink and go away and be silent but it did the opposite with me," she said. "It made me quite determined to use whatever leverage I have to speak out and call it out," she added. Read More Lagan Valley representative Ms Eastwood was taking part in a discussion about sexism faced by female politicians in Northern Ireland on the BBCs Red Lines podcast. She said: "The biggest shock for me was 2017 when I stood for election for the first time and I had just walked out of church with my husband and I looked at my phone because we were about to go to my mums house and I had a private message from somebody which was a rape threat. "I just thought I did not sign up for this, absolutely lets debate the substantive policy issues, lets robustly disagree, lets have all of that stuff, but whenever people start acting in that way... I think they almost feel a lot less inhibited because they dont have to put their name to it, they don't have to put their face." Speaking in an interview with Good Morning Ulster on Thursday, the councillor said she struggled to cast her mind back to the abuse she received when asked to speak about the issue. "It wasnt until I thought about it and I said - that happened to me, it was the first time I stood for election and was involved in frontline politics. "I just looked at my screen and there it was, it completely invaded my personal space, it violated my privacy and my right to not receive threats and it really just stuck with me." Ms Eastwood said she feels it's time society took collective action on abuse. I feel it is important for me to speak out because it is not my fault that that happened, I didnt deserve it and every single woman, person, man or child that experiences these things should have the confidence that the community will rally around them whenever it happens I felt a bit embarrassed to say that I didnt speak out at the time but part of the reason was because it was from an anonymous account and that is the main problem now with social media and the nature of some of these things that are coming through. It's about time that we really took action on it. It shouldnt just be that the onus is on the person who received the abuse." An airline technical worker was killed yesterday after being struck by lightning at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi. Illustrative image:A Vietnam Airlines aircraft at Noi Bai International Airport. Photo cafef.vn The 40-year-old man was working at the airport when the accident happened. He worked for Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company. The worker was checking a Vietnam Airlines plane that was scheduled to leave Ha Noi for Vinh City when a bolt of lightning struck the right wing of the plane and killed him. He died on the way to the hospital. Tran Hoai Phuong, director of the Northern Airports Authority, said the accident was a very sad and rare case. This was the first time a technical worker has been killed by lightning at the airport. Phuong said the airport has sufficient and standard lightning protection system and all equipment at the airport is checked regularly to ensure safety. VNS Survey of geosynchronous orbital debris led by University of Warwick found over 75% of debris detected could not be matched to known objects in public satellite catalogues Survey of geosynchronous orbital debris led by University of Warwick found over 75% of debris detected could not be matched to known objects in public satellite catalogues Astronomers are calling for more regular surveys with large telescopes to help quantify the risks posed to active satellites Many of the objects detected show optical signatures of tumbling, providing insight into the dynamical evolution of debris within the geosynchronous environment First instalment of DebrisWatch, an ongoing collaboration between the University of Warwick and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (UK) University of Warwick astronomers are warning that orbital debris posing a threat to operational satellites is not being monitored closely enough, as they publish a new survey finding that over 75% of the orbital debris they detected could not be matched to known objects in public satellite catalogues. The astronomers are calling for more regular deep surveys of orbital debris at high altitudes to help characterise the resident objects and better determine the risks posed to the active satellites that we rely on for essential services, including communications, weather monitoring and navigation. The research forms part of DebrisWatch, an ongoing collaboration between the University of Warwick and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (UK) aiming to provide a fresh take on surveys of the geosynchronous region that have been conducted in the past. The results are reported in the journal Advances in Space Research. The research was part-funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), part of UK Research and Innovation, and was supported by the Royal Society. This survey was optimised to search for faint debris, objects that are too small or poorly reflective to be regularly monitored and recorded in publicly available catalogues. The US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) maintains the most complete public catalogue of space objects, using its global Space Surveillance Network (SSN) comprising over 30 ground-based radars and optical telescopes, alongside 6 satellites in orbit. The SSN is able to monitor high-altitude objects down to roughly 1 metre in diameter. Although certain residents of the geosynchronous region are often referred to as 'stationary', collisions can still occur with relative velocities of kilometres per second. With this in mind, even small objects could cause a lot of damage to an active satellite. Images from the survey were analysed using a custom software pipeline designed to pick out candidate debris objects and investigate their brightness over time. The resulting 'light curves' contain a wealth of information about the objects themselves, including their shape, surface properties and attitude, but are also affected by other factors like viewing geometry and atmospheric interference. Disentangling these components remains a very difficult task, and large quantities of high-quality data will be key to developing and refining the necessary techniques. The astronomers focused their survey on the geosynchronous region, located roughly 36,000 kilometres above the Equator, where satellites orbit with a period that matches the Earth's rotation. Far above the outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere, there are no natural mechanisms (like atmospheric drag) to induce orbital decay, so debris generated in the vicinity of the geosynchronous region will remain there for a very long time indeed. To help them uncover faint debris, the astronomers made use of the Isaac Newton Telescope on the Canary Island of La Palma, which has a large 2.54 m aperture, allowing it to collect photons of light over a large area. They used an optimised strategy to ensure that the sunlight reflecting off of candidate objects would fall within the same pixels of the camera, to increase their chances of being detected. Strips of sky were scanned above, along and below the geostationary belt, where most of the operational geosynchronous satellites reside. The majority of the orbital tracks detected by the astronomers had brightnesses corresponding to roughly 1 metre or less. Sure enough, over 95% of these faint detections failed to match with a known object in the publicly available USSTRATCOM catalogue, as they are too faint to be regularly and reliably monitored by the SSN. When the researchers included all their detections - including those above and below 1m - over 75% failed to match. Lead author James Blake, a PhD student in the University of Warwick Department of Physics, said: "The light curves extracted from our survey images show just how varied these objects can be, both in terms of their physical nature and of their attitude or behaviour within orbit. Many of the faint, uncatalogued debris appear to be tumbling, showing significant brightness variation across the observation window. These sorts of features can tell us a lot about the perturbative forces acting on residents of the geosynchronous region, but also highlight that we need to be more careful when making assumptions about the properties of these objects. We need to probe the faint debris population further and obtain more data to gain a better understanding of what's out there. "It's important that we continue to observe the geosynchronous region with large telescopes wherever possible, to start to build up a more complete feel for the faint debris environment. With this survey, we've probed deeper than ever before, and still the population appears to be climbing as our sensitivity limit is reached. While we're dealing with small number statistics here, it's unsurprising that we see many more small, faint objects than large, bright ones." Artificial debris orbiting the Earth can originate for a number of reasons: the satellites themselves become debris when they reach the end of their mission lifetime; rocket bodies abandoned after successfully launching their payloads can explode or 'break-up' after many years in orbit; collisions can occur between orbiting bodies, sometimes resulting in thousands of new fragments; the harsh environment of space can deteriorate satellites over time, shedding bits of insulating blanket and paint flakes. The astronomers are now investigating ways to extract even more information from the survey data, using simultaneous observations that were taken with a second, smaller instrument. They aim to foster new collaborations to ensure this survey can act as a gateway to an enduring activity. Co-author Professor Don Pollacco, from the University of Warwick Department of Physics, said: "This kind of data will be key in the development of algorithms to characterise objects in the geosynchronous region. Remember that we're not dealing with close-up photographs here, even the big satellites appear as non-resolved blobs of light in our images. Light curves offer a great opportunity to learn more about the way these objects behave and what they might be. The more high-quality data we take, the better chance we have of developing these tools." ### 'DebrisWatch I: A survey of faint geosynchronous debris' is published in Advances in Space Research, DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2020.08.008 Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2020.08.008 Lead author James Blake was an STFC supported student and Dr Dimitri Veras was an STFC supported fellow. 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 MBABANE Criminals in Mankayane and surrounding areas are having a field day as members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) face a shortage of motor vehicles. Police officers are reportedly forced to walk or hitchhike to crime and accident scenes because government has challenges with fuel or vehicle repairs. Information gathered from an impeccable source, who preferred to comment on condition of anonymity, was that currently, there was only one motor vehicle available at the Mankayane Police Station. The only vehicle available is shared among the General Patrol, Crime Investigation Department (CID) and the Traffic Department. Traffic officers are currently using their personal vehicles to mount roadblocks, said the source. Robberies According to the source, there had been three cases of armed robberies where police were contacted but could not make it on time due to the fact that there was a shortage of motor vehicles. This, she said, gave the robbers ample time to leave the crime scene before the police could apprehend them. She also mentioned that there were scenarios where thieves would attack people within their houses and it became a challenge for the police to make it on time before they (thieves) gained entry into houses. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said the Mankayane Police Station was not the only police station affected by the shortage of motor vehicles as a majority of others around the country were also facing the same predicament. According to the police mouthpiece, for a long period of time now, motor vehicles had not been bought due to the fiscal challenges faced by the country. Fuel The situation has become even worse as it has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic to a point that we couldnt service even the few cars that we have and on top of that the issue of fuel shortage also contributed dearly, she said. Vilakati expressed her apologies and said they were aware that the nation was not receiving the appropriate service due to the prevailing challenge within the police service. She pointed out that they had noted that government was also playing a pivotal role in assisting the police to execute their duties and she thanked residents from different communities who offered their vehicles to the police to carry out their duties. At times police would dedicate even their own cars to carry out their duties and we appreciate their efforts so much, however, it is worth mentioning that we have seen that government is doing everything within its powers to rectify the situation, she said. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced that the first Bezos Academy would be open about 18 miles south of Seattle next month. Bezos Academy is meant to be part of a network of free preschools. The Amazon CEO said the free preschool in Des Moines in Washington would open its doors on Oct. 19. Bezos said it is the first of many preschools that they will be opening for underserved children. Bezos expressed his gratitude to the team that made it possible even during the pandemic, citing Wesley Homes for stepping up the facility. Wesley Homes is a nonprofit retirement community provider affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Bezos' Day One Fund, established in 2018, will support the preschool. "Our Montessori-inspired preschool will offer year-round programming, five days a week, for children 3-5 years old. Admissions will prioritize low-income families," the Day One Fund said. Bezos has added billions of dollars to his net worth after Amazon stock up more than 62 percent this year. MacKenzie Scott, the billionaire's ex-wife, received billions in their divorce and signed the Giving Pledge. Giving Pledge is a campaign created by billionaire Warren Buffet, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda Gates. In July, Scott said that she had given away more than $1.6 billion to a variety of causes over the past year. Meanwhile, a new report accuses Amazon of providing "large low-quality jobs" during the coronavirus pandemic. The e-commerce giant committed to adding a total of 175,000 new jobs amid COVID-19 to help demand. However, progressive advisory services firm KKS Advisors has ranked Amazon as one of the worst of those with inequality and COVID-19-related issues. KKS said that during the pandemic, Amazon created several jobs for which it might ostensibly receive credit under a first-pass analysis. "However, these jobs were largely low-quality, many used zero-hour contracts, and they are unlikely in the medium and long term to align with a stakeholder primacy agenda," KKS said in a report. Zero-hour contracts are contracts between an employer and an employee that do not require a minimum work hour requirement. Millions of people were laid off from their jobs due to the lockdown restrictions. Amazon hired a range of full and part-time workers during the pandemic. Amazon spokesperson Lisa Levandowski said that Amazon had created hundreds of thousands of jobs in this critical time. She added that these jobs pay twice the federal minimum wage, health insurance from day one, up to 20 weeks of parental leave, and company-funded upskilling opportunities. The spokesperson also said they had announced plans to hire 300,000 people in the U.S. since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. The retail giant's market capitalization rose since February. As of reporting, it is worth more than $1.5 trillion. Bezos' wealth topped $200 billion in August. Three Amazon warehouse workers charged the company in June, demanding more COVID-19 protections. The KKS also reported that Amazon fired at least six employees who spoke up against the company's response to COVID-19 in the pandemic's early months. Want to read more? CHEYENNE Roughly 30 Wyomingites gathered on the grounds of the state Capitol at noon Thursday to protest against the requirements for children to wear masks in school. The protestors came from across the state to demonstrate against school districts reopening plans, all of which require masks be worn when social distancing cannot be enforced. Laura Jorgensen, a main organizer of the protest, drove several hours from Fort Bridger to demonstrate. We just would like the freedom of choice for our own kids back, and we want our local control back, Jorgensen said. Jorgensen, along w... LOUISVILLE, Ky. Two police officers were shot Wednesday night during downtown protests that erupted after a grand jurys decision not to charge the officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor. Only one of the officers involved was charged, with wanton endangerment. About a half-hour before the city's 9 p.m. curfew, two Louisville Metro police officers were shot while responding to a report of a large crowd and gunfire, interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder said at a news conference. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening. Authorities identified the suspect Thursday as Larynzo Johnson, 26, who was taken into custody after the shooting. A police citation accuses Johnson of firing multiple times at officers with a handgun. "Two officers with LMPD were struck by the bullets causing serious physical injury," the citation says. "The listed subject was seen by witnesses firing a handgun at officers and running from the scene." The shooting was captured on video and allegedly shows Johnson shooting at the officers, according to the citation. He was in possession of a gun when he was arrested. The shooting happened at First Street and Broadway, an intersection several blocks from the center of protests Jefferson Square Park. Image: People react to the grand jury finding in the Breonna Taylor shooting (Carlos Barria / Reuters) The sound of shooting was captured on a profanity-laden video of demonstrators amassed in the area, but NBC News has not verified that that was the gunfire that struck the officers. The FBI's Louisville field office said it had sent a SWAT team to the scene and would assist in the investigation. "I am very concerned about the safety of our officers," Schroeder said. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, in a video address posted Wednesday on Twitter, said: "We know that the answer to violence is never violence. And we are thinking about those two officers and their families tonight." President Donald Trump tweeted, "Praying for the two police officers that were shot tonight in Louisville, Kentucky." Story continues His election foe, former Vice President Joe Biden, tweeted his own "prayers" and said: "Violence is never & can never be the answer. Those who engage in it must be held accountable." News spread quickly of the grand jury's decision Wednesday, and demonstrators took to the streets of Louisville, protesting Taylor's killing and the limited charges brought against only one of the officers involved. Protesters filled downtown neighborhoods after former Detective Brett Hankison was indicted on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment connected with the shooting that ended in Taylor's killing. Detective Myles Cosgrove, the officer who shot killed Taylor, was not charged. Police, who declared an unlawful assembly hours before the curfew, clashed with demonstrators, pushing and shoving some and placing others in plastic handcuffs. Tense moments played out as demonstrators and officers stood off near Jefferson Square Park. Police surrounded marchers and appeared to block them in. Water bottles were thrown at officers and law enforcement vehicles. A protester attacked a news crew from NBC affiliate WAVE. The crew was able to get away unharmed with the help of a security guard. After dark, small fires appeared downtown, and demonstrators started to clear out of the park. After the curfew went into effect, some demonstrators milled about in the downtown area. Image: Protests in Louisville (Brandon Bell / Getty Images) Police said Thursday morning that 127 arrests were made during the protest. Beshear's office said in a statement that National Guard units were deployed to Louisville to "ensure that everybody can be safe during this period and that critical infrastructure, like our hospitals, are protected." State police and law enforcement in SWAT gear were seen standing near demonstrators. Demonstrators also hit the streets of cities across the country, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Atlanta and St. Paul, Minnesota. They seemed to be largely peaceful, although there were reports that tear gas was used in Milwaukee after demonstrators went on to an interstate and in Atlanta, where several arrests were made. In Denver, police said that officers responded to a "vehicle that drove into a protest" Wednesday night. No injuries are reported in the 9:17 p.m. incident, police said, and one person described as a male was detained. A police spokesman said the person detained was the driver, but how or why the incident occurred is still under investigation. Earlier in the day, Judge Annie OConnell announced that Hankison would be charged for firing shots that ended up in the apartments next to Taylor's. No charges were announced against Cosgrove or Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly for their roles in Taylor's death, although the state attorney general said Cosgrove's shot killed Taylor. Their actions were considered justified by the grand jury because Taylor's boyfriend fired at them. No murder or manslaughter charges were handed up against any of the three officers. Fighting back tears, Louisville resident LaShawn Roberts said the grand jury's decision had hurt many people across Louisville and beyond. Weve come so far, but we have so far to go, Roberts said. It makes me feel like we dont mean s---. Protesters on foot and bikes descended on Jefferson Square Park, which has been dubbed "Breonnas Park" since Taylor's death. Image: Protests in Louisville (Brandon Bell / Getty Images) Many raised their fists and chanted Breonna Taylor, encouraging friends to raise their voices as they marched past boarded-up windows and shuttered storefronts. Dozens of police cars kept close tabs on the protesters as they marched through the neighborhood. I am incredibly disheartened and heartbroken, said Linette Lowe, a protester. Many of us arent shocked, especially those of us who have witnessed the long history of injustice in our community. Michelle Pennix said she wasn't surprised by the grand jury action, but she added, I believe a day of reckoning is coming and those on the wrong side of history are going to be held accountable. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron called for peace in light of what he conceded would be an unpopular decision. I know that not everyone will be satisfied with the charges that we reported today," Cameron told reporters in Frankfort, the state capital. "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. My job was to present the facts to the grand jury and the grand jury then applies those facts to the law. " He continued: "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." Taylor, 26, an emergency medical technician, was killed in March when the officers executed a search warrant in a drug investigation involving her ex-boyfriend Jamarcus Glover, a convicted drug dealer. Image: Protesters in Louisville (Brandon Bell / Getty Images) Glover used Taylors address to receive packages, according to authorities. However, no drugs or money were recovered during the raid, according to the search warrant inventory document obtained by NBC News. Hankison, who shot 10 rounds into Taylor's apartment, was fired in June. Cosgrove and Mattingly have been placed on administrative leave, along with the detective who requested the warrant. The city of Louisville also settled a wrongful death suit filed by Taylors family for $12 million last week, which did not require the city to admit any wrongdoing. The city installed roadblocks, barricades and chain-link fences at nearly every corner of the downtown area in preparation for the announcement. Meanwhile, police and Mayor Greg Fischer declared states of emergency and announced a 72-hour curfew running from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Schroeder, the interim police chief, vowed to help protesters Wednesday, giving them a "safe place" to demonstrate. "Whatever the decision is, our officers are prepared to keep doing what they have been doing continuously since May 28 protecting the public while also ensuring the constitutional rights for people to express their feelings in a lawful and peaceful manner," he said. Chloe Atkins reported from Louisville, and David K. Li from New York. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 13:45:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants' attack on Burka district of Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province claimed the lives of four pro-government militiamen and injured two others on Thursday, district governor Taj Mohammad Taqwa said. The militants, according to the official, launched multi-pronged offensive on Burka district early Thursday morning, triggering gun battle which lasted for couple of hours and as a result four pro-government militiamen were killed and two others injured. Taliban militants also suffered casualties, the official said but could not provide exact figure, saying the insurgents after suffering casualties fled away. Taliban militants who have intensified activities amid intra-Afghan dialogue in Doha have yet to make comment. Enditem Prue Leith has revealed that she was worried The Great British Bake Off bosses wouldn't be able to afford her health insurance amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 80-year-old judge who lives in the Cotswolds, told the Daily Mirror newspaper that she had to be reassured by Channel 4 bosses that she would be able to take part in this year's baking competition, despite being vulnerable to the virus because of her age. 'I began to feel guilty about being so old and then the 'Bake Off' publicist said, 'Nonsense!' So I didn't worry about it, but I would have understood,' she said. Prue Leith, 80, (pictured) who lives in the Cotswolds, has revealed that she felt guilty about taking part in this year's The Great British Bake Off Prue added: 'I mean, if they'd said, 'Look, insurance is going to cost a fortune because you're too old...' I would have understood it. But I have to say, it turned out not to be true.' The show returned last week after production was postponed due to the pandemic, but bosses were able to relocate the 'Bake Off' tent from Berkshire to Essex. All 12 contestants, judges Prue and Paul Hollywood, and presenters Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas isolated together in a biosecure bubble for seven weeks in Down Hall Hotel. Prue revealed that she loved spending time with 130 cast and crew members in the Essex bubble, which they were not allowed to leave until filming had finished. The judge said Channel 4 bosses had to reassure her that her health insurance wouldn't be too expensive. Pictured: Presenter Matt Lucas, with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith She said: 'It was a little bit like being on a Butlin's holiday camp or something. We all socialised - more than I have ever done in my life. And it was extraordinary. 'You wouldn't think you could do that in a sort of socially-distanced Covid time. But it was partly because we were in this complete bubble. 'I mean, I never felt safer.' Luckily the tent's new home was placed on 115 acres of land which had enough room for her to walk off all the tasty treats she had sampled. Prue revealed she was able to stay in shape while in a bubble for filming by dog walking and avoiding lunch. Pictured left to right: Paul Hollywood, Matt Lucas, Prue Leith and Noel Fielding Prue said: 'And that was great for Bake Off too, because they had space to put the tent and that was exactly as it always is and then we had Paul and Matt and Noel and I had little shepherd huts for green rooms. 'And then there were the makeup tents and the wardrobe, which were actually in big winnebagos and then there were another whole set of kitchens - 12 kitchens for the bakers to practice in. 'I didn't put on any weight, but that may have been partly the dog walking. But also I never ate lunch. I would have yoghurt for breakfast.' Realty firm Bhutani Infra on Thursday said it will invest around Rs 5,000 crore over the next four years to develop three commercial projects in and Greater to cater the rising demand of office and retail spaces. The total area in these three projects, each around 25 acres in size, is 160 lakh sq ft, of which 20 lakh sq ft has already been constructed. The company plans to sell 75 per cent of the area and will give 25 per cent space on lease. It is also helping customers if they want to put properties on lease. "We are developing two commercial projects in and one in Greater Noida. We have already invested over Rs 1,000 crore on these three projects and will invest Rs 5,000 crore more in the next four years to complete these projects," Bhutani Infra CEO Ashish Bhutani told reporters here. The investment will be funded through internal accruals, he said. Out of 20 lakh sq ft area that has been completed, the company has leased around 10 lakh sq ft area and is in talks to put on rent the remaining area, he added. Bhutani said the demand for office space in Noida and Greater Noida in has increased because of lower rental compared to Gurugram in Haryana. He said the rentals in Noida is around Rs 40-60 per sq ft per month, while it is Rs 120-150 per sq ft in Gurugram. Bhutani said the rentals in Noida and Greater Noida will rise as these cities have better infrastructure than Gurugram. To boost its sales, Bhutani said the company is offering assured return in advance on the investment made by customers. "The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every industry including the However, there has been no impact on the Grade-A office market in Noida and Greater Noida. In fact, the demand has increased in these two cities because of cost advantage," he said, adding that the company was well positioned to tap this demand. Bhutani said the company is debt-free as it has adopted both a sale and lease model for better liquidity. India's office leasing in top seven cities stood at a record 45-50 million sq ft in 2019, but the absorption might drop 30-50 per cent this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (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.) Helmet ventilation has been newly adopted in the US as a means to reduce the need for endotracheal intubation. This technique provides the ability to elevate patient airway pressure, deliver therapeutic oxygen, and mitigate viral exposure to the healthcare workers. As part of their Covid-19 response, Ambifi has afforded its global no-code SaaS platform to the helmet based ventilation community to create a digital Clinician Copilot including SmartProcedures (video, images, audio, text), interactive checklists and related information to realtime guide clinicians through the protocols needed to safely implement this ventilation technique. Its like having experienced clinicians by your side teaching and guiding you every step of the way - except on your mobile device. Ambifi has worked cooperatively with Lombardi Undersea LLC to develop and publish a digital clinician copilot including a set of SmartProcedures for the new Subsalve Oxygen Treatment Hood. The Subsalve Hood is the only US domestically manufactured helmet ventilation device that is specifically indicated for respiratory distress per its recent FDA Emergency Use Authorization. With support from a STEP Grant through the State of Rhode Island, the Subsalve Ambifi Clinician Copilot has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Chinese to help bring this important technology and technique to international markets. The AmbiFi Clinician Copilot can be implemented bedside, used for staff training, and further customized by clinicians and staff for any hospital specific protocols. With anticipated Covid-19 surges for this fall and winter, helmet ventilation could become a critical technique to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital burdens. More can be found at http://www.oxygentreatmenthoods.com and http://www.ambifi.com. The Defense Department has plans to remove all personal identifying characteristics, such as gender and name, from promotion packets to avoid potential bias by selection boards, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said Thursday. In July, Defense Secretary Mark Esper put out a directive barring the use of photos by selection boards. But on Thursday, he and Milley said the directive didn't go far enough in promoting equal opportunity and diversity in the ranks. Read Next: To Boost Morale, the Air Force Just Opened Its First On-Base Tattoo Parlor "We are the world's biggest meritocracy," Milley said at a town hall meeting. But bias, whether conscious or unconscious, needs to be eliminated, he added. Milley said that knowledge, skills and character should be the main factors in deciding promotions, not personal characteristics. The goal is to remove "all indicators of personal characteristics," such as gender, name and racial information, from promotion packets to ensure that selection boards make decisions based on merit, he explained. "To do that, we have to essentially sterilize the board files. All of the [service] secretaries think this is the way to go. I think this is the way to go," he said. Milley, Esper and Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ramon "CZ" Colon-Lopez, the top senior enlisted adviser to the Joint Chiefs chairman, took questions at the town hall meeting, during which they were challenged by service members on the military's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion, as well as its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Certainly, we have areas to improve in," Colon-Lopez said. "But on balance, we recognize that knowledge, skills, attributes and the content of your character are what should advance you in the system, not any particular personal identity or characteristics." Colon-Lopez gave a stark warning of the dangers ahead should the military fail to follow through on pledges to address racial issues and improve diversity. He referred to the racial divide in the ranks during the Vietnam War that sometimes turned deadly, with more than 300 reported race incidents on bases, aboard ships and on the front lines in 1968. In addition, "two carriers were brought to a halt" by race riots in 1972, Colon-Lopez said, referencing incidents aboard the aircraft carriers Kitty Hawk and Constellation. The Defense Department "was in a really tough spot regarding racial issues" during Vietnam, he said. "We cannot regress back to that; we're better than that. So let's take care of one another." The three did not address, and were not asked about, an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on Tuesday. The order bars the use of material suggesting the U.S. is "an irredeemably racist and sexist country" in diversity training programs. Esper pointed to discussions on race and training programs to promote diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity at installations worldwide to underline the military's commitment. He added that the department is on track to set up a defense advisory board on diversity by early December. The board's function would be similar to that of the long-standing Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, he said. In defending the military's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Esper sought to ease the concerns of a sailor aboard the aircraft carrier Ford, who said that mask-wearing and difficulties maintaining social distancing are having an impact on morale. The COVID-19 restrictions are taking a "huge toll on many sailors," the sailor said. "Their morale has plummeted but, most importantly, their mental health as well." "[The Navy's priorities are] in the right place, and that's [to] take care of our people first. It is tedious, I understand it," Esper said of the need to comply with the restrictions, but added that the results in curbing infection rates have been encouraging. "[The Navy is] taking heed to what they see regarding morale, and I have confidence that the Navy leadership will do the right thing." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related: Trump Bans DoD Diversity Training That Suggests US Is Racist TRENTON The headline-grabbing squabble between Mayor Reed Gusciora and fired council attorney Edward Kologi appeared headed for court. Until the partner at Kologi Simitz bowed out gracefully Thursday. I wont characterize it as throwing in the towel,' Kologi told The Trentonian in a phone interview. Wanting to avoid a lengthy and costly court battle that could drain Trenton city coffers, Kologi informed council members in letter he accepted the mayors decision to end his law firms contract. He still believed only council, not the mayor, could terminate the deal. But the mayor now claimed the contract that council ratified in July hadnt ever been approved the Department of Community Affairs, which signs off on the citys financial and personnel decisions under a Memorandum of Understanding tied to state aid. The events of these past weeks have made any working relationship with the City Attorneys office absolutely untenable, Kologi wrote. It is clear that the Law Department would not longer recognize us, and that our access to information and documentation would be eliminated. The legitimacy of our advice and services has been irreparably compromised, and we would simply be unable to provide Council with meaningful representation under the circumstances. Thus, while not legally terminated, we have clearly been constructively terminated, as we can no longer do what we were hired to do. Council president Kathy McBride did not respond to a phone call seeking comment. The contract ran through June 30, 2021, but Gusciora terminated the deal early, claiming Kologi breached terms of the deal by unilaterally advising council on matters when he was supposed to work under the direction of city law director John Morelli. Additionally, the mayor took Kologi to task for not stepping in and shutting down a Sept. 3 executive session. Council met illegally with redeveloper John Liu of Elite Spiders LLC to hear his pitch to buy the historic Roebling Wire Works building for $200,000. The secret session appears to have violated the Open Public Meetings Act. Governing bodies can meet among themselves to discuss contract negotiations but not with interested parties. The Trentonian and Gusciora wrote to AG Gurbir Grewal asking he investigate and hold council members accountable if they violated the Sunshine Law. The investigation has been turned over to the Mercer County Prosecutors Office, which is separately probing unrelated claims of bid rigging and wire tapping. Kologi told The Trentonian last week his firm was being made the scapegoat for the OPMA violation. He blamed Morelli for not intervening to shut down the executive session saying his firm was never asked to research whether the closed-door meeting was legal. I am absolutely being made a scapegoat, Kologi said. Why didnt [Morelli] get up and say anything? Its absolutely ludicrous. Kologi theorized that Morelli was really upset that he didnt stand up for the city attorney when McBride for attempted to exclude him from the executive session. Legislators also planned to discuss the alleged breach of confidential firefighter candidate information that implicated the law department. Morelli said an employee accidentally attached his memo to councils packet. The council-appointed attorney texted Morelli apologizing for not saying something to McBride. He said his apology should not be misconstrued to suggest he was apologizing for anything to do with the OPMA controversy. Gusciora said he was happy Kologi opted not to fight his decision in court after claiming the mayor defamed the firm in an earlier missive. Thats one less lawsuit, he said. The mayor said he regretted the compromise with council that led to the hiring of Kologi, believing it didnt improve relations between legislators and the administration only deepened divisions. He felt some council members used Kologis advice to undermine Morelli. I think part of the problem was that it enabled council to not work together with us, he said. I dont think [Kologi] is a bad man. He was in a tough position, always caught between different personalities on council. I think he was just as frustrated as the rest of us. If he was, Kologi didnt express that in his letter to council. I cannot sufficiently state how appreciative I am for your confidence in allowing our firm to represent you, he wrote to legislators, and for the support you have shown, particularly during this past week. You have extremely difficult jobs, and although differences are inevitable, I genuinely believe that each of you has the best interests of your constituents and the City at heart. I wish you nothing but the est as you address the many challenges which lie ahead. Hotel Amaragua in Torremolinos, in southern Spain, has closed to the public due to the lack of visitors this summer. Sheets cover the lobby furniture and a deadly silence pervades the empty restaurant of the Hotel Amaragua. Outside, someone is removing the leaves that have fallen into the enormous swimming pool that is bereft of bathers, while the usual sun loungers have been stacked. The deserted facilities at the hotel, which is one of the biggest in Torremolinos, a popular resort in Spains Malaga province, bring to mind scenes from a horror movie. But this is not fiction; its a reality in which around 80% of the Costa del Sols hotels have closed their doors, without knowing when they might reopen. Its horrific! says Miguel Sanchez, founder of the MS hotel chain that owns the Amaragua. In 2019, they had 603 guests here at this time of the year. Today, as they close for the first time in 25 years, they have none. Like so many others, it has become a ghost hotel. This summer has been disastrous, horrible, enough to make you cry Alvaro Reyes, Hotel Alay commercial director The scenario is the opposite of the bumper year that had been expected on the Costa del Sol. According to Malaga provincial authorities, in 2019 the hotel industry had a combined direct and indirect turnover of 14.4 billion and generated 180,000 jobs. Over the last 10 years, each year has been better than the last, but 2020 has dramatically reversed the trajectory. This summer has been disastrous, horrible, enough to make you cry, says Alvaro Reyes, commercial director of the Alay, a flagship hotel in Benalmadena, which was able to open partially during August. First there was the devastating impact of the three-month coronavirus lockdown, and then the worst summer season in living memory. The average occupancy rates for the establishments that did open were around 35% in July and 40% in August. Most have now closed. The beaches along the Costa del Sol are now deserted. By mid-September, beach-bar barbecues were off the agenda, lifeguards were hanging around their huts and the promenades looked as though they had gone back into lockdown. It doesnt even look this empty in winter, says Reyes. Covered furniture in the lobby of Hotel Amaragua in Torremolinos. Garcia-Santos (El Pais) Today, the collapse of the travel giant Thomas Cook and even Brexit seem like minor hiccups compared to the quarantine restrictions and the advisories issued by the British then the Germans, Belgians and Dutch to avoid any travel to Spain. Not many people live here permanently and, without the tourists, theres hardly anyone around anymore, says Juan Rueda, who for the last 33 years has run a supermarket next to the Amaragua Hotel. The health crisis forced him to dismiss his only employee, who has found agricultural work in France. Its a knock-on effect and now weve all felt it, he says, preparing a sandwich for one of his few customers. The knock-on effect means that, besides hotels, the entire tourist ecosystem, including beach bars, ice cream parlors, car rentals and souvenir shops, is teetering on the edge of disaster. The Malaga province hospitality association, for example, estimates that there will be around 5,000 layoffs over the next few months around Malaga. The tourist sector on the Costa del Sol is very dependent on international tourism, and its paying the price for that, explains a source from the association, who says that the situation is being exacerbated by the fact that domestic trips organized by the Spanish authorities for the elderly have also been cancelled. Besides hotels, the entire tourist eco-system, including beach bars, ice cream parlors, car rentals and souvenir shops, is teetering on the edge of disaster Meanwhile, in nearby Cadiz province, which has around 2,600 hotel beds, average occupancy for July and August stood at 60% due to the regions popularity with national tourists. The data is acceptable given the current situation, says Stefan De Clerck, director of Hace Hoteles and president of the Cadiz Hotels Provincial Association. Though if we were to compare it with 2019, it is, of course, a disaster. Cadiz and Huelva are the coastal regions that have done best in Andalusia this summer. Despite these figures, the next few weeks are not looking good. Predicted occupancy for the entire month of September is 20% to 25% compared to 90% in other years. The situation is frankly bad, adds De Clerck, who has temporarily closed his Duque de Najera Hotel for the first time since it opened in 1996. It has been very hard for us. Now, De Clerck and his staff, like thousands of others, are looking forward to the spring of 2021 with hopes of a more normal season. Of course, that will depend on how the health crisis evolves. At least we know that people want to come, says Reyes from the Alay Hotel, which receives many calls from Scandinavian customers assuring them that they will be back. Well be here waiting for them! English version by Heather Galloway. I t has been, for most of us, very much a year of grudging postponements; of deferred 70th birthday blowouts, thrice rescheduled weddings and cancelled Glastonbury trips; a period in which our clogged, wildly hypothetical 2021 social calendars represent a need for emotional closure as much as a yearning to make good on plans complicated by a pandemic. And, for me if we set aside the fact that my wife and I are due to take our eldest for a Covid-era day at Legoland whenever those words stop sounding like nervous breakdowns waiting to happen the post-lockdown activity that has loomed largest in my mind is a return trip to Chukus in Tottenham. Partly this is a sense of unfinished business. I first visited this place (a crowdfunded permanent home for siblings Emeka and Ifeyinwa Fredericks acclaimed Nigerian tapas pop-up) back in early March, not long after it had opened and mere weeks before everywhere closed. The broadly positive review I wrote had to be hurled in the giant dustbin of Freshly Redundant Pre-Pandemic Content so I felt I owed them, basically. And not just because this summer has crystallised the importance of celebrating genuinely good black-owned food businesses. But heres the thing: Im actually pretty glad that I got to have a second crack at it. Because, simply put, the Fredericks (who chose to fine tune their offering during lockdown rather than pivot to takeaway) now preside over a significantly better restaurant than the one they opened in spring. Boldly conceived, buoyantly atmospheric and packing a new fire-breathing flavouring oomph it signals, to my mind, a levelling-up moment for Nigerian-inspired hospitality in the capital. And did I mention that its really, really fun? My wife and I took our friends Charlie and Emily there and after a quick temperature gun to the cranium the four of us settled into a giddying Saturday night scene of packed tables subdivided by ad hoc plastic screens and the party-ready sway of Afrobeats blaring from the stereo. Fine tuned: the reopened Chukus signals a levelling-up moment for Nigerian-inspired hospitality / Brian Dandridge The food from an expansive sharing-plates menu matched the exuberant mood. A log-pile of cassava fries came trickled with a nicely rowdy fried pepper sauce; adalu (stewed beans) balanced subtle nuttiness with a mellow bloom of spice; dodo brought soft-fried plantain, smartly flecked in coconut; and the caramel kuli kuli chicken wings plump, hot and bound in a dense, dark candied glaze that brought to mind a kind of carnivorous toffee apple were revelatory. But its the egusi bowl that Im in complete awe of: a striking tricolore of spinach, tomato and egusi (melon seed) stews studded with creamy pounded yam dumplings and balancing aesthetic elegance with a fireworks display of deftly conjured flavour. If you order one per person I can guarantee it still wont be enough. Not everything else sparkled (the signature jollof quinoa struck me as a strangely dry, needless reboot of the unimprovable rice-based original; plantain waffles were limp and highly skippable) but it truly didnt matter. The twin hit of well-made, fruit-forward cocktails and vigorously applied Scotch bonnet had given us all a dopamine buzz that lasted until we stepped out into the mild autumn night, plastered with grins. (Side note: I can confirm that the chilli sweats is not a great look at a time when people are wary of the feverish.) For British-Nigerians like me, Chukus is a rousing expression of cultural pride that gets you up on your feet, calling for a bottle of palm wine and belting out Fela Kuti. But for many more it will simply be a very good restaurant. A place that inaugurates a love for West African cuisines powder-keg spicing and meets an uncertain, fearful moment with inventiveness, joy and an irrepressible burst of warmth. Chukus 1 Plantain crisps 2.50 1 Adalu 5.50 2 Jollof quinoa 9.50 2 Dodo 9 3 Egusi bowl 22.50 2 Caramel kuli kuli chicken 14.50 1 Casava 4.7 2 Plantain waffles 14 2 The Obi cocktail 16 2 Mango Colada cocktail 1 1 Star beer 6.75 Total 121 274 High Road, Tottenham, N15 (chukuslondon.co.uk) In the video, it can be seen drifting at sea, a rainbow-bright mythological Equus cast aside as swimmers from the Coast Guard cutter Kimball clambered out of the water and away from an uninvited shark. Despite calls for the swim watch to "sink the unicorn," the giant inflatable darling of the Kimball's now-infamous Aug. 26 swim call was retrieved from the Pacific Ocean and will have a new home at the U.S. Coast Guard Museum in New London, Connecticut. Read Next: Camp Lejeune Marines Warned to Stop Running in the Dark After Coyote Attacks Museum staff posted a photo Thursday of their latest acquisition, which will join the museum's collection of mascots. The Kimballs unicorn swim floatie will be displayed alongside such objects as a lighthouse keepers Salty Rabbit and Capt. Cluck, the mascot of the service's aviation forces. According to Museum Curator Jennifer Gaudio, the collection helps document Coasties' off-duty time, and the inflatable unicorn, which has been signed by the Kimball crew, is the rare artifact clearly associated with recreation time -- a swim call interrupted by a shark in Oceania this year. "We like to find objects that represent an event but its often difficult to find one that is so recognizable," Gaudio said. "When I saw the video, I reached out to the other curator and the chief historian to see if it was something we wanted." The Kimball crew was taking an afternoon swim break Aug. 26 during Pacific operations when an 8-foot visitor -- either a longfin mako or pelagic thresher -- showed up to join the fun. Not knowing the shark's intentions as it swam toward crew members, the designated shark watch, Maritime Enforcement Specialist 1st Class Samuel Cintron, opened fire between the fish and the Coasties to deter the creature from getting closer. Cintron fired bursts into the water at least three times, giving the swimmers time to reach the ship or the ship's small boat. The only injury to a crew member was a scrape to a knee, obtained as the Coastie climbed to safety. But if the inanimate unicorn had feelings, it would have been devastated by the treatment it received that day. After landing a safe spot on the ship's response boat, the floatie was tossed overboard to make room for the humans and subjected to the dual indignities of being discarded and hearing crew members tell Cintron to shoot it. What a relief it must have been when it was lifted out of the water for return to the ship. And now, to live in a museum. "I wasn't sure we had room. We are still in a 4,000-square-foot space. And it's big. Much bigger than I expected," Gaudio said. The U.S. Coast Guard Museum is housed in a portion of the library at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Construction of a National Coast Guard Museum was slated to begin this year in downtown New London, but the project has been delayed by other initiatives in the area, according to National Coast Guard Museum Association officials. The museum is expected to house much of the collection from the current Coast Guard Museum, and the unicorn is likely to make the move when the new facility is built, Gaudio said. They have expressed interest, she said. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: Coast Guard Crew Stamps Out Fire Aboard Cutter Waesche Credit: CC0 Public Domain Scientists are planning for Phase 1 human trials of a vaccine they developed by using CRISPR gene-editing technology to mutate the parasite that causes leishmaniasis, a skin disease common in tropical regions of the world and gaining ground in the United States. In a series of animal studies, the vaccine protected mice against the diseaseincluding mice with compromised immune systems and mice exposed to the parasite in the same way humans are, through the bite of infected sand flies. "If you assure protection in the sand fly model, then you have a good shot at a real vaccine," said Abhay Satoskar, a co-lead investigator of the work and professor of pathology and microbiology at The Ohio State University. The team applied the new technology to the century-old Middle Eastern practice of leishmanizationdeliberately introducing the live parasite to the skin to create a small infection that, once healed, leads to life-long immunity against further disease. "Live vaccines like that are the best vaccines, but there's a potential risk of causing serious disease in some people," Satoskar said. "We refined the concept using modern technology, making a parasite that does not cause clinical disease but allows for induction of immunity." The research was published recently in Nature Communications. An estimated 1.5 million new cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis, caused by the Leishmania major parasite, are diagnosed worldwide each year, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of the worldbut also in southern Texas. Leishmania in all of its forms is considered a neglected disease, mostly affecting populations in warm-weather developing countriescurrently infecting about 12 million in all. But Satoskar noted that with global warming, it's only a matter of time until the southern United States is considered a subtropical region. "As the warmth moves up toward the United States, the disease will move up," he said. The standard treatment of more severe cases can be expensive, require multiple daily drug injections and cause unpleasant side effects, leading to poor patient compliance that allows parasites to develop resistance to the drugs. To develop the vaccine, the researchers set out to use CRISPR to edit the genome of Leishmania major. The precision technology enabled the researchers to delete centrin, the gene for a protein that supports the parasite's physical structure, as well as remove an antibiotic resistance marker gene that is needed to be introduced into the parasite for removal of the centrin gene. To cause infection, these parasites hijack immune cells and use those host cells to replicate indefinitely. The study showed that the mutant parasite lacking centrin can still find its way into cells and make copies of itself, but for only a limited amount of time and not at a pace that leads to clinical disease. "So we're essentially using leishmanization. CRISPR allowed us to do that," Satoskar said. "The parasites are unable to proliferate, so they die. But they persist in the body for eight or nine months, which is long enough to generate acquired immunity." Numerous studies in mice, including immune-deficient animals, showed the mutant parasites did not cause skin lesions, but natural parasites did. In additional experiments, vaccinated and unvaccinated mice were subjected to injections of live parasites and bites from infected sand flies seven weeks after their shots. Ten weeks later, most non-immunized mice developed large skin lesions, but only one vaccinated mouse developed a visible lesion. "The multiple animal tests also made sure the genome didn't revert back to normal," Satoskar said. "And we found that if a sand fly were to bite at the site of the vaccine and take mutated parasites into the wild, the parasites cannot survive. So it is environmentally safe." The international team of researchers from the United States, Japan, Canada and India is identifying partners to manufacture the vaccine, aiming to begin a Phase 1 clinical trial within two years. Satoskar said the vaccine is likely to cost less than $5 a dosecompared to the $100 to $200 cost for treatment in the hardest-hit countries. A much more severe form of the disease, visceral leishmaniasis, affects organs and is fatal if left untreated. The team has been using the same CRISPR technique to mutate the genome of the Leishmania donovani strain that causes visceral leishmaniasis, and preliminary data suggest a safe vaccine could be on the horizon. Explore further How does the body respond to diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis? More information: Wen-Wei Zhang et al, A second generation leishmanization vaccine with a markerless attenuated Leishmania major strain using CRISPR gene editing, Nature Communications (2020). Journal information: Nature Communications Wen-Wei Zhang et al, A second generation leishmanization vaccine with a markerless attenuated Leishmania major strain using CRISPR gene editing,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17154-z GERMANTOWN, Tenn., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., ("MAA") (NYSE: MAA) today announced the appointment of Edith Kelly-Green to the Board of Directors effective September 24, 2020. She will serve as an independent director until the annual meeting of shareholders in 2021. The appointment expanded the board to 13 members. Ms. Kelly-Green was also appointed to the Audit Committee and is recognized as an SEC financial expert. Claude B. Nielsen, Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee stated that "As part of our ongoing succession planning, we initiated conversations with Edith in late 2019 regarding Board service. We are very pleased that she has now joined the MAA Board. She brings valuable financial expertise, business acumen and leadership experience. She is highly qualified and will significantly contribute to strong and effective governance." Ms. Kelly-Green is a founding partner in The KGR Group, owner of a large chain of restaurants in the Mid-South region of the U.S. She began the business in 2005 following her retirement in 2003 as Vice President and Chief Sourcing Officer of FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation. Ms. Kelly-Green initially joined FedEx Corporation in 1977 as a senior accountant and served in various other roles, including as Vice President of Internal Audit for FedEx Corporation, during her employment. Ms. Kelly-Green earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Mississippi and an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. She is a certified public accountant (inactive) and worked as a senior auditor for Deloitte and Touche prior to her career at FedEx Corporation. Commenting on the appointment, H. Eric Bolton, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, said "Edith's financial and accounting expertise, along with her acumen in overseeing geographically-dispersed operations provides her with great insight into the opportunities and challenges that we face within the multifamily industry. Further, her active involvement with community and philanthropic organizations creates a great fit with our culture and mission. I am excited to add her experience and valuable perspectives to our board as we navigate our evolving industry, execute on our strategy and drive higher value for all of our stakeholders at MAA." Ms. Kelly-Green's public board experience includes her current service on the board of Sanderson Farms, Inc. and previous service on the board of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. She also currently serves on the boards of BULAB Holdings, Inc., Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and Hattiloo Theater. In addition, Ms. Kelly-Green has been an active volunteer and leader in numerous civic and charitable organizations, including serving as the founding chairman of The Women's Council for Philanthropy at the University of Mississippi, and as a founding board member of both the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis and Philanthropic Black Women of Memphis. About MAA MAA is a self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT) and member of the S&P 500. MAA owns or has ownership interest in apartment communities throughout the Southeast, Southwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. focused on delivering strong, full-cycle investment performance. For further details, please refer to the "For Investors" page at www.maac.com or contact Investor Relations at [email protected]. SOURCE MAA Related Links www.maac.com Swetha Kadiyala By Express News Service KOCHI: When Kasaragod- native Aflah Habeeb Mohammed visited Mumbai for the first time in 2016, he noticed the famed Marine Drive promenade strewn with colossal examples of what he had, until then, only read about in course books. Almost everywhere Aflah looked, he saw buildings constructed evidently in a style recognised as art deco. A western decorative style with its roots in the 1920s and 30s, art deco is characterised chiefly by bold geometric motifs, curvilinear design elements, definite patterns and vivid colours. By the time it came to India in the late 1930s and 40s, art deco heralded a truly modern sensibility, an import from the West, so thereby aspirational, but also, in its essence, futuristic. Being an architecture student, Aflah had known about Mumbais affiliation to art deco. The city, as declared by Unesco in 2018, had the largest collection of art deco buildings next to Miami in the US which is considered by many as the mecca of the style. Upon returning to Kerala, the 25-year-old realised his hangover hadnt worn off. Aflah Habeeb Mohammed To his complete surprise, Aflah started noticing subtle elements of art deco in half-a-century old, almost-in-ruin, seemingly-unremarkable buildings across the state. Fascinated, he started taking pictures of these elements which were otherwise all too easy to miss. In college, we learnt about how art deco style was an important movement but we were never taught about it in the context of Kerala. Something thats right in front of our eyes but mostly overlooked. I was amazed by how intertwined it was in our culture. So, I wanted to capture and document all the references I found, says Aflah. However, he thought little of the photos he had amassed. It was, after all, meant to be a personal project. At the beginning of the lockdown, I came across pages dedicated to art deco architecture in other cities like Kolkata, Hyderabad and Delhi on Instagram. So I decided to start a page for Kerala, adds Aflah who is currently working as a freelance graphic designer.Perhaps, the most interesting aspect of Keralas tryst with art deco is how it merged seamlessly with the vernacular style of architecture. An unlikely union seldom witnessed in cities elsewhere. For a topography that necessitated the sloping tiled roof, an iconic feature that has come to signify the tharavadu style of construction, art deco nestled itself among understated influences. It blended with traditional building practices to manifest sporadically through ornamental elements on balcony designs, ventilator jalis, ziggurat facade patterns and more prominently on compound gates in Kerala of the 1950s and 60s. According to my observation, art deco reached Kerala a decade or so after other metros were experimenting with the style and it lasted till the 1980s. Having started what he thought was an unassuming attempt, Aflah finds himself in the midst of a determined community working towards preserving crumbling art deco buildings in the country. His project is further extended for its scope stretches the entire state rather than a city. The Instagram handle has already been getting traction from monument conservation circles and academicians. All the admins of art deco pages in India have formed a WhatsApp group recently. We hope this will help in sharing information on art deco buildings which are in a bad state and abandoned. There need to concentrated efforts to revive or renovate them, adds Aflah. More on Instagram @kerala.artdeco First-time parents Nina Lacy and David Pride have spent the past eight months with their son, Luca, in Sydney, but on Thursday they were on the first flight to Adelaide. For Luca, it was his first time in a plane - and also the first time he would meet most of his extended family. The family bought tickets earlier this week when the easing of border restrictions was announced, but it was by chance they got the first Qantas flight out. Nina Lacy and her eight-month-old son, Luca, have flown to meet her husband's family in Adelaide. Credit:Brook Mitchell The airline has not operated flights between Sydney and Adelaide since July. "It was a relief [to get on the flight]," Ms Lacy said. "This time has been really hard for families, many of whom are still separated." Monsoon is likely to begin withdrawing from west Rajasthan Monday onwards, India Meteorological Department said on Thursday. Its been delayed by a week compared to the normal date for commencement of monsoon withdrawal, they added. Widespread and heavy rain will continue in parts of Bihar, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and some northeastern states till September 26. The hot and humid conditions are also likely to reduce thereafter. We are expecting rainfall to stop and moisture to reduce from next week because the low-pressure area over east Uttar Pradesh is likely to move further east. We dont see the possibility of the development of any other system which could bring rain next week to the northwestern region, said K Sathi Devi, head, National Weather Forecasting Centre. Northwest India has a 15% rain deficiency as on Thursday since June 1; Delhi has a 19% rain deficiency. Also Read: Delhi sees driest September in 16 years This year, monsoon rain over the country is 9% in excess as on Thursday. The monsoon season will officially end on September 30, but for IMD to declare commencement of monsoon withdrawal, rain should stop completely; water vapour should reduce and an anti-cyclonic wind pattern should be established, according to Sathi Devi. In September, northwest India recorded a 46.8% rain deficiency while south peninsula received 67.7% surplus rain; east and northeast India received 12.8% surplus rain; central India recorded a 6.1% rain deficiency. A low pressure area is lying over central parts of east Uttar Pradesh. It is likely to move east-northeastwards towards Bihar in the next three days. There is likely to be convergence of strong moist southerly/southwesterly winds from Bay of Bengal over northeast and adjoining east India till September 26. There is a trough (area of low pressure) from north Madhya Maharashtra to the cyclonic circulation associated with low-pressure area over central parts of east Uttar Pradesh. Also Read: With 395 mm rain in 48 hrs, Mumbai monsoon its second wettest ever Under the influence of the above systems, widespread and very heavy rain is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar and east Uttar Pradesh on September 24 and 25. Extremely heavy rain is also very likely over Bihar and east Uttar Pradesh on September 24; over Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and Meghalaya on September 24 and 25. In UP, Azamgarh recorded 30 cm of rain; Siddharthnagar 26 cm; Turtipar 20 cm; Jaunpur 18 cm; and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya recorded 27 cm between Wednesday morning and Thursday morning. The normal date for commencement of monsoon withdrawal from northwest India is September 17 and for complete withdrawal from the country is October 15, as per the new monsoon onset and withdrawal dates issued by IMD in April this year. Until last year, the normal dates for the commencement of withdrawal were September 1 and October 15 for complete withdrawal. The new onset dates are based on monsoon data from 1961 to 2019 and withdrawal dates are based on data from 1971 to 2019 analysed by scientists in IMD, Pune. Last year, the monsoon started withdrawing only on October 9 against the normal date of September 1 and prolonged rains brought a deluge to parts of Maharashtra, Kerala and Bihar in August when rainfall usually reduces. Monsoon withdrew completely only by October 17. In September, the country is 0.6% rain deficient. Since June 1, the country has experienced 8.1% excess rain, according to the IMD. On Sept. 23, BTS delivered a speech about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at the 75th UN General Assembly. After the heartfelt speech, some members of the media criticized the fact the band was selected to speak in the first place. This once again reinforced the idea that the more impact one makes in the public eye, the more critics come out of the woodwork to challenge that impact. However, regardless of what naysayers think, BTS have proven their importance on a global scale, and dismissing the Korean band will not change that. BTS | Noam Galai/Getty Images BTS spoke at the 75th UN General Assembly In 2017, BTS partnered with UNICEF to launch the Love Myself campaign which aims to end violence among youth. The following year, the group attended a meeting at the United Nations and RM gave a speech on self-acceptance as part of the Love Myself campaign. Flash forward a few years, and Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook once again stepped up to bring inspiring messages to youth. This time, the K-pop group addressed those struggling during the pandemic. Individually, each member remarked how the pandemic affected them while giving encouragement to those watching. If theres something I can do, if our voices can give strength to people, then thats what we want and thats what well keep on doing, Jungkook said. RM concluded BTS speech with, When I start feeling lost I remember the words I spoke here two years ago. Love yourself, speak yourself. Now more than ever, we must try to remember who we are and face who we are. We must try to love ourselves and imagine the future. BTS will be there with you. The groups accomplishments so far For years, BTS have been making a steady impact on the global music scene despite gatekeepers attempts to keep them out. The septet first debuted in 2013, and in 2015 they appeared on the Billboard 200 chart for the first time when their EP The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 2 peaked at No. 171 on the chart. In 2020, BTS achieved their fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with Map of the Soul: 7. Their albums Love Yourself: Tear, Love Yourself: Answer, and Map of the Soul: Persona also reached No. 1 on the chart. They have had 12 songs appear on the Billboard Hot 100, and their new single Dynamite debuted at No. 1, making BTS the first all-South Korean group to hit No. 1 on the chart. Of the 43 songs in history to debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100, Dynamite is the 20th song to remain at No. 1 the following week. RELATED: BTS Won Every Award They Were Nominated for at the 2020 MTV VMAs BTS became members of the Recording Academy in 2019, hold multiple Guinness World Records, have four Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and six MTV Video Music Awards. At the 2020 MTV VMAs, they became the first Asian act ever to win the Best Pop award. In the United Kingdom, they are the first Korean group to ever receive music certifications. BTS have proved their importance Despite these accomplishments showing how BTS have pushed through western gatekeepers, the group still faces xenophobia and microaggressions outside of South Korea. After their UN speech, TV personality Anne Hegerty referred to BTS as a little Korean boy band thats fundamentally not important on Twitter. When faced with adversity in the past, the members of BTS have reacted by climbing higher. On a macro-level, BTS have already shown their importance. They broke into the global music industry, repeated their success, and are sought after to speak about global issues. Refusing to acknowledge that does not make the band any less important, and it does not make the dismissive statements true. However, if one takes those awards, speeches, and chart rankings away, the members of BTS are still important on a micro-level. Why? Because of how they have touched fans. RELATED: BTS Proved They Are Not a Fad So Why Are They Still Treated Like One? On Dec. 10, 2017, for the conclusion of BTS The Wings Tour, RM told the audience, If we helped your dream and your life a bit by our existence, our music, our performance, our pictures or videos, even if its not big, if we could reduce your pain from 100 to 99, 98 or 97, that makes our existence worthy. If BTS had only changed one fans life, they would still be important to that fan. Since debuting, they have reached the hearts of millions of people around the world, and that alone is enough to prove their importance. A virtual ceremony took place today to mark the occassion. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Leica Microsystems, Inc. have combined efforts to establish the Leica Microsystems Center of Excellence at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The new Center will support a mission to drive new discoveries and insights from scientific research performed using state-of-the-art imaging systems. A virtual ceremony took place today to mark the occasion. The Center of Excellence features cutting-edge confocal and widefield microscopy technology such as Leica SP8 STED nanoscopy imaging, allowing researchers to capture images and video of the cellular and molecular processes of life. The new partnership between Mount Sinais Microscopy and Advanced Bioimaging Core and Leica will ensure that we can meet the growing demand for novel microscopy-based instruments and strategies, says Deanna Benson, PhD, Director of the Microscope and Advanced Bioimaging Core and Leica Microsystems Center of Excellence in Microscopy at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Our partnership will also allow a free exchange of information between Leicas application scientists and Mount Sinais Core facility scientists crucial for developing novel imaging strategies customized to address the wide-ranging research questions from mechanisms of viral infection and cancer progression to cognition, stress and pain posed by our research community. With this agreement, were enabling researchers at Icahn School of Medicine to push beyond boundaries of what can be visualized and quantified and fulfilling Leica Microsystems mission to provide unrivaled insight for our customers, said Greg Eppink, General Manager, Microscopy, Leica Microsystems Americas. We look forward to continuing this exciting alliance for years to come its an honor to serve the future of scientific research in collaboration with this top-tier institution. At Leica Microsystems we are actively seeking to collaborate with leading research institutions. Icahn School of Medicine scientists are world-renowned and their dedication to advancing our understanding of the mechanisms of life is truly inspiring, said Douglas Giszczynski, Director of Academic Programs, Leica Microsystems Americas. We at Leica Microsystems are proud that they have chosen us as collaborators on this road to discovery. The Center of Excellence will provide valuable feedback necessary to drive innovation in software, systems and workflow solutions while informing the applications and advanced imaging and analysis techniques of tomorrow. This supports the Leica Microsystems leitmotif of with the user, for the user, established by Ernst Leitz I, the entrepreneur who led the business to world renown. For 170 years, Leica Microsystems has helped shape the future and continues to do so today with its latest digital innovations enabling new insights for research, medical, and industrial applications. The opening ceremony will be followed by virtual seminars on September 23 and 24, presented by prominent Mount Sinai researchers discussing imaging applications. Socially-distanced hands-on and virtual demonstrations of the imaging systems will be available to researchers following the seminars. About Leica Microsystems Leica Microsystems develops and manufactures microscopes and scientific instruments for the analysis of microstructures and nanostructures. Widely recognized for optical precision and innovative technology, the company is one of the market leaders in compound and stereo microscopy, digital microscopy, confocal laser scanning and super-resolution microscopy with related imaging systems, electron microscopy sample preparation, and surgical microscopy. Leica Microsystems has six major plants and product development sites located in Wetzlar and Mannheim (Germany), Vienna (Austria), Heerbrugg (Switzerland), Morrisville (USA), and Singapore. The company is represented in over 100 countries, has sales and service organizations in 20 countries, and an international network of distribution partners. Its headquarters are located in Wetzlar, Germany. Leica Microsystems is part of Danaher. About the Mount Sinai Health System The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai is a national and international source of unrivaled education, translational research and discovery, and collaborative clinical leadership ensuring that we deliver the highest quality carefrom prevention to treatment of the most serious and complex human diseases. The Health System includes more than 7,200 physicians and features a robust and continually expanding network of multispecialty services, including more than 400 ambulatory practice locations throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of the Top 20 Best Hospitals in the country and the Icahn School of Medicine as one of the Top 20 Best Medical Schools in country. Mount Sinai Health System hospitals are consistently ranked regionally by specialty by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, China International Optoelectronic Exposition (CIOE), was successfully held at Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center with 89,294 visitors. The increased number of exhibitors and visitors moved everybody onsite with the confidence of optoelectronic industry. They were gathering at this three-day event and looking for potential partners and market trends. Information and communication are important in the optoelectronics. With the development of 5G commercial applications and data center deployment, it brings the growth of optical communications chips and materials, optical fiber & cabler, and optical test & measurement devices. CIOE 2020 - Information and Communication Expo was launched at the new venue taking 3 halls in total of 60,000 m2 exhibition space and focusing on the entire ICT supply chain, as Hall 4 covered the optical instrumentation, system equipment, and production equipment. Hall 6 included passive components, fiber and cable, fiber optic sensing, cable and ancillary equipment, and data center. Hall 8 consisted of chip and components, modules and wireless communication devices. Leading companies such as Phograin, CIG, InnoLight, Hisense Broadband, HiSilicon, MACOM, Gigalight, Shijia, Mitsubishi, SENKO, SDG, O-NET, Luster Optical, and Eoptolink were exhibiting in Halls 4/6/8. Also, Sifotonnics, Applied Optoelectronics, InSiGa, and Lothing Technology debuted at CIOE 2020. Professional peers crowded each booth and networked face-to-face. The next-generation all-optical network is accelerated by emerging technologies and 5G commercial applications. The Optical Network Alliance (ONA) aims to gather all parties from the upstream to the downstream in the industry and started its debut in CIOE 2020. Members such as Huawei, Nokia, YOFC, FiberHome, Digital China, China Overseas Property Holdings, and SHIP shared the all-optical network products, solutions, new ideas and technologies. Mr. Zeyu Chen, Director-General of the ONA, pointed out that he found the optoelectronic peers from the whole industry ecosystem in CIOE 2020 are highly compatible with ONA's orientations and missions. He expects to find more in-depth collaboration with CIOE to extend the influence and operations of ONA in the industry. Concurrently, information communication forums invited leading industry companies such as ZTE, China Unicom, and Huawei to share the development of all-optical network in 5G era. Also, Accelink, Mindsemi, MACOM, HGGenuine, and SONT presented 5G and new generation optoelectronic devices, chips and optoelectronics integration technology innovation. Due to the epidemic, some international presentations such as the analysts from Yole gave the excellent speeches regarding the optical transceiver applications within the optical communication industry via Zoom. Attendees and speakers from online and onsite discussed the industry and market questions without the limits of time and place. Despite most of the optoelectronic peers under the pressure of the international situation and epidemic to expand the business at overseas, the market revenue in China has increased and even improved over the last several months. The development of China's new infrastructure construction, 5G optical network and data center, as well as the deployment of the optical communication which further drive the information and communication industry. Then, CIOE Information and Communication Expo as the most influential ICT event in China will be your ideal platform to enter this market and build the connection with the partners and customers. CIOE 2021 will be organized from September 1 to 3. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280602/CIOE_2020_visitor_registration_onsite.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280601/Visitors_Information_Communication_Expo_CIOE_2020.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280599/ONA_at_CIOE_2020.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280600/CIOE_information_and_communication_forum.jpg The Irish Government has announced plans to tighten its coronavirus restrictions in Donegal. Irish premier Micheal Martin said Donegal would move to risk level three of the Governments plan to deal with Covid-19 following advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet). The measures will be imposed as of midnight on Friday and will remain in place for three weeks until October 16. Speaking at Government Buildings, Mr Martin said: I wish I was bringing better news this evening. That said, we can and we will get through this. The Govt has decided to move Donegal to Level 3 under the Plan for Living with Covid-19 from midnight tomorrow following public health advice from NPHET. This is in response to rising Covid 19 cases in the county. For more visit: https://t.co/z1gcv7Lo8z pic.twitter.com/GOD90Tf8Hs Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) September 24, 2020 But the Taoiseach said if everyone decided to take responsibility then there would be nothing inevitable about escalation of the virus. Government ministers approved the measures in an incorporeal Cabinet meeting on Thursday afternoon. It will mean the county will be under similar restrictions to the capital with one main exception. Under the new restrictions wet pubs will be allowed to stay open but they will only be able to serve outdoors with a maximum of 15 people. Restaurants, cafes and pubs that serve food will be allowed to remain open for takeaway and delivery services, as well as outdoor dining for a maximum of 15 people. Six visitors from one other household will be permitted into a private home. All other indoor gatherings have been banned and outdoor gatherings should have a maximum of 15 people. Religious services will move online with the exception of funerals and weddings where 25 people will be allowed. People living in Co Donegal should remain in the county. The rest of the country will remain on level two restrictions except Dublin. The capital was placed on level three on September 19 for a period of three weeks. Of the #COVID19 cases notified today: 169 are men / 155 are women 64% are under 45 years of age 52% are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case 81 cases have been identified as community transmission Department of Health (@roinnslainte) September 24, 2020 The restrictions come as 324 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ireland by the Department of Health. Three further deaths due to the virus were reported. Of the new cases, 167 cases were in Dublin, 42 in Donegal, 34 in Cork, 13 in Monaghan, 12 in Kildare, eight in Cavan, six in Limerick, six in Meath, six in Roscommon and five in Wicklow, with the remaining cases 25 cases in 11 counties. 64% of the cases were under the age of 45. Donegal now has the highest rate of Covid-19 infections per head of population in the country, overtaking Dublin. Acting chief medical officer Ronan Glynn said he understood that the move to level three would be a disappointment for the people of Donegal. He said the decision had been made in an effort to protect you and to prevent a further deterioration in the situation there. He called on people to prioritise who they need to see and to limit their social contacts over the coming days and weeks. Public health doctors are coming across more cases arising from people who are close contacts of confirmed cases and are not restricting their movements, he said. SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PayPal Holdings, Inc. today named 20 nonprofit community partners that will receive grants and contributions totaling $5 million to support Black-owned businesses across the U.S. in their recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants are part of PayPal's $530 million commitment announced in June to support Black-owned businesses, strengthen minority communities and fight for racial equity and economic equality. "The COVID-19 pandemic has put enormous pressure on small businesses, and has been especially devastating for Black-owned businesses and communities," said Dan Schulman, president and CEO, PayPal. "To rebuild and succeed over the long-term, it's important for these businesses to have a strong ecosystem of support. Through our grants to effective community nonprofits, PayPal is working to support and strengthen Black-owned businesses and catalyze the critical work these organizations are doing to sustain Black-owned businesses and communities now and in the future." The nonprofit organizations receiving PayPal partner grants are located in communities across the country and offer a variety of services and supports for Black-owned businesses from lending to technical assistance to leadership development: As part of this partnership initiative, PayPal employee volunteers will work with these nonprofit community partners to advance PayPal's mission. In addition, the company will match $2 for every $1 employees donate and $20 for every volunteer hour contributed to the organizations, up to $500,000. The $530 million commitment announced in June is PayPal's largest social impact investment to date and builds on the company's mission to democratize financial services so that everyone can participate fairly and fully in the global economy. The commitment was designed to provide immediate assistance to Black-owned businesses, while setting the foundation for sustained engagement and progress towards economic equality and social justice. In August, PayPal completed the distribution of $10 million in empowerment grants to Black-owned small businesses to help them stabilize and reopen during the pandemic. The company also announced a $50 million deposit in Optus Bank, a Black-owned bank based in South Carolina dedicated to providing equal access to capital and financial services for minority communities, as part of an initiative to invest in Black and minority-owned financial institutions, investment funds and startups. From Our Community Partners 1863 "We welcome the partnership with PayPal. The funding will be used to support Black entrepreneurs across the country who are seeking to recover from COVID-19 rebuild their businesses and become resilient contributors to the economic viability of their communities." Melissa Bradley, Founder and Managing Partner African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs "We are pleased to partner with PayPal to help close the wealth gap that has existed in Black communities for generations. The PayPal grant will be instrumental in building the capacity of the Alliance to enable its leaders to better serve small businesses, homeowners, and other residents who are seeking the American Dream in these communities." Donna Gambrell, Chair Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) "AEO's work with PayPal to foster lasting economic inclusion for communities of color is more important than ever. We are in a pivotal moment as a nation, and now is the time to champion transformational change that will lead to an equitable system. This grant award will help us to continue the vital work of creating access to resources that will empower Black-owned businesses to generate wealth and create economic opportunity in their local communities." Connie Evans, President and CEO Baltimore Community Lending "This grant means a lot for Baltimore Community Lending because we provide small-to-mid size capital solutions leading to a more diverse and economically balanced Baltimore. Through our small business arm, our innovative loan program is designed around the primary barriers to credit for small businesses in Baltimore City, especially those that are minority and women owned. Thanks to PayPal for this grant and the opportunity to work with them." Watchen Bruce, President and CEO Black Girl Ventures "We are honored to have been selected for a grant from PayPal. Funding from PayPal will advance over 100 women founders through Black Girl Ventures' incubator platform providing access to community, capital, and capacity to Black and brown women founders. We are thrilled about the long-term impact this contribution will have for our founders!" Shelly Bell, Founder and CEO Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives Micro Finance Group (CNIMFG) "CNIMFG knows small businesses and their employees are hurting during this difficult and unprecedented time, particularly those in communities where resources are scarce. We're honored to be joining forces with PayPal to help Black and other minority business owners, particularly in under-resourced communities gain access to the financial support they need to grow jobs and strengthen the communities they serve, as quickly as possible." Erica King, President EnrichHER "EnrichHER is truly excited to receive the support of PayPal for our All Rise Factory Black program. Because of this grant, we will be able to help over 100 Black-owned businesses with resources, training, and capital." Dr. Roshawnna Novellus, Founder and CEO Expanding Black Business Credit Initiative (EBBC) "EBBC is incredibly thankful to be a community partner grantee. This award will substantially accelerate both our peer learning work plan and our go-to-market efforts, edging our organization a step closer to building the toolkits that CDFIs need to scale their organizations." Mary Houghton, Planning Committee Chair Grameen America "We are excited to announce our partnership with PayPal and its investment in our microfinance program, which will sustain and empower the Black women entrepreneurs we serve. At a time when underserved communities of color are disproportionately affected by the current crisis and our vital commitment to racial equity is more important than ever, PayPal's investment in our program will elevate and strengthen an inclusive economic recovery at this critical moment." Andrea Jung, President and CEO Kiva "We are incredibly thankful to PayPal for providing Kiva with this grant, which will help us to provide additional funding and support for Black-owned businesses in the US. Every day, we strive to help underserved communities thrive, and we know businesses are facing particularly devastating impact this year. Kiva is a lifeline for many small business owners who require immediate and affordable financial capital - that is often the difference between a business shutting down and keeping their doors open. Thanks to PayPal, we can continue to grow and scale our operations and ultimately support a greater number of black-owned businesses in the US." Neville Crawley, CEO MORTAR "When we started MORTAR, we had one small room with 15 entrepreneurs uncomfortably piled inside, eager to learn how to make their dreams become realities. Six years and 275 graduates later, we are thrilled to know that our impact has changed lives all across the Midwest, and we look forward to partnering with PayPal in a meaningful way to continue scaling our impact. An opportunity to work directly with a financial titan like PayPal is a foretaste of what success can look like, but more importantly, it's a reminder of what collaboration in communities of color should feel like." Allen Woods, Co-Founder and Executive Director Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEF) "The Nebraska Enterprise Fund is grateful to partner with PayPal to support Omaha-based Black-owned businesses. Through this support, NEF will be able to support small businesses as they start-up, grow, and expand leading to vibrant local economies and communities with improved employment opportunities and greater wealth." Jim Reiff, Executive Director Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) "This outstanding contribution from PayPal will enable NDC to continue to provide greatly needed business support for Black-owned businesses in Minneapolis and St. Paul. We appreciate PayPal's investment in Black business owners." Renay Dossman, Executive Director Opportunity Fund "Our missionto drive economic mobilityis part of the fight against systemic inequities, including racism. We must do that work with greater speed, unyielding commitment, and increasing courage. We are deeply grateful that PayPal is supporting Black business owners backed by Opportunity Fund. It will take all of us coming together in new ways to build a more just, anti-racist financial system." Luz Urrutia, CEO Rising Tide Capital "We are so grateful for the support that PayPal is providing to Rising Tide Capital and so many other organizations around the country this year in support of Black businesses and the essential role of their success in addressing racial and economic equity in America. For the last 15 years, we have been committed to this crucial work and know that the pressures of this moment only heighten the urgency of our collective response. We are grateful to PayPal and to our many colleagues around the country who stand in support of this mission." Alfa Demmelash, CEO and Co-Founder Russell Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (RCIE) "At RCIE, we believe that transformational change requires strong partnerships and impact-driven collaborations. PayPal's grant is exactly that kind of partnership. We envision unleashing the power of PayPal for Black entrepreneurs leveraging the full suite of PayPal tools and services to help the Russell Center's Stakeholder businesses grow and scale." Jay Bailey, President and CEO Start Small, Think Big "COVID has been absolutely catastrophic for just about every small business in this country - particularly those that are Black-owned. With PayPal's generous support, Start Small Think Big will be able to help these businesses recover from the devastating impacts of COVID and begin to realize the promise that business ownership holds for addressing the racial wealth gap." Jennifer DaSilva, Founder and Executive Director Walker's Legacy "COVID-19 has shown us how vulnerable our economy can be, this is particularly applicable to Black-owned businesses. Walker's Legacy is proud to partner with PayPal, in their demonstrated commitment to ensuring that Black women-owned firms succeed in developing programming to support Black women-owned businesses." Natalie Madeira Cofield, Founder and CEO Women's Opportunities Resource Center (WORC) "The Women's Opportunities Resource Center is so appreciative for the generous support provided by PayPal. The pandemic has disproportionately hit our women-owned businesses, many of which are in the service and retail industry. The assistance provided by PayPal will help us tide these businesses over until they can resume full operations. They are nothing if not resilient. They have proven that time and time again." Lynne Cutler, President 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 merchants in more than 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit paypal.com . Media Contact: Janine Kamwene [email protected] SOURCE PayPal Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://www.paypal.com DENVER Colorados Secretary of State Jena Griswold criticized President Donald Trump for misleading voters about one of the safest voting systems in the United States on Thursday. There is a lot of misinformation about this election. Unfortunately a lot of it comes form the President of United States, Griswold said at a a virtual town hall Thursday, held to combat the malicious spread of false information and discuss the states mail-in voting and ballot tracking system. Griswold, a Democrat, praised Colorados systems as being at the forefront of accessible elections including mail-in voting, which started in 2013. Griswold encouraged mail-in voting due to the health risks of the coronavirus pandemic and noted that there are over 350 ballot drop boxes across the state. Colorado voters can also vote in-person at voting centers. The vast majority of voting in past elections has been by mail and by dropping off ballots at the drop boxes. Under Griswold, the state used federal funds to expand a vote tracking system this year in which voters can receive text and email notifications that their ballots have been received and counted. In Colorado, ballots will be sent out between Oct. 9 and 16 to the states more than 3.5 million active registered voters. She urged voters to return their ballots by mail by Oct. 26. Ballots mailed after that date arent guaranteed to be received by Election Day, Nov. 3, she said. Vote processing will begin 15 days before Election Day, Griswold said. Griswold also criticized the Trump administration for cuts affecting the U.S. Postal Service delivery and who has baselessly questioned the security of all-mail balloting such as that used in Colorado. Last week, the Postal Service agreed to destroy any USPS mailers with misleading information about Colorado mail voting that it had not already sent, settling a lawsuit filed by Griswolds office. In Griswolds commitment to maintain the states reputation for secure voting, she has also criticized Postmaster General Louis DeJoy over Postal Service changes that slowed processing and delivery. In response, Colorado joined a multi-state lawsuit in which a federal judge in Washington state blocked the changes, calling it a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service before the 2020 election. For all election news, registration, drop box locations or to sign up for the tracking system, visit Govotecolorado.gov. ___ Nieberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Traces of Covid-19 have been detected in sewage in two of Sydney's most popular beachside suburbs. The virus was detected in wastewater at Bondi and Malabar in the city's south-east for two consecutive weeks earlier this month on September 6 and 13. The positive samples were detected despite no cases of COVID-19 from an unknown source or any new clusters reported across the state in the past seven days. 'These samples were taken from Bondi and Malabar and are expected given the presence of known COVID-19 cases in the sewerage catchment areas,' the latest NSW Health surveillance report released on Thursday said. COVID-19 was detected in sewage at Bondi for two consecutive weeks earlier in September. Pictured are Sydneysiders at Bondi's iconic beach on August 20 The samples were taken from an area serving a population of more than two million Sydneysiders, including the CBD and quarantine hotels. A person with COVID-19 can shed the virus in their body waste even if they no longer test positive or have any symptoms. The NSW Sewage Surveillance Program has tested untreated sewerage at 42 sites across the state since July to track infection rates and provide health authorities early warning of a possible spike in infections. 'To date, the sewage surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 is in the preliminary stages, and further analysis is required to assess the significance of the results,' the report states. The virus was also detected in wastewater at Malabar (pictured) in Sydney's south-east Virus fragments have also been detected in previous samples across the state including metropolitan Sydney, Perisher in the Snowy Mountains, Newcastle, Byron Bay on the far north coast and the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. All positive samples except Perisher were in areas with known COVID-19 infections. NSW recorded just one new case on Thursday, which was a returned traveller in hotel quarantine. The state's death toll remains at 55. Health authorities urge residents to tested and isolate as soon as symptoms develop, even if they are mild. Sweden was the only major European country to reject lockdown and leave most of its bars, restaurants and shops open during the Covid-19 crisis. Ireland took the least maverick route - and yesterday experts said we are at the start of a second wave. The 14-day incidence here was 68.6 per 100,000 while Sweden's was 36 per 100,000. A suggestion from a Swedish epidemiologist that Ireland adopt the more softly, softly strategy was among possible solutions to emerge yesterday from a brainstorming session of experts at the Oireachtas committee investigating Covid-19. Others urged borrowing the best ideas from Finland and Taiwan. Comeback kid Sweden has been dubbed the comeback kid of Europe after reversing a high infection and death rate. Dr Johann Giesecke, a former chief epidemiologist in Sweden, said we should allow controlled spread among people below 60, but concentrate on the old and frail and have frequent testing of staff and residents in nursing homes. Mask wearing is not mandatory but much of the secret probably emerged when he revealed the very high level of voluntary compliance to anti-Covid measures like physical distancing. "People are not stupid," he said. Over-60s Sweden's biggest failure in the early months was the high number of deaths, mostly among the elderly. He said there will be a "tolerable spread" among the over-60s. But there has been a "sea change" in the way people in care homes are now looked after. Asked by Social Democrat TD Roisin Shortall how more active older people would be protected, he said they need to be more careful. "We have not changed anything for the six months whereas other countries are going in and out of lockdown," he added. But acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn last night ruled out following Sweden's path. Seven years Infectious disease consultant, Professor Sam McConkey of Beaumont Hospital, said there needs to be a Covid plan for up to seven more years. Living with Covid-19 community transmission is like having a tiger in your house - it will come back and bite you, he said. If it is not eliminated "we face multiple regular waves here, of infection, disease and death, and disability" for possibly many years. Once there is an outbreak there should be testing and detailed contact tracing, pop-up testing and mobile teams. Incoming travellers Prof McConkey pointed to successes in Australia and New Zealand that should be adopted, with better control of incoming travellers using testing, home visits and quarantines. There is not one single thing to do to stop the rise in cases, which if it continues will result in more deaths, he added. A package of measures are needed and current test and control measures are not enough. Physical distancing needs community buy-in. There needs to be improvement in the quality and speed of what is being done already. Within the EU, there should be a collective effort to get the whole group to aim for elimination. It would mean areas gradually free of Covid-19 could be opened up. Scandinavian success Finland, not Sweden, was held up as the European country to follow by Dr Tomas Ryan of the Institute of Neurosciences in Trinity College. He said there is no magic ingredient in Finland but they seem to be doing everything well, from mask wearing to physical distancing. He pointed out it has a sparser population than Ireland and possibly more compliance. "It is among the best-performing countries in Europe," he added. Three-shot test Dr Ryan suggested blockages to foreign travel could be overcome with three-shot testing. Airline passengers would have a test before leaving and another test on arrival. This would entail a wait of around six hours at the airport. They would then self-isolate for a few days before a further test. Transparency People in Ireland are not getting the kind of information they need on the location of outbreaks - whether they are in family homes, weddings or restaurants, said Professor Kirsten Schaffer, a microbiologist of the UCD School of Medicine. If they did, restrictions would seem more logical and consistent, she added. She pointed to Germany, where there is detailed tracing to find sources of infection. She said she asked public health officials here and was told they only checked what close contacts people had in the previous 48 hours. So it may not be clear whether the infection was picked up at a house party or restaurant. "I don't have that information. The data is not there," she said. Without that information the interventions are too crude, she said. Holidays Prof Schaffer said the issue around foreign travel has less to do with flights than on what people do on their holidays. If they go to bars and nightclubs, they may be at risk. But if they go to a country for some sun, physically distance, wear their masks on holiday and on the plane, the risk may be lower than staying at home and going to a house party, she said. Instead of a green list of countries, there should be a red list which would flag areas of high community transmission. Travellers from these countries should be followed up. Since masks became mandatory on planes there have been very few outbreaks associated with travel. Citing intelligence sources, the military said the man appeared to have been questioned at sea, north of the disputed boundary and about 24 miles from where he went missing, before he was executed on an order from a superior authority. Union Minister on Thursday said that more than 3 lakh tele-consultations have been completed on 'eSanjeevani' platform. The government further informed that among all the states, Tamil Nadu is leading with the completion of 1.29 lakh tele-consultations. The 'e-Sanjeevani' platform provides utility and easy access for the caregivers and the medical community and those seeking health care services in the times of coronavirus. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) F rance faces further lockdown restrictions as the government unveiled a map of coronavirus "danger zones" around the country. The nation's health minister gave the hardest-hit local authorities, including that of Marseille, days to tighten measures or risk having a state of health emergency declared there. Olivier Veran told a news conference the country would be divided into zones by alert level. Marseille, the second-largest city, and the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe are for now the only two areas put on the "maximum" alert level. Paris and its suburbs but also the northern city of Lille, the southwestern town of Toulouse and six other cities were declared "reinforced danger zones", Mr Veran added. "Should the sanitary situation worsen further in those areas, then a state of health emergency would be put in place", the minister said. Like other European countries where the infection rate has soared in the past month, France has been gradually tightening limits on public and private gatherings locally, hoping it will be enough to contain the disease and avoid a second national lockdown. After a summer lull, President Emmanuel Macron's government has been keen to let local authorities adopt measures locally depending on the severity of Covie-19 outbreaks, rather than taking broad measures from the central government in Paris. Shortly after Mr Veran spoke, French health authorities reported 13,072 new confirmed Covid-19 cases over 24 hours, the daily tally coming in above 13,000 for the third time in six days. And, on a national level, the number of people in ICUs are around the 1,000 threshold, which is a 3-1/2-month high. In Paris and the other cities now labelled "reinforced danger zones", attendance at major events will be limited to 1,000 people from the 5,000 allowed now, pre-planned events such as student parties will be banned, and bars and restaurants will have to close at 10 pm at the latest. Local officials representing the central government in different regions will have a couple of days to enforce these measures. - Some of the greatest Kenyans musicians such as Kigame, Mary Atieno did not let disability steal their talents - They not only left Kenyans with great music but also planted adoration and respect towards them - With their good successful history in music, it is clear disability has never been a hindrance for some who are still thriving to date PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB Feed Disability is not inability, this has been proven countless times by extraordinary Kenyans who have achieved greater heights despite different physical challenges affecting them. Kenya has over the years produced many great musicians who have moved many with their creative pieces. READ ALSO: Nyanya Rukia: Comedian Kokoro says he was criticised for wearing buibui, behaving like woman The musicians have been the darlings of many Kenyans. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Maza, Aziza actress Pretty Mutave to be buried in Kibwezi on Saturday However, some of those who will forever be remembered are those who became household names despite dealing with different disabilities. TUKO.co.ke has compiled a list of five great Kenyan blind musicians whose music will forever live in the hearts of many people. 1. Reuben Kigame Kigame is one gospel musician whose music has enjoyed airtime for decades. The man of God is among the first Kenyans musicians to really shape the industry and give upcoming musicians reasons to believe in their craft. If you were born in the 80s and 90s, then Kigame's songs must have been in your parent's playlists. A decade and so later, Kigame is still releasing music and feeding his fans and the world with nothing but pureness. READ ALSO: Thiago Alcantara: Liverpool complete signing of Spanish midfielder on a 4-year deal 2. Mary Atieno Ominde Atieno and her hubby inspired many people with how they used to work during their prime time. The songstress is blind but churned out massive hits with the support of her hubby who never missed in most of her music videos. One of the biggest hits that Atieno blessed Kenyans with is Adam na Hawa and Sodom na Gomora, jams that are still being played to date. 3. Olima Anditi Onditi was blind since his childhood but never allowed it to kill his dream in music. The musician who is an innovative guitarist and vocalist is known and loved throughout Kenya, with the Western parts of the country boasting of his wide fanbase. His song Pauline Anyango put him on the map. READ ALSO: Kibicho aongoza mkutano wa Mt Kenya katika mkahawa wa Thika Greens usiku 4. Crystal Asige Unlike most of her counterparts in this article, Asige lost her eyesight in her 20s but managed to overcome the challenge to become a household name in Africa. Her music is so good that she was signed by Sol Generation but parted ways after months of working together. Asige not only treats her fans with music but a heavy dosage of inspiration with her story of patience and perseverance. 5. Denno Denno first interacted with the limelight after his collabo with Daddy Owen on Mbona. The musician grew steadily and attracted Bahati's attention in a move that saw him get signed under EMB Records, a label owned by the Mama hitmaker. He continues to make ripples with his melodious voice to date. PAY ATTENTION: Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme - https://www.patreon.com/tuko Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. I have infected multiple men with HIV, my entire family hates me -Kiki wa Nge'ndo | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 23:56:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Shelling launched by the Houthi group targeted some residential neighborhoods in Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Thursday, a government official told Xinhua. "The Houthi fighters carried out random shelling with mortar shells and struck a number of populated residential neighborhoods in Hays district, south of Hodeidah," the local government source said on condition of anonymity. The random Houthi shelling caused severe damage to the citizens' residential houses in Hays, the source said. The citizens' properties including their livestock were also affected by the Houthi shelling, he added. On Wednesday, armed confrontations heavily erupted between the joint pro-government Yemeni forces and the Houthis in Hodeidah. Part of the province, including the port city, is under control of the Houthi militia, while the government forces have advanced to the southern districts. Hodeidah has seen a shaky cease-fire between the government and the Houthis 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 A travesty: Progressive Christian leaders slam Breonna Taylor grand jury decision Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Progressive Christian leaders have expressed outrage over a grand jury in Kentucky deciding not to file homicide charges against the three Louisville police officers involved in the controversial death of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in March. In a decision announced Wednesday after a four-month investigation, the 12-member Jefferson County Grand Jury opted to indict former police detective Brett Hankison on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for endangering the lives of people in a unit neighboring Taylors apartment when he fired multiple rounds on March 13. The grand jury also decided that two other officers involved in Taylors death were justified when they fired their weapons into her apartment because her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at them while carrying out a narcotics warrant on the apartment late at night. Walkers initial shot fired at the police, who he claimed had not identified themselves, was met with gunfire from the officers. In the confusion, Taylor was fatally wounded by six shots. As Taylors death has been among the many highlighted by protesters nationwide demonstrating against police brutality, the outcome only inflamed the protests across the U.S. last night. While the grand jury opted to indict Hankison on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, these counts are not directly tied to the death of Taylor. The other two officers, Jonathan Mattingly and detective Myles Cosgrove, were not indicted. The indictment announcement spurred widespread criticism as well as protests in multiple cities, including Louisville, where 127 demonstrators were arrested overnight. Additionally, two police officers were shot in the wake of the grand jurys decision. The officers Aubrey Gregory and Robinson Desroches are expected to recover as injuries are not life-threatening. A suspect has been identified by the Louisville Metro Police Department as 26-year-old Larynzo Johnson. The Rev. William Barber II, the co-chair of the Poor Peoples Campaign and pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina, called the grand jury result a damnable decision. Police used a battering ram and broke the door off its hinges as they entered Breonna Taylors apartment, shooting her at least five times. Anything less than indictments for the full extent of the officers actions cannot stand, the pastor, who is also president of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, tweeted. Yes, they endangered the neighbors. But Breonna Taylor got a casket, and not a single officer is charged in her death or will be tried in state criminal court for it. She cannot be erased from this story. Barber went on to call Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is black, an enabler of racism for not allowing these officers to be tried in Breonna Taylors death. Barber argued that just because the attorney general is Black does not mean he gets a pass on criticism. Four leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA), among them Stated Clerk of the General Assembly J. Herbert Nelson, the first African-American head of the denomination, also denounced the decision. In a joint statement, the PC(USA) leadership said their hearts break at the news. The leaders stated that the grand jury findings only makes us feel that our cries have fallen on deaf ears. This is a travesty. People of color should not have to live in fear of those who are called to protect and serve, the PC(USA) leaders contend. We grieve with Breonna Taylors family and continue to lift them up in prayer as her community seeks to heal. The denominational leadership called on people to renew efforts to bring justice to those who have been denigrated, used, ignored, and repressed because of the color of their skin. The liberal mainline denomination Evangelical Lutheran Church in America posted to Twitter a prayer regarding Taylors death. When one part of the body of Christ hurts, the whole body hurts, the ELCA tweeted on Wednesday afternoon. As we remember the life of Breonna Taylor, Living God, may we be re-membered as your body, connected to one another and empowered for the work you call us to do in the name of Jesus and the power of his Spirit. Some, including columnist Andrew C. McCarthy of the National Review, defended the grand jury decision, stating that criminal law is not designed to address every human tragedy. The cops were doing their job in executing a lawful search warrant at a location that was quite justifiably tied to a notorious criminal Ms. Taylors former boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, wrote McCarthy. How they came to be at Ms. Taylors home, with a search warrant based on probable cause that evidence of narcotics crimes would be found, is the part of the story the social-justice warriors would have us omit. McCarthy labeled the death of Taylor a calamity and a tragic loss, but stressed that the law is not equipped to address catastrophes that are not crimes. Denny Burk, professor of biblical studies at Boyce College in Louisville, posted a blog post on Wednesday praising Camerons remarks earlier in the day in which the attorney general mourned Taylors death but also called for the rule of law, due process, and justice. Amen to this from Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron: If we simply act on emotion or outrage, there is no justice. Mob justice is not justice, Burke tweeted. In a statement Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, stated that Cameron conducted exactly the kind of thorough, impartial investigation that justice demands. I have full confidence in the Attorney Generals painstaking pursuit of facts and justice, McConnell assured. Many Kentuckians have channeled their continuing grief and anger into a peaceful exercise of their First Amendment rights. But in Louisville last night, we saw more of the lawlessness, riots, and violence that has plagued American cities too often this year. McConnell also condemned the fact that citizens businesses were vandalized, fires were set in the streets and two officers were shot. If unsure, Cooper argued, he was required only to confirm from an authorized official in this case, he said, Ellen Knight, the National Security Councils senior director for records access that the information was unclassified. Cooper claimed that this is what Knight verified by phone and email after the initial review and that Bolton knew of no other classified information remaining in the manuscript he submitted to his publisher April 27. Mangaluru, Sep 24 : The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police of Mangaluru on Thursday issued summons to famous Kannada TV anchor Anushri for her alleged connection in a drugs case involving choreographer Kishore Aman Shetty. "Mangaluru police arrived late in the night around 9.30 p.m. and served her the summons personally and she will be leaving going to Managaluru tomorrow morning," a senior police officer disclosed to reporters. Coastal region's famous celebrity Choreographer Kishore Shetty was arrested last week for allegedly possessing and consuming drugs. From him, the police had recovered MDMA tablets as well as LSD strips from him. Kishore Shetty rose to fame, after he acted in Bollywood super hit movie - ABCD (Anybody Can Dance) - directed by dancing sensation Prabhu Deva, He has won many TV reality dance shows too in Kannada as well as in Hindi. Mangaluru police who have dug deep into the alleged drug case involving, famous choreographer, Kishore Shetty, has already made some progress by arresting his Aska originally hails from Nagaland but now based in Dakshin Kannada, and his close aide, Tarun two days ago. The police claimed that Aska, an employee of a spa in the city, who allegedly partied with Shetty was arrested later. Based on their inputs, the Mangaluru police seem to have summoned Anushri as she used to be a star attraction in parties hosted by the Kishore various parts of Coastal region. The police believe that she knew antecedents of Kishore and his dealings therefore they want to interrogate her to know more details. The police added that Tarun was arrested after subjecting him to a drug test which proved positive, they said. Earlier in the day, rumours about the notice being served to Anushri via WhatsApp, did round but she consistently declined it. Therefore, the Mangaluru police sent a special team to serve her the summons in person, an officer disclosed. Shetty and his aide Aqeel Nausheel were arrested on September 19 under charges of drug consumption and peddling. A screen capture from the movie "Hope" that tells the horrific story of one of the country's most notorious child rapists, Cho Doo-soon. / Korea Times file By Jun Ji-hye Ansan Mayor Yoon Wha-sub is calling for the legislation of a new law to keep child sex offenders in a state-run facility for some time after their release from prison, to maintain their segregation from society. The mayor's call comes as one of the country's most notorious child rapists, Cho Doo-soon, is scheduled to be released from prison, Dec. 13, after serving a 12-year term for kidnapping an eight-year-old girl who he raped repeatedly in a church bathroom in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, in 2008. The victim, at the time, sustained severe injuries including intestinal ruptures. Cho, 68, said he is planning to return to Ansan to live with his wife after his upcoming release, according to the Ministry of Justice. This has raised fears and anger among Ansan residents, including the victim's family. Mayor Yoon said many residents as well as the victim and her family want Cho to be isolated for a period of time following his release from prison. Ansan Mayor Yoon Wha-sub / Courtesy of Ansan city government A picture showing Bulgarian Parliament building, Alexander Nevski cathedral on the background, and the statue of Russian Emperor Alexander II, in Sofia, taken on Dec. 30, 2017. (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images) Bulgaria Expels Two Russian Diplomats Accused of Spying SOFIABulgaria has expelled two Russian diplomats who prosecutors suspect were involved in spying, giving them 72 hours to leave the Balkan country, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday. EU and NATO member Bulgaria, which usually maintains good ties with Russia, has expelled three other Russian diplomats over espionage allegations since last October. It also declined to grant a visa to Russias incoming defense attache in December. Bulgarias foreign ministry has declared two Russian diplomats persona non grata and has informed the Russian embassy with a diplomatic note, a ministry spokesman said. The Russian Embassy in Sofia was not immediately available to discuss the matter, while the Russian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier on Wednesday prosecutors said that the two diplomats had been seeking classified information on army modernization plans and the maintenance of military equipment since 2016 and that they aimed to pass it to Russian military intelligence. The prosecutors said in a statement that the diplomats had made contact with Bulgarians with access to information related to the countrys military-industrial complex and that in some cases financial benefits had been promised and provided. Bulgaria was Moscows most obedient satellite in eastern Europe during Soviet times. Despite periodic strains in relations in post-Soviet times, Russia remains Bulgarias biggest energy supplier. By Tsvetelia Tsolova AG Nessel Joins Coalition Supporting Federal Court Order Shutting Down Dakota Access Pipeline AG Nessel Joins Coalition Supporting Federal Court Order Shutting Down Dakota Access Pipeline September 24, 2020 LANSING Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today joined 18 states, territories and counties in urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to affirm a lower courts ruling that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) failed to fully assess the potential impact of an oil spill from the Dakota Access Pipeline on the environment and the natural resources that Native American tribes depend on, and ordering the shutdown of the pipeline in the absence of a lawful environmental assessment. In addition to protecting the interests of the tribes, supporting environmental justice and implicating issues around the countrys continued reliance on harmful climate-changing fossil fuels, the case could reaffirm longstanding legal principles that benefit Michigan, other states and their residents in their own challenges to environmentally harmful projects within their communities and beyond. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to comply with legal requirements by neglecting to fully consider the consequences of a breach of the Dakota Access Pipeline, and my colleagues and I urge the Court of Appeals to affirm the lower courts ruling, Nessel said. This oil and gas pipeline could potentially impact the environment and has climate change implications we cannot overlook. Moreover, we must join our Indigenous partners who have led the way in raising the alarm about the environmental threat this project poses. As they have advocated from the beginning, shutting down this project is essential to protecting the environment. The brief supports the Standing Rock Sioux, Cheyenne River Sioux, Oglala Sioux, and Yankton Sioux tribes in their challenge to the Corps decision to grant an easement to Dakota Access LLC to authorize the construction of a portion of a 1,200-mile pipeline to transport more than a half-million gallons of oil a day under Lake Oahe. The tribes rely on Lake Oahe for drinking water, religious ceremonies and other important Indigenous uses. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found the Corps violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by failing to complete an environmental impact statement before the agency granted the easement authorizing the pipeline. It marked the second time the district court had faulted the agency for violating NEPA regarding the project. The district court vacated the easement, requiring the pipeline to be shut down while the agency attempts a second time to comply with NEPA. Last month, the appeals court issued an interim order allowing the pipeline to continue to operate pending the resolution of further legal proceedings. According to todays brief, courts should, except in rare cases, vacate a federal agencys action if it violates NEPA. NEPA, one of the nations most important environmental laws, is built on the commonsense principle that the federal government must first fully analyze the potential environmental consequences of its proposed actions, disclose those impacts for public dialogue, and seek to use that knowledge to avoid or mitigate potential environmental harm. Judicial decisions that leave in place an agency action that violates NEPA incentivize federal agency decisionmakers to do the bare minimum and encourage project proponents to advance their projects as quickly as possible so that they may later claim during potential litigation that there are severe economic consequences of vacating the agency action and stopping the authorized project, the brief states. In this case, the coalition argues that both the Corps and Dakota Access are seeking to subvert NEPAs mandate requiring a full and comprehensive environmental review by claiming that shutting down the pipeline would cause widespread economic harm. Any potential economic harm was self-inflicted by Dakota Access, as it chose to proceed despite the tribes challenge to the easement. Nullifying the easement and shutting down the pipeline as a result, the brief argues, is particularly appropriate in this case where the Corps violation was serious and so much is at stake for the tribes sovereign entities in our federal system that have far too often been marginalized. The brief argues that federal court enforcement of compliance with NEPA is more important now than ever. Today in the midst of the devastating effects of a changing climate and increasing awareness that environmental harms are disproportionately borne by our most vulnerable and historically disenfranchised communities it is more important than ever to fully understand, evaluate, and disclose for public dialogue the environmental effects of such federal actions, the brief reads. In filing the brief, Attorney General Nessel is joined by the attorneys general of Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia, the Territory of Guam, and Harris County, Texas. ### Ryan Jarvi 517-599-2746 Attorney General Credit: CC0 Public Domain Adults conceived through sperm donation reported higher frequencies of allergies, type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune conditions in a world-first study that examined the long term health outcomes of donor-conceived people. The study was conducted by Flinders University's Caring Futures Institute and led by researcher Damian Adams, and published in the Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. It looked at 272 donor-conceived adult participants from around the world together with 877 who were conceived naturally. Results revealed that for most health outcomes, donor sperm conceived adults reported no significant difference to participants born through natural conception. However, donor sperm conceived adults had seven times more type 1 diabetes diagnoses than naturally conceived adults, together with double the incidence of thyroid disease, acute bronchitis and sleep apnoea, and a 45% incidence of allergies compared to 35% in the naturally conceived population. Mr Adams says most of the health conditions reported by donor conceived people had an immunological basis, suggesting an alteration to their immunological systems. "What may potentially be driving this is the maternal complication of preeclampsia, which has increased incidences associated with the use of donated gametes (sex cells)," he says. "Preeclampsia is an extremely serious condition that is mediated by the immune system. Research has shown that children born from a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia have altered epigenetic profiles including links with an altered immune system." Mr Adams is a Ph.D. candidate at Flinders University, whose interest in the health outcomes of donor-conceived people was sparked by vast knowledge gaps in the area. His supervisors include Flinders University Professor Sheryl de Lacey, who has a clinical background in infertility and assisted reproductive technology. She says the use of donor gametes has been cloaked in secrecy and abetted by anonymity, with pregnancies assumed to be no different to natural conceptions. "Being aware of an increased risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy and the implications for children in adulthood holds the potential to empower women beyond their pregnancy," Professor de Lacey says. "For parents, this unique study provides important information that informs their decision of whether to disclose conception means to their child, and to choose the health care they receive. For donor conceived people, having this information may improve vigilance in preventative health behaviors." Mr Adams says donor-conceived people are a hard to reach population, with research consistently showing that the majority do not know they were conceived by sperm donation. "We had to implement six different recruitment strategies to attract the sample size we achieved," he says. The majority of participants were from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands. Those conceived by donor or through natural conception were matched for age, sex, height, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, exercise and fertility. "This study was preceded by our systematic review of the literature, where we noted a dearth of studies investigating the perinatal and long-term health outcomes of donor sperm treatments, despite the technique being used for almost 140 years," Mr Adams says. Explore further Children conceived using donor sperm have similar health and well-being to general population More information: Damian H. Adams et al. Self-reported physical health status of donor sperm-conceived adults, Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (2020). Damian H. Adams et al. Self-reported physical health status of donor sperm-conceived adults,(2020). DOI: 10.1017/S204017442000080X Tiffany Trump paid her respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday after calling her a 'trailblazer for women in the legal field' in a social media tribute. The president's youngest daughter was among thousands of mourners who visited the building to honor the late justice, who was lying in repose under the portico at the top of the front steps. The 26-year-old, who recently graduated from Georgetown Law School, was dressed in all black when she arrived at the Supreme Court, where her father, President Donald Trump, and stepmother, First Lady Melania Trump, were booed earlier in the day. Paying tribute: Tiffany Trump, 26, paid her respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday Mourning: The recent Georgetown Law graduate was dressed in all black aside from her black and white loafers Protocol: The line appears to have been cleared for Tiffany's arrival at the Supreme Court Tiffany wore a black blazer, black skinny pants with a white stripe running down each leg, loafers, and a black face mask to visit the steps where Ginsburg's coffin lies. While the president has had a wavering stance on masks, she has been faithfully wearing one for most of her public outings. Tiffany also had on plenty of jewelry, including a bracelet that had 'John 3:16' written in white beads. The Bible verse reads: 'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' For the past few weeks, Tiffany has been staying in New York, where her mother Marla Maples and older brothers Don Jr. and Eric live. It's unclear when she returned to Washington, D.C. Protected: Tiffany was accompanied by her Secret Service detail during the visit Support system: Tiffany was also joined by an unidentified woman who was also dressed in black Religious: Tiffany donned a bracelet that had Bible verse 'John 3:16' written in white beads The crowds appeared to have been cleared ahead of her arrival, and the first daughter walked through an empty line when she arrived at Supreme Court. The only people who joined her as she made her way to the stairs was an unidentified woman and her Secret Service detail. The public will have the chance to pay their respects up until 10 p.m. on Thursday. The Supreme Court confirmed last Friday that Ginsburg died surrounded by her family at her home in Washington D.C. following complications with metastatic pancreatic cancer. She was 87. Ginsburg, who served for 27 years on the highest court of the land, had battled several bouts of cancer after first being diagnosed in 2009. Paying respects: Tiffany's companion took a picture while they stood in front of the empty line Tribute: Ginsburg has been lying in repose under the portico at the top of the front steps for the past two days Outside looking in: People could be seen looking at the Supreme Court building from afar while Tiffay was there Social media quickly flooded with tributes and condolences for Ginsburg, including a series of tweets from President Trump's youngest daughter. Tiffany first shared photos of Ginsburg on Twitter and said she watched her speak during a 2017 lecture at the university. 'In 2017, I was honored to attend a lecture by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at Georgetown Law,' she wrote. '#RBG was a pioneer for women and gender equality graduating law school when there were only 9 female students and then becoming the 2nd woman Supreme Court Justice.' In a Twitter thread later Friday evening, Tiffany recalled Ginsburg's 'surprising' friendship with former Justice Antonin Scalia and noted their commitment to justice despite their warring ideologies. Scalia, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1986, was known for his conservative rulings and opinions. Ginsburg often advocated for more liberal and progressive rulings. Accessories: Tiffany wore a necklace with a gold pendant and a chain attached to her mask Hidden conversation: The first daughter appeared to say something to her companion while looking up at Ginsburg's casket Saying goodbye: Tiffany took a moment to look up at Ginsburg's coffin and pay her respects 'Thank you, Justice Ginsburg for being a trailblazer for women in the legal field, a pioneer for women and gender equality, and for showing that patriotism hinges not on agreement, but on the unwavering commitment to persevere, to listen, to learn, and to develop together.' Tiffany wrote. 'Justice Ginsburg, an icon of the left, and Justice Scalia, an icon of the right, were great friends- regardless of their different ideologies. Ginsburg admired Scalia for his love of the constitution and his fierce devotion to defend it how he believed was intended. 'Ginsburg often disagreed with his jurisprudence, but she too sought to defend the Constitution how she believed it was intended to by the founders. Scalia once even gave Ginsburg an advance notice of his dissent so Ginsburg could make her majority opinion better...' Tiffany added that Ginsburg and Scalia's difference in opinion was dwarfed by their patriotism for their fellow Americans. Scalia served on the Supreme Court for 34 years before he died in 2016. 'What both understood about each other was that, despite their vast differences of opinion, they shared a truly unique bond - that of dedicating their life to advancing this country,' wrote Tiffany. 'May we learn from your devout commitment to justice so that we, too, may find extraordinary (and perhaps surprising) friendships among our fellow Americans, and continue your work to build a better and more just nation.' Honoring her: Tiffany shared a tribute to Ginsburg on both Twitter and Instagram on Friday Icon: Ginsburg (pictured) died Friday evening in Washington D.C. after a long battle with metastatic pancreatic cancer Tiffany shared the same message, along with an image of Ginsburg, on her Instagram page on Friday. Ginsburg announced she was undergoing chemotherapy to treat lesions on her liver shortly after the Supreme Court finished its work for the summer, It was the fifth time she's dealt with cancer in the past 20 years. At the same time, she said she would continue to serve on the court. Her death paves the way for President Trump to expand his conservative majority on the Supreme Court ahead of November's election. Ginsburg, the leader of the courts four-member liberal wing, voiced concerns about the political impact of her passing in the days leading up to her death. 'My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,' the legal pioneer said in a statement dictated to her granddaughter Clara Spera days before her death. Words: Tiffany tweeted that she 'was honored to attend a lecture by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg' in 2017 at Georgetown Law Twitter thread: She also highlighted the 'surprising' friendship between Ginsburg and former Justice Antonin Scalia Inspired: Tiffany shared the same tribute on her Instagram page along with a picture of Ginsburg But Trump has vowed to move forward in the confirmation process and will name his replacement on Saturday at the White House. He is expected to name a conservative to fill the liberal judge's place on the bench. The president and first lady were met with boos when they paid their respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court on Thursday, though he claimed he couldn't hear them. A crowd yelled 'Honor her wish' and 'Vote him out' as the first couple stood at the top of the steps at Ginsburg's flag-draped coffin, their heads bowed and faces covered by masks. Trump said he could hear a 'sound' but that was all. 'I think it was just a political chant. We could hardly hear it,' he told reporters at the White House after his visit. 'Somebody said there was chanting. They were right next to the media. We could hardly hear too much. We could hear a sound but it wasnt very much. It's rare for President Trump to hear any criticism or booing in his public appearances. His campaign rallies and events are typically filled with cheering supporters who offer constant applause and adoration. The rare protester is quickly escorted out. First family: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump paid respects to Ginsburg on Thursday, hours before Tiffany's arrival Angry: Crowds around the Supreme Court booed President Trump and yelled 'vote him out' Shrugging it off: President Trump said he couldn't hear the protesters who yelled at him Thousands of mourners have lined up at the Supreme Court to pay tribute to the late justice, who became a cultural icon and feminist hero. Many of them supported Ginsburg's liberal philosophy, putting them in direct opposition to the president. 'Honor her wish,' was in reference to Ginsburg's dying request that the winner of the November presidential election appoint her successor. The first couple arrived for their short visit at the back of the Supreme Court building and walked through it and out its front door to view Ginsburg's coffin. That could have been for security reasons given the heavy crowds and lines of people in front of the court. The Trumps spent 11 minutes at the court before returning to the White House. The White House called the boos and chants 'appalling' and 'disrespectful.' 'Everybody has a first amendment in this country, but I thought it was appalling and disrespectful thing to do as the president honored Justice Ginsburg, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at her briefing Thursday. She said, however, it was 'certainly to be expected when you're part of the swamp.' I travel with the president all across the country. And everywhere we go, the streets are lined with support like I don't think any other president has had previously,' she added. Round Led By a16z, Startup Becomes the System of Record for Perishable Food & Builds Nationwide Network Silo, a cloud-based platform for streamlining supply chains in the perishable food system, today announces that it has raised a Series A round of $9 million in new capital, led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). Additional participation in this round was secured from existing investors Initialized Capital and Haystack Ventures. Anish Acharya, a General Partner at a16z who focuses on financial services, joins Silos board. Food waste and loss occur at all stages of the system, but are particularly heavy in production and distribution. Silos mission is to empower the food system by minimizing waste and work for one of the most critical supply chains in the US. The startup offers a cloud-based online platform that is accessible anywhere for both growers, distributors and suppliers in the perishable food system. Silo provides powerful tools based on machine learning technology that automate operations and manage relationships for the buyers and sellers of food products and agricultural commodities. It offers an intelligent solution for stakeholders to discover new partners up or down the supply chain in real-time. Silo will extend its reach beyond wholesale produce towards meat, dairy and pantry items within the overall food category this year. The company rolled out a successful beta program in 2019 with a focus on the west coast. With this new funding, it will accelerate its nationwide growth by opening new offices in New York City and Los Angeles and hire engineering staff to support the development of financial services and logistical tools. Eliminating inefficiencies in the food system is crucial, especially in these uncertain times. Were thrilled to have the support of an amazing group of investors to help us grow Silos business to new categories and markets across the nation. Our team is rapidly expanding and were excited to maintain this momentum as we start working with more stakeholders across the country, said Ashton Braun, co-founder and CEO of Silo. Silo supports businesses so that they can run more efficiently and digitally, in turn building a modern and sustainable food system. It replaces traditional systems with real-time, cloud based technology that reduces unnecessary costs and waste, such as loss of products & product rejections, and manual processes around data entry, sales, logistics, business intelligence and financial services. By leveraging data and supporting both buyers and suppliers in the food system, Silo creates thousands of connections across retailers, wholesalers, distributors, food service companies, packers, processors and freight providers that help them transact and avoid billions of dollars of loss each year. Silos machine learning technology automates traditional workflows across a business and the supply chain as a whole, from sales, purchasing, dynamic inventory management, logistics, accounting & finances, helping stakeholders build and de-risk existing and new relationships within the supply chain. The market potential for an innovator like Silo to reduce waste and improve margins is enormous and were excited to support its efforts as the system of record for food distribution in the United States, said Anish Acharya, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz. Silo is well-positioned to scale beyond the west coast to help more customers modernize and transition their operations from pen and paper to software. About Silo Silo is a cloud-based platform for streamlining supply chains in the perishable food system. Silos AI and machine learning technology adapts to existing workflows, seamlessly automating the entire supply chain from harvest management, to forecasting and negotiation, through QC and logistics. Based in San Francisco and founded by Ashton Braun and Antonio Bustamante in 2018, Silo has raised $12 million in funding from leading angel investors like a16z and Initialized Capital. For more information, visit: https://usesilo.com About a16z Andreessen Horowitz backs bold entrepreneurs who move fast, think big, and are committed to building the next major franchises in technology. Founded by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, the firm provides entrepreneurs with access to expertise and insights in innovation, executive and technical talent, market intelligence, business development, and marketing and brand-building. Find us in Menlo Park, Calif., and at http://www.a16z.com. Media Contact: Nicole Brunet 408-761-1803 inquires@usesilo.com Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission Google on Thursday dedicated its doodle to swimmer Arati Saha on her 80th birth anniversary. Saha, who has many firsts to her name, was the first woman to be awarded the Padma Shri in 1960. Google on Thursday remembered the iconic Indian swimmer, Arati Saha, by dedicating its doodle to the swimmer on the occasion of her 80th birth anniversary.Arati Saha was the first Asian woman to swim across the English Channel on September 29, 1959. A distance of 67.5km was covered by Saha in 16 hours and 20 minutes from Cape Gris Nez, France to Sandgate, England. Following her success in 1960, she became the first Indian sportsperson to be awarded the Padma Shri. The colourful doodle on Googles homepage features an animated picture of Arati Saha, swimming, in between of the second letter O in the word Google, along with the picture of the English Channel in the background of the doodle. Born in Kolkata, Arati was introduced to swimming at the age of 4, on the banks of the Hooghly River. Sachin Nag recognised her talent and trained her under his mentorship. Saha received her first gold medal at the age of five. Being a prodigy swimmer, in 1951, she clocked 1 minute 37.6 seconds in 100 meters breast-stroke and broke Dolly Nazirs all-India record and in 1952. She represented India in the 1952 Summer Olympics as one of the four participants and youngest member of the Indian contingent. At later stages of her life, Brojen Das, a Bangladeshi-Asian swimmer who had crossed the English Channel, became her inspiration.At the age of 18, she made her first attempt to cross the English Channel but had to abort it as she faced strong current from the opposite side. After one failed attempt, she conquered the sea, a month later. The other Indian athletes to swim across the English Channel were Mihir Sen in 1958 and Ashwin Krishnasamy in 2007. ALSO READ: Delhi vs Chennai: Paytm First Games Fantasy Prediction: Indian T20 League ALSO READ: Study focuses on effective way to increase capacity for mental health Restricions: Holles Street is asking expectant mothers to attend the hospital alone Pregnant women are facing a Covid-19 "postcode lottery" with two maternity hospitals within approximately 2km of each other operating different rules on partners and scans. The Rotunda Hospital on Parnell Square has lifted a ban on partners coming for key 20-week anomaly scans, while the National Maternity Hospital on Holles Street is still asking expectant mothers to attend alone. The ultrasound scans, which are typically done between 20 and 22 weeks' gestation, can be difficult or stressful appointments where expectant mothers may receive bad news about the viability of their pregnancy. Since the start of the pandemic in Ireland, most maternity hospitals have been asking women to attend the appointments on their own. Read More In an update for patients published earlier this month, the Rotunda said that "thanks to the co-operation of our patients and families" it was now able to welcome partners "back to our in-patient wards during certain hours, and to the 20-22 week anomaly scan". But women attending the National Maternity Hospital across the Liffey are still being asked to attend appointments without their partners. A spokesman for Holles Street said it had made no change to its visitor restrictions for 20-week scans. "Partners can attend labour and birth, can visit mothers after birth for two-hour periods, and in adverse situations can attend outpatient appointments or scans," the spokesman said. The Holles Street ban on partners also applies to private and semi-private patients who are being scanned at the Merrion Fetal Health private ultrasound clinic, which is next to the National Maternity Hospital. Holly Cairns, the Social Democrats TD, said women should not face a "postcode lottery" based on what maternity hospital they attend. Ms Cairns said she believed there should be national standards for rules on partners attending maternity hospital, and in cases where an individual hospital could not accommodate a partner it should be clearly explained why. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said yesterday that the HSE was preparing a new document which would set out "consistent national approach to visitor restrictions in maternity hospitals". Risks "The difficulty of uniformity across the system is because different locations have different risks and protocols applying in different hospitals and maternity wards. "That also has to be acknowledged as there has to be some degree of local decision-making in respect of the overarching objective of protecting people," Mr Martin said. The Taoiseach was speaking after the Dail heard that a woman going through her first pregnancy went through emergency care for five hours in a hospital on her own. Independent TD Thomas Pringle read out a letter from the woman who was hospitalised at 13 weeks. PM hopes stock market to launch "in a year" 23:45, 24.09.20 316 The Cabinet is already in consultations with experts on the issue. 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. The Middle Baxter Road leads to lands county and community leaders have long sought to develop for industrial uses. Sending water to the area remains a difficult and costly goal for development. Water is a fuel for economic development and a recent meeting underscored the need for water in the Middle Baxter Road area near the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport. Members of the Sweetwater Economic Development Coalition discussed the second phase of a study aimed at developing the area into an industrial site attracting businesses which would complement the county's existing trona and coal industries. Infrastructure is largely unavailable in the area. Water, electricity and natural gas would be needed before any development could occur and the largest challenge for development would... SECAUCUS, N.J., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Northstar Meetings Group today announced the "Top 25 Influencers of the Meetings Industry" for 2020. The prestigious annual list identifies and honors the most influential professionals across the meetings community. This year, each of the recipients has provided critical leadership during challenging times, as the meetings industry grapples with recovery, the immediacy of diversity and new business models amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic. Their stories are featured online at NorthstarMeetingsGroup.com, as well in the September-October edition of Meetings & Conventions magazine. "This year has presented serious challenges to our industry, so significant and so deep that none of us believed they could happen," said Loren Edelstein, Vice President, Content Director for Northstar Meetings Group. "When so many of us were struggling for direction, we needed leaders to step up to galvanize our resources, bring us together and lead us forward. We identified 25 people who took swift action to provide much-needed guidance and plot a course for recovery." "Northstar's Top 25 Influencers have responded quickly and meaningfully to the various crises we currently face, and they're shaping how meetings and events are being conducted now and in the future," said David Blansfield, Executive Vice President and Group Publisher, Northstar Meetings Group. "They're leading by example, demonstrating unequivocal competence in their 'day jobs', while at the same time remaining tirelessly focused on contributing to a forward-leaning, positive outcome for the industry overall, and for the people who make our industry great." The Top 25 Influencers The Northstar Meetings Group "Top 25 Influencers of the Meetings Industry" for 2020 are: David Audrain , Executive Director, Society of Independent Show Organizers; CEO and Partner, Exposition Development Co. , Executive Director, Society of Independent Show Organizers; CEO and Partner, Exposition Development Co. Tori Barnes , Executive V.P., Public Affairs and Policy, U.S. Travel Association , Executive V.P., Public Affairs and Policy, U.S. Travel Association Mary Jo Valentine Blythe , Founder and CEO, The Above and Beyond Foundation , Founder and CEO, The Above and Beyond Foundation Amy Calvert , President and CEO, Events Industry Council , President and CEO, Events Industry Council Michael Dominguez , President and CEO, Associated Luxury Hotels International , President and CEO, Associated Luxury Hotels International David Dubois , President and CEO, International Association of Exhibitions and Events , President and CEO, International Association of Jason Dunn , Group V.P., Diversity Sales and Inclusion, Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau , Group V.P., Diversity Sales and Inclusion, Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau Elliott Ferguson , President and CEO, Destination DC , President and CEO, Destination DC Stephanie Harris , President, Incentive Research Foundation , President, Incentive Research Foundation Mark Herrera , Director of Education and Life Safety, International Association of Venue Managers , Director of Education and Life Safety, International Association of Venue Managers Kai Hattendorf , Managing Director and CEO, UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry , Managing Director and CEO, UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry Kristin Horstman , Senior Director of Strategic Events, Salesforce , Senior Director of Strategic Events, Salesforce Jonathan T. Howe , President and Founding Partner, Howe & Hutton Ltd. , President and Founding Partner, Howe & Hutton Ltd. Dave Jefferys , Executive Director and CEO, LGBT Meeting Professionals Association , Executive Director and CEO, LGBT Meeting Professionals Association David Kliman , President, The Kliman Group , President, The Kliman Group Patricia Olinger , Executive Director, Global Biorisk Advisory Council , Executive Director, Global Biorisk Advisory Council Dawn Penfold , President, Meeting Jobs, LLC , President, Meeting Jobs, LLC Bob Priest-Heck , CEO, Freeman , CEO, Freeman Gary Shapiro , President and CEO, Consumer Technology Association , President and CEO, Consumer Technology Association Jonathan Spero , CEO, InHouse Physicians , CEO, InHouse Physicians Beth Surmont , Director of Experience Design, 360 Live Media , Director of Experience Design, 360 Live Media Gregg Talley , President and CEO, Talley Management Group , President and CEO, Talley Management Group Don Welsh , President and CEO, Destinations International , President and CEO, Destinations International LaToya Williams , Manager, Global Accounts, HelmsBriscoe , Manager, Global Accounts, HelmsBriscoe Eric Yuan , CEO, Zoom Visit NorthstarMeetingsGroup.com to learn more about the "Top 25 Influencers of the Meetings Industry" for 2020, or visit http://www.northstarmeetingsgroup.com/Influencers2020. To download a complimentary September-October edition of Meetings & Conventions magazine, visit https://www.northstarmeetingsgroup.com/Planning-Tools/Meetings-Conventions-Digital-Magazine-Fall-2020. To subscribe to Meetings & Conventions, visit https://www.northstarmeetingsgroup.com/Magazine-Subscriptions. About Northstar Meetings Group Northstar Meetings Group is the leading B-to-B information and marketing solutions company serving all segments of the business meetings, events, sports and incentives market including full- and part-time meeting planners, as well as corporate, association, sports and not-for-profit decision-makers, and incentive professionals, facilitating their professional development and achievement of business goals. The company's influential brands Meetings & Conventions, Successful Meetings, Associations Meetings International, M&C Asia, Meetings & Incentive Travel, M&C China, Meeting News, Incentive and SportsTravel currently serve over 350,000 active meeting and event planners and incentive professionals, across an integrated suite of data, digital, events and print products. For more information, please visit NorthstarMeetingsGroup.com. SOURCE Northstar Meetings Group Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:10:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANOI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, with its total confirmed cases standing at 1,069 with 35 deaths from the disease so far, according to the Ministry of Health. As many as 991 patients in the country have recovered as of Thursday, while nearly 20,600 people are being quarantined and monitored in the country, the ministry said. Vietnam has gone through 22 straight days without any COVID-19 cases in the community, according to the ministry. The country has basically contained its outbreaks. However, there are still risks of disease transmission in big cities with dense population if people are complacent in COVID-19 prevention and control, Vietnam News Agency cited the health ministry as reporting on Thursday. At the regular meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control on Thursday, the ministry suggested people continue to implement measures including wearing face masks, conducting disinfection and maintaining a safe distance, while requesting relevant authorities to continue to strictly control entry and exit, as well as conduct quarantine in accordance with the guidelines of the health sector, the news agency reported. Enditem IPL 2020 is picking up pace as the competition moves on and several records are being set during the matches. In yesterdays (September 23, 2020) match, Mumbai Indians won against Kolkata Night Riders, which was the first time any team has registered a 20-run win against one opponent at the IPL. The match also saw MI skipper Rohit Sharma score a blazing 80 runs off 54 balls. This season is already setting some interesting records and stats! Also read: Sunrisers Hyderabad unveils Coolwinks as the Principal Sponsor for IPL 2019 A relatively new team, Sunrisers Hyderabad replaced Deccan Chargers after the team announced bankruptcy. Sunrisers Hyderabad is owned by Sun TV Networks Kalanithi Maran and entered the IPL in 2013. Over the years, the team has gained the reputation of being a great bowling side and has a strong ability of defending low totals. Apart from 2014 and 2015 seasons, Sunrisers Hyderabad has managed to make it to the playoffs every year. The franchise won the IPL trophy in 2016. For the 2020 season, the team has made some important changes and most importantly has retained David Warner who is not only their captain but also their highest run score and an extremely important asset for team. Sunrisers Hyderabad are definitely a big contender for the title this year and hence have also attracted alot of sponsor attention. Their long list of official sponsors include JK Lakshmi Cement as Title Sponsors and also the likes of Jio, TCL, Nerolac, Dream 11 and Colgate. https://www.instagram.com/p/CErRBrFsHxt/?igshid=1fsijwjmqfy8u In terms of engagement, the team has kept it simple. While the team has organized a few quizzes to keep the fans engaged, their social media team chooses to showcase behind the scenes posts to allow the fans to be a part of the team even more. Here are some interesting posts by Sunrisers Hyderabad: https://www.instagram.com/p/CErDfm5FWux/?igshid=1dc7fh6oco3nn https://www.instagram.com/p/CErugO6lk-P/?igshid=1nddjlqz0l2g1 https://www.instagram.com/tv/CEuOgw7FvTM/?igshid=1c404xo3l1jri https://www.instagram.com/p/CFZdz_MFZ2m/?igshid=9brh02jd34qv https://www.instagram.com/tv/CFH5_vvlUwv/?igshid=zzn418f80iba https://www.instagram.com/p/CFcMdsTMENS/?igshid=majqv580a5ez Sunrisers Hyderabad began the campaign with a loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore and the team will definitely be looking to avenge themselves in their upcoming match against Kolkata Night Riders. This year, the IPL seems more unpredictable than ever and we've already seen some surprising results. Sunrisers are a strong team and definitely a contender for the title. However, will they be able to lift the cup the 2nd time in their history? Only time will tell! Americans have just completed another round of one of our grimmest national rituals: shaking our heads while cops who killed an unarmed Black person get away with murder. This time the victim is Breonna Taylor, whose name has galvanized nationwide protests for racial justice, but whose family will receive no justice themselves. Yesterday, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced a single charge from the grand jury against only one of the three officers involved in her shooting, and even that was for shooting a wall, not Breonna Taylor. The other two will walk. And a community that has already waited six months for closure will just keep waiting. Advertisement Many are rightly pointing out that these cops should not avoid charges based on self-defense when they created the danger in the first place. Accordingly, whether the grand jury result makes sense under the criminal law will be hotly debated in the coming days. But even when there is substantial evidence of wrongdoing, police officers are almost never prosecuted, let alone convicted. And with each press conference announcing that an officers actions were justified, the publics faith in the law and in the prosecutors tasked with enforcing the law erodes just a little bit more. Prosecutors often claim they are simply hamstrung by the law, which does confer a great deal of protection on police. But there are many actions a prosecutor can take to create lasting, systemic police accountabilityif they want to maintain any credibility with the people theyre supposed to serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutorsboth the local elected versions and Attorneys General at the state levelcan and must do so much more. The work starts well before an officer causes harm. The everyday working relationship between police and prosecutors is inherently conflicted; prosecutors rely on police for case leads and in-court testimony, and police need prosecutors to win cases and boost clearance rates. (Sadly, trial wins and not public health outcomes are still the coin of the criminal justice realm.) Prosecutors must institutionally separate themselves enough from police to judge them objectively. This means refusing police union donations during their own elections. It means mandatory reporting of cops to ethics investigators when the cops screw up. It means putting a hard stop on lobbying in lockstep with police unions to thwart reform, as prosecutor associations so often do. Prosecutors who are serious about accountability should also lobby for efforts like civilian oversight of police, shrinking law enforcementincluding their own officesand reinvesting in communities. Advertisement Second, prosecutors till the ground for police violence when they ignore or actively cover up misconduct or corner-cutting in everyday cases. This happens all. The. Time. For example, right after a suspect is arrested, prosecutors have to decide whether to take the case forward or screen it out. A substantial number of those cases involve uncorroborated police testimony, manufactured defendant resistance, outright violence or coercion, or just plain uncertainty. If prosecutors go along to get along, taking virtually all those cases forward (even if they drop them later), this validates predatory police tactics that ought to be discouraged. As that case moves forward, a prosecutor may also offer the defendant a deal to plead guilty to lesser charges, which then avoids judicial scrutiny of police misconduct. The prosecutor may also knowingly allow the officer to lie on the stand, a practice so common its got a nifty portmanteau: testilying. Dont believe that these underhanded tactics occur? Consider that Louisville prosecutors offered Breonnas ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, a supremely lenient plea deal if he would just implicate Breonna in an organized crime syndicate. This was a dirty trick to smear her name and bolster the cops storyand it only failed because Glover, heroically and against his own interest, turned down the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These day-in, day-out violations of public trust are virtually impossible to catch, but help create the bond between police and prosecutor that makes independence so difficult. To stop it, elected prosecutors and legislators need to ratchet up the professional penalties for prosecutors who cover for their friends to the detriment of the community. And we need to create standalone legal proceedingsa sort of constitutional small claims courtfor victims of police misconduct that dont depend on the prosecutor to represent those victims. Finally, when police do commit violence against the American people, prosecutors at the local, state, and federal levels must inflict far more fulsome, lasting accountability that is not limited to criminal prosecution. Of course, the local prosecutor and maybe even the state AG, who all work directly with the offending cops, should be recused from any criminal investigation; this much is table stakes. Any appointed, independent prosecutor should also consider foregoing a secret grand jury so the community can be confident that they made the strongest possible case. (We are already seeing calls for AG Cameron to release the grand jury evidence in Breonnas case.) Advertisement But then the state Attorney General or the US DOJ should open a mandatory civil rights investigation that results in both resignation and decertification of the individual officers plus systemic changes to the office. That settlement would also require the local prosecutors to put the officers on a standing, public list and commit not to call them to testify in any case going forward. Police chiefs and mayors often complain that union contracts and arbitration makes firing bad cops so hard. Prosecutors can and should do it for them. And they should do it regardless of whether a grand jury returns an indictment. Of course, prosecutors wont altruistically take on all these reforms voluntarily. These fundamental changes would make churning out convictions much more difficult, would strain their mutually beneficial relationship with the cops, and create more red tape. But that strain and that red tape is worth preventing the senseless loss of another Black life. The people marching in the streets can push both police and prosecutors to to conjure a vision of justice broader and deeper than criminal prosecution. Breonna Taylor deserves it. We all do. Serogroups A, C, W, and Y Meningococcal Vaccines MenACWY-D (Menactra) MenACWY-D was first licensed in the United States in 2005. Clinical trials have demonstrated immunogenicity of MenACWY-D among persons aged 9 months55 years, although antibody waning is observed during the 35 years after primary vaccination (67,80104). Booster vaccination elicits a robust immune response, and data in adolescents demonstrate persistence for at least 4 years after a booster dose (105,106). Clinical trials have demonstrated an acceptable safety profile, with injection site pain and erythema as the most common local reactions; irritability and drowsiness are the most common systemic adverse events among infants and children, and myalgia, headache, and fatigue are the most common systemic adverse events among adolescents and adults (67,80,81,85,8790,9296,98103). Most adverse events are mild to moderate and resolve within 3 days. Early postlicensure surveillance raised the concern of a potential risk for Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), but subsequent evaluations have not identified an increased risk for GBS after MenACWY-D vaccination (107110). No other vaccine safety concerns have been identified in postlicensure surveillance (111114). MenACWY-D Immunogenicity Infants and Children In clinical trials among infants who received MenACWY-D as a 2-dose series at ages 9 and 12 months, 89%96% achieved an hSBA titer 1:8 against serogroup A, 98% against serogroup C, 81%92% against serogroup W, and 95%97% against serogroup Y 1 month after completion of the series (80,98). Administration of MenACWY-D simultaneously with routine vaccines did not result in reduced immune responses to meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, or Y or measles, mumps, rubella, or varicella antigens; however, when MenACWY-D was administered simultaneously with seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) (Prevnar), noninferiority criteria were not met for three of seven pneumococcal serotypes (98). By 3 years after primary series completion, substantial MenACWY-D waning occurred, with 13%46% of recipients having an hSBA titer 1:8 across serogroups, although this proportion increased to 98% 1 month after a single booster dose (80). Among toddlers receiving a 2-dose primary series at ages 12 and 15 months, 85% achieved an hSBA titer 1:8 against serogroup A and 96% against serogroups C, W, and Y at 1 month after the primary series (80). In another study in which MenACWY-D was administered at ages 12 and 18 months, 96% achieved rSBA titers 1:8 for all serogroups (95). In this study, administration of MenACWY-D simultaneously with routine vaccines did not result in reduced immune responses to meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, or Y or tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, poliovirus, or H. influenzae type b antigens. Among children aged 210 years, the rate of seroresponse (defined as a greater than fourfold rise in hSBA or a titer 1:8 among persons with baseline titers <4) was highest for serogroup A (80%) and lower for serogroups C, W, and Y (42%57%) at 1 month after a single dose (88). Studies using rSBA demonstrated a higher proportion of seroresponse across serogroups (86%) using different thresholds (either a greater than fourfold rise in titers among persons with baseline titers <1:8 or a titer 1:8) (91,93,96,104). Among children aged 46 years, administration of MenACWY-D simultaneously with routine vaccines did not result in reduced immune response to meningococcal serogroups A, C, or W or diphtheria, tetanus, or poliovirus antigens; however, the noninferiority criteria were not met for serogroup Y and one pertussis antigen (anti-fimbriae) (67). Because no clinical correlates of protection are available for pertussis antigens, the clinical significance of this finding is unknown. When MenACWY-D was administered 30 days after diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine (DAPTACEL), significantly lower geometric mean titers (GMTs) were observed for all meningococcal serogroups (67). Among children aged 46 years vaccinated previously at age 23 years, the proportions maintaining an rSBA titer 1:128 were 75%, 52%, 61%, and 90% for serogroups A, C, W, and Y, respectively (97). Adolescents and Adults Among adolescents and adults aged 1055 years, 64%71% achieved an hSBA titer 1:8 against serogroup A, 72%99% against serogroup C, 64%90% against serogroup W, and 39%82% against serogroup Y at 1 month after vaccination with a single dose (81,87,89,99). In studies assessing immunogenicity using rSBA, 80% and 88% achieved seroprotection across serogroups when the thresholds of 1:128 and 1:8 were used, respectively (85,90,92,102,104). Administration of MenACWY-D simultaneously with routine vaccines did not result in reduced immune responses to meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, or Y or tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, human papillomavirus (HPV), MenB-FHbp, or typhoid antigens (67,94,100103). Persistence studies conducted among adolescents and adults demonstrated antibody waning after primary vaccination; however, serogroup-specific degree of waning varied between the studies. In one study, antibody waning was observed for all serogroups, particularly serogroup A, by 22 months postvaccination and titers remained stable thereafter at 3 and 5 years postvaccination; 21%34% of recipients achieved an hSBA titer 1:8 for serogroup A, 58%62% for serogroup C, 71%74% for serogroup W, and 53%54% for serogroup Y between 22 months and 5 years postvaccination (83,84,86). In another study, antibody waning was observed by 46 years postvaccination but was more marked for serogroups C and Y (44% and 39% achieved an hSBA titer 1:8, respectively) compared with serogroups A and W (65% and 69%, respectively) (105). In a separate study, serogroup A waning was most pronounced, although for the other serogroups the proportion of recipients with hSBA titers 1:8 was higher than that observed in previously mentioned studies and was stable at 1, 3, and 5 years postvaccination with 32%44% seroprotected against serogroup A, 73%81% against serogroup C, 76%85% against serogroup W, and 87%91% against serogroup Y (82). Thus, although antibody waning after primary vaccination of adolescents and adults was observed across studies, time points assessed and patterns of waning by serogroup were not consistent. In a study of adolescents who received a booster dose of MenACWY-D, 99% achieved hSBA titers 1:8 against all serogroups at 1 month postvaccination; this proportion remained 90% 4 years later (105,106). MenACWY-D Safety Clinical Trials Among infants vaccinated at ages 9 and 12 months and toddlers vaccinated at ages 12 months and 15 or 18 months, the most commonly reported local reactions after either of the doses were injection site pain (35%59%) and erythema (23%43%) (80,95,98). The most commonly reported systemic adverse events were irritability (49%72%) and drowsiness (27%44%); fever was reported in 11%50% of recipients. Adverse events among infants were similar when MenACWY-D was administered alone or simultaneously with other vaccines (98). After receipt of a booster dose 3 years after vaccination as an infant, rates of local and systemic adverse events were similar to those observed for the primary series (115). Similar adverse events were observed among children aged 210 years after a single dose, although typically at a slightly lower rate; injection site pain (32%48%), induration (11%22%), and erythema (10%30%) were the most commonly reported local reactions, and drowsiness (9%26%), irritability (7%35%), and fever (2%11%) were the most common systemic adverse events (67,88,93,96). Among adolescents and adults aged 1155 years who received a single dose, injection site pain (31%69%) was the most common local reaction, followed by induration (9%20%), erythema (3%20%), and swelling (1%14%) (81,85,87,89,90,92,99,102). Myalgia (15%26%), headache (11%45%), fatigue or malaise (10%28%), and diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms (11%17%) were the most commonly reported systemic adverse events; fever was observed in <8%. Similar types and rates of adverse events were observed after a booster dose administered 4 years later (105). In general, MenACWY-D administered simultaneously with HPV vaccine, tetanus and reduced diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), MenB-FHbp, or typhoid vaccines was well tolerated, although rates of some adverse events (e.g., headache and fatigue) were slightly higher with simultaneous administration compared with MenACWY-D administered alone (67,94,100103). Across age groups, whether MenACWY-D was administered alone or simultaneously with other vaccines, adverse events were mild to moderate and typically resolved within 3 days. Postlicensure Safety Monitoring After licensure of the vaccine in 2005, several cases of GBS after MenACWY-D vaccination were reported to VAERS (116). ACIP reviewed the available data and determined that the benefits of meningococcal vaccination outweighed the small potential increased risk for GBS (107). By 2010, two retrospective evaluations had been conducted in which no GBS cases were observed in the 6 weeks after 2.3 million doses of MenACWY-D were administered (108,110). The excess risk for GBS after vaccination, if it exists, is estimated to be <0.66 cases per 1 million adolescents vaccinated (110). In 2010, ACIP voted to remove the precaution for persons with a history of GBS from the ACIP recommendations, although it continues to be listed as a precaution in the package insert (16,67). Evaluations of VSD data through 2014 and VAERS data through 2016 have since been conducted, identifying no new GBS-related concerns (CDC, unpublished data, 2020). In addition to assessing risk for GBS, data from VAERS and VSD have been evaluated to assess for other potential postvaccination adverse events. In a comprehensive review of VAERS reports received from 2005 through June 2016, during which approximately 70 million MenACWY-D doses were distributed, no new safety concerns were identified (CDC, unpublished data, 2020). A total of 13,075 adverse events related to MenACWY-D were reported, of which 846 (6.5%) were serious. Reports predominantly related to adolescents aged 1118 years simultaneously vaccinated with MenACWY-D and other vaccines. The most commonly reported events were injection site erythema, fever, and headache, consistent with findings from clinical trials. An analysis of VSD during 20052014, when 1.4 million doses, including 245,000 booster doses, were administered, was conducted to evaluate prespecified outcomes (CDC, unpublished data, 2020). Although rates of syncope and medically attended fever increased after MenACWY-D vaccination, no new safety concerns were identified. Furthermore, tree-temporal scan data mining through VSD of primary doses administered to 1.2 million adolescents aged 1118 years during the same period identified no new or unexpected adverse events within 42 days after MenACWY-D administration (114). Several smaller studies, including VSD- and manufacturer-sponsored studies conducted during 20052014, similarly did not identify any additional safety concerns for MenACWY-D among infants, children, adolescents, or adults (111113). MenACWY-CRM (Menveo) MenACWY-CRM was first licensed in the United States in 2010. MenACWY-CRM has been demonstrated to be immunogenic among persons aged 2 months55 years (88,89,99,117130). Antibody waning occurs by 35 years after primary vaccination, and booster vaccination elicits a robust immune response (83,84,131133). No consistent or clinically relevant concerns about MenACWY-CRM administered simultaneously with other vaccines have been identified (134136). Clinical trials have demonstrated an acceptable safety profile, with injection site pain and erythema as the most common local reactions (88,118124,126,127,129,137). Irritability and sleepiness were the most commonly reported systemic adverse events among infants and toddlers. Among children, irritability, myalgia, headache, and sleepiness were the most commonly reported systemic adverse events, whereas myalgia, headache, and fatigue were the most commonly reported systemic adverse events among adolescents and adults. Most adverse events were mild to moderate and resolved within 3 days. One study observed an increased risk for Bells palsy among adolescents after MenACWY-CRM vaccination, although this was based on a small number of cases and the importance of this finding is uncertain (138). No additional safety concerns have been identified in postlicensure surveillance, although administration errors appear more common than with other vaccines, predominantly because of the need to reconstitute the vaccine using lyophilized and liquid components (139,140). MenACWY-CRM Immunogenicity Infants and Children Among infants vaccinated at ages 2, 4, and 6 months with MenACWY-CRM and routine vaccines, 76%89% achieved an hSBA titer 1:8 for serogroup A and 94% for serogroups C, W, and Y 1 month after the third dose (119,124,128,130,141). Antibody titers waned by age 12 months, particularly for serogroup A. Following the fourth dose in the infant series at age 1217 months, the proportions of infants with an hSBA titer 1:8 were 89%96% for serogroup A and 95% for serogroups C, W, and Y. Administration of MenACWY-CRM simultaneously with routine vaccines did not result in reduced immune responses to meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, or Y or diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, poliovirus, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, H. influenzae type b, or most pneumococcal antigens (136). For the few pneumococcal serotypes for which noninferiority criteria were not met, results were not consistent across studies and age of administration (136). Noninferiority was not consistently met for pertussis antigens across studies when MenACWY-CRM was administered with routine vaccines; however, the clinical relevance is unclear because of the lack of clinical correlates of protection for pertussis antigens. By age 2 years, or 1 year after completion of a 4-dose MenACWY-CRM series, 88%89% achieved an hSBA titer 1:8 for serogroups W and Y, 61% for serogroup C, and 39% for serogroup A (141). By age 40 months, most children still had an hSBA titer 1:8 for serogroups W and Y (76% and 67%, respectively), although this proportion was only 34% for serogroup C and 10% for serogroup A. By age 60 months, similar but slightly lower proportions were observed; following a single booster dose, 96% of recipients achieved hSBA titers 1:8 across all serogroups. After a 2-dose series among older infants and toddlers at either ages 79 months and 12 months or 12 and 15 months, the proportions who achieved an hSBA titer 1:8 1 month after the second dose were 88%97% for serogroup A and 96% for serogroups C, W, and Y (125,130). Administration of MenACWY-CRM simultaneously with routine vaccines did not result in reduced immune responses to meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, or Y or measles, mumps, rubella, or varicella antigens (136). Among children who received the 2-dose primary series at ages 1213 and 15 months, serogroup-specific antibody waning patterns similar to those among infants also were observed; however, the proportion of recipients with an hSBA titer 1:8 was higher at age 40 months (85%, 79%, 55%, and 31% for serogroups W, Y, C, and A, respectively) among this group (131). Similar results were observed by age 60 months; after a single booster, all subjects achieved hSBA titers 1:8 for all serogroups (131). Among children who received a single dose at age 210 years, the proportions who achieved hSBA titers 1:8 (1:4 in one study) were 72%89% for serogroup A, 68%94% for serogroup C, 90%96% for serogroup W, and 65%91% for serogroup Y (88,118,120,121,123,126). No data are available on MenACWY-CRM administered simultaneously with routine vaccines among this age group. Twelve months after the primary dose, the proportion with seroprotective titers declined, particularly for serogroups A and C (118,123). Five years after a primary dose administered at age 210 years, 14%22% of recipients remained seroprotected against serogroup A, 32%56% against serogroup C, 74%80% against serogroup W, and 48%53% against serogroup Y; these proportions were lower among those vaccinated at age 25 years compared with age 610 years. One month after a single booster dose, all recipients achieved hSBA titers 1:8 for all serogroups (132). Adolescents and Adults One month after a single MenACWY-CRM dose among adolescents and adults aged 1175 years, 66%92% of recipients achieved an hSBA titer 1:8 for serogroup A, 79%98% for serogroup C, 84%99% for serogroup W, and 79%96% for serogroup Y (89,99,117,120122,126,127,129). In one study that reported immunogenicity separately for adults aged 55 years, those aged 5665 years had results similar to those aged 1955 years (129). Administration of MenACWY-CRM simultaneously with other vaccines did not result in reduced immune responses to meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, or Y or tetanus, diphtheria, HPV, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, or rabies antigens (117,135,142146). After simultaneous administration of MenACWY-CRM and MenB-4C, a robust immune response to meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, and Y and to select meningococcal serogroup B strains was observed, although the majority of persons had high prevaccine hSBA titers across serogroups (134). Noninferiority criteria were not met for two pertussis antigens (i.e., pertussis toxoid and pertactin) when MenACWY-CRM and Tdap were administered simultaneously, although the clinical relevance of this is unclear (135). By 1222 months postvaccination, substantial antibody waning was observed for serogroup A, though the majority of recipients remained seroprotected for serogroups C, W, and Y (86,122). After this initial decline, hSBA titers remained relatively stable at 3 and 5 years postvaccination, with 28%32% of recipients having an hSBA titer 1:8 against serogroup A, 59%76% against serogroup C, 72%82% against serogroup W, and 64%76% against serogroup Y (83,133). One month after a single MenACWY-CRM booster dose administered at 36 years after the primary dose, 94% of subjects achieved an hSBA titer 1:8 across all serogroups. Booster vaccination elicited a robust immune response whether MenACWY-CRM or MenACWY-D was used for the primary dose (83,147). By 2 years after the booster dose, the proportion of recipients with an hSBA titer 1:8 decreased to 79% for serogroup A but remained at 95% for serogroups C, W, and Y (84). MenACWY-CRM Safety Clinical Trials Among infants and toddlers vaccinated with a MenACWY-CRM series (4-dose and 2-dose series, respectively) administered with routine vaccines, injection site pain (19%39%) and erythema (12%22%) were the most common local reactions after the third or fourth infant doses and second toddler dose (119,124,137,141). Irritability (36%50%), sleepiness (22%31%), and decreased appetite (15%20%) were the most common systemic adverse events; fever was reported in 5%9% of recipients. Reactogenicity among infants and toddlers vaccinated with a 4- or 2-dose series, respectively, did not increase with subsequent MenACWY-CRM doses. Among children aged 210 years vaccinated with a single dose, injection site pain (<40%) and erythema (<32%) were the most commonly reported local reactions (88,118,120,121,123,126). Irritability was reported in 7%26%, myalgia in <29%, headache in <21%, and fatigue in <21%. Adverse events were similar whether vaccination was administered at ages 25 or 610 years. Adverse events were similar after a booster dose administered 5 years after primary vaccination (132). Among adolescents and adults aged 1175 years who received a single MenACWY-CRM dose, injection site pain occurred in 8%54%, erythema in <39%, and induration in <24%. Commonly reported systemic adverse events include headache (8%41%), myalgia (<43%), and fatigue (3%23%) (99,120122,126,127,129,148). When MenACWY-CRM was administered simultaneously with HPV and Tdap vaccines, headache, malaise, myalgia, and arthralgia occurred more often than when MenACWY-CRM was administered alone (117). In addition, adverse events after a booster dose administered 46 years after primary vaccination were similar to those among persons receiving a first dose. Across age groups, whether MenACWY-CRM was administered alone or simultaneously with other vaccines, adverse events were mild to moderate and typically resolved within 3 days. Postlicensure Safety Monitoring In a manufacturer-sponsored cohort study of approximately 49,000 vaccinated adolescents aged 1121 years with a self-controlled case series analysis, a statistically significant increased risk for Bells palsy during the 84 days after vaccination was observed when MenACWY-CRM was administered simultaneously with other vaccines but not when MenACWY-CRM was administered alone (138). However, this finding was based on only eight patients, most of whom received simultaneous vaccine administration, and several were noted to have had conditions or infections that might precede Bells palsy. Thus, the importance of this finding remains uncertain. No other safety signals were observed among the other predefined events of interest in this evaluation (138). No increased risk for Bells palsy or any other new safety concerns were observed in smaller studies conducted in the same health system among children aged 2 months10 years (140,149). A comprehensive review of VAERS reports from 2010 through 2015, during which 8.2 million MenACWY-CRM doses were distributed, was conducted with no new safety concerns identified (139). A total of 2,614 reports about MenACWY-CRM were received, primarily related to adolescents aged 1118 years in whom MenACWY-CRM was administered simultaneously with other vaccines. Reported adverse events were consistent with the findings from prelicensure studies. The reporting rate of GBS or Bells palsy was proportionate to the rate reported for other vaccines. However, administration errors were reported more commonly for MenACWY-CRM, predominantly because of administration of only one component (most commonly the liquid component) rather than reconstituting the vaccine by mixing the liquid and lyophilized components together before administration. MenACWY-TT (MenQuadfi) MenACWY-TT was first licensed in the United States in 2020 for the prevention of meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, W, and Y in persons aged 2 years (68). As a result, relatively limited data on MenACWY-TT safety and immunogenicity are available compared with other licensed meningococcal conjugate vaccines. MenACWY-TT has been administered to nearly 5,000 persons aged 2 years to date through clinical trials, with demonstrated immunogenicity in this age group and elicitation of a boost response among adolescents vaccinated with MenACWY-TT who previously received MenACWY-D or MenACWY-CRM (68,150155). No clinically relevant concerns about MenACWY-TT administered simultaneously with HPV or Tdap vaccines among adolescents have been identified (151). Clinical trials have demonstrated an acceptable safety profile, with injection site pain as the most common local adverse event, and myalgia, headache, and malaise as the most commonly reported systemic adverse events across age groups (68,150155). Most adverse events were mild to moderate (68,150155). MenACWY-TT Immunogenicity Infants and Children Because MenACWY-TT is currently only licensed for persons aged 2 years in the United States, immunogenicity and safety data for children aged <2 years are not presented in this report. Among children who received a single dose at age 29 years, the proportions who achieved hSBA titers 1:8 1 month after vaccination were 86% for serogroup A, 98% for serogroup C, 95% for serogroup W, and 99% for serogroup Y (155). MenACWY-TT seroresponse rates were demonstrated to be noninferior to those observed for MenACWY-CRM (155). No data are available on MenACWY-TT administered simultaneously with routine vaccines or on persistence of the immune response to MenACWY-TT among this age group; data will be reviewed as they become available to inform vaccine recommendations. Adolescents and Adults One month after a single MenACWY-TT dose among adolescents and adults aged 1055 years, the proportions who achieved hSBA titers 1:8 were 94%96% for serogroup A, 94%99% for serogroup C, 95%99% for serogroup W, and 97%99% for serogroup Y (151,154). Among adults aged 56 years, these proportions were 89%94%, 75%90%, 77%80%, and 81%92% for serogroups A, C, W, and Y, respectively (152,153). Across these age groups, MenACWY-TT seroresponse rates were noninferior to those of the comparator meningococcal vaccines (68,151,153). MenACWY-TT administered simultaneously with HPV and Tdap vaccines in adolescents did not result in reduced immune responses to meningococcal serogroups or tetanus, diphtheria, or HPV antigens (151). Noninferiority criteria were not met for three pertussis antigens when MenACWY-TT and Tdap were administered simultaneously, although the clinical relevance of this is unclear. No data are available on persistence of the immune response to MenACWY-TT. When available, data will be reviewed to inform booster dose recommendations for persons primed with MenACWY-TT. Among adolescents and adults aged 15 years primed with MenACWY-D or MenACWY-CRM 410 years previously, >99% achieved an hSBA titer 1:8 across all serogroups at 1 month after booster vaccination with MenACWY-TT (150). MenACWY-TT Safety Clinical Trials Among children aged 29 years vaccinated with a single MenACWY-TT dose, injection site pain occurred in 39%, erythema in 23%, and swelling in 14%; systemic adverse events included malaise in 21%, myalgia in 20%, headache in 13%, and fever in 2% within 7 days of vaccine administration (68). Among adolescents and adults aged 1055 years, the most common local adverse event was injection site pain (35%45%); erythema and swelling occurred in 5% and 4%5%, respectively (68,151). Systemic adverse events included myalgia (27%36%), headache (27%30%), and malaise (19%26%); fever occurred in 1% (68,151). Rates of local and systemic adverse events were typically similar in adults aged 56 years compared with other age groups: injection site pain (26%31%), erythema (5%12%), swelling (5%8%), myalgia (22%35%), headache (19%24%), malaise (15%22%), and fever (2%). When MenACWY-TT was administered simultaneously with HPV and Tdap vaccines in adolescents, rates of local and systemic adverse events were typically similar to those when MenACWY-TT was administered alone, although myalgia occurred more frequently (151). In addition, adverse events after a MenACWY-TT booster dose administered 410 years after primary vaccination with either MenACWY-D or MenACWY-CRM were similar to those among persons receiving a first MenACWY-TT dose (150). Across age groups, whether MenACWY-TT was administered alone or simultaneously with other vaccines, adverse events were mild to moderate (68,150155). Postlicensure Safety Monitoring Given the recent licensure of MenACWY-TT, no postlicensure data were available at the time of publication of this report. Data from VAERS and VSD will be monitored as part of postlicensure safety monitoring. (See Reporting of Vaccine Adverse Events for information on how to report MenACWY-TT adverse events to VAERS.) MenACWY Vaccine Immunogenicity and Safety in Persons with Underlying Medical Conditions Complement-mediated bactericidal activity is important for protection against meningococcal disease; opsonophagocytic killing elicited by meningococcal antibodies is another defense against infection and is the presumed primary mechanism for vaccine-induced protection against meningococcal disease among persons with complement deficiency (35,156). No data about immunogenicity of U.S.-licensed MenACWY vaccines (MenACWY-D, MenACWY-CRM, or MenACWY-TT) are available for persons with complement deficiency. Antibody titers after vaccination with MPSV4, a vaccine that is no longer available in the United States, are similar among persons with late complement deficiency compared with healthy persons and the antibodies produced are capable of eliciting opsonophagocytosis; however, antibody titers might wane more rapidly among persons with complement deficiency and higher antibody levels might be needed for opsonophagocytosis to function (35,157160). Data are lacking to establish the efficacy of meningococcal conjugate vaccines among persons with complement deficiency. Thus, persons with complement deficiency are at increased risk for meningococcal disease even if they develop antibodies postvaccination (6668). Limited data are available about efficacy of meningococcal vaccines among persons taking complement inhibitors. However, some studies suggest that opsonophagocytic killing of meningococci in the presence of eculizumab in sera from persons vaccinated with MenACWY either does not occur or is insufficient to prevent meningococcal proliferation (161). In addition, reports of meningococcal disease despite recent vaccination among persons taking eculizumab indicate that meningococcal vaccines do not provide complete protection among persons taking complement inhibitors, even if antibodies develop after vaccination (42,6668,161). Although no data are available for U.S.-licensed MenACWY vaccines (MenACWY-D, MenACWY-CRM, or MenACWY-TT), adults with anatomic asplenia had a reduced immunologic response compared with healthy persons after 1 dose of a serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccine; after a second dose, most persons achieved seroprotection (162164). Among children and adolescents vaccinated with a conjugate MenACWY-TT vaccine licensed outside the United States, similar immune responses were observed in children with functional or anatomic asplenia compared with healthy controls after each of 2 doses (165). However, antibodies appear to wane rapidly after serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccination among children with functional asplenia due to sickle cell disease, particularly among those who received primary vaccination at age <2 years (166). Among adolescents with HIV infection, immunogenicity to MenACWY-D is reduced compared with adolescents without HIV infection. By 4 weeks postvaccination with a single dose, 52%73% of HIV-infected adolescents had a greater than fourfold increase in rSBA across the meningococcal serogroups. Lower CD4 percentage, higher viral load, and a more advanced clinical stage were inversely associated with seroprotection against serogroup C (167). By 72 weeks subsequent to a second dose, a significantly greater proportion of adolescents with a CD4 percentage 15% had seroprotective rSBA titers, although this proportion was lesser for serogroup C than other serogroups, compared with those with a CD4 percentage of <15%, among whom seroprotection rates for all serogroups was reduced (168). Among children aged 210 years with HIV infection and a CD4 percentage 25%, antibody titers against serogroup C waned substantially by 72 weeks after vaccination (169). Similar trends were observed subsequent to vaccination of HIV-infected children and adolescents with serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccine (170173). Although data are limited, vaccination of persons with asplenia or HIV infection appears to be safe and well tolerated, with similar types of adverse events as reported among healthy controls or during clinical trials (165,167,169,171). Among HIV-infected children and adolescents vaccinated with MenACWY-D, rates of adverse events typically were lower than those reported during clinical trials of healthy children and adolescents, although these lower adverse event rates were not consistently observed among those vaccinated with a serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccine (80,167,169171). Among children with asplenia who received a conjugate MenACWY-TT vaccine licensed outside the United States, an acceptable safety profile was observed among all age groups, although higher rates of adverse events were reported compared with healthy controls; however, the small study size limits the interpretation of this finding (165,170,171). MenACWY Vaccines in Pregnant Women Adverse outcomes (e.g., spontaneous abortion or birth defects) are risks for all pregnancies, occurring in approximately 15%20% and 3%, respectively, of clinically recognized pregnancies in the United States (174,175). Although evidence is limited, rates of these outcomes after MenACWY vaccination during pregnancy are consistent with the estimated background rates, and no additional concerning maternal or neonatal safety patterns have been identified (66,67,112,139,176,177). No controlled trials have been conducted to specifically assess the safety of meningococcal vaccination among pregnant women and birth outcomes of vaccinated women. However, among approximately 2,000 pregnant Malian women vaccinated during the third trimester with MenACWY-D as a control group in an influenza vaccine trial, rates of local and systemic adverse events were lower than those observed during MenACWY-D clinical trials of adolescents and adults and serious obstetric and nonobstetric adverse events were rare, with similar rates between MenACWY-D and influenza vaccination groups (176). In the MenACWY-D vaccinated group, 98% of pregnancies resulted in live births, and among infants, 0.3% had low birthweight and 0.2% had a congenital malformation; no differences in these outcomes were observed among women who received influenza vaccine. Among approximately 5,000 adolescent or adult females enrolled in MenACWY clinical trials, pregnancy was reported in 43 women during the 6 months postvaccination (37 who received MenACWY-CRM and six who received MenACWY-D) (66,67). Of these, seven (19%) MenACWY-CRM recipients reported spontaneous abortion (estimated dates of conception were 5 days before vaccination for one woman, 617 weeks postvaccination for five women, and 6 months postvaccination for one woman). Congenital anomaly (hydrocephalus) was reported in the infant of one MenACWY-D recipient with an estimated conception date 15 weeks after vaccination. Although data are limited, no concerning safety signals have been identified through postlicensure surveillance. In reviews of VAERS, 127 pregnancy-associated reports were identified during the periods evaluated: 113 for MenACWY-D (20052011) and 14 for MenACWY-CRM (20102015); the differences in number of reports by vaccine type probably reflect differences in numbers of doses administered during these periods (139,177). The majority of vaccine administrations occurred during the first trimester. Among the 113 pregnant women who received MenACWY-D, spontaneous abortion was reported in 17% and congenital anomaly was reported in <1% of VAERS reports (177). Following MenACWY-CRM vaccination in pregnancy, only three VAERS reports had information on birth outcome, with no adverse events reported (139). Among patients in a large health care organization, one spontaneous abortion was identified among 18 MenACWY-D exposures during pregnancy with known outcome (112). Manufacturers of MenACWY vaccines maintain registries that monitor pregnancy outcomes of women exposed to MenACWY during pregnancy. Among 87 pregnant women exposed to MenACWY-D during 20052016 from 30 days before or at any time during pregnancy who had known pregnancy outcome and who were enrolled in the registry before outcome being known, spontaneous abortion was reported in 7% and major congenital anomalies in 2% (67). Among 82 pregnant women exposed to MenACWY-CRM during 20142017 from 28 days before or at any time during pregnancy who had known outcome, spontaneous abortion was reported in 12% and congenital anomaly in 4% (GlaxoSmithKline, unpublished data, 2019). No information is available from the MenACWY-TT pregnancy registry because of the recent licensure of the vaccine. Effectiveness of MenACWY Vaccines Overall vaccine effectiveness of a single dose of MenACWY-D against meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, W, or Y among adolescents in the United States is estimated at 69% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 51%80%) in the 8 years after vaccination: 77% (95% CI: 57%88%) against serogroup C and 51% (95% CI: 1%76%) against serogroup Y (178). Effectiveness was 79% (95% CI: 49%91%) in the first year but decreased to 69% (95% CI: 44%83%) 1 to <3 years postvaccination and 61% (95% CI: 25%79%) 3 to <8 years postvaccination. No data are available on the effectiveness of MenACWY-CRM or MenACWY-TT. Vaccination and Meningococcal Disease Incidence Measuring the association between adolescent MenACWY vaccination on rates of meningococcal disease has been challenging because of the low and decreasing incidence of meningococcal disease among all age groups. However, from MenACWY introduction through 2017, adolescents experienced the greatest percentage decreases (>90%) in meningococcal disease incidence due to serogroups C, W, or Y combined compared with other age groups (179). In the setting of 85% coverage with at least 1 dose of MenACWY-D or MenACWY-CRM among U.S. adolescents aged 1317 years and 44% coverage with at least 2 doses among adolescents aged 17 years by 2017, a twofold to threefold increase in the rate of decline in incidence was observed during the postvaccination period compared with the prevaccination period among adolescents, suggesting that vaccination with MenACWY-D or MenACWY-CRM is associated with reductions in disease rates in adolescents (179,180). No data are available for MenACWY-TT. Vaccination and Oropharyngeal Carriage Although vaccination with a serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccine in Europe and a serogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccine in sub-Saharan Africa has been associated with reductions in oropharyngeal carriage of these N. meningitidis serogroups and resulted in herd immunity in the population (181183), data are limited for MenACWY vaccines. In the United States, carriage prevalence of meningococcal serogroups C, W, or Y combined among college students in the setting of high MenACWY vaccination coverage is now extremely low (<1%); however, no direct evidence exists that this low prevalence is a result of vaccination (184186). In a small observational study of Polish military recruits, those vaccinated with a MenACWY vaccine 13 years earlier had lower rates of meningococcal carriage compared with unvaccinated recruits (187). In a randomized controlled trial of United Kingdom university students, those who received MenACWY-CRM had significantly lower carriage prevalence than controls for serogroup Y (39% carriage reduction) and serogroups C, W, and Y combined (36% carriage reduction) at 2 months postvaccination, although no differences in carriage acquisition rates were observed (188). In contrast, in a study conducted in a different United Kingdom university population vaccinated with MenACWY-CRM in response to rapid expansion of a serogroup W clone in England, serogroup W carriage of this clone increased despite relatively high vaccination coverage (189). However, because carriage acquisition among university students is known to rapidly increase at the beginning of the academic year (190), the majority of serogroup W transmissions might have occurred simultaneously with vaccination activities (i.e., during September). Cost-Effectiveness of MenACWY Vaccines Cost-effectiveness of MenACWY vaccines in the United States was last assessed in 2010 using Monte Carlo simulation (191). In this evaluation, cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) of vaccinating at ages 11 and 16 years was similar to vaccinating at either age 11 or 15 years ($212,000$256,000), although the estimated number of cases and deaths averted among the vaccinated cohort was substantially higher with a 2-dose strategy (184 and 22, respectively) compared with a single-dose strategy (94115 and 1114, respectively) (16). Photo credit: Rolls-Royce From Autoweek Shadows aren't know for being loud, but Rolls-Royce could have an extra quiet shadow in the works, even quieter than a regular Silver Shadow. Silent Shadow is the name the Anglo-Germanic automaker trademarked in Germany, as spotted by i4 Talk forum member giga_world, and it immediately prompted speculation of an upcoming electric luxury yacht. In many ways the marque is well-suited for an EV. Just think about it: Rolls-Royce cars are already expensive, so the EV hardware wouldn't even move the needle much when it comes to price. And they're already heavy, so the automaker doesn't have to worry about curb weight. Best of all, the hardware is already available to its corporate owner, the BMW Group. Rolls-Royce cars are also quite large, so the batteries can also be large and heavy, possibly enough to give the cars an industry-leading range if desired, something more than 500 miles on a single charge. And since a lot of Rolls-Royces spend time idling in Shanghai and Moscow traffic, they don't need Ludicrous acceleration all that frequently, and can get by with something merely under 7 seconds to make the sprint from 0 to 60. That's easy enough for electric motors to assure. And Rolls-Royce cars already use their quiet operation as a selling feature, to the point that the automaker has to worry about creating a sensory deprivation chamber, which can make driving in busy city environments a little disorienting for the driver. There's one more thing, and it's not as tangible as the other elements but is perhaps even more valuable. Rolls-Royce buyers also need that coveted green cred often preventing CEOs from being seen in Rolls-Royce cars, even though they can be driven in Mercedes-Maybach sedans that are just as expensive, especially when armored. A "green" Rolls-Royce, therefore, would be the best of all worlds, its buyers less likely to be shamed for their choice of wheels since it won't be powered by a gas-gulping 6.8-liter V12. If there is one shred of doubt we have about Rolls-Royce actually using this name, as opposed to merely registering it, is that it's a little too redundant and a little too obvious. Granted, it's better than something like i-Phantom, a formula that far too many automakers have adopted, mimicking the Apple computer naming convention from the late 1990s, but it could be a little too on the nose. On the other hand, the return of the Shadow name would be a fitting nod to Rolls-Royce history. CLEVELAND, Ohio One person is dead early Thursday after a crash caused a highway sign to fall on a pick-up truck, officials said. Update: Man killed when I-480 highway sign fell on truck identified as vice president of A. Ripepi & Sons Funeral Homes Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Ray Santiago said the crash happened about 8:30 a.m. in the westbound lanes of Interstate 480 at the State Road exit. A white 2015 Western Star dump truck with the bed raised struck the highway sign that rises above three lanes of traffic, Santiago said. That sign tumbled down and crushed a gray 2019 Ford F-150 driving in one of the middle lanes of the highway, according to Santiago and ODOTs live-streaming cameras. Santiago said one person in the pick-up truck is dead and that the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner responded to the scene. Santiago said it is unknown if the dump truck driver suffered any injuries. The crash is still under investigation, Santiago said. Three of four westbound lanes are closed and Santiago urged drivers to use an alternate route. Read more from cleveland.com: Dance teacher pleads not guilty to sex-abuse charges: Overnight News Links Black Lives Matter Cleveland condemns Kentucky grand jurys decision to not indict officers directly in Breonna Taylors death Cleveland man was getaway driver for man who committed five armed robberies within minutes, Mayfield Heights police say Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 14:39:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DALIAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Customs in the city of Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, refused the entry of 59.2 tonnes of solid waste into the country Wednesday. According to Dayaowan Customs in Dalian, the waste was declared at customs as flax tow, but was later identified as solid waste prohibited from entering the country. In recent years, customs authorities in Dalian have intensified their crackdown on the smuggling of solid waste into China. China began importing solid waste as a source of raw materials in the 1980s. Given the rising public concern over environmental pollution and China's green development drive, the country decided to halt and phase out such imports by the end of 2019, with the exception of those containing resources that cannot be substituted. Enditem 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. The employee said he was standing 15 feet away from the suspect in the parking lot when the suspect told him to not get closer, or he would get shot, and the employee backed away. The suspect put the humidifiers in the trunk of the Chevy Blazer, and an unidentified vehicle tried to block the Blazer from pulling forward. The suspect vehicle backed up, hitting the cart, and accelerated away from the area. The employee said the suspect did not reach for a weapon or make a movement to suggest he had one. The Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Department located the suspect vehicle and took Mckenzie into custody for robbery and retail theft. Fond du Lac County deputies reported finding the dehumidifiers and other unopened merchandise in the vehicle. Beaver Dam police later conducted an interview with Mckenzie. The complaint says that Mckenzie told officers he wanted to get away from his home in Oshkosh, but the members of his household needed money. He told police that he heard stores in Beaver Dam were easy to steal from, and he stole other items from Walmart, 120 Frances Lane, without issue. Mckenzie told police that he had a friend who would buy the dehumidifiers. I remind those who are convinced that President Donald Trump has been incompetent in handling the pandemic that, on Jan. 29, the White House established a task force to manage the coronavirus. On Jan. 31, the president issued a travel ban on those coming from China to the United States, and later restricted travel to and from Europe. This possibly saved thousands of lives. In February, Joe Biden labeled Trumps use of the term China virus as xenophobic. Throughout February and March, many in the Biden campaign minimized the virus threat and criticized Trumps response. On Feb. 13, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio urged against panic and suggested that racism was the only reason for not patronizing Asian American-owned businesses. On Feb. 24, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi encouraged tourists in San Francisco to come to Chinatown for the Chinese New Year. Even Dr. Anthony Fauci, following what was known about COVID-19 early on, said it was unnecessary for the general public to wear masks. In response to Deborah Ethingtons recent letter, For Trump, no-panic (coronavirus) claim is all about the Dow, I think its totally irresponsible to write that the president may have caused thousands and thousands of deaths. As King Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:2, there is a time to be born and a time to die. 3:2. Every breath we take is a gift from God. President Trumps decisions did not cause the deaths of people. He did everything he could, with the task force, to provide for the needs of each governor, despite what the mainstream media want you to believe. Fair Americans will not blame Trump for a virus no one anticipated and that bewildered even the experts at first. Barbara Essington, Carneys Point Pitman incumbents handling pandemic adeptly I am writing to endorse Democrats Matt Weng and Adam Mazzola for reelection to Pitman Borough Council. Weng, as the council member who is the director of public safety, has worked tirelessly over several months to coordinate with police, fire, state and Gloucester County officials to put in place protocols to handle our current pandemic. Following science and the guidance of experts, he has been practical and creative in continuing to keep the public safe while offering local businesses guidance on how to operate and remain solvent. Mazzola is not afraid of hard work. He walks the walk and leads by example. As the councils liaison to public schools, his hands-on approach aims at keeping our children stay safe while continuing their education in these difficult times. His background in finance is also a tremendous asset during the budgeting process. The leadership that Mazzola and Weng possess does not compare to their dedication to family and community. I ask that you join me in casting your vote for them this election season. Be sure to vote early. William Roth, Pitman Editors note: Incumbents Weng and Mazzola face Republicans Sara Boulton and Christophe Wilson for two council seats on Nov. 3 ballots. History will judge GOP senators This is to Republican U.S. senators with their heads in the sand: History will excoriate you. Your legacy to your children and grandchildren will show that you were: a traitor betraying democracy; a despoiler selling the Earth to the highest bidders; an enabler of the Dark Side, abandoning global allies in favor of autocrats and despots. Why? Martha E. Rudolph, Turnersville Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Lockton Res Tim Gardner, global CEO, and Ross Howard, global chairman, have been through their share of hard markets. Like many in the reinsurance business, they agree no two hard markets are exactly the same. For the two men personally, this one is different because they are now with Lockton Re. Gardner joined Lockton Re in March 2019 after 20 years with Marsh & McLennan, while Howard, the former executive chairman of JLT Re, joined Lockton Re this March. In the excerpt below from a recent Carrier Management interview, Gardner and Howard share their views on todays market and where it is headed. The factor that distinguishes this hard market more than any other is not the pandemic that has forced the world to transact business virtually. Rather, the current hard market is distinguished by the use of analytics to unveil new insights and capabilities. Capital these days is much more informed than it has been in the past. The analytics thats available, the information thats available is so much better than it has been in previous years, said Howard. Thats why I make the point. I dont see this as a market thats been in previous hard markets where on certain lines of businesses its hard to get any capacity to support it. I think what were looking at here is a marketplace that has had enough of deteriorating results and that is looking to increase terms and increase rates. And not just the rateswe are talking about the coverages and the policy, that is, we shouldnt forget that. Armed with data and analytics, the capital base has been able to analyze every line of business in every area and every territory. Results can show where the problem is and how you fix it. I think that brings a much more informed capital base that just doesnt go into this complete withdrawal thats happened in many, many cycles as before, Howard added. Howards point is that the current market is not a total hard market, although it is very tight for certain clients in certain lines. The market is affected less from COVID-19 than it is by lines of business that have over a number of years turned up deteriorating results. So, even if this [COVID-19] hadnt happened, I think we would be seeing a similar pattern. There will be significant rate increases in certain areas of the business, and others you will see less so. And it depends on the sector of the business, exactly what the loss ratios have been, according to Howard. Thats not to say the increases in certain areas wont be sizable. [L]ots of lines are going to be under a lot of pressure, and some more than others. You read about that all the time, and its absolutely true. There will be significant increases in certain lines of business. Significant. The situation makes the relationships insurers have with their reinsurers all the more important. A broker like Lockton Re, even when there are increases, can help make sure they get the best transactions that they can get in the current marketplace, he said. I think the difficult markets are a time when reinsurance brokers really earn their commission levels. The analytical platform where you can review options in the appropriate way matters a great deal, agreed Gardner. According to Gardner, every market cycle is different because each is arrived at for different reasons. In the past, reinsurance rates, because of some loss activity, may have been increasing more dramatically than insurance rates. But in many classes of business that does not seem to be the case today. Instead, primary insurance rates are affirming more than reinsurance rates, Gardner said, which, I think, sets our clients up in really good positions where they should be able to demonstrate, despite some increases potentially and some pressure on reinsurance returns, that theyre getting enough front-end rate improvement. Its that a rising tide lifts all boats phenomenon, where the reinsurers will benefit, particularly if theyre writing proportional contracts with that front-end rate lift. Analytics can help clients better show their portfolio profitability and reinsurance picture. I think it will dampen a lot of the reinsurance increased pressure because of the success that our clients are having on the very front end of their business, he said. Gardner stressed that relationships are still important. I think the difficult markets are a time when reinsurance brokers really earn their commission levels. In a soft market, its relatively easy to get deals done, and the broker and the client have a lot of leverage. Thats not going to be the case in many lines of business to Rosss point. So, creativity matters, preparation matters, relationships matter, he said. When the lockdown started and everybody started working from home, I think everyone sort of was relieved to see that we could transact business and it could work and that markets were available and the placements could be done. The coronavirus pandemic certainly has affected how Lockton Re associates and those throughout the reinsurance industry have gone about their businessa business that most everyone acknowledges has relationships at its core. In a typical environment, many of these relationships would be launched or reaffirmed in face-to-face meetings, including each year the Reinsurance Rendez-Vous de Septembre, Baden-Baden and other conferences. But not this year. Gardner said the new normal of virtual meetings is different, maybe slower but not necessarily any less productive. Its obviously not ideal where youd love to be sitting across the table from a client or a new opportunity to have the dialogue, but thats not the reality where we are, he said. Howard agreed that while it has changed some routines, its still worked out. So, weve been pretty pleased with our ability to transact business virtually. We have systems in place to do it. Its taken a lot longer to get the deals and structures finalized and finished. Its more time consuming, as youd expect it to be. But its been achievable and were very comfortable about that. The emphasis on analytics may be even more important in this time. [I]ts really an analytics business that were in, said Gardner. I mean, obviously the transaction is hugely important, but the ability to analyze large swaths of data, to be able to pull insights in combination with clients, to be able to understand portfolio trajectory and profitability andanalytics is a huge driver of what we do and the value we deliver. Howard senses that while the lack of in-person contact has changed the business dynamic for clients and colleagues, it has also taught an interesting lesson. When the lockdown started and everybody started working from home, I think everyone sort of was relieved to see that we could transact business and it could work and that markets were available and the placements could be done, he said. While that realization was great, Howard thinks people have begun to realize exactly what they are missing by not being in an office environment where the brokers are together and the face-to-face discussions with underwriters, particularly in London, where thats always taken place. To view the complete Carrier Management interview with Gardner and Howard in which they also share their views on where Lockton Re is headed, the effect of consolidation, how they are creating choice and more, click below or visit here: Lockton Re: Creating Choice in Reinsurance with Talent, Analytics, Relationships. To view the excerpt from Carrier Managements interview with Gardner and Howard on how they are reimagining Lockton Re, visit here: Lockton Re Imagined: Bringing Choice to Reinsurance Brokerage. 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 buyersincluding news, features, interviews, commentaries, white papers, videos, webinars and more. This article first was published in Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management. Topics Agencies Reinsurance Market Leadership Lockton The gloves have come off at Michael Durants first-degree murder trial. Joe Wilkinson, the attorney for Durant, spent a second day citing precedent and imploring the judge to allow witness testimony from Durants first trial into the record. The twist is that the Crown led evidence in 2012, but now wants Kevin Fancys testimony ruled inadmissible because he died in 2018 and cant be cross-examined. How could you possibly rule that the evidence that led to Mr. Durants conviction is so unreliable, you cant even admit it, Wilkinson said. It sounds absurd on its face. Everybody felt the jury was equipped to judge the reliability of Mr. Fancys testimony. Much of that evidence from the first trial has gone in on consent with both sides in agreement. That isn't happening this time. Wilkinsons efforts at legal jiu-jitsu have come as part of establishing an alternative suspect defence for Durant, whose conviction was overturned last year. Wilkinson has already told Superior Court Justice Gerald Taylor he is, in effect, putting the victims boyfriend, John McNeil, on trial. Fancy was staying in the same residence as McNeil at the time of the murder. Durant, 47, is accused of killing a 32-year-old Niagara Falls woman in August 2003. The victims body was discovered in a ditch near Darby Road and Grassybrook Road on the outskirts of Niagara Falls. The court has a publication ban in place on the victims name. Because Fancy cant testify, the court considers his evidence as hearsay. However, there are provisions in the criminal code that make testimony available if the witness dies or is unavailable and specific conditions are met. The statements were given in an adjudicated setting as part of the adversarial process where one of the parties had the opportunity to cross-examine the witness, Wilkinson said. That is sufficient to get you over threshold liability for hearsay. Lead Crown attorney Andrew Sabbadini told the judge he should exclude Fancys evidence because Fancy wasnt properly cross-examined on differences in statements he gave to police during the investigation. Sabbadinis argued the issue of one of trial fairness. The defence at the first trial undertook the cross-examination with objectives diametrically opposed to that of the Crown. It shouldnt be allowed anywhere near this trial, Sabbadini said. It is too unsafe to be part of any criminal trial. My friend has not met any of the exemptions, and it could seriously confuse the trier of fact. The Crown could have had to ask the judge at the first trial, Justice James Ramsay, to declare Fancy a hostile witness. That would have allowed the Crown to take advantage of the leeway the court gives attorneys during a cross-examination. It didnt happen. Just because the Crown called the witness doesnt mean everything the witness said is credible, Sabbadini said. The Crown might not have liked part of it, but the testimony goes to the jury with the instructions that they can believe all of Mr. Fancys evidence, some of his evidence or none of his evidence. I think I have to approach this with the idea that the Crown was content with his evidence, Taylor said. It could be they were content or it could be that the Crown was indifferent, Sabbadini said. I cant go into the Crowns mind and find out what he was thinking. Durant, who has been in custody since Niagara Regional Police arrested him in January 2006, was sentenced to life with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years. Taylor is hearing the trial without a jury, which is rare in cases of first-degree murder. Parties urged to sign digital inclusion plan With just 23 days to go until polling day, theres plenty of time surely to commit to digital inclusion. Thats the pitch to political parties from InternetNZ, which has 50 organisations signed up to its digital inclusion action planbut just one minor party on board. The plans five points are: affordable connectivity getting devices to people who cant afford them, and addressing accessibility barriers wraparound support for the newly connected digital skills for displaced workers and small businesses longer term internet resilience To date, the Greens are alone in signing up, just as last week they were the only ones with a tech policy (of sorts). But that all changed on Monday when the National Party released its tech policy, and its leader Judith Collins actually referred to it on the TVNZ leaders debate on Tuesday. Tech folk up and down the country were no doubt stunned to get a mention in prime time as the sector, despite being the countrys third largest exporter, barely rates a mention most days. Tech interest groups we spoke to were united in welcoming Nationals idea for establishing a Minister of Technology. Currently, that portfolio is spread across five ministers. This must make it difficult for a government to provide a cohesive approach to growing the sector, let alone address issues such as digital skills gaps. Fibre to the home at last! Trans-Tasman rivalry is all in good fun, but the laughs died long ago when it comes to the mess that is the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Australia. It kicked off about the same time as the Ultra Fast Broadband on this side of the ditch, but it seems to have been mired in controversy from the get-go. The latest NBN announcement is that an additional A$3.5 billion will be spent on providing 2 million Australian homes access to faster broadband. The current NBN deployment is almost complete, but it is only required to provide 25Mbps peak speeds to all premises and 50Mbps to 90% of fixed-line connections. As we all know, that just isnt enough in a data-hungry world. Meanwhile the original UFB build here in New Zealand has been extended during the current governments term. If National gets the chance rule on 17 October, its promising to spend $1 billion over the next ten years to expand the rollout to 90% of New Zealanders. Unlike what happened with the copper network, this is not an asset you can sweat for decadesrather like the roading network, its infrastructure that should be continually upgraded. Health techs unsung hero In the list of Kiwi tech greats, you dont often see Colin Murdochs name mentioned. Inventor of disposable syringe (16 billion used globally every year) and the tranquiliser gun, the Timaru pharmacist changed the world. But unlike the inventor of the electric fence, he didnt build a sustainable business, so thats maybe why Murdoch isnt a household name in the way that electric fence pioneer William Gallagher is. Apparently he lacked the commercialisation expertise and assistanceaccording to a profile by Radio NZ, Murdoch could only afford to take out patents in New Zealand and Australia. So, it was good to see Murdoch mentioned on the Healthtech Activator website, the latest venture from Callaghan Innovator, especially as he might have found this kind of resource and information hub useful. Health tech is defined as digital health, medical device technologies, therapeutics and pharmaceuticals. According to the Technology Investment Network, the sectors vital stats are 22 health tech companies in the Top 200 tech exporters, earning a combined annual revenue of $1.9 billion, employing 7,636 people, and spending a combined $226 million in research and development. Health tech is one of two sectors identified in the Global Start Up Report in 2020 (although its referred to as life sciences). The other is of course agritech. Cybersecurity again We couldnt quite let a Fry Up go by without some mention of cybersecurity. Those NZX attacks have well and truly destroyed the notion that New Zealand is out of sight from the bad guys. This has led to all kinds of security surveys, and the latest from Barracuda hasnt made for reassuring reading. More than 1,000 businesses were surveyed across Asia-Pacific, with more than a third (38%) of those in New Zealand and Australia noting theyve had at least one data breach or cybersecurity incident since moving to remote working. While 42% said their employees arent properly trained in the cyberrisks associated with remote working. In the CERT report for the first half of 2020, most incidents were to do with phishing. While not as spectacular as the new breed of DDoS attacks, it appears the biggest cybersecurity risk is that a staff member is going to get distracted, click on a link, and import some nasty into your network. - The parents claimed reopening classes in October 2020 was to soon yet they had exhausted their savings - They asked the Ministry of Education to consider reducing school fees if it was serious about learners resuming classes - The parents also accused Education CS George Magoha of confusing them and not being clear about the reopening of schools PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB Feed Parents across the country have expressed concerns after the Ministry of Education announced on Monday, September 21, that learning would resume before 2021. The worried parents claimed they were not ready to send their children back to school noting they had exhausted their savings and learning institutions were not well prepared to receive their children. READ ALSO: Nestle apologises to man who bought sealed milk to use in porridge only to find it spoilt The Ministry of Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) George Magoha. Photo: Ministry of Education. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: God's time is best: Jubilation as couple welcomes quadruplets after long wait for a child Another concern raised was the safety of their children while in schools saying the schools had not yet met mandatory safety measures issued by the ministry, KTN reported. " As parents, we are not ready because we paid school fees in January 2019 so we do not have money now," said Pius Yator. 'Let them wait until January 2020 after we harvest and sell maize so we can have money to pay the school fees," he added. READ ALSO: COVID-19 vaccine: 400 Kenyan healthcare workers to take part in trials Yator, a resident of Eldoret, further suggested the ministry of education should allow teachers to re-open schools and prepare the institutions thoroughly and then receive the learners in 2021. He, however, acknowledged both the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates will have wasted a lot of time at home. "They will waste a lot of time but the cabinet secretary said we count this year as a wasted one then when they resume classes in January they will start afresh, said Yator. READ ALSO: Funny photo of dogs at a birthday party organised for one of them goes viral Charles Aboge, another resident of Eldoret, faulted the ministry of education for being undecisive and not clear with the dates for re-opening schools leaving the parents confused. "CS Magoha is confusing us, today he says this tomorrow he says something else... even the schools are not ready to receive our children," he said. " We do not know how well prepared the schools are considering they are boarding schools. When they assure they are well prepared then we will release our children to resume schools," added the parent. READ ALSO: Explainer: Everything you need to know about dissolution of parliament The parent further urged the government to consider reducing school fees by a fraction and allow parents to pay only the remaining amount. Other parents said the children were not psychologically prepared for the resumption of studies, adding that a rushed reopening may cause a spike in cases of indiscipline. Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme Source: TUKO.co.ke Julian Assange relayed how he binge-watched the suicide of the former Bosnian Croat general in a U.N. courtroom three years ago, a doctor who visited the WikiLeaks founder on several occasions while he was in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London told an extradition hearing Thursday. Dr. Sondra Crosby, associate professor of medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine, said she noted a visible deterioration in both his mental and physical state over her four visits from Oct. 2017 to the embassy where Assange was living. He had been granted asylum by Ecuador five years earlier over fears of extradition to the U.S. related to his WikiLeaks work. Crosby told Londons Old Bailey criminal court that on a visit in February 2018, Assange had first described thoughts of suicide and how he was thinking about it very deliberately and that he had binge-watched the suicide a few months earlier of Slobodan Praljak at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague. Seconds after an appeals judge confirmed his 20-year sentence for war crimes during the 1992-95 Bosnian war, Praljak proclaimed his innocence and then drank from a small bottle containing potassium cyanide. He collapsed in court and died in a Dutch hospital about two hours later. The dramatic scene of the 72-year-old former commander of Bosnian Croat military forces lifting his trembling right hand to his mouth and drinking the liquid was streamed live on the courts website. She said Assange described how he freeze-framed and analyzed Praljaks face while he took his own life. Assanges lawyers have argued this week that their client could very well try to kill himself if he is sent to the United States to face espionage charges, and have pointed to his deteriorating mental state during his seven-year stay at the Ecuadorian Embassy and since his ejection from there in April 2019 to a British prison. Crosby also said that in a visit to Belmarsh Prison in London in October 2019, Assange appeared to be severely depressed and that he had talked about having thoughts of suicide hundreds of times a day. He seemed to be in very dire straits, she said. U.S. prosecutors have indicted the 49-year-old on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over WikiLeaks publication of secret American military documents a decade ago. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison. Lawyers acting on behalf of the U.S. government have sought to show that Assanges mental state is not as bad as claimed by witnesses acting for the defense and that he wouldnt be subjected to improper conditions if sent to the pre-trial facilities at Alexandria Detention Center in Virginia. It was at that facility that Chelsea Manning, the former intelligence analyst who leaking a trove of documents to WikiLeaks, tried to take her own life earlier this year. Though President Barack Obama commuted the remainder of her 35-year sentence in 2017, Manning has been in jail since May 2019 for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating WikiLeaks. Psychologist Nigel Blackwood, who assessed Assange at Belmarsh, rebutted defense experts on the extent of Assanges condition, saying his suicide risk was manageable. I think there is some risk of suicide but that risk has to be carefully managed at Belmarsh, he said. The risk factors are modifiable and he engages with treatment available to manage that risk. Assange, he added, is a very resilient and very resourceful man, who is at the very mildest end of the autism spectrum. Noting that Assange has been highly functioning to a very high level in running a very successful organization. He did say that Assanges mental health benefits from being able to have access to family and friends and recently to the Samaritans helpline in the U.K. aimed at providing support to anyone in emotional distress or thinking about suicide. I think there is some risk of suicide attempt linked to extradition, but not substantial risk, he told the court. His suicide risk may increase in a much more deleterious environment without access to things that he values. As well as arguing that extradition would pose a threat to Assanges life, his defense team say that he is a journalist and entitled to First Amendment protections for the publication of leaked documents that exposed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. The extradition hearing is due to last until early October. This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) The provided background information alleges that Harrison went from a person with "no assets" and who was "virtually broke" except for a salary paid by Congressman James Clyburn to someone with over $3 million in assets. Clyburn represents South Carolina's Sixth Congressional District, which includes a most of the central eastern portion of the state including a part of southern Florence County and all of Williamsburg County. Harrison left Clyburn's office for the Podesta Group in 2008. Then, the ad references clients of the Podesta Group, the China-US Exchange Foundation and United Technologies. The foundation has been registered as a foreign agent representing China. A subsidiary of United Technologies pleaded guilty in 2012 to providing software to the Chinese government which allowed that country to construct its first attack helicopter. Harrison was listed as a lobbyist for United Technologies in 2010 and 2011. He sold us out" the ad ends. "... liberal Jaime Harrison too close to China to EVER trust him in the U.S Senate A shooter opened fire and wounded two people outside a Connecticut business Tuesday and was taken into custody at gunpoint on a highway in Massachusetts, police said. Both victims were treated at a hospital and discharged. Authorities identified the alleged gunman late Tuesday afternoon as Alan Rosario, 33, of Springfield, Massachusetts. It was not immediately clear if he has a lawyer who could respond to the allegations. One of the victims called 911 at about 8:45 a.m. to report a shooting in the parking lot of a South Windsor industrial building housing several businesses, police Sgt. Mark Cleverdon said. The shooting stemmed from an argument between two employees, one of whom was the shooter, of a trucking logistics company, Cleverdon said. The nature of the dispute wasnt clear. The targeted victim had gunshot wounds to his leg and arm, while another man appeared to have been hit by shrapnel from the shooting of the first victim, he said. It was an isolated dispute between them, Cleverdon said at a news conference. It sounds like there was a verbal argument before the weapon got pulled and then the shooting happened and then he left the scene. The shooter fled. Police broadcast a description of the vehicle to other law enforcement agencies. Enfield officers spotted the vehicle on Interstate 91 and followed it into Longmeadow, Massachusetts, where officers pulled pulled it over and were immediately joined by Massachusetts state troopers, police said. Massachusetts State Police identified the suspect as Rosario and said officers removed him from the vehicle at gunpoint. A handgun was found in the car, officials said. Rosario was detained by Massachusetts State Police in Springfield and faces extradition proceedings to send him back to Connecticut. South Windsor police were deciding what charges to file. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance Law Enforcement Massachusetts Numbers Connecticut Local Home-based Consultancy (with travel): Gender-Based Violence Research Consultant, Italy Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Childrens Fund Country: Italy City: Rome, Italy Office: UNICEF Rome, Italy Closing date: Friday, 25 September 2020 Local home-based consultancy (with travel): Gender-Based Violence Research Consultant, Italy (70 days) Job no: 534581 Position type: Consultancy Location: Italy Division/Equivalent: CEE/CIS School/Unit: Regional Services Div (ECAR), Geneva Department/Office: National Response Coord, O/P Rome Categories: Consultancy UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up. For every child, results Children continued to make-up a quarter of all refugees and migrants arriving in Europe through Mediterranean migration routes in 2020. As of March 2020, nearly 52,000 refugee and migrant children were present in Italy, Greece and the rest of the Balkans, almost 30% were unaccompanied. Among all children seeking asylum in Europe in 2019, 55% were boys and 45% girls. The situation among unaccompanied children is different, with mostly boys, and around 15 percent of girls. However, while unaccompanied boys tend to travel alone or in groups and self-identify as children during registration, unaccompanied and separated girls tend to be more invisible, therefore poorly represented in official statistics. During their desperate journeys through countries of origin, transit, arrival and return, children and women - in particular girls on the move - face a number of risks related to gender-based violence. Once in Europe, they often lack protection and may not be able to access available services. To date, Italy has been one of the most affected countries in the world by the COVID-19 pandemic, with cases also registered among the refugee and migrant population. Because of their specific vulnerabilities and the fact that often they are overlooked within policies and plans, the impact of an outbreak is likely to be higher on migrants and refugees. Refugees and migrants in and outside reception centers are a high-risk population group due to limited access by and to the health system, dwelling overcrowding, and multiple co-morbidities. The COVID-19 outbreak has further exacerbated the unique vulnerabilities of refugee and migrant women and girl in Italy, given that gender roles have a significant impact on how individuals experience outbreaks. This includes the increased exposure of women and girls to GBV, particularly intimate partner violence (IPV) due to social confinement and movement restrictions. Migrant and refugee women and girls face additional specific challenges in accessing services due to government restrictions, as well as lack of access to appropriate information on rights and available support services during the pandemic. The vulnerability of those who are living in reception facilities can increase due to lack of basic services provision and privacy; those who are held in repatriation centers, are found in even worse conditions. Additionally, they have to face many institutional barriers such as in accessing health services, for example if their residence permit has expired. The socio-economic impact on migrant and refugee women and girls is exacerbated by the fact that they are often employed in informal and low-wage activities that are highly prone to be disrupted during an outbreak; while others remain prisoners of sexual and labor exploitation mechanisms. Since the beginning of the migrant and refugee influx, UNICEF is meeting the unique needs of children and young people arriving in Europe, as well as those on the move, stranded or being pushed back, since the earliest days of the migrant and refugee response. UNICEF uses two inter-linked approaches: life-saving service provision in partnership with institutions and civil society organizations (CSO) and supporting existing national child protection systems. In Italy, UNICEF has also focused on GBV prevention and response, contributing to overall system strengthening. UNICEFs vision is that the rights of girls and women affected by emergencies to live free from GBV are fulfilled. Three outcomes are linked to the realization of this vision, each of which forms an integral aspect of UNICEFs GBViE programming in practice: support survivors with access to a comprehensive set of services, mitigate the risk of GBV across humanitarian sectors by empowering women and girls, prevent GBV by addressing its underlying conditions and drivers, engaging directly with governments and relevant ministries. As part of a broader UNICEF global research on COVID-19 in humanitarian settings: Understanding the impact on women and girls safety and well-being, UNICEF Migrant and Refugee Response in Italy and the Washington University in St Luis, with the technical support of UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti, will further investigate the impact of COVID-19 measures on migrant and refugee women and girls in Italy. The research will constitute a case study of the UNICEF global research and will take a quantitative and qualitative approach. The research aims at assessing how COVID-19 measures impacted women and girls safety and well-being. The research will also look at the level of availability and accessibility of GBV information provision and response services during COVID-19 and will examine the feasibility and acceptability of COVID-19 GBV service models, identifying remaining gaps in service provision, and distilling lessons learned. Findings from this research will be used to bolster existing services, design new ways for service provision, ensure greater coverage for more marginalized women and girls, and help inform the development of a structured plan for ensuring the safety and well-being of women and girls during the current and future pandemics. How can you make a difference? The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical and logistical support to the research conducted by UNICEF Migrant and Refugee Response in Italy and the Washington University in St Luis to understand the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on migrant and refugee women and girls in Italy. Key responsibilities which will be conducted in close collaboration with the other members of the GBV team, include: Secondary data collection and analysis Provide support in collecting, analyzing, reviewing and organizing secondary data, information and other relevant resources on GBV and COVID-19 in Italy, including GBV hotline data, relevant reports published by national authorities and other stakeholders, UNICEF guidance notes and organizational guidance documents detailing appropriate service adaptations to be made during the pandemic. Write-up the desk review. Qualitative and quantitative data collection Assist in preparation, designing, translation, marketing and dissemination of an online survey to administer to migrant and refugee women and girls; Assist in preparation and designing of two U-Report polls; Assist in preparation and designing of qualitative data collection tools and materials, as needed; Provide support to the organization of around 25 key informant interviews (KIIs), including but not limited to service providers, staff at GBV hotlines, GBV specialists in-country, cultural mediators and other frontline workers in Lombardy, Lazio, and Sicily, in collaboration with the Washington University; Provide support to the organization of around 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) with migrant girls in the three Regions, including liaising with local organizations to support all logistical arrangements; Conduct in-person or virtual KIIs and FGDs or provide support, including through interpretation from Italian to English and vice versa, during KIIs conducted by Washington University staff; Transcribe and translate data collected verbatim, as needed. Coordination and technical support Support with quantitative and qualitative data analysis and reports writing, as needed; Support ethical review preparation as needed; Support translation efforts; Liaise between the team at UNICEF Migrant and Refugee Response in Italy based in Rome, the team at Washington University based in St Luis and the team at UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti based in Florence; Attend calls and other meetings, conferences and webinars, assisting in preparing background material and taking minutes; Follow up on the design, editing, printing and publication of the research and information material in collaboration with relevant colleagues from UNICEF Refugee & Migrant Response, Washington University and UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti, as needed. Support the communication and dissemination plans, including the development of programme briefs, press releases and blogs, launching event as needed; The consultant is also expected to undertake other tasks that may be required and are appropriate to the role and the research project. Deliverables Performance Indicators: Quality of written materials produced; Accuracy, depth and relevance of information provided; Quality of working relations; Timeliness of response to the teams requests for support; Timely delivery of deliverables and adherence to timeline and set deadlines. To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have... Required: University degree in law, migration studies, gender studies, or other relevant fields; At least three years of relevant experience; Demonstrated experience to facilitate focus group discussions and/or in-depth interviews; Tags child protection data analysis data collection gender roles health services immunization press releases refugees support services translation violence research women and girls Knowledge and experience on GBV in Emergencies; Experience with UNICEF or other UN Agencies; Familiar with the Italian protection and reception system for migrants and refugees; Excellent planning and organizational skills; Strong communication skills - both oral and written; Fluency in Italian and English; Good team player. Desired: Familiar with UNICEFs GBViE frameworks; Experience in working with migrants and refugees For every Child, you demonstrate... UNICEFs values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. Contractual arrangements: Estimated Duration of the Contract: 70 days from October 2020 to March 2021. UNICEF Supervisor: Gender/GBViE Programme Specialist, P4, Refugee & Migrant Response, Rome, Italy Work arrangements: The payments will be made upon satisfactory completion of tasks and deliverables (as reported in table 1). Each request for payment must be supported by the supervisors written certification of the assignment performed (deliverable provided and/or days worked). Final payment is made only upon certification of the satisfactory completion of the assignment as a whole, and completion by the supervisor of the evaluation. Payments will be roll out in multiple instalments, based on the tasks outlined in Table 1: First instalment (the equivalent of 20 days) after satisfactory completion of tasks 1, 2 and 3; Second instalment (20 days) after satisfactory completion of task 4; Third instalment (15 days) after satisfactory completion of task 5 and 6; Fourth instalment (15 days) after satisfactory completion of task 7 and 8; Taxes: Consultants and Individual contractors are responsible for paying any taxes derived from the earnings received from UNICEF. Duty Station and Official Travel: Home-based in Italy. The work may include incidental travel within Italy to participate in field work, this will depend upon Covid-19 related restrictions established by the Government of Italy. It is expected that the consultant will incur in up to 10 travels in different locations in Italy (North, Centre and South). The average duration of each trip is expected to be of 2 days. In their application, consultants shall propose a lumpsum for travel costs. Agreed travel and related costs will be reimbursed after missions are completed. Equipment: The consultant is expected to have their own computer and access to internet, common software to conduct video interviews. Travel Clause: All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants/ Individual Contractors apply. All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF. The eligible maximum amount for travel is specified in the contract. The consultant is responsible for his/her for travel arrangements. The most economic and direct route is authorized. Travel costs will be reimbursed after the completion of mission. UNICEF will pay the applicable DSA rate and other travel related expenses upon submission of the invoice together with the supporting documentation. The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSafe certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card. Nature of Penalty Clause in Contract: If the final reports and documents are not submitted according to the deliverables stated in this TOR, the payments will be withheld. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines (fees reduced due to late submission: 20 days - 10%; 1 month -20%; 2 months -30%; more 2 months - payment withhold). All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. To apply, candidates are invited to: complete their UNICEF profile; attach CV and Motivation Letter; attach a short reflection on how they would organize and conduct the FGDs/interviews on this topic and what are the challenges they foresee to carry out this research project (the text can be written in English or Italian and it should be of a maximum of two pages).Indicate a consultancy daily fee (for ease of reference you may want to consult the UN salary scale for GS/Professional. This ToR falls under the bandwidth of GS6 - travel not included. Please note that applications without a proposed fee will not be accepted. Indicate a lump sum for expected travel expenditures. Remarks: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered staff members under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEFs policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. Advertised: Sep 18 2020 W. Europe Daylight Time Application close: Sep 25 2020 W. Europe Daylight Time (Natural News) On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled new legislation that would strengthen punishments against rioters, looters and other violent demonstrators. The bill, known as the Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act, will push for harsh penalties against individuals who are found guilty of rioting and looting, as well as for participating in associated actions. DeSantis hopes the bill will discourage people led astray by Antifa and Black Lives Matter from joining riots. It will be introduced to the Florida Legislature in its next session, scheduled to begin after the election. I look at what goes on in Portland, said DeSantis, a Republican, at the press conference announcing the legislation. Theyll have people, theyll arrest them. Theyre all scraggly-looking Antifa types. They get their mugshot taken, then they get released. Its like a carousel on and on it goes. Thats not going to happen here in Florida. (Related: BREAKING: DOJ declares Seattle, Portland and New York to be lawless anarchist zones, setting up federal arrests of Democrat mayors after the election.) New criminal offenses for rioters, and increased penalties for existing offenses DeSantis new legislation creates new criminal offenses. It places a third-degree felony charge for people who participate in violent or disorderly assemblies that include at least seven people, as well as for rioters who block traffic during any kind of unplanned demonstration. If a driver is trying to flee for their safety from a violent mob obstructing the road, they will not be held liable for any injury or death that they cause. A second-degree felony charge will be placed on people who damage or destroy public property, including historical monuments. A first-degree misdemeanor charge will be placed on people who harass or intimidate others in public places, such as restaurants. Furthermore, the bill adds a new liability under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to anybody who is caught either organizing or financing a violent assembly. DeSantis legislation also increases penalties for existing offenses. Hitting a law enforcement officer during a riot will now carry with it a mandatory minimum jail sentence of six months. Offense and sentence enhancements will also be applied for people who throw projectiles at civilians or law enforcement officers as well as for participating in a riot if you are not a resident of Florida. Finally, the new legislation introduces a series of measures designed to protect citizens and taxpayers, most notable among them is the measure that prevents state funding from being given to local governments that defund their police departments. Anybody who is convicted of participating in a riot will also be unable to receive state benefits and be made ineligible for employment in any local or state government agency. It also makes it easier for victims of rioters and looters to sue local governments for the damages they incurred, which DeSantis hopes will spur on local officials to take a stronger stance against violent mobs. Anybody arrested during a riot and charged with a crime in connection to the violent assembly will also be made ineligible for bond or bail until their first appearance in court. DeSantis wants special session for anti-rioter legislation Even though the bill has already been filed, the Florida Legislature isnt expected to hold a hearing regarding DeSantis legislation until Nov. 17. As such, the governor has called for them to hold a special session in order to pass the act. DeSantis has even reached out to Sen. Wilton Simpson, the incoming president of the state senate. I mentioned to both President Simpson and [the incoming Speaker of the House] that, look, you guys are going to be here for the organizational session, said DeSantis. Its going to have broad support I think certainly from the Republican caucuses in both chambers. You know it may be something you need to act on. DeSantis made known his intention to get the legislature to act on his legislation quickly during a state cabinet meeting. Naturally, Democrats are already criticizing the governor for wanting lawmakers to prioritize law and order. State Rep. Anna Eskamani said that she and other Democratic legislators have been agitating for the legislature to hold a special session, but for other reasons that they believe should take priority. [Gov. DeSantis] doesnt want us to actually address his terrible track record, or the terrible track record of the Republican Party of Florida, said Eskamani. So, hes using law and order as an election stunt to distract and scare voters. Rep. Shevrin Jones, who is seeking a seat in the state senate, called DeSantis and Florida Republicans hypocrites for trying to expand the powers of the state government. What you have just done is a blatant lie, said Jones. They pick and choose which people and which communities are afforded civil liberties, and this cannot stand. Rioters will not be able to terrorize innocent Americans for much longer. Learn about how local and state governments all across the country are fighting back against the engineered violence at Rioting.news. Sources include: InformationLiberation.com WUSFNews.WUSF.USF.edu 1 Fox29.com News.WFSU.org WUSFNews.WUSF.USF.edu 2 It is the first customer contract between Isotropic Systems and SES Government Solutions and follows on from the significant developmental partnership currently ongoing between the two companies to produce scalable, cost-effective terminals capable of providing government, military, and commercial access to the existing O3b constellation and the groundbreaking O3b mPOWER system set to launch late next year. The U.S. Air Force and Army, through the innovative Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) program, will review a prototype of Isotropic Systems' optical beamforming antenna and its ability to connect simultaneously with two satellite constellations at GEO and MEO. The unique multi-beam capability will enable the armed forces to deliver data at the tactical edge by leveraging capacity from multiple commercial satellites and a military satellite over a single antenna platform. First phase over-the-air (OTA) is scheduled to be completed by early fall, followed by the phase two in early 2021 where the Isotropic Systems optical lens technology will be utilized to demonstrate a two full performance beam connection. One beam will link with an SES geostationary (GEO) satellite, while another full performance optical beam will establish a simultaneous connection with SES's O3b MEO satellite constellation. The biggest user of satellite capacity in the world, the U.S. Department of Defense, is exploring new ways to more effectively and efficiently utilize both existing and new capacity coming online in GEO, MEO and LEO orbits. Isotropic Systems' optical multi-beam terminals bring key advantages to government markets, including the flexibility to meet performance, cost, and power consumption requirements specific to defense. "As we get ready for the launch of our O3b mPOWER MEO constellation and SES-17 GEO satellite late next year, it is vital that we work with the U.S. Government to better understand their requirements, and to partner with companies like Isotropic Systems to help us meet those needs," said Pete Hoene, President and CEO of SES Government Solutions. "The Isotropic antenna will deliver high throughput, at low latency over a MEO constellation with simultaneous resilient GEO capacity. This will be a game-changer for the U.S. Army. These collaborative trials with the U.S. Army Research Engineering Team and the Air Force bring commercial ingenuity to the men and women in uniform and the U.S. Government as a whole." "Isotropic Systems' collaborative tests with SES Government Solutions in support of the U.S. military is an important milestone on our roadmap leading to a multi-beam, multi-frequency terminal that allows the government and armed forces to utilize every bit of capacity in the sky," said Scott Sprague, Chief Commercial Officer of Isotropic Systems. "That is the ultimate goal for the defense market, which is currently grappling with disparate networks to deliver connectivity to the battlespace." Follow us on: Social Media Blog Media Library About SES Government Solutions SES Government Solutions (SES GS) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of global satellite operator SES. SES GS operates under a proxy board allowing them to provide services through contracts with the U.S. Government, including classified work. SES GS is exclusively focused on meeting the satellite communications needs of the U.S. Government. Leveraging more than four decades of experience in the government SATCOM market, SES Government Solutions offers robust and secure end-to-end satellite communications solutions. Further information can be found at www.ses-gs.com About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES's video network carries over 8,300 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 367 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com. About Isotropic Systems Isotropic Systems is developing the world's first multi-service, high-bandwidth, low power, fully integrated high throughput terminals designed to support the satellite industry to 'reach beyond' traditional markets and acquire new customers with a full suite of high throughput services. The company's team of industry experts and scientists has pioneered several firsts in satellite terminal design resulting in a line of terminals that are customizable to meet the performance, cost and power requirements of countless applications from the most complex government defense systems and mobile backhaul solutions capable of extending 5G, to next-gen connected experiences aboard commercial airliners, cruise ships, offshore rigs, and even small fishing boats at sea. Isotropic Systems' Series A funding was led by Boeing to advance space-based connectivity. Further information is available at www.isotropicsystems.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280371/Isotropic_Systems_for_Defense.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280372/Isotropic_Systems_Terminal.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/808814/Isotropic_Logo.jpg SOURCE Isotropic Systems Related Links http://www.isotropicsystems.com Mark Gatiss, Josh OConnor and Anna Madeley have attended the premiere of Gemma Lawrences play Sunnymead Court. The play opened on Thursday evening at the Tristan Bates Theatre at The Actors Centre in London. Sherlock star Gatiss was pictured at the event alongside fellow actor Ian Hallard. Expand Close Josh OConnor (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Josh OConnor (PA) The Crown star OConnor also attended the premiere. The actor plays Prince Charles in the Netflix series. Deadwater Fell star Madeley was also photographed at the launch event. Lawrence, who wrote the play, will also star in it alongside Remmie Milner. Expand Close Anna Madeley (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anna Madeley (PA) A maximum of 28 seats will be available inside the theatre for each performance due to social distancing measures. Audience members will have to wear a mask for the duration of the 45-minute performance. Video of the Day The production is supported by Arts Council England. Thousands of shoppers who tried to pre-order the latest Microsoft Xbox were left fearing for the state of their credit scores after a bungle between high street retailers and the 'buy now, pay later' service Klarna left them without a console but with marks on their credit files. Klarna - which has a slogan No Drama, Just Klarna - had partnered with GAME and Smyths Toys to let customers purchase the new Xbox Series S and X games consoles as part of an 'All Access' bundle. These gave an option to spread the cost over two years, provided customers set up a direct debit and passed a 'hard' credit check - which publicly appear on borrowers' credit reports But consumers reported the retailers' websites were down for as long as six hours when the deal launched on Tuesday, and that when they were finally able to reach the checkout, they were greeted with a message telling them 'there has been a technical error' after GAME and Smyths both ran out of stock. Klarna had partnered with GAME and Smyths Toys to allow people to pre-order the new Xbox and pay for them over 24 months. But shoppers reported several problems with both websites The farce and subsequent backlash on Twitter led to Microsoft itself intervening, with Xbox UK's marketing chief telling customers on the social media platform they had spoken to Klarna and the retailers to try and fix the situation. Despite being unable to purchase an Xbox - due out in November - shoppers were still subjected to Klarna's affordability checks and even received emails informing them they had set up a direct debit with the Swedish company. A number of shoppers who received the error message tried refreshing websites multiple times or trying to order again, although Klarna insisted this should not have led to more than one hard credit check. But some users on the social media platform Twitter, where evidence of the problems with GAME, Klarna and Smyths Toys first appeared, reported they had multiple checks from the buy now, pay later provider on their files. While direct debits do not impact people's credit scores, multiple hard searches in a short period of time can damage them as they can be seen by lenders as a sign of desperation or financial stress, with borrowers frantically applying for credit. The potential impact on their credit score caused by what one Twitter user, Dan Jenkins, described as 'a hard check for nothing', led some to fear they would be turned down if they tried to order the console again. Klarna, which recently became Europe's most valuable fintech company, valued at 8billion, offers three ways of paying for items in instalments or after ordering them, but the formal payment plan offered to those trying to pre-order the new Xbox is the only which requires a formal credit check. Its lending practices and the suggestion it encourages predominantly younger people to spend money they don't have have come under scrutiny over the last 24 months, with the Financial Conduct Authority set to probe 'buy now, pay later' lenders as part of a wider inquiry into unsecured credit. Many shoppers who were greeted with technical problems repeatedly tried to re-order a console, despite this potentially leaving them applying for credit with Klarna several times 'A credit check has been run on hundreds and hundreds of people' Will Holmes, 36, from Tyne and Wear, was one shopper caught up in the problems with Klarna and Smyths Toys. He told This is Money: 'There are options to buy the console outright, but it seems GAME and Smyths have allowed Klarna to handle the finance side of the deal. 'The thing that makes the deal so appealing to the consumer is that the overall cost after the two years is actually less than you pay for the sum of the parts.' The two different Xbox models were available for 20.99 or 28.99 a month. 'The site had been down all day for this package which they call Xbox All Access', he said, 'when it finally came up six hours after it went down, it allowed you to push your order through to the point where Klarna carried out a credit check and set up a direct debit for you. Shoppers reported receiving emails telling them they had set up direct debits with Klarna, despite being unable to order an Xbox console. They were subsequently told these direct debits would be invalidated 'You then realize they have no stock, but you still have a direct debit agreement set up in your name and have an email confirmation indicating as much.' He added: 'It looks as though the credit check was done in preparation for available stock but when the transaction was trying to complete the lack of stock prevented a successful completion, by which point the direct debit appears to have been set up and the credit check run. 'Undoubtedly though a credit check has been run on hundreds and hundreds of people with no stock to fulfil their orders which will inevitably affect their credit rating.' Customers were unable to complete orders as retailers ran out of stock, despite being subjected to credit checks by Klarna which showed up on credit files He received another email from Smyths Toys late on Tuesday telling him those who had set up a direct debit with Klarna would be able to order a console and would not be subject to any further credit checks if they completed their pre-order within six days. He said he was happy with the outcome and that 'things were quickly put right', but the farce appeared to have forced Microsoft itself to intervene. Xbox UK's top marketing officer Samuel Bateman tweeted on Wednesday morning: 'We spoke with all retailers and Klarna last night to help solve the issues.' He previously said on Tuesday evening that Microsoft was working to resolve the situation for 'customers who have proof of their application acceptance but have not yet received email confirmation from either GAME or Smyths'. Shoppers on Twitter reported that hard credit checks from Klarna had showed up on their credit file. Some even said they had been checked multiple times One Twitter user, Ross Irving, responded: 'I've been in contact with Smyths as they asked for, but not had anything back at all yet. Really frustrating situation, as I can't order elsewhere if this has actually gone through. Very much in limbo.' The credit reference agency Experian urged those worried about damage to their credit score caused by an incorrectly registered 'hard' check to contact Klarna and get them to remove it. It said a single credit application should not result in more than one hard search appearing on a credit report and once again encouraged people to raise this with Klarna. What did the companies say? This is Money was unable to reach either GAME or Smyths Toys for comment, but in a statement posted on its website Wednesday, Klarna's Alex Marsh wrote: 'Yesterday the pre-order window opened for the latest Xbox and there was huge demand from thousands of gamers keen to reserve their console. 'We at Klarna provide the financing solution for the Xbox All Access bundle available from GAME and Smyths Toys through our Financing product. 'Throughout the day we processed thousands of successful applications. Unfortunately, the high demand meant that some consumers did experience some issues with their orders. Xbox UK's marketing boss stepped in after the social media backlash, telling one customer that Xbox had spoken to GAME, Klarna and Smyths to try and sort out the problems 'A number of consumers were approved for financing but were unable to complete their orders on the retailers' website. 'This happened because, in response to the high demand, the retailers ran out of stock and had to close online orders whilst consumers were part way through the checkout or had just completed their credit applications. 'We would like to reassure consumers who have received notification that they have set up a direct debit but were unable to place their order that we are working with our retailers to ensure a satisfactory outcome for these consumers. 'Additionally, some consumers have expressed concerns about the impact on their credit scores, when they made multiple applications due to website issues. 'When a customer applies for our financing products Klarna performs a hard credit check which can impact your credit score and is visible to other lenders. 'If a further application is made, no further hard checks are made providing the customer details are the same. In some cases customers have seen additional quotation or soft searches. 'These are not visible to any other lenders, just to yourself, and does not affect your credit score. 'We recognise this has been a frustrating experience for many of our consumers. Please rest assured that we are working hard with our retailers and we are extremely sorry for any inconvenience or distress this may have caused. 'If any of our customers are concerned, we encourage them to please contact our customer service teams.' TAYLOR, MI A 22-year-old man has pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a Black family with an automatic rifle if they attended church. FBI agent Steven M. DAntuono called the case a hate crime. Ronald Wyatt pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on Wednesday, Sept. 23, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. At the hearing, he admitted to using Facebook to send a threatening message to the victim on July 23, 2019, with the intent of obstructing her religious freedom. See you at church on Wednesday night with my AK to put you and your [expletive] family down [expletive], Wyatt wrote. The victim was a regular attendee at a church in Taylor. Wyatt further admitted that he had targeted the victim because of her race, and that the message was meant as a threat. Hate crimes like this one have profound effects not only on the victims, but also on their families and communities, making them feel vulnerable and unsafe, said DAntuono, special agent in charge of the FBIs Detroit Field Office. No arrest or conviction can undo the harm but will hopefully provide a measure of justice for the victim, her family and her community. Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband called the threat to the victims life and the lives of her family members reprehensible. The Justice Department takes these matters very seriously and works to ensure that those who perpetrate these actions see justice under the law, he said. Wyatts message is not protected under free speech because it violated the civil rights of another citizen, said U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan. Prosecuting those who violate the civil rights of Michigan citizens is some of the most important work we do, Schneider said. This plea today is the first step towards justice for this innocent victim. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Wyatt will be sentenced in one year. He faces up to one year in prison. READ MORE: Murder charge dropped in alleged sucker-punch death Burglar drops liquor, cigarettes and runs after being confronted by party-store workers Former Michigan councilman accused of planting gun, drugs in city employees car Bills expanding criminal record expungement in Michigan pass state Senate 2 injured, 1 critically, in Flint shooting Divers recover body of boy, 12, swept off Lake Michigan pier during familys dream vacation Niamey, Niger (PANA) - Senior civromilian and military officials from Niger attended a two-day training seminar on Governance and Security Sector Reform (G-RSS) organized here at the initiative of the National Center for Strategic and Security Studies (CNESS), an official source said here Thursday All good things come in three. Lucerne watchmaker Carl F. Bucherer and renowned restaurant guide GaultMillau have awarded the sought-after Hotel of the Year title for the third time to the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz after their success in 1999 and 2010. Uwe Liebminger, Chief Marketing Officer at Carl F. Bucherer, and GaultMillau editor-in-chief Urs Heller handed over the coveted award to the resorts team. Hotel of the Year 2021: Bad Ragazs Recipe for Success Just like Carl F. Bucherer, the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is proud of its rich history and the pioneering spirit that has helped it stand out since the beginning. Only three years after it was founded in 1869, the hotel which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2019 opened Europes first indoor thermal baths, and continues to set new standards today. Grand Ressort Bad Ragaz Carl F. Bucherer Guests at the resort have a choice of seven restaurants, all offering the finest culinary experiences, from Alpine cuisine to sushi and the Memories show kitchen. Top chefs ensure that all guests have a wonderful meal, including Silvio Germann, chef de cuisine at the IGNIV restaurant, which has been awarded 18 GaultMillau points. Interior designer Claudio Carbone has created stunning surroundings that combine elegance and stylish comfort. All three hotels boast a large, light lobby, an eye-catching Swarovski chandelier, new restaurants and bars, as well as new rooms and suites. Grand Ressort Bad Ragaz Carl F. Bucherer Shared Values Passion and the highest levels of precision are essential to producing exquisite creations, both in watchmaking and haute cuisine. Carl F. Bucherer celebrates these shared values in its most recent partnership with the four exclusive IGNIV restaurants one of which is located at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz. Chef de cuisine Silvio Germann has been part of the CFB family since July 2020, together with the other IGNIV head chefs and sommeliers. He is proud to wear his Manero Flyback a timepiece that reflects the exceptional qualities of a cosmopolitan spirit, open-mindedness, and excellence that unite Carl F. Bucherer, IGNIV, and GaultMillau. Grand Ressort Bad Ragaz Carl F. Bucherer Uwe Liebminger, Chief Marketing Officer, emphasizes the shared values of Carl F. Bucherer and the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz: The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz and Carl F. Bucherer have much in common. We share creativity, passion, and the same sense of perfection. As international brands with strong ties to our roots, we are equally at home in Switzerland and anywhere in the world, with our customers satisfaction always at the heart of everything we do. On behalf of everyone in the CFB family, I would like to congratulate the whole team here in Bad Ragaz on an incredible achievement! This three-time award is more than deserved! He went on to present the CEO of the resort, Patrick Vogler, and General Manager Marco Zanolari with a commemorative Carl F. Bucherer timepiece each, engraved with Hotel of the Year 2021. By Patricia Uhlig FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank plans to shutter one in five branches in Germany as it seeks to save costs and capitalise on the changing habits of customers during the coronavirus pandemic, an executive said. Philipp Gossow, who oversees the retail banking business in Germany, told Reuters that the reduction to some 400 branches from around 500 currently would occur primarily in urban locations and take place "as quickly as possible". The cull comes as Deutsche Bank undergoes a broad overhaul of its global operations that began in 2019 after years of losses. German banks traditionally operate large numbers of branches compared with those in the Netherlands or Britain, where customers are more comfortable with digital banking. Banks throughout Europe are rethinking their branch strategies in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. Graphic: Shrinking footprint - The decline in bank branches in Europe https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/bdwpkzezjvm/chart.png Deutsche's rival Commerzbank recently opted to shut 200 of its 1,000 branches and is considering closing hundreds more. "Coronavirus has further changed the demands placed on advisory services and the branch business," Gossow said. "Even customers who were previously not very familiar with online banking are now doing many simple banking transactions from home on their computer or iPad," he said. Gossow said more complex advisory services were taking place increasingly by phone or video chat and the bank would invest an undisclosed amount to build out those services. He elaborated on the changes on Tuesday at a conference in Frankfurt and in a memo to staff, in which he acknowledged the changes would mean hardship for some. But the move is not expected to meet strong resistance from employees. The Verdi labour union said in a statement it was "generally right" for Deutsche to review its branch network. Graphic: Branching out - Branch density differs greatly across Europe https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/BANKS-BRANCHES/qzjvqyybqvx/chart.png (Writing by Tom Sims; Editing by Michelle Adair and Jane Merriman) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After a Kentucky grand jury Wednesday indicted one former police officer for allegedly shooting into a neighboring apartment but decided to not charge any officers for their roles in Breonna Taylors death, Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) said the news was painful and exhausting. 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. It is painful and exhausting to yet again see injustice win over justice, said Rose. Breonna Taylors life mattered, a life full of promise and ambition. To see her life taken without any consequences only intensifies the need to continue to focus on the fact that Black Lives Matter. Rose continued, As we memorialize the life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her fight for justice for women, let us remember her words, Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you. So, our pursuit of justice + equality continues, said Rose. It is painful and exhausting to yet again see injustice win over justice. Breonna Taylors life mattered, a life full of promise and ambition. To see her life taken without any consequences only intensifies the need to continue to focus on the fact that Black Lives Matter ... pic.twitter.com/AUWo5FDpMX Debi Rose (@CMDebiRose) September 23, 2020 Taylors name was said hundreds of miles away from her home where she was killed in Kentucky during a series of monumental protests on Staten Island that called for police accountability and racial justice. 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. 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. Hankison was fired from the citys police department on June 23 after a termination letter sent to him by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said he showed extreme indifference to the value of human life when he wantonly and blindly shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylors apartment. In Hankisons case, authorities previously said he fired into a sliding glass patio door and window into Taylors apartment building, both of which were covered by blinds violating department policy, the New York Times reported. Ed Josey, the president of the Staten Island branch of the NAACP, said the use of a no-knock warrant was pivotal in the case and rightfully was banned by the citys council. The whole department should be revised in some way to eliminate or safeguard so that does not happen again, Josey said. Josey also contested that all of the officers at the scene were involved in someone being murdered," adding, they should all share equally in the outcome of sentencing. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said during a press conference Wednesday, All of the charges that have been mentioned have specific meanings and ramifications. Criminal homicide encompasses the taking of a life by another. While there are six possible homicide charges under Kentucky law, these charges are not applicable to the facts before us because our investigation showed, and the grand jury agreed, that Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in the return of deadly fire after being fired upon by Kenneth Walker. 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; however, the family also has called for criminal murder charges for all three officers. Several dozen people were arrested in protests in Kentucky Wednesday night; two police officers were shot during the mayhem. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Joe Imperatrice, the founder of Blue Lives Matter NYC , said, Any loss of life on either side is a complete tragedy." What were forgetting and this is why they make grand juries and trials, so that they can go forward and present the evidence they need, and whatever they find they go forward with, Imperatrice said. What we need to understand is that no matter what the conclusion is, that there was a search warrant conducted on this apartment for a legitimate reason" in connection with an investigation into drug trafficking and drug dealing. Imperatrice continued, We also cant forget that Walker fired his gun initially before officers returned fire, adding that, what we need to do is let the evidence play out and we also need to inform about the facts so people dont go out there and start rioting when theyre misinformed of what the actual facts of the case were and let it prevail. If the officers were found to be wrong in the case, Imperatrice said they should be held to the highest extent of the law. -- Associated Press material was used in this report. A day after a 54-year-old woman battling Covid-19 committed suicide at Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital here, the Congress on Thursday staged a protest demanding a high-level investigation in the incident. Congress has held the BJP-led state government responsible for the mishap. During the protest, Congress leader and Shimla (rural) MLA Vikramaditya Singh said the party had earlier objected to making DDU Hospital a dedicated Covid-care centre for four districts as it lacks the manpower required to undertake such a huge task, but the administration put the patients lives in danger anyway. He alleged that the woman had no choice but to commit suicide as she was upset over not receiving proper treatment at the hospital and the state government is to blame for it. Shimla district Congress committee president Jitender Chaudhary has demanded the resignation of the state health minister. Congress also warned the state government of intensifying the movement if the investigation is not conducted. The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on government to consider the inclusion of all public sector workers to enjoy the tier two of the new Pension Act. Mr. Joshua Ansah, the Deputy General Secretary of the TUC who made the call, welcomed the new Act 766, saying, its implementation would make life better for pensioners. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of a meeting held in Sunyani to sensitize public sector workers on the new Pension Act, Mr. Ansah said pensioners deserved better, considering their contributions to nation-building. The Union organised the meeting with support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, a German NGO and discussed extensively issues relating to national pensions. Mr. Ansah advised public sector workers to ensure that they provided accurate and detailed information and update their personal details with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) as and when necessary. This would facilitate the processing of pensions and help retirees to overcome the challenges they faced in accessing their pensions. Mr. Ansah called on the government to expedite action and facilitate full implementation of the new pension Act in the supreme interest of all, particularly public sector workers. 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 BRIDGEPORT -A riverfront property with a sadly catastrophic history is one step closer to getting a new lease on life. At Tuesdays virtual Borough Council meeting Tony Maras, vice president and general counsel with Philadelphia-based PRDC Properties, presented the companys plans for developing the former Continental Business Center, in a bid for Zoning Hearing Board approval. This is an engineered plan that we feel is not only the right development for this site but is the right development for this borough, Maras said. PRDCs vision for the 30-acre property includes 250 unit apartment building on 55 East Front Street; about 320 townhomes also on 55 E. Front Street/19 Depot Street (the lots are contiguous); 7,000 square feet of commercial space with 12 apartments above it on 5 W. Second Street and 18 townhomes on 75 E. Fourth Street. The property that is long overdue for some gracious attention was first beset by calamity in the fall of 1999, when many of the businesses in the Continental Business Center had suffered water damage from Hurricane Floyd. In 2001 disaster struck again when a massive fire destroyed many of the businesses, including the famous Sweetzels Cookies. In 2016 Borough Council had approved a land development proposal by ONeill Properties Group (OPG) for more than 300 town homes on the waterfront, which ultimately fell through. In 2018, a new developer, Linden Lane Capital, gained equitable ownership of the property; however, they never really got past solving the issues surrounding building a residential development on a parcel prone to flooding, which involves bringing a significant amount of fill onto the site to raise it above the floodplain level, and gaining the necessary clearances from regulatory bodies such as the DEP. Their agreement of sale fell through as well, noted Borough Manager Keith Truman. In late 2019, PRDC Properties contacted the borough and notified us that they now had the property under agreement of sale. In the months between then and now, PRDC has shown more thought, foresight, and commitment to the Bridgeport Community than any developer had over the last nineteen years. PRDC revised the old OPG designs and delivered a far more creative and attractive conceptual plan that seeks to integrate the development into the borough rather than isolate the development along the river. Furthermore, they have spent what I would estimate to be around $2 million on site work, including demolition of all remaining dilapidated structures on the riverfront parcel, fencing the property off in order to mitigate vandalism and trespassing, and beginning the fill operation needed to bring the site out of the floodplain. All of this was done without having received any approvals from the borough, which I took as not only a great leap of faith but a major gesture of good will. Even if for some odd reason, PRDC does not end up developing this project, the borough will be left with a parcel that has been cleared of the junk and debris that OPG allowed to accumulate and is ready to develop. That being said, I have every expectation that PRDC is the firm that will see this project through to completion. Tuesday marked PRDCs second appearance before council. They had been in front of council back in January, giving a baseline presentation of what their plan was, noted Truman. Everything back then was conceptual. For now, PRDC is moving forward with the name ONeill had in mind for the project, Bridgeview, as its worked to accomplish several points of zoning relief. In addition to obtaining land development approval, OPG had also received certain pieces of zoning relief that they needed to build their original plan. Even though OPG is out of the picture, the land development approval and the zoning relief OPG obtained runs with the land, meaning that a new developer could come in, effectively build precisely what OPG got approvals for, and Borough Council would have little choice but to accept, Truman explained. By the way, this is exactly what Linden Lane had planned on doing. However, as PRDC had completely revised the old OPG plans, not only do they have to appear in front of council to obtain a new land development approval, but they also need a slightly different variety of zoning relief. Again, PRDC could have bypassed having to go through the added burden of obtaining a completely new land development approval and just built the previously approved plan that OPG had obtained approval for in 2016, but they wanted to deliver a new and exciting plan that they believe the entire community would be proud of. At Tuesdays meeting, PRDC Properties outlined the zoning relief they were requesting. Council voted unanimously to send a letter to the Bridgeport Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) recommending support of PRDCs requested zoning relief. After hearing the PRDC presentation the following night, Truman reported that the Zoning Hearing Board voted unanimously to grant all requested relief to PRDC Properties. Among the zoning ordinances requested and obtained are side yard setback to reduce 18 units from the required 10 feet to up to five feet; a variance to permit each lot to exceed the 90 percent impervious coverage as long as the site as a whole complies with this requirement; a variance to permit parking in the street right-of-way and a variance to allow a reduction in the minimum living space requirements from 1,000 square feet per residential unit to a minimum of 400 square feet per residential unit, with an average of 600 sq. feet across all unit types. Council and zoning have done everything necessary to protect the borough, but also are an absolute pleasure to work with in terms of ideas and problem solving, Maras said. We accomplished a lot since late January when we first met with them. We started designing buildings, we fenced the site, we secured it, cleaned it up and got rid of all the trash. From our standpoint as a company, its a once in a lifetime chance to do a project that is transformative to an area. You have two rail lines nearby, you have a bus station nearby, bike trails, Conshohocken Brewing, youre close to King of Prussia, close to Conshohocken. Were going to deliver a highly amenitized community with river views. Theres so many great things about this and we believe it will be a catalyst for a lot of other great things in Bridgeport. A move on Wednesday to not charge any officer in the killing of Ms Taylor reignited demonstrations nationwide in a rallying cry for anti-police brutality. Protesters have been marching in Louisville, Kentucky's largest city, with some arrested after clashes broke out with officers. We have had officers shot tonight, a police spokesman said in a statement, confirming reports that officers had been shot in the city. Police clash with protesters following a decision in the criminal case against police officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor / REUTERS Wednesday's demonstrations began after prosecutors announced a single officer had been indicted in the case of Ms Taylor, though not on charges involving the 26-year-old's death. The officer was charged with endangering Ms Taylors neighbours during the incident on March 13. Protests have erupted across the US in retaliation to the decision, with demonstrators marching through the streets of New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Atlanta and Philadelphia. Hundreds of people protest in Brooklyn, New York, against the Kentucky grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case / Getty Images Ms Taylor, a hospital emergency room technician, was shot multiple times by police who burst into her home during a drug raid gone wrong. While there were no drugs in Ms Taylor's apartment, her boyfriend shot and injured a police officer. Officers fired flash bangs and a few small fires burned in a square which was the centre of protests in Louisville on Wednesday. Dramatic images showed clashes breaking out between police and protesters, who marched shouting out of the homes, into the streets!" Dozens of patrol cars blocked the city's major thoroughfare and more police arrived after an officer was shot. President Donald Trump praised Kentucky's Republican attorney general for his handling of the investigation into Ms Taylor's death. He read from Attorney General Daniel Cameron's statement that "justice is not often easy." "I said, 'Write that down for me please cause I think it was a terrific statement,'" the US president said. US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden earlier urged that demonstrations be peaceful. Mr Biden told reporters in Charlotte, North Carolina, that he would review the grand jury decision before commenting further. My heart goes out to her mother... they (protests) should be peaceful. Do not sully her memory or her mothers by engaging in any violence. It would be totally inappropriate for that to happen. She wouldnt want it nor would her mother ... I dont know the details so I am reluctant to comment, Mr Biden said. President Donald Trump at a campaign event in Bemidji, Minnesota, on September 18. Tom Brenner/Reuters President Donald Trump's aides refrained from informing him about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death while he was onstage during a rally Friday night because they were afraid the crowd would cheer if he announced it, according to The New York Times. At subsequent rallies, Trump's supporters have chanted: "Fill that seat!" Trump intends to fill Ginsburg's seat before the election and has the necessary support from Republicans in the Senate to move forward. Get the inside track on the race for the White House with Business Insider's DC Bureau. Sign up here for our free event on September 29. President Donald Trump had barely taken the stage during a rally in Minnesota on Friday night when the news broke that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died at the age of 87. Trump's aides refrained from telling him about the liberal justice's death over fears that if he announced onstage Ginsburg had died, it would lead his supporters to cheer, The New York Times reported. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. Since the rally, Trump has baselessly suggested Ginsburg's dying wish that her seat be filled after the election was invented by Democratic leaders in Congress. According to NPR, Ginsburg dictated the following statement to her granddaughter Clara Spera days before her death: "My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed." Trump on Monday cast doubt on whether Ginsburg said this. "I don't know that she said that, or was that written out by Adam Schiff and Schumer and Pelosi? I would be more inclined to the second," Trump said during a phone interview with "Fox & Friends." "That came out of the wind; it sounds so beautiful. But that sounds like a Schumer deal or maybe a Pelosi or Shifty Schiff," he said, adding, "Maybe she did and maybe she didn't." Story continues At Trump rallies over the past few days, the president's supporters have chanted: "Fill that seat!" Ginsburg's death sent shockwaves through the nation and pushed the Supreme Court to the forefront of discussions surrounding the 2020 election. Senate Republicans are overwhelmingly supporting Trump's move to fill her seat before the election, despite the fact many of the same lawmakers opposed Merrick Garland's nomination by President Barack Obama in 2016 because it was an election year. Republicans refused to even hold a confirmation hearing for Garland, even though he was nominated 237 days before Election Day. Ginsburg died 46 days before the upcoming 2020 election, and Republicans are rushing to fill her seat as Trump trails former Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in national polls. Trump is set to announce his Supreme Court nominee to fill Ginsburg's vacant seat on Saturday. Read the original article on Business Insider A new 100,000 wheeled play area in Ettington has been given the green light by planners despite the project dividing the village. The application for the wheeled play area in the Recreation Ground on Rogers Lane, widely referred to as a skate park, was submitted by Ettington Parish Council. Cash for the facility, which measures around 300sqm, has come from developer 106 funding and many of Ettingtons youngsters were involved in developing the plans. However a significant number of objections were submitted, with most complaints centring on fears of increased noise, antisocial behaviour and the loss of green space and privacy for surrounding residents. Supporters of the project said the wheeled play area was much needed in the village and would encourage young people to exercise and socialise outdoors. Despite concerns from some residents Warwickshire Police did not share their concerns about crime and antisocial behaviour. Ettington resident Pete George urged the committee not to approve the plan, but asked that if they decided to do so, they should insist on a barrier around the park to reduce noise and disturbances to surrounding properties. Speaking at the meeting earlier this month on behalf of Ettington Parish Council, Cllr Richard Smith said: Our youth team helped design the obstacles small enough to be accessible to novices, while challenging enough to stretch advanced riders, our professional designers commended them for this and then took their ideas and knitted them into a facility that flows well. He added: I hope that the committee can see that this is a good project for Ettington and can be allowed within the rules that you must apply. North Augusta, SC (29841) Today Morning clouds will give way to afternoon sunshine. High 47F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A clear sky. Low 28F. Winds light and variable. Omar Qamareddin, Sudan's acting Foreign minister said on Thursday that signing the compensation agreement for the families of victims of two 1998 attacks on US embassies in Africa is within sight Sudan's foreign minister said Thursday that a compensation agreement for the families of victims of two 1998 attacks on US embassies in Africa is within sight. "We are very close to getting that signed and done with," Omar Qamareddin told reporters during a visit to Geneva to meet United Nations officials on refugees and human rights. "As Sudanese we think that if we can do it yesterday, it is better for us, because we can move on to something else." Qamareddin stressed that he was not aware of any deadline set by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, although the US administration is pressed for time ahead of the November 3 presidential election. With a deal finalised, Khartoum will be better placed to say to Washington "let's end this once and for all", and lift Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, he added. On Wednesday Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said that his country had raised the necessary funds to compensate families of victims of the 1998 Al-Qaeda bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. According to US media, Sudan agreed to pay $335 million. Hamdok, quoted by state news agency SUNA, also said that "the passing in the US Congress of the law granting Sudan immunity from all further (legal) processes is the sole outstanding point" before the compensation deal is implemented. The US sanctions -- source of an investment drought for the country -- date back to 1993, when Sudan under president Omar al-Bashir become an outcast for having hosted Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The crisis worsened with the 1998 embassy attacks which killed more than 200 people. Washington has changed its tone in recent years, as Bashir began to cooperate in the fight against terrorism and played the peace game in South Sudan. The United States reconnected with Khartoum under former president Barack Obama, and talks have been moving towards striking Sudan from its blacklist. The 2019 revolution that swept Bashir from power sped up the progress. "Now we are to get ourselves out of that list, which the United States is using as leverage to get some benefits of the relationship that it has with Sudan, which is completely legitimate," Qamareddin said. "That is why we are engaging with the rest of the world and trying to call on the country's friends to call on the United States to end that embargo and to get Sudan lifted off the 'state sponsors of terrorism'," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case of disproportionate assets worth Rs 70 crore against the ACP of Malkajgiri Division under Rachakonda police commissionerate in Telangana, Yelmakuri Narasimha Reddy. Reddy joined the police department in 1991 as sub-inspector. The government value of properties was pegged at Rs 7.5 crore while the local market value is about Rs 70 crore. ACB officials allege that he acquired these assets through corrupt practices and dubious means during his service. Based on a tip-off, search operations were conducted at 25 locations in Hyderabad, Warangal, Jangaon, Nalgonda, Karimnagar districts and Anathapur simultaneously on Wednesday. During these raids, officials have unearthed 55 acres of agricultural land at Ananthapur, four plots measuring 1,960 yards in front of Cyber Towers, Madhapur, two other plots, one commercial G+3 building at Hafeezpet, two houses, Rs 15 lakh cash balance, two bank lockers, investments in real estate and several other businesses, according to an ANI report. The ACP was under the lens of the corruption watchdog based on "reliable information that he has acquired assets disproportionate to his lawful sources of income by indulging in corrupt practices and dubious means during his service as a public servant." ACB officials got his COVID-19 test conducted at a government hospital and produced him before the Telangana Special Court for ACB cases. (With agency inputs) Also read: Court sends Delhi riots accused Umar Khalid to judicial custody till October 22 By Trend Azerbaijan is one of the most tolerant countries in relation to representatives of other nations, Vice-mayor of Israel's Afula city Mikhail Barkan told Trend. The countrys tolerance can also be seen in the way how Azerbaijan respects the culture of other people in the country, he added. "Azerbaijan is the only country in the world where there is a historical Jewish settlement Krasnaya Sloboda," Barkan said, adding that previously there were such settlements in Russia, the US, Belarus, and other countries. He also noted that Azerbaijan has a clear understanding of foreign policy priorities. "Despite the fact that Israel previously had tense relations with some Muslim countries, Azerbaijan has always been a close friend of Israel," Barkan said. The vice mayor of the Israeli city added that the people of Azerbaijan and Israel have centuries-old relations of friendship, which is reflected in the multi-level cooperation of the countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Kathmandu, September 24 In its bid to gradually revive the countrys tourism industry hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, Nepal Tourism Board has decided to host travel marts, travel and tourism promotion events, in six of the seven provinces in the fiscal year (before mid-July 2021). Gandaki, which includes Pokhara, arguably the countrys tourism capital, however, will not have province-level events. The board has included a plan to host different travel marts in six provinces of the country. The events will aim at exploring the tourism potential of each province and market that potential as a tourism product. These events can help revive both international and domestic tourism industries, claims the board. The board has allocated Rs 2 million for each of the events. The board will coordinate with federal and provincial governments to organise such events. Here is a list of the proposed events: On September 23, NASA's National Space Science Data Center revealed that a rare blue moon will illuminate the skies on the night of Halloween, which will be the second full moon in a month. While this moon is a naturally occurring event every 2 and a half years on Halloween, it would be the first since 1944 that a second full moon, also a Harvest moon, will appear across all time zones at 10:49 EDT, according to Farmers Almanac. The full moon will appear to be pearly-gray if not completely blue and will be a rare full Hunters Moon. Moons are separated by 29 days, while most months are 30 or 31 days long; so it is possible to fit two full moons in a single month. This happens every two and a half years, on average, NASA said in a release. This year, because the lunar cycle and the calendar year arent accurately synced, the blue moon will be visible to the human naked eye on October 31, 2020, worldwide. Last, the blue moon phenomenon had occurred was in March 2018 in the US. In 2001, Central and Pacific time zones witnessed the full Moon, but a Halloween full Moon hadnt appeared for everyone in all time zones since 1944, the Farmers Almanac wrote. Additionally, it said that the full Moon on Halloween occurred rarely once every 19 yearsa pattern known as the Metonic Cycle discovered first in 432 BC by the Greek, Meton, of Athens. However, due to variations in the Moons orbital period, and the leap days that interfere with the 19-year span, the Blue Moon might occur post a longer period. This cycle worked aptly in the 20th Century, between the years 1925 and 1944 according to Almanacs report. Tonights full Moon is also the Harvest Moon because it falls closest to the Autumnal Equinox. More @NASAMoon facts: https://t.co/GHaeocvc62 pic.twitter.com/Cqwb6DHb0h NASA (@NASA) October 5, 2017 Read: NASA, Space Force Sign An Agreement To Collaborate Read: NASA Shares sounds From Around The Milky Way, Netizens Say 'heavens Singing Praises Unique second 'corn moon' Because the moon would be closest to the autumn equinox, the Blue moon will be a giant second corn moon which happens once every three years, thus making the phenomenon an unusual and unique experience for the skywatchers. A corn moon, according to NASA release, is also known at the Fruit Moon and Barley Moon in Europe, the Hungry Ghost Moon in China. Further, it is known by the names such as the Binara Pura Pasalosvaka Poya Day in Sri Lanka and the Honey Full Moon for Buddhists in Bangladesh and Thailand. For Hindus in India, it marks the end of the 10-day celebration of Onam and the start of Pitri Paksha, which honors their ancestors through food offerings. [ A Harvest Moon rises over Sesimbra Castle south of Lisbon in this impressive series of telephoto exposures. Credit: NASA] Read: NASA Expert Suspects 'mini-moon' About To Enter Earth's Orbit Is Old Space Junk From 1960s Read: NASA's New Mars Rover To Search For Traces Of Microscopic Life From Billions Of Years Back An altercation over a face mask ended with an arrest in in Florida this week. According to a police report from the St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office, Suzanne Miller was arrested on a battery charge after confronting a Jensen Beach neighbor over not wearing a mask. The complaint says that the residents of the Oceana Oceanfront building were about to board an elevator from the lobby together. When the victim got onto the lift without a mask on Monday afternoon, he told deputies that Miller said she wasnt comfortable with that decision due to coronavirus. All stand up! Disney World guest ejected from park after major mask meltdown The victim admitted he ignored Miller, says the report, and pressed the button to get to his apartment. Thats when the suspect began to yell, Hes assaulting me, said the arrest affidavit. The 71-year-old woman then attempted to physically eject her neighbor from the elevator and intentionally strike him on the shoulder, arm and chest with a closed fist. A witness as well as surveillance video corroborated the victims story of the violent encounter. Deputies did not release the victims name. The Florida woman was charged with battery and released from the county jail on $1,000 bond a few hours after her arrest. A court date is set for Oct. 21. No more masks! Watch a flash mob storm through a Target store in Fort Lauderdale Mumbai: Actors Deepika Padukone and Sara Ali Khan, who have been summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in a drug case related to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, on Thursday arrived in the city from Goa. Padukone, who was shooting for director Shakun Batras next film in Goa, was accompanied by actor-husband Ranveer Singh. The couple arrived at Mumbai airport around 9.15pm. They reportedly boarded a chartered flight from Goa at around 8pm. Khan, who too was in Goa, reached Mumbai with her mother, actor Amrita Singh and brother, Ibrahim Ali Khan around 5pm and headed to their suburban Juhu residence. Khan made her acting debut opposite Rajput in the 2018 film Kedarnath". The NCB, which began the probe after a drugs angle came to light in connection with Rajputs alleged suicide, has now widened its investigation and called film celebrities for questioning. Khan is set to appear before the NCB on September 26 (Saturday), along with Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor. Actor Rakul Preet Singh and Padukones manager Karishma Prakash are summoned on Friday. Meanwhile, statements of fashion designer Simone Khambatta and Shruti Modi, Rajputs former manager, were recorded by the NCB probe team in connection with the drugs case, the official said. Rajput (34) was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14. His death has sparked a lot of controversy in the media and the case is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the NCB. His girlfriend, actor Rhea Chakraborty, who has been accused of abetting Rajputs suicide by his family, has been arrested in a drugs case linked to his death. Enola Holmes Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, Louis Partridge, Fiona Shaw Director: Harry Bradbeer When the trailer of Enola Holmes dropped, people responded with enthusiasm because the film looked like a fast-paced and fun mystery starring our favourite actors in fancy Victorian outfits and British accents. However, as it turns out, that was only the tip of the iceberg. While all of it is true, the Netflix film is structurally and tonally much different. It is layered, complex and extremely political. That is the best thing about it. Based on the book The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery by Nancy Springer, the cinematic adaptation is more like an origin story of a young female detective in the making. Enola wakes up on her 16th birthday to find her mother gone, leaving her with only her birthday gift. When her brothers Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes come back to the countryside after many years to take charge of the sutuation, they are shocked to find their little sister is a wild child." They react differently to her situation though, while Sherlock is amused, Mycroft is disgusted and at ones tried to clip her wings. He makes arrangements to send her into a boarding school, where she will become a lady." Young Elona, whose name spelled backwards is Alone is raised by her mother to be self-sufficient. However, she still feels abandoned by her. She expects Sherlock to find her mother and stand up to Mycroft and when he doesnt, she takes the matter into her own hands. After deciphering clues" left by her mother, she runs away from home to London. Here is where the story starts getting complicated. Enola meets a runaway Marquess, who is being forced by his family to enlist in the army. The young man himself has had a near death experience and now wants to live his life on his own terms. While Enola is not eager to help him at first, she finds out his life is in danger and a hitman is out to get him. Enola Holmes story begins in London, and her life does too. In her mothers pursuit, she learns a lot of things, about her mother, about her new friend, but most importantly herself. When she realises that her mother is in a fight much bigger than their own family, she decides she needs to help save the Marquess life instead. There are many nuggets of wisdom in the field. From Enolas former martial arts teacher, telling her to be tough, live your life. Not because youre looking for someone, but because youre looking for yourself," to her calling Sherlocks apolitical stance being a result of his privilege. The film is unapologetically feminist and powerful without being preachy. Its never telling you, but showing you, using humour, emotion and, well, good ol detective skills. Coming to the performances, nobody ever expects a bad job by Millie Bobby Brown or Henry Cavill. Millie does a lot more talking here than in Starnger Things, and even without the glitz of superpowers and tragedies, Millie manages to be charming, hilarious and yet heartbreaking. It is also really important to note that she turned producer at the age of 16 with this film, which if you ask me, is a real Enola Holmes move. There will most certainly be comparisons of Henry Cavills Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jrs. Even when he is not the centre of attention here but makes you want to see more of him in action. Also he brings about the duality in nature of the detective, reminding you of not any previous adaptations but the original books itself. Sam Claflin is perfectly cast as the stuck-up older brother whose presence makes your anxiety work. Even though he doesnt look like Henry Cavills older brother initially, he makes it up later. Fiona Shaw is so great as the annoying patriarchal head-mistress, but also so hilarious when she acts all squirmy around Mycroft on whom she has a huge crush. Louis Partridge is quite a discovery, and a lot of the film rides on his shoulders too. Him and Millie play off of each other quite well, in a protector-protectee dynamic we havent seen on screen before. Helena Bonhan Carter is criminally underused, as required by the script, but you want to see more of her each time she is on screen. However, one scene-stealer is Susie Wokoma as Edith. She is given a really short role, but it is extremely powerful. The film wouldnt have been the same without her. Enola Holmes also couldnt have come at a better time. While the world deals with one global socio-political crisis after the other, this film gives a nice reminder that human beings have always fought for the right, and will continue to do so. Even when things take time to change, the future will be better. Rating: 3.5/5 Photo credit: Jared Soares From ELLE Photo credit: Jared Soares Its a sweltering and stormy Thursday afternoon in June, but the marble halls of the U.S. Capitol are eerily cold and quiet. The coronavirus pandemic has virtually emptied out the grand building, shutting down Capitol tours and confining politicians and staffers to their homes. A few security guards in black COVID masks, practically whispering so their voices dont echo, have the main floor to themselves. But three stories up, in an elegant cream-and-gold office overlooking the Washington Monument, Nancy Pelosi is still toiling away at her desk. The 80-year-old Speaker of the House, who would normally be out campaigning and fundraising during a congressional recess, is here alone, apart from a handful of staffers, essentially running the country via Zoom. The situation is unexpected for more reasons than one. Pelosi was not still supposed to be here. She was planning to retire on a high note in 2016 when Hillary Clinton won the presidency, knowing that Pelosis proudest accomplishment, the Affordable Care Act, would be in good handsher legacy preserved. Instead, Pelosi watched from what was intended to be a celebratory election party in DC as Donald Trump, the virulently sexist reality television host who had promised to repeal and replace Obamacare, raked in swing state after swing state. It felt like getting kicked in the back by a mule. Twice, Pelosi says, jabbing a fist into the air. So here she is, four years later, having regained control of the House just in time to preside over one of the strangest, darkest years in history. A once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic has killed over 200,000 Americans and dramatically changed life as we knew it for the foreseeable future. Unemployment is soaring; the economy is plunging into a depression. Black Lives Matter protesters are pouring into the streets across the country, demanding changes to the nature of policing. The president is melting down in his White House bunker, picking petty fights on Twitter and lying to the public daily about the health crisis. And Pelosi is, basically, dealing with it all by herself. I dont know if people realize that shes the one leading the government right now, Representative Karen Bass (D-CA), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, tells me. We have an unstable president, we have a Senate leader who has abdicated his responsibility to the unstable president, and then we have a Speaker whos actually leading. Story continues Photo credit: Jared Soares I wait for Pelosi at a grand 20-foot table in her personal conference room, staring down her mounted taxidermy bald eagle. The birds nickname is Sparky, her aide later tells me, because it died by accidentally flying into an electric wire. Pelosi, a passionate conservationist, is a bit uncomfortable keeping a dead animal in her office, but it was a gift from former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid when he retired from office. So she mounted it atop an eight-foot pole so at least visiting children couldnt try to pet it. When she arrives, we sit awkwardly far away from each other in the pale yellow-striped chairs in her office parlor, with sweeping views of the National Mall, negotiating whether one or both of us should keep our masks on for this interview. I tell her Im terrified of being the Trojan horse that delivers a deadly contagion to the most powerful woman in America amid several national crises. She laughs and says shes more concerned about passing the virus to me. Its a bit difficult to interview a politician from nine feet away in a mask; she references one of her favorite books, The Ascent of Man, and I hear The Scent of a Man, which sounds like a very different kind of book. So she pulls her mask down to talk, and I keep mine on. The Speaker looks like she could be at least a decade younger than she is. She is dressed from head to toe in marigold yellow: Her fitted sheath dress, beaded necklace and bracelet, and four-inch stilettoseven her COVID maskare all the same shade. Its a surprisingly joyful ensemble, given the bleakness of the current moment. Days earlier, Pelosis own daughter, Alexandra, was pepper-sprayed outside the White House by federal law enforcement agents as they cleared out protesters for the presidents photo op outside a nearby church. She called me after she had recovered from her visual impairment, Pelosi says coldly. She was an eyewitness to it. It was like a banana republicteargas em, get em out of the way so the big Humma-Humma can walk through with an upside-down Bible to a church hes probably never been in. Pelosi and Trump are barely on speaking terms, and she very much does not want to talk about him. She has accomplished so much in life as the first female House Speaker in American history, and it annoys her that her legacy is now tangled up in his. I dont even think about him, to tell you the truth, she says. This is the most conversation Ive had about him, certainly all day. Throughout the pandemic, Pelosi has mostly been negotiating with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, instead of Trump, to pass relief packages. She managed to get the bills passed through the Republican-controlled Senate, proving she can do it without the president. Somebody said the other day, Why dont you go talk to him? Pelosi says. And Im like, I dont have to undergo that. Pelosi is Trumps greatest foilthe only real check on his power. Shes presided over his impeachment, famously ripped up his speech after his State of the Union address, and insulted his masculinity on cable news. He calls her Crazy Nancy, Nervous Nancy, and unhinged; she doesnt care. I have no interest in what he calls people, because hes always projecting, she says. He knows hes crazy; its so self-evident. Everything he calls anybodylazy, crazy. Quite frankly, I dont pay that much attention to him. I think its really a sad, sick situation. Their relationship wasnt always so contentious. Pelosi says she tried, in the beginning of Trumps presidency, to negotiate with him in good faith, the way shes done with other Republican leaders. I thought, If he cared, I could show him how he could take credit for things. I would say, I wont ask you to do anything thats not in your interest, and I think its in your interest to do DREAMers, she says, referring to legislation that would give undocumented children a path to citizenship. But theres no truthfulness. Hed say, Yes, were gonna do DREAMers. Then no, they didnt. It became a waste of time. So Pelosi decided to take charge of things herself. In early 2019, after Democrats took back control of the House in the midterm elections, she adeptly quashed a mini insurgency within her caucus to be elected Speaker again, making her not only the first woman to have ever held the position, but the first person in more than 50 years to hold the office twice. Under her leadership, the House has passed legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15, reform police departments, enhance the Affordable Care Act, and repair bridges and roads as part of a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan. In just the past few months, its passed four COVID relief bills. Pelosi has also blocked funding for Trumps border wall, thwarting his biggest campaign promise. Shes the right woman for the right time, says Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA). When you look at how shes been able to shepherd progressive issues through a very diverse caucus, its remarkable how shes able to pull people together. The most memorable moment of Pelosis tenure under Trump, of course, was when she presided over his impeachment in December 2019. After the vote, she demonstrated her tight control of her caucus with a swift hand gesture on the House floor to silence a few rogue members who celebrated after shed instructed members to remain somber. The disciplinary, mom-like move made people stiffen up in their chairs. They just forgot, she says, laughing. Sometimes youre exuberant, youre so into it. But it was a sad day for our country. There was no cause for celebration. After the impeachment, Pelosi says, her relationship with Trump really deteriorated. She tore up her copy of his 2020 State of the Union address as soon as he was done speaking, right in front of the cameras. I didnt go in there intending to tear it up, and then I heard the constant flow of lies. And we got like a third [of the way] through, and I thought, Should I do it or should I not?... Im doing it, she recalls of the now-iconic moment. Because it was a pack of lies. It dishonored the chamber. Photo credit: MANDEL NGAN The next month, COVID struck. As the death toll rose, and senators like Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) self-quarantined, everything changed. Pelosi could no longer visit her grandchildren or meet with members in person. She had to decide whether or not, for the first time in history, to allow House members to vote remotely by proxy, which she eventually did. Everything she has done during the COVID nightmare has been heavily scrutinized. Republicans criticized her for allowing members to vote remotely; Democrats criticized her for waiting too long to do so. In April, during a brief trip home, she filmed a segment of The Late Late Show on CBS from her kitchen in San Francisco, and critics zeroed in on the stash of ice cream in her expensive refrigerator. I think [the Democrats] should be back here, but they dont, Trump told reporters at the time. Theyre enjoying their vacation...if you look at Nancy Pelosi eating ice cream on late-night television. Theyre having a good time. Pelosi fired back that having ice cream in her freezer is better than having Lysol in somebodys lungs, referring to the presidents press conference when he floated the idea of ingesting household cleaners to fight coronavirus. Sometimes the critiques are fair; Pelosi should understand, by now, the message it sends to show off her bougie desserts in a restaurant-grade freezer on a comedy show while scores of people are dying and losing their jobs. But sometimes shes simply a scapegoat for peoples general frustrations with Congress, or politics, or the Democratic Party. The press and the Twittersphere savagely mocked her in June, for instance, for wearing an African kente cloth stole, along with fellow members, to kneel for George Floyd in the Capitol, just before introducing a police reform bill. The kente wasnt her idea; Bass and the Congressional Black Caucus, whom Pelosi had put in charge of police reform legislation, had requested that all the members wear kente cloths that day in solidarity with Black people. The president of Ghana gave her that kente. I was there, Bass says of Pelosi. The Congressional Black Caucus has been wearing kente for the last several years. And I thought, given the important legislation we were introducing, to focus on whether someone was wearing kente cloth or not was very perplexing. Photo credit: JULIO OBSCURA Pelosi knows she is as hated as she is admired. For Republicans, shes the San Francisco liberal boogeyman theyre always campaigning against. And for some on the left, she represents an outdated Democratic Party that sides with money and power and thwarts the priorities of its progressive base. Pelosi doesnt embrace Medicare for all, for instance, or the Green New Deal; she only concerns herself with legislation that she thinks can actually pass the House. It took all her political might to squeak health care reform through the House in 2010even with a Democratic majority in the Senateso shes not inclined to take on major policy ideas that are even further to the left while Republicans control the Senate. The Green New Deal is an aspiration, she says, and I encourage that. But we have to be answerable for what we are going to pass into law. Shes also been publicly sparring with the progressive freshman members known as the squadRepresentatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaibwho feel that she dismisses them. There hasnt really been a relationship [with Pelosi], to be frank, Ocasio-Cortez told the Washington Post in July. Its difficult. One relatively new progressive member says Pelosi gives preferential treatment to colleagues who, like Pelosi, have been in politics a long time. Thats where some of the tension comes from, says the member, who spoke on condition of anonymity. A lot of us didnt follow the playbook of how to get to Washington, [or] the playbook of how Washington is supposed to work. People who came out of statehouses may fit more into her idea of how to use and build power, the member continues. I stare dead in the eye the fact that the vast majority of Americans think that Congress sucks. Im often thinking about how important it is to try to reset the American peoples confidence in Congress. And that is very different from some of the things we hear from Speaker Pelosi. Pelosi tells me her beef with the squad is overblown; she says she admires the new progressive members and has more in common with them politically than the more conservative Democrats. Shes just got hundreds of other members to lead and major crises to solve. Its like, the Speaker is busy doing something else, she says, noting that it was the same for her when she was first elected to Congress in 1987. If they said that the Speaker cared what I thought when I came here, Id be shocked. She doesnt believe its her job to be the moral voice of the party. She counts votes, helps Democrats win House seats, and tries to put forth legislation that the vast majority of her memberswhether theyre representing the very liberal Bronx or just flipped a Trump districtcan support. For instance, Pelosi took heat from progressives earlier this year when she went down to South Texas to campaign for incumbent Representative Henry Cuellar, an antiabortion Democrat, over his more progressive female challenger, Jessica Cisneros. Some cited this as proof that Pelosis feminism, or her claim to support abortion rights, was disingenuous. But Pelosi always supports the sitting members of her caucus, and anyway, she thought Cuellar was the more viable candidate. Im very definite on the subject of abortion, way out there. Do away with Hyde, Pelosi says, referring to the long-standing amendment that bans taxpayer dollars from paying for abortions. But that doesnt mean Im gonna lose a House seat because of it. This is a frustrating stance for those who want to see Pelosi help drive the party to the left. But even some progressives in her party acknowledge that Pelosi is very talented at her particular job. Her negotiation skills are masterful, Katie Porter, a freshman congresswoman, tells me. And her ability to remember people and their needs. This is someone whos got a tremendous skill set. I voted for her; she was the right person to vote for in the Trump era. Its been really beneficial to have seasoned hands leading us. Reid, Pelosis counterpart in the Senate under President Obama, is such a big fan of Pelosis that he literally wears a pin with her face on it. I would tell those people who are saying shes not willing to push the envelope: During my time with her, she pushed it big-time, he says. And shes a powerful foe for the president. If you look at Trump and the people hes afraid of, number one on the list is Nancy Pelosi. She has his number. Two weeks after my first interview with Pelosi, I return to DC to see how her daily life has changed as Congress has come back into session. Her press conferences look a lot different than they did before COVID. Its 10 a.m., and she is standing outside the Capitol in the blazing heat in another exuberant outfita hot-pink dress and matching mask, sparkling glitter stilettos, and a rainbow watch for Pride Monthunveiling the Democrats new climate plan. Instead of huddling environmental activists behind her in a chaotic mass of people waving signs, they are spread out evenly, exactly six feet apart, across the Capitol steps, like a checkerboard. The goal of the planwhich Pelosi says should result in over 100 separate pieces of legislationis to bring the countrys greenhouse gas emissions down to zero by 2050. This is her dream, she says: to be able to pass meaningful climate legislation before she retires. When I first became Speaker, we did climate the first day, she says. Then we were more visionary. Now everybody knows that this has to happen. Were destroying the planet. Pelosi has been under mounting pressure to do something significant about this issue; young protesters, joined by Ocasio-Cortez, stormed her office in late 2018 to demand that she act more decisively on climate change. Pelosi says the issue was one of her earliest passions and intellectual obsessionsbefore she ran for Congress, she read every book there is about paleoanthropology in the bathtub after putting her young children to sleep. Primates are our relatives, she reminds me, before launching into a very detailed tangent about the origins of man. She would love to pass a huge climate bill right now, she says, but the GOP-controlled Senate wont have anything to do with it. If you dont believe in science or governance, then you dont have to do anything, because you dont care about what science is telling us is happening to the ozone or the acidification of the oceans, she says. So this is perfect for them: no science, no governance, no care about climate. There may be a short window coming up for Pelosi to take action. If Democrats take control of the Senate and the White House in 2020, she will have exactly two years to tackle climate change and cement her legacy apart from Donald Trump. She made a deal with her caucus when she ran for Speaker again that she would only stay for four years, so this is it. Her final shot. Pelosi is literally counting down the days until she gets a chance to work with a different president. Its 128 days until hes gone, she murmurs at one point. I clarify that shes referring to Trump. Yes, she says, looking at the ticking clock over my shoulder. And 12 hours. You Might Also Like Building collapses Chandigarh: Two people died after a building collapsed in Mohali's Dera Bassi area on Thursday, officials said. Building collapses Advertisement There are two casualties in the incident, Dera Bassi Sub Divisional Magistrate Kuldeep Bawa said, adding that rescue operations are underway. Some more people may be trapped under the debris, officials said. Capitol Hill Baptist sues DC mayor over ban on outdoor worship with over 100 people Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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. Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong - AFP Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was arrested on Thursday for "unlawful assembly" related to a 2019 protest against a government ban on face masks - the latest in a series of high-profile arrests as the authorities seek to crack down on the Chinese-ruled citys pro-democracy movement. Mr Wong has since been released, with a trial date set for September 30. According to Mr Wong's Twitter, he faces the maximum penalty for both charges - five years for unlawful assembly and one year for wearing a mask. "Todays arrest is a notorious abuse to the criminal justice system by placing charges ruled unconstitutional earlier. However, I choose not to surrender," he tweeted. Supporters of Mr Wong, 23, first announced via his Twitter account that he was also being held for violating the "draconian anti-mask law", which was introduced last October after Carrie Lam, Hong Kongs chief executive, invoked a colonial-era emergency law. "The arrest is related to participating in an unauthorised assembly on 5 Oct last year. He is told to have violated the draconian anti-mask law as well," Mr Wong's official Twitter account said. The protest in question took place at the height of the pro-democracy unrest which roiled the city last year. #BREAKING Joshua is arrested when reporting to Central Police Station at about 1pm today. The arrest is related to participating in an unauthorized assembly on 5Oct last year. He is told to have violated the draconian anti-mask law as well. Joshua Wong (@joshuawongcf) September 24, 2020 The mask ban has since been ruled unconstitutional, and the government declared in July that face masks would be made compulsory in public as the densely populated global financial hub grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic. Story continues Speaking to reporters after being released from custody, Mr Wong said this was the third time the authorities had slapped a case against him over his pro-democracy activities since he was released from a one-month jail stint last June for obstructing the clearance of a 2014 mass protest. He said he was being targeted by Beijings campaign to create a chilling effect on activists calling for democratic governance and greater civil rights in the former British colony. [The authorities) can prosecute us, they can arrest us, they can lock us up in prison, but they cant censor our commitment to continue to fight for freedom, he said. Mr Wong faces a court hearing on September 30. He told the Telegraph that it was not a coincidence that the authorities had picked the day before Chinese National Day. We have no hope in the judicial system in Hong Kong, because it has been weaponised by the authorities to arrest dissidents, he said. "During the outbreak of Covid-19, to arrest somebody because of wearing a mask last year is really ironic." Johnny Patterson, Director of London-based advocacy group Hong Kong Watch said Mr Wongs arrest was the latest example of flagrant political prosecution in the Chinese-controlled city. "Beijing, and their counterparts in the Hong Kong government, are waging a campaign of lawfare, abusing the courts to silence their political opponents and create an atmosphere of self-censorship. Wong's participation in peaceful demonstrations is no crime." Mr Wongs latest arrest adds to several unlawful assembly charges or suspected offences he and other activists are facing related to last years anti-government protests, which prompted Beijing to impose a sweeping national security law on June 30. The new law punishes anything China considers as subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with up to life in prison. Its introduction, which bypassed scrutiny by the local legislature, created an international outcry for bulldozing a binding deal between the UK and Beijing when Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997 to guarantee the citys way of life until 2047. It has since been used to target dissidents and crush street protests. Jimmy Lai, another prominent pro-democracy voice in Hong Kong, has also been arrested in recent months - -/AP Mr Wongs long-time colleague, Agnes Chow, and two other activists were among 10 people police arrested in August on suspicion of violating the new law. Last month, media tycoon Jimmy Lai was also detained on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces. Mr Wong was arrested on Thursday when he reported to a police station concerning another case against him, for which he is currently on trial. Veteran activist Koo Sze-yiu of the League of Social Democrats was also arrested on suspicion of participating in the same demonstrations as Mr Wong, according to the Hong Kong Free Press. Hong Kongs social media platforms lit up immediately with reaction to the arrests, with some speculating that the move may have been an intimidation tactic to deter people from joining a planned protest on October 1, Chinas National Day. Such a high-profile arrest is a curtain-raiser for next weeks protest, said one anonymous user. Many posts were indignant. One day Joshua Wong would be even arrested for breathing, said one. If the #HongKong government & #HongKongPolice think they can stop the people from resisting the tyranny by arresting Joshua Wong, they're a fool for doing this, added another. The general thinking in political science is presidential debates dont much matter. This year, that thinkings wrong. Like everything else in 2020, normal no longer applies. India on Thursday urged the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to collectively resolve to defeat Pakistan sponsored cross-border terrorism. In the annual informal meeting of the SAARC council of ministers, held virtually, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hit out at Pakistan indirectly. Without mentioning Pakistan, he urged the member states "to collectively resolve to defeat the scourge of terrorism, including the forces that nurture, support and encourage an environment of terror and conflict, which impede the objective of SAARC to realise its full potential for collective collaboration and prosperity across South Asia". The meeting, chaired by Nepal, was attended by representatives of all the SAARC member states - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Jaishankar reiterated India's steadfast commitment to the SAARC in building a connected, integrated, secure and prosperous South Asia, an official statement said. He highlighted a slew of measures taken by India in the follow-up to the SAARC leaders video conference, including virtually convening health professionals and trade officials meetings, creating a Covid-19 Information Exchange Platform (COINEX), foreign currency swap support and activation of the SAARC Food Bank mechanism. Under India's contribution to the SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund, the minister said, essential drugs, medical consumables, Covid protection and testing kits, and other equipment, amounting $2.3 million, were made available to countries in the SAARC region. He reiterated India's continued commitment to assisting countries in the SAARC region in combating the pandemic. The meeting reviewed regional efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. The member states appreciated the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in convening a video conference of SAARC leaders on March 15, to take collaborative measures towards combating the pandemic across the region. This included the creation of SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund, to which all countries have pledged voluntary contributions. Informal meetings, held since 1997, take advantage of the opportunity provided by the presence of the Foreign Ministers at UNGA sessions to exchange views on SAARC issues, an official statement said. The meeting received a report from the Secretary-General on the status of regional cooperation since the last informal meeting, which was on September 26 last year in New York. Modi has said the government will continue to shield farmers. The day after the law passed he tweeted about a cabinet decision to raise some minimum prices for winter crops, an announcement seen as an attempt at reassurance. Although the government sets price floors for more than two dozen crops, it mainly buys wheat and rice for its welfare programs and some pulses and oilseeds to prevent distress sales by farmers. The guaranteed prices are used as benchmarks for various farm commodities, but private buyers dont have to pay them. Some lawmakers want the law amended to change that, and to require the government to monitor transactions outside state-run markets to check on prices farmers are getting. Yoo Myung-soon / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk By Kim Bo-eun Citigroup made headlines earlier this month by appointing its global consumer banking CEO Jane Fraser as its first female group CEO. Now attention is being drawn to the possible appointment of the first female CEO at Citibank Korea. Citibank's local unit is currently under the interim leadership of the lender's Senior Executive Vice President Yoo Myung-soon, after former CEO Park Jin-hei stepped down from the position last month. The lender's committee in charge of recommending candidates for executive positions will convene Friday to draw up a shortlist of candidates for the CEO position. The successful candidate will be selected at the second committee meeting early next month and the appointment will be finalized at a board meeting that will follow, according to the bank. Citigroup is known to hold influence over the appointment of unit heads around the world. Given the group's latest bold move, and Yoo's expertise, it appears the emergence of Citibank Korea's first female CEO could be possible. Yoo has more than 30 years of experience in banking. She joined Citibank Korea in 1987, was briefly with JP Morgan Chase in 2014, but returned to Citibank, where she has headed corporate banking until recently. There are speculations that a candidate from Citibank's Asia Pacific headquarters could be put forward, given the lender may seek an external figure to take the place of Park, who stepped down due to disappointing earnings. But Citibank Korea has not seen staff from regional offices appointed to the position of CEO so far. Industry sources say it is highly likely that the interim CEO's position will become permanent. The scenario appears all the more likely because former CEO Park took the position after serving as senior executive vice president. He served as CEO for six years. Citibank Korea is known for its corporate culture that places an emphasis on gender equality. Currently, six of the 13 executive directors are women. The 46 percent ratio of female executives is one of the highest at local lenders. This is attributed to programs such as its Diversity Committee and Women's Council that have been running since 2006. The Women's Council aims to support female employees by providing them opportunities to network with leading figures in the banking industry. Citibank Korea is also recognized for its childcare programs, such as four weeks of paid paternity leave. Other systems aimed at ensuring work-life balance for employees are also seen to have helped the bank retain female employees. If Yoo becomes Citibank's next CEO she will also become the country's second female CEO of a major bank. Industrial Bank of Korea's former CEO Kwon Sun-joo took the title as the first female bank CEO in 2014, a position she held until 2016. People living in Dublin will be refused entry to jails in Portlaoise while Dublin jails are also out of bounds for prisoner visits due to restrictions to stem the spread of Covid-19, according to the Irish Prison Service (IPS). The service confirmed this week that it is about to restore of physical visits to jails in Portlaoise and elsewhere around Ireland. However, the new Covid-19 restrictions will that apply to the capital mean Dublin jails remain off-limits while prisoners outside the capital cannot be visited by people living in Dublin. As planned, the IPS, has confirmed that it will be moving to Phase 3 of the restoration of physical visits from Monday, September 28. "During this period a maximum of two visitors will be allowed. This can comprise of two adults or one adult and one child. This will be reviewed if warranted by Public Health advice. "Restrictions relating to access for visitors from Dublin will remain in place. We appreciate your co-operation and understanding and look forward to the reintroduction of physical visits in our Dublin prisons as soon as it is deemed safe to do so," said a statement. The Service confirmed last week that physical visits to all Dublin prisons were suspended, with effect from midnight September 18. This followed the Government announcement on the upgrading of Dublin to Level 3 under the Plan for Living With Covid-19. All physical visits were cancelled to be replaced by video visits. People living in Dublin also face restrictions. "In addition, in line with the restrictions on movements from people living in Dublin under the Plan for Living with Covid-19 no person travelling from Dublin should visit any prison in the State while Dublin is at Level 3 or higher. Any person who has a visit booked and is coming from a Dublin address should not present for a visit at any prison as they will be refused entry. In addition, it will no longer be possible for prisoner property to be deposited in Dublin prisons while Dublin remains at Level 3 of the plan. Dublin prisons include: Mountjoy Male Prison; Arbour Hill Prison; Cloverhill Prison; Mountjoy Female Prison and Wheatfield Prison. Physical visits to prisons have been restricted since March when the country went into lockdown. There has been just one confirmed case of Covid-19 in the prison population but staff have tested positive. GOP senators say they are confident there will be sufficient time to vet whomever Trump announces as his pick on Saturday, particularly if the nominee is someone already known to senators, such as Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. She is by far the leading candidate, according to people familiar with the discussions who were not authorized to publicly comment on them, as Trump mulls his third pick for the Supreme Court. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 Trend: The chain of provocations committed by Armenia in word and deed under the leadership of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan caused serious damage to the negotiation process on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and greatly increased the tension in the region, Trend reports citing the statement of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The inflammatory statements, accompanied by aggressive military actions, military, and other provocations, indicate that Armenia is preparing for new aggression against Azerbaijan, said the MFA's statement. "Having dispelled all possible expectations of the international community, the Armenian leadership decided to choose the policy of annexing its predecessors from the day of its coming to power. Armenia, having publicly stated that it abandons the logic and concepts of the negotiation process, which has been going on for many years under the leadership of the OSCE Minsk Group, and envisaging a phased withdrawal of its armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, dealt a blow to it. As Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated in his interview on September 19, "their [Armenia's] absurd statements, provocative steps make the negotiations meaningless", said the ministry. On the contrary, under Pashinyan's leadership, Armenia adopted a military doctrine and a national security strategy that envisages the concept of a "new war for new territories" and defines the goals of this country in the negotiation process as preserving the results of the war, the statement noted. The current leadership of Armenia, by the intensification and expansion of illegal activities in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, including the illegal resettlement of ethnic Armenians from the Middle East, once again unequivocally proves that it is pursuing a policy of annexation, abusing for this purpose the negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, stressed the MFA's statement. Armenia's aggressive behavior culminated in a deliberate act of aggression in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border on July 12-16, the statement said. This armed attack was not an accidental military incident, this is another clear demonstration of the illegal use of force by Armenia against Azerbaijan and was aimed at seizing new territories of Azerbaijan. Armenia, which failed in this "test" attack, but was still preparing for the next act of aggression, purchased a lot of weapons and ammunition and concentrated its forces along the line of contact, the statement said. The threats of a military strike against important civilian infrastructure and big populated areas of Azerbaijan are accompanied by the intensification of Armenias military intelligence and sabotage in the depths of the Azerbaijani territory, the statement said. Moreover, Armenia announced about the creation of military units (in which tens of thousands of servicemen will serve) which will be used to conduct military operations against Azerbaijan, the statement said. In the context of Armenia's preparation for a new military attack, Azerbaijan calls on the international community, in particular the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, to bring Armenia to a sound mind and force it to refrain from new aggression, the statement said. The Armenian leadership must renounce its provocative statements, stop all actions that violate stability, and in good faith fulfill its obligations to achieve the political settlement of the conflict, the parameters of which have already been determined by four UN Security Councils resolutions, as well as the OSCE decisions and documents, the statement said. Until this happens, the Armenian officials cannot deceive either Azerbaijan or the international community with the statements that this country is allegedly ready for negotiations, the statement said. As Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated at the high-level meeting dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the UN, there is only one way to achieve peace - the Armenian armed forces must be withdrawn from all the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Azerbaijans territorial integrity has never been and will not be a subject of compromise, the statement said. Paris: Nicolas Sarkozy could be forced to stand trial after failing in his attempt to quash an inquiry into claims he used Libyan cash for his 2007 election campaign. The former French president saw a Paris appeals court on Thursday (Friday AEST) uphold the validity of the investigation into reports he accepted 45 million ($81 million) from the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2017. Credit:AP The 65-year-old has denied the allegations but his lawyer would not say if he would appeal against the decision. The failed legal bid means the inquiry by two anti-corruption judges can continue, although it remains to be seen whether they will call for a trial. The investigation began after Mediapart, a French online investigative journal, published a document in 2012, allegedly signed by Libya's intelligence chief, which appeared to show that Gaddafi had agreed to hand over the cash to Sarkozy. UAE and Australia have discussed collaboration particularly in the field of artificial intelligence, medical education and research and development. The Director General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) recently received the Australian Consul General at the DHA headquarters and expressed that DHA is keen to collaborate with global health institutions to foster knowledge-transfer and provide high-quality care to patients. DHA is keen to collaborate with renowned academic institutions and research centres to drive forward the development progress in the health sector in Dubai. The two sides discussed partnership opportunities with medical universities in Australia. They agreed to begin organising online training courses for medical students in Dubai before the end of this year. Both parties also agreed to conduct specialised scientific research between the Authority and major Australian research centres, particularly in the field of communicable diseases, epidemiological research and Covid-19. They also discussed potential collaborative opportunities in the field of cardiology. Besides, they discussed factors that have helped the Emirate tackle the Covid-19 pandemic which includes an integrated preventive and therapeutic system, outstanding medical competencies and expertise, the availability of the latest medical technology and advanced protocols. Humaid Al Qutami, Director-General of the DHA received Ian Halliday, Consul-General of Australia to Dubai & General Manager Middle East, Africa & Turkey for Austrade and John Cavanagh, Deputy Council General of Australia to Dubai and Trade Commissioner for the UAE and Sarah Hariz, Healthcare Sector lead for MEA at the Australian Consulate in Dubai. From the DHA, senior officials including Dr Younis Kazim, CEO of Dubai Healthcare Corporation, Saleh Al Hashimi, CEO of the Dubai Health Insurance Corporation and Dr Wadeia Sharief, Director of the Department of Medical Education and Research attended the meeting. Al Qutami highlighted the long-standing relationship between the two countries in several fields including the health sector. He discussed ways to explore and further enhance cooperation between the two countries in the medical field. Halliday praised the continuous progress of Dubai's health sector. He said that he is keen to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the medical field and further strengthen ties between the two countries. Al Qutami highlighted that the Authority strongly focuses on medical education and training as well as research and development in its efforts to further develop Dubais health sector. -- Tradearabia News Service Molly-Mae Hague faced a torrent of backlash this week from some of her social media followers after an Instagram giveaway she posted created controversy. While a lucky winner took home 8,000 worth of Louis Vuitton, Apple and beauty products, many complained the competition was unfair after the ex-Love Islander entered just 25 of the two million names that took part into a random generator. Many of the entrants took to social media to claim this was a 'scam' and 'not executed well' after the social media star revealed on her Instagram live story how the winner was chosen. What kind of terms and conditions should have been in place and should influencers face more stringent checks, like companies do, when running a competition? Molly-Mae's giveaway was criticised after she put just 25 entrants into a random generator To enter, those looking to win had to like her Instagram post and tag a friend, subscribe to her YouTube page and follow her and her tanning brand on Instagram. For an extra entry, followers had to share her initial post to their Instagram story for a bonus entry. Many influencers are now using giveaways like this to gain more followers with Molly-Mae gaining around half a million extra followers as a direct result of the competition. However, these competitions are regulated by both laws and the Advertising Standards Authority. Jeremy Stern, chief executive of PromoVeritas, promotional compliance experts, said: 'The law provides a regulatory framework and deals with high level stuff such as misleading consumers, selling under a guise, making paid for advertising look like editorials and writing fake reviews.' The Advertising Standards Agency, via the UK Code of Non-Broadcast Advertising and Direct and Promotional Marketing (CAP Code), covers a lot more of the detail and the executional aspects of running a marketing campaign. It says that prizes should be as stated and delivered within 30 days, unless otherwise stated, and there must be clear terms and conditions available at the time of entry. It adds that prizes should be clearly described, all entry requirements must be clearly stated and, if it is a prize draw, the winners should be selected in accordance with the laws of chance and by an independent entity or under supervision of an independent entity. Stern said: 'In the case of Molly Mae, she has failed on all the above aspects. When it says you get a year's supply of her tan and a full BeautyWorks hair transformation, what is a year's supply? She says you will get lots of Apple goodies what is a lot?' 'Unfair': Social media backlash A number of social media users took to the internet to complain about the giveaway with many deeming it unfair. Some even went so far as to say it was like a 'scam' after just 25 names were entered into a random generator. However, some defended Molly-Mae, saying that entrants should be happy for the winner. This Twitter user branded the giveaway unfair - blaming the random generator Another user claimed that picking just 25 people was unfair One person said that the giveaway was a 'scam' after picking just a handful of names He adds that the rules do not specify who can enter the competition and there should be age and geographic limits if only because prize draws are regulated or illegal in some countries. However, as it doesn't say it is a UK only giveaway, when Molly-Mae says the competition closes at midnight, it leaves it open to interpretation as to what time zone that is. Stern believes Molly-Mae should have had a simple summary explaining the rules, for example, '18+, UK only prize draw. One entry per person. Closes 11.59pm 20/9/20.' Additionally, there should be a link to read the full terms as saying 'Terms Apply is essentially meaningless'. Molly-Mae said she discussed with her management the best way to select the winner as there was no software or app that would allow her to put in two million Instagram comments without logging in with her password which she 'would never ever do'. Fame: Molly-Mae gained millions of followers after appearing on Love Island last summer Stern added that it is not always easy to extract data from Instagram, unless you have certain types of accounts. In this case, you may have a limit, for example, getting information from only 1,000 accounts, which is why Molly-Mae struggled to find a way to choose from two million names without using her Instagram password. 'Even if you get all the data, the draw itself should not be conducted by Molly-Mae herself, without proper independent supervision. It is a simple practice designed to avoid room for abuse or fraud or cheating. 'Plus she has a closing time of midnight. We always try to avoid this. When is midnight Monday? Is it the time between Sunday and Monday or between Monday and Tuesday? Saying Monday at 11.59pm is so much clearer.' It does not appear that an independent assessment was made. However, Molly-Mae did avoid a common problem with influencers in which they fail to declare commercial relationships with brands. Many influencers get freebies or are paid to promote products and by law they must say that it is advertising or a paid relationship even for 12 months after any formal period ends. As Molly-Mae bought all of the products with her own money, and declared this, she did not have to worry about breaking any advertisement rules. Molly-Mae had to post this to her Instagram stories, defending the winner of the giveaway This is an area that the Competition and Markets Authority are increasingly cracking down on as it is a breach of law. This is Money contacted Molly-Mae's management regarding the giveaway but it said it had no comment. Prize draws, where the winner is chosen at random, rather than a competition where prizes are allocated on the basis of skill, are likely to fall under the ASA's remit as a promotion. A spokesperson for the ASA said: 'We are unable to comment on whether an ad/post would be likely to breach the rules without it first being assessed by our Complaints team. 'Our role is to ensure that all ads are responsible, which is why we encourage anyone who thinks that a post may have breached the rules to submit a complaint to us.' Prize draw winners must be chosen at random, according to the ASA. This can be done by using a computer process that produces verifiably random results. If such a computer process isn't used, then the draw should be done, or supervised, by someone independent. Significant terms and conditions about the prize draw should also be stated in the initial marketing material. Other conditions for promotions involving prizes should be available before or at the time of entry but do not need to be given as much prominence. Prize draws do not have a 'gaming' element to them, unlike many TV competitions, as there is no skill involved. If skill were needed to win, it would likely be classed as a competition. While the ASA will take action against ads which breach our rules, it said it would not clamp down on posts for competitions which are advertised legally and responsibly. As Morgan County and west-central Illinois grapple with a pandemic, a new county-by-county study predicts dozens of deaths during the next decade will be caused by coronavirus despair. The report, Projected Deaths of Despair, says isolation, pain, suffering and the overall impact of COVID-19 will exacerbate deaths because of economic failure, massive unemployment and mandated social isolation. The study by Well Being Trust & The Robert Center a national foundation dedicated to advancing the mental, social and spiritual health of the nation predicts that nationwide 75,000 deaths by 2029 will result from alcohol misuse and suicide related to the pandemic. Illinois overall, with a 12.67 million population, could see an estimated 6,000 despair deaths during the decade, according to the report. In Morgan County, as well as Greene and Cass counties, the per-100,000-person death rate would be 3.6% to 5.1%. Pike Countys projection is lower, at 1.7% or less, but Scott Countys rate is one of the highest in the region, at 6.9% to 9.2%. Researchers based their projections on studying mortality rate data from the Great Recession of 2008, which found a correlation between unemployment and death rates. Benjamin F. Miller, chief strategy officer for Well Being Trust, said policymakers must place focus on mitigating the effects of coronavirus, but if the nation continues to ignore the collateral damage especially when it comes to mental health the nation will not come out of the next decade any stronger. If we work to put in place healthy community conditions, good healthcare coverage and inclusive policies, we can improve mental health and well-being, Miller said. RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ArenaCX, the customer service marketplace delivering on-demand support to businesses, announced today it has raised $2 million in a seed funding round led by Sovereign's Capital. The new capital will help ArenaCX further enhance its software platform, including integrations with more customer support software providers. ArenaCX is transforming how customer service leaders engage and manage labor to create customer experiences that are fully aligned with consumer expectations and drive business outcomes. ArenaCX's network of integrated contact centers aims to make it seamless for businesses to access the amount of support they need on demand. The company's management software platform empowers support leaders to achieve key success outcomes while managing the optimal mix of cost and speed resulting in less time and money spent in traditional functions like hiring, training and scheduling. "It is apparent now more than ever that business leaders need to make their organizations agile and adaptable," said Alan Pendleton, President of ArenaCX. "In the current market, it can be extremely difficult and sometimes painful to adjust a support team quickly enough without alternating between layoffs and recruiting. ArenaCX provides a way for leaders to maximize their support investments, getting better results sometimes with the same resources as a result of competition." The customer service industry is ripe for disruption in terms of quality of support and cost. In contrast to others that are developing niche solutions or relying exclusively on AI bots, ArenaCX comprehensively transforms customer service support at its core in terms of how businesses manage in a results-first and cost-effective way, while remaining nimble and agile to changing customer demands. "For businesses, in-house customer service is often a distraction, and outsourced options frequently provide a downgraded experience," said Jake Thomsen, Partner at Sovereign's Capital. "Third party options often have opaque contracts and little accountability, and it's not a space known for innovative approaches for win-win-win solutions. ArenaCX is changing all of that. Their platform highlights best-in-class customer service providers who are rewarded for performance, while ensuring customers get the best outcomes for their end users. Sovereign's Capital is excited to serve the ArenaCX team as they build on the future of customer experience to benefit customers, service providers, and end users." "Executive leaders need to think differently about how to deploy people and technology to provide the quality of experience customers expect," explains Doc Shufelt, CEO of ArenaCX. "ArenaCX is uniquely positioned to help companies deliver not only a better support experience to their end users, but to do so while improving their businesses' bottom lines. We are fired up to bring our innovative approach to an industry in need of disruption." FOR BUSINESSES ArenaCX gives companies the flexibility to scale customer service teams up or down with support demand by dynamically matching businesses' support volume with trained agents in its contact center network. ArenaCX has helped deliver significant results for its clients. Wireless service provider Republic Wireless achieved a 32% reduction in total customer service costs since integrating ArenaCX into its internal support operations. At the same time, Republic saw its customer experience improve as well. In fact, Netomi's Customer Service Benchmark report recently recognized Republic Wireless as the highest rated email support provider, out of 1,000 telecom companies analyzed worldwide, and Republic Wireless was recognized by Forbes as one of the 100 Most Customer-Centric Companies in 2019. "ArenaCX completely transformed our approach to customer support for the better," said Chris Chuang, CEO of Republic Wireless. "Instead of focusing on recruiting, training, and scheduling support agents, our customer service leaders now are freed to focus on the actual customer experience and thus drive stronger strategic business outcomes. Every KPI and business measure improved dramatically." ArenaCX's contact center outsourcing marketplace is supported by powerful software, which allows healthy competition to flourish and businesses to react in near-real-time to observable improvements in business metrics. ArenaCX plugs directly into a business' existing customer service software suite, using machine learning to categorize, prioritize, and assign customer support tickets. The software has native forecasting capabilities and dashboarding that gives support leaders total control over their operations. "What really appeals to me about ArenaCX is its ability to easily hook into our internal support operations and existing BPO relationships, so my internal team could focus more on strategy," said Terry Munroe, Head of Customer Experience at Surprise.com. ArenaCX can bring value to businesses of all sizes, from startups that are just developing a customer service function to global enterprises that want to achieve a new level of operational control, transparency, and strategic alignment with their contact center partners. FOR CONTACT CENTERS ArenaCX's innovative approach focuses on aligning the incentives of brands, end-users, and contact centers. ArenaCX helps contact centers increase revenue and improve profitability by simplifying customer acquisition, ensuring transparent expectations through use of a balanced scorecard, and ensuring a level competitive playing field. In stark contrast to the traditional model which focuses on penalties for poor performance, with ArenaCX, contact center's are rewarded for outperforming their peers in the network. The better the contact center performs, the more ticket volume it will earn, resulting in a virtuous cycle of continuous improvement that benefits the contact centers as well as the brand. Customer service innovators NexRep and CustomerHD are two of the first contact center partners to join the ArenaCX marketplace. About Us ArenaCX is democratizing the customer service industry. ArenaCX is delivering cost savings to businesses and transforming customer experience for the better by incentivizing contact centers through competition. ArenaCX was born out of telecom innovator Republic Wireless, whose award-winning operations lead its industry in both cost-to-serve and customer satisfaction measures. ArenaCX launched in 2020 in Raleigh, NC. SOURCE ArenaCX 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 hubs -; where a protein has a large number of connections -; and 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, our integrative network topology analyses led us to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and pathways of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis." Shahid Mukhtar, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Arts and Sciences 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. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches at 30 locations in Bengaluru in connection with its probe in last months riots. It arrested Sayed Saddiq Ali, a bank recovery agency in connection with the riots. According to the NIA, 44-year-old Ali is a key conspirator in the riots which ravaged the city last month. Four people were killed in the violence, including three in the police firing. The riots had broken out on the night of August 11 over an alleged derogatory social media post by the relative of a Congress MLA. The NIA had formally taken over the probe in the riots case on Tuesday. It said that Ali had been absconding since the night the riots took place. The agency further said that it found airgun, pellets, sharp weapons and iron rods during the searches. It also said some digital devices and many incriminating documents related to Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and the Popular Front of India (PFI) were recovered in the raids. More than 300 people, including some SDPI members, have been arrested in connection with the arson and violence in the city on August 11 night, targeting the Pulakeshinagar Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy and his sister over a purported inflammatory social media post. The BJP has blamed the SDPI, a political outfit of Popular Front of India, for the riots and demanded a ban on the organisation. The SDPI has however rejected the charges as baseless. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON WATTSONVILLE, Calif., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aquamaids Bingo is pleased to announce the return of fun and exciting bingo gameswith a safe and contactless twist. Starting Wednesday, September 30, bingo fans can gather at the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds at 2601 East Lake Avenue in Watsonville, California for Hot Rod Bingo. The parking lot will open at 5 p.m., and people can play their favorite fun and exciting bingo games all from the safety of their vehicle. To learn more about Aquamaids Bingo new location and to download the app please visit https://aquamaidsbingo.org/sessions/bingo-santa-cruz-fair-grounds-in-watsonville As a spokesperson noted, like many other local businesses, Aquamaids Bingo had to shut down due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. While bingo fans have been patient and understanding about the situation, the founders of Aquamaids Bingo were also determined to bring back bingo as soon as they possibly could. Now, thanks to the upcoming launch of Hot Rod Bingo, bingo fans can once again gather together and enjoy an evening of bingo. Hot Rod Bingo will offer the following games: 10 strips paying $750 each, two Double Action games paying $500 each, a Wonder Woman Strip that pays $2,000 on Pink and a $1,000 Consolation and $2,389 and $1,199 Strip flash. Purchases may be made online via the Aquamaids Bingo App; the app will be available at the App Store or on Google Play prior to Hot Rod Bingo. People may also access the link at the main Aquamaids Bingo website or on their Facebook page. People who are looking up Aquamaids Bingo new location online will find them by searching: Watsonville bingo Santa Cruz bingo Monterey bingo Salinas bingo Gilroy bingo About Aquamaids Bingo: For those who crave the excitement, fun and social interaction of live-action bingo, Aquamaids Bingo is the destination people are looking for. They offer traditional classic bingo games as well as many of the hottest and latest strip bingo sessions and biggest daily payouts in the Bay Area. For more information, please visit https://aquamaidsbingo.org/ Aquamaids Bingo Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville Watsonville, Ca. 95076 (408) 988-9936 SOURCE Aquamaids Bingo We dont know what chaos will unfold on and after Nov. 3, when voting ends in an election whose legitimacy the president is already trying to undermine. But its a good bet some of it will unfold on Facebook. In 2016, domestic misinformation and Russian disinformation ran wild on the platform, and we didnt comprehend the extent of it until months, and in some cases years, later. It wasnt until this year that Facebook removed ads from the Trump campaignit took the inclusion of an actual Nazi symboland updated its policies to try to prevent the president from lying about voting on the social network. Advertisement Election Day and its aftermath are when well see what Facebooks efforts are worth. On Tuesday Nick Clegg, the companys head of global affairs, began outlining to journalists how the platform might handle election-related bedlam on the platform. In preparation, Facebook has reportedly conceived of about 70 scenarios for when the results begin to come in that range from the uneventful to the downright anarchic. The plans draw from what Facebook has witnessed in 200 elections around the world in the last four years. Though the company has generally been cagey about what scenarios its preparing for and the moderation measures its considering for fear that bad actors could use the info to game the system, Clegg did signal that moderators are looking at misinformation around voting and incitements to violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the descriptions sound significant, but vague. As Clegg told USAToday, We have developed break-glass tools which do allow us toif for a temporary period of timeeffectively throw a blanket over a lot of content that would freely circulate on our platforms in order to play our role as responsibly as we can to prevent that content, wittingly or otherwise, from aiding and abetting those who want to continue with the violence and civil strife that were seeing on the ground. He added, however, that there would have to be a highly worrisome and abnormal situation before the platform would do so. Facebook did not respond to Slates inquiry seeking more detail on the scenarios it was anticipating. Advertisement With the coronavirus upending how the U.S. typically conducts elections and forcing many to rely on mail-in voting, there will likely be more opportunities for bad actors to sow doubt about the resultssomething that the Trump campaign, in its various lawsuits over state mail-in voting processes, is already trying to do. Clegg told outlets that Facebook is specifically looking at the possibility that in-person ballots, which could skew Republican, will be counted much more quickly than mailed ballots, which could skew Democratic. If that happens, its possible that President Trump will try to declare victory on Facebook and elsewhere before all the votes are in. Clegg, echoing what CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously announced at the beginning of the month, said that Facebook would place a label on top of a premature victory post notifying users that the outcome is still up in the air and directing them to an official results page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its hard to imagine conscientious labelling achieving much in a constitutional crisis, but aside from taking such a post down, which would be an unprecedented step, its not clear what else Facebook could do. This [labeling of posts] is probably the only position that they could take here, because the decision on what it means to declare victory is going to be tough, said Sinan Aral, an MIT professor and author of the book The Hype Machine: How Social Media Disrupts Our Elections, Our Economy, and Our Health and How We Must Adapt. For instance, Aral posits a scenario in which a candidate writes something along the lines of everything weve seen so far indicates that Im the winner, even though not all the votes are in, which would be a difficult edge case in which labeling might make more sense that taking the post down. Aral said, In that moment you need to hear from these two candidates. To muzzle Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the moments that the election is happening also has its costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clegg also addressed the possibility that the election could fuel street-level violence. The company is facing pressure to prepare such a scenario as its come under fire for failing to remove an event page that encouraged people to take up arms amid civil unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shortly before Kyle Rittenhouse fatally shot two people there in August. Clegg again has declined to say what exactly Facebook would do in the face of an eruption of violence, but he did point to the companys response during Indias election last year when fake accounts and hate speech were running rampant on the platform. Among other things, the platform placed a limit on how many times a user could share a message in order to stem the spread of misinformation. (Facebook nonetheless faced accusations from Indias lawmakers that it resisted removing hate speech spouted by a member of the countrys ruling party.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One issue is that incitements to violence wouldnt be contained to public posts and pages. Limiting sharing is definitely something that they should think about, but also Facebook is so much more than that. Its these private groups; its these chats, said Jessica Feezell, a University of New Mexico professor who studies social medias impact on politics. How would people coordinate violence? It would probably start in private groups. She added that Facebook, which also includes WhatsApp and Instagram, has in the past been too late to quell violence, particularly in Myanmar, and is skeptical that it will be quick enough to pull the trigger on countermeasures that would prevent such incidents during the U.S. election. Advertisement Its a bit difficult to determine just how equipped Facebook is for a potentially tumultuous election scenario given how close to the vest its been with its preparations. Feezell said she understands Facebooks concerns about tipping its hand to bad actors, but worries that this ends up leaving the public to just hope that itll do the right thing. What theyre relying on is for people to trust that they have it handled, she said. Without full information, all we have to go on is trust, and their record doesnt make me very likely to trust them in these scenarios. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. This article is part of Viral Studies, a Slate series in which we break down recent viral articles andmost importantlytheir caveats. Air travel has long provoked anxiety in passengers, but even more so after SARS-CoV-2 has taken hold worldwide. In the past several months, scientists and public health experts have emphasized that the risk of contracting the virus is greatest in small, enclosed spaces with many peopleand where do people feel more claustrophobic and crammed than an airplane? Advertisement So recently, two new case studies of potential coronavirus transmission aboard airplanes immediately made the rounds online, creating buzz about the dangers of in-flight COVID transmission. Several outlets uncritically reported the authors findings, both published in the U.S. Centers for Disease Controls journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, which looked at two clusters of suspected coronavirus transmission on flights. While the possibility of plane transmission may sound alarming, neither of these studies tell us much about COVID-19 risks that we didnt already know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first thing to note is that both cases took place on long flights in early March. One case study, led by researchers at Vietnams National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, found a cluster of cases on a 10-hour flight from London to Hanoi, which landed March 2. A 27-year-old woman had a fever and was coughing during the flight, and the researchers later found 15 other people on the flight who tested positive for COVID-19. The other study, led by researchers in London and Hong Kong, found that on a 15-hour March 9 flight from Boston to Hong Kong, a couple sitting in business class infected two flight attendants. Advertisement Advertisement The length and timing of these flights introduced potential risks that may not apply to current air travelers. Scientists have long emphasized exposure time as a risk factor; the longer youre in close proximity to an infected person, the more likely you are to encounter the virus particles theyre shedding. But unlike the passengers in these clusters, most air travelers are not taking 10- to 15-hour flights. And the timing of these flights early Marchmeans that they occurred before mask-wearing on planes was compulsory. Thats no longer the case; all major airlines now require passengers to mask up. (A colleague who flew recently told me that on her flight last week, the pilot did not mince words about blacklisting any uncooperative passengers.) Wearing masks makes a huge difference, says Qingyan Chen, professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University and a former director of the FAAs Airliner Cabin Environment Research Center. Lab studies have shown that masks of all materials can be effective at filtering virus particles and decrease the number of particles people expel into the airall important factors to consider when breathing and talking in close proximity to other plane passengers. Hopefully, the adoption of mask-wearing has prevented more of these clusters from popping up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While its likely these two case studies identified cases in which COVID-19 was transmitted aboard planes, the exact mechanisms of transmissions are not crystal clear. In the Boston-to-Hong Kong case, researchers performed genetic analyses of samples from all four infected people and found a 100 percent match, suggesting that the couple in business class passed on the same strain to their flight attendants. The genome sequencing is convincing, says Lin Chen, director of the Harvard-affiliated Mount Auburn Hospital and president of the International Society of Travel Medicine. But even so, theres still the possibility that the crew couldve happened to be exposed to the same strain somewhere besides the flight. With the London-to-Hanoi study, Chen says she also suspects plane transmission was likely, but the causality is even harder to discern, because the researchers did not sequence samples. Until genome sequencing is done on a lot of these suspected in-flight transmission cases, its hard to say for sure. Advertisement Advertisement Joseph Allen, a researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, laid out his doubts about the case studys causality in a Twitter thread. He points out that based on the timing of some passengers symptom onset and what they did immediately after the flight (a few went on cruises!), its possibleor even likelythat some of these flight-associated cases actually contracted the coronavirus elsewhere, not necessarily on the flight itself. Advertisement Advertisement Thats not to downplay the risks of getting COVID-19 on a plane; it can certainly happen. But the airplane itself is not particularly dangerous, says Purdues Chen. In most large airplanes, air circulates through the cabin in five to seven minutes, and then is filtered through a HEPA filter that is 99.97 percent effective at filtering small particles. The air supply into the cabin is super clean, but that doesnt mean you have zero risks there, he says. The biggest risk, as he sees it, is in the moments when passengers might take masks offlike while eating. Chen recommends staggering snack times so that passengers dont all have their masks off at the same time. The risk occurs during this period because I talk, I generate droplets, and that goes directly to the people sitting next to me, he says. Advertisement Advertisement Harvards Chen says these studies are helpful confirmation that flight transmission can happen, but agrees that overall, the risk is generally low. First, she points to the number of infected people on these planes: Both carried more than 200 passengers, and the number of potentially infected passengers made up just a small portion of people aboard. And, she says, the fact that few clusters have been reported should be heartening, as well as the reports of cases in which infected people have boarded an airplane without infecting anyone. Again, that doesnt mean that air travel is safe. In the U.S., in particular, an extremely high base rate of the virus paired with a shortage of testing, contact tracing, and travel regulations means that any clusters may be harder to track. (Hong Kong and Vietnam have both been lauded for their post-flight procedures and contact tracing, which made these detailed case studies possible.) Additionally, people may be attuned to the risks of transmission while inside the airplane, but if youre concerned about travel, its important to consider risky situations you encounter outside the metal tube, too. Consider the poorly ventilated small trams within the airport, or how close you might get to others waiting to board or deplane, or the people youll encounter traveling to and from the airport. Whether youre on an airplane, traveling to the airport, or just sitting at your neighborhood bar, COVID-19 risk exists, and these studies shouldnt change the individual behaviors we undertake to minimize that risk: Avoid unnecessary travel, wear a mask, wash your hands well, and stay home if youre sick. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. The ISPR alleged that there have been as many as 2,333 ceasefire violations by Indian troops in 2020 Smoke rises after a mortar shell was fired by Pakistani Army near the Line of Control (LoC), in Balakot sector of Poonch district. PTI photo Two Pakistani soldiers were killed in renewed cross-LoC skirmishes in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch area on Wednesday. The Pakistani authorities said that two of its soldiers Noor-ul-Hassan and Waseem Ali were killed in intense exchange of fire in Dewa sector of the Line of Control (LoC) The Indian Army officials in frontier Poonch town had earlier said that the Pakistan Army violated the November 2003 ceasefire understanding by resorting to heavy firing and mortar shelling in forward areas along LoC in three sectors of Poonch. They said that unprovoked firing and shelling from across the de facto border started at around 9 am and continued till reports last came in. A defence spokesman in J&Ks winter capital Jammu while confirming it said, At about 9 am today, Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars along LoC in Kerni, Qasba and Shahpur sectors. He added that the Indian Army retaliated befittingly. It was not immediately known if there were any casualties or damage on the Indian side. According to the Indian authorities, the Pakistan Army has violated ceasefire along the LoC as many as 37 times, so far, this month alone. They said that last week an Army jawan was killed and two others, including an officer, were injured in Pakistani firing in LoCs Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district. Earlier on September 2, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) was killed in a similar incident in Keri sector of the same district. In Islamabad, Pakistans Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said that two Pakistani Army soldiers Sepoys Noor-ul-Hassan (29) and Waseem Ali (25) were killed in intense exchange of fire between the facing troops following unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian Army along the LoC in Dewa sector. It added, Pakistan Army responded and targeted the (Indian) posts which initiated the fire. There are reports of substantial damage to Indian post(s) and men and material. The ISPR alleged that there have been as many as 2,333 ceasefire violations by Indian troops in 2020. With his announcement that hes dropping his bid for mayor, New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson became the latest in a long line of Council speakers who have failed to realize their mayoral ambitions. While holding the quasi-citywide position certainly boosts name recognition, it also burdens speakers with consequential legislative decision making that could haunt them in the future. By comparison, citywide positions such comptroller and public advocate enjoy the benefits of publicity without the drawbacks of responsibility, which may explain why politicians in those jobs have been much more likely to go on to win the Democratic nomination for mayor or another higher office. Since a major charter revision created the position in 1989, a Council speaker has never once become mayor, or anything else, despite nearly every single one trying. In fact, none have managed to even win the Democratic primary. Peter Vallone Sr. became the first City Council speaker in 1990, serving in the position until 2001, when he unsuccessfully ran for mayor and came in third in the primary. After Vallone came Gifford Miller, who fizzled in the 2005 Democratic primary for mayor, finishing fourth. And in 2013, Christine Quinn finished in third. Melissa Mark-Viverito has been the only Council speaker not to run for mayor, although she ran for both public advocate and Congress since leaving the Council, and lost both times. By contrast, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio previously served as public advocate and New York state Attorney General Letitia James was his predecessor as public advocate. Former New York City Comptroller Alan Hevesi became state comptroller, former City Comptroller Bill Thompson was the Democratic nominee for mayor in 2009, and former Public Advocate Mark Green was the Democratic mayoral nominee in 2001. (The most impressive election result for a City Council speaker has been Vallones Democratic primary win in the 1998 governors race, although he lost in the general against then-Gov. George Pataki.) Johnson has decided to drop out of the mayoral race before ever officially entering it, although he had been publicly exploring a run since January 2019, with expectations he would declare dating even farther back. In late 2018 and through much of last year he already appeared to be a frontrunner. Affable and social-media savvy, Johnson served as a foil to de Blasio, popping up as a shadow mayor whenever the real one fumbled or made an unpopular decision, from fighting against the controversial Amazon HQ2 deal the mayor championed to proposing an ambitious streets master plan that aimed to break the citys car culture. The speaker position is somewhat unique in that it gives lawmakers citywide power without first getting citywide approval. Speakers are chosen by their fellow Council members, not by the voting public. They are otherwise only elected by their individual district constituents. Theyve never been judged and validated by voters beyond their own council district so making that jump to a citywide (election position) is very difficult, progressive Democratic strategist Trip Yang told City & State. Tyquana Henderson-Rivers, a Democratic consultant who worked for Vallone, added that speakers are chosen by political insiders, which influences who they try to cater to. You dont have to be responsible, necessarily, to Joe Q. Public, Henderson-Rivers said. You're consumed with very high-level discussions with high-level insiders. At the same time, the Council speaker bears an incredible amount of responsibility by leading the citys legislative body, placing them under klieg lights with every decision they or the Council make. Compared to city comptroller and public advocate, both citywide elected positions, the role of speaker in many ways comes with more baggage. A lot of times, we call it the second most powerful position in city government, and thats probably true, Yang said. They, by necessity, have to get caught up in some of the most controversial fights. He said thats why its much easier to run for mayor from a comptroller or public advocate position because those have a lot of soft power, but are largely able to stay out of complicated policy and budget fights that the Council speaker cant avoid. Comptroller can sit there and critique budgets and proposals without actually having to come up with an answer, Henderson-Rivers added. The speaker is charged with a legislative answer. For Johnson, 2020 demonstrated the downside of being the speaker, as the city was rocked by protests against police brutality and faces a dire financial situation thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Those circumstances forced him to negotiate and pass a budget that made his progressive base unhappy by not cutting the New York City Police Department funds as much as activists wanted. Good will he had built up the past two years dissipated when he was forced to negotiate between the mayor, progressives, conservatives, activists and the NYPD. In 2013, Quinn was seen as a frontrunner early in the process thanks in part to the exposure she gained from being Council speaker. And once former Rep. Anthonys Weiners campaign imploded, her prospects in theory should have improved even more. But that exposure turned out to be a double-edged sword as decisions she made during her tenure ultimately turned off many Democrats. Unlike Johnson, who has made it a point to maintain a healthy distance from de Blasio, Quinn decided to work closely with then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who had been first elected as a Republican. She worked with him to extend term limits so that he could serve for another term, and she would not support a paid sick leave bill that Bloomberg opposed, despite that putting her at odds with other Democrats. Quinn also had an aggressive leadership style that some called volatile in private. I dont think she would have been better off if she hadnt been speaker, one former New York City lawmaker told City & State. But it cuts both ways it helps in some ways and it hurts in others. In the case of Miller and Vallone, their tenure as speaker may not have explicitly hurt them, but holding the citywide position did not seem to help very much either. Vallone ultimately lost to Mark Green, who at the time was the citys first public advocate. Unlike Council speaker, the bully pulpit position of public advocate was in part created to help propel up-and-coming politicians to higher office. For Mark Green, it almost worked before he narrowly lost to Michael Bloomberg. History was never in Johnsons favor, no matter how bright his prospects seemed a year ago. Dropping out early at least prevents him from diminishing his future potential by losing this time. RTHK: 'Enough is enough': China attacks US at UN China on Thursday lashed out at the United States at a high-level UN meeting over its criticism on the coronavirus, with its envoy declaring, "Enough is enough!" Two days after President Donald Trump used his annual address to the General Assembly to attack China, its ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, strongly criticised the US global role. "I must say, enough is enough! You have created enough troubles for the world already," he told a Security Council meeting on global governance attended through videoconference by several heads of state. "The US has nearly seven million confirmed cases and over 200,000 deaths by now. With the most advanced medical technologies and system in the world, why has the US turned out to have the most confirmed cases and fatalities?" he asked. "If someone should be held accountable, it should be a few US politicians themselves." Using a phrase often told by US leaders to China, Zhang said, "The US should understand that a major power should behave like a major power." The United States, he said, "is completely isolated." "It's time to wake up," he said in remarks enthusiastically backed by his Russian counterpart. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, voiced anger at the tone of the session, which was presided over by Niger's president, Issoufou Mahamadou. "You know, shame on each of you. I am astonished and I am disgusted by the content of today's discussion," Craft said. "I am actually really quite ashamed of this Council - members of the Council who took this opportunity to focus on political grudges rather than the critical issue at hand. My goodness." Trump in his speech on Tuesday had demanded action against China for spreading the "plague" of Covid-19. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-09-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Groups of Crestwood Secondary School students have been crowding barefaced outside a convenience store on Sherbrooke Street at lunchtime, says the school superintendent, prompting a police liaison officer to monitor the store. It happened, and were working toward dealing with it for sure, said Greg Ingram, the superintendent responsible for Crestwood for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Photos were posted to Twitter this week showing crowds of students standing barefaced and mingling closely outside Circle K on Sherbrooke Street at lunchtime. Circle K only allows five people inside at once, and when crowds of teens arrived this week they were made to wait outside. Although high school students take outdoor breaks from wearing masks and are allowed off school property at lunchtime, Ingram said the principal at Crestwood was alerted to the Twitter photos, as was the Peterborough Police liaison officer. Public school board policies state that liaison officers can be asked to educate students on the legal consequences associated with large gatherings in public places. The Ontario government says outdoor parties and gatherings must be limited to 25 people, and attendees at larger gatherings can be fined $750 The Twitter photos were posted Tuesday and on Wednesday a Peterborough Police liaison officer spoke to the principal at Crestwood. The officer also parked a cruiser outside the Circle K in order to be visible, wrote Staff Sgt. Dan MacLean in an email to The Examiner. That officer spoke to a few students but didnt see any crowds on Wednesday, the same day The Examiner visited at 12:30 p.m. to find no students. But police will remain watchful, MacLean wrote: We continue to monitor this. Ingram said parents of Crestwood students can expect emails from the principal, and that its all part of the re-culturing of a group of teen students that like to walk to the convenience store at lunchtime. Im not trying to minimize this but it will take time, Ingram said, adding that the public board will watch the situation in case it becomes necessary to change the rule allowing students off school property at lunch. Meanwhile a teacher at a Peterborough area school also in the public board says not all teachers and school staff wear their masks at work when they should. The teacher didnt want her name used because shes concerned about retribution. But she said that at her school, about 10 per cent of teachers, educational assistants and custodians remove their masks after students leave for the day and dont put the masks back on even when speaking at close range with one another in the hallways or staff rooms. The public boards policy states that teachers and staff must be masked while in the presence of students, but they may doff those masks indoors if they are working alone in classrooms or if they are speaking with colleagues and can remain two metres apart. But the teacher says some of her colleagues remove their masks when the kids leave school and dont bother to keep a physical distance when theyre together in groups around the photocopier or in the halls, and that some custodians work barefaced. The same negligent mask-wearing among school staff is occurring at other public board schools where her friends work. Public board chair Diane Lloyd wrote in an email to The Examiner that its unacceptable and that the board will have to reinforce this message to school staff. It is critical that our staff act in accordance with our established mask protocol not just when students are in school, but at all times, she wrote. Its concerning for us to hear any incidences when this may not be taking place. School principals have been diligent in reviewing and stressing this obligation with staff, and they will continue to do so. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 Trend: On September 24, 2020, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili in the framework of his official visit to Georgia, Trend reports citing Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili congratulated Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on his appointment as the Foreign Minister and conveyed her sincere wishes to him. She also expressed hope that steps will be taken towards further strengthening relations between the two countries during his tenure. President Salome Zurabishvili requested to convey her sincere greetings to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In his turn, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov conveyed the greetings of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the President of Georgia. The Minister noted that very useful discussions on high-level cooperation between the two countries were held during the visit. It was stated that the two countries attach equal importance to the development of relations in all three areas - political, economic and humanitarian. Touching upon the existing protracted conflicts in the region, which poses a serious threat to regional security, the sides noted that they have a similar position in resolving these conflicts. It was stressed that our countries respect each other's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. It was stressed that along with bilateral formats, our countries are successfully cooperating on multilateral formats, within international organizations as well. Economic, energy and transport projects implemented with the participation of both countries were discussed. The sides exchanged views on further expanding the capacity of regional corridors. The sides also discussed issues of cooperation in tourism, humanitarian and cultural fields. The Georgian President stressed the importance of ensuring peace and stability in the region. In his turn, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov drew attention to Armenia's aggression policy and its grave consequences and informed the President of Georgia about the latest provocative activities of the Armenian leadership. The importance of resolving the conflict within the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was emphasized. The necessity for solidarity and cooperation between the states in the current situation on combating the pandemic was noted, and it was stressed that there is a high level of coordination and cooperation between the two countries in this regard. At the end of the meeting, President Salome Zurabishvili invited the President and First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to visit Georgia. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. DUBLIN, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market Research Report by Type, by Application, by End User - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market is expected to grow from USD 551.56 Million in 2019 to USD 2,101.82 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 24.97%. This research report categorizes the Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: On the basis of Type, the Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market is examined across Adeno-Associated Virus, Adenovirus, Lentivirus, and Plasmid DNA. On the basis of Indication, the Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market is examined across Cancer, Genetic Disorder, and Infectious Disease. On the basis of Application, the Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market is examined across Gene Therapy and Vaccinology. On the basis of End User, the Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market is examined across Biotech Companies and Research Institutes. On the basis of Geography, the Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market is examined across Americas, Asia-Pacific , and Europe , Middle East & Africa . The Americas region is examined across Argentina , Brazil , Canada , Mexico , and United States . The Asia-Pacific region is examined across Australia , China , India , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Philippines , South Korea , and Thailand . The Europe , Middle East & Africa region is examined across France , Germany , Italy , Netherlands , Qatar , Russia , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , Spain , United Arab Emirates , and United Kingdom The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. 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 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 Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Viral Vector & Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market? Companies Mentioned Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult CobraBiologics FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Inc. Kaneka Eurogentec S.A. Lonza Merck KGaA Novasep Inc. Spark Therapeutics, Inc. uniQure N.V. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xsj0tw About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Firefighters continue to battle the Bobcat fire north of Mt. Wilson along Angeles Crest Highway on Tuesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) California should put the same effort into preparing buildings to survive wildfires that it has retrofitting for earthquakes. Thats the view of UC Merced fire scientist Crystal Kolden, a former firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service. She makes sense. California needs policies that support individuals and communities to make structures more resistant to fire replacing roofs and other exterior building materials with ones that are resistant to burning, Kolden says in a Q&A with the Public Policy Institute of California. It will be expensive, she continues, but how many trillions has California invested in earthquake retrofitting? We need to look at wildfire the same way with a massive investment to make communities more resistant to fire. Trillions may be a reach. Maybe hundreds of billions. Whatever. Weve spent a ton on readying ourselves for catastrophic temblors. Wildfires and quakes are inevitable in California. Weve made a pretty good stab at bracing against quakes but have only recently begun to wake up about wildfires. Also inevitable are torrential rains that can cause devastating flooding, particularly in Northern California. Weve spent many billions erecting dams and levees to hold back rampaging floodwaters. There are nearly 1,500 dams in the state, many of them operated, in part, for flood control. We have an enormous number of dams and a crazy network of aqueducts and canals, Kolden told me when I called her. We also spend an enormous amount of money preparing for a tsunami. How many tsunamis have there been on the West Coast? But weve made a substantial investment in that. There are tsunami warning signs, evacuation signs all along the coast. Weve not made that type of state or federal investment in addressing wildfires. Fighting fires, yes. But retrofitting residential homes and commercial buildings to resist the fires, not nearly enough. Kolden grew up in Seattle and graduated from Cornell with a history degree. Story continues I had no intention of going to law school or becoming a high school history teacher, she says, so I went to work for [the Forest Service] because it was working outside. Kolden worked on a timber crew near Placerville, east of Sacramento. In the fall, shed do prescribed burning to clean up forest floors something the feds and the state have been doing increasingly less. I got hooked on fire, she says. So I became a wildland firefighter. After a couple of years, I moved to fire ecology. I wanted to better understand why we were managing fires the way we were and started grad school. She became a UC Merced fire science professor in July after being an associate professor at the University of Idaho. One thing that upsets Kolden is the common cry of many citizens that local governments shouldnt allow people burned out of their homes to rebuild in rural areas ravaged by wildfire and shouldnt even have permitted them to erect housing there in the first place. I get frustrated when I hear people say we shouldnt live in outlying areas, she says, because they fail to acknowledge that in nearly every place in California there is flammable vegetation 98% of the states vegetation is fire-prone under the right conditions. We just saw coastal redwoods burn [near Santa Cruz]. People who lived there didnt think they had to worry about wildfires because redwoods are wet and typically dont burn. What were seeing with climate change is that these places that havent burned very frequently are burning more frequently. So when people ask me, she continues, Where is a safe place to live in California where I dont have to worry about fire? the only place that fits that description is in the middle of the urban core in cities downtown L.A., downtown San Francisco. If you live in the urban jungle, as some call it, you dont have to worry about wildfire. But you may have to worry about your wallet. People are moving into the countryside because they cant afford city housing costs that have become ridiculous. We havent told people, You cant live on these earthquake faults. Nobody suggested not rebuilding the Bay Bridge because it was not a safe place for a bridge, Kolden says. It was made safer so when the next earthquake hits, theres much less probability that it will collapse. Thats the conversation we need to be having about wildfires. It cost $6.3 billion to erect a new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge after it was destroyed by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. To suggest we shouldnt allow people to live in these [fire-prone] areas is very much a straw man and doesnt address the problem, Kolden says. Its addressing an untenable solution. The real solution is to figure how to live in these fire-prone places so they dont have disasters. What we need are stronger building codes. And thats the analogy to earthquakes. All of California is covered by a uniform building code aimed at making sure structures can stand up to earthquakes. Retrofitting can also be required. Thats true whether the region has faults or not. But tough code requirements to protect against wildfires are spotty. Theyre imposed only in places the state deems fire-prone. And the state doesnt always get it right. One example: some of the wine country around Santa Rosa two years ago. Wildfires should be treated with the same respect and fear as Californias ages-old menace, earthquakes. Protests erupted in Louisville, Kentucky on Wednesday following the announcement that a grand jury impaneled by the state attorney general, Daniel Cameron, had decided not to bring criminal charges against police officers for shooting and killing Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old African American emergency medical technician. Taylor was felled by multiple bullets during a police raid on her home in the early morning hours of March 13. Anger over Taylors killingalong with the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25has fueled months of multi-racial protests across the US and internationally demanding an end to police violence and racism. People gather in Jefferson Square awaiting word on charges against police officers, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Louisville as soon as Cameron, who served as a special prosecutor in the case, announced the grand jurys decision at an afternoon press conference. Soon after, phalanxes of riot police waded into the crowd of peaceful protesters, swinging clubs and carrying out multiple arrests. Already on Monday, Democratic Governor Andy Beshear had declared a state of emergency in Louisville and ordered a lockdown of the downtown business area, enforced with the aid of concrete barricades set up by the police. By Wednesday, Beshear had activated the Kentucky National Guard and Louisville Mayor Greg Fisher, also a Democrat, had imposed a 72-hour curfew from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., beginning Wednesday night. In the weeks following the murder of George Floyd, hundreds of thousands marched and demonstrated in a wave of protests that spread to small towns as well as big cities. Louisville has remained a center of anti-police violence protests. Thousands have been arrested in violent crackdowns by police, who have assaulted and detained journalists and fired countless rounds of tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets. Two protesters were killed by a right-wing militia member in Kenosha, Wisconsin last month during protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. President Donald Trump has hailed the police violence against demonstrators and incited violent attacks on protesters by far-right and fascistic elements, including armed militia groups. His Department of Homeland Security sent federal police and paramilitary forces into Portland and Seattle to lead the crackdown on protesters in those cities. Trump has defended the targeted assassination of anti-fascist protester Michael Reinoehl by a police squad led by US Marshals. One of the officers involved in the fatal shooting of Taylor, Sergeant Jon Mattingly, sent an email to his colleagues that was leaked to the media on Monday. The email encouraged his fellow cops to confront protesters and hailed the police as warriors. Elsewhere, Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that the Illinois National Guard had been placed on a state of readiness ahead of Wednesdays announcement in the Louisville case. Hundreds of people gathered at a park near downtown Louisville Wednesday afternoon to listen to Camerons announcement on the grand jurys decision. They began marching immediately after it became clear that none of the police officers involved would face trial over Taylors death. While police were arresting protesters and trundling them into waiting vans, they allowed heavily armed right-wing militia members to march and harass motorists. Wednesdays grand jury decision came after 119 consecutive days of protests in Louisville, sparked by the release of the 911 recording of Taylors boyfriend Kenneth Walker pleading for help as Taylor lay dying on the floor of her home, having been struck by six police bullets. Detective Brett Hankison is the only officer involved in the raid that led to Taylors killing to face criminal prosecution. Cameron announced that the grand jury had charged Hankison with wanton endangerment of Taylors neighbors. During the raid on Taylors apartment, Hankison blindly fired 10 bullets through a patio window, several of which entered another unit in the apartment building where a man, his pregnant wife and their five-year-old child were asleep. Hankison was booked Wednesday and immediately released on a $15,000 cash bond while awaiting trial. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. His attorney told local NBC News affiliate WXIX that he plans to plead not guilty to the charges. I dont think the evidence will support the charge, attorney Stew Matthews said. Hankison was fired by the Louisville Metro Police Department in June for displaying an extreme indifference to the value of human life. None of the bullets that he sprayed into the apartment hit Taylor. Jon Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, the two officers who fired the fusillade of 22 bullets that killed Taylor and wounded her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, have been on administrative reassignment since the shooting, but have faced no punishment within the department. Their fatal shooting of Taylor has now been ruled justified under the law. The rationale is that Walker fired first, striking Officer Mattingly in the leg. The decision by the grand jury to not charge the officers for killing Taylor is a whitewash, overseen by Cameron, who is African American and a rising star within the Republican Party. He was elected attorney general in 2019 on a law-and-order platform. Cameron spoke at the Republican National Convention last month, which was a non-stop attack on socialist and anarchist protesters, demonized as terrorists and arsonists, and a glorification of the police. Trump presented himself as the leader of a twilight struggle to defend American civilization against a socialist menace that controlled the Democratic Party and its candidate, Joe Biden. The convention included thinly veiled appeals to racism, including a video statement by the St. Louis, Missouri couple who had pointed guns at anti-police violence protesters. They warned that Biden and the Democrats wanted to destroy the suburbs by flooding them with outsiders. The fact that Cameron spoke at this fascistic event while serving as special prosecutor in the police killing of Taylor should itself have led to his dismissal from the investigation. During his press conference Wednesday, Cameron denounced those who sought mob justice and dismissed the outrage of celebrities and influencers who were supposedly ignorant of Kentucky law. Cameron said the police were carrying out a knock and announce warrantrather than a no-knock warrant as had been widely reported. He said they had announced themselves before using a battering ram to burst into Taylors apartment after midnight, where they found Walker already in a shooting stance with Taylor next to him. Cameron claimed that Walker almost immediately fired his gun. All three officers then opened fire on the apartment. According to Cameron, only one of the six bullets that struck Taylor was fatal, but state investigators could not determine which officer fired it, meaning they could not ascribe blame. He also claimed that since Walker opened fire first, the officers were acting in self-defense and therefore manslaughter charges could not be brought. None of the officers were wearing body cameras, meaning that Cameron based his account of the shooting on the testimony of the three officers, which, he said, had been corroborated by one resident of the apartment, who claimed that he heard the officers announce themselves. Walker and the 11 other residents of the apartment building all say they never heard the police announce themselves. Walker, who had a legal permit for his gun, filed a lawsuit against the city of Louisville and the police department for damages earlier this month, claiming that he was the victim of police misconduct. While it took months to investigate and ultimately exonerate the police who killed Taylor, Walker was arrested and charged with first-degree assault and attempted murder of a police officer within hours of the raid. The charges were eventually dropped without prejudice, meaning they could be pursued again if prosecutors choose to do so. Walker is still seeking immunity from prosecution. I am a legal gun owner and I would never knowingly shoot a police officer, Walker said at a press conference on September 1. He said he believed he was acting in self-defense, confronted by a group of unidentified men invading the apartment. Breonna and I did not know who was banging at the door, but police know what they did, he told the press. The outcome of Camerons investigation and the grand jury decision is blanket immunity for police who burst into a home in the middle of the night. The decision makes clear that Taylors life meant nothing to the state. If confused or frightened residents act to defend themselves, they and their family can be blasted away. Police in the United States already kill with almost complete impunity. Officers are charged and convicted in only the rarest of cases, despite killing approximately 1,000 people every year. The Supreme Court has routinely upheld and expanded the policy of qualified immunity, which gives police great leeway in the use of violence when on the beat. The police are the armed enforcers of the capitalist state. While racism plays a role in police killings, contributing to the disproportionate number of African Americans and other minorities who fall victim to police brutality, the largest number of those who are killed are white. Police violence is a class issue. The never-ending wave of police attacks and killings is a function of a social system that condemns millions to poverty while concentrating ever more obscene levels of wealth in the hands of a parasitic elite. The implementation of cosmetic reforms and the placement of more minorities and women in positions of power have done nothing to ease the reign of police terror against the working class all across the country. The only way to end police violence is to put an end to the capitalist system, which is the root of all the social ills confronting the working class, and establish a system based on social equality, that is, socialism. Full Year Statutory Accounts Perth, Sep 24, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Musgrave Minerals Ltd ( ASX:MGV ) ( FRA:6MU ) is an Australian resources company focused on gold exploration and development at the Cue Project in the Murchison Province of Western Australia.Exploration activities for the financial year have been focused on gold exploration at Cue. The Company has had significant exploration success during the year with the discovery of the Starlight and White Light high-grade gold lodes at Break of Day.Musgrave has an estimated 613koz of gold in resources on the Cue Project and completed more than 50,000m of drilling during the year. The total Indicated and Inferred JORC Mineral Resources on the project are; 6.45 Mt @ 3.0g/t Au for 613,000 ounces of gold (see ASX announcements 14 July 2017, and 17 Feb 2020). The new Starlight and White Light discoveries are not included in this resource estimate.Musgrave's intent is to continue to grow the resource base, accelerate exploration and commence feasibility studies to develop a low-cost operation that returns value to shareholders.2020 was a very successful year for Musgrave showing significant value accretion and share price growth, following the near surface high-grade Starlight gold discovery. Our focus continues to be on the Cue Project ("Cue") which is located in the well-endowed, gold producing Murchison region of Western Australia.The Company's near term focus is on de-risking our funding requirements and expanding our gold resources through extensional and new greenfield exploration drilling at Cue, leading to the commencement of feasibility studies. Exceptional hits such as 14m @ 191.4g/t Au from 4m and 77m @ 13.3g/t Au from 7m down hole (see ASX announcement 28 July 2020, "Bonanza gold grades continue at Starlight with 3m @ 884.7g/t Au" ) have highlighted the near surface gold potential at the new Starlight discovery adjacent to the existing Break of Day lodes. The Break of Day resource, excluding Starlight, currently stands at 868kt @ 7.2g/t Au for 199koz gold (see ASX announcements 14 July 2017, and 17 Feb 2020).The company also intersected a new gold lode approximately 75m south of Starlight in a new position named White Light. Intercepts included 6m @ 48.2g/t Au from 211m down hole (see ASX announcement 30 July 2020, "Quarterly Activity and Cashflow Report" ).In September 2019 Musgrave announced that it had entered into an Earn-In and Joint Venture Exploration Agreement with Evolution Mining Limited over a select area of Lake Austin and surrounds (JV Area) on the Cue Project. The JV Area excludes all the known resources including Lena and Break of Day, Starlight and the Mainland option area. Evolution can earn a 75% interest in the JV Area by sole funding A$18 million on exploration over a five year term with a minimum commitment of A$4 million in the first two years. Musgrave will manage the JV during the initial period.Regional aircore drilling under the Evolution JV on Lake Austin has identified more than 8km of basement gold targets within multiple zones of strong regolith gold anomalism that require follow-up aircore drilling and basement drill testing. A Phase 2, 21,000m follow-up aircore drill program is currently underway.At Lena, the team has extended the resource estimate to 4.3 Mt @ 2.3g/t Au for 325koz gold (see ASX announcement 17 February 2020, "Lena Resource Update"). At Mainland a successful reverse circulation (RC) drilling program intersected high-grade gold at the Consols prospect including 3m @ 38.2g/t Au from 113m down hole (see ASX announcement 31 January 2020, "Quarterly Activity and Cashflow Report").Musgrave successfully completed a capital raising in May 2020 to raise $6.0M (before costs) through a share placement to institutional and sophisticated investors.On 1 May 2020, Musgrave entered into a joint venture with Cyprium Australia Pty Ltd ("Cyprium") on the non-gold rights over the northern Cue tenure including the Hollandaire copper deposit. Cyprium ( ASX:CYM ) has earned an 80% interest in the non-gold rights over the area while Musgrave is free carried to a definitive feasibility study and retains 100% of the gold rights. The farm-out of base metals at Hollandaire has allowed Musgrave to focus on its priority gold targets enabled the discovery of the Starlight and White Light gold lodes at Break of Day and deliver significant value accretion to its shareholders.To view the full report, please visit:About Musgrave Minerals Ltd Musgrave Minerals Ltd (ASX:MGV) is an active Australian gold and base metals explorer. The Cue Project in the Murchison region of Western Australia is an advanced gold and copper project. Musgrave has had significant exploration success at Cue with the ongoing focus on increasing the gold and copper resources through discovery and extensional drilling to underpin studies that will demonstrate a viable path to development in the near term. Musgrave also holds a large exploration tenement package in the Ni-Cu-Co prospective Musgrave Province in South Australia. Not all of Californias contested congressional races are created equal, as one Orange County Democrat is showing. When Democrat Katie Porter of Irvine beat GOP Rep. Mimi Waters in 2018, she instantly became a top target for Republicans looking to take back a congressional seat they had held for decades. So it was no surprise that supporters of the UC Irvine law professor received an email from Porter last week asking for money. But the cash she wanted was for Candace Valenzuela, a Texas Democrat running for an open seat in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs. I need strong allies in our shared fight to hold corporations accountable, improve public schools and expand family leave, Porter said in the email. Candace has the background and experience we need in Congress now more than ever. But she cant win this race alone. While Valenzuelas campaign paid for the email, most candidates facing a potentially competitive contest wont even think about sharing donors with another candidate, especially with mail voting about to begin. But Porter has plenty of reasons to be confident. Republicans last year named Porter as one 55 vulnerable Democrats nationwide whose seats represent prime pickup opportunities for the party, but it hasnt worked out that way. In a June 30 filing with the Federal Election Commission, Porter said she had raised $8.2 million for her re-election campaign in the 45th Congressional District and had $6.8 million in the bank. Her GOP opponent, Mission Viejo (Orange County) Councilman Greg Raths, had collected $751,558, with $334,919 left for the fall campaign. Porter, 46, has made a national name for herself with her tough questioning of witnesses including Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy when they appeared before her House committees. While the Republican National Congressional Committee has jabbed at Porter for not always coming Washington to vote on bills during the pandemic and for her support for her former law school professor, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, during the predidential primaries, her GOP opponent is notably absent from the committees Young Guns list of top challengers to Democratic incumbents. While Republicans hold a 36% to 34% registration edge in the 45th District, Porters seat is listed as safely Democratic by all three of the major nonpartisan election analysts: the Cook Political Report, Sabatos Crystal Ball and Inside Elections. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle reporter. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth The chief executive of Boohoo teafully told an inquest today how he slapped his 20-year-old's face then did CPR in a desperate bid to revive him after finding him dead in bed following a drugs binge. Louis Butler Lyttle - son of the clothing firm's boss, John - was found unresponsive in his room at his family's secluded mansion in Kent on April 20, just days before his 21st birthday. Mr Lyttle heard his son's alarm ringing at 5.50am to wake up for work but when he entered his bedroom, Louis appeared grey and was cold to the touch. He slapped his face but there was no response so carried out CPR while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Paramedics took over at the family's home in a private road near Sevenoaks, but informed his heartbroken parents he had died at 6.20am and may have already been dead for a couple of hours. A post-mortem found his cause of death was morphine toxicity. Toxicologist David Rose found 'potentially fatal levels' of morphine in Louis' system. Cocaine and by-product benzoylecgonine were also present but his blood alcohol level was below the drink drive limit. Louis Lyttle, 20, the son of fast fashion chain boss John Lyttle, right, died at home near Sevenoaks in April after a drug and alcohol binge, an inquest has heard 'The richest shopkeeper you've never heard of': Who is Boohoo CEO John Lyttle? John Lyttle, 51, was born in Ireland and after leaving school joined Primark as a trainee store manager. Irish-born Mr Lyttle worked in Dublin where he met his future wife Clodagh, who also worked for the business in the 1990s. He rose through the ranks to the role of head of buying before joining the Arcadia Group, run by Sir Philip Green, as buying director in the UK. Mr Lyttle then worked at Matalan for five years as trading director before returning to Primark in 2010. He oversaw sales rocket to over 7billion in his role as chief operating officer. When he was appointed chief executive of Boohoo its executive chairman Mahmud Kamani described himself as 'thrilled' to have him on board. He described himself as a keen runner in a recent interview, but showed the scale of his ambition at the clothing company. Mr Lyttle said: 'We might have started in the UK market. But really what we want to be is truly a global player'. He is said to earn 1.6 million a year in the post he took up last March - reportedly operating on a salary of 615,000 plus a potential annual bonus of 900,000. And if he can boost Boohoo's value from 2 billion to 5 billion, he stands to take home an eyewatering 50 million bonus. In a recent interview, he described himself as a 'straight talker'. But he has had to battle a number of scandals in his first year in the job. It is alleged staff at a supplier were paid way below the minimum wage and were not given up-to-scratch PPE. Mr Lyttle has been forced to launch a review into what has happened in the company's UK supply chain. Boohoo have found no evidence that staff were paid 3.50 per hour. Advertisement Coroner Alan Blunsdon said today: 'This was the death of a naive young man who used a high level of substance with catastrophic effects. 'There is no evidence of drug addiction or abuse. 'Immediately before his death Louis had used illicit drugs but the circumstances of that use have not been revealed by the police investigation. 'There is no evidence or suspicion to support Louis intended to take his own life.' Mr Lyttle attended the inquest at County Hall in Maidstone, Kent by video link as Mr Blunsdon recorded a verdict of misadventure and passed on his condolences to the family. Detective Inspector Sarah Stevenson found Louis on the floor next to the bed after he had been moved in attempts to revive him. She also found a large matchbox, a very small amount of white substance, two small pieces of cling film and an empty vitamin pipette in the bathroom. Bottles of beer were also hidden behind the pipework and empty lager cans were stuffed inside a suitcase concealed in his room. Ms Stevenson believed 'these were elements that he didn't want to be seen' as his parents were unaware of the hidden alcohol. She spoke with the father to identify that it was his son Louis and found his driving license and passport in his bedroom. His bag had also been packed to go to work the following morning. A GP report found he 'did not have any significant medical history' and denied taking any medication or recreational drugs when seen on July 3, 2019. The family had a takeaway on the Friday evening but Louis told his dad he had been sick all night. He appeared unwell throughout the whole of Saturday but was able to have breakfast on Sunday morning. At around 4pm, Louis went out in the car and didn't say where he was going. Mr Lyttle assumed he had 'popped to the supermarket' and returned around an hour and a half later. Louis had two beers and a glass of wine with his Sunday dinner at 8pm before being found dead the following morning. In a statement read out by Mr Blunsdon, the deceased's father said: 'Louis was a positive character and had plans for the future. 'He was positive about work. 'As parents we had a concern he may have used drugs recreationally. 'He did say he been experimenting but didn't say what. 'He did say he had been taking Xanax because he was stressed with exams. 'But we had no concerns about Louis' lifestyle or mental health.' Louis, who worked for his father John (pictured) at Boohoo, was pronounced dead by paramedics at 6.20am on April 20 The family's home is on a private narrow country lane surrounded by woodland and fields with three adjoining properties on the sprawling private gated estate. Louis' LinkedIn profile says he had been working as a 'business professional' at Boohoo since last July, having previously interned at investment banking firm Investec. He attended the independent King's School in Canterbury, Kent - where fees are as high as 27,495 a year. Louis later studied business management at Cardiff University but his 'heart wasn't in his degree' and he quit during his second year at Easter 2019. Louis - born in Galway, Ireland - also interned at Indian financial services company Religare. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee (R) speaks accompanied by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), during a news conference on Capitol Hill, after a meeting at the White House in Washington on June 30, 2020. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo) House Democrats Seek to Curb Presidential Powers House Democrats have announced a proposal that, broadly, seeks to bolster congressional power with respect to the executive branch of the government, and aims to prevent future presidential abuses, restore our system of checks and balances, strengthen accountability and transparency, and protect our elections. The sweeping legislation, called the Protecting Our Democracy Act (pdf), includes measures to restrict presidential pardon power, enhance Congresss enforcement authority with respect to members of the executive branch, tighten financial disclosure requirements related to gifts or profits that public servants receive while in office, and reinforce Congresss ability to enforce subpoenas. Other proposals include stronger congressional oversight of presidential emergency declarations, measures to strengthen Congresss power of the purse, greater protections for whistleblowers, and measures to reduce political appointments in executive agencies by raising qualification requirements in hiring and imposing tenure caps on acting heads of agencies to no more than 120 days. The Democrats introducing the legislation, led by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the House Intelligence Committee chairman who led the impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, said in a statement that the bill was spurred by what they called the presidents lawless actions. Our democracy is not self-effectuatingit takes work and a commitment to guard it against those who would undermine it, whether foreign or domestic. 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 group stated. Calling it a once-in-a-generation moment, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), in announcing the initiative on Capitol Hill, told reporters that Congress has a sacred obligation for the people to defend the rule of law and restore accountability and basic ethics to the government. And that is exactly what were doing with this package. It is sad that the presidents actions have made this legislation necessary, she added. As with other things, he gives us no choice. Democrats have long accused Trump of abusing his power, including when he took executive action to appropriate Pentagon funding to help build a wall at the U.S.Mexican border, or when the administration ignored congressional subpoenas. The measure is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate if taken up before the Nov. 3 election. The White House didnt immediately reply to a request by The Epoch Times for comment about the measure or the abuse of power allegations made by Democrats in their accompanying statement. ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, Sept 24, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi ABB Power Grids today announced a strategic realignment of its global high-voltage switchgear manufacturing, engineering and service footprint to enhance competitiveness in a dynamic market environment marked by increasing competition. The move is expected to entail an investment of over $100 million to strengthen the High Voltage Products business which employs around 7,500 people globally, and support its profitable and sustainable growth.Hitachi ABB Power Grids will invest in capabilities to serve the growing market needs in Asia, Middle East and Africa from its switchgear units in China, India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Vietnam, to ensure customer proximity and competitiveness. Additionally, the company has a global engineering center in India which will be further strengthened to meet increasing demand.In Europe, the assembly of gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) below 170-kilovolt (kV) in Hanau, Germany is intended to be consolidated in Zurich, Switzerland. This unit has a rich heritage of pioneering innovation including the world's first eco-efficient (SF6 alternative) GIS and has assembly and testing capabilities to deliver products up to 1,200 kV. Going forward, the GIS operations in Hanau and Mannheim are expected to focus on technology, sales and service. The wide-ranging high-voltage switchgear presence in Europe will continue to serve the region mainly through its units in Switzerland, Sweden and Italy as well as its growing presence in Bulgaria and Czech Republic.The company's US hub in North America will be further enhanced to strengthen its presence in the region.The extensive global high-voltage product network will continue to serve customers across all markets in an optimum and competitive manner."This footprint optimization will enhance competitiveness and strengthen our global leadership in high-voltage switchgear by better aligning the business to reflect evolving market needs," said Claudio Facchin, CEO, Hitachi ABB Power Grids. "The realignment is part of our ongoing strategic transformation and enhanced customer focus. As a market leader, we continue to make significant investments to bring the best-in-class technology and services to our customers."Hitachi ABB Power Grids is a world leader in high-voltage technology offering comprehensive range of high-voltage products up to 1,200 kV that help enhance the safety, reliability and efficiency of power grids while minimizing environmental impact. It continues to drive innovations in areas such as ultra-high-voltage power transmission, enabling smart grids and enhancing eco-efficiency.About Hitachi ABB Power Grids Ltd.Hitachi ABB Power Grids is global technology leader with a combined heritage of almost 250 years, employing around 36,000 people in 90 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, the business serves utility, industry and infrastructure customers across the value chain, and emerging areas like sustainable mobility, smart cities, energy bstorage and data centers. With a proven track record, global footprint and unparalleled installed base, Hitachi ABB Power Grids balances social, environmental and economic values. It is committed to powering good for a sustainable energy future, with pioneering and digital technologies, as the partner of choice for enabling a stronger, smarter and greener grid. https://www.hitachiabb-powergrids.comSource: Hitachi, Ltd.Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Victoria has recorded 14 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths in the past 24 hours, as the state moves closer to the easing of restrictions. The number of cases originating from an unknown source are down from Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services said on Friday morning. Despite the drop in cases Melbourne will not take 'massive steps' out of its lingering lockdown as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews moved to temper expectations ahead of a much-anticipated announcement on Sunday. Melbourne's strict Stage Four lockdown is unlikely to be eased early despite falling COVID case numbers in the city (pictured people wearing masks in front of Flinders St Station) Victoria has recorded 14 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours to Friday (Pictured are ADF personnel manning a Princes Highway checkpoint outside Melbourne) Melburnians flocked to St Kilda beach (pictured) on Saturday as the temperature hit 26C in the city while Freedom Day protests continued against the lockdowns On Thursday, the state reported 12 new cases have been diagnosed since the previous day, with the total number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria now at 20,105. Of the known, cases 67 are being treated in hospital while eight are in intensive care being treated with ventilators. The city's crucial 14-day COVID-19 case average plummeted to 26.7 on Thursday, below the 30-50 threshold needed to trigger to the next stage of normalisation on September 28. Despite a day earlier indicating some of the city's strict Stage Four restrictions could be eased quicker than planned, Mr Andrews was talking down the prospect of major changes to Melbourne's lockdown. 'Sunday will not be a day of massive steps,' Mr Andrews told reporters on Thursday. 'The roadmap does not speak to that. It is not a day when we essentially throw the doors open,' he said The regional Victorian average remains steady at 1.1, while there are 532 active cases across the state. Beachgoers eager for a breather from Stage Four lockdowns are seen basking in the sun during the COVID-19 crisis in Melbourne on Saturday Pictured are ADF troops and police patrolling Melbourne during the second wave of the virus People relax in Carlton Gardens (pictured) as allowed time outside is increased during the Coronavirus pandemic and associated lockdown Under the metropolitan Melbourne roadmap announced on September 6, proposed changes include a staged return to school for some students and an allowance for pubic gatherings of five people from two households. Mr Andrews said despite the city's rolling average reducing by 2.7 on Thursday, the figures were still 'too much' to skip to 'step three' a month early. He expects the state government and health authorities to settle on the new rules on Saturday night before publicly confirming the package. Mr Andrews is also standing by beleaguered Health Minister Jenny Mikakos after the Health Workers Union called for her dismissal. Ms Mikakos appeared before the inquiry into Victoria's botched hotel quarantine scheme on Thursday, with the premier scheduled to be grilled on Friday. Stage Four restrictions and associated curfews have been tough for businesses (pictured Nerissa Jayasingha owner of cafe Lankan Tucker packing a take away order) People enjoy indoor dining at Pako Bakery-cafe on September 17, 2020 in Geelong, Australia Meanwhile, the state government suffered a blow in the Supreme Court on Thursday. A judge ordered legal advice justifying the state's 9pm-5pm curfew must be handed over to the lawyers for Mornington Peninsula cafe owner Michelle Loielo, who is challenging the validity of the controversial measure. The curfew is due to remain in place until October 26, with Mr Andrews refusing to be drawn on whether there would be any changes announced on Sunday. Two further fatalities reported on Thursday took the state's coronavirus death toll to 773 and the national figure to 861. The number of people who have recovered in the state is 8,738, while a total of 2,622,822 test results have been received. Of the active cases in Victoria, 517 are in metropolitan Melbourne under the first step of the state's roadmap out of restrictions. While 10 are in regional local government areas under the third step of the roadmap. There are five cases that are either unknown or subject to further investigation. Colac Otway has two active cases, Greater Geelong and Greater Bendigo have one active case and Ballarat has no active cases. Members of Victoria Police patrol in Elsternwick Park on September 19, 2020 in Melbourne Locals wearing masks are see riding bikes and scooters along the Yarra during COVID-19 in Melbourne You are here: Business Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has achieved growth in foreign trade for three consecutive months since June, local authorities said. In August, the region's total import and export volume exceeded 15.6 billion yuan (around 2.3 billion U.S. dollars), up 31.5 percent year on year, said the Urumqi Customs. Of the total volume, Xinjiang's exports, dominated by mechanical, electrical and labor-intensive products, rose 39.9 percent year on year to 11.76 billion yuan in August. Meanwhile, the region's imports, mainly energy commodities, hit 3.87 billion yuan, an annual increase of 11.2 percent. In June and July, the region's foreign trade registered a year-on-year rise of 10.6 percent and 32.9 percent, respectively. In the first eight months of this year, Kazakhstan was Xinjiang's largest trading partner, accounting for over 50 percent of the region's total. Besides, the region also saw increasing trade volume with India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Italy and Saudi Arabia in the period. At Harbor Life, we recognize the life insurance industry is complex, but we also believe it is vitally important people understand the wide range of financial benefits that come with having a life insurance policy. Harbor Life Settlements, a company dedicated to helping people unlock the value of their life insurance by making the life settlement process straightforward and transparent, today announced the key results of its 2020 Life Settlement & Retirement Survey. Harbor Life conducted a national survey of 1,702 U.S. adults to better understand peoples knowledge of life insurance benefits and options, with the goal of uncovering insights that help individuals make better decisions around financial and retirement planning. Overall, Harbor Lifes study revealed that while 70% of U.S. adults have life insurance, there are sizable knowledge gaps among consumers that may be preventing them from understanding the full potential of their policies. Looking specifically at those who have life insurance: 43% of policyholders do not know they can sell their policy in a life settlement 57% of policyholders do not know what a viatical settlement is 11% do not know what type of life insurance they have These startling numbers show a large percentage of Americans are paying policy premiums each month, but are unaware of the full financial potential of their life insurance coverage, said Lucas Siegel, Founder and CEO of Harbor Life Settlements. At Harbor Life, we recognize the life insurance industry is complex, but we also believe it is vitally important people understand the wide range of financial benefits that come with having a life insurance policy. In fact, we know if Americans took full advantage of life settlements, that benefit alone could cover nearly half of the $300 billion seniors are paying in long-term care costs each year. When it comes to Americans 55 and older, Harbor Lifes survey shows one in five retired seniors do not feel they have enough money to cover their medical, living and retirement expenses comfortably. In fact, retired seniors are 900% more likely to be concerned about having enough money to cover their expenses when compared to retirees under the age of 55. Additionally, the largest consumer knowledge gap around life and viatical settlements resides with seniors. Sixty-three percent of seniors do not know what a life settlement is, compared to 53% of people 54 or younger, and 75% of seniors do not know what a viatical settlement is, relative to 66% of non-seniors. These findings are unfortunate considering seniors are the most likely group to be eligible for a life settlement. Also knowing 20% of retired seniors are struggling to comfortably cover their expenses, while more than two-thirds of them still carry an active life insurance policy, makes it imperative that we close the knowledge gaps discovered in our study, added Siegel. We view these findings as an opportunity to work closely with both consumers and financial advisors to improve knowledge and awareness around life settlement options and other living benefits of life insurance. For additional survey findings related to consumer motivations for having a life insurance policy, measurements of how life insurance needs evolve over ones life, what factors prevent Americans from buying life insurance policies, and more please click here. About Harbor Life Settlements Harbor Life Settlements is a life settlement company that is dedicated to helping seniors and the terminally or chronically ill sell their life insurance policies for maximum cash value so they can comfortably afford their long-term care, medical expenses, retirement, and more. To make the life settlement process easy and transparent, Harbor Life handles all underwriting, paperwork, and legal matters associated with the sale of a life insurance policy, and works with a large network of fully-licensed life settlement brokers and providers to guarantee the highest cash offer for every client. To learn more, please visit harborlifesettlements.com. A company has become the first to use children with disabilities in a baby wipes TV commercial. Pura, which has just launched its eco-friendly baby wipes, features a number of babies with disabilities or special needs in its new 'It's time for a change' campaign - including little Lenny Rooney, two, from Liverpool, and Willow Welbourn, almost two, from Lincoln. The tiny toddlers, who both have Down's syndrome, were picked to star in the campaign for plastic-free baby wipes and their pictures will also appear on billboards and social media. Lenny and Willow both signed to Zebedee Management, an agency which represents people with disabilities, when they were a few months old and this was their first major modelling job. A company has become the first to use children with disabilities in a baby wipes TV commercial. Pictured, Lenny Rooney, from Liverpool, in the Pura campaign Pura, which has just launched its eco-friendly baby wipes, features a number of babies with disabilities or special needs in its new "It's time for a change" campaign - including little Lenny Rooney and Willow Welbourn (pictured) The beautiful babies were chosen from dozens of children and spent a day in London being filmed and photographed. Laura Johnson, director of Zebedee Management, said when she started the agency with Zoe Proctor three years ago, one of her aspirations was to see a baby with a disability advertising wipes or nappies and she was thrilled her dream had come true. She said: 'Zebedee are over the moon that Willow and Lenny feature in the new Pura Campaign. Both babies and their families are all so wonderful, and we are delighted for them. 'When Zebedee first launched, we were often asked what our aspirations were, and what bookings we would like to see for our models. Tiny Toddler Lenny (pictured), who has Down's syndrome, was picked to star in the campaign for plastic-free baby wipes Lenny and Willow (pictured) will also appear on billboards and social media to help advertise the baby wipes Vikki and Stephen Rooney and their children Izzy, 6, Lenny, 2 and Nell 16 weeks (pictured) As a new mum, I dreamed of seeing a baby with a disability featured on baby wipe or nappy advertising. At the time, this seemed impossible. But now our dreams have been realised. 'For a new mum, who has recently had a baby who has a disability, I feel that this sort of inclusive advertising will mean the world to them. It proves that their babies are accepted in the wider world and disability is not to be feared.' Lenny, was born with two holes in his heart and only one valve and had to have open heart surgery when he was six months old. Since then the cheerful little boy, who has an older sister Izzy, six, and younger sister, Nell, 16 weeks, has been hitting all his milestones and started walking during lockdown. Lenny, who appears twice in the TV commercial, attended the filming with mum Vikki Rooney, who said it was 'incredible' that he was included in the advert. 'I had no idea Lenny had Down's syndrome until he was born and at first it was a shock, particularly because of his heart problems too.' explained Vikki, 31, who is a midwife. Lenny (pictured) and Willow both signed to Zebedee Management, an agency which represents people with disabilities, when they were a few months old The Pura campaign was the tiny toddlers first major modelling job. Pictured, Willow The beautiful babies were chosen from dozens of children and spent a day in London being filmed and photographed. Pictured. Willow 'But we soon adjusted and Lenny wouldn't be Lenny without his extra chromosome. He's very determined and came home from his heart surgery after just four days, instead of weeks. I don't think anything is going to stand in his way. 'It's incredible he is in the Pura advert because everyone wants their child to be included and not singled out because they look different. 'My main aim with Lenny modelling is to help change people's perceptions of Down's syndrome and show he is just like everyone else and it's not something to be scared of. I think society is gradually changing.' Pretty Willow, who is almost two, appears in Pura's social media campaign and is also set to feature on billboards. Mum Hannah Welbourn, 30, from Lincoln, didn't know Willow had Down's syndrome until she was born. Mum Hannah Welbourn, 30, from Lincoln, didn't know Willow had Down's syndrome until she was born. Pictured, Willow when she was a baby Pretty Willow (pictured), who is almost two, appears in Pura's social media campaign and is also set to feature on billboards Lenny, who appears twice in the TV commercial, attended the filming with mum Vikki Rooney, who said it was 'incredible' that he was included in the advert Little star Willow Welbourn pictured with father Dan and mother Hannh Two-year-old Lenny (pictured left and right) was born with two holes in his heart and only one valve and had to have open heart surgery when he was six months old She said: 'All tests during my pregnancy had come back low chance but when she was born she had the markers for Down's syndrome and after staying in hospital for tests it was confirmed. 'At first we were shocked and scared about what her future would hold, but we very quickly got over our fears and got on with life. 'Willow is wonderful, she is so good and relaxed and has the best personality. As a young baby she was in and out of hospital around 10 times with respiratory conditions but is doing really well now. 'We've made lots of good friends and found a huge amount of support in the Down's syndrome community and we signed her to Zebedee when she was a few months old as we loved what they stood for.' She said it was fantastic that Willow had been chosen to be part of the Pura campaign. Two-year-old Lenny (pictured) was born with two holes in his heart and only one valve and had to have open heart surgery when he was six months old Laura Johnson, director of Zebedee Management, said when she started the agency with Zoe Proctor three years ago, one of her aspirations was to see a baby with a disability advertising wipes or nappies. Pictured, Lenny Hannah said her daughter Willow is 'wonderful, she is so good and relaxed and has the best personality' (pictured, together) Lenny's mum has said that he wouldn't be Lenny 'without his extra chromosome.' Pictured, the tiny toddler Laura Johnson, director of Zebedee Management, said: 'Zebedee are over the moon that Willow and Lenny feature in the new Pura Campaign. Both babies and their families are all so wonderful, and we are delighted for them' Williow's mum Hannah said: 'At first we were shocked and scared about what her future would hold, but we very quickly got over our fears and got on with life.' Pictured, with father Dan 'I think it's important to show that all babies are beautiful in their own way,' she added. Pura co-founder Guy Fennell, said they had a 'strong commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.' He said: 'Pura believes that we all have an equal role in helping save our planet and we have a strong commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. 'It was therefore really important to us that our campaign was an authentic reflection of all families, including children with disabilities or special needs. 'Lenny and Willow were an absolute joy to work with, we had so much fun casting and filming our 'spokesbabies'. 'The campaign has obviously resonated with audiences as we have had more than 3.5 million views of the film already! 'Pura is committed to making real change, and we are proud to play our part in helping disability diversity to become the norm in advertising.' Vikki said she had no idea Lenny had Down's syndrome until he was born. Pictured, with Lenny and Stephen Pura co-founder Guy Fennell, said they had a 'strong commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.' Pictured, Lenny Even with more power against the individual than any other modern democratic nation, the Indian government seeks more. Such laws do not exist elsewhere in the civilised world, observes Aakar Patel. It is not seen in that way, especially in our part of the world, but the criminal justice system is deliberately designed to protect the rights of the accused. And this is the correct way of seeing it. Why? Because in a criminal case there are two parties. The accused individual versus the State. The State controls the laws under which the system operates. It appoints, pays the salaries of and manages the police forces who arrest and investigate. The State appoints and pays the prosecutors who will represent it against the individual. The State pays and promotes the judges who determine innocence or guilt. All the powers are with the State. There is no power with the individual. Most accused in India have no money even to get proper representation and therefore defence against the State. That is why we have the principal of innocent until proven guilty because the understanding is that the State has overwhelming and terrible power in a criminal case and there is a mismatch. Even though justice is represented as a blind woman with balanced scales, the scales are not balanced and the state can load as much weight as it wants to on one side. We have seen evidence of the sState's mischief in the way that the Delhi riots are being prosecuted. The majoritarian ideology of a political party is finding expression in the criminal justice system because it is in control of a State with overwhelming power. In India after independence, the State has not been satisfied with the amount of power it has and has needed more. This is not a problem because there is nobody stopping the State from giving more power to itself except the voters. And voters in India have little interest in the criminal justice system. Most middle class individuals do not think it concerns them. The State can give itself whatever power it wants. And what it wants is a reversal of innocent until proven guilty and make it guilty until proven innocent. And in India the State has been giving itself this power to reverse the fundamental principle of the criminal justice system. Laws that Indians protested against when they were being written by the British in a colonial State can be written up and implemented today by a democratic State though their effect on the individual is the same. The Rowlatt Act for which the Jallianwala Bagh protestors had gathered allowed preventive detention. This is a power under which the State can arrest individuals without a crime, on the assumption that they may commit a crime in future. This is guilt until proven innocent. Today India has many laws that are similar that have been written by our democratic State which allow preventive detention. Every state has more than one such law and the Centre has them as well. This is why the protestors including women in the Delhi riots can get bail but still remain in jail because there are many options for the State to keep them locked up without conviction. But most of us do not seem to mind this. Many laws that the government has written for itself, including UAPA, on money laundering and even on cow slaughter has a reversal of burden of proof. Meaning that until the individual can prove their innocence to the satisfaction of the State, they can be kept locked up and prosecuted. Such laws do not exist elsewhere in the civilised world. Even with more power against the individual than any other modern democratic nation, the Indian government seeks more. Uttar Pradesh has set up a police force that can arrest without a warrant and without the orders of a magistrate. This is a power that other states and even the Centre has. We have no civic or popular pushback against this sort of acquisition of power by the State. In the absence of this the State will continue to acquire more power against us. What we have in India today is autocracy and tyranny in practice under a democratic name. I do not make this accusation against any party because the government is controlled by different political parties at the level of the province. There is no difference between one part of India and another in this matter. It is also true that under a government at the Centre which wants to enthusiastically expand its power the real danger of this is being seen. We may not like the individuals who are being tried by the criminal justice system today because we have made up our minds that they are bad people, even though we have never actually met them. But this dislike is not the reason why we should approve the State's being given overwhelming power against the individual because this principle is wrong in law and unjust on the face of it. Aakar Patel is a columnist and writer. You can read Aakar's columns here. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com (kommersant.ru) - ALROSA, already affected by the pandemic, will lose 2-3 bn per year as a result of the amendments proposed by the Ministry of Finance in the calculation of the tax on diamond mining. The corresponding bill has already been submitted to the State Duma and involves estimating the value of mined stones based on their sales prices and not on the Ministry of Finances price lists. As a result, the amount of the severance tax levied from the company may grow by 10%. Nevertheless, the analysts believe that the impact on the company's financial performance will be negligible. Diamond mining company ALROSA, which faced a large-scale drop in sales this year due to the coronavirus, will also not avoid the severance tax growth like other mining and metallurgical companies in Russia. The government has submitted a bill to the State Duma containing a new procedure for assessing the value of mined precious stones. The new procedure is to estimate the value of mined stones based on their sales price (excluding VAT) and not on the Ministry of Finances price lists, however, in any case, not lower than their level. The severance tax for mining diamonds is 8% of the price. Now, the taxable income is calculated based on the price lists of the Ministry of Finance, which, in turn, are determined taking into consideration the proposals coming from Gokhran, Almazyuvelirexport and mining companies. The price list is revised in case the prices change by more than 10% and stay at that level for 90 days. At the end of 2019, ALROSA paid the severance tax in the amount of 21.9 bn, and 20.6 bn in 2018. The ALROSAs press service told Kommersant daily, if the bill enters into force it will increase the amount of tax paid by the company for the difference between the listed prices and the market ones for the mined diamonds, provided that the market conditions are favorable. At the same time, the company notes, the current legislation contains some uncertainty and the company is going to send its additional proposals to the Ministry of Finance and the relevant State Duma committee. The company did not specify what kind of inaccuracy was in the law. However, the bill, in contrast to the explanatory note, does not mention that the sale price used for calculating the severance tax for diamonds is to be reduced by the taxpayer's expenses for their delivery to those who receive the goods, as is done, for example, in the case of precious metals. The Ministry of Finance was going to change the severance tax for diamonds early in the year, that is, before the pandemic (see Kommersant daily of February 11). Then, the Ministry of Finance estimated the possible increase in the budget revenues by about 3.3 bn a year. In addition, the Ministry of Finance planned to increase the severance tax for coal and mineral fertilizers. Subsequently, the decision was made not to increase the tax for coal taking into account the decline in coal prices. However, the diamond market realities are even worse. ALROSA turned out to be among the mining companies most affected by COVID-19. In April, the companys sales fell to a minimum of $15.6 mn. In the first half of the year, ALROSA did not pay dividends and showed its negative cash flow. However, in August, the market began to recover gradually, and the company's diamond sales increased six times compared to July, up to $216.7 mn. According to Boris Sinitsyn, a VTB Capital analyst, the change in the calculation of the severance tax will affect ALROSA insignificantly. The Ministry of Finances price list is regularly revised following the changes in comparable diamond prices. Typically, selling prices could be up to 10% higher than the listed prices. This will be an additional tax at the amount of 2 bn a year. In our forecasts, we have always taken the severance tax based on sales prices, so this will not affect our net profit forecasts in 2021, he says. In parallel, the Ministry of Finance is going to significantly increase the severance tax, by 3.5 times, for most solid minerals, which should additionally give 56 bn a year to the budget. On September 18, the respective bill was submitted to the State Duma. Norilsk Nickel will be hit hardest by the increase in the taxes. At the same time, the business still hopes to mitigate the proposed measures, which will be discussed at the traditional meeting of First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov with the members of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE) on September 22. Gospel for Asia Helps 70,000 Families Defy COVID-19 Starvation 'Compassion will triumph' says missionary statesman as families across Asia 'utterly desperate' BATTLE AGAINST COVID STARVATION: As India surges to second place in the country-by-country COVID-19 count, ongoing hunger relief efforts continue to stave off starvation across pandemic-ravaged Asia. Texas-based Gospel for Asia (GFA World, www.gfa.org) is partnering with Believers Eastern Church to distribute food kits to more than 70,000 "utterly desperate" families. NEWS PROVIDED BY Gospel for Asia Sept. 24, 2020 WILLS POINT, Texas, Sept. 24, 2020 /Standard Newswire/ -- With the number of COVID-19 cases in India surging past five million and climbing rapidly, ongoing hunger relief efforts continue to stave off starvation across pandemic-ravaged Asia. In some areas, hunger is forcing people to take the most extreme measures. One man was captured on video apparently eating a dead dog off the road. "The situation on-the-ground right now is utterly desperate," said Dr. K.P. Yohannan, founder of mission agency Gospel for Asia (GFA World, www.gfa.org). "We're doing all we can to bring relief and as difficult as it is, compassion will triumph in the end." Partnering with Believers Eastern Church in Asia and local officials, the Texas-based ministry -- one of the biggest faith-based organizations alleviating poverty in Asia -- is distributing food kits to more than 70,000 families on the edge of starvation. With the recent COVID-19 surge catapulting India into second place behind the U.S. in confirmed cases, parents in the worlds second-most populous nation and across Asia face the near-impossible task of feeding their children, amid total loss of income. "The situation in our village is terrible," one parent told GFA World workers. "We don't have any work and are unable to provide food." In Asia, sudden loss of employment can be catastrophic because families typically don't have savings, welfare, or stimulus aid to fall back on. Aid Comes Just In Time Frontline responders with GFA World continue to deliver food kits to families in dire straits -- often, just in time. Packages include rice, cooking oil, salt, sugar, and spices. "We're helping the most marginalized and at-risk people in the whole of Asia, including thousands of daily laborers who have no work because of the pandemic," said Yohannan, a renowned missionary statesman and author of Revolution in World Missions, with nearly four million copies in print. Like millions of the poorest of the poor, Nikita's parents scavenge for recyclable materials and survive, literally, on scraps. During the pandemic, their work has dried up -- and the family might have starved if they hadn't received a food package. The father of a student at a GFA World Bridge of Hope children's center said their package was a lifeline. "The lockdown totally affected our survival and we were broken," he said. "(This food) keeps us surviving." Local churches across Asia -- home to six out of every 10 people on the planet -- have quickly mobilized to "seize the moment" and extend help to their poorest neighbors, said Yohannan. "Our fervent prayer and hope is that people across Asia will see and experience the love of God in action during this pandemic," he said. Gospel for Asia (GFA World, www.gfa.org) is a leading faith-based mission agency, helping national workers bring vital assistance and spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially to those who have yet to hear about the love of God. In GFA's latest yearly report, this included more than 70,000 sponsored children, free medical camps conducted in more than 1,200 villages and remote communities, over 4,800 clean water wells drilled, over 12,000 water filters installed, income-generating Christmas gifts for more than 260,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry. For all the latest news, visit our Press Room at https://press.gfa.org/news. SOURCE Gospel for Asia CONTACT: Gregg Wooding, 972-567-7660, gwooding@inchristcommunications.com Related Links www.gfa.org https://press.gfa.org/news And he came to see me afterward. He said: I never wanted, nor do I ever want in the future, to be corrected by a conductor, because I think its my job to play everything as best as is possible, as best as I can, and the conductor can tell me: A little more like this, a little more like that, softer, louder, whatever it is. But I want to avoid being corrected. This is my pride. BRIDGEPORT A man found slumped over the wheel after a crash in the citys Black Rock neighborhood Thursday morning died from two gunshot wounds to the chest, according to police. Shortly after 8 a.m., police responded to several 911 calls about shots fired in the area of Fox Street near Canfield Avenue, according to Capt. Brian Fitzgerald. Investigators are still working to find the cause of a fire that ripped through a historic police barracks and child care centre construction site in Brisbane's north overnight. About 40 firefighters were eventually called to the site on Enoggera Road in Newmarket just after 11pm on Wednesday, to find the buildings engulfed in flames. The fire is believed to have started in the heritage-listed Old Seargent's Barracks of the suburban police station before spreading to the neighbouring building site. Owner Marco Ferro described the blaze as "devastating", with the centre expected to open to families in 2021, and suggested it may have been deliberately lit. Come September 2020 and McLaren is cutting production numbers of the supercar even more, to only 149 units. The company says the reduction is the result of the "production shutdown experienced during the global Covid-19 pandemic," but maybe the Elva isnt as desirable as McLaren through. The McLaren Elva was unveiled in November 2019 with a production run of 399 units. In April 2020, the British company said that production will be reduced to just 249 examples due to feedback from customers who thought that the Elva wasnt exclusive enough. The McLaren Elva is now one of the most exclusive McLarens you can buy With production down from the initial 399 units to just 149 examples, the Elva is one of the rarest McLarens in production. The Speedtail is the only supercar thats more exclusive, limited to 106 units, just like the already classic McLaren F1. The British company blames the "production shutdown experienced during the global Covid-19 pandemic" and the "limited production slots available on the recently re-opened line and compromised availability of parts." While this is indeed an issue for many automakers due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, its safe to assume that the Elva isnt as popular as McLaren thought back in 2019. Its also quite expensive at $1.7 million a pop and the speedster layout with no windshield and roof makes it rather unpractical. So maybe there arent that many car enthusiasts out there willing to pay $2 million or more for a fully MSO-customized supercar right now. Customers that still want it need to customize it online Because the coronavirus pandemic comes with traveling restrictions, Elva customers need to go online to customize their million-dollar supercar. Each customer is assigned to an MSO Bespoke Liaison Manager and a Visualisation Specialist to assist them while customizing the car in the new McLaren Advanced Visualiser. This platform works just like a regular configurator, providing access to exterior paint schemer and various design options, as well as a choice of materials for the cabin. Because the Elva is a tribute to race cars from the 1960s, McLaren also offered a couple of liveries inspired by Can Am race cars from the golden era of racing. The MSO M1A, for instance, features a Magnesium Silver stripe and Accent Red pinstripe, while the MSO M6A comes in Anniversary Orange with grey and blue detailing. Both are fitted with racing numbers as a tribute to Bruce McLaren. McLaren Elva - a unique supercar Although its related to the 720S, the Elva is a unique addition to the McLaren Ultimate Series thanks to its open-top design. The car is named after Bruce McLaren's early speedster-type race car that later spawned the M1A, M1B, and M1C racers. Made entirely out of carbon-fiber, the Elva features the familiar 4.0-liter V-8 engine under the rear hood. The powerplant cranks out 804 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Elva accelerates to 62 mph in less than three seconds and to 124 mph in 6.7 seconds. Pricing starts from $1.7 million. RTHK: Top Republicans promise peaceful transfer of power US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other top Republicans on Thursday repudiated President Donald Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, assuring American voters the lawmakers would accept the outcome of November's election. Trump declined to embrace a peaceful transfer on Wednesday in response to a reporter's question and said he expected his upcoming election battle with Democrat Joe Biden to be settled by the Supreme Court. Democrats accused Trump of threatening American democracy and further politicising his upcoming choice to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by suggesting the yet-to-be named nominee would intervene in the election's outcome. Republicans invoked the guarantees of the US Constitution, but did not openly condemn Trump. "The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792," McConnell wrote in a tweet. McConnell was joined by fellow Republicans, including Senators Marco Rubio and Mitt Romney and Representative Liz Cheney, who leads the House of Representatives Republican Conference. "It will be a smooth transition regardless of the outcome," House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters. Trump, who trails Biden in national opinion polls, has long sought to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election, claiming without evidence that mail-in voting would be rife with fraud. A record number of Americans are expected to vote by mail this year to avoid the coronavirus, and Democrats hope mail-in ballots will help to motivate large numbers of voters who oppose Trump. In 2016, Trump also raised questions about whether he would accept the results of the election, which he went on to win. "President Trump, you are not a dictator and America will not permit you to be one," said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who took to the Senate floor to call the president "the gravest threat" to US democracy. US Senator Bernie Sanders said in a speech in Washington that Trump was "prepared to undermine American democracy in order to stay in power," and called for an independent commission to oversee the upcoming elections. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi cautioned against panicking over the remarks of a president who she said admires autocratic leaders. But at a news conference, she advised Trump: "You are not in North Korea, you are not in Turkey, you are not in Russia." Republican Senator Mike Rounds asked what would happen if Trump won. "If President Trump wins the election, will those on the far left agree to be peaceful when the election is complete? We don't need property damage and we don't need bodily injury," he told reporters. If November's election is close, Trump could contest the results in the federal courts in hopes of being awarded enough Electoral College votes to retain the White House, according to political analysts. Only one US presidential election, the 2000 contest between Republican George W Bush and Democrat Al Gore, has had its outcome determined by the Supreme Court. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally who is overseeing the process to weigh the president's forthcoming nominee to replace Ginsburg, said he expected a peaceful transition. "Now we may have litigation about who won the election, but the (Supreme) Court will decide and if the Republicans lose, we will accept that result," Graham told Fox News. "But we need a full court." Trump later said he agreed with Graham but told Fox News Radio: "I think we have a long way before we get there. These ballots are a horror show." Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat on Graham's committee, said Trump's remarks posed a problem for his Supreme Court nominee, who is expected to be a conservative woman. "I think this creates a significant complication for the legitimacy of the court," Coons told NPR. Biden, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, said Trump's comments on the transition of power were "irrational." The former vice president's campaign said it was prepared for any "shenanigans" from Trump, and reiterated comments from July that "the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House." (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2020-09-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Arthur I. Cyr Representatives of the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban movement have begun formal direct peace negotiations. The two sides held their first meeting in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Sept. 12. The timing has symbolic importance, in particular for Americans. The horrific, bloody al-Qaida terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington D.C. and the Pennsylvania countryside took place just under two decades ago, on Sept. 11, 2001. An al-Qaida group based in Afghanistan planned and carried out the attacks. In response, the military forces of an international coalition of nations led by the United States occupied Afghanistan and overthrew the ruling fundamentalist Taliban regime. Both the United Nations and the NATO alliance support and have helped to implement this long-term effort, which has economic development and political, along with military, dimensions. Last February, after nearly two decades of occupation, the U.S. government and the fundamentalist Taliban movement signed a formal agreement for the phased withdrawal of international troops. The accord includes detailed stipulations to help protect the population and discourage the return of terrorists. This struggle to find a reasonably responsible, acceptable diplomatic route for departure reflects the subtle but sustained sentiment among Americans that the involvement has surely gone on long enough. That sentiment emphatically includes the White House. Afghanistan's disputed presidential election of September 2019 complicated matters. In February, incumbent President Ashraf Ghani was finally formally declared the winner, with just over 50 percent of the vote. However, challenger Abdullah Abdullah refused to accept this and vowed to establish a separate government. On May 17, both leaders agreed to a power-sharing agreement for joint government a major breakthrough. Context is important. Afghanistan has no established history of formal representative elections, Western-style rule of law, or reliable national government. Local tribal leaders remain influential, powerful and lethal in armed conflict. The 2014 election is a much more reassuring benchmark of progress in Afghanistan. Turnout of approximately sixty percent of eligible voters was high, despite Taliban intimidation and violence. The national election commission testified corruption was much reduced from the earlier 2009 presidential election. Then-President Hamid Karzai could not run for reelection. World Bank veteran Ashraf Ghani was victorious among a field of eight candidates. With the election, Afghanistan completed a peaceful democratic transition in leadership. This is a historic first. Despite policy disagreements and insurgent attacks, institutional ties between Afghanistan and the U.S. are strong. In July 2012, the two nations became formal allies. As a result, Afghanistan joined 14 other nations in the distinctive, special category of Strategic Partner of the U.S. These include Argentina, Australia, Israel and Japan. Other partners are notably stronger economically, and more stable politically, than Afghanistan. The bilateral partnership brings closer cooperation encompassing regular delivery of military equipment, supplies and weapons. This in turn becomes more important with U.S. withdrawal. After the signing of the agreement, a multinational conference convened in Tokyo, where donor nations pledged $16 billion in development assistance. The frustrating nature of the South Asia struggle can mask such positive changes as reasonably honest elections, and growing participation of women. Despite a lack of infrastructure, technology spreads steadily. Cellphones and the internet, as well as traditional television, are now features of isolated communities. The U.S. and allies were right to overthrow the Taliban in Afghanistan, and are now right to withdraw. In the future, disciplined regional strategy should guide Washington policy. The Afghan people are responsible for their nation. That also is right. Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of "After the Cold War." Contact acyr@carthage.edu. U-turn as peverse worker pay issue now solved by Welsh Government after previously ruling it out for Wrexham This article is old - Published: Thursday, Sep 24th, 2020 Welsh Government consistently pointed to UK Government to resolve a perverse situation during the local Rowan Foods outbreak, however have now said as England have brought in a scheme Wales needs to match it regardless of funding source. On Tuesday night the First Minister announced a new 500 payment to support people on low incomes who are asked to self-isolate if they have coronavirus. A similar scheme had been announced in England earlier in the week. Yesterday we asked the First Minister if that new payment had been funded by a consequential, where sometimes spending by UK Government in England triggers a payment to Wales. The First Minister explained, We were assured by Michael Gove, the head of the Cabinet Office on Saturday that there would be a consequential for us, we are yet to find out how much it will be. But, I just felt that it was so important to eliminate that perverse incentive, that pressure people in low income occupations have felt to go to work when they were feeling unwell because they couldnt afford not to that we had to do something to prevent that from happening. So, we are promised the consequential but we will go ahead, we will if absolutely necessary, we will find the money ourselves to make this happen because it is such an important part of our public health defence. On Friday the 26th of June, and at several subsequent lunchtime Welsh Government briefings and interviews, we pointed to situations connected to the Rowan Foods related outbreak where workers concerns over pay and job security clashed with public health objectives of self isolation and testing. We consistently asked if there were any plans for direct economic support in such situations so finance is taken out of public health questions, and was told the issue was one for UK Government to fix. The situation was branded perverse back then, and on July 3rd when we asked if it was time the First Ministers government led by example on the finance v public health question and step in, and was told it was basically not a decision he was willing to take as he was unwilling to to divert that money to pay for things that are the responsibility of the UK Government, and it needs a UK solution and the UK Government has solutions that they could implement. Today we pointed to the perverse choice in Wrexham back in June and July, and that the First Minister effectively passed the buck to UK Government on the issue. We noted that the new 500 announcement is in effect currently not funded by UK Government, and will now be funded by Welsh Government if absolutely necessary. We asked why such a choice is being made now, but could not be made for workers in Wrexham earlier in the pandemic. The First Minister replied, Well the Welsh Government has no responsibilities for income maintenance, it is absolutely reserved responsibility one that should be discharged by the United Kingdom. And we made the case powerfully then I wrote to the Prime Minister, myself many weeks ago in the Rowan Foods context offering two different solutions to this problem. Neither of those has been taken up by the UK Government. They have now moved to a local authority administered scheme in England. I felt it was very important that we match that here in Wales. I hope that what Michael Gove said to me and to the First Minister of Scotland and Northern Ireland on Saturday is delivered in practice and the consequential will come to us, but I just felt we had reached a point where we couldnt have workers in Wales disadvantaged when a scheme was being put in place across our border and thats why weve made the decision at this point. In England local councils are expected to administer the payments, something that was seen earlier in the year in Wales with business rates grants being distributed very quickly locally but via tremendous effort from the councils finance department. We asked if the same model was to be brought in for Wales, would councils get additional resources to deliver the service. The First Minister indicated the system could be different in Wales, When working through how it will be administered, we have a choice available to us in Wales that isnt available in England. In England, they abandoned the Social Fund nearly a decade ago, here we have kept the Discretionary Assistance Fund in being. Back in February when people were affected by the flooding we were providing 500 pounds 1000 pounds to assist people with that. The applications will be to the Discretionary Assistance Fund to be administered nationally rather than locally, we will continue to explore whether that is a swifter and less complicated way of providing the 500 pounds here in Wales. You can view the full briefing and Q&A from yesterday lunchtime on the below video link: Yn fyw nawr gydar Prif Weinidog Mark Drakeford | Live now with First Minister Mark Drakeford https://t.co/331NbIbsyP Welsh Government (@WelshGovernment) September 23, 2020 Top image: The army were called in to help with an outbreak associated with the Rowan Foods factory earlier this year. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Non-alcoholic RTD Beverages are alcohol-free packaged beverages that can be consumed directly upon opening. The global non-alcoholic RTD beverages market is expected to garner a revenue of USD 800 Billion by 2024 at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2024. The market is monopolistically competitive in nature due to the presence of several vendors and customers in the market and limited barriers to entry for new players. Vendors in the global non-alcoholic RTD beverages market are witnessing competition from the existing market players and new entrants. To overcome the challenges in such a competitive market, prominent players are focusing on product launches, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, and expansions in terms of production capacity and geographic reach. In the US, prominent players such as Starbucks Corporation and PepsiCo have entered into a partnership to produce and distribute their products. Similarly, in 2016, Dunkin Donuts and The Coca Cola Company formed a joint venture to produce and distribute RTD coffee in North America and compete directly with the Starbucks Corporation and PepsiCo partnership. Browse Full Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/non-alcoholic-rtd-beverages-market-7951 The global non-alcoholic RTD beverages market has been segmented on the basis of type, packaging type, and distribution channel. Based on type, the global non-alcoholic RTD beverages market has been divided into functional beverages, carbonated soft drinks, tea and coffee, fruit and vegetable juices, flavored and fortified water, dairy-based beverages, and others. The functional beverages segment has further been classified as sports/energy drinks, probiotic and prebiotic drinks, and others. The carbonated soft drinks segment is expected to dominate the global non-alcoholic RTD beverages market during the research period due to the high per capita consumption of carbonated soft drinks. As per WorldAtlas, the per capita consumption of carbonated soft drinks in the US in 2017 was 154 liters. However, the fruit and vegetable juices segment is expected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period owing to the increasing preference of consumers toward healthy beverages such as natural fruit and vegetable juices. The global non-alcoholic RTD beverages market has been segregated, by packaging type, into bottles, cans, cartons, and others. The bottles segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2018 as glass bottles offer high impermeability and longer storage durations than other types of packaging. Moreover, plastic bottles are an inexpensive option for packaging non-alcoholic RTD beverages. However, the cans segment is expected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period owing to the ease with which RTD beverages can be filled into a can and be consumed. By distribution channel, the global non-alcoholic RTD beverages market has been classified as store-based and non-store-based. The store-based segment has further been divided into supermarkets and hypermarkets, convenience stores, and others. The store-based segment is expected to gain the lions share of the global non-alcoholic RTD beverages market in 2018 owing to the high availability of non-alcoholic RTD beverages in supermarkets and hypermarkets. However, the non-store-based segment is expected to exhibit a higher growth rate during the forecast period owing to the rising presence of e-retail apps and third-party online retailers in e-commerce. Manufacturers of non-alcoholic RTD beverages are opting for third-party online retailers to sell their products rather than investing capital in developing their own e-retail platforms. Key Players Some of the key players in the global non-alcoholic RTD beverages market are The Coca-Cola Company (US), Nestle S.A. (Switzerland), The Republic of Tea (US), Ting Hsin International Group (Taiwan), Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. (Japan), DRY Soda Company (US), PepsiCo (US), POKKA SAPPORO Food & Beverage Ltd. (Japan), Danone S.A. (France), Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. Ltd (South Korea), Starbucks Corporation (US), Suntory Holdings Limited (Japan), Big Easy Blends, LLC (US), Monster Energy (US), and Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (US). The key strategies followed by the players operating in the market are innovations, product launches, expansions, and mergers & acquisitions. Regional Analysis The global non-alcoholic RTD beverages market has been segmented, by region, into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the rest of the world. North America accounted for the largest market share in 2018 as the region is a prominent hub for numerous market players. Additionally, the increasing consumption of non-alcoholic and natural RTD beverages in North America and Europe, due to their convenience and health benefits is driving the growth of these regional markets. However, changing lifestyles of people and increasing presence of market players in India, China, Japan, and Indonesia are expected to drive the growth of the market in Asia-Pacific, with the regional market registering the highest growth rate during the forecast period of 2019 to 2024. Key Developments In April 2019 , Nestle SA introduced a new product Poland Spring ORIGIN bottled water under its brand Poland Spring. It is a natural spring water filtered by 10,000-year old glacial sands and contains no additives. In January 2019 , Big Easy Blends, LLC launched self-packed 6-ounce ready to drink pouches under its brand Welch's Smoothies. It is available in three flavors mixed berry, peach mango, and strawberry banana. In June 2017 , Starbucks Corporation launched its first single-serve RTD Starbucks Iced Latte. Get a FREE Sample Copy Now @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7951 NOTE: Our team of researchers are studying Covid19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required we will be considering covid19 footprints for a better analysis of markets and industries. Cordially get in touch for more details. COVID-19 Study in Detail: Impact of COVID-19 on Iso-Propyl Alcohol Market Impact of COVID-19 on Steel Extruded Products Market Coronavirus Outbreak and Plastic Films Market Jim Caviezel on Passion of the Christ sequel: 'Its going to be the biggest film in world history' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Passion of the Christ star Jim Caviezel recently shared new details about the highly anticipated sequel of the blockbuster hit. On Thursday, Caviezel told Breitbart News that he received a new draft of the next installment of The Passion of the Christ." Mel Gibson just sent me the third picture, the third draft. Its coming, he said on the latest edition of SiriusXMs Breitbart News Daily with host Alex Marlow. Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in 2004 for the film, went on to share the sequel's film title. Its called The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection. Its going to be the biggest film in world history, he declared. Listen to Caviezel share his Christian faith, his views on abortion and more on "Edifi With Billy Hallowell," the best Christian podcast for faith news Despite its lack of industry support, the first film earned a staggering $612 million worldwide with a production budget of just $30 million. Marlow asked the Washington native if he encountered politically-driven blacklisting following his portrayal in The Passion of the Christ. I had no choice. I had to defend it. I had to fight to survive. The film exploded. It was off the charts, Caviezel responded. Youd think, Oh, youre going to work a lot. No, I didnt. I was no longer on the studio list. That was gone. Because of what I do as an actor thats my skill it was given to me from God. I didnt give it to myself, but its something in which I have a great range. Caviezel went on to say that he held to his convictions because he believed his faith was much bigger than the industry and Hollywood, and bigger than the Republican or Democratic Party or any of that. The actor was on the radio program to discuss his new film, Infidel, another faith-filled film about an American Christian who's kidnapped in Cairo, Egypt, and imprisoned in Iran under false spying charges. Caviezel and Gibson haven't revealed any other details about the sequel, but in the past the Persons of Interest actor revealed minor details about the project following one of his conversations with Gibson. "I won't tell you how he's going to go about it," Caviezel told USA Today in 2018. ... "But I'll tell you this much, the film he's going to do is going to be the biggest film in history. It's that good," the 51-year-old devoted Catholic echoed. Gibson revealed the subject of the sequel in 2016, telling Stephen Colbert of "The Late Show" that the film might feature characters visiting other realms. "It's not just some chronological telling of just that event. That could be boring, and you think, 'Oh, we read that,'" Gibson told Colbert of the sequel. "But what are the other things around it that happened?" Gibson, teamed up with screenwriter Randall Wallace to work on "Resurrection," and said the film will take years to make because "it's a big subject." Different from "Passion," which focused on the graphic crucifixion of Jesus Christ, "Resurrection" is expected to explore the three days between His death and resurrection. "It's more than a single event, it's an amazing event," the director added. "And to underpin that with the things around it is really the story, to enlighten what that means." The Passion of the Christ was the first R-rated film ever in North America to gross so much. Although it received three Oscar nominations at the 77th Academy Awards, it didn't win any awards. I think his message was, first of all, he expects to win, so he doesnt have to worry about that. But second of all, I can just tell you that I think everybody believes that we will have a very peaceful transition. But that means people that protest have also got to be peaceful, as well, when he does win. And so this is very important that we send a message that in America, we always have a peaceful transition or continuation of responsibilities. Look, I think it goes without saying, in America, we always have a peaceful transition. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0486fd2a48)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048700fa88)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0486fd2a48)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048700fa88)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0486fe4c78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048700fa88)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048700fa88)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04868fcf08)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f0486ee9df8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f0486ee9df8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 NASHVILLE, Tenn. U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson, a Trump administration appointee who bucked the presidents conservative base by blocking a Tennessee law that restricts mail-in voting, had an announcement to make before wrapping up his decision: it had nothing to do with politics. The declaration dropped as lower-court judges, like Richardson, face greater scrutiny over their perceived ideological purity. Richardson even took the step of addressing potential critics in his opinion. Richardson ruled in favor of expanding the ability of first-time voters in this reliably Republican-leaning state to cast mail-in ballots this election. But first, the lifetime-appointed judge said, he had to address head-on the proverbial elephant in the room, declaring his own impartiality in the case. In his Sept. 9 ruling, Richardson wrote that he was not concerned about how his decisions could aid one side or the other on the political front. The judge from Tennessees Middle District also said his personal opinions on election laws have simply no bearing on the constitutional claims brought before his bench. For months, President Donald Trump claimed without proof that there could be widespread voter fraud in November, even as officials in states that have relied on mail-in ballots cited little evidence of such. Nominated in 2017, Richardson wrote he could forgive someone with a cynical view that voting-rights lawsuits amount to really just politics by other means particularly in a presidential election year. Even before the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg refocused public attention on the judiciary, Richardsons pointed message highlighted a charged atmosphere nationwide: Judges are coming under intense scrutiny for their every action through the lens of politics. Its a spotlight even Trump has encouraged by stating he expects his selection of conservative judges to result in rulings supported by his base. I think its very unusual to make it so explicit that this decision had nothing to do with the judges predispositions, said Brian Fitzpatrick, a Vanderbilt University law professor. That is something that normally should go without saying. Trumps assurances about his judicial picks have resonated with some of his supporters. Some cite it as justification for backing the president, even if they dislike his tone or other policies. But as Fitzpatrick noted, those who sift and weigh a judges decisions often overlook the fact that judges must act within the tight confines of law and jurisprudence and dont have unfettered discretion like politicians think they do. Yet when those jurists, who are sworn to impartial justice, make decisions that dont align with party politics, criticism has flowed freely at times even from others in the co-equal branches of government including Trump himself. U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts has previously warned that political polarization is skewing how people view the judicial branch, adding that the justices are not just another part of the political process. Roberts, who was picked by President George W. Bush, has endured GOP anger over decisions including recent decisions on immigration and pandemic restrictions on church gatherings. And one of Richardsons colleagues in Nashville, another Trump appointee, took a political pounding from conservatives over an abortion ruling in July. U.S. District Judge William Chip Campbell blocked an effort by Tennessee Republicans to bar abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The backlash became the stuff of campaign fodder in Tennessee. GOP primary opponents in an open U.S. Senate race weighed in. Bill Hagerty, now the Republican nominee, said hed vote for more constitutionalist judges who protect the unborn, and opponent Manny Sethi said, An activist judge barely waited until the ink was dry to promote his own pro-choice view. David Levi, a former federal district judge and director of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School, said it can be useful for judges to acknowledge a ruling may be controversial and explain it to the public. Judges have to reason out in their opinion and really explain why they reached the result that they reached, Levi said, adding it could be helpful for a judge to say, I want to address what I know is on some peoples minds.' In contrast, certain opinions by some Trump-appointed judges have drawn high praise from conservatives. Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge Justin Walker sided with a church in ruling that Kentuckys largest city could not halt a drive-in Easter time service amid the coronavirus pandemic. Walkers harsh 20-page rebuke of the officials drew national attention and praise from Republican leaders. Meanwhile, U.S. Judge James Ho in Texas has gained attention since being appointed by Trump to a federal appeals court after writing a dissent claiming the courts have treated the Second Amendment right to bear arms as a second-class right. He also condemned the moral tragedy of abortion in a separate opinion. So far, Richardson has been spared a conservative outcry over his recent vote-by-mail ruling, which blocked a requirement that first-time voters cast ballots in person or show ID at their election office if they wish to vote by mail. He had already ruled against changing two other Tennessee restrictions on voting by mail. I realize the president maybe lost this one but in another sense he didnt, the law professor Levi said, noting Trumps resistance to expanding mail-in voting. He appointed someone who followed the law. We should all be proud we have people like that on the bench. ___ Associated Press writer Mark Sherman in Washington contributed to this report. It has been 50 years since the Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford closed its doors in 1970 the same year Sherlene Bomberry, a former student and residential school survivor, left. Bomberry was first taken to the Mohawk Institute in 1966 at the age of 10, after a brief period in foster care. Four of us got taken into the residential school, she said. (Childrens Aid) came and they took us. I remember going in that station wagon. Bomberry remembers clearly the first time she was hit by her house mother, a woman in her 20s who supervised the students. One night we were all getting ready for bed and she says, Who didnt have a good day today? she said. And I put my hand up. All the girls whod raised their hands were lined up in the bathroom lights off, door closed, a row of palms facing up. Id never been hit before, she said. The house mother took a long ruler raised high, above her shoulder, Bomberry said and went up and down the row of girls, hitting them across the palms one at a time. I pulled my hand back, but then I got hit again harder so I left my hands there, she said. I didnt cry, because I didnt know what the heck was happening. The trauma Bomberry underwent at the Mohawk Institute didnt end when the school closed its doors. I still had my trauma inside, she said. From 1828 to 1970, the Mohawk Institute served as a boarding school for First Nations children both from Six Nations, and other parts of Ontario and Quebec. The school was one of 139 in Canada that was used to educate and assimilate Indigenous children. After investigating Canadas history of residential schools in 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada deemed the system as an act of cultural genocide against the countrys First Nations, Inuit and Metis people. They took our language away from us, but if I want to go learn my language at Polytechnic, Ive got to pay for it, said Bomberry, who has been learning Cayuga at Six Nations Polytechnic post-secondary school. Bomberry is one of about 150,000 residential school survivors in Canada honoured on Orange Shirt Day, marked annually on Sept. 30 to educate and spread awareness about the history of residential schools, and the individual and intergenerational trauma caused by the system. We talk about seven generations, she said. Ive already passed this down to three. Woodland Cultural Centre, located next door to the former Mohawk Institute, will be remembering stories like Bomberrys at Orange Shirt Day. Typically, the Woodland Cutlural Centre hosts an annual survivors gathering, attended by hundreds of former residential school students and their families, for a time of commemoration, education and healing. We have people who are medicine people in the community come in and share teachings and just create a kind of a safe space for families to kind of open up and talk about and heal from that history, said Lindsay Monture, the centres education co-ordinator In the past, this has included guest speakers, writing workshops, message therapists and art therapy to help survivors and their families work through trauma whether direct or inherited from parents, grandparents or other relatives who attended residential schools. This year, due to COVID, the centre was forced to cancel the gathering, and move Orange Shirt Day events online from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3. People across the country can register for virtual events which includes a 45-minute guided tour, survivor interviews and a chance to ask Woodland facilitators questions for $10 per person (or $30 per family). More than 1,000 students across the country are registered for virtual Orange Shirt Day education days with the Woodland Cultural Centre compared to about 150 that attended in person last year. Its really important that we share this piece of history, even though its a dark chapter, Monture said. Because the history of residential schools has not been shared in Canadian history textbooks. She said over the years older adults from the community some who grew up across the street and had no idea what was going on at the Mohawk Institute have visited the centre. They grew up with prejudices from their parents based off of the information that they had no knowledge of, she said. Woodland Cultural Centre, which is supported by the Wahta Mohawks, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and Six Nations of the Grand River, was established in 1972 on the grounds of the former residential school as a non-profit, serving to promote First Nations culture and heritage. In 2013, it became evident the former residential school building would need a significant investment more than $23 million to restore. The centre hosted multiple community engagement days, ending in an overwhelming result: 98 per cent of the community was in support of the restoration, which is now in its final phase. She said survivors, at least one of whom stood to speak at a community meeting, were instrumental in guiding the communitys vote. He said that he wants his children and his grandchildren to know what happened to him at the residential school, said Carley Gallant-Jenkins, the Save the Evidence campaign co-ordinator. He said that he wants them to be able to walk through that building and know what happened to their grandfather or their great-grandfather, that he thinks that building should stay, that we should try and save it. Bomberry, who turns 65 in December, moved back to Six Nations more than a decade ago after living in Hamilton for about 20 years. She now also uses her Cayuga name, Ewehehewi, which means she carries flowers. For Bomberry, who was raised in the longhouse tradition, culture has been an integral part of healing. This is a lifelong journey, a healing journey, she said. I talk about it because what comes out of my mouth, the way I feel, it empowers me. San Antonio police have arrested three teenagers in connection with the shooting death of a 20-year-old man in the parking lot of a West Side drug store on Tuesday. Trevon Chaney, 18; Aviar Smith, 18; and Roger Koontz, 19, were charged Thursday with capital murder in the death of Miguel Carvajal. On Tuesday, San Antonio police were called to the CVS at 9838 Potranco Road after shots were heard in the parking lot just before 7 p.m. When officers arrived, they found Carvajal unresponsive in the driver's seat of a dark grey Chevrolet sedan. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox According to an arrest affidavit, Chaney and a second male got into the back seat of the sedan to purchase drugs but instead pulled out handguns and demanded the drugs and property from Carvajal and a second occupant of the car. It is unclear whether the second suspect in the vehicle was Smith or Koontz. Carvajal reached for his own gun and managed to fire off one shot before he was shot, the affidavit said. The second occupant of the vehicle managed to get out of the car and flee while the suspects started shooting at him. Later that night, one of the suspects was dropped off at a local hospital, where he was arrested by police. Police were also able to find a third suspect, who they said drove the getaway vehicle. The driver said the wounded suspect and a man named "Tre" later identified as Chaney got into the victim's vehicle shortly before shots were fired, according to the affidavit. At the time of the shooting, Chaney was wearing an ankle monitor and police were able to track his location at the crime scene as well as at the hospital, where the injured suspect was dropped off. The affidavit did not say which suspect authorities believe fired the gun that killed Carvajal. Chaney's bail was set at $500,000, Smith's at $350,000 and Koontz's is $250,000. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is quoting at Rs 384.35, down 0.85% on the day as on 13:29 IST on the NSE. The stock tumbled 17.38% in last one year as compared to a 4.32% slide in NIFTY and a 2.68% fall in the Nifty Energy index. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd dropped for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 384.35, down 0.85% on the day as on 13:29 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 1.67% on the day, quoting at 10945.8. The Sensex is at 37038.12, down 1.67%.Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd has eased around 6.91% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 7.56% in last one month and is currently quoting at 14956.6, down 1.24% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 29.38 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 91.36 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark September futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 384.55, down 1.16% on the day. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd tumbled 17.38% in last one year as compared to a 4.32% slide in NIFTY and a 2.68% fall in the Nifty Energy index. The PE of the stock is 17.64 based on TTM earnings ending June 20. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bulzis IoT technology will be optimized for Base Security Bulzi LLC, a geospatial intelligence services company, announced it was awarded a Phase-I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the United States Air Force (USAF) through the AFWERX innovation program. This award allows Bulzi to engage with key customers and end users in the Department of Defense (DoD) community to refine its zBeacon Internet of Things (IoT) sensor technologies to meet their mission needs. Bulzis zBeacon technology was originally developed for the Out of Home (OOH) advertising industry to provide real-time audience count and composition metrics of consumers exposed to OOH advertising displays. The SBIR award provides a pathway for Bulzi to refine its zBeacon product line to meet the needs of the base security market, as well as other government and commercial security applications. According to Bulzis Chief Executive Officer, Brent McKay, "With this SBIR award, Bulzi will work to optimize our zBeacon Internet of Things (IoT) for base security and other situational awareness markets. zBeacon operates as a sibling technology to our LOCALiz data management platform, which recently received a SBIR Phase-II contract for adaptation to base security uses. About the AFWERX SBIR Program The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) process in an attempt to speed up the experience, broaden the pool of potential applicants, and decrease bureaucratic overhead related to harnessing commercial technology innovations for Air Force mission needs. Beginning with SBIR cycle 18.2, the Air Force has been offering 'Special' SBIR topics that are faster, leaner, and open to a broader range of innovations. About Bulzi (Pronounced Bulls-Eye) Bulzi LLC is a leader in the geospatial intelligence industry, leveraging Internet-of-Things (IoT) and Geolocation data to help manage people and things in areas of interest. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, the company pioneered the use of mobile phone signal data for measuring audiences in the commercial outdoor advertising market. It is now applying its expertise to improve situational awareness for government agencies and private facilities. For more information on Bulzi: Website: http://www.bulzi.com Email: media@bulzi.com. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/67528196 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bulzi.llc Twitter: https://twitter.com/bulzil Irish actors Paul Mescal and James Nesbitt will sit down to be painted in the Portrait Artist of the Year programme on Sky this autumn. The competition television show sees artists attempt to impress distinguished judges Tai Shan Schierenberg, Kathleen Soriano and Kate Bryan as they try their hand at painting 24 writers, actors, musicians and TV personalities. Alongside Paul Mescal of Normal People fame and James Nesbitt, best known for his work on Cold Feet, model and presenter Katie Piper, drag queen The Vivienne, actor Sian Clifford, broadcaster Deborah James and Melanie Sykes are just some of the biggest names who will sit this season. Read More Actors David Haig, Jane Horrocks, Kwame Kwei Armah and five time Olympian rower Dame Katherine Grainger DBE will also take the hot seat. Each round sees nine artists compete and the winners to go on to paint Booker-prize winning author Bernardine Evaristo in the semi-final The three finalists then have a few days to paint a commission, and then to paint comedian and raconteur Eddie Izzard for the final. This seasons Portrait Artist of the Year winner will receive a 10,000 commission to paint world-famous ballet dancer and Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta, which will be exhibited at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. The show airs on Sky Arts and is the sister show of Landscape Artist of the Year and Portrait Artist of the Week. Slate's Who Counts? series is made possible by the support of Slate Plus members and readers like you. On Monday, Philadelphia City Commissioner Lisa Deeley sent a letter to Pennsylvanias legislative leaders warning of an impending election meltdown. Deeley, who oversees her citys elections, noted that state law requires voters to mail back their ballots in two envelopes: an inner secrecy sleeve and an outer envelope. In the past, Philadelphia counted naked ballotsthose mail-in ballots returned without their secrecy sleeve. On Sept. 17, however, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that naked ballots are invalid and may not be counted. Extrapolating from the number of people who returned naked ballots in past elections, Deeley estimated that the courts decision could disenfranchise up to 100,000 voters in November. Given that Donald Trump won the state by 44,000 votes in 2016, it could also spur a post-election legal battle the likes of which we have not seen since Florida in 2000, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Deeley saw the looming rejection of 100,000 ballots as a crisis, Pennsylvanias Republican legislative leaders likely see it as an opportunity. Mail-in ballots from nonwhite voters (who tend to vote for Democrats) are rejected at far higher rates than white voters. So the courts decision will disproportionately affect Democrats. Deeley pleaded with the Legislature to repeal the law invalidating naked ballots, noting that its a vestige of the past: Secrecy sleeves were designed to prevent officials from learning a voters identity when counting their ballot, but Pennsylvania now uses an industrialized vote-counting process that preserves anonymity without the need for a special ballot sleeve. Republicans do not care. They have given no indication that they will modify the law to ensure that naked ballots are counted. Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvanias naked ballot crisis is an extreme example of a problem thats going to plague the nation in the wake of the current presidential election. Because of the pandemic, Americans are voting by mail at unprecedented rateswhich means election officials are throwing out ballots at unprecedented rates, as well. More than 534,000 mail-in ballots were rejected in the 2020 primaries, and many were tossed because of a minor voter error. Many of these rules are unfair and pointless and seem designed to trip people up, but we have to learn to follow them if we want the chance to change them. Voting by mail is a skill: It requires practice, and everyone can improve with some tutoring and preparation. There are more ways to mess up a mail-in ballot than a ballot you cast in-person. But voters who follow these 10 steps should rest easy knowing that their ballots wont be nullified on a technicality. 1. Dont open your envelope until youre ready to vote. Your absentee ballot will arrive with either one or two envelopes; you must use them to return your ballot. If you use a regular envelope, your vote may be tossed. Plan to open your envelope, fill out your ballot, and place it in the official envelope (or envelopes) all in one sitting. If you leave it lying around, you might lose key materials. 2. Read the instructions! Your absentee ballot materials will include instructions. Read them! Consider marking up the instructions with a pen or highlighter like you might on an exam. Absentee voting involves several steps, and not all of them are obvious. The instructions are there for a reason. 3. Fill out your ballot slowly and carefully. Most jurisdictions require voters to use a pen when filling out absentee ballots. Be sure to fill in each circle completely. If you accidentally vote for multiple candidates in the same race, or make any stray mark on the ballot, do not send it back. Instead, either request a new absentee ballot or vote in person; either way, tell election officials what happened so they know not to expect your original ballot. Its legal in every state to obtain a new ballot if you spoil your first one. 4. Figure out if you have a secrecy sleeve, and use it if you do. As I explained above, in many states, absentee voters are provided two envelopes for their ballots: an outer envelope and an inner envelope, also known as a secrecy sleeve. These states require voters to place their ballots in a secrecy sleeve, then place the secrecy sleeve in the outer envelope. Dont be naiveuse the sleeve. 5. Sign one or both envelopes. Some states require voters to sign both the secrecy sleeve and the outer envelope. Others require just one signature, usually on the outer envelope. Be sure to provide one or both signatures, as well as the date, if required. If you provide two signatures, they should be identical. They should also match the signature on your voter registration card; otherwise, in some states, election officials may reject your ballot. 6. Get witness signatures and/or a notarization if necessary. A minority of states require one or two witnesses to sign and date your absentee ballot envelope. Some waive this requirement if the ballot envelope is notarized. A few require envelopes to be notarized. This list breaks down the witness and notary rules by state, but courts or election officials have suspended these rules in some states due to the pandemic, so check your instructions for details. These rules are entirely useless, but a substantial number of voters forget to follow them every year. In general, your ballot witnesses can be anybodythough postal workers are no longer allowed to serve this role. 7. Seal the outer envelope and affix a stamp, if necessary. Many states provide prepaid postage to absentee voters, but, unfortunately, some still force voters to pay for their own stamp. The instructions will tell you whether you need to put a stamp on your outer envelope. 8. Place your ballot in the mailor drop it off in person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of whether your state pays for postage, you should think about dropping off your ballot in person to avoid potential Postal Service delays. Slates voting guide explains how you can return absentee ballots without relying on the mail. There may be an election office, polling place, or drop box very close to your home. 9. Track your ballot online or by phone. Whether or not you mail your ballot, you should ensure that it has been received by election officials (ideally well before Nov. 3). Many states now allow voters to track their ballots online. This system will note if a ballot has been accepted or rejected. If your ballot is rejected, contact local election officials immediately; you may be able to fix the problem. If your state doesnt allow online ballot tracking, call your local election office and ask for the status of your ballot. 10. Be on the lookout for letters, emails, or phone calls from election officials in the days after the election. A majority of states now provide a ballot cure process that directs election officials to notify voters with faulty ballots and tell them how they can make sure their vote counts. This backstop is especially helpful in states that compare voters signatures to confirm their identities. If your ballot is flagged for signature mismatch, you may be allowed to prove who you are by other means. Election officials will usually try to contact you by phone, through the mail, or over email. Dont assume election-related notifications are spam. Until American politicians reach a bipartisan consensus that voters should not be disenfranchised on a technicality, only you can prevent a replay of Bush v. Gore. Think of mail-in voting like an obstacle course, a series of small challenges that you can overcome with patience and caution, even though they should not exist in the first place. Voting could be the most important thing you do this year. Its worth taking an extra few minutes to make sure you do it right. OOLTEWAH, TN / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / Ooltewah, Tennessee-based Knives Ship Free (KSF) is proud to announce the upcoming launch of the Spyderco SmallFly 2 Butterfly Knife. Knives Ship Free is dedicated to providing knife enthusiasts an easy to access and convenient location to buy all kinds of knives and knife accessories from a variety of manufacturers. J. Rouch, a representative for Knives Ship Free, says, "If you are a fan of Filipino butterfly knives, you'll be glad to know that we have some great news for you. Spyderco's unique take on the butterfly knife is back, and it now has a new profile. This is easily one of the best options for anyone who is looking to purchase a beautifully crafted, brand new butterfly knife." Unlike the previous iteration, the Spyderco SmallFly 2 Butterfly Knife's blade is a full-flat-ground drop point in CPM-S30V stainless steel. On the other end, skeletonized G-10 scales have a comfortable peel-ply texture and nested stainless steel liners underneath making for an excellent handle. Spyderco's trademark round hole can be found at the end of both handles, maintaining their iconic theme and helping improve the speed and balance of the knife's rotation. The handles lock together using a spring-loaded latch, and both handles have ambidextrous mounting points for the deep-carry wire clip. With a closed length of 4.50", an overall length of 7.60" and weighing only 3.3oz, the Spyderco SmallFly 2 Butterfly Knife is also a very compact knife. The blade's length is 3.37", and it has a cutting edge of 3.0", making this a good choice for anyone looking for a small, but well made Filipino butterfly knife. Though the Spyderco SmallFly 2 Butterfly Knife is not out yet, anyone who is interested in purchasing one can visit Knives Ship Free's website and enter their details to ensure they are alerted as soon as the knife is available for purchase. J Rouch says, "At Knives Ship Free, we are dedicated to providing only the best knives for the knife enthusiasts out there. Whatever popular brand of knife you want, you can rest assured that Knives Ship Free has it. If that's not enough to convince you to buy your next knife from us, all our knives are also shipped free - just like it says in the company name." For more information about the company and their services, view the company Facebook page. The excellent products and services provided by Knives Ship Free have earned the company a lot of praise from both normal consumers and knife enthusiasts. On their Facebook page, Knives Ship Free has a rating of 5 out of 5 Stars from over 300 reviews. In a recent review, Walt Kuenzele writes, "The customer service is second to none! I needed some guidance on how to lube my Bugout. So I called KSF and spoke with Tyler. Not only were his suggestions vey helpful, he also emailed me a link with step-by-step instructions for the disassembly of the knife. Thank you again, Tyler and Knives Ship Free." Meanwhile, in another review, Jonathan Schneider writes, "I have been ordering (mostly) BRKT knives from Knives Ship free for quite a few years. KSF almost feels like a family with their service, regular emails and customer service. KSF brings a great personal touch to purchasing knives. They foster a feeling that if you were to happen to be in the neighborhood, you could stop by to have some coffee and doughnuts and talk knives without ever feeling like an inconvenience. Great company. The only go-to for good steel." Those who want to learn more about Knives Ship Free and their services are welcome to visit the company's website for more information. In addition to supplying a wide range of varied knives and knife accessories, Knives Ship Free also maintains a blog that contains useful information for any knife enthusiasts, whether they are old or new. Knives Ship Free encourages everyone to get in touch with J. Rouch directly via email or phone. Alternatively, interested parties can also contact Knives Ship Free by using the built-in form on their website. Knives Ship Free maintains a presence on Facebook where they frequently post updates, share media and communicate with their customers. For more information about Knives Ship Free, contact the company here: Knives Ship Free J Rouch (423) 910-9070 info@knivesshipfree.com KnivesShipFree 8823 Production Lane Ooltewah, TN 37363 SOURCE: Knives Ship Free View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607533/Spyderco-Set-To-Launch-SmallFly-2-Butterfly-Knife If the new documentary, All In: The Fight for Democracy, were a lawsuit, it would be filed as We the People vs. the United States of America. The evidence so irrefutable, the crimes so nefarious, the United States would receive a crushing blow. The ruling would say voter suppression was embedded in the U.S. Constitution; and that amendments to correct course were defied. In states where people of color are overtaking whites, the lawsuit also would show that blatant suppression has given way to more covert means. All In should be required viewing before you vote in November. It should be shown to students from middle school to college. Filmmakers Lisa Cortes and Liz Garbus showcase Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who never conceded her loss in the 2018 governors race against an opponent who was also in charge of the election. All In lays out the evidence from a Constitution that gave only white men who owned property the right to vote to Jim Crow-era poll taxes and literacy tests that spread like wildfire. Russell Lee Photograph Collection / The Center for American History / University of Texas at Austin After those tactics were made unlawful, redistricting maps were devised to limit the power of growing minority populations, thus limiting their representation. When voter ID laws began to pop up, specifically because they impacted the poor and voters of color, they spread across the country, too. The federal government has had every opportunity to make voting easier by making Election Day a holiday, while states could expand early-voting periods and the number of polling places. The easier route has been the road less taken. Instead, the Trump administration this year attempted to curtail the U.S. Postal Services ability to deliver ballots during a pandemic. The crisis has also stained the reputation of the nations highest court. In 2000, the Supreme Court determined the presidential winner as a recount was left unfinished. President Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders are rushing to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs seat, because an election controversy could reach the court again. Amanda Andrade-Rhoades /Bloomberg The Supreme Court also suppressed voting by ruling to invalidate parts of the Voting Rights Act. Those provisions prevented voter discrimination in places like Texas, with its history of bad actors. The Electoral College suppresses voting, too. More voices are calling for a popular vote to determine presidential elections and ensure a fair fight. Republicans overwhelmingly oppose it. Unfairness has been at the heart of voter suppression. Its not hard to see why voter apathy exists. Suppression is undemocratic, unpatriotic and unAmerican, and as plain as daylight. On Tuesday, a panel on the 2020 Latino vote put on by the University of Texas at San Antonios University Relations Speakers Series added to the evidence. Juan Andrade of the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute in Chicago spoke, as did Domingo Garcia, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, of Dallas; and Lydia Camarillo, president of Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project in San Antonio. Me, too. Andrade talked of voter suppression in Chicago in the late 1970s through 1980, when years of registration drives left it with a net increase of just 17 Latino voters, he said. The Chicago Board of Elections was purging 100,000 registered voters each year, including 12,500 Latinos, he said. A lawsuit was successfully won against the board. John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News Garcia castigated Texas for not allowing voters to register online, which he called especially egregious during a pandemic. He urged Latino voters to work harder ponte las pilas, he said, get your act together. Register by the Oct. 5 deadline, he urged. Voting advocates are universally asking voters to vote early this year, from Oct. 13-30. Election Day is Nov. 3. Camarillo decried a narrative she hears in the press about Latino voter apathy. She has a point. Negativity doesnt help, especially as campaigns refuse to invest in getting the vote out in Texas. Its impossible to mask low turnouts, though. The real problem is that those clinging to power dont really want everyone to participate. If they did, theyd make registration automatic or allow people to register on Election Day. In the 2016 general election, 1.9 million Latinos and 1.3 million Blacks voted in Texas. In the 2018 midterms, 1.2 million Latinos and 850,000 Blacks cast ballots. Before the pandemic, Southwest Voter estimated 2.1 to 2.2 million Latinos would vote in Texas in November, along with 1.5 million African Americans. Far more are on the rolls. Advocates say if they all voted the state would be more than purple. While many would celebrate that potential eventuality, others those who believe most in free, fair elections would call the greater turnout its own reward. Elaine Ayala is a columnist covering San Antonio and Bexar County. To read more from Elaine, become a subscriber. eayala@express-news.net | Twitter: @ElaineAyala Governor Sani Bello of Niger State has ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities in six areas in the state over continued bandits attacks. This is contained in a statement by Ahmed Matane, Secretary to the State Government, issued in Minna on Thursday. He listed the areas affected to include: Gurmana in Shiroro Local Government Area, Anguwan Kampani, M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate, College of Education, Army Barracks and Lapan-Gwari in Chanchaga Local Government Area of the state. Mr Matane said the decision followed security, health and environmental hazards, as well as illicit drug peddling in the areas. He explained that reports had clearly established a strong and glaring nexus between the activities of bandits, prostitutes, criminal gangs and illegal miners, with each mutually re-enforcing the other. Mr Matane warned that any mining operator caught engaging in mining activities in the areas would face the full wrath of the law. According to him, the government is leaving no stone unturned in fashioning out strategies to bring lasting solution as well as forestall any breach of security in the state. Hence the need for the people to be security conscious and report all suspicious characters, movements or objects in their communities to security agents, he said. Mr Matane said the government would make the state a model in the mining sector, to create employment and wealth in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. The SSG assured that the government would not scale-down pressure on the armed bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers until they were totally flushed-out of the state. Christian Berger served as ambassador and head of the EU Delegation to Turkey from 2016 to 2020, as well as ambassador to Turkmenistan Ambassador Christian Berger presented his credentials to Egypt President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday as the new head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Egypt, the EU Delegation said in a statement. I am honoured to serve as the EU Ambassador to Egypt, and offer my heartfelt greetings and deep respect to the people of Egypt. The EU and Egypt are close partners and enjoy a long-standing friendship and strong relations in many fields. The EU is Egypt's largest trading partner and the number one foreign direct investor. We also work together on global issues facing the EU and Egypt, like the ongoing pandemic, Ambassador Berger said. I look forward to working closely with our Egyptian partners in the government, civil society, the business community and many other stakeholders. With our partners and friends in the League of Arab States we will further deepen our co-operation in the face of common strategic challenges, he added. Christian Berger served as ambassador and head of the EU Delegation to Turkey from 2016 to 2020, as well as ambassador to Turkmenistan. From 2011 to 2016, he was the Director/Deputy Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the European External Action Service in Brussels, and from 2008 to 2011 the EU Representative/head of delegation in Jerusalem. From 2006 to 2008, he was head of the European Commission Crisis Response & Peace-building Unit, and from 2005 to 2006 the EU-Representative to the Quartet Special Envoy (James Wolfensohn), working mainly on the Rafah Agreement (Egypt-Gaza border crossing). Christian Berger is an Austrian citizen. He is married with two children and holds degrees in law from the universities of Vienna and London. Search Keywords: Short link: President Volodymyr Zelensky assures that Ukraine does not cave in to blackmail but finds a balance for the Trilateral Contract Group meetings. "Ukraine does not cave in to blackmail. Europe and, by the way, Russia see this. But today we really find a balance for the Trilateral Contract Group meetings - a balance in a well-considered policy, in the dialogue within the TCG meetings, and in the dialogue with the Russian Federation, a subject of the Minsk process," Zelensky said at a joint press conference with President of Slovakia Zuzana Caputova in Bratislava, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to the President, this dialogue is "fragile and unstable", but Ukraine is doing everything possible to have this dialogue and subsequent results. The Head of State noted that Ukraine already saw results. In particular, he reminded of the ongoing ceasefire regime in Donbas. "We are aware of the results of Minsk and Normandy format meetings. There is a difficult ceasefire but it is observed," said Zelensky, adding that "if no aimed provocations had been launched, we would have saved the lives of all people who died in the fighting." As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a state visit to Slovakia on Thursday. Earlier, Leonid Kravchuk, the Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group for the Peaceful Settlement of the Situation in Donbas, said that Russia would block the work of the TCG if the Verkhovna Rada did not change the resolution on local elections in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba assured that Ukraine would never make concessions on the issue of holding elections in the temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions which would undermine its territorial integrity or European and Euro-Atlantic development. ol A notorious criminal has been found guilty of murder for organising and financing the shooting of a 15-year-old boy as he slept in his bed at his Sydney home. Abdul Abu-Mahmoud pleaded not guilty to murdering Brayden Dillon at his Glenfield family home on Good Friday in 2017 after his mother and stepfather were threatened with a gun. The NSW Supreme Court heard the 35-year-old organised the hit in retaliation of the death of his nephew Adam Abu-Mahmoud, who was stabbed to death in a Panania street brawl in July 2016. Scroll down for video Brayden Dillon (pictured) was shot in an 'execution-style' killing while sleeping in his Glenfield home, in Sydney's southwest on Good Friday in 2017 Conrad Craig was jailed for at least 30 years in July for murder after admitting to being the gunman who burst into the teenager's room and shot him as he slept. After a judge-alone trial, Justice Ian Harrison on Thursday found Abu-Mahmoud guilty of murder by ordering and financing the killing. Justice Harrison ruled Abu-Mahmoud approached Craig on release from Cessnock Jail about killing the teen. He also found him guilty of two other charges of soliciting others to murder Brayden and his older brother Joshua Dillon in his bid for revenge. Conrad Craig (pictured) was jailed for at least 30 years in July for murder after admitting to being the gunman who burst into the teenager's room and shot him as he slept A White Mazda 3 was used to transport the shooter Conrad Craig from the Glenfield home after he shot Brayden 'The Crown alleges he had a particular state of mind, a desire for fatal retribution and that he intended to act on this by soliciting men associated with Brothers 4 Life to effect such retribution in exchange for money,' Justice Harrison said, as reported by The Daily Telegraph. 'I'm satisfied beyond reasonable doubt he was aware that Conrad Craig planned to carry out the murder of Brayden Dillon by going to his house and shooting him and that he picked him up from Cessnock Jail in order to assist him.' Joshua Dillon was charged over Adam Abu-Mahmoud's death, but was ultimately found not guilty by a jury due to self defence in October last year. His uncle had a series of tattoos inked on his body including one on his left leg reading 'Revenge is a dish best served cold' and 'eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth and blood for blood' inked on his left arm in Arabic. Prosecutors alleged Abu-Mahmoud changed tactic to target Brayden after Joshua was kept in protective custody while on remand. Justice Harrison rejected a bid by Craig to go back on what he originally told police about accepting a $20,000 payment from Abu-Mahmoud to carry out the shooting. He adjourned the case to October 15 when a sentencing hearing date will be set. Outside the courtroom Acting Inspector Luke Scott said the guilty verdict is a step in the right direction towards helping the family overcome their grief. 'The family and we are very happy with the result it's been three-and-a-half years since the murder of Brayden Dillon and this is just one small step in the quest for justice,' he said. For businesses seeking to protect their confidential data and comply with laws and regulations, selecting and implementing an efficient data loss prevention (DLP) solution can be quite difficult. Choosing the right solution isn't easy - every business is different, and there is no one size fits all' solution. Over 388,000 professionals have used IT Central Station research to inform their purchasing decisions. Its latest paper looks at Forcepoint Data Loss Prevention and Symantec Data Loss Prevention, two of the highest reviewed solutions in the data loss prevention market. Below is a brief summary of the report, highlighting what real IT Central Station users think of each solution - from their most valuable features, to how they've improved individual businesses, as well as what each solution could do better. Forcepoint Data Loss Prevention Addresses human-centric risk with visibility and control everywhere your people and data reside With an average rating of 8.4 from seven reviews, Forcepoint Data Loss Prevention is clearly one of the top choices in the data loss prevention market. Of interest to companies operating in the computer software, comms services, and insurance industries, Forcepoint is also popular with organisations of all sizes. 50% of reviewers come from companies with less than 200 employees, whilst midsize and larger organisations make up 21% and 29% of reviewers respectively. Plaudits of the solution praise its unique fingerprinting technology. Many users see this as its key feature alongside its ability to provide integration to things like Cloud Access Security Broker. An intuitive GUI adds further value and establishes Forcepoint as one of the premium players in the market. However, the solution could be improved slightly. Some critics would like to see it develop more AI and machine learning capabilities, whilst others would appreciate if the initial setup was simplified and reduced in complexity. Symantec Data Loss Prevention Keep your sensitive corporate information safe Achieving an average rating of 7.7 from 10 reviews, Symantec Data Loss Prevention is one of the most frequently reviewed solutions on the market. Computer software firms, comms service providers, and media companies have all expressed interest in the solution, and it endears itself to organisations of differing sizes. Small organisations account for 47% of reviews, with midsize and larger companies splitting the remaining 53% at 18% and 35% each. Many of Symantec's users agree that the product's dashboard, management section, and reporting all perform very well. Data matching features and the endpoint security it provides are also viewed very favourably and help set the solution apart from its competitors. Despite this, the solution does have a few areas it could improve upon. Its complexity can make it difficult to use and critics would like to see the solution simplified to remedy this situation. The enforce service is also difficult to understand, and users believe that free online courses would be useful to help them gain a better understanding of how to use the product. Its true, as Cameron said in his news conference Wednesday, the grand jury is supposed to be independent of the prosecutor and free from outside influence. But prosecutors present their side of the events with no input from the opposing side. They only get to see and hear what the prosecutor puts in front of them. The Egyptian and French foreign ministers called for protecting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian called on Thursday for protecting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and working to achieve a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, a statement by the Egyptian side read. Shoukry arrived in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on Wednesday to participate in a quadripartite meeting on Thursday on Palestine with the foreign ministers of Jordan, Germany and France. During their meeting, Shoukry and Le Drian affirmed the need to advance peace efforts to settle the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-state solution and in line with international legitimacy resolutions, the statement read. The two-state solution aims at establishing an independent Palestinian state along an Israeli state. Shoukry discussed with Le Drian Egypts efforts to achieve stability in Libya in terms of the political and security situation. He urged joint work to put an end to destructive foreign interference that destabilises the country. The ministers highlighted the need to provide support to Lebanon and to continue coordination efforts to help the country during its crises. A massive blast in the capital, Beirut, early in August rendered more than 200 people dead, 6,000 injured, and 300,000 homeless. The blast was caused by the detonation of hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive chemical, stored at the city's port. Shoukry reviewed with Le Drian Egypts efforts to revive tourism in a number of Egyptian destinations. Egypt has resumed international flights in July, after months of suspension over the spread of coronavirus. Egypt has seen a relatively stable number of coronavirus cases over the past weeks. Shoukry said he was satisfied with the momentum of Egypt-France consultations on all fronts, with the aim of fostering cooperation on development efforts in the region. Amman FMs summit The quadripartite meeting in Amman targeted reaching a comprehensive and fair solution to the Palestinian cause and achieving the two-state solution, Shoukry said at a joint press conference with his French and Jordanian counterparts following the quadripartite meeting. We are working on finding new frameworks that attract the participation of [conflict] parties towards greater interaction to push the peace process and reach a formula to end the conflict, he said. Shoukry added there is ongoing communication with the Palestinian Authority to bolster efforts aimed at establishing a Palestinian state on the basis of international accords. He said the meeting was important because it focused on finding suitable means to push peace and open channels of communication between parties to the conflict. Egypts foreign minister stated that the peace accords Israel signed with the UAE and Bahrain are an important development that shall lead to greater interactions and support to reach comprehensive peace in the region on the basis of international legitimacy. Egypt has welcomed the recent peace agreements between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain as steps towards bringing peace to the Middle East. Cairo supports the two-state solution, with East Jerusalem the capital of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders and according to UN Security Council resolutions. Egypt has repeatedly expressed its rejection of Israels plan to annex the West Bank and called for the revival of the peace process. Search Keywords: Short link: 3 1 of 3 San Antonio Police Department Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Google Show More Show Less 3 of 3 A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a body found inside a burned car on the West Side, according to San Antonio police. Police are not identifying the suspect because he is a juvenile. He turned himself in Thursday and has been charged with murder. Taiwan China Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a visit to the Penghu Magong military air base in outlying Penghu Island, Taiwan Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. Tsai visited the military base on one of Taiwans outlying islands Tuesday in a display of resolve following a recent show of force by rival China. (AP Photo/Johnson Lai) TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Taiwan on Thursday condemned recent Chinese military activity after Beijing sent two military surveillance planes toward the island for three straight days, calling it a deliberate provocation. Tensions have risen in the Taiwan Strait as the U.S. has stepped up its official engagement with the self-ruled island that China considers part of its national territory. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, China sent two planes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense. In response, the Taiwanese side dispatched air patrols, the ministry said. We oppose China using military force against Taiwan, deliberately violating Taiwans naval and airspace safety and damaging the status quo, added Chiu Chui-Cheng, deputy minister at Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council. Our government will continue to cooperate with countries with similar values. Asked about the sorties, Chinese defense ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei said they were aimed at demonstrating Chinas determination and ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China is targeting the interference of external forces and the very small number of Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist activities, Tan said at a monthly briefing. Last week, China sent a total of 37 warplanes, including bombers and fighter jets, across the Taiwan Strait in a warning as a high-level U.S. State Department official visited the island. The Taiwanese defense ministry said the planes crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait. The midline has acted as an unofficial buffer zone between China and Taiwan for decades, in what the Mainland Affairs Council called a tacit agreement that has kept the peace. On Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin denied the existence of any midline, saying that Taiwan is part of China. He also warned that China would retaliate for the U.S. visit. We will take countermeasures, including against relevant individuals," he said. Story continues Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has remained defiant, visiting a military base on Tuesday and encouraging the personnel, in particular pilots and crew. Taiwanese foreign minister Joseph Wu said in July that Chinese military exercises have increased in frequency and become virtually a daily occurrence." China has increased diplomatic and military pressure on Tsais government over her refusal to agree to Chinas insistence that the island be considered part of Chinese territory. The vast majority of Taiwanese reject the prospect of political union with China under the one country, two systems framework used for Hong Kong. Following Tsai's election in 2016, China cut off contact with the Taiwanese government and has sought to isolate it, siphoning off the island's diplomatic allies while ratcheting up political, military and economic pressure. MORRISTOWN, NJAlthough the General Election is slated to be conducted primarily by mail and polling places have been reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic, the county announced the polling locations for those who prefer to vote in person. Morristown residents may vote from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the Municipal Building at 200 South St. in the third floor Senior Room. Accommodations are available for those with disabilities. The county clerk said all voters are strongly encouraged to vote by mail, and those that vote in person will utilize a provisional (paper) ballot. You can see a list of ballot drop boxes, including one in Morristown, here. On Aug. 29, 2020, Gov. Murphy signed legislation to pivot New Jersey from primarily in-person to mail-in voting. "COVID-19 has caused us to re-evaluate the way we typically hold our elections," said Murphy when he signed the bill. "Even in the face of a pandemic, we are firmly committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive general election." With reporting by Tom Davis This article originally appeared on the Morristown Patch Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 18:20:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VILNIUS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania reported 138 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 4,070, including 89 deaths and 2,253 recoveries, the country's health ministry said Thursday. Among the new cases, 113 became infected after contact with current patients, while sources of infection of 24 others are unknown. One imported case from Austria was registered in Vilnius county during the previous day. The new cases represent the biggest daily spike in COVID-19 cases in the country since Feb. 28 when Lithuania confirmed its first case. In the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, countries across the globe, including China, Russia, Britain and the United States, are racing to develop a vaccine. The Lithuanian government has decided to purchase a possible COVID-19 vaccine via the European Commission's joint procurement mechanism. Enditem Advertisement The fraudster father of slain Hither Green burglar Henry Vincent has pocketed 1.5 million after selling a sprawling farm his wife bought for 325,000 from a vulnerable pensioner two years ago, MailOnline can reveal. Rosemary Vincent, whose son was fatally stabbed by a homeowner in the botched 2018 raid, acquired the five-bedroom Grade II Snagbrook Farm and surrounding 61-acres of land in the picturesque Kent village of Hollingbourne that year. The ramshackle property was sold yesterday at an online auction to a mystery buyer for 1.5 million. Footage of the house and grounds showed empty rooms with holes in the floors and ceilings, while naked bulbs and Christmas tinsel were seen hanging from the walls. Scroll down for video The fraudster father of slain Hither Green burglar Henry Vincent has made 1.5 million after selling Snagbrook Farm (above) which his wife bought for 325,000 from a vulnerable pensioner two years ago, MailOnline can reveal Rosemary Vincent, whose son was fatally stabbed by a homeowner in the botched 2018 raid, acquired the five-bedroom Grade II Snagbrook Farm and surrounding 61-acres of land in the picturesque Kent village of Hollingbourne that year. The ramshackle property which is derelict in parts was sold yesterday at an online auction to a mystery buyer for 1.5 million Rosemary Vincent (right) bought the farm in a cut price deal from landowner Dudley Wright whom first met the family in 2016 when her handyman husband Henry (left) offered to do odd jobs around his home The Vincents' son Henry, 37, (left) was living at Snagbrook Farm when he robbed the home of 78-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks (right) in Hither Green two years ago. The burglar ended up being stabbed with his own screwdriver during a scuffle with the former RAC office manager, and died after staggering onto the pavement Mrs Vincent bought the farm in a cut price deal from landowner Dudley Wright who first met the family in 2016 when her handyman husband Henry offered to do odd jobs around his home. It is understood the Vincents moved in while Mr Wright ended up living in a ramshackle caravan on a patch of land next to the house and he has not been seen since. Two years after meeting the couple, the 74-year-old farmer agreed to sell his property to Mrs Vincent in five separate plots, with each costing 65,000. The following year she then transferred the property to her husband's name. Yesterday's 1.5 million sale prompted anger among locals who know Mr Wright and accused the Vincents of taking advantage of a vulnerable old man. It is understood the Vincents moved in while Mr Wright (above) ended up living in a ramshackle caravan on a patch of land next to the house and he has not been seen since Chris, who ran the local village shop, said: 'The whole thing is a disgrace and should be properly investigated. 'A pensioner was taken advantage of and these people have made a hefty profit in a very short period of time. It all smells very rotten to me.' The Vincents' son Henry, 37, was living at Snagbrook Farm when he robbed the home of 78-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks in Hither Green two years ago. The burglar ended up being stabbed with his own screwdriver during a scuffle with the former RAC office manager, and died after staggering onto the pavement. Mr Osborn-Brooks was initially arrested on suspicion of murder before being cleared of any wrong-doing, but the death prompted an outpouring of protest from the traveller community, to which the Vincents belong. Numerous threats were made against Mr Osborn-Brooks and his wife who were forced to sell their three-bedroom home and move elsewhere. At Snagbrook Farm today, the property appeared abandoned, with a padlock slung over the gate and the driveway overgrown and in a shabby state. Its sudden sale sparked fresh concerns about Mr Wright and what has happened to him. One local said: 'We haven't got a clue where Dudley is and it's a mystery that's got us all talking. He was always a bit of a recluse and didn't really have any friends in the village so I just hope he's OK.' In 2018, MailOnline revealed that soon after the Vincents took ownership of the farm, Mr Wright wrote to his ex-wife saying their daughter Davinia was being written out of his will. His cattle were then sold and a long-serving farm worker, Walter Bratton, who had lived in a house in the grounds, was duly removed and lost his job. Snagbrook Farm today appeared abandoned, with a padlock slung over the gate and the driveway overgrown and in a shabby state Two years after meeting the couple, the 74-year-old farmer agreed to sell his property to Mrs Vincent in five separate plots, with each costing 65,000. The following year she then transferred the property to her husband's name Snagbrook Farm was put up for sale this week by Clive Emson auctioneers with a 1.5 million guide price, sparking three days of intense online interest Mr Wright's ex-wife Winnifred, whom he married in 1972 and broke up with four years later, said their only daughter 'accepted a long time ago' that she had been disinherited by her father. She said last night: 'I haven't seen Dudley for more than 40 years but it doesn't surprise me that Snagbrook Farm has gone under the hammer for 1.5million when he only sold it for 325,000. He was like that - never really had any good business sense. 'Our daughter has lost out on a quite a bit of money but to be honest she accepted years ago that that was probably going to be the case. 'I've haven't had anything to do with Dudley for a long time as we were only married for four years before splitting. 'But last year I had an attack of conscience and rang Kent Social Services to enquire of his whereabouts in case he'd been killed and dumped in a ditch somewhere. 'They told me nothing but they didn't seem too concerned for his well-being. 'I did hear something from a friend but it's third-hand so I don't know how reliable the information is. 'She said that a friend of hers had been part of a group from Hollingbourne, which included Dudley, who would go on excursions to France. 'One of the group had died last year and this lady phoned Snagbrook Farm to let Dudley know and to inform him of funeral details. 'Dudley is supposed to have answered the house phone suggesting that he was living there with the Vincents. 'Where he is now, now that the house has been sold goodness knows. But whatever has happened he's probably brought it on himself.' The main farmhouse is believed to date back to the 16th century with a 19th century facade boasting internal period features including panelled walls, fireplaces and leaded light windows The 1.5m sale prompted anger among locals who know Mr Wright and accused the Vincents of taking advantage of a vulnerable old man Rumours are widely circulating within Hollingbourne that Mr Wright moved to a care home in Ashford or Sittingbourne. Mr Wright was once a vocal member of their community but fears were raised at a local parish council meeting in October 2016 when members spoke about how the pensioner had had not been seen around the area. The farm's sale has sparked fresh concerns about Mr Wright (above on his wedding day) and what has happened to him Mike Bedwell, the then leader of the Parish Council, said: 'He used to be seen regularly out and about doing his shopping in the local convenience store and the owner was his friend. 'He is an elderly gentleman who used to write a lot of complaining letters to the parish council, but they stopped suddenly. 'We have heard he is still living on the property but there have also been rumours that he was in a mobile home, in care or living above a shop in Ashford. We have checked and there is no sign of him.' However, at the following month's meeting, it was recorded that 'PCSO Dave Rowley has visited a local pensioner who had not been seen for some time by neighbours and he was found to be living with a carer and in good spirits' and that the police do not have any concerns about his welfare but will monitor the situation. Snagbrook Farm was put up for sale this week by Clive Emson auctioneers with a 1.5 million guide price, sparking three days of intense online interest. Kevin Gilbert of Clive Emson told MailOnline: 'The property was sold for 1.5millon to an undisclosed buyer from Kent. 'We were aware of the previous media reports around this particular property and we had a lot of interest when putting it up for auction on Monday. 'The deeds were in the name of Mr Vincent and the property was sold on his behalf. 'Snagbrook is a fabulous place in a stunning setting but the owner is going to have to spend a few quid doing it up. 'The main house is Grade II listed so the new owner will have to comply with conservation orders but it's a blank canvass and could become a really fantastic property.' The main farmhouse is believed to date back to the 16th century with a 19th century facade boasting internal period features including panelled walls, fireplaces and leaded light windows. The site also includes a smaller bungalow, three barns, a mobile unit and a spring water-fed lake. It is not known where the Vincents have moved to, but the family has been known to fleece the elderly in a variety of mainly building scams. The Vincents' son Henry, 37, was living at Snagbrook Farm when he robbed the home of 78-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks in Hither Green two years ago. The burglar ended up being stabbed with his own screwdriver during a scuffle with the former RAC office manager, and died after staggering onto the pavement. Pictured: Mourners leave tributes where he died Mr Osborn-Brooks was initially arrested on suspicion of murder before being cleared of any wrong-doing, but the burglar's death prompted an outpouring of protest from the traveller community, to which the Vincents belong. Pictured: Mourners paying tribute to Vincent Jr One of their victims was charged 72,000 to repair a single roof tile. In 2003, Vincent Snr, now 61, was described as the leader of a seven-strong family gang of cowboy builders who had fleeced elderly householders of more than 1 million. The gang would frogmarch their vulnerable victims to the bank after telling them their houses were about to fall down. Their vile tricks of the trade include showing rotten pieces of wood they have brought with them to convince octogenarians they need repairs done. They also like to squirt water onto the interior walls of pensioners' homes to pretend there is a damp problem. The seven were jailed for a total of nearly 30 years. Vincent senior, now 59, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years. Just five years later, in 2008, he swindled an 81-year-old man out of 72,000 for roof repairs and after going on on the run was caught in September 2010 and jailed for six years the following August. The Federal Government has said it will not back down on the controversial Water Resources Bill. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this when he spoke with newsmen on Tuesday. Mohammed said the bill was not designed to cause water wars in the country He said the bill was a panacea to likely water conflicts in the country, adding that critics of the bill have either not read it or might be mischievous. He said there is no hidden agenda behind the bill and that it was not a subterfuge reintroduction of RUGA. Mohammed spoke at a joint briefing with the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, in Abuja. He said: There is nothing new about the National Water Resources Bill. This is because it is an amalgamation of Water Resources Laws that have been in existence for a long time. These are: Water Resources Act, Cap W2 LFN 2004 The River Basin Development Authority Act, Cap R9 LFN 2004 The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (Establishment) Act, Cap N1100A, LFN 2004 National Water Resources Institute Act, Cap N83 LFN 2004 So, why are the laws being re-packaged as the National Water Resources Bill 2020? The answer is that they are being re-enacted with necessary modifications to bring them in line with current global trends as well as best practices in Integrated Water Resources Management. The overall objective of this amalgamation is the efficient management of the Water Resources Sector for the economic development of Nigeria and the well-being of its citizens. The Bill provides for professional and efficient management of all surface and ground water for the use of the people (i.e. for domestic and non-domestic use, irrigation, agricultural purposes, generation of hydro-electric energy, navigation, fisheries and recreation). The Bill will ensure that the nations water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all persons. Critics contend that the Bill is aimed at taking the resources of a certain part of the country for the use of herders. In other words, the Federal Government is seeking to implement RUGA by subterfuge. We also want to state that the Bill is for the good of the nation, and has no hidden agenda whatsoever. Adamu said the bill was sent to all the states for concurrence without any objection. He said the bill predated the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding: This was never a Buhari bill. It is a bill for Nigeria. It started 2008 long before the President thought of winning election. French Health Minister Olivier Veran speaks near a map of France showing the Marseille region in red during a press conference in Paris, - Eliot Blondet/ Abaca Marseille and Paris on Thursday reacted furiously to fresh restrictions due to rising Covid infections, with local leaders in both cities saying they had not been consulted by the government about the clampdown. All bars and restaurants are to be shut for two weeks starting Saturday in Marseille, southern France after health minister Olivier Veran warned that swathes of the country, including Paris, risked reaching a critical situation within weeks without further restrictions. The Aix-Marseille area, along with the overseas French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, is now on maximum alert. That is the second-highest level of alert before total lockdown and is reached when the infection rate per 100,000 surpasses 250 for the general population and 100 for old people while at least 30 per cent of intensive care beds are taken up by Covid patients. Along with the bar closures, all establishments receiving the public will be shut except those with strict protocols in place. Paris, meanwhile, now joins a string of other major cities, including Bordeaux, Lyon and Nice, which are on reinforced alert, meaning that all bars and restaurants must shut after 10pm starting Monday and private groups must be reduced to ten people and public organised gatherings to 1,000, down from 5,000. Hours after the new rules were announced in Paris, local politicians slammed the stricter rules as a step too far that would spell economic catastrophe. Benoit Payan, deputy mayor of Marseille, gestures during a press conference on September 24, 2020 in the southern French city, - CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP "It was with surprise and anger that I learned of a decision on which Marseille city hall was not consulted," Marseille mayor Michele Rubirola wrote on Twitter. "There is nothing in the public health situation that justifies this move. I won't allow the people of Marseille to become the victims of political decisions that no one understands. She called for a ten-day moratorium to see whether tentative signs of a slowdown in infection rates due to recent extra restrictions was taking effect. Story continues Renaud Muselier, president of the regional council of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, which includes Marseille, said the closures amounted to a collective punishment and quasi-reconfinement for the region. Franck Trouet, spokesman for the hotel and restaurant union GNI, called for the unjust decision to be reversed, calling it a fig leaf to hide the fact that the government was incapable of handling this crisis. Maryse Joissains, the outspoken Right-wing mayor of Aix, which also faces total closures, told La Provence: Shut up Veran! The upper administration is going mad. In Paris, mayor Anne Hidalgo complained that closing bars earlier in the capital was not a pertinent measure, asking why the government had relaxed health protocols in schools while shutting bars in Paris at 10pm? Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, wearing a protective face mask, - STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/ AFP Mr Veran denied the decisions were unilateral and that the principle of responsibility must come first. The prime ministers office added that it was out of the question to waive the restrictions. We cannot wait another ten days, it warned. Some 69 out of 100 of Frances departements or counties, are now considered red zones and the national R number is above one while the positivity rate has gone up from five to six per cent in a week, the health minister confirmed on Wednesday night. While he said there was still time to exit a return to an exponential trajectory, if we dont take rapid measures, we risk reaching a critical situation in certain worst-affected regions within weeks. Paris, where the infection rate per 100,000 people is now above 200, had until now avoided draconian measures, only obliging people to wear face masks in public but avoiding other restrictions. However, Mr Veran warned that the capitals health system were now seriously stretched as the number of hospitalisations had doubled in the past week. The number of Covid patients in intensive care was now 305, accounting for 27 per cent of intensive care beds, compared to 18 per cent a week ago. If nothing was done, that figure would reach 40 per cent by October 10 and 85 per cent by November 11, he warned. He issued a solemn call on the French to keep social interactions to a minimum and respect social distancing both in public and private spheres - for the first time mentioning the term social bubble. We cant be extremely vigilant in the metro, the bus, in the office and in shops and then let all vigilance go when you are in a bar or at home inviting friends in contact with the family, he said. President Emmanuel Macron has himself insisted that we must learn to live with the virus and in recent weeks appeared to baulk at the kind of tighter restrictions imposed in the UK. The world's smallest Rubik's Cube has gone on sale to mark the 40th anniversary of the original 3D puzzle. The tiny but playable cube, made of 'ultra-precision metal', measures just 9.9 millimetres across and weighs two grams. It is has gone on sale in Japan at a cost of 198,000 yen (1,480) for delivery in December. The cube also comes with its own display box, according to MegaHouse, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based toymaker Bandai. World's smallest Rubik's Cube has gone on sale in Japan to mark the 40th anniversary of the original 3D puzzle Rubik's Cube was invented by Hungarian architecture professor Erno Rubik in the 1970s before a company in the US turned it into a hit product in the 1980s. More than 100 million cubes were sold worldwide in the first two years. It was an instant hit in Japan where more than four million were sold in the first eight months after it went on sale in July 1980. The new tiny cube was shown this week at an exhibition in Tokyo organised by the Hungarian embassy, which also includes an artwork made with Rubik's Cubes. The tiny but playable cube, made of 'ultra-precision metal', measures just 9.9 millimetres across and weighs two grams The cube also comes with its own display box, according to MegaHouse, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based toymaker Bandai The exhibit will run through until November 9. Norbert Palanovics, the Hungarian ambassador to Japan, said he tells anyone who will listen about the Rubik's Cube because it embodies the small, simple but smart qualities of his country. 'The Rubik's Cube is part of our everyday life here in Japan, too, and inspires everyone,' he said. A superb solution thats linked to companies financial results. I like the way they capitalize on the use of technology in increasing companies savings and profitability. Talent Network is also brilliant. PRO Unlimited, a global innovator of contingent workforce management software and services, was named a winner of four 2020 Stevie Awards, including three Gold and one Silver, in the 17th Annual International Business Awards. More than 3,800 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration. Judges honored PROs Wand Vendor Management System (VMS) with Gold Awards in the following categories: The International Business Awards are the worlds premier business awards program. All individuals and organizations worldwide public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small are eligible to submit nominations. The 2020 IBAs received entries from organizations in 63 nations and territories. Were thrilled with the recognition of our technology, said Ted Sergott, Executive Vice President of Product Development at PRO Unlimited. In the past year weve introduced a range of groundbreaking enhancements that give users more flexibility and significantly increase their efficiency. Our ongoing product innovations reflect the multiplatform nature of todays world, driving faster execution and better decision-making anytime, anywhere. Used globally by some of the worlds biggest brands, including Fortune 1000 companies in more than 100 countries, core capabilities of Wand VMS include: Total contingent workforce management that includes intelligent sourcing, interview scheduling, onboarding and offboarding, timecard and expense approvals, worker ratings, and much more Self-sourcing with the Wand Private Talent Network module Analytics and reporting with the Wand Discovery module SOW project sourcing and management Wands Market Rate Module As part of their evaluation process, Stevie Awards judges provided comments on the entries. A superb solution thats linked to companies financial results, said one judge of Wand VMS. I like the way they capitalize on the use of technology in increasing companies savings and profitability. Talent Network is also brilliant. Wand provides a true omnichannel experience including comprehensive native apps on the iPhone, Android, iPad and Apple Watch and for the third consecutive year, Wand Mobile captured a Gold Award at the International Stevies. A powerful suite of apps that scores well in terms of consistent interface design and usability, remarked the judging panel of Wand Mobile. A perfect package that can help organizations increase their productivity. The Wand Mobile Supplier App is the first true mobile app designed specifically for suppliers. Available for iPhone and Android, this groundbreaking app enables users to respond faster, get more done and improve efficiency throughout the contingent workforce lifecycle even when away from a desk. Well-designed, modern, simple to navigate and intuitive, remarked one judge of the Wand Mobile Supplier App. A step forward. Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 250 executives worldwide who participated in the judging process from July through early September. Details about the International Business Awards and the lists of Stevie Award winners are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/IBA. About PRO Unlimited PRO Unlimited, through its purely vendor-neutral Managed Services Provider (MSP) and Vendor Management System (VMS) solutions, helps organizations around the world address the costs, risks and quality issues associated with managing a contingent workforce. A pioneer and innovator in the VMS and MSP space, PRO offers solutions for the procurement and management of contingent labor, 1099/co-employment risk management, and third-party payroll. http://www.prounlimited.com About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. I have been in the news business as a writer my entire life and the main cornerstone of any story is the truth. Later, as an opinion writer, I was enabled to interject exactly that, my opinion, which sometimes will differ from that of the readers, yet the strongest point in all arguments is fact. As a vociferous reader, I am becoming more concerned over the bias in the mainstream media, so it is more important than ever that we seek the truth. When George Floyd died this past Memorial Day (Monday, May 25,) it triggered the most unprecedented racial turmoil our nation has ever experienced. The protests opened many eyes to what many perceive as our racial imbalances. The accompanying riots, no question criminal conduct, were further eye-opening, and cost our country over $2 billion (with a b). A horrendous video appeared to show a white police officer to be blunt killing an unarmed black man. Make no mistake, the graphic video really happened. But not until Minneapolis the scene of the tragedy -- was ablaze, along with other of our biggest cities since found to be sorely lacking in safe and sane leadership, was it learned that Floyds lungs upon autopsy weighed 2 times what they would have for a typical six-foot-eight human being. Every physician I have asked ever since has told me that any patient in a similar condition will almost certainly complain, I cant breathe. The size of a person makes no difference in respiratory distress. George Floyds lungs were so filled with his own body fluids it was darn-near impossible for him to breathe before he ever saw the first policeman. The lab chemistry profiles hardly hearsay proved he had a lethal amount of a drug known as fentanyl, as well as illicit methamphetamines, in his system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tell us that fentanyl is 50-to-100 times more powerful than morphine. Just one grain, the size of a grain of sand on the beach, will kill an adult-sized police dog. It very swiftly affects the brain, the respiratory system, the heart, and all else in the human body. On Sept. 18, 2020 last Friday an article appeared on The American Thinker website that I believe every American thinker should read. The article was written by Don Brown, a former U.S. Navy JAG officer, who is the author of the book Travesty of Justice: The Shocking Prosecution of Lieutenant Clint Lorance. (NOTE: JAG is a military term for the Judge Advocate General's Corps. Brown is one of four former JAG officers serving on the Lorance legal team. Lorance was pardoned by President Trump in November of 2019. Brown is also a former military prosecutor, and a former Special Assistant United States Attorney. (In short, I personally believe he is an expert on the whole truth. * * * WHO (REALLY) KILLED GEORGE FLOYD? Written by Don Brown, this article appeared on the website, americanthinker.com/articles/2020/09/who_killed_george_floyd.html on Sept. 18,2020) - - - If they get a fair trial, a questionable proposition at best, Minneapolis police officers charged with murdering George Floyd should be acquitted. Let's consider new, undisputed evidence, beyond the initial bystanders video that weve all seen, to understand why. On Memorial Day, around 8 PM, Minneapolis Police are called to a local convenience store. Two suspects passed a fake $20 bill to buy cigarettes. When police arrived, the shop manager pointed across the street, where three suspects sat in a parked vehicle. George Floyd sat behind the wheel. When the officers crossed the street to investigate, two other suspects, another man, and a woman, both black, stepped from the car and politely cooperated. But George argued and disobeyed ten (10) separate commands from officers to keep his hands up. After the tenth order, he finally put his hands on the steering wheel as instructed. As George protested, police walked him across the street to the police cruiser, the vehicle shown in the bystanders video. That bystanders video, isolated alone, implies that the officer cruelly forced George onto the ground, then callously put his knee on George's neck, causing George to cry out, pitifully, I can't breathe. But when a Minnesota judge authorized the release of police body cam footage, a completer and more different story emerged. First, the police never wanted George on the ground at all, and frantically tried getting him into the back of their squad car. But Floyd, a strong six-feet-eight-inches tall, fought police every second, and tried pushing his way out. Police video shows George repeatedly saying, I can't breathe long before he was on the ground, and before Officer Chauvin employed the infamous knee-restraint tactic. This is crucial. Claiming to be claustrophobic as they ordered him into the back seat, George Floyd demanded to be placed on the ground. So, the officers did not thrust him down to the ground and then put their knee on Georges neck, as the bystanders video suggests. Let's delve into the evidence. From Officer Thomas Lane's body camera, at 8:09 PM, officers approached George's vehicle, tapped on the window, instructing him to either put his hands up or put his hands on the steering wheel. But George refuses. Ten separate times, police either instructed George to let them see his hands, or to put his hands on the wheel. Finally, George puts his hands on the wheel, protesting he had not done anything. At 8:17 PM, officers walk George across the street. He keeps arguing, as they order him into the back of the squad car. I'm claustrophobic, he claims, twice, resisting as they again order him to sit in the back seat. He screams, fights and resists getting in the squad car. At 8:18:08, still standing beside the car and fighting the officers, he says, for the first time, with no knee on his neck, I can't breathe, officer! At this point, police are still ordering him into the back seat. A bystander urges George to stop fighting. You cant win, the bystander says. George fights anyway. Police push him in the back seat. He keeps resisting. Nine seconds later, fighting from the backseat of the police car, George says three times, in rapid succession, beginning at 8:18:19, I want to lay on the ground! I want to lay on the ground! I want to lay on the ground! He repeats it a fourth time, five seconds later, I want to lay on the ground! Then, as if he knows he is dying, says, Im going down. At 8:18:39, fighting in the backseat, he again says, three times in rapid succession, I cant breathe! Then again, I cant breathe. And then, again, at 8:18:50 repeats, I cant breathe! At this point, George had demanded to be laid on the ground four times and said I can't breathe at least six times, while in the back seat of the squad car, with no knee on his neck. At 8:19:06, he again says, I can't breathe, for the seventh time. Of course, he cant breathe. A fentanyl overdose stops a man from breathing. George fought the officers non-stop for over ten minutes before officers finally removed him from the car and put him down on the ground, beside the squad car, as George himself demanded. Bystanders then film George on the ground, declaring, I cant breathe, as if this was the first time George said, I cant breathe, and as if Officer Chauvins knee (not the fentanyl) caused Georges breathing problems. Fox 9 in Minneapolis reported that Chief Hennepin County Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker, in a memorandum filed May 26 concluded, The autopsy revealed no physical evidence suggesting that Mr. Floyd died of asphyxiation. In other words, Dr. Baker initially ruled out Chauvins knee as causing Georges death. In a second memorandum filed June 1, Baker described Floyds fentanyl level as pretty high, and a potentially fatal level. Dr. Baker reported Floyd had 11 ng/mL of fentanyl in his blood, adding, If he were found dead at home alone and no other apparent causes, this could be acceptable to call an OD. Deaths have been certified with levels of 3." In other words, while levels of 3 ng/mL have caused fatal fentanyl overdoses. George ingested nearly four times that amount, or 11 ng/mL of fentanyl, in his bloodstream. In another document, Dr. Baker said, "That is a fatal level of fentanyl under normal circumstances." Granted, mounting political pressure led to subsequent private autopsy reports, paid for by the family, showing the cause of death as a combination of both fentanyl and asphyxiation from the officers knee. Of course, they do. But the prosecution, to obtain a conviction, must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. They must prove that the officers knee, and not the massive fentanyl dosage, killed George Floyd. Thats a tall order. Not only that, but the infamous, knee-technique, which should be banned, was authorized by the Minneapolis PD. Officer Chauvin followed authorized procedure, a technique for keeping a suspect on the ground, after George Floyd had fought officers for over ten minutes, and after, only -- and this is the kicker -- George requested, repeatedly, to lay on the ground. But Chauvins knee is a red herring. The issue here is fentanyl. Here's how the respected website, WebMD, describes the effects of fentanyl: [F]entanyl has rapid and potent effects on the brain and body, and even very small amounts can be extremely dangerous. It only takes a tiny amount of the drug to cause a deadly reaction, ... Fentanyl can depress breathing and lead to death. The risk of overdose is high with fentanyl. Heres what the CDC says about fentanyl. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/fentanyl.html Of course, George couldnt breathe -- because fentanyl, mixed with methamphetamines, kills breathing. Despite the bad optics, I cant breathe was not because of the officers knee. The medical examiners statement on lethal fentanyl, and the previous protestations of I cant breathe, even before he got into the back seat of the squad car, and long before Chauvin applied the notorious knee technique, shows that George was already dying from the lethal fentanyl overdose before officers put him in the back seat of the car. That fentanyl, with methamphetamine ingestion, and cannabinoids -- thats right, George popped some meth alongside the fentanyl, plus a little reefer too -- raises more than a reasonable doubt in favor of these policemen. Heres the prosecutions problem - proving beyond a reasonable doubt that it was the officers knee, and not the massive fentanyl overdose, that killed George. No one can prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, not in this case, that Chauvin killed Floyd, not with any intellectual honesty. George overdosed on fentanyl, and mixed it with meth, and reefer. Thats why hes dead. Without the overdose, George Floyd would still be alive. The officers should be acquitted. Which begs the question, who killed George Floyd? Sadly, George Floyd killed himself. * * * GEORGE FLOYD TRIAL DATE SET FOR MARCH 8, 2021 A Hennepin County (Minneapolis) District Court Judge Peter Cahill has set the date for the first trial of the four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd as well as other deadlines in the case. The first trial will commence on March 8, 2021 at 9 a.m., according to a scheduling order released in July. The location of the trial will be determined at a later date. The scheduling order says the order of the trial for the individual defendants, and whether some or all of them will appear together will also be determined at a later date. Derek Chauvin, the officer seen in a widely publicized video kneeling on Floyds neck as he cried out that he couldnt breathe, is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. The other three former officers involved in Floyds death - Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng - are charged with two counts of aiding and abetting. * * * The truth is undefeated, and ever better in its total form. royexum@aol.com Louisville police detain a man after a protest march over the Breonna Taylor case on Sept. 23 in Louisville, Ky. (John Minchillo / Associated Press) A Kentucky grand jury on Wednesday brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong, with prosecutors saying Wednesday two officers who fired their weapons at the Black woman were justified in using force to protect themselves. The grand jury instead charged fired Officer Brett Hankison with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into Taylors neighbors homes during the raid on the night of March 13. The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case. Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylors 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. Taylors image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities. People gather in Jefferson Square in Louisville, Ky., awaiting word on possible charges against police officers in the Breonna Taylor case. (Darron Cummings / Associated Press) A woman reacts to news in the Breonna Taylor shooting case on Sept. 23 in Louisville, Ky. (Associated Press) Protesters march in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 23. (Jeff Dean / Getty Images) Protesters raise their fists at a Sept. 23 march in Louisville, Ky. (Jeff Dean / Getty Images) Police and protesters converge during a demonstration on Sept. 23 in Louisville, Ky. (John Minchillo / Associated Press) Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylor's mother, center, and attorney Ben Crump, left, speak in Louisville, Ky., after a settlement was announced. The city of Louisville will pay $12 million to the family of Breonna Taylor and reform police practices as part of a lawsuit settlement. (Dylan Lovan / Associated Press) Police detain a protester on Sept. 23 in Louisville, Ky. (John Minchillo / Associated Press) Police detain protesters on Sept. 23 in Louisville, Ky. (John Minchillo/Associated Press) WASHINGTON President Trump was jeered by protesters on Thursday morning as he paid his respects to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, standing silently by her coffin at the top of the Supreme Court steps as a vigorous chant of Vote him out! erupted on the street below. Wearing a face mask unusual for him and a blue tie instead of his trademark red power tie, Mr. Trump stared ahead and closed his eyes at times near the justices flag-draped coffin. But the quiet of the moment was punctured by the loud boos and shouts of demonstrators about a block away. Along with the chant of Vote him out! were calls of Honor her wish! a reference to Justice Ginsburgs reported deathbed request that her replacement not be confirmed until a new president is installed. It was not clear whether Mr. Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, who joined him for a visit of less than two minutes, could hear the heckling, which was clearly audible on television. General view of WeWork Weihai Road flagship is seen on April 12, 2018 in Shanghai, China. World's leading co-working space company WeWork will acquire China-based rival naked Hub for 400 million U.S. dollars. (Photo by Jackal Pan/Visual China Group via Getty Images) LONDON Office space provider WeWork has sold a majority stake in its China business to existing shareholder Trustbridge Partners for $200 million, after the coronavirus pandemic intensified its financial difficulties. The New York-headquartered company, which buys and leases prime real estate in the world's biggest cities, has been cutting costs globally ever since its botched IPO last year. WeWork said it will retain a minority stake in WeWork China and that it will continue to receive an annual license fee for use of its brand and services. It will also keep a board seat. Having once held a private valuation of $47 billion, the company was valued at just $2.9 billion in May. Indeed, WeWork's China business was valued at $5 billion in a 2018 funding round that involved Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek and the SoftBank Vision Fund. Now 80% owned by SoftBank, WeWork is yet to turn a profit and posted a net loss of $723 million in the first half of the year on around $764 million of revenue. In April, SoftBank pulled a $3 billion stock purchase but last month the Japanese tech giant pumped $1.1 billion into the company to help it get through the pandemic. Feng Ge, managing partner at Trustbridge Partners, said in a statement that it "firmly believes the demand that WeWork provides will only continue to increase." She added that there's a "growing need for flexibility" that's been "accelerated by the pandemic." Michael Jiang, operating partner of Trustbridge Partners, has been appointed acting chief executive of WeWork China. WeWork had 739 locations across 140 cities and more than 662,000 total memberships as of the close of the fourth-quarter of 2019, according to its website. The first WeWork space in China opened in 2016 and today there are more than 100 sites across 12 cities, with over 65,000 members in total. Tenants include large Chinese tech businesses such as Alibaba and Tencent. "WeWork China has built a business that has cemented WeWork's position across the region as the market leader in flexible space," said Sandeep Mathrani, CEO of WeWork, in a statement. "The value proposition and long-term potential for WeWork is increasingly clear as the demand for flexibility at scale comes to the forefront of businesses around the world. This investment is a testament to our business and in Trustbridge we have truly found the best local partner for WeWork China's next chapter." Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 18:14:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Three members of a family were killed and three others wounded in a Taliban ambush in northeastern Badakhshan province on Thursday, provincial police spokesman Sanaullah Rohani said. All the victims are civilians, the official said, adding the incident happened at about 4:00 a.m. local time in Darayim district when a villager Shah Mohammad along with five members of his family was on the way to the neighboring Bagh-e-Sufi village, the official added. "On the way to Bagh-e-Sufi village the Taliban rebels ambushed and killed three members and injured three others in the deadly attack," Rohani told Xinhua. However, a villager on the condition of anonymity claimed that five persons including three children were killed and another injured in the ambush. Taliban militants who are active in parts of Badakhshan province with Faizabad as its capital 315 km northeast of Kabul have yet to claim responsibility. Target killing by unknown armed men has been on rise in the conflict-battered Afghanistan. Late on Tuesday unknown armed men allegedly linked with the Taliban outfit shot dead a sport trainer in PD 5 of Kabul city. Enditem JERUSALEM - Israel on Thursday moved to further tighten its second countrywide lockdown as coronavirus cases continued to soar, ordering all nonessential businesses to close and requiring people to stay within 1,000 metres (yards) of their homes. Prayers during the ongoing Jewish High Holidays, as well as political demonstrations, would be limited to open spaces and no more than 20 people, and participants would have to remain within the restricted distance from home. The measures are set to go into force on Friday afternoon, as the country shuts down for the weekly Sabbath ahead of the solemn holiday of Yom Kippur on Sunday and Monday. Even during normal times, Israel completely shuts down for Yom Kippur, with businesses and airports closed, roads empty, and even radio and television stations going silent. The restrictions on demonstrations are subject to approval by the Knesset, Israels parliament, and the limits on both prayers and protests could spark a backlash. An anti-lockdown demonstration was planned for later in the day in front of the Knesset. Israels politically influential ultra-Orthodox community has objected to limits on public prayer during the ongoing Jewish High Holidays, and opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have accused the government of using the lockdown as a cover to end weekly demonstrations against his handling of the crisis. The government ordered synagogues to close for the lockdown, which is expected to last for at least two weeks, but said they could open with limitations for prayers on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Hagai Levine, a professor of epidemiology and a member of an expert panel advising the government, warned that allowing Yom Kippur prayers in synagogues could lead to mass transmission. He went so far as to compare it to the 1973 war, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel during Yom Kippur. Now, its no surprise. We are going to have a massive problem and massive transmission on Yom Kippur in a few days, he said. He said the government should instead impose a complete lockdown for a short period to underscore the seriousness of the situation, followed by the gradual easing of restrictions on essential but low-risk activities. Israel is currently reporting nearly 7,000 new daily cases, making the outbreak in the country of 9 million people among the worst in the world on a per capita basis. Israel won praise this spring when it swiftly moved to seal its borders and shut down most businesses. By May, its daily rate of new cases had dropped into the double-digits. But then it reopened the economy too quickly, leading to a surge of new infections over the summer. In recent months, a national unity government that was formed to address the pandemic has been mired in infighting, with authorities issuing unclear and sometimes contradictory guidelines, leading much of the public to disregard the risk. Many businesses, meanwhile, have yet to recover from the earlier lockdown, and the new restrictions are expected to take a heavy toll on the economy even though they are being imposed during the holidays, when many businesses would ordinarily scale back hours. Israel has reported a total of more than 200,000 cases since the pandemic began, including 1,335 deaths. It has more than 50,000 active cases. The Health Ministry says at least 667 people are hospitalized in serious condition, and in recent days health officials have warned that hospitals are rapidly approaching full capacity. The government last week imposed a nationwide lockdown that closed schools, shopping malls, hotels and restaurants, making Israel the first developed country to impose a second closure. But the restrictions included numerous exceptions, including allowing people to leave their homes for work, exercise, prayers and public demonstrations. The new lockdown is expected to eliminate most of those loopholes. Read more about: This industry-academia collaboration aims to solve some of the toughest healthcare challenges using Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Wipro GE Healthcare have announced the inauguration of an advanced center for innovation and research at the IISc campus in Bangalore- WIPRO GE Healthcare - Computational and Data Sciences Collaborative Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence in Medical and Healthcare Imaging. The facility, located at the Department of Computational and Data Sciences (CDS) of IISc, Bangalore, will work on the next level of healthcare diagnostics with deep learning technology, artificial intelligence and future-ready digital interfaces, to provide highly sophisticated diagnostic and medical image-reconstruction techniques and protocols for faster and better imaging. To start with, this facility will work with over fifty students and three faculty members of IISc. The thrust of this collaborative laboratory will be to work closely with clinicians as well as Wipro GE Healthcare to integrate these computational models into clinical workflows to help doctors improve patient outcomes. Some of the use cases that the collaboration will explore are: 1) light-weight deep learning models for classification and segmentation of COVID-19 lesions in lung ultrasound and CT images, 2) deep learning models for improving as well as classifying spectral domain optical coherence tomography images in ophthalmology, 3) deep learning based medical image reconstruction methods and 4) exploiting the structure of 3D volume data that necessitates fewer annotations, thereby reducing development time and annotation cost. IISc will meet the infrastructural requirements for this lab including finished interiors, power backup, internet connectivity, air conditioning, etc. Wipro GE Healthcare, which is commemorating its 30 years of existence in the country, is supporting this centre with a one-time grant, as part of its CSR efforts. This grant will be used to equip this lab with the necessary hardware and software tools: state-of-the-art Deep Learning Servers, Advanced Visualization Workstation, LED Monitors and software such as Pytorch, Tensor Flow, Keras and Pycharm. Speaking on the collaboration, Dileep Mangsuli, Chief Technology Officer, GE Healthcare, South Asia said, the world healthcare is getting transformed through use of digital technologies which can enable precision health. This transformation can be accelerated by building a collaborative ecosystem of industry and academia partners. This Healthcare Innovation Lab at IISc will help bring to market unique digital solutions which will get integrated into our Edison platform and intelligent devices, helping clinicians solve some of the toughest healthcare challenges. Prof. Phaneendra Yalavarthy, who is the convener of the collaborative lab as well as the Chair of the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, IISc, said, Private-Public partnership is in the DNA of IISc and this collaborative lab in the space of artificial intelligence in healthcare funded by Wipro GE Healthcare is timely, given the push for digital technologies. Translation of research work carried out in the lab into the clinic will be the priority, and there is no better industry partner in India than Wipro GE Healthcare that can accelerate this. This is only beginning of the collaboration and we are hoping to scale up the research activities in the near future. Hundreds of thousands of children are trafficked each year in the United States and trafficking reporting has increased by over 40 percent during COVID-19, according to a June report from Polaris Project. With victim identification at only 1 percent, the Malouf Foundation and Safe House Project re-created the OnWatch platform to empower people to spot, report and prevent trafficking in their communities. Safe House Project CEO Kristi Wells commented, "Trafficking is a trending topic in the media right now. It's created a lot of awareness on the subject matter, but it's also caused some confusion on what sex trafficking actually looks like here in the states." She added, "For example, many people don't realize people are trafficked in their own neighborhoods, and most aren't familiar with the warning signs." To help people better understand trafficking in America, the new OnWatch training platform shares the true experiences of several survivors. Each story explains the reality for survivors and teaches viewers what signs to look for and how to report suspected trafficking. Wells reiterated, "By listening to these survivors' stories, people can really grasp what trafficking is and how it intersects their daily lives." Trafficking survivor Julie Whitehead consulted on the new training and emphasized the importance of education platforms like OnWatch. She shared, "I was someone's neighbor. I volunteered in a school classroom. I passed people at the grocery store and the park. There were signs someone could have noticedthings that didn't look right. They could have saved me sooner." Whitehead continued, "You can still save someone else. Trafficking will be brought to its knees by regular people in our communities simply watching out for each other. OnWatch trains heroes." Since it first launched in 2018, OnWatch has trained tens of thousands of people to recognize the signs of trafficking and how to respond when they see something. Malouf Foundation Executive Director Jake Neeley noted, "We've created an engaged community with OnWatch, and we want to keep that momentum with this new training. More people are ready to fight against trafficking, and OnWatch is the perfect place to start." Tom Forshaw, CEO of Forshaw Inc., a leading distributor to the pest management industry, has teamed up with OnWatch to create an industry-specific version of the training. "Every day, pest management professionals service millions of homes and businesses. We are the eyes and ears of the community," he said. "At Forshaw, we immediately realized that we could do more than donate to the cause. We could be part of the solution by educating and empowering our partners to know the signs of trafficking and speak out. Saving just one girl or boy would be a victory." About Malouf Foundation Founded in 2016 and based out of Logan, Utah, the Malouf Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting child sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking and online exploitation. The Foundation also works closely with local charities to provide comfort and care for abuse victims, as well as support children and families in need. Through its charity affiliates and parent company, Malouf, the Foundation gives 100 percent of its resources to the people it serves. For more information about the Malouf Foundation, visit malouffoundation.org. About Safe House Project Established in 2017, Safe House Project is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit uniting communities across America to end domestic sex trafficking and restore hope, freedom and a future to every survivor. Safe House Project's mission is two-fold: increase survivor identification beyond one percent and ensure every survivor has access to safe housing and holistic care by accelerating safe house capacity and development across America. Safe housing and restorative care is critical to ending the cycle of victimization. To learn more about Safe House Project, visit SafeHouseProject.org. Malouf Foundation Contact: Alicia Richmond [email protected] 801-599-1794 Safe House Project Contact: Brittany Dunn [email protected] 202-596-2073 SOURCE Malouf Foundation 14:42 | Lima, Sep. 24. According to Peru's Exports and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPeru) , shipments are expected total US$9.930 billion in the third quarter of this year a 51.84% growth compared to the April-June quarter, when these operations were the most affected by the health emergency. PromPeru foresees that in a conservative scenario exports will amount to US$10.189 billion in the last quarter of this year, which will show a positive trend. PromPeru Exports Promotion Director Mario Ocharan explained that in the third quarter of 2020 sales of non-traditional products, as well as value-added and employment-intensive products, are projected to total US$2.921 billion, while the traditional ones will amount to US$7.009 billion. "Between October and December, the placements of non-traditional products will generate US$3.196 billion, a growth of 9.08% from the third quarter of this year," he said in remarks to El Peruano official gazette. Pakistan on Thursday urged the community to take "decisive actions" to counter illicit flows of money and said that the "stolen assets" of developing countries must be returned immediately. Khan was addressing a high-level panel on Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity (FACTI) on the sidelines of the ongoing General Assembly session. The event was convened to "present the interim report of the FACTI panel, which identifies the major gaps in the implementation and the systemic shortcomings of the existing frameworks for tax cooperation, anti-corruption (and) anti-money laundering", the Prime Minister's Office tweeted. During his address, Khan said, "This bleeding of the poorer and developing countries must stop. community must adopt decisive actions...(and) the stolen assets of developing countries, including the proceeds of corruption, bribery and other crimes must be returned immediately. Every year billions of dollars are lost due to tax evasion by multinational companies. Trillions of dollar black money is stored in tax havens, Khan said. The prime minister said the authorities in tax haven destinations must impose strict penalties on those financial institutions which receive or utilise illicit money and assets. The premier also said that multinational companies must not be allowed to resort to profit shifting for relocating their operations to low tax jurisdictions in a bid to evade taxes. A global minimum corporate tax could prevent this practice. Khan told the UN penal that the need of developing countries to protect their precious assets has become more vital because of the recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Unless these steps are taken the difference between rich and poor countries will keep growing. The developing countries will get impoverished," he said. Addressing another event on poverty, Khan said around one billion people almost 15 per cent of the world's population live in poverty. He said though over the past 30 years, poverty had visibly declined, but the COVID-19 pandemic triggered the worst global recession in over a century and 100 million people were likely to be pushed back into extreme poverty. He also called for equal distribution of wealth around the world. (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.) Worshippers gathered for Calvary Chapel Church's Baptism and professed their faith in Jesus and were baptized on Sept. 12th at Corona Del Mar State Beach in Orange County. Nearly 1,000 people attended the Baptism from the Church. Calvary Chapel Church's Baptism is held annually every year. Gina Gleason, a Calvary Chapel Church Director informed CBN News, "California may be experiencing a spiritual revival" and Jack Hibbs, Pastor of the church described the baptism as "our biggest to date." Full of joy and excitement, the group Satrate OC held a 'powerful worship session on the beach' every Friday night. Allowing all nonbelievers in attendance to hear the gospel. On this night many were 'filled with the Holy Spirit and set free.'Sean Feucht mentioned that worship was a 'return back to a gritty, raw Gospel, Jesus people movement foundation. "A lot of that is in part because we can't be in our churches. We are kind of forced to be outside of our buildings and forced to be innovative and creative and come up with alternate solutions." Throughout the event, Pastor Hibbs opened up about emotional, physical, and spiritual healings. On Saturday, Hibbs also created a social media event called, "Come Back California." Hibbs mentioned people in California are in need of a revival as he stated on Facebook, "We will be crying out to God for the healing of California." According to the Calvary Chapel, the streamers online prayed for 'purity and holiness within the church and on Tuesday, attendees were asked to pray for 'our governor, state, and local leaders.' "This week we will pray against the sins and injustices of our nation, and for our president, national leaders, and the upcoming election." As Houston pushes through hurricane season, Kolter Elementary School families are still rallying around the phrase Hurricanes are strong. Kolter is stronger. The idiom was plastered on red and blue shirts last year as families gathered where the elementary school stood before it was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. Now, school officials are preparing to welcome in students for the first time in more than three years next month. Many of us who in 2015 cheered the Supreme Courts Obergefell decision, which recognized same-sex marriage as a constitutional right, would admit, if were honest, that we had not taken the idea seriously either when we first heard it discussed years earlier. But a lawyer named Evan Wolfson imagined a world where sexual orientation did not determine a persons access to the legal, financial and emotional benefits of marriage. In 2001 before the Supreme Courts decision in Lawrence v. Texas overturned a 17-year-old precedent and decriminalized homosexuality as a matter of constitutional law he founded an organization called Freedom to Marry to bring that world into being. Mr. Wolfson wasnt alone in his quest, of course; I could list many other contributors. My point is that during notably dark years for gay rights (the dont ask, dont tell policy that kept L.G.B.T.Q. people from serving openly in the military lasted until 2010) it took imagination to suppose that the sun would rise one day on a different landscape. And to cite another significant civil rights breakthrough, it took imagination for the authors of the Americans With Disabilities Act to envision a world in which people with disabilities receive access not as a matter of grace but as a legal right. It was only late in her career, when the court turned sharply to the right and she began to raise her voice in dissent, that Justice Ginsburg became the iconic R.B.G., fondly dubbed notorious and beloved on the left and by women and girls who werent particularly politically active. Ill confess that the R.B.G. mania the Halloween costumes for little girls, the collars, the mugs and other items decorated with her face always made me a little uncomfortable. People sometimes gave me such paraphernalia; I thanked them and discreetly tucked the items away. Its not that I didnt appreciate her powerful dissenting opinions or wasnt cheered by the thought that little girls could have such a role model when I myself had never met a woman who was a lawyer until after I had graduated from college. It was that the stuff, the whole shtick, seemed so kitschy when her actual accomplishments were so subtle and substantive. But on the night of her death, as I watched the televised images of thousands of people gathering spontaneously in front of the court, I saw the Notorious R.B.G. phenomenon in a different light. Her unlikely status as a popular icon said as much, if not more, about us as it did about her. We needed her. We needed this fragile octogenarian who could get up repeatedly from her sick bed and speak truth to power. (You cant speak TRUTH without RUTH, as a popular saying went.) We needed her to call out Donald Trump as a faker, even though judges arent supposed to say such things and she had to eat her words. We projected onto her our fears about the course of events at the court and in the law, and our hopes that her cleareyed, always civil dissection of where her colleagues had gone wrong would somehow bring them around. We needed her. We still do. Linda Greenhouse will discuss Ruth Bader Ginsburgs legacy and what comes next for the Supreme Court with Lauren Kelley of the editorial board on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern on Instagram Live (@nytopinion). The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. President Trumps stunning refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he lose the election to Joe Biden was met with outrage from congressional Democrats and implicit rebukes from Republicans. At a press conference in the White House press briefing room on Wednesday, Trump was asked directly about the transfer of power. Mr. President, real quickly, win, lose or draw in this election, will you commit here today for a peaceful transferral of power after the election? asked reporter Brian Karem. There has been rioting in Louisville, there has been rioting in many cities across this country, red and... your so-called red and blue states will you commit to making sure that there is a peaceful transferral of power after the election? Well, were going to have to see what happens, Trump responded. Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster. I understand that, but people are rioting, Karem said. Do you commit to making a peaceful transferral of power... Get rid of the ballots and youll have a very peaceful there wont be a transfer, frankly, there will be a continuation, Trump said. 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. After taking a few more questions, Trump abruptly ended the press conference, saying he needed to take an emergency call. President Trump speaks during a White House news conference on Wednesday. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Asked about the remarks, Biden appeared almost speechless late Wednesday. What country are we in? Im being facetious, he told reporters. I said what country are we in? Look, he says the most irrational things. I dont know what to say. This is what an authoritarian sounds like, said Sen. Bernie Sanders of Trumps comments. Sanders was set to give a speech Thursday afternoon on what he called the presidents unique threats to our democracy. We have a president of the United States who wants to discredit peoples vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday morning. Really? Really? What would our founders think? And what are these Republicans going to say to their children and their grandchildren when they ask them what did you do to strengthen our democracy when it was questioned as to whether an election was a proper way to transfer power in our country. Story continues I dont know why the press doesnt make more of this, to be very honest with you, added Pelosi. If he says that people swallow Clorox, we hear about it for the rest of our lives, but hes trying to have the Constitution of the United States swallow Clorox I appreciate these questions all of you have this morning I guess provoked by the arrogance and the disregard for the Constitution of the presidents statement last night. In an interview with Fox News radio on Thursday morning, Trump reiterated his refusal to commit to the results and again suggested the election would be determined by the Supreme Court. Oh, that I would agree with [the courts ruling], but I think we have a long way before we get there, the president said. These ballots are a horror show." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Republicans did not explicitly condemn Trumps comments or mention the president by name but reinforced the importance of a peaceful transition of power. The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th, wrote Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Thursday morning. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792. Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah tweeted Wednesday evening. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable. Earlier this week, Romney said he supported holding a vote on Trumps Supreme Court nominee. As we have done for over two centuries we will have a legitimate & fair election, tweeted Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida on Thursday morning. It may take longer than usual to know the outcome, but it will be a valid one and at noon on Jan 20,2021 we will peacefully swear in the President. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio said Thursday morning that both candidates must commit to abiding by the results, no matter the outcome, although Biden has not called the validity of the election into question. The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic, tweeted Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, a member of the GOP House leadership. Americas leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath. On Fox News Thursday morning, Sen. Lindsey Graham made assurances that the transfer of power would be peaceful and said if the Supreme Court were to decide that Biden won, he would accept the result. However, he said the potential of the election winding up in the Supreme Court was more reason to confirm Trumps replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If Republicans are successful in confirming a conservative justice to replace Ginsburg, it would mean six of the nine justices were appointed by Republicans, with three of them appointed by Trump himself. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to make make a statement to MPs in Parliament on the COVID-19 pandemic. (Getty) A leading scientist who has met with Boris Johnson says the PM is now trying to control the spread of coronavirus rather than suppress it completely. Professor Carl Heneghan, director of Oxford University's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, believes the UK is moving towards the Swedish approach to dealing with COVID-19. On Tuesday, Johnson announced a raft of new measures to restrict the spread of the virus that could apply in England for six months. The PM blamed an uptick of cases on people breaking the existing guidelines, and warned that further breaches could mean a second national lockdown. Watch: All you need to know about the new measures announced by the PM The new measures include encouraging office staff to now work from home, pubs closing at 10pm and wedding attendance being cut from 30 to 15. Heneghan said the measures, which have received overwhelming backing from 78% of people, according to a YouGov survey, reflected a shift in policy from trying to suppress coronavirus to trying control the spread of infection. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: What you're starting to see is a move towards Sweden. For instance when you look at bars and restaurants that's a policy there where they have table service. An overwhelming 78% of Britons support the new lockdown measures announced today, including 44% who "strongly support" them. Just 17% of Britons are opposed...https://t.co/cwZ3vSKLpE pic.twitter.com/SUhCkAqC9e YouGov (@YouGov) September 22, 2020 I'm hoping we now start to see a more coherent consistent policy, one that stays in place and that we don't keep seeing the changes we see almost daily that become utterly confusing to the public. He added: We have two issues. One is the mantra of fear and we have enforcements and fines. Story continues Whereas back to the Swedish approach, they are much more supportive. For instance, if you test positive, you get two weeks full pay for staying at home. Watch: How to remove a face covering correctly Heneghan said a lot of people still don't understand what social distancing means, which emphasised the need for a clear message right through the winter. He said: There will be an inevitable rise in cases as we go into winter. The key is not to panic now. You've got to let some of these measures work and they will take a few weeks to come through. If at every point there's an uptick in cases again and we panic with more measures, we'll talk ourselves into another lockdown which is for the whole society hugely disruptive. People watch Boris Johnson making a televised address to the nation inside the Westminster Arms pub. (Getty) Heneghan said he discussed the issues in a meeting with Johnson on Sunday night, adding: It's about managing the policy throughout the winter. Sweden is one of just a few countries that did not impose a compulsory lockdown to deal with coronavirus and this week it recorded its lowest COVID-19 infection rate since the pandemic began. Restrictions in the country were voluntary, while authorities argued that the chances of finding a cue were slim and that allowing the population to develop herd immunity was a better strategy. Restaurants and bars were not closed, while people were told to go to work when if they were able to. Watch: What is herd immunity? Schools for children under 16 remained open while gatherings of less than 50 people were permitted. The wearing of face coverings has also so far not been recommended by the Swedish government. Out of a population of over 10 million people, there have been 5,870 coronavirus deaths in Sweden, according to Johns Hopkins. Daily new cases have remained stable, while data released this week showed Sweden has a fortnightly infection rate of 28 cases per 100,000 people compared to 69 for the UK. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter LONDON - The British government says it may take part in a study that tries to deliberately infect volunteers who have been given an experimental vaccine against the coronavirus in an effort to more quickly determine if the vaccine works. The approach, called a challenge study, is risky but proponents think it may produce results faster than typical studies, which wait to see if volunteers who have been given an experimental treatment or a dummy version get sick. We are working with partners to understand how we might collaborate on the potential development of a COVID-19 vaccine through human challenge studies, the U.K. Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy said in a prepared statement. These discussions are part of our work to research ways of treating, limiting and hopefully preventing the virus so we can end the pandemic sooner. Challenge studies are typically used to test vaccines against mild diseases to avoid exposing volunteers to a serious illness if the vaccine doesnt work. While the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms in most people and seems to be especially mild in young, healthy people, the long-term effects of the disease arent well understood, and there have been reports of lingering problems in the heart and other organs even in those who dont ever feel sick. In the U.S., the National Institutes of Health has downplayed the need for challenge studies given the speed with which vaccines are being developed. Tens of thousands of volunteers have already signed up to test leading candidates and the coronavirus still is spreading widely enough that manufacturers are confident of answers by years end about at least some of the shots. In July, the NIHs vaccine working group published a paper in The New England Journal of Medicine pointing out the risks of doing a challenge study with a virus that so far has no good treatment and is wildly unpredictable, occasionally killing even some young, otherwise healthy people. A single death or severe illness in an otherwise healthy volunteer would be unconscionable and would halt progress toward a vaccine, the group warned. To minimize chances of that happening, scientists planning a challenge study first would have to grow in a high-security lab a strain of the new virus thats not very strong. Then theyd have to determine a dose that wouldnt make volunteers too sick, which the NIH group warned would be laborious and time-consuming. The Financial Times newspaper reported Wednesday that the government planned to sponsor a challenge study that is set to begin in January. The FT said the government will announce the trial next week, citing people involved in the project without naming them. Dr. Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases and global health at the University of Oxford, says he supports the idea. The concept stretches back to 1796, when scientist Edward Jenner found that exposing patients to cowpox disease protected them against future infections of smallpox, the first step in eradicating the deadly disease. He told the BBC that there was a long history of challenge studies and that the risk to young and healthy people is low. Besides that, Horby said that there are now some treatments for COVID-19 in the event a person in the challenge becomes unwell. It has real potential to advance science and get us to a better understanding of the disease and vaccines faster, Horby said. In May, the World Health Organization issued a report on the ethical considerations for conducting a challenge study. The U.N. health agency laid out criteria necessary for justifying such research, including minimizing all potential risks to participants by, among other things, making sure participants were young and healthy, providing supportive care if things went wrong, and mandating rigorous informed consent. Alastair Fraser-Urquhart, an 18-year-old volunteer organizer at 1Day Sooner, a group that advocates for challenge volunteers, told the BBC he wanted to take part because of the potential to save thousands of lives and bring the world out of the pandemic. It was just something that made instant sense to me really, he said. - AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report from Alexandria, Virginia. Vietnamese rice, fruit and seafood exporters are banking on the European market for relief from difficulties imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Trung An Hi-Tech Farming Jsc in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho exported its first batch of Vietnamese rice to the E.U. last month with zero tariffs under the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) that took effect August 1. It shipped 150 tonnes out of a total 3,000 tonnes that will be delivered to Germany and France this year. Buyers paid $1,000 for a ton of the companys ST20 rice grown in the southern province of Soc Trang. This is the highest price ever recorded for Vietnamese rice. Another exporter, Thoai Son Food in the southern province of An Giang, plans to export 126 tonnes of Jasmine 85 rice to the E.U. by the end of this month. At least six other companies have registered to export 4,300 tonnes of rice to the E.U. this month, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The rising number of orders from the E.U. follows the EVFTA giving Vietnam a tariff-free rice export quota of 80,000 tonnes a year. Other types of agriculture produce also enjoy reduced or zero duties under the pact. Several exporters this month have announced or shipped their first batch of coffee, passion fruit, coconut, green grapefruit and dragon fruit to the E.U. One of them, the Vina T&T Group in Ho Chi Minh City, plans to export 20,000 coconuts, 12 tonnes of grapefruit and three tonnes of dragon fruit to the bloc soon. Rising orders Its CEO Nguyen Dinh Tung said the company will export about 20 tonnes of fruits weekly to the E.U. from now on. He said that since the trade pact was implemented, there has been an increase in the number of orders from this market. The trade pact has helped lower the prices of Vietnamese fruit, making them more competitive than those from Thailand, Indonesia, China and Malaysia, he added. Seafood exporters are also reaping benefits of the new trade agreement. Shrimp exports to the E.U. rose nearly 16 percent year-on-year in August to $58.8 million after duties on the giant tiger prawn were eliminated, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). Earlier the duties stood at 4.2 percent. Nguyen Van Kich, CEO of Cafatex Fishery Jsc in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang, said since the trade pact took effect, many buyers have started to place orders again after months without any major activities due to Covid-19 impacts. He added Vietnamese shrimp quality is higher than that of India, Thailand and China, and therefore the zero tariff will give exporters a major advantage. "The EVFTA could urge European buyers to replace shrimp from Thailand, India and China with that from Vietnam. We expect increasing number of customers." VASEP said rising exports of shrimp to the E.U. will contribute to a total shrimp export growth of 8 percent this year to $3.6 billion. The recent increase in exports to the E.U. bloc has been a fillip to Vietnamese agriculture and seafood producers who were hurting from travel restrictions and dwindling global demand as a result of the pandemic. Exports to the E.U. in the first eight months fell 8.9 percent year-on-year to $29 billion, with declining value in smartphones, textile and garment and agriculture produce, according to Vietnam Customs. ZHENGZHOU, China, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On the morning of September 19, 2020, Songshan Forum began in Dengfeng, Henan Province, China. The Forum, organized by Songshan Forum Organizing Committee and Chime Culture Co., Ltd, is a dialogue between Chinese civilization and the world civilization. This is a non-governmental spontaneous pure academic forum. Opening ceremony Discussion Dengfeng, located in central China, where Chinese thought and culture originated, is the original place of the most ancient Chinese history and a cradle of Chinese culture, glowing with rays from the mysterious oriental thinking and the Shaolin Kungfu. The particularity of Chinese culture and the universal connection of the world are ideally integrated in this forum. This is still a charming tourist destination. The theme of the ninth Forum is "What makes a Home: Ethical Thinking in the Face of the Global Epidemic." Songshan Forum, an international forum for cultural communication, is a world-class event. Every year, the forum attracts representatives of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity and Catholic from all over the world; delegates of the modern tradition who come from Western Europe and the United States; public figures; groups of people from the government and enterprises; as well as some heads of the national and international organizations. Topic discussion on various types of civilization is organized formally. The forum is an important platform for Chinese thinkers to communicate with the world on an equal footing and carry out philosophical thinking in the spiritual world. Year after year, the Forum has expanded the number of its events and the present members of top-level experts and guests. Before the opening ceremony, a moment of silence is held at the beginning of the annual conference to pay tribute to the heroes in the fight against COVID-19, and to express profound condolences to the brave who have lost their lives and the victims of the global fight against COVID-19. It is understood that in the face of the global turbulent epidemic, how to protect health, transform the crisis, and rebuild community trust. The Songshan Forum conducts civilized dialogues on site and through global connections, and explores the concept of home and community in multiple civilizations. Songshan Forum always thinks that the civilization of the future should be the civilization of dialogue with a global ethic featured with interdependence and cross-cultural dialogue. The Songshan Forum has become China's longest-lasting international high-end academic forum for thought. The forum has so far invited more than 400 thinkers from the United States, Russia, Israel, India, Iran, Austria, Australia, Italy, Germany, France, Britain, Denmark, Japan, South Korea and other countries around the world, as well as more than 400 scholars from China, Conduct academic exchanges. Songshan Forum hopes to invite more scholars to participate. The forum will provide opportunities for open academic exchanges and visits, and will gather scholars' opinions into books for publication. While academic exchangesSongshan Forum welcomes everyone to experience Shaolin Kungfu and Buddhist music ceremony. This will be a wonderful cultural trip. Contact: Name zhixu Cai Company chimeculture Co., Ltd. E-Mail [email protected] Phone 086037163671582 Address zhengzhou SOURCE Chime Culture Co., Ltd JOHANNESBURG - South Africas anti-COVID-19 lockdown is credited with helping to achieve a dramatic drop in rhino killings, but as the country opens up experts warn of a possible resurgence of poaching of one of Earths most endangered mammals. Redoubled efforts are critical to protect the countrys rhinoceros population, South African officials and wildlife activists say, as World Rhino Day is marked Tuesday. South Africas nationwide shutdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus was imposed at the end of March and stopped all international and domestic travel. The country has gradually reopened and will allow a return of international tourists on Oct. 1. The lockdown presented an opportunity for us. There was no international or local tourism and the lockdown also prevented poachers from moving around and we were able to ramp up our protective measures, said Albi Modise, spokesman for the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries. In the first six months of 2020, the numbers of South African rhinos killed by poachers fell by more than 50% from the previous year, to 166, according to official statistics from the environment department. We realize that as the country opens up, we need to up our game to address the possible threat of poaching, Modise told The Associated Press. South Africa has about 20,000 rhinos, estimated to be 80% of the worlds total population, and the country has been hard hit by poachers killing the animals for the illegal international trade in rhino horns. Other countries with significant rhino populations are Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Although the killings of rhinos have reduced this year, this could be a temporary reprieve, said Cathy Dean, chief executive of Save the Rhino. With the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus, and the decline of tourism, many people are desperate and some may turn to poaching. With a resumption of international flights, we may again see seizures of illegal rhino horn, which indicates a resurgent trade. South Africa deploys anti-poaching squads throughout its parks to protect rhinos, elephants and other game from poachers. In the KwaZulu-Natal province, a technologically advanced smart fence is being built around the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi park, which alerts park rangers when any intruder tries to sneak into the park. The fence has electrics both inside and outside its length and any tampering or cutting of the fence sends us an immediate message, pinpointing the location of the tamper, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, the provinces top official for tourism and environmental affairs, said in a statement. Two sections of fence have been upgraded to date and we have already seen a shift in rhino poaching activity away from both areas, said Dube-Ncube, thanking the private organization Wildlife ACT for supporting the fence. They have invested resources, technical support and the channeling of donor funding to these key initiatives, she said. We are hopeful of the decline in poaching losses. The opposition NDC has reiterated that it will not accept results of a flawed election. The latest caution by the NDC comes after the party alleged that the EC was deliberately taking out names of its members from the newly compiled voters register after omissions were identified in some polling stations across the country during the ongoing exhibition exercise. The EC has denied the allegation and subsequently extended the duration of the exercise by two-more days, to end September 27. But flagbearer of the party John Dramani Mahama has warned the election management body that its credibility was at stake and must put in place measures to ensure the upcoming poll is fair to all stakeholders. Even though Mr Mahama acknowledged that the NDC has exhibited restraint since the electoral process started, he stated that the party will not allow the EC usurp the peoples mandate. Addressing the nation on Thursday September 24, Mr Mahama noted we in the NDC have exhibited restraint at all times in this electoral process, even now we are committed to doing so. But we will not accept the result of a flawed election. He went on we will certainly not look on, neither will we shirk our civic responsibility and allow the EC, whether it intends to or sheer incompetence to usurp the peoples mandate in the December 7 polls. We want to see fairness, transparency, and integrity in the process leading up to the elections. The EC will take responsibility and act in good faith to resolve them, he added. ---starrfm An Israeli airliner flew to Bahrain on Wednesday, tracking data showed, just days after the two countries inked a normalisation accord backed by the United States. The Israir Airlines jet from Tel Aviv flew over Saudi Arabia to reach the Gulf state, according to data from the FlightRadar24 website. Israel's Yediot Aharonot newspaper reported senior government officials were on the plane. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office nor the airline would confirm the flight when contacted by AFP. It comes a day after Netanyahu spoke by phone with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman to map out the two countries' new relationship. They "reviewed potential areas of bilateral cooperation and relevant regional and international developments", the Gulf state's BNA news agency said. Bahrain's decision to normalise ties with Israel followed a similar move by the United Arab Emirates. Both accords were inked at a September 15 ceremony hosted by US President Donald Trump. Only two other Arab states have previously signed agreements with Israel, Jordan in 1994 and Egypt in 1979. The Palestinians have condemned the latest deals as a "stab in the back" for their aspirations to establish an independent state of their own. Photo: Bebeto Matthews/AP/Shutterstock Bobby Shmurda was denied parole from New York State prison last week, Vulture has learned. New York States Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said that the rapper, whose legal name is Ackquille Pollard, had an interview with the Board of Parole on September 15. Following that interview, Pollard was denied release. Pollard was given a hold until the maximum expiration of his sentence on December 11, 2021, the Corrections Department said. Before news of the parole denial emerged, one of Pollards lawyers, Alex Spiro, said in an email: We are glad he is coming home soon. The rapper has been behind bars for about six years some two in city jail, followed by four in state lockup after his arrest in December 2014. Prosecutors said that Pollard was part of an East Flatbushbased gang, GS9, which engaged in a protracted turf battle with multiple other rivals, such as Brooklyns Most Wanted, from January 2013 to October 2014. Twenty-one people were charged in the indictment. On September 9, 2016, Pollard pleaded guilty to conspiracy in the fourth degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. The Manhattan Supreme Court sentencing was characterized by drama, with Pollard reportedly saying, I was forced to take this sentence, I did not want to take this sentence. I was forced by my attorney to take this plea. This is a developing story and will be updated. For a rough introduction to my philosophy of blogging, including the Code of Amiability Ito follow on this weblog, please read my fifth anniversary post . I consider blogging to be a very informal type of publishing - like putting up thoughts on your door with a note asking for comments. Nothing in this weblog is done rigorously: it's a forum to let my mind be unruly, a place for jottings and first impressions. Because I consider posts here to be 'literary seedings' rather than finished products, nothing here should be taken as if it were anything more than an attempt to rough out some basic thoughts on various issues. Learning to look at any topic philosophically requires, I think, jumping right in, even knowing that you might be making a fool of yourelf; so that's what I do. My primary interest in most topics is the flow and structure of reasoning they involve rather than their actual conclusions, so most of my posts are about that. If, however, you find me making a clear factual error, let me know; blogging is a great way to get rid of misconceptions. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. Dr. Anthony Adofo Ofosu, the Deputy Director-General (DG) of the Ghana Health Services (GHS) says the Governing Council of the Service will be establishing a top-up health insurance scheme to cover health expenses of staff. Dr. Ofosu explained that the new scheme would be a supplement to the existing National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for workers under the GHS. He said the Council had observed that the Service continued to face the challenge of flying some of its staff outside Ghana for expensive medical treatment not covered under the NHIS, saying, unfortunately, some of those ailing staff died before funds were mobilized for their treatment. Dr. Ofosu made the announcement when he was speaking on the theme Strengthening Maternal and Child Health Service Delivery in the midst of COVID-19 at the opening of the maiden Mid-Year Performance Review Meeting of the Bono East Regional Health Directorate at Kintampo in the region. He said the Council was working hard to ensure that the scheme would take off before the end of this year, starting with the contributions covering children below 18 years to be extended to post-retirement period till a member is called to eternity. Dr. Ofosu said the Council was expecting Management at all levels to effectively educate staff to clearly understand the nature of the scheme for them to enroll unto it. He indicated other sectors of the GHS such as staff of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) would be required to pay a small amount of their incomes to enroll unto this scheme. Mr. Kofi Amoakohene, the Bono East Regional Minister, commended health workers, staff of the Regional Coordinating Council, the media and other stakeholders in the effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 in the region. Mr. Amoakohene, also the Member of Parliament for Atebubu-Amanten acknowledged the dedicated services of most health workers in the GHS and urged them to always be professional and committed to delivering quality health services for their clients. He assured governments commitment to improving and providing quality health care delivery services to the door steps of the populace since health remained the pivotal point of human resource for a nation-building. 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 Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, makers of Bigg Boss have decided to conduct the show in various languages by following all safety measures, as per guidelines provided by the government. For the unversed, Bigg Boss Telugu 4 hosted by Nagarjuna Akkineni is currently being aired on Star Maa while Salman Khan's Bigg Boss 14 and Kamal Haasan's Bigg Boss Tamil 4 will go on floors in the first week of October. But on the other hand, the makers of Bigg Boss Kannada seem to have cancelled the 8th season of the show this year. A report published in a leading portal suggests that the channel was earlier looking forward to air the show with Kiccha Sudeep by the end of 2020. However, the latest information states that they have changed their plans and will likely begin telecasting Bigg Boss Kannada 8 from March 2021. However, there is no official confirmation about the same. The Business Head of Colors Kannada channel, Parameshwar Gundkal had told Times of India in August 2020 that they are keeping an eye on the market since the show requires a huge budget. Their main priority is the safety of the show's contestants. "For us, the financial year will be the end of March, we are hopeful of having the show up and running by then. As of now, we are looking to finalise contestants for the show by November this year," the Business Head added. Also Read : Sandalwood Drug Racket: CCB Summons Akul Balaji, Aryann Santhosh; Actors Confirm To Be Present Apart from Bigg Boss Kannada 8, makers of Bigg Boss Marathi have also reportedly kept the 3rd season on hold. Considering the popularity of Hindi Bigg Boss 14, Colors Marathi channel is said to have decided to cancel the show hosted by Mahesh Manjrekar. But they have not yet confirmed the same. Also Read : Bigg Boss Marathi 3 Cancelled Due To Salman Khan's Bigg Boss 14? Now, let's wait for makers' official statement about Bigg Boss Kannada 8 and Bigg Boss Marathi 3. Mental Health Services in Medically Underserved L.A. Communities Gets Big Boost With $7.2 Million OSHPD Grant to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) received $7.2 million in funding from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), as part of an effort to help further build the pipeline of public mental health professionals throughout the state. CDUs College of Medicine will receive $5,491,295 to create new Psychiatry residency positions, while the Universitys Mervyn M. Dymally School of Nursing will receive $1,690,500 to fund additional Public Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner slots. ADVERTISEMENT This provides an extraordinary boost to all of us throughout the state who are working to bring more mental health services to chronically under-resourced areas, such as South LA, where CDU is located, said CDU President and CEO Dr. David M. Carlisle, a former director of OSHPD. Our Psychiatric residency program has put 18 new physicians into South LA over the last three years. With this new funding, we can add even more Psychiatrists and Public Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners to these communities. The grants are being funded through the Workforce Education and Training program as part of the Mental Health Services Act, which is intended to address the shortage of mental health practitioners in the public mental health system. Collectively the grantees will add 36 Psychiatry Residency slots and fund 336 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner slots. The funding will also help launch a new Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship program. As we continue to navigate through these unprecedented times, the uncertainty and fear related to the pandemic has brought about uneasy feelings that can further exacerbate mental health issues while creating additional barriers in accessing supports and services, said Acting OSHPD Director Marko Mijic. We must double down on our efforts to build our public mental health system in order to expand access to quality services to all Californians. We are extremely grateful to (OSHPD) for this funding, said Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD, Dean of the College of Medicine at CDU. Psychiatric and mental health services are some of the most needed yet most difficult to access health care services in under-resourced communities. So, this award will help us put more psychiatrists directly into medically underserved areas where these services are in high demand. This grant will help us continue to recruit and train Public Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, most of who we draw from communities of color and who are also underrepresented in the health professions, said Diane Breckenridge, PhD, MSN, RN, ANEF, Dean of the Mervyn M. Dymally School of Nursing at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. This will also help us create the diverse health workforce our population needs to address a critical shortage of mental health practitioners in under-resourced communities. Thank you to OSHPD for supporting our mission. In addition to an overall shortage, the public mental health system lacks a workforce that reflects the States cultural and linguistic diversity. This includes individuals with lived experience to provide consumer- and family-driven services that promote wellness, recovery, and resilience. These funds will help build new and existing training programs in order to help not only mitigate the shortage of providers but ensure that the providers reflect the communities they serve. ADVERTISEMENT The full list of awardees receiving funding: Program Name Grant Amount United Advocates for Children and Families Psychiatry: Real Life $4,395,102 Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Psychiatry Residency Program $5,491,295 Butte County Psychiatric Residency Program $1,800,000 CSU San Marcos School of Nursing PMHNP $1,329,298 Western University of Health Sciences PMHNP $ 955,466 University of San Diego PMHNP Program $1,660,454 Mervyn M. Dymally School of Nursing of the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science PMHNP $1,690,500 TOTAL $17,322,115 For more information, visit http://www.cdrewu.edu/, and follow CDU on Facebook, Twitter (@cdrewu), and Instagram (@charlesrdrewu). A new smartphone app to boost the UK's track-and-trace system to help control transmissions will be rolled out across England and Wales on Thursday. The government said businesses will be required by law to display the official National Health Service (NHS) quick response (QR) code posters so that people can check-in at different premises with the new app. Features of the app include contact-tracing using Bluetooth, risk alerts based on postcode district, QR check-in at venues, symptom checker and test bookings. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) also sought to reassure the public that user privacy and data security lie at the heart of the app rollout. "We have worked extensively with tech companies, partners, and privacy and medical experts -- and learned from the trials -- to develop an app that is secure, simple to use and will help keep our country safe," UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said. "Today's launch marks an important step forward in our fight against this invisible killer and I urge everyone who can to download and use the app to protect themselves and their loved ones," the minister said, reiterating his previous warning of the UK being at a "tipping point" in its efforts to control the spread of this virus with infection rates rising. The new app will be available to those aged 16 years and above in multiple languages, including Indian languages such as Punjabi, Gujarati and Bengali. The contact-tracing element of the app works by using low-energy Bluetooth to log the amount of time a person spends near other app users and the distance between them, so it can alert users if someone they have been close to later tests positive for COVID-19 -- even if they do not know each other. The app will then advise users to self-isolate if they have been in close contact with a confirmed case. It will also enable them to check symptoms, book a free test if needed and get the test results. "We want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to engage with England's NHS Test and Trace service," said Dido Harding, Executive Chair of England's NHS Test and Trace Programme. "The NHS COVID-19 app enables the majority of people with a smartphone to find out if they are at risk of having caught the virus and need to self-isolate, order a test if they have symptoms and access the right guidance and advice," she said. The DHSC said the NHS Test and Trace team behind the app has worked closely with major tech companies, including Google and Apple, scientists within the Alan Turing Institute and Oxford University, Zuhlke Engineering, medical experts, privacy groups, at-risk communities and teams in countries across the world using similar apps -- such as Germany -- to develop an app that is "safe, simple and secure". It stressed that the app does not hold personal information and no personal data is shared with the government or the NHS. In a joint statement, Apple and Google said: "We built the exposure notifications system to enable public health authorities in their efforts to develop apps to help reduce the spread of the virus while ensuring that people can trust the privacy-preserving design. "We are committed to supporting the government's effort to launch an app based on this technology." The app has been through "rigorous" UK trials in the Isle of Wight, Newham borough of London and among NHS volunteer responders, which are claimed to have been successful. Simon Thompson, Managing Director of the NHS COVID-19 app, described it as so much more than just a contact-tracing app, with a range of features to alert users to the risk of "The more people use it, the better it works. We are confident that every person who downloads the app will be helping to protect themselves and their loved ones," he said. The DHSC also confirmed that the mobile phone industry has committed to supporting the new app with the country's major operators -- Vodafone, Three, EE and O2, Sky and Virgin -- "zero-rating" data charges for all in-app activity. This means people will not be charged for data when using the in-app functions or if they are directed out of the app to information on NHS websites. (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.) Rain Gutter Market Research Report by Type (Fascia Gutters, Half-Round Gutters, K-Style Gutters, Other Types of Gutters, and Seamless Gutters), by Material Type (Aluminum, Fiberglass, Steel, and Vinyl), by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 New York, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Rain Gutter Market Research Report by Type, by Material Type, by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05973336/?utm_source=GNW The Global Rain Gutter Market is expected to grow from USD 6,641.61 Million in 2019 to USD 8,484.82 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.16%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Rain Gutter to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Type, the Rain Gutter Market studied across Fascia Gutters, Half-Round Gutters, K-Style Gutters, Other Types of Gutters, Seamless Gutters, and Sectional Gutters. Based on Material Type, the Rain Gutter Market studied across Aluminum, Fiberglass, Steel, and Vinyl. Based on Application, the Rain Gutter Market studied across Commercial and Residential. Based on Geography, the Rain Gutter 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 Rain Gutter Market including Almesco Ltd., Alu-Rex Inc., BMI Group, City Sheet Metal Co. Ltd., Cornerstone Building Brands, Englert Inc., First Corporation S.R.L., Gibraltar Industries Inc., Guangzhou Nuoran Building Material Co. Ltd., Guttercrest Inc., Hebei Hollyland Co. Ltd., KMEW Co. Ltd., Lindab Group, Omnimax International Inc., Precision Gutters Ltd., Rheinzink GmbH & Co. KG, Royal Building Products, Senox Corporation, Spectra Metal Inc., and The Alumasc Group PLC. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Rain Gutter 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 Rain Gutter Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Rain Gutter Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Rain Gutter Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Rain Gutter Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Rain Gutter Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Rain Gutter Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05973336/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Gwyneth Paltrow has saved all of her iconic red carpet outfits for her daughter. The 47-year-old actress - who has daughter Apple, 16, and son Moses, 14, with ex-husband Chris Martin - has made headlines with her dazzling outfits over the years, and she has been saving her best looks for her 'beauty queen' daughter for the past few decades. 'She loves to play in my closet. I have saved everything for her since 15 years before I had her. I save everything. Not everything, but every red carpet look I have saved for her,' the Sliding Doors actress told People. For my kid; Gwyneth Paltrow has saved all of her iconic red carpet outfits for her daughter. Seen with mom Blythe Danner and daughter Apple in 2019 She sure knows how to look like a princess: Some of the Iron Man star's most iconic looks include her Oscar dress from 1999, left, and this Oscar gown in 2015, right So Grace Kelly! Here the siren is seen in 2004. 'She loves to play in my closet. I have saved everything for her since 15 years before I had her. I save everything. Not everything, but every red carpet look I have saved for her,' the Sliding Doors actress told People The teen fashionista recently helped her movie star mother launch the July Core Collection of Goop's clothing line by stepping in for the models who were staying at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, the Iron Man star believes her lookalike daughter is more 'glamorous in a way that I'm not.' She added: 'She's very, very into makeup, which I'm not. She knows how to do it perfect winged eyeliner. She gave herself acrylic nails. She's a beauty queen.' More looks: The teen fashionista recently helped her movie star mother launch the July Core Collection of Goop's clothing line by stepping in for the models who were staying at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. In both images she is seen in 2002 The dynamic duo before they split: Actors Brad Pitt and Paltrow at film premiere of his The Devil's Own in 1997 A fun look for summer: Seen in 2004 for the premiere of Sky Captain Of The World A more recent look: In 2018 for the Avengers: Infinity War film premiere in Los Angeles Meanwhile, Gwyneth has insisted things are much better with her former husband, Chris, now they are divorced as they have learned a lot about their relationship together and they have 'radical accountability' now. She said recently: 'I mean it's so interesting because in a way my divorce and my relationship with Chris now is better than our marriage was. 'So I do think that it can be done. I was really lucky because I had a doctor who kind of gave us a rubric for how to do it and luckily he's writing a book and I think it's coming out next year, thank goodness, because it really kind of lays out the tenants of how you do it and it's a little bit unsurprising right? The trio: Here Apple is seen again with her mother as well as Danner as Brad Falchuk takes the snapshot She sure has mom's looks: Apple seen at home in a little floral dress 'You have to have radical accountability. 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. 'If you are brave enough to take responsibility for your half and really look at your own garbage and your own trauma and how it's presenting in the world and in your relationship then there really is somewhere to go and something to learn and something to heal. 'You are also holding the other person in this sphere of humanity. We are all part good and part bad, it's not binary, we are all grey area.' A nother four countries have been removed from the Governments quarantine exemption list, meaning UK travellers will have to self-isolate for 14 days on their return. The new rules, which come into force at 4am on Saturday, apply to Denmark, Slovakia, Iceland and the Caribbean island of Curacao. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the restrictions had been imposed as a result of rising coronavirus cases. No destinations have been added to list of travel corridors. The Department for Transport said the decision covers the whole of the UK and has been agreed with the devolved administrations. Writing on Twitter, Mr Shapps warned the public that they faced fines if they did not follow the new rules. Iceland was added to the list / Unsplash Data shows we need to remove Denmark, Slovakia, Iceland, and Curacao from the Travel Corridor list," he said. "If you arrive in the UK from these destinations after 4am this Saturday, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days. We will not be adding any destinations to the Travel Corridor list this week. Remember: You MUST complete a Passenger Locator Form by law if you enter the UK. This protects public health and ensures those who need to are complying with self-isolation rules. Also please dont forget that you MUST self-isolate (quarantine) when returning from a non-exempt country, or face fines which start at 1,000. Grant Shapps / BBC Denmark is currently recording a seven-day rate of 65.2 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people, up from 33.8 a week ago. A rate of 20 is the threshold above which the Government considers triggering quarantine conditions. Iceland and Slovakia have rates of 80.4 and 25.9 respectively, while Curacao is on 66.7. The rate in the UK is 47.3. The figures have been calculated by the PA news agency based on data collected by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The travel industry has been badly hit by quarantine restrictions. It has called on the Government to allow coronavirus testing at airports to reduce self-isolation periods for those who get a negative result. Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: Its sad to see the list of countries growing on the quarantine list in line with the resurgence of Covid-19 in several parts of the world. It now makes even more sense for traveller testing to be introduced as soon as possible, reducing quarantine times and enabling economies to get going again. A co-ordinated global programme, combining testing with short quarantine periods if necessary, would help protect lives and livelihoods. Previously holidaymakers were left facing exorbitant last minute ticket fees after countries were removed from the list while they were already abroad. Mr Shapps was even forced to remove Portugal from the exemption list while he was holidaying there. DGAP-News: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft / Key word(s): AGM/EGM The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. GEA announces virtual Annual General Meeting Dusseldorf (Germany), September 24, 2020 - In light of the ongoing difficult situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of GEA Group AG have resolved that the Annual General Meeting for the 2019 fiscal year will be held as a virtual event. The AGM, which has been postponed from April 30 to November 26, 2020, will consequently take place without the physical presence of shareholders or their proxies. "The health of shareholders, employees and service providers is our top priority. Unfortunately, our hopes in early April that the COVID-19 situation would ease by the end of the year have not materialized. We initially postponed the Annual General Meeting in order to improve the chances of an in-person meeting so that our shareholders would be able to fully exercise their rights, even in this exceptional year. However, we now believe that, in the current situation, a virtual AGM is the right choice for GEA to engage in dialog with shareholders while protecting the health of everyone involved," explained CEO Stefan Klebert. GEA attaches utmost importance to ensuring that shareholders' rights are ensured to the maximum degree in the virtual format. The entire meeting will be broadcast live on the Group website. All shareholders may submit questions concerning the agenda up to two days prior to the meeting. There are also plans for shareholders to be able to send the Company advance position statements and even video messages that will then be shown at the virtual AGM. After registering for the AGM in due time, shareholders can exercise their voting rights in advance by postal vote or by instructing Company-designated proxies. Both options are available online, including during the meeting. Details on the staging of the online AGM will be available on the GEA website and in the convocation notice, which will be published in due course. The Annual General Meeting agenda remains unaltered except for an additional item concerning the election of a new Supervisory Board member after Hartmut Eberlein stepped down with effect from September 30, 2020. The Supervisory Board's proposal is for the shareholders to elect Professor Annette G. Kohler to the Supervisory Board. Professor Kohler has already held office on the Supervisory Board by appointment of Dusseldorf Local Court since October 1, 2020. As regards the appropriation of net earnings, the Company is adhering to the proposal published in the 2019 Annual Report. GEA thus still intends to pay a dividend totaling EUR 0.85 per share for the 2019 fiscal year. In early May, GEA already paid out to shareholders the maximum advance payment of EUR 0.42 per share permitted by law. Corporate Media and Press: Marc Ponitz Peter-Muller-Str. 12, 40468 Dusseldorf Phone +49 (0)211 9136-1500 marc.poenitz@gea.com About GEA "Engineering for a better world" is the driving and energizing principle connecting GEA's total workforce of approximately 18,500 employees. As one of the largest systems suppliers, generating group revenues in the amount of EUR 4.9 billion in 2019, GEA makes an important contribution to a sustainable future with its solutions and services, particularly in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors. Across the globe, GEA's plants, processes and components contribute significantly to the reduction of CO 2 emissions, plastic use as well as food waste in production. GEA is listed on the German MDAX and the STOXX(R) Europe 600 Index and also included in the DAX 50 ESG and MSCI Global Sustainability indexes. More information can be found online at gea.com. Contact GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft Phone +49 (0)211 9136 1081 Fax +49 (0)211 9136 31087 gea.com 24.09.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de Getty Images En espanol | Todd Cullop, who lives in Washington state, wants to visit his mother on the East Coast as much as he can while she battles cancer. He canceled a flight in the early phases of the coronavirus outbreak, but when he and his two sons flew out to Washington, D.C., to see her in August, they found that navigating half-empty airports and uncrowded airplanes was largely a positive experience. We just zipped through security, says Cullop, 55. Their Southwest Airlines flights were roughly half full, so they changed seats to distance themselves from other passengers. The worst part, he says, was wearing a mask all day. Americans like Cullop are slowly booking flights again, motivated by family needs, cheap fares and cabin fever after months of staying home. On Oct. 15, 950,000 passengers passed through U.S. airport security checkpoints, up from about 100,000 on April 20, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) though far fewer than the 2.58 million passengers who flew on Oct. 15, 2019. But is flying safe during a pandemic? The risk of infection In a new study on the risk of COVID-19 infection on flights, the Department of Defense found that the odds of the tiny virus droplets expelled by an infected passenger reaching the breathing zone of another passenger are only 3 in 1,000 assuming that both are wearing masks. The study, undertaken in partnership with United Airlines and Boeing, used a mannequin built with the ability to release aerosols that included tracer particles in its simulations. The lengthy report concluded that Aerosol exposure risk is minimal even during long duration flights, but typically highest in the row of someone infected. It also recommended the continued use of masks, HEPA filtration systems and disinfectant cleaning onboard. (The report notes that scenarios such as talking to a neighboring passenger while eating or drinking without a mask were not studied.) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website concurs: Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. But it also adds that social distancing is difficult on crowded flights, and sitting within 6 feet of others, sometimes for hours, may increase your risk of getting COVID-19. And while there are no statistics on the number of people whove caught COVID-19 on planes, it appears that at least some may have. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday said in order to achieve sustainable peace in Afghanistan, there is a need to get to the root of the terrorism problem "blighting our region" and address it as the global threat that it is. Addressing the General Debate at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly through a pre-recorded video statement, Ghani listed the sources of the turmoil that his war-torn country has been dealing with over the years. "Violence and warfare have also evolved, an evolution we Afghans have witnessed and suffered in real-time. We are living and dying inside the fifth wave of global terrorism, in which global terrorist networks are closely linked with global criminal networks, making warfare totally unconventional and peace-building even more of a challenge," he said. Ghani added that as a state and society, Afghanistan has demonstrated the commitment, compassion and courage to take hard decisions to start direct peace talks with the Taliban. "This will not be enough. For sustainable peace in Afghanistan, we must get to the root of the terrorism problem blighting our region and address it as the global phenomenon and threat that it is," he said. Outlining Afghanistan's "clear plan" for the next five years, Ghani said it is based on building the country's markets for economic development, moving from an aid to a trade model, increasing its labour and capital productivity in key areas in which Kabul have a competitive advantage. "The objective is self-reliance, moving away from donor relationships to mutually beneficial partnerships. At the same time, we will invest in strengthening state governance structures to create an environment conducive to growth," he said, adding that this would mean continuing to combat systemic corruption, improving public financial management systems and strengthening provincial and district-level governance. He called on the 193-member General Assembly and the Permanent Members of the Security Council to help his country "achieve the end-state of a sovereign, united and democratic Afghanistan, at peace with itself and the region, capable of preserving and expanding the gains of the last 19 years". He said a democratically stable and prosperous Afghanistan will be an example of how "our collective will can overcome the turmoil and uncertainty that define our world today". Underlining Afghanistan's critical role as a connecting power in the region, Ghani said his country is positioned right at the heart of Asia. "Our water ties us together, our cultures and languages give us a common denominator. South Asia's need for energy resources and Central Asia's abundance of it makes Afghanistan a critical connector. Asia cannot integrate without us. We are right at the heart of untapped potentials that could bring prosperity and peace to our region," he said. Ghani, however, added that Afghanistan's geography also means that the country is right in the middle of the turmoil that is affecting everyone today. "We are experiencing the worst of it. But Afghanistan could be a model for successfully overcoming the turmoil we all face. That task, like the turmoil, is one that belongs to all of us, he said. Ghani also stressed on the need for frameworks for the future that present pragmatic solutions for collectively addressing and solving the five drivers of the turmoil, particularly global terrorism and climate change. "This will require the type of imagination and leadership that gave us the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Charter and the capabilities that overcame the global turmoil inflicted on the world by World War II," he said. The Afghan leader stressed that the untold sorrow of his country's people, particularly its women and children, over the last 40 years serves as a reminder of the relevance of the UN Charter and also of its unfulfilled promise of "maintaining international peace and security". He said even though Afghanistan is facing multiple drivers of turmoil all at once, peace remains the nation's most urgent and important priority. Ghani emphasised that the role of the United Nations in standing for "our shared values throughout the peace process is absolutely critical". "The role of the UN and our international partners and allies will continue to be extremely important as our negotiating team sits across from the Taliban in Doha. At those talks, the Afghan people have a clear and urgent priority: a ceasefire. An urgent end to the violence will, more than anything else, give us a chance to progress," he said. Ghani also expressed gratitude to the world organisation for its support so far throughout this arduous process and for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' call for a global ceasefire. (Photo: AP News) Javadekar slams Congress, says it is 'directionless', boycotts Parliament and protests outside India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Sep 24: Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday termed the opposition's politics as "directionless" as it took a dig at its rivals for complaining to President Ram Nath Kovind over the passage of some key bills while "abdicating" the right to speak in Parliament. Union minister Prakash Javadekar slammed the opposition parties, saying they boycotted Parliament when "revolutionary" labour bills were being debated and did not follow the Chair's direction to return to their seats for division of votes in Rajya Sabha during the passage of two farm bills. Farm Bills: Congress begins nationwide mass movement "They (opposition) shamed Rajya Sabha," the information and broadcasting minister told reporters about the ruckus in the House on Sunday following which eight opposition members were suspended. "The opposition's politics has become directionless. They had the right to sit in Parliament and express their views but they instead abdicated it and staged a walkout. They began protests and dharna outside and are now meeting the President," he said. Farm bills: Congress to begin two-month nationwide mass movement today Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News The opposition boycotted Parliament and is now complaining everywhere, he said. During the session, the opposition parties were seen being against the passage of farm bills, and their delegation on Wednesday urged President Kovind not to give his assent to the same. They also called the passage of the bills "unconstitutional". For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 24, 2020, 15:10 [IST] The Reserve Bank of India today released a 'technology vision' for the cyber security of urban co-operative banks (UCBs). This document aims to enhance the cyber security in urban co-operative banks in the wake of growing IT and cyber threats. The technology vision has been framed based on inputs from various stakeholders, the RBI said. It said the document will achieve its objective through a five-pillared strategic approach - GUARD. The GUARD comprises governance oversight, utile technology investment, appropriate regulation and supervision, robust collaboration and developing necessary IT, cyber security skills set. The RBI said the tech vision document will involve boarder oversight over cyber security and enable UCBs to manage and secure IT assets better. This document also implements an offsite supervisory mechanism framework for such banks on cyber security related controls. The document also develops a forum so the UCBs can share best practices and discuss practical issues and challenges. The RBI said the cyber security landscape in India will continue to evolve with wider adoption of digital banking channels, which makes it important for UCBs to manage the risks associated with these initiatives effectively. " Active collaboration within UCBs and their stakeholders would be necessary for sharing and coordinating various measures taken on cyber security aspects," the RBI said, adding the technology vision document will strengthen the cyber resilience of the UCBs. Meanwhile, Parliament has passed the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which proposes to bring cooperative banks under the ambit of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The new law will improve governance at such banks and protect depositors' money. During COVID-19 pandemic, many cooperative banks came under stress and their finances are being closely monitored by the regulator RBI. Also read: RBI, govt should work together for economic recovery: SBI research Also Read: Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill: How RBI will ensure safety of depositors' money in cooperative banks Top Democrat calls for Trump staff exodus after he refuses to commit to peaceful transition of power (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) A top Democrat did not mince words in a new interview after Donald Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power, calling on any Republican of good conscience in the administration to resign. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Mr Trumps "autocratic intentions are as clear as the writing on the wall following a contentious press conference the president held on Wednesday. This is a moment that I would say to any Republican of good conscience working in the administration: It is time for you to resign, the Democratic leader said in an interview with MSNBCs Rachel Maddow. If you have been debating about whether you can continue to serve the country by serving this president, you cant, he added. It is time to resign. And I would say to those who have been on the sidelines maintaining a dignified silence who have served in the administration in the past, you cannot maintain your silence any longer. The comments come after Mr Trump declined to say whether he would support a peaceful transition of power in the November election regardless of whether he wins or loses against Joe Biden, his Democratic opponent. This is how democracy dies. A president so desperate to cling to power that he wont commit to a peaceful transition of power. That he seeks to throw out millions of votes. And a Republican Party too craven to say a word. But we will fight back. America belongs to the people. https://t.co/mIVjh78Xk9 Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) September 24, 2020 Instead, the president said Were going to have to see what happens when asked if hed uphold the American tradition of peacefully transitioning the power between White House administrations. Mr Trump also continued espousing misinformation about the mail-in voting process, which he has said was plagued with fraud despite virtually all of the evidence available showing it to be a safe and effective way of casting ballots without going to an in-person location. Many states have expanded mail-in voting options due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Story continues You know that I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots and the ballots are a disaster, the president told reporters. It was later assumed he was referring to mail-in voting efforts. Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very ... there won't be a transfer, frankly. There'll be a continuation, Mr Trump continued, adding: The ballots are out of control. Mr Schiff spoke about the president wanting to get rid of the ballots, warning Republicans in his administration not to wait for Mr Trump to allegedly try and rig the election in his favour. He added: If you do wait, knowing what is to come, you will share some of the burden of responsibility for that chaos that comes. By Matt Murphy, State House News Service When Stanley Rosenberg left Beacon Hill in the spring of 2018 under less than desirable circumstances, no one could say for sure if or when the Amherst Democrat might resurface after a career spent in public service. But Rosenberg, who once ascended the political platform in Massachusetts to become the first openly gay and Jewish president of the Senate, is back, and in a position he never imagined for himself. Hes a lobbyist. Not me, never in a thousand years did I think that, Rosenberg laughed, speaking with the News Service this week from his home in Amherst. Rosenberg opened up for an upcoming episode of the State House Takeout podcast about everything from his new professional activities, to the vacancy on the Supreme Court, the state of progressive politics in Massachusetts, his legislative regrets and why investing in transportation now is as important as it was before the coronavirus pandemic. As part of his agreement to do the interview, Rosenberg declined to discuss the circumstances of his departure from the Legislature after a more than 30-year career on Beacon Hill. He resigned more than two years ago after an investigation into the activities of his husband, Bryon Hefner, including allegations that he had sexually assaulted four men. While the Ethics Committee did not find that Rosenberg violated any Senate rules or allowed Hefner to influence Senate business, the committee recommended barring Rosenberg from any leadership positions or committee chairs for one term. Rosenberg registered New Horizons Consulting with Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvins office on Feb. 5, starting a second chapter of his professional life that includes consulting for the Yes on 1 auto repair ballot campaign. Among his paying clients, Rosenberg listed real estate developer and philanthropist Harold Grinspoon, for whom he lobbied for a rent-freeze bill, the legislation-tracking company InstaTrac and Red Cardinal, an integrated cannabis company that plans cultivation, manufacturing and three retail sites in central and Western Massachusetts. I finally bit the bullet and registered with the secretary of state, so I am now among the minions, Rosenberg said. Rosenberg said hes also working pro bono on a project with local schools and students to research energy conservation ideas and present them to the community through a fair, and to build an advanced manufacturing lab near the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus that will bring together academic and business partners with private researchers to develop new processes for manufacturing. Rosenberg said the lab has the potential to bring jobs home from overseas and use laser and 3D printing technology to build products as large as buildings, boats and planes. Thats not paying client yet, he said. Someday I hope it will reach the point, but Im doing that one out of passion. Its a way of helping UMass move to its next level out here in terms of economic development. Rosenberg talked with the State House Takeout on Tuesday, just hours after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said he would support pushing ahead with the confirmation of a Supreme Court justice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the presidential election. Rosenberg said he was disappointed by Romneys choice, and said it reminded him of his own regrets in having supported bills to change the process for filling a U.S. Senate vacancy in Massachusetts when state Democrats first thought John Kerry might become president, and then again when Edward Kennedy died. I have to take my lashings for that one and I think its a sign of hypocrisy to keep changing the rules to accommodate your political partys interest, Rosenberg said, noting that four years ago Republicans refused to consider President Barack Obamas nominee to the Supreme Court after Antonin Scalias death. In light of Ginsburgs death, Rosenberg said progressives on Beacon Hill are right to push now for passage of the ROE Act, which would expand and solidify abortion access in Massachusetts, and said he felt that progressive politics were alive and well on Beacon Hill. I think the elections are tipping in the direction of more progressives being elected, he said. Rosenberg said House Speaker Robert DeLeo is who he is, and called Senate President Karen Spilka a pragmatic progressive, fiscally responsible and socially and programmatically progressive. Shes got as big a heart as you could have as Senate president and shes as fiscally prudent as she needs to be, he said. Rosenberg even credited Gov. Charlie Baker with signing a good deal of progressive legislation over the past six years. Hes been a good listener, Rosenberg said of Baker. Hes not one of those people who isolates himself, and if he hears a good idea he doesnt care whose good idea it is. He moves forward with it and he actually usually gives them some credit, which is nice. Ive worked with governors who did the opposite. They took the great ideas. They ran with it and they asked for the crown on their head. While Rosenberg gave the Legislature and Baker good marks for their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said Beacon Hill must not lose site of the need to invest in transportation infrastructure. He said he didnt have any insight into why the Senate didnt jump to embrace the Houses transportation tax package before the pandemic. Transportation in this state is a mess and its one of the two major elements that will compromise the continued growth and strength of our economy if its not fixed. Transportation and housing have got to be addressed, he said. Tel Aviv University researchers suggest that carriers of the genetic mutations PiZ and PiS are at high risk for severe illness and even death from COVID-19. These mutations lead to deficiency in the alpha1-antitrypsin protein, which protects lung tissues from damage in case of severe infections. Other studies have already associated deficiency in this protein with inflammatory damage to lung function in other diseases. The study was led by Prof. David Gurwitz, Prof. Noam Shomron, and MSc candidate Guy Shapira of TAU's Sackler Faculty of Medicine, and published in The FASEB Journal on September 22, 2020. The researchers analyzed data from 67 countries on all continents. Comparisons revealed a highly significant positive correlation between the prevalence of the two mutations in the population and COVID-19 mortality rates (adjusted to size of the population) in many countries, such as the USA, the UK, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and more. Consequently, the researchers suggest that these mutations may be additional risk factors for severe COVID-19. They now propose that their findings should be corroborated by clinical trials, and if validated should lead to population-wide screening for identifying carriers of the PiS and/or PiZ mutations. Such individuals should then be advised to take extra measures of social distancing and later be prioritized for vaccination once vaccines are available. According to the researchers, these steps can be effective in reducing COVID-19 morbidity and fatality rates. Analysis of databases reveals that in Belgium, where 17 of every 1,000 people carry the PiZ mutation (the more dominant of the two mutations discussed in this study), the COVID-19 mortality rate was 860 per million according to figures for September 2020. In Spain the picture is similar: 17 of every 1,000 citizens carry the PiZ mutation, and the COVID-19 fatality rate is 640 per million. In the USA, where 15 per 1,000 are carriers, 590 of every million died of the coronavirus. The numbers in the UK are in line with the overall trend: 14 per 1,000 carry the mutation and 60 per million have died of COVID-19. In Italy, where 13 per 1,000 are carriers, the mortality rate is 620 per million. In Sweden, where 13 per 1,000 are carriers, the fatality rate is 570 per million. On the other hand, the researchers found that in many countries in Africa and South East Asia, where these mutations are relatively rare, COVID-19 mortality rates are correspondingly low as of September 2020. In Japan, where 9 of every million died in the pandemic, the mutations' prevalence is negligible. Similar numbers were also found in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Prof. Gurwitz, Prof. Shomron, and Shapira conclude, "Our data analysis reveals a strong correlation between these mutations and severe illness and death from COVID-19. We call upon the research community to test our hypothesis against clinical data, and also call upon decision makers in every country to conduct population-wide screening for identifying mutation carriers and prioritize them for vaccination once COVID-19 vaccines have been approved. In the meantime, carriers should be notified that they may belong to a high-risk group and advised to maintain strict social isolation." ### A New York City man was arrested Wednesday after he traveled to a Bordentown Township motel for sex with a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl, but turned out to be a federal agent, authorities said. Eduardo Silva, 42, of the Bronx, was charged with enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, traveling to New Jersey for the purpose of engaging in unlawful sexual conduct and sending obscene materials online, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Craig Carpenito said in a statement. Believing he was talking to the girl, Silva messaged the undercover agent on a social media application on Sept. 5, according to a federal criminal complaint. He sent, [are] you into older guys?, the complaint stated. In one exchange, Silva asked, what you grade you in, and the undercover agent replied 8th, according to court filings. Ight cool so you senior in Junior high, he sent in response and stated Lol seniors rule! The exchanges continued over the next several days and Silva shared a series of sexually explicit messages, including discussing his plan to meet the purported minor for sex, according to the complaint. Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations, which investigated the case, arrested Silva when he arrived at the hotel for the planned encounter, authorities said. He was ordered detained after a hearing in federal court. Authorities asked anyone who believes they were victimized by Silva to call investigators at 1-866-347-2423. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25 Trend: "Because of aggression against Azerbaijan, Armenia continues to face deep demographic, social and economic crisis. Regime change happened in Armenia two years ago, but fascist ideology of this failed state remains unchanged," said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the general debates of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly in a video format, Trend reports. "Human rights are massively violated in Armenia. Judges are pressured and blackmailed, journalists, opposition activists and political opponents jailed by despotic regime. In fact, a dictatorship has been established in Armenia. Criminal cases have been opened against two former presidents of this country. Members of parliament despite their immunity are detained. Mher Yegiazarian, an Armenian journalist and politician died in prison following hunger strike in January 2019. But there was no reaction from international organizations whose duty is to observe democracy and human rights worldwide. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom House and others turned a blind eye on unhuman and brutal actions of despotic regime of Armenia. The reason can be that Pashinyan regime is financed and supported by Soros who sponsors many so-called human rights non-governmental organizations worldwide. Political relations in this country have reached the point of crisis. The country has been ruled by warlords over 20 years. Incumbent political leadership continues the practice of previous regimes. There is no prospect for development of Armenia unless the consequences of military aggression against Azerbaijan are eliminated," President Ilham Aliyev said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A special full State Liquor Authority Board reinstated the recently yanked liquor license of Joyces Tavern. As of Sept. 23, the Eltingville eatery is permitted to sell booze alongside its signature burgers and Irish comfort fare. Out of over 200 suspensions by the SLA since March, its only the second time the board has reversed its original decision, according to an attorney for the Authority as per the public hearing. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: The resources of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) cannot be used in territorial conflicts, Kazakh political scientist, Director of the Risk Assessment Group, Dosym Satpayev, told Trend. Satpayev made the speech commenting on Armenia's appeal to the CSTO for help. He noted that the CSTO charter clearly states that this organization cannot be used for any political or military games. Efforts of this organization cannot be used only because some of its members want it. This organization can show support to its members only in the course of external aggression, and when it comes to territorial conflicts, this is not a prerogative of the CSTO, because all these issues must be resolved through diplomacy, Satpayev said. Kazakhstan has always been an active supporter of a peaceful settlement of the situation on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the political scientist noted. Kazakhstan actively supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, considering it a priority. Everyone knows that maintaining any separatist sentiments is a dangerous game, and it is clear that Kazakhstan will never support any separate movement, any separatist slogans, Satpayev said. Stressing that the problem of separatism for Kazakhstan is a very important one, Satpayev emphasized that Kazakhstan in this regard will always defend the territorial integrity of other states. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @nargiz_sadikh TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 2020 / 55 North Mining Inc. ("55 North" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1,403,416 with a lead order from Palisades Goldcorp acquiring 4,900,000 units. The gross proceeds consist of $1,334,416 in flow-through and $69,000 in non-flow through funding. The flow-through financing consisted of 6,672,080 flow through units ("FT Units"). Each FT Unit was priced at $0.20 each for gross proceeds of $1,334,416. Each FT Unit is comprised of one flow-through common share and one non-flow-through purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.30 per share for 48 months from the date of issuance. A syndicate led by Palisades Goldcorp Ltd. made a strategic investment and acquired 6,000,000 units. The non-flow through financing consisted of 460,000 units ("NFT Units") priced at $0.15 each for gross proceeds of $69,000. Each NFT Unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.30 per share for 48 months from the date of issuance. All common shares issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance. The Company paid an 8% finder's fee in cash totaling $100,000 to certain eligible finders on the FT Units sold, and $5,520 on the NFT Units sold. The Company paid compensation options ("Compensation Options") to certain eligible finders in the amount of 8% of the number of eligible FT Units and NFT Units sold. 500,000 Compensation Options were paid on the number of FT Units sold, and 36,800 Compensation Options were paid on the number of NFT Units sold. Each Compensation Option is exercisable at a price of $0.15 if paid as commission on a NFT Unit financing, and $0.20 if paid as commission on a FT Unit financing, any time prior to the date 48 months from the date of closing. Each Compensation Option entitles the holder to purchase one unit, with each unit consisting of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each common share purchase warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $0.30 per share for a period of 48 months from the date of closing. The gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Units will be used for expenditures which qualify as Canadian Exploration Expenses ("CEE") within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada), and will be incurred no later than December 31, 2021 on properties situated in the Province of Manitoba. The Company will renounce such CEE expenditures with an effective date of no later than December 31, 2020. The proceeds from the sale of NFT Units will be used for general working capital purposes. About 55 North Inc. 55 North Mining Inc. was incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act on December 5, 2008. The current business of the Company is exploration and development of its high-grade Last Hope Gold Project located in Manitoba, Canada. About Palisades Goldcorp Ltd. Palisades Goldcorp Ltd. is Canada's new resource focused merchant bank. Palisades' management team has a demonstrated track record of making money and is backed by many of industry's most notable financiers. With junior resource equities valued at generational lows, management believes the sector is on the cusp of a major bull market move. Palisades is positioning itself with significant stakes in undervalued companies and assets with the goal of generating superior returns. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Mr. Bruce Reid Chief Executive Officer, Director 55 North Mining Inc. br@idahochamp.com CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release of 55 North contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. SOURCE: 55 North Mining Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607760/55-North-Mining-Inc-Announces-Closing-of-14M-Private-Placement-Including-a-Strategic-Investment-by-Palisades-Goldcorp Gandhinagar, Sep 24 : Following the example of bestowing awards on the best parliamentarians in both the houses of Parliament, the Gujarat assembly on Thursday set a new precedent of honouring the best state legislators in Gujarat. Accordingly Mohansinh Rathwa from the Congress and Bhupendrasinh Chudasama from the BJP were honoured with the best MLA Award for 2019 and 2020 respectively. Based on the parameters for honouring parliamentarians in both houses of Parliament and the standards set by other states for honouring their legislators, the rules for the Gujarat best MLA Award were published in June 2020. A legislator's knowledge of the rules and precedents of the house, their implementation, public interest issues awareness, effective delivery of issues in the house, legislator's public life and behaviour, role in maintaining the decorum of the house, cooperation in the proper functioning of the house etc are taken into account for giving the award. Based on these parameters, the Assembly committee constituted for the award, selected senior Congressmen Mohansinh Rathwa from Chhota Udepur and senior BJP leader Bhupendrasinh Chudasama from Dholka constituency, as Best MLAs for 2019 and 2020 respectively. Both the legislators were honoured with the award trophy which is made of 92.5% pure silver, bearing an engraving of the Gujarat Assembly building and weighing 1.5 kilogram. "After the setting up of the state in 1960, this is a historic moment, where for the first time legislators were honoured through such an award. It is my belief that this is not only an award where deserving legislators are honoured, but the decorum of the award should also be elevated through deserving persons," said Speaker Rajendra Trivedi. "I thank Speaker Rajendra Trivedi and the entire house for honouring me with this award and selecting me as the first person to receive it thereby creating history. This is a significant precedent started in the state," said Mohansinh Rathwa in the house. "In my 53 years of public life, I've been honoured with such an award which is entirely due to all the nurturing of my political career. My political life was nurtured and influenced especially by Narendra Modi and the late senior BJP leader Ashok Bhatt. I congratulate Mohansinh Rathwa and thank the entire house for honouring me," said Bhupendrasinh Chudasama. Gujarat Speaker Rajendra Trivedi had conceptualized the award for best legislators in the state and had assured Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of initiating such an award during the Presiding Officers Conference in Dehradun. SEOUL, South Korea - A South Korean fisheries official who went missing from a patrol boat this week was picked up from the sea by North Korean troops and executed, in what appeared to be an ill-fated attempt to defect, Seoul's Defense Ministry said Thursday. The North Korean troops, wearing gas masks, then doused the man's body in oil and set it on fire, seemingly to prevent the possible spread of the novel coronavirus, the ministry said in a statement. The 47-year-old disappeared from the ship on Monday just south of the two countries' disputed maritime boundary. Dressed in a lifejacket and clutching a floating object, he was found a day later by North Korean personnel. Citing intelligence sources, the military said the man appeared to have been questioned at sea, north of the disputed boundary and about 24 miles from where he went missing, before he was executed on an "order from a superior authority." "Our military strongly condemns such an atrocity, and strongly demands North Korea provide explanations and punish those who are responsible," Gen. Ahn Young-ho, who is in charge of operations at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a news conference. The incident dealt a blow to South Korean President Moon Jae-in's efforts to improve relations with the North. In a speech to the United Nations on Tuesday, Moon called for a formal end to the Korean War, arguing that would pave the way to denuclearization and a permanent peace on the peninsula. The 1950-53 conflict ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. South Korea said it sent a message to the North on Wednesday about the defecting official's fate but had not received a response. There was no immediate comment on the incident in North Korea's state media. Suh Choo-suk, first deputy chief of South Korea's National Security Council, called on North Korea to "take full responsibility and clarify the truth." Colleagues found only the man's shoes on the vessel and reported his disappearance to the Coast Guard, prompting a search operation involving about 20 boats and aircraft, the Yonhap news agency reported. Gen. Robert Abrams, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea, said earlier this month that North Korean troops manning the border with China had been given "shoot-to-kill orders" to prevent anyone from bringing the coronavirus into the country. More than 33,000 North Koreans have fled to the South since the early 1990s to escape poverty and political oppression. But it is extremely rare for South Korean nationals to attempt to defect to the North. A North Korean defector who settled in the South was arrested by the South Korean police last week for breaking into a military training site near the border. The police said he was attempting to head back to the North. Another defector who had crossed the border into the South three years ago swam back across the maritime frontier to North Korea in July. Pyongyang claimed he was a possible coronavirus carrier and locked down a border city where he had been present. Name: Pete Hirsch Company: BlackLine Job title: CTO Date started current role: February 2019 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Pete Hirsch is Chief Technology Officer at BlackLine. Prior to joining BlackLine, Hirsch was executive vice president of Technology &Operations at Ellie Mae. He also spent several years as senior vice president and chief architect at Ariba and then as senior vice president, Ariba Cloud Engineering &Technology at SAP. Previously, he led a SaaS business unit at IBM over the course of more than 10 years as the global information technology giant acquired several smaller companies. A police chief today called on telecoms giants to shut down county lines drug dealers unregistered pay-as-you-go phones, capable of sending 500 texts to customers in seconds. Detective Superintendent Gareth Williams says the 1 billion-a-year trade relies on unregistered handsets bought in cash with no questions asked. The mobiles are used to broadcast deals to large groups of buyers. He has spoken to MPs about a new law similar to the one that significantly reduced metal theft when it became illegal to trade scrap for cash in 2013. Mr Williams, who leads British Transport Polices national crackdown on county lines gangs, told the Standard: I doubt theres something equally as simplistic as mobile companies helping us with this. Not many people send 500 texts in one go. So why have sims and phones got that capability? Mobile companies could stop people buying phones without giving personal details and not let them pay in cash. There are privacy arguments, I accept that, but the fact that people can go in a shop and buy 20 phones for 150 is highly unhelpful for us. Weve caught youngsters with 65,000 in illicit cash. You can imagine what those sitting at higher tiers in the organisation are churning. County lines is the movement of drugs by gangs from cities into smaller towns, often exploiting children or vulnerable adults. Dealers from London, Birmingham and Liverpool often courier supplies to Brighton, Norwich, Cambridge and north and mid Wales. Transport police have dozens of officers carrying out operations at train stations and on rail and Tube routes across England, Wales and Scotland. County line operations have led to spikes in youth violence as gangs use knives and firearms to protect trade. Of 725 arrests, the youngest was just 13. Mobile UK, the industry body for UKs mobile operators, said: While compulsory ID appears a simple solution, maintaining an up-to-date register would be hard to enforce, would not be fool-proof and could have severe unintended consequences for those who really need access to a mobile phone. BOLINGBROOK, Ill. - A leading U.S. cosmetics chain has halted expansion plans into Canada, saying it will instead focus on its U.S. operations and "omnichannel capabilities" including online shopping. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (484 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In this May 30, 2018, photo, shoppers look through the updated cosmetic department at a Target store in San Antonio. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Eric Gay BOLINGBROOK, Ill. - A leading U.S. cosmetics chain has halted expansion plans into Canada, saying it will instead focus on its U.S. operations and "omnichannel capabilities" including online shopping. Ulta Beauty Inc. unveiled plans in May 2019 to become a global beauty retailer starting with a launch into Canadas competitive cosmetics market. But in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday, the Illinois-based retailer said it was scrapping its foray north as a result of the "current operating environment." The company has decided at this time to prioritize growth of its U.S. operations and is suspending its planned expansion to Canada, the company said. The beauty retailer said halting those plans will cost US$55 million to US$65 million as a result of lease obligations for a small number of stores and early-stage infrastructure buildout. Kecia Steelman, Ultas chief store operations officer and president of its international division, said the company did not take lightly the decision to call off the expansion. After thoughtful consideration of the current landscape and the impacts of COVID-19, Ulta Beauty made the difficult decision to end its previously announced expansion to Canada, she said in a statement. The impacts of COVID-19 are real and we continue to believe further time is needed for demand to fully recover. Still, Steelman said the beauty retailer remains focused on international markets as a long-term growth opportunity. We have learned a great deal throughout this process and will apply those learnings when the time is right, she said. Meanwhile, the company is now focused on safeguarding and growing its U.S. business. Ulta, which sells products like cosmetics, skincare, fragrance and hair care, plans to invest in customer "experience and discovery," increased loyalty and personalization efforts and new U.S. store openings. The company said its also working on its omnichannel capabilities, which will improve customer experiences both online and at brick-and-mortar stores. Its something established players in Canadas competitive beauty market are also focused on. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Sephora, a personal care and beauty store chain, announced on Thursday plans to partner with delivery firm Instacart to offer same-day delivery from nearly all locations across North America including Canada. A spokeswoman said the rollout is at stores across all provinces, with Quebec offering the service starting next month. Carolyn Bojanowski, senior vice-president and general manager of e-commerce for Sephora, said it will provide a more seamless online shopping experience. She said now more than ever customers are seeking ease and convenience. Were always looking for unique, yet practical ways to meet our clients at every touchpoint, Bojanowski said in a press release. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2020. Covid 19 is not the only virus stalking the nation. Hate is in the air with social media acting as a super-spreader. Last week, on the death of prominent social activist, Swami Agnivesh, a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer N Nageswara Rao tweeted: Good riddance.. You were an anti-Hindu donning saffron clothesmy grievance against Yamraj (god of death) is why did he wait so long? After protests from several Twitter users, the social media site pulled down the offensive tweet. Rao is no ordinary police officer. In 2018, he was appointed acting director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and also director-general, Fire Services and Home Guards, before retiring in July. That an officer holding such high posts should make such a spiteful remark is perhaps a sign of the times; those who swear allegiance to the Constitution are now wearing the ideology of hate on their khaki uniform, to the point of wishing death on someone. Worse, Rao has defended his hate speech. Recall a similar tweet when journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead in 2017. Then, a Surat-based businessman, Nikhil Dadhich tweeted: A bitch died a dogs death and now all the puppies are wailing in the same tune! It was a disgusting remark that seemed to celebrate the assassination. It may even have passed unnoticed, but for an inconvenient truth: Dadhich was followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the micro-blogging site. Once again, the individual was unapologetic. Rao and Dadhich are not alone: There are thousands of anonymous Twitter handles, Facebook posts and WhatsApp groups that are designed to spread animosity between individuals and communities. Under the guise of being open-source platforms, the social media universe has created its own code of conduct where the lines between free speech and hate speech are often blurred. These are, as an outstanding recent Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, puts it, the digital Frankensteins of our times, amoral beasts running amok in a social media jungle where the rules are being subverted to promote hatred and division. This big tech-driven social media hate-machine is transitioning seamlessly into the news environment. Thus, to blame social media alone for stoking disharmony would be to run away from the nature of the virus. Hate is an infection that is contagious when it is normalised as has happened in recent years. The anti-minority dog-whistles, for example, are now so frequently espoused that their expression is almost seen as routine. The Indian Muslim as anti-national narrative has been deliberately and repeatedly pushed by a section of the power elite so as to acquire a potency of its own. When a rabble-rousing Union minister screams in an election meeting, Desh ke gaddaron ko and the crowd responds with Goli maaron saalon ko, there is little attempt made to rein in the minister. Or indeed when anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protesters are identified by their clothes or illegal immigrants are referred to as termites, there is a brazen attempt to stoke religious prejudice. It is almost as if a hyper-polarised environment is a spur for incendiary communal rhetoric. Just how far this normalisation of a narrative of hate and bigotry has travelled is best exemplified by the recent Sudarshan TV case, involving a series of programmes done by the channel to purportedly investigate a Muslim conspiracy to take over the civil services. A slogan UPSC jihad was put out as a promotional video. Rather than acting ab initio against a programme that was prima facie intended to vilify the Muslim community, the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry allowed the telecast, saying it did not wish to pre-censor the programme. This despite the fact that the I&B programming code allows the ministry to prohibit a programme if it is likely to promote hatred or ill-will between communities. It required the Delhi High Court and then the Supreme Court to step in and stop the further broadcast of the programme before the ministry finally issued the channel a notice. Maybe, the ministry views Sudarshan TV with a more benevolent gaze since the channel is perceived to be in sync with the ruling partys ideology. But while Sudarshan TV may espouse an unapologetic militant Hindutva worldview, what of those mainstream channels which quietly push a daily drip of communal poison and fake news with the sole objective of demonising a community? Take for example the lynching of two sadhus at Palghar in Maharashtra a few months ago. Some channels projected the killings as a Hindu-Muslim conflict while lining up extremists from both communities in a slugfest that passes as prime time debate. Now, when it turns out that the claims of a communal angle are false and all those arrested are local tribals who mistook the sadhus for kidnappers based on WhatsApp rumours, will any news channel publish an apology for having misled viewers to garner television rating points? Those news traffickers who seek to profit from hate must be acted against swiftly. Only then can we find a vaccine to the virus that threatens to divide us. Post-script: Since we started with a story of a police officer, let me end with a police officer too. For over a year now, I have been receiving WhatsApp messages from a senior IPS officer echoing the strident Islamophobia which is so prevalent today. The officer was once in charge of a city with a large Muslim population. Is it any surprise then that law-enforcers are often caught on the wrong side of the law when there is a communal riot? Rajdeep Sardesai is a senior journalist and author The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Krystal Prime Banfield Named Vice Chair of Boston Arts Academy Banfield currently serves as Berklees vice president for Educational Outreach and Social Entrepreneurship. Boston Arts Academy (BAA) has named Krystal Prime Banfield as vice chair of its board of trustees. Banfield, who serves as Berklees vice president for Educational Outreach and Social Entrepreneurship, brings her extensive experience in music education and community educational programming to her role as vice chair, where she will work both internally and externally to advance the missions of the academy. We could not be more thrilled to have Dr. Banfield as vice chair of the Boston Arts Academy Board of Trustees, said Anne Clark, head of school for Boston Arts Academy. Krystal has been a dedicated school board member and an invaluable partner for many years. We know shell continue to be a great champion for our students and our mission in her new role as vice chair. Banfield has served as director of education for VocalEssence and the American Composers Forum, where she initiated and produced educational programs representing people and communities across the country. She has worked as a voice instructor at St. Paul Conservatory of Music, as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas, and has performed as a soloist and chorister at the American embassy in Havana, Cuba, and in Bavaria, Germany. ADVERTISEMENT Since 2006, Banfield has held several positions at Berklee, including dean of Berklee City Music, where she launched a training program for teachers working with youth in Cape Town, South Africa; Bogota, Colombia; Santiago, Chile; and Guadalajara, Mexico. In 2016, Banfield received the Amtrak Pioneer Award, created in celebration of Black History Month to honor African American leaders who have made impactful contributions to the city of Boston and the greater community. That same year, Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester presented her with the New England Womens Leadership Award. A Detroit native, Banfield holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Howard University, a Master of Music from Indiana University-Bloomington, and a Doctor of Education with concentrations in curriculum development, critical pedagogy, and educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas-Minneapolis. Though 2020 has brought health care systems uncertainties, financial strains and full intensive care units because of the coronavirus pandemic, UMass Memorial Health Care and Harrington HealthCare System have worked well together through the crisis and have officially agreed to merge. Officials from both systems have called UMass Memorials acquisition of Harrington a win-win that will merge two systems with common values to enhance health care in Central Massachusetts. Now that an agreement is in place, UMass Memorial and Harrington HealthCare must seek state regulatory approval. Ed Moore, the CEO at Harrington, said that while the system is in a secure position, the strain from the coronavirus pandemic has made it even more apparent and imperative that merging with UMass Memorial is a positive move. When the government shuts you down for three months it certainly takes a hit for everyone, but I think being with UMass has so many benefits that I think we will be better off once the deal is closed, Moore said in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. For both Moore and Doug Brown, the president of UMass Memorial Community Hospitals and the chief administrative officer for UMass Memorial Health Care, seeing a merger that has been planned since January become official came with excitement and relief. We just carried on through the diligence process and weve got a great team on both sides that just kept their noses to the ground and focused on what they needed to. We did have to make a number of changes, we were delayed a bit, but all of the reasons that made this smart kind of marriage before continued afterward and in fact, I think theyve only been strengthened, Brown said. The systems have had a working relationship for years. Throughout the pandemic, the hospitals continued to work closely together. Moore said the systems shared simple things like daily reporting of COVID-19 patients, personal protective equipment supplies and working on how to keep testing in-house. UMass Memorial saw significantly more coronavirus patients than Harrington. But for some of Harringtons sickest patients, having an existing Electronic Intensive Care Unit, or eICU, relationship with UMass was essential, Moore said. They have specialists that we may not have the ability to have around the clock, but theyre monitoring our patients and during COVID thats even more important because we had several really sick patients and their eICU headquarters would collaborate to decide when is that patient too sick for Harrington to hold onto, Moore said. Aspects of the agreement that have changed because of the pandemic, Brown said, was the timeline that UMass Memorial has guaranteed it will operate Harrington Memorial Hospital as an acute care hospital. That timeframe shifted from a 10-year agreement to five years, Brown said. Considering the way the pandemic has disrupted health care, and the increased use of telemedicine, Brown said the system came out saying, you know we would be very foolish to kind of commit any long-term plan with the way things are, whether its our own entities or entities were acquiring. That part of the agreement was to ensure a minimum guarantee, Moore said, but does not necessarily mean there are plans to make major changes when five years is up. I dont want anyone to think that in five years theyre going start to make decisions that close X, Y, Z services because if were doing well, even without a guarantee that we have for the first five years, theres no reason to think that services would leave the area or be eliminated," Moore said. Among the benefits of the acquisition would be getting Harrington access to Epic, considered one of the best health care record systems. The pandemic caused UMass to extend its implementation of Epic to a four-year period rather than three years, Brown said. Harringtons search for a corporate affiliation started long before the pandemic. In 2018, Harrington 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. 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 Harrington HealthCare System. The Harrington HealthCare Board will have representation on both the UMass Memorial parent and community hospital holding company boards, officials have said. Moores role will have him reporting to Brown. Im not solely reporting to my board, which is what you do when youre an independent. I accept that fully and feel its the right thing for the system and for the community, said Moore, adding that he has known Brown for years and believes they work well together. Brown said UMass Memorial is not disclosing the financial terms of the agreement, but added that it is a substantial investment, with the use of Epic and strategic capital in the tens of millions. The agreement also includes a commitment to redirect $4 million of UMass Memorials investment portfolio and put it into the community as a part of the Anchor Mission program. Moore said he is particularly excited about Anchor Mission, which is used to improve social determinants of health and can help get food to low-income residents and address transportation issues, among other things. Moore said Harrington will maintain its name, which is widely recognized in southern Worcester County. UMass will be on our door and stationary as well, but its still going to be Harrington Hospital, Moore said, noting that the details will be finalized closer to closing. Terminology could include owned by," affiliate of or associated with UMass Memorial. Harrington has about 1,300 full- and part-time employees, Moore said. Both Moore and Brown said the agreement does not include any planned layoffs. Related Content: Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. DUBLIN, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AvaTrade, one of the largest, most regulated CFD brokers on the market, is delighted to announce it has been awarded 'Best Forex Mobile Trading Platform/App - Global' for AvaTradeGO. The Global Forex Awards 2020 champion cutting-edge technology with the winners awarded based on public voting. "Our mobile trading app AvaTradeGO takes only a few seconds to get on board and start trading - users can get direct access to the world stock markets, which they may have previously thought were restricted to investment banks and hedge funds," said Daire Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer, AvaTrade. "People now realise they can join in the trading world at the click of a button. We are very proud of the app we have created and absolutely delighted to be recognised by the Global Forex Awards." "Congratulations to AvaTrade and more specifically the AvaTradeGO product team," said Archie Humphries, Director, Holiston Media. "To be chosen as global winners in this highly competitive award category is well deserved and recognition of their innovative technology helping to drive mobile trading forwards." AvaTradeGO makes trading simpler than ever. The app provides users with step-by-step guidance on opening trades, feedback on activity and support any time it is needed. Traders can manage multiple accounts and switch between demo, real and fixed spreads accounts, to get all the data needed on trades. A sophisticated dashboard, complete with a set of intuitive management tools, clear charts, zoom for details, and many more helpful features unique to this app provide a smooth user experience. AvaTrade customers can also activate AvaProtect. AvaProtect is a revolutionary solution designed to give traders peace of mind, ensuring their trades are protected from adverse market movements. Users define a period for which they want protection and if, at the end of that period, the protected position has dropped in value, AvaTrade will reimburse the loss. It is a must for any trader particularly in such volatile times. With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to impact communities worldwide, the Global Forex Awards will be supporting the COVID-Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organisation (WHO) with a financial donation that would otherwise have been used to host the official award winners' party/ceremony. People and organisations who want to help fight the pandemic and support the WHO and its partners can now donate through the website at www.COVID19ResponseFund.org For further information, please contact: Finn Partners for AvaTrade Tel: +44 20 3217 7060 Email: AvaTrade@finnpartners.com About AvaTrade AvaTrade is one of the world's largest, most regulated CFD brokers. Regulated in seven jurisdictions and offering clients around-the-clock support and services in over 20 languages, the multi-award-winning organisation prides itself on its dedication to helping users to trade with confidence - regardless of their level or background. AvaTrade provides access to ultra-low spreads on over 1,000 trading instruments - including AvaOptions, Metatrader 4/5 and its latest risk management tool, AvaProtect - through both its cutting-edge web trader and mobile app, AvaTradeGO, providing its client base of more than 300,000 traders in 150 countries with a diverse range of trading options, catering to a broad variety of needs and appetites. Recently awarded No.1 Broker by The European, Best Affiliate Programme by International Investor and Best Forex Mobile Trading Platform App by Global Forex Awards, AvaTrade is an industry pioneer committed to creating a fair, enhanced user experience for retail clients. For further information please visit www.avatrade.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1083911/AvaTrade_Logo.jpg Srinagar, Sep 24 : A gunfight between terrorists and security forces was underway at Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Thursday, officials said. The exchange of fire began after security forces cordoned off the Sirhama area of Anantnag and launched a search operation on the basis of a specific information about presence of terrorists there. As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under heavy fire and retaliated. "Encounter has started at Sirhama area of Anantnag. Police and security forces are on the job," a police official said. Just two months after pubs and restaurants were allowed to reopen, new restrictions have come into force as the rate of infection from coronavius has risen across the UK. Prime minister Boris Johnson announced that from Thursday 24 September, pubs, cafes and restaurants are only allowed to operate in England up until 10pm at night. Additionally, businesses in the hospitality sector will only be allowed to serve customers via table service, not at bars, for example. From Thursday all pubs bars and restaurants should operate table service only except for takeaways, he said. Together with all hospitality venues, they should close at 10pm. The prime minister apologised to businesses just getting back on their feet, stating that we must stop the virus being transmitted in bars and restaurants. Wales and Scotland have also tightened restrictions across the hospitality industry, with first minister Nicola Sturgeon barring pubs, restaurants and cafes from selling alcohol indoors for 16 days from Friday 9 October. So, what does this mean for buying alcohol? Can you still buy drinks to takeaway after 10pm and does the curfew apply to supermarkets and off-licences? Heres everything you need to know. Can you buy alcohol from pubs in England after 10pm? No. During his speech at the House of Commons, Mr Johnson confirmed that the strict curfew is going to be put in place across the hospitality industry, meaning all venues will be required by law to shut not just last orders by 10pm at the latest. To help the police enforce this rule Im afraid that means, alas, closing and not just calling for last orders because simplicity is paramount, he said. If pubs, bars and restaurants are caught breaking the law, they could be fined 10,000 and forced to close down. In Scotland, Ms Sturgeon recently ordered the closure of all licensed pubs, bars and restaurants for two weeks in large parts of Scotland, with a 6pm curfew on indoor dining in other areas. The new rules mean that all licensed premises in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Lothian and Forth Valley health board areas covering the whole of the populous central belt area, including capital Edinburgh will be closed for both indoor and outdoor operations. In the rest of the country, indoor hospitality venues will be allowed to operate only between 6am and 6pm daily and will be barred from selling alcoholic drinks. Outdoor bars, restaurants and cafes outside the five health board areas will still be allowed to remain open up until 10pm and will be allowed to sell alcohol up to that time. Can you still buy alcohol in shops? The rules regarding buying alcohol in stores after the curfew vary across the UK. While people across many parts of the nation can purchase alcohol from shops after 10pm, dependent on the licensing legislation in each local authority, the rules in Scotland and Wales are different. In Scotland, alcohol is not sold in shops from 10pm until 10am the next morning. And, as part of its latest restrictions, Wales has placed a ban on off-licences and supermarkets from selling alcohol after the same cut-off time. Addressing the nation, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said: 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. 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. Can I buy alcohol through a food delivery service? Mr Johnson stated that takeaways are included in the order to close at 10pm. However, deliveries are still allowed between 10pm and 5am. This means while customers cannot collect goods to takeaway after 10pm, they can get it delivered to their home. There will be a legal requirement for the hospitality sector to operate with table service, he said. The same [10pm closure rules] will apply to takeaways but deliveries can continue thereafter. Popular food delivery services like Deliveroo and Uber Eats, which also offer the option to buy alcohol through local shops, have confirmed that they will continue to run after the curfew. Our amazing customers will still be able to order their favourite takeaways, groceries and essentials from the Deliveroo app, even after 10pm, a Deliveroo spokesperson said. We are here to deliver and ensure that people can get the food they need and also support their local restaurants during this pandemic. An Uber Eats spokesperson added: The prime minister has clearly stated that delivery services will remain available, which means you can continue to order from your favourite restaurant via the Uber Eats app, even after 10pm. So whether it is a late night coffee, an early morning pancake, or anything in between, we are here for you. Why is there a curfew? The 10pm curfew comes after Sir Patrick Vallance, the governments Chief Scientific Adviser, issued a stark warning that, unless urgent action is taken to tackle the rise in coronavirus infections, there could be 50,000 new cases a day by mid-October and 200 deaths a day by mid-November. The idea behind the restriction is to limit the amount of time people can consume alcohol in public areas, with the hope that it will prevent people from breaching social distancing rules while intoxicated. When asked what impact the 10pm closing time would have, Michael Gove told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme that 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. The Washington Post "Post Reports" is the daily podcast from The Washington Post. Unparalleled reporting. Expert insight. Clear analysis. Everything you've come to expect from the newsroom of The Post - for your ears. - - - The Channel Tunnel rail link that moves more than 20 million people between England and France each year could see "significant disruption" if a tussle over its jurisdiction isn't resolved by Dec. 31, according to a report by U.K. lawmakers. Members of the European Scrutiny Committee of the House of Commons sought answers from the U.K. government, which earlier rejected a French proposal that safety and interoperability remain governed by European Union laws. With little more than three months before its exit transition from the bloc is completed, Britain hasn't put forward an alternative plan, according to a report published Wednesday by the committee. "Without an agreement on the future safety framework applicable to the Fixed Link, there is a danger of legal and practical uncertainty," the committee said. "As joint U.K.-French infrastructure, a clear resolution is necessary; otherwise significant disruption is a real possibility." The U.K. Department for Transport declined to comment. The French ecology and transport ministry didn't respond to a request for comment. The government is seeking a bilateral agreement with France, though it rejects any proposal that would submit U.K. territory to EU jurisdiction, according to an official familiar with the its position. If no deal is reached, the U.K. will implement contingency plans to keep the tunnel operating, the person said. The railway tunnel running between Calais, France, and Folkestone, England, is the only land connection between the U.K. and continental Europe. Each country controls about half of the 50-kilometer twin-rail route. It's operated by Paris-based Getlink SE, which in 2019 transported about 1.6 million trucks on the Le Shuttle service that competes with ferry crossings. The tunnel also carries the passenger services operated by Eurostar International Ltd. London-based Eurostar, which is controlled by French state railway SNCF, has put in place the necessary licenses and certifications with EU and national regulators "to ensure we can continue to operate even in the face of a no-deal," it said in an email. Getlink declined to comment. Under the French proposal, European courts would weigh in on disputes over safety and other matters, as they do under the current transition agreement that runs through year-end. In the committee's report, it said that France would have to seek the consent of the European Commission if sought a deal with the U.K. that strayed from the EU guidelines. France would also be able to act unilaterally to regain control of its section of the tunnel in an emergency or under certain failures of compliance. 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 sch... Three Nigerian nationals were apprehended from Assam's Karimganj district on Wednesday for allegedly entering the country without any valid documents, police said. During routine checking, police stopped a car coming from Tripura on National Highway 8 at Chuwraibari in the Bazaricherra police station area and detained the three foreigners as they failed to produce their passports and valid documents to enter the country, officials said. During interrogation, they claimed that they entered India from Bangladesh via Tripura. A case has been registered against the three under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, 1946 read with Section 6 of the Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950, officials said. The apprehended Nigerian nationals have been identified as Nnamdi Bernard Nwali, Prince Paul and Eze Collins, they said. (Image: PTI) Vote-by-mail ballots are shown in U.S. Postal Service sorting trays at the King County Elections headquarters in Renton, Wash., on Aug. 5, 2020. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo) Trays of Mail, Including Absentee Ballots, Found by Roadside in Wisconsin Trays of mail were found along a Wisconsin road on Tuesday, including absentee ballots, local authorities said. The Outagamie County Sheriffs Office said in a statement sent to The Epoch Times that deputies responded to a reported hazard shortly before 8 a.m. on Sept. 21. Deputies found three trays of mail on the side of the road and in the ditch line off state highway 96. The content of the mail was mixed, but did contain several absentee ballots, the sheriffs office said. The mail was turned over to the U.S. Postal Service. A postal service spokesperson directed The Epoch Times to the United States Postal Inspection Service, which told news outlets that it began investigating the incident. Concerns about mishandled or missing ballots have arisen as more states are encouraging mail-in voting amid the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak. President Donald Trump has criticized universal mail-in voting this November, claiming it opens the door to election fraud. He has distinguished between states that automatically send mail ballots to all registered voters and those, like Florida, that only send them to voters who request a mail ballot. In remarks at a White House press conference Wednesday, the president denounced large-scale vote-by-mail initiatives, saying, the ballots are out of control, adding: Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster. Attorney General William Barr, in an interview on CNN several weeks ago, claimed that a system in which mail-in ballots are distributed widely is very open to fraud and coercion, calling it reckless and dangerous, and playing with fire. Asked about the lack of evidence for widespread fraud, Barr argued that this may be because we havent had the kind of widespread use of mail-in ballots that is being proposed. So far, nine states and the District of Columbia plan to hold universal mail-in elections, in which ballots are automatically mailed to all registered voters without the need for voters to first request a ballot. Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah, and Washington were the only universal vote-by-mail states prior to the pandemic. They have recently been joined by California, Nevada, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. In addition, Montana, North Dakota, and Nebraska let individual counties decide whether to mail ballots to all registered voters. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. 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 The Chancellor has extended the VAT cut for rural tourism businesses as part of new measures to tackle the economic impact of Covid-19. Rishi Sunak has extended the VAT cut from 20% to 5% for tourism businesses until 31 March 2021, rather than 13 January. He said extending the measure would 'help protect 2.4 million jobs through the winter'. It first came into force in July and was designed keep help tourism and hospitality businesses afloat amid the pandemic. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has been lobbying intensively for the VAT cut from 20% to 5% - to be made permanent by government. The rural group said extension would help the sectors recovery from the first wave, and help weather the storm of the second. CLA President Mark Bridgeman said: "For UK tourism to succeed in the long term, we will need to ensure we are competitive with other holiday hotspots such as France, Spain and Greece all charge far lower than 20% VAT. Although the peak trade season is over, we want to be clear to the public that rural tourism businesses have gone to great lengths to become Covid-safe, and continue to work hard to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday. The Chancellor also announced a Jobs Support Scheme, which means the government will subsidise the pay of employees who are working fewer than normal hours due to lower demand. But workers must do at least a third of their normal hours, Mr Sunak explained. In other announcements, the government will extend the Bounce Back Loans from six years to 10, cutting monthly repayments by nearly half. Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme lenders will also be able to extend the length of loans from the current maximum of six years to 10 years. It should be noted that when discussing the judicial nominating process, Rome was not burned in a day. The court wars have been running hot since Reagan nominee Robert Bork was vilified on the Senate floor as a champion of segregated lunch counters and back-alley abortions less than an hour after his nomination. With decades of inglorious history as a backdrop, Trump will soon nominate a judge for the highest court in the land with the goal of ending health-care coverage for millions and reversing almost 50 years of pro-choice precedent. But before Democrats submit to despair, they should remember wisdom I recall Illinois Sen. Paul Simon imparting upon his retirement: In politics, sometimes when you win, you lose; and sometimes when you lose, you win. LANSING, MI Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a lawsuit against a Muskegon County farm which state regulators say is mishandling livestock waste and causing nutrient and bacterial pollution in the White River watershed. Nessel filed the lawsuit against Slater Farms of Holton in Ingham County Circuit Court on Thursday, Sept. 24. In the 32-page complaint, she alleges the farm owners Allen and Aaron Slater and their various affiliated operations are not complying with manure management requirements for their roughly 1,500 dairy cows and 400 cattle. The farm is permitted by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) as a concentrated animal feeding operation, or CAFO, a type of industrial-scale farm that requires pollution control due to the amount of waste the animals produce. That waste can contaminate waterways if not properly managed. Water is one of Michigans most precious resources and I take my responsibility to protect it seriously, Nessel said. CAFOs pose a significant risk to this shared resource, and my office will go after any person or company that refuses to follow common sense waste management requirements and jeopardizes the health of Michigans residents or our environment. The complaint alleges that Slater Farms hasnt lived up to a 2013 agreement with state regulators, who put the operations under a pollution control permit after discovering they were operating at CAFO-scale and discharging manure into Brayden Creek following a citizen complaint. At the time, Slater was improperly storing and land-applying manure, and not maintaining proper storage structures, among other things, according to EGLE. The filing alleges Slater has continued to improperly manage about 8.9 million gallons of liquid waste and 1,500 tons of solid waste from its own operations each year, and another roughly 10.7 million more gallons of liquid waste from an unrelated commercial farm. The manure has been spread on hundreds of acres in Newaygo and Muskegon counties. The complaint alleges thats overloading the watershed with nutrients and pathogens. Livestock waste contains nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which can benefit crops as fertilizer but can also degrade water quality and fuel algae blooms. It also contains bacteria like E. coli, which can sicken people and animal through contact with contaminated water. Related: Michigan beaches closed by pathogens more than 100 times this year The farm manages its permitted operations, livestock, waste and labor through entities and locations known as Slater Custom Farming, Slater Farms 88th, Slater Farms Baseline, Slater Home Farms, 88th Street Farm, Joes Place and Sliver Skies, according to the filing. The filing alleges Slater Home Farm has yet to build a new waste storage structure and upgrade a silage pad runoff transfer system with a pump and detention capacity to contain a 25-year, 24-hour storm, as the farm previously agreed to do. Slater has also illegally stockpiled manure and ignored violation notices and demands for fine payments, EGLE says. During a February inspection this year, EGLE says the farm wasnt controlling waste accumulation in storage areas, keeping stormwater out of certain drainage areas, keeping proper records and the 88th Street Farm and Joes Place had poor housekeeping practices. Voices messages left at Slater Centennial Farm, and with consultants for the farm on Thursday were not immediately returned. The Michigan Farm Bureau also did not return a message seeking comment. Nessel is asking Ingham Judge Clinton Canady to force Slater Farms to reapply for a general CAFO permit, which the state recently updated with new restrictions on winter manure application. Agribusiness groups are challenging those new controls in court. Related stories: New CAFO permit restricts winter manure spreading Agribusiness groups argue new permit is cumbersome Poor record keeping earns company $66k air quality fine EPA fines Michigan injection well owner $73K Paper mill plans big boost in greenhouse gas emissions $35M settlement with Valero will clean up gas stations Senator Lamar Alexander said the message is clear children need to be in school after Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee and the Tennessee Department of Education released new data today that projects significant learning loss among third grade students as a result of COVID-19 school closures in March through this summer. In Tennessee, Governor Lee and some national researchers have completed a study of the learning loss in the third grade for reading and math proficiency from children who were not in school from March through the summer. Now, you always have a learning loss in the summer, but in March through summer, this is what they found: preliminary data projects an estimated 50 percent decrease in proficiency rates in third grade reading and a projected 65 percent decrease in proficiency in math. That, in the governor's words, is a dramatic decrease and shows that the vast majority of students learn in person with their teacher. The governor said he is working to create a safe environment so that they can get back to school. Senator Alexander said, The good news is that, according to the governor, 1,800 schools in Tennessee are open, in person, and only seven of those schools have any sort of closure incident today. So this problem hopefully won't be as pronounced this semester in Tennessee, because except in Memphis and Nashville, almost all of our schools are open in-person to some degree. The governor went on to say that the March through summer school closings produced a learning deficiency that's expected to be 2.5 times that of a normal summer rate. He also said the learning loss impacts early grades greater than later grades, placing those students further behind in the learning trajectory. Students with lower proficiency rates are also disproportionately impacted by learning loss. In other words, students who are already behind fell behind even further as a result of leaving school in March. The message is clear: that children, especially young children who are further behind already, need to be in school so they can be taught in-person so their learning loss is less dramatic. Senator Alexander is chairman of the Senate health and education committee. For video of his remarks, click here. Governor Lee and the Tennessee Department of Education released more information about this data here. Thomas' mother Amie said her heart was 'broken' after hearing he was released Lawyers argued he could die from his epilepsy if he were to stay alone in his cell Victoria's Supreme Court released the 18-year-old on $600,000 bail this week Thomas Tran, 20, was allegedly stabbed in his heart by Lindim Aliti in June A grieving mum has slammed a court's decision to allow her son's accused killer to walk free on bail because he refused to sleep in a prison cell alone. Thomas Tran, 20, was allegedly stabbed in his heart by Lindim Aliti, 18, during a gang attack at a shopping strip in Oakleigh, in Melbourne's southeast in June. Victoria's Supreme Court released Mr Aliti on $600,000 bail this week after lawyers argued he could die from his epilepsy if he were to stay alone in his cell. The court heard he had always slept in the same room as his brother or grandfather, who could intervene if he had potentially-fatal seizure. Thomas' mother Amie Tran said her heart was 'broken' after hearing her son's alleged murderer had been released Thomas' mother Amie Tran said her heart was 'broken' after hearing her son's alleged murderer had been released. 'It's not fair. I'm not happy at all,' Ms Tran told A Current Affair. Mr Tran's girlfriend of two years Trisha Nguyen said the decision was unfair and insulting to his family. 'How their side is saying that he could possibly die in custody is really insensitive to our situation,' Ms Nguyen said. 'We didn't want to lose Thomas in that way ever. His parents will never get a change to ever have grandkids.' Ms Nguyen said her boyfriend had dreams of becoming a personal trainer, and was 'really a good person'. 'He was the biggest goofball,' she said. Mr Aliti's defence barrister Robert Richter QC, who defended Cardinal George Pell, said Mr Aliti's age, good record and medical condition meant should be bailed. 'The prison conditions that don't allow him to see his family... his whole life has been in residence with his siblings, his parents and his grandparents,' he said. Mr Tran's girlfriend of two years Trisha Nguyen said the decision was unfair and insulting to his family Ms Nguyen said her boyfriend had dreams of becoming a personal trainer, and was 'really a good person' Former Chief Magistrate Nick Papas QC said Mr Aliti's while it is rare, those accused of murder can be released on bail. 'Exceptional circumstances need to be shown,' he said. The judge ruled that was the case, imposing strict conditions to manage any risk. Mr Aliti must work at a Dandenong South factory and he is banned from parts of Oakleigh where the incident occurred. His grandfather has entered a surety of $600,000. Hee will return to court in December. Unemployment claims are on the rise again in New Jersey after the Department of Labor received another 24,663 new filings for the week ending Sept. 19. With the 25% increase in claims, total filings since mid-March when businesses were forced to close to stop the spread of coronavirus now top 1.6 million, the Labor Department said Thursday. New Jersey workers continue to struggle with the weight of unemployment and underemployment, and the accompanying financial worries of not having a job, Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said. The Labor Department staff knows the difficulties our customers are facing, so they work hard every day to resolve as many cases and answer as many questions as possible. The department saw an avalanche of claims come through in mid-March when Gov. Phil Murphy forced most businesses and restaurants to shutter while New Jersey was the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. The closures led to skyrocketing claims to be filed in a short time, with some weeks topping 200,000 new claims. Of the 1.6 million applicants, about 1.4 million were found eligible for New Jerseys unemployment benefits. Roughly 96% of those have received at least one payment, the Labor Department said. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Tens of thousands of workers are still awaiting unemployment benefits because of the sudden rise in claims and technological hurdles the Labor Department has faced, and countless other workers have seen their payments stop without notice. The agency continues to work through a backlog of 30,000 to 40,000 claims, Asaro-Angelo said at a Senate hearing earlier in September. Asaro-Angelo pointed to federal requirements that caused a daily average of 5,000 claimants to be in pending status until a manual claim was input. The agency has talked of technological and design upgrades to be made to the system over the next six years, but its unclear who would cover the multi-million dollar costs. Weekly unemployment claims have ebbed and flowed in the months since New Jersey began its gradual reopening. Since July 4, new weekly claims have stayed between 13,000 and 28,500. The states Unemployment Trust Fund is on shaky legs, as more than $4.8 billion has gone to people out of work in the last six months. Its pushed the Department of Labor to use a federal line of credit to pay claims, and force a $919 million increase in unemployment payroll taxes for New Jersey businesses. The state was accepted into FEMAs Lost Wages Supplemental Assisstance program, which will provide unemployed workers a $300 supplemental check for up to six weeks. Right now, New Jersey is approved for three weeks of benefits, retroactive to the weeks of Aug. 1, Aug. 8, and Aug. 15. States were instructed to apply for three weeks of benefits at a time, beginning Aug. 1, and apply each week thereafter until the fund was depleted or through the week ending Sept. 5. New Jersey workers who are eligible for unemployment may receive 60 percent of their wages, up to $713. Although the $600 supplement expired, the Labor Department continues to issue those payments for eligible claims for weeks ending April 4 through July 25. Since the pandemic began, the Labor Department has distributed $15.6 billion in state and federal unemployment benefits, including $286 million for the week ending Sept. 19. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips MUMBAI: The much awaited initial public offering (IPO) of UTI Asset Management Company will hit the markets next week. The price band of the offer has been fixed at 552-554 per equity share and the three-day sale which aims to raise 2,152-2,160 crore will close for subscription on 1 October. The IPO comes at a time when the mutual fund industry is struggling under redemption pressures, resulting in outflow from schemes and declining systematic investment plan (SIP). The June quarter was challenging for domestic mutual fund industry as active equity inflows fell while contributions from systematic investment plan (SIP) shrunk due to a correction in the stock markets amid volatility. As part of the offer, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Life Corporation of India, and T Rowe Price International will trim their stake in UTI AMC. SBI, BoB, and LIC will divest 8.25% stake each while T Rowe Price International and Punjab National Bank will sell 3% each through the issue. The offer and net offer would constitute at least 30.75% and 30.59% of the post-offer paid-up equity share capital of the company, respectively. According to red herring prospectus, SBI, LIC, BoB, and PNB each hold 18.24% stake while T Rowe has 26% shareholding in UTI AMC. The offer consists of an initial public offer of up to 38,987,081 equity shares by the selling shareholders comprising an offer for sale of up to 10,459,949 equity shares by State Bank of India, up to 10,459,949 equity shares by Life Insurance Corporation of India, up to 10,459,949 equity shares by Bank of Baroda, up to 3,803,617 equity shares by Punjab National Bank and up to 3,803,617 equity shares by T. Rowe Price International Ltd," it said in a statement. Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, Axis Capital Limited, Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited, DSP Merrill Lynch Limited, ICICI Securities Limited, JM Financial Limited and SBI Capital Markets Limited are the book running lead managers to the offer. UTI AMC is second largest asset management company in India in terms of total asset under management and is the eighth largest asset management company in India in terms of mutual fund QAAUM (Quarterly Average Assets Under Management) as of June, according to Crisil. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics B ayern Munich vs Sevilla LIVE! Last seasons Champions League and Europa League winners meet at the Puskas Arena in Budapest with fans set to be in attendance. The Hungarian government insist it is safe for fans to attend with the stadium set to be a third full with strict social distancing measures in place. Bayern opened their season with a crushing 8-0 win over Schalke last Friday, with Serge Gnabry netting a hat-trick. Follow all the action with Standard Sports LIVE blog. Date, time and venue Bayern Munich vs Sevilla is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Thursday, September 24. How to watch TV channel: The match will be televised live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate, with coverage starting from 7:15pm. Live stream: BT Sport subscribers will be able to stream the match online via the video player and the BT Sport app. Prediction: Bayern 2-0 Sevilla Sevilla have made the Europa League their own and got the new LaLiga season off to the ideal start with a 3-2 win over Levante last weekend. However, Bayern are in a different league and have picked up where they left off last season, thrashing Schalke 8-0 in their Bundesliga opener. In a suspected case of honour killing, a nine-year-old boy shot dead his aunt after being told by his family to commit the crime in a village in Pakistan's Punjab province, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place on Tuesday in Chak 104-SB village in Sargodha, some 200 km from Lahore. According to police, the boy was trained by his family to operate the weapon to kill his paternal aunt. The 30-year-old victim had married a man of her choice some 10 years ago against the will of her family. However, the family had later reconciled with the woman, they said. On Tuesday, the woman -- a mother of three -- visited the house of her maternal uncle to attend a family function. During the function, her nine-year-old nephew opened fired on her, killing her on the spot, police said. "After the incident, the boy and his family fled the spot," a police official said. "The boy's father had trained him to operate the weapon. It seems that the boy have been told by his family members to open fire on her aunt," he said. The boy's father and other family members have been booked for abetment to the crime, the official said. Honour killings are common in Pakistan. According to Human Rights Watch, over 1,000 women are killed annually in Pakistan in the name of 'honour' -- 'unacceptable' amorous relationships, defiance of physical or cyber-gendered spaces, brazenness in dressing and language or perceived immorality. HUDSON VALLEY, NY - New Yorkers will choose their representatives Nov. 3 in the 2020 general election. In anticipation of the election, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near. James Skoufis is seeking re-election to the state Senate in District 39. His name will appear on the Democratic, Working Families and Serve America Movement party lines on the ballot. His opponent Steve Brescia is running on the Republican and Conservative party lines. The district covers Orange County, part of Ulster County and the northern tip of Rockland County. Skoufis, 33, has represented the district since 2019, succeeding retiring Republican William Larkin in the 2018 midterm elections. A graduate of Monroe-Woodbury High School and George Washington University, he earned a masters degree at Columbia. He served on the Woodbury Town Board from 2009-2012, was elected to the state Assembly in 2012 and ran for State Senator in 2018. He lives in Cornwall. Campaign website: SkoufisForNY.com Check out Patch's full Q&A with James Skoufis: Why are you seeking elective office? I'm running for re-election because the Hudson Valley needs a strong voice and steady hand as we continue to protect the public's health and rebuild our economy. During my time in the State Senate, I've been fortunate to be in a position to deliver record-level funding for our roads, bridges, schools, and local hospitals - and, this sort of focus on delivering for our district must be paramount. Our small businesses need the support of our elected representatives now more than ever. I've always been their voice which is why the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) endorsed my re-election; one of only two Democrats in the entire state running for Senate to receive their backing. Coming out of the pandemic, our workers need to know that we have their backs. I'm so proud to have the endorsement of labor unions representing so many of our frontline workers from nurses to CSEA municipal employees to fire officers. They're the spirit of our state and I'll always support them. Story continues There's an enormous amount of work that awaits us and I'm ready to take it on. The single most pressing issue facing our nation/state/community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it. Protecting the public's health while rebuilding our economy. During the pandemic, I've fought for: Sales tax deferments for our small businesses Pushing organizations that typically give out millions of dollars in tax breaks to large corporations to, instead, refocus their resources (our tax dollars) on helping small businesses Worked to distribute thousands of pieces of PPE and hand sanitizers to frontline workers and, most recently, teachers as they head back to school Aided over 4,000 constituents who reached out to me and my office for assistance with their unemployment insurance claims Over the course of my next term as State Senator, I'll be laser-focused on making sure our district has the resources it restore out local economy and ensure our community is best protected from a potential second wave of the virus. What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? Voters are presented with a stark choice this year in our Senate District. Our challenger, Steve Brescia, is a lifelong politician who has unfortunately treated his simultaneous elected offices (Mayor and County Legislator) as a means to self-service instead of public service. Two examples: Brescia has voted himself a 478.5% pay increase during his time as mayor. That is not a typo. His most recent vote to increase his salary actually came during the pandemic as unemployment was due to skyrocket. Brescia's attempting to run a law and order campaign and constantly talks about punishing people to the fullest extent of the law. Except when it applies to him, apparently. When he was arrested for drunk driving, speeding 95 miles per hour, and recklessly swerving between lanes, Steve Brescia faced a maximum sentence of a year in prison. For anyone else: lock 'em up. For Steve Brescia: Run for State Senate This is not the leadership we need in Albany right now - or ever. Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform My focus has always been on results: bringing our tax dollars back home, championing the Child Victims Act that protects survivors of sexual abuse, fighting overdevelopment, ending corporate welfare, rebuilding our infrastructure, and holding powerful interests accountable to my constituents. People want to see a lot more common-sense in their government. That's the exact attitude I bring to the job both in Albany and locally in our community. What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? This spring and summer has separated the men and women from the boys and girls of government. Either our leaders stepped up for our constituents or didn't during the pandemic. I'm proud of the work my team and I put in to ensure our community was best represented during our public health emergency. From scratching and clawing for PPE to successfully getting multiple state testing sites opened in our Senate District to making sure our small businesses had a voice in Albany - we worked around the clock for our constituents. Now, as Chairman of the Senate's investigations committee, I'm leading the review of the state's COVID-19 response in hospitals, nursing homes, and the workplace in order to hold folks accountable as well as make sure we are best prepared for the next pandemic. The best advice ever shared with me was: Do more listening than talking. What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I'm honored to be afforded the privilege of serving the 39th District in the State Senate. I don't make any other promises other than I'll continue to work hard, be forthright, and do what I think is right. That's the ethic I'll continue to bring when re-elected to the job. NY Senate District 39 / Sen. James Skoufis Office via Google maps This article originally appeared on the Mid Hudson Valley Patch We know exactly what the childs movements were, Lubelfeld said. We were able to confirm there was an adherence to 6-foot physical distancing and all safety protocols. We believe that no further action, other than communication, is warranted at this time. Obviously, we will do an electrostatic deep cleaning out of caution. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Vienna, Austria Thu, September 24, 2020 18:32 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c470239f 2 Lifestyle Opera,Vienna,coronavirus,Austria Free The centerpiece of Vienna's famous winter ball season, the Opera Ball, will not take place because of the coronavirus pandemic, Austria's government announced Wednesday. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said in a statement that although it was a "great advertisement" for Austrian culture, "due to the corona situation it would be irresponsible to hold the ball in the normal fashion". Originally planned for February 11, the ball is a major event in Austria's cultural calendar, attended by the country's political and economic elites as well as foreign celebrities. The ball has only been cancelled once before since 1956 -- during the 1991 Gulf War. "The Opera Ball requires a long preparation period and at the moment we cannot assume that we can hold an event hosting 7,000 people, with music, dancing and a relaxed atmosphere," said state secretary for culture Andrea Mayer. Read also: Same-sex couple to waltz into Vienna's history books Several other prominent winter balls have already been cancelled for the coming season, some of which would have been held at Vienna's imperial Hofburg palace. Under current rules in Austria some larger events are allowed to go ahead if organizers can prove they are taking extra safety measures, but many ball organizers have felt these wouldn't be practical. The iconic luxury Sacher Hotel in Vienna announced this month it would have to fire a quarter of its employees, or 100 people, because of the collapse in tourist demand. Austria is battling to contain a second wave of the virus, with the average number of daily new cases over the past week topping 660. Overall there have been more than 40,000 cases of the coronavirus recorded in the country of just under nine million people, and 777 deaths. Topics : Opera Vienna coronavirus Austria The Kwabenya police have arrested two men suspected to be internet fraudsters after attempting to defraud a female victim of GH12,000 under the pretext of renting her a house at East Legon. The two have been identified as Mohammed Surag, 49, and Yaw Darko, 26. The police said the suspects had posted pictures of some apartments they claimed were their property on tonaton .com and were looking for interested persons to rent them to. Victims who contact them are then defrauded after being shown a house belonging to other persons, the police said. DSP Effia Tenge, Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, who briefed the media, said the victim who reported the matter to the police said she saw a phone number on Tonaton and the person claimed to be an estate agent with pictures of apartments displayed for rent at East Legon. The victim said she expressed interest in the deal and called for more enquiries. She said on September 18, 2020, she met the two suspects who claimed to be a landlord and an agent respectively and they led her to East Legon to show her some apartments they claimed ownership. The victim expressed interest in renting one of the apartment and the suspects told her they were charging GH1,000.00 per month for two years. The victim said after negotiations, she gave them a cheque with a face value of GH12,000.00 for them to cash. The suspects presented the cheque to the bank same day but they were told that the said amount can only be transferred to their account and so the suspects called the complainant and told her that they owed their banks so they cannot transfer the money into their personal bank accounts, she narrated. The suspects then requested physical cash instead and the victim who at this point suspected them to be fraudsters reported them to the police. DSP Tenge said in their respective caution statements the suspects admitted to the offence and are in police custody assisting in investigations. She urged individuals who might have fallen victim to their activities to contact the police. ---Daily Guide COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Gov. Mike DeWine will hold his latest coronavirus briefing at 2 p.m. He will address a potpourri of topics, said Dan Tierney, a spokesman for the governors office. Typically, the governors office releases the latest color-coded coronavirus map showing county-by-case levels. They also usually release information showing COVID-19 case numbers for K-12 students. The Ohio Department of Health is expected to release statewide coronavirus case numbers around the same time DeWines briefing begins. You can follow along live at the Ohio Channel, a stream for which is below: Wells Fargo CEO sorry for 'insensitive' comments on race Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf apologized over comments that said the bank's mostly-white leadership reflected the lack of available black talent Wells Fargo's chief executive apologized Wednesday over remarks that blamed the bank's mostly-white operating leadership on a lack of available black talent as the embattled lender sought to quell a public uproar. Charles Scharf, who was installed about a year ago as CEO to turn around the bank following a fake accounts scandal, told employees he was sorry following news reports spotlighting his statements in June in the wake of US racial justice protests. "I apologize for making an insensitive comment reflecting my own unconscious bias," Scharf said in a statement. "There are many talented diverse individuals working at Wells Fargo and throughout the financial services industry and I never meant to imply otherwise." But the comments -- which were not publicly aired until this week -- touched a nerve with politicians and other commentators, some of whom alluded to earlier lending discrimination settlements and other scandals. "The CEO of #WellsFargo says there's no diversity because there's a very limited pool of black talent to draw from! However there's an unlimited pool of black people to steal from!" said comedian DL Hughley on Twitter. - An 'unfortunate reality'? - In the June 16 staff memo that sparked the controversy, Scharf pledged to fortify efforts to make the bank's leadership more diverse, writing "This time it must be different." The statement came as leaders throughout Corporate America were coming forward to condemn systemic racism in policing and pledge steps to diversify their companies and support black-owned suppliers. But Scharf also alluded to "unique" challenges as the bank tries to turn itself around and return to the good graces of regulators. The Federal Reserve in 2018 imposed an asset cap on the bank following the fake accounts settlement and other scandals, an unprecedented penalty. Pointing to this dynamic, Scharf said it was "imperative" to find staff for its operating committee who had dealt with similar issues elsewhere. Story continues "While it might sound like an excuse, the unfortunate reality is that there is a very limited pool of black talent to recruit from with this specific experience as our industry does not have enough diversity in most senior roles," Scharf wrote in the memo. The formulation was roundly mocked on social media. "The unfortunate reality is that Wells Fargo paid $175 million to settle claims that it systematically discriminated against Black and Latino home buyers," said the Public Citizen non-profit group on Twitter. "Perhaps it's the CEO of Wells Fargo who lacks the talent to recruit black workers," tweeted Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat. "There's plenty of Black talent," said Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown. "They just don't have the talent for fraud and abuse you're looking for." - Committing to change - On Wednesday, Scharf said he was committed to addressing the problem, pointing to the recent appointment of black executives to prominent roles and unveiling a new anti-racism training program and measures to emphasize diversity and inclusion in hiring. "I've worked in the financial services industry for many years, and it's clear to me that, across the industry, we have not done enough to improve diversity, especially at senior leadership levels," Scharf said. Large American companies have again been under scrutiny over lack of diversity at the senior levels amid this year's racial justice protests. Earlier this month, Citigroup became the first large bank to name a women to lead a major Wall Street bank. Shares of Wells Fargo fell 3.5 percent to $22.83. jmb/jm WASHINGTON Just weeks before early voting begins in Texas, Republicans at the top of the ticket appear to be holding off Democrats, according to a pair of polls of likely voters released on Thursday that found nearly all of them had made up their minds in a tight presidential race. The polls by Quinnipiac University and the New York Times/Siena College are the latest to indicate the state is gearing up for the closest presidential race in decades, though Trumps lead is larger in the Quinnipiac poll than others that have suggested the race is essentially tied. President Donald Trump led former Vice President Joe Biden 50-45 in the Quinnipiac poll. The poll surveyed 1,078 voters between Sept. 17 and 21. It carries a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. Most likely voters in Texas 52 percent disapprove of Biden, while just 41 percent approve of the former vice president. Texans are more split on Trump, who drew approval from 49 percent as 47 percent disapprove of the president. Ninety four percent of voters say their minds are made up in the presidential race. FIRST TIME IN HISTORY: Texas DPS debuts states first online voter registration form It is close but leaning toward Trump in Texas, Quinnipiac University Polling analyst Tim Malloy said in a statement. There are still a slim number of likely voters who are undecided or on the fence about their choice, which could leave just enough wiggle room for either candidate to take Texas many electoral votes. The New York Times/Siena College poll, meanwhile, found Trump leading by only 3 points, 46 to 43. The poll, conducted by phone among likely voters from Sept. 16 to 22, had a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points. The poll found a big gender gap, with men picking the president by 16 points, while women supported Biden by an eight-point margin. Trump beat Hillary Clinton by 9 points in 2016. It was the closest any Democratic presidential nominee had come to winning the state since 1996, when Bob Dole beat Bill Clinton there by 4.9 percentage points. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn led Democrat MJ Hegar, a former Air Force pilot, by 8 points and drew the support of 50 percent of likely voters for the first time this cycle, in the poll by Quinnipiac University. Hegar had support from 42 percent of likely voters in the poll. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Theres more room to persuade voters in the Senate race than the presidential, the Quinnipiac poll found, as just 84 percent of voters say theyve made up their minds in the Senate race and 15 percent say they are still unsure who theyll vote for. The New York Times/Siena College poll found a much closer race, more consistent with other recent polling of the Senate contest. Cornyn led Hegar 43 to 37, but 14 percent of voters were still undecided. The poll found Cornyn had just a two-point advantage with suburbanites a key group for Democrats to win over if theyre going to win a statewide race, 17 percent of whom said they were still undecided. Democrats have argued Cornyn is vulnerable this cycle in part because hes been stuck in the mid-40s in polling. But Hegar has struggled to introduce herself to voters, 50 percent of whom said they still dont know enough about her in the Quinnipiac poll. Cornyn now holds a 7.5 percentage-point edge over Hegar, according to a Real Clear Politics average of public polling in the race. Hegars campaign said shes not discouraged by the latest round of polling, pointing out most polls still show roughly a third of voters arent familiar with Cornyn, despite his nearly two decades in the Senate. The reality on the ground here in Texas is that Senator Cornyn is deeply vulnerable after repeatedly failing Texans in responding to COVID-19 pandemic and continually selling them out to his political and special interest allies, said Jake Lewis, a Hegar campaign spokesman. Our campaign continues to harness incredible grassroots energy and has built the Texas-sized winning campaign that will defeat John Cornyn on November 3rd. Meanwhile, the Quinnipiac poll found most Texas voters 47 percent plan to cast ballots at early voting places, while 38 percent plan on voting in person on election day and 13 percent plan to vote by mail. ben.wermund@chron.com Burglaries have spiked in San Francisco amid the coronavirus pandemic. Thieves used to target tourists for smash and grabs, but now they seem to be stealing goods and money from residents' homes with few travelers coming to the city. There have been 5,118 break-ins at homes and businesses from Jan. 1-Sept. 20. That is a 42% increase from the same time period last year, when there were 3,602 burglaries, according to crime data collected by the San Francisco Police Department. All neighborhoods have seen a burglary bump, but the Park District covering the Panhandle, the Haight, and the area around UCSF and Twin Peaks is experiencing the biggest increase, with reports doubling. The Mission District is up 75%; Northern 58% (Western Addition, Pacific Heights, Marina); Tenderloin 49%; Richmond 50%; Ingleside 44%; Central (Russian Hill, Chinatown, North Beach) 17%; Taraval 7%; and Bayview 1.7%. SFPD said in a statement that it hasn't identified an "exact cause" for the increase, but it's clear why more people are in their homes when thieves break in. "We have seen an increase in hot prowl burglaries [burglaries in which an individual was present in the premise when the suspect entered], which is associated with the shelter-in-place order where more people are staying home than past years," SFPD spokesperson Tiffany Hang said. SFPD also told KPIX that more thieves are breaking into garages. Cole Hardware's locksmith and home security expert Marc Estoque can speak to this. He said the past couple months have been the busiest of his career, helping residents who have been burglarized upgrade their home security. "I see it every day," said Estoque. "Whats really happening is single-family homes, where you have the garage and the tradesmen entrance, people are breaking in and stealing everything in the garage. Ive been doing a lot of security consultation. Everybody is adding dead bolts and putting on better security locks." He said he has assisted a dozen residents in the past year whose homes have been robbed on a particular SF street known for its beautiful and expensive homes. In years past, he would have heard of one or two incidents. North Beach resident Ginny Fang told KPIX about multiple burglaries in her neighborhood. Our next-door neighbor got broken into and they had already experienced another break-in a month prior to that, said Fang. Supervisor Hillary Ronen of District 9, which covers the Mission District and Bernal Heights, said she's aware of the increase in burglaries but she hasn't received a lot of complaints from her constituents. "These new statistics are troubling," said Ronen. "I will be monitoring this situation very closely and my office will work with the police captains to address it." Have you been burglarized in San Francisco? Share your story with SFGATE at agraff@sfgate.com for a follow-up story. Amy Graff is the News Editor for SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. Agence France-Presse NASA chief Jim Bridenstine told lawmakers Wednesday it was crucial for the US to maintain a presence in Earth's orbit after the International Space Station is decommissioned so that China does not gain a strategic advantage. The first parts of the ISS were launched in 1998 and it has been continuously lived in since 2000. The station, which serves as a space science lab and is a partnership between the US, Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada, is currently expected to be operated until 2030. "I'll tell you one thing that has me very concerned and that is that a day is coming when the International Space Station comes to the end of its useful life," said Bridenstine. "In order to be able to have the United States of America have a presence in low Earth orbit, we have to be prepared for what comes next," he added. To that end, NASA has requested $150 million for the 2021 fiscal year to help develop the commercialization of low Earth orbit, defined as 2,000 km or less from the planet's surface. "We want to see a public-private partnership where NASA can deal with commercial space station providers so that we can keep a permanent uninterrupted human presence in low Earth orbit," said Bridenstine. "I don't think it's in the interest of the nation to build another International Space Station I do think it's in the interest of the nation to support commercial industry, where NASA is a customer." Bridenstine warned the lawmakers this was critical to maintaining US space supremacy in the face of a planned Chinese space station that Beijing hopes will be operational by 2022. The station is named Tiangong, meaning Heavenly Palace, and in June Chinese state media announced it was partnering with 23 entities from 17 countries to carry out scientific experiments on board. These countries included both developed and developing countries, such as France, Germany and Japan, as well as Kenya and Peru, according to Xinhua news agency. "China is rapidly building what they call the 'Chinese International Space Station,' and they're rapidly marketing that space station to all of our international partners," said Bridenstine. "It would be a tragedy, if, after all of his time, and all of this effort, we were to abandon low Earth orbit and cede that territory." He explained that the microgravity of ISS offered great potential for scientific advances, from innovations in pharmaceuticals to printing 3D human organs to the creation of artificial retinas to treat people with macular degeneration. Bridenstine said that it was therefore necessary to fund NASA to pay companies to set up a space station, where it would be one of several customers in order to drive down its own costs. This, he added, was vital to "ultimately not cede that territory to another country that doesn't have our interests at heart." Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-21 05:26:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People offer prayers at a mosque in Baghdad, Iraq on Sept. 20, 2020. (Xinhua photo) -- Iraq bans entry of foreigners amid COVID-19 surge fears; -- Morocco's tally exceeds 100,000 after weeks' surge; -- Saudi sees lowest 483 new cases in 5 months, active cases down 75 pct; -- Lebanon reports highest 1,006 daily infections. CAIRO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iraq on Sunday announced its decision to ban the entry of foreign travellers into the country, citing "the increasing number of coronavirus infections in neighboring countries," while Morocco's total COVID-19 cases surpassed 100,000 after sharp daily increases in the past weeks. The ban imposed by Iraq's Higher Committee for Health and National Safety came as as the Iraqi Health Ministry reported 3,438 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number in the country to 319,035. The ministry also confirmed 64 new fatalities from the infectious disease, taking the death toll to 8,555, while 4,052 more patients recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 253,591. Having been recording one of the highest numbers in daily infections since early August, Iraq has been struggling against the coronavirus pandemic amid a gradual ease of anti-virus restrictions. As for the preparations for the upcoming Shiite ritual of Arbaeen, Iraqi Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi said his ministry "has prepared an integrated plan in coordination with health institutions in all Iraqi provinces," expressing hope for "no increase in the number of coronavirus infections after Arbaeen." People wearing face masks are seen on a street in Casablanca, Morocco, on Sept. 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Chadi) Morocco registered 1,927 new COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, taking the total tally in the North African country to 101,743, the ministry of health said in a statement. The death toll from the virus rose by 35 to 1,830, with 279 patients still in intensive care units, the ministry added. In Iran, the hardest hit country in the Middle East, the overall number of coronavirus cases has grown to 422,140 after 3,097 new infections were detected in the past 24 hours, while the pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 24,301 Iranians, up by 183 in the past 24 hours, according to Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for the Iranian health ministry. She said 1,272 patients were hospitalized because of complications from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, while 3,898 remain in critical condition. It is worth noting that 24 out of 31 Iranian provinces are in high-risk condition in terms of COVID-19 infection. Data issued by the Israeli Ministry of Health on Sunday showed that the proportion of coronavirus cases among people under the age of 20 in Israel has risen significantly to almost a third of all detected so far in the country. According to the data, the proportion of the young people aged 19 and below testing positive for COVID-19 rose from 17.4 percent of all cases on April 18, to 22.4 percent on June 19, and to 30.9 percent at present, while the proportion of infected children under the age of 10 rose from five percent in April, to 6.8 percent in June and to 10.2 percent at present. Palestine reported on Sunday 683 new COVID-19 cases and nine fatalities, raising the total number of infections in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem to 45,446 and the death toll to 300. In a press statement, Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila said four deaths were recorded in Hebron, four in Tulkarm, and one in Bethlehem. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Sunday that the increase in Turkey's daily coronavirus cases slowed down but not the number of severe patients, the latter of which has reached 1,456. Turkey reported 1,519 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, raising the total confirmed number in the country to 302,867. A woman and her daughter shop at a bazaar in Tonekabon, Iran, on Sept. 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz) In addition, 61 people died in the past 24 hours from the virus, taking the death toll to 7,506, while the number of the total recoveries has risen to 267,233. Saudi Arabia reported 483 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday, the lowest daily increase in the kingdom since mid-April, raising the total cases in the kingdom to 329,754, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The current number of active cases in Saudi Arabia has dropped by more than 75 percent to 14,830, including 1,138 in the intensive care units, from the peak numbers, according to Mohammed Abdulaali, spokesman of the Saudi Health Ministry. The Qatari health ministry on Sunday announced 230 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number in the Gulf state to 123,376, official Qatar News Agency reported. Kuwait on Sunday reported 385 new COVID-19 cases and three more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 99,434 and the death toll to 584, the Health Ministry said in a statement. On Sept. 14, the Kuwaiti government decided to postpone the fifth phase of its plan to return to normal. During the fifth phase, theaters and cinemas would be allowed to reopen and all social events permitted to be held. In Oman, 1,722 new COVID-19 cases and 28 more deaths were reported on Sunday, raising the tally of infections to 93,475 and the death toll to 846. As the first among the Gulf countries to report COVID-19 cases, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday announced 674 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 84,916. The UAE health ministry also reported 761 more recoveries from the virus, taking the tally of recoveries in the UAE to 74,273. A vendor wearing a face covering sells balloons in Tripoli, Lebanon, on Sept. 12, 2020. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Lebanon on Sunday reported the highest 1,006 daily COVID-19 cases, raising the total number to 29,303, while the death toll went up by 11 to 297, according to the country's health ministry. Caretaker Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan called for imposing a total lockdown in the country for two weeks in an attempt to reduce daily infections, especially given the limited capabilities of Lebanon's health sector. In Tunisia and Jordan, the number of COVID-19 cases on Sunday rose by 625 and 239 respectively to 9,736 and 4,779. On Sunday, Tunisian President Kais Saied ordered the establishment of an analysis laboratory for coronavirus in the central province of Sidi Bouzid amid a surge in the daily infections in the North African country. The National Center for Disease Control of Libya on Sunday reported 715 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the war-torn North African country to 27,949. The Center said in a statement that 389 more patients recovered and 8 more died, raising the total recoveries to 15,068 and the death toll to 444. New Delhi, Sep 24 : The citizen feedback on the Non-Personal Data draft policy is not positive as people say there is very little to gain and the risk is of increased targeting, surveillance and data misuse. According to Local Circles, Non-Personal Data draft policy has gotten the dialogue started amongst citizens and businesses, it needs to be revisited considering the findings of a survey. "From a citizen standpoint, there is very little to gain and the risk is of increased targeting, surveillance and data misuse," it said. The nine-member committee set up by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, released a draft non-personal data policy in mid-July giving the public two months to provide feedback. Per the policy, any data which does not contain any personally identifiable information of an individual is termed as non-personal data. For example, while order details collected by an e-commerce platform will have the name, age, address and other contact information of an individual, it will be considered non-personal data if specific identifiers like name, address and contact information are removed. NPD also classified non-personal data into three main categories - public non-personal data, community non-personal data and private non-personal data. Although many experts say that this policy is a forward looking step and will create a culture of data sharing of non-personal data which will bring overall benefits to the country, MSME and startups as well as citizens do not seem to be in favour of the policy in its current form. Citizen databases in India tend to sell for low prices and if one combines 2-3 of the commonly available databases along with say aggregate data from a large company, an individual can almost be fully profiled. On the small business front, making the data available for a price is a non-starter and most believe they will be spectators to a data purchase war between large businesses. "The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed most businesses behind by 2 years or more as far as their turnover and profitability is concerned. Another disruption in form of a mandatory aggregate data sharing program where hundreds of requests for data are coming is something that large businesses are bound to shy away from for the next few years. So let us ask again, who are we trying to really help and then redraft this policy," Local Circles said. The best approach at this point is for the government to embark on a massive data aggregation and eventually sharing exercise of the various central, state and local databases which can then be used by startups and MSMEs to build innovative products and services on. As far as data sharing by businesses go, a voluntary to mandatory aggregate data sharing program say over 3 years for businesses above Rs 500 crore annual turnover where businesses decide what data they share would be a good starting point. LocalCircles decoded the 72-page detailed document and converted it into a simple survey on the key issues so common citizens, MSMEs and startups can participate and share their feedback. The survey received over 17,000 responses from citizens while over 15,000 responses were received from the startups and MSMEs spread across the country. The government, via its Non-Personal Data Policy draft recommendation is mandating that Indian authorities can seek anonymised aggregate data of citizens from businesses to better understand the industry or for any other reason. Such data could include purchases made, services availed, calls made, health condition, etc. was the first issue discussed with citizens. People were asked if they would be willing to give their consent for this and share their data in anonymised form. In response, 27 per cent said they would never want to share their anonymised data while 35 per cent said they will be willing to do so only in a law-order or an investigation situation. Only 30 per cent citizens said they were willing to share their anonymised data with the government for general purposes. The kind of concerns that were raised by people included misuse of data for targeting specific communities or people residing in a particular area. One of the examples cited was targeting around elections in terms of a political party or a candidate being able to find out what people of a particular area were searching on an e-commerce site or on the internet. According to many respondents, the purpose or objective data should be very clear and specific before such information or consent for such information is sought from them. For instance, if the objective is to improve the government's school education system, the same should be stated beforehand and upfront when the data is sought. Not having to know what the data will be used for in the future creates suspicion according to many citizens. The Non-Personal Data Policy also proposes that a business that collects user data can sell it to other businesses or a Government body after anonymising it. Citizens were asked if they support such selling of their anonymised data, to which 81 per cent responded in a negative, while only 14 per cent responded in a positive. Local Circles said this means that only 14 per cent citizens support businesses selling their anonymised data to other businesses and government. The big concern here amongst people is that if any organisation especially a business is purchasing aggregate data from another business, there is a high likelihood that it will use it to target communities or groups of individuals with their products and services. This will likely mean unsolicited offers, spam and targeted advertising. Hence, a high majority of the 81 per cent people voted against such a possible move. Even if the purchasing organisation was a government department, people are still concerned that such data will ultimately be misused and reach businesses. The draft Non-Personal Data policy mandates that a business must sell their customers' anonymised data to other businesses or government if they are willing to purchase the same. The final question asked how such a clause will impact businesses. 19 per cent said it will help large and heavily funded businesses only, 35 per cent said it will help large and heavily funded businesses and the government, 20 per cent said it will help businesses of all sizes, while 26 per cent were not sure what would happen. This is one of the most important inputs from startups and MSMEs where they believe that while such a policy may have a stated objective of helping small businesses, it will likely do the opposite if the aggregate data of businesses is requested to or sold by the business as a revenue stream for a price. Many startups and MSMEs believe that this will lead to one large company buying aggregate data of another large company while small businesses struggle to make ends meet. Most small businesses, be it an Indian startup or an MSME will find it extremely difficult in majority of the cases to pay high prices for such data. Large companies also in some cases are likely to resist selling their data if its core to their business model, leading to rejection of the data request or going to court. In the next question, businesses were asked that before the Government mandates businesses to share their aggregate anonymised data, should the Government mandatorily share its aggregate anonymised data like municipal, health, traffic, water, environment, court pendencies, etc, so innovators can build new value added services upon them. 72 per cent answered in a 'yes', while 16 per cent said the businesses should do it first. 12 per cent were unsure. (Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at sanjeev.s@ians.in) Theresa Grady is worried about her husband and she wants New York to take further action to ensure that COVID-19 doesn't spread in state correctional facilities. Grady is among the advocates and family members who are urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to address concerns about the health of more than 36,000 incarcerated individuals in the prison system. Many of those concerns were aired during a state Senate hearing on COVID-19 in prisons and jails Tuesday. Grady's husband is incarcerated at Green Haven Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Dutchess County. He has diabetes a comorbidity that's been found in 8,934 COVID-19 deaths in New York. So far, though, he hasn't contracted the virus. "(Cuomo) knows that these people are vulnerable," Grady said. "I don't see why he just doesn't let them come home." DOCCS has released some parole violators who were jailed due to low-level technical offenses. The state also announced that, because of the risk of COVID-19, older inmates who are ages 55 and up, within 90 days of their release date and not serving a sentence for violent felony or sexual offenses would be freed. On Tuesday, DOCCS Acting Commissioner Anthony Annucci told lawmakers that the incarcerated population has decreased by about 7,500 since January. That's partially due to the releases in response to the pandemic. While criminal justice advocacy groups and families want more incarcerated people released, they also want more testing in prisons. Rodney Holcombe, the New York criminal justice director for FWD.us, said that all incarcerated people should have access to COVID-19 tests, including antibody tests. DOCCS confirmed Tuesday that while there has been some diagnostic testing, inmates haven't been checked for antibodies to determine if they've been infected at any point. According to the latest data published by DOCCS, there have been 13,012 tests administered in state prisons. That accounts for a little more than one-third of the statewide incarcerated population. Compared to some other states, including California and Florida, New York hasn't tested its incarcerated individuals at the same rate. Holcombe believes that needs to change. "Frankly, everyone needs that testing to ensure that we're really tracking how this disease is spreading in these facilities," he said. DOCCS committed to doing more testing in its correctional facilities. Annucci told legislators that the department is completing a round of testing in its western hub, which includes prisons in western New York counties. Every inmate in those facilities will be tested for the virus because of a spike in cases in the surrounding areas. Annucci said that DOCCS will look at more testing in other prisons. He expects that testing will "significantly increase" within the prison system. Holcombe hopes that testing rate will continue. "Testing has to be available to everyone and it has to be frequent and offered a variety of times and not just once," he said. Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. 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. A helicopter makes a water drop near Mt. Wilson-Red Box Road and Angeles Crest Highway on Wednesday while battling the Bobcat fire. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Fire officials announced continued success in the fight against the massive Bobcat fire, with U.S. Forest Service officials reporting the blaze is 50% contained. Progress continues to be made on containment, the Forest Service said in a tweet Thursday morning. Fire activity has moderated and only 253 acres were added overnight, for a total of 113,986. Containment estimates for the destructive fire are now holding steady at Sept. 30, one month earlier than initially projected. Its something fire crews attribute to cooperative weather and the successful placement of containment lines around much of the blazes vast perimeter. A lot of it came down to doing tactical firing and securing lines, said Forest Service spokesman Larry Smith, adding that hard work, a lot of firing operations, positive winds and higher relative humidity also played a role in getting a foothold on the fire. Smith also said the fires transition from the Angeles National Forest which is full of dry vegetation that hasnt burned in many decades into the low-lying desert terrain of Juniper Hills and the Antelope Valley helped slow the spread of the flames. Its not as receptive for spot fires," he said, "and its a lot easier to get mechanical equipment out there. Evacuation orders are beginning to be lifted as well: Residents in the following areas can now return home: North of East Avenue W-14, south of Pearblossom Highway, east of 155th Street East, west of 165th Street East North of Big Pine Highway and Highway 2, south of 138th Street East, east of Largo vista Road, west of 263rd Street North of Fort Tejon Road, south of East Avenue V, east of 87th Street East, west of 121st Street East East Fork areas: Julius Klein Conservation Camp 19, Camp Williams and the River community The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, which lifts evacuation orders, says it will lift more orders and notices once fire officials give the OK that there is no fire risk to anyones safety. Story continues It is only after all the command agencies fire, forestry, L.A. County, [California Highway Patrol] are in agreement, Deputy Graciela Medrano said. Evacuation orders remain in place for several communities in the Angeles National Forest and the foothills north of the blaze. Evacuation warnings have been lifted in Altadena and Pasadena, but remain for some areas threatened by the fire. The Red Cross shelter at Palmdale High School has also closed. Smith said Thursday's firefighting efforts would remain on the western and far northeastern fronts of the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although officials are looking into Southern California Edison utility equipment around Cogswell Dam that experienced an incident minutes before the reported ignition of the fire nearby. The Bobcat fire has destroyed nearly 50 structures, more than two dozen of them homes. A smoke advisory remains in effect Thursday, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which noted that smoke from the Bobcat and El Dorado fires was drifting northwest. Mumbai, Sep 24 : Actor Chandan Roy Sanyal says dubbing for Woh Teen Din was like reliving the experience of shooting for the upcoming film. The film is the actor's first venture amid the pandemic. "This film is special to me because it is a story that, I am sure, will resonate with people. I am fortunate that the we're in the dubbing stage now," said Chandan. "Dubbing for the film was like reliving the experience of shooting it. We will be wrapping up the dubbing work soon," he added. The upcoming film is about a journey that a rickshaw puller and his passenger undertake in a small town in Uttar Pradesh. Chandan also has Buddhadeb Dasgupta's untitled project, the web series "Kaali Season 2" and a film titled "Deep Six". Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 22:46:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People walk at the Orchard Road in Singapore, on Sept. 25, 2020. Singapore's total population decreased slightly by 0.3 percent from June 2019 to June 2020 and stood at 5.69 million as of June this year, according to the Population in Brief 2020 report released by Singaporean government on Thursday. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua) SINGAPORE, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's total population decreased slightly by 0.3 percent from June 2019 to June 2020 and stood at 5.69 million as of June this year, according to the Population in Brief 2020 report released by Singaporean government on Thursday. The decrease was largely due to 2.1 percent decline in the non-resident population, which stood at 1.64 million. The non-resident population decline was largely due to a reduction in foreign employment in services from June 2019 to June 2020, the report added. As of June 2020, the city-state had 3.52 million Singapore citizens and 0.52 million permanent residents, bringing the resident population to 4.04 million. The report said Singapore's citizen population grew by 0.6 percent from June 2019 to June 2020, and it continues to age steadily, with 16.8 percent aged 65 and above compared with 16 percent last year. Besides, the report said there were 22,165 citizen marriages in Singapore in 2019, compared to 23,632 citizen marriages in 2018. There were 32,844 citizen births in 2019, compared to 32,413 citizen births in 2018. Enditem MOSS POINT, Mississippi -- After beginning the school year with all students participating in distance learning, Moss Point schools are ready to begin welcoming students back to classrooms on Oct. 5. Currently, students are coming to the schools -- one grade level at a time -- for diagnostic testing, which began Sept. 21. Beginning Oct. 5, students will be brought into classrooms in phases, with the goal of having all students back on campus by Oct. 13. However, virtual or hybrid learning for students whose parents have chosen that option will continue. The idea behind bringing students back in phases is to allow students time to learn and become accustomed to the new safety protocols, including the arrival and departure processes. Among the safety measures in place will be the requirement that all students, faculty and staff wear masks at all times, other than when eating or drinking. To Mask or Not to Mask -- that is not a question in the Moss Point School District, superintendent Shannon Vincent-Raymond wrote to parents in an email outlining the plans for returning to school. Knowing that social distancing, masks and hand-washing are our first line of defense against the COVID-19 virus, everyone on our campuses will be required to wear masks. Additionally, students riding buses will have their temperature taken prior to boarding and will be required to wear masks, sit two to a seat unless members of the same family (three to a seat). Bus transportation will not be available to students residing less than one mile from their school. To help maintain social distancing on buses, campuses will open earlier each day and remain open later in the afternoon. It is our desire to ensure safe and healthy environments in which our students may learn and our decisions are a reflection of that ultimate goal, Vincent-Raymond wrote. Please be mindful will be follow ALL CDC guidelines for entering school buildings and you may be asked a series of questions and will be subject to temperature checks upon arrival on our campuses. Pashinian expressed concern over the worsening of the situation after the Armenian health authorities said that 374 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest daily number of new cases recorded since the beginning of August. The Ministry of Health registered between 239 and 295 cases a day last week, up from an average of roughly 150 cases reported earlier in September. The number of cases had declined steadily and significantly since the first half of July. The resurgence is not as sharp as it may seem given a near doubling of the daily number of coronavirus tests carried out across Armenia over the last two weeks. Even so, there has been an increase in the percentage of positive test results. Our position remains the same: we have to live with the coronavirus and a lot depends here on the individual responsibility of each of us, Pashinian said at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan. Of course, administrative methods must also be applied very strictly, and we have agreed that inspecting bodies and the police will step up their oversight of compliance with the rules, he said. Wearing face masks in all public spaces -- both indoors and outdoors -- has been mandatory in Armenia since June. The government kept this and social distancing restrictions, mostly applicable to businesses, in place when it lifted a coronavirus-related state of emergency on September 11. Health Minister Arsen Torosian said on Thursday that the renewed rise in coronavirus cases began right after September 11. Torosian blamed it on the increased mobility and complacency of the population. He warned that the reopening on September 15 of Armenian schools and universities could accelerate the upward trend. We do not yet attribute these [higher] figures to the schools because the schools were reopened ten days ago, Torosian told Pashinian and fellow cabinet members. But if there is a more drastic increase within the next week we will link that to the schools. We are not just talking about transmission [of the disease] inside schools, he went on. The schools and other educational establishments are one of the most important factors behind our populations mobility. The minister also assured Pashinian that about one-third of some 1,400 hospital beds currently set aside for COVID-19 patients remain vacant. He said the number of such beds can be quickly doubled if need be. According to the Ministry of Health, there were 3,748 active coronavirus cases in Armenia as of Thursday morning. Torosians remarks suggest that fewer than 1,000 infected persons were hospitalized. Two dozen Armenian hospitals dealt with COVID-19 at the height of the coronavirus crisis in June and early July. Only eight of them have COVID-19 patients at present. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country of about 3 million stands at 48,251. The authorities have also reported so far the deaths of 1,237 people infected with the disease. The barrage of Stalinist attacks on Philippine historian Dr. Joseph Scalice continues. Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison and his supporters are combining outrageous lies, puerile insults, slanders, falsifications and a total disregard for logical coherence, with thinly- veiled or not-so-veiled threats of violence against Dr. Scalice and Trotskyites. Sison is furious about Dr. Scalices lecture, First as Tragedy, Second as Farce: Marcos, Duterte and the Communist Parties of the Philippines, which is finding a growing audience in the Philippines and internationally among those seeking to understand the repeated political betrayals of the CPP. The lecture documents the Stalinist-Maoist partys support for the fascistic president Rodrigo Dutertes election in 2016, placing this in the context of its long history of support for bourgeois politicians, including Sisons backing for Ferdinand Marcos in 1965. Dr. Joseph Scalice Yesterday, Dr. Scalice responded on Facebook to the latest attacks on him by Sison in a Stalinist Facebook group. Below is Dr. Scalices reply, which has been widely shared with hundreds of supportive comments. We encourage WSWS readers to send us letters defending Dr. Scalice. Jose Maria Sison, founder and ideological leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), is a liar and a fool. Unable to respond to any of the substantive historical points raised in my scholarship, he has taken to repeatedly slandering me as a CIA agent, a claim for which he has not a shred of evidence. Today he took to the pages of a Facebook group dedicated to sharing insipid political memes, which is headlined with a picture of Joseph Stalin as the Terminator, to repeat these allegations. Sison wrote that Scalice admitted that he is a CIA agent by boasting that he saw the secret files of the CIA that revealed that Ignacio Lacsina was a CIA asset. Jose Maria Sison slanders Dr. Scalice as a CIA agent This is an absurd allegation. Sison is regurgitating a statement written by the so-called MLM [Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought] Study Group that first made this claim. The authors of the MLM statement claimed to have read my entire dissertation and concluded by calling me a prick. A trenchant political critique. I dedicated an entire chapter of my dissertation to the origin and background of Ignacio Lacsina, head of the Lapiang Manggagawa and key political ally of Sison in their joint support for President Macapagal. While a member of the executive committee of the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP), Lacsina was regularly and secretly meeting with political attaches of the US Embassy and informing them of developments in the party and the labor movement. Among his political handlers was H.L.T. Koren, a CIA man responsible for counter-insurgency operations in Congo and Vietnam. Anyone who read my dissertation would have easily been able to determine my source for this information. I copiously cited from the Confidential Papers of the US State Department Philippine Republic (CUSDPR). These are 55 reels of microfilmed material, now declassified, and available at a number of major libraries, including UC Berkeley. I spent about five months reading through this material, and digitizing relevant documents. It was a great deal of work, but it did not involve any assistance from the CIA. Sison is not stupid enough to be unaware of the fact that documents can be declassified. He is lying and he is counting on the ignorance of his audience. Sison went on: Scalices Trotskyite anti-CPP research and publications were funded by the CIA. All Berkeley knows this. This is another outright lie. I challenge Joma Sison to name a single Berkeley scholar who will substantiate his claim. He cannot. The truth is, my scholarship was hardly funded at all, let alone by the CIA. I had to hold down a job and apply for food stamps to keep my family fed, while I worked for a decade to complete my research. Sison is appealing to social dregs with his lies and doctored images. There is a commonality between his political style and that of Duterte: vulgarity, outrageous falsehoods, and a cultivation of the most vicious social traits. He is appealing to the worst angels of our nature, to stand Lincolns phrase on its head. Icepick memes were posted in the thread in response to Sison as the only response to trots. There is nothing funny about this. It is a reference to the assassination of Trotsky and the Stalinist mass murder of members of the Fourth International, the Left Opposition, and the old Bolsheviks, with literally hundreds of thousands of victims. While their historical origins are different, the function of icepick memes is politically analogous to that of swastikas. Stalinist meme attacking Dr. Joseph Scalice Some of my academic colleagues around the world may perhaps wonder why I have chosen not to take the more decorous route and ignore this man who is so clearly a troll. The weight of history has given Joma Sison significant ideological sway over the fate of mass struggles in the Philippines and over the lives of countless self-sacrificing Filipino youths who are looking to labor for a better world. His words and leadership thus have the power to orient and to disorient social struggles and to betray them. Sisons enthusiasm for Duterte in 2016 is a clear example of this. I decided, at some personal cost, that I would not back down. Sisons attacks on me have provided me an opportunity to address, in a calm and principled fashion, the historical record of the party before an interested public. While Sisons perspective still exercises tremendous influence, he is a criminally unserious man. He has been at the pinnacle of the party and of academic social estimation for so long, as the beneficiary of the cult of the great leader, that he seems to believe that even his most flippant remarks and offhand lies will suffice to befuddle the public. For no particular reason, he posts images of himself posing with attractive young women, listing them as his so-called model friends. He publicly shares his karaoke performances. Yesterday, he edified his audience with his recordings of Just the Way You Are and Love is a Many-Splendored Zing (sic). He posted his most recent denunciation of me in a thread that opened with a meme drawn from Mean Girls, #MeanTrots. Joma Sison apparently has not only the fate of a mass movement in his hands, but a great deal of spare time as well. And yet, while he has time to record pop songs and make what are technically known as shitposts, he has not dedicated a moment to the defense of the history of the CPP and his own political role. In my dissertation and my recent lecture, I documented a number of betrayals of the working class carried out by Sison and his fellow leaders of the party. He has responded to none of them. Here are few of the points which Sison has refused to address: Sison supported President Diosdado Macapagal in 1963 and wrote the official handbook of Macapagals land reform. Sison celebrated the presidents program as the continuation of the unfinished revolution of Andres Bonifacio. He did this while Macapagal ordered the military to violently break up the pickets of striking workers at the port and the airport. Sison backed Ferdinand Marcos and the Nacionalista Party in the 1965 election, and gave speeches in support of this policy to the Kabataang Makabayan (KM), Lapiang Manggagawa (LM), and Malayang Samahan ng mga Magsasaka (MASAKA). Sison allied the CPP and the KM with Aquino and the bourgeois opposition to Marcos in the early 1970s. Aquino and his elite cohort were not opposed to martial law, they supported it. They wanted to remove Marcos and install themselves in power first. Sison was assisting them in this, in the same way that he is now calling for patriotic and pro-US sections of the military to back Vice President Robredo. Sison enthusiastically backed Rodrigo Duterte in 2016. Sison has responded to this point only by dismissing it as an outright lie, but I presented copious evidence and he has not dealt with a shred of it. New Delhi: Greenko Energy Holdings and US AES Corporation have emerged as the front runners to acquire Massachusetts-headquartered NEC Energy Solutions, in a deal potentially valued at around $300 million, said two people aware of the development. Hyderabad-based Greenkos interest in Japans NEC Corp-owned firm that holds the intellectual property rights for megawatt-scale lithium-ion batteries comes in the backdrop of Greeko investing in Silicon Valley-based Keracel, which makes solid state batteries with 3D printing technology. Sovereign funds GIC Holdings Pte. Ltd and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA)-backed Greenko has been preparing to pivot towards battery storage. Mint reported on 13 September about Greenko plan to invest around $1 billion in a new battery storage business that also includes a plan to produce lithium-ion batteries in India for power grid-scale applications and electric vehicles (EVs). An NEC Corporation spokesperson in an emailed response said, Im afraid we are not able to comment on market speculation on potential agreements." Queries emailed to the spokespersons of Greenko, AES Corp. and Keracel on Wednesday afternoon remained unanswered. The Economic Times newspaper had earlier reported about Greenko looking to buy out NEC US battery unit. The due diligence on NEC Energy Solutions is taking place. AES and Greenko are the ones left in the race to acquire it, with the deal having an enterprise value of around $300 million. It shall be announced shortly," said a person aware of the development cited above requesting anonymity. The fresh capital for renewables 3.0 investment will be deployed by Greenko to acquire and develop lithium-ion battery technology, and for its manufacturing and application playbook. This comes against the backdrop of the single-largest foreign clean energy investment announcement in India made by Japans ORIX Corp. for $980 million in Greenko for a 17% stake. The Keracel investment was made to accelerate cost reduction and faster localisation of battery production for the EV market," the person cited above added. There is a growing interest in Indias battery storage manufacturing plans with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government readying a 18,000-crore production-linked incentive package for battery storage manufacturing. India also plans to issue tenders for setting up Tesla-style gigafactories for cell and battery manufacturing, Mint reported earlier. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC), the countrys largest fuel retailer and refiner is also actively scouting the space, given Indias ambitious clean energy targets and the intermittent nature of electricity from clean energy sources. In such a situation, large grid-scale battery storages can help maintain spinning reserves to support round-the-clock demand for electricity. Also, there is a growing demand for EVs. With electric mobility gaining traction from a sustainability perspective, your company is focussing on value creation through collaborations in the EV space," said Indian Oil chairman, S.M. Vaidya in his message to the state-run firms annual general meeting on Monday. We are also evaluating different advanced battery technologies and intend to set up a metal-air battery-manufacturing facility for EVs as well as for stationary applications," Vaidya added. The lithium-ion cell manufacturing value chain comprising of processing of raw materials and manufacturing of separators, cathodes, electrolytes, anodes, cells, and battery storage packs is dominated by China. Also, India does not have enough lithium reserves, with Chinese state firms have procured lithium mine concessions in Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. India on its part plans to impose tariffs on imports of lithium-ion cells for as long as a decade and offer incentives to manufacturers such as 100% tax deduction on capital expenditure in the first year of operation under Section 35 AD, concessional financing options by giving companies deemed infrastructure status and waiver of minimum alternative tax. It's a business to evolve and grow," said the person cited above. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics Trump vows to sign executive order protecting all babies born alive, including survivors of abortion Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Donald Trump vowed Wednesday to sign an executive order to protect all babies born alive, including those who survive abortion. In a pre-recorded address to the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, held online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns, the president said protecting life "is our sacrosanct moral duty." "Today, I am announcing that I will be signing the born alive executive order to ensure that all precious babies born alive, no matter their circumstances, receive the medical care that they deserve. This is our sacrosanct moral duty," said Trump. The president also noted 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. Further details on the executive order were not available from the White House as of Thursday morning but the announcement quickly drew praise from members of the pro-life community. President Trumps executive order protects the youngest of patients and ensures that their right to life is defended to the greatest extent of the law, Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, said in a statement to The Christian Post. We thank President Trump for his dedication to the right to life and for working to protect all innocent human life. He is a champion for the most vulnerable among us and committed to guarding the right to life of all babiesborn and unborn. In his comments prefacing the announcement Wednesday, President Trump took the time to highlight the valuable contribution of Catholics and all people of faith to American society. Today, President @realDonaldTrump addressed the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast by video and announced he will be "signing the Born-Alive Executive Order to ensure that all precious babies born aliveno matter their circumstancereceive the medical care that they deserve." pic.twitter.com/087ZqZcGtL The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 23, 2020 I grew up next to a Catholic church in Queens, New York, and I saw how much incredible work the Catholic Church did for our community. These are amazing people. These are great, great people. Catholic schools give many underserved children the chance to reach their God-given potential. Catholics of all backgrounds share the love of Christ with the most vulnerable as they care for the elderly, the homeless and neighbors in need, Trump said. Our nation is strong because of Catholics and all people of faith. 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 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 added. Leonard Leo, president of the NCPB board of directors who introduced Trump before his speech, praised him as a champion of the Churchs values. There is a longstanding tradition of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast to invite and host presidents of the United States who embrace the Catholic Churchs teachings on the sanctity of human life. President Donald Trump has fiercely defended the culture of life in this way more than any other president in my own lifetime, Leo said. Hes done so much more to embraces policies that reflect the morals, teachings and objective of our faith. He has breathed new life into the First Amendments guarantees of religious liberty by protecting the conscience rights of healthcare professionals, ending discrimination against believers of all backgrounds when it comes to education, and fighting back against the movement to remove religious symbols from public spaces. President Trump has recognized the principle of equal opportunity and justice by pressing for educational choice and reform that would benefit the least fortunate in our society. And through his efforts at judicial selection, President Trump has helped secured human dignity by appointing jurists who bolster the rule of law by enforcing constitutional limits on the power of the state, he said. The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast was established in 2004 in response to Saint John Paul IIs call for a New Evangelization. Each year, over 1,500 people gather in Washington, D.C., for the nonpartisan event to pray for the nation. French president Nicolas Sarkozy shakes hands with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi(L) upon his arrival for an official visit to Tripoli in 2007. Nicolas Sarkozy has failed in his attempt to quash an inquiry into claims he used Libyan cash for his 2007 presidential campaign in a setback that could see the former French president stand trial. A Paris appeals court on Thursday upheld the validity of the investigation, launched in 2012 after reports that Mr Sarkozy accepted 50 million (45m) from the regime of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Mr Sarkozy, 65, has denied the allegations and his lawyer declined to comment over whether he would appeal the decision. But the failed legal bid means the inquiry by two anti-corruption judges can continue, though it remains to be seen whether they will end up calling for a trial. The investigation began after the Mediapart published a document in 2012, allegedly signed by Libya's intelligence chief, purporting to show that Mr Gaddafi had agreed to hand over the cash to Mr Sarkozy. Judges are also investigating claims that Ziad Takieddine, a French-Lebanese arms dealer who introduced Mr Sarkozy to Mr Gaddafi, had carried three suitcases stuffed with cash from Libya to Paris, personally handing over 5 million intended for Mr Sarkozys campaign to his then chief of staff - and later interior minister - Claude Gueant. After Mr Sarkozy was elected in 2007, he received Mr Gaddafi with pomp in Paris, but later spearheaded international military action against his regime in 2011 along with David Cameron and Barack Obama, which led to the dictator being toppled and killed. Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy - FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP Also charged in the case is Alexandre Djouhri, a businessman known to be close with several top conservative politicians, who is suspected of acting as a middleman for the cash transfers. The former president was charged in 2018 with taking bribes, concealing the embezzlement of Libyan public funds and illegal campaign financing. Mr Gueant and another former minister, Eric Woerth, are among several others who have also been charged in the case. Besides the claims of cash-stuffed suitcases, investigators suspect that Mr Sarkozy's campaign received cash from the 2009 sale of a villa on the French Riviera to a Libyan investment fund managed by Bashir Saleh, Mr Gaddafis former chief of staff. Story continues Mr Djouhri is suspected of being the owner of the villa, which was sold at an inflated price to mask the alleged funds from Libya. This is not the most immediate legal headache for Mr Sarkozy, who has enjoyed resurgent popularity since retiring, with his memoirs becoming a summer bestseller. He has also been charged in two other cases, one relating to claims of fake invoices devised to hide overspending on his failed 2012 re-election campaign, and another for alleged influence peddling involving a top judge. He is set to go on trial in the second case on October 5, when he will become France's first ex-president in the dock for corruption while in office. Mr Sarkozy, who quit politics after a failed comeback attempt in 2017, has accused Parisian judges of waging a politically-motivated campaign against him. Libya's Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj called on Thursday for U.N. support in holding presidential and parliamentary elections as the war-torn country remains split between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments. Sarraj said elections next year could lead to democracy and end Libya's "legitimacy crisis." While he called for political dialogue with all faction and regions of Libya, he said the exception would be with those who've "spilled Libyan blood." Sarraj delivered his pre-recorded remarks to the world body's first-ever virtual general assembly from Tripoli, where his U.N.-backed government is based. He is aided by Turkey and Qatar. His rival, Khalifa Hifter, controls the east and is backed by neighboring Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, France and Russian mercenaries. Sarraj slammed Hifter's attempted offensive on the capital, Tripoli last year, calling it a "tyrannical attack" that attempted to return the country to dictatorship and one-man rule. Still, as he spoke, he only represented only part of the country. Libya was plunged into chaos when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed. The instability has made Libya a major transit point for African and Arab migrants fleeing war and poverty to Europe. Libya's handling of migrants has been criticized by rights groups, who say refugees there have been raped, forcibly deported or die in custody as a result of violence, torture or starvation. Sarraj defended his government's treatment of migrants. "Libya is a victim of a migration and not it's reason," he said. Half of Catholics want to attend mass more often than they did before pandemic: poll Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A new poll conducted by the Catholic Eternal Word Television Network and RealClear Opinion Research has found that about half of Catholics would like to attend mass more frequently than they have in the past once the coronavirus pandemic is over. The survey, which was conducted from Aug. 27 to Sept. 1, asked 1,500 self-identified Catholics for their thoughts on various national issues, the coronavirus pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. The sample contains a margin of error of plus or minus 2.81 percentage points. The study also contains a sample of 1,212 respondents who self-identified as Catholic likely voters. This was the third survey conducted by EWTN and RealClear Opinion since November 2019. Coronavirus, which nearly nine out of 10 Catholic likely voters found concerning, has caused many to rethink how they feel about attending church and their faith in general. About 61% of Catholic likely voters said that the pandemic made them feel differently about their faith. Meanwhile, 71% said they were distressed about their inability to attend mass during the coronavirus pandemic. When asked if they would attend mass more or less frequently after the pandemic restrictions are lifted, 50% of all Catholic respondents (52% of likely Catholic voters) said they would attend more mass frequently while 17% of respondents (13% of Catholic likely voters) said they would go less frequently. Right now, 58% of Catholic likely voters believe that it is safe to attend mass, compared to 42% who do not. According to the data, Catholics who attended mass weekly or more before the pandemic were 30 percentage points more likely to believe it is safe to return to mass. About 91% of Catholic likely voters cited the economy as a cause of concern, followed by health care (89%), coronavirus (88%), national security (85%) and civil unrest (84%). Criminal justice, taxes, race relations, immigration and foreign policy rounded out the top 10 concerns for Catholics. Even before the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg created a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court last week, about 68% of Catholic likely voters saw the Supreme Court as a cause for concern. Meanwhile, 60% said they were concerned about religious liberty and 59% said they were concerned about abortion. Respondents were also asked to weigh in on the anti-Catholic violence that has taken place in the United States in recent months. The overwhelming majority of those surveyed said that they were concerned. Eight out of 10 (83%) of Catholic likely voters were concerned about vandalism and attacks on churches, 74% expressed concern about the attacks on statues of Catholic heroes, the burning of Bibles in Portland, Oregon and calls to tear down statues depicting Jesus as a white European. A majority (51%) said that Catholics should be doing more to heal the divisions we have in America on race. At the same time, an overwhelming majority of likely voters surveyed (81%) trusted their local police department. More than half (57%) of respondents disapproved of the push to defund the police. Respondents were asked to agree with one of six positions on abortion. A plurality of those surveyed (30%) believes that abortion should be allowed only in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the woman. Only 15% of respondents believe that abortion should be available to a woman any time she wants one during her entire pregnancy, and 15% believe that abortion should never be permitted under any circumstance. About 10% believe that abortion should be allowed only during the first six months of a pregnancy and 9% think that abortion should be allowed only to save the life of the woman. The survey asked respondents if a political candidates support for abortion made them more likely or less likely to support that candidate. While 22% of Catholics surveyed said that support for abortion made them more likely to support a candidate, 30% claimed that support for abortion made them less likely to support a candidate. A plurality of those surveyed (33%) said that a candidates position on abortion did not make a significant difference in their support for the candidate and 14% stated that it depends. Less than half (44%) of respondents approved of President Donald Trumps job performance while 56% disapproved. Approval of Trump was highest among Catholics who attend church at least weekly (51%) and lowest among those who seldom and never attend mass (39%). In the 2020 presidential election, 53% of Catholic likely voters planned to vote for Democrat Joe Biden while 41% planned to vote for Trump. Half (50%) of Catholics supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election compared to 45% who supported Trump. Nationwide, exit polling from the 2016 election demonstrated that 50% of Catholics supported Trump while 46% voted for Clinton. Mirroring national trends, the survey found that more frequent church attendance correlated with higher support for Trump. More than half (58%) of Catholic likely voters who attend mass daily support Trump. Support for Trump over Biden stood at 61% among Catholics who attend mass more than once a week. The most observant Roman Catholics still tend to support Donald Trump and the Republican Party as do large majorities of white evangelical Protestants and are among the most highly motivated voters, concluded Carl Cannon, RealClear Politics Washington Bureau chief. But the question for the GOP is whether there are enough of these voters to make up the difference. Buckingham Palace has appeared to distance itself from comments made by the Duke of Sussex as Harry urged people in the US to reject hate speech and vote in the presidential elections. Harry has faced a backlash amid claims of political interference and suggestions he is telling people to vote against Republican nominee President Donald Trump. The Palace highlighted the fact that the duke is no longer a working royal, and said his remarks were made in a personal capacity. A 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. Harry remains sixth in line to the throne despite stepping down as a senior working royal, and members of the royal family traditionally do not vote or become involved in elections or political matters. The Queen, as a constitutional head of state, is politically neutral. The monarchs grandson said in a video for Time magazine as he sat on a bench alongside Meghan at their Californian home: As we approach this November, its vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity. Mr Trump, who is campaigning for re-election, has often been criticised for using inflammatory language, and in August, Facebook deleted one of his posts for the first time for violating its policy against spreading misinformation about coronavirus. Twitter began labelling Mr Trumps tweets with fact checks in May. Broadcaster Piers Morgan condemned Harry for his remarks, tweeting: 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. 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 A source close to Harry insisted the duke was not referring to Mr Trump nor 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 hes said before about online communities, how we engage with each other online, rather than specifically making any political points. Expand Close The Queen and Donald Trump (Andrew Matthews/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Queen and Donald Trump (Andrew Matthews/PA) Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, questioned the wisdom of Harrys comments. I think it is understandable that Meghan, as a US citizen, is doing what she is doing to encourage people to vote in the forthcoming election, but I question the wisdom of her husband doing likewise, Mr Little said. Harry is no longer a working member of the royal family but he remains a senior member of the royal family and with that comes responsibilities. It seems unlikely that hed be making the remarks hes been making were he still in the UK. Harry reminded Americans to be discerning in terms of the content they consume online. The duke 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 our self 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 duke mentioned that he would not be voting in the election due to his lack of US citizenship, adding he has never voted in UK elections because of his position. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do and you deserve to be heard The Duchess of Sussex Harry said: This election, Im not going to be able to vote here in the US. But many of you might not know that I havent been able to vote in the UK my entire life. The source declined to comment on whether Harrys phrase this election suggested he would be applying for dual citizenship in the US in order to be able to vote in future elections. They are not working royals. They are private citizens and its understandable they want to keep those matters private, the source said. Although UK law does not ban royalty from voting, it is considered unconstitutional for them to do so. Harry quit as a senior working royal with Meghan in March in a bid for personal and financial freedom and now lives in the US, but they are still members of the royal family. The duchess, who mocked then-Republican candidate Mr Trump during a 2016 television appearance, said in the video the November poll was the most important election of our lifetime. Expand Close Harry has never voted in the UK (Paul Edwards/The Sun/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Harry has never voted in the UK (Paul Edwards/The Sun/PA) 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. Meghan told lawyer and feminist activist Gloria Steinem last month she was so excited to see fellow biracial woman Kamala Harris selected as Democrat Joe Bidens running mate. Ms Steinem has said the duchess came home to vote and has been cold-calling people to encourage voter participation. As a result of the Time video, bookmaker Ladbrokes now has Meghan at odds of 100/1 to become US president in 2024. Harry and Meghan were filmed to mark Time 100, a list compiled by the magazine to celebrate the worlds most influential people. Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic which campaigns for an elected head of state, said of Harry: He can be an activist or a royal. He cant be both. He would obviously be happier campaigning so he needs to ditch the HRH and Duke and get on living as a private citizen paying his own way. PENSACOLA, Fla., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal-Bay, the Pre Settlement Funding Company, announces today that they are renewing their commitment to supporting their clients in need of financial assistance, specifically those that are dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters in places like Florida, Alabama, Georgia, California, Oregon, and Washington. With the recent hurricanes battering the gulf coast in addition to the west coast wildfire season well underway, numerous citizens and business owners have been temporarily displaced, or seen their homes and companies destroyed altogether. Due to such unforeseen circumstances, plaintiffs already embroiled in a lawsuit may be strapped for cash even more than they were before. If they are looking for an easy way to get some financial assistance, legal fundingsometimes referred to as "lawsuit loans" or "settlement loans"can be immensely beneficial. While Legal-Bay has extended donations to their many clients involved in these horrific tragedies, they also continue to provide loans for settlements to affected customers who are also awaiting legal resolution to their court cases. If you are a lawyer or plaintiff involved in an active lawsuit and need an immediate cash advance against an impending lawsuit settlement, please visit Legal-Bay HERE or call toll-free at 877.571.0405. Last week, Hurricane Sally unleashed a surge of destruction across Alabama and the Florida Panhandle causing "historic and catastrophic flooding," according to the National Hurricane Center. Some areas have already seen more than 24 to 35 inches of rain, and over half a million people are currently without power. Hundreds of people near the Florida-Alabama border were rescued from the deluge in just a single day, and the numbers only rose from there along with the floodwater. Florida authorities report that they received the equivalent of four months of rain in only four hours. Sally was the second hurricane to slam the Gulf Coast in less than three weeks during one of the busiest hurricane seasons ever recorded. Meanwhile, forecasters say Hurricane Teddy is currently brewing in the Atlantic, and might reach Category 4 strength before making landfall in the gulf region. A wide swath of scientists believe climate change is to blame for not only the recent overabundance of hurricanes in that area, but the numerous spate of wildfires running rampant along the west coast. There are over one hundred wildfires still raging along the west coasts of California and Oregon which have already caused massive destruction in the weeks since they started burning. It was recently reported that the source of twenty-three of these infernos may have been due to a pyrotechnic device that malfunctioned during a private partycausing a blaze known as The El Dorado Firethat quickly got out of control. Over sixty thousand people have been evacuated from the epicenters and surrounding towns, more than thirty people have already lost their lives, and numerous homes and businesses have been completely obliterated with no immediate end in sight. The residents of Oregon, Washington, and California who managed to avoid the direct target of the blaze are now breathing low-quality air, causing some to choose to temporarily relocate. Legal-Bay reports that relocation efforts are costing their clients money they don't have. Some are looking into loan settlement options in order to fund basic living expenses while they get their lives back on track. A loan for settlement can also help bridge the gap of time it will take to receive that eventual check from the insurance company. Legal-Bay is proud of the numerous donations they've made to their current crop of clients along with providing a multitude of loan on lawsuit options for any future financial needs. Chris Janish, CEO of Legal-Bay, commented on the recent endeavor, "Our commitment to helping others during difficult times is an important part of our corporate mission. While we are donating in some way to our current clients at this time, we also stand ready to help new clients that have existing lawsuits and wish to apply for a bona fide funding agreement. Many of our new clients are unaware that our services even exist. However, when they unexpectedly find themselves at their lowest time, we will be a lifeline to help them get through with a cash advance." If you are a lawyer or plaintiff involved in an active lawsuit and need an immediate cash advance against an impending lawsuit settlement, please visit Legal-Bay HERE or call toll-free at 877.571.0405. Legal-Bay remains vigilant in helping clients who have seen their homes and properties damaged by recent events. Additionally, any new clients that have an existing lawsuit and need cash now can apply for regular settlement loan funding to help them get through their own crises. Legal-Bay funds all types of loans for lawsuits including personal injury, slips and falls, car, boat, or construction accidents, judgment on appeal cases, unlawful termination, discrimination or harassment in the workplace, sexual abuse, police brutality, wrongful conviction or imprisonment, medical malpractice, and more. Legal-Bay's pre settlement funding programs are designed to provide immediate cash in advance of a plaintiff's anticipated monetary award. The non-recourse law suit "loans" sometimes referred to as loans for lawsuit or loans on settlementare risk-free, as the money doesn't need to be repaid should the recipient lose their case. Therefore, the lawsuit loan isn't really a loan, but rather a cash advance. To apply right now, please visit the company's website HERE or call toll-free at: 877.571.0405 where agents are standing by. Contact: Chris Janish, CEO Email: [email protected] Ph.: 877.571.0405 Website: www.Legal-Bay.com SOURCE Legal-Bay, LLC Related Links http://www.Legal-Bay.com Fulcrum - the cloud system fueling the future of manufacturing - has raised $3.1 million in seed round funding to accelerate growth supporting its bold vision for a brighter future through connected production. The Minneapolis-based Software-as-a-Service startup builds on more than a decade of experience creating custom ERP solutions for manufacturers and now provides a software-as-a-service platform to help manufacturers optimize sales, quoting, purchasing, job scheduling, tracking, fulfillment and more. Its aim is to add better design and automation to help the multi-trillion-dollar manufacturing industry take a giant leap forward. This round of funding was led by Chicago-based Motivate Ventures. Battery Ventures, Schematic Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, Matchstick Ventures, Bread & Butter Ventures, IrishAngels, Social Starts, SpringTime Ventures, as well as individual investors Daren Cotter, Phil Soran, and Yishan Wong participated in the round. Now more than ever, theres a clear, urgent need for a connected manufacturing supply chain and a better production system in the market, and thats been validated by our growth and this round of investment, said Sunny Han, CEO and founder of Fulcrum. I couldnt be more pleased with how our customers have responded to the way we were intentional with the design and workflow of our solution. Were excited to accelerate growth with these funds and counsel from our investors. David Wieland, Founder and Managing Partner of Motivate Ventures, stated, "We're thrilled to be working with Sunny - an expert and thought leader in manufacturing operations - and the exceptionally talented and driven Fulcrum team to provide a truly transformative ERP experience accessible on universal devices and web platforms for the modern day manufacturing operator." Han started Fulcrum in 2015 to address the acute challenges facing the millions of small- to medium-sized manufacturers worldwide. Legacy ERP systems built for Fortune 500 companies are not suited for the budgets, timelines, or use cases of the rest of the vast production ecosystem. And the global market is at a turning point of accelerating automation and human ingenuity to foster innovation in manufacturing well beyond its current state. The impact of a connected cloud supporting this ecosystem will have a massive impact on the well-being of humankind. A lofty premise and aim to be sure, but Han doesnt water down his ambitions: Gaining the power to accelerate our growth so that we, the collective David can beat the Goliath of calcified legacy systems while simultaneously stitching together a new way in which business is done in such a core industry is incredibly motivating, says Han. Were building the manufacturing operating system of the future -- a beautiful, sophisticated quantum leap forward for the most important core industry in the world. Fulcrum will apply this investment towards further product enhancements, customer enablement, as well as sales and marketing to accelerate growth. For more information, visit http://www.fulcrumpro.com/grow About Fulcrum Fulcrum is a SaaS enterprise ERP, MRP, and MES platform allowing small and mid-sized manufacturers to improve efficiency through workflow optimization and automated data collection. Fulcrum delivers value through a fully digital, paperless workflow leveraging machine learning, automation, predictive analytics, and advanced heuristics to drive throughput and profitability. For more information, visit http://www.fulcrumpro.com. About Motivate Venture Capital [LEAD INVESTOR] We have been successfully building and investing in startups since 2003. Our energy and inspiration comes from working with exceptional founders to build tomorrow's greatest companies. "We're thrilled to be working with Sunny - an expert and thought leader in manufacturing operations - and the exceptionally talented and driven Fulcrum team to provide a truly transformative ERP experience accessible on universal devices and web platforms for the modern day manufacturing operator." - David Wieland, Founder / Managing Partner About Battery Ventures Battery Ventures is a global, technology-focused investment firm pursuing the most prominent companies and ideas. Founded in 1983, our firm makes venture-capital and private equity investments from six offices around the world. We work hard, but humbly, and are guided by data-driven processes. We seek out extraordinary business leaders who operate the same way. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million people in the US, or ~8% of the American workforce, and many more globally. Weve been looking to invest in a cloud-based operating system for the manufacturing industry for years now. Manufacturers, from the business owner to job shoppers on the front lines have been asking for someone to fulfill this vision, and were excited to back Sunny and team to do just that! - Sanjiv Kalevar, Principal About Schematic Ventures Schematic Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund located in San Francisco. The fund is focused on investments in technology companies within supply chain, manufacturing, commerce infrastructure & digital industrial sectors. "Rapid growth in manufacturing has been held back by lackluster software. Fulcrum will change that: the first manufacturing ERP with modern design principles. We're excited to participate in the Fulcrum seed round and be a part of this industry-defining company." - Julian Counihan, General Partner About Bain Capital Ventures We partner with disruptive founders to accelerate their ideas to market. We focus on founders passionate about transforming major industries, ranging from SaaS, infrastructure software and security to fintech and healthcare to commerce and consumer tech. Our unique and differentiated platform empowers founders to grow their companies at all stages. Everyone has been asking for a modern, usable ERP, and Fulcrum is finally delivering on itwe were wowed by their focused product vision, ease of deployment, and the customer love theyve earned so far. Its 2020: never-ending implementations are unacceptable, and operational excellence (let alone functional technology) is business-critical; with this backdrop, we are thrilled to back Sunny and his team in empowering manufacturers to compete and win. - Kevin Zhang, Partner About Matchstick Ventures Our goal is to be the most impactful early-stage, technology investor in the North and Rockies. We invest where innovative ideas, huge markets and most importantly, ambitious and diverse founders strike. Matchstick exists to act as a catalyst for our founders, our partners, and our startup communities. At Matchstick, we're privileged to support the most curious, ambitious and humble entrepreneurs as they grow meaningful businesses. "The Fulcrum platform is the most robust and innovative platform we've seen that is addressing the needs of modern manufacturers. We're excited to support the incredible Fulcrum team to support the next generation of production. " - Ryan Broshar, Partner / Founder About Bread & Butter Ventures Were an early stage venture capital firm based in Minnesota, the Bread and Butter State, investing globally while leveraging our state and regions unparalleled access to strong corporate connections, commercial opportunities, and industry expertise for the benefit of our founders. "Manufacturers of all sizes struggle with digitizing their processes. The cost of a new system is astronomical and takes an incredible amount of time to customize and implement. Even after doing all of this it is difficult to get employees to actually use it! Sunny and the amazing team at Fulcrum are changing all of this with better technology for a new generation of production." - Brett Brohl, Managing Partner About IrishAngels IrishAngels was founded in 2012 as an angel network affiliated with Notre Dame. In 2017, IrishAngels Ventures (rebranded VitalizeVC in 2019) was launched as a result of continued growth and investment appetite among the IrishAngels investor network. Today, VitalizeVC and IrishAngels leverage shared team resources and office space, though each entity has a discrete investment criteria and process. "We like to back founders with big visions who have the operational know-how to execute quickly yet meaningfully. Investing in Sunny and his team at Fulcrum was an easy decision to make!" - Gale Wilkinson, Founder About Social Starts Social Starts is a venture capital partnership with a uniquely data-driven approach to investing in moment-of-inception and Series A financing rounds. We focus on companies that leverage social and mobile technologies with a particular emphasis on the emerging science and technology of health and happiness. "We're proud to support Fulcrum in their groundbreaking work to bring forth a new resurgence of manufacturing growth. Sunny has assembled a brilliant and highly qualified team to build better technology for a new generation of production." - Mike Edelhart, Managing Partner About SpringTime Ventures We love startups. We love the grit, passion, and innovation that entrepreneurs bring to the world. We believe in a company culture that inspires action, accountability, and intention. We have a deep soul for this, and we want our companies to be the same. We know ideas are not enough. We invest in trustworthy leaders who have deep domain experience. We want them acutely aware of the people, partners, and resources they need to scale. "SpringTime Ventures is excited to be part of the Fulcrum team. Sunny has the deep domain expertise that we look for in founders, and his journey represents the grit and dedication it takes to succeed. We believe Fulcrum's systems will enable small & medium sized American manufacturers to stay competitive, flourish and grow." - Rich Maloy, Venture Partner About Daren Cotter Daren founded InboxDollars, an online consumer rewards program, as a Freshman in college in 2000. He led the company's growth to more than $25 million of annual revenues -- entirely bootstrapped -- and sold the business to a strategic acquirer in 2019. Daren is active in the MN Tech community as a mentor, advisor, and angel investor. "Fulcrum addresses a significant pain point for their customers in a very large market. I'm very impressed by Sunny's leadership and think this is a key MN company to watch!" About Phil Soran Phil Soran serves as Lead Director on the board of directors of Piper Sandler Companies, is on the board of directors for Foodsby, and was co-founder of Flipgrid, Inc., CEO and co-founder of Compellent Technologies, Inc., CEO and co-founder of Xiotech. "I have known Sunny for years and seen how much he cares about manufacturing and especially Fulcrum's customers. The culture Sunny has created has enabled Fulcrum to develop solutions that have a true, positive business impact for manufacturers, which is why I'm excited to support and be a part of their continued growth!" Yishan Wong Yishan Wong was the CEO of Reddit, co-founder of Sunfire Offices, founder of Terraformation, an early engineer at PayPal, an early engineer at Facebook and an advisor at Quora. CONTACTS Nick Wassenberg Vice President, Marketing Fulcrum nick@fulcrumpro.com Megan Derkey Bellmont Partners megand@bellmontpartners.com (651) 269-5182 The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) of Iran opened this week a new naval base in a coastal town along the worlds most important oil chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz, a theater of frequent incidents and frictions between Iran and the United States. The IRGC, including its Al Quds Force, were designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. last year. The new naval base at Sirik, a coastal Iranian town east of the Strait of Hormuz, was officially launched on Wednesday at a ceremony attended by IRGC Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami, Irans PressTV reported on Thursday. With the opening and unveiling of this base, the countrys combat operations, ship operations, reconnaissance as well as defensive and offensive operations in the Persian Gulf will further develop, PressTV quoted the commander as saying. Irawhich has repeatedly threatened in recent years to close the Strait of Hormuz if it cant export its oiloften holds naval war games and military drills in its waters in the Gulf, including in areas close to the most important shipping lane in the world. The Strait of Hormuz is the most important oil chokepoint in the world with daily oil flows averaging 21 million bpd, or the equivalent of 21 percent of global petroleum liquids consumption. According to EIA estimates, 76 percent of the crude oil and condensate that moved through the Strait of Hormuz last year went to Asian markets, with China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore the top destinations. Tensions between the United States and Iran in the Gulf have flared on and off in recent years, especially after the U.S. pulled out of the so-called Iran nuclear deal in May 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on Irans oil industry and exports. In one of the latest major incidents in the Gulf earlier this year, the tension in the Middle East and around the Strait of Hormuz spiked after the U.S. killed the top Iranian general of the Al Quds forces, Qassem Soleimani, for which Iran retaliated with a ballistic missiles attack on U.S. bases in Iraq. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: 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 Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai (TCI) has been awarded $13 million as part of the renewal of its National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Designation, a prestigious distinction that is based on scientific excellence, robust clinical research, and beneficial community impact. The National Cancer Institute rated TCIs application as outstanding. The five-year redesignation awardthe Institutes second consecutive designationwill support research programs and facilities, promote collaborative translational cancer research in a coordinated manner, and help disseminate cancer research findings to the community. The funding complements $53 million in current cancer research grants earned by TCI investigators. The strategic plan that helped lead to the redesignation this year included cutting-edge clinical research developed by teams from several disciplines, allowing TCI to provide personalized care to the New York City metro areas diverse communities. Four areas in which TCI researchers and physicians excel, and which contributed to the redesignation, include: Understanding cancer tumors and the immune system interaction on a cellular level, also known as the tumor microenvironment, a fertile area for improving cancer treatment Enhancing research in genetics, gene regulation, and signaling pathways, promising areas for discoveries that will improve the lives of cancer patients Elevating cancer disparities research as a means to promote equity and find better prevention and treatment strategies in the New York metro area, with a special emphasis on TCIs neighboring communities of Central Harlem, East Harlem, and the Upper East Side Disseminating TCI discoveries throughout the greater Mount Sinai network. TCI is part of an expanding cancer care network that includes seven different hospitals in New York City with more than 10,000 new cancer patients per year. TCI was first named an NCI-designated cancer center in 2015. Since then, the recruitment of leaders in cancer genomics, lung cancer, cancer immunology, and clinical research, and the exponential growth of clinical trials originated by Mount Sinai physicians, has helped bolster the cancer centers national prominence and continued to bring cutting-edge research from the lab to the bedside of Mount Sinai patients. The NCI redesignation recognizes our plan to maximize our ability to make an impact in our community and at the national level over the next five years, expanding on our successes in four key areas: cancer immunology, cancer mechanisms, cancer clinical investigation, and cancer prevention and control, said Ramon Parsons, MD, PhD, Director of The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai, Ward-Coleman Chair in Cancer Research, and Chair of Oncological Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Our patients are the beneficiaries of our commitment to advancing scientific research in cancer and harnessing our findings into new therapies and prevention initiatives. Some achievements in the four key areas include: Identifying new targets in and around cancer cells to design therapies to attack those targets and kill the cancer, in the cancer clinical investigations program, which is led by Jian Jin, PhD, and Marshall Posner, MD Developing cancer vaccine trials using samples of a patients tumor to create a personalized vaccine that would prevent cancer recurrence and that could be combined with immunotherapy for increased benefit to the patient, in the cancer immunology program, led by Nina Bhardwaj, MD, PhD, and Miriam Merad, MD, PhD Researching the biology of dormant tumor cells, leading to a clinical trial in prostate cancer, in the cancer mechanisms program, led by Emily Bernstein, PhD, and Julio Aguirre-Ghiso, PhD Researching whether the use of white light in bone marrow transplant and lymphoma patients improves sleep and reduces depression, in the cancer prevention and control program, led by Nina Bickell, MD, and Emanuela Taioli, MD, PhD Our physicians have built up a repertoire of investigator-initiated trials and novel clinical research studies, which contributed to this redesignation and has become a strength of The Tisch Cancer Institute, said William K. Oh, MD, Deputy Director of The Tisch Cancer Institute, Chief of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Mount Sinai Health System, and the Ezra M. Greenspan, MD, Professor in Clinical Cancer Therapeutics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Another strength that sets us apart is our research on cancer in World Trade Center responders, due to our unique position of having a monitoring program at Mount Sinai. Our research has led to insights into how inflammation leads to cancer as well as which cancers should be investigated in this vulnerable population. The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai investigates real-world, complex medical problems and solves them with teams of scientists and physicians that successfully integrate many disciplines, said Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and President for Academic Affairs of the Mount Sinai Health System. The NCI redesignation underscores our exceptional leadership, extensive research facilities, and an institution-wide commitment to research with a focus on identifying and combatting disparities so that all patients receive the best care possible. About the Mount Sinai Health System The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai is a national and international source of unrivaled education, translational research and discovery, and collaborative clinical leadership ensuring that we deliver the highest quality carefrom prevention to treatment of the most serious and complex human diseases. The Health System includes more than 7,200 physicians and features a robust and continually expanding network of multispecialty services, including more than 400 ambulatory practice locations throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of the Top 20 Best Hospitals in the country and the Icahn School of Medicine as one of the Top 20 Best Medical Schools in country. Mount Sinai Health System hospitals are consistently ranked regionally by specialty and our physicians in the top 1% of all physicians nationally by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. San Francisco Catholics march in protest of coronavirus restrictions: 'God has to be respected' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Six months into the coronavirus pandemic that prompted widespread economic shutdowns and disruptions to everyday life, Catholics in San Francisco marched in protest, decrying the worship restrictions that have prevented them from holding in-person masses as usual. Three eucharistic processions originating at Catholic parishes throughout the city converged at city hall as protesters participated in the Free the Mass event Sunday. From there, attendees marched to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, where outdoor mass was led by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. Were very tired of being discriminated against because weve proven scientifically we can worship safely inside the church, he said. Cordileones discrimination claim reflects the fact that coronavirus restrictions limit indoor worship services to 50 people while not placing similar limits on secular businesses such as grocery and retail stores. Cordileone and others accused local officials of violating their First Amendment rights by enacting such restrictions. Theres no reason to keep us shut out of church. Its a natural right protected by the First Amendment, Cordileone added. My rights as an American citizen have been trampled upon, said Guillermo Collado, a member of St. Peters Parish who attended the protest. Were equal under the law. And theyre not treating us that way. Theyre treating us as non-essential, something that can be dispensed with. Participants in the march disagreed with the notion that church was a non-essential activity. Members of the crowd repeatedly chanted, We are essential, free the mass. Cordileone maintained that an inability to attend church has had an impact on the people of his faith community. People are hurting, he asserted. Our people are hurting because they cannot come to church, they cannot receive the sacraments, they cannot exercise their natural right protected by the First Amendment to worship without suffering punishment from our city. The city continues to place unrealistic and suffocating restrictions on our natural and constitutional right to worship, he proclaimed. God has to be respected in this society. If theres no proper ordering with respecting God, which means the practice of religion has to be a part of the public life and we can do that with respect for all peoples religious beliefs, then we can put our society back together. But as long as we keep rejecting God, were going to keep suffering all of the problems and the torments that weve been going through. The discontent surrounding the worship restrictions in San Francisco and California as a whole are not unique to Catholicism. Pastors of multiple Protestant churches in the jurisdictions subject to the strictest restrictions have held indoor church services in spite of the restrictions. Even as he faced threats of fines and arrest, California Pastor John MacArthur refused to stop holding in-person church services. We will obey God rather than men, he said. As coronavirus restrictions prevent worshipers living in multiple California counties from gathering indoors, outdoor worship services have taken place at beaches across the state. Sean Feucht, a worship artist who has led several outdoor beach services, declared that what were seeing now is a return back to a gritty, raw Gospel, Jesus people movement caused by the fact that we cant be in our churches. Earlier this month, the Chino Hills-based Calvary Chapel held an outdoor baptism at a southern California beach that attracted nearly 1,000 people. While Calvary Chapel has held outdoor baptisms in the past, the turnout this year was unprecedented. California may be experiencing a spiritual revival, Calvary Chapel Church Director Gina Gleason explained. According to Becket, a religious liberty law firm, California is one of six states where religious services are prohibited or subject to unequal treatment as compared to the coronavirus restrictions placed on other businesses. The other states are Nevada, Virginia, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maine. Beckets tracker of worship restrictions across the 50 states was last updated on Aug. 17. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 04:07:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Video: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sept. 23, 2020 urges joint efforts to address the infodemic, mitigating the harm done to people by misinformation and disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua) "The antidote lies in making sure that science-backed facts and health guidance circulate even faster, and reach people wherever they access information," says the UN chief. 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. The 2020/2021 Cocoa Freight Negotiations opened in Accra on Thursday with the Ghana Shippers' Authority assuring of its determination to negotiate competitive freight rates for ferrying Ghana's cocoa to the international markets. The Cocoa Freight Negotiations, an annual event organised by industry players, is taking place in Ghana for the second time. It brought together key stakeholders including the GSA, Cocoa Marketing Company, shipping lines, Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority, Ship Owners and Agents Association, marine insurance brokers and marine cargo surveyors. Speaking at the opening ceremony in Accra on Thursday, Ms Benonita Bismarck, the Chief Executive of GSA, said the stakeholders would consider some factors including global freight and Bunker rates before fixing cocoa freight rates that would be mutually acceptable by all. She noted that some shipping lines had already submitted proposals on the cocoa freight rates, however, there would be one-on-one dialogue to ensure that the freight rates were in the national interest. "We shall ensure a cost-effective way to buy and ship Ghana's cocoa and shipping lines are obliged to comply by the freight rates when we agree on it," Ms Bismarck added. Ms Bismarck observed that the global COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected shipping business activities with bunker prices slightly lower and freight rates stable. Due to the pandemic, she said, Ghana's Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiama brought up an appeal on behalf of the government for shipping lines to waive off demurrage charges, which were agreed by the shipping lines to ameliorate the suffering of importers. 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 Automakers sue US government over tariffs on Chinese imports Tesla is one of several major automakers suing the US government over tariffs on Chinese goods Major automakers Tesla, Volvo, Ford and Mercedes-Benz have sued the US government over tariffs on Chinese goods, demanding customs duties paid on imports be returned, with interest. The lawsuits, which were filed in recent days in the New York-based Court of International Trade, concern tariffs imposed by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on imports from China, which Tesla in its filing called "arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion." The duties came amid a wider trade dispute between Washington and Beijing, and the automakers are asking for the tariffs to be revoked and any money paid to import parts returned. Mercedes-Benz in its filing accused Washington of "prosecution of an unprecedented, unbounded, and unlimited trade war impacting over $500 billion in imports from the People's Republic of China." The German automaker argued that US law "did not confer authority on defendants to litigate a vast trade war for however long, and by whatever means, they choose." Officials at the office of US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer did not respond when contacted by AFP for comments on the lawsuits. US President Donald Trump's administration engaged in months of trade conflicts with China, and imposed the levies as part of an effort to wean US manufacturers off Chinese technology. China and the United States signed their "phase one" trade deal earlier this year that partially ended the dispute. Under that agreement, Beijing promised to buy $200 billion in US goods and Washington backed down on tariffs on $160 billion in Chinese goods, particularly consumer electronics. The US also slashed by half 15 percent tariffs on $120 billion in goods, but kept in place 25 percent duties on $250 billion in imports, which some of the automakers cited in their lawsuits. Beijing has retaliated for these levies, while Washington is aiming both to reduce its trade deficit and reform Chinese business practices it considers unfair. Story continues The Commerce Department reported the US trade deficit in July surged nearly 11 percent to $63.6 billion, with the deficit with China climbing to $28.3 billion. China is the world's biggest auto market and the main growth driver for many car manufacturers -- especially for electric car maker Tesla, which intends to benefit from the country's ambitious targets for reducing CO2 emissions. cs/vmt-ch/sst We are sat at our table in Cornerstone, Hackney, sated but still savouring the last of our cheese course. To our left, two guys are engaged in an animated discussion about Star Wars; to our right a couple are, like us, lingering over a seductive combination of carrot and walnut cake, creamy, oozing brie and honey-sweet Moscatel wine. The time is 10.15pm. Tom Browns acclaimed restaurant is no longer bustling, but still humming with the sound of contented diners enjoying coffees and cocktails, and waiters and chefs slowly winding down for the evening. It is my favourite time to be in a restaurant and it is the last time Ill have the opportunity for what Boris Johnson says could be up to six months. As of Thursday, all restaurants, bars and pubs will have to close their doors at 10pm. There are no exceptions. Whether, like Cornerstone, you are a fine dining restaurant which has spent the past three months imposing socially distanced tables, track and trace systems and rigorous cleaning measures; or whether you are one of the Soho pubs which made the front pages this summer on account of the crowds of drinkers gathered outside, come 9.59pm all customers must be turfed out. There has been no discrimination, says Mark Birchall, who runs Moor Hall, a two Michelin starred restaurant in rural Yorkshire, and a more informal restaurant next door called The Barn at Moor Hall. Yet the hospitality industry is hugely diverse. You have wet pubs, which dont serve food, and you have places like ours, which are super covid secure, he continues. In the past three months he has welcomed more than 7,000 diners, without incident. We have two sittings at 6pm and 9pm. Guests dont come into contact with other guests. There is no rapid turnover of tables. Here and at The Barn Birchalls more informal restaurant guests say they feel safe and super comfortable. Why havent they distinguished between us and the pubs? For restauranteurs, it feels like unnecessary salt in the wounds which have already been inflicted by lockdown, and which were only just beginning to heal thanks to Eat Out To Help Out. After reopening in July, Mark Birchall says they welcomed more than 7,000 diners in a covid-secure way without any problems (Moor Hall) It feels pretty catastrophic, especially given what the industry has been through in the past few months, says James Lowe, who like everyone else has already had to reduce the number of tables in his restaurants, Lyles and Flor, due to social distancing measures. Now we need to essentially halve the number of bookings we take across the evening as there can be no sitting post 8pm which might not sound like too much of a hardship until you look at the cold, hard maths. On paper, a 10pm curfew hardly seems unreasonable. However, the literal translation to the industry is an 8pm last sitting. On restaurants that survive on two or three sittings this curtails trade by up to 50 per cent says David Carter, chef and founder of Smokestak in east London. The latest figures from Public Health England shows transmission of the disease is less than 5 per cent in hospitality sector At The Boat Inn in Lichfield that translates as 3,000 on Friday and Saturday evenings, says owner Liam Dillon: proof that eating late is not just a London phenomena. People do eat later. They work later, there are more demands on their lives these days. It just feels like the government is completely out of touch with modern dining and modern life. The shorter sittings dont just mean fewer diners; it means less spend per head, on coffee, drinks and cheeseboards. It means customers who otherwise come out dont bother, because it affects peoples ability to come out and make an evening of it. It goes without saying that for most restaurateurs these restrictions would be understandable were they necessary to stop the spread of Covid 19, and funded accordingly. As things stand, however, they are neither. We were taking a lot of orders between midnight and 3 in the morning, and we had taken on new staff who cant go on furlough because they are new hires The latest figures from Public Health England shows transmission of the disease is less than 5 per cent in hospitality sector, while 45 per cent is transmitted care homes. Workplaces and educational establishments follow not far behind. Im all for taking changes that are going to make people safer and slow the spread of the virus, says Carter, but closing an hour earlier feels empty, especially given that most of the transmission isnt happening in restaurants and we go out of our way to provide a safe environment with social distancing and cleaning measures. In fact, says Birchall, reducing the hours in which restaurants can operate just means more people leaving and arriving together. If youre shutting your doors at 10pm, everyone is leaving at 10pm, he continues and in cities, that means multiple restaurants and bars emptying out onto public transport. Its goes against everything we have all been trying to do from the start. On paper, a 10pm curfew hardly seems unreasonable. However the literal translation to the industry is an 8pm last sitting, says David Carter, chef and founder of Smokestak (Smokestak) If, in a few weeks time, we fail to see the surge in cases predicted then fair play to them, says Xavier Rousset, a long-standing restauranteur who, in addition to Blandford Comptoir in Marylebone, has just opened Black Book, a bar and brasserie with a late night license until 3am in Soho. If it proves well targeted, I will accept it. But I have my doubts that this will magically prevent the spread of the virus and in the meantime, he and his fellow late night license holders face the prospect of laying off scores of employees. We have been trading well. We were taking a lot of orders between midnight and 3 in the morning, and we had taken on new staff who cant go on furlough because they are new hires. If we take in 40 per cent of what we used to take and there is no government support, there will be collateral damage in terms of staff costs. At the time of writing, no government support is forthcoming. It will totally undo whatever we tried to save in August and not knowing how long its going to go on for doesnt help either This isnt just about the reduced table capacity either, says Carter. The other less-than-obvious consideration is the fear the broader message instils in the hospitality industry. If the wider public lose confidence in the safety of restaurants, bars and pubs through government messaging and propaganda and indeed do believe the virus is a real threat in these settings we may then even struggle to fill that 8pm booking slot, or many others for that matter. After all the gains made thanks to Eat Out To Help Out, which drew diners across the country with its promise of money off and assurances of safety, Boris Johnson risks undoing all of the hospitality industrys hard work. It will totally undo whatever we tried to save in August, says Rousset and not knowing how long its going to go on for doesnt help either. They should be encouraging people to be sensible and do the right thing, says Birchall. Instead, they are just making them scared. Eat Out to Help Out gave the whole industry a chance to gain a heartbeat again, says Chris Leach of Manteca in Soho. Following the success, we continued with a Monday to Wednesday set menu at Manteca this month which has been well supported. The optimist in him believes those people who have gone out to restaurants will continue to do so. But confidence is a very fragile thing that is easily lost but difficult to re-gain. Of course, if the past six months have shown anything, it is how resilient restaurants can be and how adaptable. From home deliveries to take away hatches, Eat Out To Help Out extensions and full menu experiences, restaurant owners and chefs have shown themselves eminently capable of rising to seemingly insurmountable challenges but there is a palpable sense that, for many, the curfew could prove a bridge too far. In these situations the hospitality industry is renowned for being positive and finding solutions, says Andrew Wildsmith of Forest Side, a Michelin starred restaurant and hotel in the Lake District. Since reopening, they have only had guests of the hotel at dinner time, to reduce capacity and ensure their safety so they can make up for the loss of the hotel bar by offering guests in room experiences, like room service night caps. Were playing with ideas at the moment, he says. James Lowe at Lyles restaurant in Shoreditch will open earlier at 5pm to try and make up for lost time (Lyle's) His fears are not for Forest Side, but for all the businesses who cant offer things like this. This hasnt really affected us, and were trying to be positive but I do feel for other restaurants. Those restaurants which expanded into retail during lockdown might have an advantage: diners of Top Cuvee in Highbury can pop to Shop Cuvee and take a bottle home after closing time. Those having too good a time to call time at Paladar in Londons Southwark can pick up a bottle of fine tequila from their adjoining cellar to make their own margaritas. For most, though, this is sore blow particularly to restaurants in city centres, which thrive on late night licenses and rely on people travelling into town even less likely now people are working from home again. Soho and Shoreditch: these are late night places. That is the culture, and they have been more severely impacted by the pandemic than residential areas because of home working. I dont think Soho can afford another struggle like this, Rousset sighs. Lowe will open Lyles, his Shoreditch restaurant, earlier at 5pm for dinner, in a bid to try and re-gain the bookings we will now lose for later in the evening. But as people will now be back to working from home, that will inevitably be much harder and lunch trade will also be reduced. Not being able to have one last drink; not being able to go out to eat if we finish working late; for restaurant and bar-goers this is just a tiny step backwards. For their owners however, it is a huge leap closer to the grim prospect of job losses and shuttered doors. He is one of the 20th century's most famous artists, but not many people know that Man Ray got his start as a fashion photographer. A new exhibition in Paris sets out to uncover the fashion world roots of the American surrealist, who first made his name taking flattering portraits of the rich and famous. Like many young artists Emmanuel Radnitzky, as Man Ray was then known, had trouble making ends meet when he arrived in Paris in 1920 to plunge himself into the Dadaist movement. But the new show "Man Ray and Fashion" at the Luxembourg museum in the French capital sets out how his time as chronicler of the style stars of the Roaring Twenties shaped his art. Encouraged by the couturier Paul Poiret -- the Karl Lagerfeld of his time -- the artist began to work for magazines like Vogue, Femina and Vanity Fair. Fashion historian Catherine Ormen, who curated the show, said magazines at the time never used photos of clothes for fear that designs would be copied. Instead they printed sketches while Man Ray photographed stylish celebrities for them. But the artist was not content with producing glossy images of Parisian socialites. - Glamour and tears - "With Man Ray you start with nothing and end with photographs that are almost abstract and works of art," she told AFP. Indeed one of his masterpieces, "Glass Tears" (1932), came from an advertising campaign for water resistant mascara. He transformed the rather banal image using his trademark photomontage techniques which he later christened "rayographs". The iconic image also spoke of Man Ray's own anger and hurt after his split with the photographer and model, Lee Miller. The following year he became a permanent fixture in the US fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar, where the precursor of the Photoshop generation brought his abstract and surrealist experiments to a still wider public. Among the other well-known images in the show is his famous portrait of the designer Coco Chanel in profile, her hands in her pockets and a cigarette in her mouth. Story continues It also shines a light on the style revolution of the 1920s, when women's fashion threw off Victorian restrains to embrace freedom of movement, only to slip back to more formal attire in the 1930s, when fashionistas would change their clothes, hairstyles and even nail colours up to three times a day. The show, which runs until January 17, is the first time the Luxembourg museum -- which is better known for Old Masters shows -- has tackled fashion. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Nursing homes and other senior care providers remain at the epicenter of this pandemic and desperately need funding. For these facilities, COVID-19 remains a 24-hour challenge, but theyre running out of resources and need help from Harrisburg. Pennsylvanias state government must provide immediate financial support so nursing home facilities can purchase personal protective equipment, pay for government-mandated testing, and hire and retain skilled personnel. This can be done because our state government is sitting on $1 billion in federal CARES Act funding. This money must be released now to help care for our front-line workers and our residents, who remain vulnerable to this virus. Its disappointing that Gov. Wolf did not make long-term care one of his priorities for the fall legislative session. At a time when hospitals are not stressed by COVID-19, the pandemic remains a serious threat in long-term care facilities. Yet, our members continue to be asked to do more with no new funding. The Pennsylvania General Assembly must take steps immediately to ensure nursing homes have the emergency financial support necessary to help us save lives. Anne Henry, Senior VP and Chief Government Relations Officer, LeadingAge PA, Mechanicsburg, Pa. The attorney for a man found with a broken-down rifle and three AR-15 magazines at a Chattanooga protest at Miller Park is asking that charges against him be dismissed. Trevan Young is charged with possessing a firearm with intent to go armed, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. Judge Christie Sell will rule on this motion on Nov. 10. McCracken Poston said carrying a weapon can be lawful if related to lawful hunting, trapping, fishing, camping, sport shooting, or any other lawful activity. In Attorney Postons motion, he wrote: The Defendant, who was peacefully protesting, was arguably participating in the most protected activity, his rights to free speech, assembly, and to protest his government. As such, the charges regarding the carrying of a disassembled weapon should be dismissed. The motion also asks for the other charges to be dropped. He said, Evidence shows a large number of police officers seized him after he was initially confused and frightened about the intervention of another office. The motion also mentioned that tensions were already high at the protest against treatment of African-American suspects by police departments across the country. On June 1, Young was at a Miller Park rally with a protest sign. Police said an officer tried to speak with him, but Young walked away. At that point, police said they were unable to handcuff Young at first, and multiple officers then jumped on Young during the arrest. Attorney Poston said, "Trevan Young is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served our country as a Signal Intelligence Analyst in the 18th Airborne Corps, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, and has no criminal record aside from some speeding tickets. Mr. Young went through a legal background check, and purchased the weapon from a licensed firearm dealer. Attorney Poston also said the gun was never assembled at any time during the rally. A Senate panel is preparing to subpoena the chief executive officers of Alphabet Inc.s Google, Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. if they dont agree to appear voluntarily to testify on a controversial legal shield that benefits social media, said a spokesperson for the Senate Commerce Committee. The panel is asking Sundar Pichai, Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey to address Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which allows the platforms to avoid lawsuits over content that their users post, the spokesperson said. The CEOs have been invited to testify at the hearing, which is planned for Oct. 1, said two Senate aides who asked not to be named because the date hasnt been officially announced. The committee spokesperson declined to confirm the date. Google and Twitter didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. Facebook declined to comment. Politico reported the panels subpoena threat earlier on Thursday. The legal shield is increasingly under attack in Washington. The Justice Department unveiled its latest proposal to overhaul the law on Wednesday. The Federal Communications Commission is also considering changes via a rulemaking requested by President Donald Trump in response to Twitters fact-checking of some of his posts. Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress are seeking their own changes to Section 230, although they have differed on the approach and the goals. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker recently sponsored a bill to narrow the companies discretion over what content they take down. Conservatives have been seeking to change the law to address what they say is bias by the big tech companies against right-wing views. Trump met Wednesday with Republican state attorneys general on the alleged bias issues and the gathering emphasized concerns about Section 230. The companies have denied they are biased and argue that the provision protects free speech while allowing them to take down the most vile content without fear that theyll be subject to litigation for doing so. Pichai and Zuckerberg also recently voluntarily testified remotely before a House subcommittee probing competition in tech. Dorsey has previously testified before Congress. Sen. Josh Hawley, another tech critic in the GOP, introduced a motion on Thursday to pass his recent bill that seeks to prohibit companies from receiving Section 230 protections unless they update their terms of service to operate in good faith. That bill has no Democratic cosponsors. Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who helped author Section 230, blocked Hawleys motion. Read more about: We were going through a period of confronting generations of systemic racism, he said. The city was going through a period of unrest. I had to focus on that. I wasnt fully able to even focus on myself. It became clear that the next months might pose too difficult of a challenge. Mr. Johnson had not fund-raised since March, and he said he no longer felt like doing so. To do that job and run for mayor at the same time while dealing with depression just seemed like it was too much for me, he said. Mr. Johnson said his depression began in May and was related to isolation that he experienced during the lockdown, when he and his partner did not have physical contact with others for at least three months. He said he sought help and was now taking medication. The only other time that I can ever remember feeling this way was when I was a teenager, 16 years old and closeted, Mr. Johnson said. Weve all had rough patches, but I cant remember anything like this. It has to do with how Covid has changed the world. Mr. Johnson, 38, said he knew he would not likely run after a five-day visit with his mother in Massachusetts in mid-August. His mother urged him to prioritize his health and told him that he still had a political future. Thats when it really started to jell for me, he said. Mr. Johnson is prevented from seeking a third consecutive term on the City Council because of term-limit laws. He has not ruled out a future run for another office such as Congress. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump announced that his administration is awarding $200 million of CARES Act funding to all 50 states to prepare to distribute coronavirus vaccine to high-risk residents. Addressing a news conference at the White House, Trump said four vaccine candidates in the United States have reached the final stage of clinical trial, with Johnson & Johnson being the latest. He said his government also continues to accelerate lifesaving therapies. 'We're seeing promising results that our monoclonal antibody treatments -- which help the immune system fight the virus and help very significantly -- can reduce hospitalizations now by more than 70 percent,' he told reporters. Regarding reopening of schools, Trump said research shows encouraging results. 'Brown University conducted a study of more than 550 schools across 46 states and found that only 0.076 percent of students had confirmed cases of the virus -- that's a tiny percentage -- and 0.15 percent of teachers had confirmed cases.' HHS Secretary Alex Azar said the Department of Health and Human Services has the ability to begin distributing and administering safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines 'as soon as they are authorized and available'. CDC Director Robert Redfield said the agency is working closely with state and local jurisdictions to refine and update vaccination plans in preparation for the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine program. He added that the amount each jurisdiction receives is determined by a population-based formula. With 1095 additional deaths reporting in the last 24 hours, coronavirus death toll in the United States reached 201909, as per Johns Hopkins University's latest data. With the addition of 36,772 coronavirus-related cases in the same period, total number of infections in the country reached 6934204. A Republican governor who rejected calls to introduce state rules requiring people to wear masks as a protective measure against contracting coronavirus has tested positive for the disease. Missouri Governor Mike Parson and his wife were tested positive for COVID Wednesday. Nearly 2000 people died and around 1.2 million have been infected with coronavirus in the state so far. Meanwhile, CDC said in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) that between June and August, adults in the age group of 20-29 years had the highest rate of COVID19 infections, accounting for 1 of every 5 cases in the United States. This is contrary to the early trend of the pandemic spreading among older adults. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GreatSchools.org, the leading provider of school information, is launching updated Equity and Summary Ratings for K-12 public schools across the nation today. The new methodology gives parents, advocacy organizations, and other community stakeholders a view of school quality that prioritizes equitable outcomes. The new Equity Rating will now include student growth and college readiness metrics in addition to proficiency rates. The Summary Rating will also shift to emphasize student growth relative to test score performance in order to focus on how well schools are helping students learn each school year. GreatSchools.org launched multi-measured schools ratings including its Equity Rating in 2017. The updated Summary Rating and Equity Rating methodology announced today is the result of a thorough process of consulting with parents, education researchers, policymakers, and civil rights advocates, as well as reviewing current research and available data that address equitable outcomes for all students. "This is a big day for us. At GreatSchools, we are always working to improve our ratings and how we provide information and support for parents," says Jon Deane, CEO of GreatSchools. "Focusing on student growth over time and equity measures in our new ratings helps us see the quality of instruction and experiences students receive in a school versus the advantages or disadvantages they may have in life. This is just a start we will continue to uncover new ways to highlight school quality for all families." In a time when our country is reckoning with systemic inequities, GreatSchools.org is doubling down on ways to identify opportunities while continuing to shed light on educational disparities. "We recognize that schools are complex and that the definition of success is as diverse as the millions of parents who visit GreatSchools each year," said Orville Jackson, Vice President of Data Strategy at GreatSchools.org. "Our aim is to develop a broader view of school quality that increasingly reflects a focus on equity, better accounts for the complexities inherent in building just systems of education, and provides the parents we serve many of whom have few resources the information they need to set their child up for success." Key changes to the GreatSchools Summary Ratings include: Elevating the relative weight of data that measures student learning (Student Progress, or growth data, and Academic Progress, or growth proxy). Elevating the relative weight of the Equity Rating. Continuing to display a red flag for schools with significant disparities in discipline and attendance but removing this factor from the Summary Rating. The GreatSchools Equity Rating measures a school's success in serving historically underserved students compared to all students in the state and in-school achievement gaps between underserved student groups and other students. Changes to the GreatSchools Equity Rating include: Adding college readiness metrics, such as college entrance exam performance (SAT/ACT), high school graduation rates, and percentage of graduates who meet more advanced graduation requirements (e.g. A-G course requirements in CA). Adding measurements of student learning (Student Progress, or growth data, and Academic Progress, or growth proxy). GreatSchools.org will continue to expand its data and information for parents and the rating system that parents know and trust. The current changes paint a more accurate picture of which schools are providing equitable outcomes for Black students, Hispanic/Latino students, Native American students, and students living in poverty, but there is more valuable school information to share with parents. GreatSchools.org is committed to accessing and advocating for new data that gives parents a richer picture of their child's education and highlights excellence for all students. In addition to school information, GreatSchools.org also offers parents free resources to support the academic and social-emotional development of their children in kindergarten through 12th grade, including articles, worksheets, videos, podcasts, and grade-based newsletters in English and Spanish. During these unprecedented times, GreatSchools.org's school closure learning guide in English and Spanish provides families with grade-based tools, resource recommendations, and guidance for learning at home. GreatSchools.org's experts are available for media interviews. For more information about their ratings and methodology visit https://www.greatschools.org/gk/ratings/. SOURCE GreatSchools.org For the first time in Texas history, the state has a method, albeit limited, for voters to register online. The state was forced to set up the online voter registration system by a U.S. district judge in San Antonio who ruled last month that Texas officials were violating the National Voter Registration Act by denying residents a chance to register to vote anytime they apply for, renew or update their drivers licenses. The deadline for the state to set up the online registration portal was Wednesday. While the online voter registration is available only to that particular population, the fact it was created at all is a significant shift for the state, which until now had required Texans making license changes online to print and mail a form to their county registrar. Texas is one of just nine states that do not offer widespread online voter registration, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. A TEXAS FIRST: Federal judge orders Texas DPS to allow online voter registration by Sept. 23 The change particularly affects young and low-income voters who move more frequently, according to Mimi Marziani, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project, which represented the plaintiffs. We know that close to 2 million people use that portal every year to update their drivers licenses, she said. That comes down to thousands of people every single day. The last day to register in Texas to vote in the November election is Oct. 5. Kayleigh Date, a spokeswoman for the Texas attorney generals office, confirmed Thursday that the secretary of state and Texas Department of Public Safety are in compliance with the courts order. Date said the AGs office plans to appeal the federal district court ruling. Republican state leaders have fought for years against online registration by saying it would increase the chances of voter fraud. In 2018, they successfully appealed a nearly identical ruling on a technicality, arguing that the plaintiffs no longer were harmed because they had re-registered since filing the suit. Marziani said she was cautiously optimistic that the decision will stick this time because the state already has complied with the order and the lawsuit showed that the harm was ongoing. REGISTRATIONS TOSSED IN 2018: Texas rejects 2,400 online voter registrations as Oct. 9 deadline looms Lead plaintiff Jarrod Stringer and other voters filed suit again in January after they experienced further problems trying to register to vote. Stringer originally was unable to vote in 2014 after he and his wife relocated to San Antonio. It happened again a year ago when they moved to Houston. Online voter registration available for drivers license holders The ruling last month means online registration and re-registration is now available to anyone who updates their driver's license online. Nearly 2 million Texans use the state's online driver's license portal each year, according to Mimi Marziani, the president of the Texas Civil Rights Project, which represented the plaintiffs. That number is expected to rise this year amid the pandemic. See More Collapse Texas previously has allowed voters to update their registration online only if they move within the same county. Voter registration also is available for those who go in person to apply for a license. The goal really was to change the system that was being set up in Texas to deny the people their right to vote, Stringer said. I felt like that was really a violation of their citizenship. And I know Im not the only one. Stringer said the online portal appeared to be working Wednesday night when he used it himself, though it did not clearly indicate that the registration process was completed. He said he and the other voters plan to press the state to make the process more explicit. It was not clear at all, he said. Theyre still trying to keep it murky. The number of Texans renewing their licenses online is expected to increase this year because of restrictions in place amid the coronavirus pandemic. Marziani said people also are more likely to have to move now because of the economic fallout from the health crisis. She said the group is hopeful the ruling can be a starting point for further action by state leaders. Now we know that Texas has the technical know-how to do this and can do it securely, Marziani said, this is the time for the Legislature to take the next step and fully enact voter registration. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:41:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. side needs to recognize facts on the ground and properly handle bilateral relations with China, and between the two nations' militaries, China's defense ministry said on Thursday. Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper's recent verbal attacks against China over Post-World War II international order. Tan said China firmly opposes the false and groundless accusations and speculations, noting that China has always been resolute in defending the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and upholding the UN-centered international system and the law-based international order. China has always been carrying out exchanges and cooperation with other countries in accordance with the basic norms of international relations, and is an advocate and practitioner of international equality and justice, Tan added. However, for a significant period of time, the United States has been bent on unilateralism, protectionism and power politics, said Tan. The U.S. side has continued to shirk its international responsibilities, and withdrawn or threatened to withdraw from multiple international organizations and global treaties, such as the WHO, UNESCO, UNHRC and the Paris Agreement on climate change, Tan said. He also pointed out that the United States owes around 2 billion U.S. dollars in UN membership fees and peacekeeping assessments. China remains committed to developing a China-U.S. relationship featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, while staunchly upholding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, he said. Enditem Horrifying footage shows the moment a driver plowed through a group of Black Lives Matter protesters during unrest in Denver, Colorado, following the Kentucky grand jury's decision to not indict two police officers with Breonna Taylor's death. Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was shot dead on March 13 when police officers entered her home. On Wednesday afternoon, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said the jury declined to bring any charges against two of the three policemen who fired into Taylor's apartment because their actions were found to have been justified under Kentucky law as they returned fire after Taylor's boyfriend shot at them, wounding one. Police fired a total of 32 shots after the one round from Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who said he fired a warning shot because he feared a criminal intrusion and did not hear police identify themselves. Protests erupted across the nation in major cities, including Denver where a man rammed into a crowd of protesters throwing one woman on the hood of the vehicle. Scroll down for video Horrifying footage shows the moment a driver plowed through a group of Black Lives Matter protesters during unrest in Denver, Colorado, following the Kentucky grand jury's decision to not indict any of the police officers with the death of Breonna Taylor Car hit a protester pic.twitter.com/dtETwNoHPT Shelly Bradbury (@ShellyBradbury) September 24, 2020 The car drove through the crowd near the intersection of East Colfax Avenue and Broadway, hitting one person. Video posted to social media shows how the car had been surrounded by protesters before suddenly accelerating through the crowd. Screams come from the group and there are sounds of metal scrapping but a woman reported only minor injuries. 'I was kind of going up on the hood and I was like, "No, Im not doing this", and I rolled over to the side,' she said, identifying herself to the Denver Post only as Kate. 'He wasnt gonna stop even though I was, like, on his hood.' She said she had come out to demonstrate after state officials 'let Breonna Taylors murderers off'. The incident happened around 9.15pm once the main protest had finished. During that time, a small group of protesters remained rallying in front of the Colorado Capitol building. Protests erupted across the US (Denver pictured) following the decision on Wednesday to not indict the officers in the death of Breonna Taylor Civil rights activists decried the outcome as a miscarriage of justice and part of a nationwide pattern of unwarranted police violence against minorities The earlier demonstration had featured hundreds of people. Denver Police said they detained the driver, but they did not release the driver's identity. Demonstrators also marched in cities like Chicago, Washington, DC, Atlanta, New York City, Portland and Philadelphia. The protests erupted Wednesday night across the US after a grand jury indicted one Louisville officer in connection to the March 13 killing, but for shooting into a home next to Taylor's that had people in it. No charges were brought against the other two officers who fired their weapons in her home. Prosecutors said they were justified in using force to protect themselves after they were shot at. Civil rights activists decried the outcome as a miscarriage of justice and part of a nationwide pattern of unwarranted police violence against minorities. Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home on 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. WASHINGTON: The Trump administration on Thursday hit an Iranian revolutionary court and several judges with sanctions in part for their role in the conviction and execution of a young wrestler. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo imposed the sanctions on two judges with Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz as well as three prisons where he said human rights abuses were rampant. The sanctions include asset freezes and ban Americans from doing business with the targets. Pompeo said Judge Seyyed Mahmoud Sadati was being hit for his involvement in the case of 27-year-old wrestler Navid Afkari who was executed earlier this month despite worldwide appeals for clemency, including from President Donald Trump. Pompeo called the execution an unconscionable act that must not be in vain. The United States calls upon all nations to promote accountability for this regime by imposing sanctions like the ones announced today, Pompeo said. Too often, the Iranian regime targets, arrests, and kills the brightest and most promising Iranians, thereby depriving Iran of its greatest asset the skill and talent of its own people. On Sept. 12, Iran executed Afkari, who was convicted of murder, despite an international outcry to stop the execution and following Trumps plea. His case had drawn attention after a social media campaign portrayed him and his brothers, who remain in prison, as victims who were targeted because they participated in protests against Irans Shiite theocracy in 2018. Authorities accused Afkari of fatally stabbing a water supply company employee in the southern city of Shiraz amid the unrest. 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 Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for GO Campaign(LOS ANGELES) -- Actors Robert Pattinson, Lily Collins and Ewan McGregor are joining forces to host the GO Global Gala 2020 in support of COVID-19 relief. Hosted by GO Campaign, People reports that the event will feature performances by HAIM, Katharine McPhee, David Foster, Judith Hill and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia stars Rob McElhenny and Kaitlin Olson will also appear. Additionally, viewers will have access to a raffle and special prizes to be awarded by the celebrity participants during the show. We have the power and platform to make really impactful changes to so many peoples lives. I love supporting the GO Campaign and am excited about helping children and families in all these communities," Collins says in a statement. GO Campaign is an organization that provides aid to orphans and vulnerable children worldwide. Its COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund has awarded more than $179,000 in grants to front line organizations in countries including Haiti, Kenya and the U.S. Fans can register now for tickets to attend the free virtual gala, which streams on the GO Gala website on October 24 at 8 p.m. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 14:35:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Beijing has achieved growth in its investment in the first eight months of this year thanks to the launch and resumption of key projects and the stimulation of social capital investment, local authorities said. From January to August, the city's investment volume rose by 0.6 percent to 470.3 billion yuan (around 69 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 2.7 billion yuan over the same period last year, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform said Wednesday. This year, Beijing will continue to implement 100 infrastructure projects, 100 sustainable livelihood projects and 100 key projects in high-tech industries. The investment in these projects will total 1.3 trillion yuan, set to spend 250 billion yuan this year. Meanwhile, Beijing has launched nearly 1,400 new projects with a total investment of over 750 billion yuan, 1.7 times that of the same period last year. In terms of investment areas, Beijing saw strong investment growth in the manufacturing industry, with investment jumping 133.4 percent year on year to 13.38 billion yuan in the high-tech manufacturing sector. Beijing has also made greater efforts to release the momentum of social capital investment and stimulate the vitality of market entities. Beijing has promoted the infusion of private capital into 100 projects with a total investment of over 110 billion yuan. Enditem Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The death of liberal US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has huge implications for the future of law and life in the United States, giving Republican President Donald Trump the chance to cement a 6-3 conservative majority on the court. The United States was barrelling along a rollercoaster of an election campaign already, with its divisive partisan politics, a faltering economy, race riots and a worsening COVID death toll soaring past 200,000. Now the departure of Ginsburg, a cultural and feminist icon in the US (nicknamed RBG), will see both sides mobilising in an increasingly fractious environment to maximise possible political benefits. Why is the Supreme Court such a huge deal in the US? How are judges chosen? And what difference would a new face on the bench make to life in America? What's the US Supreme Court and why is the choice of judges such a huge deal? They are colloquially known as the Supremes not a new super-hero franchise nor a reworked version of the '60s all-female singing group, but a bunch of superstars in the US judicial firmament. Advertisement Article III of the Constitution established the federal judiciary, with the first meeting of the court in 1790. Nine judges, known as justices, sit on the highest court in the US and often provide the final word on highly contentious laws, disputes between states and the federal government, and final appeals to stay executions. They make landmark decisions, says Jared Mondschein, a US Studies Centre senior adviser at the University of Sydney, adding that these decisions can fundamentally transform the country, such as its 1954 ruling that the segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. That decision meant that students could no longer be excluded on the basis of race. A Supreme Court justice is a lifetime appointment. Australian justices have to retire at the age of 70. Its a role similar to the one performed by the Australian High Court, but it's a much more partisan body. There are three crucial factors driving this partisanship. One, the US president provides a nomination for any vacancy that arises in the court, which is reviewed and approved by the Senate. In Australia, it's the Governor-General who appoints a new justice on the advice of the Commonwealth Attorney-General and the federal cabinet. Advertisement Second, becoming a Supreme Court justice is a lifetime appointment. Australian justices have to retire at the age of 70. Third, the court, as in Australia, can deem laws unconstitutional. In the US, that can shape up as striking down progressive legislation enacted by Congress in the event Democrats have the votes to pass major bills on issues such as climate change. A conservative court would be even less likely to embrace liberal causes, such as ending the death penalty, although its recent 6-3 ruling in favour of LGBT worker rights suggests that issue could be an exception in certain circumstances. As a result, the elevation of a new US justice is a hotly contested political space, subject to the combative pulling and pushing of the political representatives of the time. Ruth Bader Ginsburg chats with John Roberts, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, before a ceremony at the White House in 2018. Credit:Getty Images; image altered Why are the Republicans in such a hurry to replace RBG? With Trump trailing in the polls, Politico's Tim Alberta says the Trump team has a view that they can "lock down" the judicial branch of the federal government and energise their supporter base in the ensuing protest. In 2016, exit polling showed that Supreme Court judge nominations were the most important issue for 26 per cent of the people who voted for Trump, particularly for conservatives who want to impose a religious agenda. Only 18 per cent of Clinton supporters said the same. Advertisement Update: Senate committee backs Amy Coney Barrett nomination The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on October 22 to approve Donald Trump's nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, with majority Republicans pushing past a Democratic boycott and the panel's rules to recommend her confirmation. The lopsided 12-0 tally set the stage for a consequential vote to confirm Barrett on October 26, a month to the day after the president announced her nomination to succeed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Democrats, livid over the speedy process, spurned the vote altogether and forced Republicans to bypass their own long-standing committee rules requiring at least two members of the minority to be present to transact business. The New York Times At the same time, the Republican Party knows they dont have much time. Supreme Court nominations have taken about 70 days to move through the Senate and the most recent, for Brett Kavanaugh, took 89 days. The election is on November 3. Yet there are no set rules for how long the process should take; some have moved more quickly. Ginsburgs was 42 days, but not in an election year. It will come down to election campaign politics and the arcane workings of the US Senate. And thats where it gets interesting. Trumps nomination for the court can still be approved even if he loses the election. Congress has met in lame-duck sessions, which could include choosing a new Supreme Court justice after the 2020 election. In a quirk of the US system, the Senate sits after the November election and before the beginning of the new Congress for at least two months, in what is known as lame-duck sessions. Before the adoption of the 20th amendment to the Constitution in 1933, these lame-duck sessions could last for more than a year. Since that time, Congress has met in lame-duck sessions to conclude urgent or unfinished business, which could include choosing a new Supreme Court justice after the 2020 election. For some Republicans who currently control the US Senate, this opportunity is more important than a Trump victory because they can impose their world viewpoint for generations through a successful court nomination. Advertisement What does it take to confirm a nominee? Only a majority vote of the Senate. Republicans control the Senate by a 53-47 margin, meaning they could lose up to three votes and still confirm a justice, if Vice-President Mike Pence were to break a 50-50 tie. Supreme Court nominations used to need 60 votes for confirmation if any senator objected, but Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell changed Senate rules in 2017 to allow the confirmation of justices with 51 votes. Are nominations always so controversial? The death of Ginsburg, at the age of 87, left an opening on the Supreme Court 46 days before the presidential election. There have been 16 Supreme Court vacancies in US presidential election years that came up before election day only one other happened closer to the election. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney died 27 days before the 1864 presidential election and president Abraham Lincoln delayed his nomination until after Lincoln had won re-election. Throughout history, presidents have nominated Supreme Court candidates regardless of whether it was an election year. However, the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016 saw the Republican-controlled Senate led by McConnell refuse to consider then president Barack Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland to the court, saying that not since 1932 had the Senate confirmed in a presidential election year a Supreme Court nominee to a vacancy arising in that year. Advertisement Fianna Fail TD Sean Haughey says the time has come to release all security files relating to the first commander of the Provisional IRA, Sean Mac Stiofain. Speaking on the 50th anniversary of the opening of the 'arms trial' in September 1970, Mr Haughey said his own father Charlie was not the one who suffered most from the events surrounding the controversy. He said he believes Mr Mac Stiofain was "a Garda special branch informer" who caused a lot of difficulty in relation to the case. Sean Haughey was eight years old when the controversy, which convulsed the nation, erupted in May 1970. His father and another government minister Neil Blaney were sacked from cabinet by Taoiseach Jack Lynch amid allegations they were plotting to supply arms to the IRA. Read More Controversy has raged periodically over those events from the summer of 1969, when violence erupted in the North and there was a huge fear Catholic nationalist communities would be subjected to murderous pogroms as had occurred in the 1920s. Mr Haughey and Mr Blaney were later acquitted in the arms trial proceedings. Sean Haughey recalls his father went on to become Taoiseach just nine years later and Mr Blaney also had a successful career as an MEP. "Both my father and Neil Blaney were well able to defend themselves and as politicians they had the forum to do that. Others such as Captain Jim Kelly and Colonel Michael Hefferon suffered intensely because they could not defend themselves publicly," Mr Haughey told the Irish Independent. Coloured Mr Haughey said he now believes Mr Mac Stiofain was a Garda informer. He accepts that Mr Mac Stiofain gave "a coloured version" of the facts, aimed at harming the Official IRA leader Cathal Goulding, and also damaging Fianna Fail. "That is why we need to see files relating to Mr Mac Stiofain's contacts with An Garda Siochana," Mr Haughey said. Captain James Kelly was an Irish Army intelligence officer who liaised with nationalists in Belfast in 1969-70. Colonel Michael Hefferon was one of his superiors and was later accused of "editing" evidence submitted to the trials in autumn 1970 - which was vehemently denied. Mr Mac Stiofain, who died in 2001 aged 73, had become the first chief of staff of the Provisionals after an acrimonious IRA and Sinn Fein split in 1969. He was later jailed, went on hunger strike, and eventually parted company on bad terms with the Provisional IRA. Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the events of 1970 remained highly sensitive to many people and it was not yet appropriate to release all the files. Patna, Sep 24 : Raising strong objections against the farm Bills, the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has called for a Bihar 'Bandh' on Friday. Party leader Tejashwi Yadav has asked supporters to hit the roads in each of the 38 districts headquarters of Bihar and register strong protests against the Bills. "The farmers of Bihar are already distraught. The agri Bills will make them completely helpless. These Bills will allow industrialists to take over the agriculture sector," he said. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, he also said that if RJD supremo Lalu Yadav would shake hands with the BJP, he would be seen as "Raja Harishchandra" and the fodder scam or "Chara Ghotala" would be converted into "Bhaichaara" or brotherhood. In Patna, supporters have been asked to assemble at the party office on Veerchand Patel Path followed by march towards Income Tax roundabout, Dak Banglow Chowk and return to the party office. Party insiders believe it is a show of strength by the RJD. Tejashwi himself uploaded a photograph on social media posing as a protester while driving a tractor on Thursday evening. Afghan government forces claim to have killed 65 Taliban militants during a battle in the nations eastern provinces as fighting continues to rage between the two sides while they hold peace talks. The latest battle took place on September 23 after the Taliban fighters stormed a military headquarters building in the Wazi Khwa district of Paktika Province, local officials said. Paktika police spokesman Shah Mohammad Arian claimed 65 Taliban fighters were killed and 35 others wounded during the battle, which he said lasted several hours. The government forces suffered three deaths, while six were wounded, he said. Bakhtiar Gul Zadran, the head of the Paktika provincial council, confirmed the information. The Taliban did not immediately comment. A day earlier, the Taliban said its fighters had killed 28 Afghan paramilitary policemen in Uruzgan in southern Afghanistan. The bloodshed 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. The peace talks began on September 12 to find an agreement on a power-sharing structure and permanent truce. Negotiations are expected to take months, if not years, as the two sides are far apart on many issues. Based on reporting by AFP 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. 24, 2020 A bill loosening restrictions on restaurants heads to Governor Wolfs desk. Two Pennsylvania counties will continue enforcing restrictions on gathering sizes, even after a federal judge said the statewide restrictions were unconstitutional. County DA says Reading police used reasonable amount of force when they shot an armed woman multiple times. Westmoreland County community comes out to show support for terminally ill man. 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. The boss of Australia's oldest union is warning Labor will kill off blue-collar jobs and any chance of winning government if it does not wholeheartedly embrace gas to properly transition to a low-emissions economy. Australian Workers' Union national secretary Daniel Walton has lashed Anthony Albanese's federal opposition for "continuing to impotently hedge" on gas and being "suckered" by the extreme left and right on climate policy. Australian Workers Union boss Daniel Walton. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Writing in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald on Friday, the union heavyweight said any more equivocating from Labor on gas was "not just morally indefensible, it's strategically moronic". "The extreme right and the extreme left side of the debate won't thank us, and the moderate middle will be turned off by our lack of conviction. Our chances of electoral success will flatline," Mr Walton writes. Two men have been arrested for allegedly being part of a text message scam that steals Australian's identities and their money. Officers raided two homes in Macquarie Park and Burwood, NSW, on Tuesday, where they seized hundreds of SIM cards, nine SIM boxes, phones, laptops and hard drives. Fake ID documents, drugs, drug paraphernalia, a money counter and cash was also allegedly discovered. The SIM boxes were allegedly used to send text messages that claimed to be from banks or telecommunications companies and asked for personal or financial information. This is known as a smishing scam. Two men have been arrested for allegedly being part of a text message scam that steals Australian's identities and their money Police will allege the men had direct access to and control of the SMS boxes, which sent more than 10,000 messages in two weeks. In one instance, a person allegedly lost $30,000 after 45 customers from one bank were targeted. One telecommunications provider found 49,000 texts made to their customers in one week. The Australian Federal Police worked with organisations such as Westpac, the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ and TPG Telecom. The 50-year-old man from Macquarie Park was charged with eight counts of false or misleading information, one count of using a telecommunications network with intent to commit serious offence and one count of drug possession. He was also charged with dealing in identification information using a carriage service, honestly obtaining or dealing in financial information and dealing with property suspected of being proceeds of crime. Officers raided two homes in Macquarie Park and Burwood, NSW, on Tuesday, where they seized hundreds of SIM cards, nine SIM boxes, phones, laptops and hard drives The SIM boxes were allegedly used to send test messages that claimed to be from banks or telecommunications companies and asked for personal or financial information WHAT IS SMISHING? Smishing is a emerging form phishing. It is when scammers use text messaging to trick people into giving them personal information. People are told not to trust texts from people they don't know. Advertisement The 30-year-old is expected to face similar charges. Chris Goldsmid, AFP Commander Cybercrime Operations, said: 'This fraud syndicate had absolutely no regard for the hardworking Australians they stole from, victims who may be struggling since the bushfires and COVID-19 hit the nation.' Detective Superintendent Matthew Craft, Commander from NSW Police's Cybercrime squad, said offenders are adapting to technology to stop them. 'These types of scams become somewhat redundant when the community heeds the advice to never provide confidential personal information to people you don't know and can't identify,' he said. Legitimate businesses will never call or SMS customers seeking confidential information. Always be suspicious when you receive such requests.' A blaze that erupted at a Roxbury home Thursday morning sent a Boston firefighter to the hospital and left six residents displaced, officials said. Firefighters responded to the blaze at 113 Harrishoff St. around 3 a.m. and found flames growing in the basement of the four-story, multi-family brick home, according to a series of tweets from the Boston Fire Department. Quick action was taken to keep the fire contained to the basement space, the department said. One firefighter was taken by Boston EMS to the hospital, according to the department. Authorities did not disclose the extent of the firefighters injuries. Officials from the Boston Office of Neighborhood Services were on scene to help the four adults and two children who were displaced by the fire, which caused an estimated $50,000 worth of damages, authorities said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Ministry of Labour & Employment noted yesterday that the parliament has passed three Labour Codes to pave way for enactment of historic Game changer Labour Laws. The Rajya Sabha has passed three labour codes namely, Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (ii) Code on Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020 & (iii) Social Security Code, 2020. With this, the decks for enactment of these codes have been cleared as Lok Sabha had already passed these Bills. Speaking during the discussions on the bills, Santosh Gangwar, the Minister of State with independent charge in the Ministry of Labour and Employment,.described the Bills as historic game changer which will harmonize the needs of workers, industries and other related parties. He said that these Labour Codes will prove to be an important milestone for the welfare of the workers in the country. The Minister further said that the Social Security Code provides a framework to include organized and unorganized sector workers under the ambit of comprehensive social security. The Social Security Code contains provisions relating to EPFO, ESIC, building construction workers, maternity benefits, gratuity and social security fund for unorganized sector workers. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been arrested for allegedly participating in an unauthorised assembly last October, according to his social media post. Mr Wong tweeted on Thursday that he was arrested when he reported to the semi-autonomous Chinese territory's Central Police Station. He said he was also accused of violating a pre-coronavirus pandemic law banning the wearing of masks in public places on the pretext they obscure identity. He is expected to leave the police station and address journalists later on Thursday. Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong (pictured today) is arrested for allegedly participating in an unauthorised assembly last October, according to his social media post #BREAKING Joshua is arrested when reporting to Central Police Station at about 1pm today. The arrest is related to participating in an unauthorized assembly on 5Oct last year. He is told to have violated the draconian anti-mask law as well. Joshua Wong (@joshuawongcf) September 24, 2020 The alleged 'unauthorised assembly' was an unsanctioned demonstration on October 5, 2019 when hundreds of protesters, almost all masked, marched through the popular shopping district of Causeway Bay. People are pictured protesting in Hong Kong on October 5, 2019 The alleged 'unauthorised assembly' was an unsanctioned demonstration on October 5, 2019, when hundreds of protesters, almost all masked, marched through the popular shopping district of Causeway Bay. It came a day after the city's leader Carrie Lam banned masks at demonstrations by invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century. Hong Kong police confirmed they arrested two men, aged 23 and 74, on Thursday for the illegal assembly last year. The arrest of Wong, aged 23, comes around 6 weeks after media tycoon Jimmy Lai was detained on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces. Wong's latest arrest adds to several unlawful assembly charges or suspected offences he and other activists are facing related to last year's pro-democracy protests, which prompted Beijing to impose a sweeping national security law on June 30. Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong speaks to the media while holding up a bail document after leaving Central police station in Hong Kong on September 24, 2020, after being arrested for unlawful assembly related to a 2019 protest against a government ban on face masks Wong rose to prominence as a student leader during the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests for universal suffrage. He is among a growing number of activists being charged for various relatively minor offences since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law Wong rose to prominence as a student leader during the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests for universal suffrage. He is among a growing number of activists being charged for various relatively minor offences since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law that has severely restricted political speech in the territory. The 23-year-old played a low-key role in mostly leaderless and sometimes violent anti-government protests last year that led to Beijing imposing the security law. Wong's lawyer told AFP he was arrested when he reported to a police station concerning another case against him, for which he is currently on trial. 'Wong is accused of participating in an unlawful assembly on October 5 last year, when hundreds marched to oppose an anti-mask ban the government rolled out,' lawyer Jonathan Man said. The alleged 'unauthorised assembly' was an unsanctioned demonstration on October 5, 2019 when hundreds of protesters, almost all masked, marched through the streets of Hong Kong A woman is pictured in the file photo holding a mask with slogans written on as protesters gather outside Mong Kok police station in Hong Kong on October 5, 2019 The march that day came after much of the city had ground to a halt with the subway suspended and many shops and malls shuttered following a night of violence. The act of resistance was followed by a night of widespread chaos as hardcore protesters trashed dozens of subway stations, vandalised shops with mainland China ties, built fires and blocked roads. Many chanted 'No rioters, only tyranny' and other popular protest slogans. At the time of the march, Hong Kong had already been battered by four months of increasingly violent pro-democracy protests. Wong disbanded his pro-democracy group Demosisto in June, just hours after China's parliament passed national security law for Hong Kong, bypassing the city's local legislature, a move widely criticised by Western governments. His long-time colleague, Agnes Chow, and two other activists were also among 10 people police arrested in August on suspicion of violating the new law. The new law punishes anything China considers as subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with up to life in prison. Culture Night was a huge success with numerous artistic events taking place locally last Friday. The annual all-island public event Culture Night saw hundreds of events taking place nationwide with Dundalk hosting a number of events in celebration from visual art, to heritage and music. With the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in place, some events moved online, but there were several which took place offline adhering to safety measures in our local community. An Tain Arts Centre, Creative Spark, the County Museum and the Louth County Council all put on successful cultural events that allowed the public immerse themselves in art. An Tain Arts Centres Director Paul Hayes said: We had a great culture night with three sold out pottery workshops, our new exhibition in the gallery The Thriving Flower, Etaion OReillys open studio and backstage tours with myself showing people what goes on behind the scenes. An Tain Arts Centres visual artist in residence in the Basement Gallery studio Etaoin OReilly gave family ceramic workshops on the night with children and adults given the opportunity to make ceramic flowers and have a go on the pottery wheel. People also popped into the Basement Gallery to meet ceramic artist and facilitator Etaoin and see where she is creating her art pieces. An Tain Arts Centres Director Paul Hayes also gave all access tours of the theatre, with audiences learning about the heritage of the building, and getting a glimpse behind the scenes of a working arts space. Creative Spark located in Muirhevnamor also ran The Big Relief: A Steamroller Print Event last Friday which brought artists and the community together to create impressive prints. Creative Sparks print studio coordinator Grainne Murphy said: The event was a huge success, we had over 45 people in staggered sessions throughout the night. Participants got the chance to help carve the giant woodcut in the days prior. The piece was designed by local artist Caoimhe McCarthy (little twit design), which depicts landmarks and stories of County Louth. Local artist Michael Stafford also carved a large John Hume portrait to create a large wood cut print which went down a treat and artist Una Curley used the steamroller to press blackberries to create a series of monoprints. The County Museum in Dundalk hosted an online event Historical Songs: Highlighting Irish and Local History, which was accessed by the public via the museums Facebook page. The Louth County Archives also hosted an online event Archives Into Art with artist Miriam Fox, which invited young artists to explore and investigate fascinating archival pieces. ABC During the Monday evening rush hour traffic, a horse and a rider showed up on the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago. They were accompanied by a 10-motorcycle convoy that made sure to block all lanes to keep them safe, before two police patrols showed up to escort them off.It was a tense, albeit very slow-speed chase , the very first of the kind: a horse chase on national television, on an expressway with traffic backed up for miles because a horse should never be on it. You can see it full in the7 Chicago video report below.The chase lasted for almost 30 minutes and covered more than 7 miles (11.2 km), with the horse going at speeds of up to 17 mph (27.3 kph) and the rider waving and yelling at curious bystanders. It ended with the horse limping and bleeding at the hooves, because riding on asphalt is not exactly the smartest idea.Neither is not shoeing it before such a ride, which is apparently what the rider did. Identified as Adam Hollingsworth, aka Dreadhead Cowboy or Census Cowboy, the man is actually a well-known figure in Chicagos activist circles. He is an urban cowboy fronting the campaign Kids Lives Matter, which aims to raise awareness and funds to deal with the issue of children becoming collaterals in shootings.This stunt was part of that campaign. The plan was to take the horse to the highway and, with help from the motorcycle convoy, stop traffic so as to deliver the message home: childrens lives matter.Hollingsworth was arrested and is now facing charges of obstructing traffic, reckless conduct, disobeying a police officer and trespassing on a highway, and operating a non-highway vehicle (?) on the highway. Hes been charged with aggravated animal cruelty and had had his horse taken away: according to the police, the horse suffered injuries and was bleeding from the hooves, and had a bleeding saddle sore on the ride side.On social media, Hollingsworth is saying hes being framed by the police for merely using his voice to bring awareness to the cause. He claims the horse was injured when one of the police cruisers hit it, in an attempt to get him across to the shoulder, so he would dismount.Regardless of that, a horse should never be on a highway: it is dangerous and illegal. Using whatever platform you have to do whatever you believe is right is admirable, but dont put yourself and others at risk by riding a horse on the expressway. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks during her weekly news conference in the Capitol in Washington on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. "I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster," Trump said, seemingly referring to mail-in ballots. Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on the legitimacy of mail-in ballots as a voting mechanism, claiming without evidence that they are susceptible to massive fraud. Many more voters are expected to vote by mail this election as a health precaution due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Trump, himself, has voted by mail. At a press conference Wednesday, Trump said, "we'll have to see what happens," when it comes to whether he would peacefully hand over his office. "I have confidence that he won't get away with saying, for example, I won with ... the vote on the ground, the vote in the mail doesn't count, and the rest of that," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters on Thursday. A day after President Donald Trump refused to promise a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the 2020 election, lawmakers pushed back on his statements. At a congressional hearing Thursday, FBI director Christopher Wray said the agency has not historically seen "any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it's by mail or otherwise." Democrats have become increasingly concerned about how the unusual circumstances created by the pandemic will influence the outcome of the election and transition of power if former Vice President Joe Biden wins the electoral vote. With more voters expected to vote by mail, many expect the race will be impossible to call on Election Day unless one candidate wins in a landslide. That could leave room for candidates to cast doubt on the outcome of the election. Social media companies are already preparing for the possibility of one candidate prematurely claiming a victory. And with one Supreme Court seat open following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg last week, a more conservative court may be left with the deciding vote on the election outcome if it ends with a legal challenge. At a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting Thursday, Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he would accept whatever decision the Supreme Court decided if the election results reached that point. Graham's committee is tasked with reviewing judicial appointees and said he would support Trump's efforts to fill Ginsburg's seat, contradicting his statements in 2016 saying the next president should make the appointment if a vacancy occurred close to the election. "Bottom line is whatever the court decides I will accept," Graham said Thursday. "Al Gore's greatest legacy in many ways, to me, is what he did after he lost. He accepted a result of the Supreme Court that was 5-4, like 500 votes in the state of Florida. How many places in the world would power peacefully transfer under those circumstances? How many places in the world where you actually have a peaceful transfer of power to begin with?" Graham added, "there is no alternative to a peaceful transfer of power." "The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a tweet Thursday. "There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792." Some Twitter users pointed out that McConnell's language left room for interpretation, given many votes are expected to not yet be counted by election night. In statements on Twitter, several other Republicans reaffirmed a peaceful transition, though they did not call out Trump by name or directly reference his comments. "Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus," tweeted Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who has been critical of Trump. "Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable." "As we have done for over two centuries we will have a legitimate & fair election," tweeted Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. "It may take longer than usual to know the outcome, but it will be a valid one[.] And at noon on Jan 20,2021 we will peacefully swear in the President." House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Thursday, "There will be a very peaceful transition," according to The New York Times. He added that the same question should be asked of Democrats like "Hillary Clinton, who said never concede the race." Clinton's comments about not conceding the race referred to the potentially incomplete results that could come out on Election Day due to the expected surge in mail-in voting. In an interview released in August, she said Biden "should not concede under any circumstances" on Election Day given that it could take more time to find out the winner. Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, tweeted that, "Smart candidates never concede anything before an election. They focus on what it takes to win." Correction: An earlier version misstated House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's title. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. There have been multiple new reports of the sterilizations and surgical procedures performed without consent on women held in the Irwin County Detention Center in rural Georgia. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center run by the private firm, LaSalle Correction, has been in the news most recently because of a whistleblower complaint filed last week on behalf of nurse Dawn Wooten, who had worked in a medical capacity at the center until July. Wooten alleged wide-spread, horrifying medical malpractice including mass hysterectomies that targeted the vulnerable immigrant women held in the center. Detention facility in McAllen, Texas, Sunday, June 17, 2018 (Photo US Customs and Border Protection). Much of the mainstream media attention, as well as the indignation of the Democratic Party has been focused on the question of whether or not there were in fact mass hysterectomies. The point, however, is not the number of surgeries, but rather the fact that such a situation even exists. It is a well-established matter of public record that the plight of detainees in the vast network of camps run by private contractors, and overseen by ICE, is nothing short of inhumane. The already ugly situation has been exacerbated by the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of which in the network of detention camps are still to be fully exposed. Tales of detainees being packed into small spaces, being denied basic hygiene products, and handed a single mask to protect them from the highly contagious coronavirus are by now widespread. In this context, Wootens complaint serves as yet another glimpse of horrors that the Trump administrations relentless war on immigrants has visited upon the most vulnerable sections of the working class. Wooten highlighted the role of an unnamed physician that she had named the uterus collector because of the sheer number of surgeries he had performed on female detainees. An Associated Press (AP) review of the medical records of four women, and interviews with their lawyers, revealed even more evidence of medical malpractice by the physician, who had apparently performed numerous surgeries without the knowledge or express consent of the patients. Mileidy Cardente Fernandez, a 39-year-old immigrant from Cuba, was informed that she was getting medical help to treat her ovarian cysts. A month after the surgery, Fernandez, who showed a reporter the scars on her abdomen, still does not know what surgery was performed on her. Cardente told the AP: The only thing they told me was: Youre going to go to sleep and when you wake up, we will have finished. Irwin County Detention Center, when asked to explain the surgery, handed over 100 pages of Cardentes medical records, none of which mentioned the surgery. Pauline Biman, who had been held in detention for nearly two years, asked to see a doctor because of abnormalities with her period. She was told she had an ovarian cyst and agreed to undergo a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure to remove the cyst. When she woke up after the surgery, she was told one of her fallopian tubes had been removed. The procedure, which Biman did not consent to, made it impossible for her to be able to conceive naturally. At the time of the surgery, Biman was 29 years old. As immigration attorney Elizabeth Mahern, who has many clients at the Irwin Detention Center told the Guardian, she was not at all surprised by the revelations and had been told by multiple people [who] went to that doctor only to be told they needed to have an ovary removed. As she pointed out: That is a piece by piece sterilization, but its a sterilization...We think were going to find even more women who have had basically their fertility limited or taken away altogether because of the actions of this doctor and the facility to continue to take immigration detainees to him and for Ice to continue to foot the bill and approve their requests. This past week, the Intercept revealed that the physician in question was obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) specialist, Dr. Mahendra Amin, based in Douglas, Georgia. Amin, who seems to have at least one other practice, works with Irwin County Hospital, where detainees have been taken for medical treatment. When contacted by the Intercept, Amin acknowledged that he has performed medical procedures on immigrant women brought in from the detention center, but claimed that he had only carried out one or two hysterectomies in the past two or three years. In a statement to the media, Amins lawyer, Scott Grubman insisted that his client was innocent of all the charges, and that he was a highly respected physician who has dedicated his adult life to treating a high-risk, underserved population in rural Georgia. Following the exposure of Amins name, Bryan Cox, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Tuesday that he would no longer be used to treat patients from Irwin. The former Irwin employee, who along with a detainee and several detainee advocates, had exposed the physicians name had a somewhat different perspective: All I know is, if you go in for anything, the majority of the time, hes going to suggest surgery...I dont know why. I just I dont know why. He does a lot of surgeries. Amin, who is the only OB-GYN serving the detainee population at Irwin, was previously taken to court for filing false Medicaid claims. In the case against Amin, other doctors and Irwin County Hospital filed in the US District Court for the Middle District in Georgia, the government alleged that Medicaid was being billed for obstetric ultrasounds even when it was not necessary. The case was settled out of court with the hospital paying the government over half a million dollars without admitting liability. Detainees who spoke to the Intercept pointed out that they had no choice but to see Dr. Amin for any gynecological problems despite his reputation for rough treatment and performing a large number of surgical procedures. One detainee, in fact, requested deportation after repeated medical visits, because she feared she was going to lose her reproductive system if she saw the doctor again. Another stated that the doctor got mad when I didnt want to have the surgery. All of them stated that there were no interpreters present, and they were unclear about the necessity or purpose of the proposed treatment. The testimony of the detainees makes obvious the very real fear and confusion that prevails among the immigrant women forced to seek medical help while in federal custody. The detention network built up by the Obama administration and developed by the Trump administration has frequently drawn comparison with Nazi concentration camps. This latest round of revelations, with its harrowing tales of forced sterilization, only strengthens the chilling parallel. She's a successful TV, film and theatre actress, with a career spanning over 30 years. And Catherine Zeta-Jones looked simply radiant as she showcased her youthful visage in a sultry new selfie shared to Instagram on Wednesday. The actress, 50, stunned as she posed in a one-shouldered peach top while staring coquettishly at the camera. Looking good: Catherine Zeta-Jones looked simply radiant as she showcased her youthful visage in a sultry new selfie shared to Instagram on Wednesday The Chicago star's raven tresses framed her fresh-faced visage, while Catherine also showcased her toned arms as she held the camera aloft. Captioning the sizzling snap, the wife of actor Michael Douglas simply wrote: 'Peachy'. Catherine has been enjoying summer amid the coronavirus pandemic with her son Dylan, 20, and daughter Carys, 17. The Bugsy Malone star appeared in a sentimental mood earlier this month as she uploaded a snap of the youngsters before they head back to school. Summers over: Catherine has been enjoying summer amid the coronavirus pandemic with her son Dylan, 20, and daughter Carys, 17 In the photo, a fresh-faced Carys rests her arm and chin on her brother's back, while a shirtless Dylan gives a straight faced look at the camera. 'Summer officially over in our family,' she wrote in the caption. 'Today both our young adults go back to studying.' She went on to comment on the new ways schools are coping with the pandemic usually in online or staggered ways. She told her kids, Dylan who attends Brown University, and Carys who is still in high school just turning 17-years-old in April, 'I love you both.' Family: Catherine shares both of her children with her husband of nearly 20 years, Michael Douglas, who was recently nominated for two Emmy's for acting and producing in Netflix's The Kominsky Method (the family pictured in 2015) The Mask of Zorro actress sent a message saying: 'and to all kids out there. Knowledge is the key to life. So battle through. This too shall pass.' Catherine shares both of her children with her husband of nearly 20 years, Michael Douglas, 75, who was recently nominated for two Emmy's for acting and producing in Netflix's The Kominsky Method. Catherine, Michael and Carys recently enjoyed a vacation in Mallorca, Spain, in August. The couple will reach their 20-year milestone on November 18, and in a recent interview with PEOPLE Magazine, the Welsh actress revealed it will be a strictly socially-distanced affair due to coronavirus. 'We won't be doing any great big party,' Catherine tells the publication. 'Not that I'm a big party fan anyway. It would be nice to get all our friends together in one space, but we're not doing that until we're completely out of the woods. 'So I will raise my mask and let my husband passionately kiss me, then I will put it firmly back on.' UK Preparing Sanctions Against Belarusian Human Rights Violators The United Kingdom will use all the tools at its disposal, including targeted sanctions, to hold Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and his regime to account, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said. Lukashenko, the authoritarian leader of Belarus, on Wednesday held an unannounced inauguration ceremony to mark the start of his new term, which domestic opponents and some Western countries consider illegitimate. Raab on Thursday told Parliament what the British government would do in response to rigged Belarusian presidential elections, during which witnesses reported extensive fraud and falsification of results, and there was a campaign of violence, intimidation, and harassment against peaceful protesters. The UK doesnt accept the results of the election and condemns the thuggery deployed against the Belarusian people, Raab said. Alexander Lukashenko takes the oath of office as Belarusian president during a swearing-in ceremony in Minsk, Belarus, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Andrei Stasevich/BelTA/Handout via Reuters) Riot police detain a protester during an opposition rally to protest the presidential inauguration in Minsk, Belarus, on Sept. 23, 2020. (TUT.by via AP Photo) Raab told Parliament that he had directed his office to prepare Magnitsky sanctions for those responsible for the serious human rights violations, and that the UK government is working with the United States and Canada on a sanctions list as a matter of urgency. We will apply all the tools at our disposal to hold Lukashenko and his regime to account, Raab said. We call on him to engage in serious and credible dialogue with the opposition, via mediation if necessary, in order to facilitate a peaceful outcome to the current crisis. And one which reflects, and respects, the will of the Belarusian people, he told Parliament. If the authorities in Belarus fail to respond, based on the outcome of the OSCE [The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] investigation, which we have triggered, we will consider further actions with our international partners. On Sept. 17, states participating in the OSCE, including the UK, triggered a so-called Moscow Mechanism, to establish an independent expert mission to investigate the alleged election fraud and serious human rights abuses and violations. EU Sanctions Delayed The UK was going to join the EU in targeted sanctions against Belarusian human rights violators. However, the EUs sanctions plan was blocked by Cyprus in a bid to make the EU place similar sanctions on Turkey for its disputed energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. EU leaders will try to break the deadlock when they meet in Brussels on Oct. 1. Currently, the EUs Common Foreign and Security Policy requires unanimity among all member states. This rule has often held the EU back and delayed, watered down, or held hostage even simple statements on EU values, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sept. 16 in her first State of the Union speech. Using the Chinese communist regime as an example, von der Leyen said the EU must always call out human rights abuses whenever and wherever they occurbe it in Hong Kong or with the Uyghurs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives her first State of the Union speech during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels on Sept. 16, 2020. (Olivier Hoslet/pool via Reuters) She called for a change to the decision-making process. When member states say Europe is too slow, I say to them, be courageous and finally move to qualified majority votingat least on human rights and sanctions implementation. Under the proposed qualified majority rule, EU foreign policy proposals can be passed if 55 percent of member states vote in favor and it is supported by member states representing at least 65 percent of the total EU population. This would prevent a small number of member states from blocking EU foreign policy. Financial Support Raab said the UK government has been working with its partners in Belarus to support and strengthen civil society and the brave media outlets struggling to shine a light on the repression that we are seeing inflicted by the Belarusian authorities on its people. Riot police detain a protester during an opposition rally to protest the presidential inauguration in Minsk, Belarus, on Sept. 23, 2020. (TUT.by/AP Photo) He has doubled the UKs financial support to human rights groups, independent media organizations, and community groups in Belarus. There will be an extra 1.5 million pounds ($1.9 million) over the next 2 years, Raab said, 800,000 pounds ($1 million) of which will go to journalists in Belarus to help with their training, provide support to those detained by the authorities, and help replace equipment thats been destroyed or confiscated. Alexander Zhang and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Rishi Sunak's emergency rescue plan to extend financial help for businesses has kept some firms happy, but others accused the Chancellor of 'robbing Peter to pay Paul'. Rishi Sunak shared his 'Winter Economic Plan' today, which provided an update on the new jobs support programme due to replace the furlough scheme among other policies designed to employment and businesses. While the loan and VAT cut extensions have been welcomed, small business support organisations and many business owners still feel not enough is being done. This is particularly the case for those bearing the brunt of lockdown, the self-employed, freelancers and contractors, and the leisure and hospitality industry, including pubs and restaurants and the performing arts. Many small businesses were forced to close following the nationwide lockdown and though their doors have reopened, some are still struggling to get back on their feet The headline announcement was the introduction of the Jobs Support Scheme which replaces the furlough scheme and will start in November, lasting for six months. The scheme will only apply to 'viable jobs' which means employees must work at least one third of their hours and be paid accordingly by their employers. The Government and the employer will then pay a third each of the remaining hours not worked, meaning those working a third of their usual hours will receive at least 77 per cent of their full pay, with 22 per cent of that contributed by the Government. The Chancellor also emphasised that support will be targeted at 'firms that need it most', meaning all SMEs will be eligible. They will not have to prove that their turnover has fallen to use the scheme, whereas big businesses will. The grant will be capped at just under 700 per month for every employee and firms will not be allowed to make staff redundant while they are on the scheme. Other announcements included an extension of the 5 per cent VAT cut for the tourism and hospitality industries until 31 March and an extension for applications for the coronavirus loan scheme. Enterprise Nation's Jones said today's announcements will be largely well-received Emma Jones, founder of small business network Enterprise Nation, said today's plan will be gratefully received by small businesses. 'While we're waiting to find out the all-important detail, it's helpful to hear there are new measures in place that will smooth the cliff edge we were all dreading and the inevitable increase in unemployment we face before Christmas,' she said. 'However this is an acute crisis and what is clear is that the Government will not be able to save every business.' Despite the new packages announced today, is likely that many firms within the hospitality sector will still suffer, as they are hit by latest lockdown restrictions. This includes a the introduction of a curfew which will be enforced from today and means pubs and restaurants must close at 10pm every night. In addition to extra rules around table service that will make it harder and more expensive to operate and serve customers. Matthew Ingram, founder of Northampton-based restaurants The Smoke Pit and Hops and Chops, said this development was 'obscene'. 'My employees can't pay their rent if they have to finish working half way through their usual shift,' he said. 'It's all well and good extending the VAT cut beyond January but that doesn't help my 45 members of staff who won't be able to pay their bills. The Government have robbed Peter to pay Paul.' The Government have robbed Peter to pay Paul - Matthew Ingram, entrepreneur Matthew said he has been frustrated by the constant changing of the rules and that he is worried about the UK going into a second lockdown. 'We closed in March, reopened and had to restructure, had to deal with a surge of people on Mondays to Wednesdays and now have to close at 10pm. It's obscene. 'I am absolutely worried about a second lockdown. We had to readjust and focus on doing takeaways but it was a novelty before and people were happily ordering in. It's going to be harder this time. 'The idea of not getting through this is niggling in the back of my mind but I like to believe I am an entrepreneur and have what it takes to be flexible.' Anything that can help with cashflow is welcome Fortunately, some small businesses have managed to fight through the pandemic and stay afloat, and many are grateful for the Government support they have been able to receive. Gareth Austin-Jones, co-founder of women's footwear company Cocorose London, was able to take a Government Bounce Back Loan which he said has been like 'the world's best trade loan'. As an example of a company that has benefited from the loan, he hopes the extension announced today will mean other small businesses will also get the support they need. Women's footwear company Cocorose London is one of the small businesses that has benefited from Government support during the coronavirus pandemic He said: 'It's the potential for a cheaper line of credit. Anything that can help with cash flow should be welcome. 'The VAT cut doesn't impact us but I can imagine it will be useful for those businesses that it does.' Cocorose struggled when the economy was first thrust into lockdown, and the company saw all its orders cancelled as shops were being forced to close. However it used this as an opportunity to focus on its online offering and even pivoted to launch new products including face masks and comfortable footwear more suitable for staying at home. Gareth added: 'From a business point of view, I'm not that worried about a second lockdown. We've been through the initial shock. 'The Chancellor's solutions and delivery has helped a lot of businesses. I feel the interest in small businesses deteriorated after David Cameron's resignation but Rishi Sunak is helping bring that back.' Nik Antona, national chairman of pubs champion the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), added: 'The Jobs Support Scheme is a welcome announcement - we are glad that the Chancellor has listened to industry calls for action on jobs. What we've heard does not go far enough to support pubs, especially wet-led pubs, or breweries and the wider supply chain massively impacted by new restrictions Nik Antona, Camra 'However, those jobs will not exist if pubs and breweries are not viable businesses. 'While we wait for further details, what we've heard does not go far enough to support pubs, especially wet-led pubs, or breweries and the wider supply chain which is going to be massively impacted by new restrictions, with job losses and potential closures before Christmas. 'What the hospitality industry needs is a support package including an extension of the business rates holiday, grants rather than loans, consideration of a differential rate of duty on draft beer served in pubs and real support for wet-led pubs which cannot benefit from the VAT cut extension.' The live events industry has been hit hard with live concerts, gigs and festivals all cancelled Meanwhile, the live events industry has also been hit hard with employees - many of whom are freelance - unable to go back to work or repay loans without events. Some 49 per cent of businesses within the sector have furloughed 90 to 100 per cent of staff and so hopes of financial support through Rishi Sunak's announcement have been dashed with furlough set to run out next month. Peter Heath, co-founder of campaign group #WeMakeEvents, said: 'The live events industry welcomes the announcement of Sunaks new job support scheme but with the increased restrictions, its looking unlikely we will be able to return to work in a way that is financially viable over the next six months. 'Theres simply no work to return to, with demand drying up in line with social distancing measures. 'As a result, the majority of businesses in our sector will not be able to generate sufficient revenue to support their contribution towards employees salaries, nor will they be able to contract the huge self-employed community the events industry has become so dependent upon.' The self-employed, freelancers and contractors, and not just those within the live events industry, are among those who feel cast aside by the Government since the lockdown was first implemented. Sole traders who have previously made profits of more than 50,000, on which tax will have been paid in full, got no help from the previous self-employed scheme and will continue to receive nothing. That comes despite neither the furlough or job support scheme having an upper wage cap for qualification. Meanwhile, millions of people working for themselves via their own limited company have had very little to no support over the past six months. Federation of Small Businesses' national chairman Mike Cherry, said: 'We are concerned that the Chancellor had nothing to say today on support for those who were left out of the first round of support measures, not least the newly self-employed and company directors. 'The Government urgently needs to come forward with an emergency relief package for these groups which have dutifully paid their taxes and deserve help too.' Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of the national security office, speaks during a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. Yonhap Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday strongly denounced North Korea's killing of an innocent South Korean by gunshot earlier this week. In a statement, Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of the national security office, urged the North to reveal the entire truth behind the "inhumane act" and punish those who are responsible for it. I was surprised. I had no idea that Cuban medical personnel had served in the United States, which hassince the Cuban Revolution of 1959tried to overthrow the government of Cuba. by Vijay Prashad In 2004, Dr. Jose Armando Arronte Villamarin was posted to head a Cuban medical brigade in Namibia. Cuban medical personnel first came to southwest Africa in 1975 alongside Cuban soldiers; the soldiers had arrived there to assist the South West African Peoples Organization (SWAPO) in the fight for the liberation of Namibia from the apartheid South African military. Dr. Arronte Villamarin, a friendly man with a glint in his eye, tells me how much he has enjoyed his work, not only during his time in Namibia, which lasted till 2007, but alsostrikinglyin the United States of America. Cuban healers I was surprised. I had no idea that Cuban medical personnel had served in the United States, which hassince the Cuban Revolution of 1959tried to overthrow the government of Cuba. In 2005, Dr. Arronte Villamarin was in Havana for the annual meeting of the chiefs of Cubas medical brigades. That was when Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans, destroying the city and putting the entire southern half of Louisiana and other parts of the Gulf Coast in serious peril. Cuba offered to send its medical teams to assist their neighbors to the north. But U.S. President George W. Bush refused. Cubas Fidel Castro encouraged the formation of the Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade. Dr. Arronte Villamarins medical team in Namibia became part of this new brigade. If Bush said not to come to the United States, then how did Dr. Arronte Villamarin find himself there? In 2017, due to the initiative of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus, members of the Henry Reeve brigadeincluding Dr. Arronte Villamarincame to Chicago to study and treat high rates of infant mortality. The infant mortality rate among African American mothers in the United States in 2018 was 11.7 per 1,000 live births, while it was 6 per 1,000 for white mothers; in Cuba, the infant mortality rate in 2019 was 5.1 per 1,000 live births. Dr. Arronte Villamarin tells me he was shocked by what he saw. He and his colleagues tried to do the very best that they could, but they were only in Chicago for five months. It was just not enough time to make a difference. Almost Totally Isolated The United States government has continued attacking Cuban medical internationalism right up to the current pandemic, making wild allegations against the program that disparage the medical workers. Paul Hare, a former British ambassador to Cuba who teaches in the United States, told Reuters recently that the U.S. is almost totally isolated when it comes to its Cuban policy. Each year since 1992, the UN General Assembly votes to end the U.S.-imposed embargo on the island. In 2019, 187 countries said the embargo must end, while the U.S. stood with two of its closest allies (Brazil and Israel); Ambassador Hares phrasealmost totally isolatedis an understatement. Dr. Daymarelis Ortega Rodriguez, the chief of the Henry Reeve brigade in Barbados, told me that her work in the brigade gives her immense pride. I enlisted to be part of this brigade by my own will, she said, not as a slave or exploited person. I am a fighter for life, for peace, and for human welfare. Dr. Ortega Rodriguez, whose face lights up with a smile as she talks, is responding to one of the most bizarre accusations: that the Cuban government treats its doctors like slaves. In June 2019, for instance, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio called Cuban medical internationalism modern-day slavery. Rubio, along with Senators Ted Cruz and Rick Scott, introduced the Cut Profits to the Cuban Regime Act of 2020, which would target countries that take assistance from the Cuban doctors. The Health Minister of Barbados, Jeffrey Bostic, responded sharply: Barbados is a sovereign country and we make decisions in the interest of the country just like other countries large and small. We have engaged the nurses from Cuba and we are not going to buckle under the pressure of any other nation. Commitments to Health Dr. Ortega Rodriguez is sitting on a couch in Barbados, alongside Nurse Yandy Perez, who is part of her brigade. They are sharing a phone, telling me about what they are doing in Barbados and what they had done beforehand. Both Dr. Ortega Rodriguez and Nurse Perez are in the midst of the fight against COVID-19. Nurse Perez had been in Vietnam, while Dr. Ortega Rodriguez had spent time in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and in Antigua. Nurse Perez says that he has not worked in Vietnam and in Barbados for any personal gain. Why do you spend years outside Cuba? I asked them. We do it out of conviction, said Nurse Perez, out of solidarity. We do it from the heart. Dr. Jany Cabrera Paumier has been a physician since 2012 and an internist since 2016. She is talking to me from Belize, where she is on her first medical internationalist mission. Dr. Cabrera Paumier has a four-year-old daughter, who lives in Santiago de Cuba; her voice breaks as she says that it will be her daughters birthday in a few days. I decided that I wanted to be part of this brigade and its honorable work for the world, Dr. Cabrera Paumier told me. Believe me, my choice could not make me prouder to be Cuban. This year, the Henry Reeve brigade celebrates 15 years of work, although Cuban medical internationalism goes back to 1960. I have interacted with doctors like Dr. Arronte Villamarin and Dr. Cabrera Paumier over the years and have been overwhelmed by their commitment to health and love, to human possibility. But it is important to remember that they are also human beings, people with lives that are folded into their internationalism. Dr. Cabrera Paumiers daughter is proud of her mother. So is Dr. Ortega Rodriguezs son, who plays the trombone in the Havana theater. So are Dr. Arronte Villamarins children, a son who is a dental surgeon and a daughter who is in medical school; they follow in their fathers footsteps. It is not easy to be away from their families, but each of these medical workers thinks that it is worthwhile. I came to Belize to help people to do the best for their own country, Dr. Cabrera Paumier told me. On September 26, these Cuban doctors join Danny Glover and Vijay Prashad to talk about the campaign for the Cuban doctors to win the Nobel Peace Prize. This article was produced by Globetrotter , a project of the Independent Media Institute. Akwapim North is a constituency in the Eastern Region and has a population of 136,483 according to the 2010 population and housing census. It is considered a stronghold for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Per data compared from 1996 to 2016 elections, the NPP has maintained dominance in this constituency; recording huge number of votes both presidential and parliamentary. The incumbent Member of Parliament is Nana Dokua Asiamah Adjei who contested in 2016 on the ticket of the NPP and won with over 26,000 of the total votes cast. She doubles as the Deputy Minister for Information and she is seeking reelection. Details below Source: Rebecca Tetteh Addo / Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Honda will make no further performance upgrades to its 2020 engine this season. The Japanese marque's F1 boss Masashi Yamamoto said the decision is due to "regulation changes" in the wake of the corona crisis. "We cannot introduce the updated specifications as easily as we did last year," he told as-web.jp. "We have been on top of it from the beginning of the year, but have had to conclude that we will continue to use this specification until the end." However, he claims Honda currently has the second most powerful engine on the grid. "If we talk about pure power, I think Mercedes is in the lead, then Honda, with Renault having the third strongest and Ferrari at the bottom," said Yamamoto. "Unfortunately, I cannot give exact details of the difference between Honda and Mercedes, but it makes little difference - they are still ahead of us. "But we can see from the data that we are close." Honda, currently powering the two Red Bull teams, is yet to decide whether to stay in Formula 1 beyond 2021. Dutch commentator Olav Mol is tipping the Honda-backed F2 driver Yuki Tsunoda to replace Daniil Kvyat at Alpha Tauri in 2021. "Honda has a contract only until 2021, and their departure would spell the end of Tsunoda's career," he told Ziggo Sport. "He would be the first Japanese in Formula 1 for many years, so I could well imagine what they want from Red Bull." (GMM) Scholars and experts from Korea and India join the 19th Korea-India Strategic Dialogue webinar, with participants from Korea attending in person at The Plaza Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Korea Foundation By Park Han-sol Amid the frictional geopolitical landscape and global uncertainties posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, scholars and experts from Korea and India have come together to examine channels of bilateral cooperation in economy and trade, healthcare and defense. The 19th Korea-India Strategic Dialogue, co-hosted by the Korea Foundation (KF), Seoul Forum for International Affairs (SFIA) and India's Ananta Aspen Centre (AAC), was held virtually with Korean representatives joining in person at The Plaza Seoul, Wednesday. Under the theme of "Crafting New Korea-India Strategic Partnership amid COVID-19 Pandemic: Co-Navigation and Emerging Opportunities," participants explored measures for Korea-India cooperation through joint vaccine development for COVID-19, Indo-Pacific economic strategy and maritime defense. "Through this dialogue, I hope we are able to contribute to enhancing a truly strategic partnership between two like-minded countries, India and Korea," said Ahn Choong-yong, forum's co-chair and distinguished professor at Chung-Ang University. "Although there are concerns that the spread of the virus might reverse globalization and weaken international bonds, I firmly believe that the pandemic has in fact proved our interdependence," KF President Lee Geun said from the organization's headquarter in Jeju Island. "When we narrow our focus to the Korea-India relationship, I believe this is especially apparent." In the era of the unprecedented pandemic, the participants highlighted the importance of joint vaccine development and clinical evaluations by combining Korea's strength in R&D and India's pharmaceutical manufacturing abilities. In addition to the healthcare sector, Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan suggested multiple potential areas of bilateral partnership, including technology and big data, green economy, infrastructure and defense. Against the backdrop of the escalating U.S.-China conflict and the India-China border clash, the true synergy between President Moon Jae-in's New Southern Policy and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Act East Policy also came to the forefront of the discussion as a way to open up new diplomatic and economic horizons for the two nations. In the changing geo-economic trade dynamics, Ahn pointed out the significance of the early effectuation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and argued that Korea's expanded outbound foreign direct investment to India must be realized. Korean Ambassador to India Shin Bong-kil stated that when the pandemic subsides, future strategic cooperation between the two countries will be resumed in diverse channels, including high-level bilateral visits, institutional dialogue at ministerial level and cultural exchanges. With the upcoming U.S. presidential election that will inevitably serve as one of the key variables in the global diplomacy, AAC chariman Naushad Forbes emphasized the importance of the concrete and feasible promotion of Korea-India relations. WASHINGTON - Attorneys for former national security adviser John Bolton on Thursday urged a federal judge to halt the government's efforts to seize the proceeds from his memoir and accused White House aides of improperly trying to stall publication of the book because it reveals unflattering material about the president. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth of the District of Columbia Circuit, voiced doubt, saying Bolton attorneys were mounting their own "political diatribe" in alleging Trump aides took unprecedented steps and politicized a pre-publication review of Bolton's book, "The Room Where It Happened." "Isn't the question whether the information is classified or not?" Lamberth prodded Bolton's defense. "You've engaged in that whole political diatribe, but it really has no place in what we're arguing today." The oral argument came one day after a lawyer for the career government official who conducted the initial review for classified information in Bolton's manuscript contended in a letter to the court that Trump aides had "commandeered" the process, then erroneously claimed it contained classified information and failed to propose edits to facilitate publication. On Thursday, the parties gathered for a video conference court hearing in the lawsuit brought by the Trump administration in June seeking to halt release of Bolton's book, an account of his 17 months as the president's top security adviser. Among other disclosures, the book reports that Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to help him win reelection, confirms that Trump attempted to use military aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's son and says Trump expressed willingness to halt or obstruct criminal investigations as personal favors to authoritarian foreign leaders. Lamberth refused to halt publication in a June 20 ruling, saying the government acted too late to prevent the sale of already distributed books. At issue Thursday was Bolton's motion to toss out the case, and the government's motion for a summary judgment ruled that the government can seize Bolton's profits because the book contained classified information. Bolton attorney Charles Cooper argued that the government had failed to allege that the former adviser knowingly disclosed such information and asserted that the nondisclosure agreements he signed required him to obtain written authorization to release only material he knew to be classified. If unsure, Cooper argued, he was required only to confirm from "an authorized official" - in this case, he argued, Ellen Knight, the National Security Council's senior director for records access - that the information was unclassified. Cooper claimed that this is what Knight verified by phone and email after the initial review and that Bolton knew of no other classified information remaining in the manuscript he submitted to his publisher April 27. "The government must be able to allege that Bolton knew or had reason to believe that his manuscript contained SCI, or it contained a description of activity that derived from SCI," the most sensitive compartmented information, Cooper argued. "They have not alleged that, and we would submit they cannot allege that." Arguing for the government, Deputy Associate Attorney General Jennifer Dickey denied that the contracts required that violations be knowing. Dickey said there was no dispute that Bolton gave the manuscript to his publisher without receiving formal written authorization that the pre-publication review he initiated was concluded. The government earlier produced six samples of what it asserted was classified material, three of which were classified before April 27 and one that Gen. Paul Nakasone, director of the National Security Agency, said in a declaration "implicates" the most sensitive level of material. "It would make no sense for the pre-publication review to attach and then say an author could opt out before written authorization that it was completed," Dickey argued. If he objected with the process, Bolton should have sued instead of walking away. "What is unprecedented is for the most recent national security adviser, who had been entrusted with classified information on a daily basis, who has a Yale law degree, and experienced counsel would think it's consistent with his contractual or fiduciary duty to simply sign off to his publisher on April 27 without waiting for written authorization that it did not contain information damaging to national security," Dickey said. Bolton's side said it is premature to decide the case before Lamberth decided whether the defense can investigate whether information in the book was properly classified and whether the review was conducted in the interest of national security, or concocted to protect Trump from political embarrassment. The government has acknowledged that after Knight concluded that Bolton had completed required edits, national security adviser Robert O'Brien, whom Trump appointed to succeed Bolton, ordered an additional review - a move Knight and government attorneys called unprecedented. O'Brien tapped another new appointee, Michael Ellis - the NSC's senior director for intelligence and a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif. - who received his classification authority March 1 and was not officially trained on it until the day after he completed the Bolton manuscript review. In a letter from her counsel, Knight said that Ellis erroneously challenged hundreds of passages, that government attorneys pressured her to disavow her professional team's earlier conclusions and that when she refused, she was told she no longer had a path forward at the security council. Knight said several government attorneys agreed in a later debriefing when she speculated that the reason the Justice Department was suing Bolton was "because the most powerful man in the world said that it needed to happen," according to her lawyer's letter. Arguing Thursday, Bolton attorney Michael Kirk said there was a concerted effort by White House lawyers to get Knight to change her story over five consecutive days in 18 hours of meetings, which was especially revealing of bad faith. He also cited Trump's statement in June to television news anchors that the White House was going to try to block publication of the book saying, "After I leave office, he can do this." "Any concern truly grounded in national security would not magically evaporate when the president leaves office and is not subject to political embarrassment," Kirk said. Lamberth however objected. Knight "hasn't seen the material" submitted by the government only to the court that four government officials have declared to be classified, including a sensitive passage cited by Nakasone, the judge noted. "She didn't know what the final classifications were," Lamberth said. A builder has died after eating a bag and a half of liquorice every day for several weeks. Liquorice contains glycyrrhizic acid which, if eaten in excess, can cause dangerously low potassium and imbalances in electrolytes. Doctors found's the Massachusetts man's potassium levels to be low, after he collapsed at a fast food restaurant. Emergency responders did CPR and he revived, but died the next day. "Even a small amount of liquorice you eat can increase your blood pressure a little bit, said Dr Neel Butala, a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital who described the case in the New England Journal of Medicine. Liquorice can cause heart problems if eaten in excess / Pixabay The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that eating as little as 76 grams of black liquorice a day for two weeks could cause a heart rhythm problem, especially for people over the age of 40., Many kinds of food and drink include liquorice extract, including some that may be unexpected. "It could be jelly beans, liquorice teas, a lot of things over the counter. Even some beers, like Belgian beers, have this compound in it, said Dr Robert Eckel, a University of Colorado cardiologist and former American Heart Association president. The FDA says that up to 3.1 per cent of a foods content can have glycyrrhizic acid but many sweets and other liquorice products dont reveal how much of it is contained per ounce or gram, Dr Butala said. Doctors have reported the case to the FDA in hope of raising attention to the risk. Jeff Beckman, a spokesman for the Hershey Company in the US, which makes the popular Twizzlers liquorice twists, said in an email that all of our products are safe to eat and formulated in full compliance with FDA regulations, and that all foods, including candy, should be enjoyed in moderation. With additional reporting by the Associated Press State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, was named a manufacturing champion by the Illinois Manufactures Association for his support in pro-manufacturing and pro-growth policies. Davidsmeyer was selected after the association rated all members of the 101st General Assembly on issues related to tax policy, environmental regulations, workers compensation and other issues. Boris Johnsons government is not learning from its mistakes and is failing to take tough enough action to stop the spread of the coronavirus, one of Downing Streets top scientific advisers has said. Professor John Edmunds a member of the governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said action had not been taken quickly enough back in March and that mistake was about to be repeated. The leading epidemiologist spoke out after Mr Johnson announced a raft of new rules and guidance on Tuesday, including a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants across England. Prof Edmunds said the curfew was likely to have a trivial effect and a very large range of measures was still needed "as fast as possible" to stop the rate of transmission from growing. We didnt react quick enough in March, and so I think that we havent learned from our mistake back then and were unfortunately about to repeat it, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. Professor Edmunds, who is the dean of the Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, predicted that Mr Johnson would have to bring in more restrictions in the weeks ahead. He added: I suspect we will see very stringent measures coming in place throughout the UK at some point, but it will be too late again. We will have let the epidemic double and double and double again until we do take those measures. And then well 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. Chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance advised No 10 on latest changes (EPA) Prof Edmunds who said he was speaking in a personal capacity rather than for the Sage group told the BBC that the UKs R rate of transmission was probably somewhere around 2 at the moment. He suggested it would be difficult to get the R rate back under 1 before Christmas without fresh curbs, adding: In order to stop the epidemic growing any further we need to put a large range of measures in place a very large range of measures. First minister Nicola Sturgeon went further than Mr Johnson by announcing a ban on indoor household visits in Scotland. However, Prof Edmunds said even that extra measure did not go far enough. Dominic Raab defended measures taken by the government and said they would be enough to bear down on the spread of the virus. The scientific advice that weve 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 weve seen in the virus if everyone complies with it, the foreign secretary told Today. 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 thats why the measures that we've introduced are targeted along with increased fines and making sure we've got consistent enforcement and compliance. No plan, they say, survives contact with the enemy. And little that Rishi Sunak had planned for the UK economy after he was unexpectedly parachuted into the Treasury to replace Sajid Javid in February has survived contact with coronavirus. The infrastructure revolution, the new fiscal framework, the mass house building, the doubling in investment for research all the projects that the fresh-faced Sunak talked up in his March Budget have been utterly swamped by the pandemic and the emergency effort by the Treasury to keep the British economy from collapsing. In that sense, Wednesdays confirmation that the next Budget, which had been due in the coming weeks, has been shelved simply continues the theme of 2020: Covid dominates all. The case for delaying the Budget is self-evident. Forward-looking tax and spending plans predicated on a reasonable economic recovery at a time when we are experiencing a second surge of infections and the government has just imposed a new set of restrictions that will inevitably weigh down on economic activity and undermine consumer confidence would have been bizarre and probably counterproductive. Its foolish to make decisions today that may well have to be reversed in a few weeks if its not actually necessary to do so. Boris Johnson explicitly told parliament on Tuesday that the new restrictions could last six months and may well be intensified if they dont bring down the new infection rate. The outlook could scarcely be more economically uncertain. And this is before even considering the looming possibility of the economic self-harm of a no-deal Brexit in January. Briefings and leaks over the summer had suggested Sunak was intending to use the Budget to impose new taxes to help fill the large gaps that have opened up in the public finances this year and put political blue water between the Conservatives and Labour. There were suspicions that he hoped to get these measures in early so that their impact would be forgotten by the electorate by the time of the next election in 2024. There were even hints of impending spending cuts. Such plans sound almost quaint now that the virus is surging again. This is a time for an extension of emergency support for UK workers and businesses, not for efforts to consolidate the public finances or to engage in the conventional political games of chess over tax increases. Sunak has, to be fair, been prepared to reverse himself on policy at times during this crisis. Most notably, when his emergency loan scheme for small firms manifestly wasnt working due to the recalcitrance of the high street banks the Treasury set up a new one that did manage to do the job. Yet the chancellor should have recognised earlier that his insistence on ending the furlough scheme by November 2020 was unrealistic. When Germany, France, Spain, Italy and others extended their own emergency support for workers well into next year it was clear that Britain was out an uncomfortable limb. And so it has proved. We await the details of the chancellors new furlough extension/replacement to be unveiled on Thursday and to see whether this will be sufficient to prevent joblessness spiking to the nightmarish threshold of four million. It seems likely that Sunak will roll out some kind of short-time working jobs subsidy scheme, as proposed by both the trade unions and the business lobbies. The key element to watch for will be how well targeted it will be on the sectors of the economy that are suffering the most from the new restrictions and how generous the support will be. But, regardless, its clear that a sizeable increase in unemployment is now inescapable. And a question which will be justifiably asked is how much damage could have been avoided if the chancellor had torn up his plans earlier? EU chemicals trade has shrunk this year, as the coronavirus pandemic has spread and lockdowns have restricted industrial activity and consumer goods demand. Trade is vitally important for the sector which has enjoyed a strong trade balance over the years. Chemicals has benefited hugely from globalisation and from broad-based tariff reductions. A key question is how the pandemic will impact trade over the longer term. Through lockdowns, local production for local supply was of vital importance. Producers worked hard to supply and work with customers as best they could, but long trade routes came under particular pressure. An underlying trend may be towards more local supply for local demand, although how that might be achieved in such an asset and investment heavy industry as chemicals remains to be seen. For years, large companies have sought to produce from bigger, more efficient hubs, strategically placed to serve increasingly globalised markets. EU producers, large and small, have captured growth not just from developed world markets such as the US, but from emerging economies. Emerging countries key Pre-pandemic, future demand growth was very much tied to the health of the still developing economies, with Africa seen as ripe for growth. While the EU continues tense trade negotiations with China, it is easy for focus to be drawn to the changing fortunes of, and the 27- country blocs relationships with, the worlds economic giants. Thinking of fast-developing markets, however, the EU finalised this year a landmark trade agreement with Vietnam which has been enthusiastically supported by the chemicals industry. The EU calls it the most comprehensive trade agreement the EU has concluded with a developing country. It gives Vietnam a 10-year period to eliminate duties on EU imports, although chemicals and pharmaceuticals are among the products that are already imported into Vietnam duty free. The EU says that there is a strong commitment on both sides to environmental and social rights a potential flash point in current talks between the bloc and China. A great job has been done in Vietnam containing the coronavirus outbreak, but the countrys economy has suffered terribly. World Bank data shows its economy still growing at 0.4% in the second quarter, a rate described by the Bank as exceptional during the pandemic. But this was still the worst performance over the past 35 years. Vulnerable to new waves of coronavirus outbreak, Vietnam could be caught in a coronavirus economic trap. What that trap might look like is as yet unclear, but it is likely to mean that demand for chemicals and the products made from them or the products that Vietnamese companies might make from them - will be impacted, possibly severely. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in its Global Goals report published on Monday, looks at the health and welfare aspects of the coronavirus crisis. In terms of vaccine coverage, said to be a good proxy for how health systems are functioning, it suggests weve been set back about 25 years in 25 weeks. One of the most important questions the world now faces is how quickly low-income countries can catch back up to where they were and start making progress again, the report said. The hardest-hit will need support to make sure that what should be temporary reversals dont become permanent. The point is that the health crisis has created an extraordinarily deep economic crisis which the poorer countries in the world not simply the poorest will struggle with for many years. The projections are deeply concerning. Many millions have been pushed into extreme poverty by the crisis. Healthcare systems in the poorer economies are under extreme pressure. Most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the lowest income part of the world, but one in which countries had been growing the fastest, cannot borrow the money needed to minimise the damage wrought by the pandemic. And, as the report says, there is a cap on how much money governments can spend on the safety net. IHME [the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington] estimates that extreme poverty has gone up by 7% in just a few months because of Covid-19, ending a 20-year streak of progress, the report added. Already in 2020, the pandemic has pushed almost 37m people below the $1.90 a day extreme poverty line. The poverty line for lower- middle-income countries is $3.20 a day, and 68m people have fallen below that one since last year. Re-evaluating chemicals The loss of progress and the slump in living standards dramatically shifts the ability to consume now, as well as the consumption landscape over time. It demands a re-evaluation of how chemical companies can best serve consumer demand, an assessment of just where that demand might be and for what. Clearly, chemicals demand growth is severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Economic stimulus by the rich nations will limit some of the impact, but innovation will be needed to help developing economies recover from the pandemics impact. As far as EU chemicals trade is concerned, exports from the bloc were down $2.7 billion in the first five months of 2020, at 72.4 billion, with petrochemicals exports to the US up 2.3 billion (or 8.8%) but a significant drop in exports of speciality and consumer chemicals. EU chemical exports to China, of 6.3 billion, were 1.2% higher than in the similar period last year. All in all, data on April and May showed two consecutive declines in extra EU27 chemical exports, European chemicals industry group Cefic said. No clear sign of recovery is observed on the exports side. About the author Nigel Davis is Insights Editor at ICIS, a global market intelligence provider. A Mind To Murder by P.D. James (Faber 8.99, 240 pp) A Mind To Murder by P.D. James (Faber 8.99, 240 pp) As if any excuse is needed, the P.D. James centenary has prompted the reissue of one of her finest works. A Mind To Murder is set in a psychiatric clinic catering for neuroses of the rich, where the administrator gets herself killed in a most gruesome manner. Enter Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh, who is conveniently on hand attending a sherry party given by the publisher of his latest collection of verse. This juxtaposition of sophistication with raw brutality, a hallmark for James, allows for a subtle exploration of characters who hide behind a mask of gracious living. The plot, taking in lies, adultery and blackmail, is cleverly constructed to maximise the shock of revelation, although its almost incidental to the unravelling of conflicting emotions. When Dalgliesh triumphs, it is with more than a hint of sadness at having to expose human frailty and folly. This is literature of a high order. The Clutter Corpse by Simon Brett (Severn House 20.99, 192pp) The Clutter Corpse by Simon Brett (Severn House 20.99, 192pp) How to earn a living while engaging in amateur sleuthing has long been a problem for mystery writers in search of a convincing character. Nothing if not original, Simon Brett has come up with the idea of a declutterer, who sorts out your house to make more space. For Ellen Curtis, a woman of middling years, it is an occupation that leads to weird experiences. In sussing out a potential assignment, she stumbles on the body of a girl. She knows the victim and makes it her mission to expose the killer. An imaginative plot with a generous quota of surprises, its carried along on a strong emotional undertow as Ellen grapples with her own family problems. With the promise of more decluttering mysteries, a highly enjoyable series is in the offing. The Graves Of Whitechapel by Claire Evans (Sphere 18.99, 368pp) The Graves Of Whitechapel by Claire Evans (Sphere 18.99, 368pp) This mystery melodrama has a Victorian setting almost Dickensian in its convincing portrayal of the seamier side of fog-wrapped London life. Cage Lackmann is an unscrupulous lawyer in the pay of a criminal mastermind who uses him to save his associates from the hangman. When a murder case involving child prostitution goes badly wrong, Cage is set adrift to find the culprit while protecting his own back from those who would dearly like to hold him responsible for perverting the course of justice. It is quite an achievement for Claire Evans to keep us on the side of her anti-hero: he has few redeeming features, apart from his dawning realisation that, in seeking the truth, he might save his own conscience. That she manages to do this while serving up a full measure of startling yet plausible revelations is a tribute to an enthralling read. Irish Workers, who have been universally recognised as social partners deserved access to levels of payment for sick and parental leave at least on a par with rates existing throughout the EU. This was suggested by Marian Harkin TD when she spoke on a motion by the Labour Party in the Dail, yesterday Wednesday, September 22nd which, she said, addressed in a real, meaningful and sustainable way, issues facing workers, parents and guardians around sick and parental leave in the context of COVID-19. Many people who never expected to be facing the need for sick and parental leave payments arising for instance, from children having to remain home from school during the pandemic, required and deserved state support. Quoting her experience as a former member of the European Parliaments Employment & Social Affairs Committee she pointed out that Ireland was among the few countries that did not have legislation in place that guarantee all workers the right to decent levels of sick pay. This proposal needs to be an integral part of our COVID strategy and is reasonable and feasible, she said. She instanced countries like Belgium, Germany and Nordic states whose governments were politically right of centre, but recognised the need to support workers and parents when circumstances required it. She instanced the position in Germany where workers were entitled to 100% of their wages for six weeks. This is not a left-right issue and the Labour party proposal is not, by any stretch of the imagination, in the highest bracket compared to what is in place across the EU, Deputy Harkin said. She questioned the proposal of the Government to defer the implementation of sick and parental leave measures and called for immediate implementation while, at the same time, examining options to protect SMEs in difficulty. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 22:07:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close XI'AN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- An industrial park in Meixian County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Wednesday, dispatched 40 tonnes of kiwifruit for export to Santiago, capital of Chile. It is the first for China to export kiwifruits to South America, and the shipment is being transported via cold-chain logistics. The province's Baoji customs said it has strictly controlled the monitoring of orchard pests with a full-chain source tracing system and standardized packaging management in accordance with the necessary inspection and quarantine requirements for exports to Chile. Located in the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains, Meixian County is one of the most suitable areas for growing kiwifruit, thus dubbed "Hometown of Chinese Kiwifruit." So far, some 20,000 hectares of kiwifruit have been grown in the county, with its annual output value exceeding 3 billion yuan (about 441 million U.S. dollars) for the past five years. Enditem Netanyahu and his entourage take advantage of a free service, US officials claim Aides of both Obama and Trump have described the alleged laundry racket Diplomats deny the claim but Netanyahu has faced laundry questions before Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu has a habit of bringing bags of dirty laundry with him on official visits to Washington, it was claimed last night. Netanyahu takes advantage of a free laundry service available to all foreign leaders, US officials say. ADVERTISEMENT The alleged laundry racket dates back years and aides of both Barack Obama and Donald Trump have described the familiar sight of Israeli laundry bags. While Israeli diplomats deny the allegation, Israeli media says the Washington Post report 'matches years of reporting by Israeli journalists' on the country's longest-serving prime minister. Netanyahu's hold on power is under threat from far more serious graft allegations in Israel, where he is facing trial for allegedly accepting bribes and trading favours with the media and business world. Benjamin Netanyahu with Donald Trump at the White House earlier this month where the Israeli leader signed historic peace accords with Bahrain and the UAE One official said the Netanyahus were 'the only ones who bring actual suitcases of dirty laundry for us to clean' on official visits. 'After multiple trips, it became clear this was intentional,' they said. Netanyahu's long career at the top of Israeli politics goes back to the 1990s and he has met with Presidents Clinton, Obama and Trump on visits to the US, although he was out of office during the Bush years. Another official said Netanyahu had been more sparing on his recent White House visit, where Israel signed historic peace accords with Bahrain and the UAE. This time there were no suitcases of laundry, the official said - while the Israeli embassy said that use of the washing service had been minimal. Click here to resize this module White House cleaners washed 'a couple of shirts' for the public meeting, a suit for the PM and a dress for his wife Sara, and a pair of pyjamas that Netanyahu wore on the long flight from Israel, the embassy said. ADVERTISEMENT It added that the allegations of overusing laundry services in the past were 'groundless and absurd', and designed to distract from the historic peace deals. But Netanyahu has gone into battle to protect his laundry secrets before, suing his own office in 2016 to stop it releasing his washing bills. In a 27-page lawsuit he argued that an examination of his laundry would amount to 'arbitrary interference with his privacy'. Netanyahu, pictured here with Hillary Clinton in 2010, has been to Washington as prime minister under Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Donald Trump Two years later, whistleblower Nir Hefetz claimed that Sara Netanyahu would take four or five suitcases with her on official visits so she could send the contents for dry cleaning. On one occasion she arrived on a foreign visit with eight suitcases of dirty laundry in tow, it was claimed. Last year, Mrs Netanyahu pleaded guilty in a case involving the misuse of state funds to order catered meals. She admitted criminal wrongdoing and was ordered to pay more than $15,000 in a plea deal which saw her avoid prison. The indictment claimed that she and a government employee fraudulently obtained more than $100,000 for hundreds of meals supplied by restaurants. The PM himself has long faced questions over expenses at his official and private homes, as well as a $127,000 charge for fitting a bedroom into a chartered plane to London. Netanyahu, who was sworn into office for a fifth term in May, is currently on trial on corruption charges after being indicted in three criminal cases last year. The 70-year-old, who denies all wrongdoing, is accused in the first case of granting favours to telecommunications firm Bezeq in exchange for favourable coverage of himself and his wife. Netanyahu in Washington in 2010 with vice president Joe Biden - who could be dealing with the Israeli leader again if he wins the November 3 election The second charge alleges that he and Sara received more than $200,000 worth of illegal gifts from an Israeli Hollywood producer and an Australian businessman in return for helping with business interests. ADVERTISEMENT The third allegation is that Netanyahu sought better coverage from newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth in exchange for legislation to hamper a rival publication. Netanyahu says he is the victim of a politically orchestrated 'witch hunt' by the media and the left to oust him from office. Loyalists in Netanyahu's Likud Party have accused the justice system of bias, and Netanyahu has said receiving gifts from friends was not against the law. The trial could take years and has already been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. However, the PM has dropped plans to seek parliamentary immunity from the charges amid long political stalemate in Israel. Under a fragile coalition deal following three drawn elections, Netanyahu's rival Benny Gantz is due to take over as prime minister in 2021. However, analysts say another snap election is possible which could cancel the power-sharing deal and allow Netanyahu to stay in power. Two Romanian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and two American strategic B-52 Stratofortress bombers participated in the "Bomber Weapon Training" air exercise organized by the US Air Force in Europe (USAFE). "The exercise aimed to strengthen the North Atlantic Alliance's reinsurance measures in the South-East of Europe and increase Romania's confidence in the involvement of the United States in ensuring regional security," reads a release from the Ministry of National Defence sent to AGERPRES on Thursday. In the Romanian airspace, the exercise was coordinated by the Air Operational Component of the Air Force General Staff and included interception and escort missions carried out with F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from the "Lieutenant Gheorghe Mociornita" 86th Air Base in Borcea. "The participation of Romanian aircraft in this type of activities allows the training of personnel in the performing such missions and contributes to the development of multinational cooperation in the air field by applying common procedures," the quoted source informs. CAG says military offset part of Rafale deal still pending India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 24: The country's top auditor said that Dassault Aviation, the makers of the Rafale have not confirmed the transfer of technology (ToT) to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which was part of the contract. Rafale maker's offset obligations not fulfilled yet, why? | Oneindia News The Indian Air Force (IAF) had two weeks back formally inducted five of the 36 Rafale jets ordered from France under a Rs 59,000 crore deal. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in a detailed report tabled in Parliament doubted that the ToT for a key engine would even take place. It further pointed out that several offset contracts built into multiple defence deals have not yielded the desired results. Rafale jets induction to IAF: Top quotes from Rajnath Singhs address According to the report, the defence ministry stated in October 2018 that the vendor 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 report said. "From 2005 till March 2018, 46 offset contracts had been signed with foreign vendors, valued at Rs 66,427 crore. Under these contracts, by December 2018, Rs19,223 crore worth of offsets should have been discharged by the vendors. However, the offsets claimed to have been 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," the CAG said. "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 also said. No casualties were recorded amid shelling in the past day. Ukraine has reported three violations of the latest ceasefire by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Wednesday, September 23. "In the past day, September 23, the Russian Federation's armed formations violated the July 22 ceasefire agreements three times," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Command wrote on Facebook in an update as of 07:30 Kyiv time on September 24, 2020. In particular, two enemy UAVs were spotted crossing the contact line in the area close to the Sea of Azov. The drones were jammed by Ukrainian electronic warfare systems. Read alsoDonbas warzone: No ceasefire violations recorded in past 24 hoursAnother provocation was recorded near the town of Popasna, where the enemy used an automatic grenade launcher twice to shell Ukrainian positions. No casualties were recorded amid shelling in the past day. At the same time, two Ukrainian soldiers were injured near the village of Pisky as they stepped on a landmine planted by an enemy. The injured were rushed to a hospital, where they were provided with the necessary medical assistance. Since Thursday midnight, no attacks by Russia-controlled armed formations have been recorded, the JFO HQ said. The situation is under full control of the Ukrainian military. Donbas ceasefire: Background Dr Alex George has admitted he's had a 'terrible year' following the tragic death of his younger brother Llyr aged 19 in July. During an interview with Sky News' Kay Burley on Thursday, the healthcare professional, 30, said he's been trying to 'move on with some element of purpose' as he detailed his plans to introduce mental health awareness to the school curriculum. The former Love Island star said: 'It's been really tough, it's been a terrible year to be fair. Covid has put so much pressure on everyone and I've felt the impact of that.' 'It's been tough': Dr Alex George has admitted he's had a 'terrible year' following the tragic death of his younger brother Llyr aged 19 in July Llyr died just weeks before he was due to follow in his older brother's footsteps and start medical school. 'Losing him has been awful, he was supposed to be going to medical school so it's been the most terrible loss', the grieving star added. The media personality discussed how he's been coping following his sibling's passing, confessing: 'I'm up and down, it's difficult. There's good days and bad days, but I feel like I have a real purpose and focus on that. I'll be alright, I've got to be.' Alex went on to detail his initiative to encourage the UK education system to teach mental health to young students as he insisted 'we're losing far too many people to suicide.' Heartbreaking: Llyr died just weeks before he was due to follow in his older brother's footsteps and start medical school (pictured together) 'I need to move on with purpose': During an interview with Sky News' Kay Burley on Thursday, the healthcare professional, 30, said he's introducing mental health awareness to schools The TV star shared: 'I think it's important to move on with some element of purpose. I want to change curriculums at school to have more support around mental health and make sure children are taught at a young age and leave with a mental health tool kit for themselves.' When asked why he believes suicide rates among men are so high, the Exeter University alum, who worked on the NHS frontline amid the pandemic, said: 'There's a lot of factors. 'Society places a sort of pressure: ''Man up, be tough, you'll be fine''. There's an expectation of men not to share their emotions. I know it's said, but men are far more likely to take their own lives than women. 'I'm up and down': The media personality discussed how he's been coping following his sibling's passing Determined: Alex went on to detail his initiative to encourage the UK education system to teach mental health to young students as he insisted 'we're losing too many people to suicide' 'The way we can change that is through education. That is just as important as maths and science. If you're not happy and functioning well, what's the point learning the other stuff?' Alex later shared tips on people can help others who are battling mental health issues, explain: 'I really think it's about your gut feeling. If you don't feel that someone isn't right, that's a big indicator on acting on it. 'Often people withdraw themselves from others. I try to advise people to use the ask twice idea. That second invitation is a meaningful invite to say: ''I'm having a really bad day''. The suicide rate for men in England and Wales in 2019 was the highest for two decades. Official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found 5,691 suicides were registered last year, with an age-standardised rate of 11 deaths per 100,000 population. The ONS said men accounted for around three-quarters of suicide deaths registered 4,303 compared with 1,388 women. If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org. When I heard the Prime Minister talking about a gas-led recovery the other week, my heart sank. As a young person living in Geraldton, an area surrounded by fracking licenses, the idea that our government will be backing gas puts my future, and that of the area I love, at risk. Lucy Murdoch at a Perth protest earlier this year. Credit:Supplies Growing up next to the beach on one of Australias most beautiful coastlines has been something Ive always felt to be a huge privilege. I love this region. And thats why I dont want to see it ruined by gas fracking, and damaged by climate change. I feel so strongly about this that several weeks ago I made the 4-hour drive down to Perth to speak at an action outside a closed business breakfast chaired by Nev Power, a gas industry executive who is heading up the governments COVID-19 advisory committee. DUBLIN, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ResearchAndMarkets.com published a new article on the wearable tech industry "Apple announced blood oxygen monitoring, fitness programme" At their annual event on 15th September, Apple rolled out a new Apple Watch series that monitors blood oxygen; the technology is designed to aid users monitor the effects of the COVID-19 virus, which lowers blood oxygen to dangerous levels. The move is an attempt to compete with Fitbit, which introduced a way to measure changes in blood oxygen earlier this year. Apple also introduced a smart fitness service powered by its watches, which can deliver virtual workouts, catering to customers trying to stay in shape during quarantine. The company also rolled its TV, news and fitness into a single smart bundle. Apple shares have soared this year even as the virus has crippled economies around the world, thanks in large part to booming sales of work-from-home items. To see the full article and a list of related reports on the market, visit "Apple announced blood oxygen monitoring, fitness programme" About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com The organisations said its members were strongly urged to assess and mitigate the risks of entering into contracts on the Nord Stream 2 or TurkStream construction projects and exercise the fullest possible due diligence to avoid exposure to sanctions or enforcement actions. The International Group of P&I Clubs represents the worlds top 13 ship insurers, covering nearly 90% of ocean-going tonnage across the globe, Reuters reported. The organisations announcement said that all member clubs had issued similarly worded circulars regarding the pipelines. The $11 billion Nord Stream 2 project is expected to double the capacity of the existing Nord Stream 1 pipeline. It is more than 90% complete and scheduled to begin operations this year, the newswire said. The Trump administration, in a bid to limit Russias economic leverage over Europe and Turkey, has warned that investors in Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream could face sanctions. Los Angeles City Mayor Reflects on Breonna Taylor Case Settlement; More Work For Justice Has To Be Done. Los Angeles City residents were updated on the spread and movement of the coronavirus outbreak. The Mayor Eric Garcetti shared his concern about the trends that are reflecting, and he outlined the type of mindset the community should be aligned with to prevent further transmission of the virus. Although recent reports are showing stabilization, there is still uncertainty amid public officials. The mayor emphasized the need to stay vigilant during the plateau season of the virus. Mayor Garcetti stressed unity among residents, the goal is to be under one sound agenda of pushing forward. In reflection of the charges given to the officers that shot Breonna Taylor, ending her life, Garcetti stated, This outcome, and so many others like it, are why we cannot as a nation, stop saying Black lives matter. It is why we have to come together, and continue pushing forward, to make sure that this nation which has a shot at birthing, finally, a multiracial democracy The Los Angeles City Mayor expanded on the ideology of what all communities across the nation will need to do to promote change. Garcetti emphasized the imbalance of the case settlement when compared to the crime, he said, This is not Justice. Giving the context of which Breonna Taylor was in her own home, laying in her bed, the mayor stressed there should be more accountability, and conviction for the crime committed. Garcetti reflected on the light consequence given to the officers involved, he stated that the work needed to see true justice is still unfinished. Bringing it back to the city, the mayor shared the dual action of ending discrimination within the heart of individuals, but also to root it out in the policies and practices that work as the foundation of governing the city. ADVERTISEMENT The city is embarking on a new chapter of combating the spread of COVID-19, Garcetti brought the community to a retrospective moment of the early stages of coronavirus in the city. He reviewed the tragedies that took place and that played out on the news. He stated Los Angeles has felt a deep impact from COVID-19. But presently in the City of Angels, Garcetti acknowledge the community effort in the prevention of transmission of this fatal virus. Garcetti cautioned that the need for vigilance is still heavily needed from all residents, Los Angeles must do its part in keeping everyone who lives here, alive and with the best quality of life. The mayor reflected on the journey and how merciless the virus can be if the community begins to slip into carelessness. The only way to fight COVID-19 is together in a collective effort. Statistics following the virus reflect a decrease, the victory came out of a collective effort from all Angelenos. The focus for Los Angeles is to be a better community, together. Garcetti shared his pride in leading this progressive city through these hardships. Garcetti spoke of transforming relationships and making investments in programs that foster progressive and mindful behavior among the community. He called for the city to double their efforts in building a strong connection between resident and public officials. Garcetti stated, As we process todays news, lets stay mindful of the words determination and peace that Breonnas family has shared with us, day after day, that courage that they have shown. Lets keep saying her name, lets never give up the fight for justice WASHINGTON The F.B.I. has not seen evidence of a coordinated national voter fraud effort, its director, Christopher A. Wray, told lawmakers on Thursday, undercutting President Trumps efforts to stoke fears about mail-in ballots by claiming without evidence that they are an election threat. Any fraud effort would have to be widespread and well coordinated to change the election outcome, and carrying out that kind of fraud would be a major challenge for an adversary, Mr. Wray said. But he made it clear he was not minimizing other threats to election security, including smaller-scale frauds. Its on our radar, Mr. Wray told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Mr. Wrays testimony came a week after the president publicly attacked him for asserting at a House hearing that Russia was conducting election interference operations and that violent extremism was a significant threat. Though both issues are well documented, Mr. Trump has long downplayed the Russian operations, seeing them as a threat to his legitimacy, and he has emphasized far-left extremists over the deadlier threat from the far right and white supremacists. Mr. Wray sought to emphasize his views on Antifa, the loose anti-fascist movement, after Mr. Trump suggested the director had downplayed it as a threat during last weeks testimony. On Thursday, Mr. Wray said: Antifa is a real thing. It is not a fiction. He said the F.B.I. had seen organized, tactical activity among those associated with the movement on both the regional and local levels. CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) will invest $30 million in communities across its geographic footprint over the next three years. As part of this commitment the company has formed the Ally Charitable Foundation, which will deploy grants to support economic mobility in the communities Ally serves by focusing on affordable housing, financial literacy, workplace preparedness and other initiatives. "Ally's investment in its communities has grown as our business has grown and, over the next three years, we will continue our impactful giving through both the Ally Charitable Foundation and other corporate grants," said Alison Summerville, Business Administration executive and head of Corporate Citizenship, Ally. "The $30 million in grants will fund the incredible work of many nonprofit organizations throughout our communities, including the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Junior Achievement USA and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund." Ally's grant process is by invitation only and concentrated in the Charlotte and Detroit communities, in which Ally has a large employee presence. Ally Charitable Foundation The Ally Charitable Foundation was launched to further the company's philanthropic mission to improve economic mobility for all. The Foundation will champion projects that break down barriers to equity and support efforts to combat social injustice. "Ally is an unwavering advocate for economic mobility, and the Ally Charitable Foundation will enable us to address its causes and impacts while fulfilling our promise to 'Do It Right'," said Mike Rizer, president of the Ally Charitable Foundation. "In addition to supporting organizations doing exemplary work in promoting economic mobility, we will use the Foundation as an important new avenue to listen, collaborate, and learn, in order to drive lasting, equitable changes in the communities we serve." Inaugural Grants The Ally Charitable Foundation's $1.6 million in inaugural grants will be distributed among several nonprofit organizations. The $1.6 million includes $400,000 in grants promoting the economic mobility of Black and Brown small business owners and micro-entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities and Little Rock, Ark., two regions in which Ally has operations. These organizations include: Rebuild&HealMN, a Minneapolis-based collaboration supporting immigrant, Black and Brown business owners who have been impacted due to the city's recent civil unrest, will receive a $200,000 grant to help these small businesses get back on their feet and reenergize their communities. Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Twin Cities (Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minn.) will receive a $100,000 grant, which it will then distribute among small business owners in St. Paul's Little Africa community. LISC will offer a range of grants to help local businesses reopen, with funding prioritized for recovery and technology needs. This grant is in addition to Ally's $3 million commitment to LISC National to fuel entrepreneurship and homeownership, with a focus on those who may not otherwise have access to much-needed capital and support. Southern Bancorp Community Partners of Little Rock, a 501(c)(3) loan fund and financial development organization, will receive a $100,000 grant to provide loans for organizations that may be unable to meet credit or other guidelines offered by depository financial institutions. As loans made with these funds are repaid, Southern Bancorp Community Partners will revolve the funds to make new loans available, multiplying Ally's initial grant impact over time. Commenting on the grant, Henry Jimenez, founding member of Rebuild&HealMN and executive director of the Latino Economic Development Center, said, "The small businesses here in the Twin Cities are the pillars and livelihood of our community, and we began Rebuild&HealMN to stand by them and offer our assistance during these times of extreme hardship. Through Ally's generous grant, we are able to not only save many immigrant, Black and Latino-owned small businesses, but also preserve the unique cultures these businesses represent for generations to come." Peter McLaughlin, executive director of LISC Twin Cities, said, "The COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest that followed in the wake of George Floyd's murder were especially hard on small businesses in the Twin Cities, particularly in areas like Little Africa. This grant will help local businesses survive the recession and emerge in a position ready to serve their communities." Karama Neal, president of Southern Bancorp Community Partners, said, "Small businesses are the lifeblood of Little Rock's economy, particularly in the African American and Hispanic communities. Business development plays a significant role in wealth building and economic mobility, and since these are both key priorities of our own mission, we are thrilled to be able to deploy the funds provided through the Ally Charitable Foundation's generous grant to help local businesses not only survive this challenging time, but also thrive for many years into the future." To learn more about Ally's philanthropic initiatives, including the Ally Charitable Foundation, please visit: ally.com/socialimpact. About Ally Charitable Foundation Ally Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chartered in the state of North Carolina. Established in 2020, the Ally Charitable Foundation is focused on supporting economic mobility, combating systemic racism and supporting its employees and communities in times of crisis. About Ally Financial Inc. Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a leading digital financial-services company with $184.1 billion in assets as of June 30, 2020. As a customer-centric company with passionate customer service and innovative financial solutions, we are relentlessly focused on "Doing it Right" and being a trusted financial-services provider to our consumer, commercial, and corporate customers. We are one of the largest full-service automotive-finance operations in the country and offer a wide range of financial services and insurance products to automotive dealerships and consumers. Our award-winning online bank (Ally Bank, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender) offers mortgage lending, personal lending, and a variety of deposit and other banking products, including savings, money-market, and checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Additionally, we offer securities-brokerage and investment-advisory services through Ally Invest. Our robust corporate finance business offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies. About Rebuild&HealMN This collaboration is a joint effort between the African Development Center (ADC), African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS), Council on American-Islamic Relations - Minnesota Chapter (CAIR-MN), and the Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) in support of immigrant-owned businesses on Lake Street, Midway, and across the Twin Cities. There's a need for organizations that have deep relationships within immigrant communities to lead the way in support and recovery efforts. In addition to a community lens to the effort, these organizations serve as CDFIs and bring decades of experience related to supporting BIPOC businesses and providing access to resources and technical support. Rebuild&HealMN assembled an advisory committee of community members to help administer and distribute the funds. About Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) With residents and partners, LISC forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families. With 37 affiliates across the county, LISC has since 1979 invested $20 billion to build or rehab 400,500 affordable homes and apartments and develop 66.8 million square feet of retail, community and educational space. For more, visit www.lisc.org. About Southern Bancorp Southern Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company; Southern Bancorp Community Partners, a 501(c)(3) development finance and lending organization; and Southern Bancorp Bank, one of America's largest rural development banks; were founded in 1986 by a group of business, political and philanthropic leaders who were concerned about the economic decline of rural Arkansas. All three entities are U.S. Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) collectively known as "Southern." With $1.3 billion in assets, 65,000 customers and 46 locations in Arkansas and Mississippi, Southern invests in people and businesses in rural communities; empowers them to improve their lives; and helps them transform their communities. Learn more about Southern on the web at www.banksouthern.com & www.southernpartners.org. Contact: Allison Salzberg [email protected] SOURCE Ally Financial Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 19:07 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4703eed 1 National The-Jakarta-Post,The-Jakarta-Post-Digital,TheJakartaPost,Nezar-Patria Free The Jakarta Posts editor-in-chief Nezar Patria has been appointed to the board of directors at state-owned postal company PT Pos Indonesia. According to a State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) ministerial decree issued on Wednesday, a copy of which was obtained by the Post, Nezar will serve as PT Pos Indonesia's director of institutional affairs, replacing former director Noer Fajriansyah. I want to take on a new challenge in the bigger ecosystem of digital industry, Nezar told the Post. I passed the selection process and was appointed as the director of institutional affairs, whose job is to build strategic relationships with partners, accelerate digital and business transformation and support innovations made by other departments." Other than Nezar, the newly appointed directors include digital business director of telecommunication giant PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom), Faizal Rochmad Djoemadi, who will serve as the president director of PT Pos Indonesia and vice president of human capital engagement at Mandiri Bank, Tonggo Marbun, as the director of human and general resources. SOE Minister Erick Thohir also appointed CEO of Muamalat Bank and independent commissioner at PT Zurich Endy Pattia Rahmadi as the director of finance, as well as Hariadi, formerly a director at Quantum Solutions Logistics Indonesia, as director of courier and logistics. The decree stipulates that members of the board of directors at PT Pos Indonesia are not allowed to have multiple positions and therefore must resign or be removed from their previous position. Nezar said he would officially leave the Post on Oct. 1. Starting [Thursday], I serve as PT Pos Indonesias director of institutional affairs. On Oct. 1, my position at the Post will be handed over to the new editor-in-chief, Nezar said. He also expressed his regret for having to leave the Post. Its sad because the Post is more than just an English-language media; it shows journalism with attitude and impact," Nezar said. "I really enjoyed working with my comrades at The Jakarta Post, but change is inevitable, I think Im giving the younger people opportunity to take over and bring the Post to the next level. Nezar had served as the Post's chief editor since Feb. 1, 2018, becoming the sixth editor-in-chief since the paper's first publication in April 1983. Prior to his appointment as chief editor, Nezar took the helm of the Posts online department, leading the expansion of the papers website since 2015. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Giants manager Gabe Kapler, who has been outspoken about racial inequality and police brutality, said after Wednesdays grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case that the system has no answer to the police killing. Officers who fired their weapons at Taylor, who died March 11 in Louisville, Ky., were not charged with her killing. New research from the UK, being presented at this week's ESCMID Conference on Coronavirus Disease (ECCVID, online from 23-25 September) shows that the diagnosis of several common conditions including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular (circulatory) disease, diabetes, and mental health conditions approximately halved during the country's COVID-19 lockdown. The study is to be published in The Lancet Public Health ahead of a special conference session featuring The Lancet journals. The study, by Richard Williams of the University of Manchester and The National Institute for Health Research Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, Manchester, UK, used data from Salford, a metropolitan area of Greater Manchester (UK) with a population of approximately 250000 people. The authors used routinely collected primary care data that was recorded in the Salford Integrated Record system between Jan 1, 2010, and May 31, 2020. They extracted data on symptoms and observations, diagnoses, prescriptions, operations and procedures, laboratory tests, and other diagnostic procedures. They then used computer modelling with data of monthly counts of first diagnoses of common conditions (common mental health problems, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer), and corresponding first prescriptions of medications indicative of these conditions. These models were used to predict the expected numbers of first diagnoses and first prescriptions between March 1 and May 31, 2020, which were then compared with the observed numbers for the same time period. Between March 1 and May 31, 2020, 1073 first diagnoses of common mental health problems were reported compared with 2147 expected cases based on preceding years, representing a 50% reduction. There were 598 cases of circulatory disease observed, compared with 1054 expected, a 43% reduction, and for type 2 diabetes, 141 cases were diagnosed compared with an expected 276 cases - a 49% reduction. The number of first prescriptions of associated medications was also lower than expected for the same time period. The gap between observed and expected cancer diagnoses (194 expected / 163 observed, difference 31 cases, a 16% reduction) during this time period was not statistically significant, but the authors suggest this could be due to a delay in cancer diagnosis data being recorded in primary care after diagnosis in hospital. The authors say: "The lower reduction in cancer diagnoses observed compared with the other diseases assessed could be partially explained by this time lag. This hypothesis is supported by the data for May, during which we observed a 44% reduction in cancer diagnoses - 38 observed versus 68 expected - which was statistically significant." The authors say: "Most of the conditions included in our study develop over many years, so it is unlikely that people's behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a lower incidence of these diseases...the reduced number of new diagnoses observed when compared with the expected numbers obtained from our models are most likely to represent a large number of true disease cases that have gone undetected, undiagnosed, and untreated." They suggest that, when people begin to engage more with health services again, through less widespread fear of contracting COVID-19 in a health-care facility or because their symptoms have become intolerable, presentation rates for the four groups of conditions assessed in this study could increase sharply. They say: "Should such a scenario occur, health-care services will need to manage this excess demand. The delay in diagnoses is also likely to have implications for the severity of these conditions when patients present. Prioritisation of people with these conditions over people with more minor illnesses will be important in primary care otherwise the backlog could plausibly overwhelm primary and secondary health-care services." They also sound a warning about future health emergencies, including potential second waves of COVID-19. They conclude: "Should a public health emergency on the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic occur in the future, or if subsequent surges in COVID-19 cases arise, national communication strategies must be carefully considered to ensure that large numbers of patients with urgent health needs do not disengage with health services." They note some limitations to their study, including that Salford is the 18th most deprived of 317 areas in England, and thus these results might not be generalisable to other parts of the country. Between March 1 and May 31, 2020, Salford had the fourth highest age-standardised all-cause mortality rate in England and Wales and the third highest age-standardised COVID-19 mortality rate outside of London. Due to higher deprivation, a higher proportion of the population in Salford might be unable to consult with a GP via video link than the general population of the UK. But the authors add: "However, it seems reasonable to assume that the patterns observed in Salford would be similar to those in other parts of the UK, particularly in areas with similar populations. The high COVID-19 mortality rate in Salford should not affect the generalisability of our results, since we are reporting the consequences of the public health system response and the public response to the crisis rather than the consequences of COVID-19 itself." ### This is one in a series of stories that are part of Swing County, Swing State, a collaborative project between lehighvalleylive.com and nj.com that explores Northampton Countys critical role in the upcoming presidential election. Northampton County, a critical area for the 2020 presidential campaigns in Pennsylvania, is getting redder. There are still more Democrats registered to vote here, but Republicans have been narrowing the gap for years, including a push this summer. The trend is the same on the state level. In fact, Pennsylvania as a whole and Northampton County specifically have more voters currently registered than in either of the last two presidential elections, with Republicans making gains in most counties over the last four years, according to a lehighvalleylive.com analysis of state registration data. I know were a Democrat (majority) county, said Lee Snover, chair of the Northampton County Republican Committee. Heres the thing with Northampton County: A Republican has a chance to win. Get the latest updates from the Swing County, Swing State project sent to your inbox. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Northampton County has earned a reputation as a national bellwether. All but three times since 1920, the candidate Northampton County voters selected assumed the presidency. As of this week, Northampton County has about 220,000 registered voters. Thats almost 8,000 more than were registered in the 2016 general election when the county backed Donald Trump, and almost 10,000 more than in 2012 when it supported Barack Obamas re-election. Registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans by 31,000 in the 2012 election. That gap shrank to 25,600 in 2016 and so far in 2020 it has been reduced further there are now about 21,600 more Democrats than Republicans. Snover said the GOP has made a strong push for registration this year. Particularly over the summer months, she said organizers have found new events to reach potential voters. The countys rural northern tier, including Lehigh and Moore townships, has been a particular boon and Snover said the party is gleaning new voters out of residents who have never previously registered. Many, she said, are signing up not out of any particular allegiance to the party but in support of Trump. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) On the other side, Matthew Munsey, the chair of the Northampton County Democrats, said his party has been hampered in registration drives since COVID-19 has cancelled many of their usual events and activities. Instead, he said, local Democrats are focusing on driving voter turnout rather than registration. The bulk of Democratic voters are still expected in the cities and suburbs, but Munsey told lehighvalleylive.com that the party may yet see gains in the farther-flung areas. Phone banks, mailing and social media target voters who may be on the fence, including independents and some Republicans, encouraging them to vote for Joe Biden. He noted some Republicans have pledged to support Biden over Trump. Were finding Democrats very enthusiastic, Munsey said. Theyre very anxious, theyre seeing a lot of Trump signs going up ... Theyre reaching out because they want to see more Biden signs in their area. (Cant see the map? Click here.) Broadening the scope, similar situations appear to be playing out across Pennsylvania. The state has 8.8 million registered voters so far this year, up from 8.7 million in 2016 and 8.5 million in 2012. In the last four years, Republicans have gained about 183,000 registered voters on Democrats, including in most counties in and around the Lehigh Valley. A monthly analysis by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star shows the trend continuing in the short term in some majority-Democrat Philadelphia suburbs like Bucks County. However, Democrats still hold the advantage with 4.1 million registered voters to Republicans' 3.4 million. But, as Munsey noted, registration is not necessarily indicative of how an election will go. Honestly, Im not that concerned because we still have a huge registration advantage, Munsey told lehighvalleylive.com. The registration numbers are not relevant to predicting an election. ... Its about turnout and how people vote. The voter registration deadline in Pennsylvania is Oct. 19 and can be completed online at register.votesPA.com; by printing and mailing a downloadable form; or by going to certain government agencies, like a PennDOT drivers license center. More from the Swing County, Swing State project: 2020 voting guide From Truman to Trump, presidential campaigns seek Lehigh Valleys important voters. A photo history. Why whoever wins Northampton County will probably win the presidency The outsiders guide to Northampton County, where the 2020 election could be decided The Swing County, Swing State project is being generously supported in part by a $25,000 grant from The John Farmer Memorial Journalism Fund. Read more about it here. And please consider supporting ambitious local news like this with a subscription to lehighvalleylive.com. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Panaji, Sep 24 : Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, who has been summoned by the NCB probing the narcotics angle connected with Sushant Singh Rajput's death, on Thursday left Goa for Mumbai. Deepika who was in Goa to shoot for an upcoming film along with Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ananya Pandey. She left her five-star resort in North Goa's Sinquerim beach village, for the Dabolim international airport, from where she will be travelling to Mumbai in a special chartered flight. Before leaving for Mumbai, Deepika also met members from her legal team at the resort, sources said. The sudden dash to Mumbai comes in wake of the Narcotics Control Bureau probe, in which a 2017 WhatsApp message allegedly between the actress and her talent manager Karishma Prakash surfaced where the duo were reportedly discussing banned substances. Prakash is a colleague of Jaya Saha at Kwan. Saha has been questioned by all federal agencies in the Sushant probe and is one of the main accused in the FIR filed by the late actor's father. Deepika has been formally summoned to appear before the NCB officials in Mumbai, on Friday. Actress Sara Ali Khan, also summoned by NCB was also holidaying in Goa and has left for Mumbai on Thursday. Sara and Shraddha Kapoor are set to appear before NCB Mumbai office on Saturday. All questioning are in connection with the ongoing drug angle probe into the unnatural death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Cancer physicians from across the country recently participated in the 2020 ASCO Advocacy Summit. Dr. Banu Symington was among them. Symington is an oncologist/hematologist at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater Countys Sweetwater Regional Cancer Center. She participated in the American Society of Clinical Oncologys virtual summit Sept. 15 & 16. I met with U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, and an aide to U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi as part of the ASCO Advocacy Summit, she said. The ASCO hosts the meeting annually to advocate for legislative priorities that benefit cancer pat... The prosecution opened its case against Robert McGregor by telling a murder trial jury Wednesday that Joanne MacKenzies body was discovered about 280 metres from McGregors Lakefield home in a shallow grave with her upper torso covered by a garbage bag. Assistant crown attorney Andrew Midwood continued with telling the jury on Wednesday in the Superior Court of Justice in Oshawa that MacKenzie was found with 15 stab wounds, including injuries on her back, arms, and neck. Her throat had been cut, Midwood said, adding doctors concluded MacKenzies death was quick and caused by the stab wounds to her neck. Midwood told the jury that McGregor, who is on trial for first-degree murder and kidnapping, deliberately killed the mother of their daughter on July 2, 2011 because they were in a custody battle for their then five-year-old daughter. McGregor thought the Canada Day weekend could be the last time with his daughter because the court was about to come up a decision of where their daughter would live, Midwood said. McGregor tricked MacKenzie into meeting him July 2 at the Tim Hortons outlet on George Street in Peterborough by telling her that their daughter was hurt and might need medical attention, Midwood said. This was a fabrication, Midwood said, explaining to the jury that kidnapping can be by fraud or a false pretense. According to Midwood, jurors will see video surveillance of MacKenzie entering McGregors truck at the Tim Hortons before he headed toward his home in Lakefield. In the days following, McGregor had multiple stories to tell police about what happened to his ex-girlfriend, Midwood said. McGregor first told police that he showed up at Tim Hortons to meet MacKenzie but he was suddenly attacked and beaten by six unknown men, he said. However, police had seen the video surveillance and charged him with obstruction of justice on July 5, 2011 because MacKenzie had now been missing for three days and police wanted answers, court heard. Police searched the rural property where McGregor was living on Preston Road in Selwyn Township and discovered items that eventually lead them to MacKenzies body on July 6, 2011, Midwood said. On Wednesday, the jury also heard from the prosecutions first witness, Cynthia Taylor. Taylor, MacKenzies mother, spent several hours at the witness stand during chief examination, talking about her daughters relationship with the accused. Taylor also read 25 pages of her daughters journal, which outlined her custody battle with McGregor. Through Taylor, the jury heard that MacKenzie wrote about how McGregor threatened to hurt her and any potential new boyfriends that would potentially be around his daughter. She also noted that McGregor had a short temper, and would intimidate her by saying hed hired a private investigator for dirt on her, and would use it to gain full custody of their daughter. The trial continues Thursday when McGregors lawyer Christopher Hicks continue his cross examination of Taylor. WASHINGTON Calling the November election a "struggle to preserve American democracy," Bernie Sanders warned Americans on Thursday to prepare for a doomsday scenario in which President Donald Trump could try to declare victory prematurely by seeking to discredit absentee ballots counted after Election Day. Striking a somber and urgent tone, the Vermont senator and former Democratic presidential candidate steered clear of his bread-and-butter progressive causes in a speech from an empty auditorium at George Washington University. He instead addressed a fundamental principle of a democracy. "What I am going to talk about is something that, in my wildest dreams, I never thought I would be discussing," Sanders said, beginning his 30-minute speech. "And that is the need to make certain that the President of the United States, if he loses this election, will abide by the will of the voters and leave office peacefully." US Senator Bernie Sanders, Independent of Vermont, speaks at George Washington University in Washington, DC, on September 24, 2020. - Sanders warned that the US faces an "unprecedented and dangerous moment," as US President Donald Trump questions the legitimacy of mail-in ballots and suggests he might not accepts the election results. The remarks kicked off a new six-week campaign for the self-described Democratic socialist, a supporter of Democratic nominee Joe Biden, to highlight the "unique threats to democracy" he said Trump poses. He was making his first live public speech since the Democratic primary in March. He also sought to give young progressive voters who backed him in the primary some not enthused about Biden another reason to vote. "This is not just an election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden," Sanders said. "This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy and democracy must win." More: Trump declines to commit to peaceful transfer of power, McConnell promises 'orderly transition' Sanders' speech came one day after Trump declined to say when asked by a reporter whether he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he were to lose. Trump said "get rid of the ballots" and "there wont be a transfer, frankly, therell be a continuation." The president's position was strongly rebuked by members of both parties. Story continues "Thats not his choice," Sanders said. "Thats for the American people to determine. Let us be very clear. There is nothing in our constitution or in our laws that give Donald Trump the privilege of deciding whether or not he will step aside if he loses." The senator added: "That may be what his friend Putin does in Russia. It may be what is done in other authoritarian countries. But it is not and will not be done in America. This is a democracy." More: Some Democrats warn Trump may use 'red mirage' to prematurely declare victory while absentee ballots are being counted Sanders' stark framing of the race between Trump and Biden echoed President Barack Obama, who during his speech at the Democratic National Convention, warned, "Thats whats at stake right now: our democracy." Trump has accused Democrats of seeking to "rig" the election through mail-in ballots, which he's slammed without evidence as being more fraudulent than voting in person. Trump has complained about the weeks it might take election officials to count all absentee ballots, and he's not been clear whether he would accept election results. While Trump has questioned the legitimacy of "universal mail-voting," Democrats have requested overwhelmingly more mail-in ballots than Republican voters. Polling suggests Biden supporters are twice as likely to vote by mail than Trump supporters. "In other words," Sanders said, "if Trump can undermine peoples confidence in the validity of votes cast by mail, he will be calling into question the validity of votes that may overwhelmingly support Joe Biden." Sanders also advanced a theory pushed by Democrats who have 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 number of absentee ballots, that could skew toward Biden, are counted. "Trump then announces, with no proof," Sanders said, "that there has been massive mail in ballot fraud and that these votes should not be counted and that he has won the election. In other words, Trump may well announce that he has won the election before all of the votes are counted and that large numbers of mail-in ballots should be discarded." Sanders suggested states with legislatures controlled by Republicans these include battleground states like North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania could ignore election results because of "false accusations of voter fraud." He predicted the legislatures itself could then "use its power to appoint electors pledged to vote for Trump, overriding the will of the people." More: Trump says he wants to fill Supreme Court seat quickly in case justices need to settle election dispute Trump campaign spokeswoman Samantha Zager, in a statement, called Sanders a "disgruntled former presidential candidate" and accused him of "spouting conspiracy theories about hypothetical results." "If Bernie Sanders wants us to be able to have faith in the results on November 3rd, maybe he should ask the Democrat Party to quit sowing chaos and confusion that could lead to voter disenfranchisement and delayed vote tallies thats a tangible step he could take instead of spouting nonsense that is laying the groundwork for Joe Biden to dismiss the outcome when he loses. The Biden campaign declined to comment on Sanders' speech. US Senator Bernie Sanders, Independent of Vermont, leaves after speaking at George Washington University in Washington, DC, on September 24, 2020. - Sanders warned that the US faces an "unprecedented and dangerous moment," as US President Donald Trump questions the legitimacy of mail-in ballots and suggests he might not accepts the election results. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 2883 ORIG FILE ID: AFP_8QN2JM.jpg Sanders' election night scenario is one that was explored by the Transition Integrity Project. The bipartisan group this summer assembled nearly 70 Trump critics, including law professors, retired military officers, former senior U.S. officials, political strategists and attorneys, to conduct "war games" on what the outcome of the election could like. Sanders told The New York Times before his speech that he spoke to Rosa Brooks, a professor of law and policy at Georgetown University and co-founder of the project. The Transition Integrity Project found a high degree of likelihood the presidential winner will not be known on election night as officials count mail-ballots, giving "opportunities for an unscrupulous candidate to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the process and to set up an unprecedented assault on the outcome." More: Experts held 'war games' on the Trump vs. Biden election. Their finding? Brace for a mess Trump has blasted mail-voting throughout the campaign, warning without evidence that it is more fraudulent that voting in-person person. An analysis from the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice found 491 cases of absentee voter fraud out of billions of votes cast across all U.S. elections from 2000 to 2012. The president's 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. "Trump's strategy to delegitimize this election and to stay in office if he loses is not complicated," Sanders said, adding that Trump, who is trailing in national and battleground polls, and Republicans are "doing everything they can to make it harder and harder for people to vote." "In addition, he is sowing the seeds of chaos, confusion and conspiracy theories by casting doubt on the integrity of this election and, if he loses, justifying why he should remain in office." Sanders quickly endorsed Biden when the former vice president emerged as the presumptive nominee in April. He spoke on behalf of Biden at the DNC convention, helped Biden piece together policy recommendations, and has held livestream speeches and roundtables for the campaign. But before Thursday he had not made any public live appearances since the final Democratic primary debate March 15. Sanders, who finished second in delegates in the Democratic primary, remains a rock star among the Democratic Party's left flank particularly young liberals. But a key part of Trump's campaign strategy has been to try to tie Biden to the "socialist" and liberal policies backed by Sanders and other progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. To win in November, Biden needs Sanders' primary backers to turn out for him in November, but Biden has also sought to deflect the socialism tag. "I beat the socialist," Biden told a local television station in Wisconsin this week. "That's how I got elected. That's how I got the nomination. Do I look like a socialist? Look at my career and my whole career. I am not a socialist." More: Poll: Nearly 1 in 4 Sanders supporters not on board yet with voting for Biden Sanders did not answer questions from reporters following his speech. He offered a variety of ways for Democrats and others to ensure his worst fears about the election don't become reality. For starters, he called it "absolutely imperative" that the U.S. breaks voter turnout records. He said a landslide victory for Biden would make it "virtually impossible for Trump to deny the results." He said states "must take action now" to ensure ballots can be counted as they come in before Election Day. Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are among the states that do not allow the counting of absentee ballots to begin until polls close, meaning it could take days or weeks to know their final results. Legislation in Michigan and Pennsylvania would allow that process to begin earlier, but it has stalled in its state legislatures. More: Facebook readying 'break-glass' tools to restrict content if violence erupts after election Sanders called on the media to "prepare the American people to understand there is no longer a single election day" and that it's possible results won't be ready on Nov. 3. He pushed social media networks to "get their act together" and fight back at the spread disinformation. He also urged Congress to hold hearings immediately to explain how the election process is handled and help assemble a bipartisan committee to oversee the integrity of the election. "Lastly, and most importantly," Sanders said, "the American people, no matter what their political persuasion, must make it clear that American democracy will not be destroyed." Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bernie Sanders: Donald Trump poses 'unique threats to democracy' Black Caucus Writes Letters Defending State Bar Candidate On Sept.15, the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) sent out separate letters to Gov. Gavin Newsom and Senate Pro Tem Sen. Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), voicing its concerns about the treatment of two high profile African American public servants. In the letter obtained by California Black Media, the organization, comprised of African Americans elected to the state legislature, called out the practices of the State Bar of California most recently involving Black women. ADVERTISEMENT Specifically, we are shocked and appalled by the mistreatment of Attorney Fredericka McGee, who had her job offer as Executive Director of the State Bar rescinded without explanation. We are also troubled that Debbie Manning recently and abruptly resigned from the State Board, CLBC chair and Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) wrote in the letter to Atkins. The board of trustees offered McGee a respected California legislative attorney licensed in the state for 30 years the position of executive director in July. Last month, the organization, which serves as an administrative arm of the State Supreme Court and is charged with protecting the public interest, reportedly withdrew the proposal without providing McGee an explanation. Manning, a member of State Bars 13-member board the only African American serving on the governing body surprisingly resigned halfway through her term. She was appointed to a four-year term by the state Senate in 2018. Over the past few months, this nation has witnessed the inhumane treatment of African Americans in this country. While the focus has been on law enforcement, we are aware that systemic racism does not confine itself to one agency, but can be experienced in macro and micro aggressions, Weber stated in the letter to Newsom. The executive director of the State Bar leads the senior management team responsible for various programs. The position requires the executive director to answer to the board of trustees and advance its policies. ADVERTISEMENT The State Bar Board of Trustees chairperson Alan Steinbrecher, responding to published reports about the McGee issue, said the governing board does not comment publicly about personnel decisions. We are not in the position to respond to specifics reported in the press because the executive directors selection process is a confidential, personnel matter, he said. Weber requested an urgent meeting with Newsom to discuss the issues surrounding the State Bar and McGees appointment. Her letter also asked that the governor veto Assembly Bill (AB) 3362 or hold off on considering it until a meeting takes place. AB 3362, a bill that would authorize the State Bar to collect fees from California attorneys and restrict its board of trustees from discussing issues about the Bars exams administration, is currently being reviewed by the governor. The State Bar of California has a long history of inappropriate behavior. The need to hold them accountable is long overdue. While the Legislatures role is limited, it is no less important and impactful, Weber said in the letter to the governor. The mission of the CLBC is to advocate for the interests of Black Californians, remove obstacles that Black Americans face in every aspect of life, demand equity to eliminate disparities between racial groups, and increase African-American participation and representation in all levels of government. Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus include: The chair, Assemblymember Shirley N.Weber (D-San Diego); Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Los Angeles), the groups vice chair; Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager (D-Los Angeles), secretary; Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Sacramento), treasurer; Sen, Holy J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles); Assemblymember Chris R. Holden (D-Pasadena); Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Los Angeles); Assemblymember Autumn Burke (D-South Bay, Los Angeles); Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (D- South Los Angeles); and Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). This article will reflect on the compensation paid to Andrew Elf who has served as CEO of Mitchell Services Limited (ASX:MSV) since 2014. This analysis will also look to assess whether the CEO is appropriately paid, considering recent earnings growth and investor returns for Mitchell Services. View our latest analysis for Mitchell Services Comparing Mitchell Services Limited's CEO Compensation With the industry At the time of writing, our data shows that Mitchell Services Limited has a market capitalization of AU$102m, and reported total annual CEO compensation of AU$706k for the year to June 2020. That's a fairly small increase of 5.1% over the previous year. In particular, the salary of AU$400.0k, makes up a huge portion of the total compensation being paid to the CEO. For comparison, other companies in the industry with market capitalizations below AU$282m, reported a median total CEO compensation of AU$308k. This suggests that Andrew Elf is paid more than the median for the industry. Furthermore, Andrew Elf directly owns AU$401k worth of shares in the company. Component 2020 2019 Proportion (2020) Salary AU$400k AU$400k 57% Other AU$306k AU$271k 43% Total Compensation AU$706k AU$671k 100% On an industry level, around 68% of total compensation represents salary and 32% is other remuneration. It's interesting to note that Mitchell Services allocates a smaller portion of compensation to salary in comparison to the broader industry. If total compensation veers towards salary, it suggests that the variable portion - which is generally tied to performance, is lower. A Look at Mitchell Services Limited's Growth Numbers Mitchell Services Limited's earnings per share (EPS) grew 81% per year over the last three years. In the last year, its revenue is up 46%. Overall this is a positive result for shareholders, showing that the company has improved in recent years. Most shareholders would be pleased to see strong revenue growth combined with EPS growth. This combo suggests a fast growing business. Historical performance can sometimes be a good indicator on what's coming up next but if you want to peer into the company's future you might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts. Story continues Has Mitchell Services Limited Been A Good Investment? With a total shareholder return of 32% over three years, Mitchell Services Limited shareholders would, in general, be reasonably content. But they probably wouldn't be so happy as to think the CEO should be paid more than is normal, for companies around this size. In Summary... As we touched on above, Mitchell Services Limited is currently paying its CEO higher than the median pay for CEOs of companies belonging to the same industry and with similar market capitalizations. But the company has impressed us with its EPS growth, over three years. We also think investor returns are steady over the same time period. While it may be worth researching further, we don't see a problem with the high CEO pay, given the good EPS growth. While CEO pay is an important factor to be aware of, there are other areas that investors should be mindful of as well. We've identified 5 warning signs for Mitchell Services that investors should be aware of in a dynamic business environment. Important note: Mitchell Services is an exciting stock, but we understand investors may be looking for an unencumbered balance sheet and blockbuster returns. You might find something better in this list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. A pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans, and the toxic politics of a presidential election year, have disrupted the taking of the 2020 Census. Thats worrisome for anybody whose life is touched in some way by federal spending meaning, pretty much everybody. The census is not a quaint tradition or historical artifact; its a research project to gather, analyze and certify data that the federal government will utilize for a decade including for apportionment of congressional seats. The pandemics effects could linger for some time, so information from the 2020 Census will be essential in helping the country get back to something that resembles normal. Federal support for education, health care, infrastructure and dozens of other programs is allocated to states based on census data. According to an analysis by the GW Institute of Public Policy at George Washington University, the 2010 census yielded $39.1 billion for Pennsylvania and $27.2 billion for New Jersey in 2016 alone. To ensure equity, as well as the wisest use of federal resources, the count required by the 14th Amendment to include all persons residing in each state needs to be as accurate and complete as possible. The economic and political implications of undercounting communities of all kinds will last for a decade or more. Census numbers are used in calculating state and local shares of $1.5 trillion annually in federal support for homeland security, job training, nutritional assistance and veterans assistance programs. Unfortunately, much as President Trump has done to the U.S. Postal Service, and to voting by mail, he has launched politically motivated attacks on the census. That includes not giving the bureau the extra time it says it needs. Congress must act now to extend the deadlines for completing census field operations from Sept. 30 to Oct. 31, and for final data reporting from Dec. 31 to April 21, 2021. Doing so would ease the administrations tighter-than-usual deadlines. But the extensions also would help ensure better counts in rural areas that traditionally vote Republican. Adding four weeks to field operations that have been impeded by COVID-19 restrictions would give rural, as well as urban and suburban, communities of color a better chance to be thoroughly counted. According to Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Philadelphia Democrat, the citys abysmal response rate of 55% could jeopardize future federal assistance equivalent to $2,000 in spending annually for every resident. For the poorest of Americas largest cities, with fully one-quarter of all residents living below the federal poverty line, such a shortfall would be painful indeed. In a year of painful reckonings with the stain of racism and its enduring effects, particularly on Black people, a census process that has historically undercounted communities of color ought to be expanding, not limiting, efforts to account for everyone. Political leader and voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams recently launched an effort focused on the census (www.faircount.org). Residents need to contact their congressional representatives and persuade them to support the deadline extensions so the Census Bureau can get the job done right. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The coal industry is hurting. While the emissions heavy fossil fuel has been falling out of favor for quite a while now, this year has been particularly brutal. In no small part thanks to the spread of the novel coronavirus and the ensuing drop in energy demand, the nuclear sector is in big trouble. For just a taste of the kind of summer coal has had, here is just a small selection of the nearly uniform doom-and-gloom headlines on offer: Renewables surpass coal in US energy generation for first time in 130 years from the Guardian, Coals Decline Continues with 13 Plant Closures Announced in 2020 from Scientific Americans E&E Energy News platform, and The U.S. Coal Industry Is Declining Irreversibly from us here at Oil Price. But this disaster has been decades in the making. Between the years of 2009 and 2019, coal demand plummeted 43 percent by an energy-equivalent metric, as reported by BP Plcs most recent statistical energy review. In Europe, coal demand dropped 23 percent. The UK experienced a stunning 79 percent decline and the few active coal-fired plants it has left are growing less active all the time. However, this trend has not been the case around the world. Coal-fired power has been dying everywhere except where it poses the greatest threat, Financial Review reported this week. Draw a line down the world around the longitude of the Nile. The region to the west encompassing Europe, Africa and the Americas has seen coal consumption drop by a quarter over the past decade. [...] The trouble is whats happening east of the line. Consumption there rose by a quarter over the same period, and since the region already accounted for about 70 percent of coal demand, that has driven the global tally up by nearly 10 percent. The opinion piece written for the Financial Review by David Fickling contends that if Asia, and particularly the industrial giant that is China doesnt begin to move away from coal in a hurry, the impact will be devastating for the global effort to combat catastrophic climate change. And, in fact, it does look like Asian energy mixes are beginning to transition away from coal, bit by bit. Related: Why Russia Is Pushing Unneeded Nuclear Power Plants On Egypt China is reportedly planning to ramp up its energy transition strategy in Beijings 14th five-year plan, which sets the nations goals for 2021 through 2025. A plan to derive 20 percent of its primary energy from non-fossil fuels may be brought forward by five years from 2030 and the share of coal in the energy mix cut to 52 per cent by the same date from 57.5 per cent this year, Fickling writes, based on insider information published in a recent Bloomberg report. While these numbers may seem somewhat modest compared to the coal falloff in Europe and the UK, these deceptively modest numbers add up in a hurry when were talking about China. Whats more, this will be paired with a pretty significant boon to the renewable energy sector, as the new five year plan will reportedly mandate the annual addition of 80GW to 115GW of new solar and 36GW to 45GW of wind power. No wonder shares of Chinese renewables companies have been surging as reports of the plans have spread, Fickling writes, citing a July article that details the phenomenon. While its good news for all of us that more world leaders are starting to take climate change more seriously and take action, it also just makes good economic sense to stop holding onto coal. Even in Asia, where exporters have long been able to rely on China and India for demand, sellers are having a harder and harder time finding a market for their coal. Coal exporters should brace for disappointment, Asia Times reported earlier this month, reporting that Asian thermal coal exporters are fighting an uphill battle even in new markets. Now China and India are working to become less reliant on imports on top of making plans to transition toward cleaner alternative energies. Indonesia, the worlds single-biggest thermal coal exporter, has targeted Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam as potential new markets, but those prospects are also looking grim. In fact, as Fickling argues, when--not if--China, coals last refuge, stops relying on the dirty fuel source as a pillar of its energy mix, it will more than likely take the entire global coal industry down with it. The old markets are moving on, and the new markets are uninterested. It may just be the final nail in coals coffin. And, as Fickling points out, as coal crumbles, the prospect of keeping the worlds emissions within more manageable limits looks a little brighter. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Philadelphia Eagles got some bad news concerning a wide receiver on the injury front Wednesday, which is an unwelcome callback to last season. So once again, Carson Wentz needs to adjust to a changing supporting cast with the teams Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals now another day closer. Todays schedule The Eagles hit the practice fields at the NovaCare Complex. Various Eagles will meet the media via Zoom during the afternoon. Recent links Todays storylines 1. Another wide receiver injury Wentzs healthy wide receivers entering last years season finale were J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Greg Ward, Robert Davis and Deontay Burnett. His healthy wide receivers on the roster right now are DeSean Jackson, Arcega-Whiteside, Ward and John Hightower. Theres a good chance that Burnett could re-joining them. Reagor is slated to miss some time after suffering a thumb injury against the Rams in Week 2, with some reports putting his return in November. Hell likely need surgery and have to be placed on injured reserve. Its a tough break for a promising rookie. And after all of the conversation about upgrading Wentzs supporting cast during the offseason, the Eagles are more or less back to square one. Of course, Wentz elevated his game down the stretch last season. The Eagles will need him to do again here to avoid extending their winless start. 2. The offensive line shuffled could be on. According to reporters at Wednesdays practice, the Eagles worked Nate Herbig at left guard and Matt Pryor. Those two players were swapped during the Rams game after Isaac Seumalo left with a knee injury. The Eagles like to talk about not shifting around too many players on the lines, so itll be interesting to see how this shows up Sunday. Dont forget about veteran Jamon Brown either. How to follow along Ill have updates from practice and player availability Thursday. The Eagles will release their second injury report of the week after practice, which should be interesting, after the sheer number of players on Wednesdays. Also, it seems likely there will be a roster move or two.. You can follow me on Twitter at @danieljtgallen, and you can follow our Eagles coverage on our Facebook page. Be sure to bookmark our Eagles page for updates during the day. Daniel Gallen covers the Philadelphia Eagles for PennLive. He can be reached at dgallen@pennlive.com. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Follow PennLives Philadelphia Eagles coverage on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. NEW YORK - Mary L. Trump, a niece of the president who authored a scathing bestseller documenting deep family dysfunction, has sued President Donald Trump and two of his siblings alleging they defrauded her out of tens of millions decades ago by manipulating the value of properties and lying to her about the worth of her inheritance. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in New York Supreme Court, accuses Mary Trump's uncles, Donald and Robert, and aunt Maryanne Trump Barry, of pretending they would guard her assets - valuable pieces of the Trump family real estate empire - which she inherited after her father died, only to bully and take advantage of her during estate settlement negotiations. It alleges fraud, conspiracy and violations of fiduciary duties. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. At a briefing Thursday, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany deflected a reporter's question about the allegations, commenting instead on a secret recording the president's estranged niece made of Maryanne Trump Barry in which the retired federal judge was heard insulting the president. "The only fraud committed there," McEnany said, "was Mary Trump recording one of her relatives, and she's really discredited herself." A person who answered the phone at Maryanne Trump Barry's home said she was unavailable. Robert Trump died last month. The lawsuit names his estate, which was valued at $50 million, according to court records. An attorney handling Robert Trump's estate and the estate's proposed executor did not respond to requests for comment. Mary Trump's father, Fred Trump Jr., was the oldest of President Trump's siblings. He died in his 40s when she was a teenager. Her three older relatives "committed to watch over [Mary Trump's] interests as fiduciaries," the lawsuit says. "They lied." A trained psychologist, Mary Trump alleged in her book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man," that the president and his siblings swindled her and her brother when the estate of her grandfather Fred Trump Sr. was litigated and settled after his death in 1999. According to the lawsuit, the Trump siblings took control of their father's massive real estate portfolio in his declining years, as he was suffering from dementia. It alleges they siphoned money from him before his death, and then filtered funds through a sham company and other means to reduce their inheritance tax liability. The lawsuit, based primarily on information detailed in a 2018 New York Times report, accuses the defendants also of wrestling away power of attorney from Fred Trump Sr., enabling them to direct their father's business interests as they wished. The defendants "devalued" properties that included Mary Trump's financial interests, which minimized the worth of her assets and ultimately affected what she was paid, the lawsuit alleges. It claims she was then misled by her family with the assistance of her trustee, Irwin Durben, a longtime family attorney whose true loyalty was to the Trumps who were running the business. Durben died in 2016, the suit says. "Rather than protect Mary's interests, [her uncles and aunt] designed and carried out a complex scheme to siphon funds away from her interests, conceal their grift, and deceive her about the true value of what she had inherited," according to the civil complaint. It is unclear why the lawsuit was filed now, but Mary Trump is likely approaching a statute-of-limitations deadline. The New York Times investigation published two years ago next month, and fraud claims typically need to be filed within two years. The complaint does not say how much money Mary Trump ultimately inherited under the terms of a sealed settlement agreement, or how much she was allegedly shorted. Her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, said her client lost "tens of millions" but declined to specify further. Mary Trump has said previously that her uncle is unfit for office and that she would do "everything in my power" to see that his Democratic opponent, former vice president Joe Biden, gets elected in November. - - - The Washington Post's Michael Kranish in Washington contributed to this report. Six schools in Massachusetts have been recognized as 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools, a distinction that honors the work of educators, families and communities for creating safe schools that engage students. Massachusetts schools recognized include: J. F. Kennedy Memorial Elementary School in the Franklin Public School District James B. Congdon Elementary School in the New Bedford Public School District Luther Burbank Middle School in the Nashoba Regional School District Maria Hastings Elementary School in the Lexington Public School District Mary Lee Burbank Elementary School in the Belmont Public School District Paul P. Gates Elementary School in the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District The recognition for the schools is based on overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Congratulations to this years National Blue Ribbon School awardees, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a statement. Its a privilege to recognize the extraordinary work you do to meet students' needs and prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is in its 38th year and has distributed almost 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools. Schools are eligible for nomination after five years and up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. , officials said. Two performance categories are recognized: Exemplary High Performing Schools, which are among their states highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools, which are among their states highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a schools student groups and all students. This years award ceremony will be held virtually Nov. 12 and 13. While we regret not having the opportunity to celebrate in person, given the current situation regarding COVID-19, we will celebrate the 317 public and 50 non-public school honorees in the ways that we are able, and they will each receive their plaques and flags via mail," the statement said. Where there is a problem, there is a jugaad by Indians. Same with the COVID-19 pandemic. While some of the "home-remedies" are yet to be scientifically proven, it has not stopped people from trying them out. In a video that has gone viral, people can be seen using "steam therapy" to keep coronavirus at bay. In the video, a few men can be seen sitting in front of a contraption, connected to a pressure cooker. The pipes placed in front of the user's face can be seen blowing steam. A man can be heard asking the users to position their nose in front of the pipes -- indicating that inhaling the steam is effective in getting rid of coronavirus. Filmmaker and attorney in the US, Parthiban Shanmugam shared the video and said that the latest business in India is a 'Steam Bar', where people go to inhale steam to cure coronavirus. But does this work? Absolutely not. University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health Centre's Chief of Infectious Diseases Faheem Younus alerted people to not fall for that scam. "Let's not turn fear into business. This is completely useless," said the MD who has been working in the frontlines of the war against coronavirus. Lets not turn fear into business. This is completely useless. https://t.co/0VpUO1HJse Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) September 23, 2020 If you have been subjected to such unscientific remedies and preventions, you can head to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) website to get a clearer idea on what the truth is. WHO has listed all sorts of myths that have been doing the rounds including how the ability to hold one's breath for 10 seconds signifies that one does not have coronavirus or that hot baths can cure COVID-19. If someone tells you to consume garlic or hot pepper to cure coronavirus, do not believe them! The only tried and tested way of preventing coronavirus is to wear a mask when meeting people or stepping out, frequently washing hands and using sanitiser. Also read: Sanitisers for veggies to oxygen cans: Over 10,000 COVID-19 fighting products flood Indian market Also read: Coronavirus India update: COVID-19 cases cross 57 lakh, death toll climbs to 91,149 President Donald Trump hasnt announced a Supreme Court nominee yet, but some Democrats have already decided theres no point in meeting with her, no matter who it is. These Senate Democrats say its a no-brainer to shun whoever Trump chooses to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A meeting would be fruitless not just because Trump is likely to pick a hard-line conservative, but because theyre still furious Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stonewalled Merrick Garland in 2016. This is an illegitimate nomination, said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who said he had no intention of meeting with the nominee. I personally have no desire to pretend its acceptable. No, said Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.). Why would you meet with somebody if you already know where theyre going to be on every case? Or, as Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) put it: Whatever she has to say to me, she should say it under oath. But dont expect the whole party to snub the high court pick. Sen. Joe Manchin, who has supported two of Trumps nominees, said he isnt ready to totally turn his back on the traditional process even though hes announced his opposition to a pre-election confirmation. Id love to meet with a nominee. I have no problem, said Manchin (D-W.Va.), who said he had never been more ashamed and embarrassed to be a senator than in 2016 when many Republicans refused to meet with Garland, former President Barack Obamas nominee. Democrats are unanimous that they wont support considering a new justice before the election, but many in the caucus are weighing whether its appropriate to give Trumps nominee the same cold shoulder that Garland received from Republicans four years ago. There had also been some discussion about boycotting the confirmation hearing, but Judiciary Committee Democrats have reached a consensus not to do so, according to a source familiar with a Wednesday afternoon committee call. The bottom line is Democrats are still grappling with how to respond to McConnells controversial moves to shift the court to the right using whatever power he has. And even amid talk on the left of expanding the Supreme Court should they take power in November, its not clear the party is prepared to respond with explosive counter-measures. Story continues A handful of Republicans did meet with Garland in 2016, but the practice of declining to even meet with a nominee is becoming more commonplace. In 2018, many Democrats refused to meet with nominee Brett Kavanaugh because the White House wouldnt hand over certain records, though eventually moderates and other Democratic senators did meet with him to ask for documents to his face. Some Democrats said they couldnt get a meeting with Kavanaugh anyway. Even in the hyper-polarized Trump era, a private meeting with a Supreme Court nominee can be of some use; it gives moderates a chance to display some bipartisanship and its the best opportunity for individual senators to press appointees on their potential views, even if they have no intention of supporting the nominee. Justice Neil Gorsuch told Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) that he viewed Trumps attacks on the courts as demoralizing in 2017, a key moment in the confirmation process. Blumenthal did not support Gorsuch. Meanwhile, most Republican senators have quickly fallen in line behind an unnamed nominee, vowing to complete the confirmation as soon as possible. Many are simply shrugging off their own words from the past about allowing voters to decide election-year confirmations, eager to shift the court further to the right. The White House criticized Democrats for not seeking meetings with whoever gets the appointment. The president has not even put forward a nominee yet, said Judd Deere, a White House spokesperson. This is pure politics from Senate Democrats and shows they do not take their constitutional duty to advise and consent seriously. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch chats with Sens. Kelly Ayotte (left) and Dianne Feinstein on Feb. 1, 2017. The custom of senators of both parties meeting with Supreme Court nominees seems to be in jeopardy. Trump is currently debating whether to choose Circuit Court judges Amy Coney Barrett and Barbara Lagoa or one of several other conservative women. But regardless of who he picks, securing meetings with Democrats is likely to do nothing to prevent her from facing a complete and utter rejection from the 47-member caucus. Even Lagoa, who 27 Democrats supported for her current position, faces no prospect of bipartisan support in such a scenario. Manchin said he would not vote for any nominee before the election, but cracked the door open for a Trump nominee that waited until after Nov. 3 to receive a floor vote. Im against the process. I want to meet with the people, it might be a person who hopefully would come to their senses and not have the vote until after the election, might be a good qualified candidate Im inclined to support, Manchin said. Theres also some question of whether a nominee will want to meet with Democrats, who are already staking out unified opposition. I dont think my votes going to count, so I doubt theyll even want to, said Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.), the most endangered Senate incumbent. But well see. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) met with Gorsuch in 2017, but during his re-election campaign he said the White House snubbed his efforts to meet with Kavanaugh. Still, he said hes open to meeting with a nominee this time around. And other Democrats, particularly those on the Judiciary Committee, suggested that they would keep in line with Senate tradition and still meet with whoever Trump nominates. Ive met with nominees in the past. I intend to do my job, said Blumenthal, a liberal stalwart. If the nominee is open to meeting with me, part of my responsibility is to have a conversation with the nominee. Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) both said theyve always met with nominees in the past when asked if they'd meet with Trump's nominee this fall. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) declined to comment, when asked whether hed meet with the nominee, only saying that Trump has not even announced his choice. Progressive senators like Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said it was too early to make a decision. Democrats have few procedural tools at their disposal to stop the nomination from going through. But thats not preventing them from using tactics like the so-called 2-hour rule to cancel committee hearings that last more than two hours in an effort to protest Republican efforts to fill the seat. They're also likely to delay the nomination in committee, using procedural tools to hold over the nomination for a week. Brian Fallon, who leads the progressive legal group Demand Justice, called on Wednesday for Democrats to boycott the hearing. But there would also be a real downside to doing so: Democrats would lose out on the ability to question the nominee and shape the publics impression of the fight. It could be a particularly key moment for Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the Democratic vice presidential nominee, whose tough questioning has previously led to viral moments. I have every plan to do what Im expected to do, said Durbin, when asked whether hed attend the hearing. Im a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Bengaluru, Sep 24 : The opposition Congress in Karnataka on Thursday moved a no-confidence motion against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging rampant corruption and misuse of power in the state. Without resisting much, the ruling party too conceded to the opposition party's demand to move the motion. The moment that Leader of the Opposition Siddarmaiah moved a no-confidence motion, Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri put to vote and presence of 23 Congress party legislators was mandatory to allow the opposition party to move this motion. As the Congress party was able to muster more numbers than required, Speaker Kageri asserted that he would allow the debate on the motion before Saturday. However, Siddarmaiah asserted that the motion moved by the Congress must be taken on a priority basis instead of delaying any further. Intervening at this juncture, Revenue Minister R. Ashoka caustically remarked that though the ruling BJP would not fear losing votes but Congress party which is moving the no-confidence motion might end up losing its MLAs who would vote in favour of the BJP government. Rebutting this, Siddaramaiah asserted that every day may not be the same, those who have voted for the BJP in the past may vote in favour of Congress too. "Only time will tell, who will win this vote," he claimed. Interceding at this juncture, senior Congress leader H. K. Patil strongly appealed that the ruling party should not take undue advantage of no-confidence motion and should not pass any Bill that has far reaching consequences. Meanwhile, sources in the Congress told IANS the party wanted to move this no-confidence motion only to avoid an injunction order taken by Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa's son B. Y. Vijayendra. "When debate on no-confidence commences, the party can raise every issue and most of the court orders do not come into effect, when charges are made in Assembly. Therefore, we have moved it," a senior leader added. The decision by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to withdraw from the Low Pay Commission (LPC) will do little service to the people it purports to represent. It also throws the future of the Government body, set up in 2015, in doubt. There is merit on both sides. Some of our lowest-paid have been at the Covid-19 coalface, as workers in asylum seeking utilities and nursing homes. It is only right that their contribution should be valued. Similarly, those who work in the hospitality industry deserve a fair return for their efforts. Kochi, Sep 25 : Senior IAS official and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's former top aide, M. Sivasankar, was on Thursday questioned by NIA officials in the gold smuggling case for over nine hours, along with prime accused Swapna Suresh, before being allowed to go home. Though he was questioned for the fourth time, it was the first time that Sivasankar was being questioned by the NIA along with Swapna. The gold smuggling case first surfaced when P.S. Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, was arrested by the Customs Department on July 5 when he was allegedly facilitating the smuggling of 30 kg gold in a diplomatic baggage from Dubai to Thiruvananthapuram. The case became murkier when the role of Swapna, a former employee of the UAE Consulate and later employed with the IT Department, came to light. Her links with Sivasankar came up later during the investigation and she later revealed that he was her mentor. After his links with Swapna surfaced, Sivasankar was removed by Vijayan from the coveted posts of the CM's Principal Secretary, and also the State IT secretary and subsequently, suspended from service. Meanwhile, a related development, CPI State Secretary Kanam Rajendran expressed surprise that questioning by the central agencies has been going on for a while now and is being centred around the State Secretariat only, and wondered if it is a ploy by the BJP to keep the Left government under a cloud. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the briefing room of the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images) Trump on Peaceful Transition of Power: Well See What Happens President Donald Trump on Wednesday refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power in the event he loses the election on Nov. 3, pointing to the Democrats push for widespread use of mail-in ballots. Were going to have to see what happens, the president told reporters at the White House in response to a question about whether he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power. You know that Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster. Trump and Attorney General William Barr, among others, have long criticized the prospect of a mass mail-in election, saying that it opens the door to voter fraud. At least 100 million U.S. voters will receive either mail-in ballots or ballot request forms ahead of the 2020 election. The president appeared to suggest that doing away with mail-in ballots would alleviate his concerns about the integrity of the election and the transition of power. Youll have a very peacefulthere wont be a transfer frankly, the president said. Therell 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. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, responded to Trumps remarks when queried by a reporter later in the evening. What country are we in? Im being facetious. I said what country are we in? Look, he says the most irrational things. I dont know what to say, Biden said. The former vice president has previously said that his campaign has retained 600 lawyers to wage election-related legal battles across the United States. Trumps former election opponent, Hillary Clinton, has urged Biden to not accept the results of the election if Trump wins. Trump had similarly declined to commit to a peaceful transition in 2016 when he campaigned against Clinton. At a presidential debate, he responded to a question about the event of an election loss by saying he would keep you in suspense. Trump also refused to prematurely commit to accepting any election results in a July interview with Fox News. I have to see. Look I have to see, Trump said. No, Im not going to just say yes. Im not going to say no, and I didnt last time either. The president has previously predicted that a mass vote-by-mail election would result in the outcome of the election being delayed by weeks or months. A number of state election officials are already preparing voters for this eventuality as though it is now unavoidable. Without mentioning Trump by name, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) criticized any suggestion of a challenge to the peaceful transition of power. Romney was the only Republican senator to vote to convict Trump at the impeachment trial last year. Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus, Romney wrote on Twitter. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable. Days before announcing his nominee to the Supreme Court, Trump said the bench should have all nine judges for the event of a legal challenge to the election. The Associated Press contributed to this report. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. In an interview with Sputnik, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the country is open to more prisoner exchanges. Zarif said Iran is prepared to exchange prisoners that are either held in the United States or are being held in other countries due to US pressure for dual-national prisoners being held in Iran. He said Iran currently does not have any sole US nationals. Zarif was quick to add that Iran is not interested in direct talks with the United States on this issue and would continue the negotiations on prisoner exchanges via the Swiss. Iran is currently holding a number of dual nationals, including Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and his father, Mohammad Bagher Namazi. Siamak was arrested in 2015 and is now one of the longest-held dual nationals in Iran. His father traveled to Iran after his arrest and was also arrested and imprisoned. Another dual national being held in Iran is Iranian-American businessman Morad Tahbaz, who was arrested in 2018. In return for dual Iranian-American citizens, Iran wants the exchange of individuals who have been arrested either by the United States or in Europe due to US pressure for violating sanctions on Iran. One of the most well-known dual nationals being held in Iran is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an Iranian-British dual citizen who was arrested in 2016. It is believed that Iran is holding Zaghari-Ratcliffe due to a canceled Iran arms purchase dating back to the 1970s, which in todays terms would be over $500 million. Her husband has been instrumental in highlighting her case and keeping her name in the newspapers and media. Zarif also said that Iranian and Russian military cooperation would continue. The United States is hoping to stop the arms embargo on Iran from expiring, which was part of the nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. While Zarif was signaling to the United States that Iran is ready to exchange the dual nationals currently being held in Iran, Iranian commanders have issued warnings to the United States that they would not tolerate a military strike with reciprocating. Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Ali Fadavi said that if the United States takes any stupid action, they will be countered with strength which they could have never imagined. He also dismissed US attempts to create an alliance that would counter Iran in the region, saying they have never been successful and will never be on this plan. Hossein Dehghan, former defense minister and current adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, spoke about US President Donald Trump. Dehghan said that Trump is willing to destroy and ruin the region in order to maintain dominance and control. He called Trump an anarchist in the complete sense who not only put America in a sinkhole but put the entire West in a crisis. By Stanley Widianto JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia reported on Thursday its biggest daily rise of coronavirus cases for a second consecutive day as new clusters appeared, though epidemiologists said its low testing rates could be masking far greater infection numbers. Indonesia has for months been battling its first wave of infections and has struggled to stem a rise in transmission, with 262,022 confirmed cases in total and a death toll of 10,105 that is Asia's second highest after India. The peak comes after Indonesia reported several days of over 4,000 new cases, with Thursday's 4,634 the highest so far. The capital Jakarta is seeing infections rise sharply, and its governor on Thursday extended restrictions until Oct. 11 to try to take pressure off of hospitals. Epidemiologists say the steady rise in infections is a combination of new clusters emerging and a testing rate that remains among the world's lowest, making it difficult to see a clearer picture of the contagion. Wiku Adisasmito, spokesman for Indonesia's COVID-19 task force, said the public was not taking the virus seriously enough and gathering too often in crowds. "Over time, we've seen that the people have lowered their guards ... it's almost like they don't have empathy even when they see every day so many new victims," he told reporters. Indonesia's testing should be higher, Wiki added, citing a need for more testing personnel and social stigma preventing people from seeking tests. Task force epidemiologist Dewi Nur Aisyah on Wednesday said some of the most prominent clusters were found in health centres, families and offices. Recent epidemic models by international research groups indicate Indonesia's daily infection numbers could be far higher than those detected, with Imperial College London putting it at 40,000 a day and the Seattle-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation pointing to 60,000 daily cases. Wiku did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment on those models. (Reporting by Stanley Widianto and Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Editing by Martin Petty) The independent panel on Covid-19 announced by World Health Organisation director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in July will submit its first update to the world bodys executive board at its meeting on 5-6 October. The panel was set up at the World Health Assembly against the backdrop of sharp criticism aimed at the WHO chief and Beijing for their handling of the contagious virus that is believed to have originated in Chinas Wuhan. Beijing locked down domestic travel in the early weeks of the infection but allowed flights to freely leave the country, spreading virus across the globe. At last count, John Hopkins University tracker of Covid-19 infections across the world indicates the virus has infected more than 31 million people worldwide and almost killed a million people. China, from where the disease started late last year, has reported only a small proportion of infections, less than even Omans 95,000 cases. The United States and India are among those hit hardest. The US had led the demand for an independent review of WHOs response that was seen to have let Beijing guide its hand in the early days of the pandemic. At the UN General Assembly this week, Donald Trump - who pulled out the US from the world health body over its handling of the disease - lashed out at China again and asked the UN to hold China accountable for unleashing this plague on the world. Diplomats in New Delhi and Geneva, however, suggest that this is unlikely to happen. One of them said it was improbable that the independent panel - co-chaired by former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark and former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - would be critical of the WHOs handling of the disease in context of China. Already, Tedros and the independent panel have made it clear that the exercise was not a fault-finding exercise but an effort to improve the worlds response to the next pandemic. While we are clear that The Independent Panel must shed light on what has happened and why, this exercise is not a blame game said Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Co-Chair of the Panel at its first meeting last week, according to an official statement. The panels co-chair Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said she hoped their report would lead to bold, credible, robust and implementable solutions that ensure our world is better prepared for the next pandemic. The panel is scheduled to submit its final report before the next World Health Assembly (WMA) in May next year but will come up with regular updates for other meetings. Like when the WHOs top policy-making body, the WMA, resumes its meeting on 9-14 November. The US isnt part of the panel. Preeti Sudan, a retired civil servant who was Indias Union health secretary when the coronavirus disease broke out, is a member of the WHO panel. China has sent Zhong Nanshan, the pulmonologist who is credited by Chinese media for having spearheaded the countrys fight against the outbreak of a new coronavirus that causes Covid-19. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mustafa is charged with the war crimes of arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture of at least six people and the murder of one person at a detention compound in Zllash, Kosovo, in April 1999. The victims were accused by KLA fighters of collaborating with Serbs or not supporting the KLA, according to the indictment. The Congress on Thursday said it will challenge the three farm bills in the court, saying the black laws are unconstitutional and against the countrys federal structure. The party also extended its support to Fridays Bharat Bandh call given by various farmers organisations in protest against the bills. The main opposition party also launched on Thursday its nearly two-month-long mass movement against the government for passing anti-farmer and anti-poor bills in Parliament. 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 the Houses of Parliament and await Presidential assent. The support to the bandh was announced by Congress partys chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala. The diabolical & debilitating attack on Farmer & Farm Labourers by the three Black Bills of Modi Govt would be decisively defeated, he tweeted. Surjewala said the Congress and former party chief Rahul Gandhi stand solidly behind the farmers and support the Bharat Bandh call given by various farmers organisations. Congress worker and leader will join farmers dharna and protests, he added. The Congress and 17 other opposition parties had on Wednesday requested President Ram Nath Kovind not to give his assent to the three farm bills. Addressing reporters at the party headquarters in Delhi, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the 18 opposition like-minded parties have urged the President to not sign the bills as they will be against the federal structure if they become laws. If the President signs these bills, which I want and hope he should not sign, and once they become the law, I feel they will be against the federal structure, he said. These laws will be challenged in the court from high court up to the Supreme Court and I have no doubt that they will be quashed. We want that... these laws are stopped and quashed by the court as they are unconstitutional, Singhvi said. He said the issues come under List 2 of the 7th Schedule and are exclusive rights of states. Singhvi, a Rajya Sabha member, added agriculture is included in List 2 and these laws directly relate to agriculture and trade and commerce within the state. The holding of markets and fairs also fall within the purview of state governments, he said. Singhvi also accused the government of pushing through the bills in the Rajya Sabha while ignoring calls by many members for a division of votes. These are three black laws and the manner in which they were passed was unconstitutional and against parliamentary traditions and rules, he alleged. He said as per parliamentary precedents, the chair has to hear the plea by even a single member wanting a division of votes but that was not done. There were doubts about the quorum in the Rajya Sabha when the bills were passed amid the din. Singhvi alleged that whatever happened on Sunday during the passage of bills in the Rajya Sabha was not just unconstitutional but also undemocratic, as the government sought to push through the bills due to its power. The government did not have the numbers and that is why it resorted to such measures to get the bills passed, without adhering to members request for a division, he added. Singhvi said Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu wrongly rejected the no confidence resolution against deputy chairman Harivansh by opposition parties as a 14-day notice is not required. The Congress had earlier announced that it will also collect two crore signatures from protesting farmers against the proposed legislations. The decision by the Congress to hit the streets was taken at a meeting of general secretaries and in-charge of states at the party headquarters in Delhi on Monday in absence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The six-member special committee formed by the Congress president to help her in organisational and operational matters chaired the meeting in her absence. Its members are AK Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ambika Soni, KC Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik and Randeep Singh Surjewala. Accompanied by her son and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi had on September 12 left for the United States for a routine health check-up. Both of them returned to India on Tuesday morning. On Thursday, Congress leaders fanned out across the country to address a series of press conferences, attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government on the farm bills. Apart from a chain of press conferences across the country starting from Thursday, senior Congress leaders from states will on September 28 walk to the respective Raj Bhavans and submit a memorandum on the farms bills to Governors to be handed over to the President. On October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Congress will observe Kisan-Mazdoor Bachao Divas (Save Farmers and Farm Labourers Day). There will be protests and demonstrations in every district across the country demanding immediate withdrawal of the agriculture bills. On October 10, state level conferences will be held and from October 2 to October 31, the party will collect signatures from 20 million farmers from all parts of the country. On November 14, the birth anniversary of Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, a memorandum along with signatures of 20 million farmers will be submitted to the President. New Delhi, Sep 24 : Living up to its moniker of a defensive bet, the Rs 2.8 lakh crore Indian pharmaceutical sector is set to emerge more or less unscathed from the Covid-19 pandemic this fiscal, CRISIL said on Thursday. The sector is well-diversified with exports and domestic formulations accounting for almost equal share. According to the rating agency, this fiscal, growth in exports at 11-12 per cent (as against 10 per cent last fiscal) will outpace growth in domestic formulations expected at 5-6 per cent (from 10 per cent in fiscal 2020), leading to 8-9 per cent overall growth, down just 150 basis points on-year. Operating profitability for 350 CRISIL-rated pharmaceutical companies, representing 70 per cent of sector revenue, would soften by 100-150 bps but remain healthy at 19 per cent despite higher input prices. Credit profiles will continue to be supported by healthy balance sheets. The export pie is divided into regulated markets such as the US and Europe (45 per cent), rest of world (ROW) markets (35 per cent) and bulk drugs (20 per cent). Exports growth is expected to remain strong at 10 per cent and above in each of the segments. The growth in the regulated markets will be supported by steady increase in new product launches from compliant plants, lower pricing pressure on existing generics, and a visible easing in scrutiny by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) in recent months. According to Isha Chaudhary, Director, CRISIL Research, "India accounted for almost half the abbreviated new drug application, or ANDA, approvals provided by the US FDA since fiscal 2019. This strong pipeline, coupled with lower import alerts and warning letters in recent months, should ensure a steady pace of new launches, which will help sustain export momentum to regulated markets." Exports to ROW markets, too, are expected to rebound to 10 per cent compared to 7 per cent in fiscal 2020, driven by opportunities in under-penetrated generic markets such as Africa and Latin America. Also, bulk drug exports will benefit from moves worldwide to reduce dependence on China. Tanvi Shah, Associate Director, CRISIL Ratings, said : "Higher exports should offset some of the reduction in domestic formulation sales because of pandemic-led disruptions, especially in the acute therapies segment (60 per cent of domestic formulation sales). Lower footfalls in hospitals and fewer field visits by medical representatives have affected prescription-based sales in acute therapies, as evident from the steep moderation in the first-quarter sales of anti-infectives and gastro-intestinals." Despite the slight moderation in business performance, credit profiles of domestic companies is expected to remain largely steady, benefiting from healthy balance sheets and liquidity. Equity infusions from private equity funds have also helped improve credit metrics in recent times. CRISIL said that it expects prudence in capital and research and development spending, as well as efficient working capital management, will enable companies manage transition through the current challenging times. For instance, the median gearing for CRISIL's sample set is expected at less than 0.4 times in fiscal 2021 (0.42 times in fiscal 2020). That said, a few large pharmaceutical companies are facing anti-trust suits in the US. Any unanticipated litigation costs or adverse developments such as increased US FDA scrutiny impacting new product launches will be monitorables. Over the medium term, the government's production-linked incentive scheme for local bulk-drug manufacturing could support domestic growth, the agency said. Development of, and contract manufacturing opportunities in, Covid-19 vaccines could also support revenues, it added. Photo: The Canadian Press People wait in line for hours at a COVID assessment centre at Mount Sinai Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette Health Canada says it can't provide any information about the status of any of the rapid-testing devices for COVID-19 it is reviewing. Pressure is mounting on the federal government to approve tests that can provide faster results as hospitals and public health agencies across Canada struggle to keep up with the demand for COVID-19 testing. Deputy Conservative leader Candice Bergen says the government promised in March that getting rapid tests was a priority and yet half a year later, there are still none in use in Canada. At least 14 such devices are under review by Health Canada but the department's spokesman says he cannot comment on the status of the applications during the scientific assessment process. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says it would be wrong for politicians to put pressure on Health Canada to approve any of the devices. Several other countries have had some of the faster tests in use for months now, including Japan and the United States, but Health Minister Patty Hajdu said last week Canada is not yet convinced the technology is good enough. The last time Palestinians went to the polls in a nationwide election was in 2006 when Islamist group Hamas won a landslide majority in parliament Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas and their rivals Fatah in the occupied West Bank agreed Thursday to hold the first Palestinian elections since 2006, united by their opposition to Arab-Israeli normalisation deals. Polls will be scheduled within six months under a deal reached between Fatah leader Mahmud Abbas and Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, officials from both sides told AFP. "We have agreed to first hold legislative elections, then presidential elections of the Palestinian Authority, and finally the Central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)," said Jibril Rajub, a senior Fatah official. The last Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006 saw Hamas win an unexpected landslide and the following year the Islamists seized control of the Gaza Strip in a near-civil war between the two factions. Saleh al-Arouri, a top Hamas official, said the deal was reached during meetings held in Turkey. "This time we reached a real consensus," he said, speaking to AFP by phone from Istanbul. "Divisions have damaged our national cause and we are working to end that," he added. The intra-Palestinian reconciliation attempts took on greater urgency after the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalised relations with Israel, becoming only the third and fourth Arab nations to do so. Egypt and Jordan respectively signed peace deals with the Jewish state in 1979 and 1994. - 'Long overdue' - Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi welcomed the announcement to convene new elections, saying it was a "long overdue" move to "revitalise and unify" Palestinian ranks. "The promising developments emerging from talks between Fatah and Hamas are welcome news for the Palestinian people," Ashrawi said in a statement. "Ending the ongoing rift in the political system is a pressing priority that is long overdue." Ashrawi called on Palestinian factions "to include women and youth in advanced positions in their electoral tickets". Story continues She also urged the international community to "ensure that Israel does not hamper or obstruct" the vote. The 2006 Palestinians polls resulted in a brief unity government, but it soon collapsed and in 2007 bloody clashes erupted in the Gaza Strip between the two principal Palestinian factions. Hamas has since ruled Gaza, while Fatah has run the Palestinian Authority based in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Numerous attempts at reconciliation, including a prisoner exchange agreement in 2012 and a short-lived coalition government two years later, have failed to close the rift. Including PLO elections in the agreement paves the way for Hamas to join the organisation, which unites various Palestinian factions including Fatah. The PLO signed the 1993 Oslo peace accords with Israel, which have long since floundered. Fatah has not said whether Abbas will seek re-election in the proposed polls. The 84-year-old has been in office since the 2005 presidential election, when he won 62 percent of the vote. According to a rare poll by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Research carried out earlier this year, Hamas's Haniyeh would beat Abbas in a presidential election. The Fatah leader has repeatedly pledged elections over the past decade, but hurdles remain in spite of the Hamas deal. Enabling Palestinian residents of occupied east Jerusalem to vote will prove particularly challenging, as Israel controls the city and prevents Palestinian officials from working there. The accords between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain -- both inked at the White House on September 15 -- broke with decades of Arab consensus that ties with the Jewish state should not be established until it has signed a comprehensive peace deal with the Palestinians. Turkey and Iran, both Muslim non-Arab nations, have been the most vociferous countries in opposing normalisation. Ankara has "an ambition to lead" the Palestinian cause, pointing to "the hypocrisy of both Arab states and the West for not emphasising" the cause enough, according to Gallia Lindenstrauss of Israel's National Institute for Security Research. na-az-gl/hkb/dwo This week, workers for the United States Census Bureau will try to count homeless Americans. The U.S. Constitution requires that a full census, or count, of the countrys population take place every 10 years. The numbers help officials to shape congressional representation and decide how to spend federal money. Al Fontenot is the associate director of the U.S. Census Bureau. He spoke to an advisory committee last week. He said the Bureau has identified about 49,000 places across the U.S. where homeless people will be counted. The places include more than 33,000 camps, almost 10,000 shelters and 5,000 soup kitchens. Counting the homeless is one of the hardest jobs for the U.S. Census Bureau. The effort is beginning six months later than planned because of the COVID-19 health crisis. Fontenot said, We are making every effort to make sure that no one is left out of the count. A difficult job The delay means workers will be on the job during warmer weather, when homeless people are spread out across larger areas. Also, most homeless shelters are only operating at 25 percent to 50 percent capacity because of coronavirus restrictions. Some homeless activists worry that the Census Bureau will not count the whole homeless population. Mike Arnold leads of aid group Midnight Mission. It provides beds, meals and drug abuse treatment on Skid Row, a poor area in Los Angeles. Arnold said, The best time to count is when its cold and when its dark, the way the countys count is done. Fewer people are moving around and people are bedded down. Beth Shinn is a professor at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee who researches homelessness. She said trying to count people living outdoors will be hard. People find places to be that arent necessarily visible, Shinn said. The homeless count is starting as the Census Bureaus effort to count people living in what is called transitory housing ends this month. About 12,500 census takers started visiting more than 60,000 RV parks, campgrounds, marinas and hotels where people often live temporarily. All field operations for the 2020 census are set to end September 30. For the homeless count, if someone is sleeping, a census taker will count them without getting information about their age, race, sex or ethnic identity. Nowhere in the U.S. is the homeless crisis more visible than in Los Angeles. There, hundreds of people live in temporary shelters. A count last January by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported that there were more than 66,400 homeless people living in Los Angeles County. That is an increase of more than 12 percent from the year before. The wildfires in California only add to the difficulty of getting an exact count. Californian Democrat Jimmy Gomez is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He wonders if many people in the state will be counted at all. That is a big concern with wildfires raging across California, he said. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Mike Schneider and Christopher Weber. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________ Words in This Story soup kitchen n. a place that gives food (such as soup and bread) to poor people capacity n. the ability of a room or building to hold people transitory adj. lasting for a short time, not permanent visible adj. capable of being seen RV park n. a place where people can park their vehicles to camp and spend the night often with special equipment for campers and motor homes marina n. a place on a river or lake on in a harbor where privately owned boats are kept raging adj. violent, wild We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Ukraine and Slovakia have signed an agreement, whereby Uzhgorod international airport (Zakarpattia region) will be able to resume its operation, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said. "These were not easy negotiations, but I am glad that they ended in the positive way. The signed agreement, due to which Uzhgorod international airport will be able to resume operation. I am grateful to the Slovak side for a constructive approach and a good deed for our countries and the development of Zakarpattia," Kuleba wrote on his Twitter account on Thursday. Redmi India's latest smartphone, the Redmi 9i is up for purchase in the country today. The phone joins the company's existing list of Redmi 9 series devices in India, which include the Redmi 9, Redmi 9A, and Redmi 9 Prime. The Redmi 9i features some impressive specs and features as it comes with a waterdrop notch and features a big display and battery. However, the biggest talking point of the device is that it manages to bring a minimum of 4GB of RAM with itself at a very aggressive price. The device has been announced to be available for purchase via Flipkart, Mi.com, and offline stores at 12pm today. As for the pricing, the phone is available at a starting price of Rs 8,299 for the entry-level 4GB RAM and 64GB storage variant, while the more expensive 4GB RAM+128GB storage variant will be available for Rs 9,299. Redmi 9i: Specifications The Redmi 9i is the latest smartphone from the company that's targeted at budget segment buyers. But for the price, Redmi has attempted to bring with the phone some powerful hardware. On the outside, we have a 6.53-inch display with support for up to HD+ resolution and an aspect ratio of 20:9. Underneath the display, the phone comes with a MediaTek Helio G25 SoC for powerful performance. This chipset has been paired to a minimum of 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage depending on the variant of choice. For cameras, the device gets a 13-megapixel AI scene detection lens which brings support for up to 32 different scenes of which 5 are India specific. The phone also offers Portrait Mode which is also found on the 5-megapixel AI selfie lens. Keeping the lights on the device is a big 5000mAh battery pack with enhanced lifespan support. The phone also gets P2i coating to make it splash proof and is also TUV Rhineland certified. By Express News Service KOCHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday is interrogating M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to the Kerala Chief Minister, for the third time as part of its probe into the gold smuggling case via the diplomatic channel. The prime accused Swapna Suresh is also at the NIA office in Kochi after the agency received custody of her till Friday, sources told The New Indian Express. After receiving a summons, Sivasankar arrived in a private car at the NIA office in Girinagar, Kochi, around 10.45 am. The NIA had retrieved data from the mobile phones and laptops of Swapna. This includes messages and emails sent using various apps to Sivasankar and others. The NIA is likely to have received details of communications between Sivasankar and Swapna after analysis of the retrieved data from her mobile phone and laptops, sources added. Swapna had confessed that she was very close to Sivasankar who was like a mentor to her. The investigation had revealed that Sivasankar had helped Swapna get a job at the Space Park venture of the Kerala government. Swapna had visited Sivasankar requesting him to help her release the consignment containing 30 kg of gold when it was intercepted by the Customs at Thiruvananthapuram airport on July 5. Earlier, the NIA had quizzed Sivasankar for nearly 25 hours at Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. He was questioned on July 23 at the Police Club, Peroorkada, in Thiruvananthapuram, and for two days at the NIA office in Kochi on July 27 and 28. Similarly, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the money trail behind the smuggling of gold had interrogated him on three occasions. The Customs was the first agency to interrogate him at Thiruvananthapuram. There are 30 accused persons in the case of which 25 have been arrested by the NIA. As much as 164 kg of gold was smuggled via diplomatic baggage from Dubai and Abu Dhabi since September 2019 on 21 occasions. By Associated Press JOHANNESBURG: If the United Nations was created from the ashes of World War II, what will be born from the global crisis of COVID-19? Many world leaders at this week's virtual UN summit hope it will be a vaccine made available and affordable to all countries, rich and poor. But with the US, China and Russia opting out of a collaborative effort to develop and distribute a vaccine, and some rich nations striking deals with pharmaceutical companies to secure millions of potential doses, the UN pleas are plentiful but likely in vain. "Are people to be left to die?" Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, a COVID-19 survivor, said of the uncertain way forward. More than 150 countries have joined COVAX, in which richer countries agree to buy into potential vaccines and help finance access for poorer ones. But the absence of Washington, Beijing and Moscow means the response to a health crisis unlike any other in the UN's 75 years is short of truly being global. Instead, the three powers have made vague pledges of sharing any vaccine they develop, likely after helping their own citizens first. This week's UN gathering could serve as a wake-up call, said Gayle Smith, president of the ONE Campaign, a nonprofit fighting preventable disease that's developing scorecards to measure how the world's most powerful nations are contributing to vaccine equity. "It's not enough for only some G20 countries to realize that an equitable vaccine is the key to ending this virus and reopening the global economy," she said. With weeks remaining before a deadline for countries to join COVAX, which is co-led by the UN's World Health Organisation, many heads of state are using the UN meeting as a high-profile chance to wheedle, persuade and even shame. Ghana's president, Nana Akufo-Addo, pointed out the illusory nature of borders and wealth: "The virus has taught us that we are all at risk, and there is no special protection for the rich or a particular class." The president of the COVID-free Pacific island nation of Palau, Tommy Remengesau Jr., warned against selfishness: "Vaccine hoarding will harm us all." And Rwanda's president, Paul Kagame, appealed to the universal desire for a return to normal: "Ensuring equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics will speed up the end of the pandemic for everyone." Just two days into nearly 200 speeches by world leaders, it was clear the urgent need for a vaccine would be mentioned by almost everyone. Considering the mind-popping challenges ahead, that's no surprise. "We've never dealt with a situation where 7.8 billion people in the world are needing a vaccine at almost the same time," John Nkengasong, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said this month. That has led to difficult questions: Who will get vaccine doses first? Who is making private deals to get them? This week's speeches make clear that such questions have existential meaning. The vaccine quest must not be a "purely mercantile act," Iraq said. Nor "an issue of competition," Turkey said. "We must take the politics out of the vaccine," Kazakhstan said. "We need true globalization of compassion," Slovakia said. The Dominican Republic deployed all-caps in a statement: "WE DEMAND this vaccine be available to all human beings on the planet." More gently, Mozambique warned that "nationalism and isolationism in the face of a pandemic are, as far as we are concerned, a prescription for failure." No matter their reputation at home or on the global stage, leaders are finding a shred of common ground as the world nears a staggering 1 million confirmed deaths from the pandemic. "The COVID-19 vaccine must be considered a global public good. Let us be clear on this," said Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres kicked off the General Assembly by declaring in an interview with the UN's media arm: "To think that we can preserve the rich people, and let the poor people suffer, is a stupid mistake." It's not clear if the world leaders' remarks, delivered not in a diplomatic scrum at UN headquarters but in videos recorded from national capitals, will make a difference. Health experts, activists and others anxiously watching the issue raised a collective eyebrow. "It's important we continue to be making these speeches, but ultimately, speeches alone won't have an effect if there are no real measures put in place to make sure poor countries, and within them the poorest of poor, have access" to the vaccine, said Tendai Mafuma with the South Africa-based social justice group Section 27. It's part of a coalition pressing to make medicines more affordable and accessible. South Africa, along with many African countries, knows the deadly consequences of having to wait. Health experts say 12 million Africans died during the decade it took for affordable HIV drugs to reach the continent. Mafuma's countryman Shabir Madhi, lead researcher on a clinical trial in South Africa of the vaccine that Oxford University is developing with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, was a bit more optimistic. That most of the world's richest countries have joined COVAX "is promising," he said. But whether this week's impassioned speeches at the UN will make any difference, Madhi said, is still "difficult to tell." Willie Walsh has been appointed deputy chairman of CarTrawler Airline industry veteran Willie Walsh has been appointed deputy chairman of CarTrawler. CarTrawler is an Irish technology company that provides digital car-hire services to the travel industry. Bobby Healy, who has been a major part of the company over the past 16 years, is stepping down from the board. David Barger and Conor Kehoe have been appointed as non-executive directors of CarTrawler. The appointments have decades of experience in the aviation and technology sectors and will bring substantial expertise to the board, a statement from the company said. Mr Barger co-founded airline JetBlue, growing it into the seventh largest airline in the United States. Mr Kehoe has had a long career at McKinsey, having founded its Private Equity/Investor Industry Practice and leading its technology and telecom practice in Europe. CarTrawler chair Patrick Kennedy said: We are delighted to welcome Willie, David and Conor to the Board. They bring a wealth of extensive global experience in the aviation and technology industries that will add significant value as the world recovers. Earlier this year the company was bought for 100m by British private equity firm TowerBrook Capital in a deal that saw owners and lenders suffer losses. CarTrawler had been badly hit by the collapse in tourism due to the spread of the coronavirus. Founded in 2004 by Irish brothers Niall and Greg Turley, CarTrawler's partners include American Express, EasyJet, Hotels.com, KLM, TravelStart and Emirates. The brothers made around 80m from the 2011 sale to private equity firm ECI, and kept a 25pc stake. The Turleys exited the business in 2014. COLUMBUS, Ohio About 300 protesters marched Wednesday through downtown Columbus, angered that no police officers will face criminal charges in connection with the March shooting death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. The Columbus Dispatch reports the protests were peaceful, with most participants wearing masks and standing on sidewalks outside the Statehouse. Protests in other cities have turned violent. Two police officers were wounded in shootings as protests were being held in Louisville, the Associated Press reports. Both officers are expected to recover and a suspect is in custody. Police say its unclear if the suspect was participating in the protests. In Cleveland, about 100 people gathered at the Free Stamp downtown to protest. The groups including Black Lives Matter Cleveland and the newly formed Black Spring Cleveland called for defunding police and diverting money to social services programs and investing in Black neighborhoods. We need to be investing in Black and brown communities, investing in people of color, said Latonya Goldsby, a Black Lives Matter organizer and the cousin of Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old boy fatally shot by Cleveland police in 2014. Were not giving up. Were going to continue this fight. The New York Times reports that there also were peaceful protests in several cities across the U.S., including large crowds in New York, Chicago and Seattle. Other cities reporting demonstrations included Los Angeles, Indianapolis, Dallas, Portland, Maine, and Memphis. Earlier Wednesday, a Kentucky grand jury 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 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, 2020. Even as Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar on Thursday said the Centres farm bills are in the interest of farmers, party general secretary KC Tyagi expressed reservation about them. 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. Tyagi raised the doubts a day before a nationwide protest called by farmers against the bills, which were cleared by Parliament amid stormy sessions and an Opposition boycott. Notably, Shiromani Akali Dals (SAD) lone minister in the Narendra Modi government, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, resigned to protest these three bills when they were passed by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha. Kumar on Thursday said misinformation" was being spread about the agricultural bills, adding they are in the interest of farmers". Misinformation is being spread about these bills. They are in interests of farmers: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on recent #AgricultureBills passed by Parliament pic.twitter.com/7qalHOmr7Q ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2020 But Tyagi said the party wanted a guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers and demanded a provision to make the purchase of produce below MSP a punishable offence for private companies. Speaking to The Print, Tyagi said while the JD(U) has supported the bills in Parliament, it was also a fact that old National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies like the Akali Dal have parted ways with the Centre over them. He said many farmer associations were demanding a law or change in provisions that would prevent private players from buying farm produce below the MSP rates. He added that any violation ought to be a punishable offence". Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar has turned down demands for the inclusion of MSP as a mandatory provision in the agriculture bills, saying while the Centre was committed to the MSP regime it was not a part of the law earlier and it is not so today". Tyagi raised concerns about the possible exploitation of farmers, saying this should elicit safeguards in the bills. He said the JD(U) solely wanted the bills to be made more practical" and that it wanted the implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report for MSP. The Akali Dal, one of the oldest NDA allies, earlier announced the staging of a chakka jam" for three hours across Punjab on September 25 to lodge its protest. Senior leaders will lead the protests in their constituencies and district headquarters from 11am to 1pm, SAD spokesperson and former minister Daljeet Cheema said. Meanwhile, state-wide protests continued across Punjab on Wednesday, with farmers burning the effigies of the central government. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday had met President Ram Nath Kovind and urged him to withhold assent to the contentious farm bills. While farmers fear they will no longer get paid at MSP, agents are concerned they will lose their commission. The Centre has, however, maintained that the bills would be beneficial for farmers and increase their income. Despite the Delhi government explicitly asking private schools not to collect anything more than the tuition fee from students, several schools are allegedly collecting fee under other components and denying students access to online classes on non-receipt of the amount, several parents have said. The Delhi Parents Association has compiled names of at least 76 private schools that are violating the government order. Aprajita Gautam, president of the association, said parents will call for a hunger strike soon if the matter is not resolved. We had written to chief minister Arvind Kejriwals office on September 17, demanding strict action against these schools. However, we are yet to get a response. The government should take these complaints seriously and find a solution at the earliest, she said. An official from the education department said, Strict action will be taken against schools violating the government order. No student can be barred from online classes for any reason. The directorate of education (DoE), on August 30, had directed all private schools in Delhi to charge only the tuition fees during the current Covid-19 crisis. The directorate also ordered schools not to refuse access to online classes to any student, irrespective of whether the parent was able to pay the tuition fee or not. But parents of children who study at a prominent school in Dwarka alleged that the school had been demanding annual charges and fee under other charges; and it had allegedly warned parents of action if they did not pay by September 25. The father of a class 6 student said, The school had discontinued online classes for my child for three weeks in July over a delay in fee payment. We paid the fee in August and my childs classes resumed. Now, the school has sent a reminder asking for tuition fee and annual fee by September 25. I am worried that my childs classes will be discontinued again. The schools lawyer, said, The school has moved the Delhi high court, challenging the Delhi governments order to charge only tuition fee. The matter is subjudice and will be next heard by the court on October 9. The school will not bar any student from online classes. The matter had come before the high court on September 17 and the court had sought a response from the Delhi government.DoE officials denied comment saying the matter is subjudice. The father of a class 2 student of a East Delhi school, said, Despite paying the tuition fee till June, the school discontinued online classes for my son on Thursday. They asked me to give a date by which I would be able to submit the pending fee. I do not know what to do as my shoe business has taken a hit. The classes have been discontinued only for those who have not been paying the fee since the last academic session. Parents with financial problems are welcome to discuss their issues with us, the east Delhi scool principal said. HANOI/BANDAR LAMPUNG, Indonesia Trading activities remained tepid in Vietnam as traders await new crop season, while premiums in both markets widened this week to compensate for subdued London prices, traders said on Thursday. Farmers in the Central Highlands, Vietnam's largest coffee-growing area, sold coffee COFVN-DAK at 33,500 dong ($1.45) per kg, lower than the 34,200-34,500 dong range last week. Trade has almost come to a halt ahead of a major harvest (season) beginning next month. Virtually no new deals have been clinched, a trader based in the coffee belt said. Prices fell this week tracking lower London prices. Another trader also based in the region said the scarcity of beans at the end of the harvest season would keep domestic prices from falling further until next harvest. In London, November robusta coffee settled at $1,349 per tonne on Wednesday. Traders in Vietnam offered 5% black and broken grade 2 robusta COFVN-G25-SAIat a premium of $110 per tonne to the November contract, up from the $70-80 premiums range from a week ago. In Indonesias Lampung province, Sumatran robusta beans premiums increased to $190-$200 from $160 last week for November contract, a trader said. While another trader said premium to the November contract rose to $100 from $50 last week. The hike in premiums is to compensate for the drop in global prices. In local market, exporters still bought coffee with the same price as last week, a trader said, adding that supply and trade volume were still high. $1 = 23,183 dong An off-duty L.A. County sheriff's deputy shot a man Wednesday evening who moved toward him while reaching for his waistband after being confronted about looking into cars near the Whittier Courthouse, the Sheriff's Department said. (Los Angeles Times) An off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy shot and wounded a man Wednesday evening after he allegedly moved toward the deputy and reached toward his waistband. The incident occurred after the man was confronted about an attempt to break into cars in a parking structure next to the Whittier Courthouse, according to the Sheriff Department's preliminary account. The agency said in a statement that a knife "belonging to the suspect" was recovered at the scene. The suspect is hospitalized in stable condition. Investigators did not say where the knife was found or how they connected the man to the weapon. A second person who accompanied the wounded man fled the scene and remains at large, officials said. The off-duty deputy was walking to his personal car in a parking lot in the 7300 block of Painter Avenue when he saw "two individuals looking into windows of parked vehicles, including his own." The deputy told investigators he confronted the men about what they were doing. "One of the individuals began to ultimately advance on the deputy, at which time he identified himself as an off-duty deputy" with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, the agency's statement said. "The suspect then reached for his waistband as if he was going to retrieve a weapon and continued to advance on the deputy," the statement said. At that point, the deputy opened fire, according to the department. The man was hit in the upper body. He was taken to a hospital. Sheriff's Department homicide detectives are investigating the shooting. Officials did not say whether any surveillance cameras in the parking structure captured the shooting. U.S. President Donald Trump (C), then national security advisor H.R. McMaster (L), Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (2nd L) and then White House chief of staff John Kelly (R) attend a briefing with senior military leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on October 5, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump (C), then national security advisor H.R. McMaster (L), Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (2nd L) and then White House chief of staff John Kelly (R) attend a briefing with senior military leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on October 5, 2017. Credit - Andrew HarrerPool/Getty Images Never in recent history have so many senior former U.S. officials publicly attacked the commander in chief they served, or the decisions hes made, as the ranks lining up to say President Donald Trump put himself and his re-election ahead of the country, thereby threatening its security. One of the latest salvos comes from Trumps second National Security Adviser, retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster. McMaster tells TIME that Trumps moves toward withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan a 2016 campaign promise have handed the Taliban a victory by allowing them to talk peace while still attacking the Afghan government. He adds that Trumps acting as a public apologist for Russia has sown confusion in what is an otherwise tough U.S. approach toward Moscow. McMasters criticism, described in greater detail in his new book Battlegrounds, the Fight to Defend the Free World, is aimed not at Trump himself, but his policies, he says. The retired general, who served as Trumps advisor from 2017 to 2018, eschews detailing what he calls the palace intrigue of the Trump White House that has given rise to multiple tell-all books and anonymous critiques of a pugilistic president who revels in publicly shaming allies and sweet-talking dictators. McMaster, who says he has never voted in any election during his 34 years Army service, says he declined to describe his interactions in the Oval Office for fear that it would further divide Americans. I hope Trump supporters read the book, I hope Trump haters read the book, and maybe find this book as a way to come together and restore a degree of bipartisanship, at least to our foreign policy, he says. Story continues For months, the Presidents former colleagues have been coming out one by one, in a rare display of disloyalty to a sitting president, to warn that Trump does not have Americas best interests at heart. Now, as Nov. 3 looms, the pace is picking up, as those officials hope that some of the punches land with American voters. Trumps approval ratings have remained virtually unchanged from February to today, despite a devastating global pandemic, economic crisis, and national reckoning of racial injustice. These critics who saw Trump up close, and often carried out his policies against their better judgement, are hoping at least some of his supporters will change their minds based on their first-hand accounts of how self-absorbed and inattentive to the countrys needs they say he has been. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the daily D.C. Brief newsletter. In June, John Bolton, Trumps third National Security Adviser, called the incumbent president a danger for the Republic ahead of the publication of his book that accuses Trump of shaping U.S. security policy to win votes. The same month, former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis denounced Trump as the first ever President who tries to divide us, after Trump threatened to use active duty military troops to crack down on Black Lives Matter protests. Trumps former chief of staff and Homeland Security Secretary, retired Marine general John Kelly, has said he was harming the country. And former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Trump got frustrated whenever Tillerson pointed out that he was asking for something illegal. Others censures have been less direct. Trumps two most senior military officials, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley, both rebuked him in effect by admitting their own error in joining Trump in his march across Lafayette Square at the height of the George Floyd protests, to hold a Bible aloft in front of a church damaged by the protests as the U.S. Secret Service deployed pepper spray to clear the way. Some have even criticized Trump by their silence, as Mattis, former Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford and Kelly did by declining to comment on an account published in the Atlantic that Trump called U.S. war dead suckers and losers for laying their lives down in service to the country. With some Americans already casting their ballots and Election Day drawing near, the critiques have picked up pace. Last week, Trumps former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats called for Congress to create a bipartisan commission to oversee the election results, referring obliquely to the Presidents continuing threats that he might not accept the voting results after months of invective against voting by mail. And this week, a group of nearly 500 former national security leaders, including three senior officers who served under Trump, signed a letter backing Democratic candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden as a good man with a strong sense of right and wrong and indirectly referencing the Atlantic report, saying Biden believes those who sacrifice or give their lives in service of our nation deserve our respect and eternal gratitude. Signatories included Trumps former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Air Force General Paul J. Selva, retired Navy SEAL Vice Admiral P. Gardner Howe, III, who served as CIAs director of military affairs, and retired Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Paul Zukunft. One of the most vocal former Trump critics now publicly endorsing Biden is the former DHS chief of staff to retired Marine general Kelly, Miles Taylor. Biden is a good and decent man. And this is a character election, says Taylor. In September, Taylor formally launched the Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform (REPAIR), an organization aimed at rebuilding the post-Trump Republican Party and funded by the umbrella anti-Trump Republican group, Defending Democracy Together. Ill take himand left-leaning policiesover Donald Trumpand the republic-breaking danger he posesany day of the week, Taylor wrote in an August op-ed, saying he witnessed meetings in which Trump insisted on a near-total focus on issues that he said were central to his re-election in particular building a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. Trump subsequently called Taylor a lowlife. REPAIRs other members include former officials like Trumps ex-White House Communications Director-turned-vocal-critic Anthony Scaramucci, and Vice President Mike Pences former homeland security and counterterrorism advisor Olivia Troye. Troye spoke out last week to say Trump downplayed the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing to aides like her in the coronavirus task force meetings she organized that he didnt want it to affect his re-election chances. Taylor says the steady drumbeat of criticism coming out just five weeks before the polls is part of a carefully calculated and loosely coordinated plan for peoples comments to have the maximum impact. The people that youre hearing from now are people who have long harbored these sentiments about the president, but recognize thatif theyd spoken out sooner, it wouldnt have mattered, because the President would have made it yesterdays news, Taylor says. Since going public with his dismay, Taylor has been getting what he calls graphic death threats but says speaking out was worth the weight off his conscience of being part of misguided and poorly executed policies designed to win Trump voters, like the shutdown of the U.S. border that separated thousands of children from their families. Do I have regrets about that? You bet your ass Ive got regrets about that, he says, adding that former Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen foresaw that particular nightmare coming, but got outvoted by Trumps inner circle of yes men. Not everyone is sure they want to put themselves in the Presidents crosshairs. Taylor says more senior officials, including a former cabinet member, are in touch with him and are considering speaking out, but worry about both rhetorical retribution by Trump and physical threats by his supporters. One former senior official who regularly briefed the President is considering speaking out against his former boss, too. Everything, every decision, was made based on his re-election as opposed to whats good for the country, the official says of Trump. There is no bottom to this guy There is no level so low that he will not stoop to. And his sycophants will support him every step of the way. He spoke anonymously because he also fears for the safety of his family, who he believes could face threats from the far-right extremist Boogaloo Boys, or Q-Anon conspiracists some real nuts that actually believe that there are these pedophiles working out of a pizza shop, and might take violent action, as one Q-Anon follower did when he fired an AR-15 rifle inside a Washington, D.C., pizza restaurant. Everythings changed, and its a dangerous world, he says. McMaster says one reason he didnt personally attack Trump is because he didnt want to add to what he sees as a dangerous and growing partisan divide. What good would that do? Would that help us fashion a more effective foreign policy? I dont think so. The White House declined to comment on the McMaster book. Earlier this week, Trump tweeted a TV interview of McMaster saying Trumps Russia policy had been tough, and simply saying he looked forward to reading it. McMaster believes he spoke truth to power by bringing Trump news he didnt want to hear, unlike some of Trumps current advisors, he says, or the senior U.S. advisors in the Vietnam war who McMaster charges in his book Dereliction of Duty failed to bring uncomfortable truths to the president. If you do that, you get kind of used up and I was at peace with thatI wasnt going to compromise on that to keep my job. The former advisor has one more plea for his former boss: to try to heal the political divide. Oftentimes, the President will say something that is not helpful that is divisive, says the retired officer. I would tell the President, and really leaders across the political spectrum: Dont be part of the problem. EQS Group-News: U-Blox AG / Key word(s): Legal Matter u-blox AG: u-blox and Sisvel sign intellectual property license agreement, litigation dismissed 24.09.2020 / 09:00 Press Release u-blox and Sisvel sign intellectual property license agreement, litigation dismissed Thalwil, Switzerland - September 24, 2020 - u-blox (SIX:UBXN,OTC:UBLXF), a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies, today announced that it has entered into a worldwide, non-exclusive, patent license agreement with Sisvel International S.A., 3G Licensing SA, Sisvel S.p.A., and Sisvel US Inc., world leaders in fostering innovation and managing intellectual property, covering the sale by u-blox AG (u-blox) of its 2G, 3G and 4G products for a defined term. Litigation between the two companies has been dismissed. "u-blox respects the intellectual property rights of others and has always been and continues to be a willing licensee to standard essential patents (SEPs)", said Thomas Seiler, CEO of u-blox. "In fact, u-blox views this as a value-added differentiator that benefits u-blox customers and positively distinguishes u-blox within the module industry. u-blox remains committed to this strategy - it's how we create value for our customers." "We are pleased Sisvel was open to learn about the needs and realities of the IoT, M2M and automotive market segments u-blox serves, markets that are very different from traditional cellular handset markets," said Kent Baker, the Head of Licensing for u-blox AG's Cellular Communication Division. "Not all patent holders are willing to understand the demands of the non-handset market segments and then negotiate to reach agreement based on that understanding. Our discussions exemplified two companies' working to find mutually beneficial opportunities with an eye towards the future." David Muus, Program Manager of the Mobile Communication Program at Sisvel, added: "It is a welcome negotiation that turns a dispute into cooperation." About u-blox ublox (SIX:UBXN) is a global technology leader in positioning and wireless communication in automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their smart and reliable solutions, services and products let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and secure data services and connectivity, ublox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative and reliable solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and costeffectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA. (www.u-blox.com) Find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter @ublox and YouTube ublox contact: Kent Baker Senior Principal, IP Strategy Tel +1 (858) 847-9611 kent.baker@u-blox.com Lets Send Hunger Packing! Food Drive surpasses goal, raising over $47,000 to help feed the rapidly growing number of hungry children in LA County due to COVID-19 pandemic From left to right: Groundwork Coffee CEO Kenny Cola; Food Bank President and CEO Michael Flood; NorthStar Moving Co-Founder Laura McHolm; Gillan Abercrombie Frame from Compass Real Estate From left to right: Groundwork Coffee CEO Kenny Cola; Food Bank President and CEO Michael Flood; NorthStar Moving Co-Founder Laura McHolm; Gillan Abercrombie Frame from Compass Real Estate Los Angeles CA, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NorthStar Moving Company, the leading eco-luxury mover in California, announced that their eighth annual Lets Send Hunger Packing food drive raised $47,046 for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, providing 188,184 meals to feed hungry children in Los Angeles County. I want to thank Groundwork Coffee and Compass Real Estate for being outstanding partners in this years food drive as well as our entire community, said NorthStar Moving Co-Founder Laura McHolm. In a year when the need is at its greatest, our team and community truly stepped up, raising the most donations in our eight years of conducting the Lets Send Hunger Packing Food Drive. We are so grateful to everyone dedicated to making a difference in the lives of hungry children throughout the LA region. Since the onset of the pandemic, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has continued to see an increase in demand for food. As of September, there has been a 125% increase in their food distributions. NorthStar Moving has been a long-time partner of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, and we are so grateful for their generous gift, said Food Bank President and CEO Michael Flood. This gift will be put to work to alleviate hunger during one of the most trying times in LA Countys recent history. I am so moved by the generosity of our community. Years from now, when I think back to the pandemic, Ill remember the amazing acts of generosity and kindness in the era of COVID, said McHolm. This proves to me that anyone, with the help of everyone, can make a big difference in someones life. Just look at what we did! 188,000 meals! This year, putting food on tables has even more meaning. With many schools teaching remotely, having access to nutritious meals at home is critical. Physical and mental health are truly essential. A hungry child and a stressed parent are not a recipe for success. We must feed childrens minds and bodies so they can focus on their education. Please remember, this is something all of us can do to make a difference in a hungry childs life; just donate to your local food bank, its as easy as a click of a button. Story continues In eight years the Lets Send Hunger Packing Food Drive has raised a total of over 320,000 meals! The 9th annual Lets Send Hunger Packing Food Drive will kick-off in Spring 2021. To continue to support the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank in these unprecedented times and beyond, donations can be made here. About NorthStar Moving Founded in 1994, Los Angeles-based NorthStar Moving Company has redefined the moving industry as the first to offer eco-luxury moving services, elevating basic moving and storage services to a new unparalleled level of customer service, customized care and environmental consciousness. Honored with more awards for service than any other moving company: A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, voted Citysearch Best Mover, earned the most five star ratings on Trustlink and Yelp, and recipient of dozens of awards for corporate culture, green practices, community outreach, and growth including ten Best Places to Work awards and ranked on the Inc. 5,000 list for the fastest growing companies in the U.S. for seven consecutive years. The company's local, long distance and international moving, storage services, and eco-luxury packages have been featured in leading magazines including The Robb Report Collection and on multiple home and design television shows. NorthStar Moving has proven the state-of-the-art way to move is with its red carpet service, recommended by Coldwell Banker Concierge, The Franklin Report, MovingInsurance.com and an impressive list of celebrity clientele. NorthStar Movings mission is to exceed their clients expectations with graceful customer care and to move service back into what should have always been the ultimate service industry: the moving industry. For more information please visit www.NorthStarMoving.com and www.northstarfranchising.com or call (800) 275-7767. Attachment CONTACT: Carrie Callahan NorthStar Moving Company 8002757767 carrie@nashcallahan.com - Mesut Ozil is yet to feature for Arsenal since the start of the new season - The midfielder has endured a turbulent period since the exit of Arsene Wenger - According to Arteta, he is unable to pick Ozil because he selects squad players in the best condition PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB Feed Mikel Arteta has defended his decision to overlook Mesut Ozil for match-day squads, pointing out he is selecting players in the "best condition." Ozil is yet to make an appearance for Arsenal since the start of the new season, missing both clashes against Fulham and West Ham United. READ ALSO: Jesse Lingard: Man United reportedly set to give Englishman new deal Mesut Ozil is yet to feature for Arsenal since the start of the new season. Photo: Getty Images. Source: Getty Images READ ALSO: Bruno Fernandes seen giving Eric Bailly instructions from sidelines during Luton win It was thought the midfielder would be picked for the Gunners' Carabao Cup fixture against Leicester but he was once again ignored. And despite being continually snubbed, the German star, who is Arsenal's highest paid player, has insisted he is not keen to leave this summer. On his part, Arteta downplayed Ozil's absence from the squad hinting his preferred players were above him in the pecking order. Mesut Ozil has endured a turbulent period since the departure of Arsene Wenger from Arsenal. Photo: Getty Images. Source: Getty Images READ ALSO: Antonio Rudiger: German defender reportedly considering Chelsea future "You can see that the players we are changing, we are using, its very difficult every week not for Mesut but for some other players as well to make the squad. Every week we try to pick the right players," Metro UK quoted Arteta saying. "Its difficult for others as well that arent involved in the Premier League and didnt play tonight either. We have a squad of 26, 27 players at the moment and we cant give playing time to all of them," he added. Meanwhile, the north London club has appeared to flourish in the absence of Ozil, winning all their three matches of the new season. The side defeated Fulham in their season opener and went on to down West Ham United at the weekend. Against Leicester, Christian Fuchs' own goal and Eddie Nketiah's late strike were enough to send Arteta's side to the next round of the Carabao Cup. They will take on the Foxes once again in their next match in the Premier League. Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme - https://www.patreon.com/tuko Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Tuko news. I was afraid my son would become a beggar-mumbi ndung'u | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke The federal throne speech offered a good news nugget for Canadas media industry, after a long and costly struggle against content-poaching tech giants. Canada will pass a new law forcing companies like Facebook and Google to pay for the stories, music and videos they take and post online, the throne speech said. The two companies have a digital duopoly on advertising, shutting out local media that creates much of the content, and advocates for better regulations have long argued that Canadian publishing laws are antiquated, mainly written for the pre-digital era. The governments promise could make a huge difference for struggling media companies, said John Hinds, president and CEO of News Media Canada, a newspaper advocacy group that has been pushing for policy change that would protect the dwindling industry. I think this really cements the commitment from the government, Hinds said on Wednesday. Up until now, (the government) has been conspicuously silent, although over the last couple of months, (Canadian Heritage Minister) Steven Guilbeault has taken it on. Read by Governor General Julie Payette, the speech said, Web giants are taking Canadians money while imposing their own priorities. Things must change and will change. The government will act to ensure their revenue is shared more fairly with our creators and media, and will also require them to contribute to the creation, production and distribution of our stories, onscreen, in lyrics, in music and in writing. Hinds said Guilbeault has indicated that the legislation could go to cabinet soon with legislation introduced in the spring. That wont be fast enough to protect local radio and television stations, said Lenore Gibson, chair of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. Without immediate action this fall, Canada will see local television and radio closures across the country, Gibson said in a statement. This will deny communities access to local news and a daily media voice, reducing the diversity of Canadian news on air across our provinces and territories. This is especially concerning as local news has never been more important to keeping communities safe and informed, she said. While the broadcast association supports Wednesdays promise, Gibson said new laws and regulations take time something private local television and radio stations do not have. Gibson said private broadcasters are hoping for government support on additional short-term measures. Hinds said he believes Australias plans for new legislation, which prompted threats to suspend services from Facebook and Google, are worth considering here. Australias law would force the digital giants to negotiate payments with news organizations. At the time, Guilbeault told the Stars Susan Delacourt that the Canadian government stands with our Australian partners and denounces any form of threats. Hinds is hoping Canada follows through on its promise for change. The alternative is combined market failure and, I think, a reliance on public funding for the news industry, which is something not many people will be comfortable with over the long term, he said. I was at my desk watching (the throne speech) on my computer, Hinds said. It was a long speech, but it was pleasant surprise and worth waiting for. Read more about: Alabamas beaches remain closed as coastal communities continue to clean up after Hurricane Sally. Gov. Kay Iveys office issued a statement Thursday that Baldwin County beaches would remain closed until Friday, Oct. 2. Working closely with Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft and Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon, as well as Commissioner Billie Joe Underwood, the governor has agreed to keep Baldwin Countys beaches closed until Friday, October 2nd, it said. This will allow those communities additional time to get their beaches ready for public enjoyment in a safe, responsible manner. The statement did not set a date for Dauphin Island beaches but suggested it might be different. Likewise, the governor has been in touch with Mayor Jeff Collier, and she is prepared to amend the beach closure order for Mobile County when he signals that Dauphin Island is ready to reopen their beaches, it said. At the present time, all Alabama beaches remain closed until further notice. There isnt a timeline yet for reopening Dauphin Islands public beaches, Collier said Thursday. Itll depend on the progress of recovery work, he said. Right now our situation with the public beaches is that most of them arent accessible because of other issues such as damage to roads and parking lots, he said said. A re-entry checkpoint to get onto the island has been shut down, but access to the west end is still limited by a checkpoint, he said. NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DLA Piper represented Edifecs, Inc. in a recent growth investment from TA Associates, a leading global growth private equity firm, and Francisco Partners, a leading global technology-focused private equity firm. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, Edifecs is a premier technology company in the US healthcare market with solutions focused on interoperability, workflows, value-based care payments and analytics. Since its inception, Edifecs has provided a full range of capabilities to support healthcare entities, including payers, providers, employers, third-party administrators and government agencies. With innovative technology and solutions, the company helps its customers by optimizing the secure exchange and processing of administrative and clinical data, reducing the cost of meeting various regulations and automating workflows involved in multiple core processes within the healthcare ecosystem. "We were pleased to bring our extensive experience advising healthcare technology companies in complex private equity transactions to support Edifecs in this investment, which will help Edifecs continue to grow and enable it to meet the needs of the rapidly evolving healthcare industry," said Trenton Dykes, the DLA Piper partner who led the firm's deal team. In addition to Dykes (Seattle), the DLA Piper team representing Edifecs included partners Peter Alfano, Ilya Bubel, James Kelly, Paolo Morante (all of New York) and Cisco Palao-Ricketts (Silicon Valley); senior counsel David Plewa (Silicon Valley); and associates Stasha Loeza, Michael Pirog, Brian Cadousteau, Logan Weaver (all of Seattle) and Patrick Burri (Silicon Valley). DLA Piper's Private Equity practice includes more than 100 US lawyers who provide strategic counsel to private equity funds and the industry-leading companies they invest in. In 2019, Pitchbook recognized DLA Piper as the second most active private equity law firm globally, further solidifying the strength of the firm's team and its depth of experience executing private equity transactions. The firm's global Healthcare sector consists of a multidisciplinary legal team with niche experience in health-related business and legal issues. The team regularly works with corporations and financial institutions, private investors, private equity groups, venture capital funds, institutional investors and portfolio companies in all types of healthcare transactions. About DLA Piper DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising. dlapiper.com SOURCE DLA Piper Related Links http://www.dlapiper.com Biden ended the statement saying that 'violence is never acceptable'. A grand jury indicted just one of the officers involved, Brett Hankison, with 'wanton endangerment for shooting recklessly at Taylor's neighbors It came after a grand jury declined to indict three officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor Joe Biden released a statement questioning whether justice 'could be equally applied in America' Joe Biden released a statement questioning whether justice 'could be equally applied in America' after a grand jury declined to indict three officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. In a decision released on Wednesday, the grand jury indicted just one of the officers involved, Brett Hankison, with wanton endangerment for shooting recklessly at Taylor's neighbors. In a statement issued last night, the former vice-president said: 'In the wake of her tragic death, we mourn with her mother, family, and community and ask ourselves whether justice could be equally applied in America. Joe Biden released a statement questioning whether justice 'could be equally applied in America' after a grand jury declined to indict three officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor 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 'I know for so many people today's decision does not answer that call. A federal investigation remains ongoing, but we do not need to wait for the final judgment of that investigation to do more to deliver justice for Breonna. 'We know what is necessary. We need to start by addressing the use of excessive force, banning choke holds, and overhauling no-knock warrants.' Biden ended the statement saying that 'violence is never acceptable'. He told reporters earlier in the day that 'it's totally inappropriate' for protests to turn into riots and that it would sully Taylor's memory. In a tweet, Biden said: 'We must continue to speak Breonna Taylor's name, support her family still in grieving, and never give up on ensuring the full promise of America for every American.' A Kentucky grand jury has brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong. Prosecutors said Wednesday that two officers who fired their weapons at the Black woman were justified in using force to protect themselves. Instead, the only charges brought by the grand jury were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into Taylor's neighbors' homes. Taylor was shot multiple times by officers who burst into her home on March 13 during a narcotics investigation. Across the country, protesters have taken to the streets after the grand jurys decision to only charge one Louisville Metro Police officer in the raid in which Taylor was killed. Police say two officers have been shot and wounded amid protests in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville: Protesters march in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 23, after a judge announced the charges brought by a grand jury against Detective Brett Hankison, one of three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylo Denver: Sheree Barbour holds her fist in the air as people protest the grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case on September 23 New York City: Members of Black Lives Matters are joined by hundreds of others during an evening protest against the Kentucky grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case outside of the Barclays Center on September 23 Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder spoke about the shootings Wednesday night and said a suspect is in custody. He said both officers were in stable condition and expected to recover, and that one of them was undergoing surgery. He said the officers had gone to investigate reports of shots fired when they were hit by gunfire. Schroeder didn't identify officers of the suspect, or say whether the person in custody was taking part in the protests. Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Chicago and various neighborhoods around the city to protest the lack of charges directly connected to Breonna Taylor's shooting death. About 300 people gathered in Palmer Square Park on Chicago's northwest side before setting off on a march Wednesday evening, chanting Taylor's name. The march was monitored by police officers on bicycles. Other demonstrators gathered in downtown's Millennium Park chanting demands for justice as passing motorists on Michigan Avenue honked their horns. Activist priest the Rev. Michael Pfleger told protesters gathered in the middle of an intersection that they should peacefully let those who represent the status quo know of their unhappiness with the Taylor decision. 'We're here tonight because we do care,' Pfleger said. 'And we're here because we want to say, `We object and we don't accept it. Somebody has to be held accountable.' Protesters also gathered outside the Chicago Police Department headquarters. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is expected to participate in the virtual SAARC Council of Ministers informal meeting, which is slated to begin later on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. EAM @DrSJaishankar will participate in the Virtual Informal Meeting of SAARC Council of Ministers, which begins shortly. We look forward to positive and constructive discussions to take forward regional cooperation among member states for increased prosperity in South Asian region, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in a tweet. The SAARC summit has remained stalled after Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists attacked a military based in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri, which killed 19 soldiers. Pakistan was to host the summit in 2016 but India decided to boycott the meeting following the Uri attack. Other countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan, also walked out following Indias decision to exit the summit to step up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan. India, the largest member of the SAARC forum, has repeatedly called on Pakistan to take stringent steps to combat terror and said terror and talks do not go together. Addressed the #SAARC Foreign Ministers Informal Meeting today. Reaffirmed Indias commitment to Neighbourhood First policy and towards building a connected, integrated, secure and prosperous South Asia. pic.twitter.com/z0Q9AmRxeP Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 24, 2020 Also Read: India launches airport expansion project in Maldives On March 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a video conference with SAARC leaders, in which he initiated a COVID-19 emergency fund for the regional bloc with an initial offer of USD 10 million for the fund.All other SAARC members had promptly donated to the COVID-19 emergency fund except Pakistan, which was the last among the eight members of the bloc to contribute to the COVID-19 emergency fund. (ANI) Also Read: Opposition launches nationwide protest against farm bills We are still pursuing them in an effort to rescue them alive. We are wondering how they (the attackers) knew the three were on board the bus, he said. The 36 state governors are to hold an emergency meeting over the threat by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on an industrial action to demand that the Federal Government rescinds its decision on the recent hike in the prices of petroleum products and electricity. NLC earlier announced that it would proceed with its planned nationwide protest with effect from Sept. 28 over Federal Government refusal to reverse the hikes in electricity tariff and fuel pump price. The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) disclosed this in a statement issued by its Head, Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, in Abuja on Wednesday. Bello-Barkindo said that the emergency meeting scheduled for 6pm on Thursday would seek ways of settling the rift and find a mutual agreement. He said that all governors were expected to attend the first NGF emergency virtual teleconference to consider the matter which he described as of urgent national importance. Bello-Barkindo said that the matter needs to be quickly resolved in order not to worsen the already bad situation of Nigerians as caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Anne Graham Lotz issues urgent call to repentance, warns US is 'being attacked invisibly' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Evangelist Anne Graham Lotz is issuing an urgent call to repentance, warning that America has a small window of opportunity to return to God, that, if not taken, will incite severe judgment. In an interview with The Christian Post, Lotz, founder and president of Angel Ministries, said the United States has repeatedly shaken its fist in Gods face, removing His name everywhere from schools to the government. When you do that, God just backs away, she said, citing Romans 1, which speaks of the retributive judgment of God. God gives us over to ourselves, and I believe that is where we are right now; it really is the judgment of God, Lotz said. America has a window of opportunity to return to the Lord, but its just a window, and its going to close. Were going to find our nation without God, and without Him, we dont have His protection, we dont have His wisdom. If we're not careful, we're going to totally lose our way, she stressed. America will become unrecognizable. The world is a very dangerous place right now. We desperately need God. On Saturday, the 72-year-old daughter of famed evangelist Billy Graham is set to participate in The Return: National and Global Day of Prayer and Repentance in Washington, D.C., to pray for the U.S. and its citizens. Led by bestselling author Jonathan Cahn, the event will also feature Dr. James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Mike Lindell, Alveda King, Kevin Jessip, Michele Bachmann, Kevin Sorbo, Gordon Robertson, Marcus Lamb, Bishop Harry Jackson, and many more. As part of the revival, leaders from over 150 nations will be participating in a day of prayer. The broadcast will be hosted in over 90 languages in real-time translation. Lotz admitted that Cahn, an old friend, has asked her to participate in events for years but I always declined, she said. I just didnt feel like revival would come until we were desperate for it. As a child, Lotz recalls asking her mother, Ruth Graham: "With all of father's meetings and events that have taken place, why haven't we had a revival?" "And my mother said, It's because we're not desperate enough. So I always felt like something needed to trigger it," the evangelist shared. "But Jonathan kept telling me he felt strongly impressed by the Lord that a call to revival needed to be held in September of 2020. So based on his strong conviction and my belief that we need to return to the Lord, I agreed to participate in The Return back in January." And then, "COVID-19 broke out, the economy experienced a recession, and anarchy swept the streets," she said. Additionally, America is being attacked socially and racially, Lotz said, contending that evil people jumped on unthinkable tragedies like the death of George Floyd to further their wicked agendas. "Its more than unrest. It feels like were being attacked invisibly," the evangelist emphasized. My prayer is that this is the trigger. If this doesn't make us desperate for revival, if this doesn't make us return to the Lord and beg for His mercy, then I'm not sure anything will. We're in a freefall. She pointed out that in Matthew 24, Jesus described the signs that would indicate His return was near. He said they are like birth pains which means I think they increase in intensity and frequency," she explained. So instead of seeing the signs once every hundred years, it's once every 10 years, then every year, and then every month. The Jesus in Me author said she believes recent events such as Hurricane Sally, record-breaking flooding, and the fires in the West are some of the birth pains the Bible mentions. We've left our foundation of faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, she said. Until we come back to the Lord through repentance and prayer, then I don't think there's any hope for America actually. Just under one year ago, Lotz completed treatment for breast cancer. Today, she is doing well and continues to receive good reports at her checkups. I dont take my health for granted, she said. I thank the Lord that Ive come this far. I just walked 2 miles, my hair is growing back, and Im maintaining strength. Thankful for every day God gives her, Lotz told CP she lives her life with the idea that I dont want any regret five minutes before seeing Jesus face to face. I want to live in such a way that, if Jesus was coming back tomorrow, I wouldnt have done anything differently. And that requires reading my Bible, she said. If you're 28, 72, or your 80s, or 90s, there's nothing we can do more important than read our Bible, Lotz added. The Bible is the truth. The Bible is the way God communicates to us. Feelings come and go, and they can be very misleading. But God's word doesn't change. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. This is a wake-up call to return to the Lord. Heavy rains lashed Mumbai overnight, leaving many parts of the metropolis in waist deep water and disrupting rail and road traffic on Wednesday, officials said. The Santacruz observatory recorded 286.4 mm rainfall during the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 am on Wednesday, making it the fourth highest rainfall in Mumbai since 1974, an IMD official said. At the municipal Nair Hospital in central Mumbai, the Covid-19 outpatient department (OPD) set up in a temporary shed in the compound was shifted to the casualty ward inside the building due to waterlogging in the compound, they said. Also read: Seasons heaviest rain, second-highest 24-hour Sept spell in 26 years A doctor from the hospital said the normal OPD at the hospital has been suspended temporarily and only emergency cases are being examined at the casualty ward. Two watchmen died in Agripada area after getting stuck inside a lift in the basement of a high rise building because of waterlogging, a police official said. There was also waterlogging in several areas in the suburbs like Goregaon, Malad and Dahisar, he said. Around 6 inches high water logging at Andheri Subway. However traffic has been resumed and police personnel from DN Nagar Police Station are on the spot to ensure convenient commute for Mumbaikars, Mumbai Police tweeted. Rains across the island city and the western suburbs picked up late on Tuesday evening. There were intense spells across Mumbai overnight, a civic 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. Mumbais 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 IMDs 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. Suburban train services of Central Railway and Western Railway were suspended but resumed later as the intensity of the downpour waned. Railways also cancelled or rescheduled many long-distance trains following the heavy rains. There was waterlogging in Sion-Kurla and Chunabhatti- Kurla sections and traffic was suspended on CSMT-Thane and CSMT-Vashi sections for safety reasons, a CR official said. 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. Also read: Local trains cancelled in Mumbai due to heavy rainfall and waterlogging A civic official said the public bus service of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) was hit due to waterlogged streets, and traffic diverted at many places. Five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on standby in view of heavy rains in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts, Maharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar said. Wadettiwar said heavy rains caused a flood-like situation in many places, adding that Disaster Management department is keeping a close watch on the situation. Mumbai received one of the highest showers in the last 24 hours of this monsoon season and more rainfall is likely in the city on Wednesday, India Meteorology Department (IMD) Mumbai centre Deputy Director General K S Hosalikar said. The Santacruz observatory received 286.4 mm showers during the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 am on Wednesday, another IMD official said. Todays rainfall of 286.4 mm is the fourth highest in Mumbai since 1974, he added. As per the record of Santacruz observatory since 1974, it reported 318.2 mm rainfall in 24 hours on September 23, 1981, 312.4 mm rainfall on September 23, 1993 and 303.7 mm rainfall on September 20, 2017, the official said. According to the IMD, rainfall recorded below 15 mm is considered light, between 15 and 64.5 mm is moderate and above 64.5 mm is heavy. Several parts of Mumbai received more than 120 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours, the department said. The Bombay High Court on Wednesday suspended hearings, including all virtual hearings, scheduled for the day, in view of the heavy rainfall in the city and suburbs. Premium customer solutions provider, Silah Gulf has participated as Silver Sponsor for the Virtual Bahrain 2020 Online Conference & Exhibition. The event was organised by WorkSmart for Events Management and the Bahrain Technology Companies Society (BTECH). Silah Gulf showcased the customer experience solutions it provides as technical and advisory partner to 26 governmental and private entities. It also highlighted its future plans to deploy cutting edge customer experience technologies, including chatbots, omni-channel platforms, and artificial intelligence solutions aimed at improving quality and customer satisfaction. Silah Gulf CEO Feras Ahmed said: Our sponsorship of Virtual Bahrain 2020 reflected the company's commitment to keeping pace with the rapidly developing business world, particularly during the current circumstances. It also demonstrated our eagerness to support #TeamBahrain by providing advanced services through the latest technologies and systems. This event was an ideal opportunity for Silah Gulf to develop new business partnerships and cement our position as a reliable partner in local and regional markets. Our vision is to support sustainable economic growth and strengthen our levels of quality, productivity, and innovation, Ahmed added. Silah Gulf is one of the most successful initiatives to result from the objectives of Bahrains 2030 Economic Vision, and the eGovernment programmes strategy. This year, the company celebrated its 10th anniversary. Since its launch, Silah Gulf has helped train and qualify approximately 2,500 people, enabling them to engage with the kingdoms labour market more effectively. The company employs 750 people, 83% of whom are Bahraini.-- Tradearabia News Service Johnson & Johnson announced on Wednesday that it has begun its phase three trial testing for its potential COVID-19 vaccine. The drugmaker is the fourth company backed by the Trump administration's COVID-19 vaccine program Operation Warp Speed. Other drugmaking companies that are included are Moderna, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca. More than 60,000 adult participants across the 215 areas in the country will be involved in the late-stage trials, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Participants will be randomly chosen to receive a dose of a potential vaccine or a placebo, which will determine whether the vaccine is safe and effective. Institute director and country's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci said that four COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in phase 3 trials. Fauci said that this is an unprecedented feat for the scientific community, which made possible by decades of progress in vaccine technology. He added that this included a coordinated, strategic approach across government, industry and academia. "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," Fauci said. Johnson & Johnson, which is a parent company of Janssen, has said that it is using the same technologies it used to develop its experimental Ebola vaccine. It includes combing genetic material from the coronavirus with a modified adenovirus, which is known to cause common colds in humans. Preclinical studies showed that J&J's potential Covid-19 vaccine can produce a promising response in nonhuman primates and hamsters. Paul Stoffels, J&J's chief scientific officer, said that the early-stage data shows the immune response in humans and was "comparable to animals," which were protected. The early-stage trial data will be released instantly. In addition, Stoffels said that the COVID-19 vaccine showed to be well-tolerated, with symptoms such as fever that subsides within 48 hours. The late-stage trial will include those with and without other illness associated with an increased risk for progression of severe COVID-19. Stoffels added thata they will aim to enroll participants in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, South Africa and the United States. He said that there are a lot of what they call "readiness cohorts," where they have predetermined in high risk areas the particular populations they want to target. Stoffels noted that the data team have been working hard to find out where in the United States they can get access to the people and parts of the population at high risk and diverse. U.S. President Trump said on Monday that Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca are progressing well. Trump said that J&J's potential COVID-19 vaccine will probably be a little later. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said earlier that it reached a deal with Janssen worth around $1 billion for 100 million doses of its vaccine. The deal also allows the federal government to order additional 200 million doses. Want to read more? Take a look at these? FDA Warns Public of Several Toxic Mexican-Made Hand Sanitizers Smart Mask: Japanese Startup Robotics Invention, Can Translate Eight Languages Manufactured Antibodies May Be Next Big COVID-19 Treatment Southwest is preparing to cut its flight schedule further in October and looking at a November and December holiday travel season where flying will be far below previous expectations. Southwest is wary of cutting traffic too much, Kelly said, because it can be difficult to rebuild back. UC Riverside is leading an effort that could help ensure food security and improve the worst effects of climate change -- by studying rock-eating bacteria and fungi. These microbes break apart chemical bonds in deep underground layers of rocks, then die and release nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus into the soil. Aside from fertilizer, this is the main way soil obtains these nutrients, and agriculture is dependent on the process. Despite how critical they are for food production, our general knowledge of microbes in soils is so lacking." Emma Aronson, Associate Professor Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, A new $4.2 million National Science Foundation grant aims to close the gap in scientists' understanding. It will enable scientists to install sensors in the ground at five different sites and monitor the microbes' activity for the next five years. The sensors will measure, among other things, carbon dioxide concentration at these sites throughout the five years of the study. "We'll be able to watch the microbes breathing deep in the soil," Aronson said. The sites have been chosen because they represent different ecosystems, including a location in Idaho, the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico, the Great Smoky Mountains in South Carolina, the Santa Catalina mountains in Arizona, and the southern Sierra Nevada in California. Aronson, principal investigator of the project, said her team's preliminary studies revealed bacterial behavior they could not explain. They found greater changes in the bacteria the deeper they looked in the soils, but only in half of the locations they sampled. With the other half, the bacteria did not change with depth. "We want to understand why that is," Aronson said. "How much is this driven by rock types at the different sites? What role does vegetation play? Why do they live where they do? This grant will help us answer questions like these that will then allow scientists to test for more applied uses." One application of the research could include a tool to help trap carbon in the ground. Researchers may be able to identify some deep soil bacteria that are better at extracting nutrients from rocks than others. Those bacteria would allow plants to become larger and, if they have extra nutrients, take up more carbon that would otherwise end up in the atmosphere, trapping heat. Bacteria that encourage plant growth also offer the potential for increased agricultural yields, and more food, which is critical given the potential for decreased crop production as the climate changes. This project brings together a coalition of scientists to examine the Earth's active outer layer known as the critical zone, which extends from the top of the tallest tree down to the microbes in the bedrock. Partnering institutions include UC Berkeley and UC Merced, as well as the University of Arizona, Idaho State University, Kansas University, and the University of New Hampshire. A chief benefit of the project is its interdisciplinary nature, allowing collaboration between microbiologists, ecologists, geoscientists, soil, and rock scientists. "We are all joining to do work that we can only do together," Aronson said. Chinese Genomics Company BGI to Provide Ethiopia with Coronavirus Testing Kits Made at African Plant By Ding Yi / Sep 24, 2020 05:25 PM / World Chinese genomics company BGI Group has put into operation a factory it built in Ethiopia to produce coronavirus testing kits for local people as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe, according to a report by the Xinhua News Agency. The $5 million plant, which is the first coronavirus testing kit production facility in Ethiopia, is designed to be able to make 6-8 million tests a year, and can enhance its annual capacity to up to 10 million if needed, Xinhua reported, citing Chen Songheng, general manager of BGI Ethiopia. Ethiopias health ministry has signed an agreement to purchase 1.5 million coronavirus testing kits from the factory in three batches, with the first batch of 500,000 testing kits to be delivered on October 15, the report said, adding that the plant would switch to making testing kits for diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis and export them to other African countries when the pandemic ends. BGI has pitched in to support Chinas battle against the coronavirus since the Covid-19 outbreak first emerged in Wuhan. The company has also expanded its services to overseas markets, saying that it has supplied testing kits to 35 million people outside China by the end of June. Contact reporter Ding Yi (yiding@caixin.com) Related: Gene Giant BGI Profit Jumps Seven-Fold on Virus-Testing Surge Ukraine and Slovakia have a shared vision of Europe's energy security and the risks posed by the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. "I am glad that we have shared vision of Europe's energy security and agree that projects such as Nord Stream 2 pose far-reaching risks to the European Union and its unity," President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said at a joint press conference with President of Slovakia Zuzana Caputova in Bratislava, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. At the same time, the President of Ukraine thanked Slovakia for its key role in ensuring reverse gas supplies to Ukraine and told about the agreement with Slovak partners on taking full advantage of Ukraine's transit potential, in particular, the agreement on Asia-Europe combined transportation. "Our countries are an important transport bridge between the West and the East, and our common position will be stronger if we create multimodal logistics centres for cargo handling on this route," Zelensky stressed. Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Vladyslav Kryklii and Minister of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic Andrej Dolezal signed a memorandum of cooperation within the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative which will facilitate the creation of multimodal terminals in Ukraine and Slovakia on this route. As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a state visit to Slovakia on Thursday. ol CHESTER The citys top cop announced his official retirement Wednesday after nearly three decades in law enforcement, saying he wants to focus on his health and his family. Im getting older, so I decided its just time to move on, start a new chapter, said Police Commissioner Otis Blair, whose official retirement date was Sept. 15. I love it to death, but if I cant give it 100 percent, then its time to move on. I dont want to be one of those guys who die behind the desk. If Im going to retire, I at least want to enjoy it. Blair has spent almost 30 years in law enforcement, close to 28 of those in Chester. He started as a patrolman in July 1993 and served in numerous capacities in the department over the years, including in the narcotics division, as a sergeant, then a captain and eventually deputy commissioner. Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland appointed Blair commissioner in 2017, following the retirement of Darren Alston at the end of 2016. Blair, now 56, said Wednesday that he had a couple of health scares related to stress recently and his doctor has told him to take it easy. Blair said he had seen a few officers die over the years some younger than him and that Alstons death from cancer earlier this year at age 57 was a wake-up call. It goes to show you that tomorrow is not promised to anybody, said Blair. I need to spend time with my family. Blair was honored for his service Wednesday morning during a Chester City Council meeting attended by dozens of local law enforcement officials, according to a release. Among them were Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, Chief Executive Director of the Criminal Investigation Division and former Chester Deputy Police Commissioner James Nolan IV, current Deputy Chester Police Commissioner Steve Gretsky and U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Eric Gartner. Blair was presented with a key to the city and a replica Chester Police Department badge on a plaque. Several people also spoke about the impact Blairs leadership had on the force and the city, which saw drastic reductions in overall crime within his first two years as commissioner and a 38 percent decrease in homicides between 2017 and 2018, the lowest number recorded since 2009. As the mayor, its been a pleasure having you as the commissioner of our police department, said Kirkland. Youve shown nothing but professionalism, commitment and dedication to this city, to this council and to your colleagues. We appreciate all of the heartfelt love youve shown to this community through the years. Blair credited his years of service to Chester Cpl. Michael Beverly, who was shot and killed while on patrol in October 2001, saying Beverly had encouraged him to apply to the department while he awaiting word from other possible positions. Blair said he sat down and discussed the decision to retire nearly 30 years later with his family, and they agreed. It is bittersweet, he said, but 2020 has been an interesting and challenging year, and its thrown a wrench into many a plan. The situation in the world right now is changing, he said. It has changed and it is changing rapidly, and I dont understand it. So, I figured its best to let somebody else take the reins and lead the guys. Blair said it is not up to him, but he would love to Gretsky take the mantle. Kirkland could not be reached for comment Wednesday on when a new appointment might be announced or who will take the position, but Blair said he believes whatever decision is made will be in the best interests of the city. As for Blair, he intends to focus on his health and family before making any other plans. MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) today released new guidance to assist manufacturers' ongoing pandemic preparedness and response measures. Michael Graydon, Chief Executive Officer of FHCP, commented: "With life and business still far from normal, it is critical that Canada secure stable, resilient supplies of essential goods like food and health products. FHCP's new best practice guide will help businesses of all sizes continue to protect employees' health and safety while supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and making the products Canadians rely on every day, especially in times of crisis." Best practices in the checklist range from general considerations for establishing crisis management protocols to specific production practices, like establishing tiered categories for products that can be prioritized if demand spikes. In the early days of the pandemic, demand for some products rocketed up by as much as 500 percent. FHCP anticipates the best practice checklist will be particularly helpful for the small businesses, who make up 90 percent of Canada's food processing businesses alone. The full checklist is available online https://bit.ly/2HjklzB. The food, health, and consumer product sector contributes more than $39.5 billion to Canada's economy annually and directly supports more than 350,000 jobs. With establishments operating in every province, the sector is Canada's largest manufacturing employer and the top employer in rural Canada. About Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) is the voice of Canada's largest manufacturing employer. The food, health, and consumer products sector employs over 350,000 Canadians across businesses of all sizes that manufacture and distribute the safe, high-quality products that are at the heart of healthy homes, healthy communities, and a healthy Canada. Visit OnEveryShelf.CA to learn more. SOURCE Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada For further information: For media inquiries, contact [email protected] or Anthony Fuchs, +1 (416) 648-8808 Related Links https://www.fcpc.ca/ This article is part of the Debatable newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A few days ago, a friend of mine became terrified of a tickle in his throat. He had come down with a moderate case of Covid-19 back in the spring, but five months had passed since his symptoms had faded, and stories about reinfection were in the news. Was it possible he had caught the virus a second time, and would it be as bad as the first? The number of people who have died of Covid-19 in the United States has now surpassed 200,000, but at least 6.7 million more are like my friend, somewhere in the labyrinth of recovery, unsure of where the disease has left them. Six months into the pandemic, what have scientists learned about how the body defends itself against the coronavirus, and what questions still need answering? Heres what the experts are saying. How long does immunity last? The immune system functions as a kind of consciousness: Like the mind, the body registers threats in the moment, and it remembers them, too. Some of its memories are more durable than others, and not all of them are salutary. A single bout of measles, for example, tends to shield a person for life, but a papillomavirus infection may increase a persons susceptibility to a second. Veteran atomic scientist and former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Dr Sekhar Basu succumbed to Covid-19 early on Thursday at a private hospital in Kolkata, a health department official said. IMAGE: President Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri to nuclear scientist Sekhar Basu at a civil investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on March 31, 2014. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons. He breathed his last just three days after turning 68. "Dr Basu was suffering from Covid-19 and other kidney ailments. He died at 4.50 am," the official told PTI. A mechanical engineer, Dr Basu is revered for his contributions to the country's atomic energy programme. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2014. He had also pioneered the highly complex reactor for India's first nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arihant. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee mourned the demise of Dr Basu and extended her condolences to his family. "Grieved to hear about the passing away of veteran nuclear scientist and former Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Dr Sekhar Basu. My condolences to his family and colleagues," she tweeted. Describing Dr Basu's death as an "untimely loss", eminent physicist and Padma Bhushan-recipient Bikash Sinha said, "The country lost a wonderful engineer and a gentleman". "I would say he left us at a relatively young age. He still had a lot more to contribute. He was an ingenious engineer who worked very hard for our nuclear programme. "Basu also did a brilliant job for the nuclear-powered submarine. We are going to miss a good man," Sinha (75), the former director of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics and Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, said. Born on September 20, 1952, Dr Basu did his schooling from Kolkata's Ballygunge Government School and then graduated in mechanical engineering from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), University of Mumbai, in 1974. After completing a year's training in nuclear science and engineering at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) School, he joined its Reactor Engineering Division in 1975. He had also worked as the project director of the Nuclear Submarine Programme at BARC, before taking over as its director in 2012. Dr Basu was also the brain behind designing, construction and operation of nuclear recycle plants at Tarapur and Kalpakkam. He played a key role in the development of the Indian Neutrino Observatory at Tamil Nadu. The atomic scientist was conferred the Indian Nuclear Society Award in 2002. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 03:06:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends an opening ceremony for Tesla China-made Model Y program in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) Tesla seeks an order to declare the duties unlawful and a refund with interest on the amounts it has paid. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. electric automaker Tesla has filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, which aims to prevent the Trump administration from collecting tariffs on car parts it imports from China, according to a Bloomberg report on Wednesday. The case seeks an order to declare the duties unlawful and a refund with interest on the amounts it has already paid, Bloomberg reported. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is named as the defendant in the case. Tesla is challenging the actions he made, arguing that the increased cost of imports would hurt the financial state of the company, the report said. Photo taken on Jan. 7, 2020 shows an inside view of Tesla Shanghai gigafactory in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) The case is labeled as Tesla Inc. v. U.S., 20-03142, U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, according to the report. The company aimed to avoid the 25 percent tariffs on the Chinese-made computer and central display screens used in its Model 3 sedan. "Avoiding a trade war will benefit all countries," Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in April 2018. Tesla has built a gigafactory in China's Shanghai after the U.S.-China trade war raged on. By Akanksha Rana and Hyunjoo Jin (Reuters) - Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk said improvements to be unveiled at the electric-vehicle maker's "Battery Day" event would not reach "serious high-volume production" until 2022, knocking its shares down. Analysts were expecting Musk to unveil at the event plans for Tesla to produce its own battery cell as it seeks to cement its lead over General Motors , Volkswagen and others. But in a post on Twitter ahead of the Tuesday event, Musk said: "This affects long-term production, especially Semi, Cybertruck & Roadster, but what we announce will not reach serious high-volume production until 2022." Tesla expects significant shortages in 2022 and beyond, Musk cautioned, adding it intended to increase cell purchases from Panasonic <6752.T>, South Korea's LG Chem <051910.KS>, China's CATL <300750.SZ>, and possibly other partners. LG Chem and CATL shares rose after the comments. But Tesla shares fell more than 5% to $425.50 in extended trade as the tweets cast doubt on whether Tesla would be able to produce its own batteries any time soon - a concern echoed by experts and industry officials. "Battery firms believe it is not easy to mass produce batteries. It took them a lot of time ... how can Tesla do it overnight?" a South Korean battery industry source told Reuters. Tesla is working to produce new, bigger battery cells at its Fremont facility, two people familiar with the matter have told Reuters. The new cells will have a diameter of 42 mm, versus the 21 mm ones made at its joint battery factory with Panasonic that are used in Model 3 sedans, the people said. PRICING PRESSURE Tesla may have to partner with Panasonic to mass-produce its own cells, Seoul-based battery expert Park Chul-wan said. The new batteries could boost energy capacity, cut costs and enable faster charging, helping Tesla cars better compete with gasoline ones, Park said. Story continues Some battery industry officials are wary that Tesla's move to produce batteries in-house could put pressure on prices. "Tesla is sending signals to suppliers that they should further lower costs, and if not, Tesla would source more batteries in-house," a former LG Chem official said. At the event, Tesla may also unveil its "million mile" batteries, which it is developing with CATL and are expected to have much longer life: the equivalent of 1 million miles or more, versus about 500,000 miles now. (Reporting by Akanksha Rana and Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru and Hyunjoo Jin in SEOUL; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Himani Sarkar) WASHINGTON President Donald Trump declined to commit Wednesday to providing a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the Nov. 3 election, prompting a bipartisan backlash, including from senior Republicans who underscored their support of an orderly transition regardless of who wins the White House race. "Well, we're going to have to see what happens," Trump said when asked if he would commit to a peaceful transition, assuming he lost the election. The president also repeated his criticisms of mail-in voting, a practice that he has claimed will lead to widespread fraud. "You know that I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots and the ballots are a disaster," Trump told reporters. "Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very a peaceful there wont be a transfer, frankly, therell be a continuation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did not name Trump directly but said the transfer of power would continue as usual, writing on Twitter "the winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792." Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., also stood by a peaceful transition. "The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. Americas leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath," she wrote in a tweet Thursday. More: Trump says he wants to fill Supreme Court seat quickly in case election dispute More: Trump to court Latino votes in Miami as campaigns battle for Florida And Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, one of the most senior Republican senators and third in line to the presidency, told reporters on Capitol Hill, "I would have the same concern when Hillary Clinton advised Biden not to concede the election." President Donald Trump campaigns in Jupiter, Florida, on Sept. 8, 2020. Democratic candidate Joe Biden was asked about Trump's comments Wednesday night. Story continues What country are we in? I'm being facetious," Biden said, adding, "Look, he says the most irrational things. I don't know what to say." Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah responded to Trump's comments on Twitter. "Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus," Romney tweeted. "Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable." House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., joined fellow Republicans in promising there would be a smooth transfer of power should Trump lose in November." "There's going to be a smooth transition just as it is every time before," he told reporters at his weekly news conference Thursday. "I know this will keep you up at night, but don't worry about it. It's going to be very smooth." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., railed against Trump's comments, highlighting that elections are at the heart of our democracy. "That a president the United States would place in doubt the idea of the peaceful transfer of society, well, its really no surprise," she said of Trump, noting the peaceful transfer of power is "a beacon of democracy and hope to the rest of the world." "To remind him, you are not in North Korea, you are not in Turkey, you are not in Russia, Mr. President. And by the way, you are not in Saudi Arabia. You are in the United States of America. It is a democracy," Pelosi said Thursday at her a weekly news conference. "So why don't you just try for a moment to honor your oath of office to the Constitution of the United States." In the past, including during the 2016 and 2020 elections, Trump has declined to say whether he would accept voters results, suggesting he wants to leave his options open to contest those results. Trump has also repeatedly joked at rallies that he would seek more than two terms, a line he uses to show how he triggers outrage about his Democratic critics. People who are very chill about the president not committing to the peaceful transfer of power unless they get rid of the ballots are too chill for me, tweeted Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii. This seems an awfully serious thing to be dismissive about. At the very least its a good reason to oppose him vigorously. Joe Lockhart, a former spokesman for President Bill Clinton, suggested that every Democratic member of Congress send a letter to the president demanding he commit to the peaceful transition of power in writing. If he won't, impeachment is a viable option. Contributing: Christal Hayes This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump won't commit to peaceful transfer of power if he loses election The Council of Exporters and Investors under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is launching a new format of interaction with Ukrainian business. "In order to promote domestic products to foreign markets, the Council of Exporters and Investors under the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry will hold regular online briefings with the participation of Ukrainian ambassadors and representatives of Ukrainian business," the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. On Friday, September 25, the first pilot online briefing will be held by Ukrainian ambassadors in Qatar, Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia for over 50 Ukrainian exporters. During the sessions, participants will be able to consult with Ukrainian diplomats about the specifics of entering foreign markets, hear useful advice and recommendations, and discuss prospects for cooperation. "To participate in the briefings, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine invites Ukrainian exporters to follow the news from the Council of Exporters and Investors on Facebook and on the website or register with the Council at://bit.ly/32XJ0Cg," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added. By PTI NEW DELHI: India lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the abduction of a Sikh girl in that country and has conveyed to Islamabad that it should take all steps for ensuring the security of minority communities, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said there was a lot of anger and concern among the Sikh community over the abduction of the Sikh girl in Pakistan and the community had made a representation to the ministry over the issue. "The ministry lodged a strong protest by summoning a senior (Pakistani) diplomat and gave a note verbale. This is not the first incident and such incidents have happened in the past as well," Srivastava said. "There are some reports that the girl has been released. We have told the Pakistan government that they should take all steps for ensuring the security of the minority communities," he said at an online briefing. According to reports, the Sikh girl was abducted from Panja Sahib region of Punjab province recently. Last month also, India raised with Pakistan the incident of a Sikh girl being forcibly converted to Islam in Punjab province. To another question about India's charge d'affaires-designate not being granted visa by Pakistan, Srivastava said the Pakistani side had some reservations about India's CDA-designate, and added that this was an "administrative issue" which the ministry was handling. On the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, Srivastava said all efforts were being made to ensure his safe return to India. Asked about Turkey raising Kashmir at the UN, Srivastava said, "You would have seen the right of reply exercised by our Permanent Mission in New York where we have stated inter alia that the remarks of the President of Republic of Turkey on the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir constitute a 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," Srivastava said. President Donald Trump said Thursday he isn't sure the election could be 'honest' just minutes after his press secretary asserted that he would accept the results of the election so long as it was 'free and fair.' Trump's comments which once again raised unproven charges about mail-in ballots came as the White House and congressional Republicans sought to explain his refusal Wednesday to commit to a peaceful transfer of power following the elections. 'We want to make sure the election is honest but Im not sure that it can be,' Trump said, once again raising doubts about an election he has warned will be 'rigged.' It came after White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany provided a conditional statement to the press saying Trump 'will accept the results of a free and fair election.' Trump was asked as he left the White House on a trip to North Carolina and Florida whether the election was only legitimate if he wins. 'We want to make sure the election is honest but Im not sure that it can be,' President Donald Trump said Thursday, a day after refusing to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. The White House said he would accept the results of a 'free and fair' election 'We have to be very careful with the ballots. The ballots thats a whole big scam. They found I understand eight ballots in a wastepaper basket in some location,' Trump said. He was likely referencing an FBI announcement about an investigation into potential irregularities at the Luzerne County Board of Elections. Investigators said they have uncovered nine discarded mail-in ballots. 'Some of those ballots can be attributed to specific voters and some cannot. All nine ballots were cast for presidential candidate Donald Trump,' said U.S. Attorney David J. Freed. Trump also mentioned 'a lot of ballots in a river,' and said: 'They throw them out if they have the name trump on it, I guess. But they had ballots.' Trump continued his attack on mail-in ballots, using the latest information from the FBI as fuel. 'The other ones had the Trump name on it and they were thrown into a waste paper basket. We want to make sure the election is honest but Im not sure that it can be,' he said. 'I dont know that it can be with this whole situation, unsolicited ballots. Theyre unsolicited millions being sent to everybody. Well see.' Earlier in the day, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump will accept the results of a 'free and fair' election a day after the president refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. McEnany was grilled repeatedly Thursday about the president's statement which raised enough concerns that it prompted early pushback from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, and Sen. Marco Rubio. 'The president will accept the results of a free and fair election, he will accept the will of the American people,' McEnany repeated. 'The president will accept the results of a free and fair election he will accept the will of the American people,' said White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany Thursday Asked if Trump would accept the results even in the event that he loses, McEnany refused to engage. 'I've answered your question. He will accept the results of a free and fair election,' she said. She also sought to help dig the president out of his comments from Wednesday by taking swipes at the reporter who asked it, Brian Kerem of 'Playboy' magazine, a CNN contributor. 'You are referring to the q asked by the Playboy reporter, right?' McEnany said, quizzed by an ABC reporter Thursday. She noted that the reporter had asked Trump if he would accept a peaceful transfer 'win, lose or draw.' 'I'm not entirely sure if he won why he would accept a transfer of power,' she quipped. 'That is mainly the deranged with of that reporter,' she said. McEnany also blasted the use of mail-in ballots raising questions about what type of elections Trump considers free and fair. Her comments on the topic which she raised at the top of her briefing Thursday, came after Republicans asserted Thursday that if Joe Biden is elected president in November there will be an 'orderly transition' after Donald Trump refused to commit to 'peacefully' leaving office if he loses. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted early Thursday that 'The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th.' 'There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792,' he continued. Even amid McEnany and Trump's attacks on mail-in voting, which Trump says is filled with fraud, FBI Director Chris Wray testified Thursday: 'We have not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it's by mail or otherwise.' McEnany and Senate Republicans who all were forced to comment on the president's statement pointed to comments by Hillary Clinton in August where he urged Biden not to concede the election. 'Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances, because I think this is going to drag out, and eventually I do believe he will win if we don't give an inch, and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is,' she told her former communications director Jennifer Palmieri in an interview with Showtime's 'The Circus.' Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances, because I think this is going to drag out, and eventually I do believe he will win if we don't give an inch, and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is, GOP lawmakers were forced to speak out in defense of U.S. election integrity after the president would not directly answer a question on if he intends to peacefully transition power in January should he be elected out of office after his first term. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said Thursday that 'we will peacefully swear in the President' as per the usual timeline for swearing in a new president after an election year. 'As we have done for over two centuries we will have a legitimate & fair election,' the Republican senator tweeted the morning after Trump made the questionable comments. 'It may take longer than usual to know the outcome,but it will be a valid one,' he continued, in a likely reference to mail-in ballots holding up the outcome. 'And at noon on Jan 20,2021 we will peacefully swear in the President.' Senate Republicans had to defend U.S. election after Donald Trump refused to commit Wednesday to peacefully transfer power if he loses in November Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed 'there will be an orderly transition' Republican Senator's Marco Rubio of Florida (left) and Mitt Romney of Utah (right) also weighed in on the questionable comments '[W]e will have a legitimate & fair election,' Rubio tweeted. 'It may take longer than usual to know the outcome,but it will be a valid one,' he said in reference to mail-in ballots potentially holding up the results 'Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power,' Romney said Wednesday evening. 'Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable' Mitt Romney also lashed out on Twitter Wednesday evening. 'Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus,' the Utah Republican said in reference to the European country experiencing mass protests as its president sought a sixth term and was secretly sworn in despite the opposition candidate claiming they received 60-70 per cent of the votes. 'Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable,' Romney continued in his tweet. He told reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday that 'there's no question' Republicans would step up and make sure the transition followed through if Trump resisted. 'All the people who have sworn to support the Constitution would assure there would be a peaceful transition of power including the president,' he said. Romney added that he doesn't believe there is 'any scenario' where Trump would not peacefully step aside and hand power over if elected out. 'I'm absolutely confident there will be a peaceful transition if there's a new president or if not, we'll have a continuation,' he said. President Trump was asked during a press briefing Wednesday evening if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power after the November election and declined to do so. 'Well, we'll 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. Romney's comments about the refusal came just days after he said he would agree to vote to confirm whomever Trump nomination to take the Supreme Court seat left vacant by Ruth Bader Ginsburg instead of waiting until after the election. Trump would not say if he would leave office peacefully if he loses. '[W]e'll have to see what happens,' he said. 'Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful there won't be a transfer frankly, there'll be a continuation,' he continued Many worried Romney's criticism of the president and the fact that he was the only Republican to indict the president on one article of impeachment would lead him to defect from the rank and file of the Party. After refusing to go along with a pledge to vacate the Oval Office if he loses the election, the president attacked Democrats Wednesday 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. Wyoming's at-large Republican Representative Liz Cheney vowed to 'uphold' her oath to the Constitution as she defended U.S. election integrity. 'The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic,' she tweeted Thursday. 'America's leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath.' '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, we'll 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. I've 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 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 'Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful there won't be a transfer frankly, there'll be a continuation,' Trump said. 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. Trump's refusal for a straight answer came the same day The Atlantic published an article titled 'The Election that Could Break America,' which 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. Trump's campaign is 'discussing contingency plans to bypass election results and appoint loyal electors in battleground states where Republicans hold the legislative majority,' according to the piece, by author and former Washington Post reporter Barton Gellman. Biden was at a loss for words when asked how he felt about the president's comments. 'What country are we in?' the former vice president queried to reporters. 'I'm being facetious,' he clarified. 'I said, what country are we in? Look, he says the most irrational things. I don't know what to say.' 'Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful there won't be a transfer frankly, there'll be a continuation.' - President Donald Trump 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. McEnany on Thursday declined to say what the call was about but said Trump gets many important calls. She began her briefing with an attack on Democrats: 'Make no mistake. Democrat radicals want to shatter norms and disregard precedent for the sake of the very norms and precedent they claim must be safeguarded.' She brought up 'court-packing,' impeachment, and calls to abolish the Electoral College. She called them 'tactics they are using to sow chaos and discord' and said they are endorsing a 'mass mail-out ballot system' that would likely lead to a 'week long delay.' She said they are doing so because 'they cannot win on the merits.' The clash over a peaceful and orderly transfer comes as Biden leads Trump by 7 percentage points nationally, according to a Real Clear Politics average of multiple polls. You are the owner of this article. The Electoral Commission has extended the Voters Exhibition Exercise from Friday, September 25 to Sunday, September 27, 2020. The exhibition exercise is aimed at having the electorates check their right data in the new voters' register as well as effect necessary corrections. In a statement copied to Peacefmonline.com the Commission noted that the extension will allow more stakeholders to check and verify their voter registration details. "This is instrumental for the achievement of a clean and credible Voters Register. The last day of the Exhibition Exercise will therefore be Sunday 27th September, 2020. We encourage the Public to take advantage of the extension by making time to verify their registration details." Voters are to visit their exhibition centres to verify their registration details or send their Voter ID numbers to the shortcode 1422. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Kaia Gerber was seen arriving at JFK Airport in New York City on Thursday. The 19-year-old supermodel is fresh from vacationing in Mexico with new beau, 23-year-old Jacob Elordi of The Kissing Booth and Euphoria fame. The daughter of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber carried a book by Japanese author Haruki Murakami titled Men Without Women. Back to reality: Kaia Gerber was seen arriving at the JFK Airport in New York City on Thursday The photogenic star was very covered up in her designer blue sweatshirt that said MadHappy on front and and long dark gray slacks with Converse high tops. The Chanel model also had a black purse on her shoulder and was wearing a black face mask with Ray-Ban sunglasses that made her look almost unrecognizable. The star was holding the book which is a collection of short stories about men who have lost the women in their lives, either to death or the woman finding another man. It makes for interesting reading considering she has started a new relationship with Elordi. Read all about it: The star was holding the book which is a collection of short stories about men who have lost the women in their lives, either to death or the woman finding another man to romance; she wore Ray-Ban sunglasses with her mask The two looked smitten with each other in Cabo at an upscale resort as they sunbathed in their swimsuits by a swimming pool. Also present was her mom Cindy and father Rande. Before that, Kaia and Jacob were seen holding hands and putting their arms around each other while dining out and hitting a gym in New York City. They had a lovely vacation together: Kaia and Jacob Elordi were seen on a trip together in Cabo, Mexico this week looking happy as they sunbathed by a swimming pool On their way to Mexico: Here lovebirds Jacob and Kaia were seen walking into JFK airport on September 13 Both are known for their high-profile love lives. She used to date Pete Davidson of SNL fame but their union was short lived. And he has been linked to his Euphoria co-star Zendaya, whom he recently wished well after she won an Emmy for their show. Before that Jacob romanced his Kissing Booth co-star Joey King. Many loves: He has been linked to his Kissing Booth co-star Joey King as well as his Euphoria co-star Zendaya, whom he recently wished well after she won an Emmy for their show Meanwhile, Kaia previously claimed she has 'faced a lot of struggles' in the fashion industry. The model has only been working in the business for a few years, but she has already encountered her fair share of ups and downs. She said: 'There are so many moving parts, especially being part of an industry with so many different people that you face a lot of struggles. They are very close: Also on the trip to Mexico was her mother Cindy Crawford and her father Rande Gerber; here mother and daughter are seen modeling together in LA 'You have to wake up every day and choose that happiness for yourself, not for someone else and not based on anyone else.' Kaia also claimed that people only see the the best of her life via social media. The model acknowledged that her Instagram account isn't an accurate reflection of her everyday life. She said: 'What you see in the media most times is the highlight reel. It's okay not to be okay sometimes. It's okay to be sad. It's okay to have bad days. Those aren't the days that we're putting on Instagram.' Advertisement Berklee Maguire was killed in the devastating explosion at around 7am on Thursday outside Oklahoma City A 14-year-old girl has been killed in a home explosion outside Oklahoma City, which obliterated her family's house and injured her parents and brother. Berklee Maguire was killed in the devastating explosion at around 7am on Thursday in the northeast Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond, family members and the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office confirmed. Investigators believe the explosion may have been caused by a propane leak from a log lighter in the family's fireplace, which could have been ignited by a spark, according to KFOR-TV. Berklee's father Shawn was seriously injured in the explosion, and is currently being treated in an ICU, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up to help the family recover. Her mother Tanda and brother Hayden were both hospitalized in less serious condition. Images from the scene show the total devastation in the wake of the explosion, which blew the garage door off a neighboring home, and scattered debris across several yards. Images from the scene show the total devastation in the wake of the home explosion, which investigators believe may have been caused by a propane leak from a log lighter in the family's fireplace Several hours after the explosion, insulation from the destroyed house was still drifting from the sky Berklee's father Shawn was seriously injured in the explosion, and is currently being treated in an ICU. Her mother Tanda and brother Hayden were both hospitalized in less serious condition. The family is seen together above '[The house] was leveled like an EF5 tornado came through here,' said Oklahoma City Fire Department Battalion Chief Benny Fulkerson, according to The Oklahoman. Several hours after the explosion, insulation from the destroyed house was still drifting from the sky on the 8000 block of Northeast 139th Street. Nicholas Nadeau, Enforcement Officer with the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Administration, told KFOR that the suspected cause is a log lighter with an open valve. He said propane gas vapor could have filled the home, which would spark an explosion with any ignition, such as plugging in a coffee pot, or even turning on a light. Kenneth Wagner, the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment, released the following statement: 'We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of a family member and are praying for the comfort of those grieving and the full recovery of those harmed in this tragic incident this morning.' Friends and family expressed their shock and grief at the sudden loss of young Berklee, as her father fights for his life The home in the Oklahoma City suburbs is seen in a file photo prior to its total destruction Local news cameras captured the utter devastation after the explosion. State officials vow a full investigation, saying they will take measures to prevent any similar tragedies in the future 'We are committed to fully investigating and understanding the cause of the incident in hopes of ensuring something like this never happens again,' he continued. 'The Oklahoma LP Gas Administration is working with both local law enforcement and safety authorities to secure the area and launch an investigation.' Friends and family expressed their shock and grief at the sudden loss of young Berklee, as her father fights for his life in the ICU. 'Absolutely heartbroken at the news of the explosion of our friends home this morning. Please pray for the Maguire family,' wrote family friend Jemma Stemmons on Facebook. 'Mom and dad are severely burned and injured. They lost their 14 year old daughter. Their 12 year old son was also in the home and sustained some injuries,' Stemmons continued. 'Our girls and their community of friends are so very sad. This family has touched a lot of lives. Please keep these teens in your prayers as well.' Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt released the following statement: "Sarah and I are heartbroken by the news of an explosion at a home in Edmond this morning and the tragic loss of a child. I am actively monitoring the situation and have offered our full support as the response and investigation into this incident continues." Fears have been shared after a horrified woman described the moment a gang tried to kidnap her child from her pram. The woman was shopping TK Maxx with her siblings in Crewe, Cheshire, when she says a gang of three women and one man started to follow her round the shop. In a warning to other parents shared on social media, the sister said one of the gang 'tried to rip' the one-year-old from the pram before they fled the scene. In a warning to other parents shared on social media, the sister said one of the gang 'tried to rip' the one-year-old from the pram before they fled the scene at the TK Maxx in Crewe She wrote: 'I can't believe these four people tried to chore my one-year-old baby sister. 'They tried to rip her out the pram and followed the children around the shop. I'm reporting it to the police.' The post attracted hundreds of comments, with one worried Facebook user adding: 'Same thing happened to us a month ago, tried to rip the child out through the back window on the car and we were sat in it.' The post quickly attracted hundreds of comments leading to another woman coming forward according to Stoke on Trent Live. She said: 'I was in Aldi earlier with my 17-week-old baby and they were acting so weirdly, leaning into his pram staring at him and watching my every move. 'They were following me around the store and I left in the end because of them! 'I honestly think if he didn't have the rain cover over him for COVID reasons, they would have fully reached in and tried to take him too. 'They were acting so weird, watching my every move and staring at my baby into the pram. They made me feel so uncomfortable. 'I was staring the woman out to let her know I saw what she was doing and to back off but they wouldn't leave me and my baby alone. 'It really freaked me out, it's definitely the same people.' A spokesman for Cheshire Police said they were aware of the online post but added: 'The incident has not been reported to us and we would encourage anyone with any information to report this to Cheshire Police.' It comes after reports there had been at least six kidnapping attempts in Worcester after men in a silver car tried to kidnap women and girls on six occasions since September 10. On Sunday, a 15-year-old girl told police a car full of men had pulled up along side her while she walked to the shops and one had attempted to grab her. The UK has urged the Palestinian authorities to make a counteroffer to Donald Trumps controversial peace plan. The US presidents plan for a solution to the Israel/Palestinian conflict would foresee the eventual creation of a Palestinian state but it falls far short of Palestinian demands and would leave sizeable chunks of the occupied West Bank in Israeli hands. Foreign Office minister James Cleverly said the UK position has not changed but he urged Palestinian leaders to engage with President Trump and submit a counteroffer as he is someone that likes to make a deal. We know that President Trump is someone that likes to make a deal and we strongly, strongly urge our friends in the region to take him up on that offer James Cleverly, Foreign Office minister During a Commons debate on Palestine, Mr Cleverly said: We desire a stable, secure and peaceful two-state solution. A thriving Israel next door to a thriving Palestine based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as a shared capital of both states, with fair, agreed and realistic settlements for refugees and we continue to believe a two-state solution is the only viable long-term solution for the area. He added: There is an opportunity now and we have encouraged the Palestine Authority to engage with Israel and the United States, with its Arab neighbours and friends, with the UK to put an offer, a counteroffer on the table. We know that President Trump is someone that likes to make a deal and we strongly, strongly urge our friends in the region to take him up. Both sides in this conflict have witnessed horrific bloodshed and both sides deserve an end to the fear and suffering they have had to experience Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP Earlier, Labours Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) said the UK Government should boycott the import of goods produced by Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. He said: The Government must ban all products that originate from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. Profiting from these products is tantamount to profiting from the proceeds of crime and it must stop. When we trade with these settlements we are essentially telling the world that international law does not matter and such trade legitimises and facilitates the existence and expansion of the settlements. In 2014, it was right that the UK as part of the European Union prohibited trade with Crimea following its illegal annexation by Russia. It is crucial that we are consistent in our application of international law. He added: The constant flouting of UN resolutions and the fourth Geneva convention have undermined the rules-based order for decades and the international community can no longer just look the other way. Both sides in this conflict have witnessed horrific bloodshed and both sides deserve an end to the fear and suffering they have had to experience. The position of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has consistently been that British recognition of Palestine statehood will come when it best serves the objective of peace. That time is now David Jones, Conservative MP Tory former minister David Jones said the UK should recognise Palestine as a sovereign entity to progress two-state solution talks. He told MPs: This House has already voted in 2014 to recognise Palestines statehood and I would suggest that now is the time for the British Government to confirm that recognition. With Israel receiving its own recognition across the Arab world, the two-state talks would enjoy a fairer wind if the parties negotiating were sovereign entities, recognised by leading nations such as the United Kingdom with global influence. The position of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has consistently been that British recognition of Palestine statehood will come when it best serves the objective of peace. That time is now. Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokeswoman Layla Moran, the first MP of dual UK/Palestinian heritage, said: There is no-one more than me and my family and my cousins and my aunts and uncles back home who want peace. We want peace. Of course, we want peace. Hamas does not speak for me. I stand here as a friend of Israel, as much as I am a daughter of Palestine. To those who suggest that this in some way is a weird thing for a Palestinian to say, most Palestinians I know, actually scrap that, all Palestinians I know recognise Israel. All Palestinians I know want peace and this isnt some kind of black and white situation. Thats where we want to get to. JOS, Nigeria, September 22, 2020 (Morning Star News) A church elder was shot as his daughters were kidnapped in northwest Nigeria on Friday (Sept. 18), days after a pastor and three other Christians in a north-central state were killed earlier this month. Hassana and Hussaina Garba, teenaged Christian twin sisters, were kidnapped from their home beside their Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) worship building in Kwakware village, Kankara County in northwest Nigerias Katsina state, sources said. The kidnappers shot their father, ECWA elder Ibrahim Garba, in the stomach in the 10:30 p.m. assault, and sources said he was receiving hospital treatment. Kidnappings by various criminal elements have become rampant in Katsina state the past few years, with the high number committed by predominantly Muslim Fulanis prompting Gov. Aminu Masari to warn last year that the tribe risks being targeted by vigilantes. Kwakware area resident Charles Yahaya said kidnapping has long been a problem in Katsina state but has intensified. Testimonies and exhibits at the crime scene show that the kidnappers were very organized, very informed on their target and heavily armed, Yahaya told Morning Star News by text message. This is one incident among many. It is the sustained and targeted kidnapping of Christian girls in northern Nigeria, after which they are forcefully converted to Islam and married off, thereby becoming sex slaves. Something is going on in our country that needs to be addressed systematically and collectively by all well-meaning citizens. Area resident Saminu Adamu called for prayer for the rescue of the sisters. Its heart-breaking and becoming unbearable; Christian twin sisters were kidnapped at their residence, Adamu told Morning Star News by text message. Family of Christ, please pray for their safe release in the hand of their captors. Yahaya said another teenaged Christian girl was kidnapped in Soba, Kaduna state, on Aug. 30 and forced to convert to Islam. Aliyah, a young Christian girl who was the last born of seven children and the only daughter of a widow, was kidnapped on the 30th, he said. On that fateful day, she went to church but never returned home. Her mother reported the disappearance to Soba Local Government Area police. On Sept.1 officers told her to come to the station as her daughter was there, he said. When the mother got there, unknown to her, Aliyah had been forced to convert to Islam, Yahaya told Morning Star News. Aliyah completely denied knowing the mother. Nevertheless, the mother demanded release of her daughter. The DPO [Divisional Police Officer] refused to grant this request, but rather returned Aliyah to the Muslim abductors and later transferred the case to Zaria Area Command. All efforts made by the girls mother and members of the church to have the girl return back to her mother could not yield a positive result. On Sept. 7 police transferred the case to Kaduna headquarters on grounds that the kidnapping had become an interfaith conflict, he said. The mother, lawyers, and Christian body tried to intervene, but the police unlawfully detained her to be presented to the Interfaith Committee in Kaduna State, Yahaya said. As prayers intensified, the girl began crying and pleading with the police to release her to go back home. But the police insisted on her unlawful detention to achieve the wish of her abductors to Islamize the young Christian girl. After more prayer and the involvement of other well-meaning Nigerians, the girl was released back to her mother, he said. Others have not been so lucky, and many are still at risk, Yahaya said. Christian girls, many of whom are minors, go missing on their way to or from school or church. Something needs to be done urgently to arrest such brazen unconstitutional acts. Four Christians Slain In Kaduna state, suspected Fulani herdsmen killed an ECWA pastor and three other Christians in attacks in which they kidnapped other Christians. The Rev. Alubara Audu, a 45-year-old father of five, was killed in Buda, Kajuru County in a Sept. 6 attack at 2 a.m., according to a statement from Awemi Dio Maisamari, a Christian community leader and national president of the Adara Development Association. Also killed in the unprovoked attack were Adamu Tata, 40, a father of four children, and Ishaku Peter, a 37-year-old father of five, Maisamari said. The assailants kidnapped Sani Peter, 25, and his wife Esther Sani Peter, 20, he said. A fourth Christian, Danladi Abashi, was killed in a herdsmen attack on Aug. 16 in Kallah village, he said. Abashi, a 50-year-old old farmer, ventured near the villages that were invaded and are still occupied by Fulani herdsmen in the Kallah/Gefe/Libere area of Kajuru LGA, Maisamari said. His body was only recovered with the help of the police, because the herdsmen disallowed Adara people from even approaching the occupied enclave. In an Aug. 27 attack in Maraban Kajuru, herdsmen kidnapped Daniel Shuaibu and Abednego Paul from their home and wounded another Christian, he said. During the operation, Mr. Sunday Barau was shot and injured, and the abductees are still with their abductors because his helpless family has been unable to meet their demands, Maisamari said. Pius Gargai also was kidnapped from his home in Maraban Rido, and on Sept. 2 four people were kidnapped from Rafin Roro village in Kajuru County, he said. One of them managed to escape and three are still being held, Maisamari said. With the continuation of such hostilities by Fulani herdsmen even when various peace moves are being initiated, it is becoming clearer that the purported dialogue is serving as a diversion to enable the attackers to continue their diabolical activities. We are left wondering whether it is worthwhile engaging in such dialogue and peace talks if this continues. Also kidnapped in early September were five people from the Kemara Rimi community of Buda Ward, Kajuru County, he said: Ojo Aminu, 35; Danfulani Makaranta, 37; Namiji Gwamna, 36; Ali Musa, 36; and Grace Mathew, 16. Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a recent report. They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP [Islamic State West Africa Province] and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states. Fulani herdsmen have increasingly adopted ideology and methods similar to Islamic extremist groups like Boko Haram, and some come from outside Nigeria, This Days Akin Osuntokun wrote in an Aug. 14 column for the Nigerian news outlet. Today, a new breed of herdsman has emerged: an aggressive and murderous terrorist bearing sophisticated firearms such as AK-47s and even rocket launchers, Osuntokun wrote. And they become the mobile avant-garde army of political Islam in Nigeria. Given the countrys porous borders, many of them are recent immigrants from neighboring countries. Herdsmen from Niger, Chad and Mali can walk across the border and immediately lay claim to all the sacrosanct rights appertaining to bona fide Nigerian nationals. Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds. The APPG report noted that tribal loyalties cannot be overlooked. In 2015, Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani, was elected president of Nigeria, the group reported. He has done virtually nothing to address the behavior of his fellow tribesmen in the Middle Belt and in the south of the country. On Jan. 30 Christian Solidarity International (CSI) issued a genocide warning for Nigeria, calling on the Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council to take action. CSI issued the call in response to a rising tide of violence directed against Nigerian Christians and others classified as infidels by Islamist militants in the countrys north and middle belt regions. Nigeria ranked 12th on Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution but second in the number of Christians killed for their faith, behind Pakistan. If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Harvepino A public health expert has accused the government of blaming the public over the coronavirus crisis, the day after Boris Johnson said in an address to the nation that there had been too many breaches of the restrictions. Linda Bauld, a professor at the University of Edinburgh, suggested that the punitive message coming from the prime minister and other leading politicians was a problematic communications strategy. Downing Streets blame game consists of reproaching young people for their behaviour, accusing the population of wanting too many Covid-19 tests and of threatening the public with larger fines, according to Ms Bauld. "There are differences between the devolved nations and the punitive message is only being sent by Westminster, she added. Ms Bauld praised Scotlands first minister Nicola Sturgeon for including much more social solidarity in her messaging - in contrast to Mr Johnsons approach. Citing some of the remarks Ms Sturgeon made in Holyrood on Tuesday, the public health professor tweeted on Wednesday that this is how you communicate with the public. Not blaming particular groups. Not threatening people with hefty fines. Not saying that the military will be brought in to control the population. Acknowledge challenges, focus on the response & convey hope, Ms Bauld added. During the speech Ms Bauld referenced, Ms Sturgeon thanked the public for their sacrifices and said that one day the pandemic would pass. The first minister added: We are all struggling with this - and, believe me, we are all struggling - lets pull together, lets keep going, try to keep smiling, keep hoping and keep looking out for each other. Be strong, be kind, and lets continue to act out of love and solidarity. Whereas, Mr Johnson said in his televised speech that there there have been too many breaches - too many opportunities for our invisible enemy to slip through undetected. Professor Carl Heneghan, director of the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford, also contrasted Westminster's coronavirus response unfavourably with the steps taken elsewhere. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the threat of fines had caused a manta of fear, while saying Sweden had a much more supportive approach". In Sweden, if you're unwell, you have a PCR positive test for Covid, you get two weeks of full pay to stay at home, so that's a much greater incentive, he added. Additional reporting from PA Thousands of GPs and nurses are unable to go into work because they are waiting for results from a coronavirus test, it was claimed today. The mounting absences caused by NHS staff having to self-isolate which experts first warned about in the Spring were revealed by the Royal College of GPs in a letter to testing tsar Baroness Dido Harding. Delays are impacting doctors ability to see and diagnose patients suffering from life-threatening conditions early, potentially threatening their chances of survival. They said the difficulties are impacting rapid diagnoses of life-threatening diseases, such as septicaemia, kidney infections and meningitis. It comes as separate data today revealed that more than 1.3million days of work were lost in the NHS in England due to coronavirus-related sickness between March and May. The testing system has come under pressure since demand surged up to four times above capacity as schools and offices returned, leaving possible Covid-19 patients being asked to drive hundreds of miles to get a swab. Boris Johnson has promised to raise capacity to 500,000 a day by the end of October, but the industry warned yesterday that it is already a 'few weeks behind' the Prime Minister's target due to delays in deliveries. And the UK's seven-day average testing capacity has fallen over the last three days, from a high of 230,000 a day on September 18 to 226,000 on September 20. Thousands of GPs are off work as they wait for a coronavirus test, it was reported. (Stock) Expressing their concern to Baroness Harding, who heads the Government's testing programme, in a letter, they said: 'GPs tell us that they are struggling to access tests for themselves and their teams. 'As schools and workplaces open, driving demand for both primary care services and testing, we simply cannot afford to have practice staff having to isolate, taking them out of frontline clinical practice. This is particularly important given the expanded flu vaccination programme which many practices started to deliver last weekend. 'As a priority, general practice must have access to Pillar 1 testing, akin to access for staff in secondary care.' They added: 'The difficulties in accessing testing have also had a knock-on effect in general practice as GPs are being inundated with requests from patients struggling to access testing near them. It's crucial that access to testing is available for patients who need it within accessible distances. 'GPs should also have rapid access to testing for patients within general practice, where clinically appropriate. 'GPs will be better able to diagnose other diseases that present similarly to Covid-19, such as kidney infections, septicaemia and meningitis, if they can access testing for patients within general practice. 'However, this must be alongside significant expansion to testing capacity, and general practice should not be the first port of call for Covid-19 testing, as this would lead to unmanageable GP workload levels.' The Royal College of GPs (Main office in London pictured) issued the warning and said GPs needed to be prioritised in the testing regime NHS FACING NURSING CRISIS WITH 40,000 VACANCIES 'AND 1/3 OF WORKFORCE WANTING TO LEAVE' The NHS is facing nursing crisis with more than 40,000 vacancies and over a third of the workforce considering leaving in the next year, a damning report warns. The Department of Health does not understand the nursing needs of the NHS and does not know how many nurses are needed, or where and in what specialism, according to MPs. The public accounts committee (PAC) said the nursing needs of social care is an unaddressed afterthought, with the number of positions falling by a fifth since 2012. Stress and burnout have been exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis, with 36 per cent of staff considering quitting - up from 28 per cent before the pandemic struck. The warning comes as a leading health think-tank urged officials to improve working conditions for nurses or face mass shortages. The Kings Fund said staff stress, absenteeism and turnover in the professions have reached alarmingly high levels. Advertisement Matt Hancock has already announced that, in order to manage demand for tests, there will be a prioritisation list, with doctors and nurses placed at the front of the queue. In a priority list published on September 21 the Department of Health said: 'While capacity is at a record high, demand has rapidly increased and is currently above these levels. 'As we look towards winter, we have set out below those who we intend to test, as well as how and why we will test them. 'The exact allocation of tests across these key areas is dynamic and may change, as it is based on the latest evidence on risk and demand.' In ranking order this is how tests will be prioritised: NHS hospital patients, including all new inpatient admissions Care home staff (weekly) and residents (monthly on admission) NHS staff Surveillance studies to collect data, and targeted testing at high-risk environments Teachers who have symptoms Members of the public with symptoms in areas with high infection rates Members of the public with symptoms in other areas Mr Hancock said: 'The testing capacity we have is valuable. And we must together prioritise it for the people who need it the most.' Testing will also be targeted in outbreak areas and teachers will also be given priority. Among the wider public, people in areas with high incidence will be given priority. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Hancock said testing capacity was at a record high 253,521 but 'alongside this record expansion, demand has gone up too'. He told MPs: 'We need to prioritise the tests on those who need the most to save lives, protect the most vulnerable and make sure our health and care services and our schools can operate safely. JERUSALEM Palestinian military prosecutors in Gaza have charged three Palestinian peace activists with weakening revolutionary spirit for their role in holding a video call with Israelis in April. The activists belong to the Gaza Youth Committee, which organized the virtual discussion as a part of a bridge-building initiative that they named Skype With Your Enemy. The decision to press charges defied the calls of several human rights organizations, which have repeatedly demanded that the activists be released after being detained in April by Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. The Palestinians could face years in prison in addition to hard labor, said Raji Sourani, the director of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, the Gaza-based group representing them. The charges were filed last week but were made public on Thursday by the group. Image Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testifying before the Senate on Thursday. Credit... Pool photo by Drew Angerer Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday that he and Speaker Nancy Pelosi agreed to resume talks on another economic relief package amid concerns that the recovery will soon sputter without additional fiscal support. Ive probably spoken to Speaker Pelosi 15 or 20 times in the last few days on the CR, Mnuchin told the Senate Banking Committee, referring to a continuing resolution to extend government funding, and weve agreed to continue to have discussions about the CARES Act. The comments, made at a Senate Banking Committee hearing, came as jobless claims rose to 825,000 last week and as stock markets remained volatile. Yet the ability to reach a deal remains unclear. At the hearing, Mr. Mnuchin was critical of Democrats for making negotiations conditional on an agreement for a broad package that would cost more than $2 trillion and said he hoped that Republicans and Democrats could pass targeted legislation on the items where they agree. I think that would be very meaningful for the economy broadly, Mr. Mnuchin said, referring to a relief bill that was focused on helping children return to school safely and supporting small businesses. Ms. Pelosi said on Thursday that she expected to return to the negotiating table with Mr. Mnuchin hopefully soon. Im talking with my caucus, my leadership, and well see what were going to do, she told reporters ahead of a meeting with her top deputies. But were ready for a negotiation. Thats what were ready for. Top Democrats on Thursday were crafting a $2.4 trillion package about $1 trillion less than the measure the House approved in May that could either serve as a new basis for the Democratic position in negotiations or be voted on as a stand-alone package in the coming days, according to a senior Democratic aide. Moderate Democrats have grown increasingly vocal in recent days about their concerns, with some contemplating signing on to a Republican discharge petition that would force a vote on legislation reviving the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides loans to small businesses. About $130 billion in the paycheck program remains unused and the deadline to apply for loans expired on Aug. 8. Businesses that received a loan were not eligible to go back for a second round of funding. Mr. Mnuchin called on Congress to give him the authority to use that money to issue second loans to businesses that have been hardest hit by the pandemic. He also suggested that Congress could offer quick assistance at no extra cost by giving him the authority to use money that was allocated for backstopping Federal Reserve lending facilities for other purposes. Cal Bellamy, chairman of the Franciscan Alliance Northern Indiana Board of Directors, called the groundbreaking an historic event and a reflection of the major commitment to the City of Crown Point by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration. He said the hospital is part of a comprehensive undertaking that includes medical, education, commercial, retail and residential and that its being undertaken in an uncertain time both for health care and economically. Workers unload crab and fish at a fish market in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times ) Tensions are rising along the Pacific coast of South America as a giant Chinese fishing fleet of roughly 300 vessels moves from the edge of the Galapagos marine preserve to the waters off Peru. Tuesday afternoon, President Trump excoriated China on a variety of issues, ranging from the coronavirus to human rights, in a speech to the United Nations. He singled out Chinese fishing and maritime behavior, saying the country dumps millions and millions of tons of plastic and trash into the oceans, overfishes other countries waters and destroys coral reefs. Soon after, the U.S. Embassy in Peru issued a tweet noting the Chinese mega-fleet off its shores, accusing the fleet of changing ship names and disabling GPS tracking to limit surveillance of the fleets activities. Overfishing can cause enormous ecological and economic damage, the tweet said. Peru cannot afford such a loss. That prompted a swift response by the Chinese Embassy in Peru, which suggested the U.S. was lying about the fleets environmental and maritime integrity. We hope that the Peruvian public is not deceived by false information, noted the statement, which was written in Spanish. Peru and Ecuador both have large fishing fleets and are highly dependent on seafood, for sustenance and valuable export dollars. In 2018, the two countries captured 4.5 million metric tons of fish, nearly as much as the United States, but only about a quarter of what China harvested from the sea, according to the World Bank. Both countries benefit from the Humboldt Current, a cold, nutrient-rich current of water off of South America's Pacific coast that helps feed one of the world's most productive fishing grounds. This year, China's fishing fleets have threatened the security of the food source, the most recent conflict involving China's push to harvest seafood from oceans worldwide. Workers unload fishing boats on the Rio Guayas in Guayaquil, Ecuador. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) Beginning in July, the Ecuadorean government and international environmental groups began tracking the mega-fleet, which was parked at the very edge of the Galapagos Marine Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site and an Ecuadorean national park. Story continues The reserve covers more than 51,000 square miles of protected ocean around the archipelago, which is located roughly 600 miles off the Ecuadorean coast. More than 20% of the species found within the reserve are unique to the archipelago. According to a report issued by Oceana, which tracked the fleet, the Chinese fishing armada logged roughly 73,000 hours of fishing between July 13 and Aug. 13 and accounted for 99% of the fishing activity on the reserves perimeter. On Aug. 2, U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo issued a statement saying that the U.S. supported Ecuadors efforts to prevent China from engaging "in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing." He add that the U.S. supports nations "whose economies and natural resources are threatened by PRC-flagged vessels disregard for the rule of law and responsible fishing practices." PRC is an acronym for the People's Republic of China. Later that month, the United States Coast Guard dispatched one of its vessels, the cutter Bertholf, to the area, in coordination with the Ecuadorean navy. The force patrolled more than 3,000 miles in international and Ecuadorean waters to monitor the mega-fleet. Last week, the Coast Guard announced a new initiative designed to mitigate and prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in international waters. According to government and advocacy sources, the mega-fleet has moved south in recent days toward the waters off Peru. Like the United States and other countries, Ecuador has an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles off its shore, over which it has sovereign rights for all resources. According to news reports, the government is discussing if it could expand that zone to 350 nautical miles. In addition, the South American country is reportedly working with neighbors such as Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia to establish a corridor of marine reserves that would seal off much of the rich, biodiverse marine life along the Pacific coast from commercial fishing. Ecuador is also in debt to China. In August, the nation was in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and others to restructure $17.4 billion in debt. Those negotiations included $2 billion in bilateral loans from China, according to Bloomberg. A deal was struck earlier this month, although it's unclear how much the nation received from China. In 2018, Ecuador was more than $6.5 billion in debt to China. Crabs for sale at a fish market in Guayaquil, Ecuador. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) China's worldwide fishing fleet is enormous, with estimates suggesting 17,000 vessels cruising waters far from China's shores. By contrast, the U.S. reports roughly 300 fishing vessels in international waters. With the waters near China mostly depleted, and the Chinese population accounting for roughly one-third of the world's fish consumption, the nation has had to forage elsewhere including the waters off West Africa and Latin America, where, according to experts, local governments lack the funding and fleets to police the waters. At a hearing last week, U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, applauded President Trump for working with allies to counter China's aggressive moves on multiple fronts. "Aggressive and illegal Chinese fishing practices violate the territorial integrity of coastal Latin American countries, raising significant long-term security concerns," Risch said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 16:47 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46fa0d0 1 Business ADB,Asian-Development-Bank,loan,disaster-mitigation,COVID-19,Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati Free The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a multimillion-dollar loan to support Indonesias disaster resilience by providing quick access to emergency financing during the coronavirus pandemic. The US$500 million loan contributes to expanding Indonesias disaster management allocation to 1 percent, from 0.04 percent in the 2019 state budget. The loan facility is part of the ADBs Disaster Resilience Improvement Program that offers contingent disaster financing following the declaration of disaster or health emergencies. The coronavirus epidemic, which Indonesia declared a health emergency on March 31, has reached a cumulative total of 257,388 confirmed cases and 9,977 COVID-19 deaths as of Wednesday, and led to a second-quarter economic contraction of 5.32 percent year-on-year. The program aims to help the government boost environmental sustainability, disaster and climate resilience and human capital development, including health and gender equality, financial sector specialist Benita Ainabe of the ADB said in a statement issued by the bank on Wednesday. It will help the government develop recovery and reconstruction plans with greater certainty, reduce infrastructure damage and prevent the loss of life in future disasters, she said. The development bank was established in 1966 to focus on engendering development and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and currently has 68 member countries. It previously approved a $1.5 billion loan for Indonesias coronavirus response in April. The administration of President Joko Widodo has allocated Rp 695.2 trillion ($46.8 billion) for a coronavirus relief package to support the healthcare system and facilitate economic recovery programs, of which it has spent 36 percent to date. The ADB disaster resilience program is part of its newly endorsed 2020-2024 country partnership strategy for Indonesia, under which the bank plans to extend $10.7 billion in loans between 2020 and 2023. The partnership strategy is intended to help Indonesia attract more infrastructure investments through public-private partnerships and to promote gender equality through greater access to formal banking for Indonesian women. The bank also plans to improve the use of technology in its projects, such as the use of satellite technology for flood mapping. The new country partnership strategy reflects ADBs strong commitment to helping Indonesia boost human development, improve economic competitiveness and address disaster risks and environmental sustainability, amid heightened economic uncertainty and rising global threats such as climate change, ADB president Masatsugu Asakawa said in the statement from the bank. The strategy provides a flexible and agile framework for ADB to help Indonesia incorporate green recovery and other sustainable development options, while strengthening domestic resource mobilization to support the recovery efforts, he continued. The banks strategy aligns with Indonesias 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan, or RPJMN. We greatly appreciate the ADBs strong support for Indonesia over the years, especially the speed of the ADBs response and its close and active engagement with the government during the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement quoted Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati as saying. The partnership strategy positions the ADB as a key partner with innovative solutions to complex development challenges. We welcome the ADBs focus on inclusive, competitive and sustainable development, she said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 19:38:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SOFIA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian police have seized more than 1,200 antique artifacts in a private home in the town of Novi Pazar, northeastern Bulgaria, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Thursday. The artifacts, including five binders containing 209 coins, and 26 bags with over 1,000 items including fragments and arrowheads, were found on Wednesday, according to the ministry. The police also seized three metal detectors and arrested the home owner, a 58-year-old man, the statement said. The investigation is ongoing, it added. Bulgaria is rich in archaeological heritage. Novi Pazar is located only 6 kilometers east of Pliska, Bulgaria's first capital between 681 and 893 AD. Enditem At a time when diplomatic receptions are a rarity, both External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval attended Saudi Arabias national day, reflecting the importance attached by India to its ties with the kingdom. Besides Jaishankar and Doval, the event held at the Saudi embassy on Wednesday evening was also attended by minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. Also read: Countries where Indians cant travel and why This was only the second diplomatic reception held by a major embassy in the wake of coronavirus disease (Covid-19)-related restrictions, with the other being the national day event hosted by the Afghan embassy. While the NSA has attended both the Afghan and Saudi national day receptions in recent years, it is rare for both him and the foreign minister to join the same reception. The last time an external affairs minister had attended a diplomatic reception was in 2018, when late Sushma Swaraj had joined an event at the Russian embassy as the chief guest. In a message posted on Twitter, Jaishankar had extended greetings to his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud and the government on the national day. Our expanding cooperation across so many sectors reflects the intrinsic strength of our ties. Look forward to further advancing our Strategic Partnership, he said. Addressing Wednesdays reception, Saudi envoy Saud Al-Sati said the kingdom valued India as a close friend and an important strategic partner, and the socio-economic engagement and strategic partnership between the two sides is based on mutual respect and shared interests. Through the mechanism of the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), we are working on further strengthening our partnership and deepening our friendship ... In the beginning of 2020, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia had awarded 41 new foreign investment projects to Indian investors, he said. The ambassador said there is huge untapped potential in merchandise trade, particularly non-oil trade, and the two sides are enhancing cooperation in the commercial, investment and technological fields. Current bilateral trade of approximately $34 billion will surely continue to grow, he said. In recent years, India has ramped up its cooperation with Saudi Arabia, one of the countrys top two suppliers of energy, in fields ranging from security to technology. Saudi Arabia is home to 2.6 million Indians, the largest expatriate community in the kingdom. . Gov. Charlie Baker at Wednesdays press conference, credited the Massachusetts Public Health Association as developing and endorsing the states guidelines on returning to in-person learning. However, the executive director of the association, Carlene Pavlos, said that this was entirely inaccurate. The MPHA is a private, non-profit, statewide membership organization that promotes health in Massachusetts through advocacy, education, community organizing and coalition building. The organization focuses on policies and programs that prevent illness, disease and injury, especially among individuals and communities facing inequities. Baker asserted on Wednesday that state guidance on in-person learning was developed and endorsed by the Massachusetts Academy of Pediatrics and the Massachusetts Public Health Association. Pavlos emailed Bakers office to inform him of this mishap but has not received a response. MassLive also reached out for comment. We have also not endorsed them as they are not sufficiently nuanced or inclusive of health and safety concerns for students, teachers and the community, said Pavlos in a statement. In fact, since March we have repeatedly asked to meet with Gov. Baker or a staff member from the Governors office, but we have received no reply. Pavlos told MassLive that since March, as the pandemic and the administrations response unfolded, the MPHA raised concerns about the lack of attention to the equity thats being built into much of the governors guidance and recommendations. We have had ongoing communication with members of his administration, said Pavlos. The command center that is directed by Secretary [of Health and Human Services Marylou] Sutters and the Department of Public Health. Pavlos detailed that the MPHA has been working on gathering data on issues ranging from the needs of local public health, data collection, housing and homelessness in the Bay State. The Massachusetts Public Health Association has not formally taken a position on the reopening of any particular school, said Pavlos on Wednesday night to MassLive, shocked after hearing the comment. She told MassLive that after findings from the MPHA Task Force on Coronavirus and Equity found that in-person learning isnt as simple it may seem. The task force is co-chaired by Sandro Galea, dean of the Boston University School of Public Health and Cheryl Bartlett, CEO of the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center and a former Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The group consists of 100 organizations from across the state that focus on policy issues that highlight inequities that have been laid bare by the coronavirus pandemic with the hope of developing the policy solutions, Pavlos said Schools are beginning to reopen with social distancing measures in place. 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 red for high risk, yellow for moderate risk, green for lower risk or gray for the lowest risk. Baker asserted that the in-person learning guidance policy is town based and that districts would be able to look at their data week-over-week and then make decisions based on that guidance. He said on Thursday that the guidance was developed in conjunction with our colleagues from the Department of Public Health and some of the folks in the medical community here. Were glad to see that most of these districts are following the science and are implementing either an in-person or hybrid model, Baker said on Wednesday. Lenox schools announced on Thursday that they will be employing a hybrid learning, mixing at-home and in-school instruction before Oct. 5. At the beginning of September, Superintendent of Lenox Public Schools William Cameron announced that teachers started to undergo training on how best to educate students via remote learning. The Lenox Education Association, our teachers' union, has accepted Sept. 14 as the date on which remote instruction will start, wrote Cameron on the Lenox school district website in August. But other changes required by COVID-19, including when in-person instruction will begin, remains to be negotiated. The Lenox School Committees three-member negotiating team has met at least 25 times with the union representing teachers and other employees over the last three months, according to the Berkshire Eagle. Lenox School Committee Chairman Robert Vaughan told the Berkshire Eagle that officials are negotiating up to three times a week with the Lenox Education Association on conditions for a face-to-face reopening, including enhancement of ventilation systems and health metrics. Vaughan said in the panels Zoom meeting Monday that he would have loved to have informed parents and the community sooner, but he doesnt have all the answers on the hybrid learning program yet. He added that the committee will look to inform people 10 days in advance of any reopening. This is based on the hope, said Vaughan, that things will get better. Amherst-Pelham district school board and administrators spent late spring and all summer creating a hybrid reopening plan of mostly remote learning because of COVID-19, which they said would protect public health, but following teachers union concerns, things changed. Amherst-Pelham Regional School District Superintendent Michael Morris has repeatedly said that remote learning is not a good substitute for in-person learning and that the younger children are impacted most negatively. No students will begin in-person learning prior to October 1, Morris wrote in an email to parents, caregivers and students on Aug. 22. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley during a press conference with Gov. Charlie Baker on Sept. 24, 2020. Photo by Sam Doran/SHNS. Teachers' unions and the Massachusetts Teachers Association have been highly critical of the reopening plans, with various unions calling working conditions hazardous, paternalistic and punitive. Having failed to provide adequate guidance or state support to make it possible for our public schools to open safely, Riley and Baker have the gall to threaten 16 communities that have wisely chosen not to pursue in-person learning at this time, read a statement from the Massachusetts Teachers Association on Monday. Even though Riley and Baker identified them as warranting greater in-person learning because of their low infection rates. Twelve of 16 school districts that received a letter last Friday 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. Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Monica Bharel addresses reporters on coronavirus preparedness and planning at the Statehouse in Boston, Tuesday, March 10. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP We never see [Monica Bharel] the commissioner of public health speaking at a press conference, said Pavlos who recognizes that she is currently on medical leave from the department. There were many months where she was working, and you never see her or other people who are public health experts who work at the Department of Public Health are never spokespeople in this administration. During Bharels absence, Margret Cooke, general council for DPH, will serve as acting commissioner. 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. Related Content: The tanker lost control and rammed into five cars, three tricycles and two motorcycles on the Lokoja-Abuja highway on Wednesday Lokoja: Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said 23 people, including students, were killed when a truck carrying petrol overturned and caught fire on Wednesday on a busy road in the centre of the country. The presidency figure more than doubled an earlier toll of nine counted by an AFP journalist who visited the mortuary in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi state where the accident occurred. "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," President Buhari said in a statement. "I am seriously worried about the frequency of these unfortunate and large scale tragedies in the country which cause needless deaths," he said. Fuel truck accidents happen frequently on Nigeria's ill-maintained roads. The Nigerian leader urged road users to comply with safety measures in order to prevent such tragedies in future. Earlier the AFP journalist said he had counted nine bodies in the mortuary while several others suffered severe burns. He said many vehicles, including a bus carrying students from the state polytechnic, were burnt in the inferno. "The driver was coming from Okene and heading towards the northern part of the country when the brake of the truck failed on the Lokoja-Abuja highway," he said. He said the truck then skidded off the road and caught fire. The state's governor Yahaya Bello sent his condolences to the victims' families. "It is very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives, many vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire," Bello said in a statement. He also offered his sympathies to the students at the polytechnic "over the death of some of their colleagues". In an October 2016 debate with then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton that was moderated, in fact, by Wallace, Trump made similar assertions. He wouldnt say whether hed accept the results of the election, which he claimed at the time was rigged against him. I will look at it at the time, Trump said. I will keep you in suspense. Even on the morning of the election, Trump wouldnt commit to conceding, saying, I want to see what happens, you know, how it goes. Clinton called the answer horrifying. WILLIAMSPORT Human remains found in a Philadelphia storage facility a year ago have been confirmed through DNA testing to be those of a woman killed in 2003 in Montoursville. It had been presumed they were those of Brenda Lee Jacobs because of her accused killers confession, Lycoming County First Assistant District Attorney Martin Wade said Wednesday. Jade G. Babcock, 50, had told investigators he killed Jacobs on Dec. 26, 2003, in Montoursville and took the remains with him when he moved to Philadelphia in April 2019. A fingernail taken from the remains matched DNA profiles taken from Jacobs' sister and father, Wade said. There is only one dead person with that relationship, he said. The conclusion reached by the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification was the remains are 540,000 times or more likely to be those of Jacobs, he said. Chief Public Defender Nicole J. Spring, who is defending Babcock, amended her omnibus pretrial motion to reflect the identification of the remains. The Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office ruled the death was a homicide caused by homicidal violence including blunt impact injury of head, Wade said. The autopsy findings included dismembered lower extremities and incisions in extremities consistent with attempted dismemberment, he said. There has yet to be confirmation of a pair of mummified legs found 75 yards apart at the edge of the Susquehanna River at Williamsport on May 11, 2019, are those of Jacobs, Wade said. The legs, which were cleanly cut near the knee joints, and the upper remains are in the custody of Dennis Dirkmaat, a forensic anthropologist at Mercyhurst University. It seems pretty clear they are her [Jacobs] legs, said Dirkmaat, who determined soon after they were found they belonged to an adult female. A comparison of the leg and upper body bone cuts can be made quickly but he said his team will produce an anthropological report on the entire remains. We have not collected samples from the legs that are suitable for a DNA comparison, Wade said. Depending on the results of Dirkmaats examination, DNA testing of the legs could possibly be pursued in the future. Trooper Joel Follmer at last Octobers preliminary hearing when Babcock was held for court on homicide and other charges gave this summary of his confession: Jacobs and he were drinking heavily around the holidays in 2003, they argued over losing their jobs and being unable to buy gifts for children. He hit her several times, she fell to the floor and did not get up. He never called 911. When the body got cold he wrapped it in a comforter and placed it in a living room closet. A few months later when it got warmer he moved the body to a coal bin in a barn at the rear of the property where it remained until the house was sold on Nov. 18, 2018. He tried to fit the remains in a wooden box his father used when ice fishing but it did not fit so he cut off the legs with a bow saw. He moved the legless remains to a storage unit in Williamsport where they stayed until April 2019 when he and his then-girlfriend moved to Philadelphia using a rental truck. Jade G. Babcock is escorted by two state troopers following his arraignment Tuesday on criminal homicide and related charges in connection with the 2003 death in Montoursville of Brenda Jacobs whose remains are believed those found in a Philadelphia storage unit on Sept. 16, 2019. Babcock is being held without bail. The legs were thrown into the Susquehanna River from the Maynard Street Bridge in Williamsport. Fisherman found them a short distance downstream. Police were directed to the remains last September by Brenda Jones, who had lived with Babcock for four years first in Montoursville and then in Philadelphia. Jones told police she turned in Babcock out of fear after he told her he had killed Jacobs. County Judge Marc F. Lovecchio Tuesday heard testimony on Springs pretrial motion that seeks suppression of evidence found in the storage unit and statements Babcock gave to investigators. The judge gave each side the opportunity to file briefs before he makes his ruling on those and others issues raised by Spring. Babcock remains jailed without bail on charges of homicide, tampering with evidence, obstruction justice and abuse of corpse. Just 2% of millennials hold a biblical worldview, lowest among all adults: study Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Although 61% of American millennials consider themselves to be Christian, just 2% of them were found to hold a biblical worldview, according to a recent study released by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. A biblical worldview, as previously defined by Barna, includes believing that absolute moral truths exist, and that such truth is defined by the Bible, as well as firm belief in six specific religious views. Those views are that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life; God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe and He stills rules it today; salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned; Satan is real; a Christian has a responsibility to share their faith in Christ with other people; and the Bible is accurate in all of its teachings. The American Worldview Inventory 2020 study found that while 6% of American adults in general hold a biblical worldview, millennials (18- to 36-year-olds) were the least likely among all adults to hold a biblical worldview. Data for the annual study was collected in January 2020 through an assessment based on 51 worldview-related questions drawn from eight categories of worldview application, measuring both beliefs and behavior. It included a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults. Along with the stark rejection of traditional Christian belief, millennials were also found in the study to reject most basic American values, like respect for others and obligations of civic engagement. While millennials have shown the most radical shift away from the Bible, other generations did not fare much better. Only an estimated 9% of adults in both the Elder (75 and older) and Boomer generations (56 to 74 years of age) hold a biblical worldview. Among Generation X (37 to 55 years of age), the percentage of subscribers to a biblical worldview drops to 5%. These profiles are profoundly disturbing, George Barna, director of research at the Cultural Research Center said in a statement Tuesday. The significantly divergent worldview perspectives and applications of the four generations especially how different the Millennials are from all of their predecessors suggests a nation that is at war with itself to adopt new values, lifestyles, and a new identity. In other words, there is a war for worldview dominance. But, as the Scriptures remind us, a nation at war with itself cannot persist, he noted. Compared to other groups of adults, millennials are significantly less likely to believe in the existence of absolute moral truth or that God is the basis of all truth; to believe that human beings were created by God, in His image, and that He loves them unconditionally; pray and worship regularly, or seek Gods will for their lives. Also, they are significantly more likely to wonder if God is really involved in their life, to believe that human life has no absolute value and to believe that having faith matters more than which faith they have. The data also point out that America is losing its spiritual unity at a rapid pace, Barna said. Even a rudimentary understanding of the foundations of the American republic reminds us that unless the United States maintains spiritual unity under the hand of God, we will not be able to sustain the freedoms that have made this nation unique and desirable. The heart and soul of the nation pursue other gods and beliefs to our detriment as a nation. Flash 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. NANJING, China, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 24, XiangXue Life Sciences (XLifeSc), a partner of GenScript ProBio, announces FDA allowance of its IND application for TCR-T program (TCRT-ESO-A2). GenScript ProBio extends congratulations on this. This program is China's first TCR-T program targeting solid tumors that are NY-ESO-1 positive in HLA-A*02:01 positive patients. On June 10, 2019, GenScript ProBio and XLifeSc announced an strategic partnership agreement with regard to the development and manufacturing of vectors for cell therapy. Under the agreement, as a major technical service provider for XLifeSc, GenScript will provide plasmid and virus process development, GMP plasmid and virus clinical samples, and commercial manufacturing services. As the first product in XLifeSc's pipeline, TAEST16001 enables autologous T-cell transduced with a replication incompetent lentiviral vector to express NY-ESO-1-specific TCR. According to a clinical study conducted by PI, reinfused T-cells have long-lasting effects on patients treated with TAEST16001. Phase 1 portion of an open, single arm and early clinical study of TAEST16001 in the treatment of solid tumor mainly containing soft tissue sarcoma with positive expression of tumor antigen NY-ESO-1 (HLA-A*02:01) is ongoing in Biotherapy Center/Melanoma and Sarcoma Medical Oncology Unit, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. GenScript ProBio congratulates XLifeSc on reaching an important milestone of TCR-T program. "We congratulate XLifeSc on FDA allowance of its IND application for TCR-T program. TCR-T cell therapy has unprecedented potential for the treatment of solid tumor, which is a significant milestone for the immunotherapy field in China," said Dr. Brian Min, CEO of GenScript ProBio. "This is China's first TCR-T program targeting the treatment of solid tumor. XLifeSc has entrusted TCR-T products with independent intellectual property rights to GenScript as the first collaborative program. We are honored to provide technology and production support for such great program. We will follow up on the clinical studies. We wish this program proceed smoothly in US and benefit patients with solid tumor soon." About Xiangxue Life Sciences Xiangxue Life Sciences (XLifeSc) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on TCR-based therapies for cancer. XLifeSc's main proprietary technological platforms are composed of: (1) High Affinity T Cell Activation Core (HATac); (2) TCR Affinity Enhancing Specific T Cell Therapy (TAEST). The two platforms have been fully developed to the clinic-ready stage. As a result, an independently-owned intellectual property portfolio has been constructed which spans across the whole spectrum of TCR-related technologies including the identification of tumor-specific antigens, antigen-specific TCRs, and the optimization of antigen-specific TCRs in terms of affinity and stability, etc. To date, many domestic and PCT applications have been filed. Housing several state-of-the-art laboratories, XLifeSc is capable of offering a broad range of R&D services, including (1) large scale GMP grade lentivirus production; (2) target identification and lead optimization; (3) efficacy validation and safety testing in cell lines and animal models; (4) clinical trial development; and (5) market entry planning. These capabilities and services can be either accessed as flexible stand-alone services on demand or as a part of integrated drug discovery programs. To meet the needs of different partners, we welcome all types of alliance opportunities such as out-license, co-development, and co-marketing. About GenScript ProBio GenScript ProBio is a world leading bio-pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), with extensive services in gene synthesis, peptide synthesis, antibody development, protein expression and custom biological reagents, in addition to providing a one-stop biological drug R&D platform covering antibody drug discovery (hybridoma, phage display, full human and bispecific antibodies technologies), antibody engineering (antibody humanization, evaluation and optimization of drug compounds and affinity maturation), among others. GenScript ProBio's total cell therapy solution covers IND preparation as well as clinical sample and commercial production. The scientific controls built into the production process ensures compliance, while testing and deviations are studied under strict research guidelines, improving the repeatability of tests and the traceability of data. Toward the mission of "providing best-in-class quality and serving the interests of customers", GenScript ProBio is committed to helping customers shorten the timeline for biological drugs from development to clinical use, significantly lowering R&D costs, accelerating the commercialization of medicines, and building a healthy future while at the same time contributing to the development of the pharmaceutical industry under the Made in China 2025 plan. SOURCE GenScript ProBio Australian researchers Clive Hamilton and Alex Joske have been banned from entering China, Chinese state media reported, less than two weeks after it was revealed Australia had revoked the visas of two Chinese academics. The tit-for-tat response is the latest escalation in deteriorating relations between the two countries. Australian journalists Mike Smith and Bill Birtles left China at the beginning of September after being questioned by Chinese state security. Four Chinese journalists left Australia after being questioned by ASIO in June and two Chinese scholars Chen Hong and Li Jianjun received negative security assessments and their visas were revoked by the Department of Home Affairs. Australian researchers Alex Joske, left, and Clive Hamilton. China's international state media outlet The Global Times reported on Thursday afternoon that Hamilton and Joske had been prohibited from entering under the country's Exit and Entry Administration Law. LAS VEGAS - Evel Knievel's son is on a collision course with the Walt Disney Co. and Pixar over a movie daredevil character named Duke Caboom. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (484 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. LAS VEGAS - Evel Knievel's son is on a collision course with the Walt Disney Co. and Pixar over a movie daredevil character named Duke Caboom. A federal trademark infringement lawsuit filed in Las Vegas accuses the movie company of improperly basing the new character in last years Toy Story 4 on Knievel, whose famous stunts included motorcycle jumps over the Caesars Palace fountain in Las Vegas and a row of buses at Wembley Stadium in London, and a rocket shot into Snake River Canyon in Idaho. FILE - In this Sept. 8, 1974, file photo, Evel Knievel parachutes down in a rocket after an ill-fated attempt to soar across the Snake River Canyon in Twin Falls, Idaho. Evel Knievels son is on a collision course with the Walt Disney Co. and Pixar over a movie daredevil character named Duke Caboom. A federal trademark infringement lawsuit filed Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, in Las Vegas accuses the moviemaker of improperly basing the Toy Story 4 character on Knievel. (AP Photo, File) Las Vegas-based K and K Promotions accuses Disney-owned Pixar of intentionally modeling the Caboom character, voiced by Keanu Reeves in the movie, after Knievel although Knievels name is never mentioned. Son Kelly Knievel, head of K and K, has had publicity rights to Evel Knievel's name since 1998, according to the Tuesday court filing in U.S. District Court. He said Thursday the moviemakers never sought permission to use his father's likeness. The Walt Disney Co., in a statement from corporate spokesman Jeffrey R. Epstein, said it will defend itself vigorously against what it called Knievel's meritless claims. Knievel is seeking unspecified damages totalling more than $300,000 on allegations that also include false endorsement and unjust enrichment. The Caboom character is described by Disney Pixar as a 1970s motorcycle-riding toy based on Canadas greatest stuntman, according to the lawsuit. Photos in the court filing put Caboom side-by-side with Knievel, who became an American icon after his near-fatal 1967 Caesars Palace crash. An Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle toy released in 1973 featured a Knievel action figure clad in a white helmet and jumpsuit with red, white and blue embellishments on a motorcycle that could be propelled with a wind-up device. In vivid descriptions of the movie, the lawsuit notes the Caboom character is a 1970s-era daredevil clad in a white jumpsuit and helmet with Canadian insignia and a Duke Caboom Stunt Cycle. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. A propelled toy was marketed in conjunction with the movie, Knievel's attorneys note, and the Caboom character became part of a McDonalds fast-food Happy Meal promotion. Consumers and film reviewers universally caught on to the connection, the lawsuit observed, while the movie company and Reeves avoided making any public association, connection or comparison even if directly asked. Evel Knievel did not thrill millions around the world, break his bones and spill his blood just so Disney could make a bunch of money, Kelly Knievel said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. Knievel was seriously injured many times during more than 75 motorcycle jumps. He died in 2007 at 69 in Florida of lung disease, not in a crash. ___ The spelling of Keanu has been corrected in this story. Evan Vucci Re-elect President Donald Trump? Heres what a second term could bring: The elimination of the Affordable Care Act. Though Trump has said he will replace it, his administration has never proposed a replacement plan. And now we are in the midst of a pandemic. More cuts in regulations, which could also be known as protections. This will mean more polluted air, more polluted water, more polluted land and, therefore, an increase in diseases such as asthma, heart disease and cancer. Exposure to pollution also makes people more susceptible to the coronavirus. Continued chaos in response to COVID-19. More tax cuts and support for large corporations and the very wealthy. Less aid to states, already reeling in the economic crisis caused by coronavirus. This means drastic cuts in school aid and other government services. The exciting possibility of another war. Trumps been itching to tackle Iran or North Korea. When other things arent going well, war makes a terrific distraction. No action on climate change, or rather, making it even worse. This means more devastating wildfires, floods, hurricanes, droughts and climate refugees, and more social unrest and wars because of that disruption. More voter suppression. Trump has said, They hadlevels of voting, that if youd ever agreed to it, youd never have a Republican elected in this country again. So, if you cant win fairly, win by suppressing votes. Cuts to Social Security and Medicare. If younger people dont have healthcare or secure income, why should seniors? More corruption. Because America can never have enough. Mary Makofske Warwick Chennai, Sep 25 : Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday searched the residences of DMK functionary Poonjolai Srinivasan, Damodaran and M. Dayanidhi in Vellore district and questioned them in connection with the cash-for-vote scandal that cropped up during the 2019 general elections, an official said. Srinivasan is said to be close to DMK General Secretary Duraimurugan and his son and Vellore MP D.M. Kathir Anand. Dayanidhi was a senior manager at Canara Bank, Regional Office, Vellore, while Damodaran is the brother-in-law of Srinivasan. According to the CBI, Dayanidhi had misused his official position to facilitate the exchange of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes for new Rs 200 note bundles for Srinivasan and Damodaran for distribution to voters. The CBI in its FIR said Dayanidhi by dishonestly performing and inducing another public servant for an undue advantage and falsification of accounts provided Srinivasan and Damodaran newly printed currency bundles of Rs 200 denomination. In 2019, the Lok Sabha polls for Vellore seat got cancelled amid allegations of suspected use of money to influence voters. The Election Commission had said it had recommended countermanding of the polls based on the "detection of a systematic design to influence voters" in the Vellore constituency. The poll panel said the countermanding of polls was related to search and seizure operations carried out at the homes of Duraimurugan and his son Anand on March 29 and March 30, 2019. On April 1, 2019 a second Income Tax search was launched based on information that illegal cash was being moved from a college owned by the Duraimurugan family to a cement warehouse in Vellore. The Vellore district police had filed a complaint against Anand and two party functionaries on the basis of a report from the Income Tax department on April 10, 2019. The search, conducted at the residence of Damodaran, brother-in-law of DMK functionary Srinivasan, yielded a cash seizure of Rs 11.48 crore, the poll panel said. The cash had been packed in plastic packets with ward-wise details, it added. Later when the polls were held, Anand emerged the winner. Interestingly CBI officials questioned Srinivasan a couple of days after Anand had complained that two persons claiming to be from the Intelligence Bureau had barged into his room in Tamil Nadu House and threatened him. Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Anand had said that the two men wanted to know the issues that would be raised by him and his party in the Lok Sabha. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed The Dassault Aviation is the manufacturer of the Rafale jets while MBDA supplied the missile systems for the aircraft French aerospace major Dassault Aviation and European missile maker Matra BAE Dynamics Alenia (MBDA) are yet to fulfill] 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 percent 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. Congress leader P Chidambaram criticised the Centre over the CAG's report and asked whether it had "opened a can of worms". "CAG finds that the vendors of the Rafale aircraft have not confirmed the transfer of technology under the offset contract. "The offset obligations should have started on 23-9-2019 and the first annual commitment should have been completed by 23-92020, that is yesterday. Will the government say if that obligation was fulfilled? Is the CAG report the opening of a can of worms?" he said. The Congress, then led by Rahul Gandhi, had targeted the Narendra Modi government over the Rafale deal in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election 2019, alleging corruption. Meanwhile, under India's offset policy, foreign defense entities are mandated to spend at least 30 percent of the total contract value in India through the procurement of components or setting up research and development facilities. The DRDO was looking for French technology for the indigenous development of an engine for the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. The CAG also painted a grim picture of the 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 the defense sector ranked 62nd out of 63 sectors receiving FDI. Under India's offset policy, foreign defense entities are mandated to spend at least 30 percent of the total contract value in India through the procurement of components or setting up of research and development facilities. The DRDO was looking for French technology for the indigenous development of an engine for the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. The CAG also painted a grim picture of the 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 defense sector ranked 62nd out of 63 sectors receiving FDI. "DRDO wanted to obtain technical assistance for the indigenous development of engine (Kaveri) for the Light Combat Aircraft. To date, the vendor has not confirmed the transfer of this technology," according to a press release issued by CAG. 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 penalising them. "Non-fulfilment 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 percent of the commitment. "Further, only 48 percent (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 percent 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 rollout to assess the extent to which its objectives were met. DGAP-Ad-hoc: Grand City Properties S.A. / Key word(s): Real Estate/Personnel Grand City Properties S.A. announces switch in management and board positions as from 1 October 2020 24-Sep-2020 / 14:00 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF APPLICABLE LAWS OR REGULATIONS Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Art. 17Sec. 1 of the Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation - MAR) Grand City Properties S.A. announces switch in management and board positions as from 1 October 2020 Luxembourg, September 24, 2020, 13:30 CEST - the board of directors of Grand City Properties SA (the "Company") resolved today that effective as of 1 October 2020 Mr. Christian Windfuhr will withdraw from his position as the CEO (Daily Manager - administrateur-delegue) in order to replace Mr. Refael Zamir as a member and chairman of the board of directors as of that date. Mr. Refael Zamir will become the Company's CEO (Daily Manager - administrateur-delegue) effective as of 1 October 2020. Mr. Zamir will continue to serve as the Company's CFO. About the Company The Company is a specialist in residential real estate, value-add opportunities in densely populated areas primarily in Germany. The Company's strategy is to improve its properties by repositioning and intensive tenant management, and then create value by subsequently raising occupancy and rental levels. Further information: www.grandcityproperties.com Grand City Properties S.A. (ISIN: LU0775917882) is a public limited liability company (societe anonyme) incorporated under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 1, Avenue du Bois, L-1251 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and being registered with the Luxembourg trade and companies register (Registre de Commerce et des Societes Luxembourg) under number B 165 560. The shares of the Company are listed on the Prime Standard segment of Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Contact: Grand City Properties S.A. 1, Avenue du Bois L-1251 Luxemburg T: +352 28 77 87 86 E: info@grandcity.lu www.grandcityproperties.com Press Contact: Katrin Petersen Grand City Properties S.A. T: +49 (30) 374-381 5218 E: katrin.petersen@grandcity.lu DISCLAIMER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES. THE SECURITIES MENTIONED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DIRECTED AT AND IS ONLY BEING DISTRIBUTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM TO (I) PERSONS WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE ORDER), (II) HIGH NET WORTH ENTITIES, AND OTHER PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49 OF THE ORDER, AND (III) PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS RELEVANT PERSONS). THIS COMMUNICATION MUST NOT BE READ, ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (EEA), THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANY OFFER IF MADE SUBSEQUENTLY IS DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHO ARE "QUALIFIED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(1)(E) OF DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC, AS AMENDED (THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE) (QUALIFIED INVESTORS). ANY PERSON IN THE EEA WHO ACQUIRES THE SECURITIES IN ANY OFFER (AN INVESTOR) OR TO WHOM ANY OFFER OF THE SECURITIES IS MADE WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT IT IS A QUALIFIED INVESTOR. ANY INVESTOR WILL ALSO BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT ANY SECURITIES ACQUIRED BY IT IN THE OFFER HAVE NOT BEEN ACQUIRED ON BEHALF OF PERSONS IN THE EEA OTHER THAN QUALIFIED INVESTORS, NOR HAVE THE SECURITIES BEEN ACQUIRED WITH A VIEW TO THEIR OFFER OR RESALE IN THE EEA TO PERSONS WHERE THIS WOULD RESULT IN A REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLICATION BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THE MANAGERS OF A PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 3 OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY CONTAIN PROJECTIONS OR ESTIMATES RELATING TO PLANS AND OBJECTIVES RELATING TO OUR FUTURE OPERATIONS, PRODUCTS, OR SERVICES, FUTURE FINANCIAL RESULTS, OR ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING OR RELATING TO ANY SUCH STATEMENTS, EACH OF WHICH CONSTITUTES A FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE COMPANY. ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY, DEPENDING ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS. 24-Sep-2020 CET/CEST The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de The Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, has condemned the shooting of two police officers at a protest in Louisville, Kentucky over the decision by prosecutors not to charge officers with the killing of Breonna Taylor. "Even amidst the profound grief & anger today's decision generated, violence is never & can never be the answer," Mr Biden said in an early morning tweet on Thursday. "Those who engage in it must be held accountable. Jill & I are keeping the officers shot tonight in Louisville in our prayers. We wish them both a swift & full recovery," he added. Two officers were shot in Louisville during unrest on Wednesday night after the Kentucky state attorney general, David Cameron, announced that no one would be charged with killing Taylor, a 26-year-old hospital worker. One of three officers involved in Taylors shooting Brett Hankinson has been charged with first-degree "wanton endangerment" for firing rounds into a neighbouring house. Sergeant John Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, the two other officers, will not face charges, Mr Cameron said. Ben Crump, a high-profile lawyer for the Taylor family, said the outcome was "outrageous and offensive". President Trump, who has attempted to switch the focus of his re-election campaign to law and order as the US economy continues to tank amid the coronavirus pandemic, said he thought the grand jury's decision was "really brilliant". Mr Trump, who has been accused of referring to dead army veterans as "losers", later said in a tweet that he was "praying" for the officers who were shot. "Praying for the two police officers that were shot tonight in Louisville, Kentucky. The Federal Government stands behind you and is ready to help. Spoke to Governor Andy Beshear and we are prepared to work together, immediately upon request!" he wrote. Mr Trump later tweeted: LAW & ORDER! Governor Beshear, a Democrat, urged Kentucky prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury. "I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be," Mr Beshear told reporters. Taylor's name has become a rallying cry for demonstrators protesting against police brutality and calling for an end to racial inequality. Protests have taken place in Lousiville Kentucky's largest city for 100 consecutive days and intensified after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. Demonstrations continued on Wednesday following the grand jury's decision, with activists demanding more serious charges against the officers involved. Protests also broke out in Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia and Washington. Breonna Taylors name has become a rallying cry for protesters demonstrating against police brutality A state of emergency had been declared in Louisville ahead of the announcement. Members of the Kentucky national guard and state police were activated as protesters took to the streets and clashes erupted with officers in riot gear. Shortly before 9pm ET, there were reports of gunfire near one of the marches. Two of the responding officers were shot and had non-life-threatening wounds, interim police chief Robert Schroeder told reporters. A suspect was in custody, he added. Taylor, a hospital emergency room technician, was shot at least six 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. Kenneth Walker, Taylor's boyfriend, told police he fired one round after the couple'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. After Mr Walker fired, Mr Mattingly, Mr Hankison and the third officer, Mr Cosgrove, returned fire. In total, police fired 32 gunshots. Delivering the grand jury decision on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said the fatal bullet was fired by Mr Cosgrove, but added that Mr Cosgrove and Mr Mattingly were justified in the use of force because they were shot at first. Mr Cameron said state law bars us from seeking charges in Breonna Taylors death. 2 1 of 2 Tyler Sizemore, Staff Photographer / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Chris Ware, Staff Photo / ST Show More Show Less A now-fired Richmond postal worker has been charged in federal court for failing to deliver the U.S. mail on a rural route. Lovely Eliabe, 24, surrendered to federal law enforcement is expected to appear in court this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan. A federal grand jury indicted her Sept. 15 on charges she delayed and/or destroyed mail, according to a Justice Department news release. Veteran Congress leader and former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi was on Thursday admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH), following a drop in his oxygen saturation level. He had tested coronavirus positive last month. According to reports, the 85-year-old, who was admitted at a private cabin of the hospital, was shifted to ICU to monitor him effectively. His condition is stated to be stable now. Visited the new ICU of GMCH to see ex-CM Tarun Gogoi, enquired about his health and prayed to God for his speedy recovery, Assam Congress unit president Ripun Bora tweeted after visiting GMCH on Thursday. Gogoi, who was CM for three consecutive terms from 2001 till 2016, was tested as Covid-19 positive on August 26, following which he was admitted to GMCH. The Assam government constituted an eight-member team of doctors to monitor his health parameters regularly. There was a sudden drop in oxygen saturation level on August 31, but it again returned to normal after immediate intervention of doctors. Gogoi was tested negative for Covid-19 last week, but has been staying at GMCH till his health recovers completely. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON THOMASTON A 26-year-old local man was arrested this week by environmental conservation police after killing a bear to protect his dog, officials said. The mother bear was killed and her two cubs survived. The dog was not hurt. Will Healey, spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said William OConnors dog ran toward a bear and her cubs that were foraging in the woods near his Walnut Hill Road property line on Tuesday afternoon. The dog started barking and the mother bear treed her two cubs, Healey said. The bear stood her ground and started making loud noises, believing her cubs were threatened. Healey said OConnor, concerned about his dogs safety, retrieved a rifle and shot in the direction of the bear to scare it away. But, the shot struck the bear, Healey said. After being struck, the bear moved about 30 yards to a neighboring property where it collapsed. The bear shooting came to the attention of EnCon officers by Thomaston police. A neighbor told local police he had seen a bear collapsed in his driveway on a home security camera. When EnCon police arrived, the bear had died. Healey said EnCon officers reported that the cubs appear healthy enough to survive. The cubs were seen in the woods after the shooting. OConnor was issued a summons for the illegal killing of a bear. If convicted, the penalty is a $500 fine and/or 30 days in jail. OConnor is scheduled to appear in Torrington Superior Court on Oct. 19. Healey said fall is an especially active time for bears. Bears are out and about stocking up on fuel for winter hibernation, he said. It is illegal to shoot bears in Connecticut. There have been attempts to pass legislation in the General Assembly to allow bear hunting in Litchfield County, which has the highest bear population in the state. Officials said bears that eat human-associated foods, including birdseed, trash and pet food, on a regular basis become comfortable around people and associate humans with food, creating a dangerous situation. Jenny Dickson, director of the Wildlife Division, said bears should never be fed. DEEP recently reported there has been a record 42 instances of bears entering homes so far this year. In 2019, there were 17 instances of bears entering Connecticut homes. More information on Connecticut black bears can be found on DEEP's website here. Closing his statement to the Commons on his new Covid jobs-rescue package yesterday, Rishi Sunak defiantly gave us a new slogan: 'Live Without Fear' They were the three words which spoke volumes about the rift between the Prime Minister and his Chancellor. Closing his statement to the Commons on his new Covid jobs-rescue package yesterday, Rishi Sunak defiantly gave us a new slogan: 'Live Without Fear.' He was telling us that we have to learn to live with the virus and stop the country and our benighted economy from total collapse. It was an approach that could not be in greater contrast to that of the Prime Minister, whose latest draconian coronavirus crackdown will make it harder than ever for Britain to recover from the economic catastrophe caused by the pandemic. Back in March, when he first got to grips with coronavirus, Mr Johnson also came up with a three-word slogan: 'Protect the NHS.' He won public support with that emotive and powerful declaration. At the time, with claims that hospitals faced the catastrophe of having to turn dying Covid patients away, it helped rally a nation terrified of what was then the unknown coronavirus. But today things are different, and the Prime Minister stands accused of excessive caution, of suffocating the economy and the British people with a cure that is worse than the pandemic itself. Yesterday, Mr Sunak declared there was another way to deal with the crisis. Tellingly, Mr Johnson chose not to be at the Chancellor's side in the Commons yesterday, preferring to visit Northamptonshire Police HQ instead. It was the sort of routine visit prime ministers make on a Friday, when nothing much happens in the Commons. But yesterday, a lot was happening in the Commons. Perhaps beleaguered Mr Johnson could not bring himself to sit alongside his Downing Street neighbour. When the 40-year-old political novice was appointed Chancellor seven months ago, he was nicknamed 'Baby Cino' (Chancellor in Name Only), reportedly because No 10 thought he was so grateful he got the job he would do what he was told. Yesterday, Mr Sunak declared there was another way to deal with the crisis. Tellingly, Mr Johnson chose not to be at the Chancellor's side in the Commons yesterday, preferring to visit Northamptonshire Police HQ instead Now 'Baby Cino' is calling the shots and riding high in popularity polls and the estimation of Tory MPs is seen as most likely to succeed Mr Johnson, who is looking every one of his 56 years. The statesmanlike style and breathtaking content of Mr Sunak's Commons statement will do nothing to reduce such speculation. It could not have been more different to the hollow cod-Churchillian rhetoric of Mr Johnson in a television broadcast on Wednesday. Don't go to work, beware soldiers on the streets, don't stay out after 10pm at night and don't break the rules or you'll be fined 10,000, he said, jabbing his finger at millions of viewers. In short: Live With Fear. Number 10 insisted it had cleared Mr Sunak's speech in advance, and approved of the last three words. Some Tory MPs suggested the Prime Minister, shackled by medics and boffins forcing him to play safe, had cleverly 'licensed' the Chancellor to act as a proxy for his own libertarian instincts. The harsh reality, however, is that if it was an act of defiance, such is sinewy Sunak's burgeoning political muscle, Johnson would not be able to gag him. With rumours swirling in Westminster fiercely denied by Downing Street that Mr Johnson is fed up, hard up, even planning to up stakes and leave No 10 in the new year, Covid has become the focus of a power struggle between two Cabinet factions. When Mr Johnson was agonising last week over introducing the new six-month coronavirus crackdown, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged him to impose a Covid 'circuit breaker' including shutting pubs and restaurants for two weeks. They thought they had won him over. Back in March, when he first got to grips with coronavirus, Mr Johnson also came up with a three-word slogan: 'Protect the NHS.' He won public support with that emotive and powerful declaration But they had reckoned without Mr Sunak. Backed by Home Secretary Priti Patel and Business Secretary Alok Sharma, the Chancellor intervened. He demanded to speak to Mr Johnson and bluntly told him the fiercely ambitious Gove and Hancock were wrong. Mr Sunak made clear that any new lockdown could lay waste to business and jobs, just when there were signs that the coronavirus-battered economy was picking itself up from the floor. Mr Johnson was reduced to a political 'piggy in the middle', forced to tread a delicate balancing act between the two Cabinet Covid tribes. Although neither Mr Gove nor Mr Hancock are old-fashioned 'silver spoon' Tories, they, like Mr Johnson, have treated politics as a ruthless game since their debating days at Oxford. They have all modelled themselves as post-Thatcher Tories. Sunak, Patel and Sharma, who all have Indian parents who emigrated to Britain, are not ashamed to call themselves Thatcherites. Mrs Thatcher's stringent economic policy was shaped by the housekeeping principles she learned living above her father's shop in Grantham. Miss Patel was brought up above her parents' newsagents shop and calls herself a 'massive Thatcherite'. When he was a schoolboy, maths geek Sunak did the books for his mother's pharmacy in Southampton. Mr Sharma, a doctor's son, has said: 'My father always said that (Mrs Thatcher) might not look like us, but she absolutely thought like us.' In a slick piece of political choreography, Mr Sunak showed he is more than a 'son of Thatcher' by posing on the steps of No 11 before his Commons statement, flanked by CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn, and, remarkably, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady. A Tory Chancellor with the respected leaders of both the biggest bosses and union organisations standing at his side, both of them pillars of support. There have been many calls for a wartime style government of national unity to fight the pandemic. Here was Sunak's version. The fact that both those 'pillars' are succesful modern women made it all the more striking. In my view, though, it is far too soon to be writing Mr Johnson's political obituary. As he faces the burden of making life and death political decisions on Covid affecting millions, and after he also nearly died from the virus, it is understandable that he errs on the side of caution when told the death toll could soar if he fails to act now. But it was conviction not caution that won buccaneering Mr Johnson the EU referendum, the Tory crown and an election landslide. Mrs Thatcher was the ultimate 'conviction' politician. It won her three elections, though she was respected rather than liked. Mr Johnson's Achilles heel is that he wants everyone to like him. It is starting to make him look weak. In defending his new package to help workers hit by Covid, Mr Sunak could counter by quoting Churchill's Second World War ally US President Franklin D Roosevelt. Launching his bold 'New Deal' to rescue America from the 1930s depression, Roosevelt said: 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyses needed efforts to convert retreat into advance Hair-shirted Maggie may be turning in her grave at the eye watering cost of Mr Sunak's coronavirus bail out. But the Falklands War victor would have no difficulty recognising the political courage in his clarion call to get the economy back on its feet despite the dangers of an inevitable Covid second wave. Boris Johnson was accused of 'spouting Churchillian nonsense' by the founder of the Pret a Manger sandwich chain, Julian Metcalfe. In defending his new package to help workers hit by Covid, Mr Sunak could counter by quoting Churchill's Second World War ally US President Franklin D Roosevelt. Launching his bold 'New Deal' to rescue America from the 1930s depression, Roosevelt said: 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyses needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.' Boris likes to channel his inner Churchill. Perhaps Dishi Rishi, in his bold 'Live Without Fear' response to Covid, was channelling his inner Roosevelt. DOJ: NYC, Portland and Seattle are permitting 'anarchy' and violence; AG Barr seeks to strip funding Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The U.S. Justice Department said Monday that New York City, Portland and Seattle are jurisdictions that permit anarchy and violence and the Trump administration formally threatened to strip federal funding from those Democrat-controlled cities. The mayors of those three cities in New York, Oregon and Washington state have accused the Republican president of playing political games and acting unconstitutionally. In a statement, the department warned that amid the national unrest following the death of George Floyd on May 25, those three cities have permitted violence and destruction of property to persist and have refused to undertake reasonable measures to counteract criminal activities. The looting, vandalism and torching of housing developments and small businesses is expected to cost well over $1 billion to $2 billion, according to Axios. Those three cities were listed on the Justice Departments website following the president's Sept. 2 memorandum that called for a review of state and local recipients of federal funding that are permitting anarchy, violence, and destruction in American cities. The Justice Department is still evaluating to see if other cities should be added to the list. When state and local leaders impede their own law enforcement officers and agencies from doing their jobs, it endangers innocent citizens who deserve to be protected, including those who are trying to peacefully assemble and protest, Attorney General William Barr said in a statement. We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance. It is my hope that the cities identified by the Department of Justice today will reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens. The mayors of the three cities issued a joint statement on Monday, calling the Justice Departments threat thoroughly political and unconstitutional. The President is playing cheap political games with Congressionally directed funds, the statement reads. Our cities are bringing communities together; our cities are pushing forward after fighting back a pandemic and facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, all despite recklessness and partisanship from the White House. What the Trump Administration is engaging in now is more of what we've seen all along: shirking responsibility and placing blame elsewhere to cover its failure." Portland has been marred by violent riots, arson attacks, and vandalism for over 100 days. It's also where an Antifa/BLM rioter murdered Trump supporter Aaron Jay Danielson. Vandals in Portland have started fires, thrown projectiles at law enforcement officers and even destroyed property. In dealing with rioters over the summer, several Portland law enforcement officers suffered injuries. The Justice Department states that shootings in the city increased by over 140% in June and July compared to the same period in 2019. In the midst of this violence, the Portland City Council cut $15 million from the police bureau, eliminating 84 positions, the departments statement explains. Crucially, the cuts included the Gun Violence Reduction Team, which investigates shootings, and several positions from the police team that responds to emergency incidents. In August, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler sent a letter to the president rejecting the offer to send federal law enforcement to stop the violent riots. Wheeler accused Trump of engaging in politics of division and demagoguery. In Seattle, the Justice Department says that for nearly a month beginning in June, the city government permitted anarchists and activists to seize six square blocks of the citys Capitol Hill neighborhood. The movement was known as CHOP after previously being called CHAZ Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. The Justice Department complained that law enforcement officials nor firefighters were allowed into the zone as the Seattle Police Department was ordered to abandon their precinct within the CHOP. According to the department, person-related crime in CHOP increased 525% from the same period in the same area the year before. The CHOP was allowed to stand for nearly a month, during which time two teenagers were shot and killed in the zone, the Justice Department argues. The Seattle City Council, Mayor [Jenny] Durkan, and Washington Governor Jay Inslee publicly rejected federal involvement in law enforcement activities within the city of Seattle. In New York City, the agency states that shootings have been on the rise since looting and protests began around May 28. According to the Justice Department, shootings in New York City increased from 88 in July 2019 to 244 in July 2020. As for August, shootings jumped from 91 in 2019 to 242 in 2020. The Trump administration criticized the New York City Council for cutting $1 billion from the New York Police Departments fiscal year 2021 budget, which it claims led to the cancellation of new police recruiting classes and cut overtime spending. The Justice Department also criticized the Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn district attorneys who have declined to prosecute many protest-related charges. In July, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked Trump not to send federal law enforcement officials in response to the increase in crime in the city. Earlier this month after Trump issued his memorandum, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and other city officials vowed to sue the federal government if the Trump administration withholds federal funding. The New York Times reported last week that Attorney General Barr asked the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division to explore whether Seattle Mayor Durkan could be charged criminally in response to the citys failure to disperse the Capitol Hill Organized Protest that led to two fatal shootings. A department spokesperson denied the claim in a statement to the newspaper. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Brian T. Moran, told Fox News that "at no time has anyone at the Department communicated to me that Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is, was or should be charged with any federal crime related to CHOP. "As U.S. Attorney I would be aware of such an investigation," he said. In a statement last week, Durkan said that as a former U.S. attorney, she took an oath of office to protect the Constitution and the rule of law. That is the bedrock of our country and why the Department of Justice cannot become a political weapon operated at the behest of the President to target those who have spoken out against this administrations actions, she argued. That is an act of tyranny, not of democracy. Chairman Xi Jinping of China dropped some potentially historic news in the middle of an otherwise pro forma address to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, setting a surprisingly ambitious and specific target for reducing carbon emissions. Calling for a global green revolution, Xi told the world that by adopting more vigorous policies and measures we aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. This added some more specificity to the countrys peaking dateChina had previously pledged to peak emissions around 2030but the 2060 carbon neutrality target is the bigger news and a potential game changer from the worlds largest CO2 emitter. Advertisement If China were to achieve this goal, it could shave .2 to .3 degrees Celsius off global warming projections, according to Climate Action Tracker. This is the sort of change that could make the difference between a very bad or truly catastrophic climate future. It could also potentially serve as an example for other countries and reinvigorate the Paris Agreement process, which has been foundering since President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw the U.S. from the accord in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But is it for real? China has made ambitious climate pledges before, even as it has continued constructing coal plants in the name of economic development. While Xi, in his speech, urged other governments to achieve a green recovery of the world economy in the post-COVID era, Chinas own post-COVID stimulus plan pours billions of dollars into fossil fuel projects. Chinas statistics reporting can also be notoriously unreliable, particularly at the local level, making it hard to track progress. Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, experts say Xis pledge, especially considering the high-profile setting in which he made it, should be taken seriously. In the climate domain, the Chinese have always honored their pledges, says Kelly Sims Gallagher, a professor of Energy and Environmental Policy at Tufts Fletcher School who served as China adviser to the special envoy for climate change under the Obama administration. They tend to be conservative in their target-setting, but they meet those targets. Theyre very much on track to be able to honor their 2030 targets. David Waskow, director of the international climate initiative at the World Resources Institute, said Xis pledge clearly sets out a direction of travel thats transformational. The question is how to turn policy into practice. Advertisement Advertisement We should get more details about Xis bold but vague pledge when the Chinese government releases its latest nationally determined contributionthe carbon reduction goal statements that parties to the Paris Agreement submit to the U.N. every five yearsahead of the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021. (That conference was supposed to be this year but was postponed due to the coronavirus.) One big question is when, exactly, before 2030, China plans to peak emissions. At an EU-China summit this month, EU leaders urged Beijing to peak by 2025, but Chinese leaders have been mum so far about a specific target. Advertisement Advertisement Waskow also notes that Chinas previous NDC doesnt address non-CO2 emissions like methane and hydrofluorocarbons, which have a disproportionate impact on global warming. Chinas contribution to this type of emissions alone, says Waskow, would be equivalent to the seventh largest emitter in the world. Its unclear how these emissions factor into the new pledge. Advertisement Advertisement Then theres the question of how China plans to achieve its target. Yifei Li, a professor of environmental studies at NYU Shanghai and co-author of the book China Goes Green, says that its likely to be a combination of investments in green technologies, carbon sinks like ongoing reforestation projects in Northern China, and stepping up its national carbon cap-and-trade mechanism. For example, if youre organizing a sporting event, all of the vehicles and all of the water and all of the energy that you use for lighting the stadium will have to be accounted for, says Li. And if it exceeds your allocated carbon credits, youll have to buy them. Advertisement Advertisement While Li believes Xis pledge is good news for the planet, he is concerned that this plan would give an already extraordinarily powerful government a new mechanism to reward friends and punish enemies. The Chinese government will be able to set these carbon emission rights for individual companies and government agencies, he explains. So, if its a well-behaving community, they could get five more credits. This enables the government to further intervene into the economy and private communities. Advertisement Experts are also concerned that China may not reduce its pollution but simply relocate it. The massive global infrastructure investment project known as Belt and Road has already been criticized by environmentalists for putting money into energy-intensive projects, including coal-fired power plants, in other countries. Chinese overseas financing is essentially a safety valve for the economic pressure that this energy transition creates, says Scott Morris, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development. Through Belt and Road, China has a mechanism for pushing out the dirty stuff so it doesnt cause immediate disruption in the economy. In other words, it wont do much good for the world if China reduces its emissions while causing emissions to rise in Pakistan and Malaysia by the same amount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hope is that Chinas commitment, the most ambitious so far by a developing country, will spur similar ambition from others. But its also important to remember that Chinas size and economic power make it unique. Not every government can afford to be as ambitious. It will make other developing countries nervous that somehow this is intended to set out a path for them, says Morris. They dont have the resources to manage this transition, which is why theyre very vocal about the need for support from wealthy countries. It remains to be seen if Chinas ambition to make its own energy transition will be matched by a commitment to help poorer countries do the same. China has been bidding for assistance from the Green Climate Fund, set up under the Paris framework, much to the irritation of the Trump administration. Advertisement Another question raised by Xis announcement is why it came now. Its likely that Chinas leaders are looking for a rare public relations win at a time when China is facing international backlash over the coronavirus, human rights, and trade policy. It was telling that Xi made his pledge just minutes after Trumps China-bashing UNGA speech. There has been a good amount of ill-will against China lately because of the pandemic and other things, says Li. The Chinese Communist Party is eager to rebuild its image as a responsible power. The environmental governance apparatus in the United States has been completely damaged by Donald Trump, so its a void space and China is eager to fill that space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This dynamic could create a challenge for Joe Biden if he wins the presidency. A Biden administration will undoubtedly make climate change more of a priority than its predecessorit would be hard not tobut has also signaled it will continue to take a hard line on China when it comes to a range of issues including, but not limited to, human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, trade, intellectual property, Taiwan, and military competition in the South China Sea. Some experts have called on Biden to maintain good relations with China specifically to coordinate the fight against climate change, but that approach runs this risk of letting China greenwash its abuses. Advertisement Advertisement Gallagher, the former Obama administration adviser, says this need not be an either/or choice, noting that in 2015, when the U.S. and China reached the landmark bilateral climate agreement that set the stage for Paris, tensions were also high on a range of issues including the South China Sea and alleged cyberattacks. We showed that the United States and China can disagree on some issues and cooperate on others, she says. Granted, tensions are far higher now than they were then, but, Gallagher notes, it wouldnt be the worst thing for the world if the U.S. and China behaved as rivals, fighting over the role of global climate change leader. We can continue to push each other a little bit, almost in a competitive spirit, she says. Of course, that dynamic will require a U.S. president who sees fighting climate change as a worthwhile goal in the first place. Journalists Asad Toor, Bilal Farooqi, and Absar Alam have all been charged with sedition between September 11 and September 16 for publishing allegedly objectionable and derogatory material online. The charges have been set under Pakistans sweeping 2016 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The International Federation (IFJ), along with its Pakistan affiliate, call on the authorities to reign in the broad powers of this Act to ensure no journalists are charged solely for criticising government officials and institutions. The PECA drew criticism before its implementation due its secretive conception, and once implemented sparked grave concerns over its criminalization of speech and the unchecked powers it gave to authorities to both curtail and prosecuted it. The law was supposedly created to check extremist content, prosecute hate speech and curb online harassment of women but has had far reaching implications above and beyond these pursuits, such as Section 37 which gives unbridled powers to the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority to restrict freedom of expression by blocking/removing online content. Asad Toor was charged on September 12 after a public complaint citing that Toor had used derogatory language to refer high-level government institutions, including the Pakistan Army. The First Information Report (FIR) detailing Toors offences states he had breached PECAs Sections 499 on defamation, 505 on statements conducing public mischief and 20 on offences against the dignity of a person to name a few. Farooqi was detained on September 11 following a complaint claiming that resulted in a FIR claiming he had defamed the Pakistan Military on social media. Similarly, Alam faced a FIR for allegedly using derogatory language against state institutions and personalities. Both Farooqi and Alam were charged with sedition under PECAs Section 20. Prosecuting journalists for fulfilling their role as a check on government powers and a critical voice of government institutions is inherently undemocratic. Pakistans freedom of speech and ability to function as a democracy is greatly threatened by the implications of these sedition charges and their associated legislation. The PFUJ Secretary General Rana Muhammad Azeem said: The PFUJ believes in freedom of speech & expression and urges the authorities to be cautious and have thorough investigations before charging any media person, in accordance with the law of the land. The IFJ said: The ruling party must reconsider this broad and sweeping legislation that has been shown to give the government the power to remove critical voices from public discourse. These recent sedition charges will undoubtedly influence the work of journalists in Pakistan and push the countrys media into passive submission. Journalists need a safe environment to both criticise and hold government officials and institutions accountable or democracy cannot function. EL PASO, Texas - The FBI recently awarded The University of Texas at El Paso's Misty Duke, Ph.D., a grant to examine the effectiveness of two different methods to conduct investigative and intelligence interviews. Duke, an assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice, said few studies have systematically evaluated how uncooperative interviewees decide about their level of cooperation. She said her research will offer insights into the best ways to conduct investigative and intelligence interviews that could lead to the collection of as much accurate and relevant information as possible under various conditions. Her study will focus on "Strategic Use of Evidence-Confrontation" and "We Know All" interview approaches. Both strategies try to convince the interviewee that the interviewer initially has some or all of the relevant information. Prior research has shown that these techniques generate more useful information than other methods. Duke said she will test procedures within each method to learn which are the most effective and whether any combination of those procedures could be more effective. The study is funded with a $144,000 grant from the FBI's High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group, with which Duke has worked in the past. This group funds research that directly benefits interrogators who have been involved in high-profile cases nationally and internationally. "I'm excited about the prospect of applying decision science to understand interviewee decision-making, which is a relatively new treatment of the topic," Duke said. The professor said she would recruit UTEP students and community members to play the roles of participants in a fictional terrorist plot. Researchers will interview the actors about their activities in three ways. They may use no tactics from either interview method, tactics from one interview method, or tactics from both interview methods. The actors will be given incentives to offer additional details. Duke said she would hire two UTEP criminal justice graduate students to assist her part-time on this project. Undergraduate students will help with data collection. In the end, her research team will measure the number of times the actors shared critical and noncritical details related to their activities. They also will create statistical models to explain how those interviewed made their decisions based on their uncertainty of what the interviewer knew. ### The University of Texas at El Paso is one of the largest and most successful Hispanic-serving institutions in the country, with a student body that is over 80% Hispanic. It enrolls nearly 25,000 students in 166 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in 10 colleges and schools. With more than $100 million in total annual research expenditures, UTEP is ranked in the top 5% of research institutions nationally and fifth in Texas for federal research expenditures at public universities. Photo credit: Ralph Freso - Getty Images From Oprah Magazine 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. 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. 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. You Might Also Like Toronto, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seneca is joining forces with a group of colleges, institutions, polytechnics and CEGEPs from across Canada to educate a post-pandemic workforce to support a new climate-focused economic recovery. The group of eight climate-action leading institutions from all regions of the country have launched an initiative called Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery. The group will champion projects across Canada to support a recovery that delivers good jobs, is positive for the environment and addresses socio-economic inequality. Sustainability is a strategic priority at Seneca not only in our business practices and programs, but also in preparing students for the growing career opportunities in climate resilience, said Seneca President, David Agnew. We are delighted to be working with other postsecondary institutions and partners to identify and respond to the needs of employers in this emerging sector. The post-pandemic recovery is critical to our economy, and a recovery based on sustainability is critical to our climate. The group formed to take meaningful action as a direct response to the five bold moves and 22 recommendations of the Task Force for a Resilient Recovery, which recommended a $55.4 billion strategy for a green recovery in Canada that will support long-term jobs and economic growth and keep Canada competitive in the quickly evolving global marketplace. In its final report, the Task Force for a Resilient Recovery emphasized the importance of training and education for building a long-term economic recovery from COVID-19, said Richard Florizone, President & CEO of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and Chair of the Task Force for a Resilient Recovery. Without a skilled Canadian workforce, the jobs of the clean economy will go to other countries. Through programs like Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery, we can make sure that its Canadians who benefit from the jobs and growth of a cleaner, more resilient economy. Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery can help the Canadian economy recover by: rapidly training workers to meet skills gaps for a climate resilient economy reviving and developing Canadian businesses through applied research solutions serving as demonstration sites, living labs for climate change solutions Collectively, the institutions are committed to advancing the following goals: develop, implement and scale new curriculum and research initiatives to support a resilient recovery foster resilient recovery projects that support the recommendations of the Task Force for a Resilient Recovery serve as role models for the transition to a low-carbon, resilient and circular economy through campus practices, student engagement and community engagement support provincial/territorial college-level responses to the resilient recovery continue to support truth and reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples, and champion Indigenous leadership in the resilient recovery Supporting its commitment to student engagement, Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery has partnered with Student Energy, a global youth-led organization, empowering young people to accelerate the sustainable energy transition. Through Student Energys involvement, students will offer feedback and advice to help shape the initiatives of the college partners. Young people across the country are eager to participate in the transition to a low carbon, resilient, and equitable economy, and it is more important than ever that they are supported with the skills, knowledge, and networks they need to take part in the climate-resilient workforce, said Student Energy Executive Director Meredith Adler. Student Energy is excited to join forces with the Canadian Colleges for Resilient Recovery to provide tangible delivery skills training and opportunities for young people studying at colleges across Canada to be part of leading the sustainable energy transition. Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery will meet quarterly (online) initially for two years, providing a forum for colleges to share transferable and scalable recovery solutions from institutions across Canada. It will host a national webinar series, showcasing faculty and researchers from each member college. Initially, Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery will be chaired by Mohawk College President Ron McKerlie. The group has retained internationally recognized sustainability researcher and advocate David Wheeler to advise the coalition. The first group of colleges in Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery include: British Columbia Institute of Technology Holland College Mohawk College Nergica, a Renewable Energy Research and Innovation College Centre Nova Scotia Community College Okanagan College Seneca Southern Alberta Institute of Technology About Seneca Combining career and professional skills training with theoretical knowledge, Seneca provides a polytechnic education to 30,000 full-time and 60,000 part-time students. With campuses in Toronto, York Region and Peterborough and education partners around the world, Seneca offers degrees, graduate certificates, diplomas and certificates in more than 300 full-time, part-time and online programs, now most of them virtually. Senecas credentials are renowned for their quality and respected by employers. Co-op and work placements, applied research projects, entrepreneurial opportunities and the latest technology ensure that Seneca graduates are highly skilled and ready to work. Learn more about Seneca. The financial sector was hit hard Monday following a report alleging that a number of banks JPMorgan, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Deutsche Bank and Bank of New York Mellon among them have continued to profit from illicit dealings with disreputable people and criminal networks despite previous warnings from regulators. According to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, leaked government documents show that the banks continued moving illicit funds even after being warned of potential criminal prosecutions. The documents were obtained by BuzzFeed News and shared with the ICIJ. The report compounded a massive sell-off across global markets because of gloom and doom over COVID-19 infections and the economic damage from the pandemic. The consortium reported that documents indicate that JPMorgan moved money for people and companies tied to the massive looting of public funds in Malaysia, Venezuela and the Ukraine. The bank also processed more than $50 million in payments over a decade for Paul Manafort, the former campaign manager for President Donald Trump, according to the documents, which are known as the FinCEN Files. Shares of JP Morgan closed 3% lower on Monday. The consortium's investigation found the documents identify more than $2 trillion in transactions between 1999 and 2017 that were flagged by financial institutions internal compliance officers as possible money laundering or other criminal activity, and $1.3 trillion of that activity took place at Deutsche Bank. Shares of Deutsche Bank dropped 8.3%. Deutsche Bank has been under scrutiny for years. The bank, based in Frankfurt, Germany, agreed to pay the state of New York $150 million to settle claims that it broke compliance rules in its dealings with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein killed himself last August in a Manhattan federal jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported last year that Deutsche Bank gave expensive gifts to senior Chinese officials and hired family members of Chinese elite as it was trying to establish itself as a major player in Chinas financial industry. Story continues In a related action, the bank agreed last year to pay about $16 million to settle civil charges by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by hiring relatives of government officials in Asia and Russia in an effort to improperly influence the officials to help its investment banking business. Deutsche Bank neither admitted nor denied the allegations in the settlement. Also in 2019, German prosecutors indicted a 48-year-old former employee of Deutsche Bank as part of a probe into a massive tax evasion scam thats led to more than a dozen prosecutions. In 2018, German authorities raided Deutsche Banks headquarters on suspicions that its employees helped clients set up offshore companies that were used to launder hundreds of millions of euros. The case was spurred by the release of the Panama Papers. A long-running money-laundering investigation of the bank is being pursued by federal prosecutors in New York. In the wake of the Epstein scandal, Deutsche Bank said it had invested almost $1 billion to improve its training and controls and had boosted its staff overseeing the work to more than 1,500 employees to continue enhancing our anti-financial crime capabilities. For years, Deutsche Bank has wrestled with regulatory penalties and fines, high costs, weak profits and a low share price. The bank went three straight years without turning an annual profit before recording positive earnings of 341 million euros for 2018. The London bank HSBC, Europe's largest acknowledged in 2012 that it had laundered at least $881 million for Latin American drug cartels. However, according to the report, HSBC continued to manage money for shady clients, including suspected Russian money launderers and a Ponzi scheme under investigation in multiple countries. Shares of HSBC, already down more than 50% this year, slumped to levels not seen in more than two decades Monday, shedding 5.5% on Wall Street. __ This story has been corrected to show that Deutsche Bank's $16 million settlement last year was related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, not a criminal money-laundering case. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump took a swipe at the Duchess of Sussex on Wednesday after the former Meghan Markle and Prince Harry participated in a Time 100 video urging Americans to vote. Meghan, an American, says in the video that every four years elections are referred to as the most important election of our lifetime. But this one is, she stressed. When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Harry called on Americans to reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity. Neither mentioned Trump or his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, by name, but some have interpreted their comments as critical of Trump. Trump was asked about the video during a White House press conference, with the reporter saying the couple essentially encouraged people to vote for Joe Biden. Im not a fan of hers and I would say this, and she probably has heard that, but I wish a lot of luck to Harry. Hes going to need it, Trump said. The couple recently moved into a California home after announcing they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America, citing what they said was unbearable intrusion and racist attitudes from the British media. Meghan, star of the TV legal drama Suits, married Harry, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, in a lavish ceremony at Windsor Castle in May 2018. They have a young son named Archie. The prototype of the particle sensor developed at TU Graz. Credit: Lunghammer - TU Graz TU Graz, AMSm, and Silicon Austria Labs have developed a compact, energy-efficient sensor for mobile devices that informs users in real time about the fine dust content in the air and warns them of elevated values. It is slightly smaller than two stacked one-cent coins and is thus particularly energy-efficient. It 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 millimeter 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." Paul Maierhofer with the result of his dissertation at the Institute for Electrical Measurement and Sensor Technology at Graz University of Technology: the 12 x 9 x 3 millimetre small particle sensor. Credit: Lunghammer - TU Graz Adapting behavior 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 Beyond wearables, the sensor can also be integrated in local applicationsboth in the home and outdoorsand 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. Explore further Vehicle emissions: New sensor technology to improve air quality in cities Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk speaks during the unveiling of the all-electric battery-powered Tesla's Cybertruck at the Tesla Design Center in Hawthorne, Calif., on Nov. 21, 2019. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) Tesla Sues to Block Unlawful Trump Tariffs on Chinese-Imported Goods Tesla Inc. is suing the federal government and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to block the Trump administration from collecting tariffs on certain items the electric car maker imports from China. The California-based electric vehicle and clean energy company filed its lawsuit Monday in the U.S. Court of International Trade, arguing that the Trump administrations tariffs on the goods are unlawful. It seeks a cancellation and refund of the duties it has already paid, with interest, Bloomberg first reported. The tariffs were arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion, Teslas filing said. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan is also named as a defendant in the suit. It comes after Lighthizers office in 2019 blocked Teslas request for relief from duties of 25 percent on the companys Model 3 electric car computer and screen. U.S. trade officials said at the time that the items use technologies that are of strategic importance to Beijings national security programs. Tesla said it would suffer economically due to the higher costs imposed by the tariffs. Increased tariffs on this particular part cause economic harm to Tesla, through the increase of costs and impact to profitability, the company wrote in its request for relief last year. Due to the complexity of the Model 3 Car Computer and the demanding timelines necessary for Teslas exponential growth, Tesla is unable to find another manufacturer to meet our requirements. Some $200 billion worth of goods, known as list 3, are currently being hit by a 25 percent duty, while another group of Chinese-made goods worth $120 billion, known as 4A, are subject to a 7.5 percent duty. List 3 went into effect 2 years ago, while list 4A was hit by the tariff last year. The goods range from electric goods to raw materials. The company in its lawsuit argues that both sets of items should be declared void, but did not specify which duties it was challenging, or how much it has paid so far, reported Fox Business. The Epoch Times has contacted Tesla and Lighthizer for comment on the suit. Lighthizers 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, attorneys for Tesla argued in the lawsuit Wednesday. In a tit-for-tat trade war, the Trump administration beginning 2018 imposed a series of tariffs on Beijing, before reducing them after a phase one trade deal between the two nations was signed in January 2020. The Trump administration has kept tariffs on $375 billion worth of Chinese goods. Fig 1 Standard Uranium Fig 1 GUNNAR Project Java, Haven and Skye Target Areas Fig 1 GUNNAR Project Java, Haven and Skye Target Areas Fig 2 Standard Uranium Fig 2 GUNNAR Project Cross-Section at Java Target Area Fig 2 GUNNAR Project Cross-Section at Java Target Area Fig 3. Standard Uranium Fig 3 GUNNAR Project Photos from 2020 Field Work Fig 3 GUNNAR Project Photos from 2020 Field Work VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Uranium Ltd. (Standard Uranium or the Company) (TSX-V: STND) (Frankfurt: FWB:9SU) is pleased to announce that off-scale uranium mineralization has been sampled at surface from historical uranium prospects at its 15,770 hectare, 100% owned, Gunnar Uranium Project (the Project). The Project is located at the northwest edge of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, and is south of the first uranium mining camp in Canada, the Beaverlodge District, near Uranium City. Geologists have thus far visited the two main exploration targets on the project, the JSW1 prospect, herein re-named the Java Target, and the historical Stewart Island Deposit, herein re-named the Skye Target. In addition, a previously un-documented strongly radioactive occurrence has been located near two historically documented prospects, and the area has been collectively named the Haven Target. These three target areas will have a high priority, given the historically observed radioactivity at surface hosted in Athabasca Supergroup sandstones, and their proximity to nearby targets at the unconformity and within the basement rocks. (Figure 1). As noted in the July 15, 2020 news release, the target areas at the Gunnar Project have many attributes that are favourable for the formation of high-grade unconformity-related uranium mineralization. The key geological factors include uranium-enriched bedrock, re-activated and graphitized structures, Athabasca Supergroup sandstone cover, and favourable basement rheology contrasts. Java Target Historical Context The Java Target at the north-west end of Johnston Island encompasses the historical JNW-1 prospect and the unconformity-related uranium target to the north The JNW-1 prospect was channel sampled in 1977 by SMDC with results of 0.43% U 3 O 8 over 4.2 m at surface. Individual grab samples were as high as 12.4% U 3 O 8 . Story continues Located approximately 350 metres to the north of the JNW-1 prospect is a 1.5 km long electromagnetic trend that was drill-tested by several drill holes which encountered strongly altered and brecciated, chlorite-, sulphide-, and graphite-bearing metasediments underlying the Athabasca sandstone. The best hole of the area, LAO-1, contains 0.10% U 3 O 8 over 1 metre. (Figure 2) is a stylized representation of the exploration model at the Java target area. 2020 Follow-up at the Java Target The Standard Uranium geologists recently re-located and sampled the historical JNW-1 prospect and defined a surface radioactivity trend that is 30-metres long and between 2 and 8 metres wide. In total, 14 samples have been collected, some of which host off-scale uranium mineralization (herein defined as >65,000 CPS with a hand-held RS-125 Spectrometer) as the samples host strong fracture-related hematite and limonite alteration; with millimeter-scale uraninite mineralization along bedding planes and fractures, locally associated with patches of yellow altered uranium oxide (Figure 3A and 3B). Skye Target Historical Context At the south end of Steward Island is the Stewart Island uranium deposit that was defined during exploration between 1960 and 1969. A minor small historical resource of 2,561 tons averaging 0.476% U 3 O 8 was defined in three separate zones (*). This perched mineralization is hosted in a single Athabasca Supergroup sandstone horizon. A historical channel sample across the surface exposure returned 1.05% U 3 O 8 over 2.6 m. Historical drill hole N-2 drilled at -30 dip intersected 0.9% U 3 O 8 over 5.49 m. The Skye target area encompasses the historical Stewart Island uranium deposit in addition to the un-tested conductive rocks to the west. 2020 Follow-up at the Skye Target The Stewart Island deposit at the Skye target is composed of three main uranium zones. The strongest surface showing at the Stewart Island deposit, the main zone, is located at the edge of the shore and was not accessible this season due to remarkably high water levels. The western zone was sampled in outcrop with radioactivity measurements as high as 20,000 CPS (with an RS-125 Spectrometer). Several radioactive boulders along the shoreline were also sampled. The Eastern zone was re-located and sampled within Athabasca Supergroup rocks which exhibit off-scale uranium mineralization (Figure 3C) (>65,000 CPS with RS-125 Spectrometer). 2020 New Haven Target Area Approximately 2.3 kilometres southeast of the Java target area on Johnston Island, the geologists have sampled an un-documented radioactive prospect bearing strong uranium mineralization, herein named the Haven prospect. Additionally, they re-located the historical Walli and JSW2 prospects on the west end of Johnston Island. Collectively, these areas are known as the Haven Target Area. Coupled with electromagnetic geophysical targets nearby, the area represents an unconformity-related uranium exploration target, warranting a similar exploration model as the Java and Skye Target Areas. The JSW2 prospect is described as a 50-metre long and 0.5 to 2 metre wide radioactive trend with samples collected reaching a maximum of 9,200 CPS as measured with a hand-held RS-125 spectrometer. The sample containing the strongest mineralization was collected from a silicified and fractured sandstone with strong hematite and limonite alteration. The Walli prospect is described as a series of historical trenches along a 15-metre long radioactive trend. Samples collected contain radioactivity measurements up to 55,000 CPS on the hand-held RS-125 Spectrometer. The most radioactive sample was collected from a quartzite unit with strong pervasive hematite alteration. The Haven prospect is a previously un-documented occurrence that shows evidence of being trench-sampled in the past. Samples were collected with off-scale uranium mineralization (>65,000 CPS with a RS-125 Spectrometer). The rocks in the area are described as hematite-altered and heavily fractured Athabasca Supergroup conglomerate (Figure 3D). Neil McCallum, P.Geol, VP Exploration for Standard Uranium commented: The current results from the Gunnar Project are incredibly encouraging and have exceeded our expectations. We are currently planning a follow-up site visit in October and are starting the process of organizing a proposal to drill-test this winter season. The project has a sizeable amount of historical regional exploration from the 1978-1981 exploration era by SMDC (a predecessor company to Cameco), and then again briefly by CanAlaska Uranium during 2006 to 2008. Our recent reconnaissance work, in combination with the historical regional exploration work has laid the foundation for a focussed effort with a goal of making a new economic uranium discovery. The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Neil McCallum, VP Exploration and is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101. *The historical mineral resource estimates listed above either use categories that are not compliant with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and cannot be compared to NI 43-101 categories, or are not current estimates as prescribed by NI 43-101, and therefore should not be relied upon. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the estimates as current resources and Standard is not treating the estimates as a current resource estimate. However, the estimates are relevant to guiding the Companys exploration plans and provide geological information regarding the type of mineralization that could be present in the Gunnar Project area. Natural gamma radiation in outcrop and samples reported in this news release was measured in Counts Per Second (CPS) using a Radiation Solutions Inc. RS-125 gamma-ray spectrometer. The reader is cautioned that total count gamma readings may not be directly or uniformly related to uranium grades of the rock sample measured; they should be used only as a preliminary indication of the presence of radioactive minerals. About Standard Uranium (TSX-V: STND) We find the fuel to power a clean energy future Standard Uranium is a mineral resource exploration company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Since its establishment, Standard Uranium has focused on the identification and development of prospective exploration stage uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. Standard Uranium's Davidson River Project, in the southwest part of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, is comprised of 21 mineral claims over 25,886 hectares. The Davidson River Project is highly prospective for basement hosted uranium deposits yet remains untested by drilling despite its location along trend from recent high-grade uranium discoveries. A copy of the 43-101 Technical Report that summarizes the exploration on the Project is available for review under Standard Uranium's SEDAR issuer profile (www.sedar.com). For further information contact: Jon Bey, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman 550 Denman Street, Suite 200 Vancouver, BC V6G 3H1 Tel: 1 (604) 375-4488 E-mail: info@standarduranium.ca Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements, which are not composed of historical facts. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, intends, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan, and similar expressions. Specifically, forward looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements regarding: the timing and content of upcoming work programs; timing of geochemical results; geological interpretations; and estimates of market conditions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events, performance, or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, but there can be no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. In formulating the forward-looking statements contained herein, management has assumed that business and economic conditions affecting the Company will continue substantially in the ordinary course and will be favourable to the Company. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward looking statements include: the ability to commence and complete work on the Davidson River Project given the global COVID-19 pandemic; changes in equity markets; the Companys ability to raise additional capital if and when necessary; and other factors as described in detail in the Companys annual information form dated May 2, 2020 and other public filings, all of which may be viewed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise. Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Figures accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/669bab55-d44c-4901-b39d-5fa3bcf11d31 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5ff35195-ee28-4cf7-b5cb-272b8056031b https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d00e1c4e-f8e7-4f05-bd52-f61aef9a5978 New Delhi, Sep 24 : To offer flexible car ownership options, Maruti Suzuki India on Thursday launched its vehicle subscription programme. The vehicle subscription programme "Maruti Suzuki Subscribe" has been made available in Delhi, NCR (Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram) and Bengaluru. The company said the programme allows a customer to use a new car without actually owning it and by paying an all-inclusive monthly fee that covers maintenance, insurance and roadside assistance. "Maruti Suzuki has teamed up with ORIX Auto Infrastructure Services Ltd. (OAIS) India, a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation, Japan, to launch "Maruti Suzuki Subscribe" for these cities," the auto major added in a statement. "In this innovation, customers can choose to subscribe a new Swift, Dzire, Vitara Brezza and Ertiga from Maruti Suzuki Arena and a new Baleno, Ciaz and XL6 from NEXA." According to the company, customers can select the duration ranging from 12 to 48 months. "Customers will pay a monthly subscription charge as low as starting Rs 14,463 per cent, including taxes for Swift LXi in Delhi for a tenure of 48 months," the statement said. "This subscription is all inclusive and covers expenses like maintenance, zero depreciation insurance and 24x7 roadside assistance. After the completion of subscription tenure, the customer can also opt to upgrade vehicle, extend or buy the car at market price." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Highgate, a global real estate investor and hotel manager, today announces that Rich Russo, Zach Berger and Matt Gunlock have been named Principals, effectively immediately. The three will work closely with Co-Founders and Managing Principals Mahmood and Mehdi Khimji to build upon Highgate's proven 30-year track record and lead the next phase of strategic growth. "Each industry recovery that I've experienced has presented unique areas for growth, innovation and value creation, and the changes we have announced today well position us to capitalize on those opportunities," said Mahmood Khimji. "We are thrilled to continue to partner with Rich, Zach and Matt in navigating this incredibly dynamic market environment, and look forward to continuing to add to Highgate's leadership team and deep base of talent as we go into this next cycle." Rich Russo's 18 years of hotel industry experience includes five years with Highgate where he has been responsible for spearheading the firm's business development efforts. Prior to joining Highgate, Rich was Head of Development for Morgans Hotel Group. He began his career at Ernst & Young, and received his bachelor's degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration and MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business. Zach Berger is an eight-year Highgate veteran, where he most recently led acquisitions and asset management for the company. Zach worked at Citigroup in the Real Estate and Lodging Investment Banking group prior to joining Highgate. He graduated summa cum laude from Wake Forest University, with a bachelor's degree in Economics and Political Science, and also studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Matt Gunlock has 15 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, the last five of which as Highgate's General Counsel. Prior to joining Highgate, Matt was an attorney at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where he focused on commercial real estate transactions, hospitality, and private equity. He holds a BS in Accounting, summa cum laude, from the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University and a JD from the William & Mary School of Law. For more information on Highgate, visit Highgate.com . About Highgate Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in major U.S. gateway cities including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a growing Caribbean and Latin America footprint. The hospitality forward company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has a proven record of developing its diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts with contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, Chicago, Dallas, London, Miami, and Seattle. www.highgate.com. FOR MORE MEDIA INFORMATION: TAYLOR SCHILLACE / MICHELLE KELLY THE ZIMMERMAN AGENCY 850.668.2222 [email protected] SOURCE Highgate Related Links http://www.highgate.com/ (Newser) Elon Musk isn't just calling for the US to end new tariffs on Chinese productshe wants a refund for the money's he already paid, plus interest. Musk's car company, Tesla, filed a lawsuit against the US this week over the import tariffs, as did automakers Ford, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz, reports AFP. Tesla's lawsuit calls the tariffs, which are part of a wider US-China trade war, "arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion." The other companies make similar cases. Mercedes, for instance, complains that US law did not confer authority on defendants to litigate a vast trade war for however long, and by whatever means, they choose." story continues below Tesla's suit, filed in New York with the US Court of International Trade, names US trade representative Robert Lighthizer as a defendant, per CNBC. The company is particularly worried about the price of components that make up what it calls the "brain" of its Model 3 autopilot system. Tesla had applied for a waiver from the 25% tariffs but was denied last year. The lawsuits are the latest of hundreds of suits to be filed in the court against the tariffs, reports Bloomberg. (US intelligence officials are accusing China of interfering in the 2020 election.) The 32-year-old man who denies murdering the Polish national by stabbing him 62 times also told detectives that he was shocked to hear his friend was dead and did not know what the deceased could have done for someone to kill him. Sebastian Barczuk with an address at Briarwood Lawn, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 has pleaded not guilty to murdering Michal Kurek (33) at a place unknown within the State between August 3rd and 4th, 2017. The trial has heard that Mr Kurek, a homeless man with addiction difficulties, was found lying face down in the gateway of a country lane in Ballyboughal in north Co Dublin with 62 stab wounds to his body, including 25 knife wounds to his back. Former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis has testified that the Polish national died from "multiple stab wounds and with a contributory factor of blunt-force trauma to the head and chest". Cannabis Advertisement Giving evidence on Thursday, Garda Shane Fitzsimons told prosecution counsel Lorcan Staines SC that he arranged to take a statement from Mr Barczuk at Connolly Station on August 13th, 2017. In his statement, the accused man said he had moved to Ireland in late 2007 and lived in Ongar. He initially got a job working in construction and started studying economics in DCU in March 2008. Mr Barczuk said he met Mr Kurek when they were both delivering leaflets in May 2011. "We became friendly and I used to give him a lift home from work sometimes. When we would be talking, Michal would ask me if I wanted any cannabis or amphetamines. I found this strange but it seemed normal to him," said the accused. Mr Barczuk also told Gda Fitzsimons that Mr Kurek later rented a room in a house that he shared and would smoke a lot of cannabis. The two men also lived together in a second house in Ongar in December 2013 but then Mr Kurek lost his job, he explained. Mr Kurek moved out of the house in 2015. In trouble Mr Barczuk said that Mr Kurek always wore the same clothes and looked homeless. The accused said he got a phone call from his friend in January 2017 saying that he was "in trouble" and in hospital. He said Mr Kurek told him that "everyone knew him and were following him" [sic]. Mr Barcuzk said he used to see Mr Kurek randomly and knew he slept homeless on Moore Street and in Mulhuddart Park. "About four or five months ago I saw Michal and he said he after scared someone [sic]. Then two or three guys beat him up," he said. Advertisement The accused also told the witness that he got a call from Mr Kurek two weeks prior to August 13th and he met him at Clonsilla train station. "He said he after getting big money and was moving back to Germany. This was the last time I saw him. I didn't speak on the phone to him," he said. Lot of enemies Detective Garda Nicky Duane of Balbriggan Garda Station said he took another statement from Mr Barcuzk at Ballymun Garda Station on August 20th, 2017. Mr Barcuzk said he last saw Mr Kurek, who was afraid at the time to go into the city centre, four or five weeks previously. The accused told the detective that he knew Mr Kurek had a lot of enemies and did not know whether he had a drug debt. He said he last spoke to the deceased on the phone at the end of July. When Mr Barcuzk was asked by detectives if he knew who had killed Mr Kurek, he replied: "I don't know. If I knew I would tell you. Probably some psychopath". The accused said he had "no idea" why his friend was killed saying, "maybe he had debts". The accused agreed with the detective that six calls were made between his phone and Mr Kurek's phone on August 3 between 1pm and 9.39pm. Det Gda Duane asked the accused if there was anything about his friend's death which he would like to tell him. In reply, Mr Barcuzk said: "No, it was a shock for me when [a named person] called me. I really don't know what he could have done for someone to kill him." Data records Advertisement Detective Sergeant Michael Ryan testified that he requested call data records belonging to Mr Kurek's phone, which was found in the front pocket of his jeans as he lay in the gateway at Ballyboughal, from July 20th to August 4th, 2017. Det Sgt Ryan said he conducted a spreadsheet of the phone contacts between the accused and the deceased between 8pm and 2am on August 3rd. The jury heard evidence of calls made between the two men on August 3 as well as cell site analysis. Earlier, community welfare officer Stephen Swords told Mr Staines that he was working in the Department of Social Protection office on Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin 1 in August 2017. Mr Swords said he was familiar with Mr Kurek coming into the office and had met him on August 3rd, when he collected his payment for a number of weeks. "I had dealt with him four or five times and he was very personable and pleasant to deal with", he added. In his opening address, Mr Staines told the Central Criminal Court jury that this was a circumstantial case and ultimately the question for them was "who did it" and not whether the deceased was murdered or not. Counsel said the prosecution cannot say where or why Mr Kurek was murdered and a murder weapon was never recovered. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of seven men and five women. We are impressed with Onward Searchs commitment to D&I and look forward to supporting their efforts in areas such as recruitment, supplier diversity, and community visibility. - Michelle Ngome, Founder and President of the AAMA. Onward Search, a leading staffing agency for creative, marketing and technology professionals, is excited to announce it has signed on as the inaugural silver sponsor for the African American Marketing Association (AAMA). The AAMA was founded in 2019 and headquartered in Houston, TX with a growing network of members across the United States. The non-profit organization has a mission to foster the growth and professional development of African-American marketers, creatives, and entrepreneurs. As we actively engage in increasing our membership, we want to partner with entities that are serious about diversity and inclusion and are aligned with our mission, stated Michelle Ngome, Founder and President of the AAMA. We are impressed with Onward Searchs commitment to D&I and look forward to supporting their efforts in areas such as recruitment, supplier diversity, and community visibility. We are thrilled to join forces with the AAMA, said Ken Clark, CEO of Onward Search. Our company strives to attract diverse talent, empower voices equally, and give back to non-profits that align with our mission of matching great talent with great companies. The AAMA unites all of these goals and we look forward to working with them to advance the careers of African American marketing and creative professionals. As an AAMA Partner, Onward Search will collaborate to help provide educational opportunities, quality programming, and professional development for African-Americans and other diverse marketing professionals. The company will be participating in joint webinars, social media cross promotion, and co-branded outreach to help drive awareness and increase membership. For more information about the AAMA, visit https://www.aa-ma.org/. For more information about Onward Searchs D&I efforts, visit https://www.onwardsearch.com/about/diversity-and-inclusion/. About Onward Search Onward Search is an award-winning recruitment and staffing agency with the mission to connect the nations top companies with the best creative, marketing and technology talent in the industry. Founded in 2007, the company is headquartered in Wilton, CT with regional offices across the US servicing clients in all 50 states. Onward Search also has a dedicated technology staffing division, Onward Select, and a dedicated staffing division for gaming companies, Onward Play. For more information, visit http://www.onwardsearch.com. About AAMA The African-American Marketing Association (AAMA) is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to foster the growth and professional development of African-American marketers, creatives, and entrepreneurs. 5 women on Trumps SCOTUS shortlist Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Following the death of longtime U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, President Donald Trump is expected to announce his nomination for her replacement later this week. At a rally in North Carolina over the weekend, Trump announced that the replacement for Ginsburg would be a woman. Ginsburg, long seen as the anchor of the Supreme Courts liberal wing, died Friday at the age of 87. Her death came just 46 days before the hotly contested 2020 United States presidential election, where Trump had already raised control of the courts as a major campaign issue. Two weeks ago, Trump updated his list of potential Supreme Court nominees that he first released after he became the presumptive Republican nominee for president in 2016. Exit polling of the 2016 presidential election showed that those who viewed Supreme Court appointments as the most important factor in their vote favored Trump by a 15-percentage-point margin over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Over the objections of Democrats, Trump has announced that he plans to nominate a replacement for Ginsburg before the end of the week, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. has indicated that he plans to give Trumps nominee hearings and a floor vote. Despite Republicans 53-47 edge in the Senate, it remains to be seen whether they will have enough votes to confirm a nominee so close to the election as two Republican senators have said they believe the winner of the 2020 election should decide the next Supreme Court nominee. The following pages contain important things to know about the top contenders on President Trumps updated Supreme Court shortlist. WASHINGTON President Donald Trumps refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses drew swift blowback Thursday from both parties in Congress, and lawmakers turned to unprecedented steps to ensure he cant ignore the vote of the people. Amid the uproar, Trump said anew hes not sure the election will be honest. Congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, rejected Trumps assertion that hell see what happens before agreeing to any election outcome. Many other lawmakers -- including from Trumps own Republican Party -- vowed to make sure voters' wishes are followed ahead of Inauguration Day in January. And some Democrats were taking action, including formally asking Trumps defense secretary, homeland security adviser and attorney general to declare theyll support the Nov. 3 results, whoever wins. Asked as he departed the White House for a campaign rally if the election is only legitimate if he is the winner, Trump said, Well see. The president said he wants to make sure the election is honest, and Im not sure that it can be. Trumps attacks on the upcoming vote -- almost without modern precedent in the U.S. -- are hitting amid the tumult of the campaign, as partisan tensions rage and more Americans than ever are planning to vote by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. Its not the first time he has sowed doubts about the voting process. But his increased questioning before any result is setting off alarms ahead of an Election Day like no other. Even without signs of illegality, results could be delayed because of the pandemic, leaving the nation exposed to groups or foreign countries seeking to provoke discord. McConnell, the GOP Senate leader, said in a tweet, The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. He said, There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792. Said Pelosi, Calm down, Mr. President. You are in the United States of America. It is a democracy, she said, reminding Trump this is not North Korea, Russia or other countries with strongman leaders he admires. So why dont you just try for a moment to honor our oath of office to the Constitution of the United States. Trump is fanning the uncertainty as he floats theories the election may be rigged if he loses, echoing warnings he made ahead of the 2016 voting even though past elections have not shown substantial evidence of fraud from mail-in voting. During a Wednesday news conference, Trump said, Were going to have to see what happens, responding to a question about committing to the results. You know that Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster. Reaction to his comment was strong from Capitol Hill from both parties. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally and the GOP chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Fox & Friends on Thursday: "If Republicans lose we will accept the result. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Joe Biden, I will accept that result. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, a member of the House GOP leadership, tweeted: The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. Americas leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath. Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, was incredulous, What country are we in? he said late Wednesday of Trumps comment. Look, he says the most irrational things. I dont know what to say about it. But it doesnt surprise me. On Capitol Hill, Trumps possible refusal to accept the election results has been discussed privately for weeks as lawmakers consider options. One senator said recently it was the biggest topic of private discussions. Two House Democrats, Reps. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan both members of the Armed Services Committee are formally asking members of Trumps Cabinet to go on record and commit to upholding the Constitution and peaceful transition. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded in a letter to the lawmakers last month that he sees no role for the military to intervene in a disputed election. But Defense Secretary Mark Esper declined to respond to the lawmakers' questions. Similar queries have been sent to Attorney General William Barr and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf. They have yet to respond. The president cant successfully refuse to accept the results of the election without a number of very senior officials aiding him, said Slotkin, a former CIA analyst. Sherill, a former Navy pilot, said peaceful transition really relies a lot on the Cabinet officers turning over their departments to the next administration. She told The Associated Press recently she wants to hear from all of them. Meanwhile, Republicans are rushing to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court created by Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death, partly to ensure a Trump-friendly court majority to resolve any post-election lawsuits by their party or Trump himself. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is among leading Republicans pushing the importance of the courts role. And Graham suggested on Fox that the Supreme Court could end up all but declaring the winner. Democrats object strongly. He wants to be named president for life? Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., exclaimed at the Capitol. Thats how a dictator operates, she said. Thats not how a democracy works. Earlier Thursday, the White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany sought to clarify Trumps words, saying he will accept the results of a free and fair election. But the press secretary added that Trump wants to get rid of mass, mail-out voting. The president, who uses mail-in voting himself, has tried to distinguish between states that automatically send ballots to all registered voters and those, like Florida, that send only to voters who request them. Five states that routinely send mail ballots to all voters have seen no significant fraud. Of the nine states with universal ballots this year, only Nevada is a battleground, and likely pivotal only in a total national presidential deadlock. Before the 2016 election, much as now, Trump refused to commit to accepting the results during the summer. I have to see, Trump said two months ago on Fox News Sunday. No, Im not going to just say yes. Im not going to say no, and I didnt last time either. ___ Madhani reported from Chicago. Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor and Laurie Kellman in Washington, Alexandra Jaffe in Wilmington, Del. and Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report. Security forces on Thursday arrested at least two people and recovered war-like stores in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. The joint operation by Jammu and Kashmir Police, nine Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was conducted in Qazigund town of the district. During checking in an area under the Qazigund Police Station, huge cache of arms and ammunition including an AK, 218 7.62x39 mm ammunition, four AK magazines, a Norinco/EMEI Type 97 NSR rifle, 190 5.56x45 mm ammunition, four T97 Magazines, three grenades and Rs four lakh (INR) was seized. Live TV The recovery was made from Mahindra Bolero Load Carrier (JK 13 B 4213). The vehicle has been seized and two persons ferrying the stores detained. They were--Nisar Ah Lone (Heff Shirmal Shopian), who have been missing since September 16, and Samiullah Chak (Nowgam Shopian). Reportedly this consignment was dropped through a drone from Pakistan in Samba sector of Jammu and was to be handed over to the terrorists in south Kashmir. If there's one thing the Covid-19 global pandemic has brought into startling clarity it is the need for connected services and remote access. From Dubai Internet City to Cape Town's smart city bid, governments across the globe have been building the next generation cities -- connected, open, and inclusive - for years and yet they feel even more relevant in the current context. The question remains though, whether these smart cities actually positively impacting on growth and development. Do they work? Most experts are keen to point out that the use of technology alone is not enough to make a city smart; technology can be a tool, but, by design, smart cities require innovation across a range of processes as well as the implementation of technologies. Bill Lawrence, counsel at Burr and Forman, says the appeal of smart cities lies in their predicted ability to both spur economic growth for their citizens and also reduce government expenditures. For example, he explains, research suggests that smart city solutions for managing vehicle traffic and electrical grids could produce $160 billion in benefits and savings by reducing energy use, traffic congestion, and fuel costs. "Municipalities are incentivized to become smart cities, but municipalities that have burdensome or non-existent small cell siting processes will prevent themselves from becoming smart cities and reaping the associated economic rewards," Lawrence says. He adds that the carrot for municipalities is directly in front of them - carriers in the U.S. are willing and ready to invest $275 billion to deploy 5G networks, which could create 3 million new jobs and add $500 billion to the economy. Benefits for all? Not everyone is convinced that smart cities are really smart or that they benefit residents. Tim Sylvester, founder, CEO and CTO of Integrated Roadways believes the biggest challenge facing the current generation of smart cities is the high cost weighed against an unknown or undefined end benefit for the taxpaying members of the community. The last three prime ministers who served full terms started out in their early 70s. Mr Modi is younger and fitter than all of them. But he needs to find it in him to change course if he is to beat the odds, notes T N Ninan. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi addressing the convocation at IIT-Guwahati, September 22, 2020. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Narendra Modi turned 70 on September 17. He has been prime minister for the past six years and more, and chief minister for nearly 13 years before that. He did well by the Gujarat economy, raising its performance on many parameters -- though perhaps not as much as claimed. He introduced novel solutions to old problems, and was full of focused energy and drive. The arrival of the Narmada waters and use of new cotton strains helped to rapidly raise agricultural production. But projects like the Gujarat International Financial Tec-City have made slow progress. For all that, he has changed India more than he changed Gujarat, though he has been prime minister for only half the time that he was chief minister. The ethos of politics north and partly south of the Vindhyas has been transformed, with more or less unabashed majoritarianism. Breakthroughs in the Ram Janambhoomi case (through a self-contradictory judgment) and Jammu and Kashmir (through the clever technical use of Constitutional provisions) enjoy popular sanction in the heartland. So the Opposition's very points of criticism are achievements for Mr Modi's support base. However, the long-term subjugation of the state and autonomous institutions to sub-serve party purposes, while not a BJP patent, places the original document of the republic on the list of endangered species. The economic legacy is still being written. Mr Modi's initiatives can be broken down by category. Spending programmes for Ease of Living, infrastructure investment, and renewable energy have been quite successful though patchy. Policy initiatives less so; Indradhanush for banks, UDAY for electricity, and goods and services tax. Programme-specific targeting has done quite well: Jan Dhan, renewable energy, Swachh Bharat, Ujjwala, etc. But broader targeting has been poor: Doubling farmers' incomes by 2022 and increasing the share of manufacturing from 15 per cent to 25 per cent of GDP by the same year. This good-to-poor mix of outcomes can be explained through the relative complexity of the tasks attempted: Building a highway or a toilet is easier than reforming a sector, which is easier than changing the structure of the economy. Chief ministers deal with the simpler tasks, whereas even politically successful prime ministers can fail when confronted with the interplay of complicated levers that steer economic activity. As it happens, Mr Modi did well in his initial three years, but the economy benefited from a collapse of oil prices from more than $100 per barrel in 2011-2014 to an average of less than $60 subsequently -- a boost equivalent to over 2 per cent of GDP annually. The surge in growth from 6.4 per cent in Manmohan Singh's final year to 8.3 per cent in Mr Modi's best year (2016-2017) owes it to oil prices. The next three years have ended with a halving of the growth rate. The worst mistakes have been the attempts at silver-bullet solutions: Demonetisation for one, and the March-April lockdown, which led to reverse labour migration on an epic scale. The outcome now is shrunken employment, while the future is clouded by widespread business distress and stricken banks. Meanwhile, reforms like the bankruptcy law and defined monetary goals are being set aside, while GST is a mess. Self-reliance as the new goal awaits proof of outcome. Somewhere in all this, there is the question of competence. "Hard work" by itself is not enough when the tasks get more complex. Sub-optimal economic legacies are typical of strongman leaders. The Russian economy under Vladimir Putin is smaller now than in 2008. Mr Erdogan's Turkey has a currency that has lost 60 per cent of its value in five years. Hugo Chavez, Lula da Silva, and Peron were populist leaders who scored initial successes in Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina, but their legacies have little to commend them. Mr Modi can still avoid being in that company, but the macro-economic ratios and systemic blocks are now stacked up against him. He has time on his side. The last three prime ministers who served full terms started out in their early 70s. Mr Modi is younger and fitter than all of them. But he needs to find it in him to change course if he is to beat the odds. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com (ANSA) - ROME, SEP 24 - Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese said Thursday that the Alan Kurdi, a migrant-rescue ship run by the Sea-Watch NGO, has been allowed to take shelter from rough seas off Sardinia and would get the OK to dock if conditions get worse. The ship, which has over 130 asylum seekers on board, is sheltering in front of the port of Arbatax. It had been wandering around at sea for several days waiting to be assigned a port of safety as at least four countries, Germany, France, Malta and Italy, had been unwilling to take it in. "The Alan Kurdi ship is not up to taking very rough seas and they asked to enter Arbatax and take shelter in the natural harbour," Lamorgese told a parliamentary committee. "We have granted shelter and we have spoken to other European countries, which have said they are willing to take all but 25, who would stay in Italy. "The port is closed.. but if the sea conditions worsen, they will be allowed to disembark, with the understanding that, even though they must do 14 days of quarantine, they will immediately be relocated elsewhere. "Only 25 would remain in Italian territory". (ANSA). Researchers at Yale University found that testing "sewer sludge" in wastewater for coronavirus could detect an outbreak more than a week earlier than traditional contact tracing. In the study, published last week in the journal Nature Biotechnology, researchers began taking daily samples from a New Haven-area wastewater treatment plant, which serves multiple towns in Connecticut including New Haven, East Haven, Hamden and parts of Woodbridge. The studys results, which span 10 weeks from March 19 to June 1, found that testing sewers for Covid-19 collecting samples from the "primary sewage sludge" of settled solids produces transmission trends that are very similar to those of contact tracing, but come about six to eight days earlier. University Of Arizona Wastewater Testing Halts Potential Covid-19 Cases At Dorm (Cheney Orr / Bloomberg via Getty Images file) Wastewater testing is exactly as it sounds and it isnt anything new. The science of studying human fecal waste as a way of predicting a populations risk for viral spread, also known as wastewater epidemiology, has been successfully used by the global community in the fight against polio. Wastewater, or sewage from households or buildings, can harbor viruses like coronavirus regardless of whether a person is symptomatic. When scientists extract human waste from municipal sewage systems, then analyze it for dead virus particles, theyre given clear indication of the number of infected individuals in that area. In communities where test reporting is delayed, the researchers wrote, sludge results, if analyzed and reported on the same day as sampling, can provide substantial advance notice of infection dynamics." This roughly week-long period can be crucial to curbing coronavirus outbreaks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those infected with the coronavirus may not show symptoms for up to 14 days, if at all, but may otherwise be contagious. In August, the University of Arizona claimed a campus outbreak was averted in part because of wastewater testing which indicated two asymptomatic students were in a campus dorm. Prior to students, faculty and staff returning to its campus, the university had enacted a campus-wide initiative in which campus sewage systems were actively monitored for traces of coronavirus. Story continues In countries like The Netherlands, France, and Australia small pilot studies have also demonstrated the promise wastewater testing. In Paris, researchers released findings in April showing theyd successfully mimicked the rise-and-fall curve of the citys on-the-ground epidemic over a 1-month period of testing the citys sewage systems. The Yale study also says wastewater testing is less costly, intricate and time consuming than contact tracing. As such, it benefits low-income communities and communities with overwhelmed public health systems where there are lags in testing. But the researchers cautioned wastewater testing for Covid-19 is still poorly understood. Theres still a lot more to do, researcher Jordan Peccia, a professor at the Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science, told NBC News. Were one of the earlier groups to have developed a robust relationship between wastewater and coronavirus cases, but this is just a first step. It doesnt replace contact tracing, Peccia said. (But) if we know a little bit ahead of time, we can raise the alarm. TDP leader criticised that Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy was deliberately not following the rules and regulations of the temple in utter disregard for the sentiments of the devotees. TDP attributes temple attacks to Andhra CM Jagan Mohan reddy. Its former MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao appealed to the YSRCP Government not to take light of the customs and traditions being practised at various temples in the State from times immemorial. Mr. Uma said that the tradition of giving declaration by non-Hindus was in practice at Tirumala temple since the British regime. Even the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Act and GO 311 underline the need for a non-Hindu to declare his faith in the divinity of Tirumala deity before entry for darshan at the Seven Hills temple. Addressing a press conference here, the TDP leader criticised that Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy was deliberately not following the rules and regulations of the temple in utter disregard for the sentiments of the devotees. When so many attacks were taking place on temples, the Chief Minister was sitting like a silent monk which is not in the best interests of all sections of the people. Also read: Experts believe Covid-19 second wave is on its peak in Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal Also read: Jaishankar to participate in virtual SAARC meet today Mr. Bonda Uma said that it was up to the CM and his family members to follow any religion they believe in but there should be no way that the traditions of other religions can be ignored without any regard for the feelings of devotees. These kinds of activities would harm the harmony and well being of the people. The TDP leader deplored that the wrongdoings of the Jagan Reddy regime were creating such pathetic situations that were bringing tears to the eyes of Peethadhipathis and Hindu devotees all over. As the silken robes were presented without a spouse by the side, their sacredness was desecrated. Lots of non-Hindus went into Tirumala temple along with CM Jagan without submitting a declaration. Mr. Bonda Uma accused the CM of not talking at all on the issues pertaining to temples while he wildly reacted within half an hour of postponement of the local body elections. The CM should explain why he was not promptly reacting and taking steps against culprits in attacks on temples. Also read: Fit India anniversary: PM interacts with sports stars, launches age appropriate fitness protocols Brazils Petrobras Strikes Oil in New Pre-Salt Well Brazilian state oil company Petrobras said Wednesday it has identified the presence of hydrocarbons in the pioneer well of block C-M657, located in the pre-salt area of the Campos Basin. Petrobras is the operator of the block and holds a 30 percent stake, in partnership with ExxonMobil, which has 40 percent, and Norways Equinor with 30 percent. Well 1-BRSA-1376D-RJS (Naru) is located about 300 kilometers from the city of Rio de Janeiro, in water depth of nearly 3,000 meters, the company said. Petrobras second-quarter commercial oil output grew 4.1 percent, year over year, to almost 2.5 million barrels daily, Oilprice.com reported this month. That growth was driven primarily by the significant expansion of the companys presence in the pre-salt fields, where production expanded almost 31 percent in the same period, to 1.5 million barrels daily. U.S. Firm Fined for Bribing National Oil Companies A U.S.-based asphalt company has agreed to pay $16.6 million in fines after pleading guilty to bribery charges stemming from its business with state-run oil companies in three South American countries, the U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday in a statement. Between 2010 and 2018, Sargeant Marine paid millions of dollars in bribes to officials in Brazil, Venezuela, and Ecuador in order to obtain contracts or sell asphalt to state-owned or state-controlled companies in those countries, the company has admitted. Sargeant Marine, which is based in Florida, acknowledged that bribed officials at Brazils Petrobras, Venezuelas PDVSA, and Ecuadors Petroecuador, the Justice Department said. In related news, a former oil trader at Switzerland-based Vitol was charged Tuesday with paying $870,000 in bribes to former Ecuadorean officials from 2015 to 2020 in exchange for fuel oil contracts, the Associated Press reported. Vitol, which is not named in the indictment, purchased half of Sargeant Marine in 2015. U.S., Brazil Agree to More Trade in Ethanol, Sugar. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced Monday that the United States has agreed to expand how much sugar the South American country can export there, Folha de S.Paulo reported. In a message on social media, Bolsonaro said Brazil will be able to export 80,000 more metric tons of sugar to the United States under the plan. In exchange, Brazil will allow more U.S. ethanol into the country, said Bolsonaro, Reuters reported. Related: Why Russia Is Pushing Unneeded Nuclear Power Plants On Egypt Bolsonaro Defends Environmental Record at U.N. In his speech at the virtual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro defended his governments record on protecting the Amazon rain forest, the Associated Press reported. Brazils agricultural sector has increased exports in order to provide food to a growing world population, which has made it into a global target for criticism, said Bolsonaro. We are victims of one of the most brutal disinformation campaigns about the Amazon and the Pantanal wetlands, the Brazilian president said in his speech to the General Assembly. 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, several European countries, led by Germany, issued a statement known as the Amsterdam Declarations of Partnership. The statement says that deforestation in Brazil is making it increasingly difficult for Brazilian businesses and investors in the country to fulfill environmental, social and governance criteria, the AP reported. In recent months, European investment firms have reportedly threatened to divest from Brazilian assets including beef producers, grains traders, and government bonds if the country does not make progress in protecting the Amazon rain forest. Divestment is a real option for managing risks arising from deforestation, but our hope is that the government will listen to our concerns and take action to reduce deforestation significantly, Emine Isciel, head of climate and environment at Storebrand Asset Management in Norway, told the Advisor in a Q&A published July 14. In July, Bolsonaro banned the setting of agricultural and forest fires for 120 days, the AP reported. Deforestation may have reached a 14-year high in the 12 months through July, according to preliminary data that Brazils space agency published last month. Also on Tuesday, Brazils government said it disagrees with claims that a trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur trade bloc would increase destruction in the Amazon, Reuters reported. Last week, Frances government cited a report for its opposition to the latest version of the E.U.-Mercosur trade deal. Brazil said the report, which it said the French government commissioned, reveals the real protectionist concerns of those who commissioned it when dealing with the agricultural concessions made by the E.U. to Mercosur, according to a joint note by Brazils Foreign Affairs Ministry and its Agriculture Ministry. By Latin America Energy Advisor More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Signage is seen at the United States Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C. By David Shepardson and Nandita Bose WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump met with nine Republican state attorneys general on Wednesday to discuss the fate of a legal immunity for internet companies after the Justice Department unveiled a legislative proposal aimed at reforming the same law. Trump met with attorneys general from Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. Also Wednesday, the Justice Department, which is probing Google for potential breaches of antitrust law, held a call with state attorneys general's offices to preview a complaint to be filed against the search and advertising giant, perhaps as soon as next week, according to two sources familiar with the matter. It is normal for the department to seek support from state attorneys general when it files big lawsuits. Critics have accused Google, owned by Alphabet Inc , of breaking antitrust law by abusing its dominance of online advertising and its Android smartphone operating system as well as favoring its own businesses in search. The Justice Department is expected to wait at least another week before filing the lawsuit as states review its case and decide whether to join, people familiar with the matter said. The White House said the legal immunity discussion involved how the attorneys general can utilize existing legal recourses at the state level - in an effort to weaken the law known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects internet companies from liability over content posted by users. After the meeting, Trump told reporters he expects to come to a conclusion on the issue of technology platforms within a short period. It was not immediately clear what conclusion he was referring to. He said his administration is watching the performance of tech platforms in the run-up to the Nov. 3 presidential election. "In recent years, a small group of powerful technology platforms have tightened their grip over commerce and communications in America," Trump said. "Every year countless Americans are banned, blacklisted and silenced through arbitrary or malicious enforcement of ever-shifting rules," he added. Story continues Trump, who himself frequently posts on Twitter , said Twitter routinely restricts expressions of conservative views. Earlier on Wednesday, the Justice Department unveiled a legislative proposal to reform Section 230. It followed through on Trump's bid earlier this year to crack down on tech giants after Twitter Inc placed warning labels on some of Trump's tweets, saying they have included potentially misleading information about mail-in voting. The Justice Department's proposal would need congressional approval, and is not likely to see action until next year at the earliest. Unless the Republicans win control of the House of Representatives and maintain control of the Senate in the November elections, any bill would need Democratic support. The Justice Department proposal primarily states that when internet companies "willfully distribute illegal material or moderate content in bad faith, Section 230 should not shield them from the consequences of their actions." It proposes a series of reforms to ensure internet companies are transparent about their decisions when removing content and when they should be held responsible for speech they modify. It also revises existing definitions of Section 230 with more concrete language that offers more guidance to users and courts. It also incentivizes online platforms to address illicit content and pushes for more clarity on federal civil enforcement actions. Attorney General William Barr said in a statement the administration was urging "Congress to make these necessary reforms to Section 230 and begin to hold online platforms accountable both when they unlawfully censor speech and when they knowingly facilitate egregious criminal activity online." The Internet Association, which represents major internet companies including Facebook Inc , Amazon.com Inc and Google, said the Justice Department's proposal would severely limit peoples ability to express themselves and have a safe experience online. The group's deputy general counsel, Elizabeth Banker, said moderation efforts that remove misinformation, platform manipulation and cyberbullying would all result in lawsuits under the proposal. (Reporting by David Shepardson and Nandita Bose in Washington; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason, Diane Bartz and Eric Beech in Washington, Karen Freifeld in New York, Paresh Dave in Oakland, California, and Ayanti Bera in Bengaluru; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler) 24.09.2020 LISTEN Former President John Dramani Mahama has described as inadequate the two-day extension for the exhibition of the new voters register, announced by the Electoral Commission on Wednesday. According to him, anomalies detected on the voters roll will require more time coupled with comprehensive and transparent dialoguing with IPAC. Mr Mahama cut short his campaign in the Bono Region after complaints by party executives over missing names during the exhibition of the voters register. The EC today extended the exhibition exercise by two more days to give more Ghanaians the opportunity to verify their details in the register. The exercise will now end on September 27. However, addressing the nation on Thursday, September 24, Mr Mahama insisted that the actions of the EC is causing distress among Ghanaians over the upcoming elections. He said, even though the occurrence of anomalies during voter exhibition exercise is not new, the sheer volume and magnitude of the recorded anomalies in this ongoing voter exhibition exercise are unusual and unprecedented and gives us genuine cause for concern about the credibility of the register and the integrity of the electoral process. It is obvious that the EC despite the desperate Public Relations attempts recognizes its failures and the potential challenge to the electoral process emanating from it actions. He indicated we believe that the decision to extend the exhibition period to Sunday, September 27th vindicates the position of the NDC. We, however, think that the two-day extension is inadequate to address the magnitude of issues that we have discovered that need to be resolved. The NDC wishes to recommend to the EC once again to begin a regular comprehensive and transparent dialogue with IPAC. Mr Mahama went on It is striking knowledge that a major requirement and prerequisite for the conduct free and fair election is the availability of a credible voters register. As many have observed the EC announced the exhibition of the voters register to take place between the 18th and 25th September 2020. The EC itself has publicly admitted errors in the register that is currently being exhibited. ---starrfm TDT | Manama Education is a prerequisite for development, shaping trends and values, and mending gaps between countries, Education Minister Dr. Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi said yesterday. He was speaking during the Arab Education Ministers meeting, where the document of developing education in the Arab world, prepared by the Arab Parliament, was endorsed. The virtual gathering was chaired by Saudi Education Minister Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Shaikh, in the presence of Arab League secretary-general Ahmed Abul Gheit and Arab Parliament Speaker Dr. Meshaal bin Fahm Al-Salami. Dr Al Nuaimi pointed out the great importance given by Bahrain to education, and stressed the achievements made in this respect. Concerning the document on developing Arab education, Dr Al Nuaimi pointed out that it includes all educational stages and aspects and reflects the principles and fundamentals shared by Arab states. He added that the document reflects the aspiration to upgrade education and its output inconsistency with development needs, and the move towards a knowledge-based economy. He called to form a team of educational experts from Arab countries to study the document and the visions included in it. From 500 cases to 57 lakh. Six months after a nationwide lockdown, Covid-19 is spreading fast across the length and breadth of India with more testing and developments on the vaccine front but no clarity on when the disease will be controlled, say scientists. On March 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown for the entire country, stating it was the only way to break the chain of infection. At the time, the number of people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus was a little over 500 and the death toll 12. Six months on, India has the second highest number of cases in the world after the US with a tally of 57.32 lakh cases, 86,508 people testing positive in a day and a total of 91,149 fatalities, according to Union Health Ministry figures on Thursday. For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here As Covid-19 rages -- and even laypersons get conversant with the complexities of RT-PCR tests versus the cheaper but not so reliable rapid antigen tests -- US-based economist and epidemiologist Ramanan Laxminarayan said there is a hidden epidemic happening even as the pandemic spreads. He noted that the infection is spreading widely across all parts of the country, including into rural India, although the visibility is lower in places where testing is weak or inadequate. We will likely see some increases in states like UP and Bihar but only if RT-PCR testing increases. Right now, we have a hidden epidemic in many parts of the country which have weak health systems, the director of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy in Washington told PTI. While the infection is spreading at a slower rate than if people were not taking precautions, it is definitely not under control, Laxminarayan added. However, he expects the number of cases to start coming down in the next month or two as India approaches some sense of population immunity. As a substantial number of the population is infected and recovers from the disease, they are unlikely to spread the virus. CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH Given the precautions that are being taken both by the government and individuals, the epidemic has slowed down. This would mean that we would see a sustained plateau for a while before the cases start coming down, Laxminarayan said. On March 23, a day before the prime minister announced the lockdown and two days before it came into force, India had tested 18,383 samples. Till September 22, this had gone up to at least 6,62,79,462 tests, both RT-PCR and rapid antigen. The recoveries have gone up to over 46 lakh people, pushing the national recovery rate to 81.55 per cent. Immunologist Satyajit Rath sounded a note of caution and said India is still at the stage of spreading viral infection across communities. With global, international travel as the point of origin, the infection was first established in urban high-density localities, and is now spreading from those into the rest of the country, at widely varied speeds, Rath, from the National Institute of Immunology (NII) in New Delhi, told PTI. The infection has never really been under control in India, he said. The early harsh prolonged lockdown somewhat delayed the large-scale establishment of the infection. But 'control' has never been a possibility. So we are certainly going to see growth in the infection numbers for quite a long while yet, Rath added. Immunologist Vineeta Bal concurred with Rath, saying the Indian government did not learn much despite experiences from other parts of the world and announced complete draconian lockdowns that were extended for long periods. Leadership in the country lacked in its vision and could not get a sense of the ground realities for poor people; or maybe did not care, Bal, from Pune's Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research, told PTI. Because of major undermining of public health infrastructure for decades, our epidemic handling preparedness was very, very poor. That could have been the only justifiable reason for imposing the lockdown, Bal added. Laxminarayan took a different view. He said there were many positives about the control strategy, including early recognition of the threat faced by India, and an early lockdown though the implementation and planning could have been much better. The lack of early testing really cost the country. With better and more expanded testing early on, that India was fully capable of, the lockdown could have been more targeted rather than been nationwide. Since then, there has been much confusion on the scientific communication, including on the prospects for a vaccine and the utility of hydrochloroquine. The performance across different states has been very varied depending on their health system capacity, (sic) he noted. Rath said the early harsh prolonged lockdown created more problems than it solved. It somewhat delayed the large-scale establishment of the infection, but it did that at the disproportionately massive cost of disruption of already fragile livelihoods, of the economy, and of healthcare systems, he explained. Bal also pointed out that India has been paying for its long-term neglect of healthcare infrastructure that should accessible to the poor and the needy. While there have been serious efforts to build infrastructure, upgrade facilities in the past six months, what has been done is still not enough, she added. Discussing the vaccine, on which rest the hopes of billions of people globally, the experts said there are almost 200 efforts across the world to build and test candidates. A large number, growing by the week, are in clinical trials of actual efficacy. In India, there are at least eight vaccine candidates being developed, two of which have entered Phase 2 trials or the penultimate stage. In all likelihood, a number of vaccines will emerge. Optimistically, the first vaccines will probably be licensed by the end of this calendar year, Rath said. Further, the first-generation vaccines are likely to provide significant but not complete protection, and it will not be clear how long protection will last and how well booster vaccination will work, he said. Laxminarayan, also an affiliate professor at the University of Washington, added that it is too early to know if any of the vaccine candidates under development in India will play a major role in Covid-19 control in the country. However, one should hope that, he said. This is the first disease in human history, to the best of my knowledge, where candidate vaccine trials began in less than eight-nine months from the day the virus was identified and its sequence published. This is a major technological achievement, Bal added. The expert noted that in India the pandemic is unlikely to be over in the months to come, and the number of people getting infected will continue to rise. Slowing down because of aging doesn't mean the end of driving or other activities that require quick mental and physical agility, says Peters, whose career in the study of getting old dates back to the 1980s. It does mean working to keep skills sharp and eliminate vulnerability, and defensive driving courses offered by AARP, AAA and others are wise investments for older adults. "Most [older] people I work with are terrified of losing their licenses. It's scary to contemplate the possibility of losing your license because we are a car-based society, she says. They are also afraid of Alzheimer's disease. And I think that some people, if they admit that they go to driving school, think they are steps closer to both those things." That's not necessarily true, says Susie Touchinsky, an occupational therapy certified driver rehabilitation specialist and owner of Adaptive Mobility Services LLC in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. "My oldest driver was 103, and she was fantastic at driving, Touchinsky says. I've worked with people who are 18 and should never drive. A lot of elements affect a person's ability to drive defensively. In the five years from 2014 to 2018, the most recent available, older drivers were involved in fewer crashes including fatal accidents than other age groups, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drivers ages 55 to 64 at the time of the incident were involved in fewer than 1 out of 8 accidents, drivers 65 to 74 were involved in fewer than 1 in 15 wrecks, and drivers 75 and older were involved in about 1 in 30 wrecks. Nearly 1 in 4 accidents involved drivers ages 15 to 24. Canadas public schools are the envy of the world. On OECDs international PISA test results, Canada consistently ranks in the top dozen countries. Apart from Ireland and the city-state of Singapore, it is the highest performer among all English- and French-speaking nations. But suppose you dont want a strong public system. Suppose you seek inspiration from fading, imperial England, or the chaotically imperious U.S. Suppose, like them, you see public schools as means to save money, release tax dollars and create market opportunities that will mostly benefit the wealthy. Politicians love a crisis. The pandemic is a perfect one. If they wish, governments can keep people constantly off-balance, distracted by hokey-pokey, back-to-school strategies that are online, offline, online and offline, back to school, then back home again, in constantly shifting conditions. As Winston Churchill once said, Never waste a good crisis. So heres what to do. 1. Undermine public confidence Dont copy most Scandinavian countries, New Zealand, Scotland or South Korea, who have mainly had smooth return-to-school strategies that governments and teacher unions introduced together. Instead, like Ontario or Alberta, make last minute announcements, without unions involvement. This will provoke a reaction from unions and make them look unreasonable. It will also leave teachers underprepared and apparently incompetent. Public confidence in the teaching profession will sag. Meanwhile, underfund back-to-school arrangements so that classes are large, conditions are unsatisfactory and parents grow increasingly frustrated. 2. Create private alternatives When people feel trapped, show them an exit route. Allow and encourage pods to be created by economically advantaged parents who are understandably fearful about their childrens health. After the pandemic, make these options permanent. Plant opinion pieces in the media that promote charter schools and private schools as alternatives to like-it-or-lump-it government schools. Pass legislation to introduce charter schools or expand their number. Ignore evidence from England, the U.S. and Alberta that charter schools dont outperform regular public schools. Hide the fact that, elsewhere, charter schools often reap significant profits for their tax-subsidized private owners. And dont mention Sweden. After it introduced free schools, the largest group of owners turned out to be hedge fund companies. Sweden also experienced the biggest decline on PISA results of any country in the world. 3. Misuse technology Expand technology aggressively after the pandemic. Enrich technology companies by extending the educational market as much as possible. Mandate online learning to reduce the number of teachers and increase profits for Big Tech. Dont implement technology in a prudent, balanced and evidence-based way to enrich and extend great teaching and learning. Use it to flood schools with devices and replace that teaching. 4. Impose austerity After the pandemic is over, ignore experts like Heather Boushey, economic adviser to Joe Biden. She says that austerity is not inevitable and that public sector investment actually protects jobs and increases consumer spending. Chrystia Freeland said much the same in her 2012 book, Plutocrats. Impose brutal cutbacks. Pay no attention to what happened when, in 2012, Kansass notorious Governor Brownback introduced austerity measures and the largest tax cuts in the states history. Literacy and mathematics results plummeted from being above the national average to falling into the bottom 25 per cent. 5. Mortgage the future Make your decisions on a short horizon. Ignore how our world is falling off its axis. Disregard how strong public education systems improve the future. Implement this plan, and public education will turn a tidy profit for the wealthy. It will amplify private gain. After people wise up, they will vote you out, of course. But dont worry. You and your plutocratic peers will reap your financial rewards for a long time after. However, if you see the light, a better future awaits. Invest resources to help vulnerable students catch up and heal after the pandemic. Plan responses collaboratively with teachers and their associations. Learn from the pandemic where technology can add unique value to young peoples education. Dont waste one good crisis by creating another. Transform education for public good, not for private profit that rewards the wealthy few. Andy Hargreaves is director of CHENINE (Change, Engagement & Innovation in Education) at the University of Ottawa. Michael Fullan OC is professor emeritus at OISE, University of Toronto. * Deadlock over Shi'ite demand to name finance minister * Hariri proposed an "independent" Shi'ite minister * Lebanon facing deepest crisis since civil war BEIRUT/PARIS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - 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. Story continues 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. (Reporting by Ellen Francis and Samia Nakhoul in Beirut and John Irish in Paris; Editing by Edmund Blair) By PTI NEW DELHI: India on Thursday came down heavily on Pakistan for its decision to hold general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and said any action to alter the status of the militarily-occupied region has no legal basis. Pakistan has announced that elections for the legislative assembly of Gilgit-Baltistan will be held on November 15. "Any action by Pakistan to alter the status of the militarily-occupied so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' has no legal basis whatsoever and is totally void ab-initio," Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Anurag Srivastava said at virtual media briefing. Referring to statements by the Pakistani leadership on the issue, he said Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on India's internal matters. ALSO READ | Necessary to ensure stability on ground: MEA on Sino-India border standoff in eastern Ladakh "Our position has always been clear and consistent. The entire territories of the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been and are an integral part of India and would remain so," Srivastava said. In a ruling earlier this year, the Pakistan Supreme Court allowed Islamabad to amend a 2018 administrative order to conduct general elections in the region. The Gilgit-Baltistan Order of 2018 provided for administrative changes, including authorising the prime minister of Pakistan to legislate on an array of subjects. Following the verdict, India issued a demarche to a senior Pakistani diplomat here and lodged a strong protest over the apex court ruling. India also clearly conveyed to Pakistan that the entire Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of the country. The polls in Gilgit-Baltistan were to be held on August 18, but Pakistan's election commission on July 11 postponed them due to the coronavirus pandemic. Polling would be held for 24 general seats of the legislative assembly. The five-year term of the previous assembly had ended on June 24, bringing an end to the five-year rule of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). A 33-year-old man bitten on the head and neck by a saltwater crocodile while snorkelling off a remote far north Queensland island is recovering in hospital. The Royal Flying Doctor Service was called to Lizard Island, about 250 kilometres north of Cairns on the Great Barrier Reef, late Wednesday afternoon in response. The island is a known saltwater crocodile hot spot. Credit:File A Department of Environment and Science spokesperson said the man was believed to have been bitten in Anchor Bay, offshore from the island's luxury resort, about 4pm. "He was treated at the scene before being flown to Cairns Hospital, where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries," the spokesperson said. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is tipped to be granted a special exemption from the Queensland government so he can commence filming of his latest movie Young Rock in October. The world's highest paid actor, who contracted and overcame COVID-19 along with his wife and two daughters earlier this month, is expected to land in the Sunshine State over the next few weeks. Production of the movie is set to begin in late October. Actor Dwayne Johnson (pictured) is briefly set to call Australia home in October The former wrestler is set to commence production of his film Young Rock in Queensland next month Deputy Queensland premier Steven Miles outlined exactly what will be required of Johnson when he flies down under. 'We have a (exemption) process in place,' Miles told radio hosts Cliffo and Gabi from Queensland's Hit Breakfast show. 'He (Johnson) would need to go through that process and get a special pass from the Federal Government, as well as endorsement from our Government, from the Chief Health Officer (Dr Jeannette Young). 'But wouldn't it be awesome to have The Rock here.' In August, casting directors cast the net for locals to be a part of the Young Rock movie as extras, notably gridiron players and wrestlers. Fellow A-List actor Tom Hanks recently finished his mandatory 14-day quarantine in a hotel approved by Queensland Health ahead of the production of Elvis. The Forrest Gump star was also subject to police checks, standard supervision, compliance and testing. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is set to receive an exemption from quarantine from the Queensland Government Press Release 24 September 2020 EHL Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality (EHL SSTH) in Passugg has been offering a Bachelor's program in International Hospitality Management since 2018. With the focus on new, digital forms of learning and the vision of "AffectiveHospitality", the hotel management school is well prepared for the future. Read the article by Marmite Professional here. Advertisements During the campus tour at Passugg, something like envy suddenly comes up. Of those who can complete their studies here. Those who initiated their basics of hospitality at this wildly romantic place above Chur and are allowed to live and learn together with their peers from the most diverse countries. Affective Hospitality teaches how to engage guests emotionally Dressed in elegant clothes - sneakers are undesirable - students and apprentices move around the area of the former spa hotel and greet visitors in a very friendly way. After all, dealing skillfully with strangers is part of the curriculum. Under the keyword "Affective Hospitality" the prospective hosts also learn how to engage and inspire guests on an emotional level. "The more everything becomes digital, the more people are looking for emotional experiences," says Michael Hartmann, Managing Director/CEO of the EHL Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality (EHL SSTH) in Passugg. Thus, in addition to professional competence, the education at EHL Passugg also focuses on the development of one's own personality and social skills. The Elysium project restaurant, which offers a multi-sensory culinary experience, is also about emotions. It is run by students and is open to external visitors on certain dates. Distant learning during lockdown With the corona-conditioned lockdown it became suddenly rather calmly on the EHL Campus Passugg starting from March 13 this year. Instead of in the classrooms, the kitchen and the school restaurants, classes were held in virtual rooms from March 16 onwards. This way the students and apprentices could finish their semester by distance learning in a regular way. "One of the reasons why this was possible was because the EHL Group has consistently pursued its strategy in the field of distant and blended learning for years and these forms of learning are already part of regular lessons," explains Michael Hartmann. From June 8, the EHL Campus Passugg was allowed to reopen, but since the semester had already ended, this only affected employees. For the start of the fall semester, which began on August 10, those responsible at the EHL Group developed a comprehensive security concept. For example, masks are mandatory on the entire campus, fever is measured at the entrance, disinfectants are available, and food is only handed out in a packaged form or scooped directly. The school has also taken precautions in the event that students are unable to be on site or are late due to travel restrictions: "Our lessons can take place physically as well as via live streaming," explains Michael Hartmann. Our vision: The world's leading hospitality education The school is therefore well prepared for the future. It has big plans. The EHL Group, which includes the Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne, EHL Campus (Singapore), EHL SSTH, EHL Advisory Services and the EHL Network of Certified Schools, has the vision of becoming the world's leading training institution in the hospitality industry. It is already the oldest: it was founded in 1893 by the Swiss Hotel Association and is today supported by a foundation. The EHL Campus Passugg has been part of the EHL Group since 2013, and since 2018, it has also been possible to obtain a Bachelor's degree here. In the same year, the Bachelor Village consisting of mobile studios was built to accommodate more students. In addition, there are further expansion plans: more space is to be created on the main campus and the accommodation capacity is to be further increased. Positive: The corona crisis had no effect on the number of students. On the contrary: 15 percent more students started the fall semester. Hong Kong: Measures for UK travellers set The Government will gazette the latest specifications today to impose conditions on travellers who visited the United Kingdom within 14 days before arriving in Hong Kong to reduce the number of imported COVID-19 cases. The specifications under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances & Travellers) Regulation (Cap 599H) were made in view of the developments of the epidemic situation worldwide and in Hong Kong. The Government had earlier introduced Cap 599H to impose testing and quarantine conditions on travellers coming to Hong Kong from very high-risk places. The Secretary for Food & Health previously published in the gazette specifications on the relevant measures applicable to Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa and the US. New specifications will be gazetted to maintain the conditions imposed and to include the UK as a specified place with effect from October 1. Travellers who have stayed in the specified places 14 days before arriving in Hong Kong must provide documents showing they tested negative for COVID-19 and their reservation for a hotel in Hong Kong. The operator of the aircraft must submit to the Department of Health before the aircraft arrives at Hong Kong a document confirming that each traveller has produced proof that relevant conditions are met. An operator who fails to comply with the requirement to provide information, or knowingly or recklessly provides any information that is false or misleading, is liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. Any traveller coming to Hong Kong who fails to comply with the requirement to provide information is liable to a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for six months. This story has been published on: 2020-09-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. MOSCOW The Russian authorities froze the assets of Aleksei A. Navalny, the Russian opposition leader poisoned last month, at the behest of a Kremlin-allied businessman known as Putins chef, Mr. Navalnys spokeswoman said on Thursday. Mr. Navalny, President Vladimir V. Putins most prominent domestic opponent in Russia, was still in a medically induced coma in a hospital in Berlin when his assets were frozen. A court barred Mr. Navalny from selling or mortgaging his apartment in southeastern Moscow, and his bank accounts have been frozen, Kira Yarmysh, the spokeswoman, said in a video posted to her Twitter account. The order was dated Aug. 27, a week after Mr. Navalny was poisoned with the military-grade nerve agent Novichok. But his lawyers learned of the courts decision only recently, Ms. Yarmysh said. The legal maneuver was brought on by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the catering magnate who is close to Mr. Putin and is known as Putins chef. In August, Mr. Prigozhin moved to collect damages that Mr. Navalny owed in a libel lawsuit from 2019 and coyly pledged to pursue the debt as long as Mr. Navalny survived the poisoning. You should pay careful attention to your states rules for returning a ballot. In Pennsylvania, for example, you must enclose it in two envelopes. In North Carolina, a witness must sign your ballot. Ignore these rules, and your vote may be thrown out. Historically, mail ballots are rejected much more often than in-person ballots (although some states are taking steps to reduce rejection rates this year). To meet your states deadline for mail-in ballots, the safest bet is to vote as soon as you know which candidates you support. If you live in one of the many states with drop-off locations, you may want to visit one of them rather than mailing in the ballot. Most states will also let you track the status of completed mail ballots. Or vote in person. Voting in person during the pandemic appears to be about as safe as going to the grocery store low risk but not no risk. Many states are taking measures, like spacing out voting booths, to increase safety. You should also wear a mask and stay at least six feet from others. In most states, you can vote early even if youre voting in person. Make a plan. Social-science research has found that people who make a specific voting plan exactly when and where they will vote are more likely to do so than people who vaguely promise themselves that they will. Once youve made that plan, tell others about it, in person or in your social-media feed. The announcement will help you stick to the plan and encourage others to do the same. You can also use a platform like Outvote to encourage your friends and relatives to vote, via text messages and social media. A legacy city is any one of the many American cities that were once drivers of industry and prosperitybut that experienced economic and population declines in the 20th century due to changing industries, as well as government policies that steered investment away from communities of color. Together, these older industrial centers are home to nearly 17 million people and a collective economy of $430 billion. In recent years, many legacy cities advanced on a path of revitalization. Now, they are being tested by unprecedented health and economic crises, which, together with demonstrations against police violence, have shed light on longstanding racial inequities. However, as dozens of legacy cities have proven in recent decades, a revival is possible. Legacy cities already have many of the assets they need for regeneration, including vibrant local cultures, historic neighborhoods, robust transportation networks, and underutilized workforces. The challenge is to capitalize on those resourcesand to mobilize collaboration among local leaders in politics, business, and other sectors. "If legacy cities can use their strengths to rebuild equitably, they will not only help millions of residents live healthy, prosperous lives but also create hundreds of new thriving places of opportunity," said George W. McCarthy, president and CEO of the Lincoln Institute. "One of the Lincoln Institute's goals is to reduce poverty and spatial inequality, and that won't be possible if opportunity in the United States is limited to a handful of superstar cities." "Legacy cities have proven time and again that they have the resilience to survive crises and adapt to change," McCarthy said. "As a connector of knowledge and people, the Lincoln Institute is committed to supporting legacy cities by helping them to harness their collective power, to learn from each other, and to apply proven strategies for building shared prosperity." The Legacy Cities Initiative takes a multipronged approach to supporting leaders on the ground, offering webinars, peer exchanges, new research, and a community of practice of select leaders, who will meet regularly beginning in January 2021. As a part of the Initiative's launch, the Lincoln Institute has called for cities to participate in the community of practice. Interested city leaders can learn more and apply here. The initiative includes a new digital home, legacycities.org, which features case studies of successful policies and programs that can serve as national models for inclusive and sustainable revitalization; a searchable map charting nearly 100 legacy cities and their pathways to growth; and a comprehensive list of resources exploring the unique challenges and opportunities that legacy cities face. "Research and ideas are important, but the success of legacy cities depends on people," said Jessie Grogan, the Lincoln Institute's associate director for reduced poverty and spatial inequality. "Fortunately, legacy cities already possess leaders and civic advocates of the highest caliber, and a big part of our mission will be to bring them together so they can learn from one another and achieve even greater impact. No city will have to rebuild alone." The Legacy Cities Initiative builds on the Lincoln Institute's extensive work with legacy city leaders and scholars including research, publications, and events. A series of Policy Focus Reports, Regenerating Legacy Cities (2013), Revitalizing America's Legacy Cities: Strategies for Postindustrial Success from Gary to Lowell (2017), and The Empty House Next Door: Understanding and Reducing Vacancy and Hypervacancy in the United States (2018), outline adaptable strategies that have helped legacy cities overcome population loss, neighborhood disinvestment, unemployment, and other common challenges. The Lincoln Institute, in partnership with Enterprise Community Partners, the former Rose Center for Public Leadership, and the American Planning Association also convened a community of practice in 2019 for representatives from Akron, Ohio; Rochester, New York; and Lansing, Michigan, a pilot version of the program that will begin in January 2021. Visit legacycities.org to sign up for the Innovations in Legacy Cities webinar series, which begins this fall, and join our legacy cities mailing list to learn more. The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy seeks to improve quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. A nonprofit private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Lincoln Institute researches and recommends creative approaches to land as a solution to economic, social, and environmental challenges. Through education, training, publications, and events, we integrate theory and practice to inform public policy decisions worldwide. SOURCE Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Related Links http://www.lincolninst.edu Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, the Deputy Minister of Health, has announced that the government has concluded a financial clearance process for about 3,400 Allied Health Professionals across the country. He said the financial clearance would give the opportunity to the health professionals to apply for postings, which would be open soon in the coming weeks to the various public health facilities across the country. We had a backlog of close to 4,000 people. As we speak, the government has given financial clearance for about 3,400 and the portal will be open in the coming weeks for them to go online and apply and be posted across the country, he said. Dr Okoe-Boye gave the announcement at the 8th induction and swearing of oath ceremony of Allied Health graduates organized by the Allied Health Professions Council in Accra. The ceremony saw the induction of 170 graduates made up of 57 Doctor of Optometry graduates and 113 Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science graduates. It was on the theme; The Role of Allied Health Professional-During and Post COVID-19. He said Allied Health Professionals played key roles in the health sector, hence, the need for the clearance by government to employ more hands and asked them to accept postings to deprived communities. He expressed regret that newly recruited often rejected postings to other regions, saying, especially when you see people that have been posted to other regions coming back for reposting to the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions specifically. This is worrying because you cannot have a situation where about 80 per cent of all our staff in only two regions, he added. The Deputy Minister, thus, urged medical professionals to be willing to go to any part of the country as there were more opportunities outside Accra and Kumasi. He congratulated the inductees saying, there are so many opportunities that can support your career, so accept postings as they come. Dr Samuel Yaw Opoku, the Registrar, Allied Health Professions Council, congratulated the inductees for their six years of education to get to their final stage. He said due to the COVID-19 pandemic the induction and swearing of oath ceremony had been divided into six batches, four in Accra and two in Kumasi adding that, all the ceremonies will be held in the morning and afternoon. Dr Opoku noted that Allied Health Professionals played important roles and therefore asked for the needed recognition to enable them to make the real difference in the lives of their clients to improve the healthcare delivery system. He appealed to the government to do something about the long stay of the health professionals at home after their internship programmes for the population to benefit from their services. 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 WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans opposed President Donald Trump's assertion that he might reject a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the November election, trying to deflect his challenge to a foundation of American democracy as bravado that will not actually occur. Republicans, with almost no direct criticism of Trump's statements, uniformly asserted that if Joe Biden wins the election, they will support a peaceful transition to the Democrat's inauguration in January. "The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., tweeted early Thursday, following the president's comments late Wednesday night. "There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792." He declined to further address the controversial statements. "Did you see my tweet? That pretty well sums it up," McConnell told reporters at the Capitol. Most Republicans tried to dodge how they would respond if the president were to refuse to accept the results if he loses and were to stoke violence among his supporters; they called it a hypothetical situation that they would not contemplate or said Trump just talks like that but does not follow through on such threats. "The president says crazy stuff," Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said. "We've always had a peaceful transition of power. It's not going to change." Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., credited the controversy to Trump's tendency to speak in "very extreme manners occasionally" and dismissed the latest controversy as part of that trend. A few Republicans, however, did pledge to stand up to Trump if Biden is the clear winner and the president refuses to accept the results. "No question that all the people sworn to support the Constitution would assure that there would be a peaceful transition of power," Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, told reporters. "Well, Republicans believe in the rule of law, we believe in the Constitution, and that's what dictates what happens," Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., McConnell's deputy in the leadership team, told reporters. Trump triggered an outcry when he refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election, asserting that if he does not win, it will be because of fraudulent mail-in voting and not because more people voted against him. "Well, 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," he said. Democrats have started taking the threat seriously after months of privately worrying. Party leaders have begun preliminary talks about how to respond to a constitutional crisis in which a defeated president refuses to leave office, according to Democrats who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss these internal talks. "There is one way to conduct a fair and honest election - by respecting the will of the people," said Rep. Jamie B. Raskin, D-Md., a former constitutional law professor who has been brainstorming possible responses for weeks. "But there are multifarious ways to attack and undermine a fair election - and we are gearing up to fight on every front." Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., has reached out to GOP colleagues to encourage them to hold the line for democracy. Murphy said Republicans are in denial that the president would ever ignore the results of the election. But Democrats, he said, are trying to get them to acknowledge that every absentee ballot should be counted, fearful that the president could try to head off the results by contesting mail-in ballots. "The president's made very clear that he's not going to acknowledge the results. . . . His ability to get away with that will be largely dependent on whether the Republican Party goes with him, so you know a lot of what we're doing now is just talking to our colleagues to make sure they're ready for a potential transition," Murphy said Thursday. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., offered a more critical assessment. "Usually dictators don't announce in advance what their plans are. He wants to be named a president for life, king to the contrary. That's not how our democracy works. It is up to Democrats and Republicans, and independents, it is up to all Americans to make clear that we are a democracy," she said. In interviews, along with statements and social media posts, more than two dozen Senate Republicans pledged support for a peaceful transition should Biden win, yet Romney was the only one who, again without naming Trump, took on his statements. "Any suggestion that a president might not respect this constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable," Romney tweeted late Wednesday after Trump's comments. Many Republicans tried to blame Biden for the issue after Hillary Clinton's suggestion that the 2020 nominee should not concede until all the ballots are counted. "We have a Constitution, and the Constitution says when the presidency ends. You ask me just from the standpoint of what the president said: It isn't very good advice from Hillary Clinton to advise Biden about that," said Sen. Chuck Grassley,R-Iowa. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, went further and accused Biden's transition team of conducting a "war game" in which the former vice president would contest the election in state legislatures, even though such practice scenarios are now common among legal advisers in presidential campaigns. "What I'm much more concerned about is Joe Biden's stated intention to challenge the legitimacy of the election if he doesn't win," Cruz said, adding that is why he supports quickly confirming a conservative replacement after Friday's death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. "I think that's a real threat to the legitimacy of our election and it's one of the reasons it's so important that we confirm the Supreme Court nominee before the election, so we have a full court able to resolve whatever legal challenges arise," he said. Trump's statements again put vulnerable Republicans facing tough reelection fights in November on the defensive, trying to explain the outlandish statements of a president they cannot control and struggle to interpret for voters in their Democratic-leaning states. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., first elected to the House in 2010 when Republicans claimed the majority and Pelosi stepped down as speaker, said that since his first day in Congress he has appreciated the transfer of power. "It's something that I've talked about in speeches from my very first days when Nancy Pelosi peacefully handed the gavel over to John Boehner: It's a hallmark of our democracy," he told reporters. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, acknowledged that she has no insight into how Trump thinks. "I don't know what his thinking was, but we have always had a controlled transition between administrations," she said. "And I'm certain that if there's a change in administrations, that we have the calmness as well. It's fundamental to our democracy." FOX FOR THE FACTS All the information about Hunter Biden and the millions he took from a foreign country is finally being exposed. Joe Biden was a part of this as well as other Biden family members. The press will not expose this but Fox news will because they tell the true facts. Where is the money? How can someone so dishonest run our country? This is sad. CALM DOWN Hypocrisy highlights: If Donald Trump took a knee, for any reason concerning the flag, you would all change your tune and call it freedom of expression (he has already denigrated the country in real time, but thats another Sound Off for another day). And the National Anthem was plagiarized from an old British tune called To Anacreon In Heaven about drinking and sex by a slave-owning lawyer. Key owes British drinkers a royalty. There are genuine issues to get angered over, too many to count. A piece of cloth and a plagiarized song arent among them. SIR PEACE RIOT A HOLIDAY TO REMEMBER In reading the article Trick-or-what (Sept. 20, page 23), I understand its a big disappointment for Halloween revelers this year due to the pandemic. In San Francisco, The Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival was supposed to celebrate their 50th year and the New Yorks Sleepy Hollow Halloween fun have been canceled. This is prudent. All indoor costume parties and large gatherings outdoors like parades should be canceled. People should stop complaining regarding these cancellations so that they can still be alive and kicking for subsequent years merriment. If these large events are not canceled, some of us may end up like the skeletons we display in coffins for Halloween. Nonetheless, kids trick-or-treating door-to-door may be safe if masking and physical distancing are adhered. This way, kids (and adults) can still enjoy this fun-loving holiday, which falls on a Saturday this year making it convenient for all. HAPPY HALLOWEEN! MORE TRUMP LIES A commercial for Trump says that Trump created 10.6 million jobs in four months and that Trump fixed the economy before and he can fix it again. These are lies. 10.6 million jobs in four months is a ridiculous number. When Trump took office, the economy was going great thanks to Barack Obama and Trump has done absolutely nothing to help the economy in four years. Its not surprising that these commercials are full of lies because Trump is a pathological liar. MORE BIDEN LIES Joe Biden is a liar. Im so sick of listening to his talk at about violence and riots, blaming Trump for all this. Biden and the Democrats were silent for weeks. Now Biden chooses to condemn it. Trump tried to stop the violence. Democrats tell people Trump is a disgusting excuse for a human. Cant people see what a phony Biden is? But they hate Trump, so theyll go against America. VOTE UNION To my fellow union brothers and sisters and all union members, Im sure you are being inundated with political mailings this time of year. Please note any mailing from a Democratic candidate or the Democratic Party will have the union bug on the mailing. Anything from the Republican candidate or Republican Party does not have the union bug on it. The union bug tells you that the mailing was printed at a union shop. That tells you which party cares about union members and blue collar workers. RETIRED LETTER CARRIER RUSH TO JUDGMENT Why is everybody so surprised that the Republicans are so determined to get Trumps newest nominee on the Supreme Court as fast as they can? After all, they have to get another good old boy on the court so that they can get rid of all that liberal nonsense, you know, like health care and womens rights and protections for people from Wall Street. THE SWAMP RAT PICK A SIDE We have a tough decision to make on Nov. 3. We can either vote for a man whos working to make our country safer and stronger or weaker and vote for a man who needs help tying his shoelaces. Its your choice. On Thursday, Sept. 17, I wrote an article in Chattanoogan.com titled When Justice Prevailed wherein I portrayed the heroic efforts of two white Hamilton County deputies - jailer Holt and deputy Frank Selcer under Sheriff John Skillern. They prevented the lynching of a black man, Frank Weims, in May 1882, for an attempted sexual assault of a white woman under the laws that provided hanging of a black man for having consensual sex with a white woman. Weims was threatened to be hung under the lynch law as described by the facts stated in my September 17 article. (Available under All Happenings Articles.) The same law did not provide a criminal punishment for a white man having sex with a black woman and even then, she was presumed to have consented although not necessary. The purpose of this follow up story is that when I researched the facts of the Weims case further for the purpose of perhaps writing a favorable article about some person that may have also acted honorably in our community I came up with some startling facts. Yes, Weims was allowed to plead guilty after a trial, receive a sentence of 25 years and escape the lynch mob. However, an excerpt from Digital History I.D. 3614 based on the novel by one of the most outspoken female African American critics of lynching, Author Ida B. Wells, written in 1892, Southern Horrors. Lynch Law in All Its Phases adds significant facts to the original article and needs to be presented to the reading public. Yes, Weims got a trial after the alleged victims public men demanded that he receive one and guarded him while the trial was in progress. Unfortunately, the trial only lasted 10 minutes and Weims then chose to plead guilty and accept the 21-year sentence (my original article stated 25-year-old sentence). It was stated that going to a full trial would invite the certain death of which awaited him outside that cordon of police if he had told the truth and shown the letters he had from the white woman in the case. Whether the letters revealed a consensual relationship or the alleged victim denied that a crime had taken place was not explained. Which version is true is like today watching a story on a liberal news channel and then switching to a conservative news channel? The truth in reporting any events is often lost in its airing to the public. This is not the type of historical story that I feel comfortable about reporting with the Sept. 24 article or Sept. 17 article without telling both sides. Based on Ida B. Wells anti-lynching position in her Memphis Newspaper, The Free Speech it was destroyed by a mob and the event in great part was published in an edition of the paper, New York Age on June 25, 1892. * * * Jerry Summers (If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com) 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 / AFP 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 / AFP 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 / AFP "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. Philips QuickClear mechanical thrombectomy system in hand Philips QuickClear mechanical thrombectomy system in use September 24, 2020 Powerfully simple thrombectomy solution provides physicians with an all-in-one, single-use aspiration catheter and pump system Intuitive design eliminates the need for capital equipment, with easy setup supporting faster procedures times Significantly smaller footprint provides the same or greater aspiration power as currently-available thrombectomy devices [1] Amsterdam, the Netherlands Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced the launch of the innovative QuickClear mechanical thrombectomy system. The compact, single-use system provides an all-in-one aspiration pump and catheter for the removal of blood clots from the vessels of the peripheral arterial and venous systems [2]. The systems innovative all-in-one design is simple to use while eliminating the need for capital equipment or costly accessories, with easy setup supporting faster procedures times. The Philips QuickClear Mechanical Thrombectomy System has received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance and is available for sale in the U.S. This novel thrombectomy system is the latest addition to Philips market-leading portfolio for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral vascular diseases, said Chris Landon, Senior Vice President and General Manager Image Guided Therapy Devices at Philips. Its intuitive design simplifies the entire thrombectomy procedure workflow. By taking away the high initial capital expenditure costs associated with traditional mechanical thrombectomy systems, QuickClear can help bring cost-effective solutions to both the hospital and outpatient care settings. Simple, optimized performance QuickClear simplifies the entire thrombectomy procedure workflow. The small footprint of the sterile device allows it to be placed easily and conveniently on the table next to the patient. With the touch of a button, the system is up and running at maximum aspiration power within seconds. The consistency of the aspiration power during the procedure provides physicians more control and supports faster procedure times. The systems range of catheters includes a large 10F aspiration catheter, providing 59% more aspiration volume than 8F aspiration catheters [1]. Story continues QuickClear is a simple and easy to use mechanical thrombectomy system, said Bryan Fisher, MD, Chief of Vascular Surgery, Tristar Centennial Medical Center, Nashville, U.S. The system is significantly smaller than other systems without compromising aspiration power. The convenience of the device really shines through with its single use and lack of capital equipment. I am excited about the potential of this device and the impact it will have on my practice and the patients I treat. Philips peripheral vascular portfolio already includes advanced interventional imaging systems for precision guidance; intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheters to assess the location of the disease and lesion morphology and guide and confirm the treatment; peripheral atherectomy devices to remove blockages; and peripheral therapy devices, such as Philips Stellarex drug-coated balloon, to treat lesions. Philips recently further extended this portfolio with the acquisition of Intact Vascular , maker of the Tack Endovascular System, a first-of-its-kind, minimal-metal, dissection repair device that provides precision treatment of peripheral arterial dissections following balloon angioplasty in above-the-knee (ATK) and below-the-knee (BTK) therapeutic interventions. New Cardiovascular Horizons digital symposium Today, September 24th at 19:00 ET Philips will host a symposium entitled QuickClear Mechanical Thrombectomy System: A Powerfully Simple and Cost-Effective Solution as part of the New Cardiovascular Horizons (NCVH) digital education series. To register, visit here . The Philips QuickClear Mechanical Thrombectomy System is U.S. FDA 510(k) cleared and available for sale in the U.S., with future expansion of availability to other geographies planned. [1] Testing performed in-house. Data on file. [2] The Philips QuickClear mechanical thrombectomy system is indicated for the removal of soft, fresh emboli and thrombi from the vessels of the peripheral arterial and venous systems. For further information, please contact: Mark Groves Philips Global Press Office Tel: +31 631 639 916 Email: mark.groves@philips.com Twitter: mark_groves Fabienne van der Feer Philips Image Guided Therapy Tel: +31 622 698 001 Email: fabienne.van.der.feer@philips.com Twitter: FC_Feer About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2019 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 81,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. Attachments Joaquin Phoenix called out the BAFTAs in February for sending a message to people of color that "you're not welcome here." (Los Angeles Times) Winning the British film academy's lead actor honor in February, Joaquin Phoenix said he felt conflicted accepting the prize because "so many of my fellow actors who are deserving dont have that same privilege." "We send a very clear message to people of color that you're not welcome here," the "Joker" star added. The British Academy of Film & Television Arts took several steps today to address that lack of diversity in both its membership and voting outcomes, announcing wide-ranging changes designed to bolster inclusion for underrepresented groups and promote a more level playing field for films competing for its annual BAFTA honors. Producer Marc Samuelson, chair of BAFTA's film committee and part of the steering group behind the internal review that prompted these changes, says the academy can't commission films or dictate what kinds of movies are made. But it can lead by example. "We can't change the industry, but we can try," Samuelson says in a Zoom call from London. "We can sort out our side of the street and get BAFTA to become the kind of organization that everyone hopes it would be, which is truly representative and, in terms of the awards BAFTA gives, let the work be seen and be judged with fairness." To that end, BAFTA has committed itself to more than 120 changes, including the goal of adding at least 1,000 new members from underrepresented groups in the next two years and overhauling its voting process to ensure members watch more movies. BAFTA members will also be required to participate in a "conscious voting training" program that will, Samuelson says, point voters to the "issues around social dominance and perhaps just give people some pause for thought." The BAFTA changes arrive two weeks after the group's American counterpart, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, announced new representation standards for films to be eligible for the best picture Oscar. Those standards require movies to meet two of four requirements representation on and behind the camera, internship and training programs for underrepresented groups and diversity in the publicity and marketing teams. Story continues The motion picture academy also welcomed 819 new members in June, announcing that it had surpassed its goal, set in 2016 in the wake of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, of doubling the number of women and people in underrepresented communities in the group by 2020. BAFTA weathered criticism earlier this year when it announced an all-white slate of acting nominees and failed to nominate any women for directing in a year that was particularly strong for female-helmed films. (The U.S. film academy also shut out female directors, including "Little Women" director Greta Gerwig, and recognized only one performer of color with an acting nomination "Harriet" star Cynthia Erivo, who happens to be British.) "I don't think anybody wants a handout or preferential treatment," Phoenix said from the BAFTA podium, "although that's what we give ourselves every year. I think that people just want to be acknowledged and appreciated and respected for their work." The new BAFTA voting procedures, effective with the upcoming awards season, will consist of three rounds. For best picture, members will rank up to 15 movies, with the top 15 overall making a long list. Members will be required to watch all 15 films before ranking their top five picks. The five films receiving the most votes will advance to the final round. Balloting for the acting and directing categories contain extra wrinkles. Acting chapter members will rank up to 15 performances. The top dozen will make a long list, and then a jury will select three additional picks from the performances ranked 13-22. From that pool of 15, a jury will select six nominees for each category. Directing chapter members rank up to 20. The top eight female and the top eight male directors will be long-listed, with a jury adding an additional two men and two women from the next-placed films. From those 20 listed, a jury will pick six directing nominees. "After that first stage, it's gender balanced," Samuelson says. "To be reductive: Is there a guarantee of a female director being nominated? Nope. But that extra level of intervention makes for a level playing field. We hope that's an elegant way of doing it." The BAFTA steering group met 50 times the last few months, interviewing 402 people about the group's future and failings of the past, including how, say, two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington has never earned a BAFTA nomination over the course of his long, celebrated career. "It's inexplicable, other than seen in context of everything we're doing in the entire report," Samuelson says of Washington's absence. "It's very strange. I don't think conjecture is really helpful." A fire at India's top oil and gas producer ONGC's gas processing facility near Surat in Gujarat on Thursday snapped fuel supplies to power and fertilizer but the company is diverting gas from other fields to make up for the shortfall. The fire broke out at around 3 am at Oil and Natural Gas Corp's (ONGC) Hazira gas processing plant and was extinguished by 7.30 am, the company said in a tweet. There were no casualties, said. "Fire at Hazira Plant has been completely extinguished. Efforts are being made to resume normal operations at the earliest." Hazira facility received gas from ONGC's Bassein field off the west coast as well as from Panna/Mukta and Tapti fields. It was handling some 32-33 million standard cubic meters of gas per day. As a safety drill, after the fire, fields were shut and to customers snapped, a company official said adding operations will be restarted soon once the safety review is complete. rushed senior officials including Director (Offshore) Rajesh Kakkar to Hazira to oversee the safe restart of the system which can happen as early as Friday. The Hazira plant is India's largest gas-processing facility and a critical supplier of the fuel to domestic industries that receive gas from the Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) trunkline. The HVJ trunkline is the country's largest and runs from Hazira in the west to Jagdishpur in northern India. State-owned gas utility GAIL India, which used to supply gas from Hazira to users such as power plants and fertilizer units, has enough stocks in the HVJ pipeline to maintain supplies for some time but said it is rationing to customers because it is unclear when the Hazira plant will resume full operations. GAIL in a statement said "about 30 mmscmd of natural into its north-western pipeline network (HVJ system) was immediately shut-off" following the fire. "In the force majeure event triggered by the Hazira incident, supply cuts up to 40 per cent against current allocations has been imposed on the downstream customers. "However, uninterrupted supplies are continued to be maintained to the city gas customers for supporting domestic kitchens (piped natural gas) and public transportation (CNG)," GAIL said in a statement. The ONGC official said the company was diverting 2-2.5 mmscmd of gas from Uran to meet the immediate shortfall of critical customers. Operations will be resumed once all safety parameters are reviewed, he said adding the damage was limited due to the company's high safety standards including automatic shut-off of gas source in the event of any disaster. State-owned power producer NTPC shut its 656-megawatt gas-based power plant at Kawas near Hazira and the 657 MW Jhanor-Gandhar plant due to gas supply disruption. Fertilizer maker Kribhco hasreduced capacity after cut in gas supplies. "GAIL north-western pipeline grid supports about 80 mmscmd and there is no damage to the network due to the unfortunate incident at ONGC facilities at Hazira," the company statement said. GAIL said it is committed forthe safe operation of the pipeline network and is maintaining close coordination with ONGC teams at the site, towards the speedier restoration of natural gas supplies through alternative systems. (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.) Arsenal are willing to sell Alexandre Lacazette to help fund a move for Lyons Houssem Aouar, the UK Independent reports. There are ... Arsenal are willing to sell Alexandre Lacazette to help fund a move for Lyons Houssem Aouar, the UK Independent reports. There are less than two weeks left until the summer transfer window closes. The Gunners have only brought in Willian and Gabriel Magalhaes so far. Mikel Arteta is keen to bolster his midfield options before the window slams shut. Aouar has been top of Arsenals wishlist, but Lyons asking price of 54million has so far proved prohibitive. Atletico Madrids Thomas Partey has a release clause, which the LaLiga club is adamant on receiving in full. It means for Arsenal to sign Aouar and Partey, players need to be sold. Lacazette, who has two years left on his contract, is yet to begin renewal talks with the club. He is considered among the players who could be moved on to enable a move for Aouar. New Delhi: Eighty-two-year-old Bilkis, who shot into the limelight last year during the months-long anti-citizenship law protest at Shaheen Bagh here, has been recognised by the TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of 2020. During the protest, which began in December, the octogenarian sat under a tent with hundreds of women and children, braving icy winds. She emerged as the face of the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens. The protest at Shaheen Bagh ended in March this year in view of the COVID-19 outbreak and a subsequent lockdown announced by the government to contain the spread of the disease. Also on the TIME magazine's list from India are Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bollywood actor Ayushman Khurrana. Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday spoke out in support of Breonna Taylor and her family and said he hoped that Massachusetts lawmakers would soon advance a reforms package to improve accountability, transparency and training in law enforcement. What happened to Breonna Taylor was a horrible, terrible tragedy, Baker said during a news conference. And unfortunately, in our country, too many tragedies like this befall people of color, and far too often. The Republican governors remarks come a day after a Kentucky grand jury indicted a former Louisville police officer for shooting into Taylors neighboring apartment but did not move forward with charges against any officers for Taylors death. Taylor, an emergency medical worker and aspiring nurse, was shot several times by officers using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation involving her boyfriend, who did not live there. No drugs were found inside the home. Officers said they were justified in firing their weapons because Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, had fired a shot at them; a charge against Walker was eventually dropped. Following a wrongful death lawsuit, the city of Louisville agreed to pay $12 million to Taylors family and implement police reforms. Unrest broke out in Louisville on Wednesday and police detained a person after two offers were shot Wednesday night. The officers are in stable condition. Taylors death has inspired calls for reform just as the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked a wave of nationwide protests over racial injustice. Baker did not weigh in on the Kentucky grand jury decisions, but said he believed everyone appreciates the pain and the loss being felt and suffered by her family and her loved ones during this incredibly unimaginable time. Baker touted efforts in Massachusetts over the last 18 months, saying weve worked hard ... with our colleagues in local government and law enforcement, with the Black and Latino legislative caucus, and with others, to develop a series of initiatives and ultimately a bill that would enhance transparency and accountability in law enforcement." The Massachusetts Senate swiftly passed a police reform in July that was far-reaching and comprehensive compared to Bakers bill, which proposed creating a certification system for officers and decertification process for problem cops. The Senate bill also proposed a certification system, body-worn camera regulations and a host of other provisions. One of the most contentious elements of the Senate bill was a provision that would limit the qualified immunity doctrine for public employees, such as when an officer is accused of misconduct in a civil rights lawsuit. The Massachusetts House passed a less expansive police reform bill later that month. The package would also create a police certification process with civilian oversight, ban choke holds and restrict no-knock warrants. It also strips decertified officers of qualified immunity protections. Lawmakers have gone back-and-forth over use of force standards, qualified immunity and supervisory powers. Six lawmakers are currently in a conference committee negotiating the terms of the final police reform bill. Conference committee members are barred from publicly discussing the negotiations and the status of the bill remains unknown until the committee submits a report to a legislative clerk. Baker on Wednesday said the reforms included expanded training to ensure that here in the commonwealth, we appropriately, safely and responsibly provide services, support and protection for our citizens. I really hope that at some point this fall, we get a chance to appropriately celebrate the signing of legislation that will hopefully deal with and solve some of these very important and significant public policy and public safety issues going forward, Baker added. MassLive state house reporter Steph Solis contributed reporting. Related Content: For the latest columns and more commentary from Chris Churchill, sign up for his weekly newsletter. ALBANY How many residents of New York nursing homes died from COVID-19? It's a simple enough question, really, and one journalists, lawmakers and others have been asking for months. If you read this column regularly, you know that. You also know Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his Department of Health have refused to release the data, even though it's information the public has every right to see. There's no logical reason for the secrecy, other than protecting the governor's reputation. Last week, the Empire Center for Public Policy did New Yorkers a service. After the state rebuffed a Freedom of Information Law request, the group filed a lawsuit demanding release of the data. It's worth a read. In just eight pages, the lawsuit clearly lays out how New York tallied nursing home COVID-19 deaths differently than other states by excluding residents who were transferred to hospitals before they died. The lawsuit explains why the state has no justification for hiding the full count, which it can easily access. "New Yorkers have a right to know exactly how many nursing home residents died from COVID-19, whether the death occurred inside or outside a nursing home facility," the pleading says. "A lawsuit should not be required to obtain this information." It is no more complicated than that. So don't believe Cuomo's absurd claim that anyone seeking the data or criticizing his nursing home policies is participating in a partisan crusade. "Ugly politics," he likes to call it. A Cuomo spokesperson continued the theme when I asked about the Empire Center lawsuit. In an email, Richard Azzopardi said "it's nothing more than a publicity stunt from an arm of the far-right advocacy industrial complex looking to distract from the many, many failings of the federal government during this pandemic." And so the Cuomo administration again engages in a well-worn, but deeply cynical, public relations strategy. Don't answer. Don't explain. Just attack, attack and attack some more. And if that doesn't work, go on the attack. But why? What is Cuomo trying to hide? Why not just release the data and be done with it? There's no honest defense for this absurd charade, and nobody who isn't on the state payroll would defend it. For what it's worth, the Empire Center is fiscally conservative, which means the think tank has policy agreements and disagreements with the governor, but I don't see any partisanship in its quest for honest nursing home data. Notably, the lawsuit does not even mention the controversial March 25 state order directing nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients. And when I talked with Bill Hammond, the Empire Center's director of health policy, he said too much has been made of the mandate by some critics of the governor. He was being very fair. Hammond also said he initially didn't think the state's flawed nursing home count mattered all that much. That changed when he saw Cuomo and other officials using the partial count to suggest, in response to criticism of the mandate, that New York had done better at protecting nursing home residents from COVID-19 than other states. "That drove me up a tree," Hammond told me. "They said it over and over again fully knowing it wasn't true." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Then Hammond watched in dismay as the Department of Health used the undercount in a joke of a report (my words, not Hammond's) that claimed the March 25 order was not a factor in nursing home fatalities. The report was not only bad science, but troubling evidence of the health department being used to shine the governor's star. According to New York's official count, 6,600 nursing home residents died of COVID-19. Hammond, after analyzing death and nursing home occupancy rates, puts the actual toll at 10,000 and up equal to at least 10 percent of the state's nursing home population. "That is a public health catastrophe," Hammond said. "It demands our absolute attention, so we understand how we could have prevented it and what we can do to prevent it next time." That's what this is about. And that's why it's so troubling that Cuomo refuses to reveal the truth. He's putting his reputation ahead of a fuller understanding of how COVID-19 impacted an especially vulnerable group of New Yorkers. It's obviously outrageous. I suspect Cuomo hoped this would all just go away, that journalists and the Empire Center and advocates like Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean, who lost her in-laws to COVID-19 in New York nursing homes, would eventually stop asking for the numbers and would forget about his stonewalling. But the Empire Center will almost certainly win this lawsuit, meaning the governor will face a court order to release the data. What will this absurd charade have accomplished then? cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill So far this year, the sheriffs office has taken 174 missing persons reports. The addition of Liz will help in many of those searches, particularly for at-risk populations such as young children or those living with Alzheimers, officials said Thursday. While the other dogs in the sheriffs specialized dog unit are trained to track scents, Liz is specially trained to be scent discriminate allowing her to hone in on just one scent. It was an astonishing claim to make. When Elon Musk took to a makeshift stage in the car park outside his California factory and pledged to manufacture 20 million electric cars per year by 2030, it betrayed the scale of his ambition. That figure is almost double the volume produced by Volkswagen - currently the world's biggest carmaker - and a quarter of the total of 80 million cars produced per year by every manufacturer in the world. It also represents a colossal jump from the 360,000 vehicles Tesla produced last year. Can he get there? Elon Musk's latest plan left investors underwhelmed, but if history is any guide, it isn't wise to bet against him. Credit:Getty Images It seems doubtful. From Wolfsburg to Tokyo plenty of people in the global car industry will today be quietly scoffing at the prospect. But they have scoffed before and it is Musk - the world's third-richest man whose company is now worth $US395 billion ($560 billion), or more than VW, GM and Ford combined - who is laughing now. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) fighters march down the mountains toward the Kosovar city of Lapusnik on Jun. 17, 1999. (Eric Feferberg/AFP via Getty Images) Kosovo War Crimes Suspect Mustafa Arrested, Tribunal Says PRISTINA, KosovoA special international court said that a former commander of the separatist fighters in Kosovos 1998-1999 war has been arrested as part of a war crimes and crimes against humanity investigation stemming from the conflict with Serbia. Former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Salih Mustafa was arrested based on a warrant, transfer order, and confirmed indictment issued by a pre-trial judge, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, based in The Hague, said on Sept. 24. The courts statement didnt identify the charges on which he was indicted. The court said Mustafa would be transferred to its detention facilities in The Hague and appear before the pre-trial judge without undue delay. He is the first ethnic Albanian to be arrested on war crimes charges arising from the 1990s conflict. The Kosovo Liberation Army was made up of ethnic Albanian rebels who wanted Kosovos independence from Serbia. Mustafa oversaw fighters in the Llapi area, 35 kilometers (20 miles) north of the capital, Pristina. He later served as intelligence chief of the Kosovo Security Forces, military troops created in 2009 as a transitional unit before becoming a regular army. The Kosovo Specialist Chambers and an attached Special Prosecutors Office, or SPO, was established five years ago to look into allegations that KLA members committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, or EULEX, which is in charge of the court, said it had provided operational and logistic support to the SPO in line with its mandate and in accordance with the Kosovo legislation. Hysni Gucati of the war veterans association said Mustafas family reported he was arrested early on Sept. 24 and taken to The Hague. To us, the court and its actions are unacceptable, Gucati said. Hysni Gucati, head of the KLA War Veterans Organization, speaks during an interview with AP regarding his co-fighter former KLA commander Salih Mustafa after news of his arrest, in the capital Pristina, on Sept. 24, 2020. (Visar Kryeziu/AP Photo) The association has said it anonymously received thousands of confidential files during the past two months, which contain names of witnesses and also draft charges against former top KLA commanders. It wasnt clear whether the files were stolen or leaked by someone involved in the investigation. The war veterans said they would make them public, a move that a court spokesman warned would undermine the proper administration of justice. The Specialist Prosecutors Office is investigating how the association came into possession of the documents. Office spokesman Christopher Bennett said authorities were vigorously investigating and prosecuting individuals who commit any such crimes. Prosecutors in The Hague also have indicted Kosovar President Hashim Thaci, former parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli, and others for crimes that include murder, enforced disappearances, persecution, and torture. Both men have denied committing any war crimes. Kosovos President Hashim Thaci speaks to the media before being interviewed by war crimes prosecutors after being indicted by a special tribunal, in The Hague, Netherlands, on July 13, 2020. (Eva Plevier/Reuters) The 1998-1999 war for Kosovos independence from Serbia left more than 10,000 people deadmost 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 Serbian troops. Kosovo, which is dominated by ethnic Albanians, declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move recognized by many Western nations but not Serbia or its allies Russia and China. By Zenel Zhinipotoku and Llazar Semini Many Japanese groups are investing in Vietnamese enterprises instead of setting up their production and business facilities in Vietnam. ENEOS Corporation has spent VND650 billion to acquire 13 million shares of Petrolimex (PLX), the largest petroleum distributor in Vietnam with 60 percent of market share, at the price of VND50,000 per share. The transaction was carried out between August 27 and September 14, according to HOSE. Petrolimex also announced it has completed the sale of 13 million treasury stocks on August 27 - September 15 to reduce the amount of treasury stocks to 75 million. Japanese investors now hold 116.5 million PLX, or 9 percent of Petrolimex shares. ENEOS Corporation is a long standing group in Japan, specializing in petrochemistry, gas import/export and power supply. It is the biggest petroleum retailer in the country with 50 percent market share. ENEOS bought PLX when the Vietnamese enterprise was facing difficulties because of Covid-19. Petrolimex took a loss of VND1.1 trillion in H1. However, it has a huge amount of cash of up to 10 trillion dong and has a large distribution network throughout the country. The enterprise is believed to have potential in expanding its business to other fields. In 2019, it had a plan to open a convenience store chain to take full advantage of its network of 5,200 filling stations. Analysts note that many Japanese corporations have bought into Vietnamese enterprises recently. In 2019, Sumitomo and two institutions spent $37 million to buy 10 percent of shares in Gemadept (GMD). Analysts commented that the Japanese corporation can see great opportunities for logistics services thanks to the relocating of production bases from China to Vietnam in the context of the US-China trade war. In early 2020, Sumitomo Life from Japan invested $173 million to buy more than 41 million Bao Viet shares (BVH), or 5.91 percent of the current charter capital, raising its ownership ratio in the insurance company to 22.09 percent. Analysts say Japanese investors now have a golden opportunity to invest in Vietnam. The country is now the member of 15 FTAs, and is negotiating another two agreements. This allows Vietnam to become a center of global trade flow. With EVFTA, Vietnams exports to the EU are expected to increase by 20 percent in 2020, 42.7 percent by 2025. According to JETRO, Japanese corporations are increasingly leaving China to invest in Vietnam, especially in the fields of real estate, infrastructure, retail services, textile and garment, high technology, energy and aviation. In the stock market, MBS believes that the possible scenario for VN Index is that it will hover between 873.53 and 905 points. Anh Duy Vietnam urged to improve infrastructure to attract more FDI Vietnam needed to improve its infrastructure in order to attract more FDI, a webinar heard on Monday. Beef Eating Quality Index launched The worlds first national multi-breed genomic evaluation for sensory-based meat eating quality was launched at the Meat Technology Ireland centre, Ashtown, Dublin today, Thursday 24 September. The goal of genetic evaluations is to identify, as accurately as possible, genetically elite animals. These animals are often chosen as parents of the next generation in the pursuit of genetic gain. Accurate genetic evaluations are predicated on large databases of performance, ancestry and DNA information. One of the main objectives of the Meat Technology Ireland research programme was to generate such a database of informative and genetically diverse animals for meat eating quality, optimised for the generation of accurate national genomic evaluations pertinent to the Irish cattle population. Sensory data collected on over 6,000 cattle, which began in November 2016, now resides within the database making it the largest such database globally used for genetic evaluations. Donagh Berry, Teagasc Geneticist said at the launch that Ireland boasts a unique selling point of safe, nutritious and responsibly-produced beef, but are under constant threat from ever-aggressive competitors. We must continually innovate, and delivering year-on-year improvement in meat eating quality will become our new point of differentiation. Andrew Cromie, Technical Director at the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) summarised the delivery of national genomic evaluations for meat eating quality as a Significant occasion realised through strong collaboration between the meat industry, Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation and Teagasc in the delivery of the worlds first national multi-breed genomic evaluation for sensory-based meat eating quality. Combined with the long-standing national database of animal performance and DNA information housed at the ICBF, the addition of meat eating quality genetic evaluations to the suite of traits already evaluated propels Ireland to the fore for balanced breeding programmes in cattle. John Colreavy, Director of Meat Technology Ireland (MTI) explained that MTI is an Enterprise Ireland, industry-led initiative that builds a strategic research and innovation base in beef and sheepmeat processing in Ireland. The MTI industry-led consortium is unique in the northern hemisphere and represents an opportunity that will have global impact addressing improvements for Irish beef and sheepmeat processing such as todays index launch. This unique collaboration between the worlds fifth largest beef and sheepmeat processors and the custodians of the worlds largest animal-genetics breeding database presents a unique opportunity to address fundamental issues such as sustainable beef production, that face the industry not just in Ireland but globally. The launch of the Meat Eating Quality index means that meat eating quality of the Irish national herd will systematically improve through genetic improvement without sacrificing important breeding traits. This will ensure that consumers of Irish beef around the world can expect the very best dining experience. Philip Carroll, Chairman of Meat Industry Ireland (MII) welcomed the launch of this beef eating quality index, adding this is an important milestone in the development of the Meat Technology Ireland initiative. The index will be essential in delivering continuous improvement over time in terms of meat eating quality. Given the challenges currently facing the wider sector, this initiative will be important in helping exporters continue to secure the best export outlets possible for our beef. We congratulate all the MTI partners, both industry and academia, on the launch of this new index. Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has stated he has not addressed media professionals after last Saturdays poll won by Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ize-Iyamu, through his campaign organisation, in a statement by the Director of Communication and Media, Prince John Mayaki, called on the traditional media to always perform due diligence in reporting events arising from Edo, stressing that unprofessionalism would render them as tools for the PDP. He declared that it was not true that he pleaded with Obaseki to return to the APC at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, while insisting that nothing of such happened. The former Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG) said: Many media houses have once again lent themselves to the fabrications of Obaseki and the PDP, as they did throughout the campaigns and the election. We warned many times the media should beware of fabrications from Obaseki and the PDPs camp, but they did not listen. That is why they have reported that the election was free and fair, and that is why they have said our candidate pleaded with Obaseki to come back to APC. The video in reference is from three months ago, not after the election but doctored by Obasekis media handlers to seek undue legitimacy. We wonder if the media were being sponsored by Obaseki and the PDP, as it seems implausible that they actually believed the story. This is even more so, when reporters in Benin City would report Pastor Ize-Iyamu, who is currently in Abuja, where the various media organisations are also domiciled, this is to tell you the suspicion inherent in the viral video. Pastor Ize-Iyamu was reported in the stories as speaking from Abuja but it was the Benin reporters that covered the story. Were the reporters transported to Abuja? Do these media agencies actually believe the stories they carry? Obaseki and the PDP have a way of leaking false news to the media. The media have to be sensitive and professional in receiving these news. The governorship candidate of APC also warned of a fake twitter account purportedly belonging to him, which had been disseminating false information, while admonishing the media to avoid it like a plague and verify all their information before passing it on. He said: I only wish most of the media had been more professional during the election in Edo State but they were not. What is done is done. They (the media) pretended not to know how violent and anti-democratic the election was in many parts of Edo State, including Egor Local Government Area in Benin City. So, they (the media) reported that the election was free and fair. Going forward, let them (the media) verify all news before passing it on. It is the basic ethic of the profession. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates As many as 15.42 lakh Indians have returned from abroad after the government launched the 'Vande Bharat' evacuation mission on May 7 in view of the pandemic, the said on Thursday. spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said phase six of the mission has been ongoing since September 1. As on September 22, he said, 630 international flights and 142 feeder flights have been operated from 24 countries which have reached 24 airports across India under this phase. An estimated 1,24,000 people have been repatriated under the sixth phase of the mission, he said. "As on September 23, 15.42 lakh Indians have been repatriated through different modes of this mission," Srivastava said. The sixth phase will continue to be operational till September 30, he said. "The air suvidha digital platform which has been made available for all arriving international passengers since August 8... essentially allows exemption from institutional quarantine for incoming passengers on the mission flights," he said. "This service has been made available in response to a long pending demand of passengers for exemption from institutional quarantine on the basis of their RT PCR test. It has helped to reduce passenger processing time on arrival," Srivastava said. On the status of the 'air bubble' arrangement with Bangladesh, he said, "We have offered air bubble arrangement to Bangladesh as we have offered to our other neighbours. We have already something with Maldives and Afghanistan. The matter is presently under discussion. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 13:52:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss regional matters. Maduro made the remarks during his virtual speech at the General Debate of the 75th session of UN General Assembly. Highlighting Venezuela as a country having the largest oil reserves in the world, the fourth-largest gas reserves and rich gold reserves, the president said these resources have caught the attention of "oligarchs in Washington" who want to control his country. Maduro said a drone assassination attempt on him in Caracas was prepared and funded from the United States and that he wants a special UN rapporteur to carry out an independent investigation into the attack. Meanwhile he confirmed the intention to meet with Trump, saying that while Venezuela is peaceful and friendly and appreciates the culture, art and social life of the United States, it is against the "imperialists in Washington." In an interview with Axios in late June, Trump said that he would consider meeting with Maduro. The United States has been pursuing a policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation against the Maduro government. Enditem For it has emerged that Vallance (above) holds shares worth 600,000 in GlaxoSmith-Kline, the drugs giant racing to develop a Covid vaccine. Not so long ago, he sold other shares worth 5million During a rare interview, Sir Patrick Vallance, the Governments chief scientific adviser, was asked to describe himself in three words. He replied: Introverted, curious... and geeky. Yesterday, jaws across Britain dropped when they learned quite how accurately he might have added a fourth adjective: rich. For it has emerged that Vallance holds shares worth 600,000 in GlaxoSmith-Kline, the drugs giant racing to develop a Covid vaccine. Not so long ago, he sold other shares worth 5million. A senior Tory MP was not alone in arguing that his current shareholding represents a potential conflict of interest with Vallance being at the heart of the Downing Street race to find a vaccine against coronavirus. The MP added: If he is making decisions on vaccines and advising the Government on them then he either needs to divest himself of the shares or make a declaration... Every time he is talking about vaccines or on TV, he should put it on the table. Even more surprisingly, it appears that Vallance, chairman of the Governments expert advisory panel on vaccines, did not think it necessary to inform Boris Johnson or Health Secretary Matt Hancock about his shares. Mr Hancock admitted yesterday: The first I knew about it was when I read it in the newspapers. If GSK produces a successful vaccine against the coronavirus, it stands to make billions from the discovery and Vallances shares could be expected to rocket, potentially making him yet more millions. Already, the US government has provided 1.65billion to GSK and its partner Sanofi for vaccine development. Vallance was president of research and development at GSK, Britains biggest drug company, between 2012 and 2018, when he left to become a top mandarin. I think you will find Patrick Vallance is the wealthiest civil servant in the history of Whitehall, said one senior source last night. If GSK produces a successful vaccine against the coronavirus, it stands to make billions from the discovery and Vallances shares could be expected to rocket, potentially making him yet more millions. A researcher is pictured above in a GlaxoSmithKline lab in 2009. Not surprisingly, given his wealth, Vallance has a gourmet palate, favouring langoustine, pigeon with figs and rare cheeses, though he admits he rarely drinks his expensive wine collection. If he had his time all over again, he once said he would have liked to train as a chef. The image of fine dining could not be further from the Vallance who appeared on TV next to the similarly gloomy chief medical officer Chris Whitty in a dispiriting press conference leading to the duo being dubbed Glum and Glummer. In previous appearances flanking the Prime Minister with Whitty, Vallance often seemed dour and defensive. He was regularly asked about the prospects of Britain developing the first viable Covid vaccine. Joining the Government, he took a huge pay cut. He was on 780,000 at GSK but is now paid around 180,000, although it is clear he could afford the reduced salary. With his wife Sophia Ann, whom he married in 1988, he bought a large, fire-damaged house in south London two years ago for 1.85million, paying cash. The new house requires extensive renovation though happily the couple sold another house in south London last year for 2.95million, which may help to fund the works. Vallance was born in Essex in 1960 and educated at Truro school in Cornwall, where boarding fees today are almost 30,000 a year. He studied medicine at St Georges at the University of London, becoming a senior lecturer in medicines policy and for a while was a doctor seeing patients but it did not suit him. Every time I didnt give a patient enough time, he said. Every mistake I made resulted from not giving 100 per cent to the patient I was with and it is dreadful to short-change people when they are at their most vulnerable. Vallance was president of research and development at GSK, Britains biggest drug company, between 2012 and 2018, when he left to become a top mandarin In 2006 he joined GSK as head of drug discovery and four years later became head of medicines, then president of research and development. He may be geeky, but he is also passionate about certain causes, including assisted suicide which, interestingly, is not Government policy. Having had both of my parents ask me to help them die, I support doctor-assisted suicide for terminally ill people under certain conditions, he has said. Knighted in the New Year honours list in 2019, Vallance eschews party politics but is a huge admirer of Aneurin Bevan, the Welsh Labour MP who was one of the founders of the NHS. I understand the true and lasting importance of Bevans remarkable vision. Despite the growing brouhaha about his vast shareholding and potential conflict of interest, Boris is keeping this adviser close. The Government insists he has done nothing wrong. A spokesman for the Cabinet Office said that appropriate steps were taken to manage [Vallances] interests in line with advice provided at the time... The chief scientific adviser has no input into contractual and commercial decisions on vaccine procurement which are taken by ministers following a robust cross-Government approvals regime. Vallance himself has remained tight-lipped about the matter. His self-professed introversion may continue to serve him well. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 21 By Zeyni Jafarov - Trend: Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the development of cooperation with the EU countries, specifically with Germany, Azerbaijans Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov said, Trend reports. The minister made the remark at a meeting with Ambassador of Germany to Azerbaijan, Wolfgang Manig. The beneficial activity of the German-Azerbaijani working group on trade and investment, as well as the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce is of great importance in the development of relations. Moreover, the next meeting of the working group to be held at the end of this year can contribute to expanding the cooperation, Jabbarov noted. Earlier, in the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park, with the participation of the head of state, a Vocational Education Center was opened. The center was established using the experience of Germany, and it is important to continue cooperation in this area. German companies can take advantage of Azerbaijan's favorable investment and business environment, as well as transport and transit opportunities, said the minister. Jabbarov also informed the German side about the measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, the current economic situation, ongoing reforms, noted that the Investment Holding and the Economic Council of Azerbaijan have been created. In turn, Wolfgang Manig noted his country's interest in developing ties with Azerbaijan and shared his opinion on the prospects for cooperation. During the meeting, directions for expanding economic cooperation, development of ties between Azerbaijani and German companies, continued participation of managers in advanced training courses in Germany, as well as cooperation between the Federal Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises of Germany and the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan, were also discussed. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @jafarov_zeyni The grand jury in Breonna Taylor's case decided to not directly indict the officers involved in her death, sparking outrage and bringing Americans to the streets in cities across the country. Houston was no exception. Calls for justice have been ringing since details of Taylor's death made national headlines in March. Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician living in Louisville, Kentucky, was at home, sleeping in her bed, when police executed a "no-knock warrant" and fired six bullets into her body, killing her. None of the Louisville police officers in the botched raid were charged for Taylor's death. The lone charge handed down Wednesday was for endangering nearby residences in the course of shooting. Officer Brett Hankison was indicted for wanton endangerment for firing into a neighboring apartment on the night Taylor was killed. Community leaders and activists are calling the ruling "absurd." Houston rapper and activist Trae tha Truth spoke to KHOU 11 to express his feelings on the matter, saying that this was "no less than a slap in the face." The rapper flew to Louisville yesterday to protest, after helping rescue families in the wake of Tropical Storm Beta. HOMETOWN HEROES: Trae tha Truth and his Relief Gang are helping victims of Topical Storm Beta Trae tha Truth has been forthright about his feelings in regards to social justice, and shared multiple posts on Instagram regarding the ruling. In another post, he shares the indictment document. In the caption he writes, "Nothing on this indictment even acknowledge Breonna Taylor... Wtf!!" Attorneys in Taylor's case called the ruling "outrageous and offensive," and "someone should be held accountable because an innocent woman was shot in her own home, " as reported by Jemima McEvoy with Forbes. KAMTHANA, India - On a recent muggy afternoon in southern India, Earappa Bawge hacked at the ground with a pickax, his white shirt pasted to his back. Each dull thud reminded him of how far his hopes had fallen. Just months ago, the 27-year-old engineer was poring over project files in an air-conditioned room at a factory hundreds of miles away. The job was a ticket out of rural poverty for Bawge's entire family, who had sacrificed for years so he could complete his studies. Now he was back in the village where he was born, propelled by a wave of economic destruction rolling across India during the pandemic. To survive, Bawge began digging ditches under a public works program. Alongside him were a former bank employee, a veterinarian and three MBA students. At the end of the day, each received $3.70. "If I don't work, we don't get to eat," said Bawge, flicking beads of sweat from his brow. "Hunger trumps any aspiration." As India's economy reels in the aftermath of one of the world's strictest lockdowns, a rural employment program has emerged as a lifeline for some of the tens of millions left jobless. The government program - which aims to guarantee 100 days of unskilled work in rural areas - was intended to combat poverty and reduce the volatility of agricultural wages. Now it is a potent symbol of how the middle-class dreams of millions of Indians are unraveling. The program is serving as a last resort for university graduates as well as former white-collar workers who find themselves with no other safety net. More than 17 million new entrants applied to access the program from April through mid-September. Nearly 60 million households participated during that time - higher than the total for all of last year and the most in the program's 14-year history. The need is dire. India's economic output shrank by 24% in the three months to June compared to the same period last year, worse than any other major economy. During the nationwide lockdown, more than 120 million jobs were lost, most of them in the country's vast informal sector. Many of those workers have returned to work out of sheer necessity, often scraping by on far lower wages. Salaried workers were also badly affected. A survey by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy found that 21 million salaried jobs were lost between April and August. The hardest hit group were workers with professional qualifications such as engineers, teachers and accountants. Meanwhile, there is no end in sight to the pandemic. India has recorded more than 5 million coronavirus cases and is adding more each day than any other country. It is likely to overtake the United States for the most cases in the world by next month if current trends hold. As the economy has tanked, growing numbers of Indians have turned to a program named after India's independence leader Mohandas Gandhi and launched by the country's previous government. "We really only expect people to go there when they have nothing else," said Amit Basole, an economist at Azim Premji University in Bangalore. Figures show that the demand for the program - known by its acronym MGNREGA - was so high that it outstripped the ability of local councils to provide work. Bawge, the engineer, lives in the district of Bidar in the southern state of Karnataka. More than 11,000 people with university degrees and above have worked under the program in the district since the lockdown began, according to local officials. They've been digging ditches, cleaning lakes and planting trees. There was a sudden surge in demand for work after the lockdown. "The momentum is still underway," said Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, the officer overseeing the program in Bidar. "It's sad that we couldn't provide work suitable for their qualifications." Bawge is a first-generation university graduate who belongs to an Indigenous tribe, one of the most disadvantaged groups in India. Completing a degree meant sacrificing years of wages that could have supported his family of five. When his father died during his last year of college, the pressure mounted on Bawge to find gainful employment. Late last year, his future looked bright: Bawge landed a managerial job at a toolmaking company in Bangalore, India's technology capital. He hoped to stay there and ascend the ladder into more senior positions. Then the factory shuttered during the lockdown. Turning to manual labor was not an easy decision, he said. But as more and more young men came back to the village, they banded together. "I was depressed at first because I felt all the sacrifices made by my family for my education had gone to waste," he said. In another narrow lane of the same village sits the house of Atish Metre, a 25-year-old with an MBA, who works alongside Bawge. In February, he landed a position in Bangalore at one of India's biggest banks as a home loan salesman. The job paid him $200 a month, enough that he could save a small amount. He loved that the job required him to wear a button-down shirt and formal shoes. After the lockdown was imposed in late March, however, none of his customers were interested in taking out loans, and he couldn't fulfill the targets set by his manager, who Metre said pressured him to quit. He returned to his village, expecting to stay home for a month or so, then return to the city to look for a new job. But now Metre is worried about going back as cases soar in Bangalore. "My friends were shocked to hear I was doing this," he said. "They say, 'You did an MBA and now this.' " The same situation is playing out in other parts of the country. In the state of Telangana, Shankaraiah Karravula, a teacher for 14 years, was forced to turn to the rural employment program when he stopped receiving his salary after schools shut down in March. "I am ready to do any work," he said. In the eastern state of Odisha, Rajendra Pradhan, a 24-year-old engineer, recently applied for the program. "It pains me, but my family is dependent on me," he said. "I can't sit idle and watch them suffer." While the lockdown was officially lifted in June and the unemployment rate has improved, many economic indicators remain depressed. Sudha Narayanan, an economist at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research in Mumbai, said she expected the rural works program to remain a critical safety net for the next two years. "It's the fallback option, but there is nothing in the rest of the economy to indicate that the jobs will all come back," she said. She said there is an urgent need for the government to expand the program's funding and increase the number of guaranteed work days. For Bawge, this work has kept his family fed. He still holds out hope that the factory will call him back. It reopened after restrictions were lifted, but managers say there is not enough work to reinstate all its employees. "My father insisted I study so I would have a better future than him," said Bawge, his voice briefly choking with grief. "The lockdown killed our dreams." - - - Slater reported from New Delhi. The Washington Post's Mohit Rao in Bangalore and Tazeen Qureshy in Bhubaneswar contributed to this report. The startup life is nothing short of an adventure that is made of a series of mini-quests along the way. Those quests become increasingly difficult to complete when operating in bootstrapped mode, which forces entrepreneurs to do more with less. The ability to delegate any type of task becomes a luxury, and regardless of strong suits and weak points everything needs to be taken on as a DIY project. The initial steps behind most initiatives are easy enough to approach. It doesnt take much effort to set up email addresses, secure domains, and use a simple template to populate some kind of a decent website. But its safe to say that most entrepreneurs behind tech companies come from more of a product-focused mindset, rather than one that revolves around marketing, advertising, and/or public relations. They quickly learn the hard way that it isnt enough to just have a stellar product. Word must spread of the product/service. But how can bootstrapped entrepreneurs launch PR and brand awareness campaigns, especially if they dont have clout themselves? PR plans typically go hand-in-hand with online marketing strategies, because the goal is to get in front of as many eyeballs as possible while maintaining relevance in an effort to develop business opportunities over the long haul. One cannot realistically count on virality to take over, or for quick wins to happen with effects that last. There are many pieces to the puzzle, and it takes time to build brand awareness and credibility to be appealing enough to gain coverage from journalists. According to Alona Stein, the VP and Partner of award-winning global tech PR firm ReBlonde, Bootstrapping means not having extra budget for branding campaigns, especially at the beginning. When a company makes the decision to bootstrap, it should utilize other marketing channels that can help them get the word out and fall on the right ears. PR campaigns need to be smart, accurate, and mostly results driven. The efforts and spending need to grow with the company's revenues. Its also important to note that the 'door opening' approach in PR is different from the 'brand awareness' approach that companies and entrepreneurs usually associate with PR. PR is good for brand building, but it's certainly not its sole purpose. The right story written by the most relevant journalist can have an incomparable positive impact on the company's road map. PR is not a one-shot deal. It is an ongoing effort, which may seem painstaking at first, but once one gets into the groove of it, it can become second-nature to maintain. Heres the tried and tested way to get around with tackling PR initiatives while bootstrapped. Research everything before coming up with a strategy Before even thinking about PR campaigns, entrepreneurs best have a good idea of their target audiences and a sense of their best marketing touchpoints. It falls under basic market research and helps set the stage in terms of how strategies should pan out. The next step is to clearly identify what the publicity goals would be, and work backward from there. For example, if the goal is to attract potential customers or angel investors, further research would need to be conducted to determine where they spend the most time. Which media outlets do they keep tabs on? Which blogs do they frequent? The answers to these questions will serve as the basis of a media wishlist, which can later be broken down to tiers based on popularity or approachability. Work on making social media work for you Once the media wishlist is populated, the next step is to follow each of those outlets across the major social networks, both under one's personal and brand accounts. Between that and regular engagement, that would raise the likelihood of being noticed by writers, editors, bloggers, journalists and reporters. On that note, its crucial to ensure that valuable interactions are only done with the most relevant members of the media. According to an article by Global Speaker and Tech Journalist Hillel Fuld, You need to make sure you know what you're up against. Who is the relevant journalist? Have they written about your space? Your competitors? Do they love them? Hate them? Are they active on Twitter? After all, it would be counterproductive (and downright embarrassing) to pitch the wrong people who would be sure to give a hard pass. As with any other relationship, social media relationships take time to build and require much effort in nurturing. When interacting with targets, its important to not be self-serving. Instead, it would be far more meaningful to share/praise their content, share helpful information, and answer their questions. Members of the media are naturally most responsive towards people who demonstrate familiarity with their content. Tastefully charm journalists over To add to the previous section, its important to be tactful when trying to be appealing to journalists, and plan a few steps ahead as if playing a game of chess. People respond best when there are common interests. So in an effort to be a few steps ahead of the conversational game, one can set up Google Alerts on relevant industry terms, to get a better understanding on who is focusing on what types of subject matter at any given time, and try to figure out a way to incorporate one's own brand into that story as well. For example, if the ABC123 Convention is the hot topic of the month which a journalist wrote about, an entrepreneur can use that as an opportunity to record a quick video on predictions, or write a post on the convention, and quote the journalist on it. Once the material goes live, the journalist can get a shoutout on social media for their insights. That might be a great segue into connecting on LinkedIn, and formally introducing oneself. The bootstrapped startup life calls for wearing many hats, and one of those hats is the editor one. It always needs to be worn in order to capitalize on opportunities, so anything and everything can turn into a PR opportunity. Master networking offline Entrepreneurs must realize the significance of networking at events, even in the earliest of stages. After all, founding team members are the face of the product and the ultimate representative of the company. By sparking friendships with other founders, influencers, or even just general enthusiasts in the space, there would be a list of connections one can later refer back to for things such as important intros, references, promotional assistance, or even collaboration. According to Yoav Vilner, the CEO of sales automation startup Walnut, offline networking is priceless. As a repeat founder, I know the trials and tribulations of bootstrapping. Thats something I can always more/less identify with, says Vilner. Networking in events really is everything. People who may have otherwise been standoffish online walk into these events with an open mind, and make themselves more receptive. Many of the relationships that spark in industry events quickly become real friendships in which both parties help one another. I know time is not on the side of bootstrapped entrepreneurs, but they must network both online and off as much as possible. It would also be a great idea, if possible, to invite top tier connections to meet up over lunch, to further familiarize them with the product/service and its mission. Consider making use of (free) newswire services I have mixed feelings about including this point, but Ill still put it in. Newswire services can be a hit or miss, but when a hit, the best ones are the paid ones, such as Cision, PR Newswire, Business Wire, Newswire, Marketwired, and PRWeb. But when spending hundreds of dollars towards PR distribution is not an option, the free services are worth considering. Some popular free services include PR.com, and NewswireToday.com, and PRlog.org. One cannot expect an abundance of coverage to come out of these, but its still better to be on those than not on any newswire service at all. If anything, it serves as a booster in legitimacy to have multiple news stories coming out of the same company on newswire services, and (to a degree) can also help with SEO. Bear in mind, free newswire services each come with their own catch. They would ask for payment for things such as adding an extra hyperlink, adding an image, prominent placement in their directories, and of course for premium distribution services. Free listings are bare bones at best, but again, at least theyre something. Take the first steps towards becoming a thought leader One thing all entrepreneurs have in common is an overwhelming sense of passion that inspired them to take that crazy leap of faith into the volatile business world. With that passion comes expertise, and strong opinions. They might as well turn those insights and opinions into credentials by becoming a published expert in the field. In addition to publishing content (with consistency) in the form of a blog/vlog/podcast/etc, it is also recommended to reach out to industry publications/blogs and inquire about guest posts, or interview opportunities. This would be one of the ultimate clout-builders, and also inherently help put the bootstrapped company and its website on the map. By later pushing for coverage across a wider range of respected publications, the exposure to potential VCs-of-interest will rise considerably. Promote/cross promote original content for visibility Entrepreneurs should leverage their own networks and social media communities to share exciting updates from the company. These updates include press releases, media mentions, and of course- thought leadership pieces. Cross promoting would also be a great idea. For example, a new product explainer video may be uploaded on YouTube, uploaded onto IGTV, featured on Facebook and LinkedIn, and even embedded into a post on Medium. The more exposure, the better. According to an article by Jennifer Spencer, the CEO of Energent Media, A strong company brand is vital to your success. Technology and online search engines make it easier than ever for customers to research companies before making a purchase. Theyre becoming more discerning in their choices and selecting companies that are seen as trustworthy and authentic. One size does not fit all in the business world, especially not when it comes to PR campaigns. There are many variables to consider, which vary depending on the culture of the industry itself. At the end of the day, consistency is key, and the best PR messages are those that focus on the concept and potential impact of the product/service in a way that would enable the entrepreneur to deliver accordingly and live up to the hype. Related: 5 Things You Should Never Say to a Journalist How to Do PR When You're Bootstrapped and Don't Have Connections PR Ethics Lessons From 'Roman Holiday' Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 05:30:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate passed a resolution on Thursday reaffirming its commitment to a peaceful transition of power. The resolution, introduced by Senator from West Virginia and Democrat Joe Manchin, was passed unanimously, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump refused to commit to such a transition should he lose the election in November. The non-binding resolution reaffirms the Senate's commitment to "the orderly and peaceful transfer of power called for in the Constitution of the United States," adding that "there should be no disruptions by the President or any person in power to overturn the will of the people of the United States." Speaking to reporters at the White House before leaving for an event in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday afternoon, Trump again tried to cast doubt on the result of the upcoming election. "We want to make sure the election is honest and I'm not sure that it can be. I don't know that it can be with this whole situation, unsolicited ballots," he said, referring to the expansion of mail-in ballots, which many parts of the country have resorted to so as to allow people to vote safely during the pandemic. For months, Trump has repeated claims that a wider use of mail-in ballots would lead to massive voter fraud, while U.S. election pundits have argued there is no evidence of meaningful fraud in vote by mail. Christopher Wray, director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, told a Senate hearing that they have "not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it's by mail or otherwise." Several Republican U.S. senators also pushed back Trump's remarks that he's "going to have to see what happens" when asked during a White House press briefing on Wednesday if he would make sure there is a peaceful transfer of power after the election in November. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and Trump ally, tweeted on Thursday that "the winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th." "There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792," McConnell added. Trump is currently trailing 2020 Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden nationally by 10 points, according to a pair of polls released on Wednesday. Surveys showed tight races in a number of key battleground states. Enditem California's plan to ban new sales of fossil-fuel cars and China's first target for net zero carbon emissions are the latest signs that global climate action is beginning to accelerate, analysts say. California, which has the world's fifth-biggest economy, said it would ban sales of new petrol or diesel cars by 2035. The declaration came days after China's President Xi Jinping surprised many by telling the United Nations General Assembly his country would achieve net zero carbon emissions before 2060. Traffic in Los Angeles: California will ban all petrol cars and light trucks by 2035, joining a growing list of markets to set a date for phasing out internal combustion engine passenger vehicles. Credit:AP On the corporate front, General Electric, builder of the world's first coal-fired power station in 1881, earlier this week said it would cease making equipment for new coal plants. Also, IBM has earmarked five new technologies it will advance, including capturing carbon dioxide from the air to make new products. The volley of announcements comes days after the Morrison government detailed its plans to promote low-carbon technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, but has continued to avoid setting a target date to reach net zero carbon emissions unlike many of its biggest trading partners. 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 Background Section 1111(d)(1)(B)(v) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that the CSI plan be approved by the school, LEA, and State Educational Agency (SEA). For purposes of the ESSA, the State Board of Education (SBE) serves as the SEA. The Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) plays a key role in assisting the SBE in meeting its statutory obligation to approve CSI plans. In January 2019, the SBE took action to address federal school-level planning requirements through the local accountability planning process and school planning process to support the goal of streamlining state and federal accountability requirements. Three CSI Prompts were added to the Plan Summary of the LCAP to serve as the mechanism by which the SBE approves CSI plans. As a result of COVID19, Senate Bill 98 eliminated the LCAP for the 202021 school year. In order to meet CSI plan approval requirements, LEAs with schools identified for CSI on the 2019 California School Dashboard (Dashboard) are required to complete the 202021 CSI Prompts Form and submit to its COE for review and approval. COEs that serve as an LEA with schools identified for CSI on the 2019 Dashboard and that would generally submit an LCAP to the California Department of Education (CDE) for review and approval, must complete and submit the 202021 CSI Prompts Form to the CDE for review and approval. 202021 CSI Prompts 202021 CSI Prompts Form (DOCX) The form that will be used to complete the 202021 CSI Prompts. The form that will be used to complete the 202021 CSI Prompts. 202021 CSI Prompts Walk-through Webinar (PDF) Webinar slides to walk-through the process and timeline for completing and submitting the 202021 CSI Prompts. Important Dates and Requirements Activity Date The 202021 CSI Prompts Form will be posted to the CDE CSI web page. September 28, 2020 The CDE will host a Webinar to walk through the requirements for LEAs and COEs to complete and submit the 202021 CSI Prompts. September 29, 2020 The LEA shall complete the 202021 CSI Prompts and submit to its COE for review and approval. COEs that serve as an LEA for schools identified for CSI on the 2019 Dashboard and that would generally submit its LCAP to the CDE for review and approval, shall complete and submit the 202021 CSI Prompts Form to the CDE at LCAPreview@cde.ca.gov for review and approval. By October 31, 2020 The CDE will provide to the COE a list of LEAs with schools eligible for CSI on the 2019 Dashboard within each county. The COE will use that list to identify LEAs with approved 202021 CSI Prompts. Prior to December 1, 2020 The COE will email a list of LEAs with approved 202021 CSI Prompts to the CDE at LCAPreview@cde.ca.gov. By December 1, 2020 At the January 2021 SBE meeting, the CDE will present the list of LEAs with approved 202021 CSI Prompts to the SBE for CSI plan approval. January 2021 Frequently Asked Questions Expand All | Collapse All LEA In the previous year, LEAs with schools identified for CSI were required to complete the CSI Prompts in the Plan Summary of the LCAP. With the suspension of the LCAP for the 202021 school year, must the LEA complete the CSI prompts for the 202021 school year? Yes. LEAs with schools identified for CSI on the 2019 Dashboard must complete the 202021 CSI Prompts and submit to their COE for review and approval. What is the mechanism by which the LEA will complete and submit the 202021 CSI Prompts? The CDE has posted a fillable form for the 202021 CSI Prompts on this web page. For important due dates and requirements, please see the table above titled, Important Dates and Requirements. Must Charter schools identified on the 2019 Dashboard, also complete the 202021 CSI Prompts? Yes. Charter schools identified on the 2019 Dashboard must complete the 202021 CSI Prompts and submit the responses to the COE, in its county, which may or may not be its authorizer, for review and approval no later than October 31, 2020. What is the process for a COE that serves as an LEA with schools eligible for CSI on the 2019 Dashboard and that would generally submit its LCAP to the CDE for review and approval, to submit the 202021 CSI Prompts? A COE that serves as an LEA for schools identified for CSI on the 2019 Dashboard and that would generally submit its LCAP to the CDE for review and approval, shall complete and submit the 202021 CSI Prompts Form to the CDE at LCAPreview@cde.ca.gov for review and approval no later than October 31, 2020. Must an LEAs 202021 CSI Prompts be approved/adopted at the local level prior to submitting to its COE for approval? While there is no state or federal statutory requirement for the approval/adoption of the 202021 CSI Prompts at the local level, the CDE recommends that the LEA utilize its local approval processes before submitting its responses to the COE for approval. In other words, the LEA has latitude to utilize its local policies, procedures, protocols, and existing stakeholder groups, including stakeholders used to develop the Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan (LCP) or other relevant stakeholders, to approve/adopt responses to their 202021 CSI Prompts. Can an LEAs COE-approved 202021 CSI Prompts be used as its CSI Plan? No. The CSI Plan and the 202021 CSI Prompts are two separate documents that embody different requirements and are used for different purposes. CSI Plans are informed by all State indicators, including student performance against State-determined long-term goals; are based on a school-level needs assessment; include evidence-based interventions; identify and address resource inequities; and must be approved/adopted by the school, LEA, and SBE. The 202021 CSI Prompts serve as the mechanism by which the SBE approves CSI plans. The LEA uses the CSI Prompts to report to the SBE how it developed and is implementing and monitoring its CSI plans. In the prior year, and before COVID-19, the CSI Prompts were included in the Plan Summary section of the LCAP. Without an LCAP for the 202021 school year, the CSI prompts had to be removed from the LCAP and implemented through a separate process. It is anticipated that beginning with the 20212024 LCAP, the CSI Prompts will be incorporated back into the Plan Summary section of the LCAP. In the prior year, and before COVID-19, the CSI Prompts were included in the Plan Summary section of the LCAP. Without an LCAP for the 202021 school year, the CSI prompts had to be removed from the LCAP and implemented through a separate process. It is anticipated that beginning with the 20212024 LCAP, the CSI Prompts will be incorporated back into the Plan Summary section of the LCAP. Must the LEA post to its web page its COE-approved responses to the 202021 CSI Prompts? In a typical year an LEAs COE-approved CSI Prompts would be posted as part of the LEAs LCAP. As such, for the 202021 school year, LEAs are required to post their COE-approved 202021 CSI Prompts to the same web page that they post their LCP, LCAP Federal Addendum, CSI plans, and/or other planning documents. What department or office within a COE should an LEA submit its 202021 CSI Prompts? The CDE does not have a requirement regarding the department or office within a COE to which the LEA should submit its 202021 CSI Prompts. The LEA should contact its COE to determine this information. COE What is the process by which the COE will submit its list of LEAs with approved 202021 CSI Prompts? During the week of November 23, 2020, the CDE will begin to compile a list of LEAs with schools identified for CSI within each county and send that list to the COE, including instructions on how to report to the CDE the list of LEAs with approved 202021 CSI Prompts. The COE will use that list to identify LEAs with approved 202021 CSI Prompts. No later than December 1, 2020, the COE will email a list of LEAs with approved 202021 CSI Prompts to the CDE at LCAPreview@cde.ca.gov. This is the same process that was used in the prior year to approve CSI prompts for the 201920 school year. For COE questions regarding the process to report to the CDE the list of LEAs within a county with approved 202021 CSI Prompts, please send questions to LCAPreview@cde.ca.gov. Does the CDE have an evaluation tool or rubric to assist the COE in reviewing and approving an LEAs responses to the 202021 CSI Prompts? The CDE does not provide an evaluation tool or a rubric for COEs to review and approve LEA responses to the 202021 CSI Prompts. In the CSI Prompts webinar, the CDE provided guiding questions that the COE can use in evaluating an LEAs responses to the CSI Prompts. Also included on slides 35-39 of the webinar are links to resources that the COE can adopt or modify as it engages in the process of supporting LEAs and reviewing and approving their CSI Prompts. The webinar slide deck is located on the 202021 CSI Prompts web page. Other Beginning with the 202122 school year, will the CSI Prompts remain a separate template or be addressed in the LCAP? The CSI Prompts will be addressed in the Plan Summary section of the 202122 LCAP. Are LEAs that only have schools identified for Additional Targeted Support and Improvement required to complete the 202021 CSI Prompts? No. Only LEAs with schools identified for CSI on the 2019 Dashboard are required to complete and submit to their COE for approval, the 202021 CSI Prompts. Return to top For additional information related to CSI, please visit the California Department of Education CSI web page. Questions: School Improvement and Support Office | SISO@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0833 Last Reviewed: Wednesday, January 5, 2022 While Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has promised an orderly transition of power after the presidential election in November if Democrat Joe Biden defeats Donald Trump, other Republican lawmakers defended the presidents controversial comments from Wednesday declining to say whether that would happen. At a White House press conference on Wednesday, Mr Trump repeatedly declined to say whether he would peacefully hand over power to Mr Biden if voters choose the Democratic ticket. Instead, he said hell have to see what happens, re-upped his attacks on the integrity of mail-in ballots, and confirmed he plans to challenge the results of an election night loss all the way up to the Supreme Court over claims of voter fraud. Millions of Americans have voted by mail in past elections with no more than a handful of cases of election fraud. In a tweet on Thursday, Mr McConnell pushed back on Mr Trumps equivocations about a peaceful transfer of power. The winner of the 3 November election will be inaugurated on 20 January. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792, the majority leader wrote. Earlier in the day, House Republican Conference chairwoman Liz Cheney also minced no words about the post-election process. The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. Americas leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath, the Wyoming congresswoman, who is the daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney, tweeted early in the morning on Thursday. But Mr McConnell and Ms Cheney dont represent a monolith of thought on the matter among GOP lawmakers, some of whom defended the presidents statements. I didn't find what he said last night to be overly extreme, North Dakota Republican senator Kevin Cramer told reporters on Thursday. I just thought that he's making the point that we'll see what happens after the election, and what he doesn't want to do that I think theyd like to bait him into doing is conceding the election now. Other Republicans pointed to comments earlier this year from 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton urging Mr Biden not to concede to Mr Trump on Election Day under any circumstances. Ms Clinton said she is confident the Biden campaign team is putting together a massive legal operation to ensure Republicans dont mess with legal mail-in ballots to fudge the election results. Mr Trump has said multiple times this week that he plans to challenge the results of the election in court if he loses, on the basis of mail-in voter fraud. Study after study has shown virtually no large-scale voter fraud in the US in recent elections. 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 his press conference on Wednesday, which he later abruptly exited to take an emergency phone call. When the reporter who asked the initial question about a peaceful transfer of power persisted in trying to get an answer out of Mr Trump, the president doubled down on his unsubstantiated claims about rampant election fraud, a crime he has urged his own supporters to commit. In an interview with Fox News Radio on Thursday, however, the president admitted he would accept the Supreme Courts ruling on the election results. Oh, that I would agree with. But I think we have a long way before we get there. These ballots are a horror show, he said, again casting doubt on the perfectly legal process of voting by mail. A US Electoral Commission chief issued a sharp rebuke against Donald Trump on Wednesday after the president called for mail ballots to be dumped, as he refused to say whether he would leave office in the event of an election defeat to Democrat rival Joe Biden. Ellen Weintraub, Federal Commission Commissioner (FEC), warned the president that America does not simply "get rid" of ballots. In case anyone is unclear on the concept, in the United States of America, we do not get rid of ballots. We count them, she said in a statement on Twitter. Counting the ballots *all* the ballots is the way we determine who leads our country after our elections. The only way, she added. Ms Weintraub, a former FEC chair, has previously warned that Americans may have to wait beyond election night to find out who their next president is, as millions vote by post amid the coronavirus pandemic. At a White House press briefing earlier on Wednesday, Mr Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he fail to win reelection. "Well, we're going to have to see what happens," the president told reporters. "You know that I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots and the ballots are a disaster," he added. "(G)et rid of the ballots and you'll have a very ... there won't be a transfer, frankly ... the ballots are out of control." Senator Mitt Romney was among those to condemn the president's comments, just days after giving his old foe tacit support over the decision to press ahead with replacing the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the election, a move that threatens to reshape the highest court in the land for a generation. "Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus," Mr Romney tweeted. "Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable." National polling shows that Mr Biden still commands a strong lead over the president. But those surveys have tightened slightly in recent weeks, particularly in key battle ground states such as Arizona, Florida and Georgia. With just over a month to go before the election, the coronavirus pandemic and the economy remain the big issues. Some analysts, however, have suggested that Ginsburg's death could be a pivotal factor in the outcome of the vote. Ginsburg, a liberal icon, died on Friday aged 87. The president has vowed to replace her with a conservative justice, which would tip the ideological balance of power in the court in favour of conservatives. The ideological make-up of the Supreme Court is crucial to its rulings on some of the most important and fiercely contested issues in US law, such as reproductive rights, voting rights, healthcare and tax laws. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims that mail-in ballots could fall foul to voter fraud. Several studies have shown little evidence of this taking place at previous elections. Mr Trump has also previously said the only way Mr Biden could win the election is if it's "rigged". He has also suggested the result could be contested all the way to the Supreme Court. Democrats fear Mr Trump could attempt to cling to office using executive powers. Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, Manitoba's senior Liberal MP, said he was "unpleasantly surprised" that Winnipeggers have experienced long lines and delays in getting COVID-19 testing after Ottawa provided more than $100 million to Manitoba to expand capacity. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, Manitoba's senior Liberal MP, said he was "unpleasantly surprised" that Winnipeggers have experienced long lines and delays in getting COVID-19 testing after Ottawa provided more than $100 million to Manitoba to expand capacity. With Premier Brian Pallister still in Ottawa, Vandal posted a chart on Twitter that showed federal support for COVID-19 testing should have tripled the total number of tests performed in Manitoba each day. Vandal said he got that information from a letter sent to Ottawa by the Pallister government. Vandal noted the federal government is providing $380 million to Manitoba through its $19-billion "safe restart" program. Out of that total, $109 million is dedicated to expanding testing capacity. "I'm always of the opinion that there is room for improvement no matter what level of government," Vandal said. "When I see the (testing) lines becoming longer and longer, rather than shorter, and I get complaints from constituents about testing lines becoming too long, then that is surprising for me. It's an unpleasant surprise." Vandal's tweet and comments come on the heels of a prolonged visit to Ottawa by Pallister that started with a mini premiers summit last week during which demands for increased health care transfers were made. Pallister was joined in Ottawa by Quebec Premier Francois Legault, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. The other premiers either ignored the gathering or joined by video conference. The premiers asked for a $28-billion top-up to annual transfers to increase the federal government's share of total health care costs to about one-third. Right now, the premiers claim Ottawa pays less than one-quarter of the total annual cost. The premier travelled to the capital on Sept. 15; a week later, his staff still won't confirm a date for his return. Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. A spokesman for the premier said that while the federal contribution is appreciated, the work to expand testing capacity began well before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the safe restart funding for projects. He added that the province had already started talks with Dynacare, an Ontario-based private lab, to open additional COVID-19 testing sites in Winnipeg. Those efforts will allow an additional 1,400 tests per day, with the ability to increase to 2,600. "Once it has been delivered to Manitoba, federal funding will be applied to support increased testing capacity as outlined in the "safe restart" agreement," the spokesman said. Notwithstanding those comments from the premier's office, concerns remain about long lines at testing facilities that have led to major delays and rampant frustration, particularly with schools having reopened. The province has promised to increase capacity for weeks, but there is little evidence it is succeeding. Vandal said the federal Liberal government has attempted to be as receptive as possible to provincial demands but at some point, it needs to see results. "The prime minister and the deputy prime minister have met with premiers 18 times since the pandemic began," Vandal said. "In every meeting, they have talked about the importance of getting results for the investments that we are making. We're basically looking for results from the investment the federal government is making in the health care system. Winnipeggers and Manitobans deserve nothing less." dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca Libyas oil terminals at Hariga, Brega, and Zueitina are open for business and welcoming tankers to ship oil, although the biggest port and the terminal typically exporting the oil from the biggest oilfield in the country are still under force majeure. According to an update on the ports and terminals on Thursday from Med Wave Shipping Agency in Libya, the port of Mellita is only open to ship condensates, while the biggest port in terms of capacity, Es Sider, is still closed and under force majeure. So is the Zawiya oil terminal shipping the crude produced from Libyas largest oilfield, Sharara. The third-largest port in Libya, Ras Lanuf, is also closed and still under force majeure. Over the weekend, Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC) lifted the force majeure on the oil terminals it considered safe, and said it would restart production from certain fields and some exports of crude oil. NOC will only restart production at safe fields and exports from safe ports, the company said. The head of the Libyan National Army (LNA), General Khalifa Haftar, whose troops, with help from affiliated groups, blockaded Libyas oil ports in January, announced the end of the blockade on Friday. On Tuesday, NOC lifted the force majeure on the Zueitina port after seeing significant improvement in the security situation that allows the National Oil Corporation (NOC) to resume production and exports to global markets. The ports of Hariga, Brega and Zueitina are therefore classified as safe ports. The remaining oil fields and ports are being evaluated according to the safety and security standards in force in the national oil sector, NOC said on Tuesday. Earlier this week, NOC said that it expects oil production in the country to rise to around 260,000 barrels per day (bpd) next week, up from some 100,000 bpd before the blockade of its oil ports and oilfields was lifted at the end of last week. On Thursday, an oil tanker, Delta Hellas, was already loading crude cargo from the storage tanks at Hariga, a shipping source and an engineer at the port told Reuters. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Australian and NZ dollars fell against their major counterparts in the Asian session on Thursday, as rising coronavirus cases heightened concerns about the the global economic recovery. Asian stocks followed Wall Street lower as indications of an economic slowdown in Europe and the U.S. renewed fears about the downturn caused by the pandemic. Concerns over U.S. fiscal stimulus also weighed on markets. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell noted that despite progress in rebounding from the coronavirus economic downturn, 'there is a long way to go.' Several Fed officials on Wednesday called for more fiscal stimulus to boost the economy. The aussie weakened to more than a 2-month low of 0.7031 versus the greenback and a 2-1/2-month low of 74.08 against the yen, off its early highs of 0.7081 and 74.63, respectively. The next possible support for the aussie is seen around 0.68 versus the greenback and 70.00 against the yen. Reversing from its early highs of 1.6457 versus the euro and 0.9472 against the loonie, the aussie dropped to a 3-1/2-month low of 1.6576 and more than a 4-week low of 0.9428, respectively. The aussie is likely to find support around 1.70 versus the euro and 0.92 against the loonie. The aussie pared gains to 1.0774 against the kiwi, from a high of 1.0806 seen at 7:10 pm ET. On the downside, 1.05 is possibly seen as its next support level. The kiwi depreciated to more than a 4-week low of 0.6524 versus the greenback, near 3-month low of 68.75 against the yen and a 4-week low of 1.7865 versus the euro, from its early highs of 0.6557, 69.10 and 1.7771, respectively. The kiwi is poised to find support around 0.62 versus the greenback, 65 against the yen and 1.81 versus the euro. Looking ahead, the Swiss National Bank's monetary policy announcement will be out at 3:30 am ET. Economists widely expect the central bank to maintain policy rate at -0.75 percent. German Ifo business sentiment index for September is due in the European session. U.S. weekly jobless claims for the week ended September 19 and new home sales for August are scheduled for release in the New York session. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Students could be told to stay away from their families over the Christmas holidays, according to the latest scientific advice. The warnings are expected to be published in the latest minutes from meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Larger outbreaks are expected at the end of the academic term as students move around the country to travel home during their two-week break, reported Inews. 'This could pose a risk to both local communities and families, and will require national oversight, monitoring and decision making,' SAGE warned. People walk past the entrance to Glasgow University on September 23, 2020. Students could be told to stay on campus during the Christmas holidays, according to scientific advice It comes as the University of Liverpool this week confirmed 87 cases, while the University of Dundee told 500 students to isolate after an outbreak in a halls of residence as students returned to the city for the new term. Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Unit and former government special adviser to the universities minister, confirmed students could be asked to stay on campus over the holidays. 'Ministers will have to tell students that it's best you stay away from home this year. It is no different from any other situation. If you are following the science then what else can the Government say?' Mr Hillman said. Larger outbreaks are expected at the end of the academic term as students move around the country to travel home during their two-week break, reported Inews (file image) Meanwhile, there were calls to halt lectures at Liverpool University after 80 students and seven staff caught coronavirus - while 500 undergraduates are isolating at halls in Dundee after a single confirmed case. NHS Tayside in Scotland contacted other students who had come into contact with the infected cases at Abertay University - with all residents of halls being told to self-isolate until tracing was 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.' A general view of the tower of Glasgow University on September 23. Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Unit and former government special adviser to the universities minister, confirmed students could be asked to stay on campus over the holidays Meanwhile, there were 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 (file image) 'Further investigation and contact tracing are continuing and we will review this advice in the coming days.' Union members in Liverpool are seeking assurances they will not vulnerable staff will have to arrive in campus. 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.' Boris Johnsons controversial Brexit legislation enabling the UK to break international law has cleared a major Commons hurdle after MPs backed a Government compromise. Tory backbench pressure forced the Prime Minister to agree to amend the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill in order to give MPs a vote before the Government can use powers which would breach the Brexit divorce deal brokered with Brussels last year. Ministers have argued such powers to override the Withdrawal Agreement are needed to protect the relationship between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans deals with amendments in the House of Commons (PA) The Bill also sets out the way that trade within the UK will work once outside the EUs single market and customs union, amid concerns in Westminster that Brussels could seek to disrupt food goods travelling from Britain to Northern Ireland as part of trade talks. But the legislation did not originally contain a parliamentary lock on the use of the powers, prompting backbench uproar. The compromise amendment was supported without the need for a formal vote on Tuesday. Opponents among the Tory ranks still exist and have expressed concern about the prospect of the UKs willingness to break international law. Former prime minister Theresa May previously told the Commons she could not support the Bill as it will cause untold damage to the UK and threaten the future of the Union. Mrs May launched a stinging rebuke of Mr Johnsons actions, and said an arbitration process was already available to deal with disputes without the need for the new powers contained in the Bill. Conservative MP Sir Bob Neill (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament) Conservative former minister Sir Bob Neill, who led the backbench rebellion, told the Commons: I commend this Bill now that the other little obstacle that might potentially have been in its way has, I hope, been resolved and I hope we can get on with the serious business of making what to be frank from my point of view is the best of a bad job. Story continues Its not where I wanted to be, but in the interests of the country its right that we do get a proper functioning, working set of rules to enhance and improve the internal market within the UK. For Labour, shadow business minister Lucy Powell said the legislative hooligans in Number 10 had won out when the Bill could instead have achieved support. She said: Most, including the Labour Party, support the intention behind this Bill. An internal market Bill could have achieved widespread support. A strong, flourishing UK internal market respecting the devolution settlement and underpinning the union. Northern Irelands unique place within our union safeguarded, a successful trade deal with the EU delivered. Yet the legislative hooligans in Number 10 won out and instead we have this blunderbuss of a Bill fronted by the Prime Minister which undermines each and every one of these intentions. Business minister Paul Scully closes the debate in the Commons (PA) Business minister Paul Scully said: This Bill will establish a market access commitment by enshrining mutual recognition and non-discrimination in law. The principle of mutual recognition is that goods and services from one part of the UK will continue to be recognised across the country. That ensures that the devolved administrations will benefit from freedom outside the EU. As the transition period ends, theyll gain increased powers to set their own rules and standards across a wide range of policy areas within their competence. Earlier in the fourth and final day of the Bills committee stage debate, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood also said: This Bill is unfixable, its probably unamendable, it is an assault on international law, an assault on devolution and it is, I think, the beginning of the biggest act of economic self-harm that we have seen in many a year. The Bill will return to the Commons next week to undergo further scrutiny. In the nomination of Kamala Harris for vice president, South Asian Americans like me find ourselves sharing a pivotal moment in history with African Americans. My community should use this time of shared pride in this bi-racial candidate to examine our prejudices and become true allies of the African American community. We should begin by remembering that we were beneficiaries of the civil rights movement. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on color, race, religion, sex and national origin. It paved the way for the passing of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 which opened doors for Asians to migrate. Together, the provisions contained in these acts made it possible for immigrants like us to live as Americans. African Americans dreams to claim full-fledged American citizenship with all its privileges included ours too, even if by default. We must etch this truth into our collective memory as South Asian Americans, never to be forgotten. But we do forget when we hold racist views about African Americans. Anti-Blackness is not a concept we learned in America. Within our South Asian communities, we classify people especially women based on skin color fair, wheat or black. I remember the comparisons made between me and my sister, our forearms placed against each other to see who was fairer. This mindset causes many of us to see African Americans through the lens of colorism and racism. By buying into the harmful and false narrative that the Black community is responsible for societys shortcomings, many of us have sought neighborhoods and schools that can cloister us from Black neighbors. Now in our third generation, inter-racial marriages are prevalent in our community, though I have friends and relatives who admit that they do not want their children to marry African Americans. The irony is that we enjoy Black culture in music, movies, comedy and sports. We may revere the Obama family and Oprah, but still our colored view persists. Our view persists in spite of the fact that, as a minority, we have felt the sting of prejudice and discrimination. Post 9/11, we were the targets of hatred and violence. South Asian men who wore beards and head garments were misconstrued for terrorists. Some of them were attacked and killed. The Patriot Act profiled us because of our similarity to the 9/11 terrorists. We were deemed less than patriotic. The American nightmare is as potent as the American dream. We know both. Our 9/11 experience has taught us that being an American is not just about living the American dream. It is also about fighting to keep that dream. Despite the civil rights victories of the 1960s, African Americans are still fighting to realize their American dream. Their joy in Harriss nomination is offset by the tragedy of police violence against people like George Floyd and Jacob Blake. South Asian Americans can no longer afford to ignore the plight of African Americans. That would be un-American, and the stakes are too high. Racism roots at home and perpetuates. Letters for Black Lives is a project started by Asian Americans and Canadians to promote inter-generational alliances for racial justice. The voice of our younger generation is clear in wanting to support African Americans at this time of nation-wide strife. Reading and discussing South Asian letters published on the projects website with our children and grandchildren would be a good first step for our community to take. We should also vote, lobby, donate, protest and support civil rights causes. We cannot let apathy diminish this historic moment that we share with African Americans. Parameswaran is a family therapist and a founder of Daya Inc., a non-profit serving South Asian survivors of family violence and sexual assault in Houston for 25 years (www.dayahouston.org). She is a first-generation Indian American who moved to the United States in 1973. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The 'Global Prenol (3-Methyl-2-buten-1-ol, CAS 556-82-1) Market Outlook 2019-2024' offers detailed coverage of prenol industry and presents main market trends. The market research gives historical and forecast market size, demand, end-use details, price trends, and company shares of the leading prenol producers to provide exhaustive coverage of the market for prenol. The report segments the market and forecasts its size, by volume and value, on the basis of application, by products, and by geography. Request For Report sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3773 The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from key industry participants. The global prenol market has been segmented into five major regions, namely, North America (U.S., Canada, and others), Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and others), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, and others), South America (Brazil, Argentina, and others), and Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and others). Furthermore, the report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key vendors operating in this market. Key Regions - North America - Europe - Asia Pacific - Middle East & Africa - South America Key Vendors - BASF SE - China Catalyst Huabang (Dongying) Co., Ltd. - Jilin Zhongxin Chemical Group Co., Ltd. - Kuraray Co., Ltd. - Nantong Tendenci Chemical Co., Ltd. - request free sample to get a complete list of companies Key Questions Answered in This Report - Analysis of the prenol market including revenues, future growth, market outlook - Historical data and forecast - Regional analysis including growth estimates - Analyzes the end user markets including growth estimates. - Profiles on prenol vendors including products, sales/revenues, SWOT, and market position, recent developments. - Market structure, market drivers and restraints. More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/3773 Creation of a new office of executive presidency and granting to the holder of that office unfettered and unchecked powers over the Cabinet, the Legislature, the Judiciary, the political system and society. by Jayadeva Uyangoda The debate on the proposed 20th Amendment to Sri Lankas 1978 Constitution is gathering momentum. The proposal, which has been published in the Government Gazette, is indeed a constitutional bombshell, literally. Its provisions are very destructive in their objectives as well as consequences. Perhaps, the management gurus and media moguls who advise President Gotabaya Rajapaksa may have successfully converted him to the somewhat naive and politically dangerous doctrine of creative destruction. Objectives Even a hurried reading of the draft 20th Amendment tells the reader that its framers are motivated by the following two immediate political objectives: Creation of a new office of executive presidency and granting to the holder of that office unfettered and unchecked powers over the Cabinet, the Legislature, the Judiciary, the political system and society. The office of the President will once again be, as it was in 1978 and 2009, the central institution of State power which will stand above, and superior to, everything, and everybody, else in our society and polity. Assigning and securing to one ruling family the monopoly of political power in Sri Lanka. Consequences There are many negative consequences of the proposed 20th Amendment if it is passed into law by Sri Lankas Parliament. Some are short-term and others are both medium and long-term. It has the most destructive potential to create conditions for: Bringing an effective end to Sri Lankas much venerated Parliamentary democracy and liberal democratic traditions and institutions. Creating a political system in Sri Lanka similar to the one we have had under the pre-1931 colonial state, thereby ignoring and erasing all the achievements and advances the Sri Lankan people have made in term of political progress since 1931. The framers of the 20th Amendment and its well-wishers have also closed their eyes to the bloodbath which the J.R. Jayewardene project of despotic constitutionalism caused soon after the enactment of 1978 Constitution. Making it difficult, if not impossible, to dislodge the incumbent ruling family, or whomsoever who occupies the office of President, from power by peaceful and electoral means. Depriving the people of Sri Lanka their sovereign right to change governments and remove rulers who violate their trust by peaceful means available within the framework of open, competitive, multi-party and electoral democracy. Granting constitutional sanctity to the arbitrary exercise of political power by the Executive, with only very restricted, if not non-existent, opportunities for society to exercise any control within the framework of Rule of Law which has so far been the cornerstone of Sri Lankas constitutionalism. Eventually establishing a one-party state in Sri Lanka in line with the much dreaded South-East Asian developmentalist state model. Making liberty and freedoms of citizens vulnerable to arbitrary executive action in a situation in which new law reforms would seek to severely restrict (a) freedom of thought, (b) freedom of expression, (c) freedom of association, and (d) right to dissent and disagree. Facilitating a swift transition from a weak democracy to an autocratic and tyrannical system of government. With those consequences, Sri Lankan citizens will have to watch a rather tragic situation in which: (a) Parliamentary democracy is used to facilitate its own negation, that is, ending parliamentary democracy itself, (b) 150 or so Members of Parliament would be asked to sign their symbolic death warrant collectively by voting for the new Constitutional Amendment as envisaged by the proposed draft. That is why the proposed 20th Amendment is politically and constitutionally so destructive. It will destroy the most precious political legacy of Sri Lankas modernity and progress, parliamentary democracy and rule of law, and create in its place a post-democratic leviathan. That is why the proposed 20th Amendment should be critiqued, opposed and resisted. That is also why President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should be asked by all his critics that he also has a duty to exercise some degree of political sanity and prudence in his capacity as Sri Lankas ruler. Willamette Community, We have learned that there is a planned rally at the capital on Sunday, September 27th, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, hosted by the group Oregonians for Medical Freedom. This is a group that is against government mandates of health practices and vaccines (i.e., anti-maskers, anti-vaxxers). We anticipate that there will also be counter protesters. The Oregon State Police and the Salem Police will have a presence at this event. Although there is no specific information about people carrying firearms, carrying weapons is legal in Oregon. Weapons are not allowed on the Willamette campus. If you observe anyone with a weapon, do not approach them. If you have concerns or are in need of assistance, call Campus Safety at 503-370-6911. As weve shared previously, our close location to the State Capitol provides our community with the benefits and challenges of witnessing and participating in the democratic freedoms of free speech and political assembly. We offer the information below to support members of our community in making their own informed, personal decisions for how to engage in actions to support needed systemic changes. Here is a CNN Health article on COVID-19 conspiracy theories: 6 tips on how to engage anti-vaxxers. For those who are interested in more comprehensive information, The World Health Organization created best practice guidance for How to respond to vocal vaccine deniers in public. Additional Opportunities for Action It is important to respect individuals personal choices to engage or not engage in larger group activities and recognize that there are many ways to show support and engage in action. Opportunities for actions in addition to protest can be found here on the Americans of Conscience Checklist (developed and curated by Jen Hofmann, a former WU employee). You can donate money, drop off supplies, or contact local legislators. The most important action you can do to influence change is to VOTE. Consider organizing initiatives to register students and those who may be disenfranchised to register to vote. Here are a few voting resources: How to Increase Safety if Protesting We again share these tips for How to Protest Safely: What to Bring, What to Do, and What to Avoid. It is important to remember that any large group gathering increases the risk of acquiring COVID-19. Individuals must make an informed and personal decision to participate in such activities taking into account risks to themselves and their close contacts if they were to develop COVID-19. One cannot predict where what starts as a peaceful protest can lead. Tear gas leads to coughing, and increased respiratory droplets can increase the risk of transmission. Shouting and singing, which are common at protests, may also contribute to the spread of the virus. We recognize that an individuals desire to pursue social change may be balanced with their concerns for COVID. If you choose to protest here are our recommendations: If you are symptomatic or have recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19, feel ill, or have active symptoms, do not participate in the actual protest. If you are asymptomatic and plan to join a protest: Wear a mask that fully covers your nose and mouth. Strongly consider wearing or having ready access to goggles or eye protection for added protection (avoid wearing contacts). Bring hand sanitizer and use frequently. Avoid sharing drinks, carrying other peoples signs, or touching objects that others have touched. Bring your own water, food, or other personal items. Limit your group size and maintain 6 feet of physical distance whenever possible during the activity. Avoid crowded activities that involve shouting or singing in close proximity to others and avoid those who are not wearing masks or face coverings. After participating in local protests Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. If you develop even mild symptoms consistent with COVID-19, do not go to work or in-person classes, self-isolate and call your doctor if you have questions about your symptoms. If others who participated in the protests, such as household members, close contacts, or those who you had close contact with for more than 15 minutes are diagnosed with COVID-19, or if you receive a call from a county contract tracer about a possible exposure, follow recommendations for self-isolation and call your doctor. Make good decisions and be well, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Lisa Landreman New Delhi: We all use social media platforms like Google, Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp as we do not pay for their services. We only pay for internet data. However, you will be surprised to know that these social media websites are now controlling your likes, dislikes, and your behaviour. For these social media companies, we are like a product and they are virtually dictating our choices. Not only this, they are even trying to mold our thoughts to vote in favour of a particular political party during elections. Sounding strange? But this is the reality that most of us are not aware of. The DNA analysis will explain to you how companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Google have started interfering with the political system of countries. These companies have become so powerful that they can even topple an elected government in a country by spreading fake news, thereby, creating fake anger among people against the ruling dispensation. The most recent example of the same can be witnessed in the violent protests against the Citizenship Law earlier this year in India. We often think that Google is a search engine and Facebook is a medium to connect with friends. If you think so, the DNA report will change your opinion. Of late, a debate across the world is being heard that Facebook and Twitter are working in favor of a particular party or ideology? Earlier this month, the Indian Parliament's standing committee summoned Facebook India's head Ajit Mohan and some MPs asked many questions and sought clarification from him. Here are some startling facts that would surprise you. Just before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Facebook deleted about 700 pages of the Congress, but their total number of followers was mere around 2 lakhs. It also removed 15 pages supporting BJP, but the number of followers on these pages was close to 2.6 million. Although India is seeking help from some outside agencies for check facts posted on Facebook, the officials working there are also linked to a particular ideology and some of these are associated with political parties. The Fact Checkers for Facebook themselves have spread fake news many times. Prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, a rumour about new airports in the country was spread by Facebook's Fact Checker. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had then said that 35 airports have been built in the last 4 years, but Facebook's Fact Check website termed it a false claim and said that only 7 new airports have been built. The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation had to issue a statement to clarify it. It has also seen that Facebook does not delete hate speeches of the leaders of a particular ideology despite repeated requests. These speeches belong to Asaduddin Owaisi and Kanhaiya Kumar. Some MPs sought answers to these allegations from Facebook officials but their responses are yet to come. Startling revelations have also been made about the top officials associated with Facebook India. The information submitted before the meeting of the standing committee of Parliament are: 1. Ajit Mohan, MD, Facebook India, worked with the Planning Commission during the UPA government. He was also associated with the Ministry of Urban Development during the UPA regime. Ajit Mohan became the MD of Facebook just before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 2. Another Facebook official, Siddharth Mazumdar, heads the public policy team. Siddharth is said to be very close to Congress party's interim president Sonia Gandhi and Ahmed Patel. 3. Kavita KK of Facebook India has also worked with an opposition party's MP from 2015 to 2017. 4. Manish Khanduri has been the news partnership head of Facebook. He left Facebook before the 2019 Lok Sabha election and contested from Garhwal Lok Sabha seat of Uttarakhand on the Congress ticket. These are the lesser-known facts associated with Facebook India, but the information that this social media platform is changing our personality and the way of thinking may further surprise you. Some former employees of Google, Facebook, and Twitter understood to have stated that what they had created has now become something else. Based on their statements, a documentary has also been made. They opine that Internet companies keep an eye on you all the time. They record every data related to you and even know about your mood. Not only this, but they also keep a record of what is going on in your personal life and which people you meet. After knowing these personal details, they can try to change your behaviour also. Companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter have built big data centers to keep the information of millions of people through Artificial Intelligence. The world is gradually becoming aware of these developments. In a surprise decision today, the Thailand government ordered to initiate legal action against Google and Facebook. Earlier, a Thailand court ordered the removal of 3000 content on Facebook and Youtube. The content that included Fake News and pornographic material was being spread apparently to change the thinking of people. We feel that we are making decisions on our own, but actually, those decisions are imposed on our minds due to social media. Cyber experts say that social media posts should be shared very thoughtfully. The three main goals of any social media company are engagement, under which people get used to it. Then comes growth, in which people become the medium for its expansion as they form a network with their friends. The most important is Revenue that is earned through advertisements that we saw. At this stage, Facebook completely takes control of your behavior. People across the world are currently following social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are getting closer to each other on social media. Facebook has emerged as the most favorite social media platform for the people in India with over 35 crore users. Since India has the highest number of Facebook users in the world, it is estimated that these numbers will increase to 45 crores by 2023. WhatsApp is the second most preferred social media platform in India after Facebook with more than 30 crore users, while Instagram is currently used by about 10 crore people, according to DataReportal. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle TROY Troy Police are investigating a shooting on O'Neil Street that sent one person to the hospital Thursday afternoon. At 4:12 p.m., Troy police tweeted that shots had been fired in the area of 33 O'Neil St. between Delaware and Madison avenues, urging people to steer clear of the area. By Trend Azerbaijan's support for Georgia's position at the UN General Assembly is extremely important for us, Georgian Foreign Minister, David Zalkaliani said, Trend reports. Zalkaliani made the remark at a briefing after a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Georgia highly appreciates this support, the minister added noted. Zalkaliani added that Georgia unequivocally supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within the internationally recognized borders. San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera is using a novel legal approach to try to clean up open-air drug dealing on the Tenderloins sidewalks, suing 28 alleged dealers in a bid to impose civil fines and arrest if they so much as enter the neighborhood. The move, essentially a restraining order for drug pushers, comes as dealing in the Tenderloin has grown more prolific and the consequences more deadly. The Department of Public Health last month released statistics showing 441 people died across the city in 2019 of drug overdoses, a stunning 70% increase from the previous year. Many of the drugs dealt out in the Tenderloin are laced with fentanyl, which is driving the spike in deaths. Already this year, 81 people have died of overdoses in the Tenderloin. Mostly, City Hall has failed to marshal a response even remotely commensurate with these devastating numbers. Many of the dealers selling the deadly products have been arrested and released with few real consequences, returning repeatedly to the same corners to commit the same crimes. Herreras move, which will need Superior Court approval, comes weeks after this column featured moms and grandmothers in the Tenderloin who say they sometimes feel trapped in their little apartments because of the crush of dealers outside their doors and that their children recognize dealing at sadly early ages. Everyone can agree that what is going on in the Tenderloin is unacceptable, and we as a city need to work collectively to address what is an unfortunately terrible threat to the families and children living there, Herrera said in an interview Wednesday. We all have a responsibility to step up and alleviate the crisis. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle 2019 Herrera who was first elected city attorney in 2001 readily admits his approach isnt a silver bullet, that the city needs to offer far more drug and mental health treatment, and that the narcotics suppliers need to be taken down. Still, his approach shows somebody in city government is thinking creatively and acting decisively, a rarity these days. Herrera will seek civil injunctions against 28 people whove been arrested at least twice in the past 18 months, including at least once in the past nine months. Both arrests must have led to criminal charges or a motion to revoke probation. The drugs involved must have been fentanyl, heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine. Herreras office worked closely with the San Francisco Police Department to create the list of 28 people 24 men and four women. None of the defendants live in the Tenderloin, Herrera said. All but one live outside San Francisco, traveling from Oakland, Hayward, San Jose, Suisun City and elsewhere. The sole San Francisco resident lives in the Sunset District. Herrera wants to prevent the 28 people from entering a 50-block area in the historic Tenderloin and part of the nearby South of Market neighborhood. If caught there, they could face arrest for violating a court order and seizure of any drugs and paraphernalia on them. Herreras office could levy a fine of $6,000 per violation, but criminal consequences would be in the hands of District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Noah Berger / Special to The Chronicle And thats where the plan could fall down. Boudin was not involved in the crafting of Herreras strategy and has said repeatedly he wont replicate the failed war on drugs by focusing on small-scale, street-level dealers. Instead, he has called for focusing on the suppliers and expanding drug treatment. He also wants to create a special court for the dealers he says are trafficked from Honduras and are victims themselves. Boudin and Public Defender Mano Raju declined to comment. Its also unclear whether Herreras effort can work when a separate operation in August 2019 by the U.S. Attorneys Office to arrest 32 drug dealers in the Tenderloin hasnt markedly changed the dynamics in the neighborhood. In fact, theyve only gotten worse. San Francisco police have also continued to arrest dealers. Police Chief Bill Scott, who supports Herreras effort, said a recent 90-day narcotics operation in the Tenderloin resulted in the arrests of 267 people. By working together with our partners in the city attorneys office and our other law enforcement partners, we can help make our city a safer place, he said in a statement. Herreras move could also face pushback from civil rights groups who fought his now-expired civil gang injunctions, which started in 2006 and prohibited named gang members from associating with other suspected members inside designated neighborhood safety zones. In those cases, the defendants also couldnt flash gang signs, loiter or paint graffiti. The injunctions coincided with a drop in gang killings and homicides overall, but critics said they contributed to police harassment and racial profiling. Herreras office has taken pains to distinguish this effort. Unlike in the gang injunctions, the 28 people prohibited from entering the Tenderloin dont live there. Herreras office said it didnt look at the peoples racial demographics and the sole criterion was a pattern of criminal misconduct. Mayor London Breed supports Herreras plan, calling the open-air dealing simply unacceptable. Our police officers make arrests, but then we see those same people dealing drugs out on the street again and again, Breed said in a statement. We need to try new approaches to break this cycle, and I appreciate that City Attorney Dennis Herrera is putting this solution forward. ... This neighborhood deserves better, and our city needs to do better. 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. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle She added that she wants to see more investment in drug treatment and the opening of a long-discussed safe injection site where people can legally consume drugs under supervision. The citys new budget includes money for a new crisis response team to assist those experiencing mental health or drug-related emergencies on the street. Dina Mendoza, program manager for La Voz Latina, a resource center for Latino residents of the Tenderloin, said Herreras plan sounds like a good one. We need more of an aggressive approach, she said of drug dealers. Well see if this deters them or makes them rethink wanting to come to the Tenderloin. She said she hears regularly from mothers in the neighborhood that they must choose between staying home or pushing their way through sidewalks crowded with drug dealers and people buying their products. She said many mothers have told her about being catcalled and harassed by dealers, and their daughters sometimes face even worse harassment. The Tenderloin is all they can afford, and its very hard on them, very difficult to see this in the streets and have their kids exposed to it, Mendoza said. Parents feel like theyre invisible, and nobodys really listening to them. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Fernando Pujals, senior director of the Tenderloin Community Benefit District, said theres persistent trauma around the Tenderloins open-air drug markets including among families who live in isolation because theyre afraid to leave and walk through the mess. Its clear that whatever mechanisms are in place to mitigate those impacts have not worked, he said. I would welcome some different thinking around it. Different thinking in San Francisco? Its about time. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight usually appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf OAKVILLE, Ontario, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giyani Metals Corp. (TSXV:EMM, GR:A2DUU8) ("Giyani" or the "Company") announces the granting of options, the appointment of Dig Media Inc. dba Investing News Network (INN), and the signing of a services agreement with Hybrid Financial Ltd. (Hybrid). Grant of Options Giyani has granted an aggregate of 2,100,000 stock options (each an "Option") to certain directors, officers, and consultants of the Company in accordance with the Company's current stock option plan. Each Option is exercisable into one common share (a "Share") of the Company at a price of $0.185 per Share for a period of five years from the date of grant, being today. A total of 1,400,000 Options vest immediately with the remaining 700,000 vesting over a two-year period. Appointment of INN The Company has entered into an advertising and investor awareness campaign with INN. INN is a private company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, dedicated to providing independent news and education to investors since 2007. For a 12-month term of the agreement, INN will provide advertising services to Giyani to increase its awareness. INN does not provide investor relations or market making services as defined by TSXV policies. The cost of the campaign is $58,000. INN currently holds 464,000 Shares in Giyani. Hybrid Financial Services Agreement The Company has also signed a services agreement with Hybrid, a Canadian based financial and marketing company. Hybrid will assist Giyani with all aspects of its marketing strategy and will provide, amongst others, services such as brand awareness and distribution. Giyani will compensate Hybrid at a flat basic fee of $15,000 per month for a minimum of 6 months. Hybrid currently holds 1,050,000 Shares in Giyani. About Giyani Giyani Metals Corp. is a mineral resource company focused on the development of its K.Hill, Lobatse & Otse manganese oxide projects in the Kanye Basin, Botswana, Africa. The Company's flagship K.Hill project is a near-surface deposit currently going through a feasibility study to produce high-purity electrolytic manganese metal and manganese sulphate, both key cathode ingredients for batteries in the expanding electric vehicle (EV) market. Additional information and corporate documents may be found on www.sedar.com and on Giyani Metals Corp. Website: https://giyanimetals.com/. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Giyani Metals Corp. Robin Birchall, CEO Contact: Giyani Metals Corporation Robin Birchall CEO, Director +447711313019 rbirchall@giyanimetals.com Thomas Horton VP, Business Development +447866913207 thorton@giyanimetals.com Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. The securities described herein 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 accordingly, may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. persons," as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act ("U.S. Persons"), except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities to, or for the account of benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons. GIYANI METALS CORP. 1155 North Service Road West, Unit 11 Oakville, Ontario L6M 3E3 www.giyanimetals.com TSXV:EMM Fifty-eight percent of physicians globally feel confident in prescribing an FDA/EMA-approved vaccine, with US physicians the least confident in government policies about vaccine safety, rollout among those polled With vaccine hesitancy threatening the ability for a potential COVID-19 vaccine to protect the public, new data show more than half of US and UK physicians surveyed feel confident in prescribing an FDA/EMA-approved vaccine. These physicians estimate that 42% of US patients are vaccine hesitant, the highest level in the survey. Respondents were Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) and their respective international counterparts from seven countries including the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Canada. Findings were sourced by SurveyHealthcareGlobus (SHG), the global market leader of first-party healthcare data collection and custom survey solutions and part of the Apollo Intelligence, LLC family. SHG's global COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy research found that on average physicians estimate 36% of their patients will be hesitant to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. UK physicians report the lowest levels of hesitancy, at 27%, while German physicians estimate 41% of their patients will be hesitant, rivaling the US, at 42%. US physicians were the least confident in government policies about vaccine safety and vaccine rollout among those polled (33% and 26% respectively), with German physicians the most confident (54% and 51% respectively). "For decades global health entities have pushed to eradicate patient vaccine hesitancy for proven vaccines. Our data shows that physicians in the West are demonstrating hesitance themselves for COVID-19 vaccines in development," said Daniel S. Fitzgerald, CEO and president of Apollo Intelligence, parent firm to SHG. "Their focus on the importance of education, awareness, and transparency in the vaccine development process provides helpful guidance for vaccine developers and international public health leaders." Twenty-two percent of global physicians report that patients with co-morbidities will be the most reluctant to take a COVID-19 vaccine, with these sentiments highest in Spain (27%) and Canada (30%). Other demographics include the elderly, with 21% of global physicians reporting their potential hesitation. Patients with pre-existing conditions (19%), immune-compromised (16%), and disabled (13%), were also noted by global respondents. In the US, physicians expect that 24% of African-American and Latino minorities will be leery to receive the vaccines. Confidence in the efficacy (10%) and safety (8%) of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine reflects the lowest levels for the seven topics addressing governmental agency approvals. Worldwide, physicians think vaccine distribution should prioritize residents of long-term care facilities (46%) and people with underlying medical conditions (38%). One physician noted: "Patient education and myth busting in media is vital. We'll need to ensure there's adequate supply from the start of the campaign, and adequate resource for practices to deliver vaccine program en masse. We will also need to ensure real-time communication of vaccination status across the healthcare system to enable opportunistic vaccination where unvaccinated." -UK, General Practitioner SHG's Global COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Report included perceptions from n=484 Primary Care Physicians (PCPs)-and their respective international counterparts-in the US (n=95), UK (n=43), France (n=89), Germany (n=71), Italy (n=57), Spain (n=52), and Canada (n=77), and was fielded between September 5-9, 2020. Respondents prescribe at least 5 vaccines per month. For the complete findings, please download the full report. About SurveyHealthcareGlobus SurveyHealthcareGlobus, an Apollo Intelligence brand, has been providing access to physicians, allied healthcare professionals, payers, decision makers, and key opinion leaders worldwide for more than 15 years. It provides project management, sample access and custom survey solutions to a variety of market research firms, management consulting firms, big data companies, and a variety of other users of healthcare data collection. For more information, visit www.surveyhealthcareglobus.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005250/en/ Contacts: Jessica Florez Director of Marketing for SHG at Apollo Intelligence Jessica.florez@surveyhealthcareglobus.com 646-616-9140 Mary Kae Marinac PR Representative for Apollo Intelligence mk@mkmarinac.com 978-685-3136 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: SYDNEY, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- One of Australia's big four banks, Westpac has agreed to pay 1.3 billion Australian dollars (919 million U.S. dollars) for breaching money laundering and terrorism financing laws, the company revealed Thursday. The penalty is the largest ever imposed on an Australian corporation and follows a lengthy inquiry into the country's financial sector, which uncovered infringements by several major institutions. Industry regulator, AUSTRAC (Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre), said in a statement that Westpac had admitted to have breached the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act). According to AUSTRAC, among other offences, Westpac failed to properly report over 19.5 million international transactions amounting to 11 billion Australian dollars (7.7 billion U.S. dollars), including with "known higher risk jurisdictions". Through its non-compliance the bank left the system open to exploitation by criminals via money laundering, terrorism financing and child exploitation, AUSTRAC Chief Executive Officer Nicole Rose said. Westpac Group CEO, Peter King apologized for the bank's failings and said that the company was actively addressing the internal issues at play. "We are committed to fixing the issues to ensure that these mistakes do not happen again," he said. The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) comprising all public sector nurses, midwives, Physician Assistants (PAs) and Anesthetists (CRAs) who embarked on strike have reportedly called off their action. The nurses and midwives went on strike to demand for better conditions of services from the Akufo-Addo government. Following their strike, the National Labour Commission (NLC) secured a court injuction to restrain them from laying down their tools and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) also pleaded for them to back down on their strike and return to the negotiation table to have their grievances resolved. Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoa also called on the health workers to rescind their decision saying the President has "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 honour the government in anyway". The nurses and midwives have finally heeded the calls to cancel the strike and resumed work effective immediately. Speaking to Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, the Dean of the School of Performing Arts of the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly known as Opanyin Agyekum has thanked the health workers for going back to their work. He was delighted by their decision because the health workers play a critical role in saving lives. "When UTAG goes on strike and we resume, we can find ways to make up for the vacuum we created . . . but I'm always scared when the health workers go on strike because they deal with the lives of people," he said. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The number of individuals infected with COVID-19 is now more than 32 million globally, of which almost one million have perished. Since early July, when lockdowns were lifted, and economies were opened, the number of new cases has been steadily growing, and the number of daily deaths has kept abreast with 40 to 50 thousand dying each week. In this regard, the United States has proven incapable of containing and quelling the pandemic by any reputable public health standard. With 7.1 million cases of COVID-19 and over 206,000 deaths, and despite having one of the highest per capita testing with over 300,000 tests per million population, it leads in almost every grim category, which underscores the obviousthe inability of the most powerful imperialist country to use its resources to protect the population. President Donald J. Trump and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony S. Fauci during a coronavirus update briefing in April. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks) The policy of herd immunity being pursued, as the perspective noted yesterday, is one of social euthanasia where the elderly and infirmed, considered unproductive and therefore worthless, are allowed to be culled by the infection, absolving them of supposedly any direct responsibility. The recognition of the 200,000 deaths milestone by every major media outlet also means that damage control measures must be brought to bear on the chance of seeming too smug for mission accomplished claims as schools and universities have moved to ensure in-class education inaugurated by the return of 90,000 pre-K and special education students in New York City. This was precisely what was behind the political theater yesterday that saw the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing on the USs response to the coronavirus, first lightly censuring, then offering their confidence, all to assure the populations flagging trust in US health institutions. This comes on the heels of acknowledgment that the Trump administration had been meddling with the CDCs weekly scientific reports and publishing of guidance that did not support the presidents outlook. Additionally, recent guidance on testing asymptomatic individuals and retraction of aerosolization of the virus has all but irrevocably tarnished the reputation of the revered US CDC. The fabulous four Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Robert Redfield, Admiral Brett Giroir, and Dr. Stephen Hahn testified in support of their tireless and committed response to the pandemic. Dr. Hahn told the panel that every one of the decisions we have reached has been made by career FDA scientists based on science and data, not politics. He then ensured the panel that he would not permit any pressure from anyone to change that. On August 31, in an open letter to Dr. Hahn, Dr. Eric Topol, the editor-in-chief of Medscape, writes, Im gravely concerned about your leadership of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The circumstances of your statements in recent days have led to a crisis in confidence. Not only has your credibility been diminished, but so has that of the FDA, its 15,000-plus staff members, and, most importantly, your ability to oversee the health interest of the American people. Dr. Hahn was an aggressive proponent of Trumps hydroxychloroquine debacle, granting the medication an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) without any evidence to support its efficacy. Joined by the president and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, he touted the tremendous efficacy on mortality reduction of convalescent plasma based on a retrospective observational study whose claim on mortality reduction was completely unfounded, followed by announcing another EUA. Only after overwhelming criticism from the scientific establishment did he begin to walk back his remarks. His issuance of a EUA for Remdesivir that broadened its application to any hospitalized patient with moderate COVID-19 symptoms violated the limited findings that it only had a marginal benefit for patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms with time to discharge. With a price tag of $3,000 per treatment, clearly what motivates Dr. Hahns humanistic initiatives are the enrichment of the pharmaceutical companies, which will see to it that he is provided a choice position after his tenure at the FDA is over. His remarks at the hearing yesterday being questioned on granting emergency approval for a COVID-19 vaccine have to be completely dismissed when he said he would seek guidance from a panel of outside experts and ensured that the process would be transparent and independent. In an interview with the Financial Times, Dr. Hahn insisted there was a safe way to make a vaccine available before the end of the Phase Three trials potentially by issuing an emergency authorization for use by certain groups rather than a blanket approval. Dr. Redfield, who has recently been rebuked by Trump for his comments at a Senate committee last week when he told senators that a vaccine wouldnt be available till the middle of next year and that masks were a vital defense against the coronavirus, repeated his opinion that it would take until April to procure sufficient doses of the vaccine and possibly until July before the population could be vaccinated. Moderna, the biotechnology company, supported by the assistance of the NIAID and funding from the government for its experimental mRNA vaccine -1273, has reported it could have enough data for its preliminary analysis by late December at the earliest. However, the stipulation is that it proves highly efficacious, and the trials could be stopped sooner. Realistically, they said that it could take ten months from the beginning of their trial, July 2020, to have sufficient cases to determine the vaccine is 60 percent efficacious. Yet, with the elections looming, these promises, and reality checks, have little significance compared to the political pressures behind the scenes. Dr. Redfield admitted to the senators that the guidance issues on asymptomatic people were a byproduct of HHS Assistant Secretary Michael Caputos insistence, who claimed, before resigning his position, that the CDC scientists were engaged in sedition against the president. Admiral Brett Giroir, a member of the coronavirus task force and the Trump administrations official overseeing the coronavirus testing, had nothing to say on the state of testing in the United States. Despite the trumped-up claims of more testing than any other country, COVID-19 testing has stalled across the country with wait times for testing far longer than epidemiologists recommend for appropriate surveillance on contact tracing. Instead, he regaled the senators with the declining cases, deaths, and hospitalization, which are by all accounts still far too high and neglected to mention that the infection has seeped deep into rural communities such as in Wisconsin and Minnesota, South and North Dakota, and finding a resurgence in Arizona. Instead, he touted the purchase of 150 million point-of-care tests from Abbott, an extraordinary 750-million-dollar contract, of which 974,000 were sent to 7,600 nursing homes and 541,000 to 5,500 extended care facilities, 300,000 to Indian Health Services, and 249,000 tests to historically black colleges and universities. There was no mention of contact tracing or the building of any public health infrastructure. He did not explain why these rapid antigen tests were not incorporated into the reporting dashboards to better glean where the virus has spread. The private enterprise is finding quite a lucrative industry in the pandemic. Dr. Anthony Faucis role as a celebrity scientist and darling of the political establishment was clearly highlighted in his rebuttal to an attack by senator Rand Paul, who suggested that Dr. Fauci condoned lockdowns and lauded New York for their policy. He added, New York has the highest death rate in the world. How can we possibly be jumping up and down and saying, oh, Governor Cuomo did a great job? Dr. Fauci fired back, No, you misconstrued that, senator, and youve done that repetitively in the past. They got hit very badly, 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 to one percent or less, is because they are looking at the guidelines that we have put together from the task force. Or they have developed enough community immunity that theyre no longer having the pandemic because they have enough immunity in New York City actually to stop it, Senator Rand interjected. Fauci followed, This happens with Senator Rand all the time. You were not listening to what the director of the CDC said that in New York, its about 22 percent. If you believe that 22 percent is herd immunity, I believe youre alone in that. However, his most recent comments with teachers exposed him as a political stooge and not a scientist when he informed teachers that little was known about the transmission of the coronavirus among children and young people and that teachers were, unfortunately, going to be a part of a large experiment. This statement provided sufficient context that Dr. Scott Atlas absence was immaterial, as Dr. Faucis comments would not materially contradict Dr. Atlas position. Towards the latter half of the event, in an attempt to bolster public confidence, Senator Bob Casey asked the witnesses if they would publicly receive the vaccine when it was made available, with each one vouching to offer themselves and their families as guinea pigs. A woman worships at the Guiyuan temple in Wuhan, central Chinas Hubei Province on Sept. 16 , 2020. (Getty Images) How Chinese Authorities Mobilized Propaganda Apparatus to Spread COVID-19 Narrative Online The Chinese regimes initial coverup of the CCP virus outbreak has been well-documented. Now, government documents obtained by The Epoch Times have revealed in greater detail how authorities also worked to suppress online information that didnt align with their narrative about the pandemic, and punished those who posted such content on social media. Authorities also set up teams of officials and state media reporters to publish articles praising the Chinese regimes pandemic response and promote those posts online. They also have maintained a list of news topics that the media arent allowed to report on, constantly updated to reflect news thats deemed too sensitive. Hohhot municipal government reported their daily summary about the epidemic related propaganda work in Inner Mongolia, China, on Feb. 3, 2020. (Provided to The Epoch Times by an insider.) Propaganda Teams The documents come from the Inner Mongolia Chinese Communist Party committee. In one notice dated Jan. 26, the committee ordered local governments at all levelsregional, municipal, county, township, and villageto set up dedicated propaganda teams related to the CCP virus epidemic. At present, the novel coronavirus-related propaganda is our most important job. We need to motivate everyone [in Inner Mongolia region] and arrange tasks that can cover all aspects, to strengthen the guidance and control on epidemic-related information and speech, the notice reads. The regional team would be led by the propaganda minister of Inner Mongolia, with top officials spanning a range of government agencies as members, including the Cyberspace Affairs Office, Foreign Affairs Office, education department, health commission, transportation department, customs bureau, and state media outlets. The city or county government teams would similarly be led by the local propaganda director, along with other officials in charge of health, cyberspace, media, and other areas. The Party committee would also create reporting teams at the provincial, city, and county levels. State media reporters must be politically correct and steady in their coverage of the pandemic, the notice instructs. The leader of each team would be the chief editor of local state-run outlets. Both the propaganda and reporting teams would be on standby 24/7, while members who arent on shift must be prepared to answer their phones at any time, to prepare for emergencies, according to the documents. A woman worships at the Guiyuan temple in Wuhan, in Hubei Province on Sept. 16, 2020. (Getty Images) Main Tasks The propaganda teams need to post information that aligns with the central governments toneon conventional media and social media platforms. The posts can be in different forms, such as news reports, commentaries, and talk shows, according to the documents. The posts would serve the purpose of educating the people, documents noted. Posts should feature the main melody or positive energy about the pandemic, such as stories about restaurant owners delivering free meals to medical staff who treated COVID-19 patients; new infections are rumors; grocery stores have plenty of supplies, and so on. The Hohhot city propaganda team wrote in its work summary on Jan. 30 that it had posted 698 CCP virus-related posts from 9 a.m. on Jan. 29 to 9 a.m. the following day. In that 24-hour period, state-run newspaper Hohhot Daily published 18 news reports in its newspaper and 84 articles via its social media accounts, while Hohhots radio and television reported 40 news articles and 93 posts on its websites and social media platforms. HohhotNews.net published 79 articles on its websites and 73 posts on social media platforms. The summary also noted that Hohhot censors promoted posts by the official governments accounts on Weibo and WeChat, two of Chinas most popular platforms. The local cyberspace office also arranged for 6,686 volunteers to share the government posts on social media. The propaganda teams are also tasked with monitoring all posts and comments published on social media platforms by local residentsand punishing those responsible for content thats not in line with the official narrative. For example, the same work summary stated that the cyberspace office filtered out 34,218 posts in those 24 hours. Fourteen of them were identified as important public opiniona euphemism for posts not approved by authorities. We have asked the health commission and police bureau to deal with the posts, the summary stated. The notice didnt explicitly explain what that meant, but in Chinese government messages, it typically connotes a form of punishment. The harmful posts were removed by the cyberspace office, it added. The propaganda office in the Alxa League government also stated in a document that it removed social media accounts and punished owners of accounts who posted unapproved information. For example, the office stated that on March 6, it identified an account on WeChat, Xiaotuofeng Net, that had posted information about the local outbreak. Officials ordered the account owner to stop. A laptop screen displaying a denial of access message on a censored Chinese website in Beijing, on Jan. 4, 2013. (STF/AFP/Getty Images) Sensitive Topics Meanwhile, an order issued by the Hohhot government on Sept. 8 instructed all township, neighborhood, and village authorities to utilize social media to convince people to support a new education policy. Since late August, ethnic Mongolians in Inner Mongolia have protested in front of local government offices or staged school walkouts to oppose a new policy requiring classes in primary and middle schools to be taught in Mandarin Chinese and use standardized Chinese-language textbooks. Ethnic Mongolians have a distinct language and culture from the Han Chinese ethnic majority who speak Mandarin. Several government-operated social media accounts also publicly threatened residents that they would be held liable if they opposed the new policy. Another document, more than 20,000 words long, detailed all the news topics that authorities banned from Jan. 2 to March 10. Media werent allowed to report on Indonesias criticism of Chinese fishermen who entered the countrys exclusive economic zone; how the Hong Kong government was dealing with the CCP virus epidemic; large-scale protests against the Iranian regime; U.S. sanctions on Iran; or Chinas population crisis, among the restricted topics. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump was booed Thursday as he paid respects to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He plans to nominate a replacement this weekend for the liberal justice, best known for her advancement of womens rights. The president and first lady Melania Trump both wearing masks stood silently at the top of the steps of the court and looked down at Ginsburgs flag-draped coffin, which was surrounded by white flowers. Ginsburgs death has sparked a controversy over the political balance of the court just weeks before the November presidential election. Moments after Trump arrived, booing could be heard from spectators about a block away from the court building. They chanted vote him out as the president stood near the coffin. Trump walked back into the court as the chants grew louder. As his motorcade returned to the White House, there were also chants of Breonna Taylor from some spectators standing on the sidewalk. Their calls came one day after it was announced that a Kentucky grand jury had brought no charges against Louisville police for her killing during a drug raid connected to a suspect who did not live at Taylors home. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said people have First Amendment rights, but she found the jeers an appalling and disrespectful thing to do as the president honoured Justice Ginsburg. The chants were appalling but certainly to be expected when youre in the heart of the swamp, McEnany said. Trump has called Ginsburg an amazing woman. Her body will lie in state at the Capitol on Friday, the first time a woman receives that distinction, and only the second time it will be bestowed on a Supreme Court justice. William Howard Taft, who had also served as president, was also recognized in such a manner. The body of Rosa Parks, a private citizen and not a government official, previously has lain in honour at the Capitol. Ginsburg will be buried alongside her husband, Martin, in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery next week. Martin Ginsburg died in 2010. Meanwhile, the president is expected to announce his nominee to replace Ginsburg on Saturday. He has said he will select from a list of five women. Republicans are working to move quickly to a confirmation vote, possibly even before the Nov. 3 election. A steady stream of mourners stood outside the high court Thursday. They packed the streets and hundreds waited in line to pay their respects to Ginsburg. The crowd was hushed and respectful, except for when the president arrived. Attorney Laura French travelled to Washington from Athens, Georgia, to pay her respects. She said she owes her success to trailblazers like Ginsburg. She also said that GOP senators set precedence four years ago when they refused to meet with potential nominee Merrick Garland, and she questioned whether they now had the right to rush through a nominee. She said it was right for Trump to come pay respects, though she doesnt agree with him politically. He should, hes the president and she gave her life and service to this country and to these beliefs that are in our Constitution, French said. Rocky Twyman, who lives in nearby Rockville, Maryland, said Ginsburgs death was a great loss for the country. She believed in equality for all people, he said. He said it was right for Trump to come, but questioned his motives. I thought it was good, but a lot of people said it was insincere because hes going to go around and nominate someone for her seat, he said. Ginsburgs granddaughter has said it was Ginsburgs wish that a replacement justice be chosen by the winner of the November presidential election. ___ Associated Press videographer Dan Huff contributed to this report. US President on Wednesday again declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the November 3 presidential election. "We are going to have to see what happens," Trump said at a news conference, responding to a question about whether he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power. "You know that I have been complaining very strongly about the ballots and the ballots are a disaster." Trump has been pressing a monthslong campaign against mail-in voting this November by tweeting and speaking out critically about the practice. More states are encouraging mail-in voting to keep voters safe amid the coronavirus pandemic. The president, who uses mail-in voting himself, has tried to distinguish between states that automatically send mail ballots to all registered voters and those, like Florida, that send them only to voters who request a mail ballot. Trump has baselessly claimed widespread mail voting will lead to massive fraud. The five states that routinely send mail ballots to all voters have seen no significant fraud. Trump on Wednesday appeared to suggest that if states got "rid of" the unsolicited mailing of ballots, there would be no concern about fraud or peaceful transfers of power. "You will have a very peaceful -- there will not be a transfer frankly," Trump said. "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." In a July interview, Trump similarly refused to commit to accepting the results and he made similar comments ahead of the 2016 election. "I have to see. Look ... I have to see," Trump told Chris Wallace during a wide-ranging July interview on "Fox News Sunday". "No, I am not going to just say yes. I am not going to say no and I did not the last time either." The Biden campaign responded on Wednesday, as it did after Trump's July comments: "The American people will decide this election. And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House." It is highly unusual that a sitting president would express less than complete confidence in the American democracy's electoral process. But Trump, four years ago, when in the closing stages of his race against Hillary Clinton, also declined to commit to honouring the election results if the Democrat won. When asked during an October 2016 debate about whether he would abide by the voters' will, Trump responded that he would "keep you in suspense". It is unlikely that any chaos in states with universal mail-in voting will cause the election result to be inaccurately tabulated, as Trump has suggested. The five states that already have such balloting have had time to ramp up their systems, while four states newly adopting it -- California, New Jersey, Nevada and Vermont -- have not. Washington, DC, is also newly adopting it. Of those nine states, only Nevada is a battleground, worth six electoral votes and likely to be pivotal only in a national presidential deadlock. California, New Jersey, Vermont and DC are overwhelmingly Democratic and likely to be won by that party's nominee, former vice president (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 20:13:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GAZA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Hamas and Fatah, the two major rival Palestinian factions, announced on Thursday their agreement on a joint vision for achieving internal reconciliation and holding general elections in the Palestinian territories. The announcement came after a three-day dialogue between the two factions in Turkey. According to a joint statement sent to Xinhua, the dialogue in Turkey, an extension of the online national conference simultaneously held in Ramallah and Lebanon's capital Beirut on Sept. 3, ended with both Hamas, ruler of the Gaza Strip, and Fatah led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas committed to "working jointly to confront all conspiracies until the achievement of full independence represented by establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital." "The two movements will present their vision for a comprehensive dialogue with the participation of of all the other Palestinian factions," the statement said. The final agreement will be announced before Oct. 1 in an online conference chaired by Abbas and in the presence of secretary-generals of 14 Palestinian factions including Fatah and Hamas, it added. Meanwhile, a well-informed Palestinian source told Xinhua that Fatah and Hamas also agreed in principle to hold presidential and legislative elections in Palestine by the end of this year. But differences remained over the mechanism for holding elections, how to control the situation in the Palestinian territories and the jurisdiction of the Hamas-run courts in Gaza, the source said on condition of anonymity. Enditem Poonam Pandey tied the knot with Sam Bombay on September 10 in a private ceremony. But just two weeks into the marriage, the Indian model turned actress filed an FIR against hubby Sam Bombay in Goa where they were gone for their honeymoon claiming her partner had molested, threatened and assaulted her. Pandey had been in a relationship with the director-producer for the past few years. Just after 10 days of marriage, the Nasha actor made headlines yet again after she made accusations against her husband that he assaulted and threatened her with dire consequences over a personal dispute. Following the FIR, Sam, 46, was booked under Sections 323, 504, 354 and 506(ii) of the Indian Penal Code. The newly-married couple looked picture perfect happy when their honeymoon and wedding pictures surfaced on the social media but this marital bliss didnt seem to last long. The actress publicly opened up claiming that their relationship was an abusive one since the start. Post the wedding, Poonam had teased her fans sharing a picture from their times together in Goa on her Instagram handle and captioned it, Having the best honeymoon :) On the other hand, Sam shared similar posts together with captions like, Heres looking forward to seven lifetimes with you. Also Read: Happy Birthday Karan Oberoi: 5 fun facts about this top model Ballia : , Sep 24 (IANS) It was a dream that was obviously too good to last. A 16-year-old girl in Ballia district received a major shock on Monday when she went to her bank and was told that she had nearly Rs 10 crore in her account. Saroj, who is illiterate, told reporters that she had an account in an Allahabad Bank branch in Bansdih town since 2018, and had never even seen so much money. Saroj went straight to the police station and lodged a complaint. She told the police that a person named Neelesh Kumar from Kanpur Dehat had called her about two years ago and had asked her to send her Aadhaar card details and her photograph so that she could get funds under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Saroj said that she had sent the details to Kumar but never heard from him after that. She told the police that the number from which Kumar used to call her was now switched off. She also said that she did not know from where the money came into her account. The bank manager told the police that Saroj had deposited and withdrawn amounts ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 a number of times. Bansdih police station in-charge Rajesh Kumar Singh said the matter was being probed and action would be taken accordingly. He said that cyber experts were also probing the money trail. As lawmakers from across Brooklyn and New York City weighed in on the controversial Industry City rezoning in Sunset Park, which promised to create 20,000 new jobs at a time when the city is struggling financially, one voice was notably absent: City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. Even after the application made its way to the City Council, he remained on the fence and never took an official position. And now, Johnson will never have to. The Industry City owners pulled their application on Tuesday and decided to scrap the rezoning. Regardless of the potential impacts the decision will have on the city and Sunset Park, it was likely good news for Johnsons 2021 mayoral bid. Or at least, it was neutral news, which at this point could almost be the best outcome for the speaker as he tries to avoid getting embroiled in another controversial issue so soon after a bruising budget fight. If youre Corey, you feel like you dodged a bullet here, progressive Democratic strategist Trip Yang told City & State. If he runs, Johnson would likely court the increasingly critical progressive vote, and the wrong move on the Industry City rezoning risked turning the fight into a flashpoint that would alienate members of progressive left who fought strongly against the proposal. He was under pressure from progressives to side with Council Member Carlos Menchaca, the local member involved in the rezoning, and use his influence as council speaker to help kill the project. And if he had no other considerations beyond the political, openly siding with progressives likely would have been the smart play for his mayoral considerations, according to Yang. But as speaker, Johnson also had to weigh the interests of those who wanted the rezoning approved and argued that the rezoning would help Sunset Park and the city as a whole, including business leaders, other high-profile council members and even the politically powerful union, 32BJ SEIU. Those business and union interests also represented potential supporters he would not have wanted to alienate before potentially running for mayor. Johnson found himself in a tough spot, and while he had avoided taking a stance, the further the application made it in the land use process, the worse it looked not to stake a position. Even after the owners scrapped the rezoning, Johnson still did not give his opinion on the proposal, and didnt say whether its collapse was ultimately good or bad for Sunset Park and the city. Im proud of the process that the council had on this, Johnson said at a press conference Wednesday. Numerous elected officials, who I respect a great deal, led by Council Member Menchaca but he wasnt by himself were against this, so I think that tells you how we got to where we got today. When asked about the role he could have played in getting some version of the rezoning approved, he once again deferred to local opinions and largely abdicated any responsibility he had as speaker. I dont think it is appropriate to think that Im going to jump and say that I know better than every local elected official, Johnson said, referring to the long tradition of member deference in the council. Johnson added that he thought it would have been unlikely that the City Council would have overridden Menchaca. But even if that were true, the rezoning coming up for a vote at all might have hurt Johnson with progressives for letting the process get that far. Nothing he could have done would have really been enough, unless he stood with Carlos (Menchaca) from the very beginning and said Im never going to do this, which he was never going to do, said one Democratic consultant, who was granted anonymity to speak freely about the rezoning. The consultant added that Johnson should be allowed to say that it would be prudent to let the full council weigh the pros and cons of such a complicated matter with citywide implications and allow each member to cast a vote, but he would have been killed by the left for that. At this point, the Industry City owners gave Johnson the best exit from a tricky situation. He may not get to join in the win that progressives are celebrating now, but the shadow of Industry City is unlikely to follow him into 2021. When the Industry City fight was heating up over the summer, Johnson was already hurting from a budget fight over police funding that left few people happy. Ostensibly, the budget he helped negotiate cut $1 billion from the New York City Police Department to satisfy demands from police reform activists after a month of protests against police brutality. But those advocates argued that the city simply shifted money around and that the actual amount slashed was nowhere close to $1 billion. Still, Johnson needed to balance those demands with priorities from more moderate members and the mayor to pass the budget. Thats one of the downsides of being speaker, Yang said. He certainly took a hit. Well after the budget passed, the Daily News reported that members who voted no on the budget including those who did so on the grounds that the police cuts didnt go far enough received substantially less discretionary funding than those who voted yes. The move led to more criticisms that the speaker had punished progressives who stepped out of line. And unfortunately for Johnson, he had a degree of control over the Industry City rezoning, so he could not simply take the most progressive position on the proposal, like he did with Amazon a year and a half ago. At the time, Johnson was an early and vocal opponent of the companys controversial decision to build a campus in Queens, despite the promise of at least 25,000 new jobs. Johnson lamented the lack of community input and the fact that the City Council was not involved in the decision and lambasted the plan a month later. When Amazon decided to scrap its deal with the city and state, it allowed Johnson to rack up a major progressive victory. Many have drawn comparisons between the two massive projects. However, the City Council had no say over what happened with Amazon, unlike with Industry City, and that very fact freed Johnson up to take whatever position he wanted without the risk associated with being a key city decision-maker. He did not have such freedom with the Industry City and ultimately played it close to the chest. I think it was a smart decision to wait and see if a deal could be made, the anonymous consultant said. You can very easily say he should have been more involved from the get-go but I dont think it was dumb of him not to. Still, waiting could have ultimately blown up in Johnsons face as the chances of a compromise between Menchaca and Industry City dimmed. He seemed only to have things to lose from the rezoning proposal moving forward. I do sense that having the application pulled is more politically beneficial for Corey than if it had gone for a vote, Yang said. I would say this is probably the best-case scenario for him if hes still looking at a run for mayor. A mayoral run, at this point, is also not even guaranteed. Johnson did not address rumors that he may have decided against running when asked during the Wednesday press conference. But at least as he makes that final decision, the Industry City rezoning collapse likely means hell have one less piece of potential baggage to carry into the race and perhaps a better shot at getting back into the good graces of progressives. A bill titled; A Bill For A Law To Provide For The Prohibition of Unlawful Societies And Cultism In Lagos State And For Other Connected Purposes, went through a public hearing at the Lagos House of Assembly on Thursday. The proposed law states that any person who by any means of intimidation, harassment, blackmail or threat of violence, compels any person to join an unlawful society, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of fifteen (15) years. The bill prohibits people from forming, organising or belonging to any cult society, and states that once the activities of the society is inimical to the peace of the society it is a secret society. It, however, added that any person who in order to compel a person to join an unlawful society, at or immediately after communicating to the person to join the unlawful society or any other person, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of twenty (21) years. Any person, who being a member of a cult or unlawful society sets fire to anything in an open or enclosed place, or uses a firearm or an offensive weapon or causes to be used any deadly object, acid or any potent chemical within a premises in any location within the State or causes a firearm or an offensive weapon to be used or set fire to anything in such a manner as to endanger the health or property of any other person, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of life imprisonment. Any student or member of any educational institution must not belong to any group or society that is not registered with the student affairs department of a university or any educational institution in the State, the bill read. It added that any association or society of students on campus or any other educational institution whose activities are inconsistent with the promotion of learning, social development and citizenship behaviour shall not be registered. On principal offenders, the bill states that any person who contravenes, aids or abets, protects, covers up or condones any other person who commits an offence under this law, or is an accessory before or after the fact of the contravention of any of the provisions of this law, commits an offence and will be regarded as a principal offender, who will be charged with doing the act or making the commission that the person that committed the offence made, and is liable on conviction to the same punishment that the person, who committed the offence is liable to. On arrest, the bill states that a police officer or any other person may arrest without warrant any person who commits an offence against the law. A person arrested in accordance with subsection (1) of this section will as soon as practicable be arraigned before the Court having jurisdiction in the place where the offence was committed to be dealt with according to the provisions of the law, it read. Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee On Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, Victor Akande, said the Lagos parliament has institutionalised public participation on law making through public hearing. Public hearing is meant to assist the House to come up with better laws. The law is meant to criminalise cultism in our schools and guarantee peace in our societies, said Mr Akande (APC, Ojo Constituency 1). In his keynote address, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, said the bills were important to the development of the state. We are here today to discuss how to protect ourselves and our societies, said Mr Eshinlokun-Sanni (APC, Lagos Island 1). We may have noticed the alarming rate of cultism and how our children are being indoctrinated. The issue has now extended to our primary and secondary schools. It is incumbent on us to act now to protect our societies. A law against drug abuse is also being considered by the House. The amendment to the criminal justice law will further increase criminal justice system by removing all the bottlenecks, he said. The Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade (APC, Ikorodu 1), who did an overview of the bill, said that it was a very important bill and that the act of cultism has eaten deep into the fabrics of our society, adding that it was important for the government to intervene. The Lagos State Government has seen the need to work on the bill and review it. The bill has 19 sections and it takes cultism issue beyond the campus. The cultists have left the campuses due to the way they are being dealt with and cultism has extended to primary and secondary schools. The Bill shows the serious desire of the government to keep the society safe. It defines cult, firearms and others, he said. Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government on Thursday (September 24) announced to give Rs 50,000 for 28,000 Durga Puja committees in West Bengal. The amount has been doubled from the last year's Rs 25,000. Making this announcement, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee advised people to take precautions while visiting Durga puja pandals amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She directed that pandals need to be open from all four sides, adding "Hand sanitizers should be placed at entry points of pandals, and the wearing of masks to be mandatory. Physical distancing needs to be maintained." The West Bengal CM said, "I am requesting all to keep Durga puja pandal open and spacious. If sides are covered, then keep the roof open. If the roof is closed, then keep sides open. Also, maintain physical distancing." "People visiting the pandal must wear the mask. Keep more volunteers to ensure COVID protocols are being maintained," Mamata said, adding that cultural programme won't be allowed at pandals. Mamata Banerjee said, "Ask volunteers to wear face shields. For Anjali and Sindoor Khela, keep slots. Announce the mantras on the mic so that people can hear it from faraway places. For Sindoor Khela, play it batch-wise." Live TV "People are doing politics regarding this. If I dont allow puja, they will say look they didnt allow puja to be celebrated," she said, adding "We will virtually show Durga puja and also announces prize on the virtual platform. The CM said that public announcement systems must be put in place at every pandal. Regarding immersion of idols, she said, "give slots to puja pandals to avoid gathering. Single window permission for Durga puja will begin on October 2." She directed that the Fire brigade will not take any fees, no KMC fees, while CESC (electricity) will charge only a 50 percent fee for the Durga puja pandals. Get back to class. Thats the urgent all hands on deck plea from the Ontario College of Teachers to retired and non-practising educators, in the hopes of alleviating a teacher shortage that has arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The province is currently experiencing a shortage of certified teachers, which has been magnified by smaller class sizes during the pandemic to improve physical distancing and reduce the risks of spreading the COVID-19 virus, said the college in an email sent to 132,000 members on Wednesday. In short, you are needed. Your significant and specialized knowledge and skills are needed. The message was sent by the regulatory body to retired teachers and those who have been suspended from the college for nonpayment of fees but remain in good standing, as well as to new graduates who may not yet be certified. Its a sudden change for a profession which has recently seen a glut of teachers, many of whom spend years trying to land positions with school boards. For students everywhere, life has changed drastically in recent months, the email said. If you have always wanted to make an impact in the lives of children and young adults, now is the time. Late Thursday night, the Toronto District School Board apologized to parents for the delays with virtual learning. We simply cannot hire teachers fast enough to meet the demand for virtual learning, a difficulty that other school boards in Toronto and across Ontario have also faced, the TDSB said in a statement. The board said the teacher numbers are changing on an hourly basis. The most recent information available indicates that approximately 400 teachers have been hired since the beginning of the week, with fewer than 100 remaining, the statement read. We anticipate these remaining positions will be filled over the next few days. Cathy Abraham, president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association, said we are looking for teachers as many boards have exhausted their supply lists. She said some smaller or northern boards may have particular trouble recruiting supply teachers. Anne Vinet-Roy, president of the AEFO union representing teachers in French boards, said it is interesting that the college refers to that need by saying class sizes are smaller to make sure physical distancing is abided by. Well, they obviously havent been into an Ontario classroom, Vinet-Roy. A lot of those classrooms are overpopulated and the two-metre rule is not being respected and in some cases, not even one metre so the reason behind it is kind of odd. While finding French teachers is a challenge that existed before the pandemic, this situation is not helping. And if the government and the ministers plan is to reopen schools is not adequate and does not really protect people, then the situation is obviously going to be aggravated, she said. You dont want to lose the people that are already there. The York Region District School Board had some trouble filling occasional teacher openings, but says it now has a sufficient number of educators, but it is requiring daily efforts to ensure classes are filled. In the past, a school might have merged two classes if a supply teacher could not be found, but that can no longer happen. In Peel, schools are experiencing shortages of teachers for day-to-day and (long-term occasional) positions, said spokesperson Ryan Reyes, adding an aggressive recruitment plan is in place. The board has experienced a higher than usual number of retirements that came in during the summer and early September. Additionally, a high number of regular teachers have recently gone onto unpaid leave, he said. The vacancies that have resulted are filled from our occasional teachers pool. Additionally, occasional teachers also are choosing to not work at this time. This situation is occurring at our neighbouring boards also and many occasional teachers work for more than one school board. Torontos Catholic board has yet to fill 40 elementary teacher positions, and says that finding French teachers remains a challenge. Many Vietnamese banks are looking to attract foreign investors while others are actually lowering foreign ownership limit. Photo: HDBank Last week, privately-held lender Nam A Bank confirmed its plans of holding its initial public offering on UPCoM. The local bank, after checking out Basel II requirements, has also expressed its eagerness to tie the knot with deep-pocketed international investors by lifting its foreign ownership limit (FOL) to 30 per cent to benefit from international expertise and a larger pool of funds. Currently, its largest shareholder is domestic player Pacific Dragon Ltd., which holds approximately 11 per cent of the stakes. Vietnamese banks have a 30-per-cent FOL, which could constrain efforts to raise equity from overseas investors and makes them reliant on capital in the shallow local market. Thin capital buffers are still a bitter pill to swallow for some major banks such as Agribank, the state-owned lender that is still bogged down in its capital increase ambitions. In general, many banks such as Vietcombank, Military Bank, BIDV, and SHB have disclosed intentions to team up with foreigners as well as utilise additional capital injection to diversify business, ensure sound financial sources, and strengthen their operations to better align with international standards. On the other hand, a few banks are adapting a rather cautious approach when it comes to foreign tie-up deals. The vast potential of cross-border deals is appealing, but do not come without a cause: the current turmoil could create opportunities for big banks to buy up struggling lenders. A few days ago, the board of HDBank confirmed its decision to lock the banks FOL at 21.5 per cent with the goal of expediting plans with strategic partners. Simultaneously, the southern lender also decided to issue international convertible bonds worth $160 million in total value. These bonds will be issued to institutional investors in developed markets. Upon successful completion, the proceeds from the bond issuance will boost HDBanks medium- and long-term funds and facilitate its development strategies as planned. Some banks also followed suit by reserving their foreign caps such as VIB did at 20.5 per cent or Lien Viet Post Bank at 9.99 per cent. In May, VPBanks board requested approval from its shareholders to lower the FOL to 15 per cent from the current 22.77 per cent. The bank would also launch a treasury buyback for 5 per cent of the shares to realign the ownership structure. The COVID-19 crisis has triggered major disruptions for the whole economy and global capital flows. Thus, the remaining foreign ratio at VPBank is slated to be offered to other investors who are ambitious to bring the best out of the bank when market conditions start to improve, said a bank representative. Last year, the bank issued $300 million of bonds with a three-year term under the Euro Medium Term Note programme. VPBanks bonds were issued under the book building method and based on the consultation and arrangement of Standard Chartered, BNP Paribas, and J.P. Morgan. Should a rosier economic scenario play out, there could be some reward for their suffering. According to Nguyen Xuan Binh, head of Research at KB Securities, there are various reasons for local lenders to lower their FOL which can come from the internal decision of the banks board. Market gyrations, coupled with a gloomy outlook for the global economy, were also fuel to the fire. The public health crisis has made a significant impact on capital flows in the global financial market and foreign investment funds, especially those from the US and Europe, have withdrawn from emerging and frontier markets, Binh told VIR. A number of bank shares have been sold by foreign investors. In that situation, some banks in Vietnam have actively lowered the FOL so as to reserve more opportunities for strategic partners when the economy shows signs of recovery. Techcombank has just locked its FOL at 22.5 per cent, as it aims to support foreign investors to purchase 439,000 shares through the transfer of outstanding shares. Meanwhile, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement are expected to amplify European giants presence in Vietnam while also strengthening local lenders operations. Vietnam will lift the FOL at local banks to 49 per cent in the next five years, with the exception of the four joint-stock commercial banks in which the state still holds a controlling stake Vietcombank, VietinBank, Agribank, and BIDV. WATERLOO REGION Three new sites will soon offer a variety of short-term accommodations for Waterloo Regions homeless, including both dorm-style and traditional shelter spaces. They will be at a downtown Kitchener church, a Waterloo student housing building, and a third location thats been identified but details will not be released until agreements are settled. Scheduled to open in two to four weeks, the fully-staffed sites will allow for physical distancing while providing food, harm-reduction supplies, and supports to find permanent housing. We need to be able to provide a continuum of options, Chris McEvoy, manager of housing policy and homelessness prevention for the region. Were trying to respond to what we hear from the community. St. Marks Lutheran Church in Kitchener will be overseen by the YW Kitchener-Waterloo. It will be open from 4 p.m. to 10 a.m., providing overnight sleeping space for about 30 single men. In Waterloo on University Avenue West, the Waterloo Cooperative Residences Hammar student housing building will be overseen by the Working Centre to provide interim housing for up to 80 men and women. Amenities accessible 24 hours a day include private rooms, kitchen facilities, and common bathrooms and areas. Folks can stay and stabilize at this site, McEvoy said. Service providers will work closely with municipalities, Waterloo Regional Police and other stakeholders to ensure the sites integrate well with the community. Plans are also being made in Cambridge to add shelter beds if needed in the coming months. The goal for the three sites, which will be open for up to a year, is to create space for physical distancing needed during the COVID-19 pandemic and to accommodate the increased demand for shelter in winter. Since the pandemic began, there has been only one case of COVID-19 among the homeless population a success story thanks to collaboration and everyone stepping up quickly, McEvoy said. He said council and the community made it clear there needs to be a variety of options available because homeless people have different needs and wants. Its hoped a lot will be learned from trying these new models, in particular outcomes as the goal is to get everyone into permanent housing. RELATED STORIES Waterloo Region Dorm-style emergency housing being created temporarily by region We know that all individuals are ready for housing, McEvoy said. The three sites are a slight change from the plan approved by regional council in mid-August to pursue two dormitory-style locations offering about 80 spaces at each site for a minimum of 144 people. Overwhelming demand for emergency shelter has been an ongoing issue in recent years and shelters have been over capacity every month this year, despite extra temporary spaces added for winter overflow and then the pandemic response, the report to council said. It estimated the cost at between $1.6 million to $3.6 million per location, depending on whether theyre run as overnight or 24-hour sites. McEvoy said a report will be going to council in October on the sites including costs. Senate Democratic whip Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) on Wednesday denied reports that Democrats are considering adding more justices to the Supreme Court if they win the Senate and White House, saying there is no serious conversation being held on the subject. Calls for Democrats to pack the Court have mounted in retaliation over Republicans push to fill the vacancy left by the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg weeks before the election. Theres no serious conversation among my colleagues about this prospect. It is speculative, it is in the future, if at all, Durbin said on ABCs Powerhouse Politics podcast. Were 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. In an interview on Monday, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden refused to say whether he would pack the Supreme Court if he wins in November, saying, Its a legitimate question. But let me tell you why Im not going to answer that question: because it will shift all the focus. Thats what [President Trump] wants. He never wants to talk about the issue at hand. He always tries to change the subject. After Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) appeared to garner enough Republican support this week to advance President Trumps Court nominee to the Senate, Durbin conceded that Democrats are virtually powerless to stop the confirmation process at this point. 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 doesnt look very promising. Democrats have criticized McConnell and other Senate Republicans for going back on the standard they set in 2016 following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia when Senate Republicans refused to vote on President Obamas nominee Merrick Garland. Story continues The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice, McConnell had said then. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president. However, McConnell said his current stance is not comparable to his position from 2016 as the Senate was held by Republicans while the president was a Democrat. The push to fill the vacancy has led activists and progressives in Congress to call for changes to the Senate, including adding representation for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, ending the 60-vote filibuster for legislation, and packing the high court. Durbin, who has endorsed statehood for Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, said there have been bipartisan conversations among lawmakers about potential changes to the Senate that would not be as major as eliminating the legislative filibuster. 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. Theres going to be some serious thought about how effective the Senate is and can be under the current rules. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday that filling the Supreme Court vacancy ahead of the election would spell the end of the Senate. If, when push comes to shove, when the stakes are the highest, the other side will double-cross their own standards when its politically advantageous, tell me how this would not spell the end of this supposedly great deliberative body, because I dont see how, he continued. More from National Review -- 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." 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. 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." 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. 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. 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. Phone talk between Presidents of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan held Thursday, Trend reports citing Kabar. Topical issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation and implementation of previously reached agreements were discussed, the press service of the Kyrgyz president reported. The sides outlined joint plans for coming period to increase cooperation between the two countries. The heads of state also discussed the issues of cooperation in further implementation of joint measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection. The spring 2021 semester at the University of Georgia will continue to offer a combination in-person, hybrid and online instruction, according to an email sent out to UGA faculty on Thursday. Obligatory COVID-19 isolation rules imposed in Russia for international arrivals RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 13:49 24/09/2020 MOSCOW, September 24 (RAPSI) Russias Chief Public Health Officer Anna Popova has signed an order obliging Russians returning from abroad to comply with a self-isolation regime pending the results of coronavirus tests. The document has been published on the official website of legal information. Within three days of return to Russia citizens must pass a COVID-19 test and publish information on its result in a special form on the Single Portal for Central Services. They must abide by the self-isolation order until the results are received, according to the Russian consumer rights agencys (Rospotrebnadzor) explanation. In case of any deterioration of health people, who had returned by air from abroad, must immediately request medical assistance without attending medical organizations within fourteen calendar days after arrival, the Rospotrebnadzor statement reads. New Delhi: The Delhi government is working out modalities to ramp up RT-PCR testing in the national capital, officials said on Wednesday, a week after the high court had suggested increasing the capacity. The Delhi High Court had last week suggested that the AAP government increase the RT-PCR test capacity to the maximum possible to detect COVID-19 infection, as Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) were only 60 per cent accurate. Even after the high courts suggestion, the number of RT-PCR tests has not shown an increase with the figures hovering around the 10,000 mark. The high court asked an expert committee, set by the Lieutenant Governor (LG), to convene a meeting on priority basis to consider the extent to which capacity of testing by RT-PCR should be ramped up. The bench also noted that in the week from September 8-15, the testing done through RT-PCR was less than one-fourth of the total number of tests and rest was done by the RAT process. The national capital has a capacity of conducting 14,000 RT-PCR tests on a daily basis. On September 17, the number of RT-PCR tests conducted stood at 9,564 while the next day, the figure was 11,203. The number of tests conducted on September 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 stood at 10,681, 11,322, 8828, 9,459 and 10,359. A government official, however, said, The modalities for increasing the tests are being worked out and they will soon be finalised." Dr BL Sherwal, medical director of Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, said that the tests are conducted for symptomatic patients and are happening as per protocol. The RT-PCR tests are conducted on symptomatic patients, according to the protocol. The test involves a lot of money and manpower. There is no delay on our part and there is no pendency of samples. There is no pile-up now. Places like ILBS, our hospital have upgraded their capacity. We are trying that reports should be given by the next day." Nutan Mundeja, the head of the Directorate General of Health Services, had said, The court has ordered to do it. We will abide by its directions. We could ramp up the testing with the help of rapid antigen tests, as it is a point of care testing and the logistics is simpler." We have been following the ICMR guidelines. RT-PCR tests are being conducted on those having symptoms. These tests are not prescribed for asymptomatic cases," she said. Also, Delhi has started on-demand testing, wherein symptomatic patients do not need a doctors prescription to get themselves tested for coronavirus, Mundeja said. Asked if RT-PCR machines being used for conducting other molecular tests can be diverted for COVID-19 testing, Mundeja said, We have already diverted CB-NAAT machines meant for detecting tuberculosis. Every disease is equally important. And, other diseases are curable compared to COVID-19." If CB-NAAT is being used for tuberculosis diagnosis, ethically and professionally it should be used for TB rather than COVID-19, because TB is curable," she said. We will examine it (ramping up RT-PCR testing) and see what best we can do," she said. While CBNAAT and TrueNat machines test fewer samples in a cycle, the tests are faster than a traditional RT-PCR test and can be used by hospitals" emergency departments. 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 TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwan on Thursday condemned recent Chinese military activity after Beijing sent two military surveillance planes toward the island for three straight days, calling it a deliberate provocation. Tensions have risen in the Taiwan Strait as the U.S. has stepped up its official engagement with the self-ruled island that China considers part of its national territory. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, China sent two planes into Taiwans air defence identification zone, according to Taiwans Ministry of National Defence. In response, the Taiwanese side dispatched air patrols, the ministry said. We oppose China using military force against Taiwan, deliberately violating Taiwans naval and airspace safety and damaging the status quo, added Chiu Chui-Cheng, deputy minister at Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council. Our government will continue to co-operate with countries with similar values. Asked about the sorties, Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei said they were aimed at demonstrating Chinas determination and ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China is targeting the interference of external forces and the very small number of Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist activities, Tan said at a monthly briefing. Last week, China sent a total of 37 warplanes, including bombers and fighter jets, across the Taiwan Strait in a warning as a high-level U.S. State Department official visited the island. The Taiwanese defence ministry said the planes crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait. The midline has acted as an unofficial buffer zone between China and Taiwan for decades, in what the Mainland Affairs Council called a tacit agreement that has kept the peace. On Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin denied the existence of any midline, saying that Taiwan is part of China. He also warned that China would retaliate for the U.S. visit. We will take countermeasures, including against relevant individuals, he said. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has remained defiant, visiting a military base on Tuesday and encouraging the personnel, in particular pilots and crew. Taiwanese foreign minister Joseph Wu said in July that Chinese military exercises have increased in frequency and become virtually a daily occurrence. China has increased diplomatic and military pressure on Tsais government over her refusal to agree to Chinas insistence that the island be considered part of Chinese territory. The vast majority of Taiwanese reject the prospect of political union with China under the one country, two systems framework used for Hong Kong. Following Tsais election in 2016, China cut off contact with the Taiwanese government and has sought to isolate it, siphoning off the islands diplomatic allies while ratcheting up political, military and economic pressure. Foreign Languages and Literatures Chairperson: Dr. Luciano C. Picanco Office: Morgan Hall 332 Telephone: (309) 298-1558 E-mail: Languages@wiu.edu Website: wiu.edu/languages Program Offerings and Locations: Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages and Cultures: Macomb Minor in French: Macomb Minor in Spanish: Macomb, Quad Cities For student learning outcomes, please see wiu.edu/provost/learningoutcomes. Faculty: Asare, Brown, Cabal-Jimenez, Cabedo-Timmons, Obregon, Picanco. The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers the Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Languages and Cultures, with options in French, Spanish, French Teacher Education, and Spanish Teacher Education. Minor programs are available in French and Spanish. The formal study of one of the languages consists of courses in the language as well as courses in the literatures and cultures of the countries where these languages are spoken. The study of language, culture, and literature prepares the student for advanced and graduate study in literature and/or language, and for the use of language in business and industry, government at the federal, state, or local level, law enforcement, libraries and museums, parks and recreation, social services and health-related fields, transportation and tourism, and numerous other areas having a multicultural clientele. Students completing the Teacher Education options develop pedagogical skills and proficiency in the language which lead to licensure to teach the language in Illinois at the K12 level. The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures encourages students to double major in Foreign Languages and Cultures and another field in which linguistic and cultural expertise can be utilized to reach professional or academic goals. To make it possible to complete a double major in FLC and another discipline in four years, the department has developed joint curriculum sequences with some departments. For more information, please contact the Foreign Languages and Literatures advisor or the department office. GradTrac is available to Foreign Languages and Cultures majors. See more information about GradTrac. Honors CurriculumAcademically qualified students in this department are encouraged to complete an honors curriculum in University Honors, Honors in the Major, or General Honors. All Honors students must complete the one-hour honors colloquium (G H 299). General Honors includes General Honors coursework. Honors in the Major includes honors work in the major. University Honors combines Honors in the Major and General Honors. View more information about honors curricula or visit the Centennial Honors College website at wiu.edu/honors. Integrated Baccalaureate and Masters Degree ProgramAn integrated baccalaureate and masters degree program is available for the Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages and Cultures: Master of Liberal Arts and Sciences. An integrated degree program provides the opportunity for outstanding undergraduates to earn both degrees in five years. Please refer to the Graduate Studies catalog for details about the integrated program. Degree Programs Bachelor of ArtsForeign Languages and Cultures All students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages and Cultures must complete I, II, III, IV, V, and VI below, and the foreign language/global issues requirement for the major#. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h. All students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages and Cultures must complete a minimum of 12 s.h. of upper-level (300- or 400-level) coursework in the major language at WIU. In accordance with the Illinois State Board of Education licensure rule, all candidates seeking a Professional Education License or endorsement are required by Western Illinois University to obtain a grade of C- or better in all directed general education courses, all core courses, and all courses in the option. This rule does not supersede course prerequisite requirements in the catalog that specify a letter grade. Please see the Teacher Education section of this catalog for more information about WIUs Teacher Education Program. University General Education and College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Requirements: 60 s.h. Except Teacher Education students must complete the University General Education Curriculum43 s.h., including a General Education Mathematics course Core Course: 3 s.h. F L 101* Options of Study@ (Select A, B, C, or D): 3033 s.h. Spanish^ Option Courses F L 350*, 490: 6 s.h. SPAN 325, 326, 327: 9 s.h. Select any course in a secondary foreign language at the intermediate level (223 or 224): 3 s.h. Directed Electives Two 300-level SPAN courses: 6 s.h. Two 400-level SPAN courses: 6 s.h. Any additional 300/400-level SPAN course: 3 s.h. French^ Option Courses F L 350*, 490: 6 s.h. FR 325, 326, 327: 9 s.h. Select any course in a secondary foreign language at the intermediate level (223 or 224): 3 s.h. Directed Electives Two 300-level FR courses: 6 s.h. Two 400-level FR courses: 6 s.h. Any additional 300/400-level FR course: 3 s.h. Spanish Teacher Education Option Courses SPAN 223*, 224*, 325, 326, 327: 15 s.h. Select any course in a secondary foreign language at the intermediate level (223 or 224): 3 s.h. Directed Electives: 12 s.h. Four 300/400-level SPAN courses French Teacher Education Option Courses FR 223*, 224*, 325, 326, 327: 15 s.h. bSelect any course in a secondary foreign language at the intermediate level (223 or 224): 3 s.h. Directed Electives: 12 s.h. Four 300/400-level FR courses Any Approved Minor: 16 s.h. Open Electives: 010 s.h. Other: 034 s.h. Options A, B: N/A Options C, D: EDUC 439: 3 s.h. EDS 202, 301, 303 (2), 304 (1), 305, 401: 13 s.h. SPED 210, 390: 4 s.h. RDG 387: 2 s.h. Student Teaching: 12 s.h. # The foreign language/global issues graduation requirement may be fulfilled by successfully completing a designated foreign language requirement [see Foreign Language/Global Issues Requirement]. * May count toward the University General Education Requirement. @ For all options, courses numbered 279 and 379 may only be used as Open Electives. ^ For options A and B, a maximum of 9 s.h. of Directed Electives may be taken during an approved Study Abroad program. FR/SPAN 326 fulfills the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement. Minors Minor in French: 16 s.h. FR 122, 223, 224: 10 s.h. Upper-division (300/400 level) FR coursework, with at least one course (3 s.h.) taken at WIU: 6 s.h. Note: Students majoring in Foreign Languages and Cultures with French as their secondary language and who are minoring in French may count only one FR course (up to 4 s.h.) in the minor. Note: Courses numbered 279, 361, or 379 may not be used in the French minor. Minor in Spanish: 16 s.h. SPAN 122, 223, 224: 10 s.h. Upper-division (300/400 level) SPAN coursework, with at least one course (3 s.h.) taken at WIU: 6 s.h. Note: Students majoring in Foreign Languages and Cultures with Spanish as their secondary language and who are minoring in Spanish may count only one SPAN course (up to 4 s.h.) in the minor. Note: Courses numbered 279, 361, or 379 may not be used in the Spanish minor. Advanced Placement Advanced placement into the foreign language program may be achieved by one of the following: 1) completion of four years of high school foreign language study (in the same language); 2) scoring above the beginning level on the departmental placement examination; 3) completion of the College Entrance Board Advanced Placement Examination (CEEB); 4) completion of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). College credit may be obtained by passing CEEB or CLEP. Students beginning college language study at the 300- or 400-level may qualify, upon application, for advanced placement credit (equivalent to 122, 223, 224) by completing two 300- or 400-level courses (in the same language) with grades of C or better. Students who begin at the 224-level may qualify, upon application, for advanced intermediate placement credit (equivalent to 122 and 223) by completing 224 and one 300-level class (in the same language) with a grade of C or better. Students who begin at the 223-level may qualify, upon application, for intermediate placement credit (equivalent to 122) by completing 223 with a grade of C or better. Please note that a grade of C- does not fulfill this requirement. Credit cannot be earned for courses numbered 121, 122, 223, or 224 which are more elementary than coursework already completed, unless the credit is earned through Advanced Placement. Students earning the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy will receive credit for courses numbered 121, 122, 223, and 224 in the specified language. Course Descriptions EDUCATION (EDUC) 439 Foreign Language Methods. (3) An exploration of current foreign language teaching methodologies and techniques through assigned readings, discussion, and practical application such as microteaching. Prerequisite: EDS 301 or consent of instructor. FOREIGN LANGUAGE (F L) 101 Introductory Seminar in World Languages and Cultures. (3) (General Education/Humanities) (Global Issues) Introduces the content and methods of foreign language scholarship. Centers on a particular topic or theme within the context of (a) non-Englishspeaking culture(s). Methods may include linguistics, cultural studies, film studies, literary studies, interdisciplinary approaches, and/or pedagogy. 121 Less Commonly Taught Languages I. (3, repeatable for different topics to no maximum) Designed to introduce and develop the four basic language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) in the target language and to create and increase competence about the target language culture or cultures. 122 Less Commonly Taught Languages II. (3, repeatable for different topics to no maximum) Designed to further develop the four basic language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) in the target language and to further increase competence about the target language culture or cultures. Prerequisite: F L 121 or by permission of department chairperson. 350 Introduction to Contemporary Critical Theory. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) This course, to be taught in English, will introduce students to critical theories that shape literary, artistic, and cultural studies as they apply to foreign languages. Prerequisites: ENG 180, 280; junior standing or consent of instructor. 480 (Cross-listed with WS 480) Sexuality in German and Austrian Culture. (3) Examines the representation of sexuality in film, literature, and nonfiction of German-speaking countries in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Not open to students with credit for WS 480. Prerequisite: QS 100 or junior standing. 490 Senior Capstone. (3) Course designed to integrate linguistic, critical, cultural, and analytical skills with the knowledge acquired during course work towards the major. Students demonstrate their achievement of the program learning outcomes through a major writing project, an oral presentation, and a portfolio. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisites: senior standing or permission of the department chairperson. 499 Selected Topics in Foreign Languages and Literatures. (3) Seminar in topics related to foreign languages, literatures, and cultures. Taught in English. Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of the instructor. FRENCH (FR) (Language Skills Courses) 121 Elementary French I. (4) (General Education/ Humanities) Development of the four basic skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Not open to students who have had two years of high school French without permission of the department chairperson. 122 Elementary French II. (4) (General Education/ Humanities) Continuation of Elementary French I. Development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills along with cross-cultural insights and appreciation. Prerequisite: FR 121 or appropriate score on placement examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. 223 Intermediate French I. (3) (General Education/ Humanities) Continued development of the four basic language skills with increased emphasis on reading and culture. Class conducted in French. Prerequisite: FR 122 or appropriate score on placement examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. 224 Intermediate French II. (3) (General Education/ Humanities) Continuation of Intermediate French I. Prerequisite: FR 223 or appropriate score on placement examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. IAI: H1 900. 325 French Conversation. (3) Intensive practice in oral expression and conversation. Prerequisite: FR 224 or equivalent 326 French Composition. (3) Intensive practice in written expression and composition. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisites: FR 224 or equivalent; ENG 280. (Literature and Civilization Courses) 327 Introduction to French Literature. (3) An introduction to critical reading and appreciation of French literature, surveying representative texts from major periods and genres. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: FR 224 or equivalent. IAI: H3 916. 328 Masterpieces of French Literature. (3) A study of selected masterworks representing major periods and genres of French literature. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: FR 224 or equivalent. IAI: H3 917. 361 Field Study Travel. (13, repeatable in one language to a maximum of 9) Field study project. The student submits a written report and fulfills other requirements set up by the instructor. Prerequisite: 6 s.h. of intermediate college French or equivalent. 404 French Civilization and Culture I. (3) An overview of cultural, social, political, and religious history of France from the Middle Ages to the French Revolution, with special readings and reports on individuals, events, and socio-cultural phenomena of the times. Conducted in French. 438 20th Century French Literature. (3) Selected works of Gide, Proust, Sartre, Camus, St. Exupery, Anouilh, Colette, Sarraute, Duras, de Beauvoir, and others. Prerequisite: FR 327 or equivalent. 492 Individual Studies in French. (15, repeatable to 5) Prerequisites: advanced standing and consent of department chairperson. 499 Selected Topics in French Language and Literature. (3, repeatable for different topics to no maximum) Prerequisite: FR 327 and consent of the instructor. GERMAN (GER) (Language Skills Courses) 121 Elementary German I. (4) (General Education/ Humanities) Development of the four basic skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Not open to students who have had two years of high school German without permission of the department chairperson. 122 Elementary German II. (4) (General Education/ Humanities) Continuation of Elementary German I. Development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills along with cross-cultural insights and appreciation. Prerequisite: GER 121 or appropriate score on placement examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. 223 Intermediate German I. (3) (General Education/Humanities) Continued development of the four basic language skills with increased emphasis on reading and culture. Class conducted in German. Prerequisite: GER 122 or appropriate score on placement examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. 224 Intermediate German II. (3) (General Education/Humanities) Continuation of Intermediate German I. Prerequisite: GER 223 or appropriate score on placement examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. IAI: H1 900. 325 German Conversation. (3) Intensive practice in oral expression and conversation. Prerequisite: GER 224 or equivalent 326 German Composition. (3) Intensive practice in written expression and composition. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280, and GER 224 or equivalent. (Literature and Civilization Courses) 327 Introduction to German Literature. (3) An introduction to critical reading and appreciation of German literature, surveying representative texts from major periods and genres. Conducted in German. Prerequisite: GER 224 or equivalent. IAI: H3 916. 337 (Cross-listed with HIST 337) The Holocaust. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) (Global Issues) Examines the pre-history, history, and posthistory of the Holocaust and its representations from a German Studies perspective and within the broader context of European culture. Not open to students with credit for HIST 337. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or GER 224 or consent of instructor. 361 Field Study Travel. (13, repeatable in one language to a maximum of 9) Field study project. The student submits a written report and fulfills other requirements set up by the instructor. Prerequisite: 6 s.h. of intermediate college German or equivalent. 406 German Civilization and Culture. (3) A survey of the civilization of the German-speaking people with particular emphasis on modern developments. Conducted in German. Prerequisite: GER 224 or equivalent. 492 Individual Studies in German. (15, repeatable to 5) Prerequisites: advanced standing and consent of department chairperson. 499 Selected Topics in German Language and Literature. (3, repeatable for different topics to no maximum) Prerequisite: GER 327 and consent of the instructor. PORTUGUESE (PORT) (Language Skills Courses) 121 Elementary Portuguese I. (4) (General Education/Humanities) Development of the four basic skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Not open to students who have had two years of high school Portuguese without permission of the department chairperson. 122 Elementary Portuguese II. (4) (General Education/Humanities) Continuation of Elementary Portuguese I. Development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills along with cross-cultural insights and appreciation. Prerequisite: PORT 121 or appropriate score on placement examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. SPANISH (SPAN) (Language Skills Courses) 121 Elementary Spanish I. (4) (General Education/ Humanities) Development of the four basic skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Not open to students who have had two years of high school Spanish without permission of the department chairperson. 122 Elementary Spanish II. (4) (General Education/ Humanities) Continuation of Elementary Spanish I. Development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills along with cross-cultural insights and appreciation. Prerequisite: SPAN 121 or appropriate score on placement examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. 223 Intermediate Spanish I. (3) (General Education/ Humanities) Continued development of the four basic language skills with increased emphasis on reading and culture. Class conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPAN 122 or appropriate score on placement examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. 224 Intermediate Spanish II. (3) (General Education/Humanities) Continuation of Intermediate Spanish I. Prerequisite: SPAN 223 or appropriate score on placement examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. IAI: H1 900. 302 Spanish for Business. (3) An introduction to business practices in Spain and Latin America, with emphasis on business vocabulary, written and oral communication, and the role of culture and cultural differences in business transactions. Prerequisite: SPAN 224 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. 320 Spanish for Heritage Speakers. (3) Designed for heritage speakers of Latino/Hispanic heritage, to raise awareness of their bilingual/bicultural background as well as their social and linguistic identity of speakers of U.S. Spanish, through intensive practice in writing, reading, and linguistic skills. Prerequisites: SPAN 224 or consent of the instructor. 325 Spanish Conversation. (3) Intensive practice in oral expression and conversation. Prerequisite: SPAN 224 or equivalent 326 Spanish Composition. (3) Intensive practice in written expression and composition. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisites: SPAN 224 or equivalent; ENG 280. 340 Spanish for Law Enforcement. (3) Attention is focused on oral proficiency in the contexts likely to be useful to law enforcement personnel. Vocabulary specific to the profession is taught, as well as practical cultural information. Prerequisite: SPAN 224 or permission of instructor. 344 Spanish for Social Work. (3) Intensive Spanish practice through simulations involving real-life situations in intercultural settings. Provides vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and cultural information for the specific needs of professional social workers. Prerequisite: SPAN 224 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. 392 Spanish and Latin American Cinema. (3) Historical survey of the film industry in Spain and Latin America, with particular attention to the works of major filmmakers and genres. Prerequisite: SPAN 224 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. 401 Introduction to Spanish Linguistics. (3) Introduction to the main concepts and methods of linguistic analysis, focusing on the Spanish sound system, social dynamics, and dialectal variation. Prerequisite: SPAN 326 or equivalent. 402 Introduction to Spanish Morphology and Syntax. (3) Introduction to the systematic study of the morphological and syntactical elements of Spanish with practice in application. Prerequisite: SPAN 326 or equivalent. 449 Spanish for Content-Based Instruction. (3) The study of Spanish vocabulary and phrases for the teaching of different subjects of the school curriculum including mathematics, science, social studies, and grammar. Prerequisite: SPAN 224 or permission of instructor. 457 Contemporary Spanish American Prose. (3) Selected prose works of major contemporary Spanish American writers. Prerequisite: SPAN 327 or equivalent. (Literature and Civilization Courses) 327 Introduction to Hispanic Literature. (3) An introduction to critical reading and appreciation of Hispanic literature, surveying representative texts from major periods and genres. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPAN 224 or equivalent. IAI: H3 916. 328 Masterpieces of Spanish Literature. (3) A study of selected masterworks representing major periods and genres of Spanish literature. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPAN 224 or equivalent. IAI: H3 917. 361 Field Study Travel. (13, repeatable in one language to a maximum of 9) Field study project. The student submits a written report and fulfills other requirements set up by the instructor. Prerequisite: 6 s.h. of intermediate college Spanish or equivalent. 408 Spanish Civilization and Culture. (3) A survey of Peninsular civilization from the prehistoric past to the post-Franco present, emphasizing cultural achievements of universal significance. Conducted in Spanish. 409 Spanish American Civilization. (3) The study of fundamental historical and cultural facts concerning Spanish America; the role of contrasting value systems of Spanish America and the United States in intercultural communication. Conducted in Spanish. 453 The Generation of 1898. (3) Representative works of the major figures of early twentieth-century Spanish literature. Prerequisite: SPAN 327 or equivalent. 454 Spanish Literature of the 20th Century. (3) Study of major works of prose, poetry, and drama from the Generation of 1898 to the present. Prerequisite: SPAN 327 or equivalent. 456 Masterpieces of Spanish American Literature. (3) Selected works of prose, poetry, and drama from the Colonial period to the present. Prerequisite: SPAN 327 or equivalent. 492 Individual Studies in Spanish. (15, repeatable to 5) Prerequisites: advanced standing and consent of department chairperson. 499 Selected Topics in Spanish Language and Literature. (3, repeatable for different topics to no maximum) Prerequisite: SPAN 327 and consent of the instructor. There are plenty of iconic Stephen King film adaptations to get you in the Halloween spirit. Thanks to the streaming platform, Netflix, there are three original movies based on Kings novels, as well as classic and creepy movies like Carrie. Stephen King attends a special screening of IT | Scott Eisen/Getty Images for Warner Bros Geralds Game is a Netflix original, based on Stephen Kings book One couples secluded retreat goes really wrong really quickly. When one game ends with a character getting stuck in handcuffs, it quickly becomes a survival story, with Jessie having to figure out how to free herself and face the many voices and visions she has along the way. The main character in Geralds Game, Carla Gugino, also appears in the horror series for Netflix, Haunting of Hill House. Although Geralds Game is a Netflix original, it is based on the Stephen King novel, published during 1992. That includes original movies and television shows like The Haunting of Hill House and The Platform, as well as other movies featuring the stories of Steven King. Theres one adaptation of Stephen Kings original novel, Carrie, the story of one girl who has telekinesis. In the Tall Grass is also available for streaming on Netflix If youre in the mood for a movie with a few different twists and turns, In the Tall Grass is the perfect horror film for you. This movie tells the story of one couple who, while stopped on the side of the road, hear the voice of a young boy from a field of grass. The couple goes in to help the boy, only to get lost themselves. They quickly discover that theyre not alone in this grass and, once separated, getting back together is almost an impossible task. Will they ever make it back to their car? The book, In The Tall Grass, was originally co-written by Stephen King and his son, Joe Hill. Its since made its way to the streaming platform, where it remains a Netflix original and exclusive movie for the foreseeable future. 1922 is a newer Netflix original movie When one farmer, Wilfred Wilf James, living in Nebraska with his family discovers his wife has plans to sell the farm, he sets out with his son to kill her. Consumed by his guilt, the man sees the ghost of his wife everywhere he goes. Being that this is a Stephen King novella with some considerably spooky, creepy, and disturbing elements, this film is a perfect fit for the streaming platform. There are already a number of horror and thriller movies available for binge-watching, though. Theres also the television series, The Mist, which tells the story of one small town plagued by a mysterious fog, containing a number of dangers. Unfortunately, though, not every iconic Stephen King film adaptation is available on Netflix. Classics like The Shining and Pet Semetary are noticeably missing. To learn more about Netflixs original movies and to subscribe, visit their website. RELATED: Whats Freeforms Halloween Schedule? Hocus Pocus Returns to the TV Network for a Movie Marathon RELATED: From Hocus Pocus to The Nightmare Before Christmas Here Are Some of Disneys Spookiest Movies for Halloween Chinas insects and other invertebrates are spoilt for choice with the countrys array of deserts, rainforests, mountains and tropical coastlines. The winning photographs of the Wild China Biodiversity Photography Contest hosted by Wild China Film present the countrys sweeping lands and rare plants from unexpected perspectives. Here is a pick of the crop Jan 21, 2022 06:20 PM Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. For many of us, its hard to imagine going through a single day without a Google search, Facebooks News Feed, or a package delivery from Amazon. And where would we be without an Android or Apple smartphone? But a large number of the people who rely on those products and services have concerns about the profound influence of the big tech companies behind them. In a nationally representative online survey recently conducted by Consumer Reports, roughly 3 out of 4 Americans worry about the power wielded by todays biggest tech platforms. And many U.S. residents believe that something must be done to rein them in. George Orwell had no idea that we would give up our freedom so easily, wrote one participant in an online forum tied to the survey.* Weve asked Big Brother for suggestions on what to buy! Over the past 15 months, members of the House Judiciary Committee have been investigating the business practices of the tech industry, carefully examining how decisions made by Amazons Jeff Bezos, Apples Tim Cook, Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg, and Googles Sundar Pichai have affected consumer choice. Later this month, they plan to release a report detailing their findings. In addition, both the Department of Justice and state attorneys general have reportedly been investigating anti-competitive practices by Google. Heres a closer look at the issues raised by our survey respondents. Too Big, Too Powerful Over the years, Amazon, Facebook, and Google have mushroomed in size, using mergers and acquisitions to broadly expand their reach. Facebook famously snapped up rival platforms Instagram and WhatsApp. Google has bought YouTube, Nest Labs, Fitbit, and some 230 other properties. Eight in 10 Americans now say those mergers and acquisitions unfairly undermine competition and consumer choice. Three in 10 favor breaking such platforms up into smaller platforms to remedy the situation. Story continues Untrustworthy Search Most Americans are aware that platforms such as Amazon and Google earn money by giving certain products and services more prominent placement on their web pages. But 46 percent say it is difficult to determine whether shopping and search results are delivered in an unbiased way, even if companies are paying to appear higher. Self-Promotion Twenty-three percent of Americans say its not right for companies such as Amazon and Google to give their own productsthe Kindle e-book reader or the Nest thermostatmore favorable treatment than rival products in search results. And 52 percent say its fair only if that preferred placement is disclosed openly. Unfair Pricing Because major online companies such as Amazon and Google have access to vast stores of data on the consumers who use their platforms, they have unique insight into how much individuals in different ZIP codes and income brackets are willing to pay for certain products. If youre troubled by that, youre not alone. Three out of 4 Americans view dynamic pricing based on such information as a problem. Misinformation Most Americans are wary of the control the nations tech giants have over the information you see when you go to their platforms. Seventy-four percent believe companies should be required to take more responsibility for evaluating that info before its shared. Seventy-four percent also say those companies should be compelled not only to use impartial evaluations to produce search results but also to be up front about how those evaluations are conducted. Keeping Big Tech in Check Six in 10 Americans favor stronger government actionincluding new laws, regulations, and enforcement actionsto discipline platforms and reduce harmful conduct. Consumer Reports Digital Lab has released a report on the findings (PDF), with additional information. The online survey was fielded by NORC at the University of Chicago using a nationally representative sample of 3,219 adult U.S. residents. The survey was conducted July 7 to 22, 2020. *The qualitative online discussion was delivered using a quota sample July 15, 2020, using Qualboard, an online platform offered by 2020 Research. The survey and online discussion board were directed by Karen Jaffe, Consumer Reports associate director of survey research, and Debra Kalensky, senior research associate at CR. www.NAELA.org The loss of life in nursing homes is horrific and immunity waivers would continue this harm, including preventing family members that have lost loved ones from using the law to hold nursing homes accountable for sub-standard care. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) recognizes the tragedy of nursing home resident deaths since COVID-19 and the importance of holding nursing homes accountable for the care they provide to residents. There is currently a lack of incentive for nursing homes to improve conditions if they avoid liability for sub-standard care. Along with other organizations, NAELA has opposed any blanket immunity that would waive liability for nursing homes related to negligent or inadequate care during this pandemic. The loss of life in nursing homes is horrific and immunity waivers would continue this harm, including preventing family members that have lost loved ones from using the law to hold nursing homes accountable for sub-standard care, said NAELA President Wendy Cappelletto, Esq., CAP. NAELA understands that legal liability is an essential safeguard for ensuring that nursing home residents receive quality care and that family members have a means of redress where the resident was harmed and died from poor care. NAELA will continue to work with other organizations in opposing both federal and state immunity waivers. Learn more about how elder and special needs law attorneys can assist you. Find an elder and special needs law attorney in your area using NAELAs Member Directory. About NAELA Members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities. Upon joining, NAELA member attorneys agree to adhere to the NAELA Aspirational Standards. Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations, and others. The mission of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is to educate, inspire, serve, and provide community to attorneys with practices in elder and special needs law. NAELA currently has members across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NAELA.org, or to locate a NAELA member attorney in your area, visit NAELA.org/FindLawyer. Photo credit: Sergio Flores - Getty Images From ELLE Editor's note: Army officials revealed Tuesday that 14 of its leaders, including one general, were relieved of command or suspended following a slew of deaths, suicides, and sexual harassment complaints at Fort Hood this year, including the high-profile slaying of Vanessa Guillen in April. The announcement came after an investigation found the Texas military base had a climate that was permissive of sexual harassment and sexual assault, Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy said during a press conference. The full results of the report can be found here. Earlier this year, ELLE.com published an interview with former military counselor Teresa Beasley, who said described sexual assault as an "epidemic" in the military. When Teresa Beasley first heard about Vanessa Guillen, the 20-year-old Army specialist who was allegedly sexually harassed by a superior and then went missing from Fort Hood, she was heartbroken. But not surprised. During her ten years as a military counselor, Beasley met hundreds of young women who told her they were sexually harassed or assaulted by fellow military members. Many, like Guillen, never officially reported their abusers out of fear of retaliation, instead confiding in family members or peers. "Victims of sexual assault in the military will tell you that retaliation can be just as bad as the assault itself," Beasley, who worked with cadets at the Air Force Academy, tells ELLE.com. "It's a deterrent for speaking out. I've seen cadets become ostracized or stalked by their perpetrators for coming forward, followed around and called sluts or liars. You get to feel subhuman, it's crippling." After Guillen's body was discovered near a river in July, dismembered and badly burned, military women called for reform in sexual assault reporting using the hashtag #IAmVanessaGuillen on social media. Their demands were finally met last week with a new bill offering hope for a safer way to hold sexual abusers and harassers accountable. Story continues Photo credit: Courtesy Teresa Beasley Beasley knows about retaliation in the military. In 2005, she was tapped to take over the Air Force Academy's sexual assault program, where she coordinated prevention education for more than 4,000 cadets, processed new assault and harassment reports, and met with survivors. Pentagon leaders like Deputy Director for the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office Dr. Nate Galbreath, praised her for working "overtime in getting in front of the cadets," but behind the scenes, Beasley says she was loathed by many of her peers. "They didn't like me, didn't like the program, because we were a blight on the Academy's reputation," she says. "Behind our backs, we were called bra-burning, man-hating feminazis by leadership, cadets, and other staff." During the 2014-2015 school year, one of Beasley's supervisors "freaked out," as she tells it. There was a particularly high number of reports that year much higher than at West Point or the Naval Academy and she noticed cases were being removed from their tracking system. An Emmy award-winning segment from CBS would later confirmed via internal Air Force memos that 16 sexual harassment or assault reports had, in fact, been deleted from the tracking system and had not been disclosed to Congress as required by law. "What nobody understood was that the number of assaults wasn't going up, just the number of reports. And that was because cadets were increasingly trusting us to come forward with their stories," Beasley explains. "It was seen as a embarrassment, like, 'Oh my God, you've got big sexual assault problems here.' But it was actually a good thing, and changing the numbers wasn't going to make the problem go away." Beasley says she was demoted after questioning the missing reports, and a certification allowing her to act as a victim advocate was pulled by Academy leadership. She put in for retirement in 2016, and has since filed an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint against the Academy with support from Protect our Defenders, a not-for-profit dedicated to ending rape and sexual assault in the military, and TIMES UP Legal Defense Fund, which provides financial and legal support for victims of sexual assault and retaliation in the workplace. Beasley filed an EEOC complaint against the Air Force Academy alleging that she was subject to a hostile and discriminatory work environment after speaking out against the Academy. On summary judgment, an EEOC administrative judge found in favor of the Air Force Academy and against Beasley. In papers obtained by ELLE.com, Beasley has appealed the EEOC administrative judges summary judgment ruling. "There's a long, terrible history of sexual harassment in the military, and it's well past time for that to change," TIME'S UP Legal Defense Fund Director Sharyn Tejani tells ELLE.com. "It's our priority to support survivors of workplace sexual harassment and retaliation, like Teresa, who refuse to be silenced and choose to come forward with their stories to stand up to powerful institutions." The Academy's 560-page investigation into the office Beasley led reportedly found that her program "jeopardized" victim care. But a DofD Inspector General report from 2019 didn't support those findings. Obtained by ELLE.com, the DoD report concluded that, "victim support services were available to cadet-victims at the United States Air Force Academy as required by Department of Defense and Air Force policy." Though Beasley worked mostly with cadets at the Air Force, she says retaliation is a systemic problem at all academies and branches of the military. At Fort Hood, the central Texas post where Guillen was stationed, Congress is investigating whether the deaths of 29 other soldiers this year at least nine of them under unusual or suspicious circumstances, according to NPR were "symptomatic of underlying leadership, discipline, and morale deficiencies throughout the chain-of-command." The Army is also looking into Fort Hood's handling of sexual harassment allegations made by Guillen's mother and sister after her death. In a press conference, her family said she told fellow soldiers about an incident involving a superior before disappearing on April 22. Guillen's older sister, Mayra, believes her sister worried that coming forward might jeopardize her military career, according to Army Times. The fact that Guillen didn't file an official complaint doesn't surprise Beasley. "If you speak out or report something they don't want to hear, be prepared for your soul to be crushed," she says. "They don't just stop at admonishing you, they go after you to destroy you." Guillen's suspected killer, fellow soldier Specialist Aaron Robinson, died by suicide while being approached by police in June. Authorities have since charged Robinson's girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence for allegedly helping "mutilate and dispose of... Vanessa Guillen," according to this statement from the Department Of Justice. Court documents show Aguilar pleaded "not guilty" to charges, and her trial is scheduled to begin in late November. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years. Photo credit: MARK FELIX - Getty Images In the months since Guillen's death, a new law in her honor could transform how the military handles sexual assault and harassment allegations. The "I Am Vanessa Guillen Act" is a bipartisan bill aimed at creating a more confidential reporting system. The measure would also make sexual harassment within the military a punishable crime and permit sexual harassment or assault survivors to file claims within the DoD for compensation. The status quo is unacceptable. Were not going to tolerate it anymore, Rep. Jackie Speier, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a news conference last week. Speier and Rep. Markwayne Mullin introduced the bill, alongside the Guillen family and their attorney, Natalie Khawam. Nancy Pelosi, who also met with Guillen's family, said in a statement that there's still "many service members facing an epidemic of sexual harassment and assault in our armed forces, too often in the shadows." Photo credit: Tom Williams - Getty Images There's no simple solution for what Beasley describes as a "sexual assault epidemic" in the military. But the "I Am Vanessa Guillen Act" is a good start. "We think we've come so far, but we really haven't. Those in leadership still do everything in their power to shut victims up," Beasley says. "We need to start believing victims and we need to start supporting them, instead of perpetuating the myth that victims are lying. By not believing them, we punish them. And people are suffering because of it, people are dying." You Might Also Like UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic is a tragedy, but it has also created a moment of possibility, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday, urging governments and businesses to work together to promote innovation and transformation. "This is a moment of crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to the most serious social and economic upheaval since the United Nations was created 75 years ago," Guterres said in a video message to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Business Forum. "Returning to old, discredited systems is out of the question," Guterres said. "The pandemic is a tragedy -- but it has also created a moment of possibility." The UN chief noted that governments and the private sector have already changed their working methods more quickly than ever before. "Everywhere, we see new thinking, innovation and transformation," he said. Guterres urged governments and businesses to work together to shift direction. "That is the only way to weather the pandemic, build resilience for the future and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," he said. Guterres added that equality, inclusiveness and sustainability are no longer nice-to-have, optional extras to build a more caring brand. "They are the indispensable keys to recovering from the pandemic and building healthy and prosperous economies and societies." The SDG business forum, held virtually on the margins of the 75th UN General Assembly, is a platform to discuss the role of the private sector in addressing the current economic landscape and to co-create lasting solutions for a more sustainable future. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Article body The Auburn Alumni Association has launched a face mask initiative through which Auburn alumni and friends can purchase exclusive, limited edition Auburn face masks for personal use while also donating a mask to an underserved area of Alabama. In line with Auburns mission as a land grant institution and in partnership with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Auburn Alumni Association will donate a mask to the area of greatest need in the state of Alabama for every mask that is sold through its mask initiative. To learn more about the program or to order masks, visit aub.ie/auburnalumnimask. Each design is a limited edition. Once a design is sold out, no more will be produced and a new design will then be created. The Auburn Alumni Association partnered with the University of Minnesota Alumni Association to host the Auburn face mask products on their alumni marketplace, Minnesota Alumni Market. We are so excited about the impact this exciting initiative will make on Alabamians and look forward to seeing these beautiful designs throughout our state, said Gretchen VanValkenburg, vice president for alumni affairs and executive director of the Auburn Alumni Association. I am especially grateful to my fellow CAAE member and alumni colleague, Lisa Lewis [president and CEO of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association], for her assistance and support. Lisa Huber, senior director of marketing and partnerships for the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, added that, We are thrilled to be partnering with the Auburn Alumni Association on the mask initiative within the Minnesota Alumni Market. Together, our alumni communities can make an important impact in the lives of many. Donated masks will be distributed to areas in Alabama with the most need as determined by Alabama Extension. Its times like these that we find the greatest comfort in knowing that alumni communities, from two different conferences, can unite for a larger cause, said Jessica King, director of communications and marketing for the Auburn Alumni Association. Extension Director Gary Lemme agreed. Alabama Extension has offices in each county and is Auburn Universitys connection to every community in Alabama, he said. Extension is proud to partner with the Auburn Alumni Association in distributing donated masks to underserved residents. The buy one-donate one approach of Auburn alumni proudly wearing a mask from their alma mater and donating a second mask to someone with limited resources is truly the spirit of Auburns creed. Efforts like this are what makes the Auburn University family special and real. The below Auburn School of Nursing student ambassadors also offered their thoughts on the initiative and the importance of face coverings: "Masks are so important because they help protect you and your community. COVID-19 is spread primarily through respiratory droplets, so wearing a mask is a simple action you can take to help stop the spread and allow local schools, hospitals and businesses to keep functioning as normally as possible," said Emily Claire Herring, 21. I think mask wearing is important because not only does it help to protect me, the wearer, it drastically reduces the number of people that would contract COVID in the U.S. When I wear my mask, I realize that I am doing my bit to keep society safer, thereby reducing the amount of money that is spent on health care. Wearing a mask also shows that, despite the discomfort I may feel, I am willing to be my neighbors keeper, especially the immunocompromised, by reducing the odds of them contracting the disease, said Peace Elimimian, 22. Mask wearing is important because its not just for my sake. As a nursing student, I have to consider my patients health before I even get to the clinical setting. Due to the current research, mask wearing will help. So, I will do my part, said Caroline Richey, 21. Mask wearing is important to protect yourself and others around you. If you choose to not wear a mask, you may put yourself at risk, but you may also put everyone else you come in contact with at risk. Be safe and wear a mask, said Callie Clemmons, 21. Wearing a mask is the easiest way for you to be a part of limiting the spread of COVID-19. Because the disease is spread through respiratory droplets, masks covering your nose and mouth are a necessity. It is good manners to protect others. You are saving lives by putting on a mask, said Catherine Parma, 23. For more information on the mask initiative, contact Jessica King, director of alumni communications and marketing, at 334-844-2960 or jessicaking@auburn.edu. Egyptian archeologists have unearthed more than two dozen ancient coffins in a vast necropolis south of Cairo, an official said on Sept. 21. The sarcophagi have remained unopened since they were buried more than 2,500 years ago near the famed Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, said Neveine el-Arif, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. She said 13 coffins were found earlier this month in a newly discovered 11-meter-deep (36-foot) well, and that 14 more were found last week in another well. The picture shows one of more than two dozen ancient coffins unearthed near the famed Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt. (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities via AP) Footage shared by the ministry showed colorful sarcophagi decorated with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics (the writing system used in Ancient Egypt), as well as other artifacts the ministry said were found in the two wells. The Saqqara plateau hosted at least 11 pyramids, including the Step Pyramid, along with hundreds of tombs of ancient officials, ranging from the 1st Dynasty (2920 B.C. to 2770 B.C.) to the Coptic period (395 to 642). Archeologists were still working to determine the origins of the coffins, El-Arif said, adding that more details and secrets would likely be announced next month. Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, with an artifact found along with more than two dozen ancient coffins unearthed near the famed Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt. (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities via AP) In recent years, Egypt has heavily promoted new archeological finds to international media and diplomats in an effort to revive its key tourism sector by attracting more tourists to the country. El-Arif said further excavations were underway in the necropolis, and more coffins were expected to be found. Last year, archeologists found a cache at Saqqara that included hundreds of mummified animals, birds, and crocodiles, as well as two mummified lion cubs. The Saqqara plateau is part of the necropolis of Egypts ancient city of Memphis, which also includes Abu Sir, Dahshur, and Abu Ruwaysh and the famed Giza Pyramids. The ruins of Memphis were designed a UNESCO World Heritage site in the 1970s. This photo shows some of the antiquities, which included more than two dozen ancient coffins and other artifacts that were unearthed near the famed Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt. The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry has said initial studies show that the newly found coffins had not been opened since they were buried more than 2,500 years ago. (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities via AP) In October 2019, archeologists unearthed 30 ancient wooden coffins with inscriptions and paintings in the southern city of Luxor. The Luxor coffins were moved to be showcased at the Grand Egyptian Museum, which Egypt is building near the Giza Pyramids. Egypts key tourism sector has suffered from years of political turmoil, and recently, the sector was dealt a further blow this year by the global coronavirus pandemic. By Samy Magdy From paints to apparel and lifestyle majors, brewers, distillers and fragrance makers have stepped into the market, even as the frontline companies including FMCG players, pharma and healthcare majors were the first to seize the opportunity created by Covid-19. Biscuit major Parle Products has been quietly pushing its hand sanitiser brand under its flagship name Parle for a few months now. The maker of glucose biscuits is an unusual player in the hygiene market. But it isn't the only such company to have launched a hand sanitiser during the Covid-19 pandemic. A whole set of new firms from paints to apparel and lifestyle majors, brewers, distillers and fragrance makers have stepped into the market, even as the frontline companies including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) players, pharma and healthcare majors were the first to seize the opportunity created by the disease. Mayank Shah, senior category head, Parle Products, said that the launch of a hand sanitiser was part of the company's backward integration exercise. "We are into food production and as part of this we process sugar. "Ethyl alcohol or ethanol, which is used in hand sanitisers, is a by-product of this process. "Since ethanol was available to us and we saw a clear need for hygiene products triggered by the pandemic, it made sense to foray into this category," he said. Industry estimates are that the domestic hand sanitiser market, which, before the pandemic stood at Rs 60 crore in size, has now grown five times to touch Rs 300 crore in size, thanks to the entry of multiple firms. At least 300 launches by organised and unorganised players have happened in the last few months, say experts, forcing the government to rein in makers of spurious products, introduce price controls and quality checks. K Ramakrishnan, managing director, South Asia, Kantar Worldpanel, says he continues to see strong demand for these products as the threat of catching the virus remains. "I don't see a significant drop in the demand for hand sanitisers at least for the next one year as the need to remain safe and maintain hygiene standards continues both at home and outside," he said. But FMCG companies, who've been among the key drivers of the category, indicate that rationalisation is inevitable. "The market cannot sustain so many players," says Sunil Kataria, chief executive officer (CEO), India and SAARC, Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL), which markets the Protekt brand of hand sanitisers. "There is already a fair degree of rationalisation that is happening in the hand sanitiser market in India. "And this trend will continue over the next few months, with largely the serious players sticking on. The rest will exit," he said. This point is endorsed by Mohit Malhotra, CEO, Dabur India, who says that margins have been falling sharply in the category. "There is such a glut in the market that margins have come down for most players. "We've cut back on production of hand sanitisers in keeping with market realities. "My own assessment is that the category will evolve as hygiene habits undergo a change," he said. Already, the accent on hand washing as a habit is growing versus hand sanitisation, say experts and FMCG company executives. "At home, for instance, the preference for hand washing is far greater than hand sanitisation," says Sumit Malhotra, director, Bajaj Consumer, which launched a hand sanitiser in May under its Nomarks brand. Kataria concurs, adding that hand washing has taken a big leap in terms of adoption over the last few months as personal hygiene gains ground. "Hand sanitisers now are mostly consumed when travelling or when on the go," he says. Shah admits that while consolidation within the domestic hand sanitiser market will happen, some second-rung players will continue to be there. "We are here for the long term," he said. "We have three pack sizes, including a 5-litre can, a 500-ml bottle and a 200-ml bottle, designed to ensure maximum consumption," he said. The 5-litre Parle cans, for instance, are mostly refill packs, targeted at the institutional segment. The 500-ml packs are used mainly at dispensing machines within retail establishments and 200-ml packs are meant for personal consumption. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters By Rachel Wainer Apter I just returned from standing guard next to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she lies in repose outside the United States Supreme Court. It was heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. Heartbreaking goes without saying: America has lost a national hero. But it was beautiful, as well. People waited on line for hours to say goodbye. During my turn standing vigil, I saw people praying, crying, and saluting. I saw a woman wearing a hijab talking to a woman wearing a home-made shirt that read: We will fight on. And I saw countless people all races, genders, and nationalities, saying their own personal goodbyes. It was the perfect way to honor the justices life work: getting the country and the constitution to recognize the humanity and the equal dignity of all people. I had the privilege of clerking for Justice Ginsburg from 2011-2012, and her wisdom and advice have had a profound impact on my life and career since. Both as a law professor and as an attorney at the ACLU, Justice Ginsburg was largely responsible for convincing nine male Supreme Court justices to enshrine equal citizenship for women into the United States Constitution. But her work was not only about equal rights for women. It was about creating a more equitable society for all people. During my clerkship, Justice Ginsburg always kept a copy of the constitution with her. She liked to quote the opening words: We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union. But as Justice Ginsburg always pointed out, at the time those words were written, a lot of people were left out of the we. People brought to this country as slaves and their descendants. Native Americans. Women. The past 250 years have largely been a struggle for those who were excluded at the time of the Constitutions drafting, and who have been excluded in the many years since, for full and complete inclusion in our national life. And Justice Ginsburg, although physically tiny, was a giant part of that struggle. To the justice, it was obvious that all people should have equal opportunity to dream, to achieve, and to set the course of their own lives without artificial barriers because of gender, race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. In her first brief to the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg took aim at laws based on inaccurate stereotypes of the capacities and sensibilities of women. On the cover of that brief, the justice listed, as her co-counsel, Dr. Pauli Murray, a Black civil rights lawyer and activist, and Dorothy Kenyon, a womens rights attorney who had once worked for the NAACP, both of whom fought at the intersection of oppression based on race and gender. Although neither had worked with the justice on the case, Justice Ginsburg wanted to illustrate that it was because of their path marking work that she was able to argue that gender discrimination violated the constitution. At the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg was committed to full LGBTQIA equality and was the first Supreme Court justice to perform same-sex weddings. She wrote the majority opinion in a landmark decision decrying unwarranted assumptions that people with disabilities were incapable of or unworthy of participating in community life. And Justice Ginsburg saw a womans ability to decide whether or not to become a parent as necessary to her equality and full citizenship. As she explained at her confirmation hearing in 1993: When government controls that decision for [a woman], she is being treated as less than a fully adult human. For the justice, equal human dignity and the ability of all people to chart their own lifes course was not just academic. It was personal. Justice Ginsburg remembered traveling with her family as a child and seeing signs that said No Dogs or Jews Allowed. She recalled the cruelty of racism in the form of Whites Only signs as a newlywed living in Oklahoma. And she recounted when, as a new student at Harvard Law School, she and the other eight women in her class were asked to explain why they deserved to take a coveted spot that could have gone to a man. This idea did not only inspire Justice Ginsburgs work; it inspired her life. The justice treated all people as equally entitled to dignity and respect. Part of her criteria for evaluating potential law clerks was how they treated her incredible secretaries and judicial assistants. And she treated her current and former law clerks (all 159 of us) like members of her family: toasting our birthdays with champagne and cake, getting to know our families, and remembering literally everything we ever said to her (the justices memory was truly unparalleled). I was lucky enough to bring my two daughters to meet the justice a few times. She remembered their names and when, during a law-clerk reunion two years ago, I arrived with only one of my daughters and my son (among hundreds of clerks and children), she asked me where my oldest daughter was. And when I last emailed the justice a few weeks ago, she responded within two hours, again remembering and checking in on topics we had discussed years ago. In the statement she read from the bench announcing her dissent from the 2013 opinion that gutted the Voting Rights Act, Justice Ginsburg re-interpreted Dr. Martin Luther Kings famous words: The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice, if there is a steadfast commitment to see the task through to completion. Let us all honor the justices legacy by being steadfast in our commitment to seeing the unfinished work of this country fundamentally respecting the equal dignity of all peoplethrough to completion. Rachel Wainer Apter is the director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights. The opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect the views of the Division on Civil Rights, the Attorney General, the Department of Law and Public Safety, or the State of New Jersey. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Interpol has handed over 3 Egyptians who are wanted in connection with a 2014 rape case that has come to light in recent months Interpol has handed over three Egyptians who are wanted in Egypt in connection with a 2014 rape case that has come to light in recent months, stirring public outrage. The three men were delivered to Egyptian authorities at Cairo International Airport on Wednesday and will be questioned by the prosecution. Lebanese police arrested the three suspects weeks ago after Interpol had put out a request for the apprehension of seven fugitives who fled Egypt after the rape, dubbed the Fairmont Nile City Hotel rape case, was brought to light. According to the National News Agency (NNA) in Lebanon, the three men were arrested in August in Mount Lebanons town of Fatqa. Two other suspects have fled the country, according to Lebanese authorities. The arrest was made days after Egypt said it had taken measures to pursue the seven fugitives via Interpol after the men fled the country via the capitals airport in July. One of the defendants in the case, which so far involves a total of nine suspects, was arrested earlier as he attempted to flee Egypt and is being detained pending investigation. The whereabouts of the remaining suspects are currently unknown. The suspects in the case, which has gained widespread attention on social media over the past two months, reportedly hail from affluent and powerful families in Egypt. The alleged rape has been under investigation by Egyptian authorities since 4 August, when a complaint about the incident was filed with the country's prosecutor-general. The complaint was first sent to the National Council of Women (NCW) by a woman alleging she was raped by several men at the luxurious Fairmont Hotel in Cairo in 2014. The victim and a number of witnesses have been questioned by the prosecution, the prosecution said on 24 August. The case went viral in July on different social media platforms after an anonymous Instagram account published posts accusing a group of young men of being involved in a gang rape following a party at the hotel. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Thursday issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and sought its reply on a plea moved by the Muzaffarpur shelter home case convict. A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar issued notice to the CBI on the appeal filed by case convict Vikas Kumar. Kumar, a member of the Child Welfare Committee, had challenged his life imprisonment in the sexual assault case of several girls in a shelter home in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district. The court listed it for hearing on October 1, along with appeals of other convicts - Brajesh Thakur and Dilip Kumar Verma, both sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of life by the trial court in the case. Verma and Thakur, who once unsuccessfully contested assembly polls on Bihar People's Party (BPP) ticket, have appealed against the trial court verdict sentencing them to life imprisonment in the case. Thakur, represented through advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey, has also sought suspension of Rs 32.20 lakh fine imposed on him. The CBI has opposed Thakur's plea for suspension of the fine amount saying no prejudice will be caused to him by the imposition of fine as he has been convicted on multiple counts of aggravated penetrative sexual assault, conspiracy, abetment and sentenced to life imprisonment. The high court had earlier issued notice to the CBI on the appeals seeking to set aside the trial court's January 20 judgment convicting him in the case and February 11 sentencing order. Live TV A trial court had sentenced Thakur to "rigorous imprisonment till the remainder of his life" and imposed a hefty fine of Rs 32.20 lakh on him, saying he was the "kingpin" of a "meticulously planned" conspiracy and "displayed extreme perversity". The trial court on January 20, had convicted Thakur of several offences including aggravated penetrative sexual assault under section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and offences of rape and gang rape under the Indian Penal code (IPC). Besides Brajesh Thakur, Dilip Verma and Vikas Kumar, it had sentenced the Child protection officer of District Child Protection Unit Ravi Roshan, Guddu Vijay, Kumar Tiwari, Guddu Patel, Kishan Kumar and Ramanuj Thakur to imprisonment for the remainder of life in the case. It had also sent three women -- Minu Devi, Kiran Kumari and Shaista Praveen -- to jail for life for abetment to rape. The trial court had sentenced Rama Shankar, Ashwani, Manju Devi, Chanda Devi, Neha Kumari and Hema Masih to 10 years in prison, and Indu Kumari to three years jail term. It had imposed varying fines on the convicts. It had also granted a compensation of Rs 5.50 lakh to three of the rape victims; Rs 6 lakh to one of the victims, Rs 9 lakh to another victim, Rs 40,000 each to two of the victims and Rs 25,000 to another victim. Former Bihar Social Welfare Minister and the then JD(U) leader Manju Verma had also faced flak when allegations surfaced that her husband had links with Brajesh Thakur. She resigned from her post on August 8, 2018. The case was transferred on February 7, 2019 from a local court in Muzaffarpur in Bihar to a POCSO court at Saket district court complex in Delhi on the Supreme Court's directions. The matter had come to light on May 26, 2018 after Tata Institute of Social Sciences submitted a report to the Bihar government highlighting the alleged sexual abuse of girls in the shelter home for the first time. (With Agency Inputs) The Boeing Company BA recently clinched a modification contract for providing aircraft inspections along with inner wing panel (IWP) modifications and repairs for the F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G series of jets. The deal has been awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD Valued at $75.1 million, the contract is expected to be completed by September 2021. Majority of the work related to this deal will be carried out in in Jacksonville, FL. Rising Demand for Combat Jets With rising security threats across the globe, emerging economies like Asia Pacific, the Middle East and South America are spending a lot on enhancing their defense arsenals. On the other hand, developed nations like the United States and Europe have already been leading the defense market. It is imperative to mention in this context that military aircraft, both manned and unmanned, forms an integral part of a countrys defense products. Notably, emerging trends in the combat aircraft space like fifth-generation technology aircraft, advanced composite materials, and stealth technology have been driving demand substantially. What Favors Boeing? Boeing, being the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States, enjoys a dominant position in the combat aircraft market. Notably, its F/A-18 Super Hornet combat aircraft has emerged as the leading choice of weapon for militaries across the world. In fact, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Kuwait Air Force, apart from the U.S. Navy, operate these fighter aircraft in large numbers. Furthermore, nations like Canada, Finland, Switzerland and Spain currently have Boeings Super Hornet in their arsenal. On the other hand, a variant of the combat-proven F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler offers the most advanced airborne electronic attack (AEA) platform and thus enjoys solid demand from varied nations worldwide. These factors boost the contract winning possibilities of Boeing for production and subsequent repairing of Super Hornet, as is evident from the latest contract. Consequently, such contracts bolster the jet makers profit count. Story continues Looking Ahead Per a Morder Intelligence report, the global combat aircraft market is expected to witness a CAGR of 4% during 2020-2025 time period. Such growth can be attributed to rise in global threats, geopolitical instabilities and increased spending on defense. These projections should benefit combat jet manufacturers like Boeing, Northrop Grumman NOC, Lockheed Martin LMT and Airbus EADSY. Price Performance & Zacks Rank Boeings shares have lost 58.9% in the past year compared with the industrys decline of 34.4%. Boeing currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 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 >> 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 Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Boeing Company (BA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Airbus Group (EADSY) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Export of grain and legumes from Turkey to Kazakhstan grew by 19.64 percent in the past 8 months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, surpassing 6.3 million, the Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend. According to the ministry, in August 2020, Turkey exported grain and legumes worth $1.6 million to Kazakhstan, which is by 49.67 percent more than in August 2019. Turkey's exports of grain and legumes to world markets made up $4.6 billion from January through August 2020, up by 7.8 percent compared to the same period of last year. The ministry noted that export of grain and legumes amounted to 4.9 percent of the country's total exports during the reporting period. In August of current year, Turkey exported the grain and legumes to international markets in the amount of over $545 million, which is 13.4 percent more compared to August 2019, the ministry said. Turkeys export of grain and legumes in August 2020 accounted for 4.8 percent of the country's total exports. Over the past 12 months (from August 2019 through August 2020), Turkey exported the grain and legumes worth over $7.1 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Easyjet Holidays will give customers a refund if they change their mind about an upcoming trip in a bid to attract new bookings amid the current pandemic. In its new 'Protection Promise', the holiday provider says those who book both flights and accommodation with it will now receive more booking flexibility. With coronavirus severely denting holidaymaker confidence, it is hoping more will feel comfortable booking with these new measures in place. One of the main steps is to give customers a full refund, including their deposit in credit, up to 28 days before departure and free of fees, if they change their mind about travelling. Easyjet Holidays has introduced a new Protection Promise to encourage customers to book It added that if customers plans change, up to 28 days from departure, they also won't lose their deposit. For those who may be struggling with funds, it has said travellers can pay for their holiday in instalments with no fees and only pay in full 28 days before they travel, giving them flexibility if plans change. Easyjet Holidays added it is 'so confident in our great value holidays' that if its customers find the same holiday cheaper elsewhere, it will beat the price. With the pandemic, it can be hard to plan ahead so Easyjet Holidays has said its customers will now have the flexibility to change their holiday if things change. There will be no fees for changes made online until 28 days before departure. Research undertaken by Easyjet Holidays revealed that 53 per cent of Britons are only willing to book a holiday abroad at the moment if they feel confident their money is protected. A further 46 per cent are concerned about not being able to get a refund if a holiday cannot go ahead whilst 38 per cent are worried about losing money if they need to change their travel plans. Matt Callaghan, customer director at Easyjet Holidays said: 'Consumer confidence in holidays abroad has taken a huge hit this year and travellers have different priorities now when it comes to booking a trip. 'With the restrictions continuing to change, the industry must step up and adapt to this new reality to rebuild consumer trust. 'That's why we're launching our new Protection Promise, setting a benchmark for customer flexibility in the industry and encouraging travellers to book their holidays with the reassurance that if things change they are protected. 'And this isn't a short-term move, this is a fundamental change to what customers can expect whenever they book with Easyjet holidays.' Easyjet Holidays said if customers find the same holiday cheaper elsewhere, it will beat the price Whilst the average time of 12 days for holiday refunds isn't a guarantee included in the Protection Promise, it is an industry-leading standard that Easyjet holidays is also aiming to achieve. This is Money contacted other airlines and package holiday firms to see if they were planning to make any similar changes. Tui said it is offering its customers the ability to amend their bookings. A Tui UK spokesperson said: 'Customers booking a holiday with Tui between 23 July 2020 and 31 December 2020, for holidays departing up until 30 April 2021, are offered a free amend should they wish to change their holiday plans. 'This gives our customers the added flexibility should they not wish to travel. 'Of course, if their holiday can't go ahead, we'll be in touch as soon as we can to offer the customer the chance to change their booking to a different holiday or arrange a full cash refund.' Meanwhile, Ryanair announced yesterday that it will extend the waiving of its flight change fee for all customers who book to travel in October and November 2020. Customers who book for travel in October and November will be able to change their flights with zero change fee to travel until the 21st March 2021. Changes must be made at least 7 days prior to the departure date of the original booking. For British Airways Holidays, if customers have booked a holiday to destinations affected by entry restrictions departing in the next three weeks and no longer wish to travel, they can choose a refund or a voucher for future travel. Customers whose destination is unaffected, but are impacted by restrictions in their local area, can make changes or request a voucher in line with our Customer Promise. Motorists protesting a Kentucky grand jurys decision not to charge any officer directly in the death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., temporarily slowed traffic on three major Bay Area bridges Thursday. Protesters took to Instagram to encourage people to create gridlock during the afternoon commute on the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge and the Dumbarton Bridge. Pick a bridge and drive slow! said a flyer advertising the demonstrations. #Gridlock. An hour into the planned protest, only two vehicles had slowed on the Golden Gate Bridge. A van slowed in the far right, northbound lane at around 5 p.m., but traffic did not come to a stop. At about 5:30 p.m., a gray Ford Mustang tried to slow down in northbound traffic, but a California Highway Patrol officer pulled the motorist over and cited her for not having a license plate and impeding traffic, CHP officials told The Chronicle. The CHP traffic stop created the most significant slowdown on the bridge by late Thursday afternoon because passing motorists rubbernecked. The driver behind the wheel of the Mustang held up a closed fist, prompting passing drivers to honk in support. Muni temporarily suspended bus service on the 25 line to Treasure Island because traffic on the Bay Bridge was slowed by protests, Muni officials said. Service returned to normal once traffic subsided. In Oakland, the amphitheater at Frank Ogawa Plaza was lined with 500 black-and-white pictures of Californians who organizers said were killed by law enforcement since 2015. The images were compiled by a local civil rights organization, All of Us or None. A crowd of about 50 gathered at the plaza for a peaceful protest organized by local police reform advocates and family members of Bay Area residents who were killed by police. Dozens of masked, socially distanced demonstrators chanted the names of those killed. The gathering in memory of Taylor also spotlighted other police shootings. Family members of some victims were at the rally: Oscar Grant, killed by a BART police officer at BARTs Fruitvale Station in 2009; Richard Pedie Perez III, slain by a police officer in Richmond in 2014; and Colby Friday, killed by police in Stockton in 2016. Protesters also chanted for Erik Salgado, shot to death by California Highway Patrol officers in June; his pregnant girlfriend was also shot, and survived. One after the other, family members mourning loved ones stood in front of Black Lives Matter spray-painted on the boarded-up City Hall entrance, and shared before a socially distanced crowd of about two dozen. Denise Friday chanted No Justice, No Peace while clutching a photo of her son and cried as she spoke about her 11-year-old granddaughter calling people to protest on her fathers behalf. If you cannot imagine the pain of losing a family member to the heinous acts of police violence, its a forever lifetime of pain, said Cephus Uncle Bobby Johnson, the uncle of Oscar Grant. There can be no peace without justice, Johnson said. Let today be about your real work that youre going to put in to bring about change. Dont sit on the fence and do nothing! The protest was organized by grassroots groups including Oaklands Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice and Anti Police-Terror Project. The groups and the families of people killed by police had pushed Oakland to cut its police budget by 50% and redirect funds to education and social services, which did not happen, and supported a bill in the California Legislature to decertify police officers with troubled histories, which died before a vote this session. 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. Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice executive director George Galvis criticized what he called performative allyship by Bay Area leaders. If they dont take these decisions to protect our people and hold officers accountable, were going to vote them out, Galvis said behind a mask that read Stop killing us. This is the voice of the voiceless, he said. Were here to say never again. Taylor, a Black medical worker, was shot several times March 13 by white officers who entered her Louisville apartment during a narcotics investigation. Taylors boyfriend, who was in the apartment, fired a shot that hit a police officer, causing the other officers to open fire, hitting and killing Taylor. Chronicle staff writer Lauren Hernandez contributed to this report. Michael Williams and Mallory Moench are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: Michael.Williams@sfchronicle.com, mallory.moench@chronicle.com Twitter: @Michaeldamianw, @mallorymoench System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f049510aa80)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048a249588)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f049510aa80)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048a249588)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0495112668)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048a249588)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048a249588)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04868fe3d0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04940ebba0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04940ebba0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 In the wake of President Trump's announcement that he would nominate a Supreme Court Justice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a significant number of Democrat lawmakers have called to implement a court-packing strategy if they can take the Senate and White House in the upcoming election. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who recently lost the Massachusetts Democratic primary for US Senate, chimed in on Twitter: "If he holds a vote in 2020, we pack the court in 2021. It's that simple.""Mitch McConnell set the precedent. No Supreme Court vacancies filled in an election year. If he violates it, when Democrats control the Senate in the next Congress, we must abolish the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court," Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., the progressive stalwart who defeated Rep. Kennedy by 10 points, tweeted. The strategy of "packing" the Supreme Court with additional justices originated when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt first tried to implement New Deal reforms. The idea has since belonged to the fringes of the party. After Republicans refused to hold hearings for Merrick Garland -- a moderate lawyer nominated by President Barack Obama in 2016 -- because it was an election year, the idea has been brought back into the forefront of liberal policy goals. Once Trump filled the empty seat with Neil Gorsuch in 2017, Democrats began to view the seat as "stolen". As Trump, with the full support of Republican lawmakers, moves to nominate a conservative justice, Democrats have repeatedly cited Republicans' refusal to hold hearings for Garland in 2016. Republicans, on the other hand, have claimed that when the Senate is controlled by the same party as the White House there is no precedent to hold off on filling the seat. Multiple sources have reported that Sen. McConnell has enough votes to confirm the judge. Notably, Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who voted to impeach President Trump, spoke out in favor of beginning the nomination process. Prominent Democratic lawmakers, including House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, have said that Democrats should "immediately move to expand the Supreme Court" if the confirmation occurs during the lame-duck session between Nov. 3 and the inauguration of the winner of the election. "Filling the SCOTUS vacancy during a lame-duck session, after the American people have voted for new leadership, is undemocratic and a clear violation of the public trust in elected officials. Congress would have to act and expanding the court would be the right place to start," the veteran New York congressman added on Twitter. What remains to be seen from the Democrats is whether their nominee Joe Biden will back calls to pack the court. Biden spoke out against the idea in 2019, "because we'll live to rue that day." However, many primary candidates, including his running-mate Kamala Harris, signaled openness to the idea of increasing the number of judges on the Supreme Court with a win in November. Specifically, Democratic congressional leaders have not called for packing the Supreme Court outright, but have implied they are willing to consider radical strategies if Republicans can appoint a justice. According to Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., "nothing is off the table" if Republicans attempt to confirm a justice immediately.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not discussed court-packing specifically, but on Sunday mentioned impeachment as a possible tactic if Trump moves to fill the seat. "We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that I'm not about to discuss right now, but the fact is we have a big challenge in our country," Pelosi stated on ABC News. "This president has threatened to not even accept the results of the election." Both Schumer and Pelosi's statements brought reproach from the Trump administration."The Speaker threatened to impeach the President -- again -- for simply fulfilling his constitutional obligation," White House Deputy Press Secretary Brian Morgenstern told Fox News. "Numerous Democrats are threatening to pack the court and say things like 'nothing is off the table.' These are bizarre and dangerous power grabs by Democrats who will stop at nothing to erode the Constitution to enact their radical agenda." Democrats who support the idea of increasing the number of Supreme Court Justices would be at odds with a statement made recently by Justice Ginsberg herself."Nine seems to be a good number. It's been that way for a long time," she told NPR in 2019. "I think it was a bad idea when President Franklin Roosevelt tried to pack the court.""Well, if anything would make the court appear partisan, it would be that," she said. "One side saying, 'When we're in power, we're going to enlarge the number of judges, so we would have more people who will vote the way we want them to.'" NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vise, the AI-powered investment management platform built for the modern financial advisor, has seen rapid growth and adoption since its launch in November, 2019. As a result, the company has appointed three new senior executives to its leadership team, strengthening its foundation for continued growth and allowing the business to scale quickly. Shah Hafizi, who joins Vise as Chief Compliance Officer, has previously served as Chief Compliance Officer of the Digital Wealth division of BlackRock, Executive Director and Counsel at UBS, and Counsel at The D.E. Shaw Group. Before joining the private sector, Hafizi was Special Counsel at the SEC, Division of Trading and Markets, where he developed standards for quant trading and derivatives. Niki Sri-Kumar joins Vise as Vice President of Product. Previously, she spent four years at Affirm, most recently as Director of Product, leading efforts across the core platform and new market development. Before that, Sri-Kumar was a Product Manager at analytics start-up Premise Data and prior to that she was at Cue Ball Capital and Barclays Capital. Yoonie Kim, who joins Vise as Vice President of People & Talent, has twenty years of experience in talent recruitment at some of the world's leading tech companies including Nintendo, Amazon, and Google. She was Head of Talent at Codecademy and Recruiting Leader at Dropbox and she will be instrumental as Vise continues to grow its team. "Vise is helping independent financial advisors be more effective resources for their clients and as we continue to build our platform to reimagine wealth management, it's thrilling to attract top-tier talent across the board," said Samir Vasavada, co-founder and CEO of Vise. "Shah, Niki and Yoonie are all at the top of their fields and their deep knowledge and expertise will be critical as we bring Vise to an increasingly wider range of financial advisors." Since its launch, Vise has been attracting talent and the attention of many industry leaders as a result of its mission to transform the investment management industry. Along with the new executive hires, Vise is honored to welcome two former SEC Commissioners, Troy Paredes and Joe Grundfest, to its Advisory Board. Mr. Paredes served as a Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 2008 to 2013. Stanford Law School Professor Grundfest served as a Commissioner from 1985 through 1990 and, with Nobel Laureate William Sharpe, co-founded Financial Engines, an online financial adviser that grew from zero to $202 billion in assets under management. Their collective knowledge and experience give Vise a unique perspective into the industry. "Troy and Joe bring decades of securities, regulatory, and compliance experience to Vise and will be invaluable additions to our Advisory Board," said Mehrotra, co-founder and CIO. "Their presence is a strong vote of confidence in what we're building at Vise and our commitment to using technology to empower rather than replace registered investment advisors. We are honored to be working with them." "Vise is building a new type of advisory platform," explained Professor Grundfest. "The goal is to blend the best of modern portfolio theory with contemporary client desires for customized portfolios that reflect environmental, social, and governance sensibilities, as well as preferences for or against individual companies or sectors. It's exciting to be part of this new initiative." About Vise Vise is an investment portfolio management platform powered by Artificial Intelligence and built for the modern financial advisor. Founded by Samir Vasavada and Runik Mehrotra in 2016, Vise gives financial advisors the tools and technology to be more effective, efficient and intelligent resources for their clients. This includes fully automating the investment management process, creating highly customized portfolios, and providing insights on each investment decision. In May 2020, the company closed a $14.5 million Series A led by Sequoia Capital.Vise is headquartered in New York. For more information, visit www.vise.com. Media Contact: Brooke Hammerling, [email protected] SOURCE Vise Related Links www.vise.com Since I am 76 years of age and have a mild pulmonary disease - bronchiectasis, a lung condition which derives from a childhood bout of pneumonia - I suppose I could be categorised as "vulnerable" and certainly "elderly". And yet, it sets my teeth on edge when I hear another ever-so-concerned voice telling me that I'm so "vulnerable" and "elderly" that I need to be protected, and, indeed, locked in a room self-isolating with no social contact or cultural stimuli, indefinitely. Read More Every time I hear Joe 'Wash-Your-Hands' Duffy or Ryan Tubridy lecturing from their pulpits, I ask: "Are they channelling John Charles McQuaid's era, finger-wagging and moralising about how we must all conduct ourselves?" Yes, I accept that some precautions should be taken because of Covid-19, and I comply with regulations: I wear a face-cover (a shield, because my GP believes masks reduce oxygen supply for people with bronchial conditions); my social contacts are minimal. I'm deprived of the art galleries, museums, libraries, church services, theatres and cinemas that are so often frequented by people of my demographic. I do not visit pubs or hold parties at home and have been in only one restaurant since March. It's not sensible precautions that madden me, it's the 'Project Fear' atmosphere and the Orwellian messages in Dublin blaring from buses, broadcast media and shops about the dangers to life of this pandemic, adding up to: "Be afraid! Be very afraid!" Older people should know this truth: once past 70, each day that passes represents an ever-greater proportion of what remains of our lives. At 76, there is a strong probability, based on actuarial calculations, that I will die in the next few years anyway. So, am I going to spend what remains of this mortal existence cowering in a corner, like Robbie Burns's mouse - the "wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie", whose little breastie is in a panic? Or am I going to exercise that wise motto of the ancient world - carpe diem? Seize the day. Live each day as if it were your last, if you like, but LIVE. Live with courage and fortitude - not deferring everything until things change, until there is a vaccine (which could be years away), until the authorities permit us to think for ourselves and use our common sense once again. When the threat of death from the pandemic is proclaimed, it is pertinent to bear in mind that we will all die! Modern life has somehow propagandised the message that death is unnatural or something that can be avoided if we go to the gym and eat five fruit and veg a day, or that it's a "choice" (choice means there's an option). It's not: it's inevitable. And some of us will quite possibly die from other illnesses that haven't been treated because there is so much focus on Covid. Pay us oldies the respect of forming our own judgments, too, and listening to other analyses of the way the virus works. We have been force-fed a dominant narrative from the establishment boffins about the dangers of infection and the second wave we are now facing; but there are perfectly respectable scientists who offer alternative viewpoints. One is Professor Carl Heneghan of Oxford University who says it's ridiculous to go into a second lockdown - it's just a means of kicking the can down the road. When you do everything to suppress the virus, it will just pop up again once the period of suppression is lifted, and no economy can afford to be locked down forever. Or Dr Mike Yeadon, also Oxford-based, who has published over 40 scientific research articles. He points out that "cases" are not the same as illnesses. Read More People can test positive without being sick. Yet we are constantly told of the number of "cases" without being told whether these are people who are ill, or whether they have tested positive while not being ill. The number of "cases" reported is not always set against the context of genuine fatalities, directly from Covid. There will need to be a forensic, retrospective enquiry into how the management of Covid has been conducted. But I want to be able to hear alternative voices and to listen to what they are saying right now. I welcome the appearance of Dr Johan Giesecke, the Swedish epidemiologist, who says we should stop aiming for a Covid-free environment, because it's simply unrealistic. Sweden, though it neglected its care homes when the virus first appeared, is now on zero deaths this week. It currently reports 28 cases per 100,000 of the population - while Dublin has 136.9. The Swedes have gone for population immunity, not suppression, and perhaps they will turn out to be right - Prof Kim Sneppen of Copenhagen University thinks that Sweden has "beaten the virus". Perhaps the cost was too high; but perhaps other societies will pay a high cost, too, in different ways. The Swedish narrative is at least an alternative to the 'Project Fear' I hear in Ireland and Britain. Yes, I could catch the virus, suffer and die from it. But let me conduct what remains of life not in fear and trembling, but instead in the spirit of the great Mayo songstress Delia Murphy - "I'll live till I die!" It's darkly ironic that this is World Alzheimer's Month and we are told that the best way for oldsters to stave off dementia is to "maintain social contacts". The general powers and duties of the review board would include monitoring and evaluating efforts in the Police Department to recruit and train police officers, as well as to have a relationship with the community in regard to racial, gender and cultural diversity. The board would work with city staff to compile statistics concerning police interactions with the community and make periodic reports and recommendations to the City Council and the public regarding matters within the boards scope of authority, Muhammad said. Fears are growing after a missing fisherman's bag containing his glasses, keys and ID was found washed up on a beach as the search entered its third day. Tony Higgins, 57, sent out a distress call to police about 5am on Tuesday when he was moored near Granite Island off Victor Harbor, south of Adelaide. Mr Higgins said his wooden fishing boat Margrel was 'taking on water' and police launched a search operation with a rescue helicopter and Sea Rescue volunteers. Debris was found washed up near the Murray Mouth on Wednesday morning consistent with items from Mr Higgin's boat. Tony Higgins, 57, sent out a distress call to police about 5am on Tuesday when he was moored near Granite Island off Victor Harbor, south of Adelaide Debris was found washed up near the Murray Mouth on Wednesday morning consistent with items from Mr Higgin's boat The items include his glasses, keys and an ID card belonging to the missing boatie, The Advertiser reported. Rescue crews also found parts of Mr Higgins' boat including some of the floor, jerry cans and other equipment. The 57-year-old's friend and former deckhand said the fisherman left for the Murray Mouth early on Tuesday morning. 'It saddens me, his boat has gone down I can only hope he's got a life jacket on and he's made it to land,' he said. Police are still investigating the disappearance. This is the second time within weeks emergency services have launched a rescue mission for Mr Higgins and his 33ft vessel. The fisherman and his friend Derek Robinson, 48, sparked South Australia's largest-ever maritime search when they went missing while travelling from Coffin Bay near Port Lincoln to Goolwa on September 3. Debris was found washed up near the Murray Mouth on Wednesday morning consistent with items from Mr Higgin's boat Mr Higgins said his wooden fishing boat Margrel was 'taking on water' and police have now launched another search operation with a rescue helicopter and Sea Rescue volunteers The duo were one day into their trip on thewooden-hulled fishing boat when they started to experience engine trouble. They were eventually found on September 10, just hours after the search operation was called off. Despite missing for nearly a week, Mr Higgins claimed he had no idea about the rescue mission. 'We didn't even know anyone was looking for us,' Mr Higgins said at the time. 'I didn't ask to come get rescued. I knew exactly where we were.' He believes the trouble was sparked when one of the propeller's three blades broke off after hitting a turtle or submerged log. Derek Robinson pictured after reuniting with family on September 10 after a massive four-day search for the two fishermen was called off The massive search operation - covering more than 120,000 square kilometres - involved police, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and members of the Royal Australian Air Force. It also involved Kangaroo Island and Volunteer Marine Rescue members. Crews spent days searching an area larger than Tasmania covered in an attempt to find the men. Fears were raised when the men were not located after several weather warnings and days of treacherous conditions. Mr Higgins was fined $1,000 for having an out-of-date Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), as well as old flares on board and not having an appropriate recreational boat licence. Fears were raised over the two men when they went missing on September 3 due to the rough conditions at sea (pictured Derek Robinson returns to shore) The men were headed to Goolwa when they went missing earlier this month, from Coffin Bay near Port Lincoln, they told a friend they would try make it to Kangaroo Island after their engine failed but ended up in Salt Creek Freelance video journalist Gary Juleff told the ABC when police arrived on Tuesday morning following the distress call, the boat had vanished. 'When I got down here, nobody could see the boat,' Mr Juleff said. '(Police) tried to phone him back - no answer - so the answer to this question is 'nobody knows'. 'They said there's nothing out there and we don't know where he is.' Over the weekend, Mr Higgins found himself in trouble again when the Margrel ran aground on a sandbar in Victor Harbor. The rescue mission is ongoing. Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said a second search party for the vessel was 'frustrating' for authorities. 'I think it's fair to say there's an element of frustration that the state's resources are being dedicated to this for a second time,' he said. 'The first event cost us in the order of about $650,000.' Helmed by Apoorva Lakhia, Voot Selects Crackdown revolves around an anti-terrorist squad deployed on a secret mission to track down a dangerous nexus A country wrought with a fresh terrorist threat; an undercover intelligence group working day and night to track the miscreants and bring them to task, all the while risking their lives for the well-being of the nation Crackdowns plot, if not hackneyed, is definitely not a fresh one. The latest espionage thriller from Voot Select, Crackdown follows close on the heels of the much-acclaimed Asur. The eight-episode web series follows a special DO (Direct Operations) unit within intelligence bureau RAW, thats headed by Ashwini (Rajesh Tailang). The DO aims at identifying possible threats and eliminating them before they can transform into national dangers. Apoorva Lakhias mettle as a director of fast-paced, staccato thrillers shines through and the series succeeds in capturing audience attention till the very last. Crackdown also boasts of a formidable cast, studded with young talent who have proved their craft on web/television. At the helm of the operation is agent Riyaaz Pathan (Saqib Saleem). Other notable actors in the series are Shriya Pilgaonkar (Divya/Mariam) and Tariq (Ankur Bhatia). Tailangs maturity and ability to withhold himself is praiseworthy (no surprises there). With his body of work on screen, the character actor is slowly but steadfastly cementing his place as an extremely bankable artiste for filmmakers. The series begins with a sudden raid on a terrorist camp that provides crucial leads for the DO team when they procure a pen drive filled with names of secret agents and their past missions. Alert that they have been exposed, the DO team launches a full-fledged investigation to uncover the militants and their nefarious activities. Series writers Chintan Gandhi and Suresh Nair build a believable world where the looming threats feel tangible and deadly, but the characters somehow whizz past before leaving any lasting impression. The experience of watching Crackdown is almost akin to being witness to a video game on secret intelligence agencies gunning down their enemies, all packaged in a brisk narrative. But you hardly ever consider investing in the characters of the virtual game, much like in Crackdown. Background stories are never delved into, and neither are their motives for their actions justified. However, to the writers credit, the thriller keeps viewers involved with considerable plot twists and revelations. Even though most roles receive justified treatment, some stand out like sore thumbs. Iqbal Khan as RAWs deputy chief Zorawar suffers from the oft-seen TV serial hangover, in that, he packs oodles of acting per square unit area in his few scenes. Zorawars bad-boy image is embellished with unnecessarily expletives and stands in cringe-worthy contrast to Tailangs understated calm that Ashwiny brings in. The other chink in the armour is the stale background scores that pull down the momentum of the show at important junctures. Introduction sequences, special reveals, and even the climax sequence suffer from a heavy-handed and jarring treatment of music, till a point of discomfort. Despite being a genuine cinematic effort, the series says very little. Even though the pieces for the jigsaw fit, the entire picture seems blurry, or more importantly, not important enough to give it a second thought. Crackdown may pack a sucker-punch with its storyline but fails to leave a mark after the end credits start rolling. Crackdown premiered on Voot Select on 23 September. (All images from YouTube) Brantford police have put out a $50,000 reward for information directly tied to the murder of Coby Carter. The 22-year-old Hamilton man was found fatally shot on Colborne Street West, near Gilkison Street, around 3:25 a.m. on July 8, 2019. Police believe the homicide was planned and deliberate. The reward was posted at a news conference Wednesday when police announced two more men had been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Brantford couple Larry Reynolds, 64, and Lynn VanEvery, 62. The husband and wife were found shot dead in their Park Road South home just 10 days after the homicide of Carter. Brantford police Chief Robert Davis called the rate of the citys gun violence in 2019 unprecedented. Four people were shot and killed within a near five-month stretch in Brantford last year. Three of the four homicides have led to convictions. I want to ensure the public, our city and our community that those responsible for these homicides will be held accountable for their actions, Davis said. There is still angst in this city. Coby Carter, we want to solve this homicide. We owe it to the citizens of this city to know that the police are working diligently to solve this. Davis said police have followed up on a number of tips into the death of Carter to no avail. Police were able to located a vehicle of interest the day after the murder a white, four-door 2015 Toyota but it led to no arrests, he added. Ontario Provincial Police Det. Supt. Tina Chalk told reporters it is unclear whether the Carter murder is connected to the double homicide of Reynolds and VanEvery. Given the time proximity of the crimes, however, a link is something that we would look at, she said. A man in China faces being permanently disabled after a botched leg-lengthening procedure left him with severe infections in his limbs. The 22-year-old, who remains unidentified, had travelled oversea to receive the surgery in a bid to become 5ft9 after feeling insecure about his height for years, reported Chinese media. But the mans dream of growing taller turned into a nightmare after he suffered serious complications for months and eventually lost the ability to walk. A man in China faces being permanently disabled after a botched leg-lengthening procedure left him with severe infections in his limbs. The stock photo shows a man being examined The 22-year-old, who remains unidentified, had travelled oversea to receive the surgery in a bid to become 5ft9 after feeling insecure about his height for years, reported Chinese media. The picture shows Dr Wang Lei from the Jiangsu hospital looking at the patient's CT scan The incident was brought to light when the Chinese man sought medical attention last week at the Huaian Second Peoples Hospital in east Chinas Jiangsu province. The patient felt insecure about his height for a long time and hoped to be 1.8 metres (5ft9), Dr Wang Lei, a chief orthopaedist at the hospital, told the local media. Last year, he decided to travel oversea to undergo the limb-lengthening surgery, which involves cutting the leg bones and inserting a stretching device with nails in ones limbs. The trend for leg-extending surgery swept China where minimum heights are often quoted in personal adverts and job advertisements as the country opened up to the West. To join the foreign service, men were required to be at least 5ft7. But the controversial surgery was banned in 2006 after a succession of botched jobs. The patient felt insecure about his height for a long time and hoped to be 1.8 metres (5ft9), Dr Wang Lei (pictured), a chief orthopaedist at the hospital, told the local media Meanwhile, a 'growing' number of men are pursuing limb-lengthening operations in Europe and the US. It remains unclear how much the Chinese man had spent on his surgery, but such operation can cost up to 76,400. But the mans dream of becoming 5ft9 was shattered when he began suffering a series of complications due to the failed surgery. The nail path of the external fixed frame [for the legs] had serious infections which further developed into osteomyelitis, Dr Wang told Jiangsu Television. Therefore, this surgery for the patient had failed. It caused him physical disabilities and a tremendous amount of financial burden, he added. The trend for leg-extending surgery swept China where minimum heights are often quoted in personal adverts and job advertisements as the country opened up to the West. This file photo shows Chinese men commuting on a street in Beijing on September 24 The man is likely to face permanent disabilities due to the severe condition of his limbs, according to the medic. Dr Wang warned that such operations come with a high risk of complications and extreme pains. Because first of all, the treatment cycle is very long, often several years, and the impact on the life of the patient is very significant. Also, the patient has to go through several operations, and the risks of the operation are inevitable, such as infections and blood clots, Dr Wang said. The extraordinary story of how the federal government paid about 10 times the going rate for a 12-hectare block of land near the new Western Sydney Airport raises some frightening questions about the federal public service and also for next weeks federal budget. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is expected to order the federal Department of Infrastructure to speed up its $100 billion building program as a stimulus measure. But judging by an Australian National Auditors Office report this week on the departments handling of the airport deal, you would not trust it to put up a garden shed. The auditor looked at the deal because in 2018 the department paid about $30 million for the rural land adjacent to the proposed site of a second runway but the next year the land was in the books with a value of just $3 million. The federal government paid 22 times more per hectare for the land than the NSW government paid for adjacent land at the same time. New Delhi: Superstar Sanjay Dutt and wife Maanayata are currently in Dubai with their kids Shahraan and Iqra. Doting wife Maanayata is an avid social media user, who regularly posts on Instagam, keeping fans abreast with the latest happenings. She recently posted a picture with ailing hubby Sanjay Dutt with a heartwarming caption which exudes positivity in life. She wrote: And how do you survive what you have been given to bear. You keep putting one foot in front of the other and you keep walking....walking together in life #love #grace #positivity #dutts #beautifulllife #thankyougod Sanjay Dutt was hospitalised sometime back after he complained of breathlessness. He had posted on social media about his medical break without divulging more on the illness. Reportedly, Sanjay Dutt was diagnosed with Stage-3 lung cancer in August this year. He was expected to fly abroad. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, he is being treated in Mumbai. The actor celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with family in Mumbai recently and even wished his fans on social media. Three global private equity heavyweights, namely KKR, Bain Capital and Blackstone have expressed preliminary interest in acquiring a controlling stake in listed API (active pharmaceutical ingredients ) and CRAMS (contract research and manufacturing) firm Granules India, sources in the know told Moneycontrol. On September 10, 2020, Moneycontrol was the first to report that the promoter family of Granules India had revived plans for a potential exit from the company and was evaluating the sale of a majority stake at a premium valuation. Blackstone, KKR and Bain Capital have submitted non-binding bids for the proposed transaction, said one of the individuals cited above. A second individual confirmed the same. Investment bank Kotak Mahindra Capital has been engaged by the promoters of Granules India to scout for buyers, he added. Control deals of this scale are not very common in the pharma space, and hence the interest from private equity funds. The idea would be to use this as a platform and grow further, added the first individual. If these leading private equity funds proceed further, the stage seems set for a potential three-way bidding war to take over the Hyderabad-based firm, which is one of the worlds top makers of the popular pain reliever paracetamol. Both the individuals above spoke to Moneycontrol on condition of anonymity. In response to an email query from Moneycontrol, Priyanka Chigurupati, Executive- Director- US Generics, Granules USA said, We do not comment on such speculation by the media. We communicate with many investors and evaluate many opportunities daily but we will not confirm or deny any speculation. As a public company, we will continue to comply with all disclosures as needed by the Securities Exchange Board of India. KKR, Blackstone and Bain Capital declined to comment. An email query to Kotak Mahindra Capital went unanswered. Moneycontrol could not verify the value of the bids or whether any additional suitors had submitted non-binding bids. At the end of days trade on September 24, the market cap of Granules India stood at Rs 8,935 crore. The promoters held 42.13 percent stake as of June 2020. The Moneycontrol report of September 10, 2020, had cited favourable sectoral valuations and succession planning issues as reasons for the proposed exit. According to earlier reports, the promoters of Granules India were also evaluating a potential sale in November 2019. According to brokerage firm Anand Rathi, "Strong demand for key products such as Metformin, Paracetamol, and Ibuprofen due to COVID-19 has translated to a robust Q1 for Granules. Peer firm Motilal Oswal was bullish on the firm in its recent report. Granules has multiple growth levers, such as (a) the ANDA ( abbreviated new drug application) pipeline for US generics (with some products having limited competition opportunity), which should drive an increase in the share of formulations for developed markets, (b) enhanced reach for core molecules, and (c) reduced opex through backward integration. The brokerage expects earnings CAGR of 31% over FY20-22E. In July 2020, KKR agreed to buy 54 percent stake in Mumbai-based drug maker JB Chemicals for Rs 3,100 crore. Bain Capital backs Pune-based Emcure Pharma which has deferred its IPO plans. On the other hand, Blackstone is the largest owner of commercial real estate in India. Recent deals like Advent-Ra Chem Pharma, CarlyleSequent Scientific and Carlyle Piramal Enterprises are examples of rising interest from private equity funds in the domestic API segment. Turkey Turns Attention Towards Mosul Earlier this month, Turkish state media published an article series arguing that Turkey is the international ally needed by Iraq's city of Mosul. The series also lamented Iraq's official use of the name Nineveh, an Assyrian-Christian word, to describe Mosul. The article said that Mosul needs help and that "the only country that has the interest and ability to fulfill this roll... is, after all, Turkey." This national article now appears to have paved the way within Turkey domestically for an announcement made on Sunday. The Governor of Mosul stated that they will cooperate with Turkey to build a railroad between Mosul and Turkey. Minimal other details were provided, except that the railway project is one among many projects discussed between the Governor of Mosul and Turkey. Historically, Mosul is an Assyrian-Christian city that was known for centuries as Nineveh (including within the Bible). Later, Mosul became a central hub in Northern Iraq when it was occupied by the Ottoman Empire (modern day Turkey). As the empire collapsed, Assyrian-Christians were the victims of a Turkish genocide. The 2014 genocide towards Christians perpetuated by ISIS, whom Turkey supports, was the final blow to Mosul's Christians. Turkey is pursuing a policy which expands into territory formerly controlled by the Ottoman Empire. It is a policy which includes an attempt at rewriting history, particularly Christian history, in these areas. For Iraq's Christians, who have already experienced so much historical and ongoing trauma related to genocide, such actions further encourage their emigration from Iraq. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek Toru Yamanaka | AFP/Getty Images LONDON Spotify CEO Daniel Ek announced Thursday that he will commit 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) of his own resources to invest in European start-ups. Speaking at a virtual talk hosted by start-up event organizer Slush, Ek said he would use the funds to make "moonshot" bets in the continent, focusing on deep technology new tools that are focused on scientific innovation. Among the sectors Ek is looking to invest in are health, education, machine learning and biotechnology. "I want to do my part; we all know that one of the greatest challenges is access to capital," Ek said, adding he wanted to achieve a "new European dream" akin to that of the American Dream over the next decade. According to Forbes, Ek is worth $3.6 billion, indicating he's earmarking roughly a third of his own wealth for the investments. Ek spoke of his frustration with the number of European tech companies being bought up by U.S. rivals, as well as a brain drain of talented entrepreneurs leaving the region for Silicon Valley. One of the most notable examples of European entrepreneurs heading to the U.S. is payments giant Stripe, whose Irish founders went to California to build their company. "I get really frustrated when I see European entrepreneurs giving up on their amazing visions selling early on to non-European companies, or when some of the most promising tech talent in Europe leaves because they don't feel valued here," Ek said. "We need more super companies that raise the bar and can act as an inspiration." Europe is often seen as lagging the U.S. and China with respect to technology. While those two economic powerhouses have produced some of the world's biggest tech companies Amazon, Microsoft, Tencent and Alibaba, to name a few Europe is yet to offer a similar scale of success in the industry. FILE - In this Friday June 19, 2020 file photo people picnic during the annual Midsummer celebrations in Stockholm, Sweden. Sweden's "herd immunity" low-key approach to coronavirus lockdowns captured the world's attention when the pandemic first hit Europe. Read more As the United States surpassed 200,000 coronavirus deaths recently, many are asking one simple question: When will it end? Politicians and public health experts have touted herd immunity as one way to stop COVID-19 without a vaccine. The scientific concept explains that a virus will die out after a high percentage of a population is infected and survives the disease, developing immunity. Vaccines speed this process much more safely, but experts think we will be well into 2021 before most Americans can get immunized. Most epidemiologists believe that if 50% to 70% of the population becomes immune to the coronavirus either through vaccination or illness, the pandemic would end. Thats because when most people are immune to a particular disease, the vulnerable are less likely to encounter a carrier of that illness. But could herd immunity be a realistic way to stop the spread of the virus before vaccines are available? We spoke with Henry Fraimow, an infectious-disease specialist at Cooper University Health Care in Camden, and Michael LeVasseur, a professor in epidemiology at Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health, to find out. What is herd immunity? Fraimow: Herd immunity is the concept that lots of people in a population cannot get infected with a particular infectious agent because they have either had that infection before and have antibodies or immunity that prevents them from being infected, or theyve been vaccinated against that infection. For infections to occur in a community, you have to have people who are susceptible to getting sick. When a proportion of people who cant get sick anymore gets high, its harder for transmission to occur. How do we achieve herd immunity? Fraimow: How we achieve it varies depending on what the infection is. For some infections, where virtually everyone gets infected, its harder and harder for a virus to spread. For example, we know certain viruses carried by mosquitoes, like Zika, swept through countries and infected high numbers of population. Those people then became immune, and it became harder and harder for mosquitoes to find people to infect. The other way to achieve herd immunity is by vaccinating everybody. If you vaccinate a high percentage of the population, then there arent enough people who are susceptible for the infection to spread. In some cases, herd immunity is achieved by a combination of both those things. How does herd immunity protect people who are not vaccinated? LeVasseur: The fewer people you come into contact with, the less likely it is that you will be infected. And if theres a fewer number of people who are susceptible to the disease, the less likely it is that youll run into someone who can infect you, even if you are not vaccinated. Can herd immunity work without a vaccine? LeVasseur: In theory it can. It depends on the pathogen. With COVID-19, there are so many things we still dont know. One thing weve seen is that when people are infected, their antibody response only lasts for three to four months. Thats on track with what weve seen with other coronaviruses. The second issue is that we have confirmed reports of people being reinfected with COVID-19. The idea of exposing 70% of the population at the same time to get herd immunity is such a failing of public health. The number of people who are going to die is staggering. Its like throwing the baby out with the bathwater, setting it on fire and running it over with a truck. How is herd immunity calculated? Fraimow: A lot of these numbers come from what we call the reproductive number of a virus, which represents how many people an infected person spreads the virus to when nobody is immune. For COVID-19, that number varies from 2 to three. Those numbers are affected by how people are social distancing and other things. In order to achieve herd immunity, we have to have enough people immune so that if the average person walks into lots of people, so many of them are immune that the infected person is going to transmit the virus to less than one other person. Thats how the number of people infected continues to decrease. Should we let the virus run rampant through non-senior populations to achieve herd immunity? LeVasseur: Its like when youve got a building thats on fire, and its going to take a lot of water to put it out. So instead you say, Lets let it burn and burn down the next building and the next building.' You dont want to do that with an infectious disease. Its not ethical. Its not cost-saving. Theres nothing about the approach that makes any sense. Fraimow: There are several reasons why thats not a great strategy. Even though the risk of serious disease in younger individuals is lower than in older individuals or the immunocompromised, there are still people in that group who get severely ill and die. Were not great at separating out people who arent at risk from people who are at risk. For example, if a lot of disease is spreading among college students, most of whom who will be fine with the virus, we have to consider that they all have families and contacts. Some of those people will get infected, and they may then infect other people who are at risk. Another problem is that we dont fully understand what the duration of immunity is. All those things create some concerns about how this concept of herd immunity works. If were going to rely on natural infection to bring about herd immunity, even in places where theres been high rates of infection, the percentage of population that has been infected and is immune is still well below the numbers that are needed to achieve herd immunity. In the process of exposing lots of people to infection, we still are going to do what weve already done, which is overwhelm health care systems with sick people. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) President Rodrigo Duterte and Congress can decide to postpone the 2022 general election if the pandemic lasts until that time, a poll official said Thursday. Commission on Elections Chairman Sheriff Abas made the remark during the House budget hearing where Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo asked whether Comelec has considered such a scenario by then. Arroyo said a vaccine may still be unavailable by then, which mean the risk of infection will be high on those going out to vote. Come elections, I'm sure that if there is no vaccine yet, there will be so many contaminations during that [election] day, he said. Has the thought that you'll propose to postpone elections, has that triggered in your minds? Abas said this has not been considered since the election is a constitutional mandate. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Constitution sets dates for the regular election of congressmen, senators, the vice-president and president. Arroyo said concerned agencies should recommend any possible poll postponement to avoid speculation that incumbent officials would just like to extend their terms.. Abas said they will assess how the health crisis will pan out. It is a call of both [legislative] chambers, the House [and Senate], and the President but rest assured titingnan namin ang kanyang mungkahi (we will look into his suggestion), he said. In an interview with CNN Philippines News Night, Arroyo said he was just asking Comelec to consider the matter, especially if their safety measures are still risky since by 2022, the situation that time remains unknown and if a vaccine is already available. He added that filing a measure that would postpone the 2022 elections is still far from his mind, Arroyo said. In a separate interview with CNN Philippines News.PH, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body is not considering the proposed scenario since elections are essential. Former Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal also said there is no justification to reschedule the upcoming elections. He said that if other countries, like South Korea, can push through then the Philippine can do it as well. Meanwhile, Jimenez assured that all their preparations are based on the assumption that the pandemic will continue until 2022, thus, they have several suggestions lined up to make sure that elections will push through. A smaller version of Sydney's world-famous New Year's Eve fireworks will still go ahead after the City of Sydney council struck an agreement handing responsibility for the multimillion-dollar event to the state government. Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore agreed to the government's proposal for it to take "temporary custodianship" of this year's celebrations during a meeting with Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres on Thursday afternoon. The smaller display will focus on the Harbour Bridge at midnight, with the earlier fireworks scrapped. Credit:Wolter Peeters Cr Moore had expressed concerns about the cost and safety of staging the event during the coronavirus pandemic, conceding it "may not be responsible" to encourage 1 million people to the harbour foreshore. In a statement on Thursday evening, Cr Moore said: "Only the state government can manage the increased health, transport and crowd management challenges during the pandemic. Will the 2021 race for Jersey City mayor pit incumbent Steve Fulop against a Menendez? Robert Menendez Jr., the son of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, has been meeting with community leaders and organizers in recent months in what some view as an exploration of a potential run for Jersey City mayor next fall. In a texted statement, Menendez declined to confirm or deny that he is considering a run, but rumors of a mayoral bid have been circulating since at least the winter. I care deeply about our city and its been an honor to have community leaders entrust me with their visions for a better, fairer Jersey City, said Menendez, 35. While people understandably want to discuss 2021, my focus today is on being a resource to those looking to effect positive change in our city and I will continue to do my part in whatever capacity best serves the community. One person who declined to be named said Menendez attended what was described as a meet and greet on the south side of Jersey City over the summer. The source said the event was organized to allow community members to see him, meet him, and ask him some questions. A different source confirmed another, smaller meeting earlier this month. Former Jersey City councilman and activist Chris Gadsden said he also attended barbecues and other community events with Menendez. We talk about whats going on in Jersey City, Gadsden said. Ive spoken to him about the work that weve been doing all summer with Black Lives Matter and all the stuff thats going on with (George) Floyd and things like that. The senators son had expressed interest in a 2021 run, Gadsden said. Rev. Nathaniel Legay, the president of the Jersey City NAACP, said Menendez had recently become a familiar face at community events on the south side of the city, which is home to the heart of Jersey Citys Black community. Menendez has also attended Black Lives Matter marches at City Hall, food donations on Astor Place, and a rally at Lincoln Park that coincided with the March on Washington, as well as others. His moving around the community has intensified, more so than he once did, Legay said. You saw him, but he was not a political animal. But now hes beginning to be visible. Menendez, an attorney with Lowenstein Sandler, moved to Jersey City in 2018. He currently lives in Bergen-Lafayette with his wife and 5-month-old daughter. A race between Fulop and the younger Menendez would be latest turn in what has been at times a fraught relationship between the mayor and the U.S. senator. In 2017, as Menendez was on trial for bribery and corruption charges, sources told The Jersey Journal that Fulop was considering a bid for the senators seat if he was convicted. Fulop denied this, but Sen. Menendez appeared to have taken note of the mayors apparent ambitions. After his acquittal, the senator made a now-infamous proclamation: To those who were digging my political grave so they could jump into my seat," he said, "I know who you are and I wont forget you. The words were widely viewed as a warning to Fulop and others who were eyeing the seat. The Jersey City mayor was conspicuously absent at a fundraiser for the senator a year later. But even without the support of one of the states most powerful Democrats, Fulop remains in a position of strength. With just over a year before the 2021 election, no challengers have officially emerged. The mayor has the support of a majority of the City Council and a broad swathe of Hudson County Democrats. As of July, according to the most recent campaign finance documents available, Fulop is sitting on nearly $1 million in campaign funds. Fulop could not be reached for comment for this story. Matthew Hale, a professor of political science at Seton Hall University, said that Menendez would come with name recognition, political and fundraising connections, and a potential boost from Latino voters. Theres many folks that are very strong supporters of Senator Menendez and would be very strong supporters of his son, Hale said. But Menendez would still be fighting an uphill battle, he added. He would need to very effectively make a strong case as to why Fulop needs to go, as well as a strong case of why hes the one to get him out, Hale said. And, as Chris Gadsden noted, Menendez has only so much time to choose whether to run or not. If he is to make a decision, he has to make a decision relatively fast, Gadsden said. You cant just run against Fulop. You have to organize. CANBERRA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has announced a major overhaul of insolvency rules to help small businesses struggling through the coronavirus pandemic. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced a new two-tiered system on Thursday, saying it would allow viable businesses to survive the recession caused by the pandemic. Under the new system large companies that declare bankruptcy will continue to operate under existing rules with creditors taking over to resolve debts. Businesses with liabilities of less than 1 million Australian dollars (707,466 U.S. dollars) will instead be subjected to an American-style model whereby owners will remain in charge while they deal with their debts. An insolvent small business will be given 20 days to come up with a restructuring plan and creditors would be given 15 days to vote on whether to accept it. For those that cannot be saved, liquidators' investigative processes, reporting requirements and mandatory meetings will be cut to make the process quicker and easier. "The Morrison government will undertake the most significant reforms to Australia's insolvency framework in 30 years as part of our economic recovery plan to keep businesses in business and Australians in jobs," Frydenberg said in a media release. "The reforms, which draw on key features from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States, will help more small businesses restructure and survive the economic impact of COVID-19. "As the economy continues to recover, it will be critical that distressed businesses have the necessary flexibility to either restructure or to wind down their operations in an orderly manner." There has been a 46 percent decline in the number of Australian companies that have entered administration in 2020 with many being propped up by the government's coronavirus wage subsidy, according to The Australian Broadcasting Corporation. However, the government is expecting a wave of insolvencies when emergency protections begin to expire at the end of 2020. Laredo police said they are looking for a woman whose son tested positive for cocaine at a local hospital. Elaine Salsberry, 29, has active warrants of arrest for abandon, endanger child and assault, family violence. Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) people are not genetically more at-risk of dying from Covid-19, a new study has concluded. BAME communities are two to three times more likely to die from coronavirus than other members of the population, analysis of NHS data has previously revealed. However, scientists in Japan and the US found no differences in seven genes associated with viral entry of SARS-CoV-2 the virus that causes Covid-19 across ethnic groups. Pre-existing medical conditions and environmental factors are more likely to blame for people of ethnic minorities being more likely to die of the disease, they say. Public Health England has also reported the mortality rate the number of people dying with the coronavirus out of each 100,000 people is more than three times as high for black men than other groups. Although BAME people are not considered genetically more at risk of Covid-19, it's been suggested minority ethnic people have had less access to medical resources during the pandemic and live in densely populated areas, causing fast transmission. Scroll down for video Public Health England previously found the mortality rate - the number of people dying with the coronavirus out of each 100,000 people - was considerably higher for black men than other groups. The risk for black women, people of Asian ethnicity, and mixed race people was also higher than for white people of either sex. The report warned the rate for the 'Other' category was 'likely to be an overestimate' A PHE report from July found that while white people make up a majority of Covid-19 hospital cases, they are more likely to be treated on normal wards with less severe infection. This graph shows that of admitted hospital cases, although most are white, BAME people are more than twice as likely to require treatment in ICU 'Morbidity and mortality vary significantly around the globe between populations and ethnic groups,' the researchers say in Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 'Disproportionately high incidence and mortality rates in African-Americans in the US could be due to non-genetic factors.' However, the team admits there may be a genetic predisposition in some severe cases involving respiratory failure. While the latest findings confirm there is no genetic difference leading to increased likelihood of dying after contracting the virus, previous studies have found African-Americans in the US and ethnic minorities in the UK are disproportionately affected by Covid-19. BAME people are more likely to develop severe symptoms and also show higher mortality compared with other regional and ethnic groups. In the US, data from hospitals in 14 states earlier in the pandemic showed African Americans represented 33 per cent of Covid-19 hospitalisations, despite only making up 18 per cent of the total population studied. Ethnic minority groups, especially black and South Asian people seem to be particularly vulnerable to the adverse consequences of Covid-19 Black and Asian people face a greater risk of death from Covid-19 as they're 'more likely to live in polluted areas' Black and Asian people may be more likely to die of Covid-19 in England and Wales because many of them live in polluted areas, according to an official report. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in August that it found a 7 per cent increase in the risk of dying of coronavirus in England's most polluted areas. However, this 7 per cent increase disappeared when experts took into account the fact that people from minority backgrounds are more likely to live in polluted cities, prompting the government agency to admit the link was 'inconclusive'. ONS warned toxic air is not necessarily worsening the severity of the virus because London and other pollution-plagued areas have suffered bigger outbreaks, meaning death rates would inevitably be higher. Scientists said it was 'very plausible that higher exposure to air pollution will be a contributory factor'. Advertisement To investigate if this disparity could be caused by genetic variation, the team of researchers from Harvard University and Hokkaido University in Japan surveyed publicly available databases of genomic variants. They used gnomAD, the Korean Reference Genome Database, TogoVar, a Japanese genetic variation database, and the 1000 Genomes Project all adding up to around 160,000 people. They studied seven genes known to play roles in how the coronavirus invades human cells. Coronaviruses belong to the class of 'enveloped viruses', meaning they are covered by a fatty layer. SARS-CoV-2 has a spike on the surface of its envelope called an S-protein which allows it to bind with a receptor located on human cells, called ACE2. ACE2, which is attached to membranes of cells located in the lungs, heart and other organs, has already been found to be the 'gateway' for coronavirus infection. Once the spike protein has connected with ACE2, it splits into two, and this is done by three enzymes, called TMPRSS2 and cathepsin B and L. Once the spike has opened the door for the virus to enter the cell, the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, its RNA, binds to myriad proteins and begins replicating. This includes the proteins TLR3, TLR7 and TLR8, which trigger an innate immune response to help fight off the infection. The researchers found each of these seven proteins (LR3, TLR7, TLR8, ACE2, TMPRSS2, cathepsin B and cathepsin L) has several naturally occurring variations. ACE2 is the protein with the most variants, likely due to its bigger size and key role as the first port of call for the coronavirus. What the Japanese researchers found is that very few of the known variations alter how the proteins function, indicating race played a minimal role in how the virus behaves once inside human cells. As a result, the scientists conclude that racial disparities between morbidity and mortality are not the result of genetic variations. Coronavirus is a type of enveloped virus (right), meaning it has a fatty outer lipid membrane. Naked viruses (left) lack the viral envelope Pre-existing medical conditions, individual medical histories, environmental factors and healthcare disparities, likely play a bigger role in death rates, they say. Previous research has been conflicted, like much of the research surrounding Covid-19. For example, one study from June found genetic factors may contribute to serious cases of Covid-19. However, a recent PHE report earlier this year assessing disparities in infection and death rate by ethnicity in the UK did not find a genetic cause. It instead points to socio-economic factors which makes 'people of BAME communities likely to be at increased risk of acquiring the infection'. 'This is because BAME people are more likely to live in urban areas, in overcrowded households, in deprived areas, and have jobs that expose them to higher risk,' it says. 'People of BAME groups are also more likely than people of White British ethnicity to be born abroad, which means they may face additional barriers in accessing services that are created by, for example, cultural and language differences. 'Secondly, people of BAME communities are also likely to be at increased risk of poorer outcomes once they acquire the infection.' Earlier this year, University College London researchers found the average risk of dying in hospital from Covid-19 was around two to three times higher for BAME groups in in England, when compared to the general population. The study, published in Wellcome Open Research, used NHS data on age, region and ethnicity from patients with a positive Covid-19 test who later died in hospital. Adjusting for age and region, the risk of death from Covid-19 for Black African groups was 3.24 times higher than the general population, they found. Pakistani people had a 3.29 times higher risk, Bangladeshi 2.41 times higher, Black Caribbean 2.21 times higher and Indian 1.7 times. Another report from May found black people in England are 3.4 times more likely to test positive for Covid-19 than people from white British backgrounds. This study, based on data from nearly 400,000 participants in the UK Biobank database, also found South Asian people were 2.4 times more likely to have a positive test. Compared to people from white British backgrounds, the risk of testing positive for Covid-19 are biggest black and South Asian minority groups, a University of Glasgow study found The authors of this study also said socio-economic differences, such as finances and access to resources, are likely key to the findings. There is unlikely to be a single factor underlying these differences, Dr. S Vittal Katikireddi at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow told MailOnline at the time. I think an important part of the picture is socioeconomic differences some ethnic groups are worse off financially and have less access to resources.' Ethnic minorities were also more likely to receive their diagnosis in a hospital setting, which suggests they were more severely impacted by Covid-19. One possibility that remains is that some ethnic and socioeconomic groups have a poorer prognosis and are therefore more likely to be admitted to hospital and therefore to be tested, the authors said. ONS data revealed a correlation between pollution exposure and the percentage of BAME people making up populations in England Meanwhile, an April study from the US revealed black people in New York City are twice as likely to die from coronavirus as white people. Figures from the city's Health Department found 1,999 black or African American people have been killed by coronavirus across the five boroughs as of April 16. This means their deaths make up a third (33.2 percent) of the city's total death toll, despite accounting for just 22 percent of the city's population. White people make up the next highest number of deaths (1,861) and 30.9 percent of the city's death toll - however white people account for at least 43 percent of all residents. A separate August study also found that in Ohio, about one-third of all people hospitalised with the virus were African-American, despite them making up less one-fifth of the state's population. This disproportionate representation was also seen in Minnesota, where 52.9 per cent of all those patients hospitalised in Minnesota during the two-month study period were white compared to their share of the state population, which is 84.1 per cent. The team, from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, says there are several reasons for these inequalities including higher rates of pre-existing conditions like obesity and less access to healthcare. GOP senators Mitt Romney and Marco Rubio both tweeted statements rejecting President Donald Trumps Wednesday refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses in November but neither of them mentioned Trump by name. Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable, tweeted Romney Wednesday night. As we have done for over two centuries we will have a legitimate & fair election, wrote Rubio Thursday morning. It may take longer than usual to know the outcome, but it will be a valid one. And at noon on Jan 20, 2021 we will peacefully swear in the President. Also Read: Trump Won't Commit to 'Peaceful Transfer of Power,' Suggests 'Get Rid of Ballots' (Video) In an exchange at the White House Wednesday, Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he lose the election and instead falsely suggested that the ballots are out of control ahead of election day on Nov. 3. Win, lose or draw in this election, will you commit here today for a peaceful transferal of power after the election? a reporter asked. There has been rioting in Louisville, theres been rioting in many cities across this country, red and- your so-called red and blue states. Will you commit to making sure that there is a peaceful transferal of power after the election? Well, were gonna have to see what happens, Trump replied. You know that. Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster. On Thursdays Morning Joe, host Joe Scarborough a former GOP congressman called upon even more members of the party to denounce Trumps remarks. Read original story Romney, Rubio Reject Trumps Refusal to Commit to Peaceful Power Transfer At TheWrap "Alucio is proud to be part of this important initiative which fully aligns with our company values. We hope that other companies will choose to participate as well. - Dave Gulezian, Alucio Co-Founder & CEO. Alucio, a fast-growing provider of cloud-based software for the life sciences industry, announced today that it has joined The Board Challenge (http://www.theboardchallenge.org) initiative created to improve the representation of Black directors in corporate US boardrooms. Companies taking The Board Challenge pledge commit to adding a Black director to their board within the next year. Since Alucio is an organization that already has a Black director on its board, the company has been designated a Charter Pledge Partner. These partner companies agree to support the program, reinforce the importance of board diversity, share best practices and encourage other companies to participate. In addition to this designation, Alucio is also a fully-certified minority business enterprise (MBE) company. Through this movement, US companies and business leaders are coming together to increase accountability and improve representation of people of color in the boardroom. Alucio joins an initial group of leading US companies, across various industries, already participating in the program including Merck, Verizon, Sonos, Uber, Lyft, and Zillow. Dave Gulezian, Alucio Co-Founder and CEO commented, The Board Challenge is a positive, constructive step that companies large and small can take to support inclusion and increase diversity within the leadership of their organizations. Alucio is proud to be part of this important initiative which fully aligns with our company values. We hope that other companies will choose to participate as well. About Alucio: Alucio is dedicated to the development of innovative software applications specifically for the life sciences industry. Alucios flagship product, Beacon, is a cloud-based content management and presentation platform that enhances scientific exchange between life science companies and healthcare professionals. For more information, please visit the companys website http://www.alucio.io or contact: Lisa Amin at lamin@alucio.io (925) 788-3533. By Ayya Lmahamad Two more centers of Agency for Sustainable and Operational Social Security (DOST) will be opened in Azerbaijan by the end of the 2020, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anar Aliyev said during the ministrys online meeting on September 22. The centers will be opened in Baku and the Absheron region. Baku DOST Center 4 will cover Bakus Binagadi and Narimanov districts. The ministrys meeting was attended by Chairman of the Board of the Agency for Sustainable and Operational Social Security Farid Mammadov, deputy chairmen, heads of various departments and divisions, as well as representatives of contractors engaged in the construction of DOST centers. Agency for Sustainable and Operational Social Security (DOST) is a governmental agency set up by presidential order in 2018 to improve governance in employment, social protection and labor. The first agency center was opened in Bakus Yasamal district in March 2019. "DOST" centers are established to provide employment services, labor, social protection and guarantees, as well as other services in accordance with the activities of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population of Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP is a sponsor of the 2020 Midwest IP Institute on October 1-2, 2020. Stephen R. Baird and Alexander J. Kim, Intellectual Property and Technology shareholders in the firms Minneapolis office, will act as moderators for two sessions during the virtual event. The annual Midwest IP Institute delivers the knowledge and skills necessary for attorneys to stay informed on current industry trends and best practices. On October 1, Baird will moderate the breakout session, Navigating Trademark Nominative Fair Use with a 2020 Focus. The session will discuss how the split among the various Circuit Courts of Appeals has effected IP counsel navigating trademark nominative fair use issues. The program will provide valuable legal insights on this open area of trademark law and offer practical tips from a seasoned panel of in-house counsel from 3M, Target, and, UnitedHealth Group. Kim will moderate the session, Design Patents: New Developments and Cost-Effective Strategies for IP Protection, on October 2. The program will explore the past, present, and future of design patent laws in the U.S. while also focusing on practical strategies that businesses can use to deliver the most cost-effective protection for the business innovation and brand. Baird provides strategic guidance on trademark usage and clearance, branding strategies, domestic and worldwide portfolio management, litigation and enforcement, internet domain name and trademark disputes, licensing, and prosecution. He protects companies most important brands and other intellectual property assets by designing efficient, creative, tailored legal strategies to advance their most important business objectives. A prolific blogger and recognized thought leader, for two years in a row Baird has been named the number one author on trademark matters according to JD Supras Readers Choice Awards. Kim is recognized by Intellectual Asset Managements (IAM) Patent 1000 as one of The Worlds Leading Patent Professionals and currently serves as the President of the International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL). He focuses his practice on matters involving U.S. patent prosecution as well as counseling clients on international patent matters. He has wide-ranging experience in prosecuting patent applications in front of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He knows how to strategize domestic and international intellectual property rights so that the companies can be positioned to reach their business goals. Kim has a background in physics, chemistry, biophysics, computational biology, and physiology, and deep knowledge across a broad range of technologies and industries. About Greenberg Traurigs Intellectual Property & Technology Practice: With more than 210 intellectual property attorneys and agents in the United States, Asia, and Europe, Greenberg Traurig provides a broad range of patent, trademark and copyright protection and strategic counseling. Greenberg Traurig was named Law Firm of the Year for Trademark Law and a National Tier 1 Law Firm for IP Litigation, Patent Law and Litigation, Copyright Law, and Technology Law by U.S. News and Best Lawyers, 2020 Best Law Firms." About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: 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 Ahead of the much-awaited by-election in Madhya Pradesh, where former Congress colleagues Sachin Pilot and Jyotiradtiya Scindia would be ranging on opposite sides, a senior party leader said that AICC general secretary in-charge of UP, Priyanka Gandhi, will also be campaigning in the state. Earlier, top leaders in the party had asked the former Rajasthan deputy Chief Minister to campaign in the Gwalior-Chambal region against his old friend Scindia. Former Public Relations Minister of the state, PC Sharma, on Wednesday said that Gandhi is expected to visit Ma Pitambara Peeth, a temple in MPs Datiya district. It is obvious that she will be meeting the public and locals in nearby districts including Datiya, Bhind, Morena, Gwalior besides others, said the minister. According to sources, Priyanka is expected to campaign at at least six seats in the region which have been heavily banked on Scindia. The party, which has reportedly made all arrangements for the campaign, are yet to release an official schedule for the same. Meanwhile, mocking Gandhis scheduled campaigning in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that the Congress party was going through a leadership crisis and had to forcefully resort to importing leaders from outside. Urban Administration and Development minister Bhupendra Singh said that the Congress always loses wherever Priyanka Gandhi goes for campaigning. The saffron party has also repeatedly claimed that after Scindias exit from Congress, the grand old party had no prominent leader in the Gwalior region who could match the popularity of Scindia. A total of 28 seats in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly will be witnessing by-polls this year, of which 16 are in the Gwalior-Chambal region. Three more people have been charged in relation to the killing of 27-year-old Raymond Harris in Surfers Paradise on Wednesday, as friends took to social media to pay tribute to the victim. Mr Harris was from Beenleigh in Logan and was with friends when the confrontation took place between two groups who knew each other. Credit:Facebook Mr Harris, who lived in the Logan suburb of Beenleigh, was allegedly stabbed in the torso with a hunting knife about 9pm in Cavill Avenue and died shortly after in Gold Coast University Hospital. A 21-year-old man from Maryborough and 18-year-old man from Pimpama on the Gold Coast were each charged with one count of murder and three counts of assault on Thursday. Both appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday. On Friday morning, detectives charged a 24-year-old Surfers Paradise man with one count of murder and three counts of assault. A 19-year-old Surfers Paradise woman and 32-year-old man from Rocklea in Brisbane's south were also charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) The Supreme Court considers holding the Bar examinations via online next year, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said onThursday. We are thinking of that...Probably, next year," Peralta said during the judiciary's budget hearing at the Senate. "Not this year. Wala na this year." Peralta was responding to Senator Francis Tolentino, who asked whether the high court has plans to administer online exams, similar to what is being done in some parts of the United States, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is now a move because we are not the only ones confronting this crisis, moves in other jurisdictions, in Michigan, District of Columbia, Louisiana, and also New York to have online Bar examinations, Tolentino said. What is certain now is that the Supreme Court has decided to hold the examinations in three different locations simultaneously, Peralta said. The Bar exam is usually held in a university in Metro Manila. We have already decided to hold bar exams simultaneously in Mindanao and Visayas also, Peralta said. Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, next years Bar chairman, said his team has been studying the possibility of conducting online but proctored bar exams or a mix of online and written exams. Pilot tests will be done in the coming months, he added. The Supreme Court earlier announced the postponement of the professional licensure exam for lawyers this year, rescheduling it to November 2021, as the country grapples with rising coronavirus infections. President Alexander Lukashenko is not the legitimate president of Belarus, the European Union said on Thursday, saying his abrupt swearing-in on Wednesday went directly against the will of the people. The ceremony accelerated EU plans to boycott Lukashenko following the disputed Aug. 9 election, as the European Parliament had earlier decided not to recognise the veteran leader from November, when his term as president was due to end. The so-called inauguration ... and the new mandate claimed by Aleksander Lukashenko lack any democratic legitimacy, the EUs 27 states said in a statement. This inauguration directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus. The EU, a large financial donor to Belarus, also said it was reviewing its relations with the country, meaning the bloc would seek to cut off direct funding to Lukashenkos government, channelling it to aid groups and hospitals instead. Before the election, the EU had committed to spend 135 million euros on projects in Belarus and has also pledged 53 million euros for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed with EU foreign ministers on Monday in Brussels how to bypass state administration to support doctors and hospitals. I asked Europe not to support financially the regime. All the money Mr.Lukashenko can get now will not go to support the Belarusian people but will go for those repressions, she told reporters, referring to the pro-democracy crackdown. Shes the ABC radio host who is adept at drawing out others stories, but in a new memoir, Jacinta Parsons details her own, often harrowing, struggle with Crohns disease. Although shes long been in the public eye, Parsons says that initially she felt sick about airing such personal matters in the book, called Unseen: The Secret World of Chronic Illness. The journey to here: Radio presenter Jacinta Parsons documents her struggle with chronic illness in the memoir "Unseen". Credit:Chris Hopkins "A few close friends and writers have read it and have been kind about it, so you start to go, 'OK, itll be all right.' " The book documents Parsons rise out of a dark period of her life. By James M. Dorsey Will the Saudis formalize relations with Israel or will they not? That is the 64,000-dollar question. The odds are that Saudi Arabia is not about to formalize relations with Israel. But the kingdom, its image tarnished by multiple missteps, is seeking to ensure that it is not perceived as the odd man out as smaller Gulf states establish diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. Bahrain's announcement that it would follow in the footsteps of the United Arab Emirates was as much a Bahraini move as it was a Saudi signal that it is not opposed to normalization with Israel. Largely dependent on the kingdom since Saudi troops helped squash mass anti-government protests in 2011, Bahrain, a majority Shia Muslim nation, would not have agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Israel without Saudi consent. The Bahraini move followed several other Saudi gestures intended to signal the kingdom's endorsement of Arab normalization of Israel even if it was not going to lead the pack. The gestures included the opening of Saudi air space to Israeli commercial flights, and publication of a Saudi think tank report praising Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's stewardship in modernizing the kingdom's religious education system and encouraging the religious establishment to replace "extremist narratives" in school textbooks with "a moderate interpretation of Islamic rhetoric." They also involved a sermon by Abdulrahman al-Sudais, the imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca the world's largest mosque that surrounds the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, that highlighted Prophet Mohammed's friendly relations with Jews. Al-Sudais noted that the prophet had "performed ablution from a polytheistic water bottle and died while his shield was mortgaged to a Jew," forged a peace agreement with Jewish inhabitants of the Khaybar region, and dealt so well with a Jewish neighbor that he eventually converted to Islam. The imam's comments, a day before U.S. President Donald J. Trump was believed to have failed to persuade King Salman to follow the UAE's example, were widely seen as part of an effort to prepare Saudi public opinion for eventual recognition of Israel. Criticism on social media of the comments constituted one indication that public opinion in Gulf states is divided. Expression of Emirati dissent was restricted to Emirati exiles given that the UAE does not tolerate expression of dissenting views. However, small scale protests erupted in Bahrain, another country that curtails freedom of expression and assembly. Bahraini political and civil society associations, including the Bahrain Bar Association, issued a statement rejecting the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel. "What results from normalization will not enjoy popular backing, in line with what generations of Bahrainis have been brought up on in terms of adherence to the Palestinian cause," the statement said. Bahrain has long been home to a Jewish community and was the first and, so far, only Arab state to appoint a Jew as its ambassador to the United States. The criticism echoes recent polls in various Gulf states that suggest that Palestine remains a major public foreign policy concern. Polling by David Pollock of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy found that Palestine ranked second to Iran. Earlier polls by James Zogby, a Washington-based pollster with a track record that goes back more than a decade, showed Palestine ranking in 2018 as the foremost foreign policy issue followed by Iran in Emirati and Saudi public opinion. The same year's Arab Opinion Index suggested that 80 percent of Saudis see Palestine as an Arab rather than a purely Palestinian issue. Pollock said in an interview that with regard to Palestine, Saudi officials "believe that they have to be a little cautious. They want to move bit by bit in the direction of normalizing at least the existence of Israel or the discussion of Israel, the possibility of peace, but they don't think that the public is ready for the full embrace or anything like that." Gulf scholar Giorgio Cafiero noted in a tweet that "Israel formalizing relations (with) unelected Arab (governments) is not the same as Israel making peace (with) Arab people. Look at, for example, what Egypt's citizenry thinks of Israel. Iran and Turkey will capitalize on this reality as more U.S.-friendly Arab [governments] sign accords [with] Israel." This year's Arab Opinion Index suggest that in Kuwait, the one country that has not engaged with Israel publicly, Turkey the Muslim country that has taken a lead in supporting the Palestinians ranked highest in public esteem compared to China, Russia, and Iran. A rift in a UAE-backed Muslim group created to counter Qatari support of political Islam and promote a state-controlled version of Islam that preaches absolute obedience to the ruler serves as a further indication that Palestine remains an emotive public issue. In Al-Sudais' case, analysts suggest that the criticism is as much about Palestine as it is a signal that religious leaders who become subservient to the whims of government may be losing credibility. Al-Sudais' sermon contrasted starkly with past talks in which he described Jews as "killers of prophets and the scum of the earth" as well as "monkeys and pigs" and defended Saudi Arabia's conflict with Iran as a war between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. The criticism coupled with indications earlier this year that Saudi Arabia's religious establishment was not happy with Prince Mohammed's handling of the coronavirus pandemic may be one reason why Saudi Arabia is gesturing rather than formalizing already existing relations with Israel. Authorities reportedly arrested in March Sheikh Abdullah al-Saad, an Islamic scholar, after he posted online an audio clip criticizing the government for banning Friday prayers. Al-Saad argued that worshippers should be able to ask God for mercy. An imam in Mecca was fired shortly after he expressed concern about the spread of the coronavirus in Saudi prisons. Scholars Genevieve Abdo and Nourhan Elnahla reported that the kingdom's Council of Senior Clerics had initially drafted a fatwa, or religious opinion, describing the closing of mosques as a violation of Islamic principles. They said that government pressure had persuaded the council not to issue the opinion. Concern among the kingdom's ultra-conservative religious scholars that the ruling Al-Saud family may break the power-sharing agreement with the clergy, concluded at the birth of the kingdom, and which predates the rise of King Salman and Prince Mohammed. Indeed, the clerics' concern stretches back to the reign of King Abdullah and has focused on attitudes expressed both by senior members of the ruling family who have since been sidelined or detained by Prince Mohammed and princes that continue to wield influence. The scholars feared that the ruling family contemplated separating state and religion. This is a concern that has likely been reinforced since Prince Mohammed whipped the kingdom's religious establishment into submission and downplayed religion by emphasizing nationalism. Ultra-conservative Saudi religious scholars are also certain to have taken note of post-revolt Sudan's recent decision to legally remove religion from the realm of the state. Ultra-conservative sentiment does not pose an imminent threat to Prince Mohammed's iron grip rule of a country in which many welcomed social reforms that have lifted some of the debilitating restrictions on women, liberalized gender segregation, and the as yet unfulfilled promise of greater opportunity for a majority youthful population. It does however suggest one reason why Prince Mohammed, who is believed to favor formal relations with Israel, may want to tread carefully on an issue that potentially continues to evoke passions. Dr. James M. Dorsey (jmd@jmdonline.org) is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. He is also a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore's Middle East Institute and co-director of the University of Wuerzburg's Institute of Fan Culture in Germany. A popular axiom in Western culture that goes all the way back to Ancient Greece is The Golden Rule. It says, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In other words, treat others the way you would like to be treated. Some current politicians seem to think it means, Do unto others whatever you can get away with or perhaps, Do unto others before they can do it to you or Do unto others what serves me or my political party or the President even if it is unethical, illegal or just plain wrong. The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a new package of financial support systems to help companies weather a winter with coronavirus. While the furlough scheme will not be extended past the previously stated end of October deadline, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has revealed a new "Job Support Scheme" to help "viable" jobs. According to the Chancellor's new system, "employees must work at least one-third of their normal hours and be paid for that work by their employers." Their pay will then be bolstered by equal contributions from both employers and the government, as per the infographic by the Treasury below. From 1 November, for the next six months, the Job Support Scheme will protect viable jobs in businesses who are facing lower demand over the winter months due to Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/8NpIKpQV8y HM Treasury (@hmtreasury) September 24, 2020 Under this system, if an employee works for a minimum of 33 per cent of their hours, they will be paid for that time. The employer will then have to provide a further percentage of the employee's wage, which is then matched by the government. The scheme is open to all small- and medium-sized businesses as well as large businesses that can prove they have suffered losses during the pandemic. It will run for six months from November. Sunak did, however, warn that: ""I cannot save every business. Or every job." What defines a "viable' job is a loose term, as jobs that may not be viable in the immediate sense may certainly be so by the beginning of 2021. In other news, the self-employment scheme will be extended in line with the new job support scheme, though it is uncertain whether or not the scheme will help those that have previously not been given funds. As it stands, those who are unsupported by these schemes will remain unsupported. The scheme will now cover 20 per cent of average monthly trading profits via a grant. Sunak added that the "resurgence of the virus...poses a threat to fragile economic recovery. Our task is to move to the next stage. Nurture the economy by protecting jobs." He stated bluntly that it is "fundamentally wrong to hold people in jobs that only exist within the furlough". The Chancellor will also provide an extended VAT cut (from 20 per cent to five per cent) for the hospitality and tourism sectors and will extend loan repayment dates. Tax bills can now be spread over 11 smaller repayments without interest. Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds fired back at Sunak on his awful timing: "The delay in introducing this new scheme will have impacted on business confidence." Many theatres have already made large-scale redundancies, with the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in west London only the latest venue making cuts. Dodds went on: "The deadline for redundancy consultations for large firms came and went last week with our government doing nothing." Opening the Northwest for Penetron: Phil King joined Penetron this month as the new Account Manager for the Pacific Northwest region. I started my career in concrete the day after I graduated from high school. With 33 years in the business, you could easily say I have a degree in concrete! The Penetron Group announced today the appointment of Phil King as the new Account Manager for the Pacific Northwest region a burgeoning market for Penetron crystalline technology. As the Penetron Account Manager for the Pacific Northwest Region, Phil is the main Penetron contact for project owners/developers, engineers, contractors and distributors. With over three decades in the construction business, he has the expertise and experience to help clients develop the best concrete waterproofing and durability-enhancing solutions for their commercial, industrial and municipal projects. I started my career in concrete the day after I graduated from high school, explains Phil King. With 33 years in the business, you could easily say I have a degree in concrete! Phil brings extensive experience and concrete know-how to the Penetron North America team, adds Christopher Chen, Director of the Penetron Group. With a thorough understanding of the types of concrete, concrete mixtures and crystalline waterproofing technology, he will collaborate with customers on developing effective solutions based on Penetrons proven crystalline products. Phil will provide key sales and technical support for customers across Penetrons Pacific Northwest region, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. As part of his customer support responsibilities, hell work with Penetron partners and construction teams to provide expertise for large projects across the region. Despite the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the Pacific Northwest continues to be a hotbed for construction, adds Phil King. I grew up in this region and feel confident that we can maintain and expand relationships built up over the years. Well continue to show customers how Penetron technology can deliver maximum benefit to help meet their challenges and provide on-site support to add value to their projects. The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives and distribution channels. For more information on PENETRON crystalline technology solutions, please visit http://www.penetron.com, email: CRDept@penetron.com or contact our Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700. James Douglas Root, 73, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Monday, September 21, 2020. He was born October 29, 1946 to Homer and Opal Root in St. Joseph, Missouri. Jim married Stacie Wells on July 1, 2000. He was a graduate of Lafayette High School, Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Missouri, and Missouri Western College in St. Joseph. He was a General Manager at J&B Distributorship in St. Joe before establishing the Felix Street Pub and Northland Properties in an effort to revitalize Downtown St. Joseph in the early 1990s. He continued this endeavor throughout the rest of his life. The world lost a wonderful man earlier this week. Jim Root, the man, the myth, the legend, the Godfather of St. Joe. He inspires all of us that knew him, as he leaves behind the moments and memories of a life well lived. He lived an amazing life, and did everything he ever wanted to do. His family and especially his children are all so proud of the man he was and the legacy he leaves behind. A legacy of family, honesty, hard work, kindness, acceptance, loving unconditionally, and a genuine love of life regardless of the circumstances. He meant so much to so many different people in so many different ways as a son, a husband, a brother to some, a father and mentor to many and a friend to all. He provided guidance and compassion to so many that it is not uncommon to meet someone, especially in St. Joe, that attributes their happiness and success in life, at least in part to Jim Root. Jimmy would have traveled to the ends of the earth for his wife and best friend Stacie, and would lay down his life for his children. He was an amazing Papa Root to his grandchildren and loved to leave them in stiches with his funny stories and endless antics. Jim will always be remembered by all those that knew him with laughter, love, and no shortage of stories that will be passed down for lifetimes to come. He shared his love, not only with his family and his friends in St. Joseph, but with the city itself, which he has even referred to in jest as his girlfriend, St. Joe. He loved downtown like a father loves a child. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Homer Root and Opal Baker (Gene); grandparents, Roy and Rhoda Bear; wife and BFF Stacie Wells Root; son, Travis Root; and his lifelong friend Dennis Butler. Survivors include sisters, Marti Idlet of Hillsboro, Missouri, Judy Reed (Bob) of St. Joseph, and Donna Moorman (Chuck) of St. Joseph; brother, Roger Baker (Brenda) of St. Joseph; brothers from another mother, John Rock of New Point, Missouri, and Duffy Lydick of Paxico, Kansas; children, Joel Root (Sarah) of Platte City, Jami Root-Wray (Kevin) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Jason Root Hatfield (Tara) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Ronda Eisenberg-Zeihms (Ed) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Heather Jackson of North Pole, Alaska; grandchildren, Charisma Root, Isaac Root, Lily Root, Bridie Root Hatfield, Corbin Root; brother-in-law, Kevin Wells (Janet) of St. Joseph; sister-in-law, Kerri Pettijohn (Tony) of St. Joseph; and numerous extended family members and friends. Farewell Services; There will be an open visitation 6:00-8:00 P.M. Friday, September 25, Meierhoffer Funeral Home, St. Joseph, Missouri. The family requests that visitors be responsible and practice social distancing. We want to see you, but wont be giving hugs at this time. A celebration of life event open to all will be held at a later date when Covid-19 is no longer a threat. The Root/Wray/Wells family would like to say thank you for the outpouring of love and support. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made by supporting Jims love of downtown St. Joseph, through your downtown patronage or by making donations on at https://www.gofundme.com/f/st-joe-jimmy-downtown-contribution-fund. Online guest book and obituary at ww.meierhoffer.com. By PTI MUMBAI: The counsel for actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik told the Bombay High Court Thursday the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), that is probing a drugs case related to the death of filmstar Sushant Singh Rajput, had no jurisdiction to initiate the inquiry. Their counsel Satish Maneshinde told the HC that the drugs case, in which Rhea and Showik are accused and currently in jail, should have been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing Rajput's death, by the NCB. The HC did not pass any order on the bail pleas of the Chakrabortys and suggested the NCB file a reply by Monday (September 28). Rhea and Showik have been booked by the NCB under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, including stringent sections pertaining to procurement of drugs, and financing of illicit trafficking of contrabands. ALSO READ| Rhea Chakraborty admits to sourcing drugs for Sushant The siblings, currently in judicial custody, approached the HC earlier this week challenging the orders of a special NDPS court in the city that had rejected their bail pleas. Maneshinde told a single bench presided over by Justice Sarang Kotwal that the Supreme Court, while hearing the pleas seeking a CBI probe into the alleged suicide of Rajput, had ruled that all cases related to the death would be investigated by the CBI. "The CBI, that is already investigating the death case, is also empowered to probe cases under the NDPS Act. Therefore, the NCB should have transferred the probe to the CBI after the offences under the NDPS Act were registered," Maneshinde maintained. The lawyer contended both Rhea and Showik should not have been booked under the stringent section 27A of the NDPS Act. The section pertains to financing illicit traffic of drugs and provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years on conviction. However, Rhea, Showik, and almost all other persons arrested in the case have maintained in their bail pleas that the NCB has seized only 59 grams of drugs, which cannot be termed as of commercial quantity, and therefore, they shouldn't have been booked under 27A. 28-year-old Rhea has said in her bail plea that she had occasionally paid for some small quantities of drugs that had been consumed only by Rajput, her boyfriend. "And such payment can not be termed as financing illicit trafficking of drugs," the actress has said. Justice Kotwal directed Maneshinde and the NCB's counsel, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, to elaborate on the next hearing date, the law on invoking section 27A in the present case and whether or not an embargo on granting of bail can be applicable to those booked under it. The judge tagged the present matters with the bail pleas filed by Rajput's aides Dipesh Sawant and Samuel Miranda, and alleged drug dealer Abdul Parihar, all co-accused in the NCB's case. These pleas will be heard together on September 29. Justice Kotwal also suggested that the NCB file an affidavit replying to the bail pleas filed byRhea and Showik by Monday. Rajput (34) was found hanging in his home in suburban Bandra on June 14. Frank Micelotta/Getty ImagesA third party has joined the ongoing legal battle between Nirvana and Marc Jacobs. You may recall that, way back in December 2018, Nirvana LLC -- an entity consisting of former band members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, plus Kurt Cobain's widow Courtney Love and daughter Frances Bean Cobain -- sued fashion designer Jacobs over his company's Bootleg Redux Grunge collection, which the band felt copied their signature smiley-face logo. Following various files to dismiss and countersuits, the Los Angeles Times reports that artist Robert Fisher has entered the fray, claiming he was the one who originally created the logo. Fisher, a former art director at Geffen Records, filed a motion seeking to be credited as the creator and copyright owner of the logo. Lawyers for Nirvana LLC have stated that Kurt Cobain is the design's author, but Fisher maintains he created it in 1991 as a "favor" to the band's management. "Since I drew it, I want to be known as the guy that drew it. It's as simple as that," Fisher tells the Los Angeles Times. "I don't think it's fair that they try and take out a copyright and say Kurt did it." Indeed, the exact story of the logo's creation has been blurry throughout the case -- in depositions, both Grohl and Novoselic testified that they didn't know who first came up with it before Nirvana LLC "filed a declaration that all parties within the band's company agree that it was created by Cobain," the Times reports. A lawyer for Nirvana LLC tells the newspaper that Fisher's claims are "factually and legally baseless." A ruling on Fisher's motion is set to come in the next few months. Nirvana LLC's suit against Jacobs is set to go to trial in 2021. By Josh Johnson Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. 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 Guy Maine has been the CEO of BidEnergy Limited (ASX:BID) since 2018, and this article will examine the executive's compensation with respect to the overall performance of the company. This analysis will also look to assess whether the CEO is appropriately paid, considering recent earnings growth and investor returns for BidEnergy. Check out our latest analysis for BidEnergy How Does Total Compensation For Guy Maine Compare With Other Companies In The Industry? According to our data, BidEnergy Limited has a market capitalization of AU$128m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth AU$650k over the year to June 2020. Notably, that's an increase of 33% over the year before. While we always look at total compensation first, our analysis shows that the salary component is less, at AU$300k. For comparison, other companies in the industry with market capitalizations below AU$278m, reported a median total CEO compensation of AU$339k. This suggests that Guy Maine is paid more than the median for the industry. Moreover, Guy Maine also holds AU$183k worth of BidEnergy stock directly under their own name. Component 2020 2019 Proportion (2020) Salary AU$300k AU$275k 46% Other AU$350k AU$215k 54% Total Compensation AU$650k AU$490k 100% On an industry level, roughly 61% of total compensation represents salary and 39% is other remuneration. BidEnergy sets aside a smaller share of compensation for salary, in comparison to the overall industry. If total compensation is slanted towards non-salary benefits, it indicates that CEO pay is linked to company performance. BidEnergy Limited's Growth BidEnergy Limited's earnings per share (EPS) grew 26% per year over the last three years. Its revenue is up 77% over the last year. Overall this is a positive result for shareholders, showing that the company has improved in recent years. It's great to see that revenue growth is strong, too. These metrics suggest the business is growing strongly. Moving away from current form for a second, it could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future. Story continues Has BidEnergy Limited Been A Good Investment? Most shareholders would probably be pleased with BidEnergy Limited for providing a total return of 548% over three years. So they may not be at all concerned if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for companies around the same size. In Summary... As we touched on above, BidEnergy Limited is currently paying its CEO higher than the median pay for CEOs of companies belonging to the same industry and with similar market capitalizations. However, BidEnergy has produced strong EPS growth and shareholder returns over the last three years. So, in acknowledgment of the overall excellent performance, we believe CEO compensation is appropriate. And given most shareholders are probably very happy with recent returns, they might even think that Guy deserves a raise! While it is important to pay attention to CEO remuneration, investors should also consider other elements of the business. That's why we did some digging and identified 3 warning signs for BidEnergy that investors should think about before committing capital to this stock. Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out this free list of interesting companies that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Thane: A local Shiv Sena member was injured when he along with some other party activists were allegedly beaten up by three men at a bungalow in the city, police said on Friday. Around 10-15 Sena activists, including Satish Gawde (42), the city co-ordinator of the partys transport wing, were having a get-together at a bungalow in Yeoor Hills here in the wee hours on Thursday when the accused barged in at around 3 AM and had a quarrel with them, they said. After a wordy duel, the accused allegedly beat up the activists. Gawde sustained serious head injuries in the incident and was rushed to hospital. The accused also allegedly robbed Gawdes gold jewellery that he was wearing, estimated to be worth about Rs 1.92 lakh, police said. A local party corporator present at the spot was also allegedly threatened by the accused, they said. Later, based on a complaint, an offence was on Thursday registered against the accused under IPC sections 394 (voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). Two of the accused have been identified, police said. No arrest has been made so far, they said adding that a probe was on to find out the reason behind the incident. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Panjab University has decided to extend its facility of online classes to the international students who have been admitted through Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, such students are unable to travel to India and ICCR is also not processing their visas currently. The varsity had this year received over 600 applications from foreign students for admission through ICCR. The decision regarding the extension of facility was taken by PU after ICCR requested the educational institutes to offer online classes to the international students as they cannot come to India in present circumstances. Of the total applications received by the university from students of various countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Ethiopia, Iraq, and Nepal, admission of at least 125 students has been confirmed by PU. According to the information provided by the office of PU dean international students, of the total confirmed students, only 58 have consented to attend online classes offered by the university. The students were asked to give undertakings that they would attend online classes with utmost seriousness. A meeting was also held at the varsity for extending the provision of online teaching to the foreign students wherein PUs dean international students Nandita Singh also took part. She said, ICCR asked us if we could offer online classes to the international students since they cannot travel due to the pandemic, after which we got permission from the university. Instructions to departments The office of the dean international students has also instructed the departments to offer online classes to international students as per the schedule of Indian students. Currently at PU, online classes of only ongoing batches of undergraduate courses are being held. Meanwhile, PU is planning to offer short-term online courses to international students during the next academic session in an attempt to expand its profile. Office of the dean international students has already asked the departments to send their proposals about courses that they can offer to international students. About ICCR scholarship programme Under the ICCR scholarship programme, the Indian government awards scholarships to foreign students from about 140 countries every year. During the 2018-19 academic session, about 2,150 new foreign students were confirmed for admission to various universities in India. Here are the most important things to know about the coronavirus in Connecticut today: The fall-out from Sasha Swires headline-grabbing tell-all political diaries has been described by one reviewer as social Hiroshima and now it can be revealed that some of Northern Irelands leading politicians dont escape the blast either. DUP leader Arlene Foster, party colleague Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, former Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams and the late Rev Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness all feature in the pages of the astonishingly indiscreet and frequently acerbic tome by the wife of former NI Minister of State Hugo and some fare much better than others. Reviews of Diary of an MPs Wife already have revealed some sensational insights into life behind the scenes in the corridors of power at Westminster, as well as royal visits to Hillsborough Castle. But there are many more disclosures in the book, which is published today, and Swires disclosures, often accompanied by candid and cruel observations, are sure to leave NI politicos reeling and possibly cringing. Swire lifts the lid on how the DUP got on with former Prime Minister Theresa May, and claims that Foster let her husband Brian dominate conversations. She also says her husband Hugo concluded that Gerry Adams was one of the most sinister and unpleasant people he had ever met. Former journalist Swire (57) writes that she likes Arlene heaps, always have yet whether the First Minister will feel as warmly towards the author after perusing her namechecks in the 527-page blockbuster is debateable. Swire describes an encounter with Foster and her husband Brian, a PSNI officer, when they come to stay at their home Chaffcombe Manor, near Devon, on April 5, 2018. Prior to the pairs arrival, the Swires discuss whether we should show them our own pub, them being DUP and anti the devils buttermilk, etc. But she continues: As it turns out they more than match us glass for glass, Brian getting more preachy and Presbyterian as the evening progresses: lots of talk about creationism and original sin and how love conquers all. I whisper to Arlene, Gosh, he should have been a preacher, not a policeman. She sighs and says, I know. Swire notes: The dynamic was interesting, though. Brian completely dominated, and she was very respectful towards his views. She also offers an insight into Fosters relationship with then PM Theresa May, for whom Swire has a particularly unkind nickname, she writes: She told me Old Ma May never asks to see her when she is in London, she only deals with the Chief Whip, which is staggering when her MPs are propping up the government. Not even a courtesy cup of tea, apparently. The property tycoon and Tory party donor Christopher Moran had a front row seat at the DUP party conference in 2018. Swire records how more than a year earlier, in July 2017, he had hosted a DUP night at his Crosby Hall mansion in Chelsea. They were all out in force: the old UUP drinking, Donaldson and Foster, the Robinsons and the hard-line DUP not, she writes. Then with the sort of comment that has seen the diaries described as poison pen, she observes: Peter Robinson was a curious orange colour, as was Iris, fresh from a cruise. He is very deaf in one ear H thinks he always has been but he is on good form. They discuss the confidence-and-supply deal of June 2017, when the DUP netted an extra 1bn for Northern Ireland in return supporting the Tory government, and Hugo Swire wonders if the UUP will be subsumed by the DUP now. Peter Robinson, she writes, reckons probably not, but says they are finished. The former First Minister is also wryly amusing about the deal, saying he cant see what all the fuss is about. Swire notes that supporting Labours legislation on 28-day detention later cost Gordon Brown 1.5bn to give Stormont and the economy a boost. So, Peter smiles, A billion to prop up a government for two years is cheap at the price. Conversation turns to whether Robinson will go to the Lords and Swire writes that he thinks he will, but says he may have trouble with the Lords Appointments Commission, which seems to operate on rules of its own. That same evening Swire has another long conversation with Arlene Foster who she says always bounces H and me for intelligence on new ministers. When Foster asks about then NI Secretary of State James Brokenshire, Swire retorts: Loyal to May, but boring. Hugo calls him the Human Hedgehog. She claims that Foster calls both Brokenshire and another minister, Chloe Smith, robots. Further disclosures claim that Foster and Donaldson said it was impossible dealing with May on the deal, how indecisive she was on all the issues put before her it was not until Donaldson, Gavin and Arlene were locked in a room together that the whole thing was sorted out. They are both very grateful about the blog post I wrote calling out the borderline racism, which is being thrown at them. If the Swires, who have two daughters, Saffron and Siena, had a convivial relationship with DUP politicians, perhaps unsurprisingly they were less impressed by an encounter Hugo had with Gerry Adams. Afterwards, Swire jots down: H says he now thinks Adams is one of the most sinister and unpleasant people he has ever had the misfortune to come across. He much prefers Martin McGuinness, on a personal level, although he is not blind to what McGuinness has done in the past. The meeting with Adams took place on October 7, 2010, when Hugo Swire and then Secretary of State Owen Paterson had talks at Stormont House with Adams and representatives of those killed at the Ballymurphy Massacre in 1971. The discussion starts well enough until Adams spots that Owen is wearing a green wristband supporting the Royal Irish Regiment. He glares at him from across the table and in those deep growling vowels banished for so long from the airwaves Adams says it is unbelievable and the height of discourtesy, an insult to those that lost their lives to the British state, that the Secretary of State is wearing a wristband glorifying the British Army that murdered so many. H was rather taken aback, as up until then he had been grinning in a friendly manner at Adams and he thought that, behind his heavy spectacles and greying beard, Adams had been smiling back at him. Paterson said that he had a connection with the Royal Irish, whose base was in his Shropshire constituency, and was entitled to show his support. Of her husbands verdict, Swire writes: It was only on closer inspection that he realised that Adamss stony cold eyes were devoid of any emotion and that his gleaming outsized teeth had been something of a distraction, and that he was not smiling at all. Asked how to describe what a job in Northern Ireland politics entails, our diarist describes it as like carrying a huge Ming vase that can break at any moment. But, as we discover, its not without its moments of levity such as when an email arrives from NI special adviser Jonathan Caine, declaring: Wanted: XL Flak Jacket for Lord Maginnis. Apparently a visit by the peer and DUP MP David Simpson to troops in Afghanistan was called off when the Army couldnt find flak jackets large enough to fit them. In the ensuing merriment, Hugo Swire suggests they try squeezing Lord Maginnis into a Hercules or underslung him under a Chinook. Pope Benedicts visit to the UK in September 2010 saw Hugo Swire and Owen Paterson fly to Edinburgh to meet him. On the way back, at Edinburgh airport, they spy Rev Ian Paisleys armoured vehicle. He has travelled to Scotland with fellow Free Presbyterians to protest, writes Swire, in his always-helpful ecumenical way. She continues: Suddenly the door swings open and the Big Man emerges wearing a large black fedora and a massive billowing black cape, looking the spitting image of Hilaire Belloc H asks him mischievously if hed managed to get a glimpse of the Holy Father. Paisley, in faux outrage, heaves his shoulders and bellows, SEE HIM? SEE HIM? DIDNT EVEN SMELL HIM! Virtually every page of this unputdownable memoir sees household names quite literally brought to book. One of the few flattering assessments is bestowed on Hillsborough Castle itself, which Swire visits for the first time in May 2010 when her husband takes up his post, which he is in for just over two years. Swire admits is far more stunning than I had anticipated though their apartment is small, rather like a suite in a five-star hotel. And on a tour to get to know Belfast, she sees the Short Strand, where she is struck by the tidiness and cleanliness of these areas, much more so than their equivalents on the mainland. Owen Patersons late wife Rose, whose inquest this week recorded a verdict of suicide, impresses as the more clever of the pair. During a visit by the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Swire shivers in a silk LK Bennett dress and glances green with envy at Rose in her neat little tweed suit, laughing with the guests. Swire warms to Prince Edward friendly, over-excitable like a puppy who like his wife holds strong political opinions. Sophie tells her she gets frozen out on engagements with Edward and had been slighted that day by a woman who refused to acknowledge her. Swire feels sorry for Sophie, believes she is tired and it feels to me, and I could be wrong, most definitely sad. Admittedly, its a rare moment of self-doubt for Swire. Shires tale about her daughter Siena causing a security alert when she mislaid a book containing details of a visit later that day by the Queen and Prince Philip has already made the news. But what can also now be revealed is that at a dinner that evening for business people, the Duke of Edinburgh savages the businessman two away from him for pulling out his BlackBerry at the table. As the hapless guest went puce, the Duke ranted about how guests at another dinner got out their laptops, leaving him and Her Majesty appalled. Quite what Prince Philip would say if he saw Sasha Swire reach for her diary and ballpoint pen remains to be seen Diary of an MPs Wife: Inside and Outside Power by Sasha Swire is published today by Little, Brown, price 20 President Moon Jae-in / Yonhap An initiative proposed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in to establish regional cooperation including with North Korea on infectious diseases may provide a chance to bring communist nation into an international community, experts said Wednesday. The experts noted multilateral leadership may also provide a much needed tool to jointly battle the COVID-19 pandemic in Northeast Asia. The remarks came one day after the South Korean leader proposed launching a "Northeast Asia Cooperation Initiative" for infectious disease control and public health in his address to the United Nations General Assembly. The South Korean president proposed the envisioned initiative include China, Japan and Mongolia, along with the two Koreas. "A cooperative architecture that guarantees collective protection of life and safety will lay the groundwork for North Korea to have its security guaranteed by engaging with the international community," Moon said. Victor Cha, a Korea expert at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), noted sharing of information itself may be an incentive for the North to take part. "So I think there's a lot of information that could be shared among China, Japan and South Korea when it comes to dealing with the pandemic. Obviously, this is a pivot to bring in North Korea, you know. That's certainly part of what Moon is doing. But I think it's a useful initiative," he told a virtual seminar hosted by CSIS. Pyongyang has yet to officially report any outbreak of the new coronavirus within its territory. However, many believe the impoverished North may be facing what they call a "triple whammy" that include the COVID-19 pandemic, its shutdown of borders in a precaution against the ongoing pandemic, and economic difficulties created by international sanctions and accelerated by recent typhoons. North Korea has also stayed away from any dialogue table since its leader, Kim Jong-un, held a second bilateral summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in February 2019 that ended without any deal. Trump and Kim held their first summit in June 2018. The former director for Asian Affairs of the White House's National Security Council also said he welcomes any type of multilateral efforts to tackle COVID-19 amid what he called an absence of any leadership from global superpowers such as the United States. "It's just that the United States under this administration has made pretty clear that they're not interested in any sort of multilateral effort," said Cha. John Nilsson-Wright, Northeast Asia researcher at the London-based think tank Chatham House, said the initiative may be a pragmatic approach to engage North Korea. Still, he said it was important to include North Korea as a member, instead of a recipient. "And if you can do it in a way that the North Koreans that allows them to claim some agency so that it doesn't look as if they're the recipient of a charitable handout. I think that's important," he told the webinar. Meanwhile, the experts noted the North will likely refrain from military provocations at least until the end of the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election. "I see most likely North Korea reverting back to provocation probably after the November election," said Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA official who now serves as a senior fellow at CSIS. The CSIS has noted increased provocations by North Korea in and around U.S. election years, in apparent attempts to influence the outcome of U.S. elections. Terry argued the North Korean leader will likely adopt a "wait-and-see attitude" to first see what happens to Trump, with whom he held the two U.S.-North Korea summits and a meeting inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas in June 2019. She insisted an "October surprise" from North Korea may be unlikely, given that early voting has already started in the U.S. presidential election. On a similar note, the former CIA official said the U.S. too will likely stay away from provoking North Korea before the election. "I don't think ... he's going to say anything that's going to really rile up North Koreans because the Trump administration obviously has an incentive for North Koreans to stay fairly quiet and not resort to any kind of provocation, at least until the November election," she said, referring to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's upcoming trip to Asia that earlier reports suggested may include stops in Seoul and Tokyo. (Yonhap) A production unit section at the O'Neill's factory in Strabane has been closed for a deep clean after five confirmed cases of Covid-19 within the workforce. 21 further employees at the facility on the town's Dublin Road are also self-isolating as a precautionary measure and the company have said they are currently liaising with the Public Health Agency (PHA) to monitor the situation. A spokesperson for O'Neill's said: "The health and safety of our employees and their families together with our clients and customers is our highest priority. "In addition to the deep clean which is currently being carried out, we will continue implementing the rigorous protocols introduced from the outset of the pandemic in relation to social distancing and hand sanitizing that we have been adhering to in order to help combat the impact of this virus. "We wish all of our staff who are currently affected well in their recovery and will continue to help provide whatever support we can going forward. ONeills also indicated they have made arrangements for staff to work from home where possible pending the re-opening of the premises. By PTI JAMMU: The Pakistani army resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling in forward areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Thursday, officials said. "At about 1745 hours today, Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars along LoC in Nowshera sector", a defence spokesman said. The Indian Army retaliated befittingly, he said. ALSO READ | Advocate shot dead by unidentified terrorists in Srinagar; second such killing in past 24-hours Pakistan army violated ceasefire 38 times this month. An army personnel was killed and two others, including an officer, injured on Tuesday last as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by using heavy fire and mortar shells along the Line of Control in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district, officials said. On September 2, one JCO was killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistan army along the Line of Control in Keri sector of Rajouri. The United States, Britain, and Canada could soon impose sanctions on Belarusian officials for their violent crackdown on protesters following a presidential election widely viewed to have been rigged. The three countries could announce the sanctions as early as September 25, Reuters reported, citing four identified officials, just two days after Alyaksandr Lukashenka held a secretive inauguration deemed fraudulent by many leaders in the West. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on September 24 that the United Kingdom was initiating its own sanctions, in coordination with the United States and Canada, after the European Union's measures were delayed by Cyprus. Crisis In Belarus Read our ongoing coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election, widely seen as fraudulent. Raab said London was working with Washington and Ottawa "to prepare appropriate listings as a matter of urgency" against Belarusian authorities. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusian citizens have taken to the streets across the country to protest the outcome of the August 9 presidential election that gave Lukashenka another five years in power. The protesters claim the vote was rigged in Lukashenkas favor and have called on him to step down. Lukashenka, who was sworn in on September 23, has sought to quash the protests with mass arrests and beatings that have outraged Western officials. Raab said that given the delay by the EU and Lukashenkas fraudulent inauguration, he has directed the government to prepare sanctions against those responsible for the serious human rights violations." U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said on September 11 that Washington would soon impose sanctions on individuals in Belarus who are responsible for rigging the election as well the beatings and torture of protesters. Biegun said the United States was consulting with the EU on its sanctions list but that the timetable for announcing them may differ from Brussels due to different approval procedures in the bloc. The passage of EU sanctions needs unanimous approval from all 27 member countries and Cyprus has so far refused to vote, insisting that the EU must extend sanctions over Turkish gas drilling operations in its waters at the same time. The United States has been pressing Cyprus to lift its veto on proposed EU sanctions against Belarus to allow a coordinated response to the crisis. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP A decorated Army Major vexatiously accused of drowning an Iraqi teenager at the time of the Anglo-US invasion has been cleared of any wrongdoing following a 17-year witch-hunt. Major Robert Campbell, 47, was investigated on bogus claims that he forced suspected looter Saeed Radhi Shabram Wawi Al-Bazooni, 19, into a river at gunpoint in Basra in May 2003. Eyewitnesses had claimed that Maj Campbell and colleagues from the 32 Royal Engineer Regiment caused Saeed Shabram's death after he slipped below the water and failed to resurface. The incident sparked an inquiry into the British Army hero, who even returned his medals to the Queen in 2018 in disgust at the way he had been treated by the Ministry of Defence. But a judge has now ruled that the allegations against Maj Campbell were based on lies, collusion on the part of Iraqi civilians and a 'possible conspiracy' to pervert the course of justice. It is the latest of more than 4,000 cases brought by disgraced solicitor Phil Shiner and his Public Interest Lawyers against British soldiers to have collapsed because of a lack of evidence. Major Robert Campbell, 47, was investigated on bogus claims that he forced suspected looter Saeed Radhi Shabram Wawi Al-Bazooni, 19, into a river at gunpoint in Basra in May 2003 Timeline from the death throughout the probe: 2003 Saeed Shabram drowned in the Shatt Al Arab waterway near where Maj Campbell and his men were washing their vehicles. Munem Auda, a second man, survives. Royal Military Police launch an investigation. 2004 Maj Campbell is charged with manslaughter by his commanding officer. 2006 Maj Campbell's chain of command tell him the case is closed and to 'put it behind him'. 2008 The MoD's Aitken report lists the Shabram as one of six examples of 'deliberate abuse and unlawful killing in Iraq'. 2010 Shabram and Auda's families lodge civil claim through law firm Leigh Day, who worked with disgraced solicitor Phil Shiner and his Public Interest Lawyers. 2011 MoD pays 100,000 in compensation to Sharam's family and 45,000 compensation to Auda. 2013 Iraq Historic Allegations Team reopens the investigation 2015 Maj Campbell interviewed under caution as part of a murder investigation. 2017 IHAT recommends manslaughter charges. However, the director of the Service Prosecution Authority writes to Maj Campbell to say they are taking no further action. Shabram's family seek legal review. 2018 Case transferred to Iraq Fatalities Investigations, a form of judicial enquiry, led by Sir George Newman. 2019 Sir George Newman dies. Baroness Heather Hallett appointed to take over. 2020 Hallett concludes there is 'no reliable evidence' of wrongdoing. Iraqi claims that Maj Campbell pushed Shabram into the water were based on lies, collusion and a 'possible conspiracy' to pervert the course of justice. Advertisement In her report published yesterday, Baroness Hallett decided there was 'no reliable evidence upon which it would be proper to conclude that (Maj Campbell) or any other British solider pushed or forced (Munem) Auda and Shabram into the water'. She added: 'It is most likely that they jumped or fell into the water in the process of trying to escape what they believed would be dire punishment for looting.' The report by the Iraq Fatalities Investigations (IFI) unit said Maj Campbell and a comrade leapt into the water to try and rescue Shabram but 'he sank and did not surface'. Royal Military Police knew that witnesses had lied in the aftermath of Shabram's death but they failed to shield the soldiers from a 17-year inquiry. Baroness Hallett rubbished claims that the Iraqi men were victims of an informal punishment known as 'wetting,' in which British soldiers were alleged to have put looters in the water as a form of degrading punishment. 'If there was a practice of wetting looters amongst some members of (the Black Watch Battle Group), there is no evidence that it was widespread or that (Maj Campbell) or any of the soldiers under his command had been involved in it or knew of it,' the report said. 'There was good reason for (Maj Campbell) to take the two men to the water. British soldiers had gone to the scene to wash their vehicles and they were near the water's edge. '(Maj Campbell) wanted to get Auda and Shabram to the water where his men were and where he believed he may secure the services of an interpreter, who was fishing. 'There is not therefore anything suspicious in his moving Auda and Shabram towards the water and nothing to link an alleged practice of wetting to this case.' Baroness Hallett also rejected claims of a cover-up, adding: 'No evidence of a cover up on the part of the British soldiers has ever been found.' Maj Campbell yesterday said he is 'relieved' that he has 'finally been exonerated' after the 17-year witch-hunt 'pushed him to the brink' and 'nearly did for him', according to his friends. But he added that he is angry that it took 'eight investigations, 17 years and destroyed my career', and furiously denounced the Army and MoD for 'abandoning' him. General Lord Richard Dannatt, the former Head of the British Army, said that Maj Campbell's life and career 'had been ruined' by relentless investigations. 'It should never have taken 17 years to get to this point,' Gen Dannatt told The Daily Telegraph. 'I have always believed that the story that he told me was true: A young Iraqi fell into the canal and he and two men did their best to rescue him. 'I can't believe why a Royal Engineer officer and two NCOs would be so stupid as to push an Iraqi into a canal and watch him drown. It has ruined Rob's life and it has ruined the NCOs lives as well.' In her report published yesterday, Baroness Hallett said the allegations against Maj Campbell were based on lies, collusion and a 'possible conspiracy' to pervert the course of justice The judge added there was 'no reliable evidence upon which it would be proper to conclude that (Maj Campbell) or any other British solider pushed or forced (Munem) Auda and Shabram into the water'. She wrote: 'It is most likely that they jumped or fell into the water in the process of trying to escape what they believed would be dire punishment for looting' Iraq Historic Allegations Team The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) was set up by the Government in March 2010 to investigate allegations of abuse and torture by British soldiers in Iraq. The inquiry was established in November 2010 after 146 Iraqi men said they had been tortured. The unit is led by retired senior civilian police detective, Mark Warwick, and is made up of Royal Navy Police officers and ex-civilian police detectives and will soon be up to its full complement of 145 staff. In January 2013 G4S subsidiary G4S Policing Solutions lost its contract to provide 40 former police officers for the inquiry, and was replaced by Police Skills, a subsidiary of Red Snapper Group, who will provide 100 former detectives. In a judicial review the Court of Appeal ruled in November 2011 that the involvement of the General Police Duties branch of the Royal Military Police (RMP) 'substantially compromised' the inquiry because members of the unit had participated in detentions in Iraq. The armed forces minister, Nick Harvey, responded by announcing in March 2012 that the RMP staff would be reassigned and replaced by Royal Navy Police personnel by 1 April 2012. Lawyers representing people alleging that they have been tortured applied for another judicial review in May 2012 to examine the claim that the Royal Navy Police are not sufficiently independent since they also took part in interrogations, and that abuses were so systemic and widespread that only a public inquiry will satisfy the UK's human rights obligations. The case started on January 29, 2013 and a judgement was handed down by Mr Justice Silber on May 24, 2013. In this judgement it was stated that IHAT has now been structured in such a way that it can independently carry out its investigative and prosecutorial functions. It also ruled that the decision of the Secretary of State to refuse to order an overarching public enquiry could not be called into question and said more should be done to address wider systemic issues. In 2016 Martin Jerrold, managing director of the Red Snapper Group was called as a witness to an oral evidence session by a parliament select committee. A subsequent Daily Telegraph article highlighted the profits made by the company which has contracts worth 4.8million a year and its apparent ineffectiveness in that over its six years of existence it has yet to produce a single successful prosecution. Its 127 staff can be paid through limited companies potentially reducing tax. In 2017, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced that the investigations would be shut down within months after MPs called it an 'unmitigated failure.' According to the Defence Committee report, IHAT had taken up over 3,500 allegations of abuse despite most not having any credible evidence. The report found failings in the conduct of investigations and concluded that those being investigated had suffered unacceptable stress, had their lives put on hold and careers damaged. Advertisement The decorated Army Major, who suffers from PTSD and depression, has now alleged that there was a concerted Government plot to put him on trial for war crimes in Iraq. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Maj Campbell claims that the Government blocked his promotion, tampered with his records and effectively 'erased' him from the regiment. He revealed that he only discovered he was under investigation when an ex-girlfriend telephoned him to tell him police had been to see her and ask her about the incident 11 years before. 'I am incensed that so much time, resources and effort was put in by the Ministry of Defence to find something that wasn't there and cast me as a bad character to fit a narrative of 'something must be done',' he told the newspaper. 'If it were not for Johnny Mercer, I would be dead today. He filled the Army-shaped void that was absent for 17 years in holding the MoD to account for this. The Army just did not care about us,' he added. MailOnline has contacted the MoD to respond to Maj Campbell's allegations. Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said in a statement: 'My thanks go to Baroness Hallett for compiling this report, which concludes there is not enough reliable evidence of any British soldier contributing to the tragic death of Saeed Shabram. 'I truly hope these findings will bring some closure and reassurance to the family and veterans involved in this process. 'Nobody wants to see service personnel or veterans facing extensive reinvestigations into the same incident, and our Overseas Operations Bill will help provide greater certainty and protections in the future.' The Government says a new law will protect the Armed Forces from 'vexatious prosecutions' but critics argue it could decriminalise torture. The Iraq Fatality Investigations (IFI) team was set up after the High Court ruled that investigations conducted by the Iraq Historical Allegations Team (IHAT) should be followed up in the form of an inquest. IHAT had been looking into allegations made against Iraq war veterans but was shut down after Phil Shiner, involved in many of the abuse allegation cases, was struck off for misconduct. In an interview in 2018, Maj Campbell described the impact the inquiries - including an investigation for possible manslaughter - had had on him. He said: 'I fully accounted for myself in my statement in 2004 and it had been examined and pored over and dissected by prosecutors and police forces and investigations and I don't feel I need to justify myself any further. 'What I want more than anything is a good night's sleep and I haven't had one for 15 years.' Mr Mercer had previously has previously condemned the MoD for being far too quick to believe false claims. The minister said he hoped the report would bring 'closure and reassurance to the family and veterans involved in this process', adding that the Overseas Operations Bill would protect soldiers from legal witch-hunts in the future. 'The MoD has been far too complicit and willing to believe the Shiner types and I am challenging that,' he told The Sun. 'I hold top brass responsible for waving this process through over the years. 'Nobody wants to see service personnel or veterans facing extensive reinvestigations into the same incident, and our Overseas Operations Bill will help provide greater certainty and protections in the future.' It comes after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace triggered a row last night by suggesting British troops had taken part in 'illegal wars'. 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'. 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. Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said in a statement: 'My thanks go to Baroness Hallett for compiling this report, which concludes there is not enough reliable evidence of any British soldier contributing to the tragic death of Saeed Shabram' 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 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) The Chinese Coast Guard conducted a two-day search and rescue operation for 36 Filipino seafarers who went missing off the coast of Japan early this month, the Chinese Embassy in Manila announced Thursday. It said the Department of Labor and Employment sought Chinas help. The Chinese Coast Guard searched the East China Sea from September 19 to 20 but regretfully found no trace of missing crew members, the embassy said in a statement. We will continue to provide necessary assistance as requested by the Philippine side and sincerely hope all of them could be found at the earliest, it added. On September 18, Foreign Affairs Secretary Tedoro Teddy Boy Locsin, Jr. said he refused to ask other Asian powers to join in the search because that is an attack on the sovereignty of Japan. Forty-three crew members were on board the Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel Gulf Livestock 1 when it capsized off Japan on Sept. 2. They are composed of 39 Filipinos, two New Zealanders and two Australians. Only three Filipinos have been found to date, but one of them died. The Foreign Affairs department announced on Sept. 10 that the Japanese Coast Guard has decided to transition from full-time search operations to its usual patrol arrangements after days of no progress. Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda clarified that authorities would continue their search in hopes of locating the other seafarers. The families of the missing appealed for expanded search and rescue operations. State Secretariat for Economic Affairs Bern, 24.09.2020 - On 24 September, Switzerland submitted a proposal to the World Customs Organization (WCO) regarding an amendment to the international customs duty classification for gold. The aim of the proposal is to improve transparency and traceability in the international gold trade. Switzerland will already implement the proposed amendment for gold imports into Switzerland from 1 January 2021. Currently, the World Customs Organizations Harmonized System (HS) nomenclature has a single code for the different types of traded unwrought gold (native in lumps, lumps, grains, ingots, cast bars, pellets). Therefore, it is not possible to differentiate in the HS between refined and unrefined gold or between bankgrade gold and gold alloys. Switzerland supports and contributes to various international and national efforts to make the gold trade more transparent. It wishes to improve the traceability of supply chains and to obtain more accurate statistics. On 24 September, Switzerland submitted a proposal to the WCO to introduce this greater distinction into the HS nomenclature. The Swiss proposal takes account of practices that are already established at international level, as it is based on current best practices in the gold industry (London Bullion Market Association LBMA), in particular on the OECD guidelines for this sector. The proposal also takes account of the recommendation by the Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) to differentiate between mined gold and banking gold in the Swiss customs tariff, in order to improve the traceability of commodity flows, the transparency of statistics and the quality of controls. Switzerland will already implement the proposed changes to gold imports into Switzerland from 1 January 2021. From this date, importers must give additional information about gold types in the import declaration. This allows for a separate recording of mined and banking gold in the statistics. If the Swiss proposal is accepted by the WCO members, the new customs tariff classification for gold will become the international standard from 2027. With this proposal to change the international customs tariff classification for gold, the Federal Administration contributes to the implementation of the Federal Councils recommendations of November 2018. The existing competitive conditions for the Swiss gold sector will be maintained at international level. Switzerland is one of the most important global commodities trading hubs. It is a key player in gold trade as onefifth of worlds gold trade passes through Switzerland. Address for enquiries State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO Holzikofenweg 36 CH-3003 Bern Tel. +41 58 462 56 56 Fax +41 58 462 56 00 Publisher State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.seco.admin.ch Federal Office for Customs and Border Security https://www.bazg.admin.ch Meghan Markle Makes Surprise Appearance on AGT Finale to Support a Special Contestant (Named Archie!) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been watching AGT and fell in love with a certain contestant from the start Meghan Markle is showing her support for a special Americas Got Talent contestant. The Duchess of Sussex made a surprise appearance on Wednesdays AGT finale when she filmed a good luck message for one of the shows finalists: Archie Williams. "Just wanted to let you know that we've been so moved by your story and we've been cheering you on every week and it's not just because we're partial to the name. So, a very special message to you that I'll probably be saying all of my life, but on this night it's specifically for you: Archie, we are proud of you and are rooting for you, we can't wait to see what you do. We're in your corner, have a good night," she said. Meghan and Prince Harry have been watching the series and loved him from the moment they first saw him, a source tells PEOPLE. Williams, who shares a name with the couples 1-year-old son, Archie, has become a standout contestant this season for not only his vocal talents but his powerful life story as well. theluxlevel The 59-year-old was wrongly convicted of aggravated rape and attempted murder in Louisiana at age 22. At the 12-year mark of his prison sentence, he reached out to the Innocence Project with a request for the organization to exonerate him. Years later, his case was overturned due to the fingerprints found at the scene of the crime matching a serial rapist, and he was released from prison in March 2019 after being incarcerated for more than 36 years. I knew I was innocent, I didnt commit a crime. But being a poor Black kid, I didnt have the economic ability to fight the state of Louisiana, he said during his audition. Justin Lubin/NBC Archie Williams Days turned into weeks, into months, into years and into decades. Its like a nightmare, he continued. Story continues When asked by host Terry Crews how he persevered, he said, Freedom is of the mind. I went to prison, but I never let my mind go to prison. When youre faced with dark times, what I would do was pray and sing. This is how I got peace. During his audition, Williams sang an emotional rendition of Elton Johns Dont Let the Sun Go Down on Me that brought the judges to tears. Archie, I will never, ever listen to that song in the same way ever again, judge Simon Cowell told him. It took on a whole new meaning for me. Youre a very courageous person. This is an audition I will never forget for the whole of my life, Archie. During the quarterfinals, Williams performed a moving cover of Steve Wonder's "Love's in Need of Love Today," receiving praise from guest judge Kelly Clarkson. In the semifinals, during which he was saved by the judges, he sang Westlife's "Flying Without Wings." And on Tuesday's finals, Williams sang The Beatles classic "Blackbird," which judge Sofia Vergara called his best performance. "I hear this song differently than I ever did before ... like The Beatles wrote this song for you," judge Heidi Klum said. Meghans appearance on AGT comes just one day after she and Harry made their primetime TV debut to celebrate TIME magazine's annual list of the worlds most influential people. They used their segment to speak about the importance of voting. RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Netflix Shows Will Be Platform's 'Most Viewed Content,' Says CEO ABC Prince Harry and Meghan Markle "We're six weeks out from the election, and today is Voter Registration Day," Meghan said on Tuesday's ABC special. "Every four years, we're told, '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." Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! In her remarks, Meghan also encouraged the public to "honor those who gave us courage this year. Like the scientists, researchers and medical professionals who are leading the fight against COVID-19. Or the countless voices who are speaking out with passion and purpose against injustice and inequality and to those silently marching in solidarity, in peaceful protest to stand for what is just and what is right." 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. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Manipur seems to be headed to a fresh political crisis after Chief Minister N Biren Singh reshuffled his three-year-old BJP-led ministry on Thursday. He dropped V Hangkhalian, Nemcha Kipgen, Th Radheshyam Singh (all from BJP), L Jayentakumar Singh, N Kayisii (both from National Peoples Party), and Karam Shyam (Lok Janshakti Party) and inducted MLAs S Rajen, Voujagin Valte, Oinam Lukhoi, T Satyabrata Singh and Okram Henry into the ministry. Kipgen was the only woman minister in the states 12-member ministry while Henry is former CM and Congress stalwart O Ibobi Singhs nephew. In the 2017 elections, Lukhoi and Henry were elected on the Congress tickets but they defected to the BJP in August this year after helping the CM win a controversial trust vote. They will seek peoples mandate in the by-elections to be held in 13 seats. According to reports reaching here, the NPP was livid that two of its four ministers were dropped. Party chief and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma will fly to Imphal on Saturday, an NPP insider told this newspaper. He said the party might pull out of the coalition government. As reports were rife on the social media that two NPP MLAs could be dropped, the party had sent out a message that it would withdraw its support to the government if any of them was targeted. In June, the four NPP ministers had withdrawn their support to the government following differences with the CM. They returned as ministers after the BJPs central leadership had assured them of addressing their grievances. Singh, who had been under pressure for the past few months to reshuffle the ministry, had met BJP national president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi recently. He told journalists on Thursday that there was nothing significant in the reshuffle of ministry and that it was done as desired by his partys central leaders. After a series of resignations in the past few months, the strength of the 60-member Manipur House was reduced to 47. The government enjoys the support of 30 MLAs while Congress has 17. A mutated, more contagious coronavirus that Houston scientists reported was the primary strain circulating in the area in the pandemics early days is now virtually the only one infecting people here, according to the team. In a study released Wednesday, Houston Methodist scientists reported that more than 99 percent of samples of the virus theyve sequenced since mid-May contained the mutation that allows it to infect more people, up from about 70 percent the previous two months. Now Playing: A new Houston Chronicle investigation reveals COVID-19 spread faster and farther than the public was told. Top officials were warned years ago we were unprepared for a pandemic. For months, the death toll was distorted. In the end, COVID-19 exposed a cascade of failures that let the virus spread unchecked, killing thousands of Texans. Video: Laura Duclos Weve now done molecular analyses of the two waves of the pandemic and one thing that stands out is the increase in the mutated strains frequency over a short period of time, said Dr. James Musser, Methodists chairman of pathology and genomic medicine and the studys author. Clearly, this strain is very different. But Musser emphasized there is no evidence the strain is any more virulent, meaning it is no more likely to cause death or extended hospitalization. Instead it seems to facilitate the virus spike proteins ability to attach to enter human respiratory cells. The strains increased dominance beginning in mid-May likely contributed to the dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases after Memorial Day, Musser acknowledged. But he noted the virus still could have been controlled reasonably well with the known measures masks, proper social distancing, and the avoidance of large gatherings. On HoustonChronicle.com: Most coronavirus strains circulating in Houston reported to be more contagious The study has not yet been peer-reviewed. It was posted on the preprint server MedRxiv, which hosts preliminary reports made public ahead of peer-reviewed publication because of the urgent nature of the pandemic. The mutation is likely similarly dominant around the country, said Musser. But the study only looked at samples collected in Houston. Methodist scientists have been sequencing the coronavirus genome since it arrived in early March. The study looked at more than 5,000 samples of the virus, the most sequenced so far. The team reported on their first findings in May. That study found the virus that causes COVID-19 was introduced in the Houston area beginning in early March from a multitude of geographic regions, including Asia, Europe and South America. It found most of the strains were the mutated ones from Europe, not the original one that originated in Asia in December 2019. Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico had previously speculated that the mutation made the virus more contagious, an idea not initially embraced by many scientists, including Musser. He said he still wanted more evidence when the first such evidence was reported a couple of months later. But Musser said Wednesday the preponderance of evidence now suggests the mutated strain is more contagious. That includes his study, which found there is a higher viral load associated with the strain. Musser said the high viral load engenders easier transmissibility rather than virulence because it is in the upper respiratory system, not the lungs or bloodstream. On HoustonChronicle.com: Evidence growing Houstons main coronavirus strain is more contagious than original The study found the pandemics two Houston waves March to early May, then mid-May through August first infected older, more affluent individuals, then younger, lower-income neighborhoods. Musser said the design of the vaccines in clinical trials and under development cover the mutated virus. But he said the mutation raises the concern the virus could develop additional mutations to enable it to escape peoples defense once they have widespread immunity to the virus. If that were to become the case, he said, it might be necessary to develop new vaccines annually, as is done for the flu. Mutations occur randomly as the virus makes copies of its genome within human cells. But the more cases there are the virus spread has provided ample such opportunities the greater the odds the mutation will have consequences. A lot of this is a numbers game, said Musser. Roll the dice enough and you get a large number of mutations. Scientists from the University of Texas at Austin, Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory also contributed to the study. todd.ackerman@chron.com ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kind Home Solutions, a Denver based painting company , is thrilled to announce that they have been finalized as a winner of the 2020 Colorado Companies to Watch (CCTW) Award. This award is given to local Colorado companies that are growing and adding revenue and jobs to the Colorado economy. The mission statement of CCTW is "To empower 2nd Stage companies who fuel the economic fire of Colorado". The award gala was held virtually on Friday, September 18th where the 50 winners were announced. CCTW, sponsored by Bank of America and founded in 2009, is in its 12th year of awarding 2nd stage businesses in Colorado. Every year, there are over 1,000 nominations for the award. Businesses can be nominated by anyone in the community, but nominations typically come from different service providers such as attorneys, bankers, accountants, and public relations professionals. Nominations also come from economic development professionals; trade, business and community associations; the media; and universities. From the 1,000+ nominees, 100 semi-finalists are selected by the judges panel and then 50 finalists are chosen from this field. The 50 finalists this year represent all areas of Colorado and a wide variety of industries. They include women owned businesses, startups, and established companies. They own patents, they operate single or multiple locations and contribute greatly to their communities. These 50 winners also employ nearly 1,900 full time workers and are projected to generate more than $535 million in revenue in 2020. Kind Home Solutions is a family owned and operated home painting and roofing business located in Englewood, CO. Serving the Denver Metro Area, they have been in business for 3 years, and are growing exponentially. With 18 employees and counting, they are contributing to the local economy in multiple ways, from providing jobs to spending money with local businesses. These and other factors were considered during the award process, and are what ultimately led to Kind Home Solutions being one of the 50 finalists. Media Contact: Christian Stack [email protected] SOURCE Kind Home Solutions Related Links https://www.kindhomesolutions.com/ By Trend The Armenians are destroying the ancient Albanian and Christian monuments of Azerbaijan, a historian at the Institute of History of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Ramin Alizade said Trend reports. Alizade made the speech during a webinar on the "Scientific origin of the Arsak toponym" topic. He said that the Armenians misrepresent the Christian Albanian monuments of Azerbaijan as Gregorian. In Soviet times, our pre-Islamic history was mostly forgotten. The major experts studying these areas in the South Caucasus were Armenians and Georgians, the historian noted. Albanology was more often studied by Armenians and Georgians. In Soviet times, the history of Azerbaijan was in a secondary position. Therefore, although the two main capitals of Caucasian Albania, Gabala and Barda, are Azerbaijani cities, in Soviet times, scientists discussed these issues in Russia, Armenia, and Georgia, Alizade said. The historian added that there is an urgent need to disseminate true information about the history of Azerbaijan in the digital world. We see that the struggle is continuing in the digital world. By reaching a large number of people, we should inform them truthfully, not ignore falsified information, and promote our real history, Alizade emphasized. 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 A, 76-year-old woman who presented to emergency department with upper back pain. Axial abdominopelvic CT angiogram shows nonocclusive acute aortic thrombus (arrow). Bilateral common iliac artery and left internal iliac artery thrombi (not shown) were also seen, as well as signs of chronic atherosclerotic disease. After findings of concurrently performed chest CT raised concerns, patient was determined to have COVID-19. Credit: American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS), American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR) According to an open-access article in ARRS' American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), because coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may present with medium to large arterial and venous abdominal and extremity macrothrombi, radiologists should raise concern for COVID-19 when identifying thromboembolic abdominopelvic findings. Bari Dane of NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City and colleagues at NYU Winthrop in Mineola, New York retrospectively compared 82 patients (58 men, 24 women; mean age 58.8) with COVID-19 who underwent abdominal ultrasound or CT with 82 patients (43 men, 39 women; mean age 53.5) without COVID-19 for thromboembolism and solid-organ infarction. Nine (11%) patients with COVID-19 had thromboembolic findings (seven men, two women; mean age 67.0). Thromboembolism was described in four of the 38 CT reports (10.5%). Two others described splenic infarctions with patent vasculature (overall positivity rate, 15.8% [6/38]). Three patients had arterial thromboembolism in the aorta or major branches. Noting one patient without COVID-19 had known portal vein thrombus on CT, "thromboembolic findings occurred more frequently in patients with than without COVID-19 (p = 0.02)," Dane et al. concluded. Acknowledging this study's small sample size and single-institution nature, Dane pointed out that the cohort describing patients with "COVID" in the radiology report may not include all patients with COVID-19. "Additionally," the authors of this AJR article continued, "not all patients with thromboembolism undergo confirmative imaging, and some may not experience symptoms. Consequently, the prevalence is likely larger than reported." B, 46-year-old man who was found to have COVID-19 after presenting with fever, shortness of breath, epigastric pain, and weakness. Axial IV contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic CT image shows small left renal infarct (arrow) and nonocclusive aortic, celiac artery, and superior mesenteric artery thrombus (circle). Complete common hepatic artery thrombus (not shown) was also seen. Splenic and renal infarctions (not shown) were present, despite patent visualized associated arteries and veins. Concurrently performed IV contrast-enhanced chest CT angiogram (not shown) showed lobar and segmental pulmonary emboli; probable left lower lobe pulmonary infarction rather than pneumonia; and bilateral, multilobar, patchy but confluent ground-glass opacities typical of COVID-19. Credit: American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS), American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR) Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Bari Dane et al, Hypercoagulability in Patients With Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Identification of Arterial and Venous Thromboembolism in the Abdomen, Pelvis, and Lower Extremities, American Journal of Roentgenology (2020). Journal information: American Journal of Roentgenology Bari Dane et al, Hypercoagulability in Patients With Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Identification of Arterial and Venous Thromboembolism in the Abdomen, Pelvis, and Lower Extremities,(2020). DOI: 10.2214/AJR.20.23617 Premier League clubs fear a PR backlash if they do not organise a speedy cash bailout for financially troubled EFL clubs. Sportsmail understands there are opposing opinions among top-flight teams on providing financial relief and talks are ongoing between the leagues. But EFL chairman Rick Parry said Wednesday he remained 'optimistic' of finding a solution. While some clubs are sceptical about providing EFL clubs with a handout, others primarily the smaller clubs are far more sympathetic. Premier League clubs fear a PR backlash if they do not bailout financially troubled EFL clubs EFL chairman Rick Parry said Wednesday he remained 'optimistic' of finding a solution The extension of playing matches behind closed doors because of increasing Covid-19 rates will add to clubs' financial concerns. There is a growing acceptance that top-flight clubs will have to inject cash into the EFL to keep several teams afloat, knowing that not doing so will have grave consequences and will damage the Premier League's image. Some club officials want to avoid a scenario where it appears they are offering financial support under duress; or, even worse, not giving them any money at all. There is a belief that the Government are reluctant to include the Premier League and EFL in a financial relief fund for UK sport after plans to reintroduce fans were scrapped on Tuesday. Parry said he was disappointed at the Government's decision to not bring back EFL fans Parry said he was disappointed at the Government's decision on fans. The EFL have warned that their clubs will collectively lose 200million in matchday revenue and other benefits if the whole 2020-21 season has to be played behind closed doors. 'Over many months we have helped the Government devise, refine and pilot stringent stadium protocols to keep supporters safe,' said Parry. 'We are deeply frustrated that we will not be able to continue this work.' Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (492) The lengthy wait for drink-only pubs to finally reopen ended on Wednesday as patrons enjoyed a few refreshing pints without the need to buy food. Despite fears that a 10pm closing time could be introduced in Northern Ireland following the steps taken in England this week, pub owners were just glad to get the doors open for the first time in six months. Social distancing, table service and hand sanitising stations are the new normal, and something many people will be used to after bars which serve food reopened in July. As I travelled to Belfast city centre by train, it was hard not to notice the amount of commuters failing to wear a face mask on board. But adhering to the Covid-19 restrictions was a very different affair in the pubs. In the Northern Ireland Supporters' Club on the Shankill Road customers are asked to use the hand sanitiser available to them on their left after they are buzzed in through the front door. Customers can only be served through a Perspex screen at the bar, with the shutters staying closed around the rest of the counter. Sam Cole (83), a regular in the club, escorted the Belfast Telegraph around to see how customers can enjoy their afternoon in a socially distanced manner. He said he was "delighted" the venue can welcome customers once again. "Most of us come here on a Wednesday," he explained. "Most of us are pensioners and ex-servicemen, as this is an ex-servicemen bar, most of the women who come here are pensioners too, and we all look forward to a Wednesday here. "I can drink a pint here, or two pints, or a vodka, and I'm not eating a fish supper or a bowl of stew. "This law seems to be really ridiculous. Most of the people I talk to say the same. "How is a sausage roll with a pint different from a pint on its own?" Mr Cole joked that a few pints might even help beat the virus. "I'm 83 years of age and I look forward to my Wednesday out and Saturday and Sunday," he added. "That's the three days I'm out and I like to meet up with my friends." Expand Close Sam Cole pictured enjoying a pint at the Northern Ireland Supporters Club on the Shankill Road in Belfast. Credit: Stephen Hamilton Stephen Hamilton / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sam Cole pictured enjoying a pint at the Northern Ireland Supporters Club on the Shankill Road in Belfast. Credit: Stephen Hamilton Meanwhile, at Madden's Bar in Belfast city centre Paul O'Boyle could not wait to enjoy a drink without being "lumbered" with food. As you walk into the well-known traditional music pub customers are directed where to go by means of a barrier before ordering your drink and taking a seat. Paul was supping away at his first Guinness of the day and said he hoped everyone can now abide by the regulations in place. "Madden's is my local and it's been absolutely brilliant just to sit in and just to have a drink without having to eat food," he said. "You eat when you're hungry, you drink when you're thirsty and you sleep when you're tired. "It was frustrating, but I just hope everybody abides by the rules and hopefully they'll be allowed to stay open." Expand Close Ralph Hewitt pictured as he enjoys a pint at Bittles bar in Belfast. Credit: Stephen Hamilton Stephen Hamilton / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ralph Hewitt pictured as he enjoys a pint at Bittles bar in Belfast. Credit: Stephen Hamilton Elsewhere in Bittles Bar I took full advantage of my day out in the city as I treated myself to a pint of ice-cold Heineken. After ordering my drink at the bar, pub owner John Bittles told me to have a seat and brought my drink to the table, where I paid him by contactless card. John explained that today marked the first day he was allowed to let people back into the building, but said the stress during lockdown was too much at times. "It's good to be open again and when you're closed like we were there's a lot of pressure on you, a lot of stress, a lot of anxiety and it knocks your whole system about," he added. "You just want to get everything back to normal and we're glad to get the place back up and running. People will come in, stand at the door, and if they wait a wee second we'll give them a table." West Belfast pub owner Gerard Keenan, who runs Dan's Bar on the city's Springfield Road with his wife Sinead, said it was an "unreal feeling" to open the business again. "Sinead could sleep standing up but last night, she struggled to sleep because she was so nervous and was just worrying if it was actually going to happen this time," he said. "The doors were open this morning at half 11 and there were a few customers outside waiting to come in." Some bars still remain closed in Belfast, however. Venues which rely on live music, such as the Duke of York, are to remain shut until it becomes clearer on what will and will not be allowed. Until that time, people's social lives have been given a new lease of life as the 'local' can welcome back its patrons. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 04:52:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOSCOW, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russia will not take into account the U.S. illegitimate demands concerning Iran when building its own policy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday. "We have heard Washington say that all those who do not follow its interpretation of the situation, which brings us back to the need to restore sanctions on Iran, will be punished by additional measures that the U.S. will take, including economic ones," Lavrov said at a press conference after talks with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. "I can only speak for Russia. Russia will in no way build its policy on the basis of taking into account these aggressive demands that have no legal force," he added. Lavrov expressed the hope that other countries cooperating with Iran will take a principled position and will be guided by their national interests, not by the need to obey a dictate from overseas. The minister said that during the talks with Zarif, both sides reaffirmed their desire to further strengthen trade and investment ties. Enditem Over the past six months, I have heard nothing but praise from British visitors to the Balearics for how the local population has, for the very large part, obeyed the Covid protocol and their shame that their fellow compatriots have not been doing the same at home. Well it would appear that the UK is in for a rude awakening if Boris and co. are to be believed and the Prime Minister sticks to his guns. Defending the latest measures, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, yesterday said there would always be the Goldilocks criticism - too much or too little of the governments strategy, but he added: We are taking a balanced, targeted position, proportionate approach to prevent ourselves from having to take more drastic action. And, the government has made it clear that, rather like in Sweden, the onus is very much on how the public responds and behaves. This is very much last orders, otherwise parts of the UK, if not the entire nation, could be thrown back into a total lockdown which could last six months - which will come as another blow to the Balearic tourist industry, not to mention the UKs economy as a whole. Yes, as some experts have warned, it may all be too little too late but time will tell and while the number crunchers wait and watch it is up to the general public to do the right thing for once. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 09:18:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Raheela Nazir ISLAMABAD, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. administration's attempt to impose restrictions on Chinese tech companies and to contain China's technological development and economic growth is doomed to fail, a Pakistani expert has told Xinhua. The unabated U.S. assault on the technological sector of China has hindered the business of a large number of Chinese companies, according to Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, a political economist and director of the Asia Study Center at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute in Pakistan. Mindful of the fact that it cannot keep pace with Huawei's 5G and other technological innovations, the U.S. government has launched a campaign to discredit Huawei and also forced other countries not to do business with the Chinese tech giant, the expert said. On Aug. 6, Trump issued an executive order banning U.S. transactions with ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of video-sharing social networking platform TikTok, citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. TikTok consequently sued the U.S. administration to block the order, arguing it is unconstitutional. The U.S. administration's attempt to impose restrictions on Chinese tech companies will not be successful, given the fact that China is comparatively less or in some areas even not dependent on the United States or its allies' technology, said Ramay. Contrary to that, the United States and Western countries are much more dependent on the cutting-edge technologies of China's, like Huawei's 5G, he said, adding that China is making massive investments to stimulate and galvanize the local market in order to take a lead in science and technology. "The economic and technological cooperation between China and other countries under the Belt and Road Initiative is playing a pivotal role in economic and technological development and advancement," the expert said. Enditem One mother has found a way to say thank you to the Conroe police officers who made her late daughters wish come true. It may seem like I am closing the chapter to something I have held on to for so long, but its opening a chapter of love and beauty, LaCoshia Williams said while standing in front of a large group of officers gathered outside of the Conroe Police Department. In November 2016, a teenage girl, Lauryn Williams, was honored by Conroe PD as an officer for a day shortly before she passed away in February 2017. Since then, Williams has been holding on to the thank-you cards for the officers. The card features a photo of Lauryn standing in a uniform with the police department, which also sent its honor guard to pay tribute to Lauryn at her memorial service. On Thursday, the mother decided it was finally the right time to show her gratitude to the officers who granted her daughters request with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She did so by surprising Conroe PD with lunch, prayer, and joining the officers to retake the same photo from November 2016 on the cards she shared with them. On the back of her shirt reflected a message from within the card A hero is an ordinary person who faces extraordinary circumstances, followed by a hashtag for the police department. At a time that you guys are going through so much, whether it is social media or on the job, Williams continued addressing the group of officers. At this time, I feel like the love that yall gave us at a time that I had to give my only child back to God I felt like out of respect for my daughter and out of respect for what you guys do on the daily that it would be an honor for me to take this time and this moment of what we are going through to try to give something back to you guys. Conroe Police Department Lt. Jimmy Waller still remembers that day for Lauryn, who suffered from multiple medical problems related to a rare chromosomal defect, including cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, and a hereditary heart muscle disease known as Cardiomyopathy. I remember the excitement in her eyes, Waller said. We delivered her uniform, boots, and a little badge. You could see the excitement in her face. The happy expression followed a journey full of obstacles. After she was born on June 8, 2000, the doctors did not know what to expect for Lauryns future. Six months later, LaCoshia Williams learned her newborn child would not live to see her first birthday. The family turned to faith. By June 2016, nearly 100 people, including members of her church and her doctors, joined the teen at Heathers Glen in Conroe to celebrate her Cinderella-themed sweet 16th birthday. A few months later, the teen who had been placed on hospice care earlier that year, was honored by Conroe PD who learned about her story and did not hesitate to see her dream come true. We all get into law enforcement to make a difference in someones life, Waller said. Its very nice to know that you did make a difference in someones life and to see that years later that you had an impact. LaCoshia Williams expressed gratitude for others in the community who also made Thursdays event possible, including Speed Printing and Office Supply, Target, H-E-B, Tiff Treats, Joes Italian Restaurant, Party City, Sams in Conroe and Montgomery Yard Cards. The Conroe PD officers shared they were humbled by the mothers gesture of gratitude. Events like this, if the rest of the nation could take the time to be caring and compassionate towards each other, this is just an example of what a great community we have, Waller added. mellsworth@hcnonline.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25 Trend: "In some case, UN Security Council resolutions have been implemented within days. However, Armenia continues to ignore the UN Security Council's resolutions for almost 30 years. International sanctions must be imposed on Armenia as an aggressor state," said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the general debates of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly in a video format, Trend reports. "In blatant violation of the international law norms, Armenia implements a policy of illegal settlement on the occupied territories. While the international community, including Azerbaijan is concentrating on eliminating the consequences of Beirut explosion, Armenia misuses the situation by settling Lebanese people of Armenian origin in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The illegal settlement is a gross violation of international law, including the Geneva Convention of 1949. This is a war crime. The illegal settlement in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan cannot have any legal effect. Cultural heritage of Azerbaijani people on the territory of todays Armenia has been demolished and plundered. Armenia also destroyed all Azerbaijani historical and religious monuments in the occupied territories. The aim is to erase all Azerbaijani traces there. Armenia illegally exploits natural resources and uses water reserves to create an artificial environmental crisis in the occupied territories. Armenia extracts gold and other precious metals and minerals of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan and exports to the international markets. It is a scheme of illegal business activities and money laundering. International companies illegally exploiting Azerbaijans natural resources on the occupied territories will face legal responsibility, if they dont stop their illicit activity immediately. Azerbaijan has already started to take legal action against persons and companies illegally exploiting our natural resources on the occupied lands," the head of state noted. "A ready-to-use set of resources like this is so useful for me and my congregation to be able to engage with Episcopal Relief & Development in a purposeful way throughout Advent," said the Rev. Steven Paulikas, Rector, All Saints' Episcopal Church Park Slope. Episcopal Relief & Development celebrates one year of ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE by debuting new digital Advent and worship resources, as well as other toolkits for churches and supporters to use together or individually. ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE is a three year, $3 million grassroots Church-wide fundraising campaign dedicated to expanding the organizations global programs improving the lives of children up to age six. The COVID-19 pandemic had many churches and events move to worship and engage with each other online, said Chad Brinkman, Campaign Director, Episcopal Relief & Development. Knowing this, we have adapted ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE to be more virtual, creating resources and tools that people can use from home to continue, either individually or with their congregation online, to support Episcopal Relief & Developments work with children. As the Church-wide campaign moves into its second year, the organization is debuting new digital resources such as: The Acts of LOVE Toolkit - A kit with age-appropriate concrete steps for children, teens and adults to show love for others. Love Hunt - An intergenerational scavenger hunt and educational experience that encourages families and communities to learn about the organizations work with children, share love and experiences and give their time, talent and treasure to benefit children around the world. Worship Resources - A collection of resources for every aspect of supporters faith life. Advent Resources - An array of materials such as suggestions for How to Plan an Advent Campaign, Advent Activities Guide, and an Advent Calendar. New this year are a DIY Advent Wreath, a DIY Creche and resources to celebrate St. Nicholas. Other materials include Gifts for Life brochures with fundraising ideas and a gift selection. As a rector, the Advent materials that have been designed for the ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE campaign are such a gift, said the Rev. Steven Paulikas, Rector, All Saints Episcopal Church Park Slope. "A ready-to-use set of resources like this is so useful for me and my congregation to be able to engage with Episcopal Relief & Development in a purposeful way throughout Advent." On World Kindness Day, November 13, Episcopal Relief & Development is also calling on supporters to take part in a Day of LOVE through acts of love and social media posts and by learning more about the ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE campaign. Learn more about how to participate at http://www.episcopalrelief.org/day-of-love When the pandemic struck, we paused the campaign to evaluate how we could best continue in the new primarily digital environment," continued Brinkman. It is our hope that these new resources will enable churches and individuals to continue to meaningfully participate in ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE without having to leave their homes. In its first year, the ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE campaign engaged 102 dioceses across The Episcopal Church and received over 4,000 gifts, raising over $600,000. This support has enabled the purchase of bicycles for Early Childhood Development (ECD) volunteers, the provision of mosquito nets and other health support to children and their caregivers, and the expansion of the organizations work with children that have special needs. Donations have also gone towards care for mothers and newborns, improving food security for young students, expanding access to clean water, and supporting the growth of savings and loan groups, primarily with women, to build their families economic stability. This past year has been extremely challenging for many of our supporters, said Robert W. Radtke, President and CEO of Episcopal Relief & Development. I am deeply grateful for the generosity of the churches, dioceses and individuals who have continued to support ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE and Episcopal Relief & Developments work with children, which is needed now more than ever, in vulnerable communities around the world. Research shows that the first 1,000 days for children are critical in setting a foundation that affects their ability to grow, learn and thrive over their entire lives. Around the world, 155 million children under five are stunted due to inadequate nutrition and health care. Episcopal Relief & Development works with communities to ensure that children have access to food, clean water, quality health care and essential nurture for every childs development. To learn more about ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE or to make a donation, visit http://www.episcopalrelief.org/1000daysoflove. About Episcopal Relief & Development: For over 75 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working together with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Inspired by Jesus words in Matthew 25, Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the expertise and resources of Anglican and other partners to deliver measurable and sustainable change in three signature program areas: Women, Children and Climate. For the past month, record-breaking wildfires have torched millions of acres from the Mexican border well into Canada, their smoke producing air so toxic that millions of people remained indoors for days on end while many visited hospitals because of respiratory distress. Last week, Hurricane Sally left a trail of watery devastation in Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, even as more storms brewed offshore. All of that on top of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed nearly 1 million people worldwide. The timing couldn't have been better for the opening this month of the Center for Healthy Climate Solutions at UCLA's Fielding School of Public Health. Its mission is to work with policymakers and community groups to help safeguard human health against the ravages of climate change. The center was founded on the premise that the long-feared effects of climate change are already here and must be met with policies not only to slow the warming of the planet but also to help people adapt to its reality. The center's co-directors, Dr. Jonathan Fielding and Michael Jerrett, believe the clock is running out and we must quickly reduce the amount of carbon being pumped into the atmosphere to have any hope of preserving a viable planet. "A lot of the predictions of what could happen with climate change have been wrong. But the predictions have been wrong in that they haven't been catastrophic enough," Fielding, a professor of medicine and public health at UCLA and former head of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said in an interview last week. Jerrett, a professor of environmental health sciences at UCLA's Fielding School who also participated in the interview, is the principal investigator on a study hypothesizing that long-term exposure to air pollution elevates the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. Other studies have yielded similar findings. The following excerpts of the interview with Fielding and Jerrett were edited for length and clarity: Q: Could the hazardous air quality from the wildfires burning across much of the West Coast fuel an increase in severe COVID-19 cases and deaths? Jonathan Fielding: There's a very good chance of that. There is no doubt the effects of air pollution on the lungs and other organs are substantial and contribute to people with chronic problems being more susceptible to the severe effects of COVID. Michael Jerrett: When we have wildfire events like this, as people are exposed to these high levels of smoke, we see increases in those indicators of morbidity and mortality. And we've seen those effects for several lung diseases that have similarities to COVID, like pneumonia. Q: How does climate change exacerbate the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic health disparities that are so prevalent in our society? Fielding: You already have people who have a higher rate and burden of chronic illness. Just look at the rates of obesity, for example, as well as the rate of cardiovascular disease. Those are certainly exacerbated by increased heat and by where people can afford to live. A lot of people can only afford a place that's going to have a lot of heat islands, it's not going to be air-conditioned, it might not have much in the way even of public transportation. Jerrett: If you look through very long periods of time, people who have more resources whether that's better social contacts or they're more highly educated, or have higher incomes, or other factors that put them at a social advantage have always been able to protect themselves from environmental risks better than people who lack those resources. Q: Can you explain how wildfires affect mental health? Jerrett: There's emerging and increasingly convincing literature that shows air pollution is related to anxiety and depression. It's thought that the change in the nervous system that seems to be stimulated by air pollution, and perhaps the vascular system changes, can affect brain function and lead people into a more depressive state. Secondly, the loss of immediate surroundings that people are familiar with: So if you are used to looking out and seeing a beautiful forest, and you walk out and you look in your backyard and you see nothing but smoke, and the whole forest is gone, that can affect mental health. Q: Can we expect to see pandemics more frequently? Fielding: What I think most people are missing in discussing this issue is population growth. We're increasing the interface between humans and other species that have viruses that may not affect them but very severely affect humans. So, that's one issue. The second issue is that climate change is increasing the area where you have vectors that can thrive. So, for example, we're going to wind up with mosquitoes that can transmit dengue fever and malaria in the U.S. Q: You talk about the "health co-benefits" of programs that can help slow climate change while mitigating its impact on public health. What are some examples? Jerrett: Some of the leading practices in terms of generating benefits involve, say, increasing the green cover. As we increase green cover, we absorb more carbon, so we're going to reduce the risk of long-term climate change, but you can also have substantial health benefits from that. We know that the introduction of more vegetation generally lowers extreme heat, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods where they don't have a lot of park space or a lot of trees. Another leading practice, where the Europeans are way ahead of us but we do see signs of improvement across California, in places like Santa Monica is promoting what's known as active travel: to get people out of their cars and get them on a bicycle or walking for incidental trips or going to work. We get a benefit in terms of their increased physical activity, and we also reduce the amount of emissions. Q: Are the climate changes we are already seeing permanent, or can they be halted or even reversed? Jerrett: We're already in what I would call a climate crisis. It's elevating to a climate catastrophe, and that's going to happen in the next 20 years. We still have a chance to pull back. If we don't, then we're going to start seeing massive species die-offs; it's going to affect the ability of people all over the world to feed themselves. We're going to have these extraordinary, extreme events like wildfires that are going to dwarf what we've seen in the past, and large portions of the planet may become uninhabitable. Fielding: Here I would draw a parallel to COVID. Even though many of us predicted a pandemic, most people didn't really believe it, the government didn't prepare well for it, and we're learning the same thing with climate change. The difference is we have a way, through vaccination and maybe drugs, to reverse what's going on with COVID. We don't know that we have the ability to do that with climate change. You have people politicizing it and calling it a hoax, and that, unfortunately, is very detrimental to what we all want, which is to have a habitable planet. PFS (a company of EML) is excited to highlight a range of product enhancements designed to accentuate the competitive advantage of disruptive FinTechs aware of Banking-As-A-Service (BaaS) trends in the European Economic Area. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005370/en/ PFS is working with FinTechs Banks to disrupt Financial Technology (Graphic: Business Wire) SEPA Direct Debit (SDD) will enable clients across the EEA to take on traditional banks through PFS' licenses with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI). Additionally, the company announces that SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst) is just around the corner. 'Financial Technology is a fiercely competitive space and BaaS allows FinTechs to compete with established banks but conversely, we also enable established banks to take advantage of new technologies that can run independently or in conjunction with their core banking platforms. What we recognise is that both banks and FinTechs want their partner to be product-focused with the objective of improving customer experience and providing additional services that the customer will value,' noted Lee Britton, CCO at PFS (a company of EML). 'We take pride in innovation whilst maintaining our commitment to stability and security within the PFS platform. By adding SEPA Direct Debit capability and SEPA Instant Credit Transfer, we want to enable partners to offer an even better service in multiple markets to their end customers.' PFS is a payments service provider who adheres to the SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT), SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst) and SEPA Direct Debit (SDD) core payments schemes. About PFS (a company of EML) (ASX: EML) PFS, an agile FinTech, is a Payment Provider of Choice delivering robust payment technology solutions and offers world-class innovation in electronic money. A pioneer in the evolution of the FinTech ecosystem, PFS' award-winning solutions include eWallets, physical and virtual prepaid cards, IBAN accounts and prepaid consumer and business current accounts in the UK and Eurozone. PFS is one of Europe's largest eMoney issuers and has returned profits for 12 consecutive years. With programmes active in 28 countries and growing, the company has the ability to transact in 25 currencies. PFS' products and state-of-the-art technology platforms are trusted by Fintechs, Governments, Local Authorities, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Traditional Banks and a comprehensive list of Corporates. PFS is chosen by other FinTechs to revolutionise the digital economy in real-time. The company develops a range of trendsetting mobile payment and wearable solutions securely and seamlessly by providing quick and easy integrations into mobile payment applications. Discover more about PFS' next-generation payment solutions by connecting with Sales@PrepaidFinancialServices.com Explore the future of prepaid financial solutions today, as the world moves towards a cashless society tomorrow, by visiting: https://prepaidfinancialservices.com https://www.emlpayments.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005370/en/ Contacts: Marie O'Riordan MPRCA MAM Head of PR PFS (a company of EML) Email Marie.ORiordan@PrepaidFinancialServices.com Tel +353 46 94 2010 9 Work is in full swing for the construction of two motorways near the ruins of the ancient city of Memphis, the capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. The new roads are part of an infrastructure plan to develop the area around the Giza Plateau in Giza ahead of the much anticipated inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2021. One of the roads will cross the desert south of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the only survivor of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The other route will pass between the limestone step pyramid of Djoser and the Dahshur area south of Cairo. The highways will cross close to Memphis, the first capital of ancient Egypt, alarming archaeologists, who fear that traffic on the new roads will cause damage to archaeological treasures in the area and make them vulnerable to theft. Speaking to Al-Monitor, a former archaeologist said the road near the Pyramid Plateau will bring congestion and pollution and harm to archaeological sites in the area. It is strange that one of the routes is being rebuilt after it was suspended in 1995 following the intervention of UNESCO to ensure the conservation of the archaeological sites in the area, said the archaeologist, who asked to remain unnamed. The northern road was first introduced in 1994 during the era of former President Hosni Mubarak as part of Cairos first Ring Road project. It was suspended after intervention from UNESCO, which was concerned that the highway could endanger the archaeological monuments on the Giza Plateau. The southern highway will also pose a threat to the Necropolis and monuments in Memphis, a city full of ancient treasures, the archaeologist said. This city is the history of ancient Egypt and its heritage must be preserved. A request sent by Al-Monitor to UNESCO for comment was referred to the World Heritage Center, but no reply had come as of the publishing of this report. Believed to have been founded in 3,000 BC by Egypts first King Menes, Memphis was a site sacred to the ancient Egyptian gods and has extraordinary funerary monuments, including rock tombs, ornate mastabas, temples and pyramids. The city, whose ruins are located near the town of Mit Rahinah, just south of Giza, includes the Temple of Ptah, the god of creation and the patron of craftsmanship in ancient Egypt. It also includes the sun temples in Abu Ghurab and Abusir, the temple of the god Apis, the Serapeum and the Heb-Sed temple in Saqqara. There are more than 38 pyramids at Memphis, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, a UNESCO world heritage site. There are also more than 9,000 rock-hewn tombs from different historic periods, ranging from the First to the Thirtieth Dynasty and extending to the Greco-Roman Period. Memphis and its Necropolis were added to the UNESCOs World Heritage List in 1979. In a Sept. 17 statement, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities denied any construction activities were ongoing on the Giza Plateau. The development project of the Giza Plateau was finished in 2019 and will be inaugurated in 2021, the ministry said. According to the ministry, only environmentally friendly electric vehicles will be used to take visitors to the Giza Plateau. Tourist buses will be banned from entering the archaeological area in order to maintain the integrity of the archaeological monuments and the surrounding environment, the ministry said. Speaking to Al-Monitor, Mostafa Waziry, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, dismissed fears that the new routes will harm the archaeological sites. Any construction activity near any archaeological site is subject to archaeological supervision, he said. Waziry linked media reports fanning concerns about the road construction near the Giza Plateau with attempts by hostile countries to hinder Egypts development. Archaeologists have surveyed the area to make sure that there were no monuments hidden beneath the ground before starting the construction of the new roads, he said. The Egyptian state and all its institutions pay a great deal of care to protecting our archaeological monuments, he stressed. Waziry continued, We launched the project to develop the Giza Plateau in order to prevent the tourist buses from entering the area or causing any harm to the archaeological sites there, he said. We will have a great visitor center where tourist buses will not be allowed in. Only electric buses will be permitted to move in the area, which is a very respectable effort. Abdelaziz Salem, an archaeologist at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, believes that the concerns raised over the new road construction near the Pyramids and Memphis have been exaggerated. I think these worries by some archaeologists were magnified, as the new projects will neither block the public view of the archaeological sites on the Giza Plateau nor cause any direct harm to the monuments, he told Al-Monitor. There are many laws in Egypt for the protection of archaeological sites and the Ministry of Antiquities is doing a great job in protecting and restoring archaeological sites across the country, he said. Salem said that striking a balance between carrying out infrastructure projects and maintaining the integrity of the archaeological monuments has always been a point of concern. On the contrary, I believe that the Giza Plateau is a well-protected area and that there is an urgent need in Egypt for development projects around the area, he said. Police have booked three Rajasthan-based persons, including a woman, for defrauding the UCO Bank of Rs 10 crore. The accused, identified as Amandeep Singh, Aditya Kumar and Swati Karwasra of in Rajasthan, had allegedly taken a loan from the bank by keeping their guar crop, worth Rs 14 crore, as the collateral. The accused had told the bank that their crop was stored in a warehouse in Khanna. However, when the bank officials inspected the warehouse on July 6, there was no stock, said investigating officer Balbir Singh. The loan had been availed in October 2019, and the accused were to pay it back within a year, but now they are untraceable. Sources said the bank officials tried to reach the trio over the phone, however, their phones were switched off. After several attempts to reach them, the bank officials finally lodged a police complaint. The case has been registered under Section 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 120- B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code at Division No 6 police station. A manhunt has been launched for the accused, the IO said. UCO banks assistant general manager, Ramesh Nagpal, who is the complainant in the case, could not be reached for comments despite several attempts. 24.09.2020 LISTEN President Akufo-Addo has assured the United Nations of a transparent, free, fair, safe and credible elections in Ghana in December. "At the end of the elections, we shall be proud of ourselves, Africa will have good cause to be proud of us, and the rest of the world will find lessons to learn from us," Nana Akufo-Addo said on Wednesday, 23 September 2020 in a recorded video delivered at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters, New York, United States. This was the first time in the history of the United Nations that each member state, observer state, and the European Union, was invited to submit a pre-recorded video, delivered by its designated high-level official. Nana Akufo-Addo also touched on the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of everyone and the benefits of technology in these difficult times; the need for restructuring of the global financing architecture, to enable access to fresh capital by developing nations and; a call to reform the world body to reflect Africas common position on UN reform, as set out in the Ezulwini Consensus. On the political situation in the sub-region, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that: "It is incumbent on the UN and, indeed, all Member States to lend their support to the efforts being made by ECOWAS to restore normalcy to Mali, and help us defeat the scourge of terrorism." The Ghanaian leader further reflected on the 400th-anniversary of the transatlantic slave trade in 2019, at which time Ghana played a significant role by welcoming hundreds of Africans in the diaspora to their root. He said Ghana has every intention to open its doors to members of the African diaspora who find Ghana a safe haven. The Presidents assurance to the UN came a few days after former President John Mahama said Ghanas Electoral Commissions ongoing voter roll exhibition exercise has been fraught with so much disorder, anarchy and chaos, adding that the election management body has exhibited legendary incompetence with the entire electoral process ahead of the 7 December 2020 and, thus, called on the international community and election observers to step in. The flagbearer of the biggest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), told party supporters in the Bono Region on Tuesday, 22 September 2020 that since the EC started the voter register exhibition, many have gone to check and in many places, there are anomalies, several anomalies that our party has detected. In any exhibition of a register, therell be a few anomalies that are normally easy to correct but we also know that anytime weve done a registration of voters, we have done it in good time so that if there are anomalies, we can correct them, he said. When this government and the Electoral Commission decided that they were going to do a new register, we warned them that the time left was so short that if you compiled a register and there were fatal flaws in the register, you will not have enough time to do the correction before the election, the former President observed. And let me say a voter register is the most important document in any election. If the voter register is not credible or is full of errors, it makes it difficult to have a free, fair and transparent election, Mr Mahama noted. According to him, as it is, recently, we saw a video of voter registration cards being issued and the video went viral. It turned out that these were EC officers issuing voter cards. Today, the EC issued a statement and admitted that, yes, these cards were being issued at the ECs offices because of some duplications they had found out. The political parties are the main stakeholders in any election. And, so, while the exhibition of the register is going on, we have our agents at all the polling stations supervising the registration. Now, if there was an issue in compiling the register, where the codes of the codes of the various equipment were found to be duplicates, and it was necessary to issue voter cards, why were the political parties not informed. And the point even is, if you issue these new voter cards at your district office, how will the people whose cards are affected, know so that they can come and give back the old cards and give out the new cards? he wondered. In Mr Mahamas opinion, there is so much wrong going on. The incompetence of this Electoral Commission is legendary. We have held elections in this country, we have held voter registrations in this country, but we have never seen a situation where there is so much chaos and disorder in an electoral process. He warned: It has the potential to create crises in our country and that is why at a point, when I spoke, I said that the Electoral Commission should be prepared to take the blame if this country descends into chaos and they dismissed me. Today, we dont know if we are going to have a credible register because we are not confident in the process that is going on. There is too much anarchy and disorder. We are not sure that we can have a credible register with which to have a free, fair and transparent election. And, therefore, because of the seriousness of the reports Im receiving from my elections directorate, Ive decided to curtail my campaign in the Bono Region and go back to Accra to ascertain and verify the reports and to make the views of our party known to Ghana and the rest of the world, he announced. Mr Mahama said it was important for the international community to keep its eyes on Ghanas electoral process so as to ensure the process is clean. As things are going, we are not comfortable with the process going to the election and we call on the international community to take an interest in what is happening in Ghana. We want electoral observers to come long in advance; international election observers must be deployed long in advance to supervise the electoral process going into the election. We will make a major statement on this matter in due course, very soon, he said, adding: But in the meantime, Ill suspend the campaign in the Bono Region, there are several constituencies that were expecting us today and tomorrow and the day after. I wish to apologise to them. As soon as this matter is addressed in Accra, Ill quickly come back and finish the tour of the Bono Region. Courtney IlarrazaBy GENEVIEVE SHAW BROWN, ABC News (NEW YORK) -- When Courtney Ilarraza's minivan was totaled by a car traveling 60 mph on the three-mile trip from the beach to her home in Brooklyn, New York, her three children walked away unscathed. Despite the intensity of the collision, the then-3-year-old in a five-point harness was just fine. "I remember buckling her in and she was saying the straps were too tight," Ilarraza told Good Morning America. "But I told her that's how it was supposed to be." This week is Child Passenger Safety Week, which focuses on the proper use of car safety seats for children. Ilarraza, who runs Baby Bodyguards, a baby-proofing company that also offers clinics and private sessions on proper installation of car seats, told GMA that the car seat itself is less important than how it's installed. She is also a certified passenger safety technician. "All car seats manufactured in the U.S. are held to the same crash-test standards," she said. "The difference is the bells and whistles, some of which have to do with the ease of installation." For example, the Britax Click Tight has a light that turns green when the seat is installed properly. "It's super user friendly," she said. "Someone like me can get a less expensive seat because I know how to thread the straps and how to install it properly," Ilarraza told GMA. But when she makes recommendations, she said, she does advise parents to buy the seats that make it crystal clear they've been installed properly." "Installation is crucial," she said. "Say you get your car seat professionally installed the first time it goes in the car, but then your kids throws up in it and you need to remove it to clean it. You want a seat that anyone can put back in the car correctly and safely." Technology has come a long way, she said. The American Academy of Pediatrics changed its car seat recommendations in 2018 to keep children in rear-facing seats as long as possible. It had previously suggested rear-facing until the age of 2. "It's based on size rather than age," Ilarraza said. "And that varies between each manufacturer." As for specific car seat recommendations, Ilarraza said the Britax Click Tight, the Uppababy Mesa and the Graco 4ever all-in-one are all easy to install. Once the child is in the seat, it's important the chest piece goes across the nipple line. "It's the perfect position to absorb impact," she said. Finally, never use a second-hand seat, Ilarraza advised. "You don't know the history of the seat," she said, and "any seat involved in a car accident needs to be discarded and replaced." More expert tips from Alisa Baer, known as The Car Seat Lady: "In my 22 years experience helping parents install more than 15,000 car seats, the most common mistakes I see are 'loose and lose,' the car seat is installed too loosely in the car, and the harness straps are too loose on the child's body," Baer told "GMA." She sent her top three tips for safe car seat installation. 1. Installation: My inside/outside technique can help parents achieve a tighter installation with the majority of car seats on the market -- both rear and forward-facing. And, using the vehicle seat back recline trick in combination with the inside/outside technique can provide additional help getting the car seat tight with less of a workout required. 2. Harnessing (which is installing the child in the seat...): When buckling a child, parents often don't realize that moving the chest clip up to armpit level is the final step, and that while tightening the straps you want to keep the chest clip low, and pull upwards on the chest straps to gather the slack and then pull the tail to remove the slack. 3. Tethers: Every forward-facing car seat -- where the child uses a five-point harness as their restraint -- has a tether strap that secures the top of the car seat to an anchor in the back of the vehicle. Every forward-facing car seat is safer when the tether is used. Regardless of whether the forward-facing car seat is installed with the lower anchors (LATCH) or seat belt, always use the tether. Tethers decrease how far forward the child's head moves in a crash by at least 4-6 inches, which greatly reduces the risk of brain and spinal cord injury. Not sure where the tether anchors are in your vehicle? Check here! Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 14:20 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46f201b 1 National Jiwasraya,graft-allegation,graft-convict,graft-trial,tipikor,Jakarta-Corruption-Court Free Prosecutors have sought sentences ranging from 18 years to life in prison for former executives of state insurer PT Asuransi Jiwasraya for their alleged involvement in graft and money laundering that has resulted in trillions of rupiah in state losses. The prosecution demanded a life sentence and Rp 1 billion (US$67,256) fine for former Jiwasraya financial director Hary Prasetyo, 20 years and a Rp 1 billion fine for former president director Hendrisman Rahim, and 18 years and a Rp 1 billion fine for former finance and investment division head Syahmirwan. Prosecutors said that the three defendants were guilty of corruption that caused losses of Rp 16.8 trillion in state funds. [The prosecution] demands that the panel of judges officially and firmly convict the defendant, Hary Prasetyo, of several acts of corruption, public prosecutor Yanuar Utomo said during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court in Central Jakarta on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com. Read also: Indonesia plans to inject $2.5b into SOEs next year to stimulate economy, resolve Jiwasraya scandal According to the prosecution, Hary, Hendrisman and Syahmirwan had violated articles 2 and 18 of Law No. 31/1999, as amended by Law No. 20/2001 on corruption eradication, and Article 55 of the Criminal Code. [The crime] was a deliberate, structured and massive act that led to the financial difficulties befalling Jiwasraya customers, Yanuar said. Other defendants in the case are publicly listed property firm PT Hanson International president director Benny Tjokrosaputro, publicly listed mining company PT Trada Alam Minera president commissioner Heru Hidayat and PT Maxima Integra director Joko Hartono Tirto. Jiwasraya was first accused of mismanagement when it invested its premium revenue from the JS Saving Plan, one of the companys insurance products, into so-called pump-and-dump stocks. As a result, it failed to pay out Rp 16 trillion (US$1.1 billion) in matured policies due in February to its policyholders. In June, the Attorney Generals Office named 13 asset management companies and a Financial Services Authority official suspects in the Jiwasraya case.(rfa) 23.09.2020 LISTEN The Chief Executive Officer of the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), Dr. Ibrahim Anyars, has stated emphatically that the program was a timely intervention that has rescued over 100,000 unemployed graduates and Ghanaian youth as a whole. According to Dr. Anyars, the NABCO has been the panacea so far addressing age-long issue of graduate joblessness. Dr. Anyars made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday. He, has, therefore, charged the main opposition NDC to find a better alternative because the legalization of Okada cannot beat a major problem-solving program like NABCO. Dr. Anyars made it clear that as the CEO of NABCO he is led by President Akufo-Addo's clear vision for the youth of Ghana in ensuring a better future. Achievements These are some of the achievements of NABCO Dr. Anyars outlined: NABCO has positioned our youth and created better opportunities for them. The unemployed graduate that had no work experience in 2016, can now boast of 3yrs working experience. Most of our trainees have learned on the job, built their experience and apply their skills in their workplaces. Many who could not go out and socialize because they had no answer to the question; where do you work? Can now boldly step out because they have an identity. The smile on the faces of our youth at the end of the month when stipends are paid is priceless. NABCO has given our youth financial stability and security. He said that a number of trainees have been placed in the various institutions, both private and public sectors to contribute to nation-building; the very inspiration for the mantra: we are nation builders. Dr. Anyars expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his thoughtfulness that have resourced graduates to change the fortunes of this country. I have read and heard from one of our former presidents, his plight to replace NABCO with an unsustainable and risky initiative. The hard work and dedication of our trainees have not only made us proud to have solved graduate unemployment but also, we feel gratified to have been able to improve public service delivery, improve skills and employability among others, Dr. Anyars said. 7 states already allow abortion up to birth not just New York Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment New York isnt the only state that allows abortion up to birth. Before New York lawmakers voted last Tuesday to remove gestational limits on abortion, seven states and Washington, D.C. already had laws allowing third-trimester abortions. Similarly, all states that have laws banning late-term abortion still allow exceptions under certain circumstances, as noted by the Guttmacher Institute, an organization that advocates for abortion rights worldwide. Such exemptions include babies with physical anomalies, and the health of the mother, which can include mental health, according to the pro-life group Operation Rescue. The seven (now eight) states that have no gestational limits on abortion are: Alaska, Colorado, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Vermont, along with Washington, D.C. Despite abortion up to the time of birth being legal in several states and the nations capital, there are only five clinics nationwide that perform late-term abortions. Two are in states that allow abortion up to birth and three are in states that prohibit late-term abortion but allow exemptions (California, Maryland and Ohio). Among the states that have no abortion limits, so far only Colorado and New Mexico have clinics that will perform abortions up to 32 weeks and later on a "case by case basis." Those clinics are the Warren Herns Boulder Abortion Clinic in Boulder, Colorado, and Curtis Boyds Southwestern Womens Options in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which The Christian Post has reported on in the past (here and here). And at least one clinic in Washington, D.C. offers abortions up to 36 weeks. Other clinics in states with unrestrictive abortion limits have set their own caps. A clinic in New Jersey performs abortions up to 25 weeks, Oregon at 24 weeks, New Hampshire up to 17 weeks, and Alaska and Vermont up to 16 weeks, Operation Rescue has found. In New York, which has 87 abortion clinics according to Operation Rescues 2018 clinic survey, 60 only perform abortions up to 14 weeks gestation. There were 17 clinics that limited abortions to 23 weeks or under. Ten clinics were willing to abort through 24 weeks, or the end of the sixth month of pregnancy, the organization noted. The abortion bill signed into law by New York's Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week not only allows abortion at any time to protect the "patient's health," but it also says, An abortion may be performed by a licensed, certified, or authorized practitioner within 24 weeks from the commencement of pregnancy This allows health care practitioners who are not doctors to perform abortions. In response, Operation Rescue President Troy Newman likened the law to having "a phlebotomist take out your gall bladder." "There is no way a nonphysician would be qualified to conduct a third trimester abortion," Newman said. "Third trimester abortions require specific training, and even then, they are far from safe. If unqualified nonphysicians try to do third trimester abortions, there is no doubt that even more women will die. There are fewer than 10 abortionists in the United States who will perform late-term abortions, which take three to four days to complete, due to liabilities and risks to the mothers life, says Operation Rescue. Three men who performed late-term abortions are now either in prison (Kermit Gosnell) or have had their medical licenses revoked (James Pendergraft and Steven Brigham). Lawmakers in Rhode Island have also introduced two bills in the state Legislature to make abortion legal up to birth, CP reported last week. The states Democrat Gov. Gina Raimondo has already said that, if passed, shed sign the Reproductive Health Care Act into law. In Virginia, Democrat delegate Kathy Tran has introduced a bill in the House of Delegates that would legalize abortion up to birth, "even at the very end of pregnancy when a woman was going into labor," National Review reported Tuesday (watch video here). While the number of independently operated clinics that perform second- and third-trimester abortions has declined, Planned Parenthood has been increasing its number of clinics that offer abortions at 20 weeks and later. Two years ago, 18 Planned Parenthood clinics performed late-term abortions; now that number is at 37, according to Operation Rescues 2018 Abortion Clinic Survey of abortion clinics nationwide conducted from Nov. 26 through Dec. 14, 2018. Planned Parenthoods new president, Dr. Leana Wen, has said numerous times that she believes abortion is a basic human right and she's going to "fight for that every day." Last year, abortions performed at Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide increased to 332,757 an increase of 11,373 abortions over the previous years report. As the number of abortions performed at Planned Parenthood clinics increased, their adoption referrals "decreased by 1,000 last year" to around 2,800, "which means that Planned Parenthood clinics performed 118 abortions for every one adoption referral," The National Review noted. Although Wen has touted Planned Parenthood as a major provider of womens health care, in 2016 CP reported that its clinics were turning away pregnant women who wanted to carry their baby to term. Employees at several clinics told CP that the only service some clinics might provide to pregnant women is to dispense a packet of prenatal vitamins, but nothing else. In an investigative report released in 2017, the pro-life group Live Action found that among 97 Planned Parenthood clinics it called nationwide, 92 said they didn't provide services to pregnant women unless they wanted an abortion. Five clinics, however, said they do provide prenatal services to pregnant women. Akshay Kumar, who is currently in Glasgow shooting for Bell Bottom, took some time out of his busy schedule and visited a gurdwara. He shared a photo of himself offering prayers and said that he felt a sense of calm for the first time in several months. Had a rather blessed morning...spent ten minutes in this Gurudwara today and counted my blessings. I feel a sense of calm I havent in months. #GratitudeIsTheBestAttitude #IkOnkar, he wrote on Instagram. In an earlier interview with Hindustan Times, Akshay said that his faith in God has never wavered. Ive never lost faith in God, not even when my father died. That would be my weakness. Thats what I love about India. Even the starving will feed God before feeding themselves in India, no one gives up his or her faith because of circumstances, he had said in 2012. Akshay and the team of Bell Bottom, including Huma Qureshi and Lara Dutta, flew to Scotland in a chartered plane last month for the shoot. Vaani Kapoor joined them later. Recently, Akshay broke his rule of working only eight hours a day, to make up for the time lost in the initial 14 days of quarantine after landing in Scotland. He pulled a double shift and also made suggestions to fast-track the process of shooting and save the producers money. Also see | Bigg Boss 14 press conference: Salman Khan introduces Jaan Kumar Sanu as first contestant, says he is ready to take a pay cut Producer Jackky Bhagnani said, Akshay sir is truly a producers actor and it has been a privilege to work with him. He is constantly thinking about everyone and everything. From safety measures for the entire unit to shooting schedules to the challenges faced by producers - the man is pure gold. Akshay sir is doing a double shift for the first time in 18 years. So when he suggested two units we were absolutely stunned and excited at the same time. And seeing his work discipline and respect for time, everyone on the sets is super energized and also pitching in their best. Its like well-oiled machinery working round the clock to make this happen. Directed by Ranjit M Tewari, Bell Bottom is said to be inspired by true events. Akshay will be seen playing a RAW agent who rescues more than 200 hostages in a hijack situation. The film, set in the 1980s, is scheduled to release on April 2, 2021. Follow @htshowbiz for more Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) The Department of Health (DOH) said it will continue to lobby for additional funds to fight tuberculosis (TB) in the country, after only 502 million has been approved for its anti-TB program under the proposed 2021 National Expenditure Program. This is 1 billion short of the DOHs target budget of 1.5 billion, which the department said is needed to adequately test and treat TB patients in the country. Speaking to members of the media on Thursday, the DOH affirmed the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis' statement that a 502 million budget could only procure medicines for 41 percent of cases nationwide. The low budget allocation may also result in higher risks of TB transmission, the DOH pointed out, since more people who have caught the infectious disease will go undetected due to a more limited supply of diagnostic tests. It further warned that if left untreated, some patients may become drug-resistant and may then require stronger antibiotics and a longer treatment period. Kapag hindi naagapan at humantong sa drug resistance, mas malaki ang kakailanganing pondo ng programa partikular sa treatment," the DOH explained. "Bukod pa yan sa mga preventive na pamamaraan upang tuluyang mawakasan ang pagkalat ng TB." [Translation: If patients are not properly treated, it may lead to drug resistance and bigger funding will be needed for the program, particularly for treatment. This is apart from preventive measures to eradicate the spread of TB.] The department said it is looking into other sources of funds to pool into its national TB control program, including those allotted for other infectious diseases. It said it will also seek financial aid from partner organizations. Dagdag dito, may mga ongoing procurement ng 2020 na pwedeng magamit sa taong 2021 ngunit hindi pa rin ito sasapat sa pangangailangan ng programa batay sa projected TB cases, the DOH added. [Translation: In addition, there are ongoing procurements for 2020 that we can use in 2021, but still this wouldnt be enough to address the needs of the program based on the projected TB cases.] According to the World Health Organization, around 10 million people fall ill with the airborne disease every year, of which some 1.5 million die, making it the worlds top infectious killer. It also noted that about half of the world's TB cases can be found in eight countries, including the Philippines. President Donald Trump has nominated a former Nunes aide to replace Michael Atkinson as Inspector General of the Community Intelligence on Wednesday, September 24. Last April, Trump had removed Atkinson over what the president calls his mishandling of a whistleblower's complaint that prompted the impeachment proceedings against him. He has now nominated Allen Robert Souza, a senior intelligence official on the National Security Council staff, to succeed Atkinson. Prior to that, Souza had served as an intelligence staff of Representative Devin Nunes, Republican of California. Nunes is one of Trump's fiercest supporters on Capitol Hill, one of his top congressional allies. Souza, the former Nunes aide, is just waiting to receive a confirmation hearing and a vote from the Senate to be confirmed as the new inspector general. Right after Trump announced his nominee, Souza's nomination was immediately sent to the Senate by the White House. After Trump fired Atkinson last April, serving as the acting intelligence community inspector general is Thomas Monheim. Atkinson and Trump had a falling out after the former had sought to corroborate a whistleblower's complaint. The whistleblower, a C.I.A, had raised concerns about the president's phone conversation with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in July of 2019. This prompted a House inquiry and the impeachment proceedings against Trump in December 2019. Trump was eventually impeached by the Congress; however, the Republican-led Senate acquitted him in February. Trump then dismissed Atkinson and several inspectors general, or other officials deemed insufficiently loyal. The president then denied the Republicans' request for more information on the removal of inspector generals. Pat Cipollone, White House counsel, replied to GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley's query about the removals saying that the president has exercised his constitutional right and duty to remove an inspector general with whom he had lost confidence in. Cipollone added that both Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama had done the same when they became presidents of the United States. The inspector general is meant to be an apolitical watchdog of the U.S.'s spy agencies, but with the appointment of a former Nunes aide to the position, it will likely be seen as politicizing the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It is probably because Nunes has helped place members of his staff in key national security and intelligence jobs in President Trump's administration. However, the former Nunes aide is seen as someone having deep ideologies as he was part of the investigation into the Russian influence during the 2016 election. Critics have mainly viewed that as a plot by the liberals to undermine Trump. Concerns have been raised with Souza's announcement as a nominee mainly because he was a former Nunes aide. They have questioned his qualifications and noted that his being a former Nunes aide was troubling. Another had called Souza as an intelligence community insider who has the reputation of being an NSA guy on Nunes staff. Check these out: Shark Attack: Pregnant Woman in Florida Pulls Husband to Safety Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's Call to Vote Video Irks Trump Kobe's Widow Sues LA County Sheriff Department Meerut : , Sep 24 (IANS) A Shiksha Mitra in Uttar Pradesh has been arrested for allegedly raping a six-year-old student inside a primary school in Meerut district. 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 since the victim is a minor. According to reports, the accused is a teacher (Shiksha Mitra) in a village primary school. The incident came to light after the girl informed her family members on Tuesday and they, along with the villagers, rushed to the school and thrashed the accused. A few people later locked the accused inside a classroom and informed the police. Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Mawana, Kamlesh Goel, and circle officer Uday Pratap also rushed to the school with police force and convinced the villagers to hand over the accused to the police. The girl has been sent for medical examination and the accused will be produced in court on Thursday. tech2 News Staff Today's Google Doodle honours Arati Saha on her 80th birth anniversary. A long-distance swimmer who became the first Asian women to swim across the English Channel, Saha was also the first Indian sportswoman to be awarded the Padma Shri. The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. It is awarded by the Government of India, to deserving individuals, every year on Republic Day. She swam around 67 km from Cape Gris Nez, France to Sandgate, England and told interviewers that she was inspired by Indian swimmer Mihir Sen to swim across the channel. The feat can be compared and is equal to climbing Mount Everest. Saha was only four years old when she learned to swim on the banks of the Hooghly River in Kolkata and caught the eye of Indias top competitive swimmers, Sachin Nag. Under his tutelage, she would go on to win her first swimming gold medal when she was only five. She represented India at the 1952 Summer Olympics and was one of the four women participants and the youngest member of the Indian team. At the age of 53, she was admitted to a private nursing home with jaundice and encephalitis and on 23 August 1994, she died. Todays doodle is illustrated by Kolkata native and guest artist Lavanya Naidu who hopes her drawing helps inspire people everywhere to dream big, no matter where you come from., By Eric Onstad LONDON (Reuters) - Global crude steel production edged up in August as buoyant output in top producer China offset coronavirus-related declines in most of the rest of the world, data from the World Steel Association showed on Thursday. But the coming months may see diminished output growth in China, the world's top producer and consumer of the metal, despite continuing support from government's stimulus programme, an analyst warned. "While steel demand from China's infrastructure sector is set to remain strong in the coming months, we suspect ... The Toys R Us building, southwest of Academy Boulevard and Galley Road in Colorado Springs, has been mostly vacant since the retailer closed in 2018, but now will be converted to a self-storage facility by a Denver company. We are pleased to announce Nick Hitchcock has been promoted to Director of Texas Operations. We are also excited to welcome Tim into our Texas-based team to help us accommodate the growing demand for our control system integration services in that market. Patti Engineering, Inc., a leading control system integration company based in Auburn Hills, MI with offices in Texas and Indiana, today announced changes in the companys Austin, Texas management team to meet the rising demand for the companys services. Patti Engineering has hired experienced New Business Development Manager Tim Hebert, who will be working out of the companys Austin, TX office. In his new role, Hebert will use his extensive experience with business development in the automation and electrical industries to assist Patti Engineering with achieving their business goals. Hebert brings extensive experience to his new role, having previously served in a variety of sales and account management positions. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Hebert holds a bachelor of science in industrial distribution. In addition, Hebert holds several industry certifications, including those from Procore Technologies, Amazon Web Services, and Rockwell Automation. Patti Engineering has also promoted Nick Hitchcock to Director of Texas Operations. Hired in 2008, Hitchcock has served in several engineering and management roles in the companys Austin office, which has recently seen a sharp uptick in automotive industry projects. During his tenure with Patti Engineering, Nick Hitchcock has worked hard to develop and hone his leadership and project management skills, and we are pleased to announce he has been promoted to Director of Texas Operations, said Sam Hoff, CEO of Patti Engineering. We are also excited to welcome Tim into our Texas-based team to help us accommodate the growing demand for our control system integration services in that market. About Patti Engineering, Inc. Patti Engineering, Inc. is a CSIA-certified control systems integration company offering high-caliber engineering and software development services. Patti Engineerings technical expertise in electrical control and information systems provides turnkey control systems integration for design/build, upgrade/retrofit and asset/energy management projects. Industrial automation, production intelligence, and shop floor IT solutions services include: project management, electrical engineering, hardware design, hardware procurement, software development, installation, calibration, start-up testing, verification, documentation, training, and warranty support. Customer satisfaction and project success earned the company placement in Control Engineering Magazines Hall of Fame. For more information, visit the companys website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Buffalo, N.Y. -- Western New York businessman Carl Paladino is recovering from Covid-19 after being hospitalized this month, according to a new report. Paladino, the 74-year-old Buffalo developer who ran for New York state governor in 2010, tells The Buffalo News that he was in the hospital for two days in early September. Tests found he had the coronavirus and a mild case of pneumonia. It was horrible, Paladino told the newspaper. Its a terrible disease, and you dont know when its going to end. Paladino was among the attendees at a Gridlock Buffalo rally in April opposing Gov. Andrew Cuomos coronavirus shutdown. He was forced to close five hotels and lay off 451 workers. The Buffalo News reports Paladino is currently in quarantine, but hopes to resume working as chairman of Ellicott Development Co. as soon as he can. Paladino did not know how he got the virus and said he probably transmitted it to his sister and brother-in-law. He also told the publication that he still opposes Cuomos restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus. I think it was an overreaction, Paladino said. Theyve got America scared to death and our entire economy is shut down. Look at our city look at these poor barbers, these bowling alleys, its just sinful what they did to our society. Paladino co-chaired President Donald Trumps 2016 campaign in New York and was the Republican nominee for governor in 2010. He was ousted from the Buffalo School Board in 2017, months after he said he wished President Barack Obama would die of mad cow disease and former first lady Michelle Obama should be let loose on the outback of Zimbabwe. The coronavirus has killed more than 201,000 people in the U.S. and infected nearly 7 million Americans as of Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Syracuse schools will need a miracle to open Oct. 5, union says; Were not there yet Let the Music Play: More than 100 rally in Syracuse against Cuomos restrictions Potential coronavirus exposure reported at 3 Syracuse bars, restaurants Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Rats were marked with bright colours so they could be individually identified for the automatic video-tracking system. Credit: Peter Palatitz. The rat in a maze might be one of the most classic paradigms in the study of behavior, but an international team of scientists has put a twist on this experimental motif to push the leading edge of technology and research into search strategies of collectives. Reporting in Current Biology, the researchers describe the innovation of placing rats into a mazenot alonebut in groups in order to study their problem-solving behavior. The study, which uses automated video tracking of the rodents simultaneously exploring their environment, reveals that rats use simple behavioral rules to achieve superior search performances in groups. "We found that groups outperform single individuals in searching for a target, even when they have limited ability to communicate or share information. By uncovering the simple search strategy used by these groups, our study provides the means of directly inspiring algorithms for collective search applications," says lead author Mate Nagy, who conducted this research when he was at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Department of Collective Behavior and the University of Konstanz. Rethinking rat in a maze For decades, scientists have been using a classical experimental search taskwhich involves placing a single rat in a complex maze to search for a rewardto deepen understanding of navigation, memory, and learning. However, rats are highly social animals that build and live in complex burrow systems in nature. Yet very little is known about how they explore as a group. In the new study, researchers from institutes in Germany and Hungary turned the classical experimental search task into the first experimental study on rodent group search behavior in a confined maze. "Rats have long been considered as one of the most suitable model organisms of humans. Using a group of rats to model collective problem solving has pinpointed basic mechanisms employed by rodents and lent insight into underlying rules of how individuals enhance search performance by being in groups," says senior author Tamas Vicsek from Eotvos Lorand University, one of the founders of the collective behavior research field, and initiator of the idea to study collective exploration in this research project. The researchers developed automated video tracking software that could keep track of rodents simultaneously exploring the maze. Credit: Mate Nagy. A social search task Researchers sought to answer questions about how individuals make decisions in a group with a common target. For instance, how much should individuals concentrate on searching alone versus paying attention to what others are doing? And, how much is communication and coordination between the group members necessary? The researchers designed and built a relatively large and complex maze with 16 endpoints. The structure of the maze meant that rats could only see others in very close proximity. Each endpoint was equipped with a water dispenser, but only one of these provided a water reward. In the search task, rats had the opportunity to locate the water reward, either alone or in groups of eight. The time taken for rats to locate the reward was measured. Rats were tracked and their individual trajectories reconstructed via automated tracking software, which allowed for deciphering the underlying characteristics of search behavior. The optimal balance between individual and collective Rats in a group performed better in the search task compared to when they were on their own. When the researchers took a close look at the decisions of rats at the maze junctions, they found that the actions of those in groups could be boiled down to simple rules: go down unexplored paths but follow other rats. In order to confirm the generality of these rules, the researchers carried out computational modeling with large numbers of simulations to show the search performance result of different combinations of these simple rules. They found that that when searching as a group, individuals performed best if they had the right balance between solo exploration and following others. Both extremesignoring others completely or following others too muchresulted in lower performance for the group as a whole, as well as for each of the members on the long run. The researchers developed automated video tracking software that could keep track of rodents simultaneously exploring the maze. Video shows the rats searching the maze for the target--a water dispenser containing water. Credit: Mate Nagy "In the past, scientists have described many examples of how individuals improve their navigational efficiency by following others, or by being in a group. In this study, we have combined two classical experimental components to reveal the mechanisms behind such group navigation in detail: a maze solving task performed by the highly social rat as model organisms. Using this unique combinations, we succeeded in uncovering the search strategy that allows groups to outperform individuals," says Andrea Flack, a group leader in the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the University of Konstanz, and co-author on the study. The researchers say the simple decision-making rules will open doors to designing algorithms for artificial systems. "These can include tasks when a group of autonomous robots explore complex, labyrinth-like environments where only limited communication is possible, like in abandoned mines," says Nagy who is now head of the Collective Behavior Lendulet Research Group in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eotvos Lorand University. Explore further An extremely social robotic fish helps unravel the collective patterns of animal groups More information: Synergistic benefits of group search in rats. Current Biology (2020). DOI: Journal information: Current Biology Synergistic benefits of group search in rats.(2020). DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.08.079 Provided by Eotvos Lorand University Honda CR-V Hybrid SUV Model The American Honda Motor Company currently has a growing catalog of hybrid models available for drivers to purchase and lease nationwide. The Atlantic Honda dealership of Bay Shore, New York currently has a wide selection of in-stock hybrids with available vehicle specials, OEM incentives and financing and lease offers Long Island area drivers can take advantage of when shopping for a new hybrid vehicle. The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid is a hybrid version of the Honda midsize sedan model. The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid is available in the Base, EX, EX-L and Touring trim levels. The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid has a base city fuel economy rating of 48 MPG*, a base highway fuel economy rating of 47 MPG* and a base combined fuel economy rating of 48 MPG*. The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid is a hybrid version of the Honda compact SUV. The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid is available in the LX, EX, EX-L and Touring trim levels. The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid has a base city fuel economy rating of 40 MPG*, a base highway fuel economy rating of 35 MPG* and a base combined fuel economy rating of 38 MPG*. The 2021 Honda Insight is a standard hybrid compact sedan. The 2021 Honda Insight is available in the EX, LX and Touring trim levels. The 2021 Honda Insight has a base city fuel economy rating of 55 MPG**, a base highway fuel economy rating of 49 MPG** and a base combined fuel economy rating of 52 MPG**. For additional information on available hybrid models at Atlantic Honda, customers can browse through the dealership inventory and contact the staff. The Atlantic Honda team can be reached at the number of 631-665-0005. Additional means of communication include online messaging and on-site visits to the store. The Atlantic Honda dealership is located at 1375 Sunshine Hwy., Bay Shore, New York 11706. *Based on 2020 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery-package/condition, and other factors. **Based on 2021 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery-package/condition, and other factors. American premium motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson has decided to stop sales and production in India. The company, which began India operations in 2009, was manufacturing select models at its plant in Bawal (Haryana). The Company announced to employees additional restructuring actions related to the set of actions that it refers to as 'The Rewire'. The Company previously disclosed restructuring actions associated with The Rewire that were approved through August 5, 2020, Harley Davidson said in its regulatory filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday. Between August 6, 2020 and September 23, 2020, the Company approved commitments to additional restructuring actions under The Rewire related to optimizing its global dealer network, exiting certain international markets, and discontinuing its sales and manufacturing operations in India. The India action will include an associated workforce reduction of approximately 70 employees, the filing further said. The Indian auto industry was already going through a prolonged slowdown and the Covid-19 pandemic made things worse for the premium motorcycle and car segments. The Rewire, the company said, was part of its strategy to concentrate on approximately 50 markets primarily in North America, Europe and parts of Asia Pacific that represent the vast majority of the company's volume and growth potential. There were also recent reports that Sajeev Rajasekharan, Managing Director, Asia Emerging Markets and India, would be transferred to Singapore and their sales and marketing operations in India would be reduced. In India, data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed that the company's domestic sales figure in the 2019-20 financial year was just under 2,500 units (2,470 for 2019-20 vs 2,676 for 2018-19). In comparison, Royal Enfield sold just over 42,000 units in FY 2019-20, according to SIAM. Not very long ago, Harley Davidson had announced prices for its BS-VI range and had even slashed prices of its cheapest model -- the Street 750 -- to Rs 4.69 lakh. The company was selling 13 models in India. The Fat Boy is priced at Rs 18.25 lakh, while the CVO Limited is around Rs 50 lakh. Harley Davidson used to manufacture the Street family in India and also assemble completely knocked down kits of bigger motorcycles. PC Andrew Harper's widow was praised by This Morning viewers after she appeared on the show today. Lissie Harper, 29, admitted her husband's 2019 death still feels 'surreal' but that she refuses to 'crumble'. She also spoke of her campaign for a change in law to bring about harsher sentences for people convicted of killing frontline emergency services workers. Viewers were moved by Lissie's devotion to her husband and by her fight for his legacy. Lissie, from 29, has been campaigning to change the law after her childhood sweetheart PC Andrew Harper was killed in the line of duty just four weeks after their wedding in 2019 Loose Women viewers were moved by the widow's determination to make her late husband proud 'I kind of have two choices,' she said, 'either I sit and crumble or I keep going and I do something he'd be proud of,' she said. The "surrealness" of it still hasn't gone. 'At the beginning it was heartbreaking and it still is everyday but you just got to deal with it,' she added. She said fighting to introduce Harper Law has helped her cope with the loss of her husband. 'Grief is just something that you can never expect how to deal with and there is no correct way to deal with it,' she said. 'I think finding something that you can do for the person that you've lost is immeasurably important and it certainly helped me to get me that kind of focus and I know i'm doing something that would make him proud. ' Speaking of her grief, the widow admitted she needed to learn she could not do everything and to balance things out more in her life. 'This is part of my journey and it is important to deal with that grief, but perhaps for me that's how I'm dealing with it,' she said. PC Andrew Harper was killed in August 2019 after his ankle got caught in the trailing tow rope of three thieves' getaway car. They drag him to his death for a mile of country roads in Berkshire On her campaign for stronger sentences for those who've killed emergency workers, which saw her write to the Prime Minister meet with the Home Secretary Priti Patel, Lissie said everything was 'moving along really well.' She added she had also received cross-party support from the Shadow cabinet. 'We're trying to explain to people why it's important and gather as much support as we can and the general public have responded to that,' she said. She added she was not surprised that her plea to change the law had struck such a chord with the British public. 'I'm not surprised, it's been a long time coming that people have been thinking our justice system is not working,' she said. She shared that that fact that the convicted killers of her husband had applied for appeal had added to the number of things she already was trying to deal with. Viewers felt for Lissie and praised her determination to put Harper's Law into action after her appearance on the show 'So many people can relate to the feeling of injustice,' she added. Viewers were moved by Lissie's determination to make her late husband proud and her fight to change the law. 'What an incredibly brave and courageous woman,' one wrote. 'This should be the happiest time of her life instead she's having to devote her time to ensuring no family endures what she has had to.. Wish you nothing but love and best wishes,' they added. 'Lissie on Loose Women about Harper Law. What a beautiful brave person. Andrew be so proud,' said another. 'Such a beautiful brave lady is Lissie god bless her,' one said. 'Harper Law needs to happen quickly. It's absolutely abhorrent that his widow will now have to suffer the convicted criminals going to appeal,' said another. Lissie and her 28-year-old husband had been married for just four weeks when he and a Thames Valley Police colleague responded to a late-night burglary in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August last year. The brave police officer was killed by a gang of three teenagers in a speeding getaway car, who dragged him for more than a mile on country roads after his ankle became caught in its trailing tow rope in Berkshire. The Attorney General referred the sentences of PC Andrew Harper's three killers to the Court of Appeal in August amid concerns they were too low. Lissie said she either could sit and 'crumble' or keep doing something she knew would make Andrew proud Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18, have already lodged applications with the same court to challenge their manslaughter convictions and 13-year jail sentences. They were jailed on July 31 alongside Henry Long, 19, who received 16 years in prison, for killing the Thames Valley Police officer. The three killers, who showed no remorse after dragging PC Harper to his death, will be eligible for parole in a few years. Lissie Harper is challenging their sentences in a sentencing review hearing at the end of October as she wants to see the sentences increased. On 2 September, Lissie met with Secretary of State Priti Patel after launching her Harper's Law campaign. The campaign would ensure a minimum life sentence for criminals convicted of killing an emergency services worker. Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, will return to scheduled service on October 1 with service to 18 cities in 12 countries including two flights per week connecting Muscat to major Tanzanian cities Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. The flights will depart from Oman on Thursdays and Saturdays, and return on Thursdays and Sundays, while flights to Dar es Salaam will also depart on Thursdays and Saturdays with return flights on Thursdays and Sundays. Oman Air said those travelling to Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam need not take a coronavirus test before they travel or when they arrive at their destination. It will be visa free entry for Omani nationals and also they will not be sent on quarantine when they arrive in the East Afrcian nation. Oman Air pointed out that it will maintain all Covid protocol and its comprehensive safety program throughout all elements of the travel journey to ensure that guests fly confidently. "Masks are required when guests are on board the aircraft and in Omans airports. Distancing is maintained while guests board and exit the aircraft, which are carefully cleaned after each flight and at the end of every day," said a spokesman for the Omani airline. "Cabin crew all wear a full set of personal protective equipment, meal service has been modified to further ensure safety and a number of other steps have been taken to ensure that the airline's guests and crew are safe at all times," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Vineet Upadhyay By Express News Service DEHRADUN: A film based on the issue of migrations and ghost villages of Uttarakhand has made it to the prestigious India Gold competition category of the 22nd MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. 'Ek Tha Gaon', a film by Srishti Lakhera (34) is the story of Semla, one among the ghost villages in Uttarakhand. Lakhera who belongs to the very village in the film said, "The people of the hills are facing issues of migration and lagging behind in development and facilities which are available in cities. My motive was to showcase their lives and what they face." The film revolves around the life of people in a village where people have been leaving for cities in search of better life and livelihood. The film comes after another similar film, Nirmal Chanders Moti Bagh, on his farmer uncle in Pauri Garhwal, won at IDSFFK (International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala) and was one of Indias entries to the Oscars last year. A report released by Uttarakhand Rural Development and Migration Commission last month stated that 10 years prior to 2018, around 32,000 people have migrated from Chamoli district where Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat bought 1,300 square meter land urging political leaders to follow the suit to encourage reverse migration. Total 556 villages on a temporary basis while 14,289 people have migrated from 373 villages on a permanent basis from the district. The report also points out that 42% of the people who have migrated were in the 26 to 35 age group. The report also recommended an expansion in basic facilities such as roads, electricity, water supply, especially in remote and rural pockets, various measures to strengthen the rural economy, create employment avenues to check migration, to promote horticulture, promotion of tourism including its bordering areas with China, to train in various skillsets which can help them in finding employment and others. According to the officials of the commission, detailed reports about four districts have been prepared including Tehri (June 2020), Almora (June 2019), Pithoragarh (October 2019), and Pauri (April 2018). According to the commission, set up by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat in 2017 which released its survey report in the year 2018 stated that between the duration of years 2007-2017, total 1,18,981 people from 3,946 Gram Panchayats migrated permanently, and 3,83,726 people from 6,338 Gram Panchayats shifted temporarily in search of work and find a better life for themselves and their families. A total of 1702 villages in the state have become totally depopulated becoming 'Ghost Villages'. Among these, 565 villages are such which have lost more than half of their population to migration. Until July 1, when rumours of a ban first began to circulate, TikTok was adding some 424,000 new US users each day. TikToks petition speculated that the president was retaliating because of reports the app was used by his critics to snatch up tickets to a Trump rally in Tulsa to which they had no intention of goingan event which belly flopped with significantly fewer people in attendance. Washington: A federal judge Thursday urged the Trump administration to consider delaying a ban on new downloads of the popular video app TikTok and hinted he might block the governments order set to take effect on Sunday. Judge Carl Nichols made the comments at a hastily called telephone hearing where TikTok argued a ban, even if temporary, could cause irreparable harm to the video-sharing application with some 100 million US users. The judge agreed with TikTok lawyers to an expedited hearing schedule and said he would make a decision before the ban takes effect at 11:59 pm Sunday (0359 GMT Monday). Nichols said he disagreed with government lawyers claims that the banwhich would not immediately prevent usage of TikTok but prevent downloads by new users and updatesmerely preserves the status quo. I would like the government (Justice Department) to confer with its client, Nichols said. He asked the Justice Department lawyers to indicate by Friday if they were willing to postpone a ban; if not he would review briefs from both sides and make a ruling on TikToks request for a temporary injunction on President Donald Trumps order. The Chinese-owned appwhich is wildly popular with US teenagers in particularhas come under fire as tensions escalate between Beijing and Washington, with Trump threatening a ban if it is not sold to an American company. A tentative deal unveiled last weekend would make Silicon Valley giant Oracle the technology partner for TikTok and a stakeholder in a new entity to be known as TikTok Global. Ban would cripple TikTok As part of its court filing, a statement from TikTok interim head Vanessa Pappas said a ban to take effect Sunday would be devastating for the social platform which had been surging in much of the world. New users are the lifeblood of a social media application like TikTok; without new users, we cannot compete with other platforms, Pappas said. She noted that until July 1, when rumours of a ban first began to circulate, TikTok was adding some 424,000 new US users each day. Eliminating this influx of new US users would cripple our growth and immediately cut into our market share, she said. The TikTok petition also speculated that the president was retaliating because of reports the app was used by his critics to snatch up tickets to a Trump rally in Tulsa to which they had no intention of goingan event which belly flopped with significantly fewer people in attendance. Lewisville, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Department of Education has named Austin Classical Academy a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School. Austin Classical Academy (formerly Vista Academy of Austin-Mueller) is one of just 317 public, 50 private schools, and 15 charter schools in the nation to receive the honor this year. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Every year, the U.S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools demonstrating that all students can achieve at high levels. The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools Award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Members of the Austin Classical Academy staff will be the guests of The Department of Education during a virtual ceremony on November 12 and 13. Congratulations to Campus Director Miriam Spiller-Speight, the staff, and families who have worked together to create the award-winning learning environment at Austin Classical Academy, said Superintendent Jason Bernal. Few schools are better at supporting students from diverse backgrounds and its nice to receive recognition with a 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award. To be named a National Blue Ribbon School, a school must be nominated by its respective state education department before completing a comprehensive application regarding school practices. Austin Classical Academy received the award as an Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School which takes into account performance on state assessments, national exams, and school operations, such as the use of assessments and assessment data, curricula, professional development, leadership, and community and family involvement. The National Blue Ribbon Award marks another significant milestone in the 20-year history of ResponsiveEd to provide hope through educational options, said ResponisveEd CEO Chuck Cook. The staff and families of Austin Classical Academy deserve the recognition and I am proud of their hard work and dedication. The U.S. Department of Education invites nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education (CAPE). Austin Classical Academy joins the nearly 10,000 schools that have received the award since 1982. About ResponsiveEd: ResponsiveEd is a non-profit charter school network operating more than 75 tuition-free public charter schools, like Austin Classical Academy, throughout Texas and Arkansas. For more information, visit ResponsiveEd.com By SA Commercial Prop News An Artist impression of Olievenhout Plaza with a total GLA of 16,314 m funded by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance and its investment arm has acquired a 25% equity stake in the development. Image gallery Nedbank Corporate Property Finance once again has demonstrated its commitment in the growth potential of the retail sector by not only providing finance to a new retail development called Olievenhout Plaza, but its investment arm has acquired a 25% equity stake through a partnership with emerging market pioneer McCormick Property Development. Olievenhout Plaza development is located in the north of Johannesburg. McCormick Property Development has forged the way within the South African emerging market since 1983 and has completed 52 developments to date with a combined value of over R7 billion. Nedbank Corporate Property Finance has provided finance of R136 million to the developer for the proposed new suburban open boulevard-styled mall. This partnership shows our allegiance to proven stakeholders in the property industry, like McCormick Property Development who is considered a market leader in retail development within South Africa, says Ken Reynolds, regional executive: Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, Gauteng. The Olievenhout Plaza will have a total GLA of 16,314 m with 50 shops and is planned to be completed in June 2013. It offers good visibility and accessibility as well as direct exposure to passing traffic on the R55 between Midrand and Centurion. This will only improve as a result of the future construction of a new road planned to link Uitsig Road in The Reeds/Rooihuiskraal to Summit Road which is the link between the Ben Schoeman Highway and R511 (William Nicol). Olievenhout Plaza boasts high tenant demand. Shoprite is one of the main anchor tenants and is located on the western side of the mall. Significant national fashion tenants, furniture retailers and banks will also be represented in the mall. A Midas store will be situated on the exterior of the mall, as well as two freestanding stores for Cashbuild and a KFC drive-through. There will be open demarcated parking bays and a new petrol station has been completed on the southern side of the site. Residential development that has taken place in the surrounding area over the last three years as well as the proposed future development both within the Olievenhoutbosch area and within the larger catchment area supports the view that suburb demand continues to be good. McCormick Property Development is remaining true to its pioneering roots by developing some of the most significant retail and mixed-use schemes on the African continent. The companys portfolio has grown to over R4.4 billion worth of property under ownership and management, and about R7 billion worth of retail projects in the immediate pipeline. The portfolio showed strong growth even through the recession due to strong retail mixes and attentive hands-on management. Founded by Chairman John McCormick 29 years ago, the company established itself as the first company of its kind in the country specialising in the development of shopping centres in the rural areas and former homelands. Working closely with local communities since inception, the company set up the first ever BEE scheme in the country in 1985 and remains fully committed to broad based economic empowerment to this day. Recent developments from McCormick Property Development within South Africa include Thorntree Shopping Centre and Chris Hani Crossing in Gauteng and Edendale Mall in Kwazulu Natal. The company is currently developing three of the largest malls in sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa in Matola, Mozambique; Harare, Zimbabwe and Luanda, Angola. As a market-leader within its niche of development in South Africa, McCormick Property Development is a key client for Nedbank Corporate Property Finance. The companys substantial retail track record and consistent ability to deliver is proof of its inimitable ability to continually deliver successful, world-class, sustainable real estate and Olievenhout Plaza can be expected to be of excellent quality. The deal highlights Nedbanks dedication to investing in platforms aimed to uplift and empower all stakeholders, especially partnerships that uplift communities and develop under-serviced areas, concludes Reynolds. The condition of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, currently undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at a state-run facility here, is stable, and he will be administered another test in a couple of days, officials said on Thursday. He was admitted to the LNJP Hospital on Wednesday from being under home isolation after he had contracted the infection. "He is still in ICU since yesterday, but his condition is stable. The minister has been put on oxygen support as per requirement, and under constant observation," a senior doctor of the hospital said. The Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital is a dedicated COVID-19 facility. "The Deputy CM will be administered an RT-PCR test in a couple of days," the doctor said. Asked if the minister has any co-morbidities, the doctor, also a senior official said, "He has hypertension. The 48-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was admitted to the hospital after he complained of fever and low oxygen level. In a video message, Sisodia praised the efforts made by doctors at the LNJP hospital. "I have been brought to the LNJP Hospital after a need was felt for it. But, seeing the spirit with which the doctors and other healthcare workers are serving patients, I must say, as a deputy chief minister, it is very encouraging," he said. "It is a wonderful facility here and I am very proud of them. If you need any medical attention in this time, LNJP is ready to serve you," the minister said. Sisodia had tested positive for COVID-19 on September 14 and was in home isolation. "He (Sisodia) was admitted to the hospital as a precautionary measure since he was continuously having a little higher body temperature and his oxygen level dropped slightly," a senior official said on Wednesday. Sisodia was unable to attend the one-day Delhi Assembly session on September 14 since he had tested positive for the disease. He is the second Cabinet minister in the Arvind Kejriwal government to contract COVID-19 infection after Health Minister Satyendar Jain. The health minister had tested positive for COVID-19 in June and was hospitalised. He was later administered plasma therapy. (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 opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it will not turn to the National Peace Council to help resolve complaints about alleged irregularities in the electoral process. The party has been accusing the Electoral Commission (EC) of being complicit in the governing New Patriotic Partys alleged attempts to suppress voters and gain an advantage in the polls. Most recently, it has accused the EC of deleting names of voters in NDC strongholds. When asked if the NDC will consider petitioning the Peace Council on the concerns at a press conference on Thursday, the partys General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, accused the council of being complicit in the problems. They themselves are aware of the problem so they should be calling us We dont think that solutions to this problem lie with the Peace Council, Mr. Nketia remarked. He said the council had been unable to settle previous disputes in the electoral process. They have followed this process. We have given them all our issues relating to the preparations towards this election. From day one to date we have not found any single solution from that platform, he recounted. In further criticism, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said the council was aware of some of the purported irregularities overseen by the Electoral Commission. He made specific mention of the printing of new voter IDs outside the registration process which the EC has said it sanctioned. We presume that the printing of the cards on our blindside was done with the advice of the committee of eminent persons so they [the Peace Council] have excluded themselves from the opinion leaders who we should be consulting for solutions because they are part of the problem. The press conference was in response to the challenges NDC supporters say they have been encountering in the voter register exhibition process. The party's flagbearer, John Mahama, called off his tour of the Bono Region to address the press conference. He has called on the international community to take a closer look at the ECs conduct. He also wants the voter register exhibition process extended beyond the extra two days already announced by the commission. The Commission has already denied the claims put forth by the NDC. In a statement, the EC insisted that at every point, we have provided factual, accurate and evidence-based information to our stakeholders on voter statistics per region, district, gender, age among others. ---citinewsroom The Global and Transnational Group (GTHG) consists of historians conducting research across a broad geographic span, largely in the modern period, and within the orbit of two primary themes. The themes represent established and emerging areas of research interest in the Department of Creative and Cultural Industries. The Group includes colleagues who teach in the Department, and doctoral and associate researchers. Kentucky's Attorney General Daniel Cameron who was hailed a 'star' by Donald Trump for his handling of the Breonna Taylor investigation had his mentor Mitch McConnell as a guest at his wedding just last month. Cameron, who is the state's first black attorney general after being elected last year, has been thrust into the national spotlight after announcing on Wednesday that a grand jury had not sought criminal charges against the three police officers for their roles in the black EMT's death. The grand jury's decision to indict one officer on wanton endangerment charges because his bullets were fired into a neighbor's apartment came after a six-month investigation carried out by Cameron's office. The investigation was still underway when the 34-year-old attorney general tied the knot with his wife Makenze Evans, 27, in Louisville on August 7. His spokeswoman said the couple married in a small, outdoor ceremony amid the coronavirus pandemic. His mentor, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, was among the guests. Cameron's office would not disclose any further details about the wedding. Kentucky's black Attorney General Daniel Cameron who was hailed a 'star' by Donald Trump for his handling of the Breonna Taylor investigation had his mentor Mitch McConnell as a guest at his wedding to Makenze Evans in Louisville last month In his successful bid to become Kentucky's first black AG, Cameron - who was born and raised in the state - received an endorsement from President Trump. They are pictured at a Trump rally in Kentucky in November last year It came after Cameron had faced criticism on social media when it emerged a month earlier that he had held a small engagement party as he was facing mounting pressure in Taylor investigation. Among those to criticize him was Beyonce Knowles' mother Tina who shared screenshots of their engagement party and pointed to the group not wearing masks. His wedding to Makenze is Cameron's second marriage after his first ended in 2017 after just two years. It is not clear when Cameron started dating Makenze. Little is know about Makenze other than she has lived in the Louisville area for most of her life. Cameron is considered a rising star in the Republican party and is widely known to be McConnell's protege after serving as his general counsel from 2015 to 2017. He attended the University of Louisville with a scholarship named in honor of McConnell where he gained a science and law degree. In his successful bid to become Kentucky's first black AG, Cameron - who was born and raised in the state - received an endorsement from President Trump. Cameron was also a guest speaker at the GOP convention last month, where he declared himself a 'proud Republican and supporter of President Donald J. Trump'. The president placed the attorney general on the short list for a seat on the Supreme Court. Commenting during his convention speech on nationwide protests for racial equality and against the police shootings of black people, Cameron said: 'Even as anarchists mindlessly tear up American cities while attacking police and innocent bystanders, we Republicans do recognize those who work in good faith towards peace, justice, and equality.' He added that 'Republicans will never turn a blind eye to unjust acts but neither will we accept an all-out assault on Western civilization.' His wedding to Makenze (above) is Cameron's second marriage after his first ended in 2017. It is not clear when Cameron started dating Makenze Cameron (pictured last year in the Oval Office) is considered a rising star in the Republican party. Trump on Wednesday praised Cameron's 'fantastic' handling of the Breonna Taylor case and called him 'really brilliant' and a 'star' Cameron was also a guest speaker at the GOP convention last month, where he declared himself a 'proud Republican and supporter of President Donald J. Trump' Trump on Wednesday praised Cameron's 'fantastic' handling of the case and called him 'really brilliant' and a 'star'. Cameron choked up Wednesday as he explained why the officers involved in Taylor's shooting death were not charged in her killing. His mentor, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, was among the guests at the small wedding Officer Brett Hankison, who was fired in the aftermath of the shooting, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment after the bullets his fired in Taylor's apartment traveled into a neighbor's home. 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. Cameron cited his own family in seeking to convey that he understood some people in Louisville and across the country would be angry at the jury's decision. The jury relied on evidence Cameron presented. 'I understand that as a Black man, how painful this is... which is why it was so incredibly important to make sure that we did everything we possibly could to uncover every fact,' Cameron said. His sympathetic words, however, fell on many deaf ears. During his press conference, Cameron called out 'celebrities, influencers and activists' for weighing in on the grand jury findings and warned they will 'try to tell us how to feel.' 'Each (case) is unique and cannot be compared,' Cameron said. Cameron choked up Wednesday as he explained why the officers involved in Taylor's shooting death were not charged in her killing Alicia Garza made the comments on Wednesday after Cameron announced why a grand jury didn't seek criminal charges against police officers in Breonna Taylor's death 'There will be celebrities, influencers, and activists who having never lived in Kentucky, will try to tell us how to feel, suggesting they understand the facts of this case and that they know our community and the commonwealth better than we do. But they don't. 'Let's not give into their attempts to influence our thinking or capture our emotions. At the end of the day, if is up to us. We live here together.' Cameron said that his job is 'to set aside everything in pursuit of the truth.' 'Our reaction to the truth is the society we want to be,' he said. 'Do we really want the truth? Or do we want a truth that fits our narrative? Do we want the facts? Are we content to blindly accept our own version of events? We, as a community, must make this decision.' Officer Brett Hankison, who was fired in the aftermath of the shooting, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment. The charges stem from Hankison's bullets travelling into a neighboring apartment Celebrities including actress Viola Davis, 'Schitt's Creek' creator and star Dan Levy, actor George Clooney, rapper Common, and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James were among those to express outrage at the grand jury decision. Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza said Cameron's press conference was a 'Bull Connor speech in 2020' as she likened him to the notorious civil rights era segregationist. 'This was an atrocity,' the BLM co-founder told MSNBC's Joy Reid. 'I think what I saw this morning was a Bull Connor speech in 2020. And... unfortunately, it was being given by a Black prosecutor.' Bull Connor was the commissioner of public safety in Birmingham, Alabama, for more than 20 years in the 1960s and was a staunch opponent of the civil rights movement. He became an international figure and symbol of oppression when he set polices dogs on and fire hoses a civil rights advocates, including children. Reid also weighed in urging viewers to look at Cameron's political affiliations and ignore the fact that he is black. 'I think you have to always look at party. Party is the religion now in America -- especially for Republicans. Don't look at the fact that this guy is black. That does not mean anything,' she said. 'He is a Republican through and through. He spoke at the RNC (Republican National Convention). He told you who he was. Believe him.' Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on John McCain, after his widow announced her support for the president's Democratic rival Joe Biden. Cindy McCain announced her support for Mr Biden in a tweet on Tuesday, saying he was the only candidate "who stands up for our values as a nation." Mr Trump tweeted that he was "never a fan" of the veteran Republican senator, who died in 2018. Mr McCain was one of the president's most outspoken Republican critics. Mr Trump, in turn, publicly questioned his heroism during the Vietnam War. In her tweet on Tuesday, Mrs McCain said while her husband and Mr Biden had some "passionate arguments" and while she did not "always agree on the issues" with the Democratic presidential candidate, "he is a good and honest man". In response, President Trump said she "can have Sleepy Joe!" - a nickname the president has for his rival. He also accused Mr Biden of being Mr McCain's "lapdog", denouncing "bad decisions on endless wars". "I hardly know Cindy McCain," he added, "other than having put her on a Committee at her husband's request." Cindy McCain made an address at the Democratic National Convention last month, and her endorsement may prove a hindrance to President Trump, who is trailing Mr Biden in most national polls. Mr Biden has since thanked her, saying on Twitter that he was "deeply honoured" to have her support and friendship. Mr McCain was the Republican party's presidential candidate in 2008, and a senator for Arizona, a key battleground state in November's elections. John McCain and Donald Trump - REUTERS Image captionJohn McCain (left) clashed frequently with Mr Trump before and during his presidency He and Mr Trump had a fractious relationship. In 2015, Mr Trump questioned his heroism for being captured during the Vietnam War. "He's a war hero because he was captured," he said. "I like people that weren't captured." The president has also complained that he "didn't get a thank you" for approving Mr McCain's state funeral. 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. Here are the most important things to know about COVID in Connecticut. This story will be updated regularly with the latest on COVID-19 in Connecticut and beyond. Check back later for more. Nov. 13 CT announces 2,746 new cases since Thursday State officials announced 2,746 new COVID cases since Thursday, 42 more hospitalizations and 11 deaths. The positivity rate has risen to 6.7 percent after having decreased to 4.3 percent on Thursday. Rolling seven-day average of positivity rate continues to climb According to a CT Insider analysis of the states data, the rolling seven-day average positivity rate has gradually increased each day this week since Monday. On Monday, the rolling seven-day average positivity rate was 4.0 and by today it climbed to 4.7. Although gradual, this change reflects a steady rise in infections. Research: Parts of Africa may have a history with COVID-19 Researchers at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kifili, Kenya, found that approximately 4.3 percent of Kenyas population had a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the journal Nature reported. Antibody studies revealed that by the end of June, 4 percent of Kenyas population was infected but the death toll remained relatively low in comparison. Their findings suggest that the sharp contrast between Kenyas antibody prevalence and its COVID-19 deaths hints that the coronaviruss effects are dampened in Africa, according to the article. Missing school may be linked to a shorter life expectancy, analysis shows An analytical model published by the JAMA Network examined years of life lost in association with primary school closures in early 2020 and compared them to potential years of life lost had schools remained open. The model estimates that closing public schools during the pandemic can be associated with a decrease in life expectancy for American children because of the adverse effects missed education creates. We estimated that there is a 98.1% probability that the decisions to close U.S. primary schools in March of 2020 could be associated with more eventual YLL [years of life lost] than would be observed if these schools had remained open, even if schools remaining open had led to a substantial increase in the rate of death observed during the early phase of the pandemic, the researchers said. Re-testing should be done carefully, study says Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 infection should proceed to get repeated testing, but not in the 90 days following infection, the journal JAMA Internal Medicine reported. Not getting re-tested in that time period will help those patients avoid unnecessary quarantines as remnants of the virus may give a false positive if re-tested too soon. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests can be positive because of nonviable remnants of the virus, the article says. This means that the test cannot accurately determine whether or not the infection can be transmitted. Nov. 12 COVID hospitalizations surpass 600 in Connecticut State officials announced 33 more coronavirus hospitalizations since Wednesday raising the total to 617 patients currently hospitalized. In a press conference, Gov. Lamont expressed concern. We've doubled the number of people in the hospitals in the last two weeks, he said. CT reports another 1,158 cases since Wednesday Connecticut announced 1,158 new COVID cases since Wednesday amounting to a total of 85,899 cases since the onset of the pandemic. The daily positivity rate slightly increased to 4.8 percent. The state announced 10 more deaths for a total of 4,726. Changes in smell can help predict COVID outbreaks, researchers say Its been known for a while that loss of smell and taste are early symptoms of the coronavirus. Now a team from Penn State is showing that self-reports of changes in smell and taste can predict COVID outbreak. Our research suggests that an increase in the incidence of sudden smell and taste change in the general population may indicate that COVID-19 is spreading, One researcher said. This knowledge could help decision-makers take important measures at the local level, either in catching new outbreaks sooner, or in guiding the relaxation of local lockdowns, given the strong impact of lockdown on economic and social activities. Poll finds that two-thirds of Americans support a one-month lockdown Results from a poll conducted by YouGov suggest that nearly two thirds of Americans would support a one-month lockdown to limit the spread of the coronavirus. About 64 percent of the 13,000 U.S. adults surveyed said they would support a lockdown, while three out of 10 said they would not. Broken down by party, more Democrats 87 percent said they would support a lockdown, compared to 30 percent of Republicans. Yale supervises national rollout of new, cheap COVID test A team from Yale University is supervising a national rollout of a cheaper coronavirus test. The SalivaDirect retails for about $25, and was developed by Yales Anne Wyllie, associate research scientist in epidemiology, and Nathan Grubaugh, assistant professor in epidemiology. The test is also saliva-based, and not nasopharyngeal, which makes it less invasive. Nov. 11 CT now averaging more than 1,000 cases a day As of Monday, Connecticut is averaging more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases a day, a level not seen since April 26. There have been more than 1,000 new cases reported by the state every day this week. The highest number of average daily cases since the pandemic began was April 22, when there were an average of 1,102 new cases. It is important to note, however, that many of these cases may be asymptomatic. Early in the pandemic, the state was conducting significantly fewer tests, and then only on patients displaying symptoms consistent with a coronavirus infection. More recently, the state has ramped up testing, which may be identifying a significantly larger number of positive cases. COVID cases continue to climb in CT: 1,574 new cases reported The state announced 1,574 new COVID cases Wednesday and 36 new hospitalizations bringing the number of patients currently hospitalized for the virus to a total of 584. Nine more deaths were reported raising the cumulative amount to 4,716 deceased. The positivity rate is 4.7 percent, a decrease from a high of 6.7 percent on Tuesday. Entitled people are less likely to comply with COVID guidelines, research says Are you entitled? If you have a sense of entitlement, youre less likely to comply with COVID-19 guidelines, according to a survey of three studies conducted by researchers from Cornell University. Not only were people higher in psychological entitlement more likely to believe that the threat of the virus was overblown, but they were also more likely to report that they had contracted COVID-19. Cell phone data uncovers superspreader locations for COVID infections Using cell phone data, researchers mapped what they called mobility networks, tracking and mapping the hourly movements of 98 million people from major metro areas across the United States as they went to and from points of interest like restaurants and religious establishments. They found that a small minority of superspreader [points of interest) account for a large majority of infections. The study, published this week in the journal Nature, also suggests that restricting occupancy at specific points of interest would be more effective than uniformly reducing mobility. Researchers find rapid COVID tests to be about 99 percent accurate Researchers went to a public plaza in San Francisco and tested the Abbott Labs rapid coronavirus test on 878 subjects, and found that it was spot on about 99 percent of the time, producing a false positive only very rarely. Connecticut has been expected to receive thousands of the $5, 15-minute tests, as Gov. Ned Lamont announced in October. The tests were accurate regardless of symptoms, researchers said. Nov. 10 CT positivity rate jumps to 6.7 percent with 1,524 new cases reported Connecticut announced 1,524 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, substantially raising the one-day positivity rate (the percentage of tests that are positive) to 6.7 percent. There were 52 new hospitalizations, for a total of 548 COVID patients currently in the hospital, and nine more deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-related deaths in the state to 4,707 since the start of the pandemic. 40 percent of COVID-19 patients experience severe ringing in the ears A sizeable portion of people with COVID-19 experience exacerbated tinnitus (ringing in the ears), according to new research. An international group of researchers found that 40 percent of people with symptomatic COVID-19 said theyre tinnitus got worse. The good news is that 6 percent said their tinnitus got a little better, and 54 percent said there was no change. Lockdowns may have had an effect, too, according to the study: Pre-existing tinnitus was significantly exacerbated for those self-isolating, experiencing loneliness, sleeping poorly and with reduced levels of exercise. Increased depression, anxiety, irritability, and financial worries further significantly contributed to tinnitus being more bothersome during the pandemic period. Respiratory illnesses becoming less common during the pandemic may not be a good thing There has been a much lower incidence of common respiratory illnesses (like RSV and the flu) during the pandemic, but researchers at Princeton University said that it wasnt necessarily good news. As NPIs (non-pharmaceutical interventions, like masks and social distancing) are in place, people could become more susceptible to these common diseases, resulting in a stronger comeback. While this reduction in cases could be interpreted as a positive side effect of COVID-19 prevention, the reality is much more complex, study author Rachel Baker said. Our results suggest that susceptibility to these other diseases, such as RSV and flu, could increase while NPIs are in place, resulting in large outbreaks when they begin circulating again. Existing drugs can curb an influx of cytokine that is a factor in COVID-19 deaths A cytokine storm is the human bodys immune response to infection. Its when the immune system goes awry, causing all sorts of inflammation so much so that it is one of the reasons people die from a COVID-19 infection. A new study shows that two chemicals in particular are responsible for generating that cytokine storm, as Science News reported, and that existing drugs might help curb that effect. Its worked in mice, but immunologist Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti said whether or not it will work in humans is another question. I know my colleagues have cured mouse COVID, he told Science News. But most of the time when you do the trials in people, they turn out to be negative. Working from home has potential health benefits A report from the CDC suggests that working from home has some potential health benefits. The findings suggests that, of the COVID-19 patients sampled, patients were more likely to test positive for a coronavirus infection if they had gone in-person to work or school, suggesting that alternative methods are preferable. Most community exposures were not associated with teleworking, the CDC said. Nov. 9 3,338 new cases since Friday and 94 new hospitalizations Connecticut announced 3,338 new coronavirus cases Monday, raising the positivity rate (the percentage of tests that are positive) to 3.7 percent. There were 94 additional hospitalizations, for a total of 496 COVID patients currently in the hospital, and 27 more deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-related deaths in the state to 4,698 since the start of the pandemic. Bridgeport and Hartford averaging over 50 new cases a day Bridgeport and Hartford continue to average a relatively high number of cases per day according to a CT Insider analysis of data. Bridgeport is averaging 59 new cases and Hartford averages 52. Stamford has the third-highest rolling seven-day average of Connecticuts largest cities, with approximately 42 new cases a day. 58 percent of Europeans would take COVID vaccine Only 58 percent of people in Europe said they will take a coronavirus vaccine, according to new research, well below the threshold needed to generate herd immunity. Thats a problem, and education is the answer, according to researchers: Only by educating the general public about the benefits, safety and efficacy of vaccines can we hope to avoid the unnecessary prolongation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Antibodies found in camels used to neutralize COVID virus Scientists have synthesized so-called nanobodies (very small antibodies) found in camelids (camels and llamas) to create an ultrapotent treatment for the coronavirus. The aerosol can actually neutralize the virus, according to researchers. Air pollution creates higher risk of death for COVID patients Air pollution may be linked to COVID deaths in the United States, according to new research. This is the first study that provides some consistent evidence that, if youre living in a [U.S.] county with a higher level of fine particulate matter, it increases the risk of covid mortality, Harvards Francesca Dominici told the New Scientist. The effect is not insignificant: For every microgram of particulate matter the COVID-19 mortality rate increased by 11 percent, the study says. Nov. 6 Another 1,000 COVID cases in a single day Connecticut announced Friday an additional 1,065 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with a positivity rate (the percentage of tests that are positive) of 3.6 percent. There were 22 additional hospitalizations, for a total of 402 COVID patients currently in the hospital, and 15 more deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-related deaths in the state to 4,671. CDC lifts no-sail order for cruise ships (with one caveat) The CDC has lifted its no-sail order, giving cruise ships the green light to sail again, with one important caveat: No passengers. In April, the CDC issued a no-sail order, and maintains that cruise ships pose a greater threat to disease transmission than other settings. But now the agency has issued a phased approach to resumption of activities, starting with simulated voyages designed to test cruise ship operators ability to mitigate COVID-19, followed by a return to passenger operations after certification. Danish minks could pose COVID threat to humans A coronavirus mutation found in Danish minks has already infected 214 people in Denmark, according to local news sources. The mutated virus variant reportedly has a lower resistance to antibodies, making potential vaccines less effective, according to the Danish prime minister. We have a great responsibility towards our own population, but with the mutation that has now been found, we have an even greater responsibility for the rest of the world as well, Mette Frederiksen said this week. Masks dont inhibit oxygen during exercise, research says Canadian researchers have found that wearing a facemask does not reduce the bodys ability to get oxygen during exercise. In terms of oxygen levels in the blood or muscles, No differences were evident between wearing or not wearing a mask, according to the study, published this week by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan. Wearing a face mask during vigorous exercise had no discernable detrimental effect on blood or muscle oxygenation, and exercise performance in young, healthy participants. Study says wealthier people were able to socially distance more A study was published this week in the journal Nature showing that wealthier people are more likely to practice social distancing. Residents of low-income neighborhoods were more likely to work outside the home, compared to residents in higher-income neighborhoods, the study says. Nov. 5 CT reports over 1,100 new cases in a single day Connecticut announced 1,157 new coronavirus cases on Nov. 5, 10 more deaths and six new hospitalizations for a total of 380 patients currently in the hospital. The positivity rate has lowered to 3.7 percent. Asymptomatic COVID patients may be contagious for longer periods of time Usually, people who test positive for the coronavirus but do not have any symptoms remain contagious for about eight days. As reported by the journal Cell, one woman was contagious for more than 70 days, raising more questions about how the disease operates. The patient, a woman in her 70s, is a leukemia patient, which is why they kept checking her blood for the virus, and which may have something to do with why she remained infectious for so long. Researchers said they expect to see more cases like this in the future. Rutgers: Workers in support roles have higher risk of contracting COVID Hospital workers are at greater risk of catching the coronavirus than the general public, and specifically those in support roles, according to the latest research from the Rutgers School of Public Health. Its not necessarily those in patient-facing roles who are more at risk: Phlebotomists, maintenance workers and housekeepers, and food services workers were specifically found to be at risk. COVID corpses show extensive lung damage A study in the journal Lancet uses postmortem examination of the lungs of COVID-19 patients to show how the disease attacks the body. This kind of study may shed light on so-called long COVID, researchers said. COVID-19 is a unique disease characterized by extensive lung thrombosis, the study said. Several of COVID-19 features might be consequent to the persistence of virus-infected cells for the duration of the disease. Coronavirus on surfaces can provide warning sign of infection surges, research shows Research from Tufts University shows that many surfaces carry coronavirus RNA, but not much of it. A team of researchers sampled 33 surfaces in public places, and found that All samples showed only low-level contamination, and the infection risk from touching one of the contaminated surfaces is low, according to an article in the journal Nature. The authors also found that sampling heavily touched surfaces might provide a warning of a surge of infections. Nov. 4 CT reports 530 new cases, positivity rate slightly lowers Connecticut announced 530 new coronavirus cases on Nov. 4, 11 more deaths and seven fewer hospitalizations for a total of 374 patients currently in the hospital. The positivity rate has slightly lowered to 4.2 percent. New Haven sees fewer new cases than other major cities in CT New Haven has a significantly lower average of new coronavirus cases than other large Connecticut cities. Since September, New Haven has averaged 12 new COVID-19 cases each day, according to a CT Insider analysis of state data. By contrast, Hartford has averaged nearly 30 new cases a day during the same time period. Danbury and Bridgeport are averaging about 22 and 24 new cases each day, respectively, while Stamford is averaging nearly 19 new cases each day. Was COVID here before March? COVID may have been circulating locally for longer than we think. This study suggests that the coronavirus was present in New York City long before the first case was identified on March 1. It also shows that the virus is about 10 times more deadly than the flu. The studys authors found seropositive samples as early as mid-February in patients at New Yorks Mount Sinai Hospital. Superspreaders impact is outsized, study says How important are superspreading events? Very, according to researchers from MIT. Superspreaders, infected individuals who result in an outsized number of secondary cases, are believed to underlie a significant fraction of total SARS-CoV-2 transmission, according to a study published this week. These events have a fat tail, the study shows, resulting in the spread of disease long after the events themselves. Researchers suggest that controlling superspreading events should be a focus: Our findings indicate that large superspreading events should be the targets of interventions that minimize tail exposure. Pregnant women more likely to die from COVID: CDC Pregnant women with the coronavirus are more likely to have a severe infection, according to the CDC. An analysis of 400,000 women with symptomatic COVID-19 infections showed that intensive care unit admission, invasive ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and death were more likely in pregnant women than in nonpregnant women. How much more likely? The analysis showed that pregnant women were nearly four times as likely to need invasive ventilation and twice as likely to die as women who were not pregnant. Nov. 2 CT reports 2,651 new COVID cases since Friday Connecticut announced 2,651 new coronavirus cases on Nov. 2, 11 more deaths and 11 new hospitalizations for a total of 340 patients currently in the hospital. The positivity rate has increased to 3.3 percent. CDC: People can still vote if sick or quarantining within guidelines The CDC has released guidelines for in-person voting on Nov. 3. In an email to CNN, the CDC confirmed that someone who is currently recovering from COVID-19 or quarantining from being exposed to the virus, can still vote. Any such voter is encouraged to wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet away from others and wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before and after voting. These voters are also urged to notify poll workers of their condition or quarantine status. Diabetes patients with metabolic syndrome at risk for severe COVID You are much more likely to die from a COVID-19 infection if you suffer from metabolic syndrome, a disease associated with type 2 diabetes, according to a series of recent research. A study of metabolic syndrome and COVID-19 mortality among a group of adult Black patients found that metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with increased mortality, admission to an intensive care unit, invasive mechanical ventilation and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Construction workers at high risk of contracting COVID, research suggests Construction workers may be at significant risk of catching the coronavirus, specifically if construction work continues during lockdowns. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that resuming construction work during shelter-in-place orders was associated with increased hospitalization risks in the construction workforce and increased transmission in the surrounding community. Among the cohort in central Texas researchers studied, construction workers were five times more likely to be hospitalized. DETECT study: Smartwatches can detect a COVID infection Early results from research called the DETECT study has found that a computer using information obtained from smartwatches and other wearable technology can accurately detect a COVID-19 infection. The study is a big one 30,529 people, of whom 3,811 reported coronavirus symptoms. Its accurate, but not a panacea, as the study itself says: Such a passive monitoring strategy may be complementary to virus testing, which is generally a one-off, or infrequent, sampling assay. But it may be an important step, representing the transitioning of research from a dependence on brick and mortar research centers to a remote, direct-to-participant approach now possible through a range of digital technologies. Oct. 30 CT positivity rate drops to 2.5 percent and 761 new cases reported Connecticut announced 761 new coronavirus cases on Friday, seven more deaths and eight new hospitalizations for a total of 329 patients currently in the hospital. The positivity rate has sharply dropped to 2.5 percent after surpassing six percent on Oct. 29. Study finds 20 percent of grocery employees infected A study has found a high rate of asymptomatic COVID infections among grocery store workers. Published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, the study found that one out of every five of the grocery store workers tested were positive for coronavirus. Of those who tested positive, 76 percent were asymptomatic, and 91 percent had roles in the store that put them in contact with customers. Bad air can linger for 5 hours, researchers say Ventilation matters a lot, according to a study published last week in the British Journal of Anaesthesia. Aerosolized particles can remain in the air for more than five hours in a room with low ventilation rate, suggesting that hospital rooms with COVID-positive patients should be considered contaminated for extended durations after aerosol-generating procedures have been performed, the study said, since it has been shown that airborne SARS-CoV-2 remains viable for at least hours. One patient at summer camp infects 118 people: CDC A single COVID-positive patient infected 118 people at a summer camp in Wisconsin, according to the CDC. That patient tested negative a week before attending the camp, but developed symptoms and tested positive shortly after arriving. The result, the CDC said, was 76 percent of the people at the overnight camp, hailing from 21 states and two foreign countries, later tested positive. According to the CDC, this case demonstrates the need for pre-arrival quarantine and testing, cohorting, symptom monitoring, early identification and isolation of cases, mask use and enhanced hygiene and disinfection practices. FDA considering expanded access process for COVID vaccines The FDA announced that it is in the early stages of considering whether to use expanded access to distribute a potential Covid-19 vaccine, CNN reported. Expanded access is not an approval process, but rather a method to move along the process of approving an investigational medical product, like a vaccine. The process has been used before for vaccines, just not for a massive distribution that would be needed with a COVID-19 vaccine, according to CNN. Oct. 29 CT positivity rate hits six percent and over 1300 new cases reported Connecticut announced 1,319 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, five more deaths and 12 new hospitalizations. The positivity rate has significantly jumped to 6 percent. Research suggests schools may not be COVID hot spots Data from worldwide research is showing that schools may not be COVID hot spots. Despite fears, COVID-19 infections did not surge when schools and day-care centres reopened after pandemic lockdowns eased. And when outbreaks do occur, they mostly result in only a small number of people becoming ill, the journal Nature reported. Outbreaks in schools were found to be uncommon, even in places where infections were rising. Decreased death rates could change if hospitals reach capacity again, a study suggests Death rates are down, but that could change if hospitals reach capacity again, according to a study from researchers at Britains University of Exeter Medical School. In late March, four in 10 people in intensive care were dying. By the end of June, survival was over 80 percent, John M. Dennis told The New York Times. Dennis research showed that a better understanding for how the disease should be treated has played an important role in declining death rates, but also a falling critical care burden, the study said. Harvard study: Flying in an airplane may be safer than grocery shopping Flying in an airplane may be safer than grocery shopping or eating out, according to a study published Tuesday from researchers at Harvard Universitys school of public health. The risk of COVID transmission on a plane will be below that found in other routine activities during the pandemic, such as grocery shopping or eating out, the study said, though with a few caveats. There needs to be a multi-layered approach in order to keep passengers and employees safe, including wearing face masks, disinfection of surfaces and maintenance of appropriate ventilation gate-to-gate. CDC: College students contract COVID because of failure to follow protocols College students are getting COVID because they are not following standard protocols, according to the CDC. Following an investigation into 17 COVID cases at a Chicago college, the CDC determined that Colleges and universities are at risk for COVID-19 outbreaks because of shared housing and social gatherings where recommended prevention guidance is not followed. The Chicago Department of Public Health was notified in August of a cluster of COVID-19 cases among a universitys mens and womens soccer teams. That cluster, the CDC said, was the result of several events, including a birthday party and an unsanctioned game between the mens and womens teams. Oct. 28 CT reports 17 new hospitalizations, decrease in positivity rate Connecticut announced 490 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, nine more deaths and 17 new hospitalizations. The positivity rate has decreased to 3.4 percent from the previous high of 4.1 percent announced Tuesday. New cases in Bridgeport have doubled, on average In the last three days Bridgeports seven-day rolling average of new cases has nearly doubled, according to a CT Insider analysis of state data. The average of 40 new cases is the highest it has been in months. Bridgeports rise in cases mirrors the overall surge in the state. Long-term exposure to air pollution tied to COVID-19 deaths: report A study from the journal Cardiovascular Research found that long-term exposure to air pollution may be linked to 15 percent of COVID-19 deaths globally, as Aljazeera reported. Evidence suggests that in East Asia 27 percent of COVID-19 deaths could be tied to effects of poor air quality. The deaths linked to COVID-19 and air pollution presented a potentially avoidable, excess mortality, researchers said. Study: Some antibodies attack body instead of COVID-19 virus Some antibodies produced during a COVID-19 infection attack the body, as opposed to the virus, according to a study published by MicroB-plex, Inc., last week. Some patients bodies are producing so-called autoantibodies, which happens with diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The research may be helpful in understanding in the increasingly documented cases of lingering COVID-19, researchers wrote. Flu shots may help prevent COVID-19 infections, research suggests A flu shot might help prevent a COVID infection according to new research. The research is preliminary, but scientists at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that health care workers who had received a flu shot were 39 percent less likely to test positive for COVID-19, as Scientific American reported. As of June 1, 2.23 percent of the health care workers studied who did not get vaccinated against the flu tested positive, while 1.33 percent of those who got a flu shot tested positive for COVID. Oct. 27 6 deaths, 538 new cases in a day Connecticut announced 538 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, six more deaths and 22 new hospitalizations. CT positivity rate up to 4.1 percent, highest rate since June Gov. Ned Lamont announced Tuesday that the infection rate is up to 4.1 percent. This is the highest Connecticut has had since June. The rolling seven-day average positivity rate has risen every day for the last week, accumulating to an average of 2.5 percent today. CDC: Six percent of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 are health care providers Between March and the end of May, 6 percent of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 were health care providers, according to the CDC. Of those health care providers hospitalized with COVID, most, 73 percent, were obese. About 36 percent were nurses, 16 percent of them needed to be mechanically ventilated and 4 percent of those health care providers hospitalized with a COVID infection died. COVID antibodies providing immunity dont last, according to a study Antibodies associated with immunity from the coronavirus dont last, according to a study from the Imperial College London. Using a finger prick test to detect antibodies in the blood, researchers found that the number of people testing positive dropped by 26.5 percent between June 20 and Sept. 28. These findings suggest that immunity wont last more than a few months in some cases, but Helen Ward, one of the lead researchers in the study, was reluctant to draw that conclusion explicitly: We dont yet know whether this will leave these people at risk of reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19, but it is essential that everyone continues to follow guidance to reduce the risk to themselves and others. Researcher suggests coronavirus may increase risk for Parkinsons disease Coronavirus may increase risk of Parkinsons disease, according to a commentary published last week in the journal Trends in Neurosciences. "Evidence is mounting that the side effects of COVID-19 infection, such as inflammation and damage to the vascular system, could lay the foundation for development of Parkinson's disease, researcher Patrik Brundin told Science Daily. COVID-19 is clearly a major and ongoing public health threat, but the consequences of infection may end up being with us for years and decades to come. Oct. 26 Over 2,000 cases and 37 new hospitalizations in three days Connecticut announced 2,047 new coronavirus cases Monday, 12 more deaths and 37 new hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) has decreased to 2.2 percent from 2.9 percent on Oct. 23. Mayo Clinic: More physically fit patients are less likely to be hospitalized for COVID Exercise matters, according to research published by the Mayo Clinic. The more physically fit a patient was in the years prior to catching COVID, the less likely they were to be hospitalized, according to the study. As the study concludes, Maximal exercise capacity is independently and inversely associated with the likelihood of hospitalization due to COVID-19. Study: Lockdowns affect health in both good and bad ways What is being called a first-of-its-kind global study showed that lockdows significantly affected peoples health, in both bad and good ways. People cooked more and often ate healthier, but their mental states were adversely affected by community-wide lockdowns. The stay-at-home orders did result in one major health positive. Overall, healthy eating increased because we ate out less frequently. However, we snacked more. We got less exercise. We went to bed later and slept more poorly. Our anxiety levels doubled, said Leanne Redman, PhD, Associate Executive Director for Scientific Education at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Predictions show CT to have 6,000 to 9,000 COVID deaths by February The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, has released predictions for COVID-related deaths by state through the end of February. The most likely trajectory in Connecticut is somewhere between 6,000 and 9,000 deaths from the coronavirus, an increase of more than 1,000 in the next four months at the low-end. Nationwide, if 95 percent of the population wore masks, it would be the difference between 1,053,206 total deaths by the end of February and 381,798 total COVID deaths, according to the IHME. NonCOVID-19 hospitalizations decrease during pandemic peaks, study says A study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found a substantial decrease in the number of nonCOVID-19 hospitalizations across a range of diagnoses during the peak COVID-19 period. There were less hospitalizations for injuries, worsening of chronic conditions and medical events requiring inpatient care. The study attributes the decrease to three things: patients avoiding emergency care over fear of COVID-19, loss of health insurance, increased threshold for hospitalization and changes in patient lifestyle because of social distancing. Oct. 23 CT positivity rate increases to 2.9 percent On Oct. 23, Connecticut announced 679 new cases, eight more deaths and one new hospitalization. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) has increased to 2.9 percent from when it was 2.2 percent on Oct. 22. In the last seven days the positivity rate has fluctuated, but shown a general uptick where on six of those seven days the positivity rate is above two percent. WHO: No normalcy for at least a year The World Health Organizations chief science officer said this week that the world wont go back to some measure of normalcy for at least a year, even if a vaccine is approved and administered. Were looking at 2022, at least, before enough people start getting the vaccine to build immunity, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said during a media briefing. So, for a long time to come, we have to maintain the same kind of measures that are currently being put in place with physical distancing, the masking and respiratory hygiene. Oxford vaccine creates strong response to COVID-19 The coronavirus vaccine being developed by Oxford University creates a strong immunity response, according to researchers at the University of Bristol, as British news source Metro reported. Vaccines usually inject tiny bits of a pathogen in this case, the vaccine instructs the body to create the relevant protein itself, and it appears to work. This is an important study as we are able to confirm that the genetic instructions underpinning this vaccine, which is being developed as fast as safely possible, are correctly followed when they get into a human cell, said David Matthews, from Bristols School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. Researchers: Age does not determine if you contract COVID-19 or not A group of Japanese researchers have determined that age has nothing to do with susceptibility to the coronavirus, according to research published in the journal Nature. Their mathematical model shows that age does affect severity of infection, but how old you are has nothing to do with whether or not you catch the virus in the first place. Study: Mismanagement of pandemic led to more deaths A study from the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University estimated how many deaths the United States could have prevented if it had mirrored the policies and responses in six other high-income nations, namely South Korea, Japan, Australia, Germany, Canada and France. In the U.S., the death rate is 66.33 for every 100,000 people. Had The United States adopted strategies similar to those in the other countries studied, at least 130,000 fewer people would have died, according to the studys authors. By contrasting the U.S. proportional mortality rate with that of six other high-income countries, this report highlights the stark reality that is the United States continued mismanagement of the pandemic response, the study says. Oct. 22 Connecticut reports 502 new cases On Oct. 22, Connecticut announced 502 new cases, two more deaths and 19 new hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) has slightly decreased to 2.2 percent from 2.6 percent on Oct. 21. Rolling 7-day average of positivity rate is steadily climbing The rolling seven-day average for the positivity rate in Connecticut is on an uptick. In the last week, the average has steadily increased. CDC: COVID can be spread during brief encounters The CDC has said COVID-19 can be passed from one host to another during even brief encounters, as Stat news reported, prompting the agency to redefine terms. The CDC had defined a close contact as spending 15 minutes or more within 6 feet of someone else. Now its cumulative you just need to spend a total of 15 minutes or more of the course of a 24-hour period within 6 feet of someone who was infectious. Brazilian health officials: Patient dies in AstraZeneca COVID vaccine trial Brazilian health officials have said that a patient involved in the vaccine trial run by AstraZeneca and Oxford University has died, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. It was not made clear if the patient had been administered the trial vaccine or was in the control group. The patient was reported to be a man in his 20s and was from Rio de Janeiro. Russia is promoting COVID disinformation: ABC News An internal U.S. intelligence bulletin reportedly obtained by ABC News says Russia is continuing to actively promote disinformation related to the coronavirus. Dated Oct. 19, the bulletin said those efforts have increased in pace since the start of the month. Russia continues to spread COVID-19 disinformation and conspiracy theories that have the greatest potential to impact U.S. public health efforts, the bulletin says, according to ABC News. Oct. 21 State logs 416 new COVID cases The percent of total coronavirus tests that were positive dropped slightly Wednesday, from 3 percent to 2.6 percent. The state added an additional 416 coronavirus cases, and eight new COVID-associated deaths. Four fewer people were hospitalized with COVID-19 infections Wednesday, according to data released by the state. Hartford averages twice the new cases seen in other CT cities The rolling seven-day average of new coronavirus cases in Hartford is double that in other major cities in Connecticut, according to a CT Insider analysis of state data. For the last seven days, Hartford has averaged 43 new cases per day. By comparison, Bridgeport is averaging 23 new cases per day. Danbury, which was considered to be having a coronavirus surge earlier this fall, is averaging 16 new cases per day. CDC: Over 200,000 excess deaths during pandemic The CDC said this week that there have been 299,028 so-called excess deaths during the course of the pandemic in the United States, significantly more than the 216,000 deaths directly attributed to COVID-19. Excess deaths are the number of deaths above the average for the time period, and are considered a good way to estimate the true loss of life from the pandemic. Study: 71.5 percent of people open to take a COVID-19 vaccine Globally, 71.5 percent of people would be somewhat likely to take a COVID-19 vaccine, according to a study published this week in the journal Nature. The research asked 13,426 people in 19 countries their feelings on the subject of vaccines, and found a wide range nation to nation. In China, almost 90 percent of people said they would take a vaccine, compared to only 55 percent in Russia. In the United States, 75.42 percent of people answered yes to the question, If a COVID-19 vaccine is proven safe and effective and is available, I will take it. American Academy of Pediatrics: CT children have lower COVID-19 infection rates than other states The percent and number of kids with COVID-19 is lower in Connecticut than in most other states, according to a study released by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Nationwide, 10.9 percent of all coronavirus cases were among people aged 18 and under. In Wyoming, nearly 30 percent of all cases were among children, compared to about 4.3 percent in New York City and New Jersey. Connecticut saw less than 10 percent of all COVID cases among children, below the 11 percent median. Oct. 20 CT positivity rate leaps to 3.0 percent On Oct. 20, Connecticut announced 434 new cases, five more deaths and 22 new hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) has jumped to 3 percent from 1.7 percent on Oct. 19. This is the highest it has been since June. COVID-19 vaccine may be ready for approval by December The CEO of pharmaceutical manufacturer Moderna said a coronavirus vaccine should be ready for approval by December. Stephane Bancel, speaking to the Wall Street Journal, said that authorization might not happen until early next year. Moderna is one of four drugmakers in late-stage coronavirus vaccine trials. Straits Times: University developing COVID-19 breathalyzer test The National University of Singapore is developing a COVID-19 breathalyzer test, the Straits Times reported. Theres only been a pilot of 180 patients so far, but the test returned results in less than a minute and was shown to be 90 percent accurate. "Results are generated in real time, making it an attractive solution for mass screening, especially in areas with high human traffic, one researcher said. Study: Nasal and oral rinses may deactivate coronavirus Results from a Penn State College of Medicine study suggest that some nasal and oral rinses may inactivate coronaviruses. Listerine, for example, actually reduced the viral load under laboratory conditions, as did CVS Antiseptic Mouth Wash and others. The key may be how long you rinse your mouth, researchers said. One minute or more actually made a significant difference. Most of the common overthecounter mouth washes/gargles tested demonstrated at least a 90 percent reduction in infectious virus at one minute of contract time with the majority of products showing increasing virucidal activity with longer contact times, the study said. UK vaccine trial moves toward human challenge trial A UK vaccine trial announced it will begin a COVID-19 human challenge trial in January, the journal Nature reported. The trial is aimed at accelerating COVID-19 vaccine development in hopes of potentially ending the pandemic. But the prospect of deliberately infecting people even those at low risk of severe disease with SARS-CoV-2, a deadly pathogen that has few proven treatments, is uncharted medical and bioethical territory, the journal stated. Oct. 19 CT COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations rise On Oct. 19, the State of Connecticut announced 1,191 new cases, 12 more deaths and 11 new hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) has decreased to 1.7. percent from 2.4 percent on Oct. 16. Study shows organ damage in some hospitalized COVID patients A new study of patients who have been in the hospital with a COVID infection suggests a potential link between chronic inflammation and ongoing organ damage among survivors, as Reuters reports. About 60 percent of patients showed abnormalities of the lungs, 29 percent had kidney issues, 26 percent had heart problems and 10 percent had abnormalities in the liver. CVS is hiring 15,000 workers to help handle vaccines CVS is adding 15,000 workers across the United States to handle vaccinations for both the flu and a potential rollout of a coronavirus vaccine, the company said in a statement. Were estimating a much greater need for trained pharmacy technicians this year given the continued presence of COVID-19 in our communities, said Lisa Bisaccia, CVS chief human resources officer. Notre Dame: Virus-related lockdowns prevent thousands of deaths linked to pollution A study from researchers at Notre Dame University showed that virus-related lockdowns in China and Europe prevented tens of thousands of deaths related to pollution. Researcher Paola Crippa and her colleagues looked at the average number of deaths associated with pollution, the number of similar deaths that happened during pandemic lockdowns and the decrease in airborne particulate matter. The study estimated that 24,200 deaths associated with particulate matter were prevented in China, and another 2,190 pollution-related deaths were avoided in Europe, compared to the average. WHO trial finds that COVID-19 associated drugs did not clearly impact patient outcomes The WHO Solidarity trial found that four drugs Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, Lopinavir and Interferon have have little or no effect, on hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Research found that none of these drugs clearly reduced mortality, initiation of ventilation or hospitalization duration. Oct. 16 CT Positivity rate drastically jumps to 2.4 percent On Oct. 16, the State of Connecticut announced 802 new cases, two more deaths and no new hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) increased to 2.4 percent from 1.3 percent on Oct. 15. Rolling seven-day average for positivity rate is at 1.7 percent The rolling seven-day positivity rate average is at 1.7 percent, its highest in weeks according to a CT Insider analysis of state data. The positivity rate jumped to 2.4 percent on Oct. 16 from previously being at 1.3 percent on Oct. 15. For the past week, the average has varied between 1.3 and 1.5 percent until today. Large Thanksgiving parties are a risk: Dr. Anthony Fauci Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that families need to reconsider having large Thanksgiving parties. "That is unfortunately a risk, when you have people coming from out of town, gathering together in an indoor setting," Fauci, the nations leading expert on infectious diseases, told CBS news. "It is unfortunate, because that's such a sacred part of American tradition the family gathering around Thanksgiving. But that is a risk." Politico: Pfizer will not seek vaccine approval until after election Pfizer, one of four U.S. drug manufacturers in late-stage coronavirus vaccine testing, said that it wont seek authorization for a vaccine until after the election. "Let me be clear, assuming positive data, Pfizer will apply for Emergency Authorization Use in the U.S. soon after the safety milestone is achieved in the third week of November," the companys CEO wrote, as Politico reported. CDC releases guidelines for COVID testing in schools The CDC has released interim guidelines for coronavirus testing in schools. The guidance goes into detail on the types of testing, when testing is and is not recommended for students and staff, and which schools (and which people within schools) to prioritize testing. The agency made it clear that these are just guidelines, not mandates: These considerations are for testing in school settings and are intended for K-12 school administrators working in collaboration with their state, tribal, local, and territorial public health officials. Oct. 15 CT positivity rate decreases to 1.3 percent On Oct. 15, the State of Connecticut announced 213 new cases, three more deaths and three new hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) decreased to 1.3 percent from a high of 2.4 percent on Oct. 13. Coronavirus strain infecting pigs in China could spread to humans A related coronavirus that has torn through the pig population in China (Its called swine acute diarrhea syndrome, or SADS) has the potential to jump to humans, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The good news is that, "It is impossible to predict if this virus, or a relative of it, could emerge and infect human populations, as one reseracher said. However, it has been shown to replicate in human cells, which demonstrates potential risk for future emergence events in human and animal populations." Research shows coronavirus travels through the air in different ways Researchers have modelled how the coronavirus is transmitted via droplets and in aerosolized form, and suggest that it moves from host to host in different ways depending on the humidity in the air. UC Santa Barbara researchers say that ability to be transmitted in both droplets and aerosolized form may be why the virus did not abate in the summer as some researchers thought it might. We found that in most situations, respiratory droplets travel longer distances than the 6-foot social distance recommended by the CDC, researcher Yanying Zhu said. Oxford University scientists developed a 5-minute COVID test Scientists at Oxford University have developed a 5-minute antigen test, as NBC reported. Our method quickly detects intact virus particles, said Professor Achilles Kapanidis, at Oxfords Department of Physics. He said the test, described as cost-effective, should have an approved device in the middle of next year. Israeli scientists identify drugs that can reduce COVID-19 severity Israeli scientists have engaged in an extensive, systematic analysis of electronic health records to identify drugs that could reduce the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization, according to research published this week. Their results were encouraging: We identified several drugs and products sold in pharmacies that are significantly associated with reduced odds ratios of SARS-CoV-2 hospitalization and disease severity. Oct. 14 CT positivity rate decreases to 1.9 percent On Oct. 14, the State of Connecticut announced 164 new cases, four more deaths and 16 new hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) decreased to 1.9 percent, still a relatively high rate, but lower than the previously reported 2.4 percent on Oct. 13. Dutch woman is first known death from COVID-19 reinfection An elderly woman in the Netherlands has become the first known person to die from a COVID-19 reinfection, according to Dutch experts. She died nearly two weeks after being infected with the virus a second time. The lady had a rare bone marrow cancer called Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, but researchers said her immune system could have still been sufficient to eliminate, the virus. COVID-19 financial losses amount to about $16 trillion, study says A pair of researchers from Harvard published a study this week in which they show that the estimated cumulative financial costs of the COVID-19 pandemic related to the lost output and health reduction is about $16 trillion in the United States. Thats equal to about 90 percent of the total annual GDP of the United States, translating to an average loss of almost $200 000 for a family of four. Those numbers are not so straightforward. Half of that $16 trillion is lost income from the COVID-19-induced recession the rest is the estimated economic effects of shorter and less healthy life, researchers wrote. Deaths 20% higher because of the pandemic There were 20 percent more deaths than usual between March and July, according to one recent research letter published by scientists from Yale University and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Those deaths were not all directly related to COVID only about 67 percent of those 225,530 excess deaths were from a coronavirus infection. The remainder are from pandemic-related issues (like increased poverty or stretched-too-thin hospital resources. Effects of COVID-19 on mental health will be profound: NYU researchers Three mental health professionals from NYU expressed concerns in a research letter over what the sheer number of pandemic-related deaths might do to the people left behind. Each COVID-19 death leaves an estimated nine family members bereaved, which projects to an estimated 2 million bereaved individuals in the U.S., they wrote. Thus, the effect of COVID-19 deaths on mental health will be profound. Its not just the effects of dealing with death. There is also a significant amount of stress and social disruption caused by the pandemic, which has increased rates of depression and anxiety, and substance abuse. A second wave of devastation is imminent, attributable to mental health consequences of COVID-19, they wrote. The magnitude of this second wave is likely to overwhelm the already frayed mental health system, leading to access problems, particularly for the most vulnerable persons. Oct. 13 CT positivity rate significantly increases to 2.4 percent On Oct. 13, the State of Connecticut announced 320 new cases, one death and 17 more hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) increased significantly to 2.4 percent. Pfizer expands vaccine study to include teenagers Pfizer has altered its vaccine study to include younger participants aged 12 through 15 after getting permission by the Food and Drug Administration. The study originally planned for 30,000 participants, but expanded the participant pool to 44,000 in September. Johnson & Johnson pauses COVID-19 vaccine trial after unexplained illness Johnson & Johnson is temporarily pausing its COVID-19 vaccine trial after an unexplained illness in a study participant. The company said adverse events, like illnesses, are an expected part of any clinical study. The illness is being reviewed by ENSEMBLE independent Data Safety Monitoring Board and internal physicians. It is not always immediately apparent whether a participant received a study treatment or a placebo, the company said. COVID-19 reinfection more severe the second time, study says A study by The Lancet, a medical journal, found that a person re-infected with COVID-19 had more severe symptoms during his second battle with the virus. The patient developed myalgia, a cough, shortness of breath and signs of pneumonia. Researchers speculate that the reinfection may have been more severe for one of the following reasons: the patient may have been exposed to a higher dose of the virus, this version of the virus may be more malicious or antibodies could have been infected and became dependent on the virus. U.S. experiences more COVID-19 deaths than any country, according to JAMA Network The medical journal JAMA conducted a study to explain why the U.S.has experienced more COVID-19 deaths than any other country. After the first peak in early spring, U.S. death rates from COVID-19 and from all causes remained higher than even countries with high COVID-19 mortality, the study says. JAMA found that these results came from several factors, including weak public health infrastructure and a decentralized, inconsistent U.S. response to the pandemic. Oct. 12 Coronavirus can linger on touchscreens for at least 28 days Coronavirus can live and remain viable for at least 28 days on touchscreens and banknotes, according to newly released research from Australia. The study, from researchers at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, showed that, at 68 degrees fahrenheit, the coronavirus can survive for a month on common surfaces such as glass, stainless steel and both paper and polymer banknotes. At 100 degrees fahrenheit, the virus can live less than 24 hours on those surfaces, the study said. CDC: Infections in younger people happen before spike in infections in older people A study of infection data by age group released by the CDC showed that in counties considered hotspots, including counties in Connecticut, a spike in the number of infections among younger people preceded a spike in infections among older people by several weeks. The dynamic was less profound in Northeast states, but the CDC notes that addressing transmission among young adults is an urgent public health priority. CT projected to average over 16 deaths a day by 2021 Connecticut is currently seeing an average of 1.68 deaths from the coronavirus every day. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation data shows the state hitting 2.3 average daily deaths by Election Day, and more than 16 deaths per day by Jan. 1. The IHMEs predictions dont go any further than February but, by that point, Connecticut could be looking at 30 deaths per day from the coronavirus, with significant increases in infections and hospital resource use as well. Hartford is averaging 10 new cases per day Hartford has been experiencing a steady rise in new COVID-19 cases every day. Data shows that Hartford has reported at least 10 new cases every day since Sept. 28. The rolling seven-day average shows an average 11 new cases each day so far in October. Trinity College and UNH suspend in-person learning over COVID-19 outbreaks Trinity College in Hartford and the University of New Haven have experienced outbreaks in the last few days. The University of New Haven announced today that it is suspending in-person learning until Oct. 17 because of the outbreak. Trinity has also paused in-person instruction until it can get a handle on the growing cases. Oct. 9 CT positivity rate increases to 1.68 percent On Oct. 9, the State of Connecticut announced 290 new cases, three more deaths and six new hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) increased to 1.68 percent. States without mask mandates have 10 times the COVID-19 cases A study of states policies as they reopened showed that those without mask mandates saw 10 times the number of coronavirus cases as those states with mask mandates. This study contributes to the growing evidence that mask usage is essential for mitigating community transmission of COVID-19, the study concludes. States should delay further reopening until mask mandates are fully implemented, and enforcement by local businesses will be critical for preventing potential future closures. A serious COVID-19 infection can provide long-lasting immunity A Harvard study suggests that a serious COVID-19 infection does provide long-lasting immunity. Its been assumed that catching the virus does grant some measure of immunity, but Harvard researchers may be the first to confirm that severe infections do result in some measure of immunity on a long-term basis. We showed that key antibody responses to COVID-19 do persist. the lead researcher said. Coronavirus can live on human skin for nine hours Coronavirus can live on human skin for nine hours, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. The study shows that this nine-hour window during which the virus lingers creates a higher risk of transmission and underlines the importance of washing your hands or sanitizing. Trump plans to hold a rally in Florida Saturday, whether infectious or not President Donald Trump plans to hold a Saturday rally in Florida, an event which his doctors have cleared him for after a COVID diagnosis last week. Depending on the severity of his COVID infection, he may or may not be infectious at that point. According to the CDC, patients with mild to moderate remain infectious no longer than 10 days after symptom onset. Patients with more severe infections can be contagious for up to 20 days. The New York Times reported that Trump began experiencing symptoms on Wednesday, Sept. 30, exactly 10 days before his planned Saturday rally. Oct. 8 384 cases and 5 COVID deaths as phase 3 begins Gov. Ned Lamont announced an additional five deaths from COVID-19 Friday, as the state begins phase 3 of reopening, increasing indoor capacity in restaurants and opening up arts venues. The state also logged an additional one-day increase of 384 COVID cases, and a positivity rate of 1.4 percent. White House chief adviser lays out vaccine approval for after election A chief adviser to the White Houses Operation Warp Speed this week laid out a timetable for vaccine approval, after Nov. 3. On Tuesday, Moncef Slaoui told a symposium run by Johns Hopkins University that "Nobody can really say when," a vaccine would be approved, "but the expectation would be that this would happen between the month of November and December." European Union secures 400 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine The European Union has secured 400 million doses of a vaccine being developed by Johnson & Johnson, one of four U.S.-made vaccine candidates currently in late-stage trials. The contract allows member states to purchase vaccines for 200 million people. They will also have the possibility to purchase vaccines for an additional 200 million people, the EU commission said in a statement, as was reported by Reuters. The E.U. has already signed similar deals with drugmakers AstraZeneca and Sanofi, which are also working on vaccine candidates. U.S. ranked nine of 19 for pandemic management The U.S. ranks ninth of 19 nations in terms of public perception of pandemic management, according to a new tool developed by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health and the City University of New York. The U.S. was rated highly in terms of income, food and shelter aid, but did not perform as well, in the view of survey respondents in terms of government cooperation with other nations and global agencies. 500,000 sharks could die for COVID vaccine, conservationists say A conservationist group says that as many as 500,000 sharks could be killed to provide a coronavirus vaccine to the worlds population. Squalene, used as an emulsifier in many vaccines, is often derived from shark liver oil. California-based Shark Allies has put together a Change.org petition to encourage the worlds drugmakers to use squalene from other sources. The organization estimates that, depending on the vaccine, as many as 500,000 sharks could be killed to provide two vaccine doses globally. Oct. 7 Note: Gov. Ned Lamont said Wednesday that the state actually administered more than more than 17,700 coronavirus tests Tuesday, instead of 8,200 as he initially reported. That brought the percent positive to 0.7 percent instead of 1.6 percent. CT positivity rate increases since Oct. 6 On Oct. 7, the State of Connecticut announced 123 new cases, one death and nine more hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) increased to 1.62 percent. Fauci says the U.S. could have as many as 400,000 deaths before pandemic ends Anthony Fauci said during an event hosted by American University that the United States could see as many as 400,000 coronavirus deaths before the pandemic is over, as Axios reported. "We could have 300,000-400,000 COVID-19 deaths, if precautions arent taken, he said. NY locks down on COVID-19 hotspots New York State is locking down again, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, placing restrictions on businesses, churches and schools near COVID-19 hotspots. Cuomo said the rules will be enforced in parts of Brooklyn, Queens, Orange and Rockland counties, and that they would take effect no later than Friday. CT has had a 75 percent increase in COVID-19 cases over the last 14 days The numbers are small, but the percentage increase in both cases and deaths from the coronavirus is high in Connecticut, according to data maintained by Kaiser Health News. There has been a 75 percent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state over the last 14 days, the sixth highest in the nation. There has been a 40 percent increase in the number of COVID-related deaths, though the state is still at a rolling seven-day average of two deaths per day, which is relatively low for the United States. There is a seven-day average of about 200 new cases in the state. One-third of COVID-19 patients experience neurological effects A study by Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology found that nearly a third of hospitalized COVID-19 patients experienced some form of an altered mental capacity. The symptoms are varied, ranging from dizziness to confusion to unresponsiveness. Patients with neurological symptoms experienced worse medical outcomes as a result, reported the New York Times. Oct. 6 No new hospitalizations since Oct. 5 On Oct. 6, the State of Connecticut announced 121 new cases, 4 more deaths and no new hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) decreased to 1.47 percent. Quest diagnostics releases at-home COVID-19 test kit Quest Diagnostics has released a new, at-home COVID-19 test kit, WFSB reported. The kit includes a nasal swab PCR test that can be returned in an overnight FedEx envelope. A test kit costs $129 and can be ordered online at the Quest Diagnostics website. Alternatively, someone can complete the at-home test by buying it online and taking the specimen to a drive-thru pharmacy at a nearby Walmart. White House blocks FDA guidelines preventing vaccine approval before election The White House has blocked proposed FDA guidelines that would have prevented a vaccine from being approved before the Nov. 3 election, as multiple news organizations have reported. The FDA had instructed vaccine manufacturers to follow patients involved in vaccine trials for two months, a timeline that would have pushed any approvals to after the election. 13-year-old spreads coronavirus to 12 people in four states The CDC has detailed how a 13-year-old with coronavirus spread the disease to at least 12 other people in four states. Fourteen people stayed in a house with the index patient, of whom 12 were infected (none worse masks or practiced social distancing). Six other relatives stayed outside of the hose and none of them caught the virus. Relaxing social distancing rules contribute to increased transmission rates across U.S. A study from researchers at the Center for Global Health in Boston showed that the transmission rate across the United States began increasing as soon as social distancing rules were relaxed. We detected an immediate and significant reversal in SARS-CoV-2 epidemic suppression after relaxation of social distancing measures across the U.S. Premature relaxation of social distancing measures undermined the countrys ability to control the disease burden associated with COVID-19, researchers said. Oct. 5 Connecticuts positivity rate increases to 1.6 On Oct. 5, the State of Connecticut announced 823 new cases, four more deaths and 19 more hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) increased to 1.6 percent from the previous 1.3 percent on Oct. 2. CT transmission rate at its highest since March Connecticuts transmission rate is at its highest since March. The transmission rate is 1.11, according to rt.live and Yales model pins the rate at 1.15. This number means that an infected person will spread the disease to at least one other person on average, causing COVID-19 to spread. MIT develops a cheap, new COVID-19 test MIT has developed a COVID-19 test that is so cheap it could be administered at home every single day. The test returns results in 30 minutes to an hour, and is more than 90 percent accurate. We need rapid testing to become part of the fabric of this situation so that people can test themselves every day, which will slow down an outbreak, Omar Abudayyeh, an MIT McGovern Fellow working on the diagnostic, said in a release. The test is still in the research phase. Coronavirus cases increase as cold front arrives As the cold weather has arrived, there has been a record number of coronavirus cases in nine states, as Reuters reports. The states seeing the largest increases are those where the cold has taken hold, particularly in the northern Midwest. In Wisconsin, for example, an average of 22 percent of all COVID-19 tests are coming back positive. CDC updates guidance to confirm COVID-19 can be spread through aerosols Despite a mountain of other research, the CDC has gone back and forth about whether the virus can spread through aerosols, but a newly updated guidance affirms it can be spread through the air. Small viral particles can linger in the air for minutes or hours after a person has left a space, potentially infecting others. This kind of spread is called airborne transmission. Oct. 2 Connecticuts COVID-19 cases continue to climb On Oct. 2, the State of Connecticut announced 460 new cases, two more deaths and three more hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) is at 1.36 percent. Norwich issued a COVID-19 alert after outbreak of positive cases The state has issued a COVID-19 alert for the town of Norwich following a recent spike in cases in the area in the last two weeks, Gov. Ned Lamont said in a tweet early Friday morning. The state Department of Health said that Norwich recorded at least 84 new coronavirus cases in mid-September to raise the daily case rate to 24 per 100,000, the highest rate in the state. This is a significant increase in cases in Norwich we need to focus everyones attention on, said Acting DPH Commissioner Deidre S. Gifford in a release. Moderna says vaccine could be ready by March 2021 The CEO of Moderna, one of the leading companies working on a coronavirus vaccine, said this week the company plans to submit its vaccine candidate to the FDA in January 2021, at the earliest, with an expected vaccine ready for public consumption no earlier than March or April of next year. Kids are efficient virus spreaders, study says Heres a little more about superspreaders: A study of 575,071 people who had been exposed to confirmed COVID-19 patients the largest such study ever found that children and young adults in particular were good at spreading the virus. Kids are very efficient transmitters in this setting, which is something that hasnt been firmly established in previous studies, said lead researcher Ramanan Laxminarayan. Blumenthal getting tested after potential exposure at White House President Trump has tested positive and is experiencing mild symptoms of COVID-19. Following his diagnosis, a string of White House officials along with Connecticuts Sen. Richard Blumenthal, have chosen to get tested. Sen. Chris Murphy stated the White House could now be a superspreading site, according to the New Haven Independent. Oct. 1 Positive tests continues to grow in Connecticut The percent of total tests that were positive in Connecticut continued to grow Thursday 1.85 percent of all coronavirus tests in the state came back positive, up from 1.78 the previous day. Again, three more deaths from the virus were identified, and another three people were fighting the disease in the hospital, according to the state Who should get a vaccine first? Health care professionals A study asked members of the public who they thought should get a vaccine first when one is available. Most people thought health care professionals should get a vaccine first. The goal is not only to better allocate limited resources but to build a little trust. Public engagement can contribute to resource allocation decisions, the studys authors said. Incorporating public preferences could advance the perceived legitimacy of vaccine allocation guidelines. Vaccine trial participants experience symptoms in phase three Participants in the vaccine trial being managed by Moderna and AstraZenica reported symptoms like fever, body aches, headaches and exhaustion, and while the symptoms were described as intense by some patients, they tended to abate in a single day or less, as CNBC reported. The Moderna vaccine candidate is one of of four currently in phase three trials in the United States. Fauci says vaccine trials need a diverse group of patients National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci told congress that vaccine trials need to include a diverse group of patients. We need to get a diverse representation of the population in the clinical trials," he told a panel of Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) members, as The Hill reported. "So when they are proven to be safe and effective, we can say they are safe and effective in everyone, not only in whites." FDA looks into a wider scope of side effects from AstraZenica vaccine candidate The FDA is widening the scope of its investigation into possible side effects from the AstraZenica vaccine candidate, probably resulting in further delays, as Reuters reported. The stage three trial has been on hold since Sept. 8, after a patient in the trial developed a spinal cord illness called transverse myelitis. Sept. 30 Percent positive up in CT About 1.8 percent of the total number of coronavirus tests in Connecticut were positive, an increase of about .1 percent from the day before. There were a total of 221 new cases announced, and 12 new COVID-19-related hospitalizations. In addition, there were three more coronavirus-related deaths in the state. COVID-19 may be ramping up in NYC Coronavirus cases are spiking in New York City. The daily rate of positive coronavirus tests jumped to 3.25 percent on Tuesday from 1.9 the day earlier, though it then dropped back down to below 1 percent. That spike may be centered in the citys Orthodox Jewish community, but the city did just open up to 25 percent of indoor capacity at restaurants. Percent positive up in New Jersey New Yorks positivity rate the percentage of tests that are positive may be jumping up and down, and Connecticuts may be inching up, but pay attention to New Jersey. State officials there said Wednesday the positivity rate in that state climbed over 3 percent after being in the 2 percent range for weeks. Transmission on surfaces unlikely in the real world Coronavirus transmission on surfaces is unlikely, according to a letter published in the journal Lancet. In laboratory conditions its possible, but in the real world its far less likely, provided that standard cleaning procedures and precautions are enforced. Wash your hands. Chinese citizens are already getting a vaccine There has been no coronavirus vaccine yet approved in China, but state media has said that hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens are receiving an unapproved shot under an emergency authorization, as The New Yorker reported. The goal, they said, was to beat the United States to the punch. Chinese officials are thinking that Donald Trump might approve a U.S. vaccine before the election, Yiwu He, the chief innovation officer at the University of Hong Kong, told The New Yorker. So their goal is to have a vaccine approved before that. Sept. 29 COVID-19 hospitalizations rise Since Tuesday, the state of Connecticut announced 182 new cases, 2 more deaths and 17 more hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) has decreased to 1.06 percent. Less than 10 percent of U.S. adults formed antibodies during first COVID-19 wave A study by The Lancet shows that fewer than 10 percent of the U.S. adult population developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, during the first wave of the pandemic and fewer than 10 percent of those with antibodies were diagnosed. This has a lot of implications when youre looking at things such as vaccines. Rapid COVID-19 tests to be used in Connecticut schools Connecticut is expecting to receive 1 million rapid COVID-19 tests from the federal government. The tests are meant to help keep schools open. Of the 1 million tests, 69,000 will arrive next week, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. The tests will also be used in nursing homes, day care centers, prisons and for the state's rapid-response team to deal with virus outbreaks. Lawsuit to stop kids from wearing masks in schools goes to court Parents from five Connecticut towns are arguing that the state lacked the authority to create the mandate and violated the constitutional rights of students by imposing it. A state Superior Court judge is presiding over the lawsuit. Americans over 30 have been drinking more during the pandemic Adults over 30 have been drinking more during the pandemic, according to the JAMA Network Open journal. Alcohol consumption has increased 14 percent since 2019, averaging out to one additional drinking day per month by 75 percent of adults. Sept. 28 More cases reported and one less hospitalization since Sept. 25 Since Sept. 25, the State of Connecticut announced 560 new cases, two more deaths and one less hospitalization. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) is at 1.1 percent Monday. Silent reinfections coming to surface An article from the journal Nature reports that the reinfection found in two Indian doctors who contracted COVID-19 in May is genetically different the second time around, according to the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in New Delhi. The evidence indicates that the doctors bodies are not harboring leftover virus, but instead being infected all over again. To this extent, it suggests asymptomatic reinfections are underreported. CDC releases guidelines for a safe Thanksgiving The Center for Disease Control released guidelines for Thanksgiving plans. One of these guidelines calls for those hosting a dinner to only include people who live in the household or have a virtual dinner. Long-term care facilities allowing visitors again in Connecticut The state Department of Public Health announced that long-term care facilities can begin to have visitors again. Visitors will be screened by the facility and are required to wear protective gear, such as masks. There will be limitations on how many visitors a patient can have at a time and how many are allowed in the facility. The horseshoe crab could be a saving grace against COVID-19 Horseshoe crab blood is a key ingredient in the making of vaccines, even one for COVID-19, according to an article in National Geographic. The blood contains a substance called limulus amebocyte lysate, which helps detect a bacterial toxin that could be deadly if it makes it into vaccines. It just so happens this ingredient might be a saving grace in fighting COVID-19. Sept. 25 Positivity rate in Connecticut is back down below 1 percent There were 115 new cases of the coronavirus reported in Connecticut Friday afternoon, the lowest single day increase in recent memory. In addition, the state posted a positivity rate (the percentage of coronavirus tests that were positive) of a bit more than 0.8 percent. This news comes a day after Gov. Ned Lamont that the state would begin its phase three opening, allowing for restaurants to go to 75 percent capacity indoors. Transmission rate remains slightly elevated The only dark spot on Connecticuts COVID-19 horizon is the transmission rate (denoted as R0) which, according to rt.live, remained at 1.10 as of Friday evening. An Rt over 1 means the virus is spreading below 1 and the virus is contained and not spreading through the population. COVID-19 deaths globally are close to 1 million The world is expected to cross the threshold of 1 million deaths from COVID-19 within the next few days. According to a tracker maintained by Johns Hopkins University, there were 985,104 deaths worldwide from COVID-19 as of Friday afternoon. Most estimates suggest that the world will hit 1 million deaths from the coronavirus before MOnday. Non-COVID hospital admissions up for some Hospital admissions dropped considerably during the pandemic, but non-COVID-related hospital admissions bounced back (to 16 percent below normal) in June and July. Not among all cohorts, according to this study in Health Affairs. Hospital admissions in majority Hispanic areas were 32 percent lower, and were 44 percent lower among pneumonia patients and 40 percent down among people with COPD or asthma. Is there a new way to test for COVID? There is potentially a new way to diagnose COVID-19 which could potentially be used to analyse thousands of samples per day on a single instrument, according to the pre-printed study. The LamPORE test platform, as its called, is about as accurate as the current PCR tests being used. A YouChoose 2020 interactive voting special will also walk people through the voting process using memes such as a tutorial comparing voting to following a recipe and an auto repair video that breaks down the nuts and bolts of voting. (Photo | Wikimedia Commons - Dennisvgils) San Francisco: YouTube on Thursday began adding information panels to videos about voting by mail to reduce the spread of misinformation leading up to the US presidential election in November. Mail-in voting was added to a short list of topics that YouTube considers prone to posts containing falsehoods, such as Covid-19 and landing on the moon, according to the Google-owned video sharing platform. This means that under videos that discuss voting by mail, youll see an information panel directing you to authoritative information from the Bipartisan Policy Center, a bipartisan think tank, YouTube vice president of government a Leslie Miller said in a blog post. The panel will appear under such videos regardless of who is speaking or who uploads them to YouTube, even if it is the president of the United States, YouTube told AFP. US President Donald Trump has railed against voting by mail, even though he has done it, providing no evidence to back his criticism. Trumps claims that mail-in ballots are not reliable have been tagged as misleading by other social media platforms. YouTube already bars claims that mislead people about voting or encourage interference with the democratic process, Miller noted. YouTube will also begin showing information panels about candidates above search results for queries about those running for president or Congress in the coming election, according to Miller. The video sharing platform has plans to roll out original productions in coming weeks, taking what it hopes is a creative approach to election-related information. A YouChoose 2020 interactive voting special will walk people through the voting process using memes such as a tutorial comparing voting to following a recipe and an auto repair video that breaks down the nuts and bolts of voting. Were working hard to make YouTube a more reliable source for news and information, as well as an open platform for healthy political discourse, Miller said. The United States is the middle of a tense political campaign season against the backdrop of the novel coronavirus pandemic and mass protests for racial justice. Some demonstrations have led to violent clashes between civil rights groups and armed right-wing vigilantes. Voters are expected to shift to mail-in voting in unprecedented numbers to reduce risk of exposure to the virus. Internet platforms face pressure to curb political misinformation, both from foreign actors and from groups within the United States. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. 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. A Porsche driver accused of filming a dying police officer instead of helping her has been granted access to his medical records to assist his lawyers preparing for the case. Richard Pusey, 42, allegedly failed to help any of the four police officers who were fatally injured when a truck crashed into them on the Eastern Freeway in Kew on April 22. Richard Pusey arrives at court earlier this year. Credit:Nine News Investigators allege that Mr Pusey instead used his mobile phone to film one of the dying officers, Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, and said, "There you go. Amazing, absolutely amazing. All I wanted to do was go home and have my sushi". He is also alleged to have said, "Now you f---ed my f---ing car". Rotunda Rumblings New Ohio poll: Ohios presidential race is tight, Gov. Mike DeWine maintains wide support on his coronavirus response, and reaction to racial justice protests is divided sharply along partisan lines, according to new polling released Thursday. The Baldwin Wallace University Great Lakes Poll found Democratic challenger Joe Biden with substantial leads over President Donald Trump in Michigan and Wisconsin, and up slightly in Ohio and Pennsylvania, though within the margin of error for the latter two states, Rich Exner reports. Theres lots more in the poll, and well be rolling out stories over the next few days. You can find them all at this link. Bailout block? Attorney General Dave Yost asked a Franklin County judge Wednesday to prevent Energy Harbor, the owner of two nuclear power plants, from receiving any public bailout money under House Bill 6. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, Yosts suit also seeks to prevent Energy Harbor, FirstEnergy Corp., and other figures involved in the HB6 bribery scandal from lobbying for 8 years or becoming involved in this years general election. Bag it: A bill preempting local plastic bag bans is on its way to DeWines desk, Andrew Tobias reports. The Ohio 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. No one likes the ref: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has been in the middle of a number of election season fights over Ohios voting procedures, and hes caught criticism from various fronts. As Tobias explains, LaRose sees himself as wearing the referees jersey. Tobias has a rundown of the controversies and where LaRose has stood. And John Caniglia has the latest on one of the cases, a federal court fight over ballot drop boxes. Final act: The House and Senate on Wednesday passed a bill allocating $650 million for local governments, the final wave of the states share of federal CARES Act coronavirus relief money. Per Tobias, the language allocating the money on a per-capita basis was added to an unrelated bill that changed oversight of the states unemployment compensation system. Local governments can only use the money to cover expenses directly related to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, and the state must return any unspent money to the federal government. The bill heads to DeWines desk for his signature. Ill drink to that: The House and Senate on Wednesday also approved House Bill 669, allowing bars and restaurants to sell to-go cocktails, Tobias reports. The bill, if signed by DeWine, would make permanent a temporary order DeWine issued in April. Bill backers say the change is meant to help hospitality businesses that have been severely hampered by the coronavirus pandemic. Ready to rumble: Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown on Wednesday predicted that President Donald Trump will propose a Supreme Court justice to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg who will vote to overturn the Affordable Care Act, and said he and other Democrats will fight like hell if thats the kind of nominee Trump picks, Sabrina Eaton reports. Black womens health: Brown also announced that his office will host its first-ever Black Womens Health Symposium online on two consecutive Saturdays Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 to highlight inequities in health outcomes and determine ways to eliminate them. We know the best ideas dont come out of Washington, theyll come from people all over the state that talk to us about these issues, said Brown. Participants can sign up on this website. Coronavirus deaths: Wednesdays coronavirus numbers brought down the 21-day average for daily increases below 1,000, but included a significant increase in deaths. The reported 52 deaths is the highest increase since Sept. 15, Emily Bamforth reports. Current cases: Among the nearly 150,000 coronavirus cases reported by the Ohio Department of Health this year, about 16,400 are believed to be currently active. This is down from about 18,400 on Sept. 14, and down more sharply from an estimated high of 22,400 active cases on July 27, Exner reports. Loosen up: Grocery-store salad bars, as well as buffets, pinball machines, and dancing in bars and restaurants, will once again be allowed under a new state health order. As Marc Bona reports, the new order also allows all banquet and catering facilities with on-site food and drink consumption to reopen with a maximum capacity of 300 people and a 10-person-per-table limit. Not picking up the check: Cleveland City Council has approved legislation allowing the city to collect reimbursement from organizers of Tuesdays presidential debate for security and other essential city services provided for the event. As Robert Higgs writes, The cost, mostly in the form of overtime, is likely to run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Guard returns: The Ohio National Guard, already a familiar sight in Northeast Ohio during a tumultuous 2020, will be back in Cleveland next Tuesday for the debate, Higgs reports. Cleveland Public Safety Director Karrie Howard confirmed the Guard would be present for the debate but didnt say what role they will play. Help wanted, really: The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections mistakenly emailed an unknown number of poll-worker applicants that no open positions are available. As Courtney Astolfi writes, The mistake is significant given concerns over poll worker shortages in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Full Disclosure Five things we learned from the Feb. 15 financial disclosure form filed by Tom Jackson, this years Democratic nominee for Senate District 24: 1. His employer is Leverity Insurance, where he works as an account executive. 2. His investments include two deferred compensation programs. 3. At some point in 2019, Jackson owed at least $1,000 to GMAC Financial, JP Morgan Chase, Citi, and Pentagon Federal Credit Union. 4. He holds an Ohio insurance license. 5. He reported receiving no gifts in 2019 worth more than $75 (or at least $25 if given by a lobbyist) from anyone besides his family. Straight from the Source Once you get back into individual component pieces of energy legislation, its like a land war in Asia -- I mean, it just never ends. - Michael Kurtz of the Ohio Energy Group, testifying before the Ohio House Select Committee on Energy Policy and Oversight on Wednesday that House Bill 6 shouldnt be fully repealed, then replaced, because negotiations on what to replace it with would quickly get bogged down. 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. Since the Iranian revolution of 1979, Iran has been ruled through a hardline Islamic Regime. As a result, Christianity was outlawed and being part of a church became illegal as missionaries were thrown out of the country and Bibles in the Farsi and Persian languages were banned. However, while Christians are still severely persecuted and imprisoned, a new study has found that the religion has actually been growing exponentially right under the government's nose. A Netherlands-based research group known as GAMAAN has conducted a recent survey of 50,000 Iranians asking them about their "attitude towards religion." The results revealed 1.5 percent of those surveyed identified as Christians. Although this does not seem a large percentage, it is quite significant. GAMAAN believes that by extrapolating this percentage to Iran's population of over 80 million, the population of Christians in Iran would be "without doubt in the order of magnitude of several hundreds of thousands and growing beyond a million." These numbers are evidence of the strength of the gospel growth in the country as Christians are still severely persecuted. Although these results seem to be momentous for the expansion of Christianity in the East, many scholars and leaders are not surprised by the numbers of converts. Afshin Shahi, a lecturer on Middle East Politics from the UK, explained in an interview with Article18, "I don't think the result of the survey is surprising to any Iran observer. Over the last 40 years, the country has gone through a gigantic socio-cultural transition. The survey highlights the fact that a very large segment of the population no longer identifies with Shia Islam, which is used as the ideology of domination by the state." Rev. Dr. Sasan Tavassoli, a convert from Iran, also told Article18, "To say a spiritual revolution is happening in Iran is quite an understatement! This is a total failure of the regime's attempt at indoctrination of the generation since the Islamic Revolution." Even Iran's Minister of Intelligence Mahmoud Alavi admitted that "conversions are happening right under our eyes." Alavi and his agency are collaborating with Muslim religious seminaries to try to fight against the "mass conversions to Christianity across the country." However, the Iranian government's usual rhetoric, that converts are western agents attempting to undermine national security, is becoming difficult to uphold as Alavi and his agency have found that many converts are just "ordinary people, whose jobs are selling sandwiches or similar things." Many ministries and scholars believe that this rapid growth of Christianity stems from a spiritual hunger and the faithfulness shown by those who go to great risk to share the gospel. The name of Islam being invoked in violent acts has caused a widespread disillusionment with the Iranian regime. Shahi noted that a "bitter experience of the Islamic Republic has undermined Shia Islam to an unbelievable level." As many Muslims convert to Christianity, the illegal house-church movement has expanded rapidly as well. Scholars believe thousands, and even millions in the near future, of converts gather in informal house-churches to worship and share the gospel. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04872ddfa0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0487228c78)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04872ddfa0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0487228c78)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0487214800)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0487228c78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0487228c78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04868fc5c8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04872c0db0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04872c0db0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Questions have been raised about who is in charge of COVID-19 testing in Manitoba, as lineups and case counts grow, and the provincial government deferred to a private company when pressed for answers. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Questions have been raised about who is in charge of COVID-19 testing in Manitoba, as lineups and case counts grow, and the provincial government deferred to a private company when pressed for answers. On Wednesday, Manitoba recorded its highest number of daily novel coronavirus cases this month: 42, including 30 in Winnipeg. The list of possible exposures to the virus at schools, bars and restaurants continued to grow. Long waits at COVID-19 testing sites continued but the province has promised help is on the way. It announced on Tuesday that Dynacare, a private Ontario-based lab, is recruiting staff and will launch a mobile testing unit and new testing sites starting next week. Cars line up at the drive-through COVID-19 testing site on Main Street in Winnipeg. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) On Tuesday, the province refused to answer questions about its plan to make COVID-19 tests more available. The Free Press was told to pose those questions to Dynacare. On Wednesday, the private company said the mobile collection unit will operate in Winnipeg starting the week of Sept. 28. In October, it will transition to a permanent site, with the location and hours to be determined. "As the province announced, we will be opening drive-thru sites in Winnipeg, Brandon, Winkler, Portage and Dauphin (location, dates and hours to be determined)," Dynacare spokesman Mark Bernhardt said. It is still working out details with Shared Health, he wrote in an email. "We will be sharing those publicly as soon as we can." 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. Opposition Leader Wab Kinew said the province should explain its pandemic response plan, and not leave it up to a private company. "We are in a public health crisis. We have a state of emergency in place to grant the government extraordinary powers, and for them to just declare that they're going to... hand over all decision-making to a private company is terrible." NDP leader Wab Kinew: "We are in a public health crisis." (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files) Manitobans are owed an explanation about what the province has done during the last six months to ramp up testing capacity, Kinew said. "Manitobans have made tremendous sacrifices in business, in personal lives and schooling etc. to buy the government time to do the work of expanding testing, hiring nurses, you name it. Then, at the 11th hour, only as cases begin to rise again, they just call in a private contractor. It doesn't give me much confidence in what the government's doing on the health side," Kinew said. A spokesman for the provincial government said late Wednesday that, initially, the mobile testing site will add capacity in Winnipeg, while the two Dynacare drive-thru sites are set up. "After this, the mobile site will be deployed as needed to any area of the province that requires a rapid increase in capacity to deal with a spike in cases," with the province calling the shots, not Dynacare. "When and where will be determined by public health." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca The group has completed a total of nearly 4,000 illicit transactions worth over UAH 1.5 million, according to preliminary estimates. Ukraine's cyber police have nabbed a gang of bank card skimmers who managed to illegally withdraw over UAH 1.5 million from citizens' accounts. The five suspects who are set to be tried had manufactured and installed in multiple ATMs skimming devices that would copy bank card data from the magnetic tape, law enforcers report. Besides skimming devices in card slots, the perpetrators would also install mini cameras to have a sneak peek at users' pin codes. At stage two, the gang would make clone cards to cash money from victims' accounts. The group has completed a total of nearly 4,000 illicit transactions worth over UAH 1.5 million, according to preliminary estimates. Police seized material evidence retrieved in eight warranted searches. Read alsoData leak from Cloudflare service poses no threat to government portals SBULaw enforcers have pressed charges against all five perpetrators, related to fraud and cybercrime. The suspects face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. The court is yet to rule on whether to remand suspects in custody. Cybercrime: Other news reports Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) A new Senate bill seeks to grant President Rodrigo Duterte the authority to fast-track the processing of all permits and licenses, hoping to cut red tape and make it easier to do business in the country. Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and senators Ralph Recto and Panfilo Lacson filed Senate Bill 1844 or an Act authorizing the President to expedite the processing and issuance of national and local permits, licenses and certifications. The bill was filed on September 22, but was only posted on the Senate website on Thursday. "This Act could be one of the needed breathers of the crumbling enterprises. And ultimately, this will redound to the benefit of our economy and encourage investors to capitalize in the country," the senators said in their explanatory note, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under SB 1844, Duterte will be authorized to accelerate all regulatory processes and procedures, as well as pending applications for permits, licenses, clearances, certifications, or authorizations. This may include fixing or shortening the periods provided for under existing laws, regulations, issuances and ordinances. The President may also suspend or waive certain requirements in securing these permits or licenses. He may also suspend or remove, upon the determination of a competent body, any government official or employee performing acts contrary to this move. SB 1844 will cover all government agencies, government owned and controlled corporations, including their departments, bureaus, and offices. Duterte met with Congress last week to initially request for amendments to the Ease of Doing Business Act to further cut bureaucratic red tape during the remainder of his term. Sotto then announced that senators have agreed to pass a new measure to reiterate Duterte's powers while the country is still under a state of health emergency. Under the Ease of Doing Business Act, applications or requests are to be processed within three working days, although a longer period of up to 20 days is allowed for those that involve government and technical processes. "We appreciate the initiative of Senate President Sotto, and this was the main agenda when the President invited the leaders of both Houses of Congress," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters in a briefing last Monday. "Hirap na ang ekonomiya dahil sa pandemya, humahanap ng paraan ang Presidente para mapabilis ang ating pagbangon galing sa recession na ito at talaga pong problema pa rin ang red tape, at mukhang hindi sapat iyong Ease of Doing Business Act na naipasa noong isang taon." [Translation: The economy is still struggling due to the pandemic, so the President is looking for ways to speed up recovery from this recession. Red tape continues to be a problem, and it looks like the Ease of Doing Business Act which was approved last year would not suffice.] UAE has 63.96 million sq m of built-up area conforming to local green building regulations or certification programmes, according to Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC). An independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, EmiratesGBC said there are 35.3 million sq m of total built-up area of certified projects under Estidama Pearl Rating System in Abu Dhabi and 26.9 million sq m of total built-up area of completed projects following Dubai Green Building Regulations and Specifications in Dubai. Additionally, there are 239,200 sq m of total built-up area of projects which received permits under Barjeel in Ras Al Khaimah, stated EmiratesGBC in its '2020 UAE Green Building Market Brief' released today (September 24) coinciding with World Green Building Week. The in-depth publication from EmiratesGBC also reveals the number of buildings under various green building ratings across the UAE region. In all, the UAE has 386 projects with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, as of April, with a total built-up area of 5.9 million sq m. Since 2006, the uptake of international green building standards has become increasingly common, with the first UAE project having receivied the LEED certification, an internationally recognised green building certification system developed by the US Green Building Council. Additionally, 4,000 sq m of built-up area in the emirates is WELL certified, an international performance-based system for certifying buildings based on their impact human health and well-being, the EmiratesGBC stated in its report. Chairman Ali Al Jassim said: "The UAE Green Building Market Brief presents evidence-backed insights on the progress achieved by the UAE in promoting sustainable built environments. With a growing footprint of buildings being developed under green building regulations, the nation is progressing towards its goal of achieving net zero carbon buildings by 2050." "We are committed to strengthening this by offering insights on green building best practices and knowledge sharing. With buildings and the construction sector accounting for nearly 39 per cent of energy-related emissions globally and more so in the UAE, it is important to continue to focus on deep retrofitting and net zero carbon buildings," noted Ali Jassim. He pointed out that the UAE Green Building Market Brief showcases the current state of sustainability in the region. "It highlights the number of buildings complying to Estidama Pearl Rating System in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Green Building Regulations and Specifications in Dubai and Barjeel Green Building Regulations in Ras Al Khaimah," added Ali Al Jassim. Dr Ioannis Spanos, Regional Manager: Sustainability, KEO International Consultants, said: "At KEO International Consultants, our vision is to support the UAE and the wider Mena region to meet green buildings regulations while adhering to the complete well-being of building occupants. Our support towards EmiratesGBC for the UAE Green Building Market Brief highlights our commitment towards promoting sustainability in the region." Retrofit being one of the most critical elements of sustainability has also witnessed a lot of progress over the years. Dubai has completed 1,241 buildings and 6,658 villas under its retrofit programme established in 2013 whereas Sharjah has 18 buildings, having established the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa) retrofit programme two years ago and Ras Al Khaimah has executed retrofit of 16 villas as of April 2020 said the EmiratesGBC report. According to EmiratesGBC, the health and wellbeing of building occupants has become a focal point within the green building realm, and the Covid-19 pandemic has brought even more attention to how indoor environmental quality is a major factor influencing wellness. EmiratesGBC aims to support the UAE and wider region for a sustainable built environment with the help of various studies, technical trainings and programmes in order to push the boundaries of sustainability across all its stakeholders,, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Community and city leaders showed up Wednesday to clean up 15 headstones that had been vandalized in blue spray paint at a historically Black cemetery in Austin. One of the graves at Evergreen Cemetery were tainted with the word "Kirk," others appeared to say "AIDS" and one was ruined by a sideways 8, according to Jordan Bontke with CBS Austin affiliate KEYE-TV. John Nixon, a spokesman for Austin Parks and Recreation Department, said the damage was discovered and reported Monday, prompting people to check in on their loved ones' graves. "This is not just a random act of vandalism, there is a purpose, there is a purpose behind this," Natalie Marshall, who has relatives buried in the cemetery, told KEYE-TV. SAY THEIR NAMES: From Trayvon Martin to Breonna Taylor, other names besides George Floyd that make the case for Black Lives Matter Established in 1926 as the first cemetery for Austin's Black community, athletes, educators, civil rights and business leaders are among the almost 12,000 inhabitants. Nyeka Arnold, a co-founder of Black Austin Coalition, told the Austin American-Stateman's Hojun Choi that the organization has been taking care of the cemetery since August and this was "like a slap in the face," adding that they want to install security cameras to keep something like this from happening again. When this incident happened, it brought East Austin out," she said. "Were still here, you just dont see us because were surrounded by white people and white buildings, but were still here." Parks and recreation division manager Tonja Walls-Davis told Choi she's been in talks with the community and Black Austin Coalition for increased security, but is not allowing them to put their own cameras up right now, adding that "if you put them up, they would only be allowed to be put up on the monument that you own. So you cant have surveillance of the whole cemetery." Nixon said the damage does not appear to be racially motivated, but the Austin Police Department is investigating the incident. With the impact of the coronavirus still being felt, one thing is certain: humanity and connection are taking precedence over simple business. But there is more than just the pandemic weighing on communities, in what Ngozi Okaro, executive director of Custom Collaborative, called a trifecta of crises, referring to the crises of COVID-19, the economic recession and the racial injustices disproportionately laying siege to Black and Brown communities. More from WWD All three of these are related and the women in our program are hard hit by each of them, said Okaro, referring to Custom Collaboratives recent eighth cohort of graduates coming from its training program. The program provides women from low-income and immigrant communities in the New York City area the opportunity to break into careers in fashion with paid and sustained work. During a panel discussion, designer Mara Hoffman spoke of the trials of having to cut the size of her business by furloughing 40 percent of her employees. In a recent e-mail to customers, she highlighted the companys 20 years in business while announcing a bombshell decision not to produce our fall 2020 collection. The company will utilize existing inventory in lieu of the original designs to preserve capital and aid the propulsion of the company to a direct-to-consumer model. Similarly, moderator Lauren Shields of nonprofit Business for Social Responsibilitys HerProject, a division committed to gender equality, added context to the crisis happening in countries like Bangladesh, where garment manufacturing accounts for a majority of the economy. With so much disruption happening, how does a sustainable partnership begin? Hoffman looks to the pathfinders who came before and current partners for inspiration, saying: They have influenced us immensely to shift our understanding of sustainability and redefine it through a much more holistic approach that holds social, racial and environmental justice at the core of this framework. Story continues We see sustainability as something that has to happen from the roots up, as opposed to the leaves down and sort of starting from this top level. We need to get to the root which starts with grassroots and community level work, and thats happening in tandem with the top level, added Hoffman. Its not seeking out collaborations that are driven from traditional needs, Hoffman reiterated: Making new product isnt the driving force for this. In this light, collaborative impact means paying everyone fairly and re-centering the people crafting the garments, while sharing resources like sustainable materials and manufacturing know-how to create a new sustainable paradigm. While the companies partnered for the production of personal protective equipment, they also celebrated Custom Collaboratives first virtual graduation together, where Hoffman was a guest speaker. As they have shown, partners are there for the long haul. Okaro highlighted the importance of introspective leadership, asking, How does one lead and partner all the time? Thats what Mara and her team have done all the time. Even thinking about the clothes that Im wearing today it was silk donated by another woman-owned company, Hanky Panky. Leadership is, again, once youve done the introspective work, youve assessed yourself and acknowledged where there might be failings, next is to figure out how you fix it, added Okaro. Last January, Custom Collaborative was a recipient of the 2020 Gucci Changemakers Impact Fund and has seen brands like Eileen Fisher and Lafayette 148, and textile and clothing waste solutions like Wearable Collections and Fabscrap, as partners. At Custom Collaborative, we work with a lot of brands and we place women in internships and jobs, and so starting this spring we decided that its really not fair to place someone in a place where the people seem nice we want the people to be equitable and inclusive, so we ourselves have started anti-racist training for brands. Okaro continued: We want to make sure everyone who comes to work with us has done the work and can have a work environment for Black and Brown women, and really for everybody, who is welcoming and affirming and accepting and where they can do their best work. What underlying elements are key in effective partnerships? For Okaro, good partnerships play up partners strengths, she said, adding, I think its knowing what skills and resources other people have and making sure were bringing the right things to the table and honoring peoples experience and being open to asking questions. For us, its knowing when to speak and knowing when to be quiet, said Hoffman, highlighting Okaros notice of the value of introspection. If youre an unconscious human being, its impossible to be a partner that actually shows up in a meaningful way. Thousands of farmers, farm labourers, commission agents and others blocked the railway tracks in at least six districts of Punjab against the Central governments contentious agriculture bills on the first day of the three-day-long rail roko protest. At Amritsar districts Devidaspura village, activists of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee (KSC) besides employees and commission agents laid siege to the Amritsar-Delhi rail route. The protesters pitched tents on the tracks where they will continue to protest till Saturday. The protest started around 12:30pm with rural medical practitioners (RMPs) seen supporting the farmers. Addressing the gathering, committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said, The Centre has strangulated the democracy by passing these bills. But, the people of the country will not let the NDA government go ahead with this. Also, the farmers passed a resolution against those supporting the Centre on the issue and called for their social boycott. They announced to block railway tracks in Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran and Jalandhar districts on the last day of the three-day stir. Personnel of the Punjab Police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) were deployed at the site. In Sangrur districts Chhajli village, the farmers put a tent on the Delhi-Ludhiana track, while the protesters blocked the Bathinda-Ambala railway track in Barnala town. Manjeet Singh Gharachon of the Bhartiya Kisan union (BKU-Ugrahan) said the youth, women and people from all walks of life are joining hands with them and their protests will force the Modi government to withdraw the anti-farmer bills. In Ferozepur district, the farmers blocked the tracks leading to the Ferozepur railway station near Basti Tanka Wali village. In Nabha town of Patiala district, farmers under the banner of the BKU (Ugarahan) blocked the Patiala-Dhuri railway track. Hundreds of farmers gathered at the railway station and raised slogans against the Centre for bringing the ordinances. Unions district president Manjit Singh said they will stage sit-ins on the rail tracks across the district on September 26. The farmers are feeling betrayed with the NDA governments move as their future is at stake, he added. Also, scores of BKU (Ekta Ugrahana) activists squatted on the railway track in Mansa town. Led by unions district president Ram Singh Bhaini Bagha, women were also present at the protest site. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump faced a chorus of boos and chants as he joined other mourners at the Supreme Court on Thursday to pay respects to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal icon who died last week. Members of the public booed the president and first lady Melania Trump as they approached the casket perched atop the marble steps of the Supreme Court building. Some shouted that Trump should honor Ginsburg's last wish that the winner of the Nov. 3 president election be allowed to nominate her successor. "Honor her wish," some chanted at Trump. More: Mourners reflect on Ginsburg's legacy during viewing at Supreme Court The president and first lady stood expressionless at the late justice's casket for a few seconds before heading back to the presidential motorcade. Later, Trump dismissed the jeering as "just a political chant." "We could hardly hear it from where we were," he said. President Donald Trump, left, pays respects as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose under the Portico at the top of the front steps of the U.S. Supreme Court building on Thursday, Sept. 24 2020. Trump made the trip from the White House to the Supreme Court where the 87-year-old justice is lying in repose for a second day even as Trump is preparing for a bruising confirmation fight over her successor. Trump has said he will name a nominee on Saturday, and Senate Republicans have signaled they're prepared to move quickly. Someone in the crowd yelled "there he is" and the crowd erupted into boos. They started chanting "respect her dying wish" again. By Thursday morning, the line to see Ginsburg's flag-draped coffin extended blocks away from the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Those in line snapped photos with their phones, many carrying flower bouquets. Trump's comments about the court vacancy have invited scorn. On Wednesday, he said he wanted to fill the slot before the Nov. 3 election so that the entire court could rule on cases that might arise from the election. Trump is already involved in lawsuits against mail-in ballots. Lawmakers said the president is looking for a Trump-friendly court to hand him the election over Democrat Joe Biden. Story continues "In one day, Trump refused a peaceful transition of power and urged the confirmation of a Supreme Court justice to hand him an election if the results are contested," tweeted Julian Castro, a former Democratic presidential candidate. "This is fascism, alive and well in the Republican Party." Contributing: Erin Jensen, John Fritze President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump pay respects as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at the Supreme Court building on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump faces jeers, chants as he honors Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg More than 26,000 Australians stranded overseas have registered as wanting to come home, including 4000 who have been classed as vulnerable. Australians stuck overseas and their families have accused the federal government of abandoning its citizens over the cap on international arrivals, which has left thousands of citizens unable to get home. Deanne Vowles and her family are facing a $70,000 bill to return home. A parliamentary inquiry yesterday heard from an Australian family of seven that faces having to spend $70,000 on flights to get back to Australia. Deanne Vowles, a Newcastle-based teacher, has been stranded in Chailey in the United Kingdom with her husband and five children for six months. I was talking to a friend not long ago who was pretty down on politics in all its forms. I actually find real enjoyment in politics, I told him. He asked if I was nuts. No, I said, theres a lot of pleasure even joy to be found in participating. Case in point: getting the chance to listen to gifted speakers. For many years, I was fortunate to have a seat on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, which gave me a chance to observe some of the best orators in the nation. For instance, there was Hale Boggs from Louisiana, who was in many ways like an actor; you could listen and relax in the knowledge that you were in the hands of a master. And Carl Albert, from Oklahoma, never referred to notes; he could speak knowledgeably and cogently on any legislation. When John Lewis, the Georgia congressman and civil rights icon, took the floor, people stopped whatever they were doing to listen. He had a gift for elevating any particular issue to a higher plane that called on people to remember the best in their nation and in themselves. Republican John Anderson of Illinois took a different approach. He wasnt so much an orator as a superb debater, and had a great fondness for verbal give and take. So did John McCormack from Massachusetts, House Speaker during the 1960s. Very quick on the draw, he would turn to his adversary in debate and say something like, I hold the gentleman in minimum high regard, to the amusement of everyone around. He loved being in the fray. Edith Green, from Oregon, had been a schoolteacher before coming to Congress, and she carried those skills with her to the House. In a sense, she made the House her classroom, and when she had the mic, she was engaging but firm as she battled to advance womens issues and social reform. Mo Udall of Arizona took a different approach: He believed you should have a good time while you participated in serious subjects. He made you want to listen because it was so enjoyable to do so. Oratory may come in different packages. But the chance to watch great communicators at work gives you a better sense of who they are, why they have succeeded, and why our multi-faceted political system is so interesting, engaging, and important. Lee Hamilton is a senior adviser for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years. Massachusetts residents have more confidence in the state's school safety guidelines than in measures local officials have taken to reopen schools, according to an informal survey of 880 Patch readers conducted this week. Almost 55 percent of people somewhat or strongly approve of the state's school safety mandates and guidelines during the pandemic. Those range from school bus capacity to leaving at least 3 feet and preferably 6 between desks to a student mask mandate, which has been accepted. Some parents responded the state's guidelines are so effective that they think most children could safely attend in-person learning. "I believe kids should be attending class 'in' school," one parent said. "If the schools follow the safety guidelines that the state has put in place to minimize/stop the spread of Covid-19, the schools should have a low risk, to none, of spreading the virus while attending school, as we proven to have done so in the state overall, by adhering to these guidelines." Local efforts, which vary between municipalities, haven't been as well received. Only 44 percent said they thought school reopening safety measures taken by local officials were safe. About 30 percent said "maybe" or "don't know." Some school districts are still in a remote-only format despite urging from state officials to get kids back in class. "We are no longer in a pandemic state," one parent said. "With the minuscule number of children contracting COVID, schools should absolutely lessen the restrictions. The kids have suffered enough." Conversely, many parents expressed concern for districts reopening perhaps before it's safe to. Some pointed to children being unable to act responsibly and others to structural issues like inadequate ventilation. "Some school districts (like mine) have been thorough, humane, and caring about student and staff safety," the parent said. "Others have shown very little regard for the safety of students and staff. It is scary and disheartening." Story continues There is strong support for the state's student mask mandate, with 80 percent thinking all students should wear mask and 10 percent thinking just students in middle school and higher should wear masks. Nine percent believed students shouldn't be required to wear masks. The near-universal support for at least some mask mandate is in line with previous Patch surveys. The state requires a mask for all students above first grade who are medically and behaviorally able. Students in kindergarten and first grade are encouraged to wear masks. About three-fourths of survey respondents said they have children in Massachusetts schools, either public or private. Most said they felt at least somewhat confident their children are safe in school. "There is no perfect response," one parent said. "I think the schools are doing the best they can." The above responses range from very confident on the left to not confident at all on the right. This article originally appeared on the Boston Patch Ghana is a country that boasts of a lot of things. Aside from the fact that the country is regarded as the second largest producer of cocoa in Africa, there are very rich families who have built amazing empires. Some of these rich families would rather keep their business on the low side while others do not mind flaunting what the good Lord has blessed them with. When you take a quick tour on Instagram, you are likely to bump into some of these profiles which have "wealth" written all over them. Rich Ghanaian kids of Instagram. Source: Instagram Source: Instagram READ ALSO: Wagyimi anaa? - Mum descends on daughter who was Snapping instead of working (video) These rich kids are the actual movers and shakers of the Ghanaian society and they are normally found in the best and biggest parties and raves ever held in the country. One thing that is awesome about these rich kids is that aside from being able to buy the best things in life for themselves, most of them are givers. They normally embark on humanitarian projects and philanthropic works that end up putting smiles on the faces of many underprivileged Ghanaians in under-served communities. Another feature that runs through almost all the fabulously rich kids in Ghana is the fact that they are 'fresh' for lack of a better word and their fashion game is on point. Today, YEN.com.gh brings you 5 of the richest kids in Ghana and how they are living their fabulous lifestyle on Instagram. 1. Kojo Jones Kojo Jones is a business executive and the curator of kjmfoundation and empiredomus. 2. Kofie Carter 3. Kennedy Osei Kennedy Osei is the son of Ghanaian millionaire, Dr Osei Kwame Despite. He has taken big strides to walk in his father's footsteps and is currently the General Manager of Despite Media Group. READ ALSO: Side chick pushes man's wife into pool after they were caught chilling at hotel (video) 4. David Jones David Jones is believed to be in the field of oil and gas and works with a renowned petroleum company. 5. Freedom Jacob Caesar Freedom is noted for his luxurious cars, high-rise buildings and massive philanthropic works. When the COVID-19 pushed Ghana into a state of emergency and lockdown, he took it upon himself to provide relief items for the less privileged in society. Meanwhile, Dr Ayisha Baffoe-Ashun has shattered glass ceilings and has blazed the path for other women after it was reported that she had become the first-ever female PhD holder in Architecture. She set this enviable record at Ghana's prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in the Ashanti region of Ghana. READ ALSO: I want to be a nurse in future - 57-year-old BECE graduate Elizabeth Yamoah talks ambition Dr Ayisha Ida Baffoe-Ashun formerly known as Ayisha Ida Haruna would hold her head up high as the primus inter pares and would look to see other exceptional women blaze the trail she has set. 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 UMC demands release of immigrant caretaker after ICE arrest on church grounds Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The United Methodist Church is calling on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release an undocumented immigrant and father of two U.S. citizens they say was detained on church grounds in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., on Sept. 10. Binsar Siahaan moved to the U.S. from Indonesia in 1989 on a temporary visa. Soon after, his wife, Eko Sukemi, moved to be with him but both overstayed their visas when they expired a few years later. In 2003 the couple applied for asylum on religious grounds, according to The Washington Post, but two years later an immigration judge ordered Siahaan's deportation which has since been upheld. The UMC General Board of Church and Society, the advocacy arm of one of the largest mainline Protestant denominations in the U.S., has condemned the detention of Siahaan, who has been a member of the Glenmont United Methodist Church in Silver Spring for six years. Siahaan, who along with his wife serves as the congregations caretakers, was living with his family in a home on the grounds of the church. According to a statement from the church body, six ICE agents knowingly violated the agencys Sensitive Locations policy and lied to Siahaan in order to arrest him and begin deportation proceedings. The General Board of Church and Society called the arrest a clear violation of the agencys own policy because ICE entered church property to arrest and detain the man. According to the agencys website, places of worship, such as churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples are listed as sensitive locations. Under ICE policy, enforcement actions are not to occur at or be focused on sensitive locations such as schools, places of worship unless exigent circumstances exist, other law enforcement actions have led officers to a sensitive location or prior approval is obtained from a designated supervisory official. The United Methodist Church believes church grounds are sacred and should always offer safety, the statement from the UMC board reads. ICE crossing church property to arrest someone under false pretenses is not only a violation of human rights and due process but a breach of ICEs own policy regarding removing someone from a sensitive location. ICEs reckless actions pose a huge risk for immigrants throughout the country who are in sensitive locations; attending school, receiving care in hospitals and health facilities, and seeking refuge in faith communities, the statements adds. Across the nation in recent years amid increased immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, some illegal immigrants have taken shelter in churches to avoid deportation. But in the case of Siahaan and his family, they lived on the church grounds because it was their job to care for the church. Siahaan and his wife have lived in the U.S. for over 29 years and have two minor children who are U.S. citizens. The couple has a pending motion to reopen their case for asylum on religious grounds as Muslim-majority Indonesia ranks as the 49th-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. The UMC contends that the father poses no threat to the community. Binsar and Eko cooperated with all ICE check-ins and requirements, but have tragically fallen victim to ICEs unjust practices and the Trump administrations method of terrorizing families and faith communities who stand with them, the board's statement contends. Church and Society calls on ICE to immediately release Binsar back to his family and church community and publicly commit to their own Sensitive Locations guidelines. Siahaan was initially held by ICE in Baltimore before being transferred to the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. An attorney for Siahaan filed a motion to temporarily block his impending deportation. The lawyer, Elsy Ramos Velasquez, also filed a petition with a federal court in Maryland contending that Siahaans arrest was illegal because ICE entered the home without a warrant. A hearing has been set for Oct. 2. In a statement provided to The Washington Post, ICE stated that officers arrested Siahaan after he received full due process in the nations immigration courts. ICE added that an immigration judge ordered his removal in 2005, an order that the agency says has been upheld despite multiple appeals. Siahaan filed an emergency stay of removal after his most recent arrest, which is currently pending, the statement reads. The agency did not comment on the UMCs claims that its officers violated ICE policy to obtain Siahaans arrest. Sukemi told the newspaper that her husband temporarily moved to the U.S. in 1989 on an A-3 visa, giving him the ability to work as a driver for the Indonesian Embassy. She followed him in coming to the U.S. a few years later as she went to work as a nanny for a diplomats family. The couple overstayed their visas when they expired in the early 1990s. In 2012, the couple agreed to an order of supervision agreement with ICE requiring them to check in regularly with a local ICE office. For the past several years, the couple has worked as caretakers of the Glenmont church. In February, Siahaan was detained after a routine check-in. He was later released with an ankle monitor pending appeals. The UMC General Board of Church and Society claims that agents tricked Siahaan into leaving the house on Sept. 10. Siahaan was informed that ICE agents needed him to come with them to a local field office. The sanctity of our sacred spaces should never be violated, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, leader of the UMC Baltimore-Washington Conference, said in a statement. This calls into question our Administrations respect for communities of faith and for Gods people. This action creates a moral stain on this administration and jeopardizes their integrity in every similarly situated immigration case. Our federal government is not exempt from acting morally and consistently. Easterling added that Siahaan is the head of a household with two American children who are depending on him for food, shelter and safety. I call upon ICE to release Mr. Binsar Siahaan immediately, to continue to respect church property as sacred and holy ground, and follow their own established policies and practices around compliance and deportation, Easterling said. Their inappropriate and unnecessary action in this case violates practice, policy, and the Kingdom of God. Guest Column China Taking Increasingly Aggressive Posture in Border Row With India An Indian army general reviews the security situation and operational preparedness along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh in early September. / Indian Army The months-long India-China border tension in the eastern Ladakh region could very well spread to Indias northeastern periphery if the two sides fail to reach a consensus soon. Reports suggest there has been a massive Chinese buildup along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto border between the two Asian giants, opposite Arunachal Pradesh. The picturesque Indian state shares one third of the total 3,488-km LAC with China, but the latter considers it to be only around 2,000 km. Apparently, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has deployed a large number of troops and a heavy arsenal at several points on their side, 20 km from the LAC. The areas opposite the Asaphila, Chantze, Tuting and Fishtail-2 sectors are witnessing troop movements, according to media reports quoting Indian army sources. The Indian troops have also beefed up their vigilance and strengthened their positions to thwart any possible incursion bid by the Chinese. Arunachal has long been a cause for dispute between New Delhi and Beijing, with the latter claiming it to be a part of southern Tibet. Chinas foreign office repeatedly makes statements to this effect. Most recently, on Sept. 8, the state-run Global Times quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian reiterating his countrys stand while talking about five missing youths from Arunachal. On Sept. 5, Tapir Gao, an Indian member of parliament from Arunachal East, tweeted alleging that the five youths from Upper Subansiri district were abducted by the Chinese PLA. Later, it emerged that the boys had gone hunting in a remote area on Tungdara Mountain close to the LAC. They reportedly strayed into the Chinese side and were detained by the PLA. Indian army officials then contacted their Chinese counterparts and the five youths were returned at Kibitu, the easternmost town in India, on Sept. 12. Chinese aggression not new The latest physical confrontation between the armies of the two nuclear powers in the Ladakh area was triggered by Chinas bid to unilaterally redraw the LAC. The Galwan Valley incident of June 15, in which 20 Indian soldiers and an equal or higher number of Chinese troops were killed (China has not officially released any casualty figure yet) is said to be the deadliest clash in over five decades. No firearms were used in the fight as per the provisions of a 1996 agreement. India had accused China of resorting to provocative military movement and violating the border consensus reached between them, something China vehemently denied. The last time the two armies had a major encounter was in 1967, at Nathu La and Cho La in Sikkim, resulting in scores of deaths. In 2017, an ugly 73-day standoff on the Doklam plateau near the India-Bhutan-China trijunction worsened India-China ties. Needless to say Chinas attempt to build a road near the disputed border was the trigger for that impasse. Finally, both sides agreed to withdraw their troops to their original positions. However, as is its wont, China is now reportedly building infrastructure to house air defense systems near Doklam. Blast from the past The India-China border conflict has a bloody history. In the summer of 1960, then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai met his Indian counterpart Jawaharlal Nehru in New Delhi in order to find a solution to the border row. He made an offer that China would recognize Indias claim over Arunachal up to the McMohan Line provided New Delhi considered Chinas claim over the Aksai Chin peninsula. Proposed by British administrator Sir Henry McMahon in 1914, the eponymous line is the eastern portion of the LAC between Tibet and Indias Northeast. Nehru turned down the offer, following which China took a series of aggressive military actions in the next two years, including the resumption of forward patrols in Ladakh that it had ceased two years prior. On Oct. 20, 1962, the Chinese army captured the areas along the contested border, resulting in a war. It took over Arunachals Tawang in the east, and Rezang La in Chusul in the west. The troops advanced towards Tezpur town in Assam before Beijing unilaterally declared a ceasefire on Nov. 20. As many as 1,338 Indian and 722 PLA soldiers were killed in the monthlong war. While China had withdrawn from Indias Northeast, it retained Aksai Chin in the west. According to an an Indian security analyst, The defeat at the hands of the Chinese is something Indians will find hard to accept. In fact, this episode is seen as a key reason affecting bilateral relations between the two neighbors. Trade ties The two sides are currently engaged in military-level talks, but there are no signs of a breakthrough yet. Beijing, however, states that it does not want the border dispute to affect bilateral cooperation. So far, the Galwan episode has failed to make any impact on trade ties as Indias exports to China witnessed a 23.7-percent year-on-year increase to US$1.74 billion (2.29 trillion kyats) in July. New Delhi, however, seems to be treading cautiously while maintaining trade relations with its neighbor. Within India, experts call for reducing trade dependence on China. In April, the Narendra Modi government tightened its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms in order to prevent what it called opportunistic takeovers of firms hit by the pandemic-triggered lockdown, a move seen as aimed at China. At $8 billion (as of December 2019), China is the biggest investor in India among the countries the latter shares borders with. The Xi Jinping regime would do well to give up its aggressive posture and take the lead in defusing the border row with India given than there is a worldwide negative perception against China in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. Jayanta Kalita is a senior journalist and author based in New Delhi. He writes on issues relating to Indias northeast and its immediate neighborhood. His views are his own. You may also like these stories: Despite Chinas Wishes, a Canal Across Southern Thailand Is Still a Distant Prospect ASEAN Talks Begin With Pandemic, S. China Sea, Rohingya on Agenda 'WORLD-ENDING EVENT' 'REPETITIVE CYBERATTACK' 'A RACE TO KIDNAP THE SYSTEM' (TNS) An attempt over the summer by Eastern European hackers to gain entry into the city's computer system with its information about taxpayers, employees and much more was nearly successful, according to city officials, but quick action helped keep the information secure.Mayor Neil Perry said Tuesday the hacking attempt was one of the reasons city councilors held an executive session July 13, during which they voted to spend $272,000 in emergency funds to buy hardware and software to combat the threat. The funding was also used for a forensic audit of the entire IT system to determine if there were other hidden threats.That behind-closed-doors vote was criticized by some and prompted theto file a claim with the state Attorney General that the city violated the Massachusetts open meeting law by voting to spend money out of view of the public.has withdrawn the complaint in light of the new information.Perry, along with several city councilors and City Solicitor Richard D'Agostino, outlined the details of the hacking threat in a Zoom call with, while also justifying why they had to take the vote behind closed doors.They said that now that the system has been beefed up with added security measures, new computers and more, they can discuss the matter publicly without fear of additional harm from other hackers.During the July executive session, Perry made a compelling case to councilors about why they should agree to a $272,000 emergency spending request to buy equipment and pay the city's consultants to shut down what he called a "phishing attack."On July 8, he reported, the city learned that hackers had sent an email to an unsuspecting employee, who then opened an attachment that contained ransomware.Ransomware, he said, is used to take over the IT systems of cities, towns, businesses, school districts and other entities that might pay a ransom to get their systems and data back.Baltimore, for example, was attacked several years ago and paid $6 million in ransom. Then the city spent another $18 million building an entirely new IT system.Had the hackers succeeded in Methuen, Perry told the councilors in executive session, it would have been a "world-ending event for Methuen."The city was facing a deficit brought on by the COVID-19 crisis and any kind of ransom paid to hackers would have made matters much worse.It was this type of doomsday scenario officials hoped to avoid when asking for the approval to spend more than a quarter-million dollars.A company called ITMS and another called Blackpoint, both of which worked for the city at the time, identified the ransomware threat within an hour of the email being opened by the employee, Perry said. The companies then successfully isolated it.But the threat continued nearly every day for three months, forcing ITMS and Blackpoint to continually isolate the ransomware while also building a new IT system."This was a repetitive cyberattack," Perry said. "Every couple of days, they were trying to get in."Perry said ITMS told the mayor and other city officials that Methuen's aging IT infrastructure made it highly vulnerable.The city was using Windows 7, an outdated operating system that Microsoft stopped supporting in January."The city has neglected IT for a decade, just kicked it down the road," said City Councilor Nicholas DiZoglio, who serves on the City Council's IT subcommittee, which has been pushing for improvements to the system since Perry came into office in January. "The license of Windows 7 went out a year ago. Our tech is too old and somebody got ahead of us."Had the attack succeeded, DiZoglio added, personal information about residents would have been compromised, including "death certificates, birth certificates, Social Security numbers all would be vulnerable and all our employees' information."He said the cyberattack sped up much-needed improvements.Since July, the city has installed Windows 10 and Microsoft Office 365, the latest technology package. That improves, but doesn't guarantee, the security of data, Perry said, adding that a number of other measures have been implemented that he could not discuss.City Councilor Steve Saba, a frequent critic of the mayor, said in this case, Perry did all the right things."I said, here's a guy who was a senior manager at of one of most secure companies in the world, Raytheon, and when he updated what was happening during that executive session, he was scared," Saba recalled. "The council understood something had to be done immediately."Saba and other city officials stressed that the meeting had to be held in secret because broadcasting that the city was under threat of a ransomware attack would only embolden other hackers.Perry said the hackers "compete with each other" over vulnerable systems, and probably would have done that in Methuen."That's the reason we kept this on the down-low," he said.City Solicitor Richard D'Agostino agreed."We had to be secret, or it would have opened the floodgates of cyberhacking," he said. "We were able to hold it to one intruder we knew of, and there were no other attempts by others. Had we revealed it, others would have tried. ... It becomes a race to kidnap your system."In the aftermath of the attacks, the city is conducting cybertraining for all employees, as well as on Windows 10 and Office 365. Desktop computers have been replaced in every major department in the city. Three detained after Cancun police exchange gunfire with criminals Cancun, Q.R. The head of public security posted a social media warning to area residents in SM 43 Wednesday night, after police exchanged gunfire with a group of men. Shots could be heard throughout the neighborhood as police pursued a group of criminals along Ebano Street. It was shortly after 7:00 p.m. when Alberto Capella Ibarra, the Secretary of Public Security, posted the Cancun alert to residents on social media asking them to avoid the area. ALERTA CANCUN. In Supermanzana 43 a confrontation between our police and alleged criminals. There are already detainees and weapons secured. Please avoid the area. The confrontation, he noted, resulted in the arrest of three. The exchange of gunfire erupted between the men and police during a patrol near Del Bosque Avenue when police reportedly witnessed a man outside a home carrying a long rifle. Patrolling police quickly became involved when they approached the home. Gunfire ensued between the criminals and police, which eventually led to their arrests. They were transferred to Cancun police facilities for processing. BlackRock says disclosures would be treated with discretion. Photo: Eric Thayer/Reuters Investment firm BlackRock (BLK) has implemented new rules for staff concerning personal relationships and office romances. The new policy says employees must reveal any sexual, romantic or other personal relationships with external partners who have a connection to the company so as to avoid conflicts of interest. Existing company policy already requires its 16,000 staff members to tell managers if they are dating a colleague. While many businesses ask staff to be open about office romances within the company, BlackRock's new rules go a step further in asking for information about partners at other firms. BlackRock wants staff to disclose any personal relationship they have at any service provider, vendor, or other third party (including a client), if the non-BlackRock employee is within a group that interacts with BlackRock, according to an internal memo, seen by the BBC. READ MORE: Brits unknowingly funding climate change through their pensions The worlds largest money manager aims to address any conflicts of interest, or perceived conflicts of interest, by allowing human resources and lawyers at the firm assess whether there is an issue. BlackRock defines which relationships come under the new policy as any that could be susceptible to perceived impropriety, bias, favouritism, and/or abuse of authority within a work environment. This includes family connections and outside business interests, as well as romantic and sexual relationships. Friendships with work colleagues do not have to be disclosed to the company. However, the boundaries are unclear as the question of at what point does a friendship, or a series of dates, become significant enough to require disclosure is ambiguous. Employers are allowed to ask workers questions about relationships, but must handle the answers carefully to respect privacy rules. READ MORE: Coronavirus: Ethnic minorities most at risk from debt BlackRock says disclosures would be treated with discretion, and if necessary, alternative work arrangements may be put in place, according to the BBC. Story continues US firms have been attempting to limit secret workplace relationships since the #MeToo movement began in 2017, shedding light on sexual harassment within a range of professional settings and bringing attention to workplace strategies to clamp down on relationships between bosses and employees. Last year senior BlackRock executive Mark Wiseman was fired for failing to disclose an affair with a colleague. The New York based firm manages more than $7tn (5.5tn) and works with huge numbers of suppliers and clients across the world, meaning that the new rules will have far-reaching implications for the personal lives of potentially hundreds of thousands of people. A massive wave of homelessness is set to hit the UK, with Mondays lifting of the eviction ban for private renters in England and Wales. With the jobs furlough scheme coming to an end from November, the removal of these protections by the Conservative government, as both unemployment and coronavirus cases soar, will be catastrophic. The ban on evictions was introduced in March and has been extended twice. But on Monday the government gave the green light for those suffering the worst financial effects of the pandemic to be forced out of their homes. Under the terms of the last extension, anyone served with an eviction notice since August 29 has been given a six-month notice period. Yet, up to 55,000 households served notices between March and August are not afforded this protection and their tenancies are immediately threatened, according to campaign group Generation Rent. There are 4.5 million private rented households in the UK, supplied by an estimated 2.2 million landlords. Debt charity StepChange reports that 590,000 tenants have fallen into rent arrears since the lockdown, with an average of 1,076 debt per household. This leaves more than half a million people in danger of homelessness. The eviction notice period has been extended from three to six months, except in cases of anti-social behaviour, and there will be a so-called Christmas truce, meaning no evictions over a few days at Christmas. This all means that the nearly 200,000 people who have already been served notices can still face homelessness from this week, including through Section 21 no-fault evictions. Housing charity Shelter reports more than 170,000 tenants have already been threatened with eviction by their landlord or letting agent. Even as the government was cynically extending the ban on evictions, in the face of growing anger, it was putting into place the legal infrastructure to ensure that they can go ahead in the period ahead. Eviction hearings will now resume in courts in England and Wales to deal with the backlog of legal proceedings that have built up during the coronavirus outbreak. To get the ball rolling, courts are firstly dealing with eviction cases involving domestic violence or anti-social behaviour and ones where the rent has not been paid for more than a year. A Generation Rent briefing noted that 200 judges have been given special training to deal with housing cases as courts prepare to get through the backlog. The most at risk of eviction are the young and lowest-paid workers. According to the Office for National Statistics, more 16- to 24-year-olds are losing their jobs than any other age group, with the number in employment falling by 156,000 in the three months to July. This represents the steepest drop since the midst of the last recessionand the true situation is worse than this as the data only records up to July. The horrifying effects are already visible, as homelessness among young people is rising sharply. Sussex and Surrey charity YMCA Downslink Group says it has seen a 61 percent rise in youth homelessness since the start of the coronavirus crisis, as well as an exponential increase in mental health emergencies among this vulnerable group. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation points to the fragile circumstances of the lowest paid, and the huge difference in income security between these workers and the rest of society. While only 1 percent of those earning over 41,000 are at risk of redundancy, 40 percent of workers on minimum wage face a high or very high risk. As the average low-income family in the UK has just 95 in savings, even a temporary loss of income can have immediate and catastrophic effects. The lifting of the eviction ban and a huge wave of homelessness, just as COVID-19 cases are resurging, will accelerate the spread of the virus. The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned that people who are homeless are three times more likely to be chronically ill with lung and breathing problemsa serious risk factor in the development of the virus. It notes the comments of Professor Dame Parveen Kumar, BMA board of science chair, who said with the ending of the eviction ban, we could see large outbreaks of COVID-19 among the homeless population, not only putting this community at risk, but also the wider population. For the government and the landlord lobby, this is a risk worth taking. Some landlords are even venturing that their own predicament has been worse than that of their tenants during the pandemic! Elisabeth Kohlbach, chief executive of property investment firm Skwire, said, While tenants themselves have been able to rely on pandemic assistance, such as furlough pay, landlords have, throughout the pandemic, had no government support. She insisted that, despite now having the power, landlords have been and remain unlikely to evict anyone financially impacted by COVID-19. Food insecurity among the poorest is another aspect of the escalating social crisis. The UKs largest food bank network, the Trussell Trust, has said it expects extreme poverty to double in the three months to Christmas, with at least 670,000 additional people becoming destitute. It expects a 61 percent increase in food parcels needed across its UK network in October to December, equating to 6.5 handed out every minute, or a total of 846,000 parcels. This staggering demand will dwarf even the unprecedented level of need for emergency food seen in April and June, when 100,000 people used food banks for the first time. Trussell Trust Chief Executive Emma Revie warned that, unless action is taken, there will be a significant reshaping of the landscape of poverty, destitution and food insecurity in this country. Families with children have been the worst hit by food shortage, which brings profound stress and deprives children of the nutrition they need to grow, develop, and participate actively in school and society. Data from the Food Foundation reveals that 14 percent of families with children have experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past six months, with 12 percent of the adults in these families reporting skipping meals because they could not afford or access food. Four percent said they had gone a whole day without eating. Like the pandemic, this destitution crisis is global. Unemployment is expected to triple in Poland this year, and quadruple in the Czech Republic. In the US, 14 million people are now unemployed, and in the Philippines, joblessness reached a record 45.5 percent in July. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says 75 percent of Syrian refugees in the region are now in extreme poverty, up from 55 percent before the pandemic. According to UNICEF and Save the Children, the coronavirus crisis has plunged 150 million more of the worlds children into poverty. The ongoing suffering of hundreds of millions of people in the UK and internationally during the lockdown is the opposite of the experience of the ruling elite, who have vastly increased their wealth. Since the lockdown, UK billionaires have seen their fortunes soar by 20 percent, or 25 billion. The Labour Party and Liberal Democrats parliamentary opposition have done nothing to oppose the attacks on private renters, beyond making occasional mealy-mouthed calls to extend the ban. Yesterday, after the horse has already bolted, Lib Dem peer Baroness Olly Grender put a motion forward in the House of Lords, using the archaic Prayer to Annul mechanism, to try could force a vote on the governments pandemic regulations, including evictions. On Labours behalf, justice spokesperson Lord Ponsonby of Shulbredeh put down a Regret Motion against the changes. ALBANY New Yorks corrections' commissioner on Tuesday defended the steps his department has taken this year to protect prison inmates and staff members from COVID-19. Any death is one too many, but we are at least gratified that it could have been much worse, Anthony Annucci, acting commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, told a state Senate panel that is examining the handling of the coronavirus pandemic in New York's correctional facilities. There have been 22 COVID-19 deaths connected to DOCCS' facilities 17 inmates and five staff members and four parolees have died. The population of incarcerated people in the state is 36,704, Annucci said. Those figures correlate to a death rate of 46 per 100,000. Johns Hopkins University and University of Wisconsin researchers found that the national death rate for federal and state prisons is 39 deaths per 100,000 lower than the states results. "You have had outbreaks across the country in prisons that have been quite significant," Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had said in July. "Think about it. In some ways, it's worse than any other congregate facility, right? Because people are really on top of one another. More than in an [Office for People with Developmental Disabilities] facility, more than in a nursing home." DOCCS has conducted more than 13,000 tests, Annucci said, with 773 positive. Thats an infection rate of higher than 5 percent and more than 20,000 inmates have yet to be tested. The department initially tested people who were symptomatic or had a known exposure to COVID-19, then began testing people over the age of 55 as well as pregnant and postpartum inmates. The agency is currently testing every inmate in facilities in western New York. Physical distancing and mask-wearing have been two of the keys to keeping the infection rate low, Annucci said, noting that the state's prison population has declined more than 7,500 since the beginning of the year, and to its lowest point since 1986. He added the state is seeking to eradicate bunk beds in its prisons. Annucci told the panel DOCCS has verified COVID-19 deaths connected to its facilities through autopsies, and included data on deaths that occurred at outside hospitals. The 17 inmate deaths includes one that was primarily due to the person also having cancer. In contrast, the state health department has declined to provide a breakdown on the number of nursing home residents who died after being transferred to hospitals, and a conservative-leaning think tank is suing the Cuomo administration for the data. Senators pressed Annucci for demographic data of who has died and details of testing procedures. Annucci also told them any vaccine would be made available to inmates. Rodney Holcombe, the state director of criminal justice reform at FWD.us, an advocacy group, said in a phone interview Monday that the key to containing COVID-19 behind bars is to reduce the population of people who are incarcerated. Unfortunately, New York has an elder prison population that is ballooning and its something that needs to be addressed, he said, adding that releasing those older inmates would not result in more crime. He added that the conversation about reducing the prison population should be considered as part of the same Civil Rights discussion spurred by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. Were in a moment where the movement for Black lives is a very big one. Its persisting and I think more and more historical ills are being uncovered, he said. I do think that as we push to acknowledge that Black lives do matter, we cannot leave out the Black lives that are currently behind bars. Theresa Grady, 59, who lives in Harlem, said her husband remains incarcerated and has served 15 years of a 40-year sentence for attempted murder and robbery. Grady said she doesnt think her husband will survive to serve out his sentence given his underlying health conditions. My husband has been in jail off and on, throughout his life. But this time has taken a toll on him. Hes missing his family. Hes missing his daughter, she said during an interview with the Times Union, adding they have been together for 45 years since meeting in high school. She said the stress of the pandemic has taken a toll on him. Grady identified the governor as the person who should step in to provide clemency to older people who are incarcerated. You have to look at the bigger picture, Gov. Cuomo. Youre sending people to what I call a death camp," Grady told the Senate panel. "I believe if you allow those 55 and older to come home due to the COVID, you wouldnt have to worry too much about them." Apart from Pixel 4A 5G and Pixel 5 phones, Google will also showcase new hardware such as Nest speaker and next-gen Chromecast. Google will launch its latest flagship smartphone Pixel 5 on September 30. The company will also showcase the 5G variant of its recently launched Pixel 4A. Ahead of the official release, full specifications of Google Pixel 4A 5G have leaked online. The smartphone has also made an appearance in leaked images. According to reports, Google Pixel 4A 5G will feature a 6.2-inch OLED display with full HD+ display and 413ppi pixel density. The screen will come with Corning Gorilla Glass protection and HDR support. The reports suggest the Pixel 4a will skip 90Hz refresh rate, which will be part of the Pixel 5. For performance, Google Pixel 4A 5G will run Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor. It is the same chipset that is going to power Googles flagship Pixel 5. The chipset will be coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage. There are likely to be multiple RAM and storage combinations. Another highlight of the Pixel 4A 5G is going to be the battery. It is rumoured to come with 3,885mAh battery with 18W fast charging. Other key features of the phone include USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.0, and 3.5mm headphone jack. In the camera department, Google Pixel 4A 5G will have two rear cameras. The setup will consist of a 12.2-megapixel Sony IMX355 sensor and 16-megapixel wide-angle sensor. The phone will have an 8-megapixel sensor. According to reports, Google Pixel 4A 5G is going to be a stripped-down version of the Pixel 5. Googles flagship is rumoured to a 6.0-inch full HD+ display with an OLED panel with 19:5:9 aspect ratio and 90Hz refresh rate. It will run Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chip. A 4,080mAh battery coupled with 18W fast charging will power the phone. Other rumoured features of Pixel 5 include dual rear cameras (a 16-megapixel camera and a 12-megapixel camera), 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and IP68 certification. Press Release September 24, 2020 Bong Go backs construction of new international airport in Bulacan Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has expressed his support for the construction of the New Manila International Airport project in Bulacan. He, however, reminded the proponents to ensure compliance with labor, environmental and other applicable laws, rules and regulations. "We support the objectives of this measure, full support po ako dito," Go concluded. During a public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Public Services on Wednesday, September 23, Go said that the construction of the new airport will bring in jobs and economic opportunities outside Metro Manila and will provide livelihood to Filipinos especially those left jobless due to the pandemic. He added that it will significantly decongest traffic in the National Capital Region. "I just want to very briefly state that I fully support the move to open a new airport in Bulacan, thanks to the efforts of San Miguel Corporation," Go said during the public hearing. "As pointed out by our fellow Senators Villanueva and Gatchalian, who know very well of the desires of the people of Bulacan and its neighboring provinces, this will go a long way towards providing jobs and other economic opportunities outside of Manila," Go said. "And, of course, to decongest traffic sa Maynila. Matagal na rin po natin itong inaasam," he added. Go pointed out that the construction of the new airport will be a prime example in promoting the distribution of economic opportunities outside of the metropolis. "As long as ma-obserbahan ang mga karagdagang batas at rules and regulations when it comes to the environment, labor laws, at iba pang mga batas, we fully support the establishment of this airport," he reminded. In the past, Go said Bulacan and the rest of Central Luzon will benefit from various development projects, particularly under the Duterte Administration's "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure program. The privately funded airport project will include a passenger terminal building with airside and landside facilities, and an 8.4-km tollway to serve as airport access connecting to North Luzon Expressway in Marilao, Bulacan. Presently, the national government is undertaking a project for the extension of the Philippine National Railway service from Tutuban in Manila, traversing Malolos, Bulacan, and up to Pampanga. There is also the Arterial Road Bypass Project-Phase 2, inaugurated in 2018, meant to link NLEX in Balagtas, Bulacan with the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway, also called Maharlika Highway, in San Rafael, Bulacan. [September 23, 2020] MacQueen Emergency Acquires Emergency Response Solutions (ERS) MacQueen Emergency has acquired Minnesota-based Emergency Response Solutions (ERS)-the leading fire equipment supplier for the state. With this acquisition, MacQueen Emergency will add several premier emergency brands to their Minnesota portfolio, including MSA safety equipment and GLOBE turnout gear. MacQueen Emergency is one of the largest fire apparatus dealers in the U.S., representing Pierce Manufacturing, Skeeter Brush Trucks and E.J. Metals in seven states: Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In addition to mobile service, MacQueen operates 10 service locations throughout the Midwest, repairing all makes and models of fire apparatuses, rescue vehicles and heavy equipment. MacQueen Emergency also offers complete apparatus upfitting solutions, ensuring that each department served has access to the latest best-in-class products and custom vehicle solutions firefighters need. "We're excited to add ERS personnel and products to our team. Our goal is to provide fire departments in Minnesota with a complete package of firefighting solutions-not just the truck but the tools and gear firefighters need to do their jobs safely and effectively," said MacQueen CEO Dan Gage. "This partnership is going to help us do that." ERS is currently headquartered in East Bethel, Minnesota, and has been serving fire departments inMinnesota for nearly a decade. "I'm very proud of what our organization has achieved," said ERS President Brian Bramley. "We trust MacQueen Emergency is the right fit to continue the ERS legacy of providing Minnesota firefighters with the best life-saving products, service and support." MacQueen Emergency is part of MacQueen Equipment, LLC, a portfolio company of Rotunda Capital Partners. About MacQueen Group: The MacQueen Group offers a mix of municipal, fire and safe dig equipment including street sweepers, sewer cleaners, refuse trucks, snow removal equipment, fire trucks, and vacuum excavators. MacQueen has ten locations in the upper Midwest with its headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota. In addition to sales, MacQueen offers quality support by offering a large parts inventory, local service centers, mobile service capabilities, and specialized operator training. For more: https://www.macqueeneq.com/firerescue/ About Rotunda Capital: Rotunda Capital Partners is a private equity firm that invests equity capital in established and profitable lower middle market companies. The firm uses a rigorous approach to identify market-leading companies with identifiable growth opportunities and capable management teams in targeted sectors, including distribution, logistics, specialty finance, and business services. Rotunda Capital partners with management to build data-driven growth platforms. Since 2009, Rotunda Capital has completed twelve platform investments and realized five exits. The partners of Rotunda Capital actively provide guidance and draw on deep industry and financial relationships to contribute to the successful execution of Rotunda's companies' strategic plans. For more, visit www.rotundacapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005950/en/ [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Stockholm, Sweden Thu, September 24, 2020 16:31 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46f96fb 2 Environment Greta-Thunberg,Sweden,climate,charity,Africa,environment Free Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg said Wednesday the foundation set up in her name would donate 150,000 euros ($175,000) to charities working to support "people on the frontlines of the climate crisis in Africa". The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the solar power-focused NGO Solar Sister, as well as advocacy group Oil Change International, would each receive 50,000 euros ($59,000) for their efforts in Africa. "We are in a global emergency, which affects all of us. But everyone is not suffering its consequences equally," Thunberg said in a statement. "Africa is being disproportionately hit by the climate crisis, despite contributing to it among the least." Read also: A Nobel for Thunberg? In the age of climate change and virus, it is possible The Greta Thunberg Foundation was set up in December 2019 and the donations were made possible after she was awarded the Portuguese Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity in July, which included one million euros. Part of the prize money has already been donated to the SOS Amazonia campaign and the Stop Ecocide Foundation. In August, the 17-year-old, who spearheaded the "School Strike for Climate" movement, returned to school after taking a year off to campaign to curb climate change. University of Pennsylvania senior Mercedes Owens (left) and junior Mary Sadallah, both first-generation college students, stand for a portrait on the school's campus in West Philadelphia on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. Owens was elected as student body president, while Sadallah was elected vice president. Read more Mercedes Owens and Mary Sadallah, both at the University of Pennsylvania, are first-generation college students from lower-income families who hope to spend this year putting the needs of others like them front and center at the Ivy League institution. As the newly elected president and vice president of Penns Undergraduate Assembly, theyve got a good shot at having their voices heard. They hope the racial reckoning happening on college campuses since George Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police and the challenges of the pandemic, which have only exacerbated inequities, will help drive change at Penn. Were hoping we are able to take advantage of that leverage and that momentum to achieve more than any other board has ever achieved, said Owens, 21, a senior from Lexington, Tenn. We want to improve the campus climate so that [first-generation, low-income] students are more integrated and more accepted at Penn. Penn has been admitting more first-generation students; the university says one in seven undergraduates are first generation and one in five are eligible for federal Pell grants, targeted to lower-income families. But students from backgrounds like Owens' and Sadallahs have long talked about feeling like impostors among mostly middle- and upper-class students on campus. READ MORE: The 'impostor' syndrome of first-generation Penn students: Uneasy among privileged, distanced from family Owens and Sadallah also represent the first team of student-elected female leaders who are students of color, said Katie Bonner, executive director of Penns office of student affairs. They ran unopposed and garnered 1,300 and 1,274 votes, respectively. Its an awesome hallmark and milestone for the organization and also for the university at large, said Michael Krone, a 2019 Penn graduate and former student body president. Krone, now a business analyst in Philadelphia, said their election means voices of first-generation, low-income students will be elevated and get the ear of the universitys senior leadership. In the past, student government leaders have made a difference, Bonner said, noting that their advocacy led to an even greater focus on student wellness at Penn, following concerns about mental health support. Its personal for us, Sadallah said. Were able to relate to these students, and we know how hard it can be when you dont have the kind of institutional access or voice that a lot of other groups of students have. The duo also have the challenge of leading the student body when fewer live on or near campus; some are in other time zones or countries. Most of Penns classes are being conducted remotely. Sadallah, 20, a junior philosophy, politics and economics major from Egg Harbor Township, is among the few living on campus. Owens, an economics major, lives in an off-campus apartment. They plan to hold meetings via Zoom and circulate a monthly newsletter, holding themselves accountable for achieving their goals. Their leadership is representation of our greatest dream for higher education, that higher education allows for transformation of lives, said Mamta Motwani Accapadi, Penns vice provost for university life. Their wisdom, their backgrounds can inform the way they lead and serve in the community. Owens grew up with two younger siblings in a single-parent family, her mother a licensed practical nurse. Sadallahs parents emigrated from Egypt before she was born and lived in Philadelphia before moving to New Jersey. Her father works as a server at an Atlantic City casino and her mother at a grocery store. Both said living among Penn students with economic and academic privileges they didnt have was eye-opening. Owens noted that her small, rural high school didnt give her guidance on pursuing admission to Penn. It was kind of me navigating it myself," she said. READ MORE: Faculty, alumni pressure Penn to make payments to support Philly schools in push for racial and economic justice They said they intend to seek more funding and better meeting space for Black student groups and other cultural groups, and push Penn to further address racial injustice. Tension emerged during the most recent student government elections when a candidate for an office withdrew after a racial slur he had used in a 2019 GroupMe account surfaced, according to the Daily Pennsylvanian. Owens and Sadallah also pointed to Instagram accounts by students of discrimination at Ivy League universities, including Penn. I was walking to my dorm room in freshman year, posted one student in the Class of 2021. "An older student stopped me and asked what I was doing in the building. He refused to believe I was going to my room. We havent heard any response from the administration at all about these stories, Owens said. They said they will push Penn to make payments in lieu of taxes to the city to help the local public schools, something Penn has resisted, noting it contributes in other ways, and lobby for a town hall meeting on climate change. They also said Penns communication to students during the pandemic has been lacking. Even now, they question whether the universitys testing protocols are enough to protect the surrounding West Philadelphia community. Thats a community of a lot of Black and brown people who may already be at risk for the coronavirus, Sadallah said. John Hewson is right. Without a carbon price, there isnt a legible, credible plan for emissions reduction in Australia that will unlock the investment needed. As an economist, Angus Taylor must surely realise that. What we need is a price mechanism called a carbon fee and dividend, that drives the market to decarbonise and also benefits the less fortunate as all revenue is returned to all citizens on an equal basis. Jasper Lee, Ashfield How about Hewson leads a bipartisan group to put a travel and destination guide for the government's energy road map? Tim Hand, Balmain Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: Mark Butlers speech was encouraging ("'Short-sighted: Mark Butler says no room for gas in Australias future prosperity", September 24). Coal and gas production must be superseded by renewable energy. The AWU is understandably worried about jobs, as were the miners in the last federal election. They need certainty that government stimulation and investment in the "energy we have to have" will mean more, not fewer, jobs. Jill Stephenson, Woolwich At last, a politician who is prepared to say it like it is: that gas has no place in our future. We have some chance of salvation, if only the rest can catch up with him. His colleague Joel Fitzgibbon has the last, correct, words: that the investors will decide. Yes, they are already deciding to walk away from fossil fuels and march en masse into renewables. Heed their actions please, politicians, and make us prosperous. Barry Laing, Castle Cove Advocating by funds is super HESTA chief executive Debby Blakey has rightly called out the ridiculous posturing of the Assistant Minister for Superannuation Jane Hume (''HESTA calls for emissions cuts, equality'', September 24). As a major shareholder in some big companies, HESTA has every right to to encourage companies to promote good business management for the future that would include recognising climate change, sensible bonuses for senior management and the contribution women can make in the workplace. All she is doing is looking after the interests of the members of HESTA, an industry super fund that performs better than retail funds and looks to the future for better returns both in money terms and lifestyle living in retirement. Ken Pares, Forster The foray of superannuation funds into areas outside their perceived role is a welcome one for those of us interested in a more ethical usage of our assets. It's not surprising that HESTA is comprised of mostly female members and is led by a female CEO. It must send shivers down the collective spines of patriarchal governments who are now plotting a way to curb this outrage. A sign of a more principled and responsible future. Judy Finch, Cedar Party Westpac recklessness It is hard to believe that this bank can continue to operate when its board and senior management can make such fundamental and catastrophic errors (''Westpac braced for $1 billion in fines'', September 24). As shareholders, we who have received no dividend so far this year can only hope wages are slashed and bonuses a thing of the past. Are criminal charges warranted? Lesley Giles, Wahroonga What about dual flag? If our first Australians might need a new flag to overcome their current impasse, why dont we second Australians work with them to design a flag we can both be proud to fly (''Peris wants government to seize Aboriginal flag copyright'', September 24). We seem to have plenty of time and technology available while we wait for the vaccine, so it could be done quickly but effectively in the spirit of the Uluru statement. Micheal Traynor, Bellambi Please listen, politicians. Respect the flag that is the symbol of Indigenous people. Government, seize its copyright so they are not driven to designing another. Alison Stewart, Waitara Why reward fiasco? If the government has effectively admitted that they got it wrong in the first place, and that the NBN failed to deliver, what is the basis for these bonuses (NBN bonuses to executives to be decided by board: Paul Fletcher, September 23)? Or is this just because NBN did such a great job of implementing the flawed task it was originally assigned? On top of what the government will have to pay to fix it, this only goes to show that the original mistake was even more costly. David Rush, Lawson Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: I remember house-sitting in Tassie a couple of years back, when the NBN was to be installed. The locals said it meant No Bloody Network (Letters, September 24). Ken Hudson, Wollongbar Which is the fastest internet speed (''NBN fibre upgrade defence against looming 5G assault'', September 24)? The upgrade to the NBN has been described recently as being able to provide download speeds that are ultra fast, super fast and "lightning fast. What next? Super-duper speed? Hyper speed? Warp speed? John Boast, Hunters Hill While I in no way support the Liberal government's giant backflip regarding NBN and fibre to the home, there was always one giant flaw with the plan. To get fibre to the home, you have to be home. The technician has to meet you at your premises at an agreed date and time and there needs to be a power point near the fibre tap installation point. So it's the same problem as waiting for a plumber, only magnified over a million homes, with some added complexities. David Farrell, Erskineville Give us a public bank Paul Keating's privatisation of the Commonwealth Bank was the biggest reverse in banking history (''Keating accuses RBA of holding back nation's recovery'', September 24). The private banks had no competitor to keep them honest. It led to the criminal actions of the privately owned banks. We need another CBA that is owned by the people where service trumps profits. Reg Wilding, Wollongong Paul Keating should rest on his laurels, which by his own reckoning are mountainous ( Reverse Bank must act quickly, September 24). Alternatively, if he wishes still to be a player, he should get on top of the facts. The Reserve Bank is doing exactly what he recommends and has the financial system drowning in liquidity. One measure of that is the amount of spare cash in the commercial banks hands. Reserves which might, in earlier times, have been lent out are sitting at (practically) zero interest; in recent months, the banks exchange settlement accounts have sometimes been more than $100 billion. In its own bailiwick, the RBA is doing all that is sensible to support the government. Is it not the latter which has been loath to cross the line of orthodoxy? Mike Bush, Port Macquarie Let researchers loose The recent commentary about the role of universities has been disturbing, some even suggesting that their research function is somehow unnecessary or self-indulgent (Letters, September 24). Education, at all levels, is about the creation, validation and dissemination of knowledge, and universities, at the top of the educational tree, have heavy responsibilities to advance all three objectives. Knowledge is infinite: there is much we do not know and some of our new discoveries will challenge or discredit existing beliefs or assumptions. Research is therefore central to the whole process. University academics have been selected because they have demonstrated a command of the knowledge base in their field of expertise and a curiosity to expand and test that knowledge. What they are able to pass on to their students is an understanding of what we now know, of where there are doubts or gaps in our knowledge and of the theories and methodologies being used to advance the field. To do this, they need to be players, not spectators. Don Squires, Lake Cathie Connery and conmen Sean Connery was the real James Bond. The rest are imposters (''Bond rumour mill shaken, not stirred by Hardy'', September 24). Ron Russell, Leura Identity crisis In response to correspondent Megan Brock, an old generic, gender-inclusive, collective noun for the citizens of NSW dating back to the 1820s is Cornstalk (Letters, September 24). Trevor Wootten, Petersham I thought long and hard. The best I could come up with as a collective noun for the people of NSW is "welshers''. Sorry about that. Susan Lyons, Lithgow What about New Swelshers? Penelope Layton-Caisley, Marrickville New South Walans. Arumugam Manoharan, Kareela New South Welshies. Christine Northam, Caringbah Blueys after the colour of our sporting teams. Ian Brennan, Wareemba How about Australians? After all we are all in this together. Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont GABORONE Letshego Holdings Limited (Letshego Group) has collaborated with Botswana Innovation Hub to host a Pitch Day where 8 innovators showcased their works for potential future mentorship and support. The Pitch Day enabled Letshego to scout the top 3 innovative solutions, thereafter offering support and mentoring opportunities to transform the entrepreneurs future growth potential into a reality. With Letshegos sponsorship, the Pitch Day provided 8 startup innovators from BIHs portfolio a platform to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges, comprising select executives from Letshegos regional markets. After hearing all 8 innovative pitches, the panel of Pitch Day judges concluded by commending the entrepreneurs on their outstanding submissions and creative concepts. The top three nominations for Letshego / BIH Pitch Day innovation were awarded as follows: Position 1: Kwiky represented by Titose Chembezi Awarded P30, 000 Prize Money Kwiky is a Business to Business to Consumer (B2B2C) solution that facilitates access to financial services for the underbanked by accessing mobile phone and mobile wallet transaction data from various data points including parastatals, research agencies and onboarding Know Your Customer (KYC) documentation, integrating this concept into a comprehensive credit risk framework to support financial services. Position 2: Digital Diamond represented by Mthabisi Bokete Awarded P15, 000 Prize Money Digital Diamond is a free online and offline instant identification application, again to support the financial services sector, to facilitate KYC and credit applications across geographical borders. Position 3: PCG Software represented by Letsibogo Ramadi Awarded P10, 000 Prize Money PCG Software is a digital solutions firm specialising in tailor-made mobile development and web-based projects. PCG Software has developed Mogwebi CyberPlaza a virtual networking and trade platform that connects businesses to an unlimited online audience to support business continuity, especially as we manage through the Covid-19 pandemic. Andrew Okai, Letshego Groups Chief Executive Officer commented, In our journey to create a world-class retail financial services organisation, Letshego remains committed to developing a relentless innovation culture. We aim to achieve this by leveraging digital innovation, strategic partnerships and eco-system thinking to enhance customer experience and increase access to simple and appropriate financial solutions for emerging market consumers across the Groups 11-country footprint. Our partnership with Botswana Innovation Hub is a valuable way Letshego can support local technology innovation by providing financial support, business expertise and potential introductions within our existing network. Our ambition is to use our strengths and expertise to enable entrepreneurs to expand their growth and income potential. Letshego strongly believes that through effective partnerships, we can grow our collective potential, exponentially! The winning solutions will work with partners to manage subsequent development of the proof of concepts. This will include innovation sprints sessions and hackathons, leveraging BIHs tried and tested innovation management framework to either support Letshego directly, or the economies and communities where Letshego operates across Africa. At the pitch day, Alan Boshwaen, Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Innovation Hub said, We all acknowledge that innovation is a critical catalyst in driving Botswanas Transformation Agenda, hence, supporting innovations requires collaboration between diverse stakeholders. We are glad to have partnered with Letshego Botswana as a player in building national innovation ecosystem. Our innovators stand to benefit from the opportunities availed by this partnership including mentorship, capacity building and commercialization. The prize incentive is a cherry on top The start-ups that pitched were selected from a pool of entrepreneurs within the BIH Incubation and Acceleration Programme. These entrepreneurs benefit from a number of BIH interventions including: technical advice; coaching; mentorship; access to markets; access to partner programmes; office space; subsidised corporate tax; special dispensation of the import of skilled personnel and many other tailored interventions to small business concepts to grow and thrive. Related Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 13:46 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46ee8fc 4 City COVID-19,rapid-test,extortion,sexual-harassment,Soekarno-Hatta-International-Airport,Soekarno-Hatta-International-Airport-Police,medical-workers,Jakarta-police Free A medical worker accused of sexual misconduct and extortion by a person who underwent a rapid COVID-19 test at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, has disappeared after being named a suspect. Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said the police had complete information about the suspect and had deployed a team to hunt him down. Our team checked the rooming house he was staying, and he wasnt there, Yusri told reporters on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com. Read also: Soekarno-Hatta Police receive report of sexual harassment during COVID-19 test Previously, the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Polices criminal investigation unit named the accused a suspect but did not immediately arrest him. The Jakarta Police have checked CCTV footage and asked for clarification from the COVID-19 test organizer at the airport. The story went viral after the victim shared her experience on Twitter, saying the incident occurred on Sept. 13 when she was about to fly to Nias, North Sumatra. 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 the medical worker, who is an employee of the company. (syk) Preparations for the advisers' meeting are in the pipeline. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the summit of the Normandy Four leaders (Ukraine, Germany, France and the Russian Federation) may take place in case of a productive meeting of their political advisers. "As for the advisers' meeting: I will speak frankly we are looking forward to this meeting. A meeting of advisers is not just when serious people come to talk, we need a meeting to be followed by a result," he said at a joint press conference with President of Slovakia Zuzana Caputova in Bratislava on September 24, as reported by the Office of the President of Ukraine on Facebook. "I don't know when this meeting [of the advisers to the Normandy Four leaders] is to take place. I have information it is being prepared for the near future. I will be frank I don't know when the leaders are to meet. I know the leaders' meeting will be after a productive meeting of the advisers," Zelensky said. Read also Zelensky's chief of staff: Next meeting of advisers to expedite new Normandy summit Normandy Four: Latest developments Suffering Continues While more COVID-19 Aid Remains Stymied in Congress As of mid-September, at least 197,000 people died from COVID-19 according to Johns Hopkins University. Beyond these fatalities, the number of COVID-related cases diagnoses reached 6.5 million people and continues to rise. Beyond the health effects, according to the the U.S. Census Bureau, as of August 31, over 80% of adults with post-high school education plans either cancelled or significantly changed those plans this fall. Further, a significant number of consumers are housing challenged, with one-third of adults anticipating either eviction or foreclosure in the next two months, and over 36% of adults continuing to telework due to the pandemic. Since late July, consumers and small businesses have hoped for a renewed federal commitment for COVID-19 aid. But no successful compromise on two vastly different aid proposals has yet to emerge. A failed September 10 vote in the U.S. Senates majority-sponsored proposal leaves the House-passed aid package as the only legislative option to have been approved by a chamber. ADVERTISEMENT In a news conference held later that same day, House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, noted an earlier offer to compromise on the scale of aid. That offer proposed to cut the cost of the House-passed version to $2.2 trillion and asked the Senate to increase the size of its proposal. Lets not have a skinny bill when we have a massive problem, said Speaker Pelosi. Congress needs to respond in a way that meets the nations very real and urgent needs, added Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Charles Schumer , after the upper chambers roll call vote. In the meantime, as the pandemic claims more lives every day, too many people cant find work, especially Black and Brown workers who are bearing the brunt of this economic and public health crisis. The Senate proposal known as the HEALS Act, emphasized cost breaks for businesses instead of consumer relief. For instance, it would have shielded employers from liability lawsuits under federal accommodations law if related to COVID-19 risk and the lack of requested workplace accommodations. Another proposal would have temporarily doubled business deductions to 100% for business meals through December 31, 2020. It provided for increased funds for the Paycheck Protection Program but contained few consumer protection provisions and no rental assistance or relief for student borrowers. Though it provided $105 billion in aid for K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions, this earmark included monies for private schools and reserved funds for schools that re-open. ADVERTISEMENT This bill is an inadequate response to our current economic fallout and public health crisis, said Ashley Harrington, Federal Advocacy Director and Senior Policy Counsel with the Center for Responsible Lending. More than five months have passed since Congress approved a substantive, bipartisan bill to help families stay afloat during this pandemic. Low-income families, particularly families of color who have yet to recover from the Great Recession, have been hit the hardest by this pandemic and the economic fallout. Without a comprehensive response, renters will continue to live with anxiety under threat of eviction, student borrowers will suffocate under crushing debt, and small business owners will close their doors permanently, which will distress local economies. By contrast, the House version, known as the $3.4 trillion HEROES Act, passed the House with a 208-199 vote on May 15 and advocates broad and comprehensive support for consumers and small businesses to include: $100 billion in new emergency rental assistance; $75 billion for homeowner assistance; $11.5 billion in homeless grants; and $1 billion to expand Section 8 housing vouchers. The House measure would also forbid negative credit reporting and debt collection. Another key provision would require the Federal Reserve to make low-cost, deferrable loans to small businesses, nonprofits, and public universities, as well as provide a broad assortment of new and renewed assistance targeted to essential workers, first responders, minority-owned and other small businesses, and the homeless. It also provides extended payment relief for student loan borrowers, including debt cancellation for some borrowers. Inaction and subpar responses to this pandemic is dangerous, irresponsible, and unacceptable, concluded Harrington. Each day that passes without a comprehensive bill will cause irreparable harm to families who are living on the margins and struggling to get by. Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at [email protected]. After the SDF allowed a US patrol into Tel Tamr, Russia threatened to withdraw, leaving them exposed to Turkey and their affiliated groups reports Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. Tension occurred between the Russian forces and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the countryside of Hassakeh, northeastern Syria, resulting in a Russian threat to withdraw from the area. Sources close to the SDF told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the Russian forces sent threats to the SDF to withdraw from Tel Tamr, based on tension between the two sides, after the SDF allowed an American patrol to enter the town, located on the the M4 international highway, south of Ras al-Ayn district, which is currently controlled by Turkey. The sources said that an American patrol arrived in Tel Tamr, which angered the Russian forces and led to an altercation with SDF members and leaders, which ended with a threat that the Russian forces would withdraw in the event that the American patrol should return to the town again. According to the sources, the withdrawal of the Russian forces from Tel Tamr puts the SDF in direct confrontation with the Turkish army and the opposition Syrian National Army, as the Russian forces in the region form a buffer that prevents the Turkish forces from advancing. Russia had deployed its forces in that area following a Russian-Turkish agreement, reached last October, around the areas controlled by the SDF in northern Syria. Several clashes occurred in northeastern Syria between Russian and US patrols, some of which were verbal altercations while others involved vehicle collision and pursuit operations. US forces are deployed in bases in the governorates of Hassakeh and Deir ez-Zor in SDF-controlled areas, under the pretext of fighting Islamic State cells and protecting the oil and gas fields in the region. 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. A Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet experienced an engine fire and was forced to land at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, on Monday, less than two weeks after a nearly identical mishap at the same air station. According to the Naval Safety Center, the two-seater aircraft made a safe arrested landing at the Virginia Beach air station. Read Next: Navy Declassifies 300 Pages of Probe into 1963 USS Thresher Disaster Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, a Naval Air Force Atlantic spokeswoman, told Military.com that the emergency landing took place around noon and involved a Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11. The incident took place while training over the Virginia Capes, she said. "The aircraft landed safely at NAS Oceana without incident. An aviation mishap investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the incident," Cragg said in a statement. "There were no injuries." The Navy is still investigating a Sept. 10 mishap involving a different F/A-18F Super Hornet, also based at Oceana. That aircraft, attached to VFA-103, experienced an engine fire, also in the Virginia Capes region, Cragg said. The mishap took place around 5:30 p.m. Cragg confirmed that the aircraft landed safely at Oceana in that incident as well and no injuries were sustained. It's not clear yet whether there are any factors connecting the two recent Super Hornet mishaps. "At this point, it is too early to speculate the causal factors for the in-flight engine fire with both VFA-103 and VFA-11, but an investigation will determine the contributing factors," Cragg said. She added that ongoing training has so far not been affected by the incidents. In total, it's the third engine fire mishap involving Navy and Marine Corps aircraft this month. On Sept. 3, a CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, made an emergency landing about 11 miles from the base following an in-flight fire that began shortly after the heavy-lift helicopter took off. All four Marines aboard at the time were safe and uninjured. That incident is also under investigation. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Related: Four Marines Safe After Super Stallion Helicopter Catches Fire Mid-Flight Mons. Giovanni Angelo Becciu presides over an eucharistic liturgy, at Rome's St. John in Latheran Basilica, in February of 2017. Read more ROME The powerful head of the Vaticans saint-making office, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, resigned suddenly Thursday from the post and renounced his rights as a cardinal amid a financial scandal that has reportedly implicated him indirectly. The Vatican provided no details on why Pope Francis accepted Becciu's resignation in a statement late Thursday. In the one-sentence announcement, the Holy See said only that Francis had accepted Becciu's resignation as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and his rights connected to the cardinalate." Becciu, the former No. 2 in the Vatican's secretariat of state, has been reportedly implicated in a financial scandal involving the Vatican's investment in a London real estate deal that has lost the Holy See millions of euros in fees paid to middlemen. The Vatican prosecutor has placed several Vatican officials under investigation, as well as the middlemen, but not Becciu. Becciu has defended the soundness of the original investment and denied any wrongdoing, and it's not clear whether the scandal itself was behind his resignation or possibly sparked a separate line of inquiry. But the late-breaking news of his resignation, the severity of his apparent sanction, the Vaticans tight-lipped release and the unexpected downfall of one of the most powerful Vatican officials all suggested a shocking new chapter in the scandal, which has convulsed the Vatican for the past year. The last time a cardinals rights were removed was when American Theodore McCarrick renounced his rights and privileges as a cardinal in July 2018 amid a sexual abuse investigation. He was subsequently defrocked altogether by Francis last year for sexually abusing adults as well as minors. Before him, the late Scottish Cardinal Keith OBrien in 2015 relinquished the rights and privileges of being a cardinal after unidentified priests alleged sexual misconduct. OBrien was, however, allowed to retain the cardinals title and he died a member of the College of Cardinals, the elite group of churchmen whose main job is to elect a pope. In the Vatican statement, the Holy See identified Becciu as His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Becciu, making clear he remained a cardinal but without any rights. At 72, Becciu would have been able to participate in a possible future conclave to elect Francis successor. Cardinals over age 80 can't vote. But by renouncing his rights as a cardinal, Becciu has relinquished his rights to take part. Becciu was the substitute, or top deputy in the secretariat of state from 2011-2018, when Francis made him a cardinal and moved him into the Vaticans saint-making office. He straddled two pontificates, having been named by Pope Benedict XVI and entrusted with essentially running the Curia, or Vatican bureaucracy, a position that gave him enormous influence and power. The financial problems date from 2014, when the Vatican entered into a real estate venture by investing over $200 million in a fund run by an Italian businessman. The deal gave the Holy See 45% of the luxury building at 60 Sloane Ave. in Londons Chelsea neighborhood. The money came from the secretariat of states asset portfolio, which is funded in large part by the Peters Pence donations of Catholics around the world for the pope to use for charity and Vatican expenses. The Holy See decided in November 2018, after Becciu had left the secretariat of state, to exit the fund, end its relationship with the businessman and buy out the remainder of the building. It did so after Becciu's successor determined that the mortgage was too onerous and that the businessman was losing money for the Vatican in some of the funds other investments. The buyout deal, however, cost the Holy See tens of millions of euros more and sparked the Vatican investigation that has so far implicated a half-dozen Vatican employees. Becciu has insisted he wasnt in power during the 2018 buyout deal and always acted in the sole interests of the Holy See. In the Vatican prosecutor's initial warrant, Becciu is not named, and it remains unclear if his role in managing the secretariat of state's vast asset portfolio was connected with the resignation. His former boss, Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, has said the whole matter was opaque" and needed to be clarified. Francis, for his part, has vowed to get to the bottom of what he has said was evidence of corruption in the Holy See. Francis would meet regularly with Becciu in the Italian's role as prefect of the saint-making office, since every month or two he would present lists of candidates for possible beatification or canonization for Francis to approve. In addition, since the beginning of his pontificate, Francis had an annual luncheon date at Becciu's apartment along with 10 priests on the Thursday of Holy Week leading up to Easter. The Vatican always reported the get-togethers were a chance for the pope to chat informally with Becciu and priests of his diocese on the day the church celebrates the institution of the priesthood. The luncheon didnt happen this year amid the Vaticans coronavirus lockdown. In 1934 Adolf Hitler became mesmerised by Norway's fjords and genetic history German troops were encouraged to impregnate the best-looking local girls Lebensborn mothers and children paid a terrible price when the war ended HISTORY Hitler's Northern Utopia by Despina Stratigakos (Princeton 25, 328 pp) ADVERTISEMENT Adolf Hitler was mesmerised. In the spring of 1934, he went on holiday, a secret cruise in a German battleship through the fjords of Norway and, for hours on end, stared at the natural beauty around him. A Norwegian crew member later recalled him being 'enthused like a little boy over the mountains and the magnificent weather'. That trip was apparently the beginning of a strange love affair which comes as a surprise. If you thought (as I did) that, 75 years on from Hitler's death, there could surely be nothing new to learn about him, then this book by U.S. architectural historian Despina Stratigakos is an eye-opener. German women carrying children of an alleged 'Aryan purity' in Lebensborn, during The Second World War Click here to resize this module It reveals that, after he attacked Norway in 1940, Hitler devised plans for it that went beyond the brutal subjugation he intended for France, Poland and Russia after he'd conquered them. His grand design was for beautiful Norway to be transformed into a Nazi utopia. As he reigned supreme over a vanquished Europe, the author explains, Hitler and his Nazis would 'take root in Norway and create a space for themselves as rulers of a Nordic empire that stretched to the Arctic Circle'. But Hitler's fascination with Norway was not just sparked by the magnificence of its fjords. He also admired its genetic history, believing, as he wrote in Mein Kampf, that with their Viking origins, its blond-haired, blue-eyed people had the purest of Aryan bloodlines. They were at the very top of the racial ladder. Adolf Hitler visiting the Norwegian fjords aboard a war ship, Weimar Republic Here was a dictator who exterminated millions he considered racially degenerate. But he also encouraged selective breeding, and Norway was a chosen test bed for Nazi eugenics. Under an SS-inspired programme known as Lebensborn ('Fount of life'), German troops were encouraged to impregnate the best-looking local girls, with the promise that the Nazi state would look after them and their children. ADVERTISEMENT Newspapers back home projected jolly images of sunny Norwegian milkmaids falling in love with Adolf Hitler for saving them from moral and racial degeneration and doing their duty by breeding with his pure-blooded soldiers. Thousands of expectant mothers judged to be racially valuable were given priority medical care in specially built maternity homes, hotels and orphanages. Pampered Lebensborn mothers were rigidly indoctrinated in Nazi ways. Lebensborn Nazi maternity hospital, used as a base for German programme opened 1935 was one of the most secret and terrifying Nazi projects June 1940: A man runs through wreckage in front of a large house in flames, after Luftwaffe air raids secured the Nazi occupation of Norway. Narvik, Norway, World War II Inge Viermetz, the only woman defendant being tried before Tribune 1 in RuSHA Nuremberg Trials, pleads 'not guilty' to being responsible for Lebensborn in Nazi Germany, 1947 Childcare was strictly Germanic there was to be no wailing in the nursery. The 'purest' babies were often removed from their mothers, forcibly if necessary, and sent to Germany to be raised in approved SS families, though most stayed in Norway. Over the course of their five-year occupation of Norway, the Germans gave the country special treatment seen nowhere else, using forced labour and prisoners-of-war to build roads, bridges, tunnels, railroads, docks, power stations and facilities for business and industry. Norway soon became 'the only occupied country in Europe where Nazi Germany invested more resources than it withdrew'. In Hitler's plan for his utopia, towns devastated in the brutal two-month invasion would be re-built on radically different National Socialist lines, emphasising the power of the state and the party rather than, say, the church. German police carry off children in occupied Yugoslavia-part of them will be destined to be taken over by the 'Lebensborn' organisation, 1941 or 1942 1754: Lebensborn nursing home. Lebensborn (Fount of Life) was a Nazi organization set up by SS leader Heinrich Himmler, which provided maternity homes and financial assistance to the wives of SS members and to unmarried mothers 1940: Nazi troops setting up their big guns on one of the many battle fronts in Norway More grandly, he had a vision for a purpose-built 'Fuhrer city', clawed out of the wilderness on a peninsula close to Trondheim in the north of the country away, as he saw it, from the inter-racial decadence of Oslo, the capital, in the south. With a population of 300,000, Nordstern (meaning North Star) was intended to be one of the jewels of the Third Reich, along with Berlin, Hamburg, Nuremberg, Munich and Linz (Hitler's home town). It would crown a Greater Germany that ran from the Arctic to the Alps. ADVERTISEMENT Hitler's mad, messianic imagination went into overdrive. This new Athens of the north, he insisted, would have an opera house, theatres, libraries and art galleries but, also, a stadium and swimming pools everything necessary for a modern city of cultural importance. There would be extensive green spaces, and homes for its exclusively German citizens would be laid out in terraces on a south-facing slope, so every house had sunlight all day. German parents with a German allegedly Aryan girl born in a Lebensborn : Center Of Eugenics during The Second World War Needless to say, his dream Aryan city never materialised, although the vainglorious Hitler, his legacy always foremost in his mind, spent hours closeted with his chief architect, Albert Speer, drawing up plans and making models of what Speer claimed would be 'the most beautiful German city'. It was abandoned though merely postponed in Hitler's crazed eye when defeat by the Red Army at Stalingrad on the eastern front in 1943 brought a switch of fortune, putting Nazi Germany on the defensive for the first time and heading for defeat two years later. What's more, as the war neared its end, withdrawing German forces followed a scorched-earth policy, destroying much of what they had built. Included in this destruction were the plans for the Fuhrer's dream city. Only in recent years have researchers such as Stratigakos been able to piece together the odd map fragments and documents that survived and get a snapshot of the fantasy northern utopia he longed to build. Circa 1935: Norwegian diplomat and Fascist leader Vidkun Quisling (1887 - 1945) inspects German troops in the Nazi style on a visit to Germany The human cost was high: those Lebensborn mothers and their children paid a terrible price when the war ended. Thousands of women were arrested and imprisoned in the summer of 1945 for fraternising with the occupiers. There was no mercy either for their 'German brats', who were branded as outcasts and treated accordingly. In an ironic turning of the tables, the postwar Norwegian authorities ruled that the mothers who'd slept with German soldiers were clearly mentally retarded, and so were their offspring. Children once elevated for their genes were now scorned for them. ADVERTISEMENT Hitler's dream of a purged and racially 'pure' Europe went the same way as his utopia of a shining new legacy city near the Arctic. It ended up in the dustbin of history. The historic Birmingham home of Pastor A.D. King, brother of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has been designated as part of the African American Civil Rights Network, the U.S. Department of the Interior has announced. U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt visited Birmingham today to sign a declaration commemorating the designation, which recognizes Kings work as a civil rights leader and his role in the Birmingham movement. The Rev. A.D. Kings brother, Martin, often stayed in the guest room of the parsonage at 721 12th Street in Ensley on his visits to Birmingham. Pastor A.D. King lived in the parsonage from 1961 through 1965 while he was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Ensley. During that period he fought segregation, along with his brother, the famed civil rights leader. King, his wife, Naomi King, and their four children were at the parsonage on the night of May 11, 1963, when a bomb exploded in the street, then another in the hedges at the front of the house. Another bomb went off that night at the A.G. Gaston Motel downtown. Naomi recalled in a 2006 interview with The Birmingham News that she was sitting on the sofa in the living room the night before Mothers Day and her husband was in the bedroom working on his sermon when the bomb exploded a few feet from where she had been sitting. The first bomb in the street went off, but she didnt know what had happened. The window began to crack. Then her husband came out and told her something was wrong. They woke the children and fled through the garage as another explosion rocked the front of the house. The house was later repaired and the Kings moved back in. After they moved away in 1965, other pastors lived in the house, including the Rev. Thomas Gilmore, the first Black sheriff of Greene County, who was pastor of First Baptist of Ensley from 1983 until his death in 2015. The Birmingham Historical Society marked the parsonage with a historical plaque in 2006, along with 60 churches that hosted civil rights meetings. The church sold the house in 2005 to member Omie Crockett Sr., who renovated it. Crockett recalled that while A.D. King was pastor in Ensley, he and his father, the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr., pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, often sat on the front lawn of the house, greeting people in the neighborhood. Crockett said he was among 400 to 500 people who gathered outside the parsonage the night of the bombing. The crowd was angry and ready to riot, and turned over two police cars in the street. Pastor A.D. King got a bullhorn, went to the side door and pleaded with them not to riot. He said he and his family were all right, and asked everyone to go home. That dispersed the crowd. A.D. and Naomi Kings daughter, Alveda, was 12 at the time of the bombing. She attended the ceremony on Thursday with her mother and in an interview afterward recalled her memory of the night of the bombing. Daddys yelling, Get out, get out, its a bomb! she said. Daddy climbed on top of a car. Daddy stood on that car and said, Dont riot. Go home and pray. If you want to hit somebody, hit me. Were all right. Go home and pray.' The year after his brother was shot to death in Memphis in 1968, A.D. King died at his Atlanta home, under mysterious circumstances. He drowned in the backyard swimming pool, according to official reports. He was the love of my life, Naomi King said during Thursdays ceremony, held in a tent set up on the front yard of the house. It means the world to me, she said of the designation, as she sat next to the Secretary of the Interior. People are people and love has no color. PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Signage and wayfinding in Parma Heights is front and center. Not only did the city install 11 additional gateway signs earlier this year proudly displaying the Parma Heights' new tagline Community Grows Here, but the next phase of sign installation is expected to begin soon. Were working with the contractor Ellet Sign Company to install six signs along the Pearl Road corridor later this year, Parma Heights Director of Community and Economic Development Joe Sebes said. There will be signs at the intersection of Stumph and York roads, and some near the Greenbriar Commons, which is our town center. Its a pretty good size plan. Were trying to implement things in stages that will benefit people coming into the community. The new signage is part of Parma Heights' Branding & Wayfinding Signage Master Plan, which city council recently adopted. The city used its three previous annually-awarded $50,000 Cuyahoga County Department of Development Supplemental grants to cover the cost of Poggemeyer Design Group completing the Branding & Wayfinding Master Plan, as well as the first two phases of signage implementation. New signage is very expensive, Sebes said. The assistance we get from the Cuyahoga County Department of Development is invaluable. The signage effort has been a four-year journey tied to the citys planning study of the Pearl Road corridor as part of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agencys Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI). The five-phase process used to complete the Branding & Wayfinding Master Plan included information gathering, creation of tagline/logo, development of wayfinding signage types and placement, creation of design signage elements and implementation. That completed study was incorporated into the citys master plan update, which was adopted in 2018 by the Parma Heights City Council. Wayfinding signage is a significant part of any community, Parma Heights Mayor Michael P. Byrne said. This phase will identify community amenities for residents, as well as visitors. The next will include parks and recreation areas. Added Sebes, We have a whole section identified for parks. Were going to be doing a lot more as time goes on. The master plan is guiding the future of the community. We take it very seriously. Read more news from the Parma Sun Post here. Polish President Andrzej Duda on Wednesday called on the international community to "speak with one voice and demand that fundamental human rights be respected" in Belarus. Duda was addressing the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. "Belarusians, like any other free nation, have the right to shape their political future in a sovereign way without external inteference," Duda said. Belarus has been rocked by weeks of huge protests after authoritarian leader President Alexander Lukashenko's reelection, which the opposition says was rigged. Lukashenko has run Belarus, a former Soviet nation of 9.5 million, with an iron fist for 26 years. Mumbai: Actor Sara Ali Khan, who has been summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in a drug case related to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, on Thursday arrived in the city from Goa. The 25-year-old actor reached Mumbai with her mother, actor Amrita Singh and brother, Ibrahim Ali Khan around 5pm and headed to their suburban Juhu residence. Khan made her acting debut opposite Rajput in the 2018 film Kedarnath". The NCB, which began the probe after a drugs angle came to light in connection with Rajputs alleged suicide, has now widened its investigation and called film celebrities for questioning. Khan is set to appear before the NCB on September 26 (Saturday), along with actors Deepika Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor. Actor Rakul Preet Singh and Padukones manager Karishma Prakash are summoned on Friday. Meanwhile, statements of fashion designer Simone Khambatta and Shruti Modi, Rajputs former manager, were recorded by the NCB probe team in connection with the drugs case, the official said. Rajput (34) was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14. His death has sparked a lot of controversy in the media and the case is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the NCB. His girlfriend, actor Rhea Chakraborty, who has been accused of abetting Rajputs suicide by his family, has been arrested in a drugs case linked to his death. Padukone has been in Goa for a few days for the shoot of director Shakun Batras next film and is likely to return to Mumbai on Thursday night. The Perry Homes Foundation is honored to partner with Holocaust Museum Houston in support of its mission to teach the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy. Through this important collaboration, the Perry Homes Foundation is working to raise more awareness of human rights efforts here in Houston. The Perry Homes Foundation is proud to announce its support of Holocaust Museum Houstons initiatives to raise awareness on human rights issues and solutions at a local level. In celebration of the International Day of Peace, the Perry Homes Foundation recently sponsored an inspiring virtual event, Let Freedom Ring, where Houston photographer Earlie Hudnall, Jr. shared insights of his amazing work including photographing Nelson Mandela during his historical visit to Houston in 1991. The Perry Homes Foundation will also serve as the presenting sponsor for Holocaust Museum Houstons upcoming Human Rights Expo on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the Human Rights Expo, all museum guests will be granted free admission into the museum. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about local organizations that are working to protect human rights, as well as efforts to better serve the community. Learn more about the participating organizations and reserve a timeslot to view the exhibition at hmh.org/HumanRightsExpo. The Perry Homes Foundation is honored to partner with Holocaust Museum Houston in support of its mission to teach the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy, said Mike Brisch with the Perry Homes Foundation. Through this important collaboration, the Perry Homes Foundation is working to raise more awareness of human rights efforts here in Houston, bringing meaningful change that will directly impact the members of our community. The Human Rights Expo marks the recent opening of the U.S. premiere exhibition of Mandela: Struggle for Freedom, which features the life and legacy of the late great human rights advocate Nelson Mandela. This exhibition studies Nelson Mandelas fight for justice and equality in South Africa, as well as raises awareness of todays ongoing social issues. The interactive experience features a small prison cell emulating where Mandela was held for nearly 20 years, in addition to a variety of engaging digital displays, original artifacts, letters written by Mandela, historical segregation signage, and more. We are grateful for the support of the Perry Homes Foundation and their commitment to bringing positive change to our local community, said Dr. Kelly J. Zuniga, CEO, Holocaust Museum Houston. Now more than ever, communities are looking for ways to come together to fight social injustices and human rights inequalities. The Mandela: Struggle for Freedom exhibition shines a light on the history of the fight for basic human rights, offering important lessons about the power of perseverance and advocating for the greater good. Since the companys inception in 1967, Perry Homes has believed in the importance of giving back to the communities in which we build. Through the establishment of the Perry Homes Foundation, the company has supported important initiatives that benefit our local communities, youth, and neighbors in need. For more information on the Perry Homes Foundation and its ongoing charitable efforts, visit http://www.perryhomesfoundation.com. To learn more about the Human Rights Expo presented by the Perry Homes Foundation, visit hmh.org/HumanRightsExpo. For more information on Mandela: Struggle for Freedom, visit hmh.org/Mandela. # # # About Perry Homes Perry Homes, a Texas homebuilder for over 50 years, is committed to providing exceptional value, quality and customer service. Family-owned and operated, Perry Homes has spent over 50 years building a sterling reputation as one of the largest and most trusted homebuilders in Texas. Perry Homes offers a variety of new home designs in over 55 communities throughout Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Perry Homes is dedicated to providing first-class customer service before, during and after the sale. The companys continuing loyalty to customers, combined with their distinguished reputation, creates an unrivaled demand for Perry Homes. For more information, please visit http://www.perryhomes.com. About the Perry Homes Foundation The Perry Homes Foundation was established in 2017 by Perry Homes CEO Kathy Perry Britton, in honor of her late father Bob Perry. The Foundations core mission is to support initiatives to benefit those who are less fortunate, to create opportunities for students needing financial assistance, and to enhance the beauty of our local parks and communities. For more information, please visit http://www.perryhomesfoundation.com. About Holocaust Museum Houston Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and other innocent victims and honoring the survivors legacy. Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, we teach the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy. For more information, please visit http://www.hmh.org. As more people continue to learn about CBD, the demand continues to grow. From health and wellness products for people and pets, to hemp-infused skincare products, Green Care Solutions has something for everyone. After years of devotion and innovation, Green Care Solutions has found success as an award-winning THC and CBD company. Their CEO, Freddy Rashid, has an established radio show called Green Talk, where he invites celebrities and other high profile guests to discuss the benefits of CBD. His latest venture, Hemp Avenue, is a line of high-quality hemp skincare products. Made with natural ingredients, Hemp Avenue products are safe and effective. They provide specific formulations for different skin types. With the goal of helping improve the look and texture of your skin, their luxurious products can help you regain a more youthful appearance. With Hemp Avenue, you can protect, replenish, and revitalize your skin, says Freddy Rashid, CEO of Green Care Solutions. Hemp oil is perfect for most types, as it can moisturize without clogging your pores. It can even help to balance out oily skin, hydrating it and regulating the skin's oil production. Were thrilled to be working with AsSeenOnTV.pro and share our effective, natural products with as many people as possible. Hemp Avenue is incredible, says Lisa Vrancken, Executive Vice President of AsSeenOnTV.pro. With high-quality ingredients, their products can help improve the amount of collagen in your skin, helping minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I know so many women who have been looking for products like this, and I always recommend Hemp Avenue. As part of its DRTV campaign with AsSeenOnTV.pro, Hemp Avenue will be appearing in 30 second spots set to air nationwide and feature the original Shark himself, Kevin Harrington. AsSeenOnTV.pro is comprised of an award-winning team of producers, writers, videographers, and editors as well as industry veterans dedicated to finding the latest, most innovative products and ideas, and putting them on the DRTV map. About AsSeenOnTV.pro Headquartered in South Florida, AsSeenOnTV.pro is a full-service production, branding, and marketing company that specializes in direct response television, short- and long-form commercials, and brand building. Based out of a 25,000+ sq ft, state-of-the-art studio, the companys creative team handles every aspect of production from script to screen to airing. For nearly two decades, AsSeenOnTV.pros veteran staff of writers, producers, videographers, and editors has amassed more than 50 Telly Awards, thousands of prestigious clients, and over $20 million in television placements. About Kevin Harrington As the inventor of the infomercial, founder of As Seen on TV, and one of the original Sharks on Shark Tank, Kevin Harrington has worked with some of the worlds biggest celebrities and launched some of the best-selling DRTV campaigns in history. Since producing his first 30-minute infomercial in 1984, Harrington has been involved in over 500 product launches that have resulted in over $4 billion in sales. Now, in his latest venture with AsSeenOnTV.pro, Harrington is on the hunt for the best new products and ideas, bringing them to homes everywhere through personalized DRTV campaigns featuring the Shark. For more information on Hemp Avenue, please visit http://www.HempAvenueSkinCare.com. Before Xinjiang, there was Tibet. Repressive policies tested there between 2012 and 2016 were then applied to the Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in northwestern China: entire cities covered in surveillance cameras, ubiquitous neighborhood police stations, residents made to report on one another. Now that process also works the other way around. Xinjiangs coercive labor program which includes mandatory training for farmers and herders in centralized vocational facilities and their reassignment to state-assigned jobs, some far away is being applied to Tibet. (Not the internment camps, though.) Call this a feedback loop of forcible assimilation. It certainly is evidence of the scale of Beijings ruthless campaign to suppress cultural and ethnic differences and not just in Tibet and Xinjiang. I analyzed more than 100 policy papers and documents from the Tibetan authorities and state-media reports for a study published with the Jamestown Foundation this week. Photos show Tibetans training, wearing fatigues. Official documents outline how Beijing is rolling out for them a militarized labor program much like the one in place in Xinjiang: Tibetan nomads and farmers are being rounded up for military-style classes and taught work discipline, gratitude for the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese-language skills. NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via CryptoCurrencyWire CryptoCurrencyWire (CCW), a multifaceted financial news and publishing company part of the InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN), today announces that it will partner once again with Untraceables Annual Futurist Conference , Canadas largest blockchain conference. The conference, set to take place on November 11-12, 2020, will be held in an entirely digital format, enabling thousands of delegates to attend and interact with one another from the comfort of their own homes. IBN has also been named as the official corporate communications partner for the event, and CCW is proud to be designated as a Megabyte sponsor. Set to host 5,000+ delegates drawn from 39 countries across the world, in addition to 200+ expert speakers and over 60 insightful panels featuring some of the newest and most pioneering companies engaging in disruptive innovation across emerging technologies today, the Futurist Conference promises to help attendees gain insights into the latest trends set to revolutionize and disrupt the digital future. IBN and CCW will work in conjunction with one another to leverage an extensive array of corporate communications solutions to increase recognition for conference sponsors that are seeking to enhance visibility before investors, journalists, consumers and the public. Effective brand awareness strategies offered by CCW include news and content distribution, syndicated placement, content curation, social media messaging, global and audio press releases, and more. In addition to the coverage provided by the CryptoCurrencyWire, InvestorBrandNetwork is set to further extend visibility of the virtual event through social media. Today, IBN has more than 2 million likes and followers across 50+ investor-oriented brands. We are delighted to continue working together, said Tracy Leparulo, Founder of Untraceable. Through our collaboration with InvestorBrandNetwork and CryptoCurrencyWire, who will be serving as the official newswire for our event, we believe we will be well positioned to provide exceptional exposure and value to our presenters and attendees. This years Futurist Conference will allow thousands of attendees from around the globe to network and interact with one another within a socially engaged digital environment. Conference delegates and expert speakers will also be joined by hundreds of corporate partners, including top media outlets, YouTube celebrities, educational institutions and community partners to discuss, understand and learn how the adoption of new and emerging technologies can help them function and operate in a more efficient manner. We look forward to partnering once again with Untraceables highly professional team as we work collectively to heighten the visibility of an industry that is making active strides every day, said Jonathan Keim, director of communications of InvestorBrandNetwork and CryptoCurrencyWire. This partnership is a highlight for CCW, and we are excited to once again help bring recognition to the best and most innovative emerging and blockchain technologies from around the globe. To register, stay up to date on the expanding speaker list and acquire additional information, visit http://ccw.fm/Futurist2020Registration . About InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN) The InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN) consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over the course of 14+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of 1+ million social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of Client Partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients. Through NetworkNewsWire (NNW) and its 40+ affiliate brands, NNW provides: (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) content creation with editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) enhanced press release solutions to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions; and (6) a total news coverage solution. For more information, please visit https://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: http://IBN.fm/Disclaimer In June and July, it was still news (kind of) whenever we read that leftist mobs, inspired by anti-white racism and anti-American hatred, ran riot in the streets, screaming, destroying people's businesses, and attacking anyone who got in their way, especially police officers. By now, it's predictable and, while disturbing, it's also dull. It's become a dog bites man story. It was to be expected that the mobs would start to riot in Louisville. Indeed, practically within minutes of Daniel Cameron announcing that none of the police involved in Breonna Taylor's death would be charged for her death and that just one police officer would have to face a reckless endangerment charge for allegedly discharging his gun carelessly, the mob was on the move. Note, please, that this was no random mob. This was a carefully organized and well financed mob: A parked U-Haul was waiting for the crowd up the street. It contains supplies such as signs, shields, water etc. Im not sure how people knew what it contained. Police are up ahead pic.twitter.com/qObHK3E83y Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) September 23, 2020 Well-stocked U-Haul vans, ready with all the supplies a mob needs to destroy a city, don't come cheap. It is to be hoped that the FBI is already following the money and working with the DOJ to charge with sedition those funding the mobs. Sedition can be punished with up to twenty years in federal prison. The mob threatened people in their homes, set fires, and attacked innocent businesses. Here are just a few videos from the intrepid Shelby Talcott: People from the crowd shout at those standing outside their homes but not actively participating in the march. Get out yall motherfuckin houses, this shit aint for spectating, this shit aint for show! One woman says. pic.twitter.com/Yxvb8sZdEX Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) September 23, 2020 Buildings are being targeted as are people filming. The situation is getting more tense. With the first business, a man quickly walked inside and locked the door as someone confronted him: pic.twitter.com/J8O6dPvei4 Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) September 23, 2020 Another fire just set at the Hall of Justice and police warn that its an unlawful assembly pic.twitter.com/ma8dEfXfqh Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) September 23, 2020 Louisville, however, was prepared for the rioting. Unlike Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, and a host of other uber-leftist cities, Louisville did not tell its police to stand down. Instead, it put a curfew in place, brought out lots of police, and called in the National Guard: Were back downtown and police are out en masse all over. Theyve pushed crowds back and are on various streets near Jefferson Park pic.twitter.com/zKTG3MLgY9 Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) September 23, 2020 Despite all this planning, a Black Lives Matter protester succeeded in shooting two police officers, both of whom (thankfully) will survive. Louisville will likely survive, too, thanks to its proactive policies. It will not burn like Kenosha. Meanwhile, the usual protests are taking place in other U.S. cities because that's what the Democrat party's paramilitary mob does: Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Chicago and various neighborhoods around the city to protest the lack of charges directly connected to Breonna Taylor's shooting death. [snip] People protesting a grand jury's decision not to indict any police officers directly for the fatal shooting of a Black woman in Kentucky have rallied in U.S. cities including New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Philadelphia. [snip] Demonstrators packed a New York City plaza. Chanting "Say her name, Breonna Taylor," the crowd then started marching in downtown Brooklyn, past onlookers and honking cars. They were accompanied by musicians, setting a steady drum beat. News outlet CNN showed marchers in Philadelphia. And a video on Twitter posted by a WJLA reporter in the Washington, D.C., area showed protesters marching in the nation's capital chanting "Black Lives Matter!" As always, you can find excellent photo essays at the Daily Mail. President Trump is praying for the police officers who were shot and promising to help Gov. Beshear stop the rioting: Praying for the two police officers that were shot tonight in Louisville, Kentucky. The Federal Government stands behind you and is ready to help. Spoke to @GovAndyBeshear and we are prepared to work together, immediately upon request! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2020 And what about Biden and Harris, who want to lead America starting in 2020? They're all in...for the mob. Even though the police did nothing wrong, these two panderers "are calling for policing reform." Americans have two choices on November 3: stand with law and order, which means a straight Republican ticket, or forever yield to the mob. We must hope they choose wisely. Image: The Black Lives Matter U-Haul. Twitter screen grab. ALTON A two-car collision sent one person in the hospital late Thursday morning. According to Alton Police Sgt. Emily Hejna, officers received a call at 11:30 a.m. to an accident at Main and Edwards streets in Alton. Hejna said one person was transported by Alton Fire Department rescue to a local hospital for minor injuries. The National Democratic Congress Parliamentary candidate of Ketu South for 2020 elections Hon Ablah Dzifa Gomashie has expressed disappointment at president Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the ruling New Patriotic Party government for the continuous closure of the land borders without consulting the relevant stakeholders. Speaking at a meeting with Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders Association and the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, Hon Abla Dzifa Gomashie said that it shows the bad faith of the leadership style of the sitting government towards the people of Ghana. The conversations on the reopening of borders in Ghana, especially the Aflao border in the Ketu South constituency is hinged on the fact that it is one of the major contributors of government's largest revenues. Again after months of closure of all borders across Ghana, government has opened the air borders leaving the land borders hanging. Hon Ablah Dzifa Gomashie urged all members of his constituency including Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders Association and the Customers Brokers Association of Ghana to join her to campaign and vote for the John Dramani Mahama and Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang ticket for a better Ghana under a leader one can trust to deliver Ghanaians from the woes people keep enumerating. Hon Ablah Dzifa Gomashie also revealed during the meeting captured by Attractive Mustapha , that the next NDC government under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama will scrap the banning of the importation of salvaged vehicles and also work closely with the clearing associations in the country to ensure sustainability and continuity of their work at the borders. Lorena Delaguna, 53, was caught on camera by a bystander during the incident on 17 August against Tiffany Johnson (New York Police Department) A white woman who was recorded throwing a bottle and hurling a racial slur at a black runner in New York City has been arrested and charged with a hate crime, authorities have said. The woman was recorded by a bystander during the incident on 17 August against Tiffany Johnson, 37. In the video released by New York Police Department, the woman throws a bottle at Ms Johnson as she passes her on the street and then shouting the racial slur. Lorena Delaguna, 53, of Woodside, Queens, has been charged with attempted assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment, authorities said on Tuesday. Crimes like this, which are fueled by hate, are in a special category for a reason, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a written statement. No one should have to endure being called a vile slur or being attacked simply because of the color of their skin, their religion, or who they love. Ms Delagunas attorney, Samantha Diaz, questioned the severity of the charges, citing the fact that Ms Johnson hadnt suffered physical harm. Ms Johnson, who was not identified by Ms Katz but has publicly identified herself as the jogger in the video, called the incident a hate crime." Its not acceptable. She has to be [held] responsible for her behavior," Ms Johnson told The New York Post. I was definitely shocked. I was surprised but, more importantly, I wanted to get away from her. Ms Katz has said that Ms Delaguna followed the runner for a block and told her to go back to Africa. Judge Jeffrey Gershuny said there was a mental health component to the case and has ordered a psychological evaluation for Ms Delaguna, who was arraigned in Queens criminal court. Additional reporting by the Associated Press Read more Cardi B sued for defamation by Trump supporters after calling them racist Misogyny should be made a hate crime to protect women, Law Commission says LAPD releases video of officer shooting protester in groin with foam round Man accused of killing Black Lives Matter protester dies by suicide A legislative stalemate in Washington is preventing Congress from getting more financial relief to millions of Americans who are facing financial hardship. Despite that impasse, there are actually a handful of stimulus initiatives that leaders on both sides of the aisle agree on. They just have not been combined into one package or put forward as individual proposals, according to Ed Mills, Washington policy analyst at Raymond James. The reason can be summed up with one word: politics, Mills said. However, those hoping for another aid package should not necessarily give up all hope. "The most optimistic thing I can say is that, in D.C., things are impossible right up until the moment it's inevitable," Mills said. More from Your Money Mindset: What to know about buying life insurance amid pandemic College kids worry about finances amid ongoing pandemic Experts warn against using stimulus money for vacations "We have been surprised by D.C. in the past, where something that has been declared dead finds a way of resurrecting itself because of an unseen catalyst," he said. Lawmakers continued to discuss the state of the U.S. economy and a potential new legislative package during a Senate committee hearing on Thursday. If more stimulus aid isn't passed, spending will likely weaken and the approximately 11 million Americans who have lost payroll jobs may have a more difficult time getting back to work, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said. "We will see that the economy has a harder time sustaining the growth that we've seen," Powell said. "That's the risk." (CNN) A South Korean official was shot dead after crossing a maritime border into North Korea, Seoul said Thursday. According to Lt. Gen. Ahn Young-ho, a top official with South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, a staffer with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries went missing in waters 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) south of the Yeonpyeong Islands on September 21. The islands lie near the maritime border between North and South Korea, and at some point, the official crossed into North Korean waters, after which, according to South Korean intelligence, North Korean forces opened fire, killing the South Korean. They later burned his body, Ahn said. In a statement, the South Korean military said it "strongly condemns the North's atrocities" and urged Pyongyang to provide an explanation and punish those responsible. "In addition, we sternly warn that North Korea is responsible for the atrocities committed against our citizen," the statement added. Tensions have been rising between North and South Korea since communication between the two sides was cut off in June, when Pyongyang first closed and then blew up a joint liaison office in Kaesong, a city on the northern side of the border. The deterioration in relations came after a years-long rapprochement led by South Korean President Moon Jae-in resulted in historic meetings between himself and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as well as summits between Kim and US President Donald Trump. But those meetings ultimately did not deliver significant results for all sides, and North Korea has taken an increasingly strident tone towards its southern neighbor, a shift in stance that has come as Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, moved into a more influential position in the North Korean regime. A South Korean civilian was killed by the North in 2008, when a soldier shot a South Korean tourist at the Mt. Kumgang ski resort. In 2010, 46 South Korea sailors and two South Korean marines and two civilians were also killed by North Korea in separate incidents. North Korean men clear ice and shovel snow off a road on in Hyangsan county, North Pyongan province, North Korea in a file photo. A repatriated North Korean escapee who was recently released from a prison camp for health reasons asked police to take her back when she was unable to support herself on the outside, sources in the country told RFA. The woman, who had been sold in China by human traffickers seven years ago, was caught by Chinese police and repatriated sometime last year. While in detention, she was transported across the country on the back of a truck in the dead of winter and lost her toes to frostbite. The prison camp released her in June after doctors gave up on finding a way to treat her. When she was completely blocked out from making a living, she went to the law enforcement agency and asked to return to prison, a resident of North Hamgyong province, bordering China and Russia in the countrys northeast, told RFA Sept. 19. The woman was back in prison only a month after she was released. The woman is known to have suffered severe violence at the hand of her Chinese husband in Shandong province. She could not withstand the violence and tried to flee last fall, but she was arrested by Chinese police and sent back to North Korea because her husband reported her, said the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons. According to the source, the woman was first held in a detention center across the border from the Chinese city of Dandong in northwestern North Korea. She was in a detention center in Sinuiju until winter because the police officer in charge of her registered residence area did not come to take her away. The transport was delayed because electric trains do not run often, and internal combustion trains are too expensive. So, they transported her by a servi-cha, the source said, referring to privately-owned and operated transport trucks. She was only wearing a single layer of clothes, so she suffered severe frostbite riding in the cargo compartment of the truck in the freezing weather. When she finally arrived in Puryong county, North Hamgyong province, she was sentenced to five years in prison for illegal border crossing and imprisoned at the No. 9 correctional labor camp, said the source. The source said she lost all ten of her toes to frostbite. The prison camp released her, saying there was no way to treat her, but after returning to her town, she had no way to make a living and no home. She could have died of starvation, and had no way to get medical treatment, said the source. The poor woman was first living at a temporary shelter that the local government provided for her and she ate corn donated by local residents for her meals. But when she ran out of corn, she went to look for jobs, but it is of course difficult to work if you cant even walk well, the source said. The source said it was then that she went to the public security department, asking to be sent back to prison. Another resident of North Hamgyong, who requested anonymity to speak freely, told RFA that tales of the woman had been circulating among the public. The residents are shocked to hear the story of an illegal border crosser who voluntarily wanted to return to prison. Once youre sent there, you may come out dead. How tough is her life that she decided to go back to prison on her own volition? the second source said. The second source confirmed that the repatriated escapee lost her toes to frostbite and was released by the prison for health reasons. Normally the police collect the cost of transporting a prisoner from relatives, but the transport was delayed until the cold winter because she had no family to pay for her transportation. Trafficking statistics North Korean women are uniquely vulnerable to sex trafficking in China, according to a 2019 report published by the London-based Korea Future Initiative. The report said exploitation of North Korean women generates profits of at least $105 million each year. Victims are prostituted for as little as 30 Chinese Yuan (U.S. $4), sold as wives for just 1000 Chinese Yuan ($146), and trafficked into cybersex dens for exploitation by a global online audience, the report said. Trafficking of North Korean women in China was at its peak in the late 1990s, when hundreds of thousands of desperate people fled the country during the 1994-1998 famine that killed millions. Estimates place the number of North Koreans illegally in China at about 150,000 in 1999 according to a 2019 report published by the Washington-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK). RFA reported in August 2019 that China had begun a crackdown on North Korean refugees, with Chinese authorities repatriating 60 recently arrested refugees held in detention centers in northeastern Liaoning province. The report said the spike in arrests could have stemmed from increasing North Korea-China cooperation following more than a year of warming relations between Beijing and Pyongyang. Reported by Jieun Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. I wish a lot of luck to Harry because hes gonna need it, the thrice-married president added. President Donald Trump responded to a video on which Prince Harry and Meghan Markle addressed the need to vote in the 2020 election this November. The couple effectively endorsed Joe Biden by encouraging Americans to reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity, several of the earmarks of the Trump campaign. Im not a fan of hers, Trump told reporters during the Q&A portion of Wednesdays White House press briefing. Last year, President Donald Trump referred to Meghan Markle as nasty after she criticized him as divisive and misogynistic during his 2016 campaign. (Photos by Joshua Roberts/Getty Images and Phil Harris WPA Pool/Getty Images) And I would say this and she probably has heard that but I wish a lot of luck to Harry because hes gonna need it, the thrice-married president added. The slight was Trumps reaction to a video that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex participated in as alumni of Time magazines TIME 100 list, which recognizes the achievements of notable people throughout the year. Read More: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry sign multiyear deal with Netflix The first half of the video addressed the need for more compassion in how people interact with each other online. Its time to not only reflect, but act, Prince Harry said. Were six weeks out from the election, and today is Voter Registration Day. Every four years, were told the same thing: This is the most important election of our lifetime. But this one is, Markle said. When we vote, our values are put into action, and our voices are heard. Read More: Meghan Markle and Gloria Steinem team up to encourage people to vote The Mountbatten-Windsors, who were wed in 2018, moved to Markles hometown of Los Angeles this year after stepping down from their official duties as members of Englands royal family. In the video, Harry noted that as a royal, he had never voted in a United Kingdom election and would not be voting in this years U.S. election. Last summer, Trump referred to Markle as nasty after she criticized him as divisive and misogynistic during the 2016 presidential campaign. Story continues During the presidents visit to the U.K., Prince Harry did attend the Buckingham Palace lunch hosted in his honor by the Queen. However, he appeared to avoid being photographed with the president, instead opting to spend time chatting with Trumps daughter, Ivanka. Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now! The post Trump says hes not a fan of Meghan Markle after her Biden endorsement appeared first on TheGrio. 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. A recent court ruling could force Pennsylvania to ignore more than 100,000 mail-in ballots in the hotly contested presidential race. In a letter to legislative leaders, Lisa Deeley, the chairwoman of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, told legislative leaders that the state Supreme Courts decision would prohibit counties from counting so-called naked ballots, or those that do not arrive in a secrecy envelope, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday. In this May 28, 2020, file photo, mail-in primary election ballots are processed at the Chester County Voter Services office in West Chester, Pa. Pennsylvania officials said Friday, July 31, 2020, the state will foot the cost of postage for voters to mail-in ballots in November's general election, a move that Gov. Tom Wolf has made a priority as the coronavirus pandemic unexpectedly fueled high interest in voting by mail under new state law. Those naked ballots were counted in Pennsylvanias June 2 primary, but President Donald Trump's campaign and other Republicans sued to have them not counted this fall. Last week, the state Supreme Court also granted a request from the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to allow mail-in ballots to be counted if they are received by the Friday after the election and drop-off boxes to collect mail-in ballots. Deeley warned that the decision concerning naked ballots could disenfranchise more than 100,000 voters based on previous election results. She compared the potential outcome this November to the infamous 2000 presidential election in Florida that was eventually settled by the U.S. Supreme Court. This is not a partisan issue, Deeley wrote. We are talking about the voting rights of our constituents, whether they be Democrats, Republicans, or independents, whose ballots will be needlessly set aside. More: What do Pa. voters want? Some say Biden, some say Trump, some want a better choice Voter Protection Corps chairman Quentin Palfrey released a statement in which he called for the state Legislature to take immediate action to allow naked ballots to be counted. Even if the legislature wont act to allow these so-called naked ballots, it should immediately provide greater flexibility to process mail ballots as soon as each ballot is received from the voter, Palfrey said, and allow every eligible voter whose ballot might need to be rejected an opportunity to fix any problems that occur. Story continues He also called on the state and counties to double down on nonpartisan voter education and adding poll workers. More: Advocates: PA mail-in ballots not accessible for disabled voters Trump won Pennsylvania by just 44,000 votes in 2016. Since the Inquirers story, the issue has exploded in the media, and on social media and political talk shows. MSNBCs Chris Hayes did a segment in which he explained the issue and how ballots are placed in the secrecy envelope, which is then placed in an outer envelope before being mailed or dropped off. It is, however, a bit complicated, Hayes said. I actually froze when I was filling out my absentee ballot in New York over this. This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Court ruling could mean 100,000 'naked' mail-in ballots might be ignored Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Tel Aviv University researchers suggest that carriers of the genetic mutations PiZ and PiS are at high risk for severe illness and even death from COVID-19. These mutations lead to deficiency in the alpha1-antitrypsin protein, which protects lung tissues from damage in case of severe infections. Other studies have already associated deficiency in this protein with inflammatory damage to lung function in other diseases. The study was led by Prof. David Gurwitz, Prof. Noam Shomron, and MSc candidate Guy Shapira of TAU's Sackler Faculty of Medicine, and published in The FASEB Journal on September 22, 2020. The researchers analyzed data from 67 countries on all continents. Comparisons revealed a highly significant positive correlation between the prevalence of the two mutations in the population and COVID-19 mortality rates (adjusted to size of the population) in many countries, such as the U.S., the UK, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and more. Consequently, the researchers suggest that these mutations may be additional risk factors for severe COVID-19. They now propose that their findings should be corroborated by clinical trials, and if validated should lead to population-wide screening for identifying carriers of the PiS and/or PiZ mutations. Such individuals should then be advised to take extra measures of social distancing and later be prioritized for vaccination once vaccines are available. According to the researchers, these steps can be effective in reducing COVID-19 morbidity and fatality rates. Analysis of databases reveals that in Belgium, where 17 of every 1,000 people carry the PiZ mutation (the more dominant of the two mutations discussed in this study), the COVID-19 mortality rate was 860 per million according to figures for September 2020. In Spain the picture is similar: 17 of every 1,000 citizens carry the PiZ mutation, and the COVID-19 fatality rate is 640 per million. In the U.S., where 15 per 1,000 are carriers, 590 of every million died of the coronavirus. The numbers in the UK are in line with the overall trend: 14 per 1,000 carry the mutation and 60 per million have died of COVID-19. In Italy, where 13 per 1,000 are carriers, the mortality rate is 620 per million. In Sweden, where 13 per 1,000 are carriers, the fatality rate is 570 per million. On the other hand, the researchers found that in many countries in Africa and South East Asia, where these mutations are relatively rare, COVID-19 mortality rates are correspondingly low as of September 2020. In Japan, where 9 of every million died in the pandemic, the mutations' prevalence is negligible. Similar numbers were also found in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Prof. Gurwitz, Prof. Shomron, and Shapira conclude, "Our data analysis reveals a strong correlation between these mutations and severe illness and death from COVID-19. We call upon the research community to test our hypothesis against clinical data, and also call upon decision makers in every country to conduct population-wide screening for identifying mutation carriers and prioritize them for vaccination once COVID-19 vaccines have been approved. In the meantime, carriers should be notified that they may belong to a high-risk group and advised to maintain strict social isolation." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Guy Shapira et al, Ethnic differences in alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency allele frequencies may partially explain national differences in COVID19 fatality rates, The FASEB Journal (2020). Journal information: FASEB Journal Guy Shapira et al, Ethnic differences in alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency allele frequencies may partially explain national differences in COVID19 fatality rates,(2020). DOI: 10.1096/fj.202002097 Kentucky-born George Clooney is among the many outraged after only one police officer was charged in connection with the death of Breonna Taylor. Clooney said he is "ashamed" in a statement issued Wednesday evening, after Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron warned that "celebrities, influencers, and activists" and those who "have never lived in Kentucky" would try to pass judgment on the decision and claim "they know our community and the Commonwealth better than we do." Clooney's statement, provided to Deadline, begins, "I was born and raised in Kentucky. 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. "The justice system I was raised to believe in holds people responsible for their actions," the actor continued. "Her name was Breonna Taylor and she was shot to death in her bed by 3 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. I'm ashamed of this decision." Taylor, a 26-year-old Black hospital worker, was shot and killed by Louisville police on March 13 in a botched drug raid. Along with the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minnesota police, her death spurred nationwide protests and calls for police reform, with many demanding charges against the officers involved in Floyd and Taylor's tragic deaths. A Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Taylor, with prosecutors saying that the two officers who fired their weapons were justified in using force to protect themselves. Another officer was charged with wanton endangerment for firing into Taylor's neighbors' homes. Protests are underway in the streets of Louisville, while celebrities, activists, and athletes continue to speak out. KENANSVILLE, Fla., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wild Florida Airboats, Gator Park & Drive-thru Safari celebrates 10 years of airboats, animal encounters, and adventure by giving everyone free weekday admission to their Gator Park through the month of October with a canned food donation. 2020 marks Wild Florida's 10th anniversary of airboat tours, animal encounters and safari expeditions. To celebrate years of continued expansion and success, Wild Florida is offering free weekday Gator Park admission to everyone that brings a canned food donation throughout the 10th month of the year, October. With tin and aluminum traditionally being associated with a 10th anniversary, Wild Florida plans to collect much needed canned food donations for local charities. These canned food items will be donated to local food pantries to help families in need. Wild Florida Airboats, Gator Park & Drive-thru Safari opened on Lake Cypress in Kenansville in 2010, with a focus on educating individuals about Central Florida's natural resources. Starting off with a 14-acre Gator Park and airboat tours, Wild Florida's mission continues to educate guests on protecting and conserving Florida's diverse ecosystem by offering noninvasive, immersive airboat tours throughout the Everglades and hands-on animal interactions to help connect guests with Florida's ecosystem. "Hard to believe 10 years have gone by," says Sam Haught co-owner and founder of Wild Florida. "We had a vision of bigger things to come, but none of us thought Wild Florida would be a 285 acre adventure park in such a short time. Mostly we're thankful to everyone that has helped us make it happen. " Admission to Wild Florida's Gator Park is $10 per adult and $8 per child and Florida residents can enjoy the Gator Park for just $5 per adult and per child. On weekdays during the month of October, Gator Park admission will be free for everyone, regardless of residency. Wild Florida offers a variety of interactive experiences, hands-on animal encounters, and adventure packages that let guests explore Florida's natural wildlife. Learn more about Wild Florida's offerings at WildFL.com . Contact Sam Haught, Co-owner at Wild Florida [email protected] 407-957-3135 SOURCE Wild Florida Related Links https://wildfloridairboats.com Two groups representing Ontario nurses are raising concerns about their regulatory bodys decision to expand the scope of practice for registered practical nurses in the province. The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and the Ontario Nurses Association are now calling on the provincial government to delay the change until after the COVID-19 pandemic ends and the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council conducts consultations. The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) made a shocking and stunning decision approving a regulation change for the Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) scope of practice ... that will seriously jeopardize the safety of the public, the two groups said in a statement. The change, the groups said, disregards the difference in educational requirements for the two different types of nursing practices and allows registered practical nurses to carry out duties currently reserved for registered nurses. The groups have launched a petition asking the provincial government to halt the move for now. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said in an email that its reviewing the proposal and has yet to make a decision, but that it remains committed to providing Ontarians with high-quality care. The College of Nurses did not immediately respond to request for comment. Meanwhile, the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario said it believes its members, if they have the appropriate knowledge, should be allowed to work within the expanded scope of practice. It said registered practical nurses already perform procedures such as wound care and starting an IV when given an order, and should be allowed to initiate them as well just as registered nurses can. We are very pleased that the College of Nurses have moved ahead with it, said Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario CEO Dianne Martin. Martin said nurses in the field say their patients were not receiving timely care because of unnecessary barriers, particularly in home care and community care, where registered practical nurses work independently. She added that expanding their scope of care would be an updating of the legislation to match knowledge the nurses already have. Sioban Nelson, vice-provost and former dean of the University of Torontos faculty of nursing, said that while nurses scope of practice should evolve over time, this move would reduce training requirements. What it effectively does is it dissolves the distinction between bachelor degree-prepared nurses and two-year-prepared practical nurses, she said. Nelson said the development is a step backward in Canadas efforts to move toward a degree-prepared nursing workforce. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2020. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship. Canada, along with the United States and United Kingdom, has condemned the inauguration of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and is seeking to hold his government accountable by preparing sanctions on individuals allegedly involved in human rights violations. Francois-Philippe Champagne, minister of foreign affairs, said, "Canada considers that Alexander Lukashenko lacks the legitimacy to be the leader of Belarus." Since the "fraudulent presidential elections" in August, Lukashenko "continues to display disdain for the people of Belarus by holding a so-called inauguration ceremony behind closed doors," Champagne said in a statement Thursday. "Such gestures only show Lukashenko's disregard for basic democratic principles and the fundamental human rights of the people of Belarus," he said. Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images The ceremony, a major state occasion that would normally be conducted with fanfare, took place without prior warning in an apparent attempt to prevent it being disrupted by protests. Instead, it drew thousands onto the streets of the capital Minsk on Wednesday evening, where security forces chased down protesters and fired water cannon to disperse crowds. Police detained 364 people, the Interior Ministry said. A video showing a taxi driver rescuing a protester and speeding away from baton-wielding riot police went viral on social media. Meanwhile, U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the House of Commons in London Thursday that in light of the European Union's delay in preparing its own sanctions, Britain would join other allies to adopt targeted sanctions against those responsible for human rights abuses. "We will apply all the tools at our disposal to hold Lukashenko and his regime to account," he said. "We are willing to join the EU in adopting targeted sanctions against those responsible for the violence, the repression and the vote-rigging, although the EU process has now been delayed in Brussels," Raab said. "Given that delay ... we're co-ordinating with the United States and Canada to prepare appropriate listings as a matter of urgency." Story continues The EU said Thursday that the swearing-in of Lukashenko to a sixth term lacks democratic legitimacy, defies the will of the Belarusian people and will only deepen the country's political crisis. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell reiterated that the 27-nation bloc did not recognize the result of the Aug. 9 election that kept Lukashenko in power after 26 years. "This 'inauguration' directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus," Borrell said. TUT.BY/AFP/Getty Images Borrell underlined the EU's belief that "Belarusian citizens deserve the right to be represented by those they freely choose through new inclusive, transparent and credible elections." He praised their courage. On Monday, EU foreign ministers failed to impose sanctions on Belarusian officials suspected of election fraud or of playing a part in a brutal security crackdown on the post-election protests, despite appeals from Lukashenko's main opponent to take courageous action against his regime. Cyprus continues to block the sanctions until similar measures are slapped on Turkey for its disputed energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. EU leaders will try to break the deadlock when they meet in Brussels on Oct. 1. In an email to The Associated Press on Thursday, Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said, "Lukashenko does not belong in a presidential palace. He belongs on the EU sanctions list. "The secrecy surrounding his inauguration ceremony just illustrates that he has not been sworn in based on free and fair elections, but on election fraud and violence," Kofod said. Lukashenko defended swearing-in Lukashenko brushed off the condemnation. "We didn't ask anyone to recognize our elections or not recognize them, to recognize the legitimacy of the newly elected president or not," the news site Sputnik Belarus quoted him as saying. The 66-year-old leader defended the manner of his swearing-in. Tut.by/Reuters "You know about 2,000 people were invited to the inauguration, together with the military. And it is almost impossible to keep it secret," he said. Detained opposition politician Maria Kolesnikova urged protesters not to give up and mocked the security forces who arrested her, in a letter to her father that was shared by the Tut.By news portal. "You must tell them not to give up, just keep going! These people who have kidnapped me are all incredibly weak and hysterical. They don't even know how to do their job well," the 38-year-old musician wrote. Kolesnikova burnished her status as a hero to the protesters by ripping up her passport to avoid forced deportation to Ukraine earlier this month. This story is part of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people around the world and details how they earn, spend and save their money. Imani Change had a lifelong goal to live overseas. But she never imagined that within six months of moving to London from Baltimore, Maryland, in September 2019, she would find herself living and working abroad amid a pandemic. For her, one of the hardest things about the coronavirus pandemic is being far away from loved ones, she tells CNBC Make It. It's been even harder with travel restrictions limiting visits. "It definitely has transformed a lot of our connections with Facetime calls, Zoom happy hours just finding remote ways to connect with folks," says Change. Imani Change, 28, moved from Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. to London, England in September 2019. Benjamin Hall | CNBC Make It Nevertheless, she says it was a "dream come true" when a work opportunity along with a promotion and a generous salary gave the 28-year-old the chance to move to London. She's worked for the U.S.-based tech company for more than five years, but for a long time she thought a role like senior operations manager was unattainable as a Black woman. "I didn't really see people who looked like me doing this work," Change says. "And so, it was really just figuring out how do I get there? How do I grow with not only my role but as a leader? And how do I help other people also move into these spaces that maybe they don't see a lot of people who look like them?" Now she's one of the youngest senior operations managers for her company in Europe, earning around $227,000 a year. She is paid both a base salary and restricted stock units, so the payout varies depending on the value of the stock and the amount of stock she is awarded each year. Moving to London This might seem like an unfortunate time to relocate to a bustling city like London. Change had only lived there six months when the city virtually shut down because of the pandemic. Thankfully, her apartment is near Hampstead Heath, the iconic London park that's been featured in films such as "Notting Hill." So when bars and restaurants temporarily closed as the U.K. went into lockdown, Change was still able to enjoy having the Heath just outside her doorstep. "Even when the lockdown eased, it was a great place to catch up with friends and just share a drink with them in a safe place in the outdoors," she says. Imani Change lives near London's Hampstead Heath. Benjamin Hall | CNBC Make It But it wasn't easy to secure her two-floor, one-bedroom apartment: Change offered to pay 16 months' rent ahead of time a full 12 months' rent up front and then after she'd lived there a month, an additional 4 months in order to outbid other prospective tenants. This added up to over 34,000 (almost $44,000). One of the reasons she was able to afford to pay so much is because her employer provided a generous relocation package to help with her move. Change is quick to recommend that anyone moving abroad for a job think about the expenses involved and "keep that a part of your conversation when you're negotiating your salary." "If there's something that you need as a support, whether that be relocation funds, a bonus or something that at least supports that move, make sure you're asking for that and really painting a picture of what you need to move without it being a huge [expense] to yourself," she says. Overall, Change has found living in London more expensive than Baltimore, even with saving on day-to-day expenses during lockdown, mainly since she doesn't have roommates. In Baltimore, Change had a two-bedroom apartment and listed one of the rooms on Airbnb, which helped her offset the cost of the place. Living alone also means paying an entire council tax by herself. This is a U.K. tax for local services based on the area and type of property you live in that many opt to pay monthly. Imani Change was encouraged by her parents to start saving for college at age 5. Imani Change Money lessons Change was raised in Oak Park, Chicago, with two older sisters. Growing up, her dad, who is a banker, taught her about money management from a young age. He encouraged her to start saving half of her allowance for college at age 5. Her mom also made her a time sheet, so she only got allowance for the chores she completed. That helped instill in her the value of money and hard work, she says. These lessons have continued into adulthood: Change says her dad emphasizes the importance of avoiding lifestyle creep and not spending more money as her salary increases. He encouraged her to have at least nine months' worth of living expenses in an emergency fund and to avoid dipping into her investments. Thanks to those early savings, as well as help from her parents and scholarships, she was able to graduate from college debt-free. "I feel so fortunate that's not something that I have to worry about in terms of the debt that I brought into my adult years," Change says. Change has a bachelor's degree from Arizona State University's W.P. Carey School of Business, which she says is one of the top business schools for studying supply chain management. And it was in a business fraternity at the school where she met friends who worked for her current employer, initially piquing her interest in the business. Imani Change works as a senior operations manager for a tech company. Benjamin Hall | CNBC Make It Pandemic spending and splurges Change's spending habits have changed due to the pandemic, as well as a result of relocating. While she's always been careful with her money, Change allows herself to splurge on one designer item a year, usually a handbag her favorite is a classic Louis Vuitton print purse spending around $3,000 to $4,000. During the pandemic, she hasn't added to her designer collection, but has found herself spending more money on games on her phone. She admits it might be a "little dorky," but it's kept her entertained while spending so much downtime in her apartment. She spends about $15-$25 a month on games, confessing that she does get hooked in with in-app purchases, a habit she's trying to curb. At the minute, she's really into home design game 'Redecor' "you basically feel like an interior decorator." Imani Change hopes to become a millionaire by 30 and a homeowner by 33. Benjamin Hall | CNBC Make It The coronavirus pandemic and living abroad has also changed how much she spends on travel. When Change lived in the U.S., she would try to visit new places at least twice a year, including Berlin and Hong Kong. She also aimed to go on trips domestically once a month, to cities like Miami, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. However, much of that travel budget and time is now spent on going back home to see loved ones. Most workers in the U.K. also get more than double the vacation allowance than in the U.S., typically around 25 days. "It sounds like a wonderful thing, but it's actually really hard to find time to use all of it," Changes says. "Right now I'm trying to figure out how to use the time." How she budgets her money Here's a look at how Change spent her money in July 2020. Imani Change's estimated monthly spending as of July 2020. Elham Ataeiazar | CNBC Make It Investments : $10,975 (includes a Roth IRA, IRA and brokerage accounts) : $10,975 (includes a Roth IRA, IRA and brokerage accounts) Taxes : $3,528 (paid both in the U.K. and the U.S. She is able to use a tax credit to avoid being double taxed on income.) : $3,528 (paid both in the U.K. and the U.S. She is able to use a tax credit to avoid being double taxed on income.) Housing : $2,942 (2,268) (rent for a one-bedroom apartment and utilities, including Wi-Fi, heat, hot water, gas and electricity) : $2,942 (2,268) (rent for a one-bedroom apartment and utilities, including Wi-Fi, heat, hot water, gas and electricity) Savings : $1,329 : $1,329 Miscellaneous : $1,283 (for travel, donations, in-app purchases and Spotify) : $1,283 (for travel, donations, in-app purchases and Spotify) Food : $611 (471) (for groceries and dining out) : $611 (471) (for groceries and dining out) Pension : $485 (374) (this is a U.K. pension plan where the employer matches employee contributions) : $485 (374) (this is a U.K. pension plan where the employer matches employee contributions) Transportation : $346 (267) (includes public transportation and Uber) : $346 (267) (includes public transportation and Uber) Council tax: $161 (124) (this is a U.K. tax for local services, tariffed based on the area and type of property you live in) $161 (124) (this is a U.K. tax for local services, tariffed based on the area and type of property you live in) Insurance: $35 (or $424 a year, for life insurance, which Change pays annually) Change donates $583 to charity each month, including to The Aletheia Foundation, which makes films to draw attention to children living with issues such as poverty, AIDS and tuberculosis, with donations directed toward children featured in the documentaries. She also donates to bail funds for "protesters fighting for racial equality, and the YWCA which helps fight violence against women." Change still does a lot of her everyday spending on her U.S. credit card, as it has no foreign transaction fees and offers better rewards than cards she's looked at in the U.K. Future goals BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 By Jeyhun Alakbarov - Trend: During the coronavirus pandemic, 446 people were sent to Kazakhstan from the Baku port, General Director of the port Taleh Ziyadov said, Trend reports. Ziyadov noted that after the entry into force in Kazakhstan of new rules on crossing the border during the quarantine regime, the Kazakh port of Kuryk resumed from May 13 the reception of its citizens and persons entitled to reside in the country. Over the past five months (from April through August 2020), a total of 446 people were sent to Kazakhstan from the Baku port, including 253 citizens of this country and 193 citizens of foreign countries who have the right to reside in Kazakhstan, Ziyadov said. Gurugram, Sep 24 : The Gurugram Police have arrested two men for allegedly supplying illegal weapons in the city. The arrested accused were identified as Kuldeep Singh (32) alias Kullu from Bhiwani district in Haryana and Sachin (22) alias Kalu, a resident of Uttar Pradesh. Kuldeep Singh is stated to be the mastermind. "Based on specific inputs, the two persons were arrested from Sehrawan ki Dhani near Manesar on Wednesday evening after a brief exchange of fire with the police party. The police have recovered 11 automatic pistols, 7 live cartridges and a Toyota Corolla car from the accused," said Preet Pal Sangwan, ACP (Crime), Gurugram Police. The weapons were reportedly brought to Gurugram in order to be supplied to criminals operating in the city. "This is not the first time that the police have nabbed Kuldeep Singh. In 2018, he was arrested in a dacoity and arms act case filed against him at the Rajendra Park police station," Sangwan said. The police suspect that while in jail, he came in contact with illegal arms suppliers and once he was released, he began procuring illegal weapons from them with the intention of supplying them to criminals in Gurugram. The accused used to procure automatic pistols from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh for Rs 22,000 each. The market value of the pistols is Rs 50,000 each, according to the police. "We are trying to find out if Sachin, the co-accused, has any criminal history. Further probe in the matter is underway," Sangwan said. North Korea was born when the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonialism at the end of World War II, only to be forcibly divided into a Soviet-backed north and U.S.-supported south. Three years later, North Korea and South Korea became nations. Two years after that, in 1950, North Korea sneak-attacked the South to start the bloody three-year Korean War. That drew in China on the Norths side and the United States and a host of other nations fighting under the U.N. flag on the Souths. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 Trend: The total cargo turnover of Azerbaijans Baku International Sea Trade Port amounted to more than 3.2 million tons from January through August 2020, which is 18.5 percent more than in the same period of last year, Director General of the port Taleh Ziyadov said. Ziyadov made the remark at the webinar dedicated to the Blue Dot Network initiative and the prospects for cooperation in the Caspian region, Trend reports. In his speech, Ziyadov stressed the importance of the safest and at the same time the shortest corridor between Europe and Asia. During the spread of the pandemic on the logistic map of the world, the importance of this corridor increased, the director-general added. Although various restrictions are applied to many other corridors, the "Middle Corridor" is the most reliable route between Europe and China for the transportation of goods. The growth of statistical indicators over the first eight months of this year can be cited as an example, the director-general said. Thus, the total cargo turnover of the port amounted to more than 3.2 million tons, which is 18.5 percent more than in the same period of last year. After informing the participants of the event in detail about the work conducted in the port as part of the measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Ziyadov stressed that the port continues to fully operate within the strict quarantine regime. Stressing that the health of employees and customers of the port is one of the most important factors, the director-general stressed that TIR drivers arriving at the Baku port undergo coronavirus tests both at the Red Bridge border checkpoint and at the Baku port located in Alat settlement. Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra (60) has expressed regret over his statement made in Indore on Wednesday that he doesnt need to wear a face mask. He also acknowledged that his stance was against the sentiments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sometimes we speak something inadvertently which doesnt go in accordance with our feelings. The words I used yesterday regarding (wearing) the mask were completely wrong. I felt deeply anguished with my own words which were just opposite to the sentiments of the respected Prime Minister. I regret my statement, Mishra said in a video message posted on his Twitter page on Thursday. Mishra, who appeared in the video with a mask around his neck, went on to add, I request all the people to wear face masks and follow all Covid-related safety norms. Also Read: Congress-BJP war on farm loan waivers intensifies ahead of key MP by polls Notably, during his visit to Indore, Mishra, while responding to questions from journalists as to why he didnt wear a mask, said, I dont wear a mask in any programme. How does it matter? Narottam Mishra had held the portfolio of health department for more than 3 months this year from March onwards. He was often seen either not wearing a mask at all or not wearing it properly, leading to attacks from the Opposition Congress which even demanded his sacking from the cabinet. Also Read: BJP, Congress spar over audio clip alleging mining mafia-officials nexus in MP State Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta said, Despite his regret over his statement, the fact remains that the home minister didnt wear a face mask in all these months despite the state witnessing the outbreak of coronavirus. This is despite the fact that more than 12 ministers of Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet and the chief minister himself have tested positive for coronavirus so far. Congress has been saying right from the day one that the BJP didnt take coronavirus seriously and this very attitude of the party and its government is responsible for the spread of the virus in the state. (With input from Neha Jain in Indore) As a political battle rages over the opening up of the farming and agricultural produce procurement sector to big private players, farmers in one of the biggest food grain and vegetable producing states, Uttar Pradesh, are in a fix. Unlike the farmers in Haryana and Punjab, in UP the community, though a bit suspicious of the farm bills cleared by Parliament, is still in a mood to wait and watch. This is because dealing with private players, exploitation by both the government-controlled mandis and middlemen or agents of the open market is an existing bitter reality for them. However, at the moment when the Centre and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have been trying to convince the farmers that government mandis will continue to exist, the procurement system and the minimum support price (MSP) situation in Uttar Pradesh is a big disappointment for many. That is because the government procurement is never more than 15 per cent of the total crop yield and a majority of farmers never get the MSP returns on their crops. The ground situation in UP shows how both the government and the open markets can be exploitative for the farmers, especially where the bulk of the tillers constitute the poor and marginalised. With the average landholding being even less than the national average of 1.15 hectare, more than 80 per cent of farmers in UP fall below the mark. WHY GOVERNMENT MANDIS ARE INEFFICIENT The first obvious question is why unlike Haryana, Punjab and even states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the government mandi and procurement system is so inefficient in Uttar Pradesh. It should not come as a surprise that this year, wheat procurement by the state government was just at 36 lakh metric ton, which was far below the target of 55 lakh metric ton. Such low purchase happened despite the fact that the state has produced a record 385 metric tons of wheat. This is also the reality when it comes to rice purchase, even though the BJP government in the state led by Yogi Adityananth had been making big claims about improved mechanisms for government procurement. Professor Sudhir Panwar of Lucknow University, who works for farmers rights especially in western UP, says, Like all other public sectors, in agriculture too, the government wants to pull back its operations and create a space for private players. Thats the reason why over the years government mandis have slowly been made less attractive, procurement mechanisms and the entire supply chain from fields to mandis and storage centres have been neglected. The new farm bills are going to further reduce the governments role and control in this sector. If the governments intent is clear, it should make a written provision that open-market purchases from the farmers will not be less than the MSP." DEPENDENCE ON OPEN MARKETS AND THE REALITY With government procurement being less than 15 per cent of the total harvest, the open markets in their present structure are the only remaining option for the farmers. But experience shows that this open market has its own share of exploitation. Rarely big firms or companies do direct business with farmers, the bulk of whom have small landholdings. The farmer has no other option but to deal with the middlemen, or Adhatiyas as they are known in local language. The Adhatiyas generally pay less than the MSP. The only solace for the poor farmer is that he gets just enough cash in hand to meet his investment requirements for sowing the next crop. Even the well-to-do farmers are not safe from exploitation and payments less than the MSP in the open market. Amrendra Singh, with around 300 bighas of land in UPs Barabanki district, shares his experience. For any farmer, transportation of his produce and finding the right buyer is a big challenge. Reaching the market through the middleman is a reality and hence farmers like us are also often not in a position to bargain," he says. Amrendra too wants that while opening the market directly for big companies and corporates, the government should ensure no purchases can be made below the MSP. If the government cant act as a guarantor of prices for the farmers, the new bills can increase the exploitation, he adds. Brijesh Shukla, an independent journalist who reports extensively on farmers issues, says, In Punjab and Haryana, farmers have large landholdings, they hold an influence over the government and thats the reason why mandis have worked well for them. The maximum purchase is on the MSP and thats the reason why they are afraid of the new changes. But in UP it has been a largely different story, and thats why farmers here are still unable to take a clear position on the new bills. ROAD AHEAD AND POSSIBLE DANGERS At the moment, as the government and the opposition lock horns over the merits and demerits of the new bills, serious doubts remain over the road ahead. On the oppositions charges of betraying the farmers interests, Prime Minister Narenra Modi has assured the nation that neither will the MSP mechanism be diluted nor will the government procurement and mandis stop doing business. But, on the ground, a veil of suspicion lingers. The farmers are especially unsure about how the large section of poor and small-scale farmers will be able to deal with the new form of contract farming and open market regulations. Manoj Singh, a middle income group farmer from Tandpur village of Barabanki, feels that small farmers will not be in a position to decide terms and conditions of contract farming and rates with big corporates and industries. The poor and marginalised farmers can be further pushed to the wall under the new laws," he says. Professor Prashant Trivedi of Giri Institute of Development study cites his research and says, Past experiences from different parts of the country show that big companies are inclined to deal with big farmers. Working with small landholders escalates their investment and procurement costs. Hence, the question remains how will they approach the poor and marginalised farmers, especially in states like Uttar Pradesh. Another aspect is that of the MSP. At the moment even if a farmer doesnt get paid the MSP in the open market, the fixed price still acts like a certain benchmark. Even if the payment to the farmer is less, the open market is forced to work along the price range of the MSP. Farmers are therefore justified in their demand that the government should give a written assurance that it will continue with the MSP mechanism and that private players will not be able to decide their own rates, Professor Trivedi maintains. As political parties continue to battle over what is being termed as long-awaited structural reforms in the agriculture sector, there is a long road ahead to determine the actual impact of the potential new laws. The impact in turn will redefine the mood and politics on the ground. For the moment it is more of a wait-and-watch scenario for the Annadata". The family of Breonna Taylor have condemned the sham proceedings in which no officers were charged for the black womans death, sparking protests that have seen more than 100 arrests in Louisville overnight Speaking to NBC Today on Thursday, family lawyer Ben Crump said nothing seems to say Breonna mattered, adding that the Kentucky grand jury carried-out a sham proceeding that did nothing to give Breonna Taylor a voice." The verdict, delivered on Wednesday, led to protests in Louisville, Kentucky, overnight, where police arrested 127 people involved in demonstrations. Campaigners had spent months calling for justice for 26-year-old Taylor, who was fatally shot during a drug raid on her home in March that was carried-out at the wrong address. Prosecutors argued that two officers involved in the raid who fired their weapons at Taylor were acting in self-defence, after her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, had fired warning shots as police entered their home. Mr Crump dismissed that finding on Thursday, adding that charges of wanton endangerment did not make sense either. When you think about [it] - they had wanton endangerment for the white neighbours apartment, the bullets going there - not for the bullets going into Breonna Taylors body, he told NBC. Nor did they have wanton endangerment for the bullets that went into the black neighbours apartment above Breonna, continued Mr Crump. It underscores what I've said many times. We seem to have two justice systems in America, one for Black America and one for white America. The jury on Wednesday changed one officer with wanton endangerment, Brett Hankison, who shot into a White neighbor's apartment during the drug raid. It is the lowest of four classes of felonies in Kentucky, carrying a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, leading to calls for more serious charges. As Johnson & Johnson announced the third phase of its Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial, US President Donald Trump said four Covid-19 vaccine candidates are at the final stage. Here are the status of the ongoing trials Pfizer The vaccine candidate being developed by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech SE is considered the frontrunner in the race. US President Donald Trump has indicated that this vaccine may become the first one to get FDA approval. Expected: The company has announced that by the end of October it will come to know whether their vaccine works. Moderna Modernas vaccine candidate - mRNA-1273 - is nearing the finish line in its push to enrol 30,000 individuals in a late-stage trial of a novel coronavirus vaccine. The company plans to seek emergency authorisation for high-risk groups if the vaccine proves effective. Expected: Moderna aims to make 20 million doses of vaccine by the end of 2020. Oxford-Astrazeneca The trial in the US is currently halted as US Food and Drug Administration has not yet given a go-ahead to Astrazeneca to resume its trial. On September 8, the pharma company, which is developing the vaccine along with Oxford University, announced that illness was reported in two participants in the UK. After a brief halt, trials resumed in the UK, Brazil, India. Expected: The company aims to make the vaccine available by early 2021. Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson said on Wednesday it was entering the final Phase 3 stage of its Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial following positive results in earlier stages. Expected: If the vaccine is proven safe and effective, Johnson & Johnson says it expects the first doses to be up for emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration by early 2021. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 18:56:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau has received an application for technology export from ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, and will handle the case in line with relevant laws and regulations. Enditem Dallas-Based Cherry is expanding its Houston-area footprint. The digital platform, which brings nail technicians to your front door, will launch in The Woodlands and Spring in October, according to a representative for the company. The company is from Amber Venz Box and Baxter Box (rewardStyle, LIKEtoKNOW.it) and Whitney Wolfe Herd (Bumble, Bumble BFF, Bumble Bizz), who founded it in 2018. September 24 : After the death of the actor Sushant Singh Rajput, initially, it was perceived as a suicide case. But as the investigation into his death intensifies, several new angles and theories came to the fore, now when his case has curved into a drug angle. After his girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty arrested by NCB and sent to 14-day judicial custody many other big Bollywood celebrity' names have broken the surface. Celebs like Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet, and Vicky Kaushal are in the list of CBI. As per the reports, five more TV actors are to be summoned by the NCB following Abigail Pandey & Sanam's quizzing. Anuj Keswani who has been arrested for alleged drug peddling revealed the names of 5 more TV actors' names to the NCB. About the summons, Sources has said that Rakul Preet has acknowledged the summons and updated her latest address also to NCB. She will join the probe on Friday. Actor Vicky Kaushal, who was questioned by the sources about the last year's party at Karan Johar's residence, remained silent and evaded the questions. Television actor Abigail Pandey has been summoned once again by the NCB and will appear for questioning on Thursday for the second consecutive day. The Narcotics Control Bureau on Wednesday served the summon to Deepika Padukone over a phone call in the ongoing Bollywood-drug probe. Deepika has been called for questioning on September 25. Deepika Padukone is all set to return to Mumbai from Goa on Thursday to face the NCB interrogation. The Bollywood actor will take a charter flight back to Mumbai on Thursday, according to sources. As per the reports, the latest update in the ongoing Bollywood-drug nexus probe is that the Narcotics Control Bureau is examining Bollywood drug parties. A Bollywood actor who runs those drug parties is under the NCB scanner. 50 actors, actresses, producers, and directors are under the radar as the investigation widens. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery Reality check: More than any other school district in the metro, KCPS was never equipped to replace Zoom classes with real life instruction. Ask any local teacher and they'll report that the classes were a low-attendance free-for-all that wasn't worth anyone's time . . . Not that the return to school was much better but at least there are hot food options for students. Read more: Muhammadu Buhari is easily the most selfish President Nigeria has ever known. Everything is about himself and his Fulani ethnic group. Here he goes blasting away $1.96 billion in borrowed money to build a railroad to Maradi in Niger Republic. As I write there is no railroad linking Lagos with Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar all in Southern Nigeria. There is none linking the heavily commercial cities of Aba with Onitsha, through Benin-City unto Lagos. Yet here is your President dear Nigerians building a railroad for Niger Republic. If he was building it up to Nigeria's side of the border while letting Niger Republic take care of their own side of the construction, it may have made a little bit more sense, even while there is no economic urgency informing the action apart from parochial, sentimental reasons. After all that is how Britain and France shared the burden when they built the Channel Tunnel better known as Euro Tunnel. But no. Nigeria the poverty capital of the globe must build Buhari's ego- driven elephant project alone. It is speculated that Buhari's father or grandfather comes from Niger Republic and only migrated fairly recently to Nigeria. If this assertion is true, he is milking Nigerians and saddling them with debt to link Nigeria his newly acquired footstool with his ancestral home in Niger Republic. The money involved is not cheap either. We are talking of about =N=800 billion that Nigerians will have to pay for Buhari's sentimental project. But that is just the start. By the time the project is completed its cost may have increased through variation to at least $2.5 billion or about =N=1 trillion. You dear Nigerians will pay for every kobo of this outlay without any benefits. How many Southerners or Middle-Belters will dare venture up north to work on this project without becoming hostages of Fulani bandit-terrorists? You dear Nigerians will essentially be paying for the employment of thousands of citizens of the Republic of Niger for the work going on their side of the border. At the same time your children and wards will continue to roam about jobless along the streets of Nigeria because they will be unable to participate in the project for fear of Fulani bandit-terrorists. This is the true meaning of the pauperization of a people. Meanwhile Buhari's expansionist brigade has the temerity to tell Nigerians to their face that there is no going back on his plan to nationalize your waterways and adjoining. So while he is seizing your lands to resettle his Fulani kin, you Nigerians will also pay for the building of the railroad that will transport your enslavers from the Sahara desert to your homestead. It is a win-win for expansionists and a monument to the stupidity of Nigerians if you sit by idly and let this happen. Woe be unto any indigenous Nigerian Senator or Representative who votes either in the open or in camera for the enslavement of Nigerians. Whether they are bribed, misled by political ambition, induced by promises of appointments or stampeded by threats and fear of EFCC arrest for past corrupt actions, I say woe be unto any indigenous Nigerian Senator or Representative who votes for Buhari's Water Bill. The pauperization of Nigeria through frivolous projects such as the one under discussion is what you get when people elect nincompoops as political leaders. May Nigerians never again witness or experience a President like this one. Anthony Chuka Konwea, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, MNSE, FNIStructE, MNICE. A teller at Vietcombank's head office in Hanoi.- VNA/VNS Photo Tran Viet Recently, some commercial banks have curbed foreign ownership limits in their capital to below the bar of 30 per cent set by the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV). HCM City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDBank) on September 7 locked the limit of foreign capital at 21.5 per cent. The Viet Nam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank) locked the rate at 15 per cent, while the Viet Nam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) limited the rate at 22.5 per cent. Under existing regulations, foreign ownership in the banking sector is limited at 30 per cent because the industry is highly sensitive and has great influence on Viet Nams economy. HDBank said in a statement the foreign ownership cap would allow the bank to have more space in its capital to sell to strategic foreign investors. Economist Nguyen Tri Hieu told local media that such moves by banks may be temporary because they have not found any foreign investors suitable to becoming strategic investors. Banks should be careful with selecting foreign strategic investors. Temporary foreign ownership cap may be a good move for them, he said. According to business insiders, banks are looking for investors to fill available foreign capital space. Some foreign institutional investors have made offers but the key factors to select a potential investor include financial status and good business strategy while banks also want to ensure their shares are not undervalued. So far, the Joint Stock Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank), the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BIDV) and Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB) have successfully sold shares to strategic foreign investors. BIDV in late 2019 sold 603.3 million shares to the South Korean lender KEB Hana Bank for nearly VND34,000 (US$1.46) per share, valuing the deal at nearly VND20.3 trillion ($872.5 million). OCB on June 29 transferred its shares to the Japanese bank Aozora and the value of the deal remains unknown. But starting 2021, banks may not have the authority to decide the rate of foreign ownership in their capital. Under a draft decree the State Securities Commission (SSC) is developing to instruct companies and investors to implement the amended Law on Securities, public companies may not be empowered to determine the ratio of foreign ownership in their capital. Under Decree 60/2015/ND-CP dated June 26, 2015, public companies not operating in national security-related sectors such as banking, real estate and transportation or not subject to international treaties can raise foreign ownership limits to 100 per cent. Business insiders said if banks are not allowed to make their own decisions on foreign ownership limits, they may struggle in negotiations with foreign investors. Foreign investors will look to buy bank shares on the stock market instead of making deals privately and making long-term commitments to the development of the bank, they said. Responding to the draft decree, the Viet Nam Banks Association (VNBA) said there are many individual investors on the stock market and revoking banks power in such an issue may allow those investors to have a negative influence on banks' operation and governance. The SBV said that banks should be authorised to make decisions on foreign ownership issue as long as the decisions are in line with existing regulations and the company charter. The central bank said banks can decide to cap foreign ownership at a specific rate as long as the rate is below the bar of 30 per cent. In addition, giving banks this power may help make their shares more attractive to foreign investors. Facing the new policy, banks have expressed worries that they may lose the opportunities to make deals with foreign investors capable of lifting the banks performance. Lawyer Tran Huu Huynh, chairman of the Viet Nam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), said companies should be able to decide the foreign ownership limits on their own, except those subject to international agreements. In addition, company shareholders, especially major shareholders, should make decisions on such matters, Huynh said. Nguyen Duc Kien, head of the Prime Ministers economic advisory team, said banks are the force that helps the central bank run its monetary policies and stabilise macroeconomic conditions, so any changes with this sector should be reviewed carefully. 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. New Delhi, Sep 24 : Home-grown mobile handset brand Lava is planning to launch four to five devices in the beginning of November, boosting its portfolio with fresh products in the festive season. The new portfolio of products could include one device above Rs 10,000, marking the entry of the brand in a new price segment as it looks to give Chinese brands dominating the India smartphone market some competition, industry sources told IANS. Currently, the brand offers smartphones only in the lower range segment, under Rs 8,000. To cater to different customer groups, Lava is likely to launch the phones in a variety of price segments - under Rs 6,000, Rs 6,000-Rs 8,000, Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000 and the Rs 10,000+ segment. Significantly, the fresh portfolio could have a "designed in India" smartphone as the brand is focusing on designing smartphones for the past one year. Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Local ke liye Vocal" call, Lava announced in May that it plans to shift its entire mobile R&D, design and manufacturing for the export market from China to India. Lava exports over 33 per cent of its phones to markets such as Mexico, Africa, Southeast Asia and West Asia. As part of the transition, Lava will invest around Rs 80 crore this year and subsequently around Rs 800 crore over the next five years. The move came after the Indian mobile phone manufacturers gained a significant cost advantage over China from the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) scheme announced by the government last month. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) shed light on the relationship between the magnetic properties of topological insulators and their electronic band structure. Their experimental results shed new insights into recent debates regarding the evolution of the band structure with temperature in these materials, which exhibit unusual quantum phenomena and are envisioned to be crucial in next-generation electronics, spintronics, and quantum computers. Topological insulators have the peculiar property of being electrically conductive on the surface but insulating on their interior. This seemingly simple, unique characteristic allows these materials to host of a plethora of exotic quantum phenomena that would be useful for quantum computers, spintronics, and advanced optoelectronic systems. To unlock some of the unusual quantum properties, however, it is necessary to induce magnetism in topological insulators. In other words, some sort of 'order' in how electrons in the material align with respect to each other needs to be achieved. In 2017, a novel method to achieve this feat was proposed. Termed "magnetic extension," the technique involves inserting a monolayer of a magnetic material into the topmost layer of the topological insulator, which circumvents the problems caused by other available methods like doping with magnetic impurities. Unfortunately, the use of magnetic extension led to complex questions and conflicting answers regarding the electronic band structure of the resulting materials, which dictates the possible energy levels of electrons and ultimately determines the material's conducting properties. Topological insulators are known to exhibit what is known as a "Dirac cone (DC)" in their electronic band structure that resembles two cones facing each other. In theory, the DC is ungapped for ordinary topological insulators, but becomes gapped by inducing magnetism. However, the scientific community has not agreed on the correlation between the gap between the two cone tips and the magnetic characteristics of the material experimentally. In a recent effort to settle this matter, scientists from multiple universities and research institutes carried out a collaborative study led by Assoc Prof Toru Hirahara from Tokyo Tech, Japan. They fabricated magnetic topological structures by depositing Mn and Te on Bi2Te3, a well-studied topological insulator. The scientists theorized that extra Mn layers would interact more strongly with Bi2Te3 and that emerging magnetic properties could be ascribed to changes in the DC gap, as Hirahara explains: "We hoped that strong interlayer magnetic interactions would lead to a situation where the correspondence between the magnetic properties and the DC gap were clear-cut compared with previous studies." By examining the electronic band structures and photoemission characteristics of the samples (see Figure 1), they demonstrated how the DC gap progressively closes as temperature increases. Additionally, they analyzed the atomic structure of their samples and found two possible configurations, MnBi2Te4/Bi2Te3 and Mn4Bi2Te7/Bi2Te3 (see Figure 2), the latter of which is responsible for the DC gap. However, a peculiarly puzzling finding was that the temperature at which the DC gap closes is well over the critical temperature (TC), above which materials lose their permanent magnetic ordering. This is in stark contrast with previous studies that indicated that the DC gap can still be open at a temperature higher than the TC of the material without closing. On this note, Hirahara remarks: "Our results show, for the first time, that the loss of long-range magnetic order above the TC and the DC gap closing are not correlated." Though further efforts will be needed to clarify the relationship between the nature of the DC gap and magnetic properties, this study is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, a deeper understanding of these quantum phenomena will help us reap the power of topological insulators for next-generation electronics and quantum computing. ### 'Ironing' out the differences: Understanding superconductivity in ultrathin FeSe https://www.titech.ac.jp/english/news/2020/047293.html Six Tokyo Tech faculty members receive FY2019 MEXT Commendation https://www.titech.ac.jp/english/news/2019/044258.html Hirahara Group http://www.surfnano.phys.titech.ac.jp/indexeng.html About Tokyo Institute of Technology Tokyo Tech stands at the forefront of research and higher education as the leading university for science and technology in Japan. Tokyo Tech researchers excel in fields ranging from materials science to biology, computer science, and physics. Founded in 1881, Tokyo Tech hosts over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students per year, who develop into scientific leaders and some of the most sought-after engineers in industry. Embodying the Japanese philosophy of "monotsukuri," meaning "technical ingenuity and innovation," the Tokyo Tech community strives to contribute to society through high-impact research. https://www.titech.ac.jp/english/ SALT LAKE CITY Last week I got the Houston Independent School District phone call asking me to choose by Friday whether our kids will return to in-class instruction for a six-week period beginning Oct. 19, or whether theyd continue with digital learning. Its a gut-wrenching test for any parent, and at this point, the study guide is still missing half its pages. Who doesnt want their kids back in school? Maybe the home-schoolers who were never there, but everybody else I know sorely misses what in-person school delivers: the relationships with intelligent and caring teachers and administrators, and the other kids who buffer the world of adults with the imaginative realms they build with each other. Katy and Humble schools opened weeks ago, and while some students and staff have tested positive, no major outbreaks have been reported. Across Texas and the nation, rates of infection in schools are low, surprising experts and teachers unions. Thats good news for parents desperate to send their kids somewhere safe so they can work. A reasonable person, based on the limited evidence, could conclude it is safe to send their child into a school building. And yet, I see a different story down the road. My wife and I had to bring our family to Utah for a few weeks to help care for my father-in-law. In the mornings, children walk by, lugging backpacks to school, which started mid-August. Over the summer, when Texas turned bright red on COVID-19 maps, Utah remained light pink. In the past weeks the situation flipped. Utah has seen a steady and rapid rise of COVID-19 infections among teenagers and young adults. Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson attributes the spike in cases to the reopening of schools and after-school activities. Utah has broken the state record of reported COVID-19 infections one day after the other, though hospitalizations remain low. In Corner Canyon High School, just a few miles away from my father-in-laws house, more than 70 students have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks. About 500 students had to quarantine. Then, one of their most beloved teachers got sick. Charri Jensen, whose students call her Mama J, is fighting for her life on a ventilator. Finally, the school moved from in-person to online instruction. HISD did the right thing opening online. We skipped the step where kids go to school and are sent home after the virus has already spread among the students, their teachers and the community surrounding them. By Friday, though, my wife and I have to decide. Virtual or face-to-face. Families selecting online-only classes will not be allowed to switch until Dec. 7. Heather Golden, a public education advocate and HISD parent, attended information sessions at her kids school to make sense of the plans. Are students required to wear masks? Will students temperatures be taken each morning? We were told yes, she said. But there were others the principal could not answer: What if more children elect to come back to school than the classroom can safely hold with social distancing? Which teachers will my child lose if we decide to keep him at home learning virtually? As the decision deadline looms, parent Facebook groups are ablaze in debate. Upset Moms and Dads are demanding answers from principals and getting different responses. HISD needs to hit the pause button until they can let families know what to expect from both in-person and virtual instruction, Golden says. The Chronicle reports that HISD officials have warned some students could have different teachers next month and some campuses could start in-person classes with different schedules. Which students? Which campuses? HISD provided this written response, The districts goal is for students to remain with their current teachers. However, this will be determined by the results of the parent option survey. My daughters high school principal sent a fairly detailed plan that indicates she can attend all her classes virtually with the caveat that all plans hinge on the number of students choosing face-to-face instruction and HISDs guidance. What about my son in elementary school? Will he keep his teacher? Without more information, Im left to assume that if he continues with virtual learning, he will be torn from the teachers he began the year with when face-to-face learning starts. Teachers, who devoted themselves to crafting strong, inspiring online curricula and taught the kids how to follow it will lose momentum. Although I believe HISD leaders are doing their best within state requirements tied to funding, it feels like those who decide virtual learning is the safest option for their families and community are being punished. Parents simply dont know enough to make an informed choice. HISD needs to know our choice to provide the information we need. Yes, the choice is just for one six-week period but it still may mess up our kids entire year. Our family has made a decision. We have to. In our case, we have vulnerable elders to consider and, fortunately, jobs we can do from home. Our kids wont be going to school in person this Oct. 19. Every parent has to decide whats right for his or her child; I just wish every parent had the information needed to make that decision. Mankad is the Chronicles op-ed editor. NAIROBI, Kenya - Officials in Kenya say three non-Muslim bus passengers were abducted by suspected Islamic extremists in Kenyas northern Mandera county that borders Somalia. Armed gunmen, believed to be Somalias al-Shabab rebels, stopped a bus about 30 kilometres (18 miles) from Lafey town and ordered everyone out. The attackers picked three passengers from 54 on the bus and ordered the rest to leave, regional police chief Rono Bunei told The Associated Press Thursday. We are still pursuing them in an effort to rescue them alive. We are wondering how they (the attackers) knew the three were on board the bus, he said. He said its not clear why the bus did not have a police escort, a requirement for commercial transport travelling in Mandera county which has been hard hit by violence from Somalias extremists. Al-Shabab has vowed retribution on Kenya for sending troops to Somalia to fight the rebels. Since 2011 Somalias rebels, who are linked to al-Qaida, have launched scores of deadly attacks in Kenya. The government repeatedly said since 2014 that it is mandatory for public buses travelling through Mandera county to have armed police escorts. Al-Shabab rebels have often attacked buses and have singled out and killed non-Muslim passengers. In November 2014, 28 non-Muslims were killed in an attack after they were pulled off a Nairobi-bound bus near Mandera. In December last year al-Shabab killed 11 police officers who were pulled from a bus that was taking them back to duty in Mandera county. Since December, al-Shabab has increased the frequency of its attacks in five Kenyan counties along the Somali border that have been named as hotspots for extremist violence. They are Lamu, Garissa, Wajir, Tana River and Mandera counties. In January the extremists overran Manda Bay Airfield in Lamu county, a key military base used by U.S. counterterror forces in Kenya, killing three American Department of Defence personnel and destroying several U.S. aircraft and vehicles. The frequency of attacks slowed in the months of April, May and June as the coronavirus started spreading in many African towns, including al-Shababs base in Somalia. Since July Kenyas security forces have experienced an increase in their vehicles being hit by roadside bombs. Halton police have arrested a third suspect in the homicide of 16-year-old over the summer. Ezekiel Agyemang was found by a passerby June 30 near Guelph Line and No. 10 Side Road, police said. On Sept. 17, police arrested Tawane Mohamed, 22, and Abdikadir Jumale, 29 in relation to the death. Stanley Frempong, 20, of Toronto, was arrested on Sept. 23. Frempong is charged with kidnapping with a firearm and will be held in custody pending a bail hearing. A fourth suspect, Ahmed Ismail, 24, is still at large and is wanted for first degree murder and kidnapping. It is possible Ismail is in the Calgary area. He is believed to be armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about the homicide or the whereabouts of the outstanding suspect is asked to contact the Halton Regional Police Service at 905-825-4776. BM Bryan Myers is a general assignment reporter for InsideHalton.com and its sister papers. Reach him via email: bmyers@metroland.com Read more about: BETHLEHEM A pedestrian was struck by a pickup truck in Delmar early Wednesday evening, according to town police. Bethlehem police said they responded to a call about a personal injury crash around 5:53 PM at the intersection of Delaware and Elsmere avenues. Police said a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was traveling eastbound on Delaware Avenue at the intersection of Elsmere Avenue when a pedestrian crossed Delaware Avenue in between vehicles and was struck by the truck. The vehicle was operated by Rocco Venduro, 37, of West Sand Lake. The pedestrian involved was Mary Cohen, 27, of Albany who was treated at the scene and transported to Albany Medical Center with unknown injuries. The crash is still under investigation. Bethlehem police were assisted by members of the Elsmere Fire Department, the Albany County Paramedics, and Delmar-Bethlehem EMS. Sir Patrick Vallance has a 600,000 shareholding in a pharmaceuticals giant which is racing to develop a Covid vaccine for the Government, a report has revealed. The Chief Scientific Adviser holds the deferred bonus of 43,111 shares in GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) from his time as president of the multinational company. Sir Patrick has already sold more than 5 million in shares he received during his tenure from 2012 to 2018, when he was appointed by the Government. Accounts seen by the Telegraph show that Sir Patrick held 404,201 GSK shares when he resigned, worth 6.1 million at today's price. Sir Patrick Vallance speaking to the nation on Monday night. He and Chris Whitty outlined why the Government was announcing a raft of new lockdown measures Sir Patrick, who also chairs the Government's expert panel on vaccines, predicted at a news conference this week that the first effective doses of a jab might become available on a limited basis by the end of this year. GSK is one of more than 20 drugs companies around the world in the race to provide the cure for coronavirus an achievement which would be colossally lucrative. Sir Patrick's former employer has deals with the British and US governments to supply them with Covid-19 vaccines, subject to terms in a final contract. A senior Conservative MP and ex-Cabinet minister told The Telegraph that Sir Patrick should have declared his stake in GSK. 'The policy of this Government is to try to suppress Covid at every opportunity until we get a vaccine,' the MP said. 'That makes it more likely that a vaccine will be prioritised by the Government and he happens to be holding shares in one of the leading companies that are developing it. It is a potential conflict of interest. 'If he is making decisions on vaccines and advising the Government on them, then he either needs to divest himself of the shares or make a declaration every time he touches on the subject. In the Commons, every time MPs raise an issue in which there is a registered interest, they have to declare it. Every time he is talking about vaccines or on TV, he should put it on the table.' It was unclear if Sir Patrick did in fact declare his interest at any stage. MailOnline has contacted him seeking clarification. The GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceuticals headquarters in Brentford, west London The Government said that Sir Patrick holds a deferred share bonus which will mature in April 2021 but declined to comment on the size of the holding or its value. A spokesman told MailOnline: 'Upon his appointment, appropriate steps were taken to manage the Government Chief Scientific Adviser's interests in line with advice provided at the time. 'The GCSA has no input into contractual and commercial decisions on vaccine procurement which are taken by Ministers following a robust cross-Government approvals regime.' Sources said Mr Vallance sold his shares in GSK, either before starting his role or after a legal mandatory holding period - and he now only holds a deferred bonus which is a matter of public record and matures in April 2021. Sources added that appropriate controls are in place to manage any conflicts of interest. Teenagers as young as 13 are starting to talk about committing terror attacks, the UK's head of counter-terrorism policing has warned. Met Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu was telling MPs about the terror threat the country faces describing a 'dramatic' rise in the number of right-wing cases. He told the Commons Home Affairs Committee: 'What I am seeing, particularly in the right-wing terrorism space and this is anecdotal so it is not academic but is an increase in lots of young people being attracted to this. 'We are seeing people as young as 13 starting to talk about committing terrorist attacks.' It comes despite revelations this year that 90 per cent' of the 43,000 extremists on MI5's watchlist are Islamist terror suspects. And experts have previously warned an obsession with catching far-right extremists is diverting police and security services away from stopping more dangerous jihadis. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu was telling MPs about the terror threat the country faces particularly describing a 'dramatic' rise in the number of right-wing cases Mr Basu said the youngsters have a mixed ideology and for 38 per cent of referrals to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme an ideology cannot be determined, adding: 'They are just interested in violence.' He said social media has been a strong influence, particularly during lockdown when there was 'no other form of distraction or protective factor', such as school. He added: 'That's definitely an effect of Covid-19 we are worried about.' Most terrorists are 30 or younger and male, he said, but added: 'What has been disturbing is the number that are becoming much younger. 'It's still small, if I showed you the figures you would go 'well that's not much'. But the worrying thing is the trajectory is downwards in age terms.' Mr Basu described the rise in right-wing terrorism and extremism as 'pretty dramatic', telling the committee the casework for this had risen from 6 per cent in 2016 to 10 per cent, while the majority continues to be Islamist. Last year he characterised it as the fastest growing terror threat. Police and security services have started to look more at the right-wing threat, he said, adding: 'A near doubling of that threat since 2016 does worry me.' In June, 19 per cent of the 243 terrorist prisoners in Britain were categorised as far right, a rise of four percentage points in a year, the latest Home Office figures say. The proportion of prisoners holding right-wing ideologies has risen 'steadily' over the last three years, up from 33 to a record of 45 in the latest year, after just six in 2013. Some 76 per cent - 184 - held Islamist extremist views. Mr Basu said counter-terror police and MI5 had more than 800 terror investigations under way. He predicted a 30 per cent rise in the threat since 2017 is 'still there' and 'sustained at that very high level'. Police and security services have started to look more at the right-wing threat, he said, adding: 'A near doubling of that threat since 2016 does worry me' Describing the threat as 'diverse, complex and unpredictable', he said encryption on messaging services had made it 'very difficult to see terrorists communicating'. There have also been changes in the types of terrorists police are dealing with, their 'methodology and vector of attack', he added. He said 16 attacks have been carried out since 2010, with 15 by 'lone actors', but he added this was a 'poor definition' as they rarely operate completely alone. While the ability of terrorist groups to 'direct and inspire overseas' has been limited, he warned the power of media and propaganda has not diminished. He also wants more work to be done to address security measures at the 600,000 publicly accessible spaces around the country, amid fears they could be a target as 'terrorists will go for the crowd'. Training and low-cost security measures should be considered as 'there is no way that we are going to be able to police that', he said. He added: 'We only get up every day to stop terrorist attacks. We want to stop these attacks. 'I'm very aware that since March 2017 there have been 12 attacks 'It's very difficult to accept that fact when those attacks always feel to me like a personal failure. I still think about those attacks every single day.' He expressed his concerns about the rise in extremism generally, telling the committee: 'My biggest concern at the moment is where extremism affects malleable, vulnerable people, of all kinds, age groups and societal backgrounds. 'The amplification of extremism and its ability to incite a vulnerable section of the population towards terrorism is probably my greatest single fear.' He said Covid-19 had 'amplified the problem'. But his comments fly in the face of data released earlier this year which showed 90 per cent' of the 43,000 extremists on MI5's watchlist were Islamist terror suspects. Separate statistics from the Home Office on terrorists in custody, show of 238 people held for terrorism in Britain, 183 were Islamist extremists. Meanwhile just 44 were far-right. It is an increase of just 11 people from the same period last year. Both sets of figures emerged in the aftermath of the Reading terror attack, which killed three people and saw another trio seriously hurt. Home Office figures show as of March 31, there were 238 persons in custody for terrorism-related offences in Britain, an increase of 14 compared with last year. A further 18 per cent - 44 people - were categorised as holding far right-wing ideologies with the remaining prisoners (5 per cent) holding beliefs related to other ideologies. The government's watchlist document from March this year titled Transparency Report: Disruptive Powers 2018/2019, said MI5 was investigating approximately 3,000 subjects of interest (SOIs) across 600 priority investigations. The document said as soon as MI5 judged an SOI no longer posed a threat, it was downgraded and placed in a 'closed' category called Closed Subject of Interest. It went on to say the public figure for the number of CSOIs in 2017 was 20,000, and that there are now currently more than 40,000 CSOIs. But it admitted although the cases were closed it was possible the subject of them could become dangerous again. It added: 'This does not mean these SOIs will never pose a threat again, but merely that their current level of threat is not judged to be sufficient to prioritise allocating investigative resource against them.' It continued to say the public figure for the number of CSOIs in 2017 was 20,000, and that there are now currently more than 40,000 CSOIs. The report said: 'A substantial element of the increase to over 40,000 is the inclusion of individuals who have never travelled to the UK but whose details have been passed to MI5 by foreign intelligence services, in order that MI5 be alerted should they enter t he UK. 'This new figure is not, therefore, directly comparable to the previous 20,000 figure and it does not mean there are now over twice as many CSOIs at risk of re-engagement.' Colonel Richard Kemp told MailOnline he thought the counter-terror focus has lurched too far towards the far-right 'Nevertheless, by its very nature, the CSOI figure will always increase year on year. MI5 is constantly opening new investigations into individuals who come to its attention.' Meanwhile Colonel Richard Kemp told MailOnline he thought the counter-terror focus has lurched too far towards the far-right. He said it is a 'pretence' to 'appease the sort of people that do want to damage the UK such as Islamic terrorists and the hard-left'. Colonel Kemp said this focus on the far-right is a 'false emphasis' by police and the security services. He said: 'The authorities know full well that the far-right extremism is not a major threat in the UK. 'The reason that it is often spoken about and discussed is that is because it's a way of appeasing the sort of people that do want to damage the UK, like Islamic terrorists and to a lesser extent the hard left. 'Obviously we have seen far-right people doing some terrible things, but it's not any way comparable to Islamic jihad or similar to that. 'There is a pretence put up that it is. The authorities know it isn't and I am concerned that because they have this narrative in Government far-right extremism is a danger resources are diverted to it when they shouldn't be. 'It obviously does need to be monitored but it shouldn't cause resources to be diverted from more important priorities. 'Resources are going to be very, very stretched and that is then compounded by this false concentration on far-right. 'I am not saying far-right isn't a threat and of course resources have to be given to dealing with it, but it should not be done at the expense of other extremism'. Our success is directly attributable to our passion and commitment to deliver profound value in the services we provide to both our customers and partners. Our continued focus to deepen our expertise within the Human Capital Management space provides us the platform for future growth. Seequelle, a premium HR technology consulting provider, announced this month that it has been recognized within Inc. magazines annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. We are very proud and humbled to be included within the Inc. 5000 alongside so many other innovative businesses this year., said Wilfred Gomez, President and Co-Founder of Seequelle. Being recognized with this years group of fastest-growing private companies in America reaffirms our belief that our service delivery approach resonates greatly with the customers we have had the privilege of working with. 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 Seequelle At Seequelle, we aim to maximize employee experience based on the premise that people drive the success for all organizations. As a technology consulting company, we partner with industry leading solution providers to enable their customers on how to best utilize, expand and optimize these platforms for the unique needs of their organizations. Our turnkey offering includes system implementation, solution maintenance, and 3rd party integration services. For more information, visit us at https://seequelle.com. More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Methodology The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. About Inc. Media The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com. He says the Belarusian authorities should find an opportunity for dialogue with their own people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine is in solidarity with the position of the European Union on the events taking place after the presidential elections in Belarus. "We can talk for a very long time about the fraternal and friendly people Belarusians, we really have a historical friendship between our countries, between our families," he said at a joint press conference with President of Slovakia Zuzana Caputova in Bratislava on September 24, as reported by the Office of the President of Ukraine on Facebook. "What we see today if the authorities do not stop such actions, especially those of law enforcement officers directed against their people, they will get a very powerful result and response from the people. If the authorities do not find an opportunity for dialogue with their people, this government will not exist. And here Ukraine will always support our partners, here we are like-minded people with all the EU countries," Zelensky said. Over the years, Rolls-Royce has been synonymous with opulence and luxury in the automotive world. It defines pure luxury, unique design, loaded with tech and uber-luxe features which makes everyone stop and admire when a Rolls-Royce drives past, making it a first choice to be driven in, rather than driving it. Electric cars are being touted as the future and each year, carmakers are adding new electric and hybrid vehicles to their line-up. The automotive industry plans to roll out bigger plans over the coming years since the Electric car market made big gains the previous year. Rolls-Royce with its long-lasting romance and history with the auto industry is, however, a tad bit late to join the Electric Vehicle (EV) party. It could take a decade before a Rolls-Royce EV is mass-produced. Rolls-Royce had earlier mentioned it will launch their EV model when the time is right, that times seem now! With no plans to build a hybrid vehicle either, if Rolls-Royce will be all-electric or stick all for the traditional internal combustion engine is unknown. Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-tvs, told the Financial Times, Electrification actually fits extremely well with Rolls-Royce because its silent, its powerful, its torquey, so in that sense, its a very good fit. According to industry sources, the luxury plans to drop gasoline-powered engines in favour of electric by the year 2040. The luxury car manufacturer believes in the foreseeable future, it is keen to bank on it and offer something worthwhile to its customers. Also Watch: Rolls-Royce is reluctantly making the shift to EV technology, given the lukewarm customer response it received for the Experimental Electric Phantom, the 102EX. But cities worldwide placing restrictive emissions and fuel efficiency norms are compelling automakers to make the switch. The luxury car makers first electric vehicle should debut within the next decade, phasing out their existing internal combustion engine over decades. Holding a newborn baby close to your skin while they have an injection does help to reduce their experience of pain, according to a new study. Researchers from UCL and York University, Canada measured the response to pain in the brains of 27 infants from newborn to 96 days old using electrodes on their head. Infants were given a medically necessary heel lance blood test while parents held them close to their chest with and without clothing. There was more activity in the brains of newborn babies in reaction to the pain when a parent was holding them through clothing, than without clothing, the team found. Co-author Dr Judith Meek from University College London Hospitals where the tests were carried out said the findings prove something parents have known for years. There was more activity in the brains of newborn babies in reaction to the pain when a parent was holding them through clothing, than without clothing, the team found. Stock image For the study babies were either held by their mother skin-to-skin, held by their mother with clothing, or lying in a cot or incubator while swaddled. Joint senior author, Dr Lorenzo Fabrizi from UCL said the higher-level brain processing in response to pain was dampened when held skin-to-skin. 'The baby's brain is also using a different pathway to process its response to pain,' Fabrizi said, adding they can't confirm if the baby actually feels less pain, but the study does reinforce the importance of touch between parents and infants. The initial brain response to the pain was the same regardless of how the baby was being held, but over time this was dampened with skin-to-skin contact. Joint senior author, Professor Rebecca Pillai Riddell from York University, Canada, said this delayed response suggests parental touch impacts higher level processing. 'The pain might be the same, but how the baby's brain processes and reacts to that pain depends on their contact with a parent,' Pillai explained. 'Our findings support the notion that holding a newborn baby against your skin is important to their development.' The brains of the babies that remained in the cot or incubator also reacted less strongly to the pain than those held in clothing, but the researchers say that may be because the babies were not disrupted by being picked up before the procedure. It could also be due to the success of the sensitive, individualised care they were provided as a result of requiring incubation. The babies' behaviour was not significantly different between the groups, although the skin-to-skin group did exhibit slightly reduced responses in terms of facial expression and heart rate. Other studies have found that skin-to-skin contact with a parent does affect baby behaviour, and may reduce how strongly they react to pain. However, this is the first study to investigate the actual brain response to pain. Infants were given a medically necessary heel lance blood test while parents held them close to their chest with and without clothing. Stock image In the current study, the babies' brain responses were not only dampened in the skin-to-skin group, but also followed a different neural pathway. First author, Dr Laura Jones from UCL said newborn babies' brains have a high degree of plasticity - particularly when they are born before term. Jones said their development is highly dependent on interactions with their parents. 'Our findings may lend new insights into how babies learn to process threats, as they are particularly sensitive to maternal cues.' Co-author Dr Judith Meek from University College London Hospitals where the tests were carried out said the findings reflect something parents have known for years. 'Now we have been able to demonstrate that this has a solid neurophysiological basis, which is an exciting discovery.' The findings have been published in the European Journal of Pain. Tucked away among the thousands of artifacts in the collections of two San Antonio museums are a handful of items from the 1918 flu pandemic that illustrate how living through a pandemic is much the same 102 years later, with face mask debates, stay-at-home orders, school and business closures and the wait for a vaccine. Curators and collection managers at the Witte Museum and the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston have preserved nurses uniforms, liberty bonds and military orders, among other things. Unfortunately, the Witte items are not on the display and the Army medical museum is currently closed to the public, but curators shared information about the treasures. Jerry Lara /Staff photographer The most distinctive and informative artifact of the bunch may be a late World War I-era scrapbook of carefully clipped newspaper articles kept by young San Antonio stenographer Angie Senette in a repurposed ledger. It was donated to the Witte by her family after her death. Little is know about Senette, who later took her husbands last name of Gillette. In 1918, she was single and living with her sister on the near West Side. In the beginning of the scrapbook, much of the focus is on World War I, but gradually, more and more articles pop up dealing with a lethal flu and its impact on the city. Some sound familiar. There are headlines about churches and places of worship. Should they close or not? What about schools? They were debating the same things that we have been talking about more than 100 years later, said Amy Fulkerson, chief curator at the Witte. Jerry Lara /Staff photographer Marise McDermott, president and CEO of the museum, takes a message of hope from the scrapbook. It puts the world into perspective. For me, I thought, people can survive. We can get through this. Its going to be OK, she said. The first reference to the illness arrival in Texas is Sept. 25 in a story about patients in Williamson, Kaufman and Bosque counties. You have this young woman who is now interspersing these really heavy sort of articles about whats going on in the war, because this is really the beginning of the end these are the big battles of World War I and all of the sudden, you start to see articles: Serum to combat pneumonia is to be used by the Army. The Mayo Clinic has developed the first pneumonia vaccine, Fulkerson said. Jerry Lara /Staff photographer In a published poem clipped for the scrapbook, The Quarantine Blues, a soldier laments the curtailment of his romantic pursuits: They wont let us off to go down to the city / To flirt with the maidens so charming and pretty / No more can we wander down Alamo Plaza / Or kiss our fair ladies upon the piazza. Senette also saved a lot of stories calling on women to step forward to help care for the sick, as well as one about a military funeral held for a war widow who had answered that call and paid with her life after contracting the illness. There are requests for fresh eggs to feed sick soldiers, as well as for prayers. And there are stories about potential cures, too. U.S. Army Medical Department Museum Theres this feeling that everybody needs to do at least something and not feel hopeless in the face of an epidemic, said Fulkerson. And I think a lot of people felt like that at the beginning of COVID. We were in that learning curve just like they were. And I think this is one of those parallels. Its not that the viruses themselves are parallels. Its how we respond to this. According to the scrapbook, business and school shutdowns in 1918 didnt last long. An Oct. 16 story notes the closure of public places; by Nov. 10, the curfew had been lifted and schools and theaters were set to reopen. Then there was a burst of tremendously good news the surrender of Germany. Celebrations followed, and them came a surge in cases not unlike those that have followed holiday weekends in 2020. The last few stories the young woman kept include one noting Opinions differ on advisability of use of masks and, finally, a story dated Dec. 21, 1918, suggesting that bans put in place to protect people from the flu might soon be lifted. On ExpressNews.com: Part of epic Pearl Brewery mural lost for decades now at Texas State The first official cases in San Antonio were diagnosed Sept. 30, 1918 at Camp Travis, an Army training facility adjacent to Fort Sam Houston, said George Wunderlich, director of the medical museum there. Among the artifacts that the museum has is a hospital gown from that time a rarity, Wunderlich noted, given that gowns were typically used over and over until they fell apart and were thrown away. The museum also has a report from a medical study conducted at Fort Sam Houston by Dr. Rufus Cole, looking into what was behind serious spikes in pneumonia cases months before it was clear that a pandemic had taken hold. Cole tied the pneumonia cases to influenza. The museum also has the custom-tailored uniform Cole wore. And it has copies of orders issued by the Army about how to deal with outbreaks. Among other things, they called for facilities to be sealed off and for soldiers to keep their distance from one another. In the mess halls, screens were to be erected down the middle of the tables, similar to the Plexiglass barriers that are now commonplace. On ExpressNews.com: Drive-in revival sparks memories for San Antonio film fans Decades later, after Senettes (then Gillettes) death, a family friend reached out to the Witte and donated it. Fulkerson says its been a good addition to the collection, and thats one of the reasons the Witte already is collecting artifacts from this era, calling on San Antonians to share their stories. We dont want to lose what is important how do we deal with a situation that is infinitely more complex, because our choices are infinitely more complex? How do we reflect that and share that with the community 100 years from now?, she said. Thats what we want to be able to do for the people of San Antonio, to be that place that is the caretaker for those stories. So far, the museum has collected digital photographs as well as masks and an information sheet given out to patients after being tested. The military museum has accepted a few current pandemic items, as well. Artifacts include handmade masks for nonclinical settings stitched by the loved ones of military personnel who went to New York to help out in hospitals there. The museum has a video, too, telling the stories behind the masks. One of the doctors said, this is my shield, Wunderlich said. Not the shield Id use to protect myself, but like the one Wonder Woman uses to protect everybody else. To share photos, artifacts or stories from the COVID-19 era with the Witte Museum, call 210-740-3929. To donate items to the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum, call 210-221-6358. Deborah Martin is an arts writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Deborah, become a subscriber. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN Jefferson Davis Sheriffs officers were dispatched to a residence in Jennings, Louisiana, for a disturbance. Deputies arrived and spoke with the complainant, who advised his son was threatening him. James Dean Smith, 47, of Jennings was arrested and booked for simple assault, possession of CDS II, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Smith had drugs on his person when deputies searched him upon arrest. Consumers Energy hoped to increase the bills of natural gas customers by a combined $6.8 million to cover for some of the costs racked up during the January 2019 fire at the Ray Compressor Station in Macomb County. The request has been denied, the Michigan Public Service Commission announced Thursday, Sept. 24. Consumers paid nearly $8 million to purchase natural gas during the incident because it couldnt access its own supply. The fire forced the station to shut down, which prompted a statewide natural gas emergency in the midst of a week with record low temperatures. Related: Michiganders answered call, cut gas usage 10 percent after emergency plea Michiganders received emergency text alerts with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asking residents to turn their heat down to 65 degrees to make sure there was enough natural gas to avoid heat interruptions. It worked as usage dropped 10% and residents' heat stayed on. Consumers was fined $10,000 earlier this year after an investigation found the utility violated federal safety standards. Given the MPSC investigation and Consumers' own conclusions about the cause, the (MPSC) found that Consumers, not ratepayers, should bear the costs associated with their inability to access gas from the Ray storage field, the state said in a press release Thursday. Though Consumers paid nearly $8 million for outside natural gas during the crisis, that gas was $1.18 million cheaper than the gas held in Consumers storage. Thats why Consumers only requested $6.8 million in recovery costs but again, that was denied. Consumers Energy didnt solve the dilemma on its own, MPSC Chairman Dan Scripps said Thursday. Michigan residents provided uncompensated help by turning down their heat. Asking those same customers to also absorb the added costs associated with replacement gas is a step too far, Scripps said. The state did approve the rest of Consumers' request, allowing the utility to recover an extra $10.9 million from customers, plus interest because some of its expenses unrelated to the fire came in higher than anticipated. These extra costs wont be seen on customer bills right away and will have a miniscule impact, MPSC spokesman Matt Helms said. Earlier this month, the MPSC approved a 9.1% rate hike for Consumers natural gas customers, totaling $144 million. A typical residential customer using 100 cubic feet of gas per month will see a $6.72 increase starting Oct. 1. Consumers Energy appreciates the MPSCs careful consideration of costs related to the Ray Compressor Station fire, the company said in a statement to MLive. We requested cost recovery due to the exceptional circumstances of the January 2019 incident. We have since made upgrades to ensure the Ray facility operates safely as we continue delivering natural gas safely, reliably and affordably to our 1.8 million natural gas customers. Consumers cant raise natural gas rates again until fall 2022 although the $10.9 million in recovery costs approved Thursday could be tacked onto bills before then. RELATED STORIES Consumers Energy to raise gas rates by 9.1%, totaling $144 million Despite polar vortex scare, Michigans energy supply reliable Consumers Energy fined $10K for 2019 fire that spurred Michigan natural gas shortage Sailing boats over 50 feet long have been banned from a stretch of Spain's northern coastline where several vessels have been attacked by killer whales. Government officials have admitted the measure could be applied to other areas where the animals live and hunt and have been involved in recent incidents, including the Straits of Gibraltar. The Directorate General of the Merchant Marine (DGMM), part of Spain's Ministry of Transport, has also announced a plane normally used in firefighting will be deployed to identify the killer whales thought to be responsible and alert seafarers in the area. The sailing ban applies to the coastline off the north-west region of Galicia, between Cape Priorino Grande near the city of Ferrol and Spain's northernmost point Punta de Estaca de Bares. It is due to last a week. The plane is expected to focus on the off-limits area. A spokesman for the DGMM described the move as 'proportionate and objective'. He added: 'The measure is designed to prevent new episodes involving killer whales which have caused several incidents in Galicia's coastal area in the past few weeks involving mainly sailing boats. 'The sailing boats affected by this decision can navigate perpendicular to the off-limits area to reach the coast or head out to sea.' The recent spate of attacks on boats in Spanish and Portuguese waters by killer whales, which have left at least one crewman injured, have baffled scientists. Marine life experts have described them as 'unheard of.' Biologists have reportedly compiled a list of around 40 'interactions', 29 of them in Galicia, since one on July 20 between Gibraltar and Cape Trafalgar. Sailing boats over 50 feet long have been banned from a stretch of Spain's northern coastline where several vessels have been attacked by killer whales In a recent incident Halcyon Yachts were taking a 36ft vessel to the UK from the Galician city of La Coruna when a killer whale rammed it at least 15 times. The vessel lost steering and had to be towed back to port because of the attack. A yacht named as Gautier was attacked on Tuesday and had to be towed back to the town of Muros south of La Coruna - outside of the off-limits area - after its rudder was damaged. Marine lift experts say they believe two young killer whales in one of three groups of 13 animals located in Galician waters could be behind the attacks. The theory they are reacting to a previous attack by a seafarer has not been ruled out and scientists have speculated they could be linked to a decrease in the number of boats at sea during the coronavirus lockdown which has increased curiosity among the young killer whales. The sailing ban, described as 'proportionate and objective', applies to the coastline off the north-west region of Galicia and is due to last a week In a recent incident Halcyon Yachts were taking a 36ft vessel to the UK from the Galician city of La Coruna when a killer whale rammed it at least 15 times (above) But most experts have concluded the animals see their attacks on the rudders they have targeted as a game and could be using them to hone their hunting instincts. Around seven boats have had to be towed back to port since the incidents began because of damage caused to their rudders. Bruno Diaz, a marine biologist based in Pontevedra in Galicia, told a local Spanish paper earlier this month: 'It's possible the incidents have taken place because young animals in a group are practicing their hunting techniques with the boats they encounter. 'Possibly it's a game for them and they're enjoying themselves at the expense of the vessels affected.' CLIFTON PARK Shenendehowa schools notified the district community Wednesday that a Chango Elementary teacher has tested positive for COVID-19. In an email, the district states that the Saratoga County Health Department informed school officials Wednesday about the teacher and that the district is working with county health officials to ensure that contact tracing is completed. Anyone identified as having prolonged, direct exposure with the individual in question was to be contacted on Wednesday. This follows notifications from the district on Sunday and Tuesday about two students at Shenendehowa High School East who had also tested positive for COVID-19. The district has asked community members to add the Saratoga County Public Health phone number 518-885-2276 to their phone contacts. A key source of federal aid to the unemployed is running out again. In March, Congress created a program to add $600 a week to workers unemployment checks. When that program expired at the end of July, President Trump stepped in with a stopgap replacement: $300 a week in extra benefits, paid out of an existing emergency fund. (States had the option of adding $100 out of their own budgets; few chose to do so.) But that program, Lost Wages Assistance, had enough money for only six weeks of payments. Because the program is retroactive to the week that ended Aug. 1, it lasted through the first week of September in most states. Confusingly, many workers have yet to begin receiving payments or are just starting to get them because many states took weeks to get the program running. So workers in some states will receive a lump sum to cover retroactive benefits, and nothing more. Congress could decide to appropriate more money for the lost wages program, or to revive the $600 supplement in some form. But with the Senate focused on a Supreme Court confirmation battle, there is little sign of imminent help. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has urged Prime Minister to ensure adequate medical oxygen supplies for Punjab from other states. Singh 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 (HP), 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. The Punjab government, on its part, was in talks with industry to convert industrial oxygen to medical oxygen, he said. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister chaired a high-level virtual meeting with Chief Ministers and Health Ministers of seven high burden the COVID-19 States/Union Territory to review COVID-19 response and management. With experts suggesting of possible aggravation of COVID conditions due to stubble burning, the Chief Minister also reiterated his demand for financial aid by the Centre to farmers for defraying the cost on the management of paddy straw, according to a release by Punjab CMO. He said 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. The Chief Minister further urged him to direct the Chief Controllers of Explosives, Nagpur, to clear the license request for the establishment of a liquid medical oxygen plant at Government Medical College, Patiala, by HLL India Limited, under the PM Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSYSY). The VC meet was also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, besides chief ministers of six other states. These seven states -- Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Punjab - currently contribute 62 per cent to the total 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 Gurdwaras and other religious places, read the release. He expressed the confidence that Punjab would be able to reduce the positivity rate to less than five per cent and bring down the COVID Fatality Rate (CFR). 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 Utilization Certificate (UC) for the whole amount, the state had requested the central government for the immediate release of Rs 200 crore, which is awaited. He further pointed out that the Government of India was requested to reconsider the limit of 35 per cent expenditure for COVID relief under SDRF from the overall availability of the resource envelope, but the Centre is still continuing with 35 per cent limit on SDRF for COVID on yearly basis. The Chief Minister also requested that installation of ventilators provided by the central government be completed by BEL at the earliest, while also pointing to complaints of their malfunctioning by both public and private institutions. Singh said the last 3-4 weeks had seen a surge in cases, and, on average in the past week, around 2400-2500 cases and around 55-60 mortalities were reported daily. (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 York: In a speech he could only have delivered remotely as a trip to New York could have meant arrest, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday (AEST) that all "countries that defend peace" should rally against US sanctions clamped on the South American country and its allies like Cuba, Nicaragua and Syria. Even though he has UN diplomatic immunity, Maduro would be taking a risk by travelling to the US where there is a $US15 million ($21 million) bounty for information leading to his arrest. The socialist leader is not recognised as a head of state by the US. He skipped last year's assembly, but this year's COVID-induced virtual meetings, afforded him a spot on the speakers' list. Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela, speaks in a pre-recorded video message during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Credit:UNTV/AP In a lengthy, pre-recorded speech that ran more than twice the allotted 15 minutes, Maduro denounced what he called a "criminal, inhuman aggression" by the US aimed at ousting him from power, and said Venezuela would resist. "The world must know that we are prepared to fight with the force of our history, our spirit, reason and international law," he said, standing before a giant portrait of South American independence hero Simon Bolivar. Richa Sharma By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Over 100 per cent productivity in a truncated monsoon session. That is a landmark the Rajya Sabha could have been proud of had the situation been normal. But the target was achieved amid the absence of the Opposition, which has been boycotting the session since Tuesday over the suspension of eight members from the House for unruly behaviour. As many as 15 weighty bills were passed between Tuesday and Wednesday in the space of nearly seven-and-a-half hours in the Upper House. In other words, one bill every 30 minutes. Legislative agenda wrapped up, both Houses were then adjourned sine die. As for the Opposition, it held a silent march on Parliaments premises over three farm sector reform bills and later met President Ramnath Kovind to request him to return the unconstitutional legislations. Eighteen political parties had earlier written to Kovind expressing concern over the manner in which the farm bills were passed in the House of Elders. However, in view of the Covid-19 situation, only Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad got to meet the President. In just 10 sittings, the Rajya Sabha passed as many as 25 bills. An equal number of bill were passed in the Lok Sabha. The productivity of the House during this session has been 100.47 per cent, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said in his valedictory address. Prominent among the eight bills cleared in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday were three on labour code reforms, despite floor leaders of 12 Opposition parties jointly urging Naidu not to let them pass without proper discussion. These bills affect the livelihood of crores of workers across the country. It will be a great blot on our democracy to have these bills pass unilaterally today, the Opposition wrote. Referring to it, Naidu cited precedents when business was taken up as per schedule and bills approved during boycott or walkout by some members. Naidu said had the letter suggested the postponement of the bill by stating the Opposition members would attend the House later, he would have discussed the request with the government. But there was no such assurance, so he decided to go ahead with the bills, he said. Replying to the debate on the three labour reforms bills, minister Santosh Gangwar said the labour reforms will provide a transparent system to suit the changed business environment. As for the Lok Sabha, it registered 167 per cent productivity, spending 68 per cent of the time on the legislative business, said Speaker Om Birla. Creating a strong relationship between painting, sculpture and architecture, the 5th exhibition in the 'Treasures of Our Museums' series provides a unique experience to Aisha Fahmy Palace visitors The 5th exhibition in the Treasures of Our Museums series offers 118 works, between paintings and sculptures, by great European artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. The works are exhibited at the Aisha Fahmy Palace until the end of October with entry free of charge. In the intimate atmosphere of the palace, located in Zamalek and whose architectural beauty is a delight on its own, one can admire masterpieces of artists such as Delacroix, Gauguin, Rodin and Renoir. They rub shoulders with those less known to the general public in Egypt, such as Fernand Pelez, Henri Rondel, Guillaume Seignac, Charles-Emile Jacques and others. Commenting on the selection criteria, Ihab Al-Labban, director of arts at Aisha Fahmy Palace, clarifies: It is all about harmony between the different works and the adaptation of the chosen works to the space." Indeed, the visitor feels that the works become part of the palace's rooms as they also benefit from an ideal setting in which we can admire these works, and their particular beauty. A focus on arrangement The way the works are arranged plays an important role in the aesthetics of the whole exhibition. We find partitions having the same colors as the walls of the rooms with works being showcased in a distinct order with each section presenting a new theme (portraits, landscapes, etc). Amidst the paintings, sculptures catch the eye as well. Sculpture is a three-dimensional work and that is why it is not displayed in the same way as a canvas. For a sculpture to be well presented, you must be able to walk around it. The artwork should be visible from any point inside the room, Al-Labban adds. In addition to the arrangement of the works, lighting also plays an important role, as it highlights the paintings and establishes a museographic language in the space. In the Aisha Fahmy Palace display, it is treated with care, so that the visitor perceives all subtleties. The play of light and shadow can create striking effects in the exhibition spaces. A dramatic tension emerges from a darkened space, thanks to fine beams of light, crossing the darkness, enough to attract the visitors' attention to the works on display and sometimes even to other rooms. This is the case, for example, with the palace's second floor where the visitor follows the light leading us to the anteroom devoid of paintings, but which is adorned by wall drawings: two huge golden statues of Buddha, Chinese drawings hanging on the walls and Chinese lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The place suddenly transports the visitor to another world, while conveying and transmitting different emotions. However, the lack of signage deprives the visitor of information related to the anteroom. The curious visitor might be disappointed. Al-Labban explains that "the lack of signage around the anteroom is intended. Its presence could confuse the viewer whose attention we draw to the works of art. In addition, this place was originally owned by an aristocratic family whose history is not well known to us," Al-Labban explains. It is worth noting that being a unique location with its own history, the experience of the exhibition moves beyond the works on display, as visitors can also discover the palace. Unlike other art exhibitions, where people always focus on the works of art on display, here visitors are also mesmerised by the building itself. "Our goal is to transform this palace into an attractive place not only for specialists and art lovers, but also for a wide audience, especially young people," Al-Labban comments. A place of unique charm Indeed, the site carries a paramount importance for Egyptian architectural history. The palace is a masterpiece that was designed by famous Italian architect Antonio Lasciac in 1917 on 2,700 m2 and comprises 30 bedrooms, two large halls, a 1,000 m2 basement and a roof, all richly decorated with frescoes and walls covered with red and green silk. Since the restoration of the palace and its reopening, the management tries to give it a special identity, by organising exhibitions, showing the treasures of Egypt, through works from its own and private collections. The exhibitions span sometimes over several months. This time, it is about bringing together under one roof European works, belonging to the Mahmoud Khalil, Gezira and the Alexandria Art Museum. This exhibition is therefore a real opportunity to rediscover the artistic wealth that Egypt possesses and to explore the different artistic currents reigning in the 18th and 19th centuries," Al-Labban says, adding that since the palace had become the property of the Egyptian administration in charge of the arts since 1976, it has been often referred to as a Complex of the Arts. "We always carry out elaborate research on the rare collections that are presented to the public and we offer a well-documented explanatory catalogue," says Al-Labban. Last year, the palace held the 4th exhibition in the Treasures of Our Museums series, entitled Memoire de l'Orient (Memory of the Orient), bringing together a fine selection of Orientalist works. "This year, the exhibition brings together a collection of masterpieces, highlighting Egypt's place as a centre of influence in the region," said Al-Labbane. The charm and elegance of Rococo and neoclassicism, which characterise 18th century works, especially in France, and the 19th century's impressionism and realism, all come together in this mythical palace on the banks of the Nile, creating an abundant relationship between painting, sculpture and architecture. The exhibition continues at until 31 October. Aisha Fahmy Palace, Zamalek *This article was originally published in Al Ahram Hebdo, in French, 23 September edition For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: A 45-year-old man is receiving treatment at the Webuye County Hospital, Kenya after setting himself alight on Thursday, September 24. Enock Indangalasi, a resident of Webuye in Bungoma County, is alleged to have wrangled with his wife, who fled her matrimonial home following the row. Indangalasi is said to have, thereafter, bought petrol, which he drank and also ordered his 7-year-old son to ingest. Afterwards, the suspect locked himself and his son inside their house, which he set on fire. Neighbours, however, managed to put out the inferno and took the father-and-son to Webuye Hospital for urgent medical attention. The two had suffered serious burn injuries. According to Indangalasi, he wanted to kill himself and his child to teach his wife a lesson for deserting them. Webuye Hospital lead doctor, Simon Kisaka, told K24 Digital that Indangalasi is in a stable condition, whereas his (Indangalasis) son was referred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for advanced medical care. Police say they will charge the suspect with attempted suicide and murder after he is discharged from hospital. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Tony Higgins, 57, sent out a distress call to police around 5am on Tuesday He said his ten-metre long boat had been taking on water off Victor Harbor, SA Mr Higgins' bag, ID and glasses have been found washed up on a SA beach Earlier this month SA launched its largest search operation to find Higgins Higgins and Derek Robinson were found four days later and said they were fine Fears are growing after a missing fisherman's bag containing his glasses, keys and ID was found washed up on a beach as the search entered its third day. Tony Higgins, 57, sent out a distress call to police about 5am on Tuesday when he was moored near Granite Island off Victor Harbor, south of Adelaide. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Higgins said his wooden fishing boat Margrel was 'taking on water' and police launched a search operation with a rescue helicopter and Sea Rescue volunteers. Debris was found washed up near the Murray Mouth on Wednesday morning consistent with items from Mr Higgin's boat. Tony Higgins, 57, sent out a distress call to police about 5am on Tuesday when he was moored near Granite Island off Victor Harbor, south of Adelaide Debris was found washed up near the Murray Mouth on Wednesday morning consistent with items from Mr Higgin's boat The items include his glasses, keys and an ID card belonging to the missing boatie, The Advertiser reported. Rescue crews also found parts of Mr Higgins' boat including some of the floor, jerry cans and other equipment. The 57-year-old's friend and former deckhand said the fisherman left for the Murray Mouth early on Tuesday morning. Click here to resize this module 'It saddens me, his boat has gone down I can only hope he's got a life jacket on and he's made it to land,' he said. Police are still investigating the disappearance. This is the second time within weeks emergency services have launched a rescue mission for Mr Higgins and his 33ft vessel. The fisherman and his friend Derek Robinson, 48, sparked South Australia's largest-ever maritime search when they went missing while travelling from Coffin Bay near Port Lincoln to Goolwa on September 3. Debris was found washed up near the Murray Mouth on Wednesday morning consistent with items from Mr Higgin's boat Mr Higgins said his wooden fishing boat Margrel was 'taking on water' and police have now launched another search operation with a rescue helicopter and Sea Rescue volunteers The duo were one day into their trip on thewooden-hulled fishing boat when they started to experience engine trouble. They were eventually found on September 10, just hours after the search operation was called off. Despite missing for nearly a week, Mr Higgins claimed he had no idea about the rescue mission. 'We didn't even know anyone was looking for us,' Mr Higgins said at the time. 'I didn't ask to come get rescued. I knew exactly where we were.' ADVERTISEMENT He believes the trouble was sparked when one of the propeller's three blades broke off after hitting a turtle or submerged log. Derek Robinson pictured after reuniting with family on September 10 after a massive four-day search for the two fishermen was called off The massive search operation - covering more than 120,000 square kilometres - involved police, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and members of the Royal Australian Air Force. It also involved Kangaroo Island and Volunteer Marine Rescue members. Crews spent days searching an area larger than Tasmania covered in an attempt to find the men. Fears were raised when the men were not located after several weather warnings and days of treacherous conditions. Mr Higgins was fined $1,000 for having an out-of-date Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), as well as old flares on board and not having an appropriate recreational boat licence. Fears were raised over the two men when they went missing on September 3 due to the rough conditions at sea (pictured Derek Robinson returns to shore) The men were headed to Goolwa when they went missing earlier this month, from Coffin Bay near Port Lincoln, they told a friend they would try make it to Kangaroo Island after their engine failed but ended up in Salt Creek Freelance video journalist Gary Juleff told the ABC when police arrived on Tuesday morning following the distress call, the boat had vanished. 'When I got down here, nobody could see the boat,' Mr Juleff said. '(Police) tried to phone him back - no answer - so the answer to this question is 'nobody knows'. 'They said there's nothing out there and we don't know where he is.' Over the weekend, Mr Higgins found himself in trouble again when the Margrel ran aground on a sandbar in Victor Harbor. The rescue mission is ongoing. Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said a second search party for the vessel was 'frustrating' for authorities. 'I think it's fair to say there's an element of frustration that the state's resources are being dedicated to this for a second time,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT 'The first event cost us in the order of about $650,000.' BAMBERG Friedrich Kuebart stoops to toss a twig from his mowed forest path. His dog, Foxy, runs up ahead in the dappled sunshine coming through the leaves overhead. Kuebarts trails run through a wild woodlot filled with honey locust, oak, apple, black cherry, spruce, poplar, willow and pines. For the past 20 years, Kuebart has maintained a network of trails throughout the forest hes planted on his acreage near Bamberg. Kuebart estimates hes planted about 20,000 trees on 44 acres of his property, and spent about $15,000. He began planting about 2,000 trees each year in the early 1990s when the provincial government subsidized the cost and provided technical support for planting to landowners. Even after the program ended, he continued to buy and plant trees with the help of his neighbours and friends until the early 2010s. Now in his late 70s, he is trying to create a succession plan. He cares for the land and doesnt want to see it sold to someone who might cut down his trees. Asked what he loves about his land, he says: I love the sound. I love the wind, the shade and I love the smell. When it has rained and the soil is opening up, to me its paradise. Im glad I have so many trees around because in summer when its so hot, I have shade and in winter when theres storms, the house is protected. Succession options for landowners typically include selling the property or passing it down to offspring. But now residents in Waterloo Region and Wellington County may have another option to work with rare Charitable Research Reserve to preserve their land. Rare is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary and is now going public with a land securement strategy. The team at rare identified 300 properties within 17 ecologically significant areas in Waterloo Region and Wellington County as candidates for land conservation. We take a gentle approach with landowners, says Stephanie Sobek-Swant, executive director of rare. We dont want to give people the impression that we want to take their land away. We hope we can just get to know them and build a relationship. Many landowners already know their land is important for conservation. Waterloo Region contains nine of the 17 areas, and approximately 250 of the properties identified as candidates for conservation, says Sobek-Swant. These areas were selected based on factors including prioritizing wetland, woodland and flood plain, pre-existing protections like association with the conservation authority or regional forests, number of landowners, parcel size, distribution throughout the region, potential for funding and potential for donation or sale. We want the landowners to become more aware that there are more options for them. They can use certain tools to preserve their land in perpetuity, says Sobek-Swant. Many landowners prefer to donate their land outright and enjoy the various tax benefits that come with that, says Sobek-Swant. In some occasional cases rare can purchase land, and in other cases, conservation easements where the landowner keeps ownership. When landowners want to donate land that falls outside rares targeted area, Sobek-Swant says staff are always happy to find a solution. For one proposed property closer to Stratford, she says another land trust covering the area in question was found. Kuebart has reached a crossroads in life. He is thinking about moving into a nearby retirement home, but hopes to continue spending much of his time with his trees. I would like to die on this property, he says. I would like to have my last hours here. I feel I am part of the soil and the plants. I want to be protected by the elements that I set up and protected. Kuebart is deciding what to do with his property after hes gone. I hope that somebody takes over who shares my spirit, says Kuebart. I want this property to be designated as a place of health and well-being. Although land in Waterloo Region is highly valuable and some might think it hard to convince landowners to donate, Sobek-Swant says in many cases landowners come to rare themselves. Many are highly concerned about ensuring their land is conserved in perpetuity. Rares land securement strategy was officially launched in 2019, and the organization is already working with the landowners of seven properties to conserve a total of approximately 600 hectares, according to Tom Woodcock, rares planning ecologist. These properties include subdivision land owned by developers and private properties in Kitchener, Cambridge, North Dumfries, Wilmot, Guelph and Eramosa. Ive been pretty encouraged by the response weve had since we initially started, says Woodcock. Conservation lands are important. When we ask someone to conserve land, were not asking them to do something for someone else, says Woodcock. This land is working for them as well. The natural environment cleans air and water and sequesters carbon. Woodcock says its providing these ecological systems that we all need whether we get out and wander around in them or not. The only thing that can conserve the groundwater system we use now is natural areas, says Woodcock. Agricultural fields or developments are not going to conserve our water. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday announced a 28 per cent hike in Cocoa Producer Prices for the 2020/2021 crop year. Thus, effective October 1, 2020, the producer price for cocoa moves from the previous crop year's GHS8,240 to GHS10,560 per metric ton. A bag of cocoa for the coming season would sell for GHS660 from 2019/2020 producer price of GHS514. The President made the announcement when he launched the Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western-North Region during his three-day working visit. He told the gathering that by this new producer price, we have kept faith with our commitment, under the international arrangement with Cote dIvoire and global stakeholders, by awarding to our farmers the full US$400 per metric tonne Living Income Differential." Ghana and Ivory Coast, who together produce over 60 per cent of the world's cocoa, in the quest to overhaul global cocoa pricing, introduced a US$400 a tonne Living Income Differential (LID) in July last year on cocoa sales for the 2020/21 season. By this substantial increase in the producer price, we are also delivering on our 2016 manifesto promise to reward handsomely the hard work of our cocoa farmers and their unequalled contribution to the economy of Ghana over the years, President Akufo-Addo emphasized. The President noted that the unstable nature of cocoa prices on the world cocoa market remained one of the biggest challenges to ensuring payment of decent farm-gate prices to cocoa farmers. He was not happy that Ghanaian and Ivoirian cocoa farmers earned a meagre US$6 billion from a global chocolate industry of over 100 billion dollars. Government believes that value-addition to our cocoa, and the search for new markets, will make us more money than all the aid given to us by all the donor countries. "We shall gain some dignity, and spare the donors the fatigue we have all heard about, he added. President Akufo-Addo was gratified that the Strategic Partnership between Cote dIvoire and Ghana, which is manifesting itself in a joint cocoa production and marketing policy, was already paying dividends. Today, I am happy to announce that Ghana and Cote dIvoire are receiving a Living Income Differential of US$400 per ton of cocoa, which is an additional earning from the world market price for our farmers. "The Living Income Differential is going to guarantee some stability to the producer price of cocoa and sustainability of the industry in Ghana and Cote dIvoire, the President said. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video - Donald Trump held a rally at North Carolina, US and it was attended by a number of his female supporters - While giving his speech, the president asked the ladies whether their husbands had allowed them to attend the event - When they answered in the affirmative, Trump told the women that they had good husbands - His sentiments sparked outrage on social media with people terming him as a misogynistic leader Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana Americas President Donald Trump has raffled a bunch of feathers again after his latest sentiments during a rally held in North Carolina. The US premiere had women fuming after asking his female supporters whether their husbands were okay with their presence at the event. READ ALSO: Social media reacts as lady says her house gate was stolen overnight He then told the ladies they had good spouses who let them show up to events such as his. "Anyway, I hope your husbands are okay with it. Are they okay? They are okay. You have good husbands, he said. The president then asked his audience how many of his rallies they had attended and that seemed to tickle them. Trump's supporters laughed when he made the comment. Photo: Donald Trump Source: UGC READ ALSO: Captain Smart opens up on the truth Dr UN told Sarkodie and co before giving them awards Oh there they are. How many of these have you come to? What is this, number what? Like, 90? Trump asked. His comments sparked a heated debate on Twitter with a lot of people terming Trump as sexist and disrespectful. A couple of Twitter users said the US leaders behaviour was misogynistic and mind-shuttering. READ ALSO: Captain Smart opens up on the truth Dr UN told Sarkodie and co before giving them award Meanwhile, a slain terrorist leader Osama bin Laden's niece Noor bin Ladin expressed support for President Donald Trump ahead of the November 3, election. The 33-year-old said the incumbent would avert a second 9/11 terror attack if elected to a second term. Noor who lives in Switzerland made the remarks during her first-ever media interview with The New York Times on Wednesday, September 9. I have been a supporter of President Trump since he announced he was running in the early days in 2015. I have watched from afar and I admire this mans resolve, she said. READ ALSO: See Jackie Appiahs latest super classy photo that got the whole of Ghana talking 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 It was announced today that the Central Bank of Ireland reprimanded and fined KBC Bank Ireland 18,314,000 in respect of KBCs serious failings to certain tracker mortgage customers holding 3,741 customer accounts from June 2008 to October 2019. KBC has admitted in full to 12 regulatory breaches. The Central Bank has imposed a fine at the highest end of its sanctioning powers, reflecting the gravity with which the Central Bank views KBCs failures. The Central Bank said the impact of KBCs failings on its customers, which related to 3,741 accounts, was "devastating" and included significant overcharging and the loss of 66 properties. Additionally, the Central Bank said KBCs engagement and co-operation with the Central Banks Tracker Mortgage Examination (the TME) was "deeply unsatisfactory" and that KBC caused avoidable and sustained harm to impacted customers due to the Firms unwillingness to acknowledge its failings until December 2017 and to take immediate action to apply the protections of the TME. According to the Central Bank, had KBC adhered to the TME guidelines sooner, without the need for significant and sustained Central Bank intervention, the harm to its customers particularly incidences of property loss - would have been significantly reduced. The Central Bank determined that the appropriate fine was 26,162,857, which was reduced by 30% to 18,314,000 in accordance with the settlement discount scheme provided for in the Central Banks Administrative Sanctions Procedure. This will be paid to the Exchequer. This fine is in addition to the 153,524,363 that KBC has been required to pay to date in redress and compensation and account balance adjustments under the TME to its impacted tracker mortgage customers. In a public statement today, the Central Bank said, "By placing their own financial interests ahead of their customers best interests, KBC failed to adequately consider their obligations under the Consumer Protection Codes, which were put in place in order to protect customers in their dealings with financial service providers." Source: www.businessworld.ie The Labour and Economy committee's virtual meeting on Thursday tackled issues such as the rise in unemployment, current social plans and the difficulties of young people in accessing their first job. CSV MP Marc Spautz spoke to RTL Radio following the session, stating that more and more young people aged 30 and under were struggling to find work in spite of possessing qualifications. Spautz said the evolution of the job market meant that, where once a diploma or equivalent qualification had been sufficient to secure a role, more and more employers were seeking applicants with experience in addition to qualifications. For young people, this represented a blow to their employment chances. The committee discussed implementing measures which could help young people obtain relevant experience, as the Luxembourg job market could otherwise fall out of their reach. However, Spautz also acknowledged that the number of older jobseekers was increasing, which meant that it was more important than ever before for businesses to achieve social plans, in order to keep employees as long as possible. Minister of Employment Dan Kersch confirmed that it was increasingly difficult for the over-45s to return to the job market, but did not provide further details on a potential national reclassification plan, the idea of which had been tabled during the committee discussion. Following recent news of job losses at Luxembourg stalwarts such as ArcelorMittal, Guardian and Saint-Paul Luxembourg, Spautz said it was more vital than ever to come up with rescue plans, saying it was better to invest in jobs than in unemployment. For Spautz and the CSV, the issues will become thornier as 31 December approaches. The party shares the view that businesses will need further support into 2021 and believe the government would do better to funnel aid into maintaining jobs, rather than offering unemployment benefits which, Spautz claimed, could deter jobseekers from returning to work. Credit: NYU Tandon School of Engineering Back in 2013, local Brooklyn papers were excitedly reporting on a new initiative aimed at getting residents involved in cleaning up the highly polluted Gowanus Canal. Brooklyn Atlantis, as the project was known, was the brainchild of NYU Tandon Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Maurizio Porfiri, who envisioned building and launching robotic boats to collect water-quality data and capture images of the infamous canal, which citizen scientists would then view and help classify. Those robotic boats ultimately led to the formation of the company Manifold Robotics, which aimed to further develop the unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) with sensor technology. (The fledgling company received support from PowerBridgeNY, a collaborative initiative to bring university research to market.) More recently, the startup has now branched out to develop a mobile data collection platform that allows unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to operate safely in the sky near power lines. Jeff LautPorfiri's doctoral student back in Brooklyn Atlantis days and now CEO and chief engineer of Manifold Roboticsexplains that power companies are starting to use UAVs to inspect their power lines instead of helicopters, which can be noisy, risky and expensive. Despite their advantages, however, UAVs still pose some issues: The high electromagnetic fields that exist near power lines tend to destabilize conventional UAV navigation systems, and low visibility can greatly increase the chances that a UAV will collide with either a line or a transmission tower. Manifold's systemwhich will be capable of operating beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)will enable UAVs to detect, avoid, and autonomously track along power lines: it uses U.S. Army Research Laboratory technology Laut originally explored during his postdoctoral studies in Porfiri's lab, a project that was funded by the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), a Department of Defense innovation program office whose aim is to facilitate the commercialization of defense technology having dual-use (military and civilian) applications. While Laut is excited about the new mobile data collection platformwhich is being supported in part by New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)proliferating autonomous aquatic vehicle solutions continues to be a primary goal. "When we launched the company in 2017, we were intent on making a significant impact in the world of water-quality data collection, and I think we've done that," he says. "We're thrilled that we can help our clients meet their specific measurement needs and to ultimately contribute to the health of the planet, and that will not change as we develop additional technology solutions." Another constant: Laut's pride in being an NYU Tandon alum and his gratitude for Porfiri's guidance. "Although he doesn't directly participate in our daily project hurdles at the company," Laut says of his former Ph.D. advisor, "because of his insights and broad expertise, he continues to serve as valued technical advisor on all mobile sensor platform projects." Explore further Virtual peer pressure in citizen science WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 16: Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) asks a question during a Judiciary Committee hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on June 16, 2020 in Washington, D.C. Photo by Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images North Carolina is among the swing states that reporters will be keeping an especially close eye on between now and November 3. Polls have been showing a close presidential race in North Carolina, which is also where incumbent GOP Sen. Thom Tillis and his Democratic challenger, Cal Cunningham, are battling for a U.S. Senate seat. And North Carolina's U.S. Senate race, according to Associated Press reporter Gary D. Robertson, has become even more intense following the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on September 18. President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are pushing for a Supreme Court nominee to be confirmed as quickly as possible, and Democrats are furious with McConnell because of his blatant hypocrisy: in 2016, following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, McConnell refused to even consider President Barack Obama's centrist nominee, Judge Merrick Garland arguing that it was unfair to fill Scalia's seat during a presidential election year. Two Republican senators, Maine's Susan Collins and Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, have joined Democrats in saying that Ginsburg's seat shouldn't be filled before Election Day, but Tillis is siding with Trump and McConnell. Tillis, Robertson explains, told "Trump rally participants in Fayetteville last weekend that he would vote to confirm any of the candidates on Trump's list" and "dismissed the idea that his support for a Trump nominee's confirmation so close to the election ran counter to him joining with other Republican senators in 2016 to refuse to vote on then-President Barack Obama's nominee in an election year." Tillis is rationalizing his hypocrisy by saying that in 2016, Obama "was on his way out the door" when he nominated Garland. But Trump could also be "on his way out the door" if former Vice President Joe Biden defeats him in November. That remains to be seen. In the meantime, Cunningham is calling out Tillis' hypocrisy, saying that "he trusted and wanted to hear from the American people in 2016. He doesn't today." Story continues Robertson reports, "Preparations for the political fight over Ginsburg's successor brought a new acuity to the differences between Cunningham and Tillis in the closely watched race. Democrats need to flip four seats to ensure chamber control. The North Carolina Senate race has attracted the most outside campaign spending of any federal race this year save for the presidential campaign, with $65 million targeting the two candidates already for the general election, the Center for Responsive Politics said." Along with Collins, Arizona's Martha McSally and Colorado's Cory Gardner, Tillis is among the incumbent GOP senators who is considered vulnerable in the 2020 election. Polls released in September have found Tillis trailing Cunningham by 5% (CNBC/Change Research and New York Times/Siena), 6% (Civitas/Harper and Emerson), 4% (Reuters/Ipsos and USA Today/Suffolk), 1% (CNN) or 7% (WRAL-TV/Survey USA). Related Articles Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Global argan oil market is growing continually, witnessing a rising demand. Market growth attributes to the increasing consumption of argan oil in cosmetics and personal care industries. Besides, factors such as increasing awareness for health benefits that argan oil offers and rising beauty consciousness among consumers boost the growth of the market. Moreover, growing usages of argan oil in many baked products, frozen desserts, and sweet & savory snacks escalate the market growth. Market Research Future (MRFR), in its recent report on COVID-19 impacts on the global argan oil market, states that the market is estimated to reach USD 676.51 MN by 2024. In its COVID-19 analysis, MRFR also asserts that the global Argan Oil Market Share would register 7.1% CAGR during the forecast period (2019 -2024). Argan oil is extensively used in food and beverages to add flavor. Increasing consumer preference for flavored food items is propelling the market growth excellently. Argan oil possesses antioxidant properties and omega-6 & omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and triterpenoids, increasing its usage in products to enhance skin health and hair growth. Additionally, the medicinal properties of argan oil, such as anti-inflammation and moisturizing properties, increase its consumption to treat acne and stretch marks. Argan oil is also increasingly used in anti-aging products. Cumulatively led by these factors, the argan oil market is expected to garner exponential traction over the estimated period. Substantial investments made by industry players to improve extraction techniques play a causal role in market development, improving the quality of the oil. Food and beverage is the second-largest end-use industry of argan oil after personal care products. Rise in the global population and economy are some of the major factors triggering the growth of the global argan oil market. Additionally, the growing production of argan oil due to the increasing government initiatives is positively impacting market growth. Global Argan Oil Market - Segments The report is segmented into three dynamics; By Category : Organic and Conventional. By Application : Food (Dairy & Frozen Dessert, Bakery & Confectionary, Sweet & Savory Snacks, others), Cosmetics & Personal care, and others. By Regions : Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Rest-of-the-World. Get a FREE Sample Copy of Report: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3752 Global Argan Oil Market - Regional Analysis Europe dominates the global argan oil market. The largest market share attributes to the increasing beauty consciousness and raising awareness about the health benefits of argan oil among demographics. Besides, the presence of prominent market players and increasing usages of argan oil in food products and personal care products in the region drive the market growth. Wider application of argan oil in bakery products, cosmetics, and aromatherapy products boosts market growth in the region. North America stands second in the global argan oil market. The market growth attributes to the increasing awareness among consumers about the goodness of argan oil and the growing demand for natural and skin health benefitting ingredients. Industry players operating in the region are increasingly focusing on the manufacturing and distribution channels to make argan oil accessible to customers worldwide. The North American argan oil market is estimated to create a substantial revenue pocket over the assessment period. The Asia Pacific region accounts for a considerable share in the global argan oil market. Factors such as the growing application of argan oil in anti-aging product formulation and raising awareness among consumers are anticipated to fuel market growth. Moreover, the growing demand for argan oil from the cosmetics & personal care and food & beverage industry fosters the growth of the market. The APAC Argan oil market is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Global Argan Oil Market - Competitive Analysis Highly competitive, the global argan oil market appears fragmented, with several well-established players forming a competitive landscape. To gain a larger competitive share, industry players incorporate strategic initiatives such as mergers & acquisitions, collaboration, expansion, and product/technology launch. Argan oil manufacturers make substantial investments to drive RD activities for advent derivation techniques and advance their current extracting technologies. They also invest heavily to expand their footprints in the global market by forming a strategic partnership or collaboration with distributors. End-use industry players are increasingly focusing on R&D to develop new and innovative products containing argan oil. Major Players: Players leading the global argan oil market include ARGANisme Cosmetics Sarl (Morocco), Olvea Group (France), Biopur Sarl (Morocco), Purus International (Morocco), Zineglob Ltd (Morocco), Malak Bio (Morocco), Nadifi Argan Oil (Morocco), L'occitane Group-Melvita (France), Argan Liquid Gold (UK), John Masters Organics Inc (US), Frontier Natural Products Co-op Inc. (US), Zit Sidi Yassine Sarl (Morocco), Conair Corporation (US), Vima Souss (Morocco), and Les Bios D'Agadir (Morocco), among other. Industry/ Innovation/ Related News June 18, 2020 ---- Mom Bomb, a bath and body company, announced its plan to launch a private label bath and body goods brand, Squeaky, on Amazon by July 2020. The debuts of line Squeaky will be exclusively available on Amazon. Mom Bomb worked with Amazon for a whole year to create this brand that would fortify the demand in the marketplace for natural, clean, and philanthropy focused brands. Mom Bomb is retail and wholesale product company that delivers luxurious bath products, including an indulgent combination of CBD, organic Argan Oil, and other organic essential oils to create a soothing, relaxing bath experience. Access Full Report Details and Order this Premium Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/argan-oil-market-3752 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. Contact Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com FBI, CIA Analysts Working Trump Probe Bought Liability Insurance After 2016 Election, Text Messages Show FBI and CIA analysts who worked on the investigation of the Trump campaign in 2016 were so concerned about what scrutiny of their work by the incoming administration might reveal that they took out professional liability insurance, according to text messages between FBI analysts released on Sept. 24. We all went and purchased professional liability insurance, an FBI analyst wrote to a colleague on Jan. 10, 2017. Holy [expletive]. All the analysts too? the colleague responded. Yep. All the folks at the agency as well, the analyst wrote, referring to the CIA. The conversation then shifted to what could happen if the Trump administration discovered the details about the probe via a leak to the press. The thought was if that piece comes out and Jan. 20 comes around the new [attorney general] might have some questions then yada yada yada we all get screwed, one of the two analysts, who arent identified in the documents, wrote. Dont think it will happen now, but just in case this could be a very very unpredictable 4 years, the analyst added. The two analysts were working on the investigation into Trumps incoming national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, according to a supplement filed in the Flynn case on Sept. 24. Other text messages between the analysts show that both conceded that nothing of substance was uncovered in the Flynn inquiry. The pair then expressed exasperation after the case was ordered to stay open after a Jan. 5 White House meeting, during which President Barack Obama personally discussed the Flynn case with FBI Director James Comey. So razor is going to stay open?? one of the analysts wrote, referring to Crossfire Razor, the codename for the Flynn investigation. Yep. Crimes report being drafted, the other analyst responded. One of the analysts then wrote that FBI officials were scrambling for info to support certain things and its a mad house. These documents provide information long known to the agents and others at the highest levels of the Department of Justice and the FBI; information long concealed by the Special Counsel and FBI, Flynns defense team wrote in a filing accompanying the new records. This evidence shows outrageous, deliberate misconduct by FBI and DOJplaying games with the life of a national hero. The Department of Justice has requested to drop the charges against Flynn after discovering that the FBI had no reason to conduct the interview during which he allegedly lied to agents. Flynn has since withdrawn his guilty plea. In a unique twist, the prosecutors and the defendant are now in agreement while in a standoff with the judge, who has refused to allow the charges to be dropped until a court-appointed third party argues in favor of rejecting the request. The Marine Corps will reexamine where it's postured in the Asia-Pacific region as the service prepares for possible conflict with China, the commandant said this week. Tens of thousands of Marines are based in California, Hawaii and Japan -- "pointed like an arrow" at the Korean Peninsula, Commandant Gen. David Berger said Wednesday. It's a layout that leaders put in place at the end of World War II and has been successful for decades, he said. Looking ahead 10 years from now, though, "it's not a great posture for the joint force," Berger said. "We need to relook at [it] for the Marines," he said at the annual Modern Day Marine event, which was held virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read Next: Trump Bans DoD Diversity Training That Suggests US Is Racist U.S. troops in the Asia-Pacific region are still based largely where they were 30 or 40 years ago -- in Japan and on the Korean peninsula. As the Defense Department assesses where it stages troops worldwide, Berger said Marines in the Pacific "have to spread out." "We have to factor in Guam," he said. "We have to have a dispersed distributed force laydown in the Pacific that allows us to work with all the allies and partners in the region -- and deter countries, like [China's] People's Liberation Army Navy, from asserting themselves in a manner that that tries to rewrite all of the global ... norms that have been well established for 50, 60, 70 years." The Marine Corps is undergoing a service-wide redesign that will shed personnel and heavy equipment and refocus the force for possible island-hopping missions in the Pacific. The plan focuses heavily on naval integration, bringing the Marine Corps back to its roots, in which it'll head ashore from ships after many years of ground conflict in the Middle East. The Defense Department has been reviewing whether it has the right mix of personnel in each of its global combatant commands as the U.S. competes with sophisticated adversaries, such as China, Russia and Iran. Berger said it's likely not only the Marines' positioning in the Pacific that will change, but other branches too. Defense Secretary Mark Esper recently visited Palau in the Western Pacific. He was the first defense secretary to visit the country, which includes hundreds of islands east of the Philippines. Following the visit, Palau offered to build ports, airfields and bases the U.S. military can use, The Wall Street Journal reported. Experts told Military.com last year the U.S. could also be eyeing partnerships in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia or other spots farther from Northeast Asia if the militarys presence in the region increases. The Marine Corps, under the Obama administration's Pacific pivot strategy, began rotating through Australia each year, expanding the service's footprint in the region and working with new partners alongside the Aussies. The service also plans to shift thousands of personnel and dependents from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam in coming years. Maj. Gen. Paul Rock, with Marine Corps Plans, Policies and Operations' strategy and plans, who recently oversaw the service's installations in the Pacific, discussed Wednesday the challenges and opportunities the Marine Corps faces in the Indo-Pacific region. In a call with reporters, he declined to say whether there are specific countries where the Marine Corps could soon rotate forces or conduct new exercises. "We live in a very fluid, evolving situation in the Western Pacific," Rock said. "Fortunately, China's doing a lot of the work for us as far as driving people our way with their behavior. So, opportunities are being presented to do more, closer work with a variety of countries." The "ironclad alliances" the U.S. has with the Australians, Japanese and South Koreans will remain important to what the Marine Corps is doing in the Pacific, he added. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Related: China's Antics in South China Sea Could Change Deployments for US Troops MORE THAN 2m worth of cars have been seized as part of a joint operation between the Criminal Assets Bureau and UK police. The Criminal Assets Bureau seized 80 vehicles in Clare and Tipperary this Thursday morning, as part of Operation Bagana, in association with with West Midlands police in the UK. The operation was carried out as part of a cyber-fraud and money laundering probe in the UK. In addition to 80 cars with an approximate value of 2m, CAB seized 21,000 in cash, and an excess of 200,000 has been restrained in financial accounts linked to an organised criminal group, An Garda Siochana stated. The CAB investigation is focussed on the assets of an international organised crime group who are suspected of laundering the proceeds of mandate fraud committed in the UK via a used car outlet in County Tipperary. Searches were conducted at two residential premises and one business premises in Clare, and two residential and one business premises in County Tipperary. This mornings search operation involved CAB, the Emergency Response Unit, the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit, the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Garda Technical Bureau and were assisted by the Revenue Customs Dog Unit. Speaking about todays operation the Chief Bureau Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins said "Todays search operation is an example of the ongoing cooperation between the Criminal Assets Bureau, An Garda Siochana and UK Police Forces in the investigation of International Organised Criminal Groups. Our activities are in furtherance of the CAB mission to deny and deprive. Image courtesy Emirates The addition of the five points will expand the Emirates' global network to 92 destinations, as the airline gradually resumes its operations while prioritising the safety of its customers, crew and the communities it serves around the world. Emirates' African network will also now extend to 19 cities. Customers flying in and out of Emirates' three South African gateways can safely travel to Dubai and to an array of onwards connections in Europe, the Far East, Middle East, West Asia and Australasia. Flight schedules for Emirates' South African destinations will be available on emirates.com later this week. Emirates will operate to Harare with two weekly flights linked to its Lusaka service. The linked services will connect Zambia and Zimbabwe to key destinations across Europe, the Far East, the Americas, Australasia and West Asia with one convenient stop in Dubai. Flights from Dubai to Mauritius will initially operate once a week on Saturdays, supporting the Mauritian government's repatriation efforts to bring its citizens home, and enabling the recovery of the country's tourism industry by safely connecting leisure travellers from Europe, the Far East and the Middle East to the popular Indian Ocean island destination. Customers can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors. Ensuring the safety of travellers, visitors and the community, COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving to Dubai (and the UAE), including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from. From sun-soaked beaches and heritage activities to world class hospitality and leisure facilities, Dubai is one of the most popular global destinations. In 2019, the city welcomed 16.7 million visitors and hosted over hundreds of global meetings and exhibitions, as well as sports and entertainment events. Dubai was one of the world's first cities to obtain Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) which endorses Dubai's comprehensive and effective measures to ensure guest health and safety. Rebel Wilson and her boyfriend Jacob Busch made their red carpet debut on Wednesday, as she graced her first red carpet since shedding more than 40 pounds. As they attended Prince Albert's Planetary Health Gala together, the Pitch Perfect actress, 40, and the Anheuser-Busch brewery heir, 29, looked happy in love with their arms wrapped around each other. Donning a cleavage-baring gown, the star showed off her incredible weight loss and aimed to bring back Hollywood glamour with her blonde tresses in loose waves. Perfect pair: Rebel Wilson and her boyfriend Jacob Busch made their red carpet debut on Wednesday, as she graced her first red carpet since shedding more than 40 pounds Meanwhile, Busch looked every inch the perfect date, as he sported a black tuxedo and a bright smile. Just a day later, the pair marked another significant milestone in their relationship. On her Instagram account, Wilson shared a star-studded slideshow, which showed them boarding a helicopter with Helen Mirren and Kate Beckinsale. Stunning: As they attended Prince Albert's Planetary Health Gala together, the Pitch Perfect actress, 40, and Busch, 29, looked happy in love with their arms wrapped around each other In the group shot, the lovebirds, who were introduced by a pal last year, stood close together and smiled softy at the camera. While the Isn't It Romantic star and Busch, 29, held back on any public displays of affection, they are reportedly 'officially boyfriend and girlfriend.' 'He's a gentleman, has very old school manners and treats her well,' a source told People of their relationship dynamics. Looking good together: Donning a cleavage-baring gown, the star showed off her incredible weight loss and aimed to bring back Hollywood glamour with her blonde tresses Jacob's family founded the Anheuser-Busch brewery, which produces America's most popular beer, Budweiser. In 2016, Forbes listed the Busch family as the 16th richest in America, with a fortune of US$13.4billion. While it's unclear how much of that will be inherited by Jabob, his current personal net worth has been estimated at US$100million. Getting serious: The pair marked another significant milestone in their relationship, by going public on social media At one point, the family even owned their own elephant named Budweiser. In 2017, the young entrepreneur launched his own beer called Sons Beer with best friends Carlo Mondavi and Elliott Taylor. Despite initially isolating in Australia amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Wilson eventually joined Busch's quarantine in Los Angeles. Happy in love: Busch looked every inch the perfect date, as he sported a black tuxedo and a bright smile Social media debut: Rebel Wilson debuted her boyfriend for the first time on her Instagram account with a star-studded slideshow of them boarding a helicopter in Monaco Having fun: While the Isn't It Romantic star and Busch, 29, held back on any public displays of affection, they are reportedly 'officially boyfriend and girlfriend' The insider noted that the heir to the Anheuser-Busch fortune is 'very health conscious' and enjoys how he and Wilson have been 'motivating each other' on their 'health journeys.' Previously, he dated the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Adrienne Maloof, 59, who is nearly twice his age. The divorced mother-of-three and Busch have dated on and off since 2013. On-again, off-again: Previously, he dated the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Adrienne Maloof, 59, who is nearly twice his age (seen in 2018) Former flame: Rebel previously dated Mickey Gooch Jr, a fellow comedian, who she parted with in 2015 (pictured) after they 'both realized the attraction really wasnt there anymore' 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. A zoo lioness is seen biting her tiny cub in a worrying video, prompting keepers to remove her two babies and give them to a German shepherd named Sandra to suckle. There were fears for the life of the 'emaciated and dehydrated' newborn kittens at the White Lion Park in the Russian city of Vladivostok. 'What the mother lion is doing is not quite normal,' said park director Viktor Agafonov. 'She is biting them 'One cub seems even to have a little wound. 'This is completely abnormal.' A zoo lioness is seen biting her tiny cub in a worrying video, prompting keepers to remove her two babies and give them to a German shepherd named Sandra to suckle There were fears for the life of the 'emaciated and dehydrated' newborn kittens at the White Lion Park in the Russian city of Vladivostok 'What the mother lion is doing is not quite normal,' said park director Viktor Agafonov Sirona the lioness is a first-time mother and described as 'very introverted, reserved and secretive' before keepers saw she was failing to care properly for her infants. There were no such problems with the park's faithful German Shepherd, which had recently given birth to one puppy. 'It is interesting that this dog doesn't like cats, yet she decided to accept the little African lions into her family,' said Agafonov. 'She has a puppy, smaller than lion cubs. 'But the dog has enough milk because in the past she has fed eight puppies.' He praised the eight-year-old foster mum for taking on the cubs. Sirona the lioness is a first-time mother and described as 'very introverted, reserved and secretive' before keepers saw she was failing to care properly for her infants There were no such problems with the park's faithful German Shepherd, which had recently given birth to one puppy 'It is interesting that this dog doesn't like cats, yet she decided to accept the little African lions into her family,' said Agafonov 'This dog helped us a lot, obviously, and she will help the cubs to survive because their mum, Sirona, didn't come close to them. 'The male cub is already sucking milk carefully. 'And the girl cub is taking it too.' He said it was an 'unusual case when a representative of one animal species fosters cubs of another, let alone wild. 'The dog's milk is very appropriate for the cubs, it has all necessary nutrients for normal development.' live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Six-month loan moratorium and one-time loan restructuring may have come as a boon for COVID-hit borrowers and lending institutions to delay the pain. But analysts have raised warning signals on the likely build-up of hidden stress in the banking system on account of these measures. Indian banks may be looking at a prolonged period of uncertainty on asset quality front for about two years on account of significant restructuring exercise for COVID-linked loans. Under the restructuring, banks relax repayment terms for stressed borrowers without classifying these loans as bad loans. In fact, banks have already begun the process of rolling out the COVID resolution schemes by putting up FAQs and online tools on websites. The idea is to help borrowers understand their eligibility and the processes that need to be followed. At least two banks, State Bank of India (SBI) and HDFC Bank, have published the details of one-time loan restructuring schemes on their websites. Others are expected to follow. Under this, banks can offer up to two years of loan moratorium extension to those borrowers whose cash flows have been impacted by COVID. While retail borrowers can apply on the websites, corporate customers will have to discuss their eligibility for the scheme with banks on a case-to-case basis. The restructuring will mean actual NPAs will remain suppressed till the extended moratorium period gets over, said Jaikishan Parmar, an analyst at Angel Broking Ltd. There will be a systemic impact on account of the restructuring process, said Parmar. To fight COVID, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) permitted financial institutions to offer a moratorium on all term loans. This period expired on August 31. While the regular repayments should have started by September 1, the Supreme Court has directed banks not to tag accounts as fresh NPAs that are standard as on March 31. 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 restructuring facility up to two years under the COVID resolution framework would mean the moratorium can get extended for two more years. Analysts estimate about 5-8 percent of the total loan book to go under restructuring given the stress in the banking system. Total gross NPAs of Indian banks stood at around 8.5 percent in March 2020. According to the RBI, this ratio could rise up to 15 percent by March 2021 in a worst-case scenario. A significant chunk of both individual and corporate borrowers have availed moratorium facility already. Going by the RBIs latest Financial Stability Report in July, 56.2 percent of retail loans were under moratorium as on April 30 against only 39.1 percent of corporate loans. Massive restructurings done in the past have contributed to hidden NPAs. Till 2015, when the RBI initiated a major asset quality review (AQR), banking system gross NPAs were just around Rs 2-3 lakh crore. However, after the AQR, the NPAs shot up to Rs 8-9 lakh crore after banks were forced to dig out NPAs from their balance sheets. The restructuring exercise, this time, has been designed with much more caution, in a time-bound manner. How does the restructuring plan work? Under the RBI guidelines, accounts classified as standard and not in default for more than 30 days as on March 1 shall be eligible for restructuring. The invocation of the resolution plan can be done until December 31, 2020. The scheme will have to be implemented within 90 days of such an invocation. The RBI had appointed an expert panel under KV Kamath to decide the financial ratios for restructuring. The panel identified 26 sectors for which five key financial ratios were identified. The central bank has broadly accepted the panel recommendations. As per the Kamath panel, nearly 72 percent of the corporate debt falls in identified stressed sectors, including traders, metal, textiles, NBFCs, infra/construction, power, real estate and auto. According to rating agency Crisil, nearly two-thirds of the companies rated by it would be eligible for one-time debt restructuring based on the parameters proposed by the KV Kamath Committee. CRISIL studied its rated portfolio of more than 8,500 companies after sorting them by rating, sector and moratorium availed. The broad-level assessment is based on financial projections and excludes small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and financial sector companies (please refer to annexure for methodology), the agency said. Is restructuring just delaying the pain? It is not a solution by itself. Restructuring gives only an option to companies for relaxed repayment terms. Companies will need to repay the loan once this is over. In the past, a good chunk of the loans that were restructured had gone bad. Given the impaired ability to generate healthy cash flow, some of these disruptions may continue for a few more months. We believe a good portion of these restructured accounts may eventually turn non-performing, said Anand Rathi in its report. In the past, the banking system has attempted multiple loan recast mechanisms, including corporate debt restructuring (CDR), joint lenders forum (JLF), and Strategic debt restructuring (SDR). However, in February 2018, the central bank withdrew all such schemes with Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) becoming the main option for banks to resolve stressed assets. Banks may be preparing for bad loan shock by aggressively looking at the asset reconstruction space. According to a report in the Economic Times, Brookfield Group is set to re-enter the asset reconstruction space by teaming up with SBI and HDFC. Macquarie Capital has estimated that stressed assets could more than double and touch nearly 20 percent by the end of FY21. Bad loan ratio at the end of March 2020 stood at 8.5 percent. As per our estimates, we believe overall stressed assets for banks is expected to touch 20 per cent by FY21E which is perhaps the highest observed in the history of the banking system in India and also one of the highest in the world, said Suresh Ganapathy, Associate Director, Macquarie Capital. So what lies ahead for banks if the economic activity doesnt recover as expected? Analysts expect a majority of the restructured loans to go bad, impacting the financial health of banks and forcing the regulator to initiate another clean-up cycle. 923 iPhone201930% 2 2016 2017 iPhone2%VivoOPPO 22021 2 She tied the knot in a stunning Vegas ceremony earlier this month. Yet it was back to life as normal for Lily Allen on Thursday as she took to social media to share a slew of snaps, including an abs-flashing selfie and a teeth whitening shot. The songstress, 35, looked incredible in the snap as she turned what appeared to be a workout session into a photo opp. Wow: It was back to life as normal for Lily Allen on Thursday as she took to social media to share a slew of snaps, including an abs-flashing selfie and a teeth whitening shot Lily was putting on a showstopping display while showing off her figure for the camera and pulling her very best pose. She paired a Nike crop top with a pair of high-waisted leggings as she stood in her jam-packed wardrobe which gave a glimpse of her lavish wardrobe. She was also indulging in some pampering as she whitened her teeth, while her new husband has remained the in States since the wedding. The couple, who were first romantically linked in 2019, surprised fans by revealing they had exchanged vows in a wedding officiated by an Elvis Presley impersonator. Glowing: She was also indulging in some pampering as she whitened her teeth, while her new husband has remained the in States since the wedding Happy days: She played a version of her debut single Smile over the top of the video Sharing photos to his Instagram shortly after the ceremony, Harbour wrote: 'In a wedding officiated by the king himself... 'The people's princess wed her devoted, low born, but kind credit card holder in a beautiful ceremony lit by the ashen skies courtesy of a burning state miles away in the midst of a global pandemic.' Lily opted for a short white double-breasted dress with a bateau neckline, black buttons, and a belted waist teamed with black suede platforms heels and a small bouquet of pink flowers. Warm wishes: She tied the knot in a stunning Vegas ceremony earlier this month Lily went onto share a snap with David outside the wedding chapel, before revealing they celebrated their marriage but grabbing fast food from In-N-Out. They were joined by Lily's children Ethel, eight, and Marnie, seven, from her first marriage to Sam Cooper as they tucked into their fast food outside. According to TMZ, Lily and David registered to marry in Sin City at the end of last week, with a license valid for 12 months. Delicious: The couple exchanged their vows in Las Vegas before celebrating their union by grabbing a burger from the fast food chain In-N-Out Public records obtained by the website state the expiration date for the license is September 6 2021 - meaning they were to wed within the year. Lily's first wedding was very different - an idyllic ceremony in Gloucestershire in 2011 to Sam Cooper, whom she eventually split from in 2016. The couple divide their time between the UK and the US and sparked engagement rumours in May, when Lily revealed a distinctive looking ring on social media. Scientists are calling for answers as to why the US arm of Oxford's Covid-19 vaccine trial is still on hold two weeks after it was first paused. AstraZeneca, the drug giant which owns the rights to the experimental jab, stopped global trials on September 8 because a British volunteer was hospitalised. She has now been discharged. Uncertainty remains about what happened to the unnamed 37-year-old because of medical confidentiality. But leaked documents claimed she developed 'transverse myelitis' a neurological condition which left her struggling to walk. Doctors restarted trials in the UK on September 12 after an independent safety review committee and the UK regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, investigated and deemed it safe to do so. But US regulators have yet to give it the green light to restart, despite trials of the leading vaccine also continuing in Brazil, India and South Africa. Scientists are racing to find an effective jab, which could put an end to the pandemic, stop the need for more draconian lockdowns, and save millions of lives. Experts have blasted drug giant AstraZeneca based in Cambridge for not being transparent about the side effect. The firm insists there is no proof to say the adverse reaction was caused by the vaccine itself. AstraZeneca's chief executive officer Pascal Soriot said today 'we are waiting for FDA decision on resuming US'. He also said people would need to 'trust that the experts, whose job it is to monitor these trials, are doing a good job', in reviewing the safety data. It comes after President Donald Trump accused the FDA with no evidence of trying to delay a coronavirus vaccine until after the election for political purposes. Trump reportedly wants to bypass normal US regulatory standards to fast-track Oxford's vaccine for use in America by October ahead of the presidential election in November. AstraZeneca, the drug giant which owns the rights to the experimental jab, stopped global trials on September 8 because a British volunteer was hospitalised. Pictured: A volunteer gets a jab in South Africa AstraZeneca's CEO Pascal Soriot said today 'we are waiting for FDA decision on resuming US', suggesting the decision is in the regulators hands Mr Soriot said during a virtual briefing of the World Economic Forum: 'We are waiting to hear from the FDA that is reviewing the data. 'Essentially the data is reviewed by an independent safety committee that is then submitted to the regulator. 'And because the study is conducted by Oxford University we are not the sponsor, they are. And they are of course focused on providing all this information to the regulators in all the other countries where they are sponsor. 'We are the sponsor of the US study, so we provided all this information to the FDA. And we are waiting to hear their decision.' WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BRITISH VOLUNTEER? There have been several reports about the woman's state of health since AstraZeneca first announced trials were being paused on September 8. The drug giant announced studies in the UK, US, South Africa and Brazil had been paused indefinitely while it investigated whether the patient's illness was connected to the vaccine. No details about the patient suffering the potential side-effect, or the nature of the reaction, were given in the initial statement, which said: 'In large trials illnesses will happen by chance but must be independently reviewed to check this carefully.' Medical news site Stat first reported the pause in the study, while The New York Times quoted a source saying a trial volunteer had transverse myelitis. Amid rife suspicion, on September 9, Stat News reported AstraZeneca's CEO, Pascal Soriot, told investors in a conference call that the trial was stopped because the woman had symptoms consistent with transverse myelitis. Later that day, AstraZeneca said the media reports were 'incorrect', and that Mr Soriot had 'stated that there is no final diagnosis and that there will not be one until more tests are carried out'. A leaked AstraZeneca report seen by CNN gave details about the 37-year-old woman. The document, which is labelled an 'initial report', was sent to doctors running the clinical trials to warn them of the hospitalised British patient. It described how the study participant 'had trouble walking, weakness and pain in her arms, and other symptoms'. Fourteen days after receiving her second dose of the vaccine in late August, the woman 'experienced confirmed transverse myelitis', the report allegedly says. On September 2, while running, the study participant 'had a trip (not fall) with a jolt.' The report notes that she did not have any obvious injury to her cervical spine. The next day, the woman had symptoms including difficulty walking, pain and weakness in her arms, pain and reduced sensation in her torso, a headache and reduced ability to use her hands. She was hospitalised on September 5, several days prior to the SUSAR sent to doctors, and medical news website Stat said she was due to be discharged on September 9 a discharge date was never officially confirmed. The AstraZeneca report mentions twice that the woman was diagnosed with 'confirmed' transverse myelitis - which is in contrast to the company's claims last week that the condition was yet to be confirmed. The cover sheet on the report, allegedly sent by a contractor hired by AstraZeneca, also described her illness as 'confirmed' transverse myelitis. A neurologist who saw the woman said her case 'suggested the symptoms were consistent with the diagnosis of transverse myelitis' and that she had no past history of neurological symptoms or significant illnesses. But at another point, the report claimed to highlight there was 'limited information concerning the subject's relevant medical history.' The neurologist said the woman's symptoms started to get better quite rapid 'considering her illness started only four days ago'. 'Her symptoms were improving. Her strength and dexterity in her hands was getting better,' the report said. Physicians diagnose transverse myelitis by performing a thorough neurological examination. They use tests, such as an MRI and lumbar puncture, to rule out any other problems, such as an injury. In response to the article in CNN, AstraZeneca said it contained 'inaccuracies including the diagnosis, which is based on preliminary findings'. But it refused to reveal what they were. Advertisement It comes after The Telegraph reported the FDA, the main drug regulator and American equivalent of the MHRA, has requested further data on two adverse reactions in the vaccine trial. Experts have speculated there has been a lack of communication from AstraZeneca, while criticising it for being ambiguous about what happened to the British volunteer. An earlier pause to the trial, in July, was not made public until news of this month's pause leaked, which further damaged trust. The trial was restarted the first time after it was determined the volunteer had an 'undiagnosed case of multiple sclerosis', a condition that can cause the same neurological reaction as transverse myelitis. It was not related to the vaccine, investigators concluded. AstraZeneca did not explain how that conclusion was reached or why it waited more than a month to mention it publicly. It has also not been disclosed by the drug company or the MHRA how the decision to move forward with trials in the UK was made the second time around. AstraZeneca, which owns the rights to the vaccine named AZD1222, never confirmed what condition the British woman suffered from. It has also insisted there is no proof that the vaccine was to blame. Professor Peter Jay Hotez, a virologist with Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, had said: 'Most likely the serious adverse events described by the AstraZeneca chief executive are unrelated to the vaccine. 'The problem is that we learn about them through a teleconference from the CEO to JP Morgan investors. This is disastrous from a communications perspective, and says to me that [Mr Soriot is] oblivious to the fragility of the vaccine ecosystem.' Professor Hotez was referring to the fact that on September 9, Stat News reported that Mr Soriot told investors in a conference call that the trial was stopped because the woman had symptoms consistent with transverse myelitis. This was not publicly known information at the time. Professor Hotez told the New York Times: 'The communication around it has been horrible and unacceptable. This is not how the American people should be hearing about this.' Professor Hotez has also previously criticised UK regulators who he said had failed to supply a clear rationale for resuming their trials. 'Tell us why you came to that decision,' Professor Hotez was reported as saying. Professor Scott Lucas, of the department of political science and international studies at University of Birmingham, also believes a lack of communication is behind the slow restart. He told MailOnline: 'I dont think that its necessarily the US is stricter than the UK. I think both have fairly rigorous regulatory systems. 'I think it is a question of communication and of what happened to US officials, so the US has moved more slowly.' Mr Soriot was pressed during the briefing this morning on the subject of transparency. Mr Soriot responded: 'First of all I should say, stopping a trial in a vaccine programme is not uncommon. It's not common either but it happens. 'The question is how can much transparency can you provide? The clinical guidelines recommend you don't disclose patient level information. And you don't disclose much information at all because you could compromise study.' He said AstraZeneca was in discussion with other companies in the industry to come to some sort of consensus about level of transparency 'without compromising patient privacy and the trial itself', considering the 'special set of circumstances'. He added: 'We all want to be as transparent as possible in all honesty. But the reality is we have to protect patients' privacy and also the study integrity. 'At the end of the day, I think people have to accept that they have to trust someone at some point. So you have independent safety committees, you have regulators, and you don't have one regulator, you have several around the world... so many regulators will look at this data and these results with different eyes. 'But at the end of the day, you've got to trust that the experts, whose job it is to monitor these trials, are doing a good job.' Robyn Porteous, from South Africa, is injected with a coronavirus vaccine as part of the country's trial to find a jab PATRICK VALLANCE HAS 600,000 OF SHARES IN VACCINE MAKER CONTRACTED TO MAKE JABS FOR UK Sir Patrick Vallance speaking to the nation on Monday night. He and Chris Whitty outlined why the Government was announcing a raft of new lockdown measures Sir Patrick Vallance has a 600,000 shareholding in a pharmaceuticals giant which is racing to develop a Covid vaccine for the Government, a report has revealed. The Chief Scientific Adviser holds the deferred bonus of 43,111 shares in GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) from his time as president of the multinational company. Sir Patrick has already sold more than 5million in shares he received during his tenure from 2012 to 2018, when he was appointed by the Government. Accounts seen by the Telegraph show that Sir Patrick held 404,201 GSK shares when he resigned, worth 6.1million at today's price. Sir Patrick, who also chairs the Government's expert panel on vaccines, predicted at a news conference this week that the first effective doses of a jab might become available on a limited basis by the end of this year. GSK is one of more than 20 drugs companies around the world in the race to provide the cure for coronavirus an achievement which would be colossally lucrative. Advertisement Yesterday, the Washington Post reported the FDA will issue tougher requirements for its approval of a coronavirus vaccine. Regulators could publish the new approval standards as early as this week, and will do so publicly in an effort to bolster Americans' eroded trust in the US to ensure the safety of a Covid-19 vaccine. According to a Axios poll, less that less than 40 per cent of Americans now say they would get a coronavirus vaccine, with most citing fears over its safety, driven by the Trump administration's concerted effort to expedite the development process. The move could obliterate chances of a shot getting emergency use authorization before Election Day. President Trump and his Operation Warp Speed initiative have been pushing for months to have a coronavirus vaccine approved ahead of the November 3. They reportedly want to bypass normal US regulatory standards to fast-track Oxford's vaccine for use in America by October. But Trump accused the FDA with no evidence of trying to delay a coronavirus vaccine until after the election for political purposes. 'The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics,' he tweeted at the end of August from the White House. 'Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!' Professor Lucas said: 'Trump's only motive here is to get re-elected and to get a vaccine shown as effective before November 3. If it ended up killing a lot of people after November 3, it's irresponsible and youve scared people to think any vaccine will cause that effect. 'Certain politicians have tried to push aside the scientific advice, and once you do that, it has very serious effects. 'Yes, this trial has had two adverse cases and that must be seriously considered. There must be communication, but that is to safeguard the scientific process and it must not manipulated by politics. 'The more that politics tries to exploit our fear and concern, it could undermine the effort against Covid-19 because it could scupper vaccine trials.' The FDA could be acting out of caution, it has been suggested. It controversially approved hydroxychloroquine the Trump-backed malaria drug for emergency use in treating Covid-19 patients at the end of March. MORE THAN A FIFTH OF UK ADULTS 'WILL REFUSE VACCINE WHEN ONE IS MADE' A fifth of people in the UK may refuse to be vaccinated against coronavirus when a jab is available, a major study warned. Researchers found a 'concerning level of misinformation around vaccines' which could significantly affect uptake once a Covid-19 vaccine is approved. In the largest survey of its kind, 22 per cent of people said they were unlikely to be vaccinated with 10 per cent strongly opposed to it. Just half (49 per cent) of the 17,500 people asked by University College London researchers said they 'very likely' to be immunised, while three-quarters (78 per cent) said they considered it 'likely'. Concerns over vaccine safety, mistrust of pharmaceutical companies and a preference for natural immunity were some of the factors behind the low uptake, which authors stressed 'lack any basis in fact.' Advertisement But the same body stripped the drug of its approval in June after data showed it didn't have any effect. Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH, last week claimed that it is 'just a matter of time' before the trial resumes in the US, offering hope the vaccine will be back on track to become one of the first approved. Uncertainty remains about what happened to the unnamed woman, who received the first dose of the experimental vaccine in June and the second in August. AstraZeneca has repeatedly refused to confirm the diagnosis of transverse myelitis. It also insists there is no proof that the vaccine was to blame for the woman's symptoms, which are believed to have now subsided. A 'participant information sheet' on Oxford's website, updated on September 11, gave further clues into the side effects experienced by volunteers so far. It said: 'In the current trial we have undertaken safety reviews when volunteers in the trials of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 developed unexplained neurological symptoms including changed sensation or limb weakness, and have paused the study while a safety review took place. 'After independent review, these illnesses were either considered unlikely to be associated with the vaccine or there was insufficient evidence to say for certain that the illnesses were or were not related to the vaccine.' It did not mention transverse myelitis, despite the reports of the diagnosis. However, it did say Guillain-Barre syndrome could occur. Guillain-Barre syndrome and transverse myelitis are closely related conditions, both causing inflammation of the spinal cord. It said: 'Reactions in the nervous system are also extremely rare, but can include an illness called Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition in which people can develop severe weakness and can be fatal.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 13:58:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Japan's new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga spoke with South Korean President Moon Jae-in via phone on Thursday, which was their first conversation since Suga took office last week. In the talks that lasted about 20 minutes, Suga urged Moon to create an opportunity for the two countries to "return to a constructive relationship," according to a Japanese official who briefed reporters. The official added that the two leaders agreed to work toward allowing business people to travel between the two countries amid COVID-19 restrictions. After the phone conversation, Suga told reporters that he would continue to "strongly urge South Korea to take appropriate action." According to local media, Suga's remarks continued the hardline stance taken by his predecessor Shinzo Abe. However, he also said, "Japan and South Korea are extremely important neighbors and we must work together as well as with the United States to deal with issues including North Korea (the DPRK)." The phone call was also the first talks between the leaders of the neighboring countries in nine months amid a diplomatic feud since a meeting between Abe and Moon in Chengdu, China, in December last year. Ties have deteriorated between both sides following a South Korean Supreme Court decision in October 2018 ordering Nippon Steel to compensate South Koreans for forced labor under Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule. Japan, for its part, has claimed the rulings are not in line with international law and run contrary to the foundation of friendly and cooperative relations between the two neighbors since the 1965 normalization of diplomatic ties. Enditem The Egyptian capital Cairo has been chosen to house the headquarters of the eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, Arab Finance reports citing statement from Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. Egypt, Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and Israel according to the ministry signed the forums statute to promote natural gas exports from the eastern Mediterranean. The forum is aiming at advancing regional stability and prosperity through cooperation in the energy field, to further achieve gas sustainability. The choice of Egypt, according to the statement underlines another step in Egypts of becoming the premier energy hub across the region. The intergovernmental body is a blow to Turkey embroiled in a Mediterranean crisis with Greece and Cyprus over gas drilling rights in the region. Egypt is emerging as regional gas hub. The country discovered in 2015 the giant Zohr field, the largest ever in the region. The field has an estimated capacity of 30 trillion cubic feet of lean gas. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blasted United States sanctions in his address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, while avoiding any mention of a report accusing his government of crimes against humanity. In a lengthy, prerecorded speech that ran more than twice the allotted time, the socialist leader denounced what he called a criminal, inhuman aggression by the US aimed at ousting him from power, and said Venezuela would resist. The world must know that we are prepared to fight with the force of our history, our spirit, reason and international law, he said, standing before a giant portrait of South American independence hero Simon Bolivar. The speech marks Maduro's return to the world stage after his absence last year as political tumult embroiled the country. The US, which doesn't recognize him as Venezuela's legitimate president, has indicted him on drug charges. Maduro likely would have skipped this year's proceedings too, had the pandemic not forced the UN summit to go virtual. Even though he would have UN diplomatic immunity, Maduro would be taking a risk by traveling to the US, where there is a $15 million bounty for information leading to his arrest. The South American nation's political feud pitting Maduro against US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido frequently spills into the international arena, where the world's greatest powers have staked a claim in the country's discord. This year's online General Assembly offered Maduro a leg up, relegating opposition leaders who in 2019 held side events with powerful leaders further along the margins. Guaido nonetheless tried to make his voice heard, releasing his own pre-recorded video in rebuttal to Maduro on social media platforms. Standing before four Venezuelan flags, he spoke as if addressing a room full of dignitaries, calling his statement an act of democratic vindication by the nation's true representatives. The dictatorial regime of Nicolas Maduro with its ties to drug trafficking and human rights violations is also usurping Venezuela's right to speak, he said. The online sphere, as it turns out, still offered both men a stage, but Maduro's outsized image on giant screens broadcasting his speech in the green marbled UN General Assembly hall nonetheless served as a symbolic microcosm for the country's ordeal. Though deeply unpopular, Maduro still controls every aspect of life in Venezuela. Guaido, though backed by influential world leaders, is increasingly powerless within the beleaguered nation, his popularity dropping as he struggles to rally more than a small crowd of supporters at recent calls for protest. The United Nations has been providing humanitarian aid and shining a light on human rights abuses. The secretary general has pressed for dialogue. Though nearly 60 nations support Guaido, many UN members back Maduro. I do think the fact that Maduro is recognized by the majority of UN members highlights the difference between Guaido's democratic legitimacy and Maduro's de facto control on the ground, said Geoff Ramsey, a Venezuela researcher at the Washington Office on Latin America think tank Over time Maduro has effectively demonstrated he is the one in charge. Peppering his remarks with jabs at the US, Maduro strove to present himself as a diplomatic statesman, noting that he recently freed several dozen prisoners, including several high-profile opposition leaders. And, as he often does, he portrayed himself as a man of dialogue, looking to peacefully resolve the country's ills. It is through political, diplomatic and mutually agreed upon negotiation that we will reach the solution of this dispute inherited from imperial colonialism, he said. At no point did Maduro mention a recent scathing, in-depth report commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council that accuses his government of grisly crimes including torture and killings allegedly carried out by security forces. The techniques they used included electric shocks, genital mutilation and asphyxiation. Heads of state from several neighboring nations have used their platform at the General Assembly to denounce Maduro as an autocrat whose poor handling of his country's oil wealth has led to a humanitarian and economic collapse. Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra implored the UN to help find a political solution to Venezuela's crisis before it turns into a chronic situation which nobody desires, especially the Venezuelan people who suffer from it. Guaido, for his part, urged UN member nations who have been silent until now to join in pressuring the Maduro government to back down. To those who at some point justified or supported Maduro: I want to reiterate the call to do what's right, stop human rights violations that in this instant continue, to collaborate to put an end to the terror that the egregious dictatorship intends to impose, he said. Venezuela is in the midst of a staggering economic decline that even before the COVID-19 pandemic was considered worse than the US Great Depression. The Trump administration has hit the Maduro government with sanctions. Maduro characterized the punitive measures as an illegal blockade that have dealt a crippling blow but which his administration has managed to circumvent. It is a battle for peace, for our homeland, for the region, for humanity, he said standing along Venezuelan and UN flags in a towering, red-carpeted room. He also denounced the US as the most serious threat to peace in this world. Online, neither Maduro nor Guaido seemed to generate wide viewership, though Venezuelans on both sides of the feud weighed in with comments that seemed to reflect a mutual exhaustion from an ordeal that has brought them few solutions. Give us a speech with concrete actions, please, one man implored. We are tired. ONE of Limerick and Irelands leading intensive care consultants has said we are all at risk while there is one person in the world who is infected with Covid-19. Dr Catherine Motherway, consultant in intensive care medicine at UHL, issued a blunt warning to the public, as the hospital had its first Covid ICU cases in over a month. She said that during the swine flu pandemic, the ICU ran at double capacity for nearly three weeks but it was nothing quite like this. She said the hospital does have a surge plan, which includes the redeployment of people to the ICU when there is a surge in capacity. However, she said they are resource-constrained and a lot of those plans rely on us trying to not do the scheduled work. This week, there have been two Covid-19 patients treated in ICU at UHL. This is the first time since August 10 when there was just one patient in the unit. According to the latest HSE figures, there have been 89 new cases in the past two weeksan incidence rate of 45.7 per 100,000. Labour Party leader Alan Kelly asked Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Tuesday evening for the criteria to set up walk-in testing centres, after Limerick City North experienced a high incidence rate. He said that the area desperately needs it. There has been political concern in relation to how UHL will cope with a possible surge in Covid-19 cases this winter. Hopefully by the time winter comes, we will have extra beds on stream, Dr Motherway told the Leader, referring to the 60-bed block that is set to be completed by the end of the year. In addition, 24 new beds have been opened in recent weeks at the Dooradoyle hospital. She said that there is a huge concern" about the incoming winter, however. She said that if people obey restrictions, there will be fewer flu and Covid-19 cases. She said the deferral of scheduled care last week was a source of great distress. She said that patients with Covid-19 take weeks to recover in intensive care, and that it takes a lot of effort, so we need fairly good intensive care resources. She said that Covid-19 patients have to be nursed on their stomach a lot which requires a lot of physical handling of the patient. She added that they have a very high incidence of getting clots and kidney failure. While there is one person in this world with that disease, we are all at risk. It is really, really infectious, she said. She has also urged people to attend scheduled Covid swab tests and to not go to work if you are feeling unwell this winter. For more Limerick news click here 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. Mr. Trump responded Wednesday morning with digs at both Mr. Biden and Mr. McCain. Joe Biden was John McCains lapdog, he wrote on Twitter. So many BAD decisions on Endless Wars & the V.A., which I brought from a horror show to HIGH APPROVAL. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) - The countrys coronavirus task force has approved the reopening of Boracay Island to tourists coming from areas under general community quarantine beginning Oct. 1. We further state that effective Oct. 1, 2020, Boracay Island may accept tourists from areas within a community quarantine classification of General Community Quarantine or lower, apart from travelers from Western Visayas, read Resolution No. 74 released on Thursday by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). With the reopening of the popular tourist destination, visitors must first take a coronavirus test and undergo a strict quarantine until the date of travel to the island. Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon said on Thursday that all guests must have pre-arranged reservations. On the other hand, the local government of Malay town, which has jurisdiction over the island in the province of Aklan, said nearly 200 establishments in Boracay have also been given permission to operate. READ: Traveling to Boracay? What you need to know ahead of islands opening to more locals Furthermore, the IATF-EID also said that age restrictions for visitors will be relaxed but restrictions will be imposed among those with comorbidities, or those with more than one disease or condition. The task force noted that planes must land at the Godofredo R. Ramos Airport in Caticlan. It also reminded that a local COVID-19 laboratory on the island must be operational. Rachel Harrison, one of the co-founders of Lion & Lamb Communications, has started up Rachel Harrison Communications, a full-service PR and multichannel marketing firm. Harrison will helm the New York City-based firm, which will also have representation in Los Angeles, London, Boston and Mexico City. RHC will work with clients across the travel & hospitality, wine & spirits, health & sustainability and technology sectors. It will offer a full suite of communication services, including RHC Digital, an online strategy division. RHC Digitals capabilities will encompass social media, content marketing, email marketing, digital advertising, website design and development, and creative production. During a time of great uncertainty, our agency will fill a gap for many businesses facing unprecedented challenges, said Harrison. The Hispanic Public Relations Association has launched HPRA Texas, its sixth formalized chapter in the nation. HPRA Texas aims to provide professional development initiatives, deepen industry partnerships, explore research opportunities and connect like-minded leaders working to create impact within the communications industry. The chapters 2020 executive board of directors includes APC Collective CEO Audrey Ponzio, who will serve as president; Big Oak Tree Media managing partner (vice president); and APC Collectives Brianna Hernandez (secretary) and Jennifer Meza (treasurer). By 2022, Texas is estimated to become a Latinx majority state, said Ponzio. From El Paso to Dallas and everywhere in between the HPRA Texas chapter looks forward to serving the growing number of PR professionals across Texas. To become a member of HPRA Texas, email hpratexas@gmail.com. Due to COVID-19, membership fees will be waived for 2020. RooneyPartners has developed the RP HealthCast, a public-service podcast devoted to broadcasting reliable and factual information about the coronavirus pandemic to the public. Over 20 episodes have been posted since April 21, most featuring interviews with journalists from media outlets including the New York Times, Bloomberg, CNBC, Forbes, Fortune, Wired, Yahoo! Finance, Fast Company, Business Insider and Barrons. The podcast, hosted by RooneyPartners head of medical communications Jeffrey Freedman, is available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Alexa, TuneIn, Stitcher and Google Play as well as at www.rphealthcast.com. Giving a human voice to great journalism and journalists is our way of supporting a free press, turning a few heads and, hopefully, informing a few minds, says RooneyPartners founder Terry Rooney. College students are under a lot of stress, even more so lately due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on certain personality types, especially neurotic personalities, college health courses could help students develop a more positive stress mindset, according to research from faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York. A research team including Binghamton University Health and Wellness Studies Lecturer Jennifer Wegmann sought to evaluate the impact of health education on the change of stress mindset and also to explore the role of personality in the change of stress mindset when there is a specific focus on improving individual health and well-being. Specifically, they sought to assess the relationship between each personality dimension (i.e., neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness) and stress mindset change over time. The findings surrounding specific personality dimensions were interesting. It appears that engaging in health education is beneficial in changing perceptions of stress for some students but not all -- based on personality. For example, significant changes were elicited in students who scored high on the neuroticism scale but no significance was shown for students on the extroversion scale. Neurotic students tend to be worriers with high anxiety. The findings of this research show how focusing on their health, in general, can change these typically high-stressed students' beliefs about the stress they experience." Lecturer Jennifer Wegmann, Binghamton University The researchers conducted an online survey with a group of 423 students taking a college health education course. They asked students to rate the extent to which they agreed with a series of statements. Analyzing the data, the researchers found that students with specific personality types, especially neurotic students, were more likely to improve their stress mindset by engaging in health education. Wegmann said the most interesting thing about these findings is that change in stress mindset was elicited not through focusing on stress and changing mindsets specifically, but rather by students focusing on their overall health and wellness. Colleges may not have the faculty, space or funding to provide stress-specific courses, but this research shows there is another avenue to help students navigate their stress, Wegmann said. "This is important for several reasons," said Wegmann. "First, helping students develop a more positive or enhancing stress mindset has been associated with improved mental health, increased performance and productivity. Second, general health education courses are available to large numbers of students. There typically are few, if any, stress-specific courses offered on college campuses,' and if they are offered, many are limited in student capacity." Wegmann said that the next step is to work on discovering what approach will be helpful for all students. "According to our research, this approach was not helpful for everyone," said Wegmann. "While these findings are providing novel and interesting information, as a stress researcher who works to help students become more productive and healthy, I want to know what other avenues will reach our students." Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg described the United States as a pendulum, saying that when it swings too far in one direction; it will go back. She was optimistic about Americas future, and we are, too, even as we mourn her death and celebrate her life and judicial legacy. During her tenure on the United States Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg authored historic decisions supporting gender equality and blistering dissents when the majority on the court deserved it. This past term, she displayed her compassion for the plight of working women by dissenting in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania, which upheld the Trump administrations expansive religious and moral exemptions for employers who object to providing contraceptive coverage in group health plans. She criticized this decision for leav[ing] women workers to fend for themselves, to seek contraceptive coverage from sources other than their employers insurer, and, absent another available source of funding, to pay for contraceptive services out of their own pockets. READ MORE: Supreme Court strikes down Louisiana abortion clinic law Calling out the courts egregious error, Justice Ginsburg acknowledged the practical realities of women impacted by the ruling who would immediately lose access to no-cost contraceptive services, an essential component of health care and economic stability. Justice Ginsburg was a champion of reproductive rights and freedom. With the fight underway to fill her seat with a sixth conservative judge, there is reason to worry that the Supreme Court will overturn or limit Roe v. Wade, eviscerating our liberty right under the United States Constitution to choose to have an abortion. READ MORE: The next Supreme Court justice must protect the Affordable Care Act | Opinion The composition of the court aside, politicians have been advancing restrictive abortion laws in state legislatures at an alarming rate. Since 2011, state legislatures have passed over 400 restrictive laws, and in the first half of 2020 alone introduced 236 provisions to restrict abortion access. This concerted strategy to undermine meaningful access to abortion has already left our most vulnerable communities, including poor women and women of color, in a world without Roe. Indeed, when asked about the possibility of Roe being overturned, Justice Ginsburg stated: There is no woman of means in the United States who will not be able to get a safe abortion if she wants one all of the restrictions [of abortion] operate only against poor women including those who cannot afford time off work to travel to the nearest clinic. Justice Ginsburg never gave up when facing a challenge, and neither will we. There is little doubt that Roe is in jeopardy, but opponents of abortion need to know that our basic human right to self-determination, including whether to have children or not and to raise our families with dignity, is nonnegotiable. We must demand Roe remain good law under the United States Constitution and shore up our rights in the states. READ MORE: Should SCOTUS overturn Roe, the landmark abortion decision? | Pro/Con At the Womens Law Project, we are working to ensure robust judicial interpretation of the Equal Rights Amendment and equal protection provisions under the Pennsylvania Constitution. We advocate for evidence-based legislation that will improve the health, economic security, and safety of women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and their families, as we see all these issues as connected. Currently, there are a number of bills pending in Pennsylvania to address the systemic oppression that devalues the lives and labor of women and people of color, often specifically threatening their reproductive health. The bills would raise the minimum wage (HB 1215/SB 12), protect pregnant workers from discrimination (HB 1417), protect workers who pump at work (HB 1177), provide paid family leave (HB 1739/SB 580), close loopholes in our state equal pay law (HB 850/SB 721), expand access to contraception (HB 2813), protect LGBTQ workers from discrimination (HB 1404), address systemic racism in health care and maternal mortality, which disproportionately affects Black women (HB 2109; HB 2108; HB 2107; and HB 2110), and limit the use of restraints on pregnant incarcerated and detained individuals (HB 2223). These are a fraction of the legislation we need, but an important start. READ MORE: I had an abortion during the pandemic. Reproductive health care is crucial. | Opinion How do we make these laws a reality? As Justice Ginsburg powerfully stated at her confirmation hearings, Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time. The first step is to vote in every election. Our rights and our lives are on the line, and our government is accountable to us. Lets not let them forget it. Amal Bass is the director of policy and advocacy and Christine Castro is a staff attorney at the Womens Law Project, a public interest legal organization that focuses on protecting and expanding the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people in Pennsylvania and beyond. The final year exams are scheduled to be held between 5 and 30 October in online mode. However, the day-wise schedule of exams has not been announced yet. The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has released the hall tickets for final year exams 2020 scheduled to be held in the month of October. But students remain in doubt over the exam schedule as the SPPU is yet to release the time table. The final year exams are going to begin from 5 October and continue till 30 October. With about 10 days left before the start of the exams, students still do not know which paper will be the first. We are in the process of getting a question bank from professors. Once that is finalised, we can set the exam dates. Before 100 percent work is completed, it is not correct to announce a timetable," Mahesh Kakade, the controller of examinations at SPPU told The Indian Express. According to News18, Vice-Chancellor of varsity Dr Nitin Karmalkar however accepted that there was a delay and called it unfortunate. The official said that the remaining work would be completed over the next few days. According to India Today, there are about 2.23 lakh regular students enrolled in SPPU of the total 3.64 lakh students. Other than this, there are many students from other states and countries who study in colleges affiliated to the varsity. SSPU has decided to hold an online exam in the multiple-choice format this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Becton Dickinson said on Thursday it has reached a $60 million settlement with the attorneys general of 48 states and Washington, D.C., resolving allegations it concealed the risks of now-discontinued pelvic mesh devices. The Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based company said the settlement resolved litigation involving the former CR Bard Inc., which it acquired in 2017. In related court papers, New York Attorney General Letitia James said CR Bard misrepresented or failed to disclose risks associated with the devices, including chronic pain, vaginal scarring, vaginal shortening, infection and inflammation. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 Trend: There is now a very high-level partnership between the European Union and Azerbaijan, and this partnership covers many areas, said President Ilham Aliyev as he received credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador of Sweden Christian Kamill. I do hope that negotiations on a new agreement will be successfully continued. Of course, the pandemic situation has interfered with our plans. We have been in quarantine for several months. Therefore, we had no active physical contact. But cooperation continues. Therefore, I am confident that we will have a new format of cooperation, President Ilham Aliyev said. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. We are proud of the high level of commitment shown by our faculty, students, families and greater community to our mission, and are honored to be recognized on a national level for academic excellence and commitment to each child. Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (CESJDS) is proud to announce that it has been recognized as a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School, one of 50 independent schools in the nation to receive the honor. The National Blue Ribbons Schools award is a symbol of excellence and quality that honors Americas most successful public and private elementary, middle and high schools. Now in its 38th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized more than 9,000 schools. CESJDSs distinction is an Exemplary High Performing School. This honor is a true testament to the hard work, achievement, and perseverance of our students. Our talented faculty guide each and every student to reach their maximum potential, which yields high academic outcomes and enabled CESJDS to receive recognition like a Blue Ribbon for being an exemplary high performing school, said Rabbi Mitchel Malkus, Head of School. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos selected 367 schools for recognition by the program this year, including public and private elementary, middle and high schools across the country as well as at American military bases around the world. CESJDS is one of four schools in Montgomery County to receive a National Blue Ribbon designation in 2020. The other schools are Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School, Our Lady of Mercy School, and St. Peters School. It is also one of three Jewish day schools in the country to receive the honor, the others being The Shlenker School in Houston, Tex., and Yavneh Day School in Los Gatos, Calif. Eight Jewish day schools in total have been named Blue Ribbon Schools since 2013. We are proud of the high level of commitment shown by our faculty, students, families and greater community to our mission, and are honored to be recognized on a national level for academic excellence and commitment to each child, said Malkus. About CESJDS CESJDS is the premier JK-12 independent Jewish day school in North America. Our mission is to engage students in an outstanding and inspiring general and Judaic education. CESJDS achieves academic excellence through an integrated curriculum, anchored in Jewish values. About the National Blue Ribbon The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed almost 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools in 38 years of existence. State Rep. Yusuf Hakeem said he was asking for a state investigation of the Hamilton County Election Commission. In a letter to Secretary of State Tre Hargett, he said he has great "anguish and concern" that the county election office is "becoming a petri dish for undermining the fundamental right to free and fair elections." Secretary of State Hargett responded, "I will be providing a letter to Rep. Hakeem, however, I think it is important to reiterate my confidence in all members of the Hamilton County Election Commission and their ability to oversee the upcoming elections. As most citizens know, each county makes every possible attempt to attract election officials from both parties, and based on information we received from the Hamilton County Election Commission it appears those numbers are very close. "However, I am sure the Hamilton County Election Commission would appreciate Rep. Hakeems support in recruiting Election Day poll officials. Additionally, we believe the Hamilton County Election Commission is properly funded and continues to receive the necessary support from the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners. "With early voting starting in less than three weeks, I am once again stating my confidence in the staff of the Hamilton County Election Commission as well as the members of the Commission. They are focused on ensuring their fellow Hamilton Countians can safely cast their vote with confidence and that it will be counted accurately and with integrity. The election office has been in the news after administrator Kerry Steelman took a leave of absence just prior to the major presidential election. Officials said there are 37 Republican and 33 Democrat officers of election, as well as two non-partisan. Fifty percent of pollworkers are GOP and 44 percent Democratic. Six percent are non-partisan. Rep. Hakeem said he had gotten a "laundry list of concerns" from voters that lead him to believe the office is "engaging in practices causing voter suppression in the county." He cited alleged discriminatory hiring practices by the office for both full-time and part-time posts, and he said there is a "lack of diversity with regard to both race and political party affiliation" as well as inadequate funding of the office. Rep. Hakeem said the Secretary of State's Office should seek help from the NAACP and the ACLU to "provide insight and assistance in order to add further credibility to the results." He said, "I am requesting that with all deliberate speed that you move to ensure free and fair elections in Hamilton County now instead of a report after the elections that talks about the changes needed. The changes need to be done in the present to have an election that we can trust and verify." Similarly, Catalina's Interactive Cough, Cold & Flu Map will track shopping behavior and sales as people fill their baskets with products to treat their coughs, runny noses, fevers and more in 152 DMA-based geographies nationwide. Every DMA across the U.S. has its own benchmark baseline, so retailers, brands and agencies can quickly find local and regional information. "Catalina's Interactive Allergy and Cold & Flu Heat Maps are part of our ongoing commitment to help our retail and CPG customers better understand and engage shoppers," said Marta Cyhan, Chief Marketing Officer of Catalina. "Over-the-counter brands and their agencies should find this data helpful to ensure optimal timing, location and level of their advertising and consumer promotions. Meanwhile, retailers can leverage this data to drive decisions on merchandising, promotion and product ordering for allergy and cold & flu-related products." About Catalina Catalina is the market leader in shopper intelligence and highly targeted in-store and digital media that personalizes the shopper journey. Powered by the world's richest real-time shopper database, Catalina helps CPG brands, retailers and agencies optimize every stage of media planning, execution and measurement to deliver $6.1 billion in consumer value annually. Based in St. Petersburg, FL, Catalina has operations in the United States, Europe and Japan. To learn more, please visit www.catalina.com or follow us on Twitter @Catalina. SOURCE Catalina Related Links http://www.catalina.com Life returned to normal on Thursday as Felicity Jones returned to work just weeks after welcoming her first child. The actress, 36, was on set in Twickenham, south west London as she filmed scenes for her latest movie, forthcoming romantic drama The Last Letter from Your Lover. Dressed in character as central character Ellie Haworth, she was seen shooting an outdoor scene with co-star Nabhaan Rizwan. Action! Life returned to normal on Thursday as Felicity Jones returned to work just weeks after welcoming her first child The British star looked focused as the pair faced one another across a small table outside a local cafe during what appeared to be a heated exchange. In accordance with current health and safety guidelines, Felicity wore a protective face covering as she mingled with crew members while relaxing between scenes. Evidently keen to document her latest film project, the actress was seen taking pictures of the surrounding area on her iPhone as she waited for the cameras to roll. Here she comes: The actress, 36, was on set in Twickenham, south west London as she filmed scenes for her latest movie, forthcoming romantic drama The Last Letter from Your Lover Picture perfect: Felicity was seen taking pictures as she relaxed between takes on the Twickenham set Quiet on set: Dressed in character as central character Ellie Haworth, she was seen shooting an outdoor scene with co-star Nabhaan Rizwan With the production in full swing on Twickenham's busy Crown Road, members of the production team wore full visibility jackets while navigating traffic around the narrow shopping street. Set in 2003, The Last Letter from Your Lover follows Ellie, a London based journalist, as she discovers a handful of archived letters detailing a passionate love affair between two star-crossed lovers in the 1960s - prompting her to uncover their identities and find out what became of their story. Actors Shailene Woodley, Joe Alwyn and Callum Turner will also feature in the film, which will be distributed by Netflix, Studio Canal and SVENSK with an expected 2021 release date. Frank discussion: The British star looked focused as the pair faced one another across a small table outside a local cafe during what appeared to be a heated exchange Ready to work: Felicity changed into an oversized blazer and cropped slacks as she prepared top shoot scenes on Thursday The plot thickens: Set in 2003, the forthcoming film follows Ellie, a London based journalist, as she discovers a handful of archived letters detailing a mysterious love affair from the 1960s Felicity was back at work on the production after confirming she has welcomed her first child with husband Charles Guard during a public appearance in September. The Rogue One actress was pictured for the first time since giving birth as she took the baby out for a walk in London. It is not yet known when Felicity gave birth. The baby's gender and name have also yet to be publicly revealed.. Here we go: Crew members ensured they were socially distanced as they got to work on the outdoor set There it is: The boom hovered high above Felicity and Nabhaan's heads as they filmed their latest scene Drive this way: With the production in full swing on Twickenham's busy Crown Road, members of the production team wore full visibility jackets while navigating traffic Intent: Nabhaan appeared to take instructions as he relaxed between takes on Thursday Over the past several months, the British actress hadn't been seen out and about, likely because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, Felicity and Charles are known to be a fiercely private couple, who rarely publicly share details about their home life. Felicity first confirmed her pregnancy news after debuting her baby bump at The Aeronauts premiere in New York City in December, 17 months after tying the knot with director Charles Guard. A representative first confirmed that she was expecting to The Hollywood Reporter, after she debuted her bump at The Aeronauts premiere. The actress dated Charles for two years before he proposed in May 2017, and they tied the knot in July 2018 at the picturesque Sudeley Castle in the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire. Indian IT services companies are likely to step up offshoring and local hiring in the US as wages paid to visa holders are expected to go up owing to a fresh proposal by the Donald Trump administration. A proposal in this regard was submitted by the Department of Labour (DoL) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (under Office of Management and Budget) last week. Though the fine print is not publicly available, legal experts are of the opinion that this would change the wage conditions of H1B, L1, and other non-immigrant visa holders. In absence of details about ... IOWA CITY, Iowa - One of the women on Donald Trumps short list to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court got her first taste of politics as a college student stuffing envelopes for Democrat Joe Bidens 1988 presidential run. But, by 1996, Joan L. Larsen was volunteering for Republican Bob Dole, and today few doubt her conservative credentials, which includes a longtime affiliation with the Federalist Society. Larsen is among a small group of female lawyers whom Trump is considering to replace Ginsburg, the liberal icon whose death last week gave conservatives a chance to move the court further to the right. White House officials say Trump was referring to Larsen when he said Monday his finalists included a great one from Michigan. On Tuesday, he called her very talented in an interview with a local television station. In just five years, Joan L. Larsen has gone from a little-known University of Michigan legal scholar to a prominent federal appeals court judge and now a candidate for the high court. Conservative activists hope that, if nominated and confirmed by the Senate, Larsen would carry on the legacy of her mentor, the late Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom she clerked in the early 1990s and eulogized after his 2016 death. For Trump, picking Larsen could give him a boost in the critical battleground state of Michigan, where she has raised her two children, advanced her career and won election to the state Supreme Court. Liberals fear that she would follow in Scalias footsteps by voting to overrule decisions that legalized abortion rights and gay marriage and other rulings that Scalia and his followers vociferously oppose. At 52, Larsen would be a candidate who could serve on the high court for three decades or longer. Her father, Leonard Larsen, the retired CEO of a Lutheran social services agency, died in April at age 91. Her mother is 89. Larsens rise began when Michigans then-Republican Gov. Rick Snyder appointed her to fill a vacancy on the state Supreme Court in September 2015, praising her as a superb attorney who had experience in government, academia and private practice. When she called to tell me, I was shocked. I had no idea that she was thinking such a thing, said Sarah Zearfoss, a longtime colleague at the Michigan law school who has marveled at her friends ascent. Justice Joan campaigned for a full term as a judge who would interpret the state constitution according to its original meaning and not legislate from the bench. Her campaign was backed by the Republican Party and business groups such as the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Even before she won a full eight-year term, Trump included her on his list of potential nominees to the Supreme Court a development that she called a complete surprise. She easily won election in November 2016 on the same day that Trump carried Michigan in a surprise victory. Trump tapped Larsen for a seat on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017, which hears appeals in federal cases in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. Michigans Democratic U.S. senators initially held up her appointment since the White House hadnt consulted them, as is customary. But ultimately they allowed her confirmation to move forward after Larsen met with them, and joined with six other Democrats in a 60-38 confirmation vote. In a 2018 interview, Zearfoss described Larsen as a solid Republican who is smart, thoughtful, kind and funny even though they disagree on political issues. It will be really hard not to like Joan, said Zearfoss, an assistant dean at the law school. Critics say that during her relatively short judicial career, Larsen has at times favoured corporations, insurers and police officers while showing less regard for workers, injured plaintiffs, environmental concerns, criminal suspects and immigrants. In a recent decision, a dissenting judge accused Larsen and a colleague of turning a blind eye to race-based policing that violates the constitutional rights of black and brown Americans. Republicans have defended the Northwestern Law School graduate as a mainstream judge with impeccable credentials. In her 2017 confirmation hearing, she said she has ruled evenly and never given any public or private promises that she would overrule Roe vs. Wade or any other precedents. Attorney Richard Bernstein worked as co-counsel with Larsen on a yearlong trial when they were both lawyers at Sidley & Austin in Washington, which she joined for three years after clerking for Scalia. In a 2018 interview, he said Larsen was a smart lawyer and fine judge. But Bernstein, a former Scalia clerk himself, said he worried that all candidates on Trumps list would seek to overrule decisions on abortion and gay rights that Scalia opposed. The belief that those decisions are not only wrong but illegitimate runs so deep among movement conservatives, he said. Larsen spoke at Scalias memorial service in 2016, praising his intellect, upbeat attitude and the opportunities he gave his clerks. What better preparation for any of us, male or female, than to have matched wits with the justice? she said. With each thrust and parry, we got sharper. Larsen appears to have an expansive view of the powers of the presidency, a topic which shes taught in law school. She wrote a 2006 article defending President George W. Bushs use of signing statements to interpret laws passed by Congress. She also worked in the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice from 2002 to 2003, drafting legal opinions involving the Patriot Act, detainees rights and other matters. Larsen assured senators in 2017 that she would have no problem ruling against Trump if the law demanded it. She said that Scalia taught her that the law governs, not personal interest. Larsen is married to University of Michigan law professor Adam Pritchard. They live in Scio Township near Ann Arbor and have two children. Pittsfield School Cafeteria Workers Seek Answers on Employment The School Committee heard from frustrated cafeteria workers at its Wednesday meeting. PITTSFIELD, Mass. School officials say they hope at some point to bring back most of the cafeteria workers who were told they would be laid off earlier this month. The workers and supporters held a rally on Park Square on Tuesday to express their frustration at being pink-slipped despite the work they had been doing during the pandemic. During public comment Wednesday, the School Committee heard from a few cafeteria workers who felt unappreciated and unsure about where their future lied in the school district. "We stepped up when everyone else was in quarantine, everyone else got to go home and be safe with their families," cafeteria worker Sue Phelps said. "We stepped up and made lunches for all of these kids ... and we're just asking for a little respect ... we are tired of people leaving us in the dark." Earlier this month, Superintendent James McCandless reported that without students in the buildings, the 70 or so cafeteria workers would have to be reduced by two-thirds. Any callbacks would come once the school system transitioned to a hybrid model. The cafeteria budget is separate from the rest of the education budget and sustains itself, largely through federal reimubursements. McCandless noted that it almost operates as a restaurant and while the district is fully remote, 90 percent of the cafeteria's "customers" are at home. Phelps said many of her colleagues were unsure if they are expected to return to work and need to know if they have to move on and find different employment. Another cafeteria worker, Stefanie Koenig, said she was disappointed with the lack of communication and told the committee that some employees will not be returning. "I have already had four of my staff that will not accept their call back because of the lack of communication and the zero respect for what we do. Or they have already found other employment," she said. "We already were short staffed in our kitchen and when we get our call back at the end of October, you are gong to make our job impossible." School Committee member Mark Brazeau said the district has to work toward retaining these employees. "We need to do what is right for all of these cafeteria workers and make sure every one of them is employed so they can keep their benefits," he said. "We labeled them as heroes back in March ... so we need to do what is right." McCandless said he took issue with some of the comments made and noted the administration made sure cafeteria employees were kept working through the outset of the pandemic and the summer. He added alternative interim positions for these cafeteria workers are being sought so they can stay within the district and maintain a salary and benefits. McCandless added that administrators have respected union negotiations and did not plan to share confidential details. But he did note that the administration has spent hours at the negotiation table working toward reopening in a hybrid educational model. "We understand that our employees are the ones that make things happen for the kids in our district ... nobody likes this," he said. "Many have been putting in hours trying to find ways to alleviate this and ideally we can come to an agreement that means returning a large number of students in a hybrid plan so our colleagues can be kept whole." He said his team wants to accomplish this sooner than later so that the majority of these cafeteria workers could be retained. Once in the hybrid model, there is still the anticipation of 12 to 15 job cuts within the department. McCandless did not have a clear date in which the hybrid model would begin. Cookie Preferences Cookie List Cookie List A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes: Strictly Necessary Cookies We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a sale of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more. Functional Cookies We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a sale of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more. Performance Cookies We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a sale of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more. Sale of Personal Data We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. Social Media Cookies We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. Targeting Cookies We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. Bollywood has been a major source of inspiration for us, especially when it comes to elevating our style statements. While there are a few actors like Ranveer Singh, Rajkummar Rao and Shahid Kapoor, who can be called bonafide style icons, we also have some actors who are setting serious style goals for us and creating a league of their own. We are talking about Aparshakti Khurana here, who has time and again, given some massive style hits and impressed us with his fashion game. Instagram/Aparshakti Khurana From flaunting a tattered sweatshirt to standing out by wearing the right accessories, Aparshakti's outfits have always caught our attention. Even though his outfits are understated, he still has his own way of bringing some flamboyance to it. So, this time when we spotted Aparshakti, he was yet again seen wearing one of the zaniest pieces we've seen on him- case in point, his joggers. Before we look into its details, let's dissect his outfit first. Viral Bhayani Since he was headed to a dubbing studio, the actor decided to keep the look relaxed with an oversized ribbed T-shirt from Pearly King. His bright blue mask from Adidas pairs well with the rest of the elements of his outfit. On a gloomy day, this makes for a perfect, relaxed look. Thread On his feet, the actor was seen wearing a pair of HYMN London sneakers. These sneakers are designed in cotton material and with a unique print, this one adds an interesting factor to the look. These aren't as chunky and make for a statement pair especially in the current weather conditions. These sneakers are not that expensive and are available for Rs 5,500 approximately. Mind you, this excludes the customs and import duties. ASOS Speaking of his joggers, he is seen wearing Moschino's striped jogger pants. These panelled joggers are colour-blocked on the left leg. The zipped side pockets add to the comfort level of these pants. Viral Bhayani These joggers are highly-priced and cost approximately Rs 20,000. If you are planning on getting these, do keep in mind that this will cost a bit extra as these joggers are not available on Indian e-commerce websites. We also like the Marc Jacobs sunglasses since they have a retro vibe and complete the look with finesse. All in all, a great way to stand out amidst the pandemic and make such a strong style statement. Way to go, Apar! A Cross-Sectional Survey to Evaluate Potential for Partnering With School Nurses to Promote Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Matthew Bozigar, PhD, MA1; Trevor D. Faith, MS2; Ashley A. White, MPH1; Kala D. Drayton, MD, MHIT3; Allison Fabick, PharmD, MBA4; Kathleen B. Cartmell, PhD, MPH5 (View author affiliations) Suggested citation for this article: Bozigar M, Faith TD, White AA, Drayton KD, Fabick A, Cartmell KB. A Cross-Sectional Survey to Evaluate Potential for Partnering With School Nurses to Promote Human Papillomavirus Vaccination. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:190451. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.190451external icon. PEER REVIEWED Summary What is already known on this topic? School nurses, as trusted community health professionals, are essential partners for improving adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage. Barriers to HPV vaccine promotion, school nurses knowledge, and their perceived roles have been studied in some populations. What is added by this report? Among lead school nurses in South Carolina, a state with large medically underserved areas, the lack of confidence and time to interact with students and parents are key hindrances to HPV vaccine promotion. What are the implications for public health practice? Although school nurses have many competing work priorities, opportunities exist to engage them in supporting coordinated public health programs aimed at improving HPV vaccination rates in medically underserved areas. Abstract Introduction The human papillomavirus (HPV) increases the risk for cancers of the cervix, oropharynx, vulva, vagina, penis, and anus. HPV vaccination rates are low in many states having large medically underserved areas. In such areas, school nurses are a potential partner for improving population health, but their perceptions about HPV, HPV vaccination, and their role in promoting HPV vaccination have not been well documented. Methods We administered a cross-sectional survey to 61 of 74 lead school nurses at their 2019 annual training session in South Carolina. Survey questions assessed lead school nurses HPV vaccination beliefs, barriers, and HPV vaccination role in schools. We tabulated descriptive data and created heat maps to visualize correlations between responses. Results Despite 95.1% of nurses envisioning a role in supporting HPV vaccination at their schools, only 41.0% envisioned an active role in promoting HPV vaccine among students. Lead nurses consistently believed in vaccinating both male and female students; in vaccine safety, effectiveness, and health benefits; and in recommending HPV vaccination. The nurses agreed that lack of time and competing priorities were barriers to HPV vaccination. Few other barriers were consistently identified. Conclusion Partnering with school nurses may be a feasible strategy to overcome barriers to increasing HPV vaccination rates in medically underserved areas. However, to increase nurses confidence and time allotment to assume an active role in HPV vaccine promotion in their schools, coordinated and sustained partnerships between public health agencies, school districts, and school nurses are needed. Top Introduction Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an oncogenic, sexually transmitted infection (1). HPV is responsible for an estimated 42,700 cancer cases each year in the United States, comprising 90% of anal/cervical cancers, 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and 60% of penile cancers (2). The HPV vaccine is effective, safe, and recommended for adolescent boys and girls aged 11 and 12, whether they are sexually active or not (3,4). Despite recommendations, vaccine uptake varies widely across geographic areas. An estimated 42.7% of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in South Carolina have completed the HPV vaccination series, below the national average of 51.1% (5). Similarly, most southern states have HPV vaccination rates below the national average (6), but school-based, physician-led interventions have successfully improved vaccination coverage in medically underserved areas (7). Of the 46 counties in South Carolina, 29 entire counties and many parts of the remaining counties are medically underserved (8). As such, additional evidence-based research is needed to inform strategies to improve HPV vaccination rates in medically underserved areas (9). Given their role and everyday contact with students and parents, school nurses are some of the most trusted health professionals in local communities (10). Consequently, school nurses are invaluable local health resources and potential health advocates. Previous research identified wide support for in-school vaccination (11), in addition to outreach by school nurses to parents and students as a practical leadership role in supporting HPV vaccination (12). But the extra workload can also be a barrier (13). Lead school nurses are an important group to study, because they oversee the nurses working in their school districts. Each is responsible for the nursing leadership of several schools. Duties of lead school nurses include ensuring district-wide compliance with state policies, acting as advocates for stakeholders and their constituent nurses, and maintaining staffing for schools in their districts. Such nurses often oversee schools at multiple levels of education (ie, elementary, middle, and/or high school). Our objectives were to identify lead school nurses perceptions about HPV vaccination and about nurses role in supporting HPV vaccination in a largely medically underserved population. To address these objectives, we conducted a cross-sectional survey with lead school nurses in South Carolina to identify potential strategies to facilitate HPV vaccination and increase population vaccine coverage. Top Methods Lead school nurses were surveyed at their annual training meeting on February 14, 2019, in Columbia, South Carolina, by using a cross-sectional design. The inclusion criterion was currently being a lead school nurse in South Carolina; we had no exclusion criteria. Our sampling frame was all lead school nurses present at the annual meeting, and the target population was school nurses currently employed in South Carolina. We adapted a previously published survey (14) to assess lead school nurses beliefs, perceived roles, and barriers to advocacy and education in school settings. Although to our knowledge the instrument has not been validated, few, if any, validated questionnaires are available to assess school nurse perceptions about HPV vaccination. The initial version of the present survey was pilot-tested at the 2019 Annual School Nurses Conference in Columbia, South Carolina, attended by more than 200 school nurses from throughout the state. Feedback on survey design and composition was elicited from 30 of the nurses via convenience sampling. We used their feedback to inform the design of the final survey. Feedback indicated the need for several changes, such as including additional professional practice options, including additional response types for questions about barriers, shortening the survey, and modifying the structure of some questions for usability and clarity. The institutional review board at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) declared this study exempt from review, because the primary purpose of the survey was to inform public health activities (for quality improvement) and the survey collected no personal identifiers. Beliefs about HPV and HPV vaccinations were assessed by using a 5-point Likert scale. Twelve questions were asked in this domain, which assessed the nurses knowledge about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, in addition to their perceived confidence in disseminating that information. Responses to questions in this domain ranged from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), with 3 as a neutral option. Nurses professional practices were documented by using a checklist of activities they performed in their schools, including advocating for and educating about HPV vaccination, and partnering with health agencies. A 5-point Likert scale, with response options ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always) was used to assess how often the nurses experienced barriers to advocacy and education. Eleven distinct barriers were assessed, including the nurses own knowledge, opportunities to talk to students/parents, policies, and personal beliefs about the vaccine. Finally, 3 questions were designed to determine the nurses confidence and ability to disseminate vaccine information. A 3-point Likert scale was used for this domain, which included response options of 1 (not confident), 2 (somewhat confident), and 3 (very confident). Lead nurses completed the survey by using paper copies and pen or pencil, during a break in the conference program. The survey was completed by 61 of 74 (82.4%) lead school nurses in attendance, although not all answered every survey question. The lead nurses represented South Carolinas 79 public school districts, as well as lead nurses or nurses working alone in private, parochial, charter, and independent schools. Approximately 150 lead school nurses (all those known by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control) were invited to the conference. Therefore, 40.7% of the population of all South Carolina lead school nurses completed the survey. Data were organized and analyzed by using SPSS Statistics version 25 (IBM Corporation) and R version 3.5.0 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing) software packages. Descriptive data were analyzed by using SPSS. Response frequencies and corresponding proportions (percentages) were calculated for each question. Response categories for questions 3 (perception) and 5 (barriers) were each collapsed (eg, combined strongly agree with agree, always with often), to better represent the distribution of responses. R was used to create heat maps of the correlations between response values. We used Spearman correlations that used ranked values, which are suitable for noncontinuous variables, instead of Pearson correlations that assume linear relationships for continuous variables. Correlation values can range from 1 (perfectly negatively correlated) to 1 (perfectly positively correlated). In these heat maps, deeper shades of blue indicate responses that were strongly negatively correlated (ie, more dissimilar) and deeper shades of red indicate responses that were strongly positively correlated (ie, more similar). A clustering algorithm used in the hclust function in R provided the structure for grouping similar correlations together in the heat map. Fundamentally, a heat map is a correlation table, but it enhances the ability to identify particularly strong and weak correlations. However, correlations should not be interpreted as causative. Top Results Beliefs Nearly all respondents agreed that male students (93.4%), female students (93.3%), and preteens (91.5%) should be vaccinated against HPV (Table 1). Similarly, nearly all respondents agreed that for most people the vaccine is safe (90.2%), nontoxic (88.3%), and that it prevents HPV cancers (93.3%). However, for most of the remaining belief statements, responses were more varied. This set of more controversial statements (between 33% and 67% agreement) included I can influence parents, Parents will vaccinate if given information, I am a leader in providing vaccine information, I can permissibly provide information to parents, I can permissibly provide information to students, and Information I disseminate must have district approval. The responses to HPV vaccination guidelines, safety, and effectiveness were highly correlated (Figure 1). For example, a lead school nurse who agreed with the statement that preteens should be vaccinated also was highly likely to agree with the statement that the HPV vaccine is nontoxic, just as they would agree with the remainder of the statements about benefits, guidelines, safety, and effectiveness. Figure 1. Heat map indicating Spearman correlation values for responses to survey question about human papillomavirus (HPV) and vaccination beliefs. [A text version of this figure is also available.] Other patterns indicated that responses were less correlated or even inversely correlated (Figure 1). A unique set of relationships occurred with the Information disseminated requires district approval statement, which was not strongly correlated with the statements on benefits, guidelines, safety, and effectiveness (indicated by neither red nor blue shading); and it was inversely correlated (ie, answered dissimilarly, indicated by blue shading) with the statements about HPV vaccination leadership, permissibility, parent influence and action, and information dissemination. As such, a lead school nurse that agreed with the statement that Information disseminated requires district approval was no more or less likely to agree with beliefs about benefits, guidelines, safety, or effectiveness, and less likely to agree with statements that they are HPV leaders, can permissibly provide information, or can influence parent action. Role Ninety-five percent of lead school nurses thought they should play a role in HPV vaccination (Table 2). However, only 41.0% of the nurses endorsed having a proactive role in talking with students about HPV vaccination and only 27.9% endorsed conducting HPV educational events. Conversely, most nurses supported having a role in answering questions about HPV vaccinations from students (68.9%), and even more from parents (82.0%). School nurses endorsed taking an active role in talking with parents about the HPV vaccine (60.7%) to a greater extent than having this same conversation with students. Most nurses were only somewhat confident in their knowledge about HPV when talking either to parents (55.7%) or students (57.4%). Barriers Lead school nurses responded to statements about barriers to HPV vaccine promotion (Table 3, Figure 2). A constant barrier was lack of time or competing priorities (75.0%). The next most common barriers identified, though much less consistently, were concerns about students insurance coverage (39.7%) and school policies (38.3%). Some of the barriers encountered least frequently were uncertainty about where to refer students (13.3%), lack of opportunities for student interaction (16.7%), concerns that HPV education is not the nurses responsibility (22.4%), and personal beliefs (13.8%). Figure 2. Heat map indicating Spearman correlation values for responses to survey question about barriers to vaccination promotion for human papillomavirus (HPV). [A text version of this figure is also available.] Top Discussion As trusted sources for health information, school nurses play an integral role in community health. However, little is known about the role of school nurses in facilitating HPV vaccinations in states with many medically underserved areas. Our research sought to identify beliefs, roles, and barriers to HPV vaccination promotion among lead school nurses in South Carolina. We highlighted common perceptions about HPV, HPV vaccination, and the potential role in HPV vaccine promotion among lead school nurses who represented districts comprising elementary, middle, and high schools. Demographic data were not collected, and data on the broader school nurse population in South Carolina were unavailable. However, researchers have shown that 246 of 424 zip codes and approximately 43% of the population aged 20 years or older were medically underserved in South Carolina in 2010 (15). As such, school nurses support the health of students from many medically underserved areas in South Carolina. Our findings were only somewhat consistent with the handful of studies that examined factors among school nurses that affect HPV vaccine uptake. Our study showed correlation between HPV knowledge, HPV vaccine knowledge, and attitudes toward HPV. Consistent with our results, another study reported that school nurses positive attitudes about the HPV vaccine were associated with both knowledge about HPV and the HPV vaccine (12). Our results showed that most lead school nurses believed the HPV vaccine should be given to male and female preteens and that the HPV vaccine was safe, nontoxic, and prevents HPV cancers. Yet these underlying beliefs were not correlated with either endorsement of being a leader in providing HPV vaccine information or belief that parents would allow their children to be vaccinated based on nurses recommendations. Similar to our study, another reported that knowledge and attitudes were not associated with school nurses providing HPV information to parents in Missouri (16). Although several studies reported an association between positive HPV vaccination attitudes and having roles as HPV vaccine opinion leaders (12,17), we did not observe this association in our study. Our review of these studies shows some evidence that HPV vaccine education can improve attitudes about the vaccine and confidence in speaking with students and parents about HPV vaccination. Schools could consider options, such as integrating school nurseled HPV vaccine education into large group meetings with parents and guardians (eg, during orientation, parentteacher association meetings, or graduation ceremonies). Researchers in another study surveyed 145 school nurses in Ohio and found that HPV knowledge had only small positive effects on intention and self-efficacy to become a vaccine champion, and that attitudes had larger positive effects on both intention and actual professional HPV practices (eg, communicating HPV information to parents) (14). The study identified a key pathway stemming from self-efficacy that had moderate effects on both intention and professional practice (14). In our population, correlated responses from school nurses about barriers such as lack of time (because of competing priorities), lack of confidence for communicating, lack of knowledge about the HPV vaccine, and concerns that HPV education is not a school nurses responsibility together seem to indicate low self-efficacy of South Carolina school nurses for being HPV vaccination promoters. Advocating to school boards for adequate staffing levels of school nurses could increase the time for HPV vaccine education by decreasing competing priorities, which could, in turn, improve HPV vaccination promotion self-efficacy. The strong positive correlation we found between the perceived barriers of school policies and concerns that HPV education is not the nurses responsibility suggests that more research is needed into administrative barriers if school nurses are to have roles as HPV vaccine advocates. Although lead school nurses did not strongly identify with the perceived role of leading vaccination clinics in schools, one study found that both parents and care providers supported providing HPV vaccinations in schools, citing reasons of convenience, improved access, reduced administrative burden, and positive peer pressure (11). However, that study lacked information about its sampling scheme and was limited to one undefined inner-city clinic; therefore, it is not widely generalizable. Yet a promising study in a rural medically underserved community in Texas using a quasi-experimental design found that a physician-led HPV education and immunization program boosted HPV vaccination coverage (7). However, some school nurses in the United Kingdom cited poor relationships with their schools and uncooperative or indifferent school attitudes as barriers to administering the Cervarix HPV vaccine (GlaxoSmithKline) in their schools (13). In the United States, the degree to which school districts and individual schools adopt and support the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) may vary (18). And although another study in the United Kingdom found that the in-school HPV vaccination program exceeded expectations, it came at the expense of time formerly dedicated to providing one-on-one support to vulnerable students (19). Implementing such a resource-intense and coordinated strategy in South Carolinas medically underserved areas may be desirable for some of the benefits previously demonstrated elsewhere, but it may be currently infeasible on a population scale without a highly coordinated intrastate school health campaign and additional resources (13). As such, given our results in South Carolina, initial interventions in that state may need to prioritize increasing school nurse confidence and time allotted to HPV vaccination promotion over introducing in-school vaccination interventions, which could be a future priority. To overcome barriers, sustained partnerships aimed at increasing administrative support might be needed. However, given that school nurses are largely already overburdened, administrative (ie, top-down) prioritization may be needed to clarify time allotment, administrative directives such as adopting ACIP recommendations, and continued HPV education to empower and engage school nurses as key partners in local communities. Our study had limitations. The data were self-reported, thus the potential exists for socially desirable responses and recall biases. However, the surveys were completed anonymously, which may have helped to reduce the potential to provide desirable responses. The data were cross-sectional, so any causal inference and generalization to national school nurse populations should be made with great caution. We emphasize that correlation is not causation, but correlations can be indicative of associations warranting further investigation to understand potential causality. The lack of demographic information for respondents also hinders generalizability. Thus, the sample assessed in our study may not be representative of all lead school nurses in South Carolina. Despite these limitations, the strengths of our study include broad representation of lead school nurses from elementary, middle, and high schools across South Carolina. These findings provide insight into perceived roles of lead school nurses and barriers to HPV vaccination in schools in South Carolina, a state with many medically underserved areas, similar to other southern states. Therefore, these findings could be useful for future research, informing policy, and guiding resource allocation to improve vaccination rates across the state and in similar states. By using a cross-sectional survey, we identified perceptions, roles, and barriers to HPV vaccination promotion among lead school nurses in South Carolina. We analyzed results and correlations between survey responses by using heat maps, which allowed us to compare the consistency of school nurses responses. The nurses identified key HPV vaccination promotion barriers including lack of time, competing priorities, and lack of self-confidence. We further identified multiple potential strategies to overcome the persistently identified barriers, including improving HPV knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy, and addressing administrative policies and support for school nurses. Improved support for school nurses could empower and engage them as partners in reducing HPV vaccination disparities in their communities. Although these results are unique to South Carolina, many other similar states, particularly in the southern United States, may benefit from the knowledge gained from this study. However, continued research is needed into local barriers to HPV vaccination and opportunities to overcome them nationwide. Top Acknowledgments Matthew Bozigar, Trevor D. Faith, and Ashley A. White served as co-first authors and contributed equally to the work. All authors contributed to the study conception and design. All authors participated in material preparation. Data collection and analysis were performed by Trevor Faith and Matthew Bozigar. All authors contributed to writing the manuscript, all participated in manuscript review, and all approved the final manuscript. The authors thank the following people for contributing to the development and execution of this research: Lauren Seidenschmidt, Martin Padgett, Rashshana Blackwood, Heather Holmes, Dr Deborah Brown, and Dr Hazel Breland. This project was supported by the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and the MUSC Presidential Scholars Program. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. No copyrighted material was used in the conduct of this research or the writing of this article. Top Author Information Corresponding Author: Matthew Bozigar, PhD, MA, Medical University of South Carolina,135 Cannon St, Ste 301, Charleston, SC 29425. Telephone: 503-758-9294. Email: bozigar@musc.edu. Author Affiliations: 1Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. 2Biomedical Informatics Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. 3College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. 4College of Pharmacy, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. 5Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina. Top References Top Tables Table 1. Lead School Nurses Beliefs About Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Vaccination, Cross-Sectional Survey of Lead School Nurses, South Carolina, 2019 Belief Strongly Disagree/Disagree, No. (%) Neutral, No. (%) Strongly Agree/Agree, No. (%) I believe HPV is harmful to a persons health 12 (19.7) 2 (3.3) 47 (77.0) I believe male students should be vaccinated against HPV 0 4 (6.6) 57 (93.4) I believe female students should be vaccinated against HPV 0 4 (6.7) 56 (93.3) I believe preteens should receive the HPV vaccine before they become sexually active 0 5 (8.5) 54 (91.5) I believe the HPV vaccine is safe for the majority of the population 0 6 (9.8) 55 (90.2) I believe the HPV vaccine is nontoxic for the majority of the population 0 7 (11.7) 53 (88.3) I believe the HPV vaccine prevents HPV-related cancers 0 4 (6.7) 56 (93.3) I believe by providing my professional opinion, I can influence parents to vaccinate their child/adolescent against HPV 1 (1.7) 18 (30.0) 41 (68.3) I believe if I provide information to parents, they will vaccinate their child/adolescent against HPV 4 (6.6) 34 (55.7) 23 (37.7) I can see myself as a leader in providing HPV vaccine information in the school community 4 (6.6) 23 (37.7) 34 (55.7) I can provide health education to parents without violating school district policy 5 (8.2) 15 (24.6) 41 (67.2) I can provide health education to STUDENTS without violating school district policy 8 (13.3) 20 (33.3) 32 (53.3) Any health information I disseminate to STUDENTS or PARENTS must have approval from the school district 8 (13.3) 6 (10.0) 46 (76.7) Table 2. Lead School Nurses Perceived Role in Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Education and Implementation, Cross-Sectional Survey of Lead School Nurses, South Carolina, 2019 Role No. (%) (N = 61) Answering questions about HPV vaccination when students ask 42 (68.9) Actively talking with students about HPV vaccination 25 (41.0) Answering questions about HPV vaccination when parents ask 50 (82.0) Actively talking with parents about the HPV vaccination 37 (60.7) Conducting educational events to promote HPV vaccination at your schools 17 (27.9) Partnering with DHEC to provide vaccination clinics in schools 30 (49.2) Educating parents by answering their questions and providing information 46 (75.4) School nurses should not play a role in HPV vaccination 3 (4.9) Table 3. Perceived Barriers to Lead School Nurses Providing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Education and Recommendation, Cross-Sectional Survey of Lead School Nurses, South Carolina, 2019 Barrier Never/Rarely, No. (%) Sometimes, No. (%) Often/Always, No. (%) Lack of knowledge about HPV vaccination 18 (30.0) 27 (45.0) 15 (25.0) Lack of confidence in how to talk with students and parents about HPV vaccination 15 (25.0) 25 (41.7) 20 (33.3) Lack of time/competing priorities 2 (3.3) 13 (21.7) 45 (75.0) Concern that students may not have insurance coverage for HPV vaccination 9 (15.5) 26 (44.8) 23 (39.7) Uncertainty where to refer students for HPV vaccination if they do not have a regular provider 35 (58.3) 17 (28.3) 8 (13.3) Lack of HPV vaccination educational resources 18 (30.5) 21 (35.6) 20 (33.9) Lack of opportunity to interact with students 29 (48.3) 21 (35.0) 10 (16.7) Lack of opportunity to interact with parents 15 (25.0) 26 (43.3) 19 (31.7) Concern that HPV vaccination education is not the school nurses responsibility 25 (43.1) 20 (34.5) 13 (22.4) School policies 13 (21.7) 24 (40.0) 23 (38.3) Personal beliefs 30 (51.7) 20 (34.5) 8 (13.8) Top Approval ratings of political leaders surged in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In the days and weeks with high numbers of new COVID-19 cases there were also large boosts to leader approval. These results support a "rally 'round the flag" phenomenon in which citizens rally around their leaders during times of crisis and may have voting implications. Data analyzed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the National University of Singapore reveal world leaders, on average, experienced a 14-point boost in approval. Citizens tend to support their leaders in times of national crisis, such as war or terrorist attack, but the new study is the first to identify a rally effect during a health crisis - one that's been deadly and destructive across the globe. The idea for the paper was developed by Kai Chi (Sam) Yam, associate professor and dean's chair in the Department of Management and Organization in Singapore. Yam collaborated with Joshua Conrad Jackson, a doctoral student in psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill who conducted the analyses and co-wrote the paper. Drawing from political science and psychological theories, the study authors and their colleagues examined the effect of COVID-19 cases on approval ratings through the first 120 days of 2020. More than 2 million daily approval ratings were collected for 11 heads of government from geographically and culturally diverse countries and all 50 United States governors. U.S. President Donald J. Trump had a scant 4-point gain out of a possible 100 in approval during the time period compared to the substantial 24- to 61-point boosts in approval for leaders in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Australia. U.S. governors experienced 15- to 20-point gains. "COVID-19 might serve as a catalyst to help some incumbent governments win election," said Yam For example, the Korean ruling party won the most seats in the house by any party since 1960 in an election held during the pandemic in April 2020. "We collected our data during the early stages of the pandemic, so we aren't equipped to answer questions about the effect's endurance. Clearly the effect doesn't last forever, but its timeline may depend on several factors, including how effectively a leader is perceived to respond to the pandemic," Jackson said. ### Bilbies create a whole range of habitats by digging for insects, seeds and plant roots, and helping water and carbon infiltrate the soil. Credit: Rick Stevens Bilbies are once again bounding in Sturt National Park more than a century after they were declared extinct in NSW. Thanks to a NSW government collaboration led by UNSW ecologists and Ecological Horizons with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Taronga Conservation Society Australia, the bilbies are set to start a species-led renovation of their desert ecosystem. Wongkumara Traditional Owner Cecil Ebsworth celebrated the release of these animals back into the wild: "It is wonderful to see these animals which lived here sustainably with our ancestors being released back into the wild again." The Wild Deserts project has created one of the largest, feral-animal-free areas in Australia within Sturt National Park, eradicating every last rabbit, cat and fox from two 2000-hectare feral-proof fenced exclosures. Dr. Rebecca West, UNSW ecologist at Wild Deserts, said: "This is a great daywe've been waiting for it since we built the fences two years ago. What we needed was the drought to break out here so the vegetation could build up for this release to happen." The Greater Bilbies have been cared for by a specialist team of keepers, ecologists and vets prior to the release and were given a final health check at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo's Wildlife Hospital before traveling to the desert. Credit: University of New South Wales Taronga Conservation Society Australia CEO Cameron Kerr said: "To be able to release Greater Bilbies just 11 months after the program commenced in Dubbo is a true testament to the unique combination of skills across animal husbandry, genetics and conservation management at Taronga. I am extremely proud of the role Taronga has played as the engine room in this important project." Professor Richard Kingsford, leader of the Wild Deserts Project and Director of the UNSW Center for Ecosystem Science, said the team was looking forward to restoring this desert ecosystem with the Greater Bilbies acting as 'ecosystem engineers'. "These animals create a whole range of habitats by digging for insects, seeds and plant roots, and helping water and carbon infiltrate the soiland so helping to restore Sturt National Park's desert ecosystems." Prof. Kingsford said one of the most exciting parts of the project was the opportunity for the team to link science to management. "We are taking a strong experimental approach at a grand scale to not only improve Australia's approach to these reintroductions but also to inform the rest of the world. We are doing this through an adaptive management approachrecently described in academic publication Conservation Science and Practice. There are great opportunities for implementing this approach in conservation management." Since the arrival of Europeans, the range of Greater Bilbies has been reduced by around 80 percent, surviving only in parts of central and western Australia. They are a nocturnal marsupial with a characteristic long black and white tail and large rabbit-like ears. Dr Rebecca West, UNSW ecologist at Wild Deserts, said: This is a great day weve been waiting for it since we built the fences two years ago." Credit: University of New South Wales Via radio tracking, the scientists will be checking in on the animals daily to ensure they're adapting well to their new environment. NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean said the bilbies, part of a new breeding program at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, will begin the process of returning the area to what it was before feral animals wreaked havoc on our native animals. "This is one of the country's most important threatened species initiatives. Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world but we are turning back the tide of extinctions, reintroducing at least 13 mammal species currently listed as extinct in NSW by establishing a network of feral cat and fox-free areas," Mr Kean said. "With an estimated 9000 mature bilbies left in Australia, the Wild Deserts project at Sturt National Park is planned to increase the population by 17 percent." In addition to Greater Bilbies, other threatened mammals will also be reintroduced into the Wild Deserts exclosures in future releases, including western quolls, stick-nest rats, western barred bandicoots, and golden bandicoots. Western quolls are natural predators of Greater Bilbies, bringing balance back to these unique desert ecosystems. Explore further Mammal long thought extinct in Australia resurfaces More information: Richard T. Kingsford et al. Strategic adaptive management planningRestoring a desert ecosystem by managing introduced species and native herbivores and reintroducing mammals, Conservation Science and Practice (2020). Richard T. Kingsford et al. Strategic adaptive management planningRestoring a desert ecosystem by managing introduced species and native herbivores and reintroducing mammals,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/csp2.268 The American space agency, NASA, has released its latest plan to place the first humans on the moon since 1972. The updated information on the Artemis mission renews NASAs promise that one of the astronauts will be a woman. Were going back to the moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement Monday. NASAs moon mission is part of its Artemis plan. It will use NASAs newest rocket, the Space Launch System, or SLS. The astronauts are to travel on NASAs Orion spaceship. Bridenstine told reporters that political risks have often threatened NASAs work, especially before such a critical election. If Congress approves $3.2 billion in financing by December 25, he said were still on track for a 2024 moon landing. Three projects are competing to build a moon lander that will transport two astronauts to the moon from the Orion spaceship The competitors are all private companies Blue Origin, SpaceX and Dynetics. Artemis 1 will send a spaceship around the moon in 2021. It will not use a human crew. Artemis II is to send astronauts around the moon in 2023. Artemis III will land on the lunar surface in 2024 and remain for a week. NASA plans to have the astronauts leave the lander to collect soil and rock, search for water and other resources and carry out experiments. NASA says the plan will cost $28 billion dollars over a period of five years. Im Caty Weaver. Reuters News Agency reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. _______________________________________________ Words in This Story benefits n. (pl.) results that are good or helpful inspiration n. an action or statement that causes someone to want to take action mission n. a task or effort that is given to people often from a commanding official such as in the military We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Expressing displeasure over the increasing incidents of crime against women in the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed officers to take strict action against harassers. The chief minister has also ordered that posters of harassers be put up at public places to name and shame" them. Previously, posters were displayed to name and shame" the accused who had allegedly caused damage to public property during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state capital. Women police personnel have been tasked with the responsibility of implementing Mission Durachari. They will identify offenders, whose posters will then be put up in public places across the state. According to initial information, the operation would be implemented similar to how the anti-Romeo squads operated in the state. The police teams in every district would be cracking a whip on criminals committing crimes against women. Meanwhile, Operation Shakti was also launched in Lucknow to tackle crimes against women in the state. On the instructions of IG Lucknow Range, Laxmi Singh, this operation was conducted in Unnao, Hardoi, Sitapur, Lakhimpur, Rae Bareli and Lucknow Rural. So far, action has been initiated against 2,200 accused in a month. FIRs have been registered against 822 people while 770 accused were served notice. The action also included litigation, restriction, and imposition of challans for hampering the peace. This action was taken after reports of molestation surfaced from the area. Russias deposit insurer files one more multimillion claim against Yugra bank ex-managers RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 10:23 24/09/2020 MOSCOW, September 24 (RAPSI) - The Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) has lodged one more claim against ex-owner of Bank Yugra Alexey Khotin, ex-board chairman Dmitry Shilyayev and several other individuals and legal entities seeking to recover over $97 million from them, according to the DIAs information. In August, the Agency lodged several applications with the Moscow Commercial Court demanding over $29 million and about 4 billion rubles ($54 million) from the former bank managers. Previously, the court granted a DIAs claim to seize assets worth over 4.9 billion rubles (about $67 million) from Khotin, Shilyayev and other defendants. The request for injunctive remedies has been lodged as part of the DIAs claim for the collection of this sum from the defendants. In July, the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) filed two more claims seeking to collect over 6.5 billion rubles ($90.5 million) in damages from the same figures. Earlier, the court seized over 21.5 billion rubles (about $300 million) belonging to Khotin, Shilyayev and others. A relevant injunctive remedies petition has been filed by the DIA as part of its claim to collect this amount from the former bank managers. In June, the court attached their assets in the total amount of more than 77 billion rubles (over $1 billion). Previously, the same court ruled in favor of the DIA as to attachment of cash assets and other properties of former Bank Yugra managers worth several dozens of billions. At that time, DIA petitioned the court to grant it interim relief by seizing the aforesaid property in the framework of a claim by which it sought to hold the defendants civilly liable and recover from them the damages. In the period from April 9 through April 16, the court ruled in favor of DIA as to the recovery of about 8 billion rubles (about $113 million at the current exchange rate) from the defendants, holding them civilly liable, and the seizure of their assets. This February, the court dismissed a request of Yugra bank acting on behalf of Shilyayev to review the ruling, by which the banks license had been revoked in 2017, basing upon new evidence. An earlier petition to review the order of Russias Central Bank of 2017 revoking Yugra license was dismissed in cassation in September 2019. In July 2017, Russia's Central Bank said withdrew the license of Yugra bank, one of the top 30 banks. It imposed temporary administration represented by the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) in the bank. The DIA was ordered to conduct Yugras status inquiry. In October 2018, the Moscow Commercial Court declared Yugra bankrupt. This April, the Moscow City Court extended house arrest of the majority stockholder of Yugra bank Alexey Khotin charged with embezzling 7.5 billion rubles from the credit organization until July 18. Other defendants in the embezzlement case, ex-bank board chairman Dmitry Shilyayev and ex-president of the bank Alexey Nefedov, will also stay under house arrest until mid-July. Investigators believe that banker Khotin and his alleged accomplices have been involved in stealing the money from Yugra. The fact of the embezzlement is confirmed by the documents of Russias Central Bank, Deposit Insurance Agency and other evidence, according to the investigation. By Akbar Mammadov Nakhchivan Garrison Troops have held tactical training with the commanders of engineer-sapper units, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said on September 24. The training and methodical meeting has been held according to the "Reconciliation Plan of the Nakhchivan Garrison Troops for the 2020 academic year". Thus, the meeting focused on training in the speciality and tactical-special training. In the course of the classes, the methods and means of camouflaging the vehicles in the field conditions, modern antimine protective sapper suits and mine detectors, samples of non-explosive antipersonnel and anti-tank engineering obstacles that will be installed on the front line of defence, trenches, and shelters for military equipment and vehicles were demonstrated. Furthermore, the commanders of engineer-sapper units were also familiarized with characteristics and the principle of operation of "Pomnis-2" special equipment, designed to clear passages in minefields, the rules for conducting engineering reconnaissance of enemys territory and facilities from engineering observation posts. In the end, the military personnel involved in the training sessions passed tests in physical and professional training. In the meantime, yesterday, a graduation ceremony was held on the occasion of the completion of the next courses organized in the Nakhchivan Garrison Troops. The servicemen who successfully completed the courses were appointed to various positions. Speaking at the event, the Chief of the Nakhchivan garrison, Colonel General Kerem Mustafayev, stressed that Azerbaijan has formed a professional army capable of liberating the occupied territories. He also pointed out that the training of professional military personnel in the troops of the Nakhchivan garrison, ensuring the reliable defence of the Autonomous Republic, is the result of the work done in the field of army development and the result of the state care and the people-army unity. If we pay attention to the implementation of the first stage of the Azerbaijani-Turkish Joint Live-Fire Large-Scale Tactical and Flight-Tactical Exercises held in Nakhchivan, we will see that the professional fulfilment of tasks by military personnel is the result of the goals achieved during the courses. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marlowe Hood (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Thu, September 24, 2020 09:01 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46daa9e 2 Environment Arctic,Arctic-ice,sea-level,ocean,environment,climate-crisis Free US government scientists reported Monday that the Arctic Ocean's floating ice cover has shriveled to its second lowest extent since satellite records began in 1979. Until this month, only once in the last 42 years has Earth's frozen skull cap covered less than four million square kilometers. The trend line is clear: sea ice extent has diminished 14 percent per decade over that period. The Arctic could see it's first ice-free summer as early as 2035, researchers reported in Nature Climate Change last month. But all that melting ice and snow does not directly boost sea levels any more than melted ice cubes make a glass of water overflow, which gives rise to an awkward question: who cares? Granted, it's a red flag. "The decline in Arctic sea ice in summer is one of the clearest, most unequivocal signs of climate change," said Julien Nicolas, an Arctic expert at the European Union's Earth observation program. And it is certainly bad news for polar bears, which are already on a glide path towards extinction, according to a recent study. But if our bottom-line concern is the impact on humanity, one might legitimately ask, "So what?". As it turns out, there are several reasons to be worried about the knock-on consequences of dwindling Arctic sea ice. Read also: Greenland ice melting past 'tipping point': Study Feedback loops Perhaps the most basic point to make, scientists say, is that a shrinking ice cap is not just a symptom of global warming, but a driver as well. "Sea ice removal exposes dark ocean, which creates a powerful feedback mechanism," Marco Tedesco, a geophysicist at Columbia University's Earth Institute, told AFP. Freshly fallen snow reflects 80 percent of the Sun's radiative force back into space. But when that mirror-like surface is replaced by deep blue water, about the same percentage of Earth-heating energy is absorbed instead. And we're not talking about a postage stamp area here: the difference between the average ice cap minimum from 1979 to 1990 and the low point reported today -- more than 3 million km2 -- is twice the size of France, Germany and Spain combined. The oceans have already soaked up 90 percent of the excess heat generated by manmade greenhouse gases, but at a terrible cost, including altered chemistry, massive marine heatwaves and dying coral reefs. And at some point, scientists warn, that liquid heat sponge may simply become saturated. Altering ocean currents Earth's complex climate system includes interlocking ocean currents driven by wind, tides and something called the thermohaline circulation, which is itself powered by changes in temperature ("thermo") and salt concentration ("haline"). "A change is sea ice could disrupt this 'great conveyor belt', as its known, in ways that would have major consequences on the climate of Europe," Nicolas told AFP. Nearly 13,000 years ago, for example, as Earth was transitioning out of an ice age into the interglacial period that allowed our species to thrive, global temperatures abruptly plunged several degrees Celsius. They jumped back up again about 1,000 years later. Geological evidence suggests a slowdown in the thermohaline circulation caused by a massive and rapid influx of cold, fresh water from the Artic region was partly to blame. "The fresh water from melting sea ice and grounded ice in Greenland perturbs and weakens the Gulf Stream," part of the conveyor belt flowing in the Atlantic, said Xavier Fettweis, a research associate at the University of Liege in Belgium. "This is what allows western Europe to have a temperate climate compared to the same latitude in North America." The massive ice sheet atop Greenland's land mass saw a net loss of more than half-a-trillion tons last year, all of it flowing into the sea. Unlike sea ice, which doesn't increase sea levels when it melts, runoff from Greenland does. That record amount was due in part to warmer air temperatures, which have risen twice as fast in the Arctic as for the planet as a whole. But it was also caused by a change in weather patterns, notably an increase in sunny summer days. "Some studies suggest that this increase in anticyclonic conditions in the Arctic in summer results in part from the minimum sea ice extent," Fettweis told AFP. Read also: Massive chunk of Greenland's largest glacier crashes into sea Bears on thin ice The current trajectory of climate change and the advent of ice-free summers -- defined by the UN's IPCC climate science panel as under one million km2 -- would indeed starve polar bears into extinction by century's end, according to a July study in Nature. "Human-caused global warming means that polar bears have less and less sea ice to hunt on in the summer months," Steven Amstrup, lead author of the study and chief scientist of Polar Bears International, told AFP. "The ultimate trajectory of polar bears with unabated greenhouse gas emissions is disappearance." A firefighter watches as a helicopter drops water on the Bobcat fire in Llano, Calif., on Sept. 20. (Los Angeles Times) To the editor: As I read George Skelton's column on the suposedly enlighted forest management practices in the mountains of Baja California, Mexico, the Bobcat fire was raging on more than 100,000 acres of the Angeles National Forest, including portions that burned fairly recently, both in the 2002 Curve fire and the 2009 Station fire. I may not be an expert in wildland fire, but the tragic events of this year strongly suggest that if there are fuels, ignition sources and the right weather conditions, there will be catastrophic fires regardless of whatever land management policies were implemented. Alan Coles, Long Beach .. To the editor: It is truly a pleasure to read Skelton's commentary on wildfires. It's nice to see there's still one adult writing opinion pieces for the Los Angeles Times. He also hit the nail on the head in his some of his closing comments: "The governor and Democratic leaders recently failed to agree on a fire prevention spending package.... It was from lack of leadership." Amen to that. Vote them all out of office. Joe Sykora, Woodland Hills (Natural News) A bombshell US Senate report based on months of investigations has now been released, detailing the Biden familys extensive ties to a vast financial network that the Bidens had put in place during the Obama administration, involving hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit financial transactions that tie the Bidens to extortion, bribery, kickbacks, money laundering and numerous international crimes. The Senate report even reveals that some financial transactions have been linked to an organization involved in human trafficking and prostitution. This large-scale international crime cartel appears to have been assembled by Joe Biden and his family members through the use of coercion via the Obama administration, where then-Vice President Joe Biden would threaten international governments and business entities with U.S. sanctions or financial punishment if they didnt pay off the Bidens with lucrative corporate board positions and other similar kickback schemes. In essence, this new Senate report describes Hunter Biden, Joe Biden and other family members as international money criminals who built a massive, global money network by exploiting the power of the United States to threaten and bully foreign corporations and governments. These findings are entirely consistent with Joe Bidens public confessions of shaking down the Ukraine government by threatening to pull a billion-dollar US government loan guarantee if the Ukrainian government didnt fire a prosecutor who was investigating a shady business deal that kicked back money to the Bidens. You can hear Biden bragging about this in his own words in the following video, which has been largely scrubbed from YouTube and other Big Tech platforms: The full US Senate report can be found at this original link: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7216133-HSGAC-Finance-Joint-Report-on-Hunter-Biden.html We have also mirrored the PDF file at Natural News, in case it disappears from the Senate servers: https://www.naturalnews.com/files/HSGAC-Finance-Joint-Report-on-Hunter-Biden.pdf The Senate report is incredibly damning against the Bidens, and one of the highlights is as follows: The records acquired by the Committees show that Hunter Biden and his family were involved in a vast financial network that connected them to foreign nationals and foreign governments across the globe. Hunter Biden and Archer, in particular, formed significant and consistent financial relationships with the corrupt oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky during their time working for Burisma and their firms made millions of dollars from that association while Joe Biden was vice president and the public face of the Obama administrations Ukraine policy. Rosemont Seneca Thornton, an investment firm co-founded by Hunter Biden, received $3.5 million in a wire transfer from Elena Baturina, who allegedly received illegal construction contracts from her husband, the former mayor of Moscow. Moreover, Archers apparent receipt of money for a car from Kenges Rakishev of Kazakhstan while Vice President Biden was in Kyiv is especially concerning in light of the timing. And finally, Biden and Archers work with Chinese nationals connected to the Communist regime illustrate the deep financial connections that accelerated while his father was vice president and continued after he left office. Extortion, human trafficking, bribery, corruption and kickbacks Numerous media outlets that arent run by globalists are providing excellent coverage of the findings of the US Senate report. We bring you a selection here: From The Epoch Times: 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. 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. 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. 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. From Breitbart.com: A new Senate report released Wednesday concludes that former Vice President Joe Biden allowed Hunter Biden and other members of his family to enrich themselves through links with foreign companies and governments while he was in office. It presents email evidence that former Secretary of State John Kerry, whose stepson Chris Heinz was one of Hunter Bidens business partners, was also aware of the conflicts of interest. It adds that Hunter Biden, his family, and [business partner Devon] Archer received millions of dollars from foreign nationals with questionable backgrounds. It notes that Hunter Biden went on a $100,000 global spending spree with James Biden and Sara Biden after receiving money from a Chinese investor. And it adds that Hunter Biden appeared to have paid women linked to an Eastern European prostitution or human trafficking ring. It also notes: 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 [Peoples Liberation Army] as well as other foreign nationals with questionable backgrounds. The report details examples of extensive and complex financial transactions involving the Bidens and notes that Hunter Biden was not the only Biden who cashed in on Joe Bidens vice presidency. From The Daily Wire: 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. 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. Joe Biden, like Barack Obama, is a treasonous criminal who abuses power for his own personal gain The upshot of all this is that Joe Biden, much like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, is a treasonous criminal who abuses power to enrich himself and his family members while compromising natural security and the integrity of the United States government. No wonder the Democrats love him! All the new heroes of the Left are criminals, and the bigger their crimes, the more the radical Left loves them. See more news about Joe Biden at JoeBiden.news. State Property Fund puts Ukrspyrt's third distillery up for sale 14:55, 24.09.20 1564 The auction will be held via the ProZorro.Sale e-platform. SergeI Torop got a rude awakening this week when the Russian secret police mounted a dawn raid on his home in a remote part of Siberia. Four helicopters and dozens of heavily armed troops in a fleet of vans and buses descended on the hamlet of Petropavlovka, 2,600 miles east of Moscow. Within minutes they had located their target and masked men in camouflage gear bundled the handcuffed Torop into a waiting chopper, as others with machine guns kept his associates at bay. The unusual aspect of the operation was that Torop, 59, was not a murderer, or an oligarch wanted for tax fraud, but a former traffic cop known as the 'Jesus of Siberia', whose Church Of The Last Testament was based in a settlement he had renamed City of Sun. SergeI Torop, 59, head of the Vissarion sect, greets his followers in the village of Petropavlovka, 2,600 miles east of Moscow, in 2002 Usually seen in long, flowing robes reminiscent of the Messiah himself, Torop who goes by the name of Vissarion was clad, instead, in an unspiritual-looking tracksuit. He stands accused of exploiting his 5,000 Russian followers 200 of whom lived with him in the City of Sun using 'psychological violence' and causing 'serious harm to their health'. His arrest prompted comparisons with that other notorious Russian mystic, Grigori Rasputin, who inveigled his way into the affections of Russia's imperial royal family in the early 20th century. And there are striking similarities between the men, not least in their sexual liberalism. Rasputin dubbed 'Russia's greatest love machine' by the pop group Boney M claimed that by sleeping with a woman, he took on her sins and thus helped her find 'the grace of God'. Free with his favours, he had a penchant for orgies with nuns. A century later, the Siberian Jesus appears to have espoused a moral code similarly at odds with the Christian church's teachings. Following a visit in 2009, a French journalist described the annual gathering to celebrate the anniversary of Torop's first 'sermon' in 1991. 'The crowd parted in a human tunnel to allow the approach of the man they know as The Teacher,' she wrote. 'The mood was a throwback to the hippy fervour of the Sixties with a dash of apocalyptic fanaticism.' Torop's view was that women should serve men, just as men serve God. Three years ago he told the BBC: 'We have a school of noble maidens here. We're preparing girls to become future wives, future brides for worthy men.' He has fathered six children of his own and, to boost the community's birth rate still further, insisted women should share their husbands in polygamous so-called 'Triangles'. The former Red Army conscript stands accused of exploiting his 5,000 Russian followers While men have to wait for their wife's permission before bringing a new partner home, his own marriage did not survive the experiment his first wife leaving him after he married a 19-year-old who had modelled for his paintings. We might wonder how a Messiah had time for such hobbies. But the Church of the Last Testament appears to have been shaped very much around Torop and what suited him. Indeed, it set its calendar by the years since his birth in 1961, putting us in the year 59. The son of a construction worker from Krasnodar, southern Russia, he was conscripted into the Red Army before working in a factory then pursuing law enforcement which, he later admitted, was a strange choice for the Son of God. 'My behaviour was very different to other officers,' he said. 'I wanted to forgive people and free them too easily.' This may explain why he lost his job in 1989, the year before his 'awakening'. His arrest prompted comparisons with the other notorious Russian mystic, Grigori Rasputin (pictured) This initially involved believing Jesus was watching over us from close to Earth, and that the Virgin Mary was 'running Russia'. Later, he decided he was reborn the Son of God. With the fall of the Soviet Empire bringing an abrupt end to 70 years of official atheism in 1991, he journeyed to Moscow and told passers-by: 'Our heavenly Father sent me here today'. People were hungry for something to believe in, and Torop attracted an eager crowd, including such notable figures as his future chief priest Sergei Chevalkov who, in the Red Army, had been one of the men in charge of the Soviet Union's nuclear missiles. He sold his home, left his job and followed 'Vissarion' to the wilds of Siberia, along with hundreds of others, among them many doctors and lawyers. Proclaiming the end of the world was nigh, Vissarion promised disciples salvation as long as they surrendered to him their money and possessions and followed the strict rules in The Last Testament, his nine-volume 'sequel' to the Bible. Along with such laudable aims as kindness to all, there were some surprisingly specific diktats including which brand of washing powder they should use. Although assimilating many Orthodox rituals, Vissarion also prohibited alcohol and tobacco, enforced veganism, and banned money. Dissent was not tolerated. Not that he seemed to abide by many of his rules himself. While his followers endured freezing winters in the thin-walled huts they built, he rarely appeared among them. Torop (being escorted away by law enforcement officers in Russia) has fathered six children of his own Instead, he luxuriated in the three-storey chalet they had constructed for him on a mountain peak, reportedly equipped with wooden verandas and warm towels along with the latest hi-fi equipment and a flat-screen TV. While he disappeared on lavish visits to spiritual friends in India including late sitar guru Ravi Shankar they contented themselves with portraits of him that adorned their walls and could not even look forward to Christmas. Along with New Year, that was abolished in favour of a feast day on his birthday January 14. On such occasions he would roar down the mountain on his snow-mobile, accompanied by Vadim Redkin, a former drummer in a Soviet boy-band who, as his John the Baptist, was one of two aides arrested with him this week. A witness recalled his followers being 'enthralled' as they lit candles, sang songs and watched Vissarion blessing loaves of bread. But, as the temperature dropped to minus 50c, one woman collapsed and slumped unconscious into the snow before being carried away. Other disturbing accounts suggest that, in the Nineties, some devotees died either of suicide a practice said to have been endorsed by Vissarion or a lack of conventional medical care. The authorities have released photographs of a suicide note and a noose as evidence against Vissarion. It's thought they relate to complaints of 'psychological abuse' made by former followers. He has countered that his accusers have 'mental disorders' and some Russian sources have suggested other reasons for the authorities acting now. One suggests it was a reprisal for having become involved in a dispute with local business interests. If convicted, he will face up to 12 years in jail, which begs the question of what will happen to his followers? He is said to hold sway with up to 50,000 around the world attributable in no small part to his habit of preaching over Skype. But, if Rasputin's resilience is anything to go by we should be wary of writing off Torop too soon. The mad monk was famously difficult to kill. Accounts of his winter's night murder in 1916 suggest he defied death, even ingesting cyanide and being shot at point-blank range. It was only when they drowned him that he succumbed. It remains to be seen whether Vissarion proves to be as durable. U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, expressed concern that President Donald Trump is casting doubt on whether he would accept an election defeat. Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who is seeking reelection in a district that supported Trump in 2016, told MLive she was alarmed to hear the president decline to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses the Nov. 3 election. Slotkin said Trump is escalating claims that the election result will be altered by fraud, and shes raising the alarm with high-ranking officials in the administration. I think its clear that the president isnt going to respect the results of the election, Slotkin said in an interview Thursday. The president was asked Wednesday whether he would commit to making sure there is a peaceful transfer of power after the election, regardless of the outcome. Were going to have to see what happens, Trump said at a news conference. You know that Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster ... Get rid of the ballots and youll have a very trans- -- well have a very peaceful -- there wont be a transfer, frankly; therell be a continuation." Slotkin said the Supreme Court could have to weigh in on the election result. Slotkin said Trumps urgency to nominate a new justice after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg is an attempt to get the best court he can ahead of this election. Slotkin noted that Democratic candidate Al Gore conceded after the Supreme Court ruled he lost the 2000 election. She doesnt believe Trump would make the same decision if the court ruled against him. In historical terms, it was just yesterday that we had a contested election in the United States that went to the Supreme Court, Slotkin said. Does anyone think were halfway as healthy of a country now as we were then? Trump also declined to commit to honoring the election results four years ago when asked by reporters how he would handle a loss. Trump lost the popular vote in 2016, but earned enough Electoral College votes to become president by winning states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania by narrow margins. Early voting in Michigan began Thursday as clerks began issuing absentee ballots to nearly 2.4 million registered voters who requested one. The presidents comments were largely denounced by Democrats on Wednesday. Several Republicans also voiced their concern, including U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, son of a former Michigan governor. Slotkin issued a statement via Twitter on Wednesday night saying Trump has laid the groundwork to refuse a peaceful transition since July. She said Thursday that shes been concerned about Trumps attacks on absentee voting throughout the year. Slotkin and other House colleagues sent letters to heads of the joint chiefs of staff and U.S. departments of homeland security and defense on the issue earlier this year. She asked officials to commit to supporting a peaceful process for carrying out the election result. She also asked officials to deny carrying out military operations for political purposes, including sending service members in uniform to the polls on Election Day. I think starting back in May, certainly for me and a couple of my other colleagues, we just started to think through what it really means to have a peaceful transition of power and how the president really cant refuse the process unless senior people around the president aid and abet him, Slotkin said. My actions were meant to get these guys on record on what they would stand up and do, she continued. I hope that they make their own internal decisions that, if Trump loses in a legitimate democratic election, theyre not going to go down with the ship. I want them to know that there will be consequences if they do aid and abet Trumps refusal to transition power. READ MORE ON MLIVE: Poll: Trump trails Biden in Midwest battlegrounds, but undecided voters could make the difference Second Lady Karen Pence to make West Michigan campaign stops Friday Kamala Harris urges Black Michiganders to vote for Biden during events in Flint, Detroit RTHK: EU warns coronavirus epidemic worsening The EU raised the alarm on Thursday on the coronavirus saying the epidemic is worse now than at the March peak in several member countries, as governments in Europe and beyond reimpose drastic restrictions. EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides warned that in "some member states, the situation is now even worse than during the peak in March." "This is a real cause for concern," she said, urging new measures to head off a second wave of the virus, which has killed at least 978,448 people worldwide since the outbreak emerged in China late last year. The death rate has not returned to the levels seen earlier this year, but cases of new infections are soaring once again in many areas of the bloc. In a statement, the EU's Stockholm-based disease control agency pointed to Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Malta as countries of particularly "high concern." The seven have "an increased proportion of hospitalised and severe cases" among older people and "increasing or high death notification rates are already observed... or may be observed soon," said the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC). Other countries such as France and Britain have observed rising infection rates primarily among younger people, who are less at risk of developing severe symptoms. But these too are on a worrying path as older people are increasingly infected, the ECDC said. Israel and France were among the latest nations to tighten infection control measures, shuttering restaurants, workplaces or gyms as businesses already hammered by lockdowns at the start of the year struggle to stay afloat. France's health minister on Wednesday announced drastic restrictions in some particularly hard-hit areas of the country. In the southern city of Marseille, bars, restaurants and gyms will close while bars in Paris and 10 other cities will close at 10:00 pm. Gyms will also be shuttered in the capital. Israel, which has the world's highest coronavirus infection rate as a proportion of its population, has gone even further. Last week, it imposed a second nationwide lockdown that included school closures and restrictions on work and leisure. But realising that wasn't enough, with some hospitals reaching capacity, it decided on Thursday to toughen its measures still further. The new rules will close the vast majority of workplaces, shutter markets and further limit prayers and demonstrations. Authorities are also considering closing Ben Gurion international airport outside Tel Aviv. As restrictions are being imposed, so protests and anger are rising as businesses worry about their survival and individuals fret about their jobs, relatives and mental health. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said on Thursday she had lodged a formal protest over her city's new restrictions, particularly the closure of gyms. "How will the fact that we can no longer exercise help us, while sport is an important part of keeping us healthy with strong immune systems?", she said. Health experts also warned that governments risked losing the trust of the population. Hagai Levine, an epidemiologist who is part of Israel's anti-coronavirus taskforce, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rush to ease the first lockdown caused the current crisis. "When there is no plan, no logic, the public loses its trust," he said. For some, that lack of trust also extends to the rush to get out a vaccine, with nine candidates worldwide currently in final clinical trials. In Russia, a vaccine has already been approved even though full clinical trials have yet to be completed, raising concerns about its safety. On Thursday, Russian cosmonauts set to blast off for the International Space Station (ISS) said it was too early to get the vaccine touted by President Vladimir Putin. "I'd personally say that I would not get vaccinated because I tread very carefully on this issue," said Sergei Ryzhikov, the leader of the next expedition to the ISS in October. But on a rare positive note, Olympic boss Thomas Bach said the Tokyo Games could take place next year even without a vaccine. "A number of big sport events have been successfully organised recently," he said, pointing for instance to the success of the Tour de France. Elsewhere in the world of sport, Swedish striker and AC Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 38, has tested positive for coronavirus, his club announced on Thursday. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-09-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. United Nations, Sep 24 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an end to the political deadlock in Lebanon and the launch of necessary reforms. In his opening remarks to a ministerial meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly high-level week on Wednesday, Guterres called for the swift formation of a government in the country following the collapse of the government as a result of the devastating August 4 blast in the port of Beirut, Xinhua news agency reported. The designation of Mustapha Adib as prime minister is a step in the right direction. This should be followed by the swift formation of a government able to meet the legitimate aspirations and needs expressed by the Lebanese people and to quickly deliver on key reforms and fundamental changes, said Guterres. "Without such action, the country's ability to recover and rebuild will be jeopardized, adding to the turmoil and hardship for the Lebanese people." Adib has yet to form a government. Wednesday's virtual meeting was attended by caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab. Guterres also asked for the launch of reforms. Now is the time for transformation in a variety of sectors, including financial, banking and energy, as well as customs, public procurement and state-owned enterprises. Social reforms, including social protection, are also needed to ensure the well-being of all Lebanese, particularly the most vulnerable, he said. Ultimately, reforms are not a goal in itself. They should respond to the legitimate demands of the Lebanese people for greater welfare, accountability, transparency, and the capacity to tackle corruption. That is essential to regain the trust of the Lebanese citizens, he said. "I want to reiterate my solidarity with the Lebanese people in these difficult times and my hope that Lebanese political leaders will rise to the occasion," said Guterres. "This is the time to prioritize national interest and put people before politics. This is the time to work together to build a better future for Lebanon." Guterres and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian co-chaired Wednesday's meeting. 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. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 14:33:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday called for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to find an optimal solution to the issue on South Korean victims who were forced into heavy labor by the Imperial Japan during World War II, according to the presidential Blue House. Moon had phone talks with Suga, who took office last week, for 20 minutes from 11:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, exchanging opinions on ways to develop Seoul-Tokyo relations and situations on the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean president told the Japanese premier that it is true that there are different positions between the two countries over the forced labor issue, but Moon expressed hope to jointly find an optimal solution that both governments and all parties involved can accept. Moon asked Suga to speed up communication efforts to resolve pending issues between Seoul and Tokyo, including the forced labor issue, with a fresh attitude of mind. In response, Suga agreed to make dialogue efforts to resolve pending issues. Trade dispute between South Korea and Japan started after the South Korean top court's ruling in 2018 that ordered some of Japanese companies to pay reparations to the South Korean victims who were duped or coerced into harsh labor without pay during WWII. In an apparent protest against the ruling, Japan tightened control over its export to South Korea of three materials in July last year. The materials are vital to producing memory chips and display panels, the mainstay of South Korean export. In the following month, the two sides removed each other from their respective whitelists of trusted trading partners that are given preferential export procedure. Enditem Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters For nearly 120 days, protesters in Louisville, Kentucky, have shouted no justice, no peace! as they called for charges against three police officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman who was shot in her apartment in March as police executed a search warrant. In the minutes following the announcement that only one officer would be indicted for wanton endangerment for firing into an apartment next door to Taylors a quiet, stunned sadness and simmering anger overtook Louisvilles Jefferson Square Park, the epicenter of protests which has been dubbed Injustice Square Park. Monique Lathon, a 33-year-old Black woman, said she was feeling mostly sadness more than anger as tears streamed down her face after the announcement. Just sorry to Bre that we werent able to get her justice. Related: Breonna Taylor: crowds march after grand jury refuses to charge officers in killing People gather in Jefferson Square where there is a memorial to Breonna Taylor. Photograph: Darron Cummings/AP On the edge of the square, David Mour, a 59-year-old attorney who is a fixture at demonstrations and represents many protesters, was wearing body armor. People say they fear for our city. I dont fear for our city. I fear for our people, he said. We can rebuild buildings, we can fix broken windows, we can wash off graffiti, but we cant heal broken hearts. We cant heal broken spirits and thats what weve got. Mour said hed had clients indicted for way less evidence than they had to indict these guys. Taylor was killed when officers executing a so-called no-knock warrant burst down her apartment door as part of a narcotics investigation targeting her ex-boyfriend, who was arrested 10 miles across the city in a raid carried out at about the same time. As police breached Taylors door her boyfriend Kenneth Walker fired off a shot from his handgun, thinking he was witnessing a home invasion. Taylor, who was unarmed, was killed as police responded with gunfire, some of which poured in from a window around the corner from where officers had tried to enter the apartment. No drugs or drug money were found in the residence. Story continues The officer who was charged on Wednesday, Brett Hankison, had been fired from the police force in June for his actions the night Taylor was killed. The acting chief of police wrote that Hankison displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life when he wantonly and blindly fired 10 shots into Taylors apartment on 13 March. He was booked in jail on Wednesday but released on bail about half an hour later. Demonstrators react to the grand jury verdict in the Breonna Taylor killing on 23 September. Photograph: Brandon Bell/Getty Images Last week, the city of Louisville paid $12m to Taylors estate to settle a lawsuit and announced a number of additional reforms that would come to the police department. Hankisons firing, the settlement and the promised reforms were all heralded as victories and promising signs by protesters in this segregated city. But what happened on Wednesday felt like a step back to many, as though change wasnt possible. I dont think Ill live to see it. I have grandchildren and Im skeptical to say they will witness it, said Solderick Ware, a 46-year-old Black steel worker, when asked whether he thought Black residents of Louisville and the United States could have more equality and equity. Ware was sitting outside at a taco restaurant with some friends in the Highlands, an affluent neighborhood where protesters had marched following the announcement, leaving the barricaded streets and boarded-up windows of the city center behind. In the Highlands, protesters yelled, How do you spell racist? L-M-P-D, a reference to the Louisville Metro Police Department. One woman shouted, Are you a parent? at police vehicles that drove by. Police in riot gear confronted protesters at one intersection, standing in phalanx with batons beneath a bucolic mural of a local park. Clashing with protesters at one point, officers could be observed firing pepper balls, which dispense a chemical irritant. A number of protesters were taken into police custody. After the situation in the Highlands calmed, Shawn Anderson, 45, was sitting with Ware and wearing a shirt that showed Taylor alongside George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery a trio of Black Americans whose deaths have driven racial justice protests across the nation. Andersons mask was covered in photos of Taylor, including one of her in an EMT uniform. That Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron, a Black man, could not file more charges in the death of a Black woman killed by police was sickening, he said. It makes no sense. One day hes going to have to answer for all the blood on his hands because he knows in his heart that its unjust and its wrong, he said. God has the last say. So we can protest. We mad. We upset. But his day is gonna come, just like all of us, our day is gonna come. And thats when he gonna meet his justice. Deziree Edwards, 21, was driving on the highway towards the protest square on Wednesday afternoon when she learned of the decision while watching a livestream. She said it was disappointing, but somewhat expected. I definitely believe that change is due because this is not the system that I deserve to live in, she said. This is not the system that we deserve to live in. This city is hostile. Lucknow: 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 (PIL), terming it as a `publicity stunt litigation`. The petition, filed by advocate Ashok Pandey, was dismissed by a bench comprising Justice P.K. Jaiswal and Justice D.K. Singh. The petitioner had raised the plea to rename the high court on the ground that the state government had renamed Allahabad district as Prayagraj on October 16, 2018. In its recent order, the bench said renaming a district 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 practicing lawyer of the court. The shooting of ZEE5's Nail Polish, which began on 15 September, was halted on Thursday after Manav Kaul and Anand Tiwari tested positive for coronavirus. Arjun Rampal has tested negative for coronavirus, a day after he revealed his Nail Polish co-stars Manav Kaul and Anand Tiwari have tested positive for COVID-19. In his recent most tweet, Rampal said he has been asked to take the test again in four days as he had come in direct contact with COVID-positive patients. He is currently quarantined in his home. Read the tweet below Good news, I am Covid negative. Have to retest in 4 days according to medical experts as I have been in direct contact with active Covid cases. Thank you all for your love, support and prayers arjun rampal (@rampalarjun) September 25, 2020 On Thursday, the actor said the shooting of Nail Polish has stopped with immediate effect and everyone has been advised to get themselves retested. Read his post here Nail Polish, a courtroom drama, is ZEE5 Original and is directed by Bugs Bhargava Krishna. Rampal will be essaying the role of Sid Jaisingh, a high-profile defense lawyer in the film. With a wonderful cast combined with very addictive energy and clarity of the director Bugs Bhargava Krishna, this is a project that is extremely promising and allows everyone to push ones limits to a level, that hopefully shall transform itself into something very special, the actor said in a statement. The film is being produced by Pradeep Uppoor, Seema Mohapatra, Jahanara Bhargava of Ten Years Younger Productions and Dhirajj Vinodd Kapoor. Earlier this week, Arjun shared behind the scene (BTS) pictures from the set and wrote, "So good to be back to work. Wait for this one it knocked my socks off. Pray for our health." Nail Polish went on floors on September 15 and is scheduled to stream on ZEE5. [Follow our daily updates on the latest presidential election polls.] The most recent New York Times/Siena College polls of Texas, Iowa and Georgia found no serious evidence that the Supreme Court vacancy has affected the race for the White House. Nor did the polls find much reason to think this would shift the race in the weeks ahead. The surveys were already underway before the death on Friday of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and neither Joe Biden nor President Trump fared meaningfully better in interviews conducted after her death. Opinions about the Supreme Court fight seemed poised to split along familiar partisan lines, with little advantage to either side. The data represents only an initial look at whats sure to be a long fight over the direction of the court. The presidents nominee and the battle over whether to confirm him or her could ultimately alter public opinion. The surveys began on Wednesday, two days before Ms. Ginsburgs death. Neither Mr. Biden nor Mr. Trump fared significantly better in interviews conducted after her death, after controlling for the characteristics of the respondent, like state and party. If anything, Mr. Biden fared a bit better, but the difference was not meaningful. A report published in "Nature Astronomy" claimed that the upper levels of Venus' atmosphere possess a molecule that displays a sign of life in Venus. Last Discovery on Venus The discovery on Venus is said to be appalling as people had briefest of glimpses of a sterile landscape from two Russian landers that have been transported down to the ground in the 1980s. Discovery of Phosphine The detection of phosphine in Venus' atmosphere at parts-per-billion stages made headlines recently. According to Jane Greaves from the University of Cardiff and her colleagues, there are no known photochemical processes or geochemical for the gaseous compound to be produced on Venus, reported Webzoly. The recent discovery in Venus' atmosphere is dubbed as exciting as it may serve as a probable sign of life (among other potential explanations). The scientists who published their discovery in "Nature Astronomy" could not grapple how the phosphine existed in Venus' atmosphere, reported Knowridge. Physics World said that the Venus story has captured the public imagination in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the most recent episode of the "Physics World Stories" podcast, Andrew Glester takes a broad perspective of the detection: an inspiring example of lateral thinking, cooperation, and tenacity. According to astrophysicist Joe Pesce on Venus showing a sign of life, "On Earth, phosphine gas is known to only be produced in a lab or through the action of bacteria and microbes. That's why it's exciting to discover phosphine outside of the Earth," reported The Hill. Also Read: NASA Plans to Land First Woman on the Moon in 2024 Scientists monitoring with the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii traced the spectroscopic signature of the chemical compound in the Venusian clouds located an estimated 35 miles above the surface. Follow-up monitoring with Chile's Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array confirmed the detection. Prospect Magazine noted that the recent detection of phosphine in Venus' atmosphere may be a major step towards answering questions regarding the origin of life. Venus is included in one of the few planets in the solar system that has not been suggested as a location for life. 1967 Speculation In 1967, Harold Morowitz and Carl Sagan conjectured that Venus' clouds aka Shukra may harbor life. The recent discovery of phosphine from such clouds supports the possibility that microorganisms may indeed be airborne in them. Space Probe One space probe that has already been planning on a Venus flyover could offer new clues. The BepiColombo probe is a cooperative mission between European and Japanese space programs. It has not yet been sent into space particularly to look for life but it may possess the capacity to provide details regarding the presence of phosphine in Venus' atmosphere. Announcement An international team of researchers, led by Jane Greaves of Cardiff University in Wales, on September 14 made the announcement of Venus' sign of life in the form of detection of phosphine gas pervading in layers of the planet's atmosphere where pressures and temperatures are relatively mild. Related Article: Asteroid Makes Staggering Approach to Earth, NASA Did Not See It Coming @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - After ending the previous session modestly lower, treasuries turned in a lackluster performance during trading on Thursday. Bond prices spent much of the day lingering near the unchanged line before closing slightly higher. As a result, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, edged down by 1 basis point to 0.666 percent. The choppy trading came following the release of a mixed batch of U.S. economic data, which added to recent uncertainty about the economic outlook. Early in the day, the Labor Department released a report showing an unexpected uptick in first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the week ended September 19th. The report said initial jobless claims inched up to 870,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level of 866,000. The modest increase surprised economists, who had expected jobless claims to drop to 843,000 from the 860,000 originally reported for the previous week. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department released a separate report unexpectedly showing another significant increase in new home sales in the U.S. in the month of August. The Commerce Department said new home sales jumped by 4.8 percent to an annual rate of 1.011 million in August after skyrocketing by 14.7 percent to an upwardly revised rate of 965,000 in July. Economists had expected new home sales to pull back by 1.2 percent to a rate of 890,000 from the 901,000 originally reported for the previous month. With the unexpected increase, new home sales surged up to their highest level since reaching 1.016 million in September of 2006. Traders largely shrugged off the results of the Treasury Department's auction of $50 billion worth of seven-year notes, which attracted modestly below average demand. The seven-year note auction drew a high yield of 0.462 percent and a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.42, while the ten previous seven-year note auctions had an average bid-to-cover ratio of 2.51. The bid-to-cover ratio is a measure of demand that indicates the amount of bids for each dollar worth of securities being sold. Trading on Friday may be impacted by reaction to the Commerce Department's report on durable goods orders in the month of August. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de A call by Ontarios top judge for a radical re-think of the justice system that could include overhauling the way the courts deal with drug possession cases is being described as a bold and unprecedented. Ontario Chief Justice George Strathy said in a speech Tuesday that there is increasing recognition that society needs to reconsider how it defines crime and whether some drug offences should no longer be prosecuted. In recent months, as opioid deaths have soared, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and many of Canadas chief medical health officers, have suggested that after a century of drug prohibition, we should stop treating the use and simple possession of narcotics as a criminal offence and regard them as public health matters, Strathy said in a speech for the opening of the courts. We need to consider whether these and other social challenges are most effectively addressed outside the courts. The annual legal event, a joint sitting of Ontarios three levels of courts, is typically held in a downtown courtroom packed with judges, lawyers, politicians and civil servants. Because of COVID-19, this years event moved into the virtual sphere where it was broadcast live on YouTube. Strathy, joined by Geoffrey Morawetz, Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Justice, and Lise Maisonneuve, Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, were, however, at the Court of Appeal at Osgoode Hall in a largely empty courtroom, separated by Plexiglas barriers. Attorney General Doug Downey was among other dignitaries delivering prepared remarks virtually. While the event is called the opening of the courts, they never really shut down not even during the pandemic, Morawetz stated, noting that since March, Ontario Superior Court has heard more than 50,000 virtual hearings. In their speeches, the justices deviated from state-of-the-court addresses to focus on the pandemic and its transformative impact on not just the justice system but all of society. Calling it a turning point in history, Strathy said COVID-19 has demonstrated the fragility of our very existence and exposed the injustices and inequalities in western society, by disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable: residents of long-term care facilities, migrant farmworkers and the homeless. Coincident with the pandemic, the prevalence and perseverance of anti-Black racism has been laid bare, he continued. He noted how a global protest movement, while sparked by events in the United States, has prompted many Canadians to ask hard questions about racism in our country and has caused just as many to demand answers. And while the pandemic has had the positive effect of accelerating the modernizing of the courts, it also exposed cracks in the foundation of our justice system, Strathy said. It will take more much more to build a better justice system than simply more computers and more video screens. I believe we must radically re-think the process we use to achieve justice. We need to examine the way we do justice in criminal, family and civil cases and ask ourselves whether there is a more just, cost-effective and cost-efficient way to do things at every stage of the proceeding. That process must be fair, it must respect and promote the rights and freedoms contained in the Charter and it must not be unreasonably delayed. Strathy also reiterated a call, made in previous opening of the court speeches, for the urgent reinvestment in legal aid, to help protect the most vulnerable members of our society. John Struthers, president of the Criminal Lawyers Association, praised Strathy for displaying true leadership with his bold and unprecedented remarks about the war on drugs, which was fermented in racism and has poisoned our justice system and our police. Cassandra DeMelo, a London, Ont., defence lawyer, who is the CLAs womens vice president, said Strathys speech was truly remarkable, because it lay bare so many of our social ills. Chief Justice Strathys comments today were a needed recognition that we need to try something else, she wrote in an email. We need to decriminalize simple (drug) possession immediately ... (and) recognize drug addiction as a public health issue, and use those funds we would otherwise spend (on) policing, prosecuting, and sentencing drug addicts to instead fund the people and institutions who can actually help. The summer heat has come and gone. With the weather starting to cool down, the time for fall activities like apple picking and pumpkin patches is here. If youre looking for a way to get out of the house for a few hours because of the coronavirus pandemic, here is a list of apple orchards and pumpkin patches around the Chicago area. Boris Johnson was briefed by the architect behind Sweden's anti-lockdown strategy before he announced a raft of new restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19, it was confirmed today. Both the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rishi Sunak heard from Professor Anders Tegnell, after they sought advice from academics outside the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) over the weekend. Oxford University's Professor Carl Heneghan, an expert in evidence-based medicine who has argued against the need for another blanket lockdown, and epidemiologist Professor Sunetra Gupta are also understood to have given advice. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: 'The PM has canvassed a wide variety of scientific opinion over the course of the weekend and it was part of that discussion.' Mr Johnson held the evidence session with a 'number of scientists' via Zoom from the Cabinet Room in Number 10 on Sunday. Mr Johnson's new restrictions which include pubs shutting at 10pm, office staff working from home where possible and retail staff wearing face masks have come in for a pounding from some sections of the scientific community for 'not going far enough'. 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 that letting the virus spread through the entire population would lead to hundreds of thousands of avoidable fatalities. But lockdown critics have since argued Sweden's approach was best. Statistics show it has suffered fewer Covid-19 deaths than Britain since the pandemic began, with 580 fatalities for every 100,000 people, compared to the rate of 620 in the UK. Experts have suggested the country's outbreak could even be 'over' because it has yet to suffer a second wave, unlike the UK, France and Spain. But Professor Tegnell this week claimed that ministers are considering a brief 'circuit-breaker' lockdown to stem a surge in coronavirus in Stockholm, the capital. The architect of Sweden's anti-lockdown strategy Anders Tegnell reportedly briefed the Prime Minister and his Chancellor Rishi Sunak Boris Johnson and his Chancellor Rishi Sunak reportedly received contributions from Anders Tegnell in their briefings The decision to speak to epidemiologist Mr Tegnell has sparked claims the Government has lost faith in Professor Chris Whitty. The Health Secretary said this is not correct 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. 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. Advertisement Scientists have speculated the virus has yet to make a resurgence across the whole country because the Scandinavian nation has some form of 'herd immunity', which is achieved when enough of the population has been exposed to it. The UK pondered herd immunity as its main strategy in March, but the tactic never became official policy. Number 10 was forced to deny claims 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'. The Government's new measures have sparked a debate among scientists as to whether they are enough. Professor John Edmunds, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, accused the Government yesterday of 'failing to learn the lessons from March'. But others have been supportive of the approach which could help to avoid a full lockdown. Professor Heneghan claimed it shows the Government is finally 'starting to understand that we are trying to control the spread of the infection as opposed to suppress it'. The briefing from Sweden's coronavirus controller, reported by The Spectator, comes as the Government battles a wave of new infections in the UK, and discussed what further measures to take. The magazine did not report what was discussed in the meeting. It is also claimed that it was only Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak present, suggesting Matt Hancock the Health Secretary was not privy to the conversation. MailOnline has yet to hear back from Downing Street to confirm exactly who was in the meeting. The Prime Minister steered clear of imposing a restriction on people visiting other's households in England despite Nicola Sturgeon's decision to impose the measure. But it may still be brought in over the coming weeks. Professor Chris Whitty, England's Chief Medical Officer, reportedly supported the imposition of the restriction for the whole of the UK, but his advice was re-buffed by Mr Johnson. Asked on the Today programme this morning whether this showed the Government had lost faith in Professor Whitty, the Health Secretary denied this was the case. 'No, on the contrary,' said Mr Hancock. 'There are reasonable disagreements between scientists and the role of Chris Whitty, as Chief Medical Officer, is to try to synthesise all of that scientific advice and present what he thinks is the best possible scientific analysis. 'And then we take decisions based on that advice. And of course listening to voices right across the board, it's only natural that we should.' Reports yesterday said Sweden may now be considering a 'chain-breaker' lockdown to halt a spike in cases in Stockholm, the capital. Epidemiologist Mr Tegnell has expanded on the proposals after 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,' Mr Tegnell told the Dagens Nyheter newspaper. 'We are still developing the concept, so to say, but something like that. '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.' Health chiefs in Sweden say not having a lockdown has worked for them, allowing people to keep their freedoms. Sweden's coronavirus cases have remained stubbornly low in recent months despite surges elsewhere in Europe Sweden's coronavirus deaths have also remained low, after rising quickly during the pandemic PATRICK VALLANCE AND CHRIS WHITTY ASKED FOR HELP TO 'CALM DOWN' ANGRY ACADEMICS AFTER HERD IMMUNITY CLAIMS 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. Advertisement They have claimed to have reached herd immunity, which is 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. But in Britain, where a lockdown was imposed, Government advisers believe only a around 8 per cent of the country has a natural defence to the virus. The Scandinavian nation's rate of infection currently stands at around 28 cases per 100,000 people, far below the 69 currently reported in the UK. It remains far below the UK's level, where 6,178 new cases were recorded yesterday. 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. The UK Government was reportedly considering a 'circuit-breaker' lockdown last week, but these plans have reportedly been dropped in the face of exponentially rising case numbers. Professor Edmunds, who sits on SAGE, accused the Government of failing to heed the warnings from March yesterday. 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.' But Professor Heneghan defended their position, stating: 'We are starting to understand that we are trying to control the spread of the infection as opposed to suppress it. '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.' (Newser) Journalists are bristling with outrage after receiving an apparent bonus offer that turned out to be a hoaxsent by their boss, the Daily Beast reports. Tribune Publishing, which owns major papers like the Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News, sent the email offering congratulations and saying bonuses of $5,000 to $10,000 were being paid out. To see the specific bonus amount, the recipient was instructed to click a link. But clickers ran into the message, "Oops! You clicked on a simulated phishing test!" along with advice on how to avoid online scams. story continues below Worse, the original email claimed bonuses were only feasible after "ongoing efforts to cut our costs"an allusion to a year of reporter pay cuts, buyouts, and allegations of mismanagement at Tribune Publishing, Vice reports. "This is a heartless, insulting and tone-deaf exercise, @tribpub," the Chicago Tribune Guild tweeted. "What a profoundly cruel way to taunt journalists after you just stole three weeks of our pay to hand more cash to shareholders and hedge fund vultures." A Tribune rep quickly apologized, saying "the company had no intention of offending any of its employees. In retrospect, the topic of the email was misleading and insensitive, and the company apologizes for its use." (Read more newspapers stories.) Ottawa, Sep 24 : Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that a second coronavirus wave has started in the country amid concerns over a possible national lockdown. "In our four biggest provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec), the second wave isn't just starting, it's already underway. We're on the brink of a fall that could be much worse than the spring," Trudeau said a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening. The country has witnessed a sudden spike in the number of coronavirus cases, from about 300 per day in August to a record high of 1,248 on Tuesday. "I know this isn't the news that any of us wanted to hear. And we can't change today's numbers or even tomorrow's -- those were already decided by what we did or didn't do, two weeks ago. But what we can change is where we are in October, and into the winter," Trudeau said. "It's all too likely we won't be gathering for Thanksgiving, but we still have a shot at Christmas." Trudeau said that while the outlook is grim, Canada has the tools it needs to blunt the impact of a pandemic that has already infected over 145,000 people and claimed the lives of 9,242 in the country. "We have the power to get this second wave under control. I know we can do it because we've already done it once before. "In the spring, we all did our part by staying home. And this fall, we have even more tools in the toolbox," he said. Trudeau urged Canadians once again to wear masks in public, get the flu shot this fall, and download the government's Covid-19 Alert app that notifies users when they have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. "This is the time for all of us as Canadians, to do our part for our country, as the government does its part for you," he said. Trudeau also said his government has signed billions of dollars worth of agreements to buy vaccines, therapeutics, and personal protective equipment. Canada faced critical shortages of gloves, masks and gowns in the early days of the pandemic. Trudeau's remarks came several hours after Governor General Julie Payette spoke in the Senate in which the ruling Liberal Party promised to keep financially supporting Canadians through what's shaping up to be a fall resurgence of the virus. In the speech, the government pledged to create 1 million new jobs, extend the wage subsidy program until next summer, launch the largest jobs training program in the country's history and begin to build a national child-care program to support working women. "The economic impact of Covid-19 on Canadians has already been worse than the 2008 financial crisis. These consequences will not be short-lived. "This is not the time for austerity. Canada entered this crisis in the best fiscal position of its peers and the government is using that fiscal firepower," Payette said. Do you reckon Australia can make the leap safely to renewable energy without bothering to shore things up with gas during the transition? Happy to bet the livelihoods of manufacturing workers youre right? Its easy for white-collar urbanites to take this gamble. In fact, many inner city environmentalists would consider it a win-win proposition. If the hard switch to renewables worked wed get a fully functioning economy powered by windmills and solar panels. If it fell short the privileged could afford the power bill rises and wed get rid of those unsightly steel mills and aluminium smelters into the bargain. It's easy for inner-city types to reject gas. Credit:Ben Rushton What I don't understand, however, is how such a bet can look remotely appealing to the Australian Labor Party a party founded to represent the interests of workers. To be fair to my friends in Labor, I think many are not seeing things clearly. They've been suckered by the extreme left and the extreme right into believing there's a hard fork in the road: should we pick the path of industry-loving climate vandals or the path of pure-spirited planet saviours? A 17-year-old boy who is accused of crashing a stolen BMW into a stream Thursday morning in Sudbury was eventually found hiding from police in a persons backyard, authorities said. The crash and subsequent search for the teenager started around 5 a.m. when an officer saw a car driving at a high rate of speed west on Route 20, also known as Boston Post Road, the Sudbury Police Department said in a statement. The officer reversed direction but lost sight of the car. Another officer was told to be on the lookout for the vehicle when a 911 call was made, according to the statement. While heading to Maple Avenue to respond to the call, an officer saw a car that had crashed through a guardrail on Boston Post Road next to Station Road. The vehicle had settled in a stream, the statement said. A 17-year-old boy who is accused of crashing a stolen BMW into a stream Thursday morning in Sudbury was eventually found hiding from police in a persons backyard, authorities said. (Sudbury Police Department) Police made their way down the embankment to the car and discovered nobody was inside, according to authorities. Shortly after finding the crashed car, a resident on Concord Road discovered a boy who he reported was trying to break into one of his vehicles, officials said. Sudbury police were not able to find the teenager in the area of the car crash, but with the help of a police K-9 and Massachusetts State Police, they eventually found him in the backyard of a home on Concord Road, according to law enforcement. He was taken into custody on a plethora of charges that include larceny of a car and motor vehicle charges, the Sudbury Police Department said. The sedan the 17-year-old boy is accused of stealing was from BMW of Sudbury, according to the department. It was lifted out of the stream by Teds Towing company, police noted. Police did not say when the teenager will be arraigned in court. 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. 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. 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 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 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. Jurors could be screened for their 'beliefs or moral attitudes' towards homosexuality before they are selected for the inquest into the deaths of four gay men at the hands of serial killer Stephen Port, a court has heard. Port, 45, was handed a whole life sentence after he was convicted of drugging, raping and murdering four men in east London after meeting them on the dating site Grindr. Victims Anthony Walgate, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor, 25, were killed by Port between June 2014 and September 2015. Fresh jury inquests into all four victims are now expected to focus on possible failings by police after the victims' families questioned why Port was not stopped sooner. Serial killer Stephen Port, now aged 45, was handed a whole life sentence after he was convicted of drugging, raping and murdering four men in east London At a pre-inquest review at the Old Bailey on Thursday, jury questions were discussed and whether they should include one on 'beliefs or moral attitudes'. Paul Clark, for the victims' families, cited the Equalities Act and said such a question was relevant in how jurors would treat one of the 'core issues', whether there were 'unjustified differences' in the way gay people were treated by police. Peter Skelton QC, for the Metropolitan Police, said there was no general precedent for such a question to be put. Andrew O'Connor, QC, advised coroner Sarah Munro QC to consider the matter again at a further pre-inquest hearing likely to take place on November 20. He said: 'It's an important and sensitive issue and we must strive to make the right decision.' Mr O'Connor, counsel for the coroner, said the full inquest on January 7 was being moved from the Old Bailey to Barking Town Hall. Explaining the decision, he said: 'The view was taken, with the number of people now certainly involved in these hearings, the Old Bailey simply would not be able to provide sufficient accommodation.. that in part being due to the fact that such court space as there is available at the Old Bailey is required for urgent custody cases to be tried. 'For that reason a number of other venues were explored. 'Barking Town Hall has accommodation available and suitable so for that reason, my lady has taken a provisional decision that is the venue where the inquest will be heard. Anthony Walgate (left) and Gabriel Kovari (right) from Lewisham were killed by Port after meeting him on a dating site Port also killed Daniel Whitworth (left) and Jack Taylor (right) before he was caught by police 'Of course we would have wished these hearings to take place at the Old Bailey. 'These are times we all have to make compromises. 'We know the families prefer these hearings take place rather than be delayed again and the only practicable way for that to happen is if they are moved to Barking.' Mr O'Connor said a jury of 11 would be empanelled on January 7, with the hearings to go on for up to nine weeks. In 2018, the documentary Faking It: Tears of a Crime on Investigation Discovery, helped shed light on how body language was the key to revealing the crimes Port had committed. During his police interviews, Port answered 'no' 40 times out of the 47 responses he gave to the questioning officers. According to the experts, this indicated that he was guilty as he continued to emphasise the word 'no'. As well as this Port's volume drops, suggesting that the words he is saying are not matched with the level of confidence or conviction behind them, experts said. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., who has been using Donald Trumps favorite weapon to bash the president, now has more than just Twitter to go after him. Pascrell, D-9th Dist., was named to chair the House Ways and Means oversight subcommittee, giving him the power to hold hearings and subpoena witnesses to investigate the Trump administration. And he made it very clear how he would use his new-found power. We will be relentless in providing oversight and conducting investigations to improve peoples' lives and show the vital work we can do for regular Americans," Pascrell said. "And we will focus with ferocity on holding the criminal Trump regime accountable. Exposing the public and private corruption left in the wake of the Trump government will take all the labor of cleaning up after the circus leaves town. Im eager to grab a shovel and get to work. He replaces the late Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., who he once described to NJ Advance Media as the person whos had more influence on me than anybody in modern history. Pascrell has used his seat on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee to try to force Trump to release his income tax returns as previous presidents have gone for more than four decades. The case now is in federal court. A fierce advocate for government accountability, Bill Pascrell will undoubtedly bring tremendous vigor to the role of oversight subcommittee chairman, said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass. Pascrell has been one of the Trump administrations fiercest critics on Twitter, the same vehicle the president uses to attack his opponents. On Tuesday, for example, Pascrell called Vice President Mike Pence a liar and that Trump and the Republicans have nothing but utter contempt for you and they do not care if you live or die. Liar! Americans with preexisting conditions are *already* guaranteed protection by the ACA the law trump and pence are trying to destroy in court right now! https://t.co/n99mlNrLRT Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) September 22, 2020 Pascrells attacks on Trump and his administration led Michael McAdams, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, to proclaim, "Trump Derangement Syndrome is real and Bill Pascrell is suffering from it. And Trump campaign spokeswoman Courtney Parella decribed Pascrell as the very definition of the political swamp the President is working to eliminate. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Napo making the NPP's famous 'Four more for Nana to do more' gesture 24.09.2020 LISTEN Education Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, aka Napo says if there is any leader who is 'Sakawa' (deceptive) it should be former President John Mahama. Napo, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South in Kumasi, has consequently admonished the electorate to vote against Mr Mahama and the NDC, stressing that they do not have the wherewithal to manage the affairs of state. Mahama 'Sakawa' Comment In his address at the Great Hall at KNUST in Kumasi, Mr Mahama labelled the decision by the Akufo-Addo government to cut sod for projects, with barely few months to elections, as 'sakawa' to deceive voters. He had earlier tagged the people of Akyem, where President Akufo-Addo belongs, as 'sakawa'. Napo, whilst addressing his party members during the inauguration of the Ashanti Regional NPP youth wing campaign team, said: John Mahama and the NDC are 'sakawa' so Ghanaians should reject them on December 7. According to him, the massive developmental gains that the country has chalked up under the Akufo-Addo administration in less than four years will be reversed if the incompetent NDC wins political power. The NDC is 'sakawa' government and you cannot trust it to properly manage the country, the Manhyia South MP said, adding a vote for President Akufo-Addo and the NPP is for progress and development. House-To-House Campaign The NPP youth wing is the heartbeat of the party, therefore, you should lead the house-to-house campaign exercise so we can win massive votes to enable President Akufo-Addo to continue to add up to his already successful government, he emphasized. Campaign Logistics Napo also stressed the need for the leadership of the NPP to make campaign resources available to the NPP youth wing so that they could enter every household and corner in the country to preach about the NPP's good works for votes. Napo, who spoke about a wide range of pressing national issues, said the country was currently on the path to prosperity due to President Akufo-Addo's positive policies so the NPP administration should be retained in power. The programme was attended by Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Simon Osei-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister; Henry Nana Boakye aka Nana B, NPP National Youth Organizer, and other party bigwigs. ---Daily Guide HP The lightest aluminum possible for the exterior and a lightweight alloy for the underbody were used, and even the wheels are covered by alloy panels in the name of aerodynamic efficiency. Many mechanical parts are shared with the prototype of the KdF-Wagen, also known as the Beetle after World War II.An important piece of hardware of the Type 64 is the 1.0-liter Volkswagen engine, which was good for anything between 32 to 40 horsepower thanks to larger valves, a higher compression, and carburetors from French company Solex. Tipping the scales at 1,346 pounds or 610 kilograms, the original car was soon joined by two more examples of the breed. Chassis number 38/41 would become the sole survivor, though, and even Ferdinand Porsche used this streamlined prototype to travel around Germany, chauffeured by his driver Josef Goldinger.During a stint from Berlin to Wolfsburg at the VW headquarters, chassis 38/41 is said to have averaged 84 miles per hour (135 km/h). The professors son, Ferry Porsche, used the car for a few years, then sold it to an Austrian by the name of Otto Mathe. Fast-forward to August 2019, and thats when the Type 64 failed to sell at auction despite a high bid of $17 million. The reason it didnt sell is... wait for it... the auctioneer, who opened the bidding at $30 million instead of $13 million Despite that blunder, theres no denying 38/41 is an expensive piece of automotive history. This is why a replica of the Type 64 like the one in the photo gallery carries an asking price of 150,000 euros plus 5 percent commission, translating to $183,945 at current exchange rates. Just like the original, the Tribute car relies on a Volkswagen powerplant that cranks out 50from 1.3 liters.Offered by TPE Japan , this fellow was registered as a historic VW in Italy in 1972 and features a steel body rather than aluminum. The color changes its tone with the sunlight from sliver to light turquoise according to the Japanese dealer. Unfortunately, details regarding who built this quirky replica havent been made public. Oceanagold Announces Results Of Updated Haile Technical Report Posted by Publisher Internet OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC) (ASX: OGC) (the ?Company? https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/oceanagold-corp/) is pleased to announce the completion of the Haile Gold Mine (?Haile?) National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report (?Technical Report?). The Haile Technical Report will be filed on SEDAR and with the Australian Securities Exchange within 45 days. Note that all Haile Technical Report forecasts are based on Mineral Reserves only. The results of the Technical Report are not to be used as formal guidance. The Company expects to provide formal annual guidance for production, costs and capital based on Board approved budgets in the first quarter of 2021. Key Highlights Life of mine extended to 2033 based on Mineral Reserves only Reserve Gold Price Case (?Reserve Case?) pre-tax net present value (?NPV?) (5% discount rate) of approximately US$930 million, after-tax of US$892 million at a flat gold price of $1,500/oz Market Consensus Gold Pricing Case (?Market Pricing Case?) pre-tax NPV5% of approximately US$1.1 billion, after-tax of US$1.05 billion Reserve Case life of mine pre-tax undiscounted free cash flows of approximately $1.3 billion, after-tax of $1.2 billion Market Pricing Case life of mine pre-tax undiscounted free cash flows of approximately $1.5 billion, after-tax of $1.4 billion Increased Proven & Probable Gold Reserves by 60,000 ounces, Measured & Indicated Resources by 120,000 ounces and Inferred Resources by 40,000 ounces, all net of mine depletion as at June 30, 2020 Approximate life of mine cash costs of $590 per ounce and All-In Sustaining Costs (?AISC?) of $800 per ounce Horseshoe Underground optimal mine sequence confirmed as bottom-up with development expected to commence in 2021 and first production targeted for late 2022 Average annual life of mine gold production of 180,000 200,000 ounces, increasing to approximately 250,000 ounces when on combined open pit and underground mill feed between 2023 and 2027 Underground exploration targets advancing including Horseshoe, Snakeshoe and Palomino with new drill targets at Aquarius and Pisces (both not included in the Technical Report) Michael Holmes, President and CEO of OceanaGold said, ?We are pleased with the results of the updated Haile Technical Report which demonstrate long-term value and significant organic growth opportunity for the operation. The Reserve Case estimates the pre-tax NPV at $930 million while the pre-tax NPV using market consensus gold prices is estimated at $1.1 billion. These results, coupled with the significant underground exploration upside, makes the Haile Gold Mine a top-tier asset in a great jurisdiction.? ?Haile has been a commercial operation for approximately three years. Despite numerous challenges during this time, we have successfully increased the process plant capacity by approximately 75% from nameplate, have significantly increased mining rates while reducing unit costs, upskilled the local workforce and attracted experienced operations managers who have improved the safety culture and operational productivity. We continue to adapt to the extreme weather patterns of the last few years in the Carolinas that have at times hampered mining productivity. Through our experience of operating Haile over the past few years, we have updated its mine plan to deliver over the long-term.? ?We evaluated the Horseshoe Underground mine sequence and confirmed a bottom-up approach as the optimal mine sequence. We plan to commence development of the Horseshoe Underground in late 2021 with first production targeted for late in 2022. Gold mineralisation below the current reserve open pit design represents significant underground growth opportunity for the Company with further drilling being planned to convert Inferred Resources (Horseshoe, Palomino), define new resources where we have intersected significant zones of mineralisation (Snakeshoe) and test new underground targets Pisces and Aquarius. Underground ore feed is an important part of Haile?s future operation. Its importance is illustrated in the updated Technical Report with average annual gold production of 250,000 ounces a year at first quartile costs when both open pit and underground ore is fed through the mill.? Updated Mineral Reserves and Resources As at June 30, 2020, the Company increased Haile Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves from December 31, 2019 by 60,000 ounces of gold, net of mine depletion. As at June 30, 2020, the Company increased Haile Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources from December 31, 2019 by 120,000 ounces of gold and Inferred Resources from December 31, 2019, by 40,000 ounces, both net of mine depletion. The Company continues to focus on resource growth and conversion at Haile with an emphasis on underground targets with significant results (i.e. addition of Palomino Inferred Resource of 600koz in 2019). The Company will incorporate 2020 drill results into the year-end Resource and Reserve update. Operating Physicals Over the life of mine, the Company expects to produce approximately 2.5 million ounces of gold with an average annual life of mine gold production of approximately 180,000?- 200,000 ounces, increasing to approximately 250,000 ounces with combined both open pit and underground mill feed (2023 to 2027). The life of mine AISC is estimated to be approximately $800 per ounce while life of mine cash costs are estimated to be $590 per ounce, both after silver by-product credits of 3.0 million ounces at an average price of $17 per ounce. The Company expects to mine approximately 388 million tonnes of waste and 46 million tonnes of ore from the open pits for a life of mine strip ratio of 8.4 to 1 from 2021 onward. Open pit mining is expected to average 40 million tonnes of waste and 4 million tonnes of ore per year based on historical mining and weather data up until 2029, reducing thereafter. Mining rates are based on the operation?s expanded mine footprint and has factored additional Potential Acid Generating (?PAG?) material which requires engineered and environmentally approved containment locations. Open pit mining unit costs are estimated to average approximately $2.00 per tonne mined over the life of mine, inclusive of capitalised mining costs. The Haile Underground is initially expected to mine approximately 3.4 million tonnes of ore over an average five-year mine life or approximately 680,000 tonnes a year based on Reserves. The Company will target the conversion of Horseshoe Inferred Resources and other underground targets along the one-kilometre corridor between Horseshoe and Palomino (Figure 8). Horseshoe underground mining unit costs are estimated to be approximately $47 per tonne mined including capitalised underground mining costs. Since 2017, the Company has increased the Haile process plant capacity by approximately 75% above nameplate (2.3 million tonnes per annum) and expects a steady-state annual throughput rate of approximately four million tonnes per annum. Processing unit costs are estimated to further decrease and average approximately $10 per tonne processed over life of mine. Over the life of mine, the head grade is estimated to average 1.7 grams per tonne and approximately 2.3 grams per tonne between 2023 and 2027 from combined open pit and underground ore feed. Gold recoveries are typically correlated with head grade and are expected to average approximately 85% over life of mine and 87% from 2023 and 2027 with the higher average head grade from combined open pit and underground ore feed. Capital Investment The Company has refined its capital cost estimate to incorporate additional infrastructure required over the life of mine from 2021 onward, which is based on operating data from over the last few years. Total non-sustaining (growth) capital for the expanded Haile operation, excluding site closure costs is estimated at approximately $190 million over the life of mine, and includes the continued expansion of the Tailings Storage Facility (?TSF?) and additional PAG waste containment facilities (combined $90 million), and development of the Horseshoe Underground ($80 million). The Horseshoe Underground mine plan has been enhanced and development capital investment is estimated to be approximately $80 million, an expenditure that will take place primarily in 2021 and 2022. Underground sustaining capital is estimated to be approximately $17 million over its five-year mine life. Site closure capital is estimated at $70 million, an expenditure that progressively increases toward the end of the mine life with approximately $35 million of the estimated total expended after the end of mine life.? Total sustaining capital for Haile is estimated to be approximately $450 million over 13 years from 2021 to 2033 inclusive. The two main components of sustaining capital are open pit capitalised pre-stripping ($255 million) and progressive TSF lifts over the life of mine ($140 million) from 2021 to 2033 inclusive. The investments required for TSF lifts also recognise the requirement to contain and manage the large amount of supernatant water accumulated as a result of the materially higher than average rainfall since 2018. Economics The Haile Technical Report highlights an estimated Reserve Case pre-tax NPV5% of approximately $930 million and after-tax NPV5% of $892 million utilising a $1,500 flat reserve gold price. Alternatively, the estimated pre-tax NPV5% and after-tax NPV5% utilising market consensus gold price assumptions is calculated at approximately $1.1 billion and $1.05 billion, respectively. Refer to Table 7 for gold price assumptions used in both calculations. NPV calculations are effective July 1, 2020. Over the life of mine, the Company expects the Haile operation to generate $1.3 billion in pre-tax, undiscounted free cash flow under the Reserve Case and $1.5 billion pre-tax utilising Market Consensus Case gold prices. Exploration The Company continues to define the potential of underground mining opportunities at Haile. The Company expects it will focus exploration efforts on further defining underground opportunities in an effort to extend the life of these operations beyond the initial five-years. Previous drilling of underground targets from surface has identified high-grade zones across the Horseshoe Palomino trend that require further drill definition and understanding. The Company has also identified new underground targets, Pisces and Aquarius and plans to drill these targets in the near-future. Neither of these targets are included as the Technical Report is based on Reserves only. In line with ASX listing requirements, OceanaGold has appended information required by JORC Table 1 for the Haile Resources and Reserves estimates to its ASX announcement. JORC Table 1 is not required under National Instrument 43-101. Readers are referred to the ASX website at www.asx.com.au or the OceanaGold website at www.oceanagold.com to view JORC Table 1. About OceanaGold OceanaGold Corporation is a mid-tier, high-margin, multinational gold producer with assets located in the Philippines, New Zealand and the United States. On the North Island of New Zealand, the Company operates the high-grade Waihi Gold Mine while on the South Island of New Zealand, the Company operates the largest gold mine in the country at the Macraes Goldfield which is made up of a series of open pit mines and the Frasers underground mine. In the United States, the Company operates the Haile Gold Mine, a top-tier, long-life, high-margin asset located in South Carolina. The Company?s assets also encompass the Didipio Gold-Copper Mine located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. OceanaGold also has a significant pipeline of organic growth and exploration opportunities in the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions. OceanaGold has operated sustainably since 1990 with a proven track-record for environmental management and community and social engagement. The Company has a strong social license to operate and works collaboratively with its valued stakeholders to identify and invest in social programs that are designed to build capacity and not dependency. Qualified Persons and Scientific and Technical Information The Mineral Resource estimates included in this public release have been prepared under the supervision of J. Moore. Any information regarding metallurgy or mineral processing has been prepared, verified and approved by D. Carr. The open pit Mineral Reserves have been prepared under the supervision of F. Rodrigues and the underground Mineral Reserves have been verified and approved by J. Poeck. The open pit and underground mining costs and economic evaluation have been prepared under the supervision of T. Cooney. Each of D. Carr, T. Cooney, J. Moore, J. Poeck, and F. Rodrigues are Qualified Persons under NI 43-101. Messrs Carr, Cooney and Moore are full-time employees of the Company?s subsidiary, OceanaGold Management Pty Limited. Accordingly, each is not independent for purposes of NI 43-101. Poeck is a registered member of the SME and a QP member of the MMSA.? F. Rodrigues is a member of AusIMM and a QP member of the MMSA. Both are full time employees of SRK. Carr, T. Cooney, J. Moore, J Poeck and F. Rodrigues have reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this public release in respect of which each is responsible and each consent to inclusion in this public release of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears. Cautionary Statement for Public Release Certain information or statements contained in this public release may be deemed ?forward-looking? within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information relate to, among other things, future performance and study results and reflect the Company?s expectations regarding the generation of free cash flow, achievement of guidance, execution of business strategy, future growth, future production, estimated costs, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of OceanaGold Corporation and its related subsidiaries. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as \expects\ or \does not expect\, \is expected\, \anticipates\ or \does not anticipate\, \plans\, \estimates\ or \intends\, or stating that certain actions, events or results \may\, \could\, \would\, \might\ or \will\ be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements and information. They include, among others, the outbreak of an infectious disease, the accuracy of mineral reserve and resource estimates and related assumptions, inherent operating risks and those risk factors identified in the Company?s most recent Annual Information Form prepared and filed with securities regulators which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company?s name. This public release also contains references to estimates of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. The estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Mineral Resource or Mineral Reserve estimates may have to be re-estimated based on: (i) fluctuations in gold price; (ii) results of drilling, (iii) the results of metallurgical testing and other studies, including their subsequent refinement and updating; (iv) proposed mining operations, including dilution; (v) the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimates; (vi) changes in mining or other costs, and (vii) the possible failure to receive required permits, approvals and licenses or changes to existing mining licences. As well, all of the economic results of studies included in this public release constitute forward-looking information or statements including pre-tax NPV (5% discount rate) of approximately US$930 million and? after-tax of US$892 million at a flat gold price of $1,500/oz and Market Consensus Gold Pricing Case pre-tax NPV5% of approximately US$1.1 billion, after-tax of US$1.05 billion; life of mine pre-tax undiscounted free cash flows of approximately $1.3 billion, after-tax of $1.2 billion and Market Consensus Gold Pricing Case life of mine pre-tax undiscounted free cash flows of approximately $1.5 billion, after-tax of $1.4 billion, and approximate life of mine cash costs of $590 per ounce and AISC of $800 per ounce. There are no assurances the Company can fulfil forward-looking statements and information. Such forward-looking statements and information are only predictions based on current information available to management as of the date that such predictions are made; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing the Company, some of which are beyond the Company\-\-s control. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements and information contained in this public release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual outcomes or results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The information contained in this release is not investment or financial product advice. (All financial figures in US Dollars unless otherwise stated) NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES. LONDON, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest innovations in blockchain for the health technology space will be on display at the upcoming CoinGeek Live Conference (September 30 - October 2), with two sessions that showcase vanguard companies developing solutions with the Bitcoin SV blockchain. EHR Data: The First Healthcare Data Platform Using the Bitcoin SV Blockchain (October 1, 10:00-10:30am EST) EHR Data, a Texas-based business launched by the founders of pharmacy technology company PDX, Inc., will present on its progress in developing the world's first global electronic health record. Built using the Bitcoin SV blockchain, the EHR Data platform will enable individuals to securely own and control their personal medical information, while also providing health care providers and researchers better real-time access to data. The platform can facilitate a host of use cases designed to produce better health outcomes, while ushering in a new era of privacy and personal power for patients. EHR Data is pursuing use cases to help combat the opioid addiction crisis, and support response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers: Ron Austring - Chief Scientist & Consultant, EHR Data Cheryl D. Jorgenson - Chief Clinical Officer, EHR Data Joseph Eckstein - Director of Product Design, EHR Data Clean Data: Clinical Research Integrity and Data Hygiene Using Bitcoin SV (October 1, 10:30-11:00am) Veridat is a new venture that has developed a platform to use the Bitcoin SV blockchain to record clinical research data, in order to assure the integrity and hygiene of such data. It is partnering with JuvaTech, a behavioural neuroscience technology company that supports researchers who conduct behavioural testing of therapeutic compounds. The companies will discuss their blockchain-powered platform and its benefits for the clinical research field. Speakers: Dr. Robert Huber - Founder & CEO, JuvaTech | Neuroscientist, Bowling Green State University Phillip Runyan - Director, Veridat Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen, who will host CoinGeek Live, commented on today's release, saying: "Better data means better health care and medical research. The number of potential use cases for blockchain technology within the health sector is immense, and we're excited to offer an insight into these possibilities at CoinGeek Live. Already, we are seeing businesses leverage the greater data capacity, low transaction fees and publicly verifiable nature of the Bitcoin SV blockchain to develop new platforms that improve access to, and accuracy of, patient and research data. This will lead to real-world positive health outcomes and we're just witnessing the start. With the unbounded scaling and robust technical infrastructure provided by Bitcoin SV, I expect to see many more healthcare companies follow the lead of EHR Data, JuvaTech and Veridat, the pioneering ventures presenting at CoinGeek Live and innovating with the Bitcoin SV blockchain." Join us September 30 - October 2, 2020 for CoinGeek Live- a virtual blockchain conference broadcasting live from studios in New York and London. It's free to attend, but places are limited and you must be registered. Visit coingeekconference.com for more information. CoinGeek Live is sponsored by The Bayesian Group, Bitcoin Association, Cozen O'Connor P.C., EHR Data, NBdomain, nChain, TAAL and Omniscape. State Treasurers Office Makes New Veteran Bonus Available for Those Supporting COVID-19 Crisis Operations BOSTON, Mass. The Office of the State Treasurer, Veterans' Bonus Division has launched a new $500 Bonus for Massachusetts National Guard members that were activated to support operations responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Governor Charlie Baker activated the Massachusetts National Guard in March to increase the supply chain resources available to the Commonwealth and its residents. "Massachusetts veterans and service members always put our safety ahead of their own and we wanted to find a way to thank them for their bravery," State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg said "These bonuses will provide additional support to the National Guard members who have courageously stepped up to assist the state in response to COVID-19." By visiting VetsBonusMA.com service members and Veterans can check their eligibility, apply for bonuses, and upload their required supporting documents from wherever they are. The new COVID-19 bonus application is available here, and it takes approximately ten days for the check to be mailed after a Veteran is approved for a bonus. "This new bonus will provide financial relief for Veterans throughout Massachusetts and we are excited to get the word out as fast as possible," Steve Croteau, manager of the Veterans' Bonus Division said. The Veterans' Bonus Division distributes bonuses for eligible active duty, discharged, and deceased Massachusetts veterans who served during various conflicts. The State Treasurers Office has administered the state bonus program since the World War I bonus in 1919 was awarded to Massachusetts individuals who served in the armed forces during that period. To learn more about the Veterans' Bonus Division, visit VetsBonusMA.com. "I am so very thankful for our Massachusetts National Guard service members who were called up to the front lines of the battle on COVID-19. Now, more than ever, we need to support those who are there for us in our times of need. These bonuses will put money, directly, into the pockets of our Massachusetts veterans and active service members," State Senator Walter F. Timilty, of Milton, said. "I'm proud to have sponsored this amendment in the Massachusetts State Senate, authorizing this COVID-19 spending in anticipation of federal reimbursement." "The Massachusetts National Guard, always exemplifying their Nation's First' motto, were some of the first workers on the front lines of this pandemic stepping away from family, friends, and their livelihood to serve their community against a deadly and dangerous virus when even less was known about it," State Representative Linda Dean Campbell, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs said. "They provided critical support to many in our eldercare facilities and Veterans at the Holyoke Soldiers Home. I am thankful for the great work of our Treasurer to support them and their families." A woman who travelled abroad for cosmetic surgery has been left with a gaping hole in her chest from the botched boob job. Cherrise Massay, 23, who lives in Salford, Manchester, went under the knife in Istanbal, Turkey, after friends recommended a clinic. The beautician paid 5,500 for a breast uplift, augmentation and a Brazilian butt lift. However, she woke from the eight-hour surgery to find her bottom had been filled with breast implants. Cherrise Massay, 23, who lives in Salford, Manchester, is urging women not to travel abroad for cosmetic surgery after having a botched procedure in Istanbul, Turkey. Pictured: Cherrise, before surgery Cherrise paid 5,000 for a breast uplift and augmentation and a Brazilian butt lift. Pictured: Cherrise's breasts after surgery The mother-of-two was soon required to have emergency surgery and three blood transfusions, which were only the start of her 'living nightmare.' Cherrise said: 'I researched the clinic and saw amazing results as four friends had been there. Everything seemed legit and I couldn't wait to get rid of my saggy boobs after breast feeding. 'Initially, I wanted a fatty lump removed from my bottom as I had a BBL in February in Miami. 'But after my consultation, I agreed to have implants as it sounded better - however I did not think it would be breast implants! 'I woke up from the surgery and I didn't feel well. I knew something was wrong. I begged the nurses, who couldn't speak English, to help me as I couldn't even lift up my head. 'It took two days of complaining for them to realise - something isn't right.' The beautician (pictured) had to be rushed to intensive care for three blood transfusions after her body began to reject the implants Cherrise recalls having six drains attached to her breasts, bum and stomach, with all filling rapidly with blood. She was rushed to intensive care for three blood transfusions. The 23-year-old was told her body was rejecting the bum implants and she was put under local anaesthetic whilst they were removed. Cherrise said: 'I instantly felt better when I woke up from surger 'I was shocked when I saw the implants they put in - they were different sizes and for breasts. My breasts looks good but swollen which is normal however my one nipple kept on bleeding. 'They kept putting small plaster-like strips over it to mask the bleeding and the fact it was rising. But I was told the bleeding was normal.' Cherrise's breasts before going into surgery, where she was given breast implants After one week, Cherrise returned back to the U.K. and immediately went to A&E. She was diagnosed with flesh eating bacterial necrosis, but the bleeding was a good sign because it meant the skin wasn't completely dead. She said: 'Doctors were horrified to see what they had done to me. 'I had to go every other day to get the bandages changed and it went from bad to worse. My nipple was purple in Turkey and I was told it was bruising but after a couple of weeks, it was jet black. 'Two weeks after the surgery, I noticed my nipple was lifting despite being on strong antibiotics to try and stop the infection. 'Four days later on September 21, my nipple completely came off. 'I fell to the floor as I saw it peel off with the bandages. I am completely mortified.' Cherrise claims to have been left with a 'gaping' hole in her chest which she says has a 'horrific' smell. Holding back the tears, Cherrise said: 'I feel like i'm in a horror film - i can't even get away with it. 'It stinks like a dead body because it is rotting flesh. I can't forget about it because it is burning and my whole breast is in pain. I am at risk of contracting sepsis and the clinic in Turkey don't even care - they have blocked me!' NHS doctors told Cherrise that they suspect an artery was caught when inserting the implant. Cherrise (pictured) admits she regrets going to Turkey for surgery and hopes sharing her story will stop other women from going abroad for procedures They are monitoring the infection but may have to take the implant out. Cherrise said: 'I am happy to take the implant out if necessary. 'I regret going to Turkey, I wish I had just kept my saggy boobs. 'I am going to need a skin graft on my nipple in the future which will leave me with more scars. 'It is too late for me and I have a long road to recover but I hope my story will stop other women from going abroad for surgery. 'The surgeons I visited don't care about you, they just want your money - I have learnt the hard way. 'I wouldn't wish any of this on my worst enemy - it is truly horrendous. 'I wish I had saved more and got the surgery in the UK, I was quoted 8,800. 'I am urging girls to save more and steer clear from Turkey - it doesn't matter if your friend has been or you have done research!' https://uk.gofundme.com/f/save-her-boobs?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unknown&utm_campaign=comms_gfm+save-her-boobs Breonna Taylor's mother wept when she was told that Louisville cops would not be charged with killing her daughter, a family friend said. Tamika Palmer was given the news by Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron only two minutes before it was announced to the world on Wednesday night. Activist Christopher 2X told CNN that there was 'a lot of sadness and weeping' when the family was told, saying he had witnessed 'a mother in excruciating pain'. The announcement that only one officer would be charged, and not directly for killing Taylor, sparked a fresh wave of protests in Louisville and across the US where Taylor's name has become a rallying cry of the Black Lives Matter movement. Tamika Palmer (pictured), the mother of Breonna Taylor, was left 'weeping' when she learned of the grand jury's decision not to charge Louisville cops with killing her daughter Only one cop is being charged in relation to the police raid which killed Breonna Taylor (pictured), and not directly for killing her Palmer was with her daughter Bianca Austin and sister Juniyah Palmer as well as family attorneys when she was told of the grand jury's decision. One attorney, Sam Aguiar, said Palmer had driven to see the attorney general despite lawyers' requests that she not be forced to attend to hear bad news. Taylor's family was last week awarded a $12million settlement by the city of Louisville, six months after she was shot by police who burst into her home late at night with a search warrant. The officers, who had not activated their body cameras as required, shot Taylor multiple times, killing her. 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. Palmer said last week that the settlement was 'only the beginning of getting full justice' for Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician. The city has promised sweeping reforms to its police department as part of the civil lawsuit settlement. 'Justice for Breonna means that we will continue to save lives in her honor,' Palmer said last week. 'No amount of money accomplishes that, but the police reform measures that we were able to get passed as a part of this settlement mean so much more to my family, our community, and to Breonnas legacy.' Heavily-armed riot police stand guard in a street in downtown Louisville amid protests sparked by a Kentucky grand jury's decision to clear three officers of charges for killing Taylor Protesters pass by a burning pile of trash as tensions boiled over in Louisville's downtown area on Wednesday night Protests erupted against last night after the single charge was announced against detective Brett Hankison, who is accused of 'wanton endangerment' for firing shots into neighboring apartments. Neither Hankison nor the two officers who fired the shots that killed Taylor were charged in direct connection with her death. Attorney general Cameron said Hankison had not fired the fatal shots and the two other officers who opened fire had done so in self-defense. '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.' The biggest protest last night was in Louisville, but demonstrators also took to the streets in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and elsewhere. Two cops were shot on Wednesday night and a suspect was charged today with wanton endangerment - the same count as in the Taylor case. Louisville police chief Robert Schroeder said both officers were expected to recover, although one was undergoing surgery. President Donald Trump said he was 'praying for the two police officers that were shot tonight in Louisville, Kentucky'. 'The Federal Government stands behind you and is ready to help,' he said, offering assistance to Kentucky governor Andy Beshear. Police said they had made 127 arrests in Louisville, with some people detained for jumping on city vehicles being used as barricades. Later, protesters who refused orders to disperse were arrested for curfew and unlawful assembly violations. Police also said some businesses were looted early Thursday including two City Gear stores and a pawn shop. Officers stand in the street shortly after shots were fired at police resulting in two injured officers Nightfall gave way to even more disorder in the city as fires broke out on the streets Ben Crump, a lawyer for the Taylor family, had earlier condemned the grand jury decision as 'outrageous and offensive.' 'It's yet another example of no accountability for the genocide of persons of color by white police officers,' he said. 'If Hankison's 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 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.' Anger over Taylor's death in March was given fresh momentum by the George Floyd protests which erupted in the wake of Floyd's death in Minneapolis in May. United Airlines will offer some Hawaii-bound customers rapid-response coronavirus tests at the airport, an effort to get around quarantine requirements and eventually, open up more destinations to travelers during the pandemic. United is the first U.S. airline to offer a Covid-19 testing program. Passengers booked from United's San Francisco hub to Hawaii, one of its most popular destinations, will have that option starting Oct. 15, the airline said Thursday. The date is when Hawaii is scheduled to lift a two-week quarantine requirement on arriving travelers as long as they test negative for Covid-19 within 72 hours of their departure. Passengers will be responsible for payment. Firm pricing is still in the works but the tests will at first cost $250. The nasal swab tests could later provide an opening for passengers to enter regions that are currently off-limits because of coronavirus concerns. Global airlines this week urged government officials around the world to consider Covid-19 testing for passengers before international flights as an alternative to blanket travel bans that have driven down passenger traffic. "We are very interested in opening this up to other destinations," Janet Lamkin, United's California president, told CNBC. The results of the molecular tests, which will be administered by GoHealth Urgent Care and Dignity Health, take about 15 minutes. The tests will be conducted in the international terminal, a site the airport announced last month that at first was for airport employees. United and Delta Air Lines have rolled out rapid coronavirus tests for their crew members. The tests at the airport will be conducted prior to security checkpoints. Travelers who test positive for Covid-19 won't be allowed to fly. United's Hawaii customers from San Francisco can also opt for an $80 mail-in test, offered by Color, which would be conducted at home. Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed the passing of controversial farm bills in Parliament as "landmark" and stated that agriculture in India has "long suffered from apathy and policies rigged to benefit others at the cost of the farmer". The BJP strongman, in an article in Times of India, said the conduct of the opposition party leaders in the Upper House was a "dark blot on the Indian democracy and parliamentary decorum" and that it was reflective of their frustration over losing popular support and having an anti-farmer mindset. "That alone can explain the propaganda that has been unleashed that the enactment of the two laws will lead to abolition of MSP," the Home Minister wrote. Shah accused the Congress of never converting their sung out intent of helping out farmers into reality. This article comes hot on the heels of the Centre getting two of the three contentious farmer bills- Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Production) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services bill, 2020 cleared in Parliament. Only President Ram Nath Kovind's approval is remaining to turn these bills into laws. He trashed the allegation of the two legislations being anti-farmer as "baseless" and said the Congress and other opposition parties are saying this to cover up their own failures. Shah said the opposition's protests against the farmer bills represent political deceit and the influence of middlemen. Listing out the NDA government's policies vis-a-vis agriculture sector, Shah said steps such as "improving the acreage under irrigation, encouraging farmers to diversify into allied activities such as dairy and beekeeping", hikes in MSP and direct financial assistance "worth crores", reflected a fresh market approach under the Modi government. Two police officers have been shot in Louisville as the city erupts in civil unrest following the decision not to file charges directly over the death of Breonna Taylor. Louisville Metro Police Department chief of police, Robert Schroeder, confirmed in a statement that two officers had been shot during unrest in the city. Both officers were in surgery overnight but were said to be stable, one suspect was taken into custody. I am very concerned about the safety of our officers, Schroeder said. The report came as angry clashes broke out across the city and 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. Earlier on Wednesday the grand jury passed down three charges of Wanton Endangerment on one of the officers involved in Taylors killing yet none of them were related to her death. Two other officers were handed no charges at all. Hours later local police began firing pepper balls into crowds who had gathered to express their anger over the death of the 26-year-old black woman. 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. The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers has named Sean Borchardt a partner in the Woodland Hills, Calif., office. Borchardt has more than 15 years of experience. He previously has held positions at Gallagher, Relations Insurance and Tolman & Wiker. The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers is an independently owned broker with offices throughout the country. Topics California Agencies A man has been sent to prison after repeatedly calling the police to complain that Ant McPartlin was still hosting Britain's Got Talent after his drink-driving conviction. David Kates-Lowick, of Welshpool in Wales, was sentenced to 19 weeks in prison after admitting that the calls breached his suspended sentence and were not a genuine police matter. Mr McPartlin, one half of famous TV presenting duo Ant and Dec alongside Declan Donnelly, was hit with an 86,000 fine and a 20-month driving ban after his drink-driving conviction in 2018. He went to rehab and took several months off from presenting, before returning to work in early 2019. Ant McPartlin arriving at Wimbledon Magistrates Court - In pictures 1 /12 Ant McPartlin arriving at Wimbledon Magistrates Court - In pictures Rex Getty Images Getty Images PA Ant McPartlin arrives at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court Rex Features Rex TV presenter Anthony McPartlin steps from a vehicle as he arrives at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court PA Getty Images PA On Wednesday prosecutor James Neary told Llandudno Magistrates Court James Neary that Kates-Lowick, 57, made four calls to Dyfed-Powys police in just three days. Kates-Lowick told operators he was upset Mr McPartlin could still drive and be a TV presenter when others may have lost their livelihood. The court heard that Kates-Lowick is an alcoholic and was also under the influence of prescription drugs when he made the calls. His lawyer, Owain Jones, said he also had problems with mobility and is a recluse, adding the calls suggest he had "significant mental health issues", amounting to "a plea for help". Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly return to Britain's Got Talent 2019 1 /16 Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly return to Britain's Got Talent 2019 Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly arrive at Britain's Got Talent auditions at the London Palladium PA The pair posted a selfie ahead of their arrival Ant and Dec/Twitter PA Jeremy Selwyn PA SplashNews.com SplashNews.com SplashNews.com PA PA PA PA Mr Jones also defended him by pointing out Kates Lowick had called the 101 non-emergency line, not 999, and had not used foul language. Court chairman David Subacchi activated ten weeks of Kates-Lowick's suspended sentence, and sentenced him to a further nine weeks in prison, to run consecutively, for the most recent offence. Mr Subacchi told Kates-Lowick: "This sort of behaviour just can't go on." 100 Years Ago 1920: Fire today threatened to destroy the holdings of the Paraffine Manufacturing Company, Second and Price streets, when flames were discovered in the buildings known as the Wax Department. At the time of going to press, members of the Trainer Fire Company, together with the district companies of this city were engaged in fighting the stubborn blaze. The fire, it is believed, was the result of a workman using an acetylene torch. The plant has been closed for nearly two years, heads of the concern, closing down the plant when unable to get sufficient fuel to operate the boilers. During the past week, workmen in the employee of the S. Rudolph & Company, junk dealers, of Reading, have been engaged in junking the machinery in the old buildings. 75 Years Ago 1945: A completely blacked-out gambling establishment at in a former night club at Third and Welsh street, which featured, among other things, a set of crooked dice, was raised by State police and county detective early Sunday morning. A West Third Street man was charged with maintaining a disorderly house, and was committed to Broadmeadows in default of bail. Eleven other men, charged with being frequenters, paid fines of $5 and costs. 50 Years Ago 1970: If you can wear it out, there a chance the hot, humid weather will exit Monday, allowing autumn finally to make a cooling appearance. Thursdays record-brekaing high of 95 degrees recorded at 2:30 p.m. topping 1968s 88 degrees forced at least three school district s- Yeadon, Rose Tree Media and Collingdale to close about an hour early. 25 Years Ago 1995: Blue jeans, T-shirts, sneakers and compact discs were on the minds of young people from Denmark who took time away from their merchant marine training vessel, anchored through yesterday at Penns Landing, to do some shopping at Granite Run Mall. American jeans are not so expensive as in my country, said 19-year-old Helle Peterson, one of 16 women among the 80 merchant marine cadets in training on the tall ship Danmark. Among the items 17-year-old Lisabeth Joergensen said she wanted to buy were CDs, especially of the Beatles. I think shopping is fun in any country, she added. 10 Years Ago 2010: Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant announced that Bob Barrar, head brewer in Media, brought home two gold medals from this years Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver, Colo., marking Iron Hills 14th consecutive year as GABF medal winners. The latest medals bring Iron Hills company-wide total to 32. COLIN AINSWORTH SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) today announced the hiring of Kathleen Kane as General Counsel. Ms. Kane, who currently serves as City Attorney for Burlingame and previously served as City Attorney for East Palo Alto, will take over from Adrienne Weil, who is retiring after a decade of service. The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) has for some time contracted with MTC to provide its staffing services. Ms. Kane will additionally act as legal counsel for ABAG under the contract. "I look forward to interesting work with an accomplished organization as General Counsel," Ms. Kane said. Adding, "Adrienne Weil's retirement leaves some big shoes to fill and I appreciate the Commission's confidence in my ability to meet the challenge." Ms. Kane is an accomplished attorney with two decades of private and public sector experience in land use and development issues, risk management, government contracting, public finance and litigation. She started her legal career in 1999 as a clerk for Judge Fortunato Benevides of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit before taking a position as an appellate litigator for the civil division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Ms. Kane next served as General Counsel representing foster children in North Carolina's Administrative Office of the Courts. Ms. Kane then returned to the Bay Area, working for five years as an attorney with Aaronson, Dickerson, Cohn & Lanzone in San Carlos, during which time she also served as deputy counsel for several San Mateo County jurisdictions; and then as interim City Attorney for Belmont before moving on to manage the City Attorney's office in East Palo Alto. "Kathleen's background as a litigator and her experience in local government is especially well-suited to the complicated and longstanding issues MTC and ABAG work on," noted MTC Chair and Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty. "Congestion, mobility, and housing supply and affordability are all major challenges facing Bay Area residents. For MTC and ABAG to effectively tackle these problems, we have to collaborate effectively with federal and state officials, with dozens of public transit providers, nine counties and 101 cities plus many other county and regional agencies." Napa County Supervisor and MTC Vice Chair Alfredo Pedroza made a similar point. "Throughout the selection process, Ms. Kane demonstrated a keen understanding of the myriad issues around land-use and development that can help align MTC's and ABAG's strategic regional goals with the unique needs of each county, city or town." Ms. Kane holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from the Stanford School of Law. The San Bruno resident is a member of the State Bar of California, the Bar Association of San Francisco, the San Mateo County Bar Association and bar associations for multiple federal courts. SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission Related Links http://www.mtc.ca.gov 24.09.2020 LISTEN The Executive Secretary for the National Labor Commission, Ofosu Asamoah, has said the strike organised by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association does not call for a salary deduction for September. Speaking to Eyewitness News , the secretary said the association has shown the needed remorse after the NLC secured an interim injunction to restrain the association from going ahead with its intended strike. Not all punishments are deterrents. Sometimes you will punish someone for doing a particular thing and instead of deterring, it rather hardens the person to do more. And when people commit offenses, it is not all offenses that result in punishment. at some point, the president of the GRNMA said she was sorry for the utterances she made and she purged herself of it so it is not for the government or the commission to insist that they forfeit salaries. He clarified that NLC did not serve a notice to the association that they will forfeit their salary but rather he answered a question on the consequences of a strike in an interview. The secretary stated that although the strike was illegal, it is up to the government to either forfeit the salaries or not. By the law, if you engage in an illegal strike, for the period that you're on strike, the employer, either government or private has the right to withhold, and for that matter, you forfeit your salary. For the period for which you embark on that strike, he explained. ---citinewsroom Local shark offer insight about what to expect when justice comes without warning . . . The lesson is worth considering given greater power granted to law enforcement should be expected in the future despite so distracting many election year campaign promises and feigned concern about "liberty" by those who don't realize that they're already living in nearly total surveillance. Read more: CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. ("CEMEX") (NYSE: CX) announced today that it is the first company in its sector to target a CO2 reduction in its European operations of at least 55% by 2030. CEMEX welcomes the recent commitment from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's landmark State of the Union address and is pleased to align with the new European Union ("EU") aspirations and targets. CEMEX's European operations expect to reach the target of a 35% reduction in carbon emissions from cementitious materials by the end of 2020, a decade ahead of CEMEX's 2030 global commitment outlined in its Climate Action strategy announced in February of this year. CEMEX is perfectly positioned in Europe to lead the construction materials sector in cutting emissions following many years of diligent carbon reduction and alignment with EU regulations and environmental policies. CEMEX has driven the conversion away from fossil fuels to alternative fuel sources in its factories, with substitution rates now at 60% significantly higher than the European average of around 40%. CEMEX has led the innovation in lower carbon products in Europe by introducing the first carbon-neutral concrete, "Vertua," in the United Kingdom and France. It will be gradually available in other countries where CEMEX operates. CEMEX's customers and investors respect our passion for delivering a fundamental change in carbon reduction, helping to ensure a carbon-neutral future for the next generation. "We welcome the clarification from the European Commission President and are proud to be the first building materials company to align with the commitment. We look forward to advancing investment, research and development to decarbonize our operations," said Fernando A. Gonzalez, CEO of CEMEX. "Our European business operates in an environment that has driven continuous improvement, and as a result, by the end of this year, we expect to have reduced our carbon emissions by 35% compared to the 1990 baseline. I am very proud of the resourcefulness and determination of our team to hit this milestone in Europe ten years ahead of the CEMEX global 2030 target." CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high-quality products and reliable services. CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements, and efforts to promote a sustainable future. For more information, please visit: www.cemex.com CEMEX assumes no obligation to update or correct the information contained in this press release. CEMEX is not responsible for the content of any third-party website or webpage referenced to or accessible through this press release. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. CEMEX intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the U.S. federal securities laws. In some cases, these statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may," "assume," "might," "should," "could," "continue," "would," "can," "consider," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "believe," "foresee," "predict," "potential." "target," "strategy," "intend" or other similar words. These forward-looking statements reflect CEMEX's current expectations and projections about future events based on CEMEX's knowledge of present facts and circumstances and assumptions about future events, as well as CEMEX's current plans based on such facts and circumstances. These statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from CEMEX's expectations. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005307/en/ Contacts: Media Relations Jorge Perez +52 (81) 8888-4334 jorgeluis.perez@cemex.com Investor Relations Lucy Rodriguez +1 (212) 317-6007 ir@cemex.com Related video above: Settlement reached in Breonna Taylor wrongful death lawsuit The mayor of Louisville has declared a state of emergency for the city ahead of a looming decision in the Breonna Taylor case. This declaration is different than the one for the police department made Monday. Mayor Greg Fischer said it allows him to exercise any of his emergency powers, including those to hire or contract for services, and implementing curfews and other restrictions. Meanwhile, the Louisville Metro Police Department is canceling all off-day and vacation requests for personnel until further notice in anticipation of an announcement in the Taylor investigation, referring to the moves as part of its "state of emergency" preparations. The investigation is being conducted by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's office. While the attorney general himself has remained mum on a timeline or date on when he plans to make an announcement in the probe, sources have said it could take place this week. Officials have also confirmed a separate internal investigation of six Louisville police officers in connection to Taylor's death. A spokesperson for the Louisville Metro Police Department confirmed to sister station WLKY that the police department's Professional Standards Unit has initiated the internal investigation. The investigation will determine if the officers broke department policies. The officers include Sgt. Jon Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, who fired their weapons on March 13, when Taylor was shot and killed during the execution of a no-knock warrant at her apartment. Detective Brett Hankison was the other officer who opened fire, but was fired in June. The LMPD said he violated two standard operating procedures, including obedience to rules and regulations and use of deadly force. The other officers named in the Professional Standards Unit investigation include detectives Joshua Jaynes, Tony James, Michael Campbell and Michael Nobles. The Professional Standards Unit investigation is separate from the one that Cameron's office is conducting, which will determine whether Mattingly, Cosgrove or Hankison will face charges. A spokesperson for the LMPD added that "it is important to note that the AG has said there is no timetable for the announcement," reiterating the uncertainty around when an announcement will take place. According to the LMPD, which sent out a statement Monday, residents might also start seeing barriers being staged around downtown. The spokesperson said it's another part of the police department's preparations for an announcement. The LMPD said in a tweet that "no parking" signs will also be placed along downtown streets. Interim police Chief Robert Schroeder issued a memo to the LMPD in which he said the "state of emergency" preparations will help the police department "ensure we have the appropriate level of staffing to provide for public safety services and our policing functions." Schroeder's memo goes on to address the cancellation of off-days and vacation requests. Click here to read the police chief's memo to LMPD Elsewhere in Louisville, the federal courthouse has also taken measures in anticipation of an announcement. The building will be closed for the week, suggesting the announcement will take place before Friday. The building's first floor windows were also boarded up. Anticipation has been mounting for Cameron to make an announcement, especially after Fischer announced a $12 million settlement with the Taylor family over a wrongful death civil lawsuit. Fischer said the city is not admitting wrongdoing in this settlement, but is acknowledging the need for reform. He also said the timing of the settlement is not related to reports that a grand jury is currently meeting to determine whether there will be any criminal indictments in this case. Still, activists and family members are awaiting a decision on whether the police officers involved in Taylor's death will be charged. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, for his part, declined to give any comments on the investigation or an announcement amid preparations in Louisville. Previously, the governor has stressed the importance of the AG's office being transparent about its findings in the probe. Cameron has not shared any details with the public on the case since announcing in August that his office had received a ballistics report in the probe. (Photo : Barack Obama Book) Barack Obamas A Promised Land memoir (Photo : Amy Sussman/Getty Images) NEW YORK - MARCH 19: Director Anna Wilding attends the screening of "Buddha Wild: Monk in a Hut" at theTibet House on March 19, 2008 in New York City. New Zealand-born photographer Anna Wilding is seeking at least $50,000 compensation against Former President Barack Obama's publishers Penguin Random House as she claims the image used for the cover of "A Promised Land" was a rip-off of her previous work. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Wilding said that copyright of a photograph "is a complex issue and infringement includes derivative works." Obama's memoir will be released in November and it shows the black and white photo of the former president smiling. Wilding said her previous photos of Obama are "considered iconic and unique" as she claims that no one else has taken a black and white photo of the former president using a certain angle. Wilding worked as a photographer and correspondent in the White House from 2015 to 2017 and her Obama works were critically acclaimed. In 2019, she published Celebrate Hope, a coffee table book showcasing her Obama photos exhibited in California. 'It's an infringement on my rights, my work, my style - my black and white style," said the Wilding adding that the photographer may have opted to do a forward-facing photo instead. She even alleged that the book cover was "stolen, copied, manipulated, reproduced without permission" in a post on her LinkedIn page. Amid coronavirus pandemic, her exhibitions were canceled, which led Wilding financially struggling. "I need to be paid for my work and any infringements," she told DailyMail.com. She was also upset that her unique and original works are ripped off. "This is my iconic and published work from my well-known exhibit," added Wilding who said she has a legitimate claim over the image. However, Penguin Random House denied Wilding's accusations as the photo used in the book cover was taken by Pari Dukovic. "We are confident our cover photograph does not infringe any copyrights," the publisher's executive publicist Carisa Hays told DailyMail.com. However, Wilding hopes Penguin will see the merit of her case and arrange a settlement before she files it to court. "I believe there is clear copyright infringement and I am working with a specialist lawyer on that goal," said Wilding. Obama's A Promised Land memoir Former President Barack Obama's publisher Penguin Random House announced on September 17 that his new memoir will be published worldwide on November 17 in 25 languages such as Chinese, Spanish, Czech, Vietnamese, Finnish, and Arabic. The book, entitled "A Promised Land," will be the first of two volumes. The 768-page first book includes his early political life, the 2008 presidential campaign, until the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011. Penguin Random House's subsidiary, Crown Publishing will handle the book's publication. The memoir is an intimate story of a man who gambled with history and on the world stage. The former president and his wife Michelle sold the rights to their memoirs to Crown for a record-breaking $65 million package deal. In 2018, Michelle's book, entitled "Becoming," was published and sold more than 8.1 million units across the U.S. and Canada. Meanwhile, the ex-U.S. president took a little longer to finish his book, although he began writing shortly after leaving the White House. Read also: Facebook Removes Fake Pages From China As These These Are Potential Components That Could Interrupt US Election This is owned by Tech Times Written by CJ Robles 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SIMON Coveney has warned that even if a deal on the future relationship between the UK and EU can be reached it won't be ratified if the British Government's threat to break international law remains in place. The Foreign Affairs Minister made the remarks as he updated the Dail on Brexit and the state of play of trade negotiations between the two sides which are to resume next week. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Government is pressing ahead with a controversial Internal Market Bill which undermines the Withdrawal Agreement and the Irish protocols aimed at avoiding a hard border. The British Government has admitted it breaks international law which arguing it does so in a limited way. Mr Coveney raised the issue of the Internal Market Bill and told the Dail "The British Governments approach in this legislation is deeply concerning. "The Internal Market Bill, if it were implemented in its current form, would undermine the Withdrawal Agreement and the certainty and stability that is so vital to protecting the Good Friday Agreement. "It would seriously erode and damage trust in Northern Ireland, and between the EU and the UK. "Injecting uncertainty and confusion at this point of the process which is not helpful on any level." He said Taoiseach Micheal Martin raised Irish concerns directly with Mr Johnson on the day the Bill was published and that the European Commission has urged the British Government to remove the problematic measures from the Bill. Mr Coveney said he attended meetings in Brussels this week and "the full unity of the EU in support of Michel Barnier our Chief Negotiator was expressed very strongly." He said: "Let us see what progress can be made in the coming weeks, but in any final trade deal we have to be clear and full certain that the Withdrawal Agreement will be implemented in full." And Mr Coveney warned: "Its my view that even if we do get an agreement in terms of a future relationship that if there is still a threat by the [UK] to legislate to undermine Withdrawal Agreement and break international law I dont believe that any future relationship agreement will be ratified." He added: "Why would the EU ratify a new agreement with a country that is threatening to break an agreement thats not even 12 months old?" Mr Coveney said: "trust and relationships like everything in politics are what matter here and what I continue to do is try to remind the British Government in particular that when all of this is done and when we are on the other side of the end of this year, the end of transition, the relationships between the EU and UK are hugely important in terms of many of the global challenges that we face together". He said: "We have urged the British Government to step back from their deeply concerning approach in terms of legislation, to work now to repair the trust - trust that has been damaged - and to successfully and faithfully implement the Withdrawal Agreement and Protocol that we both agreed together. "A positive resolution to this I think is in all our interests". Mr Coveney also spoke of the need for Irish businesses to prepare for the end of the transition period on December 31 and the challenges they will face in exporting and importing goods from or through the UK regardless of whether there is a deal or not. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz warned Tuesday against any attempt to force EU countries to take in asylum-seekers as the European Commission prepared to unveil a new strategy for handling migration to the bloc. Speaking to AFP in an exclusive interview, Kurz alluded to previous efforts by the European Commission to introduce mandatory quotas for refugees for all EU members, which were rejected by many eastern and central European countries. "We find that the distribution in Europe (of asylum seekers) has failed and many states reject this. It won't work like this," the 34-year-old conservative leader said. On Wednesday, Brussels will launch its latest proposal for EU asylum policy. Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson wants the 27 member states to share the burden of handling asylum claims from migrants who arrive mostly on the bloc's southern shores in Greece, Italy and Spain. She has again raised the idea of mandatory sharing, though this might not mean resettling refugees around the bloc, but rather forcing all states to contribute to the system -- by helping with efforts to return failed asylum seekers, for example. European migration policy was again in the headlines earlier this month following a devastating fire at an overcrowded camp for migrants and asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos which left thousands homeless. 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." - Seeking alliances - A fire in the Moria camp in Lesbos this month has focused attention on EU migration policy / AFP Kurz said he welcomed that the European Commission was addressing the topic of asylum and migration. "We can only solve this topic all together... Better protection of the (EU's) outer borders, a joined fight against smugglers, but also joined aid where it is needed (in countries where refugees come from), that is the path that is needed," he said. Austria and other smaller countries -- some of them, such as Hungary, criticised by Brussels over their anti-immigration stance and on rule-of-law issues -- have spoken out in the past against any mandatory asylum-seeker distribution. Kurz, pushing to make his mark in European politics, has also sought allies on other topics, such as when he worked with the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark -- as the so-called "Frugal Four" -- to oppose direct EU aid to coronavirus-hit countries as proposed by Germany and France. "The European Union is more than just Germany and France... As a small or medium-sized state of course one has to always look for alliances, and in an EU with 27 member states one can only assert ideas if there are others that support them," he told AFP in an office in the chancellery. - Coronavirus 'challenge' - Kurz became the world's youngest chancellor when his conservative People's Party (OeVP) formed a coalition government with the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) in 2017. The coalition fell apart in 2019 after a corruption scandal engulfed the far-right FPOe leader, leading to fresh elections in which Kurz's party again gathered the most votes. Kurz then formed a new coalition with the Greens and has governed the Alpine country of nearly nine million people since January. Kurz said fighting the coronavirus pandemic was "a very big challenge". "I am still relatively young, but I have been part of the Austrian government for many years and I thought I had already been through a lot politically... The corona crisis now exceeds all previous experiences of course," he said. The country has so far been spared the brunt of the crisis, reporting almost 40,000 cases with 771 deaths to date, but infections have surged again in recent weeks. This has led to the government to extend mandatory mask wearing and re-instate some of the other restrictions imposed earlier this year to stem the spread of the virus. Commitment to tackling the climate emergency must not be lost to the coronavirus pandemic, the prime minister will warn UN members on Thursday, as he looks toward the five-year anniversary of the Paris climate accord. Boris Johnson will use his address at the remote UN summit to underline all nations must make ambitious commitments to deal with the crisis, adding that no one country can turn the tide alone. The prime minister is expected to say: "As the world continues to deal with coronavirus we must look ahead to how we will rebuild, and how we can seize the opportunity to build back better. The UK will lead by example, keeping the environment on the global agenda and serving as a launch pad for a global green industrial revolution. But no one country can turn the tide," Mr Johnson will warn, likening it to "bailing out a liner with a single bucket. The prime minister will urge nation members not to allow the fight against the climate crisis to fall by the wayside during the pandemic. We cannot let climate action become another victim of coronavirus, he will say. "Let us be the leaders who secure the very health of the planet for our children, grandchildren and generations to come." Mr Johnson will also announce UK plans to host the next UN climate summit, called Cop26, on 12 December on the five-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement on climate change. The results of the US presidential election should be known by this date. If Donald Trump wins a second term, the USs withdrawal from the Paris accord will have already taken place, leaving remaining member states in the difficult position of trying to meet the Paris goals without the worlds second biggest emitter of carbon dioxide. In a surprise announcement earlier this week, president Xi Jinping told the UN that China will aim for carbon neutrality by 2060 a huge challenge for the worlds number one emitter. The plans would require China to reduce its emissions more steeply than any major economy has ever pledged to before. Downing Street said the the UN climate summit would be an opportunity for world leaders to announce new and enhanced nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and net zero targets. The UK has not yet announced its NDCs, despite leading Cop26. "As part of the Paris Agreement, all countries are due to submit ambitious new NDCs by the end of this year. "NDCs set out what each country will do by 2030 to help limit global warming and achieve net zero emissions, from boosting renewable energy to investing in green transport. "The prime minister will call on world leaders to announce genuinely transformational net zero targets and bold climate finance pledges at the 12 December event." BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Kazakhstan has joined the international document to abolish the death penalty, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to the UN Kairat Umarov signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which oversees the abolishment of the death penalty. Kazakhstans decision to join the international protocol was announced by Kazakh President Kassym Jomart Tokayev during his speech at the General Debate of the 75th session of the UNGA. Tokayev noted that the decision to join the protocol was with the goal to fulfill a fundamental right to life and human dignity. The use of the death penalty in Kazakhstan was completely suspended by the Decree of the President of Kazakhstan on the introduction of a corresponding moratorium in 2003. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh The chief executive of the UK's court service has apologised after a black barrister said she was mistaken for a defendant three times in one day. Alexandra Wilson, 25, from Woodford in Essex, later declared on Twitter 'there must be something about my face that says ''not a barrister''.' The criminal and family law barrister, who released a book last month covering 'race and class in a broken justice system,' said the shocking incident 'upset' her and she filed an official complaint. 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.' Kevin Sadler, the acting chief executive of Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service apologised to Ms Wilson and said it was 'totally unacceptable behaviour' and he would be investigating the role of his staff in the incident. Alexandra Wilson (pictured), 25, from Essex, later declared on Twitter 'there must be something about my face that says ''not a barrister''' Ms Wilson has not publicly named the court where the incident took place and the Ministry of Justice refused to reveal its location. Last month Ms Wilson told The Times she had been mistaken for a defendant before, as she promoted the release In Black and White: A Young Barrister's Story of Race and Class in a Broken Justice System Speaking to followers yesterday, Ms Wilson, whose chambers are near the Old Bailey, said when she arrived at court the security officer first asked for her name so he could find it on the list of defendants. 'I explained I was a barrister. He apologised and guided me through security,' she said. 'At this point I tried to shrug it off as an innocent mistake.' After meeting with her client, she then tried to enter the courtroom to discuss the case with the prosecutor. Alexandra Wilson published In Black and White last month, explaining her story of race and class in a 'broken justice system' She said: 'At the door a member of the public told me not to go into the courtroom. I asked why and she said because it's a court, only lawyers can go in. She said I was a journalist. 'The usher (the one person who recognised I was a barrister today) said to ignore her and to head on in. 'As I opened the door, a solicitor/barrister said I needed to wait outside court and said the usher (who, btw, was next to me) would come outside and sign me in and the court would call me in for my case. I explained I'm a barrister. She looked embarrassed and said 'oh. I see. 'She turned back around and I walked towards the prosecutor, ready to have our conversation. Before I got there the clerk, VERY loudly, told me to leave the courtroom and said the usher would be out shortly. Before I could respond she then asked if I was represented. 'I, AGAIN, explained that I am a defence barrister trying to speak to the prosecutor. She looked at me, said 'oh right, ok' and continued with what she was doing.' Following the incidents, Ms Wilson said she has lodged a formal complaint: 'This really isn't ok though. I don't expect to have to constantly justify my existence at work.' Mr Sadler responded to Ms Wilson's twitter thread and said: 'I'm investigating the role of my staff and contractors as a matter of urgency. This is not the behaviour anyone should expect and certainly does not reflect our values.' It comes after official figures revealed people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are less likely to be successful when applying to become a judge, and only 9% are senior barristers. Last week a Ministry of Justice report found BAME people 'over-represented in applications for judicial appointment' but are 'less likely to be successful'. Industry leaders have called for the legal profession to diversify to better represent the public. Amanda Pinto QC, chair of the Bar Council, told The Guardian the incident was 'appalling'. She said: 'With regret, I fear Alexandra's experience is not a one-off. Many barristers have to put up with the prejudiced assumptions of others Alexandra has done so with exemplary grace and patience. I am speaking directly with HMCTS, the senior judiciary and the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] immediately, urging more to be done to stamp out this behaviour. 'The barristers' profession is always striving to be more representative of the society it serves. There is more to do to change the perception of the bar, but that is no excuse for the kind of attitudes and remarks described. We are not all white, middle-class men.' 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.' 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.' MailOnline has approached 5 St Andrew's Hill for comment on the court incident on Wednesday. VHA Community Partnership Challenge Community Partnership Spotlight: Social work fund provides expedited access to support for Ohio Veterans in need This is the third in a series of articles about how various VA and VHA offices, initiatives, and programs support social determinants of healththe theme of the 2020 VHA Community Partnership Challenge. This article features a 2020 submission from the Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center in Columbus, Ohio, about how their partnership developed a social work fund to dramatically shorten the time from need-identification to meaningful intervention. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides comprehensive health services to Americas Veterans, and VHA knows it cannot provide every service to every Veteran. By entering into nonmonetary partnerships with nongovernmental organizations, VHA can expand services and provide more options for Veterans, including providing services VHA is legislatively restricted from providing. The VHA Community Partnership Challenge (CPC) is an annual contest that recognizes local and national partnerships serving Veterans. By spreading the word about successful partnerships and encouraging their replication across VHA, the CPC is inspiring more VHA staff members to form local and national partnerships, further expanding the delivery of services for all Veterans. The theme of the 2020 VHA CPC is the social determinants of health (SDOH). SDOH are conditions in the environments in which Veterans live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Examples of SDOH are access to transportation, food security, and employment. Winners from the 2020 CPC were recently announced, and VHA is highlighting other outstanding partnership submissions from across the country. VFW Ohio Charities supports emergent needs of Veterans The partnership between the Central Ohio Healthcare System (COHS) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Ohio Charities developed a social work fund, which is utilized by social workers in the area to dramatically shorten the time it takes for Veterans to receive social services after their needs have been identified. Under this program, which grants social workers expedited access to funding, social workers engage with their on-site chief of voluntary services after identifying a Veteran in need. In fiscal year 2019 (FY19), this partnership helped Veterans pay their electricity, water, and gas bills, purchase car batteries so that they could get to a medical appointment, and more. Veterans in need received more than $10,000 in FY19. The partnership initially started for Veterans in Columbus only, but soon grew to provide funding for all five Ohio VA medical centers. This statewide partnership now helps improve access to SDOH for Veterans across Ohio and helps them attain resources related to education, employment, food security, housing, spiritual support, and transportation. The social work fund helped a family of six turn their utilities back on after a period of homelessness, said Stacy Potts, a social worker in Columbus, Ohio. This family of six, including two adult Veterans, two daughters under the age of 3, and two under the age of 14, was able to receive utility debt relief when they werent eligible for any other financial assistance in our community. Jamie Kuhne, associate director for COHS, added, as a social worker myself, now in an executive role, I know clinical staff are often faced with needs for Veterans that cannot be met using our VA appropriated dollars, which are designated for health care. However, most healthcare issues are deeply affected by social determinants, including access to healthy food, safe and stable housing, and access to transportation. We are so grateful to VFW Ohio Charities for their generous support, so that we can assist Veterans in meeting shelter, food, transportation, and other needs, assisting Veterans to live truly healthy lives! VFW Ohio Charities was established in 2003 as a way for VFW locations in Ohio to use charity funds to assist Veterans in that community; the organization once raised $8 million in one year. Partnerships like the one between the VA Central Ohio Healthcare System and VFW Ohio Charities are crucial for increasing access to the SDOH for Veterans, said Dr. Tracy Weistreich, nurse executive for VHAs Office of Community Engagement (OCE). This local partnership has grown to serve Veterans across the entire state of Ohio and exemplifies how local collaborations can spread to improve the health and wellbeing of more Veterans and augments services available through VA. OCE hosts the CPC each year to highlight outstanding community-level partnerships, and to encourage others within VHA to create similar partnerships to benefit Veterans. OCEs mission is to serve as a trusted resource and a catalyst for the growth of effective partnerships at the national, state, and community level and as a facilitator and access point for public and private entities interested in partnering with VHA to benefit Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. For more information on OCEs work or to contact OCE for partnership opportunities, please visit: https://www.va.gov/healthpartnerships/. External Link Disclaimer: This page contains links that will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites. Posted September 10, 2020 Feinstein Surprised by Suggestion Shes Not Up for Supreme Court Fight as Top Judiciary Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she was surprised by suggestions she be replaced as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee ahead of whats expected to be a brutal fight over President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee. Im really surprised and taken aback by this. Because I try to be very careful and Im puzzled by it, Feinstein told Politico. My attendance is good, I do the homework, I try to ask hard questions. I stand up for what I believe in. According to the outlet, some Democrats fear Feinstein, 87, cannot properly represent the party in efforts to delay or stop Trumps nominee in being confirmed. A group of senators are pushing for Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), 75, or Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), 64, to take over as ranking member of the committee, one Democratic senator said. Requests for comment sent to the offices of Feinstein, Durbin, and Whitehouse werent immediately returned. Durbin told Politico that he believes Feinstein can handle the ranking member position. Whitehouse added, Shes a very distinguished lady for whom I have great affection. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) speaks during a hearing in Washington on Sept. 16, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) speaks during a hearing in Washington on Aug. 5, 2020. (Erin Schaff/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Feinstein was ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee during the tense battle over Brett Kavanaughs nomination, which ended with Kavanaugh being confirmed in a narrow 50-48 vote. Feinstein waited until just before the planned committee vote of Kavanaugh to release allegations from Christine Blasey Ford that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her while both were in high school. The delay in disclosing the allegations, which were never substantiated, frustrated and upset many lawmakers. Senators can only serve as ranking member on one committee. Neither Durbin nor Whitehouse are currently ranking members of any committees. Durbin was the Judiciarys ranking member from 2015 to 2017. Both are members of the committee. Feinstein told Politico that the efforts to replace her left her puzzled. Ive been on the committee for a while. Ive seen how the committee works and Ive seen how other chairs on our side of the aisle work. I dont see, to be very blunt and honest, I dont see a big difference. Im prepared, so thats puzzling to me, she said. She also admitted that because Republicans appear to have enough votes to confirm Trumps future nominee, theres little Democrats can do, no matter who has the top post on the Judiciary Committee. Let me say thisI know its going to be a fight, I understand that. Feinstein said. I dont have a lot of tools to use, but Im going to use what I have. We can try to delay and obstruct but they can run this process through. That doesnt mean that we wont fight tooth and nail. At the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) held virtually on 23 September 2020, the World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, highlighted the WCOs support to LLDCs in the COVID-19 era. The Meeting launched the United Nations (UN) Roadmap for Accelerated Implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action. Opening remarks were provided by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Global Chair of the Group of LLDCs, by the President of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly and by the UN Secretary-General. Dr. Mikuriya also addressed the Ministerial Meeting and reiterated the WCOs dedication to supporting LLDCs by setting standards for simplified and harmonized border procedures, delivering capacity building projects and enhancing cooperation and coordination with other development partners. The UN Roadmap for Accelerated Implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action outlines the actions of various players, including the WCO, in transit, trade and transport facilitation, digital connectivity, public-private dialogue and mitigating COVID-19. Dr. Mikuriya stressed that the disruption brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had demonstrated the importance of freedom of transit and the need for smooth functioning of transport and trade corridors. He reminded the Meeting that, recognizing the specific challenges faced by LLDCs, a joint statement had been issued by the UN-OHRLLS[1] and the WCO on 29 May 2020, calling upon LLDCs and transit countries to maintain the continuity of international and regional supply chains during the pandemic. Partnering with other international organizations and the private sector has been one of key avenues explored by the WCO in its efforts to support and guide its 183 Members in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring supply chain continuity. Since March 2020, the WCO has been developing new guidance material for Members, sharing best practices and supporting Customs enforcement activities to protect society. Greater support for LLDCs is indeed essential, as the international community embarks on the Decade of Action to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and strives to accelerate the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action, said Dr. Mikuriya. He concluded his statement by highlighting the WCOs commitment to supporting LLDCs within the framework of the SDGs, especially through the WCOs theme for 2020: Customs fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 13:42:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2020 shows cars passing by the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland eased restrictions on gatherings, moving down from COVID-19 Alert Level 2.5 to 2, which means that gathering restrictions will be loosened from 10 to 100 people. (Photo by Wilson/Xinhua) WELLINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand reported three new cases of COVID-19 as Auckland, the country's largest city, embraced the first day of relaxed restrictions on Thursday. Auckland eased restrictions on gatherings, moving down from COVID-19 Alert Level 2.5 to 2, which means that gathering restrictions will be loosened from 10 to 100 people. Other parts of the country relaxed restrictions and moved down to Alert Level 1 at midnight Monday. At Level 1, people need to be ready in case COVID-19 reappears. The new levels will be in place for 14 days before new decisions are made on Oct. 5. Thursday's cases were detected in recent returnees in managed isolation facilities. There are no new community cases, according to the Ministry of Health. The three new cases are all separate returnees who arrived on different flights from the United States on Sept. 18; from London via Dubai on Sept. 16 and from Croatia via Frankfurt and Dubai on Sept. 18. Two are in quarantine in Auckland; the third case is in quarantine in Rotorua, said a ministry statement. There are 32 people isolating in the Auckland quarantine facility from the community, which includes 15 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and their household contacts, it said. Three people are in hospital with COVID-19, none in ICU. New Zealand's current number of active cases is 65; of those, 31 are imported cases in managed isolation facilities and 34 are community cases, according to the ministry. The country's total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is 1,471, with a total of 25 related deaths, it said. Enditem The official launch of Edible Bakeshop features the debut of miniature pumpkin cheesecakes, which will be available for a limited time this fall season, as well as decadent brownies. The Edible Bakeshop portfolio also includes miniature New York-style cheesecakes and assorted cookies like chocolate chip and strawberry white chocolate. All items are made with quality ingredients and topped fresh to order at Edible's 1000-plus participating locations nationwide. Edible Bakeshop products are sold as individual treats, as boxes and platters and in bundles alongside the brand's signature dipped fruits. "As Edible's offerings continue to evolve from special occasion purchases to everyday indulgences, it made sense to launch the Edible Bakeshop brand as a whole new way to delight the consumer," said Edible President and COO Cheikh Mboup. "Research shows that indulging with sweet treats is on the rise, so we have to meet our customers' demands using ingredients that bring wholesome enjoyment to any self-desire or gifting occasion." Edible's initial entry into the baked goods space was in 2019, when the brand successfully tested selling cheesecakes and cookies in select stores across North America. These inaugural baked goods have since risen to some of the highest-selling products among Edible's wide selection of gifts and treats, further prompting the national expansion with Bakeshop. In the coming months, Edible plans to grow its Bakeshop category with more new products, such as cupcakes. The full array of Bakeshop products is now available at www.edible.com/baked-goods. About Edible Brands Edible Brands is the parent company of Edible, the world's largest franchisor of stores offering all-natural fruit snacks, dipped treats and fresh fruit arrangements with more than 1,100 locations worldwide. Since its founding in 1999, the company has been recognized as an industry leader, ranking first in its category in Entrepreneur magazine's annual "Franchise 500," Entrepreneur's Top 40 of "Fastest Growing Franchises" and "America's Top Global Franchises" as well as being included among the "Inc. 5000" list of the fastest growing privately-held companies. Edible fresh fruit arrangements, chocolate Dipped Fruit, fresh fruit smoothies, fresh produce boxes and other treats can be ordered through any local Edible store or online at edible.com. Edible has franchise opportunities available in a number of key markets in the United States and Canada. For more information about owning an Edible please visit ediblefranchise.com. SOURCE Edible Brands Related Links https://www.ediblearrangements.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. Expand Close Craigavon Area Hospital in Co Armagh (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Craigavon Area Hospital in Co Armagh (Niall Carson/PA) 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. In the annual informal meeting of the SAARC council of ministers, held virtually, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hit out at Pakistan indirectly. New Delhi, Sep 24 (IANS) India on Thursday urged the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to collectively resolve to defeat Pakistan sponsored cross-border terrorism. Without mentioning Pakistan, he urged the member states "to collectively resolve to defeat the scourge of terrorism, including the forces that nurture, support and encourage an environment of terror and conflict, which impede the objective of SAARC to realise its full potential for collective collaboration and prosperity across South Asia". The meeting, chaired by Nepal, was attended by representatives of all the SAARC member states - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Jaishankar reiterated India's steadfast commitment to the SAARC in building a connected, integrated, secure and prosperous South Asia, an official statement said. He highlighted a slew of measures taken by India in the follow-up to the SAARC leaders video conference, including virtually convening health professionals and trade officials meetings, creating a Covid-19 Information Exchange Platform (COINEX), foreign currency swap support and activation of the SAARC Food Bank mechanism. Under India's contribution to the SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund, the minister said, essential drugs, medical consumables, Covid protection and testing kits, and other equipment, amounting $2.3 million, were made available to countries in the SAARC region. He reiterated India's continued commitment to assisting countries in the SAARC region in combating the pandemic. The meeting reviewed regional efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. The member states appreciated the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in convening a video conference of SAARC leaders on March 15, to take collaborative measures towards combating the pandemic across the region. This included the creation of SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund, to which all countries have pledged voluntary contributions. Informal meetings, held since 1997, take advantage of the opportunity provided by the presence of the Foreign Ministers at UNGA sessions to exchange views on SAARC issues, an official statement said. The meeting received a report from the Secretary-General on the status of regional cooperation since the last informal meeting, which was on September 26 last year in New York. --IANS aat/vd Former LMPD detective Brett Hankison, who faces 15 years in prison, posted a $15,000 cash bond. Brett Hankison, the former detective and lone police official charged with a crime in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, posted bail just hours after being charged. Hankison turned himself in to the Shelby County Detention Center after a grand jury indicted him on three counts of wanton endangerment after bullets that he fired into Taylors home went into her neighbors apartment. He faces a five-year sentence for each count. In this handout photo provided by the Shelby County Detention Center, former Louisville, Kentucky detective Brett Hankison poses for a mug shot. Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in connection to the night Breonna Taylor was killed by police. (Photo by Shelby County Detention Center via Getty Images) He posted a $15,000 cash bond and was released hours later. Hankison was fired three months after Taylors March 13 shooting, which has been a galvanizing force in the fight for police reform in the United States. Read More: Activists, politicians, celebs react to minimal charges in Breonna Taylor case Protests are taking place in many U.S. cities as citizens express their dissatisfaction with the decision of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to deem the shooting as justified. Cameron noted that an independent witness corroborated the account of the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department that they announced who they were when they kicked in Taylors home with a no-knock warrant. However, a reporter pointed out that Taylors family attorneys maintain that nearly a dozen other witnesses dispute that assertion. Read More: Two Louisville officers shot, but unclear if tied to protests (The grand jury) got to hear and listen to all the testimony and made the determination that Detective Hankison was the one that needed to be indicted, Cameron said in response. Camerons office said Hankison fired 10 shots during the raid and that some bullets traveled through Apartment Four and into Apartment Three before some exited that apartment. Read More: Breonna Taylor grand jury indicts former officer Brett Hankison but not directly for her death He also noted it was a shot from Detective Myles Cosgrove, one of 16 that he fired, that ended Taylors life. Story continues Cameron maintained that the shooting was justified because Kenneth Walker, Taylors boyfriend, fired one shot first, which hit Cosgrove in the leg. Walker has always said he believed the policemen were burglars. Journalist Chuck Modi wrote on Twitter that, If Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly, and Myles Cosgrove defaced the Andrew Jackson statue instead of murdering Breonna Taylor, theyd all be facing 10 years in prison. Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now! The post Officer charged in Breonna Taylor case posts bail within hours of booking appeared first on TheGrio. English French Rogers 5G network, powered by Ericsson, expands to Fredericton, making it the first in Atlantic Canada Ignite Frederictons 5G enabled Cybersecurity Innovation Lab at Knowledge Park will drive innovation, in partnership with CyberNB Next generation 5G network technology will drive productivity, fuel innovation and power New Brunswicks economy to compete FREDERICTON, New Brunswick, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rogers Communications and the City of Fredericton today announced 5G is now available on Canadas most trusted and reliable network in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Rogers 5G network, powered by Ericsson, is the largest in Canada, now in more than 60 cities and towns across the country and reaching more markets by year-end. Rogers has also partnered with Ignite Fredericton on providing 5G to its Innovation Lab at the Cyber Centre in Knowledge Park, which will be run by CyberNB. "As we expand into Fredericton, over time our 5G technology will transform the way we live, work, and do business in New Brunswick," said Matt MacLellan, President of Atlantic Region, Rogers Communications. We are proud to work with the City of Fredericton to bring 5G to the city. Strong digital infrastructure and this next generation technology are critical to fuel productivity and innovation as we power out of the pandemic. Building on the companys national roll out, Rogers 5G network will bring consumers and businesses the very best in wireless technology to neighbourhoods and business parks. In partnership with Rogers and Fredericton Innovation Partnership stakeholders, we are thrilled to jointly announce Frederictons digital evolution as Atlantic Canadas First 5G City! said Mike OBrien, Mayor, City of Fredericton. As part of a multi-year telecommunications partnership, the City has been working with Rogers since November 2019 to bring 5G to Fredericton as part of their national roll-out. There will be tremendous impact, enabling our entrepreneurs, students and researchers, to develop robust edge applications, solutions and applied research. On behalf of the Government of New Brunswick, congratulations to Rogers Communications and the City of Fredericton on reaching this important milestone, said Blaine Higgs, Premier, Province of New Brunswick. The launch of the first 5G network in Atlantic Canada will benefit our employers and our citizens in ways we havent even yet imagined, opening up new possibilities for innovation and advancement. Expected to be the most transformative technology since wireless services were introduced in 1985, 5G will deliver real-time connectivity leading to a truly digitally connected world. Rogers 5G is accessible to customers on Rogers Infinite plans and the Rogers for Business Unlimited Data plan with select 5G-ready devices. More than two million Canadians are now on Rogers Infinite unlimited data plans, representing the most customers of any wireless provider in Canada with no overage fees. Customers can purchase new devices at $0 and 0% interest with Rogers Device Financing. Over time, 5G will introduce new capabilities that are significantly more advanced than previous generations of wireless technology. With ultra-low latency, the lag between sending a request and the network responding will theoretically drop to one millisecond, 400 times faster than the blink of an eye. This will allow for a massive increase in the number of connected devices and a range of capabilities and applications that require quick responsiveness. From network slicing to give first responders a dedicated network, to wireless sensors that monitor farmers soil conditions saving them time and money, to using virtual reality that enhances the retail customer experience, to multi-player lag-free gaming on the go 5G will deliver a world of possibilities. Rogers 5G enablement of CyberNBs Innovation Lab at the Cyber Centre is the perfect complement to the ecosystem that we are building in Fredericton around critical infrastructure protection, said Larry Shaw, CEO, Ignite Fredericton and Knowledge Park. 5G will fuel innovation in cybersecurity to ensure digital resilience and drive collaboration between industry, government, and academia at Cyber Centre. Wireless industry investments in 5G networks are expected to contribute an estimated $40 billion to the countrys economy and 250,000 permanent new jobs by 2026. Rogers has invested over $30 billion over the past 35 years to build Canadas most trusted and reliable wireless network. In 2020, the company was awarded the best wireless network in Canada for the second year in a row by umlaut, the global leader in mobile network testing and benchmarking. About Rogers Rogers is a proud Canadian company dedicated to making more possible for Canadians each and every day. Our founder, Ted Rogers, purchased his first radio station, CHFI, in 1960. We have grown to become a leading technology and media company that strives to provide the very best in wireless, residential, sports, and media to Canadians and Canadian businesses. Our shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). If you want to find out more about us, visit about.rogers.com. Media contacts Rogers Communications, media@rci.rogers.com, 1-844-226-1338 City of Fredericton, wayne.knorr@fredericton.ca, 506-474-3389 1 Most Reliable based on umlaut performance benchmark audit of Canadian mobile networks, June 2020; Most Trusted based on total wireless subscribers 2 https://www.accenture.com/_acnmedia/PDF-112/Accenture-Accelerating-5G-in-Canada-PoV-2019.pdf#zoom=50 With 39 days until the election, the pivotal state of Ohio remains very much torn between President Trump and former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., according to a new poll that showed the two adversaries in a virtual tie. At the same time, Mr. Biden led Mr. Trump by six percentage points in Pennsylvania, where Mr. Biden was born and which Mr. Trump carried by just over 44,000 votes against Hillary Clinton in 2016. And in Texas, a state that Republicans have taken in every election since 1980 but where Democrats have been making tangible inroads, Mr. Trump had an edge of five percentage points. He carried Texas by nine points in the last election. In Ohio, Mr. Biden clung to a 1-point lead over Mr. Trump, 48-to-47 percent, among likely voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll that was released on Thursday and was conducted from Sept. 17 to Sept. 21. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. Inxeption Logo "As more and more companies pivot to direct, online selling, its driving significant transaction growth for us and insights that enable us to offer instant, attractive rates," explains Jennifer Roberts, VP product marketing at Inxeption. I-commerce pioneer Inxeption today announced an innovative online shipping calculator that lets business customers instantly get a flat-rate shipping estimate based on providing just a short list of logistics data. It streamlines logistics and eliminates a huge pain point for business customers. We have now processed hundreds of thousands of online transactions, which powers our new artificial intelligence algorithm to generate flat shipping rates for customers, explains Jennifer Roberts, VP product marketing at Inxeption. "As more and more companies pivot to direct, online selling, its driving significant transaction growth for us and insights that enable us to offer instant, attractive rates." The online, AI-enhanced calculator is just the latest innovation in B2B I-commerce that Inxeption has pioneered. Inxeptions mission is to help all companies Do Business Better with its integrated eCommerce and logistics platform. The flat-rate shipping model, itself, is designed to solve a persistent thorn in the side of companies who work with shipping carriers who reserve the right to tack on additional or accessorial charges to their initial shipping estimates. That means weeks or even months after a shipment, carriers may bill a company for additional charges that can wipe out profits on a given order. In addition to the flat-rate shipping innovation for customers, Business buyers increasingly want to shop for and buy all kinds of products large and small online, but often those products are more complicated to order and ship than consumer-oriented eCommerce platforms can handle, Roberts explains. The Inxeption platform is industrial strength. Our shopping carts can accept purchase orders and even execute service contracts." For example, Inxeption customer iKamper, which makes rooftop tents, had grown frustrated trying to price its popular camping products because shipping costs to different regions of the country were so unpredictable. Freight quotes vary wildly based on the destination zip code, lift gate service, appointment, etc. It's tough for a business to effectively budget, and this is where Inxeption's flat-rate shipping proves to be so valuable, explains Nathan Hendrix, Managing Director, iKamper. The calculator is live now. Check it out here, or call 888.852.4783 to learn more about Inxeption flat-rate shipping. Inxeptions transaction database gets bigger every day; look for more and more easy online tools designed to help you Do Business Better. About Inxeption: Founded in 2017, Inxeption is the pioneer of I-commerce, or online selling for business. Its secure and scalable platform brings the ease of consumer eCommerce to B2B. From one digital dashboard, companies of any size in any industry can drive more sales, better manage their supply chain, and realize cost savings. Its service offerings include shipping insurance and other financial services, flat-rate logistics, web design, and strategic marketing. At Inxeption, our invitation to all companies is: Let's Do Business Better. Women pilots salute during their first solo flight training at an airport in southern Shanxi Province. The 10 students are the first batch of airwomen trained by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force. They will graduate next year. [Xinhua] 10 PLA Ground Force Trainees Complete Debut Solo Flights in Shanxi Province The first 10 women flight students trained by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force are expected to graduate and join operational units in 2021. The PLA Ground Force said in a statement that the women trainees were selected from high school graduates across the country in 2017 when the Ground Force began to recruit women for flight training. They are now students at the PLA Ground Force Aviation Institute. The students recently completed their first solo flights at a Ground Force airport in southern Shanxi Province, operating the French Gazelle light-duty helicopter to carry out some simple maneuvers, a video clip published by the Ground Force showed. They will continue taking flight training, and after their graduation in 2021, they will be assigned to Ground Force units across the nation. Pictures released by the Ground Force showed the women in front of several WZ-19 combat helicopters, hinting that they may operate such helicopters in the future. Compared with aviation units of the PLA Air Force and the PLA Navy that mainly deploy fixed-wing aircraft, the Ground Force's aviation wing uses helicopters that include combat, reconnaissance and transport models. Developed by Aviation Industry Corp of China's Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, the WZ-19 is propelled by four blades driven by two turboshaft engines. It has a maximum cruise speed of 245 kilometers per hour, a maximum takeoff weight of 4.51 metric tons and an operational range of 700 kilometers, according to AVIC, which makes the aircraft. The helicopter can carry eight missiles and two rocket launchers. To protect its pilots, it is equipped with armor plating and crash resistant seats. The 10 women are the first to be trained by the Ground Force to become aviators. The service has had some women pilots in its aviation units, but they were former PLA Air Force pilots flying fixed-wing planes. In the United States, women are a significant force in the military's helicopter fleet. In 2014, about 10 percent of US Army helicopter pilots were women, according to a report released by the US Army that year. There are many women aviators in the US Army who have operated the world's most powerful attack helicopter, Boeing's AH-64 Apache, US media has reported. Retired Major General Liu Xiaolian, one of the third batch of the PLA's women pilots, said women are as good as men when it comes to operating a modern military aircraft because IQ and willpower, rather than physical strength, are more important in modern air combat. (Source: China Daily) Researchers develop smallest particle sensor in the world 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 This story has been published on: 2020-09-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Sharjah (AASTS) has commenced talks for a collaboration with the Federal Transport Authority - Land & Maritime (FTA) for utilising AASTS capabilities and the expertise of its staff to develop the UAEs maritime sector. The meeting was attended by Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Farag, President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) and Hessa Al Malek, Executive Director of Maritime Transport at FTA. The two sides discussed cooperation in various areas including education and training; conducting specialised research to develop the shipping, ports and logistics services; and developing training in maritime electronic capabilities and cybersecurity for shipping and maritime operations and ports. They also discussed cooperation in key areas such as promoting the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deal with oil pollution, the sustainability of ports, blue economy and maritime financing, in addition to providing technical support. Ahmed Sharif Al Khouri, Director General of FTA, said: In the UAE, we are determined to be number one in all areas. The country is a role model for sustainable development. Our leaders continually ensure the prosperity and wellbeing of the current and future generations in the post-oil era. This is the essence of the UAEs strategy as it prepares for the next fifty years. The maritime economy and the maritime sector are key pillars to achieve this vision." Dr Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Farag said: As an organisation associated with the League of Arab States, we are mandated to explore cooperation prospects to develop the economic capabilities of all Arab countries. However, our relationship with the UAE is a special one. Since the establishment of our Sharjah branch, we have received unlimited support from the leadership and decision-makers to empower the maritime sector. The generous scholarships and top-notch facilities the leadership has allocated to the Academy in Sharjah make it on a par with the best maritime academies internationally. Today, we can proudly say that this branch is the largest of all, and is comparable in size and capabilities to our headquarters in Alexandria. Taking into account that the UAE is a leading global maritime hub, exploring cooperation and development opportunities with FTA is an important step. The country has retained its membership in the International Maritime Organisation for the second time in a row. To be able to maintain this esteemed position, it is important for us to support in multifarious ways. We hope to contribute by improving and developing the best maritime practices and providing advisory and scientific studies for specialised applications and cases, thereby impacting the global maritime industry, he added. AASTS and FTA also discussed key factors like providing support in digital capabilities in shipping, maritime and port operations, and electronic maritime management and maritime cybersecurity. Hessa Al Malek said: The UAE has made significant progress in digitalising its maritime infrastructure. Our ports are the most automated worldwide, and our shipping companies own exceptional state-of-the-art digital platforms. The UAEs digital capabilities are comparable to distinguished programming and electronic solution companies and can outperform them in practical application. The demand for technology-enabled solutions is soaring as the maritime sector is becoming increasingly dependent on digital technologies. Hence, it is vital to deploy young cybersecurity experts. This will enhance the protection of our digital maritime assets and make the UAE a global provider of this essential service. AASTS has the highest percentage of female students among maritime academies in the Middle East and North Africa. Enrolled female students constitute more than 43 per cent of the total number of students. This supports the UAEs strategy and is in line with the FTAs priority to empower women in the maritime sector, and employ their capabilities and creativity to boost the maritime sector. TradeArabia News Service P aul Mescal will be returning to our screens only this time, fans will be able to see him in a brand new light. The 24-year-old, who rose to fame during lockdown as Connell in BBC Threes hit Normal People, will feature as a subject for Portrait Artist of the Year. The Sky Arts show, now in its 12th series, sees a number of professional and amateur artists go head to head to produce a portrait of one of three famous sitters. After a number of rounds, where contestants are whittled down by the judges' critique, the winner receives a commission to paint a celebrity and 10,000 in cash. Paul Mescal will join a number of celebrities posing for the Sky Arts programme / PA This year sees a total of 24 actors, musicians, writers and TV personalities pose for portraits. As well as Mescal, actor James Nesbitt, broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald, First Dates star Fred Sirieix, TV presenters Melanie Sykes and Katie Piper will pose for portraits. BBC'S Normal People 1 /32 BBC'S Normal People BBC BBC BBC BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu BBC/Element Pictures/Hulu The semi-final this year will see the hopefuls go on to paint Bernardine Evaristo, the Booker Prize-winning author whose recent work includes the hugely popular Girl, Woman, Other. The winner will have the opportunity to paint the director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta, with the portrait to be exhibited at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Previous winners have gone on to paint Graham Norton, Kim Cattrall, Tom Jones and Nile Rogers. Programme-makers said the series, hosted by Stephen Mangan, was recorded with strict safety protocols at Battersea Arts Centre in London. The new series begins on Sky Arts on Wednesday October 14. Additional reporting from PA Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Dubai, United Arab Emirates/Jerusalem Thu, September 24, 2020 08:42 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46d63eb 2 World Israel-UAE,bilateral-relation,bilateral-cooperation,bilateral-ties Free The energy ministers of the United Arab Emirates and Israel discussed possible cooperation and investment opportunities, including natural gas exports to Europe, in a video call on Wednesday, an Israeli statement said. Israel and the UAE signed an agreement on Sept. 15 to establish diplomatic relations, an accord that Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said in the statement presented a "historic opportunity" for energy development in the region. "I spoke [with the UAE energy minister] on cooperating in linking power grids and developing the natural gas market for exports via pipeline to Europe ... as well as other projects," the statement quoted Steinitz as saying. The statement, released by Steinitz's office, said he proposed the UAE join an Egypt-based energy forum that seeks to promote natural gas exports from the east Mediterranean. "They [the UAE] said they would examine the issue," the Israeli statement said. Egypt, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Jordan signed a charter on Tuesday establishing the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF). The group unites regional rivals of Turkey, which has been locked in a bitter dispute with European Union members Greece and Cyprus over gas drilling rights in the region. In a report on the Israeli and UAE ministers' discussion, the UAE state news agency WAM said they spoke about possible investment opportunities in oil, gas and green energy. By Express News Service PATNA: Pappu Yadav's Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) on Thursday claimed to have become the first political party to issue its poll pledge (Pratigya Patra) with a court affidavit. Releasing the "pledge-affidavit" in Patna, JAP chief Pappu Yadav said if voted to power, his party will provide free electricity and water to the people living below the poverty line and a grant of Rs 10 lakh or a government job to women who go for inter-caste marriage. He declared through the affidavit that the party will give up power if all the promises made are not fulfilled in three years of government formation. Yadav further said that his party will abolish the words such as Forward, Backward, Dalit, Mahadalit, Hindu and Muslim from the society that create discriminations. The boys and girls who pass the intermediate/plus-two exam with first division will be gifted with motorbikes and scootys respectively, he announced, adding that the loan amount under Student Credit Scheme will be hiked from Rs 4 lakh to 10 lakh. He also promised to make permanent jobs of all the guest professors and contractual teachers. The JAP, if voted to power, will also appoint deputy chief ministers from the upper caste, the minority, Schedule castes, and the most backward class in order to ensure proper representations of all sections of society. Yadav claimed that all government offices at the block and district levels along with hospitals would be made corruption-free within six months. The JAP has also promised through the affidavit to give a loan of up to Rs 10 lakh at zero per cent interest for the wedding of girls with a facility for repayment of the loan in the next 5 years. Yadav said the hospitals in the block and district headquarters will be equipped with super-specialist technology within two-and-a-half years after the formation of the government. He also promised to set up a Film City in the name of the late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput with a subsidy for shooting films in Bihar. All the roads in the state will be free from toll taxes for the vehicles carrying the students and farmers, he added. Ours will be a government pledged to the safety of people as we will provide a security or SOS button on every mobile phone. With this, women can contact the nearest police station, PCR vans, relatives, and the volunteers in an emergency, he said, adding that 300 centres will be opened across the state where nutritious food will be available at Rs 5 per plate. Elastic can stretch too far and that could be problematic in wearable sensors. A team of researchers at Yokohama National University has proposed a fix to prevent too much stretching while improving the sensing ability of electronics. This could lead to advanced prosthetics or disaster recovery robotics. They published their results on July 29 in the Scientific Reports. "Stretchable physical sensors are crucial for the development of advanced electrical systems, particularly wearable devices and soft robotics," said Hiroki Ota, paper author and associate professor in the Faculty of Engineering at Yokohama National University. "However, current stretchable pressure sensors composed of elastic materials can be highly deformed during the strain of the devices." The bend of an elbow or a knee can push the sensor past its structural integrity, producing a large error on the pressure movement measurement. This stops the sensor from being able to measure pressure and strain at the same time, but as independent variables. To help combat this, the researchers proposed a monolithic array of pressure and strain sensors that can simultaneously and independently detect the force and bend deformation of motion. They used two different materials--one soft and one hard--to protect the sensor's ability to stretch and still accurately measure movement. They placed a hard silicone, called PDMS, along electrodes over the array. At the center of each PDMS placement, they positioned soft porous silicone, which senses pressure. "The PDMS around the pressure-sensing elements prevents the development of large deformations of the elements during the developed device tension," Ota said. The soft porous silicone pressure sensor is contained within the hard shell of the PDMS, so it can measure the force of pressure without being overextended past reliable margins of error. The containment also allows the sensors to identify and measure both pressure and strain as independent contributors to movement. "In addition, resistances of column and row electrodes in the matrix of the mapped array are much lower than the ones of the pressure sensors," Ota said. "This substrate and control of electrode resistances can prevent stretch deformation of the device from affecting the sensing of pressure." The electrodes in the stretchable array can measure strain at a much lower rate than is required to detect pressure. "We could recognize pressure and strain sensing of our device independently," Ota said. Ota said the team plans to apply the new stretchable sensor approach to a physical keyboard that can be mounted on the surface of a body, which could bend with the strain of the body and still detect fingertip pressure, as well as a physical sensor on a soft robot. They also hope to use the sensor to better understand the motion and touch of the human hand. "In the future, by molding this sensor into a glove shape, it can be applied to the device which electronically analyzes the finger movement and tactile sense of the hand," Ota said. ### Other contributors include Ryosuke Matsuda, Satoru Mizuguchi, Fumika Nakamura, Takuma Endo, Yutaka Isoda and Go Inamori, all of whom are affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Yokohama National University. This research was supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, PRESTO Grant Number JPMJPR18J2, MIC/SCOPE (Number: 181603007). Yokohama National University (YNU or Yokokoku) is a Japanese national university founded in 1949. YNU provides students with a practical education utilizing the wide expertise of its faculty and facilitates engagement with the global community. YNU's strength in the academic research of practical application sciences leads to high-impact publications and contributes to international scientific research and the global society. For more information, please see: https://www.ynu.ac.jp/english/ THE END OF THE DAY by Bill Clegg (Cape 14.99, 320 pp) THE END OF THE DAY by Bill Clegg (Cape 14.99, 320 pp) U.S. literary agent and former crack addict Bill Clegg made the Booker Prize longlist when he turned from drug-hell memoir to fiction with his debut, Did You Ever Have A Family. He doesnt quite reach the same heights with his new book a knotty chronicle of buried secrets told from the perspective of three women looking back 50 years to their youth in rural Connecticut. Theres Dana, an heiress out to renew contact with her wronged childhood friend, Jackie; then theres Lupita, the daughter of the Mexican maid employed by Danas father. A hushed-up tale of racism, abuse and adoption emerges from a jigsaw-like narrative in which the raw ingredients are fabulously rich and compelling. Trouble is, the novels rather plodding storytelling drains any sense of momentum. Overly reliant on backstory, Clegg treats the narrative like a synopsis as if hes waiting for a film crew to start work (be sure to catch it if they do). JACK by Marilynne Robinson (Virago 18.99, 320 pp) JACK by Marilynne Robinson (Virago 18.99, 320 pp) Hailed by Barack Obama, Robinson is the Pulitzer-winning author of the Gilead series, a spiritual, slow-burn saga about the families of two Midwestern preachers. A delicate tale of love against the odds, her new novel a prequel to the series follows Jack, the troubled god-son of the pastor who narrated Gilead. Hes a drinker and a thief, roaming the streets when he falls for a teacher, Della, after helping her in the rain. Romance blossoms after a night spent talking Shakespeare and God. But its the era of segregation hes white, shes black and, as a homeless jailbird, Jack hardly seems a catch to Dellas well-connected family. While readers of the previous books will know how badly their story ends, Robinson concentrates on the almost unbearable sweetness of Jacks seesawing hopes. Its tender, but also monotonous and narrow we never quite get what Della sees in him, as if shes merely a tool for his personal salvation. EARTHLINGS by Sayaka Murata (Granta 12.99, 256 pp) EARTHLINGS by Sayaka Murata (Granta 12.99, 256 pp) A bestseller in Japan, Murata scored a sleeper hit in English a couple of years back with the terrifically off-kilter Convenience Store Woman, about a misfit supermarket worker evading sexist social norms. Tackling a similar theme in more lurid fashion, Muratas new novel is narrated by Natsuki, a girl who thinks of herself as an alien under threat from a shadowy factory growing boys and girls as tools to breed. So far, so kooky, until her worst fears about so-called earthlings are confirmed when she suffers a brutally grim injustice at the hands of a sinister male teacher, prompting Natsuki to exact grave revenge. As she finds herself drawn into ever more cataclysmic acts, its Muratas achievement to make her behaviour seem a wholly proportionate response to her environment. As a coded portrait of adolescent anxiety, its savagely pointed. Still, for all that I admired it, Im not sure this disconcerting fable ever rises above shock value. Premier Gladys Berejiklian wants Sydney to light up the sky this New Year's Eve, even if the ground below is empty. The Premier confirmed she is in talks with local councils to put on the city's traditional fireworks display, with a "strong intent" that the event occurs in some form even if there are no spectators. New Years Eve midnight fireworks over Sydney Harbour on January 1, 2020. Credit:Wolter Peeters "I do feel it's important for the state and the nation because it's really a national symbol that's beamed around the world," the Premier said on Thursday, saying the event could be a "symbol of hope" and a signal 2021 is a new year. "It's our contribution to the world and ... it's a thank you to all the frontline workers; I want all of us to think about those people who've helped us during the year." Many residents of Western Australia accidentally found out who Locky Gilbert had chosen as his winner on The Bachelor before they had a chance to watch the show. While the show is aired at the same time across all States, WA is two hours behind New South Wales, Melbourne and Queensland. And with social media buzzing after Locky picked Irena Srbinovska over Bella Varelis during Thursday's nail-biting finale, many WA residents where left fuming that the ending of the show was spoiled for them. Annoying! Many residents of Western Australia accidentally found out who Locky Gilbert chose as his winner on The Bachelor before they had a chance to watch the show 'Mate, Bachelor hasn't aired yet in WA,' one person commented on Instagram. Others responded that it happened every year and she should have known better and stayed off social media. Meanwhile, after weeks of speculation that Locky had already split from his winner, he and his stunning girlfriend Irena took to their Instagram platforms shortly after the finale to confirm they were still together and very much in love. In fact, nurse Irena, 31, is so smitten with the 30-year-old that she also revealed that she's packed up her belongings at her Melbourne home to officially move in with the love of her life at his home in Perth. Difference: While the show is aired at the same time across all States, WA is two hours behind New South Wales, Melbourne and Queensland. Pictured is Bella Oh no! With social media buzzing after Locky picked Irena Srbinovska over Bella Varelis during Thursday's nail-biting finale, many WA residents where left fuming that the ending of the show was spoiled for them One person commented: 'Mate, Bachelor hasn't aired yet in WA'. Others told the woman that it happened every year and she should have known better and stayed off social media Speaking to The Daily Telegraph about starting afresh with the adrenaline junkie, Irena confessed: 'I have left my job, I have left my family and friends and the only city that I have lived in.' Irena excitedly continued: 'I have found a job in Perth and cant wait to start living the rest of my life with Locky.' The healthcare professional has just completed her two-week quarantine period in New South Wales to reunite with the former Australian Survivor star so they can travel the state together for the next few weeks. They are then planning to quarantine together for a fortnight in Perth before officially moving in together. 'Here's to more crazy adventures with you!' Meanwhile, after weeks of speculation that Locky had already split from his winner, he and his stunning girlfriend Irena took to their Instagram shortly after the finale to confirm they were still together 'Can't wait to spend my life with him': In fact, nurse Irena, 31, is so smitten with the 30-year-old that has also revealed that she's packed up her belongings at her Melbourne home to officially move in with the love of her life at his home in Perth 'I got the man of my dreams': The pair also uploaded the same picture of themselves from the end of the final rose ceremony to prove they were truly in love 'I was saying hello to my future wife': Locky also added a gushing caption of his own and admitted that he couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life with Irena Irena continued to gush to the publication about her relationship with Locky as she admitted she wanted to 'spend the rest of her life with him'. As well as her romance with Locky, her soured friendship with rival finalist Bella Varelis became a major storyline on the show. And Irena has confirmed that she hasn't spoken to the brunette since wrapping filming on the series but wishes her 'nothing but the best'. While Locky admitted that it was 'hard' to watch his two finalists fall out on television, he also confessed that he hasn't spoken to her since dumping her in front of cameras. Meanwhile, the pair also uploaded the same picture of themselves from the end of the final rose ceremony to prove they were truly in love. Plans: The healthcare professional has just completed her two-week quarantine period in New South Wales to reunite with the former Australian Survivor star so they can travel the State together for the next few weeks Next step: They are then planning to quarantine together for a fortnight in Perth before officially moving in together Irena added the caption: 'I got the man of my dreams and I couldnt be happier. I love you so much @locklangilbert.' Locky wrote: 'I have always listened to my heart and it has lead me to this point. As hard as it was to say good bye. I was also saying hello to my future wife, baby mumma and best friend. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you. 'Here is to one crazy adventure and so so many more with you babe.' Thursday night's emotion-filled finale of the popular dating series saw Locky choose Irena as his winner. 'I wish her nothing but the best': Irena has confirmed that she hasn't spoken to former best friend Bella Varelis [pictured] brunette since wrapping filming on the series Last woman standing: Thursday night's emotion-filled finale of the popular dating series saw Locky choose Irena as his winner In a twist no one saw coming, the 30-year-old had told both Irena and Bella Varelis that he had fallen in love with them - leading both to believe they had won his heart. But ultimately, it was down to earth nurse Irena who stole the burly adventure man's heart - leaving Bella completely devastated. After a distraught Bella stormed off the set, Locky came face-to-face with Irena to give her the good news - telling her he 'couldn't wait' to spend the rest of his life with her. Gushing words: After a distraught Bella stormed off the set, Locky came face-to-face with Irena to give her the good news - telling her he 'couldn't wait' to spend the rest of his life with her 'Irena,' he began. 'Every time I'm with you, I feel so safe and protected. It's kind of weird, because I'm a pretty big dude, and not many people can make me feel like that. 'But just when I'm with you, I feel so calm and comfortable, and it's a pretty new feeling for me. I know you're going to make a beautiful girlfriend, wife, mother, everything. You're the whole, whole package. Locky had placed viewers on the edge of their seat, when he admitted he had his doubts. Lock said: 'Every time I'm with you, I feel so safe and protected. It's kind of weird, because I'm a pretty big dude, and not many people can make me feel like that' 'However, my biggest fear is that you're not gonna be able to put yourself first, or tell me no. And in my partner I want drive and ambition,' he said. But then he turned to Irena and said: 'And I think you've got that in spades. When I think about our future together, I'm, like, so excited and, like, I can't wait to just travel the world and, like, make all your dreams come true. 'Irena, I'm so in love with you. And I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.' 'I love you too,' she beamed in response. Australian actress-turned-director Rosie Lourde has released her debut feature film. And now she's revealed how she was able to make the Brisbane suburb of Shorncliffe shine in Netflix rom-com, Romance on the Menu. 'The restaurant that we shot New York for was a restaurant in Woolloongabba, called Corella,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. Australian director Rosie Lourde is putting the Brisbane suburb of Shorncliffe on the map with her Netflix rom-com, Romance on the Menu. Pictured stars: Tim Ross and Cindy Busby (right) 'We were able to dress it, with very clever camera angles and some incredible cast.' 'All of our North American characters are played by North American actors. Besides Cindy Busby (Caroline Wilson), all of them actually live in Australia.' 'The only parts filmed in New York were the drone shots to be honest,' she added. 'The restaurant that we shot New York for was a restaurant in Woolloongabba, called Corella ,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. Rosie pictured right with actor Tim Ross (left) The film follows Cindy Busby (Caroline Wilson), a New York restaurateur, who inherits her aunt's cafe in Lemon Myrtle Cove, Australia and falls for a local chef, played by Wonderland's Tim Ross. Describing the moment she found out her film was being licensed by Netflix, Rosie explained: 'I just cried'. 'I was sitting with my mum having a cup of tea and I got the call to say it was being picked up... Interestingly, I was sitting on a wooden pier and looking out across the water and it just felt magical, really.' The film follows Cindy Busby (Caroline Wilson), a New York restaurateur, who inherits her aunt's cafe in Lemon Myrtle Cove, Australia and falls for a local chef, played by Wonderland's Tim Ross. Pictured together The film has so far received praise, with some outlets describing the film as 'Eat Pray Love meets The Holiday'. Speaking on the early reviews, Rosie said: 'I think that's incredibly lovely and generous. I'm just nervous it's getting to people's hearts. 'They are such incredible films to be comparing it to and I am humbled that Romance on the Menu is even in the same sentence.' Romance on the Menu is available to stream now on Netflix Haiti - Economy : A license from the Ministry of Commerce compulsory for certain products As part of the decree of March 13, 2018 regulating the importation of products, Jonas Coffy, the Minister of Trade and Industry (MCI) informs importers of the obligation to hold as of October 1 2020, a license from the Ministry of Commerce for certain products. Thus, importers of products including salt intended for human and animal food, soft wheat flour, edible oil, cement and steel intended for construction will have to fill out a form from the Ministry which will serve as a license. This form is available on the MCI website and must be submitted in quadruplicate to the competent services, before the goods arrive in customs. Note that this form must be accompanied by a favorable opinion from the MCI or the Ministry of Public Works depending on the type of goods. For cement and steels intended for construction, a pro-forma invoice, address of the supplier/manufacturer as well as that of the importer and the relative technical specifications are required. Regardless of the goods covered by this license, the copy of the tax clearance and the Company's Professional Identity Card (CIP) must accompany this document. If the importer does not comply with this provision, the goods will be seized. Any declaration made after the arrival of the goods will be subject to a penalty corresponding to 10% of the CIF (Cost Insurance Freight) value of the goods. In addition, the MCI informs all importers of these products that, from now on, transport will be done only by sea. HL/ HaitiLibre Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles believes the move is a ploy to pressure the state to reopen its borders with NSW sooner. The fight between the Liberal federal government and Queensland Labor state government has heated up again. Credit:ALEX ELLINGHAUSEN/Supplied The federal government plans to pull troops from Queensland's borders on September 30 and redeploy them to monitor people in hotel quarantine as well as help co-ordinate testing sites and contact tracing. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has launched an attack on Queensland's Deputy Premier, calling him a "schoolchild" who "makes a fool of himself" as the finger-pointing over Defence support at the borders continues. Mr Miles responded by handing out letters at his Thursday morning press conference from senior members of Queensland police and the Premier asking for the soldiers to remain at border checkpoints until October 19. He claimed the correspondence was proof the Treasurer has been "caught out lying", even though the Treasurer never disputed the fact Queensland had asked for the soldiers to stay on after September 30. Mr Dutton came to the defence of his federal colleague, lashing Mr Miles for acting like a "schoolchild". "He is supposed to be the Health Minister and Deputy Premier of this state and he is acting like a schoolchild and his allegations today against the Treasurer are, frankly, completely unfounded," Mr Dutton said. "On a daily basis now, Mr Miles goes out and, frankly, makes a fool of himself in front of the press. Heres how to make the deaths of James Scurlock and Jake Gardner even worse: Continue to debate this sad case with ill-informed, inflammatory narratives on social media. And of course that is happening. Its been happening since Gardner shot Scurlock amid protesting and vandalism in downtown Omaha on May 30, and it went on steroids Sunday evening after news of Gardners suicide. Conservative provocateur Ann Coulter, with 2.2 million followers, launched an error-filled tweet storm. She said police found that the shooting was in self-defense (they kept investigating after County Attorney Don Kleine made that determination) and Kleine Under pressure, appoints a black prosecutor to indict Gardner. (A judge, not Kleine, appointed longtime federal prosecutor Frederick Franklin to present evidence to a grand jury.) Coulter called Gov. Pete Ricketts a coward for not pardoning Gardner as soon as a grand jury indicted him on Tuesday. Somewhere in the Twitter mess of not facts, Democrats were blamed for Gardner being charged, even though Kleine, a Democrat, initially decided not to file charges. Shaun King, founder of the Grassroots Law Project, which works on police and criminal justice reform, tweeted to his 1.1 million followers, Unbelievable incorrectly saying a warrant was issued for Gardner last week but police never went to arrest him. The World-Herald reported that a warrant was approved Friday, but none had been issued, which would be required for police to go arrest Gardner, who was in Oregon. Because of Twitters sewer function, commenters soon were attacking World-Herald reporters for doing their job. A writer for the Gateway Pundit website who used to work for Russian-funded agency Sputnik posted our story from Tuesdays indictment. Brave commenters on that post called for the Twitterati to make sure reporters on that story never sleep peacefully again. Find them, make them famous, posters said. This is for the sin of reporting the news that a grand jury indicted Gardner. At the same time, we received emails on the story reporting the suicide for being too soft on Gardner something that happened throughout the summer. Heres the bottom line: Its not our job to adopt a narrative preferred by supporters of one person or another. Thats the opposite of our job. Immediately recognizing the sensitivity of this story, the World-Herald focused on the available facts of the case and worked through the summer to prepare a thorough assessment of what the grand jury would consider. That story, published in print and online on Sept. 6 with a compilation of video from the incident, examined evidence we knew would be available to grand jurors and tapped three local legal experts to discuss that material and points of law. When Franklin announced the indictment last week, he gave an overview of new evidence, including messages on Gardners phone and video from inside his bar. Since charges were filed, we expected those details to emerge in court. Now that Gardner has committed suicide, we are pressing for the grand jury report Franklin had promised if no charges were brought. We believe the city needs that transparency. Moving toward equal treatment for people of color is an important, ongoing battle supported at least in words this summer by Omaha police, the mayor, business leaders and others. Suicide by our nations veterans, of whom Gardner was one, is a crisis we also must address. We cannot do these things if we get sucked in by Twitter influencers who benefit from encouraging people to scream and threaten. James Scurlock and Jake Gardner carried the experiences of their very different lives onto Harney Street on the chaotic night of May 30 and got into a fight. Video shows that much without dispute. Gardner brought a gun that he fired three times, and the judicial system was set to determine if his actions were criminal. That also is an indisputable fact. Now two families mourn their sons and brothers, and the issues that brought these men together remain as unresolved challenges critical to our future. This has been a complicated, painful and nuanced case, but this much is certain: Throwing bombs on social media, calling each other names and threatening reporters will not move us toward a more equitable society. Randy Essex is executive editor of the Omaha World-Herald. Randall Benton / AP It is more important than ever for Californians to get vaccinated for the flu this year to help preserve hospital capacity ahead of a potential twindemic as influenza and COVID-19 overlap in the fall and winter, the states top health official and hospital leaders said Thursday. The number of new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and ICU admissions in California has fallen steadily over the last two months. But hospitals could become overcrowded if the virus surges again in the colder winter months as more people gather indoors, where the virus is more likely to spread than in outdoor settings. That could coincide with the regular flu season, which is already sending some Bay Area residents to local hospitals, and overwhelm the hospital system. A young father who was stabbed to death in front of terrified families on a busy Gold Coast strip has been remembered by the mother of his young daughter. Raymond Harris, 27, was allegedly involved in an altercation with a number of men that were known to him on Cavill Avenue near Orchid Avenue in Surfers Paradise at 9pm on Wednesday. He suffered a stab wound to the torso and rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital but died a short time later. Two men, aged 18 and 21, have since been arrested and charged with murder over the alleged stabbing. Raymond Harris (pictured), 27, was stabbed to death during a fight with a number of men that were known to him on Cavill Avenue near Orchid Avenue in Surfers Paradise at 9pm on Wednesday Mr Harris (left) was a father of a young girl (bottom left). The young father was stabbed and rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital but died a short time later The mother of Raymond's young daughter posted a tribute on Thursday morning. 'I'll never be able to handle the fact that my little girl will never get to see her daddy again,' she wrote. 'I'm so thankful that Hannie has you in her life and I'll forever be grateful of the happiness you brung to our daughter and that you loved her endlessly. 'Rest In Peace Raymond, you'll be missed.' Her tribute comes after two men were charged over Raymond's death. A 21-year-old Tinana man and an 18-year-old Pimpama man were both charged with one count of murder and three counts of assault over the alleged stabbing. Police guard the crime scene after a 27-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death in Surfers Paradise at 9pm on Wednesday. Two men, 18 and 21, have since been arrested and charged with murder over the alleged stabbing Pictures from the crime scene show blood stains, litter and clothes on the ground, which may have been where the injured man was treated 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. Eventually, police officers found the two men nearby and arrested them before charging both of them with murder and assault on Thursday morning. The 21-year-old man and 18-year-old man will both face the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday morning. Pictures from the crime scene show blood stains, litter and clothes on the ground. Police cars are seen near Orchard Avenue and Cavill Avenue after a man was fatally stabbed on Wednesday night It's understood children witnessed the alleged assault and stabbing. '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 can't 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. Bankruptcy proceedings against Vneshprombank extended for six months RAPSI 11:32 24/09/2020 MOSCOW, September 24 (RAPSI) The Moscow Commercial Court has extended bankruptcy management against Vneshprombank for six months, the court records read. According to a petition of the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA), the banks bankruptcy receiver, the work on legal recovery of loan indebtedness from legal entities and individuals is still ongoing and disposal of the credit organizations property and settlements with creditors have not been finished yet. In August, the Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals dismissed appeals against seizure of immovable assets belonging to eight former top managers of Vneshprombank, according to court records. In late January, the Moscow Commercial Court granted a motion to seize assets lodged by the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA). The motion was filed as part of a claim to recover about 219 billion rubles from the banks former executives. The DIA found that from March 1, 2014 to March 14, 2016, the bank controlling persons granted loans to technical legal entities not engaged in economic activities and not having own property and incomes for servicing debts. Moreover, the deposit insurer revealed illegal funds debiting from the bank clients accounts. The banks execs also failed to take steps to prevent bankruptcy that caused damage to the financial organization. According to the applicant, these circumstances should be considered as a reason for bringing the defendants to subsidiary liability. In November 2018, the Moscow Commercial Court extended asset realization procedure against ex-Vneshprombank president Larisa Markus, who was declared bankrupt in May 2017 on the application of VTB24 bank. Later, the court prolonged bankruptcy proceedings against her husband Lazar Markus. In March 2016, the Moscow Commercial Court declared Vneshprombank bankrupt. Vneshprombank was one of the top 40 by assets before it lost license in January of the same year. Criminal cases against former top managers of Vneshprombank In May 2017, Markus was sentenced to 9 years in prison for embezzlement. Later, her sentence was reduced by 6 months. Investigators believe that ex-Vneshprombank president Larisa Markus along with her brother Georgy Bedzhamov, who once co-owned the bank, created an organized crime group to siphon money from the bank. The group including former vice-president of the bank Yekaterina Glushakova allegedly granted loans to sub-companies and did not refund money to Vneshprombank. Allegedly, from May 2009 to December 2015, conspirators managed to embezzle about 114 billion rubles. Bedzhamov has been put on the international wanted list. Photograph: Wilfredo Lee/AP Maybe its just a dark side of my nature, but I love stories of financial fraud. What makes these people do it? How can they sleep at night? And these are heady times for fans of small business fraud stories. Related: Positive signs for pandemic-hit small business but more stimulus still needed | Gene Marks Thanks to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) coronavirus bailout and a slew of investigations made public recently by the justice department, the stories of fraud continue to roll in. Take Joshua Bellamy. The 31-year-old wide receiver well, former wide receiver for the New York Jets has been charged with obtaining millions in PPP loans by submitting false documentation and then spending the money on things like jewelry, expensive clothes and about $63,000 on what must have been one hell of a weekend at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida. Speaking of Florida, where so many of these things seem to happen, theres the roofer who applied for and received PPP money, and then rather than using it for payroll instead allegedly took $689,417 of it and bought a 40ft boat. One Virginia business owner and his wife got a little more complicated. They allegedly formed four shell companies and over a three-week period applied for 18 PPP loans amounting to more than $6.6m under the pretense that the money would be used for payroll commitments that didnt exist. They actually got $1.4m of the money and promptly tried to flee to Poland where they were caught at the airport. Then there were the bankers yes, big surprise, I know at JP Morgan Chase who I guess saw all that government cash flowing to those small business owners and apparently decided because they dont make enough themselves that the money would be much better off in their pockets rather than being used for silly things like employing people or paying rent. So they made false applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans and deposited the funds in their personal accounts. Until, of course, internal auditors noticed the transactions and notified management who fired the culprits. Story continues Want a few more? Theres the young (22 years old) entrepreneur in Texas named Lola who applied for PPP money to cover the costs of several employees and large payroll expenses but in the end had neither. There were two men in Spartanburg, South Carolina, who were caught allegedly laundering more than $390,000 of PPP money through casinos and a heroin and meth ring and there I was thinking Walter White was dead. Theres the Seattle doctor who had a criminal history and allegedly sought millions in PPP loans for businesses with no actual operations by submitting applications with made up numbers and fake documentation. And the marketing guy in San Diego whose latest and most brilliant campaign was to create fake employees and pitch the government for money except that idea, like most marketing ideas, turned out to be not-so-brilliant. My favorite is a guy named David Hines who got $4m in loans and used it to buy a Lamborghini, jewelry, clothes, nights at the Fontainebleau Hotel and thousands of dollars on dating websites. There can not be any doubt that there are many others out there that we dont know about, happily living their lives in Poland or elsewhere because they figured out how to steal taxpayer money and get away with it. As I wrote previously, the stimulus process was flawed because it had to be: money needed to quickly get in the hands of small business owners who truly needed it and we all knew there were gaps in the process. Its important that the government investigate, if only just to show that theyre paying attention. Theyll never catch all the crooks. But as Congress discusses the next round of PPP lets hope all these Netflix-worthy stories dont give too many other people ideas. NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi-led NDA government is going to further tighten its noose around controversial Islamic scholar Zakir Naik, who is absconding and believed to be living in Malaysia. Reports on Thursday said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is mulling to impose a ban on Naiks Peace TV channel, mobile App and its YouTube channel for allegedly spreading hatred and inciting religious sentiments through its network. In its report to the Home Ministry, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has mentioned that Naiks organisation, Peace TV and its social handles are engaged in recruiting and radicalising innocent Muslim youths and alleged anti-India activities. The IB report further stated that Naiks outfit and its network has close links with the Jihadi groups and gets regular funding from the Arab countries for executing the jihadi propaganda in India. Live TV During a recent meeting of top officials of the IB, NIA and other intelligence agency at the Home Ministry office in New Delhi, Zakir Naiks alleged hate speech videos that posed a grave threat to the communal harmony in the country were thoroughly discussed. Zakir Naik, who is already under the government scanner over his alleged anti-India activities, recently posted a controversial video on YouTube in which he said that there are less than 60 percent Hindus in India, so all Muslims should unite and elect their leaders and vote for those parties which favour their cause. Top officials monitoring the development had told Zee Media that MeITY (Ministry of Electronics and information technology) is going to take strict and appropriate action against Naik and his network. Peace TV and Peace TV Urdu, the television channels owned by the controversial Islamic preacher, were slapped with a fine of Rs 2.75 crore or GBP 300,000 in the United Kingdom. The fine was levied by UK media watchdog, Ofcom, for broadcasting hate speech and repeatedly inciting murder through the channels. According to a report, nearly two years after the government banned the broadcasting of the controversial Peace TV channel of Zakir Naik, wanted in India for money laundering and inciting extremism through hate speeches, the controversial content continues to reach millions worldwide. Taking advantage of loopholes in laws, Zakir Naik, who features in the National Investigation Agency's 'most-wanted list', had launched a mobile application last year. With over a lakh downloads on Google Play Store, the free Peace TV app broadcasts in four languages- English, Urdu, Bangla, and Chinese. The 24-hour live feed offers different programmes for each channel. Through this application, an uninterrupted 24x7 live telecast of Naik's TV channel is available across India. Despite being banned in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for its hateful content, the app has an age rating of 3+. The Islamic televangelist who is wanted in both India and Bangladesh on financial and terror-related charges has sought refuge in Malaysia. He has been accused by authorities there of trying to break the harmony and spreading against the local communities there. India has formally requested the Malaysian government to extradite fugitive Zakir Naik and government is taking it up with Malaysia at the highest level. FILE PHOTO: Tesla China-made Model 3 vehicles are seen during a delivery event at its factory in Shanghai Reuters Tesla is suing the Trump administration over tariffs the government has imposed on Chinese vehicle parts. The electric car manufacturer described the tariffs as "arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion in a filing on Wednesday. It is asking for a refund of the money it has paid, plus interest. Numerous other carmakers, including Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and Volvo, have filed lawsuits against the US government in recent days over the tariffs. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Electric-car maker Tesla is suing the Trump administration and Robert Lighthizer, the US trade representative, over government-imposed tariffs on parts Tesla imports from China. The auto firm has filed a lawsuit in the Court of International Trade in New York, demanding two lists of tariffs be voided. It wants refunds of the money it has paid, plus interest. The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are "arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion," Tesla said in its filing on Wednesday. It is the latest in a long line of car manufacturers to sue the government over the tariffs: Ford, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo have also filed lawsuits. Tesla is challenging List 3 tariffs which place 25% duties on $200 billion worth of imports from China and List 4 tariffs, which place 7.5% charges on $120 billion worth of Chinese goods. The lists include hundreds of products, from electric parts to raw materials, but the lawsuit did not specify the goods Tesla had paid tariffs on, or how much the car company paid. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read more: The 3 biggest things Elon Musk announced at Tesla's 'Battery Day' In its filing, Mercedes-Benz accused the Trump administration of "prosecution of an unprecedented, unbounded and unlimited trade war impacting over $500 billion in imports from the People's Republic of China." On September 15, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that US tariffs on $400 billion worth of Chinese exports violated international trade rules, unfairly targeting China and skirting the WTO's dispute-settlement body, Bloomberg reported. Read the original article on Business Insider Two persons who allegedly attempted to swindle a woman of her GH12,000 have been arrested by the Kwabenya police in Accra yesterday. The suspects, Yaw Darko, 26, posed as an estate agent and Mohammed Suraj, 49, claimed to be a landlord and pretended to rent a house to the victim. They are in the custody of the Police assisting in investigations, the Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge told the Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday. She said complainant (name withheld) reported to the police that she saw a phone number on an online platform Tonaton.com and called the person who claimed to be an estate agent with apartment pictures displayed for rent. DSP Tenge said the woman expressed interest and called for enquiries. The PRO said on September 18, 2020 the suspects who claimed to be landlord and agent respectively met the complainant and led her to East Legon and showed to her some apartments which was being rented for GH1,000 per month for a two-year period. She said the woman after negotiations gave a cheque for GH12,000 to them to cash. DSP Tenge said the suspects presented the cheque to the bank same day but they were told that the said amount could only be transferred to their account. She said the suspects then called the complainant and informed her that they owed their banks so they could not transfer the money into their bank accounts. The PRO stated that the suspects requested for physical cash instead, adding that the woman became suspicious and informed the police leading to their arrest. She said during interrogations the suspects admitted to the offence of attempting to defraud their victim. DSP Tenge appealed to the public who have fallen victims to such scam to report to the Kwabenya police in Accra. Source: The Ghanaian Times Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Thai Digital Economy and Society Minister Puttipong Punnagun (second from right), and Col. Siriwat Deepor, the deputy chief of the police Technology Crime Suppression Division (right), speak to reporters in Bangkok, Sept. 24, 2020. Thai authorities brought police complaints Thursday against social media giants Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for not taking down content on their platforms deemed defamatory to Thailands royalty, as pro-democracy protesters marched to parliament where MPs deliberated proposed amendments to the constitution. Puttipong Punnagun, the minister for the Digital Economy and Society, presented evidence of alleged bad content to police at the Technology Crime Suppression Division and asked that they prosecute the social media platforms. This is the first time we used Computer Crime Act against foreign platforms for their failure to comply with Article 27, Puttipong told reporters. The act has been used to file charges against individual users. Puttipong said four social media platforms had responded to court orders before Aug. 26 by taking down 1,129 URLs deemed to be royally defaming. Three of the platforms, meanwhile, did not fully meet the 15-day deadline to remove another 1,025 URLs deemed offensive. He said the ministry sent letters to warn them on Sept. 7 and 14. As of today, certain platforms cooperated with us while some failed to delete the contents completely, he said. Therefore, we have to prosecute them in accordance with Computer Crime Act. Specifically, Facebook shuttered 225 URLs, but 436 remain, Twitter closed five URLs and allowed 64 to remain while Instagram left one URL untouched, according to Puttipong. He said YouTube took down all 294 of its URLs on the list. Puttipong has submitted a third list of more than 3,000 URLs deemed objectionable and that must be shuttered. Under Thai law, companies can be prosecuted for violations of the computer law. We can sue the parent companies the platform owners who give space to people to post such content, he said. That may be interpreted to cover local companies, it depends on how the judicial system sees it. Puttipong said the law allows the international companies to negotiate a settlement settlements. If they have a good reason and come bargain with the police, a committee may be set up and the penalty could be a fine of 5,000 baht (U.S. $158) per piece per day, but no more 200,000 baht ($6,336) per content, he said. Col. Siriwat Deepor, the deputy chief of the national polices Technology Crime Suppression Division, said he had received Puttipongs complaints and the division would proceed with an investigation. They are now criminal cases under police investigation, he said. We have to ask Facebook Thailand whether they are aware of this wrongdoing. If they admit fault, they have to pay fine, he told BenarNews. If they say the Thailand branch has nothing to do with this, but the overseas offices do, then we need to contact the (Thai) office of attorney general and the ministry of foreign affairs to proceed with legal action. Puttipongs announcement came about a month after Facebook officials announced that they had reached an agreement to remove a site deemed offensive to the monarchy. The social media giant agreed to restrict access to the Royalist Marketplace group, which had more than 1 million members and was hosted by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Thai lecturer at Kyoto University and noted critic of the Thai monarchy. Despite the action, Facebook officials said they would challenge court orders to remove pages, citing such action would be an obstacle to free speech and doing business in Thailand. After careful review, Facebook has determined that we are compelled to restrict access to content which the Thai government has deemed to be illegal, a spokesperson said in a statement on Aug. 25. Requests like this are severe, contravene international human rights law and have a chilling effect on peoples ability to express themselves. Facebook officials on Thursday did not immediately return a BenarNews request for comment on the latest action. A Twitter official declined to comment when contacted by Reuters news service. Protest at parliament Meanwhile, about 7,000 pro-democracy protesters closed off streets in front of the parliament through Thursday evening to pressure MPs to amend the constitution. On Wednesday, a smaller group of royalist members of the Thai Pakdee movement gathered to call for the constitution to remain unchanged. When the draft constitution passed the (2016) referendum, the king altered Section 1 and 2, but when we ask for changes, they disagree, Arnon Nampa, a human rights lawyer-turned-activist told the protesters. The pro-democracy groups have been holding a series of rallies since July calling for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha to resign, to have the constitution rewritten and to reform the monarchy. Last weekend, police and organizers said more than 100,000 protesters rallied at the Royal Grounds and then marched to the Privy Council building the next day to present their concerns. The organizers placed a plaque at the Royal Grounds declaring the country belongs to the people and not the monarchy. They also gave a letter to the metropolitan police chief to be delivered to the king asking him to accept political reform. Thai police said they are holding the plaque, which was removed on Monday, as evidence. While the protesters gathered outside, MPs were inside the parliament building voting to establish a committee to study six recommendations to amend the constitution and file a report within one month. Finishing their two-day debate on the constitution, the MPs voted 431 to 255 with 28 abstentions on Thursday to establish the committee to review five recommendations from opposition MPs and one from Prayuths governing coalition. The house speaker dropped a recommendation from the people. Meanwhile, protest organizers said they planned to rally next month if their demands are not met by Sept. 30. The people have come here to show their power in front of the parliament, protester Nawat Yamwattana told the Associated Press. The members of parliament and senators must listen to the peoples voices. May 2017: Turkish President Erdogan with Prime Minister Modi in Delhi In a video message for a special session marking the 75th anniversary of the UN, Erdogan had 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. He added, 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. Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, secretary general of the Washington DC-based World Kashmir Awareness Forum, thanking Erdogans statement on behalf of the people of J&K, said, it is a source of inspiration and given hope to millions of hopeless people of the region, adding, it was the true reflection of the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. Even as India 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, a Washington, DC-based Kashmiri diaspora group has said that the Turkish leaders statement for multilateral dialogue is consistent with the stance taken by the President of the United Nations General Assembly.Indias permanent representative to the UN, TS Tirumurti, called Erdogans remarks totally unacceptable, underlining, We have seen remarks by President of Turkey on Indian [union territory] of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). 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.In a video message for a special session marking the 75th anniversary of the UN, Erdogan had 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. He added, 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.Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, secretary general of the Washington DC-based World Kashmir Awareness Forum, thanking Erdogans statement on behalf of the people of J&K, said, it is a source of inspiration and given hope to millions of hopeless people of the region, adding, it was the true reflection of the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. Callng Erdogans reference to Kashmir is a statement of facts, Dr Fai said, it is consistent with his statement, which he made in May 2017 during an interview with WION television channel, in which he had said, We should not allow more casualties to occur, and by strengthening multilateral dialogue, we can be involved, and through multilateral dialogue, I think we have to seek out ways to settle this question (Kashmir) once and for all. Turkey being friendly to both India and Pakistan can seek multilateral dialogue, as bilateral talks have to achieve a settlement Dr Fai said, bilateralism has failed in resolving the Kashmir conflict despite some world powers seeking bilateral talks between India and Pakistan to achieve a settlement, adding, The experience of more than 70 years is ignored. No bilateral talks between India and Pakistan have yielded agreements without the active role of an external element. According to Dr Fai, The missing element is sustained and coordinated diplomatic persuasion by peace-loving democratic powers. The vision of President Erdogan needs to be pursued by the United Nations - the engagement of a multilateral effort -- one or two permanent members of the Security Council along with India, Pakistan, Kashmiri leadership and Turkey. Wanting Turkey to play an effective role in bringing parties together, being friendly to both India and Pakistan, Dr Fai said, The proposal may seem rather unconventional but we believe that it would be a striking demonstration of the global statesmanship, which the United Nations can summon in the cause of peace, international security and human betterment. Ireland has only one or two weeks to prevent stricter lockdowns being imposed as the virus is growing at an alarming rate across the country. The restrictions imposed on Dublin may expand to counties across Ireland if the progress of infection is not halted, health officials warned. Professor Philip Nolan said that the rest of the country is around two weeks behind Dublin in terms of coronavirus cases. He said a radical change of behaviour is needed - otherwise, the rest of the country risks catching up with the capital. Waterford, Louth and Donegal are the counties of most concern to health officials in terms of rising coronavirus cases. Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that while Donegal may be of concern today, another county will be of concern tomorrow. "I implore people around the country not to wait until they hear a warning from this table and to cut down their social contacts now," he said. Read More Another two people died from the virus yesterday and deaths are again averaging one a day. The number of new cases across the country remained high at 234, with 103 of these reported in Dublin. The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) will meet today to analyse the figures. There were signals that counties with rising levels of disease may be spared restrictions until next week at least, although there are no guarantees. Outside of the capital the counties at highest risk of restrictions to control the rise of the virus are Donegal, Louth and Waterford, while there is also serious concern about Kildare, Wicklow and Cork. There is a countdown to halt the infection spiral for at-risk counties and stop them plunging further into the grip of the virus, public health officials warned. Yesterdays briefing was told of the case of a family member who was a close contact of a person diagnosed with the virus. They should have restricted their movements but instead went to a party and ended up infecting more than 20 others. The Department of Health reported that another two people died from the virus yesterday and deaths are again averaging one a day. The number of new cases across the country remained high at 234, and 103 of these were reported in Dublin. Another 30 are in Donegal, 22 in Galway, 21 in Cork, 13 in Wicklow, 12 in Louth, nine in Kildare, eight in Meath, with the remaining 17 spread across 10 counties. Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer, said: The single most important thing that people all across the country need to do now is to reduce their social contacts. We all need to cut down on discretionary social activities. Meeting fewer people means fewer opportunities for the virus to transmit. Prioritise who you choose to meet and try to keep your social network as small as possible. The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) will meet today to analyse the figures and there were signals that counties with rising levels of disease may be spared restrictions for now, although there are no guarantees. Prof Philip Nolan of Maynooth University, who heads the team tracking the virus, said Dubliners should not let their guard down in the city and county despite a slight dip in the spread of the virus. He said it continued to be three to four times higher in Dublin than in the rest of the country. 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, Prof Nolan warned. He said the reproduction number, or R number, indicating how many people an infected person passes the virus on to, over the last two weeks remains high at between 1.5 and 1.7. Other counties will also soon catch up with Dublin unless behaviours across the entire country change. There is grave concern about the increase in older people getting the virus, he warned. There was an average of 80 people in hospital with Covid-19 on any given day last week and yesterday 95 were in hospital. There are around seven patients with Covid-19 being admitted to hospital a day and nine were admitted in the previous 24 hours. Covid-19 led 16 patients to be in intensive care yesterday. Over the past week, there were 15 people in ICU on any given day with typically one to two admissions per day to intensive care. The majority of those in intensive care are under 65 and a number are in younger age groups. In Donegal, around one in three of those infected are in the 15 to 24 age group. In Waterford, a meat plant accounts for around one third of cases and in Louth the infections are being diagnosed in extended families. Funerals, and social gatherings after first communion ceremonies are also leading to outbreaks. British Airways cabin crew have been detained by hazmat-suited officials in Hong Kong after one of them tested positive for coronavirus. While the pilots were allowed to go home, the rest were forced out of their plush Marriott hotel by the authorities and shuttled to an austere Covid quarantine camp elsewhere in the Chinese city. Ellie Freeman, a stewardess from High Wycombe, posted a series of Snapchats as she and her colleagues were given just 30 minutes to pack up before being bussed to austere portacabins at the shuttered Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. The cabin crew have been told that they must remain on the site for two weeks where they have a basic food menu consisting of noodles and biscuits, as well as twin rooms fitted with barracks-style beds. Ellie Freeman, a stewardess from High Wycombe, posted a series of bleak broadcasts to her Snapchat profile as she and her colleagues were given just 30 minutes to pack up at the hotel before being shuttled to desolate porta cabins Ms Freeman's Snapchat shows health officials arriving to take she and her colleagues away from the hotel, left, and her new accommodation, right The BA cabin crew being ferried to their new accommodation, left, and Ms Freeman with her mask on, right The exterior of the portacabin (left) and the very basic bathroom (right) Ms Freeman was able to grab a couple of pairs of Marriott slippers (left) before being taken to the temporary self-isolation accommodation (right) Ms Freeman's message exchange with the Hong Kong officials Ms Freeman videoed how she had stuffed her suitcase full of toiletries from the Marriott before being escorted out. 'I'm honestly fuming,' she said. 'I feel a big breakdown coming on, so if anyone wants to Facetime me when I get there, it would be much appreciated.' 'God, I am so scared,' she added. Ms Freeman also said that she had been charged 60 HK$ (6) for sanitary products. Ms Freeman's Instagram carries the strapline: 'made in england. travelling the world.' It is not clear whether she and her colleagues are having to fork out for other aspects of their accommodation at Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre, which has a maximum capacity of 800 people and is currently housing 142. At the Covid camp Ms Freeman was given a request form to fill out to which she responded: 'To go home.' She also asked whether she could receive any parcels from overseas during her stay but was told that this was not be permitted for hygiene reasons. Ms Freeman also appeared to lash out at her employer in one of her posts. 'Love that from BA that the flight crew can go home and we all have to stay here. What the f***,' she said. The average starting salary for a junior member of the cabin crew such as Ms Freeman is 15,000. Senior pilots to long-haul destinations like Hong Kong for airlines of BA's repute rake in north of 150,000. A spokeswoman for British Airways told MailOnline: 'Our teams in Hong Kong and London are helping to care for our cabin crew members, providing them with support and additional supplies to make sure their stay is as comfortable as possible, after the authorities requested they quarantine in accordance with local Covid-19 regulations. 'We work closely with governments in every country we fly to, and always put the safety and wellbeing of our teams and customers at the heart of everything we do.' Hong Kong, now very much under Beijing's thumb, introduced a tightening of its draconian coronavirus restrictions at the beginning of the month. It also has plans to add Britain to its list of high-risk countries from next week. Glamorous social media posts from the stewardess before she was locked down in Hong Kong Ellie Freeman, a stewardess from High Wycombe, is holed up in a coronavirus camp in Hong Kong after one of her colleagues tested positive for coronavirus Ms Freeman posing in the turbine of a jet with her British Airways uniform on Ms Freeman was outraged that she was being charged for sanitary products by the enforcers in Hong Kong (pictured: in social media posts, left and right) The BA cabin crew were shuttled from the airport on Lantau Island to the site of the shuttered Hong Kong Disneyland Resort which is now Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre While some restaurants remain open, only groups of four are permitted - this includes people from the same household - and all bars have been closed. Masks are mandatory in all public spaces and fines of 5,000 HK$ (500) in place. Hong Kong recorded just seven new cases of the disease on Thursday. The commercial hub has recorded a total of just 5,000 coronavirus cases and 103 deaths - many experts attribute this relatively low level of the virus to crackdowns on liberty unconscionable in the West. ADQ, one of the regions largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabis diversified economy, today announced that the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has been added to its utilities portfolio. Under a decree issued by Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the full ownership of ENECs shares were transferred to ADQ from the Government of Abu Dhabi with immediate effect, a statement said. Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Chief Executive Officer of ADQ, said: We welcome ENEC to our portfolio of companies which comprises some of Abu Dhabis most successful and ambitious enterprises. We are working closely with our utilities companies, including TAQA, EWEC, ADSSC and now ENEC, to advance our nations solid infrastructure that is vital for supporting the growth and development of many sectors of the economy. Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said: We are pleased to join ADQ, as part of our commitment to advancing Abu Dhabis long-term economic diversification. We remain fully committed in our quest to delivering this new form of emissions-free electricity to strengthen and sustain the UAEs energy sector. With the recent commencement of operations of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, we are supplying clean electricity to the UAE, and are committed to safely and efficiently generating electricity, supported by working with our UAE partners and stakeholders. Khalifa Sultan Al Suwaidi, Chief Investment Officer at ADQ, said: "Nuclear energy has a crucial role to play in our nations future, and we look forward to working closely with ENEC as it continues to build on its ambitious peaceful energy programme with the highest international safety and quality standards. ENECs delivery of clean electricity from nuclear energy across the UAE further diversifies the power generation sources and reinforces our reliable power grid. ENEC joins ADQs strategic utilities portfolio that also includes Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA), Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC) and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC). Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, ADQ was established in 2018 as a public joint stock company (PJSC). It holds a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabis diversified economy, including utilities, tourism and hospitality, aviation, transportation, logistics, industrial, real estate, media, healthcare, food and agriculture, and financial services. ENEC is working to deliver safe, clean, efficient and reliable nuclear energy to the UAE - energy that is needed to support the UAEs social and economic growth. - TradeArabia News Service Tehran, Sep 24 (UNI) Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday described Bahrain's and the United Arab Emirates(UAE)'s decisions of normalising relations with Israel as back stabbing the Palestinians. Zarif however said that the establishment of relations between these Arab countries with Israel was not a big issue as relations have anyway existed between these countries during many years "What happened in the White House was not a major development, but rather an opportunity to photograph and uncover the relations that have existed for 15 or 20 years between the Arab countries along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and the Zionist regime. These relations indicate that the slogans voiced by these countries in support of the Palestinian people are untrue, but are in actual fact a stab in the back for the Palestinian cause," Zarif said. Zarif was of the opinion that Israel's relations with Bahrain and the UAE would "surely hurt peace in the region and the Middle East", as they encouraged Israel to "oppress the aspirations and rights of the Palestinian people." "For this reason we have disputed these relations considering that they are at the expense of the region and its peoples," Zarif added. In an interview to Sputnik Zarif said that that Iran is ready to improve relations with the neighbors. "Irans relations with neighboring countries are based on mutual respect, and the policy of the Islamic Republic is built on neighboring policy, and so long as these countries wish to build good relations with Iran, these relations will remain ongoing. However, unfortunately there are some states in the southern section of the Persian Gulf, such as the UAE, KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia], and Bahrain, who do not wish to establish durable relations with Iran. However, should they at any time be ready to build good relations with Iran, we will in our turn wish for that as well. Their relations with Israel are certainly not a strong point in our relations, but they will not impede our relations with them either," Zarif explained. UNI XC RKM PS 1904 New Jersey officials on Thursday approved a budget that hinges on borrowing $4.5 billion to cover basic operating costs, making the state one of the first to take on debt to plug a gaping financial hole during the pandemic. Gov. Philip D. Murphy and his fellow Democrats who control the Legislature argued that the step was needed to avoid deep cuts to essential services, including education, transit and health care, in the absence of a deal in Washington on a stimulus bill. Across the country states and cities have been pummeled by declining tax revenues and unparalleled levels of unemployment. Illinois has also looked to balance its budget using $1.2 billion from a short-term lending program run by the Federal Reserve, and New York Citys mayor, Bill de Blasio, has asked the state for permission to borrow billions of dollars to cover operating costs. The power of data, often an underappreciated catalyst to fixing the world's pressing problems, was recognized by Dr. Sally Hodder as a critical key in battling COVID-19 before West Virginia even reported its first case. Months later, her vision has taken to the national stage, as Hodder and a team at West Virginia University earned a $1.5 million federal grant to head a multi-state consortium for a centralized, national data resource. Such a resource could lead researchers into uncovering the best treatment options for COVID-19 patients, said Hodder, an infectious disease expert who directs the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute headquartered at WVU. The funding, awarded by the National Institutes of Health, will allow the WVCTSI to work with Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and West Virginia in compiling a large, granular dataset that can examine associations of improved outcomes with various treatments. In the clinical and research worlds, patient registry data is utilized by scientists to assess health outcomes for a population. "The NIH is currently looking at the best treatment regimens to minimize mortality across different patient populations," said Hodder, also a professor at the WVU School of Medicine, who is leading the eight-state consortium. "What's best for a patient in New York City who's 30 might be different from someone in West Virginia who's 70 with heart issues and diabetes. We can ask very fundamental, straightforward questions that, quite frankly, we don't know the answers to with this new virus." The consortium will feed into the National COVID Cohort Collaborative, the national COVID data source being developed by the NIH. The project stems from a COVID-19 patient data registry developed by WVCTSI in early spring 2020. Updated daily, the registry includes detailed information from patients including testing method, ICU stays, ventilator use, medications, vital signs, preexisting conditions, labs, procedures and basic demographics such as age, gender and race, to name a few. "That was the genesis for a suggestion to other centers for translational research," Hodder said. "When the COVID epidemic came up, I suggested we could develop a consortium of research centers located in largely rural states for purposes of developing a patient registry through which investigators could answer important research questions relevant to patients in their geographic area." What makes this particular initiative important, Hodder said, is that the eight states involved represent diverse and historically underserved and underrepresented populations. West Virginia, for example, ranks third behind Florida and Maine in having the oldest population and has a high prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes - conditions associated with an increased likelihood of COVID-19 mortality. Hodder said this funding is a win for West Virginia and other participating states. "West Virginia should not be anybody's poor brother or sister," she said. "I think federal funding should be applied here to answer the questions about folks in our state. Often, funding goes to urban centers. So this is very important and is closely aligned with the mission of the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute to develop research infrastructure that improves health outcomes for West Virginians." In April, the WVCTSI registry contained data on about 8,000 individuals tested through the WVU Medicine system. As of Wednesday (Sept. 23), the number had ballooned to more than 60,000. Identifiable personal information, such as patient names, is not included, and researchers are provided specific datasets upon approval. WVCTSI staff Wes Kimble, Matt Armistead and Rick Santee led the charge in building the registry as the Institute partnered with WVU Medicine's Ilo Romero, vice president and assistant chief information officer, and David Rich, chief medical information officer. And as much as the world wants COVID-19 to go away, Hodder believes that, even after a vaccine, the effects of the virus will be lasting, making the national data resource a long-term valuable tool. "One of the questions raising its head is 'What are the chronic complications of having been infected with COVID?' There have been reports of individuals who, weeks after their acute symptoms have gone away, experience heart involvement or neurologic symptoms or ongoing fatigue. Establishing this cohort now will provide valuable data for future investigations of the potential long-term effects of COVID-19." ### WVCTSI Background WVCTSI is funded by an IDeA Clinical and Translational grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U54GM104942) to support the mission of building clinical and translational research infrastructure and capacity to impact health disparities in West Virginia. Kyle Rittenhouse's attorneys released an 11-minute video this week saying the 17-year-old was simply trying to maintain the peace when he killed two protesters The video is the latest tactic from attorneys attempting to paint the cop-obsessed teen as a courageous defender of liberty Rittenhouse is accused of murdering Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, back on August 25 in Kenosha, Wisconsin Teen shot one of his victims five times including in the head, complaint says, and called a friend to boast 'I've killed someone' after the shooting He also shot a third victim Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm and he survived The teen will appear in court Friday for his extradition hearing in Illinois He faces five felony charges including first-degree murder His legal team has ties to Trump and Covington Catholic teen Nick Sandmann Kyle Rittenhouse's attorney has claimed the Kenosha gunman is an 'American patriot' and compared the shots he fired killing two unarmed Black Lives Matter protesters in the street to the 'shot heard around the world' that started the American Revolution. Rittenhouse is accused of murdering Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, during protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man left paralyzed after being shot seven times in the back by a white cop in front of his three young children. ADVERTISEMENT According to the criminal complaint, Rittenhouse shot one of his victims five times including in the head in Wisconsin on August 25, and later called one of his friends afterwards to boast 'I've killed someone'. The suspected killer also shot a third - and only surviving - victim Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm while the 26-year-old was carrying a handgun. Defense lawyer John Pierce said that Rittenhouse will go 'down in American history' as the leader of the 'Second American Revolution'. 'Kyle Rittenhouse will go down in American history alongside that brave unknown patriot... who fired "The Shot Heard Round the World,"' Pierce wrote this month in a tweet he later deleted. 'A Second American Revolution against Tyranny has begun.' Similar claims of heroism have been made in TV appearances and other social media posts, where the legal team described Kenosha as a 'war zone' and the young shooter as an 'American patriot' and a 'shining symbol of the American fighting spirit.' Kyle Rittenhouse's (pictured) attorney has claimed the Kenosha gunman is an 'American patriot' and compared the shots he fired killing two unarmed Black Lives Matter protesters in the street to the 'shot heard around the world' that started the American Revolution Lawyer John Pierce claimed Rittenhouse will go 'down in American history' as the leader of the 'Second American Revolution' 'This is the sacred ground in Kenosha where a 17-year old child became a Minuteman and said 'Not on My Watch,'' Pierce tweeted above a photo of Kenosha burned amid unrest. The extremity of the comparison between the alleged killer teen and the person who paved the way to America's independence has not been lost on legal experts who warned it could risk Rittenhouse's chances of acquittal. Such dramatic rhetoric has helped raise nearly $2 million for Rittenhouse's defense but experts said it may not work with a jury considering charges that could put the teen in prison for life. ADVERTISEMENT 'They're playing to his most negative characteristics and stereotypes, what his critics want to perceive him as - a crazy militia member out to cause harm and start a revolution,' said Robert Barnes, a prominent Los Angeles defense attorney. Eric Creizman, a former partner at Pierce's firm, said the heated language in the tweets is not surprising because of his former boss' tendency toward hyperbole, though he also said he wonders if it will backfire. 'The question really should focus on whether this guy is guilty of what theyre charging him with,' he said, 'instead of making it into a political issue.' Rittenhouse faces five felony charges including first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide, and a misdemeanor charge for possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor. He will appear in court Friday for his extradition hearing in Illinois where a judge will rule on whether to return him to Wisconsin. The inflammatory tweets came in the same week that Rittenhouse's legal team, which has ties to Donald Trump and Covington Catholic teenager Nick Sandmann, released an 11-minute video saying the 17-year-old was simply trying to maintain the peace and protect local businesses. The video is the latest tactic from attorneys attempting to paint the cop-obsessed teen not as a murderer but as a courageous defender of liberty exercising his right to bear arms in the face of so-called mob violence. In the slickly produced video released by attorney Lin Wood's FightBack Foundation, Rittenhouse's defense team argues that the teen was exercising his constitutional rights to defend the community when he shot at the protesters. ADVERTISEMENT 'A 17-year-old citizen is being sacrificed by politicians, but it's not Kyle Rittenhouse they are after,' says the voice-over at the end of video released this week. 'Their end game is to strip away the constitutional right of all citizens to defend our communities.' The video portrays the police-obsessed Trump supporter as a model citizen who had just gotten off his shift as lifeguard and was cleaning graffiti from a vandalized high school before he received word from a business owner seeking help to protect what was left of his property after rioters had burned two of his other buildings. Click here to resize this module Joseph Rosenbaum Anthony Huber Gaige Grosskreutz (left) - the suspected killer's third and only surviving victim is pictured in hospital recovering after the shooting. On right is his left arm where he was shot The law-and-order theme - as opposed to pursuing a self defense route - mirrors the reelection theme Donald Trump has struck in recent months amid a wave of protests demanding an end to racism and police brutality after multiple cop killings of black men and women across America. One politically charged tactic critics have attacked as a longshot is lawyer Pierce's promise to fight a charge of underage firearm possession, a misdemeanor, by arguing US law allows for an 'unorganized militia.' Rittenhouse wielded a semi-automatic rifle. Some experts have even questioned whether the teenager's team of four attorneys will feel pressure to hold back from making a plea bargain out of fear of disrupting the patriotic narrative and disappointing donors. Rittenhouse's high-profile defense and fund-raising teams, led by Los Angeles-based Pierce and Atlanta attorney Lin Wood, respectively, refused to speak to The Associated Press about their strategy ahead of the teen's next court appearance Friday. Both Pierce and Wood have ties to Trump's orbit and his brand of GOP politics, though it's not clear if that played any role in their involvement in Rittenhouse's case and how it is being handled. For his part, Trump has made statements appearing to support Rittenhouse's claim of self-defense, saying the young man 'probably would have been killed.' Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani hired Pierce's firm late last year when he was reportedly under investigation for possibly breaking lobbying laws for his work in Ukraine for the president, as did Carter Page and George Papadopoulos, former Trump advisers caught up in the Russia investigation. The video from the defense team tries to paint Rittenhouse as a model citizen Wood, a defamation lawyer who represented falsely accused security guard Richard Jewell in the 1996 Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta, is also a lawyer for Sean Hannity, the Fox News host with close ties to Trump. Wood also made headlines recently representing Nicholas Sandmann, the Kentucky teen in the 'Make America Great Again' hat, in his lawsuits against news organizations over their coverage of his encounter with an American Indian protester in Washington last year. Both attorneys moved quickly after Rittenhouse was arrested in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois, two days after the shooting deaths of the two protesters and wounding of a third. Pierce flew to Illinois to meet Rittenhouse and his family that same day, according to his tweets, which included appeals for donations to the #FightBack Foundation that was started with Wood a few weeks earlier to fund lawsuits aimed at the 'lies' of the 'radical left.' George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said he wouldn't be surprised if the patriotic language that has wooed online donors were eventually abandoned for the most obvious defense, that 'Rittenhouse was a confused kid who got in over his head.' Despite attempts to paint Rittenhouse as a 'patriot' his legal team has also claimed he was acting in self-defense and that it was he who was 'attacked' with 'lethal force'. The deadly night unfolded when, at around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, Rittenhouse was walking down the streets near a car dealership holding 'a Smith & Wesson AR-15 style .223 rifle,' according to the criminal complaint. The complaint states Rittenhouse clashed with people in the car lot. Rosenbaum, who was unarmed, threw a plastic bag at the gunman and attempted to take the weapon from him, the complaint states. The plastic bag missed Rittenhouse and he and Rosenbaum moved across the parking lot and appeared to be in close proximity to each other when the 17-year-old opened fire on the victim, according to the complaint. A journalist on the scene told investigators the victim was trying to get the suspect's gun off him. Rosenbaum was shot five times in the right groin and back - which fractured his pelvis and perforated his right lung and liver - his left hand, left thigh and right side of his forehead, according to the criminal complaint. As his victim lay dying on the ground, the suspect ran from the scene and made a call to a friend saying: 'I just killed somebody'. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, has been charged with first degree intentional homicide following the shooting death of two protesters in Kenosha on Tuesday Social media photos show the teen had a strong admiration for law enforcement and guns and Donald Trump He also previously participated in a youth public safety cadet program (pictured), according to social media Rosenbaum was pronounced dead around an hour later. Rittenhouse then ran down the street and was chased by several people shouting that he just shot someone before he tripped and fell, according to the complaint and video footage. While Rittenhouse was on the ground, a man with a skateboard - later identified as Huber - approached him, the complaint says. Huber, who was also unarmed, appears to be 'reaching for the defendant's gun with his left hand as the skateboard makes contact with the defendant's left shoulder', the complaint reads. As Huber allegedly tries to disarm the suspected killer, Rittenhouse shoots the victim in the chest. Huber staggers away before collapsing to the ground and dying. The victim's autopsy revealed he suffered a gunshot wound to his chest that perforated his heart, aorta, pulmonary artery and right lung. Rittenhouse's only surviving victim Gaige Grosskreutz froze, ducked to the ground and took a step back when he saw Rittenhouse shoot Huber. He puts his hands in the air and then began to approach the suspect, the complaint says. Rittenhouse then shot him in the left arm at close range, the complaint says. Grosskreutz managed to flee the scene and called for a medic as the suspect walked away, the complaint reads. The public is demanding answers from Kenosha police over their interactions with the gunman after footage emerged showing Rittenhouse walking past cops and leaving the scene with his rifle slung over his shoulder and hands in the air following his alleged shooting rampage. Members of the crowd yelled at the cops to arrest him telling them he shot people but the 17-year-old was able to leave the scene and was not arrested until the following day. Outrage is especially building as people draw comparisons between the treatment of the illegally armed 17-year-old who had allegedly shot dead two men and injured another and the treatment of Blake by cops. ADVERTISEMENT Blake was not armed with a gun when he was shot seven times in the back in front of his children two days earlier. A lawsuit filed against Michigan's governor for her alleged suspension of the state's Freedom of Information Act might soon find its way before the Michigan Supreme Court. On April 5, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-38, which allowed for "limited and temporary extensions of certain FOIA deadlines." The order allowed public bodies to defer parts of FOIA requests submitted by mail, fax or in person for responses that would require workers to report to government offices in-person. The lawsuit was filed two days later by Philip Ellison, a Hemlock-based attorney, on behalf of two clients: Eric Ostergren of Midland County and Jason Gillman Jr. of Ingham County. "At times of emergency, timely and meaningful access to government-held information and records of decision is at its highest and suspension and limitation of the same is not reasonable and outside the scope of the authority under Michigan law," the lawsuit argues. In May, Judge Cynthia Diane Stephens in the Michigan Court of Claims ruled in favor of Whitmer, claiming the order was within the scope of Whitmer's authority granted by the Emergency Powers of Governor Act. The case is currently waiting in the Michigan Court of Appeals. Ostergren hopes the Michigan Supreme Court will soon make a ruling on another lawsuit facing the governor Midwest Institute of Health, PLLC et al v. Whitmer with the precedent of Whitmer's actions being unconstitutional, and other lawsuits, including his, will follow. "We live in a representative republic," Ostergren said. "One branch of government can't grab the power from another branch of government, and that's what (Whitmer's) done. She's grasped a lot more power than our constitution allows." The governor's office did not return of request for comment at the time of publication. TikTok is asking a US judge to block the Trump administration's looming ban on downloads of the popular video app A federal judge Thursday urged the Trump administration to consider delaying a ban on new downloads of the popular video app TikTok and hinted he might block the government's order set to take effect on Sunday. Judge Carl Nichols made the comments at a hastily called telephone hearing where TikTok argued a ban, even if temporary, could cause irreparable harm to the video-sharing application with some 100 million US users. The judge agreed with TikTok lawyers to an expedited hearing schedule and said he would make a decision before the ban takes effect at 11:59 pm Sunday (0359 GMT Monday). Nichols said he disagreed with government lawyers' claims that the banwhich would not immediately prevent usage of TikTok but prevent downloads by new users and updates"merely preserves the status quo." "I would like the government (Justice Department) to confer with its client," Nichols said. He asked the Justice Department lawyers to indicate by Friday if they were willing to postpone a ban; if not he would review briefs from both sides and make a ruling on TikTok's request for a temporary injunction on President Donald Trump's order. The Chinese-owned appwhich is wildly popular with US teenagers in particularhas come under fire as tensions escalate between Beijing and Washington, with Trump threatening a ban if it is not sold to an American company. National security issues Earlier this month, Trump cited national security concerns and issued orders to ban both the popular Chinese app WeChatwhich has been put on hold by a separate courtand TikTok. But the TikTok order stops short of a full ban until November 12, giving the Chinese parent firm ByteDance time to conclude a deal to transfer ownership of the app. A tentative deal unveiled last weekend would make Silicon Valley giant Oracle the technology partner for TikTok and a stakeholder in a new entity to be known as TikTok Global. Trump has argued that TikTok and WeChat could be used by Chinese intelligence even as his critics said he offered no substantive evidence. The Beijing headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video sharing app TikTok Ban would 'cripple' TikTok As part of its court filing, a statement from TikTok interim head Vanessa Pappas said a ban to take effect Sunday would be devastating for the social platform which had been surging in much of the world. A ban "will cause our user base to stagnate and then precipitously decline," Pappas said. "For TikTok to remain competitive, continued growth at this stage in our development is critical. New users are the lifeblood of a social media application like TikTok; without new users, we cannot compete with other platforms." She noted that until July 1, when rumors of a ban first began to circulate, TikTok was adding some 424,000 new US users each day. "Eliminating this influx of new US users would cripple our growth and immediately cut into our market share," she said. The TikTok petition also speculated that the president was retaliating because of reports the app was used by his critics to snatch up tickets to a Trump rally in Tulsa to which they had no intention of goingan event which belly flopped with significantly fewer people in attendance. Deal in limbo The status of the deal on TikTok, which would include investment from US retail giant Walmart, remained unclear as the parties awaited word on whether it would win approval in Beijing. ByteDance said Thursday that it had applied for an export license with the commerce ministry, although it did not specifically link the move to TikTok or any potential sale. China's commerce ministry published new rules in August that added "civilian use" to a list of technologies that are restricted for export and require permission, which could complicate any sale. Explore further TikTok Global to launch public offering, Chinese parent firm says 2020 AFP President Trump during a news conference at the White House on Sept. 23. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) At the start, liberals were clear: This means war. I live on this hill, folks, Elie Mystal of the Nation tweeted Sunday night. I'm more than happy to die on it. The legendary Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died. Within hours, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) hastened to reassure the grieving nation that he had no intention of acting with principle, integrity or even common courtesy. Not only did he intend to steamroll over Ginsburgs dying request that the next president nominate her replacement but hed also move swiftly to confirm any burning-eyed madwoman President Trump nominated. Callous but predictable. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also made it clear no one should mistake him for a man of his word. Though he once vowed hed never push a justice through in primary season, let alone six weeks before a presidential election, he stood with McConnell in this tawdry caper. All but two of the Republican senators have signaled they too would fall in line. They like their confirmation hearings the way they like their elections: as fair and principled as a battering ram. This pileup of scumbag behavior seemed to be too much for Democrats. Mystal predicted a new Democratic regime would storm the Supreme Court by expanding it and cleanse it of its McConnell-induced illegitimacy. Take to the streets, wrote Michelle Goldberg in the New York Times. Only hardball tactics can restore democratic equilibrium. But that was last week. Since then, there have been new outrages, and new reasons to take to the streets. Focus is nearly impossible. On Wednesday, uprisings took place across the country after a grand jury in Kentucky declined to bring charges against Louisville police for the killing-by-cop of Breonna Taylor, the Black medical worker who died in March when police fired blindly into her house. In the midst of the protests Wednesday, two police officers were shot and wounded. Also on Wednesday, the Atlantic rehearsed all the ways Trump could be planning a coup if he loses in November. Win or lose, wrote Barton Gellman, he will never concede. The same day, a reporter asked Trump directly if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power: Were going to have to see what happens, the president said. Story continues In military jargon, the United States is now OBE, overcome by events. Situations are changing so quickly that courses of action are obsolete almost as soon as theyre proposed. Its very hard not to let defeatism set in. When there is impunity for murderous cops, when our rights are gravely imperiled in Trump-packed courts, and when for the love of God a sitting president is angling to stay in power no matter what, its hard to even think straight. But its exactly the wrong time for defeatism. Its urgent now that Americans flip the Senate, and elect Democratic candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Voters must decisively throw Trump out. Only then can the the frayed Supreme Court be repaired and the filibuster be abolished, paving the way for legislation that a majority of Americans want. For example, the robust Protecting Our Democracy Act, which Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) outlined Wednesday in The Times, which would prevent abuses of presidential power, restore our system of checks and balances and protect our elections from foreign interference. And then theres impeachment. Among the possible targets: Trump, again. This time for knowingly endangering the American people by shrugging off the current pandemic. Or Atty. Gen. Bill Barr, for contempt of Congress. Or, as vice presidential candidate Harris has proposed, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, because he was insufficiently vetted. I know, I know. No one would be removed from office by McConnells malignant Senate. But even if theres nothing but a series of impeachment inquiries, the subpoenas, headlines and televised hearings would be an elegantly aggressive and overdue action, inscribing the malfeasance of this administration into the record for all time. Not only does an impeachment or three slow the roll of Republicans gunning for the end of the Republic, but the public is owed a full accounting of all their abuses. If Republicans have the nerve to run roughshod over American democracy in the next few weeks, Democrats surely have the nerve to stand in their way. The American people should not have to bear the insult of seeing Trump and his band of power abusers skate time and time again. On Wednesday and Thursday, a smattering of Republicans on the Hill timidly responded to Trumps monstrous threat that he would not accept the results of the upcoming election. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), the lone Republican who voted to remove Trump during the impeachment trial earlier this year, managed to sound both grandiose and noncommittal. Fundamental to democracy is the transition of power, he tweeted. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable. McConnell, for his part, asserted, "The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792." But who can trust any of these people to keep a promise? Theyve been throttling the will of the majority for so long that they now say whatever comes into their heads to shut down questions. This cannot stand. In the words of 19th century feminist Sarah Grimke, whom Ginsburg famously quoted: All I ask of our brethren is, that they will take their feet from off our necks, and permit us to stand upright. If Republicans will not permit it and they wont Democrats must stand upright on their own. They absolutely must model for the American people, who have been so ill used for so long, what it is to hold your ground. Twitter: @page88 Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 14:04:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The lander and the rover of the Chang'e-4 probe have been switched to dormant mode for the lunar night after working stably for a 22nd lunar day, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration. The lander was switched to dormant mode at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday (Beijing Time) as scheduled, and the rover, Yutu-2 (Jade Rabbit-2), at 11:18 p.m. on Wednesday, said the center on its official social media platform accounts. A lunar day is equal to 14 days on Earth, and a lunar night is the same length. The Chang'e-4 probe, switching to dormant mode during the lunar night due to the lack of solar power, has survived 630 Earth days on the far side of the moon as of Thursday, and the rover has traveled 547.17 meters. During the 22nd lunar day, Yutu-2 explored an impact crater about 1.3 km northwest of the landing site. The Chang'e-4 probe, launched on Dec. 8, 2018, made the first-ever soft landing on the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon on Jan. 3, 2019. Enditem A major producer of PFAS in the United States, 3M, dismisses these findings. PFAS is a broad category, including thousands of substances with diverse physical and chemical properties, uses, and characteristics, said Sean Lynch, a 3M spokesperson. While the science behind PFAS is complex, the weight of scientific evidence does not show that PFOS or PFOA, two types of PFAS, cause harm in people at current or past levels. Epidemiologists generally cant pinpoint the cause of a persons gestational diabetes or obesity, said Philippe Grandjean, M.D., Ph.D., an environmental epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. But on average, they can see that PFAS increases the risk of health problems such as metabolic disease and immune deficiency. Manufacturers treat products from raincoats to pizza boxes with PFAS because they repel water, heat and grease, thanks to the unique properties of their superstrong fluorine-carbon bonds. These bonds make PFAS so resistant to degradation theyre called forever chemicals by some scientists. And their widespread use has left nearly everyone exposed. As the chemicals linger, they concentrate in blood, breast milk and numerous tissues. Scientists are particularly concerned pregnant mothers might pass on the chemicals through the placenta, which manages the babys metabolic needs while guarding against infection. Anecdotal reports from over a century ago showed that toxic substances like morphine and lead cross the placenta but it was long assumed that most chemicals did not. In 1981 DuPont scientists analyzed the umbilical cord blood of workers newborns and found that PFAS crossed the placenta, but they did not publish the finding. Federal law requires companies to inform the Environmental Protection Agency immediately if they learn a chemical poses risks to human health or the environment. The EPA filed a complaint against DuPont in 2004 for failing to report its finding, after receiving internal documents obtained through a separate lawsuit. Scientific evidence confirms that the trace amount of PFOA found in this one data point would pose no risk to human health, a lawyer for the company responded. In the absence of substantial risk of harm, the information is simply not required to be reported. Anti-abortion protesters have begun demonstrations outside a dozen abortion clinics across England which will continue for 40 days risking the health of thousands of women. 40 Days for Life, an American-based anti-abortion group which have stepped up their tactics in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, are known for harassing women who want to have a pregnancy terminated. The activists, whose new protests start on Wednesday, follow women as they arrive at and depart abortion clinics distributing leaflets which contain medically false information including the erroneous fact breast cancer is caused by abortions. British Pregnancy Advisory Service, the UKs largest abortion provider, warn their tactics put women and abortion clinic staff at risk of catching coronavirus. A teenager needing an abortion, who encountered the anti-abortion campaigners in Brighton last Autumn, said: She told me I was a murderer and killing my baby. She then showed me pictures of what it'll look like in a leaflet then said the drugs weren't safe and brought religion into it. It made me feel uncomfortable as I'm only 17. Another woman, who came across them in Bournemouth during Lent earlier in the year, added: They were pacing outside, making comments and abusively pressuring people to leave. Literally came up to the car and waited for us to get out to make comments. Abortion clinics in London, Birmingham, and Swindon have already been forced to call police to report protesters for infringing social distancing regulations during the public health crisis. Rachael Clarke, of British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said: Anti-abortion groups stand outside clinics not to change the law but to pressure and harass individual women who are trying to access the healthcare theyre guaranteed under the law. These women deserve to access this care without being followed, lied to, and frightened by groups of people who place their own beliefs above compassion and care for women in the most difficult of circumstances. Despite what the government has said before, these protests are not small scale or local problems. More than half of all women who had an abortion in 2019 had to go to a clinic targeted by these groups. It is essential that new legislation is passed to protect womens privacy and their ability to access healthcare without harassment. The 40 Days for Life protesters, who will be demonstrating outside clinics they have not previously targeted, are known for filming women seeking abortions and health professionals working at the clinics as well as putting leaflets through car windows. Richard Bentley, managing director of Marie Stopes, a leading UK abortion provider, told The Independent their staff have been working round the clock to ensure services remain open in the wake of Covid-19 restrictions and it is disgraceful this is being undermined by a radical minority group intent on refusing women basic healthcare. Mr Bentley said: These groups are always a concern for our teams, who witness the cruel tactics they use to turn women away from clinics and during a global pandemic their behaviour is quite simply putting lives at risk. Women are subjected to graphic imagery, told they are going to hell and handed plastic foetuses and insidious leaflets that address them as Mum. During 40 Days for Life, this intimidating behaviour can escalate still further, with groups besieging clinics for 12 hours at a time. Ealing council put a stop to this kind of abuse with the countrys first ever buffer zone around our West London clinic, transforming womens experience and virtually eliminating all incidents of harassment and today Manchester council is working hard to do the same. But until that happens women will continue to be targeted. We are a firmly pro-choice nation, but sadly, a small minority of people believe otherwise and would like to see the country take a backwards step on the issue. These groups should not have a free pass to harass women they dont know, invade their space and block their right to healthcare. While we respect and support the right to free speech, we are adamant that protests should never be at the expense of a woman's right to legal health services. Although telemedicine has been rolled out for early abortion since the Covid-19 emergency around half of all women still go to a clinic at some point during their treatment. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service warns women who need to go into the clinic in person are likely to be especially vulnerable ranging from younger women and those with safeguarding concerns and those who are being forced to terminate a pregnancy they wanted after being diagnosed with a fetal anomaly. One woman, who encountered 40 Days for Life protesters in Leeds last year, said: They were waiting outside the entrance to the centre, holding signs of foetuses and horrible language about being a killer. It made me really angry and upset. I drove myself to my appointment and had to turn in to the car park with them watching me. I wanted to get out of my car and shout at them! It made me feel violated and unsafe. Rupa Huq, a Labour MP, said: Even in the midst of a pandemic that has killed over 41,000, so-called pro-life protesters remain hellbent on breaking the rule of six in order to intimidate vulnerable women. Their actions are disgraceful and expose their hypocrisy. Its unacceptable that women cannot freely present themselves for healthcare, over 50 years after abortion was made legal. Service users are still barraged with medically inaccurate foetus dolls, handed misleading literature, called mum and threatened with eternities in hell. Its the same old tactics, designed to bully women who are simply accessing the services they are legally entitled to. We need buffer zones across the UK to protect service users from such tactics. This would not curtail the rights of anyone to demonstrate against abortion just not at the gates of a medical facility. MPs in the commons voted 213-47 in support of Ms Huqs cross-party bill, which will have a second reading this Friday, to set up buffer zones outside all abortion clinics. More than 100,000 women went to clinics anti-abortion demonstrations targeted last year. The government rejected calls for the introduction of buffer zones barring anti-abortion protests outside clinics across the UK in October 2018. While abortion is legal in the UK, there are vast swathes of the world where the procedure continues to be criminalised, with abortion even illegal in instances of rape and incest. The World Health Organisation estimates that each year between 5 per cent to 12 per cent of maternal deaths globally can be attributed to unsafe abortion with the annual cost of treating major complications from unsafe abortion estimated at $553m (435m). New Delhi, Sep 24 : The Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police has apprehended Pankaj Dayal, a resident of Sainik Farm, New Delhi from his newly established office at Greater Kailash for allegedly cheating a company of Rs three crore. To evade arrest, he got several companies incorporated and appointed the people who were in search of the employment as directors and operated the companies from behind the scenes. Dayal allegedly lured innocent buyers to invest in the property and duped them. According to the police, the accused Pankaj Dayal misrepresented the complainant company M/s Blue Cloud Infra Pvt. Ltd. to believe that his company M/s Amenity Promoters Pvt. Ltd was in the process of purchasing of 5.06 acres of agriculture land in village Jhatikara, Tehsil Kapashera, New Delhi for which the company had already paid Rs. 3 Crore as advance to the land owner. Dayal further said that he will conclude the purchase of the land and find a suitable third-party buyer. The complainant was misled with the promise of hefty profit sharing by further sale of property and Rs. 3 Crore siphoned off. "During the course of the investigation accounts statements were scrutinised. It came on record that accused Pankaj Dayal is the shareholder and one of the authorised signatory of the bank account of the alleged company. A sum of Rs 95 lakh paid by the complainant in the account of the alleged company was siphoned off by accused Pankaj Dayal on the same day and diverted in his personal account for his own use," said OP Mishra, Joint CP EOW. The investigation revealed that the money as agreed with the land owner was not paid by the accused. The directors of the accused company were his employees and the accused was looking after the affairs of the alleged company. "After the accused started avoiding the investigation and court proceedings, he was apprehended from his newly established office at Greater Kailash," said the officer. Actor Poonam Pandey has broken her silence after filing a police complaint against her husband, film producer Sam Bombay. Poonam, who married Sam earlier this month in a private ceremony, was on her honeymoon in Goa when she filed a complaint of assault against Sam. Poonam has said that her relationship with Sam has always been violent but she had hoped that getting married would change things. She said Sam would get very possessive about her and lose his temper. She has made the decision not to go back to him. Speaking to The Times of India, Poonam revealed all about what happened in Goa. Sam and I had an argument, which escalated, and he began hitting me. He choked me and I thought I was going to die. He punched me in my face, pulled me by my hair and banged my head against the corner of the bed. He knelt on my body, pinned me down and assaulted me. Somehow, I managed to break free and bolted out of the room. The hotel staff called the cops, who took him away. I filed a complaint against him, she said. Poonam says she will end her marriage with Sam after he beat her like an animal. This time, I dont plan to go back to him. I dont think its a smart idea to return to a person, who has beaten you up like an animal, without even thinking of the consequence. In a bid to save our relationship, I have suffered a lot. I prefer being single than in an abusive relationship. I have decided to end our marriage. Its about time I moved on. Also read: Ayushmann Khurrana only Indian actor on Times 100 most influential list, Deepika Padukone praises actor Sam was granted bail on Wednesday which was set at Rs 20,000. 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. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 14:34 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46f2f63 4 National KPK,supervisory-council,Corruption-Eradication-Comission,Firli,Firli-Bahuri,ethics,MAKI Free The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) supervisory council has declared the commission's chairman, Firli Bahuri, guilty of an ethics violation for displaying a hedonistic lifestyle. The council's panel of ethics said that Firli had failed to show exemplary action in his daily behavior, as mandated by KPK Supervisory Board Regulation No. 2/2020 on the enforcement of the KPK code of ethics and conduct. Furthermore, the panel pointed out Firli's negligence in recognizing that his attitudes and actions were inherent to and reflected his position as a KPK personnel. [The panel] has found [Firli] guilty of violating the [KPK's] code of ethics and conduct, supervisory council chair Tumpak Panggabean said during a hearing on Thursday. The council handed down a "light sentence" of written reprimand as punishment for Firli the first-ever KPK chief to be declared guilty of an ethics violation. Read also: Which KPK leader has caught more suspects in their early days? The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Community (MAKI) previously filed a report against Firli for using a private helicopter to take a personal trip from Palembang, South Sumatra, to his hometown of Baturaja in the same province in June, accusing him of living a "hedonistic lifestyle". After the hearing, Firli said that he accepted the punishment handed down by the council and vowed not to repeat his mistake. I take the opportunity today to apologize to all Indonesian people who may feel uncomfortable [due to my actions], Firli told kompas.com on Thursday. Read also: My salary is enough to rent a helicopter: KPK chair Firli Bahuri denies violating ethics In a press conference held after the hearing, Tumpak said that he hoped there would be no more ethics violations committed by employees of the antigraft agency in the future. [The council] certainly hopes that all commission personnel [...] would always speak and behave in a way that maintains the dignity of the commission in accordance with the established code of ethics and behavior, he said. (mfp) Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday said it will take a a sustained lack of outbreaks for him to expand the 25% capacity limits that are in effect across the state at gym and inside restaurants. Murphy declined to provide a timetable, saying I hope its sooner than later, at his coronavirus press conference in Trenton. The weather is an X factor here. All I can say is: I dont have a specific answer, Murphy added. But its something were looking at. And were hoping sooner than later. Indoor dining resumed Sept. 4. Movie theaters and indoor performing arts centers were also permitted to reopen that day. The governor said there have been no reports of specific outbreaks related to those reopenings. Some lawmakers and restaurant owners have complained that they are still losing significant business at 25% capacity. And then there is the fear that outdoor dining will no longer be an option soon as the weather turns colder. There have been 16,082 total deaths attributed to the virus 14,291 confirmed and 1,791 considered probable out of 200,988 total cases since the firs case was announced March 4. On Wednesday, the state announced seven additional deaths and 430 more cases. There were 459 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases in the states 71 hospitals as of Tuesday night about a 95 percent decline from the mid-April peak of more than 8,000. The rate of transmission ticked up to 1.15 on Wednesday. Any number above 1 indicates the virus is spreading. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Heres a roundup of the latest coronavirus news in New Jersey: Nursing home will be 1st in N.J. to shut down since pandemic. 100 workers get layoff notices: 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. Johnson & Johnson begins final-stage testing on single-dose COVID-19 vaccine: 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 by the New Brunswick-based healthcare giant starting 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. 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. 2 test positive for coronavirus after VFWs BBQ fundraiser, prompting closure: 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. New Years Eve in Times Square going virtual for COVID-19: The ball will drop as usual in Times Square on New Years Eve, but organizers say the celebration will do away with the usual tightly packed crowds. A virtual component of the celebration is being planned for December in light of COVID-19, while socially distanced provisions for a limited in-person audience are being worked out, WABC-7 reports. U.S. cases: At least 201,920 have died among the more than 6.9 million infected, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide cases: More than 31.9 million have tested positive for the virus with more than 977,000 deaths, the center says. At least 22 million have recovered. The Associated Press and NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Arco, Brent Johnson, Rob Jennings, Amy Kuperinsky, and Ted Sherman and contributed to this report. Handout/DNCC via Getty ImagesBy ALLISON PECORIN, ABC News (WASHINGTON) -- A report released Wednesday by Senate Republicans found that the role of Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma was "awkward" and at times "problematic" for U.S. officials dealing with the country, but provides no new evidence and found no instance of policy being altered as a result of his role. "The extent to which Hunter Bidens role on Burismas board affected U.S. policy toward Ukraine is not clear," the report finds. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who led the investigation as chair of the Homeland Security Committee, had openly said he hoped the election-year probe would hurt the Democratic nominee and help President Donald Trump while Democrats had decried the effort as purely political. Johnson's investigation, carried out in conjunction with GOP Sen. Charles Grassley, who heads the Senate Finance committees, purportedly sought to determine whether Hunter Biden's role on the board of Burisma was an improper conflict of interest with U.S. anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine while Joe Biden served as vice president. "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 GOP report found, without drawing a conclusion on the extent of the impact of Hunter Biden's role. Johnson said he had pursued the probe based in part on accusations from Trump and others that Joe Biden ousted a Ukrainian prosecutor who had been looking into Burisma to benefit his son, despite multiple reports and testimony from Obama administration officials who have said ousting the corrupt prosecutor was in line with U.S. policy. Much of that testimony came during the Trump impeachment hearings earlier this year in which he was accused of pressuring Ukraine to investigate Hunter Biden by threatening to withhold military aid and an Oval Office meeting. The GOP report, based largely on news accounts, broke no new ground on that point. "The extent to which Hunter Bidens role on Burismas board affected U.S. policy toward Ukraine is not clear," the report finds. In their response to Johnson's and Grassley's report, the ranking Democrats on the committees, Sens. Ron Wyden and Gary Peters, issued a separate report stating that Republicans found "no evidence" of wrongdoing by former Vice President Biden and "no evidence" of alterations to U.S.-Ukraine policy to assist Hunter Biden. "The Chairmen have uncovered absolutely no evidence of wrongdoing by Vice President Biden," the minority response reads. "Instead, this effort has been a partisan and unnecessary distraction from important business before both Committees as the country faces a once in a century pandemic." The Republicans issued the report with the election just six weeks away, and Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates, in a statement released in advance, called it a distraction from other issues like the COVID-19 crisis. "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," Bates said. The Republican report relies on the testimony of several U.S officials, including then top State Department official in Ukraine, George Kent, who testified in the House impeachment inquiry. According to the GOP report, records from Kent show that he and other State Department officials "regularly considered how Hunter Bidens connection to Burisma might affect the execution of U.S. policy." Johnson and Grassley pointed to several emails in which Kent, during 2015 and 2016, raised concerns to others in the State Department about the role that Biden's position on the board might muddy the U.S. anti-corruption message in Ukraine, an effort which at the time was being led by Biden as vice president. But senior Democratic aides said that in interviews with at least ten individuals as part of the probe, no witnesses testified to Hunter Biden's position on the board of Burisma as having any direct impact on U.S. policy in Ukraine. Democrats have charged that the entire effort to investigate Burisma and the Bidens is predicated on Russian disinformation peddled, at least in part, by Andriy Derkach, a pro-Russian Ukrainian national whom the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned earlier this month after linking him to the disinformation effort. Treasury Department investigators found Derkach to be a "Russian agent" and designated him for his efforts to influence the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Democrats have alleged that Derkach is targeting Biden. He has previously released unverified tapes of phone calls allegedly between Joe Biden and former Ukranian President Petro Poroshenko. Wyden and Peters called the Republican report "one outcome of Mr. Derkachs election interference efforts." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday, said the report "reads as if Putin wrote it not United States senators." Johnson and Grassley have repeatedly denied receiving information from or communicating with Derkach. "This is a good-government oversight investigation that relies on documents and testimony from U.S. agencies and officials, not a Russian disinformation campaign, as our Democratic colleagues have falsely stated," the Republican report reads. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. (Newser) A new poll from the New York Times and Sienna College suggests that President Trump might be facing a problem with female voters in three red states in particular. The survey focused on three states won by Trump in 2016: Texas, Georgia, and Iowa. It finds a big gender divide in support for Trump, a divide that seems to be resulting in net gains for Biden. The upshot is that strong support of Biden among female voters is making all three races tighter than the Trump campaign would like. Details, along with a different poll with more upbeat Iowa results for Trump: Texas: The poll has Trump up 46-43, with women favoring Biden by 8 points and men favoring Trump by 16. The poll has Trump up 46-43, with women favoring Biden by 8 points and men favoring Trump by 16. Georgia: The candidates are tied at 45, with women favoring Biden by 10 points and men favoring Trump by 11. The candidates are tied at 45, with women favoring Biden by 10 points and men favoring Trump by 11. Iowa: The poll has Biden up 45-42, with women favoring Biden by 14 points and men favoring Trump by 8 points. story continues below Different poll: While the Times poll has Biden leading in Iowa, a different one from Monmouth University has Trump up in the state 50-44. That's up from 48-45 in August, suggesting the president's lead is actually growing there. The differing results suggest the state is tricky to call, and Real Clear Politics notes that the Des Moines Register currently has the candidates deadlocked in the state. While the Times poll has Biden leading in Iowa, a different one from Monmouth University has Trump up in the state 50-44. That's up from 48-45 in August, suggesting the president's lead is actually growing there. The differing results suggest the state is tricky to call, and Real Clear Politics notes that the Des Moines Register currently has the candidates deadlocked in the state. Senate race: The Monmouth poll also found that the Senate race between GOP Sen. Joni Ernst and Democratic challenger Theresa Greenfield is getting closer, reports Politico. Last month, Ernst led by 3 points, but the new poll has them tied. (Read more Election 2020 stories.) Sienna Miller and Michelle Dockery are leading the cast of the new Netflix series Anatomy Of A Scandal. According to Deadline, the actresses will be joined by Rupert Friend on the series which is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Sarah Vaughan. The 2017 book focuses on high-profile Westminster politician James Whitehouse (Rupert) whose marriage begins to unravel when he is accused of rape. Show: Sienna Miller and Michelle Dockery are leading the cast of the new Netflix series Anatomy of a Scandal (Sienna pictured in November 2019) His wife Sophie (Sienna) is convinced that he is innocent and will do whatever it takes to protect her family in the wake of the scandal. Meanwhile, criminal barrister Kate (Michelle) is equally convinced that James is guilty and is determined to see he pays for his crimes. The show is from Big Little Lies creator David E. Kelley and former House of Cards showrunner Melissa James Gibson. S.J. Clarkson of Succession and Jessica Jones is reportedly slated to direct the six-part series. New role: According to Deadline, the series is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Sarah Vaughan (Michelle Dockery pictured in October 2019) Cast: Rupert Friend is also starring in the series as a Westminster politician (pictured in 2018) An idea is said to have been put forth that the show could become an anthology, with future seasons focusing on different scandals. Anatomy of a Scandal was ordered to series at Netflix in May and will be shot in the UK at a later date. Further details about the rest of the cast or when the series will be released are yet to be confirmed. Michelle was most recently seen in the AppleTV+ series Defending Jacob alongside Chris Evans, where she played a mother dealing with an accusation that her 14-year-old son is a murderer. Sienna starred in drama film Wander Darkly this year while she also appeared as Roger Ailes' wife Beth in the miniseries The Loudest Voice released last year. The Loudest Voice is available to stream on Stan in Australia MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th September, 2020) The Russian government has instructed the Russian Foreign Ministry to sign an agreement with Kyrgyzstan on cooperation in international information security, the cabinet said in a resolution. "Approve the draft agreement, submitted by the Russian Foreign Ministry, between the government of the Russian Federation and the government of the Kyrgyz Republic on cooperation in ensuring international information security," the resolution says. "Instruct the Russian Foreign Ministry to negotiate with the Kyrgyz side and upon reaching an agreement to sign the said agreement on behalf of the Russian government, allowing inclusion in the attached draft changes that are not of a fundamental nature," it says. According to the draft agreement, the competent authorities of the two countries will cooperate in countering threats in information security, as well as in the exchange of information to identify, prevent and investigate offenses related to the use of information and communication technologies for terrorist and criminal purposes. In addition, the parties plan to exchange information between competent authorities on information security issues, including cooperation in responding to computer incidents, interaction in ensuring international information security within the framework of international organizations, including the UN, International Telecommunication Union, OSCE, SCO, CIS and others. WASHINGTON President Donald Trumps refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses drew swift blowback Thursday from both parties in Congress, and lawmakers turned to unprecedented steps to ensure he cant ignore the vote of the people. Amid the uproar, Trump said anew hes not sure the election will be honest. Congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, rejected Trumps assertion that hell see what happens before agreeing to any election outcome. Many other lawmakers including from Trumps own Republican Party vowed to make sure voters wishes are followed ahead of Inauguration Day in January. And some Democrats were taking action, including formally asking Trumps defense secretary, homeland security adviser and attorney general to declare theyll support the Nov. 3 results, whoever wins. Asked as he departed the White House for a campaign rally if the election is only legitimate if he is the winner, Trump said, Well see. The president said he wants to make sure the election is honest, and Im not sure that it can be. Trumps attacks on the upcoming vote almost without modern precedent in the U.S. are hitting amid the tumult of the campaign, as partisan tensions rage and more Americans than ever are planning to vote by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. Its not the first time he has sowed doubts about the voting process. But his increased questioning before any result is setting off alarms ahead of an Election Day like no other. Even without signs of illegality, results could be delayed because of the pandemic, leaving the nation exposed to groups or foreign countries seeking to provoke discord. McConnell, the GOP Senate leader, said in a tweet, The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. He said, There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792. Said Pelosi, Calm down, Mr. President. You are in the United States of America. It is a democracy, she said, reminding Trump this is not North Korea, Russia or other countries with strongman leaders he admires. So why dont you just try for a moment to honor our oath of office to the Constitution of the United States. Trump is fanning the uncertainty as he floats theories the election may be rigged if he loses, echoing warnings he made ahead of the 2016 voting even though past elections have not shown substantial evidence of fraud from mail-in voting. During a Wednesday news conference, Trump said, Were going to have to see what happens, responding to a question about committing to the results. You know that Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster. Reaction to his comment was strong from Capitol Hill from both parties. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally and the GOP chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Fox & Friends on Thursday: If Republicans lose we will accept the result. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Joe Biden, I will accept that result. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, a member of the House GOP leadership, tweeted: The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. Americas leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath. Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, was incredulous, What country are we in? he said late Wednesday of Trumps comment. Look, he says the most irrational things. I dont know what to say about it. But it doesnt surprise me. On Capitol Hill, Trumps possible refusal to accept the election results has been discussed privately for weeks as lawmakers consider options. One senator said recently it was the biggest topic of private discussions. Two House Democrats, Reps. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan both members of the Armed Services Committee are formally asking members of Trumps Cabinet to go on record and commit to upholding the Constitution and peaceful transition. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded in a letter to the lawmakers last month that he sees no role for the military to intervene in a disputed election. But Defense Secretary Mark Esper declined to respond to the lawmakers questions. Similar queries have been sent to Attorney General William Barr and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf. They have yet to respond. The president cant successfully refuse to accept the results of the election without a number of very senior officials aiding him, said Slotkin, a former CIA analyst. Sherill, a former Navy pilot, said peaceful transition really relies a lot on the Cabinet officers turning over their departments to the next administration. She told The Associated Press recently she wants to hear from all of them. Meanwhile, Republicans are rushing to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court created by Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death, partly to ensure a Trump-friendly court majority to resolve any post-election lawsuits by their party or Trump himself. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is among leading Republicans pushing the importance of the courts role. And Graham suggested on Fox that the Supreme Court could end up all but declaring the winner. Democrats object strongly. He wants to be named president for life? Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., exclaimed at the Capitol. Thats how a dictator operates, she said. Thats not how a democracy works. Earlier Thursday, the White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany sought to clarify Trumps words, saying he will accept the results of a free and fair election. But the press secretary added that Trump wants to get rid of mass, mail-out voting. The president, who uses mail-in voting himself, has tried to distinguish between states that automatically send ballots to all registered voters and those, like Florida, that send only to voters who request them. Five states that routinely send mail ballots to all voters have seen no significant fraud. Of the nine states with universal ballots this year, only Nevada is a battleground, and likely pivotal only in a total national presidential deadlock. Before the 2016 election, much as now, Trump refused to commit to accepting the results during the summer. I have to see, Trump said two months ago on Fox News Sunday. No, Im not going to just say yes. Im not going to say no, and I didnt last time either. ___ Madhani reported from Chicago. Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor and Laurie Kellman in Washington, Alexandra Jaffe in Wilmington, Del. and Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report. Pyer Moss, a Black-owned fashion label, released a limited-edition run of Vote or Die For Real This Time T-shirts on Tuesday, a re-imagination of the original shirts that debuted in 2004 by Sean Combss brand Sean John. The new shirts, which feature the classic logo with an updated design on the back, are part of an initiative by the brands founder, Kerby Jean-Raymond, called Exist to Resist. Proceeds from sales are being donated to Rock the Vote, a progressive nonprofit group focused on encouraging voter registration, especially among young Americans. The Times spoke with Malaika Temba, assistant art director at Pyer Moss, about the shirts cultural symbolism and the potential power of using a fashion object to mobilize voters. This interview has been edited and condensed. Did you draw any inspiration from the 2004 design of the shirts? Or, what about this design felt like a departure from that version for you? PHOENIX The political arm of the League of Conservation Voters says it will funnel $875,000 into trying to elect eight Democrats to the Legislature. Chispa AZ PAC intends to make independent expenditures on behalf of the contenders, who include incumbents and challengers from various areas around the state. But Laura Dent, the groups executive director, said this is about more than just getting these eight elected. She said the real push is to flip the switch, by putting both the House and Senate into the hands of those who will pursue an environmental agenda. Democrats hope to take control of the Arizona House for the first time since 1966. They need to pick up one seat to tie with Republicans for control or two seats to become the majority. They also have hopes of nabbing the state Senate majority. But Dent said Chispas spending is not specifically about changing political control of the chambers, though all the candidates who will get its financial backing in the Nov. 3 election are Democrats. Vlad Voiculescu, co-chairman of Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity Alliance (USR PLUS) Bucharest, and USR general councilor Ana Ciceala filed, on Thursday, a criminal complaint against Bucharest general mayor, Gabriela Firea, for abuse of office in connection with the giving in payment of the French Village to Costica Constanda. "We are talking about an abuse of office through the attempt to give in payment of a plot of land that far exceeds the value that should have been redeemed by the mayor's office. We are talking about an abuse of office that Gabriela Firea tried to commit in her last days in office. In five consecutive Council meetings she has tried to have this decision passed. It is an unforgivable thing. (...) The Bucharest City Hall has a debt to Mr. Constanda. The buildings that the City Hall wants to give him in payment have a higher value; they were undervalued precisely to do a service, to give an undeserved advantage to Mr. Constanda, to the detriment of the people of Bucharest," Voiculescu showed in a press statement held in front of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) headquarters. In her turn, Ana Ciceala emphasized that the actual payment cannot be made with goods from the Municipality, because they must be put up for auction, according to the Administrative Code. "This has been a real estate fraud attempted during Gabriela Firea's last days of office. This draft decision has been on the agenda of the General Council no less than five times. We suspected from the beginning that there is something wrong and, fortunately, we managed to stop this illicit gain and take as many steps as possible in order to obtain the documents. The decision, which came five times in the General Council refers to a price of 1,515 euros per square meter. Or, the Constanda family, the creditors of the Municipality of Bucharest, according to the court, had said that they agree to a 4,100-euro price. That is, the damage done to the patrimony and the budget of the Bucharest municipality is major. Potentially, estimated at 39 million euros, if Gabriela Firea had succeeded in conducting this real estate fraud towards the end of her office. She tried, she threatened us in the CGMB meeting. She did not succeed, but in the last meeting she was hanging by a single vote for the project to pass. She did not validate the general counselors in August, precisely to reduce the quorum at the last meeting," said Ciceala. Staffing levels in Peterborough long-term care homes are at their barest, with many new workers quitting due to the overwhelming stress of the job, some personal support workers say. We have one PSW for 10 to 11 residents, and with COVID weve been working short, said Melinda Whitney, adding that its affected resident care. Whitney and others were called health-care heroes at the start of the pandemic. On Wednesday, about a dozen of them marched in front of Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smiths constituency office on Water Street to rally for additional funding, saying current staffing levels arent right for the jobs theyre doing. Whitney, a PSW for 31 years, works at Extendicare Peterborough and is chief stewards assistant for the Service Employees International Union Healthcare local. When Whitney first started in 1989 staffing was more complete, with six to eight people per unit, she says. Now its half that, she said. Because of understaffing there isnt enough people to do their tasks, she said. If residents have dementia or disabilities it can be difficult to care for residents within the time frame they are given, she said. We need more PSWs to provide more care for our elderly, Whitney said. When you have three staff for 42 residents, sometimes theyre not getting their baths. Issues with staffing have existed prior to COVID-19, but with the pandemic, this has broke us, she said. PSWs were also given a $4 pandemic pay bonus for the first four months of the crisis, but thats since been withdrawn. When she and others get old and need care in facilities like her own, Whitney said she questions if this is the care they would like to receive. People have quit, we get new PSWs coming and they dont stay, Whitney said. Anne-Marie Scheuneman has worked as a PSW since 1993 and said she quit working at Extendicare Peterborough in 2019 after raising staffing concerns with management. In 1999 when Mike Harris got rid of the resident-staff ratio, thats when it started to decline, Scheuneman said. After that, staffing levels dropped and it became harder to take care of residents. A change in management at her former workplace made it even harder, she said. We all give competent care, but if you dont meet those timelines God help you, Scheuneman said. Homes across Canada are understaffed, she said, and workers have become pack mules and are loaded with responsibilities and too little time to perform them. The province needs to mandate staff-to-management ratios again, she said. While understaffing is a systemic issue across all homes, some are still making an effort. Scheunemans new home offers phenomenal care, but she declined to say which home it is. Jill McEnaney, a PSW and chief steward for the local at Kawartha Participation Projects doing community work in Lindsay, said she came out to fight for the additional $4 an hour for PSWs, more full-time jobs with benefits, pensions and sick days. I know several PSWs that have to have three part-time jobs to meet ends meet, McEnaney said. I know PSWs are leaving this field daily. PSWs arent paid enough for the work, she said. Since the start of the pandemic 30 of her colleagues have taken a leave of absence, she said, and while some have returned others have not. People are getting burnt out and tired people arent coming to work, were working short, McEnaney said. She also said she loves the work, but its consistently short-staffed and that means clients miss out. They get just essentials, their medication Personal care, nothing extra, McEnaney said. Its been going on for a while, its just got worse (with COVID-19). Providing better pay with benefits and pension would help attract and retain staff, instead of pushing them away, she said. Amanda Kelley just started in her home in August and says shes already seen short-staffing issues and how that affects residents. We just need proper care because theres a lot of neglect going on due to the fact we dont have proper care and staff, she said. In the 10 years shes been a PSW, she said there are many staff who want full-time hours but end up stuck with part-time jobs. The wage just isnt there for what the work is, said colleague Deanna Lemoire. When staff leave the homes will try and replace them but not often do they succeed, Lemoire said. Some staff stay for weeks or months, and new staff have been hired on recently and shes looking forward to seeing how long they stay, she said. We need more staff, we need more time to be able to bathe these people, Lemoire said. Its very rushed, and my priority at the end of the day is to walk out and know I completed my job successfully and sometimes a lot of things just didnt get done. NOTE: Peterborough-raised Broadway performer Ramin Karimloo, who has performed many times at the Peterborough Musicfest, plans to hold a Facebook concert session starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in support of CUPE Ontarios Care Not Profits campaign urging the Ontario government to end for-profit long-term care and increase funding and staffing. with Examiner files Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 07:54:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- What popular video-sharing app TikTok has undergone over recent months has provided the world with a textbook example of the United States' modern-day piracy and tech bullying. Under the cliched pretext of protecting national security, Washington first threatened to shut down TikTok's operations in the United States, before forcing it to sell itself to American companies. Over the last week, while the world has been celebrating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, the most prominent epitome of multilateralism and cooperation, Washington pushed its luck to try and gobble up the Chinese social networking service. Otherwise, it says it will refuse to approve the agreement reached on Saturday by TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, with U.S. companies Oracle and Walmart. By repeatedly using state power to suppress the private company without any proper justification, despite widespread protests from numerous TikTok users and concerns from industry observers, Washington has laid bare its true intention: to pull off a daylight heist. Its so-called national security concerns are nothing but a fig leaf. According to Business Insider and other media outlets, U.S. politicians have repeatedly accused TikTok of stealing citizens' information and threatening national security, but never found any evidence. Experts who have scrutinized TikTok's code and privacy policies have also found them not so different from other social media platforms, including Facebook. "TikTok's data collection practices aren't particularly unique for an advertising-based business," Wired magazine reporter Louise Matsakis concluded after a deep dive into the issue. A German government official told Bloomberg that the country has seen no signs that the app poses a national security risk. What's more, the European Union has refused to label TikTok a national security threat. The clampdown on TikTok has undermined international trade rules and order. TikTok is a purely commercial company; the use of national power by the United States to encircle and suppress it has seriously shaken the cornerstone of the establishment of global economic and trade rules. "I do believe anytime a nation-state renders judgment on which applications can or cannot run 'in country' ... then it provides 'air cover' for countries to impose what I would describe as 'nontariff' trade barriers," Aneesh Chopra, who served as the first chief technology officer of the United States under former President Barack Obama, said in an email to NBC News. Without a fair and stable environment, all multinational enterprises, including U.S. ones, will be put at risk. Washington's indiscriminate crackdown on TikTok might benefit its American rivals such as Facebook in the short term, but such behavior in the long term is bound to undermine the global climate to the detriment of all investors. From Huawei and ZTE to TikTok and WeChat, the United States' preying on China's leading technology companies in recent years has exposed Washington's attempt to curb the Asian country's development. The superpower has a tradition of suppressing any foreign enterprise that challenges its leading position, even those in allied countries, such as Japan's Toshiba and France's Alstom. TikTok is a successful social media platform, but the United States does not want to see it thrive in the free market. Should the United States be allowed to get its way with its tricks and bullying, it would do the same over and over again, and more countries and enterprises would fall victim. "If the U.S. is bent on having its own way, China will take necessary measures to resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," China's ministry of commerce said Saturday in an online statement. It is time that other countries saw through the outrageous farce of the TikTok drama, knew what is really at stake, and joined hands to oppose such blatant robberies and maintain a fair global business environment. Enditem A group of adults who gathered in a Melbourne park for a child's birthday party have been fined for breaking coronavirus restrictions. The five adults had travelled from across the city for a picnic in Whittlesea when they were confronted by police on Wednesday. They admitted they had travelled further than their respective 5km radius, which is against the city's current stage four lockdown rules. Each adult was issued a $1,652. They were among the 114 Victorians to be fined in the past 24 hours for breaching the Chief Health Officer directions including 37 for breaching the curfew. Large numbers of locals are seen at the beach as the warm weather hits Melbourne during the COVID-19 Crisis A group of adults who gathered in a Melbourne park for a child's birthday party have been fined for breaking coronavirus restrictions (stock image pictured) There were 15 fines dished out to revellers who attended a party at a home in Mildura. The state continues to see a drop in coronavirus cases with just 12 infections and two deaths announced on Thursday. The 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. 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. Mr Andrews has hinted Melbourne's coronavirus restrictions could be lifted faster than planned as the state steadily manages down its second wave. 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. 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 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 '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. Labor frontbencher Mark Dreyfus branded his fellow shadow cabinet member Joel Fitzgibbon "the idiot for Hunter" in a heated caucus meeting that has exposed a growing divide within the ALP over its energy policy. The opposition's legal affairs spokesman led the strong criticism in an at-times heated virtual meeting of the Victorian Right faction on Monday, where Mr Fitzgibbon's "freelancing" on climate policy dominated discussion. Several sources on the hook-up said Mark Dreyfus was "dismayed" at Mr Fitzgibbon's constant pro-coal rhetoric. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Fitzgibbon, the opposition resources spokesman, has become the figurehead for a large rump of Right faction MPs who believe Labor must embrace blue-collar professions and align itself strongly with the resources sector. It has put him at odds with climate and energy spokesman Mark Butler, who on Wednesday declared Australia's future prosperity would not be linked to fossil fuels such as gas and coal. Several sources on the hook-up said Mr Dreyfus, alongside first-term MP Josh Burns, was "dismayed" at Mr Fitzgibbon's constant pro-coal rhetoric, with the veteran figure declaring Labor was "the party of climate change". By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijan has appointed a new ambassador to neighbouring Georgia, Azertag reported on September 23. Accepting the credentials of Ambassador Faig Guliyev, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani expressed hope that the high-level strategic and friendly relations between the two countries would deepen during his stay in Georgia. During the meeting, Zalkaliani noted that relations between the two neighbouring and friendly countries have been expanding and strengthening in all areas. In turn, Guliyev noted that the Azerbaijan attaches great importance to relations with Georgia, and said that during his tenure, he will work on further developing and strengthening relations between the two countries. During the meeting, the parties also discussed current issues on the agenda of cooperation between the two countries, prospects and directions for future cooperation. It should be noted that today, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov will visit to Georgia and meet with Georgian senior officials. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, who laid out further measures to aid the British economy and workforce as CCP virus cases continue to rise across the UK, poses for photographs outside 11 Downing Street in London on Sept. 24, 2020. (Leon Neal/Getty Images) Britain Announces New Job Protection Measures as COVID-19 Cases Rise Britains finance minister announced new job protection measures on Thursday, including a new wage subsidy scheme, to limit unemployment in the pandemic-ravaged economy after existing safeguards expire at the end of October. In a statement given in the House of Commons, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced his new Winter Economy Plan, which includes subsidizing wages instead of providing full furlough pay for part-time returns to work. He also announced an extension of a 15 percent sales tax cut until the end of March 2021 for the hospitality and tourism industries, which are among the hardest-hit by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. A woman walks past a closed shop in Leicester, central England, on July 17, 2020. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images) The new measures, which will commence in November as the current furlough scheme ends, will allow employers facing depressed demand to retain workers on shorter hours as an alternative to making them redundant. Sunak said the new job protection measures seek to strike the finely judged balance between managing the virus and protecting the jobs and livelihoods of millions, but warned the radical interventions in Britains labor market will only support viable jobs. Wage Top-Up To qualify for the help and keep their jobs, workers must work at least a third of their normal hours, which the employer will pay them for. Their wages will then be topped up to two-thirds of their usual pay. Small and medium-sized firms will be the main beneficiaries and can access the support irrespective of whether they previously used the furlough scheme. They will also still be able to claim a one-off Job Retention Bonus payment of 1,000 pounds if they retain previously furloughed workers until the end of January 2021. Larger businesses will only qualify for the new scheme if their turnover has fallen during the pandemic. A pedestrian walks past a closed-down and shuttered Upper Crust food outlet in Charing Cross train station in London, UK, on July 1, 2020. (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images) Help for the self-employed is also included in the new measures with an extension of the existing self-employment grant. Businesses with cash flow problems will also benefit under new pay as you grow measures with more flexibility on paying deferred tax bills and loan repayments. Further plans for loan management for businesses are also planned to start in January. Sunak said the government-backed loans already made available during the CCP virus crisis had been a lifeline to businesses who now needed every extra pound to protect jobs. Continuing Restrictions The scheme will be in place for a six-month period, during which restrictions to slow the spread of the virus would be a fact of our lives, Sunak said. He said neither he nor any chancellor could save every business and job and that instead new opportunities supporting economic growth were needed. A hairdresser attends to a client at Blow by Suave as it reopens following the COVID-19 outbreak, in Chester, UK, on July 4, 2020. (Molly Darlington/Reuters) The new economic measures are the latest government move in what Sunak described as the most generous and comprehensive support for businesses and public services in the world, which has thus far cost 190 billion pounds ($ 241.7 billion). It follows the latest CCP virus restrictions in the UK that were announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday when British office workers were told to work from home as part of his six-month semi-lockdown plan. Hospitality venues such as pubs, bars, and restaurants were limited to table-service only, by the new restrictions and have to close at 10 p.m. each day. Lily Zhou and Reuters contributed to this report 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. A Paris court has thrown out an appeal by former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to block an inquiry into claims he used millions of euros from the regime of ex-Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi to fund his 2007 election campaign. The appeals court of Paris on Thursday announced that it had given the green light to go ahead with an investigation into the funding of Nicolas Sarkozys 2007 campaign which began seven years ago, paving the way for a trial. In 2013, Office of the Public Prosecutor in Paris initiated a judicial inquiry into charges of active and passive corruption, influence peddling, and misuse of company assets. Sarkozy is accused of financing his 2007 campaign with money from Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi, who was toppled and killed in 2011. The former president has always denied the claims that he received millions euros from Kadhafis regime. He will now have an option of making a final appeal to Frances highest court. "We can clearly see that judicial corporatism existsthis is a non-existent case, the investigating chamber has simply ticked boxes, which shows how there is no longer adequate penal procedure in France," Francis Szpiner, a lawyer for Alexandre Djouhri, a businessman being questioned over the affair. "To see that all options have been rejected is extremely worrying, which means that lawyers are always wrong and the court is always right," complained fellow lawyer Jean-Marc Delas. "Its astounding that in a case of this nature, which was a fiasco since the beginning built on shifting sands, the fantasy surrounding it is still alive," he added. Resisting pressure Vincent Brengarth, the lawyer representing the NGO Sherpa civil suit expressed his "satisfaction" over the courts decision. "I think that the judges resisted enormous pressure of many kinds," he told AFP. The inquiry opened in 2012 after investigative website Mediapart published a document which claimed that Sarkozys winning 2007 presidential campaign was financed by Kadhafis regime. In seven years, judges came across dozens of testimonies from Libyan officials, including Kadhafis son, secret service memos from Tripoli, accusations by third parties, all supporting the illegal financing claims. However, no actual material proof has been found, even if some suspicious financial transactions have been the object of nine separate legal inquiries to date. The nursing home resident was distraught: "Where's my husband, he's gone?" It was questions like these that geriatrician Jesse Zanker who was part of a medical team parachuted into aged care homes with COVID-19 outbreaks found particularly distressing. Jesse Zanker is concerned that what happened in aged care reflects the low value we place on the elderly in society. Credit:Joe Armao The couple, who had both been diagnosed with COVID-19, had been married for decades. But inexplicably the husband had been transferred to hospital in the middle of the night, while his panicked wife who had moderate dementia had been left behind. Some Democrats have expressed concern their top person on the Senate Judiciary Committee, California Senator Dianne Feinstein, is too frail for the upcoming Supreme Court confirmation battle. Feinstein, 87, is the oldest member of the Senate and more than a dozen Democratic senators and aides told Politico she has gotten frail and slowed down. They are concerned about her ability to manage the fight over President Donald Trump's pick to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 'She can't pull this off,' a Democratic senator told the news outlet. As the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, she will be foil to Republican Chairman Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally who has said the president's nominee can be confirmed by Election Day. Democrats worry Feinstein will miss manage the situation - which is expected to be heated and contentious - and hurt their party's Senate candidates in the election. The senator, who came into office in 1992, pushed back hard against her critics. 'I'm really surprised and taken aback by this. Because I try to be very careful and I'm puzzled by it,' Feinstein told Politico. 'My attendance is good, I do the homework, I try to ask hard questions. I stand up for what I believe in.' 'I don't know what people expect,' she noted. 'I've been on the committee for a while. I've seen how the committee works and I've seen how other chairs on our side of the aisle work. I don't see, to be very blunt and honest, I don't see a big difference. I'm prepared, so that's puzzling to me.' Some Senate Democrats have expressed concern about Dianne Feinstein's ability to manage the upcoming Supreme Court confirmation hearing Senator Dianne Feinstein's questioning of Amy Coney Barrett in her 2017 nomination to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals made Barrett a hero to the religious right; Barrett is said to be Trump's favorite to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Speculation has mounted over who Trump will pick to replace Ginsburg, a liberal lion of the court. He has vowed to pick a woman and his choice will tilt the court more the right. US Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett is the reported favorite. And with the talk she'll get the nod, video has appeared of her 2017 nomination to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, where Feinstein raised concerns over Barrett's Catholic faith. 'The dogma lives loudly within you,' Feinstein said. 'And that's of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have thought for, for years in this country.' Feinstein's comment railed the religious right into Barrett's corner and upped the judge's national profile. Democrats also remember how Feinstein waited for several weeks before disclosing allegations by Christine Blasey Ford against Brett Kavanaugh, which nearly sank his nomination. However, Democrats may have to make due. It would be hard for party leaders to replace a female senator as their top lawmaker during confirmations on a female nominee to replace an iconic feminist Supreme Court justice. Additionally, Democrats don't have a lot of tools at their disposal. With enough Republicans in agreement President Trump has a right to move his nominee for a vote during an election year, there's not much they can do to stop it or slow the process down. 'I know it's going to be a fight, I understand that.' Feinstein told Politico. 'I don't have a lot of tools to use, but I'm going to use what I have. We can try to delay and obstruct but they can run this process through. That doesn't mean that we won't fight tooth and nail.' There are several other senators in their 80s in positions of power on Capitol Hill: Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley is chairman of the Finance Committee at 87 and Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby is 86. Feinstein's age was an issue in her last re-election campaign in 2018. Her defenders pushed back, calling it a double standard, noting the same wasn't said about male candidates. She also has her defenders among her fellow Democrats on the Judiciary committee. 'She's an extraordinary person and I'm fully confident in her leadership,' said Democratic Sen. Cory Booker said. As top Democrat on Senate Judiciary Committee Senator Dianne Feinstein will be the party's voice and leader in contentious hearings on President Trump's Supreme Court pick The casket of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies for a second day as the political battle to replace her heats up There concern comes as the Supreme Court battle prepares to heat up with some Republicans pushing to have it all wrapped up before the November 3rd election. President Trump said Wednesday the court needs its full complement of nine justices because they may have to decide the winner of the 2020 presidential contest. Trump repeated his many complaints and concerns about mail-in ballots - at least 80 million Americans are expected to use them instead of waiting in line on Election Day because of the coronavirus - and said the issue will likely end up in the high court. 'I think it's better if you go before the election because I think the scam the Democrats are pulling, this scam will be before the United States Supreme Court,' Trump said at the White House. He said a tie situation of 4-to-4 justices would not ideal although if that should be the scenario then the lower court ruling would stand. 'I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation,' Trump said. 'Just in case it would be more political than it should be I think it's very important to have a 9th judge,' he said. President Donald Trump will name his Supreme Court pick on Saturday President Trump plans to name his nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Saturday; above the remaining Supreme Court justices gathered Wednesday morning for Ginsburg's memorial service The Republican Party has launched several lawsuits against states that have expanded mail-in ballot options and mailed ballots to all registered voters ahead of the November 3 election date. Some court rulings have already come down. In Pennsylvania, for example, Democrats won a victory when a judge upheld a new state rule that expanded the deadline for mail-in ballots to be counted. The state will allow any ballot received by the Friday after the election to be counted as long as it's post marked by November 3. Republicans are already planning on appealing that ruling to the Supreme Court. Additionally, a court ruling in Michigan extended the period during which late-arriving mail ballots could be legally counted. And a Texas court refused a Republican request to stop ballots from being mailed to registered voters. Trump has complained - without showing proof - that mail-in voting leads to a 'rigged' election. Numerous studies have shown that mail-in votes do not lead to voter fraud. If Trump succeeds in getting Ruth Bader Ginsburg's replacement confirmed before Election Day, he would have appointed three of the nine justices hearing any election-related case. Ginsburg died on Friday from complications of colon cancer and her death has resulted in a political battle to replace her. Trump is expected to name a conservative to replace the liberal icon. The last presidential election to be decided by the Supreme Court was Bush vs. Gore in 2000. The Supreme Court's ruling resulted in George W. Bush being declared the winner over Al Gore. Trump expressed confidence his nominee could be confirmed by November 3, particularly after most Senate Republicans said the president should appoint Ginsburg's replacement. Democrats want the winner of November's contest to appoint the next justice, citing precedent set by Republicans in 2016 when they would not hold hearings on President Barack Obama's nominee. But Republicans say this year is different because their party controls both the White House and the Senate, which was not the case in 2016. 'We should go very quickly,' Trump said. 'You see the Republicans are very united. As far as timing is concerned, we were elected. We have a lot of time.' Trump plans to name his nominee at 5 p.m. on Saturday. He said he will name a woman to the lifetime position and, of his five finalists, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, is said to be the favorite. The president said no matter who he names he does not expect any trouble in the confirmation hearings, which will be led by his close ally Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. 'He wouldn't have to hold a hearing,' Trump said of Graham. 'He's going to.' However, Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday would not promise to hold a vote on President Trump's nominee ahead of 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. 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. Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell would not promise to hold a vote on President Trump's nominee ahead of the election 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. Graham, however, has expressed confidence a nominee could be confirmed ahead of the election. '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. She split from her third fiance Lucas Zwirner last month following a nearly two-year romance. And Sienna Miller appeared to put her break-up behind her as she enjoyed a shopping trip in London's Notting Hill district on Wednesday. The actress, 38, who had been living with art gallery heir Lucas, 29, in New York City, looked effortlessly chic while she ditched her engagement ring during the outing. Retail therapy: Sienna Miller appeared to put her break-up from Lucas Zwirner behind her as she enjoyed a shopping trip in London's Notting Hill district on Wednesday Exuding her signature style, the screen star teamed an edgy leather jacket with a grey T-shirt and burgundy culottes. The Girl actress opted for comfort when it came to her footwear choice as she strolled along the streets of the English capital in a pair of 135 suede leather sandals by Birkenstock. Adding more colour to her appearance, Sienna carried her essentials in a bright yellow handbag, and accessorised with square-framed shades. Her blonde tresses were worn in a loosely-tousled fashion, while she proved safety comes first by sporting a protective face mask amid the coronavirus pandemic. Off she goes: The actress, 38, who had been living with art gallery heir Lucas, 29, in New York City, looked effortlessly chic while she ditched her engagement ring during the outing End of the road: The Girl star split from her third fiance last month following a nearly two-year romance (pictured in May) Sienna and her ex Lucas, the son of art dealer David Zwirner, got engaged back in January after a year of dating, but Page Six recently revealed they ended their relationship. The report claims that it was the thespian who broke it off with the editor, though no reason for the separation was given. Representatives for both Miller and Zwirner did not respond to requests for comment from MailOnline at the time. Sienna was previously engaged to actors Jude Law, 47, in 2004 and Tom Sturridge, 34, the father of her daughter Marlowe, eight, in 2012. Fashion savvy: Exuding her signature style, the screen star teamed an edgy leather jacket with a grey T-shirt and burgundy culottes All in the details: Sienna opted for comfort when it came to her footwear choice as she strolled along the streets of the English capital in a pair of 135 suede leather sandals by Birkenstock In a 2017 interview with Harper's Bazaar, Sienna spoke about maintaining a friendship with her ex, saying of Tom, who is now reportedly dating actress Maya Hawke: 'We still love each other.' 'I think in a break-up somebody has to be a little bit cruel in order for it to be traditional, but it's not been acrimonious in a way where you would choose to not be around that person.' 'We don't live together, as has been reported recently, but we do half the time,' she added. 'Everybody will stay over or we'll all go on holiday and that's because we genuinely want to be around each other.' 'It's great for our daughter that she has two parents who love each other and are friends. He's definitely my best friend in the entire world.' Ex: The blonde dated actor Tom Sturridge from 2011 until 2015, becoming engaged in 2012 - the pair share eight-year-old daughter Marlowe Ottoline Layng (pictured together in 2013) Famous ex: The thespian was also engaged to her Alfie co-star Jude Law, who were in an on and off relationship until they split for good in 2011 (pictured in 2004) The blonde has thrown herself into work as she and Michelle Dockery lead the cast of the new Netflix series Anatomy Of A Scandal. According to Deadline, the TV and film stars will be joined by Rupert Friend on the series which is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Sarah Vaughan. The 2017 book focuses on high-profile Westminster politician James Whitehouse (Rupert) whose marriage begins to unravel when he is accused of rape. His wife Sophie (Sienna) is convinced that he is innocent and will do whatever it takes to protect her family in the wake of the scandal. Meanwhile, criminal barrister Kate (Michelle) is equally convinced that James is guilty and is determined to see he pays for his crimes. The show is from Big Little Lies creator David E. Kelley and former House of Cards showrunner Melissa James Gibson. Britain's chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak earlier this summer, as he announced an extension to business loan schemes and a replacement to the furlough scheme. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas/WPA/Getty Images The UK chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a radical new package of support for the UK economy, including new income grant schemes, more business loan funds and hospitality tax cuts. Sunak set out a string of contingency plans on Thursday to urgently shore up the economy with both infection rates and job losses rising. Millions of workers are likely to be affected by the governments Winter Economy Plan, with the new measures unveiled by the finance minister in parliament including: A six-month job support scheme from November, with wage subsidies for workers in viable jobs, as long as they work and are paid as normal for at least a third of their usual hours. For hours not worked, workers face a pay cut of a third, but the government and employer will cover another third each. Tighter rules on firms claiming taxpayer wage subsidies, excluding large firms who have seen revenues rise, and stopping firms making workers on the scheme redundant or making certain payments to shareholders. New grants for self-employed workers until 30 April next year, but covering only 20% of average monthly trading profits for those facing reduced demand over the winter. An extension of UK government business loan schemes, managed by banks, as the coronavirus crisis continues to wreak havoc for firms. Bounce back loans can be extended from six to 10 years, the coronavirus business interruption loan schemes (CBILs) guarantee will also rise to 10 years, and application deadlines will be extended for all four major schemes to 30 November. Extended tax cuts for hospitality, hotels, holiday accommodation and some attractions, with a temporary 5% rate now due to expire on 31 March rather than mid-January. Allowing firms to pay deferred VAT taxes due in March over 11 smaller repayments, without interest. An extension of the deadline for tax payments by self-employed and others who use income tax self-assessment and need extra help over 12 months from next January. Story continues From 1 November, for the next six months, the Job Support Scheme will protect viable jobs in businesses who are facing lower demand over the winter months due to Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/8NpIKpQV8y HM Treasury (@hmtreasury) September 24, 2020 Sunak said there were reasons to be optimistic despite firms woes given three months of GDP growth, but acknowledged the resurgent virus posed a threat to this fragile economic recovery. He defended replacing the furlough scheme, saying there was no harder choice than to end the scheme but said he was supporting viable jobs through the new measures. Our economy is now likely to undergo a more permanent adjustment, he warned. The sources of our economic growth and the kind of job we create will adapt and evolve to the new normal. And our plan needs to adapt and evolve in response. It is fundamentally wrong to hold people in jobs that only exist inside the furlough. Sunak also told MPs: I cannot save every business. I cannot save every job. No chancellor could. He had faced a clamour from firms, unions and Labour to extend or replace the furlough scheme, currently safeguarding around 12% of jobs. Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds questioned why new policies had not been announced earlier, saying her calls had been rebuffed by the government 20 times and firms had been making redundancies. Germany, France, and other European economies have already introduced similar measures to the new wage subsidy scheme. READ MORE: Pubs and city centre firms warn new coronavirus rules could be fatal blow The new UK job support scheme will see employees working a third of their hours, taking home 77% of their pay, according to the Treasury. These are radical interventions in the UK labour market, policies we have never tried in this country before, added Sunak. The chancellor had faced fresh pressure to act swiftly in recent weeks as UK coronavirus cases have leapt, more regional lockdowns and now tighter national restrictions have been imposed. No-one wanted to be in this situation but we need to respond to it, a Treasury source told Yahoo Finance UK ahead of the announcement. Officials are understood to have been weighing up trade-offs between short-term protection measures and efforts to rebuild the economy long-term, and between protecting existing jobs and providing more support finding new ones. Business chiefs warned millions of jobs and many firms survival was at stake earlier this week after prime minister Boris Johnson and the leaders of devolved administrations announced tougher restrictions. The Confederation of British Industrys director-general warned measures including a 10pm shutdown for hospitality firms and encouraging home-working would be a crushing blow for thousands of companies. She had called for a successor for the job protection scheme. Sept. 24, 2020 MILWAUKEE For 15 years, Johnny Miller worked the polls at a church on Milwaukees North Side. He was born in Mississippi, where, he said, his family was terrorized by the Ku Klux Klan for attempting to cast ballots. This background makes him feel a deep historical tie with trying to get people to vote. In 2020, he is aware of a different threat when it comes to working the polls: the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Miller, who is 70 and has a heart condition, said the risk was too high. Ten of his friends have died from Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. The pandemic is making voting more complicated, with higher stakes. But, activists note, its just one more thing to worry about on top of strict identification and mail-in ballot laws that can disproportionately make it difficult for eligible low-income voters, and Black and Latino voters, to cast their ballots. In 2016, President Trump won Wisconsin by just 23,000 votes the first time a Republican presidential candidate carried the state since 1984. Turnout was down that year by almost 19 percent for Black voters and 6 percent for Latino voters, which is part of the reason turnout groups are focused on those populations this year. Rockline Sudhakar tested positive for COVID-19 a month ago and was hospitalised, but resumed work only after testing negative. Noted comedian in the Kannada film industry Rockline Sudhakar died of a cardiac arrest on Thursday during the shooting of a film in Bengaluru, sources said. His end came in a private hospital, according to former president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) Sa Ra Govindu. Another office-bearer of the KFCC said the 65-year-old Sudhakar was shooting for Sugarless in Bannerghatta, Bengaluru. "He had gone to the makeup room where he suddenly collapsed. He was taken to the hospital where he died," the office-bearer told Press Trust of India. His Sugarless co-actor Pruthvi Ambaar told Times of India that they had breakfast together, but Sudhakar did not display much if an appetite. He said the late actor excused himself to take some rest. "But then, after a while, there was no response from him. We felt waiting for an ambulance would consume time, so, we decided to take him to the hospital in our director's car." Sudhakar tested positive for COVID-19 a month ago and was hospitalised. He resumed his work after he tested negative. He had acted in over 200 movies including Vaastu Prakara, Ayyo Rama, Topiwala and Mukunda Murari, Super, Santosh Ananddrams Mr and Mrs Ramachari, Prashant Rajs Zoom, Chamak, and Tagaru. (With inputs from Press Trust of India) Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - The Senegalese head of state, Macky Sall, has stressed the urgency to intensify a sustained mechanization of the country's agriculture, an official statement issued here Wednesday said Like three other companies with Covid-19 vaccine candidates undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials, Johnson & Johnson, on Wednesday, made public the elaborate documentation of its clinical testing protocol (it has the largest Phase 3 trials of all candidates yet, around 60,000 people). This unprecedented level of disclosure its never happened before, so this is an apt and perhaps unprecedented use of the oft-misused word comes amidst fears that vaccine developers could cut corners in their race to develop a shot for the coronavirus disease, or allow themselves to be pressured by the political establishment into launching vaccines that are not ready. Vaccines have to prevent infection, reinfection and, most importantly, be safe one reason why it usually takes years to create one. Sure, the crisis posed by the pandemic has shortened the timeline, perhaps permanently. If a vaccine for Covid-19 is available by the middle of next year and it is definite that at least one will be then there is a high likelihood of no new vaccine for any disease ever taking the 7-10 years it used to in the BC (before Covid) era. But it still needs to check boxes on safety and efficacy. All four companies Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson are also signatories to a pledge to ensure high ethical standards and sound scientific principles, and to not seek regulatory approval for their vaccines till clinical trials on tens of thousands of individuals show them (the vaccines) to be effective and safe. Five other companies, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novavax, BioNTech and Sanofi, also signed this pledge. Among these, BioNTech is working with Pfizer on the vaccine. The vaccine, like the mask, has become a political issue in the US. After the countrys drug regulator, the Food and Drug Administration, said it is considering tightening its vaccine approval process to include outside experts, US President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for a vaccine ahead of the November election, said on Wednesday that this sounded like a political move. For good measure, he added that if FDA makes the changes, the White House may or may not approve it. The potential consequences of either vaccine developers or regulators giving in to political pressure could be disastrous, which is why the pledge and the disclosures with four large companies having released theirs, other vaccine developers have no option but to share their own protocols; not doing so will likely prove controversial and also cast a shadow over the trials themselves are important. A reading of the protocols shows (warning: they make for heavy reading) that the J&J trial is the only one measuring the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing severe and critical cases of Covid-19. As pointed out by Peter Doshi and Eric Topol in an opinion piece in The New York Times earlier this week, the protocols for the clinical studies of the Moderna, AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine candidates say that a vaccine could meet the companies benchmark if it lowered the risk of mild Covid-19, but was never shown to reduce moderate or severe forms of the disease, or the risk of hospitalisation, admissions to the intensive care unit, or death. Writing in The Washington Post, William Haseltine, a former Harvard Medical School professor who now runs a health think tank, flagged the same concern. ...the protocols should heighten anxiety rather than alleviate it. A close reading suggests the clinical trials have been designed to ensure the greatest possible success for these candidates and could overstate their effectiveness. Haseltine was commenting on the Moderna and Pfizer clinical study protocols, the first to be released. There is also another big difference between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the other three it requires refrigeration but does not need to be frozen. Ensuring things stay frozen during transportation and storage presents a significant challenge, especially in many developing countries (including India, where the problem is compounded by sheer size) (see page 9). Over the next few weeks and months, more vaccine candidates are expected to launch their Phase 3 trials. According to the HT Vaccine Tracker, there are 18 vaccines in Phase 2 trials. There are another 6 in Phase 3, and 5 have been approved for emergency use. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON This is the moment a gang used a JCB digger to ram-raid a Co-op and make off with a cash machine - after stealing the high-powered vehicle from the Jurassic World set at nearby Pinewood Studios. The criminals, who struck on Sunday night, are understood to have hammered down the walls of the set at the famous Buckinghamshire studios before making off with several valuables, including the digger. They then drove the stolen vehicle two miles to the Co-op in nearby Iver Heath and used it to batter through a wall and extract the cash machine, with photos taken the morning showing a huge hole in the shop front. Criminals use a JCB stolen from Pinewood studios to smash into a Co-op and flee with a cash machine Security screens were set up around Pinewood after the shocking incident on Sunday night The set where Jurassic World was being filmed is understood to have held props from other films, such as Star Wars. It is not clear what else was stolen. A source at Pinewood Studios said: 'This was a major incident, and everyone is looking for answers over how it happened. 'Pinewood is home to some of the biggest films on the planet and security is extremely tight not to mention the fact there are major Hollywood stars working there all the time. 'But this gang seem to have been totally fearless, they were armed and have smashed their way through the fences and straight onto the sets where they film Jurassic World and recently made Star Wars. 'They've helped themselves to some valuable items supposedly a pick-up truck and a JCB which is used to move the sets around, and then smashed their way back out before ramming into a nearby shop and stealing the cash machine. 'It's a real nightmare for the studio and everyone working there.' Thames Valley Police said: 'The Co-op was broken into in the early hours of Monday morning. The offenders stole an ATM from the store and during the robbery they used two stolen vehicles one of which was stolen from Pinewood Studios and has not been recovered. 'A thorough investigation is ongoing and we have taken numerous witness statements and have footage which is being reviewed. 'Anyone with any information about the robbery should contact the force online or by calling 101, quoting investigation reference 43200296010.' The criminals stole a JCB and then used it to ram-raid a nearby Co-op and make off with a cash machine Workmen clearing up the remains of the shattered shopfront after the Co-op raid on Sunday It is the latest blow to filming at Pinewood, which has been hit by several problems in recent years. In March, filming for Jurassic World and Star Wars had to be temporarily suspended because of the Covid pandemic, although it has since continued. And last year there was a fire on the set of James Bond after three explosions caused by an accident with stunt equipment. One person suffered a minor injury. A spokeswoman for Pinewood confirmed the most recent incident, saying that bosses are now assisting police to find those responsible. The Co-op store has since reopened, and a spokesman said: 'We can confirm that there was a ram raid incident at our Iver Heath store in Slough in the early hours of Monday morning (21 September). 'Fortunately no store colleagues or customers were present at the time. 'CCTV has been shared with the police, who are investigating, and we would ask anyone with information about the incident to come forward. The store has reopened to serve the community.' A spokesman for the Bond film said last year: 'During the filming of a controlled explosion on the set of Bond 25 today at Pinewood Studios, damage was caused to the exterior of the 007 Stage. 'There were no injuries on set, however one crew member outside the stage has sustained a minor injury.' The Pune Municipal Corporation organised a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the medical manpower shortage which private hospitals and government hospitals in the city are facing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Municipal commissioner Vikram Kumar, said, Pune Municipal Corporation conducted a meeting with various doctors and affiliated organisations to address the manpower issue. Various ideas have been pitched which can help us reduce the shortage. Kumar said, The administration is focussing on increasing medical infrastructure in the city to deal with the rising Covid-19 cases, however, private as well as government hospitals are facing currently facing a shortage of trained manpower. PMC has been recruiting medical staff for its hospitals on contract basis and is currently working to get additional manpower to run Covid hospitals as well. The Apple India online store finally went live in the country on September 23 after tech-giant CEO Tim Cooks announcement was welcomed by netizens with open arms. The move completely eliminates the process of you hopping through e-commerce websites for that iPhone colour in that particular storage. You can now load your Mac device with curated specifications to get the machine you always desired for. Exchange your old devices for a new one, get tech assistance from Apple professionals with a click or just endlessly browse the website and gaze at the pretty devices. But Apple comes at a price. Want the latest iPhone? Say goodbye to more than a lakh rupees. But theres one item you can purchase from Apple India store that can put the 50K Apple Mac Pro wheels kit or that ridiculously priced 70 grand Mac Pro stand to shame. We are talking about the completely spec-ed up Apple Mac Pro, that costs a whopping Rs 53,02,800 with all the hardware upgrades added to the cart. Yep, just Apple things. Of course, Rs 53 lakh is no small sum of money and here are things you could do if you decided to give the beefed-up Mac Pro a miss. Apples Not that Apple. We are living in the pandemic. Eating healthy and keeping your body loaded with nutrients is the way to go. A kilo of Shimla Apples" listed here roughly costs Rs 100. How about ordering 53,000 kg of Apples staying fed for a lifetime? By doing this, you become the kid who bought copious amounts of fruits and made your math sums a nightmare. Netflix subscription Who knows when mankind will get rid of the pandemic? The ideal situation right now is to work-from-home given you have the luxury to do so. Why not work, Netflix and chill at home instead? You can purchase the Netflix Premium pack (Rs 799/month) for the next 6633 months with Rs 53 lakh. You are sorted for 552 years and your great, great, great, great grandkids will be grateful to you. Diapers The pandemic pregnancies are increasing by the day (not that we are complaining). But if you are like the new-dad Hardik Pandya or soon to be mum like Anushka Sharma, get diapers for that baby. A pack of 46 diapers roughly costs Rs 500. Stock 10,600 packets of them and you wont have to worry about the stinky poop for a long, long time. We promise. Gold mask If the poops are really stinky, go ahead and get home a gold mask worth Rs 2.9 lakh like this man from Pune did. The mask, however, doesnt shield you against the coronavirus. The gold mask is only a flexing accessory, if we put it mildly. Bus Stepping out right now isnt the wisest choice if not absolutely necessary. But if you happen to venture out, and are paranoid about using public transport for commute, why not bring 4 mini-buses home instead? A 40-seater bus will suffice all your needs and you can also have the Hum Saath Saath Hain family moment you always wished for. Telescope You cant legally buy land on the moon. And if you arent lucky enough to be shortlisted in NASAs 2024 mission to our own satellite, you can always visit the moon via a high-end telescope. While you are at it, buy 35 of them and reach for the stars. Akshay Kumar 25 din mein paisa double. If you are adventurous enough, you can take your money to Raju from Phir Hera Pheri and he will give you a crore back in 25 days. Theres no guarantee what happens to your money, though. Donate If you havent gotten the memo already, we arent serious about this. If you really were to have Rs 53 lakh lying around like a newspaper, what better than donating to the needy and those who have lost their jobs in this unfortunate year. Michael Caputo the top spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services who recently took medical leave following controversial social media posts has been diagnosed with metastatic head and neck cancer, according to a new report by the Buffalo News. A spokesperson for Caputo, 58, confirmed the news to Politico's Dan Diamond, who tweeted the family's statement in full. "After surgery last week at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, Maryland, doctors diagnosed Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Caputo with squamous cell carcinoma, a metastatic head and neck cancer which originated in his throat. He is now home in Western New York, resting in the loving arms of his family, under the watchful eye of Jesus Christ," the statement said. "The Caputo family wants to thank President Donald Trump and Secretary Alex Azar for their friendship and support," the statement said. "They are also deeply grateful for the counsel of NCI Director Dr. Ned Sharpless and National Institutes of Health Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Jeremy Davis as they decide next steps in Michael's care and recovery. Michael and his family urge all Americans to stop delaying their healthcare, especially cancer screenings, during the COVID 19 crisis call your family doctor today." A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. RELATED: Top Trump Health Official Takes Medical Leave After Bizarre Rant Accusing Scientists of 'Sedition' Caputo, who was appointed assistant secretary of public affairs in April, has seen his short tenure marked with a litany of controversies. In April and May, CNN unearthed a series of since-deleted tweets in which Caputo made racist comments about Chinese people and directed sexist comments toward women. The controversy intensified in September when Politico detailed how Caputo, an ally of disgraced campaign advisor Roger Stone, allegedly worked to interfere with CDC findings on COVID-19. Story continues Just last week, Caputo announced he would be taking a 60-day medical leave, days after posting a bizarre video on social media in which he claimed government scientists were practicing "sedition" and warned of an armed revolt. "There are scientists who work for this government who do not want America to get well, not until after Joe Biden is president, Caputo said in a video posted on Facebook Live and obtained by Yahoo! News. Elsewhere in the video, he can be heard saying his mental health has definitely failed," and that he doesn't "like being alone in Washington," referencing, shadows on the ceiling in [his] apartment." After criticism mounted, Caputo reportedly apologized to fellow HHS staffers and announced in a statement that he would take a temporary leave of absence, "to pursue necessary screenings for a lymphatic issue." Related: For 6 years, doctors misdiagnosed mebut it was brain cancer A group of Carlisle residents have decided to host a Black Lives Still Matter rally Saturday afternoon to air frustrations with their local law enforcement, less than a mile away from where police supporters will be gathering for a Back the Blue rally. Carlisles Black Lives Still Matter rally was spurred by former Mayor Kirk Wilsons Back the Blue rally, according Mary Smith, a member of Carlisle Justice for Transparency. Former Carlisle Mayor Kirk Wilson finds it necessary to have a Back the Blue Rally to show law enforcement they have supporters despite todays negative attitude, Smith said. Todays negative attitude comes from a history of systemic racism, violence and corruption within police departments nationwide, even here in Carlisle. The Black Lives Still Matter rally will be held Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. in the boroughs square. Wilsons event starts at the same time in a Carlisle Events parking lot off the 100 block of Clay Street, next to the Carlisle Fairgrounds. Carlisle Police Chief Taro Landis was not immediately available to say whether safety precautions will be in place during the two rallies. Wilson told PennLive in a previous interview that hes tired of blanketed attacks against police departments across the country. Several pastors and Republican politicians are scheduled to speak at Wilsons rally. Hateful rhetoric, police injuries and killings in the line of duty must stop, Wilson said at the time. People who know nothing about law enforcement are calling to defund the police and reduce funding for police. Doing so will only result in unsafe neighborhoods and rising crime. Carlisle Justice for Transparency argued borough police get plenty of support, but the community has concerns. The group also brought up the former Carlisle police officer who federal prosecutors accused earlier this year of using his position to get sex from two women in exchange for favors related to prosecutions. Carlisle Justice for Transparency is also protesting the lack of charges against the Louisville, Ky., police officers involved in Breonna Taylors death. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced only a wanton endangerment charge against one of the officers. This was because of bullets that were sprayed into neighbors' apartments while police were serving a warrant at Taylors. The other two officers werent charged with anything, and none were charged for Taylors death. The grand jurys decision sparked protests Wednesday in which two Louisville police officers were shot. 'Back the Blue' rallies only showed up in response to Black Lives Matter and a call to end racist and violent policing, Smith said. In response to Kirk Wilsons rally, many Carlisle community members wanted to show that Black Lives still Matter here. READ MORE: 2 Louisville officers shot amid Breonna Taylor protests Pa.'s failure to mandate quicker death reporting before the coronavirus fueled wild data fluctuations, mistrust Pa. boy, 1, fatally ODs on fentanyl; couple charged with homicide: It breaks my heart New Delhi: The new medical board submitted its report on Sunanda Pushkars death on Friday. It said that the cause of her death is inconclusive. The report was given to Delhi Police's SIT. This board was constituted in March 2016. It was set up on instructions of director general health services. It was formed when then Commissioner of Police BS Bassi said AIIMS had failed to reach conclusion. The new medical board consisted of doctors from Chandigarh, Pudducherry and Delhi. AIIMS autopsy department also could not find the reason behind Sunanda's death in November 15, FBI had said Sunanda's death is unnatural but ruled out radioactive poisoning. However, a court in US had asked authorities to expedite the retrieving of Sunandas BBM chars. SIT had sent a letter of rogatory through a Delhi court. Sunanda's BBM chats were found deleted. Gujarat Forensic Investigation of Crime and Scientific Services is about to submit report of Sunanda's laptop. Sunanda was found dead under mysterious circumstances on January 17. A year later, a murder case was registered. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mourners light candles in honor of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Port of Los Angeles Liberty Hill Plaza in San Pedro on Sept. 21. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) To the editor: I have long believed that "you can promise a person anything as long as you reserve the right to break the promise." So, I think columnist Jonah Goldberg's suggestion of having Republicans postpone replacing the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg until after the election in exchange for Democrats agreeing not to pack the court if they have the Senate majority is a good one. If the Democrats can be allowed to make a useless and empty promise with which the Republicans appear to be perfectly comfortable and presumably never had any intention of honoring, then I'm OK with Goldberg's proposal. Of course it should never have come to this. The Republican-led Senate should have the strength of character to follow the rules it established when President Obama nominated Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court in 2016, but who am I kidding? Given who the Democrats are dealing with, I find no problem with countering the hypocrisy with a completely honorable proposal to add justices. It shouldn't be necessary, but that's the world we live in now. Fred W. Burkardt, Rancho Cucamonga .. To the editor: Goldberg is "wobbly" on confirming President Trump's Supreme Court pick. Then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) threw a nuclear bomb in 2013 by getting rid of the filibuster for judicial appointments short of the Supreme Court, and later Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) threw one back by including the Supreme Court. Goldberg's solution for a return to good governance is for a few Democrats to agree to not pack the court in exchange for the Republicans agreeing not to confirm the next justice until after the election. He avoids any discussion of how the Senate ended up in a flame-throwing battle. He picks up the story at Reid started it, and McConnell acted in self-defense. Goldberg embraces the distinction between what one can do and what one should do and mourns the loss of playing the long game. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is pilloried for his hypocrisy. Story continues Interestingly, McConnell is barely mentioned. Goldberg laments that this quid pro quo between some Democrats and the Republicans is too hard. As he says, the detente hinges on the "ability of politicians to trust other politicians will keep their word." Here is what is easier than reaching a new deal to foster the health of our institutions: McConnell and the rest of his party should keep their word. Mary Jo Barr, San Diego .. To the editor: Confirming a Supreme Court justice is very important. Shouldn't there be clear rules in place on how it's done? Right now, as Goldberg perfectly states, the only rule is to "do whatever you can get away with." McConnell is the ultimate hypocrite and purveyor of that philosophy. It's whatever works for him and his party, not what is right for the country. Isn't it time to a pass rule on appointments, to the effect of prohibiting confirmations three months out from a presidential election? I am baffled and disappointed that our system has such a significant weakness. Jeff Rack, Altadena TranscriptionWing will share its expertise on how to adapt to evolving data security demands and how to engage with service partners to ensure that data is safeguarded without compromising quality or security. Leading secure transcriptions provider Civicom TranscriptionWing is hosting a webinar on adapting to rising data security demands and their potential impact on investor relations. The webinar will be held on September 29th at 1PM ET. Businesses worldwide are experiencing unprecedented levels of change in the tools they communicate, resulting in a certain degree of uneasiness among shareholders and investors. Data security has now become a business issue, and not just a technology issue. As the need heightens for increased security in quality investor relations reporting, so does the necessity for tools and services that can be used by IR professionals to enable them to effectively disclose data securely to both shareholders or investors. With the demands of this environment professionals face another challenge an increasing dependency on cloud and collaboration platforms or digital services that can entail more vulnerabilities in security. As a leading provider of secure transcriptions since 2005, TranscriptionWing will share its expertise on how to adapt to evolving data security demands and how to engage with service partners to ensure that data is safeguarded without compromising quality or security. Over the years, TranscriptionWing has handled thousands of investor and earnings call transcriptions, as a direct provider for recordings generated through our own conferencing platforms as well as white labeled for other earnings calls organizations. The TranscriptionWing focus has always been on providing the highest level of quality and service available. TranscriptionWing has successfully thrived as a trusted transcriptions provider by practicing a strict culture of security. Security standards are kept up-to-date through continuous, vigilant review and audit of internal processes and controls, with the aid of external consultants and specialized staff dedicated to safeguarding data. In 2019, TranscriptionWing was confirmed compliant by an external auditor with the federally mandated standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and continues to be GDPR compliant. TranscriptionWing was approved by the EU-US Privacy Shield and remains compliant with all protocols while awaiting the final determination on future requirements. All transcriptionists, proofers, and editors are background checked. Investor relations professionals are encouraged to attend the webinar entitled Be Prepared: How Evolving Data Security Protocols Impact Your Role to gain insight on data security measures they can undertake as they adapt more advanced technology; to develop their knowledge of cyber risks and how they relate to information exposure; and to understand the vulnerabilities in service providers that can compromise security. The webinar will be presented by Jennifer Morehead, Managing Security & Compliance Officer of Civicom, Inc., and Rebecca West, Global President of the Civicom Research Services Group, at Tuesday, September 29th, 2020 @ 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm UK. Click here to register for the webinar. About TranscriptionWing Established to provide transcriptions complementing Civicoms conferencing services, TranscriptionWing continues to deliver high quality, accurate transcriptions to all industry sectors, including finance, market research, technology, healthcare, as well as to legal, educational, and religious organizations. Flexible turnaround options range from four hours to five days at rates that are as low as $1.29 per recorded minute. TranscriptionWing solutions also include automated voice-to-text transcription clean-up as well as InSummary, a meeting minutes summary service. TranscriptionWing is a service of Civicom Inc., a global leader in proprietary audio conferencing technology, online meeting software, web technology tools, and superior recording capabilities. For more information, call +1-203-413-2414 or visit https://www.transcriptionwing.com. A traffic light system that will send automatic alerts to people's mobiles is set to be used to trigger local lockdowns. Local infection rates will be used to split parts of the country into one of three categories that will determine the restrictions in place in the region under the plan. This system will work in tandem with the NHS Test and Trace app, which includes a feature where users can scan a barcode to check in and out of bars and restaurants. Users will also be sent messages when lockdown conditions change due to shifts in the infection rate, the Daily Telegraph reported. England, Wales and Scotland today posted 27 more Covid-19 deaths while Northern Ireland recorded none in the preliminary toll The new plan was approved at a meeting of key cabinet ministers last week and is now waiting for the Prime Minister's approval. It is hoped that the system will work alongside the new raft of restrictions announced by Boris Johnson on Tuesday, if he signs off on it. A three-tier system is seen as being clear and provide a simple way for people to know what they can and cannot do in their areas. Greater Manchester already has different boroughs under different restrictions and some locals have said it is difficult to know what rules do and do not apply in their area. Mr Johnson pointed to a greater use of localised restrictions when he told the House of Commons: 'One of the great advantages of NHS Test and Trace... is that we now have the ability to see in granular detail where the epidemic is breaking out and exactly which groups are being infected.' The new plan was approved at a meeting of key cabinet ministers last week and is now waiting for the Prime Minister's (pictured on Wednesday) approval He also said: 'Test and Trace enables us to isolate the cases of the virus in ever greater detail, which we were not able to do before. 'There would be far more damage to the economy throughout our country if we failed to control the virus now and we were obliged to put in seriously damaging lockdown measures that really affected every business in the country.' It is hoped a three-tier system could allow parts of the country to reopen their economies if infections are low and it could help assuage the concerns of some Tory MPs who are opposing new restrictions. Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Housing and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick are understood to back the new system. Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured on Wednesday) and Housing and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick are understood to back the new system A Cabinet minister told the Daily Telegraph: 'At the moment there is a range of different measures being applied in different places. 'A three-tiered approach that is more consistent across the country will set out the steps we will take as the 'R' rate increases. 'The virtue is that it gives greater clarity and consistency. What is in the tiers is subject to further discussion.' But it is not certain that it will be introduced, with a source telling the Telegraph: 'There is a proposal in the Whitehall system to look at a tiered approach. 'It is in the system, it is being considered, but no decisions have been made and it has not been signed off yet.' A Delhi court Thursday sent former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Umar Khalid, arrested under the stringent anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, in a case related to the communal violence in north east Delhi in February, to judicial custody till October 22. Khalid was present before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat through video conferencing at the end of his police custody. Khalid was arrested on September 13 in the case. Police did not seeks his further custody. In the FIR, police has claimed that the communal violence was a "premeditated conspiracy" which was allegedly hatched by Khalid and two others. He has also been booked for the offences of sedition, murder, attempt to murder, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and rioting. Khalid had allegedly given provocative speeches at two different places and appealed to the citizens to come out on streets and block the roads during the visit of US President Donald Trump to spread propaganda at international level about how minorities in India are being tortured, the FIR alleged. In this conspiracy, firearms, petrol bombs, acid bottles and stones were collected at numerous homes, FIR claimed. Co-accused Danish was allegedly given the responsibility to gather people from two different places to take part in the riots, police alleged. Women and children were made to block the roads under the Jafrabad metro station on February 23 to create tension amidst the neighborhood people, the FIR said. 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alan Adams (The Jakarta Post) Singapore Thu, September 24, 2020 10:50 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46e47a3 3 Opinion food-supply,grocery,food-security,COVID-19 Free We are experiencing the biggest health and economic crisis in generations. COVID-19 has drastically changed our lifestyles and with emergency measures imposed by governments worldwide to curb the spread of the virus, major disruptions have emerged across industries. The food and beverage (F&B) sector is notably one of the hardest hit. From disruptions to supply chains to shifts in consumption habits, a new normal has emerged for businesses. With the end of COVID-19 nowhere in sight, these challenges will continue to ripple through the industry and impact the way business is conducted and the way consumers make purchases. To ensure that industry players remain competitive and relevant in todays evolving environment, there is an urgent need to look towards the adoption of innovative solutions across the food supply chain in adapting to the new normal. On the consumer front, there has been a step change in the adoption of online grocery shopping as consumers look for contactless food access during the pandemic. As more people realize the convenience and ease of shopping online, this growth trajectory is expected to continue in a post COVID-19 environment. A recent study found that Indonesian consumers are shopping online 16 percent more often than pre-pandemic levels and they intend to increase their purchase frequency on such channels even after the outbreak stabilizes. Although this trend was detectable before the crisis, COVID-19 has rapidly propelled the uptake of online shopping, even in Japan where consumers are known to prefer buying groceries at physical stores so they can inspect fresh foods first-hand. In addition, consumers are choosing to cook more often at home and have become more health conscious, which in turn leads to a rise in demand for more fresh foods such as vegetables, fruits, and meat. Inevitably, this has resulted in an increased focus on food safety as fresh foods delivered via online channels are shipped over longer distances and are subjected to extreme weather conditions. Such shifts in consumption habits present new challenges for businesses in coping with the increased demand from e-commerce platforms while still ensuring that quality and safety standards of foods are met; however, those that are able to quickly adapt their products and services will be well-positioned to capture interest and demand. While the spotlight over the last few months has largely been on slowing down human transmissions and protecting the health of populations, whats lesser known is a hidden side-effect of COVID-19: the growing amounts of food waste. Before the pandemic, about one third of food produced for consumption went to waste, representing US$1 trillion in lost economic value. Almost half of all fruits and vegetables were wasted. The current measures such as nationwide lockdowns and restrictions on the movement of labor, raw materials and perishable foods are expected to exacerbate the problem from farm to plate. From food producers in the US to rural farming locations in India, we are observing the dumping of milk, and fruits and vegetables being left to rot due to disruptions to supply chains and a drastic fall in demand from restaurants as well as schools. With the world population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050 and more marginalized groups facing acute food insecurity, it is now more important than ever that we do our part to cut food loss and waste across every stage in the food value chain. With the new challenges and trends arising from the pandemic, the most pressing question for the F&B industry now is how it can create a supply chain that addresses new consumer preferences and minimizes food waste. Essential food packaging, although often overlooked, is key to the solution as it ensures the right amount of food is delivered while ensuring that safety and quality are not compromised irrespective of it being an online grocery or food delivery platform. On average, products go through more than 15 handoffs or touchpoints throughout the supply chain journey and this has become increasingly complex with the current drive towards ecommerce. Businesses, therefore, need to adapt their packaging solutions so that food products can withstand the rigors of the modern-day supply chain and address consumer needs for safety and convenience. We are seeing a significant growth in the adoption of some of our more advanced solutions such as cook-in or freezer-ready packaging. Solutions like vacuum skin packaging is specially engineered for fresh meat applications and delivers flexible portion sizes all the while extending product shelf life. It is also a more sustainable option as vacuum packaging uses at least 40 percent less material compared to other similar solutions, while eliminating material scrap and cost of waste. Evidently, more industry players are recognizing the importance of integrating technologies with packaging solutions to meet demand from online grocery sites while simultaneously minimizing food waste and the associated environmental impacts. But the role of packaging can go beyond protecting a product it can also be used to inform consumers about sustainable living and ways to minimize food waste. At the recent Food Industry Asia (FIA) Dialogues, industry experts highlighted the role of packaging in educating consumers about nutrition, storing and cooking food, and using leftovers, as well as its ability to enable traceability of their food through the supply chain. Furthermore, when you have a product that is easy to store, easy to prepare and has a long shelf life, it will likely to be more attractive and desirable to the average consumer. In times of unprecedented change and disruption, the continuity of the global food value chain will rely on the agility of industry players. As new sales channels and priorities continue to emerge, the industry needs to make every possible effort to adapt solutions across different stages in the supply chain and consider how they can create products that are appealing and compatible to the post-pandemic environment. Packagings role in the food supply chain is often underestimated, but with the right technology and application, it can go a long way in ensuring our supply chain remains sustainable and resilient to unprecedented challenges. Sustainable food production is key to ensuring food security and nutrition. *** Sustainability director for Asia Pacific at Sealed Air, who spoke at the Food Industry Asia Dialogues held virtually on July 27-29 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. T he winners of last season's major European club competitions will meet in Budapest tonight as Bayern Munich take on Sevilla in the Uefa Super Cup. Bayern's phenomenal form under Hansi Flick continued after the coronavirus restart as they charged to Champions League success, hammering Barcelona 8-2 in the semi-final before beating PSG 1-0 in the final thanks to Kinsgley Coman's goal. Sevilla, meanwhile, continued their remarkable record in the Europa League, beating Inter Milan 3-2 in a thrilling final to lift the trophy for a record sixth time. Only once, however, have the Spanish side gone on to win the Super Cup, while Bayern have a similarly poor record, with just one win in the fixture. Date, time and venue Bayern Munich vs Sevilla is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Thursday, September 24. In Pictures | PSG vs Bayern, Champions League final | 23/08/20 1 /133 In Pictures | PSG vs Bayern, Champions League final | 23/08/20 AP Getty Images Pool via REUTERS POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS REUTERS AP Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images REUTERS REUTERS AP AP AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AP Getty Images AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Pool via REUTERS AP AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images REUTERS Getty Images Getty Images Pool via REUTERS Pool via REUTERS Pool via REUTERS Getty Images REUTERS Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP AP AP Getty Images The match will be played behind closed doors at the Puskas Arena with no fans due to be present due to government guidelines regarding coronavirus. How to watch TV channel: The match will be televised live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate, with coverage starting from 7:15pm. Live stream: BT Sport subscribers will be able to stream the match online via the video player and the BT Sport app. Prediction: Bayern 2-0 Sevilla Sevilla have made the Europa League their own and got the new LaLiga season off to the ideal start with a 3-2 win over Levante last weekend. However, Bayern are in a different league and have picked up where they left off last season, thrashing Schalke 8-0 in their Bundesliga opener. In Pictures | Sevilla vs Inter Milan, Europa League Final | 21/08/2020 1 /45 In Pictures | Sevilla vs Inter Milan, Europa League Final | 21/08/2020 Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP AP AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP Getty Images AP AFP via Getty Images AP AP AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Head to head (h2h) history and results The two sides last met during the quarter-finals of the 2017/18 Champions League season. On that occasion, Bayern ran out 2-1 winners from the first leg in Seville before a 0-0 draw in Munich secured their route into the last four. Betting odds and tips Bayern to win: 1/3 Sevilla to win: 8/1 Draw: 11/2 Odds courtesy of Betfair Exchange. Click here to find out more. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Evening Standard Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) More than 200,000 overseas Filipino workers have returned to their homes in the provinces after testing negative for the coronavirus disease, the Department of Labor and Employment said Thursday. Since May, the department said it had assisted 218,205 displaced OFWs, including some 40,000 this month. They were given accommodation, food and transportation and tested when they arrived in the country. Under the Bayanihan 2 Law, returning OFWs should also receive a P10,000 cash aid. In June, DOLE said over 600,000 displaced OFWs sought help from the government. The agency said there were still job opportunities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, China, Japan, Czech Republic and Taiwan. The state of Wisconsin is making more money available to help small businesses in Kenosha recover from damage during recent unrest over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, officials said. Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation said another $3 million would be added to the previously-announced $1 million in no-interest loans for small businesses. Kenosha Fire Chief Charles Leipzig recently told the Police and Fire Commission that damage from the violence that followed Blakes shooting Aug. 23 has topped $11 million. The 29-year-old Black man was left partially paralyzed after a white officer shot him seven times in the back as police tried to arrest him. The shooting, which was recorded on video and seen widely on social media, sparked protests and violence in Kenosha, where roughly two dozen fires were set and numerous businesses were destroyed. Prosecutors say 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch, Illinois, shot three demonstrators, killing two of them, during a chaotic protest Aug. 25. We know Kenoshans are working to reconstruct and repair in the wake of devastation, and we want to do everything we can to support the Kenosha Comeback, Evers said. I have seen firsthand the resilience of this community, and we are going to do everything we can to be there as they work to rebuild and move forward together. The maximum loan amount available to businesses is $50,000. The WEDC is partnering with the Kenosha Area Business Alliance to administer the loans. Affected businesses should contact the alliance to apply for the loans. The loans can be used to fund repair work, for cleanup and restoration services, operating expenses, temporary space and payroll. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Wisconsin The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut to file his reply to actor Kangana Ranauts petition against the demolition of a part of her bungalow in Mumbai by the BMC. A bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and R I Chagla also directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) H-ward officer Bhagyawant Late to file his reply to the plea. Late had signed the demolition notice served to Ranaut on September 7. On Tuesday, Ranauts lawyer senior counsel Birendra Saraf submitted in the court a DVD containing a speech in which Raut allegedly made a comment threatening the actress. Following this, the HC bench had permitted Ranaut to make both Raut and Late parties to the case. On Thursday, the bench said it will begin final hearing in the case on Friday. ALSO WATCH | Kanganas Bullywood jibe as NCB summons Deepika, others in Sushants case Rauts counsel Pradeep Thorat asked for more time to file the reply, saying the Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member is currently in New Delhi. BMCs senior counsel Anil Sakhre also sought more time for Late to file his reply. Justice Kathawalla said the bench will begin hearing the petitioner (Ranaut) on Friday and Raut could file his reply anytime before his turn to put forth his arguments in the court. The bench, however, directed the BMC to file the reply on Lates behalf by Monday, saying it could not delay the hearing. Cant leave demolished house the way it is We cannot leave the demolished house the way it is. The building is demolished partly, and in the heavy monsoon, we cannot leave it in this state. We will start hearing the petitioner tomorrow, the bench said. Ranaut, in her plea filed in the HC on September 9, sought that the demolition carried out by the BMC at her Pali Hill bungalow be declared illegal. She subsequently amended her plea to demand Rs two crore as damages from the civic body and its officials. In her plea, she alleged that the BMC had demolished the bungalow out of personal vendetta, since she had made some comments adverse to the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government. The BMC in its affidavit filed in the high court denied the allegation. In the affidavit filed through advocate Joel Carlos, the BMC said Ranaut had carried out illegal structural changes and repairs at the bungalow, and the civic officers were merely following the law in demolishing unauthorised portions of the structure. The civic body had urged the high court to dismiss Ranauts plea and to impose a cost on her. CR recently tested 47 bottled waters, including 35 noncarbonated and 12 carbonated ones. For each product, we tested two to four samples. The tests focused on four heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury), plus 30 PFAS chemicals, which pose special concerns because they can linger in the environment almost indefinitely. The federal government has issued only voluntary guidance for PFAS, saying the combined amounts for two specific PFAS compounds should be below 70 parts per trillion. A few states have set lower limits, of 12 to 20 ppt, according to American Water Works, an industry group. The International Bottled Water Association, another group, says that it supports federal limits for PFAS and that bottled water should have PFAS levels below 5 ppt for any single compound and 10 ppt for more than one. Some experts say the cutoff for total PFAS levels should be even lower, 1 ppt. Noncarbonated Water Most of the noncarbonated products CR tested had detectable levels of PFAS, but only twoTourmaline Spring and Deer Parkexceeded 1 part per trillion. Tourmaline Spring says the amount of PFAS in its bottled water is below the levels set by the IBWA and all states. Nestle, which makes Deer Park, says that its most recent testing for the brand indicated undetectable levels of PFAS. All noncarbonated water that CR tested had heavy metal levels well below federal safety limits, with one exception: Starkey Spring Water, owned by Whole Foods. It had arsenic levels just shy of the federal limit of 10 parts per billion and more than three times as much as CRs recommended level of 3 ppb. The companys highest priority is to provide customers with safe, high-quality, and refreshing spring water, Whole Foods says. These products meet all FDA requirements and are fully compliant with FDA standards for heavy metals. Carbonated Water All carbonated water that CR tested fell below legal limits for heavy metals, and none had arsenic levels above CRs recommended maximum of 3 parts per billion. But many products had measurable amounts of PFAS. Story continues There are a few possible reasons. Phil Brown, at the PFAS Project Lab at Northeastern University in Boston, says the carbonation process could be a factor. The source water could also have more PFAS, or treatment used by some brands doesnt remove PFAS to below 1 part per trillion. CR heard back from all companies with PFAS levels above 1 ppt, except for Bubly. La Croix and Canada Dry said levels in their products were well below current standards or requirements. Topo Chico, made by Coca-Cola and with the highest PFAS levels in CRs tests, said it would continue to make improvements to prepare for more stringent standards in the future. Nestle, maker of Poland Spring and Perrier, said that its recent testing did not detect PFAS and that it supports efforts to set federal limits. LaCroix and Polar challenged how CR arrived at our total PFAS amounts. For details, read CRs methodology for testing bottled water (PDF). Brian Ronholm, CRs director of food policy, says that PFAS in carbonated water highlights the need for the federal government to set science-based limits for PFAS compounds in tap and bottled drinking water. The fact that so many brands had total PFAS below 1 ppt shows it is feasible to get to more protective levels, he says. Noncarbonated LOWER HEAVY METAL AND PFAS LEVELS 365 Everyday Value (Whole Foods) Spring Water Absopure Purified Water Alkaline88 Natural Alkaline Water Aquafina Natural Purified Water Arrowhead* Natural Spring Water Boxed Water Is Better* Water Core Hydration Natural Enhanced Water Crystal Geyser Natural Spring Water Dasani Natural Purified Water Essentia Natural Purified Alkaline Water Evian Natural Spring Water Fiji Water Natural Artesian Water Flow Alkaline Spring Water Good & Gather* (Target) Purified Drinking Water Great Value (Walmart) Natural Purified Water Ice Mountain Natural Spring Water Just 100% Spring Water Just The Basics (CVS) Purified Water Kirkland Signature (Costco Purified Water) LifeWtr Natural Purified Water Liquid Death Spring Water Nestle Pure Life Natural Purified Water Niagara Natural Purified Water Ozarka Natural Spring Water Pathwater Purified Water Penta Ultra Pure Water Poland Spring Natural Spring Water Saratoga Natural Spring Water Smartwater Natural Enhanced Water Trader Joes Alkaline Water + Electrolytes Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water Zephyrhills Natural Spring Water * Had no detectable PFAS. TOTAL PFAS OVER 1 PPT ARSENIC OVER 3 PPB Deer Park Natural Spring Water (1.21 ppt) Tourmaline Spring Sacred Living Water (4.64 ppt.) Starkey Spring Water (Whole Foods) (9.53 ppb) TOTAL PFAS OVER 1 PPT Deer Park Natural Spring Water (1.21 ppt) Tourmaline Spring Sacred Living Water (4.64 ppt.) ARSENIC OVER 3 PPB Starkey Spring Water (Whole Foods) (9.53 ppb) Carbonated LOWER TOTAL PFAS LEVELS CARBONATED BRANDS Sparkling Ice Black Raspberry Sparkling Water Spindrift Raspberry Lime Sparkling Water Sanpellegrino Natural Sparkling Mineral Water Dasani Black Cherry Sparkling Water Schweppes Lemon Lime Sparkling Water Beverage TOTAL PFAS (PARTS PER TRILLION) Not Detected 0.19 0.31 0.37 0.58 TOTAL PFAS OVER 1 PPT Perrier Natural Sparkling Mineral Water La Croix Natural Sparkling Water Canada Dry Lemon Lime Sparkling Seltzer Water Poland Spring Zesty Lime Sparkling Water Bubly Blackberry Sparkling Water Polar Natural Seltzer Water Topo Chico Natural Mineral Water 1.1 1.16 1.24 1.66 2.24 6.41 9.76 Editors Note: This article also appeared in the November 2020 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Bottled water testing for this project was made possible by the Forsythia Foundation, an organization focused on promoting public health and reducing chemical exposure. Americas Water Crisis Consumer Reports has a long history of investigating Americas water. In 1974, we published a landmark three-part series (PDF) revealing that water purification systems in many communities had not kept pace with increasing levels of pollution and that many community water supplies might be contaminated. Our work helped lead to Congress enacting the Safe Drinking Water Act in December 1974. More than 45 years later, America is still struggling with a dangerous divide between those who have access to safe and affordable drinking water and those who dont. Communities of color often are affected disproportionately by this inequity. Consumer Reports remains committed to exposing the weaknesses in our countrys water system, including raising questions about Americans reliance on bottled water as an alternativeand the safety and sustainability implications of this dependence. In addition to our ongoing investigations into bottled water, we are proud to be partnering with our readers and those of the Guardian US, another institution dedicated to journalism in the public interest, to test for dangerous contaminants in tap water samples from more than 100 communities around the country. The Guardian and CR will also be publishing related content from Ensia, a nonprofit newsroom focused on environmental issues and solutions. Americas Water Crisis is the name we are jointly giving to this project and the series of articles we co-publish on the major challenges many in the U.S. face getting access to safe, clean, and affordable water. We will share the results of our upcoming test findings with you. In the meantime, you can join our social media conversation around water under the hashtag #waterincrisis. Gwendolyn Bounds Chief Content Officer, Consumer Reports Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2020, Consumer Reports, Inc. Waiting times for cancer patients in Northern Ireland have again been criticised (PA) Cancer waiting time statistics in Northern Ireland have been criticised for showing little improvement in recent times after targets for patients were once again missed in June. Alliance Party health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw said the situation with regard to diagnosis and treatment of cancer remains "grim" and said it's concerning that not enough focus is on the statistics. "We hear regular updates, quite correctly, about the situation with regard to COVID-19, but we do not see the same level of briefing concerning general health services, not least with regard to cancer diagnosis and treatment across the board," she said. It's after new figures showed that of 324 patients who started their first treatment for cancer in June following an urgent referral, slightly more than half (182 patients or 56.2%) were seen within 62 days. It misses a ministerial target that says 95% of patients should be be seen within that time frame. Figures show 49.1% of patients were seen within the time frame in May, 50% in April and 55.4% the same month the previous year. The head of care services for Cancer Focus NI Dervilia Kernaghan said the figures are showing slight improvement since NI came out of lockdown. "However, the target for patients receiving first treatment within 62 days (95%) was still missed by nearly 40%," she said. "We have seen how quickly our health service has pivoted to respond to the pandemic in recent months but this has come at a cost to planned and scheduled care. "We can see the impact of recent months on our waiting times which were already unacceptable pre Covid and are calling for urgent action to address them," she said. The figures show that in June, 713 patients commenced their first treatment for cancer following a decision to treat. 682 (95.7%) started treatment within the target of a month, compared with 94.3% in May, 95.4% in April and 93.3% the same month the previous year. The ministerial target said that 98% of patients diagnosed with cancer should receive their first definitive treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat. Breast cancer specialists saw 1,167 patients in June for a first assessment following an urgent referral, with 1,025 (87.8%) seen within a target of two weeks, compared with 88.4% in May, 76% in April and 80% the previous year. The ministerial target states that all urgent breast cancer referrals should be seen within that time frame. South Belfast MLA Ms Bradshaw said concern remains that many are being left without diagnosis or vital care. "What we need to see in media briefings is a broader picture of how services are being restored and an assurance our focus on COVID-19, while understandable, is not so all-encompassing that vital care is missed elsewhere," she said. Dr. Andres Sanchez Offers Specialized Treatment for Bone Loss in Eden Prairie, MN Dr. Andres Sanchez, a board-certified periodontist at PerioWest, invites patients with bone loss in Eden Prairie, MN to experience the benefits of personalized ridge augmentation, including restored function, oral health, and natural smile aesthetics. He now welcomes patients, especially those with severe bone loss, to schedule an appointment with or without a referral. Jawbone loss naturally occurs when one or more teeth are lost or extracted. In other cases, bone loss can be attributed to oral trauma, disease or cancer, and genetic abnormalities. The most common cause, missing teeth, is a result of no tooth roots, which provide the stimulation the jawbone needs to maintain healthy volume and density. The resulting bone atrophy leaves the bone feeble and thin, unable to support restorations such as dentures or dental implants. Bone loss in the jaw can be contained to an empty tooth socket or extend along a portion of the jaw ridge. In both cases, specialized ridge augmentation is needed to restore the necessary bone to the jaw. This is commonly completed before dental implant placement to ensure their long-term stability and function. Ridge augmentation refers to a specialized bone grafting treatment that adds bone material to the jaw to increase the height and width of the bony ridge. This complex procedure requires the expertise of a periodontist like Dr. Sanchez to ensure the natural jaw ridge contours are restored to proper density and volume. Bone loss because of a single missing or extracted tooth can be unsightly and cause aesthetic issues if replaced by a dental bridge or dental implant. In this case, ridge augmentation can restore aesthetic bone levels and smooth the bone for a future restoration. The most beneficial restoration, dental implants permanently restore tooth function and aesthetics while preserving bone to maintain oral health. They replace one, several, or all missing teeth with permanent tooth roots (implant posts) and a dental crown, dental bridge, or fixed set of teeth. PerioWest offers the expertise of Dr. Sanchez and his associate, prosthodontist Dr. Eleni Voltidi, who together provide life-changing smile transformations with dental implants. Patients with bone loss in Eden Prairie, MN interested in learning more about the benefits of bone grafting treatments including ridge augmentations can contact this esteemed periodontist. Consultations can be scheduled, with or without a referral, at PerioWest by visiting http://www.periowestmn.com or calling 952-567-7457. About the Practice PerioWest is a periodontal practice offering personalized dental care for patients in Eden Prairie, MN and the Twin Cities areas. Dr. Andres R. Sanchez received his Certificate & Masters Degree in Periodontics from the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. He is a board-certified periodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. In addition, Dr. Sanchez has been involved as a primary author in more than ten scientific papers published in major periodontal and implant dentistry journals. His associate, Dr. Eleni Voltidi is a prosthodontist who completed her Fellowship in Dental Oncology and Maxillofacial Prosthetics from the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. PerioWest provides state-of-the-art dental implant treatment, LANAP laser therapy, and advanced periodontal care to Eden Prairie, MN and the Twin Cities areas. To learn more about Dr. Sanchez and the services provided at PerioWest, please visit the practice website at http://www.periowestmn.com or call 952-567-7457. 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." President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump pay respects as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at the Supreme Court building on Thursday. Read more WASHINGTON President Donald Trump was booed Thursday as he paid respects to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He plans to nominate a replacement this weekend for the liberal justice, best known for her advancement of womens rights. The president and first lady Melania Trump both wearing masks stood silently at the top of the steps of the court and looked down at Ginsburgs flag-draped coffin, which was surrounded by white flowers. Ginsburgs death has sparked a controversy over the political balance of the court just weeks before the November presidential election. Moments after Trump arrived, booing could be heard from spectators about a block away from the court building. They chanted vote him out as the president stood near the coffin. Trump walked back into the court as the chants grew louder. As his motorcade returned to the White House, there were also chants of Breonna Taylor from some spectators standing on the sidewalk. Their calls came one day after it was announced that a Kentucky grand jury had brought no charges against Louisville police for her killing during a drug raid connected to a suspect who did not live at Taylors home. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said people have First Amendment rights, but she found the jeers an appalling and disrespectful thing to do as the president honored Justice Ginsburg. The chants were appalling but certainly to be expected when youre in the heart of the swamp, McEnany said. Trump acknowledged hearing the chant, but dismissed it as not very strong. We could hardly hear it from where we were, he told reporters on the South Lawn later Thursday. READ MORE: Ruth Bader Ginsburg lauded in Philly as a legal and feminist icon whose voice soared above the rest Trump has called Ginsburg an amazing woman. Her body will lie in state at the Capitol on Friday, the first time a woman receives that distinction, and only the second time it will be bestowed on a Supreme Court justice. William Howard Taft, who had also served as president, was also recognized in such a manner. The body of Rosa Parks, a private citizen and not a government official, previously has lain in honor at the Capitol. Ginsburg will be buried alongside her husband, Martin, in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery next week. Martin Ginsburg died in 2010. Meanwhile, the president is expected to announce his nominee to replace Ginsburg on Saturday. He has said he will select from a list of five women. Republicans are working to move quickly to a confirmation vote, possibly even before the Nov. 3 election. A steady stream of mourners stood outside the high court Thursday. They packed the streets and hundreds waited in line to pay their respects to Ginsburg. The crowd was hushed and respectful, except for when the president arrived. Attorney Laura French traveled to Washington from Athens, Georgia, to pay her respects. She said she owes her success to trailblazers like Ginsburg. She also said that GOP senators set precedence four years ago when they refused to meet with potential nominee Merrick Garland, and she questioned whether they now had the right to rush through a nominee. She said it was right for Trump to come pay respects, though she doesnt agree with him politically. He should, hes the president and she gave her life and service to this country and to these beliefs that are in our Constitution, French said. READ MORE: Can Trump and McConnell get through the 4 steps to seat a Supreme Court justice in just 6 weeks? Rocky Twyman, who lives in nearby Rockville, Maryland, said Ginsburgs death was a great loss for the country. She believed in equality for all people, he said. He said it was right for Trump to come, but questioned his motives. I thought it was good, but a lot of people said it was insincere because hes going to go around and nominate someone for her seat, he said. Ginsburgs granddaughter has said it was Ginsburgs wish that a replacement justice be chosen by the winner of the November presidential election. Associated Press videographer Dan Huff contributed to this report. L ondons powerhouse economy will suffer a 15 billion hit as a result of the latest coronavirus restrictions, City economists warned today as business leaders said huge job losses were inevitable. The estimate came after the number of shoppers in the West End slumped from about 50 per cent of normal to just 40 per cent the lowest level since June on the day of Boris Johnsons sombre address to the nation. The Prime Minister ordered all pubs, restaurants and bars to close by 10pm and stopped the gradual return to offices by saying people should work from home if they can. The measures are expected to be in place for at least six months. Simon French, chief economist at City brokers Panmure Gordon, said: These recent restrictions create a real jolt to confidence for the London economy that had been recovering during the summer months. The direct impact may be relatively modest, but the spillover to forward bookings, investment and hiring will be substantial and we estimate may be as much as 15 billion over the next couple of quarters. Business owners in the hospitality and retail sectors said they feared new emergency support measures being announced today by Chancellor Rishi Sunak would be too late to stop a huge wave of job losses and business failures after the furlough scheme ends next month. Jace Tyrrell, chief executive of the New West End Company, which represents hundreds of traders on Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street, said: The timelines for all these measures are horrific for companies planning. They are having to make decisions about redundancies now. They have already ordered all the stock for Christmas and lots of it is going to have to be marked down. The West End is very much open and Londoners need to give it their support if it is to survive for the next six months. Its very, very serious. We estimated that 50,000 jobs were at risk and it is almost guaranteed now that were going to lose them. Restaurateurs spoke of near despair today about surviving the winter, particularly with the key Christmas party season almost certain to be wiped out by the rule of six and the 10pm curfew. In Bayswater, dozens of bars and restaurants are financially strapped as the tourists they have relied on have melted away. Peter Abdelsayed owner of the Mezze Bar and Grill said 20 per cent of his takings would disappear overnight when the 10pm curfew kicks in. He told the Standard: My tables outside are usually full till midnight. The curfew will be terrible for us. Its also going to be chaos when my customers turn up to be seated at 8pm or 9pm. We are going to have to turn some people away which we cant afford to do. Already we are losing business in the day because people are not going to offices. We are losing in every way. We need the Government to be clearer and to help us. Simon Thomas, chief executive of West End casino the Hippodrome, said: The curfew is going to be particularly damaging to casinos because 60 per cent of income comes after 10pm. I just hope the measures being announced today are not too little, too late. Jeremy King, co-owner of leading West End venues such as The Wolseley, said the curfew was window dressing, completely inappropriate for traditional fully seated restaurants and serves no purpose. He said that it would result in a further 30 per cent reduction in trade. A billboard touting the League of United Latin American Citizens has gone up along a stretch of Interstate 35 between San Marcos and New Braunfels, replacing a political message designed to provoke that had been condemned as racist. The company that owns the billboard gave the space to LULAC for free after it removed another sign on the same space saying, Used-Mexicans. Bearing the phrase, Join the League. America United next to LULACs red, white and blue shield, the billboard went up Thursday afternoon. It offers a web address and a phone number for text messages. A national LULAC spokesman, David Cruz, said the group decided against putting up a confrontational message in response to the one it replaced. We could have taken a tit-for-tat approach, but it would not have accomplished anything, he said. The previous advertisements cryptic but controversial message was removed Sept. 14 after it spurred complaints from passing motorists and civil rights leaders. LULAC said the company, Turner Outdoor Advertising, had donated the billboard space to the organization effective immediately for placement of a positive message. A call to the New Braunfels-based company was not returned Thursday. New Braunfels City Manager Robert Camareno said in a statement posted to Facebook that local officials had fielded complaints about the Used-Mexicans sign, and while it wasnt located within New Braunfels city limits or its extraterritorial jurisdiction, he called it offensive and not representative of our communitys values. Used-Mexicans billboard removed after blowup in New Braunfels | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Used-Mexicans-billboard-removed-after-15567308.php Those who followed the website suffixes .org, .com and .info. attached to the phrase saw dictionary-style definitions of used as deceptively led into a relationship to gain something of worth and no longer of value, depleted. In bold letters, the sites define Mexicans as people of heritage that are good at what they do. The man who put up the billboard, Charles Abernathy, 55, of Houston, said in a previous interview the message was that Hispanics have been used by the Democratic Party, are conservative at heart and ought to vote for President Donald Trump. He denied it was racist but said, Its meant to be inflammatory. Abernathy didnt return calls Thursday seeking comment on the LULAC replacement billboard. Cruz, the LULAC spokesman, said the group decided to stress a message of unity rather than address the tone and substance of Abernathys billboard, which Rodolfo Rosales, a state director with the group, described as a hate sign that reflects poorly on New Braunfels and its residents even though they had nothing to do with it. We really thought long and hard about it, Cruz said. There were a lot of different opinions and thoughts, but in the end we had one word in mind, and thats the word that occupies a prominent position - united. And that was, to us, the most important message that we wanted the sign to convey - unity - and then we threw in America because we felt it was an important distinction that were about uniting the country, not dividing the country, he added. This is a time to come together, LULAC State District Director Felix Moreno said, not be divided. 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 Less than one percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are Black. Recently, Wells Fargo CEO, Charles Scharf was quoted saying, "There is a very limited pool of Black talent to recruit from," when questioned on Capitol Hill. Despite the recent heightened interest in Diversity and Inclusion and companies pledging Billions of dollars towards Social Justice initiatives and investing in Black businesses, there isn't a real blueprint on how these monies will reach Black people. The Black IDEA Coalition is a 501(c)3 organization and has the infrastructure to provide research, models, and technical assistance to help companies identify Blacks. Recovery: Russian politician Alexei Navalny on a park bench in Berlin, Germany, after his release from hospital. Photo: Instagram Alexei Navalny is "free to return" to Russia after the opposition leader was discharged from a German hospital following weeks in a coma, the Kremlin said yesterday. After being taken to intensive care for a poisoning in August, Mr Navalny has now been released from inpatient care, the Charite hospital in Berlin said. German doctors also said they now believe that "complete recovery is possible" for Mr Navalny, while adding that it was too early to talk about potential long-term damage from the poisoning. Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, told Russian news agencies that there were no obstacles for Mr Navalny to return: "He is free to do it at any moment like any other Russian citizen." Mr Navalny yesterday posted the first photograph of himself out of hospital on Instagram. Pictured on a park bench, he said 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," he wrote. Kira Yarmysh, his spokesman, confirmed that Mr Navalny was staying in Germany for rehabilitation before a planned return to Russia. Mr Navalny fell ill on a plane from Siberia to Moscow in August and was taken to Germany for treatment. Several European laboratories confirmed he was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok. He described his plans as to "walk, spend time with my family, do physiotherapy every day, possibly a rehabilitation centre". Russian officials have denied any involvement in the poisoning of Mr Navalny. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a flag flies at half staff on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in front of a McDonald's restaurant in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. McDonald's has been falsely accused of removing U.S. flags in support of Antifa and the Black Lives Matter movement. [Mark Harper/USA TODAY Network] The claim: McDonald's has a nationwide edict related to flags and Black Lives Matter A Facebook post from Sept. 17 calls for a boycott of the world's largest restaurant chain. "McDonald's removes their American flags in support of Antifa & BLM nationwide," it reads. The post generated 5,100 shares and such comments as: "They are showing their colors!" and "Mcdonalds is goin down!" The post mimics a Twitter post from Sept. 15, making the same claim. It had nearly 7,000 retweets and 6,000 likes. In one retweet, a Twitter user wrote: "Done with them. America made McDonald', and we will un-make them." The person or persons behind the Facebook post and tweet have not responded to a request for comment. McDonald's removes their American flags in support of Antifa & BLM nationwide.#boycottMcDonalds Posted by Doug Ellingson on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 'They were one of us' Following the death of George Floyd, McDonald's as did many companies issued a statement in support of Black Lives Matter, the movement with a mission to "eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes." The McDonald's tribute names George Floyd, Botham Jean, Michael Brown and other unarmed Black men and women who have been killed, and continues, in part: "We see them in our customers. We see them in our crew members. We see them in our franchisees. "And this is why the entire McDonalds family grieves. Its why we stand for them and any other victims of systemic oppression and violence." McDonald's announced a donation to the National Urban League and the NAACP, and closed the message by stating: "Black lives matter." The McDonald's message says nothing about antifa, a loosely linked group of anti-fascist activists who monitor white supremacists and neo-Nazis. Antifa and Black Lives Matter are two separate movements that sometimes are conflated by opponents on the right. Story continues Not all McDonald's have flags. But on Monday, a reporter found one in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, flying the U.S. flag at half-staff in honor of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday. In an email to the USA TODAY Network, McDonald's USA responded: "McDonald's unequivocally stands behind the need for equality and social justice, and these rumors are not true." Our rating: False We rate this claim as FALSE, based on the company's statement and our research. There has been no nationwide removal of U.S. flags at McDonald's restaurants. Our fact-check sources: This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: McDonald's US flags have not been removed for BLM, antifa OTTAWA COUNTY, MI Sheriffs deputies arrested a burglary suspect who fled after he was confronted by workers at a Holland Township party store. The break-in was reported around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Repetes Party store on Riley Street. Workers were leaving through the back door after closing when they heard the sound of glass breaking at the front of the store. Workers confronted a burglary who dropped his stolen liquor and cigarettes and ran out. A sheriffs tracking dog and crime-scene investigators responded. Police quickly obtained video footage of the burglary and shared images of the burglar with deputies in the area. A deputy spotted the suspect nearby and arrested him without incident. Police said the burglar used a rock to break the glass door to enter the business. The suspect was treated for minor injuries sustained when he broke in, police said. Read more: Its negligence, Breonna Taylors cousin speaks in Grand Rapids after ruling Kalamazoo pastor not reappointed to police accountability board Bills expanding criminal record expungement in Michigan pass state Senate Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 18:15 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4700664 1 Lifestyle Micam-Milano,Pijakbumi,shoes,fashion,Italy Free Bandung-based footwear brand Pijakbumi has been selected as one of the recipients in the Emerging Designers category at the MICAM Milano 2020 footwear fair in Milan, Italy. Along with nine other brands from around the world, Pijakbumi was recognized for its original design and for championing sustainability. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, founder Rowland Asfales did not go to Italy to personally receive the award. Only the shoes were flown to Italy, Rowland said as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday. Rowland said the award had attracted potential buyers from Italy and created good media coverage for the brand. For Rowland, the award has inspired him to keep innovating and creating a positive impact on the environment. In the event, Pijakbumi also launched a new design named ATLAS Sneakers that are 95 percent made from plants. The shoes are created from natural fibers from water hyacinth and natural rubber soles. The components are considered eco-friendly as their production involves less water consumption, eco-friendly waste management and causes no harm to the environment. This years MICAM Milano ran from Sept. 20 to 23. It was the first footwear exhibition in Italy after the country experienced a national lockdown. Every year, 1,200 companies exhibit their products to around 45,000 visitors from 130 countries, making it the biggest exhibition for the footwear industry around the world. For this year, Pijakbumi was the only exhibitor from Southeast Asia. (gis/wng) By Libby George LAGOS(Reuters) - Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has signed a long-awaited oil-reform bill and it will be formally presented in the Senate as early as next week, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The legislation has been in the works for the past 20 years, and the main laws governing Nigeria's oil and gas exploration have not been fully updated since the 1960s because of the contentious nature of any change to oil taxes, terms and revenue-sharing within Nigeria. But reforms and regulatory certainty became more pressing this year as low oil prices and a shift towards renewable energy made competition for investment from oil majors tougher. The alignment of both chambers with Buhari's All Progressives Congress party has also given the reforms the best chance of passage in years. Buhari officially signed the bill late last week, and his team has already been building support for it in the National Assembly. The sources, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the assembly has already chosen teams of members who will work most closely on individual portions of the bill. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives must approve it before Buhari can sign it into law. Two presidential spokesmen declined to comment and the Senate had no immediate comment. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources sent the draft, the product of months of consultation between Nigerian officials, oil and gas companies and other industry stakeholders, to Buhari last month. Excerpts from the bill seen by Reuters included provisions that would streamline and reduce some oil and gas royalties, boost the amount of money companies pay to local communities and for environmental clean-ups and alter the dispute resolution process between companies and the government. It also included measures to push companies to develop gas discoveries and a framework for gas tariffs and delivery. Commercialising gas, particularly for use in local power generation, is a core government priority. (Additional reporting by Felix Onuah and Camillus Eboh in Abuja; editing by Barbara Lewis) Actor Sara Ali Khan arrived in Mumbai from Goa on Thursday to appear before the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) which is probing the drugs angle in the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. The actor was spotted at Mumbai airport with her mother Amrita Singh on Thursday. The NCB had on Wednesday served summons to Khan at her home. Three other actors - Deepika Padukone, Rakul Preet Singh and Shraddha Kapoor - have also been asked to appear before the NCB. Actor Sara Ali Khan with mother Amrita Singh at Mumbai airport (Photo: ANI) While Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor have been asked to appear before the NCB on September 26, Padukone has been summoned on September 25. Khan and the three other actors have been named in NCBs ongoing investigation into the drug angle in Rajputs death. Earlier this month, NCB arrested actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik in the same case. According to the NCB, Chakraborty and her brother financed and arranged drugs for Rajput. The NCB has so far arrested over 10 people in the case. Soon after NCB issued summons to four actors, Rhea Chakrabortys lawyer Satish Maneshinde during a TV interview late Wednesday night clarified that Rhea has not named anyone in her statement in the drug case. The NCB, which started its investigation almost a month back, is the third central agency to launch a probe in connection with Rajputs death. While the Central Bureau of Investigation is probing Rajputs death, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, the Enforcement Directorate is looking into allegations of money laundering. V Velayudham By Express News Service CHIKBALLAPUR: The construction of the Chikballapur Government Medical College will be completed in two years and it will have all modern technologies, said Chikballapur Deputy Commissioner R Latha. Speaking to The New Indian Express, the Deputy Commissioner R Latha said construction work for the government medical college in Aruru village of Chikballapur is in full swing. The contractor has been asked to complete the work within the stipulated period. Accordingly, it is under progress with maximum workforce and machinery. Giving details of the land, the deputy commissioner said 59 acres and 29 guntas have been allotted for the medical college at an estimated cost of Rs 610 crores. Latha said admissions are proposed to be taken up in the next academic year and classes will commence in the existing VTU Centre. Later, classes will be shifted to the new block and the final call in this regard will be taken after a meeting with the Medical Education and district in charge Minister K Sudhakar. The Deputy Commissioner also said once the medical college is set up, it will be a boon for the entire Chikballapur district. Besides, the surrounding districts of Kolar, Bengaluru Rural and even Andhra Pradesh's neighbouring district will improve. According to sources, the land value in the surrounding Aruru village has hit the roof. None of the farmers are interested in selling their land following the decision to set up a medical college in the area. Some farmers who have land on the main road plan to construct accommodation with all facilities for students. Meanwhile, several businessmen have approached owners to allot them land on a lease basis to build hotels and PG centres for the students. A Go Fund Me campaign has been started to cover the funeral expenses of a 28-year-old Durham man who was murdered in Scarborough on Sunday. Daniel Lashley was shot to death while socializing outside a residence in the area of Sheppard Avenue East and Morningside Avenue just after 6 p.m., Toronto police said. Police say two suspects were seen fleeing the area after the shooting. Lashley was declared dead at hospital. The investigation continues. According to the posting on the Go Fund Me site, Lashley enjoyed cooking and spending time with family and friends. He leaves behind his mother, father and brother as well as many family members and friends. The Go Fund Me campaigns goal is $20,000 and so far, in one day, it has raised more than $7,000. Your browser does not support the audio element. Hanoi is shedding its skin. So what to make of its spirit? asked Wouter Vanhees, a Belgian photographer who roams Hanois construction sites in the middle of the night as he hunts down great photos. A portrait of Wouter Vanhees, a Belgian photographer based in Hanoi since 2015 Vanhees, 42, has been based in Hanoi since 2015. Though he spends his days working behind a desk as a financial counsellor, Vanhees Wednesday nights are filled with scooter trips around the city, a time he says the stars of work, family, and personal time align. The purpose of his trips? To seek out what he calls the spirit of Hanoi amongst the citys dozens of construction projects. A Wouter Vanhees shot from his debut photobook Ha Noi, Wednesday, 10:43 p.m Though Vanhees first began photographing as a way to document his familys life and travels in Vietnam, he later fell in love with street photography, particularly shots of Hanois rapid urbanization and the social implications of such development. Theres no plan and no predetermined route," Vanhees wrote in a feature story for Vietnamese photography magazine Matca. "I dont know what Ill find, nor what Im looking for. "Im not sure where Ill end up, but thats OK because I have my camera with me. "Thats my protective armor, the only pretext I need to venture out. In an interview with the online journal Urbanautica, Vanhees described himself as absolutely in love with Hanoi. While its a huge city in absolute numbers, its still relatively small compared to many other Asian megacities," he said. "And as I mentioned before, somehow the city has, so far at least, managed to retain much of its small-town charm." He is also fascinated by the traditional values that the city has managed to preserve despite its modernization, particularly the importance of family and hierarchic values. A Wouter Vanhees shot from his debut photobook Ha Noi, Wednesday, 10:43 p.m To better understand the shaping influences for Hanois massive transformation, Vanhees chooses to stray off the beaten path and into weed-ridden construction sites under the night sky to capture a discrete side of the city. The photographic elements are simple. Alongside ubiquitous high-rises, certain motifs tend to recur: neon-lit haze, crisp shadows, illuminated windows punctuating the night sky," wrote Ha Dao managing director of Matca in an analysis of Wouters work. "Some detail the chaos of ongoing construction while others veer toward abstraction. "In photographs devoid of human figures, their presence is not described, only implied." Vanhees' collection of photographs from the past five years will be compiled in his debut photobook Ha Noi, Wednesday, 10:43 p.m on shelves on Friday. Speaking of the raison d'etre for his Hanoi project, the photographer professed,I want to understand this city. Theres order in its chaos. Theres stillness in its noise. There are so many shades to its darkness. And its changing so fast. Its hard to come to grips with this transformation, not understanding what was in the first place, let alone what is to come. Below are more photos from Wouter Vanhees' Hanoi project: Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! China bans teachers from mentioning God or prayer, intensifies crackdown Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Teachers in China who mention God or religion risk employment termination as communist authorities increasingly control education materials and expand their list of banned topics teachers are not allowed to discuss in classrooms. According to Bitter Winter, a publication produced by the Center for Studies on New Religion which reports on human rights issues in China, the Chinese Communist Party is strictly monitoring what teachers say in schools and universities. Teachers are observed in their classrooms by authorities who watch for reactionary thoughts or improper remarks, ensuring students are not taught about democracy, religion, or exposed to any criticism of the regime. Schools in China are government-controlled, and therefore communist in ideology. The government believes that religious teachers are hostile to the [Communist] Party, even if they dont evangelize, an English teacher from the eastern province of Shandong, said. The CCP is afraid that they would integrate faith into teaching. Thats why they strictly control teachers and want them to follow its ideological system and eventually become puppets that cannot think independently. A college teacher in Inner Mongolia told Bitter Winter that last year, a central government inspection team came to the school to investigate teachers ideological standing concerning pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Teachers who responded by espousing improper remarks were punished. We were observed during every class, the teacher said, adding that the Chinese Ministry of Education demanded teachers not say or do anything against the party line in their educational or teaching activities. Another English teacher from Shandong told Bitter Winter that the provincial Education Bureau criticized her for mentioning God and prayer during a class on Jane Eyre, while another was criticized for mentioning mealtime prayers while discussing dining traditions in various countries. Chinas Education Bureau also released a proposal to each school that establishes an ideological control team in an attempt to ensure teachers don't influence their classrooms with religious or ideological differences. Censorship and control measures have increased in intensity since 2013, when President Xi Jinping took office, according to Bitter Winter. Since the Regulations on Religious Affairs legislation was implemented last year, schools have adopted unprecedented measures to keep students away from Christianity. Last year, it was reported that a primary school in Xinzheng city in the central province of Henan screened a propaganda video in which Jesus followers were depicted as big scary monsters. After the presentation was complete, a teacher warned that Christian relatives might cast spells on the children. Officials have also reportedly claimed that schools are places "for the state to foster students to build up socialist society," with parents told they have an obligation "to nurture children in accordance with national laws and social requirements." In its 2020 annual report, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom noted the Chinese Communist Party has banned youth younger than 18 from participating in religious services. Additionally, Christian leaders are forbidden from organizing any activities with young people or encourage them to consider ministerial vocations. In Shangrao, an area of Jiangxi, more than 40 churches have hung a slogan that reads: Non-locals are prohibited from preaching; no underage people allowed in church." A previous report documented how authorities forcibly removed adopted children from their Christian parents, claiming the adoption papers were no longer valid because their children were trapped by an evil religion. The CCP has also threatened to send Christian children to government re-education camps and ordered parents to refrain from enrolling their children in church schools. China is ranked on Open Doors USAs World Watch List as one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians. The communist regime's crackdown on religious freedom has also led the U.S. State Department to label it as a country of particular concern for continuing to engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom. MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. - In the thickening smoke and gusting wind, two California National Guard helicopter crews made a decision: They would fly repeatedly into the spiraling wildfire crisis in the Sierra National Forest, even though they had never flown a mission quite like this one. The aerial rescue of 214 people who were trapped in the Creek Fire captured national attention and was lauded by President Donald Trump during his visit to California this month. But it also highlighted the expanding involvement of the U.S. military in responding to wildfire season as climate change leaves forests more susceptible to blazes and for longer periods of time each year "You understand our feelings on climate change here in California, and that California has been aggressively impacted by that," Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Smiley, a senior officer in the California National Guard, told Defense Secretary Mark Esper here last week. "Our fire season starts sooner, and our fire season now lasts until December. Every year our fire season is growing in length." The wildfires have burned more than 3.6 million acres in California this year and 1 million in Oregon, prompting widespread evacuations. Twenty-six people have died in wildfires in California since Aug. 15, state officials say. About 1,200 California National Guard members are involved in the response, joining firefighters on "fire lines" that are cleared with chain saws and hand tools to create buffer zones, flying rescue missions, dropping water and fire retardant by aircraft, and monitoring racing flames on drone video. The California National Guard has a long history of helping in wildfires, but national and state officials also have relied on guard members from other states to spread the burden. Active-duty troops also are involved. About 250 Marines and sailors participated in firefighting training at Camp Pendleton last weekend and are expected to form new crews to work by hand alongside firefighters on the Creek Fire. Other Marines performed aerial firefighting this month on the Slink Fire, which spread to the Marine Corps' mountain warfare training center in Bridgeport, in the Eastern Sierras, and soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state have helped on the August Complex Fire in the Mendocino National Forest. "We're just in the beginning of the California fire season," Smiley said in an interview, citing the Santa Ana and sundowner winds that typically arrive each fall. "I don't really see an end until we get some rain that puts some of these fires out." Trump issued a federal disaster declaration last month, for which Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked him during the president's visit to the state. But the president also repeated his doubts about climate change being real, despite broad consensus within the scientific community. "It will start getting cooler, you just watch!" Trump said. "I don't think science knows, actually." Former vice president Joe Biden, Trump's Democratic challenger, has countered by calling Trump a "climate arsonist," making the case that the president's environmental record is disqualifying. "We need a president who respects science, who understands that the damage from climate change is already here and unless we take urgent action, it'll soon be more catastrophic," Biden said. The Defense Department, under Trump, has quieted some of its public discussion about climate change but continues to express concerns. In a report released last year, defense officials said "the effects of a changing climate are a national security issue" that could affect the military's planning, operations and installations. Seventy-nine bases analyzed are vulnerable to climate change, including 32 Air Force installations and four Army posts, and seven Navy bases could join the list in coming years, the report said. "Due to routine training and testing activities that are significant ignition sources, wildfires are a constant concern on many military installations," the report said. "As a result, the DoD spends considerable resources on claims, asset loss, and suppression activities due to wildfire." The conditions in the Sierra National Forest are a glimpse into how the military could be involved in firefighting in the future. In an interview, crew members said they were on a rotational alert status on a Sunday evening when the call for help came in. People trapped by fire had begun gathering at Mammoth Pool Reservoir, about 45 miles northeast of Fresno. A CH-47 Chinook, flying from Stockton, reached the valley as the sun was setting. Through night-vision goggles, the crew could see a path clearly, in part because embers from the fire lit the way, said crew member Sgt. Cameron Powell. The crew looked for a good spot to put down the aircraft - reasonably flat but ideally not dusty. A helicopter's gusty rotor wash can spread flames if the aircraft hovers a fire. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Joseph Rosamond, the pilot in charge, set the Chinook down on a concrete boat launch, with help from Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brady Hlebain. In the back, Powell and Sgt. George Esquivel Jr. took in a chaotic scene that included people with burns and broken bones, and a collection of vehicles and motor homes. The air was more than 100 degrees, even after dark. "Nobody knew where to go," Esquivel said. "Nobody knew who to talk to, or how to get help, and like everyone has been saying, it was just kind of apocalyptic in there. You know, we're all human. We're all scared, and we don't know what to do. But all of our training kicks in." The Chinook made three trips into the valley, carrying out groups of 67, 102 and 37 people, to an airfield in Fresno. The second flight was packed because the crew members weren't sure they'd be able to fly in a third time. The smaller Black Hawk used the same landing, said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kipp Goding, who piloted that aircraft. The 11-seat aircraft, flew three trips and carried groups of 15, 22 and 21 people to safety, he said. "Our cabin was completely filled," he said. "There was no more space for anyone else to get in. It was wall-to-wall, front-to-rear people piled in there to make sure we could get as many out as possible." Developer Tim Harrison and landowner John Robinson have been working six years for this date. They joined government dignitaries Thursday for a groundbreaking at The Mill at Easton. Its a working-class housing development going in at the site of the former Stewart Silk Mill at 620 Coal St. in Easton. Projects like this dont happen overnight, but when they happen the community benefits, Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said. Robinson formerly ran Black Diamond Enterprises out of the site. He made stainless-steel tabletops, sinks and accessories for the food service industry, including McDonalds. After he closed the business, he was looking for a partner to develop the property. Harrison said Robinson wanted nothing to do with him at first, but his persistence paid off. Together they secured funding for an expensive environmental cleanup and demolition. Plans to save two small buildings were foiled after a fire torched the site in 2016. They also fought for and eventually secured economic development funds. The development will provide 55 homes for working-class people who otherwise couldnt afford homes. Affordable housing is a priority for Panto. I feel so grateful to have reached this point, Harrison said. Its almost overwhelming. He expects work to start within a month on the $15 million to $20 million project. Construction should wrap up in about a year. Architectural rendering for The Mill at Easton, a workforce housing development at 620 Coal St.Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com The Mill at Easton includes two three-story buildings with 11 one-bedroom, 30 two-bedroom and 14 three-bedroom units. Each home will include energy efficient appliances, central air conditioning, a pantry, a washer and a dryer. One building will have a community room with a kitchenette. The property will feature social and community support services provided by The Easton Area Neighborhood Center, Fulton Bank, Neighborhood Health Centers of the Lehigh Valley and ProJeCt of Easton. Since the project is financed in part through tax credits, the homes must be rented to individuals who earn between 30% and 80% of the neighborhoods average median income. Families who move to the development will be able to take advantage of the brand-new Cheston Elementary School across Coal Street. Harrison brought in Cleveland-based PIRHL (Partners in Residential Housing Leadership) to help with the project. The organization specializes in industrial-brownfield development and affordable housing, according to PIRHL Vice President Lara Schwager. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency awarded the project 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits, which generated $12.2 million in private equity, according to a news release. PHFA also provided $1 million from the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement program. The project additionally received a $2 million Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant and more than $1 million in assessment and remediation funds from the PA Industrial Site Reuse Program. Tim Harrison is married to Caroline Harrison, the CEO of Advance Local. Advance Local is the parent company for lehighvalleylive.com. Landscape plan for The Mill at Easton, a workforce housing development at 620 Coal St.Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com Stewart History John Wood Stewart built the silk mill in 1902 to produce high-end textiles and supplement his other mills in New Jersey. A piece of Stewart silk is in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. He sold the mill in 1930. The new owner switched to manufacturing nylon for World War II. The mill closed in 1965. It was among the last in the Lehigh Valley to operate. Source: Tim Harrison 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. President Donald Trump signed an executive order with great fanfare Thursday that proclaims protecting patients with pre-existing conditions is official U.S. policy. 'The historic action I'm taking today includes the first ever executive order to affirm it is the official policy of the United States government to protect patients with pre-existing conditions - so we're making that official,' the president told an audience in the swing state of North Carolina. Trump's action doesn't have legal teeth, as his administration has backed a Texas-based lawsuit that could kill the law - the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare - that already makes it so insurers can't refuse to cover or charge people more if they have a pre-existing medical condition. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that states protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions is official U.S. policy, a move that has little legal weight, but could shore him up with voters who say Joe Biden is better on the issue of healthcare Trump signed the document during a stop in the swing state of North Carolina. At the same time, the Trump administration has backed a lawsuit that could kill Obamacare, which currently protects patients with pre-existing conditions from insurance companies 'Unless there's a law that prohibits the conduct in question, or unless the president is exercising a power that's been delegated to him by Congress, his statements have no more legal weight than a tweet,' Nicholas Bagley, a professor at University of Michigan's law school, explained to Reuters. 'It's as if I was walking around with a memo that was title 'Executive Order,' and claimed that the policy of the United States is that everybody gets a cheeseburger on Tuesday,' Bagley added. Trump lags behind Democratic rival Joe Biden in national opinion polls, especially on the question of who would better handle healthcare. The president has been criticized for failing to follow through on promises to lay out an alternative to Obamacare, with the White House, for weeks, saying a plan was to come. He has also drawn fire for his administration's response to the deadly coronavirus, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans. In Charlotte, Trump made it clear he didn't like the political optics. 'Our opponents, the Democrats, like to constantly talk about it, and yet pre-existing conditions are much safer with us than they are with them and now we have it affirmed,' Trump said. 'It is affirmed, signed and done and we can put this to rest.' That likely won't happen as Democrats are using the Texas Obamacare case - which is headed to the Supreme Court in November after the election - as the principle reason a new justice to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg shouldn't be confirmed before voters head to the polls. In a speech Sunday addressing the Supreme Court vacancy Biden said the American people 'know their healthcare hangs in the balance in the middle of the worst health crisis in living memory.' 'We've really become the healthcare party, the Republican Party,' Trump countered Thursday. 'And nobody knows that.' In June, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to invalidate the Obamacare law that added millions to the healthcare safety net, a move that could scrap coverage during the coronavirus crisis. The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, prohibited health insurers from denying coverage to Americans with known health conditions. 'If the Supreme Court strikes down all or a large part of the Affordable Care Act, what the president is making clear in this executive order is that it is the policy of the United States that people who suffer from pre-existing conditions will be protected against those pre-existing conditions in their insurance coverage,' Azar told reporters earlier. Trump said new healthcare legislation must protect pre-existing conditions. 'Or I won't sign it,' he said at the Thursday event. In a call with reporters earlier Thursday, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Trump was directing him via a second executive order to work with Congress to pass legislation banning surprise healthcare bills by the beginning of next year, and explore executive action to address the goal if the legislative bid fails. Surprise bills occur when patients visit a hospital they believe is in their health insurance network but then are seen by a doctor or specialist who is out of network. Trump previously called on Congress to address the issue in 2019. 'What the president is saying is that all the relevant players - hospitals, doctors, insurance companies - had better get their act together, and get legislation passed through Congress that protects patients against surprise medical bills,' Azar said. Frontline healthcare workers and aged carers should be the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, a survey has revealed. The survey, conducted by the Australian National University, interviewed 3,000 people questioning who they believe should be vaccinated first. Topping the list was healthcare workers and aged and disability carers, followed closely by registered nurses, nursing support workers and general practitioners. Hospital staff assist people waiting in line to be screened for COVID-19 outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital on March 11, 2020 An elderly man wearing a mask rests on an ornate bench on Swanston Street during COVID-19 in Melbourne Primary school teachers, childcare workers and police officers also made the top 10 of who should be the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 'The world is waiting with bated breath for a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19,' report co-author Professor Nicholas Biddle said. Who should receive a COVID-19 vaccine first Paramedic Aged and disability carer Registered nurses Nursing support workers General practitioners Primary school teacher Police officer Childcare worker Welfare support worker Advertisement 'If and when it does become available, a decision will need to be made about how it will be distributed and what criteria will be used to identify who receives the vaccine first. 'Such a decision will inevitably take into account the health and economic benefits of some groups receiving it ahead of others.' He said the report's findings 'made sense' that healthcare workers should be the first to be vaccinated thanks to their hard work during the pandemic and the rate they were infected by the virus. 'This makes perfect sense when you consider where most of our second wave of COVID-19 infections have come from and that these are the professionals who are directly dealing with the aftermath of this pandemic on a daily basis. 'The same can be said for aged and disability carers, who are providing care to some of the people most vulnerable to the terrible effects of this virus.' In addition to the top 10, Australians with pre-existing health conditions should also be vaccinated first. Females were also more preferred to be vaccinated before men as well as older Australians to younger ones. Co-author Professor Matthew Gray said revealed that those surveyed did not think Australians with an Asian name should receive the vaccine before those with Anglo-Celtic names. 'This is important because indications of at least some increase in anti-Asian views has not translated into a view that people with an Asian name should be given lower priority in access to a COVID-19 vaccine.' With announcements by Senators Romney, Grassley and Gardner, the outcome of the confirmation process for Donald Trumps third nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court is a done deal. There is nothing Democrats can do but alienate swing voters in swing states by criticizing a Catholic mother of seven who taught law at Notre Dame or a first generation Cuban/American from a state where Cuban-Americans are a substantial voting block. Joe Biden currently has a substantial lead among Catholic voters and they are critical in the rust belt. He is already underperforming with Latino voters. Furthermore, both of the most likely nominees are, on paper, qualified and opposition can only make Democrats look unreasonably partisan to low-information voters by logical inference, swing voters. However, neither should Democrats legitimize a sham process where people like Lindsey Graham have already committed to confirmation of a yet to be identified candidate in complete contradiction to arguments made by the same Republicans in 2016. Democrats should follow the example of Collins and Murkowski and Republicans in 2016 by refusing to even participate in the confirmation process. They should cite the blatant hypocrisy of doing so and the futility of weighing in on a pre-determined outcome. Democrats should boycott the whole process. Let the Republicans hold hearings among themselves. Let the Republicans vote to rubber-stamp Trump without Democratic participation. Im sure Doug Jones and Joe Manchin would prefer to abstain on principle rather than vote against a female candidate who, aside from her political agenda, will be an appealing personality. Nor should Biden or the senators criticize the nominee personally. Their criticism should be directed to the hypocrisy of one set of rules for Democratic nominees and a different standard for Trumps nominees. Their concerns should be limited to the fact that this appointment will seal the elimination of insurance coverage for 100 million Americans with pre-existing conditions and facilitate Trumps baseless challenge to an election he is likely to lose. They should not accede to the Republicans unfounded contention from four years ago that you cannot confirm a nominee in an election year because there is no Constitutional basis for such an argument. They should simply state that for this nominee and this nominee alone they will follow the precedent set as recently as 2016. They should not commit to a future practice. Finally nothing can be gained by alienating a nominee who will certainly be confirmed and then sit in judgment of the election Trump is likely to lose. Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh are examples of how embittered and vindictive Justices can be when attacked by a party during the nomination process with no possibility of success. This nominee may be critical to the issue of whether Joe Bidens election is legitimate and alienating her before she assumes her inevitable position is not a good legal strategy. Get out of their way. Get this over with before Trump can get the headlines he craves. Get the discussion back to where it belongs on 200,000 plus dead Americans, most of whom didnt have to die, and Trumps unfitness for office. Fifteen minutes in the spotlight at a confirmation hearing, for the sole purpose of appealing to the Democratic base, is not worth putting this monumental election at risk. Terry Trieweiler is a retired Montana Supreme Court justice. He writes from Whitefish. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 5 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - Cascadia Blockchain Group Corp. ("Cascadia" or the "Company") (CSE: CK) is pleased to announce that Eurasia Blockchain Fintech Group Limited ("EBFG"), a subsidiary of the Company hosted the 2nd Presidential Youth Staff Reserve meeting on September 19, 2020. The government officials of Kazakhstan including the Minister of Education and Science, Askhat Aimagambetov, Minister of National Economy, Ruslan Dalenov, Aide to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Erlan Karin, and 70 members of the Presidential Youth Staff Reserve attended the meeting. This 2nd Presential Youth Staff Reserve Meeting continued the discussion of the key topics mentioned in the State of the Nation Address by President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, such as digitalization, information technology, new financial technologies, public administration, educational programs in IT and fintech. The meeting also addressed the following seven basic principles, which are the key to Kazakhstan's economic development: Equitable distribution of benefits and responsibilities The leading role of private enterprise Fair competition, opening markets for a new generation of entrepreneurs Increased productivity, complexity and technological efficiency of the economy Development of human capital, investment in a new type of education A "Green" economy, environmental protection Adoption of well-grounded decisions by the state and responsibility to society for them Furthermore, Tilektes Adambekov, the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of EBFG presented Eurasia Blockchain eXchange ("EBX") platform to the attendees including the ministers and the Presidential Youth Staff Reserve members, who are potential customers and stakeholders of EBX. Kazakhstan is a blockchain friend country and EBFG is the pioneer in cryptocurrency exchange platform in Kazakhstan. It is worth to mention that the President of Kazakhstan paid a great attention to the development and implementation of new financial technologies in his latest State of the Nation Address. The government recently provided additional exemptions and removed certain restrictions on EBFG's FinTech license, which allows EBFG to accelerate the launch of EBX. "Through our continuous efforts and commitment to the development of EBX, as well as cooperation with the government of Kazakhstan, Astana Financial Services Authority ("AFSA") recently removed the restriction on the number of clients. Previously, there was a limit of a maximum of 100 clients. Without the limit of number of clients, EBX would be able to grow its business at a much faster pace. Our team will continue to finalize the testing of EBX to ensure the official launch of EBX is safe and successful" said Di Deng, the President and CEO of Cascadia. About Cascadia Cascadia is an early stage fintech and blockchain technology company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE: CK). Its wholly owned subsidiary, Eurasia Blockchain Fintech Group Limited ("EBFG"), has a conditional FinTech License to operate a crypto currency exchange and provide custodian services under the brand of Eurasia Blockchain eXchange ("EBX"). About AIFC Astana International Financial Center is the financial center of Central Asia, the Caucasus, EAEU, the Middle East, Western China, and Europe. AIFC operates under English law and aims to develop financial markets. AIFC has a separate economic system with an independent judicial system based on common laws. It has relaxed foreign exchange control and capital environment. Companies incorporated under the jurisdiction of AIFC are entitled to 50 years of exemption from corporate, personal income, land, and property taxes. www.cascadiacorp.com The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Cascadia Blockchain Group Corp. For further information: Hanxuan Wu, Director, [email protected] New York: Noble Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani student activist, said she was "heartbroken" by Donald Trump's order on refugees and urged the US president not to abandon the world's "most defenceless." "I am heartbroken that today President Trump is closing the door on children, mothers and fathers fleeing violence and war," said the 19-year-old, shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012 after publicly advocating education for girls in her home country. "In this time of uncertainty and unrest around the world, I ask President Trump not to turn his back on the world's most defenceless children and families," she added in a statement just moments after Trump signed the decree. Yousafzai is the youngest ever recipient of the NobelPeace Prize, which she shared in 2014 with India's Kailash Satyarthi, a fellow education activist. Now living in England, she made a remarkable recovery after undergoing medical treatment and has travelled the world as a campaigner. "I am heartbroken that America is turning its back on a proud history of welcoming refugees and immigrants -- the people who helped build your country, ready to work hard in exchange for a fair chance at a new life," she said. The decree signed by Trump was entitled: "Protection of the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the United States." The White House did not immediately make the wording public, but a draft text leaked to US media said it would suspend the entire US refugee resettlement program for at least 120 days while tough new vetting rules are established. In addition, it specifically bars Syrian refugees from the United States indefinitely, or until Trump decides that they no longer pose a threat. "I am heartbroken that Syrian refugee children, who have suffered through six years of war by no fault of their own, are singled out for discrimination," said Yousafzai. The decree signed by Trump was entitled: "Protection of the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the UnitedStates." The White House did not immediately make the wording public, but a draft text leaked to US media said it would suspend the entire US refugee resettlement program for at least 120 days while tough new vetting rules are established. "I am heartbroken that Syrian refugee children, who have suffered through six years of war by no fault of their own, are singled out for discrimination," said Yousafzai. She named a friend who had fled wars in Somalia, Yemen and Egypt to study in the United States, where she had hoped to be reunited with her sister. "Today her hope of being reunited with her precious sister dims," she said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Hyderabad, Sep 24 : In a major move for protection of Waqf properties, the Telangana government has prohibited their registration to leave no scope for unauthorised transfers. Waqf properties have been included in the list which will be put under "auto lock" on the soon-to-be-launched Dharani Portal for online registration of properties across the state. Waqf, endowment and government lands will under be under "auto lock", thus disabling online registration module for such properties. The government issued an order, prohibiting registration of Waqf properties under section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908. The Chief Executive Officer of the Telangana State Waqf Board has been directed to furnish the list of all Waqf properties to the Managing Director, Dharani Portal/Inspector General (Registration & Stamps) for placing them under "auto lock". The government has also ordered municipal corporations, municipalities and gram panchayats not to issue permits for construction in Waqf properties, other than those authorised by the Minorities Welfare Department. The Government Order was issued after an announcement in this regard by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in the Assembly during the recent session. He gave the assurance when All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, during a debate on the new Revenue AAct, raised the issue of Waqf properties. He alleged that Waqf lands worth thousands of crores in Hyderabad and other parts of the state were encroached over the years. He sought a ban on the registration of Waqf properties to protect them. Meanwhile, Akbaruddin Owaisi and other legislators of his party on Thursday attended a meeting convened by the Chief Minister to discuss the implementation of the new Revenue Act. New Delhi: The Union budget is going to be a"market-neutral" event as policymakers are not likely to change their policy stance and will continue to focus on fiscal consolidation, says a Morgan Stanley report. "We do not expect major changes in the conduct of fiscalpolicy and hence, view the budget as a market-neutral event," Morgan Stanley said in a research note. The Union budget for 2017-18 is due to be presented on February 1. According to Morgan Stanley India Strategist Ridham Desai, the budget's influence on short-term market performance is declining. "Market participants will have to deal with a fair amount of volatility on the budget day though even this volatility has been declining over the past 25 years," Desai said. Sector-wise, the budget is expected to be positive for autos, cement and metals, consumer, Internet and e-commerce, media and real estate. For sectors like financials, information technology, oil and gas and utilities, budget proposals are expected to be neutral. The report said the pace of fiscal consolidation will be slower than what was planned earlier as the support from For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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 Watch the trailer for Say Your Prayers below... People like talking about Say Your Prayers star Harry Melling on the internet. Its not surprising really, considering his role in one of the biggest movie/book/lunchbox franchises of all-time: Harry Potter. But a quick glance online and its clear his fans and followers have one very simple goal for Melling play The Doctor in Doctor Who. Some of this may stem from the fact that his grandfather is Patrick Troughton aka the Second Doctor but as Melling says, I dont really know how that gives me a good standing for it? Oh, Im related to someone so I must now be that. In fact, he admits hes not the biggest fan of the BBC series and while its never say never, the #HarryForWho army are almost certainly going to end up disappointed. Read more: Who is the best Doctor Who? I think there are plenty of different people who should play Doctor Who other than me, he says. I would be the least interesting choiceAnother white man with curly hair, we know what that is. It would be good to see different incarnations. Harry Melling in a still from Say Your Prayers (Central City Media) In fact, Melling is for the moment more focused on the big screen. Twenty years on from playing the pig-like demon child that was Dudley, hes going toe-to-toe with Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand in Joel Coens cinematic Macbeth (out next year), while hes leading the cast of the new British religion-themed comedy-drama Say Your Prayers, opposite Derek Jacobi and Roger Allam. Melling plays Tim, a sweet young Christian raised by priests who along with his more volatile brother is tasked with carrying out a heinous act in the name of God. And while there are laughs along the way, theres plenty of complexity too. Derek Jacobi and Harry Melling in a still from Say Your Prayers (Central City Media) I think people may think theyre in for an out-and-out comedy, but what it says is something quite bleak, he says. It does make its point in quite a surprising way. But with such controversial subject matter religious fervour, atheism, terrorism was he at all concerned about how it would go across? Story continues Theres always a worry when youre dealing with something that is a sensitive subject matter, he agrees, but adds that this brings something new and interesting to the table. The idea of Christians being fundamentalists, or being radicalised, is something I dont think weve seen. Tom Brooke and Harry Melling in a still from Say Your Prayers (Central City Media) Variety and challenging himself is at the heart of the 31-year-olds career plan (not that he consciously has one) even if hes not as worried as occasional screen collaborator Robert Pattinson (the pair have both appeared recently in Waiting for the Barbarians and The Devil All The Time) about blowing up his past. I get quite nervous if Im locked into something into a role or a genre, he says. Theres an element of Tim in that journey. Ive played a few dislikable people in the past and I think Tim is the most lovely character that Ive come across. I think your taste changes. My taste when I was a 10-year-old in Harry Potter is very different to my taste now. You just follow your nose. Read more: Why did Harry Potter never win any Oscars? That nose, along with the rest of him, looks markedly different from the chubby child who tormented Harry for all those years. Melling famously shed the puppy fat (theres an entire, slightly creepy, subculture of nerdy-Potter-kids-who-grew-up-to-be-hot stans) and after going to drama school, broke into adult gigs via Merlin and Garrows Law on TV before scoring roles in The Lost City of Z and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (where he first worked with the Coen Bros.) (L-R) Harry Melling, Ethan Coen, Bill Heck, Tim Blake Nelson, Joel Coen at the 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs' screening during the 75th Venice Film Festival, 2018. (Daniele Venturelli/Daniele Venturelli/WireImage) But just because he has a thriving career, dont think that means hes come to terms with the enormity of his screen past. No, I dont think I have, to be honest, he reveals. Its a very strange thing knowing that people have effectively watched you grow up. I dont think its a bad thing, I just think its a strange thing. Youve got these home videos of yourself as a 10-year-old kid playing this despicable character for the world to see. And what I cant get my head round is the fact that generationally it keeps going, he continues. Friends of mine have kids and theyre starting to get into Harry Potter and suddenly Uncle Harry has turned into a different Uncle Harry because theyve seen me as Dudley. Thats a lot to get your head round and often I try not to because its too much. Richard Griffiths, Harry Melling, and Fiona Shaw as the Dursleys in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. (Warner Bros.) Does that mean that given his time again, he would have said no? No, I had it really good, he says. I was in for a month and I went back and did my school and had my life and then I came back for a month. Playing Dudley led me to Fiona [Shaw], Fiona Shaw (who played Aunt Petunia) led to me to cement my love of theatre, which led me to drama school Melling is a young person for whom JK Rowling had an enormous impact and he takes his time to answer when asked about the recent furore surrounding the author and her comments that were perceived by some quarters to be transphobic. Read more: Warner Bros. responds to JK Rowling controversy My take on it is that I think the most powerful thing we have as human beings is choice and I think everyone has the right to choose what they are and who they are. Thats kind of what I feel about it, he says. I obviously cant talk on behalf of anyone else. My feeling is that we must be allowed to choose that seems to me to be the most empowering way of looking at it. Derek Jacobi, Harry Melling and Tom Brooke in the Say Your Prayers poster (Central City Media) As far as online backlash however, hes more immediately concerned with his characters woolly hat in Say Your Prayers. It was a really good idea to begin with, he laughs. And then we had two bobbles either side which for continuity were a nightmare! In this scene the bobble was behind the coat and in this scene the bobble was in front of the coat, so Im sure therell be a lot of internet forums going mad for that! Say Your Prayers will be released on demand 28 September. Pre-order on iTunes. Cy-Fair ISD high schools ranked among top in the nation Four Cy-Fair ISD schools are in the top 3,500 high schools nationwide according to the annual U.S. News & World Report Cy Woods, Cy Ranch, Cy-Fair and Cy Creek, states a district press release. Two of those schools made it to the top 1,700, with Cy Woods ranked number 1,314 nationally and number 138 statewide. Cy Ranch was number 1,606 nationally and 160 statewide. Both high schools received an overall score above 90 on a 100-point scale. State of the district: Cy-Fair ISD officials recap COVID-19 precautions The report reviewed over 24,000 high schools across the nation and ranked nearly 17,800 public high schools based on metrics including graduation rates and college readiness, states the release. Also appearing in the rankings were Langham Creek, Cy Falls, Cy Ridge, Jersey Village, Cy Lakes and Cy Springs. -Contributed by Cy-Fair ISD Cy-Fair ISD students invited to Rice University camp The Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity at Rice University invited students from across Texas to attend a five-day online STEM camp this summer. Among them were Salyards Middle School eighth grade student Elijah Smaw, Cypress Springs High School freshman Alejandro Garcia, Bridgeland High School freshman Vernard Jenkins and Bridgeland junior Josiah Smaw. On HoustonChronicle.com: UT alumna behind COVID dashboard named one of Times 100 most influential people ExxonMobil awarded the students scholarships to attend the camp led by Rice University professors. Students were tasked with designing a heatsink, simulating the process of transferring heat away from a computer processor to prevent overheating. During the camp, I learned a lot about convection currents and heat sinks, Josiah Smaw said in a district press release. My favorite part was when we got to hear from college students and ask them questions about their college experiences. I will be going to college soon and this was very beneficial. -Contributed by Cy-Fair ISD Committee meeting rescheduled The Cy-Fair ISD Safety & Security Committee Summer Semester meeting, originally scheduled for Sept. 22, has been postponed to Sept. 29 because of inclement weather caused by Tropical Storm Beta. The meeting is set to take place 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Berry Center Falcom/Bobcat Room. Among the agenda items are a review and considered adoption of the emergency drill schedule recommended by the Texas School Safety Center, and a review and considered adoption of the new District Emergency Operations Plan. -Contributed by Cy-Fair ISD LSC-CyFair panel to focus on serving bilingual students Lone Star College-CyFair will be holding an Education Speaker Series event virtually from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1. A guest panel of educators will discuss how to better serve bilingual students and English Language Learners, according to a college press release. The demand for strong and effective bilingual teachers and ESL teachers is growing faster as the population of non-English speaking students continues to rise, LSC-CyFair professor Shamim Arastu said in the release, adding that state assessments show academic performance gaps in subjects such as reading and writing between non-native English speakers and other students. In October, our Education Department is bringing in current education professionals to share effective approaches to bridging the Academic Achievement Gap faced by bilingual students and to help them succeed, she said. To register for the event, visit https://forms.gle/T18z7QKF4E5qjMTN7. For more event information, email Shamim.J.Arastu@LoneStar.edu. -Contributed by Lone Star College-CyFair Q Will the show Unorthodox be back? I enjoyed the four episodes. A The Netflix series about a Hasidic Jewish woman in Brooklyn who flees to Berlin from an arranged marriage is not going to continue. Producer Anna Winger told Metro.co.uk that were not doing a sequel to this because we feel that we really told this story. It was always designed as a mini-series. I suspect that I will work with these actors again, and with many of my collaborators from this project. We have a lot of new things in development. So its not the end of the road for this constellation, but I dont think well tell this story again. Weve told it. Q On NCIS: Los Angeles, the character named Kensi appears to have something different about her right eye. Is this some kind of injury? A Thats a birthmark youre seeing on Daniela Ruah, who plays Kensi Blye on the CBS drama. She explained it to Esquire magazine in 2011. Its a birthmark called nevus of Ota, she said. It covers the whole white of my eye and darkens it. The square of the eye, the white part, is completely dark on my right eye, not just the iris. ... It doesnt affect my vision or anything like that. When the interviewer mentioned seeing pictures with white in that eye, Ruah said: Photoshop. It drives me crazy. This is my eye, my little trademark. Not long ago, I started adding a little smiley face when I sign an autograph, and one of the eyes is darker. Q There is a local channel running all of the Seinfeld episodes, and I am watching religiously. The characters on the show, especially Jerry and Elaine, seem to have had many sexual partners over the course of the series run. I am wondering if anyone has researched or kept track of the numbers. A Although these folks were apparently busy getting busy, the actual estimates vary. For example, kramersapartment.com cites a Seinfeld DVD set saying there are 73, counting both those seen and those alluded to. Elaine tallies 50 according to WikiSein and 56 on kramersapartment.com. Before you ask, George clocks in between 47 and 62, the latter the WikiSein count, and one tally I saw for Kramer, on kramersapartment.com, is 16. Q I have become a fan of the series Hogans Heroes (please dont judge me!). Could you tell me how that series ended? A First, no judging here. Hogans Heroes was one of my fathers favorite shows. But if you were expecting something like World War II ending and the inmates going free, it didnt happen. As is common for many shows, even now, the 1965-71 run of Hogans Heroes ended without a finale just cancellation. And, as Noel Murray of the AV Club once wrote, the last televised episode, Rockets or Romance, was not even the last episode made. It was one of a batch of episodes written and shot as part of the regular production cycle, then scheduled for broadcast after they were in the can. Because Hogans Heroes wasnt serialized, episodes could run in any order, Murray continued, so the producers and the network decided later which finished episode would make the strongest season premiere, and would slot the rest according to the time of year, the expected audience, and other largely practical reasons. Q I am trying to find a show that I believe premiered on TNT several years ago and then moved to a streaming network. The show takes place in Nevada or another Western state. It has a sheriff and deputies, which include a woman. There is also an element of organized crime in a small town. A When I offered information about Longmire as a possibility, that proved to be what you remembered. Based on the novels by Craig Johnson, it involved a Wyoming sheriff played by Robert Taylor (no relation to the old movie actor of the same name). From 2012 to 2017 it ran for three seasons on A&E before going to Netflix for three more. You can still find it, including on Netflix and on DVD. Send questions to Rich Heldenfels, P.O. Box 417, Mogadore, OH 44260, or brenfels@gmail.com. A former top attorney for the state Senate Republican caucus who was fired after he was charged with stealing nearly $270,000 from a political action committee, was arrested Thursday on multiple counts of forgery and identity theft. The new allegations are connected with real estate and refinancing documents. Michael J. Cronin of Avon, 57 faces 26 counts of second-degree forgery and 12 counts of identity theft, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice, which alleges that the offenses were related to his divorce from his first wife. Cronin is awaiting trial on the previous charge, so prosecutors added the charge of committing an offense while on release from custody, following his February 2019 arrest on charges he stole $267,800 from the Senate Republicans PAC for his personal use. Cronin, a longtime legal adviser to Republican state senators, was treasurer the of the PAC, the state Senate Republican Leadership Committee. Prosecutors also charge that Cronin forged the signature of an attorney on a financial statement in a divorce from his second wife. The Division of Criminal Justice said Cronin appeared Thursday in Hartford Superior Court where a judge set bond at $200,000. The Superior Court website indicated on Friday that Cronin was released after posting bail. Prosecutors said second-degree forgery is a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine up to $5,000. Second degree identity theft is also a Class D felony. The charge of committing an offense while on release could result in a prison term of up to 10 years for a felony. Cronins pending first-degree larceny case is scheduled for Nov. 12 in Hartford Superior Court. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT China on Wednesday slammed 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 to the world, demanding that the UN must hold Beijing accountable for failing to contain the pandemic. Slamming Trumps speech, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said his 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 judgement, he said, adding, China is a victim of the virus. Saudi king targets Iran Saudi Arabias King Salman used his speech before the UN General Assembly on Wednesday to stress his countrys Islamic roots and slam rival Iran. The monarch touted the kingdoms role as president of the G20 this year, and the billions of dollars in humanitarian aid Saudi Arabia gave to countries around the world. He said West Asia has been suffering from major political and security challenges, blaming Iran for the regions instability. He blamed Iran for targeting Saudi oil facilities 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. 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. " " It doesn't look like it would taste that bad. Robert Lamb/HowstuffWorks War is hell and sometimes the coffee is, too. Consider the American Civil War, a four-year bloodbath that divided a nation and claimed the lives of between 650,000 and 850,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. Looking back at such dark times, there's solace to be found in moments of humanity, be it sweeping acts of moral responsibility or small fragments of everyday life sprinkled amongst the madness, like complaining about wretched coffee. Advertisement Food industrialization has always progressed alongside modern warfare. An army, as the saying goes, marches on its stomach, so the streamlined production, preservation and delivery of food offer a definitive military advantage. Evaporated milk is a fantastic example of a successful industrialized food product. It's essentially just milk dried into a paste and, in the process, pasteurized. All you have to do is add water and, behold, you've got yourself some reconstituted milk. (Condensed milk is roughly the same idea, only with a whole lot more sugar added.) It's not perfect, but it gets the job done, which is why the U.S. government purchased a lot of condensed milk for Union Army field rations. But great ideas often lead to terrible ones in this case, the Essence of Coffee. Food engineers wondered, "Hey, if we can successfully evaporate a glass of milk, then why not an entire cup of coffee?" This was no trivial matter. The Union Army thrived on coffee, as Jon Grinspan explained in his New York Times article "How Coffee Fueled the Civil War." It was their "nerve tonic" and sustainer. Gen. Benjamin Butler even considered it a decisive strategic factor, notes Grinspan. The modernization of coffee was nothing short of the modernization of the war effort itself. And so George Hummel unleashed the Essence of Coffee on an unsuspecting world, evaporating vast quantities of coffee complete with Borden's condensed milk and sugar into what is often described as a thick, brown sludge or a noxious, black grease. By all accounts, Union soldiers abhorred the stuff, and these were men who, according to Grinspan, would brew coffee with water from "brackish bays and Mississippi mud, liquid their horses would not drink" if that's what it took to sharpen their nerves and minds on the whetstone of holy caffeine. Despite the label's insistence that the product was "celebrated" and "more wholesome than pure coffee," the Essence of Coffee tested even the standards of these hardened soldiers. If that weren't bad enough, the men's already super-charged bowels were sometimes further corrupted by spoiled milk sold by sketchy dairymen, according to writer David A. Norris. So attempts to cut the reconstituted essence with "fresh" milk could prove a risky gamble. The Essence of Coffee was soon removed as a ration, but its reputation lingered, according to John D. Wright, author of "The Language of the Civil War." In recent years, a few determined (and potentially masochistic) Civil War re-enactors have attempted to recreate the stuff with mixed results. While some claim to have improved on the recipe and concocted something "really quite good," others report the creation of a tough taffy that must be broken up with a rifle butt on cold days before boiling. Can anything good be said for the Essence of Coffee? According to historian James T. Hickey, first lady Mary Todd Lincoln may have incorporated the stuff into a high-caffeine, molasses-sweetened concoction to treat her frequent migraines. Plus, Union soldiers who could stomach the stuff undoubtedly got their fix, a jolt of psychoactive stimulation that helped push them toward victory in the War Between the States. So think about that the next time your barista serves you a less-than-perfect pumpkin spice soy latte. At least you're not forced to endure "the essence." The workshop was about body rhythm. The [security forces] issue was womens participation, said Kuka in a voice message smuggled out of prison using a friends phone after he was prevented from receiving visitors. There was a time, during the revolution, where these rules were not enforced, but now they are back because they were never changed. As the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) continues to crack down on the drug link in Bollywood, several top personalities from the film industry, including Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor had been summoned for investigation. However, actress Rakul Preet on Thursday denied receiving summons from the central agency and did not turn up for interrogation. Rakul Preet Singh has not received the alleged summons either at her Mumbai or Hyderabad residence so far, read an official statement from her team. The statement issued by the Yaariyan actor, however, turned out to be false as the NCB's KPS Malhotra revealed that Rakul Preet Singh was indeed summoned for questioning but she failed to respond to the same. Summons were issued Rakul Preet and she was contacted through various platforms including her phone but she was not available. There has been no response so far from her, KPS Malhotra said on Thursday. The NCB resent her summons, stating that Rakul Preet had 'attempted to misguide', in order to buy time and said that an Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) would be forthcoming if she didn't cooperate. Subsequent to this, Rakul Preet's team confirmed having received the summons and said she would be joining on Friday, one day later than she was supposed to. Now, in the latest development, Rakul Preet Singh's home in Mumbai has been raided by NCB sleuths. READ | In Bollywood Drug Probe, Stars Head To NCB: Rakul & Simone, Then Deepika, Sara & Shraddha Abigail Pande summoned again Besides the five names, television actress Abigail Pande who was interrogated by the agency on Wednesday has been summoned again on Thursday. Pande and her husband, actor Sanam Johar were questioned after their alleged connection with drug peddler Anuj Keswani came to light. The NCB also conducted a raid at their residence in Juhu to seize drugs, and found 'charas' as per sources. After carrying out searches at the couples residence, the agency officials have now conducted raids at multiple locations in Mumbai. Presently, raids are underway in several areas of Mumbai. READ | Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Khan, Rakul Preet Summoned By NCB In Drug Probe Deepika Padukone, Sara Khan, Shraddha Kapoor to join the probe Deepika Padukone, whose name cropped up in alleged Whatsapp chats from October 2017, has been asked to appear before the NCB on Friday, September 25. Deepika's interrogation will be followed by Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor on Saturday, September 26. Deepika was served a summons by the agency over a phone call as she was in Goa for a shoot. The NCB officials personally visited the residence of Shraddha and Sara to hand over summons in the drug-related probe. Simone, and others were also summoned over a phone call. READ | NCB Interrogates TV Actors Sanam Johar & Abigail Pande, Raids Their Juhu Residence READ | 2 FIRs, 5 Stars: Details Of NCB Summons To Deepika, Rakul, Simone, Sara, Shraddha Accessed 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. Trump blasted for suggesting he might not honor vote US President Donald Trump sparked outrage after declining to say whether he would accept the results of the November 3 election Top Republicans and Democrats pushed back hard Thursday against President Donald Trump's suggestion he might not accept defeat in the November election, warning him the United States was not "North Korea." A day after the US leader refused to clearly guarantee a peaceful transfer of power, Republican Senate Speaker Mitch McConnell felt it necessary to assure American voters that the winner of the November 3 election would take office as planned in January. The FBI, meanwhile, implicitly rejected Trump's suggestion that massive fraud was in the works with the surge in mailed-in ballots -- while it warned of disinformation about the issue. - 'Ballots are a disaster' - Trump sparked outrage on Wednesday suggesting he might not honor the results of the election or treat mail-in ballots as legitimate. Asked at a White House press conference whether if he is committed to the peaceful handover of power if defeated, Trump replied: "Well, 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," he said. Trump repeated his claim that mailed ballots cannot be trusted in a radio interview early Thursday. Pressed on his remarks, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany told reporters: "The president will accept the results of a free and fair election." - 'It's not North Korea' - Trump's remarks casting doubt on the transfer of power came as he significantly trails Democratic rival Joe Biden in most national polls on the presidential election. McConnell, who wields significant power as the top Republican in Congress, felt it necessary to issue a statement seen as a veiled warning to Trump. "The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th," McConnell tweeted. "There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792." Story continues Other political leaders were more brusque. "Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus," Republican Senator Mitt Romney tweeted. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic House Speaker, said it was necessary to remind Trump, "You are not in North Korea, you are not in Turkey, you are not in Russia, Mr. President." Senator Bernie Sanders, who Trump has assailed as an anti-American extreme leftist, excoriated Trump in a speech before the Senate. "Under Donald Trump, we have a president who has little respect for our constitution or the rule of law," said Sanders, who earlier this year failed in a bid to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Trump, he said, is "first president in the history of this country to refuse to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses the election." "What he is saying is that if he wins the election, that's great. But if he loses, it's rigged, because the only way, the only way, he can lose is if it's rigged." - Vote-by-mail concerns - On the campaign trail Trump has repeatedly made unfounded allegations that the election could be rigged by Democrats taking advantage of a surge in voting by mail due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, he asserted that the mailed-in votes will all be suspiciously cast for Biden, and should not be counted. "The ballots are out of control," he said. "Get rid of the ballots and you will have a very peaceful -- there won't be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation," he said. Election officials have real concerns that there will not be a clear winner on the day after the election, as millions of mailed-in ballots take time to be delivered to local election offices and be tabulated. The FBI and US intelligence have warned that instigators, domestic and foreign, could take advantage of that period to spread fake news about fraud, stirring up doubts about the electoral process. However on Thursday FBI Director Chris Wray told a Senate hearing that they had not seen any coordinated effort to manipulate the election results, "whether it's by mail or otherwise." - Court battles anticipated - Both parties and Trump are focused on the possibility that local and state vote tallies will end up contested in court, in possibly many cases, and that those fights could end up in the Supreme Court, which decided the close November 2000 election for the Republican candidate, George W. Bush. Trump said this week that is one reason why he is rushing to nominate a conservative to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the progressive justice who died last week. If Trump can push his nominee through, conservatives would hold six of the high court's nine seats. pmh/ec Like MySpace, the Martha Stewart prosecution and American democratic norms, spending gobs of state money on stem cell research might sound like an artifact of the Aughts. And yet 16 years after voters agreed to borrow $3 billion to explore a promising new area of medical research, stem cells are back on the California ballot. The states voters passed Proposition 71, which created the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, in a fit of hope that stem cells could treat an array of diseases and injuries. President George W. Bushs order limiting federally funded embryonic stem cell research on religious grounds added urgency and politics to the cause. Celebrities such as Michael J. Fox and Christopher Reeve urged Californians to step into the breach for them and countless others with incurable, often heart-rending conditions. Now the Oakland-based agencys backers want voters to approve an additional $5.5 billion under Proposition 14 to sustain not just a limitless possibility but also the more mundane and complex reality of the institutes experience. Especially in a field as nascent as stem cells, science is slow, incremental and unpredictable, largely incompatible with the leaps forward touted in 2004. While the unique state of the science and politics drew broad support for Prop. 71 including The Chronicles we shouldnt make a habit of setting science policy and budgets by state plebiscite. Stem cells encompass early embryonic and certain mature cells that can produce a range of tissues, hence their assumed potential to repair the ravages of disease and injury. The fields staunchest advocates are motivated by the possibility of treating what afflicts them and their loved ones. While state funds helped support the research that led to two approved cancer drugs and a host of prospective therapies in various stages of development, far-reaching breakthroughs attributed to the stem cell agency have been scarce so far, as a Chronicle investigation found. More than half the original funding went to buildings and other infrastructure, education and training, and the sort of basic research that, while scientifically valuable, is a long way from medical application. Theres nothing inherently wrong with that, but it is at odds with the vision of dramatic advancements put to voters. The institutes oversight raises more questions. Its top beneficiaries, among them Stanford and the University of California system, have been represented on CIRMs board. While members recuse themselves from final funding decisions affecting their institutions, the appearance of rampant conflicts is inescapable. Meanwhile, the institute is insulated from outside oversight by a provision that prevents the Legislature from imposing changes without a steep 70% supermajority. The case for California as a major patron of stem cell research was also diminished by President Barack Obamas reversal of the Bush limits on research more than a decade ago. One analysis found that federal funding supported more than three times as many clinical trials in the field as California did. CIRMs original funding will cost the state about $6 billion with interest, to which the current proposal would add $7.8 billion. While both initiatives provide for recovering income from approved therapies, the fiscal benefits are a matter of speculation. And with the pandemic, wildfires and more stretching the states resources, stem cell research looks like an even more unlikely gamble for a government with more pressing priorities. As The Chronicle also found, alongside the legitimate but halting progress toward effective therapies to which California has contributed, a whole industry of opportunistic quacks hawking stem cell snake oil has flourished across and beyond the state. Thats not the institutes fault, but it is a byproduct of the aggressive promotion of theoretical medical treatments directly to the public and another reason to vote no on Prop. 14. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX:CMM) is possibly approaching a major achievement in its business, so we would like to shine some light on the company. Capricorn Metals Ltd engages in the mineral exploration and project evaluation business in Australia and Madagascar. The AU$698m market-cap company announced a latest loss of AU$13m on 30 June 2020 for its most recent financial year result. As path to profitability is the topic on Capricorn Metals' investors mind, we've decided to gauge market sentiment. We've put together a brief outline of industry analyst expectations for the company, its year of breakeven and its implied growth rate. View our latest analysis for Capricorn Metals Consensus from 4 of the Australian Metals and Mining analysts is that Capricorn Metals is on the verge of breakeven. They anticipate the company to incur a final loss in 2020, before generating positive profits of AU$16m in 2021. Therefore, the company is expected to breakeven roughly a year from now or less! We calculated the rate at which the company must grow to meet the consensus forecasts predicting breakeven within 12 months. It turns out an average annual growth rate of 54% is expected, which is rather optimistic! If this rate turns out to be too aggressive, the company may become profitable much later than analysts predict. Underlying developments driving Capricorn Metals' growth isnt the focus of this broad overview, however, keep in mind that by and large metals and mining companies, depending on the stage of operation and metals mined, have irregular periods of cash flow. So, a high growth rate is not out of the ordinary, particularly when a company is in a period of investment. Before we wrap up, theres one aspect worth mentioning. Capricorn Metals currently has no debt on its balance sheet, which is quite unusual for a cash-burning metals and mining company, which typically has high debt relative to its equity. This means that the company has been operating purely on its equity investment and has no debt burden. This aspect reduces the risk around investing in the loss-making company. Story continues Next Steps: There are key fundamentals of Capricorn Metals which are not covered in this article, but we must stress again that this is merely a basic overview. For a more comprehensive look at Capricorn Metals, take a look at Capricorn Metals' company page on Simply Wall St. We've also put together a list of pertinent factors you should look at: Valuation: What is Capricorn Metals worth today? Has the future growth potential already been factored into the price? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether Capricorn Metals is currently mispriced by the market. Management Team: An experienced management team on the helm increases our confidence in the business take a look at who sits on Capricorn Metalss board and the CEOs background. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. ANDRITZ to Supply Two Fully Autonomous Logyard Cranes to Metsa Fibre Included in the EPC delivery are two 2 x 25-ton cranes on a 540 meter-long runway with storage capacity of approximately 120,000 m3. Pictured above: Illustrative drawing of the ANDRITZ autonomous cranes. Sept. 24, 2020 - ANDRITZ and Metsa Fibre, part of the Metsa Group, have signed a preliminary agreement under which ANDRITZ will supply two fully autonomous logyard cranes to the planned Metsa Fibre bioproduct mill in Kemi, Finland. Metsa Fibre will make the EUR 1.5 billion investment decision for the new mill in autumn 2020 at the earliest, and the new mill will take approximately two and a half years to build. Included in the EPC delivery are two 2 x 25-ton cranes on a 540 meter-long runway with storage capacity of approximately 120,000 m3. The cranes will handle approximately 7,600,000 m3 wood/year shipped on trucks and trains as well as handling log storage and feeding the wood to the pulping process. These ANDRITZ cranes will be the first autonomously operated logyard cranes worldwide. They feature the latest in artificial intelligence, thus optimizing log handling, minimizing wood losses and securing environmentally friendly and cost-effective operation compared with traditional log-handling solutions. This agreement is a significant breakthrough for logyard cranes in Europe. ANDRITZ has over 50 successful references for crane installations in North America. "We valued the low noise considering the planned mill location the energy efficiency and all-electric drives with no fossil fuels consumed, and also the advantages created by applying advanced robotics and artificial intelligence to achieve autonomous operation," says Ismo Nousiainen, CEO of Metsa Fibre Ltd. Metsa Fibre is a leading producer of biochemicals, bioenergy and other bioproducts. Planning of the new bioproduct mill is based on a high level of environmental efficiency as well as efficiency in terms of energy and materials used. The mill will not use any fossil fuels at all, and its electricity self-sufficiency rate will be 250%. If built, the Kemi bioproduct mill will produce 1.5 million tons of softwood and hardwood pulp a year as well as many other bioproducts. ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper provides equipment, systems, complete plants and services for the production of all types of pulp, paper, board and tissue. The technologies and services focus on maximum utilization of raw materials, increased production efficiency and sustainability as well as lower overall operating costs. To learn more, visit: www.andritz.com . SOURCE: ANDRITZ Amid the tensions between India and China along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, a video has surfaced on social media in which a group of young People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers are seen crying while allegedly heading towards the India-China border at Ladakh to face the Indian Army. On September 20, Pakistani comedian Zaid Hamid posted a video on Facebook, wherein several PLA recruits are seen crying on a bus as they are being transferred to the border area in Ladakh. The troops are struggling to sing the words to the PLA song "Green Flowers in the Army", Taiwan News reported. 'We Pakistani support you China' Hamid then wrote that China's one-child policy is "seriously hurting the motivation level of our Chinese brothers." He added, "We Pakistani support you China. Stay Brave." Although Pakistan is an 'all-weather' ally of China, Hamid appeared to be mocking the soldiers. According to Taiwan News, the video was originally posted on the WeChat page of Fuyang City Weekly, before it was removed. The original footage shows 10 new troops from Fuyang City's Yingzhou district in Anhui province of China. All the fresh recruits were reportedly college students and five of them had "proactively volunteered to serve in Tibet," which borders the Ladakh region, where the standoff between Indian and Chinese armies took place at Galwan valley in June. READ | 'Pakistan Army plotting brutal genocide & ethnic cleansing in PoGB': Ladakh MP Jamyang Chinese mouthpiece slams Taiwanese media The video was reportedly shot at Fuyang Railway Station while the troops were preparing to head to a military camp in Hebei province, according to Taiwan News. Chinese netizen who goes by the handle @waynescene reposted the video on Sunday and wrote "They were told that they would be going to the front lines after they got on the bus. The cannon fodder are crying!" READ | Taiwan leader visits military base after China's violation, commends Air Force According to Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece Global Times At that time, they were bidding farewell to their parents and sang the famous military song Green Flowers in the Army, and they sang Go home when you celebrate your work, completely contrary to the mood created by Taiwanese media. READ | 'Indian imports from China fell in April-July': Goyal to RS amid LAC standoff, coronavirus The report added that though the Taiwanese media report tried to use all kinds of explicit hints to shape the image of the PLA fighters being afraid of war, when describing all the key information, the author used vague terms such as reported and probable, which seemed very guilty. READ | China targets US on climate action after promising carbon neutrality before 2060 (With agency inputs) The Qaeda leaders in Syria have sought to operate in urban areas, calculating that American forces will be wary of carrying out missile strikes that could harm civilians. But the modified Hellfire missile carries an inert warhead. Instead of exploding, it hurls about 100 pounds of metal through the top of a targets vehicle. If the high-velocity projectile does not kill the target, the missiles other feature almost certainly does: six long blades tucked inside, which deploy seconds before impact to slice up anything in its path. The Hellfire variant, known as the R9X, was initially developed nearly a decade ago under pressure from President Barack Obama to reduce civilian casualties and property damage in the United States long-running wars on terrorism in far-flung hot spots such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia and Yemen. The weapon has been used perhaps a half-dozen times in recent years, American officials said, typically when a senior terrorist leader has been situated but other weapons would risk killing nearby civilians. Conventional Hellfire missiles, with an explosive warhead of about 20 pounds, are often used against groups of individuals or a so-called high-value target who is meeting with other militants. But when Special Operations forces are hunting a lone leader, the R9X, called the Ninja by commandos, is now often the weapon of choice. American Special Operations forces used a R9X missile in June to kill Khaled al-Aruri, the de facto leader of the Qaeda branch in Syria. He was a Qaeda veteran whose jihadist career dates to the 1990s. American officials confirmed the use of the unusual missile in two earlier instances, one by the C.I.A. in northwest Syria and one by the Joint Special Operations Command in Yemen. The center of the latest drone strikes is Idlib Province, whose population has ballooned to more than three million people during Syrias civil war. It contains a witchs brew of violent Islamic extremist groups, dominated by the Qaeda-linked organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly the Nusra Front. Syrian military forces, backed by Iranian and Russian firepower, have targeted the group. MANDEL NGAN President Donald Trump on Wednesday blatantly refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power following Novembers general election. 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, Trump said when pressed by a reporter to commit to ensuring a peaceful transfer of power. As the same reporter further pressed the president, Trump said, We want to ... get rid of the ballots and well have a very peaceful, there wont be a transfer, frankly, therell be a continuation. The ballots are out of control, you know it, and you know who knows it better than anybody else? Trump said. The Democrats know it better than anybody else. The rapid response director for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Bidens campaign greeted Trumps latest comments by pointing to a campaign statement from July. The American people will decide this election, Bidens rapid response director Andrew Bates said. And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House. The presidents comments were also condemned by the head of the Federal Election Commission. In case anyone is unclear on the concept, in the United States of America, we do not get rid of ballots. We count them. Counting the ballots *all* the ballots is the way we determine who leads our country after our elections. The only way, Ellen L. Weintraub wrote on Twitter late Wednesday. In case anyone is unclear on the concept, in the United States of America, we do not get rid of ballots. We count them. Counting the ballots *all* the ballots is the way we determine who leads our country after our elections. The only way. https://t.co/F4amcEvx2v Ellen L Weintraub (@EllenLWeintraub) September 23, 2020 Trump has continued to attack the integrity of the upcoming election, focusing especially on the integrity of mail-in ballots. But as has been the case throughout the entirety of his presidency, there is no evidence for the mass fraud he has continued to allege. Trump has also lied and said on the campaign trail that the only way we're going to lose this election is if the election is rigged. Story continues The president had also caused dismay, outrage and concern when he raised the possibility of delaying Novembers election back in July, even though it was clear he did not have the ability, or the authority, to make such a move. Trump and the Republican party have rushed to quickly appoint a successor to liberal U.S. Supreme Court icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last Friday. The president plans to announce his pick Saturday, and made clear earlier in the day Wednesday his frantic push with roughly six weeks to election day is tied to his attacks on election integrity as he continues to claim mass mail-in voter fraud without substantial proof. I think this will end up in the Supreme Court. And I think it's very important that we have nine justices and I think the system's gonna go very quickly, Trump said. After saying there's a lot of time before the election, Trump made clear he believes it's better to get the new justice confirmed before Nov. 3, citing his false belief of mass voter fraud. I think this scam, that the Democrats are pulling, it's a scam, Trump said. This scam will be before the United States Supreme Court. And I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation, if you get that. I don't know that you'd get that. I think it should be eight nothing or nine nothing, but just in case it would be more political than it should be, I think it's very important to have a ninth justice. The president also appeared to once again call out his own health officials at his latest news conference on Wednesday. When a reporter asked about a report that the Food and Drug Administration was looking at stricter guidelines for emergency authorization for the coronavirus vaccine, Trump criticized it as something that sounds like a political move, after saying it would need White House approval. The Washington Post reported earlier this week on the move being in the works, writing that it would make it exceedingly difficult for any vaccine to be cleared before Election Day. According to the Post, the effort came about to help improve public morale for the eventual vaccine. Trump has touted an aggressive timeline for the vaccine, even if it means publicly undercutting the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the matter. Trump wrapped up his press conference in around 16 minutes before handing it off to others in the briefing room, but left things unsettled. I have to leave for an emergency phone call, Trump said as a reporter called out a question about Breonna Taylor and the unrest that continues to rip through the country. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Houston activists on Wednesday joined a chorus of outrage across the nation over a Kentucky grand jurys decision to indict only one of several officers involved in a raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor. Taylor, a 26-year-old medical worker, was fatally shot by Louisville police officers in March during a botched drug raid at her apartment. The grand jury on Wednesday announced its decision to indict one of three officers who fired their weapons. In Houston, the local NAACP and Urban League questioned the decision in a news conference. We believe to be more than unjust, but a despicable and a deplorable misrepresentation of justice, said Houston NAACP Vice President James Dixon. This charge is not even directly related or connected to the shooting death of Breonna Taylor it is yet another tragic example that for too many people, too often, black lives really dont matter. The indicted officer, Brett Hankison, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for shooting into the next-door apartment. After NAACPs press conference, about 50 activists gathered outside Houston City Hall for what they described as a spontaneous event to express their outrage. Demonstrators took turns addressing the diverse crowd, and many advocated for defunding police services in favor of mental health or housing initiatives. I just hope for the 50 people who are here, that theres a silent 50,000 who are willing to vote and protest that way, said Sahib Easley. Protesters brought signs with messages that include Black Lives Matter or Defund HPD. One man, Joshua Lewis, said he hopes the response to Taylors death and the deaths of other Black Americans will push local law enforcement and city leaders to be more transparent in similar shootings in Houston. He highlighted the recent police shooting of Nicolas Chavez in April. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo released the body cam video from that shooting earlier this month and fired four officers involved. One of the things that I keep seeing with Breonna Taylor with how the city of Houston has handled Nicolas Chavez and others is a lack of transparency. A lack of willingness to be open and to own mistakes. And thats burned trust, Lewis said. Hannah Isonguyo said she related to Breonna Taylors story as a Black woman of the same age. You look at a story like that, and theres so many similarities because we really are one, she said. What if that was me? What if that was my friend? So many of us are in the same situation, and I shouldnt be afraid to fall asleep in my own home. My home is supposed to be my safe place. Mark Mulligan contributed to this report. julian.gill@chron.com Is India ready for war asks Swamy, demands white paper India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Sep 24: Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy is well known as a controversial persona who does not hesitate to speak his mind. Be it the matter of Sushant Singh Rajput case or India China face off Swamy has been vocal in his criticism. On Thursday, the Swamy took to Twitter to express his wonder in the issue when it came to issuing a "white paper on the stand off with China". "What is the difficulty in issuing a White Paper on the stand off with China? The difficulty is the truth about our present position which is heading for becoming a new status quo. Only a war can rectify it to status quo ante. Is India ready for it?", tweeted the parliamentarian. India-China talks: There is a silver lining, but issues persist Notably, a white paper can be defined as a government report on a particular subject giving information and details of future planned laws. India and China have been locked in a simmering border dispute for almost four months. It started with the Galwan Valley clash and then stalemate continued. The matter got worse when recently Chinese attempted to occupy Indian territory in the southern bank of Pangong lake. Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News 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. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 24, 2020, 11:19 [IST] Archaeologists uncovered ancient dog remains more than 8,400 years old at a Stone Age area burial site in Sweden. The canine was buried alongside human remains, which was part of an ancient tradition called 'grave goods' the living would leave valuables or sentimental objects with the dead. An animal osteologist examined the bones but found there is not a modern dog comparable, saying it was 'like a powerful greyhound.' The settlement, originally built near the coast, was covered by rising sea levels that layered sand and mud over the remains that kept the artifacts preserved for thousands of years. Archaeologists uncovered ancient dog remains more than 8,400 years old at a Stone Age area burial site in Sweden. The canine was buried alongside human remains, which was part of an ancient tradition called 'grave goods' The area where the dog was found is part of a vast site where local authorities and archaeologists are currently carrying out one of the largest archaeological digs ever undertaken in the region. The settlement is located in what is now Ljungaviken in Solvesborg and has been a prime site for archaeologists since 2015. During the excavation, the team has found evidence of at least 56 structures that once stood at the site, along with postholes and pits. The dog bones are a new discover and have not been removed from the ground yet but archaeologists plan to eventually take them to the Blekinge Museum for study. An animal osteologist examined the bones but found there is not a modern dog comparable, saying it was 'like a powerful greyhound' The settlement is located in what is now Ljungaviken in Solvesborg and has been a prime site for archaeologists since 2015. During the excavation, the team has found evidence of at least 56 structures that once stood at the site, along with postholes and pits Osteologist Ola Magnell of the Blekinge Museum said of the discovery near the town of Solvesborg, said: 'The dog is well preserved, and the fact that it is buried in the middle of the Stone Age settlement is unique,' Museum project manager Carl Persson said 'a sudden and violent increase of the sea level' flooded the area with mud that had helped preserve the burial site. An ongoing archaeological excavation has involved removing layers of sand and mud. The Swedish archaeologists said the dog was buried with a person, noting that survivors often leave valuable or sentimental objects with the dead. The settlement, originally built near the coast, was covered by rising sea levels that layered sand and mud over the remains that kept the artifacts preserved for thousands of years The area where the dog was found is part of a vast site where local authorities and archaeologists are currently carrying out one of the largest archaeological digs ever undertaken in the region. Such findings 'makes you feel even closer to the people who lived here,' Persson said in a statement. 'A buried dog somehow shows how similar we are over the millennia when it comes to the feelings like grief and loss.' The area is believed to have been inhabited by hunters during the Stone Age. A residential community is expected to be built on the burial site once the archaeologists are done. Dogs seem to have been man's best friend for thousands of years, as archaeologists are uncovering remains all over the world that suggest they were domesticated pets. Earlier this month, a team discovered what they believe could be the oldest ever remains of a pet dog. Earlier this month, a team discovered what they believe could be the oldest ever remains of a pet dog. Experts suspected the remains are between 14,000 and 20,000 years old, spanning back to the very dawn of the special relationship between humans and canines Experts suspected the remains are between 14,000 and 20,000 years old, spanning back to the very dawn of the special relationship between humans and canines. Researchers from the University of Siena in Italy hope their discovery can shed light on how dogs made the change from wild carnivores to loving companions. One theory is that wolves became scavengers out of necessity due to a lack of food, and this took them close to human settlements. Some experts believe the animals and humans slowly developed a bond and the symbiotic relationship flourished from there. Others think wolves and humans worked together when hunting and this is how the relationship spawned. The research team from Siena University hopes that the surviving fragments of one of the first dogs to live alongside humans as a pet could help find a definitive answer. Dr Francesco Boschin led a piece of research, published in August in Scientific Reports, on early canine remains found at two paleolithic caves in Southern Italy, the Paglicci Cave and the Romanelli Cave. Writing in this study, the scientists say: 'Our combined molecular and morphological analyses of fossil canid remains from the sites of Grotta Paglicci and Grotta Romanelli, in southern Italy, attest of the presence of dogs at least 14,000 calibrated years before present. 'This unambiguously documents one of the earliest occurrence of domesticates in the Upper Palaeolithic of Europe and in the Mediterranean.' Writing in this study, the scientists say: 'Our combined molecular and morphological analyses of fossil canid remains from the sites of Grotta Paglicci and Grotta Romanelli, in southern Italy, attest of the presence of dogs at least 14,000 calibrated years before present' However, further analysis which is still ongoing shows this figure could indeed be much later, towards 20,000 years, Dr Boschin told RealPress. 'From an archaeological point of view, the oldest remains of domesticated dogs were found in Central Europe and date back 16,000 years,' Boschin said. 'In the Mediterranean area we have now established that domesticated dogs lived here 14,000 years ago for sure, but possibly even 20,000 years ago The total number of confirmed cases grew to 188,106. Ukraine said 3,372 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of September 24, 2020. The total number of confirmed cases grew to 188,106, as seen on the interactive map compiled by the National Security and Defense Council. Read alsoHealth minister: Over 12,000 children, 14,100 healthcare workers contract COVID-19As many as 83,458 patients, including 1,788 in the past day, have recovered. The death toll is 3,757 with 52 fatalities recorded in the past day. There were 100,891 active cases as of September 24. In total, there have been 253,177 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020. The highest number of new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours was registered in the city of Kyiv (330 cases), Dnipropetrovsk region (298), Kharkiv region (285), Ternopil region (265), and Lviv region (205). The overall incidence per region is as follows: 20,665 (+330) in the city of Kyiv; 19,250 (+205) cases in Lviv region; 16,193 (+285) in Kharkiv region; 13,562 (+114) in Chernivtsi region; 12,952 (+141) in Ivano-Frankivsk region; 12,334 (+265) in Ternopil region; 12,309 (+179) in Odesa region; 11,621 (+162) in Rivne region; 9,416 (+73) in Zakarpattia region; 8,286 (+131) in Kyiv region; 7,235 (+103) in Volyn region; 5,556 (+101) in Vinnytsia region; 5,262 (+71) in Zhytomyr region; 5,185 (+136) in Khmelnytsky region; 4,692 (+298) in Dnipropetrovsk region; 3,647 (+110) in Chernihiv region; 3,355 (+117) in Cherkasy region; 3,352 (+72) in Sumy region; 3,288 (+139) in Zaporizhia region; 2,767 (+133) in Donetsk region (Ukrainian-controlled districts); 2,717 (+21) in Mykolaiv region; 1,677 (+47) in Poltava region; 1,039 (+15) in Kirovohrad region; 905 (+37) in Kherson region; and 841 (+27) 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. Quarantine in Ukraine: background Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Parson has often inflamed critics by downplaying the risks of reopening schools during the coronavirus pandemic, resisting calls for a statewide mask mandate and attending large events without wearing a mask in a state with rising covid-19 numbers. Now Parson, 65, and his wife, Teresa, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the governor announced Wednesday. They are quarantining, forcing Parson to postpone campaign events and to reschedule a gubernatorial debate. "Right now, I feel fine - no symptoms of any kind," Parson said in a recorded message posted on Facebook. The first lady is exhibiting mild symptoms, the governor said. Coronavirus cases have been on the rise in Missouri, which has now recorded almost 117,000 cases and nearly 2,000 deaths, according to The Washington Post's tracker. A Sept. 13 report from the White House coronavirus task force, obtained by KCUR, said that by population, the state had the fourth highest rate of new cases in the country. Throughout the pandemic, Parson has often resisted calls for tougher measures from health experts. In March, the governor declined to issue a stay-at-home order in Missouri, saying that social distancing rules and banning large gathering was enough. The next month, facing mounting pressure as more than 30 states enforced similar orders, Parson issued one of his own. But some health experts called Parson's order weak, noting that it allowed every business to stay open, not only those considered "essential," as long as there wasn't a gathering of more than 10 people. In May, Parson, along with four other Republican governors in the region, wrote an op-ed for The Post promoting their effectiveness on keeping the economy open and maintaining low infection rates. "The Plains states have managed this emergency exceptionally well by many measures," the governors wrote. "Our states' experiences offer collective proof that a one-size-fits-all approach is not the best way to address unique circumstances." Within months, though, Midwestern states including Missouri became the epicenter of rising case numbers. In July, Parson criticized local governments for closing recreational facilities for children and called for schools to reopen with in-person classes. The governor told KFTK radio host Marc Cox that he wasn't concerned about students contracting the virus. "They're at the lowest risk possible," Parson said. "And if they do get covid-19, which they will - and they will when they go to school - they're not going to the hospitals. They're not going to have to sit in doctor's offices. They're going to go home and they're going to get over it." In a response, Missouri's Democratic Party noted that children can spread the virus to older relatives. "Mike Parson today said he is fine with every child in Missouri getting covid-19 and spreading it to their family members," the statement said. "There is no place in our politics for such a reckless disregard for Missourians' lives." Parson has also held firm on not establishing a statewide mask mandate, which was among the recommendations from the White House coronavirus task force on how to lower his state's infection rate. Sixteen states don't have statewide mask mandates. Parson has encouraged Missourians to wear masks and to social distance. "I don't want anybody to think I'm anti-mask, because that's not the case," Parson told KFTK. "I just don't think it's government's place to tell everybody to do that." Critics note, though, that Parson hasn't consistently followed his own advice. In July, he tweeted pictures from an indoor event where he didn't wear a mask, and stood close to other people. An image also showed him grilling steaks while not wearing gloves or a mask. In August, the governor didn't wear a mask as he spoke at the Missouri State Fair, along with the majority of the crowd who were also not social distancing. Parson is not the first governor to test positive for the virus. Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt contracted the virus in July. Stitt, similarly, has stated he would not mandate masks. The defendant was released on continuing bail A west Belfast man is pleading not guilty to a charge of belonging to the Continuity IRA, a court has been told. Niall Sands, 33, is also denying allegations that he attacked a neighbour during a confrontation last year. Sands, of Navan Green, appeared at the city's Magistrates' Court on Thursday to confirm his attitude to the prosecution. He faces charges of belonging to a proscribed organisation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and criminal damage to a door and window. The case relates to an incident in the Andersonstown area on September 19, 2019. A previous court was told of claims that Sands squared up to the other man and told him he was a member of the Continuity IRA. At that time defence lawyers argued the membership charge was based only on the complainant's account, describing it as an alleged declaration with no substance. Sands, who is currently on bail, attended again today to state if he will be contesting the case against him. Defence barrister Patrick Taylor said a cheque had been sent to deal with the alleged criminal damage. Mr Taylor also confirmed: "It's not guilty to the other two charges." With a contest date yet to be fixed, Sands was released on continuing bail. Night and weekend curfew in Jammu and Kashmir 2022: Know guidelines, rules: What is allowed, what is not In a first, Amit Shah releases district-based Good Governance Index for Jammu and Kashmir India hits out at Pakistan for raising Kashmir issue at CICA meet India pti-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Sep 24: India on Thursday hit out at Pakistan for raising the Kashmir issues at a virtual meeting of multilateral grouping CICA, and advised Islamabad to cease its "overt and covert" support to cross-border terrorism. In a sharp reaction, the Ministry of External Affairs said Pakistan has misused another forum by continuing its "spurious narrative" about India. MEA official to be part of Indo-China military commander level talks Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue at the ministerial meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), an intergovernmental forum of 27 countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar represented India at the meeting. The MEA said Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on internal affairs of India, asserting that the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been and will remain an integral part of the country. "Pakistan's remarks today constitute gross interference in India's internal affairs, sovereignty and territorial integrity which is inconsistent with the CICA Declaration on the Principles Guiding Relations between the CICA Member States of September 1999," the MEA said, in response to remarks by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Indian lawyer or Queen's counsel must represent Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pak: MEA Deepika, Sara fly back to Mumbai for drug probe in Sushant Singh Rajpur death case | Oneindia News It said Pakistan is the "global epicentre" of terrorism and continues to be the source of terrorist activities in India. "We advise Pakistan to cease its sponsorship and overt and covert support to terrorism against India. This will enable the two countries to engage and address issues bilaterally rather than distract this important forum from its agenda," the MEA said. In his address at the CICA meeting, Jaishankar called for greater collective efforts to counter terrorism and its sponsors. Four people have been charged in the strangulation death of a man whose body was found burning last week in a rural central Iowa ditch. Steven Vogel, 31, of Grinnell, was arrested Tuesday in the death of 44-year-old Michael Williams of Grinnell, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said. He's charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. Police acknowledged that the killing of Williams, who is Black, had led to fears that he may have been targeted because of his race. Grinnell College even canceled classes Monday based on that fear. But police said Williams and Vogel, who is white, were well acquainted. The investigation has revealed no evidence to show the acts against Michael Williams were motivated by his race nor that his death was the result of a hate crime, police said in a release. It wasnt immediately known whether Vogel had a lawyer who could comment on his behalf. Recommended Woman charged with hate crime after footage showed her attacking black jogger in New York City Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP, said during a news conference with police Tuesday that based on the evidence, she also believes there is no indication that Williams was targeted because of his race. However, she said she will evaluate additional evidence as it becomes available. Given that the current climate where racial justice is on the front burner for so many... we understand the fear this kind of incident evokes, Andrews said. Investigators said that they believe Vogel strangled Williams on Sept. 12, but a possible motive wasnt released. Willliams' body was wrapped and bound and dumped in a ditch near Kellogg on Sept. 16, where it was set on fire, police said. His body was found ablaze after authorities were called that evening about the fire. The others arrested, who also are white, are Julia Cox, 55, Roy Lee Garner, 57, and Cody Johnson, 29, all of Grinnell. They're each charged with abuse of a corpse, destruction of evidence and accessory after the fact. Online court records for Cox and Garner didn't yet list lawyers for them on Wednesday morning. Cases hadn't yet been logged as of Wednesday morning in the online court system for Vogel and Johnson. The playoff-bound Yankees are feeling great about their October chances despite losing three of their past four games. Before this mini-slump, the Yanks' first losses after 10 wins, theyd been piling up runs and getting tremendous pitching consistently, especially from their rotation. They also have Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gio Urshela and others back in their lineup after dealing with a bunch of injuries for the second year in a row. There is very one important area that should be a major concern: defense Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers The Yankees are piling up errors. The Yankees committed four more in Wednesday nights 14-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in Buffalo, leaving them with 23 over their last 18 games and 43 in 56 games. This fielding slump has their fielding percentage down to an American League worst .977, a franchise low since they finished at .977 in 1984 when shortstops Bobby Meacham and Andre Robertson combined for 34 errors. The Yanks' fielding this season has been so erratic that only the 17-39 Pittsburgh Pirates have a lower fielding percentage (.976), and the only clubs with more errors are the Pirates (46) and 22-34 Red Sox (43). Those are things that if were going to reach our ultimate goal, weve got to do a better job, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. Obviously mistakes are going to happen, but I think when you make a few in a couple of games, its an opportunity to say OK, lets shine a light on this. Lets tighten this up and lets be a little bit better than that. The Yankees need to get a lot better in a hurry because the playoffs start next week. In Wednesday nights game, catcher Gary Sanchez threw wildly on an attempted pick off at first base, shortstop Gleyber Torres booted a routine ground ball (and also dropped a throw that wouldve nailed a runner at second base), and first baseman Luke Voit botched a grounder that he should have allowed to go to second baseman DJ LeMahieu. Everything was bad," Voit said. "It was like were the Bad News Bears. Torres has eight errors, which is tied for the most among any Major League shortstop, and his .935 fielding percentage is by far the worst among the 25 shortstops playing at least 30 games (with the San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford next at .956). Despite his bat, which also hasnt been great this season, Torres is making the Yankees and their fans miss the dependability that they had at shortstop with Derek Jeter and Didi Gregorius. Sanchez, who has six passed balls, has five errors in 37 games. After leading the league in passed balls twice in his first four MLB seasons, he is tied for the most this season. Its careless mistakes that the Yankees are making, a long-time MLB scout who wanted to remain anonymous told NJ Advance Media. Sanchez had a ball go off his glove Sunday where he just reached for it. Im like, Move your body. Well, its tough to move your body when youre on one knee. On Friday night, the Yanks won in Boston despite shortstop Gleyber Torres dropping an on-target throw while he was covering second on a force attempt and second baseman Tyler Wade not catching a throw at first after a bunt. Stuff like that is where most of the Yankees' mistakes come and theyre going to have to avoid that in the playoffs, the scout said. I tell my team, Every ball you hit, run as hard as you can because the Yankees get laxed with throws. Theyll get lazy. The thing is, the Yankees have a lot of elite fielders Urshela at third base, LeMahieu at second, Aaron Hicks in center, Judge in right and Brett Gardner in left when he plays. Also, Sanchez has one of the strongest catcher throwing arms. You look around that field and there is no reason for the Yankees to have that many errors or play defense like they do on certain days, the scout said. The Yankees were a little better in 2019 when their .983 fielding percentage was ninth best among 15 AL clubs. Buy Aaron Judge Yankees gear: Fanatics.com, MLBShop.com, Lids This year, Yankees pitchers are part of the problem, as they have eight errors. Jordan Montgomery leads AL pitchers with three and Sundays starter Deivi Garcia was charged with his second in five starts on a wild pickoff throw to first base. "Granted Garcia is young, but youre sitting there watching and like, Boston is not going to steal many bases, so why do you keep picking over there like that?' the scout said. Then all of a sudden he throws one away and the guy ends up on third base. The Yankees didnt even play a clean game on Saturday when they had no errors in an 8-0 win at Fenway Park. Luke Voit was doubled up on the bases after losing track of the outs and ... There was a play that sums up their season in the field, the scout said. "The Yankees were playing the shift with Urshela over at short and Wade moving from short to behind second base. Theres a ground ball to Wade, and instead of getting the out at first, he decides to throw to third and make Urshela sprint over there and try to make a play. The umpire calls the runner out, but they go to replay and hes safe. Do that in a pressure-packed, playoff situation and it might come back to hurt you. They better play smarter and have their infielders be cognizant of moving their feet, getting in a good position and making the right throw. Catch the ball. I just think their errors come from being lazy and careless. YANKEES FIELDING LAST 10 YEARS 2020: .977 (15th in AL) 2019: .983 (9th in AL) 2018: .984 (T-9th in AL) 2017: .984 (T-7th in AL) 2016: .985 (T-6th in AL) 2015: .985 (T-6th in AL) 2014: .984 (T-7th in AL) 2013: .988 (3rd in AL) 2012: .987 (3rd AL) 2011: .983 (T-6th AL) Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she feels "let down" by her former right-hand man who, as her chief-of-staff, failed to declare he was the director of a company that received a $267,000 taxpayer-funded grant. David Barbagallo was cleared of official corruption after a year-long probe into whether he used his position to score hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars for the development of an app. When asked if she had misled Parliament, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk answered: "Definitely not." While the Crime and Corruption Commission investigation found he did not use his position to obtain funding, it concluded Mr Barbagallo had not properly declared his interests and would have likely faced disciplinary action had he not already resigned. The Premier said on Thursday she had not misled the Parliament over the matter. September 23, 2020 This page has been automatically translated by Original news Italian participation in China International Logistics Shenzhen Supply Chain Fair ICE Agency Initiative in collaboration with Assoporti and Interports Reunited Union Today, Shenzhen opened its 15th CILF Edition - China International Logistics and Supply Chain Fair in which an Italian delegation on initiative participates ICE Agency in collaboration with the two main Italian Logistics Trade Associations, the Association Italinai Ports (Associated) and the United Interports Union (UIR). The aim of the Italian participation in the CILF is to investment attraction activities, ICE Agency's "Invest in Italy" working group and Invitalia, within the dynamics of logistical developments and real estate that spring from the One Belt One strategic plan Road, also with reference to the significant growth of the cross border e-commerce. The Italian presence, in its second edition, fits as part of the activities envisaged by the Agency's ICE and Assoporti and UIR signed in July 2018 with the aim of establish a collaborative relationship to enhance the "System country" and introduce the foreign investor as an actor strategic development, specifically, of competitiveness Italian port and distribution system based on interports network. The CILF is one of the leading dedicated trade fairs logistics held in China with, in addition, a strong resonance in Asia. Its peculiarity is to target the vast market in southern China. This year there will be about a thousand exhibitors, and there are plans 50,000 visitors. At the CILF, in view of the health emergency still in Italy is present with an institutional stand at the ICE Canton staff, together with the staff of the Beijing's Desk Fdi, will gather the demonstrations interest from the Chinese side and will distribute a book offer Italian design proposals translated into Chinese. The Purpose is to keep the focus on the Chinese market, refer the fundamental role fulfilled by the Italian ports that, over the course of health emergency, have ensured the continuity of the health emergency supply chain and aim, even with the support of the Chinese side, sustainable development with a particular focus on investment in new logistics infrastructure and innovation Technological. Search for hotel Destination Other destinations Check-in date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Check-out date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Index Home Page News - Via Raffaele Paolucci 17r/19r - 16129 Genoa - ITALY phone: +39.010.2462122, fax: +39.010.2516768, e-mail By PTI NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Thursday refused to entertain a plea seeking bail to lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). A bench comprising Justices U U Lalit and Ajay Rastogi dismissed as withdrawn the plea filed by Bharadwaj. Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the activist has been in jail for over two years and charges have not been not framed in the case. Nothing has been recovered from the petitioner and no incriminating material found, she said. Referring to her health condition, the lawyer said Bharadwaj is suffering from diabetes and other comorbidities. "They are giving me medicine but several tests are required. Grant me interim bail. I will get diagnosed myself and thereafter surrender myself," she said. The apex court noted that a bail plea is pending in the high court. Grover said that she sought court's indulgence to get checked and the tests cannot happen in the jail hospital. "You have a good case on merits. Why don't you file a regular bail application," the bench said. The court then said, "either you withdraw it or we will dismiss it," and suggested that a regular bail plea can be filed. The plea was then withdrawn. Bharadwaj, 58, had earlier approached the Bombay High Court seeking bail, saying that she suffered from chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. She had said comorbidities put her at a higher risk of contracting coronavirus while at the Byculla women''s prison where an inmate had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier. The court, however, had noted the submissions made by the NIA and the Maharashtra government that the prison authorities were taking all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and that they were providing necessary medical care to Bharadwaj for her comorbidities. On August 21, pursuant to an high court order, the state government had submitted a report stating that Bharadwaj had been examined in the prison by a medical officer and that her health condition was found to be "stable and satisfactory". The report stated that Bharadwaj's vital health parameters were stable although she had been suffering from mild depression and had complained of body ache. The state said that Bharadwaj had been given medication for dizziness and had been advised to continue medicines for her chronic conditions. Bharadwaj has been lodged in the Byculla women's prison since September 2018 following her arrest in the case. The case pertains to the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune district on December 31, 2017. It is alleged that speeches made by some activists at the conclave led to violence near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on outskirts of Pune city the next day. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday that if given the chance, he would veto a bill passed by the state Senate the day before that would limit the ability of the governors office to impose quarantines. DeWine was asked about Senate Bill 311, which would forbid an Ohio governor from issuing a general statewide or regional quarantine order against those who have not been exposed to or diagnosed with a dangerous disease. In other words, it would prevent DeWine or future governors from issuing another stay at home order like the one imposed this year in the earlier days of the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate passed the bill Wednesday by a 20-13 vote, with most Republicans voting yes, and four Republicans joining all the chambers Democrats in voting no. It would need approval from the House and DeWines signature to become law, although a veto can be over-ridden with a two-thirds majority vote from both chambers. This bill cannot become law, DeWine said. It would make it impossible for a future governor [and] future health departments to deal with whatever the emerging crisis is. And more importantly, it would not be in the best interest of Ohioans as far as their health. DeWine previously has said he will veto any bill that seeks to limit his authority to issue public-health orders, which are legal under a wide-ranging statute that dates back to the flu pandemic of 1918. In July, he vetoed a bill that would have reduced the penalties for violating such an order. DeWine described a scenario of a group of people arriving from Wuhan, China earlier in this years pandemic, or a group of immigrants arriving from Mexico, Central America or South America. We have an area with COVID thats red-hot. Maybe some legal, some illegal, we shouldnt have the ability to quarantine those people and protect Ohio citizens? I could go on and on... If you play it out and look at all the different scenarios, we cannot be defenseless, DeWine said. John Fortney, a spokesman for Senate President Larry Obhof, a Medina Republican, issued a statement responding to DeWines comments. The bill simply says you cant have a mandatory statewide quarantine, he said. It clearly doesnt apply to these hypothetical examples about not being able to stop travel related to Ebola or disease outbreaks. Fortney said the Senates position is similar to that of U.S. Attorney General William Barr, who recently called the idea of a national lockdown the greatest intrusion on civil liberties in American history," other than slavery. Ashanti Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sam Pyne says the NDC flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama should stop behaving like he is the President of Ghana. According to him, it's become a habitual practice by the NDC flagbearer to address Ghanaians like he is the First Gentleman of the land. Sam Pyne made this comment while discussing the suspension of Mahama's tour of the Bono Region. The former President, John Mahama, has registered his displeasure over allegations of missing names in the voters' register. 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, he stated. Mr. John Mahama, on twitter, announced his suspension of the Bono Region tour saying, 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 issue in due course. His Running Mate, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is also said to have suspended her tour of the Central Region. Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission has denied the allegations. The NPP Regional Secretary wants Mr. Mahama to know that the only gentleman with authority to hold a state of the nation address the nation is His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and therefore cautioned the NDC flagbearer to refrain from portraying himself like President. "He should remember that we have one President. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is the President; he has the authority to address the nation. He (Mahama) must say he's organizing a press conference. But he should stop using the statement that he's coming to address the nation, in which capacity? He should say he is going to hold a press conference but to address the nation is the prerogative of the President'', he said on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo'. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video And we really need that reassurance, because the Trump administration has given us every reason to distrust statements coming from public health agencies. Last month the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance to the effect that people exposed to the coronavirus but not having Covid-19 symptoms didnt need to get tested contrary to the recommendations of just about every independent epidemiologist. Subsequent reporting revealed that the new guidance was prepared by political appointees and skipped the scientific review process. More recently, the C.D.C. warned about airborne transmission of the coronavirus this time matching what experts are saying only to suddenly pull the guidance from its website a few days later. We dont know exactly what happened, but its hard not to notice that the retracted guidance would have made it clear that recent Trump rallies, which involve large indoor crowds with few people wearing masks, create major public health risks. So the F.D.A. was trying to assure us that it wont be corrupted by politics the way the C.D.C. apparently has been. And Trump basically cut the agency off at the knees; his assertion that the new guidelines sound political actually meant that they werent political enough, that he wants to keep open the possibility of announcing a vaccine as a way to help retain power. But if political hacks are calling the shots at the C.D.C., and the F.D.A. is being told to shut up and follow the party line, whos advising Trump on pandemic policy? Send in the quacks. Trumps disastrous push, back in April, for early reopening was reportedly influenced by the writings of Richard Epstein, a law professor who somehow decided that he was an expert in epidemiology and that Covid-19 would kill no more than 500 people, a number he eventually increased to 5,000 roughly the death toll were currently experiencing every week. But the quack of the moment is Dr. Scott Atlas, a radiologist with no expertise in infectious diseases who nonetheless impressed Trump with his appearances on Fox News. Atlass opposition to mask requirements and advocacy of just letting the coronavirus spread until weve reached herd immunity are very much at odds with what actual epidemiologists are saying, but theyre what Trump wants to hear, and Atlas has apparently become a key adviser on pandemic policy. The Burleigh County Human Service Zone Board on Wednesday voted 5-2 to recommend hiring Kim Osadchuk as zone director after discussing an investigation into claims that she created a hostile work environment. Osadchuk was director of Burleigh County Social Services, which is now the Burleigh County Human Service Zone under a redesign of social services implemented by the 2019 Legislature. She has been serving as interim zone director. All five Burleigh County commissioners on the zone board voted on Wednesday in favor of hiring Osadchuk on a permanent basis. State Sens. Erin Oban, D-Bismarck, and Dick Dever, R-Bismarck, who also serve on the board, voted against her hiring. "We support Kim because we hired her," board member Jim Peluso said, referring to the board's previous decision to hire Osadchuk as interim director. "If the people that hire you aren't going to support you, who's going to?" Peluso added that recent letters he has received about Osadchuk have been positive. The state Department of Human Services has the final say on hiring Osadchuk and will make that decision by Friday, Chief Operating Officer Sara Stolt said at Wednesday's meeting. Oban and Dever in March brought complaints they had received about Osadchuk to the zone board and asked for an investigation, which was voted down. The board in April moved to hire Osadchuk as zone director, but Stolt said federal law prohibited that without an investigation into the hostile work environment complaints. The investigation report The report from Vogel Law Firm said there was sufficient evidence that Osadchuk contacted four former employees' new employers to limit their contact with the Human Service Zone, went through employees' emails and computers, and intimidated employees. Vanessa Lystad, the investigator for Vogel Law Firm, talked to or received information from five people who submitted concerns about Osadchuk to Human Services and to 26 people who reached out to the investigator. Lystad also received documents from Human Services and four emails from current or former Human Service employees with positive comments about Osadchuk. Three unnamed community partners also contacted the investigator to express concerns about Human Service Zone leadership. The report did not name any witnesses. Some witnesses interviewed said they believe Osadchuk targeted former employees because she didn't like them. One witness recounted Osadchuk saying she didn't like a specific employee and was trying to make her life a "living hell" so she would leave. Osadchuk in the report denied the allegations. Four former employees said Osadchuk called their new employers and said they were not allowed back at the zone or that she did not want them working with the zone in their new roles. One witness who quit last year said that after she put in her 30-day notice, Osadchuk questioned whether she was making threats to the zone, moved up her resignation date and called the witness's new employer to say she could start soon. The witness denied making threats. She said her new employer told her that Osadchuk called and said the witness was making threats to the zone, was belligerent and out of control and needed to leave. Osadchuk said in the report that after this employee gave notice, she made staff uncomfortable by yelling and slamming doors, so Osadchuk called the new employer and said, "If you want to take her early, you can." Multiple witnesses said they feared Osadchuk doing the same to them. The report also found evidence that Osadchuk went through staff computers and emails. A witness with knowledge of the zone's IT systems said Osadchuk in 2013 provided a handwritten list of employees three or four times and told the witness to check those employees' computers to "find something that doesn't belong." Another witness said Osadchuk told staff in 2013 that she would leave sticky notes saying a password had been changed if she went through an employee's computer. The witness said she found a sticky note on her computer after she approached the commission with concerns. She was later fired for personal use of her computer, which she told the investigator she did do. Witnesses interviewed also described issues with Osadchuk's management style. Several said they felt that they would not have the zone's support if they made a mistake or something went wrong on a case. One witness said Osadchuk told staff their "license is on the line" when talking about unpopular decisions on cases. Another witness said she felt compelled to take a certain action as required by Osadchuk on a controversial case even though she disagreed with Osadchuk. The witness said she was removed from the case after noting her disagreement. A witness described a "vicious cycle" in the workplace in which Osadchuk would pick on an employee until he or she quit or was let go. Multiple witnesses said they left the zone specifically because of the work environment. Witnesses described dreading work, feeling panic attacks or vomiting before work because of the stress. Osadchuk's defense Osadchuk spoke at length at Wednesday's meeting to defend herself, saying disgruntled employees were unhappy that she began enforcing department policies. She said she enforced policies about monitoring employee computers and about employees informing their supervisors of their whereabouts for safety purposes. Regarding the comment about an employee's license being on the line, Osadchuk said some employees had not made case notes for months, which put their social work licenses at risk. She said she has an open door policy with employees and never heard about any staff having panic attacks or vomiting before work. She said she contacted one former employee's new supervisor along with Burleigh County State's Attorney Julie Lawyer because that employee was "trashing" the Human Service Zone to other agencies, and she found it unprofessional. Osadchuk said that no other human service zone directors in the state are being investigated and that what she's being accused of is currently being done to her by the state. She said that she checked staff computers in 2013 because employees were sending slanderous messages about her and she wanted to see if it was being done on work time and on work computers. Her computer has been monitored since January, though she doesn't know by whom, she told the zone board. When she began her job as social services director in 2013, Osadchuk said, supervisors felt powerless because they had previously not been able to enforce policy with employees. "We had policies," Osadchuk said. "I just said we're going to enforce them, and the board wanted me to do that." Osadchuk also decried social media harassment she said she has received, and what she said was a "harassing" email sent to a county commissioner earlier Wednesday. "We're all better than this," Osadchuk said. Differing opinions Osadchuk suggested implementing a countywide workplace environment survey and creating an employee group to discuss department morale. Several board members, along with Osadchuk, said they had concerns about how the investigation was conducted. Osadchuk said most current employees don't have complaints and they weren't interviewed. Some zone board members said the investigation did not tell them definitively if a hostile work environment existed. "To me, an investigation would be to find the truth," Peluso said. "It was numerous times where the word 'heard' was used. Wouldn't an investigation lead to finding out if what you heard was actually true?" Zone Board Chairman Jerry Woodcox said all employees with complaints against Osadchuk had previously been put on performance improvement plans and that the investigator did not ask for those records. "If you get bad performance reviews, I would think you're going to be a disgruntled employee," Woodcox said. Dever, who voted against hiring Osadchuk, said the report was a cause for concern and that he felt things in the zone could have been handled differently. County Human Resources Director Pam Binder told the zone board there does not seem to be a hostile work environment in the Human Service Zone. She referenced a 2018 employee survey that reported a positive working environment. Binder also was disappointed with the investigation but said the truth probably lay between the allegations in the report and old human resources records that list no problems with Osadchuk. She was brought on to enforce policy, Binder told the board. "Some employees may not want to be retained if they have to follow policies," Binder said. Reach Sam Nelson at 701-250-8264 or sam.nelson@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Gov. Gen. Julie Payette and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wait during the throne speech in the Senate chamber in Ottawa on Sept. 23, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld) Throne Speech Welcomed by Greens, Decried by Others The party most happy with the Liberal governments speech from the throne was the Green Party, with Parliamentary Leader Elizabeth May saying it had all the things she had asked for, such as a goal to reach zero emissions, pharmacare, and a national child-care program. But the governments plan was decried by the Conservatives for not addressing issues of national unity, the energy sector, and fiscal restraint. The Quebec-first Bloc Quebeoics also rejected the speech, saying it infringes on provincial jurisdiction. The NDPs Jagmeet Singh walked a fine line, criticizing the government while also saying his party is undecided on whether to support the plan. The minority Liberals need the support of at least one of the main three opposition parties to remain in power. The speech, read by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette in the Senate chambers on Sept. 23, said the government is extending the federal wage subsidy program to the summer of 2021, and will support the unemployed through the employment insurance system, while winding down the Canada Emergency Response Benefit program. This is not the time for austerity, the speech said. Canadians should not have to choose between health and their job, just like Canadians should not have to take on debt that their government can better shoulder. The speech also said its going to use federal spending to add a million jobs. This will be done by using a range of tools, including direct investments in the social sector and infrastructure, immediate training to quickly skill up workers, and incentives for employers to hire and retain workers, it said. The government also hinted at scaling up taxes to increase revenue, including looking for ways to tax extreme wealth inequality and taxing internet giants. The governments post-pandemic resiliency agenda also includes the long-touted promise to implement a national child-care program and pharmacare, as well as calls for national standards for long-term care. Also promised in the plan are tougher gun laws, systemic racism-related legislation, a new disability benefit regime, and more support for reconciliation with indigenous peoples. The cornerstone of the governments agenda, the speech said, is tackling climate change. The plan includes legislation to reach zero emissions by 2050 and investments in technology to help with that goal. Taken together, this is an ambitious plan for an unprecedented reality, said the speech, which offered no price tags or specifics on how the goals will be achieved. Candice Bergen, deputy leader of the Conservatives, dismissed the plan as grand gestures and empty promises and said the speech neglected Western Canadians. Wed like to see specific things addressed about unity, Bergen said, adding that her party wants more support for energy workers and a plan to pay down the national debt. The Bloc Quebecois leader, who like Conservative Leader Erin OToole is in isolation due to testing positive for COVID-19, said the federal governments plan encroaches too far into provincial jurisdiction. He gave the Liberals one week to meet Quebecs demands for increased federal health transfers to the provinces, or else his party will vote against the governments plan. Reacting to the speech, Singh said the Liberals always say the right words but lack in taking action. For his party to offer its support, he said it wants a commitment to implement paid sick leave and assurance that the end of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit in lieu of an expanded employment insurance program doesnt mean people will get less money. Weve not decided yes or no on the throne speech, he said. Im saying we need to see some actions to back up these words. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to the nation in a televised address on the evening of Sept. 23, saying that a second wave of the pandemic is already underway in four provinces. Were on the brink of a fall that could be much worse than the spring, he said. With files from The Canadian Press and Scott Goulet He was sworn in as President of Belarus on September 23. The European Union does not recognize the so-called "inauguration" of Alexander Lukashenko as President of Belarus. "Recalling the Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union of September 11, the EU once again reiterates that the August 9 Belarus Presidential elections were neither free nor fair. The European Union does not recognize their falsified results. On this basis, the so-called 'inauguration' of September 23 2020 and the new mandate claimed by Alexander Lukashenko lack any democratic legitimacy," according to a Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union posted on the EU Council's website on September 24, 2020. It is noted the "inauguration" directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus. Read also"Inauguration" does not legitimize Lukashenko as Belarus president Kuleba"The European Union's position is clear: Belarusian citizens deserve the right to be represented by those they freely choose through new inclusive, transparent and credible elections," the Declaration said. "We stand in solidarity with them and fully support their democratic right to elect their President through new free and fair elections under the OSCE/ODIHR's supervision. We reiterate our expectation that the Belarusian authorities immediately refrain from any further repression and violence directed against the Belarusian people and immediately and unconditionally release all those detained, including political prisoners." The EU says it remains convinced that an inclusive national dialogue and responding positively to the demands of the Belarusian people for new democratic elections are the only way forward in finding a way out of the serious political crisis in Belarus that respects the wishes of the Belarusian people. "In light of the current situation, the EU is reviewing its relations with Belarus," it said. Belarus election: Reactions Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said that the people of Kashmir do not feel Indian as this moment and would rather be ruled by the Chinese. In an interview to The Wire, the National Conference chief described Kashmiris as slaves" who were being treated as second class citizens of the country. Rubbishing the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) claims that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have accepted the abrogation of Article 370 in August last year, Abdullah said that if the Army troops were lifted from the streets of Kashmir, people would come out in huge numbers to protest against the move. The Centre, on August 5, 2019, revoked Article 370 of the Constitution that granted a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It said that Article 370 had halted the development of the state, prevented proper education, health care and growth of industries and also not helped in curbing terrorism in J&K. Soon after the revocation, the government imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the Valley prohibiting more than five people to gather at one time in a particular place. According to Abdullahs statement in the interview, Kashmiris have lost the trust that bounded them to the rest of the country. The do not trust the government anymore, he said. Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi have misled and deceived" him, Abdullah further said that when he had questioned the prime minister about the increase in number of troops in the Valley, the latter deliberately went out of his way to give him the impression that it was merely for security purposes. Roughly 72 hours before the abrogation of Article 370, Modi had met Abdullah along another NC leader Sheikh Abudallah where they were assured about the continuation of Articles 370 and 35A in the state. Modi did not say a word about Articles 370 and 35A, said Abdullah, consequently believing that the two Articles were not in danger. Earlier, during his first interview to the view post the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah had reportedly said that his party would continue to contest the changes in the special status granted to J&K through all democratic means. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 12:18:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHICAGO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. police officers have been shot and wounded in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, during protests over black woman Breonna Taylor's death. The two police officers have been sent to a university hospital. One is in stable condition and another is in surgery, Acting Chief of Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) Robert Schroeder said at a news briefing held in Louisville Wednesday evening. One suspect has been in custody, Schroeder said, refusing to disclose more information. He said this is "a very serious and very dangerous condition." A citywide curfew has been imposed in Louisville starting from 9 p.m. local time, local media reported. Protests immediately erupted Wednesday noon in Louisville after none of three officers were charged in the direct killing of Taylor at her apartment. The protests have quickly spread to Washington D.C., New York and Atlanta. Taylor, 26, was fatally shot by several LMPD officers on March 13 when they were executing a "no-knock" search warrant at her apartment, and gunfire broke out after her boyfriend fired a warning shot because he thought the plainclothes officers were intruders. Enditem KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - 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 hospitalised, 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 Organisation (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. Story continues 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. (Writing by Matthew Tostevin; Editing by Martin Petty) London, Sep 24 : Superstar Akshay Kumar on Thursday took out time from his busy outdoor schedule in the UK, to seek blessings at a Gurudwara in the country. Sharing a glimpse of his visit, Akshay wrote: "Had a rather blessed morning... spent ten minutes in this Gurudwara today and counted my blessings. I feel a sense of calm I haven't in months," he wrote, tagging his post with #GratitudeIsTheBestAttitude and #IkOnkar. Akshat also posted a picture of him praying at the Gurudwara, with his head covered with a white cloth. The actor is currently shooting for his upcoming film "Bellbottom" in the UK. He is accompanied by his wife, Twinkle Khanna, and their children there. "Bellbottom" is directed by Ranjit M. Tewari and the film also features Vaani Kapoor, Huma S. Qureshi and Lara Dutta Bhupathi. As a Communist-ruled country, China has seen surprising growth in its religious population, especially amongst those of the Protestant Christian faith. The Chinese government reports approximately 200 million religious citizens with 38 million of them adhering to Protestant Christianity. That number alone would account for about three percent of China's 1.4 billion people population, though likely many more Chinese Protestants worship at "underground" churches to escape the scrutiny of the government. However, as the number of Christians in the country increases, so does the amount of oversight from the government. Since Xi Jinping rose to power in 2012, religious groups have faced much more censorship as the government has tried to maintain tighter control over them. The government represses those religions they believe could inspire dissent amongst the people and promotes government-approved faiths. This repression can be seen amongst the hundreds of thousands of Uighur Muslims who are imprisoned in camps in the Xinjiang region of China. Chinese Communist Leadership even rewards those who help to subdue undesirable religions. In 2014, Xia Baolong, the Communist Party Chief of the Zhejiang province, headed a campaign to stamp out Christianity by removing 1,500 crosses, confiscating Bibles, and arresting pastors. He was rewarded with being assigned as head of the office that oversees all Hong Kong and Macau affairs. Pastors continue to encounter harsh inspection, being forced to give lectures on topics that would adhere to the Communist Party's desires. Many Churches gather in secret, unregistered, and preach freely. However, those that do meet "underground," if discovered are persecuted and could potentially face legal charges. Just this last December, Pastor Wang Yi was arrested and now faces nine years in prison for "inciting subversion." As Christianity rapidly grows in China (38 million currently, up from 22 million a decade ago), Churches face the difficult choice of operating "underground", yet under constant threat of exposure, or in alignment with the Communist party, preaching on pre-approved party-favored topics. Even by operating in the good graces of the government, Churches risk losing the interest of their congregations. A study by Harris Doshay, a doctoral student at Princeton University, revealed that during these Party-favored lectures, many parishioners showed their preference towards the church by "voting with their eyelids" as they chose to nap rather than be attentive to the service. By Trend Azerbaijan has ably steered the Non-Aligned Movement during these difficult times and provided leadership for developing countries who are increasingly beset by health, humanitarian and economic challenges arising from COVID-19 pandemic, Bilal Hayee, Ambassador-designate of Pakistan to Azerbaijan told Trend. Pakistan attaches great importance to brotherly relations with Azerbaijan. President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi led Pakistans delegation to the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held in October 2019. On the sidelines, President of Pakistan also met H.E. President of Azerbaijan. Pakistan congratulates the President of Azerbaijan on his timely initiative and successful convening of the Non-Aligned Movements Summit-level Contact Group meeting on 4 May 2020. President of Pakistan participated in the Online Summit meeting convened to discuss implications arising from COVID-19. We also greatly appreciate the proposal by the President of Azerbaijan to convene a Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on COVID-19 pandemic. We are pleased to note that Azerbaijan has been entrusted with co-chairing this important Special Session of the General Assembly. Pakistan continues to support this initiative and NAM Chair and would actively participate at the Special Session, he said. Hayee noted that Pakistan stands ready to contribute to NAM initiative of strengthening international response to COVID-19 pandemic. Both Azerbaijan and Pakistan believe in multilateralism and international cooperation. Bandung Principles are even more relevant today than ever, as multilateralism is the only way forward to meet todays global challenges. We are gratified to note that despite the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, Azerbaijan, as NAM Chair has made efforts to strengthen the work of NAM. Under the able stewardship of President of Azerbaijan, the Non-Aligned Movement has strengthened its work for the promotion of the interests of its Member States. This is manifested through Azerbaijans initiatives at the United Nations and the NAM. Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy commonality of views on range of issues. Both countries closely coordinate at the United Nations and other multilateral forums including NAM. Pakistan supported Azerbaijans proposal to convene a Special Session of the UN General Assembly devoted to discuss implications of COVID-19 especially on developing countries.Similarly, Azerbaijan supported Prime Minister Imran Khans appeal to the international community for a Global Initiative on Debt Relief. Pakistan also appreciates Azerbaijan for kind gesture of support to developing countries in fighting COVID-19 outbreak (Azerbaijan had also donated USD 1 million to Pakistan in May 2020), said the envoy. Hayee went on to add that as the largest grouping of countries at the international level (with 120 Member States), Non-Aligned Movement has great relevance and role to play in the international system especially at the United Nations. United in their common adherence to founding principles of NAM and its ethos, NAM Member States have a robust platform to offer their views on a range of issues from peace and security, human rights, sustainable development and climate change, he concluded. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz SIMON Coveney has warned that even if a deal on the future relationship between the UK and EU can be reached it won't be ratified if the British Government's threat to break international law remains in place. The Foreign Affairs Minister made the remarks as he updated the Dail on Brexit and the state of play of trade negotiations between the two sides which are to resume next week. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Government is pressing ahead with a controversial Internal Market Bill which undermines the Withdrawal Agreement and the Irish protocols aimed at avoiding a hard border. The British Government has admitted it breaks international law, while arguing it does so in a limited way. Mr Coveney raised the issue of the Internal Market Bill and told the Dail "The British Governments approach in this legislation is deeply concerning. "The Internal Market Bill, if it were implemented in its current form, would undermine the Withdrawal Agreement and the certainty and stability that is so vital to protecting the Good Friday Agreement. "It would seriously erode and damage trust in Northern Ireland, and between the EU and the UK. "Injecting uncertainty and confusion at this point of the process which is not helpful on any level." He said Taoiseach Micheal Martin raised Irish concerns directly with Mr Johnson on the day the Bill was published and that the European Commission has urged the British Government to remove the problematic measures from the Bill. Mr Coveney said he attended meetings in Brussels this week and "the full unity of the EU in support of Michel Barnier our Chief Negotiator was expressed very strongly." He said: "Let us see what progress can be made in the coming weeks, but in any final trade deal we have to be clear and full certain that the Withdrawal Agreement will be implemented in full." And Mr Coveney warned: "Its my view that even if we do get an agreement in terms of a future relationship that if there is still a threat by the [UK] to legislate to undermine Withdrawal Agreement and break international law I dont believe that any future relationship agreement will be ratified." He added: "Why would the EU ratify a new agreement with a country that is threatening to break an agreement thats not even 12 months old?" Mr Coveney said: "Trust and relationships like everything in politics are what matter here and what I continue to do is try to remind the British Government in particular that when all of this is done and when we are on the other side of the end of this year, the end of transition, the relationships between the EU and UK are hugely important in terms of many of the global challenges that we face together". He said: "We have urged the British Government to step back from their deeply concerning approach in terms of legislation, to work now to repair the trust - trust that has been damaged - and to successfully and faithfully implement the Withdrawal Agreement and Protocol that we both agreed together. "A positive resolution to this I think is in all our interests". Mr Coveney also spoke of the need for Irish businesses to prepare for the end of the transition period on December 31 and the challenges they will face in exporting and importing goods from or through the UK regardless of whether there is a deal or not. Labour Party TD Brendan Howlin said the Internal Market Bill seems to be "the final act of madness in the bizarre handling of the withdrawal negotiations by the Johnson government." He added: "To openly admit the intention of the sovereign government to break an international agreement in the midst of trying to negotiate a new agreement for most of us, simply beggars belief." He argued that the unified reaction of the EU, internal critics of the Bill in the UK including former prime ministers and warnings from Washington "seems to have somewhat halted the incredible gallop of the Johnson government to the unthinkable." Mr Howlin said he occasionally reads some "Tory" newspapers to understand "the parallel universe inhabited by the most fervent Brexit cultists". He said: "Who knows that the next stage will be for the madness of King Boris. "He may well cut a fair deal yet and abandon all that has gone before. That is not unthinkable." But he said Ireland must prepare for a hard Brexit. He referred to preparations for hauliers in the UK saying: "I think there is a significant irony that the focus of the British government is on potential checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from Britain while now they've said that goods entering the county of Kent will require a special permit to avoid the expected chaos." Mr Howlin said the UK landbridge is an "enormously important exit and entry point" for Irish goods. He said the Irish Road Haulage Association has urged the government to help set up a fast direct daily ferry service with continental Europe for lorries "to avoid that chaos". He said the Government must be proactive about doing this and said that Rosslare Europort should be used as "an underutilised resource" with "a very good road network into it". Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. UCC will ask students who break campus Covid rules to make a 75 charitable contribution. The students will be given this 'informal option' on their first time of breaking the rules and would also have to complete an in-house educational programme which would include an alcohol-awareness program. It comes as the university plans a number of safety initiatives as the new academic term commences next week. A community charter, a joint social media campaign with its student union, and a Covid-19 safety support team will be brought into effect as the college reopens. The community charter is a set of principles that students and staff must adhere to, to reaffirm their commitment towards the shared responsibility of protecting the community. The community charter forms part of the students' and staff's return-to-campus induction. We have worked together with our students and staff since the pandemic occurred, and as the new term commences we want to both underline the importance of our shared responsibility and ensure we are supporting students and staff at this time," said interim president John OHalloran. To meet Covid-19 health and safety requirements, UCC has installed over 5,000 safety signs on the campus. As well as this, over 10,000 face-coverings have been distributed to students and staff. A dedicated Covid-19 Safety Support Team will assist students and staff, and a student-led social media campaign will encourage adherence to national health guidelines throughout the term. "In addition to the introduction of a Covid Community Charter, UCC has also established a Student Covid Support Team to assist students in adhering to public health guidelines. "In cases where a breach of the Covid Charter and student rules occurs, there is a process under Campus Watch to hold such students to account, a spokesperson for the university said. "If a student has breached our student rules, the student may have an option, in the first instance only, of an informal resolution. "This may include a 75 charitable contribution and completion of an in-house educational programme. "These programmes include the Bystander Intervention programme and the Alcohol Education programme. "UCC cannot pre-judge any complaint that comes before Campus Watch, and each case will be determined based on its own circumstances." Umar Khalid sent to judicial custody till October 22 India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 24: A Delhi court Thursday sent former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, arrested under the stringent anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, in a case related to the communal violence in north east Delhi in February, to judicial custody till October 22. Khalid was present before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat through video conferencing at the end of his police custody. Khalid was arrested on September 13 in the case. Khoon Bahana Padega were Umar Khalids alleged words leading up to Delhi riots Police did not seeks his further custody. In the FIR, police has claimed that the communal violence was a "premeditated conspiracy" which was allegedly hatched by Khalid and two others. He has also been booked for the offences of sedition, murder, attempt to murder, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and rioting. Khalid had allegedly given provocative speeches at two different places and appealed to the citizens to come out on streets and block the roads during the visit of US President Donald Trump to spread propaganda at international level about how minorities in India are being tortured, the FIR alleged. Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News In this conspiracy, firearms, petrol bombs, acid bottles and stones were collected at numerous homes, FIR claimed. Co-accused Danish was allegedly given the responsibility to gather people from two different places to take part in the riots, police alleged. Women and children were made to block the roads under the Jafrabad metro station on February 23 to create tension amidst the neighborhood people, the FIR said. In Delhi riots case, cops to show 1.1 million pages of documents to Umar Khalid 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. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 24, 2020, 14:16 [IST] Right behind Johnson & Johnson are Sanofi and Novavax, whose vaccines may prove just as good as or better than the leading contenders. We need multiple vaccines to work, said Dr. Dan Barouch, a virologist 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. Whats next: The companys chief scientific officer said Johnson & Johnson might be able to determine by the end of the year if the vaccine is safe and effective. Official comments: President Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that a vaccine will be ready before Election Day, said Wednesday that the White House may or may not approve new Food and Drug Administration guidelines requiring outside experts to weigh in before the agency approves a coronavirus vaccine. Here are the latest updates and maps of the pandemic. In other developments: Going into the coronavirus pandemic, faith in government was already low. Americans have held low opinions of the federal government for the past three presidencies, polling from the Pew Research Center shows with less than a third of respondents saying they trust federal policymakers to respond to crises and make good decisions. That share of those who trust the federal government has fallen to about 1 in 5 Americans, recent Pew polling indicates. More than half of those polled said they believe the feds are doing a bad job when it comes to handling public health threats. Now Playing: 'A witchs brew of conflict: San Antonios Henry Cisneros sees looming problems over the loss of respect for federal leaders. Video: San Antonio Express-News Running parallel to the pandemic is a reckoning over police use of force against Black citizens, worries about the effectiveness of a potential COVID-19 vaccine and unease over the potential for a contested outcome to the U.S. presidential race all crises bound to further erode trust in government. Meanwhile, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff enjoy majority support among locals, according to recent polling from Bexar Facts. The Express-News sat down with Henry Cisneros, former mayor and U.S. housing secretary, to discuss how the pandemic has affected the faith of the American people in their government at the federal, state and local levels. The interview has been edited for clarity and length. What has the pandemic and the response to it at all levels of government done to the public trusts in government? I think that Mayor Nirenberg and County Judge Wolff have done such a good job of keeping people informed that theyve actually strengthened faith in the local government. I think it actually goes beyond just keeping people informed. Its also their personas. I think the mayor has conveyed a very sober, straightforward, serious, no-nonsense approach. Ive teased the judge that hes San Antonios favorite grandfather or uncle, depending on your age and has conveyed that sense of assurance that comes from someone whos been there for a long time making good judgments and sometimes in a folksy way. The long and short is, I think San Antonians are quite pleased. At the state level for the longest time Texas didnt seem to be affected. People looked at the other parts of the country and tended to say the negative things that they do about New York and about California. But it was just a short time before the pandemic came here in May and June and July with a vengeance. Gov. (Greg) Abbott has been a person whos respected and mainstream and thought of as reflecting strong leadership. I think some of that was shaken a bit by the off-and-on posture. But in the final analysis, I think the governor did what needed to be done despite some of the stranger voices in Texas urging no masks and and no restrictions. The national administration, on the other hand, has been so off-and-on on so many things. From this is going to go away quickly, its going to disappear miraculously to masks are a hindrance to therell be a vaccine around the corner to its not the federal governments role to be a clerk and get protective equipment out to communities, to suggesting that the administration has no responsibilities in this arena at all. You almost cant imagine a worse set of declarations and reversals and confusion than what weve seen at the federal level. So, time and again over the years, polls show that people dont think much of the federal government, speak negatively of the Congress, but tend to speak positively of their local governments. And I think were seeing precisely that same pattern in this case. At the local level, you saw the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District struggle with the viruss summer surge. For example, in April, it was recommended that they hire a certain number of case investigators and contact tracers. But they didnt reach that number in time to deal with the summer spike. How do you see residents responding to that? I have not seen those issues, and there have been issues, detract from the mayor and the judges leadership or the general faith in the local government. The way that we saw a disproportionate number of cases in nursing homes, for example, the issues of the resignation of the health director, the shock at seeing the lines at the food bank, which made national and global press out of San Antonio. Something like this is beyond experience. It has no precedents. It is massive in scale, touches every life, and it deals with life or death. Im not seeing an angry response in San Antonio. Now, there was at the outset some real concern on the part of small business with the lockdowns, because particularly eating establishments, restaurants, felt that this was just impossible, it shouldnt be done, its never been done and the situation didnt warrant it. Billy Calzada /Staff photographer I suspect there are probably landlords who have people who they would evict under normal circumstances for not paying the rent or for other violations that they cant under these circumstances. And that is a real blow to business. So, you would think that people would be just livid. And they may be, but I dont see it being reflected in a general diminishment of support for the steps that the local governments had to take. This has been an incredibly tumultuous time.There was George Floyd, of course, but there was also a lot of frustration related to the pandemic and a lot of fear. I think it helped stimulate that sense of crisis and anger and need to protest. And yet I think people have been very reasonable in San Antonio understanding what needs to be done and largely, I think, have complied. I see a lot of cooperation on masks here unlike other parts of the country. I was at church and they asked me to say a word about a COPS/Metro accountability session thats coming up. And people were very interested in knowing more about this election and more about the choices. I did not detect anger. I detected a sense of wanting to participate in basic decisions affecting their lives. Theres talk on both sides of the aisle about what happens if we have a contested presidential election. There seems to be a lot of angst over the future of the democracy. I think there is some angst in an abstract way that is in the larger public discourse. But I think for most individuals, people have not given up on our democracy, our government, our leaders and are still hopeful. There may be some suspension of disbelief, like, I cannot believe this is happening. I cant believe were discussing these things. I cant believe were talking about an election that, where the president wouldnt leave or a party trying to pack the Supreme Court, or, you know, other things that you read about from history or in other countries but are not the way we do things in the United States. I dont think that most people are yet at the point of believing that a constitutional crisis is in front of us. Theyre still believing this could be worked out. Theyre still believing that calmer heads will prevail. Further, I would say thats particularly true in San Antonio for some reason, associated perhaps with our experience with negotiating conflict, creating consensus. Maybe its part of our multicultural accommodation, but San Antonians dont seem to be hatefully, contentiously responding to this situation. I think for most San Antonians, yes, theyre concerned, but its still in the range of, lets act positively to get things on the right track. Polls also show declining faith in public health institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the federal governments ability to respond to a public health crisis. What do you make of that? I think that the behavior by the political actors has damaged the institutions that are supposed to be neutral arbiters and service providers in a nonpartisan way. So, people do doubt the CDC because they have been forced to tailor their recommendations to the White House, for example. Can you imagine what peoples faith will be if there is a limited number of vaccines and they have to be apportioned on some basis? As to whether people will trust that that apportionment is going to the most needy, to the elderly, to the frail, to the infected, to the frontline workers or whether it matters who you know and how much money you have, whether you can control your way into getting a vaccine. That would be the worst effect because youd be choosing life-or-death-related treatment for some people and not for others depending on either their economic circumstances or political connections. Thats the kind of tragedy that can come from the loss of faith in institutions. What is the likely long-term effect of all this, especially when youre seeing so many shocks to the systems right now? I think it depends on how long it goes. I have observed over the years that leadership can make a dramatic difference and move the needle more than you think it would just because we have a change in a few positions. But I have witnessed where the leaders articulation of ideals, of duty, of expectations can actually move people toward that position. If, for example, a new administration were to replace people in key positions in these institutions Im describing, and they were to declare at the outset that their first priority is nonpartisan, fair, effective administration and nothing else, that would be a very, very different world than continuing the erosion of those institutions over time. Now, if on the other hand we were not able, in the short order, to get these things turned around, then the damage can be very severe. Ive said to myself over the years, there is no guarantee that a nation that is great and a leader in the world, prosperous and respected, must stay that way. You have to re-earn those outcomes continuously. And just like every other great force in the world, there comes a turning point when it just slips away. I dont want to sound overly alarmist, but that is possible in a situation this dire. When youre losing your respect for the institutions, when theyre not functioning correctly, when were facing fiscal implications, when we have economic problems, when theres vacuums in our leadership in the world that nations like China are stepping into and Russia is playing a role in mischief, when we are unable to forge anything that resembles unity or consensus among the people of the country, everybodys motives are questioned. You put all that together, its a witchs brew of conflict that at some point, we look back and say, That was the point of inflection. Thats when it started down. And you can get into a spiral where you cant recover. Theres nothing in world history that guarantees a permanent role as leader of the world for the United States if we squander it, if we piss it away with more of this kind of thing. 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 ALLGEIER SE / Key word(s): Forecast Allgeier SE: Guidance for the 2020 financial year Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Munich, September 23, 2020 - Allgeier SE (ISIN DE000A2GS633, WKN A2GS63) provides the following guidance for the 2020 financial year: For the remainder of the 2020 financial year, the Management Board expects the stable development of the first eight months to continue. The expected revenues of the overall Group in the 2020 financial year will prospectively be in the same range as in the previous year. The adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be in the range of 10 to 12 percent. For the Nagarro segment, which is planned to be spun off, revenue growth in the mid single-digit percentage range is expected with an adjusted EBITDA margin in the range of 15 to 17 percent. The remaining Allgeier Group after the planned spin-off of Nagarro is expected to see a mid-single-digit percentage revenue decline, mainly due to the planned continuation of the reduction of business in the area of personnel services, and an adjusted EBITDA margin in the range of 6 to 8 percent. Legal note: To the extent this announcement contains statements related to our future business and financial performance and future events or developments involving the Allgeier Group and which may constitute forward-looking statements, these statements may be identified by words such as "expect", "forecast", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "believe", "seek", "estimate", "will", "target" or words of similar meaning. Such statements are based on the current expectations and certain assumptions of Allgeier's management, of which many are beyond Allgeier's control. Future actual developments and future actual results may differ from these assumptions and estimates. Allgeier SE gives no guarantee and assumes no liability that future developments and the actual results achieved in the future will correspond to the assumptions and estimates expressed in this announcement. All forward-looking statements only speak as of the date when they were made and Allgeier neither intends, nor assumes any obligation, unless required by law, to update or revise these forward-looking statements in light of developments which differ from those anticipated. This announcement contains supplementary financial indicators, which are or may be alternative performance indicators, not precisely defined in the relevant accounting framework. These supplementary financial indicators may have limited suitability as an analytical tool and should not be used in isolation or as an alternative to the financial indicators presented in the consolidated financial statements and determined in accordance with relevant accounting frameworks in order to assess the net assets, financial position and results of operations of Allgeier SE. Other companies that present or report alternative performance indicators with a similar designation may calculate them differently and may therefore not be comparable. Further information on the alternative performance indicators used by Allgeier SE can be found in the Annual Report 2019. Contact: Allgeier SE Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Dr. Christopher Groe Einsteinstrae 172 81677 Munich Phone: +49 (0)89/998421-0 Fax: +49 (0)89/998421-11 E-mail: ir@allgeier.com Web: www.allgeier.com Allgeier SE is one of the leading technology companies for digital transformation: Allgeier guides its clients through the challenges of digital change to ensure their future success. For global corporations and market and industry leaders from many verticals and geographies Allgeier is thinking breakthroughs for new digital business models, taking strategic priorities and executing fast and without fuss groundbreaking projects to create agile and intelligent enterprise for the digital era. With nearly 11,000 salaried employees and more than 1,000 freelance experts, Allgeier uses a highly flexible delivery model to cover the entire IT service spectrum from onsite to nearshore to offshore - with strong footholds in India, China, Vietnam and Eastern Europe. The fast-growing group, headquartered in Munich, Germany, has around 130 offices worldwide in 28 countries across five continents. In the 2019 financial year, Allgeier generated consolidated sales of EUR 784 million with more than 2,000 customers. According to the Lunendonk(R) List 2020, Allgeier is one of the leading IT consulting and system integration companies in Germany. According to Lunendonk(R)-List 2020, Allgeier Experts is one of the leading personnel service providers for the recruitment, placement and management of IT freelancers in Germany. Allgeier SE is listed on the Regulated Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in the General Standard (WKN A2GS63, ISIN DE000A2GS633). Further information is available at: www.allgeier.com. 23-Sep-2020 CET/CEST The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de (Natural News) Reports in the past claiming that Joe and Hunter Biden are beholden to China were, predictably, blown off as political propaganda by Democrats, but a new bombshell Senate report the partys lapdogs in the mainstream media are ignoring sheds additional light on these previous allegations. The shocking new report, which was produced by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Senate Finance Committee, details a number of instances in which Hunter Biden and family members have deep connections to the Chinese communist government, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. In one case, for instance, the report states that on Sept. 8, 2017, Hunter Biden and Gongwen Dong, a Chinese national with ties to Beijing, opened up a bank account together in order to fund a $100,000 global spending spree for members of the Biden family. Hunter Biden and Gongwen Dong, a Chinese national who has reportedly executed transactions for limited liability companies controlled by Ye Jianming, applied to a bank and opened a line of credit under the business name Hudson West III LLC (Hudson West III), says the report, adding more damning information and connections: Hunter Biden, James Biden, and James Bidens wife, Sara Biden, were all authorized users of credit cards associated with the account. The Bidens subsequently used the credit cards they opened to purchase $101,291.46 worth of extravagant items, including airline tickets and multiple items at Apple Inc. stores, pharmacies, hotels, and restaurants. The cards were collateralized by transferring $99,000 from a Hudson West III account to a separate account, where the funds were held until the cards were closed. The transaction was identified for potential financial criminal activity. Senate investigators discovered that Hunter Biden held one of the cards while James and Sara Biden, his brother and sister-in-law, held three. The report notes further that Hudson West III LLC was incorporated on April 19, 2016, or more than one year before the China-tied line of credit was opened to finance purchases made by Hunter, James and Sara Biden. On Aug. 8, 2017, CEFC Infrastructure Investment wired $5 million to the bank account for Hudson West III, the report says. And while it isnt clear if Hunter Biden was half-owner of the bank at the time, starting on Aug. 8, the same day the $5 million was received, and continuing through Sept. 25, 2018, Hudson West III sent frequent payments to Owasco, Hunter Bidens firm. These payments, which were described as consulting fees, reached $4,790,375.25 in just over a year. (Related: Joe Biden demands media declare total obedience to Democrats and blacklist all dissenting voice.) The Senate report is damning; no doubt there have been previous attempts to expose Hunter Bidens ties to China, especially, as well as his Democratic presidential nominee fathers alleged efforts to open doors for his son. In May 2019, investigative author Peter Schweizer who has done tons of research on the Bidens shady dealings explained why the former VP is so warm toward China. In a column for the New York Post, Schweizer noted after Joe Biden blew off claims that China presents a huge national security threat to the U.S. in 2013 he took a trip with son Hunter Biden with him aboard Air Force Two to China. Less than two weeks later, Hunter Bidens firm inked a $1?billion private equity deal with a subsidiary of the Chinese governments Bank of China, Schweizer wrote. The deal was later expanded to $1.5? billion. In short, the Chinese government funded a business that it co-owned along with the son of a sitting vice president. He added that until he published details of the trip and the business deal in his book Secret Empires, few people knew that it had even taken place a deal that also involved Chris Heinz, who is John Kerrys stepson, and Heinzs longtime associate Devon Archer. Sources include: Breitbart.com NYPost.com NewsTarget.com Le Ministre de la peche Biendi Maganga Moussavou et son collegue Lee White, appreciant quelques dispositifs techniques pour la lutte contre la peche illicite du Thon dans les eaux gabonaise Photo N 68794 Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 05:56:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken in New York on Sept. 24, 2020 shows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaking via video at a summit-level Security Council debate on "global governance after COVID-19". Guterres on Thursday called for post-COVID global governance that features solidarity and multilateralism. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for post-COVID global governance that features solidarity and multilateralism. The COVID-19 pandemic is a full-blown crisis in itself, unfolding against a backdrop of high geopolitical tensions and other global threats in unpredictable and dangerous ways, he told a summit-level Security Council debate on "global governance after COVID-19." "The pandemic is a clear test of international cooperation, a test we have essentially failed," Guterres said. The virus has killed nearly 1 million people around the world, infected over 30 million, and remains largely out of control. This was the result of a lack of global preparedness, cooperation, unity and solidarity, he said. COVID-19 is a wake-up call for even more catastrophic challenges that may arise, starting with the climate crisis, he said. "If we meet these with the same disunity and disarray we have seen this year, I fear the worst." There is an urgent need for innovative thinking on global governance and multilateralism, so that they are fit for the 21st century, said Guterres. He called for global governance that is resolute, coordinated, flexible, and ready to react to the full range of challenges. The world is no longer bipolar or unipolar, and is instead moving toward multipolarity, he noted. "We experienced fragmentation and polarization without effective mechanisms of multilateral governance 100 years ago. The result was the First World War, followed by the second (World War)." COVID-19 is a warning that must spur the world to action, he said. "We have no choice. Either we come together in global institutions that are fit for purpose, or we will be crushed by divisiveness and chaos." He asked for multilateralism for post-COVID global governance to work. "Reformed global governance is about approaches, and institutions, which must be reformed and strengthened," he said. "We need more and better multilateralism that works effectively and delivers for the people we serve." "We need more and better global governance based on national sovereignty and expressed through our shared ideals, eloquently expressed in the United Nations Charter," he added. COVID-19 has illustrated beyond dispute the gaps in the multilateral system. As countries go in different directions, the virus goes in every direction, he said. A rational and equitable approach to vaccination would reduce preventable deaths by prioritizing front-line workers and the most vulnerable. But the world has struggled to mobilize the resources needed to ensure a vaccine as a global public good, available and affordable to all, he lamented. In a world of interconnected threats, solidarity is self-interest, he said. "We urgently need multilateral institutions that can act decisively, based on global consent, for the global good. And we need multilateral institutions that are fair, with better representation of the developing world, so that all have a proportional voice at the global table," said Guterres. He called for "a networked multilateralism" that is based on strong links and cooperation between global and regional organizations, international financial institutions and other global alliances and institutions. Networked multilateralism must extend beyond peace and security, encompassing the Bretton Woods institutions, development banks, trade alliances and more, he said. Many of the cross-border challenges, from the climate crisis to rising inequality to cybercrime, involve interest groups, businesses, organizations and entire sectors that are outside traditional concepts of global governance, he said. "These challenges cannot be addressed effectively by states alone. We need to broaden our idea of global governance, to take in businesses, civil society, cities and regions, academia and young people." International conventions are not the only way to reach binding agreements for the common good. There is a need for flexible mechanisms in which different stakeholders come together, adopt protocols and codes of conduct, define red lines and create conditions for successful cooperation which is particularly relevant in the digital world, he said. "Global governance must also recognize our responsibilities to our planet and to future generations. Civil society movements, particularly those led by young people, are global leaders on these issues," he said. Global governance mechanisms until now have been exclusive, and the largest group left out in the cold is women, half of humanity, said Guterres. Women watching this week's General Debate have a perfect right to feel that they are not represented, and their voices are not valued, he said, referring to the fact that few of the speakers are female leaders. "The COVID-19 pandemic has proven what is obvious: women's leadership is highly effective. We cannot hope to turn the climate crisis around, reduce social divisions or make sustained peace without the full contributions of all of society," the UN chief said. The United Nations has a responsibility to improve the effectiveness of global governance. But the primary responsibility for making global governance work lies with member states, he said. Reform of global governance cannot be a substitute for collective action by member states to confront common challenges, said Guterres. "Conflict, human rights abuses, humanitarian crisis and stalled progress on development reinforce each other and are interlinked, while our global response is more and more fragmented. We are not keeping pace with the world as it is. The institutions of global governance should work together in coordination, to contain, mitigate and reduce risks of all kinds," he said. Thursday's Security Council debate, held during the General Assembly high-level week, was a signature event with Niger assuming the Security Council presidency for the month of September. Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou chaired the virtual meeting. Guterres briefed the council. African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, and Tunisian President Kais Saied attended the debate via video teleconference. Legislation that would eliminate or reduce mandatory minimum sentences in New Jersey for non-violent drug offenses and property crimes stalled in the state Legislature on Thursday after a controversial amendment was recently added to the proposal. The bill failed to clear its last hurdle before it could be sent to the governor after lawmakers in the state Assembly didnt vote on it during a regular session in Trenton. The pause comes after revisions were quietly made that added official misconduct to the list of crimes eligible for reduced sentences. Official misconduct is sometimes used to prosecute politicians, police officers and other public workers. Its unclear who added the language to the bill (A4369/S2586). Its sponsors state Sen. Sandra Cunningham, D-Hudson, and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, D-Middlesex didnt immediately respond for comment. But Lopez told Politico NJ, which first reported the amendment, she didnt know of the changes. I was not aware of this amendment until recently, and Im taking it under careful review with leadership, Lopez told the political news website last week. Any change we make to this legislation needs to reflect the intention of the bill, which is to eliminate racial disparities in prison. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said Thursday lawmakers are still reviewing the changes to the bill. Were still evaluating that one, Coughlin, D-Middlesex, said. I want to understand what the change was in the Senate and how that would practically impact it before we make a call on it, Gov. Phil Murphy, meanwhile, all but shut the door on signing a final bill that included official misconduct. Let me say unequivocally, official misconduct was not on the list. I just want to say as clearly as I can, I do not support official misconduct being roped into this legislation, the Democratic governor said when asked about it during a public event last week. The list he referred to was the recommendations of the states Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission, which Murphy convened in 2018 to address New Jersey having the worst disparity in the country for rates of incarceration between Black and white offenders. The sentencing commission made nine recommendations in their November 2019 report the most significant being the elimination of mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders and bill implements all nine recommendations. Official misconduct was not one of the recommendations. State Senate lawmakers already approved the measure and its up to the Assembly to pass it or or make additional changes before it would head to the governor. Obviously, its a controversial bill because if you read the top line without digging into it. But youre actually talking about people who have been in jail and their conduct in jail has been good, theyre deemed safe to release, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney said Thursday when asked about the bill. When someone serves their sentence theyre entitled to move on with their life, Sweeney, D-Gloucester, added. I think the title scares people. It makes them nervous. But realize, it passed bipartisan in this house. The bill retroactively applies to inmates serving certain mandatory minimum sentences, including non-violent drug offenses, making more than 2,000 inmates immediately eligible for parole if it were signed into law. It also also would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent property crimes and reduces the mandatory minimum sentence for two crimes second degree robbery and second degree burglary that previously have been subject to penalties associated with far more serious offenses, the sentencing commission said. Additionally, juveniles who were sentenced as adults for their crimes to long prison terms would have an opportunity for re-sentencing or release. It would also create a new mitigating sentencing factor for juveniles. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Get the latest New Jersey political news. Sign up with your email here: Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. The Initiative for Open Abstracts (I4OA) calls on all scholarly publishers to open the abstracts of their publications, and specifically to distribute them through Crossref, in order to facilitate large-scale access and promote discovery of critical research. I4OA--a collaboration between scholarly publishers, academic librarians, researchers, infrastructure providers and other stakeholders--will launch at the online conference of the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA) on September 24th. I4OA has been established to advocate and promote the unrestricted availability of the abstracts of scholarly publications, particularly journal articles and book chapters. Stuart Taylor, Director of Publishing at the Royal Society says:"Abstracts summarize the content of scholarly publications, and their wide availability will boost discoverability and draw readers, both human and machine, to the full text". Making abstracts openly available thus helps scholarly publishers to maximize the visibility and reach of their journals and books. Open abstracts make it easier for scholars to discover, read and then cite these publications; promotes their inclusion in systematic reviews; expands and simplifies the use of text mining, natural language processing and artificial intelligence techniques in bibliometric analyses; and facilitates scholarship across all disciplines by those without subscription access to commercial bibliographic services. Many abstracts are already available in various bibliographic databases, but these sources have limitations, for example because they require a subscription, are not machine-accessible, or are restricted to a specific discipline. "Bringing the abstracts from many publishers and from multiple disciplines together without these restrictions will enable new kinds of discovery tools and analyses, without requiring us to individually scrape millions of article pages at thousands of publisher websites" , says Vincent Lariviere, Professor of Information Sciences at l'Universite de Montreal. "Making abstracts available only for human (eyeball) reading on publisher websites is not sufficient" adds Ludo Waltman, Deputy Director of Leiden University's Centre for Science and Technology Studies and coordinator of I4OA. Crossref is a not-for-profit infrastructure organization used by many publishers to register and share Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for their publications. "Crossref already has the capacity to bring abstracts together in a common format in one global, cross-disciplinary repository through an open API. At present however, publishers submit abstracts for only ~7% of the publications that we record", says Ginny Hendricks, Director of Member & Community Outreach at Crossref. I4OA calls on all scholarly publishers using Crossref to make their abstracts openly available by depositing them with Crossref. This can be done as part of established workflows that publishers already have in place for submitting publication metadata to Crossref. 34 publishers, listed below, have already agreed to support I4OA and to submit their abstracts to Crossref. Support for I4OA has also been expressed by over 50 other stakeholders, also listed below, including global research funders, libraries and library associations, infrastructure providers, and open science organizations, demonstrating the importance and relevance of this Initiative to the scholarly community. I4OA was inspired by the success of the Initiative for Open Citations (I4OC), which encourages the submission of references to Crossref. Since the launch of I4OC in 2017, over two thousand scholarly publishers have chosen to make the reference lists of their journal articles and book chapters openly available through Crossref. I4OA, which will be announced at the OASPA conference on September 24th 2020, aims to replicate the success of I4OC by achieving a rapid jump in the open availability of scholarly abstracts via Crossref. Mandy Hill, Managing Director of Academic Publishing at Cambridge University Press, said: "Authors' abstracts are a key tool for literature discovery, and we're delighted to support this initiative to create a high quality corpus of freely accessible abstracts in Crossref." Stephanie Paalvast, Head of Open Research at Brill, said:"At Brill we are already experiencing the advantages of opening up abstracts on the impact of the research we publish. It has helped our authors to receive more downloads, our journals to become more visible; and supports institutional and funder ambitions for open metadata. We are delighted to join the efforts of I4OA to maximize the uptake of this practice across the publishing industry, and ultimately contribute to enhanced access and impact." Stephanie Dawson, CEO of ScienceOpen, said: "I strongly support the efforts of I4OA to make abstracts freely accessible alongside article metadata. Already many publishers are convinced that it is in the best interest of authors and journals to open their abstracts, as it leads to more views and greater impact of their work. I4OA is exactly what we need now to raise awareness of the advantages for publishers of open abstracts and to promote metadata best practices." Contact & further information Further information may be obtained from the I4OA webinar on October 5th 2020 at 4 pm CEST (register at https://bit.ly/32zcOVH), from the I4OA website at https://i4oa.org (live from September 24th 2020), by emailing Ludo Waltman, coordinator of I4OA, at openabstracts@gmail.com, or by following @open_abstracts on Twitter. I4OA team Helen Duce (SAGE) Ginny Hendricks (Crossref) Bianca Kramer (Utrecht University) Vincent Lariviere (Universite de Montreal) Catriona J. MacCallum (Hindawi Ltd) Cameron Neylon (Curtin University) Silvio Peroni (OpenCitations and University of Bologna) David Shotton (OpenCitations and University of Oxford) Cassidy R. Sugimoto (Indiana University Bloomington and International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics) Aaron Tay (Singapore Management University) Stuart Taylor (The Royal Society) Bryan Vickery (Crossref) Ludo Waltman (Leiden University) Founding publishers Hindawi Ltd SAGE The Royal Society Supporting publishers (last updated: September 15th 2020) American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Beilstein Institut Brill British Academy British Institute of Radiology Cambridge University Press (CUP) De Gruyter EDP Sciences eLife European Mathematical Society European Respiratory Society (ERS) Frontiers F1000 Geological Society of London International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) IWA Publishing Leibniz-Institute for Psychology Information (ZPID) MDPI MIT Press PeerJ Portland Press (Biochemical Society) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Public Library of Science (PLOS) Royal College of General Practitioners Royal College of Psychiatrists RTI Press S. Karger The Company of Biologists Thomas Telford (Institution of Civil Engineers) Ubiquity Press University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) ePress Supporting stakeholders (last updated: September 15th 2020) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) AmeliCA ASAPbio Association of European Research Libraries (LIBER) Association of Research Libraries Association of Research Managers and Administrators UK (ARMA UK) Austrian Science Fund (FWF) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation British Library California Digital Library (CDL) Center for Open Science CiteSeerX cOAlition S Coko Foundation Confederation of Open Access Repositories ContentMine CORE DataCite DBLP Digital Science Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) Dryad Dutch Research Council (NWO) Eigenfactor Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL) Erudit EuropePMC Fair Open Access Alliance FORCE11 Harvard Office for Scholarly Communication International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS) Lens Max Planck Digital Library (MPDL) Metadata 2020 Microsoft Research Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA) Open Knowledge Maps OPEn Research Analytics (OPERA) OpenAIRE Our Research Redalyc Research Council of Norway (RCN) Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition Europe (SPARC Europe) SciELO ScienceOpen SciTech Strategies Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) TIB - Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology and University Library Ukrainian Citation Index UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Wellcome Trust ### Many of the students caught in the TOEIC cheating scandal are Indian. They have consistently defended themselves and have been lobbying the govt for a chance to prove their innocence London: Several Indian students are among over 200 overseas student signatories of a letter to UK prime minister Boris Johnson on Thursday, seeking justice in the wake of being accused of cheating in a compulsory English language test six years ago. The scandal, believed to have impacted around 34,000 international students, relates to the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), a compulsory requirement in some student visa cases. Many of the students caught up in the row are Indian and have consistently maintained their innocence and have been lobbying the government for a chance to prove their innocence. "We were innocent but our visas were refused or revoked and the government gave us no way to defend ourselves. Our futures were destroyed and we were left to fight a years-long legal battle costing each of us tens of thousands of pounds", reads the letter. "We write to you because it is within your power to right this wrong, to put an end to our detention, deportation and humiliation. Allow us to prove our innocence by establishing a free and transparent scheme independent of the Home Office through which we can get our cases to be reviewed and clear our names," they wrote in a direct appeal to Johnson. The group has been supported in its long-running campaign by Migrant Voice activists and several parliamentarians including Labour Party MP Stephen Timms, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on TOEIC. In the letter to the UK prime minister this week, they also sought to highlight how their plight has been magnified during the coronavirus pandemic. "The coronavirus pandemic has made our situation even worse. Our support networks have collapsed, the charities we rely on have been closed, our friends and families are unable to help as they are struggling themselves. We are terrified of catching the virus and being hospitalised, or dying with a black mark still against our names. This is not the future we wanted or worked for," they wrote. Several reports over the years, including by the UK's National Audit Office and House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC), have flagged flawed evidence used by the Home Office against the affected students and raised serious doubts over the decision to revoke or refuse tens of thousands of visas. "These students have been living a nightmare for six years. Stripped of their rights and their futures destroyed, many are destitute and suffering severe mental health problems. There is a mountain of evidence that proves they are victims of a mammoth injustice and the government can ignore this no longer," said Nazek Ramadan, Director of Migrant Voice. The issue dates back to February 2014, when BBC's Panorama' investigation uncovered evidence of organised cheating in two English language test centres run on behalf of the Educational Testing Service (ETS). This included providing English-speakers to take speaking tests instead of the real candidates and staff reading out multiple choice answers for other tests. The UK Home Office responded vigorously, investigating colleges, test centres and students and cancelled thousands of visas in the wake of the expose. It has maintained that the courts consistently found that the evidence it had at the time was sufficient to take action and that the 2014 investigation into the abuse of English language testing revealed "systemic cheating". Last year, the influential PAC parliamentary body had issued a harsh rebuke of the government's reaction to the scandal. The Home Office's pace of response to the issue of cheating has either been full throttle' or too slow', with no middle ground. It has been quick to act on imperfect evidence, but slow in responding to indications that innocent people may have been caught up in its actions, noted the report titled English Language Tests: A Systemic Failure Affecting Thousands'. "We are staggered that the Department thinks it is acceptable to have so little regard for the impact its actions might have on innocent people, it said. The publisher approached the high court challenging the trial courts 4 September ex-parte interim injunction order restraining the publication of the book. It said the stay should be vacated. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on 22 September set aside an interim stay on the publication of a book on self-styled preacher Asaram Bapu Gunning for the Godman: The True Story Behind Asarams Conviction. In April 2018, Asaram was sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2013 case of sexual assault on a minor. Justice Najmi Waziri said the trial court's order granting ex-parte injunction and staying release of the book on the eve of its launch is set aside. The high court, which was of the view that no case was made out to grant ex-parte injunction, said it would be against free speech to debar all discussions. The high court passed the order on a plea by publisher HarperCollins seeking vacation of the interim stay on the publication and distribution of the book granted by the trial court on the suit by woman co-convict Sanchita Gupta alias Shilpi. The high court directed that the already printed copies of the book be sold along with disclaimer attached as flyer in the book that it is based on the judgement of a trial court against which an appeal is pending in the Rajasthan High Court. The disclaimer should be attached either inside of the front cover or back cover, it said, adding that for online sale, the disclaimer should be given electronically. The publisher approached the high court challenging the trial courts 4 September ex-parte interim injunction order restraining the publication of the book. It said the stay should be vacated. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the publisher, had said This is very serious. All the books have already been distributed to the distributors. It has become a trend in the last few years that they move court on the eve of release of a book and get an ex-parte stay. He had said the plaintiff woman has not come to court with clean hands and she had not annexed a copy of the judgement in the rape case before the trial court which could have then seen whether objections raised by her have any basis in the law. He said the book was written on the basis of the record of the case and it was a story of an investigating officer of the case, based on the evidence recorded during the trial and the God-man along with the plaintiff was convicted. However, the counsel for the woman opposed the appeal saying the contents of the book were not found in record and if it is allowed to be published, it will cause her irreparable loss. Senior advocate Devdutt Kamat, appearing for the woman, had said there was defamatory material published in the book. Amazon and Flipkart were deleted as parties after they submitted that they were not necessary parties to the case and they will abide by the courts order to be passed in the suit. The book is authored by Ajay Lamba, Additional Commissioner of Police, Jaipur and Sanjiv Mathur, and was scheduled to be released on 5 September. On September 4, an additional district judge had stayed the publication of the book on the ground that the appeal against the conviction in the rape case was sub-judice before the Rajasthan High Court. In April 2018, Asaram was sentenced to life term in the 2013 case of rape of a minor girl. Co-convicts Sharatchandra and Sanchita alias Shilpi were sentenced to 20 years in prison and co-accused Shiva and Prakash were acquitted. In the suit, Sanchita had argued that allowing the publication of the book would prejudice her appeal and run counter to her rights under Article 21 of the Constitution. It was claimed that the book was a one-sided narration of events and did not even follow the trial record. One year ago, 57-year-old Enrico Miranda was killed while cleaning a machine at Fiera Foods, an industrial bakery in North York. He was the fifth temp agency worker to be killed on the job at Fiera Foods or an affiliated company since 1999. Tragically, his and many other temp agency worker deaths could have been prevented. An improvement to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act that would finally make companies like Fiera Foods responsible for the cost of workplace deaths and injuries among temp workers is already on the books. But it sits in limbo because Premier Doug Ford refuses to sign off on the regulations that would bring it into effect. Real life experience, including the five deaths at Fiera Foods and affiliates, tells us that companies using temp agency workers will only improve working conditions when there are meaningful financial penalties to ensure they take responsibility for all workers in their company. Of the five deaths, two occurred after Ford became premier. Indeed, less than a year before Miranda died, another temp agency worker in his 40s was killed at Fiera Foods-affiliated company Upper Crust. Think about it. Life-saving legislation existed then, and exists now. But it still needs the premiers signature to come into effect. Fords continuing inaction tells us all we need to know about how much he values workers like Enrico Miranda. In fact, just 27 days after the October 25, 2018 death at Upper Crust, Fords government passed a bill rolling back modest worker protections adopted by the previous government. I remember feeling ill watching Conservative MPPs cheer as they voted to end equal pay for temp agency workers doing the same job as directly hired workers, scrap the meagre two paid sick days for all workers, and cancel the $15 minimum wage. Despite all Fords praise and accolades for essential workers who have always risked their lives taking care of us before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic there has been no move whatsoever to protect them. But this callous attitude is out of step with the majority of Ontarians. Because of COVID-19, many more of us now understand why full-time, secure jobs are essential to the health and well-being of ourselves and our communities. Involuntary part-time work forces workers to string together jobs at multiple locations just to make ends meet. This business model based on cheap labour increases the spread of many communicable illnesses, not just COVID-19. Precarious work is a health hazard everywhere. This is as true in the education system as it is in long-term care, and everything in between. It is also clear to millions that our collective health depends on all of us having adequate paid sick days. We cant stay home when we are sick if we cant afford to lose pay. And we need enough paid sick days so we can pick up our kids and have them tested when they are sent home from school for COVID-19 or other reasons. As I write, its clear Ontario is in the midst of a new spike in COVID-19 cases. Just as clear is the urgency of protecting workers. But in this more dangerous context, temp agency workers continue to be particularly vulnerable, because they can lose their job for speaking out about unsafe working conditions. Meanwhile, companies using temp agency workers are still not financially responsible for workplace injuries and deaths. This helps us understand why temp agency workers are often deliberately assigned the most dangerous work, which in turn explains why as the Toronto Star reported in 2017 temp agency workers are about 200 per cent more likely to be injured or killed on the job. On the anniversary of Enrico Mirandas death, the legislation that could have saved his life still sits in limbo. So, the next time Ford praises frontline workers who feed us, keep our buildings clean and safe, and care for us every day, lets ask him: how many more people is the premier willing to let die before he signs the law? Deena Ladd is the executive director of Workers Action Centre. Read more about: SPRINGFIELD Representatives of a family-owned Springfield business, proposing to open a marijuana store in The Republican building at 1860 Main St., said Wednesday the site offers safety and convenience with a mix of state-of-the-art and historic features. The company, 6 Bricks LLC, conducted a community outreach meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, as mandated by the state Cannabis Control Commission prior to city and state approvals. The meeting was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic. 6 Bricks LLC originally planned to locate its marijuana store at 250 Albany St., in the Gasoline Alley complex in the McKnight neighborhood. The company announced earlier this month that it was changing those plans, now proposing to lease space at The Republican. Payton Shubrick, CEO and founder of 6 Bricks LLC, said the new plan is truly something remarkable and incredible. We want to make sure Springfield rises after COVID-19 in a meaningful way and powerful way, Shubrick said. The company is proposing to open a retail store, curbside pickup operation and delivery hub in one section of The Republican building, on the first floor. The site was chosen to better meet the challenges of COVID-19 and to provide a permanent home for the business, she said. It is away from any nearby homes, schools, churches and community centers, Shubrick said. John Delaney, a retired Springfield police sergeant who is head of security for 6 Bricks, said there will be state-of-the-art cameras and security features making it one of the safest areas of the downtown. His security team, including other former law enforcement officers, will be both inside and outside the store, welcoming and safeguarding those coming and going, Delaney said. There will be a total of 25 parking spaces dedicated to the 6 Bricks business and the option for additional parking, Shubrick said. The business plans to focus on offering jobs and programs for people adversely affected by marijuana laws and criminalization of the past, including minorities and young adults, Shubrick said. Interior designer Irene Banks said the design will showcase the history of the city of Springfield and The Republican, as well as the history of cannabis. That history will include photographs, audio and video, and artifacts, she said. Its honoring the past while shaping the future, Banks said. The City Council and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno had approved the earlier plans for the store at 250 Albany St. The proposed change to the new location will need a new hearing and special permit approval from the City Council, as well as state approval. Three other companies have special permits and host community agreements to open recreational marijuana stores in Springfield: Holistic Industries, at 1300 Boston Road, in a shopping plaza next to Moes Southwest Grill 311 Page Blvd LLC, at that address in East Springfield, formerly the Crossfit Journey Gym Insa LLC, at the former Luxe Burger Bar, at 1200 West Columbus Ave. Insa has a medical marijuana business open on Cottage Street. The changing of locations is allowed by the Cannabis Control Commission, with approvals, Shubrick said. During the pandemic, the business will follow all COVID-19 precautions, such as providing masks and hand sanitizing stations, to protect its customers and employees, she said. The Main Street location would give 6 Bricks more space to grow, Shubrick said. She said she hopes the business can open sometime in the first six months of 2021. Timothy Rooke, a former city councilor and a principal with the marijuana business at 311 Page Blvd., participated in the Zoom meeting and praised the presentation. The Shubrick family has a fabulous and strong team, he said. I wish you the best, Rooke said. CANTON, Mass., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), a 23,000-member union of nurses and healthcare professionals the largest and most effective voice on nursing and healthcare in the Commonwealth since its founding in 1903 has endorsed Joe Biden for President of the United States. The 29-member MNA Board of Directors consisting of nurses and healthcare professionals elected by their MNA colleagues statewide endorsed former U.S. Vice President and former longtime U.S. Senator Joe Biden because he represents strong, empathetic leadership that will bring our country through the COVID-19 pandemic and empower positive social and economic progress for every American. "Nurses and healthcare professionals trust Joe Biden to care for and keep all Americans safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond," said MNA President and RN Donna Kelly-Williams. "Joe Biden and his running mate Senator Kamala Harris have strived during their years of public service to represent people rather than powerful interests, to seek equal justice and to advocate for the common good. "As frontline caregivers, we see the terrible impact of our profit-driven healthcare system," Kelly-Williams said. "As healthcare professionals, we know that the science and standards behind our clinical practice matter and we know Joe Biden supports those standards. "Joe Biden has pledged to make it easier and more affordable for all Americans to receive the healthcare they need. We support Biden because he wants to make healthcare more equitable. Nurses trust Biden because he personally knows the toll that illness can take on a family and is against the current administration's plan to strip protections from vulnerable patients and boost the salaries of enormously wealth healthcare executives." State Rep. Claire Cronin, D-Easton, was chosen to represent Massachusetts in nominating Biden as the Democratic candidate for U.S. President. "Joe Biden knows how much we all rely on our frontline caregivers and never has that been clearer than in these unprecedented times," Rep. Cronin said. "Joe also knows how much nurses and healthcare professionals rely on their unions, which is why he is thrilled to receive the endorsement of the Massachusetts Nurses Association. "As the largest union and professional association of registered nurses and healthcare professionals in the Commonwealth, the MNA represents the people working at the bedside, caring for us and our families," Cronin said. "As President of the United States, Joe Biden will fight for these workers and their patients every single day." 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 Health officials from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) are meeting today to decide if further measures are necessary to stop the virus from spreading in counties such as Donegal, Louth and Waterford. The Taoiseachs comments came as he visited the Oliver Bond Flats in Dublin, the site of a large rave over the weekend which saw up to 100 partygoers gather in breach of current public health restrictions in the capital. Micheal Martin said he could not anticipate if further lockdowns would be implemented: Certain counties are much lower than other counties, but there is a general trend across the country. NPHET will advise in terms of both county-specific recommendations and ultimately NPHET will advise on the national scene, but I think its too early to anticipate. Advertisement But that said, NPHET will advise in terms of both county-specific recommendations and ultimately NPHET will advise on the national scene, but I think its too early to anticipate. During his visit to the Dublin flats host to the weekend rave, Mr Martin committed to immediate action to improve local facilities and ensure a wider regeneration of the area. I told him they were living in a bubble in the Dail and he needs to come out and see what ordinary people have to live with. Community activist Liz O'Connor said she is hopeful that the visit will lead to some changes: I told him they were living in a bubble in the Dail and he needs to come out and see what ordinary people have to live with and what conditions theyre in, no facilities or nothing. I told him when he came in its not a photo opportunity, youre here for the people not to get your photograph all over the papers. First-term Mayor Roger Agpawa intends to seek a second term as the top elected official in Markham. Agpawa won the election in 2017 but was unable to take office for 18 months while he fought to resolve issues about his ineligibility to serve because of a felony conviction. Global Stock Markets Break Hard To The Downside Watch Support Levels RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: New reports of widespread financial corruption likely triggered the current sell-off. Watch out for market support levels to see if this is a short-term correction or the start of a downtrend. Support for the DOW is just above 26,000. Support for the SP500 is around 3,100. US and global markets were already under pressure over the past few weeks related to COVID-19 issues and global economic expectations. The technology sector had driven valuations to levels not seen since the DOT COM bubble near the end of August and many of the US Indexes has reached or breached all-time highs again. My research team and I warned followers to stay cautious throughout much of the price rally as our proprietary price modeling systems suggests the rally was isolated and not organic. The US Fed has spewed capital into the markets and speculative traders piled into the excess phase of the market to drive price levels higher. Take a moment to review these recent research posts to learn more: September 13, 2020: MAKE OR BREAK BIG TRENDS AHEAD September 1, 2020: ARE FANGS GOING TO BREAKDOWN SOON? August 27, 2020: EXPANDING WEDGE MAY PROMPT BIG PRICE CORRECTION COULD A BIG TOP BE SETTING UP RIGHT NOW? MARKETS SELLING OFF ON NEWS Before we get into the price charts, we want to highlight the news that is driving much of this selloff in the markets. Early Monday reports (or late Sunday, depending on your location) were published highlighting illegal and nefarious activity by many global banks related to money laundering and supporting criminal rogue elements throughout the globe. The names of the banks implicated include Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered, Barklays, Commerzbank, Danske Bank and HSBC Holdings. It appears the European and Asian banks had the largest exposure to this activity and risk. There is some talk that Russian banks may have been involved as well (unconfirmed at this time by our research). What this means for traders is that a broad, global financial crisis may be starting to unfold this time vastly different than the 2008-09 credit crisis. This event will be centered around illegal and corrupt actions at some of the worlds largest financial institutions and the far-reaching aspects of rogue government or private elements involved in this activity. We believe the markets will attempt to find support after the shock of this news is digested. Longer-term, I believe a broader market downtrend may continue its just a matter of what happens next and how fast global authorities are able to engage in a proper form of legal resolution (indictments). At this point in time, the news that global banks were acting illegally and improperly may prompt a much broader market downtrend over time. Right now, we believe the initial shock-wave will be processed in price and support levels will be found fairly quickly. SUPPORT LEVELS This Daily YM chart below highlights the support level near 26,000 that we believe will become the first floor for price as this selloff continues. Our proprietary Fibonacci price modeling system is also suggesting support levels just above the 26,000 are valid (see the RED and BLUE SQUARES on the right side of this chart). My research team believe price will attempt to find support near the 26,000 level as this broad market selloff matures. This ES Daily chart also highlights the support levels near 3,090 (the lower YELLOW line) and aligns with our proprietary Fibonacci price modeling suggested support levels just above 3,100. We believe this will be the first level of support for the ES if the downtrend continues. Yes, my team has been warning to stay cautious throughout much of the uptrend and we have highlighted a multi-year Head-and-Shoulders pattern that we believed could prompt a broader market decline. But we were not aware of this illegal activity related to the global banking system. Our research helps to confirm that technical analysis and our proprietary price modeling/research systems can act as clear forward-looking techniques for any skilled traders. The theory that price always internalizes news before or as the news happens suggests that technical analysis will, in almost all cases, highlight the most probable outcome before the news is known. Only in very rare acts of God is technical analysis sometimes delayed in reacting to the news. As a technical analyst and trader since 1997, I have been through a few bull/bear market cycles in stocks and commodities. I believe I have a good pulse on the market and timing key turning points for investing and short-term swing traders. If you want to survive the trading over a long period of time, then you learn fairly quickly how important it is to protect against risk and to properly size your trades. Subscribers of my Active ETF Swing Trading Newsletter can ride my coattails as I navigate these financial markets and build wealth. My research and trading team are here to help you find better trades and navigate these incredibly crazy market trends. While most of us have active trading accounts, our long-term investment and retirement accounts are equally at risk. We can also help you preserve and even grow your long term capital when things get ugly (likely now) with our Passive Long-Term ETF Investing Signals. Dont wait until it is too late subscribe today! 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. Ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja festivities next month the biggest annual extravaganza in West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee issued certain orders and guidelines for the people as well as the Puja pandal committees across the state in wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Among the orders, Mamata said that a pandal needs to be open from all four sides. Hand sanitisers should be placed at entry points of pandals. The West Bengal CM also stressed on the fact that wearing of masks mandatory while visiting the pandals. Physical distancing needs to be maintained. Organising cultural programs at pandals won't be allowed and Durga Puja Carnival will not be organised this year, Mamata added. The state government is also going to provide 50,000 to each Durga puja committee of the state, Mamata announced in a press conference. The state will provide 2,000 to hawkers for Durga Puja. For this, a list of 75,000 hawkers prepared, Mamata added. On Wednesday, a government official said that state has made adequate provision to meet the power demand in the metropolis and districts during the festive days. "We are making a provision of five per cent excess demand for power this Durga Puja than the previous year. We have provisioned for 8,400MW demand in the state. However, power demand is likely to be less due to the pandemic," West Bengal Power Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay said. With just a few days to go for Durga puja, preparations have begun across the city, albeit at a lower scale this time, as organisers chalk out safety plans to avoid further spread virus. Earlier, according to a PTI report, three Durga puja committees in the city, all crowd- pullers and located within one-km stretch in south Kolkata, have joined hands to introduce a drive-in 'darshan' concept - an arrangement which would allow people to slow down their car to take a look at the pandal and the Durga idol without having to alight from their cars. "As maintaining physical distance is mandatory, we had to think of a concept that would avoid crowding near the pandals. Our patron, Texas-based Mridul Pathak, came up with this drive-in concept during a video conference. Shortly after, we set the ball rolling," Kapil Dev Pathak, an officer-bearer of Badamtala pujo committee, said. Sanitiser will be sprayed on the cars before every puja pandal, he said. "The drive-in route has been mapped in a certain way... Revellers will get to catch a glimpse of the Badamtala puja decoration, before proceeding westwards to 66 Pally, and finally the Nepal Bhattacharya Street Durga Puja at the end of the trail," Pathak explained to PTI. Meanwhile, West Bengal's COVID-19 death toll surged past the 4,500-mark on Wednesday after 61 more patients succumbed to the virus, even as the coronavirus tally went up to 2,34,673 with 3,189 fresh cases, the health department said in a bulletin. The state has so far reported 4,544 COVID-19 fatalities. West Bengal has 87% #COVID19 discharge/recovery rate, added the CM. With inputs from agencies Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics 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. 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. 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 UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the Philippine Governments expression of willingness to accept refugees and forcibly displaced people, including Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, during President Rodrigo Dutertes address to the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on 22 September. In his pre-recorded message, President Duterte said, The doors of the Philippines are open, as they have always been, to everyone fleeing for safety, such as the Rohingyas. The statement echoes the Presidents previous pronouncements regarding the Philippines commitment to protect the Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar. Since August 2017, over 700,000 Rohingya, mostly women and children, have sought safety in Bangladesh after fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmars Rakhine State. In recent months, over 2,000 have set out to sea in search of asylum in other States. UNHCR continues to call for support and humanitarian action from States and lauds the Philippines consistent willingness to accept the Rohingya and other forcibly displaced people in line with its commitments as a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its endorsement of the Global Compact on Refugees. At the Global Refugee Forum in December 2019, the Philippines also pledged to develop complementary pathways for admission of the most vulnerable refugeesincluding the Rohingyawhich would allow them to stay in the country until a sustainable and lasting solution to their displacement can be found. To this end, UNHCR has worked and will continue to engage with key agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice. The Philippine Government continues to be a model for refugee protection and a leader in the region in its support for refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons. Read also: FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Maria Jorica Pamintuan Senior Communications Assistant +63 917 596 8654 [email protected] Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 06:40 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46cdb7c 1 National escape-detainees,drug-convict,Law-and-Human-Rights-Ministry Free An official from the Law and Human Rights Ministry has suggested immediately executing Cai Changpan, a Chinese drug convict on death row who escaped from the Tangerang penitentiary in Banten last week, once he is recaptured. "Just hand out the verdict immediately," the ministry's Banten regional office head, Andika Dwi Prasetya, said on Wednesday. He said the ministry was currently cooperating with the police and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) to recapture the escaped prisoner, who in a separate incident was caught attempting to break out from his prison cell. The 53-year-old drug convict, who also goes by the name Cai Ji Fan, escaped the penitentiary on Sept. 14 at around 2:30 a.m. through a 30-meter-long tunnel that he had dug over the past six months. The tunnel was apparently connected to a sewer outside the prison walls. Cai reportedly used tools he stole from the construction site of a prison kitchen to dig the tunnel. The convict was found guilty of drug trafficking and sentenced to death in September 2017. In January 2017, Cai escaped from the National Polices Criminal Investigation Department prison in South Jakarta, but he was recaptured three days later, kompas.com reported. (vny) Alexander Nix, CEO of Cambridge Analytica, center, arrives at the offices of Cambridge Analytica in central London, Britain, March 20, 2018. LONDON Alexander Nix, the former chief executive of Cambridge Analytica, has been banned from running limited companies in Britain for seven years. The U.K. Insolvency Service announced the decision Thursday, saying Nix permitted companies to offer potentially unethical services to prospective clients. The 45-year-old, who lives in West London, has agreed not to take any holding company directorships from early next month. Limited companies in the U.K. restrict the liability of the people that run them, and are similar to corporations in the U.S. In addition to being a Cambridge Analytica director, the Eton-educated entrepreneur was also a director at parent company SCL Elections. The Insolvency Service said the ban was issued on the basis that Nix caused or permitted SCL Elections to offer "unethical services" including bribery and honeypot stings, voter disengagement campaigns, the obtaining of information to discredit opponents and spreading information anonymously in political campaigns. Cambridge Analytica became infamous after it emerged the company had improperly gained access to the sensitive user information of as many as 87 million Facebook users without their knowledge or permission. The information was used by the Donald Trump campaign ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Nix was also recorded on hidden camera implying the research firm used manipulation and bribery to learn information on political candidates. 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 remind African 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. Richard Caring and his wife Patricia welcomed the stars to their private members club Annabel's on Wednesday evening for a fundraising dinner. 'The king of clubs', who runs the iconic Ivy empire, hosted Rainforest Evening in aid of the Amazon at his Mayfair club. The businessman and restaurateur looked dapper as he arrived at the glitzy premises with Patricia who wowed in a glam gown. King of clubs: Richard Caring and his wife Patricia welcomed the stars to their private members club Annabel's on Wednesday evening for a fundraising dinner Richard, who is worth an estimated 820million, looked dapper in a blue three piece suit and tie. Patricia, who wed Richard in 2018, stood out in her glittery green gown with a racy thigh-high split. The couple posed for photos inside the club, which had been lavishly decorated with a rainforest theme. Among the guests at the VIP fundraising dinner were Maya Jama who looked stunning in a tight white mini dress. The evening was part of Rainforest Month at Annabels, with The Caring Family Foundation hosting in partnership with Rainforest Foundation US, dedicated to protecting the natural beauty and inhabitants of the Amazon rainforest. Stunning: 'The king of clubs', who runs the iconic Ivy empire, hosted Rainforest Evening, in aid of the Amazon, at his Mayfair club, with his gorgeous wife by his side The dinner was hosted to raise awareness of the importance of preserving and protecting the tropical rainforest and the indigenous people of the worlds rainforests in the their efforts to safeguard the area impacted by the recent wildfires. The Caring Family Foundation and the Rainforest Foundation US are raising funds for a reforestation project to grow, and plant, saplings in one of the most endangered areas of the Brazilian forest. Caring owns the nation's most famous private members' club, Annabel's, as well as fashionable London restaurants including The Ivy, J Sheekey and the now defunct Le Caprice - which announced its shock closure last month. VIP guests: Among the guests at the VIP fundraising dinner were Maya Jama who looked stunning in a tight white mini dress Good cause: The evening was part of Rainforest Month at Annabels, with The Caring Family Foundation hosting in partnership with Rainforest Foundation US Caring started his career in clothing, before buying the Caprice Holdings group for 31.5million in 2005. In 2018, he spent around 65million moving Annabel's which was opened in 1963 by Mr Birley and named after his wife Lady Annabel Goldsmith to a Grade I-listed townhouse two doors down on Berkeley Square. The exclusive venue has witnessed the comings and goings of the creme de la creme of British society with Princess Diana visiting for the hen night of Sarah, Duchess of York. The Queen also visited for the 70th birthday of her friend the Countess of Airlie in 2003. You can now send voice DMs on Twitter. It's a simple interface which allows you to play/pause a message. Brazil will be the first country to see voice DMs. Apparently Twitter now knows how much people like Voice Messages. The company is about to introduce Voice DMs just shortly after their roll out of audio tweets in June which allowed users to include their own voice in Tweets. The company was quoted saying Sometimes 280 characters arent enough and some conversational nuances are lost in translation. So starting today, were testing a new feature that will add a more human touch to the way we use Twitter your very own voice Voice DMs on Twitter seemed like the next logical step. Alex Ackerman-Greenberg who is product manager for DMs at Twitter said the company is going to test voice DMs soon to The Verge. This will allow users to share voice messages in DMs and is almost in the final stages of development. Twitter has said that they will start testing the service in Brazil soon. Here we have a screenshot shared with the Verge from Alex Ackerman-Greenberg, which shows a sneak-peak into the interface which only has a play/pause button with a timer, showing the length of the voice message. We know people want more options for how they express themselves in conversations on Twitter both publicly and privately, he was quoted as saying in the report. For the time being voice DMs are currently capped at 140-seconds. To recall, Twitter originally had a 140-character limit for tweets, which was later increased to 280-characters. While audio messages are relatively new ground for Twitter, it's a feature you can find in many other apps. Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp have supported voice messages for some time now. As Twitter pointed out when it started testing audio tweets on iOS, voice messages add a more human touch to the way people use a chat platform. So its not a surprise to see the company willing to experiment with the format for DMs. Gospel artiste Akua Emelia is worried about the rate at which her colleagues in the Gospel fraternitys marriages are collapsing and is asking that they gather for a week and pray for their marriages. According to Akua Emelia, who has been married for nearly 15 years, what is happening to Gospel musicians is a spiritual attack and has to be met with serious prayers. Why are our marriages failing when we should be enjoying them? It has been revealed to me through a dream that if we pray to God for our marriages and do the right things, everything will be fine. Achimota Forest or any park will do, we just have to intensify our prayers and be careful with those we call our friends. We Gospel musicians take things for granted but it shouldnt be so. When I heard of Joyce Blessings marriage collapsing after Gifty Adorye and Ohemaa Mercy, I realised we really need to wake up and save our marriages. I know a lot of Gospel musicians who are not popular yet but their marriages are on the rocks too, she told Graphic Showbiz recently. Asked what she thinks might have accounted for the divorces, Akua Emelia said Gospel musicians, especially the females, confided too much in their friends who ended up stabbing them in the back. We say a lot of things to our friends and they are the very people who destroy our marriages. Gifty Adorye said it clearly that friends she trusted were the cause of her first marriage breaking down. I have seen it happen to a lot of my colleague female musicians and its about time we shut up about our marital issues, she said. Akua Emelia added that marriage was no childs play and any Gospel musician who joked with it would have herself to blame. We need to protect our marriages and fight for them no matter what. We should not allow friends or anyone for that matter to come between us and destroy our marriages, she said. Away from marriage, Akua Emelia, who is signed on to Media Excel Productions, is promoting her latest song Famesie, recorded by Shadrack Yawson. She pleads with God to protect and hide His children from enemies in the song. The artiste told Graphic Showbiz that Gospel musicians in Ghana were not united as she had tried in vain to get some known Gospel musicians to post her flyers on their social media pages. I reached out to very popular Gospel musicians I thought could help me but I was turned down. The love is not there, the secular musicians are more united than the Gospel musicians, she said. Graphic Showbiz got in touch with Joyce Blessing who said Akua Emelias suggestion was good, considering how a number of Gospel musicians marriages had failed. I used to pray about my marriage but I have intensified it since my divorce happened. It will be a brilliant idea to do that but I think it will not be easy because not every Gospel musician is having issues with their marriages. However, I am for it, I support it 100 per cent, she said. Source: Graphic Showbiz 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 Ethnic Chin children displaced by armed conflict eat a meal at an IDP camp in western Myanmar's Chin state in an undated photo. Myanmars conflict with the Arakan Army in Rakhine state has caused severe food shortages in a small corner of adjacent Chin state, where residents of some 200 villages are trapped by roadblocks and mandatory coronavirus lockdowns, a humanitarian worker said Thursday. As many as 60,000 residents of remote villages of Paletwa township, a Rakhine-speaking area in southern Chin that borders Rakhine state, are cut off from the closest food markets in Paletwa town blocked by the warring armies or locked down by local authorities amid a resurgence in the COVID-19 pandemic, said Mai Nan Wai, spokesperson for the Relief and Rehabilitation Committee for Chin IDPs (RRCCI). For the past 21 months, the rebel Arakan Army (AA) has fought government forces in northern Rakhine state and in Paletwa township areas where it seeks to assert control to secure greater autonomy for ethnic Rakhine people in their historic homeland along the Bay of Bengal near Bangladesh. The fighting has left nearly 300 civilians dead and displaced more than 220,000 others. The road blockages and lockdowns have meant that villagers in Paletwa township have seen their supplies of rice dwindle over recent months. More than 200 of 400 villages in Paletwa township may be in desperate need of rice, Myanmars staple food, Mai Nan Wai said. All villages close to Paletwa are trapped now, she told RFAs Myanmar Service. She said residents of Tone Ma village contacted her group for rice supplies, while all communities close to Samee town and along the Kaladan River are also experiencing shortages. They have been cut off from Paletwa, she said. The villages south of Samee are close to Kyauktaw in Rakhine state, but AA troops are active in that area, so we cannot send rice supplies there. Many elderly people in the villages have chronic illnesses such as diabetes and paralysis are facing a shortage of medicine because they cannot get to cities and the RRCCI cannot get to them, Mai Nan Wai said. The humanitarian group estimates that 26,000 to 60,000 displaced Chin civilians are now trapped in their villages, while more than 18,000 have left their homes and sought shelter in cities during the armed conflict. Money wont help State officials are sending donations from the government, the public, and the RRCCI directly to villages so residents can buy food themselves, Chin state Municipal Minister Soe Htet told RFA on Sept. 19, though he indicated that this alone would not alleviate severe food shortages. Some civil society organizations are also working with state officials and donating money, while the UN World Food Programme is trying to help civilians living in displacement camps, he said. But it is very challenging for people who live outside the IDP camps, Soe Htet said, referring to those still in villages. We need the help of the Union government and the military to get things done. Villagers said the money would be of no use since they cannot go anywhere to buy food, but that the need for rice supplies was urgent. Taung Min, a resident of Paletwas Kaytha village, said people are afraid of being shot if they leave their homes to travel to buy food. All the roads are closed, he told RFA. For now, we are just eating what we have. The food supplies are running low. We cant travel down south. If we do, they will shoot us. We cannot buy food anywhere. All the gates are closed now. Before the roads were closed off, Taung Min paid as much as 65,000 kyats (U.S. $49) per bag of low quality rice, he said. A pastor from Paletwa township who declined to be identified out of fear for his safety said conditions there are growing worse, and aid workers can now safely reach only 30 villages. Even in Paletwa town, a bag of rice costs more than 65,000 kyats, he said. Now all the roads connected to town are closed. One displaced resident, who also declined to provide his name, said that rice supplies would not be delivered to at least 100 villages in Paletwa township until October. A former Chin state minister wrote on his Facebook page that villagers who have tried to bring back rice from other areas have been robbed on their return trips and have not been able to enter Paletwa because of the lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Nearly 110,000 people live in Paletwa township, with more than 90,000 of them residing in 388 villages, and the remainder living in Paletwa town. Reported by Thant Zin Oo for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translted by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 2020 / Golden Lake Exploration Inc. (CSE:GLM)(OTC:GOLXF) ("GLM" or the "Company") is pleased to report assay results from the first six of ten drill holes from the Company's keystone Jewel Ridge gold property located near the town of Eureka, Nevada, with a highlighted intercept in hole JR-20-06 at the Eureka Tunnel Zone, averaging 2.80 grams gold per tonne ("g/t Au") and 5.9 grams silver per tonne ("g/t Ag") over an interval of 22.86 meters from surface. The lower portion of this intersection returned 4.38 g/t Au and 9.7 g/t Ag over 10.67 meters from a depth of 12.19 meters. Assay results from the remaining four holes are expected shortly. Eureka Tunnel Oxide Zone Drill Results The Eureka Tunnel (aka South Eureka Tunnel) mine is located in the northwest quartile of the Jewel Ridge property, with the "Oxide Zone" (aka "Viking Zone") located east and north-east of the main portal. The Eureka Tunnel Oxide Zone comprises both Carlin-type and CRD-type ("Carbonate Replacement Deposits") oxide mineralization. This target has not been drilled since the late 1980s due to tenure complications that were resolved with the purchase of 12 patented claims in 2012. A total of seven (7) Reverse-Circulation ("RC") drill holes were completed, comprising 1,048.57 meters, with assays received for three vertical holes. Drill hole JR-20-06 is the northern-most hole, drilled near the boundary on the patented claims, and is also the shallowest hole (91.44 meters). Recovery problems were encountered from 37 to 61 meters, such that the depth potential has not been adequately tested. Additional drill sites are proposed east and north-east of JR-20-06 on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) claims, and an application to Federal and State agencies is in progress related to a Phase 2 drill program planned this fall by the Company. Hole JR-20-06 was successful in confirming the historic "above-average oxide grade" of the near-surface Eureka Tunnel Oxide Zone. Hamburg Mine Zone The Hamburg Mine Zone is located in the south-central portion of the Jewel Ridge property and represents both Carlin-type and CRD type oxide gold mineralization hosted in the Hamburg Dolomite at or near the contact with Dunderberg Shale. Three (3) angled RC holes were completed in the recent program comprising 548.64 meters. Significantly, holes JR-20-02 and JR-20-03 both intersected wide intervals of anomalous gold values (defined as +0.10 g/t Au). Hole JR-20-02 intersected 0.436 g/t Au over 57.91 meters from a depth of 123.44 meters, and hole JR-20-03 returned 0.161 g/t Au over 106.7 meters from 73.2 meters. This intercept represents the deepest intersection from 152.4 to 169.2 meters which supports the Company's belief that the Jewel Ridge property is under explored at depth. The data from the recent drilling will be added to the 3D model to refine additional drill targets. Figure 1. Map of the Jewel Ridge property Mike England, CEO of Golden Lake, stated: "Hole JR-20-06 is an excellent start to unlocking the untapped potential of the Jewel Ridge project. This hole identifies the potential for the Eureka Zone to host premium-grade oxide gold mineralization. With hole JR-20-06 representing the northern-most drill hole in our maiden drill program, we welcome the results of the final four drill holes and look forward to a Phase 2 program this fall. We have identified more than a dozen exploration targets on the Jewel Ridge property. Our recent drill program consisted of initial drilling on only two areas." Drilling Quality Assurance and Quality Control Statement Procedures have been implemented to assure QA/QC of drill hole assaying being done at an ISO accredited assay laboratory. Samples are taken every 1.52 meters (5-foot intervals), with all intervals of drill holes being assayed. Samples have been securely shipped and received by ALS Labs in Elko, Nevada, with chain-of-custody documentation through delivery. Mineralized commercial reference standards and coarse blank standards are inserted every 20th sample in sequence. All results will be analyzed for consistency. Assays for the last four holes are pending and will be reported when available. Intervals in this release are drilled intervals. True widths could not be determined at this early stage of target evaluation. About the Jewel Ridge Property The Jewel Ridge property is located on the south end of Nevada's prolific Battle Mountain - Eureka trend, along strike and contiguous to Barrick Gold's Archimedes/Ruby Hill gold mine to the north and Timberline Resources' advanced-stage Lookout Mountain project to the south. The property comprises 96 unpatented lode mining claims and 30 patented claims covering approximately 728 hectares (1,800 acres). The Jewel Ridge property contains several historic small gold mines. The Company's focus is on Carlin-style disseminated gold deposits, the primary focus in the area since the late 1970s. Nevada Carlin-type gold deposits (CTGD) have a combined endowment of more than 250 million ounces, which are concentrated (85 per cent) in only four trends or camps of deposits: Carlin, Cortez (Battle Mountain-Eureka), Getchell and Jerritt Canyon. The Company cautions that results on adjacent and/or nearby projects are not necessarily indicative of results on the Company's property. About Golden Lake Exploration Inc. Golden Lake Exploration is a junior public mining exploration company engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to acquire, explore and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to aggressively advance its exploration program on the Jewel Ridge property. Qualified Person Golden Lake Exploration's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John E. Hiner, Licensed Geologist and Registered Member of SME (society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration), who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Mike England" ______________________________ Mike England, CEO & DIRECTOR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Telephone: 1-604-683-3995 Toll Free: 1-888-945-4770 Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward -looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM). SOURCE: Golden Lake Exploration Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607694/Maiden-Jewel-Ridge-Drill-Program-Returns-280-gt-Au-over-229-Meters-Including-438-gt-Au-over-122-Meters-from-Eureka-Tunnel-Zone Living in a houseboat sounds awesome until you consider what happens during a bad storm. After all, crashing waves, battering winds, and potential floods all have the potential to damage your home and make you queasy all at once. Wouldnt it be nice if you could just jack the vessel up on sturdy stilts so it could safely ride out the storm and bring it back down when the weather was calm again? Exterior view of the hydraulic Danish architecture firm Waterstudio.NL made this dream a reality with Arkup, a new avant-garde floating home. Designed to combine the best qualities of yachts, houseboats, and modern residences, this double-decker creation stands on retractible hydraulic pilings that can raise it 20 feet into the air when needed, making it as stable as any conventional house. Its also rated to withstand Category 4 hurricane winds of up to 155 miles per hour. When fully elevated, the Arkup can steer clear of rough waves and choppy waters. It doesnt spare any details when it comes to feeling like a real home, either. Theres nothing cramped about it. Measuring an impressive 4,350 square feet, the Arkup is even more spacious than a lot of urban residences, and it has all the bells and whistles youd expect to find in a high-end townhouse. In fact, everything about it looks more like a house than a boat. When youre ready to move, all you have to do is pull up anchor and start the engines: a pair of 100 kW (134 hp) electric azimuth thrusters, to be precise, which allow the 75-foot-long houseboat to reach speeds of 7 knots. Dock at a metropolitan marina for access to city amenities, or take a cruise down to a quieter and more scenic setting. The prototype is currently docked at Vice City Marina in Miami, Florida. Shot of the Arkup on the move outside Miami. The Arkup is self-sufficient, producing its own power via a 36 kW solar panel array and a 1,000 kWh battery bank. Rainwater is collected from the roof and purified to make it safe for drinking, though its unclear how waste is dealt with. A smart communications system includes satellite TV and Wi-Fi antennas to keep it connected at all times, and all technical elements are stored within its modular hull. All the houseboats glazing ensures spectacular views of the water wherever youre docked. A boat lift at the stern makes it easy to dock a jet ski, and the sun deck can be immersed and turned into a sea pool. Story continues A spacious outdoor skydeck aboard the Arkup allows inhabitants to soak up the sun in style. The inside of the Arkup's living area is simple, homey, and contemporary. A similarly sleek lounge area inside the home offers great views of the surrounding seas. A cool coastal outdoor grill rests on the Arkup's outer edge. The Waterstudio team explains that you can lie at anchor in a marina or a bay. You can cruise silently in waterways, bays, or open sea. You are free to move your home as you want. Enjoy the freedom and the variety of scenery. Live in comfort and luxury in total independence and make your life between the sea, the sky, and the city. No matter the weather conditions and high winds, surge and floods are no longer an issue thanks to this self-lifting system, making you feel 100-percent safe and protected. The four spuds allow your livable yacht to be completely stabilized and even lifted out of the water, avoiding any sea-sickness. Theres just something about living on the water and coming home to the light shimmering on the surface after a long day in the city. Its an experience youll never forget. Live ecologically while being self-sufficient with water and electricity. Enjoy living off-the-grid and feel the satisfaction of minimizing your carbon footprint. Take one of the most luxurious baths of your life in the Arkup's sleek minimalist bathtub, itself surrounded by little more than glazing and gorgeous views. View of the expansive master bedroom inside the Arkup. The Arkup's kitchen area feels like it could easily be found in a contemporary land-based home. The firm adds that it plans to produce more Arkups for sale to private owners, 1/4-shared fractional ownership similar to a time share, and as hotels. If you go the fractional ownership route, Arkup maintains management services, taking care of details like insurance, dockage, maintenance, and even concierge services. They suggest generating revenue by chartering the vessel when youre not using it, renting it out for four days per quarter at $2,500 per day to offset the expense of recurring operating costs. Shot of the Arkup docked just outside Miami at sunset. As you might suspect, all of this still comes at a significant cost. The total cost to own an Arkup is $5.5 million USD, and fractional ownership sells for $1,375,000. But the company intends to make an affordable version too, whatever that means. Karthik K K By Express News Service MYSURU: On Tuesday, 66-year-old Dr Venkatesh, a resident of Nanjangud in Mysuru, succumbed to Covid-19. He is the 43rd doctor in Karnataka to die of the disease while battling a pandemic that has tragically claimed thousands of lives the world over. Indian Medical Association data shows 43 doctors on the frontlines of the pandemic died of Covid-19 since March, with the highest casualties in Bengaluru and Mysuru regions. Data shows seven doctors each from Bengaluru and Mysuru died of the illness and of the 43 doctors who died, 21 were aged 60-69 and five were above 70 years. Data available with TNIE show that over 14 doctors were in the 40-59 age group, and three were between 27-37 years old. IMA data shows that over 80% of the deceased doctors were affiliated with private hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. While most of them were general practitioners and physicians, the number also included psychiatrists, ENT specialists, gynaecologists, radiologists, anaesthetists. The medical community is enraged that many of the deceased doctors have not yet received government compensation they were privately employed. We submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, appealing that the government include private doctors under the state insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh, but have not received a response. We have also requested the government to compensate doctors called for duty according to the Seventh Pay Commission guidelines, said Dr Madhusudhana Kariganuru, president of the Indian Medical Association, Karnataka. Italy's president Sergio Mattarella wears a mosk on a visit to a university - Getty Images The Italian president has rebuked Boris Johnsons claims that, unlike Italy, the UK is a freedom-loving country where it is hard to enforce anti-virus measures, as it emerged that the Prime Ministers fiancee is holidaying on the shores of Lake Como. Sergio Mattarella, the head of state, on Thursday responded to the remarks made by the Prime Minister during Question Time in the House of Commons. "We Italians also love freedom, but we also care about seriousness," the president said on an official visit to Sardinia. The prime ministers comments were also poorly received by the Italian press, which said he appeared to imply that because of Italy's Fascist past and Germany's Nazi history, Italians and Germans were more used to kowtowing to authority. La Repubblica, a national daily, accused Mr Johnson of conceit and said that he had suggested that health measures work better for peoples of an inferior temperament Italians, for example. The prime minister had displayed an Anglo-Saxon superiority complex, the Left-leaning paper said. Corriere della Sera, another national, was also withering. It said the Prime Minister appeared to be claiming that Italians are better than the British at wearing masks and washing their hands because we had Mussolini and they had Churchill, the paper said in a front page comment. Carrie Symonds on election night December 13 2019 - Reuters Let me get this right the country that invented queuing and immaculate lawns is not able to obey rules? Instead, group discipline is a trait of the Italians, a people who have a well-deserved reputation for disdain for regulations and individualism verging on anarchy? The dispute broke out as Carrie Symonds, Mr Johnsons partner, was pictured holidaying in Lake Como. Photographed strolling along a promenade carrying her four-month-old in a baby sling, Ms Symonds looked a million miles away from the doom and gloom of the Prime Ministers address to the nation, in which he signalled that a second UK lockdown is increasingly on the cards. Story continues Mr Johnsons fiancee, who welcomed their first child in April, is reportedly staying at the 600-a-night Grand Hotel Tremezzo, popular with wealthy holidaymakers and Hollywood celebrities alike. A two-day stay at the luxurious lakeside hotel is rumoured to cost up to 6,400. Making the most of the lack of travel restrictions between the UK and Italy, Ms Symonds and her three friends - including Nimco Ali, an activist who was awarded an OBE in 2019 for her work on tackling female genital mutilation (FGM) - were photographed on a boat tour of the lake. Opting to not wear face masks as they ventured outdoors, the party also reportedly made use of the hotels 300-an-hour tour to see the various castles, stately homes and waterside villages. Carrie Symonds pictured on a holiday with Boris in Scotland over the summer Current rules in Italy require people to wear a face mask between 6pm and 6am where there are large gatherings in pubs, bars and crowded piazzas. But those in small groups, like Ms Symonds, are exempt. Carrie seemed very relaxed, one holidaymaker told the Daily Mail. She was smiling and laughing with her friends. It was as if she didn't have a care in the world. Ms Symonds surprising European getaway shows that the 32-year-old chose not to heed the advice of Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon, who this week urged people not to travel overseas or book any holidays unless essential given that this is a global pandemic. Although it is not known when Ms Symonds travelled to Italy, the last time she was seen in public with Mr Johnson was at Wilfred's Christening at Westminster Cathedral's Lady Chapel on September 12. On Sunday, the Prime Minister attended the Battle of Britain service at Westminster Abbey without her. The news of Ms Symonds holiday comes after the separate Italian controversy engulfed her partner Mr Johnson this week after an Italian airport official claimed he had flown into Perugia Airport on September 11 and flew out again on Monday 14. Exasperated by the claim that he had travelled to the Italian city in the middle of the pandemic, a spokesman for Mr Johnson insisted that journalists could confirm with the priest that he was actually baptising his son in Westminster Cathedral on the day in question. Finally, after a day of rumour and speculation, the airports president admitted that it was in fact Tony Blair - not Mr Johnson - who had travelled through the airport on the weekend of September 12-13. The airport described the mix up as a self-confessed stupid mistake. A representative for Ms Symonds was approached for comment. Your browser does not support the video tag. Tech-Focused Purchase Increases Firm's International and Financial Services Reach CHICAGO, Sept. 24, 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/. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633879/AArete_Logo.jpg Disney is being sued by Evel Knievels estate over claims that it used the stunt performers likeness in Toy Story 4. Released in 2019, the fourth instalment in the Disney/ Pixar franchise featured a toy called Duke Caboom (voiced by Keanu Reeves ), who wore a white jumpsuit with red accents while performing tricks on a motorbike. In legal documents seen by TMZ, K&K Promotions have filed a lawsuit against Disney and Pixar claiming that the character is a clear copy of Knievel. Keanu Reeves voices Duke Caboom in 'Toy Story 4' (Pixar) They allege that Disney did not seek permission to use his likeness, which they own, and that the character is a near replica of the original Evil Knievel toy from the 1970s, in which the stuntman is sat on a wind-up motorcycle.Knievels son, Kelly, said of the lawsuit: Evel Knievel did not thrill millions around the world, break his bones and spill his blood just so Disney could make a bunch of money. He remains an instantly recognised icon, as demonstrated by the huge popularity of the re-issued Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle among kids who hadnt even been born when my father died a dozen years ago. K&K also claim that Disney instructed the Toy Story 4 cast to avoid using Knievels names during interviews. In a statement shared with The Independent, the Walt Disney Company said: The claims are without merit and we intend to defend against them vigorously in court. Knievel, who died in 2007, was best known for performing a range of dangerous stunts on motorbike, including jumping over the Caesars Palace fountains in Las Vegas and riding over 13 buses at Wembley Stadium. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:07:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close XI'AN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Shaanxi Province produced 350,000 tonnes of apple-juice concentrate last year, giving it the top national ranking for output of the product, industry sources said. In 2019, about 147,600 tonnes of apple-juice concentrate was exported, with a total value of about 1.15 billion yuan (about 167.77 million U.S. dollars). Major consumer markets include the United States, South Africa, Russia, Japan and Australia, said Wei Yan'an, head of the Shaanxi Fruit Industry Center. About 9.22 million mu (over 614,600 hectares) of land in Shaanxi was devoted to apple cultivation in 2019, with an output of about 11.36 million tonnes, giving the province the top national ranking in both respects, according to the provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs. The large cultivation area and the stability of apple production have contributed to the rapid development of the fruit-processing industry in the province, which covers the processing of juice concentrate, juice, wine, vinegar and chips, said Wei. Enditem ALLENTOWN Barry Isett & Associates Inc. has announced that the firm has been named one of the 2020 Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania by the Central Penn Business Journal. The company has been recognized with 29 other businesses in the medium-sized company category for the second year in a row. This honor, founded in 1999 by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and Team Pennsylvania, recognizes firms across Pennsylvania based upon their company size. Eligible employers must be in business for a minimum of one year, employ 15 or more staff and have a facility in the Commonwealth. Both publicly traded and privately-owned firms are eligible for the award. In addition, for-profit, not-for-profit and government entities can take part. Hundreds of companies located throughout Pennsylvania submit nominations to be considered for the recognition. Isett began the application process in July and was asked to identify the companys benefits, philosophy, culture and policies. Confidential employee-engagement surveys were distributed to Isett associates throughout August. Company data is evaluated by Best Companies Group with a two-part approach: the policies and practices as reported by the company and employee satisfaction based upon individual survey responses. The data that we get back from the Best Places to Work in PA survey gives us comprehensive insight as to where we are doing well and where we need to focus on improving, said Kevin Campbell, PE, LEED AP, president and CEO of Barry Isett & Associates. Winning companies will be celebrated in December at a virtual awards event. Founded in 1977, Barry Isett & Associates Inc. is a multi-discipline and full-service engineering firm headquartered in Allentown. Isett has seven offices elsewhere in eastern and central Pennsylvania, including Hazleton. Staff report Slovakia continues to support the EU's sanctions policy against the Russian Federation and condemns the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Caputova said this during a joint press conference with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Bratislava on Thursday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. It is necessary to implement the measures taken by European Union in relation to Russia we are talking about the policy of sanctions, Caputova said, answering an Ukrinform correspondent's question on how to make Russia stop its aggression and return the occupied territories to Ukraine. At the same time, the Slovak President noted the importance of conducting and maintaining a dialogue for establishing peace. In this regard, she welcomed the ongoing ceasefire in Donbas, which was reached through negotiations. I assured President Zelensky that we are an ally of Ukraine. The ally that supports its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and also supports Ukraine on its way to the EU, Caputova said. As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky is on an official visit to Slovakia on Thursday, September 24. ish 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. MBABANE - Employees of CTA yesterday emerged victorious in their battle against government. This is because the Industrial Court yesterday delivered a judgment wherein it, among other things, stayed the operation of Circular No. 1 of 2020/21, pending consultation with the union representing the workers. The circular was issued by the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Khangeziwe Mabuza, allegedly without prior consultation with the union as per the Recognition Agreement. Acting Industrial Court Judge Velaphi Dlamini also ordered government to consult with the workers within 14 days on the proposed changes that the circular sought to introduce. The parties are directed to consult on the CTA Transformation Road map and such consultation should commence within three months, ordered the court. In essence, this means that pending consultations with the CTA workers through their union, the Trading Account which government sought to close through the circular is expected to continue being operational. The court found that the union or workers were not consulted before the circular was issued and, therefore, the directive was unlawful. Through their union NAPSAWU, the employees had filed an urgent application seeking orders staying the operation of Circular No.1 of 2020/21 which was issued by government. The Circular closed the Trading Account and introduced new work practices at the Central Transport Administration (CTA). Failure The basis of the application was governments failure to consult the union before implementing the circular and its contravention of the Central Transport Organisation Act of 2013. NAPSAWU is the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union. The respondents in the matter are PS Mabuza, PS in the Ministry of Public Service, PS in the Ministry of Finance, the accountant general, Treasury and Store Department, Under Secretary in the Civil Service Commission and the attorney general. Government had argued that the closure of the Trading Account and reorganisation of the workplace constituted administrative action and a management prerogative which did not require consultation of the union or workers. The court said in its view, consultation ensured the smooth compliance with the changes proposed, which resulted in harmonious industrial relations. There is no doubt that the changes introduced by the circular were quite significant. The court also holds that the dominant reason for the introduction of the circular was to reorganise the workplace to ensure that costs were contained; consequently a policy decision was taken by government, said the acting judge. He said in as much as the applicant (union) submitted that the closure of the Trading Account had resulted in the accounts, fuel and maintenance section at CTA being deprived of working tools, this was refuted by government. In the courts view, the applicants members have been deprived of working tools or are not the decisive factor. Answered The question that has to be answered is whether the reorganisation and work practices that were introduced are sufficiently significant to warrant consultation, stated Acting Judge Dlamini. He highlighted that in terms of the circular, the CTAs independent status was revoked; it was now a fully fledged department with principal secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport assuming control of its operations. According to the court, new methods of offering its (CTA) services to the other government ministries and departments had been introduced. The circular also contemplates introducing more operational guidelines and a new fuel system, for example, observed the court. The court said while it agreed with government that the introduction and implementation of the circular was an administrative act to the extent that it was a decision implemented by public authority, it held the view that it was not an exclusively administrative act. Acting Judge Dlamini found that it was also a policy issue arising between an employer and its employees or their directly recognised representatives. In any event, when respondents concluded the Recognition Agreement, it derogated the exercise of its administrative authority, reads part of the judgment. Acting Judge Dlamini said the contention that the respondents had the right to disregard the provisions of the Recognition Agreement because its enforcement had the effect of resuscitating a repealed law, which created inroads into the executives prerogative and undermined the separation of powers, was untenable. Swiftly It was the courts finding that government did not move swiftly or within a reasonable time to close down the Trading Account after the enactment of the CTOA. The courts view was that, the repeal of the Regulations of 1975 was an ancillary reason in the introduction of the circular. However, government, through the office of the attorney general, yesterday filed a notice to appeal the judgment. The State feels that the court misdirected itself in its findings as NAPSAWU allegedly approached the court with dirty hands. The genesis of the matter is that in August 2013, the Central Transport Organisation Act 13/2013 (CTOA) was promulgated. The CTOA established an organisation known as the Central Transport Organisation (CTO), a body corporate and a category A public enterprise. The CTOA repealed the Regulations of 1975. Notwithstanding the promulgation of the CTOA and repeal of the Regulations of 1975, the CTA had not been transformed into a parastatal, but continued to operate a Trading Account, seven years after the repeal of the regulations. The union contended the respondents failure to consult it prior to issuing the circular breached Clause 15 of the Recognition Agreement, which provided for its consultation. The union alleged that in November 2019, the respondents commenced informal engagements with its shop stewards on the transformation of the CTA, in contravention of the parties Recognition Agreement. The Industrial Court previously issued an interim order and government swiftly moved an application for the stay of execution. In the application, Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg submitted that government had moved an application which was to be heard on August 18, 2020. According to the minister, the matter could not proceed as the court informed the parties that it did not form a quorum since one member was engaged on another matter for seven working days. He averred that the applicant (government) was of the view that the stay of execution order was unnecessary considering that the rescission application ought to have been dealt with and disposed of on an urgent basis. Minister Rijkenberg narrated that when the matter was called on August 18, 2020, the court informed governments legal representatives of the unfortunate situation of not proceeding with the application. According to the minister, the court informed the applicant that the matter was being postponed to August 26, 2020 for a hearing of both the rescission and the main application. He pointed out that the court further directed that government should comply with the interim order, the same order which it (government) sought to be rescinded. It is on this strength of the unlikely events that government now seeks the stay of the execution of the interim order issued on August 14, 2020, submitted the minister. He contended that government had a clear right to be granted the stay of execution of the order in that it had direct and substantial interest in the outcome of the matter. The minister further argued that the balance of convenience clearly favoured government to be granted the stay of execution of the interim order as it filed a rescission application on August 17, 2020. He went on to tell the court that if the order for the stay of execution was not granted, it would basically mean the rescission application would be academic. Suffer Thirdly, I state that government will suffer irreparable harm if it is not granted the stay of execution order thus grave justice will result more so because the interim order was erroneously granted, argued Rijkenberg. NAPSAWU had submitted that it wanted the court to declare the circular as unlawful and contrary to the Central Transport Organisation (CTO) Act No.13 of 2013 and to be of no force or effect from the date of the order of the court. Appearing for the union was Meluleki Ndlangmandla of MLK Ndlangamandla Attorneys while representing the respondents was Assistant Attorney General Mndeni Vilkati and Senior Crown Counsel Vikinduku Manana. Key Highlights Kia, Toyota and Maruti score highest in first ever dealer satisfaction survey conducted by FADA Dealers at Hero and Honda most satisfied; those with Yamaha and TVS most disgruntled Dealers expect companies to help them re-start business post-lockdown Majority of dealers feel the need to cut costs; 62% say they will reduce manpower A study conducted to analyse how automobile manufacturers have helped in sharing the burden of dealers that have borne the brunt of the slowdown in the last two years has revealed companies like Kia, Toyota among passenger vehicles and Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India as the most responsive to their needs. At the same time, Honda Cars India, Tata Motors, Yamaha and TVS were rated as the most indifferent to the troubles of their dealer partners. The COVID-19 dealer support satisfaction study was conducted by Federation of Automobile Dealers Association in partnership with Premon Asia, a consumer-insight led consulting & advisory firm based out of Singapore. Based on a survey covering more than 1,100 dealerships between June and August this year, it said most dealers were generally unsatisfied with the support they have received from their respective companies. "Even before COVID-19 pandemic hit us, the Indian Automobile Industry was grappling with a prolonged slowdown. In fact, we were already degrowing for 15 odd months. Against this backdrop, COVID-19 outbreak has been a significant blow to the Auto Industry and especially to Auto Dealers which has almost broken Auto Dealers back bone," said Vinkesh Gulati, president, FADA. "46 per cent dealers had 2 biggest concerns viz., support towards future business evolution and support towards re-starting business post lockdown. Many OEMs came forward during these testing times and offered support to dealers with various means. What has come out commonly across all the verticals was that dealers expect OEMs to improve their profitability." On an index of a maximum 1,000 points, most dealers rated their manufacturers with a satisfaction score of under 600, which represented a general sense of dissatisfaction in the fraternity. Among passenger vehicle makers, dealers were most happy with newcomer Kia Motors (736) followed by Toyota (641) and market leader Maruti Suzuki (574). Honda Cars India (404), Tata Motors (449) and Ford India (498) scored the least. Dealers of Kia Motor said they were most satisfied with the communication and dealer manpower related issues with the company. They also voted favourably on the company providing information for customers waiting for their cars. Toyota dealers also said the company had been forthright in expediting settlement of claims and financial assistance for inventory management. In two-wheelers, market leader Hero MotoCorp scored the highest at 623 followed by Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (567) and Royal Enfield (509) while dealer of Yamaha (398) and TVS (430) were least happy. "All segments of the market have recorded a weak satisfaction score below 600 which is understandable given that no one can be prepared in advance for handling such a calamity. However, OEMs like Kia Motors & Toyota Kirloskar (for 4W mass market), Audi (4W luxury), Hero Motocorp (2W) and Mahindra (CV small & light) have met expectations of their dealers relatively better than others," said Rajeev Lochan, Founder and CEO, Premon Asia. "A common thread lies in how these OEMs have managed hygiene issues of support on areas of customer communication and dealer manpower training, while pleasantly delighting their dealers through better term loans to tide over working capital needs." With regards to the future a vast majority of 96 per cent of the dealers said they would need to cut costs to survive while 62 percent said they would be forced to cut manpower as the growing focus would be towards online sales. Half of them felt the need for the regular showrooms would reduce over time. "There is a common concern that customer engagement process will get far more digitised which, in turn, will impact dealer's manpower efficiency, processes, and cost structure," Lochan added. "Hence, OEMs who can proactively realign norms around these aspects are going to find greater traction among their dealer partners." 24.09.2020 LISTEN Former President John Dramani Mahama reveals that the voter ID card of his running mate Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was duplicated and had to be replaced when she attempted verifying her details in the ongoing voter roll exhibition exercise. This follows reports that some voter ID cards had been found to have been duplicated, as registrants went to check their details. At a press conference in Accra on Thursday, 24 September, Mr Mahama listed some constituencies in which the party had discovered the exclusion of the names of voters from the 2020 register. According to Mr Mahama: In Jirapa in the Upper West Region, a total of 2,057 names were nowhere to be found on the voter register at five centres. At Klottey Korle in the Greater Accra Region, 2,054 people who registered in some 12 centres did not find their names. In Krowor, also in Greater Accra, cases of duplicated numbers were recorded in as many as eight centres and this affected 2,453 people. Mr Mahama continued: In Ashaiman, the vigilance of our MP, honourable Ernest Norgbey and other NDC executives ensured the detection of the omission of over 21,000 names from the register including that of the MP. He, however, noted that the EC, in response to this, presented a new register with the name of the MP but was short of 7,000 more names and accused the MP of falsehood when it again presented another register with his name. The NDC flagbearer continued: In the Central Region, glaring cases of the duplication of card numbers were also recorded in 14 centres in the Komenda, Edina Aguafo Abirem Constituency and one of such cases involved my running mate Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang. She sent somebody to check her name and was told she had to come herself because her number was duplicated; somebody else had the same number as her and, so, she had to come and collect the card and take it to the district office to go and sort it out and, so, she had to drive from Komenda to Elmina where the district office of the EC is. At Elmina, they took the old card from her and replaced it with a new card. Being who she is, she could make the trip to Elmina, but what of the poor farmer in the village who comes and finds out that their card is not valid? Are they going to travel to Elmina to replace the card? Mr Mahama asked. He noted, however, that even though the occurrence of anomalies is not new during the exhibition of a voter register, the anomalies with the 2020 register are a cause for alarm. The sheer value and magnitude of the recorded anomalies in this ongoing voter exhibition exercise are unusual and unprecedented and give us genuine cause for concern about the credibility of the register and the integrity of the electoral process, Mr Mahama explained. ---Classfm Atos to deliver digital, integrated and cybersecurity solutions to support Siemens digital strategic objectives Siemens-Atos Global Alliance will pursue joint go-to-market growth opportunities Munich, Germany - Paris, France - September 23, 2020 - Siemens AG and Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, today announced the extension of their Customer Relationship Agreement within their strategic partnership, started in 2011. The agreement aims to accelerate Siemens' digital objectives in the areas of services modernization and digitalization, data driven digital, cloud transformation and cybersecurity. It comes in the context of 5-year total 3 billion agreements which were separately signed with Siemens AG, Siemens Energy AG and Siemens Healthineers AG and include existing services as well as new business. As part of the agreement, Atos will also invest in innovation and digital modernization, in order to advance important innovation topics for Siemens. "We are delighted to extend and strengthen our longtime partnership with Atos with this new framework partnership agreement to accelerate our transformation and support our digital strategic objectives", said Hanna Hennig, Chief Information Officer at Siemens AG. "To support the different requirements of Siemens across all of its businesses, Atos will provide Siemens with best-in-class digital and integrated solutions such as Digital Workplace, Application modernization, full leverage of Atos new hybrid cloud platform, Digital Platforms and end-to-end Integration and Security. Atos will also deploy an innovative, data driven model enabling further leverage of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning," said Eric Grall, Atos Chief Operating Officer. Joint go-to-market initiative Siemens and Atos also announce the extension of their Global Alliance beyond technology cooperation to bring together their joint digital solutions to the market. This new joint go-to-market initiative will leverage the existing 330 million common digital investments and will significantly support the digital growth ambitions laid out by each company. Over the next five years a significant amount of additional joint sales is expected from this sales-driven initiative. "We will continue to combine the strength and expertise of both companies to bring innovative digital solutions to our customers and to leverage further sales opportunities", said Roland Busch, Deputy CEO of Siemens AG. "We are proud to support Siemens digital transformation acceleration for the next 5 years and to extend our unique long-lasting strategic Alliance towards a new joint growth initiative," said Elie Girard, CEO of Atos. "This fits perfectly with Atos' strategic agenda towards a more secure and decarbonized digital for its customers". ### About Atos Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 110,000 employees in 73 countries and annual revenue of 12 billion. European number one in Cloud, Cybersecurity and High-Performance Computing, the Group provides end-to-end Orchestrated Hybrid Cloud, Big Data, Business Applications and Digital Workplace solutions. In the UK & Ireland Atos delivers business technology solutions for some of the country's largest public and private sector organisations The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos|Syntel, and Unify. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index. The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space. Press contact: Laura Fau | laura.fau@atos.net | +33 6 73 64 04 18 | @laurajanefau About Siemens AG Siemens AG. Press contacts: Konstanze Somborn | konstanze.somborn@siemens.com | +49 173 894-7354 Simon Friedle | simon.friedle@siemens.com | +49 1525 215-9076 Attachment Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin David Alire Garcia (Reuters) Teotihuacan, Mexico Thu, September 24, 2020 10:04 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46e188b 2 Art & Culture Mexico,ancient,writing,mural,sculpture,symbol,Teotihuacan Free Among the many mysteries surrounding the ancient Mexican metropolis of Teotihuacan, one has been especially hard to crack: how did its residents use the many signs and symbols found on its murals and ritual sculptures? The city's towering pyramids reopened to visitors earlier this month as pandemic restrictions eased. But perhaps its most interesting and extensively-excavated neighborhood, featuring a patio floor with rare painted symbols, or glyphs, remains off-limits to tourists. The discovery in the 1990s of the puzzling red glyphs, most laid out in neat columns, has led a growing number of scholars to question the long-held view that writing was absent from the city, which thrived from roughly 100 BC to 550 AD. Their ultimate ambition is to harness the steady drip of new finds to one day mimic the success their peers have had decoding ancient Maya or Egyptian hieroglyphics. Teotihuacan which lies in a dusty plain about 30 miles (50 km) outside the modern Mexican capital - was once the largest city in the Americas, home to at least 100,000 people. Yet much is unknown about the civilization that inhabited it, including what language its native inhabitants spoke and whether they developed a system of writing akin to that of the Aztecs, who dominated the area some eight centuries later and revered its ruins. Experts have debated several theories for the glyphs. They say they may have been used to represent symbols used to teach writing, or place-names of subjugated tribute-paying cities, or even as signs used in disease-curing rituals. Art historian Tatiana Valdez, author of a book published this year on the glyphs of Teotihuacan, says the patio's 42 glyphs, many in linear sequences, amount to the longest text ever found at the city's ruins. Overall, she says more than 300 Teotihuacano hieroglyphics have been tentatively identified so far. Countless ancient Mexican codices - accordion-style folded paper books covered in hieroglyphics - were ordered burned in colonial times by Catholic authorities. Only about a dozen still exist. Valdez is convinced such books were also part of Teotihuacan's literary tradition, over a millennium before the bonfires. "I think Teotihuacan used hieroglyphics, and used them well because we've found so many," she said, pointing to thousands of mostly clay figurines with painted or incised glyphs that have been found on the site. Valdez said the sheer number of figurines found with glyphs on tiny headdresses or on their foreheads could mean some access to writing was available to commoners. Walking around La Ventilla, where the glyphs patio is located, is tantamount to exploring an ancient neighborhood, featuring temples, artisan workshops, intricate apartment compounds and finely painted murals. The government-run National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said additional work is still needed to be able to open it to tourists, but did not offer any timeline. The neighborhood's major excavations were completed years ago. Read also: Israeli museum explains the emojis of ancient Egypt Elusive texts Drawings and photos of the city's most recently confirmed glyph are set to be published in a scholarly paper next year. Found in 2016 on the back of a miniature stone altar, it features a triangle in a round cartouche with three dots underneath. The single glyph likely represents the specific year it was dedicated. It is the kind of find expected by Joyce Marcus, an archeologist at the University of Michigan who has argued that writing was absent in the city. "So far, we have not seen the long texts," she wrote in an email. "Writing is rare at Teotihuacan when its 'texts' are compared/contrasted with those at Maya sites," she added, pointing to the Mayan city of Tikal, a contemporary of Teotihuacan in present-day Guatemala. Tikal is home to monuments with columns of glyphs that in recent decades have been largely deciphered. A painted mural uncovered in the 1960s in Teotihuacan shows what appears to be a priest holding a book. It was a "hugely important" discovery, said Christophe Helmke, a leading scholar of the city's writing system at the University of Copenhagen. He cautioned against expecting texts on public monuments or sculptures in the city, and said writing in Teotihuacan was probably mostly confined to its books. He suggested future advances will likely come from new mural or ceramic finds, but not books, which are unlikely to turn up due to the speed of deterioration of the paper or animal skins used by ancient scribes. David Stuart, a University of Texas archeologist and epigrapher who has pioneered the decipherment of ancient Maya writing, said the lack of knowledge about what language was spoken at Teotihuacan complicates efforts to read its glyphs. "It's true that many still say that Teotihuacan had no writing system," he said. "But in fact it's there." Topics : Mexico ancient writing mural sculpture symbol Teotihuacan In mid March, as the global economy closed for business and the frightful and deadly phase of Americas coronavirus pandemic began in earnest, I started a daily email update to a list of friends and colleagues. I had a background in public relations, and in health-care policymaking in particular, and I had hoped to cut through the noise of hyper-politicized and sensationalized news coverage and provide people in the right-of-center policy orbit with a digest of credible public-health news and analysis. As we approach 200 days of the 15 Days to Stop the Spread, its clear now how wrong I and everyone else was about COVID-19. The data we had werent wrong; our analysis of them was. Certainly, we had all hoped that by Easter, the pandemic would be under control. As the public drained our nations supply chain of all its hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, we discovered that surfaces werent really great hosts for the virus; saliva droplets serve as coronaviruss preferred mode of transmission. And many prominent health officials around the globe expressed skepticism about masking, warning that the public lacked proper knowledge to hygienically wear them and arguing that homemade face coverings werent effective at protecting people. Now, it is illegal in many states to be indoors or in public without one. After six grueling months of shared sacrifices, with Americas children and businesses bearing so much of the burden of life as usual interrupted, better days are on the horizon. With the introduction of new therapeutics, the warp-speed production of vaccinations, greater knowledge from health-care providers, and growing immunity, we have reason to be optimistic that the pandemics wrath is slowing and may soon be under control. With breathing room to analyze how our country and others handled COVID-19, the scientific community, government leaders, and the public will have the opportunity to examine both the promise and the limitations of basing far-reaching public policy on empirically tenuous theories and models. The massive failures of epidemiological modeling, in particular, and the significant damage their unreliability inflicted on the global economy and health, should make us especially wary of other efforts to make sweeping policy changes on the backs of ambitious abstractions. Story continues Im talking of course about the climate-change forecasts that, to date, have failed to live up to the doomsday scenarios that their most ardent defenders forewarned. Climate-change maximalists doomsaying assume that models published by groups such as the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are valid, sound, and sensitive enough to account for changes in inputs. But with the coronavirus, we have discovered how blind faith in modeling can be exceedingly treacherous, as the epidemiological assumptions that governments across the globe relied on when making their decisions over the past several months have been proven wrong time and time again. In particular, prominent models about hospitalization, R0 curves (the viruss rate of reproduction, and case fatalities were dramatically revised multiple times, typically downgrading experts previous catastrophic projections. These failures demonstrate just how far-reaching the prejudices of scientists may be. While their motivations arent always political, its clear that their instincts are to forecast the worst possible outcome, even when the likelihood of it occurring is infinitesimal and relies on negative variables remaining unchanged or worsening. When questioned about their accuracy, defenders of traditional epidemiological models guiding COVID-19 policy say that their charts can only assume that current variables remain constant. Meanwhile, climate models are, if anything, far more complex and sensitive to confounders than epidemiological ones. Its therefore reasonable to doubt that they can truly reflect reality. Climate scientists readily admit that, as with coronavirus modeling, changes in inputs cause complicated and unpredictable feedback loops. With this in mind, how can their projections accurately forecast much of anything as it concerns the future temperature of our planet? Unfortunately, the failures of epidemiological modeling for COVID-19 inflicted tremendous human and economic costs on the U.S. and, indeed, much of the world. From the foolishly dangerous nursing-home policy of Governor Andrew Cuomo (D., N.Y.) to the widespread joblessness caused by preemptively shutting down the economy in places that had yet to see significant coronavirus spikes, an incorrect understanding of this virus made worse by experts wrong predictions resulted in huge losses to families and businesses. The real-world consequences of coronavirus-modeling fiascos should give pause to climate scientists. Still, they insist that we enact their most radical policy prescriptions to protect the planet. They remain unconcerned with the efficacy of such measures, their human cost, or the real extent of the dangers we face. Even as Americans, locked down during the pandemic, involuntarily enacted drastic cuts in carbon-producing activities, climate-change alarmists insist that we all do more to stave off a climate catastrophe. Worse still, climate scientists are so dogged in achieving their political goals that they wont be deterred by facts that negate their narrative. According to one influential study in Nature Climate Change, global carbon emissions are expected to decrease by 4 to 7 percent in 2020. This is the largest decrease on record since World War II. This should be cause for celebration, but the studys authors argue that even this level of economic and human pain is not enough to forestall the calamitous future they predict. These dramatic measures . . . begin to approximate the emissions cuts the world would need to make every year for a decade in order to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, the authors explain, citing a 2019 United Nations report calling for a 7.6 percent annual reduction in emissions to reduce global temperatures by 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100. For climate-change extremists, coronavirus-spurred economic destruction resulting in widespread joblessness, drug abuse, and suicide are not enough to reduce our worlds climate footprint. Americans made tremendous sacrifices this year, forgoing family vacations and church attendance to stay locked in their homes for more than four months now. Millions have lost their jobs, while others shuttered their small businesses. Still, left-wing talking heads and their activist followers have relentlessly harassed people who, in their view, have not fully embraced all the austere restrictions imposed at times arbitrarily on their communities. Americans who raise questions about the changing coronavirus protocols (and they have changed frequently and even daily at times) have been called selfish, accused of being complicit in death, and depicted as scientifically illiterate ignoramuses more concerned with their individual liberties than with protecting the elderly and immunocompromised. These same experts elected officials, scientists, community leaders lost all credibility when they neglected their own social-distancing recommendations to join huge crowds and engage in civic activities that aligned with their ideological priorities. Such hypocrisy brings to mind the Davos gathering focused on climate change last year: Record numbers of private planes flew to Switzerland, carrying thousands of climate-conscious influencers who apparently were more concerned with luxury and convenience than with they were practicing what they preached. Science, especially on matters as serious as public health and climate, shouldnt be biased. Scientists have a responsibility to provide accurate information that helps us make the best possible decisions, and they should make revisions when new data conflict with existing recommendations or narratives. Unfortunately, we know that the realms of science and propaganda overlap all too often today. More from National Review The West Bengal Cabinet on Thursday gave its nod to the 'Rajya Purohit Kalyan Prokolpo', a scheme under which a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 and free housing would be allotted to each of around 8,000 Sanatan Brahmin priests. IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wears a face mask during a meeting with Durga Puja Committee, ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja festival, in Kolkata, on Thursday. Photograph: Ashok Bhaumik/PTI Photo Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had last week announced the scheme, and said many priests were reeling under financial crisis and her government was doling out sops to support them. "The Cabinet has given its nod to the 'Rajya Purohit Kalyan Prokolpo' which the chief minister had announced a few days ago," state home secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said at the secretariat. During Thursday's meeting, the Cabinet also approved a plan to form a development authority for converting Birsingha -- the birthplace of polymath Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar -- into an 'educational tourist hub'. "The authority will follow the West Bengal Town and Country Planning and Development Act for executing the project. The district magistrate will be the chairman (ex officio) and MPs and MLAs and other public representatives members of the planning body," Bandyopadhyay said. The ministers also held discussions and weighed the pros and cons of launching a Rs 22-crore solar project at Sagardighi Thermal Power Plant, he said. "The five-megawatt floating solar project, the largest in the country, will benefit around one lakh households, once operational," the home secretary stated. Several other development plans, including a riverbank township project, were taken up for discussion at the meeting. The ministers, following the meeting, congratulated Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, who is set to retire on September 30, for his service to the state. Sinha had taken over as the chief secretary on the same day last year, following the retirement of Malay Dey. Mamata announces grant of Rs 50,000 to each Durga Puja committee Meanwhile, Banerjee on Thursday announced a grant of Rs 50,000 to each Durga Puja committee in the state. Announcing a slew of doles for around 37,000 Durga Puja committees in the state, Banerjee said that the fire brigade, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), other civic bodies, municipalities and panchayats will not charge any money or tax for their services from the puja organisers. "Due to the COVID pandemic, it has been a tough time for all of us. We have decided to provide Rs 50,000 grant to each Durga Puja committee of the state. We have also decided that CESC and the state electricity board will give 50 per cent waiver for the puja committees," she said addressing the Durga Puja Coordination meeting in Kolkata. Banerjee asked the committees to prepare open-air marquees in view of the contagion and ensure that pandal hoppers wear masks. The chief minister also announced a one time grant of Rs 2,000 for 75,000 hawkers of the state as they had faced a difficult time due to the lockdown. Youth Exposure to Marijuana Advertising in Oregons Legal Retail Marijuana Market Steven C. Fiala, MPH1; Julia A. Dilley, PhD2; Erik M. Everson, MPH2; Caislin L. Firth, PhD2; Julie E. Maher, PhD2 (View author affiliations) Suggested citation for this article: Fiala SC, Dilley JA, Everson EM, Firth CL, Maher JE. Youth Exposure to Marijuana Advertising in Oregons Legal Retail Marijuana Market. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:190206. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.190206external icon. PEER REVIEWED Summary What is already known about this topic? Research from tobacco and alcohol markets suggests advertising exposure is associated with perceptions of lower risk and increased use among young people. What is added by this report? We assessed marijuana advertising exposure among youths in Oregon. About three-quarters of youths reported exposure to marijuana advertising. Exposure was higher among girls than boys; lesbian, gay, or bisexual youths than straight youths; and youths in school districts with a closer average proximity to retail marijuana stores. What are the implications for public health practice? Groups with higher exposure to advertising may benefit from targeted prevention efforts or countermessaging to delay initiation of marijuana use. Abstract Introduction Research from tobacco and alcohol markets suggests advertising exposure is associated with perceptions of lower risk and increased use among young people. Limiting marketing may be a regulatory approach to prevent potential negative effects of retail marijuana legalization on youth use. This study assessed marijuana advertising exposure reported by youths in Oregon after the start of retail marijuana sales in October 2015. Methods Data from a 2017 school-based survey of Oregon 8th (N = 14,852) and 11th (N = 11,895) graders were used to characterize marijuana advertising exposure. Subgroup differences in reported exposure were assessed by using Pearson 2 tests and multiple logistic regression. Results About three-quarters of 8th (72.2%) and 11th graders (78.1%) in Oregon reported seeing marijuana advertising in the past month. Youths most frequently reported seeing advertising on storefronts and online, and odds of exposure were significantly higher for girls; lesbian, gay, or bisexual youths; current marijuana users; 8th graders living with an adult who uses marijuana; and youths in school districts with a closer average proximity to retail marijuana stores. Conclusion Reporting exposure to marijuana advertising is common among youths in Oregons legal retail market. Oregon and other states working to prevent youth marijuana use may want to examine how well their rules are working to prevent youth exposure. Although some sources of youth advertising exposure may be difficult to regulate and enforce (eg, online), others may be within the purview of state authority (eg, billboards, storefronts) depending on state-specific interpretation of free speech protections. Top Introduction As of 2018, voters in 8 US states had legalized the production, processing, distribution, and sale of retail (ie, nonmedical) marijuana (ie, cannabis) for adults aged 21 years or older. One regulatory approach to prevent potential negative impacts of legalization on youths is limiting marijuana marketing, given that research from tobacco and alcohol markets suggests that advertising exposure is associated with lower perceptions of risk and substance use initiation among young people (1,2). Early evidence suggests that the same may be true for marijuana advertising: adolescents in California who were exposed to medical marijuana advertising had twice the odds of marijuana use and intention to use marijuana 1 year later compared with those who were never exposed (3). Only one study to date has assessed population-based marijuana advertising exposure among US adolescents: Dai used Monitoring the Future data from 201415 and found that 58.7% of respondents reported some level of exposure in recent months (4). However, this study was conducted when only Colorado and Washington State had legal retail marijuana markets and the analysis did not account for the legal status of marijuana (eg, whether retail or medical sales were allowed). Studies of adults also suggest high levels of advertising exposure in the United States. In a 2015 national sample of young adult marijuana users aged 18 to 34 years, 66% of those living in states with legal retail markets reported exposure in the past month to marijuana advertising compared with 47% in states with legal medical markets and 46% in states with no legal markets (5). A study in Oregon found that after retail marijuana sales began in 2015, most adults in the state reported seeing marijuana ads, particularly in communities with stores selling retail marijuana compared with communities without stores (56.5% vs 32.5%, P < .001); exposure to marijuana advertising was even higher (63.2%) among young adults aged 18 to 20 years who were not of legal age to possess retail marijuana (6). The objectives of our study were to estimate the prevalence of self-reported exposure to marijuana advertising among Oregon 8th and 11th graders after the opening of a legal retail marijuana market in October 2015, describe the source of marijuana advertising exposure (eg, online, storefront), and determine whether certain demographic characteristics and retail store quantity and proximity were associated with marijuana advertising exposure. Top Methods Data source We used data from the 2017 Oregon Healthy Teens Survey (OHT) (7) for this study. The OHT is a school-based survey of Oregon 8th and 11th graders conducted in odd-numbered years and designed to measure the health and well-being of youths. OHT is anonymous and voluntary and is given via paper or online in school settings. All Oregon public secondary schools are included in the sampling frame. School districts are randomly sampled; in larger districts, schools are also randomly sampled from within those districts. OHT data are weighted to achieve a statewide representative sample based on the probability of students being selected. The 2017 OHT was administered in February through May 2017, which was more than 1 year after Oregon allowed retail marijuana sales through existing marijuana medical dispensaries (October 2015), and several months after licensed retail marijuana stores opened (October 2016). A total of 14,852 8th graders and 11,895 11th graders completed the survey, corresponding to an overall response rate of 63%; 84 of Oregons 187 eligible public school districts contributed data. Measures Questions on exposure to marijuana advertising were added to the 2017 survey and were based on existing OHT questions related to tobacco advertising exposure. Respondents were asked During the past 30 days, have you seen an advertisement for marijuana products or stores . . . 1) in a magazine or newspaper; 2) on a storefront; 3) online, on your cellphone, tablet, or computer through email, websites, or social media; 4) on a billboard; 5) on the sidewalk (like signs or people wearing or waving signs). (A storefront advertising example is shown in Figure 1 and an example billboard is shown in Figure 2.) Respondents could select yes, no, or dont know/not sure for each of the exposure types. Responses of dont know/not sure were retained in the denominator for analysis of exposure to specific advertising types and the number of exposure sources. Students were classified as having any past-month exposure to advertising if they provided a yes/no answer to all 5 questions and responded yes to at least 1 of the 5 advertising types assessed. Figure 1. Retail marijuana storefront with green cross and sign advertising Recreational Cannabis, Oregon, 2017 [A text version of this figure is also available.] Figure 2. Billboard advertising retail marijuana, Oregon, 2017 [A text version of this figure is also available.] Demographic variables were recoded for analysis. Respondent gender was categorized as female, male, or nonbinary/gender nonconforming. Sexual orientation was categorized as either straight or lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB). Race/ethnicity was categorized as non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic Asian, non-Hispanic Black or African American, non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic multiple races, non-Hispanic other race, or Hispanic or Latino (any race). Community setting (urban, rural, or frontier residency) was assigned based on student self-reported zip code by using designations from the Oregon Office of Rural Health based on distance to population centers and population density. Zip code information was missing for 13.7% of 8th graders (n = 2,028) and 5.5% of 11th graders (n = 651), and they were consequently excluded from analysis of ad exposure by community setting. We assessed current marijuana use with the question During the past 30 days, on how many days did you use marijuana or hashish (weed, hash, pot)? We considered respondents to be current users if they indicated at least 1 day of marijuana use in the past 30 days. We assessed exposure to marijuana use in the home with the question Does any adult living in your house use marijuana? Response options were yes and no. The number of active marijuana retail licenses used in the proximity measure was obtained from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission website. We included active licenses as of March 2017 to align with timing of OHT data collection. We characterized exposure to retail marijuana stores in 2 ways. First, we described retail marijuana store exposure as the number of retail stores in the school district by using 3 cut points resulting in similar sample sizes: no stores, 1 to 3 stores, and 4 or more stores. Second, we defined and categorized proximity to retail marijuana stores by using methods previously developed by our team to describe marijuana retailer proximity (8). We assigned a proximity value to each OHT participant based on average distance to the nearest marijuana retailer for individual 0.9-square-mile area cells, aggregated to the school district level and weighted by population. School district average retail marijuana store proximity was categorized as less than 1 mile, 1 mile to 5 miles, and more than 5 miles for analysis. Data analysis We used the Pearson 2 test to determine whether youth demographic characteristics, marijuana use, living with an adult who uses marijuana, or number of and proximity to retail marijuana stores were associated with exposure to marijuana advertising. We used multiple logistic regression models to estimate the adjusted associations between these measures and any marijuana advertising exposure. Models were constructed separately for 8th and 11th graders and included any past-month exposure to marijuana advertising as the dependent variable and the following independent variables: gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, community setting, current marijuana use, living with an adult who uses marijuana, and average proximity to retail marijuana stores in the school district. Number of retail marijuana stores in the school district was not included in models because of high correlation with store proximity (r = 0.71). We conducted analyses with Stata version 13.0 (StataCorp LLC), using procedures that took into account the survey design and weights. The .05 level of significance was used. This study was determined by the Oregon Public Health Division/Multnomah County Health Department Institutional Review Board to be exempt from review per 45 CFR 46.101(b)(4). Top Results Respondent unweighted demographics are shown in Table 1. The most frequently reported types of advertising exposure (Table 2) were storefronts (37.9% of 8th graders; 43.5% of 11th graders) and online (37.2% for 8th graders; 49.5% for 11th graders). Exposure to billboards was reported by more than one-third of 8th and 11th graders (33.1% and 38.4%, respectively), followed by on the sidewalk (28.6% for 8th graders; 35.0% for 11th graders) and in magazines or newspapers (17.9% for 8th graders; 21.4% for 11th graders). About 1 in 20 8th graders (5.6%) and nearly 1 in 10 11th graders (8.4%) reported past-month exposure to all 5 advertising types assessed. About three-quarters of 8th graders (72.2%) and 11th graders (78.1%) reported seeing any advertising for marijuana products or stores in the past 30 days (Table 3). Among both 8th and 11th graders, exposure to any marijuana advertising in the past month significantly differed by all demographic characteristics assessed in bivariate analysis, including gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, community setting, and current marijuana use. Advertising exposure was also significantly higher among youths who lived with an adult who used marijuana and youths in school districts with high numbers of retail marijuana stores or a closer average proximity to retail marijuana stores. In logistic regression models for 8th and 11th graders (Table 3), the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of advertising exposure in the past month were significantly higher (P < .05) for girls compared with boys (aOR, 1.38 for 8th graders and 1.62 for 11th graders); for LGB youths compared with straight youths (aOR, 1.56 for 8th graders and 1.26 for 11th graders); for youths who had used marijuana in the past 30 days compared with nonusers (aOR, 1.57 for 8th graders and 1.53 for 11th graders); for youths living with an adult who uses marijuana compared with those without an adult marijuana user in their home (aOR, 1.85 for 8th graders); and for youths in school districts with an average retail marijuana store proximity of less than 1 mile compared with those where the nearest marijuana retailer is more than 5 miles away on average (aOR, 2.46 for 8th graders and 2.56 for 11th graders). Lower odds of ad exposure in the past month were observed for Hispanic or Latino youths compared with non-Hispanic White youths (aOR, 0.81 for 8th graders and 0.59 for 11th graders) and youths living in a frontier community compared with those living in an urban area (aOR, 0.52 for 8th graders and 0.60 for 11th graders). Top Discussion Three years after Oregonians voted to legalize retail marijuana sales, reported exposure to marijuana advertising appears common among youths: most youths report seeing ads, and a large proportion of those exposed to ads reported seeing them in multiple ways. Exposure reported by Oregon youths in 2017 is higher than national estimates (58.7%) reported by Dai in 20142015, which did not specifically report on states with legal marijuana markets (4). Conversely, youth-reported exposure in Oregon was lower than levels reported by Whitehill et al (93.6%) from a 2018 online survey of 469 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years residing in 4 states with legal retail marijuana (not including Oregon); however, exposure to social media sources of advertising in that study was not limited to the past 30 days (9). Regardless of the exact level of exposure, these exposures to marijuana advertising are concerning given the scientific consensus that tobacco promotions cause youth tobacco use initiation (1,10), and alcohol advertising increases the likelihood of alcohol use initiation and heavier drinking if youths already use alcohol (2). Despite not observing significant increases in youth marijuana use following legalization in Oregon (11), marijuana advertising could work in the longer term to similarly increase the likelihood of initiation and heavier use among youths by fostering positive attitudes and expectations of substance use (1). Marijuana advertising exposure was greater among some groups of youths, potentially putting them at increased risk for initiation. Higher odds of exposure among girls is consistent with a study on e-cigarette advertising that indicated that female youths may be more aware of product advertising in general (12). Youths who identified as LGB were more likely than straight youths to report seeing ads, which may be of particular concern given high rates of current marijuana use within the LGB community: 33% of LGB adults in Oregon currently used marijuana in 20142015 compared with 11% of all adults (11). Exposure to advertising was not significantly higher among communities of color compared with non-Hispanic White youths and was significantly lower among youths identifying as Hispanic or Latino. The potential protective effect of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity warrants further consideration. However, given historical targeting and relatively higher exposure to advertising from the tobacco and alcohol industries among vulnerable populations (13,14), continued monitoring of advertising exposure among LGB and racial/ethnic minority youths is warranted as the marijuana industry grows from cottage to corporate (15). Community settings and retail presence may play an important role in advertising exposure. Youths living outside of urban settings were less exposed, which could reflect limited potential for any type of advertising exposure from billboards and storefronts given fewer retail stores generally. In models that controlled for community setting, youths in school districts with closer average proximity to retail marijuana stores were more likely to see ads for marijuana more than 8 in 10 youths in either grade were exposed within districts where the average proximity to a retail store was less than 1 mile. Communities in Oregon are allowed to ban retail stores, and this may have reduced exposure to advertising for some youths, especially where contiguous geographic areas have done so. Local or state regulation of retail density may play a role in limiting advertising exposure not only by reducing storefront advertising but also by limiting market competition. Washington is the only state to implement a cap on the number of retail licenses allowed in order to support regulation of retail store density (16); the effect of a license cap on community-level store density, associated advertising, and ultimately youth marijuana perceptions and use will require further study. Limiting placement of retailers may limit exposure to their advertising. Retail marijuana storefronts were among the leading source of advertising seen by youths. While Oregon restricts advertising deemed attractive to minors (ie, features cartoons, images of minors, symbols or celebrities commonly used to market to minors) (17), little else in the states rules curbs the influence of retail storefronts on social norms. Washington State, on the other hand, limits stores to 2 signs measuring a maximum of 1,600 square inches that may contain only the trade name, location, and nature of the business (18). A large proportion of youths in our study reported exposure to online marijuana advertising, including a substantial increase from 8th graders (37.2%) to 11th graders (49.5%) that may reflect increases in media consumption and/or increase in marijuana use with age. This high level of online exposure persists despite state-level regulations that restrict internet advertising to locations where at least 70% of the audience is 21 or older (known as the 70/30 rule) (17), and voluntary policies such as Facebooks restrictions on advertising illegal, prescription, or recreational drugs (19) and Googles ban on ads for substances that induce highs (20). Digital marketing through social media including peer-to-peer transmission through sharing and likes is concerning given the potential for influencing young people and the difficulty of regulating and enforcing restrictions (21,22). Consequently, public health education and countermarketing efforts should include a social media component to reach youths in the digital environment. About one-third of youths reported exposure to marijuana advertising on billboards and on the sidewalk (eg, signs and people waving or wearing signs). While billboard advertising is restricted by the aforementioned 70/30 rule and state advertising rules provide examples of restricted content, such as images of cartoon characters or toys, this may not be enough to reduce the appeal to youths. A recent letter to the editor in the Oregonian newspaper highlights the potential effect of billboards even without youth-oriented images: Now when I am driving with my 6- and 7-year-old children, I need to explain what Damn $5 a gram or celebrate 420 mean (Figure 2 is a photograph of a related billboard) (23). In contrast, Colorado allows billboards as fixed signs on a marijuana stores lot to identify the location but prohibits other forms of outdoor advertising, such as sign spinners and sandwich boards (24). The American Public Health Association both urges restrictions on marijuana advertising as a public health priority and acknowledges the First Amendment protections of corporate free speech that make marketing regulations difficult (25). A recent analysis of marijuana regulatory frameworks in 4 US states echoes the difficulty of applying tobacco control best practices to advertising restrictions for marijuana, and asserts that existing controls are limited and ineffective for preventing youth access and use (26). Those authors further suggest that restrictions on advertising that targets youths may be allowed, and the continued status of marijuana as illegal under federal law may provide states with more regulatory flexibility (26). While outdoor advertising restrictions in Colorado and Washington offer examples of such regulatory flexibility, this latitude is likely state dependent. In Oregon, the limited restrictions on marijuana advertising may be a byproduct of the free speech guarantee in the state constitution, which is considered one of the nations strongest and is broader in scope than the First Amendment to the US Constitution (27). These barriers to advertising regulations and young peoples high exposure to advertising highlight the need for other elements of a comprehensive approach to youth marijuana use prevention, consistent with effective approaches for alcohol and tobacco use prevention. Comprehensive approaches include implementing price controls, developing licensing and zoning laws to restrict and monitor licenses and licensees, restricting public consumption, and designing countermarketing messages (28,29). Our results support the consideration of specific groups of youths (eg, female, LGB) for marijuana countermarketing. Further, complementary parent education campaigns may be warranted given that 8th and 11th graders in our study had higher reported exposure to advertising if someone in the home (eg, parents) used marijuana. For example, the Oregon Health Authority developed the Talk With Them/Habla Con Ellos education campaign to support parents and educators in conversations with youths about marijuana. Finally, youth marijuana use should not be addressed in isolation; a truly comprehensive approach should also include tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use prevention given the high prevalence of substance co-use among both youths and young adults in the United States (30,31). This study had several limitations. First, awareness of marijuana advertising may have been enhanced because this is a new and politically charged topic. Awareness and recollection may diminish over time as retail marijuana and associated advertising become normalized rather than actual changes occurring in the amount of advertising. Second, marijuana advertising questions were added to the youth survey in 2017, so we cannot assess how exposure changed with the opening of the retail market. Given survey space constraints, ad types assessed had to be prioritized and did not include all potential community exposures (eg, those on bus shelters, park benches, transit stations). Third, we used small-area population estimates to describe retail exposure as a population-weighted average by school district; some of Oregons school districts span large areas and exposure for individual youths could vary considerably by intradistrict location. Last, we found increased odds of marijuana ad exposure among youths who use marijuana; however, we cannot assert the direction of the association (ie, advertising exposure contributes to marijuana use or marijuana use primes youths to notice advertising). Longitudinal studies are needed to more fully understand this association. Most youths reported exposure to marijuana advertising in Oregons legal retail market, especially youths who are female, LGB, or in school districts with a close average proximity to retail marijuana stores. Different types of advertising may have different potential for regulation. While some sources of youth advertising exposure may be difficult to regulate and enforce (eg, online), others may be within the purview of state authority (eg, billboards, storefronts) depending on state-specific interpretation of free speech protections. States may consider this information both as justification for regulating advertising practices and for selecting specific youth demographic groups to target with prevention messages. Top Acknowledgments Research reported in this article was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under award no. 1R01DA039293, and by the Oregon Public Health Division. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. We thank Katrina Hedberg of the Oregon Public Health Division for her critical review of the article. Top Author Information Corresponding Author: Steven Fiala, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section, Oregon Public Health Division, 800 NE Oregon St, Ste 730, Portland, OR 97232. Telephone: 971-673-0984. Email: steven.c.fiala@state.or.us. Author Affiliations: 1Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section, Oregon Public Health Division, Portland, Oregon. 2Oregon Public Health Division and Multnomah County Health Department Program Design and Evaluation Services, Portland, Oregon. Top References Top Tables Table 1. Characteristics of Oregon Healthy Teens Survey Respondents, 2017 Characteristic 8th Graders 11th Graders Sample Sizea Unweighted % Sample Sizea Unweighted % Total 14,852 100.0 11,895 100.0 Gender Female 7,037 47.4 5,728 48.2 Male 6,971 46.9 5,430 45.6 Transgender 52 0.4 47 0.4 Nonbinary/gender nonconformingb 716 4.8 650 5.5 I do not know what this question is asking 76 0.5 40 0.3 Sexual orientation Straight 11,389 82.9 9,360 82.6 Lesbian or gay 199 1.5 238 2.1 Bisexual 830 6.0 868 7.7 Something else 551 4.0 449 4.0 Dont know/not sure 769 5.6 414 3.7 Race/ethnicity Non-Hispanic White 8,415 59.1 7,437 64.5 Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native 555 3.9 252 2.2 Non-Hispanic Asian 556 3.9 434 3.8 Non-Hispanic Black or African American 323 2.3 244 2.1 Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 136 1.0 104 0.9 Non-Hispanic multiple racesc 115 0.8 99 0.9 Non-Hispanic other race 491 3.5 274 2.4 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (any race) 3,651 25.6 2,684 23.3 Community settingd Urban 7,147 55.7 5,762 51.3 Rural 5,176 40.4 5,034 44.8 Frontier 501 3.9 448 4.0 Current marijuana use Yes 855 6.5 2,224 20.3 No 12,369 93.5 8,706 79.7 Adult lives in house who uses marijuana Yes 2,290 17.6 2,058 19.3 No 10,712 82.4 8,599 80.7 Number of retail stores in school district No stores 3,572 24.1 2,728 22.9 1 to 3 stores 4,534 30.5 4,382 36.8 4 stores 6,746 45.4 4,785 40.2 Average proximity to nearest retail marijuana storee >5.0 miles 3,395 22.9 2,633 22.1 1.0 to 5.0 miles 9,452 63.6 8,062 67.8 <1.0 mile 2,005 13.5 1,200 10.1 Table 2. Past-Month Exposure to Marijuana Advertising Among Youths by Source, Oregon Healthy Teens Survey, 2017 Exposurea 8th Graders 11th Graders n Weightedb % (95% CI) n Weightedb % (95% CI) Total 14,852 11,895 During the past 30 days, have you seen an advertisement for marijuana products or stores In a magazine or newspaper 2,291 17.9 (16.719.2) 2,259 21.4 (20.023.0) On a storefront 4,832 37.9 (35.140.8) 4,606 43.5 (41.146.0) Online on your cellphone, tablet, or computer through email, websites, or social media 4,787 37.2 (35.938.6) 5,207 49.5 (47.851.1) On a billboard 4,160 33.1 (29.736.8) 3,966 38.4 (36.240.8) On the sidewalk (like signs or people wearing or waving signs) 3,662 28.6 (26.430.9) 3,655 35.0 (33.037.1) Number of exposure sources No or unknown exposure 6,780 46.6 (43.849.4) 4,382 37.1 (34.739.5) 1 source of exposure 2,486 16.4 (15.417.5) 1,951 15.8 (14.816.9) 2 sources of exposure 2,134 13.9 (13.114.7) 1,951 16.1 (14.917.3) 3 sources of exposure 1,642 11.0 (10.112.1) 1,568 13.2 (12.314.2) 4 sources of exposure 998 6.5 (5.67.5) 1,079 9.4 (8.510.4) All 5 sources of exposure 812 5.6 (4.86.6) 964 8.4 (7.59.3) Table 3. Past-Month Exposure to Any Marijuana Advertisinga, By Demographics and Exposures, Oregon Healthy Teens Survey, 2017 Characteristic 8th Graders 11th Graders n Weighted % (95% CI) Pb aORc (95% CI) n Weighted % (95% CI) Pb aORc (95% CI) Overall 11,149 72.2 (69.874.4) NA 9,684 78.1 (76.379.7) NA Demographics Gender 11,105 100 NA 9,661 100 NA Male 5,170 68.1 (65.370.8) <.001 1 [Reference] 4,383 73.2 (70.875.4) <.001 1 [Reference] Female 5,370 75.2 (72.777.5) 1.38 (1.231.55) 4,738 82.1 (80.283.7) 1.62 (1.461.80) Nonbinary/gender nonconforming 565 80.1 (74.484.7) 1.31 (0.891.95) 540 82.6 (78.086.4) 1.26 (0.891.78) Sexual orientation 10,984 100 NA 9,598 100 NA Straight 9,098 70.5 (68.472.6) <.001 1 [Reference] 7,934 77.1 (75.279.0) <.001 1 [Reference] Lesbian, gay, or bisexual 1,886 80.4 (76.883.5) 1.56 (1.271.93) 1,664 82.6 (80.384.7) 1.26 (1.021.54) Race/ethnicity 10,770 100 NA 9,429 100 NA Non-Hispanic White 6,596 73.5 (70.976.0) .03 1 [Reference] 6,240 80.7 (79.382.1) <.001 1 [Reference] Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native 406 71.9 (67.576.0) 0.96 (0.701.33) 192 75.4 (65.982.9) 0.84 (0.501.41) Non-Hispanic Asian 438 72.0 (63.279.4) 0.77 (0.551.08) 353 71.4 (65.776.5) 0.47 (0.360.62) Non-Hispanic Black or African American 223 74.3 (65.581.5) 0.90 (0.651.26) 187 79.6 (71.186.1) 0.86 (0.531.40) Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 97 79.9 (66.289.0) 0.94 (0.471.91) 82 77.7 (61.988.2) 0.84 (0.361.94) Non-Hispanic multiple or other racesd 437 73.3 (68.677.6) 0.81 (0.641.03) 285 77.5 (70.982.9) 0.69 (0.480.99) Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (any race) 2,573 68.6 (65.971.3) 0.81 (0.710.92) 2,090 71.5 (67.375.4) 0.59 (0.490.71) Community settinge 9,902 100 NA 9,247 100 NA Urban 5,500 75.9 (72.878.8) <.001 1 [Reference] 4,729 81.1 (78.983.1) <.001 1 [Reference] Rural 4,070 70.4 (67.673.1) 0.92 (0.781.09) 4,156 75.6 (72.978.1) 0.83 (0.691.01) Frontier 332 53.6 (43.963.0) 0.52 (0.350.78) 362 64.6 (60.668.4) 0.60 (0.440.82) Marijuana Use and Exposure in the Home Current marijuana use (past 30 days) 11,048 100 NA 9,629 100 NA No 10,301 71.2 (68.873.4) <.001 1 [Reference] 7,616 76.5 (74.578.4) <.001 1 [Reference] Yes 747 84.1 (80.387.3) 1.57 (1.241.98) 2,013 83.5 (80.785.9) 1.53 (1.241.90) Lives with adult who uses marijuana 10,939 100 NA 9,406 100 NA No 8,926 69.6 (67.271.9) <.001 1 [Reference] 7,536 76.9 (74.878.8) <.001 1 [Reference] Yes 2,013 82.8 (80.185.2) 1.85 (1.572.19) 1,870 83.1 (80.585.4) 1.21 (0.991.48) Retail Marijuana Store Exposure Number of retail stores in school districtf No stores 2,598 65.8 (61.869.6) <.001 NA 2,200 71.4 (66.775.7) <.001 NA 1 to 3 stores 3,444 69.0 (66.871.2) 3,473 78.2 (75.380.9) 4 stores 5,107 78.7 (75.181.9) 4,011 82.2 (80.084.2) Average proximity to nearest retail marijuana storeg >5.0 miles 2,462 66.3 (62.170.3) <.001 1 [Reference] 2,111 71.9 (67.376.0) <.001 1 [Reference] 1.0 to 5.0 miles 7,178 71.1 (69.572.7) 1.16 (0.911.48) 6,607 78.4 (76.680.1) 1.26 (0.991.60) <1.0 mile 1,509 85.2 (79.089.8) 2.46 (1.434.23) 966 86.7 (83.589.3) 2.56 (1.593.21) Top (Natural News) The verdict in the Breonna Taylor case is in, and it is not what Black Lives Matter (BLM) wanted to hear. Only one of the three police officers involved in the fatal shooting was indicted, we have learned, and the charge is first-degree wanton endangerment not enough, apparently, for the BLM mob. Consequently, the riots have begun as they were expected to, as evidenced by much of the city of Louisville being boarded up, barricaded and placed into a state of emergency nearly a full day prior to the announcement. Photos of a boarded-up Target store located about 20 minutes outside of Louisville in the suburbs has been circulating on social media, along with pictures of Taylor shrines, montages and other memorials that were set up around the city in her honor. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer had announced previously that the city was planning for the potential of large gatherings, which is exactly what is now occurring as roving mobs of angry protesters are reportedly taking to the streets, despite a city-wide curfew. One clip from earlier in the day shows protesters illegally blocking traffic while screaming from a megaphone, aint nobody going anywhere today! Another one shows a man nearly pulling a gun after getting into a fistfight in the middle of a downtown Louisville street, right in front of a boarded-up high rise building. Because the aforementioned officer, Brett Hankison, was the only one charged, and with a $15,000 bond the other two officers are not being charged because they were found to be justified in their use of force BLM is livid and thirsty for blood. National Guard and FBI now in Louisville to provide law enforcement backup Earlier in the day, reports emerged that BLM protesters were intimidating business owners, as well as harassing people on the street for filming the action. Since that time, things have escalated with business windows being smashed and business owners being assaulted. The National Guard has been deployed to Louisville, along with Kentucky State Police (KSP), with authorization to engage in specific missions in support of local law enforcement, but at all times will be under KSP command. More videos have emerged of bus station shelters smashed and destroyed, along with fires that were lit in Jefferson Square Park. The FBI has also reportedly showed up to Louisville to aid in the law enforcement response to the escalating riots. As the night grows darker, BLMs actions are growing more violent. Law enforcement was seen with weapons drawn as rioters, reports indicate, are now shooting at police officers. As of this writing, at least two Louisville Metro Police officers have been shot by protesters, both with non-life-threatening injuries, Interim LMPD chief Robert Schroeder confirmed to the media. The one officer was shot in the abdomen below his bulletproof vest and is currently undergoing surgery. The other was shot in the thigh, according to someone with knowledge of the situation. Max Gersh, a photographer who works for The Courier Journal, a local news outlet, reported that he saw a line of officers move toward a gas station with rifles up. Shortly after, they had somebody pinned to the ground and cuffed. Gersh did not see the actual shooting. Look at all of the cities that are a short driving distance to Louisville, warned one Zero Hedge commenter about how the chaos and violence could easily spread to nearby cities. This one might be bad. To keep up with the latest news about the chaos rising from the ashes of the Breonna Taylor verdict, be sure to check out CivilWar.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com Twitter.com Twitter.com Twitter.com Courier-Journal.com Ashley Graham strutted her stuff down the runway at the Etro show during Milan Fashion Week this Thursday. The 32-year-old supermodel was the image of Old Hollywood glamour in a plunging navy frock that billowed around her as she hit the catwalk. Her latest runway comes one day after she ended her maternity leave with a smoldering fashion show appearance for Fendi. Making it happen: Ashley Graham strutted her stuff down the runway at the Etro show during Milan Fashion Week this Thursday At the Etro show she accentuated her figure with a belt cinched around her waist, featuring a massive buckle that gleamed under the lights. Accentuating her unmistakable features with makeup, she let her luxurious dark hair flutter free as she turned up the heat in the fashion capital. Ashley pulled her best supermodel smoldering stare as she worked her magic while making her way down the catwalk. The front row included Olivia Palermo, who could be spotted posing up alongside her husband of six years Johannes Huebl. Mover and shaker: The 32-year-old supermodel was the image of Old Hollywood glamour in a plunging navy frock that billowed around her as she hit the catwalk Looking fab: At the Etro show she accentuated her figure with a belt cinched around her waist, featuring a massive buckle that gleamed under the lights On the go: Accentuating her unmistakable features with makeup, she let her luxurious dark hair flutter free as she turned up the heat in the fashion capital Glamour: Ashley pulled her best supermodel smoldering stare as she worked her magic while making her way down the catwalk Gorgeous: Ashley was joined by fellow model Taylor Hill on the lavish catwalk, with the beauty dressed in a chic all-white ensemble Looking good: She sported the all-white look with a nude trench coat and oversized bucket bag as she strutted down the runway Keeping safe: Earlier Taylor was seen getting her temperature checked as she arrived to appear on the runway Looking good: Later Taylor was seen exiting the runway show in a plunging pale blue pinstriped shirt and boyfriend jeans, with her mask close to hand Turning heads: Taylor flashed a hint of her bra in the revealing pinstripe top Fashionista: The model gave a wave to the camera as she left the show She's got style: She teamed the look with a cross-body bag and black pumps Stepping out: That day Ashley was glimpsed emerging from hotel while modeling a fashion forward ensemble that included a khaki raincoat blouse The look: She teamed the blouse with a pair of matching trousers, balancing expertly on a pair of sky-high heels and carrying a nude handbag Olivia slipped into a flowing white collared blouse that fell to mid-thigh, throwing on a blouse with an intricate print reminiscent of eastern design. The New York City native emphasized her trim legs with a pair of fitted jeans that were fashionably frayed along the cut-off hems. Sweeping her hair back into a stylish updo, she sharpened her features with makeup and wore a cherry red shade of nail polish. Meanwhile her dashing husband, who hails from Germany and rose to fame as a model, wore a snappy coat with an autumnal print. Off she goes: Ashley added an extra dash of personality to the outfit with a pair of wide-rimmed tortoiseshell sunglasses before stepping out to pound the pavement Safety first: Ashley could be seen having her temperature checked before she entered a building Chitchat: She could also be seen conversing with a gentleman in a suit as she emerged from the gleaming black SUV that took her around town Perky: Ashley seemed the image of good cheer as she pounded the pavement in Milan Last detail: The bottom three buttons of her blouse were left undone Subtlety: She went for a minimalist look where makeup was concerned Glamour: The front row included Olivia Palermo, who could be spotted posing up alongside her husband of six years Johannes Huebl Aglow: Olivia slipped into a flowing white collared blouse that fell to mid-thigh, throwing on a blouse with an intricate print reminiscent of eastern design Sensation: The New York City native emphasized her trim legs with a pair of fitted jeans that were fashionably frayed along the cut-off hems Details: Sweeping her hair back into a stylish updo, she sharpened her features with makeup and wore a cherry red shade of nail polish Meanwhile: Her dashing husband, who hails from Germany and rose to fame as a model, wore a snappy coat with an autumnal print He elegantly clashed his dark jacket against a white T-shirt but complemented it with a pair of midnight blue jeans and black shoes. The celebrity attendees of the Etro fashion show also included Caroline 'Caro' Daur, a model who is originally from Hamburg. That day Ashley was glimpsed emerging from hotel while modeling a fashion forward ensemble that included a khaki raincoat blouse. She teamed the blouse with a pair of matching trousers, balancing expertly on a pair of sky-high heels and carrying a nude handbag. Heartthrob: He elegantly clashed his dark jacket against a white T-shirt but complemented it with a pair of midnight blue jeans and black shoes Ashley added an extra dash of personality to the outfit with a pair of wide-rimmed tortoiseshell sunglasses before stepping out to pound the pavement. The previous day she looked stunning in a white crop top and tracksuit bottoms as she marked the end of her maternity leave in the Lombard capital. Ashley and her husband of 10 years, Justin Ervin, welcomed their son, Isaac, in February and she is back to work as of this week. Looking fab: The celebrity attendees of the Etro fashion show also included Caroline 'Caro' Daur, a model who is originally from Hamburg The stunner showed off a hint of her stomach in the crop top as she sashayed down the street while donning dark trousers. The stylish top was made out of a fluffy material which added a trendy dimension. The neck was fastened with a gold detail which gave a touch of pure glamour to the ensemble while the white helped highlight her tan. Ashley's sun-kissed complexion was emphaised by her glowing, make-up free look while her hair was pulled away from her stunning face. Outfit: Just one day before, she hit the runway for Fendi amid Milan Fashion Week She rounded out the look with a pair of designer white trainers. Ashley recently spoke to Marie Claire on celebrating her stretchmarks after her pregnancy, defiantly declaring 'we're all superheroes' when talking about mothers. 'When I got pregnant, I had to re-imagine my relationship with my body with this creature inside me taking over. I was gaining weight so rapidly... Family time: Ashley and her husband of 10 years, Justin Ervin, welcomed their son, Isaac, in February and she is back to work as of now 'Then, to get stretch marks on my stomach, that to me was like, 'Oh my gosh. I cant believe this happened,' Ashley told Marie Claire. 'At first it felt devastating, and then when I met Isaac, I said, 'No, this is exactly what every woman has talked about for ages. 'This is not just a battle wound. This is something that has changed my life forever, and I'm going to celebrate my new body.'' Stunner: Ashley recently spoke to Marie Claire on celebrating her stretchmarks after her pregnancy, defiantly declaring 'we're all superheroes' when talking about mothers Beauty: Palermo was seen in a designer coat and white top at the Etro show Beaming: The New York native rounded out her ensemble with jeans and pink heels Kangana Ranaut became emotional after the Bombay High Court pulled up the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over her partly demolished house being left like that during monsoon. While hearing Kangana's plea against the demolition of her Mumbai property by the BMC, the Court further reprimanded the civic body, when BMC officer Bhagyavant Late, who carried out the demolition on September 9, said that they needed more time to file an affidavit. An emotional Kangana took to her Twitter page and wrote that the HC's comment to the BMC on her plea brought tears to her eyes. Kangana Ranaut Tears Up The Queen actress told to her Twitter page and wrote, "Honourable Justice HC, this brought tears to my eyes, in the lashing rains of Mumbai my house is indeed falling apart, you thought about my broken house with so much compassion and concern means a lot to me, my heart is healed thank you for giving me back all that I had lost." 'We Cannot Leave Kangana's Demolished House The Way It Is,' Bombay HC To BMC During the hearing, Justices S J Kathawalla and R I Chagla observed, "We cannot leave the demolished house the way it is. You need more time here but otherwise you are fast. The building is demolished partly, and in the heavy monsoon, we cannot leave it in this state. We will start hearing the petitioner tomorrow." The Bombay High Court Pulls Up BMC The Bombay High Court directed Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut to file his reply to Kangana's plea against the demolition of her property by the BMC. To this, Raut's counsel Pradeep Thorat said that the politician is currently in New Delhi, and asked for more time to file the reply. However, when BMC's senior counsel Anil Sakhre also sought more time to file the reply on Late's behalf, the bench directed the civic body to file the reply by Monday, saying that it couldn't delay the hearing. Kangana, in her plea filed on September 9, had sought that the demolition carried out by the BMC at her Pali Hill property be declared illegal. Later, she had amended her plea to demand Rs 2 crore as compensation from the civic body. She had also alleged that the BMC had demolished her property out of personal vendetta, as she had made some comments adverse to the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government. ALSO READ: Madhoo On Jaya Bachchan-Kangana Ranaut's Spat: It Depends On The Colour Of The Glass You're Wearing ALSO READ: Kangana Ranaut: I Am Arguably The Most Successful Actress Today; Know The Consequences Of My Actions Hours after the release on Wednesday of a Republican inquiry into corruption allegations regarding Hunter Biden, which found no evidence of wrongdoing, his daughter Naomi posted a series of heartfelt messages on Twitter attempting to show a more personal side of her father. Though the whole world knows his name, no one knows who he is, Ms. Biden, 26, said, introducing a number of tweets she described as free of charge to the taxpayers and free of the corrosive influence of power-at-all-costs politics. Hunter Biden, the younger son of Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic presidential nominee, received scrutiny for his work for Burisma Holdings, a corrupt Ukrainian energy company. Mr. Biden held a position on the board of the company while his father, then the vice president, was directing American policy toward Ukraine. The younger Mr. Bidens work gave the appearance of a conflict of interest and alarmed some in the State Department. But the investigation by Senate Republicans found no evidence of improper influence or wrongdoing by the former vice president. The first presidential debate between Republican nominee incumbent Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden is Tuesday. And now we know what topics they will be debating. The debate will be held Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. The format for the first debate will be six 15-minute time segments dedicated to different topics. The topics were selected by Chris Wallace, moderator of the first 2020 presidential debate and host of Fox News Sunday. The presidential debate topics will be: The Trump and Biden records The Supreme Court Covid-19 The economy Race and violence in our cities The integrity of the election The debates start at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) and will run for 90 minutes without commercial interruptions. Every major network and most cable channels will carry the debate. The debate is one of three planned for the presidential candidates with one more for vice presidential candidates Mike Pence and Kamala Harris. The second presidential debate is set for Oct. 15 in Miami. The third presidential debate is Oct. 22 in Nashville. The U.S. election is set for Nov. 3. I believe the purpose of the employment question is to help the government ferret out money from businesses that is being illegally funneled to candidates. ActBlue states that many of its contributions are in the amount of $100 or less. I can believe it. As a retired person, I have been making contributions to a fair number of candidates, because of my concerns about the challenges this country is facing now and in the future. I would suggest that the unemployed donors to ActBlue are really a large number of retired people, like me, who are willing to part with their money to help elect leaders who will restore the dignity, promise and integrity of our nation. The horrifying cost of Boris Johnsons six-month Covid clampdown was dramatically laid bare last night. Business chiefs and hospitality groups issued a string of dire warnings over the impact of the restrictions, saying millions of jobs were now on the line. They said the Prime Ministers U-turn on his get back to work message could spell doom for struggling high streets, with footfall plummeting and shops boarded up. In a passionate intervention, a prominent entrepreneur said the prosperity of the nation was at stake. In a passionate intervention to Boris Johnsons six-month Covid clampdown, Julian Metcalfe, who founded Pret A Manger and Itsu, says the prosperity of the nation is now at stake A woman wears a face masks as she stops to buy some food at a branch of Pret A Manger in Chelsea, London Julian Metcalfe, who founded Pret A Manger and Itsu, said: The repercussions of this six months are going to be devastating to so many, to local councils, to industry, to people all over our country. We have not begun to touch the seriousness of this. This talk of six months is criminal. Despite ballooning national debt, Rishi Sunak is preparing a multi-billion-pound winter economy plan to try to protect jobs. The Chancellor signalled the true extent of the crisis by cancelling plans for a full-scale Budget in November. Sources said he accepted the country could no longer make long-term financial decisions. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality (left) and Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (right) Despite ballooning national debt, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is preparing a multi-billion-pound winter economy plan to try to protect jobs As the Archbishops of Canterbury and York warned of the economic costs of Covid: Hospitality groups said a quarter of pubs and restaurants could go bust this year; HMRC and Goldman Sachs were among employers abandoning their drives to get people back to the office; Pictures showed high streets boarded up as shops reacted to the clampdown; The travel industry faced fresh despair when Downing Street warned of the risk of booking half-term holidays; Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza are keeping two thirds of outlets shut; A major study warned countless patients were living with worsening heart disease, diabetes and mental health because of the lockdown; MPs demanded extra help for theatre and music venues; No 10 said a ban on household visits could be extended across large swathes of England; A mobile tracing app is finally being rolled out today four months late; Matt Hancocks target for half a million virus tests a day by the end of next month was under threat from equipment shortages; Scientific advisers suggested that students could be told to remain on campus over Christmas. In a dramatic television address to the nation on Tuesday, Mr Johnson announced he was abruptly dropping his call made repeatedly since the end of lockdown for workers to return to the office. He also told pubs and restaurants to shut their doors at 10pm, and doubled fines for not wearing a mask or failing to obey the rule of six. He indicated the measures were likely to last for six months at least. Mr Metcalfe led the backlash against the curbs on BBC Radio 4s World at One, saying he did not know whether Itsu could survive the measures. 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 on September 1 He added: People who work in hotels, restaurants, takeaways and in coffee shops are devastated. A great many are closing down were losing thousands upon thousands of jobs. 'How long can this continue, this vague work from home, dont go on public transport? The ramifications of this are just enormous. Mr Metcalfe accused the Prime Minister of sitting down with his Union Jack talking utter nonsense. He said: To turn to an entire nation and say stay at home for six months, and to spout off Churchillian nonsense about well make it through its terribly unhelpful. It should be we will review the situation each week, each hour. Tory MP Desmond Swayne said the Government had made the wrong call, adding: I am concerned the cure could be worse than the disease. Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, warned the clampdown could see the closure of many pubs. Pub-goers and publicans alike want to stop the spread of Covid, but this curfew is an arbitrary restriction that unfairly targets the hospitality sector and will have a devastating impact on pubs, jobs and communities, he added. Rob Pitcher of Revolution Bars said: Its beyond belief that they have brought in the 10pm curfew with no evidence to back it up. Fashion mogul Sir Paul Smith warned the pandemic was proving devastating to his and other industries. A former head of the civil service will today say Mr Johnsons government has proved incapable of combating Covid. Lord ODonnell, a crossbench peer, will say in a lecture that ministers did not use adequate data and deferred too much to medical science at the expense of behavioural and economic experts. He will also allege there has been a lack of strong leadership and clear strategy. A Wagga Wagga businessman has told a corruption inquiry he accepted a $30,000 kickback to employ Chinese nationals who never actually worked for him under a cash for visas scheme linked to former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire. Angus McLaren said the "pretty good deal" was pitched to him by investment consultant Maggie Wang and he only realised he was involved in a scam when employees didn't show and he started receiving envelopes full of cash. "At that stage I thought we had already crossed the rubicon and what do you do?," Mr McLaren said on day four of an inquiry by the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Ms Wang is an associate of Mr Maguire who ran an immigration service offered by G8wayinternational Pty Ltd, of which the former MP was a silent director. (Newser) The nation's top infectious diseases expert clashed with the Senate's top ophthalmologist in a testy congressional hearing Wednesday. The Hill reports that an irritated Dr. Anthony Fauci "scolded" Sen. Rand Paul after the Kentucky senator slammed the "nanny state" and argued that New York's high coronavirus death toll shows that lockdowns and other measures are ineffectiveand that "herd immunity" could explain why coronavirus cases aren't rising in the state. "No, you've misconstrued that, senator, and you've done that repeatedly in the past," Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Paul at the Senate Health Committee hearing. story continues below Fauci said that while New York was "hit very badly" early on and Gov. Andrew Cuomo made some mistakes, "if you look at whats 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." Fauci also rejected Paul's claim that herd immunity could have been achieved in the state, the Washington Post reports. He said that the CDC estimates around 22% of people in the state have had the virus. Experts believe 70% or greater is needed for herd immunity. "If you believe 22% is herd immunity, I believe youre alone in that, Fauci said. (Read more Anthony Fauci stories.) The Zayed Sustainability Prize has announced that solar-powered lighting solutions developed by one of its previous winners have been installed in the Egyptian village of Habisha, in the Asyut Governorate as the latest deployment from the UAE-driven humanitarian initiative, 20by2020. With an aim to improve standards of living and create a host of new prospects for residents of the community, more than 50 high-performance energy-efficient LED lights have been fixed on the main street of the village which are expected to benefit over 3,500 people daily. The deployment in Egypt was organised by 20by2020, a UAE humanitarian initiative led by the Zayed Sustainability Prize in partnership with Abu Dhabi Global Market, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Mubadala Petroleum, the UAEs Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, Masdar and Majid Al Futtaim. The new solar lights which were developed by Sunna Design, a France-based SME that won the Zayed Sustainability Prize in 2018 under the Energy category, are expected to positively impact the residents in various ways; allowing them to work, socialise and feel secure after dark while protecting the progress being made in the global fight against climate change. Commenting on the installation in Egypt, H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, said: Our strong and distinguished relationship with Egypt is built on the firm foundations laid by the UAEs founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed, which continues to grow and prosper in line with the UAE leaderships directives to achieve the mutual interests of our two close countries and people. This latest deployment is part of the Zayed Sustainability Prizes efforts to further complement the late Sheikh Zayeds enduring humanitarian legacy as the initiative contributes to the transformation of lives in Habisha village through a solar lighting solution which will bring long-term economic, social and educational benefits. H.E. Al Jaber added: We are fortunate to have such strong support from our partners, Abu Dhabi Global Market, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Mubadala Petroleum, Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, Masdar and Majid Al Futtaim, with whom we share Sheikh Zayeds humanitarian vision, and we value the cooperation of Egypts Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy in implementing this initiative. The lights were installed on the main street in the heart of the village, which has houses on both sides, and serves as the only entry and exit route for the whole community. Essential shops in the area, such as the local supermarket, have already begun reaping the commercial benefits of greater illumination. The new lights allow longer opening hours with customers who frequent them now able to enjoy greater personal security after dark. Furthermore, children now can feel safe when travelling home in the evenings, allowing the youth to use the time to study later, leading to longer term educational benefits. Similarly, with no playground in the village, the children can now entertain themselves and each other in the street, which is significantly less dangerous thanks to the sustainable lighting. The social benefits are also true of adults in the village with more time for community interactions, made possible by the lights. H.E Dr. Mohamed Shaker, Egypts Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy stated: The 20by2020 initiative in the Asyut Governorate supports Egypts strategy of deploying cost-efficient renewable energy sources that take environmental protection into account while supporting villages and cities electrification needs, in both urban areas and remote communities of the country. H.E Dr. Shaker added, I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the 20by2020 initiative, its strategic partners and the UAEs leadership, as we believe that such efforts further complement our close relationship and Egypts robust plans to optimise services and effectively reach all segments of society through value-added sustainable solutions that make a difference in peoples quality of life. At the end of Ramadan, the 20by2020 initiative completed a similar installation outside of Prince Hamzah Hospital in Amman, Jordan for the benefit of the hospitals healthcare workers and frontline staff who were treating the largest number of COVID-19 patients in the country. As part of the initiatives first phase, a total of five deployments have been rolled out to date, including energy, health and food-related solutions in Jordan, Nepal, Tanzania, and Uganda. 20by2020 also plans to deploy solutions to another 15 countries, with the scheduling dependent on individual country-specific conditions in light of the global pandemic. Upcoming technology deployments include water and energy-related projects in Cambodia, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Indonesia, and Costa Rica. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Courtesy of Ohana FestivalThe Ohana festival will be hosting an online stream this weekend in lieu of its usual in-person event, which was canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two-day virtual show will feature archival sets by various artists from previous Ohana events, incuding the festival's founder Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. You can watch it for free starting this Saturday, September 26, at 8 p.m. ET via the Ohana YouTube channel. Among the other artists that will be featured delivering archival performances are Social Distortion, Incubus, The Strokes and Mudhoney. In addition, the streaming event will offer a number of new performances, including one by Deaf Charlie -- a group featuring Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament and Fitz & the Tantrums drummer John Wicks. Ohana hopes to return in person to its usual site of Dana Point, California, in September 2021 with a lineup headlined by Vedder, Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon. By Josh Johnson Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. A massive fire broke out at an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) plant in Gujarats Surat in the early hours on Thursday after explosions were heard at the site. Fire tenders have been rushed to the spot. No casualties have been reported so far. The cause of the blaze has not yet been ascertained. Around 3 am, three consecutive blasts took place at ONGC Hazira Plant which led to the fire. Firefighters present at the spot. No casualty reported so far," Dr Dhaval Patel, Surats Collector was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Patel added that the activity of depressurizing the pressurized gas system is underway by ONGC officials. ONGC released a statement saying that the blaze has been brought under control. A fire was observed in the Hazira Gas processing plant in the morning today. Fire has been brought under control. There is no casualty or injury to any person," it said in a tweet. RELATED NEWS Several CNG Stations Shut in Mumbai After Fire at ONGC Plant Hits Supply A fire was observed in the Hazira Gas processing plant in the morning today. Fire has been brought under control. There is no casualty or injury to any person. ONGC (@ONGC_) September 24, 2020 In a separate statement, ONGC said that the fire at Hazira Plant has been completely extinguished while adding that efforts are being made to resume normal operations. ONGC has a fire system of its own but fire tenders from Surat and adjoining areas have also been dispatched. Plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from a distance. The gas is transported from Mumbai offshore through a pipeline to ONGCs Surat plant, where the refining process takes place. Then, through the HVJ pipeline (Hazira Vijaypur, Jagdishpur), it is transported to different industries as well as for domestic use in six states of the country. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the BJP is looking to fill the Opposition slot and not aspire to occupy pole position -- yet. Radhika Ramaseshan reports. IMAGE: BJP workers stage a dharna against the TRS scheme over Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) in Hyderabad. Photograph: PTI Photo The appointment of new presidents to lead the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana units of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would have passed off as a procedural, state-related exercise by J P Nadda, the party chief, had the changes not been invested with political significance that enthused the local cadre. Bandi Sanjay Kumar and Somu Veerraju will helm the BJP's Telangana and Andhra Pradesh units, respectively. Andhra Pradesh is practically untouched terrain for the BJP. But the impressive showing in the 2019 Lok Sabha election in Telangana fired up the local cadre to work and propel the BJP to a position from where it can usurp the Opposition space from the Congress by the next assembly polls. From one in 2014, the BJP picked up four of Telangana's 17 Lok Sabha seats and secured a vote percentage of 19.45 -- the highest in 20 years. In contrast, a year earlier, in the assembly election, the BJP opened its account with just a seat in the 119-member assembly and a 7.1 per cent vote share. The BJP drew a blank in Andhra Pradesh in both Lok Sabha and assembly elections. The failure to breach the state -- that has 25 Lok Sabha and 175 assembly constituencies -- compelled the BJP to seek the Jana Sena Party (JSP)'s hand in January this year after a three-year estrangement. Veerraju's importance largely drew from the perception that he was 'staunchly' opposed to the Telugu Desam Party, the BJP's periodic ally since 1999. "The TDP stalled our growth. Our earlier state presidents were its handpicked nominees," alleged an Andhra functionary, blaming central leaders for the dalliances. A national office-bearer added N Chandrababu Naidu, former CM and TDP president, was a 'master in sabotaging another party'. "Now that he has lost his credibility for encouraging dynastic politics, the Opposition space is open for us," he claimed. Net-net, in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the BJP is looking to fill the Opposition slot and not aspire to occupy pole position. In aiming to settle legacy scores with the TDP, sources said the BJP must not be seen warming up to Andhra Pradesh's ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party, headed by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy -- the chief minister. "It's a tightrope walk," said a top BJP source. "Jagan is attacking Naidu for corruption, so we can't oppose him on that. Jagan's alleged corruption and misconduct are also there but in the present circumstances, these are secondary in our political scheme." That this assessment was not uniformly shared came through when a BJP Rajya Sabha MP said: "As an Opposition, we have to perform our role and that means attacking the YSRCP dispensation and not the TDP." The BJP's central command certainly wouldn't endorse such a view because typically, in the small pool states, it wallows in intra-and-cross-party politics, Tamil Nadu being an illustration, instead of building its strength. It succumbed to the temptation in Andhra Pradesh when it sensed there were internal fissures in the YSRCP after K R Krishnam Raju, Narsapuram MP, assailed Jagan for being 'inaccessible' and introducing English as a compulsory language in primary schools. Raju surprised his party colleagues when in January, he hosted a dinner for the BJP's central ministers and brass. The Lok Sabha speaker appointed Raju chairperson of Parliament's subordinate legislation committee. The YSRCP served a show-cause notice for 'anti-party activity' and petitioned the Speaker to disqualify him as a member. Raju's BJP cheerleaders ruled out his disqualification, contending he had not criticised Jagan. "Jagan is close to the Centre. If there's an offer, he will join the NDA (National Democratic Alliance)," a BJP source said. Where does the Jagan quandary leave the BJP? Sunil Deodhar, the BJP's national secretary who's the co-in charge of Andhra, said: "We are neither with the TDP nor the YSRCP. We and the JSP will fight together. "The TDP tries to shoot at Jagan from our shoulders, and vice versa. We will use our shoulders to perform the last rites of these parties." The tie-up with actor Pawan Kalyan's JSP was dubbed a 'lemon' by Andhra BJP leaders. "We are depending on a person whose party won only one seat (in the state polls). He brokered the latest alliance with us through a Karnataka MP and a general secretary. "We were not taken into confidence," said an Andhra office-bearer. Moreover, the Kapu caste to which Kalyan belongs is said to be 'notoriously unreliable'. In Telangana, the BJP is aware that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and K Chandrasekhar Rao's overwhelming dominance in state politics is hard to crack. The BJP's chief state spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao said: "When a regional party with a regional face rules the roost, it's hard for national parties to raise national fervour. "We have to craft an agenda that relates to the emotions, aspirations and sentiment of the region." Mara Liasson and Jonah Goldberg. Perhaps the most notable aspect of the eventwhich brought together a conservative pundit and a reporter from National Public Radio (NPR)is that they found little to disagree on. They both said they felt the race has been remarkably stable, with President Trump's base of 40 percent or so of the electorate remaining unmoved by changing events or Trump's norm-breaking behaviors. But while it's unmovable, it is also hard to expanda problem for the President, they noted. They also agreed that there was no obvious reason to think Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death and the fight to replace her would radically change the race. Though Liasson did acknowledge the possibility that it would allow Trump to shift the public's focus to the courts and away from COVID-19, the faltering economy, and racial unrestsomething he is desperate to do. And Liasson said Ginsburg's death could mobilize young women to vote, while Goldberg mentioned the possibility that some conservatives might be less eager to reelect Trump once their dream of a conservative-majority Supreme Court had been achieved (assuming Trumps nominee is confirmed before the election). Goldberg also noted that talk of before the election and election day are misleading this year, since voters in many statesincluding Trump himselfhave already begun mailing in ballots. Liasson and Goldberg weighed in on the reelection campaign of Senator Susan Collins in Maine, who trails in the polls. As with the presidential bid, they saw no benefit for her in the coming tussle over the Supreme Court. More broadly, they both felt that Collins has struggled in recent years to seem relevant or effective in a Congress that has become both partisan and passive, repeatedly deferring to the President and the courts regarding major issues of the day. Elaborating on that point, the two asserted that the future of a thriving American democracy depends on Congress taking up its responsibilities by making laws and establishing policyand then being held accountable to the outcomes. This is something our legislators have been reluctant to do for too long, they argued. They suggested that eliminating the Senate filibuster rule, a controversial idea that has been recently discussed, might allow Congress to pass more legislation and be held responsible for policy decisions. But the speakers did not agree on everything. Liasson noted that, if the electoral college system continues to allow presidents to be elected while losing the popular vote, the result could be a crisis of legitimacy. Goldberg defended the electoral college, and said he thought the pattern of recent elections could and should require political adjustments by the Democrats. Below are a few notable quotes from the wide-ranging discussion. (These have been lightly edited for brevity's sake.) On the Republican Party coalition: Liasson: "The Republican Party has ceased to be a coalition party. And politics in America is most stable and productive when both parties are coalitions. The coalition that used to be the Republican Party coalition was dealt a mortal blow in 2018, when the connection among white, rural, and non-college-educated voters, suburban voters, and evangelicals was broken." On negative partisanship: Goldberg: "The person who is going to galvanize Biden's base is Donald Trump. Negative partisanship or negative polarization is the defining feature of our politics these days. Negative polarization is the idea that there are millions of Republicans who vote Republican because they hate Democrats, and millions of Democrats who vote Democratic because they hate Republicans. Strict partisans actually don't like their own parties that muchthey just hate the other party more." On Trump's campaign strategy: Liasson: "Donald Trump believes in the politics of division, not addition. His strategy has been described as a strategy of death: to dig down deeper and find more people who look exactly like his base voterswhite non-college-educated and evangelicals who didn't vote in 2016and try to get them to turn out." Goldberg: There are enormous numbers of non-voters out there who are white and non-college-educated, and if you can scoop deeper into that reserve army of voters who don't show up in polls or don't show up in most models of the electoratethat enthusiasm factor could be an advantage for Trump. It just depends where they are, in what states, and whether the Trump campaign can get them to the polls." Liasson: "They happen to live in places that matterWisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvaniaand they happen to be 57 to 60 percent of the electorate there. That is how Trump got elected in the first place. This time we're led to believe that Trump has sophisticated data-mining tools to go find them. They do live in the same conservative media ecosphere, so he should be able to find them, but polls don't indicate that he is." On how Trump could win: Liasson: "He will have convinced people the pandemic is in the rearview mirror, and that he's the best guy to pick up the economy right where he left off. That Biden is weak and a Trojan horse for the left. Plus, it's hard to defeat an incumbent. And it would prove that a lot of the polls are simply wrong." Goldberg: "I think that the other part of it is that a lot of people have priced in Donald Trump's behavior and the reality-show-ness of it. It's like a soap opera where you hate some of the characters, but you love to hate them....You can see a lot of voters saying 'this is the new normal and I kind of think it's funny.' That's a terrifying possibility, but it is part of Trump's advantage that we no longer freak out that he tweets like an escaped monkey from a cocaine study. That has steeped into the culture a great deal, and that reality-show feel could get him reelected." On the electoral college: Liasson: "The debate on minority rule is huge and will get huger. It's about the president who hasn't got the popular vote, it's about fifty-three senators representing fewer than fifty percent of the population (most of which is white). That is a big debate we will have for years....There is a limit to how often we can have an electoral college split from the popular vote." Goldberg: "The electoral college is not rigged against Democrats. I'm a defender of the electoral college. The phrase you hear a lot is that it is rigged and national gerrymandering. First of all, Barack Obama won the electoral college handily, twice. People talk about it being a long-standing trend of locking out urban and minority voters....But, as recently as 2016, most Democracts were boasting about their blue wall in the electoral college and how it almost guaranteed them victory in presidential races. The second it worked against them, they talked about how it was this anachronistic vestige to uphold slavery. It's a very weird thing to say that this pro-slavery mechanism was something you were bragging about three years ago." Congress and strong democratic institutions: Goldberg: "The big-picture problem with the legislative branch is that our Founding Fathers never imagined that it would not be a jealous guardian of its rights, responsibilities, and prerogatives. And for close to seventy years, Congresswhich is the first branch, the supreme branchit writes laws, raises taxes, declares war, and fires members of other brancheshas doled out its power and responsibity to other branches." Liasson: "If Democrats get rid of the filibuster, that will introduce a kind of parliamentary system into Congress. In other words, the party that wins the majority would be able to pass its program and would be accountable for whether that program works or not. Goldberg: "That kind of accountability is healthy in a democracy....Giving one party or another the power to do what they say they want to do creates consequences." Liasson: "The theme that runs through this discussion is how all these democratic intuitions (that) we need to be strong and functioning are kind of withered: Congress has abdicated, the parties aren't strong and are shells of their former selves...We need a civic revival in this country, and we can start with K-12 education, so people understand what these institutors are supposed to do. It took a long time for us to get here; Trump accelerated the process...and that is why we're at where we're at, with polarization tearing us apart and people not willing to compromise." Media: Liasson: "The joke is that Fox and MSNBC don't even cover the same natural disaster. The media is as polarized as any other part of American society." Goldberg: "One of the reasons I think right-wing and left-wing media, including a lot of mainstream media, are partisan is because the parties have become so weak, so emaciated, so hollowed out, that a large swath of mainstream media, progressive and conservative media, have taken up the baton and are doing party work by proxy." Eric J. Nisley will return to the Wasco County district attorneys office to finish out his term following an Oregon Supreme Court ruling Thursday that found he remains the lawful holder of the office despite his 60-day suspension from the practice of law earlier this year. Nisley was serving a four-year term when the states high court upheld an Oregon State Bar charge against Nisley and imposed a 60-day suspension of his law license, which went into effect on Feb. 10. We are persuaded that the legislature did not intend that every suspension of a district attorneys ability to practice law would create a vacancy in the office, Justice Meagan A. Flynn wrote in the 18-page ruling. Nisley, who lost re-election in May to challenger Matthew Ellis, a criminal defense attorney, said he plans to complete his term. His term will run until January, when Ellis is sworn in as the countys new district attorney. A lawyer from Oregons Department of Justice has been running the office since February. I look forward to finishing my term as District Attorney. I also pledge to do what I can to make the transition in the office as smooth as possible, he said in a statement Thursday. " I have reached out to Mr. Ellis and we have had some preliminary discussions about what that might look like, and I am sure we will have more discussions in the near future. I feel it is important to look past politics and work towards what is best for all the people of Wasco County and the State of Oregon. " Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum had advised Oregon Gov. Kate Brown that Nisleys suspension would render the Wasco County district attorneys office vacant, and Brown directed the attorney general to discharge the responsibilities of Nisley, starting the first day of his suspension, and until she appointed a successor or one was lawfully elected. Nisley argued that he had a right to complete his term as district attorney once his suspension concluded on April 15. The state Supreme Court examined state law, which says that an office becomes vacant before a term has expired if the incumbent ceases to possess any other qualification required for election or appointment to such office. The attorney general argued that active Oregon State Bar membership is a qualification for serving as a district attorney , and that when he was suspended from practicing law, he ceased to possess the qualification required to hold onto his office. Nisley and his lawyers William Gary, Sharon A. Rudnick and Susan Marmaduke countered that active bar membership isnt a qualification for serving as an elected district attorney. He also argued that he did not forever give up his ability to practice law. The state Supreme Court rejected Nisleys argument that maintaining an active bar membership isnt a qualification for serving as an elected district attorney. It found the law does require district attorneys to possess an active membership in the Oregon State Bar as a qualification for continuing to hold office. But the states high court found that Nisleys brief suspension from practicing law did not create a vacancy in the district attorneys office, as his suspension was brief and his right to reinstatement was assured. Based on an interpretation of the state law and other statutes, the court was persuaded that state lawmakers intended the phrase ceases to possess any other qualification to capture an event carrying a greater degree of permanence than respondents brief inability to practice law in this case, the ruling said. To render a public office vacant would require circumstances that change the officer holders status with a degree of permanence, not a limited interruption of the ability to practice law, Flynn wrote. We appreciate that the court resolved that issue and clarified the meaning of the vacancy statute for possible future situations as well," Rosenblum said in a statement Thursday. Now that the court has ruled, we look forward to DA Nisley resuming his role leading the Wasco County DA Office through the end of this term. Nisley, first appointed to the seat in 1998 by Gov. John Kitzhaber, faced a cloud of controversy as he sought re-election for a sixth term. This was the first time he faced an opponent. Nisley had his law license suspended for 60 days for lying to state bar investigators about an investigation he pursued into a loan made by a county finance director. Nisleys lawyers had unsuccessfully asked the attorney general to follow past practice from the late 1990s when Clackamas County District Attorney Terry Gustafson was suspended from practicing law for six months after she was accused of threatening a defense attorney in a sex abuse case. During the suspension, Gustafson was allowed to show up to work daily and handled administrative but not legal matters. Once her license was reinstated, she remained in office and resumed all her work. Former Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis, who is retired, argued that Rosenblums removal of Nisley from his office earlier this year was improper, unprecedented and almost certainly caused Eric to lose re-election. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Subscribe to Facebook page In the Old Testament book of Esther, King Xerxes of Persia was manipulated by his most trusted advisor, Haman, to grant him permission to exterminate the Jews in his kingdom. Esther, a Jewish woman, was a queen in his harem, presumably with the influence to get the king to change his mind and save the Jews. However, she could not go before the king unless she was summoned, and the king had not summoned her. If she went to him without a summons, it was likely the king would have her executed. But her uncle, Mordecai, pushed her to present herself without a summons. It was no time to wait around and see what happened, it was time to step up and save her people: Do not think to yourself that in the kings palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. . . . And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:13-14). Esthers response was brave and heroic: I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish (Esther 4:16). With the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, America is now facing such a time as this. There are Senators, senate staffers, Republican operatives, conservative leaders, honest journalists (not an oxymoron quite yet), and citizens across America that have to decide what course of action they will take or support over the next six weeks. Now is the time to step up, work hard, and save the country. Is that hyperbole? No, its definitely not. Since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, the Supreme Court has never had a solid conservative majority, despite the fact that six of the seven justices that voted for Roe were replaced by Republican presidents. By 1994, all seven were off the court and the justices were evenly split between liberal, conservative and centrists. By 2010, there were four liberals, four conservatives, and one centrist. Today, after the death of RBG, there is one open seat, three remaining liberals (Breyer, Kagan, and Sotomayor), four conservatives (Gorsuch, Thomas, Kavanaugh, and Alito), with Roberts being either a centrist, a turncoat or a weakling. With President Trump ready to appoint a replacement for RBG, every conservative and every Republican needs to stand up and help Trump get his appointment confirmed before the election. If we can do this, then, for the first time in over half a century, the court will have a conservative majority, and should be able to retain it for years to come. It will not be an easy task. The left has been ratchetting up its outrage machine with every one of Trumps appointments. When Gorsuch was appointed to replace Scalia, the left felt robbed because Scalia died during Obamas last year in office and the Republican Senate would not give Obamas nominee a hearing. However, his appointment was relatively tame because that was just a conservative replacing the strongest conservative mind on the Court. Then came the Kavanaugh nomination. The left went crazy because the stakes were higher. This was a conservative replacing the only swing vote left on the Court (Justice Kennedy). So, they played every trick in their book of dirty deeds to try to derail his appointment and push the issue past the 2018 mid-term elections where, in their crazy minds, the sane voters of the United States, seeing the danger of a Court applying the Constitution to its cases, would give the Democrats control of the House and Senate, unleashing their power to impeach Trump before he ruined the Court. Whoever Trump appoints this week, this process will make the Kavanaugh debauchery look like a fun day out by the reflecting pool. Trump will nominate a conservative and, to the lefts contorted way of thinking, a conservative simply cannot replace the great liberal icon, RBG. Theyve already started fighting, even before they have a specific person to fight against. Im sure youve heard the arguments: the great and selfless RBG has made it her dying wish to be appointed by the next President; Mitch McConnell refused to bring Obamas nominee to the floor in the last year of his presidency and it would be hypocritical for him to bring Trumps to the floor in the last couple of months of his first term; moving forward before the election will cause a Constitutional crisis that will force the left to riot and burn down cities. Once a person is actually named, then the left will do what it does best: smear, slander, and destroy her life from her birth through the day after tomorrow. Remember, the left believes America hates Trump and, like them, have been itching for a chance to get rid of him. That means they dont need Trump to nominate a liberal, they just need to stop the Senate from appointing his nominee until Biden wins on Nov. 3. They believe they are in a much stronger position than with Kavanaugh because this election will give them both the White House and control of the Senate. So, they will fight. They must fight. These are the stakes: a chance to have a conservative majority on the Court that has to be appointed through the fiercest, dirtiest confirmation battle that the country has ever seen. But the voters in this country have given the Republican Party a president in the White House and a majority in the Senate for such a time as this. Every Republican senator needs to take stock of this moment. This is no time to stand on ceremony; this is no time to play the Washington game. Every argument the Democrats push is a lie. If the Democrats held the Senate during Obamas last year in office, they would not have hesitated to fill Scalias seat, so they only think its wrong for the Republicans to do the same because they are not getting their way. RBG wants the next President to appoint her successor not because she was a principled statesman but because she was a liberal. Of course there will be violence in the streets; thats what liberals do now. Any Senator uncomfortable with Trump because he tweets mean words needs to watch video of what the Democrats did to Justice Kavanaugh or listen to any interview Hillary Clinton has done since she lost her election or observe the way Obama operated behind the scenes over his eight long years or take a long look at Bidens and Harriss careers. Trumps rhetoric can be edgy, rude, and mean which rubs people the wrong way and hurts their feelings. The Democrats destroy peoples lives, burn down their homes and businesses, and throw away the Constitution to get their way. Is it possible that those who stand with Trump will lose their seat or their stature or their invitations to Washingtons best parties? Yes, its possible. And if you perish, you perish. Thats exactly why you were elected. But its also possible that taking a stand in the face of the worst group of human beings Ive ever seen hold office in this country will bring victory for America. The reason Republicans are still in the majority in the Senate is because, when the Dems launched their unprincipled, mean, and slanderous assault on Justice Kavanaugh, Republicans fought for him and put him on the Court. The fight to replace RBG will be much, much harder and we will have to show more unity and backbone than ever before. Nothing less will be acceptable at such a time as this. Steve Matteucci has degrees in Economics, Law, Taxation, and Theology. His book, How to Be a Trustee: Practical Thinking on Settling a Living Trust, is available on Amazon. Image credit: Rabod Commandeur (1890 - 1955); photo by Deror avi , via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0 The 4,000 workers, represented by Service Employees International Union Local 73, also said Thursday that their four bargaining units had reached contract agreements with the university. The agreement ends their strike, which began Sept. 14, and included clerical, technical, building and maintenance and professional employees at the hospital as well as the University of Illinois at Chicago and regional medical schools in Peoria, Rockford and Urbana. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to veteran nuclear scientist Dr Sekhar Basu, who died due to the coronavirus disease. Dr Basu was the former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). Demise of veteran scientist Padma Shri Dr Sekhar Basu is a huge loss to the nation. A former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, he was a stalwart of nuclear science research & immensely contributed to nuclear powered submarine INS Arihant. Condolences to his family & friends, President Kovind tweeted, mourning Dr Basus demise. PM Modi said that Dr Basu played a key role in establishing India as a lead country in nuclear science and engineering. I join the atomic energy fraternity in grieving the passing away of Dr. Sekhar Basu, a renowned nuclear scientist who played a key role in establishing India as a lead country in nuclear science and engineering. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Om Shanti, he tweeted. The Padma Shri awardee had turned 68 just three days ago. Dr Basu was undergoing treated for Covid-19 at a private hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. Dr Basu was suffering from Covid-19 and other kidney ailments. He died at 4.50 am, news agency PTI quoted an official of the hospital as saying. Grieved to hear about the passing away of veteran nuclear scientist and former Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Dr Sekhar Basu. My condolences to his family and colleagues, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted. Dr Basu, a mechanical engineer, is known for his contribution to Indias atomic energy programme. Dr Basu is credited for pioneering the extremely complex reactor for Indias first nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2014. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 16:43:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENTIANE, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Lao Ministry of Health urged authorities and the Lao people to remain vigilant and help control the spread of dengue fever. A total of 6,611 people has been diagnosed with dengue fever and 12 deaths were recorded since January, Latsamy Vongkhamsao, deputy director general of the Department of Communicable Disease Control under the Lao Ministry of Health, told a press conference in the Lao capital Vientiane on Thursday. The highest number of dengue patients were reported in Vientiane with 1,546, while 741 cases were recorded in Bolikhamxai province, and 659 cases wee confirmed in Bokeo province. The 12 deaths included four in Vientiane, two in Bolikhamxai and Khammuan respectively, and one each in Xayabboury, Xieng Khuang, Savannakhet and Phongsaly. The Lao Ministry of Health advised that every family should drain water that collects in jars, vases and dishes, and should cover such containers to prevent more water from filling them up. If people fall ill, they should suspect that dengue may be the cause of their illness and get a blood test at a hospital. According to the World Health Organization, dengue fever is one of the fastest emerging infections, with Thailand, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore also seeing high incidences. The number of cases in the Western Pacific Region has more than doubled over the past 10 years. Enditem The political shadowboxing before presidential debates is cleverly choreographed. Take the 2000 contest between then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush and then-Vice President Al Gore. Before that year's first general election debate, the Bush team did a superb job of lowering expectations for Governor Bush by emphasizing to reporters what an experienced and superb debater Gore was. So, when Bush more or less held his own in the opening debate, the Texas governor got a lot of the "better than expected" press coverage his campaign had all the time been angling for. But President Donald Trump is, as we know, unorthodox. Instead of building up the long U.S. senatorial and 2008 and 2012 national debating experience of former Vice President Joe Biden, Trump scorns the Democratic nominee repeatedly as lacking mental acuity and physical stamina, publicly branding him "Sleepy Joe" and saying things such as, "He doesn't know where he is" and, "Biden can't put two sentences together." Trump is, for some reason, doing his best to lower voters' expectations about Biden. When Biden shows up like Bush did 20 years earlier, answering the moderator's questions and speaking in complete sentences with a dash of humor, he will have totally exceeded those low expectations and measurably helped his campaign. If I had the chance (which I will not) to ask Trump and Biden questions in the presidential debate, here are a few I'd like to hear them answer. * To President Trump: Which Democratic president of your adult lifetime do you most admire, and why? * To both men: Since 2000, just two presidential nominees -- Democrat John Kerry and Republican John McCain -- ever served in the U.S. military in wartime. The military draft was in effect when you were young men; did you ever think about volunteering to serve your country? * Your fellow Americans understand that we as a nation and a people face historic and daunting challenges. We know there is no ouchless, painless magic bullet to make things right in America. Tell us here tonight: What sacrifices are you calling upon your fellow citizens to make for the common good? Remembering the words of President John F. Kennedy, what burdens will you ask us to bear; what price will you ask us to pay? * If you had the assurance that one proposed constitutional amendment would be passed by the two-thirds vote required in both the House and Senate and ratified by three-quarters of the states, which amendment would you endorse? * What is your favorite children's book? Could you name a favorite character in that book? * If you had a do-over and could change one past political position you had taken, which one would you change? * Before he was 22 years old, Mike Mansfield of Montana, who would later serve as a U.S. Senate majority leader longer than anyone in history and then serve as U.S. ambassador to Japan under both Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, had served honorably in the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps. Before he died, he instructed that his simple headstone at Arlington National Cemetery be inscribed: "Michael J. Mansfield, PVT. U.S. Marine Corps." In one sentence, what would you want your own epitaph to be? Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Carole Baskin, who became a pop culture sensation due to Netflix's docuseries "Tiger King," is being sued for defamation by a former assistant. As part of the lawsuit, the daughters of Baskin's 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 Baskin's 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 Baskin's 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. 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. Lewis' disappearance remains an open case. In March, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced that his office was seeking new leads following the popularity of Netflix's "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-Passage's 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. Lawyers for Baskin said Wednesday they couldn't comment on pending litigation. Associated Press Met Opera sets sights on '21-22 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 company's first presentation of a Black composer, Terence Blanchard's "Fire Shut Up in My Bones." This season was to have started this week, but the company announced on 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 orchestra's 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. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "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. The Met will also present three new contemporary works in a season for the first time since 1928-29, including Matthew Aucoin's "Eurydice," which debuted at the LA Opera last February; and Brett Dean's "Hamlet," which premiered at Britain's Glyndebourne Festival in June 2017. Associated Press Elton John sets new North American dates 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. Original tickets will be honored at the rescheduled performances. Associated Press Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the EU must offer Belarus significant support after meeting Lithuania's Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis Poland on Thursday proposed an EU stabilisation fund for Belarus worth at least one billion euros ($1.2 billion), as a top opposition leader prepared to meet EU foreign ministers in Brussels. Warsaw's call for financial support comes days after Russian President Vladimir Putin backed embattled Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko and promised a $1.5 billion loan. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called it a "new Marshall Plan" -- a reference to the US programme that pumped vast financial aid into western Europe to rebuild after World War II. "The fund should really be significant... so at least a billion euros at this stage," he said at a joint press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart in Vilnius. The plan would be for funds to go to small and medium-sized enterprises in Belarus, while facilitating access to EU markets for Belarusian exporters and opening up the Belarusian economy. Morawiecki said he would formally present the plan at the September 24-25 European Council, adding that several fellow EU eastern members have already endorsed it. The proposal comes after weeks of unprecedented protests against Lukashenko's 26-year rule that have been met with a violent crackdown. Journalists have also been targeted and on Thursday a number of independent Belarusian media ran with blank spaces instead of images on Thursday to protest the jailing of two photographers for 11 days for covering protests. "We are demanding that pressure on journalists be halted," said tut.by, a top independent Belarusian outlet. "We will fight for our rights." The protests followed a presidential election on August 9 in which Lukashenko and his rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya both claimed victory. - 'Stop the violence' - Tikhanovskaya, who has since fled to Lithuania, will travel to Brussels to meet EU foreign ministers on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's spokesman said. Story continues She warned last week that Belarus was on the "threshold of an economic abyss" as private Belarusian companies, notably in its vibrant tech sector, have begun to seek out opportunities in neighbouring EU states. On Thursday, she said the opposition was drawing up a blacklist with the names of Belarusian officials and police officers responsible for repression who could face prosecution. "I urge the security forces to stop the violence and join the Belarusian people. If you do not, you will not escape a fair trial and punishment," Tikhanovskaya said in a statement. The European Union is preparing sanctions later this month against those it holds responsible for rigging the vote and putting down protests. The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have already blacklisted Lukashenko and 29 other high-ranking officials from the election commission, ministries and police. - Constitutional reform? - Still refusing any dialogue with the opposition, Lukashenko on Thursday accused Warsaw and Vilnius of being ready to provoke war. "That is why we are forced to take the army off the streets, put half the army under arms and close the state border to the west -- primarily with Lithuania and Poland," he was quoted as saying by the official Belta news agency. Lukashenko has looked to Russia for support in the current crisis and vowed to strengthen ties with Moscow at an in-person meeting with Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Putin has been keen to unify Russia and Belarus, and Moscow has accompanied its offers of aid with calls for tighter integration. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday said Lukashenko had also promised a consitutional reform aimed at "liberalising the political system". "We know that practical work in this direction is already being done," Zakharova said, adding that the Russia expected the situation in Belarus to normalise "as soon as possible". burs-dt/mas/har A rising star chef whose resume includes working with acclaimed celebrity chef Jonathan Waxman, has returned to his hometown to launch Ostia restaurant, which debuts in the Montrose area this week. Ostia at 2032 Dunlavy St., from chef/owner Travis McShane, is scheduled to open on Friday, according to a Tuesday release. McShane, who earned degrees at the University of Texas and the Culinary Institute of America, spent more than a decade working his way up from an intern to a corporate chef at James Beard Award-winning chef Waxmans restaurant empire, including stints at Barbuto in New York City and Adeles in Nashville. Ostia, which means to host in Italian, will offer New American cuisine with Italian and Mediterranean flavors in a 4,500 square-foot space. Four intimate dining spaces and a patio offer seating for 108 guests inside and 56 outside. MUST-TRY SANDWICHES: Louie's sandwiches at Riel now available during happy hour The restaurants design, inspired by McShanes travels to various regions around the country, was created by San Francisco-based Jon de la Cruz of DLC-ID. His portfolio includes San Francisco's Che Fico and Leos Oyster Bar and Palo Altos Protege. An open floor plan showcases botanical-inspired interiors with exposed terracotta brick, oak barrel wood plants, antique brass, bluegrass-colored walls and polished cement floors. The restaurant also features floor-to-ceiling pivoting glass doors, an air-conditioned greenhouse room and an open exhibition kitchen with a custom stone deck oven and grill. The overarching design is meant to capture the industrial mood in the West Village and the casual elegance of a coastal California bistro with a heavy dose of Southern hospitality mixed in for good measure, de la Cruz said in the release. MISSING MY MOM: These Desi restaurants are getting me through the pandemic The kitchen serves a seasonally rotating menu that includes a la carte meats, house-made pasta, farm green salads and a diverse roster of sides. Small plates include fluke crudo with citrus, almonds, tarragon; shaved cauliflower with tatsoi, golden raisins and pistachios; and fritto misto with summer vegetables. Pasta dishes range from chitarra with garlic, rabe, wild arugula and anchovy to bucatini with guanciale, chili, roast tomato and pecorino to gnocchi with cherry tomato, corn and Parmesan. For a main dish, choose from options such as a whole fish with Meyer lemon tapenade; pork chop with apricot mostarda and escarole hearts; or half-chicken with lemon and herb jus. The bar offers an extensive list of wines with a European leaning, along with spirits, craft beer and craft cocktails including house spins on classics. COVID-19 safety measures include air filters in the air vents, regular employee health screenings, limited capacity, masks and digital menus. At its heart, Ostia is a neighborhood restaurant, a place to hang out with friends and family to enjoy a delicious meal together whether you live around the corner or not, McShane said in the release. The restaurant will be open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 10:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11:30 p.m.; and Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. Lunch and brunch hours will be added at a later date. Kiev, Sep 24 : Ukraine seeks to obtain a clear, articulated prospect of membership from the European Union (EU), President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "The EU 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 per cent of our foreign trade... However, Ukraine wants full integration into the EU," Xinhua news agency quoted the President as saying on Wednesday. Zelensky noted that Ukraine is currently working on deepening the integration with the EU within the framework of the Association Agreement, as well as adapting the trade part of the agreement to modern economic realities, Xinhua news agency. This would be one of the core topics of the Ukraine-EU summit held in Brussels. The 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. The fall-out from Sasha Swires headline-grabbing tell-all political diaries has been described by one reviewer as social Hiroshima and now it can be revealed that some of Northern Irelands leading politicians dont escape the blast either. DUP leader Arlene Foster, party colleague Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, former Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams and the late Rev Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness all feature in the pages of the astonishingly indiscreet and frequently acerbic tome by the wife of former NI Minister of State Hugo and some fare much better than others. Reviews of Diary of an MPs Wife already have revealed some sensational insights into life behind the scenes in the corridors of power at Westminster, as well as royal visits to Hillsborough Castle. But there are many more disclosures in the book, which is published today, and Swires disclosures, often accompanied by candid and cruel observations, are sure to leave NI politicos reeling and possibly cringing. Swire lifts the lid on how the DUP got on with former Prime Minister Theresa May, and claims that Foster let her husband Brian dominate conversations. She also says her husband Hugo concluded that Gerry Adams was one of the most sinister and unpleasant people he had ever met. Former journalist Swire (57) writes that she likes Arlene heaps, always have yet whether the First Minister will feel as warmly towards the author after perusing her namechecks in the 527-page blockbuster is debatable. Swire describes an encounter with Foster and her husband Brian, a PSNI officer, when they come to stay at their home Chaffcombe Manor, near Devon, on April 5, 2018. Expand Close First Minister Arlene Foster (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp First Minister Arlene Foster (PA) Prior to the pairs arrival, the Swires discuss whether we should show them our own pub, them being DUP and anti the devils buttermilk, etc. But she continues: As it turns out they more than match us glass for glass, Brian getting more preachy and Presbyterian as the evening progresses: lots of talk about creationism and original sin and how love conquers all. I whisper to Arlene, Gosh, he should have been a preacher, not a policeman. She sighs and says, I know. Swire notes: The dynamic was interesting, though. Brian completely dominated, and she was very respectful towards his views. She also offers an insight into Fosters relationship with then PM Theresa May, for whom Swire has a particularly unkind nickname, she writes: She told me Old Ma May never asks to see her when she is in London, she only deals with the Chief Whip, which is staggering when her MPs are propping up the government. Not even a courtesy cup of tea, apparently. The property tycoon and Tory party donor Christopher Moran had a front row seat at the DUP party conference in 2018. Swire records how more than a year earlier, in July 2017, he had hosted a DUP night at his Crosby Hall mansion in Chelsea. They were all out in force: the old UUP drinking, Donaldson and Foster, the Robinsons and the hard-line DUP not, she writes. Then with the sort of comment that has seen the diaries described as poison pen, she observes: Peter Robinson was a curious orange colour, as was Iris, fresh from a cruise. He is very deaf in one ear H thinks he always has been but he is on good form. They discuss the confidence-and-supply deal of June 2017, when the DUP netted an extra 1bn (1.1bn) for Northern Ireland in return supporting the Tory government, and Hugo Swire wonders if the UUP will be subsumed by the DUP now. Peter Robinson, she writes, reckons probably not, but says they are finished. The former First Minister is also wryly amusing about the deal, saying he cant see what all the fuss is about. Swire notes that supporting Labours legislation on 28-day detention later cost Gordon Brown 1.5bn (1.6bn) to give Stormont and the economy a boost. So, Peter smiles, A billion to prop up a government for two years is cheap at the price. Conversation turns to whether Robinson will go to the Lords and Swire writes that he thinks he will, but says he may have trouble with the Lords Appointments Commission, which seems to operate on rules of its own. That same evening Swire has another long conversation with Arlene Foster who she says always bounces H and me for intelligence on new ministers. When Foster asks about then NI Secretary of State James Brokenshire, Swire retorts: Loyal to May, but boring. Hugo calls him the Human Hedgehog. She claims that Foster calls both Brokenshire and another minister, Chloe Smith, robots. Further disclosures claim that Foster and Donaldson said it was impossible dealing with May on the deal, how indecisive she was on all the issues put before her it was not until Donaldson, Gavin and Arlene were locked in a room together that the whole thing was sorted out. They are both very grateful about the blog post I wrote calling out the borderline racism, which is being thrown at them. If the Swires, who have two daughters, Saffron and Siena, had a convivial relationship with DUP politicians, perhaps unsurprisingly they were less impressed by an encounter Hugo had with Gerry Adams. Afterwards, Swire jots down: H says he now thinks Adams is one of the most sinister and unpleasant people he has ever had the misfortune to come across. He much prefers Martin McGuinness, on a personal level, although he is not blind to what McGuinness has done in the past. The meeting with Adams took place on October 7, 2010, when Hugo Swire and then Secretary of State Owen Paterson had talks at Stormont House with Adams and representatives of those killed at the Ballymurphy Massacre in 1971. The discussion starts well enough until Adams spots that Owen is wearing a green wristband supporting the Royal Irish Regiment. He glares at him from across the table and in those deep growling vowels banished for so long from the airwaves Adams says it is unbelievable and the height of discourtesy, an insult to those that lost their lives to the British state, that the Secretary of State is wearing a wristband glorifying the British Army that murdered so many. H was rather taken aback, as up until then he had been grinning in a friendly manner at Adams and he thought that, behind his heavy spectacles and greying beard, Adams had been smiling back at him. Paterson said that he had a connection with the Royal Irish, whose base was in his Shropshire constituency, and was entitled to show his support. Of her husbands verdict, Swire writes: It was only on closer inspection that he realised that Adamss stony cold eyes were devoid of any emotion and that his gleaming outsized teeth had been something of a distraction, and that he was not smiling at all. Asked how to describe what a job in Northern Ireland politics entails, our diarist describes it as like carrying a huge Ming vase that can break at any moment. But, as we discover, its not without its moments of levity such as when an email arrives from NI special adviser Jonathan Caine, declaring: Wanted: XL Flak Jacket for Lord Maginnis. Apparently a visit by the peer and DUP MP David Simpson to troops in Afghanistan was called off when the Army couldnt find flak jackets large enough to fit them. In the ensuing merriment, Hugo Swire suggests they try squeezing Lord Maginnis into a Hercules or underslung him under a Chinook. Pope Benedicts visit to the UK in September 2010 saw Hugo Swire and Owen Paterson fly to Edinburgh to meet him. On the way back, at Edinburgh airport, they spy Rev Ian Paisleys armoured vehicle. He has travelled to Scotland with fellow Free Presbyterians to protest, writes Swire, in his always-helpful ecumenical way. She continues: Suddenly the door swings open and the Big Man emerges wearing a large black fedora and a massive billowing black cape, looking the spitting image of Hilaire Belloc He asks him mischievously if hed managed to get a glimpse of the Holy Father. Paisley, in faux outrage, heaves his shoulders and bellows, SEE HIM? SEE HIM? DIDNT EVEN SMELL HIM! Virtually every page of this unputdownable memoir sees household names quite literally brought to book. One of the few flattering assessments is bestowed on Hillsborough Castle itself, which Swire visits for the first time in May 2010 when her husband takes up his post, which he is in for just over two years. Swire admits is far more stunning than I had anticipated though their apartment is small, rather like a suite in a five-star hotel. And on a tour to get to know Belfast, she sees the Short Strand, where she is struck by the tidiness and cleanliness of these areas, much more so than their equivalents on the mainland. Owen Patersons late wife Rose, whose inquest this week recorded a verdict of suicide, impresses as the more clever of the pair. During a visit by the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Swire shivers in a silk LK Bennett dress and glances green with envy at Rose in her neat little tweed suit, laughing with the guests. Swire warms to Prince Edward friendly, over-excitable like a puppy who like his wife holds strong political opinions. Sophie tells her she gets frozen out on engagements with Edward and had been slighted that day by a woman who refused to acknowledge her. Swire feels sorry for Sophie, believes she is tired and it feels to me, and I could be wrong, most definitely sad. Admittedly, its a rare moment of self-doubt for Swire. Shires tale about her daughter Siena causing a security alert when she mislaid a book containing details of a visit later that day by the Queen and Prince Philip has already made the news. But what can also now be revealed is that at a dinner that evening for business people, the Duke of Edinburgh savages the businessman two away from him for pulling out his BlackBerry at the table. As the hapless guest went puce, the Duke ranted about how guests at another dinner got out their laptops, leaving him and Her Majesty appalled. Quite what Prince Philip would say if he saw Sasha Swire reach for her diary and ballpoint pen remains to be seen Diary of an MPs Wife: Inside and Outside Power by Sasha Swire is published today by Little, Brown, price 20 (22) Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal on Wednesday alleged that the Pakistan Army is planning to begin the most brutal genocide and ethnic cleansing in Pakistan Occupied Gilgit Baltistan of India. Taking to Twitter, Namgyal said, "I support the people's movement." 'I stand with Gilgit Baltistan' His remarks comes a week after Pakistan's The Express Tribune quoted Pak Minister Ali Amin Gandapur stating that the government has decided to elevate Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) to the status of a full-fledged province. He had said that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan would soon visit the region and make a formal announcement in this regard. Gilgit Baltistan is an integral part of India. Pakistan Army plans to begin the most brutal genocide and ethnic cleansing in Pakistan Occupied Gilgit Baltistan of India. I support the people's movement and #StandWithGilgitBaltistan Jamyang Tsering Namgyal (@JTNBJP) September 23, 2020 Last month, condemning Prime Minister Imran Khan for releasing Pakistan's new political map laying untenable claims to Indian territories, India had termed the act as an "exercise in political absurdity." "We have seen a so-called "political map" of Pakistan that has been released by PM Imran Khan. This is an exercise in political absurdity, laying untenable claims to territories in the Indian state of Gujarat and our Union Territories of Jammu Kashmir and of Ladakh," the Government of India had said in a stern statement. The Imran Khan government had released a new political map of Pakistan, claiming Indian territories of Junagadh, Sir Creek and Manavadar in Gujarat, of Jammu and Kashmir and a part of Ladakh. Gilgit-Baltistan issue raised at United Nations HRC Last Thursday, PoK rights activist Amjad Ayub Mirza raised a demand at the United Nations Human Rights Council to merge Pakistan occupied areas of Gilgit Baltistan with India. Speaking at the 45th Regular Session of Human Rights Council, Amjad Ayub Mirza said that the world seems to be "hypnotised by the fake narratives spun by the Pakistani government" and the people are "desperate to gain freedom" from the hands of the Pakistani occupation. READ | Ladakh Buddhist Association writes to PM Modi; recommends Bharat Ratna for Dalai Lama "For the last 70 years, we have urged the United Nations to address the case of foreign occupation of Pakistani occupied Jammu and Kashmir. However, the world seems to be hypnotised by the fake narratives spun by the Pakistani government. Under CPEC, our rivers are being diverted for hydropower projects causing water shortage. The projects would destroy forever, the ecology of our region. Scores of young men from Gilgit-Baltistan are serving 70-90 years imprisonment for protesting against the blunder of our national resources. Anti-terrorism laws are used as a tool to crush any dissent," he said. READ | Union Minister Kiren Rijiju to launch construction of sports infrastructure in Ladakh "Our women refuse to take cover during the cross-border firing at the Line of Control because the Pakistani soldiers in the bunker molest them. They attacked my homeland of Mirpur in October 1947 and the world seems to have turned a blind eye towards the history and our ongoing sufferings under the hands of the Pakistani occupation. My people are desperate to gain freedom and join Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the Indian Union Territory. I demand that the United Nations lend me her ears if she wants to end the desperation of my people," the activist added. READ | Ladakh: Eyewitness to Aug 30 Chushul faceoff lauds Indian Army, says, 'Chinese barged in' READ | India-China standoff: Ladakh MP meets villagers from Chushul, discusses border situation Harley-Davidson will shut down manufacturing and sales operations in India as part of its restructuring exercise under the 'Rewire programme, the US-based motorcycle maker said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 24. In August, the Milwaukee-based cruiser bike maker had indicated exiting some of the loss-making international markets to reroute focus on the US market. Poor sales record and a dented demand outlook impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic forced the bike maker to exit the Indian market. Harley-Davidson India sold less than 2,500 units in the last financial year, making it one of its worst-performing international markets. About 70 of Harley-Davidsons employees will be laid off as a result. The company has an assembly unit in Bawal, Haryana. In FY19, the sales of Harley bikes in India fell 22 percent to 2,676 units as against 3,413 units sold in FY18. About 65 percent of Harleys India volumes come from smaller capacity bikes of 750cc that it assembles at Haryana. Harley-Davidson will join the growing list of automotive brands, such as General Motors, Fiat, Ssangyong, Scania, MAN, UM Motorcycles, which have exited India over the last 3-4 years. A couple of years ago Harley tied up with a Chinese company Qianjiang to build a new motorcycle having a sub 350cc engine. The launch was supposed to take place this year, but there has been no news of the project in recent months. The baby Harley was to address the lower mid-capacity buyers presently catered to by Royal Enfield. In India, Harley-Davidson faces competition from the Eicher Motors-controlled Royal Enfield in the cruiser motorcycling category. While Harley-Davidsons range starts around Rs 6 lakh, Royal Enfield has motorcycles starting at Rs 1 lakh. In February this year, Harley completed 25,000 sales in India - it took Harley 10 years to achieve that feat. The US clocks more sales than that in a quarter. Nearly 75 percent of Harleys worldwide sales come from the US and Europe, with the US commanding 56 percent of the share. Through the Rewire programme that was kick-started a couple of months ago, Harley intends to have a more streamlined product portfolio and a leaner cost structure. About 8 years ago, Harley-Davidson India outlined medium-term plans for the country which included clocking sales of 10,000 units a month by 2016. This came after the company witnessed encouraging demand through the setting up of an assembly plant in Haryana. Harley competes against Triumph, Indian, Benelli, Kawasaki, Ducati, Aprilia and premium range of Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda. Most of these brands do not share sales data with the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturer. While Harley could not join hands with any of the Indian companies for a collaboration, the UK's Triumph Motorcycles announced a partnership with Punes Bajaj Auto for developing a range of bikes having engines in the range of 200-750cc. The first of these bikes hits the market in 2022. German giant BMW tied up with TVS Motor Company and even has a couple of motorcycles in the market which are manufactured in Chennai. Kochi, Sep 24 : M. Sivasankar, Kerala's senior IAS official and former secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is being questioned on Thursday along with Swapna Suresh, prime accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, by the NIA officials at their office. This is the fourth time when Sivasankar is being questioned by the NIA, but the first time that it's being done in the company of Swapna. The gold smuggling case first surfaced when P.S. Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, was arrested by the Customs Department on July 5 when he was allegedly facilitating the smuggling of 30 kg gold in a diplomatic baggage from Dubai to Thiruvananthapuram. The case became murkier when Swapna, a former employee of the UAE Consulate and later employed with the IT Department, came to light. Her links with Sivasankar came up later during the investigation and she later revealed that he was her mentor. After his links with Swapna surfaced, Vijayan first removed him from the post of his secretary and also the State IT secretary and later suspended him from service. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 00:52:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The total number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in Africa has reached 1,429,704 as of Thursday with the death toll approaching 35,000, 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 34,839 as of Thursday afternoon. The Africa CDC also said the number of people who have recovered from the infectious virus across the continent reached 1,175,855 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 some 17 African countries and regions are under full border closure due to concerns related to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Africa, while closure of country-wide educational institutions has been activated across 33 African countries in an effort to halt the spread of the infectious virus. Enditem More than 200,000 Americans have died from the novel coronavirus more than 200,000 obituaries written too soon. President Donald Trump has given himself an A+ for his handling of the virus, but Dr. Anthony Fauci, his top health expert, calls the death toll stunning. And as the deaths continue to mount, Americans must be thinking it is time to write the epitaph for common sense and good governance. If that seems hyperbolic, consider the theater of the absurd that is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading health agency in the United States. Flip-flopping like an embattled politician, the CDC has issued guidelines and directives one day, only to walk them back the next. The reversals have come in battalions, each one advancing on a populace confused and confounded by the mixed messaging. Whatever the reason behind these flip-flops whether incompetence or politics the impact is both clear and disturbing: It fosters a mistrust of the very agency that should guide us through this cruel and insidious virus. Unfortunately, its becoming harder to trust what CDC tells us, Dr. Ali Khan, a former official with the agency, told National Public Radio. And this is extremely unfortunate because trust is the most important thing we need during a pandemic. In a recent reversal, which is among its most bizarre, the CDC indicated the virus spreads through aerosols, tiny droplets in the air that often travel further than the 6 feet considered to be a safe social distance. The agency then reversed itself three days later, saying the information was posted in error. It was a head-scratching move that created alternate versions of reality, a landscape of misinformation and obfuscation worthy of Lewis Carroll up is down, down is up. Confusing, Khan said. So CDCs not perfect and certainly has made some mistakes this past year. But with due respect to the agency, its hard to believe this was one of them, given the scrutiny that theyve had in all of their messaging. Critics, many of them doctors and scientists, charge that CDC officials, intimidated by Trump, have softened their messages. Politics, they say, has upended science. The constant politicization of this crisis has eroded trust in our nations leading public health institutions, Richard Besser, a former acting director of the CDC, told the Washington Post. Equally troubling are the reversals that predated the mixed messaging on aerosols. The CDC recommended in August that asymptomatic people do not necessarily need a test for COVID-19 an edict it walked back after pushback from the scientific community. These antics make CDC officials look like pawns. Consider the plight of Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the director of the agency, who discussed the importance of masks during a recent Senate committee hearing. He received an angry and public rebuke from the president following his appearance. The result? Redfield softened his remarks. This tug of war between science and politics has exacerbated the division in the country. The battle is so bitter that the simple act of wearing a mask has become politicized. Trump supporters recently heckled and booed Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted when he encouraged them to wear masks featuring Trumps name a show of support for Trump. Would people deride a politician for suggesting they wear seat belts? No. COVID-19 attacks people indiscriminately. Thats why the act of wearing a mask should never be viewed as a political statement (even if a mask is adorned with a political statement), and why consistent and clear guidance from the CDC and other scientists is so crucial. Yes, our understanding of COVID-19 evolves with the science. But the messaging of public health must be above politics. Why is this so hard? (Natural News) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has introduced new legislation that, if passed, would remove liability for injury or death when a driver fleeing for safety from a mob runs over protesters with a vehicle. Known as the Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act, DeSantis bill would not only legalize plowing over protesters who block traffic but also make it a third-degree felony to obstruct traffic during an unpermitted protest, demonstration or violent or disorderly assembly. Today I announced bold legislation that creates new criminal offenses and increases penalties for those who target law enforcement and participate in violent or disorderly assemblies, DeSantis tweeted. We will always stand with our men and women in uniform who keep our communities safe. A screenshot of the legislation also tweeted by DeSantis reveals the criteria for what constitutes a violent or disorderly assembly, as well as obstructing roadways, destroying or toppling monuments, and harassing people in public accommodations such as a restaurant. When seven or more people involved in an assembly cause damage to property or injury to others, it explains, this constitutes a 3rd-degree felony. Blocking traffic in order to protest is also a 3rd-degree felony, and one that a driver will not be held liable for in the event that he causes injury or death while fleeing for safety from a mob. Under the DeSantis proposal, it would constitute a 2nd-degree felony to destroy any public property during a protest. And anyone who harasses or intimidates someone while that someone is eating at a restaurant or otherwise enjoying a public accommodation would constitute a 1st-degree misdemeanor. DeSantis wants mandatory minimum sentences for harming law enforcement Other new penalties that DeSantis wants to impose include new mandatory minimum prison sentences for striking a law enforcement during a violent or disorderly assembly. Doing this, including with a projectile, would result in an immediate six-month jail sentence. Throwing objects at police officers or otherwise assaulting them would only escalate the penalties, as would participating in a violent or disorderly assembly in a state where a protester does not actually live. Should a local Florida municipality try to defund the police or otherwise express support for such an agenda, DeSantis would immediately pull all state grant and aid money from that locale. Local governments that allow a violent or disorderly assembly that results in a person being victimized would also be allowed to sue said government for gross negligen[ce]. Any individual on government aid who is convicted of participating in a violent or disorderly assembly anywhere in Florida would immediately lose said benefits. There would also be no bond or bail issued until a first appearance in court if a person is charged with a crime related to so-called anti-fascist activity. Responding to DeSantis legislation, former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a Democrat, immediately called for legal advocacy groups to bring legal action against the governor. This proposal, he says, would have legalized the murder of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville. James Alex Fields Jr., the guy who was sentenced to centuries in prison for supposedly running Heyer over during the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally, would basically have gotten off scot-free, were the incident to have happened under DeSantis watch. Another component of DeSantis legislation is the RICO liability section, which explains that anyone who organizes or funds a violent or disorderly assembly could be found guilty of racketeering, and sentenced accordingly. One Law & Crime commenter in support of DeSantis proposal says it would help to stop needless rioting, stop the obstruction of peoples freedom of movement, allow innocent citizens to do what is necessary to save their lives, and fill up the potholes in the roads for free all at the same time. More related news about the collapse of society due to violent protests is available at CivilWar.news. Sources for this article include: LawAndCrime.com NaturalNews.com Nadia Bartel has paid tribute to her sister, Michelle Coppolino, on her 30th birthday. The former WAG shared several photos featuring her sibling to Instagram on Thursday, including pictures from Michelle's wedding and family photos. The 35-year-old admitted that she wouldn't 'survive' without her sister and explained that they would celebrate with margaritas once the COVID-19 lockdowns in Melbourne were eased. Birthday wishes: Nadia Bartel has paid tribute to her sister, Michelle Coppolino, on her 30th birthday 'Happy 30th to my kindest and caring baby sis we all love you! And not sure I would survive without you,' Nadia began the post. 'Not how we wanted to be celebrating your 30th but as soon as this all ends we are on for marg time.' Nadia accompanied the post with a series of throwback photographs including several images from Michelle's 2019 wedding. Support: The 35-year-old admitted that she wouldn't 'survive' without her sister and explained that they would celebrate with margaritas once the COVID-19 lockdowns in Melbourne were eased. Pictured: Nadia (right) with her sister (centre) and mother (left) Happy snaps: The former WAG shared several photos featuring her sibling to Instagram on Thursday, including pictures from Michelle's wedding to family photos One photo featured Michelle and Nadia with their mother, while another featured the two girls getting ready. The mother-of-two also shared another sweet snap of the three women during a night out, and an image of her and Michelle on a boat. Other photos featured Michelle with her husband, Charlie Ring, including one on their wedding day, and another featuring them cuddling Nadia's two children, Aston, four and Henley, one. Nadia also shared a number of snaps of Michelle with her husband including one on their wedding day (left), and another featuring them cuddling Nadia's two children, Aston, four and Henley, one (right) Good Aunty: Another image featured Michelle holding balloons with Nadia's eldest son Aston The fashion blogger shares her two sons with her AFL star ex-husband, Jimmy Bartel. They announced their separation in August last year, but it is believed they actually split two months prior. Soon after the split was announced, Jimmy went public with his new girlfriend, office worker Lauren Mand and Nadia is believed to be dating Nathan Brodie. A driver was killed in Ohio Thursday morning after a highway sign tumbled and crushed his truck, police say. A dump truck was leaving an interstate construction site in Cleveland when it struck a highway sign on westbound I-480, WEWS reported. The dump trucks bed was raised, which caused it to hit the sign, according to Cleveland.com. The sign fell and crushed a passing Ford F-150, killing the driver, WKYC reported. Officials in Ohio say a highway sign fell and crushed a pickup truck, kiling the driver. Officials have not released the name of the victim. The dump truck driver wasnt injured, WOIO reported. Officials said theyre investigating to determine if the bed was raised due to a mechanical issue or operator error, according to WEWS. Traffic was backed up most of the morning, but all lanes were reopened by noon, WOIO reported. Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the incident, according to Cleveland.com. A Plainfield firefighter is suing the city and a fire official over an racist comment allegedly made during a coronavirus training session at the start of the pandemic. Timothy Burkhard, who is Asian American and was hired in 2018, filed the discrimination lawsuit against Deputy Fire Chief Pietro Martino and the city after Martino made racist comments about Asians to Burkhard during the fire departments training on COVID-19 in March, the complaint says. Martino mockingly asked Burkhard if he had been to Wuhan, China recently and squinted his eyes so that they narrowed in a racist caricature of Asian facial features," the lawsuit contends. At least 19 firefighters at the training saw the incident but did not object to the comment, the complaint alleges. The actions and leadership of Martino has created a work environment wherein firefighters now believe it is acceptable workplace behavior to openly disparage Asian Americans for their race and as being responsible for the spread of coronavirus, reads the suit, filed in Union County Superior Court. Plainfield and the fire director did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Martino was not disciplined for the comment and did not apologize, the suit says. He has engaged in prior workplace harassment incidents which the city of Plainfield knew or should have known," according to the filing. Burkhard contends Martino violated New Jerseys Law Against Discrimination and that he suffered annoyance, inconvenience, stress, anxiety, humiliation, depression and severe emotional distress. Defendants failed to prominently display an anti-discrimination policy and failed to provide proper training and supervision to prevent workplace discrimination, the complaint alleges. 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. Over 130 healthcare professionals call on Colorado to ban late-term abortions Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment More than 130 medical professionals have signed a letter in support of a proposed late-term abortion ban for the state of Colorado, which will be voted on in November. Known as Proposition 115, if passed by voters, the measure would ban abortions after 22 weeks into a pregnancy, with the exception for life-threatening medical emergencies for the mother. The open letter, officially released last Friday, states that there is no doubt that the 22-week fetus is fully alive and fully human. With advances in medical science, it has become obvious that the fetus is much more than just pregnancy tissue, as some would claim, the letter says. There can be no equivocation that the fetus is a living, learning and actively participating human being. Every one of these lives has inherent value and dignity. They deserve to be embraced and protected by the citizens of Colorado, as equal members of our society. The doctors also said that when the pregnancy itself places the mothers health at risk after 22 weeks, we know that delivery of the baby is safer and quicker than a multi-day abortion procedure. We do not believe that any of the challenges a woman faces after 22 weeks of pregnancy necessitate the senseless destruction of a human life, they argued. In April 1967, Colorado became the first state in the country to legalize abortion, passing a bill that allowed for abortion in certain circumstances and with the approval of a three-doctor panel. At present, Colorado does not have any legal restrictions on late-term abortion, although the state does require parental notification for minors and that a licensed doctor perform the procedure. The Due Date Too Late campaign, a pro-life group, launched an effort known as Initiative 120, later renamed Proposition 115, to ban late-term abortion in the state. In June, the secretary of states office confirmed that the campaign had collected enough valid signatures to get the measure on the November ballot. To qualify for the ballot, pro-life advocates had to get at least 124,632 verified signatures in support. Due Date Too Late ended up getting more than 153,000 confirmed signatures. The doctors statement in support of Proposition 115 comes several days after around 120 faith leaders signed a letter expressing opposition to the ballot measure. The letter, posted Sept. 8 on the website of the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, included controversial Lutheran pastor Nadi Bolz-Weber among its signatories. It would allow politics to dictate personal health decisions that should be made by a woman and her family in consultation with her healthcare providers, it read in part. As faith leaders rooted in our vision of a better and more just world, we cannot remain silent when politicians and groups attempt to infringe upon the inherent rights of others, especially when they use their interpretation of their religion as justification to do so. Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Jacksonville native Rachel Kesler carries with her a positive attitude. Taking a glass-half-full approach, Kesler decided to use the free time she had by staying at home and social distancing to turn a hobby into a business. That business, A Bloom Bar, is a do-it-yourself flower shop that offer succulents, handmade pots and vases that are mostly made or donated by local businesses and residents. People bring me the coolest stuff, Kesler said. We have old, glass vases that women have stored for years. They dont want them, but they dont want to throw them out either. Keslers hobby was inspired by her travels, when she saw how people would sell flowers in the streets of Paris. They were all so beautiful, she said. People would just walk up, pick what they wanted and take them everything was so fresh. Since then, including while living in Chicago, she would have small pop-up events for people to attend and make their own arrangements duplicating what she saw in Europe. This basically allowed me to form my business plan, she said of renting small, temporary spaces in Chicago. Moving back to Jacksonville, Kesler set up small pop-up stands at businesses such as Our Town Books, Jax Yoga and Home Girls Boutique Shopping and Retail during the citys First Friday events. They were self-service stands, she said. However, as the stands grew, Kesler found herself hauling inventory a lot. I was hauling flowers around from the basement, she said. Then the pandemic hit; for Kesler, it was a perfect time to redirect her plans. I do think it helped because it gave me an opportunity to keep going and take a break at the same time, Kesler said. Kesler has been renovating a family-owned building at 1121 Veterans Drive to turn it into a permanent place for her business while keeping everything local. I can use locally grown flowers, she said. The store has limited hours as the business grows, though it also will be impacted by cooler weather. Her next public pop-up event is scheduled for Oct. 3. I would like to expand my hours at some point, she said. While some teams will remain unchanged, others will be reduced in size to align with our strategic priorities, he said. We are taking the right strategic actions on organizational focus and cost management to better align our capabilities and resources with the groups near- and medium-term priorities, while also supporting our long-term growth ambitions. Indivior said it was taking the actions to enhance its commercial and research and development focus while protecting its financial and operational flexibility in response to ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While some of the expected savings will be reinvested to support the continued growth of Sublocade and Perseris, Crossley said the company will retain a large portion of the expected savings to preserve the groups flexibility through the COVID-19 pandemic. Indivior has its corporate headquarters on Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield and has major operations in Slough, England. The company declined to say how many people work at its corporate offices here. United Kingdom-based Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc spun off its Chesterfield-based pharmaceutical unit and renamed it Indivior in December 2014. The Taliban insurgent group conducted several attacks in Afghanistan while the historic peace talks in Doha were underway. The recent surge of violence has undermined the first-ever direct talks between the government and the insurgent group. The group launched attacks on several security checkpoints in southern Afghanistan in one night, resulting in the death of 28 Afghan police offers, said officials. Deadly attacks amid peace talks According to Aljazeera, a spokesman for the Uruzgan governor, Zelgai Ebadi, said Taliban forces gave 28 police officials, both local and national, a chance to live and go home if they surrendered. However, after taking their guns, the insurgent group proceeded to kill every single personnel. A spokesman for the Taliban group, Qari Mohammad Yousuf Ahmadi, claimed responsibility for the assaults and said the insurgent group killed the police officers because they did not surrender. A local official speaking anonymously said that the death toll was recorded at 28 police personnel but added that three officers managed to escape with their lives. Ebadi said that despite reinforcements not being able to make it to the attacks' location, Afghan security forces quickly regained control of the security checkpoints shortly after. The recent attack comes after Sunday's assault, where at least 14 Afghan police officers and soldiers were killed in one night. Also Read: Afghan Government and Taliban Face-to-Face For Historic Peace Talks After Decades of Conflict In response to the vicious attacks, Afghan government forces continue to hunt down aggressive Taliban members. News reports wrote that on Saturday, airstrikes targeting the insurgent group accidentally killed about 24 civilians in Kunduz. The Ministry of Defense of the country said it was investigating the claims that civilians died due to the bombings. Experts say that the continuous violence and attacks show how both sides are unwilling to step down without concessions from the other party, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Difficult negotiations Friction in the initial stages of peace talks is common, especially in sensitive regions and processes. In Syria, peace talks have been stalled for several years as the Yemeni peace process is still stuck in the initial stage. The peace talks between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) took nearly four years before becoming successful. The recent attacks also pressure the negotiating teams in Doha to agree on concessions, starting on two divisive issues. The Taliban insurgent group is demanding that its peace talks with the Afghan government be based on the group's deal with the United States in February. The statement suggests that if the U.S. does not uphold its promise, the Taliban is not committed to continuing the Afghan government's peace talks. Kabul is demanding that the insurgent group follow similar rules to the Afghan-U.S. declaration, where the two countries committed themselves to work on negotiations and implementing a permanent cease-fire. The agreement between the United States and the Taliban has the American government withdrawing its military forces in the region over 14 months. The move is part of President Donald Trump's attempt to reduce the military footprint in Afghanistan before the November election. In exchange, the Taliban would work on preventing al Qaeda and other terrorist groups from conducting deadly assaults within the country and entering peace negotiations with the Afghan government. Related Article: Afghan Vice President Injured With Bomb Attack Ahead of Historic Peace Talks With Taliban Insurgent Group @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Delhi has likely put behind it the peak of a second wave of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, and the situation is expected to improve from hereon, chief minster Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday, expressing optimism that the capital has tided over the brunt of the health crisis. Its the first time Kejriwal has spoken of a second wave of the pandemic, tracing it to the month between August 17 and September 17. From July 1 to August 17, the number of Covid-19 cases in Delhi was under control. From August 17, cases started increasing. We acted like a responsible government and scaled up tests from around 20,000 per day to 60,000 per day, Kejriwal said on the sidelines of a visit to the Indian Agriculture Research Institute for the live demonstration of a crop stubble decomposition technology. Aggressive testing and isolation of patients is the best way to defeat Covid-19. With increased tests, the number of cases also increased, said Kejriwal. If we had done fewer tests, the numbers would have been less maybe close to 1,500 cases per day like earlier. But we went ahead. After September 16, when the number of new cases in a day was the highest, cases started dropping again despite heightened testing. Experts are of the opinion that the second of Covid-19 in Delhi is likely to have hit the peak, and now cases are expected to go down. Between July 1 and August 17, Delhi recorded a daily average of 1,375 cases of Covid-19. However, from August 18 till Thursday, the Capital added more than double that number, logging 2,822 new cases of the disease on average each day. According to medicinenet.com, a second wave refers to a phenomenon of infections that can develop during a pandemic in which a disease infects one group of people first and infections appear to decrease; then, infections increase in a different part of the population, resulting in a second wave of infections. Delhis health minister Satyendar Jain said earlier this month that a second wave is a situation in which new Covid-19 cases start surfacing after hitting zero or extremely low counts. Dr Puneet Misra, professor in the community medicines department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, said, The current spike in cases in Delhi can be attributed to multiple factors which include increased testing, further easing of lockdown restrictions and a large sense of complacency among people. However, it would be inaccurate to call it a second wave because Delhi did not witness a significantly steep drop in average cases for long enough in the past. Also, the current trends suggest that Delhi should take some more time in reaching its peak. Before the resurgence of cases, the seven-day average of daily cases in the Capital peaked at 3,446 on June 26 before falling to 983 on August 4. In the last seven days, Delhi has seen an average of above 3,700 new cases every day. On September 16, Delhi recorded 4,473 new cases in a day the highest so far. On Thursday, Delhi recorded 3,834 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total number of patients so far to 260,623, even as 224,375 people have recovered from the disease and 5,123 have died. Over 59,000 tests were recorded on Thursday, against 19,841 on August 25, government records showed. At this juncture, the Delhi government should keep up with the scaled-up tests and increase the proportion of RT-PCR {reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction} tests for better ascertainment of the prevalence of the disease. Currently, the positivity rate is around 7%. For one to say that the situation is under control, it should be less than 5%, said Lalit Kant, former head of the department of epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): RT-PCR is considered to be the gold standard of Covid-19 testing and the most accurate method of diagnosing the disease. Of the total tests recorded on Thursday, 9,814 were RT-PCR tests and 49,369 were rapid antigen tests, the government health bulletin showed.Rapid antigen tests are considered less accurate because they throw up false negative results. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 14:00:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MUMBAI -- 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. (India-House collapse) - - - KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's opposition leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Wednesday that he has a "strong" majority in the parliament to form a new government. Anwar 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. (Malaysia-Opposition) - - - - PHNOM PENH -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has told the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations that multilateralism is crucial to addressing complex global challenges and called on world leaders to pay serious attention to it. In a video-recorded statement released on Wednesday, Hun Sen said after the devastation of World War II, world leaders stated in the preamble of the UN Charter that the use of "international mechanism for the promotion of economic and social advancement of all peoples" was an essential means of securing peace, upholding human rights and ensuring social progress. (Cambodia-UN-Multilateralism) - - - - NEW DELHI -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India rose to 5,646,010 Wednesday morning, India's health ministry said. During the past 24 hours, 83,347 new cases were reported from across the country. Besides, 1,085 deaths were also recorded. (India-COVID-19) Enditem Religion is under siege, Bill Barr tells Catholics as he accepts award for service in the Lords vineyard Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Calling it the foundation of free society, Attorney General Bill Barr said religion in America is under siege and urged an audience at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast Wednesday to continue to advocate for religious liberty as he accepted an award from the group for his service in the Lords vineyard. Barr, who is described as a culture warrior Catholic by the National Catholic Reporter, was the second recipient of the annual Christifideles Laici Award created by the NCPB in 2019. The award highlights the work of the lay faithful who serve the church by spreading the Gospel in ways that are new in ardor, methods and expression in line with Pope Saint John Paul IIs exhortation of the New Evangelization. The award reads: "In honor and gratitude for the Fidelity to the Church, Exemplary Selfless and Steadfast Service in the Lord's Vineyard." Explaining that he was a little sheepish in accepting it because no one is really worthy of an award like this, Barr said he was honored to receive it because he admires the organizers of the annual event and those who are associated with it. He noted that the event, which had to be online this year because of the pandemic, served as a living testament to the vital role of the Church and its principles in American public life. Pointing out what he said the founders of the nation understood as the crucial link between religion and liberty, Barr said this understanding has been under threat from secularists over the last five decades. Unfortunately, in the last half-century, that foundation of our free society has increasingly been under siege. Traditional morality has eroded, and secularists have often succeeded not only in eliminating religion from schools and the public square, but in replacing it with a new orthodoxy that is actively hostile to religion, Barr said. The consequences of this hollowing out of religion have been predictably dire. Over the past 50 years, we have seen striking increases in urban violence, drug abuse, and broken families. Problems like these have fed the rise of an ever more powerful central government, one that increasingly saps individual initiative, coopts civil society, crowds out religious institutions, and ultimately reduces citizens to wards of the State, he added. While efforts are being taken to push back the efforts of secularists, Barr urged the faithful not to become complacent. As patriotic Americans and people of faith, we cannot be complacent about these trends. Yet nor should we give in to despair. More recently, thanks in part to organizations like this one, we have seen some small but significant steps toward the restoration of religion to its rightful place in American public life, he said. Barr then pointed to victories for religious liberty in the legal arena, citing three cases from the recent term of the Supreme Court in which the Department of Justice filed supporting briefs. In one case, the court reaffirmed the principle that the government cannot discriminate against religion in general funding programs, and struck down a provision of the Montana Constitution that had been interpreted to exclude religious schools from a scholarship program for underprivileged students. In another case, the court held that the First Amendment prohibits courts from intervening in employment disputes involving teachers at religious schools who are entrusted with the responsibility of instructing their students in the faith, Barr said. In the third case, the court considered a regulatory mandate requiring employers to provide contraceptive coverage to their employees, and upheld the administrations rules exempting the nuns of the Little Sisters of the Poor and other employers with moral and religious objections, he added. Barr argued that the disputes in each case should not have even occurred because in each case, the religious litigants were not asking for anything more than the basic freedom to exercise their faith and be treated the same as others. Advocating for religious liberty is just one way that lay Catholics and others can answer the call to serve. In his exhortation Christifideles Laici, for which the award I have the honor of accepting today is named, Saint John Paul II noted that the lay faithful are never to relinquish their participation in public life. At the same time, he emphasized that faith is first and foremost about how we live our daily lives, for the daily life itself of a truly Christian family makes up the first experience of Church, Barr said. Whatever our vocation in life, it is never too late to work in the Lords vineyard. Our spiritual renewal, and the renewal of our national character, depend on it. Thank you, and God Bless America. CHARLOTTE, N.C, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CAVU Resources (OTC: CAVR), welcomes shareholders and those interested in learning more about Cavu Resources to attend Week Two of "The Facts Series", today, at 4:00 pm est. Cavu Resources CEO, Bob Silver, hosted Week One of "The Facts Series" last Thursday, September 17th. He shared an overview about what CAVR has been doing over the past months and announced their exciting results and what's next. Read what other investorsHUB OTC investors were saying after the call. My god that call was amazing. (09-17-20) Dklosinski This beast can't stay hidden forever with the growth they are having. Loving the ability to load all I can before everyone catches on. (09-18-20) Stakena31 I love it! Just casual million dollar deals left and right for a company still at OTC levels, you know, no big deal :) (09-18-20) NeverSettle Topic of Today's Call (Week Two) Sinacori Builders, a Cavu Resources company present "The Life of a Deal" Highlighting the 4-million-dollar deal scheduled to close in Q1, 2021 with TriPointe Homes and an overview and introduction to Sinacori Builders Projects and Cavu Resources Assets hosted by Sinacori Builders President, Russ Sinacori. Special Guest, Tim Samuels, former NVR (Ryan Homes) executive and CAVR Board Member will share some exciting news. Call In Details Time: Sep 24, 2020 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81938607859?pwd=Yy9TT2pwQldzUWZVNnpsNG41T0o2Zz09 Meeting ID: 819 3860 7859 Passcode: 5Sk8VM Upcoming Calls October 1st - 4:00 PM ET. (Week Three) Live Soku App Walkthrough, Demo and Update hosted by Cavu Resources Chief Developer, Shaun Fuller October 8th - 4:00 PM ET.(Week Four) The New and Exciting "Growing Together Academy" soon to be a world premier online dual education platform for students and parents of Millennial and Gen Z Families hosted by Toi Hershman, Doctor of Instructional Design and Technology with Special Guest Actor on CBS's Young Sheldon, Wyatt McClure, partnered with Brad Lea and LightspeedVT. October 15th - 4:00 PM ET.(Week Five) The Drip. A planned new exciting acquisition and addition to the Cavu Resources family. The Drip will be introduced by Cavu Resources CEO Bob Silver and Sinacori Builders President Russ Sinacori. Special Guest, Darren Tarver. October 22nd - 4:00 PM ET.(Week Six) Cavu Resources - A Lifestyle Brand Focusing on the Millennial and Gen Z Family and how they Meet, Live, Eat, Educate, and Entertain hosted by Cavu Resources CEO Bob Silver. Forward-Looking Statements Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, among other thing, statements regarding the offering, the expected gross proceeds, the expected use of proceeds and the expected closing of the offering. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's ability to develop, market and sell its products; the expected benefits and efficacy of the Company's products; the availability of substantial additional funding for the Company to continue its operations and to conduct research and development, and future product commercialization; and, the Company's business, research, product development, marketing and distribution plans and strategies. Please join us for these informative calls. For those interested in receiving direct communication and recorded copies of these calls, please email your contact information to infContact:[email protected] Contact: +1-704-497-4423 [email protected] SOURCE CAVU Resources Inc. Conservative political commentator Lou Dobbs has claimed there is no point considering whether Donald Trump could lose Novembers election, as he shared an excerpt from his own book with viewers. Speaking on Wednesday night, the Fox Business anchor said his shows quote of the day had come from his book on the US president, The Trump Century. The Lou Dobbs Tonight quote of the day comes from my new book, said Mr Dobbs, whose show aired as president Trump suggested there wont be a transfer of power following Novembers vote. If president Trump can win again, he would join Winston Churchill and Alexander the Great among the greatest leaders of world history, the host said, quoting his own book. And if he falls short, well, there is no point in considering the possibility. Hes a winner the winner, Mr Dobbs added. The president claimed on Wednesday that there would not be a power transfer, but a continuation, as he was questioned about a possible election loss. We're going to have to see what happens, the president told White House reporters.There wont be a transfer, therell be a continuation. Mr Trump added that mail-in ballots are out of control, as he suggested without basis that some would be got rid of as votes are counted on election night. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden condemned that statement, saying What country are we in? Meanwhile, Republican senator Mitt Romney said the presidents comments reminded him of Belarus Europes last so-called dictatorship. Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus, said Mr Romney on Twitter. The US president tweeted last month that Mr Dobbs had written a great new book on him, saying: Strongly recommended...A special guy! BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 Trend: During his official visit to Georgia, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Deputy Chairman of the Georgian parliament Kakha Kuchava on September 24, 2020, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. The sides noted the further strengthening of the existing high-level relations between the two countries based on the principles of friendship and good neighborliness. In this regard, the sides stressed that the existing strategic relations between the two countries, as well as joint regional projects with the participation of countries, contribute to peace, security, and prosperity in the region. The sides also emphasized that respect for the norms and principles of international law constitutes the basis of bilateral relations, and the two countries unambiguously support each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Touching upon the relations between the Azerbaijani and Georgian parliaments, the sides stressed that this cooperation is at a high level and that it is important to increase bilateral efforts to further develop this cooperation. The sides stressed that the friendship groups on interparliamentary relations played an important role in further strengthening high-level relations between the two countries. Kuchava personally expressed condolences to the minister and the people of Azerbaijan on the events that happened in the direction of the Tovuz district of Azerbaijan and stressed the importance of the peaceful resolution of the conflicts in the region. In his turn, Bayramov stressed that the two countries share common history, culture, and traditions, and also face common security threats, and noted about the protracted conflicts in the region. The minister also spoke about Armenias aggressive policy, the latest military provocation committed by the Armenian armed forces along the international border of the two countries, as well as the current tense situation in the region. Bayramov added that the ongoing provocative statements and actions of the current leadership of Armenia undermine the negotiation process on the settlement of the conflict. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. At the end of the meeting, Bayramov signed the Guest Book of the Georgian parliament. American conspiracy theorist Bob Lazar claims to have been a defence contractor and physicist at the Nellis Air Force Base complex, said to contain Area 51. In 1989, Lazar gave a TV interview in which he claimed to have helped reverse engineer alien aircraft for the U.S. military. In the decades since, he became famous for his theories about the existence of extraterrestrial life and technology, including the existence of flying saucers and intelligent Grey aliens. He says his research and credentials have been suppressed or destroyed by the U.S. government. He was the subject of a 2018 documentary released on Netflix called Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers. He published Dreamland: An Autobiography in 2019. On April 27, 2020, the Pentagon released three videos of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) captured by tracking systems on Navy jets. One was taken in November 2004 and the other two in January 2015. The videos were leaked to the public and disseminated by the New York Times and Tom DeLonges To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science. The videos show objects nicknamed Gimbal, Go Fast and FLIR moving at high speeds and apparently violating the laws of aerodynamics. Want to learn more? Check out the Stars coverage on Bob Lazar, extraterrestrials and local UFO sightings: July 28, 2020: Secret UFO files? In Canada the truth is out there online and searchable (Wanyee Li) Its the stuff of UFO enthusiasts dreams or conspiracy theorists nightmares. In mid-July, the New York Times reported that the Pentagon has actively investigated reports of UFOs, citing a Senate committee report that called the program the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force. According to the report, if Congress passes the Intelligence Authorization Act, it could force the Pentagon to release the programs findings. But thats in America. As it turns out, Canada is ahead of the curve when it comes to transparency around UFO phenomenon. The Canadian government even hosts a publicly searchable archive of government records dating back to the 1950s. July 24, 2020: Vinay Menon: Evidence suggests UFO whistleblower Bob Lazar was telling the truth all along Vinay Menon writes: For nearly a century, U.S. intel gathering under clandestine programs Project Mogul, Project Sign, Project Grudge, Project Blue Book, Project Ozma had one guiding principle: blanket denial. The outcome in each case was official excuses: UFOs were weather balloons or street lamps or migrating birds. They were not real. All of this has changed dramatically in the last few years. Vinay asks: isnt it time Area 51 whistleblower Bob Lazar got a second hearing in the court of public opinion? April 28, 2020: Vinay Menon: UFO revelation should be stunning, but COVID-19 has us too locked down to care A global pandemic seems like an odd time to release UFO videos, writes Vinay Menon. On Monday, April 27, the U.S. Department of Defense declassified and officially released three videos of unidentified flying objects. And contrary to the official statement, the videos didnt clear up any misconceptions they just created new questions were too frazzled to answer in lockdown. June 25, 2019: Vinay Menon: Film on Netflix finds UFO whistleblower Bob Lazar seeming less crazy than ever The most chilling part of Bob Lazars story is that it has not changed in 30 years, writes Vinay Menon. The scientist first made global headlines in 1989 with allegations that were truly out of this world: the U.S. government had recovered alien spacecraft and were analyzing the vessels at a top-secret base in Nevada, close to Area 51. Now, with the release of Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers on Netflix, its time to question whether his claims were as outlandish as they first seemed. April 12, 2016: Toronto area had 78 UFO sightings last year, survey finds For at least 78 people in Toronto, the truth was also flying right in front of their eyes in 2015, according to a survey from Winnipeg-based Ufology Research. GTA residents reported 78 UFOs in 2015, ranking below only Montreal, which had 97 reports. The group says the total reports across Canada in 2015 were an increase from the year before. Read on for descriptions of six potential extraterrestrial sightings Canadians had in 2015, from Vernon, B.C., to Fredericton, N.B. Jan 19, 2017: Are you brave enough to drive Nevadas Extraterrestrial Highway? (Jennifer Bain) Do not, under any circumstances, cross the line that separates perfectly legal thrill ride into Area 51 into instant arrest by the U.S. military. Googling Area 51 probably wont give you any state-sanctioned directions either. But for the discerning UFO enthusiast, theres always the Extraterrestrial Highway, writes Jennifer Bain. July 27, 2014: Was it a UFO? Flashing flying object reported over Toronto Torontonians were looking for answers after several UFO sightings were reported in North York in late July of 2014. One resident even managed to capture it on video. June 2, 2013: UFO sightings have doubled in Canada: Are there aliens among us? Chris Rutkowski and Geoff Dittman of Ufology Research reported a leap in UFO sightings in Canada in their 2013 survey: 986 reported in 2011; 1,981 last year, or about five each day. Ontario had more sightings than any other province. PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SurveySparrow, one of the fastest-growing experience platforms, recently announced its much-awaited integration with Slack, an instant messaging and collaboration system. The integration helps Slack users to collect employee or customer feedback, manage customer service, conduct daily scrums, monitor employee engagement and ensure faster customer support, right from the Slack workspaces. "Slack is a powerful collaboration system, and with this new integration, we hope to simplify the workflows to drive actions faster. As we're trying to recover from a global pandemic it's crucial that we have the right tools and right solutions to enable our remote employees to conduct business as usual. SurveySparrow-Slack integration helps you boost employee performance, conduct employee surveys, improve customer support management and collect actionable feedback within the workspace of Slack, saving a lot of time and effort." -Shihab Muhammed, Founder & CEO, SurveySparrow, With the SurveySparrow-Slack integration going live, SurveySparrow users can now share their surveys via Slack channels, and thus drive actions a lot faster. Being an end-to-end experience solution that has advocated the power of refined experiences, it's the scalability of Slack that helped this collaboration happen. As the world tries to recover from the pandemic and organizations across the globe are struggling with stranded teams, SurveySparrow's integration with Slack helps to simplify the entire employee feedback and engagement programs and manage it within Slack. Nor do the survey administers or the employees have to shuffle multiple tools. SurveySparrow adapts into your existing ecosystem and lets you share any survey via Slack channels or direct messages. Teams can access them right from the chat and, thus, avoid the forms getting drowned in cluttered email inboxes. Real-time notifications let you stay on top of your surveys and also guarantee more response rates, as well as completion rates. You get to monitor employee tasks, project progress, employee pulse and more with minimal intrusion. This brand-new integration with Slack helps SurveySparrow users to continue their conversations in Slack without distractions. Launched in 2017, October SurveySparrow introduced the world's first chat surveys and has evolved into an end-to-end experience management platform in less than three years. The conversational interface helps you collect up to 40% more responses and is more engaging than plain, dull forms. Constantly expanding and adding more solutions into their experience management suite, SurveySparrow has a growing customer base of 20,000 and is determined to cross 40,000 by the year-end. About SurveySparrow SurveySparrow is a leading experience management platform on a mission to help brands refine experiences at every touchpoint. SurveySparrow's platform bundles Customer, Employee & Product Experience tools such as NPS, Offline, Chat and Classic Surveys which are mobile-first, highly engaging and user-friendly. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, SurveySparrow's platform empowers 25,000 plus customers across 149 countries including Warner Bros, Grant Thornton, Deloitte, Siemens, Godrej and more. For more information, please visit www.surveysparrow.com Press Contact Tessy Mathew Email: [email protected] Contact: +1 (800) 481-0410 Related Images surveysparrow.png SurveySparrow SurveySparrow Logo Related Links SurveySparrow SOURCE SurveySparrow So it makes sense that during one of the most tumultuous years for restaurants in recent history, Kokonas was one of the first to adapt. In late February and early March, not only was he one of the few restaurateurs in Chicago talking about how the coronavirus pandemic could seriously challenge the restaurant industry, he was also attempting to come up with ways to survive. Heres more about his entrepreneurial efforts. Nick Kindelsberger Story Highlights 61% prefer amending Constitution to use popular vote to elect president 89% of Democrats, 23% of Republicans favor popular vote Democrats' preference for popular vote highest in two decades WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Heading into the 2020 presidential election, three in five Americans favor amending the U.S. Constitution to replace the Electoral College with a popular vote system, marking a six-percentage point uptick since April 2019. This preference for electing the president based on who receives the most votes nationwide is driven by 89% of Democrats and 68% of independents. Far fewer Republicans, 23%, share this view, as 77% of them support keeping the current system in which the candidate with the most votes in the Electoral College wins the election. Americans Favor Using Popular Vote to Elect President Thinking for a moment about the way in which the president is elected in this country, which would you prefer -- to amend the Constitution so the candidate who receives the most total votes nationwide wins the election, or to keep the current system, in which the candidate who wins the most votes in the Electoral College wins the election? Amend the Constitution Keep current system % % Total U.S. adults 61 38 Republicans 23 77 Independents 68 31 Democrats 89 10 GALLUP, Aug. 31-Sep. 13, 2020 Gallup has periodically measured public attitudes about the process of electing the president using this question since shortly after the 2000 election when George W. Bush won the electoral vote, and Al Gore won the popular vote. The latest findings, from an Aug. 31- Sept. 13 Gallup poll, are similar to readings after the 2000 election and in 2004 and 2011. Of the seven times this question was asked over the past two decades, support for amending the Constitution to abolish the Electoral College only fell below the majority level once -- in November 2016 after Donald Trump won the electoral vote and Hillary Clinton the popular vote. At that point, 49% of Americans wanted the current system to be replaced, and 47% wanted it to remain in place. By 2019, support for using the national vote totals over the Electoral College had risen to 55%. Line graph. Americans' preference for the way to elect a president in the U.S. since 2000. Currently, 61% would prefer to amend the Constitution so the candidate who receives the most total votes nationwide wins, and 38% would prefer to keep the current system. Between 1967 and 1980, Gallup tracked the public's appetite for changing the electoral system with a similarly worded question and found majorities of 58% to 80% approved of amending the Constitution to "do away with the Electoral College and base the election of a president on the total vote cast throughout the nation." Democrats and Republicans Consistently Differ on Electoral Preference Republicans have been consistently less supportive of eliminating the Electoral College throughout the past 20 years compared with Democrats and independents. Yet, the divergence between Republicans and Democrats has been much greater since 2016. After Trump defeated Clinton, Democrats were more than four times as likely as Republicans to favor using the national popular vote to elect U.S. presidents. This was due both to Democrats becoming more supportive and Republicans less supportive of the Electoral College system in the wake of Trump's victory. While Republicans have become slightly more supportive of this concept since then, Democrats are still far more likely to favor it. Line graph. Partisans' preferences for the way to elect a president in the U.S. since 2000. Currently, 89% of Democrats, 68% of independents and 23% of Republicans would prefer to amend the Constitution, so the candidate who receives the most total votes nationwide wins. Democrats and independents have consistently been more supportive of abolishing the Electoral College than Republicans. In contrast, data from the similar question about doing "away with the Electoral College" between 1967 and 1980 found majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents alike favored the concept. Bottom Line Presidential candidates have only won the electoral vote and lost the popular vote four times in U.S. history, and two of these occurrences have been in the last five presidential elections. In both 2000 and 2016, the Republican candidates won the Electoral College while the Democratic candidates won the popular vote. This is likely the main reason behind Democrats' strong support -- and Republicans' strong opposition -- to changing the current system to use the popular vote to elect the U.S. president. That is, Americans' opinions are increasingly driven by what would benefit their party. Amending the Constitution to abolish the Electoral College system in the U.S. requires support from two-thirds of both houses of Congress and three-quarters of the 50 states. Given the current polarization among partisans on the issue, there is little chance that such an amendment will happen anytime soon. An alternate proposal that would not require a constitutional amendment -- The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact -- is an agreement between states to award all of its electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the overall popular vote. It has been adopted by 15 states and the District of Columbia, but it, too, is sharply politicized. View complete question responses and trends (PDF download). Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. An art historian has said the statues depict Egyptian and Nubian women rather than what were believed to be two princesses and their slave girls, according to the Irish Times. The statues were controversially removed in July by hotel management as statues linked to colonialism and slavery were toppled by Black Lives Matter protestors around the world. The owner of the hotel, US multinational property company Kennedy Wilson, has now told Dublin City Council it intends to return the statues to their plinths outside the hotel on St Stephens Green. The bronze sculptures were commissioned by the hotel in 1867 and stood for more than 150 years before being taken down earlier this year. Complaints The move prompted several complaints to the city council, revolving around the fact that the historic facade of the hotel is a protected structure and cannot be altered without prior planning permission. Advertisement On July 26th, the council sent an enforcement letter giving hotel management four weeks to respond to the claims of an alleged planning breach. An art historian from University College Dublin, Professor Paula Murphy, was commissioned by the hotel owner to examine the statues. Prof Murphy, who is an expert on sculpture, concluded the statues were not depictions of slaves. No date for the reinstallation of the statues has been established, however, they will be restored after they have been cleaned along with a plaque explaining their background. CHENNAI: Madras High Court on Thursday granted 30-day parole to former PM Rajiv Gandhis assassination case convict Perarivalan alias Arivu. A few months ago, his mother Arputhammal had moved the High Court seeking parole on humanitarian grounds, given her sons prevailing health conditions and the high risk he faced at a time when many of his fellow jail inmates were testing COVID-19 positive. His mother had sought 90-day parole for his treatment in view of his declining health conditions. Despite the state governments refusal to grant parole earlier under the exemption available in the prison rules, a division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice P Velmurugan directed the state to grant him parole. Although Perarivalan was convicted in 1991 under the grounds of having provided two 9 volt batteries, which were used in making the bomb that killed Rajiv Gandhi, it was established later that he merely procured the batteries without knowing about the conspiracy or what the batteries would be used for. He has been languishing in prison for 29 years and there have been many voices demanding his release. Live TV Earlier, Perarivalans counsel had argued that he deserved parole on health grounds, pointing out that the Governments counter-affidavit too makes a mention of the various ailments that the convict is suffering from. However, the State Public Prosecutor had rejected the same saying that prisoners are entitled for leave only once in two years. It was added that Arivu had been last granted parole from November 2019 to January this year. Carole Baskin sent the Loose Women panel a pre-recorded clip on Thursday, a week after cancelling her interview on the ITV programme. The big-cat rights activist, 59, revealed to viewers that her husband Howard will be stepping in to discuss all things Tiger King via live link on Friday's edition of the show as she continues to train for Dancing With The Stars. In her video, the Big Cat Rescue CEO issued a warning to Jane Moore, Christine Lampard, Judi Love and Gloria Hunniford as she claimed they'll be 'asking for a Baskin' if he doesn't return in one piece following his interview. She's finally arrived! Carole Baskin sent the Loose Women panel a pre-recorded clip on Thursday, a week after cancelling her interview on the ITV programme The media personality addressed her no-show earlier this month as she admitted she's been preoccupied with dance commitments on the US version of Strictly Come Dancing. The reality star said: 'I'm happy that my husband will be stepping in and speaking for me. He is such a wonderful person and you'll love him so much as I love him so much. 'In fact, when he's done I want him back girls... if you don't send him back, you're kind of asking for a Baskin!' 'Oooh, asking for a Baskin. What is a Baskin?', presenter Christine, 41, squealed, before comedian Judi, 40, joked: 'We don't want to find out, send him back quick time! Listen, I was obsessed with that show, there's too much juice!' Exciting times ahead: The big-cat rights activist, 59, revealed to viewers that her husband Howard will be stepping in to discuss all things Tiger King via live link on Friday's edition Uh oh: The reality star issued a warning to Jane Moore, Christine Lampard, Judi Love and Gloria Hunniford as she claimed they'll be 'asking for a Baskin' if he doesn't return in one piece Speaking out: The Big Cat Rescue CEO addressed her no-show as she admitted she's been preoccupied with dance commitments on the US version of Strictly Earlier this month, Loose Women viewers were left bitterly disappointed when Baskin cancelled her appearance on the show. Despite being tipped to chat to the panel, the big cat enthusiast cancelled at the last minute, in a move that came hours after her late husband Don Lewis's family funded an advertisement during her Dancing With The Stars debut. She caused shockwaves when she signed up to Dancing With The Stars and keen to capitalise on her appearance, Don's relatives opted to take out an advert seeking information on his alleged murder. Outrage: Earlier this month, Loose Women viewers were left bitterly disappointed when Baskin cancelled her appearance on the show After Tiger King hit Netflix earlier this year, many viewers were intrigued by rumours that she had killed Don and fed him to the big cats in her sanctuary. Despite incessant denials, the Lewis family used her DWTS debut to air a 50-second clip calling for information about his 1997 disappearance in 1997 and offered a $100,000 reward is being offered for any leads. Following the advert's release, Carole said: 'I haven't seen it, but I'm not surprised. Spending time worrying about what Im doing is probably not a really good use of your time', before she insisted the move was a publicity stunt. Oh no: The big cat enthusiast cancelled at the last minute, in a move that came hours after her late husband's family funded an advertisement during her Dancing With The Stars debut The scandal surrounding the advert led to debate that her reason for cancelling on Loose Women was due to the controversy. Andrea McLean said on the show: 'Carole has denied any involvement in husband's disappearance, he has formally been declared dead, she is now remarried.' As well as the advert hypothesis, other angry viewers alleged that the producers had merely been drawing in viewers and claimed the incident was 'a s**t show'. After the show aired, the panellists reached out to Carole with a video saying they were always there for her if she needs be. Carole reportedly said: 'I am so sorry, I screwed up my ever changing schedule, phone of hook with fan support/interviews... I have hours where Dancing With The Stars wants me. That has to be my priority.' Viewers soon flooded Twitter, writing: 'Come on @loosewomen Carol Baskin mugged you off big time !! Couldn't even be bothered to apologise to you... Not convinced: Viewers weren't happy 'Don't blame the time difference (she managed to 'commit' knowing this), don't blame an advert we probably weren't likely to have seen, have some manner... 'Sorry but how the f**k has #LooseWomen been allowed to advertise Carol Baskin appearing on their show all morning knowing that wasnt going to happen... 'What a s**t show... Wtf #loosewomen so I've just sat though all that waiting for Carol Baskin and the drama and there isn't again... Outrage: Fan flooded social media to comment on the debacle 'I only turned into this gargabe for the Carole Baskin interview, this show should be axed... Carole Baskin thinks she is too good for #LooseWomen... 'You dont have a lot of time with her because you wasted time on that non interview with Carole Baskin #LooseWomen... Why was the whole Carole Baskin interview made such a big deal of there?! Struggling for content maybe? #LooseWomen... 'Carole Baskin has apparently promised to give #LooseWomen her first UK exclusive interview? First the exclusive Coronavirus whistleblower and now this.' [sic] 'His big interview with Carol Baskin theyve been banging on about for days and it never happened. Why not say that in the first place? Desperate for viewers much?!' WASHINGTONThe 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 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 Donald Trump and his allies have made criticism of major tech platforms a regular talking point in his campaign for reelection, 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. On Wednesday, the president met with Republican state attorneys general to discuss social media censorship, said the association that works on behalf of Republican attorneys general. In May, Trump issued an executive order meant to push some federal agencies to make changes to the law. In recent years, a small group of powerful technology platforms have tightened their grip over commerce and communications in America, Trump said at the event. The legislation proposed by the Justice Department on Wednesday, which grew out of recommendations the agency made this year, seems unlikely to move forward in the coming months. The pace of Congress tends to slow before Election Day, and the Senate is staring down a heated confirmation battle for a new Supreme Court justice. The draft legislation also includes language that is meant to limit the circumstances under which platforms are protected for moderating content, changes that could lead to the platforms assuming legal liability for taking down certain political speech. But there is a growing group of critics who say Section 230 has allowed Silicon Valley to get away with taking a dangerous hands-off approach to social media. Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, has said it should be revoked. Lawmakers from both parties have introduced measures that would modify the protections, though none have gained real traction in Congress. In 2018, Congress modified Section 230 so that the protections did not cover platforms that knowingly facilitated sex trafficking. Proponents of that change say it tamped down trafficking online. But critics say the change made it harder for sex workers to safely vet potential clients, putting them at greater risk. Online platforms and their representatives in Washington say Section 230 has played a vital role in allowing free speech to flourish online and has been integral to Silicon Valleys rapid growth. Without the protections, they say, it would be impossible to sustain the scale of the internet economy. They also point to Section 230s protections for how content is moderated to argue that the law is what allows them to police their platforms. This is not about stopping crimes; its about advancing political interests, said Carl Szabo, the vice president of NetChoice, a trade group that represents Google and Facebook. Were essentially turning over to the courts an incredible amount of power to decide what is and is not appropriate for people who go on the internet. The conservative attacks on Section 230 stem from complaints that platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter skew against conservative content. Trump has chafed at instances when Twitter has labelled his tweets as possibly misleading, for example. But despite the accusations of censorship on the right, conservative publications and figures regularly dominate the rankings of high-performing posts on Facebook and have built dedicated followings on video platforms like YouTube. In late May, not long after Twitter fact-checked his tweets for the first time, Trump signed an executive order that asked the Commerce Department to petition the Federal Communications Commission to limit the scope of Section 230. A couple of months later, the Commerce Department submitted its petition, asking the FCC to find that a platform is not protected when it moderates or highlights user content based on a reasonably discernible viewpoint or message, without having been prompted to, asked to or searched for by the user. It is unclear what the FCC, which is an independent regulator, will do with the petition. Brian Hart, a spokesman for the FCC, said he had no update on the status of the petition. Read more about: Regional lawmaker fined over $3,000 for shooting West Siberian Laikas dead flickr.com/ Dzmitry Kamenda 14:00 24/09/2020 MOSCOW, September 24 (RAPSI) A court in Russias Kirov Region has fined a local lawmaker 240,000 rubles (over $3,000) for shooting several West Siberian Laikas dead with a hunting rifle, according to a statement of the Prosecutor Generals Office. Moreover, the court has granted a victims claim for moral and material damage compensation, the statement reads. The lawmaker of the Kirov Region Legislative Assembly has been found guilty of cruelty to animals and intended destruction of property of another. According to case papers, on December 29, 2019, the defendant driving his snow-going vehicle near one of the local villages shot at least five times at several West Siberian Laikas. The dogs died. Damage caused to the animals owned was estimated at 108,000 rubles (about $1,400). The changing narratives of the author on his role as the messiah and alter ego of the PNDC Governments decentralization processes will be shown in this sequel to my Critique V to have been a figment of the authors imagination. Kwamena Ahwoi as one of the small cogs in the Rawlings PNDC democratization and decentralization policy programme A critical analysis of Kwamena Ahwois Working with Rawlings shows him recognizing from pages 61 to 71 of the book that the he was not the brain behind the decentralization concept of the 31st December Revolution. The Provisional National Defence Council Policy Guidelines for Ministries and Regional Administrations, May, 1982, a copy of which I still have, was the genesis of the policy underpinnings of the PNDCs vision on Local Government and Decentralization. The author in his sobber moments admits that the processes leading to the Public Administration Restructuring and Decentralization Implementation Committee (PARDIC) was not his brainchild. The Akuse Committee which supervised the production of the Blue Book was under the Chairmanship of the late Mr. Justice D. F. Annan PNDC Member and ably supported by his colleague, the late Mr. Ebo Tawiah, PNDC Member to whom any credit for the production of the Blue Book should have been given not to mention the numerous technocrats who translated the various policies into a coherent whole for the Committee. The NCD was the organ of the PNDC charged with holding consultation with the people to determine the acceptability of the proposals. Kwamena Ahwoi a mere secretary to a touring committee takes credit for anything the committee does. A secretary to any touring committee chaired by senior members of Government is analogous to any properly certified professional private secretary in the public service posted to a Ministers office without whom most ministers cannot function efficiently but who by secretariat professional ethics must always remain anonymous: this was basic first year post middle school training and indoctrination at the then Tamale Commercial Institute in September 1966. The Blue Book when it was presented to and accepted by the PNDC who commissioned it became the property of the PNDC and all contributions to its making dissolved into the PNDC which employed and appointed the committee. Of course, the author as usual wishes the world to know that at one point he acted as PNDC Secretary for Information and he could not have achieved such self-adulation without this narrative. No other person to use Chairman as head of the decentralized Assemblies Rawlings the only Chairman Secretaries and members to Government Committees are by settled rules of confidentiality forbidden from talking about their work or the proceedings at meetings except with express permission of the Chairpersons of the Committees. The author, a mere member of the Akuse Committee which was an adjunct of the NCD sees himself at liberty to narrate in his book about the decision of the Committee to designate the person who was to preside over proceedings of the District Assembly as Chairman of the Assembly but adds sarcastically that: For some reason Rawlings was uncomfortable with that nomenclature. Read within the overall context of the authors book the author appears to have created the impression that Chairman Rawlings did not want any other persons to share in the designation of Chairman because he was himself Chairman of the PNDC. Chairman Rawlings did not want several chairmen to dilute his importance. The head of the district assembly was therefore designated the Presiding Member of the District Assembly. One may ask, was the Akuse Committee meeting with Rawlings at which he appeared uncomfortable with the nomenclature at a private meeting or a regular PNDC meeting the results of which were intended to be treated as confidential? Was this narrative needful except to cast Rawlings in a certain unfavourable light as usual to the reading public? While denigrating Chairman Rawlings in the above manner the author pretends to credit Chairman Rawlings with the introduction of the concept of a percentage of the membership should be reserved for appointment by the PNDC to enable the Council to appoint persons with the needed experience, expertise and qualifications to complement the elected members who may not have those qualities. In the authors own narrative, it was only with hindsight that the author saw Chairman Rawlings foresight as one of the most significant in terms of the qualitative nature of the District Assemblies and made Rawlings into a near-clairvoyant The author does not appreciate that in well-bred homes speaking of an elders contribution not to talk of the head of states in that way is insulting and not a compliment. Decentralization and Local Government, 1988, PNDCL 207 An analysis of the authors whole messianic rhetorical narrative was geared towards the fulfilment of one revolutionary prophecy the ownership of the Local Government Law, 1988 (PNDCL 207: As PNDC Secretary for Local Government I was assigned the responsibility for converting the amended Blue Book proposals into a functioning local government legislation. For this purpose, I set up a Ministerial Task Force which worked under my Chairmanship. The PNDC Political Committee co-chaired by the late Mr. Justice D. F. Annan and Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, both members of the PNDC, was responsible for relaying political directions and decisions normally cleared with Chairman Rawlings to the Ministerial Task Force. Here we have a neotype with no previous experience whatsoever in running a Ministry being hoisted upon an already existing ministerial taskforce of experts (who had been working on converting the policies contained in the bluebook into legislation with the assistance of the Attorney Generals Office) as the Chairman and disingenuously claiming to have set the taskforce up. The bluebook was not sitting idle in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development since 1st July 1987 when it was published awaiting Kwamena Ahwoi, the messiah. The Political directives which became part of the Local Government Law, 1988, PNDCL 207 such as (a) the number of districts to be created (100), (b) the average representation ratio (1:500-1,500); (c) the manner of consultation for the PNDC appointment of the one-third membership of the District Assemblies; (d) the sectors of public administration to be decentralized; (e ) the mode of financing the District Assemblies had gone through the Joint Committee of Secretaries and approved by the PNDC before the messiah arrived in the Ministry after 5th April 1988. The Local Government Law, 1988 (PNDCL 207) was gazetted on 11th November 1988. It does not take only five months from April 1988 to 11th November 1988 to translate an important policy document such as the bluebook into legislation such as PNDCL 207. I was the Deputy Attorney General running the Ministry with the Attorney General in hospital when PNDCL 207 was passed and I say that Kwamena Ahwoi is as usual again appropriating the collective efforts of several dedicated members of the Joint Committee of Secretaries and its political and legislative sub-committee and the PNDC as his messianic property. The authors own manner of making contradictory narratives negates the fact that the PNDC was waiting for him as a messiah to enact and implement the Local Government Law, 1988 (PNDCL 207. In the authors own words at page 72 of his book after triumphantly taking the credit for enactment of PNDCL 207 he states as follows: Once the Local Government Law, 1988, PNDCL 207 was enacted the programme for the conduct of district level elections and the establishment of the District Assemblies was put together. The assignment was under the co-chairmanship of Justice Annan and Captain Tsikata. This proves, if factual proof be needed, that the PNDCs agenda for the implementation of its policy contained in The District Political Authority and Modalities for District Level Elections, 1987 was well planned and coordinated from top to bottom and vice versa from the highest level of Government. The PNDC inception policy for grass root democracy and decentralization would have materialized whether or not the self-perceived Messiah Kwamena Ahwoi lived or died. The District Assemblies which were born would have been born under the Chairmanship of Jerry John Rawlings with or without Kwamena Ahwoi. Responsibility for professional drafting of legislation for approval and enactment by the PNDC: the case of the Local Government (Amendment) (No. 2) Law, 1990 My second confession in my second critique of Kwamena Ahwois Working with Rawlings was about the dispute needlessly generated by Nana Ato Dadzie between the author and I about the proper procedure for making and submitting legislation to the PNDC for consideration and approval for finalization for the signature of the Chairman of the PNDC. This arose from a letter I wrote to the Chairman of the PNDC as the PNDC Deputy Secretary for Justice and Attorney-General with reference number L. 21/87/Vol. II dated 28th December 1990 on the Local Government (Amendment) (NO. 2) Law, 1990. As usual, the authors response to Nana Ato Dadzie, the PNDC Secretary, at the PNDC Secretariats letter with reference number PNDC/S. 272/Vol. 3 dated 3rd January 1991, by the PNDC Secretary for Local Governments letter with reference number SCR/MSG.119 dated 3rd January 1991 triumphantly evaded the propriety of not following proper legislative procedures in enacting PNDC Laws by quoting the policy statement announced by the Chairman of the PNDC in his new years day address to the nation, touting his over (9) years experience in very high Government positions, calling my letter self serving, and taking cover under a misunderstood interpretation of the concept of collective responsibility of the cabinet. I immediately responded in my letter with reference number L. 21/87/Vol. 11 dated 7th January 1991 stating that I wrote my letter on 28th December 1990 and the Chairmans address he was using to justify his unprofessional conduct was a mere after thought as it was made on 1st January 1991. I wasted my time in stating in my letter with reference number L. 21/87/Vol. 11 dated 7th January 1991 that: 10. I am at a loss as to the self serving statements contained in my letter. In submitting Laws to the PNDC or the Chairman of the PNDC for approval or signature one performs both professional and ministerial functions. I take professional responsibility when my recommendations are not in accordance with laid down procedure for enacting Laws by the PNDC or the Chairman of the PNDC. I could be liable for disciplinary proceedings for misconduct by the General Legal Council. These are statements of fact and Law. If they appear to be self serving that is unfortunate, but I am under oath to maintain the ethics of the profession. Thus in discharging my individual professional responsibility there cannot be collective responsibility. I had assumed all along that Kwamena Ahwoi who always behaved as a person properly enrolled to practice law in Ghana and posed as a legislative draft person, Chief Justice of the judicial and quasi-judicial organs of the revolution was a qualified legal practitioner. He held himself out as one and I had no grounds to doubt his posturing having known him in Commonwealth Hall and the Faculty of Law before he went abroad. It took me two more years to learn the truth in London in or around September 1993 in a conversation with a common friend. Unfortunately, Kwamena was convinced I intended to malign him in those letters. The opportunity or temptation put in my path to read Kwamena Ahwois Working with Rawlings has enlightened me on the substance of his appreciation of issues and the serious shortfalls in his critical thinking capabilities as a scholar. I now empathize with him and appreciate his personal challenges, trauma, and the psychological state of mind of wanting to suppress his shortfalls and appearing to be an erudite professor of law, and the messiah and architect of decentralization in Ghana. Whatever empathy one may have for Mr. Kwamena Ahwois mental health challenges disabling him from rising to his feet again after his adversities in pursuing his professional law courses in the United Kingdom and Ghana will not help his situation should a blind eye be turned to his continuing claims of sole credit for the invaluable contributions of the numerous Chief Directors of the Ministry of Local Government such as Mr. Joseph K. Amoako, Mr. S. Y. M. Zanu and others who were the main technocrats guiding and coordinating the task force in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development without whose technocratic expertise, experiences, and efforts the author would have been clueless as to how to continue from the draft legislation on PNDCL 207 he met in that Ministry. One may ask, is Kwamena Ahwoi, the Messiah of Ghanaian Local Government and Rural Development also the architect of the National Commission for Democracy Law, 1988 (PNDCL 208)? Conclusions Professor Kwamena Ahwois Working with Rawlings which seeks to denigrate President Emeritus J. J. Rawlings upon any critical ethical analysis exposes the author as an unrepentant and unethical self-acclaimed scholar who fabricates and falsifies data without any feeling of remorse. This published falsification and fabrication of data have been made possible by the disregard for the universally accepted standards of ethics for publishing scholarly research by the editors and reviewers who also unethically failed or refused to asked the author to make available, particularly to the main editor, reviewer, and foreword writer of the book who adjudged it publishable, the collected data the author used in writing his manuscript for verification of the accuracy of the reports or narratives contained in the book before adjudging it publishable. The refusal or failure particularly by the main editor who was also a reviewer and foreword writer of the book, Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and her supporting reviewers, co-authors and providers of facts, demonstrate a clear and deliberate intention to bring the indelible achievements of the 31st December Revolution together with all its dedicated cadres dead and alive and subsequent operatives of the Governments of President Emeritus Jerry John Rawlings into disrepute in the eyes of right thinking persons, particularly the youth of Ghana and the world over. The preceding analysis and critique have also shown that the author suffers from a messianic mental outlook which gives him a false sense of knowing everything and without whom nothing succeeds in any social or political group of which he becomes a member. This messianic mental outlook or figment of the author will become more apparent and incrementally glaring as the critique of Kwamena Ahwois Working with Rawlings unfolds. Stay with me. I shall be back. Ghana First! MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU Test and Trace is still getting worse, as official figures today revealed the number of people getting their swab result back in 24 hours has dropped again. Fewer than one in three people who have an 'in-person' Covid-19 test get told they are either negative or positive within 24 hours meaning the rate has halved in a fortnight. And just 1.8 per cent of people in England who take a DIY swab get their results back in the target time, down slightly on last week's record-low of 1.9 per cent. Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged 100 per cent of people would get their result back within 24 hours by the end of June. But government statistics show it has still yet to hit the target. Suspected Covid-19 patients who take tests at home, at drive throughs and at pop-up sites now have to wait a record 40 hours, on average, to discover whether or not they are positive. And one in 20 have to travel 50 miles or further to get checked, despite ministers batting away claims that swathes of Britons were being told to drive hours away to get checked for the life-threatening illness. Figures also suggest the number of people complying with the NHS Test and Trace system is stalling, with fewer Covid-19 cases giving details of friends and family this week. It comes as the NHS Covid app was finally launched today, four months after it was first promised. But flaws have already been exposed with claims the Bluetooth-based software will wrongly tell up to a third of its users to self-isolate after incorrectly thinking they have come close to an infected person. The testing system collapsed when children returned to school, prompting Baroness Dido Harding, No 10's testing tsar, to confess that demand had outstripped capacity by 'three or four times'. It has meant possible Covid-19 patients have been asked to drive hundreds of miles to get a swab. Mr Johnson has promised to raise capacity to 500,000 a day by the end of October but the industry warned yesterday that it is already a 'few weeks behind' the Prime Minister's target due to delays in deliveries. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer clashed with Mr Johnson once again in the House of Commons yesterday, after Mr Starmer accused the PM of 'pretending there isn't a problem' with testing. It now takes an average of 75 hours for a person who takes a home test to get a result back One in 20 have to travel 50 miles to get checked. Pictured is the average distance travelled for a test for each route SIR KEIR STARMER ACCUSES BORIS OF 'PRETENDING THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM WITH TEST AND TRACE' 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.' '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.' It came after Baroness Harding faced a grilling from MPs last 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 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. Advertisement Experts say getting test results fast and carrying out contact tracing immediately is vital to stopping the spread of coronavirus because there is only a short window to alert people that they are at risk of infecting others without yet knowing they're ill. It also leaves people off work while waiting for their results, potentially costing them money. If children are off school, their parents also have to stay at home to care for them. This has been a problem for thousands trying to access limited tests in the past few weeks due to a strain on the system since schools re-opened. The 1.8 per cent of people in England who used a home-test kit for Covid-19 and received their result within 24 hours in the week to September 16 is a drop from 1.9 per cent the previous week. It also the lowest percentage since Test and Trace was launched at the end of May. At its best, 11.4 per cent of people taking DIY swabs got their result in 24 hours in the week to July 17. Last week, some 11.3 per cent of people received the result of a home test within 48 hours, up from 9.3 per cent during the week ending September 9. It now takes an average of 75 hours to get a result back, during which time people are expected to stay at home and isolate, potentially having to take time off work. Turnaround times also faltered in all other situations, with drive-in centres managing to return only 31.8 per cent within 24 hours. Almost one fifth (17 per cent) have to wait between 48 and 72 hours. The average time of booking a test at a drive-through facility to receiving a result has soared to 40 hours, up from 19 in the first week of July. Thirty of these hours are between actually taking the swab and getting the result back. Only 37 per cent of tests are returned from Mobile Test Units in one day. These are testing hubs which travel around the UK to increase testing in places like prisons and police stations. But the most shocking is those done at Satellite Test Centres - pop-up at places like hospitals or care homes that have a particularly urgent or significant need. Just 0.7 per cent got their result in 24 hours. Across the country, people have described being told to travel hundreds of miles to get themselves or their children tested. The NHS figures lay bare the scale of the problem; although 95 per cent have to travel fewer than 50 miles, five per cent have to travel further than that. The average distance travelled for an in-person test was 5.2 miles in the week from September 10 to 16. The success of contact tracing relies heavily on finding Covid-19 positive cases and their contacts, and telling them to self isolate. The data shows today these numbers are slipping, with 77.7 per cent of Covid-19 cases being reached by call-handlers and asked to hand over the details of their whereabouts and friends and family. This is down from 83 to 84 per cent in the three weeks prior. A total of 74.7 per cent of 'close contacts' were reached and asked to self isolate, which has stayed level for the past few weeks but is nowhere near the 91.1 per cent in the week the system launched in May. Since the system launched in May, 77.8 per cent out of a total of 517,601 people identified as close contacts have been reached. Call-handlers were unable to get hold of the remaining 114,819 people (22.2 per cent). Professor James Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute, said: 'The report does not disclose the compliance with isolation, if this is low, the system will fail no matter how well we reach contacts. 'Another point to note is 60 per cent of the contacts reached reside in the same household, it needs to established whether this is reflection of the actual reality or self-reporting bias. 'There is a danger we simply obsess about weekly scores rather asking the key question about what the system is supposed to deliver.' It is almost four months since Boris Johnson told MPs the Government's test, track and trace operation would be 'world-beating'. The number of people testing positive for Covid-19 has increased dramatically But testing has also risen. Last week, 3.3 per cent of tests that were taken were positive, compared with 3.2 per cent the week prior - barely any change at all Close contacts reached by contact tracers. Complex cases are handled by local health teams while non-complex cases are those handled by call centres or online A screenshot showing an attempt to download the app on an iPhone 5C, which prompted a message saying the software was out of date The app uses Bluetooth technology to alert users if they have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus THOUSANDS OF 'GPS AND NURSES OFF WORK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET TESTED' Thousands of GPs and nurses are unable to go into work because they are waiting for results from a coronavirus test, it was claimed today. The mounting absences caused by NHS staff having to self-isolate which experts first warned about in the Spring were revealed by the Royal College of GPs in a letter to testing tsar Baroness Dido Harding. Delays are impacting doctors ability to see and diagnose patients suffering from life-threatening conditions early, potentially threatening their chances of survival. They said the difficulties are impacting rapid diagnoses of life-threatening diseases, such as septicaemia, kidney infections and meningitis. It comes as separate data today revealed that more than 1.3million days of work were lost in the NHS in England due to coronavirus-related sickness between March and May. The testing system has come under pressure since demand surged up to four times above capacity as schools and offices returned, leaving possible Covid-19 patients being asked to drive hundreds of miles to get a swab. Boris Johnson has promised to raise capacity to 500,000 a day by the end of October, but the industry warned yesterday that it is already a 'few weeks behind' the Prime Minister's target due to delays in deliveries. And the UK's seven-day average testing capacity has fallen over the last three days, from a high of 230,000 a day on September 18 to 226,000 on September 20. Advertisement But facing the Commons Liaison Committee last Wednesday, the Prime Minister was forced to acknowledge the situation was not 'ideal' as demand was vastly outstripping capacity. Labour's Wes Streeting told Health Secretary Matt Hancock in the Commons last week the system was 'a bloody mess'. Last Thursday, the NHS Test and Trace lead Baroness Harding faced a grilling from MPs, 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. Sage members later hit back, saying she had been given clear advice of the potential rise in demand expected from the autumn, leaving more unanswered questions about what had been done during the summer to ramp up efforts. Cases of Covid-19 have been rising in recent weeks. But the NHS Test and Trace data shows this upward trajectory has began to slow. The number of positive Covid-19 cases transferred to the NHS Test and Trace almost doubled from 10,491 in the first week of September to 18,770 the week after. However, they only rose by 2.7 per cent to 19,278 last week. Professor Naismith fears the small increase is in fact due to a problem in reporting, rather than a plateau in cases, because it was so vastly different from the huge spike the week prior. He said: 'The numbers are clearly rising with a doubling trend of around two weeks. Such problems in reporting with sudden dips and spikes bedevilled clear public messaging last time, it would be disappointing if this were happening again.' But other experts say the 'positivity rate' - how many positive results there are of all the tests taken - is a stronger indication of how trends are changing, and that has barely budged. Last week, 3.3 per cent of tests that were taken were positive, compared with 3.2 per cent the week prior - barely any change at all. It rose one per cent in the week that cases appeared to double. It comes as a long-awaited app was finally launched today - four months after it was promised but still with obvious glitches. The latest NHS Covid-19 app has been trialled on the Isle of Wight and in the London borough of Newham since mid-August, after an initial build was scrapped because it had so many failures. Health Secretary Matt Hancock this morning urged Britons to download the software to 'make the country a safer place', as he revealed almost 10,000 people a day are contracting Covid. But it emerged today the app may wrongly tell up to a third of its users to self-isolate after incorrectly thinking they have come close to an infected person. The Department of Health admits the technology still struggles to calculate precise distances, which means some users may be wrongly told to self-isolate even if they have been more than two metres away from an infected person. Close contact is defined as being within two metres of someone for 15 minutes, but in early trials of the app some people have received alerts when they were four metres away. The risk of false positives stems from the app's reliance on Bluetooth signals, which can be affected by nearby objects. This issue raises the risk of people deleting the app because they think it is not working properly, or simply deciding not to download it. Those who receive false positives may also try to access testing centres, leading to more pressure on the already struggling service, or they could ignore the direction to self-isolate. Officials say the app's accuracy matches that of other countries, and downplayed hopes for the contact tracing function. They said its main benefit will be to encourage people to abide by social distancing and hygiene rules, The Times reported. It also emerged today that the app cannot be accessed on the iPhone 6 or older models, despite officials hoping that between 15 and 50 per cent of the population in England and Wales will use it. Social media users shared their attempts to add it to their phones only to see an error message saying it required iOS 13.5 or later. This Apple operating system can only be downloaded on the iPhone 6S and newer models - excluding any handsets that are more than five years old. Age UK warned many elderly people who tend to have older phones may not be able to use the crucial service. Caroline Abrahams, the charity's director, told MailOnline: 'It's unfortunate that you will need a relatively new smartphone to use the NHS App since many people of all ages don't have one, older people especially. 'When you add in the very significant numbers of older people who don't own a smartphone at all, the upshot is that the NHS App seems likely to pass much of the older population by.' The app appears to have no issues working on Android phones. NHS Covid app 'may WRONGLY tell a THIRD of users to self-isolate' after incorrectly reading 2m social-distance - as it emerges more than three million Britons with iPhone 6 or older models CAN'T download it due to iOS issue The new NHS Covid app may wrongly tell up to a third of its users to self-isolate after incorrectly thinking they have come close to an infected person - while millions of Britons won't be able to access it if they have an iPhone 6 or older. The risk of false positives stems from the app's reliance on Bluetooth signals, which can be affected by nearby objects. This means the app could judge that its user has come within two metres of an infected person for more than 15 minutes when they were actually just close to a Bluetooth-emitting object. This issue raises the risk of people deleting the app because they think it is not working properly, or simply deciding not to download it. Those who receive false positives may also try to access testing centres, leading to more pressure on the already struggling service, or they could ignore the direction and risk a 10,000 fine for failing to self-isolate - despite not actually having the disease. Officials say the app's accuracy matches that of other countries, and downplayed hopes for the contact tracing function. They said its main benefit will be to encourage people to abide by social distancing and hygiene rules, The Times reported. Health Secretary Matt Hancock this morning urged Britons to download the software to 'make the country a safer place', as he revealed almost 10,000 people a day are contracting Covid. But it emerged today that the app cannot be accessed on the iPhone 6 or older models, with social media users sharing their attempts to add it to their phones only to see an error message saying it required iOS 13.5 or later. This Apple operating system can only be downloaded on the iPhone 6S and newer models - excluding any handsets that are more than five years old. The app - which has arrived four months late - can also be used on Android phones, where it appears to be working with no issues. But millions of iPhone users are now set to be excluded from the service, which Age UK warned would include many elderly people who tend to have older phones. Caroline Abrahams, the charity's director, told MailOnline: 'It's unfortunate that you will need a relatively new smartphone to use the NHS App since many people of all ages don't have one, older people especially. 'When you add in the very significant numbers of older people who don't own a smartphone at all, the upshot is that the NHS App seems likely to pass much of the older population by.' The app was first tested on the Isle of Wight using the same iPhone software, so officials would have been aware that many devices were unable to download it before it was rolled out on the mainland. Social media users shared attempts to download the app on their iPhones only to see an error message saying it required iOS 13.5 or later Will the government know if I've been told to self-isolate so police can punish me if I don't? No, the system relies on the goodwill of users to comply with the app's request to self-isolate. App users are entirely anonymous and the app cannot force them to self isolate or identify them if they are failing to do so. Any personal data is anonymous and will not be sent to the government so police can check if the app's instructions are being followed. Advertisement Contact tracing app Q&A: How does it work and will it make a sick note to take to my boss? How does it work? Bluetooth technology will keep a record of which phones spend 15 minutes within 2 metres (6'7') of one another and then alert people if they have been near someone who later tests positive for Covid-19. People's phones are only recognised by the system if they are running the app themselves - it cannot detect others. The contacts it keeps track of are all anonymous and phones exchange digital 'tokens' with every app-using phone within Bluetooth range. If one person develops symptoms of the coronavirus or tests positive, they will be able to enter this information into the app. The phone will then send out a notification to all the devices they have exchanged tokens with during the infection window, to make people aware they may have been exposed to COVID-19. Each phone keeps an individual log of the Bluetooth profiles someone has come close to. These will then be linked anonymously to people's NHS apps and alerts can be pushed through that even after the person is out of bluetooth range. Will the app tell me what to do? The app can only react to data that people put into it, and it will only ever offer guidance. If a user reports that they have symptoms of coronavirus - a new continuous cough, a fever, or a changed sense of smell or taste, they will be urged to self-isolate for 10 days from the start of the symptoms and to get tested. If they test positive for Covid-19 at any time, they should report this to the app. The app then sends out an anonymous alert to everyone with whom that person has been within 2m (6'7') of for 15 minutes or more since they started feeling ill. That person may then be asked to self-isolate or to get tested if they feel unwell. Will the government know if I've been told to self-isolate so police can punish me if I don't? Will the app produce me a sick note? If you need a sick note for an employer you can inform the NHS's online 111 service that you have been told to self-isolate by the app and it will generate one. How well does it work? The app is far from perfect, with the Department of Health has admitted that around half of people who are warned they have been near an infected person will actually not have been within the 2m for 15 minutes danger window. And three out of 10 people who were put at risk - 31 per cent - won't receive a notification at all. In trials it had a 69 per cent accuracy rate at detecting people who had been at risk, and it was 55 per cent accurate at detecting people who had not. Advertisement Britons are being urged to use the app after it finally being launched nationwide today, with officials hoping it will play a crucial role in containing the virus at a critical point, when cases are on the rise again. The Department of Health will tonight launch a major TV advertising campaign to increase uptake by urging the public to 'protect your loved ones, get the app'. Officials hope that between 15 and 50 per cent of the population in England and Wales will use it. Scotland and Northern Ireland have already launched their own versions. The app uses Bluetooth technology to alert users if they have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus such as on public transport, in a shop or among their friends and family. They will then receive a message telling them to self-isolate for 14 days and to book a test, although only if they develop symptoms. The device will also enable users to check their symptoms online if they are worried they might have the virus and to book a test if necessary. Additionally, they will be encouraged to use their apps to scan the 'QR code' at any pubs, restaurants and leisure centres they visit in case there is a virus outbreak linked to that venue. Their contact details will then be available for tracing efforts. Health Secretary Matt Hancock today urged people to download the software to 'make the country a safer place'. 'You download the app you will also have that added protection for you and your loved ones,' he told Sky News. The app, which uses a system developed by Apple and Google, has been tested on the Isle of Wight and in the London borough of Newham. Apple regularly updates its operating system and restricts apps from using older software, meaning people with older iPhones can find themselves unable to download newer apps. This issue affects the new Covid tracing app too, with anyone using an iPhone 6 or any older model unable to use it. Recent data from the technology company Statista suggests 3.8% percent of UK smartphone users have an iPhone 6, so with nearly 80million smartphone users nationwide this means there are more than three million people who own that model alone. The app was meant to have been launched in the middle of May but Health Secretary Matt Hancock was forced to abandon the technology after it failed to work on the majority of smartphones. Yesterday Mr Hancock said: 'We are at a tipping point in our efforts to control the spread of this virus. 'With infection rates rising we must use every tool at our disposal to prevent transmission, including the latest technology. 'Today's launch marks an important step forward in our fight against this invisible killer and I urge everyone who can to download and use the app to protect themselves and their loved ones.' Government officials aren't setting a target for the percentage of the population they want to download the app. But Oxford research has shown that even if just 15 per cent use it, then there could be a significant reduction in positive cases, hospital admissions and even deaths. The Department of Health admits the technology still struggles to calculate precise distances, which means some users may be wrongly told to self-isolate even if they have been more than two metres away from an infected person. Close contact is defined as being within two metres of someone for 15 minutes, but in early trials of the app some people have received alerts when they were four metres away. Officials say that about 30 per cent of people told to self-isolate may have been more than two metres away from a positive case but they stress the difference is marginal and the majority are still likely to have still been 2.1 or 2.2 metres away. They insist the technology is far more precise compared with other apps used elsewhere in the world, although they admit there is 'more work that could be done' to improve it. Baroness Harding, executive chairman of the NHS Test and Trace Programme, said: 'We want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to engage with England's NHS Test and Trace service. This is a welcome step in protecting those around us.' Last night Department of Health officials acknowledged the app would increase pressure on the country's testing services but they said the capacity was increasing, and demand from other members of the public was falling. Last week Boris Johnson was forced to admit that the country had run out of tests following a surge in people trying to book them, partly brought about by children going back to school and spreading bugs. To encourage the public to download the new version, emotive TV adverts will be broadcast at 7pm tonight with personal stories from families affected by the virus. Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said the app must be 'fit for purpose'. Today, NHS Test and Trace said 19,278 new people tested positive for Covid in England between September 10 and September 16. Britain reported 6,178 new daily cases, the highest number of infections since May 1, but it has increased testing capacity since then. Another error message some users have been getting from the app, including if they try to use it on a company phone Health officials hope it will play a crucial role in containing the virus at a critical point, when cases are on the rise again. Pictured: A Department of Health handout Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more Corporate cybersecurity has been increasingly compromised since businesses and organizations began implementing work-from-home (WFH) policies in March as the pandemic continued its spread. Malwarebytes in June set out to measure the how corporate IT leaders reacted to the pandemic; and what strategies are planned as they look forward. The antimalware software firm surveyed more than 200 IT experts at companies of various sizes. Those survey results, combined with the firms internal telemetry, found that many IT heads might be overconfident about the cybersecurity protocols and procedures they have in place. For example, 44 percent of the respondents did not provide cybersecurity training to the workforce, 45 percent did not perform security and online privacy analyses of software tools deemed necessary for the transition to WFH, and 18 percent said cybersecurity was not a priority for their employees. Despite this, more than 70 percent of the respondents to Malwarebytes survey gave their organization a score of 7/10 when asked to determine their readiness to transition to WFH. This may be an example of an often difficult-to-measure phenomenon that we call security hubris, also known as overconfidence in limited security measures deployed, the survey stated. Perception vs. Reality Theres no question that the WFH trend has seen an increase in activity from hackers. Were seeing a strong uptick in phishing attacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chlo Messdaghi, VP of Strategy at Point3 Security told TechNewsWorld. For example, were seeing increasing attempts by threat actors to get into companies through their employees personal email addresses and SMS messages, Messdaghi said. Its all but irresistible to bad actors because this pandemic is making their jobs so much easier. Corporate IT must be aware of this, so why the dissonance between the respondents self-assessments and reality? Theres a problem embedded within security hubris that exists in many other spheres we dont know what we dont know, David Ruiz, online privacy advocate at Malwarebytes Labs, told TechNewsWorld. Security hubris is widespread, but not through any malicious intent, Ruiz said. Sometimes, its due more to focusing on only one aspect of cybersecurity rather than ignoring the problem, such as, for example, the IT professional who focuses on outside threats but forgets about insider threats, or the reverse. Some of the enterprises claiming to be ready really are ready not necessarily perfectly ready, because perfect security is a myth, but reasonably ready, Andy Ellis, Chief Security Officer at Akamai Technologies, a global content delivery network, cybersecurity, and cloud service company, told TechNewsWorld. Other organizations might think that they are ready, but theyre just mistaken, Ellis said. Still others might know they arent ready but who wants to paint a target on their back by admitting that? New Threat Frontier It could be that IT professionals have not had sufficient time to deal with the new dimension of coverage the WFH phenomenon has added, as businesses moved to WFH very rapidly. Akamai found that consumption of Internet service over enterprise-connected devices increased 40 percent in March, and traffic to malware-associated websites shot up 400 percent. Both these observed changes are considered as the outcome of changes in users browsing habits once working from home, it concluded. Things havent changed since then, noted Ellis. The uptick we saw as much of the world shifted to working remotely from home has remained consistent in the months since. The dangers of WFH arent necessarily structurally different, but instead may represent a shift in the weighting of attacks, he explained. For example, phishing attacks have always existed, but now there is more phishing and, at the same time, one of the underrated defenses against phishing asking your colleague if an email looks weird is no longer available. Further, many antiphishing solutions are reactive, looking for known attack types, rather than adaptively identifying changing attacks, or taking a structural approach by eliminating the ways an adversary might exploit a successful phishing attack, according to Ellis. Added Threats From Mobile Devices Implementing proper security to ensure a secure WFH environment requires an investment thats expensive and represents new dollars that were never included in any budget up to now, Matias Katz, CEO of Byos, told TechNewsWorld. On top of that, a lot of companies are still in denial and think that this will be over soon; and therefore are reluctant to make an investment. WFH is here to stay, Katz said Companies need to realize that, no matter what, they will have to reinforce their infrastructure to stay secure in the new era. Companies are increasingly letting WFH employees use their own mobile devices, and this contributes to the problem. Nearly 70 percent of the 303 IT professionals who responded to a June survey conducted by cloud security company Bitglass said their companies let employees use personal devices to perform their work, and some said their companies let contractors, partners, customers and supplies bring their own devices. However, they are not taking the proper steps to protect corporate data about half the respondents said their organizations have no visibility into file sharing apps, for example. Unauthorized access to data and systems and malware infections were the main security concerns for about half the respondents. IT Departments Spread Thin The rapid transition to WFH may have shifted priorities for many businesses, according to Malwarebytes Labs Ruiz. That might mean, first, ensuring that a business could remain successful, and, second, ensuring that it could safely remain successful. In other words, make sure first the business remains up and running, then deal with security issues. A shortage of IT staff might be another cause. Layoffs are widespread because of the pandemic, and some of those laid off might have been IT and cybersecurity security staff. Another reason could be that, these days, many companies do not have dedicated IT staff onsite, and most remote IT staff are almost always overworked, Ruiz suggested. There simply may not be time to build and deploy an online training course for all the employees to take. The stress on IT workers, whose departments are understaffed and underfunded, has increased with the pandemic, and this might contribute to both the inadequacy of cybersecurity precautions taken and the failure to recognize whether or not those precautions are adequate. During this pandemic, security teams are working harder than ever and in isolation, Point3 Securitys Messdaghi pointed out, adding that C-suite executives should invest in those teams mental health. IT staff were already highly stressed before the pandemic the impact of stress on mental health doubled in 2020, according to a report from Nominet UK, the .uk domain name registry in the UK. Nominet interviewed 800 chief information security officers and C-suite executives on the challenges of the CISOs role. The respondents, evenly divided between the UK and the United States, worked at companies with at least 3,000 employees across a range of public and private sectors. The report, published in February, said that 88 percent of CISOs remain moderately or tremendously stressed; and 48 percent of the respondents said this affects their mental health double the number for the previous year. The stress impacts their relationships with partners and children, as well as their ability to execute their role and results in burnout. The average tenure of a CISO is just 26 months. The C-suite respondents agreed CISOs are working extra hours, but 97 percent of them believe the security team could improve on delivering value for money based on their budget. Preventing Security Hubris A good exercise to demonstrate the full reach of security hubris is to ask yourself, on a scale from 1 to 10, how cybersecure are you? Ruiz suggested. Now, ask yourself some other questions: Are you connecting to a home router that still uses its default password? Are you reusing passwords on some accounts in your home? Has your company required the use of a VPN to access company resources? Do you click links in emails from new contacts, or do you click links in texts? What about if that link is supposedly from FedEx, and you did, after all, just order something online? These type of questions will chip away at most peoples own security evaluation after a while, Ruiz said. No one is trying to be wrong, but its difficult to keep track of all the ways we should be right. WASHINGTON--Scientists have spotted a once-in-a-century climate anomaly during World War I that likely increased mortality during the war and the influenza pandemic in the years that followed. Well-documented torrential rains and unusually cold temperatures affected the outcomes of many major battles on the Western Front during the war years of 1914 to 1918. Most notably, the poor conditions played a role in the battles of Verdun and the Somme, during which more than one million soldiers were killed or wounded. The bad weather may also have exacerbated the Spanish flu pandemic that claimed 50 to 100 million lives between 1917 and 1919, according to the new study. Scientists have long studied the spread of the H1N1 influenza strain that caused the pandemic, but little research has focused on whether environmental conditions played a role. In a new study in AGU's journal GeoHealth, scientists analyzed an ice core taken from a glacier in the European Alps to reconstruct climate conditions during the war years. They found an extremely unusual influx of air from the North Atlantic Ocean affected weather on the European continent from 1914 to 1919. The incessant rain and cold caused by this influx of ocean air hung over major battlefields on the Western Front but also affected the migratory patterns of mallard ducks, the main animal host for H1N1 flu virus strains. Mallard ducks likely stayed put in western Europe in the autumns of 1917 and 1918 because of the bad weather, rather than migrating northeast to Russia as they normally do, according to the new study. This kept them close to military and civilian populations and may have allowed the birds to transfer a particularly virulent strain of H1N1 influenza to humans through bodies of water. Listen to the latest episode of AGU's podcast Third Pod from the Sun to learn more about climate and pandemics. The findings help scientists better understand the factors that contributed to making the war and pandemic so deadly, according to Alexander More, a climate scientist and historian at the Harvard University/Climate Change Institute, associate professor of environmental health at Long Island University and lead author of the new study. "I'm not saying that this was 'the' cause of the pandemic, but it was certainly a potentiator, an added exacerbating factor to an already explosive situation," More said. "It's interesting to think that very heavy rainfall may have accelerated the spread of the virus," said Philip Landrigan, director of the Global Public Health Program at Boston College who was not connected to the new study. "One of the things we've learned in the COVID pandemic is that some viruses seem to stay viable for longer time periods in humid air than in dry air. So it makes sense that if the air in Europe were unusually wet and humid during the years of World War I, transmission of the virus might have been accelerated." War and weather The rainy, cold, muddy landscapes of the Western Front are well documented by historians. Poet Mary Borden described it as "the liquid grave of our armies" in her poem "The Song of the Mud" about 1916's Battle of the Somme. Historical accounts of early battles in France describe how the intense rain affected British, French and German troops. Newly dug trenches and tunnels filled with rainwater; muddy fields slowed the movement of troops during the day; and cold nighttime temperatures caused thousands to endure frostbite. However, little research has been done on the environmental conditions that may have caused the torrential rains and unusual cold. In the new study, More and his colleagues reconstructed the environmental conditions over Europe during the war using data from an ice core taken from the Alps. They then compared the environmental conditions to historical records of deaths during the war years. They found mortality in Europe peaked three times during the war, and these peaks occurred during or soon after periods of cold temperatures and heavy rain caused by extremely unusual influxes of ocean air in the winters of 1915, 1916 and 1918. "Atmospheric circulation changed and there was much more rain, much colder weather all over Europe for six years," More said. "In this particular case, it was a once in a 100-year anomaly." The new ice core record corroborates historical accounts of torrential rain on battlefields of the Western Front, which caused many soldiers to die from drowning, exposure, pneumonia and other infections. Interestingly, the results suggest the bad weather may have kept mallard ducks and other migratory birds in Europe during the war years, where they could easily transmit influenza to humans by water contaminated with their fecal droppings. Mallard ducks are the main animal reservoir of H1N1 flu viruses and as many as 60 percent of mallard ducks can be infected with H1N1 every year. Previous research has shown that migratory patterns of mallards and other birds are disrupted during bouts of unusual weather. "Mallards have been shown to be very sensitive to climate anomalies in their migration patterns," More said. "So it is likely is that they stayed put for much of that period." The first wave of H1N1 influenza infection in Europe occurred in the spring of 1918, most likely originating among allied troops arriving in France from Asia in the fall and winter of 1917, according to previous research. The new study found the deadliest wave of the pandemic in Europe began in the autumn of 1918, closely following a period of heavy precipitation and cold temperatures. "These atmospheric reorganizations happen and they affect people," More said. "They affect how we move, how much water is available, what animals are around. Animals bring their own diseases with them in their movements, and their migrations are due to the environment and how it changes, or how we change it." "I think it's a very credible, provocative study that makes us think in new ways about the interplay between infectious diseases and the environment," Landrigan said. ### AGU (http://www.agu.org) supports 130,000 enthusiasts to experts worldwide in Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, we advance discovery and solution science that accelerate knowledge and create solutions that are ethical, unbiased and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C. and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct. Notes for Journalists This research study is freely available. Download a PDF copy of the paper here. Neither the paper nor this press release is under embargo. Multimedia files accompanying this press release can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pje08yi5GZwevsozA6MV6CvpSyNUezYU Paper title: "The impact of a six-year climate anomaly on the 'Spanish Flu' Pandemic and WWI" Authors: Alexander F. More: Initiative for the Science of the Human Past, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States; Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States; Department of Public Health, Long Island University, New York, New York, United States; Christopher P. Loveluck: Department of Classics and Archaeology, School of Humanities, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Heather Clifford, Michael J. Handley, Elena V. Korotkikh, Andrei V. Kurbatov, Paul A. Mayewski: Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States; Michael McCormick: Initiative for the Science of the Human Past, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Jim Karygiannis, for the third and final time, has been kicked out of office. He will no longer be a Scarborough-area councillor. A decision by the Supreme Court of Canada the countrys highest court not to hear his case has ended a months-long legal saga that saw Karygiannis bounce in and out of elected office as he challenged provincial legislation that turfed him for overspending during the 2018 election campaign. Karygiannis had asked the Supreme Court, which chooses a limited number of cases each year, to hear his last-ditch appeal. The court rejected that application. Reasons are not given in leave applications. In a statement on his website posted Thursday morning, Karygiannis wrote: After 32 years serving as your Member of Parliament and your Toronto City Councillor, I am leaving politics. It has been an honour and privilege to serve the people of Scarborough-Agincourt. He thanked constituents for the trust they have shown in me and his family for their love and support. The veteran politician was first automatically removed from office in November, after refiling his 2018 campaign expenses, which showed he had overspent a strict campaign limit by nearly $26,000. The city clerk informed him he was removed under the provincial rules governing municipal elections and that she had no say in the matter. Later that month, Karygiannis legal team convinced a Superior Court judge to reinstate him, asking for relief from the forfeiture of office required by the Municipal Elections Act. But a lawyer for Toronto resident and fair elections advocate Adam Chaleff successfully argued in front of a panel of the Court of Appeal that the lower court judge had erred in providing that relief and that he did not have the jurisdiction to do so under the legislation. That saw Karygiannis lose his Scarborough-Agincourt seat for a second time. Then, earlier this month, Karygiannis requested a judge with the Court of Appeal put a temporary pause on that decision by her colleagues while he pursued an appeal at the Supreme Court of Canada. That application for whats called a stay was granted until the Supreme Court ruled on whether to hear the councillors leave application. That temporarily returned Karygiannis to office. Now that the Supreme Court has decided not to hear his case, the stay is lifted and Karygiannis no longer holds public office. Karygiannis was first elected to city office in 2014, vacating his seat in Ottawa as the MP for Scarborough-Agincourt, a position he held for more than 25 years. He still faces a compliance audit of his campaign expenses a city process launched at the request of Chaleff that is expected to look at the overspending. The issues raised by Chaleff include the fact that a $27,000 dinner Karygiannis maintains was for fundraising purposes where more than $20,000 in consultant fees were invoiced earned no donations attached to the event, according to campaign filings. Karygiannis style in the council chamber has frequently put him at odds with his colleagues, with him notably sparring with Speaker Frances Nunziata over his decorum. In addition, the Star reported in February he was heard on a secretly made recording aggressively policing his own constituents over bylaw infractions. Council is expected to vote at its September meeting about what to do with the seat that is once again vacant. They can choose to hold a byelection or appoint someone. On Thursday, Mayor John Tory thanked Karygiannis for many years of public service and said he hoped there would be a replacement representative for Scarborough-Agincourt residents soon. Youre always sorry to see these things but the law has to be upheld and has to be respected. Coun. Cynthia Lai, who represents the neighbouring Ward 23 (Scarborough North) said she learned of the appeal being dismissed along with other councillors. She said Karygiannis was helpful to her in learning the ropes at city hall as a first-term councillor. I appreciated the time he provided me, she said, noting his three decades as a politician. I wish Jim the best in any future endeavour. Under city rules, Karygiannis is responsible for his own legal expenses because the case relates to his actions as a candidate not a member of council. With a file from David Rider Jennifer Pagliaro is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @jpags At least 187,000 Massachusetts residents may be eligible for unclaimed COVID-19 stimulus checks, but the clock is ticking. The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that it will send letters to 9 million Americans who typically do not file federal income tax returns but may qualify for the Economic Impact Payments authorized in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The IRS urges letter recipients, including 187,768 across Massachusetts, to check the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov before Oct. 15, the deadline to register for a stimulus check. The IRS says letter recipients did not file returns in 2018 or 2019 as they usually are not required to do so because they earn low incomes. But they are likely still eligible to receive stimulus checks of up to $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for married couples; families can receive an additional $500 for each qualifying child under the age of 17. More than 7 million Americans have already used the Non-Filers tool to register for a payment, the IRS said last week. The tool is meant for individuals whose incomes are below $12,200 or married couples earning less than $24,400, including people who are experiencing homelessness. As of July, more than 3.2 million stimulus payments have already been issued in Massachusetts, totaling nearly $5.2 billion, Forbes reported. A September Government Accountability Office report noted that the IRS and U.S. Department of Treasury lacked updated information on how many eligible recipients have yet to receive stimulus checks. The lack of such information could hinder outreach efforts and place potentially millions of individuals at risk of missing their payment," reported GAO. The nonpartisan congressional watchdog called on Treasury and the IRS to renew estimates of eligible recipients and to make more information available to outreach partners to raise awareness about how and when to file for stimulus checks. The IRS continues to work hard to reach people eligible for these payments, IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement. These mailings are the latest step by the IRS to reach as many people as possible for these important payments. We are releasing this state-by-state information so that state and local leaders and organizations can better understand the size of this population in their communities and assist them in claiming these important payments. Time is running out to claim a payment before the deadline. The IRS sent letters to nearly 90,000 people in Connecticut; 25,000 in Rhode Island; 30,000 in New Hampshire; 32,000 in Maine; and more than 13,000 in Vermont. In California, nearly 1.2 million people still may be eligible for unclaimed stimulus checks. With the deadline fast approaching, the IRS says if you are eligible to use the non-filer tool, do so now and dont wait for the letter to arrive. The IRS notes that receiving a letter doesnt guarantee that youre eligible; residents are likely eligible if they are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, have a work-eligible Social Security number and cant be claimed as a dependent. For more on eligibility, read here. You can qualify for a stimulus check even if youre out of work or earned no income in 2018 or 2019. Low- and moderate-income workers eligible for tax benefits like the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit must file a regular tax return, the IRS says. If you miss the Oct. 15 deadline, you can still receive a stimulus check by filing a 2020 return next year. Lawmakers and President Donald Trump had long pushed for a second round of stimulus checks in a package following up on the CARES Act. Democrats in May approved a $3 trillion bill with stimulus checks and more than $800 billion to state and local governments, a proposal that the Republican-led Senate refused to bring to the floor for a vote. Republicans in July proposed a $1 trillion package that also included stimulus checks but went nowhere, with zero support from Democrats and at least 20 Republicans saying it was too costly. Stimulus talks on Capitol Hill have collapsed multiple times, with few expecting a deal to be reached before Election Day. Related Content: CEO of County Kildare Chamber, Allan Shine has been re-elected onto the Board of Chambers Ireland. Kildare native Mr Shine had a prominent media profile when advocating on behalf of businesses during the recent local lockdowns in the county in August. Chambers Ireland is Irelands largest business organisation with a network of Chambers of Commerce in every major town and region in the country. The organisation facilitates the growth and development of the Irish chamber network and enable the chambers in the network to effectively promote the long term development of their locality on behalf of their members as well as working towards creating a better environment for business by lobbying the Government and other stakeholders on key policy issues. Mr Shine said, I was honoured to be put forward to be re-elected for a fourth consecutive year by my fellow colleagues in the Chamber network and then to be elected at the Chambers Ireland AGM this afternoon. "Chambers Ireland is the most influential business organisation in Ireland and I am looking forward to working with my fellow board members over the coming 12 months. Dir: Harry Bradbeer. Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, Adeel Akhtar, Fiona Shaw, Louis Partridge, Susie Wokoma, Helena Bonham Carter. 12 cert, 123 mins Enola Holmes, a sprightly adaptation of Nancy Springers YA book series, has attracted its own nemesis not Moriarty, but the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle. It didnt take kindly to the films depiction of Sherlock Holmes, brother here to a teen protagonist (Millie Bobby Brown), as a man of occasional soft-heartedness. As a lawsuit argues, the world-famous sleuth only developed a capacity for emotion in his later stories, published between 1923 and 1927, and still under copyright. Only Sherlock the genius psychopath is available to the public domain. The accusation is even more frivolous than it sounds the Sherlock of Enola Holmes, gamely played by Henry Cavill, isnt raging down the halls in a fit of tears. All he does is brood, lovingly framed as he lounges against trees and stares out of windows. Hes Mr Darcy for the Victorian set. Its a choice well suited to the world of Enola Holmes. Enola herself is part-Austen heroine, part-#Girlboss. A womans book, filtered through a mans script, then another mans camera it was written by Jack Thorne and directed by Harry Bradbeer has resulted in a film filled with pleasingly enthusiastic, though inevitably shallow, proclamations of female empowerment. In some other reality, Warner Bros would have released Enola Holmes in cinemas, but the pandemic scuppered those plans and the film was sold to Netflix. Its fit for both the big and small screen an adventure thats easy to get swept up in, but humble in its ambitions. Enola has grown up in a state of blissful independence, raised single-handedly by her mother (Helena Bonham-Carter) following the death of her father and the departure of her older brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft (Sam Claflin, amusingly sniffy here). The daily curriculum encompasses astrology, herbology, beekeeping, and jujutsu. But, on the morning of her 16th birthday, Enola awakens to find her mother gone, the only trace of her being a box of codes and decoders the first step to solving the mystery of her disappearance. Sherlock is quietly sympathetic, but too self-interested to help. Mycroft wants to pack her off to finishing school, so she can be squeezed into bustles and corsets and finally made acceptable for society. Sherlock (Henry Cavill), Mycroft (Sam Claflin), and Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) form the dysfunctional Holmes clan of Nancy Springers books ( Alex Bailey/Legendary 2020) You have to make some noise, if you want to be heard, becomes the piece of motherly advice that shapes Enolas future. The character has a habit of delivering pithy asides to camera a fourth-wall-breaking technique openly borrowed from Phoebe Waller-Bridges Fleabag, which Bradbeer himself directed. And Brown, whos normally confined to scowling and flipping cars on Netflixs Stranger Things, gets to be witty, candid, and confident all the things a young heroine needs to inspire the next generation. But Waller-Bridges character looked down the lens to us, the audience, because she needed someone to perform to, a collection of co-conspirators in all the most intimate secrets of womanhood. Enola does it because she is a girl ahead of her time and we, the citizens of the future, are the only ones who can truly understand her mind. She looks at us, incredulous, whenever someone scoffs at the concept of feminism or social equality. Do you have any ideas? she demands, when the case becomes particularly tricky. Enola Holmes gets its wires crossed here, thinking it can be both a film about heroic exceptionalism and the necessity of collective action. The film is set during the lead-up to the Representation of the People Act of 1884, which extended the vote to 60 per cent of all men and laid the groundwork for womens suffrage. On her travels, Enola crosses paths with the young Lord Viscount Tewksbury (Louis Partridge), who intends to vote for the bill in the House of Lords. She realises that, despite their differences, they share a common goal. There are brief allusions, too, to the more violent tactics of the suffragette movement. But their significance is never explored. Enola Holmes simply isnt interested in the finer details not when its brilliant, clever hero looms so large. Religious organizations contribute $67 billion to Canada's economy: study Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Religious organizations contribute around $67 billion annually to Canada's economy, according to recently released research by an independent Christian think tank. The report, titled The Hidden Economy: How Faith Helps Fuel Canadas GDP, was authored by Brian Grim and Melissa Grim of Cardus, and released on Monday. The researchers concluded that faith-based revenues and businesses contribute an estimated $67.48 billion to the Canadian economy. This number was reached by factoring in an estimate of the value of goods and services provided by religious groups, by including food businesses that are faith-related, and also by including a valuation of church-sponsored substance-abuse recovery groups. The $67 billion estimate was the mid-range number for the study, with the conservative estimate being $30 billion and drawn from just revenues of faith-based organizations and the liberal estimate being $689.5 billion, which factored all economic activity by religiously-affiliated Canadians. This mid-range estimate puts the value of religion to Canadian society at more than $67 billion annually. By way of comparison, this would make religion the countrys ninth-largest enterprise, just behind TC Energy and ahead of Bank of Montreal, wrote the researchers. Or in terms of national economies, it would make Canadian religion the worlds seventy-second-largest economy, putting it ahead of more than 110 countries. Grim and Grim believed their lowest estimate was problematic because it focuses on revenues rather than on the value of the goods and services provided by religious organizations. We believe that our second estimate of $67.48 billion is a more reasonable estimate, because it takes into account both the value of the services provided by religious organizations and the impact of faith-related business, they continued. We offer the third estimate of some $689.5 billion not as a preferred estimate but rather as an upper-end estimate that takes into account religiously affiliated Canadians overall contribution to the Canadian economy. The researchers acknowledged that there were some limitations to their findings, including the lack of factoring negative impacts like the occasional financial scandal among a ministry. They also acknowledged that their work presumes that certain studies they cite on local religious financial impact can be extrapolated to apply to a national scale. Despite these limitations, we believe that the data and estimates discussed in this paper will be a useful starting point for further studies of the socioeconomic contributions of religion to Canada and perhaps other countries as well, concluded Grim and Grim. The data are clear. Religion is a highly significant sector of Canadas economy. Religion provides purpose-driven institutional and economic contributions to health, education, social cohesion, social services, media, food, and business itself. This is not the first time that Grim and Grim have analyzed the economic impact of religious organizations to a national economy. In 2016, they had a study published by the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion which concluded that religion annually contributed $1.2 trillion to the United States economy. Like the Canadian study, the researchers put forth a conservative estimate, which in this case totaled $378 billion annually, and a third, more liberal estimate of $4.8 trillion annually. "For the first time, we have been able to quantify what religious institutions, faith-based charities, and even businesses inspired by faith contribute to our country," explained Brian Grim at a National Press Club event in Washington, D.C., in 2016. " in an age where there's a growing belief that religion is not a positive for American society, adding up the numbers is a tangible reminder of the impact of religion." Same-sex marriages now make up a half a million American households, five years after the Supreme Court legalized such relationships. The U.S. Census Bureau reported last week that the number of married same-sex households has increased by almost 70 percent since 2014. The numbers are based on the Census Bureaus American Community Survey. The survey found that about 980,000 households in the country belong to same-sex couples. It showed 58 percent, or a little more than 586,000, as married. The other 42 percent lived together outside of marriage. There were more female couple households than male couple households, but not by a lot. Gary Gates, is a demographer specializing in LGBT issues. He said, Opponents of marriage equality frequently argued that same-sex couples really werent all that interested in marriage. But the large increase in marriages among same-sex couples since marriage equality became legal nationwide offers evidence of the clear desire for marriage among same-sex couples. The survey showed noticeable economic differences between male couples and female couples, as well as same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. The study found that same-sex married couples generally earned more money, with average earnings of about $107,000 a year. That compares to almost $97,000 for opposite-sex couples. Among same-sex marriages, male couples earned more than female couples -- $123,646 compared to $87,690. The research also found that same-sex married households were more likely to be in the workforce than opposite-sex married households -- 84.6 percent compared to 80.4 percent. The study showed married women in same-sex households were much more likely to be working than married women in opposite-sex households. But married men in same-sex households were less likely to be working than married men in opposite-sex ones. Gates said, While most research that gay and bisexual men, on average, do not earn more than their comparable heterosexual male counterparts, that research also shows that they tend to earn more than lesbian and bisexual women. Separate survey results also released Thursday show that almost 15 percent of same-sex couples had at least one child under the age of 18. The same is true of a little more than 48 percent of opposite-sex couples. Of the nearly 300,000 children living in homes with same-sex couples, 66 percent were children of both partners, compared to 95 percent for opposite-sex couples, reports the Census Bureaus Current Population Survey. The District of Columbia had the greatest concentration of same-sex households. In the nations capital, about 2.4 percent of households are same-sex households. The nearby state of Delaware followed, with 1.3 percent. The states of Oregon, Massachusetts and Washington came next, all a little over one percent, the survey found. In the survey, more than 16 percent of same-sex married households were interracial couples, double the rate for opposite-sex married couples. The U.S. had 122 million households in 2019. The number of gay and lesbian couples in the country is greater than 980,000 since that number only represented same-sex households. The 2019 American Community Survey for the first time included updated relationship identifications that better captured the number and qualities of same-sex households in the United States. Im Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _________________________________________________ Words in This Story survey n. an activity in which many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something demographer n. someone who studies changes, such as the number of births, deaths, marriages, and illnesses, that occur over a period of time in human populations LGBT n. short for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer frequently adj. happening often heterosexual adj. sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex concentration n. a large amount of something in one place tend v. used to describe what often happens or what someone often does or is likely to do We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Hope Mills Police Department A missing North Carolina woman is feared to have been kidnapped, raped and murdered. Rebecca Michelle Garcia-James, who also goes by Rebecca Fellows, was reported missing from Hope Mills on July 9. Now, two people have been charged with rape and murder in connection with her disappearance, police announced on Facebook. Beverly Ann Harris, 36, and Miguel Angel Navarro, 33, are charged with first-degree murder, first-degree rape, first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy. Garcia-James was last seen at about midnight on July 8 being picked up by a dark gray 2018 Dodge Challenger, according to the Fayetteville Observer. Police revealed investigators had located human remains they believe belong to Garcia-James. However, official identification has not been confirmed. 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. Harris and Navarro remain behind bars in the Cumberland County Detention Center without bond. Attorney and plea information was not available Thursday. Their relationship to Garcia-James is unknown. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Josh Hamilton at (910) 429-3385 or the State Bureau of Investigation at (800) 334-3000 or the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Crimestoppers at (910) 483-TIPS (8477). Crimestoppers information can also be submitted electronically by visiting http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org and completing the anonymous online tip sheet. With absentee voting underway in Wisconsin, Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden maintains a 5-point edge over Republican President Donald Trump, according to a new poll. Whats more, the poll of voters in the three key battleground states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania found a stark contrast between Biden and Trump voters in terms of what they view as the most important issues facing the country. Among Biden voters in the three states, 47% of respondents listed COVID-19 as the top issue. Climate change, inequality and health care were nearly tied for second, each named as the top issue by about 12% to 14% of respondents. Among Trump voters, 37% listed the economy as the top issue in the country, while 24% said it was crime. They ranked the COVID-19 outbreak third at 13%. The Wisconsin poll, coordinated by the UW-Madison Elections Research Center in collaboration with the Wisconsin State Journal, found that Biden has the support of half of likely voters those who say theyre certain to vote. When compared to previous Wisconsin polls this year, one of the standout results is how little voters have changed their minds. It really is notable just how stable the vote division is between Biden and Trump, despite all the things that have happened over the course of the summer, said Barry Burden, a UW-Madison political science professor and director of the Elections Research Center. None of those things seemed to have budged the polls more than a couple of percentage points, and Joe Biden has maintained a very consistent, durable lead over Trump, despite all the turmoil in the environment. On the vast difference in top priorities, Burden said, its almost like two different elections. Its striking that these voters see the world in such different terms, he said. Biden leads Trump 49% to 44% among registered voters in both Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in the latest poll. In Michigan, Biden leads 50% to 42%. Bidens lead narrows slightly among likely voters to 50% over Trumps 46%. The margin of error in each state is between +/- 4.21 and 4.66 percentage points. The online poll was conducted Sept. 10-21 by YouGov, which has also done polls for CBS News, The Economist and other news outlets. There were 800 respondents surveyed in each of the three battleground states. It is the third poll this year conducted by the Elections Research Center and sponsored by the State Journal. Campaign contacts In the final stretch of the campaign, more Trump voters (70%) in Wisconsin say they have been contacted by candidates or campaigns than Biden voters (59%). In the swing states of Michigan and Pennsylvania, a greater share of Biden voters said they had been contacted by campaigns than Trump voters. Among all likely voters in Wisconsin, 19% say theyve been contacted by Democrats, 21% by Republicans and 60% by both parties. As with previous polls, partisanship played a major role in which candidate voters support, with 94% of Democrats backing Biden, compared with 92% of Republicans supporting Trump. There was some shift among independent voters in the three states, with 47% saying this month they support Trump, which is up from 42% in August. In the same span, support for Biden among independent voters dropped from 51% in August to 46% this month. But in Wisconsin, Biden maintains his lead among independent likely voters. Biden has the support of 51% of independents, while Trump has 42%. Trump leads Biden in Septembers poll among men, with 51% of likely voters supporting the incumbent president, while 55% of women support Biden. Trump also maintains his lead among likely voters with a high school education or less, while Biden holds the advantage among those with at least some college education or more. Job performance As with other polls, Trumps overall job performance remains relatively stable, with 30% of Wisconsin respondents strongly approving of the presidents overall job handling. Another 46% strongly disapprove. Trump rated somewhat higher on his handling of the economy, with 35% strongly approving in Wisconsin, compared with 38% who strongly disapproved. With regard to the presidents handling of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody and the Kenosha police shooting of Jacob Blake, 45% of Wisconsin respondents said they were satisfied with the presidents response, while 55% were dissatisfied. Approval ratings for all three Democratic governors in the battleground states fell slightly since Augusts poll. In Wisconsin, 16% of respondents strongly approve of Gov. Tony Everss job handling, compared with 34% who strongly disapprove. Another 32% somewhat approve of the governors job performance, while 14% somewhat disapprove. Follow the Wisconsin State Journals 2020 presidential election coverage Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The Global Enterprise Search Market report is to depict the trends and upcoming for the Enterprise Search Market industry over the forecast years. Enterprise Search Market report data has been gathered from industry specialists/experts. Although the market size of the market is studied and predicted from 2020 to 2027 mulling over 2019 as the base year of the market study. Attentiveness for the market has increased in recent decades due to development and improvement in the innovation. The Enterprise Search Market is driven by factors such as sophistication of artificial intelligence software and converging robotics technology with mobile technologies. The market faces limitations due to time-consuming activities such as R&D, manufacturing and marketing. Better growth opportunities are perceived due to comparatively untapped markets in African countries and increasing defense spending, worldwide. The bargaining power of customers is moderate due to entry of multiple companies in the market and high switch-over cost. Degree of intersegment rivalry is expected to rise higher as numerous players are present in the market and many other players are expected to step in. Threat of substitutes is low/moderate. From the geographical perspectives, the market is categorized into regions such as North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and rest of the world (RoW). North American region is driving the market with largest share due to early adoption of the technology. In future, Europe is expected to experience higher growth due to entry of multiple American players in the European countries. Key Market Players Profiled in the Report: 1. Microsoft Corporation 2. Attivio Inc. 3. IBM Corporation 4. Oracle Corporation 5. Coveo Solutions Inc. 6. SAP AG 7. Lucid Work Inc. 8. EMC Corporations 9. X1 Technologies 10. Mark Logic Corporation. Source: Allied Market Research Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Month by month, retailers are starting to pay more rent as states lift shutdown orders and consumers become more comfortable venturing out to shop during the coronavirus pandemic. But negotiations, sometimes heated, continue between tenants and landlords. In some cities and popular shopping districts, commercial rents are still sky high. Tensions keep brewing, as mall and shopping center owners grapple with retailers looking to close stores permanently, downsize or try to rewrite contracts in their favor. And the pressures are likely to roll into 2021, with the start of the year typically drawing a fresh wave of retail store closures as companies reevaluate their brick-and-mortar footprints after the holidays. Less than a third of companies paid at least 75% of June rent, according to a study released Thursday by the National Retail Federation and the investment bank PJ Solomon. By July, the number of rent payers had almost doubled to 65%, it said. The study polled 48 C-level executives at retailers with at least 10 stores and more than $100 million in sales in 2019, from July 15 to July 28. The survey also found that 73% of retailers that missed payments are planning to pay back at least half of the rent owed since a nationwide shutdown began in March. More than half of respondents said they were able to get some sort of rent relief from their landlords, with deferrals into late 2020 or 2021 being the most likely concession. "If you're a retailer with an extensive store footprint, effectively managing these fixed costs has been critical to preserving cash while brick-and-mortar sales remain under pressure, even as online sales surged for many," said Jeff Derman, a managing director at PJ Solomon. When retailers pay less or no rent, it creates a ripple effect of consequences. Landlords like the mall owners Simon Property Group and CBL & Associates are feeling the pain. CBL is now expected to file for bankruptcy protection by Oct. 1, while Simon has taken some of its tenants like Gap Inc. to court. And Brookfield Properties' retail arm is laying off 20% of its employees, or about 400 people, as it looks to dispose of some of its malls. Real estate experts say retailers are increasingly looking to pay rent as a percentage of sales, making it a variable expense on their balance sheets rather than a fixed one. Landlords, however, have resisted this type of structure in the past, as it makes it more difficult for them to predict future revenue streams. While there could be some hesitation to strike a deal like this, landlords could end up capitulating to keep a space occupied. "We're looking to avoid a legal fight, and we were able to stay out of court for the most part," said Ami Ziff, director of national retail for Time Equities, which operates more than 120 retail properties across the U.S. "But if we gave everyone free rent, I would go out of business." Related Cos., owner of Hudson Yards mall as well as The Shops at Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Center building in New York, told CNBC at the end of August that it was collecting just over 50% of retail rents for its malls in Manhattan. It expected that percentage to pick up as its malls reopened, which they finally did earlier this month. The numbers paint a picture of the pain being felt across the industry, even into the fall season. One of the most publicized legal battles during the pandemic has been Miami landlord Bal Harbour Shops suing to evict the high-end department store chain Saks Fifth Avenue, alleging the retailer failed to pay more than $1.8 million in rent. Saks has since countersued Bal Harbour Shops, alleging defamation, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty. In another instance, the Austin, Texas-based theater chain Alamo Drafthouse Cinema stopped paying rent at a location in San Antonio, after it went dark in mid-March. Its landlord sued. And then Alamo countersued, looking for relief from the court to allow the theater to skip its rent payments until its business was operating again. Alamo said its supply chain had been disrupted since fewer new movies are slated to be released, according to court documents. The biggest U.S. mall owner Simon Property sued Gap in June for owing $66 million in rent. Gap followed with its own suit seeking rent relief. Simon then filed a second suit against the retailer, alleging Gap was "taking opportunistic advantage" of the pandemic to avoid paying $107 million in overdue rent, even as Gap's stores started reopening. "I think we will see more litigation," said David Marmins, who co-leads the retail team at the law firm Arnall Golden Gregory, which is representing Alamo. "There is not going to be an agreement across the board. There are tenants that have leverage and are fighting for more leverage. There is still more negotiating to be done." "I think we are just now getting to the biggest problems," Marmins added. "There have been a lot of agreements worked out, but now we are at the particularly hard situations that are coming to a head." Another part of the problem: Analysts say rents still need to fall in some markets because they have become too high for many businesses to justify paying. And supply of retail space and demand of retail space are no longer aligned, with more sales moving online. Around New York, a descent has already begun. During the second quarter ended June 30, average asking rents along 16 major retail corridors in Manhattan declined for the 11th consecutive quarter, falling to $688 per square foot, according to a report from the commercial real estate services firm CBRE. The drop marked the first time since 2011 that prices dropped below $700, the firm said, representing an 11.3% decline from a year earlier. And the number of ground-floor leases available in Manhattan's 16 retail corridors tracked by CBRE hit a record of 235, surpassing a previous high of 230 in 2013. Saudi Arabia told the United Nations an oil spot has been discovered off Yemens western coast near an aging oil tanker, heightening the risk of a major humanitarian and economic catastrophe should the vessel leak, Reuters reports. The FSO Safer, a dilapidated ship stranded about 37 miles north of Yemen's port city of Hodeidah, contains 1.14 million barrels of light crude oil and holds the potential to unleash four times as much oil into the sea than was spilled from the Exxon Valdez tanker in 1989, the United Nations says. The Houthi rebel group hasn't performed maintenance on the vessel since seizing it from the government in 2015. The Iran-aligned group has repeatedly prevented the UN from sending inspectors to conduct an independent assessment of the vessel. In May, seawater leaked into the Safers engine room, risking an explosion before it was patched by a team of divers. In a letter to the UN Security Council seen by Reuters, Saudi Arabias UN Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi said Wednesday experts had discovered 31 miles (50 kilometers) west of the Safer that a pipeline attached to the vessel is suspected to have been separated from the stabilizers holding it to the bottom and is now floating on the surface of the sea. For more than half a decade, Yemen has been embroiled in a war pitting the Houthis against a Saudi-led military coalition fighting to restore Yemens internationally recognized government. The conflict has created what the United Nations says is the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, with some 80% of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. Should the Safer leak, it could exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation. The United Nations estimates that in a worst-case scenario, a spill would force a six-month closure of the Houthi-controlled Hodeidah port and cause a 200% spike in fuel costs. The cost of food, 90% of which Yemen imports, would double at a time when more than 20 million Yemenis are already food insecure. The port of Hodeidah, through which most UN food deliveries arrive, would likely close for months in the event of a spill. The ongoing demonstrations in Belarus and the looming instability are a threat to both Russia and the EU. Moscow prefers the continuation of Lukashenko's regime due to political reasons. Europe, on the other hand, faces an energy crisis if the situation escalates which could lead to a disruption of supplies. Belarus geographic location, a land-locked nation of 9.5 million inhabitants, is highly strategic as it connects the east with the west. Since the end of the Cold War, Minsk has carefully exploited its position. Over the years Ukraine has received most of the attention when it comes to energy security and trade between the EU and Russia. Recent events, however, have highlighted the undervalued importance of Belarus. Allegations of election fraud have caused friction and instability which questions the countrys ability to remain a stable conduit of oil and gas to Europe. Europes most important conduit The small nation of Belarus hosts two major pipelines for the transportation of the industrial worlds most important resources: oil and gas. The Druzhba oil pipeline is an engineering marvel that was constructed during the Cold War in the 60s. It is the worlds longest and one of the biggest oil pipeline networks. It is also referred to as the Friendship Pipeline as it provided cheap energy to the communist nations of Eastern Europe. Currently, Russia can export approximately 1.4 million barrels per day (mb/d) through Belarus. Furthermore, the Yamal-Europe Natural Gas Pipeline is another important extension of Moscows energy strategy. Planning and construction started after the Cold War in 1992. The pipeline can transport 33 bcm of natural gas annually which is approximately 17 percent of Russia's entire gas exports to Europe. Related: Colombias Security Crisis Deals Another Blow To Its Oil Industry Contaminated oil The importance of the Druzhba pipeline became clear after an incident in which oil destined for refineries in Europe was contaminated with chloride. This caused significant damage to the infrastructure and made the oil virtually unusable. Related: Why Russia Is Pushing Unneeded Nuclear Power Plants On Egypt The crisis highlighted the strategic and financial value of the pipeline as Moscow suffered billions in lost revenues. Furthermore, importers were struck by their dependence on Russian oil which strengthened the need for diversification to mitigate the consequences of a future crisis. However, the highly interconnected nature of the infrastructure, low production costs in Russia, low transportation costs, and lack of cheap alternatives for inland refineries make the pipeline indispensable for many importers. Lukashenkos tightrope skills Although Belarus is highly dependent on Russia, relations with Europe before the contested elections were improving. Moscow has been pushing Minsk to integrate the countries political and economic systems even further. This prompted Lukashenko to look for new partnerships due to fears of a merger with Russia. Belarus strategic value ensures Moscows attention. For Russia preventing the Ukraine scenario in which a pro-western government takes control of the country is a priority. From a security point of view, Belarus is essential in averting a closed front in Western Russia from the Baltics to the Black Sea. Economically the country is even more important to Russia as the majority of its revenue is earned from oil and gas exports. Solving the conundrum The current stalemate in Belarus could transform the political landscape in Eastern Europe. As was the case with Ukraine, Russia will do whatever it can to prevent Belarus from falling out of its sphere of influence. Fortunately for Russia, the demonstrations in neighboring Belarus are not anti-Russian but anti-Lukashenko. However, Moscows unwavering support for Europes last dictator is changing the Belarussian populations opinion of their large neighbor. The EU, on the other hand, is divided on how it should respond. After weeks of protests, Belarus is still not subjected to sanctions. Even if they would have been enacted, the penalties are a mild response aimed towards several high-ranking officials. Partly that can be attributed to the EU's slow and compromise seeking decision-making process. However, the strategic value of Belarus for Europes energy security rules out a heavy-handed response that could derail the export of oil and gas. Also, the pandemic has ensured a bigger problem for Europe to face. By Vanand Meliksetian for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: As a deal deciding the fate of TikTok hangs in the balance, the Chinese-owned video app is seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the Trump administrations order that would ban app stores from carrying TikTok in the U.S. as of Sept. 27. TikTok alleges that Trump cited national security concerns as a pretext for trying to shut down the app in the absence of a deal to transfer ownership of TikTok to American buyers. The company, per its motion, claims the president was motivated by political considerations relating to the upcoming general election. There is simply no genuine emergency here that would justify the governments precipitous actions, TikTok said in the motion, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. And there is no plausible reason to insist the prohibitions be enforced immediately. In response, the Justice Department told the court an emergency ruling in the case was unnecessary and unwarranted. The DOJ wants seven days to respond to TikToks lawsuit which would push it well past Sunday night. The Secretary of Commerce prohibited several transactions with respect to TikTok, but only one set of those prohibitions is scheduled to go into effect at 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, September 27, 2020, the Justice Department notice said. That set of prohibitions will effectively prevent new U.S. users from downloading TikTok, and will prevent existing U.S. users from receiving application updates, but will otherwise largely preserve the status quo with respect to Plaintiffs and their existing U.S. users. The court set a hearing for 10 a.m. ET Thursday to discuss the issues of timing in the case. TikTok is currently owned by Chinese internet giant ByteDance. Late last week ByteDance reached a preliminary deal with Oracle and Walmart, which got a provisional OK from President Trump. But conflicting information from ByteDance and Oracle about who will control the new TikTok Global may derail the pact. Story continues In the latest legal filing, TikTok asked for an expedited hearing for a preliminary injunction ahead of Sundays looming ban. The company claimed it has made extraordinary efforts to try to satisfy the governments ever-shifting demands and purported national security concerns. The Commerce Department originally set Sept. 20 for the TikTok download ban, before delaying the deadline to Sept. 27 given Trumps preliminary approval. A total ban on Tencents WeChat app also was set to go into effect last Sunday, but a judge issued a temporary stay of that order on First Amendment grounds. TikTok had previously sued Trump and the Commerce Department on Aug. 24, alleging the executive order forcing its sale violated TikToks constitutional right to due process. The ByteDance deal with Oracle and Walmart still needs official U.S. and China government approval and that might not happen. China Daily, the official English-language newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, said in an editorial Wednesday, China has no reason to give the green light to such a deal, which is dirty and unfair and based on bullying and extortion. Separately, TiKTok announced Wednesday that it is banning ads for fasting apps and weight loss supplements, as well as increasing restrictions on ads that promote a harmful and negative body image. The company said it was partnering with the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) to provide resources to users directly from the app and will launch a dedicated page for NEDAs #EndWeightHateCampaign to support Weight Stigma Awareness Week (Sept. 28-Oct. 2). 1 of 1 Study: Covid-19 patients may have higher risk of kidney damage The recent findings say that hospitalized patients with COVID-19 may face an increased risk for kidney damage or acute kidney injury (AKI), a dreaded complication for those suffering from an infection. The study, published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, revealed that Covid-19 patients 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 weve seen contribute to kidney injury in thousands of patients, said study author Jochen Reiser from the University of Michigan in the US. 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, Reiser added. If there is a hyperinflammatory suPAR response, kidney cells may be damaged, he explained. Thee study results show that more than 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 percent 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 the levels of healthy people. Certainly, a suPAR level at the 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, the researchers said. This will help hospitals by providing proper surveillance of patients at higher risk of a severe Covid-19 course, they noted. Recovery fund: FT, ECB asks EU to make it permanent Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia could be biggest net beneficiaries (ANSA) - BELGRADE, 24 SET - The European Central Bank (ECB) has suggested to the European Union to make the so-called Recovery fund permanent, the Financial Times revealed, saying that information from the BCE reveal that Croatia, Bulgaria and Greece would be the fund's greatest beneficiaries, as net recipients. The fund's centerpiece, i.e. 390 billion euro of grants, "would provide a net benefit worth more than 10 per cent of the pre-crisis Croatian and Bulgarian economies and almost 9 per cent for Greece," the ECB estimated in a note, the Financial Times reported. The scheme "ensures stronger macroeconomic support for more vulnerable countries", the ECB noted. The heaviest net losers include countries that initially opposed the fund. Austria, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands will lose out on a net basis by nearly 2 per cent of pre-pandemic GDP, as will Germany, according to the Financial Times. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved HONG KONG Joshua Wong, one of Hong Kongs most visible pro-democracy activists, has been arrested multiple times for taking part in antigovernment protests that erupted over the past year and roiled the city for months before the coronavirus pandemic hit. And when he walked into the Central Police Station on Thursday as part of a regular check-in, he was arrested again this time, the police said, not only for attending an unauthorized demonstration last October, but also for violating a government ban on wearing a mask during that gathering. Mr. Wong suggested that the authorities had political motives for charging him for wearing a mask at a pre-pandemic protest. The arrest came at a time when the outbreak has made mask-wearing ubiquitous in the Chinese territory. I believe an obvious reason is that the regimes authorities are overlapping one case with another to try to confine all activists within Hong Kongs borders, he said outside the police station on Thursday. A Romanian serial rapist who attacked a 28-year-old woman in north London just a week after arriving in the UK has been jailed for more than seven years. Mihai Roban, 47, was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison at Harrow Crown Court on Thursday after earlier pleading guilty to raping the victim as she walked home from a bar in Finchley, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Roban, of no fixed address, will also be required to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Scotland Yard said he had two previous convictions for rape in his home country of Romania and arrived in the UK a week before carrying out the attack in the early hours of January 20. Roban had pleaded guilty at a hearing on July 17 during which the court heard he took the woman behind a public toilet and raped her. He was found with the victim by police after a passer-by heard her cries for help and raised the alarm. Detective Sergeant Michael Daly, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: Roban had only been in the country for a week when he carried out this attack. "When we conducted enquiries with police in his home country of Romania we discovered that he had two previous convictions for rape and prison is the right place for him. "He maintained his innocence until the week before the trial was due to start which brought further anguish to his victim." Detective Sergeant Daly added: "The victim has been incredibly strong throughout the investigation and I hope that knowing Roban will be in prison for some time will help her to move on from her horrible ordeal. "I also wish to thank the member of the public for doing the right thing and calling the police when they heard the victims calls for help, as well as the investigation team for their excellent work and their continued dedication supporting victims of rape and bringing the offenders to justice. In 2014, residents of Horsham Township, Pa., near Philadelphia, learned that their water had been contaminated with potentially toxic chemicals linked to an array of health problems, including learning delays in children and cancer. Those residents include Frank and Lisa Penna, who allege in a lawsuit that their water was among the contaminated supplies. Known as PFAS, for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the chemicals in this class of approximately 5,000 substances have become notorious as much for their potential danger as for their perseverance: Because the chemical bonds that hold the compounds together dont break down easily, they last a very long timea reality that has led to a commonly used name for the group: forever chemicals. PFAS compounds are also ubiquitous, used in a range of products, from food-delivery boxes to nonstick cookware to stain-resistant clothing. But one of the most troubling routes to PFAS exposure is drinking water that has been contaminated by discharges from factories and other facilities. Indeed, PFAS have been detected in the drinking water of more than 1,400 communities in 49 states, according to research by the PFAS Project at Northeastern University in Boston and the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an advocacy organization that estimates that 110 million people may have tap water contaminated with the chemicals. The Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates U.S. drinking water, has been investigating PFAS since the late 1990s. It set voluntary guidelines of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for two of the compounds combined that are most studied and believed to be dangerous: PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, and PFOS, or perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. (For context, 1 ppt is the equivalent of one grain of sand in an Olympic-sized swimming pool, according to some estimates.) But despite the agencys 20-plus years of information gathering, it still has not issued an enforceable nationwide standard on PFAS. The agency has failed to act even as more about the risks of the chemical group has become known, and even as some scientists and environmental organizations have concluded that a far lower concentration of PFAS in water1 pptis a more appropriate limit. Story continues The EPA wont comment on a proposed 1 ppt limit, saying it would be inappropriate to prejudge the outcome of a regulatory process now underway. But David Andrews, senior scientist at the EWG, says the agency should enact the stringent standard. The scientific research supports a value of 1 ppt or lower to be health-protective, he says. And an examination by Consumer Reports found that while the EPAs power to regulate chemicals in water is limited, the agency has waffled for years. The EPA hasnt taken a science-based approach to this issue, says Brian Ronholm, CRs director of food policy. Its imperative for Congress to pass legislation that establishes PFAS limits in drinking water. That lack of a national standard has implications not just for tap water but also for bottled. Thats because bottled water is overseen by the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates contaminants in bottled water after the EPA sets a limit for tap water. CR recently tested 47 bottled waters and detected PFAS in 43 of them. Carbonated waters were more likely to contain PFAS, with severalincluding Topo Chico, Bubly, and Polarshowing levels above the scientist-recommended 1 ppt limit. (See Whats Really in Your Bottled Water?) A Regulatory Vacuum Consumer watchdogs and researchers have long called for action on PFAS. I first asked the EPA more than 19 years ago . . . and we are still waiting for a comprehensive, national response, says Robert Bilott, an attorney who led a class action lawsuit in the 2000s that accused the chemical company DuPont of contaminating drinking water in the Ohio River Valley with PFAS. That battle, which led to a court-ordered study of 69,000 residents that found significant health risks, was depicted in the 2019 movie Dark Waters. DuPont, while denying any wrongdoing, agreed in 2017 to pay $335 million to settle the dispute. Frank and Lisa Penna, the Horsham Township couple, allege one possible explanation for the EPAs delay: The government itself is a major PFAS polluter and is avoiding substantial cleanup costs. In a 2016 lawsuit, the Pennas allege that PFAS migrated from the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, near their home, into groundwater. Thousands of gallons of firefighting foam, which contains PFAS, had been dumped at the base during exercises over many years, they allege. The Pennas also claim that tests of their private well found PFOA and PFOS levels of 298 ppt and 701 ppt, respectivelyup to 10 times the EPAs voluntary limit. The Pennas case went to trial in August. Part of the governments defense? It cant be held liable because PFAS remain unregulated. Navy spokesperson Lt. Gabrielle Dimaapi declined to comment on the Penna case, citing ongoing litigation. But she says the Navy has spent $200 million investigating and responding to potential PFAS concerns and is working collaboratively with our regulatory partners and concerned communities. 40 Years of Clues In their lawsuit, the Pennas presented documents that they say show the government knew of the possible risks of PFAS for decades before the EPA moved to curtail their usea claim the government denies. That includes a 1974 report commissioned by the Air Force that examined how to dispose of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), the technical name of firefighting foam, because Air Force environmental personnel had expressed concern for disposing of AFFFs after use. Air Force Lt. Ronald Kroop, who led the study, elaborated on those concerns in an August 2019 deposition: Its going in the ground, he said. That was acknowledged, accepted. What wasnt knownand needed to bewas the impact that might have, he attested. At his deposition, when asked whether the study was conducted to examine the potential impacts on drinking water, Kroop said: Directly, I cannot say yes. Indirectly, most definitely. The EPA was aware of Kroops work. In a 1980 EPA-funded study, the agency cited the Air Forces earlier report, characterizing it as examining the environmental problems posed by fluorochemicals, another name for PFAS. The following year, DuPont drew headlines when it reassigned about 50 female staffers at a West Virginia plant after learning that a PFAS compound used at the site had been linked to possible birth defects in rats. Years later, in 1999, a former staff scientist at 3M, the company that supplied DuPont with the compound, blew the whistle on his employer for having allegedly withheld crucial information about PFAS. In a resignation letter (PDF) he shared with the EPA, the employee said PFOS is the most insidious pollutant since PCB, referring to polychlorinated biphenyls, chemicals now banned for manufacturing purposes. A 3M spokesperson directed CR to its website, which says the company phased out the use of PFOA and PFOS in the early 2000s but still uses replacement compounds today. The company has spent $200 million on cleanup efforts from PFAS contamination, the website says. More information about the risks of PFAS continued to emerge. In 1999, researchers at Oregon State University in Corvallis found PFAS compounds in groundwater below two military bases years after the military stopped using firefighting foam there. The Burdensome Law Part of the problem, researchers say, is that Congress has also made it hard for the EPA to act. It wasnt always so. When Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974, it granted the EPA authority to regulate drinking water. Soon after, the agency adopted standards for about two dozen contaminants, according to research by James Salzman, an environmental law professor at UCLA. But over the next two decades, water utilities began to push back, citing the high cost of removing contaminants, and in 1996, Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act. The amendments basically gutted the law, making future regulation unlikely, says Erik Olson, senior strategic director of health and food at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an environmental organization. The EPA says it has issued several drinking water regulations to strengthen public health protection since 1996, including revisions for arsenic, bacteria, and water served on airplanes. But since then the EPA hasnt implemented a new standard for a previously unregulated contaminant. The agency has not been able to muster the energy or the political will to jump through all those hoops and regulate a single new chemical through that process in 24 years, Olson says. Regulate As a Family Regulating PFAS presents special challenges for at least two reasons: Thousands of the compounds are already in use, and manufacturers keep introducing new ones, though its unclear whether they are any safer. As a possible solution to those problems, researchers argued in a June letter to the journal Environmental Science & Technology that the government should manage PFAS as a chemical classin other words, one standard for all related compounds. It takes 20 years to even consider regulating one, and weve got thousands, says Olson at the NRDC. It will be literally geologic time before we see regulation of most of them. Worsening the problem is that while some companies have stopped using PFOA and PFOS, many are replacing them with less-studied PFAS compounds. The American Chemistry Council, an industry group, says that these newer chemicals are safer and that regulating them as a class isnt reasonable, because many PFAS chemistries have very different profiles from PFOS and PFOA. But the letter in Environmental Science & Technology said that replacement PFAS can be equally environmentally persistent. Other research suggests that those replacements are linked to similar adverse human health effects. The limits of the one-at-a-time approach were underscored by a June study in Science magazine that looked at how PFAS spread underground. EPA researchers found New Jersey soil samples contaminated by new PFAS compoundsones that have their own mouthful of a name: ClPFPECA, or chloroperfluoropolyether carboxylate. The researchers pointed to the chemical company Solvay, which has a facility near where samples were taken, as the likely source. In an accompanying piece, other researchers trying to find out more about ClPFPECAs from state regulators said their efforts uncovered almost no useful information, which raises more questions than answers. Solvay told CR that it provided toxicology reports on the compounds to New Jersey and the EPA. The company said those reportswhich are not public because they contain proprietary informationshow that Solvay is compliant with applicable regulations. But David Andrews at the EWG compared the scenario to the dearth of information on PFAS compounds when they were first discovered. The agency has no public health information on [ClPFPECAs] and we just seem to be in the same spot three or four more decades down the line, he says. The Case for a Lower Level Advocates and researchers who support the 1 ppt limit for PFAS in drinking water point to growing research linking even very small amounts to potential harm, as well as the compounds persistence in the environment. One key piece of evidence is a 2013 study partly funded by the EPA and led by Harvard environmental health professor Philippe Grandjean that showed a decreased vaccine response in children exposed to PFAS. Grandjeans paper recommended a drinking water limit for PFAS of 1 ppt. Last year, the EWG recommended 1 ppt for all PFAS, citing Grandjeans work along with other research associating the compounds with delayed mammary gland development in rodents. The American Chemistry council disagrees. The science does not support a 1 ppt level, the group says. But some experts say even 1 ppt is too high. The NRDC, in a 2019 report (PDF), acknowledged that toxicity data is limited but said that a zero tolerance is needed to provide an adequate margin of safety to protect public health from a class of chemicals that is characterized by extreme persistence, high mobility, and is associated with a multitude of different types of toxicity at very low levels of exposure. Jamie DeWitt, a PFAS researcher in the department of pharmacology and toxicology at East Carolina Universitys Brody School of Medicine in Greenville, N.C., agrees. We shouldnt have these compounds in the environment, he says. We shouldnt have these compounds in our body. How to Address PFAS Consumers can take some steps to limit their exposure to PFAS, including testing their home water, filtering their water, choosing bottled waters carefully, and avoiding products that contain the compounds. (See 4 Ways to Avoid PFAS in Your Water.) But consumers cant solve the PFAS problem alone, says Alissa Cordner, co-director of the PFAS Project Lab at Northeastern University. Though industry bears some responsibility, its unlikely to act without government action, she says. Ideally, the EPA should set limits on PFAS in drinking water, says CRs Brian Ronholm. But because that could take years, Congress should mandate more immediate action, he says. Arlene Blum, executive director of the nonprofit Green Science Policy Institute, suggests that states can act more quickly to tackle the problem. The amount of hoops that the federal government has to go through makes it really difficult, she says. A few states have set PFAS limits below the EPAs 70 ppt advisory, according to American Water Works, an industry group. In 2019, Vermont set a 20 ppt limit for five PFAS compounds combined, while New Hampshire passed limits on PFOA (12 ppt) and PFOS (15 ppt). At least nine others have proposed PFAS standards. But Linda Birnbaum, the recently retired director of the National Institute for Environmental Health Science and now a scholar-in-residence in the department of environmental sciences and policy at Duke University, says there is an even simpler solution. I keep asking, she says, Why the heck are we making chemicals that are never going to go away? Editors Note: This article also appeared in the November 2020 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Clarification: Comments from the American Chemistry Council were originally attributed to the FluoroCouncil, a part of the group that was split into two separate organizations in April. Americas Water Crisis Consumer Reports has a long history of investigating Americas water. In 1974, we published a landmark three-part series (PDF) revealing that water purification systems in many communities had not kept pace with increasing levels of pollution and that many community water supplies might be contaminated. Our work helped lead to Congress enacting the Safe Drinking Water Act in December 1974. More than 45 years later, America is still struggling with a dangerous divide between those who have access to safe and affordable drinking water and those who dont. Communities of color often are affected disproportionately by this inequity. Consumer Reports remains committed to exposing the weaknesses in our countrys water system, including raising questions about Americans reliance on bottled water as an alternativeand the safety and sustainability implications of this dependence. In addition to our ongoing investigations into bottled water, we are proud to be partnering with our readers and those of the Guardian US, another institution dedicated to journalism in the public interest, to test for dangerous contaminants in tap water samples from more than 100 communities around the country. The Guardian and CR will also be publishing related content from Ensia, a nonprofit newsroom focused on environmental issues and solutions. Americas Water Crisis is the name we are jointly giving to this project and the series of articles we co-publish on the major challenges many in the U.S. face getting access to safe, clean, and affordable water. We will share the results of our upcoming test findings with you. In the meantime, you can join our social media conversation around water under the hashtag #waterincrisis. Gwendolyn Bounds Chief Content Officer, Consumer Reports Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Police responded to Wednesday's protests against Alexander Lukashenko with a ferocious crackdown - TUT.by/AFP The European Union in a rare show of unity on Thursday said that it wont recognise Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate leader of Belarus. Mr Lukashenko's landslide victory in August's rigged vote sparked protests that were reignited on Wednesday after Mr Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for 26 years, held a clandestine swearing-in ceremony. Mr Lukashenkos security forces led a ferocious crackdown on opposition protests in the days following the elections. Hundreds of people have reported injuries, torture or mistreatment at the hands of law enforcement. The EUs diplomatic chief said in a statement on Thursday that the ceremony and the new mandate claimed by Alexander Lukashenko lack any democractic legitimacy. This inauguration directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus. The tough stance on Mr Lukashenko comes just a few days after European foreign ministers failed to agree on potential sanctions on Belarus after Cyprus blocked the plan, citing the lack of joint EU action against Turkey. Thousands of Belarusians took to the streets of capital Minsk and other cities on Wednesday evening to protest against Mr Lukashenkos rule. A woman flashes the V-sign near police vans in Minsk - TUT.BY/AFP via Getty Images Police responded with a ferocious crackdown not seen since the election week. Riot police deployed several water cannons as plainclothes policemen with ski masks batons went a rampage around town, beating up and detaining people. Footage from the scene showed riot police attacking and smashing several cars for allegedly blocking traffic. More than 300 people are now in custody waiting for court hearings, according to the Belarusian Interior Ministry. Mr Lukashenko in a speech televised on Wednesday evening thanked riot police for stopping that scum on the clean, cozy streets of our Minsk." Story continues A Belarusian law enforcement officer uses tear gas to disperse a crowd - REUTERS On Wednesday, several European countries including the UK and Germany took a stand and publicly refused to recognise Mr Lukashenko as the legitimate president. Lukashenkos secret inauguration in Minsk today brings him further into disrepute, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted on Wednesday. His rigged election was a fraud on the Belarusian people. The president of Turkmenistan was reportedly the only world leader who congratulated Mr Lukashenko on Wednesday. The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had no idea the ceremony would happen on Wednesday and refused to comment. Work at Lears Hammond plant? Contact us today to share a tip or for assistance in organizing a rank-and-file safety committee. Anger is growing among workers over the worsening COVID-19 outbreak at the Lear automotive seating plant in Hammond, Indiana. The facility employs nearly 900 workers and is located just across the state border from Chicago, Illinois. Nearly two weeks ago, a wildcat strike broke out at the factory for several hours. Workers were gravely concerned that they were being exposed to the coronavirus in the plant. The work stoppage quickly led to production disruptions at the nearby Ford Chicago Assembly Plant, which is supplied by Lear and produces the Explorer SUV. Both Lear management and the United Auto Workers union rushed to the idled lines to demand workers return to their jobs. The wildcat action was at least the second at the plant since the outbreak of the pandemic. In March, dozens of workers walked out after learning that a supervisor had tested positive, part of a wave of wildcat strikes that forced the shutdown of the auto industry. Management and the UAW have refused to provide up-to-date figures on the spread of COVID-19 at the plant. Workers at Lear have taken to Facebook to self-report when they receive positive test results to warn those they were in contact with. At least five have reported that they tested positive over the last week and a half, workers say, in addition to the six positive cases the company admitted to on Saturday, September 12. The World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter recently spoke with two workers at the plant who had tested positive for COVID-19. Their names have been withheld and certain details have been changed in order to protect them from retaliation. Lears seating plant in Hammond, Indiana (Credit: Sai Abhinov) Its off and on, I have good days and bad days, one worker said about his symptoms. The doctor just says to take Tylenol for the fever. Asked if they knew how many total cases had emerged at the plant, they replied, Lear hasnt told us how many. Its mostly people coming out on our Facebook group. Lear is hell. Its not a good place to work anymore, they continued. They reported that management had recently threatened them with the loss of the companys contract with Ford if production disruptions continue, a potential death sentence for the Lear plant and hundreds of workers jobs. Another worker who had tested positive said, All of us who came down with symptoms lost our sense of taste and smell and felt extremely worn out and tired. Some developed a cough, sore throat, and a runny nose. It all started with a runny nose. Then I lost my sense of smell and then taste, and by the next morning I was so lethargic I couldnt stay awake. Im still extremely tired and have yet to regain my sense of smell and taste. Earlier in the year one worker at the plant had succumbed to COVID-19, they reported, one of dozens throughout the industry before autoworkers forced the corporations and the UAW to shut down production in mid-March. At least 13 have died at Lears plant in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. We lost a coworker to COVID back in April or May from the JIT side [Just-in-Time] while we were shut down for two months. Many became very ill on Friday, September 11, after the company hid the fact that there were known positive cases. Workers at the Hammond plant are split into unequal tiers, between JIT (final assembly) and sub-assembly, a widely hated setup first negotiated by the UAW behind workers backs in 2014. Workers in the subassembly part of the plant are paid less, starting at the poverty wages of just $14.10 an hour. Lear workers repeatedly sought to reject this tier system in 2018, voting down two UAW-backed contract proposals by large margins, before the UAW eventually rammed the deal through with a highly dubious 50.8 percent vote margin and under conditions of threats of job losses. Two weeks ago, workers on both the final assembly and subassembly sides of the plant rebelled against the coverup of COVID-19 cases, confronting the combined opposition of both management and the UAW. The JIT side is where the entire uproar started out that Friday night, because we found out we had two positive cases that were at work the whole week prior to them getting their positive results. Then we saw the Sub [subassembly] side doing the same thing on the other side of the plant. Workers stopped production and got into a huge screaming match with management and our union president over the unsafe conditions, the worker continued. They told us to clean our areas and get back to work. Our union president [UAW Local 2335 President Hanif Hasan] is not for us at all. He is all for management, they said. When our president walked in, he completely ignored us union members and walked right past us without saying a word and went straight to management. The company subsequently sought to placate workers with exaggerated claims of deep cleaning, the worker said. They claimed they did a thorough cleaning while we were on our 20-minute break, but the two people doing the cleaning called them out on their lies and told us all that they only cleaned the small area where the positive case was working at. That is when we had to clean our own areas thoroughly and get back to work. Our HR department is absolutely horrible and rude to us. Most days B shift never gets to see them because they leave as we are getting there or before, they continued. The company has also imposed relentless overtime for months on end. Theyve worked us six days a week for over a year now on B shift. We never get time with our families; we cant ever schedule plans because they throw up Saturdays at the last minute most of the time. Everything is always a secret in that place. Our jobs are constantly being threatened. On Friday we were told that if we clocked out then, we would no longer have a job come the following Tuesday. Weve been lied to so much and promised so many things that they have never followed through with. They think they can bribe us with food, and everything will be just fine! To combat the company-UAW gangup, which is endangering the lives of workers and those of their families, Lear workers should follow the lead of autoworkers at FCA, Ford and Faurecia plants and organize a rank-and-file safety committee, independent of the union. Such a committee is necessary in order to break through the conspiracy of silence over the spread of COVID-19 and to assert workers control over safety and workplace conditions. A member of the Chicago Ford Rank-and-File Safety Committee denounced the treatment of Lear workers. Its really horrible. Fords basically doing the same thing. I heard how they only brought in sanitation after the fact. Its something you put in place ahead of an outbreak. Its more proof to me that theyre not really concerned about their well-being. He was furious when heard that the company had been telling workers that the contract with Ford would be in jeopardy if more production disruptions occurred. With Ford intimidating Lear, Lear intimidating their employees, it just pisses me off so much. You want to intimidate people just to keep production going? Its a life-or-death situation! Its the ruling class that has got the big property and the incomes, and theyre getting all the tax breaks. Theyre trying to scare us back to work, but its our lives on the line. Theyre only concerned about their own interests. Obviously, they dont care about humanity, or the survival of humanity. Its like were the casualties of war. But we never volunteered into this war. Addressing himself to workers at Lear, he said, I would ask them to let down their fear, be courageous, be bold. Whats affected them is affecting us. With what management is doing, its only right for us to band together and have a rank-and-file safety committee, so we dont have outbreaks or cases like this that are very dangerous to us. Were willing to work with them and stand with them. If we dont take a stand here and now, what will our children have to face? New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says his state will carry out its own review of coronavirus vaccines approved by the federal government. Cuomo, a Democrat, says he fears the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is facing political pressure from the White House to approve a vaccine before the November 3 presidential election. 'The first question is, is the vaccine safe? Frankly, I'm not going to trust the federal government's opinion,' Cuomo said during a press conference on Thursday. 'New York State will have its own review when the federal government is finished with their review and says it's safe.' The governor, who has repeatedly criticized President Donald Trump and his administration's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, told reporters he was going to form a review committee to advise the state on the safety of a vaccine. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said his state will conduct its own review of any coronavirus vaccines approved by the FDA. Pictured: Cuomo during a press conference, Thursday The review committee will advise New York on the safety and efficacy of the first jab to receive emergency use authorization. Pictured: Neal Browning receives a shot in a COVID-19 vaccine trial at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle, March 16 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 are currently in large-scale trials in humans in the US and around the world to prove the jabs are both safe and effective. Cuomo said he was alarmed when Trump said earlier this week that the White House 'may or may not' authorize new FDA rules hardening clinical trial standards needed for vaccine approval. 'That sounds like a political move,' Trump said of the news and hinted that the White House may reject the FDA's plans. 'I don't see why it should be delayed further. That is a lot of lives you're talking about,' the commander-in-chief added. Cuomo said the comments showed the president is 'in dispute' with the agency. 'The FDA says they want to make the approval more rigorous, more transparent. The president says they're trying to politicize it,' he said. 'Why would the FDA be politicizing the approval? Between the president and the FDA, only one entity is engaged in the political process and is headed for the Election Day. It's not the FDA.' Cuomo says the review panel will be compromised of physicians, researchers and public health experts who will review the same data the FDA does. He says the committee will advise him 'so I can look at the camera and I can say to New Yorkers that it's safe to take.' Recent polls have shown that the number Americans who say they will get a coronavirus vaccine as soon as it is available are quickly declining. A recent survey, conducted by Axios-Ipsos, found that nearly six in 10 people do not want to receive the jab against COVID-19 as soon as it becomes available. This is a 15 percent increase from the 53 percent that reported the same sentiment at the end of August. Thirty percent of respondents said they would wait a few months before being given the shot while nearly one-quarter said they will not get the shot at all Additionally, a poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation found more than 50 percent said they would not get the jab even if it were free prior to the presidential election. Health experts say these fears could ultimately prevent the US from curbing the pandemic sooner. News of the panel comes on the same day Cuomo and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a statement calling for a congressional investigation into the Trump administration's 'politicization of the pandemic response.' 'It's increasingly clear that the President and his advisers are trying to undermine the credibility of experts whose facts run counter to the administration's political agenda,' the two governors wrote. 'We cannot allow this this type of politically motivated decision making to take root.' Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (21) SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility, the nation's largest wireless providers, have agreed to pay a combined $116 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit claiming they overcharged California government customers for wireless services. The settlement in the long-running case, brought by the whistleblower in 2012 and approved today by a California court, is the second-largest California False Claims Act settlement in the state's history outside of the healthcare industry. The whistleblower and thirty government entities that joined the lawsuit are represented by Constantine Cannon LLP, the country's largest whistleblower law firm, and Susman Godfrey LLP, the nation's preeminent litigation boutique. Verizon will pay $68 million and AT&T $48 million to settle claims that, for more than a decade, the carriers knowingly ignored two cost-saving requirements included in multibillion-dollar contracts offering wireless services to state and local government users in California and other states. "The conduct alleged by the whistleblower was shocking: that our country's largest wireless carriers made promises to California government agencies to get their business but failed to provide the same cost-saving service many Fortune 500 companies receive," said Wayne T. Lamprey of Constantine Cannon, who filed the lawsuit and was lead counsel. "It may be a rounding error to Verizon and AT&T, but this is real money to California's schools, local governments and state agencies who spent years scraping through their budget to pay what we now know were over-inflated bills." We were ready to prove at trial that Verizon and AT&T never delivered on promises they made in order to access our clients billion-dollar market, said Bill Carmody, partner at Susman Godfrey in New York and co-lead trial counsel. This was a monumental outcome and serves as further evidence that Californias False Claims Act is one of the strongest such laws in the country. The contracts, which are among the largest public-sector telecommunications contracts in the country, mandated that government entities be charged at the "lowest cost available" and that the carrier identify "optimized" rate plans that best suited actual usage patterns that drive cost. The carriers' failure to live up to their contractual promises cheated California government entities out of hundreds of millions in savings, the lawsuit alleged. The largest users among the nearly 300 state and local entities recovering money for the excessive payments are the State of California, the California State University system, the University of California system, Los Angeles County, and Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Riverside city and county governments. The whistleblower entity, OnTheGo Wireless, LLC, was formed by Jeffrey Smith, an early pioneer in wireless optimization at the company he founded in 1997, eOnTheGo, Inc. Smith's company created software applications that compared rate plans offered by carriers, and eOnTheGo has provided rate plan analysis and telecommunications expense management to both wireless carriers and large corporate and government purchasers. Through his work, Smith concluded the carriers failed to provide contractually required cost-saving opportunities to their government customers. OnTheGo sued the carriers under the California False Claims Act, a law that allows whistleblowers to bring suit on behalf of California state and local government entities and share in any government recovery. OnTheGo Wireless, LLC sued the carriers under the California False Claims Act that allows whistleblower to sue on behalf of California government entities. More than three dozen California government entities joined the lawsuit. The whistleblower and the government plaintiffs were jointly represented by Wayne T. Lamprey, Anne Hayes Hartman, Ari Yampolsky, Sarah "Poppy" Alexander, Chris McLamb, Hallie Noecker, and Ronny Valdes of Constantine Cannon, and Bill Carmody, Amanda Bonn, Arun Subramanian, Steven Shepard, Rachel Black, Jordan Connors, Meng Xi, Rohit Nath, Nicholas Spear, Jesse-Justin Cuevas, and Ari Ruben of Susman Godfrey. Smith said: "I'm immensely gratified to have helped California taxpayers, and that the government will have these funds at this difficult time. This has been a long and difficult road; the carriers fought hard. But with the help of my lawyers, and the government agencies that jumped in, we brought home a terrific victory for California." OnTheGo will receive approximately 40% of the settlement as a whistleblower reward under the California False Claims Act. Because wireless carriers typically offer dozens of rate-plan options at any given time and frequently change these plans' features and costs, the lawsuit alleged that contracts placed the burden on the carriers to identify and bill using optimized plans for each government subscriber in order to spend taxpayer dollars most efficiently. This process, known as rate plan optimization, considers each phone line's historical usage to determine the best rate plan available for that line. Rate plan optimization is well known in the wireless industry, and often used by large purchasers. As each line's usage varies month-to-month, and plan features and costs change, the cost-effectiveness of a rate plan fluctuates. Because of this, the government contracts required, according to plaintiffs, that the carriers deliver quarterly reports identifying the "optimized" rate plans to the government entities. Sprint and T-Mobile previously reached settlements in the California case for $9.6 million combined. In total, the four major telecom providers will pay $125.8 million to settle allegations under the California False Claims Act. Whistleblower attorney Anne Hayes Hartman, a partner at Constantine Cannon in San Francisco, said: "We all relate to the frustration of paying for wireless services that don't seem to fit our needs. This case alleged that to seal a multibillion-dollar deal, the carriers promised to help public agencies find the most efficient rate plans and save taxpayer dollars. But when the time came to deliver on those promises, the carriers instead chose to pad their bottom lines." Amanda Bonn, Susman Godfrey's lead California trial counsel on this matter and a partner in Los Angeles added: "This is a phenomenal result. We are especially grateful to the thirty California government entitieswhich ranged in size from the largest county in California to a small local fire districtwho joined us in this fight. We are proud to represent them." The case, presided over by the Honorable Judy Holzer Hersher, is State of California et al. ex rel. OntheGo Wireless, LLC v. Cellco Partnership et al., Case No. 34-2012-00127517 (Sacramento County Superior Court). Intervening Entities 1. Regents of the University of California 2. Board of Trustees of the California State University 3. County of Los Angeles 4. County of Marin 5. County of Orange 6. County of Riverside 7. County of Sacramento 8. County of San Bernardino 9. County of Santa Cruz 10. County of Sonoma 11. County of Stanislaus 12. County of Yuba 13. City of Chino 14. City of Corona 15. City of Fortuna 16. City of Fresno 17. City of Long Beach 18. City of Oxnard 19. City of Rancho Cucamonga 20. City of Ripon 21. City of Riverside 22. City of Sacramento 23. City of San Bernardino 24. City of San Mateo 25. City of Santa Rosa 26. City of Vernon 27. San Diego Unified School District 28. Santa Ana Unified School District 29. Sonoma County Water Agency 30. Woodbridge Fire District About Constantine Cannon LLP Constantine Cannon has the world's largest international whistleblower practice , with offices in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and London. The firm's team of dedicated whistleblower lawyers represent whistleblowers under federal and state False Claims Act s as well as the whistleblower programs of the IRS, SEC, CFTC, DOT, and others. Constantine Cannon 's experience spans across multiple practice areas that include antitrust and complex commercial litigation, whistleblower representation, government relations, securities, and e-discovery. The firm's antitrust practice is among the largest and most well recognized in the nation. MEDIA CONTACT: PRCG | Haggerty Isaac Benjamin [email protected] (212) 683-8100 SOURCE Constantine Cannon LLP Related Links https://constantinecannon.com In order for Wisconsins mask mandate to be effective, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said state leaders primarily Republicans need to lead by example. Speaking with reporters Thursday, Evers said he understands its unlikely local law enforcement officials will pursue the $200 fine associated with not following the statewide mask order, but he said elected officials can help by complying with the mandate. Evers extended the order earlier this week through Nov. 21, resulting in pushback from Republican leaders in the state. Evers was addressing photos he has seen circulating on social media portraying GOP-related campaign or fundraising events where many elected officials and participants are not wearing masks or practicing social distancing recommendations. I think its important that everybody wear masks, obviously, Evers said. It starts at the top, we will continue to do what we can. Hopefully our Republican leaders will follow and well make a difference. State Republicans have pushed back on Evers mask order, with Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, describing this weeks latest order as illegal. When Evers ordered state workers to wear masks in state buildings including the Capitol this summer, Fitzgerald said he wouldnt be pushed around by Dane County or the Evers Administration. Senators should be able to decide what they do in their own offices, Fitzgerald said in July. Vos and Fitzgerald did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. Hospitalizations climbing With COVID-19-related hospitalizations surpassing 500 statewide this week, Department of Health Services officials stressed the need for better compliance with the mask order as flu season nears. I think it is exactly one of the things that make this a critical moment in our response and why we need to together make choices that will help reduce the spread of this disease, DHS Secretary Andrea Palm said. As of Thursday, more than 106,000 Wisconsinites had tested positive for COVID-19 and 1,265 people had died as a result of the respiratory disease, according to DHS. The seven-day average of newly reported cases reached 1,939 on Thursday. The seven-day average was at 665 daily cases one month ago. Wisconsin had a record 528 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 Thursday, up 19 from Wednesday and well above the previous peak of 446 in early April. Much of the recent increase has been in the Fox Valley, which had 83 COVID-19 patients hospitalized Wednesday, up from 13 in late August. Dane Countys latest data show 23 patients hospitalized with the coronavirus Wednesday, half of its peak in early April. As we see flu season come into play, our front-line health care workers and hospital systems are going to have to not only treat what they see on a regular basis plus COVID, but now are faced with a flu season which does always result in hospitalizations and death, that is just something we know happens every year, Palm said. Its more important this year than any year to get a flu shot. Mask order Announced by Evers on Tuesday along with a third COVID-19-related public health emergency order, the new mask mandate is effective immediately and remains in place through Nov. 21 or until a superseding order is passed. Evers original order was set to expire Monday. The state order supersedes any less-restrictive local mask order but allows local entities to enforce more restrictive rules. UW-Madison already has a campus-wide mask order and Dane County earlier this year passed a mandate that is more restrictive than the state rule. Evers and DHS officials have touted the order as necessary for reducing the spread of COVID-19. Cases have been rising steadily over the last several weeks, primarily among 18- to 24-year-olds in college communities despite the presence of a state mask order since July. On Thursday, Public Health Madison and Dane County reported a significant decrease in the number of positive COVID-19 cases from UW, paired with an increase from cases outside the university over the last two weeks. Public Health Madison and Dane County reported 65% of Dane County cases 1,631 total cases over the last two weeks were from UW-Madison, down from 76% last week. The state mask order requires everyone age 5 and older to 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. 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. Officials with WILL said attorneys are reviewing the governors latest order. Football parties a concern While fans will not be allowed in Camp Randall Stadium when UW football kicks off its home season on Oct. 24, Evers said he remains concerned about the possibility of large gatherings to watch the game. That is a huge issue for us, Evers said. Were going to actually be asking the Big Ten to help out with that. Evers asked the Big Ten Conference, which announced earlier this month that football would begin in October, to help spread the message against large gatherings. They need to step up and have a significant stake in this game, Evers said. Football is about football players and football fans. College funding Also on Thursday, Evers announced $8.3 million in aid to support COVID-19 testing at the states private, nonprofit and tribal colleges and universities. The effort will be funded with Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act dollars. The program will be administered by the Department of Administration and reimburse colleges for COVID-19 testing, specimen collections and other related costs. No campus exists in a bubble, so it is critical that we all work together to stop the spread of this virus for the health and safety of not only those on our college campuses, but for Wisconsinites in every corner of our state, and testing is a key step in doing just that, Evers said in a statement. State Journal reporter David Wahlberg contributed to this report. COVID-19 in photos: How Wisconsin is managing the pandemic A Mobile pipe manufacturer that will produce pipe for the Keystone XL pipeline has announced a $15 million expansion, with an executive saying Mobile checks all the boxes. Berg Steel Pipe Corp sealed a deal in 2007 to build a $75 million plant north of downtown Mobile on the edge of the Plateau community. Local and state officials greeted the project with enthusiasm -- and an incentive package valued at $6.6 million -- in part because the plant brought new life and jobs to 86 acres of a former International Paper Co. site. The new spiral pipe facility began operation in 2009. According to information released Wednesday by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Berg initially committed to hiring 100 people, but currently has about 200 permanent positions and 100 contract workers. Wednesdays Chamber announcement said the expansion would create several new jobs. Riemer said the expansion will add capacity, increase research and development and preserve current jobs. This project represents not only an expansion but it ensures these jobs will be retained, said David Rodgers, the Chambers vice president for economic development. To help facilitate this investment, the company was awarded a 10 year non-educational ad valorum tax abatement and a sale and use tax abatement during the construction phase of the project, said Rodgers. The non-educational ad valorum tax abatement is estimated to be $711,051. Sales and use tax abatement during the construction period is estimated to be $282,066. Construction is expected to take one year. We estimate the company will impact the community by $616 million over the next 20 years, said Rodgers. Mobile checks all the boxes, said Ingo Riemer, Bergs president and CEO, referring to the regions class 1 railways, deepwater port and interstate connections. The mill is very successful, and we needed more space to increase capacity. In August, industry sources reported that Berg had secured a contract to manufacture pipe in Mobile and Panama City, Fla., for the Keystone XL pipeline, a sometimes controversial project that will carry crude oil from Alberta, Canada, to Nebraska. According to industry news site worldpipelines.com, Berg planned to receive steel from multiple domestic suppliers and produce the pipe at its facilities along the Gulf Coast. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today became the first U.S. airline to launch a COVID-19 pilot testing program for travelers that could make it easier for them to manage quarantine requirements and entry conditions of popular destinations around the world. Starting on October 15, customers traveling on United from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Hawaii will have the option to take a rapid test at the airport or a self-collected, mail-in test ahead of their trip. The rapid Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test administered by GoHealth Urgent Care and their partner Dignity Health provides results in approximately 15 minutes and will be available to United customers on the same day as their flight departing from SFO. The mail-in test option will be administered by Color and it is recommended that customers initiate testing at least 10 days prior to their trip and provide their sample within 72 hours of their trip. The airline worked closely with Hawaii officials to ensure that any United customer both visitors and Hawaiian residents returning home who tests negative on either test would not be subjected to the state's current 14-day quarantine requirement. United currently offers more flights to Hawaii than any other major network carrier including daily service between San Francisco and Honolulu (HNL), Maui (OGG) and Kona (KOA). The carrier plans to increase service to Hawaii on October 15, including the resumption of service between San Francisco and Lihue (LIH) and additional flights between San Francisco and Maui and Kona. "Our new COVID testing program is another way we are helping customers meet their destinations' entry requirements, safely and conveniently," said Toby Enqvist, Chief Customer Officer at United. "We'll look to quickly expand customer testing to other destinations and U.S. airports later this year to complement our state-of-the-art cleaning and safety measures that include a mandatory mask policy, antimicrobial and electrostatic spraying and our hospital-grade HEPA air filtration systems." Click here for b-roll and still images of COVID-19 testing at SFO GoHealth Urgent Care Rapid Test United first partnered with GoHealth Urgent Care in July to test its international flight crews at SFO. United now plans to expand that testing infrastructure to include customers who wish to be tested for COVID-19 pre-flight. Customers can schedule their visits online in advance for the on-site testing facility that is located at the international terminal and will receive their results in approximately 15 minutes. GoHealth Urgent Care's dedicated COVID-19 testing area will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT daily. "We are excited about expanding our partnership with United and continuing to support their proactive safety measures," said Todd Latz, CEO of GoHealth Urgent Care. "Our on-site, real-time testing for passengers is yet another example of GoHealth's nationwide efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19 and ensure a safer return to normal activities and business operations." Color Physician-Ordered Self-Collection Test United is working with Color to offer self-collected, mail-in tests for customers traveling to Hawaii. United will email customers traveling from San Francisco to Hawaii an invitation to purchase their physician-ordered Color self-collection kit at least 10 days ahead of their departure, collect their own samples at home 72 hours prior to their departure and return their test via overnight mail or to a drop box at SFO. Color then processes those tests at their local, CLIA-certified COVID-19 testing laboratory and returns results via text and/or email within 24-48 hours. Color's self-collection kit includes a plastic collection tube, a non-invasive nasal swab and instructions on how to properly collect a specimen. "Convenient, widespread COVID-19 testing with fast and reliable results is critical to a return to normalcy and to accelerate the economic recovery," said Caroline Savello, Chief Commercial Officer at Color. "We are proud to partner with United to support the safe and responsible return of travelers to the skies." United CleanPlusSM Since the start of the pandemic, United has been a leader among U.S. airlines in enacting new policies and innovations designed to keep employees and passengers safer when traveling. It was the first U.S. airline to mandate masks for flight attendants, quickly following with all customers and employees. United was also among the first U.S. carriers to announce it wouldn't permit customers who refused to comply with the airline's mandatory mask policy to fly with them while the face mask policy is in place. United was also the first U.S. airline to roll out touchless check-in for customers with bags, and the first to require passengers take an online health assessment before traveling. And last week, the airline announced it will apply Zoono Microbe Shield, an EPA registered antimicrobial coating that forms a long-lasting bond with surfaces and inhibits the growth of microbes, to its entire mainline and express fleet before the end of the year. For more details on all the ways United is helping keep customers safe during their journey, please visit united.com/cleanplus. About United United's shared purpose is "Connecting People. Uniting the World." For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter and Instagram or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Airlines Holdings, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL". About GoHealth Urgent Care GoHealth Urgent Care is one of the country's fastest-growing, largest and most technology-forward urgent care companies. At GoHealth Urgent Care, we provide unparalleled experiences that are effortless, personal and connected through partnerships with market-leading health systems and our communities as a whole. GoHealth Urgent Care operates approximately 150 urgent care centers in the greater New York metropolitan area, the Portland, Oregon-Vancouver, Washington metropolitan area, the San Francisco Bay Area, Hartford and South Eastern Connecticut, Winston-Salem and Charlotte, North Carolina, St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Northwest Arkansas and Delaware. GoHealth Urgent Care is a TPG Growth portfolio company, the middle market and growth equity investment platform of TPG, which has more than $103 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.gohealthuc.com. About Color Color is a leader in distributed healthcare and clinical testing. Color makes population-scale healthcare programs accessible, convenient, and cost-effective for everyone. Color works with health systems, employers, and national health initiatives around the world including the million-person All of Us Research Program by the National Institutes of Health. For more information about Color and its response to COVID-19, visit www.color.com. SOURCE United Airlines Related Links http://www.united.com Journal-Courier VIRGINIA Authorities have confirmed Virginias police chief is under investigation over a complaint about inappropriate messages being sent on social media. Cass County Sheriffs Department said it is looking into a complaint made in July against Chief Bryce Kennedy over the messages. No formal report has been filed at this time, Sheriff Devron Ohrn said. Determining whether the messages in question were sent to a minor is part of the investigation, Ohrn said. New York, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Drug Discovery Services Market Research Report by Process, by Type, by Drug Type, by Therapeutic Area - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05973342/?utm_source=GNW The Global Drug Discovery Services Market is expected to grow from USD 9,158.49 Million in 2019 to USD 19,028.57 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.96%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Drug Discovery Services to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Process, the Drug Discovery Services Market studied across Candidate Validation, Hit-To-Lead Identification, Lead Optimization, Target Selection, and Target Validation. Based on Type, the Drug Discovery Services Market studied across Biology Services, Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics, and Medicinal Chemistry Services. Based on Drug Type, the Drug Discovery Services Market studied across Biologic Drugs and Small-Molecule Drugs. Based on Therapeutic Area, the Drug Discovery Services Market studied across Cardiovascular Diseases, Digestive System Diseases, Neurology, and Oncology. Based on Geography, the Drug Discovery Services 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 Drug Discovery Services Market including Albany Molecular Research, Inc., Aurigene Discovery Technologies, Charles River Laboratories International, Chempartner Co., Ltd., Domainex Ltd., Eurofins Scientific SE, Evotec SE, Frontage Holdings, Genscript Biotech Corporation, Jubilant Life Sciences, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC, Piramal Enterprises Limited, Selvita, Shanghai Medicilon, Inc., Syngene International Limited, TCG Lifesciences Pvt. Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Viva Biotech (Shanghai) Ltd., and Wuxi Apptec. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Drug Discovery Services 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 Drug Discovery Services Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Drug Discovery Services Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Drug Discovery Services Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Drug Discovery Services Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Drug Discovery Services Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Drug Discovery Services Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05973342/?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. __________________________ Farms could contribute billions more dollars to the U.S. economy with the help of precision agriculture technology, but this cant happen without more broadband, said experts during a National Telecommunications and Information Administration webinar yesterday.Titled Smart Agriculture: Driving Innovation in Rural America, the webinar featured, among other speakers, Megan Nelson, an economic analyst with the American Farm Bureau Federation. She shared research showing that U.S. farms could generate $18 billion to $23 billion annually if they had high-speed connectivity and adopted the latest technologies.We need broadband access, Nelson said during the webinar. We need accurate broadband maps We cant have spotty service because theres a rainy day.Both Nelson and Dennis Buckmaster, agricultural and biological engineering professor at Purdue University, outlined numerous ways technology can boost American farms.Buckmaster, for instance, covered a wide range of farming tech that can do everything from tracking weather conditions, which can be tied to massive crop losses, to combining data sets for improved decision-making. He emphasized the potential impact of artificial intelligence, which can lead to automated processes and allow less-experienced farmers to tap into the knowledge and expertise of other individuals.Nelson said tech could help farmers better connect to markets and get people aware of what theyre growing.Such great potential, though, wont come about without reliable high-speed Internet. In 2019, the United Soybean Board released a report indicating that almost two-thirds of surveyed farmers dont have adequate internet connectivity to run their businesses.In a recent editorial , Jahmy Hindman, chief technology officer of John Deere, said the pressure on farmers to provide food for a projected 9.7 billion people worldwide needs to be offset by superior connectivity.There are already disruptions to the meat supply that are persistent as a consequence of the pandemic, Hindman wrote. Dairy farmers are also being challenged, as 50 percent of demand from restaurants, school cafeterias, and other food services is cut off. Contending with these added pressures makes it even more important to look for solutions to make other aspects of a farmers job more seamless and rural broadband is key to that.Local stories confirm farmers struggles with connectivity. Two Maine farmers reported that their sales are all online, but their Internet service is so slow that they frequently must wait until night, when fewer people are using the Internet, to actually do business. In Nebraska , farmers who live just a few miles outside of a city like Lincoln may experience difficulty uploading files to the cloud.In regard to connecting farms, the answer may not be as simple as identifying a last-mile solution. During the webinar, Chad Rupe, administrator of the Rural Utility Service for USDA, said that you cant get to the last mile without sufficient middle-mile infrastructure.Rupe said hes been working with electric cooperatives to help provide middle-mile fiber. He pointed out that most farms lacked electricity until co-ops were able to help, with the implication being that co-ops may have to play a large role in bringing high-speed Internet to farms.Rupe also talked about a new USDA rule that allows up to 10 percent of a grant or loan from a Rural Development program to be used for broadband infrastructure. This change could give states and local areas more flexibility in how they may fund rural broadband.Through this regulation, RD enables limited integration of broadband deployment with other rural investments funded through its broad suite of programs, the USDA rule states . It does so without adding the burden of seeking funding through separate program areas.Buckmaster mentioned a unique solution to the farm broadband problem in Indiana. Wabash Heartland Innovation Network, a regional group that covers 10 Indiana counties, has a plan for an aerostat , a kind of blimp, to provide broadband for tens of miles, Buckmaster said.Buckmaster added that the results of the aerostat project will be shared through a Global City Teams Challenge SuperCluster that he co-chairs.Outside of broadband, another significant issue with precision agriculture tech is interoperability, Buckmaster said. For example, a livestock feeding system should be able to communicate with a weather tracking system so that the feeding system can know the temperatures that cows have experienced. A roadblock to interoperability is lack of cooperation between companies due to competition.They ought to work together and be interoperable, Buckmaster said.Government TechnologyGoverning A student claims she was attacked in the French city of Strasbourg by three men who were offended by her wearing a skirt. The woman, who identified herself only as Elisabeth, 22, said she was taking a walk through the city while she smoked a cigarette on Friday last week when the men began shouting at her. She claims that one yelled 'look at that whore in a skirt', which caused her to apologise on instinct, before the group told her to 'shut up and lower your eyes'. Une quinzaine de temoins ont assiste a lagression de cette jeune femme a #strasbourg mais personne na reagi. Si vous avez des informations sur cette agression contactez @PoliceNat67 pic.twitter.com/W4AzCJUjLj Officiers et Commissaires de police (@PoliceSCSI) September 22, 2020 Two men then grabbed her by each arm while the third hit her in the face, leaving her with a black eye that was visible when she spoke to France Blue TV on Monday. After the attack the men, who Elisabeth estimated to be in their 20s, fled without saying anything else, she claims. Elisabeth said she has complained to police, who confirmed they are investigating, but have yet to identify any suspects. She claims that around 15 people witnessed the attack, but that none of them tried to intervene, called police or tried to stop the attackers fleeing. Speaking to reporters, she called out what she described as a worsening atmosphere for young women in the French city, which is where she grew up. Elisabeth said she had gone for a walk and a cigarette in Strasbourg when three men called her a 'whore' and then hit her in the face for wearing a skirt (file image) 'It's really violent, dirty, perverse,' she said, 'It's always remarks in the back. A man will shout 'very nice!' and will leave immediately. 'It's always very cowardly. That's what I have noticed this summer. It's the summer of cowards.' Police are now calling for witnesses to come forward and speak to them. Meanwhile, France Blue Alsace reported that two women aged in their 20s were attacked on Wednesday this week by a man who was also offended by their skirts. Police say the 18-year-old man accused them of having their skirts 'too short' as they waited for a tram in the city centre around 4.30pm. Officers say the man then slapped one woman across the face, before grabbing the second by the throat when she tried to intervene. He was arrested around 20 minutes later, and has been charged with assault. ROME - In a highly unusual move, Pope Francis on Thursday accepted the resignation of Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who renounced the rights of cardinal after being linked to a burgeoning financial scandal. The Vatican's one-sentence statement provided no explanation for the apparent punishment of a cardinal - something that has happened only a few times over the past 100 years. Becciu will continue to hold the title of cardinal, but will relinquish the right to participate in future conclaves. He also stepped down as head of the Vatican body in charge of sainthood. The Vatican's decision appeared to be made quickly; the Holy See normally announces any resignations, major or minor, at midday, not late in the night. Becciu's name has been connected for months to a losing Vatican real estate investment in a London luxury property that allegedly landed large profits for the financiers guiding the deal. Vatican authorities earlier seized documents and computers and placed officials under investigation. Becciu has not been named by the church as part of the investigation, but several reports said he helped supervise the investment. He has denied any wrongdoing. "They have done things that do not seem clean," the pope said last year, responding to a question about the investment deal. He did not specify to whom he was referring. Becciu could not be reached by phone Thursday night, and a Vatican spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Becciu is 72, three years shy of the age when cardinals typically retire. Renouncing the rights of the cardinalate is especially rare. The last time a similar move occurred was in 2015, when Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien renounced the rights of his position after a series of sexual misconduct accusations. In its handling of onetime cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the Vatican in 2018 went one step further; McCarrick surrendered not only the rights of being a cardinal, but the title. He was subsequently defrocked for what the church described as soliciting sex during confession and committing "sins" with minors and adults. One Vatican insider, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, said that Becciu's resignation was "astounding," and said that alleged financial wrongdoing was the "only conceivable" explanation. Before being named cardinal by Francis in 2018, Becciu had spent years as a No. 2 official in the Secretariat of State. There, according to reports in the Financial Times and Catholic News Agency, he helped oversee the $200 million investment that is now under scrutiny. The money for the investment came in part from a purse of charitable donations from Catholics around the world. In June, Vatican police arrested Gianluigi Torzi, an Italian middleman in the deal. He was charged with extortion, fraud and "self-laundering," the Vatican said at the time. A month later, according to the Catholic News Agency, Vatican prosecutors and Italian authorities seized electronics belonging to Raffaele Mincione, one of the key figures in the deal. Francis, who became pope in 2013, has spoken often about rooting out corruption and better-managing the Vatican's finances after decades of scandals. The Bank of England has admitted to a string of failures which allowed a tech company to 'misuse' a secret audio feed of its press conferences. It emerged last year that a firm called Statisma News was allowing its customers access to live-streamed Bank of England press conferences seconds before they were available to the rest of the market through the official video feeds. This worried the Bank, since traders can potentially make millions of pounds by knowing what policy-makers have said before anyone else does. Statisma News was allowing its customers access to live-streamed Bank of England press conferences seconds before they were available to the rest of the market But while the Bank admitted it had made mistakes including failing to investigate a warning from a whistle-blower in 2018 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) dropped its investigation into the affair. The watchdog said: 'We do not believe the audio feed contained any inside information, nor have we found any activity of concern or misconduct.' One source with knowledge of the matter branded the regulator 'toothless'. Statisma had gained access to the secret streams through its affiliate company Encoded Media, which had been employed to video stream press conferences to the Bank's official Youtube channel. An Encoded employee installed equipment which streamed an audio feed of what was said by officials. Because this was an audio-only feed, it was faster than the official video feeds. Various companies connected to Encoded and Statisma then marketed expensive subscriptions to traders, claiming that they could offer a stream of the press conferences before anyone else. The Bank said that it had not 'routinely monitored social media or the broader web for evidence of companies that advertise inappropriate access to the Bank's publications'. It admitted, however, that a whistle-blower tried to warn it in 2018, but said the claim was 'not fully investigated' because officials didn't believe the allegations were possible. In a statement, the Bank said: 'There were occasions where, with the benefit of hindsight, this misuse by a third party supplier of the audio feed could have been identified sooner by the Bank.' It added that responsibilities for streaming press conferences had not been clearly assigned to one department, which created the opportunity for more confusion. Philip Wand, a director at Encoded, insisted his company had done nothing wrong. He said his firm had licensed the audio feed from Bloomberg, which runs the official video feed. However, the Bank has now launched an overhaul of its contracting and risk assessment processes. The Group General Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, has advised indigenous companies operating in the oil and gas sector to upscale their capacity for global competitiveness. This, it said, would allow Nigeria to achieve the target of reducing the cost of oil production on a sustainable basis. Mr Kyari said this at a virtual stakeholders consultative summit organised by the Senate Committee on Local Content. A press release on Wednesday by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Kennie Obateru, quoted Mr Kyari as saying there was a need to amend the Local Content Act to reflect current realities in the industry. Mr Kyari, who was represented by the Group General Manager, Corporate Planning & Strategy (CP&S), Eyesan Oritsemeyiwa, argued that there was a need to have a legislation to resolve the issues of funding challenges faced by local players, stressing that the oil and gas business requires high technical skills and competence to compete favorably at the global stage. Speaking further on the need for greater capacity building on the part of indigenous companies, the GMD said Nigerias education system has a great role to play in the development of highly skilled technical manpower, adding that any legislation on Nigerian content development that fails to embrace issues of investment in the educational system was not likely to achieve much. In terms of the interaction between industry and education, we think these new bills would present a good model that we should work with. People are the greatest assets of any nation. If you have the best brains in the industry today, as long as you are not getting a good replacement for them from the educational sector when they grow old and retire, then your industry will collapse, the GMD said. He also said the nation has made some good progress from the era when there was no single indigenous operator in the oil and gas industry to the current situation where the number of local operators has risen to double digits, stressing that the trend should be encouraged. He hailed the National Assemblys initiative to review and amend the Local Content Act and urged the committee to ensure that it is carried out in a timely fashion in order for the law to deliver maximum value for the nation. Mr Kyari commended the legislators for the plan to extend the local content law beyond the oil and gas industry to other sectors of the nations economy, stressing that it would open up the non-oil sectors to growth and development. Trump has made a flurry of baseless attacks on voting by mail. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File The Department of Justice released two statements on Thursday announcing an investigation into "potential issues with mail-in ballots" in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The first statement said a "small number of military ballots were discarded," investigators had "recovered nine ballots at this time," and "all nine ballots were cast for presidential candidate Donald Trump." That statement was deleted from the DOJ's website, and a revised statement that was released shortly afterward said seven of the nine ballots were cast for Trump and that it was unknown whom the remaining two were cast for. Both statements set off alarm bells with election experts and DOJ veterans who said they likely violated the department's policy and appeared to be politically motivated in light of Trump's baseless attacks on voting by mail. It was unclear whether the ballots the statement said were "discarded" were cast as part of the primary or general election, and experts said it was also highly unusual for the statement to disclose whom voters cast their ballots for. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The Department of Justice on Thursday released a statement saying it was investigating "reports of potential issues with mail-in ballots" in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Initially, the department announced a "small number of military ballots were discarded" and that investigators had "recovered nine ballots at this time." It added that "all nine ballots were cast for presidential candidate Donald Trump." However, the statement was deleted from the DOJ's website shortly afterward and a revised statement was released. The second statement said "of the nine ballots that were discarded and then recovered, 7 were cast for presidential candidate Donald Trump. Two of the discarded ballots had been resealed inside their appropriate envelopes by Luzerne elections staff prior to recovery by the FBI and the contents of those 2 ballots are unknown." Story continues The revised statement said the FBI's field office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, began investigating the matter on Monday along with the US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. It said the inquiry was launched at the request of Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis and focused on "reports of potential issues with a small number of mail-in ballots at the Luzerne County Board of Elections." The statement said FBI agents working with the Pennsylvania State Police had since conducted "numerous interviews and recovered certain physical evidence" and that Luzerne County election officials "have been cooperative." "Our inquiry remains ongoing and we expect later today to share our up to date findings with officials in Luzerne County," the statement added. Both statements raised red flags with election experts and DOJ veterans who said they appeared to be politically motivated and may have violated department policy. It was also unclear what the statements meant when they said the ballots had been "discarded" and whether the ballots in question were primary or general-election ballots. A DOJ spokesperson did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. "This is both bizarre and disturbing US Attorney's Offices don't issue reports on pending investigations and certainly not reports so blatantly contrived to provide political ballast for a sitting President's campaign narrative," David Laufman, a former senior official in the DOJ's national security division, wrote on Twitter. Indeed, shortly after the DOJ released its initial statement on the investigation, Matt Wolking, a deputy communications director for the Trump campaign, tweeted that the announcement was proof "Democrats are trying to steal the election." Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, also pointed to the first statement, tweeting, "Nine military mail-in ballots ALL cast for President @realDonaldTrump were found discarded in Pennsylvania! DOJ confirms." Trump and congressional Republicans have made a flurry of baseless attacks on voting by mail and mail-in ballots in recent months. The president has suggested without evidence that an increase in mail-in ballots amid the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to widespread voter fraud and a "rigged" general election. Nonpartisan experts and multiple studies have found no evidence of widespread voter fraud, and millions of Americans vote by mail every year. Trump and many of his top staff and family members have also voted by mail or tried to in recent years. And the president's campaign and Republican officials are quietly encouraging absentee and mail-in voting amid fears that Trump's claims will hurt Republicans by depressing turnout among his own voters, The Associated Press reported in May. Elie Honig, a former longtime federal prosecutor from the Southern District of New York, told Business Insider that it was not only unusual for the DOJ to issue such a statement about an ongoing investigation but also "against DOJ's own stated policy." Moreover, he said, "The fact that the purportedly discarded ballots were cast for Trump is entirely irrelevant to any criminal investigation. It's fodder for a political talking point." Rick Hasen, a professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine, and an election-security expert, wrote on Twitter that it was "shocking" for the DOJ to announce who voters cast their ballots for. "The release of that information seems to be for political reasons," he wrote. David Becker, a former voting-rights attorney at the DOJ, echoed that view and highlighted a number of other irregularities in the DOJ's statement. "Even more unexplainable is the fact that DOJ has already revised the statement," he tweeted. "Now it's only 7 votes, and no explanation of how these were discarded or found, or why they were opened, nor why they disclosed Pres vote at all, violating secrecy, and not other races." Read the original article on Business Insider FP Trending Video conferencing app Zoom has reached new heights with a big chunk of people switching to remote learning or working due to the viral pandemic. But the app did not support the option to add a virtual background for its Android users till now. But that issue has been solved as the feature is finally here with the latest software update. Virtual backgrounds can provide users a sense of security and privacy as other members at your home or workplace get the liberty to move about and you can focus on the meeting instead of the decor behind your seat. As Android Police points out, the virtual backgrounds can only be still pictures as videos are not supported yet. Moreover, Zoom has withdrawn support from Chromebook or other Chrome OS devices. The report adds that the latest version is not compatible with Chromebook. So if you use such a device, then you will have to get access through the Chrome app. Although, there are chances that the support is extended with the next version. There are a couple of more enhancements introduced via the update version 5.3.52640.0920. Now users will be able to share the devices audio with other participants. Zoom has worked on the Calendar Integration feature so you do not have to open the calendar and then go to a scheduled meeting. In the department of meeting features, participants will be able to select the Breakout Room of their choice. The update has also resolved the issue with the breakout rooms not following the main sessions settings or restrictions. Users will be able to hide chatbots in the IM list and mark images and files as unread. According to the full changelog, the Link Preview has been enhanced which will be helpful while sharing the link for any meeting. The Search feature has been enhanced as well. Minor bug fixes have been added to the software update version 5.3.52640.0920. When we visit my mother, she speaks to me in Hungarian, her native language, in front of my husband who doesnt understand a word of it. He told me he feels excluded by this because he cant participate in our conversations. Ive told my mother her behavior is rude, but she persists, saying, I am Hungarian, and this is my house. She is fluent in English, so she could honor our request if she wanted to. Also, she and I speak on the phone frequently. If she had something private to say to me, she could do it then. Otherwise, shes nice to my husband. Any advice? DAUGHTER Many people get defensive about criticism. (Its pretty human actually, even if annoying.) And this is your mother. So, presumably, youre willing to take a few extra steps to make things right. Rather than calling her behavior rude, which it assuredly is, talk to her privately about your husbands feelings. Say, He enjoys our visits with you but feels hurt when we exclude him by speaking Hungarian. Can we use English when hes around? Framing the issue this way may help her sympathize with your husband and (with a few gentle reminders) go along with your request. If she still refuses to speak English during your visits, your mother may be waging a small war for dominance over your husband. Shut that down! Tell her: Making him feel unwelcome by cutting him out of our conversations only means hell be less willing to visit. And if he visits less frequently, so will I. Could the "murder hornet" be coming to your town? For the first time, scientists have determined how and where the Asian giant hornet, an invasive newcomer to the Pacific Northwest from Asia, could spread and find an ideal habitat, both in the United States and worldwide. The findings were published this week in a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. We found many suitable climates in the U.S. and around the globe, said study lead author Gengping Zhu, a postdoctoral scholar at Washington State Universitys department of entomology. Scarily nicknamed "murder hornets," the Asian giant hornet, the world's largest at 2 inches, can destroy entire hives of honeybees and deliver a painful sting to humans. Farmers in the Northwest depend on those honeybees to pollinate many crops such as apples, blueberries and cherries. The Asian giant hornet, the world's largest species of hornet, was found late last year in northwest Washington. Asian giant hornets are most likely to thrive in places with warm summers, mild winters and high rainfall, according to the study. Extreme heat is lethal, so their most suitable habitats are in regions with a maximum temperature of 102 Fahrenheit. If the hornet gains a foothold in Washington state, it could eventually spread down much of the West Coast, the study said. Hornet captured: USA's first male 'murder hornet' captured in Washington state Washington State University entomologist David Crowder told USA TODAY that "the Asian giant hornet does have the potential for rapid spread throughout the coastal parts of the western United States and British Columbia, and thus widespread and intensive mitigation efforts are completely warranted. Preventing the establishment and spread of Asian giant hornet in western North America is critical for protecting bees and beekeepers, Crowder said. The hornet could spread either naturally or through accidental human transport. Fortunately, the bug is unlikely to spread east across the nation: "It is highly unlikely that the hornets could make their way across the entire country," Crowder said. "Much of the habitat in the central United states (east of Washington and west of the Mississippi River) is completely unsuitable habitat for the hornets, as it is too hot and has too low rainfall. Story continues "Thus, unless they are moved by humans, it would be nearly impossible for the hornets to make their way across the country on their own. Human-transport of the Asian giant hornet is also rare, so we dont think other parts of the country need to be concerned right now," he said. The invasive insect was first documented in Washington late last year. Officials have said it's not known how the insect arrived in North America. It normally lives in the forests and low mountains of eastern and southeast Asia. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Murder hornets: Could the invasive insect spread across the U.S.? President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the Joint Efforts 2020 exercises are another evidence of Ukraine's strong international support in defending its territorial integrity and security in Europe. During a working trip to Mykolayiv and Kherson regions, President Zelensky watched the course of the Joint Efforts 2020 strategic command and staff exercises held with the involvement of certain military command bodies of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, command bodies of other components of the defence forces and designation of actions of the troops, the press service of the Head of State informs. "This is another signal of Ukraine's strong international support in defending its territorial integrity and security in Europe. Our combat experience is becoming part of combat training programs that are highly valued around the world. The evidence of this is the participation of representatives of our partner countries in the exercises," President Zelensky said at the Interdepartmental Training Center for Military Units "Shyrokyi Lan" when watching the tactical actions during the brigade exercises of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade. According to Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Commander of the troops of the operational command "North", the units practised the assault of settlements, attacking the unprepared defence, attacking the enemy's front line, fighting for control over company bases in the first position, the use of tactical airborne troops. Near the village of Lvove in Kherson region, the President of Ukraine and the ambassadors of the participating countries, including Charge d'Affaires of the United States in Ukraine Kristina Kvien, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Ukraine Larisa Galadza, and Charge d'Affaires of the United Kingdom in Ukraine Nicolas Harrocks, watched the tactical exercises of the 3rd battalion tactical group of the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Air Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the company tactical group of the 16th Air Assault Brigade of the British Armed Forces. In the area of Kinburn Spit near the village of Vynohradne, the control of a concentrated fire strike was practised. As commander of the troops of the operational command "South" Ihor Palahniuk informed the President, the strike was carried out with MLRS "Vilkha", "Uragan" on the objects in the depth of the enemy's defence. The use of Bayraktar UCAV was also tested. After that, tactical exercises of the 124th separate territorial defence brigade took place in the port of Skadovsk. In particular, the defence of the seaport, the coast and the repulse of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance forces were practised. In the exercises, the Ukrainian brigade used the experience of the Estonian Defence League. "I am satisfied, like all Ukrainians, with our army, and grateful to everyone who defends our sovereignty and territorial integrity. I think that these exercises are very important because they are not just some kind of training, but exercises that are as close as possible to reality, to war. I know that the British and other partners from the Alliance involved in these exercises see that the war in the east of the country has taught us many things, our military work at the highest level," the President said. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Colonel-General Ruslan Khomchak thanked for the facilitation in granting Ukraine the NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner status and praised the participation of the NATO troops in the Joint Efforts 2020 exercises. "Today our cooperation is full of practical content. For the first time in the history of Ukraine, the Joint Efforts 2020 strategic command and staff exercises are held according to the NATO standards. The participation of partner countries in the exercises is a strong signal of solidarity," the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasized. The Joint Efforts 2020 strategic command and staff exercises are held on September 22-25. ol The World Socialist Web Site is publishing messages of support for Dr. Joseph Scalice from Filipino students and academics. Dr. Scalice has come under attack from the Philippine Stalinists for his powerful lecture, First as Tragedy, Second as Farce: Marcos, Duterte and the Communist Parties of the Philippines, which examined the support given by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), and the various organizations that follow its political line, to authoritarian Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016. Acutely sensitive to the criticism of the CPP, its founder Jose Maria Sison, without a shred of evidence, has denounced Dr. Scalice as a paid CIA agent and an informer for Duterte. Dr. Scalice, through the establishment of the historical record about the betrayals of the CPP, has done a service to the working class in the Philippines and internationally. We urge our readers to come to the defence of Dr. Scalice, including by sending statements of support to the WSWS opposing the slanderous attack on him by the CPP and sharing his lecture widely. Professor Lisandro Claudio, Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies, UC Berkeley Joseph Scalice is a product of the rigorous PhD program of the Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies at UC Berkeley. He was also mentored by one of the greats of Southeast Asian Studies, the late Jeffrey Hadler. It is absurd to think that members of the department or Professor Hadler would have allowed themselves to be used as tools of the Central Intelligence Agency. If Scalices work were mere propaganda, it would not have passed. I await a more substantial response from Sison to the evidence Scalice has presented that shows the Communist Party of the Philippines and its allied legal organizations collaborated with the Duterte regime. Scalices approach has always been scholarly and evidence-based. His conclusions cannot be countered with lies and obfuscation. John, a student: I am just an undergraduate student observing Dr. Scalices discourse. As the matter of fact, I have yet to read many of his works. (I cant for the meantime due to financial reasons, but I will when opportunity lets me.) But I am convinced by his scholarship. Just following him on social media and attending one of his lectures online made me realize that there is so much to learn (and unlearn) about the leadership in the socialist movement in the Philippines. Its hard to say why Sison reacts the way he does to Dr. Scalice but I am sure he fails to respond to Dr. Scalices arguments which are full of historical facts. Those facts are incontestable, the arguments not easy to dismiss. Also, he resorted to labeling the scholar as CIA agent and Trotskyite which, if my understanding is correct, signifies a threat. I am actually waiting for him to address the issue at hand which is him giving crucial support to the rise of a dictator. Dr. Scalice has written enough about that and anyone interested to check it out can. It is unfortunate that Sison can only attack Scalice but not the very facts that are presented by the latter. I believe people, especially those who are still devoted to defending Sison, must do some rethinking on the nature of the leadership in the movement. John J, a teacher: I love listening to Dr. Scalices online lectures and reading his articles posted on his Facebook, on his website, and on this website. His masterpieces about the history of communist insurgency in the Philippines and their role in National Politics are great because they are evidence-based and logical. They are all thoroughly researched and are written with clarity. Besides, I am amazed also on how he deals with those who oppose his arguments. He never stoops down with a barbaric attack of the bigot leftist such as slander, name-calling (Trotskyite), fact-distortion, etc. and instead replies to them rationally and free from any kind of fallacies. This is the ultimate reason why I would prefer listening to Dr. Scalice, whose works are evidence-based and logical, than those who argue using the barbaric Stalinist technique of fact-distortion and trolling. Geronimo, Filipino writer and student: Jose Maria Sisons attacks on the scholarship of Dr. Joseph Scalice reeks of the woefully anti-intellectual attitude that has plagued the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Its painful to see a movement that declares itself to be revolutionary resort to dismissing an opportunity to engage in public scholarship of its history and legacy. They have been infected with the virus of blind obedience and parochialism that has been spreading faster than COVID-19 in this era of fake news and tinpot dictators. Dr. Joseph Scalice If they only listened to Dr. Joseph Scalices lectures and read his scholarly works then they would know better than to see his efforts as an assault on Jose Maria Sison. Because it is so much more than that. Dr. Joseph Scalice was diligent in separating individual actions and official party declarations in his lecture about the support given by Jose Maria Sison and the CPP to elements of the national bourgeoisie and to Marcos and Duterte. It seems the new analysis he presented was shocking only to Jose Maria Sison and his followers because it is known to anyone who has studied the history of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Also, anyone who has enough memory to remember events of the last five years would know for a fact how the CPP-NPA-NDF were either fooled or ideologically convinced that Duterte would be more helpful to the cause of the ongoing revolution. Some have even gone to the lengths of comparing him to Salvador Allende. In his lecture Dr. Joseph Scalice was able to answer questions why we hold the Communist Party in such regard that those opposing Digong Duterte from the get go treated their honeymooning with fist-bumping populists as a sort of betrayal; why did anyone expect immediate opposition from the CPP and why do we see the CPP as a source of perpetual contra and shocked to see Renato Reyes praising Mocha Uson or Judy Taguiwalo appointed as social works chief? More than an attack on Sison, Dr. Joseph Scalices lecture testified to the relevance of a leftist movement in fighting this self declared inutil [useless] regime and the inutil regimes of the future. But Jose Maria Sison and his hive failed to realize that. Had the CPP become more critical and open, they could have carried the conversation beyond the mistakes of the past onto how to ride the global wave of progressive politics sweeping democracies right now. What is clear to Dr. Joseph Scalice is that outside of the current leftist organization, there is a mass movement older and larger than the CPP-NPA that can be mobilized to combat our current social ills and is more immune to the cooptation of fascist schemes. Lastly, I am especially bothered by their labelling of Dr. Joseph Scalice as a Trotskyite. I wonder why this does not alarm activists when they very well know how the regime of Joseph Stalin executed Trotskyists within the All-Union Communist Party in the 1930s. Is Sison and the Communist Party now advocating purging as they have done in the late 1980s? I look up to leftist intellectuals and heroes but even progressive organizations are not immune to the worst kind of careerists and phoneys. Support the movement but dont treat it like a cult. Mario, PhD student: Joma Sisons Bastardized School of Historical Falsification, Vulgarized Slanders and Ideological Lies. In Defense of Professor Scalices Scholarship, Historical Truth and Trotskyism This open letter is my defense not only of the scholarship of Professor Scalice, but also of his personal honor and so as the memory and legacy of Leon Trotsky which is continuously and hideously attacked below the belt by Joma Sison, which is ironic but understandable. Ironic, because Joma Sison is the Founder of the so-called Communist Party of the Philippines but in truth and in fact, he is not a Communist, not even a Socialist but a Maoist. That alleged party is a contradiction. To be truthful to who or what they are, they should aptly rename themselves for who they truly are: the Maoist Party of the Philippines. Where can you find a so-called Communist Party whose Party Bible is not the Communist Manifesto but rather the Red Book of Mao? Where can you find a self-proclaimed Communist Party whose primary social class is the peasant and not the proletarians? A party who views the Socialist revolution merely as a perspective? If that is not whimsical and stupid, then I do not know what it is. It is for these reasons that it is understandable for the Maoist Joma to attack the Trotskyist Scalice. There is no way in the world, whether in ideas or in theory wherein the two will ever be reconciled. The former is a follower of Stalin, while the latter is a Leninist/Bolsheviks scholar. During the August 26th lecture of Professor Scalice, it is my honor and pride that my direct question was given the chance to be asked and it was answered categorically by the discussant. For the benefit of the reader, below is my question and after that is the reply of Professor Scalice: Q: Based on the tenets of Marxism and Leninism, is Joma Sison a true blue communist? If yes, how come? If not, then why call their party the Communist Party of the Philippines when in fact hes a Maoist? Is this not a case of misrepresentation? A: Thank you for the wonderful question. Yes, and no. Historically speaking, both. Is Joma Sison a communist in the sense of the Communist Manifesto or in the sense of the Communist Party that took power in October 1917? No, he is not. He does not bear that legacy. But it was the betrayal of Stalinism that allowed it to assume the mantle of this legacy and present itself as the continuation of Marxism. This betrayal allows him to be the leader of the Communist Party, purporting to be the continuator of Marxism. This in fact is his greatest political capital: that he can point to this history and say this is his. It is not. The history that is his is the history that I have outlined in my lecture. And so no, he does not represent the continuation of Marxism. But he does represent the continuation of Stalinism. As revolutionaries there is no problem with me for us to engage in a brutal and bitter debate about theory, practice and how to conduct the revolution. But what I do not like and I vehemently reject is the act of mudslinging, lies and slander. This is immoral for a true revolutionary and the heights of unethicality even on basic principles. To call Professor Scalice a CIA paid agent, a fake scholar, etc. without providing evidence and not answering his countless critique is not only unpardonable but incontestably preposterous. That is the same sinister way and nefarious methods used both by Stalin and Mao in denouncing their enemies. But the central question is: who are the real enemies of the international working class movement? Those who believe in socialism in one country or those who advocate and fight for the Permanence of the Revolution? The answer is obvious! This issue is not only about Professor Scalice, but also the memory, legacy and honor of the Left Opposition, the Old Bolsheviks and all those Trotskyites/Zinovievites/Bukharinists that were put to death mercilessly by Stalin and his evil cohorts. In the moving and prophetic words of Isaac Deutscher: The open vindication is bound to come in any case, though not perhaps before Stalins ageing epigones have left the stage. When it does come, it will be more than a long-overdue act of justice towards the memory of a great man. By this act the workers state will announce it has at last reached maturity, broken its bureaucratic shackles, and re-embraced the classical Marxism that had been vanished with Trotsky. Hence, the duty of every true Bolshevik revolutionaries today is to fight the continuing historical falsifications, the lies and the slanders being peddled by the heirs of Stalin and Mao against Leon Trotsky and all the brave Bolsheviks of October! Our duty is to defend the aims and vision of the Great October Revolution against its bloody bastard traitors and betrayers! For Historical Truth, Justice and Vindication!!! A devastating fire at an overcrowded migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos left thousands homeless -- and put EU migration policy back in the spotlight Five years after Europe's migrant crisis, Brussels will propose on Wednesday that member states share the responsibility for asylum seekers under a "compulsory solidarity mechanism". The New Pact on Migration and Asylum will be unveiled by European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas. Johansson wants the 27 member states to commit to sharing the burden of handling asylum claims from migrants arriving on the bloc's shores. "It's obvious to everybody that ad hoc solidarity or voluntary solidarity is not enough. That has been proven for many years now," she said. "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 may mean aid will no longer be limited to EU countries to where asylum seekers are relocated, but will be directed to other nations to return refused asylum seekers back to their country of origin. It is hoped that this measure will pacify EU countries like those of the Visegrad group -- Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia -- who have persistently failed to welcome asylum seekers. Still, it may prove tough to pass: 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 -- some of them such as Hungary have been criticised by Brussels over their anti-immigration stance and on rule-of-law issues -- 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. Story continues 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. Five years after the 2015 migration crisis, annual "irregular arrivals" are down to 140,000 a year, but EU members remain deeply divided on the issue. burs-rbu/axn The Supreme Court on Thursday observed that Bhima Koregaon accused Sudha Bharadwaj, has good grounds to seek bail on merits of her case while it declined to entertain her bail plea filed on medical grounds. A bench headed by justice UU Lalit said that the court was not inclined to grant bail to her on medical grounds but suggested that she moved a plea for bail on merits of the case. We are not with you on medical grounds. You have a good case on merits. Why are you not filing for bail on merits, the bench comprising justices UU Lalit and Ajay Rastogi asked. Bharadwajs counsel, Vrinda Grover then agreed to withdraw the bail plea on medical grounds saying they will try for bail on merits of the case. Bharadwaj had sought bail citing vulnerability to Covid -19 due to co-morbidities. The Bombay high court had rejected her plea on August 28 after which she moved the Supreme Court in appeal. Bharadwaj was arrested by Maharashtra police in 2018 for allegedly inciting violence during the celebration of 200th anniversary of the battle at Bhima Koregaon between the British East India Company and the Peshwas. The company army was comprised largely of persons from Dalit community and the event is celebrated by them. Bharadwaj along with activists Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Anand Teltumbde, and Gautam Navlakha have been charged with offences under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for their alleged role in inciting the violence. Bharadwaj was initially lodged at Yerawada jail in Pune before she was shifted to Byculla jail. After the change of government in Maharashtra in 2019, the central government had intervened and transferred the investigation to National Investigation Agency (NIA) from Maharashtra police. Grover, on Thursday, argued that Bharadwaj had developed two new diseases while in custody - ischemic heart disease and arthritis. Ischemic heart disease is a ticking time bomb. Anytime, her condition can deteriorate, Grover said, seeking bail so that Bharadwaj can be subjected to a detailed medical examination. Also Read: Elgar Parishad case: Anand Teltumbde moves court against NIAs extension of his custody Grover also submitted that Bharadwaj was a lawyer in Chhattisgarh who used to fight cases on behalf of marginalised sections of the society. No incriminating material was recovered from me or my electronic devices. I was teaching at National Law University, Delhi when I was arrested, Grover argued. Why are you not filing for bail on merits, asked justice Lalit. Also Read: Elgar Parishad case: Custody of 3 Kabir Kala Manch members extended till September 19 You have a good case on merits, said justice Rastogi while also taking exception to certain submissions made by Bharadwaj before Bombay high court regarding the medical report submitted by jail authorities on August 21 which did not mention Bharadwajs condition of ischemic heart disease. The court made it clear that it will not grant bail on medical grounds. Bharadwajs bail plea on medical grounds was earlier rejected by a special NIA court on May 29. India has executed 194 developmental projects in 37 African countries and is currently working to complete 77 more projects in 29 countries in the continent, with a total outlay of USD 11.6 billion, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Thursday. Emphasising the importance of ties, Muraleedharan said India has already made tremendous progress in implementing the commitments made during the last IndiaAfrica Forum Summit. Speaking at the 15th CII-EXIM Bank Project Partnership Conclave, he said over the last five years, India's top leaders have made 34 visits to African nations, and India had hosted nearly 100 African leaders for diverse bilateral and multilateral engagements. India has also significantly increased its diplomatic footprint in Africa and now has residential diplomatic missions in 38 African countries, he said. "As we speak, today, India has executed 194 developmental projects in 37 African countries; currently working to complete 77 additional development projects in 29 countries, with a total outlay of USD 11.6 billion," Muraleedharan was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Grants in aid worth more than USD 700 million have been extended to African partner countries for projects in infrastructure, connectivity, skill development, security and health sectors, he said. "India is acutely aware of the needs of our African partners for skilled and trained manpower. Therefore, capacity building has always been one of the key components of India's development assistance to Africa," he said. India's relations with African countries have never been a one way journey and New Delhi understands and appreciates the priorities of its African partners, he said. "We are aware and have taken note of the Agenda 2063 aimed to achieve a more prosperous Africa through inclusive and sustainable development," he said. "In the run-up to the IAFS Summit this year, we had planned to hold the Agriculture Ministers' Meeting in mid-March 2020. We had already received the confirmation of many of our African colleagues to participate in this meeting. Unfortunately, that was the first major meeting to be postponed due to the pandemic," he said. The reason the 4th edition of the India Africa Forum Summit has not been held is the extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime challenge of the COVID pandemic, he said, adding, the spread of the novel coronavirus is certainly the most devastating global crisis since the second World War. "We have attempted to help our partner nations through this crisis as we always have through other crises. Prime Minister Modi has had telephone conversations with many of his African counterparts over the past few months and has conveyed India's full support for the joint African effort against the virus," the minister said. "Our external Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar, has also spoken to his counterparts in several African countries and offered assistance in our joint struggle and has also discussed matters of mutual bilateral and multilateral interest," Muraleedharan said. India has provided medical aid to 85 nations worldwide, of which 25 countries are in Africa, in the form of supplies of essential drugs, including hydroxychloroquine or HCQ and 16 other essential drugs including life-saving antibiotics, he said. Around 150 tons of medical aid worth nearly USD 10 million has been, or is in the course of being, delivered to the continent of Africa, 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.) Google's latest employee perk to attract talent is help with student loans. Starting in 2021, Google will match up to $2,500 per full-time employee per year toward their student loan payments, John Casey, Google's director of Global Benefits told employees Thursday, according to an internal email viewed by CNBC. "College degrees are out of reach for too many people around the world, and the soaring student loan debt crisis has widened an already pervasive wealth gap, globally," Casey said in Thursday's email. He added that Americans, in particular, face a student loan deficit upward of $1.5 trillion dollars, which he said is twice what it was a decade ago. The company's new perk aims to help students save the extra money so they can do things like purchase a home or start a family, Casey said in a Thursday blog post. Google will roll out the new benefit in the U.S. first, but plans to expand to employees globally. During Q4, the company will "collect additional information to inform the rollout," Casey said in the email. "It gets complicated with different lenders country by country," he added. The new perk comes as the company, whose famous in-office perks aren't available during remote work, competes against tech companies like Facebook and Apple for young tech talent. The cost of living is particularly expensive in the San Francisco Bay Area,where the bulk of tech companies and employees are headquartered. Casey told employees the latest announcement is an expansion of its education reimbursements for employees, and that it partnered with Google's employee resource groups Black Googler Network and Black Leadership Advisory Group, which he credited for "helping us to get this done." "Because the burden of student loans weighs disproportionately on communities of color and women, this is a step toward building a more equitable Google too," Casey said in Thursday's email. The new perk won't apply to Google's roughly 130,000 contractors and temp workers just to the company's approximately 123,000 full-time employees. WATCH: Companies are paying workers to leave Silicon Valley but it comes with a pay cut Hong Kong police arrested prominent democracy activist Joshua Wong on Thursday for participating in an unauthorised assembly in October 2019 and violating the citys anti-mask law, according to a post on his official Twitter account. Wongs latest arrest adds to several unlawful assembly charges or suspected offences he and other activists are facing related to last years pro-democracy protests, which prompted Beijing to impose a sweeping national security law on June 30. Hong Kong police confirmed they arrested two men, aged 23 and 74, on Thursday for illegal assembly on Oct 5, 2019. The arrest of Wong, aged 23, comes around 6 weeks after media tycoon Jimmy Lai was detained on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces. Wong had been a frequent visitor to Washington where he appealed to the U.S. Congress to support Hong Kongs democracy movement and counter Beijings tightening grip over the global financial hub. His visits drew the wrath of Beijing, which says he is a black hand" of foreign forces. Wong disbanded his pro-democracy group Demosisto in June, just hours after Chinas parliament passed national security law for Hong Kong, bypassing the citys local legislature, a move widely criticised by Western governments. His long-time colleague, Agnes Chow, and two other activists were also among 10 people police arrested in August on suspicion of violating the new law. The new law punishes anything China considers as subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with up to life in prison. Wong was just 17 years old when he became the face of the 2014 student-led Umbrella Movement democracy protests, but he was not a leading figure of the often violent unrest that shook the semi-autonomous former British colony last year. An anti-mask law was introduced last year in a bid to help police identify the protesters they suspected of committing crimes and it is facing a challenge in court. In the meantime, the Hong Kong government has made face masks mandatory in most circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic. Groups for and Against Prop 22 Aim Their Messages to Black Voters as Election Day Nears With less than two months left before Election Day, campaigns both defending and opposing Proposition 22 the ballot initiative that aims to keep gig company drivers classified as independent contractors are revving up their efforts to reach out to Black voters. Earlier this month, Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart pumped another $70 million into their campaign to pass Prop 22. The total funds those app-based companies and others have spent on the Yes on Prop 22 public information effort is now $181 million, making it one of the most expensive California initiative information campaigns ever. The opposition, made up of mostly labor organizing groups, has raised about $4.8 million so far, with funding coming mostly from labor organizing groups. ADVERTISEMENT On Sept 3, the Yes on 22 campaign hosted a press conference for ethnic communities in the state. At the event, community leaders spoke up about why they support the ballot initiative. They emphasized that gig companies provide an easy stream of income for their drivers, and that Prop 22 would keep those jobs in California and in Black and Brown communities in particular. Driving has been a source of relief for these people. Its easy to sign up, start driving and earning right away, without a lot of the normal barriers that block Black and Latino Americans from working, said Dr. Tecoy Porter Sr., President of the National Action Network Sacramento Chapter. Jay King, President and CEO of California Black Chamber of Commerce, said the Black community can not afford massive job losses in the wake of the pandemic. One in 10 app-based drivers are Black. Many of them would lose their jobs if Prop 22 is not passed this November. When so much of our community is suffering, we need to encourage and promote new and innovative ways to make income. I encourage everyone to vote yes to save app-based jobs and services, he said. On Sept. 9, protesters from Rideshare Drivers United (RDU), an organizing group that has come out against Prop 22, gathered under an Uber billboard in Oakland that read, If you tolerate racism, delete Uber. Black people have the right to move without fear. Uber has launched a microsite that promotes that slogan and shares how the company plans to rid its platform of racism and investments it has made in the Black community. We are condemning them on their hypocritical ballot measure that would relegate drivers to a permanent underclass without basic rights or voices or privileges. We condemn major companies like Uber and Lyft who are claiming support of a protest movement that has galvanized America, in the middle of a pandemic that has disproportionately affected Black and Brown people in their lives, Cherri Murphy, an RDU organizer, told California Black Media. Murphy says there are multiple instances when Uber and Lyft exploit Black drivers and customers, alleging that those companies increase ride prices in Black and Brown neighborhoods. That claim has been supported by a June preprint study by George Washington University. ADVERTISEMENT If you want to know whether or not Lyft and Uber are doing the right thing, you need to look at their historical measures and tactics. The most recent one is around the preliminary injunction. As opposed to following the rules, what they want to do is invoke fear and have people make a decision based on fear. So their method on threatening people to shut down wasnt because theyre in a bind. Not a million dollar a billion dollar company. Compare that to those who live check to check, said Murphy. As they wait to see how Californians will vote on Prop 22, Uber and Lyft are also currently in an appeals process against the preliminary injunction that ordered them to classify their drivers as employees last August. TORONTO, Sept. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Manulife Investment Management announced today that it has been recognized with top scores from the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) annual assessment report . For the second year in a row, Manulife Investment Management received a score of A+ for strategy and governance from the PRI for integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into investment practices across a range of asset classes. An A+ was also awarded in the listed equity and fixed-income sovereign, supranational, and agency (SSA) integration modules. Other notable achievements included: Manulife Investment Management's public markets received an A in all other direct investment and active ownership PRI modules for which it was assessed. Other modules covered its investments in corporate bonds and securitized debt. Manulife Investment Management saw notable increases in its scores as compared to 2018 in areas such as: communications regarding ESG screens, and integration and implementation of analysis of the ESG information for internally managed listed equity holdings. There was also improvement in the number of companies engaged with and the intensity of engagement and effort. Similarly, for fixed income, Manulife Investment Management saw improvements in the integration and implementation of the ESG issues reviewed and its disclosure of approach with the public. For securitized, an outcome of either financial/ESG performance was also noted as an additional assessment indicator. Manulife Investment Management's private markets continued to be recognized as a leader with real estate receiving an A for the third consecutive year under the property module. In addition, Manulife Investment Management demonstrated its commitment to sustainable investing within private markets by expanding the scope of the assessment in 2019 to include submissions for infrastructure and private equity, achieving a B in each respective module. "Manulife Investment Management strives to be a leader in ESG investment practices as a responsible steward of client capital," said Christopher P. Conkey, CFA, global head of public markets, Manulife Investment Management. "We are very proud of our investment teams for achieving an A+ for ESG strategy and governance for the second year in a row and for earning superior marks in the screening, integration, and engagements modules for listed equities and in direct fixed-income SSA. This is not only important for our clients who entrust us to implement ESG for specific portfolio goals, but also for the overall relevance of our strategies as we look to the future of investment management." "Sustainability is one of the keys to creating long-term value for our clients within private markets," added Stephen J. Blewitt, global head of private markets. "It is important for us to consider sustainability because we're generally long-term investors across a diverse range of private markets asset classes and submitting to the PRI is an opportunity for us to demonstrate transparency while tracking our progress. It is rewarding for the work we have done to be recognized." The key activities within Manulife Investment Management's investment teams in 2019, which helped to achieve the PRI scores include: The release of its inaugural sustainable and responsible investment report in 2019. Increased integration in industry analysis, sovereign analysis, and securitized fixed income. Manulife Investment Management developed a proprietary sovereign ESG assessment model in 2019, which is currently in use by its investment teams as an input into credit analysis. The model produces sovereign-specific baseline views on ESG issues. The use of scenario analysisa key tool for companies in demonstrating planning for climate change. Engagement with 724 companies in 940 separate engagements across all investment teams. In 2019, 26% of engagements had an environmental factor focus, 20% had a social factor focus, and 54% had a governance factor focus. For more information on Manulife Investment Management, please visit manulifeim.com/institutional About Manulife Investment Management Manulife Investment Management is the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 17 countries and territories. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. As of June 30, 2020, Manulife Investment Management had CAD$900 billion (US$660 billion) in assets under management and administration. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1276726/Manulife_Investment_Management_Manulife_Investment_Management_ea.jpg Related Links https://www.manulifeim.com/ SOURCE Manulife Investment Management GUIYANG, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A county in southwest China's Guizhou Province has livestreamed to the world a decision-making meeting of local officials on poverty alleviation, sharing its experience with other countries. The meeting on the production and sales of chayote, a kind of gourd imported from South America that has become a local cash cow, was held on Tuesday by the Standing Committee of the Huishui County Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). "I propose expanding the chayote plantation area, and advise increasing facilities for cold-chain storage," said Wang Zhangmo, deputy head of Huishui County. He also said that the gourd processing facilities should be added to extend the industrial chain. Wang Decheng, another deputy head of the county, agreed and advised expanding the plantation area by 1,000 hectares, judging from the market situation. "Some 13,000 tonnes of the gourds produced in Huishui have been sold to Guangdong this year," said Wang Decheng, an exchange official from Nansha District of south China's Guangzhou City. Nearly 3,500 hectares of chayote has been planted in the county this year, with the output expected to exceed 150,000 tonnes. The county has become a vegetable production base for Shanghai and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, according to the meeting. Located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Huishui used to be an impoverished county and home to 82,000 poverty-stricken residents. By developing industries such as chayote and passion fruit plantations, the county shook off poverty last year. Wan Qinghua, secretary of the CPC Huishui County Committee, said at the meeting that although the county was no longer listed as poor, poverty alleviation work remained important considering the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and floods this year. "Targeted measures should be implemented to ensure that the entire county will complete the tasks of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the end of this year," said Wan. Their discussion was watched online by more than 200 politicians from 16 Latin American countries. Pedro Miguel Gonzalez, secretary-general of Panama's Democratic Revolutionary Party, said that all the decisions made during the meeting were based on discussion and thorough investigations of members from different fields. "This could serve as an example of the democratic decision-making process of the CPC, and perfectly answers why China was able to make such great development achievements," he said. The livestreaming event was organized by the International Department of the Central Committee of the CPC and the provincial authorities. Over the past seven years, Guizhou has changed from a province with the most impoverished population to one that lifted the largest number of people out of poverty in China. The impoverished population was reduced from 9.23 million to 308,300, with the poverty rate dropping from 26.8 percent to 0.85 percent during this period. In 2017, Pennsylvania had the most severe death reporting lags in the country. That's because the state was still doing much of its death registration by hand, relying on a cumbersome system of faxed paper and manual data entry. Read more Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News and other news organizations across Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. For years, Pennsylvania has had a hard time counting its dead. A new analysis shows that in 2017, Pennsylvania had the most severe death-reporting lag in the country. Almost every state was able to send the vast majority of death certificates to federal health officials within three months, but Pennsylvania was able to manage only two-thirds of the work earning the dubious distinction of slowest state in the country. Unlike many other states, Pennsylvania was still doing much of its death registration by hand, relying on a cumbersome system of faxed paper and manual data entry. It was a process identified by the federal government as dire and in need of immediate support. Death reporting delays can have serious consequences. For example, they can hinder the ability to get protective equipment to communities in need of help. The sooner health officials can analyze death certificates and identify trends, the sooner they can take action and respond to deadly outbreaks of disease a necessity made all too clear by the COVID-19 pandemic. Four years ago, Pennsylvania launched its solution: an Electronic Death Registration System that would allow funeral directors, physicians, coroners, and more to quickly and directly submit death data, vastly improving the time it would take to respond to an outbreak. But an investigation by Spotlight PA and WHYY News found that state health officials abandoned their urgency in implementing the new technology. When the coronavirus arrived and data would become central to saving lives, the system was still largely voluntary, with thousands of funeral homes, hospitals, and coroners' offices unprepared to use it. It wasnt until March 2020 that state officials abruptly mandated use of the electronic system for the reporting of COVID-19 deaths, leading to confusion, delays, and crossed wires at a time when public officials were relying on fast data to inform their pandemic response. As a result, the states official death count unexpectedly fluctuated during the pandemics deadliest months, fueling conspiracy theories and undermining public trust in the numbers. Even now, six months into the crisis, the state is continuing to add months-old deaths to its official tally, skewing a real-time view of the virus. Dan Weinberger, an associate professor at the Yale School of Public Health, said death statistics submitted by Pennsylvania officials to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for January through April of this year were national outliers showing such steep declines in deaths amid flu season and a pandemic that the data strained credulity. There are no other states in which we see declines quite this dramatic, he said. When its that obvious and abrupt, its usually an indication that the data hadnt been fully reported. The Pennsylvania Department of Health blamed the prolonged rollout on a small number of coroners who refused to be trained on the electronic system, and on others who did not voluntarily use the technology, like funeral directors and hospital personnel. Unlike in other states, coroners do not report directly to the health department, said Nate Wardle, a spokesperson for the agency. Spotlight PA and WHYY News repeatedly asked to interview Audrey Marrocco, director of the states Bureau of Health Statistics and Registries, which oversees death reporting. The department denied those requests, but eventually arranged an interview with Executive Deputy Secretary Sarah Boateng. In June, Boateng acknowledged that the initial rollout of the system had not gone as planned. What we saw, obviously, is that by four years later, not everyone had taken the steps to start using that electronic system, Boateng said. Yet she could not fully explain why the state hadnt ordered mandatory electronic reporting any earlier. We did not have a global pandemic prior to now, she said. In a statement, the Health Department focused on the significant improvements it has made over the years, both to death registration and to the process of issuing death certificates. But it was the pandemic that exposed the systems largest weaknesses, jolting changes into place. Delayed rollout, wasted time The Electronic Death Registration System EDRS is not new, and its not unique to Pennsylvania. The switch was part of a national effort, dating to the early 2000s, to create a new gold standard for death reporting. About 20 states were using their first iterations of the tool by 2006, according to the CDC. Neighboring states like New Jersey and New York said they finished the switch to electronic systems in 2013 and 2019, respectively. Electronic death reporting is critical, as it helps officials to more quickly identify and assess a deadly crisis. Fast, accurate data can help inform decisions about where to send supplies and how to allocate resources. Having a modernized system that produces timely death information can improve outbreak and disaster response efforts, a CDC website says. Its a whole lot easier to detect people who are dead than people who are sick, said Robert Anderson, chief of the Mortality Statistics Branch at the CDCs National Center for Health Statistics. The earlier we can get information on mortality, the quicker we can develop interventions. Pennsylvanias plan was to implement EDRS gradually, much like other states had done. The system was officially launched in October 2016, said Wardle, the spokesperson for the Health Department, and the rollout was set to occur in phases due to the complexity of implementing an EDRS. Pennsylvanias goal was to have all end users trained to register deaths electronically by the spring of 2017, according to an early document. At the time, there were few states in as dire need of an overhaul as Pennsylvania. New data from the CDC shows that in 2017, the vast majority of states were able to send information about nearly all deaths to federal health officials within 13 weeks of the date a death occurred. Pennsylvania, however, lagged far behind, able to manage only 65% of the work in that same time period. Connecticut was the next slowest state, at 68%, followed by Arizona (85%) and West Virginia (87%). But by the end of 2017, and despite a quarter of a million dollars spent just on the first phase of the rollout, the state still had not trained everyone on the technology let alone all 67 county coroner or medical examiner offices. At the time, 13 county coroner offices refused to participate in the training, Wardle said. A document previously available on the Health Departments website showed the following 13 offices were not trained on EDRS as of December 2017: Armstrong, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Delaware, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Somerset, Venango, and Warren. In 2017, due to concerns expressed by some stakeholders, including those coroners' offices that refused to attend training and others that refused to voluntarily adopt EDRS prior to the pandemic, the department decided to roll out EDRS over a few-year period so that stakeholders were able to make necessary internal business workflow modifications to support electronic reporting, Wardle said. Charles Kiessling Jr., coroner in Lycoming County and president of the Pennsylvania Coroners Association, said part of the issue was that about 25 coroners' offices in the state had already been using a different electronic system called Quincy. Kiessling said that for years, he had asked the Health Department to build a bridge between Quincy and EDRS, so coroners didnt have to input the same information twice. According to Quincys documentation, it shouldnt have been difficult to implement a bridge connecting the two electronic systems, as Quincy was designed specifically to be able to hook into EDRS applications. Duplicative keystrokes are costly and error-prone, the technologys website says. We do everything we can to avoid double data entry. Hopefully the bridges will be completed in the future, said Kiessling, but this system has been being developed for many years and is still not complete. He said his office in Lycoming County has one deputy coroner trained on EDRS, but most of the time we print paper death certificates out of Quincy and deliver to the funeral directors who input the information into the EDRS system. Wardle, the spokesperson, acknowledged there is still work to do, saying the department has waited five months for several coroners to begin the bridge testing. Deer in the headlights The second phase of EDRS training, dedicated to onboarding the tens of thousands of medical professionals legally tasked with completing cause-of-death paperwork, didnt begin until April 2019. Ongoing delays were apparent at the beginning of 2020. Kiessling said he met with a group of Pennsylvania physicians in late February 2020, at the request of a UPMC hospital in Williamsport. At that time, the coronavirus was already international news. Wuhan, China, had been ravaged by the pandemic, and the United States had documented its first confirmed case the month prior. Kiessling said he traveled with Marrocco, of the Health Statistics and Registries office, to discuss issues with death certificates. According to Kiessling, the physicians looked like deer in the headlights when it came to the electronic system. They didnt know what EDRS was, he said. But they would soon find out. On March 6, just 12 days before Pennsylvanias first recorded COVID-19 death, the state Health Department issued a mandate: All deaths attributed to COVID-19 would have to be reported through EDRS. Two weeks later, the department went further. Beginning March 20, all funeral homes in the state would need to use the system to report all deaths, COVID-19 or not. Funeral homes without computers or internet service could apply for EDRS waivers, allowing them to continue with paper, the department said. But for everyone else, protocol had shifted. The state was demanding tens of thousands of funeral directors, coroners, and physicians at hospitals and nursing homes to adjust their workflows effectively overnight. Many werent prepared. Some even started flagging concerns with the Health Department. Through a public-records request, Spotlight PA and WHYY News obtained copies of nearly 60 EDRS waiver applications submitted to the department. How can we do mandatory EDRS reporting when proper training has not been provided, one funeral director wrote in a waiver application dated March 19. Physicians are not yet set up for this, warned another on March 20. We are EDRS capable, wrote a third funeral director on March 23. But most of the hospitals, doctors, and nursing facilities are NOT able to respond in kind. According to data obtained through a public-records request, more than 7,550 medical professionals, support staff, and administrators rushed to sign up for EDRS between March and April, compared with only about 350 new users who signed up in January and February. The problem was, they implemented this in the middle of a pandemic, said Kiessling. Though Kiessling credited the state for pushing out a flood of digital training materials and webinars, he questioned the Health Departments assumption that front-line physicians would even have time to participate. Doctors dont have time to sit in the ICU and watch these videos, he said. People are dying. Death toll fluctuates For the first two months of the crisis the deadliest two months in Pennsylvanias COVID-19 history the state didnt draw from EDRS to produce its public death count. Instead, death data were being reported out of a different system, PA-NEDSS, and pulled from EDRS with the help of algorithms, Wardle said in April. But without a fully functional electronic death system in place, the state found itself playing catch-up adding weeks-old deaths to its count and causing the death toll to spike several times in April and May. Health Secretary Rachel Levine often cited difficulties reconciling data from different sources, as she reported hundreds of deaths that had occurred in weeks prior. In the spring, the states numbers for Philadelphia also consistently lagged behind the citys own count, by hundreds of fatalities. Questioned by reporters in April, officials blamed the discrepancy on a vague computer update, but deaths jumped the next week as the state reconciled its numbers with the city. That month, as neighboring states were showing enormous total death increases compared with the same period in 2019, Health Department officials said they were unable to provide an exact count of how many people had died from any cause in Pennsylvania in March. The reason: 2,000 uncounted paper death certificates that continued to stream into the office. Since mandating the use of EDRS, the state has seen improvement on that front. In January and February, about 30% of the states deaths were reported fully on paper. By April and May, that number had dropped to 2%. And officially, the Wolf administration regards the rollout of its Electronic Death Registration System as a success story. The department has been focused on continuous quality improvement, said Wardle. The agency has made significant improvements, he said, adding that by early summer, the state was able to issue death certificates within two to three weeks. Wardle blamed additional reporting lags on delays in COVID-19 test results, citing the need for a medical certifier to amend a death record when a pending test comes back positive. Yet data obtained by the news organizations show the state is still a long way from full adoption. In April and May, more than 60% of death information was reported partially on paper in what the state calls a hybrid EDRS process. Doctors from hospitals or nursing homes continued to avoid using the electronic system to fill out their portions of death certificates, instead faxing the details directly to the state. This left funeral directors in a lurch, waiting for the state to sync the records and handle the manual data entry of the medical information before the death record could be fully processed. Nearly half of all 12,500 inquiries sent to the states EDRS support helpline during the first half of 2020 were from funeral directors requesting status updates on data entry, an attorney for the state Health Department said in response to a public-records request from Spotlight PA and WHYY News. In June, Wardle said information faxed by medical professionals is entered into EDRS by department staff within two to three days, which enables rapid reporting of the deaths. But a notice published by the Health Department on July 1 acknowledged ongoing reporting lags, imploring those who report deaths to use EDRS to reduce the three-month delay associated with paper reported deaths. Geneva Goldstein of the Goldsteins' Rosenbergs Raphael-Sacks Inc. funeral home in Philadelphia said she followed the states instruction to switch to EDRS, but doctors kept faxing her the medical portion of death certificates anyway. So, she completed her portion online and faxed the rest to the state. This whole online system that we use is still in its infancy, said Goldstein. Its working in a sense, but its not fully operating. With EDRS rollouts, states must be prepared to manage whats often a difficult transition away from paper, said Anderson, of the CDC. During a states first year of working with an electronic system, Anderson said, the timeliness of the data gets a lot worse. Its only later, once the kinks of the new system are worked out, that death reporting gets speedier. I fully expect that Pennsylvanias system, as it matures, is going to be good, he said. But until then, its sort of like trying to herd cats. 100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA relies on funding from foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. If you value this reporting, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate. Scheinberg Gets Minimal Sentence for PokerStars' Illegal US Operations September 23, 2020 Isai Scheinberg waited almost a decade to get a slap on the wrist. At long last, the U.S. government has finished dispensing its brand of justice for those who continued operating online poker businesses after the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Its final target was arguably the biggest name of all, PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg, but he didn't exactly get hit with a decade worth of pent-up fury. Instead, a federal judge sentenced Scheinberg to time served and a $30,100 fine, the Inner City Press reported. Payoffs Wind Up Paying Off Scheinberg's lawyer contended he deserved a lenient sentence because PokerStars had stepped up and righted the devastating wrongs of its rivals, who had failed to segregate player funds leading up to Black Friday. PokerStars provided the money that enabled Full Tilt and Ultimate Bet/Absolute Poker players to ultimately receive their frozen balances. Apparently, that was a persuasive argument. "I don't condone what you did but the world is made of fallible people," the judge reportedly said. "It was a big mistake but should not ruin what remains of your life." He proceeded to hand down the sentence of time served and the fine. Scheinberg had been detained in January, when he surrendered in Switzerland for extradition. He initially faced up to five years in prison but was expected to serve far less given that many of the other defendants from Black Friday served little, if any, time. As for the fine, given that Scheinberg sold the company for $4.9 billion in 2014, it's unlikely to cause him much discomfort. Scheinberg's Statement It seemed Scheinberg was fine with how things went in wrapping up the decade-long drama. He provided a statement to Online Poker Report: I am pleased that Judge Kaplan has determined today not to impose a prison sentence in my case. PokerStars played an important role in creating todays global regulated online poker industry by running an honest and transparent business that always treated its players fairly. I am particularly proud that in 2011, when PokerStars exited the United States, all of its American players were made whole immediately. Indeed, PokerStars reimbursed millions of players who were owed funds from other online companies that could not or did not repay those players. The Stars Group owns a majority shareholding in iBus Media, PokerNews' parent company. Featured stories Cleveland dance teacher accused of sexually abusing former students pleads not guilty (WEWS Channel 5) Activists protest Breonna Taylor grand jury decision in downtown Cleveland (cleveland.com) Black Lives Matter Cleveland condemns Kentucky grand jurys decision to not indict officers directly in Breonna Taylors death (cleveland.com) Election staff considered placing five drop boxes in Cuyahoga County before LaRoses directive, board member testifies (cleveland.com) How do election drop boxes work, and how are they secure? Election Truth (cleveland.com) Coronavirus in Ohio Based on Ohio Department of Health data, an estimate of just over 16,000 known coronavirus cases currently exist.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Ohio reports increase of 903 coronavirus cases, 52 deaths: Wednesday update (cleveland.com) About 16,400 Ohioans currently have coronavirus, based on latest total of known cases (cleveland.com) Ohio lawmakers approve $650 million in coronavirus relief money for local governments (cleveland.com) Long flights can be superspreader events; airport screenings for coronavirus not always effective, trio of recent studies say (cleveland.com) Campbells soup? Canned pumpkin? Whats missing from your grocery store shelves during the pandemic, and why (cleveland.com) No, Halloween costumes arent substitutes for face masks, CDC says (cleveland.com) Self-serve, other restrictions loosened for restaurants, venues in Ohio (cleveland.com) Crime Handcuffs Man shot by CMHA police charged at officer, social services employees with knives, officials say (cleveland.com) 6-year-old girl dies nearly two weeks after she was shot in West Akron (cleveland.com) Woman fatally shot in head in Clevelands Mt. Pleasant neighborhood (cleveland.com) Former Solon Middle School band director accused of sex crime involving 12-year-old student (cleveland.com) Cleveland man was getaway driver for man who committed five armed robberies within minutes, Mayfield Heights police say (cleveland.com) Man fatally shot on Akrons West Side; citys third shooting death in less than a day (cleveland.com) Medina man accused of killing wife and mother-in-law pleads not guilty again in court (WOIO Channel 19) Grand jury clears officer in 2018 Camden Township fatal shooting (Elyria Chronicle-Telegram) Cleveland / Cuyahoga County Members of the Ohio National Guard load a box of food staples and a bag of potatoes, April 16, 2020, during the Greater Cleveland Food Bank's third food drive at the Cleveland Municipal Lot for those struggling to buy food. The Guard will be back Tuesday as the city hosts the first 2020 presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.John Kuntz, cleveland.com Ohio National Guard to return to Cleveland as city hosts first 2020 presidential debate (cleveland.com) Cleveland moves to avoid getting stuck with the bill for security, essential services for presidential debate (cleveland.com) Cuyahoga County Board of Elections mistakenly tells poll worker applicants theyre not needed (cleveland.com) Cleveland police detectives slaying underscores the risks of undercover investigations (cleveland.com) 16 new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus confirmed in Cleveland, no new deaths: Wednesday update (cleveland.com) Destination Cleveland lays off nearly half its staff, refocuses tourism campaign (cleveland.com) Cleveland to pay $1.4M toward a $28M fix to keep Irishtown Bend hillside from sliding into Cuyahoga River (cleveland.com) Cleveland gives OK to renewing special downtown designation to pay for street cleaning, advocacy (cleveland.com) Which Cuyahoga cities and schools are asking for tax increase in the November 2020 election? (cleveland.com) Where summer 2020 ranks for rain and heat in Cleveland: warm and dry most days, with some big exceptions for rain (cleveland.com) Cleveland ranks as worst-connected large city for Internet in 2019 (cleveland.com) Local news East Passage of Chagrin Falls Schools levy on Nov. 3 ballot equates to no tax increase (cleveland.com) Shaker schools announce preliminary plans for phased-in return to classrooms in late October (cleveland.com) Local news West Fairview Park considering possible October senior center reopening (cleveland.com) Brooklyn Senior Center opts to remain closed during pandemic (cleveland.com) Seven Hills eyeing community room reopening for senior activities (cleveland.com) Akron / Canton area University of Akron enrollment drops 7.2%, about half of projected decline due to pandemic (cleveland.com) State Ohio AG Dave Yost sues to block House Bill 6 nuclear bailout money from being paid out (cleveland.com) How referee Secretary of State Frank LaRose has handled this years big fights over absentee voting in Ohio (cleveland.com) Sen. Sherrod Brown expects Democrats will fight like hell against Trump Supreme Court nominee (cleveland.com) Ohio bill banning local bans on plastic bags headed to Gov. Mike DeWines desk (cleveland.com) Ohio General Assembly approves bill that would permanently legalize to-go cocktails (cleveland.com) 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. San Francisco, Sep 24 : Amazon has launched a new programme to help make it easy for customers to discover and shop for more sustainable products. As part of this programme, customers will now see the "Climate Pledge Friendly" label when searching for more than 25,000 products, Amazon said on Wednesday. This label will 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. "Climate Pledge Friendly is a simple way for customers to discover more sustainable products that help preserve the natural world," Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement. As part of the Climate Pledge Friendly initiative, Amazon also announced Compact by Design, a new externally-validated certification that identifies products which, while they may not always look very different, have a more efficient design. "With 18 external certification programmes and our own Compact by Design certification, we're incentivising selling partners to create sustainable products that help protect the planet for future generations," Bezos said. 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 Inc. These Climate Pledge Friendly products are clearly labelled in shopping results, have additional sustainability information on the product page, and are featured in a dedicated section of our store. The new initiative supports Amazon's commitment to reach the Paris Agreement ten years early and be net zero carbon by 2040. The company has already committed to reaching 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025, ordered over 100,000 fully-electric delivery vehicles, and plans to invest $100 million in reforestation projects around the world. The e-commerce giant 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. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text By Trend Doctor of Philosophy Richard Danakari is delighted with Azerbaijans all-round development over the past decade under the leadership of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, in particular, the Baku International Multiculturalism Center and the National Academy of Sciences, Trend reports. Danakari made the remark at the video conference entitled "Heritage of Caucasian Albania", held at the initiative of the Baku Network expert platform. "Azerbaijan has a great ancient history along with ancient civilizations and civilizations of the ancient east, Danakari, who is also Professor of the Philosophy and Sociology Department, Chairman of "Nij" Volgograd Regional Public Organization of Udi people, said. Our history is our admiration, as well as our pain. The Azerbaijani people honor and respect their history. Azerbaijan has a long history, culture, rich musical art, science and literature. Azerbaijans rich cultural heritage is always distinguished among all communities in Volgograd, located in the southwestern part of Russia, he said. I would like to stress the poems by Nasimi, Nizami, Samad Vurgun, as well as Russian writers who wrote about Azerbaijan, Danakari added. I am delighted with the Azerbaijani scientists who have carried out big work in the field of science over the past decade. I am delighted with the activity of Soviet and Azerbaijani scientist, orientalist, late academician Ziya Bunyadov, Azerbaijani historian, professor, doctor of historical sciences Farida Mammadova." Danakari stressed that people of different cultures and nationalities lived in Azerbaijan together in love, harmony for thousands of years. "Azerbaijan today is the homeland for all peoples who live on this territory, he said. Every Azerbaijani citizen must protect the rich cultural heritage of the country, fight for the territorial integrity of the country." The pandemic has transformed American lives in ways large and small. One of the more surprising side effects: The suburbs are suddenly the hot place to live. COVID-19 has helped transform spacious, single-family homes in those leafy, green oases into the most desirable real estate aroundat the expense of the big cities. And this may be shaping up as a long-term shift away from the urban centers that have defined the nation for decades. But many of those once-die-hard urbanites fleeing to the burbs would have likely left the city anyway. The coronavirus simply sped up their departures. Last month, home shoppers spent more time looking online at properties in the suburbs than in cities, according to a recent realtor.com report. Asking prices also rose faster in the suburbs as a lack of homes for sale coupled with a surge in demand for larger abodes with large backyards drove them right up. This shift in demand from urban to suburban areas was most pronounced in the nation's largest metropolitan areas. "COVID-19 accelerated this trend," says realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale. "People are looking for space and affordability, and [the suburbs are] where they can find it. Especially as millennials are at an age where they're settling down and expanding their families, they're realizing how nice it is to have more space." The analysis looked at the number of active home shoppers on realtor.com, the inventory of newly listed properties as well as active listings, home list prices, and the number of days a property is on the market before it goes under contract. As in pre-COVID-19 days, many folks start considering leaving urban areas after they have their first child. They're more likely to pull the trigger after their second. And the millennials who flocked to the cities are getting older, settling down, and having children en masse. "All you need is a catalyst to precipitate the change," says demographer Ken Gronbach, of KGC Direct based in Benita Springs, FL. "These people were going to move out of the cities anyway. Maybe it would have been in five years, but then there was COVID-19." "That's just what happens when time passes," says Dowell Myers, an urban planning and demography professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. "The same group that loved the city now needs a lot more space. This may help to explain why in August aspiring home buyers looked at suburban home listings 53.9% more than they did the previous year, according to the realtor.com analysis. Listing views were up a little less, by 50.7% year over year, in urban areas. In the 10 largest metropolitan areas, such as New York City and Los Angeles, that gap widened to 56.4% growth in views in the suburbs compared with 43.6% in the cities. Hey, it's easier to stay 6 feet apart in a single-family home with your own backyard than in an apartment or condo in 40-story towers where residents share elevators, laundry rooms, and a roof deckthat is, if they're lucky enough to have those amenities. However, even if city denizens want to move to the burbs, they may have a hard time finding a house. The pandemic has greatly exacerbated existing shortages of properties on the market at the same time it created a surge in demand. The number of homes for sale dropped 41.2% year over year in the suburbs compared with 34.3% in the cities in August, according to the report. New listings were down 12.1% and 8% respectively. In the 10 biggest metros, the overall inventory of homes for sale plunged 40.2% in the burbs and 13.4% in urban areas. That shortage has caused prices to spike. List prices were up 7.3% in the suburbs and 7.7% in the cities at the end of August, according to the report The price increases, however, likely won't dissuade buyers who have held on to their good-paying jobs during the crisis. Now that more companies are considering long-term, work-from-home plans, many of these employees find themselves less tethered to living within easy commuting distance to city business areas. That could entice them to move farther out into the cheaper suburbs. "The flexibility to work remotely is accelerating this trend," says Hale. "When the commute's not a daily thing, it's easier to justify living farther away from workespecially when you get more for your housing dollar farther away." However, folks shouldn't count the cities out just yet. Once there is a widely available vaccine and folks are encouraged to socialize again, a new crop of younger adults will once again head to the citieseven if Generation Z is a significantly smaller group than millennials. "A lot will depend on how things change in response to the pandemic in the long run," says Hale. "Cities are still a vibrant place." The post Looking for a Home in the Suburbs? Good Luck, So Is Everyone Else appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Massachusetts could become the latest state to pass a medical aid in dying bill this year after it successfully moved through committee in June. The state legislatures Committee on Public Health recently approved the End-of-Life Options Act, making it the first time the bill was voted favourably out of committee since it was first introduced in 2011. Sources have indicated to The Independent that numbers look favourable that the bill could pass if brought to a vote. But it remained unclear if it would be brought to a vote this legislative session amid the coronavirus pandemic. The bill, which was framed after similar ones like Oregons Death with Dignity Act, would allow for mentally capable, terminally ill patients who are expected to die within six months to end their life through a prescribed drug. First the patient must gain approval from two state physicians before they are prescribed the drug. Multiple witnesses also need to be involved that are independent from the patient. Also, the patient is required to self-administer the medication without the help of others. Massachusetts Senator William N Brownsberger, a co-sponsor of the bill, told The Independent he wanted to support it largely because of his father, a former psychiatrist who worked with elderly patients. [My fathers] argument, which I find persuasive, is that its actually very comforting for people who are heading into a terminal illness to know if they need to they can tap out. To know that if the pain gets too bad and there is no light at the end of the tunnel at all they can end it, Mr Brownsberger said. Most people are not so afraid of dying, but they are afraid of suffering. Knowing that they have a way to avoid suffering is comforting, he added. The senator would not speculate on if the bill would make it to a vote this year, but he said the bill has done more favourably compared to previous years. The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), the state chapter of the American Medical Association (AMA), went from opposing the bill to being neutral. About two-thirds of state doctors Supported the End-of-Life Options Act, according to a 2017 internal survey of MMS members. If we dont get it done this year we have a good shot, a better shot, to getting it done next year. It is not a negative indicator that a bill doesnt get done in a particular session, Mr Brownsberger said. What is medical aid in dying? Medical aid in dying which has also been referred to as physician-assisted suicide in the United States allows for a terminally ill patient to end their life by taking a prescribed drug. The lethal drugs must be prescribed by two doctors to a terminally ill patient with a six-month prognosis. Also, patients are required to be mentally and physically capable to self-administer the drug for themselves without the assistance of others. Currently nine states and the District of Columbia have medical aid in dying laws that give their terminally ill residents the end-of-life option. No residents are allowed to utilise the bill if they are mentally disabled or have conditions that only limit their abilities. Oregon was the first state to pass its Death with Dignity Act in 1997. California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maine, Vermont, and Washington all followed with their own bills. Montana allows medical aid in dying due to a state Supreme Court ruling in December 2009. Twenty states have also introduced medical aid in dying legislation in 2020 or continued to consider legislation first introduced in 2019. These states are Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Passing these bills through the legislative process has largely been halted in all the states, besides Massachusetts, due to the coronavirus pandemic. New Yorks medical aid in dying bill had a shot of passing through the legislature, but the session has closed for the remainder of the year for everything but pandemic-related legislation. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has previously indicated he would sign the bill if it were to reach his desk. Passing these bills have been left up to the states largely due to the Supreme Courts 1997 ruling in the landmark Washington v Glucksberg case. The Court stated that individual states could participate in an earnest and profound debate about the morality, legality and practicality of for medical aid in dying, leaving the decision ultimately up to state governments. Nationwide 74 per cent of Americans support end-of-life options for terminally ill patients, according to a Gallup poll published in May. In 2018, 68 per cent of Americans supported end-of-life options. Who is Brittany Maynard? Brittany Maynard was a 29-year-old California woman who publicly announced she intended to use Oregons end-of-life option in 2014 after being diagnosed with a likely stage 4 glioblastoma, the same brain cancer that later killed Senator John McCain. Ms Maynards story spread nationally after People Magazine covered her story, helping inform the public about the medical aid in dying movement. She and her husband, Dan Diaz, moved to Oregon because California did not offer the end-of-life option at the time. After relocating, Ms Maynard was prescribed the lethal drug in May 2014 and died on 1 November of that same year after taking the medication. Today is the day I have chosen to pass away with dignity in the face of my terminal illness, this terrible brain cancer that has taken so much from me but would have taken so much more, she wrote in a Facebook post. Following Ms Maynards death, her husband became an independent contractor for Compassion & Choices a nonprofit organisation dedicated to providing end-of-life-options for Americans. Mr Diaz has since travelled around the US to speak with legislators about his wife and why he advocates for other states passing similar laws. When Ms Maynard died, only four states had laws allowing end-of-life options for terminally ill patients like herself. That number has more than doubled with five more states and the District of Columbia passing laws. I feel just the sense of accomplishment, Mr Diaz told The Independent in regards to the passing of the bill in other states. It's how I honour Brittany's legacy. It's how I keep my promise to her and make a difference for the rest of us. Why is it called medical aid in dying? Medical aid in dying was referred to physician-assisted suicide or euthensia prior to the passage of Oregons Death with Dignity Act in 1997. Proponents of the law have since pushed for a change of terminology in an effort to provide neutrality when describing it. Theyve accused opponents being fear mongers for using terms like physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia in an effort to dissuade people from advocating for the law in other states. The lethal dose must be prescribed by a doctor and taken by a terminally patient with a prognosis of six-months or less. No one is allowed to administer the drug for the patient nor is a patient who is not terminally ill allowed to utilise this end-of-life option, which is how it differs from euthanasia. If a terminally ill patient decides to take the prescribed medication in a state where the law has passed, their terminal diagnosis is listed on their death certificate like was the case for Ms Maynard. The underlying disease is what's listed because it was a brain tumor that was ending her life, Mr Diaz said about his wife. Death with Dignity, a nonprofit advocating for medical aid in dying, has also recommended assisted death, assisted dying, physician aid in dying, and physician-assisted death as other terms to describe the law. In an effort to remain objective, The Independent has decided to refer to the process as medical aid in dying. SWR records first ever export consignment of cars to Nepal Hubli, Sep 22(UNI) In yet another milestone achievement in Goods Transportation, the South Western Railway (SWR) recorded its first ever Export consignment by dispatching 100 (One hundred) Cars (SUV's) of M/s Kia Motors for Export to Nepal on Monday from Penukonda in Andhra Pradesh, a statement said here on Wednesday. The Ccrs were loaded on a train comprising NMG (New modified Goods) Wagons, left the Penukonda Station, Anantapur District, Andhra pradesh on Monday. The Train will reach Nautanwa Railway Station, Uttar Pradesh located near the Nepal Border. From there, the cars would be Transported to Nepal by Road. , Dr. Nathan is both passionate and knowledgeable regarding non-surgical cosmetic procedures. This duality between surgical and non-surgical interventions allows his patients to receive the full range of options at The Nathan Clinic, rather than being placed into a non-surgical or surgical box." Dr. Nirmal Nathan is a native Floridian and plastic surgeon in Miami, Florida. As a boy, Dr. Nathan had early exposure to the discipline of surgery. His father, Lt. Colonel V. Rama Nathan, served as a facial plastic surgeon in the U.S. Air Force. Shadowing his father throughout his formative years fostered a passion for surgery that would later translate into a thriving plastic surgery practice focused on enriching the lives of his patients. After receiving his medical degree from the University of Miami, Dr. Nathan trained in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). At UCSF, one of the highest-ranked hospitals and medical schools in the US, Dr. Nathan developed a skillset and expertise encompassing the entire breadth and width of plastic surgery. He then moved back to South Florida and completed a craniofacial fellowship. After training, Dr. Nathan entered private practice and subsequently started the plastic surgery center of excellence in South Florida, dubbed The Nathan Clinic. Presently, Dr. Nathan focuses his practice on cosmetic surgery and complex facial reconstruction after cancer. He has performed thousands of plastic surgical procedures on the face and body. In addition, his published papers have been cited hundreds of times in the plastic surgery literature. Given his unique practice and training background, Dr. Nathan is equally comfortable operating on the face and body. His reputation and reviews are a testament to his versatility and talent as a surgeon. Dr. Nathan is honored to be a RealSelf Top Doctor as well as the recipient of several patient choice awards. In addition to his surgical offerings, Dr. Nathan also performs a large amount of non-surgical antiaging procedures in his office. These procedures include Botox, filler, laser procedures, threadlift procedures, and skin care. Unlike some surgeons, Dr. Nathan is both passionate and knowledgeable regarding non-surgical cosmetic procedures. This duality between surgical and non-surgical interventions allows his patients to receive the full range of options at The Nathan Clinic, rather than being placed into a non-surgical or surgical box." Dr. Nathan serves as clinical faculty for the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University. He is a clinical instructor for several South Florida surgical training programs. He serves on the executive committee for the Miami Society of Plastic Surgeons and is also a reviewer for Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Learn more about Dr. Nirmal Nathan by visiting: https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/member/dr-nirmal-nathan/ ABOUT HAUTE BEAUTY NETWORK: Haute Beauty is affiliated with the luxury lifestyle publication Haute Living. As a section of Haute Living magazine, Haute Beauty covers the latest advancements in beauty and wellness, providing readers with expert advice on aesthetic and reconstructive treatments through its network of acclaimed doctors. For more about Haute Beauty, visit https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/ It is unclear if the man was injured (CJTV Media) Video has emerged appearing to show a Seattle cop rolling the wheel of his bicycle over the head of a protester who was lying down in the middle of a road during demonstrations over Kentucky prosecutors' decision not to charge officers over the killing of Breonna Taylor. Livestream footage of Wednesday night's protest, captured by CJTV Media, showed a group of officers riding bikes towards protesters as they attempted to disperse crowds amid unrest in the city over the death of Taylor, who was gunned down by police at her home in Kentucky during a bungled raid. As the group of police approached, one officer apparently proceeded to push his bike over the protester's head, instead of veering around him. It was not immediately clear if the man had been injured or whether he was attempting to block officers' paths; video appeared to show him being apprehended shortly after the incident. Seattle Police Department (SPD) said that it was "aware" of the incident. "This matter will be referred to the Office of Police Accountability for further investigation," the force said in a statement. Some 13 people were arrested during the clashes and "multiple officers" injured, SPD added. Protests also erupted in Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia and Washington after Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron announced no one would be charged with killing Taylor, a 26-year-old hospital worker, who was shot dead when three plainclothes officers stormed her Louisville home. The police at the #seattleprotests just ran over an injured mans head with their bikes. @SeattlePD is this how you train your officers? pic.twitter.com/c4e146tsmi Martin Banks (@WarlockBranis) September 24, 2020 One of the officers, Brett Hankinson, has been charged with first-degree "wanton endangerment" for firing rounds into a neighbouring house. Sergeant John Mattingly and detective Myles Cosgrove, the two other cops, will face no charges, a grand jury decided. Story continues Two Lousiville police offers were shot as protests over the decision descended into violence. Their condition has been described as stable. Taylor was shot at least six times on 13 March by officers who entered her home 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. Kenneth Walker, Taylor's boyfriend, told police he fired one round after the couple'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. After Mr Walker fired, the officers shot back. In total, police fired 32 gunshots. Delivering the grand jury decision on Wednesday, Mr Cameron, 34, said the fatal bullet was fired by Mr Cosgrove, but added that Mr Cosgrove and Mr Mattingly were justified in the use of force because they were shot at first. Mr Cameron said state law bars us from seeking charges in Breonna Taylors death. The Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has praised the contributions of young appointees under the Akufo-Addo administration and urged them to continue to make a difference. 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, Mr. Nkrumah encouraged the young CEOs to continue to work hard to make a positive impact. The ceremony paraded six young CEOs of youth agencies and programs who shared achievements and progress in their respective units for youth empowerment through the commitment and support of the Akufo-Addo administration. The agencies include the National Youth Authority, Youth Employment Agency, Nation Builders Corps, and National Board for Small Scale Industries. The rest are National Service Scheme and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan. The Information Minister who is also the MP for Ofoase Ayirebi in the Eastern Region said it was not surprising that President Akufo-Addo through these CEOs have impacted the lives of 2.5million youth with direct interventions. If you take program by program and agency by agency, from where they have come from and heading to, there is no doubt that President Akufo-Addo has done massively for the youth. These young CEOs have not disappointed the President and are delivering in their various positions He urged them to lay foundations as an encouragement for more young people to occupy positions just like they have and performed. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Britain risks losing hundreds of thousands of travel and tourism jobs in the coming months unless the government offers proper supports to workers and relaxes travel restrictions, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said on Thursday. O'Leary, group chief executive of Europe's largest low-cost carrier, was speaking hours ahead of the announcement of new UK COVID-19 support measures and weeks ahead of the launch of a European Union plan to coordinate travel restrictions in Europe. Failure join the EU plan and provide a proper furlough scheme to pay those whose work has dried up due to COVID-19 "will mean literally hundreds of thousands of job losses this winter," O'Leary told Sky News in an interview. British finance minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday was due to announce a replacement for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which supported 8.9 million private-sector jobs at its peak in May, as part of a series of new COVID-19 support measures. O'Leary said if there was no "proper" replacement, staff not required would be put on unpaid leave. Job losses cannot be ruled out, but Ryanair is "desperately working with our people to prevent them," he said. O'Leary also called for the scrapping of the United Kingdom's air passenger tax for 12-24 months. The EU travel scheme, due to be finalized in mid-October, would set out common COVID-19 travel rules across the continent and impose restrictions on regions with high COVID-19 rates rather than countries. O'Leary, who earlier this month described the winter as a "write-off," said Ryanair's forward bookings for November and December are around 10%, around a quarter of the normal level for this time of year. He said British airlines in general were likely to fly around 30-40% of their normal capacity this winter and said bookings were now around 20-30% of normal levels. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie The Iraqi officials expressed surprise at the new, stricter waiver as it comes just one month after al-Kadhimis Washington visit, which was hailed as a success. But the shorter time-frame also signals U.S. frustration with Baghdads inability to reign in militia groups believed to be behind a recent uptick in attacks targeting the U.S. in Iraq. The U.S. has made very direct demands on the Iraqi government to clamp down on the militias. Construction Commences on Calumet City, Illinois Mission Dispensary Kris Krane Appointed to the Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee by Illinois Governor Pritzker PHOENIX, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - 4Front Ventures Corp. (CSE: FFNT) (OTCQX: FFNTF) ("4Front" or the "Company") continues to focus its efforts in the Illinois market and is pleased to announce the start of construction on a new Mission Dispensary in Calumet City, Illinois. The Company is also announcing the appointment of President Kris Krane to the Illinois Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee by Illinois Governor Pritzker. Mission Calumet City Construction commenced at the beginning of September on the new Mission Calumet City dispensary that will serve both adult-use customers and medicinal patients. Located at 1330 Torrence Avenue, across from River Oaks Center, the new location will feature ample parking along with approximately 3,000 square feet of finished retail space, back-office space, a secure and oversized vault for substantial inventory storage, and an advanced security system. "The Illinois market has been a triumph since implementing adult use cannabis and we are excited to be expanding our operations in the state to better serve the customers and patients that depend on Mission," said Gabe Mendoza, Vice President of Operations for Mission. "Like with our Mission South Chicago location, Mission Calumet City is committed to becoming a contributing member of the Calumet City community and playing our part in the ongoing economic revitalization of the area by providing a safe and beautiful home for all things cannabis." The new store is slated to complete construction and begin serving customers before the end of the year. Kris Krane Appointed to Illinois Adult Use Health Advisory Committee In an effort to build a team of diverse experts and leaders in the field of cannabis, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced over two dozen appointments to the state's Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee, including 4Front President Kris Krane. The Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee will be responsible for reporting on the public health impacts of legal cannabis and making recommendations for future policy and regulatory changes to positively impact the overall health implications for legal cannabis in the future. "It's truly an honor to have been appointed by Governor Pritzker to serve on the governor's Adult Use Health Advisory Committee, along with many distinguished members of the public health, education, treatment and cannabis communities," said Kris Krane. "Under Governor Pritzker's leadership, the initial rollout of Illinois' adult use-cannabis market has been very successful and a model for other states looking to implement a legal cannabis market. It's great to see the voices of cannabis advocates represented within this committee, and I look forward to the work ahead to maintain Illinois' leadership in the U.S. cannabis market." Maryland Asset Sale 4Front also announced that it has completed the sale of three Maryland dispensaries to Ethos Cannabis for approximately $5.5 million U.S. To receive company updates and be added to the email distribution list please sign up here. About 4Front Ventures Corp. 4Front (CSE: FFNT) (OTCQX: FFNTF) is a national multi-state cannabis operator and retailer, with a market advantage in mass-produced, low-cost quality branded cannabis products. 4Front manufactures and distributes a portfolio of over 25 cannabis brands including Marmas, Crystal Clear, Funky Monkey, Pebbles, and the Pure Ratios wellness collection, distributed through retail outlets and their chain of strategically positioned Mission branded dispensaries. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, 4Front has operations in Illinois, Massachusetts, California, Michigan and Washington state. From plant genetics to the cannabis retail experience, 4Front's team applies expertise across the entire cannabis value chain. For more information, visit 4Front's website www.4frontventures.com. This news release was prepared by management of 4Front Ventures, which takes full responsibility for its contents. The Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Forward Looking Statements Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in 4Front Ventures' periodic filings with securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements related to future developments and the business and operations of 4Front Ventures, developments with respect to legislative developments in the United States, expectations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, future revenue or Adjusted EBITDA expectations, statements regarding when or if any contemplated or in-progress transactions will close or if/when required regulatory approvals are attained, and other statements regarding future developments of the business. The closing of the transactions described in this news release, including the divesture of Pennsylvania and Maryland assets and the sale of convertible debt, is subject to customary conditions and there can be no guarantee that such transactions will close. Although 4Front Ventures has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; investing in target companies or projects which have limited or no operating history and are engaged in activities currently considered illegal under U.S. federal laws; change in laws; limited operating history; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. 4Front Ventures disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and 4Front Ventures does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein. SOURCE 4Front Related Links https://4frontventures.com The Australian shares tumbled on Thursday, 24 September 2020, with major indexes diving deeply in red territory, on tracking the weakness in global markets, as risk aversion persisted on concern over a slowdown in global economic recovery. At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index dropped 47.98 points, or 0.81%, to 5,875.94. The broader All Ordinaries declined 54.79 points, or 0.9%, to 6,056.54. The U. S. market tumble came as hopes for a recovery in the U. S. economy receded due to the lower-than-expected U. S. service sector purchasing managers index for September, released by British financial data provider IHS Markit. Investor sentiment was hurt by the U. S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell expressing concern over economic uncertainties amid the novel coronavirus crisis, and pointing to the need for a new stimulus package. Additionally, a survey showed that business growth in the Euro zone ground to a halt in September, throwing economic recovery into question, as fresh restrictions to quell resurgence in coronavirus infections slammed the services industry into reverse. Nearly all sectors fell, as big banks, miners and oil stocks weighed on the market and technology stocks tracked Wall Street lower. Academic and educational service was the only sector to rise. Westpac Banking Corp came off its lows to close just 0.1% lower after it said it would pay A$1.3 billion to settle a case filed by the country's financial crimes watchdog against the lender for breaching anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism laws. Buy-now-pay-later firm Afterpay fell 5.8%, after Chief Fianancial Officer (CFO) Luke Bortoli said he will leave the company after three years in the role, to be replaced by Bravura Solutions former chief financial officer Rebecca Lowde. CURRENCY NEWS: The Australian dollar was at $0.7046 after falling yesterday from above $0.712. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) Iloilo City will be placed under a stricter form of quarantine for about two weeks starting Sept. 25 to contain the spread of coronavirus infection in the province. The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases released Resolution No. 74 on Thursday, placing the Western Visayas city under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until Oct. 9. The recommendation came after Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas said Thursday in a Facebook post that their COVID Team recommended the city be put under modified enhanced community quarantine beginning September 24. Early in the day, the advice was to shift to general community quarantine (GCQ) from the lowest level of restriction. The mayor said the city recorded 73 coronavirus infections on Wednesday alone. Of the number, 55 were acquired locally from an unknown source. Metro Manila, as well as Bulacan, Batangas and Tacloban City, are under GCQ until the end of the month, while Iligan City, Bacolod City, and Lanao del Sur are under the stricter MECQ up to Sept. 30. Non-essential travel and activities in areas under MECQ are prohibited. The rest of the country are under modified GCQ, the most relaxed type of movement restriction classification in the country. Capitol Hill Baptist Church has settled a lawsuit with the District of Columbia over claims that its coronavirus restrictions violated the First Amendment by barring outdoor worship but permitting other outdoor activities. According to The Washington Post, DC agreed last week to pay $220,000 to Capitol Hill Baptist to cover its legal fees and stated that officials will not enforce any current or future covid-19 restrictions to prohibit CHBC from gathering as one congregation. The settlement said it was not an admission of wrongdoing by the city. Capitol Hill Baptist, led by 9Marks founder Mark Dever, was the first to sue over the Districts restrictions, following multiple attempts to secure a waiver from citywide restrictions, which didnt permit church services of over 100 people, even if outside, masked, and socially distanced. Devers church based its request on its belief that the Bible calls churches to gather as one assemblynot in multiple services, multiple sites, or online. During the restrictions, it crossed state lines to gather outdoors in Virginia. Ultimately, the church is not something we want to be in as a building, said Dever in a clip from spring 2020. Its a people we want to be with. Thats why we Christians always gather, so that we can be with the people of God and do the things that Jesus has called us to do. The churchs legal case initially resulted an injunction allowing congregants to return to worship in October 2020, months before all capacity limits were lifted in DC in spring 2021. Churches in other states have also won settlements over similar First Amendment claims. California will pay $2 million to cover legal fees for a San Diegoarea Pentecostal church and a Catholic priest who sued after the state allowed businesses but not churches to reopen. ---- Update (October 10): Capitol Hill Baptist Church can return to gathering in Washington, DC, for the first time since coronavirus restrictions were put in place, thanks to a recent court decision. On Friday, the US Court for the District of Columbia granted the church a preliminary injunction, allowing it to resume meetingoutdoors, socially distanced, and in crowds over 100during the pandemic. Capitol Hill Baptist had filed a lawsuit last month after the DC mayors office declined to offer the congregation an exemption to public health restrictions. The church argued that city policy violated its First Amendment rights. The court decided that online alternatives to corporate worship were not sufficient to ensure free exercise of religion in a case where the church upheld a sincere belief in gathering together. Led by 9Marks founder Mark Dever, Capitol Hill Baptist upholds a belief in the church as a single assembly and has deliberately avoided multisite, multiservice, or online worship as a result. The mayor of DC has repeatedly told churches that they could continue to meet virtually. The substantial burden inquiry asks whether the government has substantially burdened religious exercise not whether [the Church] is able to engage in other forms of religious exercise, wrote Judge Trevor M. McFadden. The District may think that its proposed alternatives are sensible substitutes. And for many churches they may be. But it is not for [the District] to say that [the Churchs] religious belief about the need to meet together as one corporal body are mistaken or insubstantial. Since June, Capitol Hill Baptist has met in a field adjacent to a fellow Baptist church in Virginia. As a result of the injunction, the church is making plans to move to outdoor venues in the District, where a majority of its members live. Pastor Justin Sok reiterated the churchs beliefs in a statement released Saturday. A church is not a building that can be opened or closed. A church is not an event to be watched, he said. A church is a community that gathers regularly, and we are thankful that such communities are once again being treated fairly by our government. Department of Justice officials and dozens of US Senators had backed Capitol Hill Baptist in the suit. Jonathan Leeman, author of the book One Assembly, wrote for CT about how officials like the DC mayor should not be able to impose their definition of church on communities who believe otherwise. The judge made a similar point when he referenced Hebrews 10:25 in his decision on Capitol Hill Baptists behalf, stating, It is for the Church, not the District or this Court, to define for itself the meaning of not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. The injunction applies to Capitol Hill Baptist in particular, but the church hopes it will be a blessing not only to our congregation but to the rest of our neighbors in DC. The court decision suggests that Capitol Hill Baptist has a strong case for a future ruling under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The Church has shown that it is likely to succeed in proving that the Districts actions impose a substantial burden on its exercise of religion, the judge said. For its part, the District has not shown that it is likely to prove a compelling interest in prohibiting the Church from holding outdoor worship services with appropriate precautions, or that its restrictions are the least restrictive means available to achieve its public health objectives. ---- Original post (Sept. 24: Mark Devers Capitol Hill Baptist Sues to Not Forsake the Assembly): Capitol Hill Baptist Church this week became the first house of worship to file suit against Washington, DC, for its ongoing restrictions on religious gatherings meeting indoors or outdoors during the coronavirus pandemic, the Washington Post reported. The move by Capitol Hill Baptista 1,000-person congregation led by Mark Dever, the founder of the 9Marks church networkresembles arguments for equal treatment and First Amendment rights launched by churches in Nevada and California amid COVID-19 shutdowns. However, the DC congregations legal fight is uniquely tied to its theological beliefs around how a church should gather. Dever has long resisted multi-site, multi-service models of church, though they are very popular among fellow Southern Baptists. The DC Baptist church does not stream services online, and hasnt made an exception to that rule during the pandemic. As noted in the lawsuit filed Tuesday, Gathering as one church in a single worship service is an essential component of [Capitol Hill Baptist]s exercise of religion. In the current phase, the Districts coronavirus precautions limit socially distanced indoor or outdoor gatherings to 100 people or half of a buildings capacity, whichever is fewer. The city has, however, let non-religious groups gather far beyond the COVID-19 limits. The suit points out that the mayor allowed outdoor rallies that numbered in the thousands over the summer and even attended some of these events. The church supports the mayors participation, but argues that religious gatherings should not be treated differently. According to the lawsuit, the First Amendment protects both mass protests and religious worship. Capitol Hill Baptist canceled services from mid-March through early June. At that point it began meeting in a field beside a fellow Baptist congregation in Virginia. I might not be feeling as compliant as I am if Virginia werent just across the river with all their freedoms, Dever said in late June, discussing the decision by John MacArthur to defy Californias restrictions. Weve been able to have hundreds of our members gather legally, and weve done it with social distancingwhich I think the governor of Virginia is requestingand with maskswhich I dont think is in the rules but were doing it anyway for an abundance of caution. Now the church wants the option to meet in outdoor venues in DC, the Post reported. The mayors office has not yet responded to a request sent by CT for comment on the lawsuit. On Tuesday, Capitol Hill Baptist, which has not publicly addressed the suit, posted a clip about the importance of church gatherings. Ultimately, the church is not something we want to be in as a building, said Dever, speaking from the empty sanctuary back in the spring. Its a people we want to be with. Thats why we Christians always gather, so that we can be with the people of God and do the things that Jesus has called us to do. Located just blocks from the US Capitol and Supreme Court in DC, Capitol Hill Baptist submitted a request for a waiver to the requirements in June and again in September, citing its theological convictions requiring in-person assembly, but the mayors office didnt respond. As legal scholars Thomas Berg and Shawna Kosel wrote for CT earlier in the pandemic: cities nationwide permitted large, crowded protests, complete with chanting and singing, exceeding the limits that COVID orders generally place on mass gatherings, The protests message challenging racism and police brutality is crucialand often religious. But regulation must rest on the activitys riskiness, not on the content of its message. Admittedly, the protests were outside, and their grassroots nature wouldve made stopping them impossible. But congregations have already begun to argue that declining to enforce health rules strictly to stop protests means you cannot invoke them strictly to stop worship. Besides guidance for socially distanced gatherings with fewer than 100 people, DC encourages churches to continue providing virtual services as everyone is safer at home. On top of 9 Marks of a Healthy Church, the book from which the ministry gets its name, Dever is the author of a stack of books about church life: The Deliberate Church, The Compelling Community, What Is a Healthy Church?, and The Church: The Gospel Made Visible, where he writes that a biblically ordered church regularly gathers the whole congregation because without regularly meeting together, it ceases to be a biblically ordered church. By Kazeem Ugbodaga Nigerias former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has returned to Mali to continue negotiation with key stakeholders as the troubled nation begin plans for restoration of civilian administration. On Monday, Malis former Defence Minister, Colonel Bah NDaw (Rtd) was named the Interim President of the troubled nation. NDaw will oversee the 18-month transition period in which election is expected to be conducted to usher in a new democratically elected government in Mali. Malis junta leader, Colonel Assimi Goita is the Vice President of the 18-month transitional government. However, Jonathan, who heads ECOWAS Special Envoy in the Mali crisis, on his twitter handle, said he returned to the West African nation on Thursday afternoon for further consultations. We returned to Bamako this afternoon to continue consultations with key stakeholders as Malian authorities begin the implementation of their plans for the restoration of a civilian administration. The ECOWAS mediation team expects to have fruitful engagements, he said. Share this post with your friends: Related Mihai Roban, 47, raped the 28-year-old behind a public toilet on Regents Park Road in London at around 2.40am on January 20 A Romanian serial sex attacker who raped a woman just a week after entering the UK has been jailed for nearly eight years. Mihai Roban, 47, attacked the 28-year-old behind a public toilet on Regents Park Road in north London at around 2.40am on January 20 this year. The terrified woman had been walking home from a bar in Finchley when she was accosted by the rapist and dragged behind the loos. She begged Roban, who has two convictions for rape in his home country, to stop, but the depraved sex criminal continued his brutal attack. Police were called to the scene after a member of the public heard the victim's screams through the night air, Harrow Crown Court heard. Roban was still with his victim when he was arrested, the court heard. He was taken into custody where he refused to make any comment about the incident during an interview with officers. The Romanian was charged with rape the same day by Public Protection Detectives from the North West Command Unit. The triple rapist finally admitted the offence a week before he was due to stand trial in July. Scotland Yard said he had arrived in the UK a week before carrying out the attack. Today Roban, of no fixed address, was jailed for seven years and eight months. He is also required to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Mihai Roban, 47, raped the 28-year-old woman behind a public toilet on Regents Park Road in north London at around 2.40am on January 20 this year Detective Sergeant Michael Daly, from the Metropolitan Police, said: 'Roban had only been in the country for a week when he carried out this attack. 'When we conducted inquiries with police in his home country of Romania we discovered that he had two previous convictions for rape and prison is the right place for him. 'He maintained his innocence until the week before the trial was due to start which brought further anguish to his victim. 'The victim has been incredibly strong throughout the investigation and I hope that knowing Roban will be in prison for some time will help her to move on from her horrible ordeal. 'I also wish to thank the member of the public for doing the right thing and calling the police when they heard the victim's calls for help, as well as the investigation team for their excellent work and their continued dedication supporting victims of rape and bringing the offenders to justice.' BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 By Nargiz Sadikhova Trend: Azerbaijan is an important link in the relations of the Turkic-speaking world, Kazakh political analyst, director of the Risk Assessment Group Dosym Satpayev told Trend on Sept. 24. Azerbaijan is one of the key players in the Caucasus region, Satpayev added. "The issue of stability in the Caucasus, the issue of economic development of this region is directly connected with this key player, Kazakhstan is well aware of this, the analyst said. Let's not forget that Azerbaijan is an important link in relations in the Turkic-speaking world, because Azerbaijan, like Kazakhstan, is a member of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states, and is also a very active supporter of the unification of the Turkic-speaking world." If initially the countries, first of all, carried out the activity on cultural interaction, which was actively supported by all members of the council, now the issue of economic interaction is also actively raised, the analyst added. "Therefore, if the issue is the role of Azerbaijan in terms of intercultural economic dialogue, then this country plays a very important role, especially in terms of enhancing interaction within the Turkic-speaking world," Satpayev said. The analyst also stressed that Azerbaijan is also an important key partner of Kazakhstan in the Caspian Sea region especially because the countries are also similar in terms of economic development. "For both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea is an important concentration of the biggest oil and gas resources, the most important sources of revenue of the two countries, the Kazakhstan National Fund, in particular, which once again proves the similarity of the two countries," Satpayev said. ---- Follow the author on Twitter: @nargiz_sadikh RTB House is a pioneering leader in the AdTech space, with compelling solutions that are proven to significantly increase brand awareness and consumer engagement, said James Johnson, Managing Director at MarTech Breakthrough. RTB House, a global company that provides state-of-the-art marketing solutions for top brands worldwide, today announced that it has been selected as the winner of the AdTech 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. The AdTech Innovation Award is another prestigious honor for RTB Houses AI Full-Funnel Marketing Solutions. Recently, RTB House also received a Gold Stevie in 2020 International Business Awards. This is the result of a big push from RTB House to offer brands innovative marketing solutions to reach current and new customers at any stage of the funnel from awareness to consideration to conversion. The 2020 MarTech Breakthrough Award recognized the RTB House AI Full-Funnel Marketing Solutions, an advanced AI-based tool that is able to recognize a consumers stage within the sales funnel in real-time, resulting in relevant communication with users. With a modern approach to marketing communication, marketers are empowered to build more durable brand awareness and deeper connections with customers at every stage of the consumers path-to-purchase. An ecosystem driven by an award-winning AI is built on the usage of 1st party data and incorporates privacy by design. With this step forward, RTB House enables clients to benefit from their deep learning-based technology to seal the sales funnel, recognizing in real-time at what stage of the funnel the user is, and decide which ad should be shown to a user in that context. After years of research in the field of AI, RTB House created AI Full-Funnel Marketing Solutions to help take brand communication to the next level, said ukasz Abgarowicz, Head of New Products at RTB House. We made all of this possible by creating and using AI that deeply understands humans, one that brings marketers the tools and strategies they need to succeed in a digital landscape. We are confident that our deep learning AI Full-Funnel solution will shape the future of marketing. 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. RTB House is a pioneering leader in the AdTech space, with compelling solutions that are proven to significantly increase brand awareness and consumer engagement, said James Johnson, Managing Director at MarTech Breakthrough. From advanced customer segmentation to bespoke customer journey scenarios and deep learning optimization and beyond, RTB House is providing breakthrough solutions that make sales funnels more effective. We want to recognize their tremendous achievement with our AdTech Innovation Award for 2020 and we congratulate the entire global RTB House team on their industry recognition. RTB House operates in over 70 markets, with 30 offices around the world. The company runs thousands of campaigns for some of the biggest names in the world, including Adidas, Sephora, Reebok and Nike, among others. About RTB House: RTB House is a global company that provides state-of-the-art marketing technologies for top brands worldwide. Its proprietary ad buying engine is the first and only in the world to be powered entirely by Deep Learning algorithms, enabling advertisers to generate outstanding results and reach their short, mid and long-term goals. Founded in 2012, the RTB House team is comprised of 500+ specialists in over 30 locations across the globe: New York, London, Tokyo, Singapore, Sao Paulo, Moscow, Istanbul, Dubai and Warsaw. It serves more than 2,000 campaigns for clients across EMEA, APAC and the Americas regions. From 2018, after successfully deploying deep learning into 100 percent of its algorithms, RTB House develops two divisions, independent from R&D team, focused on leading innovation for MarTech solutions. The AI Marketing Lab provides an environment for inventing and advancing MarTech products. In addition, the Creatives Lab was created to investigate and improve the overall performance of creatives, as well as developing support for formats like dynamic display and video creatives that can be ultra-tailored to a clients unique branding needs. 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. Researchers at the University of California at Riverside are working to teach computer vision systems what objects typically exist in close proximity to one another so that if one is altered, the system can flag it, potentially thwarting malicious interference with artificial intelligence systems. The yearlong project, supported by a nearly $1 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, aims to understand how hackers target machine-vision systems with adversarial AI attacks. Led by Amit Roy-Chowdhury, an electrical and computer engineering professor at the schools Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering, the project is part of the Machine Vision Disruption program within DARPAs AI Explorations program. Adversarial AI attacks which attempt to fool machine learning models by supplying deceptive input -- are gaining attention. Adversarial attacks can destabilize AI technologies, rendering them less safe, predictable, or reliable, Carnegie Mellon University Professor David Danks wrote in IEEEs Spectrum in February. However, we do not necessarily need to worry about them as direct attacks on the decision-making machinery of the system. Instead, we should worry about the corruption of human situational awareness through adversarial AI, which can be equally effective in undermining the safety, stability, and trust in the AI and robotic technologies. The researchers came up with new ways of attacking these machine vision systems, and these are what we call context-aware attacks, Roy-Chowdhury said. The idea is that the scene context -- the relationship between the objects in a scene -- can be used to develop both better defenses as well as better attacks. Humans can recognize when objects are out of place based on the context of a scene, but without tweaks to deep neural networks (DNNs) in machine vision systems, computers cannot reliably do so. A stop sign occurs in a scene around a crossing there is often a pedestrian crossing, there is the name of a street, Roy-Chowdhury said. A speed limit sign, on the other hand, is usually found on the side the road where there are none of the objects typically found at intersections. Humans can use that additional information, which is called the scene context, to come up with a better understanding of what the object is, he said. If a machine learning systems training data has been altered via an adversarial AI attack so that it learns to interpret a stop sign with a sticker on it as a speed limit sign, the context of the scene -- the fact that a speed limit sign doesnt belong in an intersection -- will trigger further analysis, Roy-Chowdhury said. That is the defense side of things, Roy-Chowdhury said. On the attack side, researchers can now design attacks so that you dont misplace the particular object that you are trying to attack. So, you would probably have to change other aspects of the scene, also, he added. Besides susceptible to the insertion of deliberately deceptive training data, DNNs are also vulnerable to attack through perturbations, or changes, such as adding (quasi-) imperceptible digital noises to an image to cause a DNN to misclassify an object in an image [or] physically altering an object so that the captured image of that object is misclassified, according to a research paper on which the DARPA project is based. To defend against such attacks, the paper proposes the use of context inconsistency. This means Roy-Chowdhury and his team add changes to images to make the computers give the wrong answers, with the idea that, it will later lead to the design of better defenses. Our approach builds a set of auto-encoders appropriately trained so as to output a discrepancy between the input and output if an added adversarial perturbation violates context consistency rules, the paper stated. The result was an improvement of more than 20% over a state-of-the-art context-agnostic method, the paper concluded. Other efforts in adversarial AI defense include DARPAs Guaranteeing AI Robustness against Deception program, which aims to develop theories, algorithms and testbeds to help researchers create models that can defend against a range of attacks. Additionally, researchers at the Energy Departments National Renewable Energy Laboratory are using adversarial training to enhance the resolution of climate data up to 50 times, making it better suited for assessing renewable energy sources. The Army Research Office and the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity are also studying ways to spot and stop Trojan attacks on AI systems. A broad agency announcement issued last year called for software that could automatically inspect AI and predict if it has a Trojan. He was one of the greats John Mintons Children by the Sea As a preparatory study for a work held by Tate comes to auction, Jessica Lack illuminates the tragically brief career of the brilliant yet tortured British artist nicknamed the King of Bohemia In the summer of 1944, John Minton (1917-1957) wrote from Marazion in Cornwall to his friend Judith Holman, God how I love the land to stand and see it move in intricate perspective to the heat haze of the gentle skyline. The landscape he was referring to was the rugged coastline around Mount Bay, where the painter was living in a gypsy caravan belonging to his friend, the poet W.S. Graham. For the next six weeks, Minton worked on studies that would become some of the most important paintings of his career. Among them was the 1945 picture Children by the Sea, which is now part of the Tate Collection. On 29 September Christies is offering for sale a preparatory drawing for Children by the Sea , which was formerly part of Holmans collection. It is a spectacular drawing, says Christies specialist Albany Bell. The draughtsmanship is outstanding you are in awe of the artists mastery. Minton was born into a respectable middle-class family in Cambridgeshire in 1917. In the mid-1930s, he went to study at St Johns Wood Art School, where he met fellow student Michael Ayrton (1921-1975). Together, they became part of an abundantly talented wartime group of artists that included Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. By the age of 27, Minton had had three critically acclaimed exhibitions at Londons high-profile Redfern Gallery and was also enjoying a prolific career as an illustrator. In Corsica in 1948 with the poet Alan Ross (1922-2001), he would create one of the most significant illustrated books of the 20th century, Time Was Away. As the rising star of British art, Minton should have relished his celebrity, and in some ways he did, partying at the Colony Room with other denizens of Soho and taking to the dance floor with such ebullience that he became known as the King of Bohemia. As a gifted and charismatic teacher at the Camberwell School of Art and Royal College of Arts, his entourage of students became known as Johnnys circus. Yet beneath the gaiety Minton was a tortured soul, prone to manic episodes. In 1943, he had been discharged from the British Army after suffering a total breakdown. The incident is recorded by Mintons biographer Frances Spalding in John Minton: Dance till the Stars Come Down. One day he asked himself, What the hell am I doing? and simply lay down on the parade ground and refused to get up. Another story is that, in a state of complete despair, he lay all night on the parade ground with his face in a puddle hoping to drown himself. He was sent to Shenley Military Hospital from where he wrote, Finally you see I just went crazy, I mean quite literally, the whole of my life became so confused and I began to feel the most violent frustrations about painting. In Cornwall, Miltons feelings of desperation and anxiety were overtaken by a powerful artistic awakening It wasnt simply army life that had brought on Mintons psychotic episode. From an early age, the artist had struggled with the knowledge that he was homosexual. Soon after joining up, he decided to out himself to his friends, writing to Ayrton, You must have some idea of it already, that I am as sexually queer as anyone you are likely to meet, and in London when I was there and about the place I would wander around the streets on the summer nights feeling desperate and pick up any boy that would have me. It was all there in my paintings It was a courageous decision, but it exposed Minton to possible blackmail and prosecution, and he was now fearful of the consequences. The trip to Marazion was taken at the behest of his friends, who had become increasingly disturbed by the artists agitated state. In Cornwall, Mintons feelings of desperation and anxiety were overtaken by a powerful artistic awakening. He found in the rough-hewn landscape a place he could retreat to, leaving the real world for one of fantasy. The lyrical paintings he made there secured him a leading place in the British Neo-Romantic movement. John Minton, Children by the Sea, 1945. Oil paint on canvas, 94.7 76 cm, Tate. Photo: Tate. Artwork: Estate of John Minton Children by the Sea depicts a line of children leading out from a house, watched by a solitary schoolboy who seems psychologically cut off from the others. According to Bell, the drawing has an underlying sense of intrigue and mystery. Spalding suggests the work could be a reflection of Mintons lonely childhood and interest in child psychology and emerging sexuality. She also sees the influence of European modernists like Paul Klee, whom Minton had discovered through the Polish artist Jankel Adler (1895-1949), when the two briefly shared a studio in Notting Hill. The strange shape and drawing of the heads reflects the influence of Adler, who had an interest in Chassidic poetry and mysticism, writes Spalding. Minton gave the work to Holman, one of his students at the Camberwell School of Art, at some point in the late 1940s. He had been attracted by the 15-year-olds sardonic sense of humour and resemblance to a Modigliani painting. The two became close and took to introducing each other as cousins. Yet the friendship faltered in the early 1950s, as Mintons psychological state worsened. Holman, who was then working as a model at the Royal College of Art, sensed that his restless brilliance was being devastated by drink. The last time Holman saw Minton was on a train, writes Spalding. She found him excitable laughing like a manic depressive and unable to sit still. She was wearing a muff and as they left the train Minton remarked, I thought you were going to smuggle me through the barrier in that. He then kissed her on the cheek and said goodbye. She did not see him again. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser 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. Another batch of bottle return facilities will be required to reopen in Michigan starting on Monday, Oct. 5. All bottle and can return facilities with automatic machines called reverse vending machines will be required to reopen in the state, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer closed the 10-cent returnable facilities March 23 to allow grocery stores to shift employees to other areas as the pandemic began, cleaning protocols increased and grocery store traffic ballooned. Some were mandated to reopen June 15, but only if the machines were located at the front of a store or in a separate area. Now, facilities must reopen regardless of their location if reverse vending machines are used. Other types of bottle return facilities, like ones staffed by employees, can reopen at their discretion starting Oct. 5. Michigan residents may still see some restrictions, however, when they take back their returnables. Facilities can limit customers to $25 of deposit refunds per day, limit the number of machines open, close the area for cleaning and reduce the hours of operation. Retailers must also limit their intake to no more than 140% of their average collection volume from April and May 2019. COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued executive orders requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while in public indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. See an explanation of what that means here. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. For more data on COVID-19 in Michigan, visit https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/data/. RELATED STORIES Thursday, Sept. 24, coronavirus data by Michigan county: Ingham drops to orange, Escanaba area now red Michigan residents have returned nearly 400 million bottles and cans since June, recycler says $500 available for Michigan hospitality employees hurt by coronavirus shutdown Second round of $900 unemployment checks from Trump order being sent to Michigan workers Washington, Sep 24 : Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has vowed to address the Indian-American community's concerns related to the H-1B work visa, which President Donald Trump's administration has temporarily suspended, the media reported. Biden made the remarks while addressing a virtual fundraiser organized by the community on Tuesday, The American Bazaar reported on Wednesday. "It makes parents wonder whether their kids will have the kind of future they dreamed of when they came here. "As President, I promise I am going to draw on the best, not the worst, beat this pandemic and build the economy back, help our kids get a good education and make sure healthcare is a right not a privilege," the former Vice President was quoted as saying. In June, the Trump administration suspended the H-1B and several other categories of foreign work visas until the year end. The decision has been opposed by Indians, who have received as much as 70 per cent of H-1B visas over the past five years. US business leaders have also criticized the move saying it will block their ability to recruit critically needed skilled workers from foreign countries. Slamming Trump for the move, the Democratic nominee said: "This President makes things worse, not better." While praising the community for their hard work and entrepreneurship, he said Indian-Americans have powered the economic growth of the US and helped forge cultural dynamism in the country, adding: "That is a continuation of who we are, we are a nation of immigrants." Biden has chosen Indian-origin California Senator, Kamala Harris as his running mate for Vice President. During the virtual event, Biden also spoke to Vivek Murthy, who served as surgeon general during the former Barack Obama administration, during which also recalled the work he had done to forge close India-US relations, reports The American Bazaar. "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. "I am not just saying it now, I said it then and I mean it... I will work to make sure it occurs," he added. Meanwhile, support for Biden among Indian-Americans appears to have fallen by 11 per cent compared to the voting for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 elections, according to polls. While she received 77 per cent of votes from Indian-Americans, the 2020 Asian American Voter Survey (AAVS) released earlier this month found Biden getting only the support of 66 per cent. Trump's support has however, increased by 12 per cent in the court years to 28 per cent. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Iraqs supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani encouraged Mustafa al-Kadhimis government on Sept. 14 to proceed with its campaign to crackdown on possession of illegal weapons by armed groups outside of state control, in a rare stance for the religious authority. In the past, the authority would call for maintaining security in general, but this time, Sistani encouraged the governments plan. Kadhimi now has Sistanis support to focus on armed groups and factions claiming to work alongside the official Iraqi forces. The Iraqi security forces took to carrying out a wide-scale campaign Sept. 5, to withdraw illigal arms in the southern provinces. The campaign started in Basra province, where tribal feuds are ongoing. It seems that the government is targeting heavy weapons at this stage, postponing the confiscating of all light weapons for another time. Basra Operational Command in the far south of Iraq announced Sept. 12 that it will not confiscate light weapons and will allow one weapon per house only. Spokesman for the Iraqi armed forces Yahya Rasoul told Al-Monitor, Weapons should be in the hands of the Iraqi state only, and these operations carried out by the security forces will continue until they achieve their goals. He added, The security forces do not differentiate between one weapon and another. They target any weapon that is not in the hands of the state. The campaign focused on the southern provinces due to the ongoing fights between some factions and the presence of drugs gangs and weapons smuggling. Since its onset, the campaign has been backed by political blocs and activists, mainly by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki who voiced his support. Iraqioun Alliance, led by Ammar al-Hakim and formed after Kadhimis government received the parliaments confidence, supported the campaign of withdrawing illegal weapons and noted that the campaign aims at ensuring a stable and secure environment for future elections. The campaign to seize illegal weapons was part of Kadhimis government program, and the members of parliament voted on it May 6. The joint operations command that was tasked with collecting illegal weapons said Sept. 6 that it will not go easy on weapons possession outside the states authority, but it seems that there is some exaggeration in the stance of the operations command in this regard. The results of the security operations in southern Iraq showed that the government focused on taking from civilians houses weapons that the owners claim they own to protect themselves from drugs gangs. This operation poses several questions, and at the same time it put Kadhimis government in an embarrassing position. Some wondered where the government stood vis-a-vis the weapons of militias that are not part of the Popular Mobilization Units [PMU]. Iraqi members of parliament made several propositions to withdraw illegal weapons, including determining the type of weapons to be confiscated, the location and whether the weapons located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq are also included. Some said that withdwaing illegal weapons requires national dialogue. Dozens of rifles and hand grenades carried daily in major operations cannot possibly give Iraqi citizens hope. The government has full information about the militias, tribes and gangs cooperating with political parties and possessing large weapons racks, but it still has not targeted those. Fadel Abu Raghif, a security expert close to the Iraqi intelligence services, told Al-Monitor, The withdrawal of illegal weapons requires a huge effort and a sovereign decision bigger than a security or military campaign. He added, Weapons outside of state forces will not be withdrawn unless there is a political inclination to support the states project. Otherwise tangible results on the ground wont exist. In the past few years, weapons have been sold to the public via social media networks such as Facebook, in addition to the sale of weapons on the black markets in east Baghdad and by well-known traders. But the campaign has not included them yet. It seems that Kadhimi does not want to engage in a direct confrontation with weapons traders and militias; he wants to encroach on them first and then curb their power. Such campaigns would cost the state many lives and money. However, weapons in Iraq are not limited to Kalashnikov rifles or intermediate weapons. Some armed factions that are not part of the PMU possess missiles and cannons that have nothing to do with the Iraqi state. Some even have armored vehicles and tanks. Therefore, dealing with such weapons amounts to suicide for any Iraqi government. On Aug. 27, Iraqi parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi said that uncontrolled arms are in the hands of Shiite factions affiliated with a Shiite government, suggesting that arms proliferate in southern Iraq and are in the hands of those who have authority in the state. The armed Shiite factions, whether they fall under the PMU or not, are reassured. According to some information, Kadhimi has reassured them that nobody will touch their weapons. The military operations so far prove this, as well as the absence of any opposing stance from these factions and their leaders. Kadhimi has put himself in a tricky situation when he proposed a government program that includes a project to withdraw illegal arms. He is the president of a transitional government, and transitional governments do not have programs, only set tasks to accomplish until the elections are held. In a nutshell, weapons cannot be under full control of the state, at least in the short run. It would mean a deadly duel with the armed factions that have enough weapons and influence to outpower the state. Michael Bloomberg has come under criticism in Florida, where the states Republican attorney general wants the FBI and state authorities to investigate possible election law violations. Mr Bloomberg, the former Democratic mayor of New York City, has raised more than $16 million (12.5 million) in funds to pay-off felons debts and secure their voting rights in the crucial swing state. Floridas attorney general on Wednesday said that warranted both state and federal investigations. "I have instructed the Statewide Prosecutor to work with law enforcement and any Statewide Grand Jury that the Governor may call," said Ashely Moody, the attorney general, in a written statement. Mr Moody also sent letters to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI calling on Mr Bloomberg to be investigated. Republican governor Ron DeSantis had asked Mr Moody to review allegations that Mr Bloomberg and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) had violated the laws on election incentives with those donations. Voters had already approved a constitutional amendment to restore most felons' voting rights upon completion of their sentences, with some exceptions, in 2018. The states Republican-held Legislature later argued that rights wouldn't be restored until all fines, court fees and restitution were paid, when the law was introduced. The funds raised by Mr Bloomberg were targeted for felons who registered to vote while the law was in question and who owe $1,500 (1,117) or less, accounts for some 31,100 people, his staffers said. "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," Nikki Fried, Florida's only statewide elected Democrat and a member of the Cabinet said in a statement. Floridas 29 electoral college votes are crucial to Donald Trump's reelection chances in November. (Natural News) Describing the approach of Pfizer in getting its warp speed Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to market before anyone else, Eric Topol, the editor-in-chief of Medscape, used the words Olympic record to suggest that the process is being rushed with little regard for sound science. As the company competes with other drug giants like AstraZeneca to unveil the worlds first plandemic jab, Pfizer, in partnership with BioNTech of Germany, is aiming to cross the vaccine trials finish line by as soon as Sept. 27. If successful, Pfizer will presumably launch its Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine not long afterwards, just in time for the Nov. 3 election. And it is all thanks to President Trumps Operation Warp Speed program to fast-track approval for Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines at the speed of light. Ive never seen a trial where there were four interim analyses, Topol, who also directs the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, Calif., explained. Its obvious why it is being done: so you can just keep looking at the data to try to win a race. Of the roughly 44,000 people that have participated in Pfizers vaccine trials, 32 are confirmed Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. Pfizers goal is to reach 164 cases, though these four interim analyses are designed to capture a preliminary result even before that target. While AstraZeneca has had to halt its trials due to participants developing severe adverse events, Pfizer is plugging right along to beat out its competitor, and hopefully gain favor from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to Marie-Paule Kieny, a former official at the World Health Organization (WHO) who now heads up research at the French health-science company Inserm, these four early looks by Pfizer could give the company an easy route towards FDA approval, as the agency is only requiring that vaccine candidates reduce the number of symptomatic cases by half. It seems that there are different levels of stringency, Kieny stated during an interview, noting that the Pfizer-BioNTech trial does not come out as a star of stringency. FDA approving new COVID-19 drugs, vaccines based on limited data Pfizer, by the way, colluded with Merck during the Obama years to obstruct health care reform and align it more with Big Pharmas interests in mind. Moderna, meanwhile, in partnership with Anthony Fauci and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has its own case target of 151 diagnoses. Currently, the tally is somewhere around 53 cases. All trials have set the bar quite low for what they test against, admitted Rasmus Bech Hansen, CEO of Airfinity, a London-based analytics firm that is tracking all of Big Pharmas Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine trials. Company spokeswoman Amy Rose told Bloomberg in an email that Pfizers trial was specifically designed to evaluate its vaccine candidate as fast as possible. This is evidenced by the companys four interim analyses, the summation of which are expected to yield results by as soon as October. Even if Pfizers vaccine, along with the others, makes the November election deadline indicated by Trump, none of the drug companies involved will have definitive data about whether or not their vaccines reduce hospitalizations until at least February. And yet they still could gain emergency approval a lot sooner. Treatments such as Gilead Sciences Inc.s antiviral remdesivir and convalescent plasma a soup of immune factors taken from the blood of recovered Covid-19 patients have already been authorized on the basis of somewhat limited data, writes Robert Langreth for Bloomberg. More of the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and a rush towards a vaccine can be found at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: Bloomberg.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com The farce that has become Victoria's toothless inquiry into the state's disastrous COVID-19 hotel quarantine fiasco will end with Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday. His appearance will conclude the airing of weeks of evidence by a series of bumbling bureaucrats and ministers who still cannot reveal who made the critical decision to employ private security guards to police returned travellers in March. 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. The bungle is estimated to be costing Victoria anywhere up to $400 million a day with fears the current lockdown could run as high as $25 billion. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is set to face to face the music at the hotel inquiry on Friday. His colleagues have failed to remember crucial details about how the plan came together Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, police chief Graham Ashton, health minister Jenny Mikakos and Victoria Police and Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp Health department head Kym Peake has been left holding the can for her minister Jenny Mikakos, who claims she had been left in the dark about crucial hotel quarantine developments Dozens of security guards ended up catching coronavirus from quarantined returned travellers while working in the hotels. On Thursday, Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos fronted the inquiry where she too failed to enlighten the nation as to who made the fateful error in deciding to employ private security firms as the frontline force against COVID-19. The board of inquiry, headed by former Family Court judge Jennifer Coate, was established to determine what went so drastically wrong with the hotel program. Mr Andrews called the inquiry in June after genomic sequencing revealed a number of coronavirus cases could be linked to 'staff members in hotel quarantine breaching well known and well understood infection control protocols'. The inquiry has been running since August 17, but as it draws to an end, not a single person involved in the debacle has been able to pinpoint who came up with the idea to use private security. One after the other, police, ministers, public servants and patsies have fronted the inquiry to declare how little they know about how the crucial decision was made. And if they ever did know, they had now forgotten. Even former Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton appeared to suffer from memory loss at the inquiry. An outbreak at Rydges in May was the first time Victoria's health minister Jenny Mikakos even made an effort to find out who was running security at the COVID plagued hotels Security at the Stamford was infected about three weeks after the Rydges, prompting the health minister to take urgent action to replace the workforce with prison guards Private security has been accused of bungling the hotel quarantine operation and causing Victoria's deadly second wave of COVID-19 Someone from the Premier's department had told him the decision had been made, but he can't recall who it was. As one observer quipped: 'Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.' In another excruciating morning of hearings on Thursday, the health minister said she would not even try to offer an opinion on who might be to blame. Ms Mikakos had copped a battering from barristers acting on behalf of the security companies that actually worked at the hotels. At the beginning of the day, the health minister had bragged how it had been her who cooked up the idea to place COVID-19 infected into hotels after being inspired by a social media post. 'Yes, it is, and my very firm recollection about this matter was that I conceived of the idea of Hotels for Heroes,' she said. 'It was one that I put to the premier's chief of staff I believe on approximately 27 March. I had had read about a program in the United Kingdom through social media that was accommodated healthcare workers in caravans, and I thought that that would be a good idea for us to have a look at providing some accommodation to healthcare workers who were either infected or exposed to COVID-19.' The plan was quickly turned into the doomed hotel quarantine program which saw the government's jobs department contract the private security guards. Police minister Lisa Neville said she had not been consulted about the plan to use private security at Melbourne hotels ADF personnel were used successfully to police returning travellers at hotels in NSW, but were rejected in Victoria amid fears they had no real authority to detain people Ms Mikakos told the inquiry she did not burden herself with who was running security until two months later when she was told an outbreak at Rydges on Swanston in Melbourne had been spread by a security guard. Until then, Ms Mikakos had not even bothered to read the plan established to protect Victorians from the threat of COVID-19 infection from returning travellers. 'I explained at the outset of my evidence, that ministers play a high-level policy and decision-making role,' she said. 'I wouldn't expect to be provided a huge amount of detail around specific operational matters. They were matters that sit appropriately with my officials.' Ms Mikakos was asked if she believed it was a dereliction of her duty as a minister not to have read the operational plan for the response of her department to the pandemic. 'Not at all,' she said. 'In fact, my department did not formally provide me with a brief on it. It's something that I have sourced because I wanted to familiarise myself with it.' Ms Mikakos said that once the first security guard caught COVID-19 while working in the Stamford Plaza three weeks after the case in the Rydges on Swanston in late May she formed a view to replace the security guard workforce. The inquiry has heard from the heath department secretary Kym Peake, the secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet Chris Eccles and of course the Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. Former police chief Graham Ashton swears on the bible to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth Police doing what police do best. Melburnians breaching lockdown laws have been quickly detained The quarantine disaster in Victoria allowed COVID-19 enter aged care facilities resulting in hundreds of deaths. Many Victorians fear no-one will ever be held accountable None have been able to shed any light on who made the decision to employ the private security guards. They all agree it was probably a bad idea in hindsight. For one, they were the 'wrong cohorts' for the job, Dr Sutton noted. Documents tendered to the inquiry revealed some of the security guards had expressed concerns about something as simple as using hand sanitiser because it was against their religion. Dr Sutton told the inquiry he had no input into the hotel quarantine program despite being an expert in the field of infectious diseases. 'With the benefit of hindsight, I can see that using a highly casualised workforce, generally from a lower socio-economic background, where that means that poor leave provisions limit how one can care for and financially support ones family if unwell,' Dr Sutton wrote in his submission to the inquiry. In August, the premier told a Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearing that claims Australia Defence Force personnel had been offered to man Victoria's hotels was wrong. '[It's] fundamentally incorrect to assert that there were hundreds of ADF staff on offer and somehow, someone said no,' he said. But the inquiry has heard repeatedly that ADF support had been on offer before a single traveller stepped foot into a Melbourne hotel. The inquiry has seen text massages referring to them, emails, scribbled notes and minutes from meetings. 'Wrong cohorts': Security guards working at hotels have been blamed for Victoria's deadly second COVID-19 wave The Australian Federal Police commissioner (top) asked Victoria police chief on March 27 why police wouldn't be guarding hotels. Mr Ashton responded that the decision to use private security had already been made This week, police minister Lisa Neville said she had not been consulted either and was surprised when during a March 27 meeting with Victoria Police and Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp the decision to employ private security appeared to have been set. While Mr Ashton claimed he did not make the decision, he had no issue with private security being used at the hotels. 'It made sense at the time,' Mr Ashton told the inquiry. While a decision of the board cannot be predicted, that crucial March 27 meeting held on the day the premier announced the use of private security guards provides frustrated Victorians with the best chance of working out what exactly happened. At the State Control Centre, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Grainger told Mr Crisp it was the preference of Victoria Police that private security get the hotel gig. Victoria Police has argued since that they were simply expressing a preference, not a direction. Whatever the case, after that meeting the decision appeared to be set in stone. 'I take that as a clear direction we should go off and do it,' Jobs department secretary Simon Phemister told the inquiry. Mr Andrews is scheduled to appear at the inquiry tomorrow afternoon. He has been hiding behind the inquiry since announcing it back in June even after the inquiry chair cleared him to speak publicly about his role in it. The premier last week provided some hope for long suffering Victorians that he might finally provide the answers as to why their loved ones had to die and their businesses destroyed. 'I established the Board of Inquiry into the Hotel Quarantine Program to find the answers that all Victorians are entitled to,' Mr Andrews said last week. 'Given the program was established as a decision of National Cabinet I always anticipated that I would need to appear in order to provide the context for its beginnings.' The fight for liberties and civil rights is something that is very fundamental. It is not criminal for us to say that we need a government that is accountable to the people that they are governing, we have seen how this country has been brought to where it is because of corruption and theft of public resources. L ondon hospitals are launching trials of a drug that doctors hope will reduce the risk of people with diabetes becoming seriously ill or dying from coronavirus. Medics at the Royal London and Whipps Cross hospitals are leading a national trial that will offer people with type 1 or 2 diabetes who are admitted for treatment for covid an additional therapy. One in three deaths from covid in English hospitals have been associated with diabetes, as a result of such patients typically having problems with high blood sugar levels. The drug, AZD1656, was originally developed by Astra Zeneca for another use and has been used to treat kidney transplant patients. But it has not become a standard treatment for the control of blood sugars as its benefits tend to wear off after several months. Dr Kieran McCafferty, consultant nephrologist at Barts Health NHS Trust, who is leading the trial, said: We know that the outcomes are worse for patients with diabetes who develop Covid and, as we see the number of infections rise again, is vitally important that we explore all treatments that may help save lives. About 150 patients in 15 UK hospitals will be involved in the Arcadia trials over the next four months. Matt Hancock insists UK has more than enough flu vaccines for those who need it If successful, the drug could ultimately be prescribed by a GP for people with diabetes presenting with early Covid symptoms. It is hoped that the drug will lower blood sugar levels in covid patients with diabetes and also reduce the risk of a cytokine storm, when the bodys immune system overheats after trying to fight the virus. Another benefit could be its use with the steroid dexamethasone, which was discovered this year to reduce mortality from covid but can increase blood sugar levels. Dr McCafferty said: We think that this drug, as well as controlling blood sugars, will dampen down the immune system. We think in some ways immune over-activity can lead to complications in people who have Covid. I would be hopeful that we will show it is effective. This could be hugely beneficial or an important tool in the fight against complications from Covid. The idea to investigate the possible benefits of the drug came St George Street, a UK-based biomedical research charity. David Tapolczay, chief executive St George Street, said: Given the current crisis, we have paused all our current research programmes to focus totally on this clinical trial and evaluate this potentially life-saving new drug. China has built nearly 400 internment camps used to detain Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region, an Australian think tank has found. Chinese authorities had previously said their re-education system was winding down, claiming those held there had graduated, but satellite imaging obtained by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) revealed 14 camps are still under construction. A total of 380 detention centres have been identified across the region since 2017, over 100 more camps than previous investigations had revealed. Several existing facilities have expanded, about half of which are higher security facilities. According to the think tanks Xinjiang Data Project, this may suggest a shift in usage from lower-security, re-education centres towards higher-security prison-style facilities. The database, mapped and analysed by researchers at the institutes International Cyber Policy Centre, is the most comprehensive data on Xinjiangs detention system in the world. Nathan Ruser, a researcher at ASPI, said: The evidence in this database shows that despite Chinese officials claims about detainees graduating from the camps, significant investment in the construction of new detention facilities has continued throughout 2019 and 2020. At least 60 facilities have seen new construction in the months leading up to and since that claim, and 14 facilities remain under construction, according to the latest satellite imagery available. One of the centres is a new 60-acre detention camp in Kashgar that includes 13 five-storey residential buildings, covering about 100,000 sq m of floor space. The camp, completed as recently as January, is surrounded by a 14m-high wall and watchtowers. The institute also found that new buildings were added to the regions largest camp last year, in Dabancheng near Urumqi, stretching over 1km. Satellite data showed about 70 camps had their internal fencing or perimeter walls removed, including eight camps that showed signs of being decommissioned. Nine in 10 desecuritised sites are lower-security ones. Researchers said that examining night-time satellite imagery from Xinjiang was a particularly effective method in compiling the database as it showed newly illuminated areas outside towns where detention centres were being built, while daytime images gave a clearer picture of construction. Beijing insists the re-education camps help the people detained there, claiming the Uighur Muslims and ethnic Kazakhs held in them had found stable employment and improved the quality of their life with the help of the Chinese government. But the predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities from the region say their family members are arbitrarily detained in the camps and prisons, where they are made to study Mandarin, law, vocational skills and deradicalisation. Chinese authorities have denied journalists, human-rights groups and diplomats access to the camps, casting doubt on the freedom Beijing claims those detained have. Human-rights groups have said at least a million people have been incarcerated every year. The report comes as the US passed a bill threatening sanctions over the alleged use of forced labour in the Xinjiang region. The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to declare that any goods produced in Xinjiang are presumptively made with the forced labour of detained Uighur Muslims and other ethnic minorities, and are therefore banned from being imported to the US. China has reacted angrily, saying the bill maliciously slandered the human-rights situation in Xinjiang. Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters: The so-called problem of forced labour is totally a lie, fabricated by some organisations and personnel in the United States and the West. Walking up to Coffee Cat, customers are greeted by the familiar smell of espresso, but once they cross the threshold, theyre introduced to a new-look Coffee Cat. String lights crisscross the ceiling, bookshelves divide the seating area and the bar displays the menu on a bright pink backdrop. But those are just the exterior changes the shop made while closed because of COVID-19. After taking the time away to reflect on the businesss mission, owner Maddie Corbeau decided to take the revamp another step by changing her sourcing and offerings to emphasize female creators and entrepreneurs. When COVID-19 first started shutting businesses down, Coffee Cat tried to adapt for about a week before it decided to just close completely. There were no set plans to reopen at the time, and the weeks, then months, started to wear on. As Corbeau evaluated the situation and her options, she kept coming across the words essential and nonessential. I kept getting stuck on that word because, in my heart, I feel like these kinds of businesses like cafes and bookstores and wine bars are essential, Corbeau said. I think the longer this thing goes on, the more that we are proving we are essential for the mental health aspect of life. With that in mind, Corbeau started thinking about what people need in their lives and how could her business provide it. She determined that people need people. While Coffee Cat, a business in Auburn, was shut down by COVID-19, its owner Maddie Corbeau reevaluated how the shop could do something essential. She decided she wanted to bring people together and connect them in different ways. (Photo by Giana Han) Over the years, Coffee Cat has developed a strong female base through connections with Auburns sororities and different female groups in Auburn. On top of that, Corbeau herself is a female small business owner and single mother, so supporting and connecting women seemed like a great way to for Coffee Cat to fulfill a need. When the world was telling me that what Ive done with my life is not essential, I realized that there were so many other people hearing that, Corbeau said. One way that I could support people like me young women who are trying to have a creative outlet that pays the bills or young business owners or single moms was to offer their products. The majority of our customers are female, Corbeau added. I see that, that platform, and I want to make sure that as a woman, as a business owner, I am being as responsible with that platform as I can. Corbeau had already been working towards making her business more sustainable, and supporting female-run businesses smoothly fell into line with that goal. She was surprised how easily she was able to find the types of partners she was looking for. A simple Google search for wholesale sustainability got her started. From there, she went to social media and did a deep dive into different creators', entrepreneurs' and artists' following lists. She found Meadowland Syrups, which are made by a mother and daughter in Oregon. She found Great Bear Wax Co., a Birmingham candle company founded by an Auburn grad. She found Spicewalla, which provides Coffee Cat its lavender and chai, and she found an woman who makes elderberry syrup that messaged her War Eagle after she first reached out. About 70 percent of Coffee Cats products are now sourced by small businesses, Corbeau estimated. So this was a way that I could add a one-on-one connection, Corbeau said. Like, no, you dont get to come hang out in the cafe as much as you would like, but you are being introduced to a new individual. Like, if you want, you can message the girls that made the syrup on social media, and theyll message you back. The transition hasnt been completely smooth. Sometimes customers come in and are upset when they cant find basics that other coffee shops have. Corbeau has had to train her staff on how to positively respond to complaints that they dont have white mocha or normal vanilla. She also encourages customers to try something new. You should be looking for the thing that that place is most proud of, I think, Corbeau said. Trying new things in little ways like coffee flavors is a cool way to soften the fear of change that everyone has, Corbeau added, which has become especially important during the upheaval of 2020. She recommends the Jittery Cow, a combination of chocolate milk and cold brew, or a simple cappuccino that lets the beans speak for themselves. Coffee Cat will also be dropping a new specials menu soon. Coffee Cats staff, as well as Auburns business community, has been very supportive of Corbeaus mission. She said she still feels like she can do a better job of advertising her goals, but shes currently working on redoing the website to reflect that. Right now, most of her changes are being shared through the excitement of her baristas, but shes loosely trying to plan for a Coffee Cat Year of Women in 2021, which would feature different female speakers every month. Im very lucky to own a business because my sphere of influence to help people is bigger than even I sometimes recognize, Corbeau said. Ive always know there was this space in Coffee Cat where we kind of cater more to women and have a lot of influence over women (2020) Is just showing me how important it is. Related articles: Madison Prewett and family drop Prew Crew Family Virtues bracelet collection Heres a list of black-owned businesses in Auburn to support Food, community and cause draw people to Dumps Like A Truck through pandemic and temporary close Nigeria addressed the United Nations General Assembly via video conferencing on Wednesday, September 23, and called for uninhibited supply of safe and effective coronavirus vaccines for all. Meanwhile, other African nations have sought the equitable distribution of any COVID-19 vaccine. Africa countries have only been able to anxiously look on as Western and European nations have been able to strike million-dollar deals with pharmaceutical giants for access to the COVD-19 vaccine. Read: COVID-19: US Experts Answer Congress On Vaccine Development, Assure No Corners Cut African nations must also be allowed access to vaccine In his UN address, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said that the United Nations must do all it can to procure the COVID-19 vaccine for all nations otherwise the organisation would have failed in its core mission of giving expression, direction and solution to the yearnings of the international community. The World Health Organisations has stated that Africa is scheduled to receive 220 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine through an international effort called COVAX which will develop and distribute the vaccine. Read: Anthony Fauci Challenges Rand Paul's Claims On Herd Immunity, Says He's 'not Listening' However, experts have stated that Africa will need at least 1.5 billion doses of the vaccine which will be able to cover 60 percent of the continent's population to develop herd immunity. On top of that, the vaccine will probably need two doses in order to be effective. As per the John Hopkin coronavirus resource centre, Nigeria has reported more than 57,000 positive COVD-19 cases and has a death toll of over 1,000. The COVID-19 pandemic which saw its first outbreak in a wet market in Wuhan, China last year has now spread all across the world. The virus, named COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation, has infected over 32 million people worldwide with the global death toll reaching over 979,000. While the US is already backing several potential COVID-19 vaccines, it also plans to begins the testing of a new COVID-19 vaccine which requires only one shot or dose. The potential COVID-19 vaccine is being developed by Johnson & Johnson and the study already has plans to enroll at least 60,000 volunteers to test the vaccine. Other candidates that are currently also in the final stages of testing require two shots. (With AP inputs; Image Credit - AP) Read: European Union Overhauls Old Asylum System To Help Frontline Nations With Migrant Crisis Read: US Coronavirus Adviser Says 'herd Immunity Is Not Trump Policy' A proposal for 45 new apartments in the west of Cork city has been rejected. Dennehys Cross Construction Ltd was seeking to demolish an existing disused garage to build four three-bed, 29 two-bed and 12 one-bed apartments in two blocks, one five and one six storey. A former abortion clinic employee says that there are 'tons of women' who 'claim to be anti-abortion' but come in to end their own pregnancies and do a 'neat mental trick' to justify it. Twitter user @AnnoyedCicada detailed her own experiences in an unspecified abortion clinic, recounting several stories of vocally anti-abortion patients who were nonetheless at the clinic for their own abortions. She said that in addition to considering their own abortions justified and others' unjustified, many of the women were hostile, telling the doctors they were going to hell or should be in jail while ranting against the other patients. Hypocrisy: A former abortion clinic employee says that there are 'tons of women' who 'claim to be anti-abortion' but come in to end their own pregnancies Rude: She said that in addition to considering their own abortions justified and others' unjustified, many of the women were hostile 'Anyone who has ever worked in an abortion clinic knows that tons of women who claim to be anti-abortion get abortions. They do a neat mental trick where *their* abortion is justified,' she said. 'At the clinic I worked at, we used to put a pink sticky note on their charts to give a heads-up to the back office staff. That way you'd be prepped for the hostility.' She faced that hostility herself. 'I had a woman tell me I would burn in hell as I held her hand during her abortion,' she recalled. 'Another woman refused to wait in the same waiting room as the other patients because she didn't think she was "irresponsible" the way they were. We obliged to protect our other patients from her hostility. Rules for thee, not for me! The women would tell the doctors they were going to hell or should be in jail while ranting against the other patients 'Yet another woman laughed and told the doctor performing her procedure that she thought he should go to jail. After he had performed the abortion, of course,' she went on. Another woman 'became furious when we told her we needed consent to perform the abortion'. 'She threw magazines from our waiting room at our staff after we told her we wouldn't do it without her signing consent forms. She tried to schedule with us several times. We kept referring her out. 'My years working in the clinic made me realize that a lot of "pro-life" people are willing to make exceptions for themselves or their loved ones. They just lack the empathy to understand that everyone seeking abortions has the same need that they do.' There is also evidence of this brand of hypocracy among some anti-abortion politicians. Republican Representative Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania was outspoken in his anti-abortion stance, and co-sponsored a 20-week abortion ban bill. But in 2017, he resigned when a woman named Shannon Edwards, whom Murphy admitted to having an affair with, said he pressured her to get an abortion. 'You have zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options,' she allegedly texted him, according to documents obtained by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Meanwhile, Republican Representative Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee recorded himself pressuring his mistress into getting an abortion in 2000. The tape surfaced in 2012. About 120 of the justices former law clerks, from the Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, lined the steps of the Supreme Court on Wednesday morning as honorary pallbearers. Many traveled far to pay their final respects to a woman they revered. It was our solemn duty to stand in honor of her and serve her this one last time, said Amanda L. Tyler, a professor at the law school of the University of California, Berkeley, who served as an honorary pallbearer. We came out en masse to help her one final time. Each year, Justice Ginsburg selected about four or five people who were usually not long out of law school for the coveted privilege of serving as her clerks. Before their interviews, those vying for the post were often counseled to expect long pauses from the soft-spoken justice, who was known for her deliberateness with her words. But those interviews often became informal and personal. Kelsi Corkran, who heads the Supreme Court practice at the law firm Orrick, recalled that hers had touched on the paintings in Justice Ginsburgs office and Ms. Corkrans children. For me to show up with two young children and for the justice to not see that as an impediment for me to fully do the work was certainly a sign of the progress that she had brought forth through her work, Ms. Corkran said, noting that Justice Ginsburg had been rejected for a clerkship with Justice Felix Frankfurter because she was a mother. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Wednesday he has secured a majority in Parliament to form a new government, but parties in the ruling coalition called it a cheap publicity" stunt. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Anwar must provide evidence, and until proven otherwise, my National Alliance government still stands firm and I am still prime minister. He urged Malaysians to stay calm. Anwar said he was 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. No new date for the meeting has been set. Conclusively, we have a strong, formidable majority. I am not talking about four, five or six. I am talking about much more than that, Anwar said. With a clear and indisputable support and majority behind me, the government led by ... Muhyiddin Yassin has fallen." Parties in the ruling coalition issued a separate statement supporting Muhyiddin's leadership. Anwar's assertion is nothing more than a repeat of cheap publicity" stunts and shows he is power crazy, said the joint statement signed by the parties' secretary generals. Earlier in a televised speech, Muhyiddin also told Malaysians to reject the blind actions of some politicians who deliberately want to disrupt political stability" and his government's economic recovery plan. He announced billions of ringgit (dollars) in new cash handouts to help small businesses and the poor amid the coronavirus pandemic. 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. James Chin, professor of Asian studies at Australias University of Tasmania, said he believed negotiations for the formation of a new government are still ongoing. The big question mark now in Kuala Lumpur is that people have not seen the list of MPs supporting Anwar ... and people are very cautious, he said. Story continues Science and Technology Minister Khairy Jamaluddin countered Anwar's claim. He tweeted a picture of the Cabinet meeting, saying: Cabinet meeting just ended. Nothing collapsed or fell." But the president of the biggest party in Muhyiddin's coalition said he was aware that many lawmakers from his Malay party are backing Anwar as premier and that he cannot stop them. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Muhyiddin's government was formed based on support of individual lawmakers and that his Malay party wasn't formally part of the ruling coalition further muddying the situation. Anwar said forming a new government will be the king's sole discretion but noted it will not be an unelected one even though it involves new partners. The palace in a statement said Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah will remain at the National Heart Institute for treatment. It said the king advised the people to stay calm and urged all parties to prioritize the peoples well-being and our beloved country. 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, and Anwar said Wednesday that Mahathir won't be part of 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 Mahathir's designated successor before their alliance fell apart. MIXED RESULTS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT European digital services group SQLI today announces its results for the first half of 2020, which were approved by the Board of Directors at its meeting on 22 September 2020, chaired by Philippe Donche-Gay. The statutory auditors performed a limited review of the results. m - IFRS - audited data H1 2018 H1 2019 H1 2020 REVENUE 115.9 123.0 110.3 EBITDA[1] 6.4 7.6 5.2 CURRENT OPERATING INCOME 5.3 6.0 4.0 EBIT 2.4 4.7 4.6 NET INCOME 0.4 2.4 0.5 TRANSFORMATION IN THE BUSINESS MIX While the public health crisis and its economic fallout slowed the Group's growth momentum, they also generated a transformation in the business mix. At 30 June 2020, 51% of revenue was generated by the Commerce & Experience business segment, which comprises European digital agency operations, and 51% of staff members are now based in the Group's 14 offices outside France, including the international digital services centres. This transformation in the business mix and the management decisions made during the crisis mitigated the impact of the slowdown on results and enabled SQLI to generate a sizeable operating profit in the first half of the year, in line with our targets. GROWTH IN THE COMMERCE & EXPERIENCE SEGMENT For the first half ended 30 June 2020, revenue fell 10.3% to 110.3 million (down 13.3% at constant consolidation scope and exchange rates). The impact of the health crisis was particularly severe for the Digital & Technology business segment (digital services in France), where revenue was down 22.6%. The Aerospace & Transport and Finance sectors were deeply affected, accounting for nearly half of the decline. In addition to the effects of the economic downturn, revenue was also negatively impacted by the streamlining of the offering and the discontinuation of loss-making activities in the second half of 2019. In contrast, the Commerce & Experience segment (+6.0%, with a contraction of 1.1% in organic growth) continued to take advantage of strong trends in e-commerce in Europe, which is driving demand for ever more complex added value technological platforms. This segment also benefited from the successful integration of Redbox Digital, an e-commerce agency based in the UK and Middle East, which contributed 2.4 million in revenue from 1 March 2020, in line with forecasts. STABLE EBIT The contribution by the Commerce & Experience segment, which delivered a current operating margin of 9.2% in the first half (versus 8.4% a year earlier), and the implementation of government support measures during the crisis (representing 1.9 million), produced current operating income of 4.0 million. For the first time since 2014, the Group generated non-recurring income of 0.6 million in the first half of 2020, taking EBIT to 4.6 million, equivalent to that recorded in the first half of 2019. Taking into account the cost of net financial debt (1.0 million) and an income tax expense of 3.0 million (including the cancellation of deferred taxes for 1.2 million), the Group's net income came to 0.5 million. A STRONGER GROSS CASH POSITION With cash generated by operating activities amounting to 9.1 million, and thanks to a state-guaranteed loan of 25.0 million, SQLI posted a gross cash position of 38.6 million at 30 June 2020, while considerably reducing its use of invoice factoring. Net financial debt, excluding lease liabilities (IFRS 16)[2], came to 21.3 million, representing a low debt-to-equity ratio of 22% (total equity 95.3 million). TRENDS AND OUTLOOK At this point, SQLI expects business levels in the second half of the year to match those of the first half. The Group's priority is to gradually increase its utilisation rate (which averaged 75% over the first half) by enhancing the sales policy, continuing to adjust its resources (headcount of 2,161 at 30 June 2020, compared with 2,191 at 31 December 2019), and keeping costs under control. SQLI expects 2020 revenue to be above 210 million, with current operating income of more than 6 million. Beyond 2020, SQLI reaffirms its ambition of achieving sustainable and profitable growth for its two business segments. However, the disruption caused by the health crisis and uncertainties regarding global demand have led the Group to begin a review of appropriate measures that will allow it to achieve its medium-term financial goals. SQLI will publish its Q3 2020 revenue on 27 October 2020, after the market closes. You can register to obtain SQLI financial information free-of-charge by e-mail at: www.actusnews.com About SQLI: 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 customer 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 15 countries: France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Dubai, Singapore, 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. https://www.sqli.com Follow SQLI on Linkedin Follow SQLI on Facebook and Twitter Investor Relations Olivier Stephan - +33 (0)1 85 64 20 20 - ostephan@sqli.com Jerome Fabreguettes-Leib - +33 (0)1 53 67 36 78 - jfl@actus.fr Financial Press Relations Nicolas Bouchez - +33 (0)1 53 67 36 74 - nbouchez@actus.fr [1] EBITDA = earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (excl. IFRS 16). [2] Lease liabilities due over more than one year amounted to 27.2 million, while those due in less than one year came to 8.2 million. ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: lG6dkpZoaW2cmptylphuamZnmJhqkpGbZZKXl2acl8rFa3FhxmeWbp2cZm9ml2Zs - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-65216-sqli_cp_rs_2020_en_vdef.pdf EXCLUSIVE: DeJonique Garrison, evening news anchor for KBMT, is taking a stand against racism and discrimination Its been more than 100 days since protest erupted nationwide after the untimely death of George Floyd. The 46-year-old Black man died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds as Floyd lay on the payment in Minneapolis. The outrage over the deaths sparked global protest about racial inequality and police brutality, and it pushed forward a renewed agenda to fight racism. The scope of the fight crossed barriers from healthcare to education to media. Black news anchors and reporters across the country are reporting the facts of each story of racial injustice objectively, while also fighting their own racial inequality battles. Whats not being reported is the trauma of the experiences once the cameras stop rolling. Read More: Chris Rock on racism, protests: Humanity isnt progress Take the case of DeJonique Garrison, evening news anchor for KBMT servicing the southeast Texas region known as the Golden Triangle. Garrison was hit with her own wave of racial discrimination after she filed this editorial shedding light on racial injustices in June. Garrisonwhile looking into the cameralaid out an undeniable case of inequality for Black people and, in the aftermath of the editorial, the ugly side of America was brought forth. She was harassed and mocked, including a call for her employer to relieve her of her job duties. People often look to me to be that voice and so I never shy away from speaking up on racial inequalities, whether it be hair discrimination or very weird, nuanced racism that we see in the state of Texas. Im very vocal in that regard, but I didnt know what to say this time, Garrison tells theGrio. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1160959814264684 For historical context, Beaumont, Texas is situated near Vidor, which has its own storied place in history when it comes to matters of race. It was known as a stronghold for the Ku Klux Klan and a sundown town, in which Blacks were not allowed in city limits after dark. As recently has the early 1990s, there was an ugly and bitter fight over a federal effort to desegregate public housing in the city. According to the latest census numbers, Vidor is 97% percent white, leaving three percent that includes people of color from all other races. Conversely, Beaumont is 47% African American and for Garrison being a Black woman on television in a small town carries weight. Story continues It is very important to me that we highlight these very highly charged events that are happening on the ground with local journalists who are trying to be a voice within this fight, Garrison says. Theres been an overt push from organizations like the National Association of Black Journalist to get newsrooms across the country to be more inclusive in their hiring process. Small towns are no exception. Black viewers have told me this moment, for them, is like the first time they felt a sense of pride in our race because they are used to keeping their head down and going with the flow, Garrison explains. Meanwhile, Garrison isnt taking for granted that her editorial sparked what some might perceive as race baiting. Many believe the attacks on journalists like Garrison have been partially fueled by the president of the United States. President Donald Trump has openly criticized and belittled the press throughout his time in office, but journalists have pushed forward in pursuit of fair reporting. Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles supporters protest outside the Unified School District headquarters calling on the board of education to defund school police on June 23, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) We are unafraid. Yes, you have Black Lives Matter on a large platform, but youve got to have these foot soldiers in place to continue to beat the drum, Garrison says. Read More: The View co-host Sunny Hostin accuses ABC of racist censorship She admits that her editorial was a bold move and she also admits that it couldnt have been done if she didnt have the full support of management at KBMT-TV and its parent company Tegna, Inc. (a publicly broadcast company). On a personal note, my career has taken me to place where I was the minority in the newsroom. It is often met with trepidation from other people who have spent their lives in certain communities without others. The small pockets of community that include people of color, however, look to people in the industry as their shining example of belonging. Garrisons editorial gave people of color in southeast Texas an open invitation that they too belong in the community, that they no longer have to put their heads down and just go with the flow. In her words, she hopes that other young journalist can take from what she has done because, as journalist, it is important to use your voice to amplify the voices of those within the community. You might be in the minority in your beliefs, but you cant be afraid to stand on what is right, Garrison says. Kelsey Minor is a 2x Emmy-awarding winning freelance journalist based in New York City. He can be followed on Twitter @theKELSEYminor. Have you subscribed to theGrios new podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! The post Black Texas news anchor calls out racial inequality: You cant be afraid to stand on what is right appeared first on TheGrio. A joint venture between GrowGroup IFS from Barendrecht (The Netherlands) and RainMakers Capital Investment from Abu Dhabi, UAE, will build the largest indoor farm in the world in the desert of Abu Dhabi. The GreenFactory Emirates will produce 10,000 tonnes of fresh produce per year on a plot of 17.5 hectares and a cultivation area of 160,000 sq m, said a statement. The project, costing AED650 million ($176.96 million), is planned in different phases in three years. Phase 1 will be operational before Expo 2020 Dubai in October 2021, so GreenFactory Emirates can show the world its innovations. GreenFactory Emirates will develop innovative indoor farming with the world's most advanced indoor growing system from The Netherlands. It is a combination of vertical and flat farming and solves the normal cultivation restrictions due to extreme climates in regions like the UAE, the statement said. The facility will involve numerous leading agro-technological companies in its construction as best of breed for each component will be sourced through top-tier Dutch companies. It is now possible to cultivate high-quality vegetables 100% pesticide-free, all year round and anywhere on the planet: "Quality of Holland Local Grown." From seeding, harvesting, processing to "ready to eat" products will take place under one roof. The joint venture also plans to build other indoor farms in other regions of the world where extreme climates are a challenge to normal cultivation, they added. Commenting on the venture, Mariam Hareb Almheiri, Minister of State for Food Security, said: "The private sector plays a vital role in the transition towards more sustainable food systems. Private sector organisations have entrepreneurial traits that drive innovation. They possess the qualities necessary to disrupt existing non-sustainable agricultural systems." She added: "The UAE is applying concerted efforts to improve its domestic production of food, with agricultural technology AgTech - having a hugely important role to play. In fact, key targets of the governments National Food Security strategy launched in November 2018 are to generate a 30 percent yield improvement from technology-enabled production and for the UAE to become a world-leading hub in innovation-driven food security by 2051. Indoor farms such as GreenFactory Emirates are instrumental in helping us reach these goals." Water, Co2 and waste The GreenFactory will be saving 95 percent of water consumption as opposed to standard methods of cultivation as well as reducing its Co2 footprint up to 40 percent. By growing fresh produce locally, GreenFactory Emirates will also contribute to reducing waste in various other areas. Its contribution to slowly reducing reliance on fresh foods imports will in turn reduce waste of produce occurring during the transport process while reducing logistical traffic. Research and development GreenFactory Emirates will include a built-in research and development component that will help ramp up the production beyond the 56 current varieties of lettuces, leafy greens, herbs and kale. It will also optimise its production by collecting real-time data to inform future global expansion of indoor farming. With confirmed partnerships with GAAS Wageningen and Delphy in The Netherlands, GreenFactory will benefit from live feedback provided by some of the best students and Academia in the field. The partnership between GrowGroup and rainMKRS is initiated and a result of an introduction made by the embassy of The Netherlands in the UAE and the Monarch Group which has played an instrumental role in seeking opportunities and nurturing relationships, the report said. Lody Embrechts, Ambassador of Netherlands to the UAE, said: "The Netherlands has a lot to offer across all aspects of the food value chain. This flagship project is a symbol of the know-how and expertise available back home as well as the Dutch Triple Helix approach (collaboration between academia, industry and government): combining growing crops commercially along with research and development in order to continuously innovate the way in which we grow our food, in a sustainable manner, hence taking into account our impact on the environment. As an Embassy we are proud to have been able to contribute - within our means - to this project. We hope to intensify our cooperation with the UAE to further develop the local agriculture ecosystem." - TradeArabia News Service It is impossible to be more dovish. The Fed is signalling that it will resort to the ultimate weapon of yield control if need be. It still has ammunition. The eurozone is on another economic planet. The Bank of Spain has just downgraded its GDP forecast again, expecting a contraction of up to 12.6 per cent this year, with full recovery pushed out until 2023. France has lifted its forecast slightly to minus 10 per cent this year (from minus 11 per cent) but may have jumped the gun. Emmanuel Macron is determined to avoid a second lockdown, but the 14-day toll of new cases has rocketed to 198 per 100,000 and is now worse than the first wave in March. ECB President Christine Lagarde has begun talking up a further 500 billion of pandemic QE next year. Credit:Bloomberg The French Conseil Scientifique has already laid out the criteria for extreme countermeasures. Should it declare that the pandemic has again reached a "critical state", Macron cannot ignore the advice except at great political risk. EU leaders do not have any economic margin to play with. The Stoxx 600 index of European banks this week fell below levels seen during the panic sell-off in March, or even during the eurozone banking crisis. It has been a slow death spiral, made worse by negative rates that erode their bread and butter lending models. Boston Consulting says the net interest margin of banks has been whittled down from 250 basis points to almost zero. Lenders will soon face the hammer blow of mass insolvencies from COVID-19 as government loan guarantees expire. Consultants Oliver Wyman estimate that bank losses could reach 830 billion ($1.37 trillion) over three years, with half of the European lending system barely surviving, unable to generate enough from retained earnings to rebuild their defences. They are already acting pre-emptively to shore up their capital buffers, tightening credit lines to vulnerable firms. European leaders hailed their 750 billion Recovery Fund as a Hamiltonian moment that finally endowed the EU with its own fiscal firepower. In reality the EU did just enough to muddle through the immediate crisis. "Rather than a "game-changer", we see it as another example of the same "game" that has prevailed for the past decade. Whenever the cohesion of Europe faces clear and present danger, European governments agree to "the minimum demonstration of unity to keep the risk of break-up at bay," said Arnaud Mares, Citigroup's chief Europe economist. What they created was a Brussels slush fund. The money does not kick in until mid-2021 and is then spread thinly across the EU over five years. The additive impact is trivial. As always, the ECB is left to pick up the pieces. Christine Lagarde has begun talking up a further 500 billion of pandemic QE next year but such ritual incantations no longer have potency. The yield curve is already flat. Long bonds are on negative yields out to ten years' maturity. The main policy rate is minus 0.5 per cent and at - or beyond - the "reversal rate" where cuts become counterproductive. Japanification is setting in. Core inflation has dropped to an all-time low of 0.4 per cent. There is almost nothing that the ECB can do to combat this deflationary freeze or to revive economic growth, short of becoming a monetary-fiscal Reichsbank and financing deficits directly. Such action would court political fate when the German Constitutional Court is already on the warpath. The messy Brexit negotiations continue cast an ominous shadow over the economy. Credit:Bloomberg There is no immediate pressure on EU debt markets. ECB bond purchases hide all sins. Risk spreads are beautifully behaved. But this is not a stable equilibrium. Sovereign debt ratios will reach extreme levels across much of the Club Med bloc this year, hitting 160 per cent of GDP in Italy. Whatever they claim, EU leaders never completed the eurozone banking union. The sovereign-bank "doom loop" of 2012 is still there. All that has changed is the scale. Loading It is said that British Brexiteers do not understand EU politics and are deluding themselves if they think that Angela Merkel and fellow leaders will compromise at the eleventh hour to avoid a trade shock. One might turn the accusation around. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association last week issued a full-throated warning of a "110 billion Brexit disaster" for the industry if there is no deal. It said auto trading on WTO terms would have a "catastrophic impact" coming on top of COVID's wave one, let alone wave two. The problem for Britain is no longer whether or not there will be a trade deal. Of course there will be a deal. The problem is that Europe's economy is incapable of generating self-sustaining growth and is in fundamental crisis. And whether we like it or not, we are part of it. A grizzly bear mauled and killed a hunter in an Alaskan national park on Sunday, the National Park Service confirmed, the first known mauling fatality in the parks 40-year history. The hunters identity, along with a more detailed description of the incident, is being withheld pending an investigation. According to an NPS statement on Tuesday, the hunter was out exploring Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve as part of a 10-day moose with a friend. No-one else was injured. Wrangell is Americas largest national park at more than 20,625 square miles, bigger than Yellowstone and Yosemite combined. Bear attacks are rare, but increasing. Federal wildlife authorities urge hunters and anyone else exploring this kind of backcountry to be Bear Aware. Bears tend to be shy around people, but can get aggressive if they perceive a threat to their young or their food, or are approached too closely. The US Forest Service recommends remaining calm, carrying bear spray, and storing food and other items in sealed, bear-safe containers. The massive park is within the normal geographic range of grizzly bears in Alaska, but climate change is quickly altering their behavior. Scientists have found that drought and other climate change effects are altering how grizzly bears eat in Alaska. More than 90 per cent of Americans remain susceptible to coronavirus, the head of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has warned. Days after the US recorded 200,000 deaths from COVID-19, the most anywhere in the world, and passed 6.8 million infections, CDC director Robert Redfield told a Senate hearing that the vast majority of Americans are still at risk of infection. Dr Robert Redfield, director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, testifies on the US federal government response to COVID-19 in Washington. Credit:AP British government studies have found that up to 25 per cent of its population has been exposed to COVID-19, depending on location. Redfield was asked at a Senate hearing into the US government response to COVID-19 what proportion of the American population has been infected. Its all but a certainty that US President Donald Trump has 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, Republican senators have indicated theyll move quickly to advance his nominee's appointment to the nations most powerful court. Democrats have accused Republicans of hypocrisy given Barack Obama was blocked from attempting to fill a vacant Supreme Court seat in 2016 as it was an election year. In this episode, climate and environment editor Nick O'Malley is joined by US correspondent Matthew Knott to discuss the aftermath of RBG's death and the implications for not only the Supreme Court but the election. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 24 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Russia has provided Turkmenistan with 690 sets of test systems for revealing the coronavirus diagnosis, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Affairs Maria Zakharova said, Trend reports with reference to 'Voice of CIS'. Russia donated Turkmenistan test systems for 69,000 studies, in order to increase the level of readiness in case of a coronavirus outbreak in the country. As reported, to date, there are no registered cases of coronavirus infection in Turkmenistan, but all necessary sanitary measures are being taken in the country to prevent the spread of the virus. Earlier, the country adopted the mandatory wearing of masks in public places, as well as the need to provide a certificate of absence of coronavirus infection when boarding a flight. Turkmenistan earlier received a shipment of medicines from the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO/Europe). As reported, WHO/Europe experts worked in Turkmenistan at the request of the government, to support Turkmenistan in the aspects of preparedness and response to COVID-19. Turkmenistan presented its program to fight infectious diseases to experts of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe). The Turkmen side noted that the country follows the WHO recommendations and is currently implementing a program to ensure preparedness for countering and responding to infectious diseases, said the report. In addition, Turkmenistan is currently working with UN agencies to develop a third national plan that covers the humanitarian component of the country's measures to combat COVID-19. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva The controversy trailing the recognition of Fasua Oyeleye as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shown no sign of abating as a faction of the party has maintained that it has no governorship candidate for the October 10 governorship. This statement by the Tajudeen Adefisoye-led faction of the party means there was a breakdown in reconciliatory talks between the factions. The spokesman for the faction, Remi Olayiwola, said on Wednesday that the recognition of Mr Oyeleye is being challenged in court and that the party had in principle no candidate for the governorship election. In spite of the denouncement by the faction, Mr Oyeleye and his deputy governorship candidate, Ajayi Rachael Olufunmilayo are the recognised candidate on INECs list. Two governorship candidates had emerged from both factions during their separate primaries conducted on the same day but at different locations in the state. While Mr Oyeleye emerged from the Olu Agunloye-led group, Adekunle Saliu emerged from the primaries conducted by the Adefisoye group. Mr Adefisoye represents Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency in the National Assembly. According to Mr Olayiwola, his faction remained the authentic faction and would eventually decide the fate of the party. What I can tell you is that we do not have a candidate for the coming governorship election, Mr Olayiwola told PREMIUM TIMES on the phone. READ ALSO: We are currently discussing who we will support for the election, and when we finally take a decision we will let you know. But the deputy national chairperson of the party in the south, Olu Agunloye, told PREMIUM TIMES that the partys candidate remained Mr Oyeleye, but noted that the party was in a crisis like other major parties. He said it was a phenomenon common with politics in Nigeria which spelt uncertainty for the nations political system. The crisis in the party began in July when members of the state working committee led by Korede Duyile were removed from office on account of the expiration of their tenure in office. A caretaker committee was put in place by the national working committee but was rejected by Mr Duyile and his group. They eventually reconvened and suspended Mr Agunloye, alleging that he was involved in anti-party activities. Mr Agunloye, however, said the crisis would affect the parties chances at the polls, even though it was already disadvantaged given the strength of the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress in the state. New Delhi: A fire was reported from a mall in Delhi's Karkardooma area on Thursday (September 24, 2020). Confirming the incident, the Delhi Fire Services department said that the fire was reported from Aditya Mall and at least eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot. While news agency ANI reported, "Fire breaks out at Aditya Mall in Karkardooma. Eight fire tenders present at the spot. More details awaited." #WATCH Delhi: Fire breaks out at Aditya Mall in Karkardooma. Eight fire tenders present at the spot. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/CbY3vbELRb ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2020 "We received a call at 7.50 am. The fire was reported from an office situated on the second floor of Aditya mall. It was immediately brought under control. No casualty was reported," Atul Garg, Director, Delhi Fire Service was quoted as saying by IANS. The fire was quickly brought under control and there has been no loss of life. (This is developing news, more details awaited) IRELAND must not make the same mistakes in efforts to end partition that the British made ahead of Brexit, senior Fianna Fail TD Jim O'Callaghan has told the Dail. Instead Mr O'Callaghan suggested that a team of academics needs to be brought together to propose a constitution for "a new Ireland". He was speaking during a Dail debate on Brexit that saw several Sinn Fein TDs argue that now is the time to seek to bring about a United Ireland. In his contribution Mr O'Callaghan gave an account of the history of Brexit including claims by its supporters before and after the vote that there would be no difficulty in agreeing a trade deal with the EU. Read More He said: "What has really happened is that the people who advanced Brexit didn't think about it and didn't think of the consequences before they put that important issue to the vote of the people of the United Kingdom." He criticised the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's controversial Internal Market Bill that undermines the Withdrawal Agreement with the EU and the Irish protocols aimed at avoiding a hard border and the UK Government itself admits breaks international law. Mr O'Callaghan said: "One thing we cannot do as a country and one the European Union cannot do as a union is to appease lawlessness on the part of a state... if you appease lawlessness you're only going to encourage the law breaker." He added: "A lot of people have spoken about reunification in this House and the end of partition. "I think that's a very valid point. "But can I say this let us not make the same mistake about ending partition that the British made when it came to Brexit. "We need to prepare for it. "We need to get a team of academics together, who can put forward a constitution for a new Ireland. "And that is something that we need to ensure that we do that we don't make the same mistakes." Syrias Permanent Representative to the United Nations has renewed calls for sanctions to be lifted, claiming that they are hindering the fight against coronavirus writes SANA. Damascus warned of the consequences of expanding and extending European and American sanctions against the country, describing it as a new phase of economic terrorism. In front of the Human Rights Council, Syrias Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Hussam Eddin Ala, criticized the unprecedented American expansion of coercive measures and the increasing number of those targeted by it. Ala criticized the European Unions resolution to extend the sanctions against Syria for an additional year and the US issuance of the Caesar Act. He pointed out that the positions of these countries are leading Syria into a new phase represented by economic terrorism. The statement made by the ambassador to the Human Rights Council came on behalf of a group of countries that include; Syria, Russia, China, Venezuela, Iran, Cuba, Cambodia, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), Myanmar, Nicaragua and Zimbabwe. This group of countries, on the initiative of Syria, called on the member states of the United Nations to pressure for the sanctions lifting in order to enable the target countries to confront the coronavirus pandemic and its economic and social consequences. At an initiative by Syria, several UN member countries called on the Human Rights Council to exert pressure on the states that resort to imposing unilateral, coercive measures and oblige them respond to international appeals and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to lift these illegal measures in order to enable the targeted countries face the coronavirus pandemic. Ambassador Ala described US and European allegations about the existence of humanitarian exceptions to the sanctions as nothing but a mere pretext to cover up the immoral measures that target the livelihoods of Syrians and affect the work of humanitarian organizations and agencies operating inside Syria. The ambassador called on the Human Rights Council to hold countries involved in imposing unilateral coercive measures responsible for the results of their impacts. 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 composer Sarah Kirkland Snider is an artistic director of the consistently rewarding label New Amsterdam Records. Her third full-length release, Mass for the Endangered, due out on Friday, features the vocal ensemble Gallicantus and the conductor Gabriel Crouch. This Mass broadly follows the historical format, with some crucial tweaks. Some key phrases are sung in the original Latin; additions in English are by the poet Nathaniel Bellows. The conceptual pivot of the new text amounts to an environmentalists twist, through which the collaborators mean to praise the majesty of plant and animal biodiversity. As with Sniders past works, the surface details of this Mass can be quickly identified as mellifluous and engaging. But there are additional levels to enjoy. During the Kyrie, her affection for American minimalism is clear when insistent string writing powers the vocalists polyphonic plea for mercy to all creed and claw. Equally telling is a moment in Sniders Credo as greater complexity gives way to homorhythmic writing on the words to change how we have lived. This emphatic articulation of purpose, sung by and for other humans, seems to be reaching beyond environmentalism and toward morality at large. The moment also calls to mind the Credo in the Mass for Five Voices by William Byrd, a Renaissance composer whose influence Snider has cited when discussing the album. SETH COLTER WALLS A top Democrat did not mince words in a new interview after Donald Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power, calling on any Republican of good conscience in the administration to resign. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Mr Trumps "autocratic intentions are as clear as the writing on the wall following a contentious press conference the president held on Wednesday. This is a moment that I would say to any Republican of good conscience working in the administration: It is time for you to resign, the Democratic leader said in an interview with MSNBCs Rachel Maddow. If you have been debating about whether you can continue to serve the country by serving this president, you cant, he added. It is time to resign. And I would say to those who have been on the sidelines maintaining a dignified silence who have served in the administration in the past, you cannot maintain your silence any longer. The comments come after Mr Trump declined to say whether he would support a peaceful transition of power in the November election regardless of whether he wins or loses against Joe Biden, his Democratic opponent. Instead, the president said Were going to have to see what happens when asked if hed uphold the American tradition of peacefully transitioning the power between White House administrations. Mr Trump also continued espousing misinformation about the mail-in voting process, which he has said was plagued with fraud despite virtually all of the evidence available showing it to be a safe and effective way of casting ballots without going to an in-person location. Many states have expanded mail-in voting options due to the Covid-19 pandemic. You know that I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots and the ballots are a disaster, the president told reporters. It was later assumed he was referring to mail-in voting efforts. Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very ... there won't be a transfer, frankly. There'll be a continuation, Mr Trump continued, adding: The ballots are out of control. Mr Schiff spoke about the president wanting to get rid of the ballots, warning Republicans in his administration not to wait for Mr Trump to allegedly try and rig the election in his favour. He added: If you do wait, knowing what is to come, you will share some of the burden of responsibility for that chaos that comes. New Delhi, Sep 24 : BJP leader Kapil Mishra made an appearance before the Special Cell of Delhi Police in Lodhi Colony on Thursday afternoon. After he came out Mishra said that he only came to file a complaint against people who according to him are running a campaign against him in the northeast Delhi riots case. "When the Delhi Police is filing charge sheets, when the rioters are being arrested at this time there is a section which is running a hate campaign against me and trying to save the real conspirators and that is why I came to the Special Cell office to file a complaint so that these people could be investigated," Mishra said. Asked if the police also questioned him regarding his role in the northeast Delhi riots, he said that the police has already questioned him and these details are already in the charge sheets. BJP leader Mishra was questioned in the last week of July by the Delhi Police Special Cell in connection with the northeast Delhi riots, where he claimed that he had gone to the area to "resolve the situation", that he gave "no speech", and that remarks made by him standing next to a DCP were only meant to convey his intention of launching a 'dharna' to counter anti-CAA protesters. These details find a mention in a charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police before Delhi's Karkardooma court last week. In a video tweeted by him on February 23 - a day before riots broke out in northeast Delhi - Mishra can be seen addressing a pro-CAA gathering near the Maujpur traffic signal and standing next to DCP (North East) Ved Prakash Surya. He can be seen saying, "They (protesters) want to create trouble in Delhi. That's why they have closed the roads. That is why they have created a riot-like situation here. We have not pelted stones. The DCP is standing in front of us and on your behalf, I want to tell him that till the US President (Donald Trump) is in India, we are leaving the area peacefully. After that, we won't listen to you (police) if the roads are not vacated by then. We will have to take to the streets." Violence broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24 between CAA supporters and protesters and spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. Major countries should have the audacity to shoulder their due responsibilities. However, the U.S. leaders speech at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 22 brought the only superpower in todays world into disrepute. A snapshot of a media report titled Trump gives the U.N. seven minutes of nonsense. Mentioning China 11 times, President Donald Trump accused China of spreading the COVID-19 pandemic in the seven-minute speech, which is being sarcastically referred to as seven minutes of nonsense by the media. Trumps speech came at a time when the U.S. coronavirus death toll passed 200,000. New York, which was supposed to be the host city for the UN General Assembly, is mired in the COVID-19 epidemic. China promptly reported the epidemic to the World Health Organization, the U.S. and other countries and shared the genetic sequence of the virus. However, for more than half a year, the U.S. government chose to ignore the detailed information released by China. Those in power in the U.S. are ignoring peoples lives and showing no respect for science, which well explains the American failure that led to 200,000 COVID-19 deaths. For the interests involving the election, a few U.S. politicians frequently fabricated rumors to discredit China in an attempt to duck responsibility. Trumps speech at the UN General Assembly is part of his blame game, with the BBC pointing out that Trump targeted U.S. voters in his speech. This was a stump speech by President Trump, who faces re-election, a BBC article shared, adding that President Trump is trying to deflect attention from his own handling of the pandemic by casting the blame on China. The lies of the U.S. at the UN General Assembly are groundless and have nothing new to offer. The superpower unscrupulously staged a political show at the UN, reflecting its hegemonic mindset. Seventy-five years ago, with the determination to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, people from all over the world founded the UN as the most universal, representative and authoritative international organization. Now, at a moment when the world urgently needs unity and cooperation again, the U.S. didnt assume its responsibility as a major country. Whats worse, it advocated unilateralism and sanctions, while provoking conflicts at the UN General Assembly. On Sept. 11, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a wide-ranging resolution on tackling the coronavirus pandemic through international cooperation over objection from the U.S., with 169 countries casting affirmative votes. Just seven minutes long, the U.S. leaders speech spread a political virus in order to pressure other countries. No country has the right to dominate global affairs or control the destiny of others. The law of the jungle has long been refuted by the international community, the U.S. should wake up from its dream. A disdain for the solemn platform of the UN is never allowed, and other countries around the world are unwilling to endure bullying from the U.S. One of the biggest trade organizations, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), on Wednesday protested outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in Pretoria demanding an immediate end of alleged human rights abuses in the country, two weeks after the ruling African National Congress sent envoys to assess the situation in the troubled nation. The protesters, singing revolutionary songs, handed over a petition to a man identified as Mr. E. Shumba, an administrator and finance officer, and urged him to hand it over to President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The protesters told the embassy staff that they had lost confidence in Mnangagwa, who ousted the late former President Robert Mugabe in 2017 in a defacto military coup. NUMSA president, Andrew Phiri, said, People of Zimbabwe with the aide of the British they removed Mugabe from the throne And we were all hoping that things will be different, we were all hoping that the mandate that they claimed Mugabe was not executing he (Mnangagwa) was going to execute. But Mnangagwa became worse than Mugabe. He became 10 times worse than Mugabe Hence we are here today. He (Mnangagwa) eroded everything, human rights for Zimbabweans and as NUMSA, as SAFTU, as Socialist Revolutionary Party we cannot fold our arms and pretend as if nothing is happening to the people of Zimbabwe. Receiving the petition on behalf of the government, Shumba said, We will look into what is contained in this document and hand it over to where its supposed to go. Unhappy NUMSA members pressed him to mention Mnangagwas name but Shumba kept on saying they are expected to hand it over to the Zimbabwean government. A NUMSA member chipped in saying, This is the fear we are talking about. He cant even mention the name Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa, who is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, has already indicated that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe. President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ruling African National Congress recently sent envoys to Zimbabwe to assess the volatile political situation in the country following the arrest and alleged brutalization of some people, who wanted to state an anti-corruption march on July 31. The envoys went back home telling the public that they would go back to Zimbabwe in a few weeks even though the ruling Zanu PF party says it does not want any interference in the countrys internal affairs. We can avoid some of the barriers to law enforcement accountability experienced elsewhere in the nation by limiting the scope of police union collective bargaining agreements. House Bill 5071, the Law Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act, filed in the 2020 special session still is alive and would block provisions in CBAs that hinder investigations and ultimately block accountability actions. Passage of this bill in Virginia would stifle unions that sometimes seek to protect bad cops at all costs. Failure to limit CBAs, when the need to do so is so widely recognized, casts doubt on the credibility of the law enforcement reform movement, at least in the Democratic-controlled Virginia General Assembly. Dave LaRock, R-Loudoun, represents the 33rd District in the Virginia House of Delegates. Contact him at: DelDLaRock@house.virginia.gov Christian N. Braunlich is president of the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy. Contact him at: chris@thomasjeffersoninst.org Abhishek Bachchan is one of the most underrated actors in Bollywood and sadly, also among those stars who keep getting trolled time and again on social media for no reason whatsoever. However, the actor has always taken matters in his stride, personally dealing with a lot of these anonymous trolls, so much so, that now he's become a pro at handling them in the best possible ways. BCCL The 44-year-old actor recently responded to a Twitter user who suggested that the actor is popular only because of the family he belongs to and not his skills as a performer. The anonymous hater, in his argument, compared the follower count of Abhisheks social media handle with actor Prachi Desais. Tagging Kangana Ranaut, PM Narendra Modi and a fake account of TV anchor Arnab Goswami, the user wrote in his tweet: OUTSIDER VS NEPOTISM. @ItsPrachiDesai 1.3M followers. @juniorbachchan 15.3M followers. And you guys are expecting good from #Bollywood. I mean How? Its high time that we should start appreciating and supporting #talent. To this, Abhishek replied in his usual dignified style. He wrote: I assure you Mr Singhal the amount of followers you have on social media is by no means a barometer of acceptance or popularity or talent. My friend @ItsPrachiDesai is a very talented actor and doesnt need social media to endorse that. Her work speaks for itself. I assure you Mr Singhal the amount of followers you have on social media is by no means a barometer of acceptance or popularity or talent. My friend @ItsPrachiDesai is a very talented actor and doesnt need social media to endorse that. Her work speaks for itself. Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) September 23, 2020 Besides, when another user noted that Abhisheks fans follow him on social media voluntarily, the actor wrote, Absolutely. Abhishek and Prachi have worked together in the film Bol Bachchan, which also starred Ajay Devgn. Junior Bachchan often finds himself at the receiving end of trolls on social media and he never backs down from giving it straight to them, however, with utter kindness and class. Abhishek Bachchan (IE) In fact, the actor wasnt even spared during his recent Coronavirus scare, as trolls came for him again. While admitted in hospital with his father, Amitabh Bachchan, a Twitter user wrote to Abhishek, Your father admitted in hospital... Ab kiske bharose baith ke khaoge? (who will feed you now) To which the actor had written, Filhaal toh let ke kha rahe hain dono saath aspatal mein (right now both of us are being well fed at the hospital). The troll replied, Get well soon sir... Har kisi ki kismat me let ke khana kaha (not everyone has the good fortune to be well taken care of). To this, Abhishek responded, I pray that you are never in a situation like ours and that you remain safe and healthy. Thank you for your wishes, maam. Theres no denying the fact that Abhishek is a humble guy who knows well how to handle trolls online. And clearly, he is setting an example by not stooping to the level of the anonymous trolls. JOHANNESBURG - The escalating extremist insurgency in northern Mozambique has displaced 310,000 people, creating an urgent humanitarian crisis, the World Food Program said Tuesday. The rebels have recently stepped up attacks in Mozambiques northern Cabo Delgado province, seizing the strategic port of Mocimboa da Praia, which they have held for six weeks. Clashes between the extremist fighters, aligned with the Islamic State group, and government forces have caused massive numbers of local residents to flee their homes and fields. The conflict has killed more than 1,500 people since it began in 2017 and the increased violence this year has caused widespread upheaval across the area. We are deeply concerned about the unfolding humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado where conflict and violence have left people without access to food and livelihoods, Antonella DAprile, the World Food Programs representative for Mozambique, said Tuesday. The growing insecurity and poor infrastructure have meant that reaching out to people in need has become harder and now with COVID-19 the crisis becomes even more complex, she said. The threat of hunger has grown in Mozambiques north as entire communities have lost access to food and income, warns WFP. Crisis levels of food insecurity are expected to continue into next year, according to the regions Famine Early Warning Network. Cabo Delgado province already had Mozambiques second-highest rate of chronic malnutrition with more than half of children under 5 chronically malnourished and any additional shocks could rapidly worsen the situation, especially for women and children, said WFP. The situation is extremely volatile and dangerous, but we managed to locate large numbers of the displaced and distribute food to about 200,000 people last month. We hope to reach close to 300,000 people this month, Lola Castro, WFPs director for southern Africa told The Associated Press. Families have lost everything and need food urgently. Many communities have fled to small islands along Mozambiques Indian Ocean coast and others have gone to remote inland areas. WFP is working with Mozambiques government and other aid agencies to get food and supplies the displaced using boats and trucks and soon it hopes that airplanes and helicopters will be available, said Castro. Such a large-scale emergency operation was not in the budget and WFP is appealing to its donors for funds to keep delivering food to the hungry. We need $4.7 million per month to feed the most vulnerable, said Castro. We need the funds to purchase food for distribution. Access and communication have been cut off to the area surrounding the rebel-held port of Mocimboa da Praia and surrounding towns, including Palma, she said. United Nations security teams have not had any contact with Mozambiques rebels, she said. Atrocities have been committed by both the rebels and government forces, according to human rights groups, but WFPs workers and operations have not been targeted. Amnesty International has released videos in the past month that appear to show government troops torturing and killing several people in northern Mozambique. One video showed troops shooting a woman in the back more than 30 times and another showed a uniformed man killing a civilian by cutting his throat. The government denied the videos are genuine, Amnesty insisted that its analysis of the videos shows that government troops carried out the violent abuses. Although hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, there are not massive camps of displaced people. Instead, many of the displaced have been taken in by local residents in safer areas, said Castro. We are seeing poor families opening their homes and their meagre resources to help the displaced, said Castro. It is quite remarkable how these people, who have so little themselves, can offer such hospitality. Everybody is sharing what little food they have. When we see such generosity, it is a responsibility for us to help them all. ___ This story was first published on Sept. 22. It was updated on Sept. 24 to make clear that U.N. security teams have not had any contact with Mozambiques rebels. WEST CHESTER The Chester County Controllers Office has begun a formal examination of the countys problematic purchase of antibody test kits meant to determine the presence of the coronavirus in participants, including frontline workers who might have been exposed to the virus earlier this year. The announcement of a review was, however, met with a backlash by the county commissioners, who suggested in an email statement that county Controller Margaret Reif had overstepped her bounds in initiating an investigation, and that their office should be given preference in examining the controversial test-kit contract in an independent fashion. The county has paid $13.29 million of a $20 million contract to the firm that produced the newly developed antibody tests, even though it stopped receipt of the kits in June after only 102,000 of a contracted-for 1 million kits were delivered, at a cost of $2 million. The no-bid contract that was negotiated by county officials and the firm, Uwchlan-based Advaite, reportedly does not include a provision for a refund of the funds paid to date. Reif said earlier this week that her office would investigate the circumstances surrounding the contract. Consistent with my authority and responsibilities as controller, my office has already begun a review of the procurement of the Advaite test kits so that recommendations may be provided on how policies and procedures can be improved going forward, she said in an email this week. This will be done without any additional expense to the taxpayers. Reif, the countys fiscal watchdog, said that the review was in its preliminary data-gathering stage, but would later include interviews of county personnel involved in the purchase of the tests kits and the decision to eventually stop the testing program, which was announced in April to great fanfare as a first in the fight against COVID-19. The announcement of the formal review comes in the wake of the news last week that the county is offering new antibody tests for the presence of the coronavirus to about 6,200 of those who were administered similar tests in May and early June, tests whose results have been shown to be questionable. The countys move included an acknowledgment that test kits purchased from Advaite that were supposed to detect the presence of the virus in blood samples obtained through finger pricks that could provide faster identification of possible infections provided an inordinate amount of positive results that may have been faulty. The county commissioners had also said last week that their office would begin its own legal review of the procedures used in procuring the tests, and a look at what efforts might be taken, if any, to recover a portion of the $13.2 million paid to the company. The 102,000 test kids the county received before it told Adviate to stop delivery cost $2 million. That legal review was the subject of the commissioners apparent broadside at Reifs investigation. Our intent is to conduct a thorough independent investigation of all steps taken in the procurement of the antibody tests, the commissioners Democrats Marian Moskowitz and Josh Maxwell, and Republican Michelle Kichline said in an email. That requires the expertise of an independent legal consultant to help us define and implement policies, procedures and best practices going forward. The statement from the commissioners suggested that the county Controllers Office might not have the authority to pursue its stated review of the matter. The authority and duties of the County Controller is to provide accounting, auditing, accounts payable and payroll services to county government, the statement read. Given the seriousness of this matter, it is our belief that the only way to achieve true independence is to have consultants who are not county elected officials, are not associated with Chester County government, were not involved in any portion of this procurement and subsequent payments, and whose qualifications include independent reviews of significant events to make recommendations on ways to improve. We have already appointed that independent legal consultant and they have begun their review, the statement said. The county has hired the Philadelphia law firm Brown McGarry Nimeroff, which specializes in commercial litigation and has an office in West Chester, to conduct its investigation, a county spokeswoman, Becky Brain, confirmed Wednesday. We appreciate the controllers consideration of this matter, but will continue to exercise our authority with an independent focus to ensure the best possible services and programs are made available to citizens at all times, including during a global pandemic, the trio said. In response, Reif in an email cited the provisions of the states County Code that spell out the duties of a controller. In the code, she noted that although county commissioners have the authority to hire accountants independent of and/or in addition to, that conducted by the county controller to audit the fiscal affairs of the county, those reviews shall supplement, but not replace, the official acts and audits of the controller. Reif, a Democrat who took office in 2018, said that her investigation into the purchase of the test kits would be different from an official audit of the program, which would have been procedurally more limited in scope. We were advised by our external auditors to engage in what is known as a consulting arrangement, as opposed to an audit, she said in an email. This will allow us the flexibility to look where we need to look, gather facts, and make recommendations regarding policies and procedures. She stressed that the procedure followed by the commissioners office in entering the contract with Advaite without the normal bidding process appeared proper at the outset, since it was related to the emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Disaster declarations invoke a different set of procurement procedures to allow flexibility and quick responses in order to address an emergency, she wrote. Under the state of emergency, a no-bid contract in response to the pandemic appears to have been within the commissioners authority. Reif also said she is asking the county to develop a procedure for future contracts under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The test-kit contract was intended to be paid for out of the $90 million the county has received in federal COVID-19 related grants to date; it is unclear whether that will now be possible. I have recommended to the Board of Commissioners that we implement a CARES Committee that would include (the departments of) finance, procurement and the controllers office as other counties around the state have done to monitor all CARES expenditures, she said. The steps by the controller and the commissioners came after critical reports about the multi-million-dollar testing program intended to identify essential workers who had developed disease-fighting antibodies, which show up in the blood after COVID-19 infection. The West Goshen grassroots activist whose Right-to-Know requests unearthed evidence of over-inflated positive results, praised the controllers step, but suggested the proposed CARES oversight committee could be expanded. As a local government watchdog who advocates for financial accountability and transparency, Im encouraged by the steps (the controller) is taking to improve the procurement policies of the county, said Margie Swart in an email Wednesday. I hope that any CARES committee formed would include citizen involvement with the meetings open to the public. In the first few weeks after testing began May 7, the tests produced results that appeared to be accurate. But two weeks later, the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus antibodies began spiking to levels far above what was plausible, based on the prevalence of the virus in the area. The county eventually shelved the program June 2. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says antibody tests should not be used to diagnose COVID-19. But county health officials and their lab partner decided to interpret certain results as signaling a current infection. Patients with those results received emails stating: You may have COVID-19. You are likely contagious. You should isolate yourself at home. The county, though, never informed those who may have received false alarms, nor did it disclose the questionable results about 6,100 of the 19,425 tests it conducted on its website. In their statement last week, the commissioners said they were sorry they did not communicate better regarding the results. The Associated Press contributed to this story. To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544. Chief Eric Girt has reiterated warnings of compromised public safety if 20 per cent of the police services budget were cut. Girt repeated his take of how a $34.3-million slash in spending would affect police operations amid activists sustained calls for reform. Any staffing reductions would have significant impact on public safety, he told city councillors Wednesday, referring to the theoretical 20 per cent cut often cited by those pushing for changes. Girt noted that reduction from polices roughly $171-million budget for 2020 would equate to 279 fewer members with salaries and benefits accounting for the bulk of spending. But the chief also restated his position that police are not proprietary when it comes to other sectors playing a greater role in calls involving mental health. Weve heard from the community that they believe there are alternate solutions. I agree with that. Girt attended the virtual general issues committee after a councillors initial request in to the police board went unanswered in July. In introducing Girt on Wednesday, Mayor Fred Eisenberger said the chief and other top brass were not directed by the board but appeared on their own accord given the context and the time. Eisenberger, whos also police board chair, went to address misinformed points defund advocates had raised in recent weeks, including a 50 per cent hike in the police budget over five years. Thats totally inaccurate, he said. Between 2016 and 2020, the budget has increased 11.89 per cent. Some city politicians have also expressed frustration over calls for divestment directed their way, arguing their powers to reject policing spending is limited. Police board lawyer Marco Visentini said council cant reject individual line items but can turn down a budget overall. In such cases, the Ontario Civilian Police Commission can settle disputes. After the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, rallies around the globe have decried police violence and systemic racism. Demonstrations in Hamilton have also drawn attention to police-involved deaths in Canada and advocated for funding to be redirected elsewhere, such as housing, education or health services. While some councillors have raised concern over misinformation about the local police budget and practices, two have voiced support for the advocates push for reform. One of them, Coun. Nrinder Nann, referencing reports, noted that of eight people killed by local police during calls, 44 per cent were Black or racialized despite those groups representing 18 per cent of the Hamilton population. So thats an example of the kind of work that the data collection component could really help address for (Hamilton Police Service), Nann told Girt. Coun. Maureen Wilson, who also supported advocates this past summer, asked Girt if police could do a better job at sharing information amid differing public accounts of budgets. Perhaps that is a statement in and of itself of the transparency or an opportunity for us put that forward, particularly given your remarks about openness to doing things differently. Girt said the budget is presented to the police services board and later to council. Those documents are published to polices website. But I am open to different methods. Anna Filice, chief administrative officer of the police service, said line-by-line items are posted publicly. The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G could be powered by Qualcomms latest, Snapdragon 750G 5G chipset. The information comes courtesy of the source code of the devices Geekbench benchmark. First spotted by Dealntech, the benchmark source code shows a configuration that matches the Snapdragon 750G SoC. Announced earlier this week, the Snapdragon 750G is a 5G-ready mid-range octa-core chipset based on an 8nm process. It features two Kryo 570 Gold CPU cores running at 2.21GHz, six Kryo 570 Silver CPU cores running at 1.8GHz. Theres the Adreno 619 GPU for handling graphics. Though the source doesnt explicitly say the Snapdragon 750G processor, the screenshot shared by Dealntech mentions all these specs along with the Galaxy A52 5Gs model number, SM-A426B. The Snapdragon 750G features the Snapdragon X52 5G Modem-RF System that supports both mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G networks. This essentially means the Galaxy A52 5G will support 5G networks offered by all major carriers around the world. Advertisement Up to 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM, dual-frequency GPS, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, Full HD+ display resolution with HDR10+, 120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit HDR gaming, 192MP cameras, 4K HDR video recording, and Quick Charge 4+ are some other key specifications of the Snapdragon 750G. Galaxy A42 5G to run on the Snapdragon 750G chipset Samsung announced the Galaxy A42 5G earlier this month without revealing its specs and feature details. While Samsung Germany later revealed some of the specs and European pricing of the phone, theres still no official word yet regarding the processor that powers it. And we now know why. The Snapdragon 750G chipset wasnt official when Samsung announced the handset. Qualcomm says devices powered by its latest 5G chipset will hit the market in Q4 2020. The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is seemingly among the firsts to pack the new Snapdragon processor. An official announcement revealing all the specs, global pricing, and availability of the handset should be just around the corner now. Advertisement We already know that the Galaxy A42 5G is the Korean companys cheapest 5G phone to date. As per a Samsung Germany announcement, the device will arrive in the country with a price tag of 369 euros (~$430) sometime in November this year. As for the specs, the device features a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with HD resolution. The tiny, U-shaped notch at the center houses a 20-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear camera setup consists of a 48-megapixel primary shooter, 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, 5-megapixel macro camera, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. The unit packs a 5,000mAh battery which should come with at least 15W fast charging support. An in-display fingerprint sensor, 4GB RAM, 128GB expandable storage, and Android 10 with One UI 2.x are some other rumored Galaxy A42 5G specs. The device comes in black, white, and gray colors. BRADY ANDERSON, Chariho, Wrestling, Sophomore; Anderson finished first in the 152-pound weight class at the Griswold Midseason Invitational tournament. Anderson went 3-0 in the tournament, pinning all of his opponents in the first period. Anderson is 10-4. LYDIA LASKEY, Stonington, Gymnastics, Senior; Laskey finished first in all four events in meets against NFA and Westerly. Laskey had an all-around score of 33.75 against NFA and 34.60 against Westerly. RILEY PELOQUIN, Westerly, Girls Basketball, Sophomore; Peloquin scored 22 points and had 19 rebounds in two games. Peloquin is averaging 7.6 points and 7.5 rebounds a game for the Bulldogs. DEONDRE BRANSFORD, Wheeler, Boys Basketball, Sophomore; Bransford scored 25 points and had 28 rebounds in a pair of Wheeler victories. Bransford is averaging 10.6 points and 12.1 rebounds per contest for the Lions. Vote View Results 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. "I am extremely fortunate to have developed a long-term relationship with Vertex and am honored to continue building upon that," said Beard. "Driving company growth while creating more operational efficiencies will be my main priority to ensure we continue offering customers high-quality, affordable readiness." Beard's relationship with Vertex dates back to 2007 when he served as vice president of operations and later provided consulting services to the Company from 2016 to 2019. Bill re-joined the Vertex team in September 2019, serving as the interim SVP of Corporate Business Operations and Business Development. Beard has a long history of success in aircraft maintenance, modifications, systems integration, aerospace manufacturing, and contractor logistics support services. Retiring from the U.S. Navy as a Master Chief Petty Officer with over 20 years of naval aviation experience, Beard accumulated over 4,000 flight hours in a variety of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft as well as special mission aircraft. "Bill's diverse and wide range of experience in the aerospace and defense industry have delivered a record of success at every level, from apprentice technician to corporate executive," said John "Ed" Boyington, Vertex Aerospace CEO and president. Prior to consulting for Vertex, Beard served as the vice president and general manager of GKN Aerospace overseeing operations of flight-critical components production and assemblies for Boeing, Honda Aircraft Company, and Honeywell. He brings over 40 years of combined experience in the aerospace and defense industry to the Company. Boyington notes that Beard's impressive portfolio and leadership will be key as Vertex continues to advance as a leader in the mid-level aftermarket aerospace market prioritizing continuous improvement and innovation. About Vertex Aerospace 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. POC: Rachel C. Henson Corporate Communications Manager [email protected] 601-760-9297 SOURCE Vertex Aerospace Related Links http://www.vertexaerospace.com The Wapato Jail in north Portland will soon be open to house hundreds of homeless. It will no longer be known as Wapato Jail after a recent rededication ceremony, which included symbolically cutting the razor wire surrounding the facility. The Bybee Lakes Hope Center will be repurposed as a transitional housing facility and is due to open in early October. Front view of the Wapato Correctional Facility in Portland, Ore. (Graywalls/CC BY-SA 4.0) For eight long months, the Helping Hands Re-entry Outreach Centers have been preparing the 155,000-square-foot building. Since its construction in 2004, it was left empty and unused. Its original build cost was $58 million, KGW8 reported. After budget cuts, the county could no longer afford to open the prison nor the $50,000 per month upkeep costs. The jail remained empty for 17 years since it was built. Along came property developer Jordan Schnitzer, who bought the jail from the County of Multnomah for $5 million with the dream of turning it into a community help center. With increasing numbers of homeless people in the Portland area, this homeless facility is much needed and will give hope to the community. Inside the Wapato jail taken during the public tour in Portland, Ore. (Graywalls/CC BY-SA 4.0) Schnitzer had high hopes that he would be supported in his endeavor, but he says hes hopeful more donors will come forward once they see the good being done. Then along came Alan Evans, CEO of the nonprofit Helping Hands, who joined forces with the property developer to bring what once was a dream to life. Evans credits Helping Hands donors and Schnitzer, who helped the organization raise $4 million to begin operations and gave them a five-year lease for $1 a year. When this gets open and a lot of people who werent sure whether it would ever work see that its operating, I think theres a lot of people who would come forward and help make contributions, and also some of the politicians then might say there are some public funds available to keep the program going, Schnitzer said. Initially, there will be 240 available beds by December and a host of programs to help people get back on their feet. Corridor inside the Wapato Correctional Facility (Graywalls/CC BY-SA 4.0) The Bybee Lakes Hope Center is a place to learn to change your life, a place to get educated, vocational training, culinary arts training, Evans said. There were hopes for the facility to be open in September, but it is now set to open on Oct. 2, starting with an 84-bed emergency shelter. Then, in December, phase two is expected to begin with 228 beds catering for longer-term housing and re-entry programs. The Bybee Lakes Hope Center in conjunction with Helping Hands will serve as a shelter and re-entry program, and will provide mental health counseling, among other things. Services will include food, beds, bathrooms, job training, and rehabilitation. Next year, they are hoping to increase to 525 capacity once all the wings are full. What this means is a hope and a dream fulfilled, said Schnitzer. And it reinforces for me never let go of your dreams. No matter the obstacles. View from the second floor jail area of Wapato Correctional Facility (Graywalls/CC BY-SA 4.0) And there were obstacles. Plenty of them. Both Schnitzer and Evans met at a Charity Event in Seaside; both men coming from very different backgrounds, they shook hands and began an amazing new partnership. Evan shared his story of being homeless for 27 yearssince the age of 14being a drug addict, and how he was abused as a child. A Seaside homeless shelter then reached out to help him, and thats where his life changed. Homeless in the city of Portland, Ore. (Robert P. Alvarez/Shutterstock) After a chance meeting with wealthy developer Jordan Schnitzer, a handshake, and an amazing proposition, he drove out to Wapato Jail. Schnitzer leased him the building for $1 a year through newly established Helping Hands Charity. In a recent interview, Evans told KGW8 that theres a lot of need in the community; but Bybee Lakes Hope Center is not a fix-all facility. He said the fastest-growing population of people who are homeless are senior citizens and women with children. Homeless woman asking for help on urban intersection in Portland, Ore. (Victoria Ditkovsky/Shutterstock) Those are the people we are willing to help. And we will give anybody an opportunity, Evans said. They can use up to the day before they come to us, but when they come to us, they have to be willing to go through a treatment program. But they cant live the lifestyle they were living and be in our facility. He said their model is to assist people who are capable and ready for a change, and theyll give everybody an opportunity. Evans said the organization and its model are built on his life experience. Multnomah Countys already high homeless population is expected to rise by an estimated 4045 percent due to the pandemic, totaling as many as 5,821 individuals, KGW8 reported. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc For several years, brokers have been demanding more choice and optionality, as they search for tools to fit their style of doing business. A partnership between Filogix and Doorr is aimed at doing just that; using connectivity and neutrality to put brokers back into the drivers seat of their own business. Doorr, an all-in-one digital mortgage platform, is one of the latest partners to join the Filogix Mortgage Marketplace, offering brokers the ability to pull credit information directly from the bureau, submit to lenders seamlessly and compile disclosure packages all within a single platform. Brokers are often left to piece together different systems to customize their processes and workflows, but the disconnect in how systems communicate or keeping a source of truth can be a barrier of growth for many brokers. With this partnership, brokers dont have to manage fragmented pieces of data across multiple systems, said Muhammad Rashid, CEO and co-founder at Doorr. Brokers are empowered by being able to run off a single system and having the Filogix infrastructure built into that is extremely beneficial. The firm alliance between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties appeared to be unraveling this past summer, even prompting speculation about its possible demise under certain conditions. The spread of the coronavirus was still under control at the time, and the government approved a proposal by Health Minister Yuli Edelstein of the Likud to increase the number of guests allowed in hotel dining rooms beyond the previous limit. Leaders of the two ultra-Orthodox parties, Interior Minister and Shas Party chair Aryeh Deri and Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman of Yahadut HaTorah, were livid with Netanyahu, accusing him of relaxing restrictions so hotel guests could enjoy themselves while synagogue prayers were still under severe curbs. They already had a bellyful over Netanyahus refusal to block Knesset legislation banning homosexual conversion therapy. In the ensuing weeks, tens of thousands of demonstrators continued amassing outside Netanyahus official Jerusalem residence on Balfour Street every Saturday evening, mostly ignoring social distancing guidelines, while restrictions on public prayers remained in effect. Fury at Netanyahu gathered steam and appeared to be eroding his political support. Tensions with his ultra-Orthodox government partners mounted further when they accused him of trying to torpedo the planned annual pilgrimage of tens of thousands of Hassidim to the tomb of a revered rabbi in the Ukraine city of Uman ahead of the Sept. 18 start of the Jewish New Year. They argued that his efforts in that regard, prompted by health concerns over such a mass gathering, were contributing to the negative image of ultra-Orthodox Jews as disease carriers. Against this backdrop, pundits and analysts well-versed in ultra-Orthodox affairs claimed this was the beginning of the end of the alliance forged by mutual interests, which had enabled Netanyahus continued rule in recent years. At 5 a.m. on Sept. 24, following a stormy, all-night meeting of the government, it became evident that news of the alliances demise had been premature. The partnership had not only survived the crisis, but it had emerged stronger. The government voted to impose a full nationwide lockdown starting Sept. 25 through at least Oct. 10, far stricter and more comprehensive than the partial lockdown imposed on Sept. 18. However, it excluded synagogues, allowing them to open on Yom Kippur (Sept. 27-28), the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, albeit under strict restrictions and with most prayers conducted outdoors. At the same time, the government confined all Israelis to within 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) of their homes and to outdoor gatherings of no more than 20 people, in effect shutting down the protests of recent months. Leaks emerging from the all-night government session indicated that the protests were the most explosive issue for Netanyahu. While ministers from the Blue and White party, chief among them Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn, campaigned to allow unfettered protests as stipulated in the law anchoring his partys coalition agreement with Netanyahus Likud, Netanyahu demanded they be strictly curtailed, keeping in mind the popular equation drawn in recent days between the right to worship and the right to protest. A day earlier, Deri broadly hinted that he might quit if the government discriminated against worshippers. A government that decides to allow protests and ban prayers is not a Jewish government, and I will be unable to remain part of it, he said. Deri, considered a pragmatist, suggested shutting down synagogues and praying outdoors despite the heavy heat that could be harmful to fasting adherents on condition that the protests would cease. He argued that he would be unable to explain to his voters why protests are a go and prayers are not. Prior to the vote, the government was presented with troubling data on the rise of COVID-19 infections, with almost 7,000 testing positive for the virus daily, prompting dire warnings about hospitals capacity to treat the seriously ill. Netanyahu cited these record-breaking figures to buttress his demand for a hermetic closure. At a certain point in the tense discussion, when the Blue and White ministers kept coming back to the protest issue, Netanyahu argued that the ongoing protests were the most significant factor in undermining public discipline and adherence to social distancing. The conciliatory attitude toward them, he went on, caused tremendous damage this purist, populist line caused tremendous harm. Throughout the night, it was clear that Netanyahu was on the same page as the ultra-Orthodox, and he was ultimately successful in imposing his will. This outcome has significant political implications, as well. If the latest speculation is borne out and elections are held in March 2021, Netanyahu will be guaranteed an ultra-Orthodox safety net, preventing any other contender from forming Israels next government without the support of the Arab Joint List. The ultra-Orthodox parties and the alliance of Arab parties command a similar number of Knesset seats. However, this option is no longer viable either, given the collapse of the political center-left. The only challenge to Netanyahu right now is from Naftali Bennett, the chair of the national-religious Yamina party who would not cooperate with Arab lawmakers under any circumstances. As usual, Netanyahus opponents attributed nefarious intentions to his insistence on a total lockdown. They argued that he had once again proven that he was a threat to the public well-being and to democracy, accusing him of sacrificing the economy and peoples livelihoods simply in order to break up the protests against him. Netanyahu is going to destroy the economy only in order to eliminate the protests against him, tweeted Nitzan Horowitz, chair of the left-wing Meretz Party. The center and center-left politicians who have suggested suspending protests in response to the health crisis, Horowitz wrote, fell victims to the culture of lies promoted by Balfour and played into the hands of the corrupt [leader]. Twenty people is not a protest. Israel has banned protests. Synagogues are open. The focal points of the mass infections are not being dealt with Results of a Channel 12 News poll aired on Sept. 23 paint a grim picture of the center-lefts standing and indicate that the protests are not helping it rebound. In total, the center-left parties would command the equivalent of 31 Knesset seats if elections were held now, while the right and ultra-Orthodox (without the rebel chair of Yisrael Beitenu party Avigdor Liberman) would garner 66 seats (of 120). While support for Netanyahus Likud keeps slipping to 29 seats according to the latest poll compared with 41 seats two months ago disappointed Netanyahu voters are flocking to Bennett and staying in the right-wing camp. The ultra-Orthodox maintain their electoral power. However, the hardest hit victim of the political fallout is Blue and Whites Benny Gantz, the only viable challenger to Netanyahu in the past decade, the great hope of the center-left in the previous three elections, whose Blue and White party crashed in the polls to nine seats (compared to 33 in the March 2 elections). Gantz, whose religious background had made him acceptable to the ultra-Orthodox as a prime ministerial candidate, appears to have buried that option with his ministers militant stand on the protests under lockdown. Gantz is left with nine Knesset seats (in the polls) and no political horizon, with even the protest advocates for whom he fought in recent days viewing him as a traitor who stole their ballots when he joined Netanyahus government in May. The Israeli prime minister and his wife have repeatedly brought suitcases of dirty clothes to be laundered and dry cleaned at the White House during visits, the Washington Post claims, to the vehement denial by Benjamin Netanyahus office. It is not the first time the bizarre allegations have arisen, with Sara Netanyahu having previously been accused of taking several bags of dirty washing along to state visits for hotel staff to clean. The claims, dating back to 2010, emerged during an investigation into alleged misuse of state funds. In recordings used as evidence during the corruption trial, Shlomit Barnea Farago, Mr Netanyahus top legal adviser, discusses alleged misuse of funds with Nir Hefetz, a spokesperson who has since turned states witness. Ms Barnea Farago can be heard saying thats misuse of public money, to bring laundry that isnt used on the trip just so it can be dry-cleaned, during a discussion of what the pair call greedy demands made by Ms Netanyahu. While it is customary for guests staying at the White House to have their dirty clothes washed, it is usually only an item or two, due to the short nature of state visits. More recently, US official has told the Washington Post, under condition of anonymity, that the Netanyahus are the only ones who bring actual suitcases of dirty laundry for us to clean. After multiple trips, it became clear this was intentional, the source added. Israeli officials have called the claims absurd" but acknowledged that the allegations have been made repeatedly. The prime minister is currently on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. Mr Netanyahu stands accused of accepting some $200,000 (156, 860) in lavish gifts like cigars and champagne from two billionaires, among other allegations including trying to influence media coverage. Mr Netanyahu denies all the allegations against him. Ms Netayanhu was convicted of misusing public funds in July 2019 as part of a plea deal during a case in which she was accused of illegally procuring and then misreporting catering services. The agreement saw her dodge a conviction for the more serious charge of aggravated fraud, and Ms Netanyahu was ordered to pay a fine of NIS 55,000 (12,415) to the state. The deadline is Oct. 6 if the form is sent by mail and Oct. 18 for online submissions, although people can still register to vote at an election authority or early voting site before Election Day and at their home precinct on Nov. 3. To do so, voters must provide two forms of identification, including one that includes their current address. Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (henceforth MLI) is a multilateral instrument developed by initiative of OECD and G20. The MLI modifies the application of thousands of bilateral tax treaties concluded to eliminate double taxation. It also implements agreed minimum standards to counter treaty abuse and to improve dispute resolution mechanisms while providing flexibility to accommodate specific tax treaty policies. In the beginning of September, MLI came in force in the Czech Republic. Since this multilateral instrument allows parties to claim various exceptions, many questions regarding the exact impact of MLI on certain tax treaties have emerged. Czech Ministry of Finance issued an official statement in order to answer these questions regarding the Czech-Canadian tax relations. We could quarrel whether the Czech-Canadian tax treaty is so outstandingly fit to modern legal standards, or the scope is just so much wider than the MLI. Nevertheless, both scenarios have led to same result there are just a few minor changes to the original agreement in order to make it MLI-compliant. Quite laconic preamble, initially setting a goal of preventing double taxation and income tax evasion, has now grown in both volume and descriptiveness. It expands the plain term tax evasion, while specifically aiming on aztreaty-shopping", in other words, abusing the double taxation prevention. The preamble, however being more of a rhetorical feature, shall be a crucial instrument for interpretation of the Treaty. Article 24 section 1 sentence 2 provides a deadline extension. The person being subject to measures eventually leading to taxation non-compliant with the Treaty, is now entitled to submit the case (and claim the revision) to relevant financial authority (either the state of residence, or in case of discrimination, state of citizenship). The person can do so in up to 3 years after the moment such person found out aforesaid measures being taken. Furthermore, the Treaty has been amended by a brand new provision which provides as follows. In case there is a reasonable suspicion that any transaction, measure or other conduct has been performed mainly in order to gain a tax benefit emerging from the Treaty, both directly or indirectly; such benefit, regardless from other provisions of the Treaty, shall not be granted, unless it would have been proven that granting such benefit would have had been compliant with the aim of relevant provisions of the Treaty ( the preamble, as has been said, will serve to interpret this provision). At last, the statement contains the schedule of implementing the amendments in both countries. Regarding the source withholding tax collected from the sums payed to non-residents, the amendments shall apply if the taxable event happened on 1st of January 2021 or later. In case of any other taxes, the amendments shall apply on the tax period starting on 1st of March 2021. The Article 24 section 1 sentence 2 change (the deadline extension) shall apply to any proceeding initiated on 1st of September 2020 or later, except cases that would not have been capable of submission on that date before the implementation of MLI, regardless of the tax period relevant for the case. "The Government is committed to ensuring Peruvians' prompt access to the vaccine. We hope it will be in the first quarter of next year ," he said in remarks to Canal N. In this context, he described as "great news" that the U.S. firm Johnson & Johnson has considered Peru to conduct its Phase 3 clinical trials for its vaccine against COVID-19. On the other hand, he explained that the payment to companies will be made on an established schedule. The minister stated that the population can rely on the efforts undertaken to access the aforementioned vaccine. (END) SMA/FHG/RMB/MVB Independent.ie journalists bring you all the latest updates as Donegal has been moved into Level 3 if the Government's Living with Covid plan. Taoiseach Micheal Martin spoke with Sinn Fein leader in the north Michelle ONeill and DUP leader Arlene Foster about the situation in Donegal. The chief medical officers in both jurisdictions are also going to discuss the new restrictions in Donegal. 18.54 Restaurant Association calls for emergency meeting with Taoiseach and Tanaiste The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) has called for an emergency meeting with Taoiseach and Tanaiste following a "hospitality lockdown" "Another 5000 employees now face the prospect of unemployment with hundreds of businesses in the Northwest on the edge of collapse," said Adrian Cummins, CEO at the association." 18.45 Full public health advice for Donegal from the government: Visitors to private homes and gardens should be limited to a maximum number of six from one other household. No social/family gatherings should take place, with exemptions to this for weddings and funerals For the weekend of 26/27 September weddings can proceed as originally planned up to a limit of 50 guests. Donegal residents may attend weddings outside of Donegal and those outside of Donegal may travel to weddings in Donegal over this weekend. The Level 3 measures for funerals come into effect on Monday 28th. Weddings in Donegal may proceed, but with a limit of 25 guests for ceremony and reception. It will not be possible for residents outside of Donegal to attend weddings in Donegal, nor will it be possible for those in Donegal to attend weddings in other areas of the country. Couples resident in Donegal with existing plans outside the county can travel to get married at another location. No organised indoor gatherings should take place. Organised outdoor gatherings are permitted, up to a maximum of 15 people. People living in Donegal should stay in the county with the exception of those who must travel for essential reasons and people should not travel into Donegal unless essential Schools will remain open and colleges are advised to limit congregation No matches or other sporting events should take place, with the exception of professional, elite, inter county and senior club championship all to take place behind closed doors. Horse racing may continue, but behind closed doors. Indoor training should be confined to individuals only and no classes are to take place. All shops, shopping centres, playgrounds, parks, gyms remain open. Hotels, Guesthouses and B&Bs may remain open Restaurants and Cafes (including bars/pubs serving food/wet pubs) may remain open for take-away and delivery and outdoor dining/service to a maximum of 15 people. Masses, all indoor museums, galleries, cinemas and other cultural attractions should close Visits to Long Term Residential Care facilities are suspended, with the exception of visits required for critical and compassionate circumstances. 18.43 Government did not deviate from Nphet advice, said the Taoiseach. 18.42 A 30pc top-up to the Restart Plus grant to help support those affected through the three-week period has also been announced. This will be available immediately through the normal application process at an estimated additional cost of 2m to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. Applications from Donegal will be prioritised for the wide range of existing loan and voucher schemes available to assist businesses affected by Covid-19 through the July Jobs Stimulus and other Government initiatives. 18.36 Acting CMO appeals to Louth, Kildare, Wickow, Waterford, Cork and Galway as well as Donegal and Dublin The acting CMO appealed to Louth, Kildare, Wickow, Waterford, Cork and Galway as well as Donegal and Dublin. "Prioritise who you need to see," he said. He said that young people should be "part of the solution" and that the virus leaves long lasting effects. 18.35 Dr Ronan Glynn said that Donegal's incidence rate is very high at 102 per 100,000, which is more than double in any other part of country bar Dublin. 18.33 Other counties could be moved to Level 3 - Taoiseach Mr Martin said that while he announced a lockdown on Dublin last week and tonight Donegal, other counties could soon follow. However, he said that it is not "inevitable". 18.29 'Very worrying data from Nphet' on Donegal says Taoiseach "Tonight's decision is based on frankly, very worrying data shared by Nphet," said Taoiseach Micheal Martin, at this evening's press conference. "Clusters are growing throughout the county," said the Taoiseach and used an example of a cluster in the county. The National Public Health Emergency Team has recommended that the Government place the county into Level 3 with the restrictions to be reviewed after three weeks. New restrictions will mean that pubs and restaurants will be closed to indoor dining. Indoor gatherings will be banned and outdoor gatherings will be limited to 15 people. Households will be limited to a maximum of six visitors from one other household, and weddings and funerals will be limited to a maximum of 25 attendees. The Cabinet is holding an incorporeal meeting this afternoon to agree to the new restrictions in Donegal. The Government is expected to hold a press conference regarding the new restrictions in Donegal at 6pm. The life story of the late Oliver Sacks, the neurologist and author who revived the medical case history with such bestsellers as The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Awakenings the latter inspiring an Oscar-nominated film by the same name is told in the moving documentary Oliver Sacks: His Own Life. True to its title, the film uses Sacks himself to tell most of the tale, from his somewhat wild youth to his coming out as gay in 2015, mere months before his death. Standard-issue talking-head interviews are interspersed with voice-over by Sacks reading from his 2015 memoir On the Move, shortly before his death. That title is also telling: Sacks was a restless intellect, passionately curious not just about the quirks of the mind his brother Michael was schizophrenic but about the power of storytelling. His Own Life is a compassionate, endlessly fascinating testament to that, as well as to the assertion, by one of Sackss friends, that the mans placid acceptance of mortality offered a master class in dying. Unrated. Available at afisilver.afi.com and virtualavalon.org. Contains strong language and discussion of sexuality and drug use. 116 minutes. The electric vehicles market was developing fast, and demand was increasing steadily until the beginning of 2020. How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the electric vehicles market? The pandemic caused a sudden decrease in demand for major investments, such as automobiles. It also caused a decline in fuel prices and stopped production across industries. These factors took a significant toll on the electric vehicles market. However, experts forecast recovery in the coming months. Trends such as supportive government initiatives and rising environmental concerns are expected to propel growth. Therefore, it is crucial for electric vehicles market players to always stay informed and ahead of current and upcoming trends. To leverage Infiniti's market trends analysis, and stay ahead of the curve in the growing electric vehicles market, request a free proposal This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005546/en/ Major Trends in the Electric Vehicles Market (Graphic: Business Wire) The economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic was felt across industries. The automotive industry suffered from a sudden decrease in demand, and the electric vehicles market was disrupted as demand started to grow. With increasing concern regarding the environment, carbon footprints, and the possibility of alternatives, the automotive industry has shifted a large segment of investment and development to electric vehicles. Consumers, particularly millennials and Gen Z consumers, are more conscious and particular about their carbon footprints, which has increased demand for EVs. However, the drop in GDPs and lack of disposable income have brought the automotive industry to a standstill. As the world recovers, experts forecast immense growth for the electric vehicles market. Therefore, electric vehicles market players must prepare for the major trends and challenges in the industry before they enter this period of recovery. In their recent article, Infiniti's industry experts discuss the impact of COVID-19, major trends, and challenges in the electric vehicles market. Attempting to strategize for the post-COVID era? To learn how Infiniti's market trends analysis can help electric vehicles market players stay ahead of the curve, and adapt to the new normal, request more information. "Some of the most significant contributors to the increasing demand for electric vehicles have been the need to reduce personal carbon footprints and the high prices of petroleum. As economies struggle due to various factors, and fossil fuels run short, millennial, and Gen Z consumers are willing to invest more in safer, environmentally responsible alternatives," says an electric vehicles market expert at Infiniti Research. Infiniti's market trends analysis experts identified three major trends in the electric vehicles market for automakers worldwide to note: Increasing awareness about carbon emissions has changed consumers' buying behaviors and increased emission-related policies in recent years. Governments worldwide are taking initiatives to promote the deployment of EVs, and automakers have significantly increased investment into EV development. Consumers' demands lead to an increasing need for a better battery range and various options and models within EVs. Gain in-depth insights into the major trends influencing the electric vehicles market by reading the complete article here. About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005546/en/ Contacts: Infiniti Research Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 844 778 0600 UK: +44 203 893 3400 https://www.infinitiresearch.com/contact-us WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT Cherrise Massay from Salford, Manchester, paid 5,500 for surgery in Turkey Beautician, 23, had a breast uplift and augmentation and a Brazilian butt lift She was diagnosed with necrosis and her nipple fell off after returning to the UK Mother-of-two is urging other women not to travel abroad for cosmetic surgery A woman who travelled abroad for cosmetic surgery has been left with a gaping hole in her chest from the botched boob job. Cherrise Massay, 23, who lives in Salford, Manchester, went under the knife in Istanbal, Turkey, after friends recommended a clinic. ADVERTISEMENT The beautician paid 5,500 for a breast uplift, augmentation and a Brazilian butt lift. However, she woke from the eight-hour surgery to find her bottom had been filled with breast implants. Cherrise Massay, 23, who lives in Salford, Manchester, is urging women not to travel abroad for cosmetic surgery after having a botched procedure in Istanbul, Turkey. Pictured: Cherrise, before surgery Cherrise paid 5,000 for a breast uplift and augmentation and a Brazilian butt lift. Pictured: Cherrise's breasts after surgery The mother-of-two was soon required to have emergency surgery and three blood transfusions, which were only the start of her 'living nightmare.' Cherrise said: 'I researched the clinic and saw amazing results as four friends had been there. Everything seemed legit and I couldn't wait to get rid of my saggy boobs after breast feeding. 'Initially, I wanted a fatty lump removed from my bottom as I had a BBL in February in Miami. Click here to resize this module 'But after my consultation, I agreed to have implants as it sounded better - however I did not think it would be breast implants! 'I woke up from the surgery and I didn't feel well. I knew something was wrong. I begged the nurses, who couldn't speak English, to help me as I couldn't even lift up my head. 'It took two days of complaining for them to realise - something isn't right.' The beautician (pictured) had to be rushed to intensive care for three blood transfusions after her body began to reject the implants Cherrise recalls having six drains attached to her breasts, bum and stomach, with all filling rapidly with blood. She was rushed to intensive care for three blood transfusions. The 23-year-old was told her body was rejecting the bum implants and she was put under local anaesthetic whilst they were removed. Cherrise said: 'I instantly felt better when I woke up from surger 'I was shocked when I saw the implants they put in - they were different sizes and for breasts. My breasts looks good but swollen which is normal however my one nipple kept on bleeding. 'They kept putting small plaster-like strips over it to mask the bleeding and the fact it was rising. But I was told the bleeding was normal.' Cherrise's breasts before going into surgery, where she was given breast implants After one week, Cherrise returned back to the U.K. and immediately went to A&E. ADVERTISEMENT She was diagnosed with flesh eating bacterial necrosis, but the bleeding was a good sign because it meant the skin wasn't completely dead. She said: 'Doctors were horrified to see what they had done to me. 'I had to go every other day to get the bandages changed and it went from bad to worse. My nipple was purple in Turkey and I was told it was bruising but after a couple of weeks, it was jet black. 'Two weeks after the surgery, I noticed my nipple was lifting despite being on strong antibiotics to try and stop the infection. 'Four days later on September 21, my nipple completely came off. 'I fell to the floor as I saw it peel off with the bandages. I am completely mortified.' Cherrise claims to have been left with a 'gaping' hole in her chest which she says has a 'horrific' smell. Holding back the tears, Cherrise said: 'I feel like i'm in a horror film - i can't even get away with it. 'It stinks like a dead body because it is rotting flesh. I can't forget about it because it is burning and my whole breast is in pain. I am at risk of contracting sepsis and the clinic in Turkey don't even care - they have blocked me!' NHS doctors told Cherrise that they suspect an artery was caught when inserting the implant. Cherrise (pictured) admits she regrets going to Turkey for surgery and hopes sharing her story will stop other women from going abroad for procedures They are monitoring the infection but may have to take the implant out. Cherrise said: 'I am happy to take the implant out if necessary. ADVERTISEMENT 'I regret going to Turkey, I wish I had just kept my saggy boobs. 'I am going to need a skin graft on my nipple in the future which will leave me with more scars. 'It is too late for me and I have a long road to recover but I hope my story will stop other women from going abroad for surgery. 'The surgeons I visited don't care about you, they just want your money - I have learnt the hard way. 'I wouldn't wish any of this on my worst enemy - it is truly horrendous. 'I wish I had saved more and got the surgery in the UK, I was quoted 8,800. 'I am urging girls to save more and steer clear from Turkey - it doesn't matter if your friend has been or you have done research!' https://uk.gofundme.com/f/save-her-boobs?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unknown&utm_campaign=comms_gfm+save-her-boobs The Signal Mountain man convicted of plotting an attack on a Muslim community in Upstate New York has received 120 months at a resentencing on Wednesday afternoon. He initially was sentence to 235 months and has served 54 months thus far. The resentence was ordered by an appeals court after Judge Curtis Collier declined to approve a plea agreement for Doggart for a five-year term. He had asked to be released from prison for the most recent sentencing, citing concerns about COVID-19 in the federal prison where he is housed. Judge Collier denied the motion, saying the believes Doggart, a one-time candidate for Congress, remains a threat. Doggart , 70, watched the sentencing by video. The Emirati Programmer Summer 2020 initiative, which celebrated the graduation of a new cohort of candidates, received an overwhelming response for its pivotal role in preparing qualified generations to guide technological and knowledge innovation. In a virtual graduation ceremony, certificates of completion were awarded to 45 participants using Blockchain technology, which is part of the strategic direction of HBMSU to realise the objectives of the Emirates Blockchain Strategy 2021. The initiative proved to be unique as it embraced Cloud Computing and IoT, in collaboration with the leading cloud computing provider, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and the 3D Printing Programme in cooperation with Signify, the global leader in IoT lighting and building automation. Participants were trained via virtual sessions that were held utilising the AWS platform and the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) Smart Campus. The graduation took place under the patronage and presence of Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security in Dubai; Chairman of HBMSU Board of Governors, and Chairman of the Emirates Talent Association (ETA) This edition of Emirati Programmer offered two programmes, Cloud Computing and the Internet-of-Things (IoT) and 3D Printing, both are part of the cooperation framework of two of the world's biggest tech giants and in line with the forward-looking vision of the country's wise leadership to prepare a generation of qualified individuals to adopt technology in the service of the nation and humanity. The virtual ceremony was attended by Dr Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of HBMSU and Vice President of ETA; Zubin Chagpar, Head of Mena Public Sector at Amazon Web Services (AWS); and George Brax, General Manager at Signify Middle East and French West Africa. In his speech, Lieutenant General Tamim congratulated the new graduates and urged them to continue on to the path of knowledge and scientific and technological excellence and be makers of the UAE's future. He added: We are proud of today's graduates, who have proven themselves as responsible and confident individuals that can carry on the culture of innovation and adopt technological progress in serving the ambitious aspirations of transforming the UAE into a global incubator that anticipates and helps create a better tomorrow. He added: Our country is moving forward in its global leadership in technological innovation with unlimited support of our wise leadership, which heavily invested in national talents and competencies at made them at the forefront of strategic priorities. We are honored to be at the forefront, supporting the countrys efforts to prepare Emiratis to take the lead in harnessing the Internet of Things, cloud computing, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, Blockchain and other Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in the service of humanity. The graduation of the new cohort of the Emirati Programmer Summer 2020, in collaboration with the worlds technology giants, represents an advanced step towards the realisation of the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in making our country more prepared for the future and more optimistic about the qualified generations that are able to compete globally with their skills and competencies. Dr Al Awar said: The graduation of the new cohort of the Emirati Programmer summer camp participants, in collaboration with global technology giants, is an advanced step towards building and preparing a generation of future leaders, equipped with technology and innovation in line with the vision of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of HBMSU, who believes that the ability to harness high-tech and advanced sciences is a prerequisite for young talents ability to shape our future. The graduation of a new cohort of learners demonstrates the success of our collaboration with AWS and Signify, especially in the efforts to invest in future skills, which further highlights our commitment to empowering creative minds to innovate and become leaders and knowledge pioneers. The Emirati Programmer proves yet again to be a unique national initiative to prepare national talents to build the future of the UAE, driven by their passion for leadership and willingness to overcome challenges, thereby enhancing our preparations for the upcoming fifty years which will witness vital stages of our countrys development and prosperity. We are committed to continue investing in young talents and supporting them to drive a positive change in their communities, capitalising on the latest innovations in the areas of Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and 3D printing, as well as to proceed with equipping the Emirati youth, our most important asset, with the 21st-century skills. The innovativeness and creativity demonstrated by the new cohort of graduates reinforces the confidence that we placed in their strengths and skills for the future, Dr Al Awar added. Zubin Chagpar, Head of Mena, Public Sector, Amazon Web Services (AWS), said: In the Emirati Programmer, in which we are collaborating with the Emirates Talent Association and HBMSU, we have successfully trained a group of participants aged 14 to 17 years in the fundamentals of cloud computing and IoT on AWS. During the programme, participants went through a number of gradual training stages where they were taught how to use the basic tools of cloud computing and IoT through self-education via the AWS Educate programme and also through the use of theoretical and practical training in the virtual classes under the supervision of AWS experts. The participants culminated their training journey by completing their projects based on the techniques they have learned. He added: During the training period, we witnessed a great commitment and awareness of participants and we were happy with their ability to create and think, and this was evident in the stage where they implemented their projects. Participants have demonstrated their ability to use IoT technologies to come up with highly creative ideas inspired to find solutions that benefit their community, such as solutions that help people of determination and solutions for responding to emergencies, in addition to projects that can be used in our day-to-day lives. George Brax, General Manager, Signify Middle East and French West Africa said: At Signify we are proud to collaborate under a unique initiative by Emirates Talent Association and HBMSU to train youngster on 3D printed lighting. Seeing how Gen Z is capable to understand the sustainability and design implications of 3D printing technology has been inspiring. We are looking forward to share our experiences in lightning technology on a wider scale and encourage future generations to take part in such successful projects. The ceremony witnessed the graduation of 45 participants, including 22 graduates from the Cloud Computing and IoT programme delivered in collaboration with AWS; and 23 graduates from the 3D Printing Programme delivered in collaboration with Signify International. The Cloud Computing and IoT programme winners list included Sara Yousif Hasan Al Maraz, first place winner and gold medalist; Hind Saad Abbas, second place winner and silver medalist; and Reem Hamad Mahfouz Hosni, third place winner and bronze medalist. As for the 3D Printing programme, the winners list included Mansour Waleed Ali Al Manaa, first place winner and gold medalist; Sara Saeed Al Awar, second place winner and silver medalist; and Abdullah bin Subaih, third place winner and bronze medalist. In addition, to the live announcement of the top three winners from each programme, the projects of nominated graduates were showcased, and six winning projects were selected. Certificates were given using Blockchain technology and the names of the winners were displayed on the screen. The ceremony concluded with honoring the jury, trainers, and supervisors of the Emirati Programmer-Summer 2020 summer camp. Since its launch four years ago, the Emirati Programmer has qualified 400 students, enabling more talented Emiratis to excel in the areas of coding, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. The current edition was unique in terms of offering education and training entirely online and via virtual channels, enabling participants to learn anytime and anywhere at their own pace, as well as to take part in a series of virtual classes under the supervision of highly qualified experts and trainers. The programme also featured digital presentations, interactive courses, educational videos, and worksheets, along with direct access to premium educational and knowledge resources. The training schedule concluded with the evaluation of final projects by a jury of high-level experts. -- Tradearabia News Service For the past two decades, a giant digital display in Manhattans Union Square has clocked up the accumulation of days, hours, minutes and seconds for the thousands of New Yorkers who hurry past it each day. Now, for the first time, its counting down: Revealing just how little time we have left to tackle the climate crisis before the planet is past a tipping point of irreversible change. As of writing, that number is 7 years, 98 days, 15 hours and counting. It was installed earlier this week by climate activists and artists with the Climate Clock project, to mark a week of climate action in New York taking place during the annual United Nations General Assembly. The gathering of global leaders is being held largely virtually for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic. Theres good news. That number isnt zero, Gan Golan, an artist and activist who co-created the display, told Reuters. We can meet this challenge, but we dont have any time to lose." The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that countries must work together to reduce emissions to curb global warming to 1.5C, a goal which is becoming increasingly ambitious. If the global temperature rises above that level, scientists that the planet will feel even more devastating impacts from sea-level rise and loss of coral reefs to more intense heatwaves and extreme events such as wildfires, droughts and typhoons. At our current emission rates, we will hit 1.5C in just over seven years. The installation took over the Metronome, installed on the side of a glass-fronted building overlooking Union Square in lower Manhattan for the past 20 years. Its 15 spinning LED digits count time down to a hundredth of a second. It is set in the side of a glass building overlooking Union Square. Intensifying their protests against the contentious agricultural bills passed by the Parliament, various farmers organisations, including from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have called a national shutdown on Friday. The farmers groups said they will hold a chakka jam" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Though many of the protesters have said that they will protest in their own areas and not aim to head to Delhi, Delhi Police are on high alert and have made preparations to seal the border with Haryana, in a bid to forestall any such attempt. However, traffic across the Delhi-Haryana border was normal on Thursday. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) is among the groups that have called the shutdown, while in Punjab, 31 farmers organisations have come together to protest against the new laws. BKUs Haryana President, Ratan Singh Mann, said: Various farmers organisations of Haryana will hold protests in all districts, tehsil, block and village levels against the farm bills passed by the Parliament. There will be a chakka jam from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organisations of the arhatiyas (commission agents), traders bodies and other commercial organisations will also participate. All sections are supporting the farmerss struggle. Traders in Haryana will also keep their establishments shut in solidarity. We will protest in our areas and have no plans to march to Delhi." Mann also said that like Haryana, there will be protests in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and other states. Other farmers groups also clarified that their protests will be local and they will not move to Delhi. However, as a precaution, Delhi Police will be maintaining vigil at all border points. With farmers in Punjab intending to block railway movement too, several trains bound for the state or passing through it have been cancelled, while some have been diverted. On Thursday, there were protests on the Punjab-Haryana border, but Haryana Police have set up barricades to prevent entry of agitating farmers into the state on their way to Delhi. The farmers are opposing the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020. She has been portrayed as the innocent girl next door on The Bachelor all season. But Irena Srbinovska well and truly shed her good girl image during the finale on Thursday night, when she shared a steamy kiss with Locklan 'Locky' Gilbert during their final date. The 31-year-old nurse sent temperatures soaring as she wore a strapless bikini, which made her appear naked under the water. Is she naked under there? Irena Srbinovska finally shed her good girl image on The Bachelor on Thursday night when she shared a steamy hot tub make out session with Locky Gilbert 'Here's to meeting the most perfect girl in the world,' Locky said, as the pair toasted each other with a glass of champagne and then shared a passionate lip-lock. Irena then told cameras: 'It's just absolutely the most intense feelings that I am feeling right now and it's such an important moment in our relationship. 'This is the last time I get to talk to him before he makes his decision, so I just want to let Locky know exactly how I'm feeling in my heart.' Steamy: The 31-year-old nurse sent temperatures soaring as she wore a strapless bikini, which made her appear naked under the water Love is in air: 'Here's to meeting the most perfect girl in the world,' Locky said, as the pair toasted each other with a glass of champagne and then shared a passionate lip-lock Irena then told cameras: 'It's just absolutely the most intense feelings that I am feeling right now and it's such an important moment in our relationship' Having a heartfelt conversation with Locky in the bathtub, Irena told him she loved him and admitted she couldn't imagine her life without him. With things taking a serious and emotional turn, Locky ensured to hug, kiss and comfort Irena. Putting his hand on Irena's chest, Irena gushingly tells her: 'I just wanted to feel your heart and tell you I have fallen in love you.' Together: With things taking a serious and emotional turn, Locky ensured to hug, kiss and comfort Irena Mutual feelings: Putting his hand on Irena's chest, Irena gushingly tells her: 'I just wanted to feel your heart and tell you I have fallen in love you' Later on in the episode, Locky embarked on his finale date with Irena's former best friend, Bella. The pair enjoyed a romantic helicopter ride before being dazzled by a musical orchestra. Proving that a difficult decision lay ahead for him, Locky also told Bella he was in love with her. Finalist: Later on in the episode, Locky embarked on his finale date with Irena's former best friend Bella A 37-year-old disabled man from Vasai allegedly murdered his colleague on September 20 because the latter used to purportedly make fun of his disability. Jayant Jayprasan Rautrai was arrested on Wednesday by Waliv police for stabbing to death Somnath Kutian, 40. The police have recovered the knife used in the crime. The accused and Kutian worked at a factory in Vasai. The duo often used to have arguments as Kutian would allegedly make fun of Rautrai. On Sunday night, the two decided to drink near the factory gate. Kutian again began to tease Rautrai, following which the latter went to the factory and picked up a knife and stabbed his colleague. Some passers-by rushed Kutian to hospital, where he died, said a police officer. We registered a case of murder against Rautrai and arrested him on Wednesday. The Vasai court remanded him in police custody, said the officer. TDT | Manama Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) CEO Dr. Mohammed Mubarak bin Dainah affirmed yesterday Bahrains support for Saudi and Yemeni efforts to avoid an environmental disaster in the Red Sea region. This came during the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs, which was held virtually regarding the FSO Safer vessel anchored off the coast of the Hodeidah governorate in western Yemen. Dr bin Dainah supported the decision of member states and the presidency to refer the issue to the Arab foreign ministers, to take the appropriate decision to prevent the risks the vessel may cause on the environmental, social, and humanitarian levels if any accident happens. Recent reports said that the oil tanker contains a large amount of crude oil, estimated at 1.14 million barrels valued at up to $80 million, and the ship has become a great threat to life on the Yemeni coasts, neighboring countries, and maritime traffic in the region. Possible scenarios indicate that in the event of an explosion or oil spillage from the ship, the situation will be four times worse than the Exxon Valdez an oil spill that occurred in Alaska in 1989, from which the region has not recovered despite the passage of over 30 years. This matter threatens environmental and natural life in the region, thus threatening fish stocks. The meeting discussed that a potential spill will result in major pollution of rain, groundwater, and agricultural products, and it will cause frightening environmental, health and economic disasters. Significantly deteriorating The FSO Safer fell into the hands of Houthi forces in March 2015, during the early days of the Yemeni Civil War, when the coastline surrounding her mooring was taken over. The ships structural condition has deteriorated significantly since, leading to the risk of a catastrophic hull breach or the explosion of oil vapors. Following a leak in the cooling system, water entered the machine room, prompting the UN Security Council to hold a special meeting in July of this year to discuss the situation. Another bank has announced it will be closing branches in the midstate. Orrstown Bank announced on Thursday that it will consolidate six branches. One branch is in Cumberland County, two are in Lancaster County and three are in Maryland. The branches that will be closing by the first quarter of 2021 include the following: 22 S. Hanover St., Carlisle 1400 Gilbert Way, Suite 101, Manheim Township 2098 Spring Valley Rd, East Hempfield Township 501 Fairmount Ave., Suite 200, Towson, Maryland 5600 Harford Road, Baltimore, Maryland 788 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland The Carlisle branch is within about two miles of two other branches in the Carlisle area. The two branches in Lancaster are less than three miles from another Orrstown branch. And both the branch in Carlisle and the branch on Gilbert Way in Manheim Township do not have drive-thru access or capability, so these branches have operated by-appointment only throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The branch on Spring Valley Road was the first branch for the bank in Lancaster County when it opened in June 2015. The branch consolidations are part of the banks near-term tactical plans due to COVID-19. In addition to the consolidation of the six branch locations, the bank plans to eliminate excess back office space and make certain staffing model adjustments. The bank said that the moves are expected to generate approximately $4 million of pre-tax annual expense savings once completed, with a one-time pre-tax charge of approximately $1.5 million to be incurred in the third quarter of 2020. We continuously review our business model, operations, and delivery channels to ensure that we are operating as efficiently as possible, Thomas R. Quinn Jr., Orrstowns president and chief executive officer said in a press release. As the banking habits of consumers and our clients evolve, we have seen these habits accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clients are becoming more reliant on our digital services, and as such, we will continue to invest the resources necessary to ensure a robust online, mobile, and ATM experience. We still believe in the value of our branch delivery channel, and the personal touch and relationship that it fosters, as clients continue to visit our branches for sound advice and assistance with complex financial situations. Last year, Orrstown Bank announced the consolidation of five branches. Between the banks six branches it is consolidating soon and the five banks it previously consolidated, Orrstown will have consolidated 11 branches, or 30% of its physical branch locations, since December 31, and between the branch consolidations and the elimination of excess back office space, the bank will have reduced its leased and owned office space by 27% since December 31, 2019 once the latest moves are completed. The branches that were consolidated last year included three in Perry County and two in Franklin County: 403 North Market Street, Duncannon 1 South Carlisle Street, New Bloomfield 18 Newport Plaza, Howe Township, Perry County 454 Loudon Road, Mercersburg, Franklin County 92 Path Valley Road, Fort Loudon, Franklin County Orrstown Bank was founded in 1919 in Orrstown and has more than 30 banking, mortgage and business offices in Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Lancaster, Perry and York counties in Pennsylvania as well as eight branches in Maryland. The bank is based in Shippensburg. As less people are banking in-person especially during the pandemic, Orrstown Bank is not alone in closing banking branches in the near future. Mid Penn Bank recently announced it is closing three of its branches in Pillow, Dauphin County; Malvern, Chester County and Vanderbilt, Fayette County as part of a consolidation. And Northwest Bank recently announced it will close 42 of its 205 full-service offices in December. --Business Buzz You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like PennLives business page on Facebook at @PennLiveBusiness Officials cautioned that a final decision to remove Sudan from the terrorism list must be approved by the White House. But President Trump is not expected to wait for Congress to act. With six weeks before the election, Mr. Trump has cited the warming ties among once-rival states in the Middle East and North Africa as an example of his administrations diplomatic prowess. Five additional countries are considering formal relations with Israel, the president said on Sept. 15, and officials have said they include Sudan. Well be signing up other nations, Mr. Trump said at the White House last week, shortly before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel signed the accords with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with the deputy Sudanese ambassador in the audience. And these are very strong agreements. These are very strong. This is really peace. This is serious peace. Cementing diplomacy between Israel and Sudan would be a coup for the administration, given their turbulent history. It was in Khartoum after the Arab-Israeli War in 1967 that the Arab League announced its three nos resolution, which opposed peace, negotiations and recognition of Israel. That was widely recognized among Arab states until President Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt made a historic trip to Jerusalem in 1977. Until last weeks accords, Egypt and Jordan were the only two Arab states with formal diplomatic relations with Israel. Sudan was placed on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism after officials concluded in 1993 that the government of its leader at the time, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, provided refuge and other support to Hezbollah and Palestinian groups. Only three other nations Iran, North Korea and Syria are on the State Department list that restricts assistance from the United States and, effectively, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. But in 2016, after Sudan cut its diplomatic ties with Iran, the United States began easing sanctions against Khartoum to reward its cooperation on counterterrorism missions and ending military attacks against Sudanese citizens. The detente was fueled last year by Mr. al-Bashirs ouster and international efforts to support democracy in the new transitional government. UPPER WEST SIDE, NY With New York City restaurants still not allowed to open for indoor dining, one Upper West Side joint has gotten creative in its quest to provide the best possible outdoor dining experience. Introduce big plastic bubbles. At Broadway and 104th Street, Cafe du Soleil is giving customers the option of eating their meals within a plastic bubble. The bubble is big enough to allow multiple people to dine comfortably at a table with chairs. Plastic bubbles outside of Cafe du Soleil. Gus Saltonstall/Patch "The customers love them," owner Nadine Chevreux told the West Side Rag. "They feel cozy. If it rains or it's cold, there's no problem. They're not specifically for COVID, they're just regular bubbles. My husband got them on a website." The dining bubbles have gained fast popularity across the city for the innovating idea, including a "Outdoor dining bubbles are the perfect solution for chilly NYC" headline from the NY Post. However, a smaller group of Twitter users question if the bubbles have good enough airflow to make them coronavirus friendly. "They just turned the 'safer' alternative of outdoor dining into the unsafe indoor dining. Arguably make it worse judging by the size of those bubbles and obvious lack of airflow," one Twitter user commented under a post about the Upper West Side restaurant. Cafe du Soleil is a French bistro that serves fettuccine to short ribs to classic French soups. You can find out more about the UWS restaurant and the different menus it offers on its website. This article originally appeared on the Upper West Side Patch Berger Paints, the second largest paint company in India, has always been a frontrunner in innovation. The new campaign for Berger HomeShield, conceptualized by Lowe Lintas Kolkata, advocates the usage of modern technology to encounter problems related to waterproofing. Given that in most parts of India it rains a quarter part of the year, dampness or leakages are frequent problems in most households. Berger HomeShield along with the Berger Concrete Moisture Meter promises to tackle the issue scientifically. Speaking about the campaign, Abhijit Roy, MD and CEO, Berger Paints said: Just like a Doctor who prescribes medicines only after accurately diagnosing the ailment, dampness should also be treated similarly. Scientific understanding is significant while finding the right solution. Damp walls and leaking ceilings are harsh realities in Indian homes with limited analytical solutions present in the market. Berger Home Shield with its Concrete Moisture Meter carries out a scientific assessment of the problem and then prescribes a suitable solution based on well researched parameters, which stands out amongst the current alternatives available to the home owners. The campaign film hinges on the idea that little knowhow, fake gyaan or predictions dont work. A thorough diagnosis of the problem ensures the right cure, be it for you or your walls. The film featuring Akshay Kumar is directed by Abhishek Varman, renowned for films like 2 States and Kalank. Well-crafted humour and brilliant performances on part of the actors have added a dimension to this film produced by LinProductions. Talking about the campaign idea, Sagar Kapoor, CCO, Lowe Lintas said: Leakage is probably the biggest nightmare any home owner would have. What makes it worse is that there are as many fake solutions offered as there are reasons for the walls and ceilings to leak. Berger HomeShield hence aims at demystifying this issue with its Concrete Moisture Meter and waterproofing solutions. The story hence shows the confusion of a family in distress being offered multiple solutions not knowing which one to trust. Akshay Kumar is the voice of reason that asks them to trust science and not fake knowledge. The campaign was recently released across online and offline mediums. Since the release of the film, it has garnered over 1 million views over online platforms alone. CREDITS Agency: Lowe Lintas Kolkata Creative: Sagar Kapoor, Ankush Pande, Sajid Khan, Tritirtha Chatterjee, Sajal Das Account Management: Indranil Mitra, Anannya Ghosh, Ritwik Roy Chowdhury Production: LinProductions (Director: Abhishek Varman) Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 18:49:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A worker arranges medical donations from China at a hospital in Damascus, capital of Syria, Sept. 24, 2020. A new batch of medical donations from China was delivered to the Syrian health authorities on Thursday to help the country fight COVID-19 pandemic. The aid, raised and donated by a voluntary organization in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang, includes face masks, goggles, protection suits and ventilators, according to the Chinese Embassy in Syria. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A new batch of medical donations from China was delivered to the Syrian health authorities on Thursday to help the country fight COVID-19 pandemic. The aid, raised and donated by a voluntary organization in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang, includes face masks, goggles, protection suits and ventilators, according to the Chinese Embassy in Syria. At a delivery ceremony at the Ibn al-Nafis hospital in Syria's capital Damascus, Chinese Ambassador to Syria Feng Biao said the situation in Syria has improved in terms of fighting the pandemic. "I have confidence in the steadfastness, awareness, and courage of the Syrian people. We will defeat this pandemic. I am proud of this spirit ... and the friendship with the Syrian people," Feng stated. Meanwhile, Ahmad Khleifawi, deputy Syrian health minister, said the Syrian Health Ministry is "extremely grateful for ... this precious gift that will help the health sector in Syria." It is the latest in a string of humanitarian supplies from China since the outbreak of coronavirus in Syria. On Aug. 18, the Chinese embassy in Syria donated medical equipment to the University Children Hospital in Damascus to help improve the medical services of the university's Bone Marrow Transplant Center. On June 24, the Syrian Health Ministry received a batch of Chinese medical equipment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 4, the ministry received a similar batch of aid transferred by the Chinese embassy. In addition, China donated a batch of COVID-19 testing kits to Syria to help its fight against the coronavirus on April 15, and a video conference was held between Chinese and Syrian medical experts on April 23 for sharing the experience in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 2020 / GLOBAL HEMP GROUP INC. ("GHG" or the "Company") (CSE:GHG / OTC PINK:GBHPF / FRANKFURT:GHG) is pleased to announce that Prof. Victor Castano, Ph.D. has joined the Company's Advisory Board and has been appointed as the Head of Global Hemp's newly created Research and Development Division. Prof. Victor M. Castano, Ph.D. is a recognized international leader in several areas of applied science and technology. He has lectured across multiple disciplinary schools in Mexico and was the founding Director of the Center for Applied Physics and Advanced Technology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Juriquilla, Queretaro, Mexico. He has published extensively, including 5 books and 25 patents and has received over 14,500 citations in the last few years. He is one of the most cited Latin-American scientists in his area. He is an engineer and scientist who dares to cross disciplinary boundaries. For additional information on Prof. Castano, please visit Global Hemp's website (https://www.globalhempgroup.com/leadership-team). Prof. Castano is best known for his work in materials science and biomedicine, where he invented a very extensive line of new materials and technologies for various applications. As an Advisor to Global Hemp, Prof. Castano will head up the Company's Research and Development Division. There are three immediate areas of interest that Prof. Castano and his team will actively be focused on to develop Intellectual Property that can be patented and implemented in the hemp and/or building industry, and in particular at Company's newly announced Colorado Hemp Agro-Industrial Zone. (see news release of September 16, 2020). GLOBAL HEMP'S R&D DIVISION WILL INITIALLY FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING : Environmentally-Friendly Construction Materials - Prof. Castano and his team has over 30 years of experience in the development of novel construction materials from natural sources, particularly agricultural waste and/or byproducts, including many fiber-containing plants. The development underway aims to produce materials that could efficiently replace Medium Density Fibreboard (made from wood) with improved mechanical, thermal and environmental characteristics. In particular, the heat and cold insulation, for extreme weather conditions, are competitive advantages in terms of cost/benefit relationship. Nanofertilizers - Nanofertilizers are emerging as a promising alternative to chemical fertilizers in agriculture. Fertilizers are normally made from potash or from ammonia, which are important petrochemical products. However, the use of these chemicals has environmental consequences that are being discussed by the experts. The use of nanotechnology, including graphene and metal oxide nanoparticles, in which the team has over 30 years of experience, opens up a ground breaking areas of R&D, in which the nanostructures allow an increase of up to 20% in plant yield, while diminishing, by orders of magnitude the use of traditional chemicals, having a positive impact on the environment and the cost of farming. Enhanced Extraction from Hemp - One of the main properties of hemp is its content of cannabinoids. Normally the extraction is carried out by either solvent or CO2. Prof. Castano and his team have experience in extraction of essential oils of various plants by using enzymes and microfauna, which represent a truly innovative and green approach to this industry. Curt Huber, President of Global Hemp stated, "Prof. Castano and his team bring an amazing wealth of experience in different disciplines to Global Hemp's R&D Division. I am confident that they will not only develop technology that we will be able to utilize at our projects but will also be able to market to the industry. We look forward to working with Prof. Castano and his team". Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/globalhempgrp Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hemp_global/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hemp_Global About Global Hemp Group Inc. Global Hemp Group Inc. (CSE: GHG / OTC: GBHPF / FRANKFURT: GHG), is focused on a multi-phased strategy to build a strong presence in the industrial hemp industry the United States. The Company is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with hemp cultivation operations in the state of Oregon. The first phase of this strategy is to develop hemp cultivation for extraction of cannabinoids and the smokable CBG flower market with the objective of creating a near term revenue stream. The second phase of the strategy focuses on the development of value-added industrial hemp products utilizing the processing of the entirety of the hemp plant, as envisioned in the recently announced Colorado Hemp Agro-Industrial Zone (HAIZ) project. For Further Information Contact Global Hemp Group Tel: 424-354-2998 info@globalhempgroup.com https://globalhempgroup.com Cautionary Note Regarding 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. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Global Hemp Group Inc., including, but not limited to the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, dependence upon regulatory approvals, the availability of future financing and exploration risk, the legality of cannabis and hemp. 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. Except as required by law, Global Hemp Group Inc. disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise. The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: GLOBAL HEMP GROUP INC. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607627/Global-Hemp-Group-Welcomes-Prof-Victor-Castao-PHD-As-A-Key-Scientific-Advisor-and-Head-of-The-Companys-Newly-Created-RD-Division New Delhi: Actress Kangana Ranaut has yet again attacked Bollywood - 'Bullywood' for her - after top stars such as Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh and others were summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the ongoing drugs probe, which began during the investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death. Soon after the summons were sent to them, Kangana tweeted to say, "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." 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 Kangana has quite been vocal the prevalence of drug abuse in the film industry and has been bashing Bollywood since Sushant's death in June. Meanwhile, according to sources, Rakul and fashion designer Simone Khambatta will appear before the NCB today whereas Deepika and her manager Karishma Prakash are called tomorrow. Shraddha and Sara Ali Khan will be questioned by NCB on Saturday. In the drugs-related angle, the NCB has found prominent Bollywood personalities alleged involvement in consuming and procuring narcotic substances through many of their retrieved WhatsApp chats. Sushant's former manager Jaya Saha, who is also being questioned, has admitted to buying CBD oil for Shraddha, Sushant, his actress girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and film producer Madhu Mantena. Rhea Chakraborty has already been arrested by the NCB while Madhu Mantena was called for questioning on Wednesday. A man kneels beside the fake blood that makes up the name Breonna written in the street at the corner of Racine and 79th St. where Father Michael Pfleger (cq) of St. Sabina led a group of about 100 people before shutting down the intersection during rush hour on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. The protest followed the announcement of charges in the Breonna Taylor case. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Including a populated locality in the COVID-19 red zone is neither of them. The upcoming local elections in Ukraine can be canceled only in case of the introduction of martial law or a state of emergency. This was announced by ex-deputy head of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Andriy Mahera, according to the media outlet Obozrevatel. Read alsoElections in occupied Donbas possible only after complete de-occupation Yermak "The elections will take place [irrespective of the COVID-19 quarantine], but at the same time, the Health Ministry, together with the Cabinet of Ministers, must ensure that preventive measures are taken for those who will participate in the vote," he said. Mahera says that including a populated locality in the red zone of the COVID-19 quarantine cannot serve as a basis for canceling the local elections. "The red line as such does not exist in the laws of Ukraine. This is an internal decision by the Health Ministry, various commissions, sanitary services in hospitals," the ex-official explained. According to him, splitting the country into the quarantine zones depending on the number of coronavirus patients is in general "subjective and has no legal consequences." Local elections in Ukraine and quarantine: Recent developments 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 just 100 days 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 warns If there are disputes, France will be able to take unilateral action to regain control of its section of the Tunnel, it suggests. The report comes after a leaked government document also warned of queues of up to 7,000 lorries through Kent when the completion of Brexit brings border chaos. 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. The committee points out that Brexit means the UK-France Treaty of Canterbury, which has governed the operation of the Tunnel since 1986, will need to be amended. The European Commission proposed direct talks between Paris and London provided any changes apply all relevant EU law on both the UK and French sides. Brexit in 47 objects Show all 47 1 /47 Brexit in 47 objects Brexit in 47 objects Cold War Steve postcard The brilliant Cold War Steves bleakly satirical collages always have two features; an appearance by Steve McFadden (EastEnders Phil Mitchell) and a savage commentary on the state of Global Britain. Christopher Spencer, for it is he, did well out of Brexit. Brexit in 47 objects Government leaflet sent to every household in 2016 This was meant to win it, but didnt quite. It contained the dangerous promise: This is your decision. The Government will implement what you decide. AFP/Getty Brexit in 47 objects Bollocks to Brexit This was one of very many rude Anglo-Saxon expressions pressed into political service during Brexit. It was briefly adopted by the usually staid Liberal Democrats as an optional campaign slogan. Getty Brexit in 47 objects Wefail banknotes Wefails art pre-dates Brexit but found fresh impetus after 2016. There will be no shortage in Global Britain of such works of parodical genius inspired by the weirdos and misfits set to govern the UK through the 2020s. Chapman Brothers meet Goya meet Hogarth, to great effect. Wefail Brexit in 47 objects Robert Peston's book 'WTF' WTF was an apt title, seeing as it was most peoples reaction to the narrow leave victory in 2016. Brexit spawned numerous books and pamphlets designed to explain, justify, attack or ridicule Brexit. Brexit in 47 objects European Union (Notification of Withdrawal Act) This gave legal effect to the UK's decision to get out of the European Union. Unfortunately the two-year arbitrary deadline was far too short to conclude the talks on the terms of Withdrawal, let alone a new trade deal. Brexit in 47 objects Theresa May signing Article 50 letter The then new prime minister, Theresa May wrote her most important letter since the time when, as a small girl in a vicarage in Oxfordshire, she asked Santa if she could join the Conservatives. Dated 29th March 2017, it was hand-delivered to a bemused European Union by Britains ambassador, Sir Tim Barrow. Getty Brexit in 47 objects Hard and soft Brexit egg cups What could be more British than a boiled egg eaten from a cute punny little cup with a traditional willow tree pattern? Made in Stoke-on-Trent, as it should be, it offers the choice of Hard or Soft boiled Breggsit. Brexit in 47 objects Union jacks in Parliament Square Whatever your view about getting our country back after Brexit, the nation should be able to console itself with the thought that the small commune of pro- and anti-Brexit protesters will eventually now disperse, and the country can get Parliament Square back. AFP/Getty Images Brexit in 47 objects Official Got Brexit Done 2020 Tea Towel A fitting final symbol of a trauma that required many cups of the sweet hot char to calm the nerves. This is the Conservative party celebrating the imminent destruction of what remains of British manufacturing industry with a limited edition commemorate tea towel. For 12 you can rub Boris Johnsons face in your frying pan. 12 at shop.conservatives.com/ Conservatives Brexit in 47 objects Mad outfits Brexit spawned many crimes against fashion. Seen here modelling their own creations are the guy who kept shouting Stop Brexit for many months, Steve Bray; and Leave-maniac Joseph Afrane, who is a bit quieter. AFP/Getty Brexit in 47 objects Final Say T-shirt The campaign for a second referendum also went under the names People's Vote and Final Say, and the Independent is proud to have played its part in trying to secure this democratic imperative. It came close to succeeding; and many may think that there will, in due course, be an attempt to re-join the EU, in which case a new referendum will again be necessary. Angela Christofilou/The Independent Brexit in 47 objects Lady Hale's spider badge When the Supreme Court ruled that the advice Boris Johnson had proffered to the Queen to dissolve parliament was unlawful, and immediately recalled the Commons, the President of the court, Lady Hale became a national celebrity. Predictably a hero to some (48 per cent) and a villain to others (52 per cent), her bold choice of accessory, a big spider brooch, was adopted by Remaniacs everywhere. Supreme Court/PA Brexit in 47 objects Banksy Brexit Mural In 2017 a mural appeared on a wall in the symbolic town of Dover. It showed workman chiselling one star out of the European Unions starry banner. Banksy emerged as the artist behind it. Even so, it has since been whitewashed over by the propertys owner. Banksy Tweeted: Never mind. I guess a big white flag says it all. AFP/Getty Brexit in 47 objects Fashion hates Brexit As with most causes, many found solace through the medium of slogan T-shirts. This one by Katharine Hamnett was created following a British Fashion Council survey that revealed 90 per cent of British fashion designers voted remain. Awkwardly, when tucked into fashionable high-waisted jeans, this tee appears to read, "fashion hates" which, at least widened its potential buyers to include Brexiteers... katharinehamnett.teemill.co.uk Katharine Hamnett Brexit in 47 objects Northern Irish mock-up Customs Hut The border between Ireland and Northern Ireland soon established itself as one of the trickiest issues to resolve. Campaigners against a hard border in Ireland made mock-ups of what a border customs post might look like, the original ones having long since been blown up by the IRA. Getty Brexit in 47 objects Leaky Brexit mug Another fine example of Brexitware from the English Potteries (Bentham Pottery). This one, with its stencilled holes, makes a fairly obvious joke about the usefulness of Brexit. Bentham Pottery Brexit in 47 objects Vote Leave bus Built in Poland by a German company, the Neoplan coach soon became the biggest mobile lie on the planet. Still the slogan about sending 350million a week to the NHS instead of Brussels did the trick a big number that caused outage and stuck in the mind. Getty Brexit in 47 objects Brexit Party bus Nigel Farages new vehicle for the 2019 general election was the Brexit party. Ukip, which he had led to so many fabulous victories had become a toxified brand and this was the replacement bus service. After some hesitation the Brexit Party decided to stand down in existing Conservative seats, and concentrate its efforts on wining votes from Leave-supporting Labour voters. The party's ageing battle bus (not Ann Widdecombe) was found abandoned in a hedge after it broke down in the Brecon Beacons. Its doors open, apparently deserted, it was left blocking a lay-by. Some viewed it as symbolic. Getty Brexit in 47 objects Queens blue and yellow starry hat Maybe a little fed up with the constant request for her to open and/or close down parliament by her last three prime ministers, the Queen showed up at the June 2017 gig in day dress rather than the usual ermine-trimmed robes. The hats design was soon taken to be some hidden message about HMs enthusiasm for the EU. It never occurred to her protested the Queens dresser, Angela Kelly, and nor to the milliner, Stella McLaren. Will we ever learn the truth? Queen Elizabeth II delivering the Queen's Speech during the state opening of parliament in 2017 AFP/Getty Brexit in 47 objects Daily Mail 'Enemies of the People' front page During the latter days of Paul Dacres editorship, the Daily Mail was the most vociferous and uncompromising voice in favour of a clean break Brexit ASAP. Any and all constitutional obstacles to the will of the people were regarded as treachery, and treated as such. When, early in the process some senior judges suggested parliament should approve the Article 50 withdrawal process, the Mail gave them both barrels with a memorable headline reminiscent of Soviet Russia (ironically enough). Brexit in 47 objects Five Guys Salted Caramel and Banana shake This was the weapon of choice during the brief national craze for disrupting a Nigel Farage town centre walkabout. Milkshaking was either an act of mild rebellion (48per cent) or a gateway to terrorism (52 per cent), according to your point of view. Five Guys Brexit in 47 objects EU flags as capes A habit copied from football fans, the trend for wearing an EU flag as a cape helped the EUs blue and yellow flag, hitherto rarely glimpsed, become one of the most familiar of sights in the country. AFP/Getty Images Brexit in 47 objects Chequers This sixteenth century country house in Bucks was donated to the nation by Viscount Lee of Fareham in 1917, for the purpose of providing successive premiers with a restful environment for rest and relation. When Theresa May presented her Chequers plan for Brexit to her cabinet colleagues in July 2018 her foreign secretary, Boris Johnson told her and their colleagues it was like polishing a turd. The following days of meltdown and resignations were not restful for Mrs May, or anyone else. Getty Images Brexit in 47 objects Theresa May Riding a Lion This painting, by Lyme Regis-based artist Maxime Xavier, shows the former Prime Minister astride a roaring lion leaping through the EU stars, as she ponders the pen used to sign the Article 50 letter. It was discovered in Poole. Priced at 6,000, and is among the more unusual and desirable items of Brexitabilia. It was spotted and Tweeted by the Reverend Richard Coles. Terrible Art In Charity Shops/Facebook Brexit in 47 objects Joan Ryan's hands Brexit succeeded in splitting both main parties, and the defection of some Labour and Tory MPs to form the Independent Group/Change UK could have been the beginning of a more exciting re-alignment,. Instead the Tiggers soon started squabbling among themselves. Joan Ryan, an obscure ex-Labour MP, grabbed national fame when she told an audience in Bath in May 2019: Look at your hands pleaseThats it. Its there. Thats the answer to this, its in your hands. The David Brent moment of Brexit. LBC Brexit in 47 objects US chlorinated chicken Never has any item of poultry been so reviled as the chlorinated chicken. It has hatched into a powerful symbol of the superiority of EU animal hygiene standards. The EU doesnt need to wash its chickens in chlorinated water before preparation because they tend to be clear of faecal matter; Americans ones are slobbier and need a good old scrub before consumption. Getty Brexit in 47 objects Boris Johnsons resignation letter Suggesting perhaps a degree of pre-calculation, the then foreign secretary, Boris Johnson arranged for some special photography marking the momentous event in July 2018. It was but one more stage on his long, unremitting quest for the premiership. Brexit in 47 objects Nissan X-Train Normally a new Nissan SUV wouldnt command any headlines outside the motoring pages (and maybe not even there), but the Japanese-based companys announcement in February 2019 that it was to cancel the expansion of its Sunderland works to build a new model was taken to be an early vindication of Project Fear and that that Brexit was indeed damaging inward investment. Getty Brexit in 47 objects Brexit 50p coin Like Brexit itself, the special coin was delayed a few times before it finally made it into our small change just in time for Brexit day. The message, a quote from the American statesman Thomas Jefferson, was suitably bland, given the tensions around Brexit. It aroused the most controversy over its omission of the Oxford comma. Once again, a fitting memento. HM Treasury Brexit in 47 objects The Bad Boys of Brexit book This memoir by top Brexit backer Arron Banks has the distinction of actually making his reputation worse than before he published it. Worth reading to gain some insight into the methods of the outriders of the Leave.eu campaign, who seem to have spent a good deal of time drinking in Claridges. Brexit in 47 objects New blue British passport Symbols loomed large throughout the Brexit debate, and they usually had a symbolic double meaning. For many, seeing the word European Union (and before that European Community on their passport was irksome if not insulting, as was the burgundy colour. A minor Brexit bonus, for some, is the restoration of the blue-black original colour, even though the EU had never insisted on the passport being burgundy and resembling a building society passbook in the first place. The new blue-black passports, inevitably, will be made in France. Home Office Brexit in 47 objects Big Ben strikes 11 Essential restoration works and an ever-shifting Brexit date conspired to deprive the nation of its Big Ben bongs at the historic moment. A Bung a Bob for a Big Ben Bong failed to capture the public imagination, and the money was, in any case, refused by the House of Commons commission. Nigel Farage said that the world would think Britain a laughing stock if it couldnt get Big Ben to bong for Brexit. Getty Brexit in 47 objects John Bercow's Van Buck limited edition tie Colourful neckwear from a colourful personality, the diminutive Speaker Bercow become one of the biggest celebs in the world as the knife-edge Commons Brexit votes pled up and the dramas multiplied towards the end of 2019. Virtually every human being on earth could recite the John Bercow's catchphrase Ooooorrrrdeerrrrr! and savour his antique turns of phrase, apparently inspired by Jane Austen. Tie by Van Buck, ca 110. Parliament Live Brexit in 47 objects Referendum ballot paper 2016 The question was extensively tested by the Electoral Commission, and the 2016 vote was indeed the biggest democratic exercise in British history some 33,577,342 ballots were cast. AFP/Getty Brexit in 47 objects EU election ballot paper 2019 The elections for the European parliament in June 2019 were never supposed to happen Brexit was supposed to have been over by March 31st. The Conservatives scored 9 per cent of the vote, and Nigel Farages Brexit Party topped the poll with about 30 per cent support. I marked a low point for the Tories, and an unlikely base for their current success. AFP/Getty Brexit in 47 objects Turkey is joining the EU poster This was one of the more exaggerated claims made during the campaign. The notion that 76 million Turks were about to turn up at Folkestone clearly distressed some Leave voters. The grain of truth was that the UK government had expressed support for Turkeys membership of the EU. The reality was that Turkey had been on the waiting list since 1961, and was very unlikely indeed ever to be allowed to join. Brexit in 47 objects UKIP 'Breaking Point' poster This 2016 anti-migrant poster was unveiled by Nigel Farage and reported to the police for inciting racial hatred. The photograph used was of migrants crossing the Croatia-Slovenia border in 2015, with the only prominent white person in the photograph obscured by a box of text. Boris Johnson distanced himself from it, saying: I am passionately pro-immigration and pro-immigrants. Getty Images Brexit in 47 objects Brexit box This Brexit survival kit retailed for 300 and contained 60 freeze dried meals, 48 portions of meat, a water filter and some gel to start a fire. The goods had a shelf life of 25 years. It was an extreme example of the panic buying that occurred as the various deadlines for no deal Brexit approached and the population feared a halt to food imports and a shortage of loo roll. SWNS Brexit in 47 objects Dead fish Frustrated by Theresa May's decision to keep Britain signed up to EU fishing rules during the Brexit transition, Nigel Farage and some angry fisherfolk took to the Thames to chuck some dead fish into the water. Technically illegal, and futile, but attention grabbing and smelly (the fish, not Farage). AFP/Getty Brexit in 47 objects Vote Leave's 'Take back control' posters Three words that won the vote. The slogan Take Back Control was a typically simple and punchy device that summed up complex arguments abut sovereignty and the feeling among many communities that politicians and bureaucrats in London as well as in Brussels had neglected them. AFP/Getty Brexit in 47 objects Wetherspoons beer mat Tim Martin, owner of the successful Wetherspoon chain of pubs was the usual go-to prominent pro-Brexit businessman during and after the Brexit referendum. He was unusual among the business community in being so vocal about the benefits and blase about the risk of Brexit. He used his pubs influence to full effect, as with this propaganda beer mat. Brexit in 47 objects 'No more Polish Vermin' sign Despite claims to the contrary, much of the Brexit Leave vote was motivated by an inchoate dislike for immigration, from whatever source and for whatever purpose, with varying degrees of racism accompanying it. After the vote in June 2016 there as spike in verbal and physical attacks aimed at people who had done nothing wrong and had perhaps believed that their neighbours at least tolerated them. twitter.com/howgilb Brexit in 47 objects The Sun front page: Queen backs Brexit Yet another example of the high reporting standards of the British tabloid press. Some stray remark that might or might not have been uttered by the Queen was reported by a rogue cabinet minister, and fed to the Sun. Brexit in 47 objects RAF BAE146 aircraft This trusty plane ferried two prime ministers and countless British diplomats across the English Channel during the Brexit process. Its fair to say that Brexit, as a phenomenon, was bad for Britains carbon footprint. Steve Lynes (CC BY 2.0) Brexit in 47 objects Original Good Friday Agreement The framework for peace in Northern Ireland was signed on 10 April 1998, and then, its work apparently done, the precise details of the carefully balanced text were forgotten, Indeed it is seems few had bothered to study it until, after the Brexit vote, it was suddenly realised that the UK leaving the European Union may have infringed it and, more to the point, invited the Troubles to return. AFP/Getty Brexit in 47 objects Brussels hotel bar - Hotel Metropole Early in 2019 the British chief negotiator, Olly Robbins, found himself in a Brussels hotel bar shooting the breeze with some friends. During the course of the bants he let slip (And was overheard) that the 'week beginning end of March' would be critical, just days before the UK is due to leave the bloc, and that Theresa May planned to confront her Eurosceptic rebel MPs with a 'long extension' to the Article 50 process if they do not give approve her plan at that point. They didnt, and there was. Hotel Metropole - Brussels/Facebook The UK government opposed this, because Boris Johnson has insisted the European Court of Justice will have no remit in this country once Brexit is completed. But, the report states: Despite confirming its opposition to the proposals, the government has yet to put forward suggestions for an alternative post-transition safety framework. Even if France was willing to reach an agreement outside the ECJs future jurisdiction, it would require EU permission, creating considerable political and time constraints. The committee is urgently requesting further information from the government and regular updates on negotiations with France. The unique status of the Channel Tunnel as the UKs only surface transport connection to mainland Europe and as joint UK-France infrastructure makes an agreement securing its continued safe operation critically important, its letter states. Indeed, without an agreement on the prevailing safety regime applicable to the Tunnel, there is the real possibility of significant disruption to its operation. The criticism mirrors protests that the government has failed to lay the ground for the hard Brexit it is pursuing, risking border chaos and other huge disruption. The tunnel is used by around 11 million passengers a year, as well as to transport 1.3 million tonnes of freight. Ngoc Vuong in Washington, D.C., in February 2020. Photo: Jordy Mosqueda Growing up in Wichita, Kansas, Ngoc Vuong had a wide circle of Vietnamese friends to play with in his neighborhood. His parents had left Vietnam in the 1990s to build a new home in the U.S., making Vuong and his two older sisters first-generation Americans. "A lot of my summers were spent hanging out with people who looked like me," Vuong said. "At school, it was a different story. I struggled with my identity. Am I really Vietnamese? Am I really American?" What Vuong, 20, discovered as he grew up was that he embraced being Vietnamese American. He took on leadership roles, serving in the student council and as student body president. His guiding force was his mother. In Vietnam, she had to forego college and work to support her siblings after her father was sent to a communist prison camp and her mother was arrested. Despite those hardships, she went on to serve others. "My mom taught me the importance of kindness and to help those less fortunate," he said. When Vuong was only 15 and a sophomore, he lost his role model and nurturer. His mother died at age 46 from a ruptured brain aneurysm. Her death sent him into a depression. "For a year after, I felt like I was leading a double life," said Vuong, now a rising junior at Wichita State University, where he studies psychology, with concentrations in public health and economics. "I was still functioning at school, but I would come home and just crash. It was hard to see a way out." He was grateful for having a supportive family and teachers, but he also needed professional help for the depression, which he sought after several months in pain. "In the Vietnamese community, and really in general, there's that stigma that comes with seeking mental health treatment," he said. Although Vuong already had been taking on leadership roles, his focus had been more about being successful as opposed to making a difference, he said. "My mom's death gave me a new purpose in life. It wasn't enough to live a successful life; I wanted to live a significant one." Since then, Vuong has worked tirelessly on several initiatives to help reduce the stigma around mental health, especially related to drug addiction. Although he hasn't personally been affected by addiction, he's seen its effects on students, friends and in the Wichita community. He's particularly interested in helping underserved communities because "they are excluded from the decision-making table." His first effort resulted in ICTeens in Mind, a student-led coalition that supports youth affected by mental illness and promotes awareness. It has since been folded into the nonprofit Partners for Wichita, where Vuong works part-time as a community mobilizer. Vuong, who has been awarded several scholarships, including from the American Heart Association's EmPowered to Serve program, is working on two new grassroots projects. City Voices and Healing Kansas both address mental health and addiction issues through art, storytelling and civic engagement. He also was tapped to serve on the Wichita mayor's Civil Rights Advisory Council, and he handles social media for school board member Stan Reeser. Reeser met Vuong in 2018, after hearing Vuong speak at his high school graduation ceremony. "I was so impressed with his passion, and I reached out to him," said Reeser, who now uses Vuong as a sounding board on issues relating to youth. Vuong also helped Reeser with his re-election campaign in 2019, first with social media, but Reeser said his young charge grew into the role of campaign manager. "He's definitely wise beyond his years," Reeser said. "He has this perfect balance of feeling passionate about issues but at the same time he's very reasonable and loves to look at data." Vuong, who hopes to become a clinical psychologist and researcher, is assisting on a project at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita examining disparities in mental health treatment. "It's crucial we look at the gaps there are in access and services," he said. "And equally important, how we will fill them." Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Meghan Markle just gave one lucky Americas Got Talent contestant a major shoutout. The Duchess of Sussex recently filmed a good luck message for one of the shows finalists, Archie Williams, which aired on the AGT finale on Wednesday. According to a People exclusive, Markle and her hubby, Prince Harry, have been watching the series and loved him from the moment they first saw him. Just wanted to let you know that we've been so moved by your story and we've been cheering you on every week and it's not just because we're partial to the name, she said in the clip referring to the fact that Williams shares a first name with her son, Archie. So, a very special message to you that I'll probably be saying all of my life, but on this night it's specifically for you: Archie, we are proud of you and are rooting for you, we can't wait to see what you do. We're in your corner, have a good night. Williams has become a national favorite this season, after impressing viewers with his vocal cords. Not to mention, his story caught the attention of millions. Turns out, the 59-year-old was wrongfully convicted for aggravated rape and attempted murder in Louisiana when he was in his 20s. His conviction was overturned (with the help of the Innocence Project) after he served 12 years. This is the second time this week the 39-year-old duchess has made an appearance on primetime television. In honor of National Voter Registration Day, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined ABC's Time 100 special. The event marked their first TV appearance since the couple stepped down as senior members of the royal family. Who knew we had the same taste in television as Harry and Meghan? RELATED: Kate Middleton Reveals Her Kids Are Massive Fans of *This* Celebrity By Lawrence Delevingne and Abhishek Manikandan (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co is set to pay nearly $1 billion (786 million) to resolve market manipulation investigations by U.S. authorities into its trading of metals futures and Treasury securities, a person familiar with the situation said on Wednesday. The large fine would lift a regulatory shadow that has hung over the bank for several years and mark a signature victory for the government's efforts to clamp down on illegal trading techniques, such as spoofing, especially in the precious metals markets. JPMorgan ... There will probably be deeper and more consciously meaningful plays written about the Covid crisis than Richard Nelson's pandemic trilogy featuring his fictional Apple family. But I doubt there will be any more instantly reflective of the strange, shifting times we are living through or more full of love. This is the final play of three which have been screened digitally via Zoom, gathering 100,000 views since their first transmission four months ago. Like the first What Do We Need to Talk About and the second And So We Come Forth, this 70-minute drama (available until Nov 5) takes the form of a family Zoom get-together for three sisters, their brother and one sister's boyfriend. Like the others, it is an hour in which very little seems to happen. But by the end, we understand infinitely more about events around us and our own lives. In her introduction, Nelson's long-time lighting designer and friend Jennifer Tipton quotes Harvey Granville Barker. "Dramatic art, theatre, is the working out in terms of make-believe of society itself." That is precisely what Nelson does. Working with actors who are so ingrained in their art that they seem to become the people they portray, he presents a slice of life. But his shaping of it, helps to explain and interpret our world. The actual title of this drama is taken from Pierre Bonnard's description of what he drew and, like many other references to art and literature, forms part of the fabric of the play. The Apples are a literary lot, with drama running through their veins: by making them spring from a particular, liberal set in upstate New York in Rhinebeck, where he himself lives Nelson allows them to quote Chekhov and James Baldwin as if it is the most natural thing. In this way, he winds into his examination of life under Covid and the great changes sweeping across US society, with an election on the way, a bigger, broader awareness of the sweep of history and its previous interpretations by great minds of the past. The dialogue swerves between the quotidian and the universal, granting them both the same significance. So the conversation contains a wryly humorous description of one sister Marian (Laila Robins) going on a first date with a man with "cute eyebrows" exciting, because as they eat he will finally remove his mask. "Did he have a nose?" her sisters tease. The family discuss the depression felt by sister Jane (Sally Murphy), made worse by isolation. But their chat also encompasses a history lesson about the crowds who greeted Lafayette, military hero of the Revolution, when he returned to America later in life "maybe they were just feeling leaderless" and a discussion of the seismic effect on white liberal thinking of the demands of the Black Lives Matter protests. "Being accused of racism is very scary." Into the middle of it all, Nelson introduces an extraordinary moment. Barbara (Maryann Plunkett) has won a dance performance by her friend's daughter Lucy (Charlotte Bydwell) in an auction: she shares it with her family via Zoom. There is, therefore, an extended period where we, the audience, watches the family as they play audience to the dance performance. "I needed that. I need a little art in my day," says Tim (Stephen Kunken). Nothing is finally resolved, but many things are suggested in this allusive way. Over it all, Nelson casts an arc of family relationships, long established, full of feeling. The relationship between Barbara and her brother Richard (Jay O. Saunders) has become, as Jane points out, like an "old couple". Now he has found a girlfriend and Barbara faces the possibility of a lonely old age, and the cast beyond impeccable- suggest the sadness of the inevitability of this with nothing more than half sentences and sidelong looks of sympathy. The final word of the play is "love", sent across the digital void, from one sibling to another. Then there is a long moment of silence. Together they are the perfect summation of so many things. These are plays that would be great at any moment. To be able to watch them now, brings some much-needed art into our days. A top member of Poland's conservative ruling party says party leader Jarosaw Kaczynski is likely to formally join the coalition government in order to end a power struggle among its members. Ryszard Terlecki, the Law and Justice leader in parliament, told TVN24 that all signs point to Kaczynski joining as a deputy prime minister with the mandate that would include supervising the Justice Ministry. The development comes as Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, a hard-liner behind many of the government's most controversial steps over the past five years, has been seeking to strengthen his power. Terlecki spoke Thursday after the state news agency, PAP reported that Kaczynski would join Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki s Cabinent as head of a security committee that would supervise the ministries of justice, defense and internal affairs. That reported cited an anonymous source familiar with ongoing talks. Kaczynski, 71, served as prime minister from 2006 to 2007. However, since his party assumed power for the second time in 2015, he has guided government decisions and appointments from behind the scenes. He is now merely one of 460 members of the lower house of parliament, a status that critics say has given him enormous power but no true accountability. Poland's government has been in a crisis since a small party led by Ziobro refused to back an animal rights bill proposed by Kaczynski in a parliamentary vote last week. The actual bill was not seen as the true trigger of the crisis, but just the manifestation of tensions that have been building for some time. Polish political commentators say there's a power struggle between Ziobro, 50, and Morawiecki, 52, for eventual control of Poland's political right as the Kaczynski era comes to an end. Just to play devils' advocate on the increase in cases Just to play devils' advocate on the increase in cases -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:- This post has been removed at the author's request. The author may post again if desired. Posts on the Tripadvisor forums may be edited for a short period of time. Once the edit period has expired, authors may update their posts by removing and reposting them. To read more about editing your posts, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/help/how_to_edit_your_posts Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video on Sept. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping summed up four lessons the COVID-19 pandemic brought to human society and called on countries to join hands and prepare to meet even more global challenges. "First, COVID-19 reminds us that we are living in an interconnected global village with a common stake," Xi said when addressing the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. No country can gain from others' difficulties or maintain stability by taking advantage of others' troubles, he said. "To pursue a beggar-thy-neighbor policy or just watch from a safe distance when others are in danger will eventually land one in the same trouble faced by others," Xi said. "This is why we should embrace the vision of a community with a shared future in which everyone is bound together," he added. Second, COVID-19 reminds us that economic globalization is an indisputable reality and a historical trend, 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," he said. Countries should say no to unilateralism and protectionism and work to ensure the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains, Xi said. Third, Xi said 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. China will scale up its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions by adopting more vigorous policies and measures. China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, Xi said, calling on countries to pursue innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all. "Fourth, COVID-19 reminds us that the global governance system calls for reform and improvement," Xi said. The global governance system should adapt itself to evolving global political and economic dynamics, meet global challenges and embrace the underlying trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation, he added. Every day. David Cone, the former Yankees starting pitcher and current YES Network analyst, has kept an eye on the Yankees every single day this season, most of them from his booth at Yankee Stadium, where hes provided insight into whats happening on the field alongside Michael Kay and Paul ONeill. A Brisbane community club running a free dinner for homeless people has been hit with $600 in parking fines after mistakenly parking near the Gabba on an AFL match day. The Rotary Club of Brisbane River City, a club for young community-minded people, has held a weekly Sunday meal for the community in Woolloongabba since early March. Brisbane had plenty of fans in the stands at the Gabba by the end of the AFL regular season - and a lot of them parked nearby. Credit:Getty Images But on a Sunday in June, unaware the Brisbane Lions were taking on Port Adelaide at the stadium, club members parked on the street. Club member Will Bassett said when six volunteers returned to their cars, they discovered the parking tickets and realised they had parked in the Gabba's designated traffic area and were limited to 15 minutes instead of the usual two hours. Rush and the four other justices all joined online as they heard arguments from attorneys in three cases Thursday morning. She opened the first hearing by thanking those who had sent her cards and messages of encouragement. A new study presented at this year's annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) shows the disproportionate impact of early-onset adult type 2 diabetes (T2D) on individuals of South Asian and African-Caribbean ethnicity in the UK. The research was conducted by Janthula Ranchagoda, Dr Shivani Misra and colleagues at the Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK. It analysed prevalence of early-onset adult T2D in diverse ethnic groups, as well as to investigate the link between a person's body mass index (BMI) and their age-at-onset of T2D. The incidence of T2D in early adulthood has increased rapidly in the UK, and the individuals affected have a higher and accelerated risk of diabetes-related complications and mortality compared to those who develop the disease later in life. Previous studies into T2D in children have shown that non-white ethnicities are disproportionately affected. In older onset cases, south Asian people are relatively leaner at diagnosis of T2D than white individuals. The team sought to understand the ethnic distribution of cases of early-onset T2D in adults. The team performed a cross-sectional study of individuals with T2D of white, South Asian (SA), or African-Caribbean (AC) ethnicity from an anonymised population dataset of 1,407,990, which had been compiled from general practice records in North West London. All cases of T2D were included in the analysis where the individuals last clinical encounter occurred between April 2015 and December 2019. The researchers defined early-onset T2D if the affected individual was diagnosed between 18-44 years old, irrespective of their current age. Using these data, they calculated the proportion of cases of T2D by age of diagnosis and grouped by decade, as well as the mean BMI for each ethnicity. A further comparison was made between those individuals currently aged 18-44 years to those aged 55-79 years, all of whom had lived with T2D for less than 5 years. The authors found that across the sample group as a whole, the overall prevalence of T2D across all ages was 6.5%, however there were significant differences in the proportion of each ethnicity living with the disease. T2D was present in 3.4% of white patients, compared to 10.1% and 8.3% of SA and AC individuals, respectively. The proportion of cases by decade of onset also varied significantly by ethnicity. In white individuals 15.7% of cases were classed as early-onset, and there was a peak of 28.8% of diagnoses taking place within the 55-64 years age group. The proportion of early-onset cases was significantly higher in SA individuals at 30.7%, while their peak decade was among the 45-54 years age group during which 31.2% of diagnoses occurred. Those of AC background also had a higher proportion of early-onset diabetes with 25.8% of cases being found in individuals aged 18-44 years; and the most common age range for onset was also 45-54 years, making up 30.7% of diagnoses. The researchers discovered that across all ethnicities the mean BMI of patients who had lived with T2D for less than 5 years was significantly higher in those currently aged 18-44 years than in individuals diagnosed aged 55-79 years. BMI for both age groups was highest in white individuals, significantly lower among AC people, and lowest in the SA group. In white individuals currently aged 18-45 (n=563), BMI was 34.8kg/m2 vs 31.8 for 55-79 yrs (n=3921). SA people had significantly lower BMI than white, but similar trends; BMI 30.3 kg/m2 (18-45, n=3806) vs 28.6 (55-79, n=8090). In AC individuals, BMI was 33.7 (18-45, n=475) and 31.0 age (55-79, n=1595). The authors say: "Early adult-onset type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects South Asian and African-Caribbean ethnicities; compared to white individuals with early-onset T2D, the SA prevalence is double and AC prevalence 60% higher." "In all ethnic groups, early-onset T2D is associated with significant obesity but the trend observed in previous studies of South Asian individuals developing T2D at a lower BMI than other ethnic groups is maintained for those patients presenting the disease early in adulthood, just as in late adulthood." The team conclude: "Early-onset T2D in adults disproportionately affects people from minority ethnic groups in the UK and is associated with a higher level of obesity compared to those diagnosed at later age. We now need to investigate and understand why south Asian and African-Caribbean people appear to be at such higher risk of developing T2D at early age in order to address this growing health crisis." ### New Delhi: The Delhi Commission for Women on Friday issued a notice to the principal of Miranda House over a circular issued by the college imposing a ban on taking selfies and combing hair in its corridors. The DCW notice comes after few students had approached the commission complaining about the misogynistic notice. We have received a representation from students alleging that discriminatory practices being adopted by college and such a misogynistic circular has been issued. We have asked for a point-wise reply from the college on the students complaint within 7 days, a DCW official said. While Hamas had for years been keen on hiding how it was receiving its weapons and combat equipment from outside the Palestinian territories, it decided to unveil, for the first time ever, some of these security and military secrets. The program What is Hidden is Greater broadcast by the Qatari Al Jazeera channel on Sept. 13 presented exclusive footage showing members of Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, collecting Iranian Fajr missiles and Kornet Anti-Tank shells. Hamas said the movement received those weapons by land and sea, bypassing military bases, aviation and maritime patrols, and it revealed the manufacturing of new missiles constructed of Israeli missile remnants from the 2014 war on Gaza. The program was presented by Palestinian journalist Tamer al-Mashal and hosted by Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas political bureau, and a number of Hamas military leaders. During the program, Haniyeh claimed the United States tried to open a discreet channel with Hamas, but the group refused to do so. The United States has meanwhile sanctioned Hamas and Haniyeh as terrorists. US Ambassador-at-Large Nathan Sales, the State Departments coordinator for counterterrorism, slammed Haniyeh during a press briefing on Sept. 17, saying, "Our position is very clear. Hamas is a designated terrorist organization. We do not regard him as a legitimate political actor." Rami Abu Zubaydah, a Palestinian military expert and part-time researcher at the Egyptian Institute for Studies, told Al-Monitor, Hamas sudden disclosure aims to prove that the [Israeli] siege on Gaza has not prevented it from developing its military infrastructure, given the strenuous efforts it has been deploying to confront Israeli plans to prevent the arrival of weapons and ammunition supplies and to manufacture whatever missile components are available locally. This comes at a time when Arab-Israeli cooperation has emerged in a bid to weaken the Iranian-led axis of resistance that includes Syria, Gaza and Lebanon. It also comes in light of new alliances in the region to place pressure on Hamas." Hamas attempts to acquire weapons and equipment face many obstacles. Besides Israel, the Egyptian border with Gaza has been witnessing accelerated events since 2013. The Egyptian army targeted the border tunnels used to smuggle weapons inside Gaza. Also, deep-water basins have been dug on the Egyptian side of the Gaza border to prevent the digging of such tunnels and create a buffer zone. Buffer walls were constructed along the border, and most recently, the Berenice military base was established [by Egypt] on the southern coast of the Red Sea in January 2020, with Emirati funding, to prevent Hamas from obtaining weapons. Mahmoud Mardawi, a member of Hamas' national relations bureau and a former leader of al-Qassam Brigades, told Al-Monitor, Hamas wanted to shed light on the [past] efforts of Syria, Iran and Sudan in supplying it with weapons and equipment. This explains, according to Hamas, the conspiracy against Sudan to hinder its role in serving the Palestinian cause (in reference to the 2019 coup against the former regime). Syria is already absent due to its preoccupation with its civil war. Meanwhile, Iran continues to support us without restrictions or conditions, he added. Hamas enjoyed strong ties with the former Sudanese regime of Omar al-Bashir. Sudan had for years helped smuggle weapons to the Gaza Strip through the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. That is, until the coup against Bashir, when Sudan cut ties with the Palestinian movement. For its part, Syria had long supported Hamas on the military level, before the civil war broke out. Meanwhile, an arms dealer in Gaza revealed to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the military factions in Gaza, headed by Hamas, possess distinct types of Iranian R-160 and Fajr-5 missiles with a range of 100 kilometers (62 miles). They also have drones and anti-tank missiles and shoulder-launched rockets produced by Russia. They also plan to acquire Chinese C-704 missiles, anti-ship missiles with a range of 35 kilometers (21 miles) and radar systems for guided missiles. The source added, The weapons needed in Gaza are the Grad missiles, the upgraded Katyusha with a range of 40 kilometers (24 miles), anti-armor charges, explosive belts, hand grenades with a range of 150 meters, rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft machine guns. Wassef Erekat, a former PLO artillery unit commander, told Al-Monitor, Hamas disclosure will fuel more Egyptian concerns and lead Egypt to tighten the siege on Gaza even though the movements weapons are locally manufactured or recycled and have a shelf life and expiration. These weapons do not meet the international weapons production standards, and a number of harmful criteria, such as humidity, temperature and gravity, may affect them. The Israeli Ministry of Defense has issued several reports about weapons smuggled into Gaza in special packages delivered by speedboats from Egyptian and Lebanese ports and left in the Mediterranean Sea, or in barrels thrown from a specific distance into the water within accurate measurements of the water movement and air currents capable of leading them to the shores of Gaza. It is very difficult to stop such operations because it is impossible to monitor every centimeter of the coast to try to find such small packages, according to the ministry. Hussam al-Dajani, a political science professor at Al-Ummah University in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, The timing of Hamas disclosure of its military secrets is not spontaneous, as it coincides with important events. Chief among these is the regional and international struggle over gas fields in the Eastern Mediterranean and the show of naval strength in the region. Second, it comes at a time when the Palestinian factions held a meeting in Beirut. Third, it coincided with the anniversary of the 1993 Oslo Accord and the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. Fourth, it coincided with the normalization of some Arab countries relations with Israel. A Hamas official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, There seems to be a link between the timing of Hamas revelations on Sept. 13 and the signing of the peace agreements between Israel on the one hand [and] the UAE and Bahrain on the other in Washington on Sept. 15. Hamas may be responding to these agreements by showing off its military [strength] against Israel, as the timing also coincides with the 15th anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 as if it was a message from Hamas that the withdrawal was a result of its military operations against the Israeli army and settlers. As Hamas was revealing its secrets, the movements military positions across the Gaza Strip were being hidden to avoid Israeli strikes. Hamas was also making sure to hide the trucks transporting weapons and workshops for arms manufacturing. VHA Community Partnership Challenge Community Partnership Spotlight: Senior Companions help Veterans live independent lives This is the second in a series of articles about how various VA and VHA offices, initiatives, and programs support social determinants of healththe theme of the 2020 VHA Community Partnership Challenge. This article features a 2020 submission from the Richard VA Roudebush Medical Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, about how senior companions are helping Veterans live independent lives. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides comprehensive health services to Americas Veterans. VHA, alone, is unable provide every service to every Veteran due to legislative guidance and, at times, limited access to some services within VHA in the local area. Partnerships between VHA and nongovernmental organizations result in more options for Veterans by increasing the available resources and providing services to Veterans, including those not eligible for VHA care. The VHA Community Partnership Challenge (CPC) is an annual contest that recognizes local and national partnerships serving Veterans. By spreading the word about successful partnerships and encouraging their replication across VHA, the CPC is inspiring more VHA staff members to form local and national partnerships, further expanding the delivery of services. The theme of the 2020 VHA CPC is the social determinants of health (SDOH). SDOH are conditions in the environments in which people live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Examples of SDOH are access to transportation, food security, education, housing, spiritual support, and employment. In addition to the winners from the 2020 CPC that were recently announced, VHA is highlighting some of the other outstanding partnership submissions from across the country. Senior Companionship Helps Veterans Live Independent Lives The partnership between the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center (Roudebush VAMC) and Catholic Charities matches volunteers, called Senior Companions, with Veterans who live independently and can use extra help around the house. The senior companions provide the Veterans with spiritual support, cooking and cleaning assistance, transportation to and from their appointments, and much more. In many ways, these senior companions act as friends to Veterans and bring joy to their everyday lives. The partnership currently serves 15 Veterans in the Indianapolis area, and each act of service helps improve access to SDOH for these Veterans, including education, food security, housing, and transportation. The partnership also benefits Veteran caregivers, as caregivers are able to take respite while senior companions are with the Veteran. The Roudebush VAMC noted that Catholic Charities are driven to care for Veterans in the area. The staff and volunteers of Catholic Charities Indianapolis are called by the Gospel to uphold the dignity of all people, said Catholic Charities. Guided by Catholic social teaching, we consider it a privilege to deliver compassionate and caring service to help and empower those in need. Laura E. Ruzick, medical center director at Roudebush VAMC, added the partnership between Roudebush VAMC and Catholic Charities has been instrumental in helping Indiana Veterans remain independent in their homes by providing companionship and overall support. By adding this extra layer of assistance, it creates a network of support which is empowering for our Veterans and the communities where they live. Catholic Charities currently supports 12 Senior Companion programs across the United States, including programs in Indiana, Washington, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, California, and New York. Partnerships like the one between Roudebush VAMC and Catholic Charities are crucial for increasing access to the SDOH for Veterans, said Dr. Tracy Weistreich, nurse executive for VHAs Office of Community Engagement (OCE). Recognizing programs like this one between Roudebush VAMC and Catholic Charities showcases the amazing and creative ways VHA employees amplify their local influence and serves as an inspiration for others to make a positive, lasting impact on Veterans health and well-being. OCE hosts the CPC each year to highlight outstanding community-level partnerships, and to encourage others to create the same or similar partnerships to benefit Veterans. OCEs mission is to serve as a trusted resource and a catalyst for the growth of effective partnerships at the national, state, and community level and as a facilitator and access point for public and private entities interested in partnering with VHA to benefit Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. For more information on OCEs work or to contact OCE for partnership opportunities, please visit: https://www.va.gov/healthpartnerships/. External Link Disclaimer: This page contains links that will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites. Posted September 09, 2020 Art in Egypt under the Romans: painting Through the good conservation conditions in the arid climate of Egypt, there are many object categories preserved in this country, not known from other parts of the Ancient world. Paintings on wooden boards are well-known from ancient literature. Well-preserved examples have survived only in Egypt. There are the mummy portraits, showing a more or less realistic portrait of a person. There are also other examples of paintings on wooden boards, which must have served a different function. Paintings on other materials, such as wall-paintings, must have been very common as well but are not so well represented in the Petrie Museum. FARMINGTON, Conn., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TRUMPF's Laser Technology Division has announced a distributorship with NCS Technologies in order to grow their sales channel for TruPrint additive manufacturing systems throughout the U.S. NCS Technologies will also represent TRUMPF's Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) products but have a deeper focus on additive systems such as the TruPrint 2000, which offers a unique combination of process speed and build volume for a broad range of users. "We are excited about this new partnership with NCS Technologies. It will enable us to reach new customers that can leverage TRUMPF additive manufacturing technology who may not otherwise be familiar with our products," said Jack Pennuto, Director of Sales for TRUMPF Inc. Laser Division. NCS Technologies, Inc. is a distributor for Trumpf TruPrint Additive Products. NCS, based in Gainesville, VA, USA, is a leading distributor and reseller of 3D Printing solutions for federal and state governments, the military and commercial markets. NCS Technologies is a leading domestic computer manufacturer and supplier of IT solutions. NCS also represents polymer and fiber 3D printing solutions and have now joined forces with TRUMPF as provider of 3D metal printing solutions to expand and complement their current portfolio. "For more than 20 years NCS Technologies has provided technical solutions to customers with requirements ranging from clear and straight forward to unique and complex," said Joe Andrews, Director, 3D Print and Services. "With our headquarters in Northern Virginia, our goal is to provide the solution that best fits the needs of our customers. NCS Technologies is excited to have the opportunity to bring the TRUMPF portfolio of metal 3D printers to our customers in the industries we serve. We believe the quality, speed and capabilities of these systems will allow us to provide solutions to our customers from industrial to medical applications." About TRUMPF The high-technology company TRUMPF offers production solutions in the machine tool and laser sectors. It is driving digital connectivity in manufacturing industry through consulting, platform and software offers. TRUMPF is the world technological and market leader for machine tools used in flexible sheet metal processing, and also for industrial lasers. In 2018/19 the company which has about 14,500 employees achieved sales of 4.3 billion dollars. With over 70 subsidiaries, the TRUMPF Group is represented in nearly all the countries of Europe, North and South America, and Asia. It has production facilities in Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, the USA, Mexico, China and Japan. TRUMPF is a technology and global market leader in the industrial laser and laser system sectors. In the field of additive manufacturing (AM), the company has the two relevant technologies, laser metal fusion and laser metal deposition, in its program. As a laser and machine manufacturer, TRUMPF masters the entire process chain and offers a comprehensive solution for the industrialization of AM. Customers profit from robust and reliable machines for series production. For more information about TRUMPF go to www.trumpf.com About NCS Technologies NCS Technologies, a computer manufacturer, reseller and system integrator, is a leading supplier of printing and computing solutions to the U.S. government, the military, state and local government and commercial customers. For more information about NCS Technologies go to www.ncst.com Press contact: Emily Simone Public Relations & Media Representative Office: 1-860-255-6518 Mobile: 1-860-736-4223 Email: [email protected] For NCS Technologies: John Callahan Vice President, Marketing Email: [email protected] SOURCE NCS Technologies, Inc. Related Links https://www.ncst.com Police in Vietnam have seized 324,000 used condoms which were being recycled to be sold again. Paid workers were tasked with cleaning the rubber contraceptives before reshaping them with wooden dildos. The condoms were then repackaged before being resold to the public and thousands had already been sent out to the unsuspecting public. Police in Vietnam have seized 324,000 used condoms which were being recycled to be sold again Paid workers were tasked with cleaning the rubber contraceptives before reshaping them with wooden dildos The operation was being run from a warehouse in the province of Binh Duong in the south of Vietnam The operation was being run from a warehouse in the province of Binh Duong in the south of Vietnam. Police raided the warehouse on Saturday and seized the used prophylactics. Pham Thi Thanh Ngoc, 33, the owner of the warehouse, was arrested and claimed she had been receiving the condoms once a month from an unknown person. She allegedly cleaned, dried and sorted the condoms before selling them again to the public as if they were new, according to local news site VN Explorer. The condoms were repackaged before being resold to the public and thousands had already been sent out to the unsuspecting public Pham Thi Thanh Ngoc, 33, the owner of the warehouse, was arrested and claimed she had been receiving the condoms once a month from an unknown person. The owner allegedly cleaned, dried and sorted the condoms before selling them again to the public as if they were new The condoms were confiscated as evidence but will be disposed of immediately because they are considered dangerous medical waste. A government official said: 'Condoms are classified as medical items, so we will take a look at the several laws that the owner has broken.' It is not known how many condoms had already been sold but the load found by police weighed 360kg. Local reports said they were being supplied to hotels and market stalls near the warehouse. The condoms were confiscated as evidence but will be disposed of immediately because they are considered dangerous medical waste A team of undergraduates aims to elevate Binghamton Universitys stature by sending a rocket into space. Seniors Jacob Goodman, Alex Blumenthal and Jeremy Gendler are leading the effort, dubbed AeroBing. They aim to send a rocket past the Karman line, the international boundary between Earths atmosphere and outer space. Its 100 kilometers or 62 miles above Earths mean sea level. Only one school, University of Southern California, has managed to do it so far. Wed like to be significantly past the Karman line, such that we are certain that we were in space, says Goodman, the project lead. And by doing that, we would achieve certainty that we were in space and beat the altitude record as well. In short, says Gendler: Were going to shatter their record. The group is working to see if it can have military radar track the rockets progress. Guinness World Records may also take an interest. The burning question for us is not whats up there, Gendler says. Its what were capable of. Goodman, Blumenthal and Gendler have been working on the project for nearly a year, and they bring lots of backyard rocket experience to the endeavor. As a kid, I was always doing all sorts of rocketry stuff, launching model rockets, says Gendler, a Chicago native and chief engineer on the project. My mom would buy me a kit, and I didnt want the kit. I wanted to build my own rocket. After a family friend who was an Israeli flight engineer came for a visit, Gendler says, he became downright obsessive about building airplanes and launching rockets. I went to my local synagogue and asked if they would clear the parking lot for me because I was launching to the moon, he recalls. I was indulged by the administrators, but you can imagine that the launch from the South Side of Chicago didnt happen. In the summer before his junior year at Binghamton, Gendler was walking on campus with a friend. He remembers telling him, Listen, you know what? By the time Im 25, I want to put something into space. So, he says, it felt a bit like destiny when Goodman, a fellow mechanical engineering major from New Rochelle, approached him about the project. Goodman enjoyed a few minutes of fame early in the pandemic when he built a prototype of a ventilator in his dorm room one weekend using parts he found at Wal-Mart. He has been friends with Blumenthal since they were roommates during their first year at Binghamton. Blumenthal, a chemistry and materials science major from Easton, Pa., took his first flight lesson when he was about 10 years old and recently earned his pilot license. He says the team doesnt have a launch date yet but expects it will be in late spring 2021. Until then, says Blumenthal, chief operating officer for the project, AeroBing will be building and testing many smaller rockets. To figure out, OK, does this system work? Are we getting the accurate height? Are our wind models accurate? Weve got to make a bunch of scale models, Gendler says. So this next year, all the way up until the launch, is going to be hundreds of hours of research and several small launches. Working with advisor Bruce Murray, professor and chair of mechanical engineering, and additional faculty mentors, AeroBing includes three senior design projects, a signature of the Watson College of Engineering and Applied Sciences undergraduate curriculum. The students worked on the project all summer, experimenting with fiberglass and running through different mathematical models. You can simulate it all day and night, but you learn a lot when you actually get your hands dirty and start building it, Goodman says. Along with Blumenthal, Goodman and Gendler, another 12 students from STEM majors are on the design team. Gendler says the group, which is organized like a small company, is a beautiful hybrid, with expertise in different areas and a variety of styles of working and thinking. This symbiosis has given our team such strength, he says. AeroBing has a budget of roughly $100,000 and space in the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator in Binghamton. The students have developed a marketing plan, solicited sponsors and established social media channels, so the project requires mastering skills outside of engineering as well. Theyll also have to clear some bureaucratic hurdles. The Federal Aviation Administration will require the group to apply for permission to launch. The students will be expected to predict the rockets trajectory and where it will land. AeroBings rocket, called Ambition-III, will be built in Binghamton. It will likely be launched from somewhere in New Mexico or California. If we wanted to launch on the East Coast, it would have to land in the ocean, which is something we really dont want to do, Blumenthal says. So we are going to be going out West for a launch site. The team hopes to spread a love for aerospace education and bring some attention to upstate New York. Weve just had a dream to launch a rocket for a while, Goodman says. Itll help us professionally, but thats really not the end goal here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 02:59:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese and South Sudanese officials attend a signing ceremony for the construction of the Jur River bridge, in Juba, capital of South Sudan, on Sept. 24, 2020. South Sudan on Thursday signed a deal with the Chinese government that will lead to construction of the Jur River bridge linking Juba to the Bahr El Ghazal region and its northern neighbor Sudan. (Chinese Embassy in South Sudan/Handout via Xinhua) JUBA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Thursday signed a deal with the Chinese government that will lead to construction of the Jur River bridge linking Juba to the Bahr El Ghazal region and its northern neighbor Sudan. Simon Mijok Mijak, Minister of Roads and Bridges said the project will be funded through a grant from the Chinese government. "This is a great day for the people of South Sudan and Greater Bahr El Ghazal and Western Bahr El Ghazal in particular, today we have signed a supplementary agreement on the implementation of Jur River bridge in Wau. This was one of the pledges of President Salva Kiir during his visit in October 2013 to Western Bahr El Ghazal," Mijak told journalists in Juba during the signing ceremony. He disclosed that during President Salva Kiir's visit to Beijing, the Chinese government agreed to support the construction of the Jur River Bridge, in an effort to develop the youngest nation. The initial agreement was signed in August 2019, and this latest is necessary to speed implementation of the work, according to Mijak. "The signing of today is a cornerstone of our strong and unshakeable relationship between South Sudan and China. This is another tremendous achievement of the government for the people of South Sudan," said Mijak. Hua Ning, Chinese ambassador to South Sudan, said the support from China demonstrates Beijing's commitment toward the future development of South Sudan. "Today, I am very pleased to join the signing ceremony of the Jur River Bridge Project, which demonstrates the Chinese government's firm commitment to the future development of our cooperation, friendship and our support for the long-term development of South Sudan," said Hua. He disclosed that the project is already underway with the first shipment of construction materials arriving from China. Hua added that the project will play a key role in connecting people in Bahr El Ghazal region, promoting local trade, business and transportation. He noted that China will continue to support South Sudan's economic recovery and development besides offering humanitarian aid. "We are glad to see the South Sudanese government has established an economic crisis management committee, and China is happy to extend her helping hand for the economic recovery and we are also mobilizing necessary resources for the future development of South Sudan's economy," said Hua. He said that bridges and highways are essential for stimulating economic growth and attracting foreign direct investments to South Sudan. "China is now boasting the largest highway network and we have built a lot of great bridges. We very much wish to share our knowledge and expertise with our South Sudanese counterparts. We hope that the roads and bridges will bring more benefits to the local people while we continue to advance the peace process," said Hua. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 03:41:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi authorities said on Thursday that the flights between Iraq and Iran will be suspended for 15 days. A statement by the Iraqi Ministry of Transport said that the flights will be suspended from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9, in response to an official request from the Iranian Aviation Authority. The decision includes "all direct flights from local airports to the airports of the Islamic Republic of Iran, after the announcement of detecting coronavirus cases in some Iranian areas," the statement said. On Sept. 19, the Iraqi Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, decided not to receive pilgrims from any country for the religious events in Iraq, including the major Shiite ritual of Arbaeen, in an attempt to contain the increasing number of COVID-19 infections in the country. Earlier in the day, the Iraqi Health Ministry said that the total number of infections in the country has reached 337,106. Enditem A 62-year-old Syracuse woman was stabbed during a burglary Tuesday afternoon, police said. She is expected to survive. Two men broke into the womans house in the 700 block of Barnes Avenue before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, a Syracuse Police Department spokesman said in a news release. The woman encountered the men and was stabbed by one of them several times, said Sgt. Matthew Malinowski, the department spokesman. The woman suffered injuries to her shoulder, neck and head, Malinowski said. She was transported to Upstate University Hospital, and is expected to live, he said. Police did not identify the woman. The suspects fled on foot, police said. Police officers are actively investigating and asking for the publics help. Anyone with information can call the department at 315-442-5222. On Thursday, Wong was arrested on a routine visit to a police station, where he must report twice weekly under bail terms relating to his previous charges, he said. Koo Sze-yiu, a longtime activist, was also arrested. Police officers, who did not name the men, confirmed that two male suspects ages 23 and 74 were arrested on suspicion of participating in an unauthorized assembly, related to a march on Oct. 5. So here we go again. Just as he did in 2016, Donald Trump has intimated that he will not let the result lie if he loses November's presidential election to his Democratic Party rival. "Well, we're going to have to see what happens," Trump said when asked whether he'd commit to a peaceful transition, one of the cornerstones of American democracy. Reaching for statements about mail-in ballots and casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election Trump has also suggested that he is planning for the result of the election to be decided by the Supreme Court. For Trump, this is par for the course. He was always going to run this campaign in the exact image of his last. Not painting himself as a loser, but a "winner", is a key part of that. He cares little for the constitutional norms he has to run over in the process. The 45th president sees nothing different in this approach, he knows only one way to campaign. However, we are sitting in a much different landscape than we were in 2016. Then, Trump really was the outsider his utterances not taken as seriously as they should have been by many, under the assumption that Hillary Clinton would win. Now, he is the incumbent having been at the levers of power for nearly four years. Not only do his words carry more weight, but we are currently nearing the end of a term where Trump has run roughshod over convention wherever it suits his needs. His is the politics of the personal most noticeably about himself. Fear has been a key issue, on both sides of the political spectrum. Trump has played on the fears of his own supporters about what is happening to "their" country and what will happen to their freedoms. On the other side, you have fears from Democrats about where the country is going and how the election will be conducted; fear and anger from the Black community in particular about how they are treated and fear from immigrants and refugees about what the future holds for them. Add in the incendiary nature of a change to the Supreme Court that could alter American life for the next generation, and the constant spectre of military and militia groups on the streets and you have a country that is fractured in a way that leaves it at risk of an earthquake of a significant magnitude. You could argue that in following his 2016 playbook Trump isn't completely aware of how dangerous his rhetoric is (well, he has got away with it for more than three years) but I believe that is letting him off the hook. It is his ego that is Trump's driving force, above all else and even if he could play dumb, there are plenty in the White House and Congress that are aware of the stakes. So what to do in this dangerous moment? We have been in a contested election before in the last 20 years George W Bush vs Al Gore in 2000. But that involved two candidates who realised the position they were in and abided by those conditions however much jockeying there was for position. This time, it appears it will only be Joe Biden and the Democrats who will follow such conventions. This will put them at a disadvantage allowing Trump to use their calls for calm as a weakness. If there is one thing in Trump's character it is that he won't ignore a change to do so. There is no ultimate umpire in a US election, the system is not built that way (at least until we get to the Supreme Court, but again, at its core that is a subjective judgement by nine people if you are minded to ignore convention). However, the Democratic Party have little choice but to live by the conventions that have underpinned American democracy for two centuries and that is one of many reasons why Trump's words are so dangerous. Google celebrated the 80th birthday of Arati Saha, an Indian long distance swimmer, with a mesmerising doodle on September 24. On 29 September 1959, Saha became the first Asian woman to cross the English Channel, swimming breathtaking 42 miles from Cape Gris Nez, France to Sandgate, England - a feat considered the swimming equivalent of climbing Mount Everest. On her 80th birth anniversary, Google dedicated her a doodle illustrated by Kolkata native and guest artist Lavanya Naidu. In the doodle, Naidu showed the route covered by Saha in her swimming stint to become the first Asian woman to swim across the English Channel. Saha was born in Kolkata on September 24, 1940, in a middle-class Bengali Hindu family. At the age of four years, Arati learned to swim on the banks of the Hooghly River. Her precocious skill in the water soon attracted the mentorship of one of Indias top competitive swimmers, Sachin Nag. Under Nags wing, Saha won her first swimming gold medal when she was only five-year-old. At the age of 11 years, Saha, a record-setting prodigy, became the youngest member and one of only four women on the first team to represent the newly independent India in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. 18-year-old Saha made her first attempt to cross the English Channel. Though it was unsuccessful, she never gave up and keep trying. Just over a month later, she conquered miles of churning waves and currents to complete the journey, a historic victory for women across India. The government of India honoured Saha for her enduring achievements by presenting her Padma Shri award in 1960. She became the countrys first-ever female recipient of the fourth-highest civilian award in India. Judge orders church services outside Planned Parenthood clinic to move across the street Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A church operating outside an abortion clinic in Washington state will continue to hold services directly adjacent to the facility after a court order was issued this week and forced it to make changes. A Washington Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction Monday ordering the Church at Planned Parenthood, a monthly service held outside a Planned Parenthood facility in Spokane organized by Covenant Church, to move its services across the street from the facility and coordinate service times to avoid coinciding with the clinics hours of operation. The ruling comes three months after Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho filed a lawsuit against the church and five of its pastors and leaders accused of recklessly disrupting the normal functioning of a health care facility by making noise that unreasonably disrupts the piece within the facility. The courts decision today recognizes the importance of meaningful access to healthcare for all Washingtonians, the Planned Parenthood affiliate tweeted in response to the ruling. The chief executive of the regional Planned Parenthood organization had previously referred to TCAPP worshippers as bullies who are trying to take away care from young women, men, the LGBTQ community and black, indigenous people of color in Spokane. The Church at Planned Parenthood, founded in 2018, describes itself as a worship service at the gates of Hell and a gathering of Christians for the worship of God and the corporate prayer for repentance for this nation, repentance for the apathetic church and repentance of our blood guiltiness in this abortion holocaust. TCAPP attorney Tracy Tribbett responded to the court decision by implying that officials at the local Planned Parenthood want to take away their First Amendment rights. Plaintiffs (Planned Parenthood) do not like the speech that is occurring outside of their walls, they want it completely eradicated, Tribett said in a statement. People do not picket away from the place where they have an issue. Planned Parenthood officials are scared of our prayers and our worship, Ken Peters, the pastor of Covenant Church, contended in a previous interview with The Christian Post. We arent there to bother them, we are there to touch Heaven and be a light to the world, Peters explained. We are there to be a prophetic statement that we, the church dont approve of killing life inside the womb. On Tuesday, just one day after the ruling, Peters announced on Twitter that a TCAPP service was taking place that evening but with modifications to accommodate the court order. ATTENTION: Due to Judges Leftist Order New Service Time for TCAPP Tonight! You are welcome to come pray at 6 pm BUT the ACTUAL WORSHIP Service starts at 7! Based on a picture posted on social media by Peters of the Tuesday night service, the court ruling did not hamper turnout. In a statement, Spokane Police Department Sgt. Terry Preuninger said that the court did not grant law enforcement authority to criminally enforce violations of the injunction. Preuninger said the department will report any suspected violations of the civil injunction to the court for review. He vowed the police will continue to work to protect people and property, ensure the health center is able to operate without disruption and to enforce local and state laws. According to Peters, the battle is not over. He is willing to take the legal battle to the Supreme Court if necessary. The pastor commented on the court order in a video posted Monday. Planned Parenthoods lawsuit not only seeks a permanent injunction against the church services but also seeks damages of $5,000 per day for each day that defendants interfered with Plaintiffs operation. Peters is hardly the only pro-life activist that has tried to send a message to Planned Parenthood, Americas largest abortion provider. Independent journalist Tayler Hansen has started the Baby Lives Matter movement. Hansen hoping to raise awareness for the hundreds of thousands of unborn babies aborted at Planned Parenthood facilities every year by painting murals in front of Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide that read Baby Lives Matter. Earlier this month, pro-life activists in Baltimore, Maryland who are not affiliated with the Baby Lives Matter movement, painted a mural with the words Black Preborn Lives Matter in front of their local Planned Parenthood clinic. United Methodist regional body supports changing logo, claims its unintentionally racist Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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. New York, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation today announced the awarding of its Young Investigator Grants, valued at more than $10.3 million, to 150 of the worlds most promising young scientists. The grants, awarded annually, support the work of early career investigators with innovative ideas for groundbreaking neurobiological research seeking to identify causes, improve treatments and develop prevention strategies for psychiatric disorders. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $418 million in research grants to more than 6,000 scientists globally. This years Young Investigators are studying some of the most challenging conditions including addiction, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia, as well as research on suicide prevention. The recipients were selected by the Foundations Scientific Council, comprised of 181 leading experts across disciplines in brain and behavior research, including one Nobel Prizewinner; three former directors of the National Institute of Mental Health; four recipients of the National Medal of Science; 11 members of the National Academy of Sciences; 16 National Institute of Health Chiefs & Directors; 41 chairs of psychiatry and neuroscience departments at leading medical institutions; and 54 members of the National Academy of Medicine. BBRF Young Investigators represent a new generation of scientists who will pioneer breakthroughs in mental health research, says Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., President and CEO, of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. With these grants, outstanding researchers are able to pursue bold new ideas to answer important questions or help identify potentially game-changing targets for treatment. The awards function as seed funding for new directions that would otherwise be highly unlikely. Herbert Pardes, M.D., President of the Foundations Scientific Council and Executive Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, says, BBRF Young Investigator Grants have led to groundbreaking and important new research that has improved the lives of people living with mental illness. These scientists are making great strides in basic research, new technologies, next-generation therapies and early intervention techniques. This kind of out-of-the box research offers the best hope for change. This year, the Foundations Scientific Council reviewed 1,012 applications to select the 150 Young Investigators. The breakdown of funding is as follows: About 80 percent of the projects funded are basic research, the wellspring of innovation in brain research to understand what happens in the brain to cause mental illness. About 20 percent of the projects funded specifically aim to develop next-generation therapies, diagnostic tools/early interventions, and/or the development of new technologies to advance or create new ways of studying or understanding the brain. For more detailed information about the Young Investigator Grant recipients, click here. The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation awards research grants to develop improved treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for mental illness. These illnesses include addiction, ADHD, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, and schizophrenia, as well as research on suicide prevention. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $418 million to fund more than 6,000 leading scientists around the world, which has led to over $4 billion in additional funding. 100% of every dollar donated for research is invested in research grants. BBRF operating expenses are covered by separate foundation grants. BBRF is the producer of the Emmy nominated public television series Healthy Minds with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, which aims to remove the stigma of mental illness and demonstrate that with help, there is hope. While patrolling his ranch one night, a San Antonio man came across a creature he had never seen before stalking his herd. The man said he stared at the small, dark-colored predator, and the first thing he thought: "Chupacabra!" The rancher said he hunted the creature for three days on his South Side property in an attempt to keep his livestock safe from the odd-looking animal. The man wished to remain anonymous so Chupacabra enthusiasts wouldn't find his ranch in search of the urban legend. "We have never seen such an animal on our property and were stunned," the rancher said, adding that it resembled the description of the legendary and mythical Chupacabra known for sucking the blood out of livestock and goats. While there are several theories about what the Chupacabra looks like, one suggests it is similar to a hairless canine, standing on four feet similar to what the rancher finally killed to protect his herd. READ ALSO: Urban legend or the real deal? San Antonio Zoo unveils new Chupacabra exhibit After looking at photos of the catch, Rob Coke, director of veterinary care at the San Antonio Zoo, said it was a coyote suffering from mange. Coke said the rancher found the "real world" Chupacabra usually seen in South Texas. The coyote had a mange infection a disease passed through mites that causes hair loss and darkened and dry or scaly skin. The rancher admits as much. "This animal resembles a coyote but smaller and apparently has a skin condition in which it has lost its hair," he said. But that isn't stopping the rancher from having a little fun with the urban legend. The rancher said he saved the animal and is planning on getting it mounted by a taxidermist for his ranch to have its own Chupacabra. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway Examples of light curves extracted from the survey images for faint debris tracks. Owing to the strategies employed by the astronomers, stars appear as near-vertical streaks in the image thumbnails, while the objects of interest manifest as short trails. A significant degree of brightness variation can be seen for both examples. Credit: Blake et al., ASR, 2020 University of Warwick astronomers are warning that orbital debris posing a threat to operational satellites is not being monitored closely enough, as they publish a new survey finding that over 75% of the orbital debris they detected could not be matched to known objects in public satellite catalogs. The astronomers are calling for more regular deep surveys of orbital debris at high altitudes to help characterize the resident objects and better determine the risks posed to the active satellites that we rely on for essential services, including communications, weather monitoring and navigation. The research forms part of DebrisWatch, an ongoing collaboration between the University of Warwick and the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (UK) aiming to provide a fresh take on surveys of the geosynchronous region that have been conducted in the past. The results are reported in the journal Advances in Space Research. The research was part-funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), part of UK Research and Innovation, and was supported by the Royal Society. This survey was optimized to search for faint debris, objects that are too small or poorly reflective to be regularly monitored and recorded in publicly available catalogs. The US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) maintains the most complete public catalog of space objects, using its global Space Surveillance Network (SSN) comprising over 30 ground-based radars and optical telescopes, alongside six satellites in orbit. The SSN is able to monitor high-altitude objects down to roughly 1 meter in diameter. Although certain residents of the geosynchronous region are often referred to as stationary, collisions can still occur with relative velocities of kilometers per second. With this in mind, even small objects could cause a lot of damage to an active satellite. Images from the survey were analyzed using a custom software pipeline designed to pick out candidate debris objects and investigate their brightness over time. The resulting light curves contain a wealth of information about the objects themselves, including their shape, surface properties and attitude, but are also affected by other factors like viewing geometry and atmospheric interference. Disentangling these components remains a very difficult task, and large quantities of high-quality data will be key to developing and refining the necessary techniques. The astronomers focused their survey on the geosynchronous region, located roughly 36,000 kilometers above the Equator, where satellites orbit with a period that matches the Earth's rotation. Far above the outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere, there are no natural mechanisms (like atmospheric drag) to induce orbital decay, so debris generated in the vicinity of the geosynchronous region will remain there for a very long time indeed. To help them uncover faint debris, the astronomers made use of the Isaac Newton Telescope on the Canary Island of La Palma, which has a large 2.54 m aperture, allowing it to collect photons of light over a large area. They used an optimized strategy to ensure that the sunlight reflecting off of candidate objects would fall within the same pixels of the camera, to increase their chances of being detected. Strips of sky were scanned above, along and below the geostationary belt, where most of the operational geosynchronous satellites reside. The majority of the orbital tracks detected by the astronomers had brightnesses corresponding to roughly 1 meter or less. Sure enough, over 95% of these faint detections failed to match with a known object in the publicly available USSTRATCOM catalog, as they are too faint to be regularly and reliably monitored by the SSN. When the researchers included all their detectionsincluding those above and below 1mover 75% failed to match. Lead author James Blake, a Ph.D. student in the University of Warwick Department of Physics, said: "The light curves extracted from our survey images show just how varied these objects can be, both in terms of their physical nature and of their attitude or behavior within orbit. Many of the faint, uncatalogued debris appear to be tumbling, showing significant brightness variation across the observation window. These sorts of features can tell us a lot about the perturbative forces acting on residents of the geosynchronous region, but also highlight that we need to be more careful when making assumptions about the properties of these objects. We need to probe the faint debris population further and obtain more data to gain a better understanding of what's out there. "It's important that we continue to observe the geosynchronous region with large telescopes wherever possible, to start to build up a more complete feel for the faint debris environment. With this survey, we've probed deeper than ever before, and still the population appears to be climbing as our sensitivity limit is reached. While we're dealing with small number statistics here, it's unsurprising that we see many more small, faint objects than large, bright ones." Artificial debris orbiting the Earth can originate for a number of reasons: the satellites themselves become debris when they reach the end of their mission lifetime; rocket bodies abandoned after successfully launching their payloads can explode or break-up after many years in orbit; collisions can occur between orbiting bodies, sometimes resulting in thousands of new fragments; the harsh environment of space can deteriorate satellites over time, shedding bits of insulating blanket and paint flakes. The astronomers are now investigating ways to extract even more information from the survey data, using simultaneous observations that were taken with a second, smaller instrument. They aim to foster new collaborations to ensure this survey can act as a gateway to an enduring activity. Co-author Professor Don Pollacco, from the University of Warwick Department of Physics, said: "This kind of data will be key in the development of algorithms to characterize objects in the geosynchronous region. Remember that we're not dealing with close-up photographs here, even the big satellites appear as non-resolved blobs of light in our images. Light curves offer a great opportunity to learn more about the way these objects behave and what they might be. The more high-quality data we take, the better chance we have of developing these tools." Explore further Space debris observed for the first time during the day More information: James A. Blake et al. DebrisWatch I: A survey of faint geosynchronous debris, Advances in Space Research (2020). James A. Blake et al. DebrisWatch I: A survey of faint geosynchronous debris,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2020.08.008 Prime Minister Modi was interacting with fitness experts and influencers from across the country to mark the one-year anniversary of the 'Fit India Movement.' Modi was keen to know what is Yo-Yo test and asked if the captain also has to pass it or he gets spared? "I heard these days there is a Yo-Yo test for the team, what is this test," asked Modi during the ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Dongwon's canned tuna and canned meat product gift set / Courtesy of Dongwon F&B By Kim Jae-heun Dongwon Food & Beverage (Dongwon F&B), led by CEO Kim Jae-ok, offers 200 types of gift sets for the Chuseok holiday next week. The gift sets include the company's best-selling canned tuna Dongwon Chamchi and canned meat product Richam, which contains selenium and other nutrients. Dongwon's canned tuna is a well-known high-protein and low-fat food that is full of DHA and EPA. Recently, the product has been spotlighted around the world as the perfect relief food in the face of various disasters. Relief foods should contain nutrients necessary for human survival and they must be nonperishable products that can be stored for a long time. Plus, they should be easy to find. Canned tuna products are sterilized at high temperatures so that they can last long without going bad. The food does not include preservatives and the average expiration date is seven years when stored at room temperature. In fact, canned tuna has been selected as one of the essential relief items for the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea and it is continuously provided to support medical workers at hospitals and the socially vulnerable. Since the product launched in 1982, Dongwon's canned tuna has been leading the market. The demand for canned tuna has also increased in the United States, where sales of the relevant products have soared by 29.6 percent in the first half of this year compared to in 2019. America's top canned tuna brand StarKist, which is owned by Dongwon Industries, also saw its revenue increase by 17.5 percent in the same period. Richam is a premium canned precooked meat product that was launched by Dongwon F&B in 2018 after a year of research and development. Dongwon has successfully kept the ham's genuine taste its soft texture while significantly reducing sodium content by more than 20 percent. The product is less salty and its meat content is over 90 percent pork. According to the Customers Council, Richam ranked No.1 in the category of canned ham brands for highest customer loyalty. There is Yangban Kim too, which is Dongwon's seasoned laver product that has been a leader in the market for nine consecutive years. Yangban Kim selects only quality seaweed and toasts it twice. The company has 34 years of tradition in the field of seaweed toasting. New Delhi, Sep 24 : Designer Anju Modi's latest couture collection titled 'Sindoori' 'celebrates the beauty and complexities of a bride' and the ceremony of getting ready for the occasion. Beginning with Haldi and ending with Sindoor (vermilion), it is a tribute to the solemn occasion and marks the festivities in the run up to the nuptials. The collection was launched on Wednesday through a fashion film, streamed online on the final day of the digital India Couture Week, by the Fashion Design Council of India. Modi said the collection is inspired by the "unprecedented time" the world is facing today. Speaking about it, the couturier said: "This is an unprecedented kind of time which we all are facing and enduring. It has brought a whole new perspective and my inspiration comes from here. Very intimate weddings are happening (at present). So of course, the girls are in a state of anxiety. 'How will I look, what should look the best on me?' I suggest they opt for reds, the 'Sindoori' (vermilion) is my inspirational colour..." Modi has taken cues from the artworks of Raja Ravi Varma and the miniature painting tradition to create a line-up that comprises anarkali, lehengas and sarees. Giving a contemporary twist to archival textiles and heritage embroideries, she crafts pieces into modern heirlooms. The ensembles feature mashru, brocades, jamdani and pashminas, zardozi with dabka and mukaish and foil print to create the bridal ensembles. The colours of the outfits are inspired by various traditional items used in an Indian wedding-- 'haldi' (turmeric), and deep wet 'mehendi' (henna) among others. There are hues of soft, creamy ivories and muted marble tones, culminating in red and purple. Chinas Ant Group plans to raise about half of its $35 billion dual listing via the Hong Kong leg, without setting up a cornerstone tranche and betting on strong demand from institutional investors even without lock-up commitments, sources said. Backed by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, Ant plans to list simultaneously in Hong Kong and on Shanghais STAR Market next month, in what could be the worlds largest IPO, surpassing oil giant Saudi Aramcos $29.4 billion float last December. The company is seeking to raise about $35 billion in the dual IPO after assessing early investor interest and based on a higher valuation of about $250 billion or more, Reuters has reported. Ant did not respond to a request for immediate comment. (Reporting by Julie Zhu; editing by Jason Neely) PSNI officers patrol the student area of Belfast known as the Holylands (PA) Students may be prevented from returning home at the weekends if coronavirus continues to spread in Belfast and other university towns, Arlene Foster has warned. Mrs Fosters comments come amid concerns about the potential for students residing together in large numbers during the week bringing Covid-19 back to their local areas. The fears have been intensified by ongoing issues around young people gathering in the Holylands student area of Belfast for house parties in contravention of coronavirus rules. Police issued dozens more Covid-19 notices in the area overnight on Monday, however they highlighted that the majority of offending young people were not actually students. #FreshersNI If you are planning on a get together to get to know your fellow students please be aware of the current Health Protection Regulations. Find out more at: https://t.co/AMjMmu8o9m pic.twitter.com/q7dFH7iBq6 Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) September 21, 2020 Issues around students residing in houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) have been thrown into sharp relief by Stormonts move to ban households gathering together indoors. While the authorities are currently allowing students to continue to travel home at weekends to see family and friends, Mrs Foster cautioned that this could change if the infection rates continue to increase. Were engaging very heavily with the universities because were very much aware of the fact that young people are now back into that sort of a setting, she said. Obviously, we are curbing their restrictions by saying that they should stay within their household bubbles. Asked whether students should be able to continue to go home at weekends, the DUP leader said: Obviously, thats something that were considering at this present moment in time. Were not saying that people shouldnt go home at the weekend at present. And we hope that we dont have to move to that stage, but we may have to if the virus continues to spread in Belfast and indeed in other parts of Northern Ireland where students are residing. Expand Close First Minister Arlene Foster said restrictions on students movements were being considered by the executive (David Young/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp First Minister Arlene Foster said restrictions on students movements were being considered by the executive (David Young/PA) Over Monday night into the early hours of Tuesday, police issued 37 Covid notices, 10 prohibition notices and one community resolution notice in the Holylands and nearby Stranmillis area of south Belfast. PSNI 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. Police have a very simple message to anyone considering visiting or attending parties in this residential part of south Belfast dont. The officer added: Our robust policing operation will continue over the coming days with our partner agencies, including representatives from Belfast City Council and both universities. Australians have been warned not to indulge in any takeaway meals offered on Facebook Marketplace with fears the cheap food could lead to food poisoning. Curries, noodles, cooked meat, desserts, rice dishes and even raw sausages are just some of the items on offer on the advertising platform with some starting at $8. But the Food Safety Information Council has warned it's highly likely the home chefs aren't meeting food safety requirements. Curries, noodles, cooked meat, desserts, rice dishes and even raw sausages are just some of the items on offer on Facebook Marketplace Cathy Moir, chair of the health promotion charity said they became aware of the 'illegal' practice in May after noticing a string of 'high-risk' foods were being sold online. 'These unregulated food sales are a considerable food safety risk. There is a real risk of food poisoning, which, in its worst form can have severe health consequences,' Ms Moir said. 'Not only that, it is illegal. Government and local council enforcement agencies are clamping down on these unregistered food businesses, as and when they become aware of them. 'However, new sellers keep popping up and this is putting a considerable strain on our health services.' Advertising food does not go against any rules of Facebook Marketplace which is commonly used to buy and sell clothes or furniture. The Food Safety Information Council has warned it's highly likely the home chefs aren't meeting the required food safety requirements Thai and Indian dishes were popular on the site along with cakes and other desserts But Ms Moir said cooking at home couldn't ensure the same level of health and safety as registered businesses would have. 'It is unlikely that food prepared in a home kitchen or backyard BBQ would meet these standards,' she said. 'Another reason to be extremely wary of these illegal sellers is a risk of allergic reactions. Licensed sellers must also be aware of any labelling requirements, including the allergens in their food, so they can inform consumers.' There are simple ways to spot if the food is being sold from an unlicensed seller. Ms Moir said to always check whether or not they had a website or social media page for their business. She also said if the food was listed at a home address and much cheaper than usual it was likely to be unregulated. Another seller is seen using Facebook Marketplace to advertise their homemade fish for $40 Another rice dish believed to be cooked at home is available on the platform for $12 Most of the unlicensed vendors offered their meals for 'pick-up only' with prices ranging from around $8 to $35. Indian and Thai dishes were extremely popular along with cakes and other desserts. Some were even offering kangaroo meat for dog food while one was offering salted fish. 'If in doubt, don't take the risk of buying unsafe food. Support your local food businesses instead, either in store or by ordering online,' Ms Moir said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Facebook for comment. Childhood vaccinations have plummeted in the US amid the coronavirus pandemic, a new report finds. Between March and May 2020, 1.7 million fewer vaccinations for children up to age two - who are covered under Medicare or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) - were administered. That's a 22 percent decline from the same time period in 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) revealed on Wednesday. A new report from CMS looked at children who are covered under Medicare or the Childrens Health Insurance Program (file image) Between March and May 2020, 1.7 million fewer vaccinations for children up to age two were administered - a 22% decline (above) According to CMS, 9.6 million children were enrolled in CHIP in 2018, the most recent year for which data is available. Children are deemed eligible if they come from in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but too low to afford private coverage Vaccination rates weren't just lower this year from the year before. They were also lower as 2020 went on. Immunization rates dropped from nearly 700 jabs per 1,000 beneficiaries in January 2020 to about 460 per 1,000 beneficiaries in May 2020. While some states are seeing inoculations return to levels not seen since February, others are only worsening. The report found that Alabama, Connecticut, Kentucky, Nebraska and North Carolina had the highest rates among children under age two as of May 2020 with about 700 to 800 vaccinations per 1,000 beneficiaries. Meanwhile, Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Hawaii and the US Virgin Island had the lowest rates. Rates were between 100 and 200 vaccinations per 1,000 beneficiaries around May 2020. 'To ensure that children catch up on their missed vaccines we need vaccination rates to not only approach those of 2019, but to be much higher, in order to mitigate the 22 percent dip during the early part of the COVID-19,' CMS said in a statement. 'The potential for increased outbreaks of infectious disease due to decreased vaccinations is real, and can result in decreased school attendance, decreased learning and increased childhood illness in general.' In a previous interview, Dr Hanan Tanuos, director of primary care and an associate professor of pediatrics at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, told DailyMail.com the reason for a drop in childhood vaccination is likely two-fold. 'I think part of it of course is the parents are afraid to bring their children out and I think the other part is that the availability of doctors is limited,' she said. States including Alabama, Kentucky and Nebraska had the highest rates, with about 700 to 800 vaccinations per 1,000 beneficiaries (above) Meanwhile, states such as Atizona, California and Hawaii had the lowest rates with between 100 and 200 vaccinations per 1,000 beneficiaries around May 2020 (above) Public health officials have warned for years that vaccines not only protect individuals but the community as a whole in what is known as 'herd immunity'. This occurs when the vast majority of a community - between 80 and 95 percent - becomes immune so that, if a disease is introduced, it is unable to spread. Therefore, those who are unable to be vaccinated, including the ill, very young and very old, are protected. Now, health authorities are worried that falling rates might destroy the herd immunity that had been built up against certain diseases. 'If this goes on for long enough and enough children don't get vaccinated, then we might see small outbreaks of some of these diseases, some more easily than others,' Dr Joseph Schwab, an associate professor of pediatrics at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, told DailyMail.com. Vaccinations were not the only medical services for children from low-income families that saw a decline. There were also 44 percent fewer child screening services that assess physical and cognitive development and 69 percent fewer dental services. 'Not only must state and local agencies, providers, schools and other key stakeholders work on returning to prior year treatment levels, they must also strive to treat the millions of children who have already missed important medical services. This is essential, as missing these services can have long-term negative impacts on childrens health outcomes,' CMS said in a statement. After the lockdown was imposed in late March, however, none of his customers were interested in taking out loans, and he couldnt fulfill the targets set by his manager, who Metre said pressured him to quit. He returned to his village, expecting to stay home for a month or so, then return to the city to look for a new job. But now Metre is worried about going back as cases soar in Bangalore. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- GAC Group and its subsidiaries GAC Trumpchi and GAC NE will showcase a total of 21 concept and vehicles models for sale, and demonstrate its powertrain and health car technologies at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition 2020 (the Auto China 2020). (Trumpchi GM8, photo source: GAC Trumpchi) Seven auto brands of GAC GroupGAC Trumpchi, GAC NE, GAC Honda, GAC Acura, GAC Toyota, GAC FCA and GAC Mitsubishiare all going to exhibit products at the grand motor show. Many of them will launch new models and technologies then. GAC Trumpchi plans to launch the new Trumpchi GM8. GAC NE is about to display such hotter-selling models as the Aion V, the Aion S and the Aion LX, and announce an industry-leading EV-related power technology. At the Auto China, GAC Honda's limited-run Starry Sky version of the tenth-generation Accord and the new VE-1 will make their debuts. Meanwhile, the fourth-generation Fit and the Sport Hybrid family will head for the motor show as well. GAC Acura will bring its entire product lineup to the auto exhibition, including the A-Spec high-performance cars. GAC Toyota's TNGA-based, SUV and hybrid model will be on display at the show. Besides, GAC FCA will showcase the all-new Jeep Wrangler PHEV on spot. GAC Mitsubishi is going to announce its Chinese tagline to unfold its fire new brand image. For the first eight months, GAC Group output and sold 1,165,947 and 1,189,125 vehicles respectively, recording year-on-year decrease of 8.11% and 9.87%. It's Jan.-Aug. retail sales amounted to 1,190,200 units, which was better than the expectation over the market. Philadelphia Department of Human Services Commissioner Kimberly Ali (front left), then a deputy commissioner with DHS, and Cynthia Figueroa (front right), now the Deputy Mayor of the city's Office of Children and Families, speaks during a City Council hearing unrelated to Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health in February 2019. Read more City officials will pull all 53 Philadelphia children out of residential campuses run by Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health after a six-week safety review found that staffers repeatedly failed to watch over them. We found [staffers] doing nothing. They werent doing their jobs, Kimberly Ali, city commissioner of human services, said late Wednesday. They were not watching the children. And if they were doing it, some of them were doing it sporadically. That finding was among those revealed in an Inquirer investigation, published Aug. 11, that detailed how lapses in supervision, training, and care fueled an environment where staffers sexually abused children at Devereux. The day after the story ran, workers with the citys Department of Human Services and Community Behavioral Health (CBH), contracted by the city to place Medicaid recipients in psychiatric residential treatment, were immediately dispatched to Devereuxs three campuses in Chester County. They talked to children, their parents, and Devereux employees. "The article raised issues around young people being sexually abused by staffers at Devereux, and given the fact that Devereux was our provider, of course we wanted to assess the safety of young people at Devereux, Ali said. With headquarters in Villanova, Devereux specializes in treating children with intellectual disabilities, mental disorders, and trauma at 15 residential campuses in nine states, making it the nations leading nonprofit health organization of its kind. It cares for 5,000 children across the country every year. On Wednesday, city social workers began to call families with children at Devereux about alternative placements. The process of relocating children will take several months, Ali said. In a statement Thursday, Devereux said, We are incredibly saddened that we will no longer be able to fulfill our mission and provide the best care available" to these Philadelphia children. Devereux is seeking additional explanation from CBH and DHS. We believe the decision is unjustified and inconsistent with findings of multiple reviews conducted by various independent entities and conversations weve had with CBH and DHS during the past six weeks regarding the quality of care provided in our residential programs, Devereux wrote. The Inquirer investigation detailed how 41 children as young as 12 years old, and with IQs as low as 50, were raped or sexually assaulted by Devereux staff members over the last 25 years. Of those, 10 said they were assaulted at Devereuxs local campuses, while the others were abused at facilities in New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Connecticut, New York, and Arizona. Child welfare workers made 13 unannounced visits, mostly at night, to Devereux facilities and in 15 instances examined closed-circuit video monitoring at the residential facilities. In some cases, the city found that staffers failed to do required bed checks that, depending on the child, should be done as often as every 15 minutes. Staffers are supposed to record the checks in a log, said Donna E.M. Bailey, CEO of Community Behavioral Health. Ali said privacy concerns prohibited her from saying whether her staff recently found cases of abused children. But in cases where abuse is found, the agency can remove the child the same day. The city did not do that at Devereux, she said. There were inconsistencies with regard to what was recorded and what we saw on video, Bailey said. The Inquirer found that Devereux understaffed its campuses and failed to adequately supervise its patients and staff members, who all too often disappeared for hours and slept through shifts. The nonprofit brings in more than $497 million in annual revenue, nearly all of it government funding. In an interview in August, Devereux executives denied that campuses currently have issues with staffing or supervision. In fiscal year 2020, which ended June 30, DHS paid Devereux roughly $7.1 million, most of it for foster-care services. About $1.1 million went to house and treat children with psychiatric, intellectual and behavioral disabilities, which was the focus of The Inquirer investigation. In 2019, CBH paid Devereux $12.9 million. Of that, $7.7 million was for residential treatment facilities, according to city spokesperson Mike Dunn. Ali and Bailey said the other contracts with Devereux, including for foster care and supervised independent living, will continue. That decision fell short of demands by 14 City Council members last month to not only remove local children who lived there but cut all ties with Devereux. During its six-week review, the city gave Devereux multiple chances to fix lapses in supervision, but the problems persisted, Ali and Bailey said. Bailey said the majority of families interviewed as part of the safety assessment told the city that they were satisfied with their childs care at Devereux. Caroline Wests 16-year-old son, Jack, who has autism, has been at Devereux since the end of January. When West received a call Wednesday night that the city plans to move him, she was very upset. I am devastated by the disruption this is going to cause to my childs therapy and progress," West said. "He has received quality care and therapeutic support during his past seven months at Devereux, and I worry that this abrupt transition is going to set his progress back. Children with autism deserve stability, and that is being ripped from them if CBH moves them to a new location mid-course where they have to meet new therapists, staff, and peers, she said. In its statement, Devereux said it was concerned about disruptions: The treatment disruptions to these children and their families is deeply regrettable, and our thoughts are with them as they must now face a series of very difficult transitions and destabilizations. Earlier this month, Devereux hired former U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch to conduct an independent audit of child safety. Lynch served as the countrys top prosecutor from April 2015 to January 2017 during the Obama administration. Ali and Bailey said they are interested in Lynchs findings. They left open the door to restart child placements at Devereux in the future. Chester County Department of Children Youth and Families (CYF) has two teens, ages 17 and 19, living at Devereux, according to a county spokesperson. In response to the article, county child welfare workers interviewed the teens to assess their safety without Devereux staff present, spokesperson Rebecca Brain said in a statement late Thursday. Neither youth reported any concerns or mistreatment. Chesters CYF staff will continue to closely monitor those teens, Brain wrote. Devereux executives have told The Inquirer that they have increased safety and reduced risk by adopting a number of safeguards to prevent abuse and hold staffers accountable since January 2018, when Carl Clark took over as chief executive officer. Reporters have found that since 2018, four Devereux staffers have been charged with sexually abusing 11 children. The state Department of Human Services, which licenses and inspects Devereuxs three Pennsylvania facilities, is conducting its own investigation into the nonprofit, a spokesperson said this week. On Thursday morning, Councilmember Helen Gym said DHS and CBH leaders made the right decision to pull children. She said the state needs to strengthen oversight. The horrific incidents at Devereux are a reminder that the state needs to take immediate action on oversight and reform of this system," she said. "More than ever, our young people need alternatives that are close to home, trauma-informed, and designed to meet their needs. Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu has a habit of bringing bags of dirty laundry with him on official visits to Washington, it was claimed last night. Netanyahu takes advantage of a free laundry service available to all foreign leaders, US officials say. The alleged laundry racket dates back years and aides of both Barack Obama and Donald Trump have described the familiar sight of Israeli laundry bags. While Israeli diplomats deny the allegation, Israeli media says the Washington Post report 'matches years of reporting by Israeli journalists' on the country's longest-serving prime minister. Netanyahu's hold on power is under threat from far more serious graft allegations in Israel, where he is facing trial for allegedly accepting bribes and trading favours with the media and business world. Benjamin Netanyahu with Donald Trump at the White House earlier this month where the Israeli leader signed historic peace accords with Bahrain and the UAE One official said the Netanyahus were 'the only ones who bring actual suitcases of dirty laundry for us to clean' on official visits. 'After multiple trips, it became clear this was intentional,' they said. Netanyahu's long career at the top of Israeli politics goes back to the 1990s and he has met with Presidents Clinton, Obama and Trump on visits to the US, although he was out of office during the Bush years. Another official said Netanyahu had been more sparing on his recent White House visit, where Israel signed historic peace accords with Bahrain and the UAE. This time there were no suitcases of laundry, the official said - while the Israeli embassy said that use of the washing service had been minimal. White House cleaners washed 'a couple of shirts' for the public meeting, a suit for the PM and a dress for his wife Sara, and a pair of pyjamas that Netanyahu wore on the long flight from Israel, the embassy said. It added that the allegations of overusing laundry services in the past were 'groundless and absurd', and designed to distract from the historic peace deals. But Netanyahu has gone into battle to protect his laundry secrets before, suing his own office in 2016 to stop it releasing his washing bills. In a 27-page lawsuit he argued that an examination of his laundry would amount to 'arbitrary interference with his privacy'. Netanyahu, pictured here with Hillary Clinton in 2010, has been to Washington as prime minister under Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Donald Trump Two years later, whistleblower Nir Hefetz claimed that Sara Netanyahu would take four or five suitcases with her on official visits so she could send the contents for dry cleaning. On one occasion she arrived on a foreign visit with eight suitcases of dirty laundry in tow, it was claimed. Last year, Mrs Netanyahu pleaded guilty in a case involving the misuse of state funds to order catered meals. She admitted criminal wrongdoing and was ordered to pay more than $15,000 in a plea deal which saw her avoid prison. The indictment claimed that she and a government employee fraudulently obtained more than $100,000 for hundreds of meals supplied by restaurants. The PM himself has long faced questions over expenses at his official and private homes, as well as a $127,000 charge for fitting a bedroom into a chartered plane to London. Netanyahu, who was sworn into office for a fifth term in May, is currently on trial on corruption charges after being indicted in three criminal cases last year. The 70-year-old, who denies all wrongdoing, is accused in the first case of granting favours to telecommunications firm Bezeq in exchange for favourable coverage of himself and his wife. Netanyahu in Washington in 2010 with vice president Joe Biden - who could be dealing with the Israeli leader again if he wins the November 3 election The second charge alleges that he and Sara received more than $200,000 worth of illegal gifts from an Israeli Hollywood producer and an Australian businessman in return for helping with business interests. The third allegation is that Netanyahu sought better coverage from newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth in exchange for legislation to hamper a rival publication. Netanyahu says he is the victim of a politically orchestrated 'witch hunt' by the media and the left to oust him from office. Loyalists in Netanyahu's Likud Party have accused the justice system of bias, and Netanyahu has said receiving gifts from friends was not against the law. The trial could take years and has already been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. However, the PM has dropped plans to seek parliamentary immunity from the charges amid long political stalemate in Israel. Under a fragile coalition deal following three drawn elections, Netanyahu's rival Benny Gantz is due to take over as prime minister in 2021. However, analysts say another snap election is possible which could cancel the power-sharing deal and allow Netanyahu to stay in power. In hundreds of FBI documents obtained exclusively by RFE/RL, new clues to the suspected poisoning of Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza -- and new details about how serious the U.S. government considered his case. The U.S. government is seeking to delay the release of more than 1,000 pages of documents related to the suspected poisoning of Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, part of a multiyear struggle involving a case that has reached the top levels of the White House, the U.S. intelligence community, and Congress. Hundreds of other FBI and Justice Department documents obtained exclusively by RFE/RL reveal new details about the U.S. investigation into what Kara-Murza believes were two separate, deliberate poisonings by Russian security services. The materials show, among other things, that the FBI sought evidence that Kara-Murza was poisoned and turned to the expertise of a leading U.S. government weapons research laboratory for help in that search. They also suggest that the director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, was directly involved in the matter. The documents, however, do not provide definitive proof that Kara-Murza was deliberately poisoned, and the Russian activist believes the answer may lie in the cache of official records whose release U.S. authorities are now seeking to postpone. The first batch of files was released last week in response to a lawsuit Kara-Murza brought in federal court in an effort to learn exactly what U.S. law enforcement authorities knew about his illnesses, which occurred in 2015 and 2017, and what they did in response. The disclosures come amid heightened international concern that Russian security agencies are growing bolder in the use of poisons or sophisticated toxins to target dissidents or former spies. That includes the case of Aleksei Navalny, the Kremlin opponent who German officials say was poisoned last month with a substance from the Novichok group of nerve agents, which were first developed by the Soviet Union. After providing the first set of documents totaling around 400 pages, the Justice Department then said it had discovered an additional 1,100 pages including "lab results and blood work, but that it would be unable to meet an October 15 deadline to release them to Kara-Murza. His lawyer, Stephen Rademaker, told RFE/RL that they intend to challenge the request for a delay in releasing the additional 1,100 pages. It is hard to comprehend how Vladimir's test results could have been misplaced like this, particularly considering the indications in the documents that were released to us that FBI Director Wray has been personally involved in dealing with this matter, Rademaker said. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a query about the status of the document release. Stop Poking Us In The Eye Though the Soviet-era KGB was known for using sophisticated poisons to target dissidents and defectors, the issue has gained new attention since Vladimir Putin came to power in Russia in 2000. In 2006, former Federal Security Service (FSB) officer Aleksandr Litvinenko died in a British hospital after being exposed to the highly radioactive isotope polonium-210. In March 2018, former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter nearly died in England after being exposed to what later was identified as Novichok, and a woman who accidentally came in contact with the substance died. British authorities blamed Russias military intelligence agency, and scores of Russian diplomats were ejected from the West. British detectives at the scene of the attempted murder of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. AFP PHOTO / Ben STANSALL As in previous cases, Russia has denied involvement, often in the face of substantial evidence. Kara-Murza believes both incidents were retaliation for his political activism, including his lobbying for the U.S. Magnitsky Act, a 2012 law that imposed sanctions on Russians deemed by Washington to be rights abusers. The law infuriated the Kremlin. Who Is Vladimir Kara-Murza? Kara-Murza, 39, is a veteran politician who has been active in Russian liberal opposition parties and movements since President Vladimir Putin's rise 20 years ago. The son of a prominent journalist, also named Vladimir, who died last year, the younger Kara-Murza was a television correspondent in Washington for several years and later worked on political projects launched by former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a prominent Putin foe who now lives in Europe after spending more than a decade in prison. Kara-Murza was also a friend and top deputy of Boris Nemtsov, a prominent opposition leader killed in a February 2015 assassination-style shooting near the Kremlin. He splits his time between Moscow and the United States, where his wife and children live outside Washington. Former Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov during an RFE/RL interview in 2007 While Kara-Murza is far from a household name among the Russian public, he has the ears of prominent members of the U.S. Congress and officials in European Union member states. He has lobbied in the United States and the EU for sanctions against members of Putins ruling elite. In January 2018, less than two months before the Skripal poisoning, an unusual meeting took place in Washington. The directors of the three primary Russian intelligence agencies traveled to the U.S. capital for meetings with American counterparts including Mike Pompeo, then the director of the CIA. U.S. intelligence veterans called the visit highly unusual, potentially unprecedented. According to former White House officials, the meetings were part of an effort to arrest the downward spiral of relations between Moscow and Washington. That trend that began under President Barack Obama and worsened dramatically amid revelations that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election won by Donald Trump. Kara-Murzas mysterious illnesses were deemed important enough to U.S.-Russian relations to include on the agenda for the January 2018 meetings with the visiting Russian officials, according to the two former officials. According to one FBI e-mail included in the documents obtained by RFE/RL, a visitor to Washington sought a meeting with Wray, the FBI director, on January 25 or 26, 2018 -- the same week that the three Russian intelligence chiefs visited the U.S. capital. The name of the person seeking the meeting with Wray is redacted in the e-mail, which came from the FBIs Washington field office and included the subject line: Kara-Murza Case Status. It is unclear if the e-mail was related to the Russians visit to Washington. There was no detailed readout of the discussions between Pompeo and the visiting Russian officials, according to the officials; only a general description. No detailed minutes were circulated at the White House, one of the officials said. At the time, Pompeo defended the meeting after congressional Democrats criticized him. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo served as director of the CIA from January 2017 until April 2018. (Nicholas Kamm / POOL / AFP) According to one former White House official, Kara-Murzas case was one of several issues to be raised by U.S. officials essentially as a way to get the Russians to stop engaging in provocative actions. The message was: If youre serious about this, stop poking us in the eye and back off and have some restraint here, said the official, who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal administration deliberations. Two months later, however, Skripal was hospitalized in critical condition after being poisoned with Novichok. Clearly they didnt take the message to heart, the official told RFE/RL. Everyone was super pissed off. It undermined the whole point [of the January meeting], the official said. It made the point, for many people, that [the Russians] were going to keep on doing this, they didnt care about the international impact, what it would be. The Justice Department did not respond to the query about whether Wray met with the visiting Russians and if he did, whether Kara-Murzas case was raised. The State Department referred questions about Pompeos discussions to the CIA, which did not respond to an e-mail seeking further information about the January 2018 meeting, and how Kara-Murzas case was brought up for discussion. A senior official at the State Department, meanwhile, told RFE/RL that State Department officials were not involved in the January 2018 meeting, but that Kara-Murzas case had been raised with the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Washington at multiple levels and times. The Russian Embassy in Washington said in an e-mail that it "did not attend" the meeting between Pompeo and the visiting Russian officials and that it "does not comment on intelligence services' contacts." The Kara-Murza Lawsuit Six months after originally filing a formal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, Kara-Murza sued the Justice Department in U.S. District Court in February 2020, seeking to force the department to release any FBI records relevant to his case. The argument Kara-Murza made was that the department had violated U.S. law by withholding the documents he was entitled to. On August 10, the Justice Department notified the court that it had identified approximately 400 pages of responsive documents, and anticipated making an initial release by September 15, then a final release on October 15. Last week, shortly before releasing most of those 400 pages, however, the Justice Department notified Kara-Murzas lawyers that FBI officials had located an additional 1,100 pages of documents but were unlikely to meet the October 15 deadline and would ask the court to delay the release until November 15. Kara-Murzas lawyer told RFE/RL that they intended to fight the delay. Inconclusive Records The documents released to Kara-Murza by the Justice Department last week, and obtained by RFE/RL, offer no definitive conclusions about either of his suspected poisonings. A top deputy to Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, Kara-Murza fell ill and was hospitalized in intensive care twice in two years while working in Russia. The first time was May 26, 2015, almost exactly three months after Nemtsov was shot dead not far from the Kremlin walls. The FBI initiated a full investigation into Kara-Murzas alleged poisoning within days after he fell suddenly and gravely ill during a work meeting in Moscow. A source whose name is redacted subsequently gave the FBI samples he claimed were taken from Kara-Murza, including a stained T-shirt, underwear, a vial of hair and nail clippings, and a vial of what appeared to be blood, the records show. Those samples were sent to the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for toxicology testing in an attempt to determine if Kara-Murza was poisoned, an FBI electronic communication dated June 25, 2015, reads. The message notes that the FBI lab was advised that the current samples have minimal volume, which makes testing difficult and limited. The first batch of FBI records released under Kara-Murzas lawsuit, however, do not include any results from the Quantico lab concerning his first alleged poisoning. The FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia Kara-Murzas doctors initially suggested his illness was linked to citalopram, an antidepressant he was taking at the time, according to his wife, Yevgenia. But Kara-Murzas medical records from the team of doctors treating him list the main diagnosis as outside hospital two sided pneumonia and toxic effect of unidentified substance, according to a translation included in the FBI documents. (Kara-Murzas wife says he developed pneumonia at the hospital and that it was treated with antibiotics.) When Kara-Murza again went into multiple organ failure in Moscow nearly two years later, in early February 2017, his official Russian diagnosis echoed the first: "toxicity from an unspecified substance." An excerpt from Kara-Murza's medical report from a Moscow hospital after he fell gravely ill in February 2017. The diagnosis states "toxicity from an unspecified substance." This time, Kara-Murzas wife was ready, and immediately collected blood and urine samples for independent testing. His blood, hair, and tissue samples were spirited out of Russia, and sent to foreign laboratories to be tested. FBI agents met his wife immediately upon her arrival in the United States and took custody of the samples...that she carried with her, according to the lawsuit. The FBI coordinated with Kara-Murzas wife to obtain samples, with emphasis on samples from initial onset of symptoms, the newly released records show. After suffering from what his doctor in Moscow described as six days of multiple organ failure, Kara-Murza recovered sufficiently to return to Virginia, where his wife and children live, less than three weeks after he collapsed. The FBI again sent the blood and urine samples to its laboratory in Quantico. But according to the limited records released last week, the only potentially suspicious findings were elevated levels of barium in his urine. A blood sample was sent to an outside laboratory for confirmation, but that analysis did not reveal any positive findings of toxicological significance, the records show. The FBI agent handling Kara-Murzas case informed him of this finding in early January 2018, noting that the opposition activist expressed disappointment in the results but was willing to allow the FBI to send his blood sample to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for further testing. The Lawrence Livermore facility is one of four U.S. laboratories designated by the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for the analysis of authentic biomedical samples. Kara-Murza told RFE/RL that the agent informed him the samples would be sent there. A Chemical Weapons Expert Weighs In RFE/RL asked Marc-Michael Blum, a chemical weapons expert who led the OPCWs team that deployed to Britain in 2018 in the wake of the near-fatal poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal, to review the first batch of medical and lab reports that the Justice Department released to Kara-Murza. Blum said that Kara-Murzas samples were not screened for cholinesterase inhibitors, which are found in some medicines and insecticides but also in chemical weapons such as the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok. German doctors discovered cholinesterase inhibitors in Kremlin opponent Aleksei Navalny, who nearly died after falling ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow on August 20. The German government concluded that Navalny had been poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok group. Novichok was identified as the cause of Skripals poisoning. Blum said Kara-Murzas medical records also indicate that doctors did not screen for organophosphorus agents, another substance found in chemical weapons as well as pesticides and herbicides. Russian doctors, in my opinion, really tried to find out what was wrong with [Kara-Murza] but took a classical approach, he told RFE/RLs Russian Service. Also, the U.S. lab took a pretty conservative, classical approach, too. But the initial 241 pages of records released to Kara-Murza do not include any other references to the Lawrence Livermore lab. Steve Wampler, a spokesman for the California-based lab, told RFE/RL that for almost all of the work that it does for outside agencies, the results become the property of those organizations. That rule remains in effect for any work we may or may not have done for the case of the Russian opposition activist that you mentioned, Wampler said in an e-mail. Kara-Murza told RFE/RL that the whole reason I needed those lab test results out was to try to pierce through this plausible deniability that the Kremlin hides behind every time something like this happens. Every time there's another political opponent, or independent journalist, or anti-corruption campaigner, or defector, or whoever else is targeted by poisoning; every time there's some sort of an alternative explanation offered by the Russian authorities, he said. An FBI memo included in the records describes a March 9, 2018, meeting in Washington between Kara-Murza and the FBI agent. The agent wrote that while Kara-Murza understood that the FBIs laboratory analysis was inconclusive, he is hoping to have the FBI comment in writing on his case indicating that it is being handled as a case of intentional poisoning. Kara-Murza, whom U.S. lawmakers have supported in his efforts to access the FBI files, indicated he would use these connections to pressure the bureau in the matter, the agents report states. Kara-Murza told RFE/RL: What I wanted above all were the lab test results -- but if the FBI decided to classify the specific substance, I at least asked them to give me the general reason for the poisoning. Support In Congress Rademaker, Kara-Murzas lawyer, said they were notified just days before the September 15 deadline that the Justice Department intended to delay release of the additional 1,100 pages until November 15. Kara-Murza, who is a Russian citizen and legal U.S. resident, has over several years cultivated close ties with members of Congress, who advocated for him. Several lawmakers, Republican and Democratic, wrote directly to Wray, appealing for the involvement of the FBI director. In early 2018, in discussions with U.S. lawmakers and congressional staff members, FBI officials indicated they would consider releasing some of the results, according to the people directly familiar with the matter. They spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly. But for unclear reasons, the FBI later notified members of Congress it would not do so, these people said -- frustrating those who felt it deserved more urgency. One senator even suggested in a letter to the FBI that the substance that triggered Kara-Murzas illness may be "classified" by the agency. March 29, 2017: Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza (left) and Senator John McCain prepare to testify before a Senate committee hearing on Russia. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Among Kara-Murzas champions in Congress was the late Republican Senator John McCain, who died in August 2018. Kara-Murza served as a pallbearer at his funeral. A year earlier, in a September 22, 2017, letter to Wray, inquiring about the status of the investigation, McCain complained about administrative delays, and he pressed Wray to make the investigation a priority. McCain also wrote that he believed both illnesses were deliberate poisonings -- and were politically motivated. Vladimirhas clearly been the victim of Putins brutal campaign to eliminate his opposition. Identifying who and how this was done will help Vladimir seek the justice he deserves and will provide a small form of protection against repeated attacks on his life and that of other dissidents, McCain wrote. With reporting by Sergei Dobrynin and Mark Krutov of RFE/RLs Russian Service 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. Candice Brown missed the new series of the Great British Bake Off on Tuesday evening for a boozy night out with a mystery man. The baker, who won the 2016 series, appeared in very high spirits as she enjoyed drinks at a bar in London following her split from estranged husband Liam Macaulay. Candice and her mystery man were also joined by her former Dancing On Ice 2018 professional partner, Matt Evers, and a female friend. Fun times: Candice Brown missed the new series of the Great British Bake Off on Tuesday evening for a boozy night out with a mystery man The foursome put on an animated display with the baker seen enjoying several cocktails and a cigarette during the evening out. Candice displayed her slim frame in a pair of patterned high-waisted trousers and a black crop top. The foodie finished her ensemble with a pair of high-heeled wedges and a white designer handbag. Candice styled her brunette locks into a sleek lowdown ponytail and added a slick of her signature red lipstick. Letting her hair down! The baker, who won the 2016 series, appeared in very high spirits as she enjoyed drinks at a bar in London following her split from estranged husband Liam Macaulay Famous friends: Candice and her mystery man were also joined by her former Dancing On Ice 2018 professional partner, Matt Evers, and a female friend It is not known who the star's mystery man is and what their relationship is. MailOnline has contacted Candice's representative for comment. Candice has kept a close friendship with her former Dancing On Ice 2018 professional partner, Matt Evers. The duo regularly shares snaps of each other to their Instagram accounts with Matt, 44, even calling her his 'ride or die'. Candice's appearance comes after her estranged husband Liam Macaulay was revealed to be looking for love on the dating app Bumble. Animated! The foursome put on an animated display with the baker seen enjoying several cocktails and a cigarette during the evening out Stylish: Candice displayed her slim frame in a pair of patterned high-waisted trousers and a black crop top Finishing touches: The foodie finished her ensemble with a pair of high-heeled wedges and a white designer handbag Last month, Liam's profile could be seen on the popular app where women must message men first. His foray into the world of online dating came just five weeks after he jetted off to Mykonos, Greece with mother-of-one Micah Taffurelli, days after confirming the end of his marriage to Bake Off star Candice. On his Bumble profile, the tree-surgeon, 34, said he is 'looking for a relationship and wants children someday', reports The Sun. Liam also says that he is a 'great plus one' because he is 'Scottish, 6ft 2ins and has a pug called Dennis'. Signature look: Candice styled her brunette locks into a sleek lowdown ponytail and added a slick of her signature red lipstick Night out: Candice has kept a close friendship with her former Dancing On Ice 2018 professional partner, Matt Evers, pictured second left Mystery man: It is not known who the star's mystery man is and what their relationship is. MailOnline has contacted Candice's representative for comment He also added that a non-negotiable factor for him in choosing a partner is that 'you have to like dogs'. MailOnline contacted representatives of Candice for comment at the time. Dennis shares his pugs Dennis and Albus and his Pomeranian Sybil with Great British Bake Off star Candice. It comes after Candice's 'love rival' Micah claimed the couple, who married in France in September 2018, had actually parted ways at the start of the year. Moving on: Candice's appearance comes after her estranged husband Liam Macaulay was revealed to be looking for love on the dating app Bumble Split: Last month, Liam's profile could be seen on the popular app where women must message men first She told The Sun: 'Liam and Candice broke up at the start of the year and I met him on a dating website in April. Liam and Candice had been over for a long time before we got together. 'But the way she announced the split made me look like a homewrecker because Liam and I were on holiday. 'I was mortified to see Id been caught up in it when it was genuinely nothing to do with me.' Liam told MailOnline last month how his relationship with Candice collapsed under the pressures of fame as the TV cook's career took off after winning Bake Off in 2016. Getaway: His foray into the world of online dating came just five weeks after he jetted off to Mykonos, Greece with mother-of-one Micah Taffurelli, days after confirming the end of his marriage to Bake Off star Candice Speaking out: It comes after Candice's 'love rival' Micah claimed the couple, who married in France in September 2018, had actually parted ways at the start of the year He said at the time that he had gone on a two-week break to get over the split while insisting that nobody else was involved in the break-up. Micah posted two pictures on Facebook of her and Liam sunning themselves in Greece on July 19. The pair looked cosy during their relaxing break, but Liam denied she was his girlfriend when contacted by MailOnline, insisting: 'I am not in a relationship with anyone.' Candice's ex told how he had struggled with being thrust into his wife's showbiz world after she won the Channel 4 show and appeared on Dancing On Ice. Happier times: Liam told MailOnline last month how his relationship with Candice collapsed under the pressures of fame as the TV cook's career took off after winning Bake Off in 2016 (pictured in 2017) He confirmed he had moved out of the flat they shared with their three dogs Dennis, Albus and Sybil above the gastro pub she runs with her brother, The Green Man in Eversholt, Bedfordshire. Speaking of their marriage split, he said: 'There is nobody else involved. We have just sadly decided it wasn't working.' Candice first met Liam in the bar where he worked while studying for a degree, back in 2012. After five years of dating, the couple announced their engagement in October 2017, just over a year after she first appeared on Bake Off. Their relationship came under strain just days after becoming engaged when Candice was pictured kissing Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood, 54, on the cheek during a night out. Liam said last month: 'I'd not long asked Candice to marry me and I had to read reports that my new fiancee was seen kissing Hollywood and getting close to him. 'That was just a kiss on her cheek and there was nothing else to it. But we had only been engaged a few days. It was a lot to have to deal with.' The couple went on to tie the knot in a romantic ceremony at Chateau de Varennes in Burgundy, France, in September 2018. But Liam said they had called time on their marriage after a series of long talks. He said: 'My wife is a lovely woman and a wonderful human being and I could never find anything detrimental to say about her.' A federal appeals court on Thursday overturned a judges approval of a novel plan by lawyers representing cities and counties suing drug companies over the U.S. opioid crisis that would bring every community nationally into their settlement talks. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by a 2-1 vote declined to approve an unprecedented negotiation class of 33,000 cities, towns and counties who could have a vote on whether to accept any settlements proposed with drug manufacturers and distributors. That class was certified in September by U.S. District Judge Dan Polster in Cleveland, who oversees roughly 3,000 lawsuits largely by cities and counties accusing the companies of fueling the nations deadly opioid addiction epidemic. The negotiation class would allow cities and counties that have not sued over the crisis to participate in settlement talks. Any settlement reached with a drug company would need to win support of at least 75% of class members to be approved. While companies do not have to use the negotiation class to settle cases, many including the U.S. drug distributors McKesson Corp, Cardinal Health Inc and AmerisourceBergen Corp objected to Polsters decision. U.S. Circuit Judge Eric Clay, writing for the majority, said the federal rule of civil procedure that governs class actions did not authorize certifying a class not to jointly litigate or settle a case but only to negotiate a deal. The primary problem here is that the negotiation class ordered by the district court simply is not authorized by the structure, framework, or language of the rule, Clay wrote. The demotion of a state into two union territories, and the unconstitutional revocation of an article that guarantees its sovereignty, cannot but disillusion a people. And the central governments claimreading the failure of the people of the valley to protest against its manipulations as evidence of their acceptance of these decreesis ridiculous. Twitter has been in a flutter over the statement of Farooq Abdullah, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, that Kashmiris do not feel Indian and would rather be ruled by China. Nothing ended protests in Delhi as effectively as the lockdownnot even police action against students. Imagine thisKashmir has been under lockdown for more than a year. The leaders who could have become the fulcrums around which movements revolve had all been arrested in their homes at the start of that lockdown, and it was as impossible for them to step out as it is for those who live in buildings that have been sealed off because of Covid-positive cases. In fact, it was more than impossible, because there were simply no workarounds. Worse, while most of us have managed to shift our lives online, and do over the internet what we cannot do in person, the internet and even phone communication were shut off in the valley until it was politically safe. And to ensure that there was no sudden wave, these essential modes of communication were restored in phases. Protest need not be vocalised by taking to the streets and holding up banners and placards. Protest can also be a simple shift in mindset. In a people who have been beleaguered by state machinations for decades, a drastic measure of this sortthe removal of their autonomy politically and territoriallyis all that was needed for a final severing of emotional ties. Most Kashmiris have rarely identified as Indian, and have even taken offence to being called Indian. They do believe their lands have been occupied by both Indian and Pakistan. About a decade ago, Omar Abdullah made an impassioned speech in parliament about being Indian and Muslim, which went viral and catapulted him to centre stage in Kashmiri politics. And now, his father has made several equally impassioned statements about feeling betrayed and being treated like a criminal. He spoke of the detention of former chief ministerand effectively the last ever chief ministerof Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti and demanded whether she was a criminal. Farooq Abdullah was mocked by the people he has claimed to represent for saying, Bharat Mata ki jai. When no conciliatory gesture is reciprocated, disillusionment will naturally set in. When the disillusionment is already decades old, one is simply waiting for the last straw. The revocation of Article 370 and the division of a state into union territories was that last straw for many. It is true that Kashmir does not belong to Muslims, just as India does not belong to Hindus. If Jawaharlal Nehru had been less keen to pander to the international community back in the day, there would have been no promises to be broken. But once a promise was made, it ought not to have been broken. The delay in, and then the denial of the possibility of, holding a referendum is what allowed disruptive elements in Pakistan to fan the flames of insecurity and bigotry in the region and foster the militancy which eventually led to the eviction of Kashmiri Pandits from their homes. What we are left with, nearly three decades later, is a region in a constant state of emergency, a region that is so tired of being fought over by two self-proclaimed democracies that one of its leaders says twice in a video interview that they would rather be ruled by a more authoritarian power than either of those democracies. It could be argued that no one in his right mind would want to be ruled by China. But would someone in his right mind want to be ruled by a government that actively seeks to create a Hindu Rashtra, going against all the principles on which this country was founded, going against the rights guaranteed to its citizens by the constitution? The Covid lockdown has driven most of us up the wall. We have been speaking about mental health issues and the hazards of being confined to one space for weeks at a time. Now imagine months. Imagine years. Imagine not being able to hop across to ones parents home for breakfast despite having been the chief minister of a now non-existent state not so long ago. Imagine the toll it would take on mental health, on physical health. Imagine children being born into a strife-torn, militancy-ridden world where everyone must carry identity cards and anyone can be questioned by men in uniform. Imagine being Kashmiri, and ask yourself if you would want to be Indian. More Columns by Nandini Krishnan: Nobel for economist, tailspin for economy Why the Diaspora has so much love to give Hindi debate: We are all obsessed with homogeneity We are choking the earth The delusionary Indian intellectual India's culture of worship has to end Nandini is the author of Invisible Men: Inside India's Transmasculine Networks (2018) and Hitched: The Modern Woman and Arranged Marriage (2013). She tweets @k_nandini. Her website is: www.nandinikrishnan.com TOKYO: A tiny but playable Rubiks Cube, so little it fits on your fingertip, has gone on sale in Japan for 198,000 yen, or about $1,900, for delivery starting in December. Billed as a super-small Rubiks Cube, it was created to mark the 40th anniversary of when the original 3-D puzzle went on sale in Japan. The cube measures just 9.9 millimeters, or O.39 inch, by 9.9 millimeters, and weighs 2 grams (less than a tenth of an ounce). Its made of ultra-precision metal, and comes with a box for its display, according to MegaHouse Corp., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based toymaker Bandai Co. Orders began Wednesday, only by credit card. Rubiks Cube was invented by Hungarian architecture professor Erno Rubik in the 1970s. A U.S. company turned it into a hit product in the 1980s. More than 100 million Rubiks Cubes were sold worldwide in the first two years. It was an instant hit in Japan, where more than 4 million were sold in the first eight months after it went on sale in July 1980. The new tiny cube was shown this week at an exhibit in Tokyo organized by the Hungarian Embassy, which also includes an artwork made with Rubiks Cubes. The exhibit runs through Nov. 9. Norbert Palanovics, the Hungarian Ambassador to Japan, said he has made a point to tell anyone who will listen about the Rubiks Cube because it embodies the small, simple but smart qualities of his country that he is so proud of. The Rubiks Cube is part of our everyday life, here in Japan, too, and inspires everyone, he said. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama Amaravati, Sep 24 : Andhra Pradesh's opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Bonda Umamaheshwara Rao on Thursday warned the state's YSR Congress government against flouting traditions followed at temples since ages. "The tradition of giving a declaration by non-Hindus was in practice at the Tirumala temple since the British regime. Even the AP Endowments Act and GO 311 underline the need for a non-Hindu to declare his faith in the divinity of Tirumala deity before entry," Rao claimed. Attacking Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for not following the rules and regulations of temples in utter disregard of the sentiments of devotees, he said that Reddy is sitting silently when "so many" attacks were taking place on temples. Noting that the Chief Minister and his family members were free to believe in any religion they want to, he however, said that there is "no way that the traditions of other religions can be ignored without any regard for the feelings of their devotees". Rao claimed that "many priests and devotees are shedding tears" because Reddy allegedly did not sign the faith declaration at Tirumala when he participated in the Brahmostavams. "As the silken robes were presented without a spouse by the side, their sacredness was desecrated. Lots of non-Hindus went into Tirumala temple along with the Chief Minister without submitting a declaration," he alleged. Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill speaks during the funeral of senior Irish Republican and former leading IRA figure Bobby Storey at Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) Twenty four individuals have received letters inviting them for police interview over the Bobby Storey funeral, chief constable Simon Byrne said. The polices part of the investigation is expected to be completed within the next couple of weeks, the senior officer added, then it will be up to prosecutors to consider the evidence. Expand Close Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill has said she is among those to receive the letters (David Young/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill has said she is among those to receive the letters (David Young/PA) Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill has said she is among those to receive the letters. Mr Byrne said: We are in dialogue with those 24 people and hopefully as the investigation progresses we can update further. He said the investigation had to be completed within six months and expected the evidence would be sent to the Public Prosecution Service within the next couple of weeks. Sinn Fein Assembly member Linda Dillon said she was one of those invited to attend interview but added police had got their approach to the investigation right. She accused the media and politicians of applying pressure. Everything is about Bobbys funeral. The blatant hypocrisy in this room would sicken you. The right approach was taken because the PSNI took a balanced approach. Expand Close PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne (Niall Carson/PA) An independent officer from outside the force, Mark Webster, is leading the investigation. Ms ONeill and other senior Sinn Fein members were among crowds who attended the funeral of Bobby Storey in west Belfast in June despite restrictions on public gatherings. The scenes at the height of the pandemic sparked calls for the Deputy First Minister to resign. A row with the DUP over the matter prompted the suspension of joint briefings with Sinn Fein during the health emergency. Ulster Unionist Doug Beattie told Stormonts justice committee on Thursday the matter had affected the public health messaging. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Egyptian exporters told Al-Monitor that the Kenyan authorities decided to impose customs duties on their merchandise, causing a stir regarding the fate of their remaining shipments in the Kenyan port of Mombasa. Egyptian companies that export to Kenya rely on the privileges of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) agreement and mutual customs exemptions. On Sept. 9, the Kenya Revenue Authority informed the Egyptian exporting companies that it will impose a 25% tax on products, because the Kenyan government is considering the unilateral withdrawal from COMESA. Egypt and Kenya are members of COMESA, which is a free trade zone established in 1994 and includes 21 member states. It aims at promoting trade exchange and liberating the flow of merchandise between the countries of eastern and southern Africa. The Egyptian government is currently negotiating with its Kenyan counterpart to rescind its decision to impose taxes, according to government sources that spoke to the Egyptian Shorouk newspaper Sept. 17. Sharif al-Jabali, chairman of the African committee in the Federation of Egyptian Industries and head of Abu Zaabal Company for Specialty Chemicals, said that Egyptian exporters have decided to suspend shipping their merchandise to Kenya due to the current ambiguity, until matters clear up. Jabali told Al-Monitor that Kenya constitutes an important market for Egypt, since it is one of the most developed in Africa. He said that the Kenyan decision is not directed against Egypt only, but against all COMESA states. The Kenyan market is important for Egypt because it is an entry point for exports to four neighboring landlocked countries Uganda, Congo, Burundi and South Sudan. As part of its endeavors to increase its exports to Africa, Egypt was planning on doubling its trade exchange with Kenya to reach $1 billion by 2021, Hossam Farid, chairman of the Egyptian-Kenyan Business Council, had told the Eyptian Al-Mal newspaper in November 2019. Atiya Issawi, an expert on African affairs, told Al-Monitor that Egypt was hoping its membership in COMESA would facilitate its exports to African countries through the port of Mombasa. But he thinks if Kenya insists on its decision to impose taxes, Egypt has other alternatives to export to Africa through the ports of Sudan, Tanzania and Djibouti. Kenya spearheads African countries in welcoming Egyptian exports at a value of $115.3 million of Africas total exports that amounted to $1.2 billion during the first quarter of 2020, according to the governments Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. The list of Egypts non-petroleum exports to Kenya comprises 41 commodities in the industries of engineering, food, chemicals, metals and construction material. Meanwhile, tea, coffee and spices account for more than 90% of Egyptian imports from Kenya. Trade exchange between Egypt and Kenya reached $640 million in 2018, while Egyptian exports to Kenya recorded $353 million, compared to a total of $288 million of Egyptian imports from the Kenyan market. Egyptian exporters who spoke to Al-Monitor expect huge losses for hundreds of Egyptian companies, if commitment to the COMESA agreement is completely nullified and Kenya reimposes taxes on imports. COMESA is among the biggest and most important economic conglomerates in Africa. Besides, Egyptian companies are still gradually recovering from the recession that has lasted for months due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry has been making a series of calls with export councils in the Kenyan market to assess the magnitude of potential losses from these taxes. Exporters called for increased negotiations between the Egyptian government and the Kenyan authorities to rescind their decision to impose customs duties or to reduce them at least, or to implement the reciprocity norm and impose equivalent taxes on Kenyan imports. Jabali, however, expects a solution due to the pressure from Kenyan exporters on the Kenyan government to reconsider its decision. He said that Egypt is among the main importers of Kenyan tea at an annual value of $300 million. He noted, Trade between both countries will be affected, but Kenya will be hit harder. He added that the COMESA member states are currently considering a proposal to extend the agreement until June 2021. Issawi said that COMESA will be on the verge of collapse if the Kenyan incident recurs. This might dissipate hopes that this economic conglomerate will increase intraregional trade between the member states to 40%. In 2019, Egypts total exports to the COMESA countries reached $2.1 billion, while Egypts imports from COMESA countries reached $1.1 billion. The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) called on the Kenyan government to rescind its decision to impose trade barriers on products coming from COMESA member states. The chamber noted in a statement Sept. 15 that this step might lead to a possible trade war between Kenya and the other COMESA states. The COMESA states markets account for more than 73% of Kenyas total exports to Africa, according to the KNCCI. Kenya is pushing for the enforcement of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) agreement, which includes COMESA, the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as a substitute to these three independent conglomerates, because this would allow full customs exemptions for trade among the member states. The Kenyan government indicated in a statement Sept. 14 that it is useless for the member states to work according to different trade arrangements because of their membership in different trade conglomerates. Therefore, the agreements must be united, it added, calling on COMESA member states to expedite the TFTA ratification. The TFTA was supposed to enter into force early 2020, but delays resulted from some countries reluctance to sign. Jabali believes the African Free Trade Zone (AFTZ) agreement, which includes all African countries, will solve the problem of customs duties. He added that the agreement was to enter into force among African countries as of July 1, 2020, but the coronavirus crisis has delayed the process. The AFTZ, which includes 54 African countries, aims at lifting inter-border free trade barriers to movement of goods in Africa. He noted that the parliaments of 30 countries adopted the agreement, but 24 countries still havent given their final approval. He expected the agreement to enter into force at the end of 2020 or early 2021. Once implemented, the AFTZ will unite more than 1 billion people, with production exceeding $3 trillion. This will increase trade in the region by 15% to 25% in the medium term. New Delhi, Sep 24 : Intensifying their protests against the contentious agricultural bills passed by the Parliament, various farmers' organisations, including from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have called a national shutdown on Friday. The farmers' groups said they will hold a "chakka jam" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Though many of the protesters have said that they will protest in their own areas and not aim to head to Delhi, Delhi Police are on high alert and have made preparations to seal the border with Haryana, in a bid to forestall any such attempt. However, traffic across the Delhi-Haryana border was normal on Thursday. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) is among the groups that have called the shutdown, while in Punjab, 31 farmers organisations have come together to protest against the new laws. BKU's Haryana President, Ratan Singh Mann, said: "Various farmers' organisations of Haryana will hold protests in all districts, tehsil, block and village levels against the farm bills passed by the Parliament. There will be a 'chakka jam' from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. "Organisations of the 'arhatiyas' (commission agents), traders' bodies and other commercial organisations will also participate. All sections are supporting the farmers's struggle. Traders in Haryana will also keep their establishments shut in solidarity. We will protest in our areas and have no plans to march to Delhi." Mann also said that like Haryana, there will be protests in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and other states. Other farmers' groups also clarified that their protests will be local and they will not move to Delhi. However, as a precaution, Delhi Police will be maintaining vigil at all border points. With farmers in Punjab intending to block railway movement too, several trains bound for the state or passing through it have been cancelled, while some have been diverted. On Thursday, there were protests on the Punjab-Haryana border, but Haryana Police have set up barricades to prevent entry of agitating farmers into the state on their way to Delhi. The farmers are opposing the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020. While the world awaits the development and approval of a vaccine that will help in the global fight against COVID-19, medical experts are worried about how the impending flu season could exacerbate already strained health care systems around the world. Public health officials and medical experts have stressed that its more important than ever to get a flu shot, which is a vaccine specially designed each year to combat influenza. We asked Dr. Lisa Barrett, assistant professor in Dalhousies Faculty of Medicine and infectious disease expert, to explain how the flu shot works and why medical experts are more concerned about the impacts of this years influenza season than in years past. What exactly are flu vaccines and how do they work? All vaccines are designed to educate your immune system to respond quickly if it ever runs into an infection and the flu shot is no different. It is a way that we can educate our immune system against the ever-changing influenza virus from season to season everybody should get one each season. The influenza (or flu) vaccine, is an injection given in the arm, and it contains various different parts of the flu virus depending on which flu shot you get. The take-home message is that every flu shot or vaccine contains bits and pieces of flu virus from various different strains of virus. Each year, scientists get together and predict what the most frequent viruses are likely to be in the upcoming season. They combine these together into one vaccine, and thats how your immune system gets educated for the viruses that are likely to be circulating that season. You get one shot as soon as it comes out in the fall and then you develop some protection or immunity your immune system is getting prepared to fight quickly against the flu virus strains that were in the vaccine. Why are medical experts stressing that it is more important to get the flu shot this year than in years past? It is always important to get a flu shot. But this year we also have COVID-19, which is another respiratory virus whose main target is the lungs. Influenza or the flu virus, also targets the lungs and it is likely that if you get the two together, your chances of having permanent damage to your lungs or not surviving are much much higher. Therefore, because we have no vaccine for COVID-19 and we do have one to protect you from influenza, its very important that people do what they can to keep themselves from getting influenza. Tthere is going to be COVID-19 around, and you dont want them both. You dont want the double whammy. It will not go well. If there are high levels of COVID-19 community spread in communities, what is the safest way for people to get their flu shot? Its important to know that influenza and COVID-19 spread in similar ways, and therefore there can be community spread of influenza each year as well. So, the take home is that every skill weve learned about preventing spread of COVID-19, is also incredibly useful for preventing the spread of influenza. What I mean by that is, washing your hands, making sure that you dont touch your face, and wearing a mask when it is not possible to keep social distance, are the real key ways that you can prevent COVID-19 spread and safely go out to get your influenza shot. Also, if you can have flexibility around when and where you go to get your shot, try to choose a time that is slightly less crowded, not middle of the day, off hours or evenings thats a really great way to help spread out the number of people that are at the influenza vaccine station or pharmacy at any point in time. Planning outings, socialization, and even medical care to promote more social distancing is a key way we can get better at learning how to live with COVID-19. So, if you have some flexibility, choose off times when there wont be as many people and then we can help spread people out over time. What would you tell people who are hesitant to get their flu shot this year? There are lots of reasons why people dont want to get a flu shot or feel its not really that useful for them in particular. I would say that there is pretty close to zero reasons why one of the flu vaccines approved in Canada and available in Nova Scotia, cant be taken by anyone. And you know what, even if you dont think its incredibly useful to you, you are helping to protect your community by getting a flu vaccine. Even if you are someone who doesnt get too sick when infected with respiratory viruses like flu or COVID-19, you may have few symptoms and not know you are spreading to others who may not be so healthy. Getting a flu shot reduces the likelihood that you get infected and spread to others. So, a flu shot is an amazing and free way to contribute to your health and your community. Also, its important to recognize that there are almost no people above the age of six months in the world who cant safely take one of the flu shots that are available. People who feel they get sick after a flu shot are experiencing an immune ramp-up; thats their immune system responding to the vaccine and getting educated - its not that you got the flu. You might not feel super great for a couple of days, but youre not getting the flu from these vaccines. Get the vaccine, its safe and even if you dont think its good for you in particular, its good for your community (hey, I bet I already said that, but I want to say it again!!). We are still waiting for the influenza vaccines to be available, and Nova Scotia has bought more than usual this year - that means we shouldnt run out. Some people say, Im going to leave the shots for the people who really need them and that is actually NOT the way to think. As I said before, people who may not have symptoms and arent the sickest are also the people who are out and about the most and they transmit to others without knowing it. So, there will be lots of flu vaccine around, dont wait take the shot! New York (United Nations) 24 September 2020 (SPS)- The President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E. Dr. Hage Geingob, expressed his countrys continued support to the freedom of Western Sahara from Moroccan occupation, in his speech yesterday before the 75th UN General Assembly. The 17 interconnected Sustainable Development Goals and their promise to leave no one behind by 2030, ring hollow for the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara, who still remain under occupation. They are left behind, Dr. Geingob regretted. As a nation that has experienced the outpouring of international solidarity during the dark days of our struggle for independence, we wish to express our continued support for the right to self-determination and freedom of the peoples of Palestine and of Western Sahara, he further stressed. He also expressed hope that the search for the UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for Western Sahara will be concluded very soon, in reference to the UN Secretary General failure so far to appoint a new Special Envoy after the resignation from the post of President Horst Kohler last May 2019. (SPS) 090/500/60 (SPS) Corbion and Total today announced their intention to build a new PLA bioplastics plant in Europe through their Total Corbion PLA joint venture. The plant is expected to have a capacity of 100,000 tons per annum, being the first world-scale PLA production facility in Europe. The new plant is planned to be located in Grandpuits, France and to be operational in 2024. Olivier Rigaud, CEO of Corbion is delighted with the development of the joint venture and the market for PLA: "This is excellent news for Corbion, Total, our joint venture, and for the world. Fully in line with our purpose 'Preserving what matters', PLA is increasingly finding its place as a bioplastic, enabling acceleration towards a circular economy. In our recently released Advance 2025 strategy one of our goals is, together with Total, to become the market leader in PLA. This new plant puts us firmly on track to achieve that goal." "We are very pleased to announce this second PLA plant project located in Grandpuits, France on Total's new "Zero petrol platform", strengthening our successful partnership with Corbion. This is fully in line with Total's strategy to innovate and grow in circular economy solutions. Bioplastics are a great complement to meet the rising demand for polymers while contributing towards reducing end-of-life concerns", says Bernard Pinatel, President Refining & Chemicals at Total. The plant construction is expected to require capital expenditures of approximately 200 million. Corbion and Total will participate equally in the funding of the project; third party debt may also be part of the financing. This event also triggers a final settlement related to the Total Corbion PLA joint venture lactide plant*. Corbion will continue to be the supplier of lactic acid to the Total Corbion PLA joint venture. Corbion earlier this year announced it will build a new lactic acid plant with the latest low emission technology in Thailand, expected to be operational in 2023. This PLA investment accelerates further expansion plans for lactic acid, with a European location as one of the likely options. *In the 2020 financial statements, Corbion will recognize an incidental positive contribution on net result of US$ 8 million (US$ 15 million on EBITDA) related to the remeasurement of the purchase price of the subsidiary Total Corbion PLA (Thailand) Limited to the joint venture Total Corbion PLA bv. Attachment Boots has suspended bookings for flu jabs amid an 'unprecedented' demand for vaccinations this winter. The high-street chemist is now limiting vaccines for the most vulnerable in society, including the over-65s and people with serious underlying health woes. NHS England has been actively encouraging people to get their flu jab this year to prevent an influx of influenza and Covid-19 patients overwhelming hospitals. Normally, anyone can sign up to have their shot by a Boots' pharmacist but this year the chain has had to prioritise the most at-risk groups to make sure they're first in line. Elderly people and those with co-morbidities have the highest chance of needing hospital care if they catch the flu. Therefore, they are they most likely to be a burden on the NHS as it struggles with a second wave of coronavirus. NHS England says it has enough stocks to supply a record 30million-plus doses during phases throughout winter. Boots has suspended its booking system for flu jabs amid an 'unprecedented' demand for vaccinations this winter NHS England has been actively encouraging people to get their flu jab this year to prevent an influx of influenza and Covid-19 patients overwhelming hospitals WHO IS ALREADY ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE FLU VACCINE? In 2020/21 groups eligible for the NHS funded flu vaccination programme are currently the same as last year. This includes: Over-65s and people with diabetes and chronic respiratory conditions, such as asthma; People with serious heart or kidney disease, or people undergoing cancer treatment; Parents with children aged over six months with asthma or diabetes or weakened immunity due to disease or treatment; Other groups include residents in long-stay care homes and people who have lowered immunity due to HIV or are on steroid medication; NHS workers are also urged to get a free flu jab in order to protect patients. But according to a joint letter issued from the DHSC, Public Health England and, NHS England and Improvement, on May 14, the list may change if the programme is expanded this year. This could include: All children aged two to 10 years old (but not 11 years or older); Those aged six months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups; Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals; Health and social care staff employed by a registered residential care home; The letter added: 'We anticipate that concerns about COVID-19 may increase demand for flu vaccination in all groups this year.' Advertisement In a statement, Boots said: '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.' A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: 'Delivery of flu vaccinations is phased over the autumn and into winter, and priority is rightly given to those who are most at-risk with others being asked to wait to later in the year.' This year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the flu jab will be offered to the over-50s for the first time. In Scotland, it's being given to the over-55s. But these groups will only be given access after the vulnerable groups - which include over-65s, pregnant women, and people with conditions like lung disease or diabetes. Last winter 25million people in England were offered the flu jab, with officials expanding the annual vaccination programme to include all Year Six children for the first time. All over-65s, pregnant women, NHS workers and people with serious long-term illnesses such as heart disease and Parkinson's are also eligible for the free jab. Figures show there are around 10million people aged between 50 and 65 in the UK, meaning the vaccination scheme has had to increase by 40 per cent in size to catch all of them. Supplying the flu jab will be a logistical challenge for the NHS because the vaccine has to be kept in a refrigerator at 35F to 46F (2C to 8C). A slight rise or fall in temperature can ruin the shot and make it unusable. But NHS England has reassured people there are adequate stocks in place. Health bosses say they will provide guidance for how pharmacists and GPs can access stockpiles if they run out. It is not clear if the UK will be hit with a bad bout of flu this year. Some experts believe the social distancing measures in place already will stifle the spread of any new influenza strains. Flu infections during the cold long months in the southern hemisphere are a canary in a coalmine for how hard the NHS will be hit by outbreaks, and are used to design the preventative flu vaccine. And this year Australia and New Zealand have escaped a bad flu season, which top experts say is down to social distancing measures. Most people who get the flu escape with only a mild illness but patients struck down with a severe bout can be hospitalised. Seasonal flu has a mortality rate of around 0.1 per cent. The tell-tale symptoms of Covid-19 a fever, cough and the loss of smell or taste could be mistaken for the flu, which has similar effects and is much worse than a common cold. This could cause confusion among the population. If they have the coronavirus, they may think they only have the flu if they have not been given a vaccine to protect them. Christian Brueckner, 43, had challenged the arrest warrant issued over a 2005 rape charge in relation to a separate case The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case has bid to get out of jail rejected as the European Court of Justice ruled his extradition was legal. Brueckner's challenge had been against a conviction in Germany for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005. The 43-year-old had challenged the arrest warrant issued in relation to the case which saw him extradited from Italy to Germany in 2018. His lawyer Friedrich Fulscher had attempted to argue that protocols in the use of the European Arrest Warrant were breached. Mr Fulscher claimed on a technicality that 'specialty protection law' was broken because he was extradited for the drugs conviction but then subsequently put on trial for raping the elderly woman. But the European Court of Justice earlier today found the conviction justified because Italian authorities, who had handed the German suspect over to German authorities, had given their consent for him to be prosecuted for that separate rape case. In a statement the court confirmed it had ruled against Brueckner and stated he is no longer entitled to rely on the specialty rule'. Brueckner is currently serving a sentence for drug trafficking in the northern German city of Kiel which ends on January 7, 2021. He had applied for early release and could have been freed if the separate sentence over the rape in Portugal had been thrown out by the European Court of Justice. But the ruling now means when the jail term for drug trafficking ends, the prison time for rape would then follow. In June, Brueckner was identified the German man as a suspect in the case of Madeleine McCann. In June, Brueckner was identified the German man as a suspect in the case of Madeleine McCann (pictured), who disappeared from an apartment in 2007 while her family was on holiday in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal The three-year-old disappeared from an apartment in 2007 while her family was on holiday in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal, as her parents dined with friends at a nearby tapas bar. Despite a huge international manhunt, no trace of her has been found, nor has anyone been charged over her disappearance. Earlier this year, German prosecutors made the stunning announcement that they were investigating a 43-year-old German man in connection with the case, saying they have 'concrete evidence' he had killed Maddie. Brueckner had been living nearby at the time of Madeleine's disappearance and telephone data suggests he was near the apartment just hours before she was last seen. But authorities say they do not have enough evidence to hold him in prison on the strength of the McCann case alone. British police are still treating her disappearance as a missing persons case. Washington: Most politicians go to great lengths to conceal their dirty laundry. And then there's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Over the years, the Israeli leader has developed a reputation among the staff at the US President's guesthouse for bringing special cargo on his trips to Washington: bags and suitcases full of dirty laundry, according to US officials familiar with the matter. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Pinister, meets with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Credit:New York Times The clothes are cleaned for the prime minister free of charge by the US staff, a perk that is available to all foreign leaders but sparingly taken advantage of given the short stays of busy heads of state. "The Netanyahus are the only ones who bring actual suitcases of dirty laundry for us to clean," said one US official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the details of a foreign leader's visits. "After multiple trips, it became clear this was intentional." These forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include (i) the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business, operations and financial condition, (ii) our ability to remain qualified for taxation as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes; (iii) the adoption of alternative technologies and shifts by our customers to storage of data through non-paper based technologies; (iv) changes in customer preferences and demand for our storage and information management services; (v) the cost and our ability to comply with laws, regulations and customer demands relating to data security and privacy issues, as well as fire and safety standards; (vi) our ability or inability to execute our strategic growth plan, expand internationally, complete acquisitions on satisfactory terms, and to integrate acquired companies efficiently; (vii) changes in the amount of our growth and recurring capital expenditures and our ability to raise capital and invest according to plan; (viii) the impact of litigation or disputes that may arise in connection with incidents in which we fail to protect our customers' information or our internal records or IT systems and the impact of such incidents on our reputation and ability to compete; (ix) our ability to execute on Project Summit and the potential impacts of Project Summit on our ability to retain and recruit employees and execute on our strategy (x) changes in the price for our storage and information management services relative to the cost of providing such storage and information management services; (xi) changes in the political and economic environments in the countries in which our international subsidiaries operate and changes in the global political climate; (xii) the impact of executing on our growth strategy through joint ventures; (xii) our ability to comply with our existing debt obligations and restrictions in our debt instruments or to obtain additional financing to meet our working capital needs; (xiv) the impact of service interruptions or equipment damage and the cost of power on our data center operations; (xv) changes in the cost of our debt; (xvi) the impact of alternative, more attractive investments on dividends; (xvii) the cost or potential liabilities associated with real estate necessary for our business; (xviii) the performance of business partners upon whom we depend for technical assistance or management expertise; (xix) other trends in competitive or economic conditions affecting our financial condition or results of operations not presently contemplated; and (xx) other risks described more fully in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the caption Risk Factors in our periodic reports or incorporated therein. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements except as statements of our present intentions and of our present expectations, which may or may not occur. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to release publicly the result of any revision to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. 'It is critical all strategic options for eliminating community transmission are interrogated.' (stock photo) Can you have a second wave of something that hasn't gone away? Like a multitude of other contradictions that come with the pandemic, in terms of the coronavirus, you evidently can. And we are at the beginning of a second wave, Professor Sam McConkey has warned. Any ideas of our being ready to surf over it are wishful thinking, the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response was told. Despite all we have so painfully learned, a team of health experts recounted how we still don't have enough information to establish where people are getting infected. But Prof McConkey was in no doubt that physical distancing is still the way to "crush the curve into the ground". Unless we do so, it will be impossible to prevent re-entry of the virus into our nursing homes. The challenge is to regain control in the community; the urgent need for which was underlined by the fact no fewer than four ministers are now restricting their movements after negative tests. That Germany has decided to declare Dublin a Covid-19 risk area from today, requiring anyone arriving from the our capital to take a Covid-19 test, gives further grounds for worry. It is critical all strategic options for eliminating community transmission are interrogated. A Swedish expert told the committee a controlled spread of the virus should be allowed among people under 60. Dr Johan Giesecke, former chief epidemiologist in Sweden, advised we ought to concentrate on the old and frail, with frequent testing in care homes. He also cautioned we should wait at least a year before comparing countries' Covid-19 strategies. His assessment that the pandemic is only at the beginning will doubtless fill many hearts with dread. All the more reason places like nursing homes - and meat plants - are given all the help they need. We know there was not enough personal protective equipment last winter for doctors and nurses and other health-care providers; not enough contact tracing initially; and not enough funding. This was addressed. But in the face of another wave, there are alarming signs there is not enough buy-in from citizens in terms of reducing the number of contacts. Meanwhile, in the political arena, there is a worrying lack of awareness of the deepening national crisis. The confidence and supply arrangement in the last Dail allowed stability at a highly volatile time. Therefore more robust exchanges in the new paradigm were inevitable. However, the deeply hostile debates witnessed in the Dail yesterday are the last thing we need. All energies need to be trained on instilling solidarity, in the best social - and economic - interests of our people. Unity, to be real, must stand the severest strain without breaking, said Gandhi. The strain is undoubtedly severe. But our leaders must lay the foundations for a national conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there. A second wave was guaranteed. A second chance was not. Details added: the first version posted on 11:42 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 Trend: The Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov held a meeting on the countrys draft state and consolidated budgets for 2021, Trend reports referring to the Cabinet of Ministers. The meetings agenda has also included consideration of indicators of the consolidated budget for the next three years, discussion of the concept, and forecast indicators of economic and social development of Azerbaijan for 2021 and the subsequent 3 years. Asadov stated that a decrease in global aggregate demand, growth in the volatility of oil prices in world markets, as well as the use of restrictive measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as in other countries of the world, affected the economy of Azerbaijan, and as a result, the country experienced a decline in economic activity. Stressing the importance of profitability and economy, the prime minister said that current expenditures should be carried out by budgetary organizations efficiently, properly, and economically because in many cases, budgetary organizations allow unnecessary expenses, increase the number of staff members, make unnecessary purchases, and prices for the purchases are indicated as higher than actual ones. He also noted that with budget purchases, as a rule, preference is given to imports and emphasized the necessity of strengthening the control of the relevant authorities over the effective implementation of the current expenses of budgetary organizations. At the same time, according to him, it should not be given preference to conducting non-priority events, but instead, costs in this direction should be optimized, as well as unnecessary business trips and related costs reduced. "Capital expenditures are also very important in the next year's state budget. Of course, investment expenditures have a positive effect on economic growth and employment, said Asadov. However, its important to raise transparency, economic efficiency, and profitability of investment programs. Non-priority investment projects should be cut, and the allocated funds should be spent economically. Then the prime minister focused on the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev to increase the efficiency of state-owned companies. "During a video conference held on August 6, 2020, President Ilham Aliyev said that despite the improvement of management in state-owned companies, financial support from the state, their activities are ineffective, the financial situation of most state-owned companies is heavy, the debt burden is growing, and the control function in this area isnt as effective, he reminded. In order to solve the above problems, the Azerbaijani Investment Holding was established by the Azerbaijani President decree dated August 7, and important and serious tasks were set before the structure," Asadov said. It was noted that a significant increase in the budget for 2021 in the direction of further strengthening the country's military potential and army development and ensuring the country's defense and security, the creation of financial guarantees for special defense projects and events will remain a priority in the next budget year. The prime minister noted that under the leadership of Azerbaijans president, in the medium term, including in 2021, all the tasks set for the government will be completed on time and in full. The meeting was attended by Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, Deputy Minister of Finance Azer Bayramov, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Sahil Babayev, Prime Minister of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Sabuhi Mammadov, Chairman of the State Customs Committee Safar Mehdiyev, Chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Rovshan Rzayev took part in the meeting and shared their views on the draft budget. In conclusion, it was decided to submit "Draft state and consolidated budgets for 2021, as well as indicators of the consolidated budget for the next three years" and "Concepts and forecast indicators of economic and social development of Azerbaijan for 2021 and the subsequent three years" together with other documents stipulated in Article 12 of the Law of Azerbaijan "On Budget System" to the President of Azerbaijan. More than two-thirds of women orthopedic 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 orthopedic 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 orthopedic trainees remains pervasive across training programs throughout the United States," the researchers write. A 'wake-up call' for orthopedic 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. Emily Whicker and coauthors 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 orthopedic 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." The claws were out when Australian breakfast show Sunrise took aim at Carole Baskin this week. Carole - a 'big cat' rights activist known for her villainous portrayal in Netflix's Tiger King - made headlines this month after joining Dancing With The Stars US. And on Thursday, Sunrise reported on Carole's new reality TV career during a brief news segment, while simultaneously poking fun at the 59-year-old over allegations she killed her husband and fed him to tigers in 1997. As footage of Carole competing on the DWTS stage played on-screen, Sophie Ellis-Bextor's hit tune, Murder On The Dancefloor, could be heard playing in the background. Of course, Tiger King fans would know that Carole was accused by her rival Joe Exotic of killing her late husband Don Lewis and 'feeding him to tigers' in her sanctuary. Carole, who is now married to Howard Baskin, has not been charged with any crime and has repeatedly denied the accusations made in the hit documentary. Interesting choice: As footage of Carole competing on the DWTS stage played on-screen, Sophie Ellis-Bextor's hit tune, Murder On The Dancefloor, could be heard playing in the background The Big Cat Rescue CEO's former spouse went missing in 1997, six years after they married in 1991, and was legally declared dead in 2002 as he is yet to be found. It comes amid reports Carole is being sued for defamation by Don's family. His daughters Gale, Lynda and Donna and his former assistant Anne McQueen have taken legal action against Carole, as they claim she was 'complicit' with jokes made by judges about his disappearance during her current stint Dancing With The Stars. Accusations: Tiger King fans would know that Carole was accused by her rival Joe Exotic (pictured) of killing her late husband Don Lewis and 'feeding him to tigers' in her sanctuary Denial: Carole, who is now married to Howard Baskin (right), has not been charged with any crime and has repeatedly denied the accusations made in the hit documentary According to TMZ, legal documents state that Don's relatives have an issue with Carole failing to dispute DWTS judge Bruno Tonioli when he called her paso doble 'sedated' and quipped she didn't quite 'kill' it. The media personality is also facing a lawsuit for promising to 'really kill it next week' on the celebrity dance show during an interview on Good Morning Britain. Don's family attorney John Phillips claims Carole settled a libel and slander case from Anne for $50,000. September 24 : Akshay Kumar has a busy schedule as he will shoot back-to-back. The actor, who is currently in Scotland shooting for Ranjit Tewaris Bell Bottom, will shoot for Prithviraj in October, immediately after reaching Mumbai. Directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi and produced by Yash Raj Films, Prithviraj is a historical action drama film that revolves around the life of Prithviraj Chauhan. The film that also stars Sanjay Dutt and Sonu Sood will be Miss World 2017, Manushi Chhillars Bollywood debut, who plays Prithviraj Chauhans wife Sanyogita. The film was slated to be released in theatres around Diwali in 2020 but its shooting was halted in March due to the lockdown. The makers of the film had to dismantle the expensive set of a 12th-century palace in Dahisar. Now, it is learnt that Chandraprakash and producer Aditya Chopra have decided to resume shoot in October, although the exact date has not yet finalised. The makers of the film have also asked the team to start work on the set again with full grandeur. According to a Mid-Day report, the production design team will start constructing two sets from October 1. While the palace will be recreated in Jogeshwari, another set will be made at Madh island. Meanwhile, Akshay recommended the Bell Bottom director to do a double shift in order to complete the shoot well in time as he has to return to bay and start shooting for Prithviraj. Bell Bottom was the first Bollywood film post the lockdown to fly the cast and crew to Scotland for shooting. Since, the actor lost the initial 14 days in quarantine after landing in Scotland, he now wants to complete the shoot as per schedule. Saturday is the final day for candidate registration for the House of Representatives election. The National Election Authority (NEA) announced this week that the window for candidate registration in Egypts upcoming parliamentary polls will close on 26 September. First-instance courts in Egypts 27 governorates will receive nomination papers every day from 9am to 5pm, except on the final Saturday when candidate papers must be submitted before 2pm, said NEA Chairman Lasheen Ibrahim. The registration window has been open since17 September. Candidates need to be Egyptian nationals aged 25 years or above and have completed their basic education and military service. The two-stage poll kicks off on 21 October and ends 8 December. Of the 568 seats up for grabs, 284 will be filled by candidates elected via the individual candidacy system, and 284 seats through closed party lists. More than 2,000 people have already registered as independents, and political parties have been scrambling to form coalitions ahead of the poll. The compiling of party lists has been complicated by differences among coalition members, with party leaders squabbling over levels of representation. The National Unified List coalition, led by the pro-government Mostaqbal Watan Party, was forced to delay submitting applications until the end of this week. Sources said internal divisions in member parties, including the Wafd and the Free Egyptians, had made it impossible to submit a final list of candidates on Sunday, as originally planned. The Wafd, Egypts oldest political party, is currently split into two rival camps with opposing views on the partys participation in the parliamentary poll. Wafd Chairman Bahaaeddin Abu Shoka said on Sunday that it was essential the party compete in the parliamentary elections. I met with the partys secretary-general Fouad Badrawi and underlined the importance of maintaining unity ahead of the vote. A majority of the partys Higher Council members, 32 out of total 60, agree that the Wafd should run in the seats reserved for party list candidates as part of the National Unified coalition, said Abu Shoka. The partys deputy chairman Mohamed Abdou, however, said internal divisions that have recently rocked the party would persist until internal elections are held to choose a new chairman. Contradicting Abu Shoka, Abdou said in a TV interview on Saturday that a majority of Higher Council members opposed the decision to stand as part of the Mostaqbal Watan-led National Unified List. The party chairman made his decision even though the list will include just 19 Wafd candidates, said Abdou. According to Abdou, a majority of members are pushing for a minimum of 40 candidates on the list but Mostaqbal Watan wants to monopolise most of the seats at the expense of other political parties. Abu Shoka has said internal elections to elect a new chairman will be held on 4 December and in the meantime, as far as parliamentary elections go, the Wafd will participate as part of the National Unified List and candidates who fail to make the list can then run as individuals. Internal divisions have also hit the Free Egyptians Party. Ayman Abul-Ela, the partys parliamentary spokesperson, resigned last week to protest party chairman Essam Khalils decision to join the National Unified List. He pointed out that the Free Egyptians Party won the largest number of seats in the 2015 parliament and argued that it was capable of standing alone. Khalil insisted that joining the National Unified List came at the request of the majority of party members. As yet it is unclear which faction will get its way. The Mostaqbal Watan-led list, which will compete in the poll under the slogan for the sake of Egypt, currently has 13 members the Mostaqbal Watan, the Wafd, the Guardians of the Nation, Modern Egypt, the Egyptian Social Democratic, the Peoples Republican, Reform and Development, the Tagammu, Generations Will, the Egyptian Freedom, Justice and Congress parties. Unlike in the Senate elections, when its candidates stood unopposed, the National Unified list will face competition from other coalitions. Hisham Al-Anani, leader of the Alliance of the Independents, says the coalition comprises five political forces: the Independents, Araby, Justice and Equality, Voice of the People and the Victory parties. The coalition has already selected the names of the candidates who will contest the 284 party list seats, said Al-Anani. Some are prominent public figures such as Amr Abdel-Hakim Amer, the son of a former Field Marshal Sabri Serag, deputy chairman of Zamalek Sporting Club, and Nahla Abdel-Aziz, chairman of TV Channel Two. A coalition of leftist political parties, the Civilian Movement, has also announced it will contest the elections. Kamal Abu Eita, a leftist activist and a former minister of labour, said the coalition will field candidates as individuals rather than compete in the seats reserved for party lists. We havent been able to form a coalition capable of contesting the 284 seats allocated to party lists, said Abu Eita. The NEAs decision to begin registration on 17 September took us by surprise and it proved impossible in the short time allotted to forge a credible coalition. The parties gathered beneath the Civilian Movement umbrella, from which individual candidates will be drawn, are Karama (Dignity), the Popular Socialist Alliance, the Constitution party and the Bread and Freedom Party. Medhat Al-Zahed, head of the Popular Socialist Alliance, said the Civilian Movement will publish its platform next week, and will call for political reform, the release of political prisoners, greater freedoms and social justice. The Egyptian National Movement coalition says it is looking to contest seats reserved for both individuals and party lists. The coalition is led by former Alexandria governor Tarek Al-Mahdi and is expected to include the Conservatives, Ittihad (Union), Revolution and Nahdet Masr (the Renaissance of Egypt) parties. Coalition spokesperson Yasser Qora said on Sunday the National Movement hopes to submit candidates for both party list and individual seats before the deadline on Saturday. We hope that the election will be competitive and that ceilings will be placed on campaign expenses to guarantee the integrity and fairness of the poll, said Qora. *A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Hong Kong Thu, September 24, 2020 15:45 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46f5b42 2 World Hong-Kong,Joshua-Wong,Hong-Kong-activist,Hong-Kong-protests,Hong-Kong-security-law Free Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was arrested on Thursday in relation to a protest at the height of the city's pro-democracy unrest last year, his lawyer said. The detention of the city's most high-profile dissident is the latest in a string of arrests of government critics and comes after China imposed a sweeping new national security law on Hong Kong in late June. He was arrested for "unlawful assembly" over a 2019 demonstration against a government ban on face masks that was imposed before the coronavirus pandemic, his lawyer said. The 23-year-old pro-democracy figure said on Twitter he was also being held for violating the "draconian anti-mask law", which has since been ruled unconstitutional. Wong's lawyer told AFP he was arrested when he reported to a police station concerning another case against him, for which he is currently on trial. "Wong is accused of participating in an unlawful assembly on October 5 last year, when hundreds marched to oppose an anti-mask ban the government rolled out," lawyer Jonathan Man said. The march that day came after much of the city had ground to a halt with the subway suspended and many shops and malls shuttered following a night of violence. Hundreds of protesters, almost all masked, staged the unsanctioned demonstration through the popular shopping district of Causeway Bay, a day after the city's leader Carrie Lam outlawed masks by invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century. The act of resistance came after a night of widespread chaos as hardcore protesters trashed dozens of subway stations, vandalized shops with mainland China ties, built fires and blocked roads. Many chanted "No rioters, only tyranny" and other popular protest slogans. At the time of the march, Hong Kong had already been battered by four months of increasingly violent pro-democracy protests. A photo of CFC Dave Lee at his wake. (PHOTO: Screenshot/Facebook) SINGAPORE Six national servicemen were sentenced by a military court in relation to the death of Corporal First Class (CFC) Dave Lee, and were fined between $1,800 and $4,500. In a media release on Thursday (24 September), the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said that the servicemen pleaded guilty upon being charged on 20 February, after the completion of investigations by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Special Investigation Branch. The sentences for the servicemen are: Corporal(NS) Tan Jin Yang was convicted of two charges of negligent acts endangering life under Section 41(b) of the SAF Act. He was fined $4,500. First Sergeant Chia Zhi Xuan was convicted of one charge of disobedience of general orders under Section 21 of the SAF Act. He was fined $2,500. CPL(NS) Chng Pheng Heng, CPL(NS) Jonas Ang Kai Jie and CPL(NS) Yep Ren Jie were each convicted of one charge of disobedience of general orders under Section 21 of the SAF Act and one charge of abuse of authority under Section 29 of the SAF Act. They were each fined $2,500 and demoted from the rank of Third Sergeant(NS) to the rank of Corporal(NS). Second Sergeant Koh Ren Zhong was convicted of one charge of negligent performance of a lawful duty under Section 17(2) of the SAF Act. He was sentenced to a fine of $1,800. Supervising officer died of cancer Lee, 19, died two weeks after being admitted to Changi General Hospital for heatstroke. He had completed an 8km fast march in Bedok Camp on 18 April 2018 before he showed signs of heat injury and had to be hospitalised. The supervising officer of the fast march, Captain Tan Baoshu, was charged in the State Courts on 31 October 2018 for causing Lees death by a rash act. On 8 January this year, CPT Tan was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, due to his terminal cancer condition. Tan died on 13 February. Mindef said in the media release that, since the 2018 incident, the SAF has introduced enhancements to existing heat injury management and prevention measures. Story continues These include: implementing a simplified evacuation protocol, improving heat injury awareness for commanders and medics, enhancing existing cooling and heat injury prevention measures and strengthening an open reporting culture. Over the past two years, the SAF has seen a 40 per cent decline in the number of heat injury cases, and there have been no cases of heat stroke. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: NSF Dave Lee's death: 6 more servicemen charged by SAF SAF captain Tan Baoshu who was discharged over NSFs death has died CFC Dave Lees death: COI finds breaches of training safety and discipline rules Ng Eng Hen Family of 19-year-old NSF who died after fast march demand full explanation from SAF Blood Vessel keeps vampire horror afloat Excuse the pun, but werent vampires supposed to be done and dusted in cinema? The relationship between the blood-sucking monsters and the big screen has always been an extensive one. From early adaptations of Bram Stokers Count Dracula through to heroic tales of vampire slayers like Van Helsing and Buffy. By David Griffiths Thursday 24 September 2020, 01:50PM With vampires it seemed that filmmakers could let their imagination run wild and many did. Quentin Tarantino delivered the sound-yet-quirky From Dusk Till Dawn while John Carpenter delivered the gorey but brilliant Vampires. It felt like the vampire mythology could be stretched and pulled into stories that could go in any direction. Interview With A Vampire, which starred Tom Cruise touched on themes of mortality and immortality, The Forsaken treated vampirism as a pandemic while Queen Of The Damned featured a heavy metal singing vampire called Lestat. Then came Twilight and suddenly genre directors pulled back from vampires as sparkly vampires became the dream of every teenage girl. Now it seems that serious genre filmmakers are ready to once again pick up the mantle of creating new stories about the notorious demons and the result is movies like Blood Vessel, which has just recently been released on a number of streaming platforms. From director Justin Dix, who worked in the special effects department of a number of Star Wars as well as directing the critically acclaimed Crawlspace in 2012, Blood Vessel is the kind of film that in any ordinary year would only be noticed by hardcore horror fans. But 2020 is no ordinary year so with cinemas still largely closed around the world, films like Blood Vessel have become hits on streaming services not only because it is a good film but also because 2020 seems to have been the year where the cinema fans right around the world have realised that Quentin Tarantino has been right for decades when he says Australian genre filmmakers are among so of the best in the world. Blood Vessel is certainly a vampire film with a difference. Set during World War II, it finds a group of survivors in a life raft suddenly come across a German vessel drifting in the open sea. While at first hesitant, the group which includes Nurse Jane Prescott (Alyssa Sutherland Vikings), Russian soldier Alexander Teplov (Alex Cooke Preacher) and Australian soldier Nathan Sinclair (Nathan Phillips Snakes On A Plane) decide to board the ship figuring that being taken captive is better than starving at sea. However, once on board the ship the group find no German sailors but instead find a mysterious young girl, dead bodies and begin to wonder what their own colleague Gerard Faraday (John Lloyd Fillingham Gallipoli) is up to. For a low-budget horror film, it is surprising how good Blood Vessel really is. Everything seems to come together perfectly. The screenplay allows for the suspense to come from more than just monsters going bump in the night while Dixs horror effects are some of the best you are likely to see. The other big plus for the film is the fact that the characters at hand are not walking cliches, they are three-dimensional characters that the audience actually cares about and that is a rarity in modern day horror. What stands Blood Vessel apart from the myriad genre flicks out there though is the natural feel to the film. It feels strange saying that a vampire film is believable but that is the exact feeling you get when watching the film. Perhaps it is how well the film flows or the fact that it was filmed on an action World War II vessel, whatever the reason it only further enhances the suspenseful nature of the film at hand. Readers should be warned that Blood Vessel is pretty bloody for those who enjoy a good horror film, but you are in for a treat. While it is a shame that it hasnt made its way into cinemas around the world the way fellow Australian horror film Black Water: Abyss did, Blood Vessel has set the streaming world ablaze and is currently one of the most talked about films in the world. Blood Vessel is currently unclassified in Thailand but is definitely for an adult audience due to its horror themes. 4/5 Stars. David Griffiths has been working as a film and music reviewer for over 20 years. That time has seen him work in radio, television and in print. You can follow him at www.facebook.com/subcultureentertainmentaus Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 24, 2020) - Pasofino Gold Limited (TSXV: VEIN) (FSE: N07) ("Pasofino" the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has awarded the initial drilling contract to Cestos Investments Incorporated ("Cestos Drilling"), for an initial 15,000 metres on the Dugbe Gold Project ('the Project') in Liberia. DRA Global have been awarded the Feasibility Study (FS) lead consultancy role and SRK (UK) have been awarded the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Study. Project Development Highlights Management and technical team are in-country and preparing for mobilisation. Selected Drill contractors Cestos Drilling are in country, with rigs, carrying out final preparations for the program. Company aims to increase the current 2.3 Moz Indicated and 1.3 Moz Inferred Mineral Resources. The FS has commenced and is planned for completion in Q3 2021 targeting a production rate of between 200,000oz pa and 250,000oz pa. Road contractor mobilised for the rehabilitation of the access road to site. Camp infrastructure has been ordered and is on route to site. Ian Stalker, CEO - Africa Operations, commented; "Building on the momentum of our recent news, our management and technical teams are now on the ground in Liberia. In addition, we have commissioned key contractors, to match our timetable of having drills turning at the project by the end of the last Quarter 2020. Furthermore, the FS and ESIA consultancy contracts have been awarded to DRA Global and SRK (UK) respectively, both highly regarded Engineering Consultants in their respective fields We have identified where additional ounces are expected to be found, and the initial resource expansion and infill drilling will be focused on the Tuzon and Dugbe F deposits which are both 'open' on strike. It is also noted that there is a wealth of drill ready targets that require drilling on the property. We have a great platform of quality work completed by our partners Hummingbird Resources historically on the project, which will allow us to accelerate work and unlock the value of the Dugbe Gold Project". Drill Program and Exploration targets Cestos Drilling have four track-mounted rigs in country and were selected based on the suitability of their equipment and services. The initial contract is for 15,000 metres. A second contract is planned to be issued in Q2 2021 for follow-up drilling. The aims of the drilling program are as follows: Expand the Tuzon deposit on strike focussing on the 'high grade zone B' which is open. This zone already hosts an Indicated resource 1.05 Moz gold with an average grade of 1.72 g/t Au [1] . . Infill drilling at the Dugbe F deposit to convert the bulk of the Inferred resources to Indicated. The Inferred resource grades 1.57 g/t Au and host 0.82 Moz of gold 1 . . Coring at the 'drill-ready' targets of Tiehnpo and Sackor where gold has been identified in existing trench and limited drilling respectively 1 . . Drilling at new targets prioritized following a rigorous target generative exercise using all available geochemical, geophysical and satellite data. Drilling at these targets is planned for 2021. Mobilisation of the first two drilling rigs will commence in October 2020; one to begin the infill drilling program at the Dugbe F deposit and the other to carry out the first drilling at the Tiehnpo target (figure 1) where trenches completed by Hummingbird in 2012 returned significant gold-anomalous intervals. Rigs 3 and 4 will mobilize in January 2020 by which time the improvements to the access road to the Tuzon deposit from Greenville is planned to be completed. The rigs will then begin the drilling at Tuzon while completing the program at Dugbe F. Initial drilling at Tuzon will target the potential extension of the 'high-grade zone B' and then switch to infill drilling with the aim of defining a portion of Measured Mineral Resources. In addition, drilling at the Sackor target is planned during H1 2021 to step out on previous gold bearing intersections and potentially provide sufficient data for resource estimation. The Company believes that additional gold deposits may be present on the underexplored 2,355 km2 project area which is predominantly underlain by prospective 'Birimian' rocks or their equivalents. To provide a 'pipeline' of new drill targets Pasofino has completed an interpretation of all exploration and remotely sensed data and has prioritized four new target areas all of which have artisanal gold workings recognizable in satellite data. These are the Gmayenken, DSZ East, Perluken and Nemo Creek South targets (please see Figure 1). Soil sampling totaling 3500 samples will start in October to define areas for trenching and drilling during 2021. Figure 1. Map showing the Dugbe Gold Project area and the location of the deposits and targets To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6283/64552_61b8978b34e548ab_001full.jpg Feasibility Study The Company has awarded the lead engineering and design contract to DRA Global for the completion of a FS on the Project. SRK has been awarded the lead consultancy for the ESIA. The FS will investigate the potential to produce between 200 and 250 thousand ounces of gold per annum. The Company plans to complete the FS during Q3 of 2021. Access Road Rehabilitation A 48 kilometer section of the Greenville to Tuzon road requires rehabilitation and replacement of some of the bridges. The road contractor Westwood International has been awarded the work and has already mobilized to site to start preparation for this work. The completion of this road construction is key to allowing access to the Tuzon deposit and is planned for access by the end of December 2020. This however will not slow down the work program as drilling on the Dugbe F deposit is planned for start in early November 2020 and the first round of drilling at the Thienpo prospect is also to start in November 2020. Qualified Persons Statements Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to the Company's exploration activities and Mineral Resources estimates is based on information compiled or approved by Mr. Andrew Pedley. Mr. Pedley is a full-time consultant of Pasofino Gold Ltd. He is a member in good standing with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Pedley consents to the inclusion in this disclosure of the information, in the form and context in which it appears. About the Dugbe Gold Project The Dugbe Project is located in southern Liberia and situated within 'Birimian' aged rocks which are host to the majority of West African gold deposits. To date two gold deposits have been identified; Dugbe F and Tuzon. The deposits are located within 4 km of the Dugbe Shear Zone which is thought to have played a role in large scale gold mineralisation in the area. The Project comprises an area of 2,355 km2. A large amount of exploration in the area was conducted by Hummingbird including 74,497 m of diamond coring. 70,700 m of this was at the Dugbe F and Tuzon deposits, discovered by Hummingbird in 2009 and 2011 respectively. Both deposits outcrop at surface and may be amenable to open-cut mining. A Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") was carried out for the Dugbe F and Tuzon deposits by WAI in 2013 for Hummingbird PLC and with further work carried out subsequently including metallurgical, geotechnical and hydrological work, which will provide a foundation for the Feasibility Study. In addition, there are a number of prospects within the Project, including 'Sackor' where gold mineralisation has been intersected in drill-holes and where additional drilling is planned. No other prospects have been drill-tested to date. At some prospects extensive trenching identified anomalous levels of gold that require drill-testing. An aggressive exploration programme to test the prospects is planned by the Company. In 2019, Hummingbird signed a 25-year Mineral Development Agreement ("MDA") with the Government of Liberia providing the necessary long-term framework and stabilization of taxes and duties. Under the terms of the MDA, the royalty rate on gold production is 3%, the income tax rate payable is 25% (with credit given for historic exploration expenditures), the fuel duty is reduced by 50% and the Government of Liberia is granted a free carried interest of 10% in the Project. Over $70 million has been spent by Hummingbird on the Project. About Pasofino Gold Ltd. Pasofino Gold Ltd. is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (VEIN) and FSE (N07). Pasofino is earning a 50% interest in the advanced-stage Roger Gold-Copper Project located in Quebec's prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt. Through its recently announced acquisition of ARX Resources Limited, Pasofino has an option to earn a 49% economic interest (net of the Government of Liberia's carried interest) in the Dugbe Gold Project. For further information, please visit www.pasofinogold.com or contact: Steve Dunn, President & CEO T: (416) 361-2827 E: sdunn@pasofinogold.com Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the timing for filing and final clearance of the Qualifying Prospectus, the use of proceeds of the Offering, the ability to raise the funds to finance its ongoing business activities including the acquisition of mineral projects and the exploration and development of its projects. 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 may include, but are not limited to, the ability to successfully file and obtain approval for the Qualifying Prospectus, the ability to obtain all requisite regulatory approvals in respect of the Qualifying Prospectus, the ability to apply the proceeds of the Offering as intended, the results of exploration activities; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms and those risk factors outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. [1] Dugbe Gold Project, Liberia NI 43-101 Technical Report dated 19 September 2020, a report by SRK Consulting. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64552 Mail-in primary election ballots are processed at the Chester County Voter Services office in West Chester, Pa., on May 28, 2020. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo) FBI Finds Discarded Military Mail-in Ballots Cast for Trump Discarded mail-in ballots were discovered in Pennsylvania, authorities announced Thursday. At this point we can confirm that a small number of military ballots were discarded. Investigators have recovered nine ballots at this time. Some of those ballots can be attributed, the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Middle District of Pennsylvania said in its initial statement. In a revised statement issued later Thursday, the office said seven of the ballots were cast for President Donald Trump while two others had been resealed inside their appropriate envelopes by Luzerne elections staff prior to recovery by the FBI and the contents of those 2 ballots are unknown. Federal investigators, including the U.S. Attorneys Office and the FBI, launched a probe into potential issues with mail-in voting in Luzerne County on Monday, at the request of Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis, a Republican. Salavantiss office said in a press release that county administrators reported issues with some mail-in ballots that the Bureau of Elections received last week. The office started an investigation before handing it over to federal authorities. Shelby Watchilla, the Luzerne County elections director, discovered the issue last week and immediately reported her findings to the authorities, Romilda Crocamo, chief county solicitor, said in a statement sent to The Epoch Times. County officials are cooperating with the review but have no further comment because of the ongoing investigation, he added. The Federal Bureau of Investigation seal is seen at FBI headquarters in Washington, on June 14, 2018. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters) Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, left, speaks to reporters in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 13, 2020. On right, President Donald Trump before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 27, 2018. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images; Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) FBI agents working with Pennsylvania State Police have conducted numerous interviews and reviewed physical evidence, U.S. Attorney David Freeds office said. County election officials have been cooperating with the probe, according to Freed. According to the countys website, military and overseas voters can register and request an official absentee ballot at any time prior to a primary or election. Luzerne County, with a population of about 317,000, sits in northeast Pennsylvania outside of Scranton. The county went for Barack Obama in both 2008 and 2012 but swung to Trump in 2016. Trump won it by 20 points, helping him secure the states electoral votes. Matt Wolking, a Trump campaign spokesman, said on social media about the discarded ballots, Democrats are trying to steal the election. Trump told reporters outside the White House: We have to be careful with the ballots. The ballots, thats a whole big scam. You know they found, I understand, eight ballots in a waste paper basket in some location. They found, it was reported in one of the newspapers that they found a lot of ballots in a river. They throw them out if they have the name Trump on them I guess. We want to make sure the election is honest and Im not sure that it can be. I dont know that it can be with this whole situation, he added later. Trump has repeatedly warned of potential issues with ramping up mail-in voting to unprecedented levels this election, as have Attorney General William Barr and other officials. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany in Washington earlier Thursday pointed to issues that have cropped up with mail-in voting, including a botched election in Paterson, New Jersey and various criminal allegations in the state of California. In 2016, you had 1 percent of ballots thrown out, absentee ballots, that amounted to 319,000 votes thrown out. And if you have the entirety of the country voting by mail, you can imagine that number would be many folds higher than that, she added during the press briefing. Also this week, trays of mail, including absentee ballots, were discovered along a roadway in Wisconsin. Jaipur, Sep 24 : Thousands of tribal protesters in Rajasthan's Dungarpur turned violent on Thursday and attacked police personnel, injuring over 10 cops, including an Additional Superintendent of Police. The protesters are said to be applicants of teachers' recruitment examination, who took to the streets and torched police vehicles demanding the filling of 1,167 general vacancy seats for ST community candidates. The protesters have captured a 10 km stretch on the Udaipur-Ahmedabad National Highway, and till the filing of this report, they were marching ahead. Senior police officers have rushed to the spot to resolve the situation. According to the police, thousands of candidates blocked the Udaipur-Ahmedabad National Highway, pelted policemen with stones, leaving many of them injured, besides torching several police vehicles. The police used tear gas shells and fired in the air to disperse the crowd, but to no avail. Sources said that demonstrations were going on without permission on the Kank Ri Dungri hill along the highway for the last 17 days. The protesters had given a deadline of September 24 to the administration. As their demands were not met, thousands of protesters blocked the highway with rods and stones in their hands. The police team, which came to disperse the protesters, had to run away to save their lives. BAGHDAD - The United States has extended a sanctions waiver that enables Iraq to continue importing gas from Iran but this time granting a significantly shorter waiver period, Iraqi officials and the U.S. State Department said Thursday. The development is a sign of unease in U.S.-Iraq relations amid near-daily attacks targeting American presence in the Mideast country and underscores the standing U.S. demand that Baghdad wean itself off dependence on Iranian oil. Washington informed Iraqs leadership this week of its decision to grant a 60-day sanctions waiver, instead of the 120-day waiver issued over the summer, three Iraqi officials told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. The State Department confirmed the development. The earlier, longer period had been granted when Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Americas choice candidate, was selected as prime minister, but in line with waivers in place before he took office. Following his appointment, U.S.-Iraq relations were upbeat, after having reached new lows under his predecessor Adil Abdul-Mahdis administration, following the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassim Soleimani outside the Baghdad airport in January. Iran retaliated with a ballistic missile strike on Iraqi bases housing American troops, wounding dozens of U.S. troops. The Iraqi officials expressed surprise at the new, stricter waiver as it comes just one month after al-Kadhimis Washington visit, which was hailed as a success. But the shorter time-frame also signals U.S. frustration with Baghdads inability to reign in militia groups believed to be behind a recent uptick in attacks targeting the U.S. in Iraq. The U.S. has made very direct demands on the Iraqi government to clamp down on the militias. Near-daily rocket and mortars have struck the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, which is home to the U.S. Embassy, while roadside bombs have targeted convoys carrying weapons destined for the U.S.-led coalition. On Wednesday, a roadside bombing targeted a convoy belonging to an Iraqi company ferrying materials for the U.S. coalition. The day before, three mortars hit the Green Zone, causing no losses. Al-Kadhimis meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington coincided with key agreements to boost investment by U.S. companies in Iraqs energy sector, valued at $8 billion. The deals will enable Chevron to explore and develop oil production in Dhi Qar province, Honeywell to develop an important gas hub in southern Iraq, and General Electric to boost the Mideast nations power supply. In its statement, the State Department said Baghdad has faced exceptional circumstances preventing it from significantly reducing its purchase of petroleum and petroleum products from Iran. The Government of Iraq is expected to continue negotiating contracts to install new power generation facilities, expand electricity delivery infrastructure, and increase Iraqs domestic production of natural gas as feedstock for power generation, it said. Iraq relies on Iran for nearly 30% of its electricity needs, especially during the peak summer months. Providing evidence that Iraq is intent on weaning itself off Iranian energy dependence is a key condition for Iraq to qualify for successive waivers. ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington and Murtada Faraj in Baghdad contributed to this report. Video PlayerClose 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. (Source: Xinhua) Election 2020 Violence Erupts Shortly After Myanmar Political Parties Hit Campaign Trail USDP campaigners in Naypyitaw's Pobbathiri Township on Sept. 16. / USDP / Facebook YANGONIn the run-up to the Nov. 8 poll, several incidents of election-related violence have been reported in the first few weeks of the campaign period, which began on Sept. 8, especially in areas where the two biggest partiesthe ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)are facing tough electoral battles. The number of cases is much higher than during the pre-election period in 2015. Here are the major incidents of election violence reported since Sept. 8, including threats, destruction of campaign posters, rioting and the use of hand grenades to intimidate an election official. NLD campaign posters vandalized At least a dozen election posters for the NLD were vandalized in seven locations around the country in the first few days of the campaign. Party officials told The Irrawaddy that posters in the Coco Islands in Yangon Region; Maha Aung Myay and Patheingyi townships in Mandalay Region; Zayarthiri Township in Naypyitaw; Monywa Township in Sagaing Region; Hakha Township in Chin State; Paung, Chaungzon and Kyaikmayaw townships in Mon State; and Taungup Township in Rakhine State were targeted. A few more cases elsewhere have also been reported. The earliest incident occurred in Chin State on the first day of the election campaign period. U Biak Kung from the NLDs Chin State Information Committee said someone used a knife to slash portraits of the partys candidates on a poster in Hakha Township on the night of Sept. 8. The election laws articles 57 and 58 carry the threat of one years imprisonment for interfering with the electoral process. In the Coco Islandswhere top generals are running for seats representing the military-backed USDP, the NLD found that four of the six campaign posters it erected there had been torn on the night of Sept. 10, according to U Win Ko Ko Win, one of the NLD candidates contesting in a Coco Islands constituency. The islands population is largely made up of military personnel and their families, as well as civil servants. The USDP secured victories there in both the 2010 and 2015 elections. In another military electoral stronghold, Naypyitaws Zeyarthiri Township, posters in Kyopyin Village featuring portraits of NLD candidates were slashed on Sept. 11. A 19-year-old suspect was arrested in the case, said U Thet Htwe, chairman of the NLD office in the township. Even before the vandalism occurred, party workers faced obstacles putting the posters up on Sept. 8, U Thet Htwe said. The owner of the house who agreed to let the poster be put up near his home told us that he was threatened by three village leaders, who said he would be kicked out if he accepted us, he said. The party has opened a case against the trio under the election law. Boy beaten for playing NLD song A 13-old-year boy selling jasmine flowers on his bicycle was beaten while wearing a red shirt with the NLD logo and playing the partys campaign song by a man in a street in Yangons Thaketa Township on Sept. 12. The young vendor was hit with a bamboo stick and his loudspeaker was destroyed. The offender told local media he had been annoyed by the noise made by the boys loudspeaker for some time. The case was settled with the offender agreeing to compensate the boy for the cost of having his injuries treated. USDP convoy, youth in NLD shirts clash in capital While on the campaign trail in Naypyitaws Pobbathiri Township, some USDP campaigners in a convoy of motorbikes clashed with four boys on Sept. 16. An uncle of one of the boys said the clash started when a few USDP campaigners stopped their motorbikes and uttered obscenities at the youths. The USDP also said the youths attacked the convoy with slingshots. Two of the four youths and three members of the USDP convoy were injured. The two sides have opened cases against each other under charges of committing obscene acts and causing hurt. Riot in Meiktila Hundreds of USDP supporters rioted at noon on Sunday in Nyaung Kaing Village in Mandalay Regions Meiktila, a USDP stronghold. In a video that went viral on Facebook, USDP campaigners wearing green shirts with the partys logo can be seen shouting and throwing rocks at the home of an NLD supporter during the clash. The house owner opened a case against the rioters. At least six USDP campaigners were arrested under charges of committing obscene acts and intentionally causing hurt. The USDP claimed NLD supporters in the village initiated the clash by obstructing their movements. Grenade scare at Naypyitaw election officials home Two unexploded hand grenades were discovered at Naypyitaw Election Sub-Commission Chairman U Thein Htwes home, after the Union Election Commission (UEC) dismissed some opposition parties calls to postpone the election. Police and explosive ordnance disposal officers cleared away the grenades soon after the discoveries. The first grenade was found late on Saturday night and the second was discovered at noon on Sunday. Both devices were reportedly thrown into the compound from the street. Military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said military experts and local police at the scene had determined the grenades were made in a neighboring country. He did not say which country, adding that security personnel were investigating the incident. The former ruling and military proxy USDP and 23 allied parties have sought to delay the election over the COVID-19 outbreak. A few other parties added their voices to the request, but most parties including the NLD and ethnic parties have not joined them. You may also like these stories: Karen Ethnic Affairs Minister Candidates in Myanmars Yangon Square Off in Online Debate For Myanmar Voters, the Election Is a Chance to Cast a Ballot for Democracy Itself Man With Shady Background Behind a Political Party in Myanmar SHANGHAI, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Bank Romania and UnionPay International (UPI) jointly announce that global UnionPay cardholders are now able to pay with their cards at the POS terminals across Alpha Bank Romania's network. With this agreement, Alpha Bank Romania becomes the first bank in the country to accept UnionPay cards at its POS terminals. This is an extension of the previous, May 2019, agreement between Alpha Bank Romania and UnionPay, whereby UnionPay cards were accepted across the Bank's ATM network in Romania. Now, UnionPay cardholders can not only withdraw cash from the Alpha Bank Romania ATMs, but can also make payments at more than 4,000 merchant locations across the country. With over 8 billion cards issued accumulatively in 61 countries and regions worldwide, UnionPay now serves the world's largest cardholder base. Currently, 15 out of 17 CEE countries and regions accept UnionPay cards. Meanwhile, cardholders can use their UnionPay cards at 90% of countries and regions in Europe. "Being the first international bank entering Romania, Alpha Bank Romania is a major player in the Romania's payment industry and is our significant partner here. We are very glad to launch POS acceptance followed by ATM acceptance service together with Alpha Bank. This will benefit our cardholders and enhance local merchants' service capacity to global customers as well," said Wenhui Yang, General Manager of UnionPay International Europe Branch. "We are very happy to be the first banking partner in Romania of UnionPay International, which is rapidly expanding its footprint in major European countries and regions. At the same time, we are delighted to provide new value-added services to local merchants and contribute to the increase of the overall attractiveness of various Romanian destinations. Now, every merchant with a POS from Alpha Bank Romania can immediately accept secure and convenient transactions from UnionPay cardholders." said Mr. Cristian Dragos, Executive Vice President Retail Area, Alpha Bank Romania. Always evolving, Alpha Bank Romania is committed to consolidate its position in the payments market, in line with the global trend, to respond to the existing high demand for digital payment solutions. Further information about Alpha Bank'sRomania cards acquiring services can be discovered by following: https://www.alphabank.ro/imm/servicii/pentru-comercianti/pos About Alpha Bank Romania ALPHA BANK ROMANIA is a universal bank, which provides a wide range of financial services and products to both Individuals and businesses through a network of Branches located in Bucharest and other cities across the country. ALPHA BANK ROMANIA actively contributes to the development of the banking sector, with initiatives that include the launch of the first 10-year fixed-rate mortgage in the early 2000s, that led to the creation of the local mortgage market. Contact information: PR Department | pr@alphabank.ro About UnionPay UnionPay International (UPI) is a subsidiary of China UnionPay focuses on international business. In partnership with more than 2,300 institutions worldwide, UnionPay International has extended its card acceptance to 179 countries and regions globally with issuance in 61 countries and regions. UnionPay International provides high quality, cost effective and secure cross-border payment services to the world's largest cardholder base and ensures convenient localized services to a growing number of global UnionPay cardholders and merchants. For more information about UnionPay International, please visit www.unionpayintl.com, like "UnionPay International" on Facebook, follow "@unionpay_intl" on Twitter. Media contact: UPIPR@unionpayintl.com Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates motion calling for prostate cancer screening tests to always be covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan was supported by the Progressive Conservative provincial government, Thursday. Gates introduced a private members motion on OHIP coverage for PSA testing in 2019 and Thursday brought it forward for second reading in the Ontario legislature, where it passed. The issue is now in the hands of the government to act on the direction of the motion. Ontario is currently one of only two Canadian provinces that do not cover the cost of the PSA test for men upon physician referral, said Gates. We have universal health coverage but somehow dont cover this test which can save lives. Now, more than ever, we see the importance of access to health care. When people cant spare the money, they choose not to get tested. We can put an end to that and make sure everyone can get the rest. This will catch more cases of prostate cancer early and save lives. Currently, the province will pay for the test if a doctor suspects prostate cancer or if a patient has been diagnosed with the disease and is receiving treatment. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting Canadian men. In 2020, an estimated 9,800 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 1,550 will die. On average, a late-stage diagnosis costs $66,000 more than if the prostate cancer was caught early, said Gates. If all men with Stage 4 prostate cancer were diagnosed earlier, it would save more than $60 million every year, he added. Gates motion is supported by the Canadian Cancer Society and was previously supported by Prostate Cancer Canada and Movember. This (COVID-19) pandemic has shown us that hallway medicine can mean our hospitals become overrun in public-health crisis, said Gates. By having OHIP cover this medical procedure, we can reduce the amount of people who will need cancer care and reduce the amount of hallway medicine in our province. Theyve had a year to review this - it is time for the government to ensure this life-saving test is available for everyone. Stuart Edmonds, executive vice president of mission, research and advocacy for Canadian Cancer Society, said for the one in nine men expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, the news can be devastating. Early detection is key to giving the men receiving this news a better chance at survival, yet Ontario forces men to pay out of pocket when they make informed decisions about their health, he said. Weve made tremendous progress over the years and, if detected early, almost 100 per cent of individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer will survive at least five years or more. If detected at a later stage, then the survival rate drops to only 29 per cent. Money simply shouldnt stand in the way of receiving a PSA test. A delegation of top Sudanese officials returned to Khartoum from Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, but there were no clear signs of progress toward the White Houses goal of getting Sudan to normalize ties with Israel. A statement by Sudan's ruling Sovereignty Council said the talks focused on a number of issues, including Sudan's planned removal from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, "stability in the region," and Sudan's role in achieving peace between Israel and Arab countries. Two sources briefed on the meeting told Al-Monitor that members of the American delegation, led by US National Security Council senior director for Gulf Affairs Brig. Gen. Miguel Correa, were noncommittal amid a request for $3 billion in immediate economic aid by Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, chairman of Sudans Sovereignty Council. Instead, US and UAE officials raised the possibility of several hundred million dollars in future investment and business deals, which the Sudanese officials did not immediately accept, according to the sources. Why it matters: The Trump administration is hoping to clinch other regional states recognition of Israel ahead of the 2020 US presidential election. The UAE and Bahrain have already agreed to normalize ties with the Jewish state, making them the third and fourth countries in the region to do so, after Egypt and Jordan. During a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Khartoum last month, Burhan floated a request of some $3 billion per year over the next three years in economic aid for Sudan, which is laden with massive debt and facing an internal economic crisis. Pompeo last month had requested Sudans leaders normalize ties with Israel and said the United States could quickly remove Sudan from the US state sponsors of terror list as a result, though that had not previously been among the conditions agreed upon by US and Sudanese officials for removing Khartoum from the blacklist. Whats next: Its not clear the Trump administration has a plan to come up with the emergency cash that Sudans leaders are requesting. Recognizing Israel is politically risky for Sudan's post-revolution transitional government. Although Burhan and Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok are said to be open to establishing ties, they will likely require more tangible guarantees of support as the country navigates a slew of crises along its transition to democracy. Despite a push by Pompeo and members of the Senate, its unlikely a resolution to immunize Sudan from future terror lawsuits in US courts will make it into legislation by the end of September, as some US lawmakers have hoped. Members of Congress have sought to include a measure enshrining Sudans court settlement to compensate victims of the 1998 Kenya and Tanzania bombings into legislation to fund the US government by Oct. 1. But the House passed funding legislation on Tuesday that did not include the legal peace sought for Sudan. Meanwhile, Israels new relations with the UAE and Bahrain are moving ahead, and the Trump administration is looking to additional countries to normalize ties. Know more: Read how the White House attempted to move the goalposts on de-listing Sudan ahead of President Trumps 2020 reelection bid. Mumbai, Sep 24 : Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone, who was issued a summon by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to join the probe into a drugs case, will join the investigation on Friday. An NCB source said that Deepika's legal team has informed the probe agency that she will join the investigation on Friday. The development came a day after the agency issued a summon to Deepika, the daughter of badminton icon Prakash Padukone who is married to Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh, to join the probe after her alleged chats with her manager Karishma Prakash came to the fore during the investigation. Deepika on Thursday left for Mumbai from Goa, where she was shooting for an upcoming film along with Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ananya Pandey. Besides Deepika, the agency will also question her manager Karishma. Summons have also been issued to Bollywood actors Sara Ali Khan, Shradhha Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh for questioning. Sara is the daughter of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, while Shradhha is the daughter of veteran actor Shakti Kapoor. Rakul was asked to join the probe on Thursday, but she is now set to be questioned by the agency on Friday. Sara and Shraddha have been asked to join the probe on Saturday. NCB sources said that they all have been summoned after their names surfaced in WhatsApp chats accessed by the NCB and during the questioning of late Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. The source said that these celebrities will be questioned about how and from whom they procured drugs and whether they were meant for personal consumption or for someone else. The source further said that while probing the link of the Kwan Talent Management Agency in the case, Deepika's chats with Karishma surfaced. Karishma handled Deepika's account at Kwan till 2017. According to an NCB official, the names of Sara and Shraddha came up in two drugs cases registered by the agency. The official said that the NCB is presently investigating two separate cases which revolve around the drugs cartel that is active in the tinsel town. The first case was registered on the directions of the top brass of the NCB after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) forwarded a brief note on Rhea and her brother Showik's WhatsApp chats. In its FIR number 15, the NCB claimed, "Analysis of WhatsApp chats of Rhea Chakraborty with other entities reflects the angle of conspiracy and abetment in possession, sale, purchase, consumption, transportation and usage of substances covered under NDPS Act." In the second case (FIR number 16), the NCB has so far arrested 19 persons, including Rhea and Showik. Earlier on Thursday, the NCB recorded the statement of fashion designer Simone Khambatta for over four hours while the grilling of Sushant's former manager Shruti Modi is still going on. The NCB has also recorded the statements of Kwan CEO Dhruv Chitgopekar, producer Madhu Mantena Varma and Sushant's talent manager Jaya Saha. Sushant was fond dead at his Bandra apartment on June 14. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Nearly half of the investments by various US-based investors have been made in in Reliance subsidiary Jio. Experts say, the dominance of the US investors will probably grow in the coming decade, including in filling the gap created by the withdrawal of Chinese investors, who have lost their second position to the UAE, followed by Saudi Arabia, thanks to Reliance ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor New brain cell-like nanodevices work together to identify mutations in viruses In the September issue of the journal Nature, scientists from Texas A&M University, Hewlett Packard Labs and Stanford University have described a new nanodevice that acts almost identically to a brain cell. Furthermore, they have shown that these synthetic brain cells can be joined together to form intricate networks that can then solve problems in a brain-like manner. "This is the first study where we have been able to emulate a neuron with just a single nanoscale device, which would otherwise need hundreds of transistors," said Dr. R. Stanley Williams, senior author on the study and professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "We have also been able to successfully use networks of our artificial neurons to solve toy versions of a real-world problem that is computationally intense even for the most sophisticated digital technologies." In particular, the researchers have demonstrated proof of concept that their brain-inspired system can identify possible mutations in a virus, which is highly relevant for ensuring the efficacy of vaccines and medications for strains exhibiting genetic diversity. Over the past decades, digital technologies have become smaller and faster largely because of the advancements in transistor technology. However, these critical circuit components are fast approaching their limit of how small they can be built, initiating a global effort to find a new type of technology that can supplement, if not replace, transistors. In addition to this "scaling-down" problem, transistor-based digital technologies have other well-known challenges. For example, they struggle at finding optimal solutions when presented with large sets of data. "Let's take a familiar example of finding the shortest route from your office to your home. If you have to make a single stop, it's a fairly easy problem to solve. But if for some reason you need to make 15 stops in between, you have 43 billion routes to choose from," said Dr. Suhas Kumar, lead author on the study and researcher at Hewlett Packard Labs. "This is now an optimization problem, and current computers are rather inept at solving it." Kumar added that another arduous task for digital machines is pattern recognition, such as identifying a face as the same regardless of viewpoint or recognizing a familiar voice buried within a din of sounds. But tasks that can send digital machines into a computational tizzy are ones at which the brain excels. In fact, brains are not just quick at recognition and optimization problems, but they also consume far less energy than digital systems. Hence, by mimicking how the brain solves these types of tasks, Williams said brain-inspired or neuromorphic systems could potentially overcome some of the computational hurdles faced by current digital technologies. To build the fundamental building block of the brain or a neuron, the researchers assembled a synthetic nanoscale device consisting of layers of different inorganic materials, each with a unique function. However, they said the real magic happens in the thin layer made of the compound niobium dioxide. When a small voltage is applied to this region, its temperature begins to increase. But when the temperature reaches a critical value, niobium dioxide undergoes a quick change in personality, turning from an insulator to a conductor. But as it begins to conduct electric currents, its temperature drops and niobium dioxide switches back to being an insulator. These back-and-forth transitions enable the synthetic devices to generate a pulse of electrical current that closely resembles the profile of electrical spikes, or action potentials, produced by biological neurons. Further, by changing the voltage across their synthetic neurons, the researchers reproduced a rich range of neuronal behaviors observed in the brain, such as sustained, burst and chaotic firing of electrical spikes. "Capturing the dynamical behavior of neurons is a key goal for brain-inspired computers," said Kumar. "Altogether, we were able to recreate around 15 types of neuronal firing profiles, all using a single electrical component and at much lower energies compared to transistor-based circuits." To evaluate if their synthetic neurons can solve real-world problems, the researchers first wired 24 such nanoscale devices together in a network inspired by the connections between the brain's cortex and thalamus, a well-known neural pathway involved in pattern recognition. Next, they used this system to solve a toy version of the viral quasispecies reconstruction problem, where mutant variations of a virus are identified without a reference genome. By means of data inputs, the researchers introduced the network to short gene fragments. Then, by programming the strength of connections between the artificial neurons within the network, they established basic rules about joining these genetic fragments. The jigsaw puzzle-like task for the network was to list mutations in the virus' genome based on these short genetic segments. The researchers found that within a few microseconds, their network of artificial neurons settled down in a state that was indicative of the genome for a mutant strain. Williams and Kumar noted this result is proof of principle that their neuromorphic systems can quickly perform tasks in an energy-efficient way. The researchers said the next steps in their research will be to expand the repertoire of the problems that their brain-like networks can solve by incorporating other firing patterns and some hallmark properties of the human brain like learning and memory. They also plan to address hardware challenges for implementing their technology on a commercial scale. "Calculating the national debt or solving some large-scale simulation is not the type of task the human brain is good at and that's why we have digital computers. Alternatively, we can leverage our knowledge of neuronal connections for solving problems that the brain is exceptionally good at," said Williams. "We have demonstrated that depending on the type of problem, there are different and more efficient ways of doing computations other than the conventional methods using digital computers with transistors." ### Dr. Ziwen Wang from Stanford University also contributed to this research. This story has been published on: 2020-09-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 06:37:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- World leaders have called for collective efforts to tackle the urgent global challenges posed by climate change as the world is at a critical moment in the pursuit of green and sustainable development. "While COVID-19 is a devastating pandemic, which caught the world unaware and ill-prepared, climate change is a phenomenon we are well aware of, and can mitigate against its repercussions," President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana said Thursday, addressing the ongoing general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. "We long declared climate change an existential threat, and committed to restrain its rapid devastation," he told the assembly, adding the international community should re-double efforts to mitigate its negative effects. Masisi also appealed for nations to attach great importance to climate action. Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid said digital solutions can serve the fight against climate change and help secure a more resilient and sustainable world. "Smart grids, matching power supply and demand, developing digital solutions for that, is big part of CO2 neutral economy to come," Kaljulaid said at the general debate. "We must balance this by not only developing reserve capacities like pump storage or hydrogen, but also to even out peak demands by smart consumption management," she added. Slovenian President Borut Pahor called for world attention and continued commitment to Sustainable Development Goals and environmental protection. "My personal advocacy to environmental protection is both global and local, based on introducing public debates on climate change, establishing committee for climate policy and supporting youth movements," said Pahor, adding "the best means of addressing the current global threats is effective multilateralism." Gambian President Adama Barrow said "it is essential and most urgent to accelerate the implementation of our global commitments on Financing for Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change." "The disrespect for nature has caused climate changes with negative impact on humankind," warned Timor-Leste President Fransisco Guterres. "The destruction of ecosystems and biodiversity is linked to the new diseases of which COVID-19 is an illustration," Guterres said. Convened on Tuesday, 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." Climate change and sustainable development in the context of pandemic are among the key issues that world leaders have touched upon. "We must not lose sight of the even more persistent existential threat to humanity, climate change," Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told the assembly on Wednesday. "The urgency of bold and swift climate action is growing by the day. Our commitments to the Paris Agreement must prevail. We must redouble our efforts for their implementation," Niinisto urged. Noting that the climate change is "another existential crisis for our civilization," Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for nations to "unite around the UN's six climate positive actions." "To address these global crises, we need to restore an atmosphere of trust between member states and strengthen multilateral institutions," Tokayev said. Enditem Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have examined how manufacturers are -- or aren't -- pivoting successfully in response to major manufacturing disruptions as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a study published July 27 in IEEE Engineering Management Review, two faculty members from the Naveen Jindal School of Management found that manufacturing response to the disruption has been largely reactive and uncoordinated, and many firms' crisis communication plans do not include managing an infectious-disease outbreak. The researchers identified the supporting enablers and competing barriers of manufacturing repurposing within the context of disruption caused by COVID-19. The article offers practitioners and policymakers best practices for pivoting successfully. "The research was an eye-opener in terms of understanding the challenges for manufacturers in dealing with such an abrupt, massive disruption," said Dr. Ramesh Subramoniam, clinical associate professor of operations management and one of the paper's co-authors. "The COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a standstill. Even before that, supply chain disruption frequency had increased in recent years. Establishing a resilient framework to meet such supply chain disruptions is the immediate need for practitioners," he said. Because of the extensive scope of disruption distributed across countries and industries, pandemics are different from typical disruptions, which are generally focused on specific industries or products, Subramoniam said. According to the International Labour Organization, approximately 47 million employers, representing some 54% of all employers worldwide, operate businesses in the sectors hardest hit by COVID-19: manufacturing, accommodation and food services, wholesale and retail trade, and real estate, business and administrative activities. Manufacturing is expected to be one of the most severely affected sectors in terms of the negative economic impact, said Dr. David Widdifield, a co-author of the paper, clinical associate professor of operations management and director of the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program. "A sudden disruption, such as the pandemic, opened up questions on the critical need for companies to reevaluate their existing supply chain risk mitigation strategies -- this includes the sectors of manufacturing responsible for the mass production of personal protection equipment (PPE) for health care workers," said Widdifield, who also serves as assistant dean of graduate programs in the Jindal School. The researchers surveyed employees of manufacturing firms. Completed between June and July 2020, the study assessed online responses from 71 manufacturing practitioners across 39 facilities and six continents. Some companies supplied critical equipment and devices needed by the public and health care workers, oftentimes exploring new technologies. Others found "repurposing and pivoting" -- the process of manufacturers rapidly switching to a new product or process -- more challenging. Manufacturing repurposing includes adapting production plans, lines and capabilities to meet new demand goals. "The research shows a lack of capability among some manufacturers to deal with the increased demand for new products, such as medical devices, while other manufacturers have the ability to pivot to a new normal," Widdifield said. "The study also brings forward the impact of digital technologies such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and how they prime organizations to respond faster and be more resilient to such rapid disruptions in the future." The study found: -Almost all the organizations (94%) were operational during the peak of the pandemic. Of those, 56% were at full operations capacity, and 44% were at partial capacity. -Multiple manufacturing firms repurposed during the pandemic. Target products included respirators and their components, medical PPE and hand sanitizers. -Repurposing was less likely and did not occur for several product families, including mobile X-rays, surgical gloves, screening test kits and other diagnostic equipment. -Despite the increasing number of disruptions caused by epidemics, natural disasters and other large-scale regional and global events, many firms' crisis communication plans do not specifically include managing an infectious-disease outbreak. The research also has implications for consumers, Subramoniam said. Companies were tested on how well they took care of their employees during the pandemic. "The average consumer should look at how companies responded to the pandemic in treating them, their friends and relatives," he said. "These are very strong indications of an organizational culture and capability. Future employees want to work for such companies with a strong culture of product and process innovation and growth, with the employees as the core asset." ### Co-authors of the paper included Dr. Okechukwu S. Okorie and Dr. Fiona Charnley of the University of Exeter in England, and John Patsavellas and Dr. Konstantinos Salonitis of Cranfield University in England. Gina Stewart, best known as The World's Hottest Grandma, celebrated her 50th birthday in style this week. The Gold Coast gran spared no expense on the celebration after raking in about half a million dollars selling racy photos and videos on OnlyFans. The mother of four rented out a five-star villa at the Sheraton Grand Resort Hotel for herself and two of her daughters. Milestone: Gina Stewart, best known as The World's Hottest Grandma, celebrated her 50th birthday this week in style 'I stayed in the $1,000-per-night villa with Casey and Summer with its own private rooftop overlooking the ocean,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'And my family organised a helicopter fly-by banner while we were having lunch around the hotel pool,' she added. The model mum was showered with expensive gifts on her special day, including Moet champagne and a gold necklace with a heart-shaped diamond from Tiffany & Co. Perfect day: 'I stayed in the $1,000-per-night villa with Casey and Summer with its own private rooftop overlooking the ocean,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Pictured with Summer Kind gesture: 'My family organised a helicopter fly-by banner while we were having lunch around the hotel pool,' she added Gina shot to fame two years ago after entering a Maxim modelling competition to raise money for an ill friend's medical expenses. Her age-defying photos soon went viral, leading to the blonde bombshell being dubbed 'The World's Hottest Grandma'. She quickly amassed a huge following on Instagram, but later turned to stripping off on the subscription-based adult website OnlyFans after Instagram kept removing her photos from their platform for being too revealing. The good life! The mother of four rented out a five-star villa at the Sheraton Grand Resort Hotel on the Gold Coast for herself and two of her daughters Expensive taste! The model mum was showered with expensive gifts on her special day, including Moet champagne and a gold necklace from Tiffany & Co. In a year and-a-half, Gina claims to have earned about $500,000 on the platform. 'I decided to start an OnlyFans account this year so I could connect with my supporters without Instagram's unfair censorship,' she told Daily Mail in December. 'Instagram has become way too PC and keeps hiding all of my photos even though I'm covered up. It was completely unfair because they let other models get away with much worse.' Superstar: Gina has earned around $500,000 in the 18 months that she's been selling racy photos and videos of herself on OnlyFans Thanks to OnlyFans, the Gold Coast grandmother is now earning thousands of dollars a month and was able to move out of her Sunshine Coast apartment and into a lavish four-bedroom waterfront home with a pool and Jacuzzi. 'OnlyFans is way better than Instagram because I can post whatever I want and interact with my fans on a much more intimate level,' she said. 'Now I live a great lifestyle thanks to my beautiful fans who support me. I've been able to afford a $1.3million home for myself and my daughter, I drive a Mercedes and I own two jet skis.' 'I've been able to afford a $1.3million home for myself and my daughter, I drive a Mercedes and I own two jet skis,' Gina told Daily Mail Australia last year. Pictured with her daughter Summer She continued: 'But the best part is that I can work from home and be a full time mother to my daughter Summer. She's only six so being there for her is the most important thing to me.' The blonde bombshell is now one of the top creators on the platform, but unlike many models, she claims that her content is tasteful and not pornographic. 'I keep my content glamorous and sexy unlike other models who bare what they had for breakfast. Its all in the tease,' she explained. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 01:24:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Denmark, Slovakia, Iceland and the Caribbean island of Curacao have been removed from Britain's "travel corridors" list, a senior British official announced Thursday. "Data shows we need to remove Denmark, Slovakia, Iceland, and Curacao from the Travel Corridor list," Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Twitter. Travellers arriving in England from those countries after 04:00 a.m. BST (0300 GMT) on Saturday must self-isolate for 14 days, he added. The quarantine decisions made by the British goverment are based on such factors as whether a country's weekly infection rate is above 20 cases per 100,000 people. Meanwhile, another 6,634 people have tested positive for coronavirus, the highest daily increase since COVID-19 broke out in Britain, Public Health England (PHE) said Thursday. A total of 40 new coronavirus deaths have also been recorded, the PHE said on Twitter. Also on Thursday, more than one million people have downloaded the British government's long-anticipated contact-tracing app for England and Wales within its first day of launch. The official NHS COVID-19 app instructs users to quarantine for 14 days if it detects they were nearby someone who has the virus. "Everybody who downloads the app will be helping to protect themselves, helping to protect their loved ones, helping to protect their community because the more people who download it, the more effective it will be," British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC The launch of the app came at a time when countries such as Britain, China, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines. The British government's Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance said Monday that it is possible that some vaccine could be available in small amounts later this year, but it is more likely that a vaccine will be available early next year, although that is not guaranteed. Enditem New Delhi, Sep 24 : India is a Civilisational State engaged in a "grand undertaking to re-architect" the Republic. It should make a "clean break" from its "socialistic, feudal past" to maintain the momentum and should stake claim to be a world power, says a new book on the country's journey as it approaches the 75th year of its Independence, even as it calls for course corrections in the areas of governance, bureaucracy, foreign policy and the judiciary. "India is today attempting to achieve economic growth with individual freedom-expanding social change in a grand undertaking to re-architect the republic. This India will be more secure, equal and prosperous, seeking a greater sway in world affairs," Harish Madhusudan and Rajeev Mantri write in "A New Idea Of India" (Westland). Noted economist Sanjeev Sanyal, in the Foreword, has described the book as "an important stop in India's intellectual evolution", a process that for six decades "has been dominated almost entirely by ideas and ideologies derived exclusively from various shades of the Left". The new way forward, the authors state, is a "clean break from the socialistic, feudal past" that is "just not the correct policy prescription for India but also makes for good politics", something that "for reasons of dynastic politics and inertia", most of India's opposition parties have so far been slow to respond to the changed context". Depreciating that a "section of the Indian intelligentsia" have "gone so far" as to proclaim that "India should not become a superpower", the authors assert: "At home to a sixth of all humanity, India can and should stake claim to be a world power. For India to succeed and all Indians to thrive and prosper, it falls upon our leaders to both recognise that there is an intense desire for a better tomorrow among India's billion plus people , and to draw lessons from the mistakes made in the past." This tide of heightened aspirations "has created a singularity, exerting insurmountable forces that are crushing and inescapable. Without deep introspection, the cynics long accustomed to shaping India's self-image and direction will be unable to emerge from the singularity they find themselves in. India, in fact, would be best served if there was an intellectual and political consensus on the criticality of economic growth and individual rights , along with the recognition that India is a Civilisational State that can lead to a new universalism without homogenising humanity", the authors maintain. Contending that a "civilisational republic" - a democratic polity based on the rule of law that is, in turn, rooted in India's millennia-old pluralistic ethos - is the "surest guarantee" for a prosperous future, the authors add, for good measure: "India is the only civilisational republic in the world today. While China is often described as a civilisational state, and correctly so, it is not a democratic republic". What then, are the course corrections required? In the area of foreign policy, the book says, the size of the country's diplomatic corps "is tiny" compared to its global ambitions - there are only 2,700 staff members and 912 Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers, with countries like China (4,500), Japan (5,700), France (6,000) and the US (20,000) way ahead. Not only should India ramp up its diplomatic strength, the selection process needs to be revamped with a separate exam to select foreign (service) officers assessing them on "parameters such as international aptitude, curiosity about the world, knowledge or demonstrated interest in foreign affairs and communications skills", as recommended by a parliamentary panel, the book says. It noted in this context that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had, in February 2020, implemented a comprehensive restructuring of the ministry, initiating long-overdue administrative reforms necessary to align it with India's changed trade and security objectives. But then, the IFS is not the only civil service facing capacity constraints. A staggering 1,449 IAS posts -- 22 per cent of the sanctioned strength -- and 970 IPS posts -- 19.94 of the sanctioned strength -- are lying vacant. "As for police forces across the country, over five lakh posts are vacant, with the highest - around 1.80 lakh -- being in Uttar Pradesh (India's largest by population and the most significant politically). Why is it surprising then, that there is no rule of law and any group can extract special benefits from the State based on its potential for violence," the authors ask. Then, the brief of the civil service is to execute the policy of the government of the day. "The argument that the bureaucracy acts as a check on the whims and fancies (even corrupt proclivities) of politicians isn't sound. That's not their job, but that of other institutions entrusted specifically with the task of maintaining transparency," the book says. It also speaks of the need for bureaucrats to be given ample time to develop expertise based on their interest and governmental needs. For instance, after every bureaucratic reshuffle, it's quite common, for example, that the urban development secretary has taken charge as the home secretary, the information and broadcasting secretary is shifted to personnel and training and the steel secretary has moved to the finance ministry. "Such a system, based primarily on generalists, does not allow officers to build domain expertise and is highly detrimental to the administrative efficiency," the authors write. As for governance, the book states it rather pithily: "The truth is that almost India's half of ministries could vanish tomorrow and nobody would miss them". Why has it come to such a pass? "Ministries have to be literally invented to accommodate leaders and, when required, coalition partners. This situation also arises as India's polity is also restricted when it comes to internal democracy." "Who Judges the Judges", the book asks and points to the telling example of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), whose creation had been approved by both houses of Parliament, ratified by 16 state legislatures and finally assented to by the President of India. The Supreme Court, however, struck it down 4-1 on the ground that it violated the "basic structure" of the Constitution - but did not recommend or suggest a better framework. The current Collegium system of appointments, the book says, "has given rise to nepotistic tendencies in the judiciary which the Constitution makers would never have fathomed - the rot is so deep that it competes with the scourge of dynastic politics, but while the latter has been widely critiqued and has to pass frequent electoral tests, the lack of public knowledge about the extent of dynastic sway in the legal world has saved the judicial establishment from scrutiny". There have been rare instance, though. Of the 28 incumbent Supreme Court judges, Outlook magazine reported in 2016, 11 "had either judges or legal luminaries as relatives". Read this book- it provides you much to ponder over. (Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text FRANKFORT, MI Michigan residents are rallying to help the Tennessee family of a 12-year-old boy who drowned in Lake Michigan after being swept off the Frankfort North Pier this week. Lane Frame of Manchester, Tennessee was found next to the Frankfort Pier in about 10 feet of water around 10 a.m. Wednesday. In response to the tragedy, a GoFundMe page was set up to help Frames family, which was in the middle of a dream vacation involving at least 13 people, Benzie County Sheriff Ted Shendel said previously. As of Thursday afternoon, nearly $14,000 had been raised by more than 300 people, easily surpassing the goal of $10,000. Over the course of the past three days, what we have seen from our community has been nothing short of amazing, a Facebook post from City of Frankfort Fire & Rescue read. We would like to thank the citizens and businesses who brought the first responders' food, and drinks, and coffee. The Frankfort community who supported, prayed for, loved over, offered stay to, and most importantly raised thousands of dollars on a go fund me page, surpassing every goal set to help with expenses for a visiting family. According to Shendel, two children age 11 and 12 ventured out on to the pier with their 50-year-old aunt on Monday. At one point a large wave swept all three into the inner waters of the pier. The aunt was able to retrieve the youngest child and they both climbed out, but Frame was swept out further into the lake and disappeared under the water. Every single person, business, and agency came together to help a family in crisis and need, the police statement reads. We are proud to serve this community and this week showed what an outstanding community we have here. Prayers and thoughts still go out to the family and a thank you to all for being community strong. The Benzie County Sheriffs Office, Frankfort Police and Fire & Rescue, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Natural Resources and local volunteers all helped locate the body of the boy and return him to the family for the trip home to Tennessee. 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. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "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. UGC NET 2020 will be released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for the June/September Session on its official website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in today The Admit Card for the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) will be released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for the June/September Session on its official website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in today i.e. September 24. The official notice stated that the Admit Card is meant for candidates who will be appearing for the exam on September 29, 30 and October 1 this year. While the Admit Cards for candidates sitting for the exam on these dates can receive their Admit Cards today only, the ones appearing on other dates will also receive theirs soon. Candidates will be able to download their Admit Cards by logging in on the website of UGC and filling in their registration number and password. The UGC-NET Exam 2020 is scheduled for September 24, 25, 29 and 30, October 1, 7, 9, 17, 21, 22, 23 and November 5. The exam will be held in two batches each day with the first lasting from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and the second from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Also read: UPSC ESE Admit Card 2020 for main exam out @upsc.gov.in: Check important instructions, how to download Also read: BPSSC Bihar SI Mains admit card 2020 released, heres how to download @bpssc.bih.ni Follow the given steps to download the UGC NET Admit Card 2020: Go to UGCs web portal, ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Select the hyperlink UGC NET admit card 2020 on the landing page. Type in the required details and submit. Your UGC NET Exam 2020 Admit Card will be displayed on the screen. Download and print the Admit Card. Also read: NEET UG 2020 application correction window re-opens, know all details here A grand jury in Kentucky said no police officers would be charged with the killing of Breonna 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 the black emergency medical worker was indicted on a lower criminal charge of "wanton endangerment" for shooting into neighbouring flats. Ms Taylor (26) was shot multiple times by plain-clothes 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. Brett Hankison, the former police officer who fired a number of the shots, was yesterday charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree, after it was determined he had fired into neighbouring flats. The charge carries a penalty of one to five years in prison. The judge set a $15,000 cash bond. The two other officers involved in the incident were not charged. Daniel Cameron, Kentucky's attorney general, said the pair - Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly and officer Myles Cosgrove -were "justified" in their use of force as they fired in self-defence after Ms Taylor's boyfriend fired a shot. "This is a gut-wrenching, emotional case," Mr Cameron said. "I understand the public's desire for answers. There's nothing I can do to take away the heartache but what I can provide today are the facts." Last night, Louisville's 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 released in late May sparked demonstrations across the city and coincided with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis that galvanised nationwide rallies. "Is that it?" one demonstrator in downtown Louisville shouted after the decision was read. "What the hell?" shouted another. Tamika Mallory, a protest organiser, told a gathered crowd: "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". 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. Kenneth Walker, Ms Taylor's boyfriend, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Sgt Mattingly. He told police he did not know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defence. 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!" ( Daily Telegraph, London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] But the court sided with the Republicans on two other issues: limiting efforts by other people and groups to collect completed ballots from voters a practice denounced as ballot harvesting by Republicans who contend it can lead to fraud and rejecting ballots that do not arrive with the required privacy envelope intact. The ruling on the envelopes has led to dire predictions about the potential rejection of tens of thousands of what are being called naked ballots, leading to postelection chaos along the lines of the dispute over so-called hanging chads on Florida ballots that helped decide the 2000 presidential election. The Trump campaign is seeking to ban drop boxes altogether in Pennsylvania, and a case on that issue is working its way through the federal courts. A judge put that lawsuit on hold to allow related cases to work their way through the state courts. Election officials in Pennsylvania lamented the unsettled situation in a video message to voters, and warned that some deadlines may still change. There is a lot going on in the world of Pennsylvania elections, said Julie Wheeler, a county commissioner in central Pennsylvania. Ongoing lawsuits and legislative activity in Harrisburg may change some of these processes and deadlines, but if they do, well be in touch with you as soon as possible to make sure all voters are aware of the changes, whether youre planning to vote in person or to use a mail-in ballot. On Thursday, the Justice Department announced that it had opened an inquiry into a small number of mail-in ballots from military officials that had been discarded, a rare mid-investigation statement that threatened to further unnerve those voting by mail. Some Pennsylvania voters have been dismayed at the back-and-forth and are opting to vote as they always have rather than trust a new voting system. The Ebonyi State Government, the police and Ohaneze Ndigbo have reacted to a sit-at-home declared by the proscribed separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), for October 1. While the Ebonyi government dismissed the order, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group said there was nothing wrong with it. The group, in a statement on Wednesday, said the exercise is its own way of protesting incessant killings in the country especially in the South-east. The IPOB also claimed it had intelligence report of plots by terror groups to attack people in the South-east who might be celebrating the independence of the country on that day. PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify this claim. Ignore them But Ebonyi government urged the people to go about their normal activities on October 1 as IPOB has no legal basis to compel anyone to stay home. The commissioner for internal security, Stanley Emegha, urged the people to disregard the order by IPOB. Who is IPOB to tell people to sit at home? That is the height of craziness on their side. How can you tell people who have a family to sit at home? To do what? Will you come and put food on their table? In the first place, we dont even know if there is anything like IPOB existing in the state. People should disregard the said statement and go about their normal business on that day, he said. Nothing wrong with order Meanwhile, Ohanaezes publicity secretary, Uche Okpaga, said IPOBs call was in order. Mr Okoagha said there was nothing wrong for a people to sit at home provided they are not violating the law of the land. If IPOB said so, we are supporting it. They are our children. We are supporting it since it is not against the law and so far as it is not a violent act. It is obtainable everywhere in the world. So, we are totally in support of it, he said. IPOB remains banned Meanwhile, the commissioner of police in Ebonyi, Philip Maku, warned IPOB to steer clear of the state. He said the proscribed group does not have the right to tell people to sit at home. People have the fundamental right to movement. If you try to restrict their right to move about and transact their lawful business activities, you are crossing the red line. If anyone tries to force people to sit at home, the police will not fail to deal decisively with such persons, he said. The police command also urged residents to ignore the call. Its spokesman, Mohammed Haruna, said IPOB remains banned and had no right to make the call. This is not the first time the group, which has had running battle with the Nigerian state, over its push for a separate nation of Biafra, will be making such a call. Previous calls for a sit-at-home have been largely ignored but also obeyed by some residents of the South-east. KEY HIGHLIGHTS They range from virus killing machines to sprays and masks with claims to ward off the virus Now 1,000 plus manufacturers of masks sell over 8-10 million pieces a month 500 new brands of sanitisers and 50 oxygen cans suppliers have hit the market Hospital consumable sales have revived to 65-70% of last year, from 15-20% during lockdown Six months after COVID-19 changed our lives, the Indian market is flooded with at least 10,000 types of new products with claims of protection against the deadly virus. The products range from virus killing machines, in-house and outdoor sprays to keys and notes cleaning technologies, touch-free devices, oxygen concentrator cans, sanitisers for vegetables, home, offices or public places and designer masks. According to Vivek Tiwari, CEO, MedikaBazaar, a healthcare exclusive B2B aggregator online platform linking manufacturers and suppliers to over 1,50,000 small to big hospitals and healthcare facilities, the platform witnessed over 10,000 new registrations of products related to COVID-19 care. If mask supplies in India were only a hospital related affair prior to COVID-19, selling medical grade masks manufactured by a handful of companies like 3M, Magnum, Venus, now there are 1,000 plus manufacturers of masks selling over 8-10 million pieces a month. While all these masks are believed to shield from the virus, medical grade certified masks constitute only 1-1.5 million pieces a month. Mask prices had soared to Rs 250-Rs 300 for a 3-ply ordinary mask during the lockdown due to shortage and high demand, but now they have cooled to Rs 30-50 per unit. With the public learning to live with the virus, a new emerging trend is designer masks by reputed fashion brands. Another major emerging business category is that of disinfectants and sanitisers. Reputed medical companies to unknown MSMEs have launched at least 500 new brands of sanitisers, says Tiwari. If PPE kits, ventilators and masks were the most sought-after hospital products during the early months of COVID-19, now the situation has changed with the emergence of scores of new manufacturers. "Now the main demand is for pulse oximeters, oxygen therapy systems. Even airlines like SpiceJet are selling oxygen concentrator cans. If there were only 8-10 manufacturers of respiratory products earlier, now there are at least 50 of them," says MedikaBazaar's Tiwari. He estimates at least 1,00,000 units of pulse oximeters and 50,000 units of oxygen concentrator cans have been sold in recent months. Medical experts say many of these products with medical claims are imported and qualify to be classified as a medical device, which will require stringent quality scrutiny for selling in India. So far, the rules and regulations have been liberal in the case of such products and the Government is yet to start regulating them. COVID-19 had caused stalemate in overall trade of healthcare products, which include pharmaceuticals and wellness products, declining from average $2-3 billion a month to about $300-$400 million a month during the lockdown. This was mainly due to logistics and labour issues. However, the trade has now bounced back to 70-80 percent of the pre-Covid levels. It is estimated that India consumes about $25-30 billion of healthcare products a month. Of this, organised B2B medical platforms like Medikabazaar and Colmed control 70 percent of the $400 million B2B online medical supplies market. "If sales had plummeted to 15-20 percent during the lockdown, now sales have come back to 65-70 percent of the volume traded in the last year", says Tiwari. MedikaBazaar was started in 2015 and saw its trade volume grow 2-3 times every year in the past 2-3 years. The company saw an orderbook in excess of $250 million last year. Amid simmering tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will on Thursday (September 24) dedicate 43 bridges to the nation. These bridges are built in border areas of Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Singh will inaugurate these bridges in seven states and union territories via video conferencing at 10:30 AM. These 43 bridges, including seven in Ladakh, are located in strategically important areas and they will prove very helpful in the movement of troops and weapons in the time of crisis. Out of the bridges, 10 are in Jammu and Kashmir, two in Himachal Pradesh, eight each in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh and four each in Sikkim and Punjab. All these bridges are built by Border Road Organisation. The BRO has completed the construction of these bridges at a time when Indian armed forces are on high alert along the LAC to thwart Chinese troops from infiltrating inside Indian territory. India is also expediting work on several important projects, including the construction of a road linking Darcha in Himachal Pradesh with Ladakh. This 290-km long strategically important road will criss-cross several high-altitude snow-bound passes. The road will hjelp in the quick movement of troops and heavy weaponry into the frontier bases of the Ladakh region. Live TV Meanwhile, on Tuesday, India and China have agreed to stop sending more troops to the frontline. 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. Bhubaneswar, Sep 24 : Former Odisha Minister and senior Congress leader Shaikh Matlub Ali passed away on Thursday, family sources said. He was 78. Ali was undergoing treatment at a private hospital here after he complained of illness. He is survived by his wife and son. Ali was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly four times (1974, 1980, 1985, and 1995) from the Mahanga constituency as a Congress candidate. He held several portfolios as a minister, including Power and Irrigation, Rural Development and Higher Education in the Janaki Ballabh Patnaik and Nandini Satpathy governments, said sources. Following his demise, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Niranjan Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and many politicians expressed their condolences. "I am saddened over the demise of Ali. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family at this movement. May his soul rest in peace," the Chief Minister tweeted. "Pained to learn about the passing away of former minister and senior Congress leader, Shaikh Matlub Ali. My prayers are with his family," tweeted the PCC president. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The borough can celebrate a new steakhouse with Navy Pier Prime come Oct. 1. The waterside Stapleton restaurant is located in Urby, a residential complex that was once home to the Navy Home Port. Formerly known as Surf, Navy Pier Prime is on the second floor of 37 Navy Pier Court. It is the sister spot to its more casual Taproom that occupies the first floor. Both venues tout the official beer of the businesses as Flagship Brewing Co. of Tompkinsville. Hours will be Thursday through Saturday for dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Tara Walton/Toronto Star via Getty Images) The federal government signalled it would include a child care action plan in its recovery priorities to support women returning to the workforce. The plan cant come quickly enough as daycare centres are forced to shutter and the economic recovery stalls, argues Armine Yalnizyan, economist and Atkinson Foundation fellow on the future of workers. Yalnizyan says this marks a pivotal moment in designing an early learning and childcare system that serves the needs of the Canadas economic future one that the country cannot afford to fumble. We have this remarkable opportunity to be investing in the next generation, childcare is the chokepoint of the recovery right now so we need it right now, Yalnizyan told Yahoo Finance Canada, We can't afford to let the system collapse. In the Atkinson Foundation report on child care, Yalnizyan and other advocates stressed the importance of preventing a reduction in the systems capacity, and for providing high quality childcare at a lower cost to parents. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Developments (OECD) average rate of early learning enrolment from birth to age 12 is 70 per cent. In Canada, only 27 per cent of these children are in regulated, licensed facilities, though it is unknown how many are in unlicensed paid and unpaid care. Yalnizyan adds that the consequence of failing in these supports extend beyond the pandemic recovery, but have severe implications in readying the next working age cohort to replace a rapidly retiring Boomer generation. This isn't just warehousing children so mommy can go back to work, it's taking advantage of the moment we're in to make sure that all kids are reaching their maximum potential at a time when, in a few years only... we're going to need everybody to have all hands on deck, because of population aging. Governor General Julie Payette acknowledged how the pandemic impacted low-income women in the Speech From The Throne and described an action plan that would recruit a task force of experts with diverse voices. Story continues We have long understood that Canada cannot succeed if half of the population is held back, Payette said in Parliament. Canadians need more accessible, affordable, inclusive, and high-quality child care. The government said it would be eyeing the Quebec child care model in its nationwide plan, which has a $2 billion, publicly-subsidized program for children under five. Yalnizyan commends this approach as long as the affordability is paired with higher quality, which begins with properly trained and compensated staff. The Atkinson report described the Royal Commission on the Status of Women dated 50 years ago which noted that child care workers were paid less than zookeepers. Sadly, this is still the case, read the report, adding that worker retention is difficult under these circumstances. This throne speech talked about resilience about 150 times, Yalnizyan said, You cannot build resilience in the system if you're not building quality childcare. Quantity is important, quality is critical, and quality rests entirely on the qualifications of the educators. These announcements come at a time when other voices in the business sector have called on the government to provide improved supports to pave the way for a more equal recovery. Earlier in the week, Bank of Nova Scotia CEO Brian Porter recommended increasing the Canada Child Benefit to $5,000 for each child in daycare, providing households with over $400 monthly. Everybody can improve, everybody has to improve, Yalnizyan said, If we're going to succeed in the 21st century, If we're going to get through this freaking pandemic and get to that place where we can talk about thriving post-pandemic. But without these systems in place, there will be no thriving - there will only be scramble. Photo: The Canadian Press Thailands government lodged complaints with police Thursday against Facebook and Twitter, alleging they failed to comply with court orders to block content judged illegal under Thai law. Minister of Digital Economy and Society Buddhipongse Punnakanta said at a news conference that it was the first time his ministry has taken such action against the social media companies under Thailands Computer Crime Act. It has prosecuted website and account owners and users in the past. The ministry filed the complaints at the police Technology Crime Suppression Division, where Buddhipongse said the companies had failed to meet 15-day deadlines issued by the courts to block hundreds of accounts. He said the targeted sites were banned because they contained illegal content related to online gambling, pornography, drugs or the monarchy, a highly sensitive subject. The ministry also filed complaints against parties using five accounts to disseminate material considered offensive during a large anti-government rally this past weekend. Buddhipongse said Facebook had blocked access in Thailand to 215 of the 661 accounts his ministry had requested. Twitter had blocked four of 69 accounts, he said. Police Col. Siriwat Deepor, deputy chief of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, said the two companies could face fines of not more than 200,000 baht ($6,325) and an additional daily fine of 5,000 baht ($158) for each day the accounts remain unblocked. Kate Hayes, a spokeswoman for Facebooks Asia-Pacific operations, said the company did not have any comment for now on the Thai action. A spokesman for Twitter could not be reached. In August, the Ministry of of Digital Economy and Society successfully pressured Facebook to block a popular page about the monarchy. We are protecting our sovereignty, which may not mean protecting physical borders in the traditional sense but rather ... protecting our cyber sovereignty, Buddhipongse said at the time. He declared that such attacks happen fast and are constantly damaging Thais. Florida's 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 $16million 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. Governor Ron DeSantis and House Rep. Matt Gaetz had asked Moody to review allegations that Bloomberg and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition had violated the law by offering incentives for voting. DeSantis, Gaetz, and Moody are 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 they've completed their sentences. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (left) asked state and federal law enforcement on Wednesday to investigate possible election law violations after billionaire and former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg (right) helped raise more than $16million for Florida felons to pay their debts so they can vote in the presidential election Rep. Matt Gaetz has also called for a criminal investigation into Bloomberg, accusing him of buying votes in a scheme to pay off the debts of Florida felons The exception was for murderers and sex offenders. But when crafting the law to implement the amendment, the Republican-dominated Legislature said that rights wouldn't be restored until all fines, court fees and restitution were paid. Bloomberg announced this week that he raised more than $16million to help pay off the financial obligations for felons so they can vote. While the coalition says it doesn't 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 didn't immediately reply to phone calls seeking comment. 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. Did Bloomberg actually commit a crime? According to Florida's statutes, 'corruptly influencing voting' is a third degree felony. The statutes state: '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'. Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz insists that this means Bloomberg has committed a crime. He said: 'The question is whether or not paying off someone's 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, you would obviously see the value in that.' However for any crime to have been committed, prosecutors would have to prove that Bloomberg intended 'to buy that persons or anothers vote'. The billionaire could claim that there is no requirement for a felon to vote in any particular way, and that the scheme is merely restoring voting rights to felons regardless of their political allegiance. Bloomberg said in a statement: '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.' Advertisement Florida has 29 electoral college votes that are crucial to President Donald Trumps hopes of staying in the White House. Moody's 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 Meade's 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 $5million before Bloomberg made calls to raise almost $17million more, according to Bloomberg staffers. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Florida's 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 he's done that. 'They said they weren't 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 I've done in the past, I've 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 offenses, but began turning his life around when he was released in 2005. He earned a law degree, but can't work as a lawyer because of felony convictions. That's one of the reasons he wants his rights restored. Neil Volz, the group's executive director, has also had his voting rights restored and the clemency board restored his other civil rights Wednesday. But he lamented that Meade wasn't given the same privilege. He noted that Meade was selected on Time magazine's 2019 list of most influential people in the world and chosen as the University of Florida's Bob Graham Center for Public Service's 'Floridian of the Year.' 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 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 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 Graham is a former governor and US senator. 'Here's 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 September 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. 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 Meade. '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 Steven Spielberg. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 2020 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces the filing of a class-action lawsuit against FirstEnergy Corp. ("FirstEnergy" or "the Company") (NYSE:FE) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission." Investors who purchased the Company's securities between February 21, 2017 and July 21, 2020, inclusive (the ''Class Period''), are encouraged to contact the firm before September 28, 2020. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com. The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. FirstEnergy and associated organizations and individuals were the architects of a $60 million scheme involving bribery and the corruption of the political process with the goal of securing legislation favorable to the Company. The Company secretly bribed Ohio politicians with tens of millions of dollars to secure votes for Ohio House Bill 6 ("HB 6"), a $1.3 billion ratepayer bailout of the Company's unprofitable nuclear generation plants. The Company funneled millions of dollars through "dark money" organizations to conduct a misleading advertising campaign in favor of the bill while concealing its involvement. The Company hired 15 signature-gathering firms and bribed others involved in a ballot initiative to repeal HB6 in order to thwart the effort, among other unscrupulous tactics. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about FirstEnergy, investors suffered damages. Story continues Join the case to recover your losses. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. CONTACT: The Schall Law Firm Brian Schall, Esq. 310-301-3335 info@schallfirm.com www.schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/607696/4-Day-Deadline-Alert-The-Schall-Law-Firm-Announces-the-Filing-of-a-Class-Action-Lawsuit-Against-FirstEnergy-Corp-and-Encourages-Investors-with-Losses-in-Excess-of-100000-to-Contact-the-Firm READING, Pa. - Even though a COVID-19 vaccine is not yet available, Berks County officials addressed the issue of vaccine preparedness at the commissioners' weekly meeting Thursday morning. Amy Levengood, an Amity Township resident, raised concerns surrounding the topic. "Dr. [Robert] Redfield (director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) suggested that state micro-plans for vaccine distribution should be ready by Oct. 16," Levengood said. "Philadelphia is one of the jurisdictions Redfield cited as having already done microplanning in conjunction with the CDC. What is [Berks] county's preparedness level to maintain and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine safely?" Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach said the federal government is working with every state to put together preparedness plans for vaccine distributions. "Communication is occurring between the state Department of Health and various counties," Leinbach said. Leinbach said the discussions have determined the number-one priority for a vaccine will be frontline healthcare workers, followed by first responders and then those individuals who are most at risk, such as the elderly or those with underlying health conditions. Brian Gottschall, the county's director of emergency services, said Berks has been working with the state Department of Health to understand the county's role. "Our concern was that the Department of Health was going to say the process would be one where we would be responsible for 100% of the vaccine (distribution)," Gottschall said. "I'm glad that the strategy will be (to administer the vaccine) through normal healthcare channels." Gottschall said the county is recognizing that there is a component of society that doesn't have access to a healthcare system. "We have to make sure those folks have an opportunity to secure vaccinations, and we are putting together a plan for that process," he said. "The reality is that we are operating in a vacuum, because we don't when (a vaccine will be available), the type of vaccine and what (quantity) is going to be assigned to Pennsylvania." Levengood also posed a question about the preparedness of the county to store the vaccine, given the fact that some of the vaccines being developed could require extremely low, frozen temperatures. Gottschall said the state would take responsibility for vaccine storage and only dispense what is needed to each county to be used within its shelf life outside of the frozen conditions. 2:27 +2 Berks DA: RPD officers justified in shooting armed person DA John Adams said his office plans to file criminal charges against the suspect once she's released from the hospital. In another matter raised during the public comment portion of the meeting, the commissioners heard from several residents who voiced harsh criticism of the county and the district attorney's announcement on Wednesday that the Sept. 13 city police shooting of Lakin Jahaad Miller-Nock was a reasonable use of force under the law. The suspect was shot and wounded by officers after refusing their demands to drop a weapon. City resident Becky Ellis criticized District Attorney John Adams for using the suspect's birth name instead of Roxanne Moore. "Dead-naming is the use of the birth or other former name of a transgender person without their consent," Ellis said. "Dead-naming is a form of violence. D.A. Adams has done this on several occasions to Moore, subjecting her to harassment and discrimination. Transgender women of color are already marginalized, but by allowing D.A. Adams' actions to continue, you are perpetuating violence against an entire marginalized group of people." Ellis also raised concerns about Adams withholding body camera footage of the shooting. "When I read between the lines, I hear 'it will be released when this blows over,'" Ellis said. "Adams stated that there was a history of mental health issues. Why was a counselor not dispatched with the police? Why is the county of Berks, headed by the Berks County commissioners, not doing anything to combat systemic racism by making the needed changes to hold the D.A. accountable for his inappropriate actions?" Leinbach responded, saying he was disturbed by the comments. "Becky Ellis, you know better," Leinbach said. "You know that the district attorney is elected. You know that we cannot direct any elected official as to what they can or cannot do. I suggest you reach out to him, and if you have a problem with the police, go to the local municipality." Ellis is also a member of the Reading School Board. But Leinbach said he wanted to warn Ellis and other commenters that they may not have all of the information in the case. "Mental health is a major issue in our country and it is not being properly addressed," Leinbach said. "I believe that if you dig into this case, you will find there was an opportunity to address this issue (previous to the Sept 13 incident). "If it would have been addressed," Leinbach said, "there is a good chance this incident would not have happened." +4 Restored bridge in Greenwich set to reopen Tuesday "We've been able to save a metal truss bridge. In most cases, these are being torn down and replaced with concrete bridges." In other business, the commissioners voted to execute a bill of sale for Zettlemoyer's Bridge to Greenwich Township for $1. The bridge is located on Long Road, crossing over Maiden Creek. Commissioner Kevin S. Barnhardt the bridge was closed in 2012 because of deteriorating conditions. Barnhardt said the county had intended to remove the bridge, but after negotiating with the township, the commissioners agreed to rehabilitate the bridge and then sell it to the municipality. The cost of the rehabilitation was $1.6 million. Barnhardt said there are several other similar projects underway in the county. "This helps the local community, because they get a completely new bridge and it takes the responsibility of long-term bridge maintenance off of the county," Leinbach said. STRATFORD A staff member at Bunnell High School has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a letter from Superintendent Janet Robinson to families. The superintendent said the last day the person was in school was Monday. The school district was notified about the positive test Wednesday. Anyone who is considered a close contact with this person has been contacted or will be contacted by school or local health officials and provided with instructions on the appropriate steps to take, Robinson said. The staff member who tested positive has been told to remain home in self-isolation for 10 days and given instructions to follow before returning to school, Robinson said. Family members have also been instructed to self-quarantine and get tested. We are closely monitoring this situation and working with the Stratford Public Health Department and will provide you with updates as we know more, the superintendent said. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. The case at Bunnell comes a day after school officials were notified that a staff member at Stratford High School tested positive for COVID-19. In that case, officials said they do not believe the staff member was at the school while contagious. 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. Last week, Second Hill Lane Elementary School went to all distance learning for two days a after staff member there had a suspected case of COVID-19, but the school reopened after the staff member tested negative. San Francisco sued 28 alleged drug dealers who frequent a downtown neighbourhood where drug dealing and drug use in broad daylight is common, in an effort to clean up the area that has seen the citys largest number of overdose deaths, authorities announced Thursday. San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said the lawsuits, if approved in California Superior Court, would prevent the alleged dealers from entering a 50-block area in the Tenderloin and part of the neighbouring South of Market neighbourhood. Those who violate the court order would face arrest on misdemeanour charges, a $6,000 fine and the seizure of drugs and money. These lawsuits wont solve the problems themselves. But they are a step worth taking, Herrera said. The move comes after a 70% spike in overdose deaths in 2019, when 441 people died, more than half of them from fentanyl overdoses. The Tenderloin neighbourhood, which includes City Hall and several federal buildings, has a large homeless population and is just blocks from tourist-heavy Union Square. The neighbourhood has long been a public safety problem with people shooting up or snorting powder on the sidewalks at all times of the day. It has lots of single-occupancy hotels, and it is also home to many low-income families. The Tenderloin has the highest concentration of children in the city about 2,260. You see people who are pushing strollers, mothers who have to go out onto the streets and go around the drug dealing, and the drug using, Mayor London Breed said. San Francisco has become the place to go to sell drugs, it is known widely, and that has got to stop. Herrera said more drug treatment options, expanded mental health help and a concerted focus on major narcotics suppliers are also needed. But these injunctions will give law enforcement one more tool to help keep Tenderloin residents safe, he said. Of the 28 alleged drug dealers named, 27 live outside of San Francisco and come to the Tenderloin from Oakland, Hayward, San Jose, Suisun City and elsewhere, officials said. The injunctions target drug dealers who continuously prey on the Tenderloin and who have multiple arrests for sales or possession for sale of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl, Herrera said. Herreras effort follows a yearlong crackdown in the neighbourhood by federal officials who in August 2019 announced the arrests of 32 people, mostly Honduran nationals tied to two international drug cartels that poured heroin and cocaine into the community. Chris Nielsen, special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in San Francisco, said an investigation launched in late 2017 uncovered two independent operations stretching from Mexico to Seattle in which mostly Honduran nationals living in the east San Francisco Bay Area commuted daily to the Tenderloin to sell drugs. He said the commuter drug dealers acted like independent contractors, selling drugs in exchange for housing. Speaking alongside visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov dismissed those threats of US sanctions as illegal. Russia on Thursday dismissed the threat of US sanctions and attempts to isolate Iran, saying it intended to trade with Tehran once a UN arms embargo expires next month. The embargo on conventional arms shipments to Iran is set to expire on October 18 after the United States failed to win support for a new UN resolution. The administration of US President Donald Trump says it has decided to unilaterally reinstate virtually all of the UN sanctions on Iran lifted under a 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran. Washington has said it will seek to prevent Iran from purchasing Chinese tanks and Russian air defence systems. Speaking alongside visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov dismissed those threats as illegal. "Russia will in no way build its policies on the basis of these aggressive illegal demands which have no legal force," Lavrov said. He expressed hope that other countries cooperating with Iran would follow suit. "The fact that the United States threatened to introduce sanctions on all those who will contradict the US interpretation of the current situation once again confirms that Washington wants to behave like a bull in a china shop," Lavrov added. "In my opinion, the current (US) administration has lost diplomatic skills almost beyond retrieve," Lavrov said. He added however that Russia and European countries continued talks with Washington on the subject. Trump pulled out of the Iran 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. Search Keywords: Short link: The National Union of Metalworkers Union of South Africa on Wednesday staged a protest outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in Pretoria expressing their dismay over the manner in which President Emmerson Mnangagwa is running the country following the ouster of Robert Mugabe. (Video: Benedict Nhlapho) The Chamber of Digital Commerce, a blockchain advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., announced Wednesday that former acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney has joined the groups board of advisors. In a press statement emailed to CoinDesk, the blockchain advocacy group also said Visa, Goldman Sachs and Six Digital Exchange (SDX) have joined the group as executive committee members. In the statement, the advocacy groups founder, Perianne Boring, said that diverse leadership with experience in both the public and private sectors was needed to assure the future of blockchain technology in the United States. Mulvaney, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, served as the acting White House chief of staff between December 2018 and March 2020. He was later appointed as the U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland in May. His experience as a legislator is very very valuable because he can help us navigate Congress, which is a very complicated organism to work with, said Boring, speaking of Mulvaney. She also said that having served as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Mulvaney would also help the chamber understand how regulators could be looking at such technology. I believe U.S. advancement of blockchain development and policy is crucial to our continued success as a global leader in technological evolution, Mulvaney said in the statement. Read more: Ex-CFTC Chair Crypto Dad Giancarlo Joins Digital Chamber Trade Group Related Stories 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) Police in Vietnam have confiscated an estimated 345,000 used condoms that were washed, dried, repackaged and sold as new, local media reported Thursday. A video by state-owned Vietnam television station VTV shows dozens of bags scattered across the floor of a warehouse in the southern Binh Duong province containing nearly 800 pounds of the recycled contraceptive. Police arrested one woman in the operation. She told investigators that she received $0.17 for every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of recycled condoms. VTV said it wasnt clear how many reused condoms have already been sold. The detained woman told police that the used prophylactics were first boiled in water, dried and reshaped on a wooden dildo. They were then repackaged and sold as new. The owner of the warehouse told state newspaper Tuoi Tre that they received a monthly input of used condoms from an unknown person. According to The Associated Press, police announced that they are investigating the matter, and tracking down other individuals who might be involved. A health official told the newspaper that the recycled condoms posed an extreme health risk to potential users. 2020 New York Daily News Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A coronavirus cluster of five patients and five staff members has been detected at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, the hospital announced Wednesday. The patients and employees have a connection to two inpatient units that have recently tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from Brigham and Womens Hospital. The cluster was detected by Brigham and Womens infection control at Braunwald Tower units 16A and 14 CD, the statement said. Admission to the units has been temporarily halted and visitation restricted. All hospitalized patients still being cared for on the affected unit have been tested, and their results have come back negative, according to the statement. The infection control team, which detected the cluster, is investigating the source of it through contact tracing, testing and interviews of staff, the hospital noted. Through an intensive tracing process, our experts are working closely with all involved to ensure that others who may have been exposed are identified and tested, the hospital said. Those who have potentially been exposed, including patients who have been discharged, will be reached out to directly by the infection control team to arrange for testing, according to the hospital. The hospital is also immediately sending home staff who are symptomatic or have tested positive for the virus. The employees are not allowed to return to work until they meet the health care systems return-to-work criteria, Brigham and Womens said. Environmental Services has thoroughly cleaned the affected areas as well, according to officials. It is safe to visit Brigham and Womens, the hospital said in its statement. Per protocol, all patients admitted to the hospital are tested for the coronavirus, and staff are required to provide evidence they are healthy every day before working. All employees, patients and visitors must wear hospital-issued masks while on the campus as well. Related Content: Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 12:35:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The world need to strengthen multilateralism in solving global crises instead of unilateralism preached by some powerful nations, Ugandan government spokesman has said. "There is need for the presumed strong nations to step back, reflect on their past follies to build a new shared world order based on multilateral approach to solutions, peace and prosperity," Ofwono Opondo told Xinhua in a recent interview. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, with multilateralism becoming international consensus. Opondo said hegemonic practices by some rich and powerful nations have no place in the world, noting that the Western allies have taken advantage of their technological and economic superiority to sow hegemony and continued the disproportion of power, resources and exploitation. "As a result of this hegemony the world has never been at peace, and conflicts between and among nations have continued and spiralled out of hand and into prolonged suffering, destruction and poverty," he said. "Uganda welcomes all the remarks made by President Xi on the 75th anniversary of the UN because they are anchored on the founding principles and charter of the UN itself which were to build, expand and consolidate peace among nations and peoples as well as global peace and fraternity," said Opondo. At a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a four-point proposal on the development of the UN and its role in the post-COVID era. The UN must stand firm for justice, uphold the rule of law, promote cooperation and focus on real action, said Xi. On rule of law and equity, Opondo said the powerful have a duty to ensure that the weak and vulnerable are protected and supported so as to make meaningful contribution to their own as well as world development, prosperity, peace, stability and safety. Taking immigration as an example, he said that if peace, security, stability and prosperity prevailed in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, the Western countries would be better off in facing refugee crisis as these vulnerable regions would have jobs and other opportunities for local residents to stay. Enditem French prosecutors have opened an inquiry into banking giant BNP Paribas over claims of complicity in crimes against humanity, genocide and torture in Sudan, sources said Thursday. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), which had filed a complaint against the French bank, announced on Twitter that an investigation had been opened, information confirmed to AFP by a judicial source. A year ago almost to the day, nine Sudanese victims backed by rights groups including the FIDH filed a criminal complaint against BNP Paribas for allegedly facilitating crimes committed in Sudan between 2002 and 2008, particularly in the war-torn western region of Darfur. It was considered the regimes de facto central bank at the time despite international sanctions, the FIDH said. The judicial source said the investigation was opened on August 26 into complicity in crimes against humanity, genocide and acts of torture and barbarism. The FIDH said last year that the complaint marks the first attempt to hold the French bank criminally responsible for alleged complicity in international crimes committed in Sudan, and Darfur in particular. Sudanese authorities and leaders from the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), a coalition of rebel groups, agreed to a historic peace agreement on August 31 in Juba aimed at ending nearly two decades of conflict. The United Nations estimates 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced since 2003. In 2014, BNP Paribas pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiring to violate American sanctions against the governments of Sudan, Iran and Cuba, and agreed to a fine of $8.9 billion. It was found guilty of going to elaborate lengths to conceal prohibited transactions, cover its tracks, and deceive US authorities, according to the US Department of Justice. Illegal payments were made on behalf of sanctioned entities in Sudan, which was subject to US embargo based on the Sudanese governments role in facilitating terrorism and committing human rights abuses, it said. The FIDH said Sudanese victims did not receive any compensation from that settlement. Behind the gravest crimes and human rights violations there is always money, the federations honorary president Patrick Baudouin said last year. By granting the Sudanese regime access to international money markets, BNPP allowed the government to function, pay its staff, military and security forces, make purchases abroad, all while Sudan was a pariah on the international scene for planning and committing crimes in Darfur, he added. A criminal complaint has also been lodged against BNP for alleged complicity in the 1994 genocide of Rwandas Tutsi minority. edy/mlr/js/gd BNP Paribas An Action Hero: Ayushmann Khurrana is now joined by Jaideep Ahlawat as they kickstart shoot in London A Harlem resident who went fishing in one of Central Park's lakes hooked a human corpse on Thursday. At around 11am on Thursday, Luis Castoire, 24, cast his line into Harlem Meer, which is a lake located on the northeast corner of Central Park near the corner of Fifth Avenue and 110th Street. 'I hooked up on something,' Castoire told DailyMail.com on Thursday. 'I was fishing in the Harlem Meer and my second cast I hook something [and] then lifted the line.' 'I had seen the body in the water then I call 911.' New York City police on Thursday were called to Harlem Meer in Central Park after a fisherman found the body of a man in his thirties Medical examiners are seen above placing the man's body into a vehicle on Thursday Harlem Meer is a lake located on the northeast corner of Central Park near the corner of Fifth Avenue and 110th Street 'I hooked up on something,' the fisherman, Luis Castoire (pictured), told DailyMail.com on Thursday. 'I was fishing in the Harlem Meer and my second cast I hook something [and] then lifted the line.' When asked if he got a good look at the corpse, Castoire told DailyMail.com: 'I know it was a man but not really. I freak out.' New York City police were called to the scene and removed the body of an unidentified man in his thirties. 'I called 911 then the police came,' Castoire said. 'I asked a lot of questions and then I left home to my new born baby boy.' First responders recovered the body and pronounced the man dead at the scene. A medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death, the NYPD told DailyMail.com. New York Police Department personnel are seen above near Harlem Meer on Thursday This is the third time this month that an unidentified body was found in Central Park The story was first reported by the New York Daily News. This is the third time this month that the NYPD has launched an investigation into the death of a man whose body was found in Central Park. Last Friday, first responders were called to the area of West 109th Street and West Drive just before 2am. They found a 59-year-old man who was unconscious and unresponsive with no obvious signs of injury, according to the NYPD. Emergency personnel pronounced the man dead at the scene. The deceased has yet to be identified. On September 7, divers pulled a body out of a pond in Central Park. On September 7, divers pulled a body out of a pond in Central Park. Police on site with the recovered body covered in tarp above The body belonged to an adult male who has not yet been identified. The remains were taken out of the pond - which is at the entrance of 59th Street and Central Park West - at around 12.30pm, an FDNY spokeswoman said to DailyMail.com Authorities retrieved the body following reports of a potential drowning victim. The body was discovered floating in the water. Former Bihar Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief on Wednesday admitted that job scarcity was a major issue in the poll-bound state and held the 15-year (RJD) rule between 1990 and 2005 responsible for the same. Jobs have become a major issue in the state ahead of the Assembly 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." --IANS ajk/arm (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 year before she was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg gave a tag-team commencement address with husband and highly respected tax lawyer Martin D. Ginsburg to Lewis & Clark Law School graduates. Ginsburg, then a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, started the 1992 address before turning it over to her husband, whom she described as a distinguished professor of tax law, master chef and super spouse. She remarked how it was a special day for them as well, noting it was the first time in our 38-year partnership that we are being honored as spouses in law. Emeritus dean and law professor Stephen Kanter recalled the visit after Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday of complications from pancreatic cancer at age 87. She had served for 27 years on the U.S Supreme Court. Her husband died at age 78 in June 2010. The couples commencement addresses were reprinted in full in the winter 1992 issue of the alumni magazine, The Advocate. Ginsburg, a womens rights champion, applauded the fact that women made up 43 percent of Lewis & Clarks law school body at that time, relaying how her Harvard Law School class of more than 500 students in the late 1950s included one Black classmate and fewer than 10 women. She said she was honored to speak at a law school associated with the great and brave woman guide Sacagawea, a Native American woman who helped guide explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1805 and whose courage in the face of danger and deprivation are legendary. Ginsburg shared how, when she started law school, the dean held a welcoming party for the women in her class by asking them to explain what they were doing occupying a seat that could be filled by a man. She said she was fearful about appearing too assertive and mumbled that "I wanted to understand my husbands work -- he was then in the second-year class. She shared how she couldnt get a job at a law firm after graduating and said the expectations then were that women who completed law school would not land at higher-paying law firms but devote themselves to serving the poor who couldnt pay for legal services. While Ginsburg said its true that many women lawyers are sympathetic and committed to humanitarian causes, so are the best men. She shared the story of how as a professor at Columbia Law School in the mid-1970s, while also trying to manage sex equality cases that were headed to the nations high court, her 10-year-old sons principal would call her monthly to discuss my lively childs most recent adventure. One afternoon when I felt particularly weary, I responded: This child has two parents. Please alternate calls for conferences,'" she said. After that, the calls from the principal dropped to once a semester, Ginsburg said, though her sons behavior hadnt changed drastically. There was more reluctance to take a father away from his work. I suspect there still is, she told the law school graduates. But Ginsburg noted progress since the mid-1950s and 60s, pointing out that a man was no longer considered strange if he was committed to caring for a family, sharing in child-rearing, caring for elderly parents, cooking dinners and helping to keep the house in order. She said then she was optimistic that the trend toward shared roles for men and women, at work and at home would continue. To the abiding appreciation of my daughter, son, and now grandchildren, meals at our house for more than a dozen years have been taken completely off Mommys track -- she has no talent for the job -- and switched to Daddys -- he has mastered the art. She encouraged graduates to hone their skills mediating controversies among opposing factions and foster the development of younger, less experienced people -- leadership qualities that count most, she said. Citing a Women in Law book published in the 1980s, Ginsburg said she agreed with the author that humane caring, or the role of guardian of social consciousness, should not be regarded as womens work. It should be regarded as the work of all, she told the class. That is the grand ideal I have for the 1990s and beyond. Martin D. Ginsburg followed his wife. He shared how he started working as a tax lawyer at a New York law firm, then gave up the practice to teach tax law. He said he learned in both the practice of law and in teaching to use humor to help make messages stick, and he emphasized the importance of a lawyers professional responsibility. He shared how a senior litigation partner once called him into his office and shared a quote he lived his professional life by: If someone goes to jail, be sure its the client. I understood that advice as a reminder that we may be the clients adviser and, to the limits of propriety, the clients advocate, but we are not the clients partner," Martin Ginsburg said. Kanter said he recalled the Ginsburgs didnt want to stay in a luxury hotel when they came to Portland in 1992. They just wanted to make sure their room had a kitchen, so the chef of the family could cook. Martin Ginsburg even brought his own copper pots, Kanter recalled. When Kanter introduced the Ginsburgs at the 1992 commencement, he predicted that Ruth Bader Ginsburg would be a logical candidate for the U.S. Supreme Court if Bill Clinton were elected president, and Martin Ginsburg, for his culinary expertise, might some day get tapped to be a White House chef. They were a true tag-team, Kanter said. As brilliant as she was, Marty was very gregarious, the life of the party. They were just delightful. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Subscribe to Facebook page By 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. Bjoern Wylezich / TNS A 29-year-old New Haven man was sentenced to more than three years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to a federal gun possession charge, authorities said. Errie McClendon pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in November last year. He was sentenced to 41 months in prison with three years of supervised release, a release from the U.S. Attorneys office said. By Hyunjoo Jin and Yilei Sun SEOUL/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Shares of Asian battery suppliers fell on Wednesday after Tesla Inc outlined a plan to halve the cost of its electric vehicle batteries and bring more production of the key auto component in-house. The fortunes of battery makers in South Korea, Japan and China are linked to Tesla, the EV market leader, as they supply its factories in Nevada and Shanghai. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Tuesday the carmaker aims to lower electric vehicle prices to $25,000 each by producing new batteries with cheaper costs and longer range. Musk said that it will take about three years to fully achieve this goal-- disappointing investors and wiping $50 billion off its market value -- but analysts said plans for in house production would put pressure on suppliers to lower prices. "Tesla will have more power in negotiating prices and therefore overall battery costs will fall further," said Rho Woo-ho, an analyst at Meritz Securities. Shares in South Korea's LG Chem <051910.KS> finished 1.4% lower after falling as much as 5.5% while Panasonic <6752.T> ended down 3.7% and China's CATL <300750.SZ> was down 1.7%. A Panasonic spokeswoman said the company is "considering a variety of options" when asked if Panasonic would partner with Tesla on new cell production, but added that nothing has been determined at this time. "We value our relationship with Tesla and look forward to enhancing our partnership," the company said. LG Chem declined to comment. A source familiar with the company said it is open to cooperating with Tesla on the new batteries. CATL said in a statement it also planned research and investment in nickel rich chemistry, large cells and integrated structure, which are part of Tesla's technology development roadmap, and saw them as key factors in making electric vehicles mainstream. 'INSANELY DIFFICULT' Tesla said it plans to achieve 100 gigawatt hours of internal battery capacity in 2022 and 3,000 gigawatt hours by 2030 -- roughly 85 times greater than the capacity of its Nevada plant by 2030. Story continues "This 100 gigawatt hours are supplemental to what we buy from suppliers," Musk said, reiterating that Tesla will continue to use its existing cell suppliers. Tesla currently produces batteries in partnership with Panasonic at its Nevada factory, while LG Chem and CATL supply cells to its Shanghai factory. Tesla said it has started ramping up production of its new batteries at a pilot line near its vehicle plant in Fremont, California, but the production yield is not high. "It is insanely difficult to scale up," Musk said at the company's closely watched "Battery Day" presentation. "There is a clear path to success but a ton of work to do," he said. Experts had mixed responses over whether Tesla will be able to live up to its aim of mass producing the bigger new batteries. "Tesla's new batteries are possible at lab levels, but mass production is impossible," said Cho Jae-phil, a professor at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology who worked previously at Korean battery maker, Samsung SDI <006400.KS>. However, South Korean battery expert and professor Park Chul-wan was more optimistic. "Once Tesla succeeds in mass-producing the new cells, other battery vendors will find it difficult to catch up. It will be difficult to imitate the technology," he said. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in Seout and Yilei Sun in Shanghai and Timothy Kelly; Additional reporting by Heekyong Yang and Cynthia Kim in Seoul; editing by Richard Pullin and Jason Neely) Photograph: TUT.BY/AFP/Getty Images The UK is drawing up Magnitsky-style human rights sanctions against officials in Belarus responsible for administering the rigged re-election of president Alexander Lukashenko or directing the violent suppression of subsequent street protests. The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, said on Thursday that he will introduce the sanctions in conjunction with the US and Canada, reiterating that Lukashenkos election on 9 August could not be regarded as legitimate. Efforts by the European Union to impose sanctions have been held up by Cypruss refusal to endorse the move unless sanctions are imposed on Turkey in a separate dispute over drilling rights in the east Mediterranean. The delay has been a humiliation to the EUs efforts to project a coherent foreign policy. Lukashenko was sworn for a sixth term in office on Wednesday in a ceremony without announcements or publicity apparently in an effort to avoid it becoming a magnet for protesters. Opposition leaders and European politicians immediately denounced his inauguration as illegitimate. Raab told MPs: We do not accept the results of this rigged election. Second, we condemn the thuggery deployed against the Belarussian people. He said the violence being used by the state was brazen. He added it is absolutely critical that those responsible are held to account, explaining: We are willing to join the EU in adopting targeted sanctions against those responsible for the violence, the repression and the vote-rigging, although the EU process has now been delayed in Brussels. Related: Protesters clash with police in Belarus after Lukashenko sworn in again Given that delay, given [Lukashenkos] fraudulent inauguration, I have directed the FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] sanction team to prepare Magnitsky sanctions for those responsible for the serious human rights violations and were co-ordinating with the United States and Canada to prepare appropriate listings as a matter of urgency. Story continues He also said he was releasing 1.5m cash over two years primarily to help local journalists and civil society in Belarus report on the street protests and its violent repression. The UK has already demanded an Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe investigation into the ballot rigging that saw British embassy officials blocked from observing an election that Lukashenko claimed he had won with 80% of the vote. Raab did not say whether the sanctions will hit Lukashenko himself, but the draft EU list covered 20 other officials. Germany has argued lines need to be kept open to the ageing president, but the Lithuanian foreign minister, Linas Linkevicius has personally lobbied Raab in London to include Lukashenko, saying an asset freeze did not preclude holding talks. Lithuania has become the home for much of the Belarus opposition that has been driven out of their country. Raab said the relationship between Lukashenko and the Russian president, Vladimir, Putin is nuanced, but warned it was important not to see Belarus driven under Russias complete predatory control. Previous sanctions against Belarus security officials were lifted in 2016. Raab said he had told Germany and France about the UKs opposition to Nord Stream gas pipeline from Russia but, so far, Germanys foreign office has opposed the suspension of its completion, arguing that many contacts have already been signed. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 08:05 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46d39e7 1 National Education,omnibus-bill-on-job-creation,Nahdlatul-ulama,Muhammadiyah Free A coalition of educational institutions that includes the academic branches of Indonesia's two largest Muslim groups, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, has voiced its opposition to the educational provisions in the omnibus bill on job creation. In a statement dated Sept. 15 and signed by 12 representatives of the groups, the coalition said that including educational issues in the omnibus bill which generally aims to ease business licensing and attract investment would risk attaching irrelevant baggage to education and could force it to disproportionately serve the demands of the market. Such a change would likely lead to a loss of academic freedom, the coalition maintained, as curricula would be modified to suit economic preferences. In accordance with the national vision and the constitution, the task of enlightening the lives of the nation should not be hindered by other determining factors, the statement read. The omnibus bill on job creation would cause the economy to become a new factor determining education by inserting educational and cultural materials into the economic [system]. The coalition argued that placing education in service of the economy would risk robbing the former of moral principles and cultural values. The omnibus bill on job creation implies the forgoing of the values and characteristics that define culture-based education, the coalition said, adding that the bill would result in the rampant commercialization of education. Read also: Lawmakers, academics want education issues ditched from job creation omnibus bill Among the signatories of the statement were Arifin Junaidi, the chairman of NU's educational wing, LP Ma'arif; Muhammadiyah Higher Education, Research and Development Council chairman Lincolin Arsyad; Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) chairwoman Unifah Rosyidi; and Private Universities Association (APTISI) chairman Budi Djatmiko. NU and Muhammadiyah run thousands of educational institutions throughout the country, ranging from pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) to higher-learning institutions and universities. A number of academics and House of Representatives members, particularly those with close ties to NU, previously demanded that educational issues be scrapped from the omnibus bill, arguing that some provisions in the bill could be "counterproductive" to efforts to improve education in the country. The bill, currently under discussion by the House and the government, would amend a number of articles in Law No. 20/2003 on the national education system, Law No. 14/2005 on teachers and lecturers and Law No. 12/2012 on higher education. One article in the draft bill a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post makes nonprofit management of higher educational institutions an option rather than the obligation stipulated in the 2012 law. This article has attracted particular controversy. Critics have also raised concerns about an article in the bill requiring people to obtain a business license from the central government to establish educational institutions, including pesantren. Under the proposed article, those who fail to obtain a license may be fined up to Rp 1 billion (US$66,834). Political activist Joshua Wong walks out of the Central Police Station after being released on bail in Hong Kong, China, Sept. 24, 2020. Wong was arrested for allegedly participating in an unauthorized assembly and breaching the anti-mask law during a rally on Oct. 5 in 2019. EPA Peel police are looking for a man who sexually assaulted a female at a multi-retail business facility in Brampton on Sunday. The assault took place at about 2:15 p.m. Sunday in the Steeles Avenue East and Parkhurst Square area, police said. They added that the victim suffered no physical injuries. Investigators from the polices Special Victims Unit are looking to speak with anyone who may have seen the assault or who has any information about the suspects identity, said police. Police said the suspect is male and between 35 to 50 years old with an average build. He was last seen wearing a jacket with the American flag on it, blue jeans with a red stripe down the side, black shoes with a red or orange line and a black mask, said police. Anyone can provide information by calling 905-453-2121 ext. 3400 or anonymously contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Manuela Vega is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: mvega@thestar.ca Read more about: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kornelius Purba (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24, 2020 08:48 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46d6540 1 Opinion commentary,United-Nations,united-nations-general-assembly,UNGA,Palestine,Palestine-Israel-talks,#commentary Free There are two sentences that stood out to me the most in President Joko Jokowi Widodos first speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. First, his repeated pledge on Palestine; then, his unique closing remark. It would be difficult for journalists to pick up the most interesting parts of his statements because I think he deliberately opted to use plain and even dull words. The President decided to play it safe to ensure that his pressing domestic agenda would not be disrupted, and therefore he did not want to look like pahlawan kesiangan (an accolade-seeker) on the global stage. For the time being, Jokowi has two top priorities: making COVID-19 vaccines available at affordable prices and resurrecting an economy that has nearly collapsed. Indonesia consistently supports Palestine to claim its rights, was his only statement about Palestine. Amid Israels big achievement in isolating Palestine with a strong backing from US President Donald Trump, Palestinian President Abbas Mahmoud and Hamas leaders would naturally expect Indonesia, the worlds largest Muslim-majority nation, to convey a strong message of support or at least solace. But Jokowi seemed intent on avoiding a clear position. What did he say in concluding his speech? Normally Indonesian leaders, including Jokowi, would address the audience in Arabic. Instead, Jokowi kept it very simple. Funny, but sharp. That is all from me! Throughout his speech, Jokowi avoided sensitive and controversial statements. He did not want to talk too much. Some may believe the President did not dare to taunt big and rich nations. Others will defend him, saying national interests, instead of prestige, are above everything. Jokowi should have known earlier that many world leaders such as President Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would seize the moment of the virtual United Nations General Assembly to show off their leadership or to attack other countries. I believe Jokowis chief diplomat, Retno LP Marsudi, had briefed her boss about the current global crisis and how Indonesia should take a stand on at least four issues. Apparently the President agreed, but he preferred to deliver it in a subtle way. First, he addressed the devastating COVID-19 pandemic; second, tensions in the South China Sea; third, the abandonment of the Palestinian people by some of their traditional supporters, the Arab countries; and fourth, dying multilateralism in global relations. About the pandemic, the President said, At a time when we ought to unite and work together to tackle the pandemic, what we see instead is deep division and growing rivalries. The President was also reluctant to directly address China on the South China Sea, perhaps because he expects much from China on vaccine supplies and does not want to jeopardize his good terms with President Xi Jinping. ASEAN reaffirms its commitment to continue maintaining peace and stability in the region [] through the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, Jokowi emphasized. By recognizing that multilateralism is the only way to guarantee equality, Jokowi also chose to avoid unnecessary rebuke from President Trump, who is known as an antagonist of multilateralism through his America First doctrine. Initially, I wished Jokowi would specifically address the Palestinian cause. Given his staunch support for Palestine in its fight for independence, Jokowi would, in a nonconfrontational way, remind the world about the risks of Palestines isolation in the peace deal between Israel and several Arab states. The President intentionally chose to play it safe, refraining from criticizing any country, even though clearly Palestine will be left behind in the search for long-lasting peace in the Middle East. Jokowi had evaded the annual United Nations General Assembly for six years until last year, when he made up his mind and planned to address the event this year, which coincides with the UNs 75th anniversary. Jokowi refused to go to New York last year, although Indonesia succeeded in securing a nonpermament seat in the UN Security Council. Jokowis appearance on Wednesday was too little too late, because he could only deliver his speech virtually. From the very beginning Jokowi has prioritized the Palestine issue as the core of his foreign policy agenda. He has reiterated Indonesias pledge to not recognize Israel as a sovereign state until Palestine becomes an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital city. All seven of Indonesias presidents spoke loud in defending Palestine, including when a Palestinian delegation attended the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung in 1955. But only two of the presidents opened talks with Israel. Soeharto, bidding to become a peace maker, secretly invited Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin to his private residence in Jakarta in October 1995. The fourth president, Abdurrahman Gus Dur Wahid, a moderate Muslim cleric, frankly expressed his intention to open official diplomatic relations with Israel, saying that it was the most effective way to enable Indonesia to mediate the Middle East negotiations. Jokowis soft statement on Palestine is disappointing. He is not very different from other Muslim leaders, who half-heartedly defend Palestine for the sake of their own national interests. If I were the Indonesian president, I would have reminded the Islamic world to not forget the decades-long ordeal of the Palestinian people and at the same time tell the Palestinian leaders that they are partly responsible for the worsening situation. Quoting President Jokowi, let me conclude this column: That is all from me! ---------- Senior editor at The Jakarta Post ''At the time he (Mahama) was cutting the sod, there was nothing on the ground in terms of budget or loan agreement or anything. Indeed, at the end of the day, the truth is that they appealed to the Japanese government in 2013 for ground assistance to undertake that project'', Kweku Baako indicated on Peace FM morning show 'Kokrokoo' (16th September 2020). According to him, the Tema motorway was also finalized in 2017 which saw Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia cutting sod for the same project. "Bawumia's sod cutting was more meaningful because they had finished the feasibility studies and presented the final report for us and we had chosen which option of the interchange we wanted and had also signed the financial agreement" he added. Speaking on the same platform on Wednesday, 23rd September 2020, the renowned journalist admitted to making some 'errors' in his submission. Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Then, consider the preparation for this raid, already taking place on flimsy pretenses and employing a risky tactic. Police knew Taylor's name from the license plate on her car but knew nothing else about her. They did not know that by March, she had broken it off with Glover and had a new boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. They did not know that Taylor's friends were reportedly happy she seemed to be settling down with a good man. They did not know Walker was living with Taylor at the apartment and that he would be there, asleep beside Taylor, when they arrived. LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Swiss authorities ordered 2,500 students at an elite hospitality management school to quarantine themselves due to a coronavirus outbreak allegedly linked to off-campus partying, the latest back-to-school sign of higher educations place in the pandemic. Authorities in Switzerlands Vaud canton, or region, said all undergraduates at the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, or the Lausanne Hospitality Management University in English, were told to quarantine at home both on and off campus because the virus already had spread too widely for a more limited order. Significant outbreaks of infection have appeared at several levels of training, making impossible a more targeted closure than that involving 2,500 students, the Vaud regional office said in a statement. Until Sept. 28, the students must stay home. The statement said an early investigation indicated that one or more parties was at the origin of these many outbreaks. The local authorities reiterated a call for party-goers to demonstrate a responsible attitude by wearing masks, practicing social distancing, tracing their contacts and watching for COVID-19 symptoms. Ines Blal, the universitys executive dean, said administrators had warned students against holding start-of-term parties, even ff-campus and outside the schools authority and said a disciplinary investigation was underway. She said the school had already been bracing for worst-case scenarios in recent months by putting courses online and rolling out distance-learning programs. University spokesman Sherif Mamdouh said 11 students had tested positive for the coronavirus in connection with the outbreak so far and none required hospitalization. Mamdouh said only 67 of the undergraduates affected by the quarantine live on campus, while all the rest live off-campus. The university, which has been heralded as one of the worlds top schools in the field, has a total student body of about 3,500, including people pursuing advanced degrees. Mamdouh said the quarantine runs only through Monday because Swiss authorities factored in a possible 14-day virus incubation period since this months start-of-term parties. He could not explain why faculty members or graduate students were not included in the quarantine order, but said it was a decision made by the cantonal authorities. They were not immediately available for comment. Switzerland is not alone in facing a back-to-school virus surge among students. The World Health Organization, national health authorities and others have cautioned that young people have been a key driver for the continued spread of the coronavirus in several countries in recent weeks. The University of Glasgow in Scotland said Thursday that over 600 of its students had to self-isolate after 124 reported cases emerged in two significant clusters at separate residence halls. The university said it believed the outbreak was largely a result of social activity in mid-September during Freshers Week, when new students arrive and socialize. The university said none of its infected students had to receive hospital treatment. It stressed that anyone who breaks coronavirus restrictions could be kicked out of student housing or suspended. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC that the outbreak was worrying, saying: The more young people get it the more they spread it to old people. The latest government figures in France show that 22% of the countrys currently active virus clusters emerged at schools and universities. The United States has also seen clusters linked to college students. Denmarks education minister has urged parents and schools to cancel all social events, including camps and birthday parties. World Health Organization spokeswoman Margaret Harris said that while it is unfair to just put it on the young people, its also unsurprising that teenagers and young adults might assume they dont need to worry about succumbing to the virus. Perceptions do indicate that they dont feel they are as at-risk as older groups Harris said, particularly in the wake of data showing younger people typically have less-severe cases of COVID-19. The message they have heard is: You are out of jail, go out and play, she said. We dont want to be the fun police, but we want people to have fun safely. ___ Keaten reported from Geneva. Sylvia Hui in London and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report. Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg during a press conference in the Mural Hall at Parliament House on June 11, 2020 in Canberra, Australia (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) Former Australian PMs Criticism Nasty, Personal, Vindictive: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Australias federal treasurer, has defended the Reserve Bank of Australia against criticisms launched by Paul Keating, a former Labor prime minister, that it isnt doing enough to help amid the COVID-19 economic crisis. This was a very nasty, personal, vindictive, unnecessary, misguided attack by Paul Keating, Frydenberg told ABC News Breakfast on Sept. 24. The Reserve Bank has done very well through this crisis. Unlike other crises they didnt have room to move on monetary policy. Frydenberg said the Reserve Bank pumped $75 billion worth of liquidity into the banking system to stabilise it and purchased $60 billion worth of government bonds from secondary markets. Keating, however, wants the Reserve Bank to purchase bonds directly from Treasury. But doing this would undermine the credibility of the central bank, according to Warrick McKibben, a former RBA board member. This is a recession where its fiscal policy that really needs to take the lead, Prof. McKibbin told News Corps The Australian. McKibbon said that it was Keatings policies when he was treasurer in 1991 that caused the last recession. Frydenbergs remarks come in response to a letter Keating reportedly issued to some media in which he criticised central bank officials for lacking the courage to break with economic orthodoxy to help make the governments funding task much easier and support for the country better. Former prime minister Paul Keating waits for Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten at the Labor campaign launch at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre as part of the 2016 election campaign in Sydney, Australia on June 19, 2016. (Mick Tsikas-Pool/Getty Images) It has to be remembered, these are the high priests of the incremental, Keating wrote, as reported by the ABC. Making absolutely certain that not a Bank toe will be put across the line of central bank orthodoxy. Certainly not buying bonds directly from Treasurywash your mouth out on that onewhat would they say about us at the annual Bank for International Settlements meeting in Basel? Keating also wrote that the Reserve Bank should fund mountainous sums of fiscal policy to help the government through the COVID-19 crisis. Frydenberg defended his remarks on Keating in the media, suggesting to ABC Radio and Nines Today program that Keatings comments were triggered by the Reserve Bank governors speech about the trade-off between wages and the superannuation guarantee two weeks earlier. Labor and the Coalition have been debating the legislated superannuation guarantee increase that determines the rate of money Australians pay into their compulsory retirement savings. Labor wants it to increase to 12 percentas the prime minister promised during his election campaignbut the Coalition want it to remain at 9 percent. The Coalition argue the increase would mean less take-home pay for workers which would lower their standard of living pre-retirement. Gerard Rennick, a Liberal Nationals senator, told the Australian Parliament on Aug. 27, the issue highlighted the core difference in philosophy between the left and right sides of politics. Read More Left and Right Senators Duel Over Super Fund Industry Many people are left wondering what is Paul Keatings motives behind this nasty, unnecessary attack, Frydenberg said The Reserve Bank is independent and he shouldnt be attacking the bank like he has. As the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the health and economy of Australia, the federal government implemented a range of measures to protect the country on both vectors. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Aug. 7 that the governments wage subsidy efforts will cost more than $100 billion. What you need to know about the coronavirus right now New York City Fire Department (FDNY) EMT's arrive with a patient at St. John's Episcopal Hospital, during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the Far Rockaway section of Queens, New York (Reuters) - Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now: U.S. cases surpass 7 million The number of novel coronavirus cases in the United States topped 7 million on Thursday - more than 20% of the world's total - as Midwest states reported spikes in COVID-19 infections in September, a Reuters tally shows. The latest milestone comes just days after the nation surpassed over 200,000 COVID-19 deaths, the world's highest. Each day, over 700 people die in the United States from COVID-19. California leads the country with over 800,000 total cases, followed by Texas, Florida and New York. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/363tab5) All Midwest states except Ohio reported more cases in the past four weeks as compared with the prior four weeks, led by South Dakota and North Dakota. AstraZeneca gets partial immunity in vaccine deal European governments will pay claims above an agreed limit against AstraZeneca over side-effects from its potential COVID-19 vaccine, under different terms to a deal struck with Sanofi, an EU official told Reuters. The deals reflect different strategies by two of the world's top drugmakers for protecting themselves as a debate rages about liabilities for vaccines aimed at ending the pandemic. AstraZeneca has secured the European Union's backing in a confidential agreement which reflects the lower price sought by the British drugmaker. Unexpected side-effects after a drug has regulatory approval are rare, but the speed at which a COVID-19 vaccine is being pursued increases the risks of unforeseen conditions. Virus ravages Latin America's working class Mexico was set to surpass 75,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths on Thursday, as the pandemic ravages Latin American nations with large informal economies where workers have grappled with the twin threats of hunger and contagion. Mexico has the world's fourth-highest coronavirus death toll, according to a Reuters tally, behind the United States, Brazil, and India. Despite closing schools and offices six months ago, the Mexican government has struggled to contain the virus' spread. Story continues More than half of Latin America's active population have informal jobs in areas such as street commerce and domestic labor. In Mexico, working from home or strict social distancing measures can mean no income, since the welfare safety net is small. UK hits highest daily cases Britain recorded its highest number of daily cases of COVID-19 on Thursday at 6,634, reflecting a second wave of infections sweeping through the country but also a much higher level of testing than during the first wave. Thursday's number was up from 6,178 on Wednesday, itself a jump from 4,926 the previous day. Earlier, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government estimated fewer than 10,000 people were becoming infected every day, as opposed to estimated numbers over 100,000 during the peak of the first wave. While testing capacity has increased dramatically since the first wave, the system has nevertheless been under strain, with many people reporting they were unable to get tests, or had to travel long distances. Moscow mayor urges more home-working The mayor of Moscow urged businesses on Friday to get more people to work from home as Russia's daily tally of new coronavirus cases hit its highest since June 23. Officials reported 7,212 new infections, bringing the national case total to 1,136,048. In Moscow, the tally of new cases rose almost 50% overnight to 1,560 from 1,050 the previous day. Russia lifted many of its lockdown restrictions in June and many shops, businesses and public transport in the capital of more than 12.5 million people are operating largely as normal. (Compiled by Linda Noakes; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) Syracuse, N.Y. A sewage testing process developed in Syracuse helped SUNY Oneonta put the brakes on a coronavirus outbreak in August that infected more than 700 students. Evidence of the virus was detected in campus wastewater a week before the outbreak, prompting the college to accelerate student testing, according to David Larsen, an epidemiologist at Syracuse University. We think that prevented an even larger outbreak, Larsen. On Sept. 3 SUNY Oneonta halted in-person classses for the rest of the fall semester. Larsen and Hyatt Green, a professor at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, discussed the coronavirus wastewater treatment early warning system today in a Thursday Morning Roundtable Zoom presentation. SU, ESF and SUNY Upstate Medical University developed the system which is being rolled out statewide with $500,000 in funding from the state Health Department. Larsen said wastewater coronavirus surveillance data also played a role in SUNY Oswegos recent decision to suspend in-person classes for two weeks as part of an effort to contain an outbreak which has infected nearly 250 students since the semester began. Wastewater surveillance has been around since the 1990s and has been used to detect other diseases such as polio. Coronavirus can be shed in the feces of people who are both symptomatic and asymptomatic. The system is being used at SU and many SUNY campuses. In addition to Onondaga County, the program is expanding into Albany, Buffalo and Newburgh. The program is testing samples from both individual college dormitories and municipal sewage treatment plants. The lab work is done by Quadrant Biosciences, a biotech company on Upstates campus which collaborates with researchers. Government officials have historically been reluctant to spend money on public health surveillance, according to Larsen. I think of it as a smoke detector in our communities, he said. Had the surveillance system been in place in January, communities would have been better able to respond to coronavirus and possibly avoid some of the economic hardship associated with the pandemic, he said. Larsen and Hyatt said they expect to put a public dashboard online in the next few weeks that will use wastewater surveillance data to show counties across the state where virus transmission is increasing, decreasing or stable. The wastewater coronavirus surveillance will be needed for at least another 18 months until most people are vaccinated against the virus, Larsen said. When the pandemic ends, the early warning system could be used to identify the spread of seasonal flu, antibiotic resistant bacteria and other viruses, Hyatt said. James T. Mulder covers health and higher education. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com Two teenage boys have been charged in connection with the non-fatal shooting of a 21-year-old woman inside a garage in Wakefield on Tuesday, authorities said. Police received a call shortly before 3:40 a.m. on Tuesday about a person shot in the Everly Apartments complex parking garage on Audubon Road, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office said in a statement. The 21-year-old woman was found in the drivers seat of a Honda CRV. The woman had been shot in the neck, and was taken to a nearby hospital. The woman remains hospitalized, according to the statement. The pair of teenagers charged in connection with the shooting, a 17-year-old boy and 16-year-old boy, were located on the scene. The two juveniles were with the victim shortly before the shooting, and both were accused of illegally carrying guns, authorities said. The 17-year-old suspect has been charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition without an FID card, receiving a gun with a defaced serial number and possession of a large-capacity feeding device, according to officials. The 16-year-old boy has been charged with carrying a firearm without a license and carrying a loaded gun without a license, the district attorney said. While the 17-year-old suspect was arraigned Wednesday in Cambridge Juvenile Court, the 16-year-old boy is expected to be arraigned Thursday, according to Ryans office. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is ongoing. It couldnt be simpler. If youre a parent, its highly likely youre receiving the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payments from the government. These payments come in on the 20th of every month. The maximum you can receive is $6,765 per child under six per year, and $5,708 per child between six and 17 per year. That can add up quickly. If youre a parent that has the average two kids per household, you could be bringing in $13,530 per year for your two kids! On top of that, you could also be bringing in child care benefits from your provincial or territorial government. Today, however, Ill just focus in on CCB federal payments. So what Im getting at here is these payments are an easy way to turn you into a millionaire. All you have to do is invest those payments instead of spending them. Granted, its hard times right now. CCB is definitely something you need to consider when life throws you a curve ball like a pandemic. However, if youre able to invest that money, you could certainly turn it into a million dollars in 20 years. First, the stock The best investment you can make to keep those funds safe and growing is with a Canada Big Six Bank. These banks fared as some of the best in the world during the last economic crisis. Today, while revenue is down, the banks were prepared. A recession was predicted by global economists well before the pandemic, so banks had plenty of opportunity to prepare. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) was one of those that managed to prepare its assets ahead of time. The company remains strong, tied for first as the largest bank in Canada by market capitalization at $118.12 billion as of writing. While the company is still down from its pre-crash levels, there is a lot to look forward to with this bank stock. First of all, this is the bank most likely to see huge growth in the coming years. TD Bank is now one of the top 10 banks in the United States, and is only in the northeastern part of the country. As well, the bank has grown into the wealth and commercial management sectors, a highly lucrative industry growth that has helped boost the companys dividend in the last few years. Story continues For the near term, economists currently see a potential upside of about 10% for this stock. Even with the downturn, TD Bank has a five-year CAGR of about 40%, and year-over-year revenue growth of 8.2% as of writing. So this is a great stock if youre looking for strength and growth in the coming years. Next, the numbers So lets say that growth continues for the foreseeable future. If you were to put that CCB money into a stock like TD Bank every year, reinvesting its dividend yield of 5.2%, you could turn that around into a million dollars easily. We would have to assume after those payments ended, however, that you could continue putting in the same amount of money. If so, it would take 20 years to bring your portfolio to $1,302,917.40 and if thats in a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) you can then take out that cash, tax-free. The post Parents: One Easy Way to Become a Millionaire in 20 Years appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading Fool contributor Amy Legate-Wolfe owns shares of TORONTO-DOMINION BANK. The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020 Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram, Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram / Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram While many Republican senators quickly supported President Trumps decision to try to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as soon as possible, Texas Sen. John Cornyn was a bit more cautious. He said the Senate should not rush that process, though he also said the Senate should vote on Trumps nominee sometime this year. That clearly left open the possibility of a vote after the Nov. 3 election, when some senators and maybe even the president could be lame ducks. Cornyns position is more symbolic than anything. He is clearly not calling for this vacancy to be filled by the president elected in November whether Trump or Joe Biden. But the very fact that he sounded a small note of caution is telling, and it is also clearly linked to Cornyns position on the Nov. 3 ballot. Using a NASA satellite rainfall product that incorporates data from satellites and observations, NASA estimated Post-tropical Cyclone Beta's rainfall rates as it moved over Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. Beta continues a steady northeast track into Mississippi, bringing heavy rainfall across Mississippi into the Tennessee Valley. Beta's Status on Sept. 24 NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center (WPC) in College Park, Md. noted that at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Beta was located near latitude 31.9 degrees north and longitude 91.0 degrees west. The post-tropical cyclone is moving toward the northeast near 12 mph (19 kph). Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph (45 kph) with higher gusts. Estimating Beta's Rainfall Rates from Space NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM or IMERG, which is a NASA satellite rainfall product, estimated on Sept. 24 at 3:30 a.m. EDT (0730 UTC), Beta was generating as much as 10 to 15 mm (0.40 to 0.60 inches) of rain per hour over Alabama. Lighter rainfall rates were occurring over Mississippi and Tennessee at the time of the image. Rainfall throughout most of the storm was estimated as falling at a rate between 0.2 and 1 mm (0.007 to 0.4 inches) per hour. At the U.S. Naval Laboratory in Washington, D.C., the IMERG rainfall data was overlaid on infrared imagery from NOAA's GOES-16 satellite to provide a full extent of the storm. Watches and Warnings On Sept. 24, Flash Flood Watches were in effect from southwestern Mississippi to parts of northern Alabama, and southern Middle Tennessee. NOAA's WPC said, "Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected through early Friday from central to northern Mississippi, across the Middle Tennessee Valley and into the Southern Appalachians. Isolated flash and urban flooding is possible, as well as isolated minor river flooding on smaller rivers. An isolated tornado or two are possible this afternoon across Southern Alabama." Beta's Forecast Beta is expected to continue moving in a northeasterly direction for the next day and a half. Some weakening is forecast for the next 36 hour before weakening into a frontal system. What Does IMERG Do? This near-real time rainfall estimate comes from the NASA's IMERG, which combines observations from a fleet of satellites, in near-real time, to provide near-global estimates of precipitation every 30 minutes. By combining NASA precipitation estimates with other data sources, we can gain a greater understanding of major storms that affect our planet. What the IMERG does is "morph" high-quality satellite observations along the direction of the steering winds to deliver information about rain at times and places where such satellite overflights did not occur. Information morphing is particularly important over the majority of the world's surface that lacks ground-radar coverage. Basically, IMERG fills in the blanks between weather observation stations. ### 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 more information about NASA's IMERG, visit: https://pmm.nasa.gov/gpm/imerg-global-image For forecast updates on hurricanes, visit: http://www.hurricanes.gov By Rob Gutro NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center After Disney released Mulan on its Disney Plus streaming service this month, speculation abounded about whether or not it would do the same for other major movies. Mulan, originally due out in theaters in March, saw its wide release postponed as theaters shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But instead of waiting longer, Disney decided to make the movie available for home viewing Sept. 4 at a premium price of $29.99, on top of the Disney Plus subscription price. Would the company take a similar approach with one of its most anticipated films of the year, Steven Spielbergs West Side Story"? Spielberg filmed the movie, planned for a Dec. 18 release, in the summer of 2019 in Paterson, Newark and New York. Silk City streets stood in for 1950s Manhattan, where actors danced and twirled in colorful skirts. One of the stars of the film, Rachel Zegler, is from Clifton. Zegler, 19, plays Maria opposite Ansel Elgorts Tony. It turns out a theatrical release of West Side Story is still in the cards, but it wont be for quite a while. West Side Story is now due in theaters nearly a full year later, on Dec. 10 2021, Variety reports. Thank you all so much for the support for our cast and crew concerning the delay of West Side Story,'" Zegler tweeted Wednesday night. Clifton's Rachel Zegler leads the cast of Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" alongside Ansel Elgort.20th Century Fox It is beyond worth the wait, that we can promise," she said. Disneys decision makes the film, expected to be an awards contender, ineligible for the 2021 Oscars. The Academy Awards were postponed from Feb. 28 to April 25 because of the pandemic, extending the eligibility period to Feb. 28 for film releases, with nominations set to be announced March 15. (The Academy recently announced its new diversity requirements for best picture, which will take full effect in 2024.) thank you all so much for the support for our cast and crew concerning the delay of 'west side story' -- we will see you in theaters december 10, 2021! it is beyond worth the wait, that we can promise. rachel zegler (@rachelzegler) September 23, 2020 Another movie filmed in New Jersey that will miss the Oscars eligibility window is the Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark, set for a March 12, 2021 release. The film, originally set to be released on Sept. 25, 2020, wrapped in 2019, but production started up again this year in New Jersey and New York. Cameras were set to roll Wednesday at a bakery in Bloomfield. Like West Side Story, The Many Saints of Newark took Newark and North Jersey back a few decades in this case to the 1967, using present-day Newark streets to depict the Newark riots, also called the Newark Rebellion. James Gandolfinis son Michael Gandolfini, 21, stars as a young Tony Soprano. Zegler, New Jerseys West Side Story star, is an alumna of Immaculate Conception High School in Lodi. West Side Story will be her big screen debut, but shes no stranger to Maria. Zegler played the part in a BergenPAC Performing Arts School production of West Side Story. Spielbergs movie is an adaptation of the 1957 musical from Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, which was in turn inspired by Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet." The first West Side Story movie, directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, starred Natalie Wood as Maria and Richard Beymer as Tony. The 1961 movie musical won 10 Oscars, including best picture. Steven Spielberg on the set of West Side Story in Paterson.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for Rita Moreno, who won an Oscar for playing Anita, will be in Spielbergs film in a new role, as Valentina, a version of the Doc character who owns the store where Tony works. Tony nominee Ariana DeBose (Summer: The Donna Summer Musical," Hamilton) plays Anita in Spielbergs West Side Story. DeBose, 29, will also appear alongside New Jerseys own Meryl Streep in the upcoming film The Prom, an adaptation of the Broadway musical due out Dec. 11 on Netflix. 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. Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (25) Patna: Following his sudden voluntary retirement from the Indian Police Service while serving as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Bihar, Gupteshwar Pandey, at a press conference in Patna on Wednesday refuted rumors of him taking the retirement to fulfill his long-cherished goal of joining politics. When I gave away the hand of the daughter of a Dalit family eight years ago, do you think I did so because of my political ambitions? I am a Brahmin and yet, my wife and I arranged for her wedding at our home in Buxar district. This was not political and anyone is free to verify it, Pandey, surrounded by armed guards, told the reporters. Relating another anecdote to establish his no-caste credential, the former top cop of Bihar said that a Dalit boy served him as his cook for a long time. I dont believe in any particular caste or religion but always believed in my duties. People on social media are accusing me of being motivated by my political desires but even if I harbor such ambitions, what is wrong with it? Is it immoral, unconstitutional, or criminal? I have not taken any decision about my future but if do decide to join a party, I will let you know, Pandey said. Words are out in the social media that Pandey has the nod of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to join Janata Dal U that has decided to field him from Buxar in the upcoming state Assembly elections. Pandey became the news himself a few weeks ago when he became a fierce advocate for Justice for Sushant, the Bollywood actor from Patna who was found dead in his Mumbai apartment under suspicious condition. While the police initially attributed his death to suicide, nationwide outrage by his admirers, including Pandey, forced the government to call for a full CBI probe into his death suggesting Rajput didnt die of suicide but was murdered by the Bollywood mafia. The former DGP then went on to make some very controversial statements against Rhea Chakravarty, actor and Sushant Singh Rajputs former girlfriend, who found herself in the middle of a murder case as the chief accused who allegedly drove her boyfriend to kill himself. Pandey also hogged the limelight when he fiercely defended Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for demanding a CBI probe in the case thus raising the ire of Rhea Chakravarty. 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. As Madhya Pradesh is inching closer to bypolls for 28 assembly seats, all kinds of issues are cropping up in the political arena. The Congress party has been left fuming with the BJP allegedly trying to rake up the Ram temple issue in poll-bound constituencies. A video has gone viral in Surkhi assembly constituency in Sagar where the BJP is likely to field a Congress turncoat, former MLA Govind Singh Rajput. In the said video, a man, supposedly a BJP worker, addresses a woman with the picture of Lord Ram, saying, Govind bhaiya ab phool walon ke sath hainek ek vote se Ram Mandir me ek-ek eint lagegi (Govind bhaiya is with the BJP now and if you vote for him, every vote will turn into a brick to be put in the Ram temple). Surkhi is the same seat from where the BJP has reportedly started a Ramshila Yatra and plans to take this yatra to all the poll-bound constituencies including Ashoknagar, Mungaoli and Sanver by October. The ruling party did not officially announce this yatra and its being planned and executed by the RSS and its affiliate organisations. In Surkhi, five vehicles have left in five directions, carrying bricks made of eight metals including silver. The yatra is covering various areas of the constituency. It was Rajput who had days ago flagged off this yatra from Surkhi amid much fanfare, on September 2. The Congress party is certainly not pleased. It complained to the Election Commission of India a couple of days ago about Lord Rams name being used for political gains ahead of the bypolls. Though the poll schedule is yet to be declared, but elections have been announced by the EC, so the BJP using Lord Rams name in electioneering is not justified," said Congress spokesperson JP Dhanopia who claimed that the party has complained to the EC on the said video and Ramshila Yatra being taken out by the BJP. Recently the yatra was out in Ashoknagar district, he added. The BJP is, however, distancing itself from the yatra. Party spokesperson Deepak Vijayvargiya told News18 that the yatra is being taken out locally and the BJP has nothing to do with it. He also feigned ignorance about whether the yatra was continuing or not. Cabinet minister Bhupendra Singh, a native of Sagar, said that Lord Ram always has been at the centre of faith for the BJP which does not politicise his name. Govind Singh Rajput is a close aide of Rajya Sabha member Jyotiraditya Scindia and had quit the Congress party in March this year and is now a cabinet minister in the Shivraj Chouhan government. A court in Pakistan has again postponed the trial of a doctor, Shakil Afridi, who has been languishing in jail since Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy Seals in 2011. Afridi reportedly used a vaccination scam to identify bin Laden's home in the garrison town of Abbottabad. He was taken into custody on May 23, 2011, 20 days after bin Laden, mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, was killed. The raid embarrassed many in Pakistan, souring bilateral ties with the United States. On September 24, the Peshawar High Court said the case would resume on September 30. Qamar Nadeem, Afridis lawyer, told RFE/RL on September 24 that the trial has already been postponed 16 times because the government prosecutor failed to show up. Afridi was never charged in connection with the bin Laden operation but for allegedly aiding -- both medically and financially -- Lashkar-e-Islam militants in the nearby Khyber tribal region. His family has denied the charges and said the only money Afridi ever gave Lashkar-e-Islam was a ransom payment worth the equivalent of $6,000 to secure his own release after the militant group kidnapped him in 2008. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison by a tribal court, although this was later reduced to 23 years on appeal. Afridi is imprisoned in a jail in Pakistans eastern Sahiwal district. His lawyer says Afridi faces severe restrictions in jail. Pakistani officials described bin Ladens long presence in Abbottabad as a security lapse and rejected any suggestion that members of the military or intelligence services were complicit in hiding him. More than 200 national and international scholars, academicians and artists issued a statement on Thursday, demanding the release of former JNU student Umar Khalid, who is under arrest for his alleged role in the north-east Delhi riots. The signatories -- including linguist Noam Chomsky, authors Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh, Arundhati Roy, Ramachandra Guha and Rajmohan Gandhi, filmmakers Mira Nair and Anand Patwardhan, historians Romila Thapar, Ramchandra Guha, and Irfan Habib, and activists Medha Patkar and Aruna Roy -- have termed Delhi Polices investigation in the case as a premeditated witch-hunt. They said the government should free Khalid and all those who they say were falsely implicated and unjustly incarcerated for protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Also read: Umar Khalid sent to Tihar till October 22 They said the government should ensure the Delhi Police investigate the Delhi riots with impartiality under the oath they took as public servants bound by the Constitution of India. When approached, the Delhi Police spokesperson did not comment on the matter. We stand in solidarity and outrage, with the brave young scholar and activist Umar Khalid, arrested in New Delhi on Sept 14, 2020, under fabricated charges of engineering the Delhi riots in February 2020. He is charged with sedition, conspiracy to murder, and under sections of Indias stringent anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). This process of criminalising all dissent has been underway for a few years and even under a Covid-19 pandemic, relentless political arrests under fabricated charges are punishing the innocent long before they are brought to trial, the statement read. Terming the anti-CAA movement as the largest most peaceful democratic rights movement in independent India, the signatories said, Umar Khalid became a powerful young voice of truth in this movement, speaking at close to 100 meetings across India, in small towns and big cities, upholding the values of Indias constitution; articulating the dreams of all young Indians of freedom from hunger, deprivation, discrimination and fear. He staked his claim to the full measure of citizenship, he spoke for all marginal peoples, and above all Umar spoke for peace. Currently, 19 of the 21 people falsely accused under terror laws, are Muslim. If we allow their identity to become their crime, India shall stand shamed in the global community of secular nations. These people are not terrorists, and the police investigation into the Delhi riots is not an investigation. It is a premeditated witch-hunt, the statement added. Earlier this month, Delhi Police commissioner SN Shrivastava had said they had examined a large number of persons regardless of their religion and party affiliation and dismissing allegations that they were targeting a particular community. Also read: Delhi Polices Umar Khalid investigation hinges on witnesses X and Y The signatories said no case has been registered against leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for their alleged hate speeches and criticised Delhi Police for their investigation into the riot cases. Many activists have said that in the name of investigation, police arrested anti-government voices while going soft on members of the ruling party for their alleged role in the riots. The Delhi unit of the BJP, however, said the police had investigated the alleged charges against their members but found no evidence. 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 coronavirus pandemic is concerned. Only 60 districts in seven states of the country are a cause of worry, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday while chairing a COVID-19 review meeting.Prime Minister Modi chaired a high-level virtual meeting with Chief Ministers and Health Ministers of seven high burden COVID-19 States/Union Territory to review COVID-19 response and management. The seven high burden COVID-19 States/ UT are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab. During the meeting, the Prime Minister said, There are more than 700 districts in the country but only 60 districts in seven states are a cause of worry. I suggest Chief Ministers hold a virtual conference with people at district/block level for seven days. We have to learn from the best practices from across the states.As a step to contain the spread of coronavirus cases in these states, Modi suggested increasing the focus on effective testing, tracing, treatment, surveillance and clear messaging. We need to increase our focus on effective testing, tracing, treatment, surveillance and clear messaging, said Modi. For asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, he said, Effective messaging is also necessary because most COVID-19 infections are without symptoms. In such a situation, rumours may arise. 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 the infection. He said, India has ensured the supply of life-saving medicines all over the world even in difficult times. We have to work together to see that the medicines easily reach from one state to another. ALSO READ: Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia admitted to LNJP hospital due to Covid-19 Modi has also urged the state government to focus on micro-containment. He has suggested to implement local lockdown of a day or two and accordingly review the situation suitable for their State/Union Territory. Meanwhile, Prime Minister also said that on September 25, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) will be completing two years. Within two years, the scheme has benefited over 1.25 crore poor people/patients in the country. I appreciate all the medical staff who has made this a success, said Prime Minister Modi.He said a major decision has been taken on the usage of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). He said the decision has been taken to increase the usage of funds from 35 per cent to 50 per cent.Prime Minister also emphasised on the wearing facial masks to contain the spread of the virus in public places.Mask is important to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus, he added. Indias COVID-19 count surged to 56,46,011 on Wednesday, after reporting a spike of 83,347 new cases and 1,085 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry. ALSO READ: Andhra CM entered Tirumala Lord Venkateswara Temple without declaration amid row Padma Shri Nuclear scientist Sekhar Basu dies of COVID-19 India pti-Madhuri Adnal Kolkata, Sep 24: Veteran atomic scientist and former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Dr Sekhar Basu succumbed to COVID-19 early on Thursday at a private hospital here, a health department official said. He breathed his last just three days after turning 68. "Dr Basu was suffering from COVID-19 and other kidney ailments. He died at 4.50 am," the official told PTI. After testing positive for Covid-19, Karnataka Congress MLA B Narayan Rao dies at 65 A mechanical engineer, Dr Basu is revered for his contributions to the country's atomic energy programme. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2014. He had also pioneered the highly complex reactor for India's first nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee mourned the demise of Dr Basu and extended her condolences to his family. "Grieved to hear about the passing away of veteran nuclear scientist and former Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Dr Sekhar Basu. My condolences to his family and colleagues," she tweeted. Describing Dr Basu's death as an "untimely loss", eminent physicist and Padma Bhushan-recipient Bikash Sinha said "the country lost a wonderful engineer and a gentleman". "I would say he left us at a relatively young age. He still had a lot more to contribute. He was an ingenious engineer who worked very hard for our nuclear programme. "Basu also did a brilliant job for the nuclear-powered submarine. We are going to miss a good man," Sinha (75), the former director of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics and Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, said. Born on September 20, 1952, Dr Basu did his schooling from the city's Ballygunge Government School and then graduated in mechanical engineering from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), University of Mumbai, in 1974. Union Minister Suresh Angadi dies of Covid-19; President, PM express grief Deepika, Sara fly back to Mumbai for drug probe in Sushant Singh Rajpur death case | Oneindia News After completing a year's training in nuclear science and engineering at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) School, he joined its Reactor Engineering Division in 1975. He had also worked as the project director of the Nuclear Submarine Programme at BARC, before taking over as its director in 2012. Dr Basu was also the brain behind designing, construction and operation of nuclear recycle plants at Tarapur and Kalpakkam. He played a key role in the development of the Indian Neutrino Observatory at Tamil Nadu. The atomic scientist was conferred the Indian Nuclear Society Award in 2002. Sir Malcolm Rifkind is an aloof grandee who never took much trouble making friends or remembering names. Jack Straw has spent 35 years in the Commons being friendly and keeping his enemies to a minimum. Both, it is assumed, have destroyed their chances of being elevated to the House of Lords after the latest lobbying scandal, but Straw can take some comfort from the reactions of other MPs when he made a reappearance in Parliament today. As he was speaking in the Commons, the maverick right-wing Tory, Jacob Rees Mogg, interrupted to pay tribute to Straws amazing chairmanship of a committee set up to sort out the fractious argument over the appointment of a new Clerk of the Commons. It was amazing to see so sophisticated and capable an operator steer us through... I hope he doesnt mind me interrupting him to put that on the record, said Mogg. Meanwhile, as one of Rifkinds former Cabinet colleagues, Lord King, was interviewed by the BBCs World at One, the kindest thing he could find to say was that Rifkind may have been acting out of character because the undercover journalists interviewing him were young women. I think hes not the only elderly statesman who actually gets a bit carried away in conversation, egged on, as you could hear, by their invitation to talk about his influence and abilities, he said. In politics, as in showbiz, be kind to those you meet on the way up, you may pass them on the way down. Hounded by the media One of the funniest recent memories for those of us who watch the political parade is of the day the publisher Iain Dale lost his cool with a homeless protester, Stuart Holmes, who had placed himself in camera shot, disrupting an interview. As Dale wrestled him to the ground, Holmess dog took alarm and seemingly tried to bite Dale, but missed and bit his owner instead. Holmes and his dog were in shot again on Monday when the cameras caught Straw in Whitehall. Once again, the dog took alarm, but this time he sank his teeth into the left leg of an already beleaguered former foreign secretary. Sir Malcolm got the hump Scotlands first Private Finance Initiative project was completed during Rifkinds time as Scottish secretary. It was the toll bridge linking the Isle of Skye to the mainland, which was the cause of furious protests and more than 100 arrests before the toll was abolished. Rifkind was one of the first to cross the bridge, to stay at the Skye home of the businessman Sir Iain Noble, which could be reached along a single road over a humpback bridge. One protester, a certain Robbie the Pict nipped in and erected his own toll booth on the humpback bridge, trapping Sir Malcolm. End of the peer show Three years ago, Lord James of Blackheath, a Tory peer ennobled by David Cameron, told the Lords he had evidence that the worlds richest man had $15 trillion dollars stashed in the Royal Bank of Scotland. Two years earlier, he claimed he was in touch with a Foundation X, who wanted to lend the British government 75 million. On Monday, the peer, 77, announced that he used to work for the Australian civil service in London, and oversaw the transportation of 2,500 children across the world. I was accused of being worse than Jimmy Savile, he announced. Jimmy Saville might have been quite offended at that because he is being accused in relation to 300 children, whereas I have about 2,500 on my slate. He had been talking for about 20 minutes when very unusually for the House of Lords another peer interrupted to suggest that he shut up. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Increasing number of autoimmune & inflammatory diseases along with genetic diseases is driving the growth of global market for rare inflammatory disease treatment. Researchers are stepping up their efforts in analyzing the unsolved mechanism which is included in the pathogenesis of the developing inflammatory and infectious diseases, which also provides significant insights on their therapies. Drug development for inflammatory diseases has been taking place focusing on treating pathogenesis and symptoms of each disease individually. It is likely that the number of inflammatory bowel disease will observe an increase, and this disease is also life-threatening for patients. Efforts have been taken for leveraging integrated commercial, operational and medical methods for inflammation study. Interconnected inflammation diseases are taken into consideration and focus is given on scientific expertise, efficiency and strategy. Identification of new agents is done in order to develop treatments for multiple inflammatory diseases, which share common pathways. Manufacturers are engaging in effective alliances which would help in facilitating movement of therapies by means of clinical progress life cycle. Request a Sample of this Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6428 Future Market Insights has prepared a report providing a detailed market analysis with the help of inputs from the industry specialists, by ensuring meaningful and robust data, with the help of effectual trial design as well as endpoint assessment. A holistic study regarding current trends in the rarely infectious diseases diagnostic and therapeutic market, advanced therapies, industry growth drivers and restraints. The report also delivers market projection for the forthcoming years. Latest technological advancements based on inflammation diseases diagnosis and treatment has also been included in the report. This report is also includes an assessment of macro and micro factors crucial for the prevailing market players as well as new entrants together with in depth value chain analysis. The report covers present-day scenario along with growth prospects of global rare inflammatory disease treatment market for 2017-2026 period. For calculating the market size, report takes into account revenue produced from sales of several drugs utilized in the treatment of rare inflammatory diseases. Report Synopsis The report consists of several chapters, which will deliver an accurate data regarding the development of global market for rare inflammatory diseases treatment, for the forecast period. An exclusive synopsis abridges the significant highpoints from the wide-ranging research report and presents them thoroughly, in order to disclose primary segments, untouched markets and cost-effective growth opportunities. The report furthermore reviews the changing facets of the global rare inflammatory disease treatment market. In this section, traits that are probable to drive and detain the sales of rare inflammatory disease treatment has also been analyzed. Revenues from topmost rare inflammatory disease treatment companies have been revealed to bring baselines for estimating the revenue growth of the global market. The report has additionally assessed the global rare inflammatory disease treatment supply chain and has shown the remarkable raw material sourcing processes performed by the market players. Market Taxonomy For meeting the objectives of the findings, the global rare inflammatory disease treatment market report has been segmented based on the distribution channel, drug class, mode of administration, indication, and region. As per the taxonomy detailed in the report, global market for rare inflammatory diseases treatment has been listed accordingly: Region North America Latin America Europe Japan APEJ MEA Indication Ulcerative Colitis Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Psoriatic Arthritis Other Indications Drug Class Biologics Organic Compounds Mode of Administration Injectables Oral Others Distribution Channel Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Online Pharmacies Detailed Competition Landscape The report presents a detailed information on the vendor landscape along with a corresponding analysis related to leading vendors in the global rare inflammatory disease treatment market. The vendor landscape is inclusive of analysis on major vendors together with competitive performances related to their portfolios. The report also covers the landscape of global rare inflammatory disease treatment market and its prospects for growth in the forthcoming years. Request for Reports Methodology @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/rare-inflammatory-disease-treatment-market#idMethodology The report includes ideas exchanged between the key vendors and analysts operating in this market. Moreover, this report provides a visual, effortlessly navigable platform, from where the client can evaluate value of their as well as competitive products. It would help the market players in generating facts and positioning strategies for difference & value optimization in a progressively competitive market. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 09:23:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The National Center for Disease Control of Libya said Wednesday that as 651 COVID-19 cases have been reported over the past 24 hours, bringing the national count to 30,097 with 16,430 recoveries and 469 deaths. After the first case was detected in March, Libyan authorities closed the country's borders, shut down schools and mosques, banned public gatherings and imposed a curfew in order to curb infections. China donated medical aid to Libya in June to help the country fight the pandemic, including 834 nucleic acid diagnostic kits, 5,000 medical protective suits, 15,000 N95 face masks, 100,000 surgical masks, 5,000 pairs of goggles and 5,000 pairs of medical gloves. Enditem TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen promised on Thursday to help the island's key semiconductor industry overcome difficulties and consolidate its leading position, offering support to a sector increasingly caught up in China-U.S. trade tensions. Companies such as the world's biggest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, are major suppliers to the likes of Apple Inc and Qualcomm Inc, as well as Chinese firms like Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. In July, TSMC said it had stopped taking new orders from Huawei in May and did not plan to ship wafers after Sept. 15, responding to U.S. curbs on supplying the Chinese company, which the Trump administration views as a security threat. China, for its part, is trying to nurture tech champions of its own, such as SMIC, its biggest chipmaker, and wean itself off reliance on U.S. suppliers. Taiwan's chipmakers were a crucial part of the global supply chain, Tsaid told a meeting of semiconductor company representatives in Taipei, including TSMC Chairman Mark Liu. "We attach great importance to this strategic industry, and will actively assist the industry in solving problems, to continue to consolidate the advantages of Taiwan's semiconductor industry, and to accelerate transformation and development," the presidential office cited Tsai as saying. Turning Taiwan into an advanced semiconductor processing centre is a key government effort, she added. "The focus of future development includes localisation of material supplies, technology autonomy, localisation of foreign equipment manufacturing, and localisation of advanced assembly equipment." The policies will be adopted one by one, to ensure "more abundant technical energy" for the industry and a complete industrial supply chain to enhance its key global role, she added. Tsai hoped the joint efforts of the government and the private sector would boost the competitiveness of the industry in Taiwan, so that it can be a global bellwether. On Wednesday, TSMC's Liu said the deleveraging of China-U.S. supply chains and protectionism on both sides of the Pacific would only drive up costs and limit the flow of ideas. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) ByteDance has applied for a tech export licence in China as it races to seal a deal with Oracle and Walmart that it hopes will end United States government plans to ban its TikTok video-streaming app on security grounds. The Beijing-based firm submitted the application to Beijings municipal commerce bureau and is awaiting a decision, it said on its Toutiao online news platform on Thursday, without referring to ongoing talks over its US operations. The application comes about a month after China revised its list of technologies subject to export bans or restrictions for the first time in 12 years, in a manner which experts said gave the government a say over any TikTok deal. It can take up to 30 days to obtain preliminary approval to export such technology. Chinese commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng told reporters on Thursday that the application has been received and would be handled in accordance with relevant regulations and procedures. ByteDance has said its deal with Oracle and Walmart will see the creation of a standalone US company and does not involve any transfer of technology, though Oracle will be able to inspect TikTok US source code. It has also said the deal needs approval from both China and the United States. However, the companies have issued conflicting statements over the terms of the agreement they reached with the White House. ByteDance said it will establish a US subsidiary called TikTok Global of which it will own 80pc. Oracle and WalMart, however, said majority ownership of TikTok Global would be in American hands, complying with an August 14 executive order by US President Donald Trump that ByteDance relinquish ownership of TikTok within 90 days. Chinese state media outlets China Daily and the Global Times this week said they see no reason for China to approve the deal that Oracle and Walmart said they have struck with ByteDance, calling it based on bullying and extortion. TikToks experience is a textbook example of the United States modern-day piracy and tech bullying, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said in an English-language commentary on Thursday, adding that national security concerns that Washington has expressed over TikTok are nothing but a fig leaf. It is time that other countries saw through the outrageous farce of the TikTok drama, knew what is really at stake, and joined hands to oppose such blatant robberies and maintain a fair global business environment, it said. TikTok asked a US judge on Wednesday to block an order from Trumps administration that would require Apple and Alphabets Google to remove its short video-sharing app for new downloads from Sunday. In response to a question on TikToks request, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin on Thursday said China supports companies use of relevant legal weapons to uphold their rights. 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. Kathmandu, Sep 23 (IANS) 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. 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. --IANS anil/kr LAUSANNE, Switzerland Swiss authorities ordered 2,500 students at an elite hospitality management school to quarantine themselves due to a coronavirus outbreak allegedly linked to off-campus partying, the latest back-to-school sign of higher educations place in the pandemic. Authorities in Switzerlands Vaud canton, or region, said all undergraduates at the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, or the Lausanne Hospitality Management University in English, were told to quarantine at home both on and off campus because the virus already had spread too widely for a more limited order. Significant outbreaks of infection have appeared at several levels of training, making impossible a more targeted closure than that involving 2,500 students, the Vaud regional office said in a statement. Until Sept. 28, the students must stay home. The statement said an early investigation indicated that one or more parties was at the origin of these many outbreaks. The local authorities reiterated a call for party-goers to demonstrate a responsible attitude by wearing masks, practicing social distancing, tracing their contacts and watching for COVID-19 symptoms. Ines Blal, the universitys executive dean, said administrators had warned students against holding start-of-term parties, even ff-campus and outside the schools authority and said a disciplinary investigation was underway. She said the school had already been bracing for worst-case scenarios in recent months by putting courses online and rolling out distance-learning programs. University spokesman Sherif Mamdouh said 11 students had tested positive for the coronavirus in connection with the outbreak so far and none required hospitalization. Mamdouh said only 67 of the undergraduates affected by the quarantine live on campus, while all the rest live off-campus. The university, which has been heralded as one of the worlds top schools in the field, has a total student body of about 3,500, including people pursuing advanced degrees. Mamdouh said the quarantine runs only through Monday because Swiss authorities factored in a possible 14-day virus incubation period since this months start-of-term parties. He could not explain why faculty members or graduate students were not included in the quarantine order, but said it was a decision made by the cantonal authorities. They were not immediately available for comment. Switzerland is not alone in facing a back-to-school virus surge among students. The World Health Organization, national health authorities and others have cautioned that young people have been a key driver for the continued spread of the coronavirus in several countries in recent weeks. The University of Glasgow in Scotland said Thursday that over 600 of its students had to self-isolate after 124 reported cases emerged in two significant clusters at separate residence halls. The university said it believed the outbreak was largely a result of social activity in mid-September during Freshers Week, when new students arrive and socialize. The university said none of its infected students had to receive hospital treatment. It stressed that anyone who breaks coronavirus restrictions could be kicked out of student housing or suspended. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC that the outbreak was worrying, saying: The more young people get it the more they spread it to old people. Universities Scotland, which represents 19 Scottish institutions, said that all students will be required from the weekend to avoid all parties and socializing outside their households. Students will be asked not to go to bars or restaurants and will face disciplinary action if caught, the body said. The latest government figures in France show that 22% of the countrys currently active virus clusters emerged at schools and universities. The United States has also seen clusters linked to college students. Denmarks education minister has urged parents and schools to cancel all social events, including camps and birthday parties. World Health Organization spokeswoman Margaret Harris said that while it is unfair to just put it on the young people, its also unsurprising that teenagers and young adults might assume they dont need to worry about succumbing to the virus. Perceptions do indicate that they dont feel they are as at-risk as older groups Harris said, particularly in the wake of data showing younger people typically have less-severe cases of COVID-19. The message they have heard is: You are out of jail, go out and play,' she said. We dont want to be the fun police, but we want people to have fun safely. ___ Keaten reported from Geneva. Sylvia Hui in London and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report. Photojournalist Risks His Life in Hong Kong On Jan. 17, 2010, Alex Cheng, a photojournalist at Mad Dog Daily, a Hong Kong-based online newspaper, noticed that he was being followed stealthily by two people. But he ignored them. The following night, on his way home, he was pushed down a long flight of stairs by an unidentified assailant. His left shoulder and arm bones were seriously fractured. This incident reminded him of his recent investigation into a suspicious death. The Hong Kong police claimed a man allegedly committed suicide by jumping from a high-rise building in Ko Cheung Court in Kowloon. But some suspect the man could have been murdered because of the way he fell, based on a video footage that caught the incident. Cheng used to be a commercial photographer with more than 10 years of experience. His current work as a photojournalist has allowed him to capture the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. Recently, he shared his story with The Epoch Times. Beaten by Police, Tripod Saved his Life On Dec. 15, 2019, in the late night, Cheng was live streaming an incident in which a police officer was arresting a protester on the sidewalk at Mong Kok district. A policeman shouted at Cheng to go up onto the sidewalk. Cheng replied, Sir, Im already on the sidewalk. That policeman burst into anger and shouted, I demand you to step back! Follow my order! In fact, there was no cordon line marked by the police at the scene, Cheng said. Cheng raised his press pass into the air to show the policeman his identity. Then suddenly, a man came up to Cheng and sprayed his face with pepper spray. Immediately, several other riot policemen came over. They blocked other journalists with batons and shields in their hands. They pushed Cheng aside and beat him hard with batons. Luckily, the legs of his tripod, which he was carrying on his back, negated the impact of the batons and saved his life. 30 percent of my left hands capacity has been lost, he disclosed. Cheng was arrested and charged with obstructing the government administration. HK Police Takes Away Press Freedom Cheng said the Hong Kong police moves the goalposts as they please. Enforcement is often illegal and unreasonable. One day, Cheng and his fellow journalists were in Yuen Long. The police said to them in a friendly manner: My friends! Come over here for a photo. As soon as they followed the instruction and got ready, the police immediately surrounded them with an orange cordon and ordered a full search. Afterwards, they were all taken back and the police warned them against streaming. Another police incident occurred in Yuen Long during a late night. Cheng and one of his colleagues were sitting at a park where they were uploading the photos they had taken in the daytime. Then a riot policeman came up to them. Suddenly, the policeman sprayed pepper spray directly into Chengs eyes, which caused a painful burning sensation. Cheng and his colleague quickly gathered their things and left the park. In a separate incident, journalists were again ordered to cease streaming. Cheng came forward to insist upon press freedom. Then, one of the police shouted back: Press freedom, if I give it to you, youll have it; if not, youll have none! At that moment, all the reporters fell into silence. PolyU Incident: As if all the People Were Being Raped In November 2019, during the siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Cheng stayed there for more than 30 hours, and live streamed for eight hours. The police attacked the students with pepper spray, tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannon. Ill never forget all those hours, Cheng said. A Special Tactical Squad rushed into the First Aid Room, and attacked anyone they met. They wouldnt even spare those ill people lying on the bed. Then they caught many protesters and took them away swiftly. Cheng described the disastrous scene in the PolyU: As if all the people were being raped. Hong Kong Turning Into a Prison On July 1, 2019, Cheng was moved by young pro-democracy protesters who were demonstrating outside the Legislative Council. On that day, over 550,000 protesters took part in a march to demand lawmakers to scrap a controversial extradition bill. The extradition bill was formally withdrawn three months later. They were there not for disrupting Hong Kong or for fun. They clearly knew what they were doing despite potential dangers ahead. They have a noble character, I would say. As Hong Kongs rule of law has worsened, Cheng believes that the environment of press freedom is increasingly collapsing. In his eyes, Hong Kong, a beautiful city as it was, is becoming a prison. Hongkongers are living in a prison much of what we had possessed was gone in 2019. Not long ago, Cheng made backups of all the videos he had created. He hopes the future generations will find them useful and meaningful. They are a testimony of my experience of witnessing such inhumane incidents, he concluded. Patna: Like in the past three Assembly elections in Bihar, Chief minister Nitish Kumar, who is hoping to coast to victory to his record fourth term in the 2020 state polls, is back on his campaign mode offering sops to different social groups to ensure their votes while also announcing a slew of developmental projects, all of which curiously expected to be finished in the next five years. Speaking at a press conference in Patna on Tuesday, Kumar once again revived the ghost of the Patna Metro Rail saying it would be complete by the end of 2025 thus bringing much-needed relief to the overcrowded state capital. The ambitious multi-billion-dollar project, initially announced in 2008 shortly after Kumar came into power for the first time in 2005, had been gathering dust in the government files for the past several years with occasional mention of it only when the government attempts to show its commitment towards the development of the state. During the inauguration of hundreds of new projects totaling in excess of Rs. 13.5 crores, Kumar on Tuesday said that his government had already changed the face of Bihar by building many new roads and bridges and the addition of the proposed metro rail would only add to the convenience of the people of Patna. In order to make it appear a serious effort by his administration and not just rhetoric like in the past, the Chief Minister then went on to provide details of the metro rail and various corridors that it would operate under. He boasted about its 35km run of which, he added, about 10km would be underground and the remainder 25km elevated. He also went on to name trains stops at various places in Patna including Saguna Mor, RPS Mor, Pataliputra Station, Rukunpura, Raja Bazaar, Patna zoo, Vikas Bhawan, Vidyut Bhawan, Patna station, Mithapur, Ramkrishna Nagar, Jaganpura, and Khemnichak Patna Junction, All India Radio station, Gandhi Maidan, Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Patna University, Moinul Haque Stadium, and Rajendra Nagar. Kumar then turned his attention towards the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) stating the party had shrunk into the party of Lalu Prasad Yadavs family members including his wife Rabri Devi, youngest son and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, and daughter Misa Bharti. Unlike the RJD, the entire state of Bihar is our big family. We are known by our works and no amount of rumors, lies, or deceptive ads are going to change the opinion of the people of Bihar, he declared. In the reminiscent of his past election campaigns, the Chief Minister said that public service was his religion and the voters were the true malik (owner) of the state. If they gave us another chance by voting us into power, I will once again serve them like I have served them in the past, he said. Meanwhile, hundreds of ticket-hopefuls gathered outside the party office in Patna to make their case for a party ticket for the upcoming state polls. Kumar met with 121 of them on Tuesday and assured them to look into their case individually. 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 ASX 200 fell by 0.8 per cent on Thursday. Credit:Louie Douvis 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. 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. In her ongoing research about Americans' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, Northern Arizona University anthropology professor Lisa Hardy and her collaborators have talked to dozens of people. A couple of them stand out to the researchers. Hardy spoke to a man who had polio as a child and had to live in a home with an iron lung away from his family. He said he was not in good health but he was not afraid of COVID-19 because he has seen all of this. A woman told anthropology lecturer Leah Mundell that she was the only Spanish-speaking contact tracer in her county, and she took on the responsibility of helping clients with much more than their physical health, connecting them with services and translating for them as they struggled to access resources. Hardy's research, to which Mundell contributed, was published this week in Medical Anthropology. "Connection, Contagion, and COVID-19" looks at how Americans' attitudes and responses have changed during the time of the pandemic and how to many people, the virus is not a biological agent but instead a malicious actor. This perception may play a role in the various responses Hardy's team heard, including comments about racism, social justice and mistrust of information. "Social scientists have done an excellent job of exploring past pandemics with regard to xenophobia--the 'Spanish Flu,' for instance--and how people understand bodies and illness," Hardy said. "This work builds on that by examining the COVID-19 pandemic in the current political moment. The results of this and other research can help to inform areas where collaborative interventions could potentially help to slow the spread of the virus and support well-being for people living through this time." The research project, which is a collaboration as part of the Social Science Community Engagement Lab, started six months ago, in the early days of the pandemic in the United States. Researchers, including Hardy, Mundell and two others, conducted semi-structured conversational phone interviews with 50 diverse participants. They asked open-ended questions about how people are dealing with the pandemic and their experiences of social and political responses. Then they transcribe the recorded interviews and apply codes to the transcripts to identify patterns. Hardy said this qualitative strategy is ideal for exploring a situation that is rapidly changing and unfolding over time. As they've called more people, the researchers have seen the interview content change. In more recent interviews, people talked about social uprisings like Black Lives Matter. They're analyzing the relationship between these social movements and perceptions of COVID-19. Researchers also are talking to more people who have had COVID-19 or had loved ones who got sick. Recent data includes how people reflect on medical care and contact tracing; that information will be useful for pandemic response. They also will continue interviewing after the Nov. 3 election, which will offer insight into the politicization of the pandemics and its effects. Tracing the logic of different groups also is important for the group's research. Hardy said they've seen an increase in conspiracy theories in more recent interviews, as people across the political spectrum develop unfounded theories about the virus and its reach. "We want to understand where these ideas are coming from and see how they influence behavior like vaccine uptake, health practices and voting patterns," she said. The article includes specific responses researchers have collected as they describe their experiences. They run the gamut; interviewees shared fears, concerns and conspiracy theories. Other interviewees talked at length about new connections and circles of care they have formed to help others and to accept help when needed. "The strength of some of the people who are having to live through hardships is really heartwarming to us," Hardy said. "It gives us hope in this time of tragic loss and tension in the United States." While the long-term effects of the pandemic are impossible to predict at this point, Hardy anticipates ongoing effects from the loss of loved ones and inability to grieve together as well as long-term health effects in people who survive COVID-19 but continue to have symptoms. But, she added, the country is seeing the development of creative and dynamic strategies for connection and resilience that will hopefully persist through generations. ### Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:07:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (L), Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C) and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (R) attend a joint press conference in Amman, Jordan, on Sept. 24, 2020. Foreign Ministers of Jordan, Germany, France, and Egypt on Thursday stressed that the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution is the path to achieve peace and regional security. (Khalil Mazraawi/Pool via Xinhua) AMMAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Ministers of Jordan, Germany, France, and Egypt on Thursday stressed that the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution is the path to achieve peace and regional security. The ministers made their remakes at a meeting in Amman, which was also attended by the EU special representative for the middle east peace process, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry. The ministers stressed that the two-state solution should lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of 1967. The ministers also voiced commitment to support all efforts to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace that fulfills the legitimate rights of all parties based on international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and agreements, including the Arab Peace Initiative. The ministers said that the building and expansion of Israeli settlements and confiscation of Palestinian structures and properties are a violation of international law that undermines the viability of the two-state solution. The ministers said the suspension of the annexation of Palestinian lands following the announcement of the decision by the United Arab Emirates and Israel to normalize ties should become permanent. You saw nothing in Hiroshima. Nothing, says Eiji Okada in the opening of Alain Resnais Hiroshima mon amour. I saw everything, replies Emmanuelle Riva. Everything. The film goes on to show the effects of the American atomic-bomb attack that devastated the titular city nearly fifteen years before. This was the first many viewers had seen of the legacy of that unprecedented act of destruction, and now, six decades later, the cultural image of Hiroshima has conflated Resnais stark French New Wave vision with actual wartime documentary materials. By now, weve all seen contemporary photographs (and even film clips) of the fate of Hiroshima and subsequently atomic-bombed Nagasaki. Can we regard this world-historic destruction with fresh eyes? A Youtuber known as Rick88888888 offers one way of potentially doing so: almost half an hour of colorized (as well as motion-stabilized, de-noised, and otherwise enhanced) footage of not just the explosions themselves, but the ruined Japanese cities and their struggling survivors, the airplanes that performed the bombing, and the United States President who ordered it. The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor, says Harry Truman in a broadcast on August 6, 1945, the day of the attack on Hiroshima. They have been repaid many fold. And the end is not yet. From the President, the American public first learned of the development of an atomic bomb, a harnessing of the basic power of the universe. The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the Far East. As we know now, this was the fruit of the Manhattan Project, the secret U.S.-led research-and-development effort that created the first nuclear weapons. Its success, Truman says, prepared the Allies to obliterate more rapidly and completely every productive enterprise the Japanese have above ground in any city. We shall destroy their docks, their factories, and their communications. Let there be no mistake; we shall completely destroy Japans power to make war. That they did, although military historians argue about about the justifiability of dropping the bomb as well as the exact extent it played in the ultimate Allied victory. But nobody can argue with the striking vividness of these color motion pictures of the event itself and its aftermath, which reminds us that the era of potential nuclear annihilation doesnt belong to the distant past rather, its a chapter of history that has only just begun. Related Content: J. Robert Oppenheimer Explains How He Recited a Line from Bhagavad GitaNow I Am Become Death, the Destroyer of WorldsUpon Witnessing the First Nuclear Explosion Haunting Unedited Footage of the Bombing of Nagasaki (1945) The Shadow of a Hiroshima Victim, Etched into Stone Steps, Is All That Remains After 1945 Atomic Blast Hiroshima After the Atomic Bomb in 360 Degrees Way of Life: Rare Footage of the Hiroshima Aftermath, 1946 Photos of Hiroshima by Hiroshima Mon Amour Star Emmanuelle Riva (1958) This 392-Year-Old Bonsai Tree Survived the Hiroshima Atomic Blast & Still Flourishes Today: The Power of Resilience 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. A Search For Funding A Massive Upgrade (TNS) For five tense days, the people tasked with running elections in South Carolinas 46 counties did not know if they would get the voting equipment they need to streamline the voter check-in process and diminish the likelihood of every election officials greatest fear: Voters receiving the wrong ballot on Election Day.Then, on Wednesday night, they exhaled.At 7:05 p.m., South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster approved the S.C. Election Commissions request for $5 million to purchase devices known as electronic poll books.Without this equipment, election officials feared the states voters would find themselves standing in longer lines and enduring a slower check-in process at their polling place. Electronic poll books, also known as e-poll books, replace the paper process formerly used to check in voters when they show up to cast a ballot. Instead of paper binders, e-poll books use a tablet or laptop computer.County election officials were told during a call on Friday that it was unlikely the devices would arrive for the upcoming Nov. 3 election. The news, delivered 46 days before the election, left officials scrambling to find a solution.Chris Whitmire, spokesman for the S.C. Election Commission, said the commission had set a self-imposed deadline of finding the required money by the end of this week. Even once the equipment is secured, it must be shipped, and poll workers need to be trained on how to use the devices.Whitmire spoke toin an interview before McMaster approved the equipment funding Wednesday night.At least one county election official confirmed he had already turned in his countys electronic poll books in order to make room for the new technology.News of the funding issue surrounding the election equipment was first reported byWednesday evening. Hours later, McMaster approved the funding request submitted by South Carolina Elections Commission Executive Director Marci Andino.The money will come from the states COVID-19 Response Reserve account, according to letters obtained bynewspaper.Whitmire said the status of the new poll books had been in limbo because there no longer was money to pay for them, and officials had to start looking for funding elsewhere.But publicly, it had appeared as if the arrival of the new e-poll books was imminent.The S.C. Election Commission announced its intent in late August to award a $6.5 million contract to Election Systems and Software for a new statewide electronic poll book system. The company is the nations largest voting equipment vendor and had been previously selected for the states new voting machines.The funds for the contract, Whitmire said, were tied to a non-recurring $9.3 million budget request made by the S.C. Election Commission. The request was made before COVID-19 forced the S.C. Legislature to tackle pandemic-related funding priorities, which disrupted the usual budgeting process.The hope of state budget funding has faded, Whitmire said Tuesday evening after S.C. House members sent the state budget back to committee for review.The legislative session ends at 5 p.m. Thursday, when all pending bills die. The state budget-writing Ways and Means Committee has no meetings scheduled this week.We are exploring whether or not there are any other funding sources, while simultaneously looking at the funding we do have, Whitmire said Tuesday.The state Election Commission received $6.3 million in federal funding after Congress passed a coronavirus relief package, along with up to $15 million from the state Legislature, when McMaster signed a $155 million COVID-19 relief package in May.The state funding was meant to address voting and safety during both the states June primary and November general election.Whitmire said the state Election Commission had only about $4.5 million of the nearly $9.5 million needed to cover the costs of the equipment.The new poll book solution would greatly improve the process of determining, selecting and providing voters with the correct ballot style, which is a huge part of what happens at a polling place on Election Day. Its one of the most critical things that happen, he said.Its crunch time on whether this can happen and whether this can happen at all, he said. We either do it now, or its too late.There are just weeks to go before counties hold a major presidential election, and county election officials were counting on having these new devices as they prepare for longer lines, higher voter turnout and an uptick in absentee voting.Joe Debney, director of the Charleston County Board of Elections and Registration, said the new poll book system will be a massive upgrade from what counties currently use. He has seen the technology in action.Charleston County piloted the use of the new e-poll books in 2018, deploying them in the Folly Beach municipal election, which acted as a small test run since the election took place at one location with four precincts. The county then used the system at a few polling locations the following June for the 2018 statewide primary election to see how the system would handle a higher-turnout election with more ballot styles.Debney said it was successful.We need to know what the system looks like, how it operates, and we need to be trained on it, Debney said.Berkeley County Elections Director Adam Hammons said he had already turned in the old electronic poll books in anticipation of the new system.We never got any indication at the local level that there was even a doubt that this would be an issue, Hammons said. The unknown is the biggest detriment for us right now. When do I pull the trigger on renting laptops? Or when do I hold off? And can I cancel them if I dont need them?Now, Hammons wont have to worry.After learning funding had been secured, Hammons said Wednesday night he looks forward to getting the equipment so he can start training poll workers.The voting equipment vendor has been asked to ship the electronic poll books as soon as possible. According to the NIA, the accused Sayed Saddiq Ali works as a recovery agent with a bank and had been absconding since 11 August, when the violence occurred Bengaluru/New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency on Thursday arrested Sayed Saddiq Ali, an absconding alleged conspirator in the attack on a Bengaluru police station on 11 August, officials said. A 44-year old resident of Bengaluru, Ali was allegedly involved in the attack on KG Halli Police Station that resulted in the destruction of public and government property, including damage to the police station building and vehicles parked in the police station premises and nearby areas. Violence broke out in Bengaluru on 11 August, with a mob over 3,000-strong torching the residences of Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, his sister Jayanthi and Devara Jeevanahalli and Kadugondanahalli police stations in Bengaluru. The NIA carried out searches in 30 locations in Bengaluru as part of its investigation into the conspiracy behind the violence triggered by an objectionable social media post on Prophet Mohammed, officials said. "During searches, airgun, pellets, sharp weapons, iron rods, digital devices, DVRs and many SDPI and PFI related incriminating documents and material have been seized," NIA IG Sonia Narang said in a statement. "The State Secretary, Social Democratic Party of India, Muzamil Pasha and other members of Social Democratic Party of India /Popular Front of India gathered a mob at the houses of Naveen, Sh. Akhanda Srinivas Murthy and at the premises of DJ Halli and KG Halli police stations, who vandalised the premises and resorted to arson, creating fear and panic among the masses," she said. The NIA action came days after it took over the investigation into two cases, in which the Bengaluru police had invoked the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, on the instructions of the Union Home Ministry. According to the NIA, Ali works as a recovery agent with a bank and had been absconding since 11 August. The Bengaluru police had registered 65 cases and arrested over 350 people in connection with the violence which left four people dead, three of them in police firing. NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia warned the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that an oil spot" had been seen in a shipping transit area 31 miles (50 km) west of a decaying tanker that is threatening to spill 1.1 million barrels of crude oil off the coast of Yemen. The Safer tanker has been stranded off Yemens Red Sea oil terminal of Ras Issa for more than five years. The United Nations has warned that the Safer could spill four times as much oil as the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska. In a letter to the 15-member body, reviewed by Reuters, Saudi Arabias U.N. Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi wrote that experts had observed that a pipeline attached to the vessel is suspected to have been separated from the stabilizers holding it to the bottom and is now floating on the surface of the sea." The United Nations has been waiting for formal authorization from Yemens Houthi movement to send a mission to the Safer tanker to conduct a technical assessment and whatever initial repairs might be feasible. The Security Council and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have both called on the Houthis to grant access. Al-Mouallimi wrote that the tanker has reached a critical state of degradation, and that the situation is a serious threat to all Red Sea countries, particularly Yemen and Saudi Arabia," adding this dangerous situation must not be left unaddressed." Yemen has been mired in conflict since the Iran-allied Houthi group ousted the government from the capital Sanaa in 2014. A Saudi-led military coalition in 2015 intervened in a bid to restore the government. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor DOHC Since Donny Ariyanto founded Studio Motor in 2008, his aftermarket surgeon crew never ceased to amaze us with their superior level of skill and sheer dedication. Today, the Jakarta-based workshop prides itself with an astounding portfolio, which hosts some of the moto realms raddest custom two-wheelers.In the past, weve examined several projects from these Indonesian daredevils, such as their reborn KTM 200 Duke and an ambitious Kawasaki Versys 650 venture, to name a couple. One things for sure; these folks arent playing around, alright?To be quite frank, I find SM's mechanical masterpieces to be truly fascinating. As such, I simply couldnt resist the urge to feature yet another one of these splendid works of two-wheeled art. This time, well be having a sneaky look at their glorious Suzuki GSF400 Bandit an astonishing display of breathtaking refinement and meticulous craftmanship. Believe me when I say, this bad boy will leave you speechless!For comparisons sake, well take a second to explore the stock bikes main characteristics. The 1995 model in Suzukis range is powered by a fierce four-strokeinline-four engine, with as many as four Mikuni BST32 carbs and a displacement of 398cc. This untamed beast boasts a compression ratio of 11.8:1 and four valves per cylinder head.The liquid-cooled mill is capable is generating up to 53 hp at around 11,000 rpm, along with a respectable torque output of just over 27 pound-feet (37 Nm) at 9,500 revs. Power is transmitted to a chain final drive via a six-speed gearbox. As a result, the Bandit is blessed with a 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) acceleration time of just five seconds and a generous top speed of 112 mph (180 kph).Up front, the creature rests on 41 mm (1.61 inches) Kayaba telescopic forks that allow up to 5.1 inches (130 mm) of travel. At the rear, suspension duties are handled by a single fully-adjustable Kayaba shock absorber and a double-sided swingarm, permitting as much as 5 inches (128 mm) of wheel travel. The front wheel wears dual 310 mm (12.2 inches) brake discs and four piston calipers, joined by a 260 mm (10.24 inches) rotor and a two-piston caliper on the opposite end.When this spectacular machine landed on Studio Motors doorstep, Ariyantos team kicked things off by restoring the inline-four powerplant to its former glory. The Mikuni carburetors were refurbished and optimized, while the original exhaust system was replaced by an aftermarket four-into-one unit that houses a reverse megaphone muffler.Next, they disposed of the original airbox and side covers to make room for a set of pod filters and hand-crafted side panels. GSF400s standard seat and tail section were also removed in favor of custom alternatives. The new wasp-style tail and leather saddle are supported by a tweaked subframe that keeps things looking neat.Additionally, SM installed a pair of clip-on handlebars and a vintage headlight to round out the fresh aesthetic. To top it all off, they enveloped the wheels in Michelin Pilot Road rubber and tasked Komet Studio with applying that stunning azure paintwork.All things considered, well have to agree that the end result is one sexy entity! Should you be looking to delight your eyes to the sight of more one-off goodness from this workshop, then you may want to consider visiting their Instagram and Facebook pages. Researchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin have identified highly effective antibodies against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and are now pursuing the development of a passive vaccination. In this process, they have also discovered that some SARS-CoV-2 antibodies bind to tissue samples from various organs, which could potentially trigger undesired side effects. They report their findings in the scientific journal "Cell". Initially, the scientists isolated almost 600 different antibodies from the blood of individuals who had overcome COVID-19, the disease triggered by SARS-CoV-2. By means of laboratory tests, they were able to narrow this number down to a few antibodies that were particularly effective at binding to the virus. Next, they produced these antibodies artificially using cell cultures. The identified so-called neutralizing antibodies bind to the virus, as crystallographic analysis reveals, and thus prevent the pathogen from entering cells and reproducing. In addition, virus recognition by antibodies helps immune cells to eliminate the pathogen. Studies in hamsters - which, like humans, are susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2 - confirmed the high efficacy of the selected antibodies: "If the antibodies were given after an infection, the hamsters developed mild disease symptoms at most. If the antibodies were applied preventively - before infection - the animals did not get sick," said Dr. Jakob Kreye, coordinator of the current research project. The DZNE scientist is one of the two first authors of the current publication. Antibodies for passive vaccination Treating infectious diseases with antibodies has a long history. For COVID-19, this approach is also being investigated through the administration of plasma derived from the blood of recovered patients. With the plasma, antibodies of donors are transferred. "Ideally, the most effective antibody is produced in a controlled manner on an industrial scale and in constant quality. This is the goal we are pursuing," said Dr. Momsen Reincke, also first author of the current publication. "Three of our antibodies are particularly promising for clinical development," explained Prof. Dr. Harald Pruss, a research group leader at the DZNE and also a senior physician at the Clinic for Neurology with Experimental Neurology at Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin. "Using these antibodies, we have started to develop a passive vaccination against SARS-CoV-2." Such a project requires cooperation with industrial partners. That is why the scientists are collaborating with Miltenyi Biotec. In addition to the treatment of patients, preventive protection of healthy individuals who have had contact with infected persons is also a potential application. How long the protection lasts will have to be investigated in clinical studies. "This is because, unlike in active vaccination, passive vaccination involves the administration of ready-made antibodies, which are degraded after some time," Prof. Pruss said. In general, the protection provided by a passive vaccination is less persistent than that provided by an active vaccination. However, the effect of a passive vaccination is almost immediate, whereas with an active vaccination it has to build up first. "It would be best if both options were available so that a flexible response could be made depending on the situation." Modern technologies Kreye, Reincke, Pruss and colleagues usually deal with autoimmune diseases of the brain, in which antibodies erroneously attack neurons. "In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, it was obvious to use our resources also in other ways," said Prof. Pruss. For the current project, the researchers benefit from a project funded by the Helmholtz Association: the "BaoBab Innovation Lab". Within this framework, they are developing and refining technologies for the characterization and production of antibodies, which they are now applying. "Now, we are working with our industrial partner to establish the conditions that will allow for the most effective large-scale production of the antibodies we have identified," said Pruss. "The next step is clinical trials, that is testing in humans. However, this can not be expected before the end of this year at the earliest. The planning for this has already started." Potential side effects During their investigations, the researchers made a further discovery: some of the particularly effective antibodies against the coronavirus specifically attached to proteins of the brain, heart muscle and blood vessels. In tests with tissue samples from mice, several of the neutralizing antibodies exhibited such a cross-reactivity. Thus, they were excluded from the development of a passive vaccination. "These antibodies bind not only to the virus, but also to proteins in the body that have nothing to do with the virus. Future research is needed to analyse whether the associated tissues could potentially become targets of attacks by the own immune system," said Prof. Pruss. Whether these laboratory findings are relevant for humans cannot be predicted at present. "On the one hand, we need to be vigilant in order to detect any autoimmune reactions that may occur in the context of COVID-19 and vaccinations at an early stage. On the other hand, these findings can contribute to ensure the development of an even safer vaccine," the scientist said. ### Partners in research For the current studies, the DZNE research group lead by Prof. Pruss collaborated closely with the Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine at the Charite and the Institute of Virology at the Campus Charite Mitte. The Institutes of Virology and Veterinary Pathology at the Freie Universitat Berlin and the Scripps Research Institute in the US were also significantly involved. Original publication A therapeutic non-self-reactive SARS-CoV-2 antibody protects from lung pathology in a COVID-19 hamster model, Jakob Kreye, S Momsen Reincke et al., Cell (2020), DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.09.049 On the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) The DZNE investigates all aspects of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in order to develop novel approaches of prevention, treatment, and health care. The DZNE is comprised of ten sites across Germany and cooperates closely with universities, university hospitals, and other institutions on a national and international level. The DZNE is a member of the Helmholtz Association. http://www.dzne.de/en About the Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe, offering 3,001 beds and boasting approximately 100 departments and institutes spread across 4 separate campuses. With a total of 18,700 members of staff employed across its group of companies (15,000 of which at Charite), the organization is one of the largest employers in Berlin. At Charite, the areas of research, teaching and medical care are closely interlinked. 4,553 of its employees work in the field of nursing, with a further 4,454 in research and medical care. Last year, Charite treated 154,261 in- and day case patients, in addition to 692,900 outpatients. In 2019, Charite recorded a turnover of approximately 2.0 billion (including external funding and investment grants) and set a new record by securing more than 179.1 million in external funding. Charite's Medical Faculty is one of the largest in Germany, educating and training more than 8,000 medical, dentistry and health sciences students. Charite also offers 644 training positions across 9 different health care professions. http://www.charite.de/en/ Parents pick up Chromebooks for virtual instruction at the Philadelphia School District headquarters in April. Read more Genesis Mejia-Noyer takes her studies seriously. But, she said, her internet connection is too slow and unreliable. When she and her two siblings try to access Zoom or Google Classroom simultaneously, one or all is invariably kicked offline, or coping with frozen screens and unable to effectively ask teachers questions. Mejia-Noyer said she often has to wait minutes to get reconnected or must use her phones data plan to complete schoolwork. It happens multiple times during the school day, which is the main reason I feel distracted, said Mejia-Noyer, a junior at Kensington Health Sciences Academy in Philadelphia. I worry that if I dont have access to stable internet soon, this situation will affect my future. Mejia-Noyer joined students, teachers, politicians, and activists from Philadelphia, Baltimore, Detroit, Denver, and Louisiana in a virtual news conference Wednesday to highlight the need for faster, free internet for all students, especially as the coronavirus keeps many school buildings including Philadelphias closed to full-time in-person learning. They called on Comcast and other internet and cable providers to do more to bridge the digital divide, and for changes at the federal level to help. Locally, Comcast has partnered with the city and the Philadelphia School District to offer free internet service for 35,000 low-income families, including those with school-age children, through its Internet Essentials program. A $17 million plan, funded by philanthropic partners, guarantees free service for two years. READ MORE: 18,000 Philly school families still lack reliable internet; board hears of coming financial pain Company officials disputed the notion that Internet Essentials cannot support multiple users. No company has been more committed to bridging the digital divide," Comcast said in a statement. But "solving a problem as vast and complex as the digital divide requires collaboration with the school district, elected officials, nonprofit community partners, and other private-sector companies so everyone is part of the solution. City officials and Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. have said that 7,400 families have been signed up for the PHLConnectED program so far, either by being hardwired through Internet Essentials or receiving mobile hot spots. They estimate that 18,000 families still lack internet access, but say they aim to ramp up outreach and hope to see a surge in sign-ups soon. City Councilmember Helen Gym and others who spoke at the news conference say that Comcast has a responsibility to reliably provide the kind of internet access that would allow Mejia-Noyer and students like her to learn without technology interruptions. People are united all across the country to demand that we want change and not charity, Gym said. Gym and others underscored that while most white and middle- and upper-class families have adequate wireless access to manage digital learning, many Black and Hispanic families lack it. And in a city where many public school students have unstable housing and move frequently, we cannot rely on home-based, hard-wired internet services for our young people to learn," Gym said. She called on Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon to fully open up their residential hot spots for all students to access the web without the hassle of being hooked up to a specific home-based address. Comcast has said its residential hot spots are not equipped for public access, and city officials have pointed out that subscribers would have to grant permission to split bandwidth. English French OTTAWA, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NAV CANADA today made the difficult decision to eliminate permanent jobs as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant negative impact on global air traffic and on the aviation industry. To adapt to the new realities of air traffic levels, the company is also taking steps to safely streamline operations and will be launching level of service reviews for certain aerodromes. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company had 5,100 employees nationwide. Including the previous reduction in staffing of temporary employees in the spring and early retirements, the company has reduced more than 720 jobs or 14 per cent of the workforce. NAV CANADA will continue to monitor air traffic activity across the country and adapt its operations and workforce accordingly as necessary. Undoubtedly, the company is in the midst of the toughest moment in its history. NAV CANADA is not immune to the economic downturn and severe financial impacts the aviation industry is experiencing, said Neil Wilson, President and CEO. Cost containment strategies commenced as soon as the pandemic was declared. Prior to todays layoffs, NAV CANADA reduced management compensation, deferred retroactive wage increases with bargaining units and offered a voluntary retirement program to minimize cash outflows. NAV CANADA has also benefited from the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy program. NAV CANADA is working closely with labour unions to adapt the size of its workforce in response to the persisting low air traffic levels. The cuts are across all departments and include most of the current cohort of operational students. The company will also close its flight information centres in Winnipeg and Halifax. Pilots and dispatchers will continue to receive the same vital information they need, including flight-planning services, in-depth interpretive weather information and en-route flight information, which will be provided by the remaining flight information centres. Air traffic services will not be impacted by this change. NAV CANADA must continue to fulfill its commitment to efficiently run Canadas air navigation system, ensuring that the services supplied align with market demands. In the coming weeks, aeronautical studies will be launched for multiple aerodromes to assess the level of service required to provide safe and efficient operations for our airline, air cargo and general aviation customers. Aeronautical studies apply a safety-focused and Transport Canada regulated process, which NAV CANADA has followed in support of its globally recognized safety record for more than 20 years. This rigorous, systematic approach provides for full consultation with all affected stakeholders, with the key factor being safety. The aviation industry is contracting and faces profound changes. We continue to monitor the impact of the pandemic and will continue to take steps as they are necessary to align service with traffic levels while maintaining the integrity of the air navigation system, said Neil Wilson, President and CEO. Todays changes will not have any operational impact on the safe delivery of air navigation services across the country. Quick Facts A private, non-profit corporation, NAV CANADA provides air traffic control, airport advisory services, weather briefings and aeronautical information services for more than 18 million square kilometers of Canadian domestic and oceanic airspace. Under the Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization Act, NAV CANADA recovers its operating expense through service charges from its customers on a breakeven basis. NAV CANADAs customers include airlines, air cargo operators, air charter operators, air taxis, helicopter operators, and business and general aviation. Aeronautical studies will be launched to assess levels of service in Saint-Jean QC, Castlegar BC, Churchill MB, High Level AB, Peace River AB, Brandon MB, Fort Nelson BC, Fort St John BC, Inuvik NWT, Lloydminster AB, Norman Wells NWT, Port Hardy BC, Prince Albert SK, Red Deer AB, Sept-Iles QC, Dawson Creek BC, Fort McMurray AB, Flin Flon MB, The Pas MB, Buffalo Narrows SK, Kuujjuarapik QC, Blanc Sablon QC, Natashquan QC, and Sydney NS. The terms of reference for these studies will be posted on navcanada.ca in the coming weeks. Aeronautical studies consider all relevant factors, including traffic volume, mix and distribution throughout the day; weather; airport and airspace configuration; surface activity; and the efficiency requirements of operators using the service. Formal consultation with stakeholders is central to all aeronautical studies. NAV CANADAs safety record is irrefutably one of the best in the world amongst air navigation service providers. We have achieved this record based on a regulated decision-making approach with safety at the very core of all that we do. About NAV CANADA NAV CANADA is a private, not-for-profit company, established in 1996, providing air traffic control, airport advisory services, weather briefings and aeronautical information services for more than 18 million square kilometres of Canadian domestic and international airspace. The Company is internationally recognized for its safety record, and technology innovation. Air traffic management systems developed by NAV CANADA are used by air navigation service providers in countries worldwide. For further information, please contact: Brian Boudreau Manager, Media Relations media@navcanada.ca Media Information Line: 1-888-562-8226 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. The fight against coronavirus has some new heroes in Finland: Dogs. AP's Jari Tanner reports that four dogs trained by Finlands Smell Detection Association started working at the Helsinki Airport as part of a government-financed trial, sniffing out the virus on travelers coming through the airport. COVID-19 UPDATES: Harris Co. releases backlog of 14,000+ unreported COVID-19 cases Its a very promising method. Dogs are very good at sniffing, Anna Hielm-Bjorkman, a University of Helsinki professor of equine and small animal medicine, told AP. To take part in a free test, travelers swipe their skin with a wipe, which is then put in a jar and given to a dog in a separate booth. If the dog detects COVID-19, he or she is trained to let the handler know by lying down, barking or scratching the floor. Travelers do not need to come into direct contact with the dog (unfortunately). The sniffer dog testing method could become a more cost-effective and fast way to test travelers for coronavirus. Several other countries, including the United States, are researching sniffer dogs. ET, Kossi, Miina and Valo, the four sniffer dogs, previously underwent training to sniff out cancer, diabetes and other diseases. Hopefully, sniffer dogs become even more widespread it sounds much more pleasant than the nose swab test. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 2020 / Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to announce continued advancements towards impurity suppression and removal, from high-grade fluorspar concentrate produced from the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit, Quebec. Previous test work has demonstrated the ability to achieve fluorspar (CaF2) grades in excess of 97% CaF2, as well as specifications for SiO2, Al2O3, Cl, Be, and Cd (see news release dated February 28th, 2020). Since that time, additional test work has further achieved the standard specifications for Pb, As, and Hg while maintaining a high CaF2 grade (~96.5%). The Company continues to advance the impurity removal with several other elements approaching standard specification for acid-grade fluorspar in recent tests. The test work on fluorspar recovery is being carried out by Hazen Research, CO, USA, which is also developing the primary rare earth element (REE) recovery flowsheet. The recovery of fluorspar from the Ashram Deposit has been approached as a secondary objective to the primary REE recovery. Further, depending on the process approach for fluorspar recovery, impurity removal may also increase overall REE recovery in the flowsheet. In addition to being one of the largest rare earth deposits globally, the Ashram Deposit is also one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally. The production of REEs and fluorspar are currently dominated by China, placing Ashram in a unique position to potentially address the supply concerns of these two critical commodities. Both REEs and fluorspar are considered critical / strategic commodities by the US Department of the Interior, the European Union, and the Province of Quebec, Canada. Fluorspar Market Fluorspar is an essential raw material to the steel, aluminum, and chemical industries in two marketable products, acid spar grade and met spar grade. Acid-spar (>97% CaF2), accounting for roughly sixty percent of the market, is primarily used to synthesise hydrofluoric acid (HF) and subsequent fluorochemicals, and in the production of aluminum metal, to reduce process temperatures and energy consumption. It is also a key raw ingredient of materials used in enhancing the operational performance of lithium-ion batteries. Met-spar (>60% CaF2), accounting for roughly forty percent of the global fluorspar market, is primarily used as a flux in the steel making process to lower the melting temperature, to reduce slag viscosity and remove impurities. Similar to the prevailing dynamics for rare earth elements, China was historically the largest exporter of fluorspar. However, in the last 3 years, China has become a net importer. This has caused significant price appreciation for fluorspar, and market interest from industry in new sources. NI 43-101 Disclosure Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a Permit holder with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release. About Commerce Resources Corp. Commerce Resources Corp. is an exploration and development company with a particular focus on deposits of rare metals and rare earth elements. The Company is focused on the development of its Ashram Rare Earth Element Deposit in Quebec and the Upper Fir Tantalum-Niobium Deposit in British Columbia. For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@commerceresources.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP. "Chris Grove" Chris Grove President and Director Tel: 604.484.2700 Email: cgrove@commerceresources.com Web: http://www.commerceresources.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this press release include that the Company can advance the impurity removaland that impurity removal may increase overall REE recovery in the flowsheet.. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition includethat we may not be able to further remove impurities, and even if we do, it may not increase REE recovery; changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that with further test work may not be comparable; testing of our process may not prove successful and even it tests are successful, the economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the availability of labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project, conditions changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits to build and operate the envisaged mine can be obtained. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. SOURCE: Commerce Resources Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607464/Commerce-Resources-Corp-Advances-Impurity-Suppression-for-Fluorspar-Concentrate-from-the-Ashram-Deposit-Quebec 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. Building on its successful mediation that culminated in the 1993 Oslo Accords, will Norway revive its diplomatic role for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians? After the UAE and Bahrain had signed peace deals with Israel, Arab countries stressed they support peace initiatives based on Israels withdrawal from Palestinian lands and the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Palestinians, however, believe the latest peace accords do not encourage Israel to withdraw from their lands, saying that Israel occupied more Palestinian lands and built more settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem after some Arab countries had stricken peace agreements with Israel. The current stalemate in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts brings to mind the nine-month closed negotiations the Norwegian diplomatic circle held when I served as Egypts ambassador in Norway from 1990 to 1994. The talks Norway spearheaded between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation culminated in the Oslo Accords signed in Washington in 1993. The deal was seen as a breakthrough in Palestinian-Israeli relations. However, the rising right wing led by Benjamin Netanyahu has subtracted hope in peace from the equation. Will Norway, building on its past efforts and accumulated experience of over 30 years on this file, renew its diplomatic efforts to revive the peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis? The Palestinian cause is in the international communitys spotlight and I believe a Norwegian diplomatic intervention will receive international support. During Oslo, as is the case at present, Norway enjoyed the credence of both parties, the Israelis and Palestinians, having no self or regional interests to garner from the success or failure of talks. Norway sought justice for the Palestinians and security for the Israelis. How Israel may respond to Norwegian efforts now will test the efficacy of the recent peace deals Israel signed to create an environment that further promotes comprehensive peace that grants the Palestinians rights. *The writer is former ambassador of Egypt in Norway. *A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Justice Ginsburgs Death Could Prove Fatal to American Democracy Ruth Bader Ginsburg affectionately known as The Notorious R.B.G. (after the famous moniker of the late hip-hop star, The Notorious B.I.G.) held on as long as she could while fiercely battling metastatic pancreatic cancer. At 87, the popular Supreme Court Justice had battled cancer and several other maladies, for some time. Just days before her death, as her strength waned, Ginsburg dictated this statement to her granddaughter, Clara Spera: My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed. Echoing the sentiments of many, both inside and outside of the political spectrum acclaimed novelist Terry McMillan stated, I was praying she could hold on. ADVERTISEMENT The author and many others realized that, in sphere of todays American politics, where one of the two dominant parties is essentially wholly controlled by President Donald Trump and the hard-hearted Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, if they choose to ignore the Justices dying wishes, the Republicans, who control the Senate, have the votes to quickly confirm Ginsburgs replacement. This is the case, even as the president and possibly McConnell head toward lame-duck status. In spite of the result from the impending confirmation process and its connectivity to an election that will occur in less than 45 days, the life and achievements of Ruth Bader Ginsburg are to be celebrated. Americas loss of one of its notable and most courageous jurists is palpable. We have lost a champion of justice, an icon and patriot, a woman who lived the concept of building a more perfect union, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser affirmed. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought for us until the very end, and it is that fighting spirit that we were fortunate as a nation to benefit from time and time again that made us love, respect, and admire her. We are heartbroken. Hillary Shelton, the Chief Lobbyist of the NAACP, called Ginsburgs death a sad day for America. We are losing a real champion for Civil Rights, Voting Rights, Womens Rights and Human Rights on our Supreme Court, Shelton posited. ADVERTISEMENT Shelton honored Ginsburg for breaking through many barriers to the full participation of all Americans and demanded that Republicans wait until after the election to confirm a successor. It is our hope that whoever fills her position would have her same values. We also urge that the President withhold the nomination to fill that position until after the election, Shelton exclaimed. It was Mitch McConnel who insisted not to allow President Obama to fill a position in his last year in office. We urge that there not be a nomination or consideration by the U.S. Senate until after the November election. Through her cancer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought to the end with unwavering faith in our democracy and its ideals, and thats how shell be remembered, Obama expressed in a written statement. But she also left instructions for how she wanted her legacy to be honored, the popular former President observed. Obama recalled when Republicans refused to hold a hearing or an up-or-down vote on his Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, and they invented the principle that the Senate shouldnt fill an open seat on the Supreme Court before a new president was sworn in. A basic principle of the law and of everyday fairness is that we apply rules with consistency, and not based on whats convenient or advantageous in the moment, Obama demanded. The rule of law, the legitimacy of our courts, the fundamental workings of our democracy all depend on that basic principle. As votes are already being cast in this election, Republican Senators are now called to apply that standard. The questions before the Court now and in the coming years with decisions that will determine whether or not our economy is fair, our society is just, women are treated equally, our planet survives, and our democracy endures are too consequential to future generations for courts to be filled through anything less than an unimpeachable process. Sixty years ago, the Brooklyn born Ginsburg applied to be a Supreme Court clerk. Shed studied at two of the countrys finest law schools and had ringing recommendations. But, because she was a woman, she was rejected, Obama recalled. Ten years later, she sent her first brief to the Supreme Court which led it to strike down a state law based on gender discrimination for the first time. And then, for nearly three decades, as the second woman ever to sit on the highest court in the land, she proved a warrior for gender equality someone who believed that equal justice under the law only had meaning if it applied to every single American. 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. Its about who we are and who we can be, Obama remarked, noting that Ginsburg inspired the generations who followed her. Justice Ginsberg always voiced strong and principled demands for justice and equality for all, and she was a lifelong champion of womens and civil rights, declared Marcela Howell, the founder, and president of In Our Own Voice: National Black Womens Reproductive Justice Agenda. We are putting the U.S. Senate on notice; we demand that no nominee be voted on until a new president is elected. We will take to the streets in protest if McConnell and his cohorts do not abide by their own precedent, Howell avowed. We promise to continue Ruth Bader Ginsburgs fight for freedom. As we mourn, we will honor her life and legacy by fighting hard to demand a worthy successor. And we will fight even harder to ensure that all votes are counted on Election Day. Indu Chinta By Express News Service KOCHI: When I visited the artisans in Aranmula earlier this year, they invited me to spend two days with them to learn how they make the famed metal mirror. Little did I know that the pandemic would not allow it! However, I explored a good part of Aranmula, a village in Pathanamthitta district, during the one day that I got to spend there.In Kerala, much lore is carefully woven into the local narrative to explain a places culture and history. Aranmula is the fountainhead of the districts culture, with Sree Parthasarathi Temple as its cultural epicentre. Constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, many aspects such as Aranmula kannadi, Aranmula vallamkali and vallasadya attribute their origin to this temple. Legend says that after the Mahabharata war, the Pandavas arrived in this part of the country and built a temple for Lord Krishna on the banks of river Pampa. The Parthasarathi Temple was built by Arjuna. There is another legend that says the idol was brought on a raft made of six (aaru in Malayalam) bamboos (mula) and thus, the name Aranmula. As I was exiting the temple, I noticed a room on one side of the entrance, secured with a heavy lock. Thanka Anki, or the golden attire of Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala is kept in this room. In 1973, Chitra Tirunal Balarama Varma, the last Maharaja of Travancore, offered the 420-sovereign Thanka Anki to the deity. Ever since, the finale of the 41-day Mandalam pilgrim season witnesses a ceremonial procession carrying Thanka Anki from Aranmula to Sabarimala, where the chief priest decorates the main idol and performs the puja, marking the culmination of the mandala kalam. Aranmula Kannadi: The msytical mirror After the temple was built, the Royal Chief of Aranmula, in the 16th century, invited eight families of artisans from Tamil Nadu to make ornaments and musical instruments. As they were making a crown for the deity, the mirror formed accidentally during metal casting. When they showed it to the chief, he was so impressed that he incorporated it in the eight auspicious objects used in the worship of the deity. Kannadi means mirror, derived from kannu or eye in Malayalam. In my understanding, kannadi seems to have a more profound meaning than just mirror; it is the mind that determines what the eyes shall see. The eye is only the instrument, but the mind is the real architect. The way kannadi captures cultural values, its English equivalent mirror does not. Mirror holds an important place in every aspect of life in Kerala be it cultural, religious or social. For instance, in Theyyam, a ritualistic art practised in north Malabar, looking into the mirror, called Mukha-darshan, is a defining moment.The Aranmula Kannadi is made employing the lost wax technique or bell-metal casting. While the exact composition is still a secret, researchers say that it is high tin bronze, an alloy of copper and tin (no glass is used in making the mirror). It is a front surface reflection mirror that produces a sharp undistorted image. So, the image you see of yourself in the mirror is very clearl. Since the alloy can withstand corrosion, the mirror can last for generations. The fascination for mirrors, however, goes way back in time! Mirrors made of volcanic rock (obsidian) were used in modern-day Turkey, in 6000 BCE. With the advent of the Bronze Age, bronze mirrors were crafted in China, Mesopotamia and Egypt because the alloy could be readily shaped and moulded. In the lost wax technique, the mould is made with wax and molten bronze/brass is poured into it to acquire the desired shape. This technique has an enduring history. It was employed in the Indus Valley. Remember the statuette of the dancing girl? It is a prehistoric sculpture discovered in Mohenjo-Daro, a city part of the Indus Valley Civilization. This figurine, along with a few others of that era, has been preserved in the National Museum, Delhi. Bronze artefacts crafted this way are prevalent in Central and Eastern India, along the mineral belt Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odissa, West Bengal and Telangana where it is called Dhokra. Ornamental embellishments in Theyyam outfits are made in Payyanur, Kannur. The Aranmula Kannadi is the first handicraft from Kerala and second in India to be awarded Geographical Indication tag in 2004-05. More recently, Aranmula was enlisted as a heritage village by the United Nations. The Aranmula Kannadi is made employing the lost wax technique or bell-metal casting. While the exact composition is still a secret, researchers say that it is high tin bronze, an alloy of copper and tin (no glass is used in making the mirror) 4. Why are the Shipping charges so high? You are ordering a valuable product and it should be backed by extensive documentation, insurance and appraisal that should have value throughout your life. At the core of Gemstoneuniverse is transparency and these are the actuals incurred to ensure a world class service and products that is backed by a lifetime guarantee. The shipping component is not just shipping but includes certification, appraisal, insurance and door delivery with documentation that proves the value of your precious jewellery. At Gemstoneuniverse we do not resort to gimmicks like including the shipping in the product cost or free shipping. This cost is well worth it. Some patrons find it surprising when their product cost is less than the shipping. This happens because the value Gemstoneuniverse delivers to you in terms of price, selection and convenience. For example the lustrous treatment free hessonite that we offer you at $90 per carat would not be available at most of the retail stores and the average price for that would be anywhere from $125-$150 per carat provided you buy a whole lot. Hence in some cases this surprising scenario occurs. The complete value of Certification, Appraisal, Insurance, marking of caratage when calculated for one single gemstone would range anywhere from $250-$350/-. It is our numbers and consistency that gets us volume discounts from the Laboratories/ other associated agencies which we forward to you as a Gemstoneuniverse advantage and not as freebies. Your charge of $80 in shipping includes all this and is just not shipping. Detailed information on shipping can be accessed here. With the overall water level in the seven lakes that supply drinking water to the city at over 98%, it is unlikely that Mumbai will face any more water cuts this year. The decision on water cuts will be formally taken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) during a review meeting on October 1. A senior civic body official said, The catchment areas received good rainfall in the past one month due to which we also rolled back water cuts. Also, due to this there should not be any water cuts this year. However, yearly review of lake levels is taken on October 1. Last month, BMC had announced a 20% water cut owing to low water levels in the seven lakes. This was rolled back after catchment areas received good rainfall. Previously in 2014, BMC had imposed a 25% water cut and in 2015-2016, there was a 20% water cut. In 2018, BMC had imposed a 10% water cut. According to BMC, Tulsi and Vehar lakes, which are located inside the city, are now at 100% capacity. The water level at Modak Sagar is at 99.99%; Upper Vaitarna is at 99.58%; Tansa is at 99.10%; Bhatsa is at 98.20%; and Middle Vaitarna is at 97.08%. The overall water stock is 1,426,000 million litres (98.56%) against the lakes total capacity of 1,447,363 million litres. The overall lake level was 98.69% and 93.30% at this time in 2019 and 2018 respectively. The seven lakes are bifurcated into two systems the Vaitarna system supplies to the western suburbs and the island city; and the Bhatsa system supplies to the eastern suburbs. The lakes are situated in Mumbai and in neighbouring Thane and Palghar districts. The civic body supplies 3,750 million litres of water daily against the citys demand for 4,200 million litres. People who have made mistakes in the past but are on the right track should be given a second chance to lead productive lives. Thats the consensus of PennLive readers who tuned into Live On with Joyce Davis this week to discuss the pardons and criminal justice reform with Brandon Flood, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. "People do deserve second chances, " wrote Tara Curtis Mead wrote. We need to provide more opportunities for people who were incarcerated and want to rebuild their lives, she said, especially those who were convicted for non-violent offenses. Live On with Joyce Davis Brandon Flood, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, discusses Pardons and Public Safety: Examining A Decade of Recidivism Data in Pennsylvania on today's Facebook Live. Get your respectful comments and questions ready for today's discussion. Posted by PennLive.com on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 A newly released study into what happens when people convicted of crimes get pardons in Pennsylvania supports that view. And Flood is eager to use the new Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE) study to bring hope to even more people with criminal convictions blocking their paths to better jobs and a better life. The study is encouraging. It investigated the 3,037 pardon applications filed in Pennsylvania between 2008 and 2018 and found only 53 of the pardon applicants, or 1.7%, later committed crimes that sent them back to jail. Even more encouraging, Pardons and Public Safety: Examining A Decade of Recidivism Data in Pennsylvania showed only two applicants, or less than 1 percent, were convicted of a violent crime. Flood knows people can change. He did. He spent time in prison but after years of hard work, he received a pardon and is now in a position to help grant them. He wants to see the state help more people overcome past mistakes. But, as our readers pointed out, he also knows there still are too many obstacles blocking the paths of people with criminal convictions. Many ex-offenders never completed their high school education. They struggle to find jobs and feel shunned in their communities. Re-entry of formerly incarcerated inmates could be very hard if one does not have a support system in place, Mead wrote during the Facebook Live. Pennsylvania Board of Pardons Secretary Brandon Flood joins PennLive's Joyce Davis on Facebook Live. Our society is not set up for the reformed to succeed in re-entering society, Laine Snow added. Meredith Cordero spoke from experience. I was incarcerated, she said. Im happy for second chances, but theres so much more that needs to be accomplished in regards with second chances! The results of the PLSE study gives Flood and his pardons board a powerful tool to galvanize community support to provide more opportunities for ex-offenders to erase the blotches in their past. More businesses already are on board to provide jobs, and Flood said there are now many scholarships that help ex-offenders return to school and pursue higher education. All of that is essential, but theres another vital ingredient, Debra Jackson suggested. Is the state doing an assessment of the needs of the issue families who have family members incarcerated? she asked. Jackson was right to put the issue of family support on the table. Its a special problem for female ex-offenders. When they leave prison, Flood acknowledged, many dont have family support or a loving spouse waiting home. Our readers stressed they are all in favor of granting more pardons, but they want it done right. And that means Flood and the Pardons Board will have to ensure those who get them are not only deserving, but they have everything they need to succeed. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. And please subscribe to Battleground PA to stay abreast of the issues in the 2020 elections! For Neil Hajjar, a 10-year-old Bernardsville resident with Mecp2 Duplication Syndrome and Moyamoya Disease, the view from his front lawn Wednesday evening was enough to elicit what his mom, Meg, calls his happy hands. Neil waved his arms in delight, perched from his wheelchair atop a brand-new swing as approximately 50 emergency vehicles and at least 200 cars from the community drove by their home. The swing and convoy were sponsored by Make-A-Wish New Jersey, to celebrate Neils love of swinging and car-gazing. A police officer drives his motorcycle past Neil and his family.Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media Today is a celebration of Neil and his life-changing wish for this special swing that accommodates his wheelchair, Tom Weatherall, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish New Jersey, said in a statement. We are honored to be able to bring his two favorite experiences together the sense of freedom on a swing, and the joy of watching cars go by, cheering his name. Neils convoy coincided with Make A Wishs 500,000-wish-milestone since the organizations beginnings in 1980. The New Jersey chapter was founded three years later and has granted more than 11,000 wishes across the state. Make-A-Wish spent the last two weeks coordinating with the Bernardsville Police Department, who directed traffic for the event. Law enforcement agencies, from Mendham to North Plainfield and nearly a dozen other towns, were represented in the convoy of police cars, firetrucks and motorcycles. Around 50 first responders were part of the 200 to 250 vehicle parade Wednesday, September 23, 2020 in Bernardsville.Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media Something like this immediately garnered a lot of attention from the community as well as our emergency responders and it quickly spread to the towns around us, Bernardsville Police Chief Kevin Valentine told NJ Advance Media. Its important during times like this that we stick together as a community and that we share these kinds of experiences together. Residents were staged down Liberty Road, before the parade kicked off at 4:45 p.m. For a lively 20 minutes, they displayed signs like Swing, Neil, Swing! while cheering kids poked their heads out sunroofs, though participants were asked not to honk or blare sirens as they would overwhelm Neil. His body movements that was total excitement, Meg Hajjar told NJ Advance Media. He enjoyed it from the very beginning to the very end. People drive by and wave to Neil during the parade. Make-A-Wish surprise parade for 10-year-old Neil Hajjar of Bernardsville.Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media Neil was born with MECP2 Duplication Syndrome, a rare disease that leaves him with low muscle tone and affects his respiratory system as well as his ability to walk and talk. At age 2, he had a stroke and was diagnosed with Moyamoya Disease, leading Neil to undergo brain surgery. Everythings work, everythings hard for him, Meg said. Hes a tough guy. The family has lived in Bernardsville for the last seven years. In their previous home in Basking Ridge, they mounted an indoor swing, but Neil had grown out of it after a recent growth spurt. Make-A-Wish's surprise parade for 10-year-old Neil Hajjar of Bernardsville.Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media This option of a wheelchair swing was perfect for him, and he can use it for so many years to come, Meg said. With chains wrapped around the chair connecting him to the wooden platform, his dad, Mike, pushed him back and forth Wednesday evening. Now, as the Hajjar family sits out on their front lawn, Neil can swing and enjoy the view, looking out on a wind chime-decked tree, a little free library painted with flowers and birds and, of course, passing cars. Though Make-A-Wish was forced to put wishes on hold that involve travel or large gatherings due to the pandemic, the organization continues to grant wishes like Neils. It makes me emotional, because a day like this is what keeps you going as a parent of a child who is complex like Neil, Meg said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Josh Axelrod may be reached at JAxelrod@njadvancemedia.com. BANFF, Alta. - The COVID-19 pandemic is fundamentally changing the way the world's economic and social orders function and some of those effects will be permanent, speakers at the Global Business Forum in Banff said on Thursday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. BANFF, Alta. - The COVID-19 pandemic is fundamentally changing the way the world's economic and social orders function and some of those effects will be permanent, speakers at the Global Business Forum in Banff said on Thursday. In a series of online sessions broadcast to a ballroom at the Banff Springs Hotel with just three people per table to prevent spread of the disease, subject experts from around the world said the virus has accelerated and amplified trends they were already seeing, as well as taking a few surprising turns. Delegates make use of a coffee break to check emails and make phone calls outside the Banff Springs Hotel during the Global Business Forum in Banff, Alta. on Thursday, September 19, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal The pandemic has drawn attention to food security and that stands to boost a technological revolution in agriculture in Canada, said Murad Al-Katib, CEO of Saskatchewan food processing giant AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. The expansion of plant protein crops such as peas, lentils, and other legumes in Prairie fields has boosted productivity of the industry, and processing those crops into value-added products will continue to grow, he said, while calling on government to help that process. "Governments are paying attention now. COVID has everyone spooked," he said. "COVID wasn't a slap in the face, it was a punch in the nose for governments to recognize that they can't just leave food and food systems entirely to fragmented private sector imports and distribution." South of the border, meanwhile, recent civil unrest and violence has been escalated by a pandemic that has disproportionately hurt poorer families and Black people, while adding greatly to the fortunes of the richest Americans, said Trevor Noren, executive director of New York analytics firm 13D. He said COVID-19 is "gasoline for a fire that had already been lit" that could accelerate generational change in ways that historically have been caused by wars. "We believe COVID could prove to be that catalyst today, the event that forces a reckoning with the inefficiencies and vulnerabilities of excessively concentrated wealth and power," he said. "It will mean a backlash against the three primary forces that have driven consolidation: globalization, digitization and financialization." World oil demand has recovered to about 90 million barrels per day and that's less than the 100 million bpd that existed before the COVID-19 slump, but it doesn't mean the world has reached "peak oil," said Michael Tran, managing director and energy strategist for RBC in New York. "With COVID comes the idea of slower mobility, the demise of travel, we're all working from home, this has really altered how we think about oil demand, but in my experience, acute events that impact oil demand have a shorter term impact than (government) policy shifts do," he said. He said events like the 9-11 attacks sharply affected oil demand, but it was short-term, while former president Barack Obama's fuel efficiency standards had a more lasting affect. Demand in the developed world peaked long ago, he added, but oil demand in the developing world is expected to continue to grow. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Cross-border trade between Canada and the United States has remained strong despite restrictions on in-person travel, said Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., adding she expects the partners' traditional ties to recover fully when those restrictions are lifted. She said the recent decision by the U.S. to withdraw threatened tariffs on aluminum shows that the new U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade agreement is working as a defence against protectionism. The pandemic first erupted in China and that's where it is expected to begin to meet its end, said Jeongmin Seong, a partner with McKinsey Global Institute in Shanghai, in a presentation. Dealing with the pandemic forced the country, already an earlier adopter of digitization, to take it in new directions such as using remote communication in health care, real estate and education, and many of those applications will continue, he said. He added Chinese business leaders have become more focused on its domestic customers and less interested in developing markets with the rest of the world, while Chinese consumers have become more financially prudent and more debt averse. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2020. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the last day of Parliaments Monsoon Session which concluded on Wednesday, nearly eight days ahead of the schedule. PM Modi arrived in the Lok Sabha, wearing a mask, to attend the proceedings of the Lower House despite the spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country. However, the moment he arrived in the Lok Sabha, the PM was greeted by the ruling side MPs who shouted Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shri Ram slogans on seeing their leader. Parliaments gallery and the passage to the central hall reverberated with the slogans till the PM appealed to the MPs to settle down. The PM graciously accepted their greetings with folded hands. PM Modi joined the house an hour after it assembled for the day at 6 PM. The Speaker and other parliamentarians welcomed the Prime Minister after he entered the House when a debate was going on at Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020. Live TV The House, which began its proceedings on September 14, curtailed its proceedings eight days ahead of its scheduled conclusion on October 1. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die in the afternoon. Possibly for the first time, the two Houses met at different times in a day to ensure social distancing norms against the backdrop of the COVID-19 outbreak. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that the House has set a new record in terms of work productivity in this monsoon session of the House. Work productivity increased by 167 percent in the Lok Sabha during the corona epidemic, Speaker Om Birla said. Inc. is celebrating Small Business Week 2020 with a look at local merchants beloved by customers whose devotion goes beyond loyalty and well into passion. You cannot find a chastity belt at Hippo Hardware & Trading Company. Someone once offered to sell a box of them to owner Steven Miller. But in a very rare instance, he declined. The belts, it seems, did not come with keys. "I was not going to have someone come over at 3 o'clock in the morning and kill me," says Miller. That rejection was uncharacteristic for a man who says yes more often than an improv artist. When someone brought him a truckload of coffins found in a warehouse, for example, Miller was all over it. They sold out. Most customers used them as coffee tables, although one guy--a musician--told Miller he slept in his. Miller assumes the coffins had originally been display models. "They didn't look like they had ever been occupied," he says. "But who knows?" If you want to replace your doorbell with a Victorian model that works with a crank, or stop your sink with a 100-year-old industrial drain basket, or light your room with iron sconces pulled from a Pullman sleeping car, Hippo Hardware in Portland, Oregon, is the home decor partner for you. The business comprises 30,000 square feet of lighting, plumbing, hardware, and architectural elements dating from 1860 to 1960. Much of the inventory was salvaged from the city's homes and its most respectable--and disreputable--public buildings. Hippo has sold pieces of Portland's Central Library, City Hall, and the Paramount and Orpheum Theaters, as well as furnishings from innumerable transient hotels. "I have a sign in the store that says, "Room for Rent. 25 Cents a Night," says Miller. "We did a lot of those." If Hippo doesn't have what you need, it probably can make it for you. The company works with artists, metal finishers, potters, and blacksmiths to replicate a handle missing from an antique chest of drawers, for example, or to fix an old horse harness. It has transformed a blender into a lamp and doorknobs into coat hooks. Or it can design something completely new, like the spider web lighting the store created for McMenamins, a chain of historically minded brewpubs and hotels based in Portland. Jody Stahancyk, an attorney, says she first visited Hippo Hardware in the 1970s, when she was restoring a 1917 home. She has bought everything from light fixtures to plumbing supplies to doorknobs--even a vintage toilet paper dispenser--in styles ranging from Victorian to mid-century modern. "Hippo has some of everything. It is like going into your grandfather's tool chest and seeing all the things he has saved over the years," says Stahancyk, who has installed her finds in several homes and five law offices around the state. "Shopping there is a treasure hunt." A local business like Hippo succeeds on two fronts. First is selection. If Amazon is "the Everything Store" then Hippo is "the everything else store." Miller says a local big-box store occasionally sends employees around to check out his stock so they can refer customers seeking the nostalgic, the historically accurate, or the idiosyncratic. Second is personality that has been earned, not manufactured. Miller's cheeky sense of humor--and that of his former business partner Stephen Oppenheim--has manifested in pranks, like manhandling a red-white-and-blue Corvair Monza into the window with a sign reading "Buy American" as a good-natured taunt at the Rolls Royce dealer across the street. Virtually all of the 3,000-plus hippos scattered around the building--made of stone, leather, clay, papier-mache, and even neck ties--were gifts from loyal fans and customers. The hippos on the columns outside the store were painted by Andy Olive, a local artist who once lived under an on-ramp to the interstate. That last detail comes courtesy of author Chuck Palahniuk, who patronized the store in the 1990s and wrote about it lovingly in his book Portland, Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon (Crown, 2003). With its strange inventory and stranger history, Hippo Hardware embodies the story that Portland likes to tell about itself. One man's junk Miller couldn't find a job in 1969 when he returned from Vietnam. People called Vietnam veterans, "baby killers and butchers," he says. "No one wanted us around." For a while Miller sold scrap metal he collected on the street. Finally, the owner of a local junk business took him on. Soon Miller was running the place. One day the owner went on vacation, leaving Miller and another employee--Oppenheim, a recent Portland State grad--in charge. "We made a bet with each other that we could sell the store down to the bones," says Miller. Over the next three weeks, they deployed charm and hustle to practically empty the place. When the owner came back, "he had no inventory and a bank account full of money," says Miller. Confident in their salesmanship, the pair decided in 1976 to launch their own junk shop, which they would call the Myopic to reflect their "out of focus" approach to business. They found an empty store. But when Miller called the landlord, he rejected them, because junk shops bring down property values. "I waited a week and called him back," says Miller, who pretended he was calling for the first time. "He said, 'What are you going to put in there?' I said, 'A hardware store.'" The space was theirs. Figuring the landlord would remember the name Myopic, Miller and Oppenheim called the business Hippo Hardware for the alliteration. Also, someone had given Miller a large metal sculpture of a hippo, which they moved into the store. Hippo Hardware's earliest products fell somewhere between junk and hardware. At first the founders bought old shovels, rakes, and axes at garage sales. At night they replaced the handles--the worn-looking parts--with new ones. They invested $1,000 of their $5,000 of saved startup capital in nuts, bolts, and screws. "I swear to god, if you go back into the corners of Hippo today, you will still find some of those nuts, bolts, and screws we were never able to sell," says Miller. Three nights a week they attended auctions in Dundee, Oregon, an hour away, to bid on old furniture and boxes full of dishes, pots, and pans. "We would stack it all up in our pickup like the Beverly Hillbillies," says Miller. "The cops stopped us regularly. They would shake the truck to make sure nothing was going to fall off." Antique stores were also good hunting grounds. Not the fronts--the back rooms. Customers looking for a caster or drawer pull to match some piece of old furniture had started coming around. Miller and Oppenheim would visit antique stores and buy all their miscellaneous hardware and supplies. For a while, they sold women's clothing. "It was a great way to meet women," says Miller. Send in the clowns Hippo operated on the edge of Buckman, a neighborhood with many early-20th-century homes. People fixing up those homes were the store's chief customers. People tearing them down became its chief suppliers. Miller and Oppenheim started doing salvage work, stripping homes slated for demolition of their windows, doors, stairways, moldings, trim, and light and plumbing fixtures. "We would haul off anything we could get our hands on, like a troop of ants," says Miller. The partners recruited the homeless and veterans to do the work. They dressed them in clown suits. "We wanted people to notice us," says Miller. "You remember it if you look out a window and see your neighbor's house being torn apart by 10 people in clown suits." From those salvaged parts, Hippo built its inventory of distinctive architectural offerings. One summer alone, the company dismantled 72 houses. As the city's affluent section expanded, transient hotels came down. Hippo bought their entire contents and stripped them room by room. One such hotel produced 50 bathroom commodes, which didn't fit in the store. "We stacked them up on the sidewalk alongside of the building," says Miller. "They sat there all summer." In 1990, city officials told Miller and Oppenheim that their building was not zoned for a business like Hippo. The partners found another location four blocks away and hired street people to transport Hippo's contents in shopping carts. "It was the only Gallo [wine]-powered parade in Portland's history," says Miller. It took a year and a half to transport everything to the new store. In fact, Hippo has supported the homeless throughout its history. Like many Vietnam veterans, Miller felt discarded by society. His empathy for Portland's rejected and ignored rises from that affinity. So does his gravitation toward the junk business. "When you sell something used or dilapidated, it gives it credibility," he says. Hippo Hardware provides food for the homeless, who are also welcome to use its bathrooms. Ten to 15 people sleep each night on a covered area of sidewalk outside the store. Miller has installed a camera. "They know if anyone tries to bother or hurt them, I will prosecute," he says. The street people, in turn, support Hippo. When the business did more salvage, "they would come and tell us when a building was coming down and when the crew would get there," says Miller. He remembers a call he received from the police five or six years ago: Some street people had reported that the store's door was unlocked. "I found three guys sitting there, not letting anybody pass through," he says. Props for that Although Hippo retained its anarchic sense of humor, over the years it became more respectable. In the early 1990s, Miller had been elected mayor of River Grove, a small town 15 miles outside of Portland. "They told me I had to grow up," he says. The store became a source for props: first for schools and for Portland's (now closed) Civic Theatre, later for TV shows and films shooting in the area. For seven years, the NBC series Grimm was a regular customer. "They would say, 'We are looking for a door that looks like it has been kicked in,'" says Miller. "We would replace the panels with cardboard so when they did the shoot, they could re-break the door." Miller, who bought out Oppenheim seven years ago, has been playing it safe during Covid-19. The store is open just five hours a day, by appointment. Smoke from the wildfires has occasionally reduced that a bit more. Sales are down slightly, although not as much as Miller had expected. "In some cases, we are doing as much business dollar-wise in four hours as we were doing in seven or eight," he says. With web sales up around 25 percent, Hippo this year will have sales slightly under $1 million, compared with slightly above before the pandemic. "I have never been interested in making millions of dollars," says Miller. "My goal is to meet my maker without being terrified." The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor laid bare to the world the systemic racism that results in death for the Black community. Floyd and Taylor were not the first and were not the last to die at the hands of police brutality. But their deaths made it clear to the world that systemic racism cannot and should not be ignored any longer. It sparked a groundswell and then unprecedented response from society and corporations on what everyone is doing on an individual, community, and company basis to turn talk into actions. Thousands of people around the world took to the streets to protest against racism and to show unprecedented support of the Black Lives Matter movement. In response, companies have had to acknowledge and received fierce public backlash for saying that Black lives matter, having seemingly not shown true commitment to fighting racial injustice internally or externally. Following that, companies across the world have pledged money, launched programmes, and have assessed what they need to do to bring about change. Most recently, Citi pledged $1bn (790m) to battle racial inequality. Politicians and world leaders seemed to move forward but, in reality, the officer involved in Breonna Taylor's death was charged with wanton endangerment, while the two other officers involved in the case were not charged. None of the officers were charged for their role in her death, which has caused uproar from the family's lawyer as well the communities across the globe. READ MORE: How to evolve from feel-good optics to creating real and measurable change? Breonna Taylor did not receive justice yesterday, so no one received justice, said Ramcess Jean-Louis, global head of diversity and inclusion, Verizon Media. The DIAL Global Virtual Summit is support by Yahoo Finances parent company Verizon Media. The virtual conference, entitled A Call to Action & Moving the DIAL for Meaningful and Sustainable Change through Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging speaks to senior directors and C-suite executives at the largest organisations in the world to discuss how companies can foster a truly diverse and inclusive workplace. Story continues Jean-Louis, Claire Camara, HR director, Co-op and Lord Simon Wooley CBE, chair of the MDP Review, OBV & adviser to the UK government were on a panel entitled Black Lives Matter now is the time for organisations to prove it, hosted by Shoku Amirani, chair of BBC Embrace. Speaking together, just a day after the news on Taylor, the panellists unpacked where society is at in the fight for racial justice but also what are companies doing to make sure they are making a change, not just talking about it. READ MORE: The stark reality of health and wealth racial inequality in the US The first thing we all have to do is to hold ourselves accountable and address issues head on, said Jean-Louis. We all have to acknowledge where we have failed when it comes to address systemic racism. Before, it was a footnote in training around unconscious bias. But its easy to look at other industries on where the gaps are, whether education and healthcare, but we have to look at the man in the mirror and see what steps we are taking. Its about empathy, advocacy, and action. Anti-clockwise from right: Ramcess Jean-Louis, global head of diversity and inclusion, Verizon Media, Claire Camara, HR director, Co-op and Lord Simon Wooley CBE, chair of the MDP Review, OBV & adviser to the UK government, were on a panel entitled If Black Lives Matter then now is the time for organisations to prove it, hosted by Shoku Amirani, chair of BBC Embrace. Photo: Yahoo Finance/DIAL Echoing Jean-Louis and Camara, Lord Simon pointed out that as an activist, he has learned that he needed to bring wider society along with me. He said that while we have to empower communities to vote and make demand predicated on justice, he has had to educate others to understand that social justice isnt a zero sum game. Me and people like me fulfilling their potential, doesnt mean if I gain, you lose if I gain, we all gain. Weve spent a lifetime fighting but never before in our history are we at a point where so many people no longer needed to be convinced that we have a challenge its what do we need to do. Before, we were at -10 now were at 0. Zero is still significant because the conversation will be how do we build on this journey, unleash talent, and find better ways of doing things. The challenge is that with COVID-19, when theres an economic downturn, people bunker down to old ways. But this isnt a moment, its a movement. Camara said she is using this time to harness her power to bring about change and move from social injustice to justice, exclusion to inclusion, and from the powerless to the empowered. Inequality also has a business cost Illustrative Photo: Getty A new report from Citi (C) this week showed that systemic racism in the United States has cost the economy $16tn over the past two decades. Thats the combined cost of disparities in wages, education, investment in black-owned businesses, and the housing market. Racial inequality has always had an outsized cost, one that was thought to be paid only by underrepresented groups, said Citigroup vice-chairman Raymond J McGuire. "What this report underscores is that this tariff is levied on us all, and particularly in the US, that cost has a real and tangible impact on our countrys economic output. Now, more than ever, we have a responsibility and an opportunity to confront this longstanding societal ill that has plagued Black and brown people in this country for centuries, tally up the economic loss and as a society, commit to bring greater equity and prosperity to all." READ MORE: Goldman Sachs report: Reducing Black disadvantage in wealth could deliver $400bn GDP boost Two months ago, Goldman Sachs (GS) said in a major report that reducing the Black disadvantage in employment, income and wealth could deliver a $400bn boost to US GDP. Jan Hatzius, chief economist at Goldman Sachs (GS), said tackling economic inequality was not only about fairness, it could also bring huge financial benefits. A benchmark McKinsey report also showed that companies in the top quartile for ethnic or cultural diversity in their executive teams are 36% more likely to experience above-average profitability. Jean-Louis points out that its not about not fixing the problem for Black people its co-designing the path forward. At Verizon Media, Jean-Louis pointed out that the company has a Racial Justice action plan that is co-created by senior leaders of the company as well as the members of the employee resource group (ERG) for the Black community BOLD. I love the fact we are taking bold steps and working with BOLD to put together the Racial Justice super committee. The ERG members empowered us with language to build a foundational blocks towards racial justice, he said. He pointed out the power of language can switch mindsets to focus on the core issue. For example, acknowledging the issue is racial justice, not social justice. Its the avoidance of using certain language that takes humanity away, for example, people avoiding saying the murder of George Floyd. Jean-Louis outlined how the path to racial justice means making sure the ERG BOLD co-designs the path forward, which includes them participating in senior leadership meetings with the CEO as well work on action points related to talent acquisition, mobility, and more. At the Co-op, which has over 70,000 employees in the UK, Camara says that the company has been pivoting to how to greater address racial inequality and what they can do as a business to help society by launching a set of commitments. This includes how they operate within communities, and by allocating spend to purchase goods from a range of groups, increasing that market share to 20-25%. Camara said: "As Lord Simon said, this isnt a pie theres enough for everyone. Right now, its about giving people a voice and bringing this forward into action." This is one in a series of stories that are part of Swing County, Swing State, a collaborative project between lehighvalleylive.com and nj.com that explores Northampton Countys critical role in the upcoming presidential election. When I look out to this crowd, I see four more years of President Trump, Kimberly Guilfoyle told a Lehigh Valley audience Thursday. Guilfoyle, a former prosecutor and Fox News host, was in Palmer Township as part of a Women For Trump rally outside the American Legion Brown and Lynch Post No. 9, off Corriere Road. The visit to the battleground state of Pennsylvania came 40 days before voters decide if Republican President Donald Trump or Democratic challenger Joe Biden will lead the country for the next four years. Guilfoyle addressed a crowd of more than 100 women and men, most wearing red, white and blue and various Trump campaign hats, buttons and other apparel. We are seeing enthusiasm from all of these people across the country that love President Trump and they want to reward him with four more years because we love the U.S.A.! Guilfoyle yelled to cheers. Attendees had to register for Thursdays event. A man in a Biden T-shirt and two women holding signs backing the former vice president and his running mate, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, were kept at the edge of the property. There were some boos toward the trio, and a woman in the crowd yelled, Come to the light, well let you in. As Guilfoyle was speaking, a man hollered, Say hello to the Biden people." After speaking a bit of Spanish, Guilfoyle said, We will be winning this state." Two hours before Guilfoyle arrived, Dan Dwyer and his wife Nelda were wearing their Trump 2020 hats and sitting as close as they could get to the podium, surrounded by a sea of empty chairs. Dan Dwyer said he has been to at least 10 rallies and plans to attend another on Saturday. The Macungie couple camped out for 29 hours in freezing temperatures for the rally in January in Wildwood, New Jersey. We love Donald Trump, he said. At the rallies and events, everybody is talking the same language. Everybody is supportive of Donald Trump and his policies, and what hes doing for the country. Whereas the other side, they dont even know their candidate. All they know is they hate Donald Trump and anything he stands for, and theyre against it." Dan Dwyer was wearing a T-shirt that said, Hell yeah! I voted Trump and will do it again 2020," while his wifes said, Jesus is my savior/Trump is my president. The Lehigh County man said he likes that Trump has brought back the economy and the presidents stance on immigration. Build that wall, thats his main theme right there, he said of Trump. Nelda Dwyer and her three sisters immigrated to America legally, while those that immigrate illegally they roll out the red carpet for them. I dont understand why they get everything free," Dwyer said. A new poll released Thursday by Franklin & Marshall College shows Biden with a 6-point advantage over Trump in Pennsylvania. Dwyer put little credence in polling, since polls shows Hillary Clinton winning in 2016. You see how that worked out, he said. Dan Dwyer, of Macungie, has been to 10 Trump rallies and is going to another on Saturday. His shirt says Hell yeah! I voted Trump and will do it again 2020 pic.twitter.com/4lmQBVhchR Sarah Cassi (@SarahCassi) September 24, 2020 Lisa Scheller, who is running against U.S. Rep. Susan Wild in Pennsylvanias 7th Congressional District covering the Lehigh Valley, was one of the speakers before Guilfoyle took the stage, and earned a standing ovation from the crowd. Scheller spoke of her experience as a local business owner and a former Lehigh County commissioner. Wild and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi want to take our personal liberty, they want to take our freedom and they want to swap it out by legislating themselves a road to socialism, Scheller said. On her Twitter account, Guilfoyle first describes herself as a mother, sister, patriot and proud American. But Thursdays stop was part of her work as chief fundraiser of Trump Victory, a joint fundraising committee with the Republican National Committee, and a senior Trump campaign adviser. She spoke on the first night of the Republican National Convention and estimated Thursday was her 27th visit to the Keystone State. Guilfoyle is in a relationship with Trumps oldest son, Don Jr., and the couple has made campaign stops together, including last month at Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays in North Whitehall Township. Guilfoyle, in a dress the same color as the Women for Trump sign behind her, touched on numerous topics during her half-hour speech, from improving the economy and stopping child sex trafficking, to Trump brokering peace in the Middle East and putting America First. She repeated a lot of Trump talking points, including that Biden, Harris and the rest of the socialist/communists want open borders, closed schools, closed churches, dangerous amnesty for people who immigrate illegally to the U.S, and they want to suffocate our economy with a $4 trillion dollar tax hike." Guilfoyle also repeatedly referenced business and school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, a sore spot in Pennsylvania politics. Thats thing with liberal privilege and liberal hypocrisy. Its one set of rules and one set of rules for all the rest of us, the hardworking for folks. Whether its Nancy Pelosi, who wants business closed but only open for her for a (hair) blowout. I gotta tell ya, Nancy, you can have all the blowouts you want when we take the gavel out of your hand and take back the House!" she said. The president wants to open back up America for business, and hes doing so responsibly -- responsibly -- and doing a great job of it. At the end of her speech, before Guilfoyle could say the line she has become known for, a man stood up in the crowd and filmed himself yelling, The best is yet to come! He did it again, filming himself with Guilfoyle in the background after she left the stage and was mobbed by people seeking pictures and autographs. Kim we love you! one woman yelled, while another said, Shes so pretty!" The Swing County, Swing State project is being generously supported in part by a $25,000 grant from The John Farmer Memorial Journalism Fund. Read more about it here. And please consider supporting ambitious local news like this with a subscription to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. The candidate supported by National Liberal Party (PNL) and Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity Alliance (USR PLUS) running for the Capital City Hall, Nicusor Dan, and Prime Minister Ludovic Orban had a meeting on Thursday with President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. ' The Presidential Administration confirms that the President of Romania, being concerned about the problems that the people of Bucharest face daily, met today with Nicusor Dan. The discussions, also attended by Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, focused on the necessary solutions for the urgent remedy of these problems, as well as the medium and long-term city development projects,' reads a press release sent to AGERPRES. According to the quoted source, President Klaus Iohannis appreciated that the solutions proposed by Nicusor Dan are feasible and can lead to solving the serious deficiencies that exist at the Capital level. In his turn, Nicusor Dan specified that he discussed about Bucharest "in general terms" at Cotroceni. Local elections are held on Sunday. When Courtney Ilarraza's minivan was totaled by a car traveling 60 mph on the three-mile trip from the beach to her home in Brooklyn, New York, her three children walked away unscathed. Despite the intensity of the collision, the then-3-year-old in a five-point harness was just fine. "I remember buckling her in and she was saying the straps were too tight," Ilarraza told "Good Morning America." "But I told her that's how it was supposed to be." This week is Child Passenger Safety Week, which focuses on the proper use of car safety seats for children. Ilarraza, who runs Baby Bodyguards, a baby-proofing company that also offers clinics and private sessions on proper installation of car seats, told "GMA" that the car seat itself is less important than how it's installed. She is also a certified passenger safety technician. PHOTO: The other car involved in a crash with Courtney Ilarraza's minivan. (Courtney Ilarraza) "All car seats manufactured in the U.S. are held to the same crash-test standards," she said. "The difference is the bells and whistles, some of which have to do with the ease of installation." For example, the Uppababy Mesa, she said, has a light that turns green when the seat is installed properly. "It's super user friendly," she said. MORE: Mom's viral hack just might save the teen years "Someone like me can get a less expensive seat because I know how to thread the straps and how to install it properly," Ilarraza told "GMA." But when she makes recommendations, she said, she does advise parents to buy the seats that make it crystal clear they've been installed properly." PHOTO: View of Courtney Ilarraza's minivan following a crash. (Courtney Ilarraza) "Installation is crucial," she said. "Say you get your car seat professionally installed the first time it goes in the car, but then your kids throws up in it and you need to remove it to clean it. You want a seat that anyone can put back in the car correctly and safely." Technology has come a long way, she said. Story continues PHOTO: Rear view of Courtney Ilarraza's minivan following a crash. (Courtney Ilarraza) The American Academy of Pediatrics changed its car seat recommendations in 2018 to keep children in rear-facing seats as long as possible. It had previously suggested rear-facing until the age of 2. "It's based on size rather than age," Ilarraza said. "And that varies between each manufacturer." As for specific car seat recommendations, Ilarraza said the Britax Click Tight, the Uppababy Mesa and the Graco 4ever all-in-one are all easy to install. Once the child is in the seat, it's important the chest piece goes across the nipple line. "It's the perfect position to absorb impact," she said. Finally, never use a second-hand seat, Ilarraza advised. "You don't know the history of the seat," she said, and "any seat involved in a car accident needs to be discarded and replaced." MORE: Why this parent says teachers should stop saying 'your mom and dad' to kids More expert tips from Dr. Alisa Baer, known as The Car Seat Lady: "In my 22 years experience helping parents install more than 15,000 car seats, the most common mistakes I see are 'loose and lose,' the car seat is installed too loosely in the car, and the harness straps are too loose on the child's body," Baer told "GMA." She sent her top three tips for safe car seat installation. 1. Installation: My inside/outside technique can help parents achieve a tighter installation with the majority of car seats on the market -- both rear and forward-facing. And, using the vehicle seat back recline trick in combination with the inside/outside technique can provide additional help getting the car seat tight with less of a workout required. 2. Harnessing (which is installing the child in the seat...): When buckling a child, parents often don't realize that moving the chest clip up to armpit level is the final step, and that while tightening the straps you want to keep the chest clip low, and pull upwards on the chest straps to gather the slack and then pull the tail to remove the slack. 3. Tethers: Every forward-facing car seat -- where the child uses a five-point harness as their restraint -- has a tether strap that secures the top of the car seat to an anchor in the back of the vehicle. Every forward-facing car seat is safer when the tether is used. Regardless of whether the forward-facing car seat is installed with the lower anchors (LATCH) or seat belt, always use the tether. Tethers decrease how far forward the child's head moves in a crash by at least 4-6 inches, which greatly reduces the risk of brain and spinal cord injury. Not sure where the tether anchors are in your vehicle? Check here! 'Proper installation' of car seats saves kids' lives, says mom and car seat expert originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com New Delhi, Sep 24 (UNI) After Pakistan raked up Kashmir issues at the meetings of foreign ministers Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures (CICA) and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), India on Thursday slammed Islamabad and said its typical of Pakistan to use multilateral platforms to raise bilateral and contentious issues. During the virtual weekly press briefing here on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Stivastava said, It is very typical of Pakistan to use such fora to raise bilateral and contentious issues which is inconsistent with the principles and charter of such organizations and their meetings. What else can be expected of a country that indulges in cross-border terrorism as a part of its state policy, he said. After Islamabad converted Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan region as its fifth province, India said that they have no legal basis as it is totally void ab-initio. Mr Srivastava in response to a question said, Any action by Pakistan to alter the status of the militarily occupied so-called Gilgit-Baltistan has no legal basis whatsoever and is totally void ab-initio. Our position has always been clear and consistent. The entire territories of the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been and are an integral part of India and would remain so, the spokesperson added. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on Indias internal matters, he said. UNI ASH SHK2243 (TNS) After George Floyds death in Minneapolis in May hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Sarasota, Fla., for a week of sustained demonstrations calling for racial justice.Aided by police, who blocked off roadways to prevent cars from converging on protesters, the crowds marched up and down Main Street, stalling traffic on that road and other busy streets, including U.S. 41, Fruitville Road and U.S. 301.Many of the protesters were high school and college students. A group of young women, college students who were friends from their days at Pine View School, knelt in the rain one day and chanted I cant breathe with a crowd of 200 as they blocked the intersection of Fruitville Road and U.S. 301.If new legislation proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis becomes law, those women could be charged with a third degree felony if they obstruct traffic during an unpermitted protest in the future. The prohibition on blocking traffic during a protest is part of a sweeping legislative package aimed at cracking down on violent assemblies. DeSantis unveiled the legislation Monday during an event in Polk County with top legislative leaders and law enforcement officials, including Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan.The proposal quickly became a political lightning road, with Republicans rallying to the governors side and many Democrats denouncing it.In Sarasota Countys hotly contested state House District 72 race, which has touched on issues of race and policing, Republican Fiona McFarland said shes backing the governors plan while Democrat Drake Buckman called it "a political, cynical bill" and an effort to deflect "from whats going on with COVID."Dubbed the Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act, the governors proposal includes nearly a dozen changes to state law. It establishes new or enhanced penalties for everything from toppling monuments to harassing someone in a restaurant and being involved in a demonstration that causes damage to property or injury to other persons.The legislation also would withhold state funding from local governments that cut funding for law enforcement, a swipe at those who want to defund the police.Like much of the country, Florida was convulsed by protests after Floyds death. A Black man, Floyd died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.Protesters poured into the streets across Florida, and some of the demonstrations were followed by looting and property destruction. But such incidents were relatively rare in Florida.Sarasotas demonstrations were peaceful, with police joining in at one point and kneeling in solidarity with the protesters.DeSantis acknowledged Monday that Florida hasnt been a hotbed for violent unrest.You didnt see the type of disorder here in the state of Florida that you did throughout many other parts of the country, DeSantis said.But he added that its prudent for the state to be prepared and to discourage those who might cause future mayhem.DeSantis told Fox News host Tucker Carlson Monday that theyre threatening to riot more, youre seeing more and more of this. Well OK if this is something thats coming down the pike were gonna say not in Florida its not.But DeSantis also made it clear Monday that he had election-year politics in mind. President Donald Trump has made law and order his central campaign message and has vowed to crack down on violent demonstrations. Republicans leaders believe the issue appeals to swing voters, especially suburban women.At a Women for Trump event in Sarasota Saturday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody hammered on the issue of safety and said it will be critical in the election.The things that we care about President Trump stands for, Moody said. We want safe communities for our children to thrive in, he stands for that and will make the tough choices, even if theyre not popular, to make sure that were safe.DeSantis said this week that he expects his proposal to be a key campaign issue this year.Were in an election season, everyone running for Florida in the House or Senate, they gotta take a position on this now, DeSantis said. Are you for law enforcement, rule of law, or are you going to stand with the mob? I know where I stand.DeSantis also may have his own political future in mind. The governors popularity has plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic as more than 13,000 Florida residents have died of COVID-19 and nearly 700,000 have been infected.A Florida Atlantic University poll released last week found 43 percent of Floridians approve of DeSantis, compared to 54 percent in March.The FAU poll found just 8 percent of Democrats now approve of the job DeSantis is doing, down from 39 percent in March. The governors support among independents nearly dropped in half, from 46 percent to 24 percent.Even Republicans are less enthralled of the governor, with 69 percent giving him a good review compared to 78 percent in March.Putting himself out front on the law and order issue could shore up the governors support with his GOP base, which has become more skeptical of Black Lives Matter demonstrators and concerned about the violence in cities such as Portland, Ore., which is regularly featured on Fox News.But critics worry that DeSantiss proposals could criminalize peaceful demonstrations, such as the marches in Sarasota that blocked traffic.As the governor suggested, the bill is likely to become a point of debate in legislative races across the state this year.One of the most competitive legislative races in Sarasota and Manatee counties this year is the House District 72 contest, where both Buckman and McFarland have taken positions on the racial justice issue that could have bipartisan appeal.Buckman told a Sarasota Tiger Bay audience in July that he does not support defunding the police. McFarland said at the same event that its important that I say these words today, which is that Black lives matter.In a statement to theMcFarland said she approves of the governors efforts to address mob violence.Everyone deserves to be safe and secure, as well as peacefully assemble, McFarland said. These are important freedoms that government provides, and I applaud the Governors increased protections against mob violence and those who would deliberately target our public safety professionals who keep us safe.Asked if she supports everything in the governors proposal, including felony charges for protesters who block traffic, she said: I support the governors proposal.Buckman would not say how he'd vote on the bill."If it's brought to me I would have to look at the specifics," he said.He does not support charging people with a felony for blocking traffic and worries that aspects of the bill would "allow for an overreaction by law enforcement to disperse peaceful protesters." And while he does not support defunding the police, he doesn't believe any Florida cities are doing that.But Buckman also said rioting shouldn't be tolerated and statues should be removed through a legal process, not torn down.Everyone has a right to peacefully assemble," he said. "I dont believe you have a right to destroy property, thats a riot, and I also dont believe you have a right to tear statutes down. TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CYE , a global provider of cyber-security solutions, enables organizations to proactively prevent threats, execute cost-effective remediation and maintain resilience, with a back-to-basics approach to cyber-security. With a dramatic increase in the number of security vendors around the world, companies have been allocating significant budgets - in some cases driven by hype or to maintain pace with competition - to introduce new, advanced tools into their respective cyber environments. This has led to a complex cyberspace and poor cyber-security posture, highlighted by the necessity to maintain dozens of solutions and niche products with loose integrations and loopholes, creating a wide attack surface. CYE encourages CISOs to adopt a back-to-basics approach and to evaluate the effectiveness of their cybersecurity solutions and operations, based on the fundamental cyber-security needs of their specific organization. The back-to-basics approach is focused on returning an organization to its security-foundations, ensuring that it is solid, decluttered of multiple, redundant solutions provided by a wide variety of vendors. Additionally, it ensures that organizations can accurately identify where the organization is most vulnerable in order to block the attack path before the attacker has a chance to take it. The approach is defined by five pillars, as identified and defined by CYE: network security, application security, data protection, endpoint protection, and identity and access management. "Especially today with Covid-19 shuffling the cards, the organization is presented with opportunities to identify their real cyber-security needs. CYE's experts enabled us to challenge basic assumptions and boost our security effectiveness," said a Senior Manager at a large European reseller. "Most cyber-attacks could have been prevented by handling the cyber-security basics," said Rubi Aharonashvili, CEO of CYE. "By combining technologies, people, and processes, our approach helps CISOs stop thinking about what certain product features can do, and think instead about how to best create capabilities that get them better results from more cost-effective cyber investments." About CYE CYE provides full cycle security assessments to reveal anticipated attack routes and prioritizing their mitigation based on business risk. Founded in 2012, with offices in US and Europe, CYE provides its solutions to Fortune 1000 companies around the globe. For more information please visit https://www.cyesec.com/ Contact details: Sharon Argov Chief Marketing Officer, CYE [email protected] SOURCE CYE Related Links https://www.cyesec.com/ - Mahama's projects and promises have taken a great trend on Twitter under the hashtag #AllGhanaiansMatter - Ghanaians came out to boldly list the works of the NDC's flagbearer which show that he does not have the interest of only his family and friends - Different trends keep coming up in separate political divides as Ghana keeps getting close to the December elections Trending topics on the go: How we write news at YEN.com.gh As the 2020 December presidential and parliamentary election keeps drawing closer, different political topics keep occupying top trends on social media. The latest with the hashtag AllGhanaiansMatter has not been in favour of the sitting President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at all. The thread has been filled with comments regarding different projects undertaken or promised by Mahama that show that he has the interest of all Ghanaians at heart. READ ALSO: 16-year-old Black girl turns CEO of her own beauty supply business Ghanaians shake Twitter with works showing Mahama isn't for family & friends Source: Ghanaweb.com Source: UGC Kofi Adoli cited Mahama's promise to give a four-month maternity leave period to women, indicating it shows the former president has all Ghanaians' interests. READ ALSO: Ghanaian man buys sealed ideal milk only to open it & find 'tom brown' inside; Nestle reacts BigBrains came along to also opine that Mahama and the NDC have the interests of women covered, which is good for the country Marcus Garvin also stepped forward to mention that John Mahama plans for cashew farmers to receive special support and that shows he is for every Ghanaian Nicholas Nii Armah wrapped it all up with a video which, according to him, must make people wake up to the reality that Nana Addo's government isn't for all Ghanaians Separately, YEN.com.gh also reported that a young lady in Ghana's hair got stuck in the tyres of a motorbike that was just about to take off as a video that is fast-going viral has shown. In the footage that was sighted by YEN.com.gh on the official Instagram handle of iamphylxgh, the incident would have ended up being uncontrollably serious if it was not spotted early. The long braids that extended from the hair of the lady and were almost touching the floor, got stuck in a manner that she could not set her head straight. 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 She is a high-flying fashionista after starting up a blog back in 2014. And Caroline Daur showcased her sartorial style as she arrived for Max Mara's Milan Fashion Week show on Thursday. The German model, 25, cut a chic figure in a tan ensemble which comprised of a wool blend coat and high-waisted flared trousers with military detailing. Caroline Daur showcased her sartorial style as she arrived for Max Mara's Milan Fashion Week show on Thursday Caroline complemented the look with a low scoop vest and added a boost to her statuesque frame with patent black criss-cross heels. She slicked her hair back into a low bun and accessorised her stylish outfit with gold hoop earrings. Caroline kept her make-up understated and toted a cream silk bag with metallic detailing. The German model, 25, cut a chic figure in a tan ensemble which comprised of a wool blend coat and high-waisted flared trousers with military detailing Caroline complemented the look with a low scoop vest and added a boost to her statuesque frame with patent black criss-cross heels Through her blog, Caroline has partnered with companies like Adidas, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi and Valentino. As she took a seat in the socially-distanced audience, the blonde beauty donned a black face covering. Tan was also a predominant feature for Max Mara's upcoming collection. Milan is only one of the four fashion capitals that is hosting the catwalk showcases with a few adjustments in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Model behaviour: Tan was also a predominant feature for Max Mara's upcoming collection Fashion forward: Milan is only one of the four fashion capitals that is hosting the catwalk showcases, with a few adjustments in light of the coronavirus pandemic The city are hosting 23 shows over the next five days- a move which sets them apart from New York and London, who have both held virtual fashion weeks. Paris has 20 scheduled shows planned next week but coveted guestlists have been reduced dramatically, in keeping with strict socially distancing guidelines. Milan Fashion Week is being held as a breakthrough for Italy, seven months on from when the country dealt with the devastating effects of coronavirus. Back in February, Georgia Armani cancelled his show in Milan as the virus began to sweep through the country. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Nine Ohio counties are now under red alert in the states coronavirus advisory system, with Cuyahoga County continuing a step lower at orange for the the sixth consecutive week, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday. The red counties because of growing or lingering COVID-19 spread include the addition of five this week - Ashland, Delaware, Pike, Scioto and Stark. Four others remain there from the previous week - Butler, Mercer, Montgomery and Putnam. A week ago there were five red counties, the lowest number since DeWine introduced the four-level advisory system July 2. Red is considered a Level 3 public emergency because of very high exposure and spread. Purple is the highest level, a step above red, but no county yet has been placed on Level 4 purple alert. The red counties last week were Butler, Mercer, Montgomery, Putnam and Portage, with the governor at the time blaming off-campus gatherings around Kent State for the increased infections that led to Portage County being on that list. Portage dropped back down to orange in this weeks update, meeting three of the states seven criteria for concern. Cuyahoga County on July 2 started out on red and stayed there until dropping to Level 2 orange on Aug. 20. Case numbers have improved dramatically for Cuyahoga County, but not enough to drop to Level 1 yellow. For the fifth straight week, Cuyahoga has been flagged for two of the seven areas of concern. That needs to drop to one to go to yellow. For new cases in the last two weeks, one of the criteria that has kept Cuyahoga in orange, Cuyahoga has dropped from 139.4 cases per 100,000 in the July 30 update to 54.6 this week. Yet it needs to be below 50 for a county not to be flagged for this measure. Fifty-two of the 88 counties are at 50 cases per 100,000 or above. The other area where Cuyahoga County has been flagged regularly is for more than 50% of its new cases being outside congregate living areas, such as nursing home, in at least one of the last three weeks. Like Cuyahoga, nearly every county in the state was flagged for not staying below this threshold. Seventy-nine of the states 88 counties currently are flagged this. Cuyahoga County was flagged for meeting two of seven coronavirus-concern measures this week, keeping the county at orange alert. The number of indicators must drop to one before a county is assigned the lower yellow alert.Ohio Department of Health This week there are 32 yellow counties statewide, and 47 in orange. In the Greater Cleveland area, Cuyahoga and Portage are joined in orange by Lorain and Summit counties. Yellow this week are Geauga, Lake and Medina counties See the chart at the bottom of the story for how each Ohio county graded. How the alert system works Each county is graded on seven criteria. Meeting none or one of the criteria places a county on Level 1 yellow; two or three on Level 2 orange; four or five on Level 3 red; and six or seven on Level 4 purple. No county has ever been placed on purple alert. * 1. New cases - Alert triggered when there are 50 new cases per cases 100,000 residents over the last two weeks. * 2. Increase in new cases - Alert triggered by an increase in cases for five straight days at any point over the last three weeks. This is based on the date of onset of symptoms, not when the cases are reported. * 3. Non-congregate living cases - Alert triggered when at least 50% of the new cases in one of the last three weeks have occurred in outside congregate living spaces such as nursing homes and prisons. * 4. Emergency rooms - Alert triggered when there is an increase in visits for COVID-like symptoms or a diagnosis for five straight days at any point in the last three weeks. * 5. Doctor visits - Alert triggered when there is an increase in out-patient visits resulting in confirmed cases or suspected diagnosis for COVID-19 for five straight days at any point in the last three weeks. * 6. Hospitalizations - Alert triggered when there is an increase in new COVID-19 patients for five straight days at any point over the last three weeks. This is based on the county or residence, not the location of the hospital. * 7. Intensive Care Unit occupancy - Alert triggered when ICU occupancy in a region exceeds 80% of total ICU beds and at least 20% of the beds are being used for coronavirus patients for at least three days in the last week. Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. See other data-related stories at cleveland.com/datacentral. Here is how each Ohio county graded this week in Gov. Mike DeWine's coronavirus alert system.Ohio Department of Health Related stories and data See coronavirus cases by day for each Ohio county, including per capita and cases in last seven days Answers to qualifying for unemployment, the $300 payments and disputed Ohio claims - Thats Rich! Q&A Ohio reports 71 more coronavirus nursing home deaths; total reaches 2,988 Mapping Ohios coronavirus cases, updates and latest trends About 16,400 Ohioans currently have coronavirus, based on latest total of known cases Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has told Americans not to blindly put their faith in Donald Trump when he says a vaccine is safe for them to take. (Getty Images) 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. Story continues 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. Read more Trump - news live: Distressed Dr Birx about to quit coronavirus taskforce in frustration at White House, report claims You are not listening: Dr Fauci loses patience with Senator Rand Paul in coronavirus hearing Republicans threaten to oust Nancy Pelosi if she impeaches Donald Trump again 'I love the black community': Trump brings up Abraham Lincoln when asked about Breonna Taylor case Trump works to win over Catholic voters on abortion issue New Delhi: Britain's biggest supermarket chain Tesco announced on Friday that it has agreed to acquire food wholesaler Booker for 3.7 billion pounds (USD 4.7 billion). The blockbuster transaction billed as a merger will hand Tesco investors a majority stake in the combined company and create Britain's leading food business, the pair said in a statement. Tesco, which has been troubled in recent years by an accounting scandal and fierce domestic competition from German-owned discounters Aldi and Lidl, added it was seeking to "enhance" its growth prospects. "Tesco has made significant progress in turning around our UK retail business," said Chief Executive Dave Lewis. "This merger with Booker will further enhance Tesco's growth prospects by creating the UK's leading food business with combined expertise in retail, wholesale, supply chain and digital. "Wherever food is prepared and eaten 'in home' or 'out of home' - we will meet this opportunity with the widest choice and best service available." The group expects annual pretax synergies of at least 200 million pounds within three years of completion. It also aims to achieve 175 million pounds of extra cost savings in areas like distribution and procurement. "By bringing together Tesco and Booker's retail and wholesale expertise, supply chain and digital capabilities, the combined group will be able to provide greater choice, quality, price and service in the food market, whilst improving efficiency and reducing food waste," the statement added. "The combined group will bring together the capacity and capability to generate new growth and deliver significant revenue and cost synergies." The cash-and-shares transaction will hand Booker 16 percent of the new company. Booker investors will receive 0.861 new Tesco share and 42.6 pence in cash for every share they own. Danielle Mason enjoyed a business meeting with notorious South London gangster Jimmy Tippett at Mayfair's Sexy Fish restaurant on Wednesday. The former Gypsies Next Door star, 37, appeared in great spirits as she engaged in a lively conversation with the career criminal, who was previously jailed in 2018 for stealing a diamond ring, just months after an identical offence. Following their outing, Jessie Wallace's younger sister exclusively revealed to MailOnline that Jimmy, 48, has offered her a shoulder to cry on following a 'bad bust up' with her former husband Tony Giles. You've got a friend in me: Danielle Mason enjoyed a business meeting with notorious South London gangster Jimmy Tippett at Mayfair's Sexy Fish restaurant on Wednesday The reality star told us: 'He is my mate and we were having a business meeting. I had a bad bust up with Tony and Jimmy has been really good to talk to.' Danielle and Jimmy put on a cosy display as they discussed work matters over hot beverages at the Asian eatery. The mother-of-two called it quits from her traveller spouse Tony in October 2019 after he claimed he was single on social media. A source told The Sun at the time: 'Danielle saw Tony's relationship status was set to single on Facebook and wasn't happy at all. Drama: The ex-Gypsies Next Door star, 37, exclusively revealed to MailOnline that he has offered her a shoulder to cry on after a 'bad bust up' with her ex Tony Giles (pictured in 2012) Warm greetings: The glamour model appeared in great spirits as she engaged in a lively conversation with the career criminal, 48 'He has been really good to talk to': The pals shared a friendly kiss as they sat outside the Asian eatery "She's spoken proudly of their relationship this year after they got things back on track and feels it was disrespectful.' The former couple, who share Rudy, nine and Delilah, seven, tied the knot in 2012, but split in 2016 and later reunited. The glamour model's new pal Jimmy is the son of south London enforcer and boxer Jimmy Tippett Snr, who counted the Kray twins and Mad Frankie Fraser as family friends. Past drama: Jimmy was previously jailed in 2018 for stealing a diamond ring, just months after an identical offence Catching up: Danielle and Jimmy put on a cosy display as they discussed work matters over hot beverages Background: The TV star's new friend is the son of south London enforcer and boxer Jimmy Tippett Snr, who counted the Kray twins and Mad Frankie Fraser as family friends Known as the 'governor of Lewisham' from the 60s to the 80s, his father ruled his manor with an iron fist, winning every bare-knuckled fight he got into on the cobbles. Jimmy had planned to make a film based on his book Born Gangster about how he 'first got arrested when he was 12 and, by the time he was 16, was visiting Reggie Kray in prison'. Two years ago, he returned to prison on a 30-month sentence for stealing a diamond ring not long after he was freed from jail for an almost identical offence. New friendship: The duo embarked on a stroll across the streets of the English city Reformed: Jimmy had previously planned to make a film based on his book Born Gangster about how he 'first got arrested when he was 12' Turning heads: The younger half-sister of EastEnders star Jessie Wallace stunned in a black blouse, a satin skirt and animal print boots Catching the eye: The media personality amped up the glamour by styling her outfit with a designer chain-strap handbag and belt The court heard that in March 2017 he and an associate tricked the mother of jewellery designer Tatiana Sieff into showing him a diamond and emerald encrusted ring, which he then spirited away while she was in a hotel toilet. Jimmy was freed from a 27-month sentence he was given in 2013 for a similar 'confidence trick' theft from another jewellery dealer. In that case, he then distracted a woman and disappeared with the jewellery, in that case worth about 250,000. It is unclear when he was released from his latest sentence. Ludhiana The coordination committee of 31 farm unions of Punjab has decided to bar the entry of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers in villages. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU-Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said, Farmers have been stopped from marching to Delhi. We will not allow anyone associated with the BJP to enter our villages. Those who are not with farmers have no right to enter villages. BKU-Rajewal president BS Rajewal said it was only tit for tat. Why should BJP leaders be allowed to enter villages, when farmers are being barred from entering Delhi? He added that farmers were now working on the principle of Jehra Kisana Naal Kharu Ohi Pinda Vich Varu (Only those who will stand with farmers will be allowed to enter villages). Rajewal added that farmers have also asked BJP leaders with farming background to resign from the saffron party and join their protest. With the railways either cancelling or short-terminating trains on September 25 (Friday), farmers will lay siege on national and state highways. As trains have been cancelled on Friday, we will protest on national and state highways. We will permanently stop train movement from October 1, said Lakhowal. South Korea's wine imports rose more than 9 percent in the first eight months of the year as more people enjoyed drinking at home and alone due to the coronavirus outbreak, data showed Thursday. South Korea imported US$189 million worth of wines in the January-August period, up 9.5 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea International Trade Association. In particular, wine imports spiked 43 percent on-year in August, compared with a 4.3 percent decline a year earlier, due to a rise in the number of people vacationing at home. South Korea's wine imports increased 9.7 percent in 2017, 16.2 percent in 2018 and 6.3 percent in 2019. Imports of French wines were the largest at $53 million in the eighth-month period, followed by those from Chile, the United States, Italy and Spain. Imports of U.S. wines shot up 51 percent. In contrast, imports of whisky sank 26.6 percent on-year to $74 million during the period as people shunned drinking at bars due to virus-caused social distancing measures. Beer imports also plunged 22.1 percent to $157 million. Imports of Japanese beers tumbled 90.6 percent to $4 million due to a boycott of Japanese products here, according to the data. (Yonhap) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 Trend: The event supported by the company brought together participants from all over the world The 7th international womENcourage virtual meeting, which promotes the role of women in computer science, kicked off today with the motto "Equality has two sides". This year's meeting, organized and hosted by ADA University, ACM-W European Organization, Azercell Telecom LLC which acts as a Gold Sponsor and digital partner of the event, with the support of the Azerbaijan Congress Bureau, was attended by hundreds of participants from all over the world. The womENcourage International Meeting was launched with the welcoming speeches delivered by the newly elected ACM President, Professor Gabriele Kotsis, ADA University Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Vafa Kazdal and ACM-W Europe Chair Ruth Lennon. After the opening ceremony, the conference started. On the first day of the event, representatives of the world's largest telecommunications companies presented reports on "Big promises of big data analytics." The next days of the four-day international conference will include panel discussions and presentations on "Artificial Intelligence: From Algorithms to Ethics". The conference agenda also includes presentations of research works of bachelors, masters and doctoral students. Thus, womENcourage will present 30 posters of students from 17 countries on 5 continents. A career fair will be organized for the participants of womENcourage 2020 on the third day of the event. Students will be able to take advantage of existing vacancies by meeting with representatives of various technology companies in a private office. Azercell, in turn, will provide participants with information on available vacancies. At the end of the conference, which promotes diversity and balance among people in computer science, about 100 participants will compete in a hackathon. During the hackathon, hacker teams will struggle to create a functional prototype that will provide a technological solution to a real-life problem. Rahim Akhmadov, Head of Data Engineering Unit of Big Data and Analytics Department at Azercell, will participate as a judge in this competition. This year's womENcourage, held with Azercell's Digital Partnership and Gold Sponsorship, is organized in different countries around the world. Previous meetings of the international event took place in Italy, Serbia, Spain, Austria, Sweden and the United Kingdom. WomENcourage helps women who are studying or working in technical fields to support their personal development by bringing together everyone who wants to be more involved in computer science. The participants of this conference will get acquainted with the experience of world-renowned experts in the field of computer science, gain practical knowledge, as well as have the opportunity to present themselves. Besides, the conference helps women in this field to land a job. It should be noted that Azercell Telecom has always been the initiator and executor of projects aimed at increasing the knowledge and skills of schoolchildren and students in Azerbaijan in various fields, especially in computer science. Azerbaijani schoolchildren, closely supported by Azercell Telecom, successfully participated in the Asian Pacific Informatics Olympiad (APIO) held in a virtual format on August 14-21 and won a bronze medal in this prestigious competition. Moreover, Azercell supports the participation of Azerbaijani students in the International Informatics Olympiad, one of the most prestigious IT competitions held on an annual basis. The Student Scholarship program held by the company has been offering monthly scholarships to young people who have studied and excelled in ICT at local universities. Hundreds of projects have been implemented with the support of Azercell to help young people specialize in information and communication technologies. The company has also been a regular sponsor of the Hackathon competition organized by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The 7th international womENcourage virtual meeting will last until September 27. Please, visit https://womencourage.acm.org/2020/ for more information about the event. For more information, please contact [email protected] The leader of the mobile communication industry, the largest taxpayer and the biggest investor of the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan Azercell Telecom LLC was founded in 1996. Currently, 5 million subscribers choose Azercell services. Mobile operator controls 49% of market share; while its geographical coverage constitutes 99.2% (excluding the occupied territories); and population coverage 99.8%. Azercell was the pioneering mobile operator to introduce a number of innovations in Azerbaijan, including GSM technology, advance payment system, mobile internet services, 24/7 call center service (*1111), 7/7 Front Office service, Azercell Express offices, M2M services, 4G technology, mobile and online customer care services and customer services through social media, mobile e-signature service ASAN Imza etc. Azercell tested 5G pilot network for the first time in the country in the frame of Bakutel 2019 exhibition. Rapidly increasing 4G network of Azercell covers nearly 60 regions of the country, including Baku and Absheron peninsula. According to the results of mobile network quality and wireless coverage mapping surveys by international systems, Azercells 4G network demonstrated the best results among the mobile operators of Azerbaijan. Azercell is the only company in Azerbaijan and CIS region which has been awarded Gold Certificate of International Investors in People Standard. The mobile operator received the title of "The Telecommunication Company of the Year" among hundreds of organizations in the prestigious STEVIE 2020 competition. The company was ranked on the top in this nomination and won the Gold Award. Joe Biden's campaign is storming states with competitive Senate races this week to help boost Democratic candidates in the run-up to the election. Why it matters: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death is galvanizing Democrats to fight harder for control of the Senate with less than two months before Election Day. Winning that chamber is the only hope Democrats have of responding to Republicans' plan to vote on President Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election. Republicans' plan to vote on President Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election. Biden's campaign is also engaged in joint fundraising efforts with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) to help candidates across the U.S. Driving the news: Biden will be in North Carolina on Wednesday, while his his wife, Jill Biden, and Doug Emhoff, Sen. Kamala Harris's husband, take on Maine and Iowa. The campaign just added Georgia and Iowa two states Trump won in 2016 to its list of TV and digital ad campaign targets heading into the election. On Tuesday the Biden campaign started airing TV ads in New Hampshire, which Hillary Clinton won by less than a single point. The Cook Political Report ranks the Georgia, Iowa and Maine Senate contests as toss-ups. By the numbers: In all five of those states, polls show a neck-and-neck race between Biden and Trump at the top of the ticket, and Democrats leading or within striking distance of their Republican opponents. The big picture: Democrats hope Biden's presence and investment in these states will create more favorable conditions for their Senate candidates, and they point to his campaigning with successful candidates in 2018. Australis shareholders who are supportive of Board change are encouraged to contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group at 1-877-452-7184, or [email protected] to register their support. TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - Terry Booth, Lola Ventures Inc., Roger Sykes, 1703469 Alberta Ltd., Duke Fu, Green Therapeutics LLC and Jason Dyck (the "Concerned Shareholders") each of whom is a shareholder of Australis Capital Inc. ("Australis" or the "Company") (CSE: AUSA) are pleased to outline their strategy to return Australis to its cannabis roots and preserve shareholder value. The mandate of Australis has always been the pursuit of cannabis opportunities in the United States. However, Australis has lost its way under the misguided stewardship of the current board of directors (the "Incumbent Board") and shareholders have suffered as the result. The Concerned Shareholders still believe passionately that a bright future for Australis can be achieved, however, only under the leadership of a new board. With a track record of a series of failed transactions and careless expenditure of shareholders' capital without generating any meaningful revenue, the Incumbent Board has demonstrated a complete lack of vision and inability to execute. Regardless of what opportunities the Incumbent Board may bring forward at this late date, how can shareholders have any confidence in their ability to capitalize on growth initiatives, no matter how attractive they appear to be? The time for real change is now. In contrast to the Incumbent Board, the Concerned Shareholders have a plan ready to be implemented that will get Australis back on track to finally becoming a U.S. cannabis powerhouse. THE U.S. CANNABIS INDUSTRY LANDSCAPE Since the inception of Australis, the U.S. cannabis landscape has changed rapidly. The Concerned Shareholders have a vision for the future, taking into account the shifting environment due to competitive pressures, capital scarcity, political developments and the COVID-19 pandemic among other challenges. The Concerned Shareholders understand the U.S. cannabis market, including the opportunities available to Australis and their shareholders. Below is a summary of our approach to the growth opportunities in this market. U.S. multi-state operators ("MSO"s) have, to-date, focused on building costly, redundant infrastructure to grow, harvest, manufacture, process, distribute and sell cannabis products in each state in which they operate. The existing regulatory environment requires a U.S. operator to treat each state as a separate market. At the same time, there are many well run single-state operators struggling to access the necessary growth capital required to reach a profitable scale. A VISION FOR AUSTRALIS There is ample opportunity for growth in the U.S. cannabis market, however, a new business model with the right leadership is needed. Our vision is to build Australis into a branded products and cannabis technology company. We intend to achieve this vision by using Australis' existing investment in Green Therapeutics, LLC's ("GT") to establish a dominant presence in the Nevada market and expand our footprint to other states through 4 targeted acquisitions described below. Our focus will be consolidating assets in the western U.S. while strategically entering the burgeoning east coast states as adult-use markets come online. Critical to the success of our strategy is a capital-light approach, that leverages technology and brands to create partnerships that maximize existing infrastructure. Superior cannabis growth and processing technology and sought-after brands will be key to gaining exposure to new markets without having to acquire costly licenses or build expensive facilities. Under the leadership of the Concerned Shareholder board nominees (the "Concerned Shareholder Nominees"), Australis will pursue this strategy by growing its current cannabis asset base into an integrated national cannabis company. MAXIMIZING EXISTING ASSETS The Current Board's inability to develop the Company's high quality assets, does not reduce their value to serve as a launch pad for future growth for a competent leadership team. Through the acquisition of GT's premier cannabis brands, licenses, and real estate, Australis has an underutilised beachhead into the highly lucrative Nevada cannabis market. The Company's existing portfolio of Nevada assets, including award-winning products with established brand equity, will serve as the foundation upon which Australis the Concerned Shareholders Nominees plan to build one of the preeminent manufacturers of cannabis products in the U.S. Nevada alone presents a $730 million market opportunity with strong tourist demand, notable resident cannabis consumer base, and high barriers to entry given the limited licensing structure. Through GT's grow and extraction licenses and operations along with their award winning, sought after brands, Australis has already established a footprint in this market and leveraging these assets is the most constructive way to create value for shareholders. There are ample opportunities to broaden the reach of GT's brands by accessing low-cost biomass and utilizing new technologies either by way of direct ownership or partnership with another operator. The market dynamics in Nevada are such that quality flower and biomass are scarce. Combining access to low cost biomass and extraction capabilities with the well-regarded GT brands we already own is a winning formula. SYNERGISTIC ASSETS In pursuit of a capital light, low cost multi-state strategy, the Concerned Shareholders are also well-positioned to grow Australis by acquiring new technologies, intellectual property and cannabis infrastructure, among other opportunities, and leveraging those assets to solve problems, address untapped niches, and create value along the way. After extensive research and advanced negotiations , the Concerned Shareholders have identified several acquisition targets which are synergistic to Australis' existing cannabis footprint. These targets allow for growth in new markets, augment the value of the Company's existing assets and have business models which are inherently capital light, high margin and poised to exhibit high growth: Target #1 - Processing Technology : proprietary technology solution enabling cost savings right at the intersection of cultivation and extraction by allowing large quantities of biomass to be processed into extracts without trimming or drying. : proprietary technology solution enabling cost savings right at the intersection of cultivation and extraction by allowing large quantities of biomass to be processed into extracts without trimming or drying. Target #2- Cultivation Technology : state-of-the-art experienced cultivation facility engineering, design and technology provider with a proven track record of enabling the cultivation of low-cost high-quality cannabis at scale. The specific technology involves a proprietary supervisory control and data acquisition SaaS product for automating and optimizing cannabis cultivation facilities. : state-of-the-art experienced cultivation facility engineering, design and technology provider with a proven track record of enabling the cultivation of low-cost high-quality cannabis at scale. The specific technology involves a proprietary supervisory control and data acquisition SaaS product for automating and optimizing cannabis cultivation facilities. Target #3 - Cannabis Infrastructure : extraction, product manufacturing, distribution and branding capabilities in markets that are complementary to Australis' existing footprint such as Nevada , Colorado , California , and Oregon . Ultimately the company will also be laser focused on the eastern United States as the adult usage market develops in states like Pennsylvania , New York , New Jersey and Florida . : extraction, product manufacturing, distribution and branding capabilities in markets that are complementary to Australis' existing footprint such as , , , and . Ultimately the company will also be laser focused on the eastern as the adult usage market develops in states like , , and . Target #4 - Cannabis Licenses: cannabis licenses permitting cultivation, extraction, and retail in states such as Nevada , Oklahoma , Missouri , and Michigan . These license opportunities can either be acquired outright by Australis or monetized using other forms of partnership arrangements such as profit-sharing joint ventures. These acquisitions and other steps in line with a value-add capital light strategy will allow Australis to secure inexpensive biomass from existing and new client grow facilities. Using this biomass, Australis will work with those growers and utilize Australis operated low cap-ex extraction and manufacturing facilities to produce Australis branded product. A Proven Track Record of Success The Concerned Shareholder Nominees are the right team to deploy the strategy aimed at returning Australis to its cannabis roots. These carefully selected individuals have significant experience in building reputable companies and identifying investments that create shareholder value. While the Incumbent Board has assumed no accountability for their track record of failed transactions, the fact remains, they have squandered the plentiful advantages and resources initially endowed upon them including over $30 million of cash which has since been whittled down to $13 million with little to show. The Incumbent Board and management wasted Australis assets over the past two years. In contrast, the Concerned Shareholder Nominees have turned several companies into multi-million-dollar businesses. The Concerned Shareholder Nominees are investors, officers and directors of several companies that achieved success in cannabis and other industries. The Concerned Shareholders believe that pursuing the strategy, projects and acquisitions outlined above represents a significantly more attractive allocation of Australis' cash reserves when compared to any haphazard and ineffective efforts undertaken by the Incumbent Board. The Concerned Shareholders are confident that shareholder value can be maximized by successfully executing the strategy outlined above. Australis shareholders are being presented with a choice: continue to allow the Incumbent Board to squander shareholder resources on frivolous and ineffective strategies or pursue meaningful change, backed by cannabis-savvy entrepreneurs who have built successful cannabis companies before and are prepared to do it again. For further information or to register your support for Board change, please contact the Concerned Shareholders' shareholder communications advisor, Laurel Hill Advisory Group, toll free: 1-877-452-7184, International: +1 416-304-0211 outside Canada and the U.S., or by email: [email protected]. Additional Information The information contained in this news release does not and is not meant to constitute a solicitation of a proxy within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In connection with the upcoming annual and special meeting of shareholders of the Company (the "Meeting"), the Concerned Shareholders intend to file a dissident information circular in due course in compliance with applicable corporate and securities laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Concerned Shareholders are voluntarily providing the disclosure required under section 9.2(4) of National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations ("NI 51-102") and have filed a document (the "Document") containing the disclosure required under section 9.2(6) of NI 51-102 in respect of the Concerned Shareholder Nominees in accordance with securities laws applicable to public broadcast solicitations. The Document is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This news release and any solicitation made by the Concerned Shareholders in advance of the Meeting is, or will be, as applicable, made by the Concerned Shareholders, and not by or on behalf of the management of Australis. All costs incurred for any solicitation will be borne by the Concerned Shareholders, provided that, subject to applicable law, the Concerned Shareholders may seek reimbursement from Australis of the Concerned Shareholders' out-of-pocket expenses, including proxy solicitation expenses and legal fees. The Concerned Shareholders are not soliciting proxies in connection with the Meeting at this time, and shareholders are not being asked at this time to execute proxies in favour of the Concerned Shareholders (in respect of the Meeting). Proxies may be solicited by the Concerned Shareholders pursuant to an information circular sent to shareholders after which solicitations may be made by or on behalf of the Concerned Shareholders, by mail, telephone, fax, email or other electronic means as well as by newspaper or other media advertising, and in person by the Concerned Shareholders, who will not be specifically remunerated therefor. The Concerned Shareholders may also solicit proxies in reliance upon the public broadcast exemption to the solicitation requirements under applicable Canadian corporate and securities laws, conveyed by way of public broadcast, including through press releases, speeches or publications, and by any other manner permitted under applicable Canadian laws. The Concerned Shareholders may engage the services of one or more agents and authorize other persons to assist in soliciting proxies on behalf of the Concerned Shareholders. The Concerned Shareholders are not requesting that Australis shareholders submit a proxy at this time. If and when the Concerned Shareholders commence a formal solicitation of proxies in connection with the Meeting, proxies may be revoked by a registered holder of the Company's shares (i) by completing and signing a valid proxy bearing a later date and returning it in accordance with the instructions contained in the accompanying form of proxy; (ii) by depositing an instrument in writing executed by the shareholder or by their attorney authorized in writing, as the case may be: (a) at the registered office of the Company at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting is to be held; or (b) with the Chairman of the Meeting prior to its commencement on the day of the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting; or (iii) in any other manner permitted by law. If and when the Concerned Shareholders have commenced a formal solicitation of proxies in connection with the Meeting, proxies may be revoked by a non-registered holder of the Company's shares at any time by written notice to the intermediary in accordance with the instructions given to the non-registered holder by its intermediary. None of the Concerned Shareholders or the Concerned Shareholder Nominees or, to their knowledge, any of their associates or affiliates, (I) has any material interest, direct or indirect, in any matter proposed to be acted on at the Meeting, other than the election of directors or (ii) has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction or proposed transaction since the commencement of the Company's last financial year that has materially affected or could materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries (if applicable) other than as set forth below in respect of Dr. Fu. Green Therapeutics, LLC, a company in which Dr. Fu owns, directs or controls 49.5% of the shares, completed a transaction with Australis in May 2019 to acquire Green Therapeutics, LLC's Tsunami, Provisions, and GT Flowers cannabis brands, certain operating assets, intellectual property and the right to assume, complete and expand the construction of a state-of-the-art 55,000 square foot cultivation and production facility in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Pursuant to the terms of the transaction Australis issued 7,831,855 common shares valued at $6.4 million upon the signing of the definitive agreement. An additional $800,000 are to be issued when a new cultivation and production facility in North Las Vegas is fully licensed and operational and an additional $800,000 in shares are to be issued if certain performance goals are reached utilizing the acquired assets within specified timeframes per the definitive agreement. In a separate transaction completed in May 2019, Australis acquired from Meridian Companies LLC, a company in which Dr. Fu owns, directs or controls 37.5% of the outstanding shares, an 8.9-acre parcel of land in North Las Vegas in exchange for $2.93 million USD of its common stock or 3,585,521 Australis common shares where the new cultivation and production facility will be located. Full details of these transactions can be found in the Australis public disclosure record. Based on public disclosure documents, it is our understanding that the head office of Australis is 376 E. Warm Springs Road, Suite 190, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119. The Concerned Shareholders have filed this press release, which contains the information required by section 9.2(4)(c), and the Document which contains the information required by section 9.2(6) of NI 51-102 and Form 51-102F5 Information Circular in respect of the Concerned Shareholders Nominees, under Australis' profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. SOURCE Concerned Shareholders of Australis Capital Inc. For further information: please contact the Concerned Shareholders' shareholder communications advisor: Laurel Hill Advisory Group, Toll Free: 1-877-452-7184, International: +1 416-304-0211 outside Canada and the US, By Email: [email protected] COLUMBIA A lawsuit from an Upstate burger joint owner challenging Gov. Henry McMaster's authority to issue consecutive state of emergency orders could threaten South Carolina voters' ability to cast absentee ballots in the upcoming general election, an attorney warned Thursday. Earlier this month, McMaster signed a bill into law that would let all registered voters in South Carolina cast absentee ballots this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic a one-time change from the typical process that requires voters to cite one of 18 reasons, like work or a physical disability, to vote absentee. But the way the bill was worded was more complicated. Rather than simply granting all voters the right to cast an absentee ballot, it requires a state of emergency to be in effect 45 days before the election for that to happen. At the time the bill passed earlier this month, there was little doubt that a state of emergency would be in effect. McMaster has repeatedly issued state of emergency declarations every 15 days since March 13 in order to mobilize the resources of South Carolina's government to respond to the pandemic. Now, however, the owner of Ike's Korner Grille in Spartanburg is challenging McMaster's authority in court. The lawsuit points out that, according to South Carolina law, a state of emergency cannot continue for more than 15 days without the consent of the General Assembly. The General Assembly has never consented to McMaster's orders. McMaster has sought to get around that provision by issuing new state of emergency orders every 15 days, slightly altering the reasoning behind each one. But the Ike's Corner lawsuit and several state legislators argue that is not sufficient. If a judge agrees, it is possible that every state of emergency order since March 28 could be voided. That would then raise fresh questions about whether the new absentee voting rules, which require a state of emergency to be in effect, would still apply. Columbia-based attorney Chris Kenney asked the state Supreme Court to consider that Thursday as he continues to challenge the state's voting laws, warning that a victory for Ike's Korner could derail the absentee voting bill and "the election will be thrown into chaos." That would be one of several potentially broad ramifications if the Ike's Korner lawsuit is successful. It could also wipe out the limitations the governor has placed on bars, restaurants and large gatherings. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! Ike's Korner is one of several businesses that have been cited by the State Law Enforcement Division for violating McMasters order on restaurant restrictions but has remained open and does not require guests or employees to wear masks. The state Supreme Court dismissed Kenney's initial lawsuit earlier this week because the justices said that the passage of the absentee voting bill took care of the problem. Now, Kenney is arguing in a new filing that the Ike's Korner lawsuit, along with S.C. Republican legislative leaders decision to appeal a federal ruling striking down a witness signature requirement for absentee ballots, should prompt the Supreme Court to reconsider. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, who helped draft the absentee voting bill, said he does not believe this extraordinary series of possible dominoes will become a real issue. While Massey also questions the legality of McMaster's emergency orders, he noted that the absentee voting bill says an emergency order only has to be in effect 46 days before the election for the bill to take effect. That date has already passed. The Nov. 3 election is now 40 days away. Even if a judge retroactively struck down all of McMaster's emergency orders after his first one, Massey said he expects the court would make sure the absentee voting bill is not harmed given the proximity of the election and the clear intent of lawmakers to let all voters cast absentee ballots. He also questioned whether the court would even have time to deal with this before the election, and if so predicted that it would be swiftly appealed. In the worst case scenario, Massey said lawmakers could return to the Statehouse in an emergency session to deal with the problem. "If something screwy happens then we'll respond, but I just don't have any concern at all that something's going to happen to invalidate everyone being able to vote absentee if they choose to do that," Massey said. Still, Kenney said the fact that this problem is now even in the realm of possibility reveals flaws in the Legislature's approach. "I hope (Massey) is right about all of that, but the problem is the failure of the Legislature to provide adequate voting procedures continues to cause confusion and risks causing chaos," Kenney said. "They've had plenty of opportunities to get this right and it continues to be a moving target and it is putting the people of this state and our democracy at risk." India's 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, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The information was given by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in a written reply. On Monday, on being asked about over 27 per cent reduction in imports from China from April to August and if it was step towards making India self-reliant, Goyal said the government was committed to making Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India a success. He also said the government has rolled out Atmnirbhar Bharat package of Rs 20 lakh crore during the COVID-19 crisis. (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.) Of course, it is justifiable to force foreign firms doing e-commerce in Vietnam to pay their taxable income. However, how to implement this obligation is a long way ahead - PHOTO: THANH HOA E-commerce is no longer a strange word to many Vietnamese who may engage in global trade transactions by making use of only a smartphone and a bank account. However, technology and economy ceaselessly move forward while laws always follow at a distance behind, and, in some case, may hinder development. The 2019 Tax Management Law may arguably one of the legal documents most paramount to e-commerce over the past couple of years. A new notable point of this law relates to the stipulation that allows a seller to use electronic bills and documents in commercial transactions and in working with tax agencies. This stipulation will be officially valid as of July 1, 2022. However, early utilization is encouraged. However, e-commerce is in itself a form of cross-border transactions. The boss of Facebook may sit in his air-conditioned office in Palo Alto in the U.S. state of California and comfortably count the money from Vietnam flowing into his account. Those transnational transactions are always a headache to governments as they want tax policies to both promote the healthy development of e-commerce while effectively preventing tax evasion. To address this problem, the new management tax law sets a principle applicable to foreign firms without a permanent address in Vietnam but with e-commerce transactions here, or with business based on digital platforms here. These firms are obliged to fulfill their direct responsibilities or must authorize somebody to register, declare and pay taxes in the host country. In reality, this is what taxmen have long preferred. However, after the measure has been legalized and become compulsory, will overseas companies comply with it? Or contrarily, what will taxmen react with their financial sanctions and management if service providers from afar ignore the new regulations? Obviously, even when concerned e-commerce regulations are governed in the new tax management law, e-commerce management on cross-border service provision still face challenges. Legal stipulations written down on paper and how to implement them in reality may be a world apart. Should commercial banks be obliged to withhold taxes? Furthermore, the 2019 Tax Management Law rules that commercial banks are responsible for withholding, paying taxes on behalf of organizations, individuals in foreign countries that conduct e-commerce activities generating income from Vietnam, (Item 3, Article 27). What this stipulation means may be the intention of gaining the upper hand in fighting tax dodging. Nonetheless, it is so easy to rebut this intention. First, the registration, declaration and payment of taxes are always the right and obligation of taxpayers. They must be fully responsible to the law for accuracy, honesty and completion of their tax dossiers be they do it themselves or have somebody do it for them (via tax agents). All these clear regulations are included in the 2019 Tax Management Law (Articles 16 and 17). Therefore, in principle, nobodya bank is no exceptionhas the right to withhold or pay taxes on behalf of a taxpayers without his/her consent or authorization. Secondly, tax withholding is a function of a tax agency as it is a public right. Laws cannot indiscriminately assign this function to a commercial bank which is considered simply a business entity working for profit. Banks conduct services of account payments for customers in accordance with contracts signed by both parties. A bank may freeze a customers bank account only at the request of a competent State agency in certain cases and cannot withhold taxes in line with a general stipulation of a certain law. Moreover, considering what the above stipulation has stated, we have not known yet how banks will withhold, pay taxes obligations on behalf [of a taxpayer] if the taxpayer in a foreign country does not open a bank account at a commercial bank in Vietnam. In this case, is it true that lawmakers want banks to block money transfer transactions from service buyers in Vietnam so as to withhold a certain percentage of tax payments to the total value of the money transfer? If so, this is infeasible because banks cannot distinguish whether a transaction conducted by a person is subject to contractor tax or not. Notably, in reality, tax finalization is always subject to lag time. For instance, the dossier for annual tax finalization must be done not later than 90 days after the date of the end of the fiscal year. So why compel people doing e-commerce in foreign countries to pay the tax as soon as a transaction is carried out? Furthermore, a commercial transaction between a consumer in Vietnam and a firm doing e-commerce in a foreign country is legal. Then the buyer is obliged to pay for the commodity and the seller has the right to receive adequately the agreed payment. Banks, governments or any other agencies have no rights to touch this money unless otherwise agreed. Here, the State should absolutely respect the freedom of contracting, which is an underlying philosophy of a market economy. Finally, when a bank withholds and pays tax obligations on behalf of taxpayers, this action will incur costs. Banks may have to face risks and international disputes/litigations. Have lawmakers taken into account this problem? And who will pay costs and assume risks in the end? Conclusion Its better late than never. Electronic bills are necessary to modern life. The sooner they are in use, the bigger the profit citizens will enjoy from them. Of course, it is justifiable to force foreign firms doing e-commerce in Vietnam to pay their taxable income. However, how to implement this obligation is a long way ahead. The author of this article still doesnt see any cogent reason for forcing commercial banks to withhold taxes on behalf of the State. Reversely, this regulation contradicts the very fundamental principles of the tax management law as well as long-standing practices in the banking system. SGT The director of the FBI has refuted an often-repeated and unsubstantiated claim by president Donald Trump that mail-in ballots are being used for widespread voter fraud. Appearing before the Senate homeland security committee on Thursday, Christopher Wray said the agency had "not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it's by mail or otherwise." We have seen voter fraud at the local level from time to time, he said, adding that to change a federal election outcome by mounting that kind of fraud at scale would be a major challenge for an adversary, but people should make no mistake that were vigilant as to the threat and watching it carefully. The comments, in response to a question about whether Americans should feel safe voting by mail in the 2020 election, are a clear rebuke to president Trumps repeated claims that mail-in ballots are vulnerable to fraud. The president made dozens of false statements regarding the safety of mail-in ballots over the last few months, beginning just as the coronavirus pandemic led to an increase in demand for their use. "Mail ballots are a very dangerous thing for this country, because they're cheaters," Mr Trump said back in April. "They're fraudulent in many cases." Just last month he tweeted that the [mail-in ballot] fraud and abuse will be an embarrassment to our Country. Mr Trump has not provided any evidence to match his assertions. It might seem counterintuitive for a president to attack a method of voting that is also used by his own supporters, but polls suggest that a far greater number of Democrats plan to vote by mail in Novembers presidential election. According to a recent survey, more than one-third of Americans plan to vote by mail in November. Along party lines, 48 per cent of people who plan to voter for Joe Biden plan to vote by mail, and only 23 per cent for Mr Trump. Thousands of Michigan residents with past criminal convictions could soon have more options to clear their records or automatically get their records expunged after a period of time for certain low-level offenses. Clean Slate legislation designed to simplify and expand expungement options for people who have gone several years without committing another offense passed the Michigan Senate with wide bipartisan support Wednesday. The main bills in the package passed the House last November and will be returned to the House for final approval of Senate changes before heading to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for consideration. Under current law, people in Michigan with one felony conviction or two or less misdemeanors for certain crimes are eligible to ask a judge to clear their record if they havent committed other offenses for five years or more. That currently doesnt apply to many nonviolent crimes, and criminal justice reform advocates say the process is often costly and complex. According to the Alliance for Safety and Justice, only 6.5% of people eligible for expungements are able to successfully get them. Related: House-passed bills would let more Michigan residents clear their criminal records House Bill 4980, sponsored by Rep. Eric Leutheuser, R-Hillsdale, would automate the expungement process for many criminal offenses, although a court could reinstate a conviction if the record was expunged erroneously or if the person didnt meet court-ordered requirements. Once the automatic expungement process is set up, Michigan would join the likes of Utah, California, Pennsylvania and New Jersey in allowing many low-level crimes to be dropped from a persons public record without them needing to file an application or attend a hearing. Under the bill, that expungement process would begin seven years after an eligible misdemeanor conviction or 10 years after an eligible felony conviction if the person hasnt been convicted of a crime since. Automatic expungement would be capped at two felony and four misdemeanor convictions total, and several convictions, including violent crimes, serious misdemeanors, a crime of dishonesty or convictions involving minors or vulnerable adults, would not be eligible. Other bills in the package, House Bills 4981 through 4985 and 5120, would open up the expungement process to low-level marijuana convictions and many traffic offenses, increase the overall number of expungements a person can receive and allow consolidations of multiple convictions that occurred in the same 24-hour time period. Senators also passed companion legislation from Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, and Pete Lucido, R-Shelby Township, that would expand options for expungement of convictions committed when a person was a minor. Some lawmakers were frustrated the legislation didnt go further. Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, voted against the package Wednesday because it doesnt provide a path to expungement for people convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. I find that to be exceptionally unjust and unfair, he said on the Senate floor. Were saying youre a leper if youve got a DUI from alcohol, but everything else we can forgive. Criminal justice reform advocates praised the forward motion on the bills Wednesday, and said changing Michigans expungement laws would go a long way towards giving people who have gone years without a criminal conviction a second chance and an opportunity to obtain economic stability. Michigans clean slate legislation will change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the state and their families, while improving the health and safety of communities, Robert Rooks, Vice President of Alliance for Safety and Justice, said in a statement following Wednesdays votes. Read more on MLive: More Michigan residents could get criminal records expunged under House bills Attorney General Dana Nessel has serious concerns with House expungement bills, suggests changes 235K people could have their records expunged of marijuana charges under proposed bill LEELANAU COUNTY, MI -- As more and more reports are being made across Michigan regarding stolen or damaged political signs, one Northern Michigan sheriff is asking residents not to take matters into their own hands. Leelanau County Sheriff Mike Borkovich told Up North Live that while theres been an increase of issues revolving around the yard signs, he warns property owners not to go after someone they suspect stole or damage their property. Well, first of all, dont ever hurt anybody, just please be respectful and please, if youre going to defend your signs, do it with cameras, do it with common sense, Borkovich said. Borkovich said hes aware of several property owners using various methods to protect their displays that are legal and effective. In one case a property owner used barb wire to protect a display, while another is using cameras to monitor his signage. Regardless of political affiliation, Borkovich says residents need to respect the beliefs of others and that stealing a political sign is a crime. The penalty for stealing or defacing a sign is a misdemeanor that carries a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment of up to 90 days. Earlier this week, Borkovichs department arrested a man after they found several stolen signs promoting President Donald Trump in the back seat of his car. READ MORE Man dies from eating bags of black licorice Man pleads guilty to threatening to kill Black family if they attended church Why dead squirrels are washing up on Grand Havens beach Murder charge dropped in alleged sucker-punch death President Donald Trumps war on Chinese technology firms has changed the ground rules for global business, underscoring a new political reality that could have negative repercussions for American firms. The White House moves against the popular Chinese-owned apps TikTok and WeChat and the tough sanctions on tech giant Huawei highlight the struggle for technology supremacy between the two economic giants, under the guise of national security. The economic relationship has been roiled by an unprecedented campaign by Trump that has included tariffs, threats of bans and economic sanctions on Chinese tech firms. At the heart of it is a struggle to dominate emerging technologies," said Doug Barry of the US-China Business Council. The country that succeeds will realize huge economic and geopolitical benefits." But many analysts argue that Trumps actions could backfire on the US tech sector and other American businesses by encouraging China and other countries to respond in kind. Trumps moves on TikTok and other Chinese firms are eroding confidence in US leadership," said Darrell West, who heads the Brookings Institutions Center for Technology Innovation. There was little process associated with his (TikTok) executive order and the companys forced sale to American investors sets a bad precedent for other countries. It likely will embolden them to retaliate against US companies and demand payments for the ability to operate within their own borders." Moving toward cronyism More ominously, Trump appears to be moving toward crony capitalism" by brokering deals that benefit his friends and allies such as Oracle, whose founder Larry Ellison is a major fundraiser for the president. The Wall Street Journal, despite its support for the president on other issues, posted a scathing editorial this month of the proposed deal to transfer control of TikTok from its Chinese parent to Oracle and Walmart. Maybe the deal will protect national security as the Trump administration claims, but it reeks of corporate cronyism that will damage the US governments credibility and reputation for free-market rules," the business daily said. Benedict Evans, a venture investor who blogs on the tech industry, said the complex TikTok deal being promoted by the Trump administration has pushed national security into the background, making the whole saga a farce." Setting aside the chaos what does this solve?" he wrote. This is a shakedown, but its also a climbdown. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin does this in Russia all the time, but manages it much better." Businesses fret The new ground rules have sparked concerns among business leaders forced to adapt to a new political landscape. Once you start tossing this grenade about protectionism and once you start turning these things into political questions (the change) prevents natural commerce," Barry Diller, chairman of the tech holding firm IAC, told CNBC television. Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the drama could harm US interests by discouraging foreign investment. The deal for TikTok was done among friends of the president, and with none of usual transparency and regulatory consistency that historically characterized the US treatment of foreign investors," Alden said. That may also worry investors from other countries, who will fear they no longer know what the rules are in the US." Roger Kay, analyst and consultant with Endpoint Technologies Associates, said American technology firms have long benefitted from free trade and global supply chains, and that these are being disrupted by the US-China battle. There are a lot of intertwined webs that have been disturbed by the war on China, which to me seems badly conceived," he said. My view is that free trade is the right trade and weve already lost a lot of that through tariffs and other matters, and this (action by the president) ultimately impoverishes everyone." One consequence of the conflict: the US move to ban WeChat the massively popular Chinese multipurpose app for messaging, shopping, payments and other services could likely see a dent in iPhone sales in China if Apple is forced to remove it from its online marketplace. Cornell University economist and trade policy specialist Eswar Prasad said the conflict appears likely to escalate, noting Chinas latest moves to restrict certain technology exports. This suggests that the two countries are going to use every available tool to advance their commercial and technological interests, and all companies operating in this space are at risk of getting caught up in these bilateral hostilities," Prasad said. The bill proposes the removal of legal and legislative oversight of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on human rights and government spending, and awards the head of state the right to appoint Supreme Court judges Sri Lanka's ruling party Tuesday unveiled a constitutional amendment handing unprecedented power to the president, prompting protests in parliament and opposition claims of a power-grab. The bill proposes the removal of legal and legislative oversight of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on human rights and government spending, and awards the head of state the right to appoint Supreme Court judges. It also re-instates the power of the president to sack parliament after it completes just one year of its five-year term and reverses legislation ensuring the judiciary, police, civil service and election commission remain independent branches of the government. Gotabaya, a defence official during his elder brother Mahinda's decade-long term as president, was elected president in November and swiftly appointed Mahinda as prime minister. The brothers are hugely popular among Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority for crushing Tamil separatists in a no-holds-barred offensive in 2009, bringing an end to decades of bloody civil war. But they have also attracted criticism from the international community, with the security services they controlled accused of committing war crimes in the final months of the conflict. Neither Gotabaya or his brother commented on the bill Tuesday, but the president said two weeks ago that it would "remove the obstacles imposed" by the reforms of the previous administration. The Rajapaksas' party enjoys a two thirds majority in parliament, and the bill is likely to be passed. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said this would result in "an elected dictatorship in this country" "The parliament will become a puppet... This is the darkest day for democracy in the country," he told parliament as opposition legislators wore black armbands in protest. The powerful Rajapaksa clan has held sway over the island nation's politics since 2005, as well as having a major influence in key state institutions such as the national airline and state corporations. Story continues The UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet last week called for "renewed attention" to increasing intimidation of journalists, lawyers and rights activists in Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa has meanwhile threatened to pull Sri Lanka out of the UN's human rights council if it persists in accusing Colombo of war crimes, including the killing of 40,000 Tamil civilians while crushing the rebels in 2009. aj/grk/rma Coronavirus is creating a growing climate of extremism amid worsening unemployment and the spread of dangerous conspiracy theories, security chiefs have warned. Parliaments Home Affairs Committee was told that the worsening economic situation in Britain was combining with hate crime and misinformation to create an environment very conducive to radicalisation. Sara Khan, who leads the Commission for Countering Extremism, told MPs: We are going to see a growing climate of extremism in our country and we are currently ill-equipped to deal with that. This is a matter of urgency and if the government doesnt have a strategy in place pretty soon there will be an impact on our country. Ms Khan said conspiracy theories claiming that Jews are responsible for creating coronavirus, that white people are being replaced and that Satan-worshiping paedophiles are running a global child sex-trafficking ring were among those spreading in the UK. She said rising extremism could cause increases in crime, public disorder, violence, harassment and cause democracy and human rights to be undermined. Neil Basu, the head of UK counter-terrorism policing, said lockdown restrictions had amplified the problem of hateful extremism online. The outcome of all of that we have yet to see, he told the committee on Wednesday. What I am seeing, particularly in the right-wing terrorism space is an increase in a lot of young people attracted to this. We are seeing people as young as 13 starting to talk about committing terrorism acts. Mr Basu said the coronavirus lockdown had allowed people to spend more time online with no distractions or protective factors such as school, work or friends and family with different views. That is an effect we are worried about, he added. The biggest concern at the moment is where extremism affects malleable, vulnerable people of all ages and backgrounds. There is no one route to terrorism. Yvette Cooper confronts YouTube vice-president Leslie Miller over promotion of conspiracy theories The Metropolitan Police officer revealed that the number of live terror investigations had hit a new record of more than 800. He said attack planning had been affected by coronavirus because of a shift in the normal crowded places amid lockdown and travel restrictions. Mr Basu said there were more than 600,000 publicly accessible spaces where a crowd could be targeted by terrorists, adding: The Stretham attack tells you that it could just be a high street. There is no way we are going to be able to secure that volume of sites. He called for authorities and businesses to step up to improve protections, amid a campaign by the mother of a Manchester Arena bombing victim to impose a statutory duty on large venues. Around three quarters of the work done by counter-terror police in Britain relates to Islamists, Mr Basu said, but the portion of right-wing terrorism has doubled in four years. He warned that while al-Qaeda and Isis had become weaker because of military losses and were less able to direct international attacks, their ability to inspire has not diminished and is showing some sign of resurgence. Since March 2017, UK counter-terror police have recorded 12 successful terror attacks and many more thwarted plots. Mr Basu said he thinks about them every single day and that security services were implementing hundreds of recommendations to improve prevention work. Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Show all 22 1 /22 Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Armed police officers on Streatham High Road. The Metropolitan Police warned people to stay away from the Streatham area boguta37/PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings The man was shot dead by police after two stabbed in 'Islamist-related' terror attack in London boguta37/PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Sudesh Amman, the attacker, has been named as a convicted terror offender who was released from prison days ago Metropolitan Police/PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Items left on the pavement at the scene in Streatham High Road Isis supporter Amman was just 18 when he was jailed in December 2018 after police found a stash of bomb-making manuals and other propaganda. Now 20, he had declared his own wish to carry out a terror attack and stockpiled a combat knife, air gun and black flag at his family home in London PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings He was being monitored by undercover police and being followed as part of a proactive counterterrorism operation when he started the rampage in Streatham AP Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Amman was able to stab two people before being shot dead by armed officers outside a busy row of shops Gabriel Video/PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A woman reacts as police officers interview people near to the scene Getty Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings An armed police officer on Streatham High Road Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy DOrsi said Amman was wearing a fake suicide ves Gully/PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Police forensic officers work outside of a Boots store AFP via Getty Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Police officers at the scene Getty Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A police forensic officer works at the scene in Streatham High Road PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Items left on the pavement at the scene in Streatham High Road PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A police officer on the scene Dave Chawner/SWNS Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Police forensic officers are seen near the site Reuters Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Police officers on the scene outside an Iceland supermarket Andy Bullemor/SWNS Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Police are seen near a site where a man was shot Reuters Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A policeman secures the site of the incident EPA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A view of the scene Megan Tobeck Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Armed police at the scene in Streatham High Road PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A view of the scene Michael Owens Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Police forensic officers at the scene PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A Police officer is seen near a site where a man was shot Reuters He admitted that assessing the threat posed by individual extremists will never be foolproof, but said work was underway to improve information sharing between MI5, police, mental health services, councils, prisons and other authorities to gain a fuller picture. Gaps are being exploited by those who cause us harm, he added. We need a much more robust counter extremism machine in the way that we have spent decades creating a robust counter terrorism machine. Ms Khan said the government must implement recommendations made by the Commission for Countering Extremism in a major report last October. It called for the adoption of a new definition of hateful extremism, including conduct that targets minorities and creates the moral case for violence, to underpin a stronger response. Ms Khan said a classification system should be created to tackle harmful conspiracy theories. She told MPs that far-right extremists had weaponised free speech to incite hatred, and that alternative social media platforms were profiting from refusing to censor dangerous content. The delayed Online Harms Bill is proposing a new online regulator and Ms Khan called for the Commission for Countering Extremism to be made responsible for online extremism. She told MPs that the definition of extremism from a 2015 government strategy was too broad and the current approach was not working. Extremism is not confined to one ideology, it cuts across different groups of people and faith communities, she added. We need to take a consistent approach and be prepared to call it all out wherever it comes from. The answer to the question, Will your administration oversee a peaceful transfer of power after the impending election? is, without exception, Yes. It would be better for the United States, and for this administration, if President Trump understood that. One of the more peculiar political dynamics during the last four years has been this presidents dogged determination to play into the hands of his opponents and to make his critics fears worse. There is, in fact, no chance that this president or any president will successfully remain in the White House having lost an election. A careful parsing of Trumps words makes clear that he isnt saying hes going to try. But a careful parsing of his meandering answer should not be necessary. The president was not asked about mail-in ballots, and he was not asked about a contested result. He was asked whether the eventual transfer of power would be peaceful. There was no reason for him to complicate the answer. Even small children are capable of saying Yes and moving on. President Trump is not alone in his shameful rhetoric. Since he won in 2016, large swathes of the Democratic Party have insisted that he is illegitimate, which he is not. Former senate majority Leader Harry Reid has argued that Russia quite literally changed the vote totals, which it did not. And Hillary Clinton, who has said publicly that she actually won the 2016 election, recently suggested that Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances, which he should. None of these people, however, is the president of the United States. None issue words that carry the extraordinary weight of that office. None bear the responsibility that Trump does. We applaud the Senate for unanimously passing a resolution reaffirming its commitment to the orderly and peaceful transfer of power called for in the Constitution. It should be a source of enormous national pride that, for 223 unbroken years, American presidents have handed the reins to their successors without bloodshed or complaint. Nothing has interrupted this tradition not war, not economic calamity, not pandemic nothing. We are not worried that President Trump intends to bring this streak to an end. That choice, after all, is not his to make. The system is set forth in the Constitution, and it is administered not at the presidents will, but by the states and by the people. Nevertheless, all systems rely upon buy-in, and every demurral helps to chip away a little at the rock on which the country has been built. More from National Review A Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong, with prosecutors saying Wednesday that two officers who fired their weapons at the Black woman were justified in using force to protect themselves after they were shot at. The only charges brought by the grand jury were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into Taylors neighbors homes during the raid on the night of March 13. The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case. Ben Crump, a lawyer for Taylors family, denounced the decision as outrageous and offensive, and protesters shouting, No justice, no peace! began marching through the streets. Some sat quietly and wept. Later, scuffles broke out between police and protesters, and some were arrested. ADVERTISEMENT Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home on a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation although state Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Wednesday the investigation showed the officers did announce 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 the nationwide protests that have gripped the nation since May drawing attention to entrenched racism and demanding 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 have joined those urging that the officers be charged. The announcement of the charges 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. To not indict the officers for murder is to claim #BreonnaTaylor killed herself. Racist America constantly kills Black people and then tells Black people we killed ourselves, tweeted Ibram X. Kendi, director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University and the author of How to Be an Antiracist. 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. Right after the decision, protesters began gathering in Louisville, with some preparing food and others bringing cases of water to Injustice Square, the park where people have demanded justice for Taylor. ADVERTISEMENT While the rallies were largely peaceful, police in protective gear carrying batons mobilized in downtown, and some scuffles broke out. Officers could be seen handcuffing some people. Police also ordered a group that broke off from the protests to disperse, warning that chemical agents might be used if they didnt. Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said he authorized a limited deployment of the National Guard. An Associated Press reporter saw guard members and armored military vehicles in downtown Louisville. Beshear 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 working 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, he said. 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 use of no-knock warrants has since been banned by Louisvilles Metro Council. 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 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. 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 Wednesday that he didnt have enough information on the decision to comment fully but warned protesters to keep demonstrations peaceful. Do not sully her memory or her mothers by engaging in any violence, he said. Kamala Harris, Bidens running mate, also told reporters she also 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 fired his weapon. 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. MOUNT OLIVE Bank of Hillsboro, in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, has donated $2,500 to the Mount Olive Care Center and Food Pantry to help the nonprofit make needed building repairs and provide free meals to families. The Mount Olive Care Centers mission is to help community members who are in need of assistance. The nonprofit provides free meals for more than 100 families each month and also offers one-time assistance with water, utility, or rent bills. The Care Center also partners with the local school district to offer meals to children in school. Care Center Director Nancy Hubert said Bank of Hillsboros donation is coming at the perfect time. We have recently dealt with several roof leaks at our pantry which has affected our ability to safely store food and prevent it from getting wet, said Hubert. We just learned that we are going to need some very costly repairs, which of course, not ideal timing given that the need in our community is so great right now. It felt like a true blessing when Bank of Hillsboro called us and said wed be receiving the donation. Bank of Hillsboro was able to offer the donation after applying for a $20,000 grant through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. The bank is offering a COVID-19 Relief Program consisting of zero-rate advances and grants to support all of its member institutions, such as Bank of Hillsboro, and the communities they serve. Bank of Hillsboro Senior Vice President Mike Ward said the bank has distributed the money to six local nonprofits throughout their service area including Mount Olive Care Center. He said they were happy to donate a portion of the grant money to them once they learned about the need. Mount Olive Care Center is doing wonderful work in the community trying to offer people help in a variety of ways, said Ward. It is our privilege to also be able to extend that help to them through this donation. Bank of Hillsboro is a 150-year-old bank committed to supporting local communities and helping customers meet their financial needs. The bank is headquartered in Hillsboro, Illinois and has 11 additional locations in Alhambra, Altamont, Carlyle, Edwardsville, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Keyesport, Pana, Staunton and Vandalia. More information about Bank of Hillsboro can be found at www.bankhillsboro.com or by calling 618-656-5804. And when we say low mileage , we are not exactly making the car justice. At just 17 miles on the odometer, this 1978 Corvette Pace Car Edition is like time-traveling back to the moment it exited the factory gates and casually taking it out for a spin until you reach the closest gas station for the first refill!The unit in question is part of Mecums upcoming Dallas sale that has been scheduled for October 15th to 17th at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.And its also not the only pace car-inspired limited series model ready to cross the auction block, as the auction house is submitting to the audience a bunch of cars from the "Low Mile Corvette Pace Car Collection.One of the 6,502 examples (one for each Chevy dealer of the time) in the 1978 Pace Car Edition, the unit was envisioned as one of Corvettes gifts for the series 25th anniversary proudly wearing the renowned black over silver two-tone paint job. With just 17 miles (27 km) traveled, unfortunately not many have seen its iconic livery during the past 42 years.Thats great news for the future owner, who is getting a 350ci V8 engine to go with the option package-RPO Z78 featured on the pace car replica models. The goody pack was quite comprehensive for the age, and included powered steering, brakes, windows, and locks, as well as factory air conditioning, a silver leather interior, glass T-Tops, and polished aluminum wheels, among others. Passengers wait to handle boarding procedures at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - A document providing temporary guidance to monitor people entering Vietnam to ensure the dual goal of both preventing the COVID-19 pandemic and developing the economy has been issued. Under the Ministry of Health (MoH)s Document No 4995/BYT-DP, the guidance is applicable to people entering Vietnam to work for more than 14 days, including foreigners holding diplomatic passports, official passports, investors, highly skilled workers, business managers, international students and foreign relatives of Vietnamese citizens from countries where the pandemic is under control. Before entry, immigrants must register with a quarantine centre and outline their specific work schedule in Vietnam. They must also have a certificate in English proving they had tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 from three to five days before entry. On entry, immigrants must have their temperatures checked and undergo tests to detect suspected cases of disease. When suspected cases are detected, they must take prescribed management measures. In case rapid testing is not available at the border gate, they must move to a registered quarantine centre and ensure they follow safety regulations under the guidance of the MoH. Whilst they are in quarantine, the immigrants will undergo tests for SARS-CoV-2. If their first results are negative, they will be kept in quarantine under medical supervision until their second tests. All cases are to be tested for a second time on the sixth day from their date of entry, or as soon as symptoms are suspected. If there is a positive test result, the person will be immediately quarantined at a medical facility and follow treatment according to the current regulations for COVID-19. People who have close contact with confirmed patients must be quarantined for 14 days. If the second test result is negative, they will be allowed to go home to self-isolate for 14 days and take preventive measures following guidance from the MoH. At the accommodation, immigrants must strictly implement measures for medical supervision, pandemic prevention, avoid contact with the community and immediately notify health authorities if they show symptoms of the disease. They must also make a list of names and phone numbers of people they come into close contact with until the end of the 14th day. Local health authorities will perform medical surveillance according to regulations and take samples for SARS-CoV-2 virus on the 14th day of entry or when there are symptoms of the illness. A mericas first lady of fiction, Curtis Sittenfeld, who dared to turn the lives of Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton into bestselling novels, has now taken on the biggest subject of them all in Help Yourself, her latest short story collection: racism. Ive written about race in all my novels, but its the main focus here, says Sittenfeld, talking on Zoom from her home in Minneapolis, her dark hair and glasses framing her face in stark contrast to the plain wall behind her. I was motivated to write about it after seeing more and more videos of white women acting in racist ways going viral. Its become so common it seems part of the texture of our current culture now, and I wanted to explore that. The protagonist of White Women LOL is, like Sittenfeld, a white, middle-class, middle-aged, Midwestern mother. At her friends birthday party in a restaurant, she challenges a group of black people whom she believes to be gate-crashers. Unknown to her, one of the group films the exchange and posts it on Facebook. It quickly goes viral. Friends distance themselves. The woman is suspended from her job, investigated for racial misconduct and eventually does some equivocal soul-searching. Sittenfeld, with that incisive lightness of touch that has won her such a huge fan base on both sides of the Atlantic, writes in the characters voice: She knows the things white people arent supposed to say: Can I touch your hair? and I dont see race or, even worse, I dont care if a person is black or white or green or purple or polka-dotted. She would never say those things. She knows what a micro-aggression is. She knows what woke means. Even though shes 41 and lives in the Midwest, she knows what it means! The story feels very timely now, Sittenfeld continues, and sensitive. So I did something I havent done before: I hired several black women, known as diversity readers its a common phenomenon in publishing to read it and give me explicit editorial feedback. If you were a black woman and came across this story, what would be your unfiltered response? And I did incorporate their feedback. White Women LOL was published on Oprah Winfreys online magazine, oprah.com, in December 2019, after the editors of two other magazines rejected it, fearing it would be too controversial. No, I did not get any negative feedback, she says. However, the writer is accountable for her artistic choices and if youre a white person incorporating the perspectives of characters of colour, the question is why, and I did have that conversation with myself. I think this story is likely to spur discussion among white women, who are my primary readers, since it examines white female culpability. Theres a tendency among white liberals, and I count myself as one, to not want to admit to any culpability, and to be able to find explanations as to why most other people are a certain way, but were not. Before moving to Minneapolis in 2018, where her husband teaches the study of journalism at the University of Minnesota, Sittenfeld and her family lived in St Louis, Ohio where Michael Brown was shot by a white police officer in 2014, which lead to the rise of the BLM movement. But it took the death of George Floyd in May for there to be what she calls a white awakening. I have mixed feelings about it. Why did so many white people not think that racism and police brutality was a problem before his death? On the other hand, its better late than never. White Americans are grappling with a lot of these issues, as am I. Im far from flawless and Im trying to educate myself. The most important thing we can do is listen and not weigh in. Its an ongoing process, not a class to get through with a certificate at the end. So she and her protagonist face the same dilemma, and neither seems to have the answer. Having grown up in Cincinnati, Ohio her mother was Catholic, her father was Jewish, but I dont regard myself as either Elizabeth Curtis Sittenfeld has been writing stories since the age of five, went to boarding school and did a Master of Fine Arts degree at the Iowa Writers Workshop. Shes written six novels, the most recent being Rodham, a previous short story collection, You Think It, Ill Say It, and now this slim but powerful volume. If American Wife, based on former first lady Laura Bush, was a critical and commercial success, then Rodham has cemented Sittenfelds reputation as a leading political feather-ruffler and astute chronicler of modern American manners. Subtitled: What if Hillary hadnt married Bill? Sittenfelds fictionalised version sees Hillary dump predatory sex addict Bill while they are still dating, pursue her own political career and eventually become President of the US. I was asked several times, what gives you the right to write Rodham, and I thought, do you know how novels work? Reviews were mostly positive and a TV series is on the way, scripted by Sarah Treem, who brought us The Affair. What could have been: Hillary and Bill Clinton in 1992 before he became President Sittenfeld still carries a torch for Hillary. All the research I did reinforced my positive view of her. Shes not perfect, but who is? She has never met the Clintons, and assumes, modestly, that Hillary has not bothered to read Rodham. She hopes Joe Biden will win the next election Oh my God, I cant believe youre asking me that! and has no desire to write about Melania Trump. I want to write from a place of curiosity and compassion and I dont feel those for Melania. I dont admire her or want to voluntarily spend my life imagining being married to the person shes married to. On a recent panel I was asked to talk about 'any really bad date experiences' and 'what is feminist sex'. Imagine having to dream up the kind of torrid sex scenes she wrote in Rodham, with Bill crooning over Hillarys great tits little waist nice soft bum ... and delicious honeypot, but with the Donald instead, I joke. To which Sittenfeld responds with a strangled laugh. Nor does she aspire to write about Michelle Obama. Shes fantastic and I adore her, but Becoming was so emotionally open that to try to write a novel would be redundant. A lot of Americans feel they already know her, whereas there was more of a discrepancy between the public perception of Hillary and Laura Bush, and who they really seem to be. Sittenfeld remains fascinated by our preoccupation not just with how female politicians look, dress and behave, but with women writers too. A man tells the female protagonist in Show Dont Tell, a story about sexism in academia: Dont take this the wrong way, but there tends to be an inverse relationship between how hot a woman is and how good a writer. Its because you need to be hungry to be a great writer, and beautiful women arent hungry. True? Yes, I do think beautiful women who are in the public eye or professionally successful are given extra attention because theyre beautiful, and are also taken less seriously. Sittenfeld doesn't plan to write about Michelle Obama after her memoir, Becoming, was so 'open' / Charles Sykes/Invision/AP Does the Booker shortlist of four women and two men suggest the playing ground, at least for writers, may be levelling out now? There are very acclaimed and beloved female novelists, but I do feel there is often a sort of default scepticism towards not the exceptional, but the average womans novel. Where does that come from? I think its probably coming from a patriarchal society. Has Sittenfeld experienced sexism as a writer herself? She says shes going to pass on answering this, but then she does. On a recent panel to publicise Rodham, I was asked to talk about any really bad first date experiences and what is feminist sex? Women are asked to peddle our personal experiences to sell our books and mocked for having done so. Or lets say I have a book coming out and Im invited by a magazine to write something about here are the contents of my purse. Am I lucky that Ive been invited to promote my book and get media attention, or is that like a silly and sexist premise? Arent the magazines most likely to ask those questions womens magazines? Sure, she replies, laughing. I dont think that sexism exclusively belongs to men. Women can be, and are sexist. I think I sometimes am! Such a character appears in Creative Differences, a story that lampoons the American coastal elite liberal classes. Not that Sittenfeld feels she should complain about the coverage she gets. It implies you dont know how lucky you are to get it, and I do know Im lucky. She is, like her fiction, sharp yet understated, assured but self-questioning. I feel Im not very articulate at making sweeping generalisations or political arguments. The way that I grapple with current issues is through my characters and their behaviour, and she does it beautifully. A school security official was fired from his job in Camden County this month after concluding on social media that police had acted appropriately by shooting a Wisconsin man seven times in the back and were not at fault for the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota after kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The official, Robert Menta, 68, a retired police officer working as a security official for Cherry Hill Public Schools, said the public was misinformed about both incidents that have launched nationwide protests. In a social media post, Menta called the shooting of the Wisconsin man, Jacob Blake, a Good Shoot! MBA cohorts intended to graduate this year at the Emalus Campus, at their self funded celebration at Breakas Resort Starbucks reportedly abandons Vatican site due to drop in tourists thanks to covid-19. Starbucks, the American coffee chain, is set to open an outlet in the heart of Rome's historic centre in the coming months, reports Dire news agency. The surprise move to Piazza S. Silvestro, just off the capital's main thoroughfare Via del Corso, comes as Starbucks reportedly abandons its plan to open its first cafe at a former bookshop near Vatican City. The change in plan is believed to be due to the unexpected drop in the millions of tourists - due to the covid-19 crisis - who normally visit the Vatican Museums. Starbucks comes to Rome. Photo credit: WHYFRAME / Shutterstock.com. The Starbucks outlet is due to open in Piazza S. Silvestro - in Palazzo Marignoli - which is already undergoing renovation works for the flagship Apple store, reports Dire. The Piazza S. Silvestro site was reportedly supposed to be the second Starbucks cafe in Rome - after the Vatican - but it now looks like it will be the inaugural outlet for the US multinational. Photo credit: Grand Warszawski / Shutterstock.com. The head of the Romanian Gendarmerie, Bogdan Enescu, stated, on Thursday, upon exiting the headquarters of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), that he is not considering resigning. "I am not considering this aspect because it's not imposed in this case," said Enescu, asked about a possible resignation from the helm of the Gendarmerie. He said that investigations are ongoing and "light will be shed" on this case. "I discussed with the case prosecutor. The investigations into the case continue and light will be shed. I wish light would be shed on this case, because it's not a beneficial situation neither from a personal point of view, nor an institutional point of view. I will cooperate, both institutionally, and personally so light can be shed in this case. I have no intention of hiding the truth or to hide other situations that may lead to the clarification in this case," Enescu mentioned. In regards to the accusations that the Gendarmerie was used as a "taxi", he replied that it was an isolated case. Judiciary sources mentioned for AGERPRES that Bogdan Enescu was called to the DNA to be presented with accusations regarding the unjust claiming of sums of money for hundreds of hours of overtime. According to the quoted sources, he is accused of usurping official qualities and obtaining undue goods. Judiciary sources also mentioned that Colonel Ionut Catalin Sindile and General Constantin Florea, both former heads of the Gendarmerie, were also called to the DNA headquarters. There are almost 36,000 Australians stranded overseas trying to get home, an increase of more than 10,000 in less than a week. The bulging figure was revealed at a Senate inquiry which heard the personal plights of citizens desperate to get home. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday there was about 24,000 Australians registered to come home as he announced a staged increase in the weekly arrivals cap. There are almost 36,000 Australians stranded overseas trying to get home, an increase of more than 10,000 in less than a week (pictured, people returning on a domestic flight in August) Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) said on Friday there was about 24,000 Australians registered to come home as he announced a staged increase in the weekly arrivals cap The limit on people returning is slated to increase to 6,000 next month. At that rate it would take six months for every registered return traveller to arrive back. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet officials said hotel quarantine capability - not the availability of flights - was stopping more people returning. The latest figures show 35,700 people want to come home. At that rate it would take six months for every registered return traveller to arrive back. Deputy secretary Simon Duggan told the committee commercial flights into Australia had about 20,000 spare seats each week. 'The availability of flights has not been the binding constraint on getting Australians home,' he said. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet officials said hotel quarantine capability - not the availability of flights - was stopping more people returning (pictured, hotel quarantine in Sydney in August) He said the intention was to have everyone on the list back in the country by Christmas. 'Our hope is of course that we're able to bring all Australians home in that time frame, but there are a lot of variables in calculating exactly what that will be,' Mr Duggan said. Travel ban and caps on weekly arrivals have led to many Australians in vulnerable circumstances being left without a way home. Supercar maker McLaren is mulling plans to float on the stock market in 2022 if business can bounce back from the coronavirus slump. Mike Flewitt, boss of McLaren Automotive since 2013, said going public could be the best way for long-term investors to exit the business. This includes McLaren's majority backers Mumtalakat, Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund, and Mansour Ojjeh, the French-Saudi owner of the TAG racing team. McLaren launched a new car this summer, the 765LT (pictured), which is priced from 280,000 Flewitt told the Evening Standard: 'We need to get back to 2019 levels but then we could consider it. 'Our shareholders are investors because they love the business but also because it's a good financial investment. A float could be a partial offering for them to realise those gains.' Revenues at the Surrey firm rose 11 per cent to 1.2billion and it made around 130million profit last year. It sold 4,662 cars, down from 4,806 in 2018. But during the Covid crisis it has had to let go 670 members of staff, or about 25 per cent of its workforce, and has tapped the National Bank of Bahrain for 150million. The company launched a new car this summer, the McLaren 765LT, which is priced from 280,000. Flewitt said the company had 'a bit of a journey' to get back to 2019 levels, adding: 'If I'm optimistic it's 2022, worst case 2023 perhaps. This will have knocked us back for a couple of years.' The Texas Attorney Generals office and the Gregg County District Attorney have filed felony charges against a county commissioner and three alleged accomplices in what officials are calling an organized vote harvesting scheme during the 2018 Democratic primary. A grand jury returned indictments against the four Commissioner Shannon Brown, his wife Marlena Jackson as well as Charlie Burns and DeWayne Ward on charges including engaging in organized election fraud, illegal voting and fraudulent use of an application for a mail-in ballot. Longview District Court Judge Alfonso Charles said bond was set at $25,000 for each defendant, according to the Longview News-Journal. According to a copy of their indictments, the group helped voters to lie about whether they were disabled, giving them access to mail-in ballots to which they would not have otherwise been entitled, as well as voting assistance. Texas is one of seven states in which all voters are not eligible for mail ballots and need an excuse to get oneif they are under 65 years old. The scheme is alleged to have helped Brown beat his primary opponent, Kasha Williams, by just five votes on his way to winning his seat on the commission. Browns win was confirmed in a recount, and Williams later filed a civil suit alleging mail-in voting fraud. The News-Journal reported that county elections administrator Kathryn Nealy had also questioned the disproportionate number of mail-in ballots in Browns race, and said she suspected voter fraud in May 2018; later that month, local officials announced they were investigating. ELECTION 2020: Leading the way on voter suppression. Texas is ground zero in voting rights war. It is not yet clear why getting an indictment in the case took two and a half years; Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the charges in a press release late Thursday with few details. This case demonstrates my commitment to ensuring Texas has the most secure elections in the country, and I thank the Gregg County Sheriff and District Attorney for their continued partnership, Paxton said in a statement Thursday. Those who try to manipulate the outcome of elections in Texas must be held accountable. The majority of the counts, or 97, were filed against Jackson, while another 23 were filed against Brown, eight against Burns and six against Ward. In the civil suit filed by Williams in 2018, she alleged that a group of vote harvesters had been operating in the county for years and charged candidates fees for producing mail-in ballots. Williams attorney, the late Buck Wood who helped draft Texas ethics and election laws, wrote in the complaint that in his more than 40 years experience, he had only seen one other similar instance of fraud. The suit cited Facebook photos of voters who had claimed they were disabled on their mail-in ballot applications and said they clearly show that the people were not, in fact, disabled. The charges come as President Donald Trump and Republicans who lead the state government in Texas allege that mail-in voting is more susceptible to fraud, though prosecution of such cases remains low and academic studies have shown that such fraud is extremely rare. During the 14-year period from 2005 through 2018, the Texas Attorney Generals Election Fraud office has prosecuted 135 people, according to the most recent data available. In 2019, the office prosecuted five people. Most of them have been minor cases that ended with the defendants sent to diversion programs. HADLEY The Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School plans to open its doors Monday as a supervised remote learning and day care site operated by the Hampshire Regional YMCA. It will be at least the second such site in Western Massachusetts, following Interskate 91 South in Wilbraham. Since many school districts offer only remote learning due to the coronavirus pandemic, parents who continue to work are in the market for safe places to drop their children off during the day. The Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School decided last month that it would only offer remote learning when classes began Sept. 8. Its teachers continue to work in the building off Route 9 in Hadley. We are not alone in opting to go remote, PVCICS Executive Director Richard Alcorn said in an email. As a regional school we face a more complex decision than most districts that chose that route. Additionally, our administration and staff put a lot of thought into how to best support our students in light of state COVID-19 guidelines, he said. We are also not alone in employing an (Early Education and Care) program to support their students, especially low income students. I understand there are other local schools doing the same thing. Parents of children enrolled in the charter school received information from the Hampshire Regional YMCA earlier this month about the day care program. The YMCA Facebook page says, in part: This in person program will make the connection between remote learning and much needed social interactions, while providing engaging activities designed to supplement the school curriculum, build relationships and learn new skills. The program is expected to serve up to 42 children in four separate pods inside the school building. It is set to begin Sept. 28 and run through end of November, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Alcorn said the school is not charging the YMCA to use the space. PVCICS has had a Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) approved after-school and before-school program for many years, he said. This year we decided to contract out the program and expand it based upon the guidance given by Governor Baker in his COVID-19 Order No. 49, which allows for expanded hours of operation and supervision during remote learning. Low-income families can use vouchers to cover the cost of the program, Alcorn said. The school, founded in 2007, has more than 560 students from across the Pioneer Valley are enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12. Related Content: With rising environmental concerns, alternative energy options and renewable power have become highly demanded. Consumers and governments are shifting focus from fossil fuel dependency on sustainable solutions such as geothermal energy. This has led to a need for geothermal energy suppliers to keep pace with consumer demand and monitor their brand reputation. Infiniti's media monitoring solution enables geothermal energy suppliers to connect with their client base, find relevant information about their competitors, and identify new opportunities in the geothermal energy space. Leveraging Infiniti's media monitoring solutions can be the best step for your organization.Request a free proposal to learn more about Infiniti's expertise in the geothermal energy supplier space. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005749/en/ Media Monitoring Solutions for a Geothermal Energy Supplier (Graphic: Business Wire). "To engage with the online customers and benchmark their service with the competitors, geothermal energy suppliers are leveraging effective media monitoring services that enable them to effectively connect with their client base and act per their demands and preferences," says an energy industry expert at Infiniti Research. Business Challenge: The client is a renowned geothermal energy supplier with many supplier units spread across the globe. They were facing difficulties with anticipating and interpreting public opinion and wanted to understand consumers' preferences and their effect on brand image. Additionally, with media monitoring, the client sought to avoid issues that could have a detrimental impact on the company's reputation. Therefore, the geothermal energy supplier approached Infiniti Research to leverage our expertise in offering media monitoring solutions. During the seven-week engagement, the client wanted to implement a media monitoring tool to gain competitive insights, devise market strategies, and value proposition in the geothermal energy supplier space. Speak to industry experts to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Infiniti's media monitoring solution and how it helps geothermal energy suppliers understand their consumers and vendors better. Our Approach: Infiniti's media monitoring experts developed a comprehensive approach to assist the geothermal energy supplier. The approach included the following: Extensive research comprising of interviews and discussions with stakeholders Understanding prevalent market strategies and positioning the client in the market space Compilation of information from secondary sources, such as paid industry databases, company presentation, and industry forums Business Outcome: With Infiniti's media monitoring solution, the geothermal energy supplier was able to build strong impressions, fulfill their business objectives, and drive profitability. Additionally, the client gained comprehensive insights into the geothermal energy market and understood competitors' strategies and value propositions. The solution also helped the client identify and analyze customer satisfaction and discover new growth opportunities. The geothermal energy supplier also effectively measured media campaign reach and built customer engagement. By leveraging Infiniti's media monitoring solution, the geothermal energy supplier was able to: Analyze supplier performance by targeting a specific set of customers Optimize the online presence of the brand and enhanced customer engagement Track, monitor, and assess social media activities To learn more about the business impact of Infiniti's media monitoring solution, and gain comprehensive insights into the geothermal energy supplier space, read the complete article here. About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005749/en/ Contacts: Infiniti Research Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 844 778 0600 UK: +44 203 893 3400 https://www.infinitiresearch.com/contact-us (Newser) South Korea said Thursday North Korean troops fatally shot a South Korean government official who may have attempted to defect and set his body on fire, after they found him on a floating object in waters near the rivals disputed sea boundary. According to Seouls announcement, the man disappeared from a government ship that was checking on potential unauthorized fishing in an area south of the boundary on Monday, a day before he was found in North Korean waters. North Korea sent officials wearing gas masks aboard a boat near the man to learn why he was there on Tuesday afternoon. Later in the day, a North Korean navy boat came and opened fire at him, South Koreas Defense Ministry said. story continues below Sailors from the boat, putting on gas masks and protective suits, poured gasoline on his body and set it aflame, the Defense Ministry said. It was unclear how the 47-year-old ended up in the North. But a defense official said the man might have tried to defect to North Korea, the AP reports. The official, requesting anonymity citing department rules, said the official was wearing a life jacket on a small floating object and that the military had obtained information that he wanted to go to North Korea. The official said North Korea may have determined to kill him in line with its stringent anti-coronavirus rules that involves shooting anyone illegally crossing the border. Senior military officer Ahn Young Ho told reporters Friday that South Korea strongly condemned North Koreas atrocious act and urged it to punish those responsible. (Read more North Korea stories.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 18:26:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NANJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Space-tracking ship Yuanwang-5 has departed from a port in east China's Jiangsu Province on Thursday for a maritime monitoring mission in the Pacific Ocean. This is the third voyage of the ship this year. It will spend more than 100 days at sea and is scheduled to return in early 2021. Yuanwang-5 has spent 143 days at sea in 2020 carrying out four maritime monitoring missions, providing support for China's first Mars probe and the APSTAR-6D telecommunication satellite. After docking on Aug. 10, crew members rested and examined onboard facilities, and replenished their supplies for upcoming missions. Enditem WASHINGTON - Undaunted by criticism, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is forging ahead with a series of events that have overtly political overtones ahead of the November presidential election. Casting aside a long tradition of the nations top diplomat shunning partisan politics, Pompeo gave a speech on Wednesday in the swing state of Wisconsin, marking his participation in the fourth event this month alone that goes well beyond what previous secretaries of state have done in support of the presidents they have served. From the Republican National Convention, which he addressed by recorded video from Israel, to an evangelical megachurch in Texas over the weekend and the Value Voters Summit in Washington just on Tuesday, Pompeo has not been shy in taking his message to audiences considered essential to President Donald Trumps reelection. And, more are scheduled. While Pompeos speeches have stopped short of blatant calls to vote for Trump, the venues he has chosen have raised eyebrows and sparked allegations from Democrats of possible violations of federal law. Pompeo and his aides have denied any wrongdoing and defended his appearances as part of explaining foreign policy and the State Departments role to the American people. Yet, they fit a pattern he has established since becoming secretary of state nearly three years ago. He has bristled at restrictions his predecessors have observed in obeyance of the Hatch Act, which forbids political activity by federal officials in their positions. And, Pompeo is not alone. Hes just one of many frequent fliers to battleground states in Trumps Cabinet as Nov. 3 draws near. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Environmental Protection Agency chief Andrew Wheeler, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette are among agency heads making scores of trips this year to swing states announcing federal grants and other aid for each targeted state or promoting Trump initiatives that they say have helped boost the local economy and residents. Cabinet-level travel to Pennsylvania and other states vital to Trump in the Electoral College have intensified in recent weeks. But these Cabinet members have portfolios dealing primarily with domestic issues, so their travel to states is less likely to raise eyebrows. But secretaries of state are associated with travelling around the globe and steering clear of domestic politics. Madeleine Albright, a longtime Democratic activist, famously spoke of having her political instincts surgically removed when she became secretary of state under President Bill Clinton and worked with top Republicans in Congress like North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms on foreign policy matters. Colin Powell shied away from political events while he held the office in Republican President George W. Bushs administration as did his successor Condoleezza Rice. While Hillary Clinton and John Kerry each defended the Obama administrations policies with special emphasis on issues they felt strongly about, both pointedly distanced themselves from campaign appearances. As Trumps secretary of state Pompeo has travelled extensively in the United States to speak to conservative audiences. Beyond any support Pompeo may be giving to Trump, the travels have added to speculation that he has political aspirations of his own, including a possible presidential run in 2024. Pompeo has deflected questions about his personal ambitions. Pompeos home state of Kansas has been a frequent destination, but he has also spoken in Tennessee, Florida and Kentucky at events that might not otherwise be considered prime locations for foreign policy discourse. After Pompeos China-focused speech at the Wisconsin state capitol in Madison on Wednesday, Wisconsin Democratic state Sen. Chris Larson decried the appearance, calling it a campaign speech disguised as a foreign policy address. But Pompeos appearance at the Republican National Convention last month it attracted a substantial backlash from Democrats appears to have set the stage for an all-out, election-year push for Trump as Pompeo touts the presidents full-throated support for Israel, promotion of international religious freedom and increasingly tough stance on China. In addition to the Wisconsin state Senate on Wednesday, Pompeo spoke to white evangelicals, a key demographic for Trump at the Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, at services last Sunday. As the secretary of state Im not allowed to do politics, he told the congregation, but I can do duty, and it is everyones duty to be counted, to stand up and express your preference, the things that you want, and to go to the polling place and exercise that freedom that we have been given and that our officers and security teams will ensure that we have the opportunity to go vote. Go exercise that right and make sure every one of your friends does the same, and then the Lord will pass upon it and we will come out of this election a stronger, better nation, he said. I am confident of that. ___ Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer in Oklahoma City and Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this report. ___ APs Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early, by mail or absentee from each state: https://interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/ GLENDALE, Ariz. President Donald Trumps son Eric Trump urged evangelicals during a visit to Arizona Wednesday to back his father because he supports religious freedom, is opposed to abortion and will back Christians ability to speak freely. Eric Trump addressed a crowd at the Dream City Church in Glendale, an Assemblies of God congregation that has several large facilities in metro Phoenix. The president held a rally at the churchs Phoenix location in June, during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Eric Trumps visit was the latest in a series of recent Trump campaign events that began June 14 with a Phoenix rally by the president. That was followed by visits by Donald Trumps daughter, Ivanka Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence. The campaign is trying to shore up support among Latinos, veterans and the religous right as polls show him in a close race with Democrat Joe Biden in the traditionally Republican state. Eric Trump told those in attendance that the Democratic Party is behind attacks on the 1st Amendment and freedom of speech. He also said the president has been the subject of consistent attacks that God has helped him fend off. 2020-09-24() By Kim Hyun-bin U.S. tech giants Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) received the green light from the U.S. government to supply Huawei with certain products, raising hopes for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to be given the same opportunity. Huawei was placed on the Entity List, which is a trade blacklist including 275 firms, in May 2019, banning U.S. companies from selling their technologies and products to the world's largest telecom equipment maker without prior approval. Last week, the U.S. government announced new restrictions on U.S. firms supplying or servicing Huawei, meaning the Chinese tech company will be unable to buy any chips made with U.S. technology, which nearly all products contain. The Trump administration argues that Huawei poses a national security threat and could turn over U.S. citizens' data to the Chinese government, although Huawei denies the accusations and claims its company has been targeted for geopolitical reasons. According to the industry, AMD has received approval to sell its notebook. Meanwhile, an Intel spokesman said Tuesday that the chip manufacturer has received licenses from the U.S. government to supply Huawei with certain products. It did not specify which products. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have submitted their requests and are waiting for the U.S. government's approval. Although Intel and AMD are able to export their products to Huawei, the same opportunity might not be granted for the two Korean tech companies. "The story for Samsung and SK could be different from Intel and AMD as they are U.S. companies and develop processors and CPUs for PCs, which are seen as less of a security risk," an industry official familiar with the matter said. "However, Samsung and SK supply Huawei with mobile components, a sector which the U.S. sees as a major security risk from the Chinese firm." If the U.S. government rejects their requests, it will lead to severe losses for the two Korean tech giants. According to the industry, the U.S. ban on Huawei will result in annual sales losses of around 10 trillion won. Huawei accounts for 3.2 percent or 7.3 trillion won of sales in Samsung Electronics' semiconductor business unit, while SK hynix depends on 11.4 percent or 3 trillion won in sales from the Chinese company annually, according to each company. Data provided by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) showed China accounted for around 41 percent of Korea's chip exports in the first seven months of this year. The value of the country's chip exports stood at $54.74 billion in the seven-month period, of which $22.49 billion came from China. On the other side of the spectrum, some experts say the approval of Intel and AMD itself is meaningful as it could expand to the other product lines. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix say they are "closely monitoring the situation," as the approval was not in the memory semiconductor business. "This is not a matter to be hastily decided, as there is the U.S. election as a variable and the outcome could change the current U.S.-China relations. All Korean companies could do is keep a close eye on the matter and swiftly counter any issues that come their way," an industry official said. There have been reports that SK hynix has been denied approval from the U.S. government, but the company claimed the reports were false and it is still awaiting confirmation. The Chinese government says it plans to retaliate by creating their own blacklist of U.S. firms which is expected to include Apple, Qualcomm, Boeing and Tesla, which once released could further escalate tensions between the U.S. and China. According to reports, China's Ministry of Commerce has included Cisco on the blacklist. Cisco is a U.S. telecommunications equipment maker and a major competitor of Huawei. The kingmakers in Iwo have demanded the removal of the Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrasheed Akanbi. But the traditional ruler has dismissed the call as a conspiracy led by his rival to the throne, saying it is dead on arrival. The kingmakers consisting of 12 chiefs in a petition to Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, said Mr Akanbi is not representing the throne well. They listed the controversial activities of the Monarch to include an alleged disrespect of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi. Oba Adewale Akanbi has a penchant for fighting notable personalities within and outside Iwoland. At the moment, Oba Adewale fought Chief Abiola Ogundokun, Imran Adio, (a leading Islamic cleric) whom he removed as Otun Ajanasi. He insulted the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Orangun of Ila, and other prominent Obas in the state, part of the petition read. Reacting to this, the traditional ruler in a statement by his spokesperson, Alli Ibrahim, said the kingmakers are only trying to distract the monarch. Its a conspiracy of a detractor who has been fighting so hard to become the Oluwo of Iwo. The detractors have gone beyond many times to discredit Oba Akanbi and failed serially. The recent one was to divide the kingmakers but (it is) dead on arrival. Achievements of Oluwo endeared him to Iwo, more. You cant run down what your children may benefit in the future, the statement said. Oba Akanbi is a king of positive marks. He is a market detractors are trying to de-market. All he was alleged of are not without reason(s). His reign is prosperous, fruitful and virile to the advantage of all and sundry. Traditional system is not parliamentary. Oluwo will keep serving humanity. Nothing will discourage the good work. He loves everyone. Together we can achieve better. Detractors romancing my chiefs should continue wasting their time, Oluwo will keep lifting his subjects. PREMIUM TIMES in February reported that Mr Akanbi had been involved in a series of controversies since the then governor, Rauf Aregbesola, gave him a staff of office in 2016. READ ALSO: Upon assumption of office, the monarch had a disagreement with the former spokesperson of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Abiola Ogundokun. Also at his 50th birthday party, Mr Akanbi confirmed that he didnt perform some rites and rituals considered necessary for anyone who wants to become a king. In 2018, an Imam in a viral video accused the monarch of attempting to sleep with his wife. Mr Akanbi also tackled Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi in 2019. This newspaper also reported how he assaulted Agboowu of Ogbaagba, Dhikrulahi Akinropo, over a land dispute in Iwo land. Amidst all, Mr Akanbi often claims that hes fighting for the rights of his subjects in Iwo land. Aayush Sharma, who made his debut in Love Yatri, is all set for his next film titled Guns Of North. The film is an official remake of the Marathi film Mulshi Pattern. And it was to be directed by Abhiraj Minawala who directed Love Yatri. However, today Mumbai Mirror reports that it's now Mahesh Manjrekar who will helm this film. Guns Of North is a gangster drama and it will be shot on real locations. Since its a gritty drama, the makers decided that Mahesh Manjrekar would be perfect to helm this film, since he has directed Vaastav and City of Gold in the past. The film will go on the floors soon. Meanwhile, Aayush will attend acting workshops with Manjrekar. Whats more, Salman Khan's extended cameo has been removed from the film. Salman was suppoosed to play a Sikh cop in the film. The makers felt that adding a cop track would take away from the essence of the film and would disrupt the script. Hence Salman Khan will not be a part of the movie now. Salman Khan is currently busy prepping for his small and big screen ventures. While he'll start shooting for the new season of Bigg Boss soon, he will also finish his 10-day shoot for Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai. The actor will also start prepping for the Tiger Zinda Hai franchise as he begins work on it early next year. Concentrate on your own task but also pay attention to others -- this is the key rule for success, at least for rats when exploring as a group The rat in a maze might be one of the most classic paradigms in the study of behaviour, but an international team of scientists has put a twist on this experimental motif to push the leading edge of technology and research into search strategies of collectives. Reporting in Current Biology, the researchers describe the innovation of placing rats into a maze--not alone--but in groups in order to study their problem-solving behaviour. The study, which uses automated video tracking of the rodents simultaneously exploring their environment, reveals that rats use simple behavioural rules to achieve superior search performances in groups. "We found that groups outperform single individuals in searching for a target, even when they have limited ability to communicate or share information. By uncovering the simple search strategy used by these groups, our study provides the means of directly inspiring algorithms for collective search applications," says lead author Mate Nagy, who conducted this research when he was at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Department of Collective Behaviour and the University of Konstanz. Rethinking rat in a maze For decades, scientists have been using a classical experimental search task--which involves placing a single rat in a complex maze to search for a reward--to deepen understanding of navigation, memory, and learning. However, rats are highly social animals that build and live in complex burrow systems in nature. Yet very little is known about how they explore as a group. In the new study, researchers from institutes in Germany and Hungary turned the classical experimental search task into the first experimental study on rodent group search behaviour in a confined maze. "Rats have long been considered as one of the most suitable model organisms of humans. Using a group of rats to model collective problem solving has pinpointed basic mechanisms employed by rodents and lent insight into underlying rules of how individuals enhance search performance by being in groups," says senior author Tamas Vicsek from Eotvos Lorand University, one of the founders of the collective behaviour research field, and initiator of the idea to study collective exploration in this research project. A social search task Researchers sought to answer questions about how individuals make decisions in a group with a common target. For instance, how much should individuals concentrate on searching alone versus paying attention to what others are doing? And, how much is communication and coordination between the group members necessary? The researchers designed and built a relatively large and complex maze with 16 endpoints. The structure of the maze meant that rats could only see others in very close proximity. Each endpoint was equipped with a water dispenser, but only one of these provided a water reward. In the search task, rats had the opportunity to locate the water reward, either alone or in groups of eight. The time taken for rats to locate the reward was measured. Rats were tracked and their individual trajectories reconstructed via automated tracking software, which allowed for deciphering the underlying characteristics of search behaviour. The optimal balance between individual and collective Rats in a group performed better in the search task compared to when they were on their own. When the researchers took a close look at the decisions of rats at the maze junctions, they found that the actions of those in groups could be boiled down to simple rules: go down unexplored paths but follow other rats. In order to confirm the generality of these rules, the researchers carried out computational modelling with large numbers of simulations to show the search performance result of different combinations of these simple rules. They found that that when searching as a group, individuals performed best if they had the right balance between solo exploration and following others. Both extremes--ignoring others completely or following others too much--resulted in lower performance for the group as a whole, as well as for each of the members on the long run. Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ELhBYj-_R4 "In the past, scientists have described many examples of how individuals improve their navigational efficiency by following others, or by being in a group. In this study, we have combined two classical experimental components to reveal the mechanisms behind such group navigation in detail: a maze solving task performed by the highly social rat as model organisms. Using this unique combinations, we succeeded in uncovering the search strategy that allows groups to outperform individuals," says Andrea Flack, a group leader in the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour and the University of Konstanz, and co-author on the study. The researchers say the simple decision-making rules will open doors to designing algorithms for artificial systems. "These can include tasks when a group of autonomous robots explore complex, labyrinth-like environments where only limited communication is possible, like in abandoned mines," says Nagy who is now head of the Collective Behaviour 'Lendulet' Research Group in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eotvos Lorand University. Facts: A new study by an international team of researchers from the University of Konstanz and co-located Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (Germany) and Eotvos Lorand University (Hungary) uncovered the strategy that allows groups of rats to outperform individuals in searching for a target. Using the classic rat in maze paradigm, the researchers innovated the experiment by studying how groups of rats search in a maze--something never done in past research on rat search behaviour, which has focused on a single individual. The study, which used automated automated video tracking of the rodents simultaneously exploring their environment, found that when searching as a group, individuals performed best if they had the right balance between solo exploration and following others. ### Original publication: Title: Synergistic benefits of group search in rats. Mate Nagy, Attila Horicsanyi, Enik? Kubinyi, Iain D. Couzin, Gabor Vasarhelyi, Andrea Flack, Tamas Vicsek. Current Biology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.08.079 The work was conducted by lead author Mate Nagy when he was at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Department of Collective Behaviour and the University of Konstanz and previously at Eotvos Lorand University and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Authors Iain Couzin and Andrea Flack are part of the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the Cluster of Excellence "Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour" at the University of Konstanz. Authors Attila Horicsanyi, Enik? Kubinyi, Gabor Vasarhelyi, Tamas Vicsek are affiliated to Eotvos Lorand University and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Rep. Henry Cuellar announced Wednesday with TAMIU that the university would receive $435,020 in federal funds for their work in studying gang violence in New Jersey. According to Cuellar, the funding will allow TAMIU professors along with graduate and undergraduate researchers to participate in the study of the dynamics of guns and gang violence, which is expected to help inform policy makers and law makers in the future. He added that more money has been provided for gun violence research after the removal of a prohibition of prohibition of gun violence research. The study will be led by Dr. Jared Dmello, Assistant Professor and Project Investigator, and partnered with the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and California State University. It will take place in New Jersey because of the states notoriety for gun violence and their spillover effects from gun and gang violence from New York City. The high level of both gang and gun violence is a perfect case study to understand the connection and develop effective data driven tools. This research is really going to investigate how gangs use firearms and how this use has evolved in the span of about four decades in the state of New Jersey, Dmello said. Were really interested in how gang use of firearms specifically terrorizes communities, but that spillover effect of when it goes from a private to a public setting and how group composition impacts network violence more broadly. Dmellos lab in TAMIU is still researching gang violence for Texas, Webb County and Laredo, and how it is evolving with a focus on ethnicity instead of the connection of gun and gangs. He adds that while gender and race impacts race and gun violence, there still has not been a systematic study at the state level looking at the connection from the network perspective. The current plan is to work with policymakers and law enforcement to provide data to help reduce gang violence. TAMIU students will have the opportunity to study under Dmello and learn techniques that would include geospatial social network analysis, analytics to predict the future of networked evolution that may help them in their future academic or professional careers, Dmello said. We have brought in the last 10 or 12 years a great young group of faculty members who conduct research on problems that are not specifically surrounding Laredo or Webb County, TAMIU President Dr. Pablo Arenaz said. Arenaz adds that the research that is published by Dmello will have applications in Laredo, Dallas and across the country. The research grants are difficult to get by institutions, yet very important for them and the community TAMIU Provost, Dr. Thomas R Mitchell said. I am very interested in seeing what he finds out about how firearm violence by gangs spills over the community and victimizes community members. Mitchell said. Interestingly, hes going to do some geospatial to show the different variants that can cause gangs to resort to violence from internal power relations to their locale. It promises to be a very interesting and very complex study, so I wish him good luck with it. cocampo@lmtonline.com Mariah Carey is revealing it all in an upcoming memoir set to be released on Tuesday, Sept. 29. And the 50-year-old legend sat down with Oprah Winfrey to discuss her explosive new book, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. In a clip from their conversation on AppleTV+, Mariah revealed she didn't 'feel worthy of existing' and was treated like 'an ATM machine with a wig on.' Scroll down for video Talk about it! Mariah Carey is revealing it all in an upcoming memoir set to be released on Tuesday, Sept. 29 Oprah added: 'The loneliness and sadness behind the facade I now understand it.' 'I couldn't have asked for a better way to introduce my memoir than having a conversation with my friend, therapist and icon Ms. Oprah, on her series The Oprah Conversations,' Mariah captioned a clip on Instagram. The New York Post picked up that social media savvy fans assumed Mariah was referring to her marriage to former manager Tommy Mottola. Icons: Oprah added: 'The loneliness and sadness behind the facade I now understand it.' Tough: In a clip from their conversation on AppleTV+, Mariah revealed she didn't 'feel worthy of existing' and was treated like 'an ATM machine with a wig on' Business: The 50-year-old legend sat down with Oprah Winfrey to discuss her explosive new book, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. Mariah met the former Sony Music exec in 1988 and the couple were married in 1993. She left the marriage in 1997 and was officially divorce on March 5, 1998. Carey described their 'Sing Sing' mansion in New York as a prison with security cameras and guards, according to reports from the Los Angeles Times. Carey blamed her estranged family members for repeatedly going to tabloids with stories, and felt no ill-will revealing it all in the book because they 'drew first blood, historically.' Honest: Carey blamed her estranged family members for repeatedly going to tabloids with stories, and felt no ill-will revealing it all in the book because they 'drew first blood, historically' Mottola, for his part, told Page Six that he's 'deeply gratified to have played that role in Mariahs well-deserved and remarkable success, and continue to wish her and her family only the very best.' Mariah's tell-all also includes how Derek Jeter played a crucial role in helping Carey leave her husband. 'He was a catalyst that helped me get out of that relationship, because I had believed that there was somebody else,' she shared. She also revealed that The Roof and My All, two songs from her 1997 album Butterfly, were about the former New York Yankees shortstop. A former member of a Black radical group who was convicted in the 1971 killings of two New York City police officers has been granted parole after more than four decades behind bars. Following a hearing earlier this month, the state Board of Parole approved the release of Anthony Bottom - now known as Jalil Muntaqim - from prison on or before Oct. 20, officials said Wednesday. His parole follows that of a co-defendant, Herman Bell, in 2018. Bottom, 68, and Bell were both sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the ambush slayings of Officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini. New York's Board of Parole approved the release of Anthony Bottom - now known as Jalil Muntaqim - from prison on or before Oct. 20 Bottom, 68, and a co-defendant were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the ambush slayings of Officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini In a statement, Piagentini's widow blamed the decision on what she described as a shift in New York in recent years toward a more lenient approach to parole. 'We are heartbroken to see another of Joe's killers set free by politics,' said Diane Piagentini. Jones and Piagentini were shot multiple times after responding to a report of a domestic dispute at a Harlem public housing complex on May 21, 1971. Prosecutors said at that time that it was a trap set by Bottom and Bell. Co-defendant Herman Bell was released in 2018 A joint statement from the Release Aging People in Prisons Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, Brooklyn Defenders Office and the Legal Aid Society said that they stood in 'support' of the release of Bottom (pictured) The two were members of a violent offshoot of the Black Panther Party called the Black Liberation Army. The group sanctioned symbolic killings of police officers, regardless of their race, in New York and California and robbed banks to finance its activities, authorities have said. For years, Bottom, Bell and another co-defendant who has since died in prison claimed they were innocent and had been framed by the FBI. A joint statement from the Release Aging People in Prisons Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, Brooklyn Defenders Office and the Legal Aid Society said that they stood in 'support' of the release of Bottom. 'We support the Parole Board's decisions to release incarcerated older people who have served decades in prison and pose no risk to public safety,' the joint statement read. '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.' U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit South Korea in early October, a diplomatic source said Wednesday. Pompeo will visit right after Chuseok or Korean Thanksgiving and meet with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha and President Moon Jae-in. He then flies to Japan to meet with new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Pompeo recently said that there are still lots of efforts being made to resume dialogue with North Korea. If that is successful it could help President Donald Trump's faltering approval ratings ahead of the U.S. presidential election. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Approval ratings of political leaders surged in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In the days and weeks with high numbers of new COVID-19 cases there were also large boosts to leader approval. These results support a "rally 'round the flag" phenomenon in which citizens rally around their leaders during times of crisis and may have voting implications. Data analyzed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the National University of Singapore reveal world leaders, on average, experienced a 14-point boost in approval. Citizens tend to support their leaders in times of national crisis, such as war or terrorist attack, but the new study is the first to identify a rally effect during a health crisisone that's been deadly and destructive across the globe. The idea for the paper was developed by Kai Chi (Sam) Yam, associate professor and dean's chair in the Department of Management and Organization in Singapore. Yam collaborated with Joshua Conrad Jackson, a doctoral student in psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill who conducted the analyses and co-wrote the paper. Drawing from political science and psychological theories, the study authors and their colleagues examined the effect of COVID-19 cases on approval ratings through the first 120 days of 2020. More than 2 million daily approval ratings were collected for 11 heads of government from geographically and culturally diverse countries and all 50 United States governors. U.S. President Donald J. Trump had a scant 4-point gain out of a possible 100 in approval during the time period compared to the substantial 24- to 61-point boosts in approval for leaders in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Australia. U.S. governors experienced 15- to 20-point gains. "COVID-19 might serve as a catalyst to help some incumbent governments win election," said Yam. For example, the Korean ruling party won the most seats in the house by any party since 1960 in an election held during the pandemic in April 2020. "We collected our data during the early stages of the pandemic, so we aren't equipped to answer questions about the effect's endurance. Clearly the effect doesn't last forever, but its timeline may depend on several factors, including how effectively a leader is perceived to respond to the pandemic," Jackson said. Intensifying their protests against the contentious agricultural bills passed by Parliament earlier this week, several farmers organisations, including from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have called a national shutdown on Friday. Farmers in Punjab have already started a three-day rail blockade against the bills, squatting on tracks at many places on Thursday. The farmer outfits have also decided to call an indefinite rail blockade from October 1. As many as 31 farmer organisations have joined hands for the Punjab Bandh on Friday. Several organisations in Haryana, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), said they have extended support to the nationwide strike. A number of farmers groups said they will hold a chakka jam" from 10am to 4pm on Friday. BKUs Haryana president Ratan Singh Mann said, Various farmers organisations of Haryana will hold protests in all districts, tehsil, block and village levels against the farm bills passed by the Parliament. There will be a chakka jaam from 10am to 4pm." Mann said like Haryana, there will be protests in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Uttarakhand, UP and other states. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the BJPs oldest ally, has also announced road blockades across Punjab to protest against the bills. SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said the partys senior leaders, workers, farmers and farm labourers would block roads in the state for three hours from 11am in a peaceful manner. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh appealed to the farmers to maintain law and order and adhere to all coronavirus-safety protocols during the strike. In a statement, Singh said the state government was fully with the farmers in their fight against the bills and no FIRs would be registered for violation of Section 144, which bars assembly of more than four people. There should be no disturbance of law and order during the strike, Singh said. He appealed to the farmers to ensure that citizens are not inconvenienced and that lives and property are not endangered due to the agitation. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh appealed to the people, including shopkeepers and commercial establishments, to keep their shops shut in support of the strike. Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar urged people to support the farmers and make the strike a success. The main opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has already extended its support. The Congress said it supports the Bharat Bandh call given by farmer organisations, saying millions of party workers stand in solidarity with the farmers cause and will participate in their dharnas. Congress spokesperson Randeep Sujewala said while farmers and farm labourers fill the stomachs of countrymen with their hard labour, the Narendra Modi government is attacking them and their fields. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi earlier said in a tweet, Modi governments priorities Instead of talking to farmers and workers to find a solution to their problems, busy in PR." Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhary said party workers in the national capital will launch a plan to raise the voice of farmers and farm labourers from Parliament to panchayats. He said workers will take to the streets against the farm bills. Though many agitators have said they will protest in their own areas and not head to Delhi, Delhi Police are on high alert and have made preparations to seal the border with Haryana in a bid to forestall any such attempt. However, traffic across the Delhi-Haryana border was normal on Thursday. The protesters have expressed apprehension that the Centres farm reforms would pave the way for dismantling of the minimum support price system and they would be at the mercy of big corporates. The farmers said they would continue their fight till the three farm bills were revoked. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill were passed by the Parliament earlier this week. Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij held a meeting with officers of the home and police departments on Thursday to review the situation, and directed the DGP to ensure elaborate police arrangements to prevent any untoward situation. (With inputs from agencies) NORMAL Students could begin to return to McLean County Unit 5 classrooms at the start of second quarter, the district announced Thursday morning. If the metrics remain stable and/or improve, we will have students return to school in a hybrid format, Superintendent Kristen Weikle said in letters to staff and families. Students in pre-kindergarten through second grade as well as sixth and ninth graders will resume in-person learning during the week of Oct. 19-23. Some students in special education and other special services levels will also return that week. The remaining grades third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th and 12th will come back the week of Oct. 26-30. Families will have the option to keep their children in full remote learning or return in the hybrid model. Weikle said the students return will be spread over two weeks so the administrators and staff can continue to adjust the process as necessary with fewer students in the buildings. Unit 5's announcement comes a day after Bloomington District 87 leaders said elementary students would have the opportunity to return to in-person learning after second quarter begins. Both districts are seeking a phased-in, hybrid approach. "We will be looking to phase in this hybrid approach, and the reason being, you know, no plan is perfect," Weikle said. "None of us have lived through nor have we taught and worked in a pandemic, and so we have a plan that we feel looks really solid on paper. However we also know once we get these little bodies in our buildings ... we may have to make some tweaks and minor changes to our plan." Assuming the metrics related to local community health are stable on Oct. 19, Unit 5 will adopt a hybrid model with blended learning, similar to the plan announced by District 87. Students will attend in person two days a week. On Wednesdays, students will participate in synchronous and asynchronous learning at home with a teacher online, and the remaining two days will be asynchronous remote learning. I understand that a change to how instruction is delivered may be uncomfortable for some but believe that the benefit to having students back in-person is worth it, Weikle said to families. All health safety guidelines will be upheld when students return, including masks and distancing. A key difference between this plan and the first plan released in July is elementary students will follow the hybrid model, where before they were going to attend five days a week. "Realistically right now to follow IDPH and CDC guidelines and to really have social distancing in place, we just need to reduce the number of students in the buildings," Weikle said. "And being a district as large as we are, we need to do that in a hybrid model." Students will be grouped by last name to determine which days they attend in-person. Weikle said families will need to have a back-up plan for their students to be prepared should a classroom or building need to stop in-person learning temporarily. This could happen due to a COVID outbreak, or a requirement for your student to quarantine for 14 days due to being identified as a close contact, the plan states. The seven metrics that will guide the districts decision-making process include: the regions phase in the Restore Illinois Plan, the number of new cases per 100,000, the countys seven-day rolling positivity rate, the weekly case number increase, the weekly increase of youth cases, the number of hospital admissions for COVID-like illnesses and the percentage of ICU beds available in local hospitals. Photos: Volunteers distribute school supplies with the Back2School Alliance Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer. 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. Dr Deborah Birx may be weighing her future with the White House Coronavirus Task Force. According to a new report from CNN, Dr Birx has told people around her that she is "distressed" with the direction of the task force and has described the nation's response to the Covid-19 pandemic as "nightmarish." She is reportedly uncertain how much longer she will serve in her current position as Coronavirus Response Coordinator. Sources told CNN that Dr Birx feels her role has been "diminished" amid the addition of Dr Scott Atlas to the task force. Dr Birx reportedly confided to friends that she believes Dr Atlas is an unhealthy influence on President Donald Trump, and that he has given the president misleading information about the effectiveness of face masks to stop the spread of the virus. Mr Trump and his supporters have notably refused to wear face masks, despite the CDC's recommendations. Dr Atlas responded to CNNs report during a Wednesday evening press conference, saying, "Dr Birx speaks for herself but that's a completely false story and she denied it today." Dr Birx became a staple of Mr Trump's early coronavirus briefings and reportedly became known as a "team player" within the administration, according to a CNN source. In April, Dr Birx memorably bit her tongue when Mr Trump falsely suggested that injections of disinfectants could prevent Americans from getting the virus. In a statement provided to The Independent, White House spokesman Judd Deere said the rumors of Dr Birx's role being diminished are "just false." "All of the medical experts in the administration are working together around the clock to carry out the President's No. 1 priority: protecting the health and safety of the American people and defeating this virus from China," Mr Deeres statement read. "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." The optics, however, suggest a possible shift within the task force. While Dr Atlas has increasingly been seen at Mr Trump's side at recent coronavirus briefings, CNN notes that Dr Birx has been sent to states with increased Covid cases, visiting schools and giving speeches on behalf of the administration. The new report comes a few weeks after Mr Trump publicly lashed out at Dr Birx for the first time. In an August tweet, the president called Dr Birx's response to criticism "pathetic" after she admitted that the coronavirus was widespread throughout the US. "I am excited to welcome Kimberly's energy and experience to our Executive Leadership Team," said Brian Coffman, President and CEO of Motiva. "Her extensive legal background, with emphasis on Labor, Benefits and HR matters, will bring immense value to Motiva and the strategic role the HR organization plays in our business." Prior to her role as Executive Vice President of HR, Green served as Motiva's Associate General Counsel, overseeing the attorneys who provide corporate, commercial and regulatory legal support to the company. Green was instrumental in standing up the company's current HR organization and employee benefits and has been involved in several of its largest initiatives and transactions since 2015. Prior to joining Motiva, Green spent 13 years at Shell, where she specialized in labor, employment, and employee benefits. She expanded her scope to support Shell's downstream commercial business serving as Vice President of Legal for Jiffy Lube International, a Shell subsidiary. Green earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from Baylor University and Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Houston. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association, the Texas General Counsel Forum, and the Association of Corporate Counsel. About Motiva Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Motiva refines, distributes and markets petroleum products throughout the United States. The company's Port Arthur Manufacturing Complex (PAMC) in Port Arthur, TX, is comprised of North America's largest refinery with a crude capacity of more than 630,000 barrels a day, the country's largest lubricant plant, and an adjacent chemical plant. Under exclusive, long-term brand licenses with Shell and Phillips 66 (for the 76 brand), Motiva's marketing operations support more than 5,000 retail gasoline stations. The company's 2,500 US employees are dedicated to delivering excellence and having fun making a difference. Motiva is wholly-owned by Saudi Aramco. SOURCE Motiva Enterprises LLC Related Links www.motiva.com WHITEHORSE - Yukon's government has extended its COVID-19 relief program for businesses through to March. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (484 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. WHITEHORSE - Yukon's government has extended its COVID-19 relief program for businesses through to March. 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. Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai says the program has also been updated to expand eligibility and help businesses with a broader list of fixed costs. The government says in a statement territorial businesses that experience a deficit between Aug. 1 and March 31 are eligible to apply, including home-based businesses. The statement says the pandemic created unprecedented challenges for Yukon businesses. Businesses that apply for help have to indicate they are operating at a deficit. Other Yukon programs to help with the downturn caused by the pandemic include a paid sick-leave rebate and the Yukon Essential Workers Income Support Program. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2020. The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine plans to establish Industry Centre for Cybersecurity for critical infrastructure facilities in the Ukrainian energy sector. As the Ministry's press office reports, negotiations with partners on obtaining technical assistance are currently underway. "International companies leading in the field of cybersecurity and digital transformation, such as, Microsoft, Cisco, HPE, Dell, McAfee, Huawei, Fortinet, Trend Micro, Micro Focus, Palo Alto Networks, have expressed interest in joining work together," the ministry said. In the near future, together with the International Cybersecurity University (ICU), it is planned to hold a meeting of the working group on the development of cyber defense of critical energy infrastructure facilities under the Ministry of Energy. "The purpose of the meeting is to draw attention to cybersecurity issues in the energy sector, to establish closer cooperation with global companies and international partners, to develop a plan for the further development of the sectoral cybersecurity system," the Ministry of Energy reported. Japanese people aged 50 and older do not tend to have lower self-esteem, suggesting that trajectory of self-esteem may differ across cultures Self-esteem does not remain constant through life, but changes as a person develops. A large number of studies conducted on this topic, mainly in the United States, have shown that self-esteem is high in childhood, declines in adolescence, but then continues to increase throughout adulthood, peaking in the 50s and 60s, and declining thereafter. Studies in Japan have also reported that self-liking, which is an aspect of self-esteem, follows a similar trajectory across different ages. However, previous Japanese studies had two main limitations. First, they focused on self-liking, one element of self-esteem. Self-esteem is composed of self-liking (the affective judgment of oneself) and self-competence (the overall sense of oneself as capable and effective). It is important to comprehensively examine self-esteem, including simultaneous investigation of both the aspects of self-liking and self-competence, to clarify the developmental trajectory of self-esteem. Second, the studies did not sufficiently investigate age differences in self-esteem in elderly people aged 70 years and older. Research has indicated that self-esteem does not decline in Japan up to 69 years of age, but it may decline thereafter. Furthermore, a decline in self-esteem itself may be absent in Japan. Reports have consistently demonstrated that levels of self-esteem vary across different cultures, but the differing tendencies of developmental trajectories have not been adequately reported. Thus, it is also necessary to examine the self-esteem of elderly people aged 70 years and older, to elucidate the developmental trajectory of self-esteem in Japan. To address this gap, Assistant professor Yuji Ogihara, from the Faculty of Science Division II, Tokyo University of Science and Professor Takashi Kusumi, from the Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University, conducted a large-scale study comprehensively examining age differences in self-esteem from adolescence to old age, including both self-liking and self-competence, across a wider sample of people, including respondents aged 70 and older. They analyzed six web-based surveys administered to a large and diverse sample of people in Japan from 2009 to 2018. The responses were obtained from 6113 persons (2996 males and 3117 females) between the ages of 16 and 88. Each study used the most commonly used self-esteem scale (10 items) to measure self-esteem. The scale includes items for measuring self-liking, such as "On the whole, I am satisfied with myself", and items for measuring self-competence, such as "I feel that I have a number of good qualities". The participants scored each item on a scale of one to five, from "1: Not applicable" to "5: Applicable". The results showed that self-esteem is low in adolescence but increases gradually from adulthood to old age (see Figure 1). The changes from adolescence to middle age were consistent with findings from previous research in Europe and the United States, but unlike observed in previous studies, there was no decline in self-esteem from the 50s onwards. Therefore, the findings in this research suggest that the developmental trajectory of self-esteem may differ in different cultures. "Previous research has insisted that one of the causes of the decline in self-esteem after middle age in Europe and the United States is that elderly people come to accept their limitations and faults, leading them to have a more humble, modest, and balanced view of themselves. On the other hand, reports have shown that people in Japan have a humbler view of themselves even before middle age. This may be the reason for the lack of decline in self-esteem in this study," suggests Dr Ogihara. Other factors that may generate cultural differences, including the seniority system and the culture of respect for the aged, require further detailed examination. Generational effects may obscure the low self-esteem in Japan after middle age. Therefore, further investigation is needed to separate these developmental changes from generational differences, such as conducting a longitudinal survey that tracks people of the same generation. Further work is required owing to the small sample size of participants in their 80s--collecting and analyzing more data and verifying that similar results can be obtained. "Examining the age differences and developmental trajectories of self-esteem is not only academically and theoretically significant, as described above, it also has practical and social significance," explains Dr. Ogihara. "For example, understanding when self-esteem tends to be low can help determine when the adoption of effective preventive measures is more necessary, and allow for timely intervention and response." This study has elucidated the age differences in self-esteem--one of the most basic psychological tendencies. Thus, Ogihara and Kusumi hope that these findings can contribute not only to related academic research in various fields, but also more broadly to clinical and general practice, including prevention and intervention. ### 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 Professor Yuji Ogihara from Tokyo University of Science Yuji Ogihara, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan. He earned his doctorate from the University of Kyoto in 2015. His research interests include cultural change, interpersonal relationships, happiness, individualism, and culture. He is a recipient of numerous awards, including the 2015 Student Poster Award (Society for Personality and Social Psychology), and has over 20 publications to his name. Funding information This research was supported by the Japanese Group Dynamics Association. In these difficult times, when job losses and salary cuts have become the new normal, smart millennials and even experienced office goers have increasingly looked at building a second source of income. Theres a new word for this now: gig economy. So, assignments such as online tutoring, developing content and graphic and teaching part-time at professional institutes are some such avenues. The idea is to put your additional talent to good use and earn some money out of it. People have been trying multiple things to sustain and survive during difficult times. There is an 8-10 per cent growth in gigs compared to the Unlock 1 phase. If moonlighting (as it is called in HR parlance), can be done with employer consent, it can open up multiple channels, says Kaushik Banerjee, VP and Business Head, Teamlease.com and Freshersworld.com. A back-up plan in times of distress The thought of losing a job or facing a pay cut can be unnerving. A supplementary source of income can cushion the income loss and keep you afloat during such phases. Moreover, such assignments will help you polish your entrepreneurial talent. They can be your first step towards becoming an entrepreneur in the long run, says Melvin Joseph, Founder, Finvin Financial Planners. Sayantan Ghosh, Robotics professional; Side gig: Online tutoring for students in India and UAE; I arrange classes early in morning, before I start work. At times, I have even organised classes during lunchtime. Take the case of Kolkata-based Sayantan Ghosh, for instance. Employed with a robotics company, Ghosh also conducts online classes for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students in India and the UAE, after having taken his employers permission. I arrange classes early in morning, before I start work. At times, I have even organised classes during lunchtime, he says. With virtual classes becoming a reality across the world after the COVID-19-induced lockdown, the demand for online tutors has only grown. For 40 online classes of 30 minutes each, the fees can work out to Rs 10,000-12,000 per student, he adds. Like Ghosh, Nivedita Roy is also a salaried employee based in Bangalore. The IT professionals entrepreneurial journey started last year, when she and her husband visited her hometown in Assam. My husband was highly impressed with the quality and variety of tea available in the state as well as in Darjeeling. His experience inspired us to launch our tea brand Goodness of Heaven in Bengaluru. The idea is to source the products from Assam and Sikkim and sell it to our clients at reasonable prices, explains Roy. A back-up source of income can come in handy at least to meet regular expenses in a crisis. We have seen people being laid off, no matter how capable they are. A second source of income can ensure that we do not end up taking up unsuitable jobs in desperation, she adds, while still being employed at her technology company. Nivedita Roy, IT professional; Side gig: Marketing and distributing tea brands from Assam and Sikkim in Bengaluru; A second source of income can ensure that we do not end up taking up unsuitable jobs out of desperation Gigs and day job must peacefully co-exist If you wish to have a go at it, check if your gig is in the same business as your normal day job. If the two are in the same industry, then it is typically frowned upon. If they are in unrelated lines of businesses, then there is no conflict of interest. This is the key clause you need to bear in mind if you plan to take on such side hustles. You need to go through your employment contract thoroughly before accepting assignments. A lot depends on the wording. Sometimes, the terms may specifically state that you cannot take on any gigs for monetary considerations, says Sonu Iyer, Partner, People Advisory Services, EY. Likewise, be mindful of non-compete, intellectual property rights (IPR) and confidentiality clauses. Once you conform to the laid-out rules, employers, in fact, are likely to consider certain side hustles favourably. For example, guest lectures at premier professional institutes. Employers are likely to allow such assignments as these activities can also act as brand enhancers for the organisations, says Iyer. Tejash Gandhi, Chartered accountant; Side gig: Visiting faculty at a Mumbai-based management institute. It was a win-win situation for all me, the students, the college and also my employer. I had my companys consent and there was no conflict of interest. And, this is what chartered accountant Tejash Gandhi did until recently he signed up as a visiting faculty at a management institute in Mumbai. I taught at the college six hours a day during weekends, besides doing other tasks such as checking answer papers and conducting mock interviews. It was a win-win situation for all me, the students, the college and also my employer. I had the firms consent and there was no conflict of interest. It also helped me enhance and refresh my knowledge, he explains. His fees were paid on a per-hour basis. At your end, ensure that your gigs do not come at the cost of your primary job. Keep the employer informed throughout, seek consent in writing and do not use office hours or resources for these tasks, says Iyer. Let not social media posts hurt images While the opportunity to have dual source of income may seem exciting, it comes with its share of risks. Conflict of interest is the key clause to watch out for. It sets out restrictions on the nature of external or part-time work that an employee may undertake, and whether prior permission is necessary. Additionally, since part-time activities in todays age may involve use of various social media and other online platforms, check the social media or Internet policy of your employer to ensure there are no restrictions, explains Rashmi Pradeep, Partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. In some cases, depending on the organisation you work for, having more than one source of income will simply not be allowed. Factories Act 1948 clearly mentions that dual employment is not permissible. This, however, does not apply to all institutions, as not every organisation falls within the meaning of the factory under the Act, says Anjali Raghuvanshi, Chief People Officer, Randstad India. In such cases, go through your contract to understand the specifics of this clause. The employment agreement must state the restrictions placed on double employment and that employees are prohibited from engaging in additional employment or professions till theyre under their current employers services, she adds. It is important to plug all gaps, as the consequences of violating employment contracts can be severe. The consequences which could range from a warning to termination from employment (to be determined commensurate to the gravity of the employees actions), explains Rashmi. In certain cases, if an inquiry concludes that employees have violated the terms and caused financial or reputational loss to the company, it can also initiate a suit for damages. If the employees actions are grave and involve breach of trust, fraud etc. the possibility of criminal action cannot be ruled out, she adds. Hence, it is best to consult your employer and take a written consent from your reporting authority or HR before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey while holding on to your job. Tax tangles The legal angle apart, you need to understand the tax implications on this extra income stream. Such income would be taxed under the head Income from Business or Profession. You will not be able to use tax return forms ITR-1 or ITR-2. You will have to use either ITR-3 or ITR-4. ITR-3 will enter the picture if you have also made capital gains. While ITR-4 is a simple form, ITR-3 necessitates extensive details, says Karan Batra, Founder and CEO, Chartered Club. The "Germany Automotive Camera Market Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2020 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Germany Automotive Camera Market is anticipated to register a CAGR of over 13% during the forecast period (2020 2025). The growing demand for automobiles, increasing safety concern among customers, stringent government norms, latest innovation technology, rapid adoption of ADAS and availability of cast-effective parking cameras and sensors in aftermarket are some of the major drivers of growth of the market. However, high cost of the module has been slightly hindering the market growth. ADAS like Adaptive cruise control (ACC), Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) requires 3 to 6 cameras to be installed on the vehicle. These cameras in an automotive cost almost 8 times the module in a mobile phone camera, making it a challenge for entry into the market. Thermal camera and multi camera systems are expected to exhibit the highest growth rate in sensing camera and application segments during the forecast period. Passengers are more likely to prefer the latest advancements in the camera technology such as 360 degrees camera that captures the image from multiple cameras and display a consolidated image on split screen. Government strict norms such as installing vehicles with advanced safety features like ADAS. European authorities make installation of Automotive Emergency Braking (AEB) and Forward Collision Avoidance/Warning System mandatory by 2020. This is likely to boost the sales of automotive cameras over the forecast period. Key Market Trends Sensing Camera to Experience a Significant Growth Currently, the sensing cameras segment is experiencing a significant growth and it is projected to continue its dominance during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the increase in safety concern of the passengers, and strict government initiatives. Sensing cameras also provide a higher level of performance than general-purpose driving cameras by maintaining quality standards as cost-effective solutions. These are intelligent safety systems with two key components: the remote sensors (using remote sensing technologies) and the processing computer. A remote sensor is a device that collects data about real-world conditions through sensors, such as radar, ultrasonic sensors, and cameras. The processing computer receives data from these cameras and sensors then make the decision and sends commands to the vehicle subsystems. With the increasing adoption of ADAS features in vehicles, the demand for cameras has been increasing significantly. For instance, In March 2020, BMW Group has launched plug-in hybrid 330e and 330e xDrive. Its ADAS includes active cruise control with stop and go, which can accelerate and slows automatically to maintain the desired speed set by the driver. It also has standard features such as active guard, frontal collision warning, city collision mitigation, and lane departure warning. Continental AG, one of the leaders in automotive cameras manufacturing company in Germany had introduced a ProViu ASL360 camera to assist the drivers by stitching multiple images with an all-round 360-degree view, reducing blind spots and displaying pedestrians and other objects in the immediate vicinity. Owing to the aforementioned trends, the sensing cameras segment experiences a significant growth during the forecast period. Passenger Cars to Dominate the Market Currently, the demand for the automotive camera market is rapidly increasing due to its adoption rate used in passenger cars. Also, it will continue its dominance during the forecast period. Advanced ADAS technologies like Adaptive cruise control (ACC), Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) are hindering the market growth. The increase in this segment can also be attributed to the strict norms in Germany. Such as, the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) norms in this country will require all the vehicles to be installed with safety features in coming years. Also, Germany is a home for many automobile manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and Opel have achieved economies of scale and are producing devices at a cheaper rate. Various OEMs and Aftermarket companies are now introducing parking assist systems. For instance, In June 2019, Garmin Ltd. had introduced the new RV 785 GPS navigator that offers RV-specific navigation options and a new built-in dash camera. It was designed to bring more conveniences to life on the open road. The built-in camera also allows for more sophisticated parking assistance features including lane departure and forward collision warnings, which is designed to help and encourage a safer driving experience. Also, Europe government had mandated the installation of Lane Departure Warning(LDW) systems in passenger cars, and this is expected to propel the demand for the LDW system cameras in passenger cars during the forecast period. For instance, the ZF TRW's lane departure warning system uses video camera technology that is integrated with an electrically powered steering to enable quick feedback for active lane keeping assistance. The video camera detects when the vehicle is drifting toward the lane markings and the electric steering provides the driver guidance through the steering wheel to stay in the lane. Thereby, the automotive cameras in passenger cars would be highly driven by the significant demand for advanced driver assistance systems like lane-departure warning (LDW) systems. Competitive Landscape The Germany Automotive Camera market is dominated by few players like Denso Corporation, Continental AG, Garmin Ltd., Robert Bosch Gmbh, and Magna International Inc. These Companies are expanding their business by offering advanced technologies, so that they can have edge over their competitors. Various initiatives, as well as product innovations done by these companies have led them to strengthen their presence in the market. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tozvjy View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005371/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 James (Jim) D Taiclet, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lockheed Martin Corporation, is set to deliver a keynote address at the Global Aerospace Summit 2020. The premier thought leadership forum, hosted by Mubadala Investment Company and EDGE, takes place in a virtual format on September 28 and 29. 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. - TradeArabia News Service Federal authorities have opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal police shooting of a Kansas teenager who was backing out of the family's garage when an officer responding to a call for a wellness check fired 13 times. The FBI will "collect all available facts and evidence and will ensure that the investigation is conducted in a fair, thorough and impartial manner," a spokeswoman told NBC News in a statement Thursday. The agency's Kansas City, Missouri, field office is working with the U.S. attorney's office in Kansas and the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. The FBI did not comment further about the reason for and focus of the review, citing the ongoing investigation. The killing of John Albers, 17, in January 2018 brought the national outcry over police use of excessive force to the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park. Image: John Albers (Courtesy of Sheila Albers) After his death, Albers' family sought answers for what led to the shooting and even for the name of the officer who killed him, which they quickly learned was a struggle because of the state's restrictive public records laws, including for police documents. A month after the shooting of Albers, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe announced an official investigation determined the officer, who said he feared for his life, was justified in his actions. At the time, Howe and Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez said the officer resigned from the police force before administrative action could be taken. The name of the officer, Clayton Jenison, was only confirmed publicly by officials after an attorney for the Albers family uncovered it for a civil lawsuit filed in April 2018 against the officer and the police department. Albers' mother, Sheila Albers, said she welcomes the FBI and U.S. attorney's office investigation, and hopes it will "shed light on what Overland Park and our DA have been able to keep hidden." The opening of an investigation "highlights the failure of Overland Park and District Attorney Steve Howe to be transparent in their investigations and be accountable to their constituents," she added. Story continues Sean Reilly, a spokesman for the city of Overland Park, said officials will "fully cooperate ... just as we cooperated with the investigations conducted by the Johnson County District Attorney's office and the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers' Standards." Overland Park police did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the Johnson County District Attorney's Office declined to comment. On the night Albers was killed, his family had gone out to dinner. Police were called to the home for a wellness check after a friend was concerned that Albers may have been intoxicated and feeling suicidal and had threatened to stab himself with a knife, according to Sheila Albers and the federal complaint filed by the family. Dashcam videos and a neighbor's security camera showed Jenison and another officer arriving at the home. They first spoke for a few minutes outside and did not knock on the front door or identify themselves. Eventually, the family's garage door swung open, and Jenison unholstered his weapon and moved toward the door as the minivan, which Albers was driving, was about to reverse out. It was then, as the minivan backed out slowly and in a straight line, that Jenison reacted, aiming his weapon and yelling, "Stop, stop, stop." In a second, Jenison, who was standing to the right of the van, fired twice toward Albers; the family's complaint contended that one or both of the bullets struck the teenager, "incapacitating him and rendering him unable to control the minivan." The car stopped but then speeded up in reverse, making a U-turn in the driveway and backing up. Jenison fired 11 more shots, and the minivan pulled forward, past another police car that had just approached, and coasted in neutral into the driveway of a home across the street. A toxicology report indicated that Albers had not been under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Howe, in announcing his decision not to charge the officer in 2018, said "these are fluid and instantaneous decisions that a law enforcement officer must make, which makes the job so difficult." The family ended up settling with Overland Park in 2019 for $2.3 million, The Washington Post reported, although the city did not admit liability and said it settled to avoid the cost and length of the litigation. But Sheila Albers has long questioned the police narrative that Jenison had no choice but to draw his weapon because he was in immediate danger. In June, city officials confirmed that Jenison received $70,000 as part of a severance package when he agreed to resign, an amount paid despite the fact the prosecutor's office cleared him of wrongdoing. The city said the agreement was "in the best interest of the community" and could prevent Jenison from potentially fighting for reinstatement to the force because there was "no just cause to terminate" him and avoid a costly lawsuit. Officials also said Chief Donchez never communicated with Jenison about the agreement nor encouraged him to enter into it. Efforts to reach Jenison were unsuccessful Thursday. Sheila Albers said she's hoping for more transparency out of the federal investigation after officials "disseminated a false narrative, cleared the officer of wrongdoing in record time and structured a severance payout to the officer that killed John." The research showed that SVOD viewing for Q3 2020 remained high in the UK even after lockdown was lifted, with 64% of Internet users using an SVOD service in the previous month.The launch of platforms such as Disney+, available in the UK since the end of March, were cited as a large contributor to this, particularly as parents looked to keep children entertained during lockdown. Among existing services, Amazon Prime was also big winner and saw its monthly active users grow from 18% of online users in Q1 to 21% in Q3.All age groups in the UK said they spent more time watching SVOD content in Q3 2020 and when compared to time spent in Q3 2019, the sharpest rise was in the 45-54 years age group, who almost doubled their viewing time. There were also strong increases for the under 35s. 18 to 24-year olds spent the most time watching SVOD per day at 1 hour 45 minutes. The oldest age group in the survey, 55-64-year olds, spend the least at 20 minutes. In Q3 2019, 18-24-year olds said they watched SVOD for 1 hour 20 a day, that is almost the same time claimed by 25-34-year olds in Q3 2020.As consumers spend more time at home while restrictions on some out-of-home activities persist, they are prompted to watch greater amounts of content and those platforms with larger catalogues will be the ones to benefit most, commented Ampere Analysis consumer research lead, Minal Modha. Disney+ also launched at a fortuitous time as many children were off school and parents signed up to help keep them entertained. Both of these factors have contributed to high usage of SVOD platforms in Q3. BRUSSELS - The European Union said Thursday that the swearing in of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to a sixth term during a secretive ceremony lacks democratic legitimacy, defies the will of the Belarusian people and will only deepen the countrys political crisis. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell reiterated that the 27-nation bloc did not recognize the result of the Aug. 9 election that kept Lukashenko in power after 26 years and said that on this basis, the so-called inauguration...and the new mandate claimed by (him) lack any democratic legitimacy. Thousands of Belarus citizens have taken part in more than six weeks of rallies against the authoritarian leaders reelection, which the opposition says was rigged. This inauguration directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus, Borrell said in a statement. Lukashenko was sworn in Wednesday at an inaugural ceremony that was not announced in advance. Police and other security forces blocked off parts of the city and public transportation was suspended. Borrell underlined the EUs belief that Belarusian citizens deserve the right to be represented by those they freely choose through new inclusive, transparent and credible elections, He praised their courage. On Monday, EU foreign ministers failed to impose sanctions on Belarus officials suspected of election fraud or of playing a part in a brutal security crackdown on the post-election protests, despite appeals from Lukashenkos main opponent to take courageous action against his regime. Cyprus continues to block the sanctions move until similar measures are slapped on Turkey for its disputed energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. EU leaders will try to break the deadlock when they meet in Brussels on Oct. 1. In an email statement to The Associated Press on Thursday, Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said Lukashenko does not belong in a presidential palace. He belongs on the EU sanctions list. The secrecy surrounding his inauguration ceremony just illustrates that he has not been sworn in based on free and fair elections, but on election fraud and violence, Kofod said. ___ Follow APs coverage of Belarus at https://apnews.com/hub/belarus The Louisville cops involved in Breonna Taylor's fatal shooting can still face criminal charges despite a grand jury's decision to indict only one officer on Wednesday. The FBI said it is continuing its investigation into the 26-year-old EMT's death, separate to the probe carried out by the Kentucky Attorney General's office. Federal officers from the Louisville Field office as well as the bureau's Civil Rights Division will determine whether cops violated federal law during the March 13 incident. 'As we have indicated, our investigation is focusing on all aspects of Breonna Taylor's death,' an FBI spokesperson said in a statement following the grand jury's decision. 'Once our investigation is concluded, we will provide the collected facts to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to determine if federal criminal charges are warranted.' The federal investigation is one of at least five inquiries into Taylor's shooting that have been launched on a civil, federal and local level, since her death. The Louisville cops involved in Breonna Taylor's fatal shooting can still face criminal charges despite a grand jury's decision to indict former detective Brett Hankinson (left) on Wednesday. Sgt John Mattingly (right) and Detective Myles Cosgrove, who fired shots at Taylor, were not indicted LMPD Detective Joshua Jaynes (left) was identified as the officer who had obtained the controversial 'no-knock' search warrant to Taylor's apartment that resulted in her death. Detective Myles Cosgrove (right) is believed to have fired the fatal shot Taylor, 26, was killed alongside her boyfriend Kenneth Walker (right) after cops barged into her apartment while executing a search warrant targeting Glover Authorities did not specify which potential violations it was investigating however, the FBI's Civil Rights unit focuses on hate crimes and color of law violations, which include acts carried out by government officials operating both within and beyond the limits of their lawful authority. Federal authorities can choose to pursue charges on such violations which include excessive force, false arrest, obstruction of justice, and failure to keep from harm. The deprivation of rights under color of law is punishable by 'a range of imprisonment up to a life term, or the death penalty, depending upon the circumstances of the crime, and the resulting injury, if any', under Title 18. BREONNA TAYLOR'S DEATH INVESTIGATED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS The FBI and its Civil Rights Division will determine whether federal law was violated during the March 13 incident. The Civil Rights unit investigates hate crimes, color of law violations, and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act violations. - COLOR OF LAW VIOLATIONS: Excessive force Sexual assault False arrest and obstruction of justice Deprivation of medical care Failure to keep from harm - HATE CRIMES - FREEDOM OF ACCESS TO CLINIC ENTRANCES (FACE) ACT Advertisement Under Title 42, the division can also potentially seek charges under the Police Misconduct Statute, which makes it illegal for law enforcement agencies to have 'policies or practices that foster a pattern of misconduct by employees'. Authorities can investigate a police department for 'lack of supervision/monitoring of officers' actions; lack of justification or reporting by officers on incidents involving the use of force; lack of, or improper training of, officers; and citizen complaint processes that treat complainants as adversaries.' Action would be directed against the law enforcement agency, not against individual officers. The FBI has not said that it is investigating the Louisville Metro Police Department for these violations. On Wednesday, a Jefferson County grand jury announced its decision to indict only one of the three officers involved in the raid after the state opened an investigation into the shooting in May. Detective Brett Hankison, who was fired in June, was charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for recklessly firing his weapon into Taylor's apartment and the neighboring home. The other two cops involved, Sgt Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, were not indicted. Both officers were identified as the cops who fired shots at Taylor. Cosgrove was believed to have fired the bullet that claimed her life, according to the investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said the officers were justified in their actions because Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker admitted to opening fire first, and therefore they could not be criminally charged for acting on self-defense. 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 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 Cameron said the state's investigation did not include the attainment of the controversial 'no-knock' warrant. He confirmed the investigation into that matter is currently being conducted by federal law enforcement partners. LMPD Detective Joshua Jaynes was identified as the officer who had requested a search warrant to Taylor's apartment hours before her death on March 12, in pursuit of her ex-boyfriend and drug suspect Jamarcus Glover. LMPD Detective Joshua Jaynes (left) requested a search warrant to Taylor's apartment hours before her death on March 12, in pursuit of her ex-boyfriend and drug suspect Jamarcus Glover (right). Glover was already in custody by the time Louisville officers killed Taylor in a hail of bullets Cops later carried out the raid in the early hours of March 13, bursting through the door and killing the 26-year-old EMT in a hail of bullets as she stood alongside Walker. Meanwhile Glover, who was the intended target of the warrant, had already been taken into custody around the same time of the operation, ten miles away. Jaynes, who was not present during the raid, was placed on administrative reassignment in June after the department launched an investigation into how the controversial warrant was obtained. Although the officers had been widely reported to have executed the warrant without knocking, it has since been revealed the cops did indeed bang on the door before entering. However, questions still remain over why cops were allowed to execute the warrant at a residence where the intended target did not live. Cameron also announced he would soon sign an executive order 'in coming days' to create a task force that will review the process for securing, reviewing and executing search warrants in the state. 'I believe conducting a top to bottom review of the search warrant process is necessary to determine if changes are required and establish best practices,' Cameron told reporters. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said he will soon sign an executive order to create a task force that will review the process for securing and executing search warrants in the state Authorities have not confirmed if Jaynes or any other officers are subjects in the federal probe. DailyMail.com has contacted the LMPD for comment. Cameron said the three officers involved in the March 13 raid, Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly and detectives Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison were not involved in obtaining the search warrant. He said the three 'were called into duty as the extra personnel to effectuate the service of the search warrant.' 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 'They only had information conveyed to them in their prior briefing. They knocked and announced their presence at the apartment,' Cameron said. The LMPD on Tuesday confirmed Jaynes is one of six officers being investigated for violating department policies in a probe led by the department's Professional Standards Unit. Authorities did not say which potential violations they were investigating. According to earlier reports, Jaynes had requested a warrant in an affidavit saying he was targeting a suspect believed to be in a 'trap house' that was more than 10 miles away from Taylor's house. Only later was it revealed that the drug suspect they were looking for was already in custody by the time Louisville officers killed Taylor. According to a three-page affidavit, Jaynes said Glover had been spotted making 'frequent trips' to Taylor's home and had been receiving suspicious packages there. He claimed a US postal inspector 'verified' that Glover was receiving packages at Taylor's home, but Louisville inspector Tony Gooden said Louisville police did not ask his office to conduct that investigation, but a different agency did. He said the local office concluded no potentially suspicious mail was being sent to Taylor's apartment. Jaynes wrote he believed Glover may have been 'keeping narcotics and/or proceeds from the sale of narcotics' at Taylor's apartment. The warrant was to search for drugs, money, weapons, 'paperwork that may be a record of narcotic sales' and any electronic records as evidence of drug trafficking. In his request, Jaynes said the no-knock warrant was necessary because 'drug traffickers have a history of attempting to destroy evidence, have cameras on the location that compromise Detectives once an approach to the dwelling is made, and have a history of fleeing from law enforcement.' The controversial 'no-knock' warrant was signed on March 12 by Jefferson Circuit Judge Mary Shaw. In the end, nothing illegal was found in Taylor's home. A Jefferson County grand jury on Wednesday announced its decision to indict former detective Brett Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment in connection to the fatal shooting of Taylor. Hankison was charged with firing his gun into the home and a neighboring apartment, not over her killing. The other two cops involved, Sgt Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, were identified as the officers who fired shots at Taylor. Cosgrove was believed to have fired the bullet that claimed her life. Neither of the officers were indicted on Wednesday after the investigation found they acted in self-defense after Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker admitted to opening fire first. Police on Thursday booked a woman, her parents and brother for duping her husband of 38 lakhs on the pretext of marriage. The accused have been identified as Harvinder Kaur, her father Ranjit Singh, mother Bhupinder Kaur and brother Mandeep Singh, all hailing from Navi Abadi near Sudhar. They were booked under Sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code by Sadar police. The case has been registered on the complaint of Naranjan Singh of Dehlon. The victim said that his son Navdeep Singh was married to Harvinder Kaur in July last year. She went to Australia to study and later called Navdeep to live with her. Soon, she asked her parents and brother to come to Australia. The complainant said that he had given money to Harvinder to study in Australia, however, her family started harassing Navdeep and asked him to leave their house. Preliminary investigation revealed that the woman and her parents had taken 38 lakh from the complainant on the pretext of marriage. The police have registered a case and started an investigation. 24.09.2020 LISTEN An' when you cry, be sure to dry your eyes, 'Cause better days are sure to come An' when you smile, be sure to smile wide An' don't let 'em know that they have won An' when you walk, walk with pride An' don't show the hurt inside 'Cause the pain will soon be gone An' when you dream, dream big As big as the ocean, blue. Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band YOU CAN'T GO WRONG when you say that this is a season for political manifestos of the political parties. Maverick Akua Donkor's Ghana Freedom Party launched its manifesto on Saturday, 12th September 2020. The word 'free' was freely used: free port, free education, free water, free electricity, free machetes and free fertilizer for farmers, free money to farmers to enlarge their farms, teaching of local languages in all basic schools plus one -year maternity leave instead of the present three months; Ghana cedi changed to pound sterling. For a six-page booklet, the manifesto was succinct and easy to grab. Akua Donkor, [ny[ [ne no only about 14 lines of phraseology! Who were on the team to prepare the document for the illiterate Akua Donkor? Dan Lartey and Nana Konadu Agyemang are yet to bring out the best in their wardrobe. Until NPP talked about Free SHS and got it running, people were sceptical about free things. Now, every political person proclaims free water, free electricity, free education, et cetera. In 2012 and 2016, candidate Mahama criss-crossed Ghana, exclaiming I de be keke with his mouth twisted in a manner, as if to mock Ghanaians. He would say yenntie obiara, and dance to Daddy Lumba's song of same title. This time round, he, who was born after independence (therefore very young) is growing; he has crossed the three-score years. He has a decade to reach the biblical three-score years and ten. He marshalled very great brains led by Kwaku Danso Boafo to prepare a comprehensive manifesto, with Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Leader, Peter Boamah Otokunor, Deputy General Secretary, Dr. William Ahadzie, Rector of NDC's Ghana Institute of Social Democracy, on the committee. Impeccable brains! On board of this intellectually skewed team were notable NDC members like Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Augustus Goosie-Tandoh (both presidential aspirants), Nana Oye Lithur, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Alex Mould, Sam P. Yalley and a few, hitherto, invisible personalities in the political backwoods. They termed their policy document People's Manifesto and the theme: Jobs, Prosperity and more. The over 120-page document was divided into six areas: fixing the economy; promoting human development; providing infrastructure for growth; providing decent jobs; good governance and corruption; deepening international relations and foreign affairs. This people's manifesto which was drafted by Ghanaians with NDC facilitating it was unique to NDC and their spokesperson took to explaining the issues raised as reverend fathers do the gospel. Of course, there were a few not-so-important tit-bits: rape victims to enjoy free medical attention, and while ladies would enjoy a year's maternity leave, gentlemen would be granted seven days' paternity leave. Ghana under Mahama with the 2020 manifesto should be an El Dorado a paradise or an Erehwon (Nowhere). But, people are asking: is it going to see a proliferation of private schools? What are the timelines for the ending of the dreaded double track system which has increased cost of SHS education for some parents, or are those who cannot be absorbed in the single-track to stay at home denied of their educational rights? And the licensing of Okada! On page 93 of the document, the NDC is to legalise the use of commercial motorcycles known as Okada, and tricycles and regulate the industry to make it safer by training the riders, ensuring they observe necessary safety precautions and mandating them to provide helmets for their passengers. True, dispatch riders use motorbikes; delivery (mail) riders use motorbikes, et cetera and for certain parts of the country, the Okada plays an invaluable service. However, the argument that Okada provides an avenue for solving the unemployment problem is rather far-fetched. The other argument that the Okada riders earn a lot of money is only an argumentum ad hominem and to include university graduates in this category! You see, when we had the pan latrines, it provided ready employment (ebini-dwuma) and earnings were very attractive, but it is not every person in Ghana who was attracted to that kind of job. So, you do not want us to dream big? Another controversial issue is the welfare of the people of the Zongo communities. On page 83, the NDC recognises the historical inequalities between Zongo and deprived Urban Settlements and other communities, including the effects of the Aliens' Compliance Order implemented by the Danquah-Busia tradition on Zongo communities. It is on record that the NPP government has not lived up to its promise of improving the lives of the Zongos. Busia and Compliance Order again? What about the ministry in charge of Zongos? We thought any development of the Zongos would consider the custom of Muslims for whom delays in the crematorium and post mortems are an anathema. Of course, we would like to take James Agyenim Boateng's explanation as a true reflection of the thinking behind the programme. He says: (the decision for morgues for Zongos) is to facilitate the establishment of morgues 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 customs and practice at all public mortuaries. Well? Well: at least that is exactly as it is captured in paragraph 7.4(q) of the manifesto. It is fascinating to read the foreword by the flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama: We need to turn our beloved country, Ghana, into an advanced nation. The first step is to eradicate extreme poverty. We need to make sure that all Ghanaians are protected during the transition towards a fully modern Ghana! It is time to unite as one people, resume our journey towards building the future of Ghana. So, it is now going to be Battle of Manifesto to the extent that people are arguing about what one political party and the other does not have in their manifestos? We cannot get it! At least, the two major political parties have both run governments before. So are we going to have Battle of Record? We may be forgetful, just as ex-President Mahama labels us, but we remember that NDC promised one-time payment of NHIS and for the eight years of the Mills-Mahama administration, we did not see that implemented. Of course, as pensioners, we laud the bit on paying pensioners an annual thirteenth month bonus. And who would not like an amendment to the National Insurance Act to provide an exemption to person aged 65 years and above? But what were the gains made in Ghana's health which have been eroded by the NPP? Lawyers-to-be will be enthused about the lines which say the NDC will vigorously reform and expand access to professional legal education and provide opportunities to all qualified LLB holders by granting accreditation to certified faculties to undertake the professional law qualification course. It is going to be a Battle of the Titans. Remember the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Fall forward, not backward [email protected] From Africanus Owusu-Ansah 1. Powers of observation Caregivers are often too busy or exhausted to notice small changes, but the slightest shift in our loved ones abilities, health, moods, safety needs or desires may indicate a much larger medical or mental health issue. Catching those changes early can make all the difference in alleviating the problem. Equally crucial is keeping a close eye on the services they are receiving and adjusting any subpar care. The COVID-19 pandemic has hindered this kind of observation, preventing many caregivers from accompanying loved ones to the hospital or visiting them at home or in a long-term care facility. How to be more observant Try developing your observational skills through mindfulness and meditation, which help you become more aware and fully present in the current moment. Practice in a class, through yoga instruction or with a mindfulness app. Get adequate sleep to keep your mind clear. Take notes on your observations about your loved ones so you can track changes over time. If in-person interactions are limited, enlist staff or neighbors who are interacting with them to report back to you. Use technology. Phone calls help, but video calls via apps like Zoom, Skype or FaceTime can tell you more about subtle changes in a loved one's physical appearance and abilities. Try a remote monitoring system to track their movements at home and detect changes in routine, such as staying in bed longer. 2. Organizational skills It can be tough to stay on top of a caregiving plan, with its many moving parts. As an advocate, you'll need to manage your loved one's caregiving team, make task lists and organize the mounds of paperwork associated with health, legal and financial matters. You'll want to make sure you can easily access all legal documents (such as powers of attorney for finances and health care) when you need them. How to get better at organization Consider taking an organizing course, or getting outside help. Ask family or friends to assist, or see about working with a professional organizer. When I was caring for both of my parents and my sister, moving and starting a new job all at once, I consulted a professional to develop an organizational plan. (You can make this option more affordable by implementing the plan yourself, as I did.) Tech can help here, too. For example, there are numerous caregiving apps. Make digital copies of key documents, such as medication lists, medical history, powers of attorney and living wills), so you can access them on the go from your phone or tablet. 3. Communication skills This is key for building relationships with those who help care for our loved ones, from family members to lawyers, doctors and more. We may not be experts on medical, legal or financial matters, which can make some discussions tough. Caregiving can be an emotional roller coaster, which can also complicate communication. How to communicate more effectively Be respectful. Try to set emotions aside when you are advocating for a loved one. Remember that to communicate effectively, listening is just as important as speaking. Do your homework before meetings with lawyers, medical professionals and other providers, and have notes ready. Be clear, concise and get to the point. To ease communication with busy professionals, find out who in their office handles business like appointments and billing, and build relationships with them. Get to know how they prefer to communicate (phone, email, text, etc.) and the best time of day to reach them. And always express appreciation. 4. Asking questions Dad, a former professor, used to have a sign in his office that read, Question everything. As I advocated for him for 12 years while he lived with Alzheimer's, I often thought of that message. My family's doctors and service providers could attest that I ask plenty of questions! As a caregiver, it's part of your job to gather information don't be shy about it. It never hurts to ask, and many times you'll miss something if you don't. How to ask the right questions Educate yourself about your loved one's health conditions, finances and legal affairs. Be prepared with a list of questions for phone calls or meetings with facilities staff, doctors and other professionals. Don't give up until you are satisfied you've got the answers you need to advocate effectively. Never assume; always clarify. If you hit a roadblock in arranging care or services, question it and think about other ways to achieve the goal. Sometimes, getting questions answered is all about asking the right person, be it a doctor, lawyer, accountant or member of their staff. 5. Tenacity Someone once said my role when caring for my parents was chief bulldog. I guess that's true. As their advocate, I had their best interests at heart and I took that job seriously. Facing a fragmented and frustrating health care system and trying to do more with less money can be discouraging. I did my best, and I never gave up until I found the best possible solution. How to be more tenacious Yet rather than nourish the struggling patient, its 21st century physicians Gov. J.B. Pritzker, House Speaker Michael Madigan and the Democrats who control the House and Senate seem intent on applying more leeches rather than committing to full surgery. The big hungry leech in question is Pritzkers fair tax referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot, which for now is being sold as a tax on only on the wealthy though if it passes, most taxpayers who grew up in Illinois realize that it eventually will hit the middle class. (Newser) The world's top-polluting nation has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2060"a tectonic shift in policy" that "could help significantly slow global warming," reports the New York Times. Chinese President Xi Jinping made the surprise announcement in addressing the UN General Assembly by video on Tuesday, adding that the country's carbon emissions would peak before 2030, which is the date China agreed to under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. This is a "game changer," Thom Woodroofe, a former climate diplomat and senior adviser at the Asia Society, tells the Guardian, noting "for the first time ever there is now a clear long-term trajectory for decarbonization in China." The European Union, the third largest emitter, strengthened its commitments last week, vowing to cut carbon emissions at least 55% (up from 40%) by 2030 relative to 1990 levels, per the BBC. story continues below Xi did not say how Chinastill heavily dependent on coalwould achieve its goals apart from "more vigorous policies and measures," per the Guardian. Still, the pledge raises hope for the next UN climate summit, to be held in the UK in November 2021. The goal is to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. It's thought that this can be achieved if developed countries are in effect carbon neutral by 2050, with developing countries following by 2060, per the Guardian. But that plan is complicated by the US decision to withdraw from the climate accord on Nov. 4. Speaking before Xi, President Trump said "those who attack America's exceptional environmental record while ignoring China's rampant pollution are not interested in the environment. They only want to punish America, and I will not stand for it." China is responsible for 28% of the world's emissions, compared to about 15% for the US. (Read more China stories.) Syed Babar Qadri had written about a threat to his life on Twitter Srinagar: A lawyer was shot and critically wounded by unknown assailants in central Srinagar on Thursday evening. He was rushed to hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. Babar Qadri, 35, was a prominent figure in prime time debates on Kashmir on various TV channels. Police said he was attacked by suspected militants in the Hawal area of Srinagar. The gunmen shot him at point blank range, killing him instantly, said a police officer who works in that area. The medical superintendent of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Dr. Farooq Jan, confirmed that Qadri was brought dead to the hospital. He had received a single bullet wound. Father of two minor daughters, Qadri had launched a political party called All JK Peoples Justice Party some time ago and named himself as its president. The Kashmir High Court Bar Association (KHCBA) suspended his membership for indiscipline. Earlier this month, the Bar Council refused to revoke the suspension, reportedly on technical grounds. Reacting to that ruling, Qadri had said in a statement, "When I formed a Lawyers Club of Kashmir, I was accused of dancing on the tunes of Indian agencies. Now when I work for unity and want to (re)join, the passage is blocked to me. Babar Qadri wrote on his Facebook wall on Wednesda, The bar needs a moderate but intelligent leading group. We need good speakers, good debating persons who can talk on our behalf. We need a person who can confront a judge or an official of the administration. Yes we got enough exploited by emotional blackmail, coercion and threats to life which was a norm that we were made used to. Now the change is on plate, go and have it. The traditional DOPE LALLAN should now be buried down alongside Covid-19. Mourning the murder of Qadri, former chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, The assassination of Babar Qadri this evening is tragic & I unequivocally condemn it. The sense of tragedy is all the more because he warned of the threat. Sadly his warning was his last tweet. @BabarTruth. In a tweet tagging the Jammu police, Qadri had sought action against a person who had written on the micro-blogging site that he (Qadri) was being promoted by official agencies. Qadri's tweet read, I urge the state Police administration to register FIR against this Shah Nazir who has spread wrong campaign that I work for agencies. This untrue statement can lead to threat to my life. @ZPHQJammu. Ironically, in TV debates, Qadri used to be accused by fellow panelists of being a Pakistani agent. At one such show on CNN News18, a retired Army officer, Maj Gen S S Sinha said, Syed Babar Qadri is an agent of Pakistan. Several members of the KHCBA have condemned Qadri's killing and demanded an impartial probe by credible organisations into his murder. Britains film academy is shaking up its membership and its awards voting rules in a review prompted by the glaring lack of diversity in the nominations The British Academy of Film and Television Arts promised to change after contenders for the 2020 awards were announced last January. No women were nominated as best director for the seventh year running, and all 20 nominees in the lead and supporting performer categories were white. We said on the day, Were going to review everything, BAFTA film committee chairman Marc Samuelson said Thursday as the academy announced a slate of changes. The measures include recruiting 1,000 new members from under-represented groups to join the current 6,700-strong voting academy of film-industry professionals. The academy has also changed the rules for the British Academy Film Awards introducing a new longlist round in the voting before the selection of the final nominees. For the best film prize, academy members will choose a 15-film longlist that all members must watch before voting for the winner. Kate Lee, a member of the steering group that led the review, said the goal was getting more members to see more films that are more diverse in nature. In the directing category, there will be a 20 longlist of filmmakers, 10 men and 10 women, though no mandatory gender balance in the final six nominees. Acting nominees will also be selected from 15-strong lists and there will be six finalists rather than the previous five. The overwhelming feeling was that quotas were not what people wanted, Lee said. She said a wholesale change of culture in the industry is whats needed. Samuelson said the review, which involved discussions with more than 400 people in the industry from under-represented groups, had been a chastening experience Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up People told us about their experiences, and their experiences were bloody awful, he said. In the U.S., the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been striving to diversify for several years and this month announced inclusion standards for the Oscars that will come into effect for the 96th Academy Awards in 2024. Best picture nominees will have to meet specific requirements addressing gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity and disability in front of and behind the camera in order to qualify. The American Academys diversity and inclusion standards were inspired by similar efforts by the British Film Institute, which supports and helps fund U.K. cinema. Meeting the standards has been a requirement for most public film funding in the U.K. since 2014. But a recent report said that even that has not yet improved racial inequality. The lack of diversity at the 2020 BATFAs, held a month before Britain went into lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, was criticized by several of the nominees. Joaquin Phoenix, accepting the best actor award for Joker, said it sent a very clear message to people of color that Youre not welcome here. Next years BAFTAs have been postponed from their usual slot in February to April. Whether there will be a red carpet and a star-studded audience in the Royal Albert Hall for the ceremony depends on the pandemic. MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AFWERX , the catalyst for fostering innovation within the U.S. Air Force, today announced that RunSafe Security is one of the 178 top participating teams selected from The AFWERX Space Challenge initiative to exhibit at EngageSpace , a virtual two-day event on September 29-30. The AFWERX Space Challenge initiative is made up of four challenges targeted at creating integrated space operations leveraging the best in technology while maintaining security, being resilient and increasing agility. Four challenges were run concurrently focused on separate topics Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), DoD Commercial Space Partnerships, Global Space Transport and Delivery and Space Asset Resiliency. Located in McLean, VA, RunSafe Security is competing in the Space Asset Resiliency Challenge alongside a diverse group of teams that represent entrepreneurial startups, small businesses, large enterprises, academic institutions and research labs. "The solutions submitted for these space challenges represent the bleeding edge of space innovation," stated Brennan Townley, AFWERX Challenge Collaboration Lead. "We're excited to highlight these innovators and connect them with opportunities across the Space ecosystem." The Space Asset Resiliency Challenge strives to increase the longevity of our space assets by increasing their durability against the unique space environment and enemy threats. RunSafe has an AFWERX-validated, automated approach to cyber hardening software without changing the functionality nor the performance of the original software. RunSafe's Alkemist immunizes compiled software via a moving-target-defense approach. Alkemist works for operational and in-development systems, offering a rapid approach for legacy systems and advancing cyber supply chain management (C-SCRM) as new systems use commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and open source software to speed development cycles. The EngageSpace event will feature highly engaging opportunities to connect, educate and innovate with other like-minded attendees, industry leaders, individual innovators, academia, investors, as well as military and government leaders. The entire event is designed to transform and accelerate the industry, and enable government buyers to pursue the most promising innovative solutions to the most pressing and threatening Space scenarios. "We're thrilled that RunSafe has been selected as one of the finalists to participate in the AFWERX EngageSpace event," said Joseph Saunders, CEO of RunSafe Security. "Space operations are highly sensitive and require the strongest security measures available today. Our patented immunization technology, Alkemist, hardens software at the core, protecting applications, embedded devices and supply chains -- all critical components for successful, mission-critical space operations." Attendees can register for the EngageSpace event by visiting: https://engage.space About RunSafe RunSafe Security is on a mission to immunize software from cyber attacks and disrupt hacker economics without developer friction. RunSafe's patented technology, Alkemist, inoculates customers' systems from an entire class of cyber attacks by stopping the infection at its source. Our customers integrate our product across build and deploy toolchains to protect open source, in house code, and 3rd party binaries. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with an office in Huntsville, Alabama, RunSafe Security's customers span the critical infrastructure, IIoT, automotive, medical, devsecops and national security industries. ABOUT AFWERX Established in 2017, AFWERX is a product of the U.S. Air Force, directly envisioned by former Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. Her vision of AFWERX to solve some of the toughest challenges that the Air Force faces through innovation and collaboration amongst our nation's top subject matter experts. AFWERX serves as a catalyst to unleash new approaches for the warfighter through a growing ecosystem of innovators. AFWERX and the U.S. Air Force are committed to exploring viable solutions and partnerships to further strengthen the Air Force, which could lead to additional prototyping, R&D, and follow-on production contracts. Fast Company named AFWERX Best Workplaces for Innovators on the 2020 List, honoring the top 100 businesses and organizations that demonstrate a deep commitment to encouraging innovation at all levels. AFWERX, U.S. Air Force's innovation arm and catalyst for fostering innovation within the Air Force, came in at #16 ranking in the top 20 alongside brands such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. Preview the live announcement with Stephanie Mehta, Editor-in-Chief of Fast Company, unveiled during the AFWERX Fusion 2020 Base of the Future Event & Showcase. Media Contacts: Tracy Skenandore Makenzie Coombs [email protected] Mia Damiano Merritt Group for RunSafe Security [email protected] SOURCE RunSafe Security Related Links https://runsafesecurity.com The National Peace Council (NPC) has appealed to all Ghanaian citizens, both home and abroad, to get involved in sustaining the peace in Ghana, as the country prepares for its 2020 elections. This was emphasized by Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, Board Member of the National Peace Council, in an address at the 2020 International Day of Peace celebration themed Shaping Peace Together, held in Accra. I make a passionate appeal to all citizens; we cannot underestimate the risks of peace that can emerge from the compounded negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Let us jealously guard the democratic gains Ghana has accrued over the years, he urged. According to the 2020 Global Peace Index (GPI) issued by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Ghana ranks as the most peaceful country in West Africa, placing 3rd in Africa and 43rd in the world. Ms. Silke Hollander, the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Ghana, expressed UNDPs commitment to support Ghanas continued efforts to advance its enviable record as a beacon of stability and peace in Africa. She underscored the importance for Ghana to cherish its culture of peace and noted that building a peaceful society is a collective effort which requires the involvement of everyone particularly young men and women as called for in the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security , adopted in 2015. We must recognize the potential of the youth to contribute positively to peace and development by providing them with the needed resources to build their capacity and giving them the platform to share their ideas, added Ms. Hollander. In his solidarity message, Mr. Roland Affail Monney, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), cautioned the youth never to sacrifice their future for violence and pleaded with journalists to do more to sustain the peace of the country. Allow people who beat the drum of violence to dance to their own tune, said Mr. Monney. Ahead of the countrys election 2020, the National Peace Council has successfully led dialogues between the two major political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to sign a Roadmap and Code of Conduct to eradicate political vigilantism in the country. This followed the passage of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999) passed by Parliament to disband vigilante groups, including political party vigilante groups and land guards and provide for related matters. This years International Day of Peace celebration was organized by the National Peace Council in partnership with the Ghana Journalists Association, UNDP and Auntie Is Merkezi Organization (AIMO) on the theme Shaping Peace Together: The Role of the Youth in Peacebuilding. A peace emblem was unveiled to mark the celebration of the day. 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! The next F1 supremo is a "good man", according to Bernie Ecclestone. 89-year-old former F1 CEO Ecclestone was ousted by his successor Chase Carey in 2017 in the wake of Liberty Media's acquisition of the sport. Ecclestone and Carey never got along. But when asked about news that Carey is expected to be replaced by Stefano Domenicali for 2021, Ecclestone said the Italian is "a good man". "Stefano asked me for advice," Ecclestone, who knows Domenicali well after the 55-year-old ran the Ferrari team until 2014, told the Swiss newspaper Blick. "He's a good man to trust. He is also very well connected. "Whether he is strong enough in critical times remains to be seen," Ecclestone added. Ecclestone is currently with his wife Fabiana and their 12-week-old son Ace in Switzerland. "We are so happy that we have had a safe home here in Gstaad for over 30 years," he said. "The corona hell is still going on in England and in Brazil." (GMM) New evidence of kickbacks in Rafale deal appears in French journal Mediapart Rafale to S-400 air defence systems all set to add more firepower to Indian Air Force Ready to provide more Rafales to India says French Defence Minister Parly Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh to be first Rafale woman fighter pilot India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 24: Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh will formally join the 17 Golden Arrows Squadron of the Rafales at the Ambala airbase after she finishes her conversion training. She is getting ready to fly the Rafale after becoming fully operational on the MiG-21 Bison. The conversion training is mandatory when a combat pilot switches from one fighter to another. CAG says military offset part of Rafale deal still pending Flt Lt Singh, who studied at the Banaras Hindu University was among the second batch of women fighter pilots who were commissioned in 2017. The IAF has 10 women fighter pilots, who have been trained to fly supersonic jets. Flt Lt Singh was earlier deployed at a forward fighter base in Rajasthan. She has flown along with Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who had been taken captive for a day by Pakistan after his MiG-21 was shot down during an aerial skirmish with Pakistani fighter, a day after the Balakot airstrike. In 2018, flying officer Avani Chaturvedi scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to fly a fighter aircraft solo. She flew a MiG-21 bison in her first solo flight. Chaturvedi was part of a three-member women team commissioned as flying officers in July 2016, less than a year after the government decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis. The other two women pilots were Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh. At present, the IAF has 10 women fighter pilots and 18 women navigators. The total strength of women officers serving in the IAF is 1,875. Last week, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik told Parliament that women fighter pilots are inducted and deployed in IAF as per strategic needs and operational requirements. Five French-made multirole Rafale fighter jets were inducted into the Golden Arrows squadron of the IAF in a ceremony at the Ambala air force base on September 10. Addressing the ceremony, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the induction of the fleet was crucial considering the atmosphere being created along the frontier and that it is a "big and stern" message to those eyeing India's sovereignty. The Golden Arrows squadron of the IAF was resurrected on September 10 last year. The squadron was originally raised at Air Force Station, Ambala on October 1, 1951. The squadron has many firsts to its credit; in 1955 it was equipped with the first jet fighter, the legendary De Havilland Vampire. Ten Rafale jets have been delivered to India so far and five of them stayed back in France for imparting training to IAF pilots. The delivery of all 36 aircraft is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021. Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News The second batch of four to five Rafale jets is likely to arrive in India by November. The Rafale jets, known for air-superiority and precision strikes, are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 years after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. Washington Sean OKeefe, who served Republican presidents as Navy secretary and NASA administrator, on Thursday joined nearly 500 former top military and national security officials in endorsing Joe Biden for president. OKeefe, 64, a Syracuse University graduate and now a top professor at SUs Maxwell School, signed an open letter calling into question President Donald Trumps leadership skills. The current president has demonstrated he is not equal to the enormous responsibilities of his office; he cannot rise to meet challenges large or small, said the letter signed by 489 retired generals, admirals, U.S. ambassadors and senior national security officials. Thanks to his disdainful attitude and his failures, our allies no longer trust or respect us, and our enemies no longer fear us, the letter said. The retired leaders said that Biden, a 1968 graduate of SUs College of Law, will always put the nations needs before his own. He is guided by the principles that have long made America great: democracy is a hard-won right we must defend and support at home and abroad; Americas power and influence stem as much from her moral authority as it does from her economic and military power; Americas free press is invaluable, not an enemy of the people; those who sacrifice or give their lives in service of our nation deserve our respect and eternal gratitude; and Americas citizens benefit most when the United States engages with the world, the letter said. OKeefe, a Republican, served as secretary of the Navy in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush and later served as NASA administrator under former President George W. Bush. He served in several other top posts at the Defense Department and later as chancellor at Louisiana State University. OKeefe now holds the title of University Professor at SU. Hes only the 17th professor in the schools history to receive the top faculty ranking. He is the second prominent Republican in Syracuse to endorse Biden. Former Rep. Jim Walsh, who served 20 years representing Central New York in Congress, was among more than two dozen former GOP members of Congress who endorsed Biden in late August. MORE ON THE 2020 ELECTION Katko rebukes Trump for suggesting he might not accept election results Tired of TV ads for Congress? Central New Yorkers see more than anyone in nation Judge blocks Dana Balter from third-party ballot line in campaign for Congress Former GOP Rep. Jim Walsh endorses Joe Biden for president Joe Biden endorses Dana Balter while John Katko uses former VP against her Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Dr. Anthony Fauci and Sen. Rand Paul had a heated exchange Wednesday over the coronavirus and herd immunity. The exchange occurred Wednesday between the infectious disease expert and Kentucky Republican senator during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Paul, who has long been a critic of Faucis response to COVID-19, criticized Fauci for praising the job New York City has done in getting its coronavirus numbers down. No, youve misconstrued that, senator, and youve done that repetitively in the past, Fauci quipped back at Paul. Youve misconstrued that, senator, and youve done that repeatedly in the past. Dr. Fauci pushes back against Sen. Rand Pauls claims on the coronavirus. You are not listening to what the director of the CDC said about immunity rates in New York. https://t.co/DIRyayK8nL pic.twitter.com/f6qTu8eWOG CNN (@CNN) September 23, 2020 When Fauci said New York Citys numbers have improved because it enforced the White Houses Coronavirus Task Forces guidelines, Paul suggested the city beat the pandemic because it has reached herd immunity. I challenge that, senator... This happens with Sen. Rand all the time, Fauci responded. You are not listening to what the director of the CDC said, that in New York (the infection rate) is about 22%. If you believe 22% is herd immunity, I believe you are alone in that. Herd immunity occurs when enough of a population becomes immune to a disease through vaccine or already getting sick to make the spread unlikely between people in the community, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, said in June that about 60% to 70% of the population must be infected with the coronavirus to reach herd immunity, McClatchy News reported. Story continues Fauci said earlier this month the U.S. should not attempt to pursue herd immunity, McClatchy reported. We certainly are not wanting to wait back and just let people get infected so that you can develop herd immunity, Fauci said on MSNBC. Thats certainly not my approach. Officials from the World Health Organization have also warned against herd immunity as a way to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. If we think about herd immunity in a natural sense of just letting a virus run, its very dangerous, Maria Van Kerkhove, who helps lead the WHOs pandemic response, said in a press briefing. A lot of people would die. City of North Adams Seeks Donation of Christmas Trees City of North Adams seeks donation of Christmas Trees The City of North Adams is looking for two large Christmas Trees, 25 feet to 30 feet in height, to decorate the downtown area for the holiday season. Trees will be sought from the Northern Berkshire area from now until the first week of November. Anyone wishing to donate trees is asked to contact the North Adams Fire Department at 662-3103. If calling after hours, please leave a message and someone will return your call as soon as possible. Sharanya Manivannan By CHENNAI: Theyre funny, the ways that our longings manifest. Our intensities and fragilities find expression in baseless but profoundly affecting actions. Anywhere between six and nine months into this pandemic, depending on where you are and when it began to have an effect on your life, and with no end in sight, some of these longings are finding collective fruition. There is, for example, the collective denial of people who claim theyre safe in the cafes theyre hanging out in, maskless and closely seated as seen on their Instagram stories. But the most ludicrous collectively expressed longing has to be the flights to nowhere. Some airline companies around the world have begun operating special journeys for passengers who just miss the experience of flying. The flights take off and land at the same airport, performing a joyride in the clouds for hours while passengerswell, they do what we all used to do on planes, I guess. I personally cant imagine taking a flight for fun. Those tiny, weird toilets (can you imagine the queues in those narrow aisles to wash ones hands each time another stale packet of peanuts is opened?). The monotony, interrupted only by bumpiness. Throw in having to wear protective accessories, additional check-in procedures and oh yes, the expense of going absolutely nowhere and the question arises: who does this for fun? A lot of people, evidently. Qantas Airways sold out its first flight to nowhere within ten minutes of opening bookings. Starlux, a Taiwanese airline, also notched similar sales times. Ever mindful of the suffering of millions of their fellow citizens, to whom they brought this international illness, some Indians with large disposable incomes to spare are reportedly looking forward to when they can do the same. Fly away if not from their problems, then at least everyone elses. Im sorry to be so harsh. No one is really doing well right now. We all need succour. But theres finding solace, and theres outright selfishness. The excuse that taking flights to nowhere keeps the airline industrys unemployment lower has to held up against the larger context of the carbon footprint of flying (which isnt going to be significantly reduced by the vegan menu an opportunistic organisation wants Singapore Airlines to adopt on its own same-destination routes). Moreover, how does knowing that travel is always a luxury, and is often denied as a right to those who need it, not sour the entire idea? Our situation today is the result of something collective, too: hubris. As the Norwegian translator Johanne Fronth-Nygren said in an interview in July, about a decision made before the pandemic, It is the privileged middle-class speaking, we who will always have good reasons to fly, our relations and our work being so important that their value somehow cancels out the destruction we inflict on our and everybody elses environment as we maintain them at the level we have become accustomed to. Theres an arrogance, an injustice and a stupidity in this that I couldnt perpetuate. Of course, flying is just the tip of the iceberg of global inequality, but I think its a good place to start making changes Sharanya Manivannan @ranyamanivannan The Chennai-based author writes poetry, fiction & more WASHINGTON - The Latest on the Supreme Court and the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (all times local): 7:30 p.m. President Donald Trump says he will not be meeting with Judge Barbara Lagoa, but says the Florida-born jurist is still on his short list to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. Speaking to reporters during a White House press briefing Wednesday, Trump, who has spoken highly of Lagoa, said, She is on my list. I dont have a meeting planned, but she is on my list. Trump had previously suggested he might meet with Lagoa later this week when he travels to Florida for campaign events. He is set to announce his nominee for the high court Saturday afternoon. Indiana Judge Amy Coney Barrett is viewed as the favourite to be Trumps selection. __ HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT VACANCY Ginsburg remembered as prophet for justice, American icon GOP senators see political, principle gain in court fight Supreme Court fight adds to pile of issues weighing on voters ___ Follow APs Supreme Court coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/ruth-bader-ginsburg ___ 6:15 p.m. President Donald Trump says he wants a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg confirmed to the Supreme Court ahead of Election Day so that a full court can weigh in on any campaign-related litigation. Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump predicted the election will end up in the Supreme Court, adding, I think its important we have nine justices. He added of the timing of the confirmation vote: I think its better if you go before the election. Trump is set to formally unveil his pick Saturday at the White House, and Senate Republicans have indicated they will move swiftly to confirm the selection before the Nov. 3 election. In 2016, Senate Republicans and Trump said it wasnt right for President Barack Obama, a Democrat, to replace Justice Antonin Scalia because it was an election year. Scalia died 237 days before the 2016 election. Ginsburgs death on Friday came 46 days before the 2020 election. ___ 4:20 p.m. President Donald Trump is expressing increasing confidence that a Republican-controlled Senate will approve whichever Supreme Court nominee he chooses to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Trump went so far as to suggest on Wednesday that the Senate Judiciary Committee doesnt even have to hold a hearing, though he added that he expects that Republican chair Lindsey Graham will go ahead and schedule confirmation hearings anyway. Trump told reporters at the White House that many of the candidates on his short list of five women have already gone through confirmation hearings during his presidency. He says, So its not like, Gee, lets look at papers that are 15 years old. No, I think the process is going to go very quickly. Trump is expected to announce his choice at 5 p.m. Saturday, but he says most Republican senators have made their intentions very clear on a final vote, adding, I think were in great shape. Ginsburg, a liberal justice, died Friday at the age of 87. ___ 11:30 a.m. Joe Biden wont say if he is vetting a list of potential Supreme Court picks. But he says Democrats should be campaigning on the issue as voters get ready to make their choice this November. He told reporters Wednesday that Democrats should go to the American people, make the case why this is a gigantic mistake and abuse of power. He said if there were another conservative justice on the court, the Affordable Care Act could be overturned and healthcare cost protections for women could be eliminated. Biden has said he wont release a list to avoid giving Trump and Republicans an opportunity to attack him and his potential picks. Trump has had a running list of picks since the 2016 campaign. Biden made the comments on a tarmac before boarding a plane to North Carolina. ___ 10:35 a.m. The casket of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been moved to the top of the Supreme Courts marble steps so the public can pay respect. A brief, private ceremony honouring Ginsburg in the courts Great Hall began the mourning period on Wednesday. Normally, members of the public would have been allowed to pass through the Great Hall. But because of the coronavirus pandemic the casket was moved outside so the public can pay their respects while following public health guidance. 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. Mourners were already waiting in line hours before. Some drove from several states away in order to be present to pay their respects to the late justice, a champion of womens rights and gender equality. ___ 10 a.m. Chief Justice John Roberts is remembering his colleague Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as tough and brave, a fighter and a winner. Roberts was speaking Wednesday during a private ceremony honouring Ginsburg in the courts Great Hall. He said she was also careful, compassionate and honest. He spoke of her undying devotion to the law and to her family. Ginsburg died Friday at 87 after 27 years on the Supreme Court. Hundreds of mourners gathered in silence outside the Supreme Court as her casket arrived. Roberts said Ginsburgs opinions and her famous dissents will steer the court for decades. He says they are written with the unaffected grace of precision. The voice in court and in our conference room was soft. But when she spoke, people listened, Roberts said. ___ 9:50 a.m. The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is bringing together the courts remaining eight justices for the first time since the Supreme Court building was closed in March and they resorted to meetings by telephone. All eight justices were present Wednesday for a private ceremony honouring Ginsburg in the courts Great Hall. Ginsburg died Friday at the age of 87. All of the eight justices were wearing masks during the indoor ceremony because of the coronavirus pandemic. Retired Justice Anthony Kennedy was also present, along with Maureen Scalia, the widow of Antonin Scalia who died in 2016 and was closest to Ginsburg on the court. Ginsburg was a champion of gender equality and womens rights. Outside the court, hundreds of mourners stood to pay their respects, silent save for the clicks of cellphone cameras, and watched as pallbearers carried Ginsburgs flag-draped coffin up the courthouse steps. ___ 9:35 a.m. The White House says President Donald Trump will pay his respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Thursday at the Supreme Court. The casket of the second woman to serve on the nations high court will be placed atop the Supreme Court buildings steps after a private ceremony Wednesday for people to pay their respects during the coronavirus pandemic. She will lie in repose at the court for two days before her casket is moved to the Capitol. Trump has said Ginsburg was an amazing woman who led an amazing life. He is moving quickly to name her successor, with an announcement set for Saturday. Ginsburg was a womens rights champion, leader of the courts liberal bloc and a feminist icon who died Friday of cancer. She was 87. ___ 9:30 a.m. The casket of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has arrived at the Supreme Court for the start of two days of public viewing. Clerks of the court wearing black masks filed down the steps as the casket arrived. Following a private ceremony in the courts Great Hall, the casket will be moved to the top of the courts front steps so that members of the public can pay their respects in line with public health guidance for the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands are expected to pay their respects. Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the court after Sandra Day OConnor, died Friday at 87 from metastatic pancreatic cancer. Her casket will be on public view from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday. Why is Morocco so famous for leather? Find local goods in Morocco's maze-like markets Join us as we get under the skin of the North African export... What's special about Morocco's leather? Moroccan leather is traditionally handmade from goatskin. A combination of pigeon faeces, urine, lime, salt and water are used to this day to remove any unwanted hair and transform the hides into a more manageable material. The durable end-product is then dyed in a far more pleasant mixture of poppies, saffron and henna for a splash of colour. The goatskins are famed for their soft feel and visible grain. Where does Morocco's history with leather begin? The history of Moroccan leather actually begins in Nigeria. Goat skins in the region were transported across the Sahara to merchants in the north hundreds of years ago. It's difficult to say when the products were first made but the Chouara Tannery, one of the oldest in Morocco, dates back to the 11th century. From the 16th century, leather was exported to Europe for luxury book bindings. And by the late 19th century, sheep and calf skins were commonly used to keep up with increasing demand. How important is leather to Morocco today? According to the latest statistics, Morocco produces 10.6 million pieces of tanned sheep and lamb skins per year. Add that to the 2.4 million pieces of goat skin treated in the country and you start to get a better picture of the huge amounts of leather produced in the region. The large numbers mean thousands of Moroccans are employed in the production, distribution and sale of the quality goods. Where can I go in Morocco to find their famous leather? Step into any souk or marketplace in Morocco, and you're pretty much guaranteed to find stalls selling slippers, jackets and bags made from local leather. But if you want the true leather experience, it's worth paying a visit to a tannery. The Chouara Tannery is one of three tanneries in Fez and some claim it's the oldest of its kind in the world. What else is Morocco known for? Nothing says Morocco quite like the maze of stalls at the cities' souks. Marrakech and Casablanca are particularly well known for their outdoor markets where leather goods sit next to locally produced rugs, pottery and ornate lanterns. If you're looking for an alternative North African experience, the fishing village of Taghazout and the coastal city of Agadir are fast becoming surfer hotspots. Whatever you choose, just don't forget to sample a dish prepared in a traditional tagine. Find the perfect policy for your Moroccan holiday. At World First we provide worldwide travel insurance, so you can travel with peace of mind wherever you decide to explore. - The four were among 28 inmates who were in isolation in a hospital in Lodwar after contracting COVID-19 - They escaped by cutting through a window when security guards were asleep - The prisoners had not yet recovered from the virus and they were serving sentences for committing serious crimes Four criminals who were in an isolation centre after testing positive for COVID-19 have escaped from the hospital. The four prisoners were among 28 convicts who were in isolation after testing positive for the virus and were isolated in a hospital in Lodwar where they were receiving treatment. READ ALSO: Man who married at 21 after wife rejected him thrice breaks down 11 years love journey MOH officials in a past exercise. The four inmates were infected with coronavirus. Photo: MOH. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Mama Kayai says Mzee Ojwang's real wife thought she was his mpango wa kando According to Citizen TV, Turkana County Health CEC Jane Ajelo said the four inmates had not yet recovered from the deadly disease by the time of their escape. They fled when the security guards were asleep and made their way out by cutting through the window. They were serving sentences for committing various crimes and law enforcers have since launched a manhunt for them. READ ALSO: Kenyans puzzled after spotting Vera Sidika looking dark again Police officers have since launched a manhunt for the prisoners. Photo: Citizen TV. Source: UGC In a separate story, TUKO.co.ke reported of 11 suspects who broke out of Bungoma Police Station on the early morning of August, Sunday 16. Officers manning the police station learned about the prison break at 3am after they were informed by other suspects. READ ALSO: All gov't aircraft to be put under Kenya Airforce The suspects escaped from the cell after they dug a hole through the wall. One of the escapees who was caught running into a nearby bush was shot n the thigh before he was arrested and taken to Bungoma referral hospital. Similarly, a week ago, over 50 inmates escaped from a cell in Moroto, Uganda, and escaped to a nearby mountain. READ ALSO: Parents say they're not ready for school reopening in 2020: "We don't have money" Moroto prison. Over 50 inmates escaped from the correctional facility. Photo: Daily Monitor. Source: UGC The prisoners were reported to have sprinted off with 36 guns belonging to prison warders in the 4pm incident on Wednesday, September 16. Most of the escapees were reportedly former cattle rustlers and it was not the first time such an occurrence took place. Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme - https://www.patreon.com/tuko I have infected multiple men with HIV, my entire family hates me -Kiki wa Nge'ndo | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Visitors wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus look at a Tesla vehicle on display at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. Auto executives are flying in early to wait out a coronavirus quarantine ahead of the Beijing auto show, the year's biggest sales event for a global industry that is struggling with tumbling sales and layoffs. Organizers say they will impose intensive anti-disease controls on crowds and monitor visitors and employees for signs of infection. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) The first event for the CEO of Swedish electric car brand Polestar at this month's Beijing auto show: A two-week quarantine in a hotel. The auto show, the first major in-person sales event for any industry since the coronavirus pandemic began, opens Saturday in a sign the ruling Communist Party is confident China has contained the disease. Still, automakers face intensive anti-virus controls including quarantines for visitors from abroad and curbs on crowd sizes at an event that usually is packed shoulder-to-shoulder with spectators. "The car show will indeed be different from any other car show," said Thomas Ingenlath of Polestar, owned by China's Geely Holding, by phone from his hotel room in Tianjin, east of Beijing. The automakers' willingness to tackle the show's logistical challenges highlights the importance of China, their biggest market. Chinese sales have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels while U.S. and European demand is weak and the industry struggles to reverse multibillion-dollar losses. "China is the only hope for many global car makers," said John Zeng of LMC Automotive Consulting. "They are really counting on China to help their bottom line." Workers prepare for the upcoming Auto China 2020 show in Beijing on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. Auto executives are flying in early to wait out a coronavirus quarantine ahead of the Beijing auto show, the year's biggest sales event for a global industry that is struggling with tumbling sales and layoffs. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., BMW AG and other brands are going ahead with global and China debuts of electric SUVs, luxury coupes and futuristic concept cars. Some are broadcasting events online to reach wider audiences. CEO Makoto Uchida of Nissan Motor Co. and other executives plan to appear by video from their home countries. Most brands are relying on Chinese employees or foreign managers who work in the country full-time to operate their displays while keeping contact with spectators to a minimum. China's auto industry has largely recovered since the ruling party declared victory over the disease in March and allowed factories and dealerships to reopen. In August, sales rose 6% over a year earlier. Meanwhile, purchases in the United States were down 9.5% from pre-pandemic levels. Sales in Europe plunged 17.6%. Visitors wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus look at Tesla vehicles on display at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. Auto executives are flying in early to wait out a coronavirus quarantine ahead of the Beijing auto show, the year's biggest sales event for a global industry that is struggling with tumbling sales and layoffs. Organizers say they will impose intensive anti-disease controls on crowds and monitor visitors and employees for signs of infection. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Automakers are responding by slashing workforces and shrinking operations. Nissan is closing factories in Spain and Indonesia and cutting global production by 20% after reporting a $6.2 billion loss for the year ending in March. Groupe Renault SA is cutting 15,000 jobs worldwide and in April pulled out of its China joint venture with state-owned Dongfeng Motor Co. To cut costs, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and PSA Peugeot Citroen want to merge and create the world's fourth-biggest automaker. But they face an investigation by European regulators into whether that will improperly reduce competition. In China, the pandemic accelerated the consolidation of a fragmented industry with dozens of competitors by forcing a string of smaller local brands out of the market and bigger companies into alliances, said Zeng. A security guard wearing a mask walks past an advertisement for the Auto China 2020 show to be held in Beijing on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. Auto executives are flying in early to wait out a coronavirus quarantine ahead of the Beijing auto show, the year's biggest sales event for a global industry that is struggling with tumbling sales and layoffs. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) "That will change the industry landscape in the long run," he said. China's major auto shows, held in Beijing and Shanghai in alternate years, are the industry's biggest events, attracting every global automaker and dozens of new but ambitious Chinese brands. The last Beijing auto show in 2018 had 1,200 exhibitors from 14 countries and 820,000 visitors, according to organizers. This month's event, postponed from March, follows a smaller auto show in July in the western city of Chengdu with 120 exhibitors that was a trial run for anti-virus measures. The Beijing city government has told automakers to limit the number of guests they invite but has yet to say how many people will be allowed into the 200,000-square-meter (2.2 million-square-foot) exhibition center. Rules issued by the city say everyone at the show should remain at least 1 meter (three feet) from each other. Security guards wearing masks stand at the entrance to the showroom being prepared ahead of the Auto China 2020 show to be held in Beijing on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. Auto executives are flying in early to wait out a coronavirus quarantine ahead of the Beijing auto show, the year's biggest sales event for a global industry that is struggling with tumbling sales and layoffs. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Zeng, the industry analyst, said he was skipping the auto show because if leaves his home in Shanghai, his children would have to be quarantined after his return. Polestar's Ingenlath was tested for the coronavirus before being allowed to board a plane in Stockholm. He had a second test after landing Sept. 5 in Tianjin, one of several cities where visitors from abroad undergo quarantine before they are allowed to travel to Beijing, the Chinese capital. "Really, to get emotion and the passion about the brand across, you can't do that even with all the modern media we have," Ingenlath said. "So I decided to go for a month." Polestar, spun off from Sweden's Volvo Cars in 2017 as a standalone brand, is one of dozens of producers that plan to display electric vehicles. They range from established global giants to independent Chinese competitors including BYD Auto Co. and NIO. Cars are delivered for the upcoming Auto China 2020 show in Beijing on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. Auto executives are flying in early to wait out a coronavirus quarantine ahead of the Beijing auto show, the year's biggest sales event for a global industry that is struggling with tumbling sales and layoffs. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) A worker passes by regulations to curb the spread of the coronavirus on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, aimed for attendees of the upcoming Auto China 2020 show to be held in Beijing. Auto executives are flying in early to wait out a coronavirus quarantine ahead of the Beijing auto show, the year's biggest sales event for a global industry that is struggling with tumbling sales and layoffs. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) A worker labors on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, near a sign which reads "Hi Beijing, Auto China 2020" ahead of the Auto China 2020 show to be held in Beijing. Auto executives are flying in early to wait out a coronavirus quarantine ahead of the Beijing auto show, the year's biggest sales event for a global industry that is struggling with tumbling sales and layoffs. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Workers prepare Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, for the upcoming Auto China 2020 show to be held in Beijing. Auto executives are flying in early to wait out a coronavirus quarantine ahead of the Beijing auto show, the year's biggest sales event for a global industry that is struggling with tumbling sales and layoffs. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) A worker looks out over an advertisement for the Auto China 2020 show to be held in Beijing on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. Auto executives are flying in early to wait out a coronavirus quarantine ahead of the Beijing auto show, the year's biggest sales event for a global industry that is struggling with tumbling sales and layoffs. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) The Communist Party wants to make China a leader in the technology and has used subsidies and other support to transform it into the biggest EV market, accounting for about half of global sales. To spur competition, Beijing ended restrictions on foreign ownership of electric vehicle producers in 2018. Ingenlath said he brought books but has had little time to read in between working online and dealing with coworkers by phone, email and online video. "I have been going through pretty hard normal work routine," he said. Ingenlath's 13-year-old daughter interviewed him for a classroom presentation about his quarantine. Barred from leaving his room, he set aside two hours a day to lift weights and do calisthenics "just to be able not to go crazy." 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. DMD Systems Recovery Inc. We are pleased that DMD has formalized the commitments from which they had been operating and we welcome them as one of our newest community members. DMD Systems Recovery Inc. (DMD) is officially B Corp certified. B Labs certified DMD based upon the results from the rigorous Impact Assessment process. DMD joins companies like Unilever, Danone, Athleta, and Patagonia. Certified B Corps are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. DMD was founded on the principle of reducing harm to our environment through responsible handling of IT assets for reuse or end of useful life. While minimizing environmental impact we have concurrently focused on providing an inclusive work environment and supporting our local community. Validating this emphasis on sustainability and social support through the formal B Corp process was a natural progression. In response to this achievement, Aaron Zeper, CEO of DMD Systems said I am immensely proud to be part of this company. Success is not strictly revenue or standard MBA metrics. Success for DMD means we support our community, our environment, and especially our people. There are ways to be purposeful, responsible, and successful. Andy Fyfe, Manager, Business Development for B Lab U.S. & Canada looks towards the future, saying Certified B Corporations are committed to improving the social and environmental challenges faced by the world and creating more high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose. We are pleased that DMD has formalized the commitments from which they had been operating and we welcome them as one of our newest community members." DMD Systems looks forward to socially responsible growth while working alongside fellow B. Corps and encourages other organizations to join this commitment to balance profit and purpose. About DMD: DMD Systems Recovery, Inc. (DMD) provides IT Asset Disposition solutions adhering to the most rigorous environmental and security standards to deliver confidence for companies who value our world and their reputation. DMD works with hundreds of companies and public entities to securely destroy their data, decommission assets, and redeploy or remarket the equipment across IT categories including DataCenter, End User Compute, and Mobility. For more information, please visit: http://www.dmdsystems.com. About B Labs: In 2006, three friends left careers in business and private equity and created an organization dedicated to making it easier for mission-driven companies to protect and improve their positive impact over time. The first 82 B Corps were certified in 2007. B Corp Certification is administered by Standards Analysts at the non-profit B Lab. Standards Analysts are located at B Lab's Pennsylvania, New York, and Amsterdam offices. The standards for B Corp Certification are overseen by B Lab's independent Standards Advisory Council. BCorporation.net Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 00:37:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, on Thursday fought back at U.S. accusations against China over the handling of COVID-19. At a summit-level debate on "global governance after COVID-19," the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, repeated President Donald Trump's demand to hold China accountable for the spread of the virus. In response, Zhang said Thursday's meeting was a moment for solidarity and cooperation, as reflected by the appeals of the vast majority of Security Council members. "Regrettably, we once again heard noises from the U.S. that are so at odds with the atmosphere of the meeting. China resolutely opposes and rejects the baseless accusations by the U.S.," said Zhang. For quite a while, some U.S. politicians have been obsessed with attacking other countries and UN bodies. Abusing the platform of the United Nations and its Security Council, the United States has been spreading "political virus" and disinformation, and creating confrontation and division, he said. Such practice cannot defeat the virus. On the contrary, it has seriously disrupted the joint efforts of the international community to fight the pandemic, he said. "I must say, enough is enough. You have created enough troubles for the world already," said Zhang. Enditem Zhongwei, in northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, was once a city "shrouded in yellow sands. However, nowadays the city embraces new opportunities of development, as the local people have planted trees, developed eco-tourism, and introduced high-end industrial chain. A bird's eye view of Zhongwei. (Photo/Xinhua) During the harshest period of spring, it is common to see fine sand flying up in the air along with dark skies produced by sandstorms. Today, Zhongwei is densely planted with trees and a canal runs through the city, resulting from desert control that began as early as the opening of the Baotou-Lanzhou Railway in the late 1950s. At that time, the railway had 55 kilometers across the desert, and since quicksand could bury the track overnight, sand control was imperative. After years of hard work, sand dunes no longer flow, and plants such as seabuckthorn and scoparium are grown, leaving only 200,000 mu (about 13,333 hectares) of desert in Zhongwei to maintain its original style and develop local tourism characteristics. Even so, Zhongwei is still making every effort to plant trees. As the vegetation on the barren mountain is fragile, instead of using machinery the local people plant Caragana in the soil by hand before the rain. At this point, the barren mountain has grown 120,000 mu of Caragana. He Jian, secretary of the Communist Party of China Zhongwei municipal committee, said that in the past ecological protection was mostly about curing the symptoms, but is now moving towards systematic management and ecology, industries and high-quality development have been promoted as an organic whole. There is a large selenium-rich area on both sides of the Yellow River in Zhongwei. Located high above sea level, the land is dry and cold with fewer pests on fruits and vegetables and fewer diseases among cattle and sheep, which greatly reduces the use of pesticides. In recent years, soft pears from South Long Beach, dates from North Long Beach, large watermelons from Sandstone Beach, and Chinese wolfberry from Zhongning have all become quite popular on the market. As the traffic was inconvenient in the past, there were seldom any villagers in Dawan village near the Yellow River. Today, after being re-managed by designers, it has emerged as a popular tourist destination with a cluster of Yellow River-themed hotels. As cloud computing and cloud storage giants have rushed to Zhongwei, the important city of big data has risen in western China. In the first half of this year, the added value of information transmission, software and information technology services in Zhongwei increased by 26.4 percent. Among the three bills on agricultural reforms approved by Parliament this week, perhaps the most contentious one is the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020. It seeks to provide for trading areas outside mandis of an Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC). This has been a source of anger among farmers. The basic argument behind the reforms is that APMC mandis impose charges which reduce the price realization of farmers. The commission charged by middlemen is an example. By allowing unregulated trading areas beyond APMC mandis, the law seeks to remove intermediaries from agricultural trade and raise price realization for farmers. Arguments against APMC mandis are well known. The biggest complaint is their excessive politicization, which has resulted in cartelization and price fixing. Precisely for this reason, there have been several attempts at reforming their functioning. Easier licensing norms, the removal of entry and exit barriers and computerization and transparency have been introduced in most APMC markets. However, the Bihar government decided to abolish the APMC system altogether in 2006. Critics of the APMC system had promised that its abolition would ensure better prices for farmers of the state and attract large sums of private investment in its market infrastructure, something the current reforms also promise. How did the abolition of the APMC system impact agriculture in Bihar? Before their abolition, Bihar had 95 market yards, of which 54 had infrastructure such as covered yards, godowns and administrative buildings, weighbridges, and processing as well as grading units. In 2004-05, the state agricultural board earned 60 crore through taxes and spent 52 crore, of which 31% was on developing infrastructure. With no revenue to maintain it, that infrastructure is now in a dilapidated condition. Also, no major private investment has come in. In a study of agriculture in Bihar last year, the National Council for Applied Economic Research reported increased volatility in grain prices after 2006, which negatively affected the crop choices and decisions of farmers to adopt improved cultivation practices. It concluded that Bihars repeal of the APMC system and consequent increase in price volatility could be one of the reasons for low growth of agriculture in the state. It concluded, Farmers are left to the mercy of traders who unscrupulously fix a lower price for agricultural produce that they buy from [them]. Inadequate market facilities and institutional arrangements are responsible for low price realisation and instability in prices." Most of the farmers surveyed reported high storage costs at private warehouses. Further, the need for immediate cash meant that they were forced to sell at whatever prices private traders offered. Recent field studies have also reported traders and farmers both being charged market fees in private unregulated markets, even though infrastructure for weighing, sorting, grading and storage is missing. Bihar is among the leading producers of maize in India and the third largest producer of fruits and vegetables after Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. For maize, this year most farmers reported getting a price of 1,000-1,300 per quintal, as against the official minimum support price (MSP) of 1,850. For wheat too, farmers in Bihar reported receiving prices 10-15% lower than the MSP. Besides, wheat procurement in the state was only 5,000 tonnes, compared to 13 million tonnes in Madhya Pradesh, which has the same crop yield as Bihar, and 39 million tonnes nationally. Unlike Bihar, Madhya Pradesh did not abolish and instead strengthened its APMC infrastructure over the years. The Bihar experiment has important lessons for future marketing reforms in agriculture. The benefits of these reforms will only accrue to farmers if they are accompanied by private investment in creating the physical infrastructure and institutional mechanisms needed to allow for greater participation of farmers. While this did not materialize even after a decade-and-a-half of the abolition of APMC mandis in Bihar, the record of other states on attracting private investment isnt much better. By only attempting to shift trade away from APMC to non-APMC areas, without a regulatory framework, the new law is unlikely to ensure better price realization for farmers. On the contrary, it might even lead to a decline in the APMC infrastructure if enough revenue for its upkeep and development isnt generated. Himanshu is associate professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University and visiting fellow at the Centre de Sciences Humaines, New Delhi Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Researchers in Japan and the United States have conducted a study showing that herd immunity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may have developed among the citizens of Tokyo during the summer. SARS-CoV-2 is the viral agent responsible for the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that is continuing to sweep the globe, posing significant threats to human health. Yasutaka Hayashida (Medical Corporation Koshikai, Tokyo) and colleagues from Boston Childrens Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical School, Boston, say their study suggests that seroprevalence for SARS-CoV-2 rose to almost 50% at around the same time cases of COVID-19 waned in the city. With the rise in SPR [seropositivity rate] nearing 50% within our cohort, matching the time when COVID-19 cases waned, the possibility of herd immunity should be considered, particularly in the highly-dense urban scenario like Tokyo, writes the team. A pre-print version of the paper is available in the server medRxiv*, while the article undergoes peer review. The seropositivity rate and 7 days moving average of daily confirmed new cases of COVID19 from 5/26 to 9/1 Death rate in Japan fell, despite no lockdown Compared with the United States and European countries, COVID-19-related mortality has been low in Japan, and the death rate has fallen despite the absence of a lockdown. The reasons for the low fatality rate are not yet known. They may be related to a low SARS-CoV-2 prevalence across the general population or decreased rates of fatality among infected cases. Distinguishing the underlying factors requires SARS-CoV-2 prevalence data, particularly data that represent the asymptomatic general population. Serological tests monitored across the course of the second wave can provide insights into the population-level prevalence and dynamic patterns of COVID-19 infection, writes the team. What did the current study involve? To estimate seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 throughout the summer, the team enrolled 1,877 healthy, asymptomatic employees of large company from 11 disparate locations across Tokyo. Across the company, serology tests for SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies were performed weekly between May 26th and August 25th, 2020. This time window incorporated the well-documented second wave of COVID-19 that occurred in Japan. To estimate seroconversion and seroreversion among the general population in Tokyo over time, the tests were offered to each participant twice, separated by around a month. The seropositivity rate was calculated by pooling data from each two-week window across the cohort. Changes in immunological status against SARS-CoV-2 were determined by comparing results between two test results obtained from the same participant. Six hundred fifteen individuals, aged a mean of 40.8 years, underwent one test, and 350 of those (aged a mean of 42.5 years) underwent two tests. Seropositivity dramatically increased over the summer The seropositivity rate increased from 5.8% at the beginning of the study to an unexpectedly high 46.8 % by the end of the summer. A high seropositivity rate in Tokyo may not be fully unexpected given its remarkably high population density, tight spacing, the widespread use of public transportation, and no implementation of a lockdown, say Hayashida and colleagues. Of the 350 individuals who underwent both tests, 54 (21.4 %) of 252 who were initially seronegative were seropositive by the time they completed the second test. Of the remaining 98 individuals who were seropositive on initial testing, 12 (12.2%) became seronegative. Seroreversion was not infrequent, seen in 12% of participants over the one-month span between tests, says the team. This suggests that serological testing may significantly underestimate past COVID-19 infections, particularly when applied to an asymptomatic population. The findings can be generalized to the broader metropolitan area The researchers say that although the study cohort was not selected from a broader, random population sample in Tokyo, the findings can still be generalized to the greater metropolitan area for a number of reasons, including the multiple disparate locations participants were from and the limited physical contact they had with each other. Furthermore, the exclusion of symptomatic individuals could potentially have led to an underestimation of the overall seropositivity rate. The possibility of herd immunity should be considered COVID-19 infection may have spread widely across the general population of Tokyo despite the very low fatality rate, say Hayashida and team. Although Japan took the atypical step of not implementing a mandatory lockdown, the second wave peaked and subsided nevertheless, they add. Given the temporal correlation between the rise in seropositivity and the decrease in reported COVID-19 cases that occurred without a shut-down, herd immunity may be implicated, suggest the researchers. Future studies may consider evaluating whether lifestyle/habits, viral strain, the widespread use of masks, or host factors such as immunological memory are responsible for the observed low fatality, they conclude. *Important Notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Thieves have stolen a vial containing several drops of Pope John Paul II's blood from a church in central Italy. The vial was part of a relic, one of several containing the late-pontiff's blood, that had been stored in the chapel of Spoleto Cathedral, around 60 miles north of Rome. But on Wednesday evening the cathedral's sacristan, who is in charge of protecting the building and its contents, discovered it was missing. A golden relic containing a vial of Pope John Paul II's blood has been stolen from a church in Spoleto, Italy, where it was kept in the chapel (file image of a similar relic) The cathedral called police, who have now launched an investigation to try and find the culprits, Repubblica reported. Investigators are reviewing CCTV from inside the building, but have not yet identified a suspect. Meanwhile Renato Boccardo, archbishop of the cathedral, put out an appeal for the thieves to return the relic. 'I dare to hope that it's a shallow act that was not intended to offend the sensibilities of the faithful,' he said. 'I also dare to hope that this rash act wasn't done to make money.' The vial was given to the church in 2016 by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, then archbishop of Krakow, who was a longtime aide to the Polish pope who died in 2005. The relic is one of several containing the blood of Pope John Paul II, which are housed in churches around the globe The relic in which it sits was due to be placed in the church of Saint Nicolo in Spoleto, which is currently under construction. It was being kept inside a chapel alongside the Cross of Alberto Sotio, which was created in 1187. The chapel was secured by a locked gate that stands about 3ft off the ground, and is not open to visitors. It also contains an alarm system which protects the cross, though the relic was not protected, allowing the thieves to get away undetected. Harley Davidson has decided to shut down its manufacturing and sales operations in India as part of its 'The Rewire' programme. The company will lay off its 70 employees in the country and close its manufacturing plant in Bawal, Haryana. Last month, the US-based motorcycle maker had decided to focus on its top 50 markets across the world under this restructuring strategy. India has been a dismal venture for the globally renowned two-wheeler company as it sold less than 30,000 units in the country over the past 10 years. In the last financial year, the company managed to sell only 2,500 units, making India one of its worst performing markets. Amid the pandemic this year, the company could sell only 100 motorcycles between April-June. ALSO READ: Five reasons why Harley Davidson failed in India With its exit, Harley Davidson has joined the list of auto manufacturers that have closed shop in India in the past three years, including General Motors, Ssangyong, Fiat, UM Motorcycles and others. The company is expected to provide road servicing facilities to its existing customers along with selling imported bikes in the country. In a filing to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Harley Davidson said it intends to optimise its global dealer network, exit certain international markets, and discontinue its sales and manufacturing operations in India. These restructuring actions under 'The Rewire' are likely to result in $75 million additional restructuring costs for 2020. Of this, 80 per cent is expected to be cash expenditures including one-time termination benefits of approximately $3 million, non-current asset adjustments of approximately $5 million, and contract termination and other costs of approximately $67 million, the company stated in its filing. ALSO READ: Harley exit can trigger a diplomatic tiff between India and US "Full implementation of these Rewire actions may require the Company to commit additional funds for additional contract termination and other costs. Including previously disclosed restructuring charges, the Company expects total restructuring expenses associated with Rewire restructuring actions approved through September 23, 2020 of approximately $169 million in 2020," Harley Davidson told the SEC. It further added that these restructuring activities are expected to complete within the next 12 months. ALSO READ: Harley-Davidson to focus on top 50 markets; looks for JV partner to hive off India ops MD Update-Canadian Government Backs Billion-Dollar EV Output Brisbane, Sep 24, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Emerging lithium miner Sayona Mining Limited ( ASX:SYA ) ( FRA:DML ) ( OTCMKTS:DMNXF ) announced today its strong support for Canada's 'green recovery' push, with the Company's lithium projects in Quebec set to play a major role in supplying the nation's rejuvenated automotive sector centred on electric vehicles (EVs).Highlights- Canadian Government backs C$1.8 billion (A$1.9 billion) EV production in Ontario with goal of establishing entire battery chain; electric transportation key element of 'green recovery' strategy- Analysis reaffirms Quebec's economic, strategic and environmentally sustainable competitive advantages as spodumene supplier of choice to North America- Sayona advances EIS studies at flagship Authier Lithium Project; bid for North American Lithium (NAL) on track with Sayona eyeing further improvements to operating efficiencies.The Canadian Government has announced plans to establish an entire industrial chain, from mining to battery manufacturing and production of EVs, as part of its post-pandemic economic recovery strategy.Already, the Canadian and Ontario governments have reached agreement to partner with Ford Motor Co. to invest C$1.95 billion in its Oakville and Windsor plants, with the deal including C$1.8 billion dedicated to the production of five EVs as well as battery assembly."Today, the discussion starts about how we use our lithium in Quebec; our nickel in Sudbury; our cobalt in northern Ontario; our aluminium from Quebec and British Columbia - to put Canadians to work," Unifor President Jerry Dias said Tuesday.Among the world's top 10 vehicle producers, Canada produced more than 1.3 million vehicles in 2016, employing 130,000 workers, according to the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association.The announcement by the Canadian Government has highlighted the potential for the nation to play a leading role in the EV revolution, requiring secure supplies of key battery materials such as lithium from within its own borders.Meanwhile in Quebec, Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon has stated the province is ready to invest up to C$1.4 billion to establish its battery sector, with projections of total investment exceeding C$7 billion."Once and for all, we are going to take our natural resources and transform them into a value-added product," Mr Fitzgibbon told Le Journal de Quebec.These government moves follow the Tesla 'Battery Day,' in which the leading EV maker emphasised its plans to source its clean and green lithium supply from North America. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence has estimated Tesla's 3 terawatt-hour battery capacity target alone would require an additional 2 million tonnes per annum of lithium by 2030.Studies undertaken by EY-Parthenon have reaffirmed Quebec's position as the leading supplier of spodumene to North America based on cost, quality, reliability and carbon footprint. An Abitibi hub, as proposed by Sayona, could deliver spodumene ore to the North American market at the lowest cost and with the smallest environmental footprint compared to competitors in Australia and South America.Authier studies progressSayona has also continued to advance its environmental studies concerning its flagship Authier Lithium Project, with the aim of addressing feedback received from Quebec's Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MELCC) concerning the environmental impact statement lodged in January.More than 75% of the required survey work has been awarded, targeting completion by year-end. This will enable Sayona to compile its response to the MELCC by the end of December, with Ministry recommendations expected in early 2021.Meanwhile, Sayona has also conducted further reviews aimed at enhancing operational efficiencies concerning the mine plans for Authier and North American Lithium (NAL), pending a successful bid for NAL. Significant reductions in operating costs are anticipated, helping ensure a successful turnaround at NAL that secures jobs and investment while contributing to Quebec's lithium revival.Sayona's Managing Director, Brett Lynch commented: "We welcome the latest announcements by the Canadian and Quebec Governments and their commitments to invest in support of a sustainable and viable battery and automotive sector."Quebec is the obvious supplier of choice of spodumene to Canada's battery industry, as highlighted by industry officials. We are ready to fast-track our production plans to help deliver the required spodumene output and downstream processing of lithium hydroxide, thereby generating new jobs and investment and facilitating the nation's clean energy future."About Sayona Mining Ltd Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is an Australian, ASX-listed (SYA) company focused on sourcing and developing the raw materials required to construct lithium-ion batteries for use in the rapidly growing new and green technology sectors. The Company has lithium projects in Quebec, Canada and in Western Australia. Please visit us as at www.sayonamining.com.au Nadia Whittome reveals she has been sacked on ITV's Peston show. (@itvpeston/Twitter) Nadia Whittome reveals she has been sacked on live politics show Labour MP voted against government bill designed to stop vexatious prosecutions of service personnel, saying its anti-human rights Office of leader Sir Keir Starmer had told Labour MPs to abstain on vote Visit the Yahoo homepage for more stories This is the moment a Labour MP reveals on live TV that she has been sacked by Sir Keir Starmer. Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome has lost her role as a parliamentary private secretary after going against Labour policy to oppose the controversial Overseas Operations Bill, which the government said will protect service personnel from vexatious prosecutions. Whittome, appearing on ITVs Peston show, was shown a tweet saying she had been considered to have resigned by the leaderships office after defying the whips orders to abstain on the vote. After being shown the post, Whittome revealed she had been sacked as she said: I havent resigned Watch the video below... She was part of a group of Labour rebels from the Socialist Campaign group of MPs which includes former leader Jeremy Corbyn who voted against the bill. Explaining why she voted against it, Whittome, who at 24 is the youngest MP, said the bill was a matter of conscience. I felt that given that all the major human rights organisations Amnesty, Human Rights Watch even the British Legion and veterans themselves opposed this bill and these are all arguments that our front bench made today, we dont agree with this bill. Story continues Watch: What are negative interest rates? And we think its anti-veteran, its anti-human rights. It would, effectively, decriminalise torture, and thats why I voted against it. We already have laws that prevent vexatious claims, and, in fact, many veterans are against this. The government says the proposed legislation will ensure service personnel will be protected from vexatious claims and endless investigations. Ministers said it 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, and 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. Campaigners and some senior military figures have warned the legislation will create a presumption against prosecution of torture and other serious crimes, except rape and sexual violence. STAMFORD Seventy-two-year-old Erwin Reich was a serious walker. Just about every morning, he would leave his home early and do a four-mile loop, up Newfield Avenue and back to his house, just off Strawberry Hill Avenue near Colonial Road. Six days a week. And he hardly ever missed a day. He would go every morning early, almost without fail, his wife Veronica said through tears Thursday, determined to honor her husbands life, just hours after he set off on what would be his last walk that morning. Police said Erwin Reich was hit by a car as he was walking north on Newfield shortly before 6 a.m. Police are investigating the circumstances of the accident. The driver, a Stamford woman who police said was cooperating, told police that she did not see Reich before she struck him, police said. The Reichs were married for 43 years. Erwin spent most of his carrier as a chemical engineer for a major oil company, then was an independent consultant before retiring a few years ago. Veronica Reich, 65, said her husband was someone who loved America dearly. He grew up in Communist Romania, in a little mountain town called Bratca, and came to the United States when he was 14. He was a passionate patriot. He loved this country very much because he understood what it was like to live without these freedoms, she said. He remembered what it was like. Both of his parents, and those of his wife, were Holocaust survivors, and Erwin was very interested in their history, their genealogy and honoring the memories of those lost in the Holocaust, Veronica Reich said. Reich and his wife had a trip planned to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum last April, but had to cancel because of the coronavirus pandemic. Erwin Reich had visited his hometown a number of times during his life. He really wanted go go and say his prayers there. We really felt like we needed to go, but Covid canceled it, Veronica Reich said. Sandy Shapiro, who met the Reichs when they moved to Hope Street a year after they were married 42 years ago, said his good friend was a very passionate person. This is an absolute shock, said Shapiro. Edwin was passionate about everything. When I think of Erwin I think of his passion. He loved his wife, he loved his family and he loved history. Born in 1948, Reich was not a Holocaust survivor, but he was a child of the Holocaust, Shapiro said. He wanted to know everything he could about what happened to his parents and his family and he did a tremendous amount of research, Shapiro said. He was an engineer and he had that characteristic that engineers have about getting down to particulars. Veronica Reich said her husband was writing a book about about his familys history in Romania. Shapiro said Reich had an understanding about what America means that natives of the country dont have. Growing up in Romania gave him a unique appreciation for the country that is America and all the freedoms we have, Shapiro said. Veronica said her husband was so looking forward to holding the baby their daughter Arielle, who lives in Glastonbury, is about to deliver. Arielle also has a daughter named Ellis. Their son, Joseph, who lives in New Mexico, has a son named Oliver. He was the light of his life. He was so looking forward to spending time with his grandchildren and the new baby. It is unfathomable, Veronica Reich said. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com He accused PM Modi, of deceiving and keeping him in the dark about the Centres plan to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcating J&K Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah who, according to his critics, has as a politician grown accustomed to setting off controversies, said in his latest harangue that the people of Kashmir do not feel Indian and do not want to be as such. Today Kashmiris do not feel Indian and do not want to be Indian. They are slaves. They would rather have the Chinese rule them, he said in an interview to veteran journalist and television commentator Karan Thapar. Reacting sharply to the governments doing away with the 1927 State Subject Law and replacing it with new domicile law in what is now called as the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said, Every Kashmiri believes the new domicile laws are intended to create a Hindu majority. The gap between Kashmiris and the rest of the country is wider than ever before and growing. He added that alleged attempts to change the demography of J&K have further embittered the Kashmiri people. He accused Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, of deceiving and keeping him in the dark about the Centres plan to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcating J&K. He said, Modi deliberately deceived me in August 2019 but I will fight to restore the dignity of Kashmiris till my last breath. The Abdullahs and Muftis have come together in Kashmirs greater interest and now Mehbooba (Mufti) is politically close to Omar (Abdullah) and me. I speak to her frequently. Revealing the details of his meeting with the Prime Minister roughly 72 hours before August 5, 2019 when J&K was stripped of its special status and split up into two UTs, he said that he had met Modi to seek his assurances about the continuation of Articles 370 and 35A. He said that he asked the Prime Minister why there were so many troops in the Valley and whether this was because of any perceived military threat. He suggested the Prime Minister deliberately went out of his way to give him the impression the massive increase in troops was for security purposes. He said the Prime Minister did not say a word about Articles 370 and 35A. Consequently, he emerged from that meeting believing the two Articles were not in danger. When asked he agreed that the Prime Minister had misled and deceived him. The Senior Abdullah who is a member of Lok Sabha representing home constituency Srinagar said in the interview which has been published by The Wire alleged that the Kashmiris are being treated like second class citizens and hence are slaves. He also said that it was a complete rubbish for the BJP to claim that the people of Kashmir have accepted the August 2019 changes just because there have been no protests. He said if the soldiers on every street and Section 144 were to be lifted people will come out in their tens of lakhs. Asked how Kashmiris view the Central government and, in particular, Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Abdullah said they were deeply disillusioned. He said they had no trust in the Central government. He added that the trust that once bound Kashmir to the rest of the country has completely snapped. He said that in August 2019, when the constitutional changes were suddenly announced, the NC and all other mainstream political parties stood badly discredited in Kashmiri eyes. Speaking of himself, he said he seemed to have fallen between two stools. The Indian government viewed him as a traitor and arrested him. Kashmiris, on the other hand, saw him as a servant of India and said things like serves Abdullah right and chided him and taunted him for having said Bharat Mata Ki Jai. This left him deeply shaken and upset. He, however, claimed that after 7-8 months in detention his standing and that of his party and other mainstream parties has been considerably restored in Kashmiri eyes. People now realize they are not servants of India, he asserted. He said that the NC and, in fact, all the other parties that had come together to issue the Gupkar Declaration of August 2019, which was reiterated on August 22 this year, were committed to restoring the dignity of Kashmiris. He said this meant reinstating Articles 370 and 35A and restoring statehood. He said he would fight for this but always peacefully till his last breath. The former chief minister said that he had faith in the Supreme Court and hoped that they would stop postponing the petition his party has brought and hear it expeditiously. In the interview he, in fact, appealed to Supreme Court judges to hear the constitutional case quickly. Asked why he had not raised this matter during the present session of Parliament, he said he wasnt given time. He said he had gone to meet the Speaker, along with MPs from Congress, Trinamool, DMK and the Communist Parties, and the Speaker had assured them time for a discussion would be allocated. But that never happened. Asked if he believed the government had intervened and told the Speaker not to give time, Abdullah said he did not know but agreed the Speaker had not kept his word. In reply to another question, he said that in the greater interest of Kashmir the Mufti and Abdullah families have buried their past differences and come together. He asked why PDP president Mehbooba Mufti who also is a former chief minister of J&K has not been released and if she is a criminal? Asked if her incarceration has begun to affect her, Abdullah asked a question in return: How can it not? She is a human being after all. He said whether the NC will contest the next state elections is a decision that will be taken, first, democratically within the NC itself and he, as its president, will not impose his personal thinking. However, he added that the decision will also be taken in concert with all the other Gupkar Declaration signatories. Civic Chamber member proposes admittance of private detectives in criminal proceedings RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 18:28 24/09/2020 MOSCOW, September 24 (RAPSI) Private detectives are to be given the status of participants in criminal proceedings in order to relieve investigators from excessive workload, member of Russias Civic Chamber Commission on Security and Cooperation with Public Monitoring Commissions Valery Vasilyev believes. The measure requires amending the Code of Criminal Procedure as concerns the involvement of experts; currently investigators have the right to invite any expert when working on cases, and Vasilyev wonders why private detectives cannot be involved under the same procedure. The involvement of private detectives and granting them broader powers, the Civic Chamber members observes, could help to improve the quality of probes and to settle many serious problems encountered by people. Earlier, Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Security and Countering Corruption Anatoly Vyborny has proposed to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to the effect that private detectives were granted a status permitting them to engage in criminal intelligence operations so the information they collected could be admitted as evidence in criminal cases on the part of both the Investigative Committee and the police. We will be traveling in Bordeaux, France and would like to spend a few days in Rapallo and/or Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy before returning to the U.S. via Paris. Does anyone have a suggestion for the easiest, fastest way to travel from Bordeaux to Rapallo? We are not that comfortable driving in Italy. We would also appreciate suggestions for the trip back to Paris from Rapallo if a different route. Please help...Thank you! For eight decades she has been as intriguing as she has reassuring, from the schoolgirl Princess broadcasting out of Windsor in wartime Britain to steadfast monarch. But what do we really know of the Queen and what makes her tick? There is the public side, the unerring sense of duty and obligation, of course; and then there are the glimpses of the private Elizabeth, the countrywoman devoted to her horses and her dogs. Yet all we truly understand is what she chooses to let us see. Then, occasionally, something unexpected about her emerges. Such a moment was reached with the serialisation in the Daily Mail this week of The Windsor Diaries, a compelling and revealing insight into the teenage life of the then Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret. The diaries written by the sisters closest childhood friend Alathea Fitzalan Howard provide a fascinating profile of the young woman destined to wear the crown, and the values which she formed and still follows. For eight decades the Queen has been as intriguing as she has reassuring, from the schoolgirl Princess broadcasting out of Windsor in wartime Britain to steadfast monarch These are not just standards of behaviour, but principles of integrity and decency which have governed her life. And underpinning it all, is the importance of family. How perceptive a witness then was the young Alathea, a kinswoman of the Duke of Norfolk, who was three years older than the girl she knew as Lilibet. After one blissful summers day in 1942 spent with the two Princesses and their parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), she writes enviously of four people who mean everything to each other, whose lives form one spiritual whole, independently of the aid of all outsiders, or even relations. In another entry, she notes almost forlornly of the royal sisters, they are happier alone with their parents than with anyone else on earth. This was the template for Elizabeths life as both a Sovereign and a mother. The Windsor Diaries is a compelling and revealing insight into the teenage life of the then Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret written by the sisters closest childhood friend Alathea Fitzalan Howard For someone whose own life experiences were, in many ways, as narrow as the Princesses, Alatheas judgments about the future Queens character are remarkable. She is, she declares of the young Elizabeth, the most ungossipy person I know, adding: Placid and unemotional, she never desires what doesnt come her way; always happy in her own family, she never needs the companionship of outsiders; she never suffers, therefore she never strongly desires. If only she could be drawn out of her shell, she who has so much at her feet, who can be so gay and amusing. Later she writes that Lilibet doesnt seem to need friends and is careless with the ones she has, though quite unconsciously. This is Alathea almost uncannily describing the scrupulousness Elizabeth has employed as monarch. Surely this has been as much about self-protection, while also respecting that tradition of not allowing too much daylight on royal magic something that subsequent generations senselessly ignored. Yet, despairing of the terms of their friendship, Alathea complains to her diary: I love her and miss her when I dont see her but she doesnt miss me. Why should she? She has PM (Princess Margaret) she doesnt need me. At times Elizabeth had her sisters very happiness in her hands, from the fallout over Margarets love for the divorced Group Captain Peter Townsend, to her divorce from the serially unfaithful Earl of Snowdon. But the affection and loyalty between the two never faltered. More than once Alathea wonders about the competing qualities of the two sisters: Margaret is far and away more the type I would like for the future Queen, she has the frivolity and irresponsibility that Lilibet lacks, though one couldnt call either of them dull. She is at her most observant with those astute asides about Elizabeths reserve, shyness almost, which is still so recognisable today. Here, she is describing a function at Windsor Castle, where 14-year old Elizabeth had to receive a company of RAF officers, shaking hands with them all. Lilibet finds making conversation very difficult, like me, but she did very well as she had to stand by herself for over an hour talking to each one in turn. She insisted on bringing the dogs in because she said they were the greatest save to the conversation when it dropped. That childhood reticence never departed. As royal portrait painter Michael Noakes told me at the time of the Queens 90th birthday: Sometimes she has to gather herself together before she can face going into a room where she knows everyone will be looking at her. When Prince Philip has seen that happening, he has taken over and made sure everything is OK. He likes to say he can make people laugh within 15 seconds. For someone who has had to spend so much time on public display, she did, for many years, develop a way of hiding her true feelings and suppressing her emotions. In simple terms, this was often a way of avoiding an issue. This is exactly what she did with the domestic crises of the 1990s involving Diana and Fergie to Philips frustration, who was often urging her to come off the fence and do something. There is the public side, the unerring sense of duty and obligation, of course; and then there are the glimpses of the private Elizabeth (pictured with her father King George VI, mother Queen Elizabeth, and sister Princess Margaret), the countrywoman devoted to her horses and her dogs Now, for the first time, we know that this trait was visible all those years ago. After a night at Windsor Castle, Alathea writes: Lilibet is funny in some ways v. matter of fact and uncurious and above all untemperamental. But one cant have everything. Later she observes: Lilibet is unusually set in her ideas for 15; none of her friends could ever influence her. For one thing she never lets herself come to know them enough. If she were not so placid and unimpressionable, no doubt I would have at least interested her with my thoughts, so vastly different from her own. The diaries also reveal other qualities that have shaped the Queens life, notably thrift: They [the Princesses] make a point now of having hardly any [new] clothes, which I think is ridiculous. Crawfie, the royal nanny Marion Crawford, regrets that Elizabeth has no taste, Alathea writes. Another friend says it is a shame that the Princess is not encouraged to read more cultured books, complaining that Royal Family conversation revolves round the dogs and the latest radio joke. On the childhood crush the young Elizabeth had for Philip, one delightful entry describes her dancing round the room with a photo the young naval officer sent her for Christmas 1944. But what emerges is that Lilibet was not the one-man woman she is so often painted as. At least two other men caught her eye: Guards officer Hugh Euston later the Duke of Grafton and (at least according to Alatheas mother) the Marquess of Milford Haven, who was to be Philips best man. After a castle dance with young commissioned officers, including Euston, the two friends vied for the attention of the handsome soldier. PE [Princess Elizabeth] asked me how many times I danced with him and said she was rather hurt because he only had the first one with her because he was asked to and then not again, Alathea wrote. The following day Lilibet discloses that shed stolen a letter of thanks the officer had written and was going to keep it!. Only once did these two credulous young women talk frankly about affairs of the heart. In an entry from June 1942, Alathea writes: She wondered if shed ever marry, and I assured her she would, and she said if she really wanted to marry someone shed run away, but I know she wouldnt really her sense of duty is too strong, though shes suited to a simpler life. Alathea regrets that Elizabeth does not have her sisters charm, chattering and telling the latest jokes, but writes of the thoughtful Princess: I fell to wondering what fate awaited this girl, who was in character and tastes so much simpler than I. Will she stand out in history as another great Elizabeth, or will she merely be a commonplace puppet in a rapidly degenerating monarchy? She seems to have no desire to win fame for herself. How observant and how lucky we got the right sister as Queen. Photo credit: Jonathan Hebert From ELLE In ELLE.com's monthly series Office Hours, we ask people in powerful positions to take us through their first jobs, worst jobs, and everything in between. If you know anything about Symone Sanders' meteoric rise, you'd probably assume she's an expert at asking for what she wants. As reported in Fortune's latest "40 under 40", Sanders was only 25 when she became the national press secretary for Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign. She then moved on to CNN, working as a commentator and analyst, before being recruited by a handful of 2020 candidates. Ultimately, she chose Joe Biden, becoming one of his senior advisors, the youngest in his "inner circle" and his highest-ranking Black staffer. Sanders isn't afraid to tackle protestors, call out rude guests, be Baitedor speak up when she discovered she was being left out of a daily call for top Biden strategists. But dont be mistaken. It is not what I want, Sanders explains. It is what I've worked for. Below, the now 30-year-old, reflects on that work, including the job shed never want to do again and the career advice that changed her life. My very first job It was at Time Out Foods in Omaha, Nebraska, and I was a cashier. Time Out is this local, Black-owned restaurant, and they serve the absolute best fried chicken and dirty rice I have ever had. Working that job is what let me know I needed to get good grades because I hate to mop. Photo credit: . The job I'd never want to do again I interned at a law firm while I was in college. Part of my job was Bates stamping, and it was the most boring thing I have ever done in my life. That's when I realized the firm life was really not for me, and perhaps I didn't want to go to law school and be an attorney and become a judge. My true dream job My actual dream job would be to either have my own show or be one of the co-hosts on The View. I think the people on The ViewJoy Behar, Whoopi, Sunny Hostin, and companythey have the coolest jobs in America. Story continues The worst career advice I've ever received The worse career advice I think I ever got was someone telling me not to take the Sanders press secretary job in 2015. They said it would ruin my career, I would be branded for life, and I would never be able to get another job. What my work/life balance looks like In the current campaign, there is some semblance of work-life balance because I'm at home with my partner all day long. We have dinner every night. I woke up this morning, and I cleaned the kitchen. Those are things that I was not doing seven months ago, let alone things I'd be doing 50 days out from election day, if we weren't all working from home. Part of it is really carving out time, so when we are having dinner I do not take phone calls. I will probably answer some emails. If people text me, I will text back, but I don't take phone calls. There are days where I just need to leave the house, so I will do a mobile order at Starbucks. I will take two meetings in the car just so I can get a change of scenery. Those are the ways that I find sanity in this crazy work-from-home world. Photo credit: . A lesson I learned the hard way When I worked for Senator Sanders, I remember we had a press conference in Baltimore. Earlier that day, Senator Sanders went on a walking tour of Freddie Gray's neighborhood. Freddie Gray was a gentleman who died in police custody in Baltimore. After the tour, I went out to brief the reporters. I made a jokeit was not a good jokeand said, "Guys, we're in Baltimore today, so can you please try to ask some questions about Baltimore, and not make all your questions about ISIS?" Because it was at the time where people were asking Senator Sanders about ISIS a lot. As soon as I walk out of the room, a couple of the reporters tweet that Bernie Sanders' press secretary just told us not to ask about ISIS. It was so terrible. It was blowing up. Senator Sanders had to go out there and do this press conference, and of course that was the first question. I just slinked to the back of the room. The next day, I saw Senator Sanders in our campaign office, and he came over to me, and I'm like, I'm definitely getting in trouble. He said, "I think you've learned your lesson." I said, "I think I have, sir. I don't have any jokes for the reporters, not one joke, and I don't have any sarcasm." He said, "Okay. All right." But I was really devastated. What I learned is that everything you say, especially in the role of a press secretary or a communications person, in the presence of reporters without some caveats is, in fact, reportable. We have to be sharp, and when I am not sharp, I have the potential to make my principal look bad, and if I'm doing that, I'm not doing my job. How I know when to ask for more I realized that if I would like the things I believed I had worked for, I had to ask for them because no one is just going to give them to me. If you have done the work, if you are capable, and you have earned what it is that you are asking for, you should feel emboldened and empowered to ask for it. I didn't ask to be the press secretary for Senator Sanders in 2015 and then not know how to write a press release or pitch reporters. It would have been very problematic if I didn't know how to do the job. You don't ask to get into a meeting and then never have anything to contribute. If we are asking for the things that we believe we've worked for, that we believe we deserve, we have to be able to perform when we get there. Why I always take the meeting The best career advice I got was someone encouraging me to sit down with the vice president's then-campaign manager, Greg Schultz, and then the vice president. Joe Biden has been in public office for 47 years. I incorrectly assumed there was no space for me in his orbit. Getting to know folks who have worked for the vice president, getting to know the vice president and Dr. Biden personally, just really being welcomed into the Biden family, that's what has been most amazing about this experience. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. You Might Also Like Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:21:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- China has strengthened its commitment to establishing a development pattern of "dual circulation," in which domestic and overseas markets complement and reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay. -- The policy made a big splash in boosting economic rebound. Retail sales of consumer goods, the main gauge of China's consumption, turned from negative growth to positive for the first time this year, with an increase of 0.5 percent year on year in August, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed. Photo taken on Aug. 23, 2019 shows an intelligent shirt-making workshop of Hodo Group in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua) NANJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- In a packed mall run by Chinese retail giant Suning Holdings Group in downtown Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Bao Xunlin finally found a desirable smartphone after carefully comparing the prices. "The product display is rather tempting, and I've got a much better price with the vouchers," said Bao, a chef in a barbecue restaurant. The five-story mall resumed both online and offline services on April 30, and the daily sales volume surpassed 200 million yuan (about 29.38 million U.S. dollars) on its opening day, said Ji Liping, vice manager of the mall. Suning has been managing to buck the trend of global economic recession by digging out the potential of the domestic market, an effort echoing the country's new development pattern of "dual circulation," in which domestic and overseas markets complement and reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay. "Our offline sales were greatly affected when the epidemic situation was severe," said Ji. "But we have adopted live streaming and community marketing to attract new customers while tapping the full potential of offline chain stores by optimizing product display and improving services." Suning's sales volume topped 194 billion yuan in the first half of this year, of which about 134.8 billion yuan came from online sales, up 20.19 percent year on year, the company's financial data showed. Dual circulation is seen as a strategic and win-win choice for China to reshape its international cooperation and new competitive edge, said renowned economist Justin Yifu Lin, honorary dean of the National School of Development, Peking University. GROWTH IN CRISIS The policy made a big splash in boosting economic rebound. Hodo Group, a major apparel manufacturer based in Jiangsu's Wuxi City, registered an export growth of 47 percent in H1 from a year ago, while its profit during the same period soared 110 percent year on year. "Catering to various customer demands in different countries and time zones, we scheduled 40 live shows each featuring categories such as men's wear and hosiery, which lasted about 12 hours," said Dai Minjun, president of Hodo International Development Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Hodo Group. "We could promptly answer customer queries during the live streams, thanks to the multi-language translator," said Dai. While the COVID-19 pandemic exerted great pressure on the company's production and sales, it blazed a trail by exporting medical supplies, developing new products, and adopting live streaming to tide over the crisis, said Zhou Haijiang, board chairman and CEO of Hodo Group. Hodo Group is among the large number of Chinese private enterprises that took the initiative to innovate and explore new markets during the pandemic. People dine at a restaurant in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Lu Huadong) In the workshop of Sierbang Petrochemical in the coastal city of Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, bags of EVA photovoltaic (PV) materials are being loaded on trucks. They are slated to be delivered to Changzhou, which hosts a number of PV enterprises. Chinese PV firms used to import the materials from countries such as the Republic of Korea and Thailand, but due to the impact of the pandemic, many turned to domestic suppliers in a bid to resume production. Sierbang, therefore, strengthened the research and development of related products and increased production output to stabilize the supply chain. "With steady supply in domestic enterprises, the operation of the entire PV industrial chain has been relatively smooth," said a procurement person at a PV manufacturer. CONCERTED EFFORTS Amid the country's efforts to ensure stability on six fronts -- employment, financial sector, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment and expectations -- different departments are strengthening measures to stimulate the vitality of market entities so they not only survive but also thrive. The provincial government of Jiangsu released a circular in August to boost domestic market sales amid the pandemic, and support foreign trade companies to reduce inventory and recoup losses. Workers make protective suits at a workshop of Hodo Group in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province, Feb. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Bo) According to Jiangsu's provincial department of commerce, the province has built 10 national-level cross-border e-commerce pilot areas and established 14 provincial-level overseas warehouses to help trade companies. "We have set up warehouses in countries like Japan and the United States during the pandemic, and they have not only helped avoid overstock in ports but generated faster delivery of products," said Zhao Mingquan, CEO of a clothing company based in Changshu City. Jiangsu Nature Biotechnology Co., Ltd., an agricultural company, saw its export revenue exceed 14 million U.S. dollars in H1, up 7.7 million U.S. dollars from last year. "We've received a credit loan worth 7 million yuan that has significantly eased our financial burden," said Fu Baohua, founder of the company, adding that they have exported over 30,000 tonnes of products this year. Retail sales of consumer goods, the main gauge of China's consumption, turned from negative growth to positive for the first time this year, with an increase of 0.5 percent year on year in August, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed. In the first eight months, industrial output expanded 0.4 percent from last year, and fixed-asset investment edged down 0.3 percent year on year, with the decline narrowing from the 1.6-percent in the first seven months. "Dual circulation will help enterprises establish a flexible industrial chain and form coordination and complementarity between internal and external markets, thus helping develop a resilient, low-risk growth pattern and nurture new growth prospects," said Yang Jijun, vice president of the School of International Economics and Trade, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics. (Reporting by Zhu Xiao, Chen Shengwei, Lu Huadong, He Leijing and Ma Yujie; Video reporters: Liu Yuxuan, Zhu Xiao; Video editor: Zhang Yichi) The Salvation Army Family Store soon will close its doors in Jacksonville. The store at 901 West Morton Ave. will close permanently by Oct. 31, said Maj. Charles Pinkston, corps officer, who is in charge of The Salvation Army in Jacksonville. The stores purpose was to help generate revenue to fund other Salvation Army programs, such as social services and feeding programs. The store moved to its location at Lincoln Square shopping center five years ago and took on a five-year lease. But its been a struggle since the move and they didnt deem it financially feasible to continue with the lease, Pinkston said. It wasnt providing enough revenue to be able to help our other programs, he said. They thought the store was on track to do better this year, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Pinkston said. Illinois minimum wage increase also was a factor, Pinkston said, adding that he didnt see any way to keep the store open in Jacksonville and serving its purpose. It was decided it would be better to close the store and focus on other ministries in town, he said. While The Salvation Army headquarters in St. Louis ultimately made the decision to close it, the decision was not made lightly, Pinkston said. The store now is having a sale, with everything 50% off except for mattresses, which are 25% off. The closest Salvation Army stores outside of Jacksonville are in Springfield, Quincy and Alton. Donations can be taken to those stores. The Jacksonville store is no longer taking donations. Power Africa, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced grants totalling $2,620,650 to solar energy companies in sub-Saharan African countries. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the United States embassy on Wednesday. The statement said the grants will provide reliable, affordable off-grid electricity to nearly 300 healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa. It also said nearly 60 per cent of all healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa have no access to electricity. According to the embassy, only 34 per cent of hospitals and 28 per cent of health clinics have reliable, 24-hour access to power. Energy is critical for powering essential devices, medical and sterilization equipment, diagnostics, cold storage for vaccines and medication, information technology, and lights to enable the delivery of continuous health care services. Efficient health services and responses to diseases including COVID-19 depend on reliable access to electricity, it said. Power Africa is awarding grants to the following solar energy companies: Havenhill Synergy Ltd. (Nigeria), KYA-Energy Group (Togo), Muhanya Solar Ltd. (Zambia), Nanoe (Madagascar), OffGridBox (Rwanda), OnePower (Lesotho), PEG Solar (Ghana), SolarWorks! (Mozambique), and Zuwa Energy (Malawi). These companies will utilise Power Africa funding to provide off-grid solar electricity solutions to 288 healthcare facilities across the nine countries represented. Solar energy holds great potential to expand and improve health care delivery in sub-Saharan Africa, and off-grid solar technology offers a clean, affordable, and smart solution to electrify healthcare facilities located beyond the reach of national electricity grids, said Mark Carrato, Power Africa acting coordinator. Power Africas experience shows that off-grid solar energy systems can be rapidly deployed to even the most rural facilities. These awards demonstrate what we can accomplish when the public and private sectors join together to break down the barriers to reliable electricity for rural healthcare facilities, said Chris Milligan, counsellor to USAID, during a virtual event announcing the grant awardees. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and China amounted to $8.5 billion over the first seven months of 2020, compared to $8.2 billion during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee. The share of China in the total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at 17.6 percent during the reporting period compared to 15.2 percent during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export to China amounted to $5.5 billion over the period from January through July 2020, compared to $4.6 billion during the same period of 2019 Chinas share in the total volume of Kazakhstans export amounted to 19.4 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 14 percent during the same period of 2019. In turn, Kazakhstans imports from China amounted to nearly $3.02 billion over the reporting period, compared to $3.5 billion during the same period of 2019. Chinas share in the total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 15 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 16.7 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 China trade turnover were food products, agricultural products, as well as products of the chemical industry. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh The Government is eyeing an extension to the commercial rates waiver that expires this month, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has confirmed. The waiver was introduced at the end of March but ends next Sunday. "One of the options the Government is considering for the Budget is to extend the commercial rates waiver given the situation that we're in," he said yesterday. Mr Varadkar, who's also the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said he's working on the proposal with Fianna Fail's Michael McGrath, who's Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. "Hopefully there's a positive decision on Budget day with regards to that," said Mr Varadkar. Organisations including the business lobby group Ibec have called on the waiver to be extended by six months. Mr Varadkar was speaking remotely as aircraft maintenance firm Dublin Aerospace announced that it's hiring 29 more apprentices, bringing its total workforce to 350 people. Dublin Aerospace founder, CEO and chairman Conor McCarthy said there had been about 2,000 expressions of interest in the new roles, which he said give young people an alternative to the typical third-level education route. The four-year apprenticeships give people hands-on experience coupled with college-based training. Mr McCarthy has been a frequent critic of commercial rates, which Mr Varadkar pointed out are a matter for local authorities. "Rates are a significant component of our cost base," said Mr McCarthy, adding that the aircraft maintenance industry needs large hangar spaces to operate, but that means it incurs an annual rate burden equivalent to about 2,500 per employee. "We wouldn't mind paying slightly more in corporation tax than in relation to rates," said Mr McCarthy. "Someone in the IT industry could employ 10 times the number of people in this space and their rates bill would not be such a major issue." Dublin Aerospace, whose main hangar is at Dublin Airport, is currently preparing an additional facility in Ashbourne, Co Meath, which will undertake maintenance of aircraft landing gear. It's investing 15m in that project. Mr McCarthy said Dublin Airport is a "golden egg" for Fingal County Council. He said the new facility in Ashbourne will have about double the capacity of the Dublin Airport operation, but that the company will pay about the same rates on that building. In the largest survey in the CMS industry, two-thirds of digital leaders admit they may be falling behind competitors SAN FRANCISCO and BERLIN, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Contentful today released results of the industry's largest-ever survey of digital leaders and content creators. While 90% of respondents believe delivering digital experiences is important to business success, the survey found major differences in the digital capabilities of leaders and laggards. The survey of more than 750 business and digital leaders, developers, and content creators reveals that brands struggle to deliver the digital experiences customers demand: slow time to market, high unit cost associated with creating new experiences and difficulty iterating plague the majority of business and digital leaders. For content creators and editors, the chief problems are controlling content across a host of channels and managing its consistency. "The disconnect between the experiences customers want and what brands can deliver is caused by a gap in companies' digital capabilities," said Steve Sloan, CEO of Contentful. "One of the clear impediments is last-generation legacy content management systems (CMSes). They hamper rapid creation and iteration of compelling digital experiences. The time to deliver these, especially in this rapidly changing market, has a real impact on revenue. The companies that prioritize speed and flexibility are outpacing their competitors and will be the leaders in the digital-first era." The survey also found a significant disconnect between the perceptions of digital leaders and content creators. For example, 72% of digital leaders believe their CMS is capable of managing omnichannel content, but only 34% of content creators agree. Contentful, the global leader in omnichannel content platforms, powers digital experiences for 28% of the Fortune 500 and thousands of global brands. It's leading the industry with a content platform that enables builders - developers, designers and content creators - to create and deliver digital experiences for any channel or device. "This survey confirms what we hear from customers every day - that what got you here won't lead to success in the future," Sloan added. "Digital native companies such as direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands are upending traditional business models. By the same token, companies that adopt digital-first competency, fast, are disrupting companies moving slowly toward digital transformation. To accelerate, digital leaders need to empower the builders in their organizations - developers, content creators, and teams across every business unit - with the tools and processes they need to quickly create compelling digital conversations at scale." The report, The Digital Innovation Gap , provides additional insight into the widening gap between brands with digital-first capabilities and those trying to keep up. It reveals dissatisfaction with traditional CMSes, and points to the need for next-generation tools that enable teams to work faster and deliver value sooner. With these tools, teams can close the gap by accelerating speed to build, speed to market and time to value. Key survey findings: Having a digital strategy and presence is no longer a differentiator; it's an expectation: 90% of survey respondents say building digital experiences is important to business success, with 82% of business leaders tying digital capabilities directly to revenue. 90% of survey respondents say building digital experiences is important to business success, with 82% of business leaders tying digital capabilities directly to revenue. More channels, more digital challe nges: 70% of business leaders plan to increase the number of digital products or channels they deliver, but they need API-first integrated tools and systems to deliver those experiences faster. 70% of business leaders plan to increase the number of digital products or channels they deliver, but they need API-first integrated tools and systems to deliver those experiences faster. Fragmented and fractured conversations:: 80% of business leaders plan to invest more in personalization, localization/translation, segmentation and other adaptations to content, but half say they're already spending too much time maintaining their existing content, and not enough developing new content. 80% of business leaders plan to invest more in personalization, localization/translation, segmentation and other adaptations to content, but half say they're already spending too much time maintaining their existing content, and not enough developing new content. Editing is too hard: 93% must manage content across multiple digital products. But 66% can't control their content without developer assistance, 41% are updating content individually in each CMS, and 35% can't reuse content across multiple digital channels. "The survey mirrors what our customers tell us: that traditional web CMSes hamper digital efforts, because they don't support agile, omnichannel delivery," said Bridget Perry, CMO of Contentful. "We're seeing companies reach the limit of what their legacy CMSes can deliver. Digital leaders are adopting next-generation content platforms that can connect with older systems and pull existing content into new digital experiences. This lets companies move faster in digital and prove out the value of a content platform, while leaving some of the entrenched, legacy systems intact for now." Contentful funded the survey, which included users of all types of CMSes and across all industries, with independent research analysis by Grail Insights. About Contentful Contentful, the global leader in omnichannel content platforms, powers digital experiences for 28% of the Fortune 500 and thousands of leading global brands. It enables enterprises to deliver omnichannel digital experiences with greater speed and scale than with a traditional CMS. Contentful unifies content in a single hub, structures it for use in any digital channel, and integrates seamlessly with hundreds of other tools through open APIs. Companies such as Telus, Atlassian, Alpro, Clover, Intercom, Chanel and many others rely on Contentful's content platform. For more information, visit https://www.contentful.com/ . Assets Media kit (https://press.contentful.com/media_kits/): contains logos, photos, illustrations and video 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 EU's 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, France's 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. The Atlantics Barton Gellman has written a horrifying account of President Trumps well-developed plans to sabotage the legitimacy of a presidential election that seems to be going against him. The U.S. electoral system, it turns out, has disturbing gray areas and no authoritative referees, making it surprisingly vulnerable to a ruthless violator of democratic norms. Trump appears to have the means and the intention to contest mail-in ballots, to claim massive electoral fraud, to muddy outcomes in battleground states and to refuse any form of concession. It is a strategy designed not to win an election but to invalidate its results and hold on to power through fraud. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:39:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday stressed the need for regional countries' cooperation to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Qureshi was addressing a meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Council of Ministers via video link. SAARC comprises eight member states which are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. "Although Pakistan may have controlled the pandemic within its boundaries, we believe that a regional approach is needed to stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives and livelihoods of the people of South Asia," Qureshi said. He said for an effective regional approach and regional coordination, Pakistan hosted the SAARC Health Ministers' Video Conference in April to develop a regional response to fight the pandemic that also provided an opportunity for all member states to learn from each other's successes and experiences. "Pakistan has been successful in containing and controlling the virus by following a comprehensive strategy of smart lockdowns, tests, tracing and quarantine," Qureshi said. Qureshi said that the pandemic has exposed the weaknesses of healthcare systems around the world, particularly in the developing countries, adding that it is a challenge as well as an opportunity to remodel and develop medical systems. "Our common challenges including global health pandemic, food insecurity, locust invasion and climate change need a regional approach. For that, SAARC needs to renew its focus on these challenges so that it can be institutionally better prepared to counter these challenges should they arise in future," he said. Enditem MPs last night demanded robust action to prevent the culture and sporting sectors from collapse. The Commons culture select committee urged ministers to use the pause created by the latest Covid-19 restrictions to take steps to enable venues and stadiums to plan a return of audiences to full capacity when it is safe to do so. Many theatres and venues have been unable to reopen because the requirements of social distancing have made it financially unviable to do so. Actress Denise van Outen, 46, (pictured) has been performing her show Cabaret All Stars in socially distanced performances at the Proud Embankment venue in London Restrictions mean audience members must sit in groups of no more than six. Further closures of arts venues and organisations are expected in the coming weeks. Theatre producer and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has spoken of the arts sector having reached 'a point of no return'. Lord Lloyd-Webber, 72, said the industry must be given a bailout to ensure its survival. It comes as those theatres that have been able to open have had to make adjustments. Actress Denise van Outen, 46, has been performing her show Cabaret All Stars in socially distanced performances at the Proud Embankment venue in London. Audience members sit at carefully spaced tables and must leave one at a time after the performance. Theatre producer and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (pictured) has spoken of the arts sector having reached 'a point of no return' Julian Knight, chairman of the committee, said: 'We recognise that rising cases of Covid-19 mean that plans for a limited return of crowds to sporting events have to be put on hold. 'However, this has created an opportunity for ministers to develop a robust strategy that will allow for the safe return of audiences to events particularly in our theatres and performance venues when the time is right.' Mr Knight added: 'We know that without the ability to get in audiences in greater numbers, many theatres simply can't afford to keep running.' Auto component makers, especially those engaged in engine technology and emission-related machine parts, have opposed the postponement proposal for the next generation emission norms that kick in from 2022. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and Real Driving Emission (RDE), which are embedded in Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission system regulations, are part of the governments efforts to reduce vehicular carbon footprint. These norms entail further investments, which is making the financially-battered vehicle makers seek a deferment of its implementation date. SIAM seeks postponement On September 4, outgoing president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Rajan Wadhera, appealed to the government to put the new norms on hold. He was speaking at the 60th annual general meeting of SIAM, in which Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari was among the three guests from the government who were invited for the virtual meet. According to sources, SIAM requested the government to defer the new norms by two years, stating that it will be impossible for vehicle manufacturers to recoup the investments made for BS-VI before 2022, given the impact of the lockdown measures. The government has not responded so far. Estimates suggest that the auto industry invested close to Rs 80,000 crore in switching to BS-VI from BS-IV, 40-50 percent of which was done by the component industry. What are CAFE, RDE norms? CAFE norms propose improvement in fuel efficiency by 10 percent or more by 2021-end, before reaching a 30 percent target from 2022. Under CAFE, a cars mileage will be decided on the amount of fuel it consumes for running 100 km. To be sure, CAFE 1 norms are already in practice. CAFE 2 norms are to be brought into practice in 2022. RDE is the most preferred emission regulation method in the world since it is aimed at reducing the gap between type-approval emission, which occurs during the certification (homologation) testing phase, and those in the real world. Girish Ramaswamy, Head of System Engineering, Vitesco, said that norms are an important step for the industry. Speaking to Moneycontrol, he said: We introduced BS-VI and did that in a record time, simply because we skipped BS-V. BS-VI is a huge step because we are now in line with the global emission trend, after having wiped out the lag of 3-4 years. Whatever we produce today, there is an enormous amount of opportunity to sell these vehicles outside India. Now, if there is a demand for deferment by two years, we will miss this opportunity. However, the industry must move towards as a whole for everyone to get the benefits. So if the deferment is important to make the necessary changes in terms of technologies or support, then we will support it.. ACMA also wants relaxation The Auto Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), the apex lobby body of parts manufacturers, has joined SIAM in seeking a relaxation in the timelines for the new norms. Speaking to PTI, Deepak Jain, President, ACMA, said: Regulations will keep on coming, so we have asked for a breather to recalibrate what are the most requisite regulations. But component makers believe that investments for the new norms would be just 10-15 percent of the investments made for the BS-VI changeover and should not be a problem for the industry. CAFE 2 is a kind of marginal step where the technology of BS-VI is already available and we need to tinker it a bit but not to the extent of changeover from BS-IV to BS-VI. If you have to compare, only 10-15 percent of effort is involved. Most companies, which are part of ACMA, have made investments towards it and we are ready to support the OEMs, a component maker said. While the government is believed to have contemplated enforcing the RDE norms much before April 1, 2020 (which is when BS-VI was introduced), the auto industry requested the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to implement the norms only after BS-VI fuel was made available throughout India. The grand jury decided that none of the three white officers involved in the police raid on Taylor's apartment would be charged for causing her death. One officer was indicted on charges of endangering her neighbors Police in Portland, Oregon declared a riot late on Wednesday after protesters damaged a police building in unrest that followed the grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case. "To those who have gathered outside of Central Precinct on Southwest 2nd Avenue. This gathering has been declared a riot," the police force said in a tweet. The crowd was told to vacate or face tear gas, other crowd control agents or arrest. One of the protesters hurled a homemade firebomb or Molotov cocktail towards police officers outside of the precinct, a video shared https://bit.ly/3cuHMSi by Portland police on Twitter showed. Upper windows appeared to be damaged and part of an awning outside the building was on fire, according to a photograph shared by the police, which said the building had suffered "substantial damage". Two police officers were shot and wounded late on Wednesday in Louisville, Kentucky, during protests over a grand jury ruling on the fatal police shooting of Taylor, a Black woman who was killed in her home during a raid in March. Earlier in the day, the grand jury decided that none of the three white officers involved in the police raid on Taylor's apartment would be charged for causing her death. One officer was indicted on charges of endangering her neighbors. Search Keywords: Short link: Michelle Vargas of Granite City, Illinois, has always vaccinated her 10-year-old daughter, Madison. They both typically get flu shots. But when a vaccine for the coronavirus eventually comes out, Vargas will not be giving it to her daughter even if Madison's school district requires it. "There is no way in hell I would be playing politics with my daughter's health and safety," said Vargas, 36, an online fitness instructor. If the public school Madison attends and loves says the vaccine is mandatory, "we would find other options," she said. As pharmaceutical companies race to manufacture a Covid-19 vaccine, many people are wary of a shot that is working its way through the approval process at record speed during a highly politicized pandemic. While some professions could require employees to get the vaccine, experts say schools almost certainly will require students to potentially setting the stage for a showdown between reluctant parents and education officials. IMAGE: Michelle and Madison Vargas (Courtesy Michelle Vargas) "We want to make sure kids return to in-person learning as quickly as possible, and we do see a vaccine playing a huge part in the process," said school law attorney Brian Schwartz, an adjunct professor of education law at the University of Illinois Springfield. "This is going to be a huge issue, and I don't think most people understand that yet." Related: It is an especially delicate time for parents to hesitate about vaccinating their children. Vaccines have long been a hot button issue, particularly as a small but vociferous group has spread false information, such as the debunked myth that the measles-mumps-rubella shot causes autism. As with other vaccines, the decision whether to require one for Covid-19 in schools will be made at the state and school district levels. While all 50 states require student vaccinations, a patchwork of laws allows for parental objections: All states allow for exemptions for children with medical reasons, and 45 states plus Washington, D.C., grant exemptions on the basis of religious objections, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. On top of that, 15 states allow for philosophical exemptions for people who object to immunizations on the basis of personal, moral or other grounds. Story continues Opponents have already started sharing outlandish lies on social media about the Covid-19 vaccines in development, but this time, conspiracy theories have not been needed to sway some who otherwise dutifully immunize their children. A Gallup poll released in August found that 1 out of 3 Americans would not get the Covid-19 vaccine if it were ready now, even if the vaccine were free. A month later, a smaller USA Today/Suffolk University poll found that two-thirds of U.S. voters do not want to get the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available. Those polled said that they felt there will be insufficient data on the long-term effects of a rushed vaccine and that they are suspicious that pressure from President Donald Trump ahead of the election could compromise its safety standards. Vargas, who has never before considered herself opposed to vaccinations, shares those worries. "I understand that time is of the essence and a lot of people want to get on with their lives," she said. "But any time anything is rushed, integrity goes out the window." Will a Covid-19 vaccine be safe for children? There is no question that the hunt for a worthy coronavirus vaccine is happening on an accelerated timetable. Vaccines typically take years, sometimes decades, to develop. Yet in April, through an initiative called Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration announced that it aimed to "deliver 300 million doses of a safe, effective vaccine for COVID-19 by January 2021." It's a lofty promise that the government's top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has said he believes could be possible although he has added that he fears that the "Star Trek"-inspired moniker of the operation could fuel public distrust in it. The Covid-19 vaccine will come as public health officials battle a growing number of anti-vaccine hot spots across the United States, which have contributed to outbreaks of diseases such as measles that were once eradicated in this country, It also comes as several groups are uniting in their doubts about public health initiatives, said Dr. Howard Markel, a pediatrician who is director of the Center for the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan. "You've got anti-vaxxers who are protesting along with libertarians and anti-government people and people who don't trust science or politicians. It's not a monolithic group," he said. "I don't know how it's going to roll out, but it's not going to be pretty." Despite the unparalleled speed of the Covid-19 vaccine trials, experts said they have confidence that the protocols for safety and efficacy are being followed. An incident this month, when reported spinal cord damage in one participant briefly halted AstraZeneca's vaccine trials, proved that "the system worked," Markel said. Dr. Yvonne "Bonnie" Maldonado, a professor of pediatrics, epidemiology and population health at the Stanford University School of Medicine, urged parents to ask trusted providers, such as their pediatricians, for as much information as possible about the vaccine whenever it comes out. "I don't think we can make a decision one way or the other until these trials are finished and we have the data in front of us," she said. "But I think it's even more important to emphasize that we have a lot of confidence in the vaccine development structure in the U.S. and elsewhere, and you really see that the process seems to be working well so far." "What we want to do is certainly maximize the number of children who receive the vaccine, which will, in turn, help build herd immunity for those kids who aren't vaccinated or can't be vaccinated." Schwartz echoed the need for parents to be educated. "Once we do have a safe and reliable vaccine, it's really incumbent on school districts and public health departments to provide information," he said. "What we want to do is certainly maximize the number of children who receive the vaccine, which will, in turn, help build herd immunity for those kids who aren't vaccinated or can't be vaccinated." When will a Covid-19 vaccine be available? Officials have some time to convince hesitant parents. Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has said a Covid-19 vaccine will likely not be widely available until summer or fall 2021. And if the vaccine does get approved in the coming months, children are so far down on the priority list for it that they would not be offered it right away: Health care workers, those with underlying conditions that put them at higher risk and older people are in line to get the first batch, while teachers are among those supposed to get the second. But some educators, particularly those returning to in-person classes, may push for students to be moved higher up in the queue. While children generally do not get as severely ill from the coronavirus as adults do, research is mixed on whether kids, especially those under 10, can transmit it as easily as adults. At the moment, no children are included in the vaccine trials, another source of concern among some parents. Regardless, the surgeon general has authorized pharmacists to administer the future vaccine to children ages 3 and older. IMAGE: Katie and Dallas Otteni (Katie Otteni) Katie Otteni, 24, of Hickory, North Carolina, has never vaccinated her 22-month-old son, Dallas, and she has used the religious exemption to skirt his day care center's vaccine requirement. She and other like-minded friends embark on postcard campaigns to educate others about what they say are the dangers of vaccines, and she has been encouraged to see parents who normally do not agree with her expressing reluctance about any coming Covid-19 vaccine. "It's crazy, because this one vaccine they feel this way towards, but if they knew there was the same situation going on with the others, they would probably think differently," said Otteni, a waitress. "But it's a start." Doctors and public health officials disagree. Vaccinations are considered one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, and by and large, they have repeatedly been proven to be safe. With the pandemic, a vaccine may be our only way out, said Dr. Lauren Grossman, an assistant professor of emergency medicine and general internal medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "In this particular case, I don't see how we have much of a choice, to be honest," she said. "Look at what we're going through now with schools reopening." A bellwether of how parents might respond While various childhood immunizations are required to attend public schools, the annual flu shot is not mandated in most states although this year, some school districts have deemed it necessary to reduce the possibility of simultaneous flu and Covid-19 outbreaks. The new requirement has been met with consternation in some places. In Massachusetts, hundreds of parents protested the flu shot rule in August, holding signs in front of the State House that read, "My child, my choice," The Republican newspaper of Springfield reported. Related: "It's a bigger lift for school districts to require flu shots than it is for vaccines," said Dan Domenech, executive director of AASA, The School Superintendents Association, an advocacy organization for the 14,000 superintendents in the U.S. "The other vaccines you don't have to get every year. Once you have it, you have it." The response to flu shots could be a bellwether of what school districts will face if they require the coronavirus vaccine. Domenech said he expects lawsuits from parents who do not feel comfortable injecting their children with a new vaccine should schools eventually require it, especially because each person could need two doses to gain even some immunity an even bigger ask of parents. But Schwartz, the education law attorney, said such lawsuits would be unlikely to hold up in court as long as schools offer an alternative to in-person learning for students whose families refuse to vaccinate them. "My take is that as long as the school system provided the child with a quality instructional program, whether it be in person or remote, that the parent is going to have an uphill battle in a lawsuit against the district," he said. Vargas, the Illinois mother, sees a flu shot with an extensive safety record as very different from a brand new vaccine. "This is not something you want. Period. And if we can prevent it, we need to do so." "People want to get it out there and go on with their lives," she said. "But at what cost?" Markel, the medical historian, sees a greater danger in not having a vaccine. His mother died of Covid-19, and he has patients who are enduring long-lasting neurological symptoms. "Kids can get it," he said. "This is not something you want. Period. And if we can prevent it, we need to do so." Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak Kyle Rittenhouse's attorney has claimed the Kenosha gunman is an 'American patriot' and compared the shots he fired killing two unarmed Black Lives Matter protesters in the street to the 'shot heard around the world' that started the American Revolution. Rittenhouse is accused of murdering Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, during protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man left paralyzed after being shot seven times in the back by a white cop in front of his three young children. According to the criminal complaint, Rittenhouse shot one of his victims five times including in the head in Wisconsin on August 25, and later called one of his friends afterwards to boast 'I've killed someone'. The suspected killer also shot a third - and only surviving - victim Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm while the 26-year-old was carrying a handgun. Defense lawyer John Pierce said that Rittenhouse will go 'down in American history' as the leader of the 'Second American Revolution'. 'Kyle Rittenhouse will go down in American history alongside that brave unknown patriot... who fired "The Shot Heard Round the World,"' Pierce wrote this month in a tweet he later deleted. 'A Second American Revolution against Tyranny has begun.' Similar claims of heroism have been made in TV appearances and other social media posts, where the legal team described Kenosha as a 'war zone' and the young shooter as an 'American patriot' and a 'shining symbol of the American fighting spirit.' Kyle Rittenhouse's (pictured) attorney has claimed the Kenosha gunman is an 'American patriot' and compared the shots he fired killing two unarmed Black Lives Matter protesters in the street to the 'shot heard around the world' that started the American Revolution Lawyer John Pierce claimed Rittenhouse will go 'down in American history' as the leader of the 'Second American Revolution' 'This is the sacred ground in Kenosha where a 17-year old child became a Minuteman and said 'Not on My Watch,'' Pierce tweeted above a photo of Kenosha burned amid unrest. The extremity of the comparison between the alleged killer teen and the person who paved the way to America's independence has not been lost on legal experts who warned it could risk Rittenhouse's chances of acquittal. Such dramatic rhetoric has helped raise nearly $2 million for Rittenhouse's defense but experts said it may not work with a jury considering charges that could put the teen in prison for life. 'They're playing to his most negative characteristics and stereotypes, what his critics want to perceive him as - a crazy militia member out to cause harm and start a revolution,' said Robert Barnes, a prominent Los Angeles defense attorney. Eric Creizman, a former partner at Pierce's firm, said the heated language in the tweets is not surprising because of his former boss' tendency toward hyperbole, though he also said he wonders if it will backfire. 'The question really should focus on whether this guy is guilty of what theyre charging him with,' he said, 'instead of making it into a political issue.' Rittenhouse faces five felony charges including first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide, and a misdemeanor charge for possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor. He will appear in court Friday for his extradition hearing in Illinois where a judge will rule on whether to return him to Wisconsin. The inflammatory tweets came in the same week that Rittenhouse's legal team, which has ties to Donald Trump and Covington Catholic teenager Nick Sandmann, released an 11-minute video saying the 17-year-old was simply trying to maintain the peace and protect local businesses. The video is the latest tactic from attorneys attempting to paint the cop-obsessed teen not as a murderer but as a courageous defender of liberty exercising his right to bear arms in the face of so-called mob violence. In the slickly produced video released by attorney Lin Wood's FightBack Foundation, Rittenhouse's defense team argues that the teen was exercising his constitutional rights to defend the community when he shot at the protesters. 'A 17-year-old citizen is being sacrificed by politicians, but it's not Kyle Rittenhouse they are after,' says the voice-over at the end of video released this week. 'Their end game is to strip away the constitutional right of all citizens to defend our communities.' The video portrays the police-obsessed Trump supporter as a model citizen who had just gotten off his shift as lifeguard and was cleaning graffiti from a vandalized high school before he received word from a business owner seeking help to protect what was left of his property after rioters had burned two of his other buildings. Rittenhouse's victims Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, (left) and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, (right) Gaige Grosskreutz (left) - the suspected killer's third and only surviving victim is pictured in hospital recovering after the shooting. On right is his left arm where he was shot The law-and-order theme - as opposed to pursuing a self defense route - mirrors the reelection theme Donald Trump has struck in recent months amid a wave of protests demanding an end to racism and police brutality after multiple cop killings of black men and women across America. One politically charged tactic critics have attacked as a longshot is lawyer Pierce's promise to fight a charge of underage firearm possession, a misdemeanor, by arguing US law allows for an 'unorganized militia.' Rittenhouse wielded a semi-automatic rifle. Some experts have even questioned whether the teenager's team of four attorneys will feel pressure to hold back from making a plea bargain out of fear of disrupting the patriotic narrative and disappointing donors. Rittenhouse's high-profile defense and fund-raising teams, led by Los Angeles-based Pierce and Atlanta attorney Lin Wood, respectively, refused to speak to The Associated Press about their strategy ahead of the teen's next court appearance Friday. Both Pierce and Wood have ties to Trump's orbit and his brand of GOP politics, though it's not clear if that played any role in their involvement in Rittenhouse's case and how it is being handled. For his part, Trump has made statements appearing to support Rittenhouse's claim of self-defense, saying the young man 'probably would have been killed.' Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani hired Pierce's firm late last year when he was reportedly under investigation for possibly breaking lobbying laws for his work in Ukraine for the president, as did Carter Page and George Papadopoulos, former Trump advisers caught up in the Russia investigation. The video from the defense team tries to paint Rittenhouse as a model citizen Wood, a defamation lawyer who represented falsely accused security guard Richard Jewell in the 1996 Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta, is also a lawyer for Sean Hannity, the Fox News host with close ties to Trump. Wood also made headlines recently representing Nicholas Sandmann, the Kentucky teen in the 'Make America Great Again' hat, in his lawsuits against news organizations over their coverage of his encounter with an American Indian protester in Washington last year. Both attorneys moved quickly after Rittenhouse was arrested in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois, two days after the shooting deaths of the two protesters and wounding of a third. Pierce flew to Illinois to meet Rittenhouse and his family that same day, according to his tweets, which included appeals for donations to the #FightBack Foundation that was started with Wood a few weeks earlier to fund lawsuits aimed at the 'lies' of the 'radical left.' George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said he wouldn't be surprised if the patriotic language that has wooed online donors were eventually abandoned for the most obvious defense, that 'Rittenhouse was a confused kid who got in over his head.' Despite attempts to paint Rittenhouse as a 'patriot' his legal team has also claimed he was acting in self-defense and that it was he who was 'attacked' with 'lethal force'. The deadly night unfolded when, at around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, Rittenhouse was walking down the streets near a car dealership holding 'a Smith & Wesson AR-15 style .223 rifle,' according to the criminal complaint. The complaint states Rittenhouse clashed with people in the car lot. Rosenbaum, who was unarmed, threw a plastic bag at the gunman and attempted to take the weapon from him, the complaint states. The plastic bag missed Rittenhouse and he and Rosenbaum moved across the parking lot and appeared to be in close proximity to each other when the 17-year-old opened fire on the victim, according to the complaint. A journalist on the scene told investigators the victim was trying to get the suspect's gun off him. Rosenbaum was shot five times in the right groin and back - which fractured his pelvis and perforated his right lung and liver - his left hand, left thigh and right side of his forehead, according to the criminal complaint. As his victim lay dying on the ground, the suspect ran from the scene and made a call to a friend saying: 'I just killed somebody'. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, has been charged with first degree intentional homicide following the shooting death of two protesters in Kenosha on Tuesday. Social media photos show the teen had a strong admiration for law enforcement and guns Much of Rittenhouse's Facebook is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter - the movement that supports police. He also previously participated in a youth public safety cadet program (pictured), according to social media Rosenbaum was pronounced dead around an hour later. Rittenhouse then ran down the street and was chased by several people shouting that he just shot someone before he tripped and fell, according to the complaint and video footage. While Rittenhouse was on the ground, a man with a skateboard - later identified as Huber - approached him, the complaint says. Huber, who was also unarmed, appears to be 'reaching for the defendant's gun with his left hand as the skateboard makes contact with the defendant's left shoulder', the complaint reads. As Huber allegedly tries to disarm the suspected killer, Rittenhouse shoots the victim in the chest. Huber staggers away before collapsing to the ground and dying. The victim's autopsy revealed he suffered a gunshot wound to his chest that perforated his heart, aorta, pulmonary artery and right lung. Rittenhouse's only surviving victim Gaige Grosskreutz froze, ducked to the ground and took a step back when he saw Rittenhouse shoot Huber. He puts his hands in the air and then began to approach the suspect, the complaint says. Rittenhouse then shot him in the left arm at close range, the complaint says. Grosskreutz managed to flee the scene and called for a medic as the suspect walked away, the complaint reads. The public is demanding answers from Kenosha police over their interactions with the gunman after footage emerged showing Rittenhouse walking past cops and leaving the scene with his rifle slung over his shoulder and hands in the air following his alleged shooting rampage. Members of the crowd yelled at the cops to arrest him telling them he shot people but the 17-year-old was able to leave the scene and was not arrested until the following day. Outrage is especially building as people draw comparisons between the treatment of the illegally armed 17-year-old who had allegedly shot dead two men and injured another and the treatment of Blake by cops. Blake was not armed with a gun when he was shot seven times in the back in front of his children two days earlier. After years of conflict, there are hopes for a solution that will bring peace to the troubled country, but the desires of involved countries do differ writes Asharq Al-Awsat. Two rounds of unannounced talks between Russia and one side and the US and France on the other have revealed different approaches to resolve the Syrian conflict. Moscow considers the Syrian presidential elections set to be held in mid-2021 as the point of intersection. Moscow has been angered by US sanctions on Syrian officials and its efforts to stop Arab and Western countries to be involved in Syrias reconstruction efforts or any move for normalization of ties with the war-torn country. Russia has also clearly rejected to be engaged in any new negotiations with western countries. It wants to postpone such dialogue until after the presidential elections in the US in November, in hopes that America would decide to pull out of Syria. Moscow is trying to appease Syrias Kurds to distance them from their American allies, and is cooperating with Tehran and Damascus to turn East of the Euphrates region into a nightmare for Americans through a series of military harassments. It has also resorted to inciting Arabs and clans against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in hopes of weakening them. On the political process to end Syrias war, Moscow has clearly informed Western officials that the committee on amending the countrys constitution would continue holding talks in Geneva for years without reaching conclusive decisions. Russia is hoping that the presidential elections in Syria would be an opportunity for the West to recognize the legitimacy of the Syrian government. The polls would be held based on the constitution of 2012, which implies that the time factor is in favor of Russia and its allies. As for some western countries, they consider that Russia is playing games by keeping the Geneva talks on track and by implying that there is a political process with no clear results. The western states have suggested for the UN to play a role in setting the standards for transparent and fair elections. But what are they betting on? The US presence east of the Euphrates wont be affected by the results of the November elections. As for the international coalition to fight ISIS, it would continue its operations to achieve more results with the least damages possible. There would be more sanctions to isolate the regime of Bashar Assad and more efforts would be exerted to stop normalization of relations with him and to prevent reconstruction efforts. Israeli airstrikes on Syrian regime and affiliated militia positions are also expected to continue. The West believes that such measures would increase the economic stranglehold on Syria and would bring Russia to the negotiating table before the Syrian presidential elections. 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. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The 'Global Triethyl Orthoacetate (CAS 78-39-7) Market Outlook 2019-2024' offers detailed coverage of triethyl orthoacetate industry and presents main market trends. The market research gives historical and forecast market size, demand, end-use details, price trends, and company shares of the leading triethyl orthoacetate producers to provide exhaustive coverage of the market for triethyl orthoacetate. The report segments the market and forecasts its size, by volume and value, on the basis of application, by products, and by geography. Request For Report sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3764 The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from key industry participants. The global triethyl orthoacetate market has been segmented into five major regions, namely, North America (U.S., Canada, and others), Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and others), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, and others), South America (Brazil, Argentina, and others), and Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and others). Furthermore, the report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key vendors operating in this market. Key Regions - North America - Europe - Asia Pacific - Middle East & Africa - South America Key Vendors - Evonik Industries AG - Changzhou Fangzheng Chemical Co., Ltd. - Nantong Tendenci Chemical Co., Ltd. - Zibo Jinma Chemical Plant - Yantai Fuchuan Chemical Co., Ltd. - request free sample to get a complete list of companies Key Questions Answered in This Report - Analysis of the triethyl orthoacetate market including revenues, future growth, market outlook - Historical data and forecast - Regional analysis including growth estimates - Analyzes the end user markets including growth estimates. - Profiles on triethyl orthoacetate vendors including products, sales/revenues, SWOT, and market position, recent developments. - Market structure, market drivers and restraints. More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/3764 A mother-of-two diagnosed with terminal cancer just weeks after giving birth to her youngest son has created a 'life list' full of goals she wants to achieve before she loses her battle with the disease. Rebecca Broughton, 26, of Ayr, Scotland was four months pregnant with son Rory, now eight months, when she discovered she had breast cancer. She endured four rounds of gruelling chemotherapy and underwent a mastectomy while expecting but was told shortly after Rory's birth in January that the cancer had spread to her lungs and was terminal. While she says statistics suggest she has less than two years to live, Rebecca is determined to see her 30th birthday and has created a 'life list' of things she wants to enjoy before she dies, including seeing Rory and two-year-old son Joseph start school. Mother of two Rebecca Broughton, 26, was four months pregnant when she was received the devastating news she had stage 3 triple negative breast cancer in September last year - despite having just a 0.06 percent chance of developing the disease. Pictured: Rebecca and husband Barry, 29, with sons Joseph, two, and Rory, eight months After she was given the cancer diagnosis, the nurse, from Ayr, Scotland, endured four rounds of gruelling chemotherapy and underwent a mastectomy after finding a large lump in her right breast while in the shower. Pictured: Rebecca wearing a cold cap during chemotherapy The new mum set herself a heart-breaking 'life list' of things she would like to achieve after being told she was dying of breast cancer - challenging herself to see 30 and watch her two baby sons' first days at school Rebecca said: 'I want to see Rory get to school and I would love to make it to 30. That would be my goal. 'I work at the local hospital where I receive the treatment and some nurses were supposed to be climbing Goat Fell in the Isle of Arran, but because of coronavirus, they're all going to split off and do the equivalent instead. 'They're raising money for me and my husband and the boys to do the things on my Life List. They're all amazing. I'm so grateful. 'I want to take the boys to Disneyland, I want to see the Northern Lights so we're hoping to go to Lapland. I want to go on honeymoon with my husband because when we got married I was eight months pregnant with Joseph. 'I've got smaller things like plant a tree, get a star named after myself. Some friends online have raised 1,000 for me so far. 'I'd like to sleep on a beach, sleep on a train. Just smaller things I'd like to tick off.' A year on from her diagnosis, Rebecca is sharing her heart-breaking journey in the hope more women in their 20s and 30s will check their breasts - warning 'cancer doesn't discriminate'. Rebecca said: 'At 26, you never expect to battle cancer. 'Receiving that diagnosis was shocking. When they told me, I felt I was looking over myself. 'My message to people is you're never too young, you're never being stupid. If something doesn't feel right go to the doctor. 'It doesn't have to be a lump. If it doesn't feel right or look right, if it's painful, never leave it. Never feel that you're silly or over reacting. After rounds of chemotherapy, Rebecca was wheeled down to theatre two days before Christmas for her cancer op, before giving birth to her second son Rory by c-section just three weeks later in January 2020. Pictured: Rebecca with her 'life list' After the surgery Rebecca, pictured with her husband and two sons, was told the cancer had spread to her lungs and was stage 4, which was terminal and so she has created the 'life list' of things she wants to enjoy before she dies Included on the list is taking her children to Disneyland, seeing the Northern Lights and finally going on a honeymoon with her husband which they were supposed to go on in 2017 Rebecca's life list Hold a 30th birthday party Swim with dolphins Take kids to Disneyland Visit elephant sanctuary Go on honeymoon with Barry See the Northern Lights in Lapland Go shopping in New York Plant a tree Learn to play chess Sleep on a train Travel in a campervan Go snorkeling with turtles Climb Goatfell Run 4 Life Skinny dip in the sea Get a dog Hold a charity event Visit London Sleep on a beach Meet the Queen Go on a safari Experience a zip line Learn Spanish Go on a helicopter Learn to fly a kite Ride a gondola in Venice Advertisement 'If one person reads this story and finds a lump, I hope it's early enough to be treated and they don't have to be in the situation I'm in. 'To women in their 20s and 30s, I want to say cancer doesn't discriminate. It doesn't care who you are, what stage you are in life, if you're pregnant or not pregnant, if you're a good or bad person.' Rebecca was in the shower last September when she felt a large lump in her right breast, after feeling sore for weeks. She immediately booked in to see her GP who reassured her it was probably a cyst, but referred her to the breast clinic at Ayr Hospital. Rebecca said: 'I was just in the shower and felt it - it was a big lump. It was very noticeable. 'I'd felt pain for probably a couple of weeks. I'd put it down to the pregnancy, but in hindsight it was the area where the lump was. 'Triple negative is an aggressive cancer so it grew really quickly. They say breast cancer isn't painful but all the ladies I've spoken to with triple negative have said that their breasts were sore. The pain is what brought my attention to it and I felt a lump. 'I went straight to my GP and straight away she referred me to the hospital - I was very lucky. 'She did say 'it's most likely just a cyst but we want to be sure'. I was seen within about three weeks. 'I went to the clinic and they felt the lump. I went for a biopsy and when I was in there the radiologist was very honest and said it looked very suspicious. 'Less than a week later they told me it was breast cancer. I was 18 weeks pregnant.' As soon as she'd received the shocking news that she had cancer, Rebecca started her treatment, with four rounds of chemotherapy shortly followed by a mastectomy on her right breast. Staff at the hospital where Rebecca works, and has treatment, are raising money to help her tick off everything on her 'life list'. Pictured: Rebecca with her two sons Her list ranges from grand plans such as going to Lapland to planting a tree and getting a star named after herself. Pictured: Rebecca and Barry blow out candles on a cake with son Joseph Rebecca discovered a lump in her breast while she was in the shower. She put the lump down to her pregnancy but booked a GP appointment in case. Pictured after giving birth to baby Rory But despite learning the chemotherapy had shrunk her breast tumour, doctors discovered two small nodules on her lung. Her cancer had spread. Rebecca said: 'From there it moved very fast. 'I did four rounds of chemotherapy which took me to December, then after my fourth round [...] the chemo had been working - the tumour had shrunk in size. 'Because they had to tie my treatment in with having Rory, they decided to take me for surgery. 'I had my mastectomy on the December 23 and got out on Christmas Eve. It was quite difficult. 'On January 15, I had a c-section and Rory was born at only 5lbs 1oz because he was four weeks early, but it was fine. Eight-month-old Rory, pictured, was born just three weeks after his mother Rebecca had a mastectomy As soon as she was diagnosed she started with treatment, with several rounds of chemotherapy and a mastectomy. Pictured with son Joseph Less than a week after going to the doctors she was confirmed to have stage 3 breast cancer at 18 weeks pregnant. Pictured: Rebecca and Barry with their son Joseph 'I had a CT scan because I wasn't allowed to have any scans during pregnancy. They found two small lung nodules but they weren't sure if they were cancerous as they were so small. 'At that point they were still treating me for stage 3 and I had my radiotherapy. 'But after a repeat CT scan, on April 23, they told me it was stage 4 and terminal.' Since her terminal diagnosis, Rebecca has received oral chemotherapy and now she is on immunotherapy, which she admits she was 'very, very lucky' to receive. Rebecca said: 'I was very, very lucky because not many people will get immunotherapy as a second line of treatment. My oncologists are both fantastic. 'At the end of the month I'll know if it's working - if it's shrinking the cancer. It's stage 4 so it's incurable but it's treatable. 'They want to give you a treatment to help you live as long as possible. But despite learning the chemotherapy had shrunk her breast tumour, doctors discovered two small nodules on her lung and her cancer had spread. Pictured: Barry and Rebecca Since her terminal diagnosis, Rebecca, pictured in hospital during chemotherapy treatment, has received oral chemotherapy and now she is on immunotherapy, which she admits she was 'very, very lucky' to receive. 'I've been well during treatment. I've managed to keep my hair because I used a cold cap and I've kept well. 'I've never asked for a prognosis, but statistically, especially with triple negative breast cancer, it's about two years, because of how aggressive it is. 'I came to terms with it quite quickly. I'm quite a positive person. 'There's positive stories and ladies who live a number of years. I don't see myself as a statistic. 'I have so many amazing friends and family. I'd have never been able to do all these things without them. 'It's a lovely feeling to feel loved and know people want me to enjoy the last years of my life. Throughout her treatment she has been able to keep her hair because she used a cold cap and said she came to terms with her diagnosis quite quickly because she is a positive person. Pictured: Rebecca and Barry with their son Joseph 'People say to me 'how are you so positive' but the only sure thing in life is death. 'You've got to be positive and make memories and experience things. This has given me the push to do things I wanted to do. 'There's people in my situation that are a lot worse off than I am. Although I'm in a terrible situation I have lots of positives around me that keep me going. I could be worse off than I am.' You can donate to Rebecca's GoFundMe here. Efficacy of favipiravir-based drugs against COVID-19 confirmed by clinical trials in Russia and Japan Avifavir already delivered to Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, deliveries to 17 more countries expected MOSCOW, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia's sovereign wealth fund, and ChemRar Group have agreed to supply Avifavir, the world's first registered favipiravir-based drug against coronavirus and Russia's first drug approved for the treatment of COVID-19, to 17 countries. Avifavir and other favipiravir-based drugs produced in Russia, as well as Remdesivir developed in the US are currently the leading drugs against COVID-19 registered globally. Avifavir will be delivered to Argentina, Bulgaria, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Kuwait, Panama, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, UAE and Uruguay. The drug has already been delivered to Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. On May 29, 2020, Avifavir received a registration certificate from Russia's Ministry of Health based on thorough and transparent clinical data and became the first favipiravir-based drug in the world approved for the treatment of COVID-19. Approximately five months after the clinical trials of Avifavir in Russia, the efficacy of favipiravir against the novel coronavirus infection was confirmed by Japan's Fujifilm. On September 23, 2020, the company announced that according to the results of its Phase III clinical trial, the administration of its favipiravir-based drug Avigan to 156 patients demonstrated shorter time to resolution as compared with the placebo group. The Fujifilm statement is available at: https://www.fujifilm.com/jp/en/news/hq/5451 The efficacy of Avifavir has been demonstrated in clinical trials which significantly exceed in scale those conducted by other Russian manufacturers of favipiravir. These trials have been conducted in full compliance with international standards and the requirements of regulatory authorities around the world. Since April, 408 patients with confirmed coronavirus have participated in the studies at 35 medical centers across Russia. In October the number of patients will increase to 460. Since June 2020, more than 60,000 packages of Avifavir have been delivered to clinics in 74 Russian regions. Since the start of Avifavir supplies, clinical monitoring has been carried out based on data from the register of patients with coronavirus of the Ministry of Health of Russia. Data on the use of Avifavir has been collected, with further analysis as well as scientific and medical assessment conducted. According to the results of the observational post-registration clinical trial of 940 patients, those taking Avifavir demonstrated elimination of the virus at an earlier stage in 30% of the cases and the level of oxygen saturation was restored to normal twice as quickly compared with standard therapy (within two days versus four days). According to the results of the research, the drug is well tolerated, with no new adverse events identified. Avifavir is now the leading Russian anti-COVID drug in terms of exports. In particular, the start of deliveries to Bolivia and other countries in Latin America was announced on September 21 as part of the agreement to deliver 150,000 packs. Avifavir has also been approved by regulators in Europe, Middle East and Asia. Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said: "When we registered the first anti-coronavirus drug in the world based on favipiravir there was a lot of skepticism as people were wondering how we could register it when Japan had not registered it yet. Now five months after our clinical trials we see that Japan has confirmed the clinical efficacy of favipiravir. Avifavir has been tested in more than 1,300 patients including 408 patients in clinical trials and 940 patients during the observational post-registration clinical trial. We have now conducted the largest clinical trial of a favipiravir-based drug against coronavirus in the world and can confirm its high efficacy. Since June, more than 60,000 packages of Avifavir have been delivered to clinics in 74 Russian regions and more than 15 countries have confirmed their interest in the drug. Based on our extensive clinical trials and the research in Japan confirming favipiravir's efficacy against coronavirus we believe that Avifavir and other favipiravir-based products will be the leading antiviral medicines against COVID-19 in the world. In addition to proven efficacy and safety Avifavir is also three to four times cheaper than Remdesivir." Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors. RDIF acts as a catalyst for direct investment in the Russian economy. RDIF's management company is based in Moscow. Currently, RDIF has experience of the successful joint implementation of more than 80 projects with foreign partners totaling more than RUB1.9 tn and covering 95% of the regions of the Russian Federation. RDIF portfolio companies employ more than 800,000 people and generate revenues which equate to more than 6% of Russia's GDP. RDIF has established joint strategic partnerships with leading international co-investors from more than 18 countries that total more than $40 bn. Further information can be found at www.rdif.ru ChemRar Group unites R&D service and investment companies in the field of innovative pharmaceuticals for the development and commercialization of innovative medicines, diagnostics, preventive care and new treatments of life-threatening diseases in Russia and abroad. Further information can be found at http://en.chemrar.ru/ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140939/Russian_Direct_Investment_Fund_Logo.jpg Peter Simpson, the unionist who spearheaded the campaign to keep Queensland government-owned electricity generators in state hands, has died after a long battle with melanoma. He was 57. The Not4Sale campaign Mr Simpson kick-started, after the Bligh Labor government sold $14 billion of government-owned assets to reduce debt, has helped shape the past decade of Queensland politics. Electrical Trades Union Queensland and Northern Territory Branch state secretary Peter Simpson. Credit:Michelle Smith In 2009, the Bligh government partially privatised Queensland Rail, the Port of Brisbane, the Abbot Point coal terminal and Forestry Plantations Queensland, all against Labor policy. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fc218d2b-e522-467a-888e-d9d45fb091c6 Geotech Ltd has commenced a VTEM survey over the entire Alexo-Dundonald project area P&E Mining Consultants In c. has completed field work on site and is nearing completion of the updated 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate on Dundonald Several Historic Nickel Sulphide Mineral Resources are currently being validated and brought into the overall Property Mineral Resources resulting in an increase to overall tonnage and grade TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Class 1 Nickel & Technologies Limited (Class 1 Nickel or the Company) (CSE: NICO), is pleased to announce that Geotech Ltd has commenced an extensive VTEM plus time-domain electromagnetic airborne survey at the Alexo-Dundonald Nickel-Copper-PGE Projects, and P&E Mining Consultants Inc. has completed field work and is now preparing the revised and upgraded NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7da9fa89-d39c-46d7-a16e-8e9b38c86d3b The Alexo-Dundonald Ni-Cu-PGE Project consists of the Alexo North, Alexo South, Dundonald North, and Dundonald South deposits. The Alexo Deposits sit on the northeast arm of a large interpreted Z-shaped komatiite fold, while the Dundonald Deposits sit in the middle and on the southwest arm of the same fold. A past producing operation (historical 2.0% to 4.0% nickel head grade) left historical nickel sulphide Mineral Resources (Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) that remain open at depth and along strike. As previously announced, Geotech Ltd. is conducting the airborne VTEM and magnetic survey over the existing Alexo-Dundonald historical Mineral Resources and interpreted Z-folded komatiitic peridotite, providing Class 1 Nickels technical team data to map conductors of significance in subsurface areas that may be associated with magmatic semi-massive to massive Ni-Cu-Co-PGE sulphides, to an initial depth of approximately 300 metres. Targets from the airborne survey will be followed up using surface AEM and/or drilling, and borehole EM surveys, as appropriate. Additionally, P&E Mining Consultants Inc., who has been engaged to upgrade the current NI 43-101 Mineral Resources to include the Dundonald North and South deposits, has completed on site work, having successfully completed core collection and representative sampling work as part of the validation of the historical information. Class 1 expects to deliver to shareholders the updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource within by early October. Mr. Eugene Puritch, President of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. stated, We are very encouraged by the amount and quality of historic drill core on site that will allow for the validation of the databases for the Dundonald South and Dundonald North deposits and bring them to NI 43-101 compliancy. Observed mineralization during the verification sampling process indicated the presence of nickel bearing sulphides. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Eugene Puritch, P.Eng. FEC, CET, President of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. and Independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. About Class 1 Nickel & Technologies Limited Class 1 Nickel & Technologies Limited (CSE: NICO) is a Mineral Resource company focused on the development of its 100% owned Alexo-Dundonald Project, an advanced portfolio of komatiite hosted magmatic nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide projects located 43 km northeast of Timmins, Ontario. For more information, please contact: Benjamin Cooper, President T: 416.454.0166 E: info@class1nickel.com For additional information please visit our new website at www.class1nickel.com, our Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/ClassNickel or our LinkedIn Page at www.linkedin.com/company/class-1-nickel/. This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is 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. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Companys managements discussion and analysis as filed under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Public Health Response After KSU-RL confirmed rabies, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Johnson County Department of Health and Environment, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Missouri Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, and CDC initiated an investigation to implement prevention and control measures. KDHE, Missouri Department of Health and Human Services, and Johnson County Department of Health and Environment interviewed dog As caretakers, pet rescue director, and staff members of veterinary hospitals A and B to assess potential human and animal exposures. Overall, 44 persons elected to receive rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), 38 (86%) of whom were veterinary staff members who initiated PEP before assessment by public health. After assessments were conducted, the departments of health recommended that only 19 of those persons receive PEP, including 13 veterinary staff members, five pet rescue employees, and one household contact. Eighteen (95%) of the 19 were nonbite exposures. Dog A had been fostered with 12 other dogs and two cats from the United States. Two of the 12 dogs were not immunized against rabies (one was pregnant at the time it was acquired by the pet rescue so did not receive rabies vaccination and the other was not vaccinated for unknown reasons). These two dogs were placed in a 6-month quarantine at the pet rescue. The other 10 dogs were administered rabies booster vaccinations and observed for 45 days. The two cats were never exposed to dog A. Serologic assays (rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test [RFFIT] and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) were performed by KSU-RL on serum drawn from dog A before euthanasia to determine if it had evidence of past vaccination. RFFIT, which measures neutralizing function of antibodies, was positive (0.8 IU/mL). ELISA, which measures binding immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies to viral antigens, was negative (<0.125 EU/mL), indicating that the neutralizing antibody detected with RFFIT was IgM. Vaccination was reported to have occurred >2 months earlier; since IgM response occurs shortly after antigen exposure, and IgG response is detectable after Ig class-switching and is long-lived, these results indicate dog A had no history of vaccination but was in the early stage of development of rabies infection at the time it was euthanized. Because of uncertainty about the validity of documentation or efficacy of rabies vaccine administered in Egypt, KDHE required the remaining 25 dogs to be quarantined or euthanized. All 25 dogs were returned to the pet rescue, which was approved by the Kansas Department of Agricultures Animal Facilities Inspection Program, for quarantine by March 1. Length of quarantine was determined through prospective serologic monitoring, which is recognized by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians as a testing method to evaluate whether a healthy dog or cat without valid rabies vaccine documentation has been previously vaccinated (4). Prospective serologic monitoring utilizes RFFIT on paired serum specimens collected on days 0 and 57. Rabies vaccine is administered after collection of the first specimen. If the first titer is 0.5 IU/mL or a statistically significant rise in titer (1.8-fold increase) occurs between collection of the first and second specimen, and the second titer is 0.5 IU/mL, then the animal is considered to have been previously vaccinated. All 26 imported dogs had documentation of recent receipt of rabies vaccine from three different manufacturers (Table). These manufacturers confirmed that all vaccine products listed on the certificates were valid products based on lot numbers. KSU-RL performed prospective serologic monitoring. Seven dogs (B, D, G, H, J, N, and Z) had serologic evidence of previous vaccination and were quarantined for 4 months. The remaining 18 dogs had no evidence of previous vaccination and required a 6-month quarantine. Quarantine release dates were calculated from the dogs arrival in North America (January 28); all dogs survived and were released on May 29 or July 29, 2019. The other dogs considered to have been exposed to the rabid dog at the foster home also survived their quarantine/observation periods. A federal trademark infringement lawsuit filed in Las Vegas accuses the movie company of improperly basing the new character in last years Toy Story 4 on Knievel, whose famous stunts included motorcycle jumps over the Caesars Palace fountain in Las Vegas and a row of buses at Wembley Stadium in London, and a rocket shot into Snake River Canyon in Idaho. 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. Recently, on September 5, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman released the latest Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) rankings for reforms for 2018-19. Andhra Pradesh topped the rankings, again, for the third year in a row. Earlier, on August 26, Niti Aayog released the Export Preparedness Index of Indian states in 2019-20. In this, AP found itself in the 20th position, ahead of small landlocked states like Meghalaya and Sikkim. These contrasting performances of AP in 2018-19 and 2019-20 are a result of two different kinds of governance. Andhra has several natural advantages. It has the second longest coastline dotted with major and minor ports. Andhra was the linchpin of Indias Act East initiative. Our EoDB rankings since 2015 have reflected a willingness to leverage such advantages through reforms in civil administration and markets. But the poor performance in exports indicates that the state government lost its way by 2019. There has been a drastic rise in the unease of doing business owing to the current YSRC government questioning pre-existing commitments and contracts. Andhra has the highest unemployment rate in India, as per CMIE data for August 2020. Though the pandemic-induced slowdown is partly to blame, it also indicates an erosion of APs economic strengths in the past year. From being a highlight of Indias growth story since 2014, we are fast becoming a failure. Andhra was at the forefront of solving Indias decades-old dilemma how do we shift millions of individuals from the low-paying primary sector to the better-paying secondary and tertiary sectors? But now it is becoming a lesson on why not to sacrifice governance and growth policies for political oneupmanship. From agrarian to industrial economy The trajectory of every prosperous country is similar: predominantly agrarian countries with rising populations transform into industrial powerhouses, creating millions of quality jobs. India is struggling to make this transition. Half its workforce is still dependent on agriculture, even as 12 million youth join the job market every year. Make in India was a manifestation of this need to transform our states into industrial economies. Though a fledgling state in 2014, Andhra Pradesh deftly took up this challenge under the Telugu Desam Party government under chief minister Chandrababu Naidu who promised a job in every family through sustainable industrial growth. We embarked on a path to industrialisation as agriculture simply could not provide economic mobility for our increasing workforce. Our aims were to create new jobs for lakhs of youth shifting away from agriculture or youth newly joining the labour force, ensuring all regions and districts gain new industries and investments and creating a favorable infrastructure for investors. We had to compete with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which have seen long-standing success in industries, investments and services. The Centre for Policy Research analysed NSSO and Labour Bureau surveys, ASI and RBI figures, and their 2019 report showed AP topping India in overall performance, scoring well in creating employment and keeping unemployment rates low, in providing benefits to workers and gender equality. This was complemented by consistently topping Indias EoDB rankings. Between 2016 and 2018, 2,299 projects worth 16.7 lakh crore were in various stages of implementation with an employment potential of 34.7 lakh jobs. Of these, 1,065 projects worth 3.5 lakh plus crores able to employ over five lakh people commenced production or erected machinery. More projects worth another 13 lakh crores are under various stages of construction or approval. Kia and Hyundai built in Anantapur; Foxconn, Isuzu and Apollo in Chittoor; Kurnool and Kadapa saw Asias then largest solar parks taking shape; Nellore saw Aurobindo Pharma, Gamesa and Sembcorp; Srikakulam saw Reddy Labs, while Vizag saw prominent companies as Hinduja, Asian Paints, Rashtriya Ispat and Pfizer begin production. Profit, dirty word When power changed hands in 2019, there was an expectation that the new government would continue the momentum. What transpired is a policy paralysis and a reverse flow of domestic investments and FDI equities. MoUs were cancelled, companies hounded out, existing contracts dragged to courts or subjected to quasi-judicial review commissions in a move reminiscent of licence permit raj. As Niti Aayog pointed out in its export performance index, APs performance remains poor due to lack of policy measures. World Bank and AIIB pulled out of planned loans worth half a billion dollars as did the Singapore Consortium. It was evident that the current government simply didnt see this kind of industrialisation as a priority. This created an atmosphere of great uncertainty which is anathema for businesses looking to invest. Major companies such as LuLu and Adani pulled out of their projects in Vizag. Inaction on the governments part led to Chittoor losing an ambitious Reliance electronics hub. This was a pattern repeated across the state as the YSRC government began to ascribe ulterior motives to every companys actions. Stuck in a socialist mindset of perennially doubting the private sector, AP began haemorrhaging investments and companies. Commerce minister Piyush Goyal remarked on how the Centre was forced to consider legislating bills to protect investments from state harassment. From being the highlight of Indias growth story, AP has now become one of its problem states: driven by a vendetta against all initiatives of the previous government. Obsessed with rewriting legacies rather than building on them, chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy threatens to undo all gains. Although more deeply at odds than at any time since the Civil War, both sides of our fractious nations political divide seem to agree on this: the 2020 federal elections are the most consequential of our lifetimes. Voters are being asked to decide nothing less than whether they want to fundamentally change America, or to keep America fundamentally American. If the franchise is so very precious, if voting is a sacred right, then government must do everything it can to protect the integrity of our elections. But government has been failing in that solemn duty. Yes, the states spend a bunch of money and go through the motions on voter registration, but they never go to the heart of the matter when establishing the identity of each voter. The claim that there is no evidence of fraud in Americas elections needs much more scrutiny. The reason that some, like the experts at the Brennan Center, contend that theres no evidence for widespread election fraud is because its a debate tactic, an attempt to put those who make the opposite claim in the position of having to disprove the experts claim. But two can play that game, for there is no evidence that election fraud does not occur, and that each ballot was freely cast by an eligible voter who voted only once. Why is evidence expected for one claim but not for its opposite? We know that election fraud occurs because people have been convicted of it. So when apologists for the current systems say that theres no evidence that such fraud is widespread, they should be required to put a number on it. But they cant, because with our current election systems fraud can be undetectable. Unless fraud is detectable, its crazy to talk about there being no evidence for it. Even with in-person voting, election fraud can be pretty much undetectable. If an ineligible person, like an illegal alien, can just get on a voter registry, theres little to stop him from voting. (Check out this August 29 article by Jon Levine at the New York Post on fraud with mail-in ballots.) Suspicion of fraud and thoughts of stolen elections are corrosive. Since an election can be decided by a single vote, no fraud whatsoever should be tolerated. So those who contend that election fraud isnt a problem need to be able to show the means by which the states detect fraud. Its doubtful that mail-in voting could ever be as secure as in-person voting. Even so, mail-in voting can be made more secure. Recently, this writer wrote that the inclusion on the ballot of a single piece of information, the SSN, would help government to ensure election integrity. Indeed, with the SSN on the ballot, fraud becomes detectable. Without a valid SSN that is on file with the feds, a ballot could be rejected. By requiring the SSN, elections could be flooded with more ballots than there are U.S. voters and the true winners could still be known. Wed even be able to detect double voting. But with our current methods of doing mail-in voting, fraud is much more likely than with in-person voting, and much more undetectable. For instance, how can one know that a mail-in ballot was used by the person to whom it was mailed and not by someone else, like some ballot harvester? With our current methods, whether or not ones mail-in votes are deemed legitimate and are added to the counts can depend on the subjective judgment of whether or not a signature is legitimate. This would be less of a problem if mail-in ballots had to be notarized by a notary public. This June 1 article at NPR treats the states notarization and witness requirements and it includes an interesting map. The map shows that the states have several ways to verify ballots. Congress should require the states to abide by a single standard when conducting their elections for federal office. The National Conference of State Legislatures is running a series called Voting Outside the Polling Place, or VOPP. But the NCSLs search page for VOPP doesnt seem to list any studies regarding any notarization and witnessing standards for mail-in ballots held by the states, (perhaps you can find them). However, when one looks at Signature and witness requirements in the Ballotpedia entry for Absentee/mail-in voting, one sees that the vast majority of the states have no requirement for notarization, nor do they even require a witness. The only states that have any such requirements are the Red States of Alabama, Alaska, Missouri, North Dakota, and Oklahoma. Immediately after the section on signature and witness requirements, we come to this: Temporary modifications to absentee/mail-in voting procedures in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. And what we see is that requirements are being modified (waived, actually) for the 2020 elections. Of special interest are the modifications in Oklahoma: On May 7, 2020, Governor Kevin Stitt (R) signed SB210 into law, reinstating the absentee ballot notarization requirement struck down by the state supreme court on May 4, 2020. (When it comes to voting, Oklahoma seems to be more rigorous than the other states, see SB 210). There seems to be a media blackout of Joe Bidens cognitive decline. Yet, early voting has already begun, and we havent even had the first debate. I doubt that Biden voters availing themselves of the early voting option will be allowed to change their early votes if theyre horrified by Bidens debate performances. When one puts early voting together with the way the states are doing mail-in voting, one might think that the 2020 elections really should begin again. If we were to start over and send out mail-in ballots again, the voter should be required to enter his SSN on his ballot. The gist of this was laid out in my last article and its pretty simple. My solution assumes that there will be voter fraud, but it provides a way to detect and correct it. Because its dysfunctional, its doubtful that Congress can get itself to do anything about this insecure election coming up. Besides, Democrats think it perfectly fine to allow fraudsters to decide the character of our nation and her future. Left-wing activists are threatening violence if President Trump nominates a replacement for Justice Ginsburg. But the uncertainty that mail-in voting has put our elections makes it more likely that candidates will be headed to court, just as in 2000. Having the full complement of nine justices, with its impossibility of a 4-4 tie vote, is essential for achieving a definitive decision by the high court. America may need a new Supreme Court justice just to decide the election. America is conducting a supremely consequential election with election systems that are wide open to fraud. If that be so, then we need to do nothing less than restart this election with a single secure new system that all the states must use. Yes, early voters would need to vote again. But if the authorities cannot give confidence to the electorate by demonstrating and proving that the vote counts are correct and legitimate, then we can expect continued chaos in the streets. Jon N. Hall of ULTRACON OPINION is a programmer from Kansas City. Image: Colette Cassinelli French prosecutors have opened an inquiry into banking giant BNP Paribas over claims of complicity in crimes against humanity, genocide and torture in Sudan, sources said Thursday. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), which had filed a complaint against the French bank, announced on Twitter that an investigation had been opened, information confirmed to AFP by a judicial source. A year ago almost to the day, nine Sudanese victims backed by rights groups including the FIDH filed a criminal complaint against BNP Paribas for allegedly facilitating crimes committed in Sudan between 2002 and 2008, particularly in the war-torn western region of Darfur. It was considered the regimes de facto central bank at the time despite international sanctions, the FIDH said. The judicial source said the investigation was opened on August 26 into complicity in crimes against humanity, genocide and acts of torture and barbarism. The FIDH said last year that the complaint marks the first attempt to hold the French bank criminally responsible for alleged complicity in international crimes committed in Sudan, and Darfur in particular. Sudanese authorities and leaders from the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), a coalition of rebel groups, agreed to a historic peace agreement on August 31 in Juba aimed at ending nearly two decades of conflict. The United Nations estimates 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced since 2003. In 2014, BNP Paribas pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiring to violate American sanctions against the governments of Sudan, Iran and Cuba, and agreed to a fine of $8.9 billion. It was found guilty of going to elaborate lengths to conceal prohibited transactions, cover its tracks, and deceive US authorities, according to the US Department of Justice. Illegal payments were made on behalf of sanctioned entities in Sudan, which was subject to US embargo based on the Sudanese governments role in facilitating terrorism and committing human rights abuses, it said. Story continues The FIDH said Sudanese victims did not receive any compensation from that settlement. Behind the gravest crimes and human rights violations there is always money, the federations honorary president Patrick Baudouin said last year. By granting the Sudanese regime access to international money markets, BNPP allowed the government to function, pay its staff, military and security forces, make purchases abroad, all while Sudan was a pariah on the international scene for planning and committing crimes in Darfur, he added. A criminal complaint has also been lodged against BNP for alleged complicity in the 1994 genocide of Rwandas Tutsi minority. (AFP) STAMFORD A man was in serious condition at Stamford Hospital after he was stabbed Wednesday evening in a downtown apartment building, police said Thursday. Police said they had identified a male suspect and were searching for him. Officers were called to the Wescott apartment complex at 1450 Washington Blvd. at 7:08 p.m. Wednesday on a report of a stabbing, police Lt. Tom Scanlon said. When officers arrived, they found the 37-year-old male victim in the lobby with multiple stab wounds, one of which was to the mans neck, Scanlon said. Emergency medics rushed him to Stamford Hospital, where he was immediately sent into emergency surgery, he said. There was some concern after he was admitted that he might not make it, Scanlon said, but the man lived through the night. Investigators were working to determine what happened, he said. The victim and suspect had some sort of altercation that escalated into the physical assault, Scanlon said. The suspect fled before officers arrived, but Scanlon said the investigators know who the suspect is. The assault did not take place inside an apartment, he said. It occurred in one of the common areas of the 14-story, 261-unit property, Scanlon said. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com PROVIDENCE, RI Close watchers of the Rhode Island Department of Health's coronavirus data website no doubt noticed a change this past week. On Wednesday, Gov. Gina Raimondo announced a change to the state's data graphs, focusing more on trends. Each Tuesday, the graphs, which show the state's percent positive rate, new hospital admissions and new cases of the virus, will be updated with the previous week's data, Raimondo said. Along with data trends in bar graphs, each graph also has a red line at the top, delineating the threshold of safety. At this time, Rhode Island's data remains well below these lines. New graphs show Rhode Island's coronavirus data trends. (Rhode Island Department of Health data dashboard) On the right side of the graph, a figure compare the current week's data to that of the week before, along with an arrow showing if the data is trending up or down. An upward trending arrow is not necessarily a cause of concern, Raimondo said, as long as the data stays below the red line. The new dashboard compares the current week's data to the previous. (Rhode Island Department of Health data dashboard) This article originally appeared on the Cranston Patch EV E-bikes have been seen everywhere lately. From Chinese manufacturers to Europeans and Americans, everyone seems to be able to bring their designs to life. It may be because building a bike isnt so hard. Building a bike that can stand the test of time however, thats a bit much to strive for, especially when youve only been on the market for five years and are competing against giants like Specialized , Cannondale and well, Giant However small your company and grand your dreams may be, we are firm believers in reaching for the stars. Why? Because if it wasnt for small game changers like Karmic, bike design would probably take much longer to progress out of the structures were used to. Karmics goal was simple when designing the Oslo. To make it affordable in order to cover as much of a client base as possible. To make it efficient in order to impact the environment as little as possible. And to bring anthat is accessible. Once we understand how the Oslo is constructed, we begin to get an idea that this little bugger may be the next ridesharing device to hit our streets.We can see right from the start that this EV is in tune with the minimalist trend going round in any domain. Clean lines and rounded edges give her a pleasing visual aesthetic. Looking at her, we get an image in our mind of the Volkswagen Streetmate , although the Oslo lacks the foldable seat.Looking at it we can see no external wiring, no batteries, no gears, and even no chain. Its all tucked away in her body design. This gives it that clean and fresh look, but also offers to keep components safe from the elements. This is done by using a hydroformed aluminum chassis and thermoplastic body panels.Both alloy wheels offer that monocoque look and are covered with splash guards. The front wheel, however, is supported by a huge front fork. Although no suspension is seen on the bike, the tires should do the trick in handling some bumps and cracks.Connected to the fork we see the large scooter platform that makes up the rest of the bike. The front of the platform has a space that looks like you can just put your legs up if you dont feel like pedaling. This is because the Oslo comes equipped with a throttle that doesnt require you to pedal if you dont feel like it.One of the main reasons behind the popularity of this EV is that its battery can be easily swapped with another fully charged one in under 30 seconds. This is one of the main reasons we see a possible ride-sharing market for this device. With charging and battery hubs set-up around a city, we could easily get rolling on these. These 48V batteries are only rated up to a distance of 20 miles (32km) or so, so this future is a viable one for these babies.Three different pedal assist levels offer riding styles suitable for a number of city terrains. Eco is the least soliciting style, followed by Normal and finally Boost. The latter using full ride capabilities, but also drains your battery the fastest.One thing is for sure, even if the Oslo doesnt withstand times tests, it has set in motion another approach to the whole mobility game, even if with just design and functionality, and not so much performance. Lafayette, LA- Nacorvrick Green 41, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to 180 months (15 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release , for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Green previously pled guilty to the charge on December 2, 2019. Lafayette Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle Green was driving on June 13, 2018. Officers found a loaded semi -automatic pistol in the vehicle and arrested Green, who is a convicted felon. Prior to his arrest, Green had seven felony convictions for drug trafficking. Under federal law, it is it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition. The ATF ,Lafayette Police Department and Lafayette Parish Sheriffs Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Vermaelen and Jamilla A. Bynog prosecuted the case. By Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin SEOUL, Sept 22 (Reuters) - South Korea's President Moon Jae-in called on Tuesday for a regional infectious disease control and public health initiative involving China, Japan, Mongolia, and North Korea to tackle health crises and lay the foundation for peace with Pyongyang. In a video message to the United Nations General Assembly, Moon said collective protection of life and safety would lay the groundwork for North Korea to have its security guaranteed by engaging with the international community. "In the face of the COVID-19 crisis that poses a greater threat to humanity than a war, we came to be acutely reminded that the safety of neighbouring countries is directly linked to that of our own," Moon said, according to an English translation of his prepared remarks distributed by his office. Moon proposed launching a "Northeast Asia Cooperation Initiative for Infectious Disease Control and Public Health," but did not provide details. "It is not only Koreas response to COVID-19 but also the invaluable lessons Korea will be gaining from institutionalizing peace that Korea wishes to share with the rest of the world," he said. South Korea's aggressive testing and tracing efforts during the coronavirus outbreak have been praised internationally. North Korea has said it has no confirmed cases, though some U.S. officials have cast doubt on that claim. As part of his election pledges, Moon proposed building a regional cooperative mechanism in Northeast Asia to defuse military tensions and foster joint responses in areas of common interest, including disease prevention, disaster response and cybersecurity. Moon this year also expressed his willingness to provide help to North Korea to fight the coronavirus outbreak, calling health issues a top priority in inter-Korean cooperation, but Pyongyang has said it would not receive outside aid and shut the border tighter. North Korea has rejected cooperation with South Korea and ridiculed previous proposals after denuclearisation talks with the United States stalled, scuttling lofty goals for inter-Korean projects made at a series of summit between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. (Reporting by Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Bernadette Baum) Be it sending migrants back to their home towns through all possible means of transport, or helping someone in need for a critical surgery, or just someone needing a house actor Sonu Sood has been the first one to extend a helping hand during this pandemic. The entire Covid-19 crisis till this point has seen him emerge as a good Samaritan. However, of late some people started calling him names and terms such as biggest scam of 2020. They claim Sood didnt actually help migrants on such a large scale, and even shared screenshots, alleging that most of the people who sought help from him on Twitter have now deactivated their accounts. When contacted for his take, Sood tells us, These are a handful of people, and they suddenly rise from nowhere on social media. They dont actually exist in reality. I didnt bother to see what theyve written, some friends told me. Who has the time to read? Ive got lots of things to do for people. Miles to go my brother. Journey is ON https://t.co/iI4yK1nVYu sonu sood (@SonuSood) September 23, 2020 He cites an example of one incident which was questioned, and the people he helped themselves came forward to clarify. Someone said Yeh log to foreign se kisi ko nahi laaye. A couple of days back, a flight landed from Philippines, and they replied on that tweet of students You dont exist, its fake. The students sent their boarding passes and flight number, along with college names to check. Suddenly, these trolls vanished. These are paid people. One-two people run 100-200 accounts, he shares. The 47-year-old laughs, If these trolls start counting the number of people Ive connected with, unke bachhe tab tak badhe ho jaayenge. Sood has a list of 7,03,200 people who he connected with over the last four months, along with their addresses, phone numbers, Aadhaar card details. Anything you want to know, and that number is increasing by every second, he quips. What about the deleted accounts of those who asked for help? The actor clarifies that those tweets had sensitive data, which the concerned people seeking help themselves deleted afterwards. Just think... if someone had shared their Aadhaar card, phone number, and after Ive helped them, they delete it. Why would they want their details to remain there? People who dont sometimes have fees to pay, these troll would start telling them, Paise nahi hain, apne paise bharo, Sonu Sood ko aur kaam hai, trolls start calling them on their phone numbers, so they delete it. But I still challenge every troll in the country. I can send them tweets, the deleted tweets dont get removed from my account. I can show, he maintains. Sood further asks whether the number of people who received help were aliens. People travelling in buses, trains, flights, all getting surgeries done, are they happening, or not happening? Trolls ke muh pe thappad padha hai, unki trolling hui hai. Theyve vanished overnight, he says. In fact, the actor requests the trolls to use the money they earn from this, to further help those in need. Their kitchen runs with this. They earn money on every tweet, which is fair enough. Im telling them to run their kitchens, but the money which they get from trolling, help someone else, dont keep it all at home, concludes Sood. Follow @htshowbiz for more President Trump wished Prince Harry a lot of luck, because hes going to need it with Meghan Markle. The presidents comments on the royal defectors come after the two publicly came out in support of Joe Biden. Trump on Meghan Markle: "I wish a lot of luck to Harry because he's going to need it" Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) September 23, 2020 This isnt the first time President Trump has expressed distaste for the former actress. The president once referred to Markle as nasty when she claimed she would move to Canada should he take the presidency. Instead, she and her royal husband moved from Tyler Perrys mansion in Beverly Hills to Santa Barbara in a location that touts the likes of Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres as neighbors. If Markle remains true to her prior words, the public may have to wave goodbye to the couple as they venture up north once more depending on the results of the next election. Trump wishes Prince Harry a lot of luck for being with Meghan Markle because hes going to need it. Im dead. pic.twitter.com/erpdXFhJE9 Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) September 24, 2020 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stressed the importance of voting in the United States during the ABC broadcast special for 2020 TIME 100. In between the announcements of the magazines most influential people, the couple took it upon themselves to speak about the need to combat hate speech and undo the sorrow reaped by misinformation. While Prince Harry is not a U.S. citizen and therefore cant go to the ballots himself in November, Meghan Markle will become the first royal (or former, rather, given the events of Megxit) ever to vote in an American election. While Trump remains not a fan of Meghan Markle, theres no denying his solid relation with Queen Elizabeth II. The NY Post notes how the president tweeted about their friendship as Meghan and Harry made their move from Canada to the United States. Now they have left Canada for the U.S. however, the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay! Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have yet to comment on the presidents words. Jeffree Star poses for photos at Cosmoprof at BolognaFiere Exhibition Centre on March 17, 2018 in Bologna, Italy. Photo by Rosdiana Ciaravolo/Getty Images Killer Merch LLC, a merchandising company that has worked with internet celebrities like Shane Dawson, received a coronavirus relief loan according to data released by the Small Business Administration and compiled in a ProPublica database. Beauty YouTuber Jeffree Star says that he owns the company, which came under fire earlier this summer for restocking Shane Dawson's merchandise as the YouTuber was embroiled in controversy. Jeffree Star Cosmetics also received a coronavirus relief loan, according to SBA data. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Killer Merch, a merchandise company that has partnered with internet celebrities like James Charles and Shane Dawson in the past, appears to have received a coronavirus relief loan. According to ProPublica's database of companies approved for over $150,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and disclosed by the Small Business Administration (SBA), Killer Merch LLC received a loan in the amount of $350,000 to $1 million on May 3. In the SBA data, published by ProPublica, Killer Merch LLC reported 59 jobs. PPP loans, which are part of the federal CARES act, are intended to help small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, which has had widespread economic impacts. The loans are intended to keep workers on payrolls, and the SBA said that the loans would be fully forgiven if businesses put them towards payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent, and utilities. Killer Merch is strongly associated with contentious beauty YouTuber Jeffree Star, who says that he owns the company. The company came under fire earlier this summer for restocking Shane Dawson's hoodies amid a wave of backlash against the YouTube star. At the time, people were widely criticizing Dawson's old, racist content, including instances of blackface and a video in which he appears to pretend to masturbate to a photo of 11-year-old Willow Smith. In August, Killer Merch customers received a notice that Dawson was launching new merchandise even as he maintained his YouTube hiatus following a summer of controversy. Dawson and Star have been close collaborators in previous years. Story continues A representative for Killer Merch did not immediately return Insider's request for comment regarding the PPP loan and as to whether or not Star is indeed a co-owner of the company. Jeffree Star Cosmetics, which is run by Star, also was reported to have received a PPP loan in an amount of $350,000 to $1 million according to SBA data. That loan was also approved on May 3, and Jeffree Star Cosmetics, Inc listed 21 employees. Representatives for Jeffree Star Cosmetics did not respond to Insider's request for comment after the news was initially reported by Mashable. Approximately $670 million in emergency economic relief was made available to small businesses in 2020 via the PPP this year, Business Insider reported. When the program expired on August 8, the SBA had approved over 5.2 million loans. In a September 1 memo, House Democrats said that billions of dollars of relief funds were at risk for fraud and abuse. The Washington Post reported in July that some SBA loans went to private equity-backed chains and businesses that were owned by members of Congress. Read the original article on Insider As Doctor Who, Tom Baker fought Daleks and Cybermen, robot mummies and gothic monsters but his latest 'creature feature' has taken the form of an accolade. Australian palaeontologists have named a newly-found species of trilobite a segmented sea creature from 450 million years ago in honour of the actor. Trilobites loosely resemble woodlice and their closest living relatives include lobsters, crabs and scorpions. They fell extinct around 251.9 million years ago. The fossil Gravicalymene bakeri was found preserved in shale rocks in Northern Tasmania that date back to the Late Ordovician period. Mr Baker said that he was 'delighted' to have the specimen named after him. The researchers Patrick Smith of the Australian Museum and Malte Ebach of the University of New South Wales said Doctor Who inspired their scientific careers. Australian experts have named a newly-found species of trilobite a segmented sea creature from 450 million years ago, pictured left in honour of Doctor Who actor Tom Baker, right 'I am delighted to be entitled at last. Will I be allowed to tack "Fossil" on official correspondence?' Mr Baker joked. 'I hope the [Doctor] Who World will celebrate this fresh honour and will spread the news to those who live in remote places,' he added. 'Happy days to all the Who fans everywhere.' The naming of the fossil is not the only time Mr Baker has been immortalised in stone the 1977 Doctor Who serial The Face of Evil depicted his likeness carved in rock on the side of a mountainside. 'Im not old enough to remember Tom Bakers episodes, which were originally aired in 1974-81,' Dr Smith said. 'However, growing up as a teenager when the series re-aired in the early 2000s, I followed the show religiously and became convinced that a career in science was guaranteed to improve the world.' 'In particular, it inspired me to study the concept of time as the Doctor travels through time.' 'Hence, the area of science I specialised in is biostratigraphy, which is all about dating the age of Earth and its rocks.' The newly-identified specimen is unusual, for while trilobites were common in Australia during the entire Ordovician Period, Gravicalymene bakeri belongs to a group that has not previously been discovered on the continent. The fossil 'Gravicalymene bakeri', depicted here in illustration was found preserved in shale rocks in Northern Tasmania that date back to the Late Ordovician period The naming of the fossil is not the only time Mr Baker has been immortalised in stone the 1977 Doctor Who serial The Face of Evil depicted his likeness carved in rock on the side of a mountainside, as pictured, near the village of the Sevateem The researchers Patrick Smith of the Australian Museum and Malte Ebach of the University of New South Wales said Doctor Who inspired their scientific careers. Pictured, Tom Baker, dressed as the Doctor, poses for publicity photos in 1975 with a squad of Daleks 'It was the character of Doctor Who and especially the actor Tom Baker that inspired me to explore the natural world,' Dr Ebach added. 'So, it is a joy to name a trilobite in his honour. My sister-in-law has even knitted a replica Doctor Who scarf for the occasion,' he concluded. The full findings of the study were published in Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. The fossil Gravicalymene bakeri was found preserved in shale rocks in Northern Tasmania that date back to the Late Ordovician period Three New York MTA employees are at risk of losing their jobs for turning a storage room underneath Grand Central Terminal into a secret "man cave." An investigation by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority uncovered the trio's hideaway below Track 114 behind a locked door. According to a newly released report from the agency's Office of the Inspector General, the secret lair was equipped with a futon, a refrigerator, a microwave, exercise equipment, and a flatscreen with an Amazon Fire TV stick. A flatscreen TV inside the 'man cave' found underneath Grand Central (MTA Inspector General) The investigation dates back to February 2019, when the MTA received an anonymous tip alleging there was a "man cave" underneath the terminal. Another complaint received in June 2019 alleged that the three employees used the space to "hang out and get drunk and party." Both complaints, however, were ignored until the Office of the General Inspector got involved. "Many a New Yorker has fantasized about kicking back with a cold beer in a prime piece of Manhattan real estate especially one this close to good transportation," MTA Inspector General Carolyn Pokorny said in a statement. "But few would have the chutzpah to commandeer a secret room beneath Grand Central Terminal and make it their very own man-cave, sustained with MTA resources, and maintained at our riders' expense." Investigators discovered the lounge in an unused locksmith shop in the station's lower level. Station management said they were not aware the room even existed, and officials eventually had to break into it by completely replacing the lock. It was subsequently deemed a safety risk because rescue workers wouldn't have been able to access an unmapped room. A futon, microwave, and refrigerator inside the 'man cave' found underneath Grand Central (MTA Inspector General) The trio of Metro-North employees identified only as a wireman, a carpenter foreman, and an electrical foreman denied ever having been in the room. But Pokorny's office said that the evidence against them was "overwhelming." Authorities found two personal calendars belonging to the electrical foreman, and also found his name on the registration for the Amazon streaming device. Additionally, a receipt with the wireman's name printed on it was found inside an air mattress box in the room, and the carpenter foreman's mobile hotspot was used as a Wi-Fi network for the TV. In response to the report, the MTA is now revamping its complaint-tracking process, which allowed the anonymous tips about the room to go ignored for more than a year. The agency is also reportedly working on a project to map out all the rooms in Grand Central. The three accused employees have been suspended without pay and face potential termination. CAIRO - An announcement last month that Egypts top prosecutor would investigate an alleged 2014 gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at a luxury Cairo hotel marked a rare moment of triumph for human rights activists. Those hopes were quickly dispelled after authorities detained possible witnesses and some of their acquaintances, who could face separate charges under the countrys vague morality laws. A media campaign has targeted both potential witnesses and the alleged perpetrators. Its frightening and terrifying, said Azza Soliman, an attorney who runs the Centre for Egyptian Womens Legal Assistance. She worries the government is making an example of those who came forward with information about the alleged rape and that this will discourage other victims and witnesses from speaking out. Activists say the sharp turn in the case highlights how a patriarchal legal system often blames victims of sexual violence and shames others who fall outside traditional mores, including the countrys hounded LGBT community. The case has also captivated many in Egypt as it exposed free-wheeling practices of alcohol- and drug-fueled partying among a small subsection of the countrys very wealthy youth. In conservative Egypt, authorities present themselves as guardians of traditional values. Sexual harassment on the street remains common and women who defy conservative notions of proper behaviour are widely seen as inviting or even deserving sexual abuse. In the suspected gang rape case, potential witnesses and acquaintances have faced forced virginity tests and anal examinations by authorities as private, explicit videos purportedly from their phones have circulated via private messenger apps and were described in local media. The detention of witnesses has sent shivers down the collective spine of those hoping for justice in the rape case. Most activists and lawyers following the witnesses case insisted on speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. The government maintains it has a responsibility to investigate all criminality in the case, including the possible violation of morality laws, which include vague terms such as debauchery. The prosecutors office also hinted it might bring charges of drug use. The alleged gang rape involves a group of young men from wealthy and powerful families. They allegedly drugged the teen at a party at a five-star Cairo hotel, then took turns raping her. They wrote their initials on her body and circulated a video of the act, according the victims account and a judicial official investigating the case. Six years later, accounts of the assault surfaced amid a renewed #MeToo campaign on social media that swept Egypt this summer, encouraging more women to speak out against sexual misconduct. On Aug. 26, almost a month after accounts of the 2014 alleged gang rape emerged on social media, Egypts public prosecutor announced it had identified nine suspects, but that seven had already fled the country. Two others were arrested in Egypt. Five of the seven fugitives escaped to Lebanon, where three were later arrested and two remained at large. Lawyers involved in the case have said little. Mohammed Hamouda, a lawyer hired by the National Council for Women to represent the victim, said in televised comments that his client was 17 years old at the time of the rape. He said the assault resulted in pregnancy. He declined comment when reached by the AP. Tarik Gamil Said, a lawyer identified as representing some of the suspects, did not return multiple calls seeking comment. Authorities have not identified other lawyers involved in the case. Days after the first suspect was apprehended, at least four possible witnesses and acquaintances of the victim were also detained as part of the investigation. Soon after, graphic videos and photos circulated on private messaging apps showing sex acts between same-sex partners and nude photos, purportedly taken from the phones of witnesses and suspects. On Aug. 31, a pro-government media site ran a salacious report about group sex parties organized to promote gay and lesbian sex at the same hotel. The report and subsequent media stories shocked and captivated conservative Egyptian society. It is unclear how the images were leaked, but many blame the police. The prosecutors office said it had seized phones from those detained to examine whether they contained evidence for the investigation. Both suspects and witnesses could now face charges under the countrys morality laws, along with the main case, the alleged gang rape. Probing the rape crime does not mean turning a blind eye to other possible crimes, said one Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters. Two male witnesses were subjected to anal examination and one woman to a virginity test, according to Human Rights Watch and a lawyer following the case. Egyptians have in the past claimed the invasive procedures are necessary for investigations. The World Health Organization has decried such examinations and activists say the practice itself amounts to sexual abuse. Also on Aug. 31, prosecutors ordered the release of four suspects and said three other people are to remain in custody pending an investigation into incidents related to the alleged gang rape probe. It remains unclear whether among the released are suspects in the rape or those suspected of only violating the countrys morality laws. It is believed that some who had given testimony against the alleged rapists remain in custody. Egypts conservative culture typically ties female chastity to a familys reputation. In courts, the burden of proof lies heavily on the victims of sex crimes. Homosexuality is taboo in Egypt among Muslims and Christians alike, although not explicitly prohibited by law. It is often prosecuted under the charges of debauchery and immorality. Activists contend that authorities fashioned the case into a nationwide scandal in order to tarnish prospective witnesses and further the crackdown by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissis government on personal rights. It is horrifying that Egyptian authorities have arrested the witnesses to a gang rape after encouraging them to come forward instead of protecting them and prosecuting the attackers, said Rothna Begum, a senior womens rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. The recent wave of #MeToo allegations spurred Egypts parliament to pass an amendment to the countrys criminal law to protect the identities of sexual assault victims, but it still needs el-Sissis signature to become law. Activist Mozn Hassan, founder and director of Nazra for Feminist Studies, said the countrys public prosecutor has played on much of the societys conservative beliefs to act as some sort of moral police, distracting from the real crime. She says sweeping change of the penal code is needed. There must be a system of accountability for offenders; a system to help and protect witnesses and whistleblowers, she said. Read more about: After a quarter century serving as the global arbiter of commerce, the World Trade Organization is facing an existential moment in an era of rising protectionism. The U.S. under President Donald Trump has called for a fundamental reset at the institution and sabotaged its ability to settle disputes. A key U.S. goal at the WTO has been to challenge China's state-led approach to trade and investment, an aim shared by Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Acknowledging that the WTO has failed to adapt to shifts in the global trading system, some observers see an opportunity for reform. What's unclear is whether the U.S. approach will result in the WTO's reinvention or obsolescence. - - - 1. What is the WTO? The WTO, based in Geneva, provides a forum to negotiate deals, settle disputes, and monitor trade practices. It started life in 1995, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which was developed after World War II. While the GATT regulated trade in goods and reduced tariffs and other barriers, the WTO also covers services and intellectual property. A smoothly running WTO provides businesses with the certainty they need to invest and operate abroad, and fosters growth and economic integration. Since its creation, global trade has almost quadrupled in value. Yet, in recent years the WTO has fallen behind the massive shifts in the global economy, such as the proliferation of digital trade. 2. What are the rules? The WTO's 164 members, representing 98% of world trade, make commitments not to discriminate between trading partners or between their own and foreign goods and services. They also agree to lower trade barriers; to have predictable and transparent trade policies; and to discourage unfair practices such as export subsidies. Some exceptions are allowed for protecting the environment, health and national security. Least developed countries receive technical assistance, duty-free treatment and quota-free access to foreign markets. 3. Why is the WTO dysfunctional? The U.S. paralyzed the WTO appellate body by blocking appointments to the seven-person panel for more than two years. A global court for trade, it has been unable to issue judgments on new cases since December 2019 because there aren't enough active members. Although WTO nations can still receive an initial ruling on a dispute, a losing party can now appeal it into legal limbo. As a result, governments can impose measures without fear of WTO-sanctioned retaliation. Trump's complaint is that the WTO evolved into a legal tool for nations to exert pressure on the U.S., and his top trade official called it a "litigation-centered organization." 4. What about the U.S.-China dispute? The U.S. accuses China of discriminating against foreign companies and providing advantages to local rivals through direct subsidies, cheap land and electricity. The Trump administration also argues that China's WTO status as a developing country-which it's had since joining in 2001-provides it with unfair advantages. But China, now the world's second-largest economy, has resisted efforts to rescind special privileges that it argues were hard-won concessions obtained during its entry into the organization. Any nation can declare itself a developing country upon joining the WTO, giving it more time to implement tariff cuts and increased access to foreign markets. 5. What do other nations say? There's broad agreement that the WTO needs reform. Insiders acknowledge some of the Trump administration's concerns with the process for appeals, though most nations disagree with the strategy of shutting down the appellate body entirely. The WTO generally has a poor record of negotiating trade deals and the most recent round of trade talks-the Doha development agenda-failed spectacularly. Over the past 25 years the organization has only approved one multilateral accord, the Trade Facilitation Agreement, which is designed to simplify and harmonize global customs procedures. The system is also cumbersome: All WTO decisions must be adopted by consensus, which means any nation can block an agreement for any reason. 6. What are the prospects for reform? Efforts to make changes stalled in the run-up to the U.S. presidential election in November 2020 and the naming of a new WTO director-general to replace Roberto Azevedo, due the same month. Meanwhile European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she wants the European Union to lead reforms, and established an interim arbitration system for trade disputes while the WTO appellate body is paralyzed. While the U.S. has made several reform proposals, none have the full backing of WTO members. The EU -- as well as Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand -- does support some U.S. recommendations. These include encouraging governments to submit timely and comprehensive details about their trade practices. Massachusetts businesses could benefit from federal loans, grants, tax credits and other resources to survive the economic crisis sparked by COVID-19 and the shutdown in the spring, according to a report released Thursday by the Pioneer Institute. The report also suggests eliminating startup costs and fees that could help keep businesses outdoors or help new businesses get off the group and provide jobs. This two-tiered approach would help support small businesses that are struggling to stay afloat and reduce the barriers to new businesses starting and employing Massachusetts residents, according to the report. That could help prevent the states economic crisis and record-high unemployment rate from getting worse. While Massachusetts has been making great strides in its recovery, relatively speaking, there is a residual group of hardest-hit industries that continue to struggle, said Greg Sullivan, research director of the Pioneer Institute and co-author of the report, adding that food, retail and accommodation industries remain among the hardest hit since the pandemic began. One of the key recommendations is that Massachusetts adopt a similar commercial rental relief program as those in Canada and New Jersey. Canadas emergency assistance program created loans for commercial landlords to cover 50% of rent owed by small businesses. The loans could be forgiven if the small business tenants' rents were reduced by 75% and if the landlord and tenant agreed on a non-eviction clause. The tenant would pay the other 25%. In order for this kind of program to be effective in Massachusetts, it would have to be focused on landlords of smallest businesses, of hardest-hit businesses, such as restaurants, Sullivan said. The report offers other recommendations at the federal level for businesses: reduced-interest loans, extending the inventory deductions for businesses, a consumer tax credit for shopping local, a business tax credit for the costs of protective gear and fewer licensing requirements and fees. The institute suggested other big-picture fixes that could benefit businesses, such as a federal loan program that would fund broadband access expansion and land use changes that would allow residents to turn their garages, backyard sheds or even basements into small-scale retail stops. We didnt necessarily have in mind that all of our recommendations would be implemented simultaneously, but we had a subset of them like the telecommunications infrastructure investments, for example, that would be good to do no matter what, said Andrew Mikula, a research assistant and also an author of the report. Mikula sees some more targeted proposals, such as extending the inventory deductions as tax credits, as temporary measures that could help prevent mass business closures. Mikula and Sullivan say the changes would likely need to come from the federal government as Massachusetts faces a spending gap thats potentially billions of dollars and a multi-billion-dollar deficit in the states Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Massachusetts has $3.5 billion in its stabilization account or rainy day fund, but if the Legislature drains the fund the states credit rating could drop and lawmakers wouldnt have enough stabilization funds to pull from if the recession deepens the next year. In the report, Mikula and Sullivan also suggested a change to the rainy day fund: raising or even eliminating the 15% cap on how much money lawmakers can transfer into the fund each year. The report also suggests the state Legislature hold off on any bills that would increase corporate excise taxes, like the transportation funding bill proposed earlier this year that would have created a tiered system to hike corporate excise taxes for larger corporations. Such tax credits and loans, such as assistance with commercial rent or inventory, could help businesses keep their bills from piling up as they struggle with below-average traffic, said Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. But he said the state should also take more steps to provide relief to small businesses, perhaps by finding funds to close the deficit and repay the federal advances issued to Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Otherwise, he said, employers will end up footing the bill while juggling other increases in costs through health insurance premium hikes, an impending minimum wage increase and the paid family medical leave program taking effect in 2021. I kind of see a perfect storm brewing here, Hurst said. Gov. Charlie Bakers announcement that restaurants could use bar seating and sit parties as large as 10 people could help restaurants and neighboring stores attract more customers, he said. The ease in restrictions come as the state continues to see some of the lowest COVID-19 positivity rates since the pandemic was declared, but health care workers worry about a resurgence in the fall and winter alongside flu season. You always worry about it, but I feel everyone, certainly the companies and the small businesses have been bending over background to protect their customers and their employees," Hurst said, adding that businesses largely havent reached their occupancy limits, or gotten close. We havent really tested it yet. There really has not been a demand or a rush of customers that would arguably put anybody in peril. You just hope for a vaccine to come out and for people just to feel more comfortable," he added, "and just hope it happens sooner rather than later because with each passing month, a lot of business are at the end of their ropes. Related Content: FILE PHOTO: A J.P. Morgan logo is seen in New York City By Lawrence White and Abhishek Manikandan LONDON (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co is moving about 200 billion euros (184 billion pounds) of assets from the United Kingdom to Germany as a result of Britain's exit from the European Union, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. In January, the bank had also announced it would significantly expand its Paris hub as part of plans to relocate some services from London after Brexit. The shift sees JPMorgan follow similar moves by other big banks in Britain, as regulators in continental financial hubs such as Frankfurt and Dublin urge banks to book their assets locally. Barclays for example has moved its European headquarters and almost 200 billion euros in assets to Dublin, Reuters reported last year. The source did not specify what type of assets JPMorgan was moving to Germany, but for banks making similar moves, it would typically include cash and financial securities such as stocks and bonds that banks hold in inventory for clients to trade. A JPMorgan spokeswoman declined to comment. The shift in assets represents part of banks' routine planning for life after Britain leaves the European Union, when they will likely no longer be able to book their entire trading operations for the contintent out of London. Clients of those banks in Europe will now trade with the lenders' local banking entities rather than the UK-based subsidiary. Banks using Britain as a gateway to the European Union must fully execute their plans for serving EU customers before a Brexit transition period ends in December, the EU's banking watchdog said in July. Last year, consultancy EY said assets worth nearly $1 trillion were being moved from Britain to new financial hubs in the European Union ahead of Brexit. (https://reut.rs/33Upshd) JPMorgan plans to finish the migration of assets to its Frankfurt-based subsidiary by the end of 2020, according to Bloomberg News which first reported the asset shift earlier on Wednesday. (Reporting by Lawrence White in London and Abhishek Manikandan in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Pravin Char) Despite the passage of agriculture reform bills in Parliament, the protests in Haryana continue with several organizations gearing up to support the Bharat Bandh call on September 25. Farmer leaders said that several farmer organizations like Bharatiya kisan union (BKU), all India farmers union (AIFU), all India kisan sangharsh coordination committee (AIKSCC), all India kisan mahasangh (AIKM) have come on a common platform for the nationwide shutdown. Farmer leaders in Haryana are considering blocking the rail and road traffic in various districts of the state on the day, said leaders familiar with the developments. Farmer union leaders, including the BKU (Charuni) and BKU (Tikait) were holding meetings with leaders of different organizations like Ahritias (commission agents) association, transporters and shopkeepers to support the Bharat Bandh by keeping their shops shut from 10am to 4 pm. They claimed that all the mandis in the state had decided to remain shut and there will be no business on Friday. In Haryana we have asked the farmers organizations, ahrtias and transporters to support the Bharat Bandh against the three agriculture bills passed by the centre by blocking the roads and taking out protest march in all the districts of the state, said a BKU (Charuni) leader, who didnt wish to be named. On reports that farmers may also block the railway lines, he said, This is not yet confirmed where we will block the roads or railway lines but the protest will be successful as we have got huge support from several farmer organisations and ahrtia associations of the state. BKU (Tikait) state president Ratan Mann said, We will support the Bharat Bandh call for the fight of farmers of the country. The farmers and ahrtias will be on roads against the bills on Friday. Also Read: Punjab farmers organise rail roko agitation in protest against farm bills Mann said that they are also requesting the shopkeepers, trade unions and employees unions to join the protests to protect the interests of the farmers and their coming generations. This will be the third such protest in the state in the past two weeks after the first protest was held in Pipli of Kurukshetra on September 10. The district administrations have been put on alert and deputy magistrates will be appointed to monitor the situation. We will ensure that the protests remain peaceful and the movement of traffic on important roads like NH 44 does not get affected, said Karnal deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav. Also Read: Those opposing agriculture bills are enemies of farmers: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Farmers organizations are demanding amendments in the agriculture bills to provide a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP). The BJP led Union government has assured farmers that the legislations are in their interest and the MSP regime is not being dismantled. Members of the ruling BJP were also taking out tractor rallies in their respective areas to tell the farmers that the legislations will not have any impact on the old mandi and MSP system but will give them greater freedom to discover the best price for their produce. TANZANIA, Tanzania - The Latest from the U.N. General Assembly (all times EDT): 8:15 p.m. The president of Africas most populous country, Nigeria, is calling for the uninhibited supply of safe and effective coronavirus vaccines for all. African nations have been outspoken in seeking the equitable distribution of any COVID-19 vaccine, while watching anxiously as some of the worlds richest countries strike deals with pharmaceutical companies to secure millions of doses of potential vaccines. President Muhammadu Buhari warns that if the United Nations cant marshal an inclusive response to the pandemic, then it would have failed in its core mission of giving expression, direction and solution to the yearnings of the international community. The U.N.s health agency, the World Health Organization, has said Africa should receive at least 220 million doses through an international effort to develop and distribute a vaccine known as COVAX. But Africas top public health official has said the continent needs at least 1.5 billion doses, enough to cover 60% of the population for herd immunity with the two likely required doses. ___ 6:55 p.m. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez is asking the world to think beyond creating a vaccine that will help end the coronavirus pandemic. In his prerecorded speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, he challenged leaders to use the health crisis as a moment of inflection to find solutions for other scourges as well. He says the world needs to be capable of dreaming and creating a vaccine against social injustice, environmental destruction and discrimination. The centre-left president also urged leaders to treat an eventual COVID-19 vaccine as a global public good accessible equitably to all countries. Fernandez said the planet is facing an historic opportunity to unite and that international co-operation like we once knew how to do is the only path forward. His call echoes that of other Latin American leaders pressing for more solidarity among nations that have largely faced the pandemic on their own. Argentina ranks 10th worldwide in the total number of COVID-19 cases. Some 640,000 have been diagnosed, and nearly 13,500 have died. ___ 5:40 p.m. As the worlds leaders gather remotely this year for the U.N. General Assembly, something else looks unusual: All of the speakers on the first day are men. As the schedule goes, it will take some 50 speakers before President Zuzana Caputova of Slovakia gives prerecorded remarks Wednesday afternoon. According to tradition, Brazil speaks first and the United States second at the U.N. gathering. After that, the world body says, the speaking order is based on the level of representation, preference and other criteria such as geographic balance. Just two other women are set to speak Wednesday: Bolivias interim president, Jeanine Anez, and Simonetta Sommaruga, president of the Swiss Confederation. Incidentally, the U.N. has never had a female secretary-general, though a spirited campaign pressed for one ahead of the selection of current U.N. chief Antonio Guterres. ___ 5:10 p.m. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi used his speech to the U.N. General Assembly to call for reforms at the world body, including finding new ways for countries to adhere to its resolutions and expanding the Security Council to better represent African nations. In prerecorded remarks Tuesday, the leader of the Arab worlds most populous nation also slammed the international community for continuing to turn a blind eye to countries that support terrorism. While not naming any nation specifically, he accused countries of sending foreign fighters to neighbouring Libya under the aim of colonial illusions. In the past, El-Sissi has threatened military action against Turkish-backed forces in Libya. He again threatened to intervene to protect Egypts western border, warning that any breach will be fiercely faced by Egypt in defence of its people. Libya has been plagued by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The country is split west to east with its major cities controlled by rival governments. ___ 4:30 p.m. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has defended his drug crackdown and dismissed criticism from human rights advocates as he addressed the U.N.s annual gathering of world leaders for the first time. With the coronavirus taking a toll on the Philippines, the often brash Duterte struck a somewhat conciliatory tone about the organization hes often criticized and at times threatened to leave. Duterte said in a prerecorded video Tuesday for the U.N. General Assembly that the Philippines values the role that the United Nations plays in its fight against the pandemic. He welcomed the U.N.s launch of a relief fund and called on the international community to ensure potential vaccines are accessible to all. He also expressed openness to constructive engagement with the U.N. Duterte often lashes out at what he decries as international meddling in Philippine domestic affairs. Western governments and human rights groups call it justifiable alarm about an anti-drug crusade thats left over 5,700 mostly poor suspects dead. ___ 4:05 p.m. Colombian President Ivan Duque is calling on the international community to reject Venezuelas plans to hold a legislative election in December. In a prerecorded speech for the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, Duque called the vote a manufactured orchestra that looks to legitimize the dictatorship. He also highlighted a recent U.N. Human Rights Council report accusing Nicolas Maduros government of committing crimes against humanity, including torture and killings blamed on security forces. U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido has called on Venezuelans not to participate in the planned election to replace National Assembly lawmakers. Maduros government has taken over several prominent opposition parties and barred numerous anti-government leaders from running. The socialist Venezuelan leader is expected to address the U.N. gathering Wednesday. He is calling on the U.N. to send a mission to observe the vote. Though about 60 U.N. members back Guaido, the majority recognize Maduro. ___ 3:45 p.m. Frances president says the coronavirus pandemic should shock nations into working together and resisting a world order dominated by the U.S. and China. Speaking Tuesday to the annual U.N. General Assembly, French President Emmanuel Macron decried the United Nations failure to vanquish the virus. In a video recording from Paris, he said, No country will come out of this ordeal on its own. He says the pandemic should be an an electric shock to encourage more multilateral action. Otherwise the world will be collectively condemned to a pas de deux by the U.S. and China in which everyone else is reduced to being nothing but the sorry spectators of a collective impotence. Macron also warned Russia to reveal what happened to opposition leader Alexey Navalny and called for a U.N. mission to the Chinese region of Xinjiang, where Uighur Muslims have been held in camps. ___ 11:50 a.m. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is the first world leader at the United Nations annual gathering to mention the Black Lives Matter movement. As a country that has known too well the anguish of institutional racism, South Africa supports the demands for swift actions against racism whether it be perpetrated by companies, states or others, he said in his pre-recorded message to the U.N. General Assembly. South Africa last year marked a quarter-century since the end of the racist system of apartheid, and Ramaphosa worked closely with Nelson Mandela, the countrys first Black president. South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. Like many African nations, it has not escaped the problem of police brutality. ___ 10 a.m. President Donald Trump says the United Nations must hold China accountable for failing to contain the coronavirus, which has killed about 200,000 Americans and nearly 1 million around the world. Trump is accusing China of not sharing timely information with the world on the new disease in a taped address to the virtually gathered United Nations General Assembly. Trump says: The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions. Trump is also using his address to tout a pair of recent international accords he helped to broker one between Kosovo and Serbia and the other between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel as the United States fulfilling our destiny as peacemaker. Trump has repeatedly used his appearances at the international gathering to oppose globalization and promote his America First foreign policy. His 2020 address is not different, as he admonished other nations that only when you take care of your own citizens, will you find a true basis for co-operation. Megyn Mccain confronts Sarah Sanders over Trump's attacks on her father and vets (AFP via Getty Images) 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! 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! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2020 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. Story continues 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. 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. https://t.co/Cwv27QuNVo Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 23, 2020 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 21:16:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, attends a reception marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Cuba, and meets Cuba's ambassador to China Carlos Miguel Pereira in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2020. The reception was jointly organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Cuban embassy in China. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Thursday attended a reception marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Cuba, and met the country's ambassador to China Carlos Miguel Pereira. Yang, also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said Cuba, as the first country in the western hemisphere to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, has been leading Latin America in developing relations with China. Yang hailed the two countries' joint efforts in combating COVID-19 as the epitome of cooperation in responding to global challenges and practicing the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity with concrete actions. China is willing to deepen cooperation with Cuba and safeguard common interests to further advance bilateral relations, Yang said. Pereira said the two countries' cooperation in responding to COVID-19 proves solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon of the international community to defeat the pandemic, pledging Cuba's commitment to promoting bilateral cooperation and advancing ties. The reception was jointly organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Cuban embassy in China. Enditem The "Europe Predictive Vehicle Technology Market Forecast to 2027 COVID-19 Impact and Analysis by Hardware (ADAS, Telematics, and OBD), Vehicle Type (Commercial Vehicle and Passenger Car), Application (Proactive Alerts, and Safety and Security), and Country" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The predictive vehicle technology market in Europe is expected to grow from US$ 4.92 million in 2019 to US$ 11.78 million by 2027; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 14.0% from 2020 to 2027. The advanced technologies, such as AI, are foraying and integrating into various industry vertical at a fast pace. AI has its applications in the automotive industry, such as self-driving cars. AI offers driver-assist and fully autonomous mode functionality to the users. Companies such as Google and Tesla are looking forward to take advantage of stated functionalities. For instance, Tesla has gained a name in the electric car market, and now the company is looking ahead to make a position in self-driving vehicles by integrating AI, which is further driving the demand for predictive vehicle technology market. The adaptation of predictive powertrain control technology in heavy vehicles is among the other factors expected to positively influence the demand for predictive vehicle technology. Moreover, factory shutdowns due to COVID-19 crisis have caused production loss accounting for 1,465,415 motor vehicles to date, as per the statement published by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). Also, Marelli has extended a temporary shutdown of their manufacturing activities in majority of the European plants. Furthermore, Bridgestone EMIA is working upon either temporarily closing or lowering production in their European manufacturing network. In terms of hardware, the ADAS segment led the predictive vehicle technology market in 2019. The demand for ADAS, which assists in monitoring, braking, warning, and steering activities, is projected to rise in the coming decade. Factors such as government regulations and consumer interest in safety applications are accountable for the rising need for ADAS in connected cars. Also, in order to ensure the safety of drivers and reduce road accidents, the need for ADAS is growing across the countries. The ADAS applications are still in their early phase and are getting adopted by major countries. For instance, the European Union is making it compulsory that all vehicles be equipped with forward-collision warning systems and autonomous emergency braking systems. This is ultimately expected to drive the predictive vehicle technology market. Major players operating in the Europe Predictive vehicle technology market include AISIN SEIKI Co. Ltd., Aptiv PLC, Continental AG, HELLA GmbH and Co. KGaA, NXP SEMICONDUCTORS N.V., Robert Bosch GmbH, Traffilog LTD, Visteon Corporation, and ZF Friedrichshafen AG. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Key Takeaways 3. Research Methodology 4. Predictive Vehicle Technology Market Landscape 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Europe PEST Analysis 4.3 Ecosystem Analysis 4.4 Expert Opinion 5. Predictive Vehicle Technology-Market Dynamics 5.1 Market Drivers 5.1.1 Adaptation of predictive powertrain control technology in heavy vehicles 5.1.2 Mass Implementation of AI and MI in automotive industry 5.2 Market Restraints 5.2.1 Data management and security. 5.3 Market Opportunities 5.3.1 Demand for robust data management system for connected automobile. 5.4 Future Trends 5.4.1 Dawn of autonomous vehicles 5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints 6. Predictive Vehicle Technology Market Europe Analysis 6.1 Predictive Vehicle Technology Market Overview 6.2 Europe Predictive Vehicle Technology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million) 6.3 Market Positioning -Key Players 7. Predictive Vehicle Technology Market Analysis By Hardware 7.1 Overview 7.2 Europe Predictive Vehicle Technology Market, By Hardware (2019 and 2027) 7.3 ADAS 7.4 Telematics 7.5 OBD 8. Predictive Vehicle Technology Market Analysis By Vehicle Type 8.1 Overview 8.2 Europe Predictive Vehicle Technology Market Breakdown, by Vehicle Type, 2019 2027 8.3 Commercial Vehicle 8.4 Passenger Car 9. Predictive Vehicle Technology Market Analysis By Application 9.1 Overview 9.2 Europe Predictive Vehicle Technology Market Breakdown, by Application, 2019 2027 9.3 Proactive Alerts 9.4 Safety and Security 10. Predictive Vehicle Technology Market Country Analysis 11. Predictive Vehicle Technology Market- COVID-19 Impact Analysis 11.1 Europe 12. Industry Landscape 12.1 Market Initiative 12.2 Merger and Acquisition 12.3 New Development 13. Company Profiles AISIN SEIKI Co.Ltd. Aptiv PLC Continental AG HELLA GmbH and Co. KGaA NXP SEMICONDUCTORS N.V. Robert Bosch GmbH Traffilog LTD Valeo Visteon Corporation ZF Friedrichshafen AG For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/aju5eh View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005520/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 This season is part of a long-term trend toward more frequent, more devastating fires in the West that shows no sign of slowing down. One after another, major wildfires exploded across California, Oregon and Washington earlier this month. They have added up to the worst fire season on record. One after another, major wildfires exploded across California, Oregon and Washington earlier this month. They have added up to the worst fire season on record. This season is part of a long-term trend toward more frequent, more devastating fires in the West that shows no sign of slowing down. With more than a month of fire weather ahead for large parts of the West Coast, the 2020 fire season has already taken a disastrous toll. Combined, over five million acres have burned in California, Oregon and Washington so far. Thousands of buildings have been destroyed by some of the largest fires ever recorded. More than two dozen people have died. Millions up and down the coast have spent weeks living under thick clouds of smoke and ash. Weve broken almost every record there is to break, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, referring to his home state, where catastrophic fires have become an almost-yearly occurrence. Data from two NASA satellites that can detect heat shows fire activity in California, Oregon and Washington in 2020 has already eclipsed even the worst previous year. 2020 is the most active fire year on record for the West Coast Note: Cumulative sum of fire detections across California, Oregon and Washington. Data as of Sept. 21. Instruments on Terra and Aqua have experienced periodic outages. Source: NASA Terra and Aqua satellite data, based on detections with greater than 95 percent confidence levels. Many fires that erupted in California in August were sparked by lightning strikes, including the August Complex, which has become the states largest. It has burned over 850,000 acres an area larger than Yosemite National Park in the northern part of the state. The deadly Almeda fire in Oregon is being investigated as possible arson. But outdated forest management practices and climate change which brings hotter, drier conditions have provided the kindling for infernos of such immense scale. In California, some of this years largest blazes encroached on areas that had already burned in recent years, again threatening lives and homes, and putting fragile ecosystems back at risk. The town of Paradise, which was nearly destroyed by the Camp Fire just two years ago, has faced evacuation warnings in recent weeks. Emergency crews are still battling nearby fires, which are among the largest in the state this year. In Oregon and Washington, fires have burned areas untouched for decades. Several towns have been substantially destroyed, according to Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon. Where major fires have burned this year in relation to previous ones Fires 2000-2019 2020 fires Pearl Hill Seattle Wash. Portland Beachie Creek Holiday Farm Eugene Ore. Archie Creek Biscuit 2002 Slater August Complex Redding Camp 2018 North Complex Tubbs 2017 L.N.U. Lightning Complex Sacramento San Francisco Creek S.C.U. Lightning Complex Dolan Calif. Thomas 2017 Bobcat Los Angeles Cedar 2003 100 miles San Diego Pearl Hill Seattle Wash. Portland Beachie Creek Ore. Biscuit 2002 Slater August Complex Camp 2018 North Complex Creek San Francisco Dolan Calif. Thomas 2017 Bobcat Los Angeles Cedar 2003 100 miles San Diego Pearl Hill Seattle Wash. Portland Beachie Creek Holiday Farm Eugene Ore. Archie Creek Biscuit 2002 Slater August Complex Redding Camp 2018 North Complex Tubbs 2017 L.N.U. Lightning Complex Sacramento San Francisco Creek S.C.U. Lightning Complex Dolan Calif. Thomas 2017 Bobcat 50 miles Los Angeles Cedar 2003 San Diego Note: Only hottest historic fires are shown. Agricultural and other small fires may be excluded. Sources: NASAs Fire Information for Resource Management System (previous fires), National Interagency Fire Center (2020 perimeters) Nearly 20 percent of fires this year are burning in areas that were scarred by fires as recently as 2000, data from the National Interagency Fire Center shows. Reburn, as Dr. Swain called it, can happen after a year or two under sufficiently extreme climate and weather conditions. Vegetation that grows back after forest fires may also look differently than what grew before. New growth, including more flammable brush and grasses, could fuel fires and put homes and lives at risk again, he said. As the climate has warmed, fire season, which traditionally peaks in late summer and into the fall, has been expanding sometimes starting as early as the spring, and lasting into late fall. Wildfires in the Sierra Nevada region and the Pacific Northwest have also gotten larger and more frequent in recent years. In the last 20 years, on average, the number of square miles burned annually across California, Oregon and Washington has increased sixfold compared with the average between 1950 and 2000. The amount of land burned on the West Coast each year has ballooned over the last two decades Note: Annual square mileage calculated from fire perimeters published by the National Interagency Fire Center. Excludes areas burned more than once in a year. Some years may have been mapped more precisely than others. Fires have become more destructive over time, especially as people have moved further into fire-prone areas. A majority of the fires that have destroyed the most buildings and structures have occurred in the past five years, according to a New York Times analysis of state data through the end of last week. Five fires this year are among the most destructive on record. The fires this year have not, however, been as deadly as some in the recent past. The Camp Fire, which claimed more than 80 lives in 2018, remains the deadliest in modern California history. Some of the West Coasts most destructive fires have occurred this year Fire State Year Structures Deaths Acres Camp Fire Calif. 2018 18,804 85 153,336 Tubbs Calif. 2017 5,636 22 36,807 Tunnel Calif. 1991 2,900 25 1,600 Cedar Calif. 2003 2,820 15 273,246 Almeda Ore. 2020 2,350 4 3,200 Valley Calif. 2015 1,955 4 76,067 Witch Calif. 2007 1,650 2 197,990 Woolsey Calif. 2018 1,643 3 96,949 Carr Calif. 2018 1,614 8 229,651 L.N.U. Lightning Complex Calif. 2020 1,491 5 363,220 C.Z.U. Lightning Complex Calif. 2020 1,490 1 86,509 Nuns Calif. 2017 1,355 3 54,382 Beachie Creek Ore. 2020 1,288 5 190,138 North Complex Calif. 2020 1,147 15 280,775 Thomas Calif. 2017 1,063 2 281,893 Note: Includes fires since 1980 that have caused the most structural damage in California, as well the most acres burned in Washington and Oregon. Current fire data as of Sept. 18. Historical California data since 1933; Washington data since 1902 for fires that burned over 100,000 acres; Oregon data since 1900 for fires that burned over 100,000 acres. Does not include Jackson Fire in 2000. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE); Washington State Department of Natural Resources Oregon Department of Forestry ; National Interagency Fire Center. As wind fueled many of the fires in the last month, it also spread a thick blanket of smoke and soot across the region. Far beyond the fire zones, millions of West Coast residents lived under darkened skies and breathed polluted air. Major cities saw harmful particle pollution known as PM2.5 skyrocket, reaching levels considered dangerous for human health. In Oregon, several cities, including Portland and Eugene, smashed previous daily records for poor air quality during wildfire season. Air quality based on PM2.5 35 150 250 500 g/m3 Good Unhealthy Hazardous Source: Berkeley Earth Breathing in high concentrations of particulate pollution can worsen asthma and other respiratory problems in the short term, and can even lead to strokes or heart attacks. Oregon hospitals reported a 10 percent increase in emergency room visits for breathing problems during this months fires. Wildfire smoke has also been linked to longer-term consequences, like lower birth weight for babies and impaired lung function in adults. Unfortunately, it looks like were going to have these occurrences for the foreseeable future, said Linda George, a professor of environmental science at Portland State University. Policy makers need to make guidelines for people on how to protect themselves if this is what were going to see every summer or every other summer, she said. Daniel Jaffe, a professor at the University of Washington who studies the impact of wildfires on air quality, said the only way to reduce the frequency of such airpocalypse events was to reduce the frequency of large fires. If we could bar people from going into the forests and starting fires, that would help. If we could stop climate change, that would help. Better forest management would help, he said. But right now, it combined into the perfect storm. AI/ML - Software Engineer, Siri Understanding Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino) , California , United States Machine Learning and AI Summary Posted: Sep 23, 2020 Role Number: 200194913 Play a part in the next revolution in human-computer interaction. Collaborate with software engineers as well as machine learning engineers/ scientists in several technical areas spanning the entire range of Siri's capabilities (speech recognition, natural language understanding, dialogue management). Have the opportunity to innovate, create groundbreaking technology, build prototypes of user-facing features and magical experiences, and work with a cross-functional team to ship these magical experiences to millions of users. Key Qualifications In-depth development experience with server-side Java and/or C++ Excellent algorithm and data structure skills (time and space complexity analysis, optimization, etc.) Strong object-oriented programming and design skills, at both the systems level and application level Flexibility to code both in Java and C++ Proven ability to quickly learn and modify large, existing code base Passion for building demo prototypes and turning them into production quality design/implementation Strong communication skills to work well with cross-functional engineering teams Excellent problem solving and critical thinking, good at seeing the big picture Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with rapidly changing priorities Enthusiasm for learning and applying data science and machine learning on the job Passionate about creating phenomenal products and experiences for our users Description The Siri Team is looking for someone with a combination of strong programming skills and a creative, user-focused mindset. This role would take Siri to the next level of intelligence and accuracy by using advanced statistical techniques to improve the quality of customer features. This involves working on core machine learning algorithms and systems that are part of Siri's ability to understand and respond to requests. You should be able to thrive in a fast-paced environment with rapidly-changing priorities and technology stacks. A thirst for designing new technology with a user-first mindset is essential. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: - Develop Siri features end-to-end, including proactively collaborating with XF teams as needed for progression. - Work with multiple teams across the organization to gain a deep understanding of the Siri architecture. - Develop systems that are highly reliable, scalable, but surprisingly easy to maintain. - Be actively involved in collaborating on product direction, giving feedback in the right way to the team, and bringing new issues up in a safe way for team discussion. Education & Experience B.S. or M.S. degree in Computer Science, or equivalent experience [China] should move forward with the implementation to electrify as much as possible of the economy, which requires cleaning up the power sector, dramatically increasing efficiency, and further reducing the emissions in the harder-to-abate sectors. Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) salute the new climate goal announced yesterday by Chinese President Xi Jinping to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. In remarks made at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Xi noted that the country will scale up its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions by adopting more vigorous policies and measures in order to achieve peak CO2 emissions before 2030. As a major greenhouse gas emitter, Chinas efforts to reduce carbon emissions are of strategic importance to the global economy and ultimately to the fulfilment of the Paris Agreement goals. Over the past decade, China has made remarkable progress in addressing the challenge of climate change, particularly in low-carbon energy development. This pledge further demonstrates Chinas determination to keep its commitments to the Paris Agreement and lead global climate action in the post-COVID era. It is great, encouraging news that China has put a clear commitment on the table to achieve net zero emissions before 2060, which is a technically and economically feasible goal, said RMI CEO Jules Kortenhorst. We should move forward with the implementation to electrify as much as possible of the economy, which requires cleaning up the power sector, dramatically increasing efficiency, and further reducing the emissions in the harder-to-abate sectors. Last year RMI and ETC co-launched the report China 2050: A Fully Developed, Rich Zero-Carbon Economy. The report identified that achieving net-zero carbon emissions is technically and economically feasible for China by 2050. President Xis commitment that China will peak emissions before 2030 and aim for carbon neutrality before 2060 is a huge step forward in the fight against harmful climate change and a welcome example of responsible global leadership, said Adair Turner, Chair, Energy Transitions Commission. Strong policies and large investments will be needed to achieve the mid-century objective, but our China 2050 report shows that it is clearly attainable. The priority now is to ensure that actions in the 2020s and in particular in the 14th Five-Year Plan, achieve rapid progress towards the twin goals. Todays announcement by President Xi Jinping that China intends to reach carbon neutrality before 2060 is big and important newsthe closer to 2050 the better. His announcement that China will start down this road right away by adopting more vigorous policies is also welcome, said Todd Stern, former US Special Envoy for Climate and RMI board member. We are very excited to see this ambitious goal committed to by Chinas president. RMI is committed to work with key stakeholders to promote Chinas energy transition and low-carbon development. The most urgent task in the next step is to identify a practical and feasible technical pathway to achieve the carbon neutrability goal and support Chinas sustainable and high-quality development, said Ting Li, regional managing director and chief representative, RMI Beijing Representative Office. Media Inquiries: Rebecca Cole, Rocky Mountain Institute email: rcole@rmi.org Phone: +1 303-704-3009 Caroline Randle, Energy Transitions Commission email: caroline.randle@systemiq.earth mobile: +44 (0)7796 140461 About Rocky Mountain Institute Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)an independent nonprofit founded in 1982transforms global energy use to create a clean, prosperous, and secure low-carbon future. It engages businesses, communities, institutions, and entrepreneurs to accelerate the adoption of market-based solutions that cost-effectively shift from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; the San Francisco Bay Area; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing. More information on RMI can be found at http://www.rmi.org or follow us on Twitter @RockyMtnInst. About the Energy Transitions Commission The Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) is a global coalition of leaders from across the energy landscape committed to achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century, in line with the Paris climate objective of limiting global warming to well below 2C and ideally to 1.5C. Our commissioners come from a range of organisations energy producers, energy-intensive industries, technology providers, finance players and environmental NGOs which operate across developed and developing countries and play different roles in the energy transition. This diversity of viewpoints informs our work: our analyses are developed with a systems perspective through extensive exchanges with experts and practitioners. For further information please visit the ETC website: http://www.energy-transitions.org The United States will impose new sanctions on a number of Iranian officials and entities including a judge who sentenced Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari to death, an envoy said. U.S. Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela Elliott Abrams made the comment at a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on September 24 called to discuss the Trump administrations foreign policy toward the Middle East. Navid Afkari was executed earlier this month after being convicted of stabbing a security guard to death during anti-government protests in 2018, Iranian state media reported, in a case that has sparked AN international outcry. U.S. President Donald Trump had called for Iran to spare his life. Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee used the hearing to criticize Trumps policy toward Iran, saying the presidents decision to withdraw from a 2015 nuclear agreement with Tehran has failed. Trump in 2018 withdrew from the agreement, known as the JCPOA, amid concerns it created a clear path for Iran to develop nuclear weapons. Trump has imposed punishing sanctions on Iran to get it to negotiate a new agreement. The Trump policy has been a disaster, Senator Tim Kaine (Democrat-Virginia) told the hearing, adding it has alienated European allies that were part of the agreement. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom were signatories to the JCPOA, along with the EU, Russia and China. Kaine also said the withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear agreement has potentially made it much more difficult to reach a similar deal with North Korea. The United States has shown North Korea that it doesnt stick to agreements, he said. In response to questions from New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, the leading Democrat on the committee, Abrams admitted that Iran has moved a little bit closer to making a nuclear bomb since the United States pulled out of the JCPOA. However, Abrams said the Trump administrations policy of maximum pressure against Iran, which includes hundreds of sanctions on individuals and companies, has significantly damaged Irans economy and that it expected Tehran to return to talks. We think with that [economic] pressure, once the election is over, they will come to the table, Abrams said. Trump is seeking reelection on November 3. Based on reporting by Reuters TikTok has requested an injunction against the upcoming download ban on its app in the United States. The legal action came as the fate of TikTok hangs in the balance of a possible September 27 download ban. The download ban was initially lifted due to developments in the TikTok-Oracle deal, which received its "blessing" from President Donald Trump. A report from Variety said TikTok was concerned with Trump, who cited "national security" concerns as a pretext to impose a download ban and shut them down. The company, per its motion, claimed that the President was motivated "by political considerations." They claimed that the Trump administration's executive order did not give them the right to due process and freedom of speech. They are asking a District of Columbia judge to block the rule that requires Apple and Google app stores to remove TikTok on September 27, said a report from The Verge. Impact of a Download Ban The company fears that, while their deal with U.S. companies are at limbo, the ban could cause "irreparable harm" to their U.S. operations, said an NBC News report. TikTok Interim head executive Vanessa Pappas said the app could lose half of its user base if they are going to be banned for just two months. She added that the loss of users could go up to 80 to 90 percent if the ban stays in place for longer than six months. There are 100 million U.S. users on TikTok. Pappas added that they could also lose workers because of the threats. She said there were 52 candidates who were offered jobs at the company, but they declined due to threats of a ban. The company also had delayed and canceled advertising. It resulted to $10 million in lost revenue for the month of August. Trump first gave ByteDance until September 15 to sell TikTok to a local company. The download ban followed on September 20. The tentative deal with Oracle put the ban at a last-minute halt but it's not yet clear if ByteDance will finally divest TikTok to Oracle. As the deal also has to go through the Chinese government, there is still some level of uncertainty to how final the deal may be. TikTok also sued the administration over its first rule last month. They said the decision of the president exceeded his power to ban an app based on national security grounds. Now, they are seeking a faster hearing to find out if Trump's download ban can harm them enough to justify a block of his order. ByteDance Applies for Export License Amid the race to seal a deal, ByteDance applied for a tech export license in China, Reuters reported. ByteDance submitted the application to Beijing's municipal commerce bureau and is waiting for a decision. A month prior to this, China revised its list of technologies subject to export restriction. It was the first time in 12 years that the Chinese government changed its restrictions on export tech. Experts said this change in rules gives the Chinese government a say over any TikTok deal. Check these out! TikTok Deal: Oracle, ByteDance Release Conflicting Statements on Company Ownership ByteDance Seeks $60 Billion TikTok Valuation in US Deal Trump Approves TikTok-Oracle Deal A radical pro-life activist claimed that abortion is like the holocaust because babies are being 'killed without trial' just like the Jews were by the Nazis in a fiery debate with Stacey Dooley. In the clash on the broadcaster's Stacey Revisits podcast, Jeff White, from California, who runs a direct action group called Survivors Of the Abortion Holocaust, said the 'Holocaust is happening again'. White claimed that it was legitimate to compare abortion to the Holocaust in which six million Jewish people were murdered by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany because 'people are being killed without a trial, in the case of the children in the womb while they're still innocent.' He also claimed that the Holocaust is 'happening again' and that whilst what happened to Jewish people was 'terrible at every level', they 'don't own the term. Nor should they.' Defending her pro-choice position, Stacey hit back by saying it was not for him to 'tell the Jewish community how to feel towards that word' and that the comparison was not a fair one. Radical pro-life activist Jeff White claimed in a fiery debate with Stacey Dooley on her Revisits podcast that abortion is like the holocaust because babies are being 'killed without trial' just like the Jews were by the Nazis. Pictured: White on her original documentary, Brainwashing Stacey: Anti-Abortion Camps, in 2017 White previously featured on Stacey's show, Brainwashing Stacey Dooley: Anti-Abortion Camp in 2017, in which the presenter visited 'summer camps' for children run by White. On his website, White describes his group as a 'national pro-life youth ministry calling on young people to take a stand against the evil of their day, which has killed one-third of their generation.' He previously revealed to the BBC that he has been arrested more than 100 times during public anti-abortion demonstrations. The pair's conversation began with White admitting that his goal is to completely eliminate abortion. He said he uses the term 'survivors' to describe anyone born after 1973 the year in which abortion was legalized across the US by a decision in the landmark 'Roe v Wade' Supreme Court case. In his clash with Dooley, White claimed that it was legitimate to compare abortion to the Holocaust in which six million Jewish people were murdered by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany because 'people are being killed without a trial, in the case of the children in the womb while they're still innocent.' Pictured: Stacey in her documentary He said: 'We have entire museums out here in California with the slogan that says never again. And they're talking about how we have to make sure that this terrible atrocity never happens again. 'The truth of the matter is, it is happening again. Not only with abortion in America but in all kinds of places where genocide is taking place. 'What happened to the Jewish community is terrible at every level but they don't own the term. Nor should they. 'In fact, if there is a legitimate comparison, if people are being killed without a trial, in the case of the children in the womb while they're still innocent. 'So not only should it not be offensive, they should be embracing it and they should look at the comparison and ask: is somebody dying unjustly? 'If we don't do that we will never stop it from happening again because there will never be another man named Hitler. 'It is going to look different in a different day and a different day and we need to be prepared as good people to always stand against evil.' Stacey then forcefully responded by saying, 'I don't think it is for us to tell the Jewish community how to feel towards that word. This thought process is where we really differed. 'It is my belief and other people's belief that a cluster of cells it is not a fair comparison. White then added, 'To use the terminology a clump of cells is not really accurate. 'You've seen the pictures, you've seen the babies, what they look like, so to say a clump of cells isn't really accurate.' White, who also told Stacey he houses 18 mothers and their children and pays for their college educations, then parodied what he believed to be Stacey's position. Speaking as her, he said, 'Women, Jeff, are more important than that little baby. 'It doesn't matter that there's two human lives, we are dismissing one of those human lives arbitrarily so that we can protect their health.' He then added, 'Not even protect, you're not saving a woman's life, you're just helping her to have a better life. And the cost of helping that woman to have a better life is to kill a child. 'In the scales of humanity it does not weigh up. 'With God as your witness, what are you doing to help the oppressed, the hurting, the homeless, whoever it is in your community? 'For the vast majority of them that would hold that opinion, I'll tell you how much they're doing: absolutely nothing.' Stacey then brought up how Jeff's organisation trains children in front-line activism against abortion. She said: 'This is what I found difficult to digest. Children are so impressionable. They're so easy to manipulate. 'And you can sit them down, some of these kids are 11-years-old, you can feed them this narrative that you believe to be true, and then you send them out and you urge them to convince grown women not to go through with an abortion.' Defending her pro-choice position, Stacey hit back by saying it was not for him to 'tell the Jewish community how to feel towards that word' and that the comparison was not a fair one. Pictured: Stacey during a similar conversation on the documentary three years ago Speaking of a moment on the programme where protests were taking place outside a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic, Stacey added, 'I remember when we were all stood outside Planned Parenthood, thinking how has this child got the audacity to tell me what to do? 'I'm a grown woman, it is my body, it is my choice. How is this child going to help me? How is this 11-year-old going to help me?' But Jeff responded by saying that if it is ok for children themselves to get an abortion, then it should be ok for 'their peers to be educated and speak to that person to convince them not to get an abortion.' The campaigner, who is a Christian, then shocked Stacey by launching a volley of criticism at other believers. He said: 'Christians are standing by day by day while Christians are slaughtered. But they want to talk nice on their radio shows. I want no part of it. 'I don't want to do Christian radio because I really have no time for them. They know better. Asked if he was 'disappointed' with his fellow Christians, he added, 'I'm not disappointed, I'm disgusted. For Christians, we are called upon to love our neighbour as ourselves. On his website, White describes his group as a 'national pro-life youth ministry calling on young people to take a stand against the evil of their day, which has killed one-third of their generation'. Pictured: White during his clash with Stacey on her show 'We are called upon to defend the poor and the weak, the defenceless. Who is more defenceless than the unborn child? 'The church is missing in action. And just like anyone else that goes AWOL, you should line them all up and shoot them because they're not doing the work that they're supposed to do. 'Is that a little rough? I'm sorry.' Giving the impression that he may not have been serious, Stacey told her listeners, 'That's way too rough, he doesn't mean that. I see that your language is as loaded as ever.' And despite the pair's disagreements, they both ended up praised each other. Stacey said, 'If I felt like abortion was murder, I would be out there with them. 'And I found it really impressive actually that young people were standing up for what they thought was right. White then dished out his own praise for the presenter and her show. He said: 'What came through was your honesty as you weighed their position and didnt change yours but I think you were fair. 'That is part of even conversation with anybody who disagrees with you.' The Pakistani government views its large paramilitary force as the first line of defense against insurgents and criminals in the vast southwestern province of Balochistan, which reels from violence and crime that officials often link to neighboring Afghanistan and Iran. But opposition politicians say the Frontier Corps (FC) is a reckless force that torments civilians. They maintain that the FC, which operates a network of check posts and fortresses across the province, often acts of its own accord while claiming substantial resources from the local civilian government. We demand that in order to restore civilian authority in Balochistan, the FCs power should be granted to the civilian authorities, said a joint declaration by Pakistans major opposition political parties on September 20. All the obstacles [and check posts] created by the FC in each [Balochistan] district should be removed, the statement added while alluding to the FCs role in Balochistans 33 districts. Lawmaker Nasrullah Zarey, a leader of the opposition Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party in Balochistans assembly, says the FC, which is a federal force, was first deployed in Balochistan with a counterterrorism mandate but is now involved in numerous shadowy practices. The FC is paid by the federal government, but it receives billions of rupees [in subsidies] annually from the provincial government, he told Radio Mashaal. Even then, the FC has set up numerous illegal check posts across the province. Citing a specific example of the FCs overreach, Zarey says the force collects 500 Pakistani rupees or $3 on every ton of coal excavated from mines in Balochistan. This totals 10 billion rupees [$60 million] annually, he said, adding that FC check posts are notorious for racking in bribes from civilians from across the province. The FC is part of the complex border security architecture that the British Empire left behind in South Asia. Divided into north and south components, the FC Balochistan comprises of tens of thousands of troops. While formally a part of the Interior Ministry in Islamabad, the Pakistani Army provides the FCs officer corps. Most of its soldiers, however, are recruited from the neighboring province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. After the emergence of a separatist insurgency by Baluch nationalists nearly two decades ago, the FCs traditional role of antinarcotics and border security force expanded into counterinsurgency. Attacks by Islamist militants against the minority Shia in the provincial capital, Quetta, led Islamabad to additionally task the FC with policing. The regions anemic police force, mostly limited to major cities and towns, compelled the government to rely on the FC for policing. Senator Jehanzaib Jamaldini, a leader of the Balochistan Nationalist Party, says FC involvement creates public resentment. From day one, we have been demanding the FC should only be deployed to secure the countrys borders, he told Radio Mashaal. The law enforcement organizations need to avoid controversies. The FCs current role in Balochistan is partly the result of a directive by former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, who deployed the FC to Quetta after a sit-in protest by the Shiite Hazara minority community promoted Islamabad to sack the provincial government in early 2013. Successive provincial administrations have religiously renewed a quarterly directive extending the FCs role. Shahzada Zulfiqar, a senior journalist in Quetta, says the oppositions complaints about the FCs overreach are valid. But he sees no alternative to the forces presence. The police were trained to deal with local crimes, so they were unable to combat terrorism, he told Radio Mashaal. The police need to be properly trained and equipped to turn into a robust force, which would justify the FCs return to their barracks. Balochistan Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langu agrees. For now, the FC is the only force trained for counterterrorism. Our [security] is not ready to take this role away from the FC, he told Radio Mashaal. Whenever our police are ready to shoulder these [counterterrorism] responsibilities, we will take such responsibilities back from the FC. Langu, however, supports the oppositions demand to reduce the FCs footprint in Balochistan. After a review, we will soon reduce the number of FC check posts on major roads, he said. The controversy around the FCs role in Balochistan, however, are unlikely to end soon. Earlier this month Major General Sarfaraz Ali, inspector general for the FC in Balochistan, defended his organizations conduct before lawmakers after an FC soldier allegedly killed a university student in August. Hayat Baloch was allegedly shot by an FC soldier in unprovoked attack on August 13 after a roadside bomb injured three FC soldiers in Turbat, a rural district in southern Balochistan. Baloch was reportedly working in his fathers date palm orchard at the time and was shot while being questioned by the FC. We have handed over the accused to the law, Ali told a Senate panel on September 4. He termed Balochs killing a criminal act. Ten years after the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force in 2009, with import tariffs removed already, Japanese consumer goods suppliers are looking into bolstering their presence in the Vietnamese market amid local and regional competition. 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. Van Nguyen Japanese retailers rouse Vietnamese market, despite pandemic While most enterprises have had to scale down their business during Covid-19 and give back their retail premises to landlords, Japanese retailers have continued to open more shops in Vietnam recently. RICHMOND, Va. - A spot on the James River thought to be the lost capital of the Monacan Indians - but where local counties plan to build a water-pumping station - is one of the most endangered historic sites in the country, according to a list released Thursday by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The site, about 45 miles west of Richmond, is among 11 threatened landmarks nationwide highlighted in the annual list by the D.C.-based nonprofit, which this year also includes a Native American village buried under a parking lot in California, an affordable housing project for Mexican Americans in Texas and a residence for a historic Black opera company in Pennsylvania. "This year's list underscores that many cultural perspectives have helped define what it means to be American," National Trust President Paul Edmondson said in a prepared statement. "We believe that diversity in preservation can help change false narratives that can lead to misunderstanding and division in our society." Rassawek was a major trading center and home to several hundred Native Americans when English settlers began venturing out from Jamestown in the early 1600s. Capt. John Smith placed it on a map at the point where the Rivanna River flows into the James, at what is now the village of Columbia in Fluvanna County. "Our capital city was a contemporary of Jamestown, but much larger and more complex, and it lasted as a community far longer," Monacan Chief Kenneth Branham said in a news release. "It is for us a sacred place of great cultural significance, and it is for all Americans a place of historical importance." Today the James River Water Authority, a coalition of Fluvanna and Louisa counties, wants to put a facility on the site to pump water to a treatment station that will supply a commercial area developing on Interstate 64. The project has been mired in delays, particularly since the Monacans won federal recognition in 2018 and were then able to be more closely involved in the permitting process. The tribe raised questions about an archaeological survey that concluded there was no evidence of special significance at the site. The state agreed that the review had been conducted improperly and withdrew a preliminary permit. That caused the authority to have to reapply for federal clearance through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Though the counties reaffirmed their commitment to the project earlier this year, they have since asked for a pause in the permitting process as the water authority considers another possible site. When the English colonized Virginia, the Monacans were the dominant tribe from the falls of the James west to the Blue Ridge Mountains. They spoke a different language than the Powhatan Indians who ruled in Tidewater, and were more hesitant to interact with the European settlers. The English had pushed the Monacans off their land by the early 1700s, scattering the tribe into Tennessee, North Carolina and beyond. About 500 Monacans now live in central Virginia, out of about 2,400 in the tribe overall. While the site of the Powhatan capital of Werowocomoco was discovered in 1977 on the York River in Gloucester County and is becoming a national park, Rassawek was lost except for the spot on Smith's 1622 map. In the 1980s, work on a gas line uncovered evidence of an Indian settlement at the point of land where the two rivers join. It has been believed to be the site of Rassawek ever since. The water authority selected the site several years ago for a water intake station and built a treatment plant just across the Rivanna River. Earlier this summer, Preservation Virginia listed Rassawek as one of the most endangered historic sites in the state and nominated it to the national list. The site's inclusion is "final proof that the eyes of the nation are on the fate of Rassawek," said Greg Werkheiser, a lawyer at the firm Cultural Heritage Partners, which represents the tribe. The other landmarks on this year's National Trust list, and the organization's reason for including them, are: - Alazan-Apache Courts, a public-housing complex for Mexican Americans that opened in San Antonio in the early 1940s. The local housing authority plans to demolish it. - The Hall of Waters at Excelsior Springs, Mo., about 30 miles northeast of Kansas City. A health resort built in 1938 with help from the federal Public Works Administration, the building is deteriorating and needs $16 million in restoration work. - Harada House in Riverside, Calif., belonged to a Japanese American family that challenged racist ownership laws until being sent to an internment camp during World War II. The house is empty and in danger of collapse. - The National Negro Opera Company House in Pittsburgh served as residence for the nation's first Black opera company beginning in the 1940s. Built in 1898, the structure is vacant and deteriorating. - The Ponce Historic Zone in Puerto Rico is an architecturally significant area in the island's second-largest city. Earthquakes and hurricanes have caused extensive damage. - Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago was the site of the 1955 funeral for Emmett Till, the Black youth who was murdered in Mississippi after being accused of whistling at a White woman. The building is little used today and in need of extensive repair. - Sun-n-Sand Motor Hotel in Jackson, Miss., was a gathering place for civil rights leaders in the mid-20th century but has sat vacant for two decades. The state is planning to demolish it to build a parking lot. - Terrace Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati was completed in 1948 as the first hotel designed by the firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and featured the work of pioneering female architect Natalie de Blois. It has been mostly vacant since 2008. - The West Berkeley shellmound and village site in Berkeley, Calif., was settled by the San Francisco Bay area's Ohlone tribe at least 5,700 years ago. The site is still revered by the Ohlone people, but it lies under a parking lot and has been slated for a condominium project. - Yates Memorial Hospital in Ketchikan, Alaska, was built in 1905 and became a hospital in 1909. Residents hope to establish a museum there to honor its staff of female nurses, who worked under trying conditions during the city's boom years, but the building has been vacant for 15 years and is deteriorating. SHANDONG, China, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The winner of 2020 Future Science Prize was announced in September. Peng Shige, professor at Shandong University and academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, won the "Mathematics and Computer Science Prize" for his pioneering contributions in the backward stochastic differential equation theory, non-linear Feynman-Kac formula, and non-linear mathematical expectation theory. This year is the fourth time that SDUers have won the Future Science Prize. Since its foundation in 2016, the Future Science Prize has announced 20 winners. The prize, regarded as "the Chinese version of Nobel Prize", is the first Chinese non-governmental science award jointly initiated by groups of scientists and entrepreneurs. It currently includes the "Life Science Prize", "Physical Science Prize" and "Mathematics and Computer Science Prize". It focuses on original basic scientific research, and aims to honor outstanding scientists, attract global scientific and technological talents, and promote the development of science. The award for the Future Science Prize in each category is 1 million US dollars, each donated by four individual philanthropists. Peng Shige has long devoted himself to the research of stochastic control, stochastic analysis, financial mathematics and creation of non-linear mathematical expectation theory. A series of important theorems centered on G-expectation, non-linear Brownian motion, non-linear law of large numbers, and non-linear central limit have been preliminarily established, as important tools for studying the pricing of financial products. The article published by Peng and Pardoux in 1990 is considered to be the foundational work of Backward Stochastic Differential Equation (BSDE) theory. It has opened up an important research field, including both profound mathematical theories and important applications in finance. Academician Peng has made continuous efforts in this field and delivered a fund of important contributions. In 1992, he created the non-linear Feynman-Kac formula, thus giving a BSDE representation for a large class of second-order non-linear differential equations. At the International Conference of Mathematicians (ICM) held in 2010, Peng Shige gave a conference report on the Backward Stochastic Differential Equations, Non-linear Mathematical Expectations and Their Applications. The ICM conference report has always been regarded as the highest honor in the international mathematics community. Academician Peng serves as the only full-time mathematician in Mainland China to receive this honor. Up to now, Academician Peng has made breakthrough progress in the field of non-linear mathematical expectation theory and its application in finance. The Existence and Uniqueness Theorem of the Backward Stochastic Differential Equation (BSDE) proposed is recognized as a fundamental paper in this field, laying an important foundation for the financial mathematical theory. Peng, therefore, has also emerged as the recognized founder of this field. In 2019, Wang Xiaoyun, dean of the School of Cyber Science and Technology (SCST) of Shandong University, also won the "Mathematics and Computer Science Prize", becoming the first female winner of the Future Science Prize for her pioneering contribution in cryptography. Her innovative cryptanalysis methods revealed the weakness of the widely used cryptographic hash functions, and improved the new-generation cryptographic hash function standards. Before Wang, two SDU alumni, Xue Qikun and Ma Dawei have won the Future Science Prize, among which Xue won the "Physical Science Prize" in 2016 for his pioneering work in the discoveries of novel quantum phenomena using molecular beam epitaxy, including quantum anomalous Hall effect and monolayer FeSe superconductivity. Ma Dawei, Feng Xiaoming and Zhou Qilin have won the Physical Science Prize in 2018, in recognition of their creative contributions in inventing new catalysts and chemical reactions, which created new methods for synthesizing organic molecules, especially pharmaceutical molecules. Contact Information: Xie Tingting +85-531-88369009 xietingting@sdu.edu.cn Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aaa0738d-3ad7-4d21-b7f0-7ba07f900643 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c2036e59-8f45-4067-9c03-a16786d9f7e0 Press Release 24 September 2020 KANSAS CITY, MO - MMGY Myriad, a leader in international destination marketing, and Travel Market Report, a news publication that serves as the voice of travel advisors in North America, have released the latest findings of the Travel Advisors COVID-19 Sentiment Barometer (Wave III). This online survey, designed and analyzed by MMGY Travel Intelligence, monitors the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel agencies. Advertisements Since the survey began in June, advisors have consistently reported interest in international travel is accounting for about 25% of customer inquiries, showing that the ever-changing restrictions on travel and headlines about the spread of COVID-19 internationally are not causing up or down swings in consumer interest for international travel. For comparison, international travel accounted for 40% of advisor inquiries prior to the pandemic. Travelers are also looking far ahead for international travel, as there was an increase in the percentage of international travel, cruises and group tour vacations being booked within the next 12 months. Domestic travel continues to be the most attractive type of trip for customers at the moment, accounting for 40% of all inquiries. Additionally, advisors reported in August that 20% of incoming North American travel bookings are for the next 30 days, up from 16% in July. It's important to note that at the same time there was also a sizeable increase in the number of advisors who believe promotional offers would impact booking decisions, which rose from 39% in July to 44% in August. A look at advisors' most popular destination inquiries shows travelers are seeking out sunshine and the great outdoors for domestic trips. The most inquired about U.S. destinations are Alaska, Florida, California, Hawaii, Las Vegas and Colorado, while the top Canadian destinations are Vancouver, British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies. Inquiries for Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe are predictably for familiar and historically popular destinations, while certain long-haul, bucket list trips continue to be of interest as well. The Riviera Maya/Cancun, Los Cabos and Jamaica are at the top of the list for travelers looking to visit Mexico and the Caribbean, while Greece, Italy, London, Croatia, Ireland and France were the most inquired about European destinations. Australia, Tahiti, Hawaii, Japan and Thailand are most popular with travelers looking to explore long-haul destinations. The following are additional key findings from Wave III of the Travel Advisors COVID-19 Sentiment Barometer, which surveyed 440 travel advisors in the U.S. and Canada from August 24-September 8, 2020. North American beach and mountain destinations continue to be of most interest to clients, with clients' interest in North American mountain destinations higher than in June and July. Clients continue to feel more comfortable staying in smaller, more private accommodations in lieu of larger hotels or short-term rentals, though all accommodation types show rising interest. Advisors report the majority of clients are interested in couples vacations, followed by family vacations - both with their immediate family and multigenerational trips. Health concerns related to COVID-19, government advisories/restrictions and concerns about the visitor experience continue to be the primary barriers to travel, though they are all down compared to July. The full Travel Advisors COVID-19 Sentiment Barometer report is available here at www.myriadmarketing.com. About MMGY Myriad MMGY Myriad is the North American international destination representation brand of MMGY Global. Representing and managing various projects with numerous international destinations, MMGY Myriad is considered the leader in integrated programs for those destinations that choose to outsource office operations in North America. Programs developed include travel trade engagement, product development, consumer marketing, consumer and travel trade event management, social media and public relations. MMGY Myriad employees are experts in integrating a range of activities for destinations that desire a comprehensive approach to the North American market. For more information, visit www.myriadmarketing.com. About Travel Market Report Travel Market Report is an online travel trade publication that serves as an independent forum and voice for retail travel sellers in North America. TMR is the first and only trade media founded by travel advisors, for travel advisors. Powered by a team of award winning journalists that analyze and report the news exclusively from the perspective of top-producing travel advisors and its impact on their business, Travel Market Report has become the most trusted news source in less than a decade by providing the most valuable information for its reader/advisors. TMR also provides practical business building advice and insights into key growth markets helping advisors run and grow their business. The editorial team is guided by an independent Editorial Advisory Board whose members represent a cross-section of the retail travel industry in North America. Launched in 2009 by American Marketing Group, Travel Market Report delivers vital travel industry content digitally to over 64,000 US and Canadian subscribers. About MMGY Travel Intelligence MMGY Travel Intelligence is MMGY Global's industry research and insights brand, offering proprietary data and research including DK Shifflet, MMGY Global's Portrait of American Travelers and travelhorizonsTM, all of which are designed to power travel industry decision-makers through consumer insights, travel performance data, and audience modeling and segmentation. To learn more about the extensive collection of research, analytics and strategy services, visit mmgyintel.com or email [email protected]. She never fails to turn heads whenever she steps out. And Francesca Allen looked sensational as she flaunted her toned physique while heading to brunch with friends in London on Thursday. The Love Island star, 24, looked ready for autumn as she showed off her figure in a red mini dress which was covered in a pretty floral pattern for the outing. Sizzling: Francesca Allen looked sensational as she flaunted her toned physique while heading out to brunch with friends in London on Thursday Francesca posed up a storm in her frock which came in at the waist to accentuate her slim frame and boasted long sleeves. Keeping her accessories to a minimum, the fashion boutique owner only toted a small beige bag with a chic top handle. She added some extra height to her ensemble with a pair of knee-high sueded boots with a brown leather heel. To complete her look, the brunette beauty wore her long locks down and perfectly styled into loose waves as well as adding a slick of nude lipstick. Glam: The Love Island star exuded style as she rocked a red floral mini dress with a tie-neck detail and long sleeves Work it: Francesca was sure to work all of her angles as she posed up a storm, adding a pair of knee-high boots to her ensemble It comes after Fran celebrated her sister Claudia's birthday with a sweet snap of the siblings with their mother at a rooftop bar on Saturday She captioned the shot: 'My girls happy birthday to my sister @claudia_allen1 your loved more than you could ever imagine .' Claudia is in a relationship with Mummy Diaries star Paul Knightley's brother Tony and their share a baby son, Tony, together. It has been a busy summer for the beauty, with Francesca enjoyed several holidays and her Instagram being littered with sizzling bikini snaps. Beauty: The brunette beauty wore her long locks down and perfectly styled into loose waves as well as adding a slick of nude lipstick Poser: Francesca toted a small beige handbag with a top-handle but appeared to keep her other accessories to a minimum Aside from her frequent getaways, Francesca was spotted cosying up to a new man during a boozy night out in London earlier this summer. She looked to be on cloud nine as she got up close and personal with Edward Crossan, vice chairman of London-based waste management company Powerday. The TV personality, who is family friends with Edward, put on a very affectionate display with the hunk who was previously been linked to TOWIE's Amber Turner. Toned: She flashed a glimpse at her svelte legs in the mini dress and boots ensemble In May last year, Edward was seen enjoying a jaunt on a yacht in Ibiza with TOWIE star Amber, 27, who is currently dating Dan Edgar. The accomplished businessman was named vice chairman of his father's company in January and is featured on the company's website. MailOnline contacted Francesca's representatives for further comment at the time of publication. For some disabled service members and veterans, the only constant in the chaos of their lives is their trained service animal. These days, it's far too easy for anyone to put a vest on their dog and claim it as a service animal. Fake service dogs are not a victimless "fib." Dogs that are falsely claimed as service animals can be unruly, attack true service animals or even force businesses to exercise their rights to refuse service animals under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Cris Skinner, a Marine Corps veteran, is out to show just how important service animals are in the lives of those who need them -- not just veterans, but anyone who relies on such a companion. Her idea is to use her talents to show people the power and meaning behind real service animals through two photographic storytelling projects, "The Constant in the Chaos" and "Your Calm in the Storm." From the photo series "I Am Your Constant in the Chaos." (Cris Skinner) Skinner is a photographer and former business owner based in Wasilla, Alaska. She first received a service dog after falling ill eight years ago and having to tend to her own needs. Because of her illness, she had to give up her lucrative business. Her dog is unrelated to her military service, but that chocolate Labrador is one of the most vital parts of her life. "I wanted to bring light to the power of these animals," Skinner said. "Service dogs give people back their quality of life, even bringing people back from the edge of suicide. There are people who don't understand that not all disabilities are visible." False service dogs cause real issues for those who really need their companions, and that's what prompted Skinner to start taking photos of service animals and the people who need them. For "Constant in the Chaos," the well-trained service animal will sit still long enough for the artist to use a slow shutter speed. This means the dog will be perfectly still while everything around them appears blurry. For "Calm in the Storm," she will accompany service dogs and their beneficiaries out into the wilds of Alaska to capture the inclement weather as the animals perform their duties. From the photo series "I Am Your Constant in the Chaos." (Cris Skinner) Skinner is a professional photographer, but both of the projects, along with her photography and choice of subjects, are passions of hers. She's been taking photos for about six years; these two projects are the first she plans to show the public. "I want to tell this story; I want to tell the importance of this story," she said. "And I want to give it some momentum. I want to show these dogs and show the real differences they made. Most importantly, there needs to be truth to the subject... I want these projects to be powerful and hopefully make a difference in the lives of veterans, as well as the general public" Skinner is looking for veterans with service animals who would agree to be part of her photo projects. Those interested don't have to reveal their identity and can reach her through the contact page on her website. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. President Donald Trump unloaded on his former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats Thursday when he got asked about the revelation his former spy chief thought the Russians 'had something' on Trump. Trump was asked about the topic in an interview with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade on his radio show. Kilmeade brought up journalist Bob Woodward's new book, Rage, which states that Coats 'continued to harbor the secret belief, one that had grown rather than lessened, although unsupported by intelligence proof, that [Vladimir[] Putin had something on Trump.' 'How else to explain the president's behavior?' Woodward wrote. 'Coats could see no other explanation.' President Donald Trump on Thursday attacked former DNI Dan Coats in a radio interview as a 'stiff' following Bob Woodward' revelation Coats thought the Russians 'had something' on Trump Trump immediately attacked Coats, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany and a former U.S. senator from Indiana, as a 'stiff.' 'Dan is a stiff. Dan would sit there all day long at a meeting and he wouldn't ever say anything,' the president complained. 'All of as sudden he becomes this thing,' he said, adding: 'Dan was not suited for this job.' He also said of Coats 'He was a mistake. He didn't do anything.' Former DNI Dan Coats 'continued to harbor the secret belief, one that had grown rather than lessened, although unsupported by intelligence proof, that [Vladimir[] Putin had something on Trump,' write journalist Bob Woodward Trump has repeatedly defended Russian President Vladimir Putin and called for better relations with Moscow The plans for Trump Tower Moscow included an architect's drawing of a glass obelisk 100 stories high that would be the tallest building in Europe and branded multiple times with Donald Trump's logo, it was revealed on Tuesday. The drawing shows a fuller version of the project than Trump's team indicated. Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal attorney, claimed the project hadn't gone beyond a letter of intent and 'no plans were ever made. But architectural plans and business documents obtained by Buzzfeed News show an architect's drawing of a gleaming glass tower along side the Moscow River topped by a diamond-like shape emblazoned on multiple sides with the Trump logo. When it came to leveling a substantive charge, Trump blasted fault for failing to accuse the Obama administration of 'spying' on his campaign. He then praised Coats' successor, Trump loyalist and former GOP House member John Ratcliffe. Trump also heaped praise on former acting DNI Ric Grenell, who during his short tenure release documents from the last days of the Obama administration about 'unmasking' 'A lot of things took place that he should have revealed about the previous administration. He didn't reveal that they spied on my campaign,' Trump said. Trump said Grenell was 'great' and 'largely cleaned out the place.' Trump called Ratcliffe 'have somebody fantastic.' Brian Kilmeade Woodward's book did not provide specifics on what leverage Coats believed the Russians held over Trump. The president has repeatedly praised Russia and defended Russian Vladimir Putin. Trump famously defended Putin during their 2018 summit meeting in Helsinki where Putin denied interfering in the U.S. elections. 'President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be,' Trump said. Trump has repeatedly attacked the Russia probe as a 'witch hunt,' and has blasted the Steele dossier, which claimed Russians held 'kompromat' over Trump and presented unverified claims about Trump's alleged conduct with prostitutes in a Moscow hotel room. Trump repeatedly denied having any business in Russia during the campaign, but during his tenure in office old plans for a proposed Trump tower in Moscow were revealed. The EU's foreign-policy chief has reiterated the bloc's stance that it refuses to recognize Alyaksandr Lukashenka as president of Belarus following his surprise inauguration, which sparked large demonstrations across the country. Belarus has been rocked by protests since the August 9 presidential election that handed Lukashenka, in power since 1994, a sixth term in office despite claims the election was rigged. Thousands of people have been detained, hundreds beaten by police, and opposition leaders either arrested or forced to flee the country in the brutal postelection crackdown. Police were out in force and central streets blocked off on September 23 as Lukashenka, who claims to have won 80 percent of the vote, took the oath of office before what appeared to be a few handpicked Belarusian officials. State media reported the news, but did not cover the event, which is usually an elaborate affair, live. Internet access in Minsk was also cut or limited for much of the time. "This 'inauguration' directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus," Josep Borrell said in a statement issued on September 24, adding that Brussels was reviewing its relations with Minsk. "The European Union's position is clear: Belarusian citizens deserve the right to be represented by those they freely choose through new inclusive, transparent and credible elections, Borrell added. As people took to the streets to protest Lukashenka's swearing in, police intervened with truncheons and a water cannon to disperse the crowds. The Interior Ministry said on September 24 that a total of 364 people were detained by police in Minsk and elsewhere. "We are impressed and moved by the courage of the Belarusian people who continue to demonstrate peacefully for democracy and for their fundamental rights despite the brutal repression of the Belarusian authorities. We stand in solidarity with them and fully support their democratic right to elect their president through new free and fair elections," Borrell said. The EU is preparing sanctions against around 40 people deemed responsible for the repression and also looking at punishing Lukashenka himself, diplomatic sources told AFP. But the unanimity of the 27 EU members is required, and Cyprus is linking its agreement to the adoption of steps to force Turkey to stop exploring for natural gas in the waters of its economic zone. Two other countries, Sweden and Finland, are refusing to place sanctions on Lukashenka to allow for mediation by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe that will be chaired by Stockholm, the sources told AFP. The issue will be debated during an EU summit on October 1-2 in Brussels. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow that President Vladimir Putin had not congratulated Lukashenka on his inauguration, but added this was not unusual. Peskov told reporters on September 24 that Putin had already congratulated Lukashenka after the August 9 election by telephone and in person during their September 14 meeting in Sochi. With Belarus facing a shaky future after the disputed election, Russia appears eager to keep the smaller country, a longtime ally, firmly in its orbit. In a sign of that goal, Putin and Lukashenka agreed in their September 14 meeting to a $1.5 billion state loan to keep his regime in Belarus afloat. Meanwhile, the United States added its name to the growing list of Western countries that responded to the swearing in by saying they won't recognize Lukashenka's presidency. "The elections on August 9 were neither free nor fair. The announced results were fraudulent and did not convey legitimacy," a State Department spokesperson told RFE/RL on September 23. "The United States cannot consider Alyaksandr Lukashenka the legitimately elected leader of Belarus." The State Department called for a "national dialogue" culminating in "a free and fair election under independent observation." The spokesperson added, "Release of those unjustly detained and an end of repression against peacefully protesting citizens is a first step toward genuine national dialogue." After the swearing-in ceremony, the opposition, led by his exiled main challenger, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said it would never accept Lukashenka's "falsified" victory and called for an immediate campaign of civil disobedience and open-ended protests. "This so-called inauguration is certainly a farce. In fact, today Lukashenka just retired," Tsikhanouskaya wrote on her Telegram channel. "This means that his orders for security agencies are not legitimate anymore and must not be fulfilled. Tsikhanouskaya, who officially finished second to Lukashenka but claims to have won, added that "I, Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, am the only leader recognized by the Belarusian people." Lukashenka faces the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule amid the unprecedented nationwide protests, and has answered peaceful protests and demands for him to leave office with violent arrests and the alleged torture of detainees. With reporting by AFP Thailand began legal action on Thursday against Facebook and Twitter for ignoring requests to take down content, in its first such move against major internet firms. The digital ministry filed legal complaints with cybercrime police after the two social media companies missed 15-day deadlines to comply fully with court-issued takedown orders from Aug. 27, the digital minister, Puttipong Punnakanta, said. No action was taken against Alphabet's Google as originally suggested, as it took down all the YouTube videos specified in the order late on Wednesday, Puttipong said. "This is the first time we're using the Computer Crime Act to take action against platforms for not complying with court orders," Puttipong told reporters. "Unless the companies send their representatives to negotiate, police can bring criminal cases against them. But if they do, and acknowledge the wrongdoing, we can settle on fines." He did not disclose details of the content or say what laws it had violated. The complaints were against the U.S. parent companies and not their Thai subsidiaries, he said. The ministry will file more such takedown requests to Facebook, Twitter, and Google, asking them to remove more than 3,000 items from their platforms, with content ranging from pornography to criticism of the monarchy, Puttipong said. Twitter declined to comment, while Facebook and Google did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Thailand has a tough lese majeste law that prohibits insulting the monarchy. The Computer Crime Act, which outlaws the uploading of information that is false or affects national security, has also been used to prosecute online criticism of the royal family. In recent years, authorities have filed court orders with requests to social media platforms to restrict or remove perceived royal insults and other illegal content like gambling or copyright violations. Under the Act, ignoring a court order can result in a fine of up to 200,000 baht ($6,347), then 5,000 baht ($159) per day until the order is observed. The ministry also filed separate cybercrime complaints against five people who it said criticised the monarchy on Facebook and Twitter during a major anti-government demonstration at the weekend, Puttipong said. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics The past couple weeks offer insight into exactly how aggressive Microsofts intentions are. Sure, the Xbox Series X is exciting, but one of the fastest growing segments of the tech titans revenue is in the cloud Azure specifically. This week, the Ignite conference offered Microsoft the spotlight, and the Redmond-based firm is swinging for the fences with a number of exciting announcements. On Tuesday, Microsoft launched Azure Communications Services, a shot across the collective bow of Amazon and Google, and aimed and getting the better of MessageBird in addition to Twilio. We see rich communication experiences enabled by voice, video, chat, and SMS continuing to be an integral part in how businesses connect with their customers across devices and platforms, noted Scott Van Vliet, Microsofts corporate vice president for intelligent communication. Also joining the headlines on Tuesday was the reveal of Azure Orbital to connect satellites directly to its cloud network. Viasat, Kongsberg Satellite Services, Amergint and Kratos have signed as partners to deliver the service. Microsoft is providing a number of customers early access to the service with a private preview to showcase its ability to support disparate and remote data centers. In August, Microsoft earned FCC permission to complete proof-of-concept nearly two years after the AWS Ground Station release. Principal Product Manager at Microsoft explained in a company blog post, The cloud is central to both modern communications scenarios for remote operations and the gathering, processing, and distributing the tremendous amounts of data from space. The Cloud Wars are not new, and the stakes continue to rise. Azure is an embedded fixture in the cloud services market with nearly 20 percent market share, staring up at AWS with 45 percent. Amazon holds the poll position, but with cloud demand showing no signs of slowing down the race wont be determined until we see a checkered flag. Edited by Maurice Nagle Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The 'Global Trimethyl Orthoacetate (CAS 1445-45-0) Market Outlook 2019-2024' offers detailed coverage of trimethyl orthoacetate industry and presents main market trends. The market research gives historical and forecast market size, demand, end-use details, price trends, and company shares of the leading trimethyl orthoacetate producers to provide exhaustive coverage of the market for trimethyl orthoacetate. The report segments the market and forecasts its size, by volume and value, on the basis of application, by products, and by geography. Request For Report sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3772 The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from key industry participants. The global trimethyl orthoacetate market has been segmented into five major regions, namely, North America (U.S., Canada, and others), Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and others), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, and others), South America (Brazil, Argentina, and others), and Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and others). Furthermore, the report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key vendors operating in this market. Key Regions - North America - Europe - Asia Pacific - Middle East & Africa - South America Key Vendors - Nantong Tendenci Chemical Co., Ltd. - Shandong Head Co., Ltd. - Shandong Sinobioway Biomedicine Co., Ltd. - Yantai Fuchuan Chemical Co., Ltd. - Zibo Jinma Chemical Plant - request free sample to get a complete list of companies Key Questions Answered in This Report - Analysis of the trimethyl orthoacetate market including revenues, future growth, market outlook - Historical data and forecast - Regional analysis including growth estimates - Analyzes the end user markets including growth estimates. - Profiles on trimethyl orthoacetate vendors including products, sales/revenues, SWOT, and market position, recent developments. - Market structure, market drivers and restraints. More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/3772 The Rural Independent Group has criticised the Government for appointing 10 advisors to junior ministers on the same day the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was cut. Rural Independent Group leader Mattie McGrath TD described it as a "gross betrayal and a sell-out of the Irish people". The Tipperary TD said: As a group, we feel this latest move by the Government, coming after they already appointed around 50 special advisors to cabinet ministers, with the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Green Party leader having 17 between them alone, is deeply insulting to all citizens. It now brings the total cohort of advisors or spin-doctors to around 60 and will cost the Irish taxpayer at least 5 million a year. Additionally, all these advisors will be entitled to travel, overnight allowances and garner fully funded pension arrangements at the expense of the taxpayer. Incredibly, this would bring the overall costs to more than 25 million over the lifetime of this Government." Deputy McGrath said each of these advisors will earn between 67,659 and 101,114, with some reported to be earning up to 160,000 per year. "At the same time, this week the Government cut the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for 156,000 ordinary people, who after losing their jobs during the Covid-19 crisis are now between 50 and 100 per week worse off. We cannot comprehend how the Government appears satisfied to leave many who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic on a weekly payment of 203, while on the other hand paying advisors up to 3,000 a week. This Government has created a layer to insulate ministers from the challenges being faced by the public, with the taxpayer footing the bill. Advisors are simply not needed, as every minister or minister of state already enjoys access to a host of private staff paid for by the Oireachtas and their respective departments, while also obtaining full support from the civil servants and experts in their departments. As such, the need for special advisors is a gross misuse of scarce monetary resources and represents noting more than 'jobs for the boys and close associates of Government ministers and political parties. Even if any advisors were required, the taxpayer should not foot the bill. Instead, each of the political parties should pay their salary. The Tipperary TD added that the Government is "utterly out of touch" with ordinary Irish people. We believe that at a time when Ireland enters a recession, unemployment is at an all-time high, many people are struggling to survive and pay bills, we need a caring and in-touch Government and not one that goes off and spends millions on hiring advisors for their own ministers while cutting support for the unemployed. It really is a case of 'do as I say, but not as I do'," he added. The district attorney nowhere claims that his office is actually investigating any of the discredited, stale, and recycled allegations of wrongdoing that are recounted in the press reports he has compiled, Mr. Trumps lawyers wrote in the new court filing. Mr. Vance, a Democrat, and his prosecutors have refused to detail the focus of the investigation publicly, citing grand jury secrecy rules. Instead, their arguments, made in court filings, have been more elliptical, relying on the news articles to show what potential crimes a grand jury might have reason to investigate. Mr. Trumps lawyers argued that approach fell short. The district attorney resorts to speculation and innuendo in order to create a misimpression that his office has undertaken an investigation broad enough to somehow justify the abusive subpoena, they wrote. Mr. Vances office had no comment on Thursday. The subpoena was issued in August 2019 by Mr. Vances office to Mr. Trumps accounting firm, Mazars USA. Since then, the president and Mr. Vance have been locked in a legal battle over whether Mr. Vance may obtain the tax returns. The presidents filing came on the eve of oral arguments scheduled for Friday before a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 15:38:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Authorities have banned 219 people from buying duty-free products in south China's Hainan Province for three years, the General Administration of Customs said Thursday. Among the barred individuals, 28 received the punishment because they did not leave the island with duty-free products in accordance with regulations, while the rest were involved in selling duty-free goods for profits. Starting July 1, Hainan has increased its annual tax-free shopping quota from 30,000 yuan (about 4,411.76 U.S. dollars) to 100,000 yuan per person. The categories of duty-free goods have also been expanded from 38 to 45, with products such as mobile phones and laptops added to the list. Some people were found to have taken undue advantage of the new policy for profiteering, the administration said, adding that Customs will continue to strengthen supervision and crack down on market violations. Enditem (Natural News) A new report by the Senate Homeland Security Committee indicates that Hunter Bidens private equity firm received $3.5 million from one of Russias most powerful female oligarchs in 2014. (Article by Haris Alic republished from Breitbart.com) The report, which was made public on Wednesday, shows that Rosemont Seneca Thornton, LLC, a firm that Biden incorporated with his longtime business associate Devon Archer in May 2013, had a previously unknown financial relationship with Yelena Baturina, a Russian businesswoman now living in the United Kingdom. According to bank documents reviewed by the Homeland Security Committee, Baturina wired $3.5 million to a bank account controlled by Rosemont Seneca Thornton as part of a consultancy agreement. At the time of the transfer, Baturina, a well-known construction magnate, was living in the United Kingdom with her late husband Yuri Luzhkov, a onetime mayor of Moscow. Baturina and her husband immigrated to Great Britain in 2011 after Luzhkov was dismissed from public office by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as part of a public corruption probe. The former mayor, in particular, was accused of using his office to approve more than 20 real estate projects linked to Baturinas business interests, according to the Homeland Security Committee. In addition, a Russian investigation led to a criminal case against the former head of the Bank of Moscow, Andrey Borodin, who allegedly used money from the Moscow City Budget to lend money to shell companies, which ultimately transferred $443 million to Baturina, the committees report notes. Luzhkovs alleged grift was supposedly substantial enough to help propel Baturina into the ranks of Russias wealthy elite, with Forbes reporting in 2019 that her estimated net worth was $1.3 billion. Baturinas fortune was large enough to qualify her as Russias richest woman and, as the Daily Mail has noted, the countrys most powerful female oligarch. The nature of Baturinas agreement with Rosemont Seneca Thornton remains unclear. The Homeland Security Committees report stems from an investigation into Bidens ties to Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian natural gas conglomerate whose founder has been accused of public corruption, embezzlement, and bribery. Biden served on the companys board of directors between 2014 and 2019, earning somewhere in the range of $83,000 per month. Biden received appointment to the companys board despite no background in either Eastern Europe or the energy sector, shortly after his father, former Vice President Joe Biden, was tapped to lead the Obama administrations policy toward Ukraine in April 2014. Read more at: Breitbart.com Check smoke conditions near you with our interactive, real-time Air Quality map. Read an updated report on this weekend's weather here. After a stretch of blissfully clear days, air quality in the Bay Area is expected to deteriorate in the days ahead, meteorologists said Thursday. The triple whammy of wildfire smoke, high temperatures and smog could cloud the skies this weekend, especially Sunday and Monday, said Kristine Roselius, a spokesperson for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Weather forecasts predicted sweltering heat and powerful winds conditions that bring a heightened risk of fire in the North Bay and East Bay hills and the interior valleys of the East Bay. The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for those areas beginning Saturday that will last through 8 a.m. Monday. The dry winds expected to sweep through much of the region also have the potential to carry smoke and particle pollution from the wildfires raging to the north. The highest peaks and ridges in the North Bay and the East Bay, such as the Diablo Range, could see wind gusts of up to 50 mph, said National Weather Service meteorologist Roger Gass. In addition to smokey skies, the hot weather could heat up smog from the exhaust of cars and trucks, Roselius said. Smog, also known as ground level ozone, is especially harmful to children and people with pre-existing sensitivities. Places like Santa Rosa, Cloverdale and Livermore will likely record temperatures of up to 104 degrees. Places like Redwood City, Oakland, San Jose and San Francisco itself are all anticipated to reach the 90s, Gass said. Clean air prevailed throughout the Bay Area on Thursday, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management Districts air quality index. But that could change quickly, Roselius said. The agency has issued an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke beginning Friday in the North Bay and East Bay, stretching inland toward Livermore. That air quality advisory could expand to other areas: Changing wind patterns are expected to bring smoke from the Sacramento Valley and throughout Northern California, where the August Complex continues its rampage through more than 862,000 acres of Mendocino and Humboldt counties. 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. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. responded to the predicted wind and heat by announcing it may preemptively cut power to customers in the northern Sierras and the Sacramento Valley region to prevent damaged equipment from sparking fires. The coming weekend heat, while not expected to surpass Labor Day temperatures, could make many outdoor activities uncomfortable. Roselius encouraged anyone sensitive to heat and smog to seek out cooling centers. The centers often provide filtered air, she said. Roselius also encouraged the public to stay indoors and keep windows closed as much as possible, acknowledging that may not always be possible due to the heat. Try to limit outdoor activities and exertion so youre not breathing in more unhealthy air, she said. Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NMishanec The first regular international commercial flight to Vietnam on a Vietnamese airline after the second Covid-19 outbreak will occur on September 25. Vietnam Airlines flight VN417 from Seoul (South Korea) to Hanoi is scheduled to depart on the morning of September 25. The flight will be on an Airbus A350 aircraft with more than 300 seats. Vietnam Airlines is the first air carrier in the country to reopen international commercial flights to Vietnam. Due to special requirements relating to COVID-19 prevention procedures, tickets will not be available for purchase on Vietnam Airlines website. Instead, customers will have to buy tickets through the airlines ticketing agents in either Vietnam or South Korea. Immediately after the Government and authorities gave their approval on the night of September 22 for the resumption of the flight, the airline and other relevant units finalised all necessary procedures in order to reopen the air route. The flight will be subject to strict regulations that follow all necessary COVID-19 prevention and control measures. This came after Vietnam Airlines safely conducted its first regular international commercial flight from Hanoi to Tokyo, with approximately 60 passengers onboard, the majority of whom were international students and guest workers, along with some Japanese citizens. Besides routes to Japan and the RoK, Vietnam Airlines has initiated plans to restore flights between the country and China, Taiwan (China), Laos, and Cambodia in the near future. Vu Diep Inbound flight schedule, requirements for foreign entries into Vietnam detailed 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. The Delhi government's transport department on Tuesday asked owners of vehicles registered before April 2019 to affix them with High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) and colour-coded stickers, saying a drive will be launched "soon" to check for the violation of the directive. In a public notice, it asked the vehicle owners to get HSRP and stickers "without any delay". HSRP is a chromium-based hologram applied by hot stamping on the number plates both at the front and back, besides laser-branding of a permanent identification number. Colour-coded stickers are meant for identifying vehicles based on their fuel type, with light blue ones for petrol and CNG, and orange ones for diesel vehicles. They bear details such as the registration number, the registering authority, a laser-branded PIN, and engine and chassis numbers of the vehicle, according to officials. HSRP and colour-coded stickers are mandatory for all vehicles registered in NCT of Delhi and action can be taken against vehicle owners violating the norm under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, a senior transport department officer said. Vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, will have to get HSRP and colour-coded stickers. The new vehicles registered after April 1, 2019, come equipped with these, he said. The officer said there are almost 30 lakh vehicles that will require HSRP and stickers. Various automakers have appointed an HSRP vendor and bookings can be made online. Around 236 dealers will be providing HSRP and stickers, he said. "We will start the enforcement drive only after giving reasonable time to the general public for getting HSRP and colour-coded stickers for their vehicles," he added. The officer said vehicle owners should get HSRP affixed through vendors of original equipment makers as they are not available in the open market, except at vehicle dealers. Last year, the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) had directed that all vehicles in Delhi-NCR should have HSRP and colour-coded stickers by October. However, the order could not be implemented due to various reasons, including the unavailability of HSRP, the officials said. The Delhi BJP urged the Lt Governor to direct the transport department to withdraw its notice in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Party spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said the exercise can be postponed till the time COVID-19 incidence subsides completely. The transport department, in another order issued on Tuesday, extended up to September 30 the validity of CNG leakage test certificates which expired between February 1 and June 30 this year. The order was issued in view of difficulties faced by people in the renewal of their documents due to the COVID-19 situation. A police officer arrests a protester in the city of Louisville, Kentucky, on 23 September, 2020. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Two policemen have been shot in Louisville, Kentucky, during riots that broke out after the decision was made not to prosecute officers over the death of Breonna Taylor in March. The injured police officers have undergone surgery and are in a stable condition, according to Robert Schroeder, Louisville Metro Police Department chief of police. The shooting happened during clashes in the city on Wednesday, following the news that the grand jury had chosen not to bring charges against three white officers involved in the police raid that caused Taylors death. Although one of the officers received three charges of Wanton Endangerment, these did not relate to Taylors death. Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman, was shot dead by police who had burst into her house unannounced. Before the grand jury announced its decision regarding the Taylor case on Wednesday, the Kentucky National Guard was deployed, a decision which President Donald Trump called a positive thing. A curfew was also put in place for 9pm. Pessimistic: JP Morgan Boss Jamie Dimon Banking giant JP Morgan is shifting 183billion out of the UK to Frankfurt as it braces for a No Deal Brexit. In a vote of no confidence over Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ability to agree a financial services trade deal with the EU, it is transferring assets to bulk up operations on the continent. This will allow the US bank to keep trading with European clients if the UK does not agree 'passporting rights' with the EU by the end of the year. JP Morgan, America's biggest bank, has also told around 200 staff in London that they may have to move to another European financial hub. The bank declined to comment, although it is understood that the UK will remain its biggest location in Europe for the foreseeable future. Currently, the EU financial services passport allows UK banks and firms to do business with their European counterparts. But as the end of the UK's Brexit transition period draws ever closer, financial services firms are increasingly worried that Johnson will not thrash out a deal with the EU to retain passporting rights. Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan's long-standing chief executive, has been consistently pessimistic about the UK's prospects post-Brexit. Last year he said that a No Deal Brexit would be 'a disaster for Great Britain'. Speaking at the Economic Club of New York, he added: 'The Brits were dealt a bad hand and they played it badly.' But Tory MP Andrew Bridgen raised an eyebrow at JP Morgan's decision to boost its presence in Germany. He said: 'If they think Frankfurt is a better place for their business than London, the centre of the financial markets, that's their corporate decision.We can't allow merchant banks to subvert a democratic decision to leave the EU.' JP Morgan helped to fund the Remain campaign, Britain Stronger in Europe, hinting in 2016 that it could quit the UK if Brexit happened. And when Dimon shared a stage in Bournemouth in 2016 with the then-Chancellor George Osborne, he said leaving the EU would be a 'terrible deal for the UK economy'. In the run-up to the 2016 referendum, Dimon said the bank would need to cut around 4,000 jobs in the UK if the public voted to leave the EU. He later revised this down to between 500 and 1,000. CHRISTCHURCH, N.Z.It seems almost ironic that Michael Pratt, the man mainly responsible for hoodwinking at least 22 young women into performing hardcore sex scenes for his company, GirlsDoPorn.com, should have been born in a place called "Christchurch"but that city, as well as others in, according to the FBI, "New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Singapore, Japan, Chile, Croatia, and France," are where the agency is concentrating its search for the fugitive who fled the U.S. just as the civil trial against him and several associates was beginning last August in San Diego. The reward for information leading to Pratt's capture? $10,000. But though that trial concluded on January 2, with San Diego County Superior Court Judge Kevin Enright issuing a $12.7 million verdict in favor of the 22 Jane Doe plaintiffs against Pratt, cameraman Matthew Wolfe, actor/director Reuben "Andre" Garcia and office assistant Valorie Moser, the aggrieved women have yet to see a dime of their recovery, with Pratt allegedly having moved all of GirlsDoPorn's and related companies' assets offshore in an attempt to thwart the verdict. But that verdict cemented Pratt's status as a fugitive from law enforcement, and the FBI has been searching for him for more than a year, while Pratt's co-defendants have been cooling their heels in prison, awaiting their trial in federal court on sex trafficking and child pornography chargesreportedly, not all of the "women" GirlsDoPorn shot were over 18charges that Pratt himself will face when apprehended. Early on, law enforcement narrowed Pratt's likely location to his native New Zealand, where he reportedly stayed at his parents' home for a while but left, they told plaintiffs' attorney Ed Chapin, for parts unknown. "Im in the civil aspect of the claim and we are concentrating our efforts on post-judgment; in other words, post-award activities that we have to undertake in order to perfect our rights, Chapin told the website RNZ.co.nz. As those who've followed the case will recall, Pratt and his associates recruited young women from online sources such as Craigslist and offered then varying amounts of moneymost often $5,000 eachto perform one hardcore scene with Garcia, which the company promised would never be seen in the U.S. but would only appear on DVDs sold abroad. However, not only were most of the women stiffed for most of the promised payment, but their scenes appeared on GirlsDoPorn and other websites (including Pornhub) where several of the women's relatives and friends saw them, much to the women's chagrin. According to a bulletin released by the FBI, Pratt is wanted on "Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion; Production of Child Pornography; Sex Trafficking of a Minor and by Force, Fraud and Coercion; Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion; Criminal Forfeiture." The FBI "Wanted" poster, which was released this week, describes Pratt's offenses as follows: "From approximately 2012 to October 2019, in the Southern District of California and elsewhere, Michael James Pratt and others allegedly participated in a conspiracy to recruit young adult and minor women to engage in commercial sex acts by force, fraud and coercion. Pratt and a co-conspirator owned and operated a pornography production company and online pornography websites, 'GirlsDoPorn' and 'GirlsDoToys.' Pratt and his co-conspirators allegedly recruited young women from around the United States by posting advertisements for clothed modeling jobs on the Internet. Pratt and his co-conspirators advised the women responding to the ads that the jobs were in fact for pornographic videos and that they would be paid between $3,000 to $5,000 U.S. dollars for a one-day video shoot. To persuade the women to participate, Pratt and his co-conspirators allegedly convinced the women they would remain anonymous, that their videos would be provided to private collectors on DVD, and would not be posted on the Internet. Pratt allegedly paid other young women working at his direction to act as references or provide false assurances to the women that, if they filmed a video, the video would not be posted online. Some women were not permitted to leave the shooting locations until the videos were made and others were allegedly forced to perform certain sex acts they had declined to do. Allegedly, some of the women were sexually assaulted. Pratt's pornography websites generated more than $17 million U.S. dollars in revenue. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Pratt in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, on November 6, 2019." Those with information concerning Pratt's whereabouts were advised to "contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate." A new print edition of the AZERNEWS online newspaper was released on 24 September. The new edition includes articles: President Aliyev: Armenian PM deliberately undermines format of negotiations; Parliaments Speaker highlights Yerevans provocation during official visit to Moscow; President Aliyev says Kyiv Bakus strategic partner; Military training for women organized by Anna Hakobyan shows Yerevans hypocrisy and etc. AZERNEWS is an associate member of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). The online newspaper is available at www.azernews.az. 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 Farmer bodies and opposition parties on Thursday intensified protests in food-bowl states in the northern plains amid a call for a nationwide stir on Friday to oppose three bills that they say could pave the way for the government to stop buying grain at minimum guaranteed prices and benefit corporate entities and traders. In a session that was curtailed because of the spectre of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, Parliament passed three bills that the government said were aimed at unleashing reforms in agriculture and allow farmers more flexibility in selling their produce. While some experts have hailed the move, farmer bodies and opposition parties allege that the laws will benefit only big businesses. On Thursday, farmers from Punjab and Haryana, which are key producers of wheat and rice, blocked railway tracks, forcing the cancellation of some trains on local routes. Several farmer bodies have come together under the banner of All India Kisan Sangarsh Committee for Fridays Bharat Bandh, which is expected to disrupt road and rail traffic in several states on Friday. All major opposition parties, including the Congress, Left outfits, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Trinamool Congress (TMC), have decided to participate in the bandh. From the ruling National Democratic Alliance, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will join the nationwide protest. Last week, the SADs Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the minister for food processing, resigned over her opposition to the bills that she termed as anti-farmer. The Congress said it will begin a two-month agitation against the new laws by holding news briefings in all state capitals and district headquarters. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the party workers will support the agitation by farm organisations during this period against Modis anti-farmer policies. During the nationwide bandh, the most intense protests are expected in Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and some parts of Maharashtra, where farmers have already been protesting over the last one week by blocking road and rail traffic, hampering the supply of essentials such as food grains. Nothing will work in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh tomorrow (Friday), said Bharatiya Kisan Union president Rakesh Takait. All farmer and mandi committees in Punjab and Haryana have called for stopping road and rail traffic at various locations and closure of shops. A senior Haryana Police officer said on condition of anonymity: Additional police force has been deployed to maintain law and order and railways have suspended some of the trains passing from the region. We have asked police personnel not to use force, he added. Strikes are also expected to be observed in Opposition-ruled Kerala and TMC-ruled West Bengal. In Bihar, the opposition parties led by the RJD have made a call for a prolonged agitation coming just before the forthcoming assembly elections in the state. In Opposition-ruled Jharkhand and Rajasthan, All India Kisan Sabha and Congress workers have announced protests at various places. Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghathana, a major farmer outfit in Maharashtra, has decided to burn copies of the bill outside revenue offices. Farmers bodies in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have called protests to show solidarity with farmers in north India, who are expected to be worst-affected by the farm laws. The three farm bills approved by Parliament this week are: Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill; Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance; and Farm Services Bill and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill. The new laws aim to liberalise the agriculture sector by removing hurdles created by the Agriculture Marketing Produce Committee (AMPC) Act in direct procurement of agriculture produce by buyers and create a level-playing field for all, thereby allowing private players a bigger role in farm trade. Farmer bodies and opposition parties say that these reform bills take away price protection provided through Minimum Support Price (MSP), whereas the government maintains that MSP will remain in place and the bills will ensure higher remuneration for farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the passage of the bills, which will now need to be signed by the President, a watershed moment in the history of Indian agriculture. The Prime Minister has accused the Opposition of misleading farmers on the legislations that he said were similar to the economic reforms of 1991. The bills were passed in a hurry. They lacked greater scrutiny of select committees. They create a system which will leave farmers vulnerable to exploitation. Our protests will continue, said VM Singh, convener of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee. Raju Shetti of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghathana said: If the government is so concerned of farmers interest, then it should have added a provision that no entity will be allowed to trade less than the MSP. The evening before the nationwide strike, Union agriculture minister NS Tomar sought to address the concerns by saying there were no provisions in the legislations to end APMCs. He said the bills will promote inter-state trade and farmers will receive more options to sell at the right price. The new bills allow a farmer to sell their produce outside APMCs, giving them a wider range of buyers, he said. In Punjab, theres 8.5% tax in the mandis on several items. Now, because of these bills, farmers will be able to sell their produce even outside of the mandi, even outside of the state at any price they choose, he said. He also said that fixing MSP is an administrative decision and it will continue. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath praised the laws and said they will not only guarantee MSP to farmers but will help in getting them prices higher than the MSP. A West Virginia man faces federal charges of child exploitation, including traveling to Madison County to have sex with a minor, after a grand jury indicted him this week. Andrew Davis, 37, has been charged with traveling to engage in sexual conduct with a minor as well as child pornography and obscene material charges, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Hammer Davis faces one count of production of child pornography between November 2019 and January 2020, a count of possessing child pornography in January and one count of transferring obscene material to a minor between December 2019 and January 2020. Each count of production of child pornography and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Each count of possession of child pornography and transfer of obscene material to a minor carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Homeland Security Investigations in Huntsville investigated the case, along with Huntsville police and the Madison County Sheriffs Office. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Friday marks 231 years since the passage of the First Amendment, protecting the freedoms of speech, religion, the press, to assemble peacefully and to petition the government. The day Sept. 25 is known as First Amendment Day. It was one of several amendments proposed by Congress on Sept. 25, 1789, and sent to the states to ratify. Those amendments together are known as the Bill of Rights. But the cornerstone of the Bill of Rights is the First Amendment. Centuries of U.S. history show the rights in action. Freedom of religion: When the colonists came to the New World, they were, in part, fleeing from religious persecution. This right, built into the Constitution, means that the U.S. can't declare a national religion. It can't persecute someone for their religious beliefs. Freedom of speech: This freedom is one of the more litigated in the First Amendment. The U.S. court system hears Freedom of Speech cases frequently. Here are some of the protections the court system has decided fall under freedom of speech: In West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette, the court decided the right not to salute the flag was protected under the First Amendment In Tinker v. Des Moines, the Supreme Court ruled that students had the right to wear black armbands to school to protest a war under freedom of speech In Cohen v. California, the court said using certain offensive words and phrases to convey political messages was protected In Texas v. Johnson and United States v. Eichman, the court decided burning the flag in protest of something was protected. Here are some things the court says are not protected by freedom of speech: In Schenck v. United States, the court ruled that inciting actions that would harm others (e.g., Shouting "fire" in a crowded theater) is not protected speech. In Bethel School District #43 v. Fraser, the Supreme Court ruled that the rights of students to make an obscene speech at a school-sponsored event was not covered. In Roth v. United States, the court ruled that making or distributing obscene materials was not protected by the freedom of speech. Freedom of the press: Simply put, freedom of the press is protection against government meddling in the media. It means that the government can't tell the media what they can and cannot report, nor can they prosecute the media for what they do or don't report. This freedom has also played out in the court system. In 1931, the case of Near v. Minnesota, helped define freedom of the press. A newspaper editor printed an article saying some local officials were associated with gangsters. The state obtained an injunction under a law that said the newspaper could be stopped from publishing malicious, scandalous or defamatory material. The Supreme Court ruled that Minnesota law restricted freedom of the press. In 1988, the court issued a landmark ruling in the case of Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier. This time, a high school newspaper was barred from publishing two articles the school's principal found inappropriate. The court ruled that schools have to be able to set high standards for speech disseminated under school supervision, saying the principal's actions did not violate the student's right to freedom of speech or freedom of press. Freedom to peaceably assemble: This protection gives people the right to protest peacefully, but the court has ruled that there are limits to this part of the first amendment. In Shuttlesworth v. Birmingham, a case argued before the Supreme Court in 1969, the court ruled that requiring a permit to assemble on city streets was unconstitutional. But the decision also allowed cities to deny permits in publicly owned places if they have a compelling reason, like public safety, to do so. In other cases, courts have ruled that requiring permits for a planned peaceful protest are constitutional, but gatherings in response to breaking news are not required to have a permit. Cities are also allowed to regulate aspects of a protest, like the time or place. Freedom to petition the government: This right was included after the British government ignored the U.S. founders' list of grievances. The founders had previously petitioned their concerns about the British government and instead of addressing them, the government only made things worse for the U.S. So, when the founders were writing the constitution, they included both the right to assemble and petition in the initial draft of the first amendment. Freedoms of speech, religion and the press came later, but were included before the final draft was voted on in Congress. According to the Freedom Forum Institute, in 2020, petitioning is any nonviolent means of encouraging or showing dissent of government actions. This includes letter writing, lobbying, emailing, calling or even signing an online petition. The First Amendment - among our most important in the constitution - offers anyone in the United States protection, not just citizens. STORY LINK GBP to AUD Exchange Rate Recovers Most of September Losses as Aussie Continues to Tumble GBP Exchange Rates Climb as Markets Digest Fiscal Support for UK Jobs, Businesses However, at first blush its not yet clear how much the job support scheme will help hard-pressed firms hold onto staff. The chancellor may also have missed a trick by not combining the Scheme with measures to encourage wider job creation, for instance by lowering employment costs through reduced employers NICs. AUD Exchange Rates Continue to Slump on Risk-Aversion and RBA Bets The theme is likely to be, as we saw in March, a Team Australia moment where the Reserve Bank is directly supporting a bold Federal Budget, The prospect of the RBA sitting back to assess the Budget, which has been seen as the norm in previous years, is not appropriate for these unique times. GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Forecast: Coronavirus Remains the Focus Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: Despite Britains fresh coronavirus restrictions this week, the British Pound to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate has been climbing all week. This comes as the Australian Dollar is throttled by the markets aversion to risk and trade-correlated currencies, as well as speculation of a more dovish Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). The Pound, on the other hand, is firming as investors await upcoming news from the UK Treasury on fiscal policy to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.Since opening this week at the level of 1.7718, GBP/AUD has been trending with an upside bias. GBP/AUD has put in significant gains as the Pound benefits from Australian Dollar weakness.As of Thursday, GBP/AUD has recovered most of this months huge losses and trends near a high of 1.8123. It is now just a cent below the highs lf over 1.82 seen at the beginning of the month.Investors have been buying the Pound back from lows in recent sessions, despite the threat of the coronavirus pandemic having a bigger impact on Britains economy in the coming months.Hopes that less strict coronavirus measures would stave off the pandemic spread, as well as lingering optimism on UK-EU Brexit negotiations, both helped the Pound to recover.The primary cause for the Pounds gains today though, was news from UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak over how UK jobs and businesses would be supported through the second wave of coronavirus infections.Sunak announced a new job support scheme to help businesses through the second wave. His plan, seen as a replacement to the furlough scheme, will make it easier to have employees working shorter hours.For the hours the employee is not working, they will be paid 77% of their usual pay, in an effort to prevent job losses.The Pounds benefit from the news was limited though, as many uncertainties remain. According to Jonathan Geldart, Director General at the Institute of Directors:The Australian Dollar has seen broad weakness in the past week, and has been one of the worst-performing major currencies on the market.It comes as investors become less and less willing to hold onto currencies correlated with risk and trade sentiment.The Australian Dollar has been among the most appealing risk-correlated currencies amid the coronavirus pandemic, but in recent weeks its appeal has evaporated.Investors have been anxious that a second wave of coronavirus infections is worsening around the globe. This is leading to a surge in demand for safe havens, like the US Dollar, and losses in riskier currencies like the Aussie.On top of market risk-aversion though, the Australian Dollar has also been weighed by fresh fears that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is about to become more dovish on monetary policy after months of surprising resilience.According to Bill Evans, Chief Economist at Westpac:As Britains coronavirus situation continues to develop, news and reaction is likely to continue to drive Pound exchange rates.If markets optimistically digest UK Chancellor Rishi Sunaks new job support scheme, the Pound could see more solid gains and hold its ground.On the other hand though, if the UK government shows signs that a second lockdown is becoming more likely, the Pound could see fresh losses.Of course, the Australian Dollar may be more likely to weather market risk-aversion if the Australian coronavirus outlook improves as well.Some key upcoming data due next week, including UK growth rate and Australian retail sales results, may prove influential as well.With September heading to an end, the Pound to Australian Dollar exchange rate could also be influenced by UK-EU Brexit relations. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Pound Australian Dollar Forecasts If we're looking to avoid a business that is in decline, what are the trends that can warn us ahead of time? Businesses in decline often have two underlying trends, firstly, a declining return on capital employed (ROCE) and a declining base of capital employed. This reveals that the company isn't compounding shareholder wealth because returns are falling and its net asset base is shrinking. So after we looked into Southern Cross Media Group (ASX:SXL), the trends above didn't look too great. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What is it? For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for Southern Cross Media Group, this is the formula: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.048 = AU$70m (AU$1.5b - AU$91m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2020). So, Southern Cross Media Group has an ROCE of 4.8%. Even though it's in line with the industry average of 4.8%, it's still a low return by itself. See our latest analysis for Southern Cross Media Group roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for Southern Cross Media Group compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. So How Is Southern Cross Media Group's ROCE Trending? In terms of Southern Cross Media Group's historical ROCE movements, the trend doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, the ROCE was 8.4% five years ago, but since then it has dropped noticeably. Meanwhile, capital employed in the business has stayed roughly the flat over the period. Companies that exhibit these attributes tend to not be shrinking, but they can be mature and facing pressure on their margins from competition. So because these trends aren't typically conducive to creating a multi-bagger, we wouldn't hold our breath on Southern Cross Media Group becoming one if things continue as they have. Story continues What We Can Learn From Southern Cross Media Group's ROCE All in all, the lower returns from the same amount of capital employed aren't exactly signs of a compounding machine. It should come as no surprise then that the stock has fallen 70% over the last five years, so it looks like investors are recognizing these changes. With underlying trends that aren't great in these areas, we'd consider looking elsewhere. One more thing: We've identified 3 warning signs with Southern Cross Media Group (at least 2 which shouldn't be ignored) , and understanding these would certainly be useful. While Southern Cross Media Group 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. Zhong Shanshan, the founder of the popular Chinese bottled water brand Nongfu Spring, has overtaken Alibaba (BABA) founder Jack Ma to become the countrys wealthiest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires index. Zhong was already Chinas third richest person after his company went public earlier this month with a blockbuster listing in Hong Kong. As of Wednesday, his estimated net worth had reached $58.7 billion, surpassing Mas $56.7 billion, according to Bloomberg calculations. Zhongs new status also puts him ahead of Pony Ma, who founded Tencent (TCEHY). Unlike Jack Ma and Pony Ma, Zhong is not a tech entrepreneur. Outside of his stake in Nongfu Spring, he is the head of a vaccine maker, Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy. That company went public in Shanghai this year, which also helped boost Zhongs wealth. You would have typically expected the number one in China to come from [technology], said Rupert Hoogewerf, chairman of wealth research firm Hurun Report. Zhong is also known for being more low-profile and reclusive compared to other top business leaders, which has earned him the nickname lone wolf. Hes not known to have many entrepreneur friends, said Hoogewerf, a longtime China watcher who is based in Shanghai. He just kind of gets on with his own business. But even prior to his latest success, Zhongs track record was impressive. Zhong Shanshan is one of the few people in China to not just build one $10 billion business, but two $10 billion businesses, said Hoogewerf. Its pretty remarkable. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates A 33-year-old Maumelle, Arkansas man, whos been visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park since a second-grade field trip, has found the second-largest diamond ever discovered there. According to a report by KATV ABC 7, on Labor Day, Kevin Kinard and friends hauled sifting equipment to the state park located in Murfreesboro. Although hes been visiting the park regularly since his initial visit decades before, Kinard said he had never found a diamond, until Sept. 7. The Crater of Diamonds State Park website, describes the 911 acre state park as the only diamond-bearing site in the world that is open to the public. It features a 37.5-acre plowed field, the eroded surface of a volcanic crater, where visitors search for a variety of rocks, minerals, and gemstones - and any rock or mineral you find is yours to keep. I only wet sifted for about ten minutes before I started walking up and down the plowed rows, Kinard said. Anything that looked like a crystal, I picked it up and put it in my bag, the KATV report quoted. According to the report, during his search in the southeast portion of the diamond search area, Kinard found a marble-sized crystal that had a rounded, dimpled shape, park staff said. It kind of looked interesting and shiny, so I put it in my bag and kept searching, Kinard said. I just thought it mightve been glass, the report quoted. The report said that following several hours of searching, when Kinard and his friends had their crystals checked by park staff, an employee reportedly set the glass-like find aside for closer examination. Minutes later, park managers revealed to Kinard that he had discovered a 9.07-carat diamond. I honestly teared up when they told me, Kinard said. I was in complete shock, the report quoted. Assistant Superintendent Dru Edmonds said that perfect conditions were a factor in Kinard finding his diamond. Park staff plowed the search area on August 20, just a few days before Tropical Storm Laura dropped more than two inches of rain in the park, Edmonds said. The sun was out when Mr. Kinard visited, and he walked just the right path to notice the sunlight reflecting off his diamond, the report quoted. Since the park was established in 1972, Kinards diamond is the second-largest found there. In August 1975, a 16.37-carat white Amarillo Starlight was discovered, the report said. The report noted that park employees said finders often name their gems. Kinard chose to name his the Kinard Friendship Diamond. We love to travel together and had such a great time out here, Kinard said. It was a very humbling experience, the report quoted. READ MORE: In my opinion, we are witnessing a new stage in the crisis, he said. Some detainees have been released, others have been placed in factories, while others still have been sentenced. China has repeatedly refused to disclose the number of detention sites and detainees in Xinjiang and elsewhere. The ASPI researchers found and examined some 380 suspected detention sites in Xinjiang. At least 61 of them had expanded in area between July 2019 and July of this year, and of those, 14 were still growing, according to the latest-available satellite images. The researchers divided the sites into four security levels, and they said that about half of the expanding sites were higher-security facilities. The researchers found signs that some re-education camps were being rolled back, partially confirming government claims of a shift. At least 70 sites had seen the removal of security infrastructure such as internal fencing or perimeter walls, and eight camps appeared to be undergoing decommissioning, they wrote. The facilities apparently being scaled back were largely lower-security camps, they said. Under Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, the authorities have carried out a sweeping crackdown in Xinjiang, with as many as one million or more people incarcerated in recent years, according to scholars estimates. The ASPI report was issued one day after the sixth anniversary of a key moment in the increasingly harsh campaign, the sentencing of Ilham Tohti, a prominent Uighur scholar, to life in prison. Late last year, Shohrat Zakir, the chairman of the Xinjiang government, told reporters in Beijing that the re-education sites were now housing only people who were there voluntarily, and that others who had been in the facilities had graduated. Where to, he did not say. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) A number of mayors in Metro Manila want to keep the general community quarantine status in the region until the end of October to sustain improvements in the COVID-19 situation. Metro Manila Council Chairman and Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez on Thursday said all 17 mayors would meet this weekend to come up with recommendations to the COVID-19 task force. Personally, he said he preferred another round of GCQ, which is due to expire on September 30, and appeared to be the common view among his colleagues. "Dito po sa Paranaque, ang amin pong naisip, ma-remain pa sa GCQ. Kausap ko po 'yung ibang mayor natin, mukhang ganun din ang kanilang consensus, majority of us, GCQ muna para ma-sustain ang ating action plan dito na paglaban sa COVID na ito," he told CNN Philippines. [Translation: In Paranaque, we want to remain under GCQ. I talked to the other mayors. That's also what the majority want in order to sustain our action plan against COVID.] The Metro Manila Council is composed of the all the mayors and is the policy-making body in the National Capital Region. For his part, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said there has been a steady decline of new cases among his constituents, but he wanted to see the numbers decrease first before easing to the more relaxed modified GCQ. "I would prefer to see this number go even lower before we shift to MGCQ so as not to waste all that we have gained. Better to shift to MGCQ slowly but surely," he said in a text message. Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco agreed, saying it's "too soon to ease up restrictions." Olivarez said if the COVID-19 cases continued to decline, Metro Manila could shift to MGCQ by November. President Rodrigo Duterte is set to announce the next round of community quarantine beyond September 30. As of this time, the country has 294,591 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 231,373 recoveries, and 5,091 deaths. As nearly a million university students start term this month, UK medical schools face a perfect storm of financial problems that could dramatically affect student education, according to a special report by The BMJ today. They include closures, cuts to charity income, fear amongst international students, and a botched A-level algorithm that has thrown medical school into chaos and severely cut funding. What's more, new covid-19 rules are dramatically altering the curriculum. Just when we need them most, the next generation of doctors is facing a perfect storm of challenges, reports journalist Stephen Armstrong. Letters seen by The BMJ show medical schools asking staff to consider voluntary pay reductions, early retirement, redundancy, or changes to clinical academic contracts to cope with budget constraints. These moves are causing significant concern about the effects on student education. In July, the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned that the covid-19 crisis posed a considerable financial threat to universities, with estimated losses of around 11bn (12bn; $14.2bn), more than 25% of the sector's annual income. Figures compiled by the Times also show that the sector's debts have risen over the past year to 10.8bn, making them particularly vulnerable to financial problems. This means that less prestigious and financially weaker institutions face insolvency, the institute says, with some 13 unnamed universities needing a government bailout to survive. Medical schools should be in a strong position to weather this storm because their funding comes from three pillars: student fees, the government/NHS, and research grants. And yet, fees and grants are severely threatened after covid-19, while recent pay rises for NHS staff mean that clinical academic consultants and senior academic GPs are paid at least 2.8% less than equivalent NHS posts, attracting senior academic clinicians away from teaching, explains Armstrong. Alongside this, charity funded research at universities is expected to fall by 41% for the financial year 2020-21, resulting in a projected reduction in medical research investment of 252m-368m and further threatening jobs. Two senior academics at two city based medical schools, who wished to remain anonymous, have told The BMJ of their "significant concerns" about the effects of financial pressure on the quality of student education. David Strain, senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School and co-chair of the BMA's Medical Academic Staff Committee, says that, after the A level fiasco and the subsequent huge increase in medical school places, making academics redundant now would seriously damage teaching. The University and College Union warns that cuts could not have come at a worse time, with clinical academics treating patients during lockdown and medical researchers leading the fight against the virus. The BMA is also concerned about the decline in senior clinical academics. Strain says, "We've lost too many senior clinical academics over recent years, and we cannot afford to lose any more: to do so would be disastrous for the extent of medical research in the UK and the quality of learning in our medical schools, to the detriment of the NHS workforce of tomorrow." But medical students describe a sense of solidarity with staff. Chris Smith, a final year medical student at Southampton University and co-chair of the BMA's Medical Students Committee, says: "We've heard stories up and down the country of medical school staff leaving and not being replaced. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the academics: we don't want to see anyone forced into taking a pay cut, and, if we lose academics, medical students will be the ones that lose out." ### Peer reviewed? No Evidence type: Investigation Subjects: UK medical schools The head of the Romanian Gendarmerie, Bogdan Enescu, has been indicted by the prosecutors of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) in a case in which he is accused of usurping his position, DNA reported on Thursday. According to a DNA release sent to AGERPRES, the military prosecutors with the National Anticorruption Directorate - the Service for carrying out criminal prosecution in cases related to corruption offenses committed by the military staff ordered the criminal investigation against Bogdan Enescu, colonel at the date of the deeds and at present inspector general of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Gendarmerie, for committing the crime of usurpation of civil servant office and against Constantin Florea, brigadier general, at the time of the deeds general inspector of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Gendarmerie and currently Chief Inspector of the Dolj County Gendarmerie Inspectorate, for the same crime (3 material documents). In the same case, Ionut-Catalin Sindile is also prosecuted, colonel in reserve, at the date of the deeds general inspector of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Gendarmerie, former commander of the "Mihai Viteazul" Application School for Officers of the Romanian Gendarmerie, for committing the crime of usurping his civil servant position. The prosecutors note in the ordinances that the three allegedly collected, during 2020, money rights in the total amount of 79,852 lei representing overtime, without any legal justification based on any provision of the hierarchical superior and without any reason to justify the operative of unforeseen character of the activities unfolded. AGERPRES . Ahead of his virtual talks with Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he looked forward to jointly reviewing their bilateral relations comprehensively, and that the two countries must explore ways to further enhance their cooperation in the post-COVID era. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he is looking forward to jointly review the bilateral partnership comprehensively with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa during the virtual bilateral summit between the two leaders on September 26.Responding to a tweet posted by Rajapaksa, the Prime Minister said that the two countries should explore ways to further strengthen cooperation in the post-COVID era. Thank you, @PresRajapaksa! I too look forward to jointly reviewing our bilateral relationship comprehensively. We must explore ways to further enhance our cooperation in the post-COVID era, PM Modi said in a tweet.On Wednesday, Rajapaksa said that various sectors including economics, defence, tourism and other areas of mutual interest are expected to be reviewed during the virtual summit. Looking forward to interacting with PM @narendramodi at the virtual summit scheduled for September 26. We expect to review the multifaceted bilateral relationship between our nations, ranging from politics, economics, defence, tourism and other areas of mutual interest, he wrote. ALSO READ: SC issues notice on Facebook India VPs plea against Delhi panels notice Thank you, @PresRajapaksa! I too look forward to jointly reviewing our bilateral relationship comprehensively. We must explore ways to further enhance our cooperation in the post-COVID era. https://t.co/GshcGvma8q Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 24, 2020 The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Wednesday, The summit will give the opportunity to two leaders to comprehensively review the broad framework of the bilateral relationship soon after parliamentary polls in Sri Lanka and in context of time-tested friendly ties.The virtual summit is the first official interaction between the leaders after they met in New Delhi in February this year. Last week, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had telephoned and conveyed their birthday wishes to PM Modi and expressed strong desire and commitment to further strengthen the relationship between the two neighbouring countries.The Prime Minister had thanked both the leaders for their warm wishes and conveyed that he is looking forward to work with them to further expand cooperation between the two countries in line with Indias Neighbourhood First Policy. ALSO READ: Only 60 districts in 7 states are a cause of worry says, PM Modi at Covid-19 review meet Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met with Indian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Partha Satpathy on Thursday, September 24. The parties discussed issues of bilateral cooperation in the field of trade and economic cooperation, education and healthcare sectors, the Government portal reports. According to the Ukrainian prime minister, an important factor in the development of economic cooperation is the Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Indian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation. "We are ready for cooperation with Indian partners to hold the seventh meeting of the Commission in online format or immediately after the pandemic situation normalizes," said Shmyhal. The prime minister also noted the potential for trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and India, which needs to be developed. In particular, in his opinion, cooperation in the aviation and space sectors is promising. Denys Shmyhal also stressed that India remains one of Ukraine's main trading partners in the agro-industrial complex. "Following the results of last year, India was second among the largest importers of Ukrainian agricultural products. Therefore, we are ready for further cooperation in the agricultural sector in order to increase exports of agricultural and food products to India, said the prime minister. During the meeting, Shmyhal invited Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to pay an official visit to Kyiv. iy Those of us fortunate to have witnessed a presidential inauguration can appreciate the wonderment of a peaceful transfer of power that defines the strength and durability of the republic our founding fathers conceived. I was there on a the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on a chilly day in Jan. 20, 1981, when President Jimmy Carter ceded the reins to Ronald Reagan. The moment had the added bonus of word rippling through the crowd that the American hostages had just been released from Iran. The mantra that was heard throughout the day: We can never take this for granted. This is what makes the great American experiment so special. Now more than ever, we cant take it for granted. President Trump said as much Wednesday when, in response to a reporters question, he refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power after the November election. Were going to see what happens, Trump replied, adding, Get rid of the ballots and youll have a very peaceful there wont be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation. Earlier in the day, Trump openly suggested that the Senate must act quickly to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with his appointee, of course with the prospect that the high court may need to resolve disputes over the election results. Were going to see what happens. Americans have been forewarned. This election cant be close or democracy itself may be at risk. What were saying in editorials Leadership that matters: Californias unrelenting housing crisis needs strong leadership more than ever. Wildfires, a viral pandemic and staggering jobless rates are all compounding the problem. San Francisco voters have a clear choice in providing needed direction by re-electing state Sen. Scott Wiener. Our editorial No on Proposition 20: State voters and public officials have wisely shown an ability with a succession of progressive measures to see through the scare tactics that drove escalation of sentences and construction of new prisons. This is no time to turn back the clock. Our editorial Yes on Proposition 25: One of the clear injustices of Californias court system is that suspects not convicted but accused are stuck in jail awaiting trial because they could not afford bail. This upends the very American ideal of innocent until proved guilty. Our editorial No time to let up: Improving coronavirus case counts could allow Riverside County to reopen some businesses as soon as Tuesday under Gov. Gavin Newsoms second, more cautious attempt at resuming economic activity. But thats not enough for at least one county supervisor. Our editorial Send her to Sacramento, please: Ann Ravel has shown her willingness to blow up boxes. We have seen it in her performance as a campaign-finance warrior as chair of the state Fair Political Practices Commission (appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown) and then as the accept-no-dysfunction vocal contrarian on the deadlocked Federal Election Commission. She gets our endorsement over Santa Clara Supervisor Dave Cortese. Our editorial Guest opinions Art Agnos: UCSFs plan for the expansion of its Parnassus campus is expensive, deeply flawed, and again violates its long-standing promises not to expand its Parnassus campus. Read his piece A history lesson: 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. Read the piece by UC history professor Gregory Downs Letter of the Week Mona Palacios of Oakland was among many readers who offered poignant and pointed responses to the passes of an American hero: The loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg strikes deeply and personally. She was a miracle and leaves an indelible mark on the United States of America and beyond. While at first I was bereft, I remember that she is a miracle, so even her death can lead to something miraculous. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, on the other hand, is already showing hypocrisy to be his first and foremost political trait. How can he, with a straight face, say that he will confirm a Trump Supreme Court nominee with the election less than a month and a half away? Four years ago he emphatically stated the Senate would not consider an Obama nominee using exactly the same reasoning. RBG = miracle. McConnell = hypocrisy And please check out our other letters of the day responding to this and other matters. You can send us a letter via this form. Where to follow us We have a Twitter channel, Opinion Central (@sfc_opinions). Please add it to your stream. Youll catch our editorials and opinion pieces, as well as our drive-by comments on assorted subjects in the news. Follow me on Twitter: @JohnDiazChron Just a reminder The Chronicles editorials represent the collective judgment of our Editorial Board, which includes the publisher as well as the writers and editors from the opinion team. Our editors and reporters on the news side are not involved in those decisions (including election endorsements). They are charged with reporting fairly and objectively without regard to our editorial positions. It is one of the core values here at Fifth and Mission streets. Opinion Central is a thrice-weekly newsletter from John Diaz, The Chronicles editorial page editor, and the rest of the Editorial Board. Follow along on Twitter: @sfc_opinions External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar raised the issue of cross-border terrorism at a virtual gathering of SAARC Council of Ministers on September 24. Jaishankar said that though the regional grouping has made significant progress over the last 35 years, the collective effort towards prosperity has been hampered by terrorism and national security threats. Jaishankar reaffirmed Indias commitment to Neighbourhood First policy and towards building a connected, integrated, secure and prosperous South Asia. He told the informal meeting that acts of terrorism obstruct the shared objective of realising the full potential of collective endeavour, highlighting the importance of collective resolve to defeat the scourge of terrorism. This will generate the much needed trust and confidence to collectively build a stronger and prosperous #SAARC. - EAM @DrSJaishankar Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) September 24, 2020 The South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation was founded in 1985 with an aim to promote economic development and regional integration but Pakistans complicity in cross-border terrorism has often worked as an impediment in the smooth functioning of the group. Jaishankar said that SAARC must overcome the challenges of cross-border terrorism, trade obstruction and connectivity issue. Read: MEA Jaishankar Says Africa's Rise Is 'desirable & Necessary' For India Read: EAM Jaishankar Praises 'progressing Defence, Security Aspects' Of India-Japan Ties COVID cooperation The External Affairs Minister highlighted Indias COVID-19 cooperation efforts as it has committed $10 million to COVID-19 Emergency Fund created for the region. He informed the ministers gathering that India has already supplied essential drugs, medical consumables, COVID-19 protection and testing kits to the region. Jaishankar emphasised Indias support to SAARC neighbours under which it has extended $150 million foreign currency swap support to the Maldives and $200 million to Bhutan. He also recognised the progress on South Asian satellite and extension of National Knowledge Network. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual meeting with the heads of SAARC nations to formulate a strong strategy in order to fight against the novel coronavirus. He also held separate telephonic conversations with most of the SAARC leaders to discuss the pandemic situation expressed solidarity with the neighbouring countries in the fight against COVID-19. Read: MEA Jaishankar Discusses Afghan Peace Process With US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad Read: Chinese Envoy Hails Jaishankar-Wang Consensus As 'political Impetus' To Ease LAC Situation Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 19:11:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The logo of TikTok is seen on a smartphone screen in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, Aug. 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The TikTok case reveals that the essence of "America First" is hegemony and power politics. An optimal deal, from the perspective of the U.S. side, is one that gives the United States control over TikTok's equity, personnel, core technology, with an essentially "unequal treaty" that defies market discipline and features forced transactions. International commentators and scholars have used similar words -- robbery, extortion and heisting -- to describe the nature of the U.S. coercion over TikTok. BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government recently coerced ByteDance to sell video-sharing app TikTok's U.S. business to American companies, repeating its old trick of seizing high-tech enterprises by abusing state power. Media and experts pointed out that the United States used the pretext of national security to carry out coercive transactions, which has seriously undermined market principles and international rules, and exposed its unabashed hegemony, setting a bad precedent in the international community. Photo taken on Aug. 10, 2020 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) POLITICIZATION OF BUSINESS In recent months, the U.S. government threatened to shut down TikTok's operations in the United States, and then forced it to sell itself to American companies. International commentators and scholars have used similar words -- robbery, extortion and heisting -- to describe the nature of the U.S. coercion over TikTok. The Australian Financial Review published an article, saying that the U.S. acts have politicized the business issue, and mingled national security together with personal political interests. The analysts said that in the battle over TikTok, the U.S. administration set a precedent of creating an unstable playing field for companies doing business in the country. Actually, the United States has repeatedly suppressed foreign enterprises that challenged its leading position, even those in allied countries. In the 1980s, the United States suppressed Japan's semiconductor industry represented by Toshiba by similar means. A few years ago, the United States used "long-arm jurisdiction" to dismember France's manufacturing conglomerate Alstom, which eventually led to the acquisition of its major business by its U.S. rival General Electric Company. 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) In recent years, the United States has also targeted other leading companies in the fields of communications and the Internet. Travel site Expedia and digital media group IAC chairman Barry Diller told CNBC that the TikTok deal is a "crock" and has become a "political mishmash." "Once you start tossing this grenade about protectionism ... it's inevitable that race just keeps going up and up and prevents natural commerce," Diller added. ECONOMIC PLUNDER The United States has been touting the principles of market economy and fair competition, but it can be seen from the TikTok case that its self-interest is the sole U.S. concern and its only one means of competition is robbery. An optimal deal, from the perspective of the U.S. side, is one that gives the United States control over TikTok's equity, personnel, core technology, with an essentially "unequal treaty" that defies market discipline and features forced transactions. The Wall Street Journal pointed out that the deal promoted by the U.S. government exudes the stink of "crony capitalism," which will damage the credibility of the U.S. government and its image as a self-proclaimed supporter of free market rules. Brazil's Valor Economico newspaper also said that the United States is putting its own interests above market principles. U.S. national flags are blown by gusts of wind in front of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, the United States, April 13, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) HEGEMONY FIRST The TikTok case reveals that the essence of "America First" is hegemony and power politics. For a long time, with advantages in the political, military, and economic fields, the United States has been expanding its hegemony globally. It plays the cards of human rights and democracy, uses national security as an excuse, and even resorts to ideological confrontation to suppress and curb other countries' legitimate rights of development and independent choices, with the fundamental aim to maintain hegemony and interests in super-monopoly. Eduardo Regalado, a researcher at the International Policy Research Center in Havana, pointed out that TikTok is not the only victim, and the U.S. government is attempting to push for U.S. economic hegemony by also suppressing companies in other countries. The signal sent by the U.S. side shows its attempt to control the Internet to the greatest extent to ensure U.S. hegemony over the Internet and social media, said Brazil's Monitor Mercantil newspaper. Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, director of Asia Study Center of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, told Xinhua that on the issue of internet security, the U.S. government has used unscrupulous means to steal information from other countries for many years, and even tapped the phones of allied leaders. From time to time, U.S. technology giants have faced scandals of collecting and selling user information, so the U.S. national security argument has complete double standards. The local murder count continues to escalate amid civil unrest and protest against police. This morning we wake to the latest murder in one of the most violent years on record. To wit . . . KANSAS CITY NOW STANDS ONLY 9 MURDERS AWAY FROM BREAKING AN ALL-TIME HOMICIDE RECORD!!! In 1993 a nationwide gang war over drug distribution territory spiked the KCMO count to an all-time high of 153 homicides in a singe year. Now, in 2020, the pandemic lock down and political divisions along with continued local feuding betwixt rival Mexican cartel operatives have spiked the murder count. Check the links: KCTV5: Fatal shooting early Thursday morning in KCMO KSHB: One person shot, killed at 59th and Agnes in KCMO Fox4: Woman shot and killed at Kansas City home near 60th and Agnes, police say Police report that a male suspect is now in custody following the deadly gunfire. Developing . . . Amid simmering tension between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the saffron party over the farm legislations brought in by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government at the Centre, senior Akali leader and Dakha MLA Manpreet Ayali said on Thursday that it was time for both parties to part ways. Stating that the BJP was trying to destroy the farmers, Ayali said, I am a farmer and farmers come first for me. If the BJP is adamant on destroying the farmers, the SAD should part ways with it. I was the one who said two months ago that Harsimrat Badal should resign from the Union cabinet. I have made my stand clear to the higher ups. The SAD has been facing the heat of opposition parties, including the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), over its stand on the issue. They said that Badal was befooling the farmers by resigning from the cabinet as her party still stood with the BJP. SAD core committee member and senior leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal said that the partys leaders have their own views and are free to express themselves. But the decision will be taken only by the core committee. The feedback of leaders and party workers will be considered before taking the final decision, said Grewal. Siemens Energy has been awarded a contract by the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity for a turnkey 400- kilovolt (kV) substation located about 20 km away from Ramadi city. The new substation will connect up to 750 Megavolt Amperes (MVA) to the national grid, helping decrease bottlenecks and transmission losses, said a statement from Siemens. The construction on the Al Hamudhia station has already started and is scheduled for completion in July 2022. Once operational, it will provide reliable and efficient power supply to the cities of Ramadi, Fallujah, Saqlawyah, Khalediyah and surrounding areas in Al Anbar Governorate, North West of Baghdad. The new project will support greater grid connectivity and allow for higher utilization of the Al Anbar power plants generated power, supporting anticipated energy demand growth of 10% annually, said top government official. A top priority for the new government of Iraq is rebuilding the countrys power infrastructure, remarked Ammar Mohammed Kadhim, General Director of Planning and Studies Department, Iraqi Ministry of Electricity and the Head of the Japanese loan team IQP22 projects at the Ministry, which are being financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). "Upgrading and strengthening the Iraqi power grid is crucial to this ambitious plan, which will ultimately support Iraqs economic, industrial and infrastructure development. Were already working on comprehensive grid projects across the country in collaboration with international partners, like Siemens, to deploy the most reliable and advanced technologies," he noted. The new substation will support in providing reliable power to the homes and industries in the governorate of Al Anbar, said Mahmoud Hanafy, Senior Vice President, Transmission Solutions at Siemens Energy, Middle East. Part of the JICAs projects in Iraq, the 400-kV Al Hamudhias scope of work includes the design, construction, equipment supply, erection, testing and commissioning and training of personnel. The project will be completed by Siemens Energys engineers in collaboration with specialized local Iraqi subcontractors, stated Hanafy. "Our grid technology enables more reliable, sustainable, efficient and flexible power systems. From transporting electricity from power plants to the distribution stations, all the way to the citizens, our ability to optimize flexibility and efficiency will contribute to boosting the transmission infrastructure of Iraq," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Mr. Tatum also claims that Ms. Taylor was knee deep in criminal/drug dealing activities with her ex-boyfriend. This claim is exaggerated at best. Ms. Taylors ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, was a convicted drug dealer and had been in and out of jail during the four years that they dated, but its unclear if Ms. Taylor was involved in his criminal activity. In 2016, she was interrogated alongside him by police officers after she rented a car, lent it to Mr. Glover and he in turn handed the keys to another suspected drug dealer, who was found dead in the car hours later. But police then concluded that Ms. Taylor had no foreknowledge of how the rental car would be used, and she had no criminal convictions of her own. In his The Truth About Breonna Taylor video, Mr. Kirk claims that Louisville police had a no-knock warrant to go arrest Breonna Taylor. This is false. Police had a search warrant for her apartment, not an arrest warrant. Left-wing sources have also spread false information about Ms. Taylors death, such as the claim that she was asleep in bed at the time of her death. (She was in the hallway with Mr. Walker walking toward the front door, according to his account to investigators, having been woken up by the loud knocks on her door.) But the right-wing misinformation is more ambitious, in that it seeks to reframe the Black Lives Matter movement entirely, drawing attention away from police officers actions and onto the personal lives of Ms. Taylor and other victims of police shootings. In this, it is similar to Mr. Molyneuxs videos, which sought to justify the killings of unarmed Black men by painting them as criminals whose actions played a role in their own deaths. This is a case that comes down to personal responsibility, Ms. Owens said of Ms. Taylors killing, in a video posted Wednesday that got more than a million views on Facebook. Rukmini Callimachi contributed reporting. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) must overcome three key challenges of cross-border terrorism, blocking of connectivity and obstruction in trade, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday in a clear criticism of Pakistan at a virtual meeting of the regional grouping. In his address at the SAARC foreign ministers informal meeting, Jaishankar also called for a collectively resolve to defeat the scourge of terrorism, including the forces that nurture, support and encourage it. Jaishankar reaffirmed India's commitment to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and towards building a connected, integrated and prosperous South Asia. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was among the participants of the meeting which was organised in continuation of a tradition of informal exchanges among the foreign ministers of the grouping on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Emphasised Indias support for our #SAARC neighbours: Extended USD 150 million foreign currency swap support to Maldives Currency swap support of USD 200 million to Bhutan USD 400 million to Sri Lanka during the course of this year. Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 24, 2020 The 75th session of the UN General Assembly is currently underway. The external affairs minister said SAARC has made significant progress over the last 35 years but the efforts towards collective collaboration and prosperity have been hampered by acts of terrorism and threats to national security. "Such an environment impedes our shared objective of realising the full potential of our collective endeavour. It is therefore crucial that we collectively resolve to defeat the scourge of terrorism, including the forces that nurture, support and encourage it," he was quoted as saying by MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in a series of tweets. Jaishankar said such an approach will generate the much-needed trust and confidence to collectively build a stronger and prosperous SAARC. Besides India and Pakistan, the grouping comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. "Addressed the #SAARC Foreign Ministers Informal Meeting today. Reaffirmed India's commitment to Neighbourhood First policy and towards building a connected, integrated, secure and prosperous South Asia," Jaishankar tweeted. "Cross-border terrorism, blocking connectivity and obstructing trade are three key challenges that SAARC must overcome. Only then will we see enduring peace, prosperity and security in our South Asia region," he added. Pakistan had blocked a key connectivity initiative under SAARC framework six years back besides obstructing trade among the member nations. SAARC has not been very effective since 2016 as its bienniall summits have not taken place since the last one in Kathmandu in 2014. The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances". The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet. The external affairs minister also participated in the 'special ministerial meeting' of foreign ministers of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The CICA is an inter-governmental forum to boost cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. It has 27 countries as its members. "Underlined India's commitment to a pluralistic cooperative security order in Asia through CICA. This is needed more than ever before," Jaishankar tweeted. In the virtual meeting, Jaishankar also called for greater collective efforts to counter terrorism and its sponsors. "Reaffirmed India's support for Afghan peace process that respects its national sovereignty & territorial integrity and preserves its democratic progress," he added. (With inputs from PTI) The grieving stepmum of a young father fatally stabbed on the Gold Coast has recalled their heartbreaking final conversation. Raymond Harris, 27, was stabbed in the torso with what police described as a 'Rambo knife' during an altercation between two groups of men in Surfers Paradise on Wednesday night. The father-of-four concreter was rushed to hospital where he died a short time later, hours before his eldest son's birthday. Jye Sebastian Webb-Italia, 18, and Jarod James Miller, 21, have been charged with murder. Stepmother Katherine Harris was shocked to hear about the death of her husband's son. The couple last spoke to Raymond a few weeks prior. Raymond Harris (pictured), 27, was allegedly stabbed to death during a fight with a number of men that were known to him on Cavill Avenue near Orchid Avenue in Surfers Paradise at 9pm on Wednesday 'He told us he loved us both and we told him we loved him even more,' Ms Harris told NCA Newswire. 'I can't believe he is gone.' She remembered Raymond as a devoted dad who wanted to spend as much time with his children as possible. 'He said to us a few weeks ago he wanted to be a strong man and be there for his kids,' she said. Her husband only recently reconciled with his son after the pair fell out over a work issue. 'It's hard, because you think they will always be there,' Ms Harris said. Jarod James Miller (left) is a father of a young daughter and has facial tattoos on each side of his face while Jye Sebastian Webb-Italia's family is 'shocked' he is charged with murder Raymond's shattered friends posted heartbreaking tributes on social media. 'I love you my brother! I miss you so much!! I can't believe I will never see you again you were my only friend and true Brother,' Bradley O'Neill wrote. 'You will always be in my heart. I will miss all our fun times and things we would get up too. 'When I was depressed you would make sure to come see me and try to always make them better 'I hope your finally at rest brother. I will see you soon brother! I know your always walk with me.' Police guard the crime scene after a 27-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death in Surfers Paradise at 9pm on Wednesday The mother of his young daughter also paid tribute, saying that she was 'thankful he came back' into his little's girl's life. 'I'll never be able to handle the fact that my little girl will never get to see her daddy again,' she wrote. 'I'm so thankful that Hannie has you in her life and I'll forever be grateful of the happiness you brung to our daughter and that you loved her endlessly. 'Rest In Peace Raymond, you'll be missed.' Meanwhile, the lawyer of one of the the men accused of murdering father Raymond Harris, 27, has said that his client is 'shocked' by the allegations and has no history of violence. Jarod James Miller (left), 21, and Jye Sebastian Webb-Italia (right), 18, have been charged with one count of murder and three counts of common assault over an alleged stabbing on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night Jye Sebastian Webb-Italia, 18, and Jarod James Miller, 21, were both charged with one count of murder and three counts of common assault. Webb-Italia was represented by TWC Lawyer's Rodney Keyte in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday morning. His face-tattooed friend Miller also appeared in court and made a Legal Aid application. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Mr Keyte said his client and his family were 'in a world of shock'. 'He's obviously in shock as is his family. This is something, I'm instructed, that's never happened before,' he said. 'Jye has obviously taken everything by shock. He's cut off from his family. It's hit him very hard.' Mr Keyte said the police allegations against Webb-Italia are 'very murky'. 'What the police are alleging seems to be very murky,' he said. 'They're going off CCTV footage and the action what they're describing is a slashing motion.' The lawyer confirmed a knife had been found near the scene but said there was no proof that it was the murder weapon. 'A knife has been found within the vicinity of the deceased, it hasn't been confirmed that it was the murder weapon or even involved in the incident at all,' Mr Keyte said. Webb-Italia appeared in court on Thursday morning and his case was adjourned until October 15. The 18-year-old's co-accused Miller also appeared in court and will face court via videolink on October 15, unless he gets legal representation before then. Miller is a father of a young daughter and has facial tattoos on each side of his face. The tattoo on his right cheek says 'Stay true. BR. Laugh with many. Trust none', while the left cheek reads 'Damaged. No regrets'. He also has a number of tattoos on his arms and legs, including a number of skulls on his left leg and an anarchy symbol on his left knee. Raymond Harris was a concreter and devoted father-of-four who loved his kids 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. Pictures from the crime scene show blood stains, litter and clothes on the ground. It's understood children witnessed the alleged assault and stabbing. '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. 'I fear for mine and my partners life EVERY TIME we leave the house.... I can't wait to leave,' she wrote. Two alleged stabbings have occurred around Orchard Avenue (pictured) in Surfers Paradise in the past 24 hours Police are still looking for two other men who could possibly assist with inquiries. They're fed up with 'young idiots' carrying knives and acting like they're playing were in a video game. 'This is just a group of young idiots,'Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith told reporters 'I can't stress it enough, I could use some more colourful language but it wouldn't hit their air, they're just complete idiots.' He said it was not a gang-related crime and he urged any one filming the brawl, which could have been dozens of people, to give their footage to police. Det Supt Smith alleged after Mr Harris was killed, the attackers went to a nearby bar and allegedly assaulted the victim's friends. Two other men in their group were also arrested but were later released by police without charge. Pictures from the crime scene show blood stains, litter and clothes on the ground, which may have been where the injured man was treated Police have vowed to come down hard on anyone caught with knives. 'It's that mindset, they honestly think that it's Grand Theft Auto (where) you get a reset button,' Det Supt Smith said. 'Well it doesn't happen; there's two consequences of this: death or jail. 'There's no other outcome, it's not cool.' The incident was 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 Cavill 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. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohios presidential race is tight, Gov. Mike DeWine maintains wide support on his coronavirus response, and reaction to racial justice protests is divided sharply along partisan lines, according to new statewide polling released Thursday. The Baldwin Wallace University Great Lakes Poll, conducted in partnership with Ohio Northern University in Ada and Oakland University near Detroit, offers a snapshot of voter sentiment just ahead of the first presidential debate next week in Cleveland. Conducted from Sept. 8 through Tuesday, the poll focused on four states that were key to Donald Trumps victory in 2016. It found Democratic challenger Joe Biden with substantial leads over Trump in Michigan and Wisconsin, and up slightly in Ohio and Pennsylvania, though within the margin of error for the latter two states. Biden leads by 9.3 points in Wisconsin (50.3% to 41%), 8 points in Michigan (49.9% to 41.9%), 2.7 points in Pennsylvania (47.3% to 44.6%) and by less than a point in Ohio (44.9% to 44.3%). September polling suggests Joe Biden holds a narrow lead over Donald Trump in Ohio, though the difference is within the poll's margin of error.Rich Exner, cleveland.com About 1,000 likely voters were interviewed in each state. The poll has margins-of-error ranging from 3.3% plus or minus in Ohio to 3.7% in Wisconsin for the statewide results, higher for findings for sub groups such as the thoughts among Democrats and Republicans. Self-identified independents are breaking toward Biden in Ohio, the polling indicated, with 38.9% favoring Biden and 33.4% favoring Trump, though close to a fifth of the independents said they remained undecided. The tight race in Ohio should concern Republicans, said Lauren Copeland, associate director of Baldwin Wallaces Community Research Institute. "Having to expend resources in a state that was once considered a safe state for Trump means having fewer resources to deploy in other competitive states such as Pennsylvania. Beyond the voting preference in the presidential election, the poll dug into a variety of topics to paint a revealing picture of the electorate. Pandemic leadership? Score a win for Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine when it comes to his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Close to 3-in-4 Ohioans polled (71.9%) said they approve of DeWines work during the pandemic. DeWine, like Trump, is a Republican, but the support on this issue does not match. Less than half the Ohioans polled (46.1%) said they approve of Trumps handling of the coronavirus. A little more than half (51%) said they dont trust Trump to provide accurate COVID-19 information, in comparison to 19.6% who dont trust DeWine. However, DeWines support on this issue has slipped some. An April Great Lakes Poll found 85% supported DeWines handling of the coronavirus crisis then, well above Trumps 50.3% on the same question at the time. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's handling of coronavirus is running above that of Donald Trump in Ohio, according to September polling statewide.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Are face masks political? One might think by the some of the harsh rhetoric in the Statehouse - and the boos Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted received during a Trump rally near Dayton Monday when he encouraged the use of masks - that many Ohioans are opposed to wearing them. But actually theres strong support for it, the polling found. Overall, 3-in-4 Ohioans (78.4%) approve of DeWines decision to require face masks, with landslide-like support coming from Democrats (89.5%), Republicans (64.7%) and independents (83.3%). Strongly disapproving were just 11.2% overall - 4.5% of the Democrats, 18.4% of the Republicans and 9.9% of the independents. Yet nearly a fifth of Ohioans (19.3%) said they would not get a vaccine when it becomes available - 14.5% of Democrats, 23.4% of Republicans and 20.5%. Majorities of Ohio Republicans, independents and Democrats each support Ohio's mask mandate, though the support is softest among Republicans.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Fallout from the protests? Illustrating the countrys divide, the poll found wide partisan divisions in reaction to the demonstrations against police violence following the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. Although slight majorities of respondents support Black Lives Matter and the need for better understanding of the challenges facing rural whites, support for each of these issues correlates to some degree with party affiliation, said Tom Sutton, director of BWs Community Research Institute. Trump appealed in 2016 to rural voters who felt ignored by the political establishment. Overall in Ohio, the result of the demonstrations is nearly split, with 28.7% saying demonstrations making them more likely to vote for Biden and 27.1% for Trump. Among Republicans, 54.4% said they were more likely to vote for Trump because of the protest; 3.7% for Biden. Among Democrats, as a result of this issue, 58.5% said they were more likely to vote for Biden; 4.5% for Trump. And among Ohio independents, it was 22.2% for Biden and 17.8% for Trump. As for the Black Lives Matter movement in general, support among Democrats (82.8%) is running more than triple the support among Republicans (22.7%) in Ohio, with better than half of the independents (54.6%) supporting the movement. A large number of Republicans (69.2%) said they agreed with the statement that society doesnt understand the "challenges faced by whites living in rural communities today. Just 41% of the Democrats agreed with that statement posed by the pollsters. Foreign interference? A majority of both Republicans and Democrats said they believe the use of social media has increased the risk of foreign interference in U.S. elections, with 63.7% of Republicans saying so and 77.1% of Democrats. And a plurality from both parties said they agree with decisions by social media companies to delete or flag what is deemed to be false or misleading information about the presidential election. Among Democrats, 80.7% agreed and 11.9% disagreed; Among Republicans, 47.1% agree and 39.5 disagree. Ohio Democrats and independents favor a popular vote to determine presidential elections; Republicans instead favor the Electoral College.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Do you like the Electoral College? Credit partisan Ohio voters with being up on history. Only once since 1988 has a Republican won the popular vote nationally, that being with the re-election of George W. Bush in 2004. But the Electoral College delivered Bush to the White House in 2000 (while losing the popular vote to Al Gore), and did so for Trump in 2016 (while losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton). Those are the fourth and fifth times in history the popular vote winner lost the election, the others being in 1888 and earlier. Asked whether presidential elections should be decided by the Electoral College or the popular vote, Republicans polled favored the Electoral College, 56.3% to 27.4%, while Democratic voters favored the popular vote, 76% to 10.2%. Once independents were factored in (they also favored the popular vote), the poll found that Ohioans overall favored the popular vote (51.9%) over the Electoral College (32.1%). Mailing it in? Despite Presidents Trumps rhetoric questioning the reliability of mail-in-voting, large numbers of Ohioans still plan to vote early - 41.9% by mail and 8.5% in person ahead of time - in comparison to 46.1% on Election Day. But there is a clear partisan divide on how voters plan to cast their ballots. Among Republicans, 63.3% said they plan to vote in person on Election Day versus 29.6% of the Democrats and 44% of the independents. Threats aside, overwhelming numbers of voters from both parties feel confident that their vote will be counted - 88.2% Democrats and 90.2% of Republicans. Swaying Congress? Though the polling showed Biden with a slight edge over Trump, the preference for a Democrat or Republican in Congress tilted toward the Republicans, 43.7% to 40.6%, among those interviewed in Ohio. In the Buckeye State, however, this is more a measure of overall sentiment than any prediction of an actual election outcome - not a prediction that Ohios congressional delegation will be roughly split after the election. Heavily gerrymandered districts have all but guaranteed the results of every congressional race under the current maps drawn in 2012 - the same 12 districts for Republicans and four for Democrats. This was done by packing large numbers of Democratic voters into the four Democratic-controlled districts, spreading GOP areas out among the other 12 districts. This will be the last election with the current set of maps. The favorable and unfavorable opinions among Ohio voters for presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and running mates Mike Pence and Kamala Harris.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Which candidate do you like? Bidens favorability rating (44.1%) is pretty much the same as Trumps (43.8%) in Ohio, the polling found. On the negative side, more than half of the Ohioans polled (51.6%) said they had an unfavorable view of Trump versus 47.9% for Biden. As for the running mates, Trumps vice president, Mike Pence, scored ratings of 43.3% favorable and 43.9% unfavorable, in comparison to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris running lower, 40% favorable and 45.2% unfavorable. Can we all get along? Close to two-thirds of those polled said politics has strained relationships between family and friends. For this, there was bipartisan agreement on the answer, the pollsters found. Reporting strained relationships were 61.7% of the Republicans, 69.7% of the Democrats and 65.1% of the independents. The scientific poll was conducted online with respondents randomly chosen from a pool of volunteers provided by Qualtrics, a research firm. The survey included quotas for age, education and gender. Age quotas were based on 2016 voting research by the U.S. Census Bureau. Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. See other data-related stories at cleveland.com/datacentral. Read poll coverage Cleveland.com this week will publish a series of stories digging deeper into the findings of this poll. Find those stories, as well as stories from previous BW polls, at this link. See full poll results and polling details (pdf) Previously * April: Ohio likes Mike DeWine much more than Donald Trump; governor gets high marks on coronavirus * March: Ohio voters strongly back coronavirus lifestyle restrictions, and majority support Donald Trumps re-election, poll shows * January: Donald Trump has ground to make up in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin Find all of the most important pandemic education news on Educating N.J., a special resource guide created for parents, students and educators. Kayla Harrell lost her home, her laptop and internet access. Josephine Senek lost her therapy sessions, her one-on-one aide and the academic and social structure at the center of her life as a child with autism. And Rayahn Alston lost three months of education, learning nothing after the Paterson schools closed and he was given worksheets filled with lessons he already learned. They are among the thousands of underprivileged and special needs students in New Jersey who were left behind when schools shifted to virtual learning thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. More than 1 million New Jersey students were sent home in March for an unprecedented experiment with remote learning. What followed was a heartbreaking, system-wide failure that disproportionately affected many of the states most vulnerable students. NJ Advance Media interviewed more than 50 parents, students, educators and experts to tell the definitive story of an unfinished school year one with lasting consequences for the students who need schools the most. They are now starting off the school year with almost four months of learning missing and expecting teachers are going to be able to integrate that, said Jennifer Rosen Valverde, an attorney who represents low-income families with students in special education. That is crazy. Taken together, our four-part series is a plainly devastating consideration of a still-unfolding tragedy. Part One: The Kids Left Behind Minimum guidance from federal officials, indecision from Gov. Phil Murphys administration and inadequate local preparation resulted in some students learning nothing. The state set low standards for remote instruction in March and balked at funding computers for low-income students, advocates say. I feel like this was an epic fail, said LaToya Sylvester, a mother of nine who became homeless during the pandemic. They are suffering because of a situation that could have been handled better. The system this time has truly let them down. Part Two: The Breaking Point N.J.'s special education system buckled under the weight of the pandemic, jeopardizing the health, development and education of children with severe physical and cognitive disabilities. Many students with special needs struggled academically and went weeks, if not months, without legally mandated services, such as physical and occupational therapy. Some special education students could need years to recover from the three months of school they missed, experts said. Part Three: The Digital Divide An estimated 350,000 students went home without either a computer or internet access in March, laying bare the dramatic inequity in remote education across the state. Low-income students were forced to complete packets of review work, share one computer with multiple siblings or park outside of schools just to connect to the internet. I think the whole thing was a damn mess, said Yvette Alston-Johnson, a grandmother of 11 students in Paterson Public Schools. I just think they were so ill-prepared. I think all urban schools were ill-prepared. Part Four: Starting Over Students hurt most during the spring now face the biggest challenge making up for lost time, while many of their schools remain closed. Some research suggests low-income students have already lost the equivalent of nine months of learning during the pandemic. Can they catch up before its too late? Keep up with the latest in N.J. schools coverage. Sign up your email here: Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here. Police respond to a carjacking that left one victim dead in Anaheim, Calif., on Sept. 22, 2020. (Courtesy of the Anaheim Police Department) Mechanic Killed When Carjackers Run Him Over With His Own Van The Anaheim Police Department charged two suspects with murder after they allegedly killed a mechanic by running him over with his own work van on Sept. 22. Jose DeJesus Berrelleza was jockeying cars in the driveway of his fiances home on the 100 block of South Melinda Circle in Anaheim, California, at around 6:20 a.m. when he noticed someone inside his van, police say. Sgt. Shane Carringer told The Epoch Times that Berrelleza was preparing his van for the work day when the incident occurred. He had pulled the van out of the driveway and went to pull another car in when he noticed the suspect inside. The windowless cargo van was loaded with the tools of his trade, according to police. Berrelleza, 33, confronted the suspect. After a brief altercation, the suspect sped away in the van with Berrelleza still inside. The victim fell from the fleeing vehicle, which then ran him over and killed him on the scene. Police believe Berrelleza, a Santa Ana resident who left behind an 8-year-old daughter, attempted to stop the thieves to prevent the loss of his livelihood, according to a press release. Following a short investigation, police located the van in Anaheim and identified three suspects. They were all arrested. Police identified two suspects as 28-year-old Omar Sanchez and 21-year-old Yesenia Escareno. Both are from Anaheim, and each have been charged with murder, carjacking, and receiving stolen property. Our suspicion is that Yesenia and Omar were out basically casinglooking for any crime of opportunity to commit any theft. And thats when they saw Joses van, Carringer told The Epoch Times. Were not exactly sure on the exact physical dynamics yet of what led to Jose being run over. The third suspect, Adriana Gomez, 29, also of Anaheim, has been charged with being an accessory to the crime due to her attempt to assist Omar in the recovery of the stolen property out of the van and the movement of the van, Carringer said. Carringer said the unexpected incident took place in a residential neighborhood normally known to be tranquil. I worked this area for eight years. And in [all] eight, Ive never even been on this street for a crime. Its very quiet, Carringer said. Singapore announces further easing of COVID-19 restrictions Photo courtesy: Jason Goh on Pixabay The Singapore government has announced a further easing of restrictions imposed to control the COVID-19 pandemic. As the number of community cases has remained low, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce will ease measures to facilitate business operations, by supporting essential business travel, and enabling more employees to return to the workplace, said a news release by the Ministry of Health. As the number of community cases has remained low, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce will ease measures to facilitate business operations, by supporting essential business travel, and enabling more employees to return to the workplace. https://t.co/rIEpe0nsSY Ministry of Health (@sporeMOH) September 23, 2020 The Multi-Ministry Taskforce has decided to create a new business travel pass for senior executives in Singapore with regional or international responsibilities who need to travel regularly for official and business purposes. Those holding this pass will be required to abide by a strict controlled itinerary when they travel overseas for work and upon return, will be given the option of doing a COVID-19 test in lieu of Stay-Home Notice (SHN) and self-isolate until the COVID-19 test results are out. The Ministry of Manpower is allowing more employees to return to work as of September 28, though it has been emphasised that working from home remains the default mode of working. We will allow more employees (presently working from home) to return to the workplaces. But employers must ensure that (i) such employees continue to work from home for at least half their working time, and (ii) no more than half of such employees are at the workplace at any point in time, said the news release. Employers have been asked to minimise crowding and congregation at common spaces, including on public transport with measures such as flexible workplace hours, further staggering of reporting times, and split team or shift arrangements with each team restricted to one worksite where possible. The government has also allowed the resumption of work-related events within the workplace premises that are business-oriented (such as conferences, seminars, corporate retreats, Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings), for up to 50 persons (or lower depending on venue capacity based on safe management principles). Employers must not organise or encourage larger scale social gatherings within or outside the workplace such as parties, celebrations, team bonding activities, dinner-and-dance (D&D), and gala dinners, the statement added. Religious congregations and wedding ceremonies Starting October 3, religious organisations will be allowed to conduct congregational and other worship services for up to 100 persons, subject to safe distancing and safe management measures in place. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) is also considering a pilot to increase worship limits up to 250 persons (five zones of 50 persons for congregational services), said the release. Also from October 3, wedding receptions will be allowed up to 100 unique attendees (including the wedding couple, excluding vendors and service providers) in total, subject to premises capacity. 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, said the news release. The cap for marriage solemnisations has also been increased to 100 persons, split across multiple zones of up to 50 persons each. Cinema halls From October 1, large cinema halls (with more than 300 seats) will be allowed to have up to three zones of up to 50 patrons each. Other cinema halls would also be permitted to increase their capacity to 50% of their original operating capacity, or maintain the current limit of up to 50 patrons per hall, subject to the relevant safe management measures, read the statement. The Ministry of Health has also raised the age for children to wear masks from the current 2 years old to 6 years old and above. The current guidelines also permit children 12 years old and below to use a face shield instead of a mask. Organic farmers are writing to MPs to express their concerns in the event of the UK not securing mutual equivalence with EU organic standards. UK organic food exports face an 'outright ban' if equivalence is not agreed in a Brexit deal with the EU, organic groups recently warned. The NFU is now encouraging farmers and growers to talk to their MP so they understand what it at stake for British organic businesses. At the end of December 2020, the UK will leave the transition period and the terms on which food and drink are traded will change. Unless equivalence for UK organic standards is secured as part of the UK-EU negotiations, British organic products will not legally be able to be sold as organic in the EU or Northern Ireland, due to its status as part of the EUs regulatory regime. UK organic products would have to be sold in the EU as conventional and would subsequently lose its premium market value. Omsco, the UK's largest organic dairy co-operative, said the sector needed an 'urgent resolution' to the situation. Managing Director, Richard Hampton said: Access to the European market is vital not just because of the growth opportunities, but also because our spread of markets and products allows us to deliver the flexibility and availability to our UK customers. "The loss of these markets will damage efficiencies, reduce flexibility and increase costs at a precarious economic time." According to the NFU, the best outcome for the sector would be to secure mutual recognition of the UK and EU organic regulations in the form of an equivalence agreement. The UKs organic regulation already meets all the requirements of the current EU organic regulation, which should make negotiations in this area straightforward. But without mutual recognition, the NFU warned that around 80% of UK organic farmers would face needing to comply with two organic regulations - the current EU regulations and the new organic regulations being enforced across the EU in 2022. This would lead to significant additional costs and regulatory burden onto British farmers and growers, the union added. Roger Kerr, Chairman of the UK Organic Certifiers Group (UKOCG), said producers faced overnight exclusion from the EU market if a mutual recognition agreement between the UK and EU was not achieved before the deadline. "Securing mutual agreement between the UK and the EU in relation to organic certification must be a priority for the negotiators, he said. Figures show that global sales of organic products are approaching 100 billion, and the UK is the worlds 9th largest organic market. Sales also increased during lockdown, with the sector on track to hit the 2.6bn mark by the end of the year exceeding the 2.5bn originally projected, according to the Soil Association. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.17 By Zhale Qasimova - Trend: Azerbaijan transported 43,000 tons of oil to Ukrainian refineries during the first eight months of 2020, Trend reports citing the Ukrtransnafta JSC. The volume of supplied oil in the first eight months of 2020 amounted to 10.3 million tons, which is 8.3 percent more compared to the same period of 2020, said the company. In August 2020, the volume of oil transportation to Ukrainian refineries decreased by 0.9 percent, making up 225,000 tons. Of these, the company transported 117,100 tons of Ukrainian oil to refineries, 43,000 tons - Azerbaijani and 65,400 tons - American (WTI), the company noted. The total volume of oil transported from Azerbaijan to Ukrainian refineries from January through August 2020 reached 1.7 million tons, having increased by 12.2 percent compared to the same period of 2019. At the same time, the volume of oil transit to the Ukrainian refineries amounted to 8.6 million tons, a growth of 7.5 percent, said the company. The total volume of Azerbaijani oil transported in August 2020 decreased by 8 percent compared to August 2019, making up 1.5 million tons. In particular, the volume of oil transit by pipeline through Ukraine declined by 9.2 percent, amounting to 1.3 million tons, the company added. A new study suggests being involved with their newborn babies improves fathers mental health something TODAYs Al Roker and Craig Melvin fully believe. But Craig, 41, was quick to note that many men dont feel useful during the first year, especially if the mom is breastfeeding. When the kids are 2 and 3, you can go out and play, the dad to son Del, 6, and daughter Sibby, 3, explained during the 3rd Hour of TODAY on Thursday morning. Al said that when his children, Courtney, 33, Leila, 21, and Nick, 18, were babies, they had a a mix of breast and bottle, which meant he could help with nighttime feedings. Al then shared a funny story about Leila trying to nurse on him. One time when I was a little little heavier, Leila made a mistake, he laughed. I didnt have my shirt on. She was teething! Al added, letting out a yelp. Sore nipple aside, Al was on to something by taking on night feedings, according to a report published earlier this week in Frontiers in Psychiatry. Al Roker with his kids, Courtney, Leila and Nick, and his wife, Deborah Roberts. (alroker / Instagram) To gather the data, a team of researchers from California State University interviewed 881 fathers in five different states one month after the births of their children. The dads they interviewed were low-income and ethnically and racially diverse. Researchers then followed up with the fathers at at regular intervals until the babies reached 12 months. We found that fathers who were more involved with their infants shortly after their birth were less likely to be depressed a year later, Dr. Olajide N. Bamishigbin Jr., an assistant professor of psychology at California State University, said in a press release. The researchers suggested several reasons for their findings. Fathers who are more involved during infancy may feel more competent as parents and be more satisfied in their role as parents over time, and this could contribute to lower depressive symptoms, Bamishigbin explained. TODAY's Craig Melvin with his wife, Lindsay Czarniak, and their kids, Del and Sibby. (craigmelvinnbc / Instagram) Bamishigbin said the study also highlights the importance of policies such as paid paternity leave. Story continues (It) can allow fathers the opportunity to be more involved with their kids and gain confidence as a parent early on in their lives, without having to worry about their economic security, and may help allow fathers more opportunities to be involved with their kids, Bamishigbin said. In turn, this may improve the well-being of the entire family. Watch TODAY All Day! Get the best news, information and inspiration from TODAY, all day long. Related video: Green Party TDs will discuss whether to follow several other political groupings in turning down a pay rise that pushes their wages above 98,000. Francis Noel Duffy, who is married to deputy leader Catherine Martin, said he was "thinking about" his position on the increase - but added that he feels he works hard for the money he earns. His colleague Marc O Cathasaigh said he would discuss it with his colleagues. "I think it's only fair to take a position across the parliamentary party," he said. It is understood Fine Gael told its TDs and senators to make their own decision on the pay rise. It follows criticism from workers and employers devastated by the virus. Most of the deputies contacted by the Irish Independent yesterday have not yet responded to queries about their position on the increase. Read More Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond said he has not waived the pay rise. Social Democrats and People Before Profit deputies will waive the 2pc increase. A Sinn Fein spokesperson also said all its TDs agreed collectively in May to forgo the rise and gift it back to the Exchequer. The 2pc hike will bring a TD's 96,189 salary up to 98,113. Senators' pay will rise from 68,111 to 69,474 a year. This is close to peak pay for both roles reached during the boom, when TDs earned 100,191 a year. Catherine Murphy of the Social Democrats said its six deputies felt the pay rise is not justified. "I think it's quite important as there's a lot of people in the country who are in really very significant trouble and we need to appreciate that and show a degree of solidarity," she said. "A lot of money is being borrowed to keep things going during Covid that will add significantly to the national debt. "While this is a small enough gesture, it is important to make those gestures. We would prefer that this was right across the Oireachtas rather than at individual party level." She said politicians' pay should be reviewed, possibly by examining international comparators. A People Before Profit spokesperson said the pay rise should be cancelled. "We will be arguing for that in our questions to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform next Tuesday," he said. "In the context of the pandemic and the cuts to the pandemic unemployment payment, we will not be taking any pay rise." He said none of the party's TDs would benefit as they receive the average industrial wage. A spokesperson for the Independent Group said deputies Marian Harkin, Joan Collins, Thomas Pringle and Michael Fitzmaurice would not be taking the increase. Michael Collins TD said he had refused any pay rises in this Dail or the previous one. The Taoiseach and ministers have already waived the increase due under the Public Service Stability Agreement, taking a 10pc pay cut. Criticism grew after it emerged members of the Low Pay Commission would not budge from a 10c increase to the 10.10 an hour minimum wage. This prompted a walkout by union leaders. Finance spokesperson Ged Nash said TDs would be getting the pay rise when only an extra 10c is proposed for the low paid. Thousands of people claiming the pandemic unemployment payment took cuts of up to 100 a week to their payments earlier this week. Labour TD Aodhan O Riordain said the Government was on the brink of losing public support over perceived hypocrisy. The list of countries that Britons can travel to and return from without quarantining or taking Covid tests reduced to just nine yesterday. Ministers removed four more nations from the safe list Denmark, Iceland, Slovakia and the Caribbean island of Curacao, with quarantine required on return to the UK from tomorrow at 4am. While there are still more than 60 countries on the UK's 'green list' where quarantine is not required on return, many have their own restrictions on arrival or are closed to visitors completely. It means holidays are only currently possible without any restrictions to Germany, Poland, Sweden, Italy, Turkey, mainland Greece, Gibraltar, San Marino and Liechtenstein. The last two are so small they don't have their own airports, meaning just seven true air bridges are in place both ways. Mainland Greece risks slipping off the list next week as infections there have reached about 20.9 cases per 100,000. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced Denmark, Slovakia, Iceland and Curacao are being added to the Government's travel quarantine 'red list' Ministers typically impose quarantine measures for countries recording at least 20 cases per 100,000 over seven days, but left mainland Greece alone. Quarantine measures are already in place for arrivals into England from seven Greek islands, including Crete, Mykonos and Santorini. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the updated list last night and said the restrictions on Denmark, Iceland, Slovakia and Curacao would apply to the whole UK. Previously piecemeal decisions had been taken by individual devolved nations. NINE NATIONS WHERE BRITONS CAN TRAVEL FREELY Sweden Poland Germany Italy Turkey San Marino Liechtenstein Gibraltar Mainland Greece and some islands Advertisement In the past two months the Government has hacked its list of 'green' countries down dramatically - axing Spain, France, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Malta, the Netherlands, Czech Republic and mainland Portugal. Mr Shapps reminded travellers that they are legally required to fill out a 'Passenger Locator Form' when they return to England. Announcing the changes, Mr Shapps tweeted: 'Data shows we need to remove DENMARK, SLOVAKIA, ICELAND, and CURACAO from the Travel Corridor list. 'If you arrive in the UK from these destinations after 4am this Saturday, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days. 'We will not be adding any destinations to the Travel Corridor list this week. 'Remember: You MUST complete a Passenger Locator Form by law if you enter the UK. 'This protects public health and ensures those who need to are complying with self-isolation rules.' The UK Government currently uses a threshold of 20 cases per 100,000 when it makes decisions on whether to add or remove countries from its quarantine list. Ryanair to slash planned number of flights next month due to UK quarantine restrictions Ryanair has announced it will further reduce its operations due to coronavirus travel restrictions and blamed 'government mismanagement' for lack of customer confidence in travel. The budget airline said its capacity in October will be 40% of 2019 levels, compared with the 50% it previously announced. The firm said it expects to fill 70% of seats on its planes. A Ryanair spokesperson said: 'We are disappointed to reduce our October capacity from 50% of 2019 to 40%. 'However, as customer confidence is damaged by government mismanagement of Covid travel policies, many Ryanair customers are unable to travel for business or urgent family reasons without being subjected to defective 14-day quarantines. 'While it is too early yet to make final decisions on our winter schedule (from November to March), if current trends and EU governments' mismanagement of the return of air travel and normal economic activity continue, then similar capacity cuts may be required across the winter period.' Advertisement Downing Street remains under intense pressure to change the UK's travel quarantine rules amid growing fears for the future of the aviation and travel industries. Ministers have faced calls for months to replace the current 14 day self-isolation restrictions for people returning to the UK from high risk countries with a more nuanced system of airport testing. Advocates believe testing on arrival could open the door to significantly reducing the two week quarantine period to potentially less than seven days. A double testing approach would see travellers tested on arrival and then told to self-isolate for something like five days when they would then be tested for a second time. Two negative tests would be enough to allow people to end their period in quarantine and return to normal life. However, ministers have been reluctant to approve airport testing because of concerns that the approach could fail to identify some people who have the virus. This is because of the amount of time it can take for the virus to be detectable after the moment of infection. But many MPs believe the current blanket approach to travel quarantine cannot continue for much longer because of the damage it is doing to the aviation sector. The extensive list of no-go destinations means demand for autumn getaways in Turkey and Italy have risen dramatically amid dwindling options for would-be travellers looking for breaks over the October half-term period. Both countries remain on the guarantee-free, 'travel corridor' list. Price comparison website Travelsupermarket said demand for holidays in Turkey was up 15 per cent over the last two weeks and up 18 per cent for Italy. Demand for breaks in Poland is also up by 25 per cent, mainly for city breaks to destinations such as Krakow. Overall, demand for Greek getaways has plummeted 17 per cent, but it remains high for some islands still on the safe list - up 99 per cent for of Kos, 80 per cent for Rhodes and 46 per cent for Corfu. Heathrow boss warns government's Covid quarantine policy is 'strangling' economy Heathrow's chief executive has warned that the Government's Covid quarantine policy is 'strangling' the UK economy and costing jobs 'every day'. The west London airport registered an 82 per cent fall in passenger numbers in August compared to last year, as it repeats its call for Boris Johnson to introduce testing as an alternative to Britain's 14-day quarantine rule. Heathrow, which before the Covid-19 pandemic was the busiest airport in Europe, said that North American passenger numbers were down 95 per cent compared to last year as the coronavirus quarantine rule deters long-haul travel. Just 1.4 million people travelled through the major London airport in August, compared with 7.7 million during the same month in 2019. A spokesman for Heathrow Airport said this month that Covid-19 has 'decimated the aviation industry', caused an 'unprecedented drop in passenger numbers at Heathrow', and cost the airport over 1billion since March. It comes as the coronavirus crisis takes a sledgehammer to the travel industry in its gravest ever crisis, with airlines forced to cut thousands of jobs and slash the number of flights they provide as demand for international travel falls. John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow's boss, has said over 30 airports worldwide are using testing of travellers as a way of reducing quarantine requirements - with one of those, Germany's Frankfurt, having overtaken Heathrow in passenger numbers. Advertisement Emma Coulthurst, the website's travel commentator, said: 'There continues to be definite winners and losers in the outbound holiday market.' It leaves airlines scrambling to find ways to tempt would-be tourists into travelling amid tumbling turnover. Ryanair yesterday announced it would offer a 'buy one, get one free' flight deal for the first time in its 35-year history. It will apply to trips taken before mid-December on 1,600 routes. The carrier's chief Michael O'Leary told Sky News that demand for flights was 'terrible'. He said: 'Into November and December our forward bookings are running at around 10 per cent; that's about a quarter of where they would normally be at this time of the year.' The industry wants a Covid-19 testing system rolled out for arrivals to drastically cut the length of the two-week quarantine. Critics also say the Government's weekly review system should be scrapped to cut confusion. They are calling for it to be replaced with a 'traffic light' system under which countries would be ranked as 'green' for 'go', 'orange' for 'wait' or 'red' for 'stop'. This would help travellers better decide where's safe to book. Ben Bradshaw, the Labour MP for Exeter, told the Mail: 'Why it's beyond the competence of ministers to devise a traffic light system, or clearer way of communicating to travellers and the industry I just don't know.' Denmark was added to the list after recording a seven day case rate of 65.2 per 100,000 people, with Iceland posting 80.4. Slovakia's was 25.9. Recent weeks have seen British tourists have to make a drastic dash back home in order to meet the government's quarantine deadline from destinations such as France and Greek islands like Crete and Santorini. Frustrated Brits have blasted the announcements, which have left them with little notice and scrambling to book last-minute flights, often at hugely inflated prices. Many have also bemoaned the fact they've felt safer abroad than they do at home, then been told they need to quarantine due to rising case numbers. It first emerged earlier this month that ministers were exploring plans to cut the quarantine time for holidaymakers to just five days by testing them 48 hours before they arrive in the UK. Recent weeks have seen British tourists have to make a drastic dash back home in order to meet the government's quarantine deadline from destinations such as France and Greek islands like Crete and Santorini Frustrated Brits have blasted the announcements, which have left them with little notice and scrambling to book last-minute flights, often at hugely inflated prices Mr Shapps was said to have 'warmly welcomed' the proposal which would more than halve the 14-day self-isolation period. Under plans by industry leaders, tourists and business travellers would undergo a second test five days after landing. If both tests are negative, they could leave quarantine. This would satisfy experts on the Sage committee of scientific advisers, who say a second test around eight days after the first will pick up the vast majority of cases. It would also allay Government concerns about the shortage of tests here by putting the onus on other countries to carry out the first tests. It comes after Ryanair announced it will further reduce its operations due to coronavirus travel restrictions and blamed 'government mismanagement' for lack of customer confidence in travel. The budget airline said its capacity in October will be 40% of 2019 levels, compared with the 50% it previously announced. The firm said it expects to fill 70% of seats on its planes. A Ryanair spokesperson said: 'We are disappointed to reduce our October capacity from 50% of 2019 to 40%. 'However, as customer confidence is damaged by government mismanagement of Covid travel policies, many Ryanair customers are unable to travel for business or urgent family reasons without being subjected to defective 14-day quarantines. 'While it is too early yet to make final decisions on our winter schedule (from November to March), if current trends and EU governments' mismanagement of the return of air travel and normal economic activity continue, then similar capacity cuts may be required across the winter period.' Meanwhile, Heathrow's chief executive has warned that the Government's Covid quarantine policy is 'strangling' the UK economy and costing jobs 'every day'. The west London airport registered an 82 per cent fall in passenger numbers in August compared to last year, as it repeats its call for Boris Johnson to introduce testing as an alternative to Britain's 14-day quarantine rule. Heathrow, which before the Covid-19 pandemic was the busiest airport in Europe, said that North American passenger numbers were down 95 per cent compared to last year as the coronavirus quarantine rule deters long-haul travel. Just 1.4 million people travelled through the major London airport in August, compared with 7.7 million during the same month in 2019. A spokesman for Heathrow Airport said this month that Covid-19 has 'decimated the aviation industry', caused an 'unprecedented drop in passenger numbers at Heathrow', and cost the airport over 1billion since March. It comes as the coronavirus crisis takes a sledgehammer to the travel industry in its gravest ever crisis, with airlines forced to cut thousands of jobs and slash the number of flights they provide as demand for international travel falls. John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow's boss, has said over 30 airports worldwide are using testing of travellers as a way of reducing quarantine requirements - with one of those, Germany's Frankfurt, having overtaken Heathrow in passenger numbers. UFC President Dana White, peppered with questions about comments by Colby Covington that some of his fellow fighters said were racist, said he would not "muzzle anybody" over "their own causes, things, their own beliefs." During a news conference Wednesday in Abu Dhabi to promote the UFC 253 card, White was asked about Covington's comments after he defeated Tyron Woodley on Saturday. During a postfight interview with welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who was born in Nigeria, Covington asked whether Usman had gotten a call from his "little tribe" and whether "smoke signals" were involved. He called Woodley, a Black fighter and Black Lives Matter supporter, "a communist," "a Marxist" and someone who "stands for criminals. He hates America and that's why he got broke." Covington also questioned the legitimacy of the Black Lives Matter movement. "These guys all have their own causes, things, their own beliefs," White told reporters. "We don't muzzle anybody here. We let everybody speak their mind. I don't know what he said that was racist. I don't know if I heard anything racist that he said." Asked whether he believed it is wrong if one of his fighters said something racist, White replied, "Of course. Come on. I'm not going to play these games with you guys. Come on, if it's racist? Yes. Of course." In a news conference after his victory Saturday night, Covington called Black Lives Matter "a complete sham. It's a joke. They're taking these people that are complete terrorists. They're taking these people that are criminals. These aren't people that are hard-working Americans, blue-collar Americans. These are bad people. They're criminals. "They shouldn't be attacking police. If you're breaking the law and you're threatening the cops with weapons, you deserve to get what you get. Law enforcement protects us all. If we don't have law enforcement, it'd be the wild, wild West." The comments by Covington, a supporter of President Donald Trump who received a congratulatory call from the president after the fight, drew condemnation from three Black fighters, one of whom was seated next to White during the news conference and is a headliner in Saturday's UFC 253. "It just shows you the landscape of the media, what it is right now," Israel Adesanya told ESPN. "I made a joke about dropping [Yoel] Romero like the Twin Towers and everyone lost their mind, even if I said it was a joke and it was pretty funny, but people took it as I was being offensive and like, digging - but I was making a joke. "This guy [Covington] has directly insulted my culture, my brother and many other cultures, and no one says anything, but it just shows you a mirror. Shows you a mirror to you guys. So, yeah. I don't really care. Kamaru Usman broke his jaw [in a fight last year], so I don't really care." Sijara Eubanks, a bantamweight in UFC's women's division, called out the media. "Let's be real, first and foremost," he said. "It wasn't 'unfortunate.' It was flat-out racist. It was racist. It was disgusting. It was quite frankly disappointing." Featherweight Hakeem Dawodu said, "It's crazy that comments like that are causing more and more divide amongst the people. That's how he gets down, but I'm not really with that and I took offense to that for sure." Although Reebok does not sponsor Covington, it called him out in a statement to Bloody Elbow. "Reebok is the uniform provider for the UFC, however we do not sponsor Colby Covington. We do not agree with the sentiments he expressed, and stand firm in our belief that Black lives matter. We stand with athletes and communities who are fighting for change." Monster Energy and Door Dash also offered statements of support for inclusiveness and equality that did not mention Covington by name. Covington, who is rarely without a red "Make America Great" cap, visited the Oval Office after a 2018 victory. White and Trump have a relationship that extends back years, to Trump's days as a New Jersey casino and hotel owner. White addressed the Republican convention in 2016 and 2020 and spoke at a Trump rally this month in Henderson, Nev. CENTENNIAL, Colo. A man who drove his Jeep through a demonstration on an interstate in suburban Denver, drawing gunfire that injured two protesters, will not face charges unless more evidence comes to light, prosecutors said Wednesday. District Attorney George Brauchler said during a news conference that there was no visual evidence the driver aimed at anyone on the highway during the July 25 protest over the death of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died after being stopped by police in Aurora last year. It seems to me he avoids people wherever possible and just tries to get out of there, the district attorney said, noting that the driver and his passenger have turned down prosecutors requests for interviews. The driver of the Jeep was not arrested, but his vehicle was seized as evidence. He said protesters on Interstate 225 in Aurora surrounded his vehicle and were yelling and striking it with bats and rocks, and that he drove through the crowd because he was scared and was trying to get away, police said. He also said a pickup crashed into his Jeep. Brauchler said he evaluated a series of possible charges against the driver of the Jeep based on the evidence so far, including attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and attempted felony manslaughter. He also said he did not intend to pursue charges against the driver of the pickup who deliberately struck the Jeep, arguing that it appeared he was trying to protect pedestrians on the highway. Police have arrested Samuel Alvin Young of Wheat Ridge on four counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of assault on accusations of firing at the Jeep during the melee, hitting two protesters. Joseph Quinton Sagrillo, 21, was shot in the left leg, and Creyton Loud, 26, was grazed near the temple. Young is being represented by the state public defenders office, which does not comment on cases. The protest was organized in support of McClain, who was arrested in August 2019 after someone called 911 to report a suspicious person wearing a ski mask and waving his arms while he walked down the street. He was arrested by Aurora police and injected with 500 milligrams of ketamine by EMS workers called to the scene. He suffered cardiac arrest, was declared brain dead and taken off life support less than a week later. McClains death has become a national rallying cry along with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in protests calling for police reform. The U.S. no longer recognizes Aleksandr Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus, the State Department said in a statement on Wednesday. Why it matters: Lukashenko has clung to power with the support of Russia amid seven weeks of protests that have followed a blatantly rigged election. Fresh protests broke out Wednesday evening in Minsk after it emerged that Lukashenko had held a secret inauguration ceremony. What they're saying: "The United States cannot consider Aleksandr Lukashenko the legitimately elected leader of Belarus. The path forward should be a national dialogue leading to the Belarusian people enjoying their right to choose their leaders in a free and fair election under independent observation." State Department spokesperson The U.S. announcement follows similar statements from European officials, including EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. "The situation is clear for us. We consider the elections of August 9 fraudulent. We don't recognize Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus." Josep Borrell last week to the European Parliament A German government spokesperson reiterated today that Germany does not view Lukashenko as legitimate, adding of Wednesday's inauguration: "The fact that this ceremony was prepared secretly and carried out away from the public eye is very telling." German government spokesman The big picture: Prior to the election, Lukashenko's relations with the West had actually been improving, largely because he was growing increasingly adversarial with Moscow. Times have changed. Now, Lukashenko has been showering praise on Vladimir Putin, and in return, he received pledges that Russia will offer financial support and deploy an auxiliary police force to Belarus if needed. Lukashenko has faced fierce global condemnation as he's cracked down on the protests that followed the election, but Putin has stood by him as hundreds have been arbitrarily detained and even tortured. What to watch: Rhetoric from Washington and Brussels has not been matched by significant actions. The EU failed earlier this week to pass sanctions on Belarusian officials because Cyprus, one of the smallest EU member states, objected due to an unrelated matter. European leaders have vowed to raise the issue again, and Borrell warned "our credibility is at stake." Where things stand: Lukashenko seems to have retained the loyalty of the security forces, but he's clearly lost much of the population. Cities across the country saw large protests on Sunday for the seventh consecutive weekend. Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. With more than 400 centers spanning 45 states, FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers is the fastest-growing physical therapy franchise in the United States. Through a holistic, whole-body approach, FYZICAL not only helps clients to recover from injuries and surgeries, but also takes rehabilitation a step further to help clients achieve optimal wellness and regain their love of life while even learning new skills. In the midst of a global pandemic, FYZICALs innovative approach to health and wellness has become increasingly significant as an essential business. When COVID-19 first hit, the FYZICAL team brought operations, headquarters team members and franchisees together to create a task force to handle challenges and support franchisees and clients. Through this, the Pulmonary Program was born. The FYZICAL team wanted to provide proactive care to the communities that have been affected by COVID-19 throughout the U.S. The Pulmonary Program includes offering a pulmonary care guide with resources about overall treatment protocols, help with evaluations and innovative tools. The FYZICAL team brought together the best research they could find through the American Physical Therapy Association, medical resources and clinicians that had a passion for pulmonary. Now, multiple FYZICAL locations have been participating in the Pulmonary Program and helping COVID-19 patients recover, with more than 500 team members logged into the project board. When it comes to treatment procedures, COVID-19 is its own unique category. Patients require specialized treatment and pulmonary rehab. Since patients may be suffering from poor sleep patterns, it can lead to anxiety, depression and cognition issues. Also, patients that were in ICU units could have even further complications and their immune system could be further compromised. The Pulmonary Program is a comprehensive approach to care that will address the multitude of issues that can arise from dysfunctional breathing patterns caused by something as traumatic as COVID-19, said Denise Campbell, a multi-unit FYZICAL owner and high level breathing practitioner on the brands COVID-19 task force. This personalized program will help clients strengthen their breathing patterns when breathing is healthy and balanced, it boosts the immune system and helps clients recover, both physically and emotionally. Typically, patients who have been receiving vestibular treatment in the past end up deconditioned because COVID-19 negatively impacts breathing. Much of FYZICALs expertise is already focused on improving posture, which in turn, allows patients to breathe better. Since our centers are already well-equipped for balance issues, FYZICAL provides physical therapists access to the kind of advanced testing materials and resources needed to offer this kind of comprehensive pulmonary care, said Campbell. Moving forward, FYZICALs personalized programs that help treat an individual patient based on where they are in the recovery process. We developed protocols and patient care because we know that those recovering from COVID-19 need to be thought of and looked at differently, said CEO Brian Belmont. This virus is unprecedented, so we brought in national experts that are constantly pulling together the latest information when it comes to pulmonary issues and treatments. Luckily, our clinicians are already balance experts, so we can combine that knowledge with new tools, resources and training to provide highly confident care that is COVID-19 specific and help clients achieve optimal wellness and get back to living their best life. About FYZICAL FYZICAL is the fastest-growing physical therapy franchise in the United States and is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida. With more than 400 centers in 45 states, FYZICALs revolutionary business model is designed to optimize profitability and growth, and offers comprehensive patient care through unique balance protocols and healthy lifestyle products and services. FYZICAL is a champion of patient choice and direct access, and a leader in the future of health, wellness and preventative care. For more information on joining the FYZICAL family, visit FYZICALFranchise.com. A masked man sets fire to a Catholic church in Town 'N' Country, Fla., on Sept. 18, 2020. (Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office) Masked Man Sets Catholic Church on Fire in Florida A masked man was caught on camera setting a Catholic church on fire in Florida, officials said. Surveillance footage showed the man, who was shirtless, burglarizing Incarnation Catholic Church in Town N Country late Sept. 18. The suspect broke into the church by smashing a glass pane at approximately 10:36 p.m. before committing the crimes, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office said. Video showed the man pouring flammable liquid onto three wooden pews. He lit the pews on fire. Then, he fled the scene. Sheriff deputies responded to the church, along with a Hillsborough Fire Marshal fire investigator and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a federal agency. Anyone with information was urged to contact the authorities. We are working to identify this criminal who broke into one of Town N Countrys most popular Catholic Churches and caused thousands of dollars in damages, Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. While we are unsure of his motive, it is clear he has no respect for private property of the fact that this is a sacred place of worship. We promise this churchs community we are doing everything we can to capture this suspect and ensure he is held accountable for his actions, the sheriff added. Town n Country, with about 80,000 residents, is located just outside Tampa. Defenders of the presidents health policies point to the ways he has worked to lower the cost of care and expand consumer choice. The skimpier plans his policy expanded did lower prices for Americans who are fortunate enough to qualify and want coverage with limited benefits, and they did expand the ability of people who bought them to keep them longer. His expansion of health reimbursement accounts may pave the way for people who currently get work-based coverage to select their own plans. His new rules expanding the transparency of hospital prices may come to lower those prices over time. Recent executive orders may lead the way to new policies regulating prescription drug prices. The Black Lives Matter movement has claimed its first death through suicide, and the victim was white. I mention the race, because its ironic that this white life did not matter in the grand scheme of things. Back in May, Omaha businessman Jake Gardner was involved in a scuffle with protesters outside of his bar. During the struggle, in which he was pushed down on the ground, Gardner fired off two shots, one of which hit James Spurlock, killing him. Initially, the District Attorney refused to file charges, describing Gardners actions as self-defense. This was after speaking to witnesses and reviewing video of the incident. But that made a lot of people very angry. I remember what it was like in the days after the George Floyd killing. I spent an afternoon shortly after the killing became a national story, walking in Center City Philadelphia. Stores that had been closed because of the pandemic were now boarded up in anticipation of protests, otherwise known as rioting. A helicopter kept circling overhead, and there was a strong police presence. I stopped by the Starbucks at 18th and Spruce, stood outside to snap a selfie and entitled it Coffee in Fallujah. It looked that bad, that desolate. So I do remember what it was like in those days right after the Black Lives Movement had its resurgence, and while some might have felt empowered, I was deeply troubled. A nNewspaper editor was forced to resign because they allowed offensive headlines like Buildings Matter Too to run in their paper. Murals were painted over, statues removed during the middle of the night. Stores were looted. Fires were set, police cars were vandalized, and the police themselves were denied service in places where woke folk who called themselves allies of the BLM movement needed to make their nausea known. It was bad then, and it hasnt really gotten any better. But in those heated days after the killing, there were a lot of confrontations, and there was a lot of anger. That public anger forced the District Attorney of Douglas County, Neb., to reopen Spurlocks killing because the idea that a white Iraq War veteran had killed a Black BLM protestor in self defense was a match to kindling. The city was ready to explode, so the D.A. acquiesced in having a special prosecutor review the case. Last week, a grand jury issued an indictment against Gardner containing four criminal counts: Manslaughter, attempted first-degree assault, terroristic threats and use of a firearm in connection with a felony. And while we will never know what went through Gardners mind, one that was already filled with memories of war and crisis from two tours of combat in Iraq, its not a stretch to think that this decision to prosecute him pushed him over the edge into a despair from which return is impossible. Gardners body was found outside of a medical clinic on Sunday afternoon. He had taken his own life. I have written a great deal about suicide. Those who know me, know why. Its not necessary to go into any details, but my antenna are highly attuned to those who teeter on the edge of hope, tethered to this reality by the thinnest and most fragile of threads. I know that the abyss is deep, dark, and permanent. Ive often said that no one should bear the guilt of another persons decision to end his life. We have agency and, like William Ernest Henley wrote in his magnificent poem Invictus, we are the captains of our soul, the masters of our fate. Someone who is determined to leave cannot be held back by even the Herculean efforts of loved ones. But most do not want to leave. Kindness can work miracles on troubled minds. The corollary is that hostility and a desire for vengeance can push someone over the edge. While I doubt that the people who were clamoring for an investigation into the shooting of Spurlock wanted Gardner to die, its equally likely that they really didnt give a damn about his welfare, his life, or his service as a veteran. They saw a dead Black man, and in those crazy heated days of madness this past summer, that was all they needed to see. The story was written even before the names of the characters were known. So a man who, as his lawyer insists, acted in self-defense because he was threatened by angry protestors became a casualty of the social justice movement that talks about lives mattering. And because not all lives really do matter to the angry mobs, we will never really know if justice was served after all. Christine Flowers is an attorney and a Delaware County resident. Her column usually appears Sunday. Email her at cflowers1961@gmail.com. In this May 1, 2005, file photo, docks float in the water at Detroit Lake in Detroit, Ore. Oregonians are grieving the loss of some of their most treasured natural places after wildfires wiped out campgrounds, hot springs and wooded retreats that have been a touchstone for generations in a state known for its unspoiled beauty. (Kobbi R. OTTAWA The federal Liberal government all but ensured a showdown with the premiers as it proposed reaching further into provincial jurisdiction to help Canada's economy recover, in measures outlined in its throne speech Wednesday. 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 federal Liberal government all but ensured a showdown with the premiers as it proposed reaching further into provincial jurisdiction to help Canada's economy recover, in measures outlined in its throne speech Wednesday. The premiers are set to hold a teleconference Thursday to discuss Ottawas plans to increase funding and regulations for child care, long-term care homes and drug coverage. Six climate promises Click to Expand Canada will seek to exceed its 2030 emissions target, which is to lower emissions by 30 per cent over 2005 levels. (This promise comes despite the latest report from Environment and Climate Change Canada demonstrating a 19 per cent reduction was its best-case projection at this point.) Ottawa reaffirmed its commitment for Canada to be a net-zero emitter by 2050, and promised to legislate that pledge. There will be a focus on job creation to retrofit Canadian homes and commercial spaces to raise efficiency and cut energy costs. A commitment to "make zero-emissions vehicles more affordable" and invest in charging infrastructure. An effort will be made "to attract investments in making zero-emissions products" by creating a new fund that will allow for such companies to have corporate tax rates cut in half of what they would otherwise be. The goal, as it was laid out in the speech, is for Canada to be "the most competitive jurisdiction in the world for clean technology companies." 2021 will be the year single-used plastics are banned. Reaffirmed promise to plant two billion trees as an investment in natural solutions to climate change. "We need to work together; beating this virus is a Team Canada effort," Gov. Gen. Julie Payette said in the Senate chamber as she read from the Trudeau governments speech to relaunch its legislative agenda. The Conservatives argued the Liberals want to invade provincial territory, and gave the throne speech an automatic thumbs-down, while the NDP want the federal government to lean even further into provincial jurisdiction. Conservative Deputy Leader Candice Bergen chided the Liberals for not addressing the recent request by the premiers to increase Ottawas portion of health-care funding from $42 to $70 billion this year meaning it would pay 35 per cent of the overall health-care tab versus the current 22 per cent. "They asked the prime minister to recognize that; to give them his support, and instead he ignored their requests and is wading into their jurisdiction," Bergen said on Parliament Hill. "The Ottawa elite will tell Canadians, and will tell provinces, how to manage child care, how to manage health care; that's not acceptable," said the MP for Portage-Lisgar, who also decried the lack of specific measures for the oil and agricultural sectors, which are important to Manitoba's economy. However, the NDP said it would welcome even more federal involvement. The party said its support, which would avoid an election, partially hinges on getting paid sick leave for those waiting for a COVID-19 test result, even though labour standards are generally under provincial responsibility. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau waits for Gov. Gen. Julie Payette to deliver the throne speech in the Senate chamber in Ottawa on Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld "A federal government thats serious about getting things done would be calling the provinces to the table to find out where theres a agreement," said Elmwood-Transcona MP Daniel Blaikie. The NDP MP said the Liberals are "talking about jurisdiction without having tried to get around the same page." Blaikie also bemoaned MPs having just days to rejig federal unemployment benefits, as a result of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau imposing a month-long timeout on legislative work before Wednesdays speech. Google, Facebook put on notice Click to Expand The federal government promised to force web giants, such as Google and Facebook, to share revenue with media companies whose content is viewed on social media platforms. Web giants are taking Canadians money while imposing their own priorities. Things must change, and will change. The government will act to ensure their revenue is shared more fairly with our creators and media, and will also require them to contribute to the creation, production, and distribution of our stories, on screen, in lyrics, in music, and in writing, the throne speech said. In a statement, News Media Canada president John Hinds called the throne speech promise a strong step in the right direction. The group of news publishers applauded the governments decision to address the issue of corporate tax avoidance by the digital giants. "There really just wasnt much in i(the throne speech) that we hadnt heard before, and I dont think it in any way justified proroguing Parliament," he said. To pass a confidence vote, the minority Liberals need the support of at least one party in order to avoid an election. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said hed only play ball if the Liberals promise to increase Quebecs health transfers, with no strings attached, within a week. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said Trudeau ignored the premiers unanimous call for more health funding. "Sadly, the federal governments throne speech ignored one of the most pressing issues in our country to date: growing health-care wait times," Pallister wrote in a statement. He refused to do an interview Wednesday. Quebec Premier Francois Legault echoed that sentiment on Twitter, calling the speech a disappointment that "does not respect provinces' jurisdiction over health." He arranged a Thursday afternoon call with all premiers to discuss the speech. The Tories also pushed back on the Liberals' insistence that provinces need to ramp up testing capacity, noting that Health Canada lags behind other national regulators in approving rapid testing. The regulator has not explained in detail why it hasnt approved COVID-19 antigen tests, which detect the virus in people who are still contagious, but is less precise than existing lab testing. That's resulted in hours-long lines in Winnipeg an many other cities for the latter form of testing. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca The HSEs winter plan has been slammed as a wish-list that is short on targets. The winter plan was published on Thursday and includes pledges to add hundreds of extra acute beds in to the system by early next year. It will involve additional spending of 600 million euro for the rest of this year and into early next year. However, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (Inmo) warned that the plan will simply not work without extra nursing and midwifery staffing. The HSE said it hopes to recruit an additional 12,000 staff but acknowledged that it was ambitious. 1. As with all plans the devil is in the detail. The HSE Winter plan only provides for 251 additional acute beds this year & 232 next year. We need at least 2,500. The plan acknowledges that these beds will only mitigate losses due to infection control measures & deliver activity David Cullinane T.D. (@davidcullinane) September 24, 2020 Inmo general secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, said: Without a plan for extra staffing, the winter plan will simply not work. Extra hospital beds are much needed, but they are meaningless and dangerous if not properly staffed and resourced. For months now, we have sought a funded workforce plan from the HSE, setting out how many nurses and midwives they intend to hire in the health service. We are still awaiting any engagement, something we have referred to the WRC (Work Relations Commission) as a dispute. This winter plan brings welcome investment, but absolutely zero clarity on how we will recruit and retain the staff to provide care. The HSE says it will take a zero-tolerance approach to overcrowding, yet trolley figures continue to grow. There is no clear allocation of funding to hire additional hospital consultants and other frontline professionals Alan Irvine Professor Alan Irvine, president of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said the HSE blueprint promises to invest in services but not in the professionals required to deliver them. The big promises in the plan can only be realised if we have additional consultants and healthcare professionals, he added. The plan includes little to no specifics on this fundamental component. Building capacity requires investing in space and in professional healthcare workers. There is no clear allocation of funding to hire additional hospital consultants and other frontline professionals. Two-thirds of the 600 million euro will not be deployed until 2021. These factors alone immediately cause concern around the ability of the plan to adequately address the challenge of a winter like no other. Sinn Feins spokesman for health David Cullinane said the plan was a wish-list. There are ambitious plans for recruitment of new staff within the Winter Plan but I was taken by comments by @INMO_IRLs Phil Ni Sheaghdha on how staff who have come home cant get full time contracts. So where are the staff coming from? @alankellylabour #Dail pic.twitter.com/OnCnQt6n97 The Labour Party (@labour) September 24, 2020 We know 1,100 acute beds are needed now. The Government is only proposing 251 additional beds by the end of the year, he added. We also know that at least 50 ICU beds, the Government is only proposing an additional 17. They have no targets in their plan in relation to staff. Their plan is a wish-list. Its short on targets, it doest have any targets in relation to staff. It falls far short of what is needed. Labour leader Alan Kelly called for the Government to give assurances over the capacity figures. He added: Theres ambitious plans for recruitment of 12,500 people, 5,000 before Christmas and 7,500 afterwards. The Inmo has pointed out that some nurses have come back from abroad and havent been able to get fulltime jobs already. Whats going to radically change and where are we going to get the consultants we require? An opposition supporter waves a historical white-red-white flag of Belarus in front of law enforcement officers during a rally to demand the resignation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko more than a month after the disputed presidential election, in Minsk, Belarus September 20, 2020. The United States, Britain and Canada plan to impose sanctions on Belarusian individuals following what they view as a rigged election on Aug. 9 and violence against peaceful protesters since, six sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Four of the sources, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity, said the U.S., British and Canadian sanctions could come as early as on Friday, though this could slip given the challenge of coordinating among three nations. The sources said the sanctions aimed to show there would be consequences for the disputed election and the treatment of protesters in Belarus, a former Soviet state where President Alexander Lukashenko has ruled for 26 years. Lukashenko, whose forces have detained or driven out all of Belarus's leading opposition figures, arrested thousands of protesters and clamped down on news reporting, was abruptly sworn in for a sixth term on Wednesday. On Sept. 1, a senior U.S. State Department official told Reuters the United States was considering imposing sanctions on seven Belarusians who it believes were involved in falsifying the results of the election and in violence against protesters. One of the six sources said the number was now eight Belarusians, but could change. The U.S. State Department and the Canadian foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told parliament on Thursday that Britain was preparing sanctions against those responsible for serious human rights violations in Belarus and coordinating with the United States and Canada "as a matter of urgency." The European Union said Lukashenko was not the legitimate president of Belarus, and that his abrupt swearing-in had gone directly against the will of the people. Groups launch 'celebrating girls' campaign to combat sex selective abortion in India Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Alliance Defending Freedom International and a coalition of human rights groups have launched a campaign aimed at combatting the problem of sex-selective abortions in India. Known as the celebrating girls for LIFE, the campaign was announced Tuesday by ADF International, which was founded in 1994 and based in Vienna, Austria. The campaign will include a short film contest and webinars leading up to Oct. 11, which is widely observed as the International Day of the Girl Child. The acronym LIFE stands for Love, Inheritance, Freedom, Equality, with each point centered on combatting culturally-ingrained gender bias against girls. Tehmina Arora, director of ADF India, said in a statement released Tuesday that they hope to tell the stories of girls and women in India and celebrate every girls right to life. India has lost 12 million girls to sex-selective abortion in the last three decades. It is time to address this issue, especially as International Day of the Girl Child approaches, said Arora. We hope this campaign will help bring this grave violation of rights to light and increase the correct implementation of Indian law, which prohibits sex-selective abortion. Other organizations involved in the campaign include the Evangelical Fellowship of India, Girls Count, the National Council of Churches in India, Vanishing Girls, VIVAT International, Red Rope, and Women of Worth. The practice of sex-selective abortion has been widely denounced, with prominent public figures including former President Jimmy Carter among those spreading awareness about the issue. In an interview with David Letterman in 2014, the former president said, "160 million girls are now missing from the face of the earth because they were murdered at birth by their parents or either selectively aborted when their parents find out that the fetus is a girl." "Well, it's the worst human rights abuse on earth and it's basically unaddressed So that many people are missing and they're all girls who are missing." In August, PLOS ONE published a paper that concluded that India will have approximately 6.8 million fewer female births between 2017 and 2030 because of sex-selective abortion. According to the paper, the sex birth ratio (SBR) of India has been imbalanced since the 1970s, with researchers attributing this to the intensity of son preference in Indian culture and fertility squeeze, or a pressure to have a smaller family household. The masculinized SBR for India is a direct result of the practice of sex-selective abortions at the national level, explained the researchers. Some states, such as Punjab, have experienced an early and rapid rise in birth masculinity since the 1980s, whereas in North Indian states, the masculinized SBR started to increase later. The paper proposed better identification, monitoring, and education in the worst affected regions of India to help respond to the issue of missing female births. Our study highlights the need to strengthen policies that advocate for gender equity and the introduction of support measures to counteract existing gender biases that adequately target each regional context, concluded the researchers. Future work may include additional sources of heterogeneity, such as education, religion, and ethnicity, for projecting the SBR in India and extending the SBR predictions for longer-term projections. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday responded to President Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transition of power should he lose the November election, telling CNN that Trump "is not a dictator, and the American people will not allow him to be one." What he's saying: "The American people are wedded to democracy," Schumer said. "We believe in democracy, and the kind of thing Trump is talking about just will not happen." "One way or another, there'll be a peaceful transition of power, and President Trump will not get his wish." "One thing I'd say to the American people: Vote, vote early and the best way to prevent Donald Trump from messing around with the election is defeat him in a landslide, and that's what I hope will happen. It certainly should, given the kinds of things he said." 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. Authorities in the central city have put on trial the DaNang Smart City app for smartphone users to access public information service and connect with local authorities. Users try to access an online public service. Da Nang has launched a trial mobile app for users to access public services and information easier and faster. VNS Photo Cong Thanh Deputy director of the citys Department of Information and Communications, Tran Van Thach, said all local residents and tourists could download the app to search for information related to public services, tourism, rescue, bus trips, open data, smart car parks and hotlines, or send comments and complaints to the local government. He said the application was seen as a closer step to the smart city goal the city has been following since 2014. He said local authorities were available for all online connections or switchboard 1022; zalo 1022 and chatbot. In 2016, the city launched gopy.danang.gov.vn to get feedback on city services from the local community. The online portal, available in English and Vietnamese, allows residents and tourists to conveniently post opinions and suggestions, as well as complaints on urban, environmental, administrative and tourism-related services. Apps for public bus routes (Dana Bus and Bus Map) are also available from the Apple and Google Play stores. All problems related to security, tourism, public disorder, environmental pollution and administrative procedures sent via the website will be dealt with within three working days. Da Nang was the first city in Vietnam to offer free wireless internet, with a maximum of 20,000 connections at a time for locals and tourists on major streets in the city, including living quarters, schools and beaches. Da Nang plans to become a smart and green city by 2025. VNS Vietnamese-made app approved for New York commuters The Essential Connector a smartphone application for commuters that has been jointly developed by Vietnamese and Swiss information technology engineers has been approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New Jersey regulators on Wednesday approved an energy-efficiency plan allowing Public Service Electric & Gas to spend nearly $1 billion over three years to get customers to reduce their energy consumption with thermostats, LED lighting, and energy-efficient appliances at discount prices. The plan, which the utility called the largest commitment to energy efficiency ever in New Jersey, would direct about $284 million to residential customers and $686 million to commercial and industrial customers. It is a scaled-down version of the Clean Energy Future proposal that PSE&G announced in 2018, which would have spent $2.8 billion over six years on energy efficiency. The plan includes elements aimed at low-income residents, multifamily developments, small businesses, and local governments and nonprofits. New Jerseys ratepayer advocate and large industrial users had initially greeted PSE&Gs effort with wariness, suggesting that the competitive market might provide energy efficiency more effectively than a utility that generates guaranteed profits through higher rates. The utility cut back its original proposal of 22 energy-efficiency programs to 10 to reach an accord with critics who worried that its proposals were too ambitious and expensive. PSE&G said that residential customers will see their combined gas and electric bills increase by $1.27 a month in 2025, or less than 1%, to pay for the programs. But a customer who takes advantage of the full gamut of offerings installing a discounted smart thermostat, energy-efficient heating and air-conditioning, a smart power strip, and LED light bulbs could realize a bill reduction of $17 a month, or 9%, said Michael Jennings, a utility spokesman. The company said the program will deliver $1 billion in net customer savings, create 3,200 direct jobs and 1,100 more indirect jobs, and will help New Jersey avoid eight million metric tons of carbon emissions through 2050. The Clean Energy Future proposal is PSE&Gs latest plan to ramp up infrastructure investments. The company said its plan was a vital step toward achieving Gov. Phil Murphys clean energy agenda, which calls for New Jersey to rely on 100% clean energy by 2050. The energy-efficiency plan was part of a larger $4.1 billion package that included proposals to spend $364 million for electric-vehicle infrastructure, including support for nearly 40,000 EV chargers, $180 million for massive utility-scale battery storage, and $800 million for an Energy Cloud program that includes the installation of wireless smart meters in every customers home. Those proposals, which have generated opposition, are still pending before the Board of Public Utilities. In a related matter, the BPU approved a $365 million budget for the states Clean Energy Fund, which is financed through a statewide surcharge on energy bills to pay for clean energy programs. The budget represents a 5.5% increase over last years budget. But environmentalists complained that the Murphy administration, continuing a practice begun under former Gov. Chris Christie, diverted nearly $200 million from the fund to plug holes in the states budget. The Clean Energy Fund has become the states slush fund, said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. Instead of using the money for clean energy and green jobs, New Jersey keeps using the money to balance the budget. Authorities have announced several arrests after a year-long investigation into alleged sexual assaults of three juveniles at a home in Cape May County. The crimes occurred over about two decades, according to court documents. The investigation began in July 2019 when a juvenile reported being sexually assaulted by Willis C. Allen Jr., 32, of Belleplain, and Ryan N. Roach, 31, of Cape May Court House, at a home on Tarkiln Road in Belleplain, according to the Cape May County Prosecutors Office and New Jersey State Police. Three people were charged between December 2019 and July of this year. Roach and Allen were each charged with first-degree offenses of aggravated sexual assault and conspiring with another to commit aggravated sexual assault, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Teresa Millard, 35, of Villas, was charged in March with the same offenses, though her endangering charge is a second-degree offense, according to the prosecutors office. As the investigation continued, two more victims reported being sexually assaulted at the Tarkiln Road home and search warrants were executed there last month. That led to two additional arrests and more charges against one of the original defendants. Willis Allen Jr. was again charged, this time with one count each of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Vincent W. Allen, 32, of New Brunswick, was charged with one count each of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Their mother, Carol Allen, 78, of Belleplain, was charged with three counts of liability of conduct for another for aggravated sexual assault, a first-degree offense, and five second-degree counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Carol A. Allen allegedly punished one of the victims for reporting abuse to school officials and stated, What happens in this house stays in this house, according to her affidavit of probable cause. She misled and deceived anyone who raised concerns about the children, investigators said. Allen failed to address/acknowledge/intervene/prevent and or report the various sexual assaults and failed to properly supervise the interactions between her adopted sons and other children entrusted to her care, authorities allege in the documents. Roach and Millard remain jailed in Cape May County Correctional Center, while Carol and Willis Allen were released pending trial following detention hearings. Vincent Allen was released on a summons pending future court proceedings. Defendants face 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the first-degree sexual assault charges. Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police Woodbine Station at 609-861-5698, the Cape May County Prosecutors Office at 609-465-1135, or report it anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriffs Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers, 609-889-3597. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. A statement by senior medical students canceling the license exam boycott By Kim Se-jeong Senior medical students who have boycotted the national license exam said Thursday they will end the boycott, a move viewed by the medical community as appropriate after it had raised concern over a possible shortage of doctors next year amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "We express our intention to return to take the national licensing exam given that the nation is expected to suffer a shortage of doctors in the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic," a statement released by the students read. Out of 3,172 qualified applicants, only 446, or 14 percent, actually applied for the exam. The Ministry of Health and Welfare remained firm in saying the students were too late to take this year's exam. The ministry has said accepting any late applications would be difficult, citing public opinion. On Cheong Wa Dae's website, a petition against accepting late applicants has drawn almost 570,000 supporters. Doctors claimed the government should give them a chance, because otherwise, Korea may experience a shortage of doctors in 2021. The licensing exam has already begun, but it's not too late for the applicants to take it, as practical skills tests will be conducted until Oct. 27, while the written exam isn't scheduled until January next year and applicants need to apply separately for that. The boycott started in August, in opposition to a government plan to raise the quota of new doctors by 4,000 over the next 10 years. According to the plan, a new public medical school was to be opened as well. This drew a backlash from doctors who claimed only increasing their numbers would not improve the quality of medical services. Licensed doctors waged a nationwide strike for weeks during which several people died due to the lack of medical care. The doctors finally returned to work after the government decided to scrap its plan. The state's Chief Health Officer has hosed down expectations that Queensland-only cruises might set sail from Brisbane before the COVID-19 pandemic is under control. Jeannette Young said cruise ships remained a risk because a person may travel without showing symptoms of COVID-19. Queensland's chief health officer Jeannette Young says cruise ships magnify infections and it would not be safe to begin even Queensland-wide cruising until "later down the track". (File image) Credit:Chris Hyde "We know that if someone goes onto that cruise ship from wherever they might have the infection and it would spread," Dr Young said. "We saw that as one of the early consequences of this virus. Investigation into $30K embezzlement case against Moscow lawmaker completed Moskva city news agency, Kirill Zykov 09:57 24/09/2020 MOSCOW, September 24 (RAPSI) Investigators have completed probe into the Moscow City Duma lawmaker Oleg Sheremetyev charged with embezzling over 2 million rubles (about $30,000) of budget funds, the Investigative Committees press service has reported. According to the statement, investigators have gathered evidence of Sheremetyevs guilt including videorecords from speed cameras. The case has been forwarded to prosecutors for the indictment approval. Then it will be sent to court for hearing. According to investigators, from November 2019 to February 2020, Sheremetyev monthly prepared and submitted to the Duma office documents on bonus awards ranging from 350,000 to 600,000 rubles for his assistant. The data contained intentionally false information on the fulfillment of highly sensitive tasks by his subordinate. In fact, Sheremetyev embezzled the funds. He allegedly caused damage worth over 2 million rubles to the Moscow budget. The defendant pleaded not guilty. Europe is working on an Amazon-style website to sell hundreds of billions of euros of bank loans which have been soured by the coronavirus crisis, in a bid to shore up the economy and challenge the dominance of big Wall Street debt investors. The blueprint, devised by top European Central Bank (ECB) officials, is part of efforts by the 19-state euro zone to tackle a growing pile of unpaid loans and aims to prevent distressed debt funds from buying them at rock bottom prices. The idea is to open up the market to buyers of smaller portfolios, with an Amazon or ... The Greenland ice sheet owes its existence to the growth of an arc of islands in Southeast Asia -- stretching from Sumatra to New Guinea -- over the last 15 million years, a new study claims. According to an analysis by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara and a research institute in Toulouse, France, as the Australian continent pushed these volcanic islands out of the ocean, the rocks were exposed to rain mixed with carbon dioxide, which is acidic. Minerals within the rocks dissolved and washed with the carbon into the ocean, consuming enough carbon dioxide to cool the planet and allow for large ice sheets to form over North America and Northern Europe. "You have the continental crust of Australia bulldozing into these volcanic islands, giving you really high mountains just south of the equator," said Nicholas Swanson-Hysell, associate professor of earth and planetary science at UC Berkeley and senior author of the study. "So, you have this big increase of land area that is quite steep, in a region where it's warm and wet and a lot of rock types that have the ability to naturally sequester carbon." Starting about 15 million years ago, this tropical mountain-building drew down carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, decreasing the strength of the greenhouse effect and cooling the planet. By about 3 million years ago, Earth's temperature was cool enough to allow snow and ice to remain through the summer and grow into huge ice sheets over the Northern Hemisphere, like that covering Greenland today. Once Northern Hemisphere ice sheets grew, other climate dynamics led to a cycle of glacial maxima and minima every 40,000 to 100,000 years. At the most recent glacial maximum, about 15,000 years ago, massive ice sheets covered most of Canada, the northern portions of the U.S., as well as Scandinavia and much of the British Isles. "If it wasn't for the carbon sequestration that's happening in the Southeast Asian islands, we wouldn't have ended up with the climate that includes a Greenland ice sheet and these glacial and interglacial cycles," Swanson-Hysell said. "We wouldn't have crossed this atmospheric CO2 threshold to initiate Northern Hemisphere ice sheets." The periodic growth and decline of the northern ice sheets -- the cycle of glacial maxima and minima -- is likely postponed, due to human emissions that have increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. "A process that took millions of years we have reversed in 100 years," Swanson-Hysell said. "Over the next tens to hundreds of thousands of years, geological processes in places like Southeast Asia will once again decrease CO2 levels in the atmosphere -- a pace that is frustratingly slow when humanity is facing the impact of current global warming." UC Berkeley doctoral student Yuem Park, Swanson-Hysell and their colleagues, including Francis Macdonald of UC Santa Barbara and Yves Godderis of Geosciences Environnement Toulouse, will publish their findings this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Weathering of rock sequesters carbon Geologists have long speculated about the processes that periodically warm and cool the planet, occasionally covering the entire globe with ice and turning it into a so-called snowball Earth. Once scientists realized that, over the course of millions of years, tectonic processes move land masses around the planet like massive jigsaw puzzle pieces, they sought a connection between continental movements -- and collisions -- and ice ages. Cycles of Earth's orbit are responsible for the 40,000- or 100,000-year fluctuations in temperature that overlay the long-term warming and cooling. The rise of the Himalayas in Asia in the mid-latitudes over the past 50 million years has been a prime candidate for cooling and the start of a glacial climate after an extended geologic interval without ice sheets. A few years ago, however, Swanson-Hysell and Macdonald saw a correlation between mountain-building in tropical areas and the onset of time intervals with ice ages over the past 500 million years. In 2017, they proposed that a major ice age 445 million years ago was triggered by mountain- building in the tropics, and they followed that in 2019 with a more complete correlation of the last four time intervals of glacial climate and collisions between continents and tropical island arcs. They argue that the combination of increased exposure of rock with minerals that can sequester carbon and a plenitude of warm tropical rain is particularly effective in pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The process involves chemical dissolution of the rocks that consume carbon dioxide, which is then locked in carbonate minerals that form limestone rock in the ocean. The calcium within seashells that you find on the beach may have come out of a tropical mountain on the other side of the world, Swanson-Hysell said. "We built up a new database of these types of mountain-building events and then reconstructed the latitude at which they happened," Swanson-Hysell said. "Then we saw, hey, there is a lot of cooling when there is a lot of this type of mountain being built in the tropics, which is the Southeast Asian setting. The Southeast Asian islands are the best analog for processes that we also see further in the past." For the current paper, Park, Swanson-Hysell and Macdonald teamed up with Godderis to model more precisely what carbon dioxide levels would be with changes in the size of the Southeast Asian islands. The researchers first recreated the sizes of the islands as they grew over the last 15 million years, focusing primarily on the largest: Java, Sumatra, the Philippines, Sulawesi and New Guinea. They calculated that the area of the islands increased from 0.3 million square kilometers 15 million years ago to 2 million square kilometers today. UC Santa Barbara graduate student Eliel Anttila, who was an undergraduate student in earth and planetary science at UC Berkeley and is a co-author of the paper, contributed to this aspect of the research. They then used Godderis' GEOCLIM computer model to estimate how the growth of these islands altered carbon levels in the atmosphere. Together with UC Berkeley postdoctoral scholar Pierre Maffre, who recently obtained his Ph.D. in Godderis' lab, they updated the model to account for the variable effect of different rock types. The model is linked with a climate model in order to relate CO2 levels to global temperatures and precipitation. They found that the increase of land area along the southeast edge of the Pacific corresponded with global cooling, as reconstructed from oxygen isotope compositions in ocean sediments. The carbon dioxide levels inferred from the model also match some measurement-based estimates, though Swanson-Hysell admits that estimating CO2 levels more than a million years ago is difficult and uncertain. Based on their model, chemical weathering in the Southeast Asian islands alone diminished CO2 levels from more than 500 parts per million (ppm) 15 million years ago to approximately 400 ppm 5 million years ago and, finally, to pre-industrial levels of 280 ppm. Fossil fuel-burning has now raised the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 411 ppm -- levels that haven't been seen on Earth for millions of years. While the threshold for Arctic glaciation is estimated to be about 280 ppm of carbon dioxide, the threshold for ice sheet formation at the South Pole is much higher: about 750 ppm. That's why the Antarctic ice sheets began forming much earlier, about 34 million years ago, than those in the Arctic. While the researchers' model doesn't allow them to isolate the climatic effects of the rise of the Himalayas, their Southeast Asian island scenario alone can account for the appearance of Northern Hemisphere ice sheets. They did explore the effect of volcanic events occurring around the same time, including massive lava flows, or flood basalts, such as those in Ethiopia and North America (Columbian traps). Though the weathering of such rocks has been proposed as an ice age trigger, the model shows that this activity played a minor role, compared to the rise of the Southeast Asian islands. "These results highlight that the Earth's climate state is particularly sensitive to changes in tropical geography," the authors conclude. Swanson-Hysell credits the campus's France-Berkeley Fund for providing resources for an initial collaboration with Godderis that led to a large collaborative grant from the National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Frontier Research in Earth Science program to further pursue the research resulting in this paper. The French-American team plans to model other past ice ages, including the one in the Ordovician period 445 million years ago that, in 2017, Swanson-Hysell and Macdonald proposed was triggered by a collision similar to that occurring today in the Southeast Asian islands. That collision took place during the first phase of Appalachian mountain-building, when the present-day eastern U.S. was located in the tropics. ### The research was supported by the France-Berkeley Fund and the NSF (1926001, 1925990). We are committed to growing our multi-family portfolio in several markets and are confident that Janet is the right person to lead this initiative. Conor Commercial Real Estate is pleased to announce that Janet Protas has joined the firm as Senior Vice President Multi-Family. In this role, Janet will be responsible for overseeing multi-family efforts and growing its development portfolio. Were very excited to add another multi-family expert to the team, stated David Friedman, President of Conor. We are committed to growing our multi-family portfolio in several markets and are confident that Janet is the right person to lead this initiative. Protas comes to Conor with 30 years of experience in the real estate industry. She has worked in multiple markets across the United States with a focus on multi-family and mixed-use developments. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Business Administration and later completed her MBA at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton Business School. In her role prior to joining Conor, Protas oversaw the Midwest development portfolio at RPT, where she was charged with re-envisioning and re-developing obsolete shopping centers into multi-family and mixed-use projects. I am honored to join the Conor team, remarked Protas. The firm has a stellar reputation, and I look forward to expanding their multi-family portfolio. Protas is the second multi-family executive Conor has hired this year as part of their re-emergence into the market. Jason Young joined the firm in May as Vice President Multi-Family and Dallas Market Officer to launch Conors multi-family efforts in Texas. Protas will initially join Young focusing on Texas markets while expanding Conors multi-family platform into additional markets next year. More information about Janet Protas is available at the companys About Conor page at https://www.conor.com/about-us/team-members/. A leader from the al-Ghaith Forces has been arrested for allegedly violating instructions and dealing cars illegally reports Nadaa Syria. The Fourth Division militia, affiliated with the Syrian regime, arrested a settlement leader in the city of Muadamiyat al-Sham, in the western countryside of Damascus, on charges of going against the instructions of the military leadership. Media sources reported that members of the office of Maher al-Assad arrested the leader of the al-Ghaith Forces militia, Abu Malik, and three militia members, noting that the charges against him are, in addition to violating the instructions of the military leadership, engaging in illegal car dealing operations. According to Sowt Al-Asima, the so-called Abu Malik is a former dissident from the Assad regime, who ended up reconciling with Assad after the settlement agreement, which stipulated that those who do not support him have to leave to northern Syria. He took command of a group of the al-Ghaith Forces, a part of the Fourth Division. In September 2016, the Syrian regime spread its control over the cities and towns of Western Ghouta, after besieging and launching a military campaign there, which ended with the signing of the settlement agreement. 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. A Delhi court Thursday sent former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, arrested under the stringent anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, in a case related to the communal violence in north east Delhi in February, to judicial custody till October 22. Khalid was present before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat through video conferencing at the end of his police custody. Khalid was arrested on September 13 in the case. Police did not seeks his further custody. In the FIR, police has claimed that the communal violence was a "premeditated conspiracy" which was allegedly hatched by Khalid and two others. He has also been booked for the offences of sedition, murder, attempt to murder, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and rioting. Khalid had allegedly given provocative speeches at two different places and appealed to the citizens to come out on streets and block the roads during the visit of US President Donald Trump to spread propaganda at international level about how minorities in India are being tortured, the FIR alleged. In this conspiracy, firearms, petrol bombs, acid bottles and stones were collected at numerous homes, FIR claimed. Co-accused Danish was allegedly given the responsibility to gather people from two different places to take part in the riots, police alleged. Women and children were made to block the roads under the Jafrabad metro station on February 23 to create tension amidst the neighborhood people, the FIR said. Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. The coronavirus pandemic has meant a lot of changes for singletons who are actively dating, with health experts warning everyone to limit their physical contact with people they don't live with. Doctors, epidemiologists, and even government organizations have advised people to think twice about swapping spit, with several going so far as to suggest wearing face masks during sex. As it turns out, dating safety looked shockingly similar during the world's last major pandemic, the Spanish flu of 1918 that is, sans the masked sex recommendation with kissing discouraged and even outlawed in some areas around the world and amorous couples finding creative ways to smooch and still stay safe. Deja vu! The coronavirus pandemic has meant a lot of changes for singletons who are actively dating and singles faced similar restrictions and warnings during the 1918 Spanish flu Flashback: Several old newspapers articles reveal that people were warned against kissing during the last pandemic, including this one from The Plattsburgh Sentinel in August 1918 Government warnings to wear masks during sex have made headlines this year and have generally been met with incredulity. But the dangers of kissing when an extremely contagious virus is spreading have been clear since at least a century ago, when health experts' warnings to abstain from mouth-to-mouth contact made headlines as well. In a 1918 Democratic Banner article, surgeon general Rupert Blue said people should avoid kissing among other things in those uncertain times. Meanwhile, according to Cosmopolitan.com, a 1918 article in the Tombstone Epitaph that blared: 'Kissing Is Barred While Influenza Is Lurking About.' The Plattsburgh sentinel, a New York paper, wrote on August 23, 1918 that people should avoid kissing their friends, relatives, or 'best beloved' if they have a runny cold. Mwah! An article in the Daily News in Perth, Washington, on March 26, 1919 said: 'A kiss should be a sacred rite, only indulged in between people who have for each other a deep and real love Mouth to mouth: The Asbury Park Press called kissing an 'unhealthy habit' In a November 2, 1918 issue of The Chat, a line read: 'Kissing should be stopped these days. If you must show your affection, kiss on the cheek or forehead.' And a January 13, 1919 issue of The Seattle Star noted that in the late 1800s, when Dr. Cyrus Edson said kissing spread the flu, people laughed but they were no longer laughing as the Spanish flu ran its course. Over in Perth, Washington on March 26, 1919, the Daily News opined on kissing during the flu, saying: 'A kiss should be a sacred rite, only indulged in between people who have for each other a deep and real love. 'Let us at least practise care and refrain from that effusive and generally totally unnecessary kissing which is practised in daily by a multitude of people The public should take a firm stand, at least until this devastating epidemic is over, and be contented with a hand-shake and thus avoid the risk of passing from lip to lip the germs of "flu."' And an August 17, 1919 issue of the New York paper The Sun offered more practical advice with a headline that declared: 'If You Must Kiss, Kiss Via Kerchief, is Warning.' 'Further self-denial was urged upon New Yorkers yesterday as a result of the possibility that Spanish influenza may make its appearance,' read the article. Changes: A January 1919 issue of The Seattle Star noted that in the late 1800s, when Dr. Cyrus Edson said kissing spread the flu, people laughed but they were no longer laughing Smooches! If people must kiss, experts said, they should at least do it through a handkerchief 'Dr. Royal S. Copeland, Commissioner of Health, officially advised against kissing, "except through a handkerchief." Although perhaps distasteful to some devotees of the sport, it was explained in the connection that the precaution would be found both simple and effective as a means of evading the disease.' Health Department authorities suggested the 'handkerchief kiss' be brought into vogue 'at once.' While handkerchiefs may certainly have lowered the likelihood of spreading infection, some people found others creative but less effective ways to protect themselves. An old ad for an 'antiseptic' kissing screen ran in the magazine Popular Science Monthly, promising a 'Pure and Germless kiss.' 'Scientists warn us that kisses are unhygienic transmitting all sorts of dangerous disease germs,' the ad read. 'Most of us are willing to run this risk, but there are always a few careful ones who strive after the pure and perfect kiss. One of them has invented this kissing screen, which might easily be used as a ping-pong racket in its idle moments.' Seems suspect! Some people found others creative but less effective ways to protect themselves Ineffective: An old ad for an 'antiseptic' kissing screen ran in the magazine Popular Science Monthly, promising a 'Pure and Germless kiss' The screen would form a barrier between lovebirds' lips but as it appeared to be made of mesh, it wouldn't have done much to stop the virus from spreading. Though quite useless, the kissing screen was adopted by several companies that produced versions and advertised in newspapers. In some cases, abstaining from kissing wasn't just good advice it was the law. One old newspaper clip from Cincinnati, Ohio discussed an 'anti-kissing' ordinance that the mayor 'annulled for soldiers coming home from war.' 'We will look the other way,' the mayor is quoted as saying. Roi Mandel, a researcher at the genealogy platform MyHeritage, told Cosmopolitan that he found that in 1920, a man in Madrid was arrested for kissing his wife in the street. Engaged? People looking to avoid meeting up in person might have phoned one another but phone companies were overwhelmed by the pandemic, according to a 1918 clip from The Chat Not much has changed! People are being warned again to limit physical contact, with experts suggesting wearing masks (like the woman pictured; the man's is too low) even during sex There were other ways that dating changed in 1918 and 1919, too. With quarantines and other restrictions, it became harder for singles to meet new people. 'A number of what were considered frivolous gatherings like circuses, local fairs, that kind of thing many of them were banned during the first and second waves of the pandemic,' Naomi Rogers, PhD, professor of the history of medicine at Yale University, told Cosmo. Today, online daters can meet on apps and get to know someone over text message and video chat which certainly isn't ideal, but is at least an improvement over a hundred years ago. Back then, those looking for a partner would sometimes put ads in classified sections of newspapers to get a date or a spouse. While chatting on the phone was an option, the New York Post points to an article that asked people to 'Think before you telephone.' 'Is this a necessary call?' it reads. 'Two thousand persons connected with the telephone company are sick, 300 have died in this pandemic. Be merciful.' Winners of the 2020 Grand Stevie Awards are Yapi Kredi, LLYC, Magnet20, mensemedia, and more. Nominees in the 2020 IBAs were not able to apply for the Best of the IBA Awards directly. Winners were determined by a points system based on the total number of awards won in the IBAs. The Stevie Awards have announced the winners of the Best of the IBA Awards in The 2020 (17th Annual) International Business Awards, the worlds premier business awards competition. Nominees in the 2020 IBAs were not able to apply for the Best of the IBA Awards directly. Winners were determined by a points system based on the total number of awards won in the IBAs, with a Gold Stevie win counting for three points, a Silver Stevie win for two points, and a Bronze Stevie win for 1.5 points. This years Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners in The International Business Awards were announced on 9 September. The winners of the Best of the IBA Awards will be presented with Grand Stevie Award trophies, and recognized during The 17th Annual International Business Awards virtual ceremony on 1 December. Winners of the 2020 Grand Stevie Awards are: Most Honored Organization: The third largest private bank in Turkey, Yapi Kredi of Istanbul wins this honor with 43 points earned by Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie-winning entries for their website, mobile site, business technology solutions, and COVID-19 response. Most Honored Public Relations Agency: LLYC, a global communications and public affairs consulting firm headquartered in Madrid, Spain, wins this honor with 42.5 points earned by Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie-winning entries for communication campaigns, videos, publications, and COVID-19 response. This is the third time in the past four years they have earned this honor. Most Honored Marketing Agency: Magnet20, Istanbul, Turkey, which creates human experiences with products, services, and platforms to transform brands and grow businesses, wins with 9.5 points for Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevies on behalf of GSK Turkey & TOG. In 2019 they won the Grand Stevie for Most Honored Interactive Services Agency. Most Honored Interactive Services Agency: mensemedia Gesellschaft fur Neue Medien mbH of Dusseldorf, Germany earns this honor with 10.5 points for Gold and Bronze Stevie-winning nominations on behalf of Mercedes-Benz Buses Online. Top 10: These are the top Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie winners among all other organizations honored in the 2020 IBAs, who will also receive Grand Stevie Awards: 1. Melissa Sones Consulting, New York, New York USA (41 points) 2. DP DHL, worldwide (37.5 points) 3. (tie) Jeunesse Global, Lake Mary, Florida USA (32) Ayala Group of Companies, Manila, Philippines (32) 5. (tie) Thai Life Insurance Plc., Bangkok, Thailand (31) PJ Lhuillier, Inc (PJLI), Makati City, Philippines (31) Ooredoo Group, Doha, Qatar (31) 8. PAIRRELATIONS, Centennial, Colorado USA (29) 9. Turkiye Is Bankas, Istanbul, Turkey (29) 10. Makers Nutrition, Hauppauge, New York USA (25) Of all the outstanding organizations and achievements that were recognized among this years IBA nominations, these 14 organizations stand out as the ones with the widest breadth of achievement, said Maggie Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards. The Best of the IBA Awards honor organizations that show an especially strong dedication to honoring the work of their employees, the projects they produce and execute, and their commitment to customers. After the uncertainty 2020 has brought upon the world, these honorees should be especially proud of their best of recognition. We look forward to celebrating Grand Stevie winners during our virtual awards ceremony on 1 December. The International Business Awards feature a wide variety of categories to recognize achievement in every facet of work life, including management awards, new product awards, marketing awards, PR awards, customer service awards, website awards, and more. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award placements in the 2020 IBAs were determined by the average scores of more than 250 professionals worldwide in the three-month judging process. For more information about The International Business Awards, including a complete list of all Stevie Award winners in the 2020 competition, visit http://www.StevieAwards.com/IBA. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Each year more than 12,000 nominations from more than 70 nations are judged by more than 1,000 professionals in Stevies competitions. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. It is finally confirmed! Chiranjeevi's Lucifer remake will now be directed by VV Vinayak and not Saaho director Sujeeth. Though there were speculations about the same in recent time, the Megastar confirmed the news during a media interaction. Reportedly, Chiru said that Sujeeth had requested to excuse himself from the project. As per reports, the director cited his marriage proceedings as the reason for backing off, and also added that he was not able to concentrate on the script and pre-production work at this point. Later, Chiranjeevi is said to have approached director VV Vinayak to take control of the project as its new director, to which the latter gave his nod. Lucifer's remake will mark the third collaboration of the actor-director after Tagore (2003) and Khaidi No. 150 (2017). The highly anticipated project is bankrolled by Chiru-Ram Charan's Konidela Production Company. For the uninitiated, Lucifer is the official Telugu remake of Malayalam blockbuster film Lucifer that starred Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas and Vivek Oberoi in lead roles. It is to be noted that Chiranjeevi wanted a few changes in the original script of the Malayalam film so as to appeal to the Telugu audience. The original version was deprived of songs and a lead heroine, which will be included in the Telugu version, to an extent that it doesn't hamper the actual theme of the film. Secondly, the political orientation of Lucifer. In the Malayalam version, there are many satirical lines on the government, which has been asked to tone down by Chiranjeevi. Lucifer being a multi-starrer movie, the makers of the Telugu version will require to rope in a few biggies of the industry. On a related note, Chiranjeevi will resume the shoot of Koratala Siva's Acharya in October 2020. The film will also feature Ram Charan, Kajal Aggarwal and Soon Sood in key roles. Acharya Team To Go For A Trial Shoot Without Megastar Chiranjeevi? Acharya: Makers Of Chiranjeevi Starrer Refute Copyright Allegations; Release Statement Hi folks, the wife and I are booked for 2 weeks beginning 31st October for Fuertentura but will be unable to go if we still have to isolate for 14 days on returning to the UK. We had a magical 10 days at the end of August staying in Argostoli so I am toying with the idea of coming back for 10 days beginning of November if the Fuerteventura holiday falls through. I realise we will not be able to travel direct when we fly back to the UK, it would be via Athens.I noted that Greece mainland has now just gone over the 20 cases per 100000 population which is not acceptable to the UK government,by transitting through Athens would we be classed as arriving from Greece and not Kefalonia? Could any residents tell me if there would still be plenty of choice for eating out on the Island for those first 2 weeks in November? Thanks for listening. It was very early morning on Laurentian Universitys campus, 45 years ago. In the shadow of the flagpole lurked two students. Furtive, laughing nervously, the two accomplices believed in the importance of the gesture they were about to make. Michel Dupuis and Yves Tasse waited for the security guard to finish his tour before raising an unknown flag on the mast. Emblazoned with a green trillium and a white fleur-de-lys, the first Franco-Ontarian flag which would one day be the most emblematic symbol of francophone Ontario, and which this week became Ontarios newest official symbol floated for an hour before it was lowered. (The pair lowered it themselves in order to safeguard it.) The flag would first officially fly on Sept. 25, 1975. The flag which has rallied generations of Franco-Ontarians was born of a tumultuous, hopeful decade of francophone resistance and community-building in Ontario. In Sudbury, in particular, francophones were seeking to speak themselves as a community and as full and equal citizens of Ontario. Among this rising tide of visionaries, agitators and founders are the fathers and the mother of the Franco-Ontarian flag, united in their shared aspiration to give our community a symbol that would bring us together. It was at the Great Hall at Laurentian, in 1975, that these great friends, all young men the teacher and mentor, Dr. Gaetan Gervais; an employee and an alumnus, Dr. Donald Obonsawin; and three spirited students, including Michel Dupuis, Normand Rainville and my own father Yves Tasse discussed symbols, colours and community over morning coffee. It was Jacqueline England, an administrative assistant at Laurentian, who would sew by hand that very first Franco-Ontarian flag. This flag would belong to all of francophone Ontario, dreamed these young founders. And over 45 years, that is precisely what took place. To Franco-Ontarians, the flag is the stuff of legend and allows us to imagine what we, as a community, can achieve as a collective force. Earlier this week, the Ontario legislature announced that the Franco-Ontarian flag would become an official emblem of Ontario in its own right, alongside the Ontario flag and the white trillium. Were not only celebrating the first raising of the Franco-Ontarian flag, but what the flag symbolizes: our presence in Ontario, our history, our heritage, our successes, and our cultural, social, political, economic and educational contributions, not only in Ontario, but in Canada and around the world, Obonsawin tells me. Obonsawin is Abenaki and the first Indigenous student to graduate from Laurentian with a B.A. As we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the flag and Laurentian Universitys 60th anniversary, we honour the creators of the Franco-Ontarian flag. We celebrate our community, which has welcomed this flag with open arms since its creation. Above all, as the flag becomes one of Ontarios official symbols, we celebrate the Franco-Ontarian flag and the legacy of the community we bring to all of Ontario and Canada. TROY A Columbia County judge took less than three hours Thursday to acquit former Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove of all charges, including perjury and allegations that he skewed a grand jury presentation to clear the police sergeant who fatally shot Edson Thevenin in 2016. The 51-year-old Abelove, who faced possible prison time and the loss of his law license if convicted of felony perjury, said he was relieved by Judge Jonathan Nichols' verdict in the non-jury trial. Ive maintained my innocence in this matter since the very first day, Abelove told reporters in the courtroom, just two floors beneath his former office. "Ive never indicated at all that I did anything wrong because I believe I didnt do anything wrong." To have been exonerated by the court is extremely satisfying ... now we can move on to the next chapter in life, he said. Abelove praised his attorney, William Dreyer, who in his closing argument earlier Thursday insisted Abelove acted in good faith. Both Abelove and Dreyer said Nichols, who had initially dismissed the case against Abelove in 2018 before it was reinstated on appeal, was an impartial judge of the facts. Abelove waived his right to a jury trial in favor of having Nichols decide the case. After 3 a.m. on April 17, 2016, Troy Sgt. Randall French stopped Thevenin on suspicion of drunken driving. Thevenin, 37, of Watervliet fled; his car ended up smashed against a barricade on the Collar City Bridge next to French's patrol vehicle. According to Frenchs account to investigators, French needed to fire his weapon because he was pinned by Thevenins vehicle. He fired eight shots, striking Thevenin seven times. Prosecutors for Attorney General Letitia James alleged that Abelove, the countys top prosecutor between 2014 and 2018, intentionally rushed the shooting before the 16-member grand jury, withheld critical evidence from the panel, and granted French immunity a move that meant he could never be charged. The sergeant died earlier this year of COVID-19. The prosecutors said Abelove, who appeared in 2017 before a grand jury that was examining his handling of the Thevenin case, falsely testified that he had allowed another officer, Joshua Comitale, to testify with immunity before a grand jury examining the 2015 fatal shooting of Thaddeus Faison. Abelove testified Thursday that he was acting on information from his chief assistant, Jessica Hall, who earlier testified that she had misspoken when she told Abelove that Comitale had received immunity. Outside the courthouse, crowds of protesters called for Abeloves conviction. They blasted music, held signs and announced on a bullhorn when Abelove was preparing to leave the building. The trial wrapped up just a day after Kentucky's attorney general announced that only one officer would be charged in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, 26, who was killed by Louisville police in March during a raid on her apartment. That announcement prompted demonstrations around the nation Wednesday night. Thevenins mother, Gertha Depas, who attended the trial every day, told the Times Union she was not surprised at all by Nichols verdict. I believe it was already planned, Depas said. "(Nichols) was never intending to find him guilty anyway. Thevenins cousin, Jermica Depas, said she believed the judge completely disregarded the law. She said she thought the judge would convict Abelove of one of the charges. It was clear that Abelove took the law in his own hands, abused the law and denied society and the complete Troy community of justice and then the judge did it again, she said. Jermica Depas stood beside Thevenins brother, James Thevenin, who added, To say that I am shocked by this, no. ... The judge just had completely zero disregard for anything. The official misconduct charges against Abelove, who was admitted to the bar in 1995, were related to his alleged failure to show the 2016 grand jury a photograph showing the bullet holes in Thevenins car, while the other count was for granting immunity to French. Theres no official misconduct in this case and certainly no perjury, Dreyer told the judge in his closing argument. He said Abelove was acting on his discretion, in good faith and in his jurisdiction. He may be hard-nosed, he may be opinionated and he may be rude sometimes, Dreyer said. I think every DA Ive ever met has one or two or three of those qualities. Abelove was intellectually honest, said Dreyer, who defended Abelove with fellow attorneys Lauren Owens and Joshua Friedman. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. In a roughly two-hour summation, Nick Viorst, acting chief of the attorney generals special investigations and prosecution unit, suggested that the most plausible explanation for Abeloves alleged perjury before the 2017 grand jury was that he panicked. He was fielding a lot of difficult questions about why he had immunized Sgt. French, and he could tell that his convoluted argument of somehow granting immunity and somehow it didnt make the grand jury meaningless was not going over well with the grand jury, Viorst said. He said Abelove had been attempting to normalize his tactics by claiming the office had immunized prior officers at the grand jury. Key to the case is Gov. Andrew Cuomos executive order in 2015 to have the attorney generals office investigate police killings of unarmed civilians. Viorst told the judge it was impossible for Abelove to know French was innocent in the short period of time between the shooting and his grand jury presentation. Viorst said there were six prior homicide cases indicted in Rensselaer County since Abelove became district attorney in January 2015 and that Abeloves office had never presented any of the cases before a grand jury in less than 40 days after the incident. In the Faison shooting which was caught on video Abeloves office took 11 weeks to present the case to a grand jury. Viorst said Abelove had a broad duty not to tank the grand jury looking into the Thevenin shooting. He noted that not one attorney who testified at the trial had heard of an instance in which the only person who could be charged by a grand jury had been granted immunity to testify before one. He said prosecutors need to, at a minimum, put in an honest effort to investigate cases such as Thevenins death, to acknowledge the sanctity of the life lost. Viorst said Abelove made no such that effort after the shooting of Thevenin. Joel Abelove prepared a half-baked rush job that didnt even bear a slight significance to a search for the truth and then had the audacity to suggest it was to promote justice for Edson Thevenin , Viorst said. The result is a family that is forever denied closure and a community that rightly questions whether justice could be possible, he said. Michael Rose, a Manhattan attorney who represents Thevenins widow, Cinthia Thevenin, and two sons in a pending federal lawsuit they filed against the city of Troy, thanked "the office of the attorney general, who put everything they had into this case and did a wonderful job We dont agree with the decision today," he said. "The evidence overwhelmingly showed that Mr. Abelove did not carry out his duties as the district attorney." Evidence was not presented in a fair and impartial way, as was his duty as a public official, Rose said of the 2016 grand jury. Were thankful that in the United States we have the right to a jury trial. Edson Thevenins family will have their day in court; a jury of their peers will have the opportunity to evaluate the conduct of the Troy Police Department and make a fair and impartial decision. We will not be waiving our right to a jury trial. Brendan J. Lyons contributed reporting. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24 2020 The formation of the civilian security guard (Pam Swakarsa) in Indonesias tumultuous November 1998 regime change ended in tragedy. The government and the military turned a deaf ear to calls from opposition leaders to dissolve the force, resulting in fatal clashes between Pam Swakarsa and the masses clamoring for democracy. Members of the guard were recruited from mass organizations known for pro-government leanings and, most of the time, practiced thuggery. They were supported and trained by security authorities and deployed to protect the regimes interests on their behalf. Now, after 22 years, the National Police appears to be resurrecting the long-buried force. Through National Police Chief Regulation No.4/2020, signed Aug. 5 but only announced recently, Pam Swakarsa will be called upon again to help the police maintain security and public order. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Industry leaders have responded to the Chancellor's new schemes to help support workers through the coronavirus pandemic after the furlough initiative is dropped at end of October. The existence of both the newly configured Jobs Support Scheme and amended SEISS (to help the self-employed) were commended, though the policies themselves were far from favourably received, being described as a "devastating blow" and leaving "many hundreds of thousands of workers in events, arts and cultural parts of the economy with a grim future." You can read more about the government's policies here. You can read full responses below: DCMS Committee Chair Julian Knight MP said: "We welcome this economy-wide intervention from the Chancellor. However, it still leaves many hundreds of thousands of workers in events, arts and cultural parts of the economy with a grim future. "The truth is, three times as many people in these sectors are currently on furlough than the national average, which suggests that the Job Support Scheme may not be able to stop unprecedented redundancies and many organisations from facing extinction." Jon Morgan, director of the Theatres Trust said: "The Chancellor's announcement today of the new Jobs Support Scheme will provide some respite for those theatres who are able to find ways of opening their buildings and of putting on work. For some theatres, this scheme will help them survive as it means they are no longer facing a cliff edge in their finances when the furlough scheme ends. "But sadly it will not benefit most theatres and we fear that it will not be enough to stem the flow of redundancies across the sector nor ultimately to protect the fabric of our cultural landscape. Following six months without their main source of income, theatre reserves are already gravely depleted. With no way of reopening safely and viably on the horizon for many theatres, the future of the sector is still very much in jeopardy. "Theatres Trust welcomes the Chancellor's announcement that VAT on goods and services in the tourism and hospitality sectors will be held at 5 per cent until the end of March. The extension of support for the self-employed, which make up 70 per cent of the theatre sector's workforce, is also welcome, although we hope the new scheme will plug the gaps in the previous provision." Incorporated Society of Musicians' chief executive, Deborah Annetts, said: "While we welcome much of today's announcement from the Chancellor which will help our venues many of which are on a cliff edge, it is a devastating blow for the thousands of self-employed musicians who have had no income since March and still cannot return to work while venues remain closed. The UK music industry is a hotbed of world-leading talent which makes a huge contribution to our economy and global influence, so it is vital that freelancers are not forgotten and measures are put in place to help them until they can work again. "Many musicians have already fallen through the gaps in the Self Employment Income Support Scheme and will continue to be excluded under the new measures. In addition, reducing support down to just 20 per cent of average monthly trading profits will not provide an adequate safety net for our members when they are unable to generate any income at all. "The government must deliver on its pledge to ensure there is parity between employees and the self-employed by maintaining the existing level of support provided by the SEISS and expanding the eligibility criteria. These are dynamic entrepreneurs who will be back on their feet as soon as the sector can reopen, so any support measures need only last until the necessary safety precautions are eased." Peter Heath, Managing Director of Plasa, and co-founder of #WeMakeEvents: "The live events industry welcomes the announcement of Sunak's new job support scheme, which will provide some form of relief for companies in the sector. Yet, with the increased restrictions introduced by Government earlier this week, it's looking unlikely that the sector will be able to return to work in a way that is financially viable over the next six months. There's simply no work to return to, with demand drying up in line with social distancing measures. "As a result, the majority of businesses in our sector will not be able to generate sufficient revenue to support their contribution towards employees' salaries, nor will they be able to contract the huge self-employed community the events industry has become so dependent upon. This is why the #WeMakeEvents campaign will continue to highlight the plight of those affected until either government provides the requisite support or provides clarity on how current initiatives can benefit live events workers." US President Donald Trump on Wednesday refused to commit himself to allow a peaceful transfer of power if he lost his November 3 re-election bid, raising the largely unfounded prospect of widespread fraud in mail-in ballots. If it was a fair and free election, Trump claimed, there will be continuation of power, and not transfer. This is not the first time he was non-committal on the issue, taking the same stance most recently in an interview to Fox News. And as a candidate in 2016, he had refused to say he will accept the outcome of the election if he lost. Well, were going to have to see what happens, Trump said on Wednesday when asked by a reporter at a White House briefing if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power. You know that. Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster. Trump has been campaigning against large-scale use of mail-in ballots for the upcoming elections, alleging, without any evidence, that it will be used for election fraud by Democrats. There are two kinds of mailing ballot systems: universal mail-in voting, when states send ballots to all eligible voters; and absentee balloting, when a voter is sent a mail on request. President Trump himself has voted by mail. In 2016, nearly a quarter of all votes polled were cast by mail. More states are resorting to widespread use of mail-in voting for the November 3 elections because of concerns about the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic. Get rid of the ballots and youll have a very ...very peaceful ... there wont be a transfer, frankly, Trump said at the briefing, adding, therell be a continuation. As before, President Trumps refusal to give a commitment kicked up a storm. What country are we in? Im being facetious, said Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president when asked for a response to the presidents remarks. I said what country are we in? Look, he says the most irrational things. I dont know what to say. Backlash came also from Republicans. Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus, said Mitt Romney, a Republican senator and a former candidate for president, referring to the unrest in the former Soviet nation caused by the sitting presidents efforts to cling on to power in an allegedly rigged election. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable, he added. Liz Cheney, a Republican congresswoman, said: The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. Americas leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath. Thorolds two Catholic elementary schools will be consolidating students under one roof thanks to a $5-million provincially-funded project. The Niagara Catholic District School Board was officially given the green light Monday to construct an addition to Monsignor Clancy elementary. Construction of the addition is slated to be complete in 2022. The addition to the existing school will allow the new building, to be called Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, to also teach students from St. Charles Catholic elementary. The school name is a nod to Catholic educations past in Thorold, as Our Lady of the Holy Rosary was the name of an elementary school which opened in 1928 and closed in 1999. It is also the name of Thorolds Catholic Church parish. St. Charles currently includes students from kindergarten through Grade 3 at 25 Whyte Ave. N, who for years have had to move over to Monsignor Clancy, located at 41 Collier Rd., for grades 4 through 8 before moving on to high school. The Catholic board, along with Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce and Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff, announced the funding approval. A.T. Clancy Catholic School, named for Monsignor Aloysius Treaner Clancy who was the pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary parish in the 1950s and 60s, opened in 1964 for grade 6 to 8 students. In 1989, monsignor Clancy began to transition into a secondary school before reverting to elementary status in 1999, following amalgamation of the Welland County and Lincoln County Catholic school boards in 1998. Provincial funding includes a capital priorities grant of $3.4 million and a child care funding grant of $1.5 million for a total of $5,040,382. The plan to consolidate the two Catholic elementary schools in Thorold has been discussed for quite some time, said Catholic board director of education Camillo Cipriano in a media release. We have been functioning as a single community under two roofs for a long time, said Dan Trainor, principal of Monsignor Clancy. The community has patiently waited for this; and deserves this opportunity for families to be together at school. Since this process began, family support has contributed to the success of two schools functioning as one., said Susy Walsh, principal of St. Charles elementary. Highlights of the addition and renovation include: 104 new pupil places, which will allow for 130 junior and senior kindergarten students A five-room kindergarten addition 49 licensed child care spaces A three-room child care centre renovation The board said construction is set to begin in October and is anticipated to last 12-16 months. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary will house 700 students. Charges against police who fatally shoot people in the line of duty are rare, and convictions of officers charged with murder or manslaughter for fatally shooting people are even less common. The reasons, experts say, are that police have considerable latitude to use deadly force under the law. And juries trust them, though experts wonder if this summers wave of protests and videos of officers using brute force on demonstrators could chip away at that. New Delhi, Sep 24 : Facebook on Thursday said it has joined hands with early stage venture capital fund Matrix Partners to scale small businesses in India by providing them with timely digital skilling support. The move comes barely a week after the social networking giant announced a grant of $4.3 million (Rs 32 crore) for more than 3,000 small businesses in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru impacted by Covid-19. The tie-up with Matrix Partners is a part of Facebook's VC Brand Incubator Programme that collaborates with venture capital funds to help early-stage small and medium businesses (SMBs) to maximise their digital potential. In light of the pandemic, Facebook has taken the programme online to ensure continued skilling and support for small businesses even in these times. "Facebook is committed to supporting the growth of small businesses in India, and this charter is stronger than ever as we work towards enabling their recovery from the pandemic," Archana Vohra, Director, Small and Medium Businesses at Facebook India, said in a statement. With the tie-up with Matrix Partners India, the program also completes one year during which it has collaborated with six VC Funds -- Sauce.VC, Fireside Ventures, SAIF Partners, Sequoia Capital, DSG Ventures, and Matrix Partners India. During this period, the programme has skilled, trained and mentored more than 150 brands at various stages of their growth journey. Matrix Partners India is a leading early-stage investor that partners closely with SMBs across sectors including consumer technology, business-to-business, enterprise, and fintech among others. In India, among many other brands, they have also invested in marquee companies such as Ola, Quikr, Practo, Dailyhunt, Mswipe, Country Delight, and Razorpay among others. "We've been early backers in many challenger brands from across the spectrum -- eCommerce, gaming, CPG, neo-banking, healthcare, content - to name a few, and we're thrilled to see them create world-beating products and leverage Facebook's platform to reach their end consumers, and bring about large scale impact," said Sanjot Malhi, Director, Matrix India. "Over 20 companies from our portfolio, including Country Delight, Stanza Living, OZiva, ManMatters, Zupee, The Whole Truth, Dealshare, have now partnered with Facebook on this programme." As part of the VC Brand Incubator Programme, Facebook has also started Campaign Lab that helps direct-to-consumer small businesses get creative solutioning support, and go live with mobile friendly creatives and strategy in under 72 hours. By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry has said that the chain of provocations committed by Armenia under the leadership of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan both in words and deeds has undermined the negotiation process and led to a significant rise of tension in the region. In a statement issued on September 24, the ministry also said that the bellicose statements, military, and other provocations accompanied by aggressive military posturing show that Armenia is preparing for new aggression against Azerbaijan. The ministry reminded that Armenia has adopted a military doctrine and national security strategy under Pashinyan, which envisages a concept of new war for new territories and define the strategic goal of this country in the negotiation process as safeguarding the outcomes of the war. Recalling Armenias attack on Azerbaijans border Tovuz region on July 12-16, the ministry said that the attack was aimed to seize new territories of Azerbaijan. Having failed in this test attack, nevertheless continuing preparation for the next turn of aggression, Armenia has acquired a large amount of weapons and ammunition and concentrated its forces along the line of contact. Threats of striking Azerbaijans critical civilian infrastructure and large residential areas are accompanied by intensified military reconnaissance and subversive actions deep inside the territory of Azerbaijan. In parallel, Armenia announced the establishment of a civilian militia consisting of tens of thousands of civilians who will be forced to undertake military actions against Azerbaijan, the ministry said. In view of Armenias preparation for a new military offensive, the ministry called on the international community, in particular, the OSCE Minsk Group and its Co-Chairmen to bring Armenia to terms of common sense and urge this country to refrain from another aggression. The ministry cited illegal resettlement of ethnic Armenians from the Middle East in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, Pashinyans numerous inflammatory rhetoric and his illegal visits to occupied territories, Anna Hakobyans participation in military training for women among the long list of provocations committed under Pashinyans administration. The ministry further recalled that Pashinyan called for Karbakhs unification with Armenia in August 2019, while Defence Minister Davit Tonoyan in March 2019 threatened to occupie more Azerbaijani territories in case of the resumption of the war. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Loan moratorium: Aspect of interest cant be ignored, please be fair, SC tells Centre SC sets aside high court order, says liberty of citizen can't be taken away in this manner Pegasus row: SC notice to Centre, WB on plea against setting up of Commission of Inquiry by state Cannot order for use of traditional remedies like Red Ant Chutney as cure for COVID-19: SC SC terms 'frivolous' PIL on rising suicides in IITs, imposes fine on lawyer India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Sep 24: The Supreme Court on Thursday termed as "frivolous" a PIL seeking a direction to the Centre and IITs to formulate and implement a student wellness program to curb rising number of suicides in campuses and imposed a cost of Rs 10,000 on the lawyer for filing it. The top court said the government was alive to the situation and dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by lawyer Gaurav Bansal on the issue of suicides in IITs across the country. "This is an utterly frivolous petition. Tell us how much cost we should impose on you," a bench headed by Justice R F Nariman said in the hearing conducted through video conferencing. "We are dismissing it with Rs 10,000 as cost payable to the legal services authority," said the bench which also comprised justices Navin Sinha and Indira Banerjee. Bansal, during the brief hearing, said that around 50 students have died by suicides in IITs across India in last five years and requested the court to intervene and direct the Union Education Ministry and IITs to formulate and implement a ''Student Wellness Program''. The lawyer said a committee headed by the IIT, Kanpur was formed to look into the cause of suicide by students, but there was no improvement in the situation. Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News Referring to the reply of the Centre, the court observed that authorities were alive and aware of the issue. The plea had sought a direction to 13 IITs to "forthwith plan, design, formulate and effectively implement student health wellness programme focusing on prevention and reduction of suicides within their Institutions as provided under Section 29 and section 115 of the Mental Healthcare Act,2017". Issue direction to IITs for providing aid, support and advice to persons with suicidal thoughts through call centres or helplines at institute level, it had said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 24, 2020, 13:19 [IST] (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of share dealings by London-listed company directors and managers announced on Thursday and not separately reported by Alliance News: Supply@Me Capital PLC - fintech platform which provides inventory monetisation - Chief Executive Officer Alessandro Zamboni - via Orchestra Group, which he owns - on Wednesday buys option to receive 630.0 million shares if share price is above 0.6945 pence on December 31. The option costs GBP1.1 million. Supply@Me's current share price is 0.5100p, down from 1.1000p in March but up from 0.0500p in August. Supply@Me separately says Orchestra Group holds 27.89% of the company. On Monday, Supply@Me said it had entered into strategic pact with a "leading European alternative investment firm" and shareholders 1AF2 Srl and AvantGarde Group SpA to acquire a bank in Europe. Supply@Me to give the bank rights to invest in securitisation note issues and in exchange, the bank will provide up to EUR8 billion of funding over five years. Supply@Me will not be shareholder in bank and will bear no costs related to the transaction. Milan-based Supply@Me reversed into AIM stock Abal Group PLC and relisted on the London Main Market back in March. WPP PLC - London-based advertising and marketing group - CEO Mark Read buys 85,000 shares at GBP5.67 on Thursday, and Chief Financial Officer John Rogers buys 75,838 shares at GBP5.88 on Wednesday. Together worth GBP928,209. Funding Circle Holdings PLC - London-based platform for investors to lend to small businesses - CEO Samir Desai buys 163,017 shares at average GBP0.62, worth GBP101,098, on Thursday. Funding Circle on Thursday posted a GBP115.1 million pretax loss for the six months ended June 30, dramatically widened from a GBP30.8 million loss a year before. Beazley PLC - London-based specialist insurance - Non-Executive Director Andrew Likierman buys 10,000 shares at 326.05 pence, worth GBP32,605, on Wednesday. Polymetal International PLC - Non-Executive Director Konstantin Yanakov buys 2,421 shares at RUB1,649.02, worth RUB4.0 million, about GBP40,465, on Tuesday. eve Sleep PLC - London-based direct-to-consumer mattress retailer - CEO Cheryl Calverley buys 92,785 shares at average 4.85p, worth GBP4,500, on Tuesday. Now has 280,285 shares. Fusion Antibodies PLC - Belfast-based antibody engineering for therapeutic drug and diagnostic applications - Non-Executive Director Alan Mawson sells 20,000 shares at 180p, worth GBP36,000, on Wednesday. Still has 124,000 shares, an 0.5% stake. SIG PLC - London-based supplier of specialist construction products - CEO Stephen Francis buys 208,000 shares at 24.0p and Susan Allner, associate of Chair Andrew Allner, buys 40,000 shares at 24.1p, both on Thursday and together worth GBP59,520. Sanne Group PLC - London-based fund and corporate services - Non-Executive Director Yves Stein buys 5,000 shares at GBP5.80, worth GBP29,000, on Wednesday. WANdisco PLC - Sheffield, England and San Ramon, California-based cloud-based data management platform - Non-Executive Director Grant Dollens buys 200,000 shares via Global Frontier Partners LP at average GBP4.48, worth GBP896,000, on Wednesday. Now has 2.4 million shares, a 4.5% stake. Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC - Cheshire-based veterinary products - Tony Griffin, managing director of Dechra Veterinary Products EU, sells 4,400 shares at GBP32.03, worth GBP140,915, on Wednesday. Still has 70,650 shares. Workspace Group PLC - London-based office and studio space provider - CFO Dave Benson buys 19,850 shares at 501.18p, worth GBP99,485, on Wednesday. Benson joined Workspace from Premier Inn-owner Whitbread PLC in April. Caledonia Mining Corp PLC - southern Africa-focused exploration and development company - Chair Leigh Wilson sells 12,000 shares at USD17.32, worth USD207,840, on Tuesday. Still has 40,000 shares. Gresham House Strategic PLC - investor in smaller UK public companies - Chair David Potter buys 2,526 shares at 989p, worth GBP24,982, on Tuesday. He now has 24,882 shares. Three other non-executive directors buy a total 4,440 at 979p, also on Tuesday. Yourgene Health PLC - Manchester-based molecular diagnostics - Chair Adam Reynolds buys 294,117 shares and CEO Lyn Rees buys 294,000 shares, both at 17p and together worth GBP99,980, on Wednesday. Reynolds now has 6.7 million shares and Rees 1.0 million. Three Yourgene directors had bought a total of 205,260 shares on Tuesday. Maestrano Group PLC - London-based cloud platform for data management and business analytics - Three directors - John David, Jonathan Macleod and Nicholas McInnes - each buy 150,000 shares at 10p, together worth GBP45,000, on Wednesday. The purchases were part of 1.7 million shares sold by David Israel in order to reduce the holding of the concert party of which he is a member down to 46.7% from 47.8%. Maestrano says the concert party had "inadvertently" triggered the obligation to make a general offer for the company back in March. In compensation for reducing his stake, Israel is issued an equivalent number of share options. TI Fluid Systems PLC - Oxford-based products that store and move fluids such as fuel and brake fluid around automobiles - Independent Non-Executive Director John Smith buys 40,300 shares at GBP1.35, worth GBP54,292, on Tuesday. Rosslyn Data Technologies PLC - London-based cloud enterprise data analytics platform - Founder & Chief Information Officer Hugh Cox buys 110,000 shares at 5.89p, worth GBP6,479, on Wednesday. Now has 11.5 million shares, a 3.4% stake. By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Alexandra Wilson was stopped three times while trying to reach the prosecutor to discuss the case. (Getty Images) The head of the UKs court service has apologised to a black barrister after she was mistaken for a defendant three times in one day by staff. Alexandra Wilson, a criminal and family barrister, tweeted about being absolutely exhausted after staff at the court failed to recognise who she was several times. Kevin Sadler, the acting chief executive of Her Majestys Courts and Tribunals Service apologised to Wilson, saying it was totally unacceptable behaviour, and added that an investigation was being launched. Hello Ms Wilson, Im very sorry about your experience at court yesterday it is totally unacceptable behaviour and Im investigating the role of my staff and contractors as a matter of urgency. This is not the behaviour anyone should expect 1/2 Kevin Sadler (@CEOofHMCTS) September 24, 2020 Read more: Colston Hall renamed to Bristol Beacon in wake of Black Lives Matter protests In the tweets, Wilson said she needed to shine a light on the problem because so many people like me seem to experience the same thing. She explained when she arrived at court on Wednesday and the security officer asked for her name so he could find it on the list of defendants. She said: I explained I was a barrister. He apologised and guided me through security. At this point I tried to shrug it off as an innocent mistake. First, the security officer asked me what my name was so he could find [my] name on the list (the list of defendants). I explained I was a barrister. He apologised and guided me through security. At this point I tried to shrug it off as an innocent mistake. Alexandra Wilson (@EssexBarrister) September 23, 2020 But she carried on and it happened again, after meeting with her clients she then tried to enter the courtroom to discuss the case with the prosecutor but a member of the public told her not to go in mistaking her for a journalist. Story continues Wilson said: I asked why and she said because its a court, only lawyers can go in. She said I was a journalist. Watch: Race And Revolution: Is Change Going To Come? She was then told by an usher who knew who she was to ignore them and go in the courtroom. As soon as Wilson entered the court she was stopped for a third time. She said: As I opened the door, a solicitor/barrister said I needed to wait outside court and said the usher would come outside and sign me in and the court would call me in for my case. As I opened the door, a solicitor/ barrister said I needed to wait outside court and said the usher (who, btw, was next to me) would come outside and sign me in & the court would call me in for my case. I explained Im a barrister. She looked embarrassed and said oh. I see. Alexandra Wilson (@EssexBarrister) September 23, 2020 Read more: Diversity reveals members of dance group received threats over BLM dance I explained Im a barrister. She looked embarrassed and said oh, I see. Wilson was then stopped for a fourth time, and the third time by a member of staff, at the court as she approached the prosecutor. She said: Before I got there the clerk, very loudly, told me to leave the courtroom and said the usher would be out shortly. Before I could respond she then asked if I was represented. I, again, explained that I am a defence barrister trying to speak to the prosecutor. She looked at me, said oh right, ok and continued with what she was doing. A new report by the Judicial Diversity Forum sheds light on diversity in the judiciary & the legal professions. It will help better identify challenges & increase the pace of progress. We will use our oversight role to help drive the improvements needed https://t.co/8oKmZ6m1BC pic.twitter.com/4XA9vbqXpT Legal Services Board (@LSB_EngandWal) September 17, 2020 Wilson said she had lodged a formal complaint about the incident saying: I dont expect to have to constantly justify my existence at work. Sadler responded to Wilsons twitter thread and said: Im investigating the role of my staff and contractors as a matter of urgency. This is not the behaviour anyone should expect and certainly does not reflect our values. Last week a Ministry of Justice report found BAME people over-represented in applications for judicial appointment but are less likely to be successful. Watch: What are negative interest rates? By late morning, the wind had mostly died and the torrential rain had ceased along much of Nova Scotias eastern coast, though there were still a few places where gusts of wind reached 80 kilometres an hour. As crews worked to restore power to thousands of homes where it had been knocked out, it appeared Atlantic Canada had emerged relatively unscathed from Tropical Storm Teddy. Although Teddy was the first major storm to hit the East Coast this year, it was merely the latest event in what has been one of the most active storm seasons in recorded history. There have been so many storms this season, in fact, that meteorologists have nearly run out of ways to name them. Tropical storms are typically given names when they begin to display a rotating cloud pattern and wind speeds of 63 kilometres an hour. The U.S. National Hurricane Center names such storms alphabetically according to a predetermined set of names from the World Meteorological Organization A through W, excluding Q, U, X, Y and Z, for which names are too scarce. Last week, meteorologists used the last name on this years list to christen Tropical Storm Wilfred. When, later the same day, another tropical storm formed near Portugal, they had to go to their backup plan: Greek letters. (The new storm was called Alpha; the one after it named on the same day Beta.) Its only the second time in recorded history thats happened. The 2020 season for tropical cyclones in the Atlantic which typically runs from June to November already has 23 named storms. Its the largest number in the shortest time since scientists started keeping records in 1851. In scope, it is only eclipsed by 2005, which had 27 named storms. But there are still two months and change left in the 2020 season. Every single lettered name storm weve had this year has been the earliest associated with that letter, said meteorologist Matthew Rosencrans of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Climate Prediction Center. So the earliest A storm, the earliest B storm, earliest C storm all the way through to the earliest Beta storm. This season has been very active very early. There are a few reasons for that frequency. As Rosencrans tells it, 2020 has been very much a perfect storm of storms. There are a few things that cyclonic storms need to form. They need warm water and moist air, which rises and condenses into clouds; they need some kind of disruption in the weather pattern to form those clouds into a storm; and they need low vertical wind shear the difference in wind direction or speed over a relatively short distance so the storm doesnt break up before it gains momentum. The alignment of factors to create a high number of storms this year was remarkable, said Rosencrans. This season, there is the ongoing active phase of the whats called the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO), which supports more tropical storms being formed in any particular year. Essentially, the AMO is a pattern in the sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean. This pattern changes over a period of decades. Right now, its in an active phase, which features warmer sea surface temperatures near the tropical Atlantic, a band of cooler temperatures in the mid latitudes, then another band of warmer temperatures above the coast of Newfoundland and toward Iceland. Those are the kind of conditions that support the formation of tropical cyclones. Adding to the storm mix is an enhanced monsoon in Western African. The West African monsoon is a major wind system over the continent that results in wind systems moving out west into the Atlantic. Right now, those winds over West Africa are carrying a lot of moisture, which means that when conditions are ripe for a thunderstorm, a loop occurs thunderstorms grow out of those moist warm winds, and create an even stronger disturbance, which, in turn creates stronger winds. The result is that those wind systems, now amplified, end up over the Atlantic, where they may help create the disturbances that might one day end up as hurricanes. The last factor in the perfect storm of storms is La Nina. Every few years, La Nina forms as a complex weather system, which generally features cooler-than-average ocean temperatures in Pacific tropical waters, which can weaken wind shear over the Atlantic, which allows storms to develop and intensify. Its warmer brother, El Nino, manifests as warmer water temperatures, and has the opposite effect. Its more the overlapping of these three factors AMO, the West African monsoon and La Nina that have contributed to the extraordinary number for storms this season than climate change, said Rosencrans, though that is also an influence. Climate change, he says, brings changes that play out over the course of many years, while the factors hes describing show their effects more immediately. Climate change would impact 50-100 years. Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation will impact decades; La Nina will impact individually year-to-year. And then the West African monsoon will also impact each individual year-to-year, and even week-to-week. The latest research indicates were likely to see roughly the same number of tropical cyclones as we have in the past few years, he said. But the storms that do become hurricanes are more likely to develop into Category 4 hurricanes where wind speeds reach 209 km/h and Category 5s, in which wind speeds reach and exceed 252 kilometres km/h. So were likely to see some more intense storms as time goes on, due to climate change, he said. And any individual given year, youll have other factors, such as La Nina or El Nino, and youll see different patterns. That said, the current storm season is one for the ages. With just over two months to go, and the hurricane season known to be active through October, there is every likelihood of a few more storms developing in the coming months, potentially making 2020 on top of everything else the most active storm season on record. Its a point for the scientists to debate with internally and kind of marvel over and understand the context, Rosencrans said. You know, were living in the second busiest storm season since 1850. So its really remarkable in that way. Its one of the busiest seasons weve ever seen. SM Steve McKinley is a Halifax-based reporter for the Star. Reach him via email: stevemckinley@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @smckinley1 Read more about: NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, sixteen major donors and foundations announced an unprecedented commitment to a two-pronged national and regional initiative to recognize "America's Cultural Treasures." Together, the funders will grant more than $156 million to support Black, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous arts organizations in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has devastated America's arts and culture landscape. The funding includes $85 million from the proceeds of the Ford Foundation's historic social bond offering announced earlier this year . The foundations identified grant recipients as "America's Cultural Treasures" to acknowledge and honor their vital contributions to the diversity of expression and excellence in America, and to bring greater recognition to a group of organizations that have been impactful, despite historically limited resources and funding streams. They, along with others, represent the cultural heritage and creativity of communities that have been historically marginalized, underfunded and under-represented in the narrative of American culture. Led by an initial investment of $50 million from the Ford Foundation with leadership support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and Barbara and Amos Hostetter, and additional support from the Abrams Foundation, Alice L. Walton Foundation, and Tom and Lisa Blumenthal the national component of the initiative will provide $81 million in operational and general support funds to an initial cohort of 20 organizations that are significant national anchors for artistic and cultural diversity in America. The 20 organizations are: Alaska Native Heritage Center, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Apollo Theater, Arab American National Museum, Ballet Hispanico, Charles H. Wright Museum, Dance Theater of Harlem, East West Players, El Museo del Barrio, Japanese American National Museum, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, Museum of Chinese in America, IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, National Museum of Mexican Art, Penumbra Theatre, Project Row Houses, Studio Museum in Harlem, Urban Bush Women, and Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience. National grants will range in size from $1 to 6 million, representing a significant portion of each institution's operating budget. In addition to the grant funds each grantee will receive up to $100,000 for organizational capacity building particularly in key areas including digital strategies and other needs. The increased commitment in general operating funds will enable these organizations to build on their decades of leadership and remain resilient and durable in the face of the unprecedented economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The donors hope this initial investment will catalyze conversation and increased giving to Black, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous arts organizations. Ford's contribution to America's Cultural Treasures makes the foundation one of the largest funders of arts and creative expression in the U.S., with more than $205 million in grantmaking planned over the next year. Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation said, "These organizations represent the very highest ideals of artistic excellence and are truly America's cultural treasures. We hope that other arts philanthropists and corporations will join in increasing support to the many cultural organizations that reflect our nation's rich and diverse history." "This initiative fills an urgent need, as the pandemic threatens so many vitally important arts organizations of color across the country," said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg LP and three-term mayor of New York City. "Together with the Ford Foundation and its many partners, we're glad to help ensure that America's cultural treasures and the essential, innovative artistic traditions they steward can withstand the current crisis and thrive in the future." "We can learn so much about our country's history and cultural heritage through the eyes of artists. This initiative is a commitment to preserving access to diverse and important perspectives and the arts organizations who support them," said Alice Walton. Investing in Regional Arts Organizations As the second component of the America's Cultural Treasures initiative, numerous foundations will drive fundraising and design for individually-tailored regional grantmaking initiatives, which will be seeded by an initial $35 million in support from the Ford Foundation across seven regions. The foundation partners will provide matching funds for multi-year grants and other supports to cultural groups of color with exceptional regional or local significance. Those foundations include the Barr Foundation (Massachusetts), Getty Foundation (Los Angeles), Heinz Endowments (Pittsburgh), Houston Endowment (Houston), John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (Chicago), Joyce Foundation (Chicago), McKnight Foundation (Minnesota), The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation (Los Angeles), Terra Foundation for American Art (Chicago), and William Penn Foundation (Philadelphia). The scope and recipients of local programs will be announced in early 2021 and more cities and regions will be added as funders join this effort. "The financial commitments represented by this initiative are both timely and vital. It's also important that we shift the narrative about what constitutes our 'cultural treasures' in this country," said Jim Canales, President of the Barr Foundation. "We are grateful for Ford's role in elevating that conversation, and we look forward to contributing to a new and broader narrative, and to ensuring increased financial support for BIPOC arts organizations, artists, and communities." "BIPOC arts organizations represent the vitality and diversity of the Los Angeles region, yet have been undercapitalized for years," said Joan Weinstein, director of the Getty Foundation. "The arts give solace in difficult times, but they also challenge us to imagine and create a more just and equitable society. We are proud to partner with the Ford Foundation and lead the Los Angeles effort to make arts organizations of color that are the heartbeat of so many local communities more resilient for the future." "Never before have foundations joined together in such a powerful, groundbreaking and courageous effort to confront issues of need and inequality that face our nation's cultural organizations of color," said Grant Oliphant, President of The Heinz Endowments. "History shows us how great leadership so often emerges in our most challenging times, and we congratulate wholeheartedly the Ford Foundation for developing this extraordinary commitment. The Endowments is honored to be chosen to work in partnership with Ford, and we will infuse the spirit of this work in our decades-long support to strengthen and embolden our region's diverse arts community in celebration of the cultural treasure that it represents." "Houston's cultural organizations of color celebrate our region's extraordinary diversity and foster our connections to each other. This initiative, which will provide meaningful support to important organizations during a time of great challenge, carries with it the potential to transform the funding landscape and significantly advance racial equity," said Ann Stern, President and CEO of the Houston Endowment. "We are grateful to the Ford Foundation for creating this opportunity and proud to represent the Houston area in this work." "This initiative, as imagined in Chicago, is designed to provide general operating support to cultural organizations of color that contribute to the history, vibrancy, and identity of our city," said John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation President John Palfrey. "Many of these institutions serve as neighborhood anchors, sustain cultural traditions, build community, and help ensure that experiences are shared and heard. We are proud to collaborate with the Ford, Joyce and Terra foundations and hope it creates the momentum for other funders to join us in this transformative grantmaking." Ellen Alberding, President of the Joyce Foundation, said, "The impact of COVID-19 on arts organizations of color in Chicago has been seismic. These groups are the cultural anchors of our city and yet have historically been undercapitalized, making them particularly vulnerable during this crisis. The stability and continued vitality of arts organizations of color is central to our city's recovery efforts. It is our hope that through this initiative these organizations will emerge even stronger and better positioned to enrich our city for years to come. Thank you to Darren Walker and the Ford Foundation for their partnership in this effort." Debby Landesman, Board Chair of the McKnight Foundation, said, "As a long time funder in the arts, it is an honor for the McKnight Foundation to serve as the regional lead in Minnesota, working in partnership with the Ford Foundation to multiply the impact of this initiative. Minnesota is home to incredible arts institutions led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color. These organizations enhance the well-being of our state and serve as vital cultural, social, and economic anchors for our communities. This initiative will be an exciting appreciation of their work." Remarking on the diverse cultural landscape in Los Angeles, Wendy Garen, President and CEO of The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, shared, "Creativity is our region's greatest asset. The arts will play a critical role in our recovery, helping us heal, grow the economy, and build empathy. We are committed to ensuring our arts and cultural partners remain healthy and resilient for decades to come." "We are honored to collaborate with the Ford Foundation and engage in this essential work alongside our partners in Chicago to bolster the region's arts organizations of color. These institutions are critical in shaping the artistic and cultural heritage of our city and nation," said Sharon Corwin, President and CEO of the Terra Foundation for American Art. "It is our hope that through this collective action, these organizations will continue to thrive as creative centers for learning, ensuring a diversity of voices and narratives are celebrated and ideas exchanged." "We are grateful to the Ford Foundation for recognizing the strength and impact of Philadelphia's arts and cultural organizations, and pleased that local commitments to the sector have paved the way for this investment," said Dr. Janet Haas, Chair of the Board of the William Penn Foundation. "Funding organizations led by and serving people of color is more important now than ever. We are excited to engage with other local funders to implement this critical work." About the Ford Foundation The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than 80 years it has worked with courageous people on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. About the Abrams Foundation The Abrams Foundation's mission is to nurture creative, deeply informed communities, while promoting equity and fairness. Founded in 1997 by Amy and David Abrams and based in Boston, the foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in journalism and narrative, arts and creativity, and access and opportunity. About the Alice L. Walton Foundation The Alice L. Walton Foundation is a philanthropic organization committed to increasing access to the arts, improving education, enhancing health, and advancing economic opportunity for all. Through this work, the foundation strives to deliver meaningful and lasting change to individuals and communities most in need. About the Barr Foundation The Barr Foundation's mission is to invest in human, natural, and creative potential, serving as thoughtful stewards and catalysts. Based in Boston, Barr focuses regionally, and selectively engages nationally, working in partnership with nonprofits, foundations, the public sector, and civic and business leaders to elevate the arts, advance solutions for climate change, and connect all students to success in high school and beyond. About Bloomberg Philanthropies Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in more than 570 cities and over 160 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg's giving, including his foundation and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2019, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok. About the Getty Foundation The Getty Foundation fulfills the philanthropic mission of the Getty Trust by supporting individuals and institutions committed to advancing the greater understanding and preservation of the visual arts in Los Angeles and throughout the world. Through strategic grant initiatives, the Foundation strengthens art history as a global discipline, promotes the interdisciplinary practice of conservation, increases access to museum and archival collections, and develops current and future leaders in the visual arts. It carries out its work in collaboration with the other Getty Programs to ensure that they individually and collectively achieve maximum effect. Additional information is available at www.getty.edu/foundation. About The Heinz Endowments The Heinz Endowments is devoted to the mission of helping our region prosper as a vibrant center of creativity, learning, and social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Core to our work is the vision of a just community where all are included and where everyone who calls southwestern Pennsylvania home has a real and meaningful opportunity to thrive. About Houston Endowment Established in 1937, Houston Endowment advances equity of opportunity for the people of Greater Houston and enhances the vibrancy of our community so that our region and its people thrive. In 2020, the Endowment will grant more than $80 million to the area in support of our community and advancing our mission. About the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur is placing a few big bets that truly significant progress is possible on some of the world's most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, decreasing nuclear risk, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., and reducing corruption in Africa's most populous country, Nigeria. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. About the Joyce Foundation The Joyce Foundation is a nonpartisan, private foundation that invests in public policies and strategies to advance racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation in the Great Lakes region. The foundation supports policy research, development, and advocacy in five areas: Education & Economic Mobility, Environment, Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform, Democracy, and Culture. Visit JoyceFdn.org for more information. About the McKnight Foundation The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Established in 1953, the McKnight Foundation is deeply committed to advancing climate solutions in the Midwest; building an equitable and inclusive Minnesota; and supporting the arts in Minnesota, neuroscience, and international crop research. About The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Placing a special emphasis on direct services for vulnerable children and families, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of Los Angeles County residents through responsive grantmaking in the areas of civics and culture, education, health, and human services. Recognizing that meaningful change requires working in partnership, the Foundation also supports special initiatives focused on child welfare and wellbeing, organizational effectiveness, and cross-sector collaboration. About the Terra Foundation for American Art The Terra Foundation for American Art supports individuals, organizations, and communities to advance expansive understandings of American art. Established in 1978 and headquartered in Chicago, with an office in Paris, its grant program, collection, and initiatives are committed to fostering cross-cultural dialogues on American art locally, nationally, and internationally. About William Penn Foundation The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that increase educational opportunities for children from low-income families, ensure a sustainable environment, foster creativity that enhances civic life, and advance philanthropy in the Philadelphia region. In 2020, the Foundation will grant more than $117 million to support vital efforts in the region. SOURCE Ford Foundation Related Links www.fordfoundation.org Dana Elaine Owens, better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, launched her rap career in high school when she won a talent show competition. By the age of 19, Latifah had released her first album, "All Hail the Queen" in 1989 with Tommy Boy Records. Her popularity quickly grew, and she won her first Grammy at 23, launching herself into worldwide fame. And with fame came money, something Latifah didn't know much about. But she had to learn fast. "I didn't grow up really learning economics in that way," Latifah, who grew in East Orange, New Jersey, with a police officer father and school teacher mother, tells CNBC Make It. "I had my little bank book that my mom had for us, and we saved money, but clearly we were supposed to be doing a few other things with that money." So to learn how to be smart with money, Latifah says she read Suze Orman's 1997 book, "The Nine Steps to Financial Freedom." Orman's book uses a nine-step program to teach readers how to handle money, as well as how to break psychological barriers holding them back from reaching their financial goals (fear, shame and anger are obstacles to wealth, according to Orman). Latifah says reading Orman's book early on in her career helped in several ways. For one thing, it helped her figure out how much money she "really needed to live the life that she wanted," she says. It also helped her better communicate with her accountant. "We were able to have more intelligent conversations and he was able to explain a lot of things to me," Latifah says. The book even taught her to truly value her money. In fact, as she was reading the book, Latifah says she found some crumpled up dollar bills in one of her pockets she decided from then on, she was going to take better care of every dollar she earned. But the main lessons Latifah says she learned was how to create and prioritize your goals when it comes to money, and to have an "end game" to help you stay on track. "[T]here's got to be a goal to...take care of your family or to be able to live a certain way.. or to be able to travel.. whatever those things are...just try to identify that," Latifah says. Without an end goal in mind, you won't be able to reach your financial destination, she says. But Latifah, now 50, also knows having a lot of money isn't everything. Amid Covid-19, Latifah has been raising awareness on the health care disparities affecting underserved Black and Latino communities around the country. On Saturday, Latifah is hosting a Facebook Live event benefit for the American Lung Association to raise money for those communities to provide public health education during the pandemic. Other celebrity guests include Gabrielle Union, LL Cool J and Katharine McPhee. "This has been one year that everyone's eyes should be open to a lot of things," Latifah says. On that front, in addition to Orman's book, Latifah urges people to read, "How to Be An Antiracist," by Ibram X. Kendi. "[It] could help people realize that there is a thing called white privilege and realize that there is systemic racism." Check out: Americans spend over $5,000 a year on groceriessave hundreds at supermarkets with these cards The book Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn thinks everyone should read The book Serena Williams read as a teenager that was 'very impactful' in her life and career Michelle Obama: Why going 'high' when faced with a challenge is so important to her In 2017, Tory Sanders was extrajudicially killed in a Mississippi County jail by law enforcement officers who have not been prosecuted or even arrested. We demand justice in his murder. Discussions about racial justice have swept the nation in the aftermath of the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. Missourians must acknowledge the role the death penalty continues to play as an agent of racial discrimination and as a beacon in identifying law enforcement and judicial practices in need of abolition or reform. The death penalty has been a symbol of racial oppression since slavery, through the Jim Crow era and enduring all the way to today. Missouri has a long history of demonstrating racism in the prosecution of African Americans. Former prosecutors such as Robert McCulloch of St. Louis County and Mark Richardson of Cole County are examples of how racism has infected Missouris prosecutor offices. The racially biased culture and practices that underlie the death penaltys application across the United States symbolize and embody the worst in the American legal system. For these reasons, the death penalty is an essential element of any meaningful discussion on police reform, prosecutorial accountability and the criminal legal system as a whole, because capital punishment is inextricably linked to police violence, mass incarceration, lynchings and slavery. Earlier this month, the Death Penalty Information Center released a new report titled, Enduring Justice: The persistence of Racial Discrimination in the U.S. Death Penalty. This report demonstrates that the victims race is most likely to affect whether defendants are charged with a capital crime and sentenced to death, especially when the defendant is African American and the victim is white. Today, Missouris current death row population reflects the patterns of racial disparity found in research. Homicides involving white victims are seven times more likely to result in execution than those involving Black victims. Homicides involving white, female victims are 14 times more likely to result in execution than those involving African American male victims. The vast majority of defendants on Missouris current death row had white victims, although white victims are less than 40% of all murder victims in the state. This suggests that Missouris death penalty values some lives as more worthy of justice than others. Even now, Attorney General Eric Schmitt wants to prosecute homicides in St. Louis that are presumed to be committed by people of color. Still, he refuses to argue for justice in the killing of Tory Sanders, who died at the hands of white police officers in a rural Charleston, Missouri, jail. He has failed to enforce the law when it comes to Black people murdered by whites. We must end what to me appears to be a racist framework of law enforcement on the streets and in the courts. In the report, Missouris pattern of racial disparities is highlighted in the Marcellus Williams case. Williams was sentenced to death in 2001 for stabbing a white woman more than 20 times. Williams was prosecuted by McCulloch, whose office rejected six of the seven Black prospective jurors considered to hear the case. In the end, Williams was tried by 11 white jurors and one African-American. Williams was represented by an attorney who admitted he was unprepared for trial. No physical evidence or eyewitness linked Williams to the crime, and the prosecutions case relied on the testimony of two unreliable witnesses. Fifteen years after his conviction, new testing showed that Williams DNA was not on the murder weapon. Despite this evidence, the state went ahead with plans to execute Williams. His execution was only halted by the last-minute intervention of Missouris governor, who convened a board of inquiry to review the case. Three years later, Williams remains on death row. Missouris death penalty is broken for many reasons, including but not limited to racial injustice, disparities in representation and sentencing, and prosecutorial misconduct. Understood in this context, attention to the death penaltys racial component becomes even more important as the embodiment of whose lives matter more and whose lives are devalued. Missouris history of devaluing Black lives through the use of police and the criminal courts is alive and well today and persists legally and systemically through the use of the death penalty. Nimrod Chapel Jr. is president of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP. Drought conditions worsened across New England this past week even after multiple hurricanes brought stormy weather and rainfall to parts of the United States this month, officials said. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island all saw expanded drought conditions, with little to no rain falling in recent weeks, U.S. Drought Monitor data showed Thursday. The estimated number of Massachusetts residents in drought areas stands at more than 6.4 million. For all of the Northeast, that number stands at more than 13.6 million. Notably, a new area of extreme drought was recorded in southern sections of Maine and New Hampshire, the U.S. Drought Monitor pointed out in its weekly summary. Dry weather has persisted throughout the Northeast despite Hurricane Teddy grazing eastern Maine with some gusty winds and light rain on Monday and Tuesday, according to the monitor. Pastures across New England have become stressed by the drought and by recent sub-freezing temperatures, which have stunted grass growth, officials said. On Sept. 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture rated 100% of Rhode Islands pastures in very poor to poor condition. Ninety percent of pastures in Connecticut and Massachusetts were also rated 90% very poor to poor. Streamflow in many areas of the Northeast is very low for this time of year," the U.S. Drought Monitor added. Some of the areas hardest hit by drought are reporting wells going dry and new wells needing to be dug. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island all saw expanded drought conditions, with little to no rain falling in recent weeks. The estimated number of Massachusetts residents in drought areas now stands at more than 6.4 million. (U.S. Drought Monitor) In Massachusetts, 92.11% of the state is seeing moderate to extreme drought conditions. The portion of the commonwealth labeled in the extreme drought category ticked up this past week from 6.76% to 10.27%, and the percentage in the severe drought category rose from 30.38% to 47.72%. Although nearly 8% of the state is not in a drought, 7.5% is still seeing abnormally dry conditions. Due to four months of below normal rainfall that started in June, all seven regions of commonwealth remain in the Level 2 drought designation, which Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides declared on Jun 26. The designation will remain in effect until water levels return to normal. When that will occur remains uncertain, officials told MassLive. While Hurricane Teddy brought stormy conditions to Massachusetts earlier this week, including strong winds and rough ocean conditions, it left much of the state dry. This summer was significantly dry across the state. Officials have said for months that the dryness warrants detailed monitoring of drought conditions, close coordination among state and federal agencies and an emphasis on water conservation. Although recent rain events have been helpful, the combination of four months of below normal rainfall and consistently above normal temperatures throughout the summer have led to very dry conditions in every region of Massachusetts, Theoharides said in a statement earlier this month. All levels of government are coordinating to address these critical drought conditions, and it is essential that residents and businesses across the commonwealth take extra care to conserve water both indoors and outdoors." Officials urged Massachusetts residents to continue to conserve water to reduce demand and be wary of the increased threat of brush and wildland fires due to the dry conditions. We urge residents to exercise caution when using charcoal grills, matches, and other open flames during outdoor activities and to call 911 immediately if there is a fire to prevent the fire from spreading," Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Director Samantha Phillips said in a statement. This morning's US Drought Monitor update indicated an expansion/worsening of drought conditions in MA. Little to no rain fell in the past week. MA EEA continued to place the State under a Level 2- Significant Drought. Details: https://t.co/iWumrDGAh7 pic.twitter.com/HFRpktxtgm NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) September 24, 2020 This morning's US Drought Monitor update showed expansion and worsening of drought in CT. Little to no rain fell in the past week. The CT Interagency Drought Workgroup recently expanded the Stage 2-Incipient Drought. More details here: https://t.co/TFE80XV4jI pic.twitter.com/7UWcHIa8Vt NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) September 24, 2020 This week's US Drought Monitor update continued to show most of RI in Severe to Extreme Drought. Little to no rain fell in the past week. All of RI is under a Drought Advisory, issued by Governor Raimondo. More details here: https://t.co/q7QB3bH5P6 pic.twitter.com/3PsGuJI2PO NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) September 24, 2020 Related Content: Massachusetts experiencing significant drought conditions after 4 months of below-normal rainfall VALDOSTA, Ga., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Blanton Common Apartments was pleased to celebrate housing scholarship recipients with a reception on September 18, 2020. The reception honored nine Valdosta State University students from various hometowns including Montgomery, Al., Ponte Vedra, Fl., and various cities in Georgia including Tifton, Omega, Stonecrest, Atlanta and Valdosta. JMG Realty, Inc. JMG Realty, Inc. Blanton Common, an off campus student housing community, is providing free housing and utilities for the entire 2020-2021 academic term, as well as $500 towards books and meals for these students who have been impacted directly by COVID-19 or by the related economic effects on their families. Recipients of the #BCGivesBack scholarship include: Chuntianna H., from Montgomery, ALA. Gabrielle M. from Valdosta, GA. Wesley B. of Stonecrest, GA Alexis W. of Ponte Vedra, FL. Precious B. from Austell, GA. Treyanna S. of Snellville, GA. Hana S. from Decatur, GA. Joanna O. from Omega, GA. Lupita O. of Tifton, GA. Blanton Common has seen firsthand the unique circumstances the COVID-19 pandemic presented to college students, as well as the uncertainty involved with the progression of their academic careers. With full backing from the private ownership group, discussions ultimately led to the creation of the scholarship program at Blanton Common, along with a unifying hashtag #BCGivesBack. Jean Woodworth, Executive Vice President & Partner with JMG, said the following: "Our team and our community are in a unique position to provide housing to students near Valdosta State University, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and the Valdosta campus of the Georgia Military Academy. We hope that these scholarships will help truly deserving students who otherwise would be unable to further their college education this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it's catastrophic effect on their families." ABOUT BLANTON COMMON & JMG REALTY, INC: Blanton Common is a privately owned student housing community located 2 miles from Valdosta State University. The community recently completed a large renovation project also provides free transportation to and from the VSU campus daily. Blanton Common aims to create the preeminent student living experience in the area. Media contact: Gray Lane [email protected] 404-995-1118 SOURCE JMG Realty, Inc. No decision has been announced on whether a curfew on the hospitality industry will be introduced after drink-only pubs were given permission to reopen in Northern Ireland this week. First Minister Arlene Foster said the issue "will be dealt with in the coming days" and said an announcement would be made at the start of next week. "There is a strong unity of purpose on the way forward," she said. It's after a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants was introduced in England and Scotland. It was announced at the Stormont press conference that the R rate in Northern Ireland is now 1.5 after NI-wide restrictions on visits to homes were introduced this week. The average number of daily infections has increased to 150. Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill urged the public to stick to new restriction measures. "Let me assure everyone that we're doing everything we can to avoid another lockdown," she said. "We will avoid harsher measures if restrictions can be adhered to until Mid-October," she added. Mrs O'Neill said the level of coronavirus infection has now reduced by 50% in BT45 in Ballymena following the introduction of localised restrictions there. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Conor Murphy announced a raft of funding measures to address the impact of coronavirus totalling 165m. This includes 29m funding for the arts sector, as well as 40m for councils, 29m for tourism and business, including a holiday-at-home voucher scheme, 14.8m for the A6 and 15m for NI Water. Mr Murphy also welcomed the announcement of a new job support scheme by Chancellor Rishi Sunak but said he is "concerned" that it is less generous than the furlough scheme. Read More Speaking in the Commons earlier, Mr Sunak said the scheme would last six months and will be eligible for employees working a minimum of a third of their normal hours. For the remaining hours not worked, the Government and employers will pay for one-third of the wages each. This means employees working 33% of their hours will receive at least 77% of their pay. Read More A further 189 people in Northern Ireland have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the Department of Health confirmed earlier on Thursday. This brings the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak began to 9,950. Some 1,128 people have tested positive in the last seven days. No further deaths have been recorded. The death toll remains at 577. There are 41 Covid patients in hospitals across Northern Ireland, with five in intensive care. A total of 27 care homes are also dealing with outbreaks of the virus. Read More Here's how Thursday unfolded: Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 06:24:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday called on countries to choose cooperation and solidarity over unilateralism and isolation to improve post-COVID global governance. "As the international community, let us choose cooperation above unilateralism. And we would also say it is best to choose solidarity above isolation," Ramaphosa told a summit-level debate of the Security Council on "global governance after COVID-19." "We should also have the courage to choose unity of purpose above narrow self-interest," he said. South Africa and the African Union support the call by the UN secretary-general for a global cease-fire and the scaling-up of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable societies. South Africa calls on all parties to armed conflict to use this opportunity to work toward the peaceful resolution of conflicts and addressing the humanitarian needs of their own populations, said Ramaphosa. South Africa supports the call for the waiving of unilateral punitive measures such as sanctions during the pandemic in order to enable affected countries to secure much-needed supplies and support, he said. As countries look to the post-COVID era, they have to address their economic, social, humanitarian, and environmental needs. All countries have to act with urgency to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, said Ramaphosa. He wanted the UN Security Council to better reflect and represent the UN membership. It is imperative that the Security Council continues to work closely with regional organizations, including the African Union, he said. "We must coordinate our efforts and strengthen multilateralism if we are to contain the damage that this pandemic could cause." The threat to lives, livelihoods and social stability posed by COVID-19 has significant consequences for global peace and security. Situations of instability and conflict have the potential to worsen. And there is a possibility of new forms of social unrest that are emerging. Vital gains made in political processes toward peace are also under threat, said Ramaphosa. He asked the Security Council to continue to play a key role in ensuring that this pandemic does not undermine international peace and security in any country in the world. Enditem On a normal Sunday morning, the sanctuary at Iglesia Centro de Discipulado in South Houston will seat approximately 100 members of its congregation. But these are not normal times, said Pastor Joseph Montalvo. After having suspended its four weekly services in March following state recommendations, the small nondenominational church has been able to gradually reopen. About half of the churchs Spanish-language and bilingual congregation has returned to Sunday and Wednesday services, leaving plenty of space to social distance. The other members have gone virtual in their participation in the congregation. Three church members tested positive to COVID-19 and have chosen to remain home. Weve been following (Centers for Disease Control) and government advice, and thank God, the Lord has healed people that have been sick, Montalvo said. Larger area churches such as First Baptist Church in Pasadena and St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland have made adjustments as well, coming up with ways to accommodate needs of congregations that include thousands of members. At First Baptist Church in Pasadena, 2,200 members can fill its main worship center. Since reopening for in-person services, those members have been divided for two separate Sunday services, at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., both modified to allow for social distancing and cleaning. Every other pew is sectioned off, and two overflow areas provide extra space for members to watch the service on a big screen. The churchs evening services on Sundays and Wednesdays have been suspended. Church still attracting new members According to Christina King, the churchs education ministry assistant, the services are attended by a mix of older and young adults, singles and families. Faith communities in the pandemic First Baptist Church Pasadena Website:www.fbp.org/ Facebook: https://bit.ly/3hjQnI0 Address: 7500 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX 77505 Phone: 281- 991-1232 Iglesia Centro de Discipulado Website:https://bit.ly/2Reyyzy Address: 1502 Avenue M, South Houston, TX 77587 Phone: 281-733-9718 St. Helen Catholic Church Website:www.sthelenchurch.org/ Address: 2209 Old Alvin Road, Pearland 77581 Phone: 281-485-2421 Hope Community United Methodist Church Website: https://bit.ly/33Podjm Address: 2838 Lily St. Pasadena, Tx 77503 Phone: 281-948-0424 See More Collapse We have a great membership base; so we see a lot of the same people. Were still seeing visitors each week because they go online and let us know they were here. Were still having people joining the church, which is great, King said. The churchs opening has been a phased-in process: online only until June, reopening briefly before suspending services again because of the high rate of COVID cases in Harris County, and then staging a second reopening recently as the COVID-19 infection rate fell to a level where church leaders felt it was safe for in-person services to resume. We had taken a step back, re-evaluated to make sure everyone stayed safe and then when we felt comfortable that we could actually open the doors again, said King. Music without singing Hope Community United Methodist Church in Pasadena began holding in-person services again in September after having been strictly online since last May. According to its pastor, the Rev. Jack Womack, the church has phased its way into a new way of worshiping, including music without congregational singing. This was all new to everybody at first, said Womack. The 6-foot markers, blocked-off pews and the hand-sanitizing stations at each of its three entrances are familiar now. Its less of a challenge now because everybody knows that any building you go into you have to wear a mask. People are used to it now, he said. For these congregations, the combination of going virtual and having in-person worship services has been successful, and while its not an ideal substitute, ministries have been reaching out in other ways. Since March, we have been calling our members, have touched base with them to let them know were thinking about them and to make sure theyre doing well, King said. For many churchgoers, the physical church building is a sacred part of the faith experience. The overwhelming response has been, We cant wait to get back in church some of them are able to come back, some are not, but the consensus is that they miss church. The biggest challenge, Womack said, has been for members to resist the urge to meet and greet after service the way they were accustomed to as a tightknit congregation. They cant all run and hug each other because its a community, but at least they can see each other, he said. Livestreaming works for those who are still hesitant, Womack said. There will be some people who just wont come for a while because theyre not sure, he said. St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland recently expanded its services to five masses every weekend. The church has been adhering to the guidelines set by the Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston, which in March limited church gatherings to 25 percent capacity. According to the Rev. Jim Courville, that meant only 350 people could be at St. Helen in the days following the initial shutdown. The church, which streams services live, gradually added services and is now welcoming at least 1,200 parishioners to four separate masses. St. Helen has also been able to conduct weddings, funerals, baptisms and all the sacraments as long as capacity is limited to 350 people; the church has established seven sanitation stations at each entrance. Waiting out the pandemic Like First Baptist and Centro de Discipulado, St. Helen has seen its reach expand through its virtual services. Our crowds continue to grow because over the last three months, weve gone to online masses, Courville said. The church is hoping to expand to 50 percent capacity when the state allows. Until then, Courville said, St. Helen will continue to hold as many services as needed to both comply with the archdiocese and the state while also functioning as a faith community. I get an email every day from people saying they cant wait to come back to church live. Some of them have pre-existing conditions, some are elderly they want to wait until the ban has been lifted and we can have 100 percent (attendance), Courville said. Theyre still not feeling safe about going back just yet. Montalvo at Iglesia Centro de Discipulado said his church has encourages those who feel uncomfortable returning to in-person worship to make their own choice about attending services. One silver lining, he said, has been the churchs virtual services attract more people than its sanctuary can hold during normal circumstances. Still, he said, there are concerns and anxieties among members. We mention to our members that whoever doesnt feel safe, has certain fears and concerns, you can stay at home and watch us through social media, and theyre respecting that, Montalvo said. The three members who tested positive, including an expectant mother, have all recovered. There has been a mixed feeling, Montalvo said. There are some people that have been affected (by COVID-19), he said. Some have backslid a little bit and for others, their faith has been strengthened. I think this pandemic builds their faith. yorozco@hcnonline.com New Delhi: Indian Youth Congress (IYC) activists led by IYC President Srinivas BV take out a torch rally in support of the farmers and against the Central Government over the recently passed controversial Farm Bills 2020, in New Delhi on Sep 24, 2020 Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Indian Youth Congress (IYC) activists led by IYC President Srinivas BV take out a torch rally in support of the farmers and against the Central Government over the recently passed controversial Farm Bills 2020, in New Delhi on Sep 24, 2020 Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Indian Youth Congress (IYC) activists led by IYC President Srinivas BV take out a torch rally in support of the farmers and against the Central Government over the recently passed controversial Farm Bills 2020, in New Delhi on Sep 24, 2020 Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Sep 24 : Upping its ante against the government over the controversial farm Bills, the Youth Congress on Thursday took out a 'Mashaal Juloos' (torch rally) saying the party will always stand by the 60 crore farmers against the "black laws" and it will support all the organisations fighting for the farmers' rights. Hundreds of Indian Youth Congress activists led by its chief Srinivas B.V. and national incharge Krishna Allavaru started the torch rally from Raisina Road to India Gate. However, the Delhi Police stopped the torch rally before India Gate. Speaking to media, Allavaru said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi before coming to power in 2014 had promised two crore jobs to youths every year and double the income of the farmers. But now the government has brought the black laws to snatch the lands of the farmers." Accusing the government of being anti-farmer, Srinivas said that Youth Congress will stand with 60 crore farmers of the country and will fight the government to force it to withdraw the "anti-farmer" laws. He also said that now the farmers will not be hoodwinked by the false promises of the Modi government and will fight for their rights on the streets of the country. "The government talked about providing jobs and the upliftment of farmers, but with the anti-farmer black laws, the government is on the verge of making India farmer-free," he said. He also said that IYC will support all those organisation which will fight for the farmers' rights. On Wednesday also the IYC had taken out tractor rally from Panipat to New Delhi. The tractor rally, however, was stopped by the Haryana Police in Panipat's Samalkha and hundreds of Youth Congress activits were detained. The Congress has also planned nationwide agitations and programmes against the controversial farm Bills passed in Rajya Sabha on Sunday. The Congress has announced to collect two crore signatures of farmers from across the country by November 14 that it will submit to President Ram Nath Kovind asking him to not give his assent to the Bills. Britain's prime minister Boris Johnson walking to Downing Street on Tuesday, ahead of his announcement on tougher restrictions in parliament and televised speech later in the day. Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images UK prime minister Boris Johnson has announced a string of new curbs on everyday life in England, warning they could last six months as the country struggles to contain rising coronavirus cases. Johnson told MPs in parliament on Tuesday: We always knew that while we might have driven the virus into retreat, the prospect of a second wave was real and Im sorry to say that, as in Spain and France and many other countries, weve reached a perilous turning point. He said no government wanted to stifle our freedoms, but the UK had to act now to avoid still graver consequences later on with infection, hospitalisation and death rates again rising across Britain. Watch: What are the new COVID-19 measures announced by the PM? The prime minister detailed a string of new restrictions in England, with similar measures expected to be announced soon by devolved administrations in the rest of the UK: Retail staff, taxi and private hire users, and hospitality customers not seated will have to wear face masks. COVID-secure guidelines for retail, tourism, leisure and other sectors will become legal obligations. Businesses who break COVID-19 rules will risk fines, Johnson added. Hospitality firms will have to close altogether at 10pm, not merely ceasing trading as some in the industry had hoped, and offer table service only. Attendance numbers for wedding ceremonies and receptions will be slashed from 30 to 15 from Monday, and a six-person limit applied to adult indoor sports, though the cap on funeral numbers remains at 30. Penalties for not wearing masks or breaking the rule of six will double to 200. Plans to reopen conferences and large sporting events have been put on hold. Office workers are now being urged to work from home where possible. READ MORE: UK economy shuffles into new rules on home working and pub closure times Johnson warned if the actions failed to bring the R rate below 1, the government reserved the right to deploy greater firepower with tighter restrictions. Story continues Unless we palpably make progress, we should assume that the restrictions I have announced will remain in place for perhaps six months, he added. He apologised to firms getting back on their feet, but said action was needed to stop transmission in bars and restaurants. But he said the rules were by no means a return to the full lockdown of March. There was no general order to stay at home, and the prime minister said the measures allowed the continued operation of the vast majority of the UK economy. The prime minister will also give a televised speech to the country later in the day, in a bid to raise awareness of the governments latest change of stance just a week after it introduced the rule of six. Watch: Michael Gove says people should now work from home if they can Cabinet minister Michael Gove had told broadcasters earlier on Tuesday there would be a shift in emphasis on workplaces, with the public told to work from home where possible. It marks a radical shift in policy, with millions of workers previously encouraged to return to workplaces in a bid to revive ailing town and city centres. The curfew proposals have knocked leisure stocks this week, and have already sparked a backlash from leading hospitality figures. They mark a stark reversal of the support given to firms and diners through last months Eat Out to Help Out scheme. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of the UKHospitality trade body, warned the curfew could have a significant economic impact, hitting as much as 50% of revenues if firms had to shut their doors by 10pm. Consumer organisation Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has warned communities could lose their local forever without more support for firms. CAMRA is calling for the government to reintroduce the furlough scheme for hospitality venues, extend the business rates holiday for another year, take steps to resolve the rent crisis facing the sector and drastically cut draught beer duty. CAMRA chief executive Tom Stainer said: Pub-goers and publicans alike want to stop the spread of COVID-19, but this curfew is an arbitrary restriction that unfairly targets the hospitality sector and will have a devastating impact on pubs, jobs and local communities. On Tuesday, the CEO of pub chain JD Wetherspoon (JDW.L) also confirmed that up to 450 jobs are at risk at a number of airports across the UK. In a statement sent to Yahoo Finance UK, JD Wetherspoon CEO John Hutson said the company had written to 1,000 people employed in its pubs at six airports (Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow) to inform them that a possible 400 to 450 positions are at risk of redundancy. Earlier this month, the pub chains chairman Tim Martin claimed fears of COVID-19 spreading in pubs were overblown, pleading with the government not to impose any further restrictions on the hospitality industry. Martin said 66 members of staff at the pub chain had tested positive for COVID-19 since its 861 sites reopened on 4 July. The pub chain employs more than 41,000 people across the UK. But with current measures from social distancing rules to test-and-trace services to sick pay levels failing to curb a new surge in infection rates, the government had faced mounting pressure for tougher restrictions. Watch: These are some of the most important moments from the COVID-19 briefing READ MORE: Englands chief medical officer fuels fears of second UK lockdown The UK governments chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance and Englands chief medical officer Chris Whitty had been sent out to lay the ground for new restrictions in a press conference on Monday. Vallance said an initial rise in cases among younger people had now spread to all age groups including older people, and had already begun to cause a fresh rise in hospitalisations and deaths. He said an estimated 6,000 new cases were occurring every day, and warned Britain needed speed and more action to curb cases. Whitty also warned too little action risked the virus becoming out of control and increased deaths. But he acknowledged tighter rules could cause damage to the economy, which can feed through to unemployment, to poverty, to deprivation. Give this much to Sen. Tom Kean Jr.: Once he tells a lie, he has the courage to stick with it, even after hard evidence proves its a lie. You can begin to see why he had no trouble endorsing President Trump for a second term. The lie is vicious and personal, a charge that Rep. Tom Malinowski, the Democratic incumbent in the 7th district, worked to protect child sex predators in 2006 when he was Washington director of Human Rights Watch. The ad claims that Malinowski lobbied to oppose a national registry for sex offenders, and thats simply not true. Human Rights Watch stated in writing at the time that it did not oppose a sex registry, only the bills harshest provisions, like the one that could ensnare a kid charged with public urination. Its on HRW spelled this out in a letter that is in the Congressional Record, page H691, so theres no wiggle room. The ad is just a lie. And Malinowskis job at HRW was to work on foreign policy and security issues, work that led to his later appointment as Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Democracy in the Obama administration. Malinowski signed HRWs lobbying report for this crime bill, along with a colleague, Jennifer Daskal, who handled domestic issues. Both say they routinely put both names on all lobbying forms, a common shortcut, but that Malinowski played no role in forming HRWs stance on the bill or lobbying for it. (And even if he had lobbied for these reasonable changes, that wouldnt make him an ally of child predators, as Kean charges.) On Tuesday, Malinowskis campaign released a letter of protest signed by 20 faith leaders in the district, including Christians, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs. We welcome and encourage debate on those issues, they wrote. But we abhor and condemn in the strongest terms possible personal attacks based on lies. That followed a letter last week signed by six elected Republicans in the district, including two mayors, three former mayors, and a councilwoman. The accusation is false, they wrote. Whats more, the ad plays into and amplifies a dangerous current of fear in our politics, which is turning Americans against one another and districts us from the real challenges our country faces. On Tuesday, the Washington Post fact-checkers reviewed the ad and gave it four Pinocchios, its harshest rating. Kean wont talk about any of this. The ad is still running on cable TV in the district, paid for the Republican National Congressional Committee at a cost that Malinowskis campaign estimates of $250,000 a week. But you can blame this on Kean, who has refused to denounce the ad and used it to attack Malinowski as a protector of child predators during a recent debate. His campaign manager, Harrison Neely, has tweeted the ad as well. Kean refused to discuss the ad, or the letters from constituents asking him to take it down. What can he say, after all? In this case, one can forgive him for hiding under his desk. Its more difficult to forgive the slander, and his continuing effort to capitalize on it. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Land Title Association, a national trade association representing more than 6,400 title insurance companies, title and settlement agents, independent abstracters, title searchers, and real estate attorneys, will hold ALTA ONE virtually for the first time in the event's history. ALTA ONE will help guests discover ways to advance their businesses, sharpen their skills, and empower their teams. The three-day event (October 6-8) will feature insightful presentations from industry leaders, online exhibitions, and additional networking opportunities. Featured speakers include: Kevin "Mr. Wonderful" O'Leary, star of ABC's Shark Tank. We've all seen the good, the bad and the ugly in real estate this year. O'Leary will discuss what's in store for the future as the "currents of change" affect your business. Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Wealth Management, Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley. Known as one of the most powerful women in finance, Harris will discuss one of her most relevant Pearls of Wisdom: anyone choosing to take on a leadership position must be intentional to be a powerful, impactful and influential leader in today's environment. Hear Harris make her case for the eight things she sees as essential for modern leaders: authenticity, trust, clarity, creating other leaders, diversity, innovation, inclusivity and voice. Jose Andres, author, humanitarian and chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, his non-profit World Central Kitchen has partnered with restaurants, small farms and community leaders around the country to combat food insecurity. Andres will discuss coming to America, his career, World Central Kitchen and the importance of meeting the needs of local communities. Key ALTA ONE education presentations include: ALTA Policy Forms: Key Changes to Know (CE/CLE available) From FaceTime to FaceTime: Managing and Growing Your Business in a Virtual World The Impact of COVID-19 on the Commercial Real Estate Market (CE/CLE available) Talent Optimization During Times of Change Exit Strategies: Creating a Tailored Succession Plan (CE/CLE available) "From couches to conference rooms, we are looking to deliver an experience that brings guests right into the action," said Diane Tomb, CEO of ALTA. "The land title industry is no stranger to change, which is why it was so important for our team to plan an online event packed with the same level of value that we would expect from one of our in-person experiences." Non-members will receive a free ALTA membership for the rest of 2020 when they register for ALTA ONE. ALTA members get to join the premier association for title and settlement service agents and unite with a family of dedicated professionals actively working to improve the title industry. If you've never been to ALTA ONE, now is the perfect time to experience the event without leaving the office. Registration is required to receive CE/CLE credits. Join us to discover the new virtual ALTA ONE and grab a free ALTA membership. In addition, ALTA ONE will offer Networking Roulette, an innovative tool designed to provide networking opportunities during online events. To learn more about ALTA ONE, please visit https://meetings.alta.org/one/. About The American Land Title Association The American Land Title Association, founded in 1907, is a national trade association representing more than 6,400 title insurance companies, title and settlement agents, independent abstracters, title searchers and real estate attorneys. ALTA members conduct title searches, examinations, closings and issue title insurance that protects real property owners and mortgage lenders against losses from defects in titles. Contact Information Contact: Megan Hernandez Office: 202-261-0315 Email: [email protected] Related Images alta-one.png ALTA ONE Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBCEyJN1kcc SOURCE American Land Title Association Chandigarh, Sep 24 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has appealed to the farmers to strictly maintain law and order, and adhere to all Covid-19 safety protocols, during Friday's statewide lockdown against the agriculture Bills. While the state government was fully with the farmers in their fight against the Bills, and no FIRs will be registered for violation of prohibitory orders, there should be no disturbance of the law and order during the lockdown, he said. He appealed to the farmers to ensure that the citizens of Punjab are not put to any inconvenience during the protest, especially given the Covid crisis in the state. The Chief Minister also urged the farmers, and other organisations supporting the protest, to maintain social distancing and wear masks at all times. The state was already in the midst of a surge in Covid cases, and any violation of precautionary norms could lead to the situation spiralling out of control, he warned. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) A man allegedly killed his friend after a fight over 200 in Haridwars SIIDCUL industrial estate area, said police. The incident took place on September 5, but the accused was arrested on Thursday. SIIDCUL police station in-charge Lakhpat Singh Butola said the accused has confessed to committing the crime. The deceased Anuj was a resident of Fatehpur in Saharanpur and worked in a SIIDCUL-based company. His friend Monti was a resident of Kurdi in Bulandshahar. The accused was in the habit of consuming alcohol every evening, said police. On September 5, both had a brawl as Anuj asked Monti to contribute 200 for buying an extra alcohol bottle, said police. At this point there was a verbal argument. As the argument turned violent, Monti smashed a brick on the head of Anuj who died on the spot, said Butola. The decomposed body of Anuj was recovered from a nullah near a factory in SIIDCUL, along with his motorcycle. A DNA sample has been collected for ascertaining the body is of Anuj. Monti had also thrown the deceaseds mobile phone in the Ganga Canal so that no one can trace his bodys location, said Butola. The accused has been charged with Sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC. After a Covid-19 test, the accused was sent to a temporary prison in Roshanabad area of Haridwar. Hankison was fired from the force after Taylor was shot to death by the police during a botched raid on her apartment. During the raid, he fired 10 shots into her apartment from outside, through a sliding glass patio door and a window that were covered with blinds, in violation of a department policy that requires officers to have a line of sight. Facebook stated that it has removed fake Chinese pages focused on disrupting political activity in the United States and many other nations. A Sliver of the Overall Activity According to Facebook, the US-focused activity was merely a scrap of the overall activity of the pages and sustained almost no following. The prime focus was Southeast Asia. The Chinese pages targetted on influencing the November US presidential election. The activity was not directly associated with the government of China, reported USA Today. Disrupting the Politics in the United States, the Philippines The fake pages with links to people in China also had an association with the Filipino military that was disturbing the politics of the Philippines and America. The social media platform company stated that all the accounts in two particular networks based in China and the Philippines were taken down for contravening its policy against foreign or government interference. Facebook defines such activity as "coordinated inauthentic behaviour on behalf of a foreign or government entity," reported The Guardian. Facebook also stated that the removal of the pages was for breaching its policy against "inauthentic behavior." On US President Donald Trump's Reelection The company has traced limited Chinese operations calculated to both help and hurt US President Donald Trump's reelection chances, Facebook declared on Tuesday on the first public disclosure of the Chinese pages' attempts to pressurize the November presidential election, reported Boston. Also Read: Netflix's 'The Social Dilemma' Review: Just How Dangerous Is Social Media? In Support of Joe Biden The Chinese activity could weaken Trump's constant argument that China is meddling in the presidential election to support former US Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate. While the intelligence community has evaluated that China opposes the current US president's reelection, according to officials this week, the Facebook activity so far was minuscule and Beijing had yet to decide to initiate a large-scale influence operation to leverage itself to Russian efforts in 2016 and 2020. According to Facebook's head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher, the social network has removed 155 accounts, 11 pages, nine groups, and six Instagram accounts for contravening its policy against foreign or government disruption. The accounts shared content both in support of and against presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. The 2nd Time It is the second time that the social media platform has detected such fake accounts emerging in China. The fake accounts had an estimated 130,000 followers with a very few of originating from the US. Facebook stated that the people behind the network attempted to conceal their identity and location through virtual private networks and other techniques. Concerns regarding foreign attempts to interfere in the presidential election were highlighted by a warning on Tuesday from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity agency that international actors and cybercriminals were possibly trying to spark the prevalence of disinformation regarding the election's results. This includes creating Facebook fake pages or social media content targetted at dishonoring the process. Related Article: Piers Morgan Takes a Swipe at Kim Kardashian's Social Media Freeze, Wants Her to Quit for Good @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. After all the trouble Ukip has had selecting a candidate in Basildon South it has good reason to be pleased with its eventual choice of Ian Luder, a former Lord Mayor of London. First it picked a local man, Kerry Smith, but he was induced to make way for Natasha Bolter, a glamorous defector from Labour. But Bolter bolted, claiming sexual harassment by Ukips general secretary, Roger Bird. A party investigation concluded that their relationship was consensual. Kerry Smith was then reinstated, but had to be dropped after it emerged that he had used the expression disgusting poofters in a telephone conversation. Ian Luder comes with a clean back story. A former Labour councillor, he was not recommended for a knighthood when his term as Lord Mayor ended. Allegedly that was Gordon Browns revenge because Luder had defended bankers bonuses. He has also written movingly about his Jewish grandparents, who ran a sweet shop in east London after arriving early in the 20th century as refugees from Romania, and about the battle his grandmother had to fight when his grandfather was denied re-entry into the UK. How fortunate she did not run up against some Ukip-style nut-job moaning about trains being stuffed with people talking foreign languages. Mirror chickens comeback There is a fun precedent for todays appearance of a Daily Mirror chicken, whose job is to torment David Cameron over his refusal to participate in a televised election debate. In 1997, the Mirror dispatched a headless chicken on a similar mission, only for it to get entangled in a very public confrontation with a Tory press officer, Alex Aiken. Aiken, a former student lover of Sally Bercow, wife of the Speaker John Bercow, is now high up in the Civil Service. Just keep him away from the chicken. Opik, the wilderness years The former Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik has compared his life with that of Nelson Mandela. Opik has tried his hand at many things since 2010, when he achieved the rare feat of losing Montgomeryshire, which had been held by the Liberals or Lib Dems in every election except one since the 1870s. He has tried stand-up comedy, wrestling and reality TV. He tried to be the Lib Dem nominee for London Mayor, to get elected to the partys national committee, or to be Northumberlands crime commissioner. All has come to nothing. Every major statesman needs the wilderness years. Nelson Mandela had them and I suppose thats my lot, too, he has told WalesOnLine. The parallels leap from the page. Snowden is no Assange Readers of todays Daily Mail have been told that the House of Lords heard a devastating analysis by the former head of MI5, Lord Evans, of the harm that Edward Snowden did by revealing the extent of global surveillance by the US National Security Agency. Snowden is a quiet, undemonstrative individual who ruined his life to reveal something he believed ought to be publicly known. He is not fleeing from alleged sex offences, like Julian Assange. Here is what Jonathan Evans had to say: The revelations made by Edward Snowden have clearly led to a reduction in the ability of the security agencies here and overseas to access and read the communications of terrorists internationally, with the result that as the threat from terrorism has gone up in the past two years, the ability of the security agencies to counter those threats has gone down. That is no analysis it is an assertion made without any supporting evidence. Bryan Callen is suing the husband of a woman who claims the comedian raped her in 1999. (Timothy Norris / Getty Images) Bryan Callen is suing the husband of a woman who claims that the comedian raped her, arguing her spouse is out to ruin his career. On Wednesday, Callen filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging that Gabriel Tigerman has launched an ongoing campaign to destroy [the comics] livelihood via threats, harassment and intimidation of third parties that dare contact him. Tigerman is married to Katherine Fiore Tigerman, who in July told The Times that in 1999, Callen held her down on a bed and forced her to have sex with him. She was one of four women who claimed that Callen was sexually inappropriate with them in a story that described his alleged assault, misconduct and disturbing comments. Callen adamantly denied all of the womens stories and stressed that his encounter with Fiore Tigerman had been consensual. On social media, he quickly vowed not to lay low, promising his fans that he wouldnt post a statement and disappear. Though he has since taken a leave of absence from his podcast, "The Fighter and the Kid," Callen has continued to book upcoming stand-up dates despite the fact that he was dropped by his Hollywood representatives, the Creative Artists Agency and Innovative Artists, in August. Callen, best known for his roles on ABC's "The Goldbergs" and "Schooled," was also set to make a Netflix prank show with comic Chris D'Elia but the program was scrapped after D'Elia was accused of sexual misconduct in June. Upon learning about Callens future gigs, Gabriel Tigerman reached out via email and Twitter to a number of the comedy clubs that booked Callen. On Sept. 14, Tigerman tweeted that the venues were sending the very clear message that [they] support sexual abusers and dont believe victims by hosting Callens shows. His message garnered support from some prominent voices in the comedy world, including Jen Kirkman, who said she would donate $5 to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network on behalf of any person who told Indianas Helium Comedy Club that they are disappointed for them booking credibly alleged rapist Bryan Callen. (Kirkman, who has two comedy specials on Netflix, was a writer for many years on E!'s "Chelsea Lately.") Story continues The Times confirmed on Wednesday that four locations Brickyard Comedy Club in Oklahoma City, Skyline Comedy Club in Appleton, Wis., Spokane Comedy Club in Washington and DC Improv in Washington, D.C. recently pulled Callens shows from their schedules. He is still slated to perform this fall at five different venues in Ohio, Missouri, Texas and Indiana. Callen blames the cancellation of his gigs on Tigermans vengeful interference, according to his lawsuit. Driven by the false allegation that Mr. Callen assaulted his wife over 20 years ago, Mr. Tigerman has sent and continues to send Mr. Callens representatives and others direct demands that they cease doing business with him, or else be falsely branded as supporters of sexual assault, Callens complaint reads. None of the four clubs that scrapped Callens gigs responded to questions from The Times about their decision to nix the dates. CAA and Innovative both of which Callen says dropped him a day after Tigerman reached out to them declined to comment. In a statement provided by his lawyer, Andrew Baum, Callen said he filed the lawsuit because I take my innocence, reputation and right to due process very seriously, and I will not stand by while someone tries to destroy my livelihood over something I did not do. Tigermans legal representative, Alex Little, responded to the filing by noting that Callen had been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women and is now trying to silence the husband of a woman that he reportedly raped. We are confident the court will see Callens lawsuit for what it is: a desperate attempt to attack anyone who supports his accusers. Callen is seeking unspecified damages from Tigerman whose apparent objective is to have Mr. Callen blacklisted, destitute, never to work again, per the complaint and says the impact of his lost work has been nothing short of devastating. Tigerman and his wife have launched a GoFundMe to help pay their legal fees. On Twitter, meanwhile, Callen has tried a different tack with fellow comedian Kirkman. On Wednesday, he publicly asked her to appear on his Patreon podcast to discuss why she was so passionately invested in destroying the life of someone you dont know based solely on hearsay. Kirkman did not respond to his invitation and told The Times she had no comment about his outreach. Donald Trump has called for the Senate to confirm his Supreme Court nominee before the 2020 election because he believes the results will end up before the Supreme Court. (Getty Images) Donald Trump has revealed he expects a contested presidential election that winds up in the Supreme Courts hands, 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 states programmes to ramp up mail-in voting amid the coronavirus pandemic. 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 such a legal challenge to the election results without its ninth justice. 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 will announce his nominee on Saturday. It will be a woman, he has said. The leading candidates are reportedly federal appeals court judges Amy Coney Barrett of the seventh circuit and Barbara Lagoa of the 11th circuit, although the official shortlist includes three other female judges. Story continues The president has met with Ms Barrett at the White House twice this week. Read more Coronavirus: Ilhan Omar warns Americans not to take Donald Trump at his word on a vaccine before the election Trump - news live: Distressed Dr Birx about to quit coronavirus taskforce in frustration at White House, report claims Republicans threaten to oust Nancy Pelosi if she impeaches Donald Trump again Trump works to win over Catholic voters on abortion issue Trump, social media, right-wing news stir up antifa scares In a video for 2020 Time 100, the U.S. magazine's list of the world's most influential people, which aired on Tuesday (September 22) the Harry and Meghan said people who were able to cast their vote, should do so. "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 said. Meghan married Queen Elizabeth's grandson Harry in 2018, also criticized U.S. President Donald Trump during his 2016 election campaign as being misogynistic and divisive. 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. "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." The video was part of a television special that aired on U.S. network ABC celebrating the Time magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people of the year. Also joining the couple on the list was top U.S. infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, actor Michael B. Jordan and rapper Megan Thee Stallion. As soon as one of the biggest Twitter trends started yesterday, everyone had one important question - why the hell are people who have never even read TIME trying to boycott it? It's always been 'boycotted' if you don't read it, people. Think through it. Well, we definitely know the two reasons why Boycott TIME became a thing as soon the magazine released the list of their Most Influential People of 2020 yesterday. Reason one - Bilkis dadi, the 82-year-old woman who sat in the harsh winters at Shaheen Bagh along with other protestors to peacefully fight for the future of minorities in India and the country's democracy was one of the people honoured. Twitter Reason two - well, PM Narendra Modi, who was also part of the list, did not get the review everyone had hoped for in the magazine. Reuters You can read it here. Modi is in @TIME magazines 100 most influential people of 2020. But did you see anyone tweet this? Here is why Link: https://t.co/oYLllELD6o pic.twitter.com/9qMfBg0p2k Sai (@ssaig) September 23, 2020 People had a lot of different points of views when it came to the boycott of TIME, but everyone agreed that the magazine itself probably doesn't care at all. I mean, this is an actual cover so you can decide. TIME Hmm. Sanghi Bhakts are breaking their watches and clocks to #BoycottTIME Some are even going to an extreme of blocking their proxy channel Times now Noone can ever believe that Bhakts actually read @TIME #____ pic.twitter.com/9Nulcd7WQi Bharathan Master (@BharathanMaster) September 24, 2020 Are you sure you understand? #BoycottTIME This magazine is meddling inside Indias internal matters , without knowing what is NRC , this lady was responsible breaking peace defying court orders , that make the capital hell , Time should go for noble prize , boycott Time Anil Kapoor (@AnilKap57560169) September 24, 2020 Everyone asking the same question. Sanghis are trending #BoycottTIME as if they actually read TIME Magazine!! RiJOY (@iamrijoy) September 23, 2020 Wow. TIME celebrated heroes and told the villains off, so the mindless Sanghis are trending #BoycottTIME despite reading or subscribing to @TIME. Siddharth (@DearthOfSid) September 23, 2020 Nice joke. BJP supporters to break their watches and clocks to #BoycottTIME Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) September 23, 2020 Really? OMG Zee News running #BoycottTime. Kya din aa gaye hain https://t.co/boh9JMAq9M Hasiba | (@HasibaAmin) September 23, 2020 Hm. #BoycottTIME Why???? It's a proud moment where a 82 year old lady told us Never give up... Never feel tired... Never accept injustice.. pic.twitter.com/jjDMbGQsa1 Ritesh Kumari (@kumari_ritesh) September 23, 2020 They're on the same list. This trend #BoycottTIME proves how stupid these people are. They want to boycott it for felicitating #ShaheenBagh Dadi but forget the supreme leader too has been called one of the 100 most influential by the same TIME Sakshi Joshi (@sakshijoshii) September 23, 2020 Oh no. Thank you. Legacy. Kathmandu, Sep 24 : The Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border point between Nepal and China reopened on Thursday after it remained closed for around three weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a senior customs official said here. The border point, which is one of the key trade routes between the two country, was closed after a Nepali worker tested positive for the novel coronavirus, reports Xinhua news agency. Earlier, it reopened in early July after it was closed for nearly six months firstly due to snowfall in the bordering Chinese region and later because of the Covid-19 outbreak. "Two containers of medical goods entered into Nepal after the reopening of border point on Wednesday," senior customs officer at Rasuwagadhi, Punya Bikram Khadka told Xinhua. "Now, we hope the movement of goods will take place normally." According to the officer, there has been a restricted flow of goods through this border as both countries have adopted zero human-to-human contact policy between the two sides until the pandemic is over. The Tatopani-Zhangmu, another border point, which reopened in late March after closing in January, has also remained shut for the last few months. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 23:47:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A man walks past a sign warning of fines for not wearing a face covering at Waterloo Station in London, Britain, on Sept. 23, 2020. Another 6,178 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Britain as pressure is building up on the government on the replacement of the government's furlough scheme. The daily rise of coronavirus cases, the highest since May 1, brought the total number of cases to 409,729. The coronavirus-related death toll rose by 37 to 41,862, the official data showed Wednesday. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua) LONDON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Another 6,178 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Britain as pressure is building up on the government on the replacement of the government's furlough scheme. The daily rise of coronavirus cases, the highest since May 1, brought the total number of cases to 409,729. The coronavirus-related death toll rose by 37 to 41,862, the official data showed Wednesday. On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restriction measures to tackle a sharp rise in the country's coronavirus cases. Johnson confirmed that from Thursday, all pubs, bars and restaurants in England must operate a table service only -- except for takeaways -- and will be forced to close at 10:00 p.m. BST (2100 GMT). Among other measures, staff are advised to work from home if they can despite advice earlier this month to head back to the workplace, said Johnson. The new restriction measures, which may last for six months, raised concerns that more jobs are at risk as the government's furlough scheme expires at the end of October. The new restriction was announced at a time when countries such as Britain, China, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines. The British government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme offered furloughed workers 80 percent of their salary, up to 2,500 pounds (about 3,190 U.S. dollars) per month. From Aug. 1, the level of grant is reduced each month. British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is understood to be looking at options including a salary top-up scheme, which is similar to those already operating in France and Germany, according to the BBC. Possible ideas are thought to include allowing firms to reduce employees' hours while keeping them in a job, with the government paying part of the lost wages. During Prime Minister's Questions at the parliament, Johnson said Sunak was working on "creative and imaginative" solutions to avoid what an MP described as a "tsunami of job losses". Enditem Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) Baguio City has set the target to finally reopen its doors to local tourists starting October 1, according to the Tourism Department. The City of Pines was supposed to welcome bubble tourists from the neighboring Ilocos Region on Tuesday. However, this was pushed back after the summer capital recorded its highest single-day spike of 43 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend. Speaking to CNN Philippines on Thursday, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said the rise in coronavirus infections was brought by increased testing protocols in the area. She also explained authorities wanted to further improve the citys online management system before rolling out the much-awaited tourism bubble. We still have to synchronize (the system) we want sana mas pulido when we finally open up. But we are targeting October 1, but only for Region 1. And only 200 guests a day, Puyat said in an interview with The Source. Puyat added the city will only be opening up five tourist spots, but did not detail further. Aside from Baguio, the Tourism chief said the government will also look into the possibility of reopening for tourism nearby provinces in the Ilocos Region La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur. But of course, we still have COVID, so we want to be very cautious, slow but sure, Puyat said. Anti-gen pilot testing kicks off in Baguio Meanwhile, the Health Department noted that its pilot study on the use of antigen testing for COVID-19 will kick off in Baguio City on October 1. Under the guidelines of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force, the pilot studies will cover interzonal travel in the country considering "cross-border differences in quarantine status and the prevalence level of transmission." Puyat said the pilot studies will cover around 3,000 individuals, who will be subjected to both antigen and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests. The simultaneous testing will help see the correlation and check the accuracy of the method, she added. A Mexican citizen who was living illegally in the North Country has been sentenced to eight years in prison for uploading child pornography to Facebook, prosecutors said. Anildar Roblero-Gomez, 26, pleaded guilty in federal court last year to one count of trading child pornography. He admitted to using a cell phone to share the video publicly to Facebook, with over 100 other Facebook users, prosecutors said. Roblero-Gomez was charged after the Facebook upload led investigators to multiple images in the mans possession that depicted child pornography, according to court records. Anildar Roblero-Gomez U.S. District Court Chief Judge Glenn Suddaby sentenced Roblero-Gomez today. He ordered him to 15 years of supervised release following the prison sentence. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorneys Office said Roblero-Gomez will be required to register as a sex offender. He could also face deportation proceedings. Longviews only big-box office supplies store is set to close in November, growing the vacant portion of one block in the Triangle Shopping Center to nearly 50%. The Office Depot in the Triangle Shopping Center announced plans to close earlier this month. Employees say the shops last day is Nov. 14, and there are no plans to reopen the store at another location locally. According to signs on the building, the closure is not part of a larger corporate shutdown. The Longview Office Depot is the only location closing. Its closure will leave just two year-round tenants Big 5 Sporting Goods and Chase bank in the northwest block of the shopping. The northernmost half of the block likely will be fully vacant come November. (The former Ace Hardware, which neighbors Office Depot and closed about 16 months ago, is currently occupied by a seasonal Halloween store.) Local store managers said they were not authorized to speak with the media, and Office Depot corporate representatives did not return a request for comment Wednesday. Triangle Town Center NW LLC, the San Diego-based company that owns the strip mall property and leases Office Depot the building there, could not be reached for comment. When Ace Hardware closed its Triangle Center shop in June 2019, property managers expected to fill the vacancy within a few months. With the exception of a seasonal Halloween store, the space has remained empty. Representatives with the Cowlitz Economic Development Council say its difficult to predict whether the same fate will befall the Office Depot spot, especially considering the unpredictable business environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Larger vacancies historically have always been more difficult to fill. But with some of the other rents weve seen with businesses opening up during this time, I also wouldnt be surprised if something else swooped right in there. Its just hard to tell, said Lindsey Cope, CEDC community engagement coordinator. In addition to the vacancy, Office Depots departure will leave a hole in services and jobs locally, Cope said. Any time you have any business that decides to close or cease operations in our area, it affects unemployment. It definitely affects those families. It also leaves a glaring vacancy in a high-traffic area, she said. Of course we dont want to see these businesses close. The Kelso-Longview area has several mom-and-pop shops that provide printing and copy services or sell office supplies and electronics, and those stores may help fill the gap, Cope said. But the community will lose its only complete office one-stop shop, Cope said. Of course your Walmart, Target and Fred Meyer are able to supply the smaller things, but most of that has moved online, she said. And just because the Office Depot storefront closed, I believe theyll still ship those items. The store is currently holding a closing sale for all of its items and retail furniture. Discounts range from 5% to 40% off. Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 24 Angry 4 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. At select Youfit Health Clubs across the nation, YouGX group fitness classes have resumed operations to the delight of members who have missed their energizing workouts. Classes are now live at over a dozen locations, with more to come soon. All Lime Card members are invited to head back into the studio to enjoy popular classes such as YouCycle, Zumba, Total Sculpt, Yoga and more. Several locations are offering paid programming as well, which includes additional class options like Body Pump, Body Flow and Body Combat from Les Mills. All class schedules are available online. In light of COVID-19, Youfit is implementing some additional measures for its YouGX classes to keep members safe and healthy. The classes have been redesigned with spacing and floorplans to encourage social distancing, and classes are a bit shorter to allow ample time for transitioning, cleaning and disinfecting between each class. In addition, members must apply hand sanitizer prior to their YouGX workout class. Sanitization stations are also set up throughout the gym. Attendees are also required to bring their own towels and mats. The locations now offering YouGX classes are: In Arizona: Gilbert Higley Rd. In Georgia: Austell - East-West Connector. In Texas: Mesquite - Galloway Ave. In Florida: Members who belong to locations which have not yet resumed their YouGX classes or who are not yet comfortable coming back into the studio can also still work out at home by accessing YouGX classes on Facebook live. Youfit now has 84 open locations around the country. At each club, Youfit has committed to meeting all applicable guidelines, including those mandated by the government and implementing safety precautions including the following: Each and every Youfit Health Clubs location has undergone a deep clean that includes the disinfecting and maintenance of all equipment, surfaces, and facilities. The clubs have implemented social distancing guidelines to keep staff and members safe. This includes creating greater distance between machines and the implementation of no contact check-in and membership enrollment processes. There are regular stringent sanitizing and disinfecting protocols in place. Showers at each location will be closed for the time being, and only a limited number of lockers are available for use. A new membership code of conduct has been implemented. The Youfit team has been fully trained on these new policies and procedures. Members will receive further communication on their specific clubs through email and text if they have opted in. Additional information will be available on the Youfit website, social media channels and at each club. About Youfit Youfit Health Clubs is a gym thats about one thing only: You. Founded in 2008, Youfit offers affordable gym memberships at state-of-the-art facilities to help members get the most out of life. Gardai have arrested three people following the seizure over 100,000 worth of suspected drugs in County Clare. As part of an ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs, gardai from the Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by the members of the Armed Support Unit, executed a search warrant at a house in Spancilhill, near Ennis shortly before midnight on Wednesday. "During the course of the search, gardai seized 100,000 of cocaine and a quantity of cannabis herb. Cannabis plants with an estimated value of 1,600 were also seized from a small grow house which was found inside the house," said a garda spokesperson. All of the suspected drugs will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. Two men, aged in their 20s and 40s, and a woman in her 30s were arrested at the scene and are currently detained at garda Stations in County Clare under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. Commenting on the seizure and arrests, Chief Superintendent Sean Colleran said: "This is a significant seizure of suspected drugs by our drugs unit here in County Clare. Drugs have such a negative impact on so many lives and have no place in our community. All members of An Garda Siochana are dedicated to carry out operations and investigations that will help protect the community we serve." So why did something about the story stick in my throat? I think it was because it went viral. Theres something about animals in distress that sends us mad. A decade ago, Britain lost it after Mary Bale was filmed by CCTV picking a cat up then dropping it in a bin. She received death threats. Later she confessed that her thoughtless action had ruined life. There have been countless other cases of almost feral anger unleashed on those who harm animals. This seems to be the way. We lose all sense of proportion when we can identify an innocent, blameless victim. I bet that as well as feeling sad, something in that outpouring of pity makes us feel good about ourselves Yet that outpouring of passion for the innocent has its limits. During the time the poor whales have been stranded on that Antipodean beach, hundreds of millions of equally innocent chickens have been slaughtered for meat. Of course, theres no outcry there. I realise this is slightly mad, but it drives me crazy. The thing about the whales was the case was open and shut. It was easy to understand, easier even to feel. It took no thought. In fact, it was thoughtless. But just as we might curl our lips at thoughtless cruelty, so we should be suspicious of thoughtless pity. Because Im willing to bet that as well as feeling sad for the animals, something in that outpouring of pity makes us feel good about ourselves. As if our concern for them is more than rubbernecking. But Im not sure that it is. Dont get me wrong Im also not saying sod the whales. Definitely save the whales. Maybe, though, like me you can sometimes hear the hollow note that your own sympathy seems to sound. The bit of you that says hold on, how much do I really care about pilot whales stranded on the other side of the world? Its an odd thought that pity can be thoughtless. That its the other side of the coin to thoughtless cruelty. But it can be. Its not always the higher call of the better parts of our nature. Thats why something in these animal-outcries often sounds strange to me. And maybe, now, to you too. Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Wednesday said all signs indicate that the coronavirus infection curve has been flattened. Kagwe said over the last month, Kenya has recorded a positivity rate of below 5%, meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold of a flattening infection curve. In the course of this month except for a couple of days we have been on a positivity rate of below 5%. The WHO proposes that when you can run a below 5% positivity rate for over 14 days then as a nation you have began to flatten the curve, he said. Kagwe, however, cautioned against laxity in observing COVID-19 containment measures saying there is a risk of a second wave of infections as observed in European countries. Let me caution that even as we do so(flatten the curve), events elsewhere across the globe indicate a new wave of COVID-19 cases. If you look at what is happening in the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, France and other countries in Europe then we have no choice but to be cautious for that second wave that is always a possibility, he said. Health Ministry Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth echoed his sentiments saying in addition to the positivity rate of below 5%, a significant number of patients had been discharged from hospitals in the last two months. Over the last 21 days, our average has been less than 5% apart from one or two days ago. We also look at the number of patients who are admitted for institutional care. As of today we have just 484 patients with COVID-19 in all health facilities from 1,200 more than two months ago. As of today(Wednesday) we only have 14 people in ICU under critical care; four of them with ventilatory support the remaining 10 on supplementary oxygen, said Dr Amoth. We are not noticing excess mortality at the community level. Critical surveillance on facility level has not generated any evidence to indicate the cases we are seeing are from the community. We are past our inflection point but we should not throw caution to the wind because we can easily reverse in terms of the progress we have made. Kenya recorded 130 new COVID-19 cases out of 3,874 samples tested in 24 hours bringing the countrys caseload to 38,348. Five more patients succumbed raising the total fatalities to 664 while the number of recoveries rose to 24,253 after 106 patients recovered from the virus. A legendary ally: Robert Graetz, white pastor who helped organize Montgomery bus boycott, dies Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Robert Graetz, a white Lutheran pastor active in the civil rights movement who helped to organize the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott, passed away at age 92. Graetz died Sunday at his home in Montgomery following a battle with Parkinsons Disease, according to his wife, Jeannie Ellis Graetz, as reported by The Washington Post. A native of Clarksburg, West Virginia, Graetz moved to Montgomery in 1955 to become lead pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, a predominantly African-American congregation. Graetz supported the bus boycott, aimed at pressuring the city to integrate their public transportation system, by spending hours each day driving blacks to work or school. His involvement in the boycott was met with resistance, which at times was violent, explained the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. After articles about his involvement appeared in local newspapers, sugar was poured in his cars gasoline tank, and he received many threatening phone calls, noted the Institute. On 25 August 1956, while he and his family were at Highlander Folk School for a workshop with Rosa Parks, his house was bombed After Graetzs home was bombed again in January 1957, he left Montgomery to become pastor of St. Philip Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio. In an interview with PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly in 2011, Graetz recalled the concerns he and his wife had for their children during his time in Montgomery. People would call us up and say, I see your children out in the yard there. Are you sure theyre OK out there? he recalled at the time. It was OK for Jeannie and me to put our lives in danger, but did we have the right to put our children through that? And we finally decided that we couldnt control that that God had brought us here, the children were in Gods hands, and if God wanted them to be protected, that would be His job. In the 1990s, Graetz became involved in the gay rights movement at the encouragement of one of his children, Robert S. Graetz III, who later died after being diagnosed with AIDS in 1991. Graetz is survived by his wife of over 65 years, Jean Ellis Graetz, a sister, six children, 26 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson. Many paid their respects to the late pastor online, including the official Facebook page of the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Reverend Robert Graetz entered the church triumphant today. He was a life long fighter for justice. May he Rest In Peace and rise in glory. Peace be to his memory, they stated. Alan Cross, an outspoken Southern Baptist pastor and writer, took to Twitter to pay respects to Graetz, labeling him an American and Christian hero. I knew him, visited with him, and he spoke in my church, tweeted Cross on Sunday. Graetz was only white minister to stand with Rosa Parks and Montgomery Bus Boycotters. His house was bombed twice and he and his wife, Jeannie, were constantly harassed. We have no idea what persecution looks like. This was mid-50s Montgomery and this was state-sponsored terrorism. Florida lawyer Ben Crump, known for his civil rights litigation, posted a statement to Facebook on Monday, labeling Graetz a legendary ally to the African-American community. He responded to harassment and threats by standing firm against hate. The change we have today would not have been possible without him. You will be missed, Rev. Graetz, stated Crump. The traffic police plan to restart its late night drink-drive checks and penalise offenders for the first time since March 10 after breathalyser use was suspended due to the Covid-19 outbreak to prevent its transmission, officiating senior superintendent of police (SSP-traffic) Manoj Kumar Meena has confirmed. However, even though nakas will be set up in a few days, breathalysers to test drivers blood-alcohol levels will not be used. Ever since traffic has normalised and bars have opened in the city, we had been studying how traffic police in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi are working to restart nakas and challans for drunken driving. A meeting was held with all traffic deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) and other stakeholders on Thursday in which the decision to start late night nakas has been taken, Meena said. Double zigzag nakas to be set up With breathalysers still not being used, the police plan to set up double zigzag nakas with barriers instead of the easily negotiable S shaped checkpoint to easily detect those driving under the influence. They will have trouble negotiating the turns, and we will be closely monitoring driver behaviour. Anyone who behaves suspiciously will be stopped and if the cops suspect the driver of being drunk he or she can be taken for a medical test to measure their blood alcohol percentage, said Meena. The new checking system with double barriers will also prevent instances of drivers ramming their cars into nakas and escaping or injuring policemen in the process, he added. Effectiveness remains to be seen Such nakas are needed urgently, said Kamal Soi, a member of National Road Safety Council, adding that their effectiveness had to be ascertained. Rather than allowing an intoxicated person to get inside the car, a vigil can be maintained outside markets with a lot of bars. Anyone who seems to be intoxicated can be stopped before he can drive the car and endanger himself or others, Soi suggested. Harman Sidhu, member, UT Road Safety Council, advised: Anyone who the traffic police suspects of being drunk should be made to walk in a straight line as is done in some Western countries. This is also an effective way of determining whether someone is drunk. Country-ish (Netflix) Follow Coffey Anderson and his wife, Criscilla, as they navigate their opposing country vs. city perspectives when it comes to both life and parenting their three children. The governments NHS Covid-19 app continues to be a central part of the attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus, even as cases soar. The app is intended to alert people when they might have been in contact with someone carrying the disease, and will encourage them to isolate and stop the spread when they are. The rollout of the app has been marred by questions, controversy and U-turns that have forced a change of strategy. And while the new app is not without its problems, it has dealt with many of the issues that first greeted the app when it arrived. How do I use it? The app is fairly simple: you download it through either the Apple or Google app store, open it up, give it the necessary information and permissions, and then carry on as normal. For the most part, the app will do its work in the background. If the government changes the risk status of your area or if you are found to have been exposed to someone who is positive, youll receive a notification. You might also sometimes be asked to scan QR codes when you go into shops. Thats done from the menu screen. How does it actually work? The app is both broadcasting its own bluetooth signal as well as listening out for those from other phones. It keeps a log of the bluetooth signals it finds, so that they can later be correlated with people; if two peoples phones are in strong enough contact with each other to register a signal, it is assumed that their owners will have been in enough contact with each other to potentially pass on the disease. If a person then indicates through the app that they have tested positive, their phone will let the owners of other devices that it has been in contact with know, so that they can take precautions. The precautions themselves will also be pushed through the app. It will give advice about self-isolating, and even provide a timer that will count down until it is safe to go out again. The app also makes heavy use of QR codes that can be placed in shops, restaurants and other public places and scanned by people who visit them. Again, if that place becomes a known hotspot of coronavirus, the phones that have scanned those QR codes can alert their owners that they might need to take precautions. Will this work everywhere? For the moment, our app is limited to England and Wales. It isnt able to track exposures from people in other countries, and other countries apps arent able to track people using this one. That includes other nations within the UK: the NHS Covid-19 app doesnt co-operate with the Scottish or Northern Irish one. Those two do, however, work together, and each of them works with the Irish one. Thats because the technology underpinning it made by Apple and Google does offer the option to make these apps interoperable, even though it hasnt been made use of by the developers of the England and Wales version. Its developers have committed to do so, and it should be coming in the future. Will it work on every phone? The app requires a set of both software and hardware technologies that are not found on every phone. As such, there are a considerable number of older devices that this wont work on. Phones need to have recent versions of iOS (13.5 or later) or Android (6, or Marshmallow, or later). They also need to have the Bluetooth Low Energy technology that allows for the bluetooth to work without taking up too much battery. As you might expect, this has caused to some concern that the app is unhelpfully exclusive, and will leave out older and poorer people who are less likely to have newer devices. Can people not put fake results into the app? No. People can only mark themselves as positive if they have had it verified through a test if they are, they will be given a code that is required to mark themselves as such, to avoid malicious positives that could quickly force people to stay at home with no actual need to do so. That is intended to keep the system secured, and responds to concerns from experts that the app could be used for sophisticated attacks. But it does also mean that its success relies on the governments testing regime, which has been the subject of sustained criticism. Is the app finished? No more features are coming. As well as interoperability with other countries apps, developers have suggested that it could in the future include a personal risk score, which will watch out for how many bluetooth connections are discovered and warn people who are coming into contact with too many others that they might want to change their behaviour. How does it compare to other countries apps? It is mostly the same. It relies on Apple and Google technology that has become the standard for creating such apps, and so most countries services have the same foundations and functions. This wasnt always going to be the case. The government and the apps creators received sustained criticism for going their own way with plans such as a centralised app, but have over time relented and taken the same approach of most other governments. That is also what should make it relatively easy to tie together with other countries in the future, too, with the hope that people can use it as they move around internationally. Maj Robert Campbell, 47, was accused of drowning an Iraqi teenager in Basra Incident in 2003 sparked a 17-year inquiry into the former British Army hero Baroness Hallett has now cleared Maj Campbell of any wrongdoing in report Judge ruled allegations were based on lies, collusion and 'possible conspiracy' Maj Campbell said he is 'relieved' but 'angry' at the MoD for 'abandoning' him A decorated Army Major vexatiously accused of drowning an Iraqi teenager at the time of the Anglo-US invasion has been cleared of any wrongdoing following a 17-year witch-hunt. Major Robert Campbell, 47, was investigated on bogus claims that he forced suspected looter Saeed Radhi Shabram Wawi Al-Bazooni, 19, into a river at gunpoint in Basra in May 2003. ADVERTISEMENT Eyewitnesses had claimed that Maj Campbell and colleagues from the 32 Royal Engineer Regiment caused Saeed Shabram's death after he slipped below the water and failed to resurface. The incident sparked an inquiry into the British Army hero, who even returned his medals to the Queen in 2018 in disgust at the way he had been treated by the Ministry of Defence. But a judge has now ruled that the allegations against Maj Campbell were based on lies, collusion on the part of Iraqi civilians and a 'possible conspiracy' to pervert the course of justice. It is the latest of more than 4,000 cases brought by disgraced solicitor Phil Shiner and his Public Interest Lawyers against British soldiers to have collapsed because of a lack of evidence. Major Robert Campbell, 47, was investigated on bogus claims that he forced suspected looter Saeed Radhi Shabram Wawi Al-Bazooni, 19, into a river at gunpoint in Basra in May 2003 Timeline from the death throughout the probe: 2003 Saeed Shabram drowned in the Shatt Al Arab waterway near where Maj Campbell and his men were washing their vehicles. Munem Auda, a second man, survives. Royal Military Police launch an investigation. 2004 Maj Campbell is charged with manslaughter by his commanding officer. 2006 Maj Campbell's chain of command tell him the case is closed and to 'put it behind him'. 2008 The MoD's Aitken report lists the Shabram as one of six examples of 'deliberate abuse and unlawful killing in Iraq'. 2010 Shabram and Auda's families lodge civil claim through law firm Leigh Day, who worked with disgraced solicitor Phil Shiner and his Public Interest Lawyers. 2011 MoD pays 100,000 in compensation to Sharam's family and 45,000 compensation to Auda. 2013 Iraq Historic Allegations Team reopens the investigation 2015 Maj Campbell interviewed under caution as part of a murder investigation. 2017 IHAT recommends manslaughter charges. However, the director of the Service Prosecution Authority writes to Maj Campbell to say they are taking no further action. Shabram's family seek legal review. 2018 Case transferred to Iraq Fatalities Investigations, a form of judicial enquiry, led by Sir George Newman. 2019 Sir George Newman dies. Baroness Heather Hallett appointed to take over. 2020 Hallett concludes there is 'no reliable evidence' of wrongdoing. Iraqi claims that Maj Campbell pushed Shabram into the water were based on lies, collusion and a 'possible conspiracy' to pervert the course of justice. In her report published yesterday, Baroness Hallett decided there was 'no reliable evidence upon which it would be proper to conclude that (Maj Campbell) or any other British solider pushed or forced (Munem) Auda and Shabram into the water'. ADVERTISEMENT She added: 'It is most likely that they jumped or fell into the water in the process of trying to escape what they believed would be dire punishment for looting.' The report by the Iraq Fatalities Investigations (IFI) unit said Maj Campbell and a comrade leapt into the water to try and rescue Shabram but 'he sank and did not surface'. Royal Military Police knew that witnesses had lied in the aftermath of Shabram's death but they failed to shield the soldiers from a 17-year inquiry. Baroness Hallett rubbished claims that the Iraqi men were victims of an informal punishment known as 'wetting,' in which British soldiers were alleged to have put looters in the water as a form of degrading punishment. 'If there was a practice of wetting looters amongst some members of (the Black Watch Battle Group), there is no evidence that it was widespread or that (Maj Campbell) or any of the soldiers under his command had been involved in it or knew of it,' the report said. 'There was good reason for (Maj Campbell) to take the two men to the water. British soldiers had gone to the scene to wash their vehicles and they were near the water's edge. '(Maj Campbell) wanted to get Auda and Shabram to the water where his men were and where he believed he may secure the services of an interpreter, who was fishing. 'There is not therefore anything suspicious in his moving Auda and Shabram towards the water and nothing to link an alleged practice of wetting to this case.' ADVERTISEMENT Baroness Hallett also rejected claims of a cover-up, adding: 'No evidence of a cover up on the part of the British soldiers has ever been found.' Maj Campbell yesterday said he is 'relieved' that he has 'finally been exonerated' after the 17-year witch-hunt 'pushed him to the brink' and 'nearly did for him', according to his friends. But he added that he is angry that it took 'eight investigations, 17 years and destroyed my career', and furiously denounced the Army and MoD for 'abandoning' him. General Lord Richard Dannatt, the former Head of the British Army, said that Maj Campbell's life and career 'had been ruined' by relentless investigations. 'It should never have taken 17 years to get to this point,' Gen Dannatt told The Daily Telegraph. 'I have always believed that the story that he told me was true: A young Iraqi fell into the canal and he and two men did their best to rescue him. 'I can't believe why a Royal Engineer officer and two NCOs would be so stupid as to push an Iraqi into a canal and watch him drown. It has ruined Rob's life and it has ruined the NCOs lives as well.' In her report published yesterday, Baroness Hallett said the allegations against Maj Campbell were based on lies, collusion and a 'possible conspiracy' to pervert the course of justice The judge added there was 'no reliable evidence upon which it would be proper to conclude that (Maj Campbell) or any other British solider pushed or forced (Munem) Auda and Shabram into the water'. She wrote: 'It is most likely that they jumped or fell into the water in the process of trying to escape what they believed would be dire punishment for looting' Iraq Historic Allegations Team The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) was set up by the Government in March 2010 to investigate allegations of abuse and torture by British soldiers in Iraq. The inquiry was established in November 2010 after 146 Iraqi men said they had been tortured. The unit is led by retired senior civilian police detective, Mark Warwick, and is made up of Royal Navy Police officers and ex-civilian police detectives and will soon be up to its full complement of 145 staff. In January 2013 G4S subsidiary G4S Policing Solutions lost its contract to provide 40 former police officers for the inquiry, and was replaced by Police Skills, a subsidiary of Red Snapper Group, who will provide 100 former detectives. In a judicial review the Court of Appeal ruled in November 2011 that the involvement of the General Police Duties branch of the Royal Military Police (RMP) 'substantially compromised' the inquiry because members of the unit had participated in detentions in Iraq. The armed forces minister, Nick Harvey, responded by announcing in March 2012 that the RMP staff would be reassigned and replaced by Royal Navy Police personnel by 1 April 2012. Lawyers representing people alleging that they have been tortured applied for another judicial review in May 2012 to examine the claim that the Royal Navy Police are not sufficiently independent since they also took part in interrogations, and that abuses were so systemic and widespread that only a public inquiry will satisfy the UK's human rights obligations. The case started on January 29, 2013 and a judgement was handed down by Mr Justice Silber on May 24, 2013. In this judgement it was stated that IHAT has now been structured in such a way that it can independently carry out its investigative and prosecutorial functions. It also ruled that the decision of the Secretary of State to refuse to order an overarching public enquiry could not be called into question and said more should be done to address wider systemic issues. In 2016 Martin Jerrold, managing director of the Red Snapper Group was called as a witness to an oral evidence session by a parliament select committee. A subsequent Daily Telegraph article highlighted the profits made by the company which has contracts worth 4.8million a year and its apparent ineffectiveness in that over its six years of existence it has yet to produce a single successful prosecution. Its 127 staff can be paid through limited companies potentially reducing tax. In 2017, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced that the investigations would be shut down within months after MPs called it an 'unmitigated failure.' According to the Defence Committee report, IHAT had taken up over 3,500 allegations of abuse despite most not having any credible evidence. The report found failings in the conduct of investigations and concluded that those being investigated had suffered unacceptable stress, had their lives put on hold and careers damaged. The decorated Army Major, who suffers from PTSD and depression, has now alleged that there was a concerted Government plot to put him on trial for war crimes in Iraq. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Maj Campbell claims that the Government blocked his promotion, tampered with his records and effectively 'erased' him from the regiment. He revealed that he only discovered he was under investigation when an ex-girlfriend telephoned him to tell him police had been to see her and ask her about the incident 11 years before. 'I am incensed that so much time, resources and effort was put in by the Ministry of Defence to find something that wasn't there and cast me as a bad character to fit a narrative of 'something must be done',' he told the newspaper. 'If it were not for Johnny Mercer, I would be dead today. He filled the Army-shaped void that was absent for 17 years in holding the MoD to account for this. The Army just did not care about us,' he added. MailOnline has contacted the MoD to respond to Maj Campbell's allegations. Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said in a statement: 'My thanks go to Baroness Hallett for compiling this report, which concludes there is not enough reliable evidence of any British soldier contributing to the tragic death of Saeed Shabram. 'I truly hope these findings will bring some closure and reassurance to the family and veterans involved in this process. 'Nobody wants to see service personnel or veterans facing extensive reinvestigations into the same incident, and our Overseas Operations Bill will help provide greater certainty and protections in the future.' The Government says a new law will protect the Armed Forces from 'vexatious prosecutions' but critics argue it could decriminalise torture. The Iraq Fatality Investigations (IFI) team was set up after the High Court ruled that investigations conducted by the Iraq Historical Allegations Team (IHAT) should be followed up in the form of an inquest. IHAT had been looking into allegations made against Iraq war veterans but was shut down after Phil Shiner, involved in many of the abuse allegation cases, was struck off for misconduct. In an interview in 2018, Maj Campbell described the impact the inquiries - including an investigation for possible manslaughter - had had on him. He said: 'I fully accounted for myself in my statement in 2004 and it had been examined and pored over and dissected by prosecutors and police forces and investigations and I don't feel I need to justify myself any further. 'What I want more than anything is a good night's sleep and I haven't had one for 15 years.' Mr Mercer had previously has previously condemned the MoD for being far too quick to believe false claims. The minister said he hoped the report would bring 'closure and reassurance to the family and veterans involved in this process', adding that the Overseas Operations Bill would protect soldiers from legal witch-hunts in the future. 'The MoD has been far too complicit and willing to believe the Shiner types and I am challenging that,' he told The Sun. 'I hold top brass responsible for waving this process through over the years. 'Nobody wants to see service personnel or veterans facing extensive reinvestigations into the same incident, and our Overseas Operations Bill will help provide greater certainty and protections in the future.' It comes after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace triggered a row last night by suggesting British troops had taken part in 'illegal wars'. 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.' Click here to resize this module The row came as MPs debated legislation the Government has said will mean service personnel will be protected from 'vexatious claims and endless investigations'. 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. Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said in a statement: 'My thanks go to Baroness Hallett for compiling this report, which concludes there is not enough reliable evidence of any British soldier contributing to the tragic death of Saeed Shabram' 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 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. Many of todays cutting-edge technologies such as cloud computing, edge computing and microservices owe their start to the concept of the virtual machineseparating operating systems and software instances from a physical computer. What is a virtual machine? At its base level, a virtual machine (VM) is software that runs programs or applications without being tied to a physical machine. In a VM instance, one or more guest machines can run on a physical host computer. Each VM has its own operating system, and functions separately from other VMs, even if they are located on the same physical host. VMs generally run on computer servers, but they can also be run on desktop systems, or even embedded platforms. Multiple VMs can share resources from the physical host, including CPU cycles, network bandwidth and memory. VMs have their origins in the early days of computing in the 1960s when time sharing for mainframe users was a means of separating software from a physical host system. Virtual machine was defined in the early 1970s as an efficient, isolated duplicate of a real computer machine. VMs as we know them today have gained steam over the past 15 years as companies adopted server virtualization in order to utilize the compute power of their physical servers more efficiently, reducing the need for physical servers and so saving space in the data center. Because apps with different OS requirements could run on a single physical host, different server hardware was not required for each one. In general, there are two types of VMs: Process VMs, which separate a single process, and system VMs, which offer a full separation of the operating system and applications from the physical computer. Examples of process VMs include the Java Virtual Machine, the .NET Framework and the Parrot virtual machine. System VMs rely on hypervisors, as a go-between giving software access to the hardware resources. Big names in the hypervisor space include VMware (ESX/ESXi), Intel/Linux Foundation (Xen), Oracle (MV Server for SPARC and Oracle VM Server for x86) and Microsoft (Hyper-V). Desktop computer systems can also utilize virtual machines. The biggest example here would be a Mac user running a virtual Windows 10 instance on their physical Mac hardware. Advantages of virtual machines Because the software is separate from the physical host computer, users can run multiple OS instances on a single piece of hardware, saving a company time, management costs and the physical space. Another advantage is that VMs can support legacy apps, reducing or eliminating the need and cost of migrating an older app to an updated or different operating system. In addition, developers use VMs in order to test apps in a safe, sandboxed environment. This can also help isolate malware that might infect a given VM instance. Since software inside a VM cannot tamper with the host computer, malicious software cannot spread as much damage. Virtual machine downsides Virtual machines do have a few disadvantages. Running multiple VMs on one physical host can result in unstable performance, especially if infrastructure requirements for a particular application are not met. This also makes them less efficient in many cases when compared to a physical computer. Most IT operations utilize a balance between physical and virtual systems. Other forms of virtualization The success of VMs in server virtualization led to applying virtualization to other areas including storage, networking, and desktops. Chances are if theres a type of hardware thats being used in the data center, the concept of virtualizing it is being explored (see application delivery controllers as one case). In network virtualization companies have explored network-as-a-service options and network functions virtualization (NFV), which uses commodity servers to replace specialized network appliances to enable more flexible and scalable services. This differs a bit from software-defined networking, which separates the network control plane from the forwarding plane to enable more automated provisioning and policy-based management of network resources. A third technology, virtual network functions, are software-based services that can run in an NFV environment, including processes such as routing, firewalling, load balancing, WAN acceleration, and encryption. VMs and containers The growth of VMs has led to further development of technologies such as containers, which take the concept another step and is gaining appeal among web application developers. In a container setting, a single application along with its dependencies, can be virtualized. With much less overhead than a VM, a container only includes binaries, libraries, and applications. While some think the development of containers may kill the virtual machine, there are enough capabilities and benefits of VMs that keep the technology moving forward. For example, VMs remain useful when running multiple applications together, or when running legacy applications on older operating systems. In addition, some feel that containers are less secure than VM hypervisors because containers have only one OS that applications share, while VMs can isolate the application and the OS. Gary Chen, the research manager of IDCs Software-Defined Compute division, said the VM software market remains a foundational technology, even as customers explore cloud architectures and containers. The virtual machine software market has been remarkably resilient and will continue to grow positively over the next five years, despite being highly mature and approaching saturation, Chen writes in IDCs Worldwide Virtual Machine Software Forecast, 2019-2022. VMS, 5G and edge computing VMs are seen as a part of new technologies such as 5G and edge computing. For example, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) vendors such as Microsoft, VMware and Citrix are looking at ways to extend their VDI systems to employees who now work at home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With VDI, you need extremely low latency because you are sending your keystrokes and mouse movements to basically a remote desktop, says Mahadev Satyanarayanan, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. In 2009, Satyanarayanan wrote about how virtual machine-based cloudlets could be used to provide better processing capabilities to mobile devices on the edge of the Internet, which led to the development of edge computing. Like many other technologies in use today, these would not have been developed had it not been for the original virtual-machine concepts introduced decades ago. Keith Shaw is a freelance digital journalist who has written about the IT world for more than 20 years. A Harris County judge on Thursday announced that she intends to find prosecutorial misconduct in the remaining criminal cases against Arkema, again reprimanding local prosecutors in the trial over a chemical companys toxic emissions during Hurricane Harvey. The proceedings were allowed to continue, as visiting Judge Belinda Hill said she didnt believe that the prosecutors meant any wrong. Defense attorneys had originally asked for a mistrial or dismissal if the judge found prosecutorial misconduct with prejudice, but did not ask for a mistrial on Thursday given Hills announced finding. Based on the state of the record, the court does not believe that the records report a finding at least at this time that the conduct of the state was intentional, Hill said. The finding, which hasnt been made official in court records, stemmed from evidence about AkzoNobel, the only other producer of cold-storage organic peroxides in Houston, and its response to Hurricane Harvey. Defense attorneys Rusty Hardin and Derek Hollingsworth alleged that state lawyers and a special prosecutor withheld evidence about how AkzoNobel responded to Hurricane Harvey. They say Akzo took actions similar to those taken by Arkema, but that information was kept from them and was misrepresented to the grand jury. Hill ruled Thursday that the evidence about AkzoNobel not be admitted in the trial. As of now, the case centers on three charges: reckless emission of toxic chemicals against the company itself, its CEO, Richard Rowe, and plant manager Leslie Comardelle. Prosecutors contend that employees failed to move the temperature-controlled chemicals off their Crosby plant as the facility became inundated with floodwater. The property flooded and power shut off to several storage trailers, causing organic peroxides on site to combust and resulting in the brief hospitalization of 23 people. More than 200 nearby residents were evacuated. The trial has been unusual from the start, being delayed early on because of another allegation of prosecutorial misconduct. A Houston water leak shut down the courthouse and sent jurors home midway through the trial, and the coronavirus pandemic put the case on an indefinite hiatus. In the end, jurors were away from the courtroom for six months. Arkema and its affiliates defense attorneys have meanwhile called the case a political prosecution as it has worked its way through the courts. Some of Houstons highest powered defense attorneys represent Arkema and the three executives who were originally charged with crimes. They crowded the well of the courtroom before the break, but the trial resumed Monday on the second floor of NRG Arena for proper social distancing. Five charges were originally on the table for jurors, but by the time they returned, they only needed to decide on three. Unrelated to the defenses motion alleging prosecutorial misconduct, Hill dismissed charges of assault on a public servant, both against the company and Michael Keough, its then-vice president for logistics. That case accused Keough and the company of misrepresenting to authorities their ability to monitor the temperature of dangerous chemicals on site, which combusted, released a cloud of smoke and ultimately caused two sheriffs deputies to become ill. Prosecutors said they believed they had probable cause but dismissed those charges because they did not feel there was enough evidence to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. samantha.ketterer@chron.com A former Mike Pence staffer who played a key role in advising the government on its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has accused Keith Kellogg of "bald faced" lies, after the retired Gen. claimed he gave the ex-aide her marching orders from the White House. Olivia Troye, an ex-Homeland Security official, left her role in August under a cloud. She later featured in a scathing testimonal video about president, hitting out at his response to the virus, which has now claimed some 200,000 US lives. The White House reacted furiously to the video and launched a personal attack on Ms Troye, who has come out in support of the president's Democratic rival, Joe Biden. Gen. Kellogg, who is vice president Mike Pence's national security adviser, told reporters on Tuesday that he was "proud of the president". "I am not proud of Olivia Troye, he added, rebuking claims by Ms Troye that the president had acted calously in the face of a public health crisis. I fired her. Her performance dropped off, he said. I escorted her off the [White House] compound. Ms Troye, who now advises the Repair Republic organisation, a group of former US officials "seeking to repair the GOP and America" was quick to hit back at her former boss, calling him out for what she said were false allegations. Sad that Gen. Kellogg is telling a bald faced lie to protect the President," Ms Troye wrote in a tweet on Tuesday. "I resigned on my own accord & was asked to stay. He never escorted me out. He knows this. I wrote a note thanking all the colleagues who had worked so hard with me in spite of POTUS & I stand by that, she added. Last week, Ms Troye told The Washington Post that the presidents main concern was the economy and reelection, and that she wouldnt trust a Covid-19 vaccine that launches before the November vote. Ms Troye said the president claimed that Covid-19 was a good thing because it meant he didnt have to shpostake hands with disgusting people. She said he was referring to his own supporters. "Those disgusting people are the same people he claims to care about. These are the people who are still going to his rallies today, who have complete faith in who he is." She joins several former officials, or what the White House calls disgruntled ex-employees, to flip on the president to detail the dysfunctional inner workings of his administrations first term. The presidents rhetoric and his own attacks against people in his administration trying to do the work, as well as the promulgation of false narratives and incorrect information of the virus have made this ongoing response a failure, Ms Troye said in an interview with the Post. I would not tell anyone I care about to take a vaccine that launches prior to the election I would listen to the experts and the unity in pharma. And I would wait to make sure that this vaccine is safe and not a prop tied to an election, she said. She said the White House missed months to slow the virus because of the delay in advice from public health officials to recommend wearing masks. The mask issue was a critical one. If we would have gotten ahead on that and stressed the importance of it, we could have slowed the spread significantly It was detrimental that it became a politicised issue. It still lingers today. While former national security advisor John Bolton and former defence secretary Jim Mattis have previously opened the book on their time inside Mr Trumps presidency, Ms Troye is one of the first to focus on his handling of coronavirus. She was a major, if behind-the-scenes, participant in the White Houses coronavirus taskforce, working closely with Mr Pence on the response, briefing the vice president, writing his comments, and setting meeting agendas, according to the Post. The wafer-scale spacecraft rode shotgun during Robert DeLaurentiss pole-to-pole journey, collecting data all along the way. Credit: Nic Rupert On November 16, 2019, pilot and author Robert DeLaurentis took off on an ambitious adventure. Setting out from San Diego county's Gillespie Field, he banked toward Grand Prairie, Texas on the first leg of a pole to pole expedition. At each stop along the way he planned to talk about STEM education, aviation safety and technology, all with the intention of encouraging and inspiring the next generation. Most of the cargo space in his modified 1983 twin-engine aircraft, dubbed "Citizen of the World," had been outfitted with extra fuel tanks for the long voyage, but he did have room for a small device courtesy of researchers at UC Santa Barbara: a wafer-scale spacecraft (WSS). The miniature satellite is the work of physics professor Philip Lubin, development technician Nic Rupert, postdoctoral researcher Peter Krogen and undergraduate student Varun Iyer. It's part of project Starlight, a NASA-backed effort to develop a spacecraft and propulsion system that can reach the nearest extra-solar system within a human lifetime. The concept is a radical departure from conventional practice. The usual setup is to launch a spacecraft with a propulsion system to get it to its destination. Starlight takes a different tack: Leave the bulky propulsion system on Earth, and beam the energy at the spacecraft using high-power lasers. This unconventional idea enables scientists to miniaturize the craft to the point where it could be accelerated to a significant fraction of the speed of light. This would cut a trip to the nearest star systemAlpha Centaurifrom 100,000 years to around 20 years. "Chemistry is a dead end for going interstellar," Lubin said, referring to conventional rocket propellant. Laser propulsion should enable the craft to achieve speeds fast enough that it can reach nearby stars within a nominal human lifetime. Lubin and his team recognize the broader significance of their project. "Part of our program, while being very technical, tries to inspire people as to the possibilities of human exploration," he said. This aspect was not lost on DeLaurentis, who met Lubin while visiting Santa Barbara with friend and fellow pilot Brian Keating, a cosmology professor at UC San Diego. "This trip is about taking the plane and pilot to their absolute limits," said DeLaurentis, "and I think this wafer-scale spaceship takes our knowledge to its absolute limits, too." And, as DeLaurentis added, "aviation is really the first step in moving towards the stars." The lab provided the pilot with a WSS, which he named Francis, after his late mother. It plugged into a USB port and lived on one of the windows behind the copilot's seat. "It took pictures, it measured altitude, temperature, speed, location," he said, "and it was just basically pointed out the window the whole time." The wafer-scale spacecraft on the flight. Credit: Nic Rupert Spacecraft onboard, Delaurentis navigated his way south from Texas, stopping in Panama, Columbia, Bolivia and Argentina. The Citizen of the World successfully crossed the South Pole on December 17, 2019the 116th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight. The transit over both north and south poles was powered completely by biofuel. Despite weighing just under 1 ounces, the spacecraft packed a diverse array of sensors. It featured a 5-megapixel camera, ambient light detector, GPS system, pressure and humidity sensor, two thermometers and a nine-axis inertial measurement unit. The team plans to shrink the spacecraft even further in the future. "We'd like to make a spacecraft that can almost be printed out like a processor," said senior engineer Nic Rupert. Starlight is a long-term project, with a timeframe comparable to the development of rockets beginning before WWII to the launch of Apollo 11. It took decades of work that wasn't necessarily targeted toward going to the moon in order to land the crew of Apollo 11, Lubin said. Except, whereas the space race was driven by military research during the Cold War, Starlight is driven by civilian work in the consumer tech market. The spacecraft's journey north was much more hectic. The Citizen of the World was fortunate to be able to depart from Italy just before the country closed in March. At that point the expedition was almost cut short when COVID-19 hit Europe. Delaurentis and the WSS headed to the closest country that was still open, Spain, where he spent six weeks in quarantine as the pandemic swept across the continent. Once restrictions eased, the plane and spacecraft headed to Sweden, where the trip stalled for another month. The plan had been to fly to the Norwegian island of Svalbard, but clearance wouldn't come from the Norwegian government. Undeterred, DeLaurentis flew 11.5 hours, directly from Kiruna, Sweden to Fairbanks, Alaska. En route, pilot, plane and spacecraft passed over the magnetic and geographic north poles, as well as the north pole of inaccessibility. During that leg, DeLaurentis unexpectedly found himself without navigation or autopilot. He was surrounded by five hours of water on all sides, without even the stars to guide him during the polar summer's 24-hour daylight. Fortunately the pilot's tablet still functioned, and he was able to safely navigate to Fairbanks. The spacecraft, however, encountered no such issues. "Our instrumentation was working just fine, even over the poles," said Iyer. "We have uninterrupted GPS and inertial measurement unit data for both of the flights that took Robert over the poles." This bodes well for its reliability on the long journey to Alpha Centauri. Though the pandemic threatened to ground the entire expedition, the team persevered, and ultimately succeeded. Citizen of the World touched back down at Gillespie Field on August 10, 2020. The WSS Francis returned to its home in the Lubin Lab shortly thereafter, at which point the team downloaded all the data it had recorded onto its onboard microSD card. The researchers have used the data to understand how the craft performed. "It has made us aware of some issues with the device automatically resetting itself from time to time with no apparent cause," explained Iyer, "an issue that we hadn't previously observed in a lab setting." As for the WSS itself: "Francis has completed her mission and everything was a success," said Rupert. "We learned quite a lot from this experiment, and found many new ways to refine and streamline the prototype. Francis has now been retired. She occupies a nice spot on the shelf next to her siblings." President Donald Trump arrives Tuesday to speak to a campaign rally at Pittsburgh International Airport. Read more Joe Bidens plan for net-zero emissions would instantly shut down all fracking and all mining immediately in Pennsylvania. President Donald Trump, in a speech at a rally in Pittsburgh on Sept. 22, 2020 President Donald Trump told supporters at a rally in Pittsburgh this week that if Joe Biden wins the presidency, the future of the natural gas and coal industries looks bleak. Trump said Bidens plan for net-zero emissions would instantly shut down all fracking and all mining immediately in Pennsylvania. Heres what Trump said Tuesday: Biden reiterated his pledge to require net-zero carbon emissions. Thats basically saying, do you know what that is? Therell be no more oil, therell be no more gas, therell be no more nothing, therell be no more industry, therell be no more country. Thats what its saying really. And that would instantly shut down fracking and mining immediately in Pennsylvania, sending your jobs overseas, sending your money to somebody else, not you. We wondered whether the president accurately characterized Bidens net-zero emissions plan. Trump is right that Biden wants to shift toward clean energy, but hes got the timeline wrong. Biden wants the country to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels over the next 15 years, not right away. Net-zero emissions" is what scientists and many world leaders agree is needed to stop climate change from spiraling out of control. The term describes the process of substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions and then offsetting what cant be eliminated through activities like forest restoration. In July, Biden released a $2 trillion plan to tackle climate change that he said would set the United States on an irreversible path to net-zero emissions by 2050. Twenty countries and regions around the world have adopted similar targets. To achieve that goal, Biden wants to create a pollution-free power sector by 2035; increase energy efficiency by upgrading four million buildings and weatherizing two million homes; and shift major cities toward public transportation. The first plank in that plan, creating a pollution-free power sector by 2035, would require phasing out coal in Western Pennsylvania over the next 15 years. The plan does not, however, call for ending hydraulic fracturing the controversial drilling technique known as fracking either instantly or at all. READ MORE: Fact-checking Trumps frequent claim that Joe Biden abandoned Scranton Weve examined Bidens position on fracking several times now, so we know he hasnt called for banning the practice. He wants to block the federal government from issuing new permits for drilling on public land, but would allow existing fracking operations to continue. The Biden campaign has also noted previously that 90% of fracking today takes place on private land. Bidens position on fracking became muddled earlier this year when he misspoke during a March debate with Bernie Sanders, who was then his last opponent standing in the Democratic primary. READ MORE: A Pennsylvania congressional candidates ad misrepresents one of our fact-checks Heres an excerpt of their exchange: Im talking about stopping fracking as soon as we possibly can, Sanders said. Im talking about telling the fossil fuel industry that they are going to stop destroying this planet no ifs, buts, and maybes about it. So am I, Biden replied. Well, Im not sure your proposal does that, Sanders said. No more no new fracking, Biden said. Biden seemed to be saying he wanted to ban fracking a sharp departure from his official position. And the former vice presidents opponents pounced. Republican operatives quickly cut a short video of Bidens remarks to use as a cudgel in races against moderate House Democrats, the Washington Post reported. The Biden campaign retracted his remarks the night of the debate, but that hasnt stopped conservative media outlets or the Trump campaign from inaccurately claiming that Biden supports a total ban on fracking. Our ruling Trump said Bidens net-zero emissions plan would shut down the fracking and coal mining industries instantly and immediately. Bidens plan calls for a gradual transition to clean energy. We rate this statement False Our sources Pittsburgh post-Gazette, Rallying at Pittsburgh International, Trump gives rundown of nations political tenor, Sept. 23, 2020 Rev, Donald Trump Pittsburgh Campaign Rally Transcript September 22, Sept. 22, 2020 Biden Harris, The Biden Plan for a Clean Energy Revolution and Environmental Justice, accessed Sept. 24, 2020 Bloomberg, Biden to Call for $2 Trillion in Spending on Clean Energy, July 13, 2020 World Resources Institute, What does 'Net-Zero Emissions Mean? 6 Common Questions, Answered, Sept. 17, 2019 NPR, Biden Outlines $2 Trillion Climate Plan, July 14, 2020 The Philadelphia Inquirer, Fact-checking Joe Biden in Pennsylvania on his fracking policy, Sept. 1, 2020 The Houston Chronicle, Did Joe Biden just pledge to ban fracking in debate against Bernie Sanders? March 16, 2020 The Washington Post, Fact-checking the Biden fracking fracas, March 19, 2020 Axios, Clearing up the Biden-Bernie fracking tussle at the debate, March 16, 2020 The Washington Free Beacon, Biden Promises No More Drilling Under His Presidency, March 15, 2020 Trump campaign, email interview with Samantha Zager, Sept. 23, 2020 PolitiFact is a nonpartisan, fact-checking website operated by the nonprofit Poynter Institute for Media Studies. LONDON Can we get his doctors number? Thats a question that might occur to viewers of Beat the Devil, the 50-minute solo play at the Bridge Theater here, in which the playwright David Hare details his own experience of the coronavirus. Hare, 73, makes repeated reference to a kind, smart general practitioner who helps him through a scary and grueling time as the illness takes hold, his temperature spikes and his mouth begins to taste of sewage. This physician is never identified during a reminiscence that feels more like a staged diary entry and an entirely straightforward one, at that than a full-fledged play. We get news, however, about Hares wife, the designer Nicole Farhi, who is described lying across Hares chilly body to warm him up. And there are numerous broadsides, most of them fairly predictable, leveled at Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his colleagues in the governing Conservative Party, none of whom, Hare tells us, accept the slightest responsibility for any mishandling of the pandemic. If Beat the Devil treads a familiar path, it breaks with tradition by offering the role of Hare to a star more than 15 years his junior. Whereas the writer presented his own monologues in productions such as Via Dolorosa and Berlin/Wall, the lone onstage presence on this occasion is Ralph Fiennes in fine, often bitterly funny form under the direction of Nicholas Hytner, who runs the Bridge. Kyrgyzstan Foreign Minister Chingiz Aidarbekov on the sidelines of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly took part in an online meeting of foreign ministers of landlocked countries, Trend reports citing Kabar. According to the press service of the Foreign Ministry, the meeting was organized by the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the UN as part of the chairmanship of the Kazakh side in the group of landlocked countries. The event was attended by UN Secretary General Antonio Guiterres, President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkir, UN Deputy Secretary General - High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Countries and Small Island Developing Countries Fekitamoelaa Katoa Utoikamanu, as well as heads of a number of international organizations and foreign affairs agencies of the member states of the Group of Landlocked Countries. Kyrgyzstans Foreign Minister Chingiz Aidarbekov in his speech confirmed the commitment of the Kyrgyz side to consistently implement the Vienna Program of Action for Landlocked Countries for 2014-2024 within the framework of national strategies and development plans. He also noted the importance of continuing cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic and its socio-economic consequences, including the continuation of international assistance in financing sustainable development to landlocked developing countries, restoring disrupted trade ties and easing the debt burden. In particular, Aidarbekov positively noted the holding of a high-level event on financing the development in the era of coronavirus and after it on May 28, 2020, during which the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov noted the need for a "deep" restructuring of the external debt and the importance of wider application of the mechanism for converting debt into projects on sustainable development. The meeting is resulted in adopting the Declaration of the meeting of the foreign ministers of landlocked countries and the Roadmap to accelerate the implementation of the Vienna Program of Action for Landlocked Countries for 2014-2024. A 33-year-old woman patient has allegedly gone missing from a COVID-19 jumbo hospital in Pune, prompting her family members to stage a protest outside the medical facility on Thursday. While the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) said the woman was discharged from the hospital on September 5, her relatives have filed a missing person's complaint at Shivajinagar police station here in Maharashtra. The woman was admitted to the hospital, located at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) ground, on August 29 after testing positive for coronavirus, her mother told reporters. "I came to meet her the next day, but the staff at the jumbo facility told me that the patient is inside the ward and she is safe. I was asked not to worry and instructed to come after 15 days," she said. She said on September 13, when she and her relatives reached the hospital and searched for her daughter, she was not found. "When the hospital authorities told us to come after 15 days of the quarantine period, why was she given discharge in between? Why were we not informed? Why she was not sent home in an ambulance?" the woman's mother asked. She alleged that when they asked for the CCTV footage, the hospital staff claimed the agency which was operating the facility earlier had taken away all the data. "Ultimately, we approached the Shivajinagar police station and lodged a missing complaint on September 14," she said. Rahul Dambale, a Pune-based social activist who is helping the family, said the missing complaint should have ideally been registered by the management of the jumbo facility, which was set up in July. "As the woman's whereabouts are not known for last 25days, her family staged a protest outside the facility today,"he said. PMC's Deputy Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Muthe said as per records of the jumbo COVID-19 hospital, the woman was given discharge on September 5. "We have the hospital's CCTV footage till September 4 in which the patient's movement inside the facility is seen. We are in the process of handing over all the records and footage to the police for further investigation," he said. An official from the Shivajinagar police station said after the missing complaint was lodged, they had approached the hospital and asked for the woman's admission and discharge records along with the CCTV footage. "We are expecting all the records from the hospital today. We have already circulated the woman's photographs to all the police stations and efforts are on to trace her," the official said. 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. The giant 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. But in Estacada, theyre thanking the citizen firefighters. They did an amazing job of keeping this out of our backdoor, Estacade Mayor Sean Drinkwine at a Sept. 21 city council meeting. 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 that whats 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. " Firefighters turned their attention to evacuating anyone who was left in Estacada 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. DeWitt, N.Y. -- A student at Moses DeWitt Elementary School has tested positive for Covid-19, Jamesville-DeWitt School District Superintendent Peter Smith told parents and staff in an email Thursday. We were advised today, Sept. 24, 2020, that a Moses DeWitt Elementary School student tested positive for COVID-19, Smith said. We immediately contacted the Onondaga County Health Department, which initiated an investigation. The student was last in attendance on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. Smith said the health department is in the process of identifying and notifying individuals who were in close contact with the student. After consulting with the health department, the district decided that the school will remain open but students in the students classroom will move to remote learning until Oct. 6, Smith said. Families of students in the classroom have already been contacted, he said. The student who tested positive, and any other students, faculty, and staff who were exposed, will not return to school until the Onondaga County Health Department provides clearance for them to do so," Smith said. We hope you understand that due to privacy laws, we cannot provide any additional information about the student who tested positive or about those who may have been exposed. Covid-19 is the highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. He said the district will continue to deep clean and sanitize its school buildings and school buses daily. Please continue to practice and encourage good hand-washing hygiene, wear face masks and practice social distancing, he said. If you or a family member start to exhibit symptoms of the virus, please reach out to your physician and inform the appropriate school nurse. Students and staff testing positive for the coronavirus were reported Thursday in the Fayetteville-Manlius and Skaneateles school districts. Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marine Strauss and Philip Blenkinsop (Reuters) Brussels, Belgium Thu, September 24, 2020 07:20 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46cfddd 2 World Belgium,face-masks,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,pandemic,COVID-19-infection,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free Belgium is ending a requirement to wear masks outdoors and reducing the time people have to self-isolate, in a slight easing of coronavirus restrictions announced on Wednesday despite sharply rising numbers of COVID-19 infections. Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes told a news conference that, from Oct. 1, people who have had contact with an infected person would only have to quarantine for seven days. Masks would no longer be mandatory everywhere outside, as currently the case in the capital Brussels and some other cities, she said. Masks will still have to worn in shops, cinemas, on public transport and in crowded streets. "Wearing a mask is very important in the management of the epidemic. However there is no point in imposing it everywhere all the time," Wilmes told reporters in Brussels. The country of 11 million people recorded on average 1,374 new infections per day over the past week. In early July, there were about 80 a day. That equates to 136 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the last 14 days. "The epidemiological situation is not evolving favorably," Wilmes said. However, there was no clear tightening of measures, unlike other countries such as Britain, which announced curbs likely to last six months on Tuesday. Public events can still be attended by 200 people indoors and 400 outside. Belgians will still able to see up to five people without social distancing, although that could be cut to one depending on the health situation. Belgium, where the European Union and NATO have their headquarters, imposed a lockdown on March 18 due to COVID-19, which has claimed 9,955 lives in the country, one of the world's highest fatality figures per capita. The overwhelming majority of voters about 9 in every 10 in all three states say they have definitely made up their minds about whom to vote for, leaving relatively little room for late developments to shift the overarching shape of the race. The poll, conducted by phone among likely voters from September 16-22, had a margin of sampling error of 4 percentage points for Texas and 5 in Iowa and Georgia. Trump's tenuous hold on some of the largest red states in the country has presented Biden with unexpected political opportunities and stirred debate among Democrats about how aggressively to contest states far outside the traditional presidential battleground. Biden has made efforts so far in a few states that voted emphatically for Trump four years ago, including Georgia and Iowa, but has resisted pressure to compete for Texas, a huge and complicated state that Democrats believe is unlikely to furnish the decisive 270th Electoral College vote. Loading But the presence of competitive Senate races in many of those states has been a powerful enticement to Democrats, including Biden. The lopsided gender dynamics of the presidential contest extend to Senate races in Iowa, Georgia and Texas, with Republican incumbents facing strong challenges from Democratic candidates favoured heavily by women. The gender gap is pronounced even in Iowa, where both Senate candidates are women. The Democratic challenger, Theresa Greenfield, has a 2-point lead over Senator Joni Ernst and an 11-point advantage with women. The poll partly coincided with Trump's announcement that he would make a new Supreme Court nomination to fill the vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but it was not clear from the survey whether voters had a particularly strong reaction to that possibility. Loading Reflecting the conservative tilt of the states polled, Trump and his party are in better shape than in most of the others recently polled by The Times, and he may ultimately carry all of them. The president's approval rating is in positive territory in Texas, and voters are almost evenly split in Iowa and Georgia. That is markedly stronger than Trump's standing in core swing states like Wisconsin and Arizona. Trump has maintained an enduring advantage over Biden on economic issues, and that extends to all three states in the Times poll. And where voters elsewhere have heavily favoured Biden over Trump on the issue of managing the coronavirus pandemic, voters in Texas and Georgia are closely divided on that score. Biden still holds a sizeable advantage on the issue in Iowa. In Georgia and Texas, the election is also split along racial lines. Trump is winning about two-thirds of white voters in both Georgia and Texas, while Biden leads by enormous margins with Black voters in both states. Hispanic voters in Texas favour Biden by 25 points, 57 per cent to 32 per cent. Still, many of the same voters, in heavily white Iowa and two traditionally conservative Southern states, are not as dismissive of systemic racism as Trump is. In each state, half or more of those surveyed found racism in the country's criminal justice system to be a bigger problem than rioting. And as with The Times surveys of other competitive states from earlier this month, voters expressed little confidence in Trump's ability to heal the country. Jeff Secora of Mason City, Iowa, is the kind of voter Biden will have to keep in his camp to carry the state. Secora, 63, an independent, said he had voted for Trump in 2016 but had grown fed up. He said he had reservations about Biden but preferred his "honesty and integrity" to the president's character. 2 cops deputed for CM Bommai's security held for trying to 'extort' money from drug peddlers Karnataka govt revises guidelines for testing, quarantine and isolation: Check here Is there Karnataka weekend lockdowns or night curfew? Here's what minister has to say Will Karnataka govt lift weekend and night curfew? CM likely to decide today After testing positive for Covid-19, Karnataka Congress MLA B Narayan Rao dies at 65 India oi-Madhuri Adnal Bengaluru, Sep 24: Congress MLA B Narayan Rao, 65, who was admitted to a private hospital after contracting COVID-19, passed away on Thursday at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru. Rao, the sitting MLA from Bidar, was admitted to the Manipal Hospital on September 1 with diagnosis of severe COVID-19 infection, hospital director Dr Manish Rai said. Union Minister Suresh Angadi dies of Covid-19; President, PM express grief "He was critically ill with multi-organ failure on multiple supports including ventilator in the Intensive care unit under constant observation by our expert panel of doctors," Dr Rai said. Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News The Assembly session was adjourned briefly after the news of Rao's death came in. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 24, 2020, 16:54 [IST] FREELAND, MI The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has been notified of one person who attended President Donald Trumps Sept. 10 rally in Freeland who has since tested positive for COVID-19. The department is unable to say whether this person already had COVID-19 prior to attending the rally or whether the individual contracted COVID-19 at the rally, said Public Information Officer Bob Wheaton. The department is unaware at this time of any outbreak associated with the rally, however, there is always a risk for COVID-19 to be spread at gatherings. This is why its so important for people to wear masks and socially distance. Wheaton said its still possible that health officials could identify an outbreak associated with the event. Outbreaks are not necessarily determined within 14 days of when exposure occurred. It takes time for people to be tested and for local health department to complete case investigations, he said. An estimated 10,000 people attended Trumps rally at MBS International Airport in mid-Michigan, double the number airport officials initially anticipated. People who attended the rally or attend any large gathering where people are not socially distancing or not wearing masks should screen themselves for symptoms of respiratory illness such as cough, fever, and shortness of breath," Wheaton said. If they develop symptoms and are concerned about their health, they should contact their health care provider or get tested. Self-monitoring should occur for 14 days after a potential exposure. 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: Thursday, Sept. 24, coronavirus data by Michigan county: Ingham drops to orange, Escanaba area now red Coronavirus case levels remain at an elevated plateau, says Michigan epidemiologist Coronavirus outbreaks reported at 29 Michigan K-12 school and 20 colleges; dozens of staff sickened Saving the auto industry and so many car plants: Trump makes dubious claims at Michigan rally President Donald Trump says hes running for reelection to keep jobs in Michigan SAGINAW, MI A Saginaw man has filed complaints with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and the Michigan State Police, alleging troopers targeted and threatened him during a traffic stop this summer. Stephen J. Houston, a 27-year-old Black man, cited racial discrimination in filing the complaint against the two white troopers with the civil rights department. 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. HEAT X leadership team presented to more than 150 executives and Advance Development team leaders across GE Appliances, Mabe and Candy Europe. In addition, the recorded session will be promoted to the other brands and R&D Centers that are part of Haier Group and which include Fisher & Paykel, Aqua, Casarte, Leader, and Candy Hoover. HEAT X discussed, in its 30-minute presentation including Q&A, their magnetocaloric heating technologies for air, surface and fluids. "The timing of the event on September 16th was ideal, within Haier," said Peter Himes, General Manager of Haier Silicon Valley Innovation Center, "as that was also the week of our Global Technology Council and Roadmap discussions," he added. "We were pleased that HEAT X accepted our invitation, as we are very aware of magnetocaloric technology and its promise of high efficiency and sustainability and we are quite interested in learning about HEAT X progress in this field." "We were very honored to be selected by Haier SVIC team and are excited about the possibility of working with Haier and its R&D teams, as we aggressively begin to commercialize and license our industry impacting magnetocaloric and magnetic induction technologies around the world," said Sean Zecman, one of the founding investors of HEAT X. The Techlink Live! Event is hosted by the Haier HOPE team (Haier Open Partnership Ecosystem) and Innovation Centers. This invitation-only event is designed to give exposure and access to the Advanced Technology teams within Haier of new and innovative companies, and to learn about their technologies, solutions, and capabilities. The Silicon Valley Innovation Center (SVIC), Haier North American hub for all of Haier advanced technology outreach and engagement, will continue to engage with innovative companies to solve technical problems, break development bottlenecks and bring innovations to market faster and more efficiently. HEAT X technologies utilizes its innovative designs, combined with the right mix of cost competitive materials, and are commencing the licensing of their technology globally in 2020. HEAT X accomplished their key goals of delivering emission-free heating technologies more efficiently with less components and lower material cost than existing fuel-based technologies. Magnetocaloric heating technology was theorized by NASA back in the 1970's. For further information about HEAT X, visit www.heatxtech.com To learn more about SVIC, visit http://hope.haier.com/ or write to [email protected] About HEAT X HEAT X is a technology development and licensing company established in June of 2018 and is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., USA. HEAT X relentlessly focuses on improving people's lives, reducing the use of energy and delivering the next generation of clean technologies in magnetocaloric/magnetic induction heating for air, surfaces and fluids. Our innovative approach to these technologies enables us also to empower our partners to become leaders in solving climate challenges. The result is the development of unique technologies for residential, commercial, industrial and transportation sectors that creates value for customers, users and a positive impact in our environment and the world at large. About Haier and the Haier Open Partnership Ecosystem (HOPE) Haier Smart Home Co., LTD. (formerly known as "Qingdao Haier"), headquartered in Qingdao, China, is a smart home ecological brand that customizes better life solutions for global users. The Company engages in the research, development, production and sales of smart home appliances such as refrigerators/freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances, small home appliances and smart home solutions. Through a rich portfolio of product, brand and solutions, the Company creates a full scene of intelligent life experience to meet the needs of users to customize a better life. Founded in the 1980s, the Company was listed on Shanghai Stock Exchange (600690) in 1993 and Frankfurt Exchange (690D) in 2018, respectively. The Haier family of brands includes Haier, Leader, Casarte, Aqua, Fisher & Paykel, GEA, GE Profile, Cafe, Monogram, Hotpoint, Mabe, Candy and Hoover. The Haier Open Partnership Ecosystem (HOPE) was established in 2009 to strengthen Haier's innovation cooperation with the outside world. Starting from the basic idea that "the world is our R&D center" it refers to the zero-distance innovation and sustainable innovation among global users, makers and innovation resources. Aside from the Silicon Valley Innovation Center (SVIC) located in Sunnyvale California and serving the North American market for innovation, HOPE has also established Innovation Centers in Tel Aviv, Singapore, and Tokyo, along with the core group at Haier's headquarters in Qingdao, China. SOURCE HEAT X Related Links https://www.heatxtech.com (Newser) Smoke from the West Coast wildfires has tainted grapes in some of the nation's most celebrated wine regions with an ashy flavor that could spell disaster for the 2020 vintage, per the AP. Wineries in California, Oregon, and Washington have survived severe wildfires before, but the smoke from this year's blazes has been especially badthick enough to obscure vineyards drooping with clusters of grapes almost ready for harvest and resulting in some of the worst air quality in the world. No one knows the extent of the smoke damage to the crop, and growers are trying to assess the severity. If tainted grapes are made into wine without steps to minimize the harm or weed out the damaged fruit, the result could be wine so bad that it cannot be marketed. story continues below The wildfires are likely to be "without question the single worst disaster the wine-grape growing community has ever faced," said John Aguirre, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers. With this year's harvest underway, some wineries are not accepting grapes they had agreed to purchase unless they have been tested for smoke taint, Aguirre said. But laboratories are too backed up to analyze new orders in time. In every grape he has come across, Noah Dorrance, owner of Reeve Wines in Healdsburg, Calif., told the San Francisco Chronicle, "you could already taste and smell this ashy, barbecued flavor, kind of like a campfire." This has also been an issue in Australia. (Read more wine stories.) Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The 'Global 2-Phosphonobutane-1,2,4-Tricarboxylic Acid (PBTCA, CAS 37971-36-1) Market Outlook 2019-2024' offers detailed coverage of 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid industry and presents main market trends. The market research gives historical and forecast market size, demand, end-use details, price trends, and company shares of the leading 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid producers to provide exhaustive coverage of the market for 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid. The report segments the market and forecasts its size, by volume and value, on the basis of application, by products, and by geography. Request For Report sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3769 The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from key industry participants. The global 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid market has been segmented into five major regions, namely, North America (U.S., Canada, and others), Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and others), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, and others), South America (Brazil, Argentina, and others), and Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and others). Furthermore, the report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key vendors operating in this market. Key Regions - North America - Europe - Asia Pacific - Middle East & Africa - South America Key Vendors - Henan Qingshuiyuan Technology Co., Ltd. - Jianghai Environmental Protection Co., Ltd. - Lanxess AG - Shandong Taihe Water Treatment Technologies Co., Ltd. - Yichang Kaixiang Chemical Co., Ltd. - request free sample to get a complete list of companies Key Questions Answered in This Report - Analysis of the 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid market including revenues, future growth, market outlook - Historical data and forecast - Regional analysis including growth estimates - Analyzes the end user markets including growth estimates. - Profiles on 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid vendors including products, sales/revenues, SWOT, and market position, recent developments. - Market structure, market drivers and restraints. More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/3769 UK scraps plans to allow trans-identified people to change sex ID without medical examination Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The U.K. government has scrapped proposed revisions to the Gender Recognition Act that would have allowed transgender-identifying individuals to change their sex listed on documents without a first having a medical examination to diagnose gender dysphoria. The announcement comes approximately two years after the government signaled its plans to allow trans-identified people to identify their chosen sex on legal documents. The reversal comes after significant pushback from women's rights campaigners who have argued that self-ID undermines women's sex-based rights. Government ministers decided that proper checks and balances in the system and also support for people who want to change their legal sex already existed within the legal regime, The Independent reported Tuesday. As it stands, anyone wanting to change their birth sex on legal documents must file an application along with two reports from a doctor or psychologist stating they have suffered from gender dysphoria to obtain a gender recognition certificate. According to the BBC, U.K. Equalities Minister Liz Truss said in a statement that GRA reform was not the top priority for transgender people." Perhaps their most important concern is the state of trans healthcare, she said, in a statement supplied to members of parliament. Trans people tell us that waiting lists at NHS gender clinics are too long. I agree, and I am deeply concerned at the distress it can cause. Truss' statement comes amid ongoing scrutiny of transgender medical practices in the U.K. Earlier this year, a formal clinical review was set in motion to investigate both the safety and efficacy of puberty-blocking drugs and the rules pertaining to parental consent before a child undergoes body-altering medical procedures. Truss added that the 2010 Equality Act "clearly protects transgender people from discrimination." The same act allows service providers to restrict access to single-sex spaces on the basis of biological sex if there is a clear justification," she said. The government further promised to reduce the time involved in applying for a certificate and lowering the expenses associated with it to make the process "kinder and more straightforward." Presently, obtaining a GRC costs approximately $178 (140). LGBT activist groups expressed disappointment with the action, saying the administrative changes were not enough. "While these moves will make the current process less costly and bureaucratic, they don't go anywhere near far enough toward meaningfully reforming the Act to make it easier for all trans people to go about their daily life," argued Nancy Kelley, chief executive of Stonewall UK, the nation's largest LGBT activist organization. By contrast, Fair Play for Women, a group that defends women's sex-based rights, lauded the move, saying that Truss and the government had "acknowledged women are stakeholders too and policies must fairly balance the conflicting rights of trans people and women." Around the Western world, the conflict over so-called transgender rights has largely centered around how the immutable trait of biological sex is defined in law as a civil rights category alongside the concept of "gender identity," which has often been described as a psychological feeling or "internal sense" of ones gender yet has no material basis. Critics of gender identity ideology and legislation, particularly some feminists, have long asserted that sex-based rights, many of which were hard-won, are significantly undermined with such redefinition. New Delhi: India on Thursday said that Pakistan has no legal basis to convert Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan region as its fifth province and the action will be "void ab initio". Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in response to a question said, "Any action by Pakistan to alter the status of the militarily occupied so-called Gilgit-Baltistan has no legal basis whatsoever and is totally void ab-initio." Live TV Reiterating its "clear and consistent" position on PoK, the MEA spokesperson said, "The entire territories of the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been and are an integral part of India and would remain so. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on Indias internal matters." Pakistan has announced that the once-postponed election for the legislative assembly of Gilgit-Baltistan will be held on November 15, amidst India's objection to Islamabad's moves in the strategically-located region. Hectic political activity is taking place in Pakistan over plans to make the area the country's fifth province, other four being--Punjab, the most populated, Balochistan, the largest one, khyber Pakhtunkhwa bordering Afghanistan and southern Sindh province. On September 16, the Pakistani Army Chief Javed Bajwa and ISI DG Lt Gen Faiz Hameed had a meeting with opposition parties over the issue. According to news agency PTI, President Dr Arif Alvi issued an official notification on September 23 to fix the date of the elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. "The president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is pleased to announce Sunday, the 15th November 2020, as the poll day for the general elections to the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Legislative Assembly in terms of Section 57(1) of the Elections Act 2017," the statement said. India has told Pakistan that the entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of the country by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession. India has said the Government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it. The polls in Gilgit-Baltistan were to be held on August 18, but the Election Commission on July 11 postponed them due to the coronavirus pandemic. Polling would be held on 24 general seats of the legislative assembly. The five-year term of the previous assembly had ended on June 24, bringing an end to the five-year rule of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). There are a total of 33 seats, but six are reserved for technocrats and three for women. The special seats are filled from nominations by the parties winning the polls according to their representation. The election date has been announced amidst reported consultations to elevate Gilgit-Baltistan's status to that of a full-fledged province. India and Pakistan: Govts urged to stop detaining fishermen September 24,2020 | Source: The Times of India The human rights and peace activists from India and Pakistan have requested governments of both the nations to stop apprehending fishermen (Indian as well as Pakistani) from near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The organizations have also demanded medical check-up by doctors in jails of both the countries in the time of coronavirus pandemic. Majority of the fishermen apprehended from Arabian sea are from Gujarat. The human rights organizations like Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), South Asian Partnership (SAP), Legal Aid Office, Karachi; Edhi Foundation had earlier in August asked both Indian and Pakistani government to release fishermen lodged in various jails of both the countries as a goodwill gesture. However, the it did not work out amid tension at the borders. Recently the PIPFPD which has offices in Delhi and Pakistan made representation to governments of both nations on the issue. Former secretary of PIPFPD and peace activist Jatin Desai told TOI, The family members of fishermen are worried, especially due to the Covid-19 situation. We are suggesting that both the governments allow medical teams of each others country to examine prisoners which will be a big relief to their family members. Currently, there are 326 Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails, 90% of them belong to Veraval, Porbandar, Mangrol and Diu. At least 1,200 boats of Indian fishermen have been confiscated by the Pakistan authorities. Time and again both the countries have accepted that these fishermen are innocents and they are never involved in any illegal activities. Once arrested, they have to spend around two years in other countrys prison. They suffer and so do their families. The scenario of coastal villages is depressing with women wait for their husbands, brothers or son-in-laws to return, Desai added. Many lives change like that. All of a sudden, and forever. The above is a line from one of my all-time favorite novels, The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson. Its one of those love it or hate it books. (Why? Its like 900 pages of alternate history imagining a world where the Black Death wiped out 99% of Europe, meaning Chinese and Muslim factions came to rule the world, and you follow three main characters through 700 years of history, as they get reincarnated without their knowledge. Again: Love it or hate it. Anyway ) Anyway, that line always stuck with me, mostly because its true. Has it happened to you? To someone you know? Either for good or ill, many lives do change on a dime, and the results last forever. Well, I feel like that line can apply to our little American democratic experiment as well. ***** The following happened Wednesday at a White House press conference: REPORTER: Mr. President, real quickly, 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, rioting in many cities across this country. Red, and your so-called red and blue states. Will you commit to a peaceful transferral of power after the election? TRUMP: Well were going to have to see what happens. As you know that Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster and- REPORTER: I understand that but people are rioting. Do you commit to making sure- TRUMP: I know, I know REPORTER: -there is a peaceful transferral of power? TRUMP: Get rid of the ballots and youll have a very transfer, well have a very peaceful, there wont 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 anyone else? The Democrats know it better than anyone else. ***** Of course, everyone jumped on this. The Atlantic, as it turns out, had a story already written about how Team Trump is scheming behind the scenes to throw this election into chaos in an effort to potentially steal the office of the presidency. A Slate.com article about all this is titled Ive Never Been More Worried About American Democracy Than I Am Right Now written by a professor of law and political science at the University of California-Irvine School of Law. Make no mistake: Love him or hate him, Trump will seek ways to hold on to the presidency, and he will use every tool at his disposal to do so. In no scenario can I see Trump saying, Well, we gave it our best. Heres the keys, Joe. ***** Its all too easy to throw around the facist moniker when talking about Trump. Of course, its nonsense. Maybe hes got some tendencies about him that dovetail a bit with the facist definition, but this is America, this is a democracy, we dont need to worry about facism. By the way, courtesy of Merriam-Webster, heres the definition of facsim: a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. I mean, if it walks like a duck ***** This election is the most important presidential election in American history. Of course, we were also told that in 2016, and 2012, and 2008, and 2004, and 2000 So no. Im not going to say this election is the most important election in American history. But I will say this: This election may very well turn out to be the most important test of our democracy and our laws in American history. Hanging chads were tiddlywinks compared to what were looking at right now. Maybe you think Im overselling this, maybe you think this is a bunch of nonsense. Or maybe you dont. Either way, its worth remembering that sometimes, when youre not even paying attention, things change. All of a sudden and forever. Tiny crystals, ten thousand times thinner than a human hair, can cause explosive volcanic eruptions. This surprising connection has recently been discovered by a German-British research team led by Dr. Danilo Di Genova from the Bavarian Research Institute of Experimental Geochemistry & Geophysics (BGI) at the University of Bayreuth. The crystals increase the viscosity of the underground magma. As a result, a build-up of rising gases occurs. The continuously rising pressure finally discharges in massive eruptions. The scientists present the results of their nanogeoscientific research in the journal "Science Advances". "Exactly what causes the sudden and violent eruption of apparently peaceful volcanoes has always been a mystery in geology research. Nanogeoscience research has now allowed us to find an explanation. Tiny crystal grains containing mostly iron, silicon, and aluminium are the first link in a chain of cause and effect that can end in catastrophe for people living in the vicinity of a volcano. The most powerful volcanic eruption in human history was Mount Tambora in Indonesia in 1815", says Dr. Danilo Di Genova. For the recently published study, he worked closely with scientists from the University of Bristol, the Clausthal University of Technology, and two European synchrotron radiation facilities. Because of their diameter of a few nanometres, the crystals are also known as nanolites. Using spectroscopic and electron microscopy methods, the researchers have detected traces of these particles, invisible to the eye, in the ashes of active volcanoes. In the BGI's laboratory, they were then able to describe these crystals and finally to demonstrate how they influence the properties of volcanic magma. The investigations focused on magma of low silicon oxide content cooling to form basalt on the earth's surface after a volcanic eruption. Low silica magma is known for its low viscosity: It forms a thin lava that flows quickly and easily. The situation is different, however, if it contains a large number of nanolites. This makes the magma viscous - and far less permeable to gases rising from the earth's interior. Instead of continuously escaping from the volcanic cone, the gases in the depths of the volcano become trapped in the hot magma. As a result, the magma is subjected to increasing pressure until it is finally ejected explosively from the volcano. "Constant light plumes of smoke above a volcanic cone need not necessarily be interpreted as a sign of an imminent dangerous eruption. Conversely, however, the inactivity of apparently peaceful volcanoes can be deceptive. Rock analyses, written and archaeological sources suggest, for example, that people in the vicinity of Vesuvius were surprised by an extremely violent eruption of the volcano in 79 AD. Numerous fatalities and severe damage to buildings were the result", says Di Genova. In his further research, the Bayreuth scientist hopes to use high-pressure facilites and computer simulation to model the geochemical processes that lead to such unexpected violent eruptions. The aim is to better understand these processes and thus also to reduce the risks for the population in the vicinity of volcanoes. ### Research Funding: The research work at the Bavarian Research Institute of Experimental Geochemistry & Geophysics was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The Overlord of Dagbon kingdom, Yaa-Naa Abukari II has been sworn in as President of the Northern Regional House Chiefs following the creation of the North East and Savannah regions. Yaa-Naa was elected by Chiefs in the region at the inauguration of the reconstituted regional house of chiefs held in Tamale on Wednesday, 22nd September 2020. The King takes over from the Overload of Gonja Traditional Kingdom, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I who held the position from 2016 to 2020. Ndan Yaa-Naa Abukari II in a speech pledged to promote peaceful co-existence in the Northern Region under his reign. 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, Yaa-Naa assured. However, five members of the house have been elected to represent the house at the National House of Chiefs. They are Sagnar-Naa Ambassador Yakubu Abdullia, Kumbun-Naa Alhaji Abu Iddrisu, Sunson-Naa Shani Hamidu II, Nakpale-Bore Gariba Yankosor II and Bakpaba-Naa Adam Naatogmah. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was guest of honour at the inauguration ceremony and revealed the Akufo-Addo administration recognises the importance of traditional leaders to national development. Dr. Bawumia assured the government will continue to support and partner the chieftaincy institution in nation-building. Also present at the ceremony was the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Samuel Kofi Dzamesi. An Atlantic County woman pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to attempting to hire a hitman, who she later learned was an undercover FBI agent, to assault her ex-boyfriend, the U.S. Attorneys office announced. Diane Sylvia, 60, of Somers Point, pleaded guilty in Camden federal court to solicitation to commit a crime of violence with the intent to seriously injure another. She faces a maximum prison sentence of five years. Authorities said Sylvia, a licensed clinical social worker, asked one of her patients, who she believed was previously involved in organized crime, if he could recommend someone to carry out an assault on her ex-boyfriend. Sylvia soon met with a man purported to be a hitman. He was actually an undercover FBI agent, authorities said. She told the man that her ex-boyfriend had stolen money from her and was extorting her. Sylvia told the man to punch her ex-boyfriend in his face and break his arm. In October 2018, Sylvia met with the undercover FBI agent at her office and offered him $4,000 to carry out the attack. Sylvia was arrested soon after the meeting, authorities said. She is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 27. Sylvias attorney, Thomas R. Calcagni, said in a statement authorities should have been more focused on how the victim in this case treated Sylvia. She alleged the man threatened and stole money from her for years. The FBI (the same agency that ignored Ms. Sylvias outreach about the abuse she was suffering) should feel a real sense of pride for its four-week sting operation against a psychologically and emotionally battered woman desperate to find anyone to protect her against her abuser, Calcagni said. What a terrific victory for the Department of Justice. This story has been updated with comment from the defendants attorney. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Last week the Commerce Department delayed plans to implement a ban that would prevent new downloads of the TikTok app by one week, pushing the deadline out to this coming Sunday as its owner negotiated a deal with the government, Oracle and Walmart. On Wednesday afternoon TikTok followed the path of WeChat, by filing for a preliminary injunction to prevent the ban, asking for a hearing before its scheduled to start at 11:59 PM on September 27th. WeChat asked for and received an injunction blocking the ban last weekend, and in TikToks request the company said there is no plausible reason to insist the prohibitions be enforced immediately. As TechCrunch points out, public reports by ByteDance and Oracle have differed on the terms of the proposed deal, and the president has made public statements that he would not approve any deal where the Chinese company retained partial ownership of the app. ByteDance has applied for an export license in China to facilitate the deal, assuming it is approved. NPR reporter Bobby Allyn posted a declaration submitted by new TikTok CEO Vanessa Pappas, which lays out many of her arguments for an injuction. The CEO cited the harm that could be done if the app is banned, even if its later reinstated, including notes on what happened when a ban went into place in India. TikTok also argued that the pending action has caused millions of dollars in lost business deals, as well as dozens of prospective employees declining to join the company. A schoolgirl took her own life when she stepped in front of a train after being teased about a break-up, an inquest heard. Lucy Fagg, 16, had been subjected to name-calling after the breakdown of a relationship before she killed herself at a station in Sturry, near Canterbury in Kent, on March 6. On the day she died, a friend who was worried about the teenager's state of mind rushed to meet her at the station but was stuck on the wrong side of the crossing barriers as a train approached. An inquest yesterday heard she watched helplessly as Lucy stepped in front of a train. Following the tragedy, British Transport Police carried out an investigation which revealed the events leading up to the death of the teenager described by her family as 'the sweetest, most kind-hearted girl in the world'. Lucy Fagg, 16, had been subjected to name-calling after the breakdown of a relationship before she killed herself at a station in Sturry, near Canterbury in Kent, on March 6 Deeply concerned, her friend rushed to Sturry railway station, knowing Lucy had been there before intending to harm herself. As they were stuck behind the level crossing barriers, they frantically tried to get the attention of others at the station to alert them to Lucy, who was on the platform. But Lucy was sadly struck by a train after stepping in front of it The inquest at Maidstone County Hall heard how the sporty and ambitious girl, who dreamed of becoming a zookeeper when she left school, had been feeling down. On the day of her death, she had been 'a little bit down' after having to sit an exam in a separate room to her classmates. After school, she had gone for a meal with a friend in Canterbury to 'cheer her up' before catching a bus home. Her friend told how Lucy had 'skipped off, blowing kisses to him as she got off the bus'. Lucy returned to her home before telling her mother she was going to the supermarket to buy some fruit. Rebecca Saunders, who led BTP's investigation, told the inquest that during that time Lucy received a social media message which had left her upset, telling another friend she was 'done'. Deeply concerned, her friend rushed with her own mother to Sturry railway station, knowing Lucy had been there before intending to harm herself. As they were stuck behind the level crossing barriers, they frantically tried to get the attention of others at the station to alert them to Lucy, who was on the platform. But Lucy was sadly struck by a train after stepping in front of it. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Following Lucy's death, her aunt found an eight-page letter she had written on a notepad in her bedroom. Dated March 1, it contained messages addressed to her family, friends and teachers indicating she no longer wanted to live. On the day she died, a friend who was worried about Lucy's state of mind rushed to meet her at the station but was stuck on the wrong side of the crossing barriers as a train approached. An inquest yesterday heard she watched helplessly as Lucy stepped in front of a train Recording a conclusion of suicide, coroner Catherine Wood said it was clear Lucy's intention was to end her life. Following her death, Lucy's devastated family paid tribute to the teenager, who was the youngest of three children. Lucy's older sister, Sophie, 19, remembered her as 'kind-hearted' and a 'beautiful young woman'. She added: 'She was the sweetest, most kind-hearted girl in the world; the most innocent and lovely girl you could have met. 'She was so beautiful and had a truly wonderful soul. Lucy did anything she could for anyone. She was an amazing sister. 'She was always giggling, that amazing little giggle that I yearn to hear once more.' Her mother Tammy, 43, described their much-loved girl as an all-rounder who 'achieved everything she set her mind to'. Following the tragedy, British Transport Police carried out an investigation which revealed the events leading up to the death of the teenager described by her family as 'the sweetest, most kind-hearted girl in the world' (pictured, with her father Stuart) She said: 'There was no failing in Lucy's book. Once she achieved something, that was that, next project. 'It was like a little bucket list 'I wanted to do that, done it, I wanted to do that, done it'. She had to give things the best she had. 'There's not a sport she wasn't good at diving, fishing, long jump, gymnastics.' As a life-long animal lover, Lucy had a treasured pet chihuahua, Rosie, and a budgie named Kiwi, which she taught to speak. She dreamed of turning her passion into a career, and had been offered a place at college to work with animals after finishing her GCSEs, with the aim of becoming a zookeeper. Lucy was also an avid Liverpool fan who 'would never miss a game for anything', and a talented angler, who regularly spent weekends fishing with her dad at Chartham and District Angling Society. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, or click here for details. Donald Trump has doubled down on his commitment to litigating the results of the 2020 presidential election results all the way up to the Supreme Court if he loses in November, saying mail-in ballots are a horror show. Millions of Americans have voted by mail in past elections with no more than a handful of cases of election fraud. This year, election officials expect to process more mail-in ballots than ever before as states urge voters to send in their selections through the postal system to mitigate possible exposure to Covid-19. While Mr Trump continued throwing doubt on the integrity of the election results this year, he did say he would peacefully transfer power to his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, if the Supreme Court upholds a Biden victory. Oh, that I would agree with. But I think we have a long way before we get there. These ballots are a horror show, the president said in an interview with Fox News Radio on Thursday. At least one top GOP politician, House Republican Conference chairwoman Liz Cheney, has pushed back on the presidents ambiguity about a peaceful transfer of power. The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. Americas leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath, the Wyoming congresswoman, who is the daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney, tweeted early in the morning on Thursday. On Wednesday, Mr Trump refused to say if he would peacefully hand over the office of the presidency to Mr Biden, even though a reporter pressed him on the matter multiple times. 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 his press conference on Wednesday, which he later abruptly exited to take an emergency phone call. When the reporter persisted in trying to get an answer out of Mr Trump, he doubled down on his unsubstantiated claims about rampant election fraud, a crime he has urged his own supporters to commit. Do you commit to making sure that theres a peaceful transferral of power? the reporter asked again. 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 added, 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 fact the election results might end up in the Supreme Courts hands is one of the many reasons the president believes Senate Republicans ought to ram through his nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before 3 November, he said earlier on Wednesday. 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. Again, study upon study has shown virtually no large-scale voter fraud in the US in recent elections. It's the morning after the Nov. 3 election, and the world doesn't know who won the U.S. presidency because there are hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots in the pivotal state of Pennsylvania that won't be counted for days as lawyers descend to battle over the votes. That's the worst-case election scenario emerging if the race is so close that a single state will determine whether President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden has the necessary 270 Electoral College votes to win the White House. In 2000, the race came down to fewer than 600 votes in Florida. This year, with a record number of mail-in votes expected to be cast because of the coronavirus pandemic, Pennsylvania is perhaps most at risk for a post-election meltdown because of a confluence of factors, according to experts in election administration and law. The commonwealth is new to mail-in voting and took weeks to count ballots during its June 2 primary. Counties can't start processing ballots until Election Day, virtually guaranteeing they won't all be tabulated by that night. Pennsylvania was decided by only 44,292 votes in 2016, and its election laws allow for ballot challenges and appeals to drag on, increasing the risk for delayed results. "We're all bracing ourselves for a circumstance where we're going to be under the microscope from the rest of the country and the rest of the world," said Patrick Christmas, policy director for the Committee of Seventy, a nonpartisan civic organization in Philadelphia that focuses on election law and voting. Pennsylvania may not be alone. The crucial swing states of Wisconsin and Michigan could also find themselves in a similar predicament, since they also can't begin processing mail-in ballots until Election Day. But Pennsylvania, with its 20 Electoral College votes, has the highest odds of any state of being the tipping point in the election, according to an analysis by the FiveThirtyEight website. Judging by how Pennsylvania performed in its June primary, there's plenty of reason for alarm. Officials had changed election rules back in October 2019, well before the outbreak of the virus, to allow voters to request a mail-in ballot without having to provide an excuse. In the June primary, almost 1.5 million people cast votes by mail or absentee -- increasing to 51% of the total vote from 2% in the 2018 primary. It took almost three weeks for all 1.5 million mail-in and absentee ballots in the commonwealth to be tabulated. About half the counties were still counting more than a week after the primary, according to a state report. Philadelphia, the most populous, didn't even start counting mail-in votes until the day after the primary while it focused on in-person voting. Officials there needed 15 days to complete the count. In November, officials expect the number of mail-in voters to double to about 3 million. The race is also shaping up to be very close. Biden's advantage in Pennsylvania has been narrowing since July, and he now holds a lead of 3.8 percentage points over Trump, according to a RealClearPolitics average of recent polls. Trump, who has frequently repeated unfounded conspiracies of fraud with mail-in votes, has said he'll be ahead in Pennsylvania before the outstanding mail-in votes are counted -- and that the only way he'll lose the election is "when the other side cheats." Biden, who like Trump has made multiple trips to Pennsylvania, said last week that Trump and his Republican allies are trying to "throw into question the legitimacy of the election." The former vice president urged Pennsylvanians to make a plan now to vote. Pennsylvania is taking steps to scale up for Nov. 3. Counties are investing millions of dollars on new ballot sorters, high-speed scanners and other equipment and staff to handle the projected 3 million mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3 election. Even with those upgrades, many elections officials still think it could take days to count them all if the state legislature doesn't change a law forbidding them to start processing ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court also ruled on Sept. 17 that mail-in ballots can be accepted up to three days after the election, and that counties can use drop boxes to collect mail-in ballots. Trump's campaign has sued in federal court to challenge how drop boxes can be used and allow poll watchers in a county even if they don't live there as now required by commonwealth law. While voting advocates hailed the ruling allowing ballots postmarked before the election to be counted, it could add to the number of uncounted ballots after Election Day if counties can't start processing them early and voters wait until the last minute, said Lisa Schaefer, executive director at County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. "It makes it very likely that many of our counties will not be able to complete it that day," said Schaefer said of the counting of mail-in ballots. In Philadelphia, the city is using a $10 million grant from the nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life to rent 125,000 square-feet of space in its convention center to install new equipment and staging areas with the ability to tabulate about 200,000 mail-in ballots on Election Day, said Commissioner Omar Sabir. But as many as 350,000 or more ballots are expected, and even with teams working around the clock, it could take 36 hours after the election or longer to finish the counting because envelopes have to be cut open and ballots extracted, flattened and run through scanners -- all with the risk Covid could hit workers and disrupt the operation, he said. "We're not going to have all those mail ballots completed on election night," Sabir said. "It's not going to happen. It's just not." Bucks County outside of Philadelphia is a battleground where Hillary Clinton topped Trump by only 2,699 votes in 2016 and Barack Obama edged Mitt Romney by 3,942 votes in 2012. The county is adding equipment including a 40-foot ballot sorter it calls "the dragon" but still expects it'll take at least two days after the election to process as many as 250,000 mail-in votes, Commissioner Bob Harvie said. The Pennsylvania House passed a bill on Sept. 2, now before the Senate, that would allow counties to begin processing mail-in votes three days before the election. But its future is uncertain since Democratic Governor Tom Wolf has threatened to veto the measure because it would also ban drop boxes and make other changes that Democrats oppose and Republicans are livid about recent election rulings by the Democratic-majority state Supreme Court. "We're operating under the assumption that nothing's going to change," Harvie said. None of these preparations address another significant potential problem: mail delivery of ballots. The U.S. Postal Service warned the Pennsylvania secretary of state in a July 29 letter that the commonwealth's requirement for all mail-in ballots to be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day and the ability for voters to request a ballot as late as seven days before the election "appear to be incompatible" with USPS delivery standards. While the state Supreme Court's extension of the timeframe for accepting ballots aimed to address that, risks of delays remain. Mail service continues to be slowed in the Philadelphia area, despite a pledge from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to halt changes blamed for poor service until after the election, said Nick Casselli, president of Local 89 of the American Postal Workers Union. Slow mail could be a double whammy. Many mailed ballots need to move through the system twice, once to get to the voter and again, after being marked, to reach election officials. Edward Foley, a professor and director of an election law program at Ohio State University, has studied disputed elections and said he is most concerned about Pennsylvania this year because it may be the most important state in determining the Electoral College winner, all the issues with mail-in voting, and election statutes that could allow the vote-counting process to be drawn out by ballot challenges and appeals. Foley wrote a paper last year entitled, "Preparing for a Disputed Presidential Election" in 2020 that outlined a scenario with a delayed result in Pennsylvania sending to Congress votes from two different slates of electors to the Electoral College and no resolution by Jan. 20, 2021, when the next president is supposed to be inaugurated. In an article published in the Atlantic on Wednesday, Lawrence Tabas, chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, suggested the commonwealth's GOP-controlled legislature could choose its own slate of electors if there are "significant flaws" in the election. "They're creating a false scenario because they want to be able to have ballots come in after Election Day," Tabas said in an interview of Democrats. One factor is what Foley calls a "big blue shift," when mail-in votes that favor Democrats flip the unofficial result from election night from mostly in-person votes. With Trump railing against mail-balloting as rife with fraud, requests by Republicans are down this year -- raising concerns by Democrats that Trump will declare himself the winner based on election night returns and seek to reject or delegitimize the uncounted mail-in ballots. Of the almost 2 million mail-in and absentee ballots requested in Pennsylvania through Sept. 17, 67% were from Democrats and only 24% from Republicans, according to the Department of State. Pennsylvania could be in store for a situation similar to the recount fight in Florida in the 2000 presidential election that ended with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, said Benjamin Geffen, a staff attorney at the Public Interest Law Center in Philadelphia. "That is absolutely a possibility," Geffen said. "It's something that concerns everybody who's working on elections and voting rights in Pennsylvania." Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The report Vibration Monitoring Market Analysis Report By Component (Hardware, Software, Services); By Monitoring Process (Online, Portable); By End-User (Automotive, Chemical, Aerospace and Defense, Food and Beverages, Construction, Mining, Oil and Gas, Others); By Regions: Market Size & Segment Forecast, 2019 2026 provides a complete analysis of present market trends and future insights. The global vibration monitoring market size is anticipated to reach USD 3,574.3 million by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research In 2018, the hardware segment accounted for the highest market share in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global Vibration Monitoring market revenue in 2018. The increasing modernization of factory equipment, and stringent regulations regarding energy efficiency and workforce safety majorly drive the market growth. Get Sample Copy : https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/vibration-monitoring-market/request-for-sample The growing adoption of IoT, cloud-based technologies, and machine learning further supports the growth of the market. The growing need to streamline operations for improving productivity and safety, while reducing maintenance time and cost would increase the adoption of vibration monitoring systems during the forecast period. Other driving factors include technological advancements, increasing adoption of smart factories, growing adoption of embedded systems, and increasing demand from emerging economies. Vibration monitoring systems ensure that data is organized and decisions can be made efficiently. They collect real-time information, offer historical trends and graph data for further analysis. They generate alarms when abnormalities occur and send instant alarms to smart devices. They sense concerns such as imbalance, misalignment, bearing wear and looseness and provide predictive maintenance. Get Offer : https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/vibration-monitoring-market/request-for-discount-pricing North America generated the highest market share in the Vibration Monitoring industry in terms of revenue in 2018, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. The presence of established telecom and cloud infrastructure in this region, and growing trend of IIoT has accelerated the market growth in the region. The growing demand of mobile devices, automation of manufacturing process, increasing safety concerns, and technological advancements generate numerous opportunities for the market in this region. The well-known companies profiled in the report include National Instruments Corporation, Emerson Electric Co., Bruel & Kiaer Sound & Vibration Measurement A/S, Meggitt PLC, Honeywell International Inc., Schaeffler AG, Analog Devices, Inc., SKF AB, General Electric, and Azima DLI Corporation. These companies are consistently launching new products to enhance their offerings in the Vibration Monitoring industry. With the advancement of technologies, companies are innovating and introducing new customized products to cater the growing needs of the customers. Leading companies are also acquiring other companies, and enhancing their product offerings to improve their market reach. Acquisitions enable key players to increase their market potential in terms of geographic expansion and expansion of customer base. Buy Now this Premium Report to Grow your Business : https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/checkouts/5991 Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey has recused her office from the investigation of a fatal shooting by Officer Toni McBride, whose father is a visible and controversial LAPPL figure. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey has recused herself from investigating a fatal shooting involving the daughter of a powerful figure in the L.A. police union, which has helped to raise millions for her reelection campaign. Los Angeles Police Officer Toni McBride, whose father is a director with the Los Angeles Police Protective League, shot and killed 38-year-old Daniel Hernandez near downtown L.A. in April. Although the case did not immediately prompt widespread outrage, Hernandez's family began joining protests downtown and outside Lacey's home this summer after the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor sparked national backlash against law enforcement use of force. Critics of Lacey have questioned her office's ability to judge the case fairly. The officer's father, Jamie McBride, is one of the most visible and controversial figures in the protective league, which has contributed a significant amount of funding to Lacey's November reelection bid through outside committees. Greg Risling, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, said Lacey made the decision to recuse in late July, due to the LAPPL's political fundraising. The California attorney general's office agreed to take over the case on Aug. 4, Risling said. Risling did not immediately respond to questions about why the office did not publicly disclose Lacey's decision. The Los Angeles City Council, seemingly unaware of the recusal, passed a motion calling for an outside review of the shooting on Aug. 19, more than two weeks after the move had already been made. The office has not referred a fatal-use-of-force case to the attorney general's office during Lacey's tenure. Lacey's decision to recuse was first reported by Los Angeles Magazine on Wednesday. All told, law enforcement unions across California have pumped at least $3.5 million into Lacey's reelection bid, records show. At least $1.2 million of that money was collected by an independent committee organized by the LAPPL. Story continues According to the LAPD account, Toni McBride responded to the scene of a motor vehicle accident near San Pedro and 32nd streets on April 22. Witnesses reported the crash had been caused by a driver who was still in his truck and appeared to be cutting himself. Video shows Hernandez approaching McBride holding what the department has said is a razor-edged box cutter and refusing commands to drop the weapon. McBride also asked her partner about using a less-lethal device to subdue Hernandez before firing the fatal shots. Some policing experts said the officer's initial actions were justified. Others, however, questioned McBride's decision to fire additional shots after Hernandez was on the ground. Calls to attorneys representing both the McBride and Hernandez families were not immediately returned Thursday. Larry Hanna, McBride's attorney, previously said she reacted based on how she was trained. She had fear at all times and was shooting at somebody she felt was coming at her and toward the other citizens who were out there, Hanna told The Times earlier this year. The issue of campaign contributions from police unions has become increasingly relevant as the November contest continues to be framed by a national reckoning over law enforcement use of force. Lacey's opponent, former San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascon, has joined a push to bar police unions from contributing in local district attorney races, arguing the donations raise ethical questions in prosecutions of law enforcement officials. Lacey has rejected such calls, while criticizing Gascon's campaign for raking in millions from Silicon Valley mega donors. Police union President Craig Lally said Thursday that he supported Lacey's decision. "If Dist. Atty. Lacey believes that an outside agency is needed to investigate any case, she is right in seeking that review," he said. "We are hopeful that the attorney general conducts his investigation in a fair and objective manner that is driven by facts and evidence and not emotions." Times staff writer Jim Rainey contributed to this report. Brad Pitt's gorgeous girlfriend Nicole Poturalski has wowed in another sizzling shoot. The stunning model, 27, stars in swimwear brand TRIANGL's latest campaign on Instagram, showing off her tanned figure in a turquoise bikini. Nicole shows off her modelling skills in the beach shoot by Carly Dame, posing with other gorgeous girls in a tropical location. Model behaviour: Brad Pitt's gorgeous girlfriend Nicole Poturalski has wowed in another sizzling shoot, starring in swimwear brand TRIANGL's latest campaign Brad, 56, is currently dating model Nicole they were spotted last month arriving in the South of France on a private jet where they visited Chateau Miraval. The trip coincided with what would have been his and Angelina's sixth wedding anniversary, they married at the chateau on August 24, 2014. The former couple had purchased the estate including the Chateau and vineyard in 2011 for $60 million after leasing it for three years. Stunning: Nicole shows off her modelling skills in the beach shoot by Carly Dame, posing with other gorgeous girls in a tropical location Romance: Brad is currently dating model Nicole they were spotted last month arriving in the South of France on a private jet where they visited Chateau Miraval It is believed that the pair may have been dating for the best part of a year, as they both attended a performance of Kanye West's opera Nebuchadnezzar at the Hollywood Bowl in November 2019. Nicole is allegedly in an open relationship with her husband Roland. Earlier this month, Nicole hit back at trolls accusing her of of 'hating' Brad's ex-wife Angelina Jolie and said people should 'stay out' of her relationship after she shared a cryptic quote saying 'happy people don't hate'. Brad and Nicole's visit to Chateau Miraval reportedly angered Angelina, with a source telling the Mirror: 'Angie is furious and utterly stunned Brad could stoop this low. Going strong: It is believed that the pair may have been dating for the best part of a year Back together! Nicole's shoot comes after Brad's fans went wild when he reunited with ex-wife Jennifer Aniston for a risque table read of Fast Times at Ridgemont High Brad meanwhile reunited with his other ex wife Jennifer Aniston last week for an online table read. It was the first time the former spouses have been seen together since they were spotting chatting backstage at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in January. The former couple recreated one of Fast Times At Ridgemont High's most risque scenes, where Jennifer's character walks in on Brad's character 'daydreaming' about her topless in the bathroom as she looks for Q-tips. The actor 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. Patricia Mary Farrington, founder and executive director of Pax Christi Hospice, who offered dignity, comfort and compassion to patients facing their last days of life, died Aug. 28 after a long and courageous battle with continuing health conditions. She was 71. Born on Aug. 18, 1949 in Manhattan, Pat was the daughter of the late Josephine and James Farrington. She was the oldest of six siblings five girls and a boy and the caretaker in a large Irish Catholic family. She attended St. Josephs of Yorkville Elementary School and St. Jean Baptist High School before going on to attend the former St. Vincents Nursing School in West Brighton in 1969. And it was then she chose a brand new beginning in the borough that would become home for the rest of her life. Patricia Mary Farrington, right center, when she graduated the former St. Vincent's Nursing School. (Courtesy/Farrington family) Pat earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing at C.W. Post College in Brookville, N.Y. and held a master of science degree in nursing from Wagner College. FOUNDER OF PAX CHRISTI HOSPICE Committed to easing the pain and emotional grief for patients and their families facing end of life issues, in 1988 she founded and became the executive director of Pax Christi Hospice at the former St. Vincents Hospital. And while most are in denial and terrified at the very mention of the subject, Pat faced it head on with a healthy approach and would go on to convey her positive spirit to others. For going above-and-beyond in the creation of Pax Christi Hospice and for her ability to step in at a sensitive time when others could not, and for her willingness to embrace a part of life that terrifies most, Pat was named a 2003 Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement. Her sister, Nancy Farrington: Although Pat was the only family member who lived on Staten Island, for many years we celebrated Thanksgiving at her home on Pendleton Place. An early memory that demonstrated the kindness that she became known for was when she was in third grade. A family in the next apartment building had a fire. There was a girl a couple of years younger and her Tiny Tears doll was lost in the fire. Pat gave her doll to the girl, telling her that the doll no longer looked new because of the smoke from the fire. And, of course, we have fond memories of the luncheon celebrating Pat as an Advance Woman of Achievement in the year 2003 when Hillary Clinton addressed the crowd. 11/21/2003 - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, center, with the six honorees. From left are Carmen Serrano, Siconolfi, Susan Bernstein, seated, Patricia Farrington, Joanne Reese, Gemma M. Caramante, seated, and Wendy Pellegrino. STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE Patricia Farrington, center, is joined by her niece, Molly Coffy, left, and friend Joan Denebe Dobke. I staten island advance Pat sat on the boards of the American Cancer Society, Meals on Wheels, the Staten Island Zoo and the Alzheimers Association. In fact, Pats thirst for knowledge and for travel led her to explore the world, whether it was observing wild animals in their natural habitat or learning about world history, and nature. But it was evident the New Brighton resident also had a passion for family. COMMENTS FROM DIGNITARIES, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES Deputy Borough President Ed Burke: Pat and I worked at the old St. Vincents and on the Zoo board, being animal lovers. She worked in a very challenging field caring for the very sick. Her heart went out to people struggling with illness. And she was a strong wildlife advocate as well. It underscores her compassion and she worked hard to raise awareness about the struggles of wild life. She was brilliant and caring, a true leader and a strong voice in supporting the Staten Island Zoo as a way to highlight the plight of wild life. The zoo is a better place because of her efforts. She did a remarkable job on the board. I know one of her dreams was to travel the world. And she traveled through the Amazon to appreciate wildlife. Advance 2003 Woman of Achievement Patricia Farrington at work at Pax Christi Hospice.staten island advance John DePierro, former president & CEO of Sisters of Charity Healthcare System, which was St Vincents and Bayley Seton Hosptials when Pax Christi Hospice was created: Pat Farrington was an extraordinary lady and really was a Woman of Achievement. She ran Pax Christi Hospice and put her heart and soul into it. It was one of our most important endeavors. She just did a great job. Her heart was made of gold for the work she did for those patients. I dont know how they did what they did. Dealing with dying patients and giving them the love, simply takes an extraordinary person to do that. Kate Rooney, chairperson of the board at Richmond University Medical Center and former Pax Christi founding chair: Pat Farrington was an exceptional healthcare professional who combined clinical excellence with deep compassion. Her skill, insight and caring was the driving force behind the creation of Pax Christi Hospice. As the founding chair of the Pax Christi Board, I saw Pat use her considerable talent and energy to lead a team that eased the physical and emotional pain of countless individuals and families facing difficult and sometimes seemingly overwhelming end of life issues. Pat was generous, kind and selfless. May she rest In peace. Advance 2003 Woman of Achievement Patricia Farrington in front of her home in New Brighton.staten island advance Dr. Thomas Forlenza, the chief of palliative care at RUMC and former medical director of Pax Cristi Hospice: For 20 years under Pats tutelage Pax Christi Hospice was in existence. I was the original medical director and founding member along with Pat, who uniquely established a family of concerned individuals who are still in contact. Thinking back it met all the government criteria, all the regulations, but we werent there just to meet regulations and do a job. She was able to formulate people into a real working team and I would rather call it a family. We socialized together, we met once a week about team development activities. She was a force and if you didnt agree you had to be very clear why you didnt. The best decision was always made for the patient and the family the first concern of hospice. Pat did everything with quality and finesse. She had a knack of getting the right people for the right positions and having them work together as a team." John Vincent Scalia, owner of Scalia Home for Funerals and former board chair of Pax Christi Hospice: I worked with Pat. I was chairman of the board Pax Christi Hospice. I started working with Pat when she was head of Palliative Care at St. Vincents. I became involved with Pat, Kate Rooney, John Kearney and Dr. Thomas Forlenza who headed up Pax Christi. We all formed Pax Christi Hospice with the permission of the Sisters of Charity and the board. Pat was compassionate and many times went off shift at 5 p.m., but stayed to hold peoples hands until they passed. She did a lot of public speaking on cancer and hospice. She was an expert and read every book on hospice. We had the idea of a residence hospice on Staten Island and we traveled throughout New York State to see how they were formed. Pat was a true pioneer. Colleague Janet McHugh-Maccario, a member of the hospice team who witnessed Farringtons encouragement and instruction: Pat hired me in 1993 after I was a stay at home mom for 18 years. With Carlas Petrullos recommendation and a resume that showed my most recent work experience being the cookie mom and the team mom for Little League, Pat said Oh youre good. When can you start? Always supportive and encouraging, she enabled me to complete the associate/bachelor and master degrees in social work and presented me the gift of working with hospice for 22 years. Pat was a brilliant, caring and compassionate woman who fought for the comfort and dignity of those individuals and families approaching the end of life. Carla Petrullo, former patient care coordinator at Pax Christi Hospice: Pat was my mentor. She taught me everything I know about this most blessed phase of life. When I started at Pax Christi Hospice in 1989, I didnt know anything about hospice, didnt know what to do or say to a dying patient and their family. This was not taught in nursing school then. Pat guided me, and took me under her wing. She once told me, If you speak from your heart, you will always say the right thing. Pat was an amazing business woman. To her, the mission of hospice was the most important thing. She was a true Woman of Achievement, and I know I am a better person having known and been taught by her. Patricia Farrington is survived by her sisters, Nancy, Mary (Gene), Marian and Regina, her sister-in-law MaryLou (wife of her late brother Jimmy). She was aunt to Molly (Kelley), Kate (Scott), Maggie, Bridget (Corey) and James. She was a great aunt to Carter who only knew her as Pat Pat, and Carters baby sister, Georgia. Donations in Pats name may be sent to the Staten Island Zoo or to Meals on Wheels of Staten Island. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 19:17:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection reported seven additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, taking the total confirmed cases to 5,056. The newly-reported cases include four imported cases and the remaining three are epidemiologically linked with local cases. According to Hong Kong's Hospital Authority, 160 patients are still hospitalized, including 13 in critical condition. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on the same day added Britain to the list of high-risk countries, which requires travelers to present a negative COVID-19 testing result before boarding flights to Hong Kong. The restriction will take effect on Oct. 1. Enditem Joe Biden is leading President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, according to two new polls, but both surveys indicate an increasingly tight race in the Keystone State. The Franklin & Marshall College poll, which was released early Thursday, gives the Democratic presidential nominee a 6-point edge over Trump among likely voters. However, the Great Lakes Poll, which also came out Thursday, found Biden with an edge of only 2.7 percentage points in Pennsylvania. In both surveys, the edge for Biden was within the margin of error. Many years ago, in the late 1980s, when I was an Account Executive at HTA Delhi, and servicing both Nestle and HMM (Horlicks), one important assignment on my job list for both clients every year in February-March used to be the Summer Milk Mobilisation Program. Both clients manufacturing plants those days were concentrated in Punjab Moga and Nabha, respectively. And for both milk was the base raw material. Weaning foods and baby foods needed perennial milk supplies at Nestle; malted milk foods (Horlicks and Boost) needed continuous volumes of milk, too, as the base manufacturing ingredient at HMM (which became SmithKline Beecham in time, and then sold its brands to Hindustan Unilever). In the lean summer months, milk supplies would dry up considerably. So, Nestle and HMM needed to shore up milk supplies through special promotions to tie up milk from all those cow owners who used to otherwise sell to local gwaalas (milkmen), mithai shops and milk cooperatives like Verka, Vita and Saras. On the face of it, a promotion to buy more milk sounds simple and uncomplicated enough. In reality, it was perhaps the most important and 'mission critical' piece of communication that we would create as an agency for both the clients. Far more valuable than any commercials for brand support. Why? Because without desired quantities of milk, the plants would come to a screeching standstill. In creating the posters, pamphlets and freebies, we had to ensure we would not annoy the milk co-operatives which were government-supported, and were both vendors and competitors to Nestle and HMM... kind of frenemies (though that nomenclature did not exist in those days) we needed to work with, and sometimes against, to win over dairy farmers. The FAQs for farmers needed very astute handling and unambiguous writing. Summer months were milk-short. That incentives given during these lean months should not become the norm (or a precedent for subsequent months) was the biggest fear of the procurement team. Hence, every word in the communication being put out was examined, weighed, evaluated and debated for weeks by the supply-chain managers, with the brand team not having much to say or contribute. Most of the creatives were rendered in chaste Punjabi. And needed to have a good mix of logic and humour. An animated dancing cow for Nestle one year was a big hit; a sarpanch another year, for Horlicks, played the buzurg (elderly wise) in a campaign that we then took to outdoor vans which were an emerging rural medium in those days for rural communication. These low-cost initiatives were closely watched by the top brass of both companies, and failure to deliver was a non-option. The new farm Bills, all the politics around them notwithstanding, could open up an entirely new domain of work for the and media ecosystem. I have no views on whether the Bills have a pro-business agenda, or an anti-farmer bias. That is not my domain of expertise. I am just looking at a potential situation where, if and when, the Bills become law and the markets get thrown open, what are the opportunities that the business could look to connect with. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services; Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill were all slated for parliamentary approval earlier this month. The first two Bills have been passed by both Houses, though there is widespread opposition as of now. Hopefully, the dust will settle down, sooner rather than later. The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill allows barrier-free intra- and inter-state trade of farm produce. So far, farm produce has been sold at notified wholesale markets, or mandis, run by Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs). Each APMC, of which there are about 7,000-8,000 nationally, have licensed middlemen who buy from farmers at prices set by auction before selling to institutional buyers like retailers and big traders. Under the proposed new system, farmers can (eliminate middlemen and) sell directly to institutional buyers at prices agreed between them. This throws up a host of possibilities for corporates planning to get into the business in the days to come. In the many years that I worked as Airtels exclusive monetisation partner for apertures, one of our most potent rural offerings was the Green SIM card that Airtel had populated in rural/farming areas in partnership with Iffco. There were over half a million of them at one point. It was, and still is, a large readily addressable base of actual farmers that would be of interest to corporates wanting to join the new ecosystem. A whole new agricultural digital ecosystem is waiting to be created. Also, many years ago when I was at Zee, we discussed an agriculture/rural television channel with Rabobank of Netherlands. But 20 years ago, the opportunity was just not viable. Today, just Punjab and Haryanas mandis transact about Rs. 81,000 crore worth of rabi and kharif sales (wheat and rice crops, respectively). Markets in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and other states are equally attractive. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services is supposed to allow contract farming, or allow farmers to enter into agreements with agri-firms, exporters or large buyers to produce a crop for a pre-agreed price. This will necessitate corporate brand building by companies among farmer folks. And these companies are not the ones selling tractors or seeds or fertilisers. They will be entities like ITC, Pepsi, HUL, Britannia which will want to create farm-to-fork value-chains portraying themselves as trusted, and dependable partners to work with. Ad agencies have their tasks cut out. There is a lot of good work ahead in agri-tech that will get linked to market research and data analytics; there is going to be a lot of new digital stuff soon on price discovery, logistics, insurance, farm loans, best practices dissemination, content creation, media apertures, loyalty management, localised public relations, interface with panchayats, zila parishads, mandi boards, bigger and better rural melas of the B2B kind, not the usual haats. There are 6,100 ITC e-Choupals in operation in 35,000 villages in 10 states (Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) today, touching around 4 million farmers. I expect this number to grow exponentially in the months to come. And for other companies to set up similar digital bridges to the agri-world. So, there is going to be tonnes of work for the advertising ecosystem to partner with clients. The one big issue, going forward, is going to be trained manpower, and talent, capable of understanding the needs of this new B2B segment and empathising with the end customer. There are very few trained resources who understand this domain. The Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) was a pioneer in this space. No other B-school has even looked in this direction. Leaders of the advertising business have not been very nimble in spotting and grabbing opportunities in the past. They somehow have waited for the ball to reach them, before starting to respond or react. The farm Bills have opened up a vast canvas of 360-degree intervention points that have good revenue potential for ad agencies. Ad head honchos just need to be ready with offerings before management consultants grab the space. I really, and earnestly, hope they do not miss this bus going to Moga, Khanna, Hissar and beyond. Dr Sandeep Goyal has worked 36 years in advertising & media A number of leading Australian private health insurance companies are set to increase their premiums from October 1. Customers on the books of HIF will be slugged more than anyone, with the funds to charge an extra 5.58 per cent. Mayor funds such as HCF, GMHBA and Frank will also dent the wallets of their customers from next Thursday. HCF private health customers will be slugged with a 3.39 per cent premium increase from October 1 (stock image) Medibank customers will also feel the pinch, with a hike of 3.27 per cent from October 1 (stock image) Nationwide, only five private health insurance firms have opted not to proceed with any price hikes, according to data from leading health insurance fund comparison site iSelect. 'People are still struggling during this economic and health crisis,' Dean Price, senior campaigns and policy adviser for Choice, told 9News.com.au. 'But the greed of most health insurers means that most people's premiums are going up on October 1 without any consideration of the economic pain that people are already feeling in this recession.' The development comes as the nation re-enters a recession in September for the first time in just under three decades. Bupa and NIB have agreed to waive cost increases for those currently receiving support or wage subsidy payments as part of the federal government's JobSeeker and JobKeeper initiatives. Medibank and AHM have confirmed those on JobKeeper or JobSeeker payments will be able to apply for a 50 per cent decrease in premiums for another six months come October 1. Customers on the books of HBF won't see an increase in their premiums until March in 2021 (stock image) AIA customers can also breathe a sigh of relief, with no increases from next month (stock image) President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the briefing room of the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images) Trump Praises Barrett After House Republicans Push Her for SCOTUS Pick President Donald Trump praised Amy Coney Barrett on Sept. 24, just hours after House Republicans encouraged him to choose her for his next Supreme Court nomination. Shes an incredible person, brilliant and everything else, Trump said on Fox News Radio. Barrett, 48, serves as a circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, a position she was confirmed to by the Senate 5543 in 2017. Trump will announce his nomination for the Supreme Court vacancy on Sept. 26. He has narrowed down his options to five, all women. The vacant seat was held by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg until her death last week. Other than Barrett, Trump has confirmed only one other candidate: Barbara Lagoa, a federal judge in Florida. She is on my list. I dont have a meeting planned, but she is on my list, Trump told reporters at the White House on Sept. 23. The president is scheduled to hold a rally in Jacksonville on Sept. 24. Trump said on the radio that he doesnt know yet if hell be meeting with Lagoa. But theres been tremendous false reporting. Just not intentionally or anything, but they have me meeting with people that I really wasnt meeting with, the president said. Unconfirmed reports say Trump met with Barrett at least once in Washington. Then-Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Lagoa (L), and U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett in file photographs. (Florida Supreme Court and Notre Dame University/Handout via Reuters) Trump told reporters earlier this week that Barrett is very respected while Lagoa is highly thought of and has got a lot of support. On Sept. 24, he portrayed himself as impressed with all five women on his shortlist, but particularly drawn to one. I think in my mind I have one that II like them all. I mean, to be honest, I could put any of the five, theyre all genius, he said. Trumps praise of Barrett came after five House Republicans wrote a letter to the president, urging him to pick her. We are confident that Judge Barrett, if nominated and confirmed to the Supreme Court, will respect and defend the original text of the U.S. Constitution, as intended by Americas founding fathers, Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Peter King (R-N.Y.), Steve King (R-Iowa), and Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) wrote. Her presence and critical vote on our nations highest court will help restore the balance of the separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who is pushing for future Supreme Court nominees who believe the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided, told a reporter in Washington this week that Barrett meets that standard. Asked about Lagoa, he added: I dont know the answer to that. She doesnt have as much of a record in some ways as others on Roe v. Wade. A tabloid's cover story claims to have the scoop about Duchess Kate Middleton warning Prince Harry of Meghan Markle's lies. The tabloid also claims to have read the diary of the duchess who allegedly expressed her ill feelings toward Markle through writing. Secret diary? The article is different from the cover story of the tabloid. According to New Idea, Kate Middleton is still devastated over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaving for America. The article claims that Middleton is now set to share her most private thoughts with her brother-in-law in the hope it will make him see sense. Those private thoughts come in the form of Middleton's private journal, which she has kept since she joined the royal family. Middleton's journal is her "form of therapy" and allegedly helps her to walk away from conflict. The journal prevents her from arguing with Markle or venting publicly. Also Read: Queen Elizabeth II Could Change Megxit Deal in 6 Months? In this journal, the tabloid claims that "nothing is off-limits" and that the duchess has written about her broken relationship with Markle and how she feels about being portrayed as the villain. The article concludes by stating that it would be a nightmare if the journal were to be lost or fall into the wrong hands. The truth According to the site Gossip Cop, the photo of the journal that was attached to the article of New Idea is bogus. It is also not clear if it really is filled with "state secrets." Next to the words "diary proof" is a picture of Middleton looking at a book. The picture is from when Middleton and Prince William signed a book of condolences for victims of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting. The said "diary" is a tribute to mass shooting victims, so it is not true that it is her personal journal, and the title is misleading and done in poor taste. New Idea is known for its false stories and headlines that are exaggerated for clickbait. A photo of Middleton talking to Prince Harry with the caption "Meghan is lying to you!" proves that the tabloid wants its readers to believe that there is something dramatic going on when there isn't. Also, even though the title states that Middleton is keeping a diary, the article itself did not even talk about it. There were no "secrets" revealed about what she allegedly wrote on her diary pertaining to Markle and Prince Harry. It is also impossible that a tabloid knows what is inside the journal of the duchess. New Idea has no insight into Middleton's personal life. It promised an "exclusive interview" with the Duchess of Cambridge, but it failed to deliver. The tabloid claims that Middleton and Markle are not in good terms because Middleton legally controlled who baby Archie could marry. The same tabloid also claims that she is pregnant and may announce it soon, but it never happened. The story is a bait and switch without any concrete proof to back its claim that the duchess has a private diary filled with secrets. There was also no reliable source cited. Related Article: Prince Harry Joins US Helicopter Club to Take Meghan Markle and Son Archie to Rides @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Members of the Kuomintang (KTM), Taiwan's main opposition party, demonstrate on the sidelines of a news conference calling to oppose U.S. meat imports, in Taipei By Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's main opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) began a push on Sunday for a referendum to block the easing of restrictions on U.S. pork imports, which if passed could threaten a long-mooted free trade deal with Taipei's key ally Washington. President Tsai Ing-wen announced last month that the government would from Jan. 1 allow in U.S. pork containing ractopamine, an additive that enhances leanness, and U.S. beef more than 30 months old. Taiwan has long sought a free trade agreement with the United States, its most important supporter on the international stage, but Washington has complained about barriers to access for U.S. pork and beef. KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang, elected in March to help turn around party fortunes following a trouncing in January's presidential and parliament elections, said the party would begin collecting signatures for a referendum to be held next August. "Starting next weekend on Sept. 12, we will spring up everywhere, getting signatures from counties and cities, showing the will of the people through concrete action," he told the party's annual conference in Taipei. The KMT has pitched their opposition to the pork imports as a matter of food safety, Taiwan having been rocked by several safety scandals in recent years, pointing out that ractopamine is banned in major markets like the European Union. Tsai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party has previously also strongly objected to ractopamine. The government has defended the easing of pork imports, saying they are bringing Taiwan into line with international norms and that the decision will boost Taiwan-U.S. ties. Washington welcomed the move. Taiwan and the United States are expected this month to start high-level economic talks in what could be a precursor to a broad free trade deal. The KMT will need to collect around 200,000 signatures to get the referendum approved and put to a vote. Story continues Chiang has been trying to turn around the fortunes of the party, which traditionally favours close ties with China. Beijing claims Taiwan as sovereign Chinese territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) A man was fatally shot Wednesday night in Houston's Northside area, police said. A resident who lives near 4900 Interstate 45 told authorities he heard seven gunshots shortly after 10 p.m. and saw a man lying in a parking lot, said Lt. R. Willkens of the Houston Police Department. Houston police and fire departments responded to the scene. The victim, who has not yet been identified, was transported to the hospital where he died from multiple gunshot wounds, Willkens said. Investigators found multiple pistol casings in the street, between Tidwell and East Crosstimbers. Police had no suspect information and did not know what led up to the shooting. A local council has been left embarrassed after images of a newly-installed child safety gate showed how completely useless it is. The gate, which cost $1,232, was installed at Windsor Siding Park near Prahran and St Kilda East in Melbourne as part of a $300,000 upgrade by Stonnington Council. An image of the gate shows it placed next to evenly spaced wooden stakes which revealed the awkward blunder. The gaps in the makeshift fence mean children can easily escape the playground even if the safety gate is locked. The gate which cost $1,232 was installed at Windsor Siding Park in Melbourne as part of a $300,000 upgrade by Stonnington Council Stonnington Council spokesman Jim Carden said the gate looked 'odd' and the issue will be rectified. 'Obviously the gaps in the adjoining ''fence'' would appear to make the gate a bit redundant, so we have been looking at how to tidy it up without losing what is a nice design,' he said. 'So we are just adding some plants to fill in the gaps.' Ratepayers Stonnington president Dean Hurlston said that council workers should have spotted the gate's uselessness immediately. 'Surely council staff or contractors can see the glaring error of judgment,' he told Herald Sun. 'It's another example of council being out of touch with responsible spending and execution of projects. 'It's a good concept which has totally failed upon delivery.' In a flurry of messages in a WhatsApp group on a Friday night in March, staff from the Department of Jobs were on a harried hunt for security firms. Any ideas on good security companies, one of the messages said. Gotta be careful with a lot of security companies, another warned. The public servants had been given the unenviable task of sourcing hundreds of security guards within 24 hours to fill Victorias hotels, just in time for the first international arrivals who would be put in mandatory quarantine. The WhatsApp group, called Working with Vic A-Team and surely named after the Working For Victoria scheme set up to help find jobs for people in the pandemic, began throwing up ideas of the security firms theyd worked with before. Mark Latif Adijum, the Nigerian fraudster who is currently serving eight years prison term for defrauding a German woman of 248,000 euros under the pretext of supplying her gold has appealed the judgement at the Nsawam High Court. The convict was sentenced by an Accra circuit court in 2015 presided over Mrs Afi Agbanu Kumador. He was charged together with Benjamin Taofeek Oluwashola for conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretence, however, Oluwashola was convicted to a fine of GH40,000. In his appeal filed Mr Paul Asibi Abariga, the applicant is asking the court to reduce his sentence to a fine. At the trial which suffered several adjournments at the circuit court, Adijum denied the offence claiming that he was a farmer and had never been to school. The facts are that, Latif met Mrs Waltraud Wissent, a German technical engineer and introduced himself as Chris Walters of Nottingham who conducts business in Ghana. The prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Augustine Yirenkyi told the court that the convict told the German he had quantities of gold and asked her to send monies which she did. He said Mrs Wissent had transferred monies through MoneyGram and different bank accounts at Ecobank and Guaranty Trust Bank. The policeman told the court that Latif invited Mrs Wissent to Ghana on two occasions and that during her third visit, the German reported the Nigerians to the police and they were arrested and charged. Source: The Ghanaian Times Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video An official meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Slovak President Zuzana Caputova has begun on Thursday morning. The solemn ceremony started at about 8.30 (local time) near the Presidential Palace (Grassalkovich Palace) in Bratislava, own Ukrinform correspondent reports. Upon arrival, President Zelensky presented Zuzana Caputova with a bouquet of flowers. The military orchestra performed the national anthems of Ukraine and Slovakia. The presidents also greeted the official delegations of the two countries. After that, Zelensky and Caputova will hold face-to-face talks. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 18:43:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Giant pandas are seen at the Qinling research center of giant panda breeding in Zhouzhi County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 23, 2020. The center undertakes the tasks including field rescue, disease control, species breeding and nutrition research in feeding, that are specific to giant pandas living in Qinling Mountains. A total of 31 giant pandas live in the center at present and are taken care of by over 20 full-time feeders. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) Do you remember how Joe Biden gracefully demonstrated a true presidential demeanor by blasting an Iowan voter who asked him about Hunter Biden's role on the board of the corrupt Ukrainian company? According to Joe, a man was a "damn liar," "fat," and "too old to vote for me." Guess what. The man was right, and the question was legitimate, even though Joe Biden doesn't condescend to answer any of those. People, however, still ask, and it looks as though the questions are mounting with a neck-breaking speed that even a healthy and clear-witted politician would have a hard time handling. On Sept. 23, Senators Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released a report titled "Hunter Biden, Burisma and Corruption: the Impact on U.S. Foreign Policy and Related Concerns" that revealed millions of dollars in questionable financial transactions between Hunter Biden and his associates and foreign individuals, including the wife of the former mayor of Moscow and individuals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The investigation was launched in August 2019 as the result of the so-called "Henniges transaction," when Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) raised concerns over the process by which the Obama administration's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) approved the acquisition of a U.S. automotive technology company, Henniges, with reported military applications. Henniges was reportedly jointly acquired by Chinese government entities and an investment firm linked to family members of thenvice president Joe Biden and other Obama administration officials. Mr. Grassley wrote: "[O]ne of the companies involved in the Henniges transaction was a billion dollar private investment fund called Bohai Harvest RST (BHR). BHR was formed in November of 2013 by a merger between the Chinese-government linked firm, Bohai Capital, and a company named Rosemont Seneca Partners. Rosemont Seneca was reportedly formed in 2009 by Hunter Biden, the son of thenVice President Joe Biden, Chris Heinz, the stepson of former Secretary of State John Kerry, and others." As the investigation dug dipper, new and unexpected sums of cash, foreign entities, and transactions appeared in the Biden case. The Biden family and their associates got involved in shady relations with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh, and Chinese nationals, which raises criminal concerns and extradition threats, as put in the report. Here are some key findings: First and foremost: The Obama administration was aware of, but did nothing about, the conflict of interest that was created when Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, was appointed to the board of Burisma, a corrupt Ukrainian fossil fuel company. 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 Biden's office about the perception of a conflict of interest with respect to Hunter Biden's role on Burisma's board. His concerns went unanswered. Later that year, senior State Department official Amos Hochstein raised concerns with Vice President Biden himself, as well as with Hunter Biden, that Hunter's position on Burisma's board enabled Russian disinformation efforts and risked undermining U.S. policy in Ukraine. In addition to that, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, admitted that she had been briefed about the fact that Hunter Biden was on Burisma's board, but ignored it in 2016. Hunter Biden and his business partner Devon Archer joined Burisma after the British officials seized $23 million from the London bank accounts of Burisma's owner it was a known fact that Burisma is not a suitable company for the vice president's son to join especially when the father is called a "public face of the administration's handling of Ukraine," where anti-corruption efforts were the number-one priority. Nonetheless, over the course of the several years, Hunter Biden and Devon Archer were paid millions of dollars from a corrupt Ukrainian oligarch for their participation on the board. Furthermore, in addition to the over $4 million paid by Burisma for Hunter Biden's and Archer's board memberships, Hunter Biden, his family, and Archer received millions of dollars from foreign nationals with questionable backgrounds. The report names Archer as receiving $142,300 from Kenges Rakishev of Kazakhstan, purportedly for a car, on the same day that Vice President Joe Biden appeared and addressed Ukrainian legislators in Kyiv regarding Russia's actions in Crimea. Hunter Biden also received a $3.5-million wire transfer from Elena Baturina, the wife of the former mayor of Moscow. Hunter additionally opened a bank account with China's 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 People's Liberation Army. Those associations resulted in millions of dollars in cash flow. And last but not the least, it was found that 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." This is the same Hunter Biden who had well-known compulsive relationships with prostitutes and strippers back home. Even though Jill Biden claims that she "knows her son's character," so he couldn't do "anything wrong," paying women for sex and being associated with prostitution rings is something that resonates with Hunter's character just perfectly. Sentiments aside, it is simply hard to argue with stone-cold evidence of money wires. You certainly may try to imagine one of Trump's children being in Hunter's place. The hell of professional protestors would have stormed the White House by now demanding "justice," because "no one is above the law." The media reaction to the 87 pages of the detailed report of the Biden's sketchy schemes? Don't roll your eyes too hard, you don't want to injure yourself. Trump and Russia are to blame. The New York Times and The Washington Post scorned the report as an "inconclusive" partisan smear echoing of Russian propaganda. "Republican Inquiry Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing by Biden," was the Times' headline. "GOP's Hunter Biden report doesn't back up Trump's actual conspiracy theory or anything close to it," said the Washington Post. "GOP senators' anti-Biden report repackages old claims" was another typical headline dismissing the report, this from Politico. A story of a then-Vice President's son receiving millions of dollars from foreign entities associated closely with their governments and whose interests did not necessarily coincide with America's best interests gets frowned upon with such unseen hypocrisy and blind bias, that one may wonder that if democracy truly dies in darkness, then maybe it is an ultimate leftist plan for this country, after all. Mainstream media may deliberately shut their eyes on the facts of the unfolding case of the Biden family getting rich in exchange for American interests. They may even distort the gross and, as it seems, criminal wrongdoings, as in some wild junkie's dream, and present it as a legit business venture. They may put as much lipstick on a pig as they wish. But an demented, enormously corrupt man who reeks of treason cannot be a president of the United States. Please follow Veronika Kyrylenko, Ph.D on Twitter or LinkedIn. Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of images by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0, Acaben, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0, PxFuel public domain, ABC News YouTube screen shot, and Voice of America // public domain Franklin said Gardner and his 69-year-old father, David Gardner, sat inside his bars The Hive and The Gatsby near 12th and Harney Streets. The lights were out. On surveillance video, three handguns and a shotgun were visible. A day before, Franklin noted, President Donald Trump had tweeted a statement that said, in part, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. The tweet came after protesters had burned a Minneapolis police station during protests over the May 25 death of George Floyd in police custody. Franklin said the evidence is significant in terms of Jake Gardners affinity for the president. As he was sitting in the bar, Franklin said, Gardner was texting back and forth with people who were providing reports on what was happening downtown and in the Old Market. Franklin said Gardner made reference in texts and Facebook messages to looters and how they could be dealt with. One of the conversations dealt with whether the field of fire from inside The Hive was clear, Franklin said. Republicans asserted Thursday that if Joe Biden is elected president in November there will be an 'orderly transition' after Donald Trump refused to commit to 'peacefully' leaving office if he loses. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell assured Thursday: 'The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th.' 'There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792,' he continued in his tweet. GOP lawmakers were forced to speak out in defense of U.S. election integrity after the president would not directly answer a question on if he intends to peacefully transition power in January should he be elected out of office after his first term. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said Thursday that 'we will peacefully swear in the President' as per the usual timeline for swearing in a new president after an election year. 'As we have done for over two centuries we will have a legitimate & fair election,' the Republican senator tweeted the morning after Trump made the questionable comments. 'It may take longer than usual to know the outcome,but it will be a valid one,' he continued, in a likely reference to mail-in ballots holding up the outcome. 'And at noon on Jan 20,2021 we will peacefully swear in the President.' Senate Republicans had to defend U.S. election after Donald Trump refused to commit Wednesday to peacefully transfer power if he loses in November Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed 'there will be an orderly transition' Republican Senator's Marco Rubio of Florida (left) and Mitt Romney of Utah (right) also weighed in on the questionable comments '[W]e will have a legitimate & fair election,' Rubio tweeted. 'It may take longer than usual to know the outcome,but it will be a valid one,' he said in reference to mail-in ballots potentially holding up the results 'Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power,' Romney said Wednesday evening. 'Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable' Mitt Romney also lashed out on Twitter Wednesday evening. 'Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus,' the Utah Republican said in reference to the European country experiencing mass protests as its president sought a sixth term and was secretly sworn in despite the opposition candidate claiming they received 60-70 per cent of the votes. 'Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable,' Romney continued in his tweet. He told reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday that 'there's no question' Republicans would step up and make sure the transition followed through if Trump resisted. 'All the people who have sworn to support the Constitution would assure there would be a peaceful transition of power including the president,' he said. Romney added that he doesn't believe there is 'any scenario' where Trump would not peacefully step aside and hand power over if elected out. 'I'm absolutely confident there will be a peaceful transition if there's a new president or if not, we'll have a continuation,' he said. President Trump was asked during a press briefing Wednesday evening if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power after the November election and declined to do so. 'Well, we'll 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. Romney's comments about the refusal came just days after he said he would agree to vote to confirm whomever Trump nomination to take the Supreme Court seat left vacant by Ruth Bader Ginsburg instead of waiting until after the election. Trump would not say if he would leave office peacefully if he loses. '[W]e'll have to see what happens,' he said. 'Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful there won't be a transfer frankly, there'll be a continuation,' he continued Many worried Romney's criticism of the president and the fact that he was the only Republican to indict the president on one article of impeachment would lead him to defect from the rank and file of the Party. After refusing to go along with a pledge to vacate the Oval Office if he loses the election, the president attacked Democrats Wednesday 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. Wyoming's at-large Republican Representative Liz Cheney vowed to 'uphold' her oath to the Constitution as she defended U.S. election integrity. 'The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic,' she tweeted Thursday. 'America's leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath.' '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, we'll 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. I've 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 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 'Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful there won't be a transfer frankly, there'll be a continuation,' Trump said. 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. Trump's refusal for a straight answer came the same day The Atlantic published an article titled 'The Election that Could Break America,' which 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. Biden was at a loss for words when asked how he felt about the president's comments. 'What country are we in?' the former vice president queried to reporters. 'I'm being facetious,' he clarified. 'I said, what country are we in? Look, he says the most irrational things. I don't know what to say.' 'Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful there won't be a transfer frankly, there'll be a continuation.' - President Donald Trump 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. Viral: This Animated video released in 2020 looks exactly the sequence of PM security breach Farm bills: Congress to begin two-month nationwide mass movement today India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 24: The Congress will from today launch its nearly two-month-long mass movement against the government for passing the anti-farmer and anti-poor bills in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The party will collect two crore signatures from the farmers against the proposed laws. 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, were passed by Parliament. They now await a Presidential assent. Farm Bills: Farmers' organisations call for Karnataka bandh on September 28 The six-member special committee formed by Congress President, Sonia Gandhi chaired a meeting in her absence. A K Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ambika Soni, K C Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik and Randeep Singh Surjewala are members of this committee. Antony said after the meeting that the nationwide agitation will continue until the government repels the black laws. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), All India Farmers Union (AIFU), All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), All India Kisan Mahasangh (AIKM) have come on a common platform and announced a nationwide shutdown n September 25. Farmers' organisations from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have come in support of the Bandh. The Ola Cab Drivers' Association and lorry drivers' association too have decided to support the farmers and are unlikely to operate on Friday. National Trades Union Congress, All India Trade Union Congress, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India United Trade Union Centre and Trade Union Coordination Centre have also decided to extend support to the Bharat Bandh on September 25. The Shiromani Akali Dal announced that it would undertake a Chakka Jam for three hours across Punjab. Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News Rakesh Tikait, the president of BKU said that over 100 farmer unions will take part in the protests on September 25. Farmers in Uttar Pradesh will jam their respective villages, towns and highways. In Haryana, it is planned to be completely closed. We are planning to involve local shopkeepers and will come out with a final strategy on September 24, he also said. Talks will focus on managing the transitional period and leaders in key posts Moroccos coastal town of Bouznika, south of the capital Rabat, will host a second round of talks between parties to the Libyan conflict on Sunday. The first round was held this month. According to Moroccan diplomatic sources who spoke to Sky News Arabia, the talks are meant to pinpoint the mechanism of hiring leaders in key posts in the war-torn country. Head of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives Aguila Saleh and President of the High Council of State (HCS) Khaled Al-Mashri will likely join the meetings, Sky New Arabia reported. Talks will tackle preparations for Octobers meetings in Geneva, which will include discussions on details of the post-conflict transitional period, including the restructuring of state institutions. Libya has been divided between two authorities in Tripoli and Tobruk for six years. While the Government of National Accord (GNA) is based in the capital Tripoli, Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) controls the east and is allied to the Tobruk-based House of Representatives. The LNA is backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), France and Russia, while the GNA is backed by Turkey, Qatar and thousands of Syrian mercenaries. On 22 August, both parties to the conflict declared a ceasefire that ended fears about possible GNA aggression against the port city of Sirte, 370 kilometres east of the capital Tripoli, and Jufra, which has a major military airbase. GNA head Fayez Al-Sarraj announced on Facebook that he "issued instructions to all military forces to immediately cease fire and combat operations in all Libyan territories." Saleh announced a ceasefire which was welcomed by world leaders. Libyan powers agreed to hold elections in March 2021. In Bouznika, both parties agreed on the "criteria, transparent mechanisms and objectives" for key power positions. After Morocco's talks, the UN's interim envoy to Libya Stephanie Williams called on the "international community to shoulder its responsibilities to support this process and to unequivocally respect the Libyan people's sovereign right to determine their future." Search Keywords: Short link: IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- WNC Chief Executive Officer Will Cooper Jr., acting as a trustee of the National Association of Home Builders, announced today the organization's official endorsement of the 2020 re-election campaigns of three incumbent members of California's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives. NAHB endorsed U.S. Representatives Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Judy Chu (CA-27) and Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), each of whom serve as members of the prestigious House Committee on Ways and Means and have demonstrated their support for efforts to expand affordable housing in the United States as well as the low-income housing tax credit program. "There is an appallingly insufficient supply of affordable housing in the United States that needs to be addressed at every level of government and society," said Cooper. "Representatives Sanchez, Chu and Gomez have each demonstrated, in their words and actions, the kind of consistent support for affordable housing that is required if we, as a nation, are going to successfully confront the chronic shortage of safe housing that too many Americans lack. I am pleased, on behalf of NAHB, to extend our endorsement and support to each of these champions of affordable housing." Founded more than 75 years ago, NAHB has more than 140,000 members nationwide. According to its website, NAHB strives to protect the American dream of housing opportunities for all, while working to achieve professional success for its members who build communities, create jobs and strengthen our economy. About WNC WNC, founded in 1971 and headquartered in Irvine, Calif., is a national investor in affordable housing and community development initiatives. The firm has acquired approximately $10.9 billion of assets totaling in excess of 1,450 properties in 47 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. WNC's investor base exceeds 19,500 institutional and retail clients, including Fortune 500 companies, multinational banks, and insurance companies. Additional information is available at www.wncinc.com. Contact Julie Leber Spotlight Marketing Communications 949.427.1391 [email protected] SOURCE WNC Related Links https://www.wncinc.com Palau hailed India at the 75th session of the United National General Assembly for its invaluable support to fight the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr told a largely virtual gathering of world leaders that the Indian government helped the island country improve its healthcare system through India-UN Development Partnership Fund. Government of India, through India-UN Fund, in partnership with UNOSSC&UNOPS, has provided invaluable support to improve our healthcare system, & rapid response to pandemic preparations H.E. Tommy Remengesau Jr, President of Palau #UNGA @IndiaUNNewYork @UNOSSC @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/zHkgvm3d19 India-UN Development Partnership Fund (@IndiaUNFund) September 23, 2020 T.S. Tirumurti, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, thanked Palau President for expressing the sentiments towards India at the international platform. The Permanent Mission of India to the UN tweeted from its official account, thanking Remengesau Jr for the kind words, adding that India is proud to work with the island nation towards development. Thank you for your kind words Excellency @TommyRemengesau. We are proud to partner with Palau towards common development. https://t.co/yBnnwbD3Vh India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) September 24, 2020 Read: Palau Asks US Military To Build Bases In Its Territory, Urges Help In Protecting Its Seas Read: United Nations Chief Guterres Calls On World Leaders To Strive To Preserve Peace India's support for foreign nations India has helped several countries with medical supplies and a rapid response team to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic. In April, India sent a team comprising of doctors and healthcare professionals to Kuwait for providing medical assistance in testing and treatment. The team was deputed on the request of the Kuwaiti government following a phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kuwaiti counterpart Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah. Kuwait Ambassador to India, Jassem Al-Najem, had appreciated the gesture of the Indian government to continue the supply of medicine, including Paracetamol tablets and foods. Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth had also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Indias generous contribution towards medical supplies which reached the island nation on April 15. After months of fight against COVID-19, the pandemic hasnt run out of steam as the world is reporting over 3 lakh coronavirus cases almost every day. India reported a single-day surge of 86,508 new COVID-19 cases with 1,129 related deaths on September 23. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare said that the total number of coronavirus cases now stands at 57,32,519 including 9,66,382 active cases. Read: United Nations Recognises COVID-19 As One Of The Greatest Challenges In Its History Read: BRICS Meet: India Seeks Support For United Nations Security Council Reform (Image: Twitter / PalauMission) Patients at COVID-19 testing centres are asked if they work in a school before getting their nasal cavities swabbed but not because teacher results are being fast-tracked. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Patients at COVID-19 testing centres are asked if they work in a school before getting their nasal cavities swabbed but not because teacher results are being fast-tracked. Since the 2020-21 school year began, there has been confusion amongst Manitoba school staff about the variance in wait times for both positive and negative results. Some have even reported being told at sites their tests would be sped up because of their profession. The province has confirmed this is not the case: site staff simply ask every Manitoban who shows up to a testing site if they are a transport worker, educator, child care provider or health-care professional. If they answer "yes" to one of the first three careers, it is noted on the lab order that accompanies the test. "This information and other similar testing data is collected for the purposes of tracking the presence of COVID-19 in Manitoba," a provincial spokesperson said Wednesday in a statement to the Free Press. Only health-care worker samples are marked to identify their tests in order to minimize turnaround time at the lab "wherever possible." A resource teacher in the Winnipeg School Division, who did not receive approval from her employer to speak to a reporter, said she was "disappointed" to learn teacher results are not fast-tracked. Two weeks into the school year, she said her school is already facing challenges finding substitutes for educational assistants who are sick or awaiting testing who work with children with special needs. (She said she has already taken two days off work to await results. It took three days to receive them, and four days to get her partners.) "If it continues this way the results are taking three or more days to come back thats potentially three days where a student with special needs does not have support," she said. The Manitoba Teachers Society made clear its support this summer for rapid testing for teachers. The union has since focused its advocacy on pressuring the province to shrink class sizes and school divisions to separate students by two metres, not the one-metre minimum. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. A provincial spokesperson said patients are generally being told they should have their results three days after getting tested either via online portal or phone if negative, or via a call from public health to discuss next steps if they test positive. It takes between 24-48 hours to process a sample once it reaches the laboratory, the spokesperson said, adding times vary depending on transportation from a site and current testing volumes. Individuals awaiting tests are being advised to self-isolate until they receive results and have been symptom-free for 24 hours. Upwards of 170,000 COVID-19 tests have been completed in Manitoba since February. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Friday, Sept. 18 11:15 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to a Lee Township location in reference to a 34-year-old woman reporting her dog had been missing for a week and she received a tip that a 33-year-old woman in Bay County had the dog. The 34-year-old requested the deputy attempt to locate it. It was believed the dog ran away from home and someone may have picked it up. The deputy was assisted by the Michigan State Police in locating the 33 year-old who allegedly had the dog in Bay County. The dog was not at the Bay County residence and the woman denied knowing any information about the incident. 8:49 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to state land in Mills Township in reference to a possible littering complaint. There were several pieces of old car parts and several garbage bags at the entrance to the land. It appeared that someone had cleaned up old garbage that was in the woods. The information was turned over to Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 6:35 p.m. Deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash in Midland Township. 5:59 p.m. Deputies assisted Midland Police at the scene of a crash between a motorcycle and gravel hauler, causing injuries, on Jefferson Ave near Wexford Street. 4:53 p.m. Officers responded to a larceny in the 1600 block of West Union Street. 3:13 p.m. Deputies received a report of a male subject outside a Coleman service station begging for money and yelling at customers. A deputy checked the area, and the man was not located. The store employees had not seen the man the caller was another customer. 1:43 p.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash causing injuries on the area of Eastman Avenue and West Wackerly Street. 10:21 a.m. A Greendale Township trucking business reported the theft of three 12-volt batteries from their sand pit. This occurred overnight. The batteries are valued at $100 each. There are currently no suspects. 9:29 a.m. Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Ingersoll Township. 9:27 a.m. A deputy spoke with a 65-year-old Coleman female business owner over telephone, who reported her business was a victim of a fraud. She said an unknown caller said he was with Consumers Energy, and that her bill was behind $1,400. The woman said she paid the caller the $1,400 over the telephone, later realizing the call was a fraud. 9:05 a.m. A deputy was dispatched to the area of N. Stark Road near E. Shaffer Road for the report of a car-deer traffic crash. 7:36 a.m. Officer responded to a larceny in the 1200 block of Marriet Court. 3:28 a.m. Officers responded to a report of a driver operating while intoxicated, resisting arrest and having an open intoxicant. SAN FRANCISCOTikTok, the short-form viral video app, asked for a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration Wednesday, a legal manoeuvre 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 respective 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 Donald 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, Trump said he had blessed a proposed deal between TikTok, Oracle and Walmart, under which the two American companies would get a 20% stake in a new entity called TikTok Global. But Trump on Monday said he would not approve any deal where ByteDance continued to own a stake in the app. TikTok has said that ByteDance would hold an 80% stake in the new TikTok Global until the app goes public in about a year. Oracle has said that ByteDance would not own any of the app outright; instead, its investors would receive shares in TikTok and hold a direct stake in the app. It remains to be seen whether the Chinese government will take steps to block any deal. Last month, Beijing announced new export restrictions that appeared to forbid the sale of TikToks valuable algorithm without a license, making an outright acquisition of the app by an American company less viable. ByteDance has now applied for such a license, the company said in a statement posted on its Toutiao news app, even though it previously said the proposed deal with Oracle and Walmart would not involve any transfer of algorithms or technology. On Wednesday, China Daily, the official English language newspaper of the Chinese government, called the TikTok deal dirty and unfair and based on bullying and extortion. In its filing Wednesday, TikTok requested that an expedited hearing for a preliminary injunction occur before the Sunday deadline. The company said it had made extraordinary efforts to try to satisfy the governments ever-shifting demands and purported national security concerns. There is simply no genuine emergency here that would justify the governments precipitous actions, TikTok said in its filing. And there is no plausible reason to insist the prohibitions be enforced immediately. The Justice Department declined to comment. TikTok said that a ban of its service would do irreparable damage to the company if allowed to proceed. TikTok said that it was adding more than 400,000 new users a day before July 1, when rumours of a potential ban began to circulate, and that its growth would be stymied if people were cut off from the service. Read more about: In April, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review (FISCR) published an opinion that set the civil liberties community on edge. It addressed whether it had jurisdiction to resolve several First Amendment claims seeking access to opinions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC). FISCR acknowledged that civil liberties groups that brought suit had satisfied two of the three jurisdictional requirements. First, a lack of access to these opinions was unquestionably an injury that could be redressed by a court, making the case actionable and live. Second, the FISC withheld those opinions based on federal law. But FISCR found that the third needed categorythat the issue must be authorized by a jurisdictional statutewas not satisfied. Last week, FISC acted on this standard, rejecting requests for opinions regarding bulk data collection. In three cases brought by civil liberties organizations seeking access to unreleased opinions, FISC dismissed each motion for a lack of jurisdiction, notwithstanding the strength of the First Amendment claims of access. Orwellian is a word that gets a lot of use these days, but when a court needs special permission to decide questions about its own internal procedures, that adjective certainly comes to mind. Whats next, a requirement for a specific grant of permission to decide what to order for lunch? While some other court perhaps could rule on the issue, or not, the public should not have to scurry from court to court begging for basic information on what its government is up to. What can be done? Congress should step in to correct the situation and provide the express authority regarding FISC has held it lacks. Congress can provide the American people with the means to hold the courts accountable by slightly but explicitly expanding FISCsand FISCRsjurisdiction to allow it to hear First Amendment right-of-access claims. Of course, granting FISC jurisdiction to consider these questions would not resolve their merits. But FISC, like every federal court, would be free to determinein each caseif maintaining the secrecy of its opinions would be the necessary, least-restrictive way of furthering the governments national security interests. Unless Congress amends the jurisdictional statutes, FISC and FISCR will be free to continue to dismiss even the most meritorious claims. So Congress should fix this defectafter all, a right without remedy is no right at all. As the world faces unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, it is evident that there is an unmet need for effective diagnostic methods, therapeutic intervention, and vaccination. Neutralizing molecules such as antibodies or their derivatives have become crucial tools for the treatment of COVID-19. Such binding molecules also offer a unique way to monitor neutralizing immune response in people infected or vaccinated with SARS-CoV-2. Ever since the global outbreak of COVID-19, an increasing number of neutralizing antibodies that target the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in COVID-19 patients, which underlines the significance of RBD-specific antibodies that can block the RBD: ACE2 interaction site and thus help develop a protective immune response. A promising alternative to traditional antibodies or IgGs are single-domain antibodies (nanobodies, Nbs) that are derived from the heavy-chain antibodies in camelids. Thanks to their compact folding and small size, Nbs show good chemical stability, fast tissue penetration, and solubility. Nbs can be quickly produced at high yields in bacteria, and, in their monovalent form, they bind to their target with very high affinities. Researchers from the University of Tuebingen, Eberhard-Karls University, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, University Hospital Tuebingen, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Germany, recently described a set of 11 Nbs derived from an immunized alpaca which showed high-affinity binding to the glycosylated SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor domain (RBD) in a study published in the preprint server bioRxiv.* Schematic depiction of the generation of Nbs blocking the SARS-CoV-2 RBD:ACE2 interaction site Nanobodies (Nbs) are genetically engineered from heavy chain only antibodies of alpacas. The interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 homotrimeric Spike protein and ACE2 can be blocked by RBD-specific Nbs. Protein structures adapted from PDB 3OGO (Nb) and 6CS2 (ACE2). Nanobodies block interaction between virus proteins and human receptors With the help of a multiplex in vitro binding assay, the team showed that 8 of the Nbs were effective in blocking the interaction of the S1-domain, RBD, and homotrimeric spike protein with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is the docking site of the virus in human cells. Using detailed epitope mapping and competitive binding analysis, the researchers grouped all the Nbs blocking the RBD: ACE2 interaction in three distinct sets. They demonstrated the neutralizing effect of the Nbs with low nanomolar range IC50 values in a cell-based SARS-CoV-2 neutralization assay. When tested, the Nbs combinations from different sets had significantly lower IC50 values in both functional assays, which indicated an intense synergistic effect of Nbs targeting different epitopes in the RBD simultaneously. Interestingly, IC50 values obtained for inhibitory Nbs on RBD and homotrimeric Spike show a higher correlation compared to IC50 values obtained for the S1 domain The team applied the most potent Nbs combination (NeutrobodyPlex) in a competitive multiplex binding assay and were able to detect a neutralizing immune response in COVID-19-infected individuals plasma samples. NeutrobodyPlex can help monitor immune status of SARS-CoV-2 patients Based on the findings of the study, the team designed a novel diagnostic test called NeutrobodyPlex to monitor the emergence and presence of neutralizing antibodies in the serum of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2. With the help of combinations of Nbs with high affinity covering the RBD: ACE2 interface, the team succeeded in directly and precisely displacing IgGs in the serum samples from these RBD epitopes. To our knowledge, the NeutrobodyPlex employing Nbs blocking the RBD: ACE2 interaction site shows for the first time an antigen-resolved analysis of the presence of human IgGs in convalescent individuals suffering from SARS-CoV-2 infection. All the monovalent Nbs identified (except NM1225) showed high affinities in the low nanomolar range. Thus, there is no need to reformat these Nbs into bivalent forms by fusing them to an Fc domain or by combining binding sites. By employing better screening strategies, Nbs that can bind to predefined domains in larger antigens can be developed. According to the team, the NeutrobodyPlex Nbs that block the RBD: ACE2 interaction site is the first to show an antigen-resolved analysis of the human IgG presence in convalescent individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The research team believes that these Nbs can be very promising in both prophylactic and therapeutic approaches in the fight against COVID-19. The Nbs also offer a novel approach for screening neutralizing immune responses in individuals infected or vaccinated with the virus, thus aiding in monitoring the immune status of patients and in the development of effective vaccines. Compared with other neutralizing antibody detection tests, this novel assay enables automatable high throughput analysis. It can be performed with non-infectious and non-living viral material, which enhances safety while reducing costs. *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. DENVER Whether people who live in territories controlled by the U.S. automatically become citizens under a constitutional amendment that secured citizenship for freed slaves was a major focus of arguments Wednesday in a federal appeals court in Denver in a case seeking citizenship rights for residents of American Samoa. American Samoa, a cluster of islands some 2,600 miles (4,184 kilometers) southwest of Hawaii, is the only U.S. territory where residents have no birthright claim to citizenship. Instead, they are granted U.S. national status, meaning they cant vote for U.S. president, run for office outside American Samoa or apply for certain jobs. The only federal election they can cast a vote in is the race for American Samoas nonvoting U.S. House seat. In December, a federal judge in Utah ruled in favor of three residents of American Samoa who challenged their status, concluding they were citizens under the 14th Amendment adopted after the Civil War. U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups stopped his ruling from taking effect while the governments of the United States and American Samoa appealed his decision to the Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. About 55,000 people live in the territory but the ultimate decision will also affect an estimated 160,000 nationals who live in the states, largely concentrated in California, Hawaii, Washington, Utah and Alaska. The U.S. maintains that the 14th Amendments grant of citizenship to those born in the United States does not apply to its territories. It also claims citizenship is a decision that should be left to Congress, noting that it has granted those rights in other territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam. The government of American Samoa worries automatic citizenship would hurt its traditional culture, which includes prayer curfews and communal land ownership. However, lawyer Matthew McGill told a three-judge panel during online arguments that the current system makes the lead plaintiff in the case, John Fitisemanu, a modern day Dred Scott who cannot vote or serve on a jury, referencing the Supreme Court decision denying citizenship to descendants of slaves that the 14th Amendment nullified. He said the Reconstruction-era Congress wanted to take the question of who was a citizen out of politics forever through the amendment. Judge Carlos Lucero said it was important to him whether the people of American Samoa want to be citizens. He noted that the 1848 treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war between the United States and Mexico and which gave the United States control of Western land, including current day Colorado and Utah, gave people there two years to decide whether or not to become citizens of the United States or Mexico. That is a pretty harsh position to take assuming they dont want citizenship, Lucero told McGill. However, Judge Robert E. Bacharach questioned whether elected leaders views on who should be citizens should trump the Constitutions protections for citizenship, noting that that democratically elected leaders in the pre-war South also supported the Dred Scott court ruling. The judges will issue a written ruling at a later date. 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 A grand jury in Jefferson County, Ky., indicted former Louisville police detective Brett Hankison on Wednesday in connection with the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, charging him with three counts of wanton endangerment, in a decision that devastated advocates who sought more serious charges in Taylors killing. The two other officers involved in the case, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and detective Myles Cosgrove, were not charged, and none of the officers were charged for their role in her death. While there are six possible homicide charges under Kentucky law, these charges are not applicable to the facts before us because our investigation showed, and the grand jury agreed, that Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in their return of deadly fire after having been fired upon by Kenneth Walker, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Wednesday. The Republican attorney general said that according to Kentucky law, the use of force by Mattingly and Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves. This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Ms. Breonna Taylors death. The earlier announcement of the indictment outraged civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Taylors family. 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, Crump tweeted. This is outrageous and offensive! Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron addresses the media following the return of a grand jury investigation into the death of Breonna Taylor, in Frankfort, Ky., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Of the three Louisville Metro police officers being investigated, one was indicted. (Timothy D. Easley/AP) On Instagram, Breonna Taylors sister, Juniyah, said the system had failed Taylor. You was failed by a system you worked hard for and I am so sorry, her post said. I love you so so so so so much. Cameron said he spoke with Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, before the announcement and informed her of the decision not to charge the officers with homicide. Wanton endangerment in the first degree is a Class D felony, and applies to those who have shown extreme indifference to the value of human life. It carries up to five years in prison for each count. Story continues Taylor, 26, died after police tried to enter her residence on March 13 while she and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were sleeping. Louisville officials said officers executed a no-knock warrant at the home, but claim that they knocked anyway and announced themselves before breaking down the door, according to a statement from the city. Walker said he heard a pounding at the door but didnt hear police announce themselves, the city said. Walker fired and hit Mattingly in the thigh, according to Cameron. The officers all returned fire. Evidence shows that officers both knocked and announced their presence, Cameron said Wednesday, adding that after Walker fired his gun, police responded with 22 shots of their own. A ballistic analysis, Cameron said, determined that a shot by Cosgrove killed Taylor. A file photo, date not known, provided by the Louisville Metro police department shows officer Brett Hankison. The department has fired Hankison, one of the police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor. (Louisville Police Department via AP, File) Hankison fired his weapon 10 times, Cameron said, sending bullets into apartments adjacent to Taylors. At the time of the incident, three residents in those apartments were home. There is no conclusive evidence that any bullets fired from Hankisons weapon struck Miss Taylor, Cameron said. There was no video or body camera footage of the incident. Therefore, Cameron said, his inquiry relied on ballistics evidence, 911 calls, police radio traffic and interviews with the people involved. The warrant that brought the officers to Taylors apartment was part of an investigation into a drug trafficking suspect, who is Taylors former boyfriend, the Associated Press reported. The decision to charge Hankison with endangering others, while not pursuing a case against the officers who killed Taylor drew a rebuke from attorneys representing Taylors family. I cant make it make sense in my head, attorney Lonita Baker said on Facebook. Wanton endangerment to a neighboring apartment constitutes wanton endangerment to Breonna. She was clearly unarmed as indicated in Mattinglys statement yet multiple bullets were fired at her while she was already on the ground. Louisville Metro Police interim Chief Robert Schroeder terminated Hankison on June 19, according to the city, alleging he blindly fired 10 rounds into Taylors apartment. The other two officers were placed on administrative leave. Louisville police turned over the investigation into the shooting to Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Camerons office in May. Taylors death sparked an outcry across the nation, and she became yet another symbol for demonstrators protesting against police brutality and misconduct targeting Black Americans. Protesters, activists, athletes and celebrities worldwide have called for the officers involved to be charged criminally. "Our reaction to the truth today says what kind of society we want to be, Cameron said. Do we really want the truth, or do we want a truth that fits our narrative? Do we want the facts or are we content to blindly accept our own version of events. We as a community must make this decision. I understand that Miss Breonna Taylors death has become a part of a national story and conversation, but we must also remember the facts and the collection of evidence in this case are different than cases elsewhere in the country. Each is unique and cannot be compared." When asked about Camerons decision not to charge the officers with homicide, President Trump said Wednesday he didnt yet know much about the decision, but added that he loves the Black community, and I've done more for the Black community with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln." Cameron spoke at the Republican National Convention in August on behalf of Trumps reelection. A woman reacts to news in the Breonna Taylor shooting, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. A grand jury has indicted one officer on criminal charges six months after Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by police in Kentucky. The jury presented its decision against fired officer Brett Hankison Wednesday to a judge in Louisville, where the shooting took place. (Darron Cummings/AP) For days, Louisville had been gearing up for potential unrest following Wednesdays decision, with several downtown businesses boarding up storefronts. Democratic Mayor Greg Fischer set a three-day curfew starting on Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Our hope is that people will lawfully and peacefully express themselves, Schroeder said ahead of the decision. We will not tolerate destruction of property. Last week, Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, settled a wrongful death lawsuit against the city for $12 million. The settlement included an agreement that the city would implement a number of police reforms. Thumbnail credit: AP _____ Read more from Yahoo News: A crossing guard helps students as they return to in-class education, after months of closure due COVID-19 pandemic, at James H. Cox Elementary School in Fountain Valley. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Orange County school districts serving more than 200,000 students are opening their schoolyard gates this week and next, marking a major, widely watched test of the ability of California school systems to safely resume in-person classes amid the coronavirus crisis. By Thursday, Tustin, Irvine, Fountain Valley and Cypress joined Los Alamitos Unified, which led the wave of openings with its elementary schools under a county-approved waiver. They will be followed next week by Capistrano, Saddleback, Orange, Newport-Mesa and Ocean View districts a total of 10 of the county's 28 school districts. All the campuses are using hybrid schedules that allow a portion of students back at one time while others learn online to help maintain social distancing by keeping classes small. So far, the vast majority of families have opted to return to campus. This renewal of in-person classes after six months of pandemic forced campus closures is prompting both celebration and concern with teachers and parents hoping that carefully laid plans on how to operate schools safely will not be derailed by outbreaks of coronavirus infections. The openings come after Orange County known for its anti-mask rebellion and defiance of state orders was given state and county public health department clearance to reopen campuses because of the county's lower coronavirus test positivity rate. "Orange County may help lead the nation's children back to school but only if local educators and health officials proceed with untiring vigilance," UC Berkeley education professor Bruce Fuller said. "Orange County might also teach union leaders that reopening with care is possible, even beneficial, for kids and parents." California Teachers Assn. President Toby Boyd said the state lacks consistent procedures and oversight for ensuring that schools are safe. "I dont think that any child or any of my members should be a test case," Boyd said. Story continues Across the state, 33 counties with 478 school districts are eligible to reopen because of lower infection rates, said California Department of Education director of communications Daniel Thigpen. Of these, 56% are still online only and not all have reported data to the state. Most Orange County districts that are reopening sooner serve more affluent communities where COVID-19 rates are lower. Districts serving mainly low-income households, including in Santa Ana and Anaheim, have no timetable for reopening campuses, raising equity concerns. Lisa Hickman, second-grade teacher at Sycamore Magnet Academy, shows how she will be teaching with plastic dividers as she prepares to teach in-person classes starting Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Second-grade teacher Lisa Hickman of Tustin's Sycamore Magnet Academy expressed the anxieties of a complicated and new classroom order: masks, desk dividers, staggered schedules, hand sanitizer by the gallon and dots on the floor indicating how close students can get to her. But she was excited to meet the 7-year-olds whose voices and laughter she has known for weeks through the computer screen and audio of distance learning. "Everyone wanted us to reopen, and I felt like Orange County was rushing it ... I'm terrified for the safety of my coworkers and my students they're my babies," she said. "But right now our main concern is how to protect the kids." Teachers in Irvine, Newport-Mesa and Saddleback Valley protested their impending district openings last week, saying their schools are not safe enough. Teachers in Irvine and Saddleback also put forth a novel argument against hybrid learning saying that most students in middle and high school would receive a better education from distance learning. "Research has emphasized the importance of movement," Saddleback secondary teachers stated in a petition. "At the very least, in distance learning, students can safely move around their own homes during and in between lessons. They will not be able to do so in the hybrid model." They also contend that the hybrid model would reduce instructional time because of such things as safety checks and cleaning and curtail time teachers are now using to work with students online individually and in small groups. Students also would be more limited in their ability to work with one another or move, albeit virtually, from class to class than in the rigid, socially distanced, small-group bubbles. All the plans in place will make the classroom environment less conducive for learning and more conducive for spread, Mission Viejo High School teacher Shane Cost said. This is all happening far too fast, and we still dont know how to manage teaching an online and in-person class simultaneously. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said it was "ridiculous" for teachers to have to teach online and in-person simultaneously, and that dubious or unsafe practices need to be weeded out. "Hybrid learning is nobodys favorite," Weingarten said. Even so, she said, polling indicates a large majority of teachers and parents across the country favor returning to campus in some form provided it is safe. "The reason teachers are struggling to get to in-person learning is that we are trying to help our kids." She added that many school districts and some states are getting it mostly right so far. If 5% or more of a schools population test positive for the coronavirus within a two week period of time a school must close for at least 14 days, Orange County health officials said Thursday. For every school in the community that has even one case of COVID, were going to be... talking through the issues with them about whether theres a need to close classrooms at some point, said Dr. Matthew Zahn, medical director of the Orange County Health Care Agencys communicable disease control division. Hickman is doing what she can to keep things safe, attaching plastic screens to each table and organizing individual school supplies for each student. Her "teacher island" consists of an iPad on a tripod, a headset, her laptop and a smart board for writing. The setup will allow her to teach online and in person simultaneously. The pandemic has upended the teaching methods she had all but perfected during 17 years in the classroom. "Gone are the group projects, the art projects, the 6,000-book library. Gone is me going up to a student's desk to help or telling them to ask a classmate," Hickman said. When a student has a question or requires assistance, they'll make their way to a yellow Velcro dot on the floor that is a safe distance from her and classmates. Irvine was the only newly opening district to bring back high school students this week. Freshman Kathleen Curran got lost among the unfamiliar buildings and arrows meant to direct traffic with minimal interaction. She found herself five minutes late to English. It's scary starting school now. I dont really know the campus or know many people yet, Curran said. Most of my friends come to school on a different day. Senior Michael Ko, 17, lamented the loss of senior activities, but enjoyed seeing friends. Although he's been on the soccer and track teams, he now returns home promptly at 3:10 p.m. Jordan Rincon, 9, left, arrives with her father, Tom Rincon, and 4-year-old brother Dylan for school at James H. Cox Elementary in Fountain Valley. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Outside James Cox Elementary School, a line of 3-foot-tall children carrying oversized backpacks walked in a single file line promptly at 2:15 p.m. to the parking lot. A kindergarten teacher led the fleet with a paper sign: We survived! Minutes later, the bell rang and students from older grades rushed out to parents waiting scattered apart. Kim Rincon, 42, spotted her fourth-grader Jordan. My fears are the same as everyone else," Rincon said as she held 4-year-old Dylan. "I dont want my [child] to get sick and then then bring it home and get the family sick." Hala Houry provides hand sanitizer to a student returning to James H. Cox Elementary School in Fountain Valley after months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) How was school? Rincon asked. Jordan replied with her go-to, nonchalant response, Oh, good. I was nervous about my safety for the first day, but Im pretty happy about being back, she said with a shrug. Times staff writer Paloma Esquivel contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Wednesday that bans the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in the state by 2035. With this, California plans to phase out the sale of all gasoline-powered vehicles and to drastically reduce demand for fossil fuel in its fight against climate change. The order directs the California Air Resources Board to develop a plan that would require the sales of all new cars and passenger trucks in California be zero-emission vehicles by 2035, and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles be zero-emission by 2045 where feasible. Further, all drayage trucks, as well as off-road vehicles and equipment in the state are planned to be zero-emission by 2035. However, the order will not prevent Californians from owning gasoline-powered cars or selling them on the used car market. The Governor is also asking the Legislature to end the issuance of new hydraulic fracturing permits by 2024. The state is also asked to take additional measures to eliminate harmful emissions from the transportation sector. As of now, the transportation sector is responsible for more than 50 percent of California's Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 80 percent of smog-forming pollution and 95 percent of toxic diesel emissions. The state's target to make all new passenger cars and trucks zero-emission would help achieve more than a 35 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and an 80 percent improvement in oxides of nitrogen emissions from cars statewide. The governor said in a statement, 'This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change. ..Californians shouldn't have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma. Our cars shouldn't make wildfires worse - and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn't melt glaciers or raise sea levels..' It is expected that by 2035, zero-emission vehicles will almost certainly be cheaper and better than the traditional fossil fuel powered cars. In the last six months, the California Air Resources Board has approved new regulations requiring truck manufacturers to transition to electric zero-emission trucks beginning in 2024. The Governor also signed an MOU with 14 other states to advance and accelerate the market for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. With the latest order, California will be joining 15 countries, including the U.K, that have already committed to phase out gasoline-powered cars. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de The year is 50 B.C. Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well, not entirely... One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders. And life is not easy for the Roman legionaries who garrison the fortified camps of Totorum, Aquarium, Laudanum and Compendium. Peace reigns in the small Armorican village, where the villagers go about their daily business. Our two heroes, Asterix and Obelix, hunt wild boar, the blacksmith and the fishmonger quarrel, and the village chief strolls around the village square atop his shield. After a fine day's hunting, Asterix and Obelix return to find their village in flames, pillaged by the Romans! They set off to rescue their fellow villagers, accompanied by their faithful Dogmatix. Their journey will take them to Normandy, Greece Helvetia, Egypt and, finally, Rome, in order to save the villagers from the clutches of the emperor Caesar... Rediscover the first XXL adventure of your favorite Gauls in this fully romastered version! Toggle between Asterix & Obelix et travel accross various regions of the world such as Greece or Egypt to set free Impedimenta, Panacea, Getafix and the other villagers. Fight all the Romans, pirates and Vikings who will stand in your way! Nothing can stop you with magic potion. Cherry on the boar, 4 NEW GAME MODES are available: Hong Kong, Sep 24 : Joshua Wong, a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, was arrested on Thursday for "participating in an unauthorized assembly" last October, according to a post on his Twitter account. "Joshua is arrested when reporting to Central Police Station at about 1 p.m. today. The arrest is related to participating in an unauthorized assembly on 5 Oct last year. He is told to have violated the draconian anti-mask law as well," the post read. Hong Kong's anti-mask law, which came into effect on October 5, 2019, bans people from covering their faces during protests. "Today's arrest is a notorious abuse to the criminal justice system by placing charges ruled unconstitutional earlier. However, I choose not to surrender. "Facing max. The penalty of 5 years in jail for unauthorized assembly and 1yr for wearing a mask, I'm not deterred whenever I think of fellow protesters who are struggling in detention in Hong Kong or in mainland China," it added. According to a report in the South China Morning Post, another activist, Koo Sze-yiu was also detained in connection with the October 2019 protest. The police has confirmed that two people were arrested on Thursday after they were accused of "knowingly taking part in an unauthorised assembly". The two activists are expected to appear in court on September 30. Last month, Wong was also charged for participating in a banned vigil marking the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in China. Despite the ban imposed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, thousands attended the June 4 vigil to mourn those who died in the crackdown 31 years ago. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text JACKSONVILLE State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, has been named a Manufacturing Champion, an award given by the Illinois Manufacturers Association (IMA) to legislators that support pro-manufacturing, pro-growth policies. Our families and businesses continue to face tremendous challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic and economic shutdown, Davidsmeyer said. It is an honor to be named a Manufacturing Champion by the IMA, which demonstrates my commitment to supporting policies that promote good-paying jobs and revitalizing our economy. Theres much more work to do, but I am confident that by working together, we can overcome these challenges and get Illinois back on track. India has handed over cheques worth 1.54 billion Nepalese Rupees (approx. INR 96 crores) to Nepal under its post-earthquake reconstruction commitment. Namgya Khampa, Deputy Chief of Mission of Embassy of India, handed over cheques to Sishir Kumar Dhungana, Secretary, Ministry of Finance of Nepal on September 22, said the embassy. The financial assistance has been provided for rehabilitation purposes after the 2015 earthquake wreaked havoc in the Himalayan nation and claimed over 9,000 lives. India has committed $150 million in grant and Line of Credit towards housing sector projects supported by the Government of India. India has reimbursed about $72 million from the grant for housing sector construction with the latest handover. The embassy said in a statement that 92 per cent of the houses, out of 50,000 pledged by the Government of India, in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts has been rebuilt. It added that the government has committed support for the reconstruction of 70 schools and 1 library under $ 50 million grant assistance. Out of this, the first tranche of USD 4.2 million for ongoing schools was reimbursed to Government of Nepal, the embassy said. Government of India remains committed to continuing supporting the people and Government of Nepal in their post-earthquake recovery efforts, it added. Read: Nepal Citizens Protest At China's Kathmandu Embassy After Spotting Land-grab Backstabbing Read: PM Modi Thanks Prime Ministers Of Nepal And Bhutan For 'warm Birthday Wishes' New website on reconstruction initiatives On September 22, Ambassador Vinay M. Kwatra and CEO of National Reconstruction Authority, Sushil Gyewali, jointly launched the CBRI project website on post-earthquake reconstruction initiatives in the education sector. Indian Embassy in Nepal said in a statement that the website is a one-stop, user-friendly window for all information related to education projects under GOI-assisted post-earthquake reconstruction initiatives. The website is accessible at goicbrinepal.com. Education, health and cultural restoration projects including 70 schools, 1 library, 147 health facilities and 28 cultural heritage sector projects are under implementation for reconstruction/retrofitting, the statement read. Read: Nepal Landslide: Police And Security Forces Start Search Operation, 11 Killed Read: Nepal And China To Reveal New Height Of Mount Everest After COVID Pandemic Delay (Image: Twitter / @IndiaInNepal) Gillians Place staff are crossing their fingers hoping a revamped Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser gets strong support, as they deal with more calls than ever from women trapped in abusive situations. COVID-19 gets the blame both ways. Because social distancing is required, the 15th annual event cant be held at the Pen Centre this year. Instead, participants are being asked to walk in their own neighbourhoods. And the pandemic which brought on thousands of job losses in Niagara and forced some people to isolate at home bred conditions that can lead to violence in the home. In a normal year, Gillians Place, the St. Catharines shelter for abused women and their children, receives about 3,000 calls for assistance but were tracking to see significantly more this year, said Nicole Regehr, director of development and violence prevention programs. The annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes has raised more than a million dollars in the past 14 years. It typically draws about 250 men, who collect pledges and then don womens shoes for a noisy, boisterous parade through the Pen Centre to show their opposition to violence against women. Last year it raised close to $125,000, but under the circumstances this year they are hoping for $50,000. For this years event, on Oct. 17, they have opened it up to women and children as well as men. Theyre asking people to register online, then on the 17th to parade through their neighbourhoods. They dont want anyone to put on the usual heels or spikes that could be treacherous on sidewalks. But they are maintaining parts of last years program, with a virtual opening ceremony at 11 a.m. followed by the walk, then online closing ceremonies to announce how much was raised. There is also a contest for the best pink-decorated house. Full details are online at GilliansPlace.com. The irony is that while their fundraising has taken a hit this year due to COVID-19, the effects of the pandemic have forced them to bring in more help. Weve actually had to hire more staff so we can meet all of the public health protocols, said Regehr. Because were in a congregate-care setting, a residential setting, weve really had to up our cleaning and sanitary measures. Women staying at the shelter can no longer go into the kitchen to make their own meals, so that duty has fallen to staff. Government emergency funding, plus donations from the Niagara Community Foundation and the Community Foundations of Canada provided relief. That helped us replace all of the beds in our shelter, because we werent able to properly sanitize the ones we had, Regehr said. We had to get ones that were much more easy to clean and sanitize so we could turn the room over quickly when we had new women coming in. We had to get new dining room tables, because the ones we had were more family-style seating, and because we have multiple families in our shelter we needed to have smaller tables so we could distance them properly. Those are all unexpected things that you dont really think of. Increased calls for assistance from women didnt start right away back in March. That soon changed, and demand is higher than normal for all services, not just the shelter. Regehr said most women they help dont even stay in the shelter but need assistance with legal advice, emergency transportation, counselling or referrals for housing or safety. I would encourage all women, if youre in an abusive situation or you know somebody who might be, to call our support line, she said. Its anonymous its somebody there to help you in that moment and to listen. FILE PHOTO: Yoshihide Suga speaks during a news conference following his confirmation as Prime Minister of Japan in Tokyo By Chang-Ran Kim and Sangmi Cha TOKYO/SEOUL (Reuters) - Japan's new prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, spoke to South Korea's president for the first time on Thursday, calling for both countries to repair their frayed ties and cooperate to counter any threat from North Korea. Relations between the two U.S. allies have deteriorated sharply over the past year over war-time history and trade, in particular the issue of Korean labourers forced to work at Japanese firms during Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule. "I told President Moon that we cannot leave our current very difficult relations where they are now," Suga told reporters after a telephone call with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in. "Cooperation between Japan and South Korea, as well as between Japan, the United States and South Korea, is crucial to deal with North Korea and other issues." Japan would "continue to firmly seek appropriate action from South Korea", he said. He did not elaborate. South Korea had asked for the telephone call, Japan said. Moon congratulated Suga and said that Japan and South Korea need to find the best solution on the war-time forced labour issue, said Kang Min-seok, a spokesman of the South Korea's presidential Blue House. Moon said that South Korea and Japan are the closest friends who share basic values and strategic interests, as well as a partner that should cooperate for peace and prosperity of the world and Northeast Asia. The two leaders also welcomed scheduled talks on the special entry procedure for essential travels between the two countries and expected it would serve as an opportunity to resume personal exchanges and improve bilateral relations. The ties between Seoul and Tokyo soured after South Koreas Supreme Court ordered a Japanese steelmaker to pay compensation for forced labour in 2018, which prompted Tokyo to impose export curbs on some key high-tech materials. In a letter to Suga last week, Moon had said he was willing to sit down any time to improve ties. Suga replaced Shinzo Abe as prime minister last week. (Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim in Tokyo, additional reporting by Sangmi Cha in Seoul.; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Michael Perry) President Donald Trump claimed to receive a 2016 award from military veterans that didn't exist and falsely denigrated the record of the late Republican Sen. John McCain on veterans affairs, whose widow endorsed Democratic rival Joe Biden for president. A look at some of Trump s claims Wednesday: TRUMP: I was honored to receive the endorsement of the Bay of Pigs Veterans Association in 2016, and they gave me a beautiful award. And I have it very proudly on a wall of great importance to me. White House ceremony honoring veterans of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. THE FACTS: There is no official award. Trump did get an endorsement from the association in 2016, the first ever from the group of Florida-based veterans who fought in the United States failed attempt to overthrow the Cuban government in 1961. But no award came with it. In a news release this month four years after the fact and after Trump repeatedly claimed he received an award Juan Lopez de la Cruz, president of the association, sought to recast the endorsement as a recognition award from the group in 2016. The group endorsed Trump for a second term. ___ TRUMP: I hardly know Cindy McCain ... 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 tweet. THE FACTS: Trump is ignoring accomplishments at the Department of Veterans Affairs that began during the Obama-Biden administration, which included McCains singular successes on behalf of fellow veterans. McCain was a leading force in the Senate behind the law that gave veterans an option to go outside the VA's health care system and get private care at public expense under certain conditions. President Barack Obama signed the VA Choice legislation into law. Ignoring that reality, Trump persistently claims that he brought Choice into law when no one else could. Trump signed a law in 2018 that expanded the options for using the Choice program established by Obama and McCain and other lawmakers. The 2018 law is named after three lawmakers who were veterans of war. All now are dead. They are Rep. Samuel R. Johnson, R-Texas; Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawaii; and McCain, R-Ariz. Trump frequently points to VA accomplishments such as improved wait times and the offering of same-day mental health services. But those same-day services at VA were started during the Obama administration. Major veterans organizations in fact urged Trump when he became president to reappoint Obamas VA secretary, Bob McDonald, so he could continue the VA gains. Trump ultimately settled on one of McDonalds deputies, David Shulkin, to be VA secretary. A 2019 study by the Journal of the American Medical Association later found improved wait times at VA from 2014 to 2017, a period largely covering the Obama administration, with VA patient satisfaction also on the rise. While the VA has shown good ratings during the Trump administration, Trumps claim of deserving all credit for turning the VA from a horror show to HIGH APPROVAL is sorely misplaced. Cindy McCain endorsed Biden for president Tuesday in a rebuke of Trump by the widow of the GOPs 2008 nominee. ___ EDITOR'S NOTE A look at the veracity of claims by political figures. ___ Find AP Fact Checks at http://apnews.com/APFactCheck Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 16:15:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video on Sept. 22, 2020. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) "We must put an end to unilateralism. Now is the time for multilateralism," said Sonia Bressler, a French writer and sinologist. BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- In his UN speeches made on Monday and Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping defended multilateralism, urged solidarity in the post-COVID era and pledged to build world peace and contribute to common development, leading joint efforts to tackle global challenges, said overseas experts. At a time when the UN celebrates its 75th anniversary, it "finds itself and globalization, global governance, and multilateralism threatened by unilateralism and isolationism," said Jon R. Taylor, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science and Geography at the University of Texas. A venue that is supposed to foster global collaboration now faces increased skepticism, if not outright hostility, from a collection of wealthy, developed nations, Taylor said. "But there are hopes and aspirations. Global leaders, like President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China, are constantly calling for collaborative efforts to deal with global problems of under-development, poverty, climate crisis, non-traditional security risk and lately to fight against any evil of mankind like COVID-19 pandemic," said Leela Mani Paudyal, former Nepali ambassador to China and an expert on international affairs. Under Xi's leadership, China is advocating multilateralism and the fundamental role of multilateral institutions including the UN and the World Trade Organization in exercising global governance and upholding international order, Paudyal said. Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the United Nations (UN) flag flying outside the UN headquarters in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) "What strikes me first is the tone of the speech, very solemn and pragmatic," said Sonia Bressler, a French writer and sinologist, referring to Xi's speech at the high-level meeting on Monday. Xi's response to multilateral challenges and a deficit of multilateral solutions is clear -- "we must put an end to unilateralism. Now is the time for multilateralism," Bressler said. The Chinese president demonstrates the need for the UN to pursue the shared future for mankind, she said. Addressing the annual General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Xi pledged to provide support to the UN initiative against COVID-19, South-South cooperation and a peace and development trust fund, and to facilitate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. People line up for free food at a charity event to mark the Nelson Mandela International Day in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 18, 2020. (Photo by Yeshiel/Xinhua) "China strives to ensure that developing countries have more opportunities to participate in global governance. China wants to make sure that developing countries' voices are heard," said Andrey Ostrovsky, head of the Center for Social and Economic Research of China of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences. "Xi not only spoke in the name of China, which will eliminate extreme poverty by the year's end, but also on behalf of developing countries," said Ruvislei Gonzalez, head of the Asia and Oceania division at Havana's Center for the Study of International Politics. "China has always stood by the poorest nations and has given a helping hand to many nations during the COVID-19 pandemic by sending medical supplies donations and promoting scientific exchange with the world experts," Gonzalez said. "China has emerged as the torchbearer for the defense and survival of multilateralism," said Aslam Khan, a columnist of Urdu newspaper Nawa-i-Waqt in Pakistan. "China's rightful call to establish and develop a community with a shared future for mankind is very crucial for the reduction of poverty at a global level, sharing development and handling global devastating issues like COVID-19," Khan said. The European Union refuses to recognise Alexander Lukashenko as Belarus president after his inauguration that lacked democratic legitimacy and Brussels is reviewing its relations with Minsk, the EUs diplomatic chief said Thursday. Lukashenkos secret inauguration on Wednesday triggered fresh condemnation in the West and new mass demonstrations in Belarus that have erupted frequently since the disputed August 9 elections. The elections were neither free nor fair and the European Union does not recognise their falsified results, EU high representative Josep Borrell said in a statement. On this basis, the so-called inauguration and the new mandate Lukashenko claims lack any democratic legitimacy, Borrell said. This inauguration directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus, the former Spanish foreign minister said. The EU stands for the right of Belarusians to be represented by those they freely choose through new inclusive, transparent and credible elections, he said. The EU again threw its full support behind the peaceful Belarus protests and their calls for new elections despite the brutal repression of the Belarusian authorities, he said. The EU renews its calls on the authorities in Minsk to immediately refrain from any further repression and violence directed against the Belarusian people and immediately and unconditionally release all those detained, including political prisoners, said Borrell. The EU remains convinced that an inclusive national dialogue and responding positively to the demands of the Belarusian people for new democratic elections are the only way forward in finding a way out of the serious political crisis in Belarus that respects the wishes of the Belarusian people. The statement also said Brussels was reviewing its relations with Belarus. Story continues The EU is preparing sanctions against around 40 people deemed responsible for the repression and also looking at punishing Lukashenko himself, diplomatic sources say. But the unanimity of the 27 EU countries is required, and Cyprus links its agreement to the adoption of steps to force Turkey to stop exploring for gas in the waters of its economic zone. Two countries, Sweden and Finland, refuse to sanction Lukashenko to allow for mediation by OSCE that will be chaired by Stockholm, the sources added. The issue will be debated during an EU summit on 1-2 October in Brussels. (AFP) NATIONAL airline Air Zimbabwe yesterday made its maiden flight connecting the countrys three international airports, 179 days after it suspended operations on March 28 due to Covid-19. There was excitement from the airliner, tourism industry and other stakeholders following the resumption of flights amid calls for locals to embrace travelling by air to promote domestic tourism. The Boeing 737 departed RG Mugabe International Airport in Harare in the morning with about 30 passengers via Bulawayo where it dropped a few passengers at the JMN Nkomo International before landing at the Victoria Falls International at 9.35am. Upon landing, the airliner was welcomed by the usual rituals of cannon spraying before port health staff sanitised passengers and conducted temperature checks. In Victoria Falls it dropped a handful of passengers while others who included tourism agents and operators departed for Harare with the same plane about an hour later. One of the passengers Miss Perseverance Mahara from Harare could not hide her joy landing in Victoria Falls for the first time in her life. An enthused Air Zimbabwe corporate communications officer Ms Firstme Vitori said necessary Covid-19 protocols had been put in place. She said the airliner will be flying three times a week on Mondays-Wednesdays and Fridays on the Harare-Bulawayo-Harare route. It has been a long break since our last flight before lockdown and we are very excited to have resumed our operations today on the domestic front for now as we monitor demand. For our regional route we are expecting to start on the 3rd of October on the Harare-Dar es Salaam route every Tuesday and Saturday and we hope to increase frequencies as the year progresses, she said. Ms Vitori said plans were underway to resume flights to South Africa next month using the ERJ145. She said the airline will enforce wearing of masks, sanitising of hands and temperature checks among other Covid-19 guidelines. What we want to assure our travelling public is that as Air Zimbabwe we have put in place all measures to ensure that their health and safety is protected. We are working with guidelines that are provided for by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Air Transport Association and we will ensure that there is strict adherence to the guidelines. We also want to encourage the locals to come on board and travel with the national airline. We are working together with key stakeholders like Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe, tour operators and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) to ensure that we come up with packages that are affordable to locals. We want to resuscitate the Flame Lily brand which we are confident will come up with affordable packages for locals, said Ms Vitori. She said Air Zimbabwe targets flexibility and sustainability. As we resume our operations going into the future, we are looking at a period of three years when we should be home to modern aircraft that will be added to our fleet. There is no going back but we will continue to monitor especially the demand side given that we are coming from the Covid-19 lockdown. Already we are getting bookings and this flight had passengers on board, she said. Resumption of airlines is key to resuscitation of the tourism industry whose viability hinges mostly on air transport. Victoria Falls, as the countrys tourism capital, hopes for a return of airlines especially from the region and international tourists source markets. The industry is one of the key economic pillars alongside agriculture, mining and manufacturing. Efforts are being made to capacitate domestic tourism as the country awaits the return of regional and international travellers. ZTA corporate communications and industry relations manager Ms Hazel Zisanhi who was also on the plane said the development means a lot for domestic tourism and augurs well with the Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy towards attaining a US$5 billion economy by year 2025. I must also commend Air Zimbabwe and Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe for the safety precautionary measures that they have put in place. On board we were really excited. It was a welcome relief and reassuring to see the cabin crew wearing complete personal protective equipment. We are definitely looking forward to the resumption of regional and international flights which will ensure that we have our tourists arriving from various source markets. As you know tourism contributes about 14 percent to Zimbabwes Gross Domestic Product, she said. Tourism executive Mrs Barbara Murasiranwa said operators are geared for the return of clients after a long break. As you can see, we are very excited by this development and you can imagine the maiden flight has been done by our own national carrier. We are very excited that we are going in the right direction and that brings confidence to us as most people had not worked in the last six months. The whole tourism industry was just dead and to see people coming to work is amazing. We want to thank Air Zimbabwe for the maiden flight hoping to see more flights coming in because the confidence has already been built and we are getting there. We came here to observe whats happening from the airport and we are going to be observing activity in our own tourist attraction, where there are gaps, we will then work on them because this area has never been chartered before and we dont know how to handle it. We are all learning in the process as we get ready for international flights, said Mrs Murasiranwa. Operators, car hire and taxis are ready while restaurants, immigration and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority are also ready for international arrivals expected in two weeks when Ethiopian Airlines makes its maiden return. Victoria Falls Airport manager Mr Ronnie Masawi said after successfully welcoming Air Zimbabwe, they are convinced the facility is prepared to handle as many flights. Chronicle FOR many of my friends, the news of the passing of American Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last Friday was met with genuine sorrow. Ginsburg was a feminist icon and a progressive voice for womens rights, particularly during the Trump presidency. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion FOR many of my friends, the news of the passing of American Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last Friday was met with genuine sorrow. Ginsburg was a feminist icon and a progressive voice for womens rights, particularly during the Trump presidency. Now, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to skew decidedly conservative, with President Donald Trump champing at the bit to name his nominee to replace Ginsburg by the end of this week. While it is a rare occurrence for the president to nominate a new justice in an election year, it has been done, and it looks like Trump may have support of Senate in this next step. Many women in the U.S. immediately worried that reproductive rights will now become an issue with the new composition of the court, with a possibility that the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling potentially being overturned. The end result could mean that abortions will be illegal, except in a few states. But before Canadians start making abortion travel plans for their poor American sisters, they may first want to consider activism on their own turf to protect access in this country. When Canadian academic and feminist writer Sarah Sahagian explored these concerns for the online publication The Establishment ("When Roe V. Wade Is Overturned, America Cant Rely On Canada For Abortion Care") following Brett Kavanaughs confirmation as U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Justin Trudeaus Liberals were in their first term as a "pro-choice" government. Two years later, things are even worse in the U.S. and access to reproductive freedom for women remains uneven in this country. If you live in Toronto, you may do OK, but if you live anywhere farther away than 100 kilometers from the Canada-U.S. border, access is going to be limited. Certainly, for women in Manitoba who dont reside in Winnipeg or Brandon, its a problem. According to Jill Doctoroff, Canadian director of the National Abortion Federation, "One of the biggest issues in Canada related to abortion care is access." Doctors in training in this country are not provided substantive information in their curriculum about how to provide women with what has been determined to be a medical right: an abortion. And some primary-care professionals are not adequately offering information about abortion or the abortion pill, largely because of stigma. Doctoroff says this inevitably impacts access, when people seeking the abortion pill dont know how to find someone to provide it. According to the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, many medical schools in this country do not provide any of the required training for their students, either in the classroom or on the wards. For doctors who go on to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology, every resident is given the opportunity to seek training for providing abortions, but only about 20 per cent of them will actually seek that training. In 2018, only two universities provided guaranteed rotations for medical students to learn abortion provision as part of their OB/GYN rotations. For those training to become general practitioners, interested residents can receive instruction through independent abortion clinics. A friend of mine from Thunder Bay took the training in Montreal in 2012. She was instructed to keep the information about the hotel and the type of training she was taking private because of safety concerns. But the lack of specifically trained doctors means that there is a shortage of abortion providers, and therefore a lack of mentorship opportunities between future and current providers. Theres also a limited ability for women to access information about how to use Mifepristone if they are early in their pregnancy and can avoid having to go into a clinic. Mifepristone, the abortion pill, was legalized in 2017. In some provinces, the up-front cost of the treatment is not covered, and some will only provide it in one location, making both cost and access problematic for those with limited means. There are other access issues, as well, especially outside of the urban centres. According to Doctoroff, "Finding someone to prescribe and a pharmacy to dispense mife outside of southern Manitoba can be really difficult." Canadians love to think were so much better off than Americans when it comes to access to health care and progressive rights for women. But were really not, and its time that universities stepped up their mandatory training for all doctors in abortion care. Women really arent demanding much just the ability to control their bodies in a safe, accessible manner. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Ginsburg said it best in the documentary RBG, when she quoted 19th century activist Sarah Grimke: "I ask no favour for my sex. ... All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks." The inability to control our bodies remains a foot on our neck. Shannon Sampert is a political scientist. www.mediadiva.ca. shannon@mediadiva.ca Twitter: @CdnMediadiva Sonu Sood has been hailed a superhero for his relentless work in the past few months to help out those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. From migrant labourers to students stuck in different parts of the world, Sonu has reached out to many, and the list goes on increasing. Unfortunately, in the age of trolling, even Sonu isn't spared. There are some who question the authenticity of Sonu's outreach efforts and call him 'the biggest scam of 2020'. Sonu had the perfect take on being viewed as a scam. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Sonu spoke about people alleging that he didn't actually help out people on a large scale and said, "These are a handful of people, and they suddenly rise from nowhere on social media. They don't actually exist in reality. I didn't bother to see what they've written, some friends told me. Who has the time to read? I've got lots of things to do for people." Citing an example of how one such allegation was clarified, he said, "Someone said 'Yeh log to foreign se kisi ko nahi laaye'. A couple of days back, a flight landed from Philippines, and they replied on that tweet of students 'You don't exist, it's fake'. The students sent their boarding passes and flight number, along with college names to check. Suddenly, these trolls vanished. These are paid people. One-two people run 100-200 accounts." "If these trolls start counting the number of people I've connected with, unke bachhe tab tak badhe ho jaayenge," added Sonu. The actor reportedly has a list of 7,03,200 people and their contacts, with whom he has connected over the past few months. "Anything you want to know, and that number is increasing by every second," he said. He further asked if the people who received help were aliens. When asked about those who deleted accounts after asking for help, Sonu clarified that those tweets had sensitive data which the owners of the accounts themselves deleted. Instead of being bitter about getting trolled, Sonu had the perfect solution. "Their kitchen runs with this. They earn money on every tweet, which is fair enough. I'm telling them to run their kitchens, but the money which they get from trolling, help someone else, don't keep it all at home," he said. ALSO READ: Sonu Sood Reveals Why He Left Kangana Ranaut's Manikarnika; Says He Felt A Lot Of Grief ALSO READ: Sonu Sood Wins Hearts As He Sends Smartphones For Village Students To Attend Online Classes 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. The European Commissions proposal to overhaul the EU's migration policy by getting member states to agree to take in asylum seekers or take charge of sending back those refused asylum is a retreat from the core principle of solidarity that has underpinned the European Union since its foundation. The so-called Migration Pact has some good elements: It emphasises the speedier return of economic migrants to their place of origin when asylum claims are rejected, the strengthening of the EUs external borders, and the creation of new legal routes for the resettlement of refugees within the EU. Five years ago some two million migrants entered Europe from the Middle East and Africa. The reality of huge waves of people arriving in makeshift boats on Europes southern shores challenged the EU's external frontier, and bitterly divided member states. As frontline southern states, Italy and Greece shouldered much of the burden while eastern states, especially Poland and Hungary, refused to agree to a system where all member states would be obliged to take in a proportionate number of asylum seekers. In the end, an unholy alliance with Turkey to take Syrian war refugees in return for financial support helped to stem the crisis momentarily. Germany also took in 1m refugees. The commission says it is now determined that countries such as Greece and Italy should no longer be expected to shoulder the whole burden and describes the new pact as a compulsory system to manage migration after years of division over how to respond to the crisis. Migrants take part in a rally as the banner reads in German "Germany Please Help Us" near Mytilene town, on the northeastern island of Lesbos, Greece, Friday, Sept. 11, 2020. Picture: Petros Giannakouris Read More Elaine Loughlin: Time for talking is not over where our politicians are concerned It is right that Greece and Italy should get relief but if fairness is at the root of this new system, the commission must insist that all member states take in at least some migrants. Where is the logic or solidarity in allowing states like Poland and Hungary which are the top two major beneficiaries of EU funds to refuse to take a single migrant while others continue to take in thousands? Under the new plan, states that refuse to take migrants will be asked instead to help in the logistics of returning some migrants to a list of approved countries whatever that means. Overseeing such a convoluted system would be, in itself, a logistical nightmare. What form would such help take? Would it be financial or operational and who would approve it? As well as that, it is likely that this would actually encourage more member states to refuse to take in asylum seekers, opting instead for the less burdensome alternative. The new pact, which has been supported strongly by German chancellor Angela Merkel, proposes a fair sharing of responsibility and solidarity between member states but it is likely to achieve nothing of the kind. Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen has described it as a European solution... to restore citizens confidence and rebuild trust between member states. In fact, this timid and expedient European solution to a European problem avoids the fundamental issue and may do more to divide the EU than unify it. Russia Tuesday pledged to boost military cooperation with Iran after UN arm embargo on the country comes to an end next month, reports say. New opportunities will emerge in our cooperation with Iran after the special regime imposed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231 expires on October 18, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, told the Interfax news agency. The amount of this cooperation and the areas in which it will develop is a separate question, he added. The UN will lift its conventional arm import embargo on Iran October 18 after the U.S failed to rally enough of votes to extend the ban. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo early this month said Washington would prevent Iran from purchasing Chinese tanks and Russian air defense systems after the expiration. President Donald Trump unilaterally re-imposed all UN sanctions lifted after the 2015 nuclear deal signed with Iran and world powers. Trump in 2018 pulled the U.S out and demanded new talks arguing that the deal was full of flaws. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to meet his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Moscow on Thursday, The New Arab reports. Highly anticipated: Not for the first time, an Nvidia AIB partner has leaked information that could disappoint RTX 3080 buyers. It seems that a 20GB variation of the recently released card is on the way, as is an RTX 3060 that offers the same performance as the RTX 2080. As reported by Videocardz, aftermarket card maker Galax (known as KFA2 in Europe) revealed the unannounced RTX 30-series cards in a briefing with either employees or business partners in China. The slide shows an RTX 3080 with 20GB of video memorydouble whats found in the current versionthat sits just under the RTX 3090. Galaxs roadmap also shows an RTX 3060. Its no surprise to see Nvidia continue to release its popular xx60 seriesthe GTX 1060 is the number one card in Steams user hardware survey, while the RTX 2060 ranks highest out of all the Turing offerings. The RTX 3060 (possibly a Super or Ti version with 8GB of VRAM) is listed as having the same performance as the RTX 2080, which is an enticing prospect for what will be a cheaper card. Theres also a unnamed product thats listed as PG142 SKU 0. Expect this to be an upgraded version of the RTX 3070 with 16GB of VRAM, likely a Super or Ti model, which can outperform the RTX 2080 Ti. While this sort of thing is usually taken with a pinch of salt, it aligns with previous leaks. Gigabyte posted a list of graphics cards that will come bundled with a free copy of Watch Dogs: Legion over the weekend. These included an RTX 3060 (Super?) with 8GB, an RTX 3070 Super with 16GB, and an RTX 3080 Super with 20GB. The RTX 3080s 10GB of VRAM has been a point of contention among many gamers, with some believing it will be insufficient for future titles, so a 20GB model could prove very successfulthough anyone who paid a fortune for one of the 10GB versions from eBay will be regretting their purchase. A Super variant of the 3080 could also be a response to AMDs Navi 21 (Big Navi) and Navi 22, which are rumored to feature 16GB and 12GB of VRAM, respectively. In other Galax news, the company has just unveiled an RTX 3090 featuring a design that's heavily inspired by Lego. The United States presidential campaign is being transformed into a coup detat by Donald Trump, who has declared that he will not accept the results of any vote that goes against him. At a White House press conference Wednesday evening, Trump was asked whether he would commit here today for a peaceful transfer of power after the election. He replied: Were going to have to see what happens. You know, I have been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster. When his questioner persisted, Trump said, Youll have a very peaceful transthere wont be a transfer frankly. There will be a continuation. Trumps determination to rapidly appoint a new Supreme Court justice to fill the seat left by Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death is a critical element of the unfolding criminal conspiracy. Trump intends to stack the Supreme Court with lackeys who will rubber stamp his repudiation of the election results. I think this [the election] will end up in the Supreme Court, and I think its very important that we have nine justices, Trump said at the news conference. That the preparations for an overthrow of the Constitution are well advanced is now widely acknowledged. A column published Wednesday in the Atlantic, headlined The Election that Could Break America, outlines what it called a nightmare scenario for November 3, involving the mobilization of right-wing vigilantes and the seizure of uncounted ballots. The Atlantic references discussions within the White House over how to overturn the election results if they go against Trump: According to sources in the Republican Party at the state and national levels, the Trump campaign is discussing contingency plans to bypass election results and appoint loyal electors in battleground states where Republicans hold the legislative majority. With a justification based on claims of rampant fraud, Trump would ask state legislators to set aside the popular vote and exercise their power to choose a slate of electors directly. In doing so, Trump would be acting on the basis of Justice Antonin Scalias argument in Bush v. Gore 20 years ago, when the Supreme Court intervened to shut down vote-counting in Florida and hand the election to Bush. Trump is not running an election campaign. He is setting into motion a plot to establish a presidential dictatorship. This is a continuation of the entire conspiracy initiated with his June 1 speech threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy the military against domestic protests. There is a staggering contrast between the ruthlessness with which Trump and his co-conspirators are implementing their plans and the fecklessness and cowardice of the Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Joe Biden. Even as Trump is planning to stack the Supreme Court to facilitate his illegal seizure of power, the Democrats have declared that there is nothing that can be done to stop Trumps appointment of another justice before the November election. After Republican Senator Mitt Romney announced Tuesday that he would support Trump's filling of the Ginsburg vacancy, the Democrats abandoned their resistance strategy, such as it was, of finding four Republicans who would break with Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and oppose a confirmation vote. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer has declared that all options are on the table, but only after the Supreme Court nominee is confirmed, and then only if the Democrats win control of both the Senate and the White House. But the Supreme Court pick is central to Trumps strategy of maintaining his position in the White House. On Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who proclaimed that her quiver was full of arrows, reached an agreement with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to extend funding for the federal government until after the election, removing the threat of a government shutdown in response to Trumps effort to push through his Supreme Court nomination. With this craven capitulation, the Democrats are not only giving up a seat on the Supreme Court, they are going a long way toward surrendering to Trumps coup. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said on Wednesday that Trump is seeking to discredit the votes of millions, stack the Supreme Court to disenfranchise millions and perpetuate himself in office, warning that this is how you see democracies end. Schiffs only response, in addition to blaming foreign assistance for Trumps actions, was to propose legislation to restrain future presidents. He expressed the hope that voters would turn out in such massive numbers that theres a landslide repudiation of Trump and Trumpism. The Constitution does not require that a presidential candidate receive a landslide to unseat the incumbent. Schiffs statement amounts to a declaration that the Democrats will capitulate to Trump if Biden secures anything less than an overwhelming victory. Elissa Slotkin, one of the House Democrats closest to the intelligence agencies, stated yesterday that Trump is attempting to carry out a coup detat, and implied that he was acting with high level support. The President cant successfully refuse to accept the results of the election without a number of very high officials aiding him, she tweeted. But her response was merely to appeal to the military, stating that she has been seeking assurance from Pentagon officials that they would ensure a transfer of power if Trump refuses to concede. To the attorney general, secretary of defense, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and secretary of homeland security, she said, history is coming for you, and you will have to make a choice. The pathetic response of the Democratic Party and its presidential candidate to Trumps conspiracy is determined, above all, by its fear that any call for resistance would trigger a mass movement from below that would get out of control and threaten the capitalist oligarchy. The Democrats fear such a development more than anything. Their entire focus over the past four years has been to divert popular opposition to Trump behind the conflicts within the ruling class over foreign policy, centered on the demand for more aggressive action against Russia. To subordinate the fight against Trump to the Democratic Party can lead only to a political catastrophe. Workers must recognize that American democracy is collapsing. The language of Trump is the language of fascism, dictatorship and civil war. The Democrats, meanwhile, are providing Trump with the ability to carry out his coup detat, and if they were to come to power, they would implement the same basic class policy. Beneath the political crisis in the United States, what is unfolding is a massive confrontation between the corporate and financial aristocracy, which controls both political parties, and the working class. Trumps coup plotting is entirely bound up with the ruling class policy of herd immunity--the drive to force workers to continue working and reopen schools amidst the expanding pandemic, and the utilization of the pandemic to orchestrate a massive redistribution of wealth to the rich. For the working class, the fight against the pandemic, the massive social crisis, the unending wave of police violence and the threat of dictatorship is entirely bound up with the fight for socialism. The critical issue now is the development of a mass movement of the working class. The logic of the rapidly developing crisis poses before working people the need to prepare for a political general strike. Popular organizations, controlled by working people, should be established in order to prepare resistance to Trumps criminal conspiracy. The growing wave of strikes, protests and demonstrationsincluding those sparked by the whitewashing yesterday of the police murder of Breonna Taylor in Louisvillemust coalesce into a general strike, demanding Trumps removal from office. The Romanian Government desires the exploitation of gas resources in the Black Sea and will treat carefully the subject starting with December, so that there are no discussions that would affect these projects, said, on Thursday, Tanase Stamule, adviser on economic issues to the Prime Minister of the Romanian Government, in the online conference "Energy on line", organized by the Bursa newspaper. "In what regards the Black Sea, there is a powerful desire of the Government to start gas exploitations there, and the subject will be treated carefully starting with December [when parliamentary elections are to take place - e.n.], so we don't have all sorts of discussions that are not useful and would affect the project. It's a priority for us to exploit those resources," said Stamule. "We have sufficient reserves to cover Romania, but currently only 30 percent of citizens have access to gas. Thus the issue of forests being felled will be solved, because many people still use wood for heating," mentioned the Prime Minister's adviser. The expanding of the gas networks will lead also to an increase of economic attractiveness in the localities that will be connected, he mentioned. In the Romanian part of the Black Sea there is a potential for 200 billion cubic meters of gas, according to the National Agency for Mineral Resources, yet the large projects are frozen due to the legislation in the offshore oil sector. OMV Petrom and ExxonMobil are equal partners in the project to explore the Neptun Deep sea deposit in the Black Sea, estimated at 42 - 84 billion cubic meters of gas. By comparison, Romania produces presently around 10-11 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Last year, Exxon announced its intention to withdraw from Romania. In their turn, the representatives of OMV Petrom claimed several times that the extraction of gas in the Neptun Deep perimeter will become uncertain, if the Offshore Law is not modified. The Minister of Economy, Energy and the Business Environment, Virgil Popescu, stated several times, since taking over his mandate, that legislation in the offshore oil sector will have to be approved in Parliament by political consensus, and the Government will have no initiative in this sense. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it has removed over 77,000 duplicate records of registered voters as part of its efforts to cleanse its list of registrants. During the House hearing on the poll body's proposed 2021 budget, Comelec Dir. Teopisto Elnas said the commission was able to delist 77,794 double or multiple registrations as of July 20 this year. We have this finger print matching using the biometrics of the registered voters, we match this and as of July 20, 2020, we were able to delist as many as 77,794 registration or duplicate or multiple registration records, he said. On registrants who have the same address, Elnas said Comelec has directed election officers to conduct investigations. They are also directed to file for exclusion versus violators, he said. Elnas noted that this is done especially in Metro Manila where fraud is rampant. Under section 36 of Republic Act no. 8189, or The Voters Registration Act of 1996, the Election officer shall, in order to preserve the integrity of the permanent list of voters, file exclusion proceedings when necessary, and verify the list of the registered voters of any precinct by regular mail or house to house canvass. Elnas said validation of voters, especially in regions where there are only two Comelec personnel, can be done after the registration period given the lack of manpower. Hiring additional personnel to help authenticate registrants would require additional budgetary requirements, he added. Comelec is currently preparing for the 2022 national and local elections. It has resumed voters registration which will still require physically going to any of its office despite the health concerns brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Registration will end in September 2021. Employees are working at Thang Long Industrial Park. Local experts have raised concern over the soaring number of businesses going bankrupt due to impacts of the Covid-19 epidemic - PHOTO: VNA According to a survey of Vietnam Report, up to 60% of enterprises saw their revenue in the first half of 2020 slumping compared with last year, in which nearly 15% suffered a steep decline. Some 54% of enterprises said their pretax profit fell over the same period of 2019, with 31% reporting a sharp decrease or even huge losses. The General Statistics Office has released data for the January-August period, with the number of firms that had suspended business reaching nearly 34,300, up 70.8% year-on-year. Around 24,200 firms had been making dissolution procedures and 10,400 others had finished the paperwork. Among the dissolved businesses, there were 9,200 firms having capital under VND10 billion each and 168 enterprises with capital scale over VND100 billion each. Most enterprises that had finished dissolution procedures were active in the fields of wholesale-retail, auto and bike repairing, processing and manufacturing, construction, property trading, accommodation and restaurant. Some enterprises have adjusted business plans for 2020 to reflect current difficulties. Some 77.1% of enterprises in the survey have completed 50% of this years revenue goals, in which 36.1% finished over 80%. Meanwhile, 68.9% of firms have completed over 50% of this years profit plans, of this 31.1% have reached over 80%. However, the figures were just few bright spots on the overall gloomy picture of the local economy. Nguyen Van Quyen, chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transportation Association (VATA), said that most transport enterprises are mired in a hardship as the number of passengers and goods has tumbled by up to 90% During the peak of the pandemic, most of transport enterprises had to cease operation or operate perfunctorily with meager revenue earned. Further, they had to pay wages and other disease fighting fees to maintain operations, leading to insolvency or bankruptcy. Although some businesses have accessed supportive policies of the Government and local authorities such as soft loans and tax reduction, it remains unknown whether they could survive the pandemic and maintain long-term business, Quyen said. According to economic expert Ta Quang Binh, there are many reasons forcing firms to dissolve or halt operations. They may have poor capability, suffer objective conditions such as natural disaster and unexpected problems, or fail to adapt to current economic policies. In this situation, it is necessary to have comprehensive solutions instead of using the Governments resources to rescue all businesses. Although saving ailing firms may help curb the rate of unemployment, heavy costs and bad impacts from maintaining poor businesses may result in worse consequences to the economy, Binh explained. Regarding solutions for the large number of bankrupted firms, many experts said that current supportive policies still have many shortcomings, such as slow deployment and disbursement of financial aids. SGT The largest smart city in Hanoi is a venture invested in by BRG and Sumitomo in the north of the city Smart cities are being built in many locations across the country, in particular Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Binh Duong, and Nha Trang. The biggest project so far is the Smart City project in the north of Hanoi, developed by BRG Group in a joint venture with Sumitomo Group from Japan. With investment capital of more than $4.1 billion, the 272-hectare smart city will offer future residents full benefits stemming from the synchronous development of modern and sustainable infrastructure and socioeconomic development. Together with community-oriented facilities, the project will also compile a detailed plan on the application of smart technologies such as 5G, facial recognition, and blockchain, which will contribute to improvements in services in the capital. The Smart City project by BRG-Sumitomo held its groundbreaking ceremony last October and is being divided into five phases. The project is currently in its first phase, over a 73ha land plot with investment of VND12.9 trillion ($560 million). The entire project is expected to be completed in 2028. The second-largest venture in Hanoi belongs to Tan Hoang Minh Group, with Xuan Mai Smart City located in Chuong My district. With the investment capital of $3.5 billion and being built over 3,000ha, Xuan Mai Smart City will become a modern smart city composed with environmentally-friendly facilities. Tan Hoang Minh Group announced that it would apply new solutions on AI, IT, and green re-use technologies into the management of the project. Last year, the group signed an MoU with a range of sub-investors to co-develop the project, including Sein I&D Vietnam, The Korea Water Resources Corporation, Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation, and Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development. Meanwhile Vingroup launched its Vinhomes Smart City last year in the capitals South Tu Liem district. The venture will follow the models of successful smart urban areas such as those found in Singapore, Songdo of South Korea, and Fujisawa in Japan. The project consists of 58 high-rise residential buildings based on the four key pillars of smart security, smart management, smart community, and smart home. Vingroup plans to hand over the first building, Sapphire 1, next month, with the following three buildings hoped to be handed over next year. Slower progress has been made in parts of Ho Chi Minh City, meanwhile. Despite $900 million being pumped into an eco-smart city by Lotte Group, three years have gone by without new work being carried out due in part to the auction process. While a representative from Lotte Asset Development Lotte Groups arm in charge of the project declined to comment on the situation, a source from Ho Chi Minh City said that the green light has in fact been given for continuation of the venture. In a recent meeting with the prime minister, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said that the committee is keeping its promise to allow the Lotte consortium to be appointed as the investor of the project without any proceeding auction. Approval is soon expected by the city committee in order to support efforts of the foreign investors so far. Located in the heart of the New Thu Thiem Urban Development Area, Lottes eco-smart city will apply IT solutions in management, and provide more than 12,000 units to the market upon completion. Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee is also proposing to set up a new city, provisionally called Thu Duc City. By combining districts 2, 9, and Thu Duc, the initiative expects to set up a smarter and high-tech location that can attract both international and domestic investment into the area. However, many issues have still to be ironed out before official decisions and further progress can be made. With the concept of a city in a city for Vietnam, a synchronised master plan and correct financial resources are vital for the scheme to succeed. Elsewhere, in the central city of Quy Nhon in Binh Dinh province, FPT Corporation is setting up an AI centre in order to prepare human resources for a smart city in the province at a later date. The AI centre in Quy Nhon will create a technology hub for the central province and beyond. It will be a magnet to attract not only foreign and domestic experts into the area but also attract an investment wave from startups, investment funds, and other financial institutions into Quy Nhon. Caracas, Sep 24 : Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that he will meet his US counterpart Donald Trump to discuss regional matters. Maduro made the remarks on Wednesday during his virtual speech at the General Debate of the 75th session of UN General Assembly, reports Xinhua news agency. Highlighting Venezuela as having the largest oil reserves in the world, the fourth-largest gas reserves and rich gold reserves, Maduro said these resources have caught the attention of "oligarchs in Washington" who want to control his country. Maduro said a drone assassination attempt on him in Caracas was prepared and funded from the US and that he wants a special UN rapporteur to carry out an independent investigation into the attack. Meanwhile he confirmed the intention to meet with Trump, saying that while Venezuela is peaceful and friendly and appreciates the culture, art and social life of the US, it is against the "imperialists in Washington". In an interview with Axios in late June, Trump said that he would consider meeting with Maduro, while also suggesting he's had second thoughts about his decision to recognize Juan Guaido as the legitimate leader of the South American nation. Guaido and Trump met at the White House this February after the President invited him to attend his State of the Union address before Congress and praised him as Venezuela's "legitimate" President. If Maduro and Trump meet, it would completely upend the latter's administration policy on Venezuela, as top officials, including Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have backed Guaido. In March, Attorney General Bill Barr announced that the Justice Department was charging Maduro and 13 other Venezuelan officials with narco-terrorism. The President in August 2019 had also expanded sanctions against the country into an embargo. Audubon Acres will host an immersive Native American program spanning a timeline of 1400-1800 where participants will learn the facets of daily tasks of Native American life. The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 1-5 p.m. at Audubon Acres, 900 N. Sanctuary Road. Learn how the Native Americans sustained themselves within these Americas benefiting from the natural use of remnants from animals (deer, turkey, snake and more) that were used as their daily tools. Learn how the commonality of the tribes helped them to customize their daily tasks making each tribal culture its own. The program is a joint presentation of the Spirit of the Veteran & Warrior Board and the Chattanooga Audubon Society. It will feature Gina "Tyhiska" Torres, James "Bo Standing Oak" Ellison, Kathy "Sparrow/Hawk" Ellison, DaWoud Mujahid, and Michelle Neubel as Native American presenters. Various sessions will include: Flints: creating hunting materials from deer leg The importance of Basket weaving for food storage Clay pottery Blow dart, long spears, netting for fishing Canning - kitchen preparations - creating natural stain from boiled macerated acorns and use dried ground acorns for flour to make flat bread Clothing - Regalia designs and what and where the location of decoration meant for the women's phase of life Instruments - use of squash gourd as a drum Trading - beading characteristics, European settlers, furs Jewelry - glass beads French Foods - Foraging, growth of the original indigenous permaculture, farming - Cherokees, berries, the three sisters - corn, squash, and beans, creation of the outdoor kitchen Herbs - inhalation - Mullein example, maintain immunity, sour grass, et cetera. The Chattanooga Audubon Society at Audubon Acres is a Certified Historic Site on the Trail of Tears. It pays homage to the Native Americans who farmed here and were forced off their land. This unique event links our history with the Native Americans who once dwelled on this land. Admission will be $10 per person a limited number of tickets will be sold. For more information contact Darlene Carlson, executive director, at dcarlson@chattaudubon.org, 892-1499 or visit https://www.chattanoogaaudubon.org/nativelearning This years heavy monsoon rains have caused severe floods in Pakistan. Some 400 people have died and 392 more have been injured, with immense loss to property. Karachi city has been the hardest hit. By Robin Gomes Caritas Pakistan has appealed to Caritas Internationalis for aid to help deal with the heavy floods caused by intense monsoon rains this year. "We are doing all we can with the resources at our disposal, but we need help. We need a lot of help, Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Archbishop of Karachi, wrote to Caritas Internationalis, the confederation of Catholic charities worldwide. According to the National Disaster Management Authority report of September 23, the death toll rose to 400 with 392 injured, besides immense loss to property. Sindh, the province of which Karachi is the capital, is among the most affected areas of the country. Karachi worst hit "We have no memory of heavy rains like the ones that fell on Karachi in the last two months, the Cardinal wrote to Caritas Internationalis. Karachi, the countrys main port and largest city, with more than 20 million people, has been one of the worst-hit by urban flooding. Streets turned to rivers, as the sheer volume of water quickly overloaded the citys dilapidated and ill-maintained drainage systems. Cardinal Coutts explained that the modest amount of rain that has fallen in recent years has led to the accumulation of waste along the storm drains that run through the city, some of which are up to 17 kilometres long. The construction of illegal dwellings has also prevented rainwater from draining and has caused flooding. Demolition of illegal homes and Covid-19 As a security measure, the 75-year old Cardinal explained, the Pakistani government has already decided to demolish tens of thousands of illegal dwellings. But no one knows if, when and how much of the promised compensation and new housing will come. Cardinal Coutts pointed out that the floods came at an already dramatic time due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions. For the poor, it is a double tragedy because many of them had lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and now they have lost or will lose their homes too." Caritas in relief work Caritas Pakistan is distributing food parcels, drinking water, tents and plastic sheets to affected families. Its staff and volunteers are also providing first aid to the injured and facilitating search, rescue and evacuation operations. "The immediate aid provided by Caritas has relieved the suffering of the population and made the affected people feel that they are not alone and abandoned," said Cardinal Coutts, who was Caritas Pakistan chairperson until 2017. He commended bishops charity arm for the excellent training given to its staff and volunteers who have responded promptly to current and other disasters. Climate change Caritas Internationalis says the South-Asian country is among the most affected in the world by the consequences of climate change and, in this year of the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis encyclical Laudato Si, the cardinal invites us to reflect on the need to safeguard the environment. "These floods, the cardinal said, are the symptom and effect of the lack of care for our Common Home. And it is above all the poor and the most vulnerable who suffer because of it." (Source: Caritas Internationalis) In an appeal prominently featured in the national media yesterday, Stella Moris, the partner of Julian Assange and mother of his two young children, called on the Australian government to uphold its obligations to defend the WikiLeaks publisher, as an Australian citizen and journalist, take action to prevent his extradition to the US and secure his freedom. The comments were contained in an interview with Moris published on the front pages of the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age, two of the countrys most widely-read daily papers, under the headline Assanges fiancee asks Scott Morrison to guarantee familys safety. An accompanying photo was published of Morris with the couples young children. The article was one of the few instances in which a defender of Assange has been afforded the opportunity by the Australian corporate media to outline the politically-motivated and anti-democratic implications of extraditing him to the US, where he faces life imprisonment for exposing war crimes, and to refute the official slanders used to undermine public support for the WikiLeaks publisher. Assange and Moris in the Ecuadorian embassy (Credit: WikiLeaks) Since British extradition hearings resumed early this month, a pall of silence has hung over Assanges plight. The major newspapers have still not published a single editorial calling for his defence, despite their professed commitment to press freedom, and Assanges name has not passed the lips of a single Liberal-National government minister or prominent representative of the Labor Party opposition. Moris condemned the Australian governments abandonment of Assange. What he has asked for and what I have asked for directly to [Prime Minister] Scott Morrison is for political intervention, for a political intervention because this is a political case, she stated, adding that it had been frankly very disappointing, that the government had not given any commitment to protect Assange. Importantly, Moris placed this refusal in a broader context, with the Sydney Morning Herald reporting that she feared it was part of a widespread pattern of increasing attacks on free speech across the Western world that had ensnared her fiancee. Moris specifically referenced unprecedented federal police raids, targeting the Sydney headquarters of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the home of Newscorp political editor Annika Smethurst in June last year. Those operations, overseen directly by the government and conducted in discussion with US agencies, were over separate stories exposing Australian involvement in alleged war crimes in Afghanistan and secret plans for expanded government surveillance. As the World Socialist Web Site and WikiLeaks warned at the time, the raids were a direct application of the Assange precedent. That is, an escalating assault on press freedom, drawing on the playbook employed by the US administration of President Donald Trump, when it unveiled 17 Espionage Act charges against Assange in May, 2019, over WikiLeaks exposures of war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay, and global diplomatic conspiracies, spanning from coups to the presence of US informants in major politics organisations, including Australias Labor Party. Moris insisted that the Assange case is not something that the Australian government can just hide its head in the sand and say nothing to do with us. The human rights lawyer revealed that she would like to live with Assange and their children in Australia, but only if there were official guarantees of their safety. Moris pointed to the immense hardships they were experiencing as a result of Assanges imprisonment in Britains maximum-security Belmarsh Prison, and the prospect of his extradition, stating: I dont want Julian to become a martyr. Were a family, hes not a symbol to us. Hes part of ... hes Daddy. So I just tell them that Daddys coming home. Assange with one of his and Moris' sons in the Ecuadorian embassy (Credit: WikiLeaks Twitter) Moriss strong appeal was made as the criminality of successive Australian governments to defend Assange is clearer than ever. The British court proceedings are a show-trial, that have been condemned by human rights organisations, more than 150 leading legal experts and over 160 prominent international political figures. The British and US authorities have done everything they can to prevent Assange from participating in his defence. Witnesses have been denied adequate time to present their evidence, the court has upheld US government demands that torture at Guantanamo Bay and CIA black sites be a proscribed topic, and prosecutors issued a superseding indictment, weeks out from the hearings, introducing a host of new allegations after Assanges lawyers had finalised their defence case. Evidence this week from psychiatrists has substantiated earlier warnings that Assange displays medically-verifiable symptoms of psychological torture. Testimony from medical experts that Assange would be at a very high risk of suicide if he were extradited, have been waved away by prosecutors representing the US government, who have touted the medical care supposedly on offer in maximum-security American prisons. Despite all of this, it does not appear that a single corporate journalist has challenged a government or Labor representative on their failure to defend Assange. Morrison has previously alternated between assurances that Assange will be provided with worthless consular assistance, and prejudicial declarations that he must face the music. Labor leader Anthony Albanese has said nothing. Over the past two years, the Socialist Equality Party has extensively refuted official claims that the Australian government is powerless to intervene in legal proceedings abroad, under conditions where the rights of an Australian citizen are being trampled upon. A detailed WSWS article by legal expert Richard Hoffman, published in June, 2018, noted that: The Australian government has the legal right to seek the diplomatic protection of Julian Assange. Such action may involve diplomatic requests and representations to the British government, and, in some circumstances, the bringing of proceedings against Britain, in British courts of law. The factual bases for the exercise of Australias discretion to protect Assange are both extreme and momentous. The circumstances in which a sovereign nation may act to protect its subjects are wide-ranging. The factual bases have only been extended since, as it has become public that the US government is seeking to imprison Assange for life for publishing the truth. Claims that the government can do nothing are refuted by a raft of precedents. In an article last December, the WSWS cited the following cases: Melinda Taylor, a lawyer who has previously represented Assange and WikiLeaks, was appointed by the International Criminal Court to advocate on behalf of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in 2012, a year after his fathers government was overthrown by a NATO regime-change operation. In a flagrant violation of international law, the US-installed rebel government arrested Taylor and accused her of spying. The Australian Labor government intervened, with then Foreign Minister Bob Carr personally flying to Tripoli to secure Taylors release and her return to Australia. James Ricketson, a documentary filmmaker, was convicted of bogus espionage charges in Cambodia. He was released in 2018 after the Coalition government made high-level diplomatic representations on his behalf. Peter Greste, an Australian journalist working for Al Jazeera, was detained by the US-backed military dictatorship of Egypt and found guilty of fabricated terrorism offenses. He was freed after Australian government action in 2015. Many other examples could be documented. Earlier this month, the government escalated a Chinese police request to interview two Australian journalists in Beijing, into a major diplomatic incident. Despite the fact that there was no indication that the reporters faced detention or criminal charges, they were kept within an Australian embassy compound before being flown out of the country. At the time, government ministers made statements insisting that it was their duty to repatriate Australian citizens, and especially journalists, who face persecution abroad. The response to the Assange case has been very different. Over the past decade, beginning with the Greens-backed Labor administration of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, governments have joined the US-led vendetta against Assange, echoing CIA-concocted slanders against him, and working behind the scenes with American agencies to destroy WikiLeaks. This is inextricably tied to the political and media establishments support for the US alliance, along with American military wars and preparations, including the 19-year long occupation of Afghanistan and Washingtons confrontation with China. It dovetails with a domestic assault on democratic rights, motivated by the same fears of social and political opposition from the working class, that are spurring a turn to authoritarianism by governments around the world. The experiences of the past three weeks have further confirmed the Socialist Equality Partys insistence that an Australian government will only intervene to secure Assanges freedom, if it is forced to do so by a mass political movement of the working class. Chandigarh: Haryana BJP chief O P Dhankar on Thursday said the Oppositions lies on the Centres farm reforms will be nailed during the upcoming crop procurement season beginning next week. He said the procurement of kharif crops will begin in Haryana and Punjab from October 1. When procurement will go on smoothly, farmers will come to know the lies the Congress is spreading and realise that the reforms are for their benefit, he said at a news conference here. Dhankar also accused the Opposition of trying to mislead farmers at a time when reforms have been initiated in their favour. They told white lies that the MSP mechanism will be dismantled and the mandi system will break, both of which are untrue, he said. Dhankar, a former Haryana Agriculture Minister, said the farm Bills are not an alternative to the entire system but an option for some farmers to go for direct marketing. But they (opposition parties) are projecting as if these will become an alternate system in itself and by spreading falsehood, they are trying to build up an agitation, said Dhankar. He said currently a majority of farmers sell their crops in mandis at the MSP. In Haryana, farmers who do direct marketing are nearly one lakh, of which 82,000 are connected with farmer producer organisations while 25,000 are progressive farmers. The condition is similar in other states and the reforms now give all farmers an option for direct marketing, he said. Hitting out at the Congress, Dhankar said the party before the 2019 parliamentary elections had proposed the abolition of the APMC Act to make agricultural produce free from restrictions and was now changing track. Dhankar said after the Congress-led UPA came to power, they constituted the M S Swaminathan Commission but even six years after it submitted its report, they did not implement its recommendations. Dhankar assured farmers that the legislations are in their interest and said there will be no change in the existing MSP or mandi system. When asked that there were reports that a couple of former MLAs, who had switched over to the BJP from the INLD before the October 2019 assembly polls, have expressed some reservations, Dhankar said, Today, they had a breakfast with me and appreciated the measures, saying these are in interests of farmers. Dhankar said BJP workers are meeting farmers across the state to make them aware about the benefits of these reforms. All rules are pro-farmer. The opposition parties claims that farmers will be exploited by big corporates are baseless as there are enough safeguards in favour of them, he said. Parliament has recently passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill; Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill; and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill. The Bills are yet to get the assent of the President. 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 Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq carried out a military operation Wednesday to clear the islands in the Kanous area from the remnants of the Islamic State group. The Kanous islands are a group of small islands in the Tigris River situated near Kanous village in southern Mosul. The area is used by IS militants as a distribution center for the militants that are coming from Syria. The military operations in the area started on Sept. 19 by the Iraqi army, police forces, and PMF. But after three days, the Iraqi army and police forces pulled out from the area without achieving their goal of clearing the islands of IS pockets. The Iraqi Joint Operations Center has published several photos of murdered IS members, their guns and hideouts but did not specify the reason behind the withdrawal or announce the end of the operations. Only the PMF are continuing the operations and attempting to clear the IS hideouts on the islands, which are densely packed with trees. The PMF are facing challenges and do not have the engineering equipment or pontoon bridges needed to cross the river, said Abu Sidra al Turkmani, the head of operations at Brigade 30. The PMF was created in 2014 as a framework to organize and pay the thousands who volunteered to fight the IS after a fatwa by Iraq's top cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. By Tiemoko Diallo BAMAKO (Reuters) - West African leaders may lift painful economic sanctions against Mali once an interim president is inaugurated on Friday in the wake of the Aug. By Tiemoko Diallo BAMAKO (Reuters) - 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 bloc's envoy said, praising the junta's 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 Nigeria's 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 Monday's 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 group's 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. (Reporting By Tiemoko Diallo in Bamako; Writing by Edward McAllister and Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Bate Felix, Matthew Lewis and Marguerita Choy) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23) President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to fellow international leaders to protect the rights of migrant workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "In these times, we need stronger cooperation in promoting and protecting the rights of migrants, regardless of their migrant status," said Duterte in a pre-recorded speech during his first-ever United Nations General Assembly appearance on Wednesday (Philippine time). The President reported to the UN body that more than 345,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are eligible for repatriation, but he admitted only half of those have been brought back to the country. Duterte added the Philippine government partnered with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the establishment of a Green Lane to facilitate the safe and swift disembarkation and crew change of Filipino seafarers. The country's Maritime Industry Authority sent a communication to the IMO last August 25 for the formal implementation of guidelines on Green Lane for Filipino maritime workers. Duterte also recognized the sacrifices made by the OFWs, who continued to work amid the global health crisis. "Many have lost not only their livelihood, but also their health and lives as well. Yet they go on in the frontlines, healing, caring for others in the different parts of the world," Duterte said. Duterte thanked the countries which provided OFWs with residence permits, access to COVID-19 testing, treatment, and related health services in this time of pandemic. As of 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority recorded an estimated number of 2.2 million Filipinos who are working abroad. Saudi Arabia has the most number of OFWs followed by United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Meanwhile, Duterte added in his UNGA speech the country is open to accepting refugees such as the Rohingyas, an ethnic minority group in Myanmar. A huge number of Rohingyas remain in refugee status after a state military-led genocide killed thousands of them in the Burmese state of Rakhine in 2017. He said the Philippines has a long history of accepting refugees, from the White Russians affected by the 1917 Revolution up to the Iranians displaced by the 1979 Revolution. "Helping the most vulnerable those displaced by conflict, persecution, and political instability is a shared responsibility of all countries. In the face of a mounting refugee crisis worldwide, let us work together towards ending the conflicts and conditions that force people to flee their homes," the President explained. Vietnam is the fastest-growing wind energy market in Southeast Asia, with 500MW of onshore and offshore installed capacity and an additional 4GW due to be connected by 2025 Vietnams wind industry is already facing a slowing of investment in 2020 because of the uncertainty around the investment framework and further delays to the FiT extension will hinder supply chain development and cost reduction in the emerging wind market, and ultimately undermine Vietnams goal of affordable, reliable, and clean electricity. Vietnam is the fastest-growing wind market in the region, with 500MW of onshore and offshore capacity currently installed and at least 4GW forecast to be commissioned by 2025. However, investor interest in wind project development in Vietnam has slowed significantly in 2020 as onshore wind projects typically require two years for development but the current FiT only applies to projects completed by November 2021. Without clarity on the FiT scheme from 2022 onward, investors are facing too much uncertainty to commit to new wind projects, jeopardising the future pipeline and leading to job cuts in the sector. Vietnam has been widely recognised for quickly becoming a regional leader of clean energy in Southeast Asia and attracting investment commitments from a number of world-class companies in the sector, said Ben Backwell, GWECs CEO. The government must now avoid slowing down badly-needed investment in wind energy by extending the FiT scheme, thereby ensuring that long-term investments can materialise to create tens of thousands of skilled jobs and provide clean, competitive power for Vietnams economy, he added The Government Office and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have already recognised the substantial potential of wind energy to generate clean power and green growth. In this June, the prime minister approved an additional 7GW of new wind projects to be added to Vietnams master plan for the power sector (PDP 7). However, the reality is that the vast majority of the 7GW may not materialise, due to the lack of certainty on the FiT extension. Vietnam is on the cusp of achieving economies of scale and cost reduction in the wind industry, and this momentum must be maintained if it is to avoid a boom-bust cycle of development, said Mark Hutchinson, chair of GWECs Southeast Asia Taskforce. Due to project timescales, a delayed FiT extension risks a 'bust' period for the wind sector, wherein very few projects will be connected to the grid in 2022-2023. In the long run, this will jeopardise the cost reduction made possible by consistent, large-scale supply chain development and ultimately result in less renewable energy at higher prices for Vietnam. At least 1.65GW of wind projects are forecast to be installed before the current FiT expires in November 2021. Wind energy, as a clean, indigenous energy source, plays an important role in bolstering Vietnams energy security and meeting its soaring electricity demand. Moreover, the growing renewables sector could generate billions of dollars in investment capital and hundreds of thousands of jobs in the long term. The GWEC understands that the Vietnamese government is currently considering the FiT extension and the introduction of a new FiT scheme. The situation for the wind sector has now become critical, as the slowdown in investor interest in 2020 has been compounded by disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to component bottlenecks in the global wind supply chain and less favourable capital expenditure (CAPEX) rates at future sites for new wind projects, particularly around the Mekong Delta, the investment case for wind projects in Vietnam will be significantly challenged without a transparent and reasonable FiT scheme announced as soon as possible. To date, Vietnams wind market has benefited from increasingly strong flows of foreign and domestic capital. The 4GW due to be installed by 2025 could generate up to 65,000 jobs and about $4 billion in investment. To realise this potential, the government must act now to extend the wind energy FiT scheme and avoid a prolonged slowdown of clean energy investment and installation in the years ahead. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy (The Jakarta Post) Singapore Fri, September 25 2020 Market access is primarily conceived in terms of the removal of tariff barriers to trade, and in that sense, ASEAN has been remarkably successful in negotiating tariffs downward over the past two decades. However, free flow in agrifood trade in ASEAN has not yet been achieved, with key obstacles being non-tariff measures (NTMs), including regulatory instruments such as sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measure as well as import licenses and testing and certification requirements. NTMs affect producers, importers and exporters alike by increasing information, compliance and procedural costs. ASEAN has been implementing a work program to reduce the trade-distorting effects of NTMs on agrifood trade for more than a decade under the ASEAN Framework Agreement for the Integration of Priority Sectors signed in 2004. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 By Tamilla Mammadova Trend: Azerbaijan imported from Georgia 14,989 cars in the first eight months of 2020, Trend reports via the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat). The total cost of the cars exported by Georgia to Azerbaijan amounted to $156.1 million. Compared to the same period last year, Azerbaijan increased the import of cars from Georgia by 2,065 cars or 1 percent. Georgia exported products to Azerbaijan in the amount of $84.2 million from January through August this year. In the period of January through August 2020, Georgia imported products worth $309.5 million from Azerbaijan. In January through August 2020 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 Marvel Cinematic Universe will never be the same without Iron Man, so Marvel Studios is reportedly looking for an actor to become their newest star. Long before Marvel Studios gave birth to Marvel Cinematic Universe, several studios attempted to breathe life to Stan Lee's superhero character. Aside from the production company, Universal Studios once attempted to launch it in 1990 with Stuart Gordon. After the first failed trial, Fox set it out with Quentin Tarantino in 1999. It then bounced to Nick Cassavetes after he planned it with New Line Cinema. After a long journey, the rights finally landed on Marvel Studios in 2005. But before Jon Favreau and RDJ marked the beginning of MCU, Tom Cruise was set to do the role. Since RDJ's character died in "Avengers: Endgame," rumors about casting Tom Cruise to give life to Mr. Tony Stark emerged again. According to We Got This Covered's intel Daniel Richtman, Marvel eyes the 58-year-old "Oblivion" actor to become the multiverse's Tony Stark. "They are considering a bunch of interesting cameos for Strange to play different versions of character we know. One example I heard of they are considering is Tom Cruise as Tony Stark from another Earth (at one point Cruise almost got the role of Stark before RDJ)," the insider claimed. Although there is only a little chance that this might happen, fans would surely reject this since they only accept RDJ as the only Iron Man. If his character is already dead, they believe that there is no need for replacements anymore. Tom Cruise as Iron Man In An Alternate MCU Marvel Studios and Cruise himself are yet to debunk the idea. But one artist already gave netizens a sneak peek of how the actor would look like once he wears the Iron Man suit. It has been an exciting journey to have Benedict Cumberbatch's character on the phases. This opens the possibility that Mr. Tony Stark is still alive in another lifetime. Instagram user spdrmnkyxxiii gave fans a look of Cruise as Iron Man. The image shows the actor flaunting Iron Man's traditional red and gold suit. The Arc Reactor also glows from the center of his chest. "Tho this rumor isn't from a credible source ( wegitthiscovered ) [sic] I definitely wouldn't mind this idea. Casting different actors as alternate versions of superheroes we already know seems like a very interesting idea," the artist said. Currently, the post nearly has 12,000 likes. However, it received mixed reactions from fans. One fan suggested, "It would be fitting as Tom Cruise was considered for the role multiple times in the past, including the current version. So by that logic, in an alternate dimension, Tom Cruise IS iron man." Despite that set-up, most fans truly expressed their disapproval over that thought. This indeed explained why they would never accept anyone as Iron Man and how they would not want to see the character if RDJ would not be playing it. Nothing is sure yet, though. But since Cruise is still busier in Hollywood, fans will not see him as Iron Man anytime soon - or maybe not ever. READ MORE: Hugh Jackman in Netflix? 'Wolverine' Star Returns With 'Underrated' Film With its case for America being founded entirely on the idea of perpetrating slavery meeting pushback and as factual history falling apart, the New York Times is now very, very quietly trying weasel out of the worst claims of its "1619" project, hoping no one is going to notice. According to the Washington Examiner's Becket Adams: New York Times Magazine editors have quietly removed controversial language from the online version of Hannah-Joness 1619 Project, a package of essays that argue chattel slavery defines Americas founding. Hannah-Jones herself also asserts now that the projects core thesis is not what she and everyone else involved originally said it was. It does not argue that 1619 is our true founding," she said on Friday. She declared elsewhere in July that it doesnt argue, for obvious reasons, that 1619 is our true founding. This is a brazen lie. When the 1619 Project debuted both online and in print in August 2019, the online versions text stated originally [emphasis added]: The 1619 project is a major initiative from The New York Times observing the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the countrys history, understanding 1619 as our true founding , and placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative. That same online passage, which was the source of so much controversy among historians on both sides of the aisle, now reads: The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the countrys history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative. That wasn't the only change, Adams notes. The '1619' driving author, Nikole Hannah-Jones, who won a Walter Duranty-style Pulitzer Prize for her efforts, argued that America was founded entirely on the idea of perpetrating slavery on her Twitter page, and even had '1776' crossed out on her Twitter banner with '1619' replacing it. She got rid of that mendacious little propaganda, too. Legal Insurrection notes that the far-leftists at World Socialist Web Site have noticed and are plenty upset. Here's what they concluded, writing what they write as if it's a bad thing: These deletions are not mere wording changes. The true founding claim was the core element of the Projects assertion that all of American history is rooted in and defined by white racial hatred of blacks. According to this narrative, trumpeted by Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones, the American Revolution was a preemptive racial counterrevolution waged by white people in North America to defend slavery against British plans to abolish it. Which is pretty sneaky indeed. Already historians have discredited '1619' as garbage. Yet '1619' has drawn slavering from the Pulitzer committee and numerous other awards, and is now being formed as a packet to be taught in schools, teaching America's little kids that America is a disgusting place and its founding a fraud. President Trump pushed back on this juggernaut, and since then, toppled the whole house of cards, driving even the Times to want to pretend it never happened. They made no notations of changes in their content on this garbage, they just wanted to gaslight us that none of their earlier claims had ever happened. Which is why they ought to be held accountable. Here's the stellar summary as to why from Instapundit's Sarah Hoyt: She's right - there should be a cost for shoving those kinds of lies at America's little kids, making them hate their own country. As Eric Hoffer once noted "Is there any greater freedom than to be wrong?' Next time these clowns claim to be oppressed, this garbage needs to be thrown at them. And the entire project needs to be pulped. One hopes that the Times with its backtracking eventually gets the intestinal fortitude to do it, but no one should hold their breath. They'd just as soon lie to you about their lies at this point. Or go Emily Littela, and say 'never mind.' Pushback's a beach. President Trump deserves America's thanks for calling out a very big ugly emperor parading around as naked. Image credit: Twitter screen shot, meme Should Christians vote? Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Earlier this week was National Voter Registration Day, so it is an appropriate time to consider an important question: do American Christians have a moral obligation to vote? During the last election, one Christian leader expressed his discomfort with hosting voter registration drives and providing voter guides to his congregation. Although this leader believes that voting is a good thing, he nevertheless believes it is imprudent for the church as an institution to do anything beyond praying for candidates and preaching on moral issues. Despite this pastors good intention to safeguard his churchs mission and witness, this approach falls short of what fully realized Christian discipleship requires. If the gospel has implications for all areas of life, including politics, should not pastors strive to ensure their members are equipped (i.e., registered to vote) and sufficiently informed to faithfully engage in the public square? In a constitutional republic like the United States, the locus of power is the citizenry; the government derives its authority from the people. As Alexander Hamilton explained in Federalist Paper 22, the consent of the people is the pure original fountain of all legitimate authority. In the United States this principle is foundational to our government and provides citizens with incredible opportunity and responsibility. Unlike billions of people around the world, Americans, through the ballot box, control their political future. Indeed, we are stewards of it, as we are stewards of everything else God has given us. For Christian citizens, the implications of Americas form of government are even more significant when considered alongside Pauls teaching on the purpose of government in Romans 13. According to Paul, government is ordained by God to promote good and restrain evil. God authorizes the government to wield the sword for the administration of justice. As one theologian recently explained, The sword is Gods authorized gift to humanity for protecting life. From these considerations, a truth with far-reaching implications for Christian political engagement emerges: Voting is an exercise in delegating God-ordained authority. Because power resides with the people in our republic, when Christians vote, they are delegating their ruling authority to others. In other words, by voting, Christians are entrusting their sword-bearing responsibility to officials who will govern on their behalf. Seen from this perspective, voting is a matter of stewardship; failure to vote is a failure to exercise God-given authority. Therefore, if the act of voting is the act of delegating the exercise of the sword, pastors should communicate to their members: This is what Christians should do. Given the unavoidable role of politics and the direct, real-world impact that government decisions have on peoples lives, downplaying the responsibility to vote amounts to a failure in Christian discipleship and loving our neighbors comprehensively. Now, some might push back and argue that this conception of voting and political engagement overly prioritizes the political arena. When reflecting on the Christian obligation to love our neighbors, they might argue that political engagement is only one way of loving our neighbor and trying to be a faithful presence in the culture. This is true, but we must not minimize the significance of government and the role it plays in peoples lives. Love of neighbor must be embodied in all aspects of life. Can Christians really care for their neighbors well if they are not engaging in politics, the arena where a societys basic rights and freedoms are shaped? Further, given the United States far-reaching influence in the world, how can American Christians love the people of the nations well without having a vested interest in how our government approaches the issue of religious liberty and human rights worldwide issues which go to the heart of seeing people around the world as created in the image of God? By voting, Americans determine who will represent the United States abroad as well as the values our country will export around the world. Will Americas ambassadors be stalwart defenders of religious freedom overseas? Christians who support missionaries should care about the state of international religious freedom, an area of advocacy in which the United States exerts significant influence. Will abortion, under the euphemism of family planning, be funded overseas by American taxpayers, or will U.S. foreign policy value the life of the unborn? Again, American believers, by exercising their right to vote, have a direct say in these matters. In light of these considerations, pastors should exhort their members to be involved in the political process and to vote. But voting is not enough. Pastors should also help educate and equip their members to think biblically about moral issues, candidates, and party platforms. Much of this equipping and educating should be accomplished through the regular rhythms and liturgies of the church (preaching the Word, corporate prayer, hymnody, etc.). However, for the sake of robust political discipleship, additional steps should be taken. For some congregations, this might mean providing access to voter guides and other educational material. In others, it might mean hosting workshops or Bible studies on political engagement. Many Christians might get squeamish at these suggestions; if so, we must recall a proper understanding of politics, as discussed previously that of deciding how best to organize the affairs of the community and love one another. When we realize politics is, at its core, about how we love our neighbor as we live and order our lives together, we understand there is no reason to shy away from becoming informed about how to vote. Rather, we must embrace the question. We must make room for thoughtful discussion and respectful disagreement on certain issues within the body of Christ, but we must not avoid talking about them altogether. It is not enough to espouse concern for human dignity but not support policies and candidates who will fight to overturn profound moral wrongs. In a Genesis 3 world plagued by sin, Christians are called to reverse the corroding effects of the fall wherever they exist. Our decision to cast an informed vote is an attempt to do just that. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy used his speech before the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday to stress the need for a "de-occupation" of annexed Crimea, calling for reforms of the U.N. In a pre-recorded address to the Assembly, Zelenskiy spoke of the Russian annexation of Crimea, urging the world not to let the issue simply become a "customary element of the international order." "It is unacceptable when the sovereignty of an independent country is violated by one of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. It definitively proves (that) mechanisms of 1945 don't work to their full extent," Zelenskiy said. Moscow views the Crimea annexation as legitimate. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been pushing for years to end U.S. and European Union sanctions imposed on Moscow after it annexed the territory from Ukraine in 2014. Zelenskiy also suggested opening an international office to combat disinformation in Kyiv, as Ukraine since 20014 had been "actively countering propaganda and information attacks.". Speaking of global threats to the world, such as the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout, the president said that "uniting the efforts of all the states is an absolute requirement of the times." "Every year a call for action instead of talks gets louder at the General Assembly. It is an indication of a crisis in the U.N., the security architecture, the health of humanity, our economies and the world as a whole," Zelenskiy said. Shape strategic responses through the phases of industry recovery. Sigma Alimentos SA de CV, The Kraft Heinz Co., and Tyson Foods Inc. will emerge as major deli meat market participants during 2020-2024. The deli meat market is expected to grow by USD 136.54 billion during 2020-2024, according to Technavio. The report offers a detailed analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the deli meat market in optimistic, probable, and pessimistic forecast scenarios. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005622/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Deli Meat Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) The deli meat market will witness Positive and Superior impact during the forecast period owing to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth is likely to Increase as compared to 2019. Enterprises will go through Respond, Recover and Renew phases. Download free report sample As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through respond, recover and renew phases. Building business resilience and enabling agility will aid organizations to move forward in their journey out of the COVID-19 crisis and towards the Next Normal. This post-pandemic business planning research will aid clients to: Adjust their strategic planning to move ahead once business stability kicks in. to move ahead once business stability kicks in. Build Resilience by making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products and service lines. making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products and service lines. Conceptualize scenario-based planning to mitigate future crisis situations. Download the Post-Pandemic Business Planning Structure. Click here Key Considerations for Market Forecast: Impact of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, demand destruction, and change in customer behavior Optimistic, probable, and pessimistic scenarios for all markets as the impact of pandemic unfolds Pre- as well as post-COVID-19 market estimates Quarterly impact analysis and updates on market estimates Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports by using Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Major Three Deli Meat Market Participants: Sigma Alimentos SA de CV Sigma Alimentos SA de CV operates its business in Mexico, USA, Europe, and LATAM. The company offers a wide range of deli meat products through several of its brands such as Bar-S, CAMPOFRIO, and Fiorucci. The Kraft Heinz Co. The Kraft Heinz Co. operates its business in US, Canada, EMEA, and ROW. The company offers a wide range of deli meat products through several of its brand such as Oscar Mayer and Delimex. Tyson Foods Inc. Tyson Foods Inc. has business operations under various segments, namely beef, pork, chicken, prepared foods, and international/other. The company offers deli meat products through Tyson, Smart Chicken, Sara Lee, Hillshire Farm, Hillshire Snacking, and Ball Park brands. If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extract FREE! Get report snapshot here to get detailed market share analysis of market participants during COVID-19 lockdown: https://www.technavio.com/report/ deli meat market-industry-analysis Deli Meat Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Deli Meat is segmented as below: Product Cured deli meat Uncured deli meat Geography North America Europe APAC MEA South America The deli meat market is driven by growth in organized retail. In addition, other factors such as the growing demand for organic and natural deli meats are expected to trigger the deli meat market toward witnessing a CAGR of almost 12% during the forecast period. Get more insights about the global trends impacting the future of the deli meat market, Request Free Sample https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR45091 Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005622/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ By Express News Service As the 16th Zurich Film Festival begins on Thursday, the festival authority announced that it will honour Academy-award winning actor Olivia Colman with the Golden Eye Award, the lifetime achievement honour at the festival. Colman is known for her stirring performance as Queen Elizabeth II in the third season of Netflix drama series, The Crown. She won the Oscar for her role as the naive and despaired Queen Anne of England in Yorgos Lanthimos 2018 film The Favourite. ALSO READ | "Old bat?": Olivia Colman sizzles in Season 3 of The Crown and how! She first collaborated with Lanthimos in his idiosyncratic dystopian feature The Lobster. Colmans new film The Father, directed by Florian Zeller makes its festival debut at Zurich. In Zellers directorial, Colman stars as the daughter of Anthony Hopkins, an aging father suffering from dementia. Colman will connect virtually to the premiere of her film on Saturday. In her statement, the actor expressed regret over her inability to attend the ceremony in person due to the pandemic conditions. Previous honorary winners of the Award include Jake Gyllenhaal, John Malkovich and Helen Hunt. Olivia Colman is one of the most exciting character actresses of her generation, she is characterized by great diversity and gives her characters depth, says Christian Junge, Artistic Director of Zurich film festival in the official announcement. NUI Galway Students Union has today welcomed the Universitys decision to provide refunds to students who no longer wish to take up spaces in on-campus student accommodation for 2020/21. Many students booked accommodation at the Corrib Village and Goldcrest developments on the basis that they were told by the University they would have on campus teaching hours this semester. The students subsequently discovered they would have no teaching time or very limited hours which didnt justify their outlay on the accommodation. NUI Galway Students Union took up the campaign on behalf of these students and their families with the University. Campus Living who run the two developments on behalf of the University yesterday evening confirmed that they would be entitled to a refund if they decide not to proceed with their booking due to having less time on campus than originally planned. Students Union President Padraic Toomey said: We are delighted that the University has listened to the student body and reversed their earlier decision. We are all facing a very uncertain future with the current global pandemic. Adding any extra financial pressures to students and their families is not acceptable. Now is a time to be flexible and compassionate. The national Education For All campaign launched this week highlights the pressing need for a publicly financed student accommodation building strategy and charter for student tenant rights. Students Union Welfare and Equality Officer Roisin Nic Lochlainn added: We hope that other student accommodation providers and landlords in Galway will follow the Universitys lead and provide refunds to students who no longer need accommodation. Many students and their families had to make tough decisions to book accommodation with incomplete information about how much time they would actually be on campus. Now that the picture is finally becoming clearer our students are finding themselves stuck with accommodation they cant afford and no jobs available for them to pay the rent. Fox News won a legal victory on Thursday after a federal judge dismissed a defamation suit brought against its host Tucker Carlson by a former Playboy model who said she had an affair with Donald J. Trump before he was president. The suit, filed last year, stemmed from a 2018 episode of Mr. Carlsons show in which he accused the model, Karen McDougal, of extorting Mr. Trump. She sold the rights to her story of an affair to The National Enquirer in 2016, which did not publish the story, a transaction that involved Mr. Trumps former longtime lawyer, Michael D. Cohen. Ms. McDougal said Mr. Carlsons remarks harmed her reputation, but Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, of United States District Court in Manhattan, said the hosts comments were protected by the First Amendment. The statements are rhetorical hyperbole and opinion commentary intended to frame a political debate, and, as such, are not actionable as defamation, she wrote. He put on a loved-up display with his new girlfriend Katie Holmes earlier in the week. But Emilio Vitolo Jr. was on his own on Wednesday as he picked up some essential items at a store in New York City. The 33-year-old chef was attired in a minimalist outfit comprised of neutral colors as he took care of his shopping. Stocking up: Katie Holmes' new boyfriend Emilio Vitolo Jr. was spotted Wednesday in New York City as he picked up some essential items at a store Vitolo looked sleek in a brilliant white dress shirt, which he wore unbuttoned over a white T-shirt. He darkened his look with a pair of charcoal trousers that were rolled up above his ankles to show off his white sneakers. The restaurateur matched his clothing to his white driving cap, and he also wore a white mask to guard against the coronavirus. Vitolo looked sleek in a brilliant white dress shirt, which he wore unbuttoned over a white T-shirt Vitolo carried around a small bag from CVS and a stick of deodorant as he crossed the street. The chef was just on a break from work and returned to his restaurant after making his purchases. He serves as the chef at the popular Italian restaurant Emilio's Ballato in Manhattan, a family business owned by his father Emilio Vitolo Sr. In its positive review of Emilio's Ballato, New York Magazine noted the restaurant has a 'clubby' atmosphere, partly due to Emilio Sr., who decides which customers gets a table and in what order they'll be served from his regular table at the front of the restaurant. Despite the insular style, plenty of celebrities have been drawn to the restaurant's classic Italian dishes, including former President Barack Obama and Hollywood stars Tom Hanks and Bradley Cooper. On theme: The restaurateur matched his clothing to his white driving cap, and he also wore a white mask to guard against the coronavirus Just the basics: Vitolo carried around a small bag from CVS and a stick of deodorant as he crossed the street Emilio and his actress girlfriend Katie Holmes, 41, were first linked on September 1, while on an apparent date at Mediterranean restaurant Antique Garage in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood. But the romantic nature of their relationship was unveiled later that week, when they were spotted kissing passionately at Manhattan's Peasant Restaurant. The relationship seems to be a drastic change from Katie's previous MO, as she's been unabashedly open about her new beau. In contrast, she began dating fellow actor Jamie Foxx, 52, in 2013, but the two kept their relationship private for years until going public at the Met Gala in May 2019, shortly before they broke up. The Dawson's Creek star can now often be seen hanging out with Emilio at his restaurant. Moving fast: Emilio and his Katie Holmes, 41, were first linked on September 1, while on an apparent date at Mediterranean restaurant Antique Garage in SoHo Loved-up: But the romantic nature of their relationship was unveiled later that week, when they were spotted kissing passionately at Manhattan's Peasant Restaurant A source close to the situation recently dished to People that Katie is beyond 'smitten' with her new love and that she 'keeps texting him all day long and he loves it.' ' He can't get enough of her attention,' the source added. DailyMail.com confirmed exclusively on September 10 that Vitolo broke off his previous engagement with his live-in fiancee Rachel Emmons, 24, via text when handsy photos of him and Holmes were first published. The handbag designer was left shocked and scrambling and had to move back home. Getting close: The two were seen kissing and holding hands the day before in Manhattan Katie and Emilio's friendship has been growing since October 2019, and she doesn't seem to have been bothered by his engagement. The two first met when a mutual friend introduced them, and their passions have only intensified since she returned home to New York City following time quarantining with her family in Ohio. An insider close to the Logan Lucky star said she's now behaving 'like a teenage girl in love' because Vitolo is 'openly affectionate with her, left his fiancee to be with her and gives her something [her ex-boyfriend] Jamie [Foxx] couldn't,' the source added. The insider said Holmes had been devastated by her breakup last year with the playboy actor, who never seemed to give up his roving eye and was still too close for comfort with his baby mama. Moving on: Katie previously dated Jamie Foxx in 2013, following her 2012 divorce from Tom Cruise, but they split in 2019 shortly after going public as a couple; shown in May 2019 The acting couple were first linked in 2013 hand-in-hand through Malibu, but they kept their relationship private throughout the years. The couple finally split after they took their relationship public last year at the Met Gala. Prior to coupling up with Foxx, Holmes was married to Hollywood icon Tom Cruise. The couple began their whirlwind courtship in 2005 and were married in seven weeks. Katie filed for divorce in 2012, which was finalized after only ten days. She and Cruise had welcomed their daughter Suri in 2006, who now spends her time with Katie, who has primary custody. One came last year, a few months ahead of an unforeseen global health crisis, and the other came in the midst of it, but two significant reforms, almost exactly a year apart, could, in the medium-term, make Indian industry more competitive. The first, announced September 20 last year was a sharp cut in corporate taxes, especially for new manufacturing companies. The second, passed during the monsoon session of Parliament that effectively ended on Wednesday, was a set of labour reforms enshrined in three labour codes (the fourth one has already been cleared). For years, these have been touted as crucial second-generation reforms the next logical set of policies to improve the competitiveness of Indian industry, and make it easier to do business in the country. Their absence, many experts believed, was one of the issues that afflicted the Indian manufacturing sector, making it difficult for the government to realise its aspiration to Make in India. This is understandable. Indias myriad labour laws were sharply focused on the organised sector (which employed a fraction of the overall workforce), and while designed to protect the interests of workers and ensure compliance proved cumbersome and inspection-intensive. They served as an effective disincentive for small companies to aspire to become large ones. And by preventing companies from adjusting their labour needs to suit market demand, they hurt competitiveness, the ability and willingness of industry to create jobs, and even the workers themselves (with many companies, including large car makers, opting to hire contract workers instead of regular ones). No government seemed willing to address the issue labour reforms were a sticky political issue, after all. Now, they have been passed consolidated sets of laws (or codes) on wages, social security, industrial relations, and occupational safety. The wage code was passed last year; the other three, during the monsoon session of Parliament. The worst thing that can happen to both sets of reforms (tax as well as labour) is to review their success in the immediate context of the Indian economys recovery from the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. They will make it easier to do business in India (as long as the underlying rules dont play spoilsport). And they will boost industrys competitiveness. But it will take time. Going Further Option 1: Recreate Now its your turn: Conduct the conservation test with a young child you know between the ages of 2 and 7. You can choose your materials (bath bubbles, pennies, Legos or anything else around your house that can be molded or put into containers), but follow the five steps described in the article. If you dont have young children in your family, you might consider conducting the experiment on Zoom or other digital platform with a child of someone you know, as long as its OK with his or her parent. If possible, make a recording of the test, with the child and parents permission, so you can rewatch and take careful notes on what you observed. Afterward, analyze and interpret the results. Use the questions from the warm-up: What did you notice? What did you wonder? Then dig deeper and ask: How do your results and findings compare with those from the video? Did it confirm or challenge the previous ideas of child development? What further questions emerged from the process? Option 2: Research The Swiss-born psychologist Jean Piaget, one of the founding fathers of developmental psychology, spent hours each day observing his children as they grew. His contention that children are not empty vessels to be filled with knowledge but are active builders of knowledge little scientists who construct their own theories of the world revolutionized the world of early childhood education. Research more about Piagets life and ideas: What were his theories on cognitive development? What role did experiments and observation play in the evolution of these ideas? Why were his theories so revolutionary? What impact did they have on the fields of psychology and education? How do his ideas relate to your own learning? Piaget wrote over 50 books and contributed to hundreds of other works, many published after his death. A good place to start your research is by visiting the Jean Piaget Society website or reading these two summaries of his work. Or read his New York Times obituary. Panaji: Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Friday accused Manohar Parrikar of being disinterested in his job as the Defence Minister and said it ill-behoves a person entrusted with such a crucial post. As a Defence Minister his performance has been questionable. I dont think in the past there has been any Defence Minister who has been so disinterested in his job. It is one of the top jobs in the government, Pilot told reporters in Panaji. I dont think he (Parrikar) has really lived up to the stature of the Defence Minister, he said. The former Union Minister is in Goa to participate in the Congress election rallies. Read | Corruption is key issue in Goa: AAP CM candidate Elvis Gomes Stating that BJP was fooling people on the issue of One Rank One Pension (OROP), Pilot questioned why are former jawans are still sitting and protesting at jantar mantar (in Delhi) if all their demands are fulfilled? There has been actually a betrayal of trust of jawans. Lot of ex-servicemen supported BJP. Two and half years later, they are still negotiating by relasing few hundred crores. That does not satisfy the demand of OROP. The fallacy that they have sold, Parrikar is a party to that. That is a big lie of the BJP that needs to be exposed, he said. Referring to the recent remarks by Nitin Gadkari that the next CM can be sent from the Centre, Pilot said we talk about Super CM and super-super CM, we dont know how many layers there are. Read | Goa assembly polls 2017: Ruling BJP to release election manifesto on Jan 29 Gadkari has come and given a new twist to the story...they might as well be frank, and say so and so would be the CM face. Pilot also alleged that the BJP was largely using money power to win Goa Legislative assembly elections. Since BJP is ruling in the state and Centre there has been large misuse of money during the electioneering process. The kind of money power BJP is using has not happened in Goa elections in the past. I want the Election Commission to take note of it. The misuse of government machinery is also happening specially in Goa, he said. Pilot assured that Congress manifesto for Goa would be implemented in toto. Once we form the government, the manifesto would be given to the Chief Secretary and governments agenda would be the manifesto, he said. The Congress leader also accused the ruling BJP in Goa of making U-turns on several issues. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Chennai: A classroom at a school (serving as examination center) being sanitised on the eve of the National-Eligibilty-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) examinations that are scheduled to be conducted across Tamil Nadu from tomorrow, in Chennai on Sep 12, 202 Image Source: IANS News Chennai, Sep 24 : The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday said it would permit students of classes 10 to 12 to go to school on a voluntary basis for taking guidance from their teachers from October 1. According to the government order, permission is given to students of 10th, 11th and 12th class studying in government and government-aided and private schools to come to school voluntarily to take guidance from their teachers and further related works. The government said, schools can call 50 per cent of the teachers taking classes for 10th, 11th and 12th classes at a time in areas outside the Covid-19 containment zones from October 1. A paramilitary policeman stands guard in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, on Nov. 17, 2015. (Damir Sagolj/File Photo/Reuters) Lawmakers Call for Action on Mass Vocational Training in Tibet A group of international legislators on Tuesday condemned the Chinese regime for allegedly imposing a mass vocational training program on Tibet reminiscent of the system used in Xinjiang. In a statement, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) called for governments to investigate reports of forced labor and ethnic persecution in China and sanction those responsible. The statement accompanies the publication of a report (pdf) co-published by IPAC that highlights an apparent widespread system of forced labor in Tibet perpetrated by the Chinese regime. The vocational training program for rural laborers appears disturbingly reminiscent of coercive vocational training and mass labor transfers imposed by the Chinese authorities in the Uyghur region, the statement reads. 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 scholar Adrian Zenz, who authored the report, said that, in his opinion, the program is the strongest, most clear and targeted attack on traditional Tibetan livelihoods that we have seen almost since the Cultural Revolution. The report was corroborated by a Reuters investigation published on Tuesday. The lawmakers said the report shows that despite criticisms from the international community, Beijing continues to abuse basic human rights. We stand united in unequivocal condemnation of these practices and call upon the Chinese government to halt these atrocities immediately, the lawmakers wrote. 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. IPAC urged governments to impose targeted Magnitsky-style sanctions upon those responsible and revise their risk advice to businesses so that they can avoid purchasing goods produced by forced labor. They also asked governments to call for reciprocal access to Tibet in order to conduct an independent international investigation into the situation of the Tibetan people, and install a UN special rapporteur to investigate alleged forced labor and ethnic persecution in the Peoples Republic of China. The 63 signatories represent Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand, the United States, and 10 European countries. Also on Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which would prevent certain imports from Xinjiang and imposing sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations. Reuters contributed to this report Ignoring calls for an end to his 26-year grip on power, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in for a sixth term yesterday after an election that the opposition and several foreign governments say was rigged. The ceremony would normally have been publicised as a major state occasion but was instead held without warning following Mr Lukashenko's claim of a landslide victory. The opposition, which has staged more than six weeks of protests demanding his resignation, denounced the inauguration as illegitimate and called for more demonstrations. 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 Mr Lukashenko put 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 said the country needed safety and consensus "on the brink of a global crisis", an apparent reference to the 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. Some chanted: "Sasha, come out, we'll congratulate you!", referring to the diminutive form of Mr Lukashenko's first name. Rumours had swept Minsk that the president, in power since 1994, was preparing for a snap inauguration ceremony when a motorcade swept through the centre of the capital earlier yesterday. 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 asked on social media. "It is obvious that Alexander Lukashenko is exclusively the president of the OMON (riot police) and a handful of lying officials." Mr Latushko called for "an indefinite action of civil disobedience". Germany reiterated that it did not recognise Mr 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 elections... his illegitimacy is a fact, with all the consequences that this entails." Mr 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, Russian President Vladimir Putin. 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, Mr Putin granted Mr Lukashenko a $1.5bn (1.28bn) loan, and the two countries are holding "Slavic Brotherhood" defence exercises in Belarus. As part of those drills, Russian paratroopers parachuted into Belarus yesterday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the swearing-in was "absolutely the sovereign decision of the Belarusian leadership". Asked if Mr Putin was invited, he said it looked as though the presence of foreign leaders had not been envisaged. The UN 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. Gov. Phil Murphy is finally getting what he wanted from the moment he was elected: The ability to raise taxes on the the rich, with the intention of giving the extra money to the poor. Until recently, Murphy has not been able to get a millionaires tax through the Legislature, partly due to resistance in his own Democratic Party. But the COVID-19 has created the perfect excuse to finally pass his beloved programs. It is everyones responsibility to help the less fortunate in providing opportunities for a better education, a safe place to live, access to health care and good-paying jobs. But, in playing Robin Hood, Murphy is pursuing only one goal: getting reelected next year. Low-and moderate income families with children who are slated to receive an insulting $500 state check will not be able to do much with it. It will not even cover recent gasoline tax and highway toll increases. Our state has a large number of poorly educated children, yet it can cost $30,000 a year to educate each one. We routinely send to jail young people with mental disease and drug dependency at about $50,000 a year. We empower municipalities and prosecutors to punish drivers with ridiculous fines for petty infractions, allowing the poor to sink even deeper. Murphy should dig deep into how our hard-earned money is actually spent. Are teachers teaching? Reward good ones and eliminate the bad apples. Municipalities that spend too freely should get a haircut. Too many have unnecessary and inefficient employees. Lets empower our youth. Make mental health services available to everyone. Find the money in prison budgets. It should not be: Lets tax the rich and give to the poor. At the end of the day, the few rich people our state has left will manage pretty well. But the ever-increasing poor will be left in the dark. Aurora Dejuliis Carluccio, Montclair Trump defaults to whack-a-mole COVID policy Im no expert, but a substantial federal response to the pandemic would have made sense. Instead, President Donald Trump largely left things to the states. This appears to have resulted in the whack-a-mole COVID-19 situation our country faces today. In most other developed countries the central government dealt with the virus. Most of their their per-capita mortality and infection rates are a fraction of ours. In the United States, some states got control of the situation, only to lose it again. One egregious example of our presidents failure to lead was instructing governors of separate states to acquire their own protective equipment and ventilators. The states had to bid against each other, and excess profits generally went into the hands of foreign manufacturers and brokers. The only early action taken by the Trump administration to stop COVID-19 once it was recognized as a danger was an overseas travel ban. However, for a critical period, the ban applied only to China, and only to some travelers. It is apparent that the president does not believe his scientific advisers about the danger COVID-19 poses to the country. To this day, his lack of leadership and failure to take seriously the possibly preventable death of hundreds of thousands of American citizens is undermining the strength and vigor of our nation. This has has negative ramifications for a robust recovery of its economy. Michael G. Busche, Sparta Too few support police About 40 U.S. police officers have been killed or executed in the line of duty so far this year, with many more injured, and this isnt an outrage? Police do not go to work with a predetermined agenda to shoot people. Police do not hunt Black people, but police, in fact, are being hunted. The media and the Left dont consider this worth emphasizing. I know many police officers and they are among the best people Ive met in my long life. They have a job that few want, but some people find it critical to hate them. Left-wing protesters should be careful what they wish for when they call for the elimination of police. W.C. Schiable, Parsippany GOP emerges from burrow to feed on court vacancy Nothing apparently energizes U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his Republican caucus like the opportunity to fill a federal judiciary vacancy. Like cicadas, who periodically emerge from their underground burrows to mate and make a mess, the Republicans have arisen to fulfill their constitutional obligation following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Like cicadas, they will quickly complete their work and not be heard from again soon. And, all the while they ignore real threats to our country, like economic relief from COVID-19, health-care issues, foreign interference in our elections, environmental crises and structural racism. Not to worry. They will emerge once again when the next judicial vacancy appears. To paraphrase Marie Antoinette, Let them have judges! Peter Herbst, Montclair Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. I have no critical training whatsoever, wrote Hilary Mantel in 1987, so I am forced to be more brisk and breezy than scholarly. Mantel made this remark to Karl Miller, then editor of the London Review of Books, in response to his wondering if she might like to consider regular contributions to his publication. At this time she was not the mighty figure with whom so many of us are familiar today. Her first novel, Every Day is Mothers Day, had been published in 1985, earning her an advance of 2,000. Her second earned her double that figure. A good rate of progress, she says in the introduction to this remarkable selection of the essays and reviews that have constituted the other half of her creative life for the last few decades, but not an income. Accordingly, and despite the fact that she was at this time writing for the Literary Review (40 per month), the London Magazine (for even less), and composing The Spectators weekly film column, she agreed to appear in the LRB should suitable subjects present themselves. The result has been a literary-critical relationship that has provided us with some of the most engaging and controversial writing in modern times. We are fortunate to have it collected here. Vast and various, the book offers the reader a fascinating vision of the restless intelligence that in conjuring the Wolf Hall trilogy for which Mantel is most famous has sustained and entertained so many. But it also functions as a heartening example of the rewards to be found in being undogmatic, curious, alert, roaming. The subjects Mantel covers are almost preposterously diverse. Yes, we have the Royal Bodies essay, with which Mantel caused outrage by supposedly attacking the Duchess of Cambridge and mocking the quality of Buckingham Palaces snacks. But we also have equally wonderful and illuminating considerations of the nature of American marriage in the 20th century; of the life and death of Christopher Marlowe; of the history of the Virgin Mary; of the murder of James Bulger; of the enduring cultural resonance of Madonna; and, in one of the longest, most absorbing and instructive excursions, of Britains last witch. And then there are examples of Mantels correspondence with her editors, and (published) diary entries about shopping for bookcases in Jeddah; meeting her stepfather for the first time (one of the most moving pieces in the collection); and encountering a hideously imposing circus strongman while convalescing in hospital. Occasionally, the manner in which Mantel articulates her thoughts can be inattentive (she has a weakness for phrases like swat a book like a fly; droning on and on; cut their losses). But on the whole this is a work that is brisk and breezy, and further enhanced by her capacity to examine our hearts, register our feelings, and bring up with tenderness the enduring question of our frail and vulnerable bodies. Mantel Pieces: Royal Bodies and Other Writing from the London Review of Books by Hilary Mantel (Fourth Estate, 16.99), buy it here. Last week when I read about Fresno State University rescinding a faculty job offer to a graduate student because the student lied about being Black and Latinx, I couldnt help but think, Here we go again. White people pretending to be Black for various social and economic benefits is such a confounding trend that I, as a Black man, struggle to understand it, even though weve seen numerous high-profile incidents of this kind of race fraud over the past few years. The one we all think about is former NAACP chapter President Rachel Dolezal, who was outed as a white woman in 2015. Then theres the more recent saga of Jessica Krug, an activist who taught African American history at George Washington University, who identified for years as Black and actually outed herself as white in a blog post this month. The Fresno State University job candidate was also exposed in a blog post, which claimed the individual was Italian, not Black. These people treated Black identities as costumes allowing them to reap the love of a marginalized community, while having the option to dispose of it once the appeal waned. But when I noticed Brenda Buenviaje, the owner of a few popular Bay Area Creole spots, taking heat for pretending to be Black, I wasnt angry, I was confused. In my other role with The Chronicle as a food writer, I know Brenda well from covering her restaurants, Brendas French Soul Food in San Francisco and Brendas in Oakland. We also have a deeper kinship: Were both Louisiana natives, and through this, I know Brendas ethnic background shes the child of a Filipino-Creole mother of French and Italian ancestry, and a Filipino father. Her Filipino grandparents lived in South Louisiana and worked in the shrimping industry. Not once has she ever described herself to me as Black. But her ethnicity became a topic of conversation last week when people noticed her restaurants often get listed as Black-owned businesses. This isnt an unusual mistake. Restaurant websites like Yelp, and delivery apps, often conflate cuisine with ethnic identity. But in reality, race in no way limits culinary expertise. I know Black chefs cooking Italian food, and as is the case with Brenda, a multiracial Filipina chef cooking Creole food. I dont know what to do here, because Ive never at any time said I was Black, Brenda told me last week when the dialogue around her race was reaching a peak. Ive talked about my identity before, and even on my YouTube page and on my website, you can see pictures of me. I wish I could clear this up. I imagine some of this anger was born out of disappointment, as Black folks who only knew Brendas food and not Buenviaje herself hoped her popular Creole spots were Black-owned. And, honestly, I can understand that desire. Eventually, the situation cooled off for Brenda online as people talked, and some clarity was gained about her background. The situation got me thinking about life as a Black person in America today, especially one in tune with societys racial reckoning. Its hard not to be angry about the state of this countrys race relations, but if there were a pain-severity matrix for this moment, the sphere for racial injustice would only lightly cross into that of race fraud. Cops shooting and killing unarmed Black people, court systems disproportionately sending Black men to jail, Black people being denied access to pathways leading to economic success these are the issues at the forefront of the current movement. 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. White people stealing Black identity as a way for them to better navigate the world feels small compared with these other issues, but its still important. Heres where Im nervous: With so much justified anger to dole out, we have to be careful not to vilify the wrong people. The Rachel Dolezals of the world are easy to cancel, as are the Jessica Krugs. Their sins are quantifiable, and deserving of shame through loud public discourse. Even if these kinds of people were to realize their mistakes and try to address them in some financial or culturally appropriate way, they still could not be seen as allies. But people like Brenda are. I know this because Ive spoken to Brenda about Black issues. Shes interested in listening, and in finding her own ways of being a friend to the Black community at a time we need them most. Im as ready as the next Millennial Black person to cancel a non-Black person for something offensive. In 2020, were going to continue having opportunities to do so, but knowledge is key. Our reactions must be based on research, because without it were destined to accidentally cancel allies. Once the world cools down a bit on social issues, its these allies, people like Brenda, who will help us keep the fight for Black representation and fair treatment alive. Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips President Donald Trump has 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. Im 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 hes 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 Harrys 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. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Protesters gathered in San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland Wednesday night following a Kentucky grand jurys decision not to charge any police officers with the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. Grand jurors did indict one former Louisville police detective, Brett Hankison, on three counts of wanton endangerment for endangering the lives of Taylors neighbors during the March 13 raid on Taylors apartment by firing bullets through a wall into their apartment. A group of approximately 500 people, mostly young and many wearing black, marched through the streets of downtown Oakland, briefly blocking a freeway entrance at 27th and Northgate and, for a few minutes, Interstate 580 itself. The crowd ran through an assortment of traditional Black lives matter chants, but also seemed to create a few on the fly: Get off your phone and into the streets! one protester chanted at a few bystanders. Demonstrators marched peacefully and passionately, their voices rising as they said her name: Breonna Taylor. A police helicopter circled above as marchers later made their way south on Broadway toward Oaklands police headquarters. Outside the headquarters, the crowd chanted as fewer than two dozen officers watched from a distance. No justice, no peace, no racist police, protesters chanted. The crowd thinned to about 200 by the time the Oakland protesters reached the police headquarters around 10 pm. A slate of speakers took turns on the megaphone at the intersection of Broadway and 7th, many denouncing President Trump or leading chants of Black lives matter. Near police headquarters protesters stopped themselves at the barricades and about two dozen officers hung back near the building about a half block away. At San Jose City Hall, about 200 people gathered, chanting Black lives matter, and Say her name: Breonna Taylor. At one point, a wooden guillotine was erected. Speakers told the crowd it was a symbol for holding leaders accountable and a nod to the French Revolution. Lou Dimes, leader of B.L.A.C.K. Outreach San Jose, stood at the base of the guillotine, leading the crowd in chants of, Black pride and Black power before saying that leaders must be held accountable. I dont like being out here, he said. The ruling that we got today for Breonna Taylor we knew it was coming, but it was a little bit more insulting when they said that the only thing they were going to charge one of the officers for was for the stray bullets that could have potentially hit the neighboring apartments. Nobody has been charged for her murder, he said to guttural boos. They basically got charged with reckless endangerment, like if they were some joyriding teenagers or some s. This is where accountability comes into play. Dimes urged people to continue marching, demonstrating and raising their voices to hold people in power accountable. Passing vehicles slowed and honked in support of the protesters, some thrusting fists out of car windows in solidarity. Srishti Prabha, 29, of San Jose, told The Chronicle that the grand jurys decision was heinous, considering the circumstances and the facts. Prabha thinks justice for Taylor would be life in prison for each of the officers involved in her shooting, but ackowledged even that outcome would be a short-term solution to a long-term problem. Now Playing: Protesters gathered in Oakland, and across the Bay Area Wednesday night following a Kentucky grand jurys decision not to charge any police officers with the killing of Breonna Taylor. Video: San Francisco Chronicle Police brutality is going to continue to exist, Prabha said. So its really a question of how do we systemically change the things that protect police and how they act and the violence they inflict. Afer the sun set, people used the flashlight tool on their cellphones to illuminate a small group of demonstrators shaking spray-paint cans and dragging wet brushes along the concrete at San Jose City Hall. They painted,Justice 4 Breonna. Shortly before 8:30 p.m., more than 100 demonstrators began a 5 minute moment of silence in honor Taylor, encircling the newly painted plea for justice. They closed their eyes and bowed their heads as a helicopter hovered above Downtown San Jose. The moment of silence was broken by a man asking the crowd, Who wants change? He urged demonstrators to vote in the upcoming Presidential Election in November. 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 smaller group of marchers splintered off and marched to the Thomas Fallon Statue in Downtown San Jose, near the entrance to SR 87 North. The majority of the crowd watch and videoed as a small group of people spray painted messages at the base of the statue saying, F white settler colonialism. A small group of people also painted, Say Her Name. One person climbed the statue and affixed a blue Trump flag and American flag to the top, and set it ablaze to cheers from the crowd. Dozens of demonstrators returned to San Jose City Hall shortly before 10 p.m. In San Francisco, more than 100 people marched past SFPDs Mission District station chanting Taylors name. Police stood in riot gear in front of the station, with 17th Street between Valencia and Guerrero shut down. Some demonstrators bickered with outdoor diners sipping wine and beer on Valencia Street. Alex Karim, 25, spoke forcefully standing in front of Mission Station. She wasnt just murdered by those three officers Karim, of San Francisco, said of Taylors killing. She was murdered by the institution of policing. She said afterwards the lack of charges brought against the officers who shot Taylor was disappointing but not surprising and that she wants to see police departments abolished across the country. Karim said she wants to see a reimagining of public safety that focuses on healthcare and other priorities. Racism is foundational to our country, Karim said. Demonstrators marched in New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Philadelphia and other U.S. cities. Police in Louisville said two officers had been shot Wednesday night, though it was not immediately clear if the shooting was related to the protests. Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home on a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron, however, said the investigation showed the officers 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. Chronicle Staff Writer Sarah Ravani and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Lauren Hernandez, Michael Williams, Chase DiFeliciantonio and Megan Cassidy are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: Lauren.Hernandez@sfchroicle.com; Michael.Williams@sfchronicle.com; Chase.DiFeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com; megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Michaeldamianw, @ByLHernandez A teacher was fired and a fast food worker pushed out of her job in Texas for the same reason: wearing a mask supporting Black Lives Matter to work. Lillian White told CBS affiliate KENS she was fired from Great Hearts Western Hill charter school in San Antonio for wearing her mask, while MaKiya Congious's attorney said she was pushed out of her job as a cashier at Whataburger in Fort Worth for her covering. Both womens former places of work claim that they violated policies as to what is allowed to appear on the masks, and Whataburger alleges that Congious voluntarily resigned, according to a statement obtained by PEOPLE. White, an art teacher, joined her colleagues for a series of weekly in-person training sessions in July, and each time, wore a homemade mask with the phrases Black Lives Matter and Silence is Violence written on them, KENS reported. For about a week and a half I was wearing these masks and no one said anything, she told the outlet. A couple of the other teachers came up and asked for some, if I had any extras, and I made them some. But White said she then received a text message from the schools assistant principal asking her to stop wearing the masks, as parents would soon be more present around campus and we dont discuss the current political climate. RELATED: Tennessee Titans' Derrick Henry Wears Suit with Names of Racial Injustice Victims White reportedly ignored multiple requests not to wear the mask until she was eventually fired. This is human rights and it should be something that is promoted at our school, she told KENS. Its an excuse to not talk about it by saying this is politics, talk about it on your own time. Its just an excuse because theyre uncomfortable with the conversation. In a statement to PEOPLE, Great Hearts Texas Superintendent Daniel Scoggin says the school has a policy written by school leaders and teachers requiring face coverings have no external messages. He adds that the school does not issue public comment on specific personnel matters. Story continues Great Hearts was founded and exists today to serve the innate dignity and worth of every human being. We stand with the Black community and all who are suffering, the statement says. Great Hearts deplores bigotry and its crushing effects on all those subjected to it. Great Hearts is committed to an America where racism, violence, and injustice do not happen, because such acts find no home in the hearts of a great people. Meanwhile, more than 250 miles away in Fort Worth, Congious, who is Black, wore a Black Lives Matter mask featuring a fist to her shift at Whataburger for the first time on July 31, the Washington Post reported. RELATED: Kerry Washington, Oprah Winfrey & More Celebrities React to Breonna Taylor Indictment News When she returned days later, a white customer reportedly threatened to call Whataburgers corporate offices over the 19-year-olds mask. Congious and her co-workers were spoken to by a supervisor in a conversation that was recorded and obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Youre entitled to your personal opinions and thats fine. But at Whataburger, we dont want to portray them because some people may be offended, the supervisor said. This is a big issue. Whataburger doesnt want to get into anything political because were just hamburgers and fries. According to the Post, Congious asked her supervisors how to put in her two weeks notice as the conversation grew more heated, and a manager allegedly told her that it was accepted on the spot, and she did not have to return. Congious said she hadnt actually decided whether she wanted to quit or not when she asked about it, but when she stayed in the store, her supervisors called police. Five cars responded and she left and did not come back to work, the Post reported. RELATED VIDEO: 1 Officer Charged, 2 Cleared in Shooting Death of Breonna Taylor, Grand Jury Decides 1 Officer Charged, 2 Cleared in Shooting Death of Breonna Taylor, Grand Jury Decides Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by police in Louisville, Ky., on March 13 Congious attorney Jason C. N. Smith said in a statement his client has filed a complaint against Whataburger with the State of Texas, and is calling for a 90-day boycott so the company can make changes, as well as provide implicit bias training for all current managers. In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for Whataburger says Congious "voluntarily resigned due to a disagreement over our company uniform policy," and that she was paid for the two weeks she was scheduled to work. If we allow any non-Whataburger slogans as part of our uniforms, we have to allow all slogans, the statement says. This could create tension and conflict among our employees and our customers. It is our job as a responsible brand to proactively keep our employees and customers safe. The statement adds that the company "believes in racial equality," and that many of its charitable efforts aim to benefit Black and other minority communities. The Post reported that Congious said in her complaint that other workers at her Whataburger location had worn face coverings featuring the Gucci logo and the Mexican flag. Its not a political thing, she said, according to the outlet. Its just a statement that says Black Lives Matter because we do matter. To help combat systemic racism, consider learning from or donating to these organizations: Campaign Zero (joincampaignzero.org) which works to end police brutality in America through research-proven strategies. ColorofChange.org works to make government more responsive to racial disparities. National Cares Mentoring Movement (caresmentoring.org) provides social and academic support to help Black youth succeed in college and beyond. By John Chalmers and Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (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. Story continues 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) MBABANE The police officer who is alleged to have attempted to kill his former girlfriend in full view of members of the public at the Mbabane Government Hospital, has been denied bail. The law enforcer, Sibusiso Fannie Lusenga, who once attempted to kill himself by drinking sanitiser, is alleged to have tried to end the life of Nontokozo Hlophe by stabbing her with a knife several times. After his arrest on June 18, 2020, Lusenga moved an urgent application for bail, which was, however, vigorously opposed by the Crown. His bail application was dismissed by Judge Maxine Langwenya yesterday, who said in her view, there were sufficient reasons to come to the conclusion that it would not be in the interest of justice to release Lusenga on bail. Violently When a police officer acts violently in a domestic setting towards a partner, such conduct is diametrically opposed to what a police officer is supposed to do, that is, to protect society and these cases do receive a lot of attention from the public, said Judge Langwenya. The court further pointed out that the public ultimately wanted to see justice prevail by having the perpetrator brought to trial. To achieve that, the justice system must not fail them and the courts must as far as possible strike a balance between the rights and interests of the accused, public interest and the administration of justice on the other hand, said the court. The judge stated that in this case, there were sufficient reasons that it would not be prudent to release Lusenga on bail. She also highlighted that she had considered the strength of the Crowns case, which prima facie linked Lusenga directly to the crime charged. I have also taken into account the fact that while the accused was prohibited from committing any violent conduct towards the complainant by the magistrate court, he attacked and assaulted the complainant and was subsequently charged with contempt of court and infringing the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act as an alternative count to attempted murder, said Judge Langwenya. Respect The judge mentioned that the behaviour of Lusenga in this regard was to her indicative of a person who had very little or no respect for the law. The court further highlighted that: Conduct of this nature certainly poses a threat to the interest of the administration of justice and consequently, is likely to adversely impact on the accused persons quest to obtain his freedom. During the argument of the bail application, Lusenga informed the court that his health was in jeopardy if his incarceration continued because he suffered from asthma. He averred that he was afraid he would contract COVID-19 while in the custody of the correctional services. In her judgment, Judge Langwenya, however, agreed with the Crowns averments that the Correctional Services had medical facilities that were equipped and able to attend to medical complaints of inmates in their care. She further pointed out that the Correctional Services also referred inmates to public hospitals if the medical condition could not be addressed in an in-house health facility. It was the courts observation that it was not argued that the in-house medical facilities where Lusenga was kept and other public hospitals where serious conditions were referred to by the Correctional Services had failed to deal with Lusengas medical condition. Furthermore, the court said there seemed to be a strong possibility that Lusenga might try to commit suicide when released on bail. During the argument of Lusengas application for bail, the investigating officer revealed that the accused was a person of suicidal tendencies. According to the investigator, Lusenga attempted to end his life by overdosing on medication and also drinking sanitiser. Judge Langwenya, who heard the bail application, noted that the court was not told that Lusenga had since overcome his thought of bringing to an end his own life. In conclusion, Lusengas claim of being innocent and denial that he will not abscond and will not interfere with Crown witnesses, considered against those factors relied on by the Crown in its opposition of the bail application, are not very reassuring, stated the judge. Judge Langwenya said, all evidence taken into account, she was not persuaded that Lusenga had shown on balance of probabilities that it would be in the interest of administration of justice that he should be admitted to bail pending prosecution of the matter. Investors who take an interest in Kore Potash plc (LON:KP2) should definitely note that the Independent Non-Executive Chairman, David Hathorn, recently paid UK0.0037 per share to buy UK215k worth of the stock. We reckon that's a good sign, especially since the purchase boosted their holding by 108%. View our latest analysis for Kore Potash Kore Potash Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Notably, that recent purchase by David Hathorn is the biggest insider purchase of Kore Potash shares that we've seen in the last year. Even though the purchase was made at a significantly lower price than the recent price (UK0.0071), we still think insider buying is a positive. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! Kore Potash is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Insider Ownership of Kore Potash 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. Insiders own 9.6% of Kore Potash shares, worth about UK1.7m, according to our data. However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. Whilst better than nothing, we're not overly impressed by these holdings. So What Does This Data Suggest About Kore Potash Insiders? It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchase. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. But on the other hand, the company made a loss during the last year, which makes us a little cautious. While the overall levels of insider ownership are below what we'd like to see, the history of transactions imply that Kore Potash insiders are reasonably well aligned, and optimistic for the future. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. Our analysis shows 5 warning signs for Kore Potash (3 can't be ignored!) and we strongly recommend you look at these before investing. Story continues 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. Son Tours Logo Son Tours went above and beyond to help my students and their families during the crisis. Son Tours Inc. is pleased to announce that it has accepted a nomination from the Gwinnett Chamber Small Business Awards. The Gwinnett Chamber, a leading advocate and innovative resource for businesses, annually showcases businesses that dare to start, sustain, and succeed. Son Tours was nominated by Daniel Chang, a Social Science/ASB teacher at Newton Middle School in Hacienda Heights, California. Chang was motivated to do so by Son Tours response to the schools canceled educational tour. Son Tours went above and beyond to help my students and their families during the crisis, said Chang. Our trip was canceled for safety reasons only two weeks prior to departure. Son Tours immediately reached out and offered an almost 100% refund for the trip without any hesitation. This was a blessing for many of my student's families that were hurt financially early on. I have read many stories online on how some of the major tour companies only provided credit for future travel for each individual student. Son Tours kept our students and their families as their top priority. To us, this was never a financial question, said John Nelson, CEO of Son Tours. It was a question of the right thing to do. Weve built our business on long-term relationships, and we felt a responsibility to not add additional stress to schools and parents during this unprecedented time. This crisis will end, but our commitment to fairness and to maintaining true partnerships with our clients will not. Wed like to thank Daniel for nominating us for this award, and also the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce for their consideration. The awards ceremony will be held Friday, November 20 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Infinite Energy Forum with both in-person and online attendance options. About Son Tours Founded in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, Son Tours Inc. is a student travel agency that has been providing high-quality, full-service educational tours for over 20 years. They maintain a 95% retention rate and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau because they put the needs of their clients and their students first. For more information, please visit http://www.son-tours.com. About the Gwinnett Chamber Small Business Awards: The Gwinnett Small Business Awards showcase those that dare to start, sustain, and succeed and the community that supports them. They believe that now, more than ever, it is critical that we celebrate those who are up to the challenge. For more information, please visit http://www.gwinnettchamber.org/small-business-awards. Iraqi doctor Tarik Al-Sheibani now regrets the day he became a doctor. Since a dozen relatives of a patient, who had just died of COVID-19, beat him unconscious. He just remembers cowering on the ground. Around two hours later the 47-year-old director of Al-Amal Hospital in the southern city of Najaf woke up in a different clinic - covered in bruises. "A person behind me yelled: 'This is the head of the hospital, go attack him.' I stopped, I didn't have any issues with them, so I stopped and looked around to find a group of people, more than 15-20 people, they started attacking me for absolutely no reason." Where health professionals are being celebrated in most countries around the world - Sheibani and his peers are frightened for their safety. He is one of many doctors struggling to do their job - as COVID-19 cases begin to spike in Iraq. They are working within a health service that has been left to decay through years of civil conflict and underfunding. And they now face the added threat of physical attack by grieving, desperate families. Iraq's Medical Association has described a growing pattern of assaults on medical staff. Dozens have taken place since the pandemic began. "I am scared, I am very scared, very scared that they might attack me or my family again. But I have faith in the Iraqi justice system and the Iraqi police. God willing, they will protect my rights." Sheibani's beating went viral when CCTV footage of the incident circulated online. He says the family of the deceased patient blamed his staff for the death, despite the patient arriving at the hospital in a critical condition. "I regret the day I became an Iraqi doctor; I hate the day. Unfortunately, my education, my service, the service to my people and community was all for nothing. But then I go back and think, not everyone is like that, there are many people who deserve to be cared for." Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has condemned the attacks against medical staff and promised to hold perpetrators to account. But doctors say the government has not taken tough enough action to protect them from violence, which they have faced for years, even before the pandemic began. Best known as the glamorous backdrop to the worlds biggest film festival, Cannes has become one of Frances wealthiest cities thanks to the yearlong parade of markets and conferences it hosts. But with many of these events going entirely digital or having been called off altogether due to the coronavirus pandemic, the citys restaurant and hospitality sectors are enduring heavy losses. This pandemic is having a catastrophic impact on the local community, Cannes Mayor David Lisnard tells Variety. Lisnard, elected in 2014, predicts that business done by the Palais des Festivals convention center and the local conferences including TV markets MipTV and Mipcom and other industry gatherings focused on insurance, music and law represents around 85% of Cannes annual income. The pandemics toll on the city is expected to amount to 800 million ($941 million), Lisnard says. The repercussions are huge and far-reaching on a whole chain of professionals, he explains, highlighting the severe impact on a vast network of independent contractors whose livelihoods rely on conference activity. [They] are left in dire straits and arent even eligible for unemployment subsidies; they are invisible. Im talking about drivers, caterers and the people who help build stands. As many as 52 professional events are organized at the Palais des Festivals annually. To date, five, including the Cannes Film Festival, MipTV and Mipcom, have been canceled and seven have been postponed until late 2020. The impact of the scuppered events, however, neednt have been so dire, says Lisnard, who points to stringent rules on public gatherings and a lack of economic aid. The government has completely underestimated the events sector, and doesnt see the power and relevance of this industry, even though it brings 70 billion to Frances economy. And he adds: Its easier to prevent the spread of a virus in a large conference under strict sanitary guidelines than in a supermarket. Story continues In Cannes, key venues for talent and events during the festival and other conferences, such as the Carlton, Martinez and Majestic hotels, have been hit hard by cancellations. The Carlton and the Gray dAlbion hotel have closed indefinitely, while the Martinez is open only during weekends. The Radisson will soon close, and the Majestic could follow suit at the end of October. Some venues will likely reopen for a three-day event in late October, but there are few major events to stay open for. Everything [has been] falling apart since March. The damage for us is north of 200,000, says Pascal Boulanger, a former TV journalist who owns the Athenee Hotel in the center of Cannes, around the corner from shopping haven Rue dAntibes. The downfall started when we found out that Mipim [the March real estate market] was postponed to June and then canceled. For Boulanger, it will take another year to get back to normal. Like many hotel owners, he gave guests who had paid a 50% deposit to book rooms the option of getting a full refund or applying their deposit to next years edition. He says half his regular film festival customers were willing to use their credit toward the 2021 event, but some are now getting cold feet. Our latest cancellation was this morning. We had to reimburse 60 nights to a customer who long hesitated and finally chose to get a refund, probably for accounting reasons, says Boulanger, whose hotel has a seven-night minimum policy for the film festival, a five-night minimum for Mipim and a six-night minimum for the Cannes Lions advertising conference. Approximately 75% of clients who had booked for Mipim decided to keep their bookings for next years conference, but even the 2021 edition could be delayed due to Frances cap on public gatherings, which is set at 5,000 people until the end of March, says Boulanger. Even in a best-case scenario, if all of next years events are held, Boulanger expects to fill only half the rooms that had been booked in 2020. We anticipate that well be back to normal in 2022 not until then. In pre-pandemic times, getting a table sans reservations at Italian eatery Da Laura during a busy market was laughable. But even one of the citys busiest restaurants has hit a rough patch, with business down 40% in recent weeks. The few customers we have now are locals and a few European travelers. Were going to keep the place open for lunch until November and then go into snooze mode until the restart of events, Tarantino Ermindo, manager of the restaurant, tells Variety. Some tensions have also been building between Cannes locals and Reed Midem, the French branch of London-based Reed Exhibitions, which is being blamed for canceling its many Cannes-based events. Reed Midem is in a position of near monopoly in all the professional events they organize, says one Cannes-based industry insider, who allows that the company could take its business elsewhere. Ultimately, they could decide to move these events to Amsterdam or Barcelona, the insider says. Reed Midem, which has managed to pay its employees without resorting to government support during the pandemic, tells Variety that it doesnt plan to go anywhere. Our goal is to bring our events back to Cannes as soon as it is possible to do so, organizers say. Lisnard points out that Cannes has navigated adversity previously, referencing the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015 and Nice in 2016 that prompted a state of emergency. We know how to deal with these crises. When we were at risk of terrorist attacks, we set up a sprawling security protocol and envisioned scenarios to best protect market participants. And it worked, says the mayor. Indeed, the festival was placed under surveillance, with nearly 600 cameras installed, a network of vigilant neighbors mobilized and a dispatch of snipers at the ready. We want to do the same as we cope with the pandemic, says Lisnard, who maintains that he wants Cannes to become the European capital of hybrid events that mix online and in-person components. We can ask everyone to bring a [COVID-19] test to events, take peoples temperatures as weve been doing since March, and many other things. We just need to reformat our events in various ways. Although Mipcoms physical component was recently axed, October drama festival Canneseries will still be held in person as well as virtually. It will be more French and European this year, and we look forward to welcoming guests in the city, while those who cant attend will have access to many things online, Lisnard says. But for many, the rise of virtual dealmaking and hybrid events could mark the beginning of the end as more livelihoods are threatened for a sustained period. [As more] business is done virtually, its a disaster for Cannes business model, which is built around those conferences, says Boulanger. Cannes has always been oriented toward business tourism. It was our strength, and today, its our weak point. More from Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Senior White House Advisor Ivanka Trump raises her hands during a group photo with the winners of the Pledge To America's Workers Presidential Award in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images) Trump Gives 9 Companies Pledge to Americas Workers Presidential Award President Donald Trump on Wednesday awarded nine U.S. companies with a Pledge To Americas Workers Presidential Award under the administrations initiative to create and maintain jobs for Americans through promoting education and training opportunities for Americans. Advisors to the president, Ivanka Trump and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, on Wednesday hosted a ceremonythe first of its kindto present the awards. The new presidential award recognizes the demonstrated excellence and commitment to the education and training of an organizations workforce. According to the White House, the award was created in July 2018 to call on the private sector to invest in advancing the nations current and future workforce. Senior White House Advisor Ivanka Trump speaks during the Pledge To Americas Workers Presidential Award in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images) Through the White Houses Pledge to Americas Workers, the Trump administration challenged the private sector to make a major investment in the education and training of their workers to ensure Americans have the skills necessary to remain the best in the world, the presidents daughter said in a statement. We have seen that challenge begin to be answered with over 16 million job training pledges committed to date. On behalf of the President, I am honored to award nine extraordinary organizations the Pledge to Americas Workers Award for their commitment to the exceptionalism of the American worker and for their steadfast resolve to equip their employees with the tools to succeed in the jobs of today and tomorrow. Ivanka Trump shared photos of the ceremony on Twitter. When POTUS took office he called on the private sector to step their investment in workers. As a direct result theyve committed to 16M+ new job+training opportunities w/more to come! Awarded 9 of them today who showed excellence in their #PledgetoAmericasWorkers commitment pic.twitter.com/B9jgIAf5DY Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) September 23, 2020 The award program is administered by the Department of Commerce with support of the Department of Labor, and on behalf of the National Council for the American Worker. The national council was established and tasked with developing a strategy to grow the workforce via an executive order that President Trump signed in July 2018. Every day, we are lifting our forgotten Americans off the sidelines, out of the margins, and back into the workforce, Trump said at the time. We need talented people. We need people with training. Since the orders signing, more than 440 companies and organizations have signed the Pledge to Americas Workers, which has contributed to more than 16.3 million new education and training opportunities for American students and workers over the next five years. Every single pledge is a commitment to the promise of every individual and his or her potential, Ivanka Trump said in July 2019. The executive order also established the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, which works directly with the national council. The Board brings members from the private sector, educational institutions, and state and local governments to help create more jobs by improving jobs data transparency and skills-based hiring and training, advancing opportunities for lifelong learning, and promoting multiple pathways to family-sustaining careers. President Trump wants all Americans to have equal opportunities in the job market based on their skillsets, Secretary Ross said in a statement on Wednesday. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Senior White House Advisor Ivanka Trump stand during a group photo with the winners of the Pledge To Americas Workers Presidential Award in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images) The American Workforce Policy Advisory Board highlights learning and employment records as key technological indicators for workers, employers, and educational institutions to build a skills-based labor market, Ross said. IBM, Salesforce, and Walmart are providing learning and employment records in diverse fields such as cybersecurity, nursing, and retail in order to open more doors for Americans. The companies awarded for excellence in workforce education and training are: American Hotel & Lodging Association 130,000 opportunities pledged Associated Builders and Contractors 500,000 opportunities pledged Lockheed Martin Corporation 8,000 opportunities pledged National Retail Federation 250,000 opportunities pledged Northrop Grumman Corporation 7,500 opportunities pledged Oberg Industries, LLC. 225 opportunities pledged Textron Inc. 22,240 opportunities pledged Volkswagen Group of America 15,000 opportunities pledged Zurich North America 40 opportunities pledged In another commitment to creating more American jobs, the president earlier this year signed an executive order that directs the federal government to open the playing field to all by giving higher priority to a job applicants skills than merely having a formal qualification. "Our Blue family of air purifiers appeal to those who care deeply about their indoor environment, but don't want to sacrifice on quality, convenience, or performance when it comes to cleaner air," said Andy Lu, Blueair General Manager, North America. "Consumers are now more mindful of their air quality than ever before and are looking for simple, worry free reassurance that their air purifier is continuously working to protect them," Lu added. "The new Blue Pure Auto upgrades provide an extra layer of protection without sacrificing the simplicity or aesthetic appeal synonymous with Blue." Designed for rooms covering 190 to 540 square feet respectively, the Blue Pure Auto range includes: Blue Pure 411 Auto ($119) Blue Pure 311 Auto ($239) Blue Pure 211+ Auto ($299) Key features and upgrades include: Removes Allergens and Odors: The combination particle + carbon filter uses natural coconut carbon to remove light household odors and effectively removes 99.97% of airborne particles, like pollen, dust, pet and dander down to 0.1 micron using Blueair's proprietary HEPASilent filtration technology, equivalent to that of Ture HEPA. The combination particle + carbon filter uses natural coconut carbon to remove light household odors and effectively removes 99.97% of airborne particles, like pollen, dust, pet and dander down to 0.1 micron using Blueair's proprietary HEPASilent filtration technology, equivalent to that of Ture HEPA. Intuitive Air Quality Management: The one-touch enabled Auto mode setting takes a simple approach to air quality management. When there's a drop in your indoor air quality, the air purifier will automatically react by adjusting fan speed to quickly remove pollutants. The one-touch enabled Auto mode setting takes a simple approach to air quality management. When there's a drop in your indoor air quality, the air purifier will automatically react by adjusting fan speed to quickly remove pollutants. Personalized Style: Match to your space with five new premium fabric pre-filter colors (Arctic Trail included) inspired by the natural landscapes of Scandinavia. A hidden panel in the fabric helps keep the power cord hidden out of sight. The Blue Pure 411 Auto is now available for purchase in the U.S. on Blueair.com and Amazon. The Blue Pure 311 Auto will be available at the end of the month and the Blue Pure 211+ Auto will launch in 2021. For more information, please visit www.blueair.com. About Blueair Blueair is a world-leading producer of air purification solutions for home and professional use. Founded in Sweden, Blueair delivers innovative, best-in-class, energy-efficient products and services sold in over 60 countries around the world. Blueair is part of the Unilever family of brands, www.blueair.com. Media Contact: Julie Muldowney FINN Partners on behalf of Blueair (312) 329-3902 [email protected] SOURCE Blueair A Black Lives Matter co-founder says black Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron gave a 'Bull Connor speech in 2020' when he announced why criminal charges weren't brought against police officers in Breonna Taylor's death. Alicia Garza likened Cameron to the notorious civil rights-era segregationist on Wednesday in regards the rising Republican star's press conference in the Taylor investigation. 'This was an atrocity,' the BLM co-founder told MSNBC's Joy Reid. 'I think what I saw this morning was a Bull Connor speech in 2020. And... unfortunately, it was being given by a Black prosecutor.' Bull Connor was the commissioner of public safety in Birmingham, Alabama, for more than 20 years in the 1960s and was a staunch opponent of the civil rights movement. He became an international figure and symbol of oppression when he set polices dogs on and fire hoses a civil rights advocates, including children. Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza has likened black Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to the notorious civil rights-era segregationist Bull Connor Reid also weighed in urging viewers to look at Cameron's political affiliations and ignore the fact that he is black. 'I think you have to always look at party. Party is the religion now in America -- especially for Republicans. Don't look at the fact that this guy is black. That does not mean anything,' she said. 'He is a Republican through and through. He spoke at the RNC (Republican National Convention). He told you who he was. Believe him.' The 34-year-old attorney general, who President Donald Trump labeled a 'star' for his handling of the case, choked up Wednesday as he explained why the officers involved in Taylor's shooting death were not charged in her killing. Officer Brett Hankison, who was fired in the aftermath of the shooting, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment after the bullets his fired in Taylor's apartment traveled into a neighbor's home. 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. Bull Connor was the commissioner of public safety in Birmingham, Alabama, for more than 20 years in the 1960s and was a staunch opponent of the civil rights movement Alicia Garza made the comments on Wednesday after Cameron announced why a grand jury didn't seek criminal charges against police officers in Breonna Taylor's death Cameron was elected last year as the state's first black attorney general and had been endorsed by President Trump. He is a rising star in the Republican party and is widely known to be Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell's protege after serving as his general counsel from 2015 to 2017. McConnell was among the guests at Cameron's wedding last month in Louisville. Officer Brett Hankison, who was fired in the aftermath of the shooting, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment. The charges stem from Hankison's bullets travelling into a neighboring apartment Cameron was also a guest speaker at the GOP convention last month, where he declared himself a 'proud Republican and supporter of President Donald J. Trump'. The president placed the attorney general on the short list for a seat on the Supreme Court. Commenting during his convention speech on nationwide protests for racial equality and against the police shootings of black people, Cameron said: 'Even as anarchists mindlessly tear up American cities while attacking police and innocent bystanders, we Republicans do recognize those who work in good faith towards peace, justice, and equality.' He added that 'Republicans will never turn a blind eye to unjust acts but neither will we accept an all-out assault on Western civilization.' Trump on Wednesday praised Cameron's 'fantastic' handling of the case and called the AG 'really brilliant' and a 'star'. During his press conference, Cameron called out 'celebrities, influencers and activists' for weighing in on the grand jury findings and warned they will 'try to tell us how to feel.' 'Each (case) is unique and cannot be compared,' Cameron said. 'There will be celebrities, influencers, and activists who having never lived in Kentucky, will try to tell us how to feel, suggesting they understand the facts of this case and that they know our community and the commonwealth better than we do. But they don't. 'Let's not give into their attempts to influence our thinking or capture our emotions. At the end of the day, if is up to us. We live here together.' Cameron said that his job is 'to set aside everything in pursuit of the truth.' 'Our reaction to the truth is the society we want to be,' he said. 'Do we really want the truth? Or do we want a truth that fits our narrative? Do we want the facts? Are we content to blindly accept our own version of events? We, as a community, must make this decision.' Celebrities including actress Viola Davis, 'Schitt's Creek' creator and star Dan Levy, actor George Clooney, rapper Common, and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James were among those to express outrage at the grand jury decision. Cameron cited his own family in seeking to convey that he understood some people in Louisville and across the country would be angry at the jury's decision. The jury relied on evidence Cameron presented. 'I understand that as a Black man, how painful this is... which is why it was so incredibly important to make sure that we did everything we possibly could to uncover every fact,' Cameron said. 'My heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor. And I've said that repeatedly. My mother, if something was to happen to me, would find it very hard... I've seen that pain on Miss (Tamika) Palmer's face,' he said, referring to Taylor's mother. 'I've seen that pain in the community.' Industry Update Appointment 24 September 2020 Danny Williams Appointed Managing Director At Trump International Beach Resort Miami - FL, USA The independently owned and operated Trump International Beach Resort Miami has appointed Danny Williams as Managing Director of the 360-room resort, conveniently located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale in the upscale enclave of Sunny Isles Beach. Williams, who joins the Trump International Beach Resort family with more than 30 years of hospitality experience, will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the resort's day-to-day operations. Hotelschools.com Florida State University Danny Williams (Class of 0) is a graduate of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida - United States (Class of 0) is a graduate of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida - United States more information Trump Hotels Trump Hotels is a family enterprise with a history of providing extraordinary customer experiences. The brand's exceptionally designed hotels in iconic locations put guests at the heart of each destination. more information Recent Appointments at Trump Danny Williams - Managing Director 20 August 2021 The award-winning and independently operated Trump International Beach Resort Miami, located on Sunny Isles Beach, is pleased to announce that its Managing Director, Danny Williams, will also be overseeing all affiliated resort entertainment operations, including the entertainment/attractions complex, Dezerland Park. read more Jose G. Rodriguez - Director of Operations 6 May 2021 The independently owned and operated Trump International Beach Resort Miami has appointed Jose G. Rodriguez as new Director of Operations of the 360-room resort, conveniently located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale in the upscale enclave of Sunny Isles Beach. read more Attorney General Ashley Moody on Wednesday asked state and federal law enforcement to investigate potential violations of election laws over billionaire Michael Bloombergs decision to help pay Florida felons fines, fees and restitution to be eligible to vote. In a letter dated Wednesday, Moody wrote that she instructed statewide prosecutor Nick Cox to work with law enforcement and any statewide grand jury that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis may want to call to address the matter. DeSantis initially asked Moody to review the matter, the attorney general wrote. The request to launch a criminal investigation escalates Floridas two-year battle over felon voting rights and could set up a pre-election fight in Florida, a key swing state in the upcoming presidential election. Today, I sent a letter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation into potential violations of election laws, said Lauren Cassedy, a spokeswoman for Moodys office. Florida voters in 2018 overwhelmingly approved Amendment 4, a constitutional amendment that reversed a decades-old policy that kept former felons from being able to vote in the state without first seeking official clemency. Following the 2018 passage of Amendment 4, which restored the right to vote to nearly all of the states 1.4 million felons, DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature passed a law requiring felons to pay back all court-ordered fees, fines or restitution to victims before they could register to vote. The law, which has been the subject of myriad court battles, dramatically undercut the number of felons who would be eligible to vote. An estimated 80% of felons in Florida are too poor to pay their fees and fines, meaning they would be unable to vote. Most owe between $500 and $5,000. In response, an organization, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, started collecting money to help people with felony convictions pay off court fees and fines but not restitution. Story continues It is legal in Florida to have someone pay off your court fees, fines or restitution, according to Tampa attorney Michael Steinberg, who represents one of the plaintiffs in the ongoing Amendment 4 litigation. Its no different than if someone gave someone a gift to pay their fines, he said. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with it. The groups effort has been underway for more than a year, and the coalition has collected nearly $6 million from celebrities and high-profile figures such as NBA star LeBron James. In Hillsborough County alone, the Rights Restoration Coalition has paid off more than $516,000 in court fees and fines for more than 400 people, according to county clerk data. Bloomberg says hell spend $100 million to help Biden beat Trump in Florida Bloomberg, a former Democratic presidential candidate, announced this week that he helped the group raise an additional $16 million to help felons who have completed their prison sentences pay fines, fees and restitution so they can vote. The former New York mayor has also pledged $100 million to help Joe Biden win Florida. But on Wednesday, Republicans, including Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, called for the investigation into Bloombergs plans. Florida Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis, center, laughs when he is acknowledged in the Florida House on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018, with other incoming members of the Florida Cabinet. From left, Agricultural Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried and Attorney General-elect Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and outgoing Attorney General Pam Bondi. In an early morning interview on the Fox Business network, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, a vocal ally of Trumps, hinted Bloombergs fundraising efforts could be subject to a criminal investigation. This isnt an exercise in democracy, this is cherry picking votes, offering something of value for them, Gaetz said, noting he spoke with Moody Tuesday night. I believe the Florida attorney general has jurisdiction. Gaetz said Bloomberg may have violated a portion of Florida election law which reads: No person shall directly or indirectly give or promise anything of value to another intending thereby to buy that persons or anothers vote. Bloomberg focuses on Florida Hispanics with new $8 million Spanish ad blitz The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition is a nonpartisan group, and the groups executive director said this week that they are not targeting people registered to a particular political party. However, Black Floridians, who tend to vote for Democrats, are disproportionately affected by the law advocated by DeSantis last year. Before the passage of Amendment 4, about one in five Black Floridians could not vote because they had a felony conviction. A study by a University of Florida professor shows Black felons are also more likely than white felons to have outstanding fines and fees. And the Washington Post reported Tuesday that Bloomberg is investing in the ex-felon population in an effort to boost Democrats an article cited by Moody in her letter. But offering to pay fines for a group thats more likely to vote a certain way is not the same as buying a vote, said Steinberg. Giving them the money, or paying their fines off, does not even guarantee that they will register to vote, and if they do register to vote, it doesnt even guarantee who they are going to vote for, Steinberg said, calling the push to investigate Bloombergs effort nonsense. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has asked Russias top companies operating in the capital to again have some employees work from home after new daily cases of COVID-19 reached a three-month high. Sobyanin sent the letter to firms including Sberbank, the nations largest lender, Yandex, its largest IT company by value, and Rostex, the state-owned defense holding. The letter follows an address by the mayor earlier this month on state TV calling on Moscow companies to shift more employees to distance working to stem the spread of the disease in the capital. Moscow is Russia's -- and Europe's -- largest city with an estimated 13 million residents. The number of daily new infections from the coronavirus in Moscow rose on September 24 to 1,055, the highest since June, RBK reported. It represents a nearly 60 percent increase since the middle of September. Hospitalizations in the capital have also increased. Several nations across Europe are experiencing an increase in cases as people return to school and economies open up. Russia has reported 1.1 million cases of the coronavirus, the fourth-highest total in the world after the United States, India, and Brazil. The number of fatalities is just under 20,000, the 12th highest in the world. Based on reporting by RBK Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Inforial (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia Thu, September 24, 2020 16:50 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46fa57d 4 Inforial Free Online travel agent tiket.com has provided support for the Bali tourism sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic by supplying nine popular destinations across the island with public handwashing facilities. On Sept. 23, the Bali provincial administration, through the local chapter of the tourism agency, received tiket.coms assistance, comprising 18 portable wash basins that tourists can use to wash their hands. The symbolic ceremony marking the cooperation was conducted at the Tirta Empul temple in Bali. During the ceremony, tiket.com area manager for eastern Indonesia Rajasa Hadi Seomarto symbolically handed the portable hand basins to Gianyar Tourism Agency special interest tourism development section head Ni Ketut Catur Suarniathi. Driven by a commitment to assist Indonesians across Bali, tiket.com has chosen to work with the tourism agency. The agency helped tiket.com pick nine tourism spots across several cities and regencies that desperately needed the portable wash basins. . (./.) The nine spots are: Sangeh tourism village, Banjar hot springs, Jatiluwih and Tirta Empul temples, Sanur beach, Ceking, Bakas and Penglipuran tourism villages and the Pura Besakih temple complex. tiket.com provided the assistance as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. According to tiket.com cofounder and chief marketing officer Gaery Undarsa, the CSR program is part of the platforms Semangat Kembali Liburan (Rejuvenate Your Holiday Spirits), also called Sembilan (Nine) for short. Symbolically, this also represents the nine popular tourist destinations in Bali that have received technical assistance through the platforms CSR program. Gaery went further to explain that the campaign also sought to remind tourists to continue preserving their health as they resumed traveling amid the coronavirus outbreak. This also symbolizes tiket.coms support for the governments implementation of the cleanliness, health, safety and environment (CHSE) program across Indonesias various tourism destinations, especially those managed by local communities attempting to bounce back from the pandemics adverse consequences, Gaery said. tiket.com is always ready to contribute to the governments program, especially in the realm of preventing the spread of the coronavirus through the implementation of CHSE measures at tourism destinations. This time, we have chosen to focus on Bali, which has become a model destination for the adoption of new habits amid COVID-19. Furthermore, the nine destinations we have chosen upon the local tourism agencys recommendation are those managed by local communities in desperate need of sanitation facilities, he continued. The Bali tourism agency also responded very positively to tiket.coms initiative. . (./.) Previously, the agency had already worked with tiket.com to launch a CSR program to provide assistance packages to tourism workers across the island who had been laid off as a consequence of the pandemic in May. This is why the Bali administration expressed appreciation for this collaboration to work hand-in-hand to revive Balis tourism sector. The local tourism agency had previously conducted a survey to make sure the nine tourism sites were truly in urgent need of the sanitation facilities provided by tiket.com. Our agency openly appreciates tiket.coms CSR program and we thank them for their help and care in the matter of COVID-19 mitigation. We from the agency also helped recommend to them the destinations that needed help based on our surveys, I Putu Astawa, head of the Bali Tourism Office explained. Hopefully, the facilities provided by tiket.com could help these tourism destinations in implementing their health safety protocols to protect visitors better, he continued. tiket.com has also worked together with Enesis Group, which manufactures hand sanitizer brand Antis in Indonesia, to provide additional hand sanitizer across the 18 handwashing facilities in the nine tourism spots mentioned above. Furthermore, tiket.com also provided 900 Antis sanitizing kit packages to the nine tourism spots. The packages comprise face masks, hand sanitizers and wipe tissues to be given to 100 visitors per location, while stocks are still available. Enesis Group chief sales and marketing Ryan Tirta said he was happy to work together with tiket.com and the Bali Tourism Agency to promote safe tourism amid COVID-19. In this case, Gaery added that the usefulness of public handwashing facilities extended beyond the COVID-19 crisis. Even after the pandemic, visitors can use the facilities. The facilities could also encourage the public at large to stick to CHSE protocols wherever they are even after the pandemic ends, he explained. Along those lines, the Bali Tourism Agency said it continued educating the public and relevant stakeholders on the importance of sticking closely to health and hygiene protocols amid COVID-19, especially at tourist sites. Without close collaboration among stakeholders, such as industry players and tourist site managers, it is next to impossible for us to encourage the public to be disciplined and to stick to health protocols amid COVID-19. This discipline is very important to prevent new coronavirus cases in Bali as we are trying to revive the islands economy, the tourism agency head said. Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Scott Bloom, a former elementary school principal, had been convicted of failing to report allegations of physical abuse of students and was appealing that conviction. Bloom has not been convicted. His case is pending and his lawyer said he will fight the charge at trial. NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mimconnect , the most engaged digital community centering BIPOC professionals, announced the first wave of partners in the launch of their initiative to increase recruitment and retention of BIPOC talent across industries. The HR tech company provides members with access to job opportunities, career advancement workshops and masterclasses, while helping companies create strategies to recruit, retain, and develop diverse professionals. Providing resources to help propel Black and POC talent in the workforce, Mimconnect partners with companies to create inclusive and equitable workplaces. Brands participating in the launch include TIME, Mustache, Deustch, Soundcloud, Save The Music Foundation, Acceleration Community of Companies and MKG. Program offerings include -- BREATHE Sessions, customized, digital programming designed to create a safe space to address Black/POC employee concerns. Partnering with Bright Ventures, Kokoro and Fathers For Peace, the sessions help Black/POC professionals process grief and emotions and are an opportunity to discuss race and allyship entirely while processing how employees are currently navigating the new normal. customized, digital programming designed to create a safe space to address Black/POC employee concerns. Partnering with the sessions help Black/POC professionals and are an opportunity to discuss race and allyship entirely while processing how employees are currently navigating the new normal. Mimconnect Talent Directory - database of Black & Latinx talent who are actively and passively looking for new opportunities. - who are actively and passively looking for new opportunities. #JobSeekers - monthly event series that invites Diversity & Inclusion Officers,Hiring Managers, and/or Recruiters into their community to increase employer brand awareness and give insight into their company culture, diversity initiatives, hiring practices, and more. Partnering brands can choose to receive access to this quick growing directory, as well as additional insights and strategies on recruiting, retaining, and developing diverse talent. "We are so excited to partner with these amazing brands to truly make an impact and do our part to make the workplace a more inclusive, diverse, equitable and identity affirming space" - Netta Dobbins, CEO Mimconnect. For information on the program, how to participate as a talent or a brand and to see the full list of partners visit https://www.mimconnect.com . If you are media interested in covering please contact Tequilla White at [email protected] About Mimconnect Mimconnect is the most engaged digital platform helping thousands of Black/POC professionals navigate their careers. With a focus on mid to senior level talent, Mimconnect builds direct, intentional partnerships with national brands to help recruit, retain, and develop diverse talent. Learn more at mimconnect.com SOURCE Mimconnect Actor Payal Ghosh who has filed a complaint against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap over allegations of sexual assault on Thursday said that she has given an interview regarding the entire episode on Kashyap to a "renowned portal." She has claimed that the "next thing she came to know" is that the portal is "seeking permission" from the filmmaker. 'They have the narrative ready' In an Instagram post, Payal Ghosh said that if she is found hanging from the ceiling, remember this, "I didn't commit suicide. They have the narrative ready of depression and medication." Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against Anurag Kashyap after Payal Ghosh accused him of raping her in 2013. The First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Versova police station late Tuesday night after the actress along with her lawyer Nitin Satpute approached the police. 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. Kashyap will be called for questioning Kashyap will be called for questioning in connection with the matter, officials said. In her police complaint, Ghosh alleged that the incident occurred at a place on Yari Road in Versova in 2013. The actress and her lawyer earlier approached Oshiwara police station 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. Payal Ghosh has also registered a complaint against Anurag Kashyap under the drugs act, with the NCB. READ | Richa Chadha 'an actor not a revolutionary'; lists lockdown 'prep' amid Payal Ghosh row READ | Payal Ghosh files complaint against Anurag Kashyap at Mumbai's Versova Police Station On Saturday, Ghosh took to Twitter, claiming that Kashyap was sexually inappropriate towards her, an allegation the director called "baseless". Kashyap called the actor's 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." A host of Bollywood actors and personalities known to be close to Kashyap have came out in his support and given him a clean chit, though not on basis of any knowledge of this incident. Names include Hansal Mehta, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Taapsee Pannu, Tisca Chopra, Saiyami Kher and Radhika Apte to name a few. The directors two ex-wives - film editor Aarti Bajaj and actor Kalki Koechlin - have also defended Anurag. @anuragkashyap72 has forced himself on me and extremely badly. @PMOIndia @narendramodi ji, kindly take action and let the country see the demon behind this creative guy. I am aware that it can harm me and my security is at risk. Pls help! https://t.co/1q6BYsZpyx Payal Ghosh (@iampayalghosh) September 19, 2020 READ | Sona Mohapatra calls out Taapsee's defense of Anurag Kashyap, supports Payal Ghosh's right READ | Payal Ghosh alleges 'efforts to supress her voice' amid #MeToo case against Anurag Kashyap ATMORE, Ala., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- United Bank (OTCQX-UBAB) is deeply committed to giving its employees a supportive, challenging, and rewarding place to work. Our people are the backbone of our bank and key to giving our customers the best service possible. United Bank offers their employees benefits such as a 401(k) match and a profit-sharing contribution, in addition to tuition reimbursement and continuing education for those seeking certification in a specialized area, such as commercial lending, marketing or compliance. This year, the survey included additional questions regarding communications and confidence during the COVID-19 pandemic. In support of our officers and staff, several programs were initiated including work from home options, Telehealth medical support and a one-time grant to employees for reasonable or necessary expenses incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, United Bank supports military veterans and we encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists and Veterans. Each year, United Bank's Human Resources personnel participate in the Alabama Career Center System Veterans Job Expo for Baldwin County where they have the opportunity to engage with area veterans who are entering the workforce. Through this participation, we are creating a stronger, more diverse workforce, identifying and filling talent needs, and generating goodwill in the community. A recurring comment made by employees participating in the survey was the overall encouragement to give personal time and effort back to our local communities. Our employees volunteer countless hours to a wide variety of worthy organizations such as Feeding the Gulf Coast and local food pantries. They also work in the community to help promote financial literacy for adults and help educate the younger generation to create smart, financially savvy individuals. "We call our mission driven purpose Doing Well by Doing Good. When you can have an alignment of purpose and strategy that produces positive results to our shareholders, and our communities, it helps you come to work every day realizing that you are making a difference in doing something truly untraditional in a very traditional industry," said United Bank President and CEO Robert R. Jones, III. Our company has a multi-bottom line focus on strong financial performance, economic and community development. Publicly traded under the stock ticker UBAB, United Bancorporation has built a legacy leading to growth and expansion for more than a century. Maintaining a number two market share in the markets we serve, United Bank is routinely recognized as one of America's strongest banks driving economic development throughout the state. Through New Markets Tax Credits, United Bank and UB Community Development have pioneered community development in communities throughout Alabama, Florida and surrounding areas, bringing new industries, jobs, and service to our communities. United Bank ranked ninth for the small to medium-sized companies receiving the honor. The actual rankings were revealed in the publication of the September 2020 issue of Business Alabama. Media Contact: Tonya Lambert SVP, Chief Marketing & Public Relations Officer 251-446-6004 [email protected] SOURCE United Bank A Chinese firm has announced plans to launch an asteroid mining robot into space in November. Origin Space will launch its first bot aboard a Long March rocket, operated by the China National Space Administration, following a push by China to encourage private companies to begin mining space resources. The Beijing-based firm has dubbed its NEO-1 machine a space mining robot, though it is more of a prospector than an actual miner. It will be used to test technologies and sequences necessary to land on and mine an asteroid for valuable minerals and elements like gold, silver and cobalt. Space Origin co-founder Yu Tianhong told IEEE Spectrum: The goal is to verify and demonstrate multiple functions such as spacecraft orbital manoeuvre, simulated small celestial body capture, intelligent spacecraft identification and control. The mining of space resources has proved increasingly popular in recent years, with a number of ventures aiming to profit from the potentially trillion-dollar industry. The prospect of a new gold rush has led to resistance from some scientists, who fear other planets and celestial objects will be exploited in the same way Earth has been over the last few centuries. A proposal last year called for 85 per cent of the solar system to be protected from industrial activities and left as wilderness. The study, which was a collaboration between eminent astrophysicist Martin Elvis and philosopher Tony Milligan, outlined a one-eighth principle that aims to avoid the problems associated with exponential growth of nascent trends. One eighth of the iron in the asteroid belt is more than a million times greater than all of the Earths currently estimated iron ore reserves, and it may well suffice for centuries, the study stated. Population growth and climate change are instances of unchecked exponential growth The rationale for adopting the one-eighth principle so far in advance is that it may be far easier to implement in-principle restrictions at an early stage, rather than later. The cheerfully one-dimensional Misbehaviour puts a smiley face on female rage. A comedy flecked with seriousness, it revisits a 1970 feminist protest against the Miss World pageant in London. Bright and insistently upbeat, the movie has period polish, some swinging detail and a sympathetic cast headed by Keira Knightley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jessie Buckley. Like most commercial movies about feminist history, though, it also has a toothless vision of protest and empowerment thats doomed to fail its subject because its makers dont (cant) risk making the audience uncomfortable. Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, the movie personalizes its story with a manageable handful of characters, including Sally Alexander (a fine Knightley), an academic. In short, bouncy scenes, she is shown as smart and ambitious, loved by her family but thwarted by her sexist colleagues, which leads her to join the nascent womens liberation movement. Her ostensible opposite is Jennifer Hosten (Mbatha-Raw), a.k.a. Miss Grenada, who arrives amid a sorority of giggling contestants. Jennifer isnt given much to do or say, but Mbatha-Raw makes it clear that the character has an inner life, with faraway looks that you hope foretell that a more interesting movie is on the horizon. The two women are ready-made for dialectical fun but are largely separated on parallel tracks. The movie the script is by Rebecca Frayn and Gaby Chiappe establishes two opposing camps: one populated by the pageant people, the other by the feminists, including Buckleys Jo Robinson, a live wire. While men linger in the background on Team Libbers, they take a prominent role on Team Pageant because the filmmakers seem to think the audience needs reminding that sexist men can be, well, sexist. So, rather than deep, revealing looks into the lives of the contestants, theres a lot of the shows host, Bob Hope (an affable Greg Kinnear with a fake schnoz). Lowthorpe spends a wearying amount of time on the comedy of male buffoonery. The marquee clown is Hope, whos introduced in the opening via parallel montage with Sally, and comes with his own aggrieved woman (Lesley Manville, adding bitter tang to Mrs. Hope). The most cartoonish buffoon, however, is Eric (Rhys Ifans), who with his wife, Julia (Keeley Hawes), runs the contest. Its mildly amusing to watch Ifans swan about in a pageant crown and cape when he shows the contestants how to walk onstage. The contenders tee-hee-hee and you might too, even if theres nothing all that funny about how strenuously the movie tries to soft-pedal sexual exploitation. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Winter sports-mad Austria on Thursday announced a ban on apres-ski parties, which were blamed for creating coronavirus hotspots earlier this year, and issued travel warnings for Paris, Prague and other destinations. Even as infections are rapidly rising again in the Alpine country, authorities are adamant that Austria's world-famous ski resortswhich generate a huge amount of tourist revenuewill still open in the coming winter season. Thousands of tourists from all over the world became infected at tightly-packed ski-slope bars around early March. This time, strict social distancing and hygiene measures will be enforced, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said. "It won't be possible to have apres-ski the way we are used to from the past, because the risk of infection is too high... Ski fun yes, but no apres-ski," he told reporters. Tourists must keep at least one metre (three feet) apart at all times, wear masks in cable cars and gondolas, and bars and restaurants will serve drink and food to seated customers only. "Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, dancing, singing in small bars or outdoor bars are potential centres of infection," Tourism Minister Elisabeth Koestinger said. Another top tourist attraction, the country's Christmas markets, will also be allowed to open this year, on condition they comply with safety guidelines like masks and social distancing. Austria is heavily reliant on tourism, and recent travel warnings for parts of Austria, including from neighbouring Germany, have hit the industry hard. Austria, for its part, has also introduced rules requiring travellers from regions with high infection rates to show negative coronavirus tests or undergo self-isolation. On Thursday, Austria issued new travel warnings for Paris, Prague, Israel and a number of other destinations, but removed Sweden, Australia, Japan and others from the list. Austria with population of nearly nine million has recorded more than 41,000 cases and 783 deaths from coronavirus in total to date. "In the upcoming weeks, we have to do everything we possibly can to keep the number of infections low... because that is the basis on which guests can come to Austria at all," Kurz said. On Wednesday, a consumer watchdog said it was suing the government for coronavirus outbreaks in the country's ski resorts. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 AFP The border point, which is one of the key trade routes between the two country, was closed after a Nepali worker tested positive for the novel coronavirus, reports Xinhua news agency. Kathmandu: The Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border point between Nepal and China reopened on Thursday after it remained closed for around three weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a senior customs official said here. Earlier, it reopened in early July after it was closed for nearly six months firstly due to snowfall in the bordering Chinese region and later because of the Covid-19 outbreak. "Two containers of medical goods entered into Nepal after the reopening of border point on Wednesday," senior customs officer at Rasuwagadhi, Punya Bikram Khadka told Xinhua. "Now, we hope the movement of goods will take place normally." According to the officer, there has been a restricted flow of goods through this border as both countries have adopted zero human-to-human contact policy between the two sides until the pandemic is over. The Tatopani-Zhangmu, another border point, which reopened in late March after closing in January, has also remained shut for the last few months. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 24 2020 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 worshipers. 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Peter Davison will be joining the cast of Call the Midwife for the show's Christmas special later this year. In a first look at his character, the former Doctor Who star, 69, transforms into Mr Percival, the Ringmaster of Percival's Circus, which is expected to attract a massive audience when it arrives in Poplar. Filming for the upcoming series - which marks the tenth anniversary of the much-loved drama - resumed last month after production came to a halt in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. First look: Peter Davison will be joining the cast of Call the Midwife as the Ringmaster of Percival's Circus (L) for the show's Christmas special (R as the fifth Doctor in 1981) The festive edition will be set in December 1965, when Nonnatus House resident Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) is rushed to hospital, while Nurse Trixie Franklin (Helen George) grows angry as she receives a subscription to a Marriage Bureau. Actor Peter's role as Mr Percival will see the midwives form new friendships and bring about a particularly interesting adventure for Nurse Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett). The screen star is best known for playing the fifth Doctor in BBC's Doctor Who between 1981 and 1984, before going on to appear on shows such as At Home with the Braithwaites and Law & Order: UK. Jenny Agutter, Fenella Woolgar, Ella Bruccoleri and Laura Main will also be returning to the show. Exciting: The screen star (pictured in 2012), 69, is set to transform into Mr Percival with his circus, which is expected to attract a massive audience when it arrives in Poplar Return: In August, bosses confirmed the series was up and running after being brought to halt by COVID-19 (L-R Leonie Elliott, Helen George, Linda Bassett and Jennifer Kirby pictured) Taking to Facebook, executives gushed they were 'overjoyed' to be heading back to work to ensure their yearly special could air on time in December, along with snaps of a mask-clad Stephen McGann outside the iconic Nonnatus House. In the images, Stephen - who plays Dr Turner in the series - can be seen having his makeup applied by a crew member, who is dressed head-to-toe in PPE. A lengthy statement posted to the show's social media account said: 'This has been no mean achievement. Giving birth to each season of Call the Midwife, even in healthy times, is a major logistical task, involving the skills of far more people than you see on screen Back to business: Confirming its return, images of Stephen McGann - who plays Dr Turner in the series - having his makeup applied by a crew member were shared on Facebook 'Call the Midwife can have up to 200 crew members working on our set in a shooting day and there are around 150 shooting days in every year. Our cast includes not only our 15 main cast members, but also about 70 guest actors in each season.' 'And babies? We reckon we've employed about 1,100 babies in total since our series began 'And let's not forget those other essential staff members who keep our Nonnatus House team fed and watered. Over 40,000 meals are served to our cast and crew during each filming season as well as 100,000 cups of tea and coffee! 'Bringing all of these heroes back together to film in safety during a pandemic has been our top priority in these last months. But being able to deliver a brand new Christmas Special and Series 10 to you is the very best reward that we could wish for.' Series Creator, Writer and Executive Producer Heidi Thomas added: 'Everyone is overjoyed to be whisking the dust sheets off Nonnatus House and getting back to filming after lockdown. 'It is a particular thrill to be able to deliver the Christmas Special on time, just as we promised at the start of the pandemic. 'We are very much a family at Call the Midwife, and like families everywhere, we have missed each other. We will now be putting more love and energy into our work than ever and can't wait to share Series 10 with our fantastic, loyal audience.' Call The Midwife's Christmas Special will air on BBC One in December. Series 10 will begin in 2021. - A Nigerian man identified as Adeola Owosho has shared how his business went south in 2018 and he lost close to GHC30,000 - Owosho, who said he almost got depressed after losing the money, disclosed he had borrowed GHC7,500 from his father to start the business - According to him, after making three times his capital in a few months, he lost it all in a day A Nigerian man identified as Adeola Owosho has taken to social media to disclose that he lost GHC26,919 while doing business and almost got depressed. Owosho, who took to his LinkedIn page to make the disclosure, said he borrowed GHC7,500 from his father to go into a business he started learning while he was in his final year. According to him, he made three times his capital in a few months but lost it all in a day, which was on May 29, 2018. The young man, however, did not disclose the type of business that cost him the money, but promised to talk about it someday. Adeola Owosho. Photo credit: Adeola Owosho/LinkedIn Source: UGC He said despite the failure, he kept his head up high and learnt the greatest lessons of his life that will forever guide his path. Owosho wrote: "Sometimes it is best to fail early in life. That way you learn vital truths that open your mind." The young man advised people to pray to fail early. In other news, an unemployed security guard from Armadale, Australia, has turned a millionaire overnight after winning AUD 5.8 million. The man whose name was not mentioned for security reason is said to be in his late 20s. The young man had fallen on hard times due to the coronavirus pandemic. The man was buying groceries for his three-year-old daughter when he saw the Lotterywest sign and decided to buy a ticket. Meanwhile, Dr Ayisha Baffoe-Ashun has shattered glass ceilings and has blazed the path for other women after it was reported that she had become the first-ever female PhD holder in Architecture. She set this enviable record at Ghana's prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Dr Ayisha Ida Baffoe-Ashun formerly known as Ayisha Ida Haruna would hold her head up high as the primus inter pares and would look to see other exceptional women blaze the trail she has set. 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 Nawazuddin Siddiqui with wife Mumbai: Nawazuddin Siddiqui's estranged wife Aaliya filed a complaint with suburban Versova police here accusing him of rape and cheating, an official said. Nawazuddin Advertisement 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. Nawazuddin SiddiquiAaliya had recorded her statement at Budhana police station in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh last week and in another complaint she has filed against Nawazuddin and four members of his family. WEST HARTFORD Three people have tested positive for COVID-19 at both high schools in West Hartford, prompting the superintendent to address the community directly Wednesday. Two people tested positive at Hall High School and one tested positive at Conard High School, Superintendent Tom Moore told families in a letter. While we knew all along that we would have positive cases in our schools, it is still disconcerting to all of us to see any of our community infected, Moore said. We are following the strategies we put in place with our reopening plan over the summer, and the good news from all of this is that so far, none of the cases had a nexus within our schools. Moore did not clarify whether the coronavirus infections were among staff, faculty or students, but the districts COVID-19 dashboard Wednesday showed one case among students at each high school. It was not immediately clear if the second case at Hall was a student or district employee. Fourteen students at Conard have been told to quarantine, while seven students and one staff member from Hall are in quarantine, the dashboard shows. Bristow, King Phillip and Sedgwick middle schools all have students quarantining along with Aiken, Bugbee and Whiting Lane elementary schools. Charter Oak International Academy and Duff Elementary School both have quarantined staff members. Across the state, according to the Department of Public Health yesterday, they have not found cases spreading in schools, rather individuals are contracting the virus in out of school settings. This tells us, once again, that we need everyones help in order to protect our community, Moore said. He reiterated the importance of masks, avoiding social gatherings and to run through the schools symptoms checklist each day. The district is using a week-on, week-off hybrid model. The reason was so that an onset of symptoms would possibly happen during an off week for students this has, in fact happened in two of our three situations, thereby limiting the need for quarantining others, Moore said. Moore said he would maintain open communication and will update the community as cases emerge. The most important metric we analyze for is if the disease is spreading in the schools. I will not allow us to stay open if we are an incubator that is leading to spikes within our community, he said. Canada Nickel Announces Airborne Geophysical Survey Underway on Recently Acquired Option Properties Posted by Publisher Internet Highlights Airborne magnetic and gravity survey will cover seven separate nickel-bearing target structures with more than 30 kilometres of total strike length and ranging from 150 to 600 metres wide. Survey provides same data that was successfully utilized in the discovery and subsequent delineation of its Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project Historic drilling yielded nickel-bearing intersections on all of the target structures, including: Kingsmill ? 0.30% Ni over core length of 503 metres from 118 metres in historic hole KML-12-02 (2012) and 0.31% Ni over 302 metres core length from 20 metres in historic hole 27090 (1966) Nesbitt-North ? 0.28% Ni over core length of 163 metres from 233 metres in historic hole 27083 (1966) ?Mahaffy-Aubin ? 0.23% Ni over core length of 127 metres from 82 metres in historic hole 31901 (1966) and core length of 276 metres of serpentinized ultramafic mineralization (similar host mineralization at Crawford) in historic hole T2-80-2 (1980) with no assays provided Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSX-V:CNC) (\Canada Nickel\ or the \Company\ https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/canada-nickel-company-inc/) is pleased to announce that detailed airborne magnetic and gravity surveys, similar to what was successfully utilized at the Company?s flagship Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project, began this week on its Option Properties which were acquired earlier this year with earn-in agreements with Noble Mineral Exploration. ?This airborne survey is the critical next step in unlocking the nickel-cobalt sulphide potential of the overall land package we have assembled in addition to our Crawford project: seven different structures ranging in size from 2.2 kilometres long by 375-600 metres wide (Kingsmill), to 8 kilometres long by 200-500 metres wide (Mahaffy-Aubin). Each structure has yielded historical drill intersections indicating that the geophysical targets identified are nickel-bearing,? said Mark Selby, Chair and CEO of Canada Nickel. ?With our recently announced $13 million financing and this airborne survey underway, we look forward to building on the large resource we have already defined at our Crawford nickel-cobalt project and beginning to unlock the district scale nickel-cobalt potential we believe this region holds over the coming autumn and winter seasons.? Airborne survey and drilling results from the Crawford Main and East Zones showed a strong correlation between specific magnetic and gravity signatures and nickel mineralization. This unique geophysical signature was successfully utilized for ranking drill targets at Crawford. The Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project is located in the heart of the prolific Timmins-Cochrane mining camp in Ontario, Canada, and is adjacent to well-established, major infrastructure associated with over 100 years of regional mining activity. Airborne Survey The airborne survey, flown by CGG Canada Services Ltd. using the Falcon? system, will include measurements of the total magnetic intensity and the vertical gravity gradient made along flight lines oriented north-south and spaced 100 m apart. The current survey totals 2,731 l-km and adds to the previously acquired 2,000 l-km to completely cover Crawford and Carnegie Townships as well as the Nesbitt-North, Kingsmill, MacDiarmid and Mahaffy exploration targets. See Figure 1 below. Figure 1 ? Plan view of Planned Geophysical Survey Area over Crawford, Kingsmill, Nesbitt-Aubin, Nesbit North, MacDiarmid and Mahaffy-Aubin Properties, Ontario. Overview of Option Properties (Previously released on July 13, 2020) Kingsmill The Kingsmill target is a large serpentinized ultramafic intrusion which is 2.2 km long and between 375-600 metres wide. For reference, the Crawford Main Zone resource is 1.7 km long and 225-425 metres wide. Initial review of historical drilling results has yielded both significant nickel and PGM intersections and the north side of the structure appears to have the same PGE enrichment as Crawford Main and East Zones: 1.0 g/t PGM over 2 metres from 96 metres within 0.3 g/t PGM over 30 metres from 69 metres in historic hole KML-12-11, 0.8 g/t PGM over 5 metres from 523 metres within 0.5 g/t PGM over 24 metres in historic hole KML-12-07. The Company believes that the initial review points to several large portions of the structure which remain highly prospective for nickel-cobalt-PGM mineralization: The two sections were 1.3 km apart leaving a large portion of the overall structure completely untested There are several intersections which points to the potential for relatively higher quantities of recoverable minerals Holes KML-12-06, KML-12-11, KML-12-12 on the Eastern section all contained intersections with significant nickel and sulphur content (which is necessary for formation of nickel sulphide minerals) across wide intersections (see Table 1 below) Hole KML-12-03, yielding 0.26% nickel and 0.03% sulphur over 130 metres, was the only hole (of four holes on the Western section) drilled on the northern half of the structure, which has yielded the best mineralized portions of the Crawford Main and East Zones Historic hole 27090, also drilled on north side of the structure in 1966, yielded 0.31% nickel over 302 metres (sulphur was not assayed) The understanding of the mineralogy of these deposits has evolved significantly since the Kingsmill drilling was completed eight years ago, particularly the controls and the deportment of potentially recoverable nickel minerals across a deposit. Initial mineralogy results from Kingsmill in 2012 were inconclusive as the test was conducted on one master sample compiled from all drill cores across a distance of 2 km ? not taking into account the significant variability in mineralogy between rock types, and that some ultramafic rock will have low amounts of potentially recoverable nickel minerals. See Tables 1a and 1b and Figure 2 for results. See below caution regarding Historical Information. Table 1a ? Kingsmill Selected Historical Drilling Key Nickel Intersections ? Holes 6, 11, 12 (Eastern), 3 (Western), Kingsmill Township, Ontario Note: the lengths reported are core lengths and not true widths. Canada Nickel has insufficient information to determine the attitude, either of the ultramafic body or of mineralized zones within it. True widths will be less than the core lengths by a number of factors. The drill hole orientations are reported in Table 2. See below caution regarding Historical Information. Table 1b ? Kingsmill Selected Historical Drilling Key PGM Intersections ? Holes 6, 11, 12 (Eastern), 3 (Western), Kingsmill Township, Ontario Note: the lengths reported are core lengths and not true widths. Canada Nickel has insufficient information to determine the attitude, either of the ultramafic body or of mineralized zones within it. True widths will be less than the core lengths by a number of factors. The drill hole orientations are reported in Table 2. See below caution regarding Historical Information. Figure 2 ? Plan view of Kingsmill Property ? Historical drilling overlain on total field magnetic intensity, Kingsmill Township, Ontario. For details on Noble Mineral Exploration Inc.?s (?Noble?) 2012 drilling program, please see Noble?s press release dated March 15, 2018 that is filed on www.sedar.com. Once the resource update for Crawford is complete, the historic drilling will be re-logged based on our understanding of the geology, and mineralogical samples will be selected to understand the deportment of potentially recoverable nickel minerals (pentlandite, heazlewoodite, awaruite). Crawford-Nesbitt-Aubin Two targets have been identified in Crawford-Nesbitt-Aubin Township, consisting of two ultramafic units 6 km long and 150-200 metres wide containing serpentinized peridotite, much of it was not assayed. Inco drilling in 1964-66 yielded highlights including narrow intervals of up to 0.35% Ni which tested the edges of the geophysical target. For reference, the Crawford Main Zone resource is 1.7 km long and 225-425 metres wide. See Figure 3 for results. See below caution regarding Historical Information. Figure 3 ? Plan view of Crawford-Nesbitt-Aubin Property ? Historical drilling overlain on total field magnetic intensity, Crawford, Nesbitt and Aubin Townships, Ontario. Nesbitt North Two ultramafic units 3.7 km long by 150-300 metres wide with significant nickel intersections were identified in Nesbitt township. Inco 1966 drilling highlights included 0.28% Ni over 163 m in historic hole 27083. For reference, the Crawford Main Zone resource is 1.7 km long and 225-425 metres wide. See Figure 4 for results. See below caution regarding Historical Information. Figure 4 ? Plan view of Nesbitt North Property ? Historical drilling overlain on total field magnetic intensity, Nesbitt Township, Ontario. MacDiarmid A target of 3 km by 150-600 metres wide ultramafic intrusion with serpentinized peridotite has been identified, much of it was not assayed. Highlights include historic hole 18127 which intersected 142 m of mineralized peridotite which was not assayed, and narrow intervals of up to 0.22% Ni over 1.5 m in NRK-65-7 (1965). For reference, the Crawford Main Zone resource is 1.7 km long and 225-425 metres wide. See Figure 5 for results. See below caution regarding Historical Information. Figure 5 ? Plan view of MacDiarmid Property ? Historical drilling overlain on total field magnetic intensity, MacDiarmid Township, Ontario. Note: Property continues beyond map boundary. Mahaffy-Aubin A target of 8 km by 200-500 metres wide interpreted ultramafic intrusion has been identified, much of it was not assayed. Highlights include historic hole 31901 (1966) which intersected 0.23% Ni over 127 m, and hole T2-80-2 (1980) which intersected 277 m of serpentinized ultramafic rock with no assays reported. For reference, the Crawford Main Zone resource is 1.7 km long and 225-425 metres wide. See Figure 6 for results. See below caution regarding Historical Information. Figure 6 ? Plan view of Mahaffy-Aubin Property ? Historical drilling overlain on total field magnetic intensity, Mahaffy and Aubin Townships, Ontario. Option Terms: As detailed in its March 4, 2020 and May 22, 2020 news releases, Canada Nickel acquired the Crawford Annex property and the option to earn up to an 80% interest in 5 additional nickel targets within the Project 81 land package. The Crawford Annex comprises 4,909 hectares in Crawford and Lucas township and the 5 option areas (Crawford-Nesbitt-Aubin, Nesbitt North, Aubin-Mahaffy, Kingsmill-Aubin, and MacDiarmid) (?Option Properties?) range in size of 903 to 5,543 hectares. See Figure 1 for a map of property locations. Canada Nickel has the option to earn up to an 80% interest in each of the Option Properties on the following terms and conditions. 1) Canada Nickel can initially earn a 60% interest in each of the Option Properties within 2 years by: funding at least $500,000 of exploration and development expenditures on each option property paying all property maintenance costs for each option property, including all applicable mining land taxes? making a payment to Noble of $250,000 in cash or, at Noble?s election, Canada Nickel common shares. 2) Canada Nickel has the right to then increase their interest to 80% in each of the Option Properties within 3 years by funding an additional $1,000,000 of exploration and development expenditures on each option property (for a total of $1,500,000 per option property) If the conditions to earn a 60% interest or 80% interest have been satisfied, a joint venture would be formed on that basis and a 2% net smelter return royalty (NSR) would be granted to Noble on the portion of the property which are mining claims and currently do not have any royalty on them. (The overall result would be a total 2% NSR on each property.) Cautionary Statement Concerning Historical Information The historical information referenced in this press release is based primarily on drilling results reported by Inco Ltd. and Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. A majority of the holes were drilled more than forty years ago, only tested the periphery of the target structures, and did not traverse entire width of the mineralized targets. This historical information has been filed with the Ontario Government and is available on-line though the Mining Lands Administration System (MLAS) website. The company believes this information is relevant, as it was completed by reputable companies using drilling and sampling practices that were industry standard at the time. The company or its ?qualified person? (for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 ? Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) has reviewed the information to confirm it has been correctly reproduced from the public MLAS database, but given the company?s and its qualified person?s inability to access the underlying data, the company or its qualified person has not done sufficient work to verify the historical information contained in this news release. Qualified Person and Data Verification Stephen J. Balch P.Geo. (ON), VP Exploration of Canada Nickel and a \qualified person\ as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101, has verified the data disclosed in this news release, and has otherwise reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release on behalf of Canada Nickel Company Inc. About Canada Nickel Company Canada Nickel Company Inc. is advancing the next generation of nickel-cobalt sulphide projects to deliver nickel and cobalt required to feed the high growth electric vehicle and stainless steel markets. Canada Nickel Company has applied in multiple jurisdictions to trademark the terms NetZero NickelTM, NetZero CobaltTM, NetZero IronTM and is pursuing the development of processes to allow the production of net zero carbon nickel, cobalt, and iron products. Canada Nickel provides investors with leverage to nickel and cobalt in low political risk jurisdictions. Canada Nickel is currently anchored by its 100% owned flagship Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project in the heart of the prolific Timmins-Cochrane mining camp. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain information that may constitute \forward-looking information\ under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, drill results relating to the Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project, the potential of the Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project, strategic plans, including future exploration and development results, and corporate and technical objectives. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals, the future demand for metals, the results of drilling, inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the property, environmental liabilities (known and unknown), general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, results of exploration programs, timing of the updated resource estimate, risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, and failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forwardlooking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. Canada Nickel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For further information, please contact: Mark Selby, Chair and CEO Phone: 647-256-1954 Email: info@canadanickel.com In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch ? Physicist Reinhold Bertlmann of the University of Vienna, Austria has published a review of the work of his late long-term collaborator John Stewart Bell of CERN, Geneva in EPJ H. This review, 'Real or Not Real: that is the question', explores Bell's inequalities and his concepts of reality and explains their relevance to quantum information and its applications. John Stewart Bell's eponymous theorem and inequalities set out, mathematically, the contrast between quantum mechanical theories and local realism. They are used in quantum information, which has evolving applications in security, cryptography and quantum computing. The distinguished quantum physicist John Stewart Bell (1928-1990) is best known for the eponymous theorem that proved current understanding of quantum mechanics to be incompatible with local hidden variable theories. Thirty years after his death, his long-standing collaborator Reinhold Bertlmann of the University of Vienna, Austria, has reviewed his thinking in a paper for EPJ H, 'Real or Not Real: That is the question'. In this historical and personal account, Bertlmann aims to introduce his readers to Bell's concepts of reality and contrast them with some of his own ideas of virtuality. Bell spent most of his working life at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, and Bertlmann first met him when he took up a short-term fellowship there in 1978. Bell had first presented his theorem in a seminal paper published in 1964, but this was largely neglected until the 1980s and the introduction of quantum information. Bertlmann discusses the concept of Bell inequalities, which arise through thought experiments in which a pair of spin- particles propagate in opposite directions and are measured by independent observers, Alice and Bob. The Bell inequality distinguishes between local realism - the 'common sense' view in which Alice's observations do not depend on Bob's, and vice versa - and quantum mechanics, or, specifically, quantum entanglement. Two quantum particles, such as those in the Alice-Bob situation, are entangled when the state measured by one observer instantaneously influences that of the other. This theory is the basis of quantum information. And quantum information is no longer just an abstruse theory. It is finding applications in fields as diverse as security protocols, cryptography and quantum computing. "Bell's scientific legacy can be seen in these, as well as in his contributions to quantum field theory," concludes Bertlmann. "And he will also be remembered for his critical thought, honesty, modesty and support for the underprivileged." ### Reference: R. Bertlmann (2020), Real or Not Real: that is the question, European Physical Journal H, DOI 10.1140/epjh/e2019-90071-6 Lorena German, Angela Censoplano, Oriana Miles, HelloGiglges 2020 has proven to be a pivotal year for education. The pandemic and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement has altered our thinking about the role of schools in times of crisis. Widespread calls for education reform have prompted educators to examine their approach to addressing race, white privilege, and Black and Indigenous history in the classroom. This is because studies, like from Indiana University and Rutgers University, have proven that Black students are more likely to be suspended and expelled, are subject to lower expectations from teachers, and are less likely to be placed in gifted programs. But many teachers arent just waiting on state school boards to take action; they are rewriting their lesson plans to respond to our current political moment. HelloGiggles sat down with six educators from across the country to discuss how they plan to integrate antiracist education into the classroom and the ongoing changes that we need to see in the education sector. Oriana Miles Oriana Miles, HelloGiggles Title: High school teacher Location: Schenectady, New York When Miles graduated in 2018 from teachers college at New York University, she knew she wanted to uplift Black and Brown voices and ensure that students were informed about the world around them. I was able to look back on some of my experiences in school and realized that they werent as great as I thought they were, says Miles. I dont want education to cause harm, I want it to be a method of liberation. Now, as an English teacher, Miles continues to prioritize culturally sustaining education that uplifts students voices by encouraging them to integrate their culture and ways of speaking into the classroom. Black vernacular is always seen as less than, improper, or informal when really its just a different way of speaking, says Miles. So in the ways that Ive taught lessons around language, its been more inclusive to specifically say, I want you to speak the way that you want because I want your voice to be included, and theres nothing wrong with it. Story continues Educator Jamila Lyiscotts Ted Talk on Three Ways to Speak English is a key text in Miles classroom every single year. Part of the antiracism journey in the classroom is to get students to think critically about why things are this way and asking them what control do they have to change the narrative," she says. Tracy Sangare Title: Elementary school teacher Location: Schenectady, New York Sangare has been teaching for over two decades, but it was only about five years ago, when her district conducted a year-long study circle on race and education, that she began to think critically about how to integrate antiracist education into the classroom. She drew on the work of veteran antiracist educators Val Brown and Shea Martin to assist her in facilitating these conversations with students. I ask my students: What are the things that we see around us, and how do we define our world? says Sangare. What are our hopes and dreams for our world? I always try to frame that in an antiracist lens. So I talk to my students about systemic racism and what our system is trying to stop us from doing. Sangare says its important that teachers arent teaching history from a white colonizer point of view, and that part of creating an antiracist environment also extends to codes of conduct in the classroom. If a student needs to change places in the room or walk around during a story or lesson, I trust that they are doing that because that is what they need at that moment, says Sangare. I feel like this is part of liberation education: the ability to control our bodies and to trust that everyone knows what they need. Lorena German Title: High school teacher, educational consultant, and chair of the NCTEs Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English Location: Austin, Texas German teaches high school English in Texas and is the cofounder of Multicultural Classroom, a consulting organization focused on the intersection of race, bias, education, and society. She became interested in antiracist pedagogy during grad school, which has informed her entire teaching career. Her classroom curriculum takes an antiracist approach that combines elements of social justice education, drawing on resources from the Southern Poverty Law Centers education resource platform Teaching Tolerance. My goal is to help the young people in front of me advocate for themselves and their communities that will require antiracist education and social justice education, says German. Social justice education is action-based. Its about working towards the redistribution of power and access. Truth is a counter to racism, so when I speak and teach the truth, I am doing counter-work that is antiracist in and of itself. Antiracist education applies to every subject, not just English literature, says German. There are particular subjects that are always perceived to be neutral, but we know that math and science, in particular, are deeply embedded in racism, says German. Science was used to justify the hierarchy of races. We know that math has been used along with the science to justify racist policiesfor example, redlining in urban planning. Angela Censoplano Holmes Title: Instructional resource teacher Location: San Diego, California Holmes helps teachers implement English language learning programs and provides specialized support to students. Outside of her role in the classroom, though, shes currently working with her local union and the San Diego Unified School Board to integrate an antiracist curriculum into Thrively, a digital learning resource for educators that highlights social-emotional learning for students. Antiracist education and abolitionist teaching is adding such a beautiful layer to what Ive been advocating for, says Holmes. Its knocking down a white supremacist way of teaching that weve all been teaching, and to me, its an opportunity for us [teachers] to really shine. In terms of integrating antiracist education into the classroom, Holmes recommends that teachers add diverse voices to their book lists. She also draws on resources from organizations such as usvshate.org that show students how to take action against hate, bias, and injustice. Its about building and amplifying students voices, says Holmes. Were in the business of planting seeds, and thats what were doing. Lindsay Self Lindsay Self, HelloGiggles Title: Special education teacher Location: Fultondale, Alabama Following George Floyds death and the international protests it sparked, Self realized she needed to be more vocal about systemic issues that students of color face. It got me thinking about how this concept of equity in education applies to racial issues as well, says Self. If you give every student the same thing, thats only meeting the needs of very few students. Rather, we need to think about each students individual needs. Self realizes that part of that process starts with teachers examining their own biases. Thats why shes assembling an Antiracist Educators Library in her schools staff room. Ive had such a huge summer of learning and becoming more aware, says Self. I want to give my fellow teachers the same opportunity. The library includes titles ranging from Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in School to Ta-Nehisi Coates Between the World and Me. I think step one needs to be educating teachers and school leaders so that we can make more informed and better decisions that are appropriate for our students, she adds. Shawna Coppola Shawn Coppola, HelloGiggles Title: Literary specialist and educational consultant Location: Stratham, New Hampshire Coppola is a literary specialist and educational consultant who travels around the country to assess the schools literacy curriculums and offers instructional support to classroom teachers. Shes currently working with a New Hampshire public school to launch a school-wide inquiry on identity to assist teachers with addressing their internal biases so that they are better prepared to meet students needs. I try to help [teachers] find a doorway into antiracism work using literacy and literature, says Coppola. We talk a lot about how texts, video and audio texts, can provoke thinking and discussion around identity work. One of the things that Coppola examines in her work is literary assessments and who makes decisions around what it means to be literate in this country. She says that current literary assessments and standards dont accurately reflect the country as a whole. The majority of people making decisions around curriculumthe kinds of questions that are being assessed and the ways that literacy is assessedare made by predominantly white, upper-middle-class folks who believe that their knowledge is the default knowledge when its really tied to culture, says Coppola. Its important to look at that, because us literacy folks think that books will save us, but literacy can only liberate if its not merely defined by whiteness. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday announced to the United Nations that Ghanaians have agreed to work together to ensure transparent, free, fair, safe and credible elections. It is a matter of great pride to me that, in spite of the difficulties in conducting an election during a pandemic, I am able to state that all Ghanaians have agreed that we have to work together to ensure peaceful elections, he said. President Nana Akufo-Addo said this in a televised address at the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United State of America. He said the general election would be the eighth since Ghana embarked on the constitutional rule in the Fourth Republic in 1992. Each of the elections has seen an improvement on the previous one, and we are looking forward to this years passing off peacefully, with characteristic Ghanaian dignity. We are keenly aware of the reputation that Ghana has built as a tolerant and working democracy, and we have every intention to nurture and improve upon it, he stated. President Nana Akufo-Addo said paramount in everyones consideration was the Ghana Project, which aimed at modernising all aspects of our lives, and bring prosperity to our land. I have no doubt whatsoever that, at the end of the elections, we shall be proud of ourselves, Africa will have good cause to be proud of us, and the rest of the world will find lessons to learn from us, he said. The President said the political season was at its peak, as the country prepared for presidential and parliamentary elections in December. Like everything else, he said, even the politicking had been affected by the pandemic, and that political parties could not campaign for votes in in the traditional manner. He said political parties were relying on technology to propagate their messages in the time of COVID-19. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A tourist in Singapore taking in the iconic skyline with Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer in view. IronHeart | Moment | Getty Images Singapore is gradually reopening its borders again after months of coronavirus travel restrictions. As the city-state looks to salvage its battered tourism industry which contributes around 4% to its economy it's hoped that artificial intelligence (AI) can help the sector bring back visitors safely. Official data shows monthly visitor arrivals were down by 76% between January to July, compared to a year ago. Visitor arrivals in July alone were down more than 99% year-on-year. Even though the Southeast Asian nation remains closed off to most foreigners, officials are now considering lifting restrictions for select groups of visitors. Local start-ups like Vouch and Travelstop are betting on their AI-powered systems as the country navigates new security measures. Launched in 2017, Vouch sells an AI-enabled digital concierge that's designed to answer guest inquiries, make bookings and take room service orders. The company says its chatbots used by hotels including Andaz Singapore and the Pan Pacific in Singapore can conduct health declarations, facilitate contactless ordering for dine-in services and manage crowd control. The Vouch app being used on a mobile phone. Handout from Vouch "Interestingly, Covid-19 has actually helped our business significantly," Vouch co-founder Joseph Ling told CNBC. The company had to initially modify its in-room dining ordering system to allow for takeaways and deliveries a feature that it gave to hotels for free during Singapore's partial lockdown. "Thanks to this, we were able to build great relationships," Ling said. "When hotels began to plan for the future around June and July, we signed up many of them." He said Vouch is now growing rapidly with "15 percent of the total Singapore hotel room stock on board." Other AI-backed firms also say they're optimistic about the long-term outlook. Two-year-old Travelstop aims to simplify business travel with the help of its serverless SaaS platform, that's designed to speed up the booking process, automate expense reporting and provide cost-saving insights. "For the past few months, even though corporate travel revenues have been down, we are seeing significant traction on our expense management platform as companies are now accelerating digitizing the workflows and processes to support the work from home culture," said Travelstop's co-founder Prashant Kirtane. Travel: A changing industry Ongoing border restrictions and lower consumer appetite for international flights have changed travel as an industry. The two entrepreneurs said they believe machine learning and AI will change travel as an experience. "The business models of traditional corporate travel management companies have not evolved for decades," Kirtane stated. "Existing tools have not kept pace with the modern business traveler, and are generally not affordable by smaller and mid-sized businesses." "Hotels used to feel more technologically advanced than our homes but as IoT (Internet of Things), AI and consumer tech companies take the lead, the tech gradient has reversed hotels now feel lower tech than our own homes," said Ling of Vouch. The Internet of Things is the idea of a network of devices that are all connected to the internet and, conceptually at least, can work together. Before the pandemic, AI and other forms of machine learning were just beginning to infiltrate the travel sector. Their biggest advantage is the ability to personalize experiences and streamline services based on customer data. Singaporean start-up Fooyo, for example, creates customized itinerary planners that include real-time crowd monitoring for attractions and events. The app it created for the Chinese city of Chongqing also includes an AI audio guide, which gives visitors information based on their GPS location. As the economy begins to recover from the pandemic, AI-backed systems could become especially useful. For example, "with people being more cautious about being in long queues and waiting in crowded spaces, more AI processes would be beneficial to safe distancing," said James Walton, the transportation, hospitality and services sector leader at Deloitte Singapore. He cited the example of remote check-ins and check-outs in hotels. A play for investors? Investors are paying attention to this rapidly growing sector. Travelstop raised $3 million in pre-Series A funding led by Silicon Valley venture capital firm Accel last year, on top of the $1.2 million it obtained in a 2019 seed round led by Singapore's SeedPlus. Kirtane said the company aims to complete a new fundraising round in 2021. Vouch, meanwhile, has raised about $250,000 of angel investment to-date and will be seeking more funds as it looks to expand in Thailand and Malaysia. And investments in new technology continue. In 2017, the country's tourism body and the Singapore Hotel Association launched a program to crowdsource technologies for hotels. Among the winners was a wireless system that automatically adjusts air-conditioning units for energy efficiency. Officials announced an accelerator program for tourism-oriented tech start-ups late last year. Technological innovation "can also strengthen investor perception, and thus encourage investments in the country," Walton said. The labor crunch Fiona Lowbridge, ALOM VP of Client Success Fiona Lowbridge illustrates both the potential and the power of women in the manufacturing space. For Fiona, challenge is just another word for opportunity; and to meet it she champions solutions and motivates teams to deliver transformative client results. -- President and CEO of ALOM Hannah Kain Fiona Lowbridge, Vice President of Client Success at ALOM, a global leader in supply chain management, has received the STEP Ahead Award bestowed by the Manufacturing Institute on women who have demonstrated outstanding industry leadership and mentorship of other women to excel in the manufacturing and supply chain industries. Fiona Lowbridge illustrates both the potential and the power of women in the manufacturing space. For Fiona, challenge is just another word for opportunity; and to meet it she champions solutions and motivates teams to deliver transformative client results, said Hannah Kain, President and CEO of ALOM, which manages the supply chain for F100s and breakout innovators across procurement, inventory management, contract assembly, digital media and print as well as eCommerce and omni-channel fulfillment. The STEP Womens Initiative is the nations marquee program to close the gender gap in manufacturing. The biggest challenge facing manufacturers continues to be the growing workforce crisisthe shortage of skilled talent to fill open positions. Manufacturers could close the skills gap by 50% simply by bringing 10% more women into the industry. ALOM, a woman-owned company, is staying ahead of this crisis, where 66% of employees are women. In her executive role at the company, Lowbridge builds resilient and empowered client-facing teams with a skill development focus through peer-to-peer mentoring. Her can do spirit forges innovative solutions to client needs and cultivates employee longevity and loyalty, noting a 23% increase in internal staff promotions during the past two years. Thanks to the dynamic and inspired leadership of Hannah Kain, ALOM offers abundant opportunities for women and all employees to achieve success at work and in our careers. One area of particular passion for me is supporting and advocating for responsible environmental management and sustainability throughout the supply chain. At ALOM, I know my professional aspirations match my personal ones, Lowbridge said. Lowbridge has been instrumental in enabling ALOM to scale up essential operations, while protecting staff, for its medical industry clients supporting COVID-19 relief programs such as medical equipment reconfiguration and test kit assembly and distribution. As a respected industry executive, Lowbridge serves as a mentor, advocate, speaker, and panelist for How Women Lead, a San Francisco Bay Area organization dedicated to promoting womens voices, including the How Women Lead Alpha Girls program and How Women Lead in the Boardroom. As a private citizen she helped organize a grass roots San Francisco beach and ocean cleanup program, now in its third year, focused specifically on plastic waste eradication and public education. At ALOM she is a 4 Ocean advocate and led a company-wide sustainability initiative which virtually eliminated single-use plastic water bottle use across the company. The 2020 STEP Ahead Honorees and Emerging Leader Awards reinforce the exciting opportunities available in manufacturing and help inspire more women to pursue these careers, said Erika Peterman, 2020 STEP Ahead chair and senior vice president of BASF Corporations Chemical Intermediates North America business. A natural evolution of the manufacturing workforce is taking place as more women enter into leadership roles, bringing innovative ideas on how we work and increase productivity. Companies across the U.S. agree there is a talent shortage in manufacturing. Through the STEP Ahead Awards, we hope to take another step toward closing this gap by highlighting the stories of successful women in manufacturing and giving them a platform to encourage other women to join the industry and be role models for the next generation, said Manufacturing Institute Executive Director Carolyn Lee. STEP works to foster a 21st-century manufacturing workforce by empowering and inspiring women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research and leadership, as well as by motivating alumnae to pay it forward by mentoring the next generation. In the programs first five years, STEP Ahead Award winners impacted more than 300,000 individualsfrom peers in the industry to school age children. About the Manufacturing Institute: The Manufacturing Institute grows and supports the manufacturing industrys skilled workers for the advancement of modern manufacturing. The Manufacturing Institutes diverse initiatives support all American workers, including women, veterans and students, through skills training programs, community building and the advancement of their career in manufacturing. As the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, The Manufacturing Institute is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with resources necessary to solve the industrys toughest challenges. For more information, please visit http://www.themanufacturinginstitute.org. About ALOM: ALOM is a global supply chain management services and solutions provider serving as a partner to its Fortune 100 clients in the technology, automotive, government, medical, telecommunications, and utility/energy sectors. Headquartered in Fremont, CA, its expert team of strategists, technology engineers, and supply chain specialists operate globally from 19 locations. ALOM manages the physical supply chain from procurement, inventory management, contract assembly, digital media and print as well as omni-channel fulfillment. ALOM also manages the data supply chain with eCommerce solutions, visibility tools, data management and strong back-end systems, as well as the financial supply chain. ALOM is proud to deliver its clients products and services impeccably, enrich the end-user experience, and uphold their brand reputations. http://www.alom.com Shanghai, Sep 24 : The Shanghai Disney Resort on Thursday launched a new sign-language interpretation service for its iconic Mickey's Storybook Express parade. Sign-language specialists have been called in to interpret the fun phrases and songs sung by the beloved Disney characters as they pass by on their floats, thus providing hearing-impaired visitors with a better understanding of the performance, reports Xinhua news agency. Visitors can book and inquire about the service through the official website of Shanghai Disney Resort, the Reservation Center, and Guest Services locations across the resort. The Shanghai Disney Resort also launched its first Sign Language Week on September 21, which will run until the 27th, during which visitors could learn Chinese sign language from Disney's cast members in Disneytown. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Egypt has recently announced its crude oil production has exceeded 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) for the first time since the late 1950s, Al-Monitor reports, quoting Egypts Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek el-Molla. Egypts General Petroleum Company will aim to boost the development of new oil wells and infrastructure, Tarek el-Molla said at the general meeting of the company which he presided earlier this month. Most of Egypts crude oil production comes from the Western Desert region, 56 percent, followed by the Gulf of Suez with 23 percent, the Eastern Desert accounts for 12 percent of Egypts current oil production, and the Sinai Peninsula represents 9 percent of output. Egypt currently produces some 1.1 billion cubic feet of gas per day and almost 700,000 bpd of crude oil, after having developed production fields in the Gulf of Suez, Atef Hassan, head of one of the local companies, Petrobel, told Al-Monitor. Egypts crude oil production numbers are modest, but its waters in the Mediterranean hold the largest natural gas discovery in the Mediterranean Sea, the giant Zohr field which began production two years ago. Following the start-up of the Zohr field in early 2018, Egypt became an essential player in the Mediterranean. Zohr has played a crucial role in helping Egypt to avoid the need to import liquefied natural gas (LNG). In recent years, Egypt has been at the center of a natural gas rush in the Eastern Mediterranean after Italys Eni discovered the Zohr field in 2015, saying it was the largest ever gas discovery in the Mediterranean. Earlier this month, Eni and BP announced a new gas discovery in the Mediterranean, in the waters of the Nile Delta. In one of the latest deals concerning the Eastern Mediterranean, U.S. supermajor Chevron will scoop up Noble Energys natural gas assets offshore Israel and Cyprus after it entered into a definitive agreement to buy Houston-based Noble Energy in an all-stock transaction valued at US$5 billion. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: LONDON, ON, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Voices.com, the world's leading marketplace for voice over services, is thrilled to announce that it was awarded the Beyond Borders Award at last night's Business Achievement Awards gala. Presented by the London Chamber of Commerce, this award recognizes the global initiatives of a local business who has expanded their business outside of Canada. "It's an honour to not only be recognized for our global network, but to also have been done so by a panel of our peers right here in London, Ontario," says Voices.com founder and CEO David Ciccarelli. "This award win is a testament to the tireless work of our talented staff and to the immense talent pool on the Voices.com marketplace that make us the trusted source of voice over for brands around the world." Originally scheduled for March 2020, the Business Achievement Awards gala was an intimate event this year that was streamed live to ticket holders. To be eligible for the Beyond Borders Award, a business must have been operating for at least two years, and have Canadian headquarters based in the London & surrounding area. The award is designed to celebrate the winner's achievements and to share best practices to inspire other local companies to grow beyond borders. For a full list of winners, see: https://www.londonchamber.com/news/details/news-release-9-24-2020 About the Business Achievement Awards The London Chamber of Commerce has been recognizing and celebrating high achievement in London's business community since 1984. Often called the "Academy Awards" of business achievement in London, the Chamber's annual Business Achievement Awards gala showcases and celebrates some of the outstanding businesses in London. The Annual Business Achievement Awards is the largest business awards gala of its kind in Canada. About Voices.com Voices.com is the largest marketplace for audio and voice over products and services in the world, with over one million business and voice actor registered users. Since 2005, the biggest and most beloved brands have entrusted Voices.com to help them find their voice. Headquartered in London, Canada, Voices.com helps service clients and voice talent in over 160 countries. Learn more at: https://www.voices.com/ Media Contact: Michelle Melski | [email protected] | 1-888-359-3472 ext. 536 *Images for media: https://www.voices.com/company/mediakit This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com SOURCE Voices.com Related Links https://www.voices.com For all of us it is a very tense and emotional time, Chief Schroeder said during a news conference on Thursday. I think our officers are in good spirits, given the conditions that were in in the city right now. The department has put in place several reforms. No-knock warrants one of them was initially given for the raid on Ms. Taylors home before it was changed have been banned. The city expanded the requirements for the use of body cameras. The city also plans to offer incentives for officers to live in the neighborhoods they patrol, to rely on social workers to help resolve some disputes and to introduce additional drug testing for officers. The latest setback for the department came with the shootings on Wednesday of Maj. Aubrey Gregory, a 21-year veteran who was struck in the hip, and Officer Robinson Desroches, who was shot in the stomach. Both men were expected to recover, the police said. The authorities charged Larynzo Johnson, 26, on Thursday with two counts of assault on a police officer and 14 counts of wanton endangerment. Image Maj. Aubrey Gregory, left, and Officer Robinson Desroches Credit... Louisville Metro Police Department Just a week before he was shot, Major Gregory gave an emotional account at a public hearing of the challenges the force has faced and the stress of having to police a city that some officers believe is hostile to them. He described leading a police response when protesters took over a city bridge in May, his officers surrounded by an angry crowd. Their vehicles were attacked, he said. At the same moment his men were trying to help the surrounded squad cars, he said, other protesters began trying to tip over a police van near Metro Hall. An Australian ISIS bride who left Melbourne to fight for the terrorist organisation has been jailed in Turkey for three years after fleeing a Syrian refugee camp with her two young children. Zehra Duman, 26, was sentenced in court this week for recruiting brides to join ISIS and spruiking Islamic State propaganda on social media. She had been held in a Sanlurfa jail on the Turkish border since July 17 after fleeing the Al-Hol camp in north-eastern Syria. Her four-year-old son Jarrad and one-year-old daughter Layla were placed in a children protection centre but are now in the custody of Ms Duman's mother Ozlem Coskun who travelled from Melbourne for the hearing, the Herald Sun reports. Zehra Duman (pictured), 26, has been sentenced to three years in a Turkish jail for being a member of the Islamic state The details of her sentence and which jail she will serve time in remain unclear. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Home Affairs and the Turkish Embassy for further comment. Duman, then 19 became Australia's first ISIS bride in 2014 when she fled to Syria to join the terrorist group and marry Mahmoud Abullatif, a former Melbourne party boy-turned Muslim extremist who was killed in airstrike just five weeks after their wedding. She became a key ISIS recruiter on social media, posing with machine guns and on the bonnets of luxury cars stolen by the terrorists as she urged other Westerners to leave civilisation and join the Islamic regime. She remarried and had a son with her second husband and followed by a daughter with a third. Both men are also now dead. Zehra Duman (right) pictured as a teen with her mother Ozlem Coskun in Melbourne before fleeing to Syria She had hoped one day to return to Australia with her children and appealed to the High Court earlier this year after her Australian citizenship was stripped by the federal government last October. Her lawyers are pursuing the case which will be heard later this year. 'Forget me, I just want my kids to see my family, to see hospitals, medication, psychologists, have a normal childhood, she told AAP last year. 'You know what my son says when [my daughter] is sleeping, look Mummy [shes] dead. This is messed up, hes three years old, how can he know what death is?' She also reportedly told an American humanitarian worker in a video obtained by the ABC last year that she was desperate to come home. 'I want to go back to my country,' the woman believed to be Ms Duman said. 'I think everybody's asking for that because I'm an Australian citizen.' 'My kids have a right to be treated like normal kids. 'I understand the anger that they have towards a lot of us here, but the kids don't need to suffer.' Zehra Duman left Melbourne aged 19 to join the terror group in 2014. Pictured: the woman thought to be Duman alongside aid workers Australian dual nationals can have their citizenship stripped if they fight for an enemy force or partake in certain criminal activities. At least 65 Australian women and children are among more than 70,000 refugees living in squalid conditions at the Al-Hol, or al-Hawl, camp for those displaced from the former IS territory in north-eastern Syria near the Iraq border. Ms Coskun begged the Australian government to bring her daughter and two grandchildren home in a rare interview with SBS Dateline 12 months ago. She said she had spent the last three years trying to rescue her daughter and described the conditions at Al-Hol as dangerous. 'She could be murdered there tomorrow,' Ms Coskun said. 'It's disturbing to think my child is living in a tent with two babies.' She added Zehra described her behavour of fleeing to Syria to join ISIS as a 'dumb mistake. 'We all make mistakes and she's sorry for what she's done,' Ms Coskun said. 'She should be able to come back home.' San Antonio recently ranked No. 1 among Texas cities for having policies that help immigrants integrate into the community and economy, according to a third annual New American Economy Cities Index on Immigration Integration. The NAE Cities Index is a national assessment of local integration policies and socioeconomic outcomes for immigrants in the largest 100 cities. The City of San Antonio shared its recent ranking in a news release Thursday, stating the NAE Cities Index ranked the Alamo City 29 out of 100 cities. It was the second year in a row where San Antonio listed as the top Texas city in the ranking. The index scored each city on the following policies to determine its ranking: job opportunities, economic prosperity, livability and civic participation. The report then puts the factors into five subcategories: government leadership, economic empowerment, inclusivity, community and legal support. READ ALSO: Study: San Antonio residents can afford to own their own homes faster than all but two major cities In the 2020 report, San Antonio received an NAE badge of distinction for its high performance (scoring a four or five out of five) in the following categories: government leadership, community, legal support and livability. From its data, the report showed that immigrants in the San Antonio metro area paid $1.8 billion in taxes in 2018. It also highlighted how there were 26,689 immigrant entrepreneurs in 2018 as well as 121,131 immigrants who became eligible to vote in the San Antonio as of 2018. According to the city's news release, San Antonio responded to an influx of immigrants and created the Migrant Resource Center (MRC) in 2019. The MRC welcomed 32,343 immigrants and assisted them with travel to their respective host cities, shelter, meals and medical needs, the release stated. The center served 85,471 meals, gave 2,600 medical assessments, and provided over 22,000 beds to the visitors in the city. Additionally, 1,200 city staff and 600 community volunteers put in 41,000 hours of work to provide the necessary support to migrant families at the MRC. READ ALSO: Study: San Antonio is one of the top cities where adults live with their parents The release also noted San Antonio-hosted five free citizenship clinics and held three large naturalization ceremonies, including the first naturalization ceremony held at the City Council Chamber in more than a decade. The City of San Antonio wrote it also formulated the first immigration integration strategic plan and collaborated with medical and legal providers to provide information and dispel myths about the impact of the new public charge rule, the release stated. The report built its data on the policy information collected by Abigail Fisher Williamson (Trinity College) in the 2016 Municipal Responses to Immigrants Survey (MRIS) as well gathered information from additional sources, including the Vera Institute of Justice, National Center for Children in Poverty, Urban Institute, and National Immigration Law Center. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre Footage showing a U-Haul truck full of 'riot supplies' being unloaded ahead of protests in Louisville has raised questions about the organizers behind the demonstrations, which turned violent after nightfall, with two cops there shot and wounded. The rented box truck was spotted at 2pm on Wednesday, as Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron was still speaking at a press conference about the grand jury findings in the Breonna Taylor case. The grand jury's decision not to charge Louisville officers directly in Taylor's March 13 shooting death during the execution of a search warrant outraged protesters, who from the onset were equipped with shields and masks delivered in the mysterious truck. Video from the scene shows the truck being unloaded with large signs reading 'abolish the police', 'abolition now' and featuring the three-arrow logo associated with the far-left Antifa movement. The rented box truck was spotted at 2pm on Wednesday, as Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron was still speaking at a press conference about the grand jury findings Many of the supplies distributed from the truck were seen being used in the protests, including reading 'abolish the police', 'abolition now' and featuring the three-arrow logo associated with the far-left Antifa movement A large number of makeshift riot shields were also distributed to the protesters who swarmed around the U-Haul, many featuring slogans supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. 'Shields, we got shields!' one woman is heard shouting. A woman who appeared to be an organizer was also seen distributing masks, goggles and water bottles from the back of the truck. Such supplies are often used to counteract the effects of chemical irritants used by police in crowd control. Many of the supplies distributed from the truck were seen being used during several hours of peaceful protest marches that followed. But after night fell, the situation exploded into violence, and two police officers were shot. The pre-staged supplies, obviously ready before the grand jury decision was announced, raised questions about who was behind the organization and funding of the mysterious delivery. 'They're organized, and there's funding behind this as well. We know that there was that one U-Haul, I wonder if there were others out there as well,' remarked Fox News contributor Deneen Borelli on-air. Protesters march in Louisville with the pre-staged supplies after a judge announced a grand jury would not directly charge officers in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor Police detain protesters, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky Others suggested that the staged supplies might be an election-year dirty trick perpetrated by conservatives to discredit liberals. 'Does anyone else think that the Trump campaign or Republicans could be behind this U-Haul van handing out shields and 'abolish the police' signs in Louisville?' one person asked on Twitter. 'It would just be so easy for Trump and the GOP to sell their stupid narrative, wouldn't it?' A spokesman for U-Haul did not immediately respond to an inquiry from DailyMail.com late on Wednesday. The demonstrations in Louisville remained mostly peaceful until several gunshots rang out as heavily armed police closed in on a throng of protesters at nightfall, ordering the crowd to disperse about a half hour before a 9pm curfew was due to go into effect. Gunfire erupted from the crowd moments after police had fired chemical irritants and 'flash-bang' rounds. Police officers move past Louisville City Hall as a curfew is implemented at 9pm to disperse protesters. The scene turned violent after dark, with two officers shot and wounded A fire burns in downtown Louisville on Wednesday during protests over the Taylor case Protesters throw water bottles at police officers on Wednesday in Louisville, Kentucky. Protesters marched in the streets after a Kentucky grand jury indicted one of the three officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police officers Kentucky State Police patrol as protesters leave Jefferson Square Park following the shootings Two officers were shot and wounded, interim Louisville Metropolitan Police chief Robert Schroeder told reporters. One suspect was arrested, and the two wounded officers were in stable condition - one undergoing surgery - with non-life-threatening injuries, Schroeder said. He gave no further details. Earlier in the day about a dozen people were arrested in a skirmish between hundreds of demonstrators and a group of law enforcement officers in the Highlands neighborhood just outside downtown Louisville. Some windows of nearby businesses were also broken. The crowds largely dissipated after Wednesday night's shooting. The grand jury indicted one of the three officers who fired during the March 13 raid, charging Brett Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment for alleged wild shots that entered a neighboring apartment. The other two officers were not charged, with the grand jury finding that their actions were justified after Taylor's boyfriend first opened fire, striking one officer. Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday said certain "vested interests" are spreading baseless rumours about farm bills passed by Parliament to provoke farmers for petty political gains, according to an official statement. He said the bills will lead to the democratisation of the farming sector and give farmers the choice to earn bigger profits by selling their produce to big companies, the statement issued by the Ministry of Personnel stated. Three agricultural reform bills 'The Farmers' Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill', 'The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill', and 'The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill' were passed by Rajya Sabha on Sunday amid protests by farmers and opposition parties. They were earlier cleared by Lok Sabha. Farmers' 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. In an interview to public broadcaster Doordarshan, Singh said the "ridiculous irony" is that baseless rumours are being spread about certain provisions that do not exist at all in the bills brought in Parliament by the Modi government. For example, he said, a campaign has been unleashed to misguide the farmers into believing that the minimum support price (MSP) has been stopped, whereas there is no reference to it in the bills. This obviously indicates that it will continue as before, said the minister of state for personnel. Singh said those who are opposing the bills and provoking the farmers are trying in vain to make it an issue due to electoral considerations. The minister said the farm bills brought by the government will lead to the democratisation of the farming sector by giving the farmer the freedom and the choice to sell his crop to anyone, anywhere and earn more profits by joining the big companies. At the same time, the market system will continue as before and the Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) will also remain in place, he added. Similarly, Singh said, the farmers are being provoked by being told that they will face exploitation at the hands of big companies in the name of the contract. Quite contrary to this, the bills have sufficient provisions to protect the farmer from any exploitation, he said. The minister said the contract and the agreement will guarantee the farmer gets a fixed price and can withdraw at any point without any penalty. Not only this, the bills clearly prohibit selling, leasing or mortgaging a farmer's land because the agreement is regarding the crops and not the land, he added. "It is, therefore, a wrong interpretation that big businessmen will grab the land of the farmers and turn them into bonded labourers," Singh said. The farm bills also provide sufficient safeguards for the sale of crops in the open market, he said. The minister said if a farmer chooses to sell his crop in the open market anywhere in the country, the buyers will be bound to make the entire payment on the same day or within three working days if procedural time is required. "In case of default, there are also provisions of penalty on the purchaser," he said. The three farm bills have been sent to President Ram Nath Kovind for his assent. On Wednesday, 18 opposition parties urged Kovind not to sign the contentious bills and alleged that they were passed "unconstitutionally" in "complete disregard" of parliamentary norms. Among the parties opposing the bills are -Congress, CPI-M, CPI, TMC, NCP, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, RJD, DMK, TRS, AAP, IUML, Kerala Congress (M) and Loktantrik Janata Dal. Delhi, Karnataka, Bihar: What is allowed and what is not Indian are allowed to travel to these 14 destinations across the world amid COVID-19 India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Sep 24: The civil aviation ministry has entered into air bubbles with as many as 14 countries where Indians are allowed to fly. However, talks are underway with several other countries to facilitate two-way international travel. But there are some countries where Indians are not allowed to fly at this moment, implying that no air bubble can be set up with these countries as of now. What are air bubbles? Air bubbles are temporary arrangements between two countries that are aimed at restarting commercial passenger service at a time when regular international flights across the world are suspended. It can be seen that International flights were suspended in March as all countries imposed lockdown to combat the spread of COVID-19. Fit India Movement: PM Modi to interact with Kohli, Milind Soman among others Meanwhile, repatriation flights resumed in May, but these flights are different from air bubble flights as these flights cannot carry passengers both ways. Where Indians cannot fly to and why? As the countries are opening international travel in phase manner, the governments are in the process of identifying high-risk and safe countries. It can be seen that The European Union didn't identify India as a safe country. However, India has air bubble with Germany and France. COVID-19 vaccine: J & J begins Phase-3 trials a. South Africa: According to reports, South Africa will resume international travels from October 1. It is likely that the government will not allow Indians to travel to the country. b. Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia has barred all flights to and from India in its effort to check the COVID-19 situation there. c. Hong Kong: Hong Kong has placed a bar on Air India flights blaming Indian travellers for an uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong. This bar will be lifted soon. Delhi riots: Salman Khurshid named for 'provocative speech' | Oneindia News Destinations where Indians are allowed to fly Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Maldives, Nigeria, Qatar, the UAE, the UK, the US are the 14 countries where Indians can fly. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 24, 2020, 9:14 [IST] NEW BRITAIN, Conn., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) will broadcast its third quarter 2020 earnings conference call on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. The call will begin at 8:00AM ET. A news release outlining the financial results will be distributed before the market opens on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. A slide presentation which will accompany the call will be available at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com and will remain available after the call. The call and an accompanying slide presentation will be available through a live webcast on the "Investors" section of Stanley Black & Decker's website, www.stanleyblackanddecker.com under the subheading "News & Events." The event can also be accessed by telephone within the US at (877) 930-8285, from outside the U.S. at +1 (253) 336-8297. Please use the conference identification number 5465377. A replay will also be available two hours after the call and can be accessed on the "Investors" section of Stanley Black & Decker's website, or at (855) 859-2056 / +1 (404) 537-3406 using the passcode 5465377. Stanley Black & Decker, an S&P 500 company, is a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, electronic security solutions, healthcare solutions, engineered fastening systems, and more. Learn more at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com. Stanley Black & Decker Investor Contacts Dennis Lange Vice President, Investor Relations (860) 827-3833 [email protected] Cort Kaufman Director, Investor Relations (860) 515-2741 [email protected] SOURCE Stanley Black & Decker Related Links http://www.stanleyblackanddecker.com A rapid test that can diagnose the coronavirus within 15 minutes could offer hope of a COVID-normal future for millions of locked-down Victorians. A Melbourne doctor is in talks with the state government about rolling out nasal swab tests across aged care facilities, which will be subject to tough COVID-19 restrictions until next year. Peter Walsh with one of the rapid diagnostic tests, which he hopes will roll out in aged care facilities. Credit:Chris Hopkins Peter Walsh, who has advised the federal government on the pandemic, has described the antigen test as a "game-changer" in containing the spread of coronavirus as the economy begins opening. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved the rollout of the NowCheck COVID-19 Antigen Test in Australia. If there's anyone who can make the world sit up and listen, it's Sir David Attenborough. The 94-year-old naturalist and broadcaster, who was born in west London, describes the life he has had as "extraordinary" and "fortunate". It's one that has seen him visit every continent on the globe, and make some of the most impactful TV series in our history, including Planet Earth and Blue Planet for the BBC. And now comes a new film, David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet - which serves as his witness statement for the natural world. "I think we are at a crucial moment," he urges. "Without being too portentous on this, I think humanity is at a crossroads, and the natural world is really under serious, serious threat and the consequences could be apocalyptic." It's early March when I speak to Sir David about the feature, created by award-winning natural history filmmakers Silverback Films and global environmental organisation WWF. Although I don't realise it at the time, he ends up being one of the last interviews I would do face to face, thanks to coronavirus. In a quote sent over by email reflecting on the Covid-19 pandemic, he notes how it has "caused, and will continue to cause, immense suffering". "If there is hope that can come out of it then that may arise from the whole world having experienced a shared threat and found a sense that we are all in it together," follows the father-of-two, whose wife Elizabeth died of a brain haemorrhage in 1997. A revealing and powerful first-hand account, A Life On Our Planet sees Sir David reflect, for the first time, upon both the defining moments of his lifetime as a naturalist and the devastating changes he has witnessed. A conversation with director Johnny Hughes - which saw Sir David "asked very clever, very perceptive questions, and got me arguing about certain things" - was recorded over several days and then segments of it were used throughout the film. Of course, whatever Sir David stars in, he commands attention. There's a buzz of excitement in the air as he sits down at the table with me and other journalists, and we all fall silent. But he's not intimidating - far from it. He jovially pokes fun at himself, particularly when he gets some figures slightly wrong ("one of the things I'm hopeless at remembering is whether it's 100% or 220% or whatever", he quips). A Life On Our Planet does actually end on quite a positive note as well, with Sir David saying that there is still time and humans can change things. The film starts and ends in Chernobyl, Ukraine, and the team also travelled to the Maasai Mara in Kenya. The elephant in the room is that making such a big documentary like this must rack up quite a large carbon footprint. But Sir David matter-of-factly defends this issue when it's pointed out. "We're all damaging the environment just by sitting here and breathing," he suggests. "The amount of carbon dioxide that is going out through the window as a consequence of us meeting here is significant. And do we always say, 'Now was that really worthwhile, you spending that breath?' "If you behave economically and sensibly, I don't think you should feel guilty if it's cost you some ergs in your engine to get you from A to B." Being wasteful is "the real sin", he adds. "Waste is immoral - the wasting of power, the wasting of paper, the wasting of energy," he says. "We shouldn't waste space; we are wasting space that could be occupied by the natural world." David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet premieres in cinemas on Monday and is launched on Netflix on Sunday, October 4 The 8.02am train from Oxford to London Marylebone was the most overcrowded in England and Wales last autumn, as new figures reveal the top ten most pack trains. There were nearly twice as many standard class passengers as the registered capacity when the two-carriage Chiltern Railways service arrived in London on a weekday, giving it a load factor of 196 per cent. The Department for Transport (DfT), which published the data, said constraints on the number of available carriages limited the operator's ability to cope with rising demand. The 8.02am train from Oxford to London Marylebone was the most overcrowded in England and Wales last autumn, as new figures reveal the top ten most pack trains Commuters board a London Overground train today. The 7.38am Enfield Town to London Liverpool Street train was the third most packed in England and Wales this time last year The 7.32am South Western Railway train from Woking to London Waterloo was the second most overcrowded train, with a load factor of 182 per cent when it reached its destination. Load factor refers to the number of passengers as a percentage of the maximum capacity at the busiest point in a journey. Other services in the top 10 most packed trains include the 3.08pm Great Western Railway train from Weymouth to Gloucester, which has a load factor of 178 per cent. The top 10 most overcrowded trains in England and Wales last autumn 1. 8.02am Oxford to London Marylebone (Chiltern Railways) Load factor 196 per cent 2. 7.32am Woking to London Waterloo (South Western Railway) Load factor 182 per cent 3. 7.38am Enfield Town to London Liverpool Street (London Overground) Load factor 180 per cent 4. 3.08pm Weymouth to Gloucester (Great Western Railway) Load factor 178 per cent 5. 6.30am London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour (South Western Railway) Load factor 174 per cent 6. 5.50am Wolverhampton to London Euston (West Midlands Trains) Load factor 171 per cent 7. 5.43am Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo (South Western Railway) Load factor 169 per cent 8. 7.14am Alton to Waterloo (South Western Railway) Load factor 168 per cent 9. 7.29am Chingford to London Liverpool St. (London Overground) Load factor 166 per cent 10. 7.16am Kings Lynn to Kings Cross (Great Northern) Load factor 165 per cent Advertisement The 5.50am West Midlands Trains service from Wolverhampton to London Euston (load factor 171 per cent) and 7.16am Great Northern train from King's Lynn to London King's Cross (load factor 165 per cent) also make the top 10. The DfT stated that the 10 most overcrowded trains represent 'a small fraction of all services' and some of the figures are based on a single count. Some 16.4 per cent of passengers were standing on trains serving major cities in the morning and evening peaks. This was a fall of 0.4 percentage points compared with the previous year, driven by a decline of 0.6 percentage points in London. The cities with the largest increase in passengers standing were Liverpool (up 2.5 percentage points), Bristol (up 2.4 percentage points) and Leeds (up 0.7 percentage points). The collapse in demand for rail travel due earlier in the coronavirus pandemic is not reflected in the latest figures. Passengers have started to use tubes and trains again, however, which were packed today as commuters continue to head into the office in their droves - 36 hours after Boris Johnson told Britons to get back to working from home. Thousands of passengers boarded public transport to get back to desks for the second consecutive morning since the Prime Minister's national address on Tuesday night. Rolling out a new wave of restrictions and changes, Mr Johnson said those who were able to work from home should now go back to doing so, even though he has led a hard campaign of encouraging people back into towns and cities to save firms which have been put under threat during the pandemic. Traffic data showed little change in the number of cars on roads in Britain's major cities. Transport for London said 771,000 passengers used the London Underground network from the start of service until 10am - only a 2.3 per cent decrease on the same period last week, and just 32 per cent of normal demand. Meanwhile, there were 989,000 bus journeys made - down just 0.6 per cent on last week and at 56 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Earlier in July, phone data revealed only a handful of workers were commuting into the UK's mostly-deserted big cities. The data showed that Edinburgh was the city which saw the least workers return to its streets with just 12 per cent footfall when compared to pre-lockdown levels. Only one in eight workers in London has returned to the office in July, compared to nearly 50 per cent in Basildon, Essex. Research by the Centre for Cities think tank shows the majority of office workers across the country had been unwilling to return at the time. People carry their belongings in a street flooded by the Niger River in the Kirkissoye neighbourhood in Niamey, Niger, on August 27, 2020. AFP/Boureima Hama UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is scaling up efforts to assist displaced families in Africas Sahel, among more than 700,000 people affected by devastating floods in the region. Dozens of people have died including a displaced pregnant mother and her teenage daughter. Thousands more are in immediate need of shelter, clean water, and health services across large swathes of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger. The heaviest rains which began in August are believed to be the worst in over a decade. Homes have been destroyed, health centres damaged, and farmlands submerged across the Sahel, where intense and indiscriminate violence had already forced more than 3.5 million to flee both within countries and across borders. Refugees, internally displaced, and their hosts were already on the brink and in urgent need of our assistance, said Millicent Mutuli, UNHCRs Regional Bureau Director for West and Central Africa. The floods bring a menacing new level of hardship, while hampering our efforts to respond to one of the worlds worst and fastest-growing humanitarian crises. Across the region, infrastructure including medical facilities have been badly damaged, impacting national responses to COVID-19 and other illnesses such as malaria and measles. With water sources contaminated and latrines flooded, fears are rising that cholera could spread. Crops have been destroyed in the floods, increasing food shortages and the vulnerabilities of farmers and their families whose livelihoods depend on harvests. In the region, Niger has been hardest hit. Nigerien authorities have reported 71 deaths, 90 injured, and over 350,000 people impacted by the floods across the country, particularly the Maradi region. UNHCR has been mobilizing assistance to internally displaced people (IDPs) in areas where they must wade through waist-deep water or paddle in canoes. Six sites hosting displaced people have been hit by the floods, leaving more than 9,000 refugees and IDPs in urgent need of shelter. UNHCR has already distributed 1,900 shelter kits as well as relief items such as clothing, blankets and hygiene kits. This has depleted our emergency stocks in some areas. In Burkina Faso, the floods affected all 13 regions, causing the death of 41 people, injuring 112, and leaving 12,378 households without shelter. In Kaya, a pregnant mother and her teenage daughter, who had fled violence, died when their neighbors house collapsed onto their tent. The torrential rains have caused extensive damage in a country where one in five inhabitants were already displaced by violence. Burkina Faso currently hosts more than one million IDPs, half of the internally displaced population in the Sahel. Our teams are racing to reinforce existing shelters, build new ones in safer areas, and to relocate affected displaced families. UNHCR has long urged authorities in Burkina Faso to relocate IDPs out of flood prone areas. In Chad, where more than 236,000 people have been affected by the floods, UNHCR and other partners are urgently providing shelter, food, core relief and health care. In the southern province of Gore, 1,735 refugees were affected, with at least 283 households seeing their farmlands flooded and their crops destroyed. Torrential rains have rendered roads impassable, impeding humanitarian efforts to reach affected refugees and cutting our teams off from offices in Haraze and Shari. In eastern Chad, most of the homes and shelters in six camps hosting thousands of refugees near Iriba were destroyed or severely damaged, forcing refugees to sleep in schools and under open skies. UNHCR has distributed aid items to help those affected meet their immediate needs. In Mali, thousands of IDPs and local communities have been affected by floods. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in the worst affected regions of Gao, Mopti, Segou and Sikasso. Because of the economic fallout from COVID-19, many across the region were already struggling. The longer-term socio-economic consequences are being exacerbated by the impact of the floods and will disproportionately affect displaced populations and the communities that host them. UNHCR is urging governments in the region to include refugees, IDPs and their host communities in the response to the floods and their aftermath. Rising global temperatures are changing rainfall patterns across the Sahel, increasing the frequency and intensity of floods, droughts, and sandstorms. The events are multiplying risks for host and displaced communities that are already grappling with extreme poverty, food insecurity, armed conflict and climate risks, critically compounded this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. For further information, please see: "COVID-19 reminds us that humankind should launch a green revolution and move faster to create a green way of development and life," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in an address delivered via video link to the General Debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. Xi urged all countries to "take decisive steps" to honor the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, under which nearly 200 countries pledged to control greenhouse gas emissions to keep a global temperature rise this century well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. China aims to "have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060," he said. He also called for a "green recovery of the world economy in the post-COVID era" and efforts to achieve sustainable development in all countries. Xi's message won much applause. "Today's announcement by President Xi Jinping that China intends to reach carbon neutrality before 2060 is big and important news," said Todd Stern, U.S. climate envoy under the Obama administration who worked on brokering a bilateral climate agreement with China in 2014. He called the announcement an "encouraging" step. The pledge was also welcomed by the European Union. "I welcome the announcement by President Xi that China has set a date for its CO2 emissions to peak and will become carbon neutral before 2060," said Frans Timmermans, vice president for the European Green Deal. China gets greener As the largest developing country and the second-largest economy in the world, China is working hard to coordinate economic growth and environmental protection. On the one hand, it is transforming its economic structure and growth pattern as part of the efforts to pursue high-quality development; on the other hand, the country has included fighting pollution among its "three tough battles" alongside fighting major risks and poverty on its way to deliver a moderately prosperous society by 2020. Xi has always attached great importance to environmental protection and green development. Fifteen years ago, as secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), he proposed a concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," which later became a famous idea on green development nationwide. After becoming general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and president of China, Xi repeatedly stressed the importance of ecological protection at many occasions including during his inspection tours across the country. China, once struggling with severe environmental problems such as frequent smog and widespread water pollution, is making remarkable progress in green development and contributing to the cause worldwide. The country is on track to exceed its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions by 2030 under the Paris agreement thanks to its efforts to cut growth in energy use and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. CO2 emissions per unit of GDP have dropped by nearly half compared with 2005, accomplishing in advance the targets set to reduce 40 to 45 percent from the 2005 levels by 2020. And the pledge for 2030 is to lower CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 60 to 65 percent from the 2005 levels, with the CO2 emissions reaching a peak by 2030. In 2019, an environmental study by NASA concluded that between 2000 and 2017, China had been responsible for over a quarter of the new green areas created worldwide, making it the world's biggest contributor in this field. To support the global combat against climate change, Xi in 2015 pledged a 20-billion-yuan (three billion U.S. dollars) China South-South Climate Cooperation Fund, which was dedicated to help other developing countries win the fight. Last year, China launched the International Coalition for Green Development on the Belt and Road to facilitate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through a green construction of the Belt and Road. "We call on all countries to pursue innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all, seize the historic opportunities presented by the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, achieve a green recovery of the world economy in the post-COVID era and thus create a powerful force driving sustainable development," Xi said on Tuesday. China is walking the talk. SOURCE CGTN The Save Romania Union (USR) believes that the head of DIICOT, Giorgiana Hosu, must take "a step back", after her husband was sentenced to three years suspended prison. "DIICOT (Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism) needs new leadership. The husband of the head of DIICOT, Giorgiana Hosu, has been sentenced today by the Bucharest Court to three years suspended prison. In this context, we believe that in order to protect the image of the institution and eliminate any suspicions, Mrs Hosu must step down. We also bring to mind that the President of Romania stated yesterday that "there will be consequences" in case of a conviction. USR also underscored the fact that, if CSM's (Supreme Council of Magistracy) opinion on the appointment of Mrs Hosu had been observed, in the first place, this problem would not have existed," reads a press release of the USR.Former police officer Dan Hosu, the husband of the head of DIICOT, Giorgiana Hosu, was sentenced on Thursday by the Bucharest Court to three years suspended prison in the 'Carpatica Asig' case, for committing crimes of instigating to illegal access to a computer system and instigating the use of information not intended for advertising.President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that in the event of a conviction in the case of the husband of the head of DIICOT, Giorgiana Hosu, there will be, for sure, consequences."If a conviction arises, it will certainly not go unnoticed. That is, so to speak, "obvious." (...) If this scenario becomes reality, (...) I will not wait for others to move things around," said the head of state, at the Cotroceni Palace.According to the court's decision, Dan Hosu was sentenced to two years and six months detention for inciting illegal access to a computer system and one year and six months detention for inciting the use of non-public information or allowing unauthorized access to such information. The two sentences were merged, resulting in a 3-year suspended prison sentence, with a period of supervision of three years and six months.On the other hand, Dan Hosu was acquitted of influence peddling and bribery. Finger prick antibody testing kits for detecting coronavirus 'are as accurate as sophisticated lab analysis' and have a 98 per cent accuracy race, a new study found. Researchers from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London examined a range of antibody tests as part of the study. All of the commercial testing kits could tell if someone has or already had Covid-19 but they vary in terms of their performance in terms of overall accuracy. All the tests examined by the team had a 95 per cent accuracy more than 20 days after coronavirus symptoms had shown - but performance varied before that point. Antibody tests made by Accu-Tell, SureScreen and Spring came out top as they are able to provide accurate results within 20 days of symptoms appearing. Co-author Jonathan Edgeworth said: 'We found that some of the quick single-use kits are as accurate as our sophisticated laboratory technologies.' Antibody tests made by Accu-Tell, SureScreen and Spring came out top as they are able to provide accurate results within 20 days of symptoms appearing The team created a 'rigorous comparison' system that would allow doctors to more easily determine the best option for their hospital. Unlike the throat and nose swab tests designed to say if someone is currently infected with the virus, antibody tests can tell if someone has had the virus. For diagnosis later in disease, or in delayed-onset syndromes, antibody tests could form an important part of hospital diagnostic capabilities, authors say. In the study the researchers developed a sensitive and specific antibody testing system and used it to conduct an unbiased comparison of the ten top testing kits. They put the kits against each other in a head-to-head examination involving identical blood samples from patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19. They then compared those tests to 50 pre-pandemic negative blood samples. There was a broad range of performances among the tests, with the ability to identify those with the disease ranging from 82 per cent success to 100 per cent. All gave the best results when used 20 days or more after the start of symptoms, with most tests reaching a sensitivity value greater than 95 per cent. Unlike the throat and nose swab tests designed to say if someone is currently infected with the virus, antibody tests can tell if someone has had the virus In addition, antibody levels were higher in individuals with severe illness compared to those with asymptomatic or mild disease. When all commercial tests were compared, Accu-Tell, SureScreen and Spring demonstrated highest sensitivity at earlier time points, while maintaining a success rate in detecting the virus of 98 per cent or above. These are 'affordable, quick and easy to use, according to the team, who say if deployed appropriately they could be useful in healthcare settings. 'Encouraged by these findings we are piloting them in the hospital to give doctors a quick reliable answer in a range of clinical settings,' said Edgeworth. The findings have been published in the journal PLOS Pathogens. Dear County Superintendents of Schools: Fifth Apportionment for Title II, Part A Supporting Effective Instruction Every Student Succeeds Act Fiscal Year 201920 This apportionment, in the amount of $8,393,455, is made from federal funds provided to the state under Title II, Part A, Supporting Effective Instruction, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (Public Law 11495). Title II, Part A funds are apportioned to local educational agencies (LEAs) to increase student academic achievement through strategies focused on preparing, training, and recruiting high-quality teachers, principals, or other school leaders. Only those LEAs that applied for Title II, Part A funds on the 201920 Consolidated Application Reporting System (CARS) by March 31, 2020, submitted the Local Control and Accountability Plan Federal Addendum, and met federal cash management thresholds are included in this apportionment. The amount paid to each LEA was determined based on information reported by the LEA in the Cash Management Data Collection (CMDC) system. Each LEAs payment equals 25 percent of the Title II, Part A allocation, minus the cash balance reported as of July 31, 2020, adjusted for funds previously paid. More details on the CMDC are posted at https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/cm/. Title II, Part A funds are allocated based on the following formula: (a) 20 percent based on the relative number of individuals age five through seventeen, and (b) 80 percent based on the relative number of individuals age five through seventeen from families with incomes below the poverty line, residing in the area the LEA serves based on U.S. Census or state alternative poverty data. Allocation amounts have been adjusted for LEAs that failed to meet the federal maintenance of effort requirement applicable to 201920 funding and did not receive an approved federal waiver, pursuant to Section 8521 of the ESEA. LEAs have the option to consolidate and use Title II, Part A funds with other federal, state, and local funds for schoolwide programs pursuant to Section 1114 of the ESEA and Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 200, Subpart A, sections 200.25 through 200.29. Additional information such as program purposes, eligibility of schools, core elements, components, and benefits of a schoolwide program, is posted on the CDE Schoolwide Programs web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/sw/t1/schoolwideprograms.asp. The United States Department of Education (ED) grant award number for this funding is S367A190005. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance subprogram number is 84.367A (Supporting Effective Instruction). The funding is appropriated in Schedule (1) of Item 6100-195-0890 of the Budget Act of 2019 (Chapter 23, Statutes of 2019) as amended by Section 69 of Senate Bill 109 (Chapter 363, Statues of 2019). The California sub-allocation (pass-through) number is Program Cost Account (PCA) 14341. This grant is subject to the provisions of Title II and Title VIII of the ESEA, as applicable, and the General Education Provisions Act (Public Law 103382). This grant is also subject to 34 CFR, Part 200; the Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR, parts 76, 77, 79, and 81; the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR Part 200; and 2 CFR Part 3485. Under the federal Tydings Amendment, Section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act, any funds that are not obligated at the end of the federal funding period, July 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020, shall remain available for obligation for an additional period of 12 months, through September 30, 2021. Pursuant to 2 CFR, Section 200.305(b)(9), interest earned amounts up to $500 per year may be retained by the non-Federal entity for administrative expense. Any additional interest earned on Federal advance payments deposited in interest-bearing accounts must be remitted annually. LEAs should forward interest payments for remittance to the ED to: California Department of Education Cashiers Office P.O. Box 515006 Sacramento, CA 95851 To ensure proper posting of payments, please indicate the programs PCA number (PCA 14341), and identify the payment as Federal Interest Returned. Warrants will be mailed to each county treasurer approximately three weeks from the date of this Notice. For standardized account code structure coding, use Resource Code 4035, ESEA (ESSA): Title II, Part A, Supporting Effective Instruction Local Grants, and Revenue Object Code 8290, All Other Federal Revenue. County superintendents were notified of this apportionment by email sent to their CDEfisc email addresses. The CDE requested that the email be forwarded to all school districts and charter schools in the county, and included the links to this letter and the accompanying apportionment schedule posted on the CDE web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/ca/. If you have any questions regarding the Title II, Part A program, please contact Lisa Fassett, Education Programs Consultant, Standards Implementation Support Office, by email at lfassett@cde.ca.gov. For questions concerning this apportionment or the Title II, Part A allocation amounts, please contact Sheng Her, Associate Governmental Program Analyst, Categorical Allocations and Audit Resolution (CAAR) Office by email at sher@cde.ca.gov. Sincerely, Elizabeth Dearstyne, Director School Fiscal Services Division ED:sh The Portland City Council took a major step forward Wednesday in setting the course for the Broadway Corridor redevelopment project, voting unanimously to approve an agreement between the city and project developer, a funding and financing plan and a historic community benefits agreement to guide the project. The Broadway Corridor, one of the largest redevelopment projects in city history, will become a new neighborhood encompassing 32 acres in Northwest Portland between the Chinatown-Japantown historic district and the Pearl District. It will be anchored by the 14-acre central post office site. The city plans to include at least 720 affordable housing units, small business opportunities, new parks, public art and a new cycle track. Boosters claim the project will provide homes for 1,800 to 2,400 new households and create 4,000 to 8,800 new jobs, according to Kimberly Branam, executive director of Prosper Portland, the citys economic development agency. At the heart of the project is the community benefits agreement, negotiated through more than a year of discussions between Prosper Portland and a coalition of community groups. The agreement -- which Mayor Ted Wheeler called a first of its kind for a project of this magnitude -- lays out requirements to ensure equity and opportunities for women and people of color. This project is definitely going to change the landscape of our west side, Wheeler said. It will bring affordable homes and jobs to Portlanders, it will give everybody new places for recreation and for time outdoors and, by raising the bar on the community benefits, it will ensure that the economic opportunities are shared amongst all of us that call ourselves Portlanders. On Wednesday, the city authorized and approved an agreement with Continuum Partners, the Denver-based company Portland chose to develop the site. The city council also approved the benefits agreement with the Healthy Communities Coalition, a coalition of more than 20 unions and organizations representing historically underrepresented groups. In addition, the city directed infrastructure bureaus to design and build public improvements the project requires. Prosper Portland and the Portland Housing Bureau purchased the 14-acre post office site at the center of the project for $88 million in 2016 with the help of a line of credit from the city. On Wednesday, the city council voted to restructure the terms of the repayment agreement for the remaining $35 million line of credit, lengthening the repayment plan and allowing up to $15 million from the line of credit to be covered by general fund money beginning in 2022. Prosper Portland plans to pay off the line of credit by selling the post office site to developers. Branam said that the $15 million would cover a shortfall if the value of the land is below what the agency anticipates. Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said she supports the project, but raised concerns over the potential need to tap into general fund money, especially given the potentially long recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Its important that people understand this is the plan, but a lot of conditions have changed, so there may be some changes that will be coming down the pipe, Hardesty said. Along with the financing plan, the community benefits agreement approved Wednesday will guide the project for years. Under the agreement, the city commits to employing firms owned by people of color and women, creating construction jobs for a diverse workforce and ensuring living wages. Contractors and subcontractors with $1 million or more a year in contracts must also provide workers with health benefits, although Prosper Portland has the authority to make adjustments to that requirement. The agreement lays out a commitment to creating affordable residential housing, supporting affordable commercial spaces, prioritizing commercial tenants that include minority-owned businesses and businesses owned by people with disabilities and meeting high environmental standards in the design and development of the project. As recently as June, the community benefits agreement appeared to be in jeopardy. The Healthy Communities Coalition said then that the agreement wasnt delivering on the promise that the Broadway Corridor project will be racially just. But the coalition and Prosper Portland settled on the wording for the agreement last month. On Wednesday, the Healthy Communities Coalition threw its support behind the project. However, several groups remained concerned that the community benefits agreement wont ensure that the project supports underserved communities. Disability Rights Oregon and the National Association of Minority Contractors both said the agreement falls short of ensuring representation for their constituencies. A map illustrates Portland's Broadway Corridor redevelopment project, a plan to create a new neighborhood encompassing 32 acres in Northwest Portland between the Chinatown-Japantown historic district and the Pearl District featuring the 14-acre post office site as its anchor. The area also covers Union Station and the former Greyhound bus terminal. -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Mike Tyson is ready to punch his ballot. The legendary boxer has revealed that he will be voting for the first time in the 2020 US election after spending years thinking he was unable to participate. "This will be my 1st time voting. I never thought I could because of my felony record. I'm proud to finally vote," Tyson tweeted on Tuesday. He shared the news with his followers along with a link to register to vote and the hashtag #NationalVoterRegistrationDay. Tyson, 54, served three years in prison after being convicted of one count of rape and two counts of deviant sexual conduct in 1992. The conviction stripped Tyson of his right to vote, but a recent law that took effect in his home state of Nevada will allow him to participate in this year's election. Under the law, passed in 2019, any Nevada resident who is convicted of a felony is immediately restored their right to vote upon being released from prison. According to the advocacy group The Sentencing Project, 6.1 million Americans were not able to vote in the 2016 election due to felony records. State approaches to felon disenfranchisement vary greatly, though the general trend has been toward reinstating the right to vote at some point, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Joining Tyson as a first-time voter this year is Snoop Dogg, who explained in June that he previously wasn't allowed to cast a ballot due to previous felony convictions. The rapper explained in an interview with LA radio station Real 92.3, "My record's been expunged so now I can vote." When asked what he thought about Trump and voting, Snoop Dogg added, "I ain't never voted a day in my life, but this year I think I'm going to get out and vote because I can't stand to see this punk in office one more year." It is difficult to see any of these executive orders actually resulting in lower prices for consumers before the election, said Chris Meekins, an analyst at financial firm Raymond James and a former official at the Department of Health and Human Services in the Trump administration. The one area of health care voters trust Trump more than Biden is on lowering drug prices. The Trump campaign wants that to be the main issue for health-care voters not something like the desire by the Trump administration to kill the ACA at the Supreme Court. The event promoted the combination of textile intangible cultural heritage and cheongsam industry in Shenyang, the "ancient capital of cheongsam", and it further demonstrated the clothing culture and fashion charm of Shenyang, a famous historical and cultural city. Cheongsam culture prevailed from 1636 to the world in Shenyang. Cheongsam is an important resource to promote the development of cultural industry in Shenyang. Shenyang will hold Cheongsam Culture Festival to promote the development of clothing, cultural tourism and other industries. The Tongshijie intangible cultural heritage academy project of Shenyang Shengjing manchu embroidery Cultural Industry Group Co., Ltd. held a theme conference of "Shengjing Manchu embroidery calligraphy spreading intangible cultural heritage" in Shenyang on the same day, which was also one of the important activities of the 4th China Textile Intangible Cultural Heritage Conference and the 2nd China (Shenyang) Cheongsam Culture Festival. Tongshijie intangible cultural heritage academy is subordinate to the "Shengjing manchu embroidery three dimensional publishing project", and is rated as "national cultural key export project" in 2019-2020 by the Ministry of Commerce and other five ministries and commissions. Intangible cultural heritage academy takes intangible cultural heritage as the goal. It shows the cultural self-confidence and cohesion of all ethnic groups. Image Attachments Links: Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=372367 Caption: The 4th China Textile Intangible Cultural Heritage Conference and the 2nd China (Shenyang) Cheongsam Culture Festival opened. Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=372374 Caption: On the spot of the theme conference of "Shengjing manchu embroidery, cultural heritage intangible cultural heritage" SOURCE The Publicity Department of Shenyang Municipality Havana's Best-Kept "Mystery" Revealed: How Much the State Charges vs How Much It Pays its Doctors on "Missions" A report by Cuban Prisoners Defenders explores Havana's business selling the work of Cuban professionals in different countries. The complaint that the Cuban Prisoners Defenders (CPD) organization has just lodged with the UN and the International Criminal Court about the details behind Havana's "medical missions", based on the testimony of 622 Cuban professionals who are members of those brigades, lays bare one of the island's best-kept secrets: how much it pays its collaborators vs how much it pockets. The CPD report confirms that Cuban workers receive between 9% and 25% of what the host country pays for their work, which applies not only to medical missions, but to almost all of the professionals hired through governmental agreements abroad. According to CPD, Havana always negotiates lucrative contracts for the doctors it exports. Sometimes these deals are sealed directly with the destination country, but other times they are handled through "tripartite collaboration", by which a rich third country, such as Venezuela, Norway, Portugal or Luxembourg, assumes the financing of the "mission". In these cases workers always receive as payment what the CPD report describes as "a small, residual fraction of what Cuba bills for them." Through 405 accounts collected on the subject in the organization's report, it is concluded that the average monthly salary that professionals have received has been between $71 (for those hired in Belize) and $1,089 (for those exported to Saudi Arabia. This last case, together with Eritrea (1,072); East Timor (984); Jamaica (933); Sierra Leone (855); Brazil (846); Trinidad and Tobago (827); and Qatar (734), are the most lucrative destinations. Professionals earn salaries based on their specialty and professional status. Therefore, doctors are better paid than technicians. On the lowest rung of this labor exploitation ladder are students who have not yet graduated, who are exported and not paid a salary, but rather only a stipend. The case of Saudi Arabia According to the CPD "the Government of Cuba pays an average of $490 to Cuban professionals on 'missions'", while it collects an average of "just over $3,500 for each of them." "The two most common contract models are the one in which Cuba undertakes to pay the collaborator, as in Brazil; and the other, in which the collaborator collects from the government or local or international institution, and is then forced to hand over a monthly amount (between 75% and 90% of their salary) to the Government of Cuba, as in the case of Saudi Arabia," the investigation clarifies. In the latter case, the contract signed by the workers on the "mission" with the state-run Comercializadora de Servicios Medicos Cubanos (CSMC SA) clarifies in its Section III that "the Cuban health professional will receive a total monthly payment for services rendered, to be paid by the Saudi party, from which they are to deduct 4,518 SAR for a stipend and living expenses, transferring the rest to the Bank Account of CSMC S.A. indicated." This payment must be made, it states, "within five business days of the date the monthly payment is received." It also clarifies that the professional "must deliver, every six months, to the representative designated by the Ministry of Public Health of the Republic of Cuba, the report, salary notice or similar document that the institution that hires him issues. This will make it possible to apply any adjustments to the amount of the wages to be received in the subsequent months, until the presentation of the new document", suggesting that the professionals are obliged to promptly report what they earn, and that the amounts may be modified. "Failure to present this document will be considered a breach," the contract also indicates. Other abusive agreements The contract for Cuban doctors in Uruguay represents a total of $174,000 a year for Havana, which "earns a net amount of $4,500 for each one, while the doctor only receives $1,000. In turn, the cost of a Uruguayan doctor, for his own government, is approximately $3,000," says CPD. This contract has been condemned as a form of slavery by several Uruguayan politicians, such as Partido Colorado Senator Pedro Bordaberry, the investigation points out. Other examples are Botswana, whose authorities pay approximately 3,000 euros (just over 3,500 dollars) per month per doctor, while the professionals earn an average of about 700 dollars per month, as stipulated in the agreement between the governments of the two countries. In the case of Guatemala, the agreement signed in 2012 obliges that country "not to hire, under any modality, doctors or technicians who have abandoned the Cuban Internationalist Medical Mission, in those places where Medical Brigade of Cuba staff are located. This, which seeks to guarantee that the professionals do not abandon the "mission", is complemented by another section in which the government of the Central American country pledges to "guarantee that the professionals who provide health care activities in Guatemala under this Subsidiary Agreement do so only in the public health sector," and to "not allow any professional to perform health care activities during or after the expiration of the service period covered by this Agreement." CPD specifies that "although the agreement indicated, in 2012, a stipend of 7,000 quetzals (about $900)," doctors who worked in Guatemala at that time said "that they always received less than 2,000 quetzals (257 dollars), around 25%, since they had to return the money to Cuban officials every month. " In Algeria each doctor is exported for a sum of $6,700 per month, as indicated in the agreement between the parties. "The reports that CPD has collected on the mission in this country indicate that the fixed amount in hand was 450 dollars a month," says the report. In Ecuador, Quito paid Comercializadora de Servicios Medicos Cubanos directly, according to the agreement signed in 2012, almost 123,000 dollars per year, most of which was retained by the company. Havana paid each professional, according to reports in the local press, around $340 a month. President Donald Trump was loudly heckled by a crowd chanting, "Vote him out!" as he and first lady Melania Trump paid their respects on Thursday at the casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the steps of the Supreme Court. The crowd erupted into jeers and boos as Trump, uncharacteristically wearing a mask, stood in back of Ginsburg's casket, with the first lady nearby. People then began chanting repeatedly, "Vote him out!" Trump glanced off to the side as the chants grew louder. The president and Melania Trump then turned and walked back into the Supreme Court building as the heckling continued. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany later told reporters, "I think the chants were appalling but certainly to be expected when you're in the heart of the swamp." "I travel with the president all across the country Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Nevada and everywhere we go, the streets are lined with support like I don't think any other president has had previously," McEnany said. The negative reception Trump received during his visit to the Supreme Court is not surprising. Before Ginsburg, 87, died Friday from pancreatic cancer, the Republican president has been contemptuous of the liberal justice, who is a hero to feminists and others for her support of women's rights. Trump three years ago had said Ginsburg was "dumb" and a "disgrace." "Her mind is shot resign!" Trump tweeted at the time. After Ginsburg died, Trump suggested her granddaughter, Clara Spera, was lying for having said that Ginsburg had dictated a note that said, "My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed." Anyone returning to the UK from Slovakia as of September 26 must self-isolate upon their return. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Our paywall policy: The Slovak Spectator has decided to make all the articles on the special measures, statistics and basic information about the coronavirus available to everyone. If you appreciate our work and would like to support good journalism, please buy our subscription. We believe this is an issue where accurate and fact-based information is important for people to cope. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises British nationals against all non-essential travel to Slovakia, based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks in the country. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement This does not mean those already travelling in Slovakia must cut their visit short. However, anyone returning to the UK from Slovakia after 4:00 on September 26 must complete a passenger locator form and self-isolate upon their return. The FCDO's travel advice is frequently updated depending on the current epidemiological situation so British nationals should regularly check the travel guidance section on their website. Read more about the coronavirus outbreak in Slovakia: Cheshire is officially home to one of the best schools in the entire country, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Norton Elementary School has been named a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School by the DOE, one of the most prestigious national honors awarded to schools that excel in overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups, according to a DOE statement, released on Thursday afternoon. Norton is one of four Connecticut schools to be honored. We are so proud of Nortons faculty and staff for getting this great honor, said Superintendent of Schools Jeff Solan. People who are not in the academic world dont realize what an honor this truly is. There was a short presentation at Norton Elementary School on Thursday afternoon to announce the award, which included a short video from DOE Secretary Betsy DeVos Congratulations to this years National Blue Ribbon School awardees, said DeVos. Its a privilege to recognize the extraordinary work you do to meet students needs and prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives. According to the DOE, Norton received the Blue Ribbon high performing school designation, which is determined each year by measuring student results based on the state assessments or nationally normed tests. Norton, according to the DOE, exceeded its school performance index targets for all students in English Language Arts and mathematics consistently for the last three administrations of Smarter Balanced. Simultaneously, academic growth measures in both subjects have improved every year. Norton Elementary School Principal, Kelly Grillo, held back tears as she addressed her faculty and staff during Thursdays ceremony. I am so proud of what we were able to accomplish; thank you all for your passion and commitment to being great teachers to our students, she said. We deserve this. The ceremony, which was held for the teachers and staff at Norton, wasnt complete without cake and a toast, using sparkling water, to congratulate them for their hard work. Connecticuts public school teachers are the best in the United States, and the tools they are providing our youngest residents are enabling them to achieve success throughout their careers, said Gov. Ned Lamont, in a statement released Thursday afternoon. Every child no matter their familys income or the neighborhood where they live deserves access to a quality education that prepares them for achievement. We no doubt continue to have work to do to close persistent achievement gaps that have lingered far too long, but I firmly believe that the strong work of so many of our educators is having an impact. I congratulate these schools on earning this national distinction and wish them continued success. Norton teachers were hailed for their use of what is described as the gradual release of responsibility approach designed to encourage more complex learning. The three steps utilized by the method are phased in over time, first with the introduction of materials through modeling, then moving on to cooperative learning where students study together, and finally transitioning into the students working individually. This approach requires students to be active participants in the learning process and moves them toward increasingly greater levels of independence. The approach works well in all subject areas and is balanced in mathematics courses with opportunities for students to engage in productive struggle, according to the Connecticut State DOE. Norton joins George Hersey Robertson in Coventry, South Street School in Danbury, and Northeast School in Vernon as the only four schools in Connecticut to be recognized. A total of 317 public schools and 50 non-public schools from across the country have been named Blue Ribbon honorees this year. The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony will be held virtually on Nov. 12 and 13. Never doubt the difference you guys make in the lives of our kids, Grillo added. You are all blue ribbon teachers. ComplyAdvantage, a global technology company transforming data risk management and financial crime detection, today announced the appointment of Richard Orme as Chief Technology Officer and Anna Keren as VP of Technology as the company continues to invest in the development of its industry-leading AML risk data solutions. Orme and Keren follow a series of appointments to the executive team composed of leading technology experts with deep expertise in fintech, financial services and data management. Orme has over 20 years of experience delivering global industry leading technology building SaaS platforms and AI-led product features. Prior to ComplyAdvantage, he was Group CTO of the market leading online photo printing company, Photobox Group, and worked across the companys family of five brands, including Moonpig.com. As CTO for ComplyAdvantage, Orme will focus on the development of scalable and secure data infrastructure that utilizes machine learning and natural language processing to detect, analyze, and categorize millions of risk events around the world. Orme joins as a leader of an innovative team that continues to push the boundaries of AML risk data and detection technology. ComplyAdvantage has a compelling vision and a culture of innovation that is inspiring. I cannot wait to work alongside the outstanding talent we have in our organization. There are very few applications where machine learning is used to solve societal problems of this scale and Im humbled to be part of the solution, Orme commented. Further strengthening the investment in top talent, is the appointment of Anna Keren as VP of Technology. Former Babylon Health and Funding Circle UK Engineering lead, Keren brings a deep understanding of software engineering and will be responsible for scaling and evolving the suite of products to drive improved user experiences. These appointments come on the tail of significant momentum for ComplyAdvantage. The company was honored as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in June, raised its Series C funding round of $50 million in July, and announced the addition of Elizabeth Bramlage as CMO and Vatsa Narasimha as a new board member in August. It was also recently recognized by financial services and technology research firms, Celent and Chartis, in separate industry leading studies, as a leading provider of AML risk data and financial risk management solutions. We continue to accelerate the development of our industry-leading data and suite of products to serve the worlds largest institutions with diverse clients and complex risk exposure. As highlighted by the recently leaked FinCEN Files, money laundering continues to be a major problem worldwide, said Charles Delingpole, Founder and CEO of ComplyAdvantage. Were incredibly excited to have Richard and Anna on board to lead our technology team, a group of highly talented individuals dedicated to our mission of eliminating financial crime across the globe. About ComplyAdvantage ComplyAdvantage is the financial industrys leading source of AI-driven financial crime risk data and detection technology. ComplyAdvantages mission is to neutralize the risk of money laundering, terrorist financing, corruption, and other financial crime. More than 500 enterprises in 75 countries rely on ComplyAdvantage to understand the risk of who theyre doing business with through the worlds only global, real-time database of people and companies. The company actively identifies tens of thousands of risk events from millions of structured and unstructured data points every single day. ComplyAdvantage has four global hubs located in New York, London, Singapore and Cluj-Napoca and is backed by Ontario Teachers, Index Ventures and Balderton Capital. Learn more at complyadvantage.com. Media contact ComplyAdvantage press team: press@complyadvantage.com New York Lila Ritger +1 (646) 844 0841 London Sally Morris +44 (0)20 7834 0252 A filmmaker, brother of a Bollywood actor, has clarified that he is not on the run. The actors estranged wife had earlier tweeted that he was absconding and sought information on him so that he could be duly arrested for custodial interrogation. She had reportedly filed a molestation case against him. The filmmaker tweeted, Its all about lack of information... Bombay High Court 2371/2020-21/09/2020 @MumbaiPolice or Versova Police already informed by LD. A. Public Prosecutor You will get an order copy soon. He was replying to the womans accusation that he was lying to save (his) skin. Versova Police has been searching you for more than a week to arrest you and your phones have been off as you have been underground @MumbaiPolice can you do the needful please, she wrote. On Wednesday, the woman filed a complaint with the Versova Police against her actor husband, accusing him of rape and cheating. No FIR has been registered yet as the police will first verify the complaint. As per reports, the woman has also filed a complaint against her brother-in-law, accusing him of molestation. I ws never on d run, I ws out fr my next films recce & in regard to d false complaint against me, it has been stayed by d Honble Bombay High Court, the filmmaker had written on Twitter. He also defended his brother, and said that the complaint against the actor was false and they would approach the Bombay High Court. The tweet ended with the hashtag #SatyamevJayate (truth will prevail). Also read | Saqib Saleem on Payal Ghoshs statement on Huma Qureshi: My sister is my life, it hurts when someone speaks ill of her The filmmaker suggested that the womans complaint was motivated by financial reasons. Chahe to 10-12 Jhoote cases kar do but Mai apna 2.16 Cr tumse court mein le kar hi rahunga.... Parivaar ko bhi jhoote cases mein phasaya ja raha Hai aur ye saza mil rahi hai 30 crore ki demnd Puri na karne ki (File 10-12 false cases if you want but I will get my Rs 2.16 crore back from you in court False cases are also being filed against my family. This is her way of punishing us for not giving in to her demand of Rs 30 crore), he tweeted. Last week, the woman had recorded her statement at Budhana police station in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh in another complaint she had filed against the actor and four members of his family. In May, the woman sent the actor a legal notice seeking maintenance and divorce. She also sought sole custody of their two children. (With inputs from PTI) Follow @htshowbiz for more BEIJING and BOSTON, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In August, Beijing Biocytogen Biotechnology Co., Ltd. ("Biocytogen") announced acquisition of Eucure Biopharma, which established Biocytogen as a clinical stage company. Now, Biocytogen is pleased to announce completion of series D1 Funding, successfully raising 142 million dollars (USD) meant to further secure the implementation of Project Integrum. Project Integrum is a humanitarian effort to discover, develop, and bring to market novel therapeutic antibody candidates against all notoriously difficult druggable targets. Taking full advantage of Biocytogen's integrated technology platforms for antibody discovery, Project Integrum will launch pre-clinical efforts into over 1,000 human diseases currently affecting countless lives. Meticulous screening of antibody candidates both in vivo and in vitro improves clinical translatability dramatically. At the core of Biocytogen lie the humanized antibody RenMab Mouse and a hoard of proprietary advanced gene targeting strategies, which have been fully optimized and integrated with the most advanced, complementary technologies in the express goal of discovering therapeutic, clinically-relevant antibodies. Whether it's with RenMab-based target knockout mice, customized target humanized mouse models, in vivo pharmacology screening platforms, or even companion dog translational medicine, Biocytogen is determined to find antibodies with clinical translative value. Biocytogen Chairman and CEO Dr. Yuelei Shen commented: "The funds raised in this round will strongly support rapid implementation of the development of RenMab-knockout mouse models for a vast number of immuno-oncology and autoimmune disease targets, and challenging targets including ion channel and GPCR proteins, and others of high human-mouse homology." With extensive experience and knowledge, Biocytogen can help to identify antibody candidates that will likely have the highest probability of success in the clinic, based upon species of cross-reactivity. In a collective effort to establish Biocytogen as an original source of future cures, Project Integrum was created to unite physicians, researchers, and scientists across borders. With promise of continued scientific advancement and expansion of our existing innovative drug development collaborations, Biocytogen welcomes new partnerships of biotech and pharmaceutical companies globally. We are very grateful to CMB International, the lead investor in this round, and our investor partners PICC Capital, SDIC Ventures, China Life Equity, 3E Bioventures, Cowin Capital, and Baifu Capital. ABOUT BIOCYTOGEN Biocytogen is a global biotech company that drives the research and development of new drugs with innovative technologies. Biocytogen works jointly with global partners to accelerate new drug discovery and development. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Biocytogen Related Links http://www.biocytogen.com http://www.renmab.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 Trend: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov took part in the annual ministerial meeting of landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), held in the format of a videoconference on September 23, 2020, the ministry told Trend. During the opening of the meeting under the theme 'Accelerated implementation of the Vienna Program of Action in the COVID-19 Era and partnering for achieving sustainable development in LLDCs', which was held under the initiative of Kazakhstan, Chair of the Group of LLDCs, the Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi, President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkyr and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made speeches. Representatives of 28 countries and international organizations took part in the general discussions of the event. Speaking at the event, Foreign Minister Bayramov touched upon the measures taken by Azerbaijan in the fight against COVID-19, as well as the countrys contribution to bolstering the response efforts to the pandemic across the world. The minister noted that Azerbaijan, attaching great importance to regional cooperation, hasnt stopped the flow of supplies. He also informed the meeting attendants about the countrys intra- and inter-regional transport connectivity projects, including the key infrastructure projects designed to increase transit capacity across Eurasia, as well as about upgrading the infrastructure of Azerbaijan's transport sector. At the end of his speech, Bayramov brought the recent provocation by Armenia in July 2020 on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border to the event participants attention, stressing that armed forces of the country targeted the critical energy and transportation infrastructure. He emphasized that this infrastructure is essential not only for Azerbaijan's economic development but in general for the Eurasian region. The minister stressed the need for the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. The ministry pointed out that the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries was set up to promote effective transit cooperation between these countries in order to contribute to their integration into the world economy and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The group, including Azerbaijan, is represented by 32 countries. 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. About 870,000 people filed for state unemployment benefits in the week ending September 19, the Labor Department said Thursday, a slight increase from the week before on a seasonally adjusted basis and well above economists expectations. An additional 630,000 people filed claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, the federal program for self-employed and gig workers. Taking all state and federal insurance programs together, about 26 million people were receiving some kind of unemployment benefits in the week ending September 5, a drop of more than 3 million from the week before, the weekly report said. (However, a substantial portion of that decrease came from California, as the state eliminated duplicate and fraudulent cases from its data.) Nearly 62 million jobless claims have been filed since the pandemic began. The jobs crisis isnt over. As economists have been saying for some time now, the job-loss numbers are better than they were at the beginning of the pandemic, but still far above levels seen in any economic crisis since the Great Depression. Its just an ongoing crisis in the labor market, said economist Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute. This weeks numbers are an indicator of the pain thats still out there, Ethan Harris of Bank of America told Bloomberg. And its consistent with the idea that were getting past that phase where were kind of rebounding from that shutdown, and now were more to the grinding-forward phase with this massive headwind from the labor market. Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at the consulting firm RSM, said the stalling out suggests that the easy gains of the recoverys early stages are likely in the rear-view mirror and the hard work of digging out of the economic abyss lies ahead. Winter could be worse. AnnElizabeth Konkel, an economist for the career site Indeed, told The New York Times that the apparent slowdown in the job market recovery in recent weeks is particularly worrisome given that cold weather will start arriving soon, which could force some businesses to curtail their operations or even close amid worries about spreading the virus indoors. Were losing steam, which is definitely not good heading into the winter, she said. Calls for more stimulus. The report provided further evidence for some economists that another round of fiscal stimulus will be needed. The recovery is losing momentum and further fiscal stimulus is needed to support jobs and incomes, Bloomberg economist Eliza Winger said. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19 election in Edo State, on Thursday, has denied appealing to Godwin Obaseki to rejoin his party after the just-concluded election. A section of the media, (excluding PREMIUM TIMES) had reported that Mr Ize-Iyamu appealed to Mr Obaseki, winner of the election and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to return to the APC at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday. Mr Ize-Iyamu reportedly had a closed-door meeting with Mai Mala Buni, the APC caretaker chairperson, and Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi State in Abuja on Wednesday, after which he was said to have addressed the media. But John Mayaki, the director of communication and media of the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organisation, said Mr Ize-Iyamu never had any interaction with the media in Abuja. He added that a video that went viral, in which Mr Ize-Iyamu was alleged to be addressing journalists, was recorded about three months ago. He blamed a section of the media for lending themselves to the fabrications. Mr Mayaki said, We warned several times that the media should beware of fabrications from Mr Obaseki and the PDP camp, but a section would not listen. That is why they have reported that the election was free and fair, and that is why they have said our candidate appealed to Mr Obaseki to come back to APC. The video in reference is from three months ago, not after the election but doctored by Governor Obaseki media handlers to seek undue legitimacy. He also wondered if the newspapers that reported the falsehood were being sponsored by Mr Obaseki and the PDP, adding, as it seemed implausible that they believed the story. This is even more so when reporters in Benin City would report Mr Ize-Iyamu who is currently in Abuja where the various media organisations are also domiciled this is to tell you the intention behind the video, the suspicion inherent in it, and the reports you see. Mr Ize-Iyamu was reported in the stories as speaking from Abuja, but it was the Benin reporters that covered the story. Were the reporters transported to Abuja? Do these media agencies believe the stories they carry? Obaseki and the PDP have a way of leaking false news to the media and the media has to be sensitive and professional in receiving this news. READ ALSO: Mr Mayaki also warned that there is a fake Twitter account purporting to belong to Mr Ize-Iyamu, which has been disseminating false information. I only wish that this section of the media had been more professional during the elections; they were not and what is done is done. They dont know how violent and anti-democratic it was in several parts of Edo State, including Egor in Benin City, and so they reported that the elections were free and fair. At least, going forward, let them verify all news before passing it on. It is the basic ethic of the profession, Mr Mayaki warned. Chris Nehikhare, state publicity secretary of the PDP, in a swift reaction said his party had no hand in the old video clip that went viral on Wednesday. We have no hand in the video that was released to the public yesterday. Rather we are asking them (APC) to come and join in the PDP. I have seen that video before. It is an old video that was released when Mr Ize-Iyamu first joined the APC, Mr Nehikhare said. The Northern Ireland Protocol must be implemented in full to give the regions businesses the certainty they crave, Simon Coveney has said. Irelands minister for foreign affairs stressed the importance of operating the protocol in good faith as he met the leaders of Stormonts four main pro-EU parties. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Alliance leader Naomi Long and Green Party NI leader Clare Bailey held talks with Mr Coveney in Dublin. The meeting came amid the UK Governments controversial bid to override elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol through domestic legislation at Westminster. Expand Close 24/09/2020.NO FEE NO REPRO FEE. JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY. Department of Foreign Affairs, Iveagh House, St Stephens Green, Dublin.Minister Coveney meets leaders of Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance and the Green Party in Northern Ireland at Department of Foreign Affairs.Alliance Party Naomi Rachel Long, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill and SDLP Colum Eastwood.NO FEE NO REPRO FEE. JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp 24/09/2020.NO FEE NO REPRO FEE. JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY. Department of Foreign Affairs, Iveagh House, St Stephens Green, Dublin.Minister Coveney meets leaders of Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance and the Green Party in Northern Ireland at Department of Foreign Affairs.Alliance Party Naomi Rachel Long, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill and SDLP Colum Eastwood.NO FEE NO REPRO FEE. JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY. The Internal Market Bill runs contrary to elements of the protocol around the application of EU state aid rules in Northern Ireland, and on the requirement for exit summary declarations for goods moving from the region to Great Britain. Another aspect of the protocol, on the need to collect tariffs on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain deemed at risk of onward transport to the Irish Republic, is set to be overridden in further domestic legislation tabled by the Government. At Thursdays meeting, Mr Coveney outlined the Irish Governments very real concern about the move. Afterwards, the minister said: Since the beginning of the Brexit process, Ireland and the EU have been committed to finding a solution which works for the people of Northern Ireland and for the island as a whole. The protocol does this. There was strong agreement this morning on the vital importance of implementing the protocol in full and in good faith. We also noted the particular challenges facing business in Northern Ireland. They need certainty, and this needs to be delivered through full implementation of the protocol. Today pro-remain party leaders from the North met the Irish Government in Dublin. We must work as an island and with the EU27 to protect the all-Ireland economy, Good Friday Agreement and to ensure no return to a hard border. The British Govt cannot be allowed to trample GFA. pic.twitter.com/axQBz4lGl8 Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) September 24, 2020 After the meeting, Ms ONeill urged the Irish Government to challenge the UK on its behaviour. Its very clear that we need all-island protections, its very clear that we need the Irish Government and EU side to stand up against the British Government, who are recklessly attempting to throw the Good Friday Agreement in the bin, she said. Who are recklessly and arrogantly purporting to say they are going to undermine an international treaty. That is not acceptable by anybodys standards. Mr Eastwood, who described the discussions with Mr Coveney as positive, said the Internal Market Bill was an act of extraordinary bad faith by the UK Government. Even if you accept the suggestion that it is simply a negotiating tactic, it serves to fundamentally undermine trust between the parties, he said. The British Government needs to wise up, commit to honouring its obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement and Ireland protocol, and then return to negotiations in good faith. The first step in that process is to withdraw this deeply damaging bill. More positive discussions with @simoncoveney and the remain party leaders in Dublin today @moneillsf @naomi_long @ClareBaileyGPNI. My view is clear - the British Government should wise up, withdraw the UK Internal Market Bill and return to negotiations with the EU in good faith. pic.twitter.com/MT4dW5SPlr Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) September 24, 2020 Mrs Long, who is Stormonts justice minister, accused the UK Government of provocative and disruptive behaviour. She said the impasse went to the core of Northern Irelands ability to co-operate on justice and security issues. For that, the future security partnership must be agreed and that requires a trade deal to be done, she said. There is much at stake businesses need certainty, the Executive needs clarity and peoples security needs to be protected. Mrs Long added: People need to focus on delivering a deal and should now leave the theatrics to one side. Parents of only 21% secondary school students enrolled in 1,079 institutions of Prayagraj district that are affiliated to UP Board, are ready to send their children back to school to get guidance from their teachers, Board officials said. In response to an initiative of the UP Board secretary Divyakant Shukla asking district inspectors of schools (DIOSs) to seek written agreement from parents in this regard, parents of just 71,958 class 9 to class 12 students out of the total 3,42,657 who are residing out of existing containment zones, have shown willingness to send their children to schools to meet their teachers, said Prayagraj DIOS RN Vishwakarma. The parents of the remaining 79% students do not wish to send their children to schools for the sake of guidance in the wake of the Covid-19 threat, he added. The initiative was taken after the UP Board secretary, overseeing the education of 1.25 crore children enrolled in class 9 to class 12 in over 28,000 schools of the state, sought a report from DIOSs on September 20 on parents ready to send their children to school if the schools were opened for a few fixed hours. Vishwakarma said that in Prayagraj, a total of 3,53,961 students are enrolled in 1,079 schools. Out of these, 1,023 schools are located outside existing containment zones, while 56 are in containment zones. In these 1,023 schools, 3,42,657 students are enrolled in class 6 to class 12. The DIOS claimed that through awareness drives, parents of 2,65,153 students have been made aware of the various academic content being made available to their wards by the government through various online media. However, parents of just 71,958 students gave their consent to sending their children to schools if they were to open partially. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When restaurant dining rooms were shut down across the country in mid-March, Michelle Lee didnt know what to do at her Kimchi Korea House restaurant in the downtown core. Prior to COVID, the only time mom wasnt there working at lunch and dinner service was when I graduated from university, recalls her daughter, Diana. Even then we went back to the restaurant afterwards. When the shutdown came, Diana set her moms restaurant up with the usual delivery apps. In the meantime, the restaurant at Bay Street and Dundas Street West sat quiet and Diana wanted to cheer her mom up. In late March, Diana picked up her phone and asked her mom to give a kimchi-making tutorial to the restaurants followers on Instagram. I could tell (the shutdown) was hard for her, so I set up these cooking videos as a fun distraction, she said. I created an Instagram account (@KimchiKoreaHouse) for the restaurant earlier but it was dormant because mom was always too busy to even entertain doing anything for it. She never took out advertising or did anything on social media because we relied on word of mouth and being in a good location. The social media thing was purely born out of the pandemic. Kimchi Korea House is one of a few Toronto restaurants that, thanks to help of the owners children or more tech-savvy young employees, have found a new audience during the pandemic by going on Instagram. In some cases, it also helped bridge a language gap between the owners and English-speaking diners with posts that explain the dishes as well as give the backstory of the people who run the place. Its not new, places such as East Court BBQ, Monas Roti and Korean Village Restaurant had the owners children and younger relatives keep up an online presence before the pandemic, but now the pressure to reach a wide audience feels as urgent as ever. My mom grew up in a remote village in the mountains of Korea, said Diana, 31, who works as a radiation therapist in her day job. She still doesnt know what Instagram is but she knows its a medium to share and she knows customers now come in because of the videos. Dianas Instagram lives and archived story posts started to gain a small following among the citys food obsessed, especially back in the spring when many were getting used to being housebound. Watching Michelle in the restaurants kitchen, perfectly coiffed and assuring viewers that anyone can cook Korean food provided comfort amidst the panic buying. Over the next months Michelle made more staples such as jeyuk bokkeum (spicy pork), kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew), kimchi pajeon (kimchi pancake) and kkakdugi (spicy pickled radish). The videos would have occasional interjections from Diana behind the camera, asking her mom how much water? or how do you know its done? and being met with answers of you just know and look at it. Depending on the complexity of the dish, it takes between two to four hours to film a video, not including the additional time it takes for Diana to edit the footage, add captions and double check with her mom on the instructions. I always wanted to write down moms recipes so that I could have something concrete to pass down, she said. The hilarious part is that it changes every time she makes it. Anna Peng has been showcasing the dozens of menu items and giving users some insight into the daily operations of Great Fountain Fast Food, a Hong Kong diner-style food stall inside the Dynasty Centre food court at Sheppard Ave. E. and Midland Ave. in Scarboroughs Agincourt area. The restaurant has been around for 20 years. Our family has been operating it for a little over five years now, said Peng, 22. The pandemic hit just as she was about to graduate from OCAD University, so rather than immediately pursue a career in design she helped out at her parents food stall, starting at the cash register and eventually promoting the place online. Our regulars are on the older side and arent the people who would go on social media like Instagram or TikTok. I was like, I dont know whats going to happen with the business, but maybe if we take a shot on Instagram, we could get a younger audience back into the plaza, she said. This is a place where a lot of people spent their childhood before moving to Markham or Richmond Hill. Its a place of nostalgia. Great Fountain is the kind of place you either know or dont. Its inside a quiet mall that has seen better days and a food court with salmon-coloured tabletops that 90s mall kids would fawn over. Before the pandemic, older regulars would sit at the tables sipping milk tea and watching old Cantonese soaps that would play on a TV in the corner of the food court. That area was once the place to be for newly landed immigrants from Hong Kong in the late 80s and 90s, many of whom have since moved to other parts of the GTA. The slated-to-be-demolished Dragon Centre mall across the street was the first Chinese shopping mall in North America. Aside from the mouth-watering photos of baked spaghetti, fried pork chops and videos of the wok in action posted on her account @GreatFountain, Peng also captures the candid moments of her parents, Jack Peng and Eva Lin. Theyre eating lunch, doing paperwork or catching a nap while sitting upright behind the counter. One of the posts is simply a bin of lemons that Peng sliced up to make iced tea. The posts are the opposite of the perfectly curated feeds of a restaurant that has the money to hire a professional photographer and social media manager. But whats captivating about Great Fountains feed is that it shows the reality of the long hours (and often, solitude) of working at a restaurant during a pandemic. Pengs work paid off, as local food sites caught wind of her place. People from downtown Toronto made the trip to Scarborough; some who grew up in the area and forgot about the place, others who never had Hong Kong diner food before. Customer service before was fully in Chinese, but now its like, I can help you too. Language is not a barrier, she said. Every parent wants their kids to do better than the last generation. Sometimes customers will be surprised that Im working here and not at an office. I dont mind helping my parents because its a way for me to give back, Peng added. All restaurants are struggling and over half of Torontos restaurants could close in the upcoming months. It makes me want to go harder on social media but at the same time, how much more can I do? Its more like how long we can do this for? Long-standing institutions have also turned to Instagram during the pandemic. Square Boy, a burger joint at 875 Danforth Ave., has been open since 1964, but didnt take to social media until a week after restaurants across the province were shut down in mid-March. The account, @Squareboy.Restaurant, is mainly run by Constantine Andricopoulos, 35, a high school friend of Jim Syrbos, one of the four owners, and whose father Mike took over the business in 1985 (the other two current owners are Louis Pirgakis and George Karagorgios). While Andricopoulos isnt related to the owners, hes like family. Syrbos is the godfather to his daughter, and their wives are best friends. Andricopoulos also works the grill, the cash or the fryer wherever he is needed that day. The account initially started to let customers know that the place was still open for takeout, but scrolling through the Square Boy hashtags, Andricopoulos also came across fan art of the restaurant and wanted to share that as well. We got artwork, photos of people past and present who worked here. We wanted to remind people that the place is still family operated, he said. We also wanted to introduce some of the new members like myself, alongside people like Louis and Mike, the two owners who have been here since 1985. Theres only so much you can post about homemade burgers and hours to stay relevant during COIVD. Its unlikely that social media alone will be the key for any of these places to stay in business while the pandemic continues. Rent keeps coming due, food costs dont change and many people are still staying at home and spending less on eating out. While letting people know theyre open is the driving force, a more robust social media presence helps diners learn more about the people behind local restaurants and to see whats at stake. Even though the restaurant is open again, I have a lot of anxiety over the industry, but my mom is so much happier being able to see the customers in person again, said Diana of Kimchi Korea House about the restaurants dining room reopening at limited capacity. Shes getting fairly into cooking videos and watching more Korean cooking channels. Its been a good bonding experience because we wouldnt have time to do these videos before. I dont know if its helping with the business, but customers now appreciate her more now that they know how passionate she is about her business and food. WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: Demonstrators march along Constitution Avenue in protest following a Kentucky grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case on September 23, 2020 in Washington, DC. A Kentucky grand jury indicted one police officer involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor with 3 counts of wanton endangerment. No officers were indicted on charges in connection to Taylor's death. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) On March 13, 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by three Louisville, KY, police officers who forcibly entered her home to execute an unannounced drug raid, despite the fact that their main suspect was already in custody. After months of demanding justice for Taylor, on Sept. 23, a Kentucky grand jury announced in a gut-wrenching decision that only officer Brett Hankison would be charged, with no charges filed in relation to Taylor's killing. Hankison was indicted on just three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree, a Class D felony, while the other two officers involved, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, have been cleared of any criminal charges. As a result, the unjust and offensive decision has sparked demonstrations in Louisville and across the nation demanding proper justice for Taylor. While we continue to fight in Taylor's name and against white supremacy, here are some actionable steps you can take. Support protesters on the ground Following the grand jury's decision, protesters immediately started gathering in Louisville, criticizing the insufficient indictment. To support the brave demonstrators, donate to national and local bail funds to help those who may be arrested for protesting and cannot afford bail. If you're able, consider donating to the Louisville Community Bail Fund, organized by Black Lives Matter Louisville, to help bail out and provide postrelease aid for demonstrators simply exercising their constitutional rights. Pay reparations In addition to financially supporting protesters, you can also donate and pay reparations to Black communities in Louisville in need of resources to heal and survive during this time. Healing for Louisville, a fund organized by BLM activist Chanelle Helm, provides direction for Reparations Roundtable, an ally group dedicated to antiracism work. BLM Louisville has also built a fund to support Stand Up Sundays, a community dedicated to combating violence against Black people through education and training. You can also aid the Eviction Prevention Fund started in collaboration with Reparations Roundtable and Kentucky-based organizers, which protects BIPOC and those of marginalized genders at risk of losing their housing. Story continues Amplify the demands made by BLM Louisville During an emergency panel hosted by BLM Louisville on Wednesday night in response to the grand jury decision, the community presented a list of demands. Circulate and amplify these demands in your own communities, whether in person or on social media, to continue the fight for justice. Here are BLM Louisville's demands ahead: Immediately fire and revoke the pensions of the officers that murdered Breonna. Divest from LMPD and invest in community building. Immediate resignation (or impeachment) of Mayor Greg Fischer. Metro Council ends use of force by Louisville Metro Police Department. Police shootings are gun violence. A local, civilian community police accountability council that is independent from the mayor's office and LMPD with investigation and discipline power. The creation of policy to ensure transparent investigation processes. Call to divest from the police and invest in communities Invest/Divest Louisville provides actionable steps to push your local governments to divest from the police, particularly in Louisville. While defunding or divesting from the police might sound radical or confusing to some, it is simply asking to revise and reallocate local budgets to invest in services like housing, education, jobs, and public health that better serve the larger community. For instance, according to the site, over 38 percent of Louisville Metro Government's recommended 2020-2021 budget is dedicated to funding the police, in addition to more than 11 percent toward corrections. In comparison, only seven percent is planned for health services. Invest/Divest Louisville lays out helpful actions, including contacting Mayor Fischer and council representatives to demand for commitment to new budgets, state laws to ensure police officers are punished for abusing power, and the repeal of the Blue Lives Matter Law. Days after Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut drew ire with her depression is a consequence of drug abuse remark, Delhis well-known mental health institute, VIMHANS, called her out on her misleading tweet. A few days ago, Kangana took a sly jibe at actor Deepika Padukone, who has always been vocal about her own battles with depression, and said that mental health disorders are usually caused due to drug abuse. 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?" she wrote on Twitter. No, Kangana, drug abuse is not the sole reason behind depression. Depression is a health disorder, pretty much like other ailments that may be afflicting you, like fever or even stomach ache. It is not, and we cannot reiterate this enough, just sadness. In fact, that is one of the many symptoms of the condition. The World Health Organisation defines depression as a common mental health disorder which is very different from mood fluctuations or short term responses to what is happening around you. Depression affects different people differently in some, it may raise its ugly head in a mild form and for a short duration, while it may be more prolonged and intense in others. In some cases, it can lead to a acute condition requiring hospitalisation and rehabilitation services. In 2018, a study by the World Health Organisation and NCMH (National Care Of Medical Health) suggested that at least 6.5% of Indians suffer from serious mental disorders. That makes India the most depressed country in the world. Every sixth person in India requires therapy. Yet, ironically, mental health and mental disorders continue to remain taboo in the country. WHO states that a number of biological, psychological and social factors could lead to depression. Usually, depression has two types - recurrent depressive episodes and bipolar affective disorder. In both cases, depression can affect ones relationships, their levels of productivity and their overall approach to life. In fact, tips like Talk to someone" or Just get a job" dont work and may come across as insensitive. Thus, for Kangana to tweet that depression is a consequence of drug abuse" on a public platform is misleading, problematic and even triggering for some. READ: Call a Friend, Just do Yoga, Mental Health Experts Explain Why These Tips Wont Cure Depression READ: Feeling More Tired Than Usual? Welcome to the Very Real World of Coronavirus Fatigue To Kanganas tweet, Delhis VIMHANS, Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences had the most appropriate response - Do NOT." Do NOT https://t.co/xhofDfCFd5 VIMHANS Mental Health & Rehab (@vimhansnewdelhi) September 23, 2020 VIMHANS tweet has been retweeted and shared multiple times, with people thanking a premier mental health institution for speaking up and debunking such myths and stigma around mental health. VIMHANS shows spine, calls out #KanganaRanaut for further stigmatising mental health problems, turning those struggling with depression into drug addicts! Kudos! https://t.co/z8hMC4C5om Samar (@Samar_Anarya) September 23, 2020 This is one of the premier institutions in the country working on understanding and providing medical and therapeutic solutions to mental health issues. But who cares, right? @kalamwaliwhy thanks for speaking up, VIMHANS https://t.co/VVWlhita13 #indianfirst (@uthraGC) September 24, 2020 Thankyou VIMHANS for saying this. https://t.co/lqCkKw0sd0 Farhana (@FarhanaCvg) September 24, 2020 Meanwhile, the Narcotics Control Bureau investigating the Bollywood-drugs nexus related to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput has summoned actresses Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, Rakul Preet and Deepika Padukone for questioning. Rassawek was a major trading center and home to several hundred Native Americans when English settlers began venturing out from Jamestown in the early 1600s. Capt. John Smith placed it on a map at the point where the Rivanna River flows into the James, at what is now the village of Columbia in Fluvanna County. Muni inspectors will return with a new uniform and softer approach before they start to issue citations to fare evaders again by the end of the year, the transit agency said this week. During the six months of the pandemic, fare inspectors took on disaster service worker duties as the number of riders plummeted. Now, in the middle of a ballooning fiscal crisis, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority needs the money. Fares provide approximately 20% of the transit agencys revenue. This year, the agency hemorrhaged $200 million in revenue and is projected to lose $300 million in the next two fiscal years. Inspectors will now also remind riders to wear masks and physically distance. Enforcing mask wearing, currently the role of ambassadors at stops, has caused tension and even violence between passengers and operators. This summer, riders beat a bus driver with a bat who asked them to wear masks. The agency said its new phased program over the next couple months is prioritizing education. Rather than focusing solely on enforcement, the priority will shift to helping customers comply with fare policies, a blog post from the agency this week read. Cat Carter, spokeswoman for advocacy group San Francisco Transit Riders, said the approach was a step in the right direction. The reality is unfortunately at this time that we do depend on fares for service and the main reason our service has been cut back so drastically is because of the loss of fares, as nobody is riding, Carter said. Theres a culture change going on around how to make it more about compliance and less about criminalization of poverty. Carter still wanted to see more support for low-income riders and discounts for youth. Too many times people get caught up in the bureaucracy of tickets and fines that they cant pay and obviously that lands hardest on the people who are most dependent on transit to get anywhere, she said. Starting this week, inspectors joined ambassadors to provide information and distribute masks at stops and stations. In late October, inspectors will get back on Muni vehicles and conduct inspections without citations. Later this year, they will start issuing citations. A rider caught without valid proof of payment can be removed and fined more than $100, according to the agencys website. More than half of those tickets go unpaid every year, The Chronicle has reported. 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. Inspectors will be put on routes with the highest ridership and will board the vehicle in groups of three at the beginning of the line, a rest stop or a segment of the line. One will check on the operator while two others stay in the passenger area. Inspectors will primarily remind customers to show proof of payment when they enter the vehicle, instead of the past practice of making an announcement, inspecting everyone on board, then removing customers without proof of payment, the agency said. Inspectors will still conduct random periodic full inspections. They will also hand out information about discounted fare programs. Instead of a more traditional police-like uniform, inspectors will also sport a new look - black pants and a collared T-shirt with a logo on the arm and a star on the chest similar to a sheriffs symbol. Plus, of course, a Muni mask. Chronicle staff writer Rachel Swan contributed to this report. Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench Offered to almost 3,000 hoteliers in 25 countries, GuestPay is highly specialised and targeted toward the hospitality industry. It will address the specific challenges faced in hospitality including those faced by major hotel groups and chains. Trust Payments delivers a unified payments solution to enable global pay-in, pay-out and customer journey technologies, linking merchant acquiring, ecommerce and point of sale devices. This unique proposition reduces fraud, chargebacks, manual processes and cost, whilst consolidates reporting in a transparent interface. Another major benefit is in securing revenue for hoteliers by enabling guests to settle their invoice or deposit payments before check in. Daniel Holden, Group CEO of Trust Payments commented: "For over 13 years, Trust Payments have empowered ecommerce payments for Guestline, and we are proud to support the next step in the journey. Launching Guestpay will revolutionise the customer experience in the hospitality industry: an end-to-end solution embedded into Guestlline's systems. This will help hotels provide even better engagement with their guests. Launching in the UK and Germany initially, the solutions will roll out to other European countries in 2021." Andrew McGregor, CEO of Guestline commented: "By working with Trust Payments, we are able to offer a simpler and more secure payment system for hoteliers that's integrated with the Guestline PMS. Payments are tracked and recorded in the PMS delivering a seamless, more secure and efficient experience. GuestPay will help our customers optimise sales and enhance the customer journey and by working with a large community of hoteliers, Guestline has been able to offer more competitive rates on the hotelier's behalf." For more information, hoteliers can attend the 'Guest Payments Simplified' webinar on 1st October 2020 by registering here. About Trust Payments Group Trust Payments is a global unified payments group for global pay-in, pay-out and customer journey technologies. Our mission is to help businesses to optimise their sales and customer experience through facilitating speedy and seamless payments. Our single sign-on technology platform can process payments with over 50 global acquiring banks, including our own EU-licenced institution, acquiring.com. Our community benefits from our 20+ years of payments experience and unrivalled customer focus. Our trusted and robust technology solutions deliver 1.6 bn transactions annually for 7,000 active clients across eCommerce, mobile and Point of Sale (POS) and in 14 like-for-like settlement currencies. We also operate in the US with money transmission services and gaming vendor licences in key regulated markets. Visit us at www.trustpayments.com and www.acquiring.com. About Guestline Established over 28 years ago, Guestline provides innovative property management, guest engagement and distribution software to the hospitality industry. Founded on cloud technology, Guestline's revenue generating solutions enable independents of all sizes and small hotel groups to achieve maximum occupancy at the most profitable rate. With offices in the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Ireland and Thailand, Guestline's property management software is currently growing revenues in businesses in 25 countries across five continents. The range of solutions include Guestline PMS, CRS, C&B, Channel Manager, EPoS, IBE and GuestPay. Additionally, Guestline's PMS can be integrated with nearly 200 third-party solutions via an API. www.guestline.com SOURCE Trust Payments Two North Wales Police officers who tackled armed man in line for bravery award This article is old - Published: Thursday, Sep 24th, 2020 Two North Wales officers who tackled an armed man who had forced his way into the home of a woman he had earlier allegedly sexually assaulted have been put forward for the national Police Bravery Awards. PCs Richard Shea and Matt Reynolds, who retired in June after 30 years service, have already been presented with their Forces Fletcher Award which is presented annually to an officer or officers who have shown outstanding bravery. The two armed response vehicle (ARV) officers were called to an address in Llandudno Junction in June last year following reports that a man armed with a gun was forcing his way into a property after previously attacking a woman there earlier that night while young children were at the address. Multiple calls to the police suggested he was armed with a machine gun although this was then reported to possibly be a BB gun. The risk was still considered to be very high, given the fact that he was armed, he was a risk to the victim, there were children in the house and there were members of the public nearby, Mark Jones, secretary of North Wales Police Federation which nominated the two officers for the award, explained. These officers headed straight to the scene as any delay could cause loss of life and I am sure their brave actions and the fact they put themselves in harms way prevented someone being seriously injured or killed. On arrival at the scene, PC Shea, who has been with the Force for six years, took the lead and moved towards the property. As he neared the front door, he saw what was clearly a plastic barrel protrude from the doorway. He made a split-second life or death decision and, had he not received further information that the subject was possibly armed with a BB gun and the lighting had not been so favourable, he would have shot the man. But when PC Shea told him to show his hands, the man ran back into the property. PC Reynolds discharged his Taser but it was ineffective as the man attempted to slam the door shut. Having prevented the door closing, PC Reynolds struggled with the man who could be seen through the frosted glass. PC Shea helped keep the door open and was able to discharge his Taser in the direction of the man, causing him to slump behind the door. A large kitchen knife was then found next to him. The two officers arrested him and removed him from the property. Their supervisor, PS Tash Doran-Jones, said afterwards: They were faced with a challenging report of a male who was suspected of having sexually assaulted a female prior to the call, back at her address trying to force his way in, armed with a gun. I feel that their bravery, decision-making and threat assessment on the night not only prevented the female victim and members of the public from being hurt but also avoided harm to the subject. The annual Police Bravery Awards, sponsored by Police Mutual, honour some of the finest officers in England and Wales who have performed incredible acts of bravery, while on or off duty. This years ceremony, which was due to be held in London in July, was postponed due to the pandemic, but will be staged on Thursday 15 July 2021. A total of 94 brave officers from forces across England and Wales have been put forward for an award. John Perks, chief executive officer of Police Mutual, said in a message to all nominees: Police Mutual is, as always, proud to be supporting the National Police Bravery Awards in its 25th anniversary year. Despite having to postpone the original ceremony, your courage was never forgotten and it goes without saying to all of the nominees from 2019 that your commitment to keeping the public safe in the most demanding of circumstances shows unlimited bravery and resilience. This is something each and every one of you should be immensely proud of, as I and all of my colleagues at Police Mutual are on a daily basis when we see how hard your roles can be. We very much look forward to meeting you in July 2021 for the ceremony and our chance to give our thanks in person. John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation, said: We are incredibly proud of all the nominees from across England and Wales. The actions of these courageous officers provide a small snapshot of the amazing work our colleagues carry out day in and day out. These officers faced every firearms officers worst nightmare a split second decision over whether to shoot a suspect who was pointing a firearm at them. Despite the pressure they were under, their quick thinking and willingness to run towards danger meant that order could be restored to a terrified community without the loss of life. They should be incredibly proud, as we are, of their actions. As a Police Federation, we wanted to make sure these brave officers receive the recognition they deserve in the year their actions were meant to be celebrated. We look forward to seeing them all in person and revealing regional and national winners when the time is right in 2021. A white woman who was recorded throwing a bottle and hurling a racial slur at a black runner in New York City has been arrested and charged with a hate crime, authorities have said. The woman was recorded by a bystander during the incident on 17 August against Tiffany Johnson, 37. In the video released by New York Police Department, the woman throws a bottle at Ms Johnson as she passes her on the street and then shouting the racial slur. Lorena Delaguna, 53, of Woodside, Queens, has been charged with attempted assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment, authorities said on Tuesday. Crimes like this, which are fueled by hate, are in a special category for a reason, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a written statement. No one should have to endure being called a vile slur or being attacked simply because of the color of their skin, their religion, or who they love. Ms Delagunas attorney, Samantha Diaz, questioned the severity of the charges, citing the fact that Ms Johnson hadnt suffered physical harm. Ms Johnson, who was not identified by Ms Katz but has publicly identified herself as the jogger in the video, called the incident a hate crime." Its not acceptable. She has to be [held] responsible for her behavior," Ms Johnson told The New York Post. I was definitely shocked. I was surprised but, more importantly, I wanted to get away from her. Ms Katz has said that Ms Delaguna followed the runner for a block and told her to go back to Africa. Judge Jeffrey Gershuny said there was a mental health component to the case and has ordered a psychological evaluation for Ms Delaguna, who was arraigned in Queens criminal court. Additional reporting by the Associated Press There is wide variation in the performance of commercial kits for detecting antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), according to a study published September 24 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Jonathan Edgeworth and Blair Merrick of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Suzanne Pickering and Katie Doores of King's College London, and colleagues. As noted by the authors, the rigorous comparison of antibody testing platforms will inform the deployment of point-of-care technologies in healthcare settings and their use in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infections. Throat and nose swab tests for SARS-CoV-2 establish if someone is infected with the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These tests are highly sensitive - capable of detecting very low viral RNA levels - and are optimal for the early detection of the virus. The performance of these tests depends on the time the sample is collected, with viral load declining after the first week of symptoms. By contrast, antibody tests can determine whether someone has had the virus in the past. For diagnosis later in disease, or in delayed-onset syndromes, antibody tests could form an important part of hospital diagnostic capabilities. In the new study, the researchers developed their own sensitive and specific antibody assay and used it to conduct unbiased, head-to-head comparisons of ten commercial antibody test kits on an identical panel of 110 SARS-CoV-2-positive blood samples from patients admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 and 50 pre-pandemic negatives. There was a broad range of performance among the tests, with specificity -- the ability of the test to correctly identify those without the disease (true negative rate) -- ranging from 82% to 100%, and overall sensitivity -- the ability of a test to correctly identify those with the disease (true positive rate) - ranging from 60.9% to 87.3%. But all gave the best results when used 20 days or more after the start of symptoms, with most tests reaching a sensitivity value greater than 95%. In addition, antibody levels were higher in individuals with severe illness compared to those with asymptomatic or mild disease. When all commercial tests were compared, lateral flow immunoassays called Accu-Tell, SureScreen and Spring demonstrated highest sensitivity at earlier time points, while maintaining specificities of 98% or above. Such lateral flow immunoassays are affordable, quick and easy to use, and if they are deployed appropriately, could have considerable usefulness in healthcare settings. Co-author Jonathan Edgeworth notes, "We found that some of the quick single-use kits (LFIAs) are as accurate as our sophisticated laboratory technologies. Encouraged by these findings we are piloting LFIAs in the hospital to give doctors a quick reliable answer in a range of clinical settings." ### Research Article Peer reviewed; Experimental study; Cells Funding: The research and the King's College London Infectious Diseases Biobank were supported by the Department of Health via a National Institute for Health Research comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre award to Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with King's College London and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. AWS and CG were supported by the MRC-KCL Doctoral Training Partnership in Biomedical Sciences (MR/N013700/1). GB was supported by the Wellcome Trust (106223/Z/14/Z to MHM). SA was supported by an MRC-KCL Doctoral Training Partnership in Biomedical Sciences industrial Collaborative Award in Science & Engineering (iCASE) in partnership with Orchard Therapeutics (MR/R015643/1). NK was supported by the Medical Research Council (MR/S023747/1 to MHM). SP, HDW and SJDN were supported by a Wellcome Trust Senior Fellowship (WT098049AIA). King's Together Rapid COVID-19 Call awards to MHM, KJD, SJDN and RMN. Fondation Dormeur, Vaduz for funding equipment (KJD). MRC Discovery Award MC/PC/15068 to SJDN, KJD and MHM. Development of SARS-CoV-2 reagents (RBD) was partially supported by the NIAID Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS) contract HHSN272201400008C. The work was supported by gifts from Peking University donors and Anhui Deep Blue company. We also thank the following sources for donation of test kits: the manufacturers of Spring, Biohit, Genbody, Medomics and Watmind. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Citation: Pickering S, Betancor G, Galao RP, Merrick B, Signell AW, Wilson HD, et al. (2020) Comparative assessment of multiple COVID-19 serological technologies supports continued evaluation of point-of-care lateral flow assays in hospital and community healthcare settings. PLoS Pathog 16(9): e1008817. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1008817 Author Affiliations: Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom. Centre for Clinical Infection and Diagnostics Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. Centre for Inflammation Biology and Cancer Immunology (CIBCI), Dept of Inflammation Biology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom. MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom. Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: http://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1008817 Approximately 3,800 students are exempt from wearing masks or face coverings in schools within the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB). Nearly 39,850 students in Hamiltons public board are enrolled for in-person learning this semester, meaning that just under 10 per cent of students arent required to wear masks. Shawn McKillop, HWDSB spokesperson, confirmed the numbers to The Spectator on Wednesday. In general, all students are required to wear masks or face coverings in Hamiltons schools. In August, the Ontario government instructed school boards across the province to make masks mandatory for students in Grades 4 to 12. Hamiltons boards expanded the requirement to all students after teachers and parents raised concerns over the spread of COVID-19 in younger classes. But many parents have also asked that their child be exempt from wearing a mask. Jeff Sorensen, president of the Hamilton-Wentworth Elementary Teachers Local union, said he was concerned about parents asking their child to be exempt from mask-wearing without any valid medical reason. We have no idea, of the 3,800 students who are exempt from wearing masks, how many have actual medical problems that require they not wear masks, Sorensen said. Its pretty easy to get an exemption for your child. We understand there are students and adults who have good medical reasons for not wearing a mask, but the difficulty is that we have no way of knowing if all 3,800 of these students do. The HWDSB has said that they were advised by public health not to overwhelm local clinics and doctors with requests for mask exemptions. Loading Sorensen said his members are concerned that a growing population of students with mask exemptions could heighten health risks for teachers. Premier Doug Ford has said that because of our rising case numbers, we have to get back into groups of 10 in our homes. Weve also been told that if you cant maintain two metres of distance, you have to wear a mask out in the community. But that doesnt exist in our schools. It feels, sometimes, like our schools are the least safe places in the province. Now people can effectively opt out of wearing a mask in these spaces. Mandatory mask-wearing became a point of contention for parents and staff early in August, with some seeing the requirement as a potential solution to situations where students cannot maintain physical distance and others seeing it as an unnecessary inconvenience for young students who may not be as susceptible to the virus. Research has varied on the question of health risks for young children. Some evidence shows that children generally appear less likely to spread the virus and dont appear to get sick or experience symptoms as often as adults. A recent study from South Korea, however, suggested that kids aged 10 and up may spread the virus more easily to family members than younger kids, and might even spread it as easily as adults. The debate has come up repeatedly during board meetings at the HWDSB. In August, trustees unanimously passed a motion requiring that all students, regardless of grade, wear masks. The masks were later made mandatory on school buses as well. These are little ones and their lives are just as precious as everyone else, said Carole Paikin Miller, trustee for Ward 5, at an earlier board meeting. I think we should make sure theyre safe. R.L. Stine Finds the Funny in the World of Garbage Pail Kids Abrams is releasing an original middle-grade book series tied to The Garbage Pail Kids, a line of collectible sticker cards launched in 1985 as a parody of the Cabbage Patch Kids. The cards, drawn by underground cartoonists, became a pop-culture sensation even as they were banned by schools. Thirty-five years later, on September 29, comes Garbage Pail Kids: Welcome to Smellville, written by Goosebumps, Fear Street, and Rotten School author R.L. Stine and produced under license from Topps. Two more titles will follow in spring and fall 2021. Abrams has done art books with Topps in the past, including one featuring the collectible Wacky Packages brand in 2008 and one on The Garbage Pail Kids in 2012. The two companies were talking about what they could do to mark the 35th anniversary of the Kids when Charles Kochman, Abramss editorial director (who edits middle-grade series including Diary of a Wimpy Kid as well as Abrams ComicArts titles), suggested a middle-grade series written by Stine, whom he has known since 1987. The idea of writing a funny series for middle graders was a selling point for Stine, who earlier in his career wrote novelizations for properties like the Pee-wee Herman movie but had never done an original series based on existing characters. Those are my kids, he said of middle graders. This is the stuff I love writing. [The characters] were these gross, horrible, disgusting kids on these cards that sold like crazy and kept going for years and years. [Topps and Abrams] wanted me to see if there was a way to bring them back and turn them into a middle-grade book series. And I say yes to everything. Unlike with many licensed properties, there was no established world or character attributes to build on. All we had was the brand, a sticker image, and a name, and thats it, Kochman said. Topps wanted to put the best-selling character, Adam Bombwhose head is constantly explodingfront and center, but other than that they were open to just about anything. They knew we were creating this from scratch and they knew Bob would bring a lot to the table, Kochman explained. I knew he was good at world-building, and basically he created a whole universe that didnt exist. He knows how to appeal to kids and brings his own personal style to it. Stine came up with a premise of 10 kids living in a big old house, with no parents, in a town called Smellville. Their enemies are Peter and Patty Perfect across the street. He selected the characters, aside from Adam Bombhe does explode in every book, Stine pointed outfrom Abramss previous Garbage Patch Kids title. There are hundreds of these disgusting kids. I just picked out ones that I thought I could create believable characters from and that were fun and funny, and not too disgusting, he said. He turned two of the original characters, Wacky Jackie and Handy Randy, into girls. The hard part is there are so many characters. There are 10 main characters and they all have to make sense, and two others across the street, and the kids in the classroom. That was the real challenge. Kochman noted that many of todays middle-graders are not familiar with Garbage Pail Kids. But I think parents will recognize the brand and buy it for their kids. The kids know Bob. And an eight- to 12-year-old would gravitate toward the title, Welcome to Smellville, and the artwork. The book is set up to maintain interest, with interludes like quizzes, fictional TV episodes, and exercises that make sense within the story, as well as illustrations on every page. You always hear about reluctant readers, and we know its code for boys, Kochman said. But boys will read if you give them something they want to read. The books feature cover art by Joe Simko and interior illustrations by Jeff Zapata, both key artists for the brand, and each is packaged with four exclusive collectible sticker cards, including one featuring a familiar-looking character named R.L. Slime. Penguin Goes Down Under to Find Bluey Penguin Random House has signed on as the U.S. master publishing licensee for Bluey, an Australian animated TV series for preschoolers that is in its second season in the U.S. on Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney+. The show is co-commissioned by Australian broadcaster ABC Kids and BBC Studios (which handles licensing in the U.S.), and produced by Ludo Studio. Bluey is about a family of dogs, including energetic, curious, and imaginative six-year-old Bluey; her sister, four-year-old Bingo; and their parents, Bandit and Chilli. In each episode, Bluey plays games that move forward with unexpected twists and turns and involve her entire family and her neighborhood. Each character in the show is a specific breed of dog; Bluey is a blue heeler, a type of Australian cattle dog. We see a lot of properties, but this one really jumped out at us, said Daniel Moreton, v-p and associate publisher at Penguin Workshop. Its all about the interaction between Bluey and Bingo and their parents, and all of the four main characters immediately grab you. Its a positive family show with a really warm dynamic, and its different from anything else out there. In its home country, Bluey books sold a million copies in the first seven months since being introduced last November, with all three titles ranking among the five top-selling childrens books in 2019 and eight out of nine titles published as of mid-2020 ranking in the top 20 at that time, according to Nielsen BookScan. The reception in Australia was astronomical, Moreton said. Theyre seeing success that licensed books just dont have. That early track record led PRHs U.S. team to partner with its U.K. counterparts to secure the license for the rest of the world (outside of China). The TV series has been embraced in the U.S. since its debut in late 2019 as well, becoming a top-rated show on Disneys channels with both boys and girls aged two to five. The first three tie-in books will debut on October 20, along with the broader consumer products program. Playthings from licensee Moose Toys got things started this summer and have been selling out at retail, Moreton said. The initial list, which Moreton reported has generated strong preorders, will include two Americanized versions of episode-based 8x8s released first in Australia: Good Night, Fruit Bat and The Creek, both for ages three to five, plus Time to Play!: A Sticker & Activity Book, for ages four to six. The fact that the TV series was completed and already airing in Australia and that Australian titles were available for localization made it possible for a faster-than-usual development process and introduction in the U.S. Spring 2021 will bring a coloring and activity title, Big Backyard, and another 8x8, Bob Bilby, followed by a shaped board book of Bluey and another 8x8 in summer 2021. The narrative and the interaction and the characters are so compelling that we knew we wanted to do 8x8s, Moreton said, adding that character-centric formats such as shaped board books and get-to-know-you books also make sense for the brand. Its the irresistibility of the characters on the shelf. The plan is to grow the program slowly. We want to get a place on the shelf and build smartly and strategically from there, Moreton says. With so many properties, you want to get in when its hot, and it seems like the lifespan is shrinking compared to what it was. But that doesnt seem to be the case with Bluey. We feel the show has longevity. Moreton noted that while there was no thought of pandemics when PRH acquired the rights, Bluey seems to be perfect for the times, with its focus on a familys life at home. Its so much to do with imagination, he said. It makes this small little world feel so big. LBYR Visits Paris with Ladybug and Cat Noir Little, Brown Books for Young Readers is publishing tie-ins for Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, a series produced by French property owner ZAG and ON kids & family. The show, which airs in 120 countries, has garnered more than 19 billion views globally on YouTube, including official and user-generated content. The series got a slower start in the U.S. Its been an issue of discoverability, said Samantha Schutz, LBYRs publishing director, brand, licensed, and tie-in publishing. Theres so much competition in this space. The show aired on Nickelodeon in 2015 and 2016, before being acquired by the Disney Channel in spring of 2019. In the interim, it aired on Netflix, where it is still available. We were aware of the property for some time and we knew it was beloved overseas, Schutz said. Were in constant communication with our sister companies around the world, sharing intel on what brands are hot, so we knew Hachette Livre has been publishing it for a few years with some nice success. And we had seen a lot of fans at Comic Con with homemade or imported costumes. Once it went on the Disney Channel about a year ago, we knew it was go-time. Disney is excited and committed to the brand and that will really increase exposure. Seasons four and five of the TV series are currently in production, two new TV movies are set for Disney Channel and Disney+ at the end of 2021, and a theatrical movie release is in the works. ZAGs toy division, ZAG Lab, and Playmates Toys are producing a line of products that will debut in the U.S. in 2021, after launching abroad this fall, and a number of other licensees are developing products for the U.S. market. ZAG is putting a lot of weight behind the franchise, Schutz said. The series fan base consists of girls 612 and boys 47, along with an additional group of fangirls aged 1525, known as Miraculers. LBYRs rights include picture books, leveled readers, storybooks, chapter books, middle grade novels, guidebooks, and sticker books, but it will initially focus on readers and chapter books for ages 510. It will be interesting to see which performs better, or if its evenly split, Schutz said, noting that the balance may change as time goes on. Currently, all the titles are based on episodes of the TV series. The first chapter book, Peril in Paris, came out this month, with a holiday reader, Christmas Rescue!, scheduled for October. Another reader, Friends and Foes, and a second chapter book, Bubble Trouble, are set for next spring, with more chapter books and readers planned for later in 2021 and additional formats expected in 2022. One thing we adore about the show is the cute double love story, Schutz said. When the characters are students in a typical Parisian high school, lead character Marinette has a crush on her fellow student, Adrien. But during the times when the two have transformed into secret superhero partners, Adriens alter ego, Cat Noir, has a crush on Marinettes alter ego, Ladybug. Theres a really fun tension there. The look of the show is another draw. The ZAG animation is so beautiful, and Paris really shines, Schutz says. Scholastic Introduces Marsha Mello and Other Kindi Kids to Books Scholastic is continuing its long-term relationship with Australian company Moose Toys, securing publishing rights to Kindi Kids, a diverse collectible doll line for ages three and up. In the past, Scholastic has published books tied to other Moose brands, including Shopkins and Shoppies. The Licensing Shop represents all of the Moose properties for licensing in the U.S. and Canada. Moose is the premium collectible toy manufacturer. They have such a great track record, says Debra Dorfman, Scholastics v-p and publisher, global licensing, media, and brands. There are fun names for all the characters, they have new characters and themes each season, and Moose is open to us creating new stories. The dolls, which have names such as Marsha Mello, Jessicakes, Cindy Pops, and Summer Peaches, were introduced in August 2019 and quickly became a top seller, according to NPD Group estimates, with designated space carved out at retailers including Target and Walmart. The brands YouTube channel has generated more than 80 million views, across both Moose-produced webisodes and user-generated content. Scholastics first two titles, an 8x8, Kindi Kids: Halloween, and a higher price point 64-page chunky sticker activity book, Kindi Kids: Lets Play!, hit the market in July. They were followed by another 8x8, Kindi Kids: We Love to Share, this month. More titles are planned for next year including Easter Fun and Meet the Doctor. Shopkins drove sales of more than five million books for Scholastic and remained a vibrant franchise for a long time, especially for a toy line with minimal media exposure to sustain it. Moose was very smart about it, Dorfman said. They have a really great plan for Kindi Kids, too. In Brief Sesame Workshop is offering a number of new editions of its classic The Monster at the End of this Bookwhich has 20 million copies in print across formatsin advance of a new animated special that will air on HBO Max this fall. Random House Books for Young Readers is introducing a Little Golden Book, Put Me in the Story is releasing a customizable version, Studio Fun is publishing an interactive lift-the-flap edition, and PI Kids is debuting a sound book featuring Grovers voice. IDW has launched its new middle-grade comic book series Marvel Action: Origins, starting with a Peter Parker/Spider-Man title. Insight Editions interactive board book series, PlayPop, has added two new licensed titles, Back to the Future: Telling Time with Marty McFly and The Dark Crystal: Book of Opposites. British licensing agent The Point.1888 is now representing The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, a Sky Original TV series based on the Tom Gates series of books from Scholastic U.K., written and illustrated by Liz Pichon. The Jim Henson Company paired with Felix & Paul Studios to launch an augmented reality storybook, with Neil Gaiman performing the role of the narrator, based on its 1980s puppet-live action series The Storyteller. Random House Childrens Books Yearling imprint is publishing a movie tie-in edition of Robert Kimmel Smiths The War with Grandpa, timed to the October theatrical release of a film starring Robert De Niro. Penguin Random Houses Clarkson Potter division is launching Outlander Knitting, a book of 20 projects tied to the Sony TV show, which is based on a series of novels by Diana Gabaldon. Dr. Seuss Enterprises has added Exim as its licensing agent in Mexico, Chile, and Peru, and Pinta as its cross-cultural marketing firm to strengthen Dr. Seusss presence in the U.S. Hispanic market through advertising, digital and influencer media, and PR. BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic and recent racial turmoil have brought to the national forefront systemic racial and social inequities that create heath disparities that devastate families and communities of color throughout the U.S. In response to this public health crisis, Gift of Life Marrow Registry, an organization dedicated to equal outcomes of health for everyone, has joined together with the NAACP and its Youth and College Division to host a series of virtual town halls, "Education In Action: Addressing Healthcare Disparities in Our Communities," aimed at equipping and empowering student-led communities to effect change. Gift of Life Marrow Registry and the NAACP to host virtual town hall on healthcare disparities on September 30, 2PM ET. The first event, to be held on September 30, 2020, at 2:00 PM ET, will be an hour-long conversation moderated by Danielle Belton, Editor-In-Chief of The Root, and include remarks from transplant survivor Jay Feinberg, (Gift of Life Marrow Registry CEO and Founder), Dr. Joy Harden Bradford (Therapy for Black Girls), Kelli Tice Wells, MD (Florida Blue) and Victoria Baptiste (Henrietta Lacks Family Spokesperson). To register and join this conversation, visit www.giftoflife.org/virtualtownhall. "Disparities in healthcare outcomes extend far beyond our mission to find a cure for those suffering from nearly 100 diseases, including blood cancer, immune disorders and sickle cell, yet intertwine with our goals at the same time," said Feinberg. "As an organization founded to solve one health inequity, lack of diversity in the worldwide registry, Gift of Life is taking action to address the larger issue that the pandemic has further exposed. A key area of focus for the town hall initiative will be the vast underrepresentation of diverse racial and ethnic individuals in the national and worldwide registries. While there are more than 38 million registered donors from 55 countries in the registries, 75 percent of Black people and 55 percent of Latinos cannot find have a lifesaving match. The Town Hall discussion will also delve into the various barriers, reflective in other systems of care, that include mistrust of the healthcare system, cultural differences between patients and healthcare providers, lack of patient information, inadequate opportunities for economic, physical and emotional health, and much more. Following the September 30th event, the Town Hall series will be brought virtually to college campuses across the country to impact the next generation of changemakers. The program is proudly supported with the help of partners such as the NAACP, Fidelity Investments, Morgan Stanley and Rubius Therapeutics. "We are excited to partner with Gift of Life in this program to engage our members and student leaders around the country about the importance of giving back and using their voice for change, said Kyra Mitchell, NAACP, Chairman, National Youth Work Committee. "We know that youth-led efforts can serve as a powerful catalyst toward building and sustaining healthy, safe and equitable communities." About Gift of Life Marrow Registry Gift of Life Marrow Registry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla. The organization, established in 1991, is dedicated to saving lives by facilitating bone marrow and blood stem cell transplants for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood-related diseases. To learn more about Gift of Life Marrow Registry, visit www.giftoflife.org. About NAACP Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP's work and our six "Game Changer" issue areas at naacp.org. Media contact: Edwige Buteau, Gift of Life Marrow Registry Office: +1 (516) 982-2921; Cell: +1 (917) 655-3843; [email protected] SOURCE Gift of Life Marrow Registry Related Links http://www.giftoflife.org/